South Africa: Police Minister to visit Mthatha police station Police Minister, General Bheki Cele, is today expected to visit the Mthatha police station in the Eastern Cape, following service delivery concerns raised by the public this week. The management of the South African Police Service (SAPS), led by National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, will accompany the Minister. The visit also comes at a time when Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, ordered a manhunt for the murderer of Namhla Mtwa who was shot and killed inside her car by an unknown suspect while she was arriving in her Sidwadwa based home in Mthatha. The 35-year-old sustained gunshot wounds to her upper body and was declared dead at the scene. The brutal killing of Mtwa has again shone the spotlight on gender-based violence and femicide, a crime that remains a priority for the SAPS, said Lirandzu Themba, Police Ministry spokesperson. Mtwa was killed in April. This week gruesome images and text messages between her and an alleged lover circulated on social media portraying physical and emotional abuse she allegedly endured at the hands of the man. The details have sparked calls for the murder to be solved. On Wednesday, hundreds of people marched to the Mthatha police station, alleging that the station was lax in dealing with cases of gender-based violence. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-05-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hong Kong: Rule of law basis of HK's success Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng This Vision 2030 for Rule of Law International is one of the enhanced celebration events for the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as well as the first part of a series of events of the Department of Justice (DoJ) to be followed by the Legal Conference on Basic Law tomorrow, and then the National Security Law Legal Forum on May 28. Today's symposium has been highly successful and thought-provoking, providing a valuable opportunity to gather together local, Mainland, regional and international speakers for insightful exchanges on the proper understanding of the rule of law. I am delighted to note that we have over 700 registered participants from around 40 jurisdictions. Vision 2030 for Rule of Law The 17 goals under the 2030 agenda for sustainable development were adopted by all member states of the United Nations to address global challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, peace and justice, etc. The 17 goals are interconnected with the rule of law being a pillar for its successful implementation. In 2020, the DoJ launched a 10-year project titled "Vision 2030 for Rule of Law". Its vision is underpinned by Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda and Target 16.3 in particular, which is to promote the rule of law at national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. It is the DoJ's commitment to build and maintain a fair and rule-based society underpinned by the rule of law through collaboration with stakeholders towards sustainable development. Rule of law is often quoted and referred to but as Senior Partner of Strachan Partners Yemi Candide-Johnson asked just now, we must know what is its purpose, and sometimes we have to ask ourselves what is it that we want out of this universal value. In legal parlance, rule of law would be represented by principles such as observance of due process, equality before the law, access to justice, efficient and fair dispute resolution mechanism administered by an independent and impartial tribunal, etc. But stripped of the legalistic and scholarly terminologies or principles, may I venture to suggest that perhaps at its core, or at the very least, what we yearn for from the rule of law, is to ensure fairness and peaceful co-existence with mutual respect. This is so, I would venture to suggest, at national levels governing the relations between people and people and the government, and also at the international level, where the world order is at stake. The rule of law remains the cornerstone of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's success, both as an international financial centre and an international legal, deal-making and dispute resolution hub. According to the Worldwide Governance Indicators by the World Bank, Hong Kong's rule of law percentile ranking steadily increased in the past 25 years from 69.85% in 1996 and since 2003 above 90%. Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong SAR Liu Guangyuan has rightly pointed out in his opening speech today that "one country, two systems" has developed on the track of rule of law, and in return rule of law has fostered the successful implementation of "one country, two systems", with the importance of rule of law being a key to maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, improving our governance and enhancing our competitiveness. Hong Kong's future is also guaranteed by the strong backing of our motherland and the unique advantages of "one country, two systems". One crucial aspect for sustainable development envisaged under the 2030 Agenda is that the rule of law is fundamental to international peace and security and political stability, and strengthened rule-of-law-based society should be considered as an outcome of the 2030 Agenda & Sustainable Development Goals. Indeed, in the keynote speech by Judge of International Court of Justice Xue Hanqin, she started and ended her speech by referring to the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence initiated in 1954 by China, India and Burma (now Myanmar) declaring that they would develop their relations on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence. She reminded us of the wise words of Premier Zhou Enlai who said "if these principles are observed by all, countries of different social systems could live in peace." The Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence are in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Articles 1 and 2 in particular. Article 2 lays down, inter alia, the principles of sovereign equality of states, peaceful settlement of international disputes and non-intervention of internal affairs of other states. In her recount of the development of the world order, Mr Xue also reminded us of the Bandung Conference where Asian and African states enunciated the Ten Principles of Bandung which encompasses, amongst others, the essential elements of international relations including sovereign equality of states, territorial integrity, peaceful co-existence, multilateralism and mutual co-operation, stressing settlement of international disputes by peaceful means. This, she highlighted, was the first time that developing countries, collectively, made their voices heard in promoting a fairer and perhaps a less Euro-centric world order. The importance of this breakthrough cannot be overstated. The setting up of Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) and its work now to provide the perspectives from Asian and African states in the study and research on various topics on international law should make an important impact on its codification and progressive development that will reflect a genuine world order. Strengthening universal peace is one of the important purposes of the United Nations (UN) as conveyed in the UN Charter. However, in order to maintain and safeguard peace and security throughout the world, the principle of sovereign equality must be genuinely observed. It calls for mutuality in respect, self-restraint, non-intervention. To put these principles into practice, international dialogue and diplomatic channels are vital. Whilst States remain the major and decisive players for the direction of international law development, two anomalies call for attention. Unilateral acts of major powers have the tendency to usurp the fine balance struck in international co-operation and multilateralism premised usually on equality and mutual respect. A tilt in the balance will not be conducive to a rule-based world order that aims for peaceful co-existence. Double standards in the application of international law is plainly impossible to justify. Put simply, it is just not fair. As explained by the panelists this morning, it is evident that international law has strengthened the rule of law in international affairs and contributed to the maintenance of world peace and promotion of international co-operation. Importantly, international law is setting norms and rules that are reflected in national law and domestic practice. It is no longer just a matter that affects States and international relations, but it is, as Mr Xue pointed out, affecting our lives in all ways. We want to look at in the afternoon how the rule of law is practised at the national level in a diverse and inclusive global order. For the panel discussions this afternoon, we have heard that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to the system of rule of law. In his opening speech this morning, Mr Liu rightly pointed out that different countries have developed different rule of law practices that fit their specific national conditions, creating a diverse legal civilisation, with there being no best model or standard version of rule of law. Our Chief Justice Andrew Cheung has also pointed out in his speech during the Hong Kong Legal Week 2021 that a particular version of the rule of law which functions well in one jurisdiction may not necessarily be transplanted into another jurisdiction; further, due regard must be given to the unique circumstances and context of the particular jurisdiction concerned. Imposing one society's standard of rule of law on another would be contrary to the universal principle of inclusiveness, which is not conducive to the creation of a sustainable international order. Chairman of the Asian Peace & Reconciliation Council and former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Prof Surakiart Sathirathai also reiterated the point that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to the rule of law in his keynote speech. Instead, as he mentioned, understanding cultures is the key to success in shaping the rule of law, which leads to successful application and enforcement of law. This is shown by the example as illustrated in his speech on the late King of Thailand's successful initiative in taking into account cultural differences in curbing the level of illicit cultivation. Prof Surakiart also shared his insightful views on the important role of the rule of law in the age of digital economy which needs to be fairly regulated so that it can assist in promoting, amongst others, the rule of law by bridging inter-generation gap and dialogue. To me, the most important take that I have from Prof Surakiart's speech is that, unless there is a recognition and respect for different cultures and traditions across different jurisdictions, it will be difficult to achieve sustainable development for rule of law. That said, notwithstanding different societal values and socio-political systems, there exists commonly shared values and basic fundamental elements of the rule of law, although the degree of the respect for such shared values may differ across jurisdictions as we hear from the sharing of Secretary General of Japan International Dispute Resolution Center Prof Yoshihisa Hayakawa, Head of the Center for National Index of Rule of Law of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Prof Tian He and Professor of Law of Tsinghua University Prof Zhang Yuejiao. On the other hand, different jurisdictions and regions have unique and diverse cultural, geographical, socio-economic, socio-political and legal traditions which may colour upon the way of how they have been practising the rule of law. To take but a few examples, we hear from Prof Tian and Prof Zhang noting that one important characteristic of the rule of law practised in China is people-centric. Mr Liu observed that the rule of virtue is equally important "" - virtue is the basis and the law is to supplement. Indeed these features may actually tally with a number of Asian cultures, and it is common for example that Asian traditions of harmony have a preference to resolve disputes amicably through mediation or conciliation in contrast to litigious societies which stress on determining who is the winning party in a dispute. The sharing from the Iranian Consul-General Alireza Esmaeil Zadeh we hear how the foundation of the Iranian legal system and its rule of law is Sharia law-based and of course Sharia law as he explained is an expression of divine will. Yet, we hear how the common essence of rule of law principles, as we now describe, such as equality before the law, independent judiciary and supremacy of law, can also have strong roots in the Islamic legal traditions. In Africa, we hear from Yemi about people generally sharing and being more accustomed to the substantive customary law and practice, and therefore those are matters that all to be taken into account when looking at the practice of the rule of law. Given the importance of rule of law for a society's success and sustainable development, to foster the progress and practice of the rule of law, as well as to improve public understanding and awareness of the rule of law, it is considered that there should be an objective mechanism to review and monitor progress and practice of rule of law which can facilitate further research and capacity building. This is also the backdrop of the launch of the Vision 2030 initiative back in 2020. Alongside the launch of Vision 2030, the Task Force on Vision 2030 for Rule of Law was established, with membership comprising internationally renowned experts and academics, to advance the work for effective implementation of the initiatives under Vision 2030. To summarise the discussions of the task force, the recommendations that have been made were the proposed indicators which may form the "common denominators" of the rule of law, should be used as a starting point for formulating an objective methodology to review the practice of the rule of law. The task force also observed that varying practices of rule of law in different regions and/or jurisdictions attributable to their unique cultures, socio-economic features and legal traditions, etc, should be integrated to gain a fair and objective overview of the "basic fundamentals" of the rule of law in a wide range of jurisdictions. The task force also noted that it would be more meaningful for a rule of law review mechanism to be based on objective data and information rather than perception-based and subjective elements so as to generate useful and empirical evidence about the actual situation of the rule of law practices in different jurisdictions. The importance of developing an objective review mechanism of rule of law for enhancing successful implementation of the rule of law has been supported by legal experts as we see in the panel discussions today. With the guidance of the task force, the DoJ launched an objective rule of law database in November 2021, as one of the important projects under the Vision 2030 initiative. Looking forward, the methodology for the objective review mechanism would be devised. This would involve complex consideration of appropriate ways to convert data into appropriate "referencing points", as well as to consider how to reflect or evaluate the practice of the rule of law when culture, socio-economic, socio-political, legal traditions are to be taken into account. The need to engage professional specialists in the fields of economics and social science, etc, to further research on the interplay between cultural factors and the practice of the rule of law is recognised. On this front, the DoJ has recently signed a framework arrangement for collaboration with the Chinese Institute of Hong Kong, which is authorised by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). In the earlier panel session this afternoon, we have also benefited from the sharing of Prof Tian He, Head of the Center for National Index of Rule of Law of CASS, about the main factors underlining the rule of law in. The invaluable advice and guidance of the task force members on how to promote the proper understanding and recognition of the rule of law at regional and international levels are captured in the task force report, which marks a milestone of the Vision 2030 initiative. Looking ahead, the DoJ will take forward the insightful and pragmatic recommendations as set out in the task force report. I must once again thank the task force members for their dedicated work and invaluable inputs these two years. Now, I am delighted to announce that the task force report is officially launched. An e-copy of the report is available on the website of the Vision 2030 for Rule of Law, and a hard copy is available onsite the venue for all the guests and participants. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to conclude my remarks by echoing what Council Member of the Asian Peace & Reconciliation Council Jose Isidro (Lito) N Camacho commented. To achieve sustainable development as envisaged in the 2030 Agenda, it has to be by collective work and collaboration, not to use a zero-sum game approach, but to adopt and use a win-win approach. I also totally agree with what Mr Camacho has pointed out, and that is to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, we need active participation from the business sectors. He has shared the needs of the business sectors, which are the stability of law, predictability of law, consultation and formulation of laws, transparency and equal and consistent interpretation and application of laws. I am sure the legal community and the governments would have heard and bear in mind these very important words so that we can all join hands in achieving the sustainable development of rule of law. And the DoJ looks forward to further engagement and collaboration with you all. Thank you very much. Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng gave these remarks at the Vision 2030 for Rule of Law International Symposium on May 26. This story has been published on: 2022-05-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Trend The new comprehensive bilateral agreement between Azerbaijan and the EU will give us new opportunities for cooperation, EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Peter Michalko told Trend in an exclusive interview. The negotiations are ongoing intensively. They have to be finalized to have the agreement ready, Michalko noted. Our most important cooperation priorities with Azerbaijan include the development of renewable energy sources, digital transformation, and the transport sector, he said. Regarding the cooperation in the energy sector, the ambassador noted that there are bright prospects for further increasing the supply of Azerbaijani gas to Europe. He mentioned that the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) project made it possible to directly supply Azerbaijani gas to the EU countries. There are many opportunities to increase exports, which, in turn, require new steps. The EU counties are definitely interested in increasing energy products imported from Azerbaijan. We hope to achieve this in the nearest future, Michalko said. Further speaking, the ambassador noted that companies from the EU are very interested in implementing projects in Azerbaijans renewable energy sector. Renewable energy is a very perspective area of cooperation for several reasons. This is of course a priority for the EU in support of green transition, and also an important objective in our cooperation with Azerbaijan, Michalko said. In regard to participation in particular projects in the sector, the ambassador said that the auctions system will be very helpful for the development of renewable energy and bring more investments from abroad for the benefit of Azerbaijan. According to the ambassador, recently it was announced that the EU can mobilize up to 2 billion euros under this investment plan for Azerbaijan. This also includes the support for the renewable energy sector. He also noted that the support that the EU is offering for Azerbaijani governmental institutions includes preparing the legislative framework for a green energy transition. We have supported several projects in this regard that strengthened the authorities and their capacity in the preparation for the implementation of the laws that are related to energy efficiency. It is important for this prepared framework to bring adequate benefits, Michalko added. Regarding the trade between Azerbaijan and EU countries, the ambassador noted that it has a huge potential for growth. According to Michalko, the new comprehensive bilateral agreement will create additional opportunities for increasing Azerbaijani exports to the EU. We would like to see more Azerbaijani products in Europe. We also see the growth of Azerbaijani non-oil products on the EU market, which is a successful step towards increasing bilateral trade. Moreover, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the EU in 2021 even exceeded the pre-COVID-19 pandemic level, he said. The trade turnover between the EU and Azerbaijan in 2019 amounted to nearly 12 billion euros, and 15.5 billion euros - in 2021. This once again indicates that the EU is the main trading partner of Azerbaijan with a 45 percent share in the Azerbaijani foreign trade turnover. The EU is also the largest export destination for Azerbaijani products. The EU countries account for 51 percent of Azerbaijan's total exports, Michalko noted. Besides, according to the ambassador, the EU supports several initiatives toward improving the business environment and reforms to allow Azerbaijani companies to increase their production capacity and export potential. We are preparing the sixth edition of the EU Business Climate Report in Azerbaijan. It will be presented at the EU-Azerbaijan business forum scheduled for May 17. Im sure that this will help attract potential investors to Azerbaijan, and increase current investment and production, he said. He said that the annual EU-Azerbaijan Business Forum will be held in a hybrid format. We hope that this format will help expand the list of its participants, Michalko added. Among other initiatives of the EU regarding Azerbaijani investment climate development, the ambassador mentioned the support that will be provided for 25,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in the country. According to the ambassador, the EU has expressed readiness to be a part of the restoration works in Azerbaijans Karabakh. Our sectors of possible cooperation include the renewable energy sector, infrastructure, transport connections, and any other areas that will need additional support, Michalko said. As Azerbaijan is implementing the smart villages and cities project in Karabakh, Michalko said this sector is also among the EUs priorities, as well as rural and regional development in general. Further speaking, the ambassador noted that the EU supports Azerbaijans priority to turn Karabakh into a green zone, and is eager to participate in renewable energy projects. We are interested in knowing the priorities of the Azerbaijani side. We have our experts that would also see the need for reconstruction work in Karabakh. Now we expect project ideas that could be supported from the EU side, the ambassador said. The ambassador also spoke about current EU programs carried out in Azerbaijan. As I have already mentioned, we have entered our new annual budgetary cycle. Now we are in the phase of planning and programming. Again, recall, that under this support 2 billion euros have been announced. However, there are also other parts of the program from which Azerbaijan can benefit. Some of them are bilateral, some are regional, and event global funds of the EU, Michalko said. According to the ambassador, there are programs, such programs as ERASMUS+, from which thousands of Azerbaijani students benefited from the opportunity to study in the EU universities. Another program is Horizon Europe, which supports research and scientific cooperation. Other programs support companies and local development. Mayors for economic growth is one of these programs. EU4Lankaran is another program that is financed by the EU and implemented by the UNDP. There is a big number of possible projects from which Azerbaijan, its business, and civil society, can benefit. Azerbaijan is also a front-runner in the twinnings, and a leader among the countries of the Eastern Partnership, he added. The EU will continue providing support and increase the involvement in projects implemented in the country to increase and further enhance the cooperation with Azerbaijan, the EU Ambassador Michalko concluded. Texas authorities say the gunman who massacred 21 people at an elementary school was in the building for over an hour before he was killed by law enforcement officers. The amount of time that elapsed has stirred anger and questions among family members, who demanded to know why authorities did not storm the place and put a stop to the rampage more quickly. Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Travis Considine said 18-year-old Salvador Ramos entered Robb Elementary School and began his rampage at 11:40 a.m. Tuesday. A Border Patrol tactical unit began trying to get inside the building an hour later, and at 12:58 p.m., radio chatter noted he was dead. Killeen, TX (76540) Today Mostly cloudy skies this evening followed by thunderstorms late. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies this evening followed by thunderstorms late. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1. Yes. General Cavazos was an outstanding leader and a true role model for soldiers. 2. Yes. As the first Hispanic four-star general, the choice of Cavazos would be historic. 3. No. There are plenty of other Army leaders who deserve the honor just as much. 4. No. It doesnt matter what name wins approval; the post should remain Fort Hood. 5. Unsure. No matter what name is chosen, its bound to be controversial. Vote View Results KEARNEY Kearney Catholic High School has recently embarked on the process to form a strategic plan for the school. In January, the KCHS Foundation board and KCHS school board contracted with a Boston organization, Partners in Mission, to begin the community-wide, strategic planning process. Partners in Mission is a full-service consulting and professional education firm that focuses exclusively on developing excellence in Catholic school advancement and leadership. It was just a great time to take a look at where we are currently, and then grow that vision for Kearney Catholic moving forward. Partners in Mission has helped lots of Catholic schools like us go from a great school to an even greater school by involving so many people in the vision, and our goal is to do the same, said Sara Homan, KCHS Foundation director of advancement. Homan and KCHS Foundation boards past president, Nadia Saadi, are co-chairing the strategic planning process. The kick-off event took place May 11 with informational listening sessions and a two-hour training for the nearly 50 volunteers who are serving on domain committees. Their strategic planning process that they walk you through looks at eight domains, eight areas of the school, and it casts a much wider net for involvement from current students, alumni, current parents, past parents, community members, grandparents, staff, faculty, board members and engages the community in identifying where we are, strengths of the school currently and opportunities for growth, Homan explained. The eight domains that will be focused on are academics and technology, facilities and technology, Catholic identity, governance, student life, enrollment and marketing, advancement and finance. Input and data will be gathered through interviews, town hall meetings, surveys and group discussions. The information will be compiled into a 50-page report that will discuss areas of strengths and opportunity based on the data collected over a six- to eight-month period. Once the report is complete, a goal-writing weekend will take place in November to identify three to four objectives for each of the domain areas. A plan will then be made to address those objectives over the next five years, Homan said. This is the first time that Kearney Catholic has reached out to this level of constituents for help in forming a strategic plan. Prior strategic plans have just been formed and operated within the walls of the school. This is taking a more comprehensive look at where we are and where we can go, she added. The KCHS Foundation board and KCHS school board both committed one-half of the funds for the planning process. Those funds were raised through private donors. Anyone seeking more information or to get involved with the strategic plan can email strategicplan@kearneycatholic.org. Its fascinating. Its fun, and its really educational. Because it is true that people have really different perspectives based on the experience that theyve had, Homan said. It doesnt make anyones perspective right or wrong. To get to bring all those perspectives to one table, its a real educational process for everybody. With the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, it is timely to recognize a longtime teacher from the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District, John Kinville. Kinville, a social studies teacher at Chippewa Falls Senior High, is working on publishing his second book. He has taught for the high school since the fall of 2003 and is a Chippewa Falls High School alumni, 1997. The book is entitled Letters from Harry Kramer of Chippewa Falls: A WW2 Story of a Sailors Fateful Journey from Wisconsin to Pearl Harbor. This book is a true story about a Chippewa Falls graduate, class of 1938, named Harry Wellington Kramer. Kinville has taken Flags 4 the Fallen students to Harrys grave in both 2013 and 2017. A total of 80 students had the opportunity to go on this trip. Flags 4 the Fallen History Travel Team is an educational organization dedicated to identifying, researching, visiting, and honoring the historical, cultural, and military locations connecting our school to the greater human narrative found within Wisconsin, the United States, and world history. The 4 represents the four main branches of military service during a time of war: the Marine Corps, Army, Navy/Coast Guard, and Air Force. This group of students, along with their teacher, visited numerous sites associated with Harry Kramer, including Pearl Harbor Naval Station, Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, nicknamed The Punchbowl, where Harry is buried. They also connected with Harrys surviving nieces and nephews and some students built two tribute display cases featuring his personal artifacts at the high school. Kinville is under contract with Arcadia Publishing and The History Press, and the final manuscript is due to the publishing company on Sept. 1. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 An Alsip, Illinois, man is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on $50,000 cash bond after his May 24 arrest on drug charges. Troy E. West was charged Thursday in La Crosse County Circuit with a felony count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and a misdemeanor count of bail jumping. According to the criminal complaint, police observed West walking near a suspected drug trafficking site on Seventh Street South shortly after 7 p.m. Police determined that West had an extradition warrant from Kentucky and arrested him without incident. Police searched West and allegedly found 21.5 grams of methamphetamine and $406 in cash. The complaint says methamphetamine is commonly sold in 8-balls of 3.5 grams for $100, which puts the street value of the drug around $600. West reportedly told police he was a methamphetamine user who consumes an 8-ball every couple of days. However, the complaint says West showed no signs of methamphetamine use. It says West lacked marks or scars on his face, missing teeth or an elevated heart rate. During Thursdays hearing, West denied he was going to sell the drugs. I wasnt intending to sell anything it was for personal use, West said. La Crosse County assistant District Attorney Nick Passe requested the $50,000 cash bond. He said West has a string of missed court appearances and that his out-of-state address makes him a flight risk. West waived extradition to Kentucky, where he faces significantly lesser charges. Judge Gloria Doyle scheduled a June 9 calendar call for the drug charges and an extradition hearing for Aug. 3. La Crosse Tribune reporter Steve Rundio can be reached at steve.rundio@lee.net. 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. For 2022, the citys Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) released an updated list of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Properties in La Crosse. This annual initiative intends to raise awareness and encourage the preservation of historic properties potentially at risk of irreparable damage or demolition due to neglect, natural disaster or redevelopment. Unchanged from last years list is the W.C. Will house at 503 Caledonia St. This residence was designed by La Crosse-born architect Andrew Roth. The son of a local tailor, baker and grocer who immigrated from Bavaria, Roth likely started learning his trade at about 16, working as a draftsman for La Crosse architect Charles J. Ross. After Ross died at only age 42 in 1877, Roth spent several years working as a carpenter before putting up his own shingle as an independent architect in 1893. It was during this first year in his own business that Roth drew up plans for this Queen Anne home. Turn-of-the-century Queen Anne properties represent some of the most dramatic, elaborate and conspicuous architecture, not only in La Crosse, but also scattered in neighborhoods throughout the U.S. Unfortunately, this outstanding example, along with many others in the area, is in danger of being lost. Queen Annes are especially susceptible to disrepair and redevelopment since they can require a greater degree of maintenance to properly upkeep. German immigrant and CB&N (Chicago, Burlington and Northern) railway car inspector William C. Will and his wife Ernstine commissioned this house from Roth. At the time, Will had a growing family as well as a mother-in-law residing with him and likely needed the space. Additionally, the dwelling was close to his work. It was less than a 30-minute walk to the Grand Crossing railroad yard and depot and only about a 10-minute trek to the CB&N freight house located at Copeland and Wall streets. Will must have not cared for his railroad position because around 1905, he rented out his home in order to give farming a try in Onalaska. As a result, the house became quite the railroad-worker crash-pad for a short time. The 1907 city directory lists 10 different CM&StP (Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul) employees simultaneously residing at the address during that year! However, that living situation might have been tenable since six of the tenants were conductors and two were brakemen, so they were likely gone for significant stretches of time. The property probably attracted such a group because it was only a few blocks away from the CM&StP depot (located near Copeland and Gould streets) at that time. That depot was later replaced in 1927 by what is now the present-day La Crosse Amtrak Station found on the same block as the Will house. Will gave up on farming rather quickly, and by 1907, he was working as a teamster for the city and living with his family in a comparatively modest dwelling at 619 Island St. However, by 1909, the family had returned to their much more impressive Caledonia Street home. This is where William and Ernstine continued to reside until they died in 1944 and 1940, respectively. The Will house is a somewhat rare example of a brick Queen Anne, and it retains many attractive original features, such as its bay window, gables with fishscale-shaped wooden shingles, upper-story arched window, wooden porch brackets and stairwell window adorned with small colored-glass panes. At some point, the residence was split into multiple rental units, and regrettably, the front porch was enclosed and another enclosed-porch story was added on top of it. These historically inappropriate porch alterations have greatly diminished the homes appearance. Additionally, the columns and railings on the rear porch are in need of renovation. The good news for the property is that porches are some of the most readily restorable elements of a historic building. Roth was a very talented architect who designed many notable structures, in addition to this residence, in La Crosse and throughout the tri-state region. His work is an important component of the citys cultural heritage, and preserving it should be a community priority.Many of Roths creations are on or eligible for local, state and national historic registers, and the Will house is no exception. It is time to publicly recognize the architectural significance of this home and bring its existence and history out of obscurity before it is too late to restore it. On Wednesdays and Sundays in May, The Tribune will continue to publish articles on HPCs list of La Crosses 10 Most Endangered Historic Properties. Basic information about each property can also be found on the citys heritage preservation website. Anyone seeking more information regarding this project or wanting to nominate endangered historic properties for future lists can contact Tim Acklin in the City Planning Department. Laura Godden is a La Crosse heritage preservation commissioner and UW-La Crosse Murphy Library archivist/assistant professor, and Evelyn Gaunt is an archaeology major and Murphy Library student archivist. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsins Republican Assembly leader, who will appoint a key member of the states bipartisan elections commission, said Thursday he was not ruling anybody in or out as he looks to quickly fill a vacancy in the battleground state before the next chair of the panel is chosen. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, in an interview with The Associated Press, also refused to rule out the possibility of appointing the embattled investigator he hired to look into the 2020 election. Im not ruling anybody in or out, Vos said. I would like somebody who has a long track record of experience and somebody who, frankly, hasnt bought into hook, line and sinker the decertification argument that is absolutely impossible to achieve. Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who Vos hired to investigate the election, encouraged lawmakers to look into the possibility of decertifying President Joe Bidens victory but in a closed-door meeting with leadership reported on by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel later conceded that wasnt possible. Gableman did not return a message seeking comment. Vos said intended to appoint someone before the commissions June 10 meeting where a new chair will be selected. The commission delayed a vote Wednesday after Voss current appointee, Dean Knudson, abruptly announced he was resigning under pressure from Republicans who are angry because he believes Donald Trump lost to Biden fair and square. The next chair will hold the position heading into the November election with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson on the ballot. They will also be chair in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. The chair by state law approves the vote canvass following elections and certifies results. The chair also sets the agenda for the commission and can exert influence over how questions are framed, an important power on the board that is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. Vos told the AP that he had no litmus test for who he selects, and didnt have anyone in mind, but he was leaning toward naming an experienced attorney. Im looking for somebody to be a very well-qualified choice that people will look at and say, Thats a good decision, Vos said. He said he hopes whoever he names would oppose dissolving the commission, something that every Republican running for governor says they support. Vos said he has been approached by people who are interested in serving, but he declined to name them. Vos was booed at last weeks Wisconsin Republican Party convention when he said that Bidens victory in Wisconsin could not be decertified. About a third of convention attendees later voted to approve a resolution calling for Vos to resign or be removed from office. Vos has felt pressure from Trump and the right wing of his party over how he reacted to Bidens win in Wisconsin. There is a segment of the party who is obsessed with the past, Vos said. I want to focus on the party who is focused on the future. State law requires the next chair to one of two Republican members either Voss yet-to-be-named appointee or Bob Spindell. He wants the post, but no Democrat is likely to support him. At least one Democratic vote is needed to elect the chair. Spindell has taken many positions on the commission that have angered Democrats He was also one of 10 Republicans who cast Electoral College votes for Trump in Wisconsin, even though Trump lost. He and the other fake GOP electors were sued last week. Knudson said at Wednesdays meeting he was pressured from top Republicans to not run for chair because he wasnt conservative enough. Knudson said Thursday it wasnt Vos who pressured him. When asked if it was Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, Knudson said: I think its always best for you to ask him directly to speak for himself. Johnsons spokeswoman Alexa Henning said that Johnson told Vos that Dean Knudson had lost the confidence of the grassroots Republicans in representing their interests on the Wisconsin Elections Commission. She said Johnson never suggested he resign. Despite the findings that the 2020 election was free of widespread fraud, the commission has come under intense criticism from Republicans for a host of decisions it made leading up to the contest, including not sending special voting deputies into nursing homes to assist residents with casting absentee ballots as the COVID-19 pandemic was raging and expanding the use of ballot drop boxes. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Bad policy makes people vulnerable, and the current baby formula shortage is just the latest example. The immediate cause of the shortage was contamination in a Michigan factory, which might not resume production until June. But the underlying cause is a slew of bad policies that make the market less competitive. Tariffs, labeling and marketing regulations have removed so much competition from the industry that when a recall affects one factory, it becomes an emergency for parents across the country. Those regulations give young families fewer places to turn to during shortages on purpose. Existing companies push hard for these regulations because they put up a barrier to entry against potential competitors and preserve market share for themselves. Policymakers need to clean up the mess they made as quickly as possible. Instead, they are doubling down. Regulation is a major reason only four large formula producers control most of the U.S. market. First, parents receiving WIC assistance are allowed to choose only certain brands. Second, consumers must pay a 17.5 percent tariff on any imported formula, which prices countless brands out of the U.S. market. Its a nice arrangement for the companies and for their lobbyists but it raises prices for families and makes it difficult to boost supplies during shortages. When new formulas enter the market, regulations forbid sellers from letting anyone know about them for 90 days, even as manufacturers may advertise existing formulas all they like. Those first months on the shelf are make-or-break for many new products, which is why existing producers like this otherwise pointless regulation. At times like this, parents might appreciate hearing about new options. One of those options is toddler formula, which in many cases meets the Food and Drug Administrations nutritional requirements for infant formula. However, FDA regulations prohibit many manufacturers from recommending this option. Even product labels have become an anti-competitive tool. The FDA recently recalled a formula that European parents have been safely giving their babies for years, because its label did not include a statement on the label indicating that additional iron may be necessary. U.S. Customs recently seized nearly 600 cases of formula from Germany and the Netherlands over labeling requirements. The agencys self-congratulatory press release reads as though it had made a major drug bust, lauding its and the FDAs collective efforts to help keep our citizens safe. Human nutritional requirements do not change across political borders. If a formula is safe and nutritious for babies in Germany or the Netherlands or any other country, then it will be for American babies, too. A system of mutual recognition, whereby regulators in countries with comparable standards automatically approve one anothers decisions, would go a long way to help address and prevent shortages of baby formula and myriad other products at least after they pay tariffs. When policies fail, the right thing to do is get rid of them. But instead, politicians might be about to make new ones. President Biden is considering using the Defense Production Act, an emergency wartime powers law, to direct baby formula production from Washington. At least eight senators are interested in potential antitrust action against the industry, which is concentrated in a few companies largely because of government regulations. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants legislation increasing Washingtons role in supply chain management. The House Oversight Committee is looking at price gouging regulation, which would be counterproductive. Many Republicans are invoking conspiracy theories and blaming foreigners who would likely be happy to help, if regulations allowed it. Regulations are why the formula shortage is so bad, but politicians are blaming the market instead. Blaming greedy markets is good for grandstanding and campaigning, but there isnt much of a free market to point to when it comes to baby formula. The one healthy response so far is Sen. Mike Lees FORMULA Act, which would allow WIC parents to choose their formula brand, roll back tariffs and enact mutual recognition with trusted allies. When a recall or a shortage happens, parents would have far more options in a free market than in the current regulatory mess of cronyism and protectionism. The only losers would be incumbent producers, their lobbyists and politicians in search of another way to grandstand on the campaign trail. ABOUT THE WRITER Ryan Young is a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a free- market public policy organization in Washington. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Azernews By Orkhan Amashov Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan epitomises the excruciating sufferings and morbidity of a multitude driven by tempestuous urges. He is cracking under the strain of the ungrateful task incumbent upon him. On 25 May, whilst addressing the Armenian National Assembly upon his return from the third EU-mediated trilateral convocation, the Armenian leader was again compelled to engage in prevarication, bordering on what Winston Churchill would have called terminological inexactitude. "The ethnic Armenian population of Karabakh" - the expression used by Charles Michel, European Council President, in his post-meeting press statement has not gone unnoticed in Yerevan. In fact, it has caused significant perturbation, compelling the prime minister, if not to denounce the phrase, but distance himself from it, in his "parliamentary hour" speech on 25 May. To be blunt, the third Brussels-mediated trilateral meeting was a reasonably satisfactory success for Baku and a perfectly digestible defeat for Yerevan. It has reinvigorated the slackened negotiations and re-emphasised the warp and weft of the peace agenda. The general practice suggests that a post-meeting statement made by a mediator is not a mere observation by its announcer, but a document to which parties sign as indicative of their acquiescence. Therefore, the language of such a communication is usually declarative and measured, yet sufficiently clear upon what has been agreed. The same applies to Charles Michel's post-meeting statement. The phrase the ethnic Armenian population of Karabakh is indicative of how the matter is viewed through the prism of Brussels. Pashinyan claims that he and President Aliyev did not concur on any formula and the EU chief simply developed a compromise construct. It is perfectly true that it was incumbent upon Charles Michel to phrase his conclusive statement in such a way as to render it inclusive, to a reasonable extent, of both sides concerns. The truth of the matter is that, by mentioning the importance of addressing the rights and security of the ethnic Armenian population of Karabakh, he has incorporated the point, which constitutes the dominant Armenian concern, into the statement; but he did so in such a manner that neither cast an aspersion on the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, nor deviated from the logic of post-conflict normalisation. The revenge-driven Armenian opposition claims that this formulation is a blow to Yerevan, as it downgrades what they still view as a territorial entity to a certain ethnic population residing in a particular geography. In principle, they are right. This is exactly what the construct denotes. The problem is that the revanchist forces find it abhorrent, whereas Pashinyan has not yet grown the backbone to call a spade a spade. In his address, Pashinyan referred to the six-point package of his government, submitted in response to Bakus five points, as Yerevans observation and agenda. This was, one can tentatively assume, an indirect reply to just criticisms levelled against Armenias so-called peace offer, which was neither principle-based, nor constructive. It behoves one to recall that none of the points of the belatedly resurfaced document that were inadmissible to Baku made it to Michels post-meeting statement. That is what matters at present, not Pashinyans contrived insinuations aimed at expostulating the brunt of his displeasure. In an attempt to repost some of the attacks engineered by the opposition, he took recourse to a technique over which he gained mastery during his years in power - he blamed the previous administrations for the hopelessness of the present state of affairs. Pashinyan claimed that, by agreeing to the now-archaic Madrid Principles, Robert Kocharyan, the former President, effectively de-legitimised the 1991 so-called referendum, and by agreeing to work with Baku on the principles of a future referendum, discredited his own claim that Nagorno-Karabakh had never been part of independent Azerbaijan. Pashinyan also maintained a hard-line on the subject of enclaves, stating the matter was not discussed in Brussels. Here, there is a room for toughness, as enclaves do not constitute an immediate agenda and one can do a bit of shilly-shallying. Such a contrived form of uncompromising tone would not go amiss when one thinks of the pressure being exerted upon the incumbent government in the light of the ongoing protests. Pashinyan went on reasserting that Bashkend (Artsvashen) is a de jure Armenian exclave inside Azerbaijan, whereas there is no legal ground to assume Azerbaijani exclaves exist inside Armenia. Here, Pashinyan imitates the negotiating technique of saying that "what is mine is mine, what is yours is a subject for discussion". The snag here is that he can only imitate this in his backyard, and not truly practice it. After the second Brussels-mediated trilateral meeting that took place on 6 April, Pashinyan stunned the National Assembly, stating that not recognising the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, a first-rate ally of Turkey, is dangerous and that the international community expects Yerevan to act accordingly. On this occasion, his post-Brussels "parliamentary hour" did not entail anything akin to crossing the liminal line. Evidently, he felt this juncture was unsuitable for a "shocking admission". Yet, time moves on and his task has not changed - he has to say to his people, in a language that the audience will understand and accept, that Karabakh is Azerbaijan and it cannot be helped. TITLE: Sourdough AUTHOR: Robin Sloan What is sourdough? How and where did it originate? Robin was born and raised in Michigan and after college she went to San Francisco, where she worked for a computer company as a programmer. She lived in a small apartment alone and ordered a lot of fast food meals in the evenings. Her favorite place was Clement Street Soup for their sourdough bread! At work she shared a meal with co-workers with Slurry which was a nutritional gel for stress related issues. Sounds boring, right? When the owners of Clement Street Soup closed and moved elsewhere out of the area they gave their recipe of sourdough bread to Robin along with utensils and instructions for the best bread ever in her opinion. Could Robin make it not being a baker or a cook herself? When Robin was 12 her Grandma Lois passed away. She had belonged to the Lois Club (women with the same first name). Grandma made the bread for prisons, family, and friends. Robin was searching for such a club in San Francisco. Did she find one? She shared her bread with the chef Kate at a cafe who wanted more of it and Robin agreed to bake eight loaves every night for the entire week. How long could Robin work two time consuming jobs with stress at both jobs? With Kates encouragement Robin sold her bread at local markets. Soon the manager at Marrow Fair wanted Robins sourdough bread to be made by a robot. Could Robin get a robot arm? What would it cost? Would food made by a robot and from the special starter replace the fast food market? Who was Jim Bascule? Why did Robin meet him? Could Jim help Robin find or buy the robotic arm that Kate insisted on using? After a year in San Francisco she had saved up to $10,000 and quit the job as a computer programmer. Was that a wise decision? Robin ordered starter from the King Arthur Flour Company and continued with her bread business. Robin had a chance several times to sell her sourdough starter recipe. Did she? Because the starter has to be kept alive for future batches it was a challenge. Have you ever baked with a starter? I have had that experience. If you are a baker you might enjoy trying to make bread with a starter. Becky Stakston is an avid reader from Westby. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Winona County resident and farmer, Dan Wilson, of rural Rushford, announced his candidacy against Minnesota State Senate Majority Leader, Jeremy Miller, at noon on Thursday, May 26 at the Winona County Office Building. In challenging Miller, Wilson launches an underdog campaign against one of the most powerful elected officials in the State. As State Senate Majority Leader, Miller is the highest ranking Republican official in state government, and the de facto leader of the Republican party. Speaking to a crowd of 40 from the back of his beat up pick up truck, Wilson said, We need someone who knows how much our families and farmers need that 9 billion dollars, right now. We need someone who is ready to fight for the people of Senate District 26. I am here to announce today that I am that person and that I am filing to be your next state senator Looking forward to the campaign, Wilson says, This is the chance for those of us who work and farm in southeast Minnesota to bring our concerns to St. Paul and to work together to improve our lives and the lives of our children. Wilson adds, For the past 12 years, Jeremy Miller may have done a lot to further his political ambitions, but he certainly hasnt accomplished much for farmers, for young families, or the rural and working class people of his district. The people in his District need the 9 billion dollar surplus now to help them cover the costs of inflation, of rising gas prices, and the skyrocketing health care costs. Instead, he has walked away from the negotiating table leaving his constituents out in the cold. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller, R-Winona, called Thursday on the states Department of Transportation to look for solutions to improve severe traffic delays caused by the construction of a series of roundabouts along Hwy. 43/61/Mankato Avenue in Winona. Im hearing many concerns from folks around town regarding the severe traffic delays and lack of signage surrounding the roundabout construction project, Miller said. People have mentioned traffic delays and late school buses of an hour or more. Some delays are to be expected with any road construction project, but delays of this length are simply unacceptable. I have contacted representatives from MnDOT asking them to look for potential solutions to reduce these immense traffic delays as soon as possible. I am hopeful they can work to improve the traffic delays and signage around the construction areas. Beginning Tuesday, as the Winona Daily News reported this week, lane closures, temporary traffic signals and limited left turns took effect along the road. Construction began in May and will continue until early November, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Once completed, the highway will include roundabouts at intersections with Hwy. 61, Riverbend Road, Frontenac Drive and Sarnia Street. This construction will improve safety and decrease congestion, the MnDOT website said. MnDOT invites residents to stay connected and informed of the project in these ways: Learn more about the project, sign up for email and text message updates at the MnDOT construction project website or check out SE Minnesota MnDOT construction projects in at MnDOTs website. Join the MnDOT Southeast Minnesota Facebook group for news, information and events in the region. Follow MnDOT Southeast on Twitter for updates, information and initiatives. Get road condition and traffic updates in Minnesota on the 511mn.org website or get a free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 By Trend A year has passed since Turkic.World media platform was launched. Chief Executive Officer at Media Development Agency (MEDIA) of Azerbaijan Ahmad Ismayilov answered Trend's questions about Turkic.World project. - How do you assess the activity of the project during the past year, and its significance in general? - Turkey's political and moral support for Azerbaijan during the 44-day second Karabakh War played an invaluable role, as in all areas, also in media, leading to an even greater strengthening of our information front-line. This experience testifies to the importance of a joint coordinated response of our states to influence and pressure, in summary, the importance of developing our ties in the sphere of media. We can say with confidence that the Turkic.World media platform, implemented with the aim of creating a unified communication platform for the Turkic world based on our common historical, religious, cultural and linguistic values, is already yielding important results. The further development of relations between Turkic-speaking countries is the focus of attention of both the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the leaders of other Turkic-speaking countries. The accession of other Turkic-speaking states to this platform for a short time indicates the successful continuation of relations of the Turkic world in the sphere of media, which are being strengthened, guided by the idea of ??unity, solidarity and cooperation. Presently, fraternal peoples living hundreds of kilometers apart receive information about their compatriots on such topics as culture, society, language, and education. Turkic.World also publishes its news in Russian and English. That is why we consider the activity of the first joint digital media platform of Turkic-speaking countries Turkic.World created by Azerbaijani Trend News Agency and Turkish Albayrak Media Group to be extremely important, and we believe that it will continue to fulfill its mission at the highest level. - What role does this project play in expanding the information exchange between the Turkic states and bringing Azerbaijani realities to the Turkic world? - Undoubtedly, this media platform plays an important role in information exchange between Turkey and Azerbaijan, also other Turkic-speaking countries are represented in the project. Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, located in a large geographical area, based on common historical, cultural, and religious values, successfully cooperate in various spheres, and mutual strategic partnership reaches the highest level. According to the Memorandum of Understanding "On strategic cooperation in the field of media between Azerbaijan and Turkey", the main goal of the joint media platforms is to further strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in the field of media and communications and create a strategic media partnership. Therefore, the mentioned project is of particular importance in terms of sharing knowledge and experience in the field of media, jointly fighting misinformation in the international arena and reliably informing the world community, and building a communication bridge between the opinion leaders of two countries. The resistance of public opinion to harmful influences is also strengthened as a result of the educational activities of media. Our victory in the 44-day Second Karabakh War was gained thanks to the determination and dedication of the Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the valor of the heroic Azerbaijani Army, who made a fundamental turn in the work of the media community, as in all areas. The main theme of Azerbaijani journalism is highlighting, bringing to a wide audience the life story of every person who showed dedication both at the front-line and in the rear in achieving Victory, his contribution to our victory. Now the Azerbaijani media agencies are demonstrating a new conceptual approach to bring their work in line with the pace of the country's development and modern challenges. Representatives of fraternal country (Turkey) media, who went through the hardship of the war together with us, tirelessly conveyed our fair voice to the world, preparing reports from the battlefields. This solidarity inspired us even more. With the deeper and more comprehensive development of our media relations, new projects and platforms have become our main priorities in the military, political, economic, cultural, educational, and trade areas. -What contribution do such projects make to the integration of Azerbaijani media into the international information space? - Such projects play a special role in bringing our fair voice to the world, and also in integrating the Azerbaijani media into the international information space. The Turkic.World media platform has become an important means of conveying the realities of Turkic-speaking countries to the world community. We need strong media to bring the truth about our countries to an international audience. We, representatives of the media, must further increase our professionalism and vigilance in order to highlight the realities of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and all Turkic-speaking countries and to convey objective information to the world. By Trend Finland and Sweden are expected to send delegations to Turkey on Wednesday, in an attempt to solve problems regarding Ankara's opposition to the two Nordic countries' NATO membership, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah. "We are sending our delegations to visit Ankara, actually both Sweden and Finland. This will happen tomorrow so the dialogue is continuing," Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said at a panel in Davos on Tuesday. Turkey, a longstanding NATO member, has voiced its objections to Finland and Sweden's NATO membership bids, criticizing the two Nordic. President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an frequently reiterated Turkeys objections and said the country will not approve Sweden and Finlands bid to join NATO, as they fail to take a clear stance against terrorist organizations. Any country seeking to join the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance needs the unanimous support of the 30 members of the military alliance. The United States and other member states have been trying to clarify Ankara's position. By Trend The prospects of deepening cooperation between Georgia and Croatia were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trend reports citing Agenda.ge. Garibashvili addressed the progress made by Georgia on the path of European integration and stressed the importance of the bid for EU membership. The head of the Government also noted the integration aspiration was a historic choice of the countrys citizens, calling a strong support of partners in the process crucial, the Government Administration said. The prime ministers also discussed the great potential countries have for deepening economic relations and stressed the need to take appropriate steps. The American state of California might soon hold social media companies responsible for harming children who have become addicted to their products. Under a new bill that recently passed the state Assembly, parents could bring legal action against the likes of Instagram and TikTok for up to $25,000 for harming their children. The bill defines addiction as children under 18 who are both harmed by social media and who want to stop or reduce time spent on social media, but they cannot. The bill suggests the harm can be physical, mental, emotional, developmental, or material. Business groups have warned that if the bill becomes a law, social media companies would most likely stop operations for children in California rather than face the legal risk. The bill would only apply to social media companies that had at least $100 million in total sales in the past year. The move appears to aim at large social media companies like Facebook and others that control the marketplace. The bill would not apply to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu or to companies that only offer email and text messaging services. Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham was the creator of the bill. Cunningham used the term unfettered, meaning unrestrained or without limits, to describe how he views current social media use. The era of unfettered social experimentation on children is over and we will protect kids, he said. Mondays vote was an important but not final step for the bill. The bill now heads to the state Senate, where it will be the subject of hearings and discussions among lawmakers and the bills supporters and opponents. The bill gives social media companies two paths to escape responsibility in the courts. If the bill becomes law, it would take effect on January 1. Companies that remove features that are considered addictive to children by April 1 would not be responsible for damages. Also, companies that do regular reviews of their policies to identify and remove features that could be addictive to children would not be subjected to legal actions. Despite those conditions, business groups have opposed the bill. TechNet, a group of technology leaders, wrote to lawmakers that if the bill becomes law, companies would end operations for children under 18. There is no social media company, let alone any business, that could tolerate that legal risk, the group wrote. Lawmakers appeared willing to change the part of the bill that permits parents to take legal actions against companies. But they did not present any idea about what to do instead. Assemblymember Ken Cooley said as a lawyer he normally opposes bills that create more opportunities for lawsuits. But he said lawmakers must change the dynamics of what is surrounding us, surrounding our kids. We have to do something, he said. If it doesnt turn out right, we can modify as we go along. Im John Russell. Adam Beam reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. ________________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story addicted adj. unable to stop doing something that is harmful; having an unusually great interest in something or a need to do or have something usually + to streaming n. computers: playing continuously as data is sent to a computer over the Internet review n. an act of carefully looking at or examining the quality or condition of something or someone : examination or inspection tolerate -- v. to experience something without being harmed dynamic n. the way that two or more people behave with each other because of a particular situation; something that causes change or growth in something else modify v. to change some parts of (something) while not changing other parts China has not been using the kind of COVID-19 vaccine that has proven to offer the best protection against the virus. The country is working through its biggest coronavirus outbreak yet without a tool it could have started using many months ago. As early as the spring of 2020, the Chinese pharmaceutical company Fosun Pharma reached an agreement to distribute and later manufacture the mRNA vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech. The vaccine still has not been approved for use in mainland China. Health experts say that delay could lead to avoidable coronavirus deaths and deeper economic losses. Critics say China has had a policy of putting politics and national pride above public health. Studies have shown that mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna offer the best protection against hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Chinese vaccines made with older technology proved effective against the early strain of the virus. But the vaccine is much less effective against more recent versions, or variants. As this evidence became clearer, even countries that first used Chinese-made vaccines have turned to mRNA vaccines for booster shots and new vaccinations. China still has not. Officials have not publicly said why they have not acted. The mRNA vaccines are approved in much of the world. The Associated Press spoke with a Chinese health official and another person directly involved in the talks. They said officials have held back because they want to create the technology in China and not depend on foreign suppliers. Neither person gave the AP permission to publish their name. For more than a year, Chinas current approach was acceptable. The country was able to keep the virus in control better than any other large nation with its strict "zero COVID policy. But the fast-spreading omicron variant is testing that policy. Now, bigger and longer lockdowns are creating a greater economic and human cost. Other countries have been able to operate close to normal because their people are protected by vaccination or previous infection. But China must still depend on lockdowns to avoid rising numbers of hospitalizations and deaths. China may be changing its mind, however. The Communist Party-owned Global Times newspaper reported last month that Fosun Pharma is still working with health officials on its approval. And officials in Shanghai recently issued new policies that could permit the import of COVID-19 vaccines. For now, China is hoping for an mRNA vaccine from Abogen Biosciences. That is a company founded in 2019 by an American-trained scientist who once worked for Moderna. The company's vaccine candidate was successful in a small test in humans designed to measure safety, said a study that appeared in the publication Lancet Microbe. But large studies are needed to show whether the shot works to prevent infections. Such studies have not been completed. Even if the studies can be completed and the vaccine proves effective, experts say it will be difficult to produce all the shots that China needs. Abogen built a manufacturing facility in December 2020 that can produce up to 120 million doses a year. Im Dan Novak. Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. ______________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story pride n. a feeling that you respect yourself and deserve to be respected by other people consequence n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions disrupt v. to cause to be unable to continue in the normal way : to interrupt the normal progress or activity of variant adj. different in some way from others of the same kind approach n. a way of dealing with something dose n. the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time A German farmer is suing automaker Volkswagen (VW) for being partly responsible for the effects of climate change. The man, Ulf Allhoff-Cramer, claims drier soil and heavier rains linked to climate change have affected his fields, cows and forest operations. He said these effects have harmed his family business. In the case, Allhoff-Cramer calls on VW to end its production of gasoline powered vehicles by 2030. German automakers rejected a similar demand from environmental groups last year. Farmers are already being hit harder and faster by climate change than expected, Allhoff-Cramer recently told reporters. He has argued that since VW is the second-largest automaker, it should take responsibility for environmental damage linked to climate change. During a recent hearing, a court in the western town of Detmold asked Allhoff-Cramer and his lawyers to provide additional details to support their legal arguments, Germanys dpa news agency reported. The judge also asked whether the farmer had already suffered climate-related damages or is still expecting them. The next court hearing will take place on September 9. The case is supported by the environmental group Greenpeace. The organization has supported similar legal efforts in Germany that sought to hold companies and the government responsible for the effects of climate change. Such cases have had mixed success. Some have been dismissed, while one made it to Germany's top court. Last year, the high court in that case ordered the government to increase efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Volkswagen said in a statement that it aims to reduce its emissions as quickly as the business allows." VW has set a 2050 goal to cut carbon dioxide emissions to net-zero. "Volkswagen stands for climate protection and rapid decarbonization of the transport sector, but cannot meet this challenge alone," the company said. It added that such progress also depends on government rules, technological development and buyer behaviors. VW said lawmakers should be the ones to decide on climate change measures. The company said it would defend this position and ask for the lawsuit to be dismissed. In 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency discovered VW was using software that let diesel cars pass emissions tests, but then turned off pollution controls during normal driving. The company apologized for its actions and paid tens of billions of dollars in fines, business costs and damages to car owners. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story sue v. to take legal action against a person or organization and seek to get money from them because they have harmed you emission n. the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source allow v. to permit net-zero adj. when a country, city, etc. removes as many emissions as it produces rapid adj. happening or moving very quickly sector n. one part of a countrys economy challenge n. a difficult task or problem; something that is hard to do An 18-year-old gunman killed at least 19 students and two teachers at a elementary school Tuesday in the American state of Texas. Several other people hurt in the attack remain at local hospitals. The attack took place at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Officials said the gunman locked himself inside a fourth-grade classroom and started shooting. He used a rifle purchased just days ago, after his 18th birthday. The attack ended when law enforcement officers broke into the classroom and killed the shooter. Lieutenant Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety told CNN that the gunman barricaded himself by locking the door and just started shooting children and teachers that were inside that classroom. Officials identified the gunman as Salvador Ramos. He was a member of the community in the mainly Hispanic town of Uvalde. The town is about 135 kilometers west of San Antonio and near the Mexico border. Ramos, officials said, acted alone. He had shot his grandmother earlier and crashed his car before entering the school. The attack happened just two days before the last day of the school year. The attack was the deadliest shooting at an elementary school since the attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. A local gunman killed 20 students and six adults in 2012. Mass shootings in America Tuesday night, American President Joe Biden addressed the nation shortly after his return from a five-day trip in Asia. To lose a child is like having a piece of your soul ripped away, Biden said. As a nation, we have to ask: When in Gods name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? When in Gods name will we do what we all know in our gut needs to be done? The president also said, These kinds of mass shootings rarely happen anywhere else in the world. The elementary school shooting in Texas came just 10 days after another gunman killed 10 people at a food store in Buffalo, New York. The Gun Violence Archive said there were 15 more mass shootings that were not widely reported between the two shootings. The independent organization reported 213 mass shootings so far in 2022. The organization defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are shot. It collects its information from law enforcement, government, and other sources. What to do about gun violence? Every mass shooting in the United States seems to show the political division in the country. The idea that an 18-year-old kid can walk into a gun store and buy two assault weapons is just wrong, Biden said. The Democratic Party president had asked the Senate to pass bills from the House of Representatives. The proposed laws would require background checks and longer waiting periods for gun purchases. The Senate does not have the 60 votes required to overcome an expected filibuster from Republican Party senators. Other measures included a so-called red flag law meant to take guns away from people with mental health problems. On Tuesday night, Biden said, For every parent, for every citizen in this country, we have to make it clear to every elected official in this country: Its time to act. Ted Cruz is a Republican Senator from the state of Texas. He told MSNBC news, "We know from past experience that the most effective tool for keeping kids safe is armed law enforcement on the campus. Cruz also said that after every mass shooting, Democrats' and the news media's solution is to call for restrictions on gun rights. Cruz and other Republicans, including former President Donald Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, will speak before the gun rights lobbying group, the National Rifle Association, this Friday. Im Caty Weaver. Hai Do wrote this report for VOA Learning English. ______________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story barricade v. to block a door or entrance so that people cannot get in or leave lobby v. to try to influence government officials to make decision for or against a policy or to vote for a bill background check n. an investigation of records and information about a person to find out if they are qualified to receive or be permitted to something filibuster n. an effort to prevent a legislature (such as the U.S. Senate) from considering a bill by making long speeches or otherwise blocking the legislation from consideration HOLDREGE The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District reminds boaters and lake visitors about the importance of cleaning, draining and drying their watercraft to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species. Invasive species such as zebra mussels, not much bigger than your thumbnail, pose a threat to Nebraskas lakes, reservoirs and associated power-generating facilities. Once established, the critters are extremely difficult and expensive to remove. They can be very easily spread from one lake to another in boats, live wells, bait buckets, waders or even vegetation attached to boat trailers. When zebra mussels get into a waterway, they stick to every surface available and multiply quickly, many times clogging intake structures and facilities. The public is the only line of defense and Nebraska needs help to repel the invader. With summer activities getting underway at Centrals lakes - Lake McConaughy, Lake Ogallala, Johnson Lake, Jeffrey Lake, East Phillips Lake, Midway Lake or the Supply Canal itself - boaters are urged to clean, drain and dry any watercraft or recreational equipment before putting them into the water. Water safety is also of utmost importance when using CNPPIDs water resources for recreational purposes and the public should follow all regulations established by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. By Azernews By Necdet Burak Ozyurt Turkey's involvement in Africa has grown dramatically over the last 20 years in areas such as diplomacy, trade, humanitarian aid, education, culture, and business, Yeni Shafak daily reports. Throughout this period, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid 53 visits to 32 African countries, trade volume between the parties grew sixfold, the number of Turkish embassies increased to 43 and the flight destinations of Turkish Airlines reached 61 in 40 countries. Africa is a continent made up of 54 nations with a diverse range of ethnic groups, languages, religions, cultures, and traditions. The inhabitants of these lands, whose resources have been colonized by the West for centuries and whose people have been enslaved, now want to stand on their own feet, make their own decisions, and have a prosperous life. The significance Turkey places on Africa may be seen in President Erdogan's statement during his visit to Mauritania in 2018: "We want to walk together with Africa, while the new world order is being built. Although Turkey's first serious step towards Africa was the The Action Plan for opening up to Africa" prepared in 1998, the real activity started in 2003 with the "Strategy for the Development of Economic Relations with African Countries". As a result of this effort, 2005 was declared the "Year of Africa", and Ankara was admitted as an observer member to the African Union in the same year, and was declared a Strategic Partner in 2008. Moreover, the 1st Turkish-African Cooperation Summit was held in 2008, contacts were made with the presidents and ministers, who came to Istanbul from Africa. The second of Ankara's African summits was held in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, in 2014, while the third summit was organized in Istanbul in December 2021. Erdogan became the first foreign statesman, who visited Africa the most during his tenure as prime minister. The Turkish president, who has made 53 visits to 32 African countries to date, is working hard to strengthen Turkey's political and economic ties with Africa. Erdogan made his first visit to the continent in 2004, in Cairo, Egypt, and later to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau on February 20-23, 2022. According to reports, the trips play an essential role in increasing African people's affection for Turkey. Although Turkey's African strategy has long been based on "Soft Power" elements, the military sector has only lately been included in the relationship. Ankara exported defense items worth $288 million to Africa in 2021, a six-fold increase over the previous year, thanks to unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sales. Turkey's trade volume with Africa was roughly $5.4 billion in 2003, but this amount has already surpassed $30 billion in 2021, placing it among the top 10 exporting nations to the continent. The market value of Turkey's investments in Africa hit 6 billion dollars in 2021, after an 18-year period, while the size of projects performed by Turkish contractors throughout the continent exceeded 77 billion dollars. The increasing trade volume, growing diplomatic mission network, cultural diplomacy initiatives, and Turkey's role in air transportation connecting the continent to the rest of the world all indicate that ties will continue to expand in the long run. Erdogans visit to Mogadishu, Somalias capital on August 19, 2011, was one of the important steps taken toward the continent by Turkey. The visit was made when the local population was trying to get rid of the civil war and terror whirlpool while struggling with famine and drought. The establishment of Turkey's biggest embassy in Mogadishu once again demonstrated the significance Turkey places on Somalia and Africa in general. The aid campaigns launched in Turkey after the visit and Ankara's political, economic, and military efforts to restore Somalia yielded very positive results over time. The direct humanitarian nature of the Turkish aid model is today cited as the main reason for Somalias' sympathy for Turkey. Turkey is carrying out education and cultural projects in the continent as well. Turkish will be taught as an elective subject in Somalia as part of the Yunus Emre Institute's (YEE) project together with Somalias National Education Ministry. Turkish Education Foundation works with 175 educational institutions in 25 African nations to educate a total of 17,565 students. The Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), which was founded in 2010, provides scholarships to African youth who wish to study at Turkish institutions. Scholarships were awarded to 12,600 students from 54 African nations between 2012 and 2022. The number of applications submitted from Africa for 2022 has now surpassed 45,000. The Yunus Emre Institute (YEE), which conducts cultural diplomacy efforts on behalf of Turkey overseas, now operates 10 cultural centers in eight African nations, and this number is expected to double by 2022. The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) is one of the most important pillars of Turkish foreign policy in Africa. The agency aims to improve the daily lives of Africans with its work on health, vocational courses, agriculture, culture, and arts. TIKA established its first office in Ethiopia in 2005 and now has offices in 21 countries throughout the continent. The growth in the number of flights conducted by Turkish Airlines was one of the most important bridges between Turkey and African countries (THY). The company, which flies to 61 destinations in 40 African countries, works in accordance with Turkish foreign policy aims and makes a substantial contribution to Turkey's African exposure. While there were just 12 Turkish embassies across the continent in 2005, this number has already risen to 43 so far. African countries, on the other hand, did not remain indifferent to Turkey's interests. The number of African embassies in Ankara rose from 10 at the beginning of 2008 to 37. Moreover, as a result of its diplomatic relations with Africa, Turkey was elected as a temporary member of the United Nations Security Council in 2009 and received the support of 51 of the 53 African member states in the voting. Less than a day after a gunman massacred 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Texas, a Wednesday Senate hearing for President Joe Bidens pick to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reflected the deep political divisions over guns. Steve Dettelbach would be the first confirmed head of the ATF in seven years and the process could be fraught. For his part, Dettelbach vowed to run the agency without political interference in the hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Politics can play no role in law enforcement. None at all, he said. Biden noted the bipartisan support for Dettelbach at an event to sign an executive order on policing as he urged support for the head of the federal agency that enforces gun laws. For seven years weve been without anyone in charge, he said. "Its time for action. The Texas massacre carried out with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle cast a long shadow over the hearing, with Democrats making emotional pleas to restrict the similar firearms, especially for younger buyers. Salvador Ramos, 18, bought the guns legally shortly after his birthday, authorities have said. It was the second mass killing of the month carried about by an 18-year-old with an AR-15-style semi-automatic. Authorities say Payton Gendron drove several hours to a Black community in Buffalo and killed 10 people. The shooters in Texas and New York werent able to buy a beer, but they were old enough to buy an assault weapon, said Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California. Shootings rose sharply after the decade-long federal assault weapons ban expired in 2004, she said. The kind of weapons being used by the Russians in Ukraine have no place in a school, said Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont. Still, a California law requiring people to be 21 to buy a semiautomatic weapon was recently overturned by a federal appeals court. The Texas attack was the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012. Congress has passed little substantial federal legislation to curb gun violence in America since then. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas questioned Dettlebach Wednesday on the definition of the term assault weapon, a politicized term that can refer to various firearms. The point is, theres really no such thing as a category of assault weapons, he said. Dettlebach, a former federal prosecutor who has previously supported a ban, said a legal definition would have to come from Congress. I acknowledge that would be a difficult task to define assault weapons, he said. Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, meanwhile, said the country should be looking at the root causes of rampage violence rather than passing new gun restrictions. It raises questions could things like fatherlessness, the breakdown of families, isolation from civil society and glorification of violence be contributing factors? Lee said. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have failed to get nominees for the ATF position through the politically fraught process since the directors position was made confirmable in 2006. Since then, only one nominee, former U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones, has been confirmed. Biden had to withdraw the nomination of his first ATF nominee, gun control advocate David Chipman, after it stalled for months because of opposition from Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate. The nominee will need a simple majority to be confirmed. __ Whitehurst reported from Salt Lake City. Associated Press writer Fatima Hussein in Washington contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) Amber Heard told jurors Thursday that a harassment campaign waged against her by ex-husband Johnny Depp has left her humiliated and scared for her life from multiple death threats, and said she just wants Johnny to leave me alone. Heard was the final witness in the six-week libel trial Depp brought against his ex-wife. With cameras in the courtroom, millions of people have followed the trial, and interest seemed to gain momentum as the weeks went on and both Depp and Heard testified about the ugly details of their relationship. Online and at the courthouse, Depp's fans have overwhelmingly dominated the narrative, with groupies lining up overnight to get one of the few spots in the courtroom and wave at Depp as he walks in and out. Heard has been booed by spectators on the street as she enters and leaves the courthouse. The harassment and the humiliation, the campaign against me thats echoed every single day on social media, and now in front of cameras in the showroom every single day I have to relive the trauma, Heard said as she fought back tears. Perhaps it's easy to forget I'm a human being. On cross-examination, Depp lawyer Camille Vasquez told Heard that your lies have been exposed to the world" and questioned her about people who contradicted portions of her accounts. I know how many people will come out of the woodwork to be in support of Johnny, Heard responded. Depp is suing Heard for libel in Fairfax County Circuit Court over a December 2018 op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post describing herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. His lawyers say he was defamed by the article even though it never mentioned his name. Heard said she hopes the lawsuit will allow her to regain her voice, and said she had the right as an American to publish an article that described her experiences and how they relate to the national debate over domestic violence. Johnny has taken enough of my voice, she said. I have the right to tell my story. She said Depp has been fixated on revenge ever since she filed for divorce and obtained the restraining order against him. She referenced earlier testimony in which Depp texted Heard's disgruntled former personal assistant and urged her to come over for a spot of purple and well fix her flabby a nice and good!!! Johnny promised me promised me that hed ruin my life, that hed ruin my career. Hed take my life from me, Heard said. Depp has denied he ever struck Heard, and says she was the abuser in the relationship. Heard has testified about more than a dozen separate instances of physical abuse she says she suffered at Depps hands. The final witness Thursday morning for Depp's side was a hand surgeon, Richard Gilbert, who said he thinks the injury that occurred to Depp's middle finger could have occurred as Depp describes it. The tip of the finger was severed during a fight the couple had in Australia. Depp says it occurred when Heard threw a large vodka bottle at him. Heard says Depp did it to himself in a drug-fueled rage on a night when he also sexually assaulted her with a liquor bottle. Jurors will hear closing arguments on Friday. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. An assailant fled after stabbing three people at Club LaMark, 1525 N. Stoughton Road, early Thursday, Madison police said. The three were sitting around the bar when a man approached and stabbed them, police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer said. Police were sent to the bar shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday, Sgt. Christopher Keys said in a statement. The three who were stabbed were taken to local hospitals with what were believed to be non-life-threatening injuries, Keys said. Police ask that anyone with information on the incident contact them at 608-255-2345. Tipsters may remain anonymous by contacting Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014 or P3Tips.com. Individuals contacting Crime Stoppers can receive a reward of up to $1,000 for tips that lead to an arrest. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The second of three men charged in the drive-by fatal shooting of 11-year-old Anisa Scott nearly two years ago pleaded guilty Wednesday morning. Prosecutors agreed to recommend he be sentenced to no more than 35 years in prison. In a brief hearing, Perion Carreon, 21, of Madison, answered yes, maam and guilty when questioned by Dane County Circuit Judge Julie Genovese about whether he understood the charges against him and how he was pleading. In addition to pleading guilty to being a party to first-degree reckless homicide in Scotts death, Carreon pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted homicide, also as a party to the crime, for trying to kill Christopher Carthans, who was the boyfriend of Scotts mother and was driving the vehicle Scott was in when she was shot in the head on Aug. 11, 2020, on East Washington Avenue. Scotts mother, Ashley Rios, declined to comment after the hearing, saying she would release a statement when the cases against all three of the men charged have been resolved. Carreons plea comes five days after Andre P. Brown, 18, of Madison, pleaded guilty to being a party to first-degree reckless homicide in the case. Prosecutors agreed to recommend he spend no more than 40 years in prison. Jury selection in the case of the third man charged, 19-year-old Jerry Ward Jr., is set to begin Tuesday. All three men were originally charged with first-degree intentional homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide. There is nothing in Carreons and Browns plea agreements that would require them to testify at Wards trial, but District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said they are subpoenaed and will be called as witnesses. According to a criminal complaint and Madison police, Brown, Carreon and Ward were trailing Carthans Chevy Tahoe in a stolen Kia Optima near Route 30 just before noon. Scott was in Carthans front passenger seat. Documents in a separate federal case filed later against Carthans say police believed Carthans knew he was a target and enlisted Anisa to travel with him to discourage anyone from shooting at him. The complaint says Carreon told police Brown and Ward fired on the Tahoe two separate times in the space of a few minutes. But in an amended criminal complaint, filed when Ward was charged about a week after Carreon and Brown, Ward claimed that Carreon fired on the Tahoe both times. Ward has also maintained he was asleep in the back of the Optima when the gunfire started. At a recent hearing, Genovese denied a motion by Wards attorney to dismiss the homicide charge against him. Assistant District Attorney Dan Hess said Ward had a gun on his lap and had helped another person in the car clear a gun that had jammed. Carthans told police he was driving when he heard glass break and realized someone was shooting at him, according to the complaint. He saw that Anisa was injured and continued driving while he called 911. He heard four more gunshots and then saw another car with the front-seat passenger firing through the passenger-side window, the complaint states. Carreon also told police he had picked Brown up from an apartment on Northport Drive, the complaint states. He said Brown, seated in the front passenger seat, fired the first shot and that another person in the car fired the second time. He said he was told to turn the car around so that Brown could fire again, the complaint states. According to federal court documents filed later, Carthans told his federal probation agent that he did not believe he was the target of the shooting and that it was a case of mistaken identity. He told his agent that he had been mistaken for the older brother of a man who had stolen a significant amount of marijuana from a storage locker, and that the pot belonged to a cartel. Carthans said two of the three charged with the shooting had been hired by the cartel the story police doubted. U.S. District Judge William Conley sentenced Carthans, 34, to 21 months in prison in September 2020 for violations of conditions of his federal supervision. He was released in February, federal prison records indicate. 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. Former East High School Principal Sean Leavy will take on a new role as principal of Madisons Capital High School at the start of the 2022-23 school year. Leavy left his position at East in October, less than three months into the school year, following protests at the school by students who called his response to alleged sexual assaults inadequate. He accepted another administrative position with the Madison School District, as director of secondary multi-tiered support and scheduling, according to an email sent by Superintendent Carlton Jenkins to families in October. Jenkins told Capital High staff that Leavy will lead the districts alternative school in the coming school year in an email on Wednesday, and noted Leavys experience as principal at a high school in the Westosha School District, and as assistant principal at a high school in Ohios Columbus School District before he came to the Madison School District in July from Beloit. Capital High Schools former principal, Quinn Craugh, told his staff, students and the district in March he planned to move to the Verona School District to become principal at Savannah Oaks Middle School at the start of the 2022-23 school year. Leavys departure from East in October came less than two weeks after multiple student-led protests called into question his response to alleged sexual assaults or inappropriate touching between students. Hundreds of students gathered on the front lawn of East, on two separate days in October, to call attention to what they saw as an inadequate response by Leavy in addressing alleged sexual misconduct involving students. In speeches, students called on administrators to suspend a student who had been accused of an off-campus assault and called for Leavy to resign. Leavy apologized for his response to students, who voiced concerns regarding sexual assault during an assembly that took place prior to the protests, in an email to families ahead of the first demonstration. His apology didnt dissuade hundreds of East students who walked out of their classrooms two days later and for the second time that week, along with students from La Follette, West and Memorial high schools. Mikki Smith became interim principal at East following Leavys departure. She had been an assistant principal at East for 11 years and will be the schools permanent principal, Jenkins told families in April. 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. A day after a gunman killed 21 people at a Texas elementary school, Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul called on Wisconsins Republican-controlled Legislature to ban untraceable, homemade guns and require universal background checks for gun buyers. Separately, Sen. Melissa Agard, D-Madison, circulated a petition calling on the Legislature to approve universal background checks and allow judges to take guns away from owners they deem risky. In 2019, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers called his first special session encouraging legislators to pass those measures, but Republican leaders called the bills an infringement on Second Amendment rights and ended the special session just seconds after it began. Along with banning untraceable ghost guns and background checks, Kaul called for keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, which spokesperson Gillian Drummond said was in response to last weeks Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that allows certain domestic abusers to receive a concealed carry permit. These are steps that have broad public support, he said. What we lack is legislative will. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, as well as several Republican legislators did not respond to requests for comment. In 2019, Vos reiterated Republican concerns that red-flag laws, under which people deemed to be threats by a court must surrender their firearms, would infringe upon due process. We already have had these debates, we already know where people stand, Vos said. I dont necessarily want to spend a bunch of time playing politics with this. Evers slammed the Legislatures inaction at the time. This year, Evers vetoed AB 597, which would have allowed concealed carry licensees to bring guns to places of worship located on school grounds, and AB 495, which would have allowed concealed carry licensees to bring guns in their vehicles on school grounds. Politicians, and Republican politicians in particular, need to be more concerned about parents than they are about the NRA, Kaul said Wednesday. They need to be more worried about about keeping kids safe than they are about keeping their political futures safe. In Washington, D.C., Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson refused to answer whether he would support background checks for people who want to buy guns. Calling Tuesdays shooting heartbreaking in an interview with radio host James T. Harris, Johnson blamed the shooting on many Americans secularization and called for stronger communities and renewed faith. Speaking on the U.S. Senate floor Wednesday, Johnson also called for passage of a measure he authored that would codify the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety into law. That measure calls for the clearinghouse to include information about threat prevention, preparedness, protection, mitigation, incident response and recovery. Its a good idea, Johnson said. It could save lives. It is an action, when people are calling for action following this tragedy. The legislation does not call for background checks for gun buyers. Neither chamber in Congress has voted on the measure. Democratic U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blocked action on the bill Wednesday, saying he would focus instead on a measure that would authorize federal agencies to monitor, analyze, investigate and prosecute domestic terrorists. Democrats arent interested in solutions. They are interested in maintaining wedge issues that they believe give them a political advantage, Johnson spokesperson Alexa Henning said in a statement. Asked whether Johnson would support the domestic terrorism measure, Henning said, Wont speak to hypotheticals since Sen. Schumer today, after he blocked Sen. Johnsons commonsense school safety legislation, said there would be numerous proposals added to this bill and we have yet to see that. 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 Wisconsin Elections Commission postponed choosing its new chair Tuesday after a Republican commissioner who could have challenged for the post abruptly resigned, saying the state GOP doesnt want him to lead the commission because he believes Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden fair and square. Dean Knudson told the commission in a farewell speech that Republican leaders have branded him a RINO, or Republican in name only, a derogatory term Republicans attach to members of the party they dont feel are loyal enough. Knudson said he believes the GOP has falsely peddled conspiracy theories that Biden somehow stole Wisconsin from Trump, even though multiple recounts and court rulings have found no widespread fraud and that Biden beat Trump by about 21,000 votes in the state. The painful truth is President Trump lost the election in 2020 ... and it was not due to election fraud, Knudson said. Its been made clear to me from the highest levels of the Republican Party of Wisconsin there was a deep desire that I not be chair and thats fine. Anna Kelly, a spokesperson for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, hadnt responded to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment. The commission is made up of three Democrats and three Republicans. The chair rotates between the parties every two years. This year is the Republican turn at the helm. Under state law, only Knudson and Republican commissioner Bob Spindell are eligible for the post. Spindell has been publicly campaigning for the post. The next chair will hold the position heading into the November election and in the lead up to the 2024 presidential election in battleground Wisconsin. The chair by state law approves the vote canvass following elections and certifies results. The chair also sets the agenda for the commission and can exert influence over how questions are framed, an important power on the board that is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. Knudson suggested the commission hold off on a vote until Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, appoints his successor. Despite Spindells urgings to take the vote, the commission voted 5-1 to postpone the contest until its June 10 meeting. Spindell was the only commissioner who voted against the move. In the crosshairs Earlier in the day, GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels changed his stance on the Elections Commission, joining his fellow Republicans in the race in calling for the complete dismantling of the 6-year-old agency that administers elections in the state. Michels new position means the Wisconsin Elections Commission would be abolished under plans proposed by all four top Republicans running to unseat Democratic Gov. Tony Evers this fall. The six-member bipartisan commission was created by Republicans in 2016, but has since come under fire from members of the GOP for how the 2020 election was administered due to unfounded claims of widespread fraud and mounting pressure from Trump. Michels, co-owner of Brownsville-based construction company Michels Corp., said his about-face comes after discussions he had with delegates and Spindell at the Republican Party of Wisconsins annual convention in Middleton over the weekend. Spindell said late last year hes probably responsible for many of the commissions split votes in recent meetings, a trend that has made it near impossible for the agency to pass or rescind guidance to local election clerks and fuel for the commissions critics. While this evolution may be uncommon in politics, Im not a politician, Michels said in a statement. Ive come to the conclusion the WEC is not salvageable. To have non-elected officials overseeing the administration of elections has proven to be fundamentally flawed. Fellow GOP gubernatorial candidates former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, business owner and former Marine Kevin Nicholson, and state Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport, have called for a complete dismantling of the Elections Commission. Both Ramthun and Nicholson have said they want to see the Elections Commission eliminated and oversight of elections moved to the Secretary of States Office. Kleefischs proposal would move election administration under the secretary of state or the state Legislature and create a new office within the state Department of Justice to to handle election fraud. Divergent view Michels said hes opposed to placing election oversight under the same agencies as his GOP rivals, noting that doing so could give more power to Attorney General Josh Kaul and Secretary of State Doug La Follette, both Democratic incumbents who are seeking reelection this fall. Michels indicated he wants to see elections overseen by elected officials, but did not say who would take on that role if the commission is dissolved. His campaign had not responded to an email seeking additional details. Kleefisch tweeted Wednesday her support for Spindell as the commissions next chair as a means to ensure that our laws are followed this election cycle. Michels new stance comes just weeks after he unveiled a plan earlier this month to overhaul the Wisconsin Elections Commission by repealing all previous election guidance issued by the agency to clerks across the state and terminate the six members of the bipartisan commission three Republicans and three Democrats and replace them with new appointments. Some components of Michels initial plan remain intact, including his call to fire any agency staff that participated in the creation of formal guidance that failed to comply with state law and banning private election grants and unmanned absentee ballot drop boxes. Vos holds firm Earlier this year, former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who was hired by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, to lead the one-party review of the 2020 election at a cost of $676,000 to taxpayers, listed the elimination and dismantling of the Elections Commission as one of his top recommendations to the Legislature. Vos, who has repeatedly extended Gablemans contract with the state despite no evidence of widespread fraud in the now 18-month-old election, has been adamantly opposed to eliminating the commission. Vos has also rejected Gablemans recommendation that the Legislature consider decertifying the results of the 2020 election, something experts and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have described as a constitutional impossibility. Calls to dismantle the Elections Commission come just six years after the agency was formed in 2016 by then-Gov. Scott Walker and Republican lawmakers to replace the nonpartisan Government Accountability Board, which itself was created in 2008 in the wake of the 2001 legislative caucus scandal that saw lawmakers from both parties convicted of using taxpayer resources to campaign. The GAB came under fire from Republicans for its role in an investigation into coordination between Walkers 2012 recall campaign and supposedly independent political groups. The winner of the Aug. 9 primary will go on to face Evers in the Nov. 8 election. Evers, who has vetoed multiple bills passed by the GOP-led Legislature aimed at putting restrictions on elections, has said he opposes any effort to make voting harder in Wisconsin. State Journal reporter Mitchell Schmidt contributed to this report. 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. Newly disclosed documents show former Republican Gov. Scott Walker encouraged an environmental appointee not to give up his position when his term expired to thwart Democratic Gov. Tony Evers agenda. Fred Prehn, a Wausau dentist and cranberry grower appointed by Walker to the Natural Resources Board in 2015, has refused to step down since his term ended in May 2021. Senate Republicans have yet to hold a confirmation hearing for his replacement, securing a conservative majority on the board, which oversees the Department of Natural Resources. Recovered text messages released to the Wisconsin State Journal in response to an open records request show Prehn sought advice from the former governor in November 2020, more than six months before Evers nominated Sandra Naas to replace him. I heard from legislators they do not intend on confirming anybody soon. And of course the chances of Evers reappointing me are slim to none, Prehn wrote. Im wondering if you think its improper for me to stay on until somebodys confirmed. I know its been done in the past but is it really the proper thing to do? Prehn went on to say the change in the boards priorities is becoming staggering and if he stayed on Walkers appointees would maintain a majority for a while longer. If possible, stay on, Walker responded. Any voices that can counter their racial view of the world are good. Walker did not elaborate. A spokesperson for his current organization, Young Americas Foundation, had not responded to a request for clarification on whether he intended to type racial or radical. The DNR previously released emails showing Prehn discussed his plans to remain with an aide to Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Minocqua Republican and fierce critic of the DNR, as well as conservative lobbyists. No text messages were included in that batch of records. A DNR attorney said the agency recently received the deleted texts with Walker as part of a lawsuit brought by Midwest Environmental Advocates, which accused Prehn of withholding public records. A Dane County judge this spring declined Prehns request to dismiss the case, ruling his communications regarding his plans are public records. Prehn has previously denied coordinating with GOP elected leaders, telling The Associated Press he never spoke to any currently elected Wisconsin state officials in regards to this matter but spoke to friends and acquaintances. Prehn said Wednesday he asked Walker because he valued his input. My concern as to why I may or may not remain on board was mine and mine alone, Prehn wrote in an email to the State Journal. I believe this administration has gone rogue with ignoring many of the state statutes. Clearly many of my concerns have come to fruition. To the court The state Supreme Court is considering whether Prehn can legally remain in office. Prehn contends a 1964 state Supreme Court ruling allows appointees to stay beyond the end of their terms until a replacement is confirmed by the Senate. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul has asked the courts to force Prehn to step down, arguing his seat became vacant when his term ended, and the law allows the governor to temporarily fill vacancies even without Senate approval. Since his term expired, Prehn has voted to reject regulations of toxic PFAS compounds in groundwater and to weaken the agencys proposed drinking water standards for the so-called forever chemicals. He voted last fall to exceed a bag limit recommended by DNR biologists for a wolf hunt that was ultimately scrapped when a federal judge reinstated federal protections. If allowed to remain, Prehn could also cast a deciding vote on the DNRs new wolf management plan, which could set population goals and help determine hunting quotas if the gray wolf is again removed from the endangered species list. 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. By Azernews By Yasemin Asan Europeans are flocking to Turkey in search of healing, as the country develops as a health tourism destination, Yeni Shafak daily has reported. Turkey has established itself as a major hub for health tourism. In 2021, 642,000 individuals came to the country for treatment, with 400,000 of them from Europe. The county received full marks at the Amsterdam Health Tourism Fair, Netherlands on 20-21 May. TOBB Turkey Fair Organization Sector Assembly President Cihat Alagoz said that they attracted the attention of Europeans at the fair in Amsterdam. In view of the modern infrastructure of the medical industry, trained staff, hospitality, and Turks' entrepreneurial drive, Alagoz believes that health tourism has a large foreign currency earning potential. He added that in 2022, they will also participate in health tourism fairs, slated to be held in Germany, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Alagoz stated that Turkey holds a significant position in the global health tourism market, which includes countries such as India, South Korea, the United States, Thailand, and Malaysia. He added that Turkey has recently become one of the leading countries, thanks to recent breakthroughs in the health tourism sector. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) data, the number of people coming to our country for health tourism in 2020 was 388,150, and tourism income was $550 million. In 2021, these numbers nearly doubled, and tourism revenue exceeded $1 billion, Alagoz stressed. However, considering the difficulties of fully recording health tourism data, it is estimated that health tourism revenues are between $2.5 and $3 billion together with the unregistered figures, he added. Alagoz underlined that the visitors mostly prefer Turkey for aesthetic/hair transplants, cardiac surgery, orthopedics, oncology, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and dental treatment. According to the expert, Turkeys specialized skilled human resources and world-class technology and medical equipment, the simplicity in proving visas, the ease of transportation, geographical structure, seasonal benefits, and the high-quality healthcare provision are very appealing to foreigners. In addition, our favorable price advantage of up to 60 percent compared to Europe, our thermal underground resources, which are among the first in the world, and our traditional Turkish hospitality are among the main reasons why our country is preferred for health tourism, he emphasized. Alagoz stated that health tourism, which has high added value and high expenditure per tourist, stands out with its return, profitability, and sustainability features in tourism. While the expenditure of a normal tourist coming to our country in 2021 was approximately $750, it is estimated that the expenditure of those who come for health was around $2,000, he said. DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed hopes Thursday for global cooperation on climate change, hunger and war, while dozens of climate activists demonstrated in the Swiss town of Davos as a meeting of global elites ended with many words but little concrete action to solve the world's most pressing crises. The German leader ratcheted up his criticism of Moscow's military onslaught in Ukraine during a speech on the last day of the World Economic Forum's annual gathering. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin "wants to return to a world order in which the strongest dictate what is right, in which freedom, sovereignty and self-determination are not. Voicing hopes for countries to work together on shared crises, Scholz said todays world is no longer bipolar as it was during the Cold War era when United States and the Soviet Union dominated geopolitics. If some want to take us back to the past of nationalism, imperialism and war, our answer is not with us. We stand for the future," he said in the final major address of this week's Davos event. "When we realize that our world is becoming multipolar, then that must spur us on to even more multilateralism, to even more international cooperation. As he spoke, scores of young people protested across town, with banners that read Cut the (BS)! and There is no Planet B adding a coda of condemnation to the gathering of elites in Davos that is often derided for being more about talk, business and relationship-building than action. Forum organizers reject such claims, insisting they want to improve the state of the world by drawing in decision-makers. The gathering in the Swiss Alps twice suspended over the COVID-19 pandemic has been overshadowed by the war in Ukraine, rising food and fuel prices, and signs that governments aren't doing enough to fight global warming. That has doused many moods in the face of a can-do spirit by many innovators and entrepreneurs at the event. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and others made the journey or joined by video link to drum up support for their countrys grueling and uncertain campaign to oust Russian forces. Russian President Vladimir Putins campaign has drawn international scorn and unsettled his allies, and as a result, Russian business and government envoys who have been staples at Davos since the end of the Soviet Union werent invited this year. Scholz reiterated his conviction that Putin will not win the war, saying the Russian leader has already failed to achieve all his strategic goals. He noted that a capture of all of Ukraine by Russia seems further away today than it did at the beginning of the war." Kuleba voiced little hope that the war could come to a negotiated end, or even a pause, anytime soon. The moment Russia will agree to a cease-fire will be the moment it will be one step away from losing the war, he told reporters late Wednesday. They (the Russians) will agree to a cease-fire with only one purpose: to save themselves from losing the war. Until then, this war will continue. Kuleba has pressed for Western powers to supply Ukraine with weapons like multiple-launch rocket systems and pointed to a saga about obtaining Gepard tanks from Germany, among other things his government has discussed with Berlin. We clearly understand that Germany will not be a country that will lead the process of supplying Ukraine with heavy weapons we need, Kuleba said. Let's make it clear: If we don't get heavy weapons, we get killed. The upshot of Ukraines efforts is to rally countries around a budding democracy with ambitions to join the European Union the free-world and free-market club in the face of an onslaught by a Russian regime that clamps down on dissent and centralizes power in one man: Putin. Also on many minds in Davos was the deadly school shooting in Texas. More broadly, battles against global warming, a food crisis, and cyberattacks by hackers from Russia and beyond have exposed how progressive leaders from civil society, corporations and government have struggled to cope with simultaneous crises. Russian officials are blaming Western sanctions or Ukrainian mines in the sea. This food crisis is real, and we must find solutions, World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said on a trade panel Wednesday. Davos churned up ideas from innovators and officials, but translating those into action could take time if at all. The meeting is above all a talkfest, and concrete, high-profile achievements and announcements have been few this year. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, a leading climate change crusader, briefly railed against failed efforts for gun control in the United States before trumpeting a new system to monitor greenhouse gas emissions by satellite. That will increase needed scrutiny and transparency about businesses' burning of carbon and other planet-warming gases, he said. Gore, who shared a Nobel Peace Prize with the U.N.s top body on climate science for their work on climate change, pointed to an initiative known as Climate Trace that combines more than 300 satellites with machine learning to create algorithms and zero in on emission hotspots worldwide. Its expected to release results in October from the 500 largest sources of emissions. We are about to enter an age of radical transparency, he said. AP reporters Peter Prengaman and Kelvin Chan in Davos and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. ATLANTA (AP) Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia easily dispatched Donald Trump's hand-picked challenger on Tuesday in a Republican primary that demonstrated the limits of the former president and his conspiracy-fueled politics in a critical swing state. Kemp will face Democrat Stacey Abrams this fall in what will be one of the nation's most consequential governor's races. The GOP results, combined with the loss of the Trump-backed candidate for secretary of state, served as a stinging rebuke for the former president in a state he prioritized above almost all others. Angered by Kemp's refusal to go along with his extraordinary effort to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, Trump personally recruited former Sen. David Perdue to challenge the sitting governor. He also helped clear the primary field and spent more than $3 million on the failed effort. Kemp ultimately emerged as a powerful candidate able to draw prolific fundraising totals that helped him flood Georgia with television and other ads. He tapped into the power of his office to show voters what he could do for them, unveiling a $5.5 billion, 8,100-job Hyundai Motor plant near Savannah in the final days of the campaign. "Even in the middle of a tough primary, conservatives across our state didn't listen to the noise. They didn't get distracted," Kemp told cheering supporters, before calling on his party to rally behind his campaign. In defeat, Perdue struck a unifying tone that has become increasingly rare in a Republican Party dominated by Trump's hardline tactics. "I want you to know tonight that I am fully supporting Brian Kemp in his run to beat Stacey Abrams," Perdue said. "It's emotional for all of us, we're disappointed, I get that. Let's take a few hours, lick our wounds, and tomorrow morning, you're going to hear me going to work for Brian Kemp to make damn sure that Stacey Abrams is never governor of Georgia." In all, five states were voting Tuesday, including Alabama, Arkansas, Texas and Minnesota. But none had been more consumed than Georgia by Trump and his lie that the 2020 election was stolen. Altogether, Trump failed to replace all four Republican incumbents he targeted in the state, including the governor, attorney general and secretary of state. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who refused to support the former president's direct calls to overturn the 2020 election, defeated Trump's choice, Rep. Jody Hice. The Georgia losses become the latest examples of a primary setback for Trump's preferred candidates, who have lost governor's races in Idaho and Nebraska. A Pennsylvania Senate primary is too close to call a week after the election. Still, the totality of Tuesday's contests underscored the sustained power of Trumpism in Republican politics 18 months after he was voted out of office. His preferred Senate candidate in Georgia, Herschel Walker, easily won the GOP nomination despite warnings from Walker's Republican competitors about his history of domestic violence and mental health struggles. He will face Democratic incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock in the fall in a race that could determine control of the chamber. Regardless of Trump's involvement in their races, virtually all of the Republican candidates even Kemp ran on "election integrity." That phrase that has emerged as a code for the former president's baseless grievances about the 2020 election, which were roundly rejected by courts and his own attorney general. Conservative candidates from Georgia to Arkansas to Texas also leaned into Trump's preferred culture wars by playing up concerns about transgender athletes, "critical race theory" and illegal immigration. Sensing Kemp's strength in Georgia, however, other prominent Republicans had grown increasingly willing to defy the former president. Trump's own vice president, Mike Pence, rallied with Kemp in the Atlanta suburbs on Monday evening. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who also campaigned for Kemp and has been critical of Trump, described his victory as "enormous." "I am so proud of and happy for my friend and just as importantly for the Georgia GOP and the people of Georgia," Christie tweeted. "They were not going to kick out a great Governor or be willing participants in the DJT Vendetta Tour." Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats elsewhere were navigating challenging primaries. Democrats were especially focused on a runoff election in south Texas, where longtime incumbent Rep. Henry Cuellar was facing a fierce challenge from progressive Jessica Cisneros in a race where abortion was a prominent issue. Cuellar is the last anti-abortion Democrat serving in the House. The race was too early to call with the candidates separated by 175 votes, or 0.38 percentage points, out of 45,209 ballots counted as of 2 a.m. ET Wednesday. In Alabama, conservative firebrand Rep. Mo Brooks and Katie Britt advanced to a June runoff to represent the GOP in the race to replace retiring Sen. Richard Shelby. Britt served as Shelby's former chief of staff, while Brooks, a leading figure at the Jan. 6 "Stop the Steal" rally that preceded the Capitol attack, initially won Trump's endorsement. Trump rescinded his backing after watching Brooks struggle in the polls. And former Trump White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, who was the face of an administration that contributed to the nation's stark divide, won the Republican governor's nomination in Arkansas. Back in Georgia, Democratic Rep. Lucy McBath defeated Democratic Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux in suburban Atlanta after being forced into a rare incumbent-on-incumbent primary after Republicans redrew the congressional map. McBath, whose son was murdered, has become a vocal advocate for gun control. Not far away, in Georgia's 14th congressional district, leading Trump ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene won her primary election, despite a first term notable for her conspiracy theories and controversy. Tuesday marked the first Georgia election under a new voting law adopted by the Republican-backed state legislature in response to Trump's grievances. The changes made it harder to vote by mail, which was popular among Democrats in 2020 amid the pandemic; introduced new voter identification requirements that critics warned might disenfranchise Black voters; and expanded early voting in rural areas that typically vote Republican. The new law also banned handing out food or water within 150 feet of a polling place, a practice common in urban areas where there are typically long voter lines. Despite concerns about the impact of the law, there were no major or systemwide issues reported in Georgia. There were sporadic reports of polling locations opening late, minor equipment troubles and some voters finding themselves at the wrong location. In the Atlanta suburb of Woodstock, Republican primary voter David Butler said he likes Trump, but chose to support Kemp instead of the Trump-backed Perdue. He said Trump's endorsement had "no impact, none, whatsoever" on his decision. "I like Trump a lot, but Trump is in the past," Butler said. ___ Peoples reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Jeff Martin in Woodstock, Georgia, contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) Sweden and Finland's push to join NATO won't require adding more U.S. ground forces into either country, the U.S. general nominated to take over European Command told senators Thursday. But Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli said military exercises and occasional American troop rotations will probably increase. Cavoli, who currently serves as head of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, said the increased military focus will probably continue to be on eastern Europe where nations are more worried about potential Russian aggression and any spillover of the war on Ukraine. The center of gravity of NATO forces has shifted eastward, Cavoli told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his nomination hearing. Depending on the outcome of the conflict, we may have to continue that for some time. Cavoli was asked about the U.S. troop presence in Europe, which has grown from fewer than 80,000 to about 102,000 since the buildup to Russia's invasion. He said the increase had no ties to the more recent move by Finland and Sweden to seek NATO membership. Sweden and Finland submitted their written applications to join NATO last week in one of the most significant geopolitical consequences of Russia's war on Ukraine. Cavoli noted that the U.S already has strong military ties with both countries, and that additional exercises and other engagements are likely to grow. If confirmed, Cavoli will be key as the Pentagon assesses its military structure across Europe. Defense officials have noted that historic troop concentrations in Germany, Italy and Britain may well shift and spread out into other eastern nations, such as Poland and the Baltics. Eastern European countries have been clamoring for more U.S. weapons and troops, as a hedge against Russia. Cavoli said the U.S. also has to continue to strike a delicate balance and ensure its actions in Europe don't inflame relations with Russia and spark a broader conflict. One must not shy away from activity to stay strong and outline our priorities, he said, but the U.S. also must be careful not to overdue that and create a problem where there wasnt one." Cavoli's nomination to be the top U.S. commander in Europe includes the job of NATO Supreme Allied Commander, which gives him a critical role in the Russian war on Ukraine. Committee members voiced support for his nomination, which is expected to be easily confirmed by the Senate. Cavoli has extensive expertise on Russia. He served as a foreign area officer with a concentration on Eurasia, spent time in Russia, and speaks Russian, Italian and French. He was also the director for Russia on the Joint Staff. He would replace Gen. Tod Wolters, who currently heads European Command but is finishing his three-year tour there. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin's top legislative Republican said Thursday that he is open to the idea of arming teachers following the latest school shooting in Texas, while he dismissed as disingenuous" an offer from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to find common ground. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos told The Associated Press that finding ways to better protect schools, including with additional police, armed security guards and armed teachers, should be on the table. It's not just teachers. Its making sure that people who are inside of school have the ability to defend themselves, Vos said. But the idea that we are going to take a heinous act like this and find some kind of logical way to prevent it 100% of the time, I just dont see that occurring." Evers, when asked about Vos' proposal at a news conference on another topic, said, he didn't think teachers would support it and that it would make schools more dangerous. Evers is a former teacher, school district superintendent and state superintendent. There are better ways, Evers said. Id like to think about finding ways to keep guns away from people who are going to cause these types of problems. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul dismissed the proposal as a really wacky and frankly dangerous idea. We cant be turning our schools into war zones, he said. It's not going to make them safer. In fact, it would make them more dangerous. Democratic state Rep. Deb Andraca, of Whitefish Bay, tweeted her opposition to the idea. I am a licensed teacher and a gun owner with my concealed carry permit, she said. This is a terrible idea. Vos said more people in schools trained to handle violent outbreaks could respond not just to shootings but to a whole array of problems, including sexual assaults and other crimes. Past Republican proposals to arm teachers have not gone anywhere in the GOP-controlled Legislature. And any bill to do that now would certainly be vetoed by Evers, who is up for reelection in November. Republican gubernatorial candidate Kevin Nicholson was also open to the idea. His spokeswoman Courtney Mullen said Nicholson backs having armed and professionally trained professionals guarding schools whenever possible, but allowing some teachers who are trained and licensed to carry in order to protect our students may also be warranted. The other three Republican candidates for governor - Rebecca Kleefisch, Tim Michels and state Rep. Timothy Ramthun did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Earlier this year, Evers vetoed Republican bills that would have allowed holders of concealed carry permits to have firearms in vehicles on school grounds and in churches located on the grounds of a private school. He also vetoed a measure that would have allowed anyone with a concealed carry license from any state to be armed in Wisconsin. Currently, only people with licenses from states that conduct background checks on applicants can carry concealed guns in Wisconsin. Evers and other Democrats called for action this week after an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and their two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Evers called a special session in 2019 for the Legislature to pass bills instituting a universal background check for gun purchases and a red flag law that would give judges the ability to temporarily take away firearms from people determined to be a risk. The Legislature did not take up those bills. Democrats on Wednesday, including Kaul, renewed the call for Republicans to consider the bills. Vos dismissed Kaul's plea as just trying to throw something out there to make himself relevant. Kaul is also up for reelection in November. Kaul said Vos and other Republicans who refuse to take action are deflecting from the main issues to appease the far right ends of their base. And its a choice that they are making to ultimately not take action and instead to allow mass shootings to keep occurring one after the other without taking action. Evers urged lawmakers to look for common ground. But Vos, who has not spoken with Evers in more than a year and a half, said the offer was not a serious effort. Evers, in a disingenuous way, talks about things that are very difficult or impossible to accomplish as opposed to those things that really could be, Vos said. Evers' spokeswoman Britt Cudaback did not immediately return a message. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Phil Hands | Wisconsin State Journal Editorial Cartoonist and letters editor for the Wisconsin State Journal Follow Phil Hands | Wisconsin State Journal 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 A gunman killed 19 children and two adults at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday afternoon. It was the deadliest mass shooting at a school since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012. Sadly, since then, lawmakers have done nothing to keep dangerous guns out of the hands of dangerous people. In fact many states, including Texas, have actually loosened gun restriction in that time. We must act to stop this from happening again. We need tougher gun laws to prevent dangerous people from easily obtaining weapons, and we need better funding for mental health care to help these troubled young men (and it's almost always young men) deal with their problems in a non-violent way. No parent should have to bury a child cut down by mass gun violence. No parent should have to worry about whether their child will return from school. As a parent of a third grader my heart goes out to the families of the victims. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. During the 2020 campaign, Joe Biden was outspoken in his desire to revive the spirit of bipartisanship in this country. On May 15, Politico reported that, at the urging of many advisers, Biden had mostly given up on working with the GOP, which he purportedly now views as an existential threat to the nations democracy. Four days later, Biden enjoyed the biggest bipartisan victory of his presidency. Talk about timing. The historic $40 billion aid package for Ukraine was, as Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell predicted, a big bipartisan landslide. Just shy of 80% of Republican senators voted for it. Biden did applaud the Congress for sending a clear bipartisan message to the world in a written statement as he left for Asia. But he hasnt boasted about delivering on his promise of bipartisanship. Meanwhile, other leading Democrats think the real story are the Republicans who voted against the Ukraine package. It is beyond troubling to see a growing circle of Senate Republicans proudly oppose Ukrainian funding, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said Thursday. It appears more and more MAGA Republicans are on the same soft-on-Putin playbook that we saw used by former President Trump. Schumer has a point the share of Republicans opposing Bidens requests for support has grown. Only three House Republicans objected to Bidens initial statement of support for Ukraine in March. But Schumers focus on the rump group that lost the vote illustrates why few in either party want to tout their bipartisanship. Theres very little incentive, particularly heading into the midterms, to brag about working with the enemy. The base just doesnt want to hear it. This has been a dynamic in Washington for a long time. When members of Congress work on a bipartisan basis, they like to do it as under the radar as possible, to avoid seeming like sellouts to the parties respective bases that see any compromise or collegiality as cowardly surrender. Some call this the secret or shadow Congress. In an era of hyperpartisanship, if you want to get something done, the best thing you can do is not make a big deal about it. Its a zero-sum calculation if one party can declare a victory, the other party sees it as a loss. Thats both why Biden rarely boasts of the bipartisan in his Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill win (officially the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) and why the Republicans who voted for it have been treated like traitors by the base. All Republicans who voted for Democratic longevity should be ashamed of themselves! Trump declared in November. That Trump desperately wanted an infrastructure bill when he was president shows how partisanship is a bigger priority than policy. Still, in such a climate, one might wonder, why did Republicans overwhelmingly support the Ukrainian aid package? The most important, and obvious, reason is that it was necessary on the merits. A second reason is that a huge majority of Americans including Republicans support helping Ukraine any way possible short of sending troops. Republican approval of Bidens handling of Ukraine is low, but that probably reflects Republican disapproval of Biden generally. Indeed, Republicans have often been more likely to say Biden has been too weak on Ukraine. Theres a third answer that doesnt fit a popular narrative among Democrats and many in the media. Despite decades of handwringing to the contrary, the GOP is not an isolationist party, something Trump often learned to his consternation in the White House as he was forced to sign Russian sanctions and intervene militarily in the Middle East. Even among the opponents of helping Ukraine, most argue that the U.S. should focus on confronting China instead, hardly an isolationist argument. Others hide behind newly discovered concerns about fiscal or procedural propriety. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, a leading noninterventionist, claimed that he merely wanted an inspector general to oversee the spending of the aid money. Its true that there is a loud noninterventionist or realist bloc on the right, increasingly and surprisingly led by the Heritage Foundation and unsurprisingly by various instruments of the Koch network. But such efforts are hardly new, even if they are often treated that way. Indeed, one might ask, why are Democrats so supportive of Bidens effort? The most important answer to that question is the same for Democrats, too: Its necessary and popular. But the fact Biden is president is probably a big part of it as well. After all, when Vladimir Putin seized Crimea, Democrats rallied to President Obamas fairly tepid response. Partisanship works wonders. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: @JonahDispatch. Wisconsin badly needs to update its ancient and long-dormant law banning abortions with virtually no exception. If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade this summer which appears likely, according to a leaked draft of the decision Wisconsin will be stuck with a law from 1849 that even many social conservatives are uncomfortable with. The Republican-run Legislature doesnt appear willing to address this looming injustice for women, which is disturbing. If it doesnt, then the GOP will be to blame for the chaos that unfolds. Republicans will be the reason long-established rights for women are erased in an instant rights that several Republican-nominated justices had agreed were settled law during their confirmations in recent years. Some 85 men approved Wisconsins abortion ban in 1849 70 years before women could vote. The outdated statute, criminalizing the willful killing of an unborn quick child, hasnt been in effect since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion in 1973. The only clear exception to Wisconsins ban is if the mothers life is at risk. Even if a woman is raped even if a girl is a victim of incest the old law would prevent an abortion. It could prevent emergency contraception and, some fear, risk new restrictions on birth control. The old law punishes violators (though not the mother) with as many as six years in prison, a fine as high as $10,000, or both. Legalizing abortion hasnt led to more abortions just the opposite. Over the last half century since Roe v. Wade, abortions and teen pregnancies have dramatically fallen, thanks in part to better sex education and access to birth control. Abortions in Wisconsin decreased from 20,819 in 1981 to 6,430 in 2020, according to the state Department of Health Services. Teen pregnancies in Wisconsin dropped from nearly 45 per 1,000 teenage girls in 1991 to less than 12 per 1,000 today. Abortions also are occurring earlier in pregnancy. Eighty-eight percent of abortions in Wisconsin were induced within the first trimester in 2020, and 39% were nonsurgical, according to state health officials. All of that represents significant progress, especially for the six in 10 Wisconsinites who say abortion should be legal in most or all cases, according to Marquette Law School polls. Republicans at the statehouse should listen to the public, rather than catering to the GOPs judgmental extremes. Abortion is never an easy decision, even if sometimes it is the best choice for a pregnant woman. If Wisconsins antiquated abortion law is enforced again as soon as this summer women could still travel to neighboring Illinois or Minnesota for an abortion. But traveling can be difficult and expensive for low-income women. It shouldnt be required to obtain a widely accepted health care procedure. Most Democratic lawmakers say theyll fight to protect abortion rights, which is welcome. Unfortunately, most Republican representatives have shown little sympathy for struggling and desperate women. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, says he isnt even sure if his colleagues would tweak the 1849 law to allow exceptions for rape and incest. They absolutely should and negotiate further conditions for legal abortions in a bipartisan bill that Gov. Tony Evers can sign. For political reasons during a tough reelection campaign, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, has tried to downplay the impact of Roe v. Wade being overturned: Its not going to be that big a change, he told the Wall Street Journal. Yes, it is. Johnson questioned whether the old law would actually go into effect, given legal challenges. But the 4-3 conservative majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court has shown little interest in bucking the pro-life groups that helped elect them. Already, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has said it would stop providing abortions if Roe is overturned and the old law is enforced. That could lead to lawyers hatching legal advice in emergency rooms, delaying the ability of doctors to provide care. The 1849 statute should be quickly repealed, with a bipartisan agreement for legal yet limited abortions becoming law this summer. Editors note: Janine Geske, a member of our community editorial board, did not participate in the formation of this editorial because of work she does with community groups moderating discussions around this topic. Wisconsin State Journal editorial board The views expressed in the editorials are shaped by the board, independent of news coverage decisions elsewhere in the newspaper. STAFF MEMBERS KELLY LECKER, Executive editor SCOTT MILFRED, Editorial page editor PHIL HANDS, Editorial cartoonist COMMUNITY MEMBERS JANINE GESKE SUSAN SCHMITZ WAYNE STRONG The Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., carries the inscription, Freedom is not Free. Weve all heard that phrase. We all understand that freedom comes at a cost sometimes a dear one. Throughout my life, Ive seen the phrase most commonly used in connection with our willingness to take up arms in defense of our nation. But today, the cost of our freedom is paid not only by our brave soldiers on foreign shores but by happily innocent children still largely ignorant of mankinds thirst for blood and glory, no matter how twisted their perceived cause. Im going to comment on what happened in Texas this week, and I hope youll bear with me, because my ideas may not be what youd expect from me. But first, its worth remembering that most of the victims of the Uvalde slaughter were small enough to be able to count their age on their ten fingers, without repeating a finger. Im one of those who think that virtually any good idea, when carried to extremes, can become a bad idea. Its not the original concept thats flawed, its what happens when common sense gives way to exaggerated and irrational extremes. The reason America has lasted 246 years is because the overwhelming majority of us have understood that our freedoms are to be treasured, but that the extreme limits of those freedoms are to be avoided. For example, our freedom of speech allows us to say pretty much whatever we want. But we dont shout Fire! in a crowded theater. We govern ourselves. I hope youll ponder that thought for a moment as a nation, we govern ourselves. Or at least we used to. For as long as Ive been an adult (half a century and counting) Ive watched the ongoing and unrelenting fight over gun rights. Some argue in favor of sweeping bans on weapons the Founders could never have envisioned when the Bill of Rights was written in 1789. Others say that any restriction on gun ownership is tyranny. The Founders had very good ideas when they guaranteed both free speech and the right to bear arms. But any good idea, when carried to extremes can become a bad idea. Americas problem is that there is no longer an overwhelming majority of us who understand that our freedoms are to be treasured, but that the extreme limits of those freedoms are best left untouched. For five decades Ive watched supporters of gun control and gun rights shout at each other over their philosophical divide. In the wake of the Uvalde shootings, the shouting has redoubled, with the gulf between both sides, as always, growing steadily wider. You know all of this, no matter which side of the canyon you call home. Like you, I watched the coverage and witnessed both the survivors tears and the political blustering, just as weve all done a dozen times before. But this week something happened inside me. This was the week when I realized that nothing is going to change on this issue; not now, and probably not ever. The Constitution places no limits on the philosophical right of Americans to own whatever automatic weaponry we care to stockpile. This is not going to change, despite the NRA mantra that the Feds are coming for your guns. The Feds are not coming for your guns. Its time we got used to this fact. In the absence of a citizenry that ignores the second verse of America the Beautiful and is unwilling to confirm its soul in self-control, our freedom to bear arms has become just another price tag added on to the cost of freedom. Throughout Americas history, mothers and fathers have sent their sons and daughters off to war to fight our enemies. They prayed their children would come home but knew that some would not. They understood that this has always been the cost of freedom. How ironic, then, that today parents, like the Gold Star families of decades long gone, may choose to offer up an identical prayer to God each morning as they send their little ones off to school, never knowing on which day their children may be sacrificed on the altar of Americas freedoms. Chris Huston is an author and award-winning columnist living in the Magic Valley. Connect with Chris on Facebook and Instagram at Chris Huston-Finding My Way and at chrishustonauthor.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 If you follow the news even casually, youve seen the uproar over the U.S. Supreme Courts apparent decision to overturn a half-century precedent concerning womens health. Roe v. Wade, according to a draft opinion penned by Justice Samuel Alito, is poised to be overturned. Rapists and molesters will receive more rights than American women if the decision stands. As we speak, people are holding rallies, picketing the homes of several justices and raising money for one organization or another. While I understand the sentiment, a couple of things went through my mind when thousands of folks in Boise marched to the State Capitol and held a rally earlier this month. The first thought was how little the gathering would accomplish. The second was what could happen in a state like Idaho if these same people did the hard work of knocking on doors for candidates, flipping seats, and bringing some semblance of parity back to the state legislature. Rallies come and go in a matter of hours. Legislative seats can last for years. Ive noted many times in my columns that when I knock on doors for candidates or causes, I make a point of knocking in Right-Wing neighborhoods. I dont knock in Democratic districts because, frankly, anyone can do that. And, yes, latte liberals, Im talking to you. Knocking on doors in safely Democratic districts is nice I guess someone has to do it but is little better than attending a rally. If you are unwilling to step outside the bubble, you cant complain when Right-Wing Party members try to burst the bubble at every opportunity. What drives me crazy is the fact that safe Democratic candidates seem to have the most volunteers, while the candidates actually trying to flip seats struggle to get any volunteers even though their district is just 15 minutes away. Granted, Democratic candidates in rural parts of Idaho including areas of the Magic Valley are up against geography as much as a Right-Wing opponent. Admittedly, that can be challenging for the candidate and volunteers alike. However, for Democratic volunteers living in more densely populated areas, you can literally drive across town and be in a new legislative district where candidates desperately need volunteers to help unseat anti-Idaho, anti-American incumbents. Look, I get it. Knocking in safe districts is fun. You run into a lot of like-minded people who will readily agree to vote for your candidate. Hearing yes a lot feels good just like at a rally. However, if Democrats are ever going to make headway in this state, political volunteers will have to toughen up and get used to no or Ill think about it. But let me tell you something. Hearing yes in the harder districts is the most satisfying thing you will ever hear as a volunteer. Heres another thing: it happens more often than you think. Furthermore, if a candidate has 10 volunteers knocking on doors or phone-banking regularly rather than two flipping seats in this state becomes a lot more viable. And make no mistake about. Flipping seats in this state and this country is all that matters. Failing to flip seats is what lead in large part to the expected over-turning of Roe v. Wade. No number of rallies are going to change that. Flipping seats eventually can. With the primary season over, the hard work of winning in November begins. Its time to get your hands and feetdirty. Our state and our country need your help. All it takes is that first step and knock outside the bubble. Jeremy J. Gugino is a Democratic communications volunteer. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 As the Fourth of July draws near, Coloradans should prepare to celebrate Juneteenth first. It's a celebration of what's right with the United States. Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill last week making it an official state holiday. President Joe Biden made it a federal holiday in 2021. Juneteenth has for too long been an afterthought. A Gallup poll in 2021 found that 60% of Americans know "nothing at all" or only "a little bit" about Juneteenth. That could change if K-12 schools would teach honest history, rather than anti-American ideologies that tell minority children they are helplessly oppressed. Elementary schools should ensure all children understand Juneteenth, which celebrates our country's rejection of slavery an institution that continues around the globe. The Fourth of July is and should remain a premier summer celebration. Formally "Independence Day," the federal and state holiday celebrates the liberation of 13 original colonies from the tyranny of British monarch King George III. We would not have a genuine "Independence Day" on July 4 one that makes sense to all Americans without the events that led to Juneteenth. We celebrate Juneteenth on June 19th. On that day in 1865, Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger announced General Order No. 3. It enforced emancipation in Texas the last Confederate state with institutionalized slavery. Despite President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery in 1863, portions of Texas and two Union border states Delaware and Kentucky continued holding slaves. Biden, a longtime ally of segregationists, has a history of reminding us. "My state (Delaware) was a slave state. My state is a border state," then-Sen. Biden boasted in 2006 when asked how he would appeal to southerners as a northeast Democrat. General Order No. 3 led to the enforcement of emancipation in all remaining slave enclaves. The official end of slavery came in 1866 after Confederate-friendly Indian tribes released slaves from Indian territories. Before our country took action to free all slaves, July 4th was nothing for Black people to celebrate. They weren't independent in the least. No one said it better than escaped slave and statesman Frederick Douglass. A famed orator, he was invited to speak on July 4th in his hometown of Rochester, New York, in 1852. Douglass spoke but refused to celebrate. "The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common," Douglass said. "The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought life and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn." Indeed. He appealed to decency and helped bring about change. Fourteen years later the last of his country's slaves went free after anti-slavery Americans fought and died in a war that led to emancipation. Only after the last slaves walked free was this a country that genuinely stood for independence. Much of the world has refused to follow our lead. World Population Review estimates that India enslaves 8 million. China has 3.9 million slaves who make sneakers and attire marketed by American celebrities who denounce racism. North Korea enslaves 2.6 million. About 1.4 million Black people are slaves in Nigeria. As the land of the free, our country has everything to celebrate. Religious and ethnic minorities from around the globe break into this country because it opposes oppression and upholds liberty. We pursue color-blind freedom culturally, institutionally and by force of law. Let's celebrate independence this summer like never before. Start with Juneteenth, a holiday that makes July 4th a day we all may enjoy. Reprinted from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, distributed by Creators.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Trend Russias COVID-19 case tally rose by 4,700 over the past day to 18,310,673, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Thursday, Trend reports with reference to TASS. In relative terms, the growth rate reached 0.03%. As many as 2,060 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Russia over the past day, down 17.7% from a day earlier. The number of hospitalized patients decreased in 45 regions, while in 36 regions the figure increased. The situation remained unchanged in four regions. A day earlier, 2,503 people were rushed to hospitals. Moscows COVID-19 cases surged by 368 over the past day versus 370 cases a day earlier, reaching 2,769,315, according to the anti-coronavirus crisis center. St. Petersburgs COVID-19 cases increased by 293 over the past day versus 326 a day earlier, reaching 1,528,152. Russias COVID-19 recoveries rose by 6,455 over the past day, reaching 17,713,532, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Thursday. The share of patients discharged from hospitals has risen to 96.7% of the total number of those infected. A day earlier some 6,705 patients recovered. Russias COVID-19 death toll rose by 91 over the past day, reaching 378,700, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Thursday. A day earlier 93 COVID-19 deaths were registered. The average mortality rate remained at 2.07%, according to the crisis center. In fiction, black holes are often cast as voracious cosmic vacuum cleaners, devouring everything around them. However, from a given distance, a black hole has no more gravitational pull than any other object of equivalent mass. Were the sun to be magically replaced by a one-solar-mass black hole, Earth would continue orbiting as it has for 4.543 billion years (although, without the suns warmth, in a fatally frigid state). Hollywood has a habit of depicting black holes like celestial sink drains, with infalling objects plunging toward a flat plane of swirling matter. While a black holes future meals (typically gas stripped from a nearby star) tend to settle into a swirling accretion disk due to conservation of angular momentum (what makes an ice skaters spin speed increase as she pulls in her arms), black holes are spherical, and matter can enter them from any direction. An ill-fated astronaut falling into a small (several solar mass) black hole would be spaghettified (pulled apart by the enormous difference in gravitational force between their head and feet). But an astronaut crossing the point of no return (the event horizon) of a supermassive (billions of suns) black hole would experience only a mild stretching, because their height is so small compared to the black holes size. Finally, there are the images of the central black holes of galaxy M87 and the Milky Way, released in 2019 and this month, respectively. Strictly speaking, these arent images. Theyre computer models of what the black holes probably look like, reconstructed from their emissions, detected by a global network of radio telescopes linked together to simulate the magnification of an Earth-sized dish. But thats a topic that deserves more than a paragraph to do it justicein a future column. Next column: A rare grouping of pre-dawn planets. Chris Anderson manages the College of Southern Idahos Centennial Observatory in Twin Falls. He can be reached at 208-732-6663 or canderson@csi.edu. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 For this Memorial Day weekend, McDowell County will again pay tribute to those who gave their lives for our country with the 26th annual service at the Senior Center. Before that, the 20th Memorial Weekend Car Show will take place in downtown Marion. The car show will be held Saturday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on West Henderson Street at the Historic Marion Tailgate Market shelter. Organizer Doug McCraw said as always, the show is open to all vehicles and the only requirement is that you have pride in your ride. While a lot of shows strive to be exclusive, we have always worked to be inclusive for all years and kinds of vehicles, said McCraw. The beauty of the show is in the wide variety of vehicles you will see there is something for everyone. So, if you have a street rod, classic muscle car, new muscle car, hot rod, lifted truck, lowered truck, modified import, cool bike, you name it polish it up and come on out. You are invited and welcome. McCraw added the purpose of the Memorial Weekend Car Show has always been to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. As a part of this remembrance, the McDowell High NJROTC Honor Guard and Rifle Team will be there at the car show. Two years ago, the McDowell High NJROTC performed the first ever, live fire 21-gun salute in Marion and we are honored to have them do it again this year, said McCraw. And dont forget our award-winning honor guard who will be presenting our colors and performing Taps. With the show since year one, we cant thank our NJROTC enough they are something to be proud of. In addition, there will be a dance and gymnastics performance by the young people from Above the Barre Dance and Gymnastics Academy. If you havent seen them perform (and even if you have), you are in for a treat, said McCraw. They are great. Food vendors like Matts Munchies and Hot Dog Dave will be there with all kinds of good things to eat. Downtown Marions restaurants will be open too on Saturday. During Saturdays car show, goody bags will be given out to the first 50 registered and there will lots of door prizes. The entries will be judged in several categories: The Top 10, Ladies Choice, Bike Choice, Import Choice, Young Gun and more. Deans Mechanicals Monster Truck will be on display. McCraw said he wants to thank all the partners for making the show possible. They include The McDowell News, Westmoreland Funeral Home, T&D Wrecker Service, Marion Pharmacy, Joanne Howle Realty, West Court Food Center, Self Help Credit Union, Bruces Fabulous Foods, J&T Auto Parts, Todds Golden Fried Chicken, Jim Cook Chevy Buick GMC, Morris Heating and Cooling, Rhonda Silver Realty, Marion Tire and Muffler, Marion Credit Company, Ingenious Coffee Roasters, AutoZone, Johns Precision Auto Body, Jeff Kincaid Insurance Group, McDowell Local, McDowell Chamber of Commerce, McDaniel Insurance Agency, Camping World and Masters Hand Printworks. Sunday service Memorial Day will actually fall on Monday. It is a special day set aside to honor and remember those who made the supreme sacrifice for the defense of our nation. And on Sunday, McDowell County will pay tribute to our fallen heroes. The annual McDowell County Memorial Day service will be held Sunday, May 29, at 2 p.m. in the Senior Center in Marion. The service is hosted by American Legion Post 56. Seating will be available. The presentation of the five service flags and the American flag will be done by American Legion Post 56 Honor Guard. This will also commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the McDowell County Salute to Veterans Wall. Retired Maj. Robert Bob Smith, a Vietnam War veteran, will be the master of ceremonies. The keynote speakers at Sundays Memorial Day service will be some of the veterans from McDowell County who recently traveled to Washington, D.C. as part of the Honor Air Flight, said Alan Mainer, commander of Post 56. The Egyptian Space Agency has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the South African Space Agency for cooperation in the field of space technology and the peaceful use of outer space, state-run news agency MENA said in a statement. The MoU aims at activating mechanisms for cooperation in space activities, research and exploration for peaceful purposes, and seeks to encourage the exchange of knowledge and experience between the two countries. The protocol also provides for supporting capitalization on human resources and available technologies. Executive President of the Egyptian Space Agency, Dr Mohamed Al-Quesi, and the Executive Chairman of the South African Space Agency, Andesoa Melissa signed the deal. The Republic of Suriname has reaffirmed this Thursday its unwavering support to Moroccos sovereignty over its Sahara by the official inauguration of a Consulate General in Dakhla. The inauguration ceremony of the consular mission was chaired by Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin, who is currently on a visit to Morocco, and the governor of the Aousserd region Abderrahmane El Jaouhari, in the presence of several elected officials and consuls accredited in Dakhla. On Wednesday, Suriname also inaugurated its embassy in Rabat, a move that emphasizes the commitment of the South American country to boost its relations with Morocco. In a joint statement issued after the talks held with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita in Rabat Wednesday, the Surinamese official reaffirmed Surinames recognition of Moroccos sovereignty over its Sahara, and expressed full support for the Autonomy Plan as the unique basis for a political solution to the regional dispute in full respect of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Morocco and for bringing peace and stability to the region. During these talks, Bourita welcomed the opening of Surinams diplomatic and consular representations in Morocco as two mechanisms to consolidate cooperation between the two countries and give a new dynamic to bilateral relations. Bourita also informed his interlocutor of the latest developments on the Sahara issue and stressed the ever-growing support of the international community to the Moroccan autonomy plan under the sovereignty of Morocco, as the only basis for a consensual political solution to this regional dispute. The Moroccan official reiterated, in this regard, Moroccos commitment to the ongoing political process conducted under the exclusive auspices of the United Nations. Surinames position on the Sahara issue is part of a support wave for the national cause expressed by several countries around the world, especially in the Caribbean region. A total of 12 countries out of 14 in this region have changed their positions in favor of Morocco on the Sahara issue. Surinams consulate brings to 25 the number of consular representations opened in the cities of Dakhla and Laayoune. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The number of people being diagnosed with HIV in New Zealand continues to decline, figures released today by the University of Otago's AIDS Epidemiology Group show. In 2021, of the 112 people notified with HIV, 67 were first diagnosed in New Zealand, 43 of whom were reported to have acquired HIV locally. The number of people diagnosed in New Zealand (67) has continued to decline since the peak of 195 in 2016, and represents a 51% drop from the annual average of 137 during the previous five years (2016 to 2020). The number diagnosed in New Zealand in 2021 is the lowest since the late 1990s. AIDS Epidemiology Group leader Dr. Sue McAllister says the results are very encouraging. "The decline is likely due to the combination prevention measures of condom use, access to pre-exposure prophylaxis, and early testing and treatment, as well as being impacted by the continued restrictions in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "It will be important to continue monitoring these numbers as restrictions are lifted." Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are the group most affected by HIV in New Zealand. Of the 67 people diagnosed in New Zealand in 2021, 41 were MSM, 20 were heterosexually acquired (10 men and 10 women), and six people likely acquired HIV through injecting drug use. "It is particularly encouraging to see the continued decline of MSM who were reported to have acquired HIV in New Zealand which was 43% less than the previous year and is the lowest number since 2001," Dr. McAllister says. "We want to keep seeing this decline in the numbers, so it is important to continue the emphasis on prevention, particularly as the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted." In heterosexual men and women, the numbers remained small and relatively stable during the past 10 years. However, about half of these men and women are diagnosed with HIV late and have not had antiretroviral treatment to control progression of their infection. "It is important for people who consider they may have been at risk to be tested for HIV and other sexually transmissible infections, regardless of sexual orientation, and for clinicians to recognize HIV as a possibility in people who present with compatible clinical signs." A spokesperson from The Ministry of Health says the continued decline of HIV notifications in New Zealand is encouraging. "With only 43 infections occurring within New Zealand in 2021 we are tracking well to meet international goals to eliminate local HIV transmission. Decreasing infections, particularly among men who have sex with men who live in New Zealand, is a great achievement towards achieving health equity. "The sustained trend of decreasing HIV infection is only possible from dedicated and compassionate work from community organizations and clinicians to both prevent HIV infection and support people living with HIV." Explore further Continued decline in number of people diagnosed with HIV in New Zealand A significant proportion of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs)gonorrhea, chlamydia or syphiliswere prevented with a dose of doxycycline after unprotected sex, according to preliminary results of a clinical trial that closed early because it was very effective for men who have sex with men and transgender women who are living with HIV or are taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The results of a clinical trial, conducted in San Francisco and Seattle, have been eagerly anticipated by public health officials and clinicians who are looking for new ways to prevent STIs, which have been on the rise in the United States and many other parts of the world for the past six years. Researchers examined an approach known as doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (or DoxyPEP), in which people take 200 milligrams of the antibiotic doxycycline within three days of having sex without a condom. They recruited from public health clinics in San Francisco and Seattle. To qualify, participants had to have had gonorrhea, chlamydia or syphilis in the previous year. Participants were randomized to receive doxycycline or no doxycycline in an open-label study design. The trial was designed to allow an independent team monitoring the trial's safety to look at interim results, to see if the intervention proved effective enough that it could be stopped early. Data from 554 participants showed that those who were randomized to take doxycycline had substantially fewer infections than those who did not receive doxycycline, and this reduction in STIs occurred both in participants taking HIV PrEP as well as those living with HIV. Doxycycline was generally safe and well tolerated. Researchers said the data support the effectiveness of DoxyPEP to prevent STIs in the population they studied. "At this point, doxycycline after sex is a targeted intervention for certain populations, in this case men who have sex with men or transgender women who have already had an STI in the past year," said Dr. Annie Luetkemeyer, a professor of infectious diseases at University of California San Francisco. She led the study with Dr. Connie Celum, professor of global health, medicine, and epidemiology at the University of Washington. "Doxycycline as PEP may be similar to HIV PrEP, which isn't for everyone, but is an effective strategy for those at increased risk for HIV infection," Luetkemeyer said. "Future recommendations for doxycycline use as an STI prevention strategy will need to consider effectiveness in different populations, as well as antimicrobial resistance." The trial has yet to determine whether intermittent use of doxycycline may lead to increased antibiotic resistance in the bacteria that cause STIs or that naturally live on the body, and whether it may lead to negative changes in the bacteria of the gut. Researchers will present updated effectiveness and adherence data from the approximately 630 participants who were enrolled by the time the study closed, along with antibiotic resistance data at AIDS 2022, the 24th International AIDS Conference in Montreal, Canada and virtually July 29 to August 2. Explore further Efficacy of azithromycin in chlamydia remains high By Trend Tajik entrepreneurs held talks with Turkish company representatives to enhance economic cooperation, Trend reports via the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tajikistan. The business forum brought together 21 Turkish companies from various industries including, machine and agricultural machinery production, furniture production, light industry, agricultural products manufacturing, as well as more than 100 Tajik business entrepreneurs. Chairman of Tajikistans Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jumakhonzoda Jamshed Jurakhon noted the importance of small and medium-sized businesses in strengthening and developing trade and economic relations between the two countries. While, Turkey's Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology, Cetin Ali Donmez, underlined the Turkish industry's openness to collaborate with Tajik enterprises. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Health officials are investigating the monkeypox outbreak to determine if the virus acquired a mutation that makes it more transmissible or if superspreader events in Europe may be to blame for the current outbreak. "Anytime the virus does something new, it catches our attention," says Dr. Richard Kennedy, co-director of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. Monkeypox is endemic in Central Africa. While outbreaks of monkeypox have occurred before, none has been this large. "This is a larger outbreak, both in terms of case numbers and the geographic spread. Now we're trying to figure out if there something new with the virus. It's a DNA virus, so it doesn't mutate as fast as RNA viruses, like influenza and SARS-CoV-2. But DNA viruses do change," says Dr. Kennedy. Monkeypox is a rare infection that begins with flu-like symptoms followed by a distinctive rash. The rash initially consists of flat patches, then progresses to raised nodules and then to vesicles, with one or two days in each phase. The final stage of pus-filled blisters can last five to seven days. Human-to-human spread of the virus occurs by direct contact with an infected person's skin or that person's secretions. Transmission is limited to close household contacts or health care workers not wearing personal protective equipment. People with monkeypox are infectious to others from the onset of fever until all lesions scab over. While monkeypox can be fatal, the infection will be mild and clear up after a few weeks for most people, says Dr. Kennedy. He says the overall risk for the public is low, and it's not something people should be too concerned about at this time. "Now that everybody is aware of it, health authorities all over the world are looking for it. So if people develop symptoms, instead of trying to figure out what this isgoing through sort of the usual suspectsnow we can immediately jump right to let's check and see if this is monkeypox and isolate these people, and then trying to identify people they've come into contact with," says Dr. Kennedy. Vaccines can prevent infection, and treatments are available for those who are exposed or become infected. "The smallpox vaccine does provide protection against monkeypox. So there are countermeasures available. There's a vaccine available. It's not going to be widely available because there are contraindications for it. And a lot of peopleat least a third of the U.S.either has a contraindication or lives with someone who has a contraindication. So you're not going to see widespreadeverybody get vaccinated. There's no need." Smallpox vaccines effectively prevent monkeypox if given before or within a few days of infection. Explore further How concerned should you be about monkeypox? 2022 Mayo Clinic News Network. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. More research is needed but there may be added benefits to getting your flu jab. Credit: Shutterstock After virtually disappearing for two years, influenza is back and rapidly sweeping across Australiaand the world. So far this year, there have been more than 15,000 flu cases in New South Wales alone, of which more than 12,000 were diagnosed since the start of May. The Queensland government has announced free flu vaccinations and NSW is considering doing the same. Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid has urged the incoming federal government to provide free flu shots for all Australians. Meanwhile, COVID cases continue to mount as colder weather sets in. The good news is, we know the influenza vaccine can protect against the fluand a growing body of international research suggests the flu jab might also protect against COVID. A recent study of 30,774 health-care workers in Qatar found influenza vaccine could guard against COVID, particularly severe illness. These promising results have implications not only for COVID, but also for future pandemics caused by newly emergent germs. However, there are some reasons for caution. Breaking: Hazzard announces NSW considering making flu vaccines free for this season with announcement to come in coming days following similar move in Queensland. #flu https://t.co/jfN80LqraL Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) May 24, 2022 New flu findings The Qatar study, released online this month and yet to be independently verified, used data from more than 12,000 health-care workers who had a COVID test during the 2020 flu season. The researchers compared influenza vaccination rates between the 576 health-care workers who got COVID, and a similar group of 2,000 health-care workers who had tested negative to COVID in the last three months of 2020. Those who had an influenza vaccination at least two weeks before COVID testing were 30% less likely to have a positive COVID test and almost 90% less likely to develop severe or critical COVID, compared with those who hadn't been recently vaccinated against flu. This finding is consistent with similar retrospective studies from Brazil, Italy, Iran, the Netherlands and the United States, which have also shown protective effects of influenza vaccination against COVID. Common to studies of people who work in the health field, there is the risk people in the study are health-conscious. It's likely they are more inclined to follow COVID protection advice such as adhering to lockdowns, physical isolation and mask wearing. They are also more likely to get their influenza vaccination. This potential bias is reduced in the Qatar study by focusing only on health-care workers, however it can't be ruled out as contributing to the findings. There are two further considerations to the implications of this study. First, the health-care workers included in the study were young and not assessed to see if they had other health conditions. This means the effects seen in the study may not hold true for older people and those with other health issuesboth of whom are at greater risk of severe COVID. Second, the study used data collected before COVID vaccines and before COVID variants such as Omicron. This means the impact of the findings in the current global circumstances are unclear. In the study, the average time for COVID testing after flu vaccination was six weeks. With the study using data only during a three-month period, it is unclear whether this protective effect of the flu vaccine against COVID might last beyond a few months. Beneficial 'off-target' effects of vaccines In the early months of the pandemicwhile COVID vaccines were still in developmentresearchers were intensely interested in the possibility existing vaccines might provide some protection against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID). This is because of emerging evidence some vaccines can have additional beneficial effects, greater than just protecting against the infection they were originally designed for. This bonus protection has mostly been linked to live-attenuated vaccines, made from a weakened forms of the germ or a related germ. For example, both the 100-year-old tuberculosis vaccine called Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and measles vaccines have been shown to reduce infant deaths from any cause. This protection is thought to be because these vaccines can kick-start the immune system so it protects the body more effectively from infectious diseases. To understand more about the bonus protection of routine vaccines like these against COVID, multiple randomized controlled trials are under way. One multinational clinical trial, called the BRACE trial, has enrolled almost 7,000 health-care workers to determine whether BCG vaccine reduces the incidence of symptomatic and severe COVID. So far, we have found BCG vaccination changes the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in a way that could reduce severe COVID illness. However, this trial is ongoing and we need to wait for the final results to determine whether this immune response translates into real-world protection against COVID. Decreasing COVID's inflammatory response? For influenza vaccines, one plausible explanation for their protective effect against COVID is that influenza vaccination reduces the risk of having influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection at the same time. Co-infection with flu and COVID is associated with more severe disease. Prevention of this could reduce the severity of COVID. However, due to exceptionally low influenza rates in Qatar during the 2020 flu season, this is unlikely to explain the recent findings. Like the BCG vaccine, influenza vaccines might decrease potentially harmful inflammatory immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Severe COVID has been linked to overactive inflammatory responses which can cause damage to tissues and result in severe symptoms. By reducing inflammation these routine vaccines might prevent related tissue damage. Future protection These promising results emerge as we grapple with growing COVID cases and the pandemic rolls on. More research is needed to confirm what researchers are beginning to report. But the potential for existing vaccines, such as the flu jab and BCG, to provide protection against COVID gives rise to the possibility they could also help to protect against future pandemics. However exciting these new results are, the best evidence remains that influenza vaccination protects us from the flu and COVID vaccination and boosters protect against COVID and severe illness. Explore further Vaccines may lessen long COVID for some, but more study is needed This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) could be identified in the future using an already established national database of serious injuries, according to new University of Bristol-led research. The pilot study, published in Injury Prevention on 26 May, developed a method to identify DVA victim-survivors from hospital records. It is recognized that patients will present to hospital with injuries caused by domestic violence and abuse. These are often injuries to a single part of the body such as head injuries, facial injuries, or a fractured arm. Until now, there have been no published studies in the U.K. looking at the relationship between multiple injuries in adults and DVA. Researchers from Bristol Medical School, CLARITY (Collaborative Aging Research) group at North Bristol NHS Trust, and King's College London wanted to pilot a way of using the national database for trauma, the Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN), to assess whether people experiencing DVA could be found. Patients are included in the database if they are admitted to hospital for longer than three days, or to critical care, or die from their injuries. Everyone included has either a severe single injury e.g. brain bleed, or multiple severe injuries. This means that any person included in the database will have significant and severe injuries that require hospital admission and treatment. Using a tailored search method, 10,102 records submitted to TARN by Southmead Hospital North Bristol NHS Trust, were looked at by the team. This covered seven years of admission from 2012 to 2019. The researchers were able to identify 36 victims of DVA, confirmed by a review of the paper notes. Importantly, the team were able to assess the association of DVA with the person's medical details, such as showing that victim-survivors of DVA were more likely to be admitted to ITU. Dr. Hollie Garbett, a Clinical Teaching Fellow at Bristol Medical School and in the CLARITY research group, and the study's lead author, said: "Currently, no routine screening or data collection occurs within hospital trauma pathways for DVA. This study aimed to test a tailored search strategy to identify suspected cases of DVA from a local hospital trauma database that can be applied to any hospital or the national dataset to find possible DVA related injuries. "Our findings show that DVA-related injuries are present in patients with serious injuries, and confirm that searching the TARN database is a feasible way to help identify suspected cases of DVA. Future work is needed to further understand this relationship on a national level." Explore further Injured women half as likely as men to receive life-saving drug More information: Hollie Garbett et al, Domestic violence and injuries: prevalence and patternsa pilot database study to identify suspected cases in a UK major trauma centre, Injury Prevention (2022). Journal information: Injury Prevention Hollie Garbett et al, Domestic violence and injuries: prevalence and patternsa pilot database study to identify suspected cases in a UK major trauma centre,(2022). DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2021-044481 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain When the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 hit the United States in summer 2021, it led to a larger-than-expected surge in cases, hospitalizations and deaths. New research suggests this lack of preparedness may have been partially due to overestimating the number of US citizens who were immune or partially immune to the virus. According to the researchers, who focused their analysis on southern New England, it had been previously estimated that a combination of prior infections and high vaccination rates had led to between 80 and 85 percent of southern New Englanders having immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection by the time the delta variant began to circulate in July 2021. But in their new study, the researchers found that the percentage of those immune was actually closer to 67 percent, leaving almost one-third of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts residents still fully susceptible to infection. Maciej Boni, associate professor of biology at Penn State, said this was likely due to underestimating the number of people who had both been previously infected and vaccinated. "We found that prior to June 2021, about 27 percent of vaccines given in southern New England were given to people who had already been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2," Boni said. "This overlap of infection and vaccination led to an inaccurate picture of the percentage of the population that was still susceptible to infection, therefore throwing off projections of what the delta variant surge would look like here in the US." The researchers said the findingspublished today (May 26) in JAMA Network Opencan help shape future vaccination strategies. "If we're running a crisis-situation vaccination campaign in the future, we should avoid allocating just enough vaccines to push the population to herd immunity," Boni said. "Instead, we should purchase more vaccines than we think we need, roll out the campaign as quickly as possible, and push the total number of vaccinees well past the herd immunity threshold." According to the researchers, the most trusted and classic approach to predict future surges is to consider the number of people who already have some degree of immunity, either through vaccination or previous infection. This helps determine how many people are still susceptible to infection and serious disease. But, Boni said calculating the percentage of the population that has been previously infected with COVID-19 has been difficult throughout the pandemic. It can be challenging to estimate not only the number of unreported symptomatic cases, but the number of asymptomatic cases, as well. "When estimating population immunity, it's also vital to take vaccination rates into account, including how many people have been both infected and vaccinated," Boni said. "You can't simply add the number of people who have been infected with the number of people who have been vaccinated or an overestimation of immunity will occur." For this study, the researchers gathered thousands of data points, structured into 11 separate data streams, from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, including information on confirmed cases, hospitalizations, deaths, and weekly vaccination numbers. Then, the researchers created a model to estimate the overlap of previous infection and vaccination. The model assumed that people who knew they had already been infected did not get a vaccine between January and May 2021, when vaccines were in limited supply. But it also estimated the number of people who got vaccinated because they were unaware they had already had COVID-19. "Combining these factors meant that 27 percent of people that lined up for vaccinations in spring 2021 were already antibody-positive and just didn't know it," Boni said. "Of course, many people who knew they were infected also got vaccinations, per CDC and DOH recommendations, meaning this is a minimum estimate of vaccines that went to people who already had COVID antibodies in southern New England. It is likely that population immunity was overestimated in many other states as well." Explore further Is omicron leading us closer to herd immunity against COVID? More information: Maciej Boni et al, SARS-CoV-2 attack rate and population immunity in southern New England, March 2020 to May 2021, JAMA Network Open (2022). Journal information: JAMA Network Open Maciej Boni et al, SARS-CoV-2 attack rate and population immunity in southern New England, March 2020 to May 2021,(2022). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.14171 Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in public health infrastructure, related to chronic underfunding. Yet the pandemic has also opened opportunities for strengthening the foundational capabilities of public health agencies across the United States, according to a report in a special supplement to the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice. "The pandemic response highlighted the importance of having a robust public health infrastructure that is well-supported in the areas of foundational capabilities," according to the paper by Maria Courogen, MPH, of the Washington State Department of Health and colleagues. The article appears as part of a special issue devoted to public health transformation and innovation. 'Resetting the course for foundational public health services' Courogen and colleagues outline efforts by three statesOhio, Oregon, and Washingtonto develop and advance Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS), defined as the "minimum package of public health capabilities and programs that no jurisdiction can be without." In 2016, the three states received funding to define, measure, and advocate for the governmental public health system. The authors write that "the pandemic revealed the consequences of underinvesting in public health" and "brought opportunities to accelerate FPHS work and challenges to its progression." In Ohio, the pandemic highlighted the training and technical assistance needed for local health departments to earn PHAB accreditationa unique requirement of state law. However, efforts to fill FPHS gaps are complicated by funding shortfalls, while recent policy changes will have "far-reaching, unintended consequences" for the ability to respond to future communicable disease threats. In Oregon, COVID-19 brought attention on existing public health modernization initiatives, focused on high-risk populations systematically underserved by the health system. Lessons from the pandemic include increasing preparedness to respond to multiple, simultaneous public health threats, enhancing integration with community partners, and initiatives prioritizing health and equity. In Washington, pre-pandemic investments in public health were "relatively small," compared to the assessed gaps. In the wake of COVID-19, public health leaders worked to increase knowledge and appreciation of the FPHS, motivating increased funding to meet those needs. Other outcomes included creation of a new Public Health Advisory Board and new requirements to diversify local boards of health to include community members and health experts. The states' work in "defining, measuring, and advocating for FPHS proved beneficial when it came time to respond to a pandemic," Courogen and colleagues write. "Ohio, Oregon, and Washington are resetting the course of FPHS to adequately fund and measure progress in these Foundational Capabilities." These three states are alongside 16 others in PHNCI at PHAB's 21st Century Learning Community, focused on advancing public health transformation. Professionals and policymakers are challenged to "seize the opportunity to reimagine public health," according to an introduction by Reena Chudgar, MPH, and Jessica Solomon Fisher, MCP, of PHNCI and PHAB. "We must work together, collaborate with cross-sector partners, and share and cede power with and to the communities we serve to identify solutions to transform public health practice." Newly revised in 2022, the FPHS "provide(s) clarity for the reform needed within our US public health system," according to a commentary from Paul Kuehnert, DNP, RN, FAAN, of PHAB and colleagues. "The pandemic has demonstrated the critical need for and importance of a strong public health system and infrastructure," they write. "We have the rare opportunity to harness policymaker interest and federal funding to transform and modernize public health in the United States." Explore further Researchers urge modernizing public health system to avoid future COVID-19 shortfalls More information: Susan A. Tilgner et al, Resetting the Course for Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) During COVID-19, Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (2022). Susan A. Tilgner et al, Resetting the Course for Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) During COVID-19,(2022). DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000001479 The Pepi Splint securing a peripheral intravenous catheter on a hand and foot. Credit: BMC Pediatrics (2022). DOI: 10.1186/s12887-022-03345-8 A new device to prevent skin injuries to babies in neonatal intensive care units has been successfully trialed in a study led by Dr. Deborah Harris, a neonatal nurse practitioner at Te Herenga WakaVictoria University of Wellington. Most babies admitted to hospital need an intravenous drip to deliver fluids and medications, says Dr. Harris. This drip is secured to the baby's skin using adhesive tape. "Removing the adhesive tape is painful, and can cause skin injuries and scarring. Skin damage also increases the risk of the baby getting an infection and being in hospital longer. We designed a device called a Pepi Splint that can be used to secure the drip without the need to apply adhesive tape to the baby's skin," Dr. Harris says. A trial of the Pepi Splint on 38 babies at Wellington Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit showed it was effective and avoided the skin damage caused by adhesives. "The Pepi Splint held the drips secure for 34 of the 38 babies in our trial. In four cases, the splint became loose either because it hadn't been secured properly or was dislodged when the baby was removed from the cot for breastfeeding." Dr. Harris says the results provide support for a larger randomized controlled trial. "Skin injuries are common in neonatal units and the damage caused to a baby's skin by adhesive tape can be considerable. Removing the tape has the potential to strip 70% to 90% of a baby's epidermis. We hope the Pepi Splint will help reduce these injuries to newborns." The splint is made from medical-grade silicon gel and contains an aluminum mesh, allowing it to be molded to the baby's limb. Adhesive tape is used on the Pepi Splint itself to secure it to the drip, but tape is not applied to the baby's skin. During the trial, modifications were made to the splint to make it easier to use. "After these changes, clinicians involved in the trial reported the splint was easy to apply," Dr. Harris says. Most parents supported the device's use: 52 of 58 (90%) said they would participate in the study again if they had another eligible baby. The Pepi Splint, developed in collaboration with a design engineer, can be washed and sterilized for reuse. A paper on the study's findings has been published this month in BMC Pediatrics. Explore further Making sleep safe with baby to reduce SIDS incidence in First Nations infants More information: Deborah L. Harris et al, Securing peripheral intravenous catheters in babies without applying adhesive dressings to the skin: a proof-of-concept study, BMC Pediatrics (2022). Deborah L. Harris et al, Securing peripheral intravenous catheters in babies without applying adhesive dressings to the skin: a proof-of-concept study,(2022). DOI: 10.1186/s12887-022-03345-8 Volunteer showing the full "body-area network" with all devices. Credit: Northwestern University Last summer, Northwestern University researchers introduced the first-ever transient pacemakera fully implantable, wireless device that harmlessly dissolves in the body after it's no longer needed. Now, they unveil a new, smart version that is integrated into a coordinated network of four soft, flexible, wireless, wearable sensors and control units placed around the upper body. The study will be published Friday (May 27) in the journal Science. The work was led by Northwestern's John A. Rogers, Igor R. Efimov and Dr. Rishi Arora. The sensors communicate with each other to continuously monitor the body's various physiological functions, including body temperature, oxygen levels, respiration, muscle tone, physical activity and the heart's electrical activity. The system then uses algorithms to analyze this combined activity in order to autonomously detect abnormal cardiac rhythms and decide when to pace the heart and at what rate. All this information is streamed to a smartphone or tablet, so physicians can remotely monitor their patients. The new transient pacemaker and sensor/control network can be used in patients who need temporary pacing after cardiac surgery or are waiting for a permanent pacemaker. The pacemaker wirelessly harvests energy from a node within the networka small wireless device that softly adheres to the patient's chest. This technology eliminates the need for external hardware, including wires (or leads). To enable the system to communicate with the patient, the researchers incorporated a small, wearable haptic-feedback device that can be worn anywhere on the body. When the sensors detect an issue (such as low battery power, incorrect device placement or pacemaker malfunction), the haptic device vibrates in specific patterns that alert wearers and inform them of the problem. Watch the pacemaker harmlessly degrade over time. Credit: Northwestern University Insights from the experts "This marks the first time we have paired soft, wearable electronics with transient electronic platforms," Rogers said. "This approach could change the way patients receive care providing multinodal, closed-loop control over essential physiological processesthrough a wireless network of sensors and stimulators that operates in a manner inspired by the complex, biological feedback loops that control behaviors in living organisms. "For temporary cardiac pacing, the system untethers patients from monitoring and stimulation apparatuses that keep them confined to a hospital setting. Instead, patients could recover in the comfort of their own homes while maintaining the peace of mind that comes with being remotely monitored by their physicians. This also would reduce the cost of health care and free up hospital beds for other patients." "In current settings, temporary pacemakers require a wire that is connected to an external generator that stimulates the heart," Efimov said. "When the heart regains its ability to stimulate itself appropriately, the wire has to be pulled out. As you might imagine, this is a pretty dramatic procedure to pull out a wire connected to the heart. We decided to approach this problem from a different angle. We created a pacemaker that simply dissolves and does not need to be removed. This avoids the dangerous step of pulling out the wire." "Current pacemakers are quite intelligent and respond well to the changing needs of the patients," Arora said. "But the wearable modules do everything traditional pacemakers do and more. A patient basically wears a little patch on their chest and gets real-time feedback to control the pacemaker. Not only is the pacemaker itself bioresorbable, it is controlled by a soft, wearable patch that allows the pacemaker to respond to the usual activities of life without needing implantable sensors." Rogers is the Louis Simpson and Kimberly Querrey Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Neurological Surgery at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the director of the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics (QSIB). Efimov is a professor of biomedical engineering in McCormick and professor of medicine (cardiology) in Feinberg. Arora is a professor of medicine at Feinberg and co-director of the Center for Arrhythmia Research. A microCT scan of a small animal model shows how the transient pacemaker dissolves over time. Credit: Northwestern University 'Body-area network' A bioelectronics pioneer, Rogers and his lab have been developing soft, flexible, wireless wearable devices and bioresorbable electronic technologies for nearly two decades. In the new study, Rogers and his collaborators combined and coordinated their bioresorbable, leadless pacemaker with four different skin-interfaced devices to work together. The skin-mounted devices are soft, flexible and can be gently peeled off after use, eliminating the need for surgical removal. The pacemaker naturally dissolves in the body after a period of need. The "body-area network" includes: A battery-free transient, bioresorbable pacemaker to temporarily pace the heart; A cardiac module that sits on the chest to provide power to and control stimulation parameters for the implanted pacemaker as well as sense electrical activity and sounds of the heart; A hemodynamics module that sits on the forehead to sense pulse oximetry, tissue oxygenation and vascular tone; A respiratory module that sits at the base of the throat to monitor coughing and respiratory activity; and A multi-haptic-feedback module that vibrates and pulses in a variety of patterns to communicate with the patient. "We wanted to demonstrate that it's possible to deploy multiple different types of devices, each performing essential functions in a wirelessly coordinated manner across the body," Rogers said. "Some are sensing. Some are delivering power. Some are stimulating. Some are providing control signals. But they all work together, trading information, making decisions based on algorithms and reacting to changing conditions. The vision of multiple bioelectronic devices all talking to one another and performing different functions at different relevant anatomical locations is a frontier area that we will continue to pursue going into the future." Multiple devices on a volunteer along with the tablet app. Credit: Northwestern University New advances, on-demand pacing Since Northwestern's transient pacemaker was first introduced a year ago, the researchers have made multiple improvements to advance the technology. While the previous device was flexible, the new device is flexible and stretchy, enabling it to better accommodate the changing nature of a beating heart. The new iteration also uses a biocompatible adhesive developed in Rogers' and Efimov's labs. The adhesive allows the lightweight, thin device to softly laminate onto the heart's surface without needing sutures. Another new benefit: As the transient pacemaker slowly and harmlessly dissolves, it now releases an anti-inflammatory drug to prevent foreign-body reactions. Perhaps the most impactful advance is the device's ability to provide pacing on-demand, based on when the patient needs it. Synced with the pacemaker, the chest-mounted cardiac module records an electrocardiogram in real time to monitor heart activity. In the study, researchers compared this wireless technology to gold-standard electrocardiograms and found it was as accurate and precise as clinical-grade systems. "The cardiac module literally tells the pacemaker to apply stimulus to the heart," Efimov explained. "If normal activity is regained, then it stops pacing. This is important because if you stimulate the heart when it's unnecessary, then you risk inducing arrhythmia." "The pacing system is completely autonomous," said Yeon Sik Choi, a postdoctoral fellow in Rogers' lab and co-first author of the paper. "It can automatically detect a problem and apply treatment. It's easy and self-contained with minimal external needs." All devices laid out together, with the transient pacemaker on the left. Credit: Northwestern University Health care gentle enough for newborns Rogers, Efimov, Arora and their teams believe their system would be most beneficial for the most vulnerable patients. Every year, approximately 40,000 babies are born with a hole in the wall that separates their heart's upper chambers. About 10,000 of these cases are life threatening, requiring immediate surgery. After surgery, 100% of babies receive a temporary pacemaker. "The good news is this is a temporary condition," Efimov said. "After about five to seven days, the heart regains its ability to stimulate itself and no longer needs a pacemaker. The procedure to remove the pacemaker has improved greatly over the years, so the rate of complications is low. But we could free these babies from the wires connecting to an external generator and free them from needing a second procedure." Explore further First-ever transient pacemaker harmlessly dissolves in body More information: Yeon Sik Choi et al, A transient, closed-loop network of wireless, body-integrated devices for autonomous electrotherapy, Science (2022). www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abm1703 Yeon Sik Choi et al, A transient, closed-loop network of wireless, body-integrated devices for autonomous electrotherapy,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abm1703 Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann, Remote control of the heart and beyond, Science (2022). www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abq0605 Journal information: Science Thunderous opens with a big storm, brought in by powerful lightning beings called Wakinyan. Then, were transported into the kitchen of Aiyana, a Lakota pre-teen more interested in social media, popularity and fitting in at her new school than hearing stories about her Native American heritage with her grandmother. That is, until one day, things go haywire on a school field trip and she finds herself in a magical world without cell phone coverage and must find a way to get home. Montanans M.L. Smoker and Natalie Peeterse co-authored the recently released Thunderous, a graphic novel for children and young adults following Aiyanas adventures as she is chased by the trickster Raven and struggles to make it back home to her grandmother. The idea for the book was initially born out of talks with publisher Curiosity Ink Media, and then Smoker and Peeterse hashed out ideas around Peeterses kitchen table in Helena, fielding feedback from their school-aged children. The kids had a lot of opinions about our ideas, Peeterse said. They were brutally honest with us about them. A major motivating factor behind all the brainstorming for the book was a desire to expand representation of Indigenous stories. Representation in childrens and young adults books matters, Smoker said. She was born on the Fort Peck Reservation and belongs to the Nakota, Lakota and Dakota tribes, and she works in Indigenous education. The books illustrator, Dale Deforest, is Navajo. Ive seen Native Americans be invisible and be erased from the narrative and history, she said. Ive seen flawed and inaccurate portrayals of Native American identities, and those portrayals are extremely damaging to Native American youth. It was important to her to be authentic and to get details right, which involved an intensive research process. They had to fact-check several stories involving constellations, for example, and they had friends and colleagues help with linguistics. Its what had to be done, she said. I didnt want to do this project without wanting to make that deep investment. Thunderous incorporates Indigenous traditions like oral storytelling, and it includes three of the seven Lakota values: generosity, fortitude and kinship. Protagonist Aiyanas relationship with her grandmother and cousin, Kola, are important parts of the book, and friends show her generosity along the way. Smoker said one of her favorite aspects of the book is Aiyanas relationship with Kola, as he is one of those people who are very centered in our traditions and ways of knowing Its very important we have people like that. Thunderous is also a story about strength, as Aiyana must complete four challenges before she can return home, learning more about her culture, her heritage, and herself along the way. Peeterse is white and not Indigenous, but formed a strong connection with Smoker while the two were in the University of Montanas Master of Fine Arts program for poetry, where the two shared an office together. Now, they live down the street from each other in Helena and have been working closely. Writing a graphic novel was a new challenge for Smoker and Peeterse, as the authors were presented with certain page limits, and one small change to the plot line could cause a domino effect requiring a complete re-working of certain sections of the book, Peeterse said. Smoker said the duos background in poetry helped them be concise and intentional about word choice. Smoker, former poet laureate of Montana, has published a book of poetry titled Another attempt at rescue, and Peeterse has published two chapbooks: "Black Birds: Blue Horse, An Elegy and Dreadful: Luminosity, Letters. The graphic novel served as a powerful medium for telling Aiyanas story, Smoker said. She hopes Native American youth feel a connection to or are inspired by Deforests illustrations, so they realize there are stories out there about them. She also hopes non-Native youth see contemporary portrayals of Native American people and build better understandings about them. Were creating a building block," she said, "so hopefully other Native writers and storytellers can come along and do this." You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Here's a quick guide to some arts and cultural events happening around Missoula in the coming week. Loren Stillman at the Old Post (Friday, May 27) Saxophonist Loren Stillman calls Missoula home base, yet the Brooklynite's discography looks like a native New Yorker's. Hes performed with jazz icons like Paul Motian, Carla Bley, Charlie Haden, Tyshawn Sorey and more. His solo work was praised in the New York Times and the late John Abercrombie has played on his records. Stillman will perform at the Old Post Pub on Friday, May 27, with Missoula jazz regulars/cornerstones: David Horgan (guitar), Pete Hand (bass) and Ed Stalling (drums). The show runs from 7-9:30 p.m. Thomas Meagher play in Polson (Friday-Sunday, May 27-29) The Port Polson Players are closing out a weekend encore run of No Cowards Epitaph, an original play about the nearly unbelievable life and mysterious death of Thomas Meagher, the first territorial governor of Montana. It runs Friday-Saturday, May 28-29, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $17 for adults and $16 for senior citizens and students. Go to portpolsonplayers.com or call 406-883-9212 for more information. Montana Story at the Roxy (Opens Friday, May 27) An independent drama shot here in state, Montana Story will screen at the Roxy Theater after a stop there last fall during the Montana Film Festival, part of a run that included Sundance. A family drama starring Haley Lu Richardson (Five Feet Apart) and Owen Teague (The Stand), it was dubbed the anti-Yellowstone by Rolling Stone. Read an interview with directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel about writing and shooting the film during the pandemic at bit.ly/montana-story. Kasperthesaint at the ZACC (Saturday, May 28) Kasperthesaint, a recent University of Montana graduate and a Ballet Beyond Borders principal dancer, is heading for Italy to continue his dance studies. Kasper also produces music, which he'll present along with visual art by Eponu and a dance performance with BBB and the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre. The doors open at 6 p.m. DJ Mark Myriad starts at 6:30, followed by a dance performance at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15, or $20 for an artist support ticket. UM Songwriter Showcase (Sunday, May 29) Three recent University of Montana graduates will share the stage at the ZACC Show Room on Sunday. All three happen to be theater majors as well. Stephen Jay Clement performed in the Montana Repertory Theatres original production, The Fog, Arwen Grace Baxter was the lead in She Loves Me, the musical that closed out the spring semester; and Diego Solan Kjelland in American Idiot and Spring Awakening. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30. The cover is $10. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has announced that a total of 17 developer/developer consortiums have been prequalified for the Juranah Independent Strategic Water Reservoirs project located in Makkah region that has a total storage capacity of 2.5 million cu m per annum. The list of the pre-qualified bidders (lead and/or technical) for the project include Asian industrial majors Japan's Marubeni Corporation and Chinese companies - Gezhouba Group Overseas Investment and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) in addition to regional firms, the UAE-based Metito and Kuwait's Gulf Investment Corporation. SWPC indicated in November last year that a total of 34 companies had expressed their interests in the Juranah project which is being implemented on a BOOT (build, own, operate and transfer) model. Of these, 21 were Saudi firms. The top local firms which have now been prequalified are Abdul Aziz Al Ajlan Sons; Metscco Heavy Steel Industries; Al Yamama Company; Alfanar; Al Rajhi Holding Group; Almutlaq Industrial Investment; Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies; Marafiq; Mowah; Mutlaq Al Ghowairi; Nesma and Vision International Invest Company. SWPC in an earlier notification said it will be conducting a competitive process to select a developer/developer consortium for the project which will be responsible for the development, financing, procurement, implementation and operation and maintenance of the water reservoir. The scope of work includes the setting up of a water reservoir and all associated infrastructure and facilities, said the statement from SWPC. The successful bidder, through a special purpose vehicle, will provide the required storage capacity to SWPC under a 30-year water storage agreement, it added. SWPC said its obligations under the agreement will be backed by a credit support agreement from the Saudi government. Synergy Consulting IFA is the lead and financial advisor; while Amer Al Amr Law Firm is the legal advisor and WSP Middle East the technical advisor for the project.-TradeArabia News Service (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) (THE CONVERSATION) Calls for new gun legislation that previously failed to pass Congress are being raised again after the May 24, 2022, mass shooting at an elementary school in the small town of Uvalde, Texas. An 18-year-old shooter killed at least 19 fourth grade students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School, marking the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. in a decade. The U.S. has been here before after shootings in Tucson, Aurora, Newtown, Charleston, Roseburg, San Bernardino, Orlando, Las Vegas, Parkland, El Paso, Boulder, and 12 days earlier at a grocery store in Buffalo, N.Y. Gun production and sales in the U.S. remain high, following a purchasing surge during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the firearms industry sold about six guns for every 100 Americans. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut was among the Democratic politicians who pleaded for action on gun control as horrifying details of the Uvalde school shooting unfolded. What are we doing? Murphy asked other lawmakers, speaking from the Senate floor on the day of the shooting. Why are you here if not to solve a problem as existential as this? Congress has declined to pass significant new gun legislation after dozens of shootings, including those that occurred during periods like this one, with Democrats controlling the House of Representatives, Senate and presidency. This response may seem puzzling given that national opinion polls reveal extensive support for several gun control policies, including expanding background checks and banning assault weapons. In October 2021, 52% of people polled by Gallup said that they thought firearm sales laws should be made more strict. But polls do not determine policy. Our research on this topic finds there is legislative activity following these tragedies, but its at the state level. Restrictions loosened Stricter gun laws at the national level are more popular among Democrats than Republicans, and major new legislation would likely need votes from at least 10 Republican senators. Many of these senators represent constituencies opposed to gun control. U.S. Texas Senator Ted Cruz said on May 24 that more gun control laws could not have prevented the Uvalde attack, explaining that doesnt work, its not effective, it doesnt prevent crime. The absence of strict control policies in Republican-controlled states shows that senators crossing party lines to support gun control would be out of step with the views of voters whose support they need to win elections. But a lack of action from Congress doesnt mean gun laws are stagnant after mass shootings. To examine how policy changes, we assembled data on shootings and gun legislation in the 50 states between 1990 and 2014. Overall, we identified more than 20,000 firearm bills and nearly 3,200 enacted laws. Some of these loosened gun restrictions, others tightened them, and still others did neither or both that is, tightened in some dimensions but loosened in others. We then compared gun laws before and after mass shootings in states where mass shootings occurred, relative to all other states. Contrary to the view that nothing changes, state legislatures consider 15% more firearm bills the year after a mass shooting. Deadlier shootings which receive more media attention have larger effects. In fact, mass shootings have a greater influence on lawmakers than other homicides, even though they account for less than 1% of gun deaths in the United States. As impressive as this 15% increase in gun bills may sound, gun legislation can reduce gun violence only if it becomes law. And when it comes to enacting these bills into law, our research found that mass shootings do not regularly cause lawmakers to tighten gun restrictions. In fact, we found the opposite. Republican state legislatures pass significantly more gun laws that loosen restrictions on firearms after mass shootings. In 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a new law that eliminated a requirement for Texans to obtain a license or receive training to carry handguns. This came two years after a 2019 mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso. Thats not to say Democrats never tighten gun laws there are prominent examples of Democratic-controlled states passing new legislation following mass shootings. California, for example, enacted several new gun laws following a 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino. Our research shows, however, that Democrats dont tighten gun laws more than usual following mass shootings. After the Buffalo shooting in early May 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that she would work to increase the age for legal gun purchasing from 18 to 21 at a minimum. Ideology governs response The contrasting response from Democrats and Republicans is indicative of different philosophies regarding the causes of gun violence and the best ways to reduce deaths. While Democrats tend to view social factors as contributing to violence, Republicans are more likely to blame the individual shooters. Cruz, for example, has said that stopping individuals with criminal records from committing violence could help prevent mass shootings. Politicians favoring looser restrictions on guns following mass shootings frequently argue that more people carrying guns would allow law-abiding citizens to stop perpetrators. In fact, gun sales often surge after mass shootings, in part because people fear being victimized. Democrats, in contrast, typically focus more on trying to solve policy and societal problems that contribute to gun violence. For both sides, mass shootings are an opportunity to propose bills consistent with their ideology. Since we wrote our study of gun legislation following mass shootings, which covered the period through 2014, several additional tragedies have energized the gun control movement that emerged following the December 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. These include the May 2022 shooting at the Tops grocery store in Buffalo, as well as the Uvalde school massacre. While President Joe Biden issued executive orders in 2021 with the goal of reducing gun violence, action in Congress remains elusive. States, meanwhile, have been more active on the issue. Student activism following the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, did not result in congressional action but led several states to pass new gun control laws. With more funding and better organization, this new movement is better positioned than prior gun control movements to advocate for stricter gun policies following mass shootings. Public outcry and devastation over the Uvalde shootings will likely provide fuel to this advocacy work. But with states historically more active than Congress on the issue of guns, both advocates and opponents of new restrictions should look beyond Washington for action on gun policy. This is an updated version of an article originally published on March 21, 2021. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/after-mass-shootings-like-uvalde-national-gun-control-fails-but-states-often-loosen-gun-laws-183879. Licenced as Creative Commons - attribution, no derivatives. Thank you! You've reported this item as a violation of our terms of use. Error! There was a problem with reporting this article. This content was contributed by a user of the site. If you believe this content may be in violation of the terms of use, you may report it. Report Abuse Log In to report WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday to improve accountability in policing a meaningful but limited action on the second anniversary of George Floyd's death that reflected the challenges in addressing racism, excessive use of force and public safety when Congress is deadlocked on stronger measures. The event shaped by one tragedy occurred a day after a second one, a mass shooting at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 children and two teachers. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris gave remarks that tried to comfort those affected by the shooting as well those who have suffered from police brutality, promising them that change could come eventually despite the partisan divides on Capitol Hill. I know progress can be slow and frustrating, Biden said. Today were acting. Were showing that speaking out matters. Being engaged matters. That the work of our time, healing the soul of this nation, is ongoing and unfinished and requires all of us never to give up. Floyd's family was in the audience at the White House as the president declared that what we do in their memory matters. With lawmakers unable to reach agreement on how to reform police policies or on efforts to reduce mass shootings, the president has limited avenues for advancing his campaign promises. And as he tries to build consensus, Biden is also attempting to strike a balance between police and civil rights groups at a time when rising concerns about crime are eclipsing calls for reform. Most of Biden's order is focused on federal law enforcement agencies for example, requiring them to review and revise policies on use of force. It will also create a database to help track officer misconduct, according to the White House. Although the administration cannot require local police departments to participate in the database, which is intended to prevent problem officers from hopping from job to job, officials are looking for ways to use federal funding to encourage their cooperation. In addition, the order is designed to restrict the flow of surplus military equipment to local police. Many organizations and lawmakers said the order was an important but incomplete step forward. While this action does not have the long-term impact that we had hoped for, Floyd family lawyer Ben Crump said in a statement, it does represent incremental progress, and we need to commit ourselves to making progress every day. The International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police both engaged with the Biden administration on the order. They said that they see many components of the order as a blueprint for future congressional action. Yet not everyone was satisfied. President Bidens executive order is a poor excuse for the transformation of public safety that he promised the Black voters who put him in office," the Movement for Black Lives, a civil rights group, said in a statement. Floyd's killing by Minneapolis police sparked nationwide protests two years ago. It was the largest series of demonstrations in American history, occurring in the midst of coronavirus lockdowns and President Donald Trump's divisive reelection campaign. However, transforming the initial outcry into political change has proven difficult. Last year, Biden urged Congress to pass legislation to reform police by the anniversary of his death. The guilty verdict was not enough, he said, and we cant stop here." However, no legislation was passed, and bipartisan talks dragged on, and later broke down. The White House eventually decided to move forward with executive actions rather than wait for Congress. Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat who helped lead the talks, said the order will enhance transparency, accountability and policing standards. But he noted that additional efforts will be needed for the police to improve relationships with the people they are to protect and serve. Across the United States, there is a deficit of trust between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect particularly Black and brown communities, Booker said. In September, the Justice Department curtailed federal agents use of no-knock warrants which allow law enforcement agents to enter a home without announcing their presence and updated its policy to prohibit agents from using chokeholds in most circumstances. But extending such rules to local police is more challenging, and White House officials have spent months in negotiations with civil rights groups and police organizations. The resulting set of policies is less extensive than originally sought, not to mention delayed by a year. We know full well that an executive order cannot address Americas policing crisis the same way Congress has the ability to, but weve got to do everything we can, said a statement from NAACP President Derrick Johnson. The order goes beyond issues involving misconduct and use of force. It also assesses the impact of facial recognition software on civil liberties, looks for ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in federal correctional facilities and suggests better ways to collect data on police practices. Biden is only the latest president to sign an executive order on police reform. His predecessor, Trump, signed a similar order less than a month after Floyds death in 2020 aimed at curbing police brutality. It provided federal dollars to departments that met certain credentialing standards on the use of force. One of the elements of the order called for the establishment of a database tracking terminations, criminal convictions and civil judgments against law enforcement officers for excessive use of force. Former President Barack Obama also tried to push for police reform through a task force he formed in 2014. One of that task forces recommendations was an expansion of an already existing database of officers who had been decertified. Associated Press writer Fatima Hussein contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) As the nation marked 1 million deaths from COVID-19 last week, the milestone was bookended by mass shootings that killed people simply living their lives: grocery shopping, going to church, or attending the fourth grade. The number, once unthinkable, is now an irreversible reality in the United States just like the persistent reality of gun violence that kills tens of thousands of people every year. Americans have always tolerated high rates of death and suffering among certain segments of society. But the sheer numbers of deaths from preventable causes, and the apparent acceptance that no policy change is on the horizon, raises the question: Has mass death become accepted in America? I think the evidence is unmistakable and quite clear. We will tolerate an enormous amount of carnage, suffering and death in the U.S., because we have over the past two years. We have over our history, says Gregg Gonsalves, an epidemiologist and professor at Yale who, before that, was a leading member of the AIDS advocacy group ACT UP. He made his comments in an interview last week, before the latest massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 21 people were killed on Tuesday, including 19 children. If I thought the AIDS epidemic was bad, the American response to COVID-19 has sort of ... its a form of the American grotesque, right? Gonsalves says. Really a million people are dead? And youre going to talk to me about your need to get back to normal, when for the most part most of us have been living pretty reasonable lives for the past six months? Certain communities have always borne the brunt of higher death rates in the United States. There are profound racial and class inequalities in the United States, and our tolerance of death is partly based on who is at risk, said Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, a sociology professor at the University of Minnesota who studies mortality. Some peoples deaths matter a lot more than others, she lamented in an interview last week. And I think thats what were seeing in this really brutal way with this coincidence of timing. You expect us to keep doing this over and over and over again over again, forgive and forget, her son, former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield, Jr., told reporters. While people we elect and trust in offices around this country do their best not to protect us, not to consider us equal. In the handful of days after the shooting in Buffalo, a man 1,700 miles away in Texas legally purchased one AR-style rifle, then another, along with 375 rounds of ammunition, according to state senators briefed by law enforcement. He then carried out the attack on Robb Elementary. Just 10 days had passed. The sense that politicians have done little even as the violence repeats itself is shared by many Americans. Its a dynamic thats encapsulated by the thoughts and prayers offered to victims of gun violence by politicians unwilling to make meaningful commitments to ensure there really is no more never again, according to Martha Lincoln, an anthropology professor at San Francisco State University who studies the cultural politics of public health. I dont think that most Americans feel good about it. I think most Americans would like to see real action from their leaders in the culture about these pervasive issues, said Lincoln, who spoke before the attack on the school in Texas, and who adds that there is a similar political vacuum around COVID-19. The high numbers of deaths from COVID-19, guns and other causes are difficult to fathom and can start to feel like background noise, disconnected from the individuals whose lives were lost and the families whose lives were forever altered. American society has even come to accept the deaths of children from preventable causes. In a recent guest column published in The Advocate newspaper, pediatrician Dr. Mark W. Kline pointed out that more than 1,500 children have died from COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, despite the myth that it is harmless for children. Kline wrote that there was a time in pediatrics when children were not supposed to die. There was no acceptable pediatric body count, he wrote. At least, not before the first pandemic of the social media age, COVID-19, changed everything. There are many parallels between the U.S. response to COVID-19 and its response to the gun violence epidemic, according to Sonali Rajan, a professor at Columbia University who researches school violence. We have long normalized mass death in this country. Gun violence has persisted as a public health crisis for decades, she said last week, noting that an estimated 100,000 people are shot every year and some 40,000 will die. Gun violence is such a part of life in America now that we organize our lives around its inevitability. Children do lockdown drills at school. And in about half the states, Rajan said, teachers are allowed to carry firearms. When she looks at the current response to COVID-19, she sees similar dynamics. Americans, she said, deserve to be able to commute to work without getting sick, or work somewhere without getting sick, or send their kids to school without them getting sick. What will happen down the line if more and more people get sick and are disabled? she asked. What happens? Do we just kind of live like this for the foreseeable future? Its important, she said, to ask what policies are being put forth by elected officials who have the power to attend to the health and the well-being of their constituents. Its remarkable how that responsibility has been sort of abdicated, is how I would describe it, Rajan said. The level of concern about deaths often depends on context, says Rajiv Sethi, an economics professor at Barnard College who has written about both gun violence and COVID-19. He points to a rare but dramatic event such as an airplane crash or an accident at a nuclear power plant, which do seem to matter to people. By contrast, something like traffic deaths gets less attention. The government last week said that nearly 43,000 people had died on the nations roads last year, the highest level in 16 years. The federal government unveiled a national strategy earlier this year to combat the problem. Even when talking about gun violence, mass shootings get a lot of attention but represent a small number of the gun deaths that happen in the United States every year, Sethi said in an interview last week. For example, there are more suicides from guns in America than there are homicides, an estimated 24,000 gun suicides compared with 19,000 homicides. But even though there are policy proposals that could help within the bounds of the Second Amendment, he says, the debate on guns is politically entrenched. The result is that nothing is done, Sethi said. The result is paralysis. Dr. Megan Ranney of Brown Universitys School of Public Health calls it a frustrating learned helplessness. Theres been almost a sustained narrative created by some that tells people that these things are inevitable, said Ranney, an ER doctor who did gun violence research before COVID-19 hit, speaking before Tuesday's Texas school shooting ended 21 lives. It divides us when people think that theres nothing they can do. She wonders if people really understand the sheer numbers of people dying from guns, from COVID-19 and from opioids. The CDC said this month that more than 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2021, setting a record. Ranney also points to false narratives spread by bad actors, such as denying that the deaths were preventable, or suggesting those who die deserved it. There is an emphasis in the United States on individual responsibility for ones health, Ranney said and a tension between the individual and the community. Its not that we put less value on an individual life, but rather were coming up against the limits of that approach, she said. Because the truth is, is that any individuals life, any individuals death or disability, actually affects the larger community. Similar debates happened in the last century about child labor laws, worker protections and reproductive rights, Ranney said. An understanding of history is important, said Wrigley-Field, who teaches the history of ACT UP in one of her classes. During the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, the White House press secretary made anti-gay jokes when asked about AIDS, and everyone in the room laughed. Activists were able to mobilize a mass movement that forced people to change the way they thought and forced politicians to change the way they operated, she said. I dont think that those things are off the table now. Its just that its not really clear if theyre going to emerge, Wrigley-Field said. I dont think giving up is a permanent state of affairs. But I do think thats where were at, right at this moment. Michelle R. Smith is an Associated Press reporter, based in Providence. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/mrsmithap Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. THURSDAY, May 26, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Teens who have access to guns are at a higher risk for suicide or suicide attempts, new research shows. Compounding the situation, about one-third of all U.S. adolescents coming to the emergency department for any reason have moderate or severe depressive symptoms, suggesting high mental health needs among this population, the study authors said. And more than 40% of those depressed teens have access to a gun, the researchers found. "Our findings underscore the importance of screening all adolescents who present to the emergency department for suicide risk and access to firearms," said lead study author Dr. Samaa Kemal. She is a pediatric emergency medicine fellow at Children's Hospital of Chicago. "This is even more critical now that we are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis." Teens and preteens with access to guns had about 1.5 times higher odds for a prior suicide attempt or current suicidal ideation, the study found. And this was prior to the pandemic, when emergency departments saw increased youth mental health needs. "Universal mental health screening of adolescents is particularly important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to both increased firearm availability and worsening indicators of youth mental health," Kemal said in a hospital news release. "Proper screening for both suicidality and firearm access can create the opportunity to offer effective firearm safety counseling, such as keeping all firearms locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition, as well as linkage to mental health resources. We must do everything possible to prevent tragic deaths among teens who are struggling," Kemal added. For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 15,000 patients aged 14 to 18 years seen at a U.S. children's hospital emergency department between June 2013 and March 2020. About 14% of the teens reported having access to a firearm in the home or the ability to get one within the next 24 hours. Among the issues that increased the odds of a prior suicide attempt were a history of sexual assault. In addition, verbal bullying, intimate partner violence, and/or abuse by a caregiver significantly increased odds of current suicidal ideation and a prior suicide attempt. Suicide death among U.S. teens has almost doubled in the past 10 years and is the second-leading cause of death for that age group. About 44% of suicide deaths in the 14- to 18-year-old age group were caused by guns between 2015 and 2020, the researchers noted. About 70% of firearm-related suicide attempts involved weapons obtained within the victim's household. Currently, the Joint Commission mandates that all children over 12 years old be screened for suicide risk. If this risk is found, then screening for access to lethal means is recommended. The findings were published online recently in the journal Academic Pediatrics. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on suicide, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). SOURCE: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, news release, May 24, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) As the mother of a girl killed at Sandy Hook, Michele Gay was devastated by the massacre at a Texas elementary school, with its aching parallels to the 2012 attack in Connecticut. It was all the more saddening in light of the work she has invested in the years since to promote school safety. This one has been particularly devastating for me, for my family, for our community, Sandy Hook. We're just literally transported back in time, said Gay, co-founder of the nonprofit Safe and Sound Schools. I've got to dig deep. I'm not going to lie. In the decade since 20 children and six educators were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary, some of their loved ones who channeled grief into advocacy have claimed success, gradually, in areas including gun safety, attitudes around gun violence, and mental health awareness. The attack in Uvalde has tested their resolve like no other. Like the Newtown gunman, the attacker in Texas was a young man who shot an older family member he lived with before opening fire with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle inside a nearby elementary school, slaughtering small and defenseless children. As details of Tuesdays shooting emerged, Matt Vogl was texting with Jennifer Hensel, whose daughter Avielle was killed in Newtown, and others involved in an advocacy effort named in the girls honor, the Avielle Initiative, which promotes efforts to make mental health care more widely available through technology. We were all just crying and texting. It's brutal because it triggers some of the darkest memories we have, said Vogl, executive director at the National Mental Health Innovation Center in Colorado, where the program is based. The effort was launched after the Newtown attack by Hensel and her husband, Jeremy Richman, who died by suicide in 2019. If I can't stay optimistic I need to quit and find something else to do. On days like today its all you got. The vast majority of people dont go into schools and shoot them up, Vogl said. In the first months after the Newtown shooting, much of the families' advocacy work centered on gun control, particularly a failed effort in 2013 to get a federal law banning some semi-automatic weapons and expanding criminal and mental background checks for gun purchases. One of the best known groups, Sandy Hook Promise, pivoted afterward to campaigns that helped pass state laws limiting sales of some guns and, more recently, to community-based prevention programs. There have been victories. Trainings offered to schools by Sandy Hook groups have been credited with stopping potential suicides and school shootings. Victims' families have prevailed in legal fights with conspiracy theorists and a lawsuit against gun-maker Remington that held the company responsible for its marketing of military-style rifles like those used in the Newtown and Uvalde attacks. For Mark Barden, a co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise, the Texas shooting was all the more frustrating because of everything that has been learned about how looking out for warning signs can prevent such tragedies. Today its hard because my mind is with with these families in that community, said Barden, whose son Daniel was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting. But I do have to buoy myself from crashing because I know that we have something here that works. Gay, whose group works with schools around the country, said it was disheartening to hear indications that signs might have been missed in the Texas case. Already it appears there were numerous red flags, numerous changes in his behavior over the last year of his life, social media postings that were opportunities to report and then provide intervention, she said. That's hard. Survivors of the Newtown shooting where among those expressing outrage. Mary Ann Jacob, a former Sandy Hook library clerk, was huddled in a closet with 18 children during the 2012 shooting. Yesterday, I was right back in that closet, remembering the fear and horror we experienced, trying to be brave for the kids we were with, while we were more frightened than wed ever been in our lives, she said Wednesday during an appearance with Connecticut's governor in Hartford. "Once again, gun violence has forced its way into our schools, leaving nothing but devastation, trauma and tragedy in its wake. Schools across Newtown had a stepped-up police presence on Wednesday and Superintendent Lorrie Rodrigue said counselor teams were on alert for students who might be traumatized by the news from Texas, including high school students who survived the Sandy Hook shooting. In just visiting today, it was very obvious that staff were right there to support their students, especially those at the high school who were at Sandy Hook, she said. Although Congress hasnt passed a meaningful gun control law since the Newtown attack, Erica Lafferty, the daughter of Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, the slain principal of Sandy Hook, pushes back on those who say nothing has changed since Sandy Hook. A program manager at Everytown for Gun Safety and an advocate for universal background checks, she said gains have been made quietly in states around the country. That is absolutely not something that I see stopping. I do hope that this is an eye opener, as Sandy Hook was, for a push on the federal level," she said. "But what thats going to be? Your guess is as good as mine. Associated Press writer Susan Haigh contributed from Hartford, Connecticut. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) A Republican measure supporters say would empower North Carolina parents to better monitor their children's public school education and also would bar K-3 class curriculum from addressing LGBTQ issues received approval Wednesday from a state Senate committee. The bill, which wades into other contentious issues around pronouns for children and their medical treatment without parental consent, received criticism from some who said GOP colleagues are wrongly interfering in the classroom. They said the measure contained items reminiscent of a recently approved Florida law that critics have dubbed the Don't Say Gay bill. Senate Republicans disagreed, saying the prohibition of instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in curriculum for kindergarten through third grade is more narrowly tailored than the Florida law. And they say it would allow passing mention of a teacher or parent's same-sex relationship, for example. This is about not teaching 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-year-olds things that are not age appropriate," said Sen. Michael Lee, a New Hanover County Republican and a Senate education committee co-chairman. This bill ... has no censorship in it at all. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, whose vetoes can be upheld if enough lawmakers from his party remain united, told legislators to "keep the Dont Say Gay culture wars out of North Carolina classrooms. He also referred to House Bill 2, a 2016 law signed by GOP Gov. Pat McCrory addressing bathroom use by transgender people that costs the state sporting events and billions of dollars. Schools are grateful for involved parents and we need even more of them working together with teachers to educate our children, Cooper said in a prepared statement. However, the last thing our state needs is another Republican political ploy like the bathroom bill which hurt our people and cost us jobs. Cooper vetoed a Republican bill last year that would have limited how public school teachers can discuss certain racial concepts. Republicans said the Parents Bill of Rights is largely a response to parents whose frustrations grew during the COVID-19 pandemic as their children learned from home. Scenes from school board meetings of adults complaining about books and instruction have been common. They broke our trust, Pat Blackburn with the advocacy group Moms of Liberty, told senators. Efforts by parents to ask that their children be protected from harmful, inappropriate content has also been met with hostility ... this bill is a start." The measure would broaden the rights parents already have in state and federal laws. Additional rights would include the ability to make health care decisions for their children and to be notified if a government agency suspects a crime has been committed against the child. Parents would be provided from schools a guide to student achievement at the start of each school year and notice of how they can obtain information. Local school boards would be required to adopt procedures that notify a parent when school staff notices changes to a childs mental, emotional or physical health or well-being, or before a childs name or pronoun is changed in school records. School districts would be required to create complaint and appeal processes for parents. Some Democratic senators and public speakers addressing the committee said the legislation was not necessary or an effort to create division between parents and teachers. It does not honor that many of our students come from diverse families or that our teachers come from diverse families, and that teachers should be able to help our students recognize the humanity in one another, to treat each other with dignity and respect, said Tamika Walker Kelly, president of the North Carolina Association of Educators. The bill also would subject health care providers to disciplinary action by licensing boards should they fail to receive parental consent for non-urgent medical treatments for a minor child, including fines of up to $5,000. The measure next goes to another Senate committee. House Speaker Tim Moore, whose chamber would receive the bill if it passes the Senate, said later Wednesday he had not yet read the bill but believed parents have a right to know what's happening. There needs to be transparency. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Theres only one segment of water in Missoula thats conspicuously devoid of the usual kayaks, rafts and drift boats that pack every other stretch of river during the warm months. A dangerous barrier called the Grass Valley Irrigation Dam, last upgraded in 1960, stretches across the entire length of the Clark Fork River near Kelly Island and creates a dangerous hazard for boaters. In the summer, wooden planks poke ominously out of the water and a churning boil of water lurks behind the structure. That means that entire reach of the Clark Fork River, from McCormick Park to where it absorbs the Bitterroot River, is basically off-limits unless one is willing to undertake a difficult portage around the dam. There are no ramp facilities for properly hauling out or putting in a boat near the dam. Its a post and pin dam that raises up and blocks the river off, explained Carl Saunders, general manager of the Grass Valley French Ditch Company. It worked well for over 100 years, but now its in pretty tough shape. Because the dam requires workers to install wooden boards every summer, it's also dangerous for workers. We had a death four years ago where a guy went off and drowned in the thing, Saunders recalled grimly. He was a maintenance worker doing repairs. He was on an actual install and one of the pins blew out. The 32-year-old's foot was trapped and the water rushed over him. It isnt just humans that face death from the dam. An estimated 10,000 fish die every year because they enter the irrigation canal and get trapped there when the water dries up, according to Rob Roberts, a project manager with Montana Trout Unlimited. Thats why Trout Unlimited is partnering with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Missoula Conservation District on a project to assess the structure with the goal of upgrading the aging dam. The ultimate vision is to allow safe fish migration, reduce the safety hazards posed to recreational boaters and maintenance personnel and increase the efficiency along with drought and flood resiliency of the irrigation system. A new dam, complete with a fish ladder, fish screen and a ramp for boaters, could cost roughly $2 million. None of the partner groups has that much money right now, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture has doled out a little bit of money for a planning effort. Old problem Built by a group of French entrepreneurs in 1905, the dam diverts roughly one-tenth of the Clark Fork Rivers flow in the summer and provides water to 4,000 irrigable acres and 120 different users in the Grass Valley and Frenchtown areas. We basically have 70 cubic feet per second of water that basically acts like a stream," Roberts explained. "So when you shut off the ditch in the fall around October, this thing is trapping thousands of fish. Those are trout, whitefish, suckers, you name it. Thats a huge loss of fish to the ecosystem, he said. Not only just sport fish, but also fish people dont go for and the food base for all the other big fish and just the general ecology of the river, he said. Very simply, wed rather have all that biomass, the fish in the river, where it belongs in that system rather than here. Boater safety is also a huge issue, he noted. Local angling shops dont recommend that any boaters take out after the Silver Park fishing access in McCormick Park in Missoula because of the danger. In fact, there are warning signs along the way. A picture of the dam in mid-summer shows the wooden planks rising several inches above the water line the entire width of the river channel, with a boil of water downstream. This is a pretty known issue, he said. "Like, you dont want to get over that and get caught because thats one of those low-head dams you may hear people talk about. And actually, just the hydraulics make them super-dangerous and people get caught in there. Theres no designated portage ramp. You can tell theres really nowhere to get out and portage around this thing if youre in a raft, Roberts said. So, generally, people just kind of avoid this stretch in the summer. And it eliminates sort of a prime opportunity, you know, on the lower river. This is a very underutilized stretch from an angling and recreation perspective. So now, he said, theyre working with engineers and looking at survey data to come up with conceptual ideas on how to rebuild the structure so that it meets the goals of irrigators, workers, boaters and fish. Saunders said that he believes the dam needs to get replaced within the next five years. In the past, he said, the landowner who owns land around the dam wasnt amenable to upgrading the dam area with a boat launch to improve safety. There were concerns thered be more boat traffic and people tend to camp along his property there and have campfires and leave garbage, Saunders said. He didnt want the increased traffic. But time goes by, and he told me recently he doesnt think itd make a nickels worth of difference if they come here anyway. And its better if theyre safe. To block the river The dam has to be raised in a tight time frame every summer when the water drops to a certain level. In the old days, Saunders said a driver in a pickup truck would go around and tell all the local farmers that the dams getting raised on Saturday and a bunch of volunteers would show up. Now, all the farmers are getting old and its hard to find workers that can do that specialized labor on short notice. He said new technology includes inflatable dams that just get air pumped in them in low water and deflated in high water. Thats what Id like to see, but theyre the most expensive, he said. Roberts said that it has taken so long to get the dam replaced because the project has to have buy-in from irrigators. These guys, in the past, they havent really been super-interested in altering the regime to deal with fisheries protection, he said. But now, they sort of see the writing on the wall that theres a convergence of all these issues and the potential to partner with other people to find common goals. Radley Watkins with the Missoula Conservation District said its going to take a lot of cooperation to get the project done. Theres a lot of other dams around Montana and the country that need money as well. You hear about aging infrastructure across the country, but ag infrastructure is really its own category, he said. This is a system similar to what they used in ancient Egypt. It was built 100 years ago. Roberts said upgrading the dam is a no-brainer, so Montana Trout Unlimited has made it a priority. To me, when you overlay public safety, fisheries protection with the ability to manage drought resiliency, its very rare to get projects like this that have no opposition, for the most part, to the project, he said. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 3 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. Missoula Police officers evacuated the Missoula Public Library for an hour and a half while they tried to arrest a belligerent man in a bathroom. The incident started at 1:25 p.m. Wednesday when officers responded to a reported trespasser at the library. The suspect had a history of inappropriate behavior and making threats, according to a Missoula Police release. The suspect refused to comply with officer orders and waved a knife at them before barricading himself in a bathroom. Officers negotiated with him "before utilizing other police tactics," according to the release. They also ordered the library evacuated until after 3 p.m. Officers were able to disarm the suspect and arrest him. No one was injured. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 8 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 Clinton pastor and Realtor accused of hate speech over homophobic remarks faces a second ethics grievance, this time filed by a fellow Realtor who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community. The new ethics complaint says the pastor's actions create an environment where the complainant doesn't feel welcome to do business. MOR's ethics hearing proceedings are confidential, and the names of ethics violations complainants are not disclosed. Its filing prompted Clinton Community Church Pastor Brandon Huber to file his own legal complaint in Missoula County District Court on Wednesday. This subsequent filing comes on the heels of a Missoula County District Court judge dismissing Hubers suit last month. Last fall, Huber accused the Missoula Organization of Realtors and National Association of Realtors of discriminating against him for requiring that he undergo an ethics hearing process following an initial ethics complaint over alleged anti-LGBTQ+ actions he made in the Clinton church. Huber previously worked at Windermere in Missoula, but left his job with the real estate group earlier this month, Windermere Vice President of Communications Shelley Rossi said. The initial ethics complaint that prompted Huber's lawsuit said he violated MOR's hate-speech policy when he pulled out of a lunch program partnership with the Missoula Food Bank over their use of LGBTQ+ inserts, saying they were contrary to the churchs teachings. A third party made a complaint to MOR, triggering the administrative process of an ethics hearing. Huber filed suit against the real estate associations in November. Judge Jason Marks said Huber needed to go through the MOR administrative process of an ethics hearing before the case could ripen into a lawsuit. Since then, MOR has set an ethics hearing date for July 19 to address both ethics complaints filed against Huber. The new ethics grievance, filed on April 28, the day after the judge dismissed Huber's case, again alleges Huber violated MOR's hate speech rules. It was filed by fellow Realtor who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community. It points to last November, when Huber participated in a rally at his church in Clinton that took aim at the LGBTQ agenda. It specifically calls out Huber promoting the event on his Facebook page. Huber's post includes a flyer that reads "JD Hall will expose the LGBTQ agenda that controls our lives and kills our liberty." This harassing and hateful language makes (the complainant) feel both as an LGBTQ+ individual and as a Realtor, that I, or my clients would not be welcome to do business with Brandon, the April 28 ethics grievance filing reads. Huber spoke at the November rally, which was part of the God, Country, Family Tour." We never took food away from gay children, Huber said at the event. "If children decided to not come down that was because the parents would not allow them to. It wasnt because the church refused them." He estimated the church served roughly 600 lunches from early July to Aug. 20 through its new program. He added that they never asked if a child was gay or what their familial status was. Pastor Jordan JD Hall, who founded the Montana Daily Gazette, state Sen. Theresa Manzella (R-Hamilton), congressional candidate Al Olszewski, Leah Southwell of the John Birch Society and others were in attendance. Manzella took aim at alternative LGBTQ lifestyles and claimed that the LGBTQ+ community is trying to recruit young people. However, she encouraged those in attendance to approach the topic with compassion and conviction. Were not here to whine or complain about this silly ethics complaint and the thoughts about persecution because that is nothing as compared to what Christ went through for us Were here to celebrate, Manzella said. Were here to celebrate Brandon Huber and his stand for God and godliness. Manzella went on to say that members of the LGBTQ+ community like to play the protected class card, because queer couples in general have expressed that theyre scared to walk down the street holding hands in fear of possible violence against them for their sexuality. I've got to tell you, I think those are normal consequences associated with the choices they made, Manzella said. Throughout the process, Huber and his attorney have maintained these ethics complaints launch Huber into an unfair disciplinary process that targets his faith. Hubers new court filing once again argues that this places the pastor in a position of having defend himself against this most recent, bigoted, anti-Christian complaint. Huber is forced to expend more of his time and money to defending himself against the accusation, the second complaint reads. At the April 27 court hearing, Huber's attorney Matthew Monforton warned that Huber would likely face additional ethics complaints if the suit were to be dismissed. "The Missoula district court has already ruled in this matter," MOR Chief Executive Officer Jim Bachand said in a statement to the Missoulian. "As was previously determined in this case, the allegations brought by Mr. Huber are premature and that fact remains true here." He noted Huber remains a member of MOR, NAR and still has full access to multiple listing services. "(MOR and NAR) have a deep commitment to non-discrimination, and we take any alleged violation of the code of ethics very seriously and remain steadfast in our obligations to ensure due process in the conduct of hearings to enforce the code of ethics," he added. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. 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. CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (AP) Two women were arrested after about 500,000 fentanyl pills were found in an SUV pulled over for speeding on Interstate 10 in Arizona, police said. The pills that were seized were discovered concealed in collagen supplement bottles on Monday during a search that also turned up a handgun and a large amount of cash, police from the small city of Casa Grande south of Phoenix said in a statement. U.S. overdose deaths have risen most years for more than two decades. The increase began in the 1990s with overdoses involving opioid painkillers, followed by waves of deaths led by other opioids like heroin and most recently illicit fentanyl. Last year, overdoses involving fentanyl and other synthetic opioids surpassed 71,000, up 23% from the year before. There also was a 23% increase in deaths involving cocaine and a 34% increase in deaths involving meth and other stimulants. Over a two-month period in Arizona late last year, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration working with Arizona law enforcement agencies made seizures of more than 3 million fentanyl pills, 45 kilograms (99 pounds) of fentanyl powder and 35 firearms. Forty people were arrested. In the Arizona traffic stop, Martha Lopez, 31, and Tania Luna Solis, 30, were arrested on suspicion of crimes including possession of a narcotic drug for sale, according to police. Court records didnt list attorneys who could comment on behalf of the women, who are from Phoenix. Two children in the vehicle were turned over to state child protection officials, police said. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WHO Withdraws 12 of Biden's 13 Amendments to IHR NEWS PROVIDED BY May 25, 2022 WASHINGTON, May 25, 2022 / Christian Newswire / -- The World Health Organization (WHO) temporarily withdrew 12 of the 13 amendments submitted by the Biden administration to the current International Health Regulations (IHR) at the World Health Assembly (WHA) annual meeting. The meeting continues through May 28, and the 12 amendments could resurface. This week, the 75th World Health Assembly is convening in Geneva, Switzerland with delegates from 194 nations. Apparently, there was not the consensus vote of delegates from 194 nations to pass the amendments that would empower the WHO to declare a "public health emergency." Some African nations, Iran, Malaysia, and Brazil objected to the amendments but for different reasons. The amendments represent one of several tracks simultaneously ongoing to give the WHO more authority. First, there are still three days left during the World Health Assembly. One amendment is still on the table, and the other 12 amendments can resurface any time during the WHO meetings. Second, there is already another hearing on these amendments scheduled for June 16-17, 2022. Third, there is a separate "Pandemic Treaty" that the WHO will consider on August 1, 2022. The African nations that objected to Biden's amendments do not appear to oppose their substance. Rather, they want all the changes consolidated in a new "Pandemic Treaty" and not done in piecemeal fashion. Except for the President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, who blasted the Biden amendments and objected to the WHO gaining more authority, there was little international objection against giving greater power to the WHO. Some leaders are enamored with the WHO's Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and others want the WHO to globally mandate universal health care. The remaining amendment is to Article 59: "Entry into force; period for rejection or reservations," which seeks to change the amount of time to reject amendments from 18 to six months. The existing WHO regulations provide for an 18-month grace period during which a nation may withdraw its "yes" vote for amendments. The proposed remaining amendment would reduce that opportunity to six months. This also has a direct impact on Article 61: "Rejection," which states "If a State notifies the Director-General of its rejection of these Regulations or of an amendment thereto within the period provided in paragraph 1 of Article 59, these Regulations or the amendment concerned shall not enter into force with respect to that State. Any international sanitary agreement or regulations listed in Article 58 to which such State is already a party shall remain in force as far as such State is concerned." The remaining amendment will allow the WHO to fast track future amendments. On January 18, 2022, officials from the Biden administration quietly sent the WHO extensive amendments to the current International Health Regulations without an official statement or a single press conference. The proposed amendments, in combination with the existing ones, enables Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and any future Director-General to have unrestricted powers to define and then implement their interventions and to declare "health emergencies" at will. The contents of the proposed amendments were not made public until April 12, 2022, when a researcher discovered them. On May 6, the Biden administration finally posted the amendments for public comment, but the time to register expired after 24 hours and was open only to certain minorities. On March 31, 2020, the U.S. contribution to the WHO was $115.8 million, followed by China at approximately one-half that amount, followed by Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Brazil. Then in July 2020, President Donald Trump notified Congress and the U.N. that the United States was formally withdrawing from the WHO. Bill Gates quickly increased his contribution from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to $250 million. Gates is the second largest contributor to the WHO, only behind the United States. The WHO was highly instrumental during COVID-19 in promoting the agenda of the Chinese Communist Party which has caused millions of deaths from COVID-19, not to mention the collateral damage from prolonged lockdowns, quarantines, and mask mandates. Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver stated, "It is a positive sign that 12 of the 13 amendments have been withdrawn. However, one amendment remains, the other 12 can return, and we know the WHO will hold more meetings on these amendments and on a new 'Pandemic Treaty' that will vest considerable global power in this agency of the United Nations. America's sovereignty is not for sale." Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost. SOURCE Liberty Counsel CONTACT: Mat Staver, 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org Related Links lc.org/ Saudi Arabias non-oil exports (including re-exports) increased by 29.4% year-on-year in the first quarter (Q1) of 2022, rising to SR77.8 billion ($20.7 billion) from SR60.1 billion in Q1 2021 said the General Authority for Statistics (Gastat). The non-oil exports decreased compared to the previous quarter (Q4 2021) by SR4.4 billion or 5.4%, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA), citing Gastats International Trade reports on the First Quarter and March 2022. The non-oil exports (including re-exports) increased by 25.4% year-on-year in March 2022, rising to SR28.2 billion from SR22.5 billion in March 2021. The ratio of non-oil exports to imports increased to 49.6% in Q1 2022 from 43.1% in Q1 2021 as a result of a higher increase in non-oil exports (29.4%) than in imports (12.5%) over that period. Merchandise imports increased by SR12.5% (SR17.4 billion) in Q1 2022. The value of imports amounted to SR156.8 billion in Q1 2022 compared to SR139.4 billion in Q1 2021. Imports also increased compared to the previous quarter (Q4 2021), by SR8.2 billion or 5.5%. The oil exports in March rose by SR62.9 billion or 123%. According to the report, the overall merchandise exports increased by 93.2% in March 2022 compared to March 2021. The value of exports amounted to SR142.2 billion in March 2022, up from SR73.6 billion in March 2021. The value of imports amounted to SR55.2 billion in March 2022 compared to SR50.3 billion in March 2021. CHANTILLY, Va. (AP) Jill Biden and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy welcomed the delivery Wednesday of a second shipment of tens of thousands of pounds of baby formula that the Biden administration is importing from Europe to ease critical supply shortages in the U.S. The first lady and the nation's doctor each sought to empathize with anxious parents nationwide who have been scrambling to find enough formula for their children. Both said President Joe Biden and his team understand what parents are going through and were working hard to solve the latest domestic crisis to challenge the administration. Biden has come under growing political pressure for not acting more quickly to try to head off the supply crisis. As a mom and a Nana, its impossible to hear the stories of children suffering and not imagine your own children in the same position, the first lady said, using her grandchildren's nickname for her. "Food is the first and most important way we nurture our children. Murthy, a father of two young children, said he knows how important it is to parents that they have confidence in their ability to safely and securely feed their child. And I know how frustrating and scary it can be when that security feels out of reach. That is why we will not rest until every parent has the formula they need for their child, he pledged. Biden and Murthy spoke on the tarmac at Dulles International Airport in Virginia in front of a FedEx Express plane that had just delivered 120,000 pounds (54,431. kilograms) , or 60 tons, of infant formula from Ramstein Air Base in Germany under the administration's Operation Fly Formula program. With Wednesday's delivery and a shipment of 78000 pounds (35,380 kilograms) of specialty infant formula that was flown by military aircraft to Indianapolis over the weekend, we now have brought the equivalent of 1.5 million eight-ounce bottles of infant formula to the United States, Murthy said. More deliveries are scheduled to arrive soon. The administration has cut the timeframe for deliveries to three days, down from up to four weeks, he said. Jill Biden said her husband knows there is more to do to solve the baby formula shortages. Im here today to say to parents, you arent alone, she said. At the highest levels of Joes administration, he and his team understand what youre going through and they are finding solutions. And they wont stop until all parents can get the formula all their children need. Under Operation Fly Formula, infant formula that meets U.S. health and safety standards is imported from overseas manufacturers and delivered to hospitals and retailers in the United States. The first shipment arrived Sunday, bringing 132 pallets of Nestle Health Science Alfamino Infant and Alfamino Junior formula to Indianapolis enough for 500,000 eight-ounce bottles. The 114 pallets of Nestle's Gerber Good Start Extensive HA formula delivered Wednesday will be transported by FedEx to a Nestle distribution facility near Allentown, Pennsylvania, the White House said. The three formulas are for children who are allergic to cow's milk protein. The baby formula shortage stems mostly from Abbott Nutritions plant in Sturgis, Michigan, which the Food and Drug Administration closed in February due to contamination issues. Abbott, one of a handful of companies that control the vast majority of the market for infant formula, then announced a massive recall of its product on Feb. 17, which led to the nationwide supply shortage. Abbott and the FDA recently reached an agreement to reopen the plant next week. But it will take about two months before product is ready for delivery. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A witness says onlookers urged police to charge into the Texas elementary school where a gunmans rampage killed 19 children and two teachers. Juan Carranza spoke Wednesday as investigators worked to track the massacre that lasted upwards of 40 minutes and ended when the 18-year-old shooter was killed by a Border Patrol team. Carranza lives across the street from Robb Elementary School in the town of Uvalde. He says women were shouting at officers: Go in there! Go in there! soon after the attack began. But he says the officers didn't enter. Minutes earlier, Carranza had watched as Salvador Ramos crashed his truck into a ditch outside the school, grabbed his AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle and shot at two people. Authorities say once inside the school, Ramos locked the door of a classroom and started shooting. All those who died were in that classroom. A law enforcement official familiar with the investigation says Border Patrol agents had trouble breaching the classroom door and had to get a staff member to open the room with a key. KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TEXAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING: Governor: Texas gunman said he was going to shoot up school Beto ORourke disrupts news conference on shooting Stories are emerging about the lives of the children and teachers killed IN OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: UVALDE, Texas The rifle used in the Texas elementary school shooting is known as a DDM4 Rifle. Its modeled after the M4 carbine, the U.S. militarys go-to rifle, according to a blog post by the guns maker, Daniel Defense. The Daniel Defense rifle can be classified as an AR-15 type. A key difference between the Daniel Defense rifle and the M4 carbine is that the militarys version can switch to fully automatic or fire a three-round burst depending on the model. AR-15-type rifles can be purchased for as little as $400, but the Daniel Defense rifle is on the high-end of around $2,000 or more. These rifles can also be financed, with customers paying less than $100 a month. The Daniel Defense rifle is not sold with sights. According to pictures of the shooters guns posted on Instagram, he appears to have purchased a battery-powered holographic sight that typically sells for around $725. A snipers scope uses magnification to aid in hitting targets from a great distance. Holographic sights are designed to speed up the process of short-range shooting by helping to fix on targets more quickly. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the Second Amendment is not absolute as he called for new limitations on guns in the wake of this weeks massacre at a Texas elementary school. When the amendment was approved, he said, You couldnt own a cannon. You couldnt own certain kinds of weapons. Theres always been limitations. Biden was speaking at the White House before signing an executive order on policing on the second anniversary of George Floyds death. He that he would visit Texas with first lady Jill Biden in the coming days to hopefully bring some little comfort to the community. As a nation, I think we must all be there for them, he said. And we must ask, when it Gods name will we do whats needed to be done." WASHINGTON The State Department says the school shooting in Texas and other mass casualty incidents are hurting Americas standing abroad and giving comfort to U.S. rivals and adversaries. Spokesman Ned Price said Wednesday incidents like these not only cause damage to the U.S. global reputation but also upset and confuse friends and allies who dont understand how they can continue to happen. The fact is that what happens in this country is magnified on the world stage, Price told reporters a day after a gunman killed 19 children and two adults in the Texas school shooting. And countries around the world, people around the world, are going to fixate on what transpires here oftentimes out of envy, but again thats when were at our best. Price said the shootings will have implications for our standing and the U.S. diplomats posted around the world are very mindful of that. He said that despite the State Departments foreign policy focus, the shootings hit American diplomats as a real punch to the gut. A Facebook spokesman says messages posted by the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school were private. Andy Stone says the messages were private one-to-one text messages that were discovered after the terrible tragedy. He says Facebook is cooperating with investigators. Gov. Greg Abbott described the messages at a news conference where he said the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, used an AR-15 in the attack Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. About 30 minutes before the shooting, Ramos sent three social media messages. According to the governor, Ramos posted that he was going to shoot his grandmother, then that he had shot the woman, and finally that he was going to shoot an elementary school. UVALDE, Texas Beto ORourke interrupted a press conference Wednesday about the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, calling the shooting totally predictable when you choose not to do anything. ORourke was escorted out while members of the crowd yelled at him, with one man shouting profanities at ORourke. The Democrat is challenging against Gov. Greg Abbott in this years election. Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said to ORourke: Youre out of line and an embarrassment. ORourke, as he was being escorted out, turned around, faced the stage, pointed his finger and said: This is on you until you choose to do something different. This will continue to happen. Somebody needs to stand up for the children of this state or they will continue to be killed just like they were killed in Uvalde yesterday. Abbott says the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school warned on social media minutes before the attack that he was going to shoot up a school. He says the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, used an AR-15 in the attack Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The news conference was attended by several elected Republican officials. UVALDE, Texas The governor of Texas says the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school warned on social media minutes before the attack that he was going to shoot up a school. Gov. Greg Abbott says the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, used an AR-15 in the attack Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. About 30 minutes before the shooting, Ramos made three social media posts. According to the governor, Ramos posted that he was going to shoot his grandmother, then that he had shot the woman, and finally that he was going to shoot an elementary school. Seventeen people were also injured in the attack. Abbott says Ramos had no known criminal or mental health history. Evil swept across Uvalde yesterday, the Republican governor said at a news conference attended by other Republican political officials. Former President Donald Trump says hell deliver an important address to America at the National Rifle Associations annual convention in Texas on Friday. The Republican leader posted on his social media network Wednesday that America needs real solutions and real leadership in this moment, not politicians and partisanship. Houstons Democratic mayor, Sylvester Turner, says some people want the city to cancel the NRA meeting, but he says they cant break the contract. The greater question, he says, is why politicians still plan to speak there after the shooting in Uvalde. Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz are among other Republicans scheduled to address a leadership forum sponsored by the NRAs lobbying arm. Its about elected officials at the highest level in our state going and speaking and endorsing those policies and thats wrong," Turner said. "And you cant pray and send condolences on one day and then be going and championing guns on the next. BERLIN German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser sharply condemned the Texas school massacre, saying shes shocked by the terrible bloodshed. It is horrific that so many children and a teacher were killed. And it is terrible how powerful the gun lobby still is in the USA despite so many terrible crimes, Faeser tweeted on Wednesday. Germany has a strict weapons law, and its authorities must enforce it decisively, she said. Above all, we must disarm extremists very consistently. Where necessary, we will further tighten gun laws, Faeser said. However, Germany is not immune from school attacks. Last week, a school employee was seriously wounded in a crossbow attack at a high school in Bremerhaven and a suspect was detained. Earlier this month, a 16-year-old was detained for allegedly plotting an attack on a secondary school in Essen after police seized weapons and bomb-making materials from his apartment, authorities said. HARTFORD, Conn. Schools around the country increased security as a precaution after the killings of 19 children and two teachers in Texas. In Connecticut, where the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting killed 20 first graders and six educators, state police said they were sending extra troopers to schools Wednesday, although no specific threats had been received. This assault on the most innocent of our citizens is deeply disturbing and heartbreaking, Connecticut state police Col. Stavros Mellekas said in a statement. At this time, our focus will be on protecting all school populations here in our state. Schools in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Virginia, Maryland and Florida also were among those increasing security and offering counseling. WASHINGTON Majority Leader Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor Wednesday in the aftermath of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting to call out the Republicans decadeslong opposition to gun control legislation. Maybe the thought of putting yourself in the shoes of these parents instead of in the arms of the NRA might let you wriggle free from the vise-like grip of the NRA to act on even a simple measure, the New York Democrat said. For the sake of these children, these 9-year-olds, these 10-year-olds, these 11-year-olds, these beautiful children, please, damn it. The Democrats pleas to Republican colleagues reflect a long history of congressional inaction on gun control since a gunman killed 20 schoolchildren in Newtown, Connecticut, nearly a decade ago. Democratic lawmakers have introduced countless proposals that would have required a background check of the gunman in Texas. All failed to pass, mostly due to the filibuster. Schumer pledged Wednesday to move forward with or without Republican lawmakers. Instagram has confirmed it's working with law enforcement to review an account that appears to belong to the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers in Texas. A series of posts appeared on Instagram and TikTok in the days leading up to Tuesdays shooting. One selfie appears to show the shooter in front of a mirror. Another photo shows a gun magazine in hand. And on Friday, the same day law enforcement officials believe Salvador Ramos bought a second rifle, a picture of two AR-style semi-automatic rifles appeared. Another Instagram user with many more followers was tagged in that post. That user has since removed her profile, but first she shared parts of what appears to be a chilling exchange with Ramos, asking her to share his gun pictures with her more than 10,000 followers. I barely know you and u tag me in a picture with some guns, she responded, adding, Its just scary. A response sent from Ramoss account on Tuesday morning just said: Im about to. Witnesses said the shooting began around 11:30 a.m. UVALDE, Texas The man who killed 19 children and two teachers in Texas bought his guns legally days before the attack and soon after his 18th birthday, a law enforcement briefing said. He bought one AR-style rifle from a federally-licensed gun dealer in the Uvalde area on May 17, according to a state police briefing given to Sen. John Whitmire. The next day, he bought 375 rounds of ammunition, and bought a second rifle on May 20. Officers recovered one of the rifles from Ramos truck and the other was found in the school, according to the briefing. It says Ramos dropped a backpack with several magazines full of ammunition near the school entrance, and that he was wearing a body-armor style vest but that it had no hardened plates inside. Actor Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers on Tuesday. He called on Americans to act now to control an epidemic of mass shootings. Once again, we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us, McConaughey posted on his Instagram account. We cannot exhale once again, make excuses, and accept these tragic realities as the status quo. The actor doesnt describe any specific laws or policies he wants adopted. He doesnt mention gun control. As Americans, Texans, mothers and fathers, its time we re-evaluate, he wrote. We have to rearrange our values and find a common ground. This is an epidemic we can control, and whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better. UVALDE, Texas Uvalde community members arrived early Wednesday at a civic center where families learned the fate of their loved ones the night before. Volunteers arrived with Bibles and therapy dogs. A minister says he prayed with families of victims in a hospital waiting room after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers inside an elementary school classroom in Texas. Uvalde Memorial Hospital said 13 children were taken there. Another hospital reported a 66-year-old woman was in critical condition. Pastor Doug Swimmer of the nondenominational Potters House Church told ABCs Good Morning America on Wednesday that Uvalde is a tight-knit community where people know their neighbors and see them every day. Asked what he said to people whose faith may have been shaken by the mass shooting, Swimmer said I know that one thing that we as Texans understand is that God is still God ... he is able to bring comfort in times of distress. VATICAN CITY Pope Francis has said he's heartbroken about the massacre at an elementary school in Texas. Francis spoke Wednesday during his general audience. He said he was praying for the children and adults killed and their families after a gunman opened fire at an elementary school in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde, Texas, killing at least 19 children and two adults before an officer shot and killed the gunman. UKRAINE Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that he was deeply saddened by the news of the murder of innocent children in Texas. Zelenskyy, in a tweet, sent his condolences to the families of the victims, the people of the U.S. and President Joe Biden after a gunman opened fire Tuesday at an elementary school in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde, Texas, killing at least 19 children and two adults before an officer shot and killed the gunman. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The worlds fifth-largest automaker will reportedly soon plead guilty to end a multi-year investigation into its efforts to conceal the amount of pollution created by its diesel engines. According to Reuters , the US Justice Department and Dodge parent company Stellantis could announce as early as next week that the automaker has agreed to pay $300 million to settle allegations of crminal fraud. Stellantis declined to comment on the report. The Justice Department began investigating Stellantis around 2019 when the automaker recalled nearly 1 million vehicles in the US and Canada for not meeting federal tailpipe emission standards. As of last year, the agency has announced criminal charges for just three Stellantis employees . The probe involved approximately 100,000 Ram pickup trucks and Jeep SUVs sold in the US. The deal comes five years after Volkswagen famously pleaded guilty to its own emissions scandal. Dieselgate saw the German automaker eventually pay more than $20 billion in fines and legal settlements for installing illegal software designed to cheat government emissions tests. Since then, sales of diesel vehicles have plummeted in Europe and other parts of the world. Editors note: This article originally appeared on Engadget. Danny Scalise, director of the Burke County Health Department, was awarded the 2022 Ron H. Levine Public Health Award at the annual North Carolina Public Health Leaders Conference on May 19 in Raleigh. Scalise was recognized for his hard work and dedication through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ron Levine Legacy Award is a prestigious award named for former North Carolina State Health director Dr. Ron Levine. Since 2004, 28 individuals have been similarly honored for their distinguished efforts to improve our public health system, expand the scope or capacity of public health services, or build new and lasting partnerships. Its quite an honor to receive this award, though it isnt just me, Scalise told The News Herald. I have a great team. It validates so much of work we are doing at the Health Department, and I feel blessed to serve the people of Burke County. In addition to being the public health director in Burke County, Scalise leads a PHAB and North Carolina Accredited Health Department and is an adjunct professor of health policy at the West Virginia University School of Public Health. He was previously the executive director and chief lobbyist of the West Virginia State Medical Association and its subsidiary organizations. He is a passionate advocate for public health. Our public health directors served as the backbone of the COVID-19 response and they continue to be the frontline defenders for the health and well-being of everyone in their communities, said Beth Lovette, deputy director and section chief, local community support with North Carolina Division of Public Health. They are all so deserving of this award, and their dedication and commitment to their residents is an example for us all. The Burke County Board of Health hired Scalise last June and he took the helm in July after the retirement of longtime director Rebecca McLeod. In addition to his work with the West Virginia State Medical Association, Scalise served as health administrator for the Fayette County Health Department in West Virginia. He holds a bachelors degree in business management/economics from West Virginia Institute of Technology, a masters of business administration and masters of public health (health policy) from West Virginia University, as well as several professional certifications. A Butte man was jailed at the Butte Detention Center Wednesday night for felony attempted deliberate homicide, and the misdemeanor offenses of disorderly conduct and tampering with a communication device. Late Wednesday night, Scott Anthony Teeters, 50, allegedly assaulted a 50-year-old woman at a residence in the 800 block of West Copper Street. Teeters was a resident of the Butte Pre-Release Center. The police report stated the woman suffered a head injury, along with severe facial injuries. The victim told police Teeters struck her in the face, choked her and gouged her eyes. In her statement she also said Teeters had damaged her cell phone during the alleged incident. The victim was treated at St. James Healthcare and has been transferred to another medical facility. Investigation into the incident is continuing. According to the Montana Department of Corrections, Teeters was sentenced in 2012 to 120 months in prisons for tampering with witnesses and informants in Stillwater County. He was also sentenced for aggravated assault in Stillwater County that year. Love 0 Funny 5 Wow 0 Sad 5 Angry 37 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. Butte-Silver Bows top official is directing county crews to demolish a caved-in building on East Park Street and says there are no guarantees that damage to adjacent buildings can be avoided. Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher and a majority of Butte-Silver Bow commissioners have been at odds for weeks on what should be done with the adjacent buildings, which served as the Butte Rescue Missions thrift store for years until they were recently vacated. But Gallagher told commissioners Wednesday night that the building at 135 E. Park Street, which has a shared wall with one of the thrift buildings, is too dangerous to remain standing. I think that we have gotten to the point where we have to make a decision, Gallagher said. We were trying to figure out what the solution would be (on the Mission buildings) but there has been no solution on the remedy or the suggestions weve made going forward with that. I can tell you this, in full disclosure, my directive is tomorrow we are going to start demolition on 135. Gallagher told The Montana Standard after the meeting that preparations for the demolition, including any asbestos mitigation, would be done Thursday and Friday and actual demo work could start Tuesday. The building should be gone within days, he said. The building had been vacant for years and was declared dangerous in 2019 after part of its roof caved in. Commissioners essentially OKd its demolition in November 2020 and work began a few months later. But it was abruptly halted because of concerns that a wall with a Mission building may have become merged over the years. An engineering analysis confirmed later that is was indeed a shared wall. An engineering firm also said it would cost up to $150,000 to shore up the wall so 135 could be demolished while sparing the thrift buildings. But the firm later determined that the Mission buildings were also unsafe and repairs would cost well more than $200,000. A county official recently tagged those buildings as dangerous, too, but commissioners have twice rejected a proposal from Gallaghers administration to pay the Mission $38,500 for the parcels and then have all three buildings demolished. A majority of commissioners, and many preservationists in Butte, oppose demolition of the thrift buildings. County officials then asked commissioners for $220,000 in taxpayer money to shore up the shared wall so the caved-in building could be demolished. On Wednesday night, the council rejected that request on an 8-2 vote. The Mission has vacated the thrift buildings but still owns them, and even though a citizen has offered to buy and fix them, a final deal has not been struck. Commissioner Shawn Fredrickson suggested the possibility of starting demolition on 135 until we get to the wall and then deciding how to proceed. Fredrickson was one of eight commissioners who voted down the plan that included demolition of the Mission buildings. Im wondering whats preventing the chief executive from giving the go-ahead to start the demolition, Fredrickson said Wednesday night. It seems to me like its in your court. Gallagher agreed and said he would direct demolition to begin Thursday. He told The Standard that crews would try to keep the wall with the Mission building intact but, I cant guarantee there wont be more damage to the thrift buildings. If that happens, the county would work with the Mission on how to move forward, he said. But there could be no more delays on 135. A 2019 drone video of the building was played during last weeks council meeting showing part of the roof caved in, floors collapsed inside and a buckled wall. Recent photos also showed more damage and now most of the roof is gone. Were coming up on the summer, with festivals and things like that, and we have a dangerous building sitting there thats collapsed already, Gallagher said. We need to bring it down. Love 24 Funny 2 Wow 6 Sad 1 Angry 15 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. Following is a roundup of veterans events planned for Memorial Day weekend in southwest Montana. BUTTE United Veterans Council Honor Guard will conduct Buttes Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday, May 30, at Stodden Park. Out of town veterans will join Buttes honor guard under the direction of event organizer and emcee Dave Reisenauer. The United Veterans Council Honor Guard is comprised of members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Marine Corps League and two auxiliaries. Planned for the ceremony are: Greetings from representatives of Montanas U.S. congressional elected officials Greetings from Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester and Zach Osborne, Butte-Silver Bow fire chief Commissioner Cindi Shaw will sing the national anthem at the beginning and "America the Beautiful'' at the end. Marines will raise the American flag. The Honor Guard will have a flag line and will fire a three-volley salute and a bugler will play taps. After the ceremony coffee and cookies will be served by the VFW auxiliary. At 1 p.m. the American Legion Auxiliary will serve lunch to the public at the American Legion Hall. The Honor Guard will do a short ceremony at each of the veteran sections at the five area cemeteries. Following the visit to cemeteries, a short ceremony will follow at the Southwest Montana Veterans Home and also at the Springs. Veterans and community volunteers will place small flags on veterans graves in each of the cemeteries on the Saturday before Memorial Day and will pick them up on Tuesday, May 31. ANACONDA The Anaconda American Legion Post 21 will meet Saturday, May 28, at the Lower Hill Cemetery in Anaconda to place flags on veterans graves. The posts Memorial Day program will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, May 30, at the Washoe Theatre with speaker Pat Tracy. The posts everlasting ceremony follows in Kennedy Common at the Vietnam Memorial. Lunch will follow the ceremony at the American Legion Hall, 220 Cedar St. Meet at Lower Hill Cemetery on Saturday, June 4, to remove the flags. For details, call Maureen Watt at 406-563-2031. DEER LODGE Members of American Legion Post #10, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #689 and the Deer Lodge Veterans Honor Guard will gather at Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 28, to place flags on the graves of veterans. At 11 a.m. Monday, May 30, the Honor Guard will conduct a memorial service at Hillcrest Cemetery. Everyone is invited to attend and honor those who lost their lives in service to the United States and the cause of freedom. RUBY VALLEY Anderson-Simpson Post 89 of The American Legion will be conducting Memorial Day Veterans Remembrance ceremonies at the Sheridan, Laurin, Taylor (Alder), Nevada City and Virginia City Cemeteries on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30. The first ceremony will start at 11 a.m. in the veterans plot area of the Sheridan Cemetery. Services at the other cemeteries will follow in the order of Laurin, Taylor, then Nevada City and lastly the Virginia City Cemetery about 1 p.m. These services honor Ruby Valley veterans who have served our nation honorably and are no longer with us today. For details, call Cliff Morgan, post commander at 406-842-7288 or Mike Morgan, post adjutant at 406-842-5085. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Projected water levels and releases at many federally managed reservoirs in Montana will be below desired levels this Memorial Day weekend, the Bureau of Reclamation announced. But the bureau said some boat ramps -- Goose Bay and Yacht Basin -- are useable at Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Delayed runoff with drier than average conditions extending from last year have led to below average reservoir levels at most facilities, Ryan Neman, Montana-area manager, said Tuesday in a news release. The reservoir level is 18 feet below the top of normal full pool and April inflows were the lowest on record, since 1961, therefore the reservoir is not filling as normal, reclamation officials said. The reservoir is not expected to fill to full pool this summer and could be 4 to 10 feet from full in late June. Minimum releases to the Missouri River below Holter Dam are near 3,000 cubic feet per second to conserve storage in Canyon Ferry Reservoir, the bureau stated. Releases have been at minimum levels since last June due to ongoing drought conditions. Despite low reservoir levels, there are usable boat ramps at Reclamation reservoirs east of the Continental Divide during the Memorial Day weekend, officials said. Campground owners along opposite sides of Canyon Ferry said they expected a busy holiday weekend, despite reports of low water. Debbie Blagg, owner of the Canyon Ferry Lake KOA north of Townsend, said she thinks a lot of people will come out to launch their boats and see there is not enough water, but there are some places nearby where they can do so. However, she is excited about the Memorial Day weekend. This is the official day for summer fishing, Blagg said, adding the boats with the lower trolling motors should still be able to get out. She also has music and activities planned at the campground. Blagg, who just celebrated her first year as owner, said old-timers are saying the reservoir is at its lowest level in 50 years. The whole south end is mushy, no water, just mushy, she said. Blagg, who has 61 sites, four tent sites and a glamping recreational vehicle, said she is hearing competing theories: Some say the water level will rise by 10 feet and others have said it will not come up at all. I have heard mixed reviews, she said. Lukas Jewett, owner of Kims Marina east of Helena, said people are ready to get out and about after being cooped up at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said he has alternate launching sites as the water is too low at the marina. We just need to get water to float the docks, he said, adding hes been told the runoff will come but has been delayed. Jewett, who has 200 boat slips, 140 campsites and a new Airstream RV to rent, said he is at 75% capacity for the weekend, but still has spaces available. Neman encourages people to check for the most up-to-date water level conditions at Reclamations website: https://www.usbr.gov/gp/boat/index.html. Current conditions in the region: Clark Canyon Reservoir near Dillon Most boat ramps are usable. Storage peaked in early May and is currently 18 feet below normal full pool levels. The reservoir is expected to draft throughout the summer as releases are being made to meet irrigation demands. Gibson Reservoir, 20 miles northwest of Augusta The boat ramp at Gibson Reservoir is not anticipated to be usable for Memorial Day weekend. Gibson Reservoir is 44 below normal full pool but is expected to fill in June. Lake Elwell (Tiber Reservoir), in southern Liberty County Boaters can launch at most boat ramps. The reservoir level is about 7 feet below normal full pool. The reservoir is expected to fill to full pool levels this summer. Releases to the Marias River are currently near 500 cfs with increases expected in early June. Fresno Reservoir, west of Havre All boat ramps at Fresno Reservoir are currently usable. The reservoir level is about 14 feet below normal full pool and is expected to draft throughout the summer. Releases to the Milk River are currently near 1,000 cfs to meet irrigation demands. Nelson Reservoir, 19 miles northeast of Malta Boaters should be able to launch at all locations around Nelson Reservoir. Nelson Reservoir is approximately 10 feet below full pool, which is below average for this time of year and is expected to draft throughout the summer. Bighorn Lake (Yellowtail Dam), northern Wyoming and southern Montana All boat ramps at Bighorn Lake are usable and are maintained by the National Park Service. The reservoir level is about 16 feet below normal full pool, which is above average for this time of year. The reservoir is expected to fill to full pool levels this summer. Releases to the Bighorn River are average and are currently 2,500 cfs. More information can be found at the National Park Services website: https://www.nps.gov/bica/index.html. Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 2 Angry 0 Just over a year ago while bird hunting in Montana, we had two of our bird dogs caught in snares set for coyotes. We saw the first dog get snared, and worked to free it, not realizing our second dog had also been snared while trying to return to us, and died before we could get to him. We were legally hunting on public land, and there was no way to know these lethal snares were present in the area. In our investigations of how such distressing events might be avoided in the future, we discovered two disturbing facts. First, the deadliest trap for dogs recreating with their people on public lands, is a coyote snare. They are unmarked, baited, and as we discovered, can also be of a type known as a power-snare which requires special aircraft cable cutting pliers be carried at all times to quickly release a dog. Second, we discovered that coyote trappers are unregulated in Montana, with the only requirement being they attach a name tag to the trap or snare. This is because coyotes are considered a predatory animal in Montana and as such fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Livestock; not Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) and the Fish and Wildlife Commission, as most Montanans believe. Those trapping and snaring coyotes on public lands are not required to have a license, do not have to report any incidental (non-target species) captures, and have no regulations concerning when, where, how, or what kind of trap or snare is used. The lack of any regulations is apparently designed to allow considerable leeway in addressing predation on livestock but lack of regulation, when applied broadly across public lands, is an unacceptable threat to other recreational users of these lands. For example, FWP licensed trappers are required to observe set-back restrictions along some types of public roads and trails which coyote trappers can currently ignore. Licensed trappers have designated allowable seasons for furbearer species while coyote trappers can trap or snare at any time. What can be done to reduce the potential for harm to legal users of public lands from the consequences of coyote trapping? To fully address this problem requires changes to existing state laws, by requiring all trapping activities fall under the laws and regulations administered by FWP. To date, the Montana legislature has not been forthcoming in addressing these long-standing concerns and instead, based on our experience, strongly caters to the interests of trappers and the livestock industry. This is not just a problem for Montana, as other western states with considerable public lands also do not adequately regulate coyote trapping. As outdoor recreation increases, it is time public land agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Montana Department of Natural Resource and Conservation, recognize the inadequacy of the states response and address the concerns of affected user groups. They should also be concerned with any type of trapping that is not being supervised by wildlife management professionals for impacts to other species and resources. Wildlife management agencies and organizations, such as the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and The Wildlife Society, express support for regulated trapping. Consistent with this, public land agencies should require all trapping activities on public lands be regulated by a state wildlife management agency and limited to licensed trappers. While these recommendations do not address all of the potential tragic outcomes related to this issue, it would at least provide some common-sense guidance for how trapping on public lands should be conducted, as well as allow for public input to a very controversial issue in Montana. Carolyn Mehl and Jonathan Haufler, are Certified Wildlife Biologists. Jonathan Haufler is also a past-president of The Wildlife Society, the International organization for wildlife management professionals. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 The Dubai Chamber of Commerce has set up Steel Manufacturers Business Group, which aims to unify the voices of iron and steel companies, address common challenges and boost the sectors competitiveness. The new business group recently held its first meeting at the Chambers headquarters, which was attended by Bharat Bhatia, Chairman of the Steel Manufacturers Business Group and Hassan Al Hashemi, Vice President of International Relations at Dubai Chamber of Commerce. The meeting outlined new plans and priorities to support the growth of companies operating in the iron and steel industry. Right platform Al Hashemi stressed the significance of the group provides the right platform for industry players to voice their concerns, share knowledge and recommend policy changes to improve the business environment. The establishment of the group is a prime example of the close and seamless collaboration between the public and private sectors in Dubai, which remains one of the emirates top competitive advantages, he explained. Bhatia said: "Being CEO & Founder of Conares, the second largest private steel manufacturer in Gulf, I am extremely proud and happy to lead the manufacturers group. The purpose of SMG is to help keep the steel market efficient in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, in order to meet the domestic and regional demands, balancing the supply and demand equation. Our major focus would be inviting the trading community group to have a hand and glove relationship and support the local market adjusting the desire of the traders. Our purpose is to develop a positive relation between manufacturers and traders in favour of the for economy, Bhatia said. Sharing insights He added that the group will share insights about the steel industry touching several topics like rebar imports, market trends, product costing, promote local products as it will help the members raise the key market issues to the authorities, and keep the steel market efficient in the UAE and meet the domestic, regional demand, balancing the supply and demand equation. Business groups and councils play a crucial role in promoting and supporting Dubais economy as they unify their efforts to ensure a favourable business environment and support the interests of their respective members. Dubai Chamber of Commerce works closely with various business groups and councils in Dubai that operate under its umbrella, to address shared challenges, share their recommendations for improving ease of doing business and providing them access to global growth opportunities.-- TradeArabia News Service Experts divided about quarantining pets exposed to monkeypox in Spain The majority of pets in Spain are cats and dogs, which seem to be less susceptible to the virus According to the latest data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), so far there have been 131 confirmed cases of monkeypox and another 106 suspected cases outside of Africa since the first was reported on May 7, and just this week, a British tourist in Spain has been tested for the virus. Given the rapidity with which monkeypox is spreading , the ECDC has warned that the virus could very possibly become endemic in Europe but the same report revealed an even more surprising detail: it is theoretically possible, according to the experts, that infected people could pass monkeypox on to their domestic pets, which could then act as a reservoir and transmit the virus back to humans. While the ECDC insists that the chance of this is very low, animals like rodents and squirrels have already been identified as carriers of the virus in Africa, and it recommends that suspected pets be tested for the virus and quarantined until the symptoms disappear. Epidemiologist Juan Jose Badiola, however, believes that this alert must be questioned since in Spain, the majority of household pets are cats and dogs, which are not as receptive to monkeypox. Even in the case of more susceptible pets like hamsters, rats, mice, rabbits and guinea pigs, Mr Badiola argues that since these animals rarely go outside, their chance of infection is minimal unless their owner has the virus, in which case they can easily be quarantined at home. Another expert from the University of Barcelona pointed out that it is already really difficult for monkeypox to pass from person to person , because direct, almost intimate contact is needed for effective transmission. Its even less likely, therefore, that the virus could be passed between a dog or a cat and its owner. According to the ECDC report, at the moment little is known about the suitability of European peri-domestic (mammalian) animal species to serve as a host for monkeypox virus but it recommends that any animals that have been exposed should be isolated at home, in a suitable outdoor space if possible, until a vet can perform a PCR test. Image: Archive MUSCATINE In the two days since a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, left 19 children and two adults dead, Daniel Nietzel, co-owner of Fighting Chance Solutions LLC, said traffic on the business website has skyrocketed by quadruple digits. This is not the first time Nietzel has seen traffic like this after a tragedy. The former West Middle School math teacher said his business, which offers security devices as protection against active shooters in schools, becomes popular after a tragedy as people from those areas hope to provide more protection. According to the website, individuals from five of the top 10 regions visiting his website are in Texas. Nietzel said he empathizes with the families of the victims, students, school staff and community members devastated by the tragedy, both as a parent and educator. These parents sent their kids to school (and) the last thing on their mind was that they would not be able to pick them up alive," he said. "I also come at it from a teacher's perspective. That it was always our greatest duty to provide great education and ensure at the end of the day the student was going to make it home to their parents. Nietzel predicts 16-hour days for the next few weeks, and guarantees he will speak with someone from Uvalde or nearby. He said that he has spoken with survivors of most school shootings in the past 20 years. Fighting Chance started when Nietzel was working as a math teacher at the former West Middle School about nine years ago. During an active-shooter training, he found the suggested defenses to keep a classroom door closed were lacking. Using his knowledge of geometry, he created a sleeve for scissor arms on doors to keep the door from being opened. The first security sleeve a metal piece that keeps the hydraulic arms of a door from opening Nietzel designed came as he was problem-solving about how to secure his classroom. Not being a metalworker, he created the first design by cutting the sides out of a rubber container top to test the idea. Later the design was made out of steel. The original is now insured for $30,000. Nietzel admits Fighting Chance was never meant to be a company, as the teachers were simply building the security sleeves for their classrooms. Word got out and now the business has sold tens of thousands of units around the world. After the device was created, four of the five owners of Fighting Chance are graduates of Muscatine Community College and the device was being presented in the school's start-up incubator. At one point, it was decided the company should have a press conference to announce itself to the community. The press conference happened to be the same day that a school shooting was happening in Washington State. "Our phones started blowing up," he remembers. "There was the realization in the room that there is this terrible thing we are trying to prevent and it's actually happening right now." The local stories were picked up by national affiliates. The next morning Nietzel found a story on the company's Facebook page that had more than 1 million shares in 24 hours. The business began taking off from there. "I never intended to not be teaching, but the circumstances kind of forced me into it," he said. "We needed someone to run this full time." In the days after a school shooting, Nietzel tends to go through his database and check with anyone on the campus where the shooting occurred who had bought a sleeve to find out how they worked. The greatest thing he said he can hear is that one of the devices worked to keep someone out of a room. When the company first began in 2014, Nietzel said he had hoped the products would not be needed in the future. Today, Nietzel says that if the end of school violence meant the end of their company, he would sign on immediately. "This is not something we are OK with, and as a society I don't think we should be OK with it," he said. The security devices can be ordered on the company website at https://fightingchancesolutions.com/. There are also several articles Nietzel has written with tips on how teachers can keep their classrooms safe. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Gunman's final 90 minutes fuel questions about police delays UVALDE, Texas (AP) Texas authorities say the gunman who massacred 21 people at an elementary school was in the building for over an hour before he was killed by law enforcement officers. The amount of time that elapsed has stirred anger and questions among family members, who demanded to know why authorities did not storm the place and put a stop to the rampage more quickly. Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Travis Considine said 18-year-old Salvador Ramos entered Robb Elementary School and began his rampage at 11:40 a.m. Tuesday. A Border Patrol tactical unit began trying to get inside the building an hour later, and at 12:58 p.m., radio chatter noted he was dead. Daughter and her best friends 'are all gone now,' dad says UVALDE, Texas (AP) Jacklyn Cazares hadnt yet reached her 10th birthday, but her father described her as a tough-minded firecracker always looking to help people in need. Jacklyn and her second cousin, Annabelle Rodriguez, were especially tight with three other classmates at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Now, Javier Cazares says, they are all gone. The girls were among 19 students killed Tuesday when an 18-year-old gunman barricaded himself in a fourth-grade classroom at the school in the southwestern Texas town and began to kill. Their families can only cling to memories, and each other. Texas shooter sent warning signs, messages, mostly too late UVALDE, Texas (AP) State police say the suspect in the Texas shooting had no criminal record or known mental illness that could have signaled he was capable of gunning down 19 children and two adults. But there were warning signs. The shooting was presaged by scattered, often cryptic warnings that disturbed classmates and neighbors. Salvador Ramos lashed out on social media, posting of trouble with his mother and photographs of his newly acquired rifles. And there were outbursts and fights with classmates, as well as online exchanges with teenage strangers thousands of miles away, hinting at a desire to hurt and kill. Russia slams sanctions, seeks to blame West for food crisis KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russia is pressing the West to lift sanctions over the war in Ukraine, seeking to shift the blame for a growing food crisis. That crisis is worsened by Kyivs inability to ship millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products because of the conflict. According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Italy's prime minister that Russia would help with grain exports if sanctions are lifted. Britain accused Moscow of trying to hold the world ransom and insisted there would be no sanctions relief. Meanwhile, Russia made incremental advances as fighting continued in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. Separately, two Russian soldiers pleaded guilty to shelling civilian infrastructure during the war, which is now in its fourth month. Trump loses appeal, must testify in New York civil probe NEW YORK (AP) A New York appeals court has ruled former President Donald Trump must answer questions under oath in the states civil investigation into his business practices. A four-judge panel in the appellate division of the states trial court on Thursday upheld Manhattan Judge Arthur Engorons Feb. 17 ruling enforcing subpoenas for Trump and his two eldest children to give deposition testimony in Attorney General Letitia James probe. Trump had appealed, seeking to overturn the ruling. His lawyers argued that ordering the Trumps to testify violated their constitutional rights because their answers could be used in a parallel criminal investigation. CEO pay rose 17% in 2021 as profits soared; workers trailed NEW YORK (AP) Pay for CEOs who run the biggest U.S. companies soared 17.1% last year, up to a median of $14.5 million. That's according to the AP's annual pay survey conducted with Equilar. Such raises tower over the 4.4% gain in wages and benefits netted by private-sector workers. The raises for many rank-and-file workers also failed to keep up with inflation, which reached 7% last year. CEO pay took off as stock prices and profits rebounded sharply and the economy roared out of its brief 2020 recession. Because much of a CEOs compensation is tied to such performance, their pay gains zoomed higher after years of mostly moderating growth. Dominant coronavirus mutant contains ghost of pandemic past The coronavirus mutant that is now dominant in the United States spreads faster than its omicron predecessors, is adept at escaping immunity and might possibly cause more serious disease. The new variant is a member of the omicron family, but it carries a mutation called delta that was a feature of the variant that was dominant in the middle of 2021. This appears to allow the virus to escape immunity from vaccines and prior infection, especially if someone was infected in the huge omicron wave that swept the world late last year and early this year. NRA stages big gun show in Texas days after school massacre HOUSTON (AP) The National Rifle Association begins its annual convention in Houston on Friday, and leaders of the powerful gun-rights lobbying group are gearing up to reflect on and deflect any blame for the deadly shooting earlier this week of 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Former President Donald Trump and other leading Republicans are scheduled to address the three-day gun industry marketing and advocacy event, which is expected to draw protesters. Some scheduled speakers and performers have backed out, including two Texas lawmakers and American Pie singer Don McLean, who said it would be disrespectful to go ahead with his act. China's FM visits Kiribati, where fishing ground is at stake WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Chinas foreign minister is visiting the remote Pacific nation of Kiribati, where the future of a vast fishing ground is at stake. The four-hour visit by Wang Yi is his second stop on an eight-nation tour that comes amid concerns about Beijings military and financial ambitions in the South Pacific. Kiribati has closed its borders as it tries to stamp out a COVID-19 outbreak but made an exception for Wang and his delegation. At stake in Kiribati is the future of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, a stretch of ocean the size of California that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Kiribati's president has announced plans to end a commercial fishing ban there. China already dominates fishing in the region. Ray Liotta, 'Goodfellas' and 'Field of Dreams' star, dies Ray Liotta, the actor best known for playing mobster Henry Hill in Goodfellas and baseball player Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, has died. He was 67. An official at the Dominican Republics National Forensic Science Institute who was not authorized to speak to the media confirmed the death of Ray Liotta and said his body was taken to the Cristo Redentor morgue. Liottas publicist, Jen Allen, said he was in the Dominican Republic shooting a new movie and didnt wake up Thursday morning. Liotta's most iconic role, as real life mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorseses Goodfellas came in 1990. 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 Lebanon's elections brought into parliament 13 new independent lawmakers who hail from the protest movement against the country's traditional political factions. The strong showing by civil society activists has restored some hope among Lebanese that change is possible. But the reform movement is fragmented and faces enormous challenges in fighting an entrenched, sectarian-based ruling clique. Reformers are divided over many issues, including how to tackle Lebanon's economic meltdown and how to deal with the militant Hezbollah group, which dominates the country's politics. The new parliament, sharply divided and with no clear-cut majority, could bring further polarization and paralysis. The governor's race in Georgia between Republican incumbent Brian Kemp and Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams promises to be a brutal battle that will further amp up the state's charged political environment. Republican strategist Ryan Mahoney estimates an overall campaign price tag of $250 million. Both Abrams and Kemp are already talking about what they need to do to mobilize voters after primaries that drew heavy turnout. Kemp is trying to tie Abrams to the unpopularity of Democratic President Joe Biden. Abrams wants to focus attention on what she sees as Kemp's poor record. Although the Republican primary drove Kemp to the right, his big win over former U.S. Sen. David Perdue allowed him to consolidate GOP support. SpaceX recently launched a new coverage map for its Starlink satellite Internet service, which suggests it might exclude a large part of South Africa from its rollout plans. The map divides areas across the globe where Starlink will be active or is already live into three main categories Available, Waitlist, and Coming Soon. Hovering over South Africa shows that Starlink is coming to most of the country in 2023. However, an update to the map has inserted a large jagged dark blue ring that encircles most of the Northern Cape, around half of the Western Cape, and a section of the Eastern Cape. Searching for an address within the circle to place a Starlink pre-order will still give prospective customers an estimated availability date of 2023 the same as the rest of the country. However, an eagle-eyed MyBroadband forum member found that when moving your mouse cursor over the map, the estimated availability date disappears when it enters the circular area. Cities and towns that fall within the ring include Upington, Ladismith, Beaufort West, and De Aar. The images below show where the ring is located on the new Starlink map. It is circled in red to highlight it. The dead zone covers a sparsely populated area with many small towns and rural communities that are unlikely to get fibre connectivity soon. For some of these communities, cellular and satellite Internet are their only broadband options. On farms outside towns, even mobile networks may no longer be an option. The likely explanation for the circle is what is being built near its centre the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), located in the Meerkat National Park near the small town of Carnavaron. The rings jagged lines are possibly due to the sector-based operations of Starlinks satellites. The SKA is highly regarded in the scientific community for its potential to look into the deep reaches of space. Once completed, the SKA will comprise thousands of dishes fitted with low-frequency antennas installed over large sections of land in South Africa and Australia and several other sites across the globe. Combined, these will serve as the worlds largest radio telescope. For proper observation, the SKA requires minimal interference from other radio signals. But the astronomy community is greatly concerned about the potential impact that Starlink will have on SKAs operations. According to an impact analysis by the SKA Organisation (SKAO), it would be almost impossible for the telescope to remain unimpacted by the Starlink fleet. Starlink satellites use some of the same radiofrequency spectrum band to transmit data signals as the SKA, as shown in the infographic below. While the SKA is being built in a legally-protected Radio Quiet Zone, it holds no jurisdiction over Starlinks Internet beaming satellites orbiting hundreds of kilometres above Earths surface. That means that Starlink could periodically blind the SKA. The SKAO said that would result in all data in the frequency band being lost, rendering its receivers useless for a portion of the time. The apparent Starlink dead zone around the SKA is not the only one on the Starlink Map. There are several more such rings in other areas across the globe with critical astronomical installations. The second site of the SKA located in Australia near Murchison also has a ring around it, albeit much smaller. The same goes for several other locations with important astronomical installations, including the Atacama Large Millimetre Array Science Preserve in the north of Chile and the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia in the US. At the time of publication, it could not be confirmed whether Starlink planned to exclude these areas from its service. SpaceX has not responded to queries from MyBroadband over the rings on its map and what they mean. MyBroadband asked the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (Sarao) for comment on the dead zone. Sarao deputy managing director, Dr Adrian Tiplady, said that it was currently assessing the most appropriate technical and regulatory measures for further discussion with SpaceX to allow for the co-existence of Starlink and the SKA. The organisation has proposed that Starlink program its satellites to point away from the SKA to limit interference. Now read: South African tech could be critical for black hole movies The New York Times editorial, The War in Ukraine Is Getting Complicated, and America Isnt Ready, published on May 19, immediately caused an uproar in Ukraine. A veiled manifesto of appeasement from a newspaper known for its stellar coverage of Russias horrific invasion has disappointed many. In the editorial, the New York Times editorial board argues that its too dangerous to assume that Ukraine can win the war. It says Russia is too strong, that Ukraine should make a painful compromise and give up some territories to Russia. The U.S. must understand the futility and stop taunting Russia, the editorial says. Meaning: Ukraine will lose anyway, stop helping it so its over faster. In short, the editorial attempts to pass off appeasement and betrayal of the free worlds values as pragmatic reasoning. Dark times have always shed light on those willing to compromise their values to preserve their daily comforts. Neither a French president, a German intellectual, nor an award-winning American newspaper are exempt from being wrong. As a newsroom witnessing the war from inside Ukraine, we want to set the record straight. Ukraine winning the war with Russia isnt unrealistic or even likely. If we want the world to be anything like what we know it to be, then Ukraine winning is the only option. And Western financial and military support for Ukraine is the only way to establish long-term peace and security on the European continent that the New York Times editorial board is rooting for. Ukraines belief in its victory isnt based on overconfidence. Its based on necessity. Any concession to Russia now will lead to another war sooner or later, while Ukrainians stuck in any region occupied by Russia will be tortured, raped, or killed. The New York Times is running story after story about the living hell through which Russia puts Ukrainian civilians in occupied territories. Meanwhile, its editorial board is suggesting that Ukraine should cede territories to Russia, where more atrocities will undoubtedly happen. Appeasement isnt the voice of reason. Its fear and short-sightedness that will only make things worse, something weve all seen too many times in the past. Allowing Russia to annex Crimea emboldened Russia to try to swallow the Donbas. When it invaded in 2014, carving up a sovereign state and killing civilians, the other world leaders tepid response made Russias bloody dictator feel empowered to do more. Its obvious that hes been planning the full-scale invasion of Ukraine ever since. Its often been said by world leaders and analysts that one of Vladimir Putins main miscalculations was assuming that the West would let him take Ukraine easily. It didnt. Now the New York Times is calling for the West to do what Putin expected and give up. Make no mistake: If you appease a dictator, whose troops regularly indulge in war crimes, it will lead to a catastrophic geopolitical shift. A Russian military victory would lead to land grabs and brutal conquest becoming the new norm. Allowing a power-hungry fascist dictatorship to succeed will encourage other dictatorships to try. Telling the U.S. and NATO to ask Ukraine to sacrifice itself for the delusional hope of long-term peace and security on the European continent is the same as urging them to cede Taiwan to China. Its the same as averting eyes from the rape, torture, and what appears to be a planned-out genocide committed by the Russians in Ukraine and by the Chinese in Xinjiang. Its a deal that shouldnt be taken. Nor are we forced to take it. The assumption that Russia, despite its colossal battlefield losses, is still a superpower with a potent military is a lie groomed by Russian propaganda over the past 15 years. Its a lie many in the West still believe, in spite of Russias modest-at-best progress in Ukraine and its losses of tens of thousands of soldiers and thousands of vehicles. Russia has already lost over 40% of the territories it invaded since February. And yet, some continue to think that the Russian military is unbeatable. The reality is that Russian corruption, theft, mismanagement, and lack of transparency led to the countrys military being poorly trained and equipped. Highly-motivated soldiers could have offset these problems. But Russia has no viable justification for the war it could feed its demoralized soldiers, who are often used as cannon fodder. The Russian military is weak, its command structure is abysmal and it can very well lose the war to the smaller but much more motivated Ukrainian forces willing to defend their homes, families, and country until the last breath. Meanwhile, following the New York Times advice will lead to more war, more destruction and a heavier burden on American people in the long run. But perhaps one of the most striking features of the editorial is the complete lack of understanding of Ukraine and Ukrainians. Ironically, the New York Times makes the same mistake that the Russians did when they attacked Ukraine in February. The Russians assumed that Ukrainians would welcome them or surrender. The New York Times editorial board should know better than to make similar assumptions about Ukrainians now. If anything, the Gray Lady should learn from its mistakes, like when it ran a story about how modern and lethal the Russian military is, a month before the invasion would prove otherwise. Because heres the thing. Ukrainian society will never agree to any concessions. Those who dont understand this simple fact dont understand Ukraine at all, and perhaps shouldnt share their uneducated speculations in one of the worlds leading media publications. Even President Volodymyr Zelensky, however popular he is now, wouldnt be able to persuade Ukrainians to concede. According to a recent poll by the Kyiv International Sociology Institute, 82% of Ukrainians believe that Ukraine should not give up territory for peace under any circumstances. After seeing the atrocities committed by Russian troops in Borodyanka, Bucha and Mariupol, the Ukrainian people see very clearly that this is a war for survival against a fascist regime that denies Ukrainians the right to exist. Concessions would be a swift death sentence for thousands of Ukrainians. This fact apparently escapes the New York Times editorial board. The newspaper doesnt have to go far to find some clarity. As professor Timothy Snyder pointed out in his spectacular guest essay, published on the same day as the controversial editorial, so long as Nazi Germany seemed strong, Europeans and others were tempted. It was only on the battlefields of World War II that fascism was defeated. Ukraine will win, sooner or later, because no fascist state has ever truly prevailed over a free country. The democratic world can make this victory come sooner and be less costly for the people of Ukraine and for the world. It can do so by stepping up military support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia. Ukraine is fighting this war on behalf of the free world to make sure it remains free. The free world must at least try to match the Ukrainians bravery. Read also: Ukrainian soldiers from the Stugna-P anti-tank missile system destroyed a racist tank. VIDEO Su-25 assault planes were disassembled in Europe and delivered to Ukraine - Foreign Policy The kamikaze drone of the Ukrainian special forces was struck by the tank crew of the occupiers The enemy has minus 100 occupiers, 3 tanks and a plane per day. Statistics from the General Staff of the Armed Forces The kamikaze drone of the Ukrainian special forces was struck by the tank crew of the occupiers The Ukrainian military began using M320 grenade launchers New data on the losses of Russians in the war with Ukraine: more than 29 thousand people, 1,300 tanks Destroyed DT-30 "Knight" was shown in Vilkhivka 30 OMBR effectively destroyed a Russian truck with ammunition (VIDEO) From the first shot: NATO howitzer gunners hit the command post of the Russian unit Israel has turned down the US request to allow Berlin to equip Ukraine with anti-tank missiles manufactured in Germany using Israeli technology and a license. According to Axios, two US and Israeli officials confirmed this. According to the journal, one of the most recent political disputes between the US and Israel in relation to Russia's war against Ukraine is the subject of military deliveries. According to the journal, US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl met with Israel's Director General of the Ministry of Defense Amir Eshel and highlighted concerns about the Biden administration's efforts to persuade the rest of the world to supply weapons to Ukraine. The US representative also inquired about Israel's willingness to allow Germany to pass out Spike anti-tank missiles to Ukraine. Spike-LR ATGM. Photos from open sources According to Axios, Eschel declined the request, telling Kalyu that the Jewish state will only provide Ukraine with non-lethal military weapons. According to the source, Israel is anxious that Russian military personnel would be killed using Israeli weaponry, which might lead to Russia undermining Israel's security interests in Syria, where it has power. It should be emphasized that anti-tank missiles are made in the German factory. The license requires Israel to approve any transfer of missiles to a third party. ATGM Spike LR2. Photo: Rafael Multipurpose anti-tank missile system (ATM) Spike-LR is designed to destroy modern armored vehicles, fortifications, enemy manpower, at a range of 200 m to 4 (5) km. Spike missiles are used to arm combat helicopters, surface ships, placement on self-propelled chassis of various types, as well as in the portable version. Spike LR2 multi-role guided missile. Image: Rafael Complex Spike-LR (Long Range) is a member of the ATGM Rafael family, which also includes the light Spike-SR with a range of up to 1500m, Spike-MR with a range of up to 2500m, Spike-ER with a range of up to 8000m, and Spike-NLOS with a range of up to 25 km. It was previously reported that Israeli political and military officials are increasingly inclined to increase military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Read also: Ukrainian soldiers from the Stugna-P anti-tank missile system destroyed a racist tank. VIDEO Su-25 assault planes were disassembled in Europe and delivered to Ukraine - Foreign Policy The kamikaze drone of the Ukrainian special forces was struck by the tank crew of the occupiers The enemy has minus 100 occupiers, 3 tanks and a plane per day. Statistics from the General Staff of the Armed Forces The kamikaze drone of the Ukrainian special forces was struck by the tank crew of the occupiers The Ukrainian military began using M320 grenade launchers New data on the losses of Russians in the war with Ukraine: more than 29 thousand people, 1,300 tanks Destroyed DT-30 "Knight" was shown in Vilkhivka 30 OMBR effectively destroyed a Russian truck with ammunition (VIDEO) From the first shot: NATO howitzer gunners hit the command post of the Russian unit Police released a photo Thursday of the car they suspect was involved in a hit-and-run that injured St. Helena Star freelance sportswriter Garrett Whitt. Whitt was crossing Main Street at Spring Street at about 9 p.m. Tuesday in his motorized wheelchair when a car hit him in the southbound lane. Whitt, who has cerebral palsy, was returning home from a St. Helena High School softball game. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Police on Thursday described the car as a silver or sand-colored Toyota Camry from the 1999-2001 model years, rather than the initial description of a silver Corolla. The vehicle is believed to have sustained noticeable damage in the area of its front left bumper when it struck the heavy motorized wheelchair. Whitt broke his right leg and was airlifted to Queen of the Valley Medical Center, where he underwent surgery on Wednesday. Whitt's friend Ray Particelli said the surgery was successful and a CAT scan came back negative. Whitt was listed in "stable" condition on Thursday morning. You can reach Jesse Duarte at (707) 967-6803 or jduarte@sthelenastar.com. 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. Drivers on Highway 29 between American Canyon and the city of Napa will soon have a nearby alternative route if the highway shuts down due to accident or other reason. Devlin Road has developed in piecemeal fashion over four decades. The road runs to the west of Highway 29 through the airport industrial area for 4 miles from Soscol Ferry Road to Green Island Road. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. On Wednesday, American Canyon celebrated the near-completion of the last, half-mile segment. This is the part that makes the Green Island Road connection. "It's going to be very much an asset to the county and the city of American Canyon," American Canyon Mayor Leon Garcia said. The $5.6 million project looks done, but City Manager Jason Holley said a few landscaping chores must be finished before this last segment opens to the public at a yet-to-be-announced date. County Supervisor Belia Ramos said the completed Devlin Road will be important for evacuations. "Believe it or not, American Canyon only has one way into Napa," she said. Without this segment, a Highway 29 closure near American Canyon means taking a 16-mile detour. Drivers use Interstate 80 and Highway 12 through Jameson Canyon, going into Solano County for much of the trip. Dumping all of the Highway 29 traffic onto an already-congested route means extreme congestion. "There was one day it took me three hours to get to the county building from American Canyon because we had the whole highway closed," Ramos said. "Imagine, living in a community where you have to leave your county to get north." The days of the long detour will soon be over unless the Highway 29 closure is just south of the Green Island Road entrance. There is still a one-third mile stretch of highway with no linking, parallel surface road. Whether drivers would want to take all 4 miles of Devlin Road on a regular basis to try to avoid Highway 29 traffic is yet another question. The road at one point is almost a mile to the west of the more direct highway route. The completion of Devlin Road could help with Highway 29 traffic in another way, if only a little. Trucks will soon be able to travel the length of the airport industrial area, from the unincorporated county portion to the American Canyon portion, without using the highway. "It's going to be very much an asset to the county and the city of American Canyon, and particularly for all those who work out here, in the industrial area," Garcia said. A widened sidewalk along the segment serves as the Napa Valley Vine Trail, a bike trail which is to someday link Vallejo and Calistoga. The northern entrance to the new Devlin Road segment is a 140-foot-diameter roundabout designed for truck traffic. It is the largest roundabout in Napa County, American Canyon officials said. "Bragging rights for American Canyon," Ramos said. All of this was a long time in coming. The first mention of Devlin Road in the Napa Valley Register came in April 1982, as the proposed name for a road near the Butler Bridge. In 1986, a county airport industrial plan proclaimed that Devlin Road would someday be the main north-south artery parallel to Highway 29, linking Soscol Ferry Road and Green Island Road. Some 36 years later, that day has just about arrived, pending that landscaping work. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, told the few dozen people at the ribbon-cutting ceremony to expect more road projects. Congress last year passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that he said will mean a lot for the country, state and Napa County. "This (Devlin) is kind of a prelude, I think, to what is coming," Thompson said. You can reach Barry Eberling at 707-256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Global CEOs have announced the Cyber Resilience Pledge, a collective action on cyber resilience to champion a unified approach to the growing cyber risks, signed by major global businesses such as Shell and Petronas. This took place at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos. As the world deepens its digital footprint, cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated. But one company, working alone is effectively like locking the front gate while leaving the back door wide open. We must work together if we want to truly protect the critical energy infrastructure that billions of people around the world depend upon. This Pledge represents an important step a commitment to build our capabilities and resilience but it is the collaboration to follow that will ultimately determine our success, said Amin H Nasser President and Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Aramco. Worrying disconnect But despite the pledge of collective action, recent research has found a worrying disconnect between CEOs and boards and Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), with only 51% of CISOs globally believing their board sees eye-to-eye with them on the issue of cybersecurity. Lucia Milica, Global Resident CISO, Proofpoint, said: It is encouraging to see the issue of cyber resilience being taken seriously by CEOs and boards, and a more unified approach to responding to cyber risk is certainly a positive development. However, for these kinds of pledges and initiatives to be successful, leaders must address the fundamental issues that hinder a genuinely effective response. CISOs must report to CEO CISOs should report directly into the CEO, not the CIO, if cybersecurity is to be effectively prioritised. But equally, CISOs need a better understanding of the boards business perspective so that both speak the same language, she said. To contend with the complexities of todays threat landscape, organisations must bring cybersecurity expertise directly to the board level. The trend is already clear: Boards in Australia must oversee cyber resilience under Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) regulations, and earlier this year the US Securities and Exchange Commission proposed a rule requiring disclosures of board cybersecurity expertise and board oversight of cybersecurity risks for all US public companies. Boardrooms awaken If there is one positive we can take from a year of headline-grabbing cybersecurity incidents, its that boardrooms worldwide have awakened to todays cyber risks. With the prospect of significant downtime, disrupted operations and impacts on business valuations weighing heavily on the minds of the board as the result of a cyber breach, hopefully over the next 12 months we will see this awareness turn into action, she added.-- TradeArabia News Service Napa Valley leaders shared words of condolence and compassion after news broke on Tuesday of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. The tragedy left 19 students and two adults dead and others injured. The Uvalde mass shooting was the worst mass shooting at an elementary school since the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, noted House Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce Chairperson Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena. Since that time, the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force led by Thompson has advocated for gun violence prevention laws to save lives and help keep communities safe, according to a news release from the elected official. Thompson attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday in American Canyon for a new Devlin Road segment. He was asked by the Napa Valley Register if he thinks this latest mass shooting will spur the changes he desires, given similar tragedies have not. "I think it's important to remember, when you hear this, 'We're going to do something, we're going to do something, we're not going to forget,' it's after a horrendous mass shooting, such as what we experienced yesterday or what we experienced last week in New York," Thompson said. He sees even more involved. The truth is, 30 people every day are killed by someone using a gun, he said. And if you add suicides and accidental deaths, thats 100 people a day. So there's a problem out there, and we do need to do something. Fifty Republican senators in the U.S. Senate are the holdup, he said. The House of Representatives has passed legislation. There are bills on the floor of the Senate waiting to be taken up, if the Republican senators allow them to come up for a vote. He was asked if it would be worth changing Senate filibuster laws to help move gun legislation along. You most certainly could do that, Thompson said. I think it would be a lot easier if these 50 Republican senators just screwed up enough courage to do the job they were sent to Washington to do. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Dr. Rosanna Mucetti, Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD) superintendent, also released a statement in response to the Texas shooting. It is difficult to think of the tremendous grief and suffering the parents are experiencing, wrote Mucetti. In addition to the families, Our hearts go out to our fellow educators and students in Texas as they grapple with this senseless and tragic violence. These events are scary and unsettling for our students and staff and we need to stand together as we process yet another act of mass violence in our country, she said. "For those struggling, our district provides a wide array of emotional support resources through our student wellness program, and the Care Solace program is available to help students, families and staff find the right community-based provider in the mental health space, she said. Services are free and confidential. Mucetti noted that in May 2021 the NVUSD Board of Education passed a resolution supporting safe gun storage. This resolution along with resources like Be Smart for Kids remind us that every adult can play a role in keeping our kids and communities safer, she wrote. Rob Weiss, executive director of Mentis Napa, responded to the Napa Valley Register by email about the Texas shooting. "We must not become numb to the tremendous emotional impact that these senseless acts of violence have on all of us, especially our youth," he said. The killing of children at schools is "tragic, inexplicable and totally devastating for everyone who is a part of that community, and the heartache is felt across the nation," he said. "Lives are forever changed as parents, families, school staff and students are left to process the tremendous emotional pain, grief and trauma that has been inflicted upon them." Weiss said, "It is not enough to send our best wishes and prayers as these tragedies continue to occur. Steps must be taken to prevent shootings from occurring, and in the meantime, we must support all of those affected." Locally, Mentis partners with school districts throughout the county to offer students of all ages mental health prevention, support, and treatment, he noted. "We believe it is critical that our students have access to these services. If your child needs help, please have them work with staff at their school site in order to get connected to one of our therapists," Weiss said. You can reach reporter Jennifer Huffman at 707-256-2218 or jhuffman@napanews.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Jennifer Huffman Business Editor Jennifer Huffman is the business editor and a general assignment reporter for the Napa Valley Register. I cover a wide variety of topics for the newspaper. I've been with the Register since 2005. Follow Jennifer Huffman 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 ST. HELENA Members of St. Helenas American Legion Post 199 gathered outside the old City Hall Monday to raise the POW/MIA flag honoring prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action. The city previously raised the POW/MIA flag on its ceremonial flagpole on Veterans Day in 2019. Post member Mike Griffin asked the City Council to fly the POW/MIA flag permanently on its taller main flagpole, just below the American flag. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Griffin said the flag pays tribute to the 83,204 U.S. military personnel since World War II whove gone unaccounted for. Of those recorded during the Vietnam War, California leads the nation with 160 soldiers confirmed or presumed to be dead whose bodies were never recovered. The National League of POW/MIA Families strongly recommends that state and municipal entities fly the POW/MIA flag daily to demonstrate continuing commitment to the goal of the fullest possible accounting of all personnel not yet returned to American soil. I'm proud to be an elected in a community that continues to honor our lost and missing servicemen and women, said City Councilmember Eric Hall, who helped shepherd the matter through the citys planning process. This flag, which will continuously fly with the stars and stripes, shows we are keeping our promise to never forget those who are lost. It's also a symbol to raise awareness of mental health illnesses plaguing our country, and our veteran community in particular. Veteran suicides continue unabated and we need to do more there, and for many other mental health issues across the board. You can reach Jesse Duarte at (707) 967-6803 or jduarte@sthelenastar.com. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. US warns Turkish incursion in Syria will undermine regional stability Cavusoglu: Turkey is open to cooperation in the creation of 'grain center' Mexico bans sale of vape and e-cigarettes US to build 110 military facilities of various purposes in Poland within 10 years Parties of conflict in Yemen extend truce for two months Saudi Arabia ready to increase oil production, in case of a significant drop in production in Russia Merkel: Russias war with Ukraine is a turning point in European history US expands sanctions against Russia Israel, Egypt and European Commission hold intensive consultations on how to export surplus gas Turkey delivers six Bayraktar TB2 drones to Niger Trilateral working group meeting to unblock regional communications to be held in Moscow Armenia Ombudswoman receives 904 complaints on issues related to child protection in 2021 New Syrian Ambassador presents copies of her credentials to Armenia FM Stepanakert does not comment on reports about Harutyunyan and Pashinyan meeting In Baku, participants of second Karabakh war break down doors of Ministry Germany to buy 60 Chinook heavy helicopters from Boeing Armenia PM chief of staff: Artsakh is frontline of our war French diplomats go on strike Kristinne Grigoryan: A priority of Armenia ombudsperson's office is to assist overcoming post-war humanitarian situation Lithuania signs agreement with Turkey to purchase Bayraktar TB2 for Ukrainian army Lavrov's delegation during his Turkey visit will include military Tunisia President dismisses 57 judges, accusing them of 'corruption and protection of terrorists' Kremlin: Pumping Ukraine with weapons may worsen the situation Armenia official: Azerbaijan makes statements that do not correspond to negotiations Armenia Security Council secretary evades confirming Artsakh is Armenia, period theory CIS committee on disarmament discusses security guarantees Armenia Security Council head: We have proposed to take troops out in mirror to ensure stability at border Armenia Resistance Movement approaching important milestone says its coordinator Armenia Security Council chief does not say date of next meeting of commission on border delimitation with Azerbaijan Interpol head warns of surge in arms trafficking after the end of war in Ukraine Armenias Pashinyan has telephone conversation with Georgias Garibashvili Deputy PM: Armenia tourism sector on way to recovery thanks to flexible state policy Turkey announces positive negotiations with US on purchase of F-16s US lifts restrictions on Cuba flights Kerobyan, Wiktorin discuss priorities of SME development programs in Armenia Armenia to get community development grant from India Armenia to host Greece deputy defense minister Participants of international congress in Azerbaijan to visit occupied Armenian Shushi city of Artsakh Raisi: Iran supports progress in Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks US says Ukraine assured it will not escalate conflict after receiving HIMARS systems. UN grants Turkey request to change English spelling of country's name NATO does not foresee Russia retaliation against US decision to supply advanced weapons to Ukraine Turkey parliament speaker arrives in Azerbaijan Pashinyan, Raisi discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation issue Newspaper: Rally in Stepanakert seriously worries Armenia authorities Newspaper: Who will replace serving US Ambassador to Armenia? UK to send multiple-launch rocket systems to Ukraine Croatia is ready to adopt the euro from January 1, 2023 NATO to hold Turkey's meeting with Finland and Sweden to solve problem of their admission Blinken says US intends to provide Ukraine with everything necessary for self-defense Italy becomes only country in Europe that increased import of Russian oil Syunik ex-province govern's son apprehended Armenian ex-presidents nephew arrested Record number of women in new Australian government NEWS.am digest: Pashinyan, Putin discuss Karabakh; EU speaks on Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal Ministry of Economy: It is planned to create a development bank for small and medium-sized businesses in Armenia Saghatelyan: Today we will publish list of forces that presented their position on statement on Artsakh issue Gasoline prices in US again update historical high Kazinyan: Every word and thought of Charles Michel's statement agreed with Pashinyan, Aliyev Israeli air force simulate attack on Iranian nuclear facilities Putin and Erdogan agree that Turkey will help in demining the ports of Ukraine Erdogan: Turkey received no proposals from Finland and Sweden for their membership in NATO Byblos Bank donates to National Library the 1872 publication book (PHOTOS) Today's Resistance Movement procession includes women and children Former Qatari princess found dead at home in southern Spain Azerbaijani President signs order on call-up to active military service Olaf Scholz calls on Turkey to show restraint toward Greece Dollar, euro continue to fall in Armenia Turkey raises natural gas and electricity prices for households and industry Resistance Movement organizes protest outside Shirak regional administration building Erdogan refuses to negotiate with Greece Peskov: Dates of Putin's visit to Turkey are being coordinated Kremlin: Meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy cannot be ruled out a priori Moscow does not believe Kiev is not going to attack Russian territory with MLRS NATO conducts training in Azerbaijan Armenia PM tells Putin about his contacts with Aliyev and Michel Armenia PM and Putin discuss Karabakh settlement Manfred Weber elected European People's Party president Armenia parliamentary staff to receive another bonus WSJ: Some OPEC members are considering suspending Russia's participation in the OPEC+ deal Tbilisi vice-mayor found dead in his home State Revenue Committee: Local tobacco production decreased in Armenia in 2021 Opposition: There will be no interruption in Resistance movement, there is no reason for it Armenian Defense Ministry denies appearance of new Azerbaijani checkpoints in Syunik region Turkish nationalist leader says US military bases in Greece pose 'threat' to Turkey's security Russia MFA: Any supply of weapons to Ukraine increases risk of direct clash between Russia and US NATO Secretary-General heads to US US Treasury Secretary admits she was wrong about 'path inflation' Turkey sends letter to UN Secretary-General on registration of country's name in foreign languages as Turkiye Gazprom halts gas supplies to Danish Orsted and Shell Energy Europe Limited in Germany EU: Yerevan and Baku confirm no extraterritorial claims on future transport infrastructure In Mexico, Hurricane Agatha kills at least 11 people and leaves 20 missing Armenia MoD refutes another Azerbaijani lie Karen Vardanyan donates 107 mln AMD to 5 orphanages in Armenia on the occasion of 1 June New US missile systems to allow Ukraine to hit targets at distance of 80 km Zelenskyy: Ukraine loses 60 to 100 soldiers every day Biggest bottle of whiskey in the world sold for $1.3 million Zelenskyy: Ukraine does not intend to attack Russia with MLRS 3,400 years old city discovered during work on a reservoir in Iraq 'Flying' water taxi to appear in Venice The Arab Green Summit will bring together key government officials, key decision makers, policy makers from across all key sectors in the MENA region to discuss, innovate, collaborate, and set the path for climate action. Climate risk is arguably the greatest risk facing humanity, with climate change defying natures eternal principles and increase our planets temperature. Nations are racing against time to reach the goals of Paris climate deal and transition to net zero by 2050. The summit is being organised by Market Solutions Events Management under the patronage of the UAEs Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) from June 21-22 at Movenpick Grand Al Bustan in Dubai, UAE. It is powered by Mashreq. The event will see participation from various ministries and organisation such as MOCCAE, Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure (MOEI), Mashreq, Mastercard, Engie, Green Optima, PwC, Al Safwa Cement Company, SunMoney Solar Group, South Pole, and more This summit will be hosting dignitaries including Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister, from MOCCAE, Yousif Ahmed Al Ali from Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Shaima AlAydarous from Ministry of Economy, Naseebah Almarzooqi from Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Stephen Christian Severance JR from Masdar, Daxita Rajcoomar from Engie, Fatima Ahmed Al Kadhim from Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority, Mariam AlQubaisi from Etihad Aviation Group, Ahmed Samir Elbermbali from Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC), Adnan Merhaba from Arthur Little, Dina Storey from Expo 2020 Dubai and others. Commenting on the summit, Ahmed Abdelaal, Mashreq Group CEO, said: The Arab Green Summit is an ideal platform to convene international and regional stakeholders to deliver unified consensus on addressing issues related to climate change. The principles of ESG have been embedded into our organizations core value. Mashreq has several ESG wins across its global business portfolio and we are strong advocates for promoting sustainability at strategic, operational level and in the communities that we operate in. We are proud to participate with our peers at the Arab Green Summit. On his part, Frederic Claux, Managing Director, Thermal and Supply AMEA, ENGIE, a summit participant, said: As a regional leader in the transition to a low carbon-neutral economy, our work at ENGIE is shaped by our mission to help businesses decarbonize so that the region can successfully achieve its net-zero goals. TAGS is an ideal platform to bring together regional stakeholders from governments to businesses so that we can advance our common purpose to achieve a more resilient and sustainable economy and a better future for all. --OGN Sophos Hotels, a top third-party hotel operator in Europe , and AIMS Hospitality, a subsidiary of AIMS Holding, have signed an agreement to launch the first international independent hotel management company in KSA. The announcement was made at the recent Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh. The companies have initially agreed on developing and operating several properties located in Jeddah and Makkah cities that comprise over 2000 keys. Fernand Donnet, President and CEO of Sophos Hotels said: I would like to thank the ministry of investment for easing the process of obtaining the service license for Sophos Hotels in KSA , We are thrilled to expand our business and to invest in the Saudi hospitality market which is witnessing one of the fastest & highest growth rates in the world, and to build long term partnership with AIMS Hospitality, together will reciprocate our expertise and further enhance our reach in this fast-growing market, as well as across the entire GCC region. Muhammed Al Amir, CEO of AIMS Hospitality added: Saudi Arabia redefined its tourism and hospitality sectors under Saudi Vision 2030, which increased demand for international expertise in hotel management. We are looking forward to building a trustworthy partnership with Sophos Hotels which shall transform a great combinate, of the Swiss hospitality expertise and local know how to create the ideal hotel management model. Sophos Hotels SA was founded in 2006 in Switzerland and is currently developing and operating over 40 independent and internationally branded hotels around the world. TradeArabia News Service NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged the member countries of the alliance to prepare for the fact that it will take a long time to help Ukraine. We have to be realistic and realize that this may last for a long time, for many months, for even years, he said, referring to a war. According to him, now the paramount task of NATO is to help Ukraine. "Well, NATO has two tasks when it comes to the conflict in Ukraine. The first is to support Ukraine. And I am so impressed by the courage of the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian armed forces and the Ukrainian political leadership. And we all have a responsibility to support them in their fight, to help them to uphold the right for self-defence. And actually, NATO Allies have supported Ukraine for many years, since 2014, helped to train thousands of Ukrainian troops and especially the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and also Turkey has provided also critical equipment. And after the invasion, all the NATO Allies stepped up and many other partners also started to provide support. Thats our first responsibility, is to support Ukraine, because this matters also for our security," he noted. But the second responsibility is to protect all NATO Allies, Stoltenberg said. "So it is important to prevent this conflict from escalating to a full-scale war between Russia and NATO. Then we will see even more death, more destruction, more damage than what we see today in Ukraine. So this dual task of support, but not do anything that can escalate the conflict, is the challenge for NATO. And we do that partly by making it clear that we support Ukraine, but NATO will not be part of the conflict, well not send NATO troops into Ukraine," he added. The Middle East and Asia-Pacific (APAC) aviation industry is experiencing green shoots of recovery, according to the first edition of the Airport Industry Outlook, a quarterly report by Airports Council International Asia-Pacific (ACI APAC). The report, developed in partnership with global management consultancy Mott MacDonald provides a snapshot of how airports in the region have performed during the first quarter (Q1) of 2022. Domestic traffic at airports across the Middle East and Asia-Pacific has made a recovery of 92% of pre-pandemic levels, but international seat capacity was still down 67% during Q1 of 2022, a report said. The total domestic seat capacity is expected to recover to levels exceeding 2019 by Q2 2022 by approximately +4%. This is driven largely by Emerging East Asia (notably China), which has 15% more departing seats scheduled in 2022 than in 2019. Middle East domestic capacity remains below 2019 levels. In contrast, total international seat capacity in 2022 is 49% below 2019 levels, with significant variation between sub-regions. South Asia and the Middle East are only down about 15% on 2019 levels, while Emerging East Asia (China, Mongolia, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea) is still down by 81%, and is once again experiencing stringent travel restrictions. Analysis shows that travel restrictions have to a large degree failed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 mainly due to the high infectious nature of the omicron variant and have turned out to be a deterrent for the recovery of aviation, impacting the economy of the region. Cargo business proves on the contrary the leading role that Asia-Pacific plays in the global economy, said Stefano Baronci, Director General of ACI Asia-Pacific. Despite an improving trend, airport financial margins remained far below pre-pandemic levels and are economically unsustainable. It is therefore time to remove ineffective restrictions and enable Nations to accelerate their economic growth. To achieve a truly sustainable recovery from the slump caused by Covid-19, co-operation and the establishment of standards that harmonise the processes for international travel between states are crucial. The global recovery will only be realised with the escalation of vaccination campaigns, development of digital health passes, and supportive policies from governments. Opening borders & easing restrictions Boosted by high rates of vaccination (70% or above in the six largest aviation markets), since early 2022, many countries have been easing entry requirements, but parts of Emerging and Developed East Asia (Japan, Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau, China, Mongolia and Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea) have kept quarantine requirements in place. In Asia Pacific and ME, currently 20 countries have no significant entry restrictions. China plays a key role in the region as most of South East Asian Airports and Australia are largely dependent on Chinese travellers. The reopening of international air travel to and from China will not only accelerate growth in the region, but also provides a thrust to the industry across the globe. Passenger traffic performance While domestic passenger traffic has made considerable progress, with the easing of restrictions within some countries, international traffic, which is the key revenue driver for airports in terms of passengers commercial spend, has remained largely stagnant due to restrictions and geopolitical tensions in and around the region. Robust cargo growth Cargo growth has proven to be resilient in comparison with passenger traffic, and remains significantly above pre-pandemic levels. As passenger airlines returns providing more belly capacity, air cargo is expected to continue its growth trajectory. The sub-regions with the largest cargo shares are Developed Asia (Japan, Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau) with 32%, followed by Emerging East Asia with 29% and Middle East 16%. Developed East Asia was the only region in Q4 2021 that recorded traffic levels above 2019 pre-Covid level. All other regions reported levels around 0.85% or above compared to 2019. Airport economic performance The EBITDA and Net profit margins, based on a selection of sampled airports handling 30% of total annual regional traffic volumes in 2030, indicates improving conditions in Q4 2021 (Oct to Dec), driven by an increase in passenger traffic and optimisation of operating costs. However, the margins remained far below pre-pandemic levels and are economically unsustainable. Quarterly revenues remain 58% below the same period last year. Although revenues are improving slowly with traffic recovery, they remain at low levels, leading to large operating losses for airports. Total operating expenditures have declined since the start of the pandemic, with the decline having halved in percentage terms in Q4 2021 compared to the same quarter in the previous year. Airport service quality Overall satisfaction scores for Airports have increased continuously throughout the pandemic up to Q4 2021, and were around 5% higher compared to the same period in 2019. Similarly, Middle East performance is also above 2019 levels. TradeArabia News Service Al Maha Petroleum Products Marketing Company has signed an agreement with i6 Group for using the worlds first end-to-end aviation fuel management platform Fusion6, an into-plane refuelling management platform. The platform allows complete real-time visibility and management of ground fuelling operations. Hamed Al Maghdri, CEO of Al Maha, said: Our agreement with the i6 group provides Al Maha Petroleum with outstanding operational excellence capabilities and access to the state-of-the-art best practices in the aviation refuelling process. We believe that our stakeholders will benefit from the efficiencies which come with the technology that this platform provides. Steve Uhrmacher, the CEO of i6 Group Steve added: We are thrilled to be growing in the Middle East with Al Maha in Oman. Our partnership demonstrates i6 Groups trusted reputation as a truly global and leading fuel management platform and we look forward to further strengthening our partnership with Al Maha over the coming years. The technology will be rolled out at Muscat International Airport, also expanding i6s presence throughout the Middle East. Other Middle Eastern airports already taking advantage of i6 technology include Dubai International Airport and Bahrain International Airport. TradeArabia News Service Soldier Eduard Martirosov, handed over by the Azerbaijani side, is already in Yerevan. He was brought from Stepanakert to Yerevan's Erebuni airfield. He was accompanied by representatives of the Russian peacekeeping contingent Major General Andrei Volkov. "In accordance with the trilateral statement of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia (point 8) today we hand over to the Armenian side the serviceman, Eduard Martirosov, who lost his way a month ago in the area of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and was captured. As a result of negotiations he was released. Today he is in Armenia," Major General Volkov told Sputnik Armenia. The commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent noted that work on the return of prisoners of war to their homeland continues. "We have taken all actions to continue this process so that all servicemen who were captured in one way or another will return home, to their parents. Today is such an example: as a result of the work of the special services of both Azerbaijan and Armenia, the soldier was returned. The process is continuing. We will work on this and do everything possible to achieve peace on this land," the Russian general said. The Armenian side thanked Major General Volkov for his assistance in the return of the serviceman. Martirosov was immediately taken from the airfield to the National Security Service of Armenia, where a brief meeting was held and the soldier was released. Earlier on 26 May the Armenian Defense Ministry had reported about the return of conscript Eduard Martirosov from Azerbaijan. The soldier's return took place in accordance with the agreement reached during the trilateral meeting of 22 May in Brussels between the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the European Council President, and with the mediation of the Commander of the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh Andrei Volkov. To remind, the contact with Martirosov disappeared on 23 April when he was going from the military unit to his fighting post. Later it turned out that the Armenian soldier had crossed the border and ended up on the Azerbaijani side that day (under circumstances that have not yet been established). Branden Grimmett, associate provost of career and professional development at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, has been selected to lead Emorys new Pathways Center, a re-envisioning of undergraduate career exploration and professional development as part of the universitys Student Flourishing initiative. In this role, effective Aug. 1, Grimmett will serve as associate dean in Emory College of Arts and Sciences and as vice provost for career and professional development. Branden is an extraordinary talent whose experience and aspirations align with our vision for the Pathways Center as a foundation for students lifelong journeys of transformation, impact and service, says Ravi V. Bellamkonda, Emorys provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. With inclusion and connection at the core of his philosophy, Branden will work with our entire team of career professionals to engage not only our students but the ecosystem of employers, alumni, faculty, parents and others who are vital to their success. The path to student success Launching in Fall 2022 under Grimmetts leadership, the Pathways Center will integrate existing resources and programs as well as create new initiatives to support purposeful professional development and career exploration across the entire undergraduate experience, beginning in the first year. Experiential learning, intentional reflection and mentoring relationships will be integral to the Pathways Center as ways of preparing students for a meaningful life and post-graduate opportunities. With the Pathways Center, we seek to offer an innovative, holistic approach that supports the personal and professional development of all Emory undergraduates, says Emory College Dean Michael A. Elliott. Branden Grimmett is a remarkable, creative leader who will bring to this work both a wealth of experience and a clear vision of how we can achieve these aims. We are excited to have him as a new partner to the many professionals on this campus who advance the work of student flourishing. Grimmett was named to the role after a highly competitive nationwide search conducted by the firm Heidrick & Struggles. The search process relied on engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders, including faculty, staff, alumni and students. Im excited to welcome Branden to Emory. He was a standout from the first interview in which his thorough understanding of the field, concern and regard for students, and commitment to partnering and innovation were abundantly clear, says Enku Gelaye, senior vice president for Campus Life. This new role under Brandens leadership creates tremendous capacity for the university to bring together student-facing services already committed to engaging students in Pathways work. The Pathways initiative also reimagines how we meet our students at a critical time a time when exploration, reflection and meaning-making matter most to them and can be truly transformative in their lives. Grimmetts experience ranges from career development positions at Tufts University and Harvard Divinity School to leadership roles at St. Olaf College and Loyola Marymount University (LMU). His expertise reflects the goals of the new Pathways Center: to establish students interactions with the center from their first year onward; to grow external relationships with corporate and nonprofit partners to develop student opportunities; and to ensure that professional development activities respond to the needs of all students, including first-generation, low-income and historically underrepresented groups. The student perspective According to alumna and search advisory committee member Joy Knowles, who graduated this year from Emory College, the Pathways Center has the potential to provide amazing support for a diverse group of students, including those who may need additional resources and guidance. Branden has an attentiveness to the experiences of underrepresented students that will ensure that the Center meets student needs. It is essential to level the playing field by creating opportunities for people of color and students of varying socioeconomic statuses. It is very encouraging to see Emory create such a meaningful initiative to aid students in discovering their post-college journeys, and I am confident that Brandens leadership will make the mission both successful and effective, Knowles says. Throughout his career, Grimmett has worked to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts into students personal and career development. At LMU, Grimmett instituted a policy whereby potential employers were asked to agree to a DEI policy before hiring students for internships and jobs. He also forged strong partnerships between the career center and groups such as Disability Support Services, Ethnic and Intercultural Services, Jewish Student Life, LGBTQ Student Services, Muslim Student Life, Undocumented Students and Veterans Programs. Creating opportunities for partnership and engagement Grimmett looks forward to building a wide range of partnerships at Emory and beyond, especially with Atlantas robust business, corporate and nonprofit communities. I am thrilled to join Emory at a time when the university is focused on intentionally preparing students for professional achievement and success in life. The new Pathways Center will seamlessly bring together the Career Center, national scholarships and fellowships, undergraduate research programs and pre-health advising, he says. We will also build connections with student employment and work with the Division of Advancement and Alumni Engagement to strengthen alumni mentoring programs, he adds. I look forward to working with each of these teams and university leadership to elevate Emory's standing in the employment market, while creating one entry point for recruiters seeking to hire undergraduates from every major." On the Atlanta campus, Grimmett will work with the Career Management Center of Goizueta Business School and the professional development team in the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. He will work closely to coordinate services and initiatives with the director of a counterpart center that will serve first- and second-year undergraduates on Emorys Oxford College campus as well. Grimmett received his bachelor of arts degree at St. Olaf College, a master of theological studies from Harvard Divinity School and a doctor of education degree from the University of Southern California. Mastercard and travel website Musafir have partnered to digitize end-to-end payment flows and launch new innovative payment products with attractive travel benefits to both consumers and corporates. According to an analysis by the Mastercard Economics Institute, if flight booking trends continue at their current pace, an estimated 115 million more passengers in Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa will fly in 2022 compared to last year. The research reveals that global leisure and business flight bookings have surpassed pre-pandemic levels with an estimated 1.5 billion more passengers predicted to fly in 2022 compared to 2021. At Mastercard we are committed to contribute to the continued recovery of the travel and tourism sector through insights, data analysis, innovative digital solutions and unique partner collaborations. We are continuously investing to innovate across the travel value chain. We are excited to partner with Musafir to provide digital-first experiences to their consumers, said Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard. "Our partnership with Mastercard is a testament to our belief that travel is back and our commitment to providing both consumers and corporates with technology-led travel solutions," said Sachin Gadoya, Co-founder and CEO of Musafir.com. UAE-based Musafir.com is a leading online travel agency and is among the leading corporate travel management companies in the region. TradeArabia News Service As the Emory community joins the nation in grieving for the victims of recent mass shootings, resources are available for those needing support. On May 14, a gunman killed 10 people and wounded three others at the Tops Friendly Market grocery store in Buffalo, New York. Most of the victims were Black and the Justice Department is investigating the attack as a hate crime. The Emory community mourns for the victims in Buffalo, who were attacked while shopping in a supermarket simply because they were Black, Emory President Gregory L. Fenves said then. Another senseless act of white supremacy and racism. We must stand together and make clear: there is no place for hate in America. On May 24, a gunman killed 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Im heartbroken for the victims and families in my former home state of Texas, said Fenves, who served as president of the University of Texas at Austin before joining Emory in 2020. The killing of children in school magnifies the tragedy as we remember mass shootings our nation has endured. The Emory community mourns for the children and teachers who were taken far too soon. Emory offers a variety of support resources that are available to students, staff and faculty who have been impacted by these tragedies, or who would like help dealing with other issues: Support Resources Emergency and Safety Resources WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Colombians go to the polls on Sunday for the first round of voting in their presidential election. Voters in this election are under more economic stress than they've been in years largely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has taken a toll on how they see their lives and further fueled their discontent with their country's leadership. Quick Summary: Colombia's election is an opportunity for change, as current President Ivan Duque cannot legally stand for reelection. Duque, who has been in office since 2018, ran as a reformist but then struggled to implement change. He has been criticized for how he implemented the peace agreement with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), which had been fighting the Colombian government for decades. The election offers Colombian voters six candidates to choose from, but two have emerged as clear front-runners: Gustavo Petro and Federico Gutierrez. Petro, the leading leftist candidate and a former guerilla, is running on a platform of economic, environmental and social reform. Gutierrez, the leading conversative candidate, is emphasizing law and order, vowing to tackle crime and encourage economic growth. Whoever wins will take the helm of a country in the midst of multiple crises, including a deteriorating security situation and rising income inequality and poverty. Colombia's economy has been battered during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 3.6 million Colombians falling into poverty since it started. Nearly 40% of the country's population is now estimated to be living below the poverty line. Colombians' Lives Headed in Wrong Direction: After years of steady ratings averaging in the mid-40% range, the percentage of Colombians who are considered to be thriving began to free-fall after 2019. In 2021, thriving dropped to a new record low of 28%. This decline is at least partly related to the effects of COVID-19 on Colombians. In 2020, 65% of Colombians who were working at the time of the pandemic reported they had earned less money than usual because of the coronavirus situation. Additionally, before the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing the political crisis in Venezuela arrived in Colombia, which placed additional stress on the country's economy, resources and social services. ###Embeddable### Gallup classifies individuals as "thriving," "struggling" or "suffering" according to how they rate their current and future lives on a ladder scale with steps numbered from zero to 10, based on the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale. Those who rate their current life and anticipated life in five years a 4 or lower are classified as suffering. The Majority of Colombians Are Struggling Economically: A clear majority of Colombians (60%) said in 2021 that they were finding it "difficult" or "very difficult" to get by on their current household income, tying the record high from 2020. Before that year, no more than 44% of Colombians had reported experiencing this much difficulty getting by. ###Embeddable### Additionally, a slim majority of Colombians (52%) said in 2021 that there had been times in the past 12 months when they did not have enough money for food. The percentage lacking money for this basic necessity has generally trended upward since 2015, rising from 32% that year to 45% in 2019 and jumping substantially higher amid the COVID-19 pandemic. ###Embeddable### Majority of Colombians Lack Confidence in Their National Government: In 2021, 70% of Colombians said they do not have confidence in their national government, an increase of eight percentage points from 2020 but still lower than the record high of 76% in 2017. That record high came after the Colombian government signed a peace treaty with the FARC. ###Embeddable### Implications Colombia has been wracked with economic pain and civil unrest over the past several months. At the same time that millions were sliding into poverty, large numbers of Colombians took to the streets to protest increased taxes, as well as shortages of food and fuel. While those protests have largely subsided, the security situation in the country has deteriorated in recent months with a surge of violence. Whoever wins the election will face daunting challenges in both restoring security and turning around the economic downturn. To stay up to date with the latest Gallup News insights and updates, follow us on Twitter. For complete methodology and specific survey dates, please review Gallup's Country Data Set details. Learn more about how the Gallup World Poll works. The U.S. government has tapped the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) several times recently and in late March released 180,000 million barrels, one million per day for 180 daysthe largest drawdown since the reserve, the worlds largest supply of emergency crude oil, was established in the wake of the mid-1970s oil embargo. Yet Arun Sharma, a marketing professor and former department chair at the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School, and Indraneel Chakraborty, associate professor of finance, both believe the drawdowns will have minimum impact given the size of the market. Both specialists emphasize the changes in the global oil market since the SPRa U.S. government complex of four sites with deep underground storage caverns created in salt domes along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coastswas established in 1975. At the time, the U.S. was very reliant on the import of foreign oil, and our exports were small, Sharma explained. The reason we set up the reserve was if the imports got constrained or restricted, then we would have enough reserves. The SPR was formed following the 1973 Arab Israeli War, a conflict won by Israel with backing from the United States. Arab countries levied an oil embargo on the U.S. in retaliation for that support. The price of oil rose from $3 a barrel before the embargo to $12 a barrel in 1974. Even after the embargo was lifted in 1974, the cost of oil continued to rise and was at $33 in 1980, Chakraborty pointed out. He indicated that U.S. productionnow at 11 million barrels per day compared to the 10 million barrels per day that Russia produceshas doubled during the period 2008-2020. Oil consumption and production declined in 2020 with the pandemic and has been rising slowly since. Will the reserve drawdowns impact the rising price of fuel in the U.S.? Chakraborty acknowledged that the general capacity of the SPR is about 714 million barrels. The U.S. consumes some 20 million barrels daily. So, at the current levels of 553 million barrels (before the 180-million-barrel reduction) the reserve would provide for about 20 days of oil. At some point the U.S. will bring its level back up to the maximum, but how much is needed in SPR is a nebulous question, he said. Sharma was more pointed, saying the impact is negligible. At the end of the day, theres a lot of oil in various systems, Sharma said. Not only do we have strategic reserves, but other countries do, too. And nowadays the production of oil is very diversified, he added. Its good that the SPR is there because sometimes we need it in times of hurricanes, etc., but its not that critical anymore. The price of oil globallyand also in the U.S.is critically connected to demand and supply, both experts emphasize. Sometimes we have demand constraints which reduce the consumption of oil, and sometimes supply constraints as with Russia [sanctioned for its invasion of Ukraine], which increases the price of oil or in the other direction, Sharma said. The restrictions have impacted the price of oil of course, but not as much as we thought it would because Chinas economy [constrained because of virus outbreaks] has reduced its consumption, he added. Sharma also noted that its unclear what U.S. oil demand will look like because it is so tied to the vibrancy of the economy. Oil consumption is always at the edge, he explained, it may go up 5 percent or down. And that little bit at the edge is what makes all the price difference, he suggested. Not that it goes up 100 percent, because supply and demand are so closely matchedbut any imbalance will cause a price fluctuation. Chakraborty likewise emphasized that oil supply and demand are precariously balanced. He said that its true for any market, but the problem herefollowing the drop in 2020is that oil production is responding slowly. And he added, Given uncertainty regarding economic conditions and the lead time it takes to add new supply, supply response is lagged. Chakraborty compared the SPR to a retirement or emergency hospitalization savings account, one to be used in extreme emergencies. He pointed out that the world uses approximately 90-100 million barrels per day, so the historically large drawdown of 180 million barrels is essentially two days of global consumption. U.S. consumption is 5 percent per day of the global total. The real question that will determine oil prices, Chakraborty said, is where the market expects U.S. economy and the world economy to be in a year. Will Shelby examines a fecal sample in an OSU-CVM lab. As a student at OSU-CVM, Shelby learns the fundamentals of identifying potential illnesses in different species. (Photo by Maddie Cox) Calling Rural Veterinarians Media Contact: Jami Mattox | Agricultural Communications Services | 405-744-8061 | jami.mattox@okstate.edu The sun rises over rural Oklahoma. Tools neatly line the veterinary box, prepared to assist in a day of unknowns. The phone rings alongside the morning cup of coffee and a rural veterinarian starts the day. Rural veterinarians are an enormous asset to a community, said Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, director of continuing education for the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine and beef cattle specialist for OSU Extension. Veterinarians are critical in helping with not only animal health but also food safety, public health, education and military services, said Biggs, who is an alumna of the Ferguson College of Agriculture and OSU-CVM. Agriculture is one of the top industries in Oklahoma, Biggs said. It is at the heart of all things good in Oklahoma. Rural communities are focused largely on agriculture, especially animal agriculture. A recent shortage of rural veterinarians has brought challenges to rural Oklahoma, Biggs said. However, rather than being discouraged, State of Oklahoma officials, the veterinary community, and OSU administrators and faculty are committed to overcome these challenges in the most effective manner, Biggs said. Dr. Rod Hall, Oklahoma state veterinarian and OSU-CVM alumnus, said he attributes the states veterinarian shortage to the salary-to-student debt ratio, the need for emergency calls, the rural lifestyle, the misconception of fair pay for veterinarian services, and the hard work that goes into being a rural veterinarian. We have to figure out how to help students get into veterinary school and how to help them be successful after graduation," Hall said. In 2021, 718 students applied to OSUs veterinary medicine program, and 106 were accepted. Of these applicants, 171 Oklahoma residents competed for the 58 spots reserved for in-state students. The remainder competed for the 48 out-of-state spots. OSU-CVM has implemented programs to allow veterinary medicine students the ability to gain hands-on experience as well as networking and job opportunities with an emphasis in fostering sustainable veterinary practices, Biggs said. OSUs Integrated Beef Cattle Program is a cross-disciplinary partnership across veterinary medicine, animal science, agricultural economics and extension, Biggs said. This program addresses the current challenges in veterinary medicine and puts 20 practicing veterinarians learning alongside 20 veterinary students to help them develop various skills. Will Shelby, 2021 OSU animal science alumnus and first-year OSU veterinary medicine student, has taken advantage of the scholarships and programs offered through the OSU-CVM. Shelby said he is thankful for the many opportunities he has received and looks forward to his future career. Dr. Bob McCraw, mixed animal veterinarian and OSU-CVM alumnus, said the student-debt crisis is one of the biggest challenges facing recent veterinary medicine graduates. However, veterinary medicine has taken initiative in combating this issue nationally, he said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program will pay up to $25,000 each year toward education loans to eligible veterinarians, according to the USDA. The program requires recipients to work at least three years in shortage zones designated by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This year, up to seven Oklahoma veterinarians could be nominated for the loan repayment program, Hall said. Oklahoma is one of the states with the greatest number of nominations for the program, he said, and officials encourage a multitude of different veterinary practices to apply for this program. Hall said he also hopes to see older practices increase pay and resources for graduates. The people in rural Oklahoma who are being successful at hiring veterinary associates are beginning to understand that theyre going to have to pay more and give some benefits to graduates, Hall said. One recent OSU veterinary medicine alumnus has already made strides toward a debt-free veterinary medicine career, Biggs said. An alumnus in our program has been out for two years with a six-figure debt and has already paid that back, Biggs said. There is opportunity out there. Together through education, both from the undergraduate level and the College of Veterinary Medicine, OSU turns out practice-ready veterinarians. We support them all the way through. Supporting veterinarians and aspiring veterinarians is a task that relies on community support, Biggs said. Rural Oklahoma has communities with students who have the potential to be tremendous assets to veterinary medicine, Biggs said. If I ask a grade-school class, How many of you would be interested in being a veterinarian? theres always a lot of hands, Biggs said. I want each student who raises a hand to know that they can. In Oklahoma, multiple families have a long line of veterinarians, Biggs said. Having a mother who was a veterinarian allowed Biggs to see the number of opportunities veterinary medicine can offer as did being surrounded by positive advocates for veterinary medicine, she added. Shelby also had strong veterinary role models throughout his life, he said, including his father, Dr. Troy Shelby. Will Shelby found his passion for veterinary medicine early in his life, he said. Will Shelby, who grew up in Madill, Oklahoma, said veterinarians make a difference through their work with rural communities and as advocates for the agricultural industry. I believe that to cattle producers, especially in a rural area, having a good veterinarian they can plan with and come together with is really vital to their successes, especially since cattle producers work on such tight margins, Will Shelby said. Anything veterinarians can do to increase efficiency or decrease death loss helps bring success to their businesses. The relationship between veterinarians and their clients is similar to a partnership, Biggs said. Veterinarians operate with the goal of saving their clients money, she said. Supporting rural veterinarians sets off a chain reaction of helping a long list of small businesses, she added. As a rural veterinarian, you automatically are considered an upstanding citizen, Hall said. People value your expert opinion. You will have opportunities to be involved in civic organizations. Serving the rural community as a veterinarian can be a privilege, Will Shelby said. However, drawing a line after business hours is a difficult task for rural vets, he added. Current veterinarians and aspiring veterinarians must know their boundaries and when to say no, McCraw said. Often, saying no is difficult but necessary when prioritizing your work-life balance, he added. You can really make a difference as a veterinarian, Will Shelby said. Seeing the difference you make in rural communities and building those connections is an awesome thing to do every day. Story By: Maddie Cox | Cowboy Journal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Elder Louise Bernice Halfe Sky Dancer. (Photo: David Stobbe/USask) Sheldon Bear, who is just two weeks away from graduating with a degree in management from USasks Edwards School of Business, was one of the students who had lunch with Trudeau. His home community is Little Pine First Nation. He had a list of questions to ask, focused on removing barriers for First Nations people in economic development. I wrote them down in case I got nervous, he said. I never thought a chance like this would happen. Following the lunch meet-and-greet, Trudeau toured the universitys Crop Development Centre (CDC) research plots and VIDO. The University of Saskatchewan is recognized as a national leader in everything from crop development to vaccine research to Indigenous initiatives, and it was our honour to showcase those areas and more for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, said USask President Peter Stoicheff. We have taken great strides in developing local solutions to national and global problems, while also building a campus community committed to the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion. We are grateful for the ongoing federal support for our university facilities and programs and appreciated having the opportunity to spotlight some of USasks achievements and advancements for the prime minister. USask Vice-President Research Baljit Singh, College of Agriculture and Bioresources Dean Angela Bedard-Haughn and CDC Director Curtis Pozniak welcomed the prime minister and toured him through the research plots close to USasks main campus. Bedard-Haughn provided an overview of the importance of soil and plant science and how research in these two areas can provide solutions to climate change. Students were then given the opportunity to present their research supporting agricultural development in Saskatchewan and Canada. Demonstrations of how crop breeding and integrated agronomy plays a role in climate, soil and food security were provided by USask students Adam Carter, Alex Waldner and Warren McCauley. A drone demonstration led by student Hansanee Fernando showed the importance of using technology for precision agriculture and how it can help agricultural researchers observe and monitor crop traits. Waldner completed her undergraduate degree at USask, and just started her masters degree in the forage program. She shared a breeder plot of hybrid wheat grass, bred to show improved salt tolerance. She explained to the prime minister that growing forage in saline areas can have environmental benefits. Agriculture has always been part of my life, Waldner said, adding she grew up on a ranch near Swift Current. Sustaining it for future generations is very important to me. PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday reiterated that he and his supporters would not vacate D-Chowk in Islamabad until a final date for new elections was given from the "imported government", media reports said. Imran Khan made those remarks during a brief stopover in Hasan Abdal which is approximately 50kms away from the capital as his supporters reached D-Chowk ahead of him despite obstacles on their way, Dawn reported. He said the police would also come to understand his mission which he called "jihad" when his caravan would reach its final destination, it reported. PTI's Karachi chapter transformed its protest at the city's Numaish area into a sit-in after the situation turned tense over the burning of a police van, Geo News reported. The situation at Numaish Chowrangi took a violent turn on Wednesday evening after the protestors burnt a police van. The protestors had also pelted stones at the police that had inured a Superintendent of Police. The police tried to disperse the protestors by using aerial firing, however, their efforts went in vain, Geo News reported. Apart from the chaos at Numaish, riots also erupted at the Khudadad Colony Chowrangi and Noorani Chowrangi. During the protests, Asif Hasan who is a photographer for a foreign news agency was also injured. Geo News cameraman Nasir Ali also sustained wounds. About the sit-in, PTI leader Khurram Sher Zaman said that their sit-in at Numaish will continue till Imran Khan asks them to end it. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters are attempting to make their way towards Islamabad as they pushed aside containers and braved tear gas shelling after answering Imran Khan's call for a long march onto the federal capital, Express Tribune reported. Khan on Wednesday evening said that his long march had entered Punjab and heading towards Islamabad. "No amount of state oppression and fascism by this imported govt can stop or deter our march," the former premier wrote on his official Twitter handle. --IANS san/ ( 346 Words) 2022-05-25-23:21:25 (IANS) According to BSF officials, the BSF Bhuj patrol party on Thursday morning observed the movement of some Pakistani fishing boats near the horizontal channel of Harami Nala, closer to Indo-Pak maritime border. "The Force's patrol party immediately rushed to the spot and seized four locally made Pakistani fishing boats and apprehended two Pakistani fishermen from the horizontal channel of Harami Nala," the officials said. The seized boats were thoroughly searched and nothing suspicious was recovered from the boats which had fish and fishing equipment. However, BSF has launched an intensive search in the area. On Wednesday, an abandoned Pakistani boat was found in the same locality. It was thoroughly searched and nothing suspicious was recovered. Earlier this year on April 3, BSF had seized one Pakistani fishing boat in this area. During that incident, a BSF personnel noticed movement of two Pakistani fishing boats and four to five Pakistani fishermen near border pillar no 1160. A patrol party immediately rushed to the spot after crossing the swamps and Nalas. The Pakistani fishermen, after seeing BSF approaching them, took advantage of marshy terrain and fled to Pakistani territory. However, the patrol party chased them and seized one Pakistani fishing boat approximately 100 meters inside Indian territory near border pillar no 1160. --IANS ams/kvd/skp/ ( 251 Words) 2022-05-26-19:00:03 (IANS) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 26 (ANI/PRNewswire): Lyca Mobile, one of the world's largest mobile virtual network operators (MVNO), will deploy Flytxt's AI-powered Customer Value Management (CVM) Accelerator across its seven largest markets - Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, the US and the UK. Lyca Mobile announced the implementation of Salesforce solutions earlier this year to unify customer data and interactions on multiple channels in order to drive personalized customer interactions. Flytxt's CVM Accelerator will feed actionable customer and product insights for Lyca to maximize Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV) across these personalized interactions. CVM Accelerator is a purpose-built AI that seamlessly integrates with any CRM or CX environment to deliver actionable intelligence for maximizing CLTV. Its power was demonstrated during a one-month pilot project in one of Lyca Mobile's European markets. Lyca harnessed the predictive insights from the Accelerator while executing marketing campaigns through Salesforce Marketing Cloud, which resulted in a 1.3 per cent increase in ARPU. Jogan Satkunanathan, Chief of Pricing and Product Management at Lyca Mobile, said, "We wish to place customers and digital capabilities at the center of our business strategy as we enter the next phase of our ambitious growth journey. Flytxt, with its pioneering AI solutions, is a perfect partner for Lyca Mobile to better understand customers' needs and deliver high-quality experiences." Dr Vinod Vasudevan, CEO, Flytxt, said, "Communications Service Providers have a wealth of data yet often lack the necessary technology for powering data-driven decisions that maximize CLTV - a critical KPI for all subscription and usage-based businesses. CVM accelerator uses proven and well-trained AI to achieve this. We are delighted to support Lyca Mobile through our unique solution, which will help them significantly boost the outcomes of their CX initiatives." Ankit Rai, Lyca Mobile's Head of Retention, CRM/CVM, added, "We are on a mission to take customer engagement to the next level and provide personalized and contextually relevant customer experience on any of our touchpoints. Flytxt's CVM Accelerator brings in a deeper understanding of customers' usage behaviour and predicted needs. The pilot project proved that with data-driven actionable insights, we can further enhance the value of customer interactions on our existing CX systems and build a long-term relationship with our customers." The CVM Accelerator harnesses Flytxt's award-winning AI that has been designed and trained using real-world insights from more than a billion consumers and trillions of data points. The partnership with Lyca Mobile marks the first time it will be deployed in the US and Europe. Flytxt empowers major enterprises around the world to solve one of the fundamental challenges of subscription and usage-based businesses - how to maximize CLTV. Flytxt is the trusted technology partner of 80+ digital enterprises across more than 50 countries, as well as of top CX platform vendors for CLTV maximization. Its award-winning, proprietary CLTV maximization AI has been trained using real-world insights and patterns from more than a billion consumers and trillions of data points. FLYTXT@brunswickgroup.com Lyca Mobile is one of the world's largest mobile virtual network operators, operating in 23 countries across five continents - including the UK, USA and large parts of Europe. It is one of the market leaders in the international prepaid mobile calls market, with over 16 million customers worldwide. Lyca Mobile is part of Lyca Group, a British multinational corporation delivering low-cost, high-quality products and services across the globe. www.LycaMobile.co.uk This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) New Delhi [India], May 26 (ANI/NewsVoir): ArtistFirst Technology Inc, which runs music NFT marketplace FanTiger on Wednesday, said it has raised USD 5.5 million in a seed round led by Multicoin Capital. The round also saw participation from Krafton, Pravega Ventures, GAMA, Woodstock Fund, IOSG Ventures, Polygon Studios and individuals Sandeep Nailwal (Co-founder of Polygon), Gokul Rajaram (Board Member-Coinbase), Prashant Malik (Founder-Tykhe Block Ventures) and Miten Sampat (CRED). Founded by Prashan Agarwal, ex-CEO of Gaana and Co-founder of PropTiger, and Krishna Singh, FanTiger empowers Independent Artists to build fan communities on the platform and enable fans to help shape their career using music NFTs. Fans can buy music NFTs to get access to an exclusive Artist community, earn rewards and special privileges like exclusive behind the scenes content, meet-n-greet opportunities, backstage access etc. Artists can use the proceeds from the sale of music NFTs for song creation, studio production, music video, etc and also can commit upto a certain percentage of the royalty earned from the song to the fan community for marketing the song. Prashan Agarwal, CEO and Co-founder of FanTiger, said, "The business of music should be to serve the best interests of artists. With the advent of blockchain, music NFTs have the ability to disrupt the music industry, much like music streaming transformed music listening. FanTiger is at the forefront of this revolution to redefine the music industry by creating artist-fan relationships as have never existed before to give birth to a new era for Music. It will be the first time in history when Indian Artists will have a fanbase which is properly incentivized to market a song, which will create wonders in setting new milestones for song success. Our vision is to onboard ten million users to our platform to own digital collectables and supercharge the career of 100k artists." "The company plans to use the funds raised to grow its team across Product, Tech, extend industry partnerships and onboard well-known and aspiring Indian Artists", Prashan further added. Kyle Samani, partner, Multicoin, added, "The FanTiger platform is uniquely positioned to grow the digital collectables ownership in the music industry. We are excited to partner with Prashan, who brings vast experience of building the largest music streaming platform in India, to disrupt the music industry once again." "Music is one of the most exciting use cases for NFTs with a very high utility. Prashan's experience as a repeat founder and music industry executive makes him the ideal person to transform the music industry in a way that empowers artists and their fans," said Sandeep Nailwal, Co-founder of Polygon and Polygon Studios. Ahead of FanTiger's official launch, the company has opened an Early Access program for music fans on www.fantiger.com. The early access waitlist gives its most eager fans a chance to get exclusive benefits, like priority access to the launch of music NFTs, OG title, limited-edition merchandise, access to music concerts and more. The biggest pull to its early access waitlist is the jaw-dropping 5,000 free NFTs it plans to give away to its early members. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Krakow [Poland], May 26 (ANI/BusinessWire India): L&T Technology Services Limited (BSE: 540115, NSE: LTTS), a global leading pure-play engineering services company, today inaugurated its Engineering, Research and Development (ER&D) centre in Krakow, Poland, which will cater to global customers, leveraging cutting edge technologies in the automotive, mobility and hi-tech domains. The state-of-the-art centre will mark its expansion into Eastern Europe, contributing to the growth of the regional economy, delivering cutting-edge technology, expanding the workforce, and supporting major projects through its innovative engineering processes. The ER&D centre will cater to several major customers in Europe and North America, including a US-based automotive Tier 1 company. In the new Engineering R&D Centre, LTTS will work on both software and hardware development of product lines. This centre is part of LTTS' global delivery model and is a logical extension of LTTS' Munich, Gothenburg and Jerusalem engineering centres, allowing the new centre to bring in specialized competencies along with local talent. The ER&D centre was officially inaugurated by the Deputy Mayor of the City of Krakow, Jerzy Muzyk and Ambassador of India to the Republic of Poland, Nagma Mohamed Mallick, in the presence of Abhishek Sinha, Chief Operating Officer and Member of the Board, L&T Technology Services. Known for imparting first-class technical education, academic ecosystem and infrastructure, Poland provides a pool of talented engineers who are setting a benchmark in cutting-edge technology. LTTS plans to hire up to 300 engineers in the next three years for the centre. LTTS will also utilize its in-house Global Engineering Academy (GEA) to enable employees to reskill and upskill their domain knowledge and align it to customer requirements while exploring collaboration opportunities with AGH University Krakow, Krakow University of Technology and UK-based Coventry University to expand the engineering talent pool in Poland. Abhishek Sinha, Chief Operating Officer and Member of the Board, L&T Technology Services, said, "By establishing this important centre in Poland, we aim to make our customers in Europe and North America benefit from LTTS' long-standing expertise in new age engineering and embedded technologies. We also seek to tap into the local engineering talent pool for many of our mission-critical global programs and will work with the local administration and the academia to further develop the local ecosystem. We would also like to express our gratitude for all the support we have received from government institutions and local authorities." Jerzy Muzyk, Deputy Mayor of the City of Krakow, commented on the inauguration, "We welcome the investments from an Engineering Services leader like LTTS. With LTTS set to contribute in important aspects like technology advancements, R&D and skill-building for young engineers, I am optimistic that the local population will benefit greatly from this ER&D Hub." This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 New Delhi [India], May 26 (ANI/PRNewswire): Indus Net Technologies (INT.), the technology partner for leading brands across four continents, is eyeing aggressive global expansion. INT. will invest more than Rs 100 crore over the next three years to grow its topline by 3X, from existing and new clients. Leading the chart is the plan to add around 2,500 experts to its task force, across the company's technology, analytics and marketing verticals. INT. serves the BFSI and Life Sciences enterprises across India, North America and English speaking Europe. "So far, we have witnessed a rapidly expanding client base spanning domains in which we have a leading market position. From here on, to scale up deliveries and add new clients, we are recalibrating our energies on creating the best leadership pool in the technology, analytics, marketing, consulting, sales and people domains as part of our 3-year expansion blueprint, with a 3X growth at the heart of the agenda. We are financially stronger than ever and given our healthy cash flows, the idea is not to shy away from aggressive spending to get the right results," said Abhishek Rungta, Founder and CEO, INT. Founded in 1997, INT. has charted a remarkable course dotted with successful deliveries and steady YoY revenue and profit growth over the last two and a half decades - a feat few technology firms can boast of over such a long cycle. With a one-stop and full-stack delivery slate, INT. has 100+ reputed clients under its belt, serviced by its four global offices. The company is home to more than 850 professionals and growing. Over the years, the company has won numerous laurels, chief amongst them being recognition at the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and Deloitte Technology Fast 50 multiple times, along with the Great Place to Work recognition. Spearheaded by its dynamic founder and CEO, Abhishek Rungta, INT. has metamorphosed from an SME into an IT heavy hitter and evolved as a technology partner of global reputed brands like Ageas, Cashpoint, ICICI Bank, Tesco Bank, SBI General Insurance, AU Small Finance Bank, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank, SBI Mutual Fund, Dr Reddy's Labs, Cipla, Sun Pharma, Alchem, SRL Diagnostics, and Honeywell to name a few. INT. (Indus Net Technologies) is a full-stack software engineering solutions company with a pioneering legacy spanning 25 years, over 500 clients and 11,000 plus client projects. Over the years it has built industry recognition as an innovation and strategic digital partner championing the cause of human-centric and outcome-driven solution offerings. Apart from India, the company has a global presence spanning India, UK, USA, Singapore and Canada. INT. has a dedicated and niche focus on banking, insurance, financial services and pharmaceuticals industries. With over 750 INTians on board and growing, the company follows a unique lean structure across the organization with only three levels of hierarchy including the top management. More Information please visit www.indusnet.co.in This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) New Delhi [India], May 26 (ANI/PNN): Fashion shoppers will confirm that the sweetest tune to their ears is of their favourite brands going on sale! Shoppers, listen carefully: Nykaa Fashion, India's leading multi-brand e-commerce platform, brings to you its first grand flagship shopping event #ThankGoditssale (#TGIS). Over 1500 brands, 3 lakh products + up to 80 per cent off, and other select brand offers exclusive to the platform. This fashion sale event will feature a differentiated offering with a choiceful curation of superhit brands across women, men, kids, luxe, tech, and home categories. Offers and collections exclusive to Nykaa Fashion, shoppers can choose from widely popular fashion brands in streetwear such as Adidas, Puma, Skechers, Jack & Jones, and FableStreet, and high fashion brands like Vero Moda, Forever New, Only. If that's not enough, shop and stand a chance to win products and gift vouchers worth 15 lakhs + across Dyson, Powermax, French Connection, Carrera, Wonderchef, and IXIGO vouchers for flight travels. Fill your shopping carts with trend-forward brands like Ed-a-mamma, Biba, W, Rare Rabbit, Vogue Eyewear and Giva, RITU KUMAR, Lavie, Kazo, and consumer favourites like Label ShauryaSanadhya, Aachho, Lavanya The Label and of course, Nykaa Fashion's House of brands Likha, Nykd by Nykaa, Gajra Gang, Twenty Dresses, RSVP, Kica, Pipa Bella, IYKYK and more. Here are our top reasons to get in on this sale pronto! - Never seen before offers: You know a sale is special when it brings you offers on brands you have never been able to save a dime on before! Boldly make that style statement as Ed-a-mamma, Likha, Nykd by Nykaa, Piccolo, and Odette will be available at a minimum of 50% off and more. - Unbelievably mega discounts: There are offers, and then there are offers like #TGIS that bring you incredible discounts on brands across categories. Evergreen-style classics like Adidas, Puma, Skechers, US Polo Assn, Lavie, and KAZO will have offers up to 65 per cent discount. - International fashion haul for your wardrobe: Nykaa Fashion's offering of international brands gets even sweeter as some of these coveted labels, such as NA-KD and Misguided, are now on a minimum of 50 per cent off for a limited period during the sale! We know that shopping during a sale is a lot more fun when it comes packed with fun events and interactions, and so #TGIS will offer just this with a host of live events such as Spin & Win, Wheel of Luck, and Surprise Inside planned for the duration of the sale so that every time you open the app, there is something new to explore. The sale launches with the drop of three fun and sassy videos featuring Nykaa Fashion's young and effervescent brand ambassador Alaya F, who gives us a quick peek into the world of fashion that awaits at #TGIS. Donning uber-cool looks from brands and accessories from Nykaa Fashion, the stylish Alaya F invites shoppers to explore the most exciting online celebration of fashion and lifestyle. Nykaa Fashion's Thank God Its Sale Your newly elevated wardrobe will be singing with joy once you get in on Nykaa Fashion's #ThankGodItsSale!Log on to www.nykaafashion.com or download the Nykaa fashion app NOW (iOS and android) Nykaa Fashion is the multi-brand e-commerce fashion offering from Nykaa, built on the pillars of premium curation and content, inspiring Indian customers to make the best choices for themselves. Nykaa Fashion is one of the fastest-growing fashion platforms in India. As of 2022, it houses over 1600 brands and over 3.1 million SKUs across women, men, kids, luxe, and home categories to appeal to every consumer. The Nykaa Fashion website and the app are focused on being 'discovery-led' and 'high on style', giving a chance to browse through the latest trends and collections, along with engaging content. It offers a large assortment of brands that include Indian and western wear, footwear, bags, jewellery, accessories, lingerie, athleisure, sleepwear, home decor, bath, bed, kitchen, and more. Nykaa Fashion has built a strong portfolio of seven consumer brands - Nykd by Nykaa, Gajra Gang, Pipa Bella, Twenty Dresses, Likha, RSVP and IYKYK. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) Bidisha was found hanging after police entered her house by breaking open the door on May 25. A probe has been initiated to identify whether it is murder or a suicide. Police have sent Bidisha's body to a hospital in Kolkata for postmortem. The news of Bidisha's demise comes days after the death of actor Pallavi Dey shocked the Bengal film industry. Bidisha had worked in 'Bhaar- The Clown in 2021', which had popular actor Debraj Mukherjee in a lead role. (ANI) The Shiv Sena on Wednesday formally announced the candidature of Kolhapur District party President and hard-core grassroots Sainik Sanjay Pawar as its nominee for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. The decision, taken on Tuesday by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, was officially sealed on Wednesday, said Sena's chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut. "Sanjay Pawar and myself shall file our nominations for the June 10 polls tomorrow (Thursday). Present at the filing of nominations shall be CM Thackeray and top leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress," he added. With this, the Sena has decided to opt for a loyal son-of-the-soil of Kolhapur vis-a-vis a royal Yuvraj Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje of the Kolhapur throne, who had sought the party's help in his bid as an independent. Sambhajiraje or his disappointed supporters have not reacted to the latest development and he is likely to take a final call on going solo for the RS polls in a day or so. "This 6th seat belongs to the Sena. We had made an offer to support Sambhajiraje for the Sena seat. We will not support any independent candidate, but there was no response," Raut told media persons after meeting the CM. Reacting guardedly to the developments, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said the manner in which the entire episode unfolded, he suspected a bid by the MVA to "trap" the Chhatrapati. To question, Raut said the BJP's "horse-trading" machinations will not succeed as the MVA has more strength than required to get all their 4 RS nominees elected comfortably. A contestant requires 42 votes to be elected for the RS. The RS elections will fill up the vacancies by six retiring members -- one each from ruling parties - Shiv Sena (Raut), NCP (Praful Patel) and Congress (P. Chidambaram), and three from the Bharatiya Janata Party - Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Piyush Goyal, and Dr. Vikas Mahatme. This time, given the re-alignment of the legislature after the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP can win only two of the three seats it holds, the MVA can win their three seats, and will now contest the third seat held by the BJP. The electoral college comprises the 288 MLAs and a candidate must get 42 votes to win a seat in the Upper House of Parliament. The MVA has 170 MLAs - Shiv Sena 55 (one MLA Ramesh Latke, died in Dubai last week), NCP 53, Congress 44, smaller parties/groups 10 and 8 Independents. On the Opposition side, BJP has 106 with other smaller parties/groups 2 and 5 Independents. A hopeful Sambhajiraje had explained that since the BJP can get only 2 seats, and the Sena-NCP-Congress one each, he would contest that 'extra' sixth seat solo with the support of various major and smaller parties. --IANS qn/vd ( 471 Words) 2022-05-25-20:08:06 (IANS) 'The Kashmir Files' actress Bhasha Sumbli, who played the stunning role of Sharda Pandit in Vivek Agnihotri film, has said that Yasin Malik should have been given the death sentence. A separatist who masterminded the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley in 1989-90, Malim was sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment by the NIA court in the terror funding case in New Delhi on Wednesday. Terming the sentence as "too little", Bhasha said, "Anything less than death sentence to the rapist and terrorist cannot be considered justice for the Kashmiri Pandits." She said Malik, who had killed four Indian Air Force officers in cold blood, and "killed or raped innocent Kashmiri Hindu men, women and children", cannot just get away with a life sentence and monetary fine. "He must be hanged, and hanged soon, so that he does not use his time in prison to mastermind yet another kidnapping and demands for his release at the cost of innocents," Bhasha said, adding: "As a Kashmiri Hindu victim of jihadi violence and genocide, I can only hope and pray he gets the sentence. That would be real justice." A displaced Kashmiri Pandit, Bhasha grew up in a Delhi migrant camp amid all the trauma and misery where she saw people fighting each other for bread and blankets. In 'The Kashmir Files', Bhasha's character Sharda is the daughter of Pushkar Nath, played by Anupam Kher. She portrays the wife of telecom engineer B.K. Ganjoo, who was killed while hiding in a drum, and then Sharda was forced to eat rice soaked with his blood. The scene from the film is based on an incident that took place in the Chhota Bazaar locality of Srinagar in March 1990. In the last scene of the movie, Bhasha portrays Girija Tickoo, a laboratory assistant in a government school in Kashmir, who was gang-raped and cut alive with the help of a carpenter's saw in June 1990. --IANS dpb/srb ( 343 Words) 2022-05-25-20:30:02 (IANS) To cheer up the falling morale of the grassroots level BJP workers in West Bengal and to find ways for arresting the exodus of senior party leaders, BJP's national president, J.P. Nadda, is likely to make a visit to West Bengal for two days. In all probability, his two-day visit will be on June 7 and June 8. A state committee leader of the BJP, who did not wish to be named, said that on Wednesday a phone call came to the party's state committee in Kolkata from the national headquarters in New Delhi. "In that phone call, all the state committee leaders were asked not to schedule any other programme in the state and wait for the next round of instructions from New Delhi. As our national president is scheduled to come to the state in June this year and today's phone call was an indication enough to infer that the scheduled two-day visit would be on June 7 and June 8," the state committee member said. BJP's national vice president and party MP, Dilip Ghosh said that Nadda's visit in June was decided much before. "He will be coming to attend a meeting with state BJP leaders in West Bengal," Ghosh said. It is learnt that during the two-day visit, Nadda, besides having meetings with the members of the state committee, will also hold a separate meeting with the elected legislators and Lok Sabha members from the state. Party insiders said that in the recent past often the party's state unit had hit the headlines for wrong reasons like factional infighting and at times the infighting at the grassroots levels have even gone up to the upper levels of the leadership. "At the same time, the exit of senior party leaders like the BJP Lok Sabha member from Barrackpore, Arjun Singh had made things worse. Our national president is expected to give some strong guidelines on how to get over this infighting and arrest the exodus of senior leaders from the party. Some initial strategy discussion for the panchayat elections next year might also come up for discussions," the state committee leader said. Party sources said that there are also apprehensions of cross-voting in West Bengal in the forthcoming Presidential polls. Nadda's forthcoming West Bengal tour is also expected to finalize the strategy on this count. --IANS src/skp/ ( 401 Words) 2022-05-25-21:06:30 (IANS) This was Saha's first visit to the national capital after assuming the office of the Tripura Chief Minister. Though the details of the meeting were not shared with the media, it was learnt that this was a courtesy call by the Tripura Chief Minister. After the meeting, the Prime Minister's Office tweeted, "The Chief Minister of Tripura, @DrManikSaha2 called on PM @narendramodi." Earlier on Wednesday, Saha called on President Ram Nath Kovind. The Tripura Chief Minister also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. "Dr Manik Saha, Chief Minister of Tripura, along with his wife Smt Swapna Saha, called on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan," a tweet from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. After the meeting with Saha, Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted: "Met the Chief Minister of Tripura, Dr Manik Saha ji." "Delighted to meet the Union Home Minister Hon'ble Shri @AmitShah ji. Requested him for his continuous guidance so that I can devote myself to the all round development of Tripura as Chief Minister of the state," Saha tweeted after meeting Shah. Saha was recently appointed as Chief Minister of the state after the incumbent CM Biplab Kumar Deb was asked to resign. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha last month from the lone seat from Tripura. --IANS ssb/pgh ( 249 Words) 2022-05-25-21:06:32 (IANS) The official said that they received a call at 5.15 p.m. about a fire at a printing press storehouse near Khatu Shyam Mandir, Jindpur, after which nine fire tenders were pressed into service. "There have been no injuries or casualties from the incident," Delhi Fire Service chief Atul Garg told IANS. However, there was massive loss of property as the printing press, paper cutting machine and paper was destroyed, the official said. The inferno that gutted the 500 square metre area was brought under control at 6.40 p.m. after which the cooling process started. The cause of fire is yet to be ascertained. --IANS uj/vd ( 145 Words) 2022-05-25-21:13:16 (IANS) A group of anti-social elements damaged the statue of the country's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in Madhya Pradesh's Satna district. The miscreants, mostly appearing to be of a young age, tried to demolish the statue by damaging its lower portion and hitting it with sticks and iron rods. A video which surfaced on social media showed nearly a dozen miscreants, with some of them damaging the upper portion and others raining blows on the lower portion of the statue. It also showed that one of them was striking Nehru's statue with a hammer in an attempt to break it. One of them was holding a big saffron flag. The video showed them shouting slogans against the Shivraj government -- 'Shivraj Singh Chouhan murdabad, Shivraj government murdabad'. IANS was informed that the miscreants tried to damage Nehru's statue located in Satna city's Dhavari squire on Wednesday afternoon. After verifying the viral video, the police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons. "A case has been registered against unidentified persons. They have been booked for damaging Nehru's statue and creating social disturbances in the society. Strict action will be taken against them," said a senior police official in Satna district. Local Congress leaders met Rewa division Inspector General of Police Venkateshwar Rao and lodged an FIR in the matter. "I have lodged an FIR against anti-social elements, who have damaged Pt. Nahru's statue," Kavita Pandey, a local Congress leader told IANS. Former MP chief minister and state Congress president Kamal Nath has demanded an investigation in the matter. "I demand from the government to investigate the matter and take action against the culprits. Arrangements should be made to protect the statue," Nath wrote on Twitter. --IANS pd/bg ( 297 Words) 2022-05-25-21:16:02 (IANS) The death toll from the pre-monsoon floods in Assam on Wednesday rose to 28 as two more deaths were reported, officials said, adding 5.75 lakh people in the state's 15 districts were affected. The flood situation, however, is said to have improved marginally. Officials of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said that an inter-ministerial Central team of six members would be on a two-day visit to the flood-ravaged state beginning Friday to assess the damage caused to the properties, crops, loss of lives and other aspects. The ASDMA officials said that the team, led by Ravinesh Kumar, Financial Advisor, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of the Home Ministry, would visit Cachar, Dima Hasao, Darrang, Nagaon and Hojai districts to assess the extent of loss caused by rain-induced floods and landslides. According to the officials, at least 5,75,470 people, including 1,15,314 children of 1,073 villages have been affected in 15 of the state's 34 districts. Of the 28 deaths, 23 died in floods and remaining five in landslides in different districts. An ASDMA release said that 51,671 hectares of crop areas remained affected in flood-hit areas. In all, 72,698 people are staying in the 310 relief camps, while the district administrations have also opened 112 relief distribution centres in all the affected areas. Of the 15 flood affected districts, 3,64,492 people were affected in Nagaon districts alone followed by 1,63,488 people in Cachar and 41,036 in Morigaon district. The Army, the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Assam Rifles, various para-military forces, the National Disaster Response Force, and the State Disaster Response Force, Civil Defence along with the district administrations continued to work round the clock to rescue the stranded people and to provide relief to the marooned men, women and children. The IAF has air-dropped the most essential supplies in the flood affected areas through 20 shuttles/trips of helicopters from Guwahati, Jorhat and Silchar. Several ministers, including Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan, Health Minister Keshab Mahanta, Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika, and Environment and Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, are camping in the flood-ravaged areas to supervise the rescue and relief operations. The water of Kopili river was flowing above the danger level in several places.The situation in the hill section of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) in Dima Hasao district remained critical on Wednesday as inclement weather continued to batter the area, affecting the Lumding-Badarpur single line railway route, which connects Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and the southern part of Assam with the rest of the country. According to NFR's Chief Public Relations Officer, Sabyasachi De, in the Lumding Division, train services have been cancelled till June end. --IANS sc/pgh ( 457 Words) 2022-05-25-21:36:47 (IANS) The Jammu and Kashmir police along with the Army have neutralised three foreign terrorists of proscribed terror outfit JeM in Kreeri area of Baramulla on Wednesday, an official said, adding one police personnel was also killed while fighting the terrorists. Police said acting on information, regarding movement of terrorists in Kreeri area of Baramulla, joint special checkpoints were established at many places including near Shrakwara-Najibhat crossing in Kreeri area by the police and the army. "As the joint party was noticed by a group of terrorists travelling in a Santro car, they started firing indiscriminately upon the joint party which was retaliated effectively leading to a chance encounter," police said. "In the fierce gunfight, three foreign terrorists were killed and a police personnel Mudasir Ahmad Sheikh received critical gunshot injuries. The injured was immediately shifted to nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and attained martyrdom." The bodies of all the killed terrorists linked with proscribed terror outfit JeM were retrieved from the site and they have been identified as Ali Bhai, Hanief Bhai and Shah Wali all the residents of Pakistan. "It is pertinent to mention that, the said group of terrorists was active in Pattan-Kreeri axis and were being tracked," police said. Incriminating materials, huge cache of arms and ammunition and IEDs including three AK-47 rifles, 15 AK-47 magazines, 344 AK-rounds, five Chinese grenades, three IEDs have been recovered from the site of the encounter. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated. Further searches are on for a suspect who possibly escaped from the site. --IANS zi/pgh ( 279 Words) 2022-05-25-21:45:29 (IANS) As the court sentenced Yasin Malik to rigorous life imprisonment on Wednesday for terror funding cases, the Kashmiri Pandits demanded that he should also be held accountable for the crimes he committed against the minority community. The Pandits have held him responsible for their genocide and mass exodus from the valley in 1990. "In the terror funding case, he has been awarded life imprisonment by NIA court for terror funding, but the nation and the displaced Kashmiri Pandits are still waiting for the law enforcement agencies to bring to justice those people who committed acts of terror against the hapless Kashmiri Pandit Community, which includes Yasin Malik and many like him. We are still waiting for the day justice is delivered to this beleaguered community," said Ramesh Raina, President, All India Kashmiri Samaj. The Kashmiri Pandits have been demanding a probe into the role of Yasin Malik and others in the exodus of the minorities from the valley. Raina said: "We have already demanded a time-bound truth commission to fix the responsibility and accountability on the perpetrators of genocide on us." The Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD), which played a key role in the making of the 'The Kashmir Files' movie has welcomed the decision of the NIA court, but said that Malik should be tried for crimes against the Kashmiri Pandits. Dr. Surinder Kaul, President of the GKPD, said: "There should be a commission of enquiry to probe Yasin Malik and others. He cannot just get away with life in terror funding case... " He said that Malik was the "butcher of our genocide and ethnic cleansing. He has been given two life imprisonment sentences. And then there are others also... Bitta Karate is also there... and many more". Nearly seven lakh Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave Kashmir in 1990 because of terrorism which was created by the outlawed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front to which Yasin Malik belonged. From late 1980s onwards, Malik along with other members of JKLF and other terror groups have been accused of heinous crimes such as targeted killings, kidnappings, gang-rapes, assaults, arson and loot to drive the Hindus out of the Valley. Newspapers carried advertisements threatening the Hindus to leave or face the consequences. Posters were pasted outside the houses of Kashmiri Pandits threatening them with death. In March 2019, the Centre banned Yasin Malik's JKLF under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). Then Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba said that murders of Kashmiri Pandits by the JKLF in 1989 triggered their exodus from the Valley. "Yasin Malik was the mastermind behind the purging of Kashmiri Pandits and is responsible for their genocide," Gauba said. The community says when the Government of India accepts that Yasin Malik caused the persecution of Kashmiri Pandits then why has he not been tried for the cases. They demand a commission to be set up which can probe his role in the mass exodus. Panun Kashmir leader Ramesh Manwati says: "Why Yasin Mallik has not been convicted in the brutal murders that he has committed, including those of four IAF officers in Rawalpora in Kashmir in early 1990. It's 32 years now. It raises a big question mark against the investigating agencies and the intent of the successive governments in tackling the dreaded menace of Islamic terrorism confronting our nation. Nearly 1,500 Kashmiri Hindus and Sikhs have been brutally killed, individually and in mass massacres over the decades. Shouldn't they get justice?" Rajinder Koul Premi, whose father renowned poet Sarwanand Koul Premi and brother Virendra were kidnapped, brutally tortured and killed in 1991, demands justice for the whole community. He said: "Yasin Malik was just one of them. Justice is getting delayed. My family and the whole of my community has been waiting for justice. The Supreme Court should take up our case and bring justice to us. Eyes cannot be closed to our plight. It is 30 years now." "Not just in 1990s, Malik has been continuing with his anti-Hindu agenda even now. He is against our return to our homes," said Manwati. Malik has been opposing the rehabilitation plan for the displaced Kashmiri Pandits. In April, 2015 when the Centre was mooting to build composite townships for migrant Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir, he said he will not allow these townships and will oppose them tooth and nail. For lakhs of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, Yasin Malik is one among the several villains who should be tried for crimes committed against them. "It's tragic that three decades after no one know has been held accountable for our exodus and genocide. If the government does not act now, then one day will come when our exodus was regarded as myth as there are no FIRs filed, no trials, no accountability," laments Manwati and Premi. (Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in) --IANS dpb/pgh ( 825 Words) 2022-05-25-23:00:02 (IANS) "No words are strong enough to condemn heinous terror attack in Budgam. Deepest condolences to family of Amreen Bhat & prayers for fast recovery of her injured nephew. We're firmly resolved to demolish terror ecosystem that continues to receive reinforcement from across the border", said Manoj Sinha. Bhat was shot dead by terrorists in the Chadoora area of Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district, police said on Wednesday adding that her minor nephew was also injured in the attack. The attack was conducted by three terrorists of the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), police said. "Terrorists fired upon one Amreen Bhat at her residence in Chadoora, Budgam today. She was shifted to a hospital where doctors declared her dead. Her 10-year-old nephew also received a bullet injury on his arm," Jammu and Kashmir Police said. The area has been cordoned off and searches have begun. A case has also been registered and investigatioin is underway. Further details are awaited. A day ago, a policeman was shot dead and his 7-year-old daughter got injuries after terrorists attacked them outside their home in Srinagar. (ANI) The incident happened under Paschim Vihar West PS limits on May 20. Later, a case was registered under relevant sections of IPC and POCSO Act, said Police. "On May 20, a PCR call was received regarding the sexual abuse of a 12 yrs old girl. On enquiry, it was revealed that one 12-year-old girl was sexually abused by six boys. The victim stated she was friendly with accused 'A' who met her on that day and took her to the jungle near the Railway line, where five other boys (all juveniles) were present. She was sexually assaulted by three boys including 21-year-old Aakrosh while the other three were present at the spot and watched the brutal incident, stated police. She came back to her home and told her family about this after which they dialled 112. A case u/s 354/354(B)/341/376DA IPC and 6/17/21 POCSO Act was registered at PS Paschim Vihar West. (ANI) Earlier on Wednesday, Kerala Police had arrested George in a case registered against him for alleged hate speech. Kerala High Court on Monday granted interim bail to PC George in another hate speech case at the Mahadeva Temple at Vennala in the Ernakulam district on May 8. The arrest was recorded in a case of alleged hate speech against Muslims in Anantapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan in Thiruvananthapuram on April 30. On the way to Thiruvananthapuram, he was admitted to the general hospital at Ernakulam as he felt unwell but the journey continued shortly after. George said, "I haven't done anything that goes against the country. I don't need anyone's vote who is not a patriot. I haven't done anything illegal. I have respect for the law, that's why I am cooperating. I haven't done anything wrong." Earlier he was booked by Palarivattom police under IPC 153 and 295 A. He delivered the speech in connection with a Saptaha Yajna event at the Mahadeva Temple at Vennala in the Ernakulam district on May 8. He was arrested by the Thiruvananthapuram Fort police in another case for alleged communal remarks delivered at Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan. Fort police had registered a case and arrested him from his house in Punjar. Later he got bail from the court. The high court has directed the Thiruvananthapuram court to hear the speech he had made in Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan and after hearing the speech court canceled his bail.(ANI) Weeks after the Central government banned wheat exports to control price rise, the Centre on Wednesday announced that India exported wheat worth USD 177 million in March and USD 473 million in April this year. The government data highlighted that while India's expected production of wheat for 2022-23 remains at near 105 million metric tonnes (MMT), it needs to fulfil domestic consumption requirements for its 130 crore population (30 MMT required for food security schemes such as National Food Security Act (NFSA), Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMJKAY) and other welfare schemes for near 80 crores poor and vulnerable population) while also providing humanitarian assistance to neighbouring countries and other vulnerable nations. The government said that 42.7 MMT of wheat has been distributed under NFSA and PMGKAY in FY 2021-22. "Among the wheat exporting countries, India ranked 19th in 2020, 35th in 2019, 36th in 2018, 36th in 2017, 37th in 2016, which shows that India has an insignificant share (0.47 per cent) while seven countries (Russia, the USA, Canada, France, Ukraine, Australia, Argentina) have the largest share in the overall quantity of wheat export in the past five years. A negotiation-based approach instead of conflict would have prevented removal of nearly a quarter of wheat exports from Russia and Ukraine," the data read. It further read, "Still, after the conflict began on February 24, 2022, India has exported wheat worth USD 177 million and USD 473 million in March 2022 and April 2022 respectively despite facing challenges of low wheat production as a result of an extreme heat wave that enveloped the northern part of the country that caused shrivelled grains and resulted in drop in yield per acre." Sources earlier this month said that the government's wheat procurement dropped by 53 per cent so far in the 2022-23 marketing year as compared to the year-ago period due to aggressive buying by private players for export purposes. The government data on Wednesday further mentioned that the export restrictions have been a regular feature of major food producers which has adversely affected India too. On the other hand, India has taken the step towards the regulation of wheat exports in order to ensure food security of India, its neighbours and vulnerable countries. On the front of restrictions on wheat, there are at least eight countries (excluding India) such as Egypt, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Kosovo, Ukraine, Belarus etc which have exercised export restrictions on wheat that are still in force. Egypt and Turkey have also been importing a significant quantity of wheat from India and have no locus standi for asking for open exports after having restricted them. In the past few months some other countries such as Argentina and Hungary had banned wheat exports, but now have moved away from those restrictions. Russia removed export duties but due to trade embargo by Western countries, it is not able to export, the government said. In addition, a number of other food products have been restricted for exports. These include vegetable oil restrictions by Indonesia (palm oil), Argentina, Kazakhstan, Cameroon, Kuwait etc. Indonesia's decision to ban palm oil exports despite the country accounting for around a third of all vegetable oil exports (Palm oil comprises near 60 per cent of global vegetable oil shipments), had a major impact on countries (such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, India) who were dependent heavily on Indonesia to meet their domestic requirements. These have resulted in a significant price rise and India has been at the receiving end of these. The procurement of wheat in Rabi Market Season (RMS) 2022-23 has been 180 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) compared to 400 LMT last year in RMS 2021-22 (i.e. 45 per cent). This is due to the fact that the farmer got a better price than MSP in the open market, as confirmed by market survey reports and field offices, even without visiting the Mandi at most places. This is also evident from the fact that procurement on May 16, 2022 and May 17, 2022 has been merely 31,349 MT and 27,876 MT respectively compared to 3,80,200 MT and 1,46,782 MT respectively in the previous year on the same days (i.e. only 8.2 per cent and 19 per cent). Further, the 180 LMT procurement in RMS 2022-23 has been also due to the relaxation in Fair Average Quality (FAQ) norms of shrivelled grains of wheat (from 6 per cent to 18 per cent) by the Central Government. This has facilitated the farmer to sell the produce at MSP to the government which was otherwise selling in an open market at a lesser price, thus safeguarding the financial security of farmers. (ANI) Pledging to establish "Ram Rajya" in Telangana, BJP chief Bandi Sanjay on Wednesday challenged AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi to excavate all mosques of the state and if shivlingas are found, then the Muslims will have to hand the mosques to the Hindus and if bodies are found, Muslims can claim those. Addressing the Hindu Ekta Yatra held on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti in Karimnagar, Bandi Sanjay said, "Wherever mosque premises are excavated, Shivalingas are found. I'm challenging Owaisi that we will dig all mosques in the State. If dead bodies are recovered, you (Muslims) claim it. If Shiva (Shivalinga) is found, hand it over to us. Will you accept it?" When BJP will come to power in Telangana, minority reservations will be abolished and the Urdu language will be banned, he said. "If 'Rama Rajya' comes, we will completely ban the Urdu language. In the country wherever bomb blasts take place, it's because Madrasas have become the training centers for terrorists. We should identify them," Telangana BJP chief said. He vowed that the BJP would get the state rid of the evil forces and establish Ram Rajya. "If the BJP comes to power, we shall shut down all the Madarsas, do away with the reservations being given to minorities and provide additional quota for SCs, STs, OBCs and EBCs. We shall also permanently ban Urdu as the second official language," he said. He said he would continue to be like the son of Karimnagar and assured that he would stand by the people of the district in all their needs. "Till my last breath, I shall fight for uniting the Hindu society in Telangana," he asserted. He said he had fought against the communal elements who had planted bombs at several places in Telangana, including at Karimnagar, Korutla, Jagitial and Hyderabad and killed innocent Hindus. Sanjay also warned the communal elements who were trapping Hindu sisters in the name of Love Jihad, taking advantage of their poverty. "We won't tolerate such elements at any cost. We shall break their bones and show them the power of Hindus," he said. This comes at a time when claims of finding a 'Shivling' at the Gyanvapi mosque in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi were made after a court-ordered video survey was conducted. The Varanasi district court will hear the civil suit on the Gyanvapi mosque-Kashi Viswanath temple complex dispute on May 26. (ANI) Jammu and Kashmir Police said that the 10-year-old nephew of the TV actress had a bullet injury on his arm. The nephew is receiving treatment at a hospital in the district, added the police. The parents and relatives of Amreen Bhat expressed grief over the incident. Speaking to ANI today, Zubair Ahmed, brother-in-law of TV artist Amreen Bhat, said, "Two people came to her house to call her for a shoot. When she stepped outside the house they killed her. What harm had she caused to anyone?" "Two people came to our home to call her for a shoot last night. They shot her after she told them that she would not go for the shoot. She was like a 'son' to me," father of Amreen Bhat. Meanwhile, the police officials are investigating the matter. (ANI) The bail application filed on behalf of Sharjeel Imam, accused in a sedition case, has been withdrawn after the prosecution raised the issue of maintainability of the application. The Delhi High Court asked Sharjeel's lawyer to withdraw the application and granted liberty to move the trial court for bail in view of the recent judgement passed by the Supreme Court on sedition law. The Supreme Court had recently directed to keep all pending appeals and proceedings with the respect to the charge framed under section 124A (Sedition) of the Indian Penal Code in abeyance. An application for bail in a sedition case registered against Sharjeel Imam for alleged speeches against the CAA and NRC was moved at the Delhi High Court. The Bench of Justice Mukta Gupta and Justice Mini Pushkarna passed the order after recording the objection of Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad. The SPP submitted that in terms of the order of the Supreme Court of 2014 any such bail application would first go to the trial court and only if the relief is not granted, the accused can move to the High Court as the case is triable by a Special Court only. The Bench after recording the submission of the SPP granted leave to withdraw the application and to approach the lower court to Advocate Tanvir Ahmed Mir who appeared for Sharjeel Imam. The High Court has listed the main appeal against the framing of sedition charges for hearing on August 26, 2022. The bail application moved by Imam through Advocate Talib Mustafa, Ahmad Ibrahim and Kartik Venu had stated that his bail application was dismissed by the trial court because it found that a prima facie offence under section 124 A was made out against him. It was stated in an application that in view of the Supreme Court's direction, the hindrance raised by the Special Court in the impugned order stands obviated, and observations surrounding the offence under section 124A IPC cannot be taken into consideration in the proceedings against the appellant pending the final outcome of the Constitutional challenges to the section. (ANI) The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi will pronounce its order on the sentence on Friday tomorrow against former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala in a disproportionate assets (DA) case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Special Judge Vikas Dhull on Thursday after concluding the arguments of both sides said, the order on sentences will be passed tomorrow at 2 pm. During the argument, OP Chautala physically appeared and remained present in the courtroom. Appearing for OP Chautala, Advocate Harsh Sharma cited medical grounds for less punishment and submitted that I (OP Chautala) have been infected with polio since birth, and I am partially disabled. Chautala is accused of acquiring disproportionate assets during 1993-2006. This time is more than 20 years. In the meantime, he has always cooperated in the investigation, Advocate Sharma argued. CBI's Special Public Prosecutor Ajay Gupta opposed the submissions of Chautala's lawyer for a grant of concession on the ground of ill health and age. CBI urged the court for maximum punishment shall be given as it would send a message to the society. "The person, in this case, is a public figure and giving minimum punishment would send a wrong message. He is not having clean antecedents. It is the second case in which he has been convicted," CBI said. Special Judge (PC Act) Vikas Dhull last week had convicted Chautala and said the accused had failed to satisfactorily account for such dis-proportionality by proving his source of income or means by way of which, he acquired assets during this period. "Hence, accused Om Prakash Chautala is convicted for the offence under Section 13(1)(e) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Put up 26.05.2022 at 10.00 a.m. for arguments on the point of sentence," said the court. According to the CBI's FIR accused Om Prakash Chautala, while functioning as Chief Minister of Haryana during the period from July 24, 1999 to March 5, 2005, in collusion with his family members and others, accumulated assets, immovable and movable, disproportionate to his known lawful sources of income, in his name, in the names of his family members and others to the extent of Rs.1,467 crores. FIR further stated that the accused accumulated enormous wealth and invested the same throughout the country in the shape of thousands of acres of land, multi complexes, palatial residential houses, hotels, farmhouses, business agencies, petrol pumps and other investments apart from investments in foreign countries. FIR also stated that 43 immovable properties in all, apart from cash and jewellery were accumulated. Apart from 43 alleged properties listed in the FIR, additional properties were also suspected to be of the accused family. An investigation with regard to additional properties was also conducted for ascertaining the link of the accused family with the said properties. The chargesheet filed in the matter after the conclusion of the investigation stated that accused OP Chautala had acquired assets, both immovable and movable, which were disproportionate to his known source of income. The disproportionate assets were calculated to be Rs 6,09,79,026 (Rupees Six Crores Nine Lacs Seventy Nine Thousand and Twenty Six only) and the percentage of DA (Disproportionate Assets) was 189.11 per cent of his known sources of income. Accordingly, CBI had chargesheeted the accused for the offence under Section 13(1)(e) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Apart from the charge sheet filed against the accused OP Chautala, the CBI had filed two more charge sheets arising out of the present FIR, against the sons of the accused i.e. Abhay Singh Chautala and Ajay Singh Chautala and others, which are being tried separately. Om Prakash Chautala is a former Chief Minister of Haryana from the Indian National Lok Dal and son of sixth Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal. Chautala was recently released from the Tihar Jail on July 2, 2021, from a 10 years prison sentence after completing the due formalities. He and 53 others, in June 2008, were charged in connection with the appointment of 3,206 junior basic teachers in the state of Haryana during 1999-2000. In January 2013, a New Delhi court sentenced Chautala and his son Ajay Singh Chautala to 10 years' imprisonment under various provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. (ANI) NEWS PROVIDED BY Catholic League May 26, 2022 NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the latest mass shootings: Whether the problem is mass shootings, back pain or water in the basement, all resolutions depend on an accurate diagnosis. If the diagnosis is right it doesn't guarantee a resolution, but if it is wrong, it guarantees there won't be one. The ruling class, especially the media, are consumed with race and guns in America, yet the mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, like those in Dayton and El Paso in 2019, have little to do with either. It is not as though there aren't some common causes, threads of behavior that link all mass shootings. There are. But the media are looking in all the wrong places, thus providing the wrong diagnosis. This, in turn, ensures the wrong remedies. There are five major reasons why we have mass shootings: the killer is asocial; he comes from a seriously dysfunctional family; he has mental issues; he is fascinated by violence; and red flags were ignored by almost everyone. Salvador Ramos is the mass shooter from Uvalde. His boss at Wendy's where he worked said of him, "He felt like the quiet type, the one who doesn't say much. He really didn't socialize with employees." His loner status was exacerbated by his heavy social media use. Before Ramos killed the young students and the teachers, he killed his grandmother. He didn't go to visit herhe was living with her. He was living with her because his mother was a drug addict. One of Ramos' friends said, "he'd cut up his face with knives over and over and over." When he asked why he did that, Ramos said he did it for fun. He was also known for shooting people with his BB gunrandom people. He said he wanted to join the Marines because then he could kill people. Payton Gendron is the Buffalo mass shooter. According to an AP story, "he had long been viewed by classmates as a loner." "Most people didn't associate with him," said one of his peers. "They didn't want to be known as friends with a kid who was socially awkward and nerdy." This contributed to his isolation. "He talked about how he didn't like school because he didn't have friends. He would say he was lonely." The way he dressed didn't help: he was known to wear a hazmat suit to class (the whole-body garment worn to protect against hazardous materials). Gendron loved violence. He described how he killed a cat who had invaded the space of his own cat, stabbing it with a knife. "It bled from the mouth....I was able to grab the cat's tail and wind up and smack the cat's head on the concrete ground. I did that a few times and when it went limp I grabber [sic] a hatchet and swung at its neck20 times until it came off." Classmates, according to the AP, said Gendron had "a fascination with guns." He often went target shooting by himself and contemplated what he said would be a "murder-suicide." Patrick Wood Crusius was the mass shooter from El Paso. He sat alone in the school bus. "He wouldn't talk to people," said one of his neighbors. "No one really knew him." His father suffered from drug and alcohol addiction for nearly 40 years, tearing up both of his marriages. Crusius suffered from lifelong neurological and mental disabilities and spent most of his time in school in special education. He was fascinated by far right-wing extremism. Connor Betts was the Dayton mass shooter. One of his bandmates called him a "loner." Another peer said he was a quiet kid who kept to himself. Of the nine people whom he killed, one was his sister. His parents showed how dysfunctional they were when they issued a highly inappropriate obituary lauding him in the most glowing terms without saying a word about his victims, including their daughter. The police said he had a "history of obsession with violent ideations with mass shootings and expressed a desire to commit a mass shooting;" he carried a "hit list" of classmates. He was fascinated with far left-wing extremism; he was a fan of Antifa. There is plenty of social science evidence indicating that troubled students offer many signsindeed red flagsthat should merit attention. They rarely do. While there is a lot of blame to go around, there are policies and laws that contribute to this reticence. Experts on the workplace report that employees do not report misconduct because they fear they will lose their job or will be otherwise sanctioned by their boss. There are laws, such as those in New York City, that make public the name and address of crime victims, thus deterring them from coming forth, fearing retaliation. We need to encourage people to come forward and to act on red flags. We also need to get to these young men early on and not pretend that they are simply eccentric. Most of all, we need policies and laws that strengthen the family, paying special attention to the needs of young men. Mishra put forth his stance and targeted the party leaders for not reacting over life sentence to Yasin Malik. "Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Digvijay Singh's tweet on Yasin Malik did not come. Congress nurtured Yasin Malik has been convicted by the court, he himself has accepted the murder on TV," he said. Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment twice (one for waging war against the nation and one in UAPA sec 17 raising fund for terror act). Addressing the media in a press conference, the MP home minister also lauded the completion of eight years of the NDA government at the Centre and said that mistakes done in 60 years have been rectified by PM Narendra Modi. "Development, removal of Article 370, construction of Ram mandir marks government's eight years. Spreading and acknowledging Indian values across the world mark PM Modi's tenure," he concluded. (ANI) The Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday granted interim protection to Congress MP Karti Chidambaram from arrest till May 30, 2022 in Chinese Visa case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recently filed a money laundering case against him following CBI case in the related matter. The Special Judge MK Nagpal on Thursday granted interim protection to applicant Karti Chidambaram while hearing anticipatory bail moved by him till May 30, 2022 and also issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal and Advocate Arshdeep Singh and Advocate Prateek Chadda have appeared for Karti Chidambaram in the matter. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a money laundering case in alleged Chinese visa scam involving Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, officials said on Wednesday. The ED had filed case under the criminal Sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, taking cognisance of a recent First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case, said the officials. Allegedly Karti received illegal gratification of Rs 50 lakh to illegally facilitate visas for 263 Chinese nationals' to complete a power project in Punjab. Karti 'misused his influence' in the home ministry in 2011 and 'conspired' with co-accused to devise a "back-door way to defeat the purpose of ceiling" on work permits imposed by the ministry, CBI alleged. Karti's father and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram was home minister in 2011. P Chidambaram has not been named as an accused in the FIR. Besides Karti, four others have been booked by the CBI. The four co-accused are Karti's chartered accountant S. Bhaskararaman, Vikas Makharia, representative of Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd, a Mansa-based private company, and Bell Tools, Mumbai, have been named. The FIR also mentions "unknown public servants and private individuals" too. On May 17, CBI arrested S. Bhaskarraman close in the alleged visa scam. Meanwhile, on Tuesday Karti issued a statement and claimed that he is neither directly or indirectly involved in visa case. "I firmly state that I am not associated with this visa issue directly, indirectly, vicariously or even telepathically! The allegations against me by the CBI are ludicrous, to say the least. I categorically deny all of them," said Karti in a statement. "I am heading back home today, as was planned when I left 2 weeks ago for a work/ family-visit trip to UK & Europe. It does not intimidate me that the central government is once again using its agencies to accuse me of a malicious and completely fabricated charge" Statement read. "Previously, the agencies have gone after me based on the statement of an undertrial murder suspect. Now, they are basing their bogus charges on the alleged actions of a deceased person, whom I have never met. I intend to continue to fight every one of their motivated attempts to target my father through me," he concluded. (ANI) After taking an oath to office as Delhi's new Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena promised to spend more time outside Raj Niwas and he will make the national capital a "city of joy". Saxena expressed gratitude to the President, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for giving him the responsibility of the LG post. "Today, I want to tell every citizen of Delhi that a new L-G has been sworn in, but I will work as a local guardian. The people will see me less in Raj Niwas and more on the streets. There is a problem of pollution in Delhi. For tackling this problem, we will work together with the government and the public," the LG said. "There is a large section of the poor, who are working in the unorganized sector. We will try and empower them by training them in their field of work. We will work together. My dream is to make Delhi a city of joy and city of flowers," he said. He highlighted that he will work with the motto of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas. Vinai Kumar Saxena on Thursday was sworn in as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. On May 23, Saxena, the chairman of Khadi and Village Industries Commission, was appointed Delhi's new Lieutenant Governor after Anil Baijal resigned from the position last week. A statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan informed that President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted Baijal's resignation and appointed Vinai Kumar Saxena as the new Lieutenant Governor. Baijal, who served as Delhi LG for five years and four months, resigned citing personal reasons. (ANI) One among three accused who were arrested for their alleged involvement in a gang-rape incident, was injured in police firing when he snatched a pistol from a police officer and tried to open fire at police personnel in Assam's Kokrajhar district. The incident took place in the Salakati area in the Kokarajhar district on Wednesday night. Police on Wednesday arrested three youths who allegedly raped a 16-year-old minor girl. The minor girl was allegedly gang-raped by three accused persons on Monday evening under the Salakati police outpost in Kokrajhar district while she was on her way back home from a shop. According to police, the prime accused Md. Afruddin Islam was being taken to a place where he had hidden a mobile phone with which he filmed the entire act when the other two accused were raping the minor girl. Surjeet Singh Panesar, Additional Superintendent of Police of Kokrajhar district said, "We had arrested three accused in connection with the gang-rape incident that occurred three days back." During interrogation, police got information that the prime accused Afruddin Islam had filmed the entire act when his co-accused raped the girl and he had hidden the mobile in someplace. "When the police team went to recover the mobile phone, he snatched a pistol from a police officer and tried to fire on police personnel and tried to escape from the area. Other officers of the team shot two rounds at his leg. Immediately he was re-captured and admitted at RNB civil hospital in Kokrajhar," said Surjeet Singh Panesar. (ANI) Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister wrote, "Had the pleasure of hosting British High Commissioner @AlexWellis today. Discussed the prospects of partnership in Education, IT, and various other sectors. Have also got assurance from him to consider the demand for direct flights between Punjab and UK." Meanwhile, calling Mann the youngest ever chief minister of Punjab, Ellis said the meeting was excellent and they discussed opportunities in the state. "Excellent first meeting with the youngest ever Chief Minister of Punjab @BhagwantMann. Discussed opportunities on Punjab - UK flights, sports, trade, investment, and the great #LivingBridge connection between Punjab and the UK," he tweeted. Later, Mann also met the German embassy's minister of economy Dr Stefan Koch and Dr Winfried Damm, the head of energy in a bid to attract industries in Punjab. "Had meeting with the German Embassy's Minister of Economy Dr. Stefan Koch and the Head of Energy Dr. Winfried Damm Encouraged them to set-up industries in Punjab, with assurance of a corruption-free environment and single window clearance system introduced by our Govt," he tweeted. (ANI) Karnataka's former Chief Minister and Deve Gowda's son HD Kumaraswamy was also present at the meeting. "Chief Minister Sri K. Chandrashekar Rao met with former Prime Minister Sri @H_D_Devegowda and former Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri @HD_Kumaraswamy in Bangalore today," Telangana CMO tweeted. KCR's meeting with the Opposition leaders is a part of his effort to bring the anti-BJP leaders together and form a third front ahead of the 2024 General elections. Earlier last week, he was in New Delhi where he met Aam Aadmi Supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. KCR's visit to Bengaluru comes on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a day-long visit to Telangana to attend an event at the completion of 20 years of the establishment of the Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad. This is the second time that the Telangana Chief Minister skipped meeting PM Modi breaching the protocol at the airport. In February, KCR had skipped meeting PM Modi at the airport when he had visited Hyderabad to unveil the statue of equality at Muchintal. Rao had cited health reasons. (ANI) The BSF observed the movement of some Pakistani fishing boats while patrolling in the general area of Harami Nala at about 8.30 am "Patrol party immediately rushed to the spot and seized four countries made Pakistani fishing boats and apprehended two Pakistani fishermen from the horizontal channel of Harami Nala," said the BSF. The seized boats were thoroughly searched and nothing suspicious was recovered from the boats except for fish, fishing nets, and fishing equipment, the BSF further said, adding "intensive search in the area is on". (ANI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested key accused in Jammu and Kashmir's Sunjwan terror attack on Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) vehicle carrying 15 personnel on April 22, the agency said on Thursday. Abid Ahmad Mir, a resident of Putrigam in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama, is an Over Ground Worker of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The case pertains to indiscriminate firing upon the security personnel, during a joint search operation in the area of Sunjwan, Jammu, by unknown terrorists in which one Assistant Sub-Inspector of CISF was martyred and several others were injured. The security forces retaliated against the attack and killed the two terrorists on the spot. The case was initially registered in Bahu Fort Police station in Jammu on April 22 and re-registered by NIA on April 26. "Investigation has revealed that accused Mir is an Over Ground Worker of JeM and was a close associate of arrested accused Bilal Ahmed Wagay. He was also in touch with Pakistan-based handlers of JeM. He knowingly and voluntarily had extended support to the other co-accused persons in the commission of the instant crime," said the NIA. In the attack, the CISF had said, Assistant Sub Inspector SP Patel laid down his life while treatment in hospital, one personnel was grievously injured and six other personnel of the Force sustained minor injuries while valiantly retaliating against the terrorist attack. In the subsequent action, security forces succeeded to eliminate the two terrorists responsible for the attack. Two fidayeen (Aatma ghati) terrorists of the Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit were present in the area. The CISF had said that the terrorists were planning to target the security forces and innocent people. "If they could have managed to surpass the outer cordon (Naka), a major loss to the security forces might have been caused." Due to the valiant response by CISF personnel, a major fidayeen attack was not only averted but terrorists were contained and eliminated. The CISF then said its total of three companies were deployed in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for Law and Order duties. A CISF company (No. 757) of the 3rd Reserve Battalion was deployed at Jammu City for maintaining Law and Order with the local police of Narwal Police Station, Jammu. Based on the inputs, the CISF said "some fidayeen terrorist organisations were planning a major attack in the Jammu region". Considering the input, it said a joint "combing and search operation was being carried out in the area, wherein Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and local police personnel were deployed for inner cordon and search operation while CISF personnel were deputed at Naka near Chadda Camp meant for outer cordon". (ANI) The Central government has released an advance of Rs 324 crore from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) to the flood-hit Assam. Finance Ministry's order dated May 25 stated, "Keeping in view of damage caused by floods and landslides in many parts of the State during first of 2022, the amount is being released to the state government in advance on the recommendation received from Ministry of Home Affairs." Following this, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Twitter to express his gratefulness. "Grateful to Adarniya Pradhan Mantri Shri @narendramodi ji & Adarniya Griha Mantri Shri @amitshah ji for releasing an advance of Rs 324 cr from SDRF to help Assam deal with the ongoing flood situation. The funds will ensure timely relief & rehabilitation of affected citizens," wrote Sarma. A team of officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday reached Guwahati and held a meeting with Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials regarding the damage assessment of recent flood and landslide in the state. The flood this year has hit many parts of Assam and affected almost 3.46 lakh people and 247 villages. According to the reports of ASDMA, it was discussed that to accelerate an effective damage assessment, IMCT members will be divided into two groups for visiting the relevant affected districts. The first group included the team leader Ravinesh Kumar, FA, NDMA, Anjali Maurya, Assistant Director, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Adelbert Sungi, Regional Officer, Ministry of Road Transport and accompanied by P. Vijay Bhaskar Reddy, IAS, Jt. Secretary and Jt. CEO, ASDMA will visit the Cachar and Dima Hasao districts on May 27 and May 28, 2022. The second group of IMCT including Jintu Das, Jt. Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Ajay Kumar Sinha, Superintending Engineer, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Kailash Shankla, Under Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India will visit the Darrang, Nagaon, and Hojai districts on May 27 and May 28, 2022. As per the flood report till date, two people lost their lives in the flood in the last 24 hours and now a total of 30 human lives (25 in Flood & 5 in Landslide) have been lost in the first phase of the flood till date and 5,61,149 populations of 956 villages in 12 districts remain affected. A total of 47,139.12 hectares of crop areas have been affected and 295 relief camps and 70 relief distribution centres have been opened in all affected areas. A total of 66,836 inmates are staying in these centres. (ANI) Three terrorists were killed in an encounter at Jumagund village in Kupwara. "One Army porter, namely Ab Lateef Mir s/o Majeed Mir, resident of Kuchiban Jummagund, got injured in the said encounter. Later on, succumbed to injuries in hospital," police said Police said all three terrorists killed were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT, and their identification is being done. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered. According to police, based on a specific input developed by Kupwara police regarding infiltration attempt of terrorists in Jumagund, army and police took up positions and intercepted the terrorists. --IANS zi/vd ( 135 Words) 2022-05-26-19:49:13 (IANS) Pakistan's systemic use of religion to establish legitimacy for state power was a key talking point at The Democracy Forum's on Wednesday's virtual seminar, 'Making sense of Pakistan's Islamophobia syndrome', at which a panel of experts gathered to discuss, among other ideas, the concept and definition of Islamophobia, and how it manifests both within and outside Pakistan. Introducing the event, TDF President Lord Bruce said the webinar had been convened to consider the contradictory attitudes to Islamophobia that have come to define the Pakistani state. In reference to the sanctity for religious tolerance in Pakistan claimed by former PM Imran Khan and the country's founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Lord Bruce argued that the founding principles of theological tolerance and religious pluralism expressed by Jinnah have, unfortunately, 'never been given a chance to take root in Pakistan', and that 'intolerance has been pursued by the state in a deliberately divisive political strategy, with the intention of undermining the security of sub-state and minority groups'. He also highlighted how intolerance and persecution of minority Muslim groups has continued unabated for almost as long as Pakistan has existed, and spoke of how the sectarian conflict between different Muslim sects has been instrumentalized by the Pakistan state, thus exacerbating Shia-Sunni differences. Furthermore, sub-state nationalism has continued to plague relations between the Pakistan government and its peripheral regions of Baluchistan and NWFP, while the strategic imperative of retaining a territorial interest in Jammu and Kashmir condemns India and Pakistan never to find a solution to this conflict. The creation of a 'fundamental dichotomy' at the base of Pakistan's statehood, concluded Lord Bruce, sustains its political instability, justifies the dominance of its military interests and consequently stifles the growth of its democratic institutions. It is important to separate Islamophobia from Muslim-phobia, insisted nuclear physicist and activist Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy. Discrimination against or mistreatment of Muslims will not raise resentment to the level that criticism of Islam will invoke, as Islam is said to be perfect, whereas Muslims, as people, can be imperfect. Protests against critiques of Islam do happen in other Muslim nations such as Iran and Indonesia, said Hoodbhoy, but not to the same extent as in Pakistan, where rioting has taken place in reaction to provocations such as the Charlie Hebdo case. This, he believed, is because in Pakistan there has been a systemic use of religion to achieve legitimacy for political power and individual acceptance into society. A consequence has been a seepage of religious indoctrination into the entire education system, which has led to a charged populace that will react very readily to the slogan that Islam has been insulted. This, said Hoodbhoy, is qualitatively different from elsewhere in the world, and the use of religion in Pakistan has become elevated to a point where it has become virtually impossible to act against forces that claim to be Islamic forces. The kind of teaching that happens in Pakistani schools, he added, reflects what is taught in madrassas, which has led to the elevation of religion as a major force in Pakistani politics. Concluding with a warning that Imran Khan, in seeking to return to power, is using symbols of religion, as well as western conspiracy, Hoodbhoy said the future of Pakistan is 'in the clouds', with unprecedented levels of tension, as even the army is split into pro- and anti- Khan camp. Arguing that the term 'Islamophobia' is itself problematic was Kunwar Khuldune Shahid, a correspondent for The Diplomat, who said this was because it placed the focus on Islam, not Muslims. The vast majority of the Muslim world seems to be more interested in shielding Islam from critique than in protecting Muslims from persecution, he said, with Pakistan, for example, remaining silent about what is happening in China to the Uyghur Muslims. Indeed, the term 'Islamophobia' is used more frequently about France's satirical Charlie Hebdo publication than about the Communist Party of China, which is incarcerating Uyghur Muslims in concentration camps. Shahid considered how the global 'Islamophobia' narrative has failed to discuss this, and how it has been co-opted by progressives, to leave dissenters at the mercy of Islamists in the Muslim world, more specifically Pakistan. In highlighting Pakistan's draconian blasphemy laws, which have been 'weaponised', Shahid said these make it perfectly rational to fear Islam, as there is no other country in the world where you can be put to death or imprisoned for critiquing Islam. And no Muslim country treats its Muslims as Pakistan treats its Ahmadis - only China, in its treatment of the Uyghurs, comes close. How, then, asked Shahid, can Pakistan take any kind of moral high ground about religious discrimination when it behaves as it does, and is a microcosm of the ailment affecting the Muslim world? Jocelyne Cesari, J. Dermot Dunphy Visiting Professor of' Religion, Violence, and Peacebuilding at Harvard Divinity School, and Professor of Religion and Politics at the University of Birmingham outlined Pakistan's legislative trajectory from a state aimed at being a shelter for Muslims into an Islamic state and reflected on the root causes of the country's homegrown Islamophobia. Speaking of 'hegemonic Islam', she examined the nationalization of Islamic institutions, and the Islamicisation of both the law - whereby the State 'brings the existing laws into conformity with the injunctions of Islam as set out in the Qu'ran and Sunnah', with no law contradictory to such injunctions to be enacted - and the national narrative. She considered the state of the public education system, with low literacy rates, and the growing influence, since the 1980s, of Saudi-funded madrassas, where Wahabi and Deobandi teachings merge. For Fareed Ahmad, National Secretary for External Affairs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, problems faced by Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan show how calls to tackle Islamophobia (Pakistan was a key actor in the adoption of the UN resolution in March this year) are undermined by the country's own worsening track record, which damages it in many ways. While Ahmad welcomed Pakistan's call for less hatred and greater social harmony, he stressed that the country needs to lean towards greater self-reflection and to lead by example. One cannot, after all, ignore internal persecution while calling for an end to international religious hatred. He pointed to the suffering of Pakistan's minority religious communities as a stark case in point, none more so than the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which faces institutional discrimination 'from cradle to grave'. When federal laws target a religious community to deny them their religious and civic rights, Ahmad argued, it undermines the very cause Pakistan is seeking to champion overseas. Far better to build cohesion at home and show in practice how Islam means and brings peace. That in itself, he concluded, will be the best tool to challenge Islamophobia and all forms of religious hatred around the world. Summing up was TDF Chair Barry Gardiner MP, who touched on the distinction between the personal and institutional spheres and the problems of pluralism, saying that Pakistan, like many nations, has not been able to find a way of allowing society to both sign up to an 'absolute, ultimate truth', and yet still be tolerant of others who don't share it. This is a question, he concluded, that goes to the heart of how we form society and how the nation-state operates as it seeks to unite people with very different views of what the ultimate truth is. (ANI) Police in Pakistan fired tear gas and clashed with supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the wee hours of Thursday as former Prime Minister and party chief Imran Khan started reaching Islamabad to demand fresh elections. Tension gripped the country as police and PTI workers clashed after authorities tried to block them from moving toward D-Chowk in the federal capital after Imran Khan warned his supporters would not vacate the area until a date for fresh polls was announced by the Shehbaz Sharif government. Former Pakistan PM, who was ousted from power by a no-trust vote, has asked "all Pakistanis" to take to the streets in their respective cities and appealed to women and children to come out of their homes for "real independence". "It's 2.30 am at the D-Chowk and the shelling is continuing. God know how many more rounds of shelling will they use before the arrival of Imran Khan," said Senator Aon Abbas Buppi. "Tremendous effort by the people of Pakistan to save their lives!! What an inning are they playing MashaAllah, Allah ap logo ko salamat rkhey," PTI's official account tweeted as the workers belonging to Imran Khan's party clashed with police in Islamabad. In an opinion piece titled "Imran Khan's march to chaos", a Pakistan journalist said the country seems to be heading towards political confrontation following the government's decision to ban the PTI march on Islamabad. "Crackdowns on the opposition leaders and the sealing of the capital have created a highly volatile situation. The government already seems to be panicking," author Zahid Hussain wrote in the Dawn newspaper. Failing to control the growing unrest due to the protest march launched by Imran Khan, the Shehbaz Sharif government has been forced to call in the army to protect the Red Zone as former Pakistan Prime Minister and PTI chief entered Islamabad in the early hours of Thursday. "Pursuant to the law and order situation in the Islamabad Capital Territory, the Federal Government, in the exercise of powers conferred under Article 245 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, authorises deployment of sufficient strength of troops of Pakistan Army," Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said in a government order posted on Twitter. The Pakistan government deployed the army in Red Zone to "protect important government buildings" after Imran Khan entered the federal capital amid rising tensions in the country. The government order said that the decision was taken for the protection of important government buildings including the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Parliament House, Presidency, Prime Minister's Office and others. Rights groups expressed deep concern at the highhandedness of law enforcement agencies in disrupting the PTI's march to Islamabad. "We believe that all citizens and all political parties have every right to assemble and protest peacefully," the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) tweeted. "The state's overreaction has triggered, more than it has prevented, violence on the streets. The onus is on the government and opposition leaders to adopt a mature, democratic response and immediately begin a dialogue to end the impasse," the group added. (ANI) A student in the US state of Texas was caught with firearms outside a high school a day after a deadly shooting at a school in Uvalde killed 19 students and two teachers, media reports said on Wednesday (local time). Police arrested a suspect walking towards a Richardson high school in Texas with what appeared to be a rifle. This comes a day after an 18-year-old shooter had killed over a dozen students. "On May 25, 2022, at 10:55 AM, the Richardson Police Department received a phone call from a business in the 1500 block of East Spring Valley Road reporting a male holding what appeared to be a rifle. The male was last seen walking towards Berkner High School, located at 1600 East Spring Valley Road," the Richardson Police Department said in a news release. Within minutes of the call being dispatched, numerous police officers from various units within the Richardson Police Department responded to Berkner High School and initiated a search and investigation into this incident. Nearby schools were notified of the police activity. Based on the information provided, Police officers were able to identify the male suspect as a juvenile student of Berkner High School. The suspect was located inside Berkner High School, but no weapons were found. Further investigation led to the discovery of a vehicle used by the suspect in the parking lot of 1551 East Spring Valley Road. Inside the vehicle, officers observed what appeared to be an AK-47 style pistol and a replica AR-15 style Orbeez rifle. "The juvenile suspect was arrested and charged with Unlawful Carrying Weapons in a Weapon-Free School Zone, T.P.C. 46.02, a State Jail Felony. No further information is being released on the suspect due to his age," the Police said. The head of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) asked on Wednesday: how many more children will die before leaders act? "Tragedy after tragedy, shooting after shooting, young life after young life: how many more children will die before government leaders act to keep children and their schools safe?" asked Catherine Russell, executive director of UNICEF. "Because until they do, these horrors will continue." This shooting incident comes amid growing criticism of constitutionally protected US gun laws, especially those allowing the sale of automatic weapons to young people, under 21 years of age. On Wednesday, Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that the Texas school shooter used an AR-15 assault rifle.Over half of Americans supported making gun violence laws more strict, The Hill reported citing a poll conducted between the mass shootings that took place this month in New York and Texas. According to the American publication, 54 per cent of those surveyed in a CBS News-YouGov poll out Wednesday said they would like to see stricter laws regulating the sale of guns. A total of 30 per cent said they wanted gun laws to remain the same, and 16 per cent said they wanted gun laws to be less strict, the report added. (ANI) Under the watchful eye of the United States, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay an official visit to South Pacific island countries starting Thursday to ramp up ties with tiny but strategically located island nations. Wang Yi's schedule includes visits to the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor from May 26 to June 4. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Tuesday said that Wang will meet with Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of the Cook Islands and Niue via video, and chair the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Fiji. Wang's trip will cover cooperation and deals in many fields including economy, infrastructure, climate change, public health, policing and security. "The reason why China's presence has been welcomed by the regional countries is that China could promote the livelihood of the locals and activate the economic potentials of those islands, experts said. However, some Western media have focused only on the cooperation about security, and tried to exaggerate that the cooperation could spark a new Cold War' between China and the West in the region," state media outlet Global Times said in a report. During a press conference on Wednesday, Wang Wenbin said this visit by Wang Yi to the South Pacific aims to deepen the friendly and cooperative relationship between China and relevant countries, and contributes to peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific. "I fully disagree with the sensational remarks by some people. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some facts about China-PICs cooperation," he added. The United States, who earlier raised concern about the security pact between China and Solomon Islands, warned South Pacific nations to be wary of "shadowy" agreements with China, which has put forth a package to expand cooperation dramatically. "We are concerned that these reported agreements may be negotiated in a rushed, non-transparent process," State Department spokesperson Ned Price. He added that China has a pattern of offering shadowy, vague deals with little transparency. (ANI) Nine months after the western countries withdrew their forces from Afghanistan, a UK Parliamentary committee has found out that the manner of withdrawal from Afghanistan was a disaster and a betrayal of allies that will damage the country's interests for years to come. The Taliban took over Afghanistan in mid-August, which led to the collapse of the previous government and mass evacuations from the Kabul airport. As crowds gathered at the airport, the area was hit by terrorist attacks, leading to hundreds of casualties. Subsequently, western countries, including US and UK, faced a great deal of criticism for the pace and manner with which they withdrew from the country. In a report titled "Missing in action: UK leadership and the withdrawal from Afghanistan", the House of Commons Committee identified systemic failures of intelligence, diplomacy, planning and preparation--many of which were due, at least in part, to the Foreign Office, and call into question the coordination that the National Security Council provided. "The UK Government failed adequately to shape or respond to Washington's decision to withdraw, to predict the speed of the Taliban's takeover, or to plan and prepare for the evacuation of our Afghan partners. It might be convenient to blame FCDO officials or military intelligence for these failures, but ministers should have been driving this policy," the report said. The fact that the UK Foreign Office's senior leaders were on holiday when Kabul fell marks a fundamental lack of seriousness, grip or leadership at a time of national emergency, the report added. At several key stages in the evacuation there seemed to be no clear line of command within the political leadership of the Government, as decisions were made on the basis of untraceable and unaccountable political interventions. According to the report authored by UK Foreign Affairs Committee, most damning for the UK Foreign Office is the total absence of a plan for evacuating Afghans who supported the UK mission, without being directly employed by the UK Government, despite knowing 18 months before the collapse of Afghanistan that an evacuation might be necessary. The hasty effort to select those eligible for evacuation was poorly devised, managed, and staffed; and the department failed to perform the most basic crisis-management functions, the report while adding that the lack of clarity led to confusion and false hope among our Afghan partners who were desperate for rescue. "They, and the many civil servants and soldiers working hard on the evacuation, were utterly let down by deep failures of leadership in Government. We are full of praise--in particular--for the personnel on the ground in Afghanistan during Operation Pitting, who implemented a chaotic policy to the best of their ability," the report said. It further alleged the UK Foreign Office has not been open about these failings. "In the course of the inquiry, it has given us answers that, in our judgement, are at best intentionally evasive, and often deliberately misleading. Those who lead the department should be ashamed that civil servants of great integrity felt compelled to risk their careers to bring to light the appalling mismanagement of the crisis, and the misleading statements to Parliament that followed," the report said. The committee called on the department to undertake a review of its processes for handling internal concerns about policies and, more broadly, to re-commit to transparency and positive engagement with Parliament. "The crisis required clear decision-making, strong political leadership and tight coordination. We have seen little evidence of this. The decision to run the operation through three departments undermined coordination. This is particularly disturbing at a time when the UK faces significant foreign policy challenges, including in relation to Ukraine," the report said. The failures of the withdrawal and evacuation make it even more important that the UK commits to a serious strategy for its future engagement with Afghanistan, it added. (ANI) Taliban's deputy minister of transport and civil aviation Ghulam Jailani Wafa signed a deal on Tuesday with a GAAC corporation representative in the presence of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, first deputy prime minister. Speaking at the contract signing event, Mullah Baradar stated that the country's security is strong and that the Islamic Emirate is willing to work with foreign investors. Baradar stated that with the signing of this deal, all foreign airlines would begin flying to Afghanistan safely and dependably. "When we were in a severe and emergency position, the UAE assisted us with technical assistance and free terminal repairs," said Ghulam Jailani Wafa, Minister of Transportation and Civil Aviation. "The GAAC Corporation is a multinational firm that offers aviation services in the United Arab Emirates." The Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, which led to the collapse of the previous government. In December 2021, Turkish and Qatari companies signed a memorandum to operate the Kabul airport, and airports in the provinces of Balkh, Herat, Kandahar and Khost, which are currently struggling to operate due to severe economic conditions in Afghanistan. (ANI) The Taliban through tactical declarations have been pretending to halt production of narcotics in Afghanistan to evade close international scrutiny on opium cultivation in the country. However, the Taliban run a taxation system to conduct their insurgent operations, which include the illegal drug trade, reported a Canada-based thinktank, International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS). Taliban's involvement with the illicit drug economy has brought revenues for the insurgent group. According to a study conducted in the year 2018, out of the total annual income of the Taliban of USD 1.5 billion, the drug trade is estimated to contribute about USD 420 million a year. Afghanistan is the world's largest opium producer, which is refined to produce heroin. Afghanistan will soon turn out to be a major supplier of heroin owing to the estimated annual export value of USD 1.5 to USD 3 billion. Opium harvesting in the country has led to 120,000 jobs in the year 2019, reported IFFRAS. Further, according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), synthetic drugs are estimated to contribute over 46.8 million euros to local wages every year. The production of heroin in Afghanistan using oven-dried opium is estimated to be around 6,000 tons. After the production, a levy is imposed on the opium transportation that travels from production locations to their user units, reported IFFRAS. Transportation levies account for almost USD 750,000 in income per year. Topped by opium production, there is another source of income for the Taliban which is protection money. Charges are applied for armed protection of transported opiates. Some of the Taliban commanders also run drug labs themselves as an overseeing force. Increased facilities for the storage and stock of opium have further driven Afghanistan and its labour towards the production of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine industry has provided job opportunities to more than 20,000 persons out of which 5000 are employed in methamphetamine labs. However, owing to the indicated bans on the cultivation of opium, accompanied by an uncertain upcoming season, raw opium rates have almost tripled from USD 70 to USD 200. reported IFFRAS. Nevertheless, crops in the new season might stabilize the new season. Although apparently, the Taliban have indicated a curb on opium, the international community might recall the Taliban's previous promises, such as non-violent behaviour and women's rights before they fell for new ones. The sustenance and longevity provided by the drug trade would make it quite difficult for the Taliban to camouflage its production under false promises. (ANI) In a strange coincidence to UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet's long-delayed visit to Xinjiang, a new leak of Chinese government records provides confidential documents, including speeches by high-ranking Chinese officials outlining their plans to repress, "educate" and punish Uyghurs -- ethnic minority groups -- in Xinjiang. This is a significant disclosure as China has faced criticism for its "supression of ethnic minorities, including Uyghurs". It is also crucial to note that the leak comes at a time when Bachelet had been able to "discuss directly" important issues via video with the Chinese President Xi Jinping, without providing further information about her talking points. The Xinjiang Police Files were obtained by researcher Adrian Zenz, who shared the documents with a group of 14 news organizations, including the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). This new leak from Chinese government records shows thousands of never-before-seen mug shots of Uyghurs and other photos from inside the notorious internment camps. It also shows the new details of the national mass detention program. Meanwhile, in stark contrast, the Chinese Embassy in Iraq said that UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in Guangzhou in the meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi congratulated the latter on its important achievements in human rights protection. Chinese Embassy in Iraq on its Twitter handle wrote, "On May 23, FM Wang Yi met with the visiting #UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in Guangzhou. Bachelet congratulated #China on its important achievements in economic and social development and human rights protection." Slamming the Embassy over this tweet, the Campaign for Uyghurs -- an organization advocating the rights of the Uyghur people questioned the UN rights chief whether it is in fact true or "just another one of the CCP's lies & manipulative propaganda". "Michelle Bachelet is this true or is this just another one of the CCP's lies & manipulative propaganda? Please confirm or deny. As a former torture victim yourself, I'm sure that you recognize the faces, eyes & tears from the Xinjiang Police Files," it tweeted. Zenz, a senior fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, wrote a peer-reviewed academic paper based on the documents that analyze the leaked data and termed it "stunning" revelation. "The image material is stunning," Zenz told ICIJ. "It's really fortunate that this material can come out because it would blow away Chinese propaganda attempts" that seek to manipulate the facts. Zenz said that the material is unprecedented at several levels. "A huge trove of files obtained by hacking into Xinjiang police/re-education camp computers contain first-ever image material from inside camps, reveal Chen Quanguo issuing shoot-to-kill orders, Xi Jinping demanding new camps because existing ones are overcrowded," said Adrian Zenz, who made a series of tweets. He attached an image which shows a handcuffed man being taken by police with his face covered. "The material is unprecedented on several levels: 1. High-level speeches, implicating top leadership and containing blunt language 2. Camp security instructions, far more detailed than China Cables, describe heavily armed strike units with battlefield assault rifles," Adrian Zenz, attaching other picture which has armed security personnel with their guns trained. According to the researcher and his team, the Xinjiang Police Files contain an encrypted archive with images of several thousand persons taken in the first half of 2018 at police stations and detention centres in Konasheher county, Kashgar prefecture - a region in southern Xinjiang that is predominantly inhabited by the Uyghur people. In 2018, these regions were ordered to photograph a substantial share of the population as part of biometric data collection. Each image filename contains a timestamp and the person's government ID number. "The files also contain about 450 spreadsheets from the region that corroborate the identity of the depicted persons. They reveal that in 2018, at least 12.1 per cent of all ethnic adults in the country were in detention - including 2,884 of the photographed persons. Among them are 15 minors. The youngest detained person depicted in these images is a 15-year old girl and the oldest is a 73-year old woman," said the team led by Adrian Zenz which analysed and authenticated the material. "Some of these 2884 persons were probably photographed prior to their detention and others likely during their internment. Since these persons are victims, the full set of 2,884 images is made available on this website in original form". Adrian Zenz said original filenames have been truncated for privacy reasons so as to not reveal each person's full ID number. "Vivid image of police drills, and over 5,000 images of persons taken at detention centers/police stations, 2,884 of them are interned. 4. Spreadsheets showing vast scale of internments: over 12 per cent of adult population of Uyghur county in 2018 shown in camps or prisons. You can view and download many of the files, documents and nearly 2,900 images of detained persons from the #XinjiangPoliceFiles website," Adrian Zenz said in tweets. "The #XinjiangPoliceFiles contain a very large amount of visual material, including police training PowerPoints, image material from Xinjiang, including sensitive material showing police stations, police headquarters etc. This significantly aided in the authentication." "The #XinjiangPoliceFiles contain for example the entire unredacted Xinjiang Papers document no.5 on history (the leaked Xinjiang Papers contained only a redacted version of this internal document). Images straight from police computers are powerful - especially when they contain so much raw information. Uncropped wide-angle shots show plenty of background, in this case a police officer in SWAT gear, with his baton at the ready," he added. For its part, China has said these facilities are "vocational skills training centres" that are necessary to "counter" extremism and improve livelihoods. Chinese officials said in late 2019 that most "trainees" had "graduated" from the centres. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet recently visited China and Xinjiang. The US has accused China of genocide in Xinjiang, and an unofficial and independent UK-based tribunal ruled in December 2021 that Beijing is indeed guilty of genocide. In March 2022, nearly 200 rights groups had demanded that Bachelet's office release its long-postponed report on the rights situation in Xinjiang. (ANI) German Ambassador to India, Walter J Lindner, on Thursday hailed the German government for recognizing the WHO-listed Bharat Biotech's COVID vaccine, COVAXIN, for travel to the country starting June 1. World Health Organization (WHO) in November last year issued an emergency use listing (EUL) for COVAXIN, adding to a growing portfolio of vaccines validated for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2. Taking to Twitter, the Ambassador to Germany and Bhutan Lindner wrote, "Very happy that GER government just decided to recognize WHO-listed Covaxin for travels to GER, starting June 1! This Embassy has been pushing very actively for such decision (because of Covid-backlogs visa sections have longer waiting periods than normal, please have patience)." WHO's EUL procedure assesses the quality, safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and is a prerequisite for COVAX vaccine supply. It also allows countries to expedite their own regulatory approval to import and administer COVID-19 vaccines. "This emergency use listing expands the availability of vaccines, the most effective medical tools we have to end the pandemic," said Dr Mariangela Simao, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products said. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) in April also granted an emergency use authorisation (EUA) to Covaxin for the age group of 6-12 years. The Hyderabad-based Pharma company Bharat Biotech in a statement said that it had conducted phase II/III, open-label, and multicenter studies to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of Covaxin in healthy children and adolescents in the 2-18 age group. The clinical trials conducted in the paediatric population between June 2021 to September 2021 have shown robust safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity. Covaxin is formulated uniquely such that the same dosage can be administered to adults and children alike. Covaxin is a ready-to-use liquid vaccine, stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius, with 12 months shelf life and a multi-dose vial policy. Moreover, Biotechnology company Ocugen on Monday announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted the clinical hold on the Company's Phase 2, 3 clinical trials for COVAXIN (BBV152). Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Ocugen Inc., Dr Shankar Musunuri said, "We're extremely pleased that we can proceed with our clinical trials for COVAXIN, our whole virus inactivated COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The need for delivering an additional, differentiated vaccine option, we believe, remains a priority." (ANI) Raising concern over the differential treatment being meted out in Pakistan, activist Mama Qadeer Baloch said that every 'corrupt' political party are being allowed to protest but the families of Baloch missing persons are abducted by the Pakistan Army despite their peaceful protest. Families of Baloch missing persons have been abducted by the Pakistani Army during a peaceful protest against the cases of enforced disappearances, informed a Baloch activist while sharing a video. As per a video shared by the activist, Mama Qadeer Baloch, one of the family members can be seen as sharing her concern over the rising cases of enforced disappearance in Karachi. In the video, the woman seems extremely troubled. Sharing with the local media, she said that two youths aged 18 years and 20 years have been abducted by the Pakistani Army even when they were protesting peacefully. Lashing out at the polity of the country, the Baloch activist said that Pakistan's corrupt political parties are Islamic extremist groups such as "Tehreek e Labaik" which can protest against the government while destroying the law and order however the families of Baloch missing persons are abducted by the Army and cannot even peacefully protest anywhere. Baloch students, no matter whether they are in Balochistan or any other part of Pakistan, are always living in the fear of being abducted, tortured and killed. They cannot roam freely or do normal activities as other students would. Most of the time Baloch people become part of the struggle not because of a choice but because of the deprivation, oppression and brutal policies of the deep state. Pakistani forces may have been successful to ban the Baloch political parties with fake charges but they weren't successful to end the Baloch resistance. The people's resistance is still ongoing and it is getting more powerful day by day. (ANI) West praised India for working towards protecting the Afghan people with aid to the country. The special representative expressed his will to stand with India and other nations who are striving towards this shared goal of supporting the Afghan people. He also thanked Joint Secretary J.P. Singh for hosting the ambassador and his team for detailed discussions on Afghanistan policy in New Delhi on Wednesday. Taking to Twitter, West wrote, "Many thanks to @MEAIndia Joint Secretary J.P. Singh for hosting me and my team for detailed discussions on Afghanistan policy yesterday in New Delhi." "India is providing critical humanitarian aid, has interests to protect, and brings enormous capability and experience to support the Afghan people. We'll continue to partner with India and others in the region to advance shared goals," the US special envoy added in his Twitter post. Notably, India has remained steadfast in providing the necessary humanitarian aid to its neighbouring country in these times of dire need. Earlier, India announced that it will send 50,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat to Afghanistan overland through Pakistan. The first consignment of humanitarian aid of 2,500 tonnes of wheat from India reached Afghanistan's Jalalabad through Pakistan on February 26. The second convoy of India's humanitarian assistance carrying 2,000 MTs of wheat left Attari, Amritsar on March 3 for Jalalabad, Afghanistan, the MEA had said. Moreover, India sent the third consignment of 2,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan in 40 trucks via the Attari-Wagah border on March 8. The fourth consignment of 2,000 metric tonnes of wheat was dispatched for Afghanistan via the Attari-Wagah border on March 15. (ANI) With Tesla CEO Elon Musk's deal to buy Twitter on hold, Amazon owner Jeff Bezos wondered whether Musk's ownership of Twitter might benefit China at democracy's expense. China has banned Twitter since 2009. However, many Chinese citizens have been using proxy servers to escape from the autocratic regime of the Chinese government. They access news reports that the Chinese authorities view as unfavourable, reported The Washington Times. The illegal usage of Twitter in China partly explains why 26,000-linked Twitter accounts have been found to be spreading regime-backed propaganda on the social media platform. Twitter has further shut down a significant number of Twitter accounts which is connected to the Chinese Communist Party. In addition, Musk's Tesla being already dependent on the special treatment that China affords it for profitability accompanied by Musk complying with China's communist regime, there is a possibility of taxation or a complete reversal of policy soon, reported The Washington Times. Further, Musk's company, Tesla, relies on the loans provided by China along with China's business. This might lead Musk in tasking a Twitter engine, enabling Chinese authorities to find out and attack people who are using Twitter, despite the social media app being forbidden and banned in the country. Meanwhile, since Musk's announcement of his USD 44 billion purchase of Twitter, there have been many reactions, reported The Washington Times. According to some, he will open doors for freedom of speech while others fear the consequences that might come from Musk, potentially removing all content moderation. (ANI) The year-on-year Foreign Direct Investment data draws a sharp contrast between India's highest ever FDI of USD 83.57 billion for the current year with Pakistan's 2022 flat foreign investment inflows. The FDI situation in Pakistan is a sob story. Though Pakistan has recorded month-on-month growth of over 660 per cent in April 2022, year-on-year growth reveals the country's sorry state of affairs. A look at year-on-year numbers reveals that foreign direct investment in April 2022 increased marginally by only 0.9 per cent versus April 2021 and overall, the FDI in the first ten months of the Fiscal Year 2022 reduced by 1.6 per cent year-on-year, reported Business Recorder. Apart from the net FDI in April 2022 flat growth over the previous year with a small base, the inflows in April were also down by 21.6 per cent and outflows down by 89.6 per cent year-on-year. This suggests that the total inflows coming in April 2022 were also down which is definitely not a good sign for FDI in Pakistan. The same is also visible in the overall FDI in FY22 so far. During the first ten months of Fiscal Year 2022, inflows of foreign investment were down by 16.2 per cent, while outflows were down by 35.81 per cent, year-on-year. The overall picture of the foreign investment in the country has not changed much over a long time, especially since inflows from China started declining after key CPEC projects were over. Also, the lack of diversification and failure to increase export-oriented FDI are other factors pulling down FDI in Pakistan, as per the media portal. Additionally, there has been a decline in annual FDI flows, but FDI stocks are also decreasing where ease of doing business and taxation policy also creates a hindrance, as per the media portal. (ANI) Regular attacks on the Pakistani security forces have proved Pakistan's inability to curb violence in the restive areas, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa(KPK). The country's western border continues to remain fragile. Repeated attacks have forced the Pakistan Army to continue the deployment of 11 Corps and 12 Corps, reported a Canada-based think tank, International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS). Although the Pakistan army boasts of its successful "Operation Radd-UI-Fasaad" (RuF) targeted at eliminating the remnants of terrorism, especially from restive areas in KPK and Balochistan, there are critical operational voids in the Eastern front. Pakistan has failed to establish its writ across several regions in Balochistan, some Federally Administered Tribal Areas(FATA), and KPK where the tribal leaders remain alternate power centres. Even though 5 years of the RuF operation have passed, security forces in Pakistan continue to face high casualties in the restive areas of KPK and Balochistan. Over 152 incidents were reported in these areas wherein 323 security forces personnel were killed whereas 186 were injured, this year. The recent nature of attacks by the separatist groups of the regions reveals that they have devised better tactics alongside effective weapons, reported IFFRAS. Coordinated attacks with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and grenade throwing, have led these separatist groups to launch attacks on security forces with greater precision and planning including sniping Further, regular border skirmishes along the Durand line have made the situation even more fragile. Although Pakistan troops were present at KPK, they failed to prevent the separatist groups from striking. The fate of Balochistan remains the same as the groups continue to carry out attacks at regular intervals, reported IFFRAS. A lack of local support and intelligence to security forces has led to a surge in the number of attacks. Such attacks remain persistent because while only militant groups engaged in violent activities against the State of Pakistan face action, those having extra-territorial operations are completely ignored. In addition, the Pakistan government's reluctance and lack of resolve to act against some of these groups have posed serious domestic challenges as well. Blatant violations of human rights conventions by Pakistan Security Forces like the indiscriminate and ruthless employment of heavy calibre weapons against the separatist groups to establish control of the situation have also added fuel to the attacks. Balochistan has been striving for independence from Pakistan owing to the latter's continued oppression. Although Balochistan is the largest province and contributor of vast natural resources, it receives only 9 per cent of the total China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) share while 50 per cent of the projects have been captured by Punjab alone, reported IFFRAS. These rising number of attacks indicate that the RuF operation was unsuccessful in counter-terrorism. Besides, since the Pakistan political establishment has abdicated its responsibility to set a sustainable political objective, the Army has done the same. This might be one of the primary reasons for the operation being ineffective. (ANI) Horrifying stories and tragic deaths of abused Pakistani women living in US, Spain or any other western country expose the masculinity crisis that confronts Pakistani men as they suddenly discover that they can no longer exert complete control over the women in their families. This becomes highly evident in the story of a Pakistani-American woman, Sadia. She worked as a teacher and was slain along with her mother, Inayat Bibi, and her four-year-old daughter Khadija by Sadia's estranged husband in Texas. Sadia's husband, also a Pakistani-American, barged into her Texas apartment and opened fire, killing his ex-wife, young daughter, and ex-mother-in-law. Then he turned the gun on himself, reported Dawn. This cruel depredation came after Sadia filed for divorce from her husband because he was abusive towards her and their daughter. The divorce had gone through, and Sadia was trying to build a new life for herself, her mother and her daughter. However, she did not know that it was the most dangerous moment in her life. In another story, two Pakistan-origin sisters from Spain -- Aneesa and Arooj Abbas - were brutally murdered in cold blood in Gujarat in the Punjab province of Pakistan. As per the reports, the sisters had been forcibly married to cousins in Pakistan a couple of years ago and were trying to get a divorce. When their in-laws and their own family learned of their intentions, they were tricked into returning to Pakistan. Here, they faced torture and abuse. Violence against women in Pakistan is normalized and no one is bothered even when they know a woman is being abused. However, relationship dynamics change when the wives of these Pakistani men discover that it is not very difficult to obtain a divorce. In the US state of Texas, as in other American states, a divorce is granted if either party wants it. Legally, at least, no one can force a woman to continue to stay married to a man, as per media portal. This is a complete departure from what transpires in Pakistan. Some men, like Sadia Manzoor's killer, cannot believe that they no longer command their families in the way they used to. (ANI) Taking to Twitter, West said, "The United States condemns the cowardly terrorist attacks in Mazar-i-Sharif and Kabul that claimed innocent Afghan lives. My deepest condolences to families of victims. This violence serves no purpose." Former Afghan President, Hamid Karzai emphasized the importance of unity and national dialogue, which according to him is the "only way to save the country," reported Tolo news. Karzai also offered his condolences to the kin of the victims. In addition, the US special envoy for Afghan women and human rights, Rina Amiri also reacted to the blasts, reported Tolo news. "The heinous attacks in Mazar & Kabul serve no purpose but to inflict further devastation on innocent Afghans who have suffered enough. Preventing these horrid attacks & addressing the security & needs of all Afghans should be what the Taliban focus on," said Rina Amiri. At least 14 people were killed and 32 others wounded in four explosions that rocked Afghanistan's capital Kabul and the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday. This comes as Afghanistan had been hit by a series of bomb attacks reportedly launched by the Islamic State (IS) group opposing the Taliban regime. In Wednesday's blasts, at least five worshippers were killed and 17 others wounded in Kabul after a blast ripped through a mosque during evening prayers in Police District (PD) 4. The blast occurred when people were offering prayers in Hazrat-e-Zekria Mosque. The blast came about one hour after three consecutive explosions struck three van-buses in PD 10 and PD 5 in Mazar-i-Sharif, killing nine people and wounding 15 others. The targeted buses were carrying commuters. (ANI) The 19 children and two teachers killed earlier this week during the mass shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, have been identified, authorities said. On Tuesday, they were shot and killed inside a fourth grade classroom at Robb Elementary School, just two days before the summer break, Xinhua news agency quoted Chris Olivarez, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, as saying to reporters on Wednesday. Another 17 people were injured in the shooting and their injuries are not life-threatening, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at a news conference on Wednesday. The gunman, a local high school student identified as Salvador Ramos, 18, shared his plan on Facebook minutes before the attack. He was killed by a Border Patrol officer on the scene, Abbott said. Local media reported that Ramos legally purchased two assault rifles and 375 rounds of ammunition from a federally authorised dealer in the Uvalde area last week for his 18th birthday. "It's the first thing he did when he turned 18," Texas State Senator Ronald Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde, told CNN on Wednesday. "(He) had no problem accessing those weapons." A personal background examination revealed a bullied loner with few if any friends and no criminal or known mental health history, said the CNN report. Abbott, who is seeking re-election this year, placed the blame for the Uvalde school shooting on mental health issues. "Anybody who shoots somebody else has a mental health challenge, period. We as a government need to find a way to target that mental health challenge and do something about it," the Governor said at the news conference, doubling down concerns about an 18-year-old's ability to purchase firearms. "This is totally predictable," Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke yelled at the Governor and interrupted the press conference. O'Rourke, who was led away by officers, said Abbott did nothing to solve the problem of easy access to guns that is plaguing communities across Texas and the nation. The Governor "has refused to champion red flag laws... He's refused to support safe-storage laws so young people cannot get their hands on their parents' weapons", O'Rourke said. "Why are we letting this happen in this country? Why is this happening in this state? Year after year, city after city." The Uvalde tragedy is the deadliest shooting at a school since the Sandy Hook massacre in Connecticut in 2012 that left 26 people dead, including 20 children between 6 and 7 years old. The shooting once again demonstrates that gun violence, a deep-rooted problem in the US, is worsening, local analysts say. "By doing nothing to prevent gun violence, (our) nation chooses this pain," an editorial published by the San Antonio Express-News said. As of Tuesday, over 31,300 people had died or been injured due to gun-related incidents in the US this year, according to a database run by the nonprofit research group Gun Violence Archive. Including the Uvalde tragedy, there have been at least 40 shootings in schools, colleges and universities in the US so far this year, resulting in at least 31 deaths and more than 50 injuries. Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu will pay an official visit to Gabon, Senegal and Qatar from May 30 to June 7. The Vice President's visit to Gabon and Senegal will add momentum to India's engagement with Africa and highlight India's commitment to the African continent, read an official statement. Naidu's visit to Qatar will be on the occasion of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Qatar to further enhance the bilateral ties. Naidu will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Bharati Pravin Pawar alongside three Members of Parliament, Sushil Kumar Modi, P. Raveendranath, and Vijay Pal Singh Tomar. During his visit to Gabon from May 30 to June 1, the Vice President will hold talks with the Prime Minister of Gabon H.E Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda. He will also be meeting the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba accompanied by other dignitaries. Interactions with the business community of Gabon will also take place and Naidu will be addressing the Indian diaspora. Presently, both Gabon and India are serving as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). "Bilateral trade reached USD 1.12 billion in 2021-2022 while several Gabonese nationals pursue scholarship/ training programmes offered by India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and ICCR schemes," read the official statement. Naidu will be visiting Senegal from June 1 to June 3 where he will be holding delegation-level talks with the President of Senegal Macky Sall along with the President of the National Assembly Moustapha Niasse, alongside other dignitaries. According to the official statement, "He will also attend a business roundtable and address the Indian community." "India has offered a total of 16 Lines of Credit amounting to USD 350 million and Buyer's Credit of about USD 305 million in various sectors. India's capacity building training programs under ITEC are popular in Senegal. India and Senegal are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations." the statement added. Naidu's final visit to Qatar will begin on June 4 and end on June 7. "He will hold delegation-level talks with Qatar's Deputy Amir, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Thani, and review bilateral cooperation. He will also address a business roundtable in Qatar." read the statement. Both Qatar and India have witnessed significant growth in economic, energy, investment, education, defence, and cultural ties. "Qatar has also committed investments of over USD 2 billion in various Indian companies over the past two years." read the statement. (ANI) According to the reports, the locals complained that they have received hefty electricity bills despite frequent power outages. These frequent power cuts had paralyzed the life in the GB and its administration. Protesters slammed the authorities and said that despite having abundant water resources and dams to generate sufficient electricity, the authorities were not doing anything to solve the electricity crisis. The locals, led by social and political activist affiliated to Baltistan Student Federation Shabbir Mayar, demonstrated against the establishment and said that they will not suffer injustice anymore. In January last year, several cities across Pakistan, including capital Islamabad had plunged into darkness for several hours following a massive nationwide electricity blackout. Due to Pakistan's fragile power distribution system, outages occur frequently -- an issue that has previously sparked widespread street protests. (ANI) A policeman was killed on Wednesday in a car attack on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when he was driving his children to school. Sehar Gul, a reserve inspector of the Frontier Reserve Police was targeted in the Inqilab police station region by four attackers, who rode two motorcycles, however, the children were unhurt in the attack Dawn reported citing a senior police official. The police considered this attack an act of terrorism. He said that four attackers riding two motorcycles opened fire on the police officer and fled. The official said that the police had launched an investigation into the attack but it would be premature to speak about the terror outfit involved in it. The police official said that the rapid, unplanned expansion of the city had made it easier for terrorists to attack targets and escape. Mr Gul is the second police officer to be murdered in Peshawar in less than a week. Last Thursday, gunmen riding a car killed the Station House Officer of the Shapur police station Shakeel Khan. Another attack on Pakistan officials took place on May 17, when an Intelligence Bureau official was killed, while another and a civilian were injured in a gun attack on their vehicle on the Circular Road area. On May 15, gunmen killed two Sikh traders in the Batatal area and escaped. (ANI) As Chinese President Xi Jinping is adamant about not dissolving his Zero Covid policy even at the risk of alienating more people, his party is launching measures to "stabilise" the faltering Chinese economy. This shows how worried the government is about the failing economy. The measures that have been finalised by the State Council proved the point that the media calls "the economic dislocation from Beijing's Zero-COVID policy, bruised investor and consumer confidence, and geopolitical complications," reported The Singapore post. The finalised measures are as follows: Extending value-added tax credit refunds to more industries; prolonging the policy of deferred pension premium payments for hard-hit sectors and certain categories of enterprises; doubling the scale of the support facility for loans to micro and small businesses; encouraging the listing of platform companies on domestic and overseas markets; relaxing the restrictions on vehicle purchasing, The Singapore post reported. The government proposes to urgently launch a new round of rural road construction and renovation work with the aim to give jobs to unemployed people. They further proposed to build a batch of hydropower and coal-fired power plants this year. But, these measures will be of no use if the big elephant in the room, the Zero Covid policy still exists. Nobody or organisation in China has the power to deal with it, other than President Xi. The Council meeting follows an urgent meeting of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee presided over by party General Secretary Xi Jinping. The meeting was forced to admit the growing "complexity, severity, and uncertainty" facing China's economic development "due to Covid" and the Ukraine crisis. Politburo recommended extensive macro and monetary policy to stabilise the economy including relief packages for sectors affected by Covid and tax rebates and tax cuts, according to The Singapore Post. However, Politburo could not challenge the Zero Covid Policy in the presence of President Xi. It looks like that not only, Politburo but also his party couldn't say anything to the President over the Covid policy. The CCP leadership desperately tries to strike a balance between defending the Covid Policy and restoring the damaged economy, there appears no likelihood that China will formally abandon its Covid Policy. Any shift from the Covid measures will be done silently because the CCP cannot revoke its own policy. This is the reason that it has remained silent over the growing anger against the government in recent months. It perhaps thinks not reacting to the anger is the best way to tide over it. According to the publication, it looks like the CCP and President Xi do not realise the gradual distancing between the people's demands and their goals. (ANI) Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Raza Rabbani has urged the country's government and the opposition to exercise restraint, warning against bringing the system under threat. Speaking in the Senate on the current political situation in Pakistan, the Senator on Wednesday said that anarchy would only put the country's territorial integrity at stake. He said he was not talking about the third party as there were only two parties in the political system, but added that unfortunately both the parties appeared to be looking towards the third party. Rabbani also asserted that although he was a staunch opponent of fascist policies and politics of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), being a democrat he could not condone the treatment being meted out to political workers of PTI. "While the protest is a democratic and political right of any party, it must be within parameters of law, peaceful and must not infringe upon fundamental rights of citizens," the PPP leader said. Tension gripped Pakistan as police and PTI workers clashed after authorities tried to block them from moving toward D-Chowk in the federal capital after Imran Khan warned his supporters would not vacate the area until a date for fresh polls was announced by the Shehbaz Sharif government. Former Pakistan PM, who was ousted from power by a no-trust vote, had asked "all Pakistanis" to take to the streets in their respective cities and appealed to women and children to come out of their homes for "real independence". Failing to control the growing unrest due to the protest march launched by Imran Khan, the Shehbaz Sharif government has been forced to call in the army to protect the Red Zone as former Pakistan Prime Minister and PTI chief entered Islamabad in the early hours of Thursday. Rights groups expressed deep concern at the highhandedness of law enforcement agencies in disrupting the PTI's march to Islamabad. "We believe that all citizens and all political parties have every right to assemble and protest peacefully," the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) tweeted. "The state's overreaction has triggered, more than it has prevented, violence on the streets. The onus is on the government and opposition leaders to adopt a mature, democratic response and immediately begin a dialogue to end the impasse," the group added. (ANI) Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has given the ruling government a deadline of six days to dissolve the assemblies and announce elections, threatening to bring back the entire country to the capital. The ultimatum was given by Imran Khan after he led a massive long march from Peshawar to the capital Islamabad with hundreds of thousands of his supporters on Wednesday. However, Khan's anti-government march, in which, he claimed to bring with him at least 2 million people, who would stage a sit-in in the capital Islamabad until the ruling government does not announce a date for early elections, was unable to create that public strength and momentum as government's steps to stop the masses through blockades and massive deployments of security forces with a free hand to use all means necessary from reaching or joining Imran Khan's long march, confronted the protesters and dealt with them with iron hands. Wednesday became one of Pakistan's and in particular Islamabad's worst as violent clashes seemed to erupt from all major cities of Pakistan with PTI protesters and security forces saw open use of force, baton charge, tear gas, turning the capital Islamabad, economic hub Karachi and Punjab provincial capital Lahore into a war zone and a battlefield. While this chaotic situation continued, Imran Khan, along with his supporters and party members marched from Peshawar towards Islamabad, removing all hurdles and calling on people to join in for what he called March for true freedom (Haqeeqi Azadi ki March) against what he termed as Imported Government. But Khan's rally that took at least 15 hours to cover a distance of 2 hours, was unable to gather more public strength. While the crowd was huge, it was certainly not even close to 2 million people. On the other hand, backdoor contacts remained active in view of the deteriorating situation in the country to engage both parties in negotiations and bring both to a mutual ground of understanding and de-escalate the situation that seemed to be moving towards a disastrous scenario. As per sources, PTI leadership flew to Islamabad mid day of Wednesday to have back door meetings with the government representatives and the establishment to work out an exit strategy and carry forward its narrative. The source confirmed that it was because of this backdoor deal that court's route was used to direct government to release all arrested PTI workers and remove all blockades from the route of the long march. This was also followed by an internal understanding that Imran Khan would be allowed to come to Islamabad, but will not stage a sit-in in the capital. As per sources, it has also been decided that both parties will make a negotiating team and sit together to decide on a date for early elections. --IANS hamza/skp/ ( 485 Words) 2022-05-26-20:12:06 (IANS) They said politically-tense Pakistan is likely to face fuel shortages in days to come as international banks have refused to confirm letter of credits (LCs) for oil import orders citing "high country risk" alert, The News reported. For the import of crude oil from the global market, LCs are opened by the local banks. However international banks confirm the LCs of local partners to provide guarantee to the exporter. Under the guarantee if a Pakistani bank defaults on a payment to an exporter, its international counterpart pays the amount. "The political unrest has increased the country's risk in the eyes of international banks and they are reluctant to confirm LCs," a source in the oil sector told The News. The source said a quasi-stalemate in Pakistan's talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had also complicated the situation. "The deadlock has created a serious credibility crisis for the country in the global market." Sources pointed out that following the Sri Lanka default, an overall negative environment emerged in Pakistan, being perceived as the next country heading towards a default after a serious balance of payment crisis and a huge erosion of foreign exchange reserves, The News reported. "This situation has not only severely dented Pakistan's credit rating, but it also has added to the country's risk especially for confirming the LCs." Sources said that refineries and oil marketing companies (OMCs) are in serious trouble. --IANS san/pgh ( 284 Words) 2022-05-26-20:56:02 (IANS) Pakistan and the IMF have failed to reach a staff-level agreement for the revival of the $6 billion programme as the Fund emphasised the "urgency of concrete policy actions, including removing fuel and energy subsidies", Geo News reported. In line with the financial pundits' predictions, the local currency continued its downward slide following the delay in the revival of the IMF programme, Geo News reported. The IMF assistance has been stalled since a disagreement with the previous government over energy subsidies in late February. Pakistan is facing a fast depletion of foreign exchange reserves and analysts have been warning that the country is at risk of defaulting on its external debts. The mounting political unrest, after the former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan marched towards the federal capital and gave a six-day ultimatum to the government to force early elections, shook investors' confidence in the economy, putting pressure on the local unit. The country needs foreign inflows to bolster its forex reserves, which have fallen to $10.2 billion, enough to meet the cost of fewer than two months of imports. --IANS san/pgh ( 233 Words) 2022-05-26-21:04:03 (IANS) Yavapai County police car. A 13-year-old boy was charged with terrorism for threatening to shoot a middle school in Prescott last week, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office. On May 17, a school driver for the Prescott Mile High Middle School told school administrators that before dropping off the boy near his home, he threatened three times to "shoot up the school." School administrators contacted authorities and the boy's mother. The boy was arrested and booked into the Yavapai County Juvenile Detention Center. He was charged with threatening or intimidating, interference or disruption of an educational institution and making a terrorist threat. I want to speak to directly to the young people out there. I cannot stress enough the seriousness of making a threat to a school, even if you are just kidding, said Sheriff David Rhodes in a statement. You will be arrested and charged for making these types of dangerous threats. I wasnt serious isnt a defense, so please be aware that your words have consequences. The Sheriff's Office said they met with the boy and his mother at their home, and he admitted to making the threat. Authorities said the boy told them he did it to distract the driver when his friend was moving to the back of the bus, and that he had no intentions of harming anyone at school. His mother told authorities there were guns locked in a safe in the home. A deputy suggested to change the combination in case the boy knew it. All parents with gun safes should do that routinely, according to the Sheriff's Office. The charges out of Prescott come as 19 children and two teachers were killed Tuesday when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. "In the wake of the latest deadly school shooting in Texas, we cannot be too careful and diligent. YCSO extends our condolences to the families of the victims in Uvalde tragedy," the sheriff's office said in a news release. Story continues Reach breaking news reporter Angela Cordoba Perez at Angela.CordobaPerez@Gannett.com or on Twitter @AngelaCordobaP. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Prescott boy charged after school shooting threat, Sheriff's Office says One of the deadliest attacks happened on Tuesday, when at least 18 children and one teacher were killed in an elementary shooting in Uvalde, Texas. ALLISON DINNER/AFP via Getty Images Two major mass shootings made headlines in the month of May. One was at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. The other was at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. They are now among 30 of the deadliest mass shootings in US history. During the month of May, two of the worst mass shootings shook the nation. On May 14, an 18-year-old white man shot 13 people, killing 10, at a local grocery store in Buffalo, New York. Police say it was racially motivated. Just days later, on May 24, another 18-year-old opened fire at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Authorities said at least 19 children and 2 adults were killed. It is the 27th school shooting this year. Both incidents bear the unfortunate but increasingly familiar distinction of joining the ranks of the deadliest mass shootings in US history. The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit that tracks shootings in the US, has counted at least 214 mass shootings so far this year. The organization defines a mass shooting as a single incident in which at least four people are shot, not including the gunman. These are the details of 30 of the deadliest mass shootings in US history. Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2017: 58 dead, more than 850 injured Getty/David Becker In October 2017, a gunman opened fire on a crowd attending the Route 91 Harvest festival from his 32nd-floor room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The rampage lasted more than 15 minutes as panicked concertgoers tried to take cover, unaware of where the shots were coming from. By the end of it, 58 people were killed, and more than 850 were injured. A police SWAT unit broke into the gunman's room and found him dead by suicide. Orlando, Florida, at the Pulse nightclub in 2016: 49 dead, at least 50 injured This Monday, July 11, 2016 photo shows a makeshift memorial outside the Pulse nightclub, a month after the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla. Associated Press/John Raoux Before Las Vegas, the deadliest mass shooting in US history was the 2016 shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando. The gunman killed 49 people and wounded at least 50 before Orlando police killed him. As the club was hosting a "Latin Night," many of the victims were Latino. Story continues During the shooting, the gunman called Orlando police and swore allegiance to ISIS, although authorities found no evidence of communication between the terrorist group and the attacker. Still, the shooting drew swift condemnation from American Muslims. It remains the deadliest act of terror in the US since September 11. Blacksburg, Virginia, at Virginia Tech University in 2007: 32 dead, 23 injured Students embrace during a memorial service at the football stadium on the campus of Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va., April 17, 2007. AP Photo/Amy Sancetta The 2007 massacre on Virginia Tech University's campus remains the deadliest school shooting in US history. The gunman, a senior at the school, killed 32 students and instructors in two separate attacks about two hours apart before killing himself. Seventeen students were injured. Newton, Connecticut, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012: 27 dead, two injured Carlee Soto uses a phone to get information about her sister, Victoria Soto, a teacher at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., after gunman Adam Lanza killed 26 people inside the school, including 20 children. Victoria Soto, 27, was among those killed. AP Photo/Jessica Hill Twenty students and six teachers were killed in a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012. Each student killed was between the ages of 6 and 7. Minutes before he went to the school, the gunman fatally shot his mother at their home. He died by suicide as first responders arrived at the school. Sutherland Springs, TX: First Baptist Church, 2017 26 dead, 22 injured Mourners participate in a candlelight vigil held for the victims of a fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. AP Photo/Darren Abate A gunman wearing tactical gear and wielding a semiautomatic rifle opened fire in November 2017, at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, a tiny town of 600 east of San Antonio. At least 26 parishioners were killed in the attack. Victims ranged in age from 18 months to 72 years. The gunman was found dead after a brief car chase. The shooting supplanted the 2015 shooting at a Charleston, South Carolina, church as the deadliest mass shooting to take place at a house of worship in the United States. Killeen, TX: Luby's Cafeteria, 1991 23 dead, 27 injured Police officers gather outside Luby's Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, at the scene where a gunman killed 23 people including himself, with semi-automatic gunfire. AP Photo/Rick McFarland In 1991, a gunman drove his pickup truck through the glass front window of a Luby's restaurant in Killeen, Texas, and began a shooting rampage on patrons and staff inside. He killed 23 people and injured 27 more before fatally shooting himself. El Paso, TX: Walmart, 2019 23 dead, 23 injured Men embrace during a vigil a day after a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso. Reuters/Callaghan O'Hare Police have charged a 21-year-old with capital murder in the shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas on August 3, 2019. Police say the gunman, who lived 650 miles away from the Walmart, posted a racist, anti-immigrant manifesto on 8chan, an online message board. It appeared 20 minutes before the attacks, and talks about a "Hispanic invasion of Texas," and turning Texas into a "Democrat stronghold." San Ysidro, CA: McDonald's, 1984 21 dead, 19 injured A woman is removed on a stretcher at the scene of a shooting rampage at a McDonald's restaurant in San Ysidro, Calif., July 19, 1984. AP Photo/Greg Vojtko A 41-year-old man shot multiple people at a McDonald's restaurant in the San Ysidro district of San Diego in 1984. The casualties included an 8-month-old boy and a 9-year-old girl, and the wounded included a 4-month-old girl. The rampage ended when the gunman was shot by a San Diego SWAT Team sniper perched on a nearby roof. The shooting prompted changes to the police department in how it responded to mass-shooter scenarios. Uvalde, TX: Robb Elementary School, 2022 21 people killed, at least 15 injured People react outside the Civic Center following a deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Tuesday, May 24, 2022. AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills At least 19 children and two adults were killed by a gunman on Tuesday who opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, about 84 miles outside of San Antonio, authorities said. The victims include two teachers and children, whose ages range from 8 -to 10 years old. Law enforcement officials confirmed that the 18-year-old man, who was a student at Uvalde High School, was shot dead at the scene. It's the deadliest mass shooting at a K-12 school since Sandy Hook in 2012. Austin, TX: The University of Texas, 1966 16 dead, 31 injured A frame from a newscast reporting the mass shooting at the University of Texas on August 1, 1966. Screenshot/NBC On a hot summer day in 1966, a military-trained sniper shot dozens of people from the observation deck of the University of Texas's main building, known as the Tower. The shooting lasted more than 90 minutes, as officers responding to the attack were forced to move slowly and take cover often. Police got assistance from Texas students, who attempted to pick off the shooter from the ground with hunting rifles, restricting him to shoot through drain spouts for much of the attack. Local police officers stormed the Tower and fatally shot the gunman. The incident spurred the creation of SWAT teams and has drawn comparisons to the Las Vegas shooting because of the gunman's high vantage point. Parkland, FL: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, 2018 17 dead, 17 injured People are brought out of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after a shooting at the school. Joe Raedle/Getty Images A former 19-year-old student shot and killed 17 people and injured 17 more, armed with at least one AR-15. The dead included students and adults. The shooter was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. "It's a horrific situation. It's just a horrible day for us," Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said. "It's a day that you pray every day that you get up that you will never have to see. It is in front of us, and I ask the community for your prayers, your support for these children and these families." Many of the student survivors became outspoken activists for gun control legislation, launching the March for Our Lives movement. Fort Hood, TX: Fort Hood Army Base, 2009 13 dead, 32 injured Sgt. Anthony Sills, right, comforts his wife as they wait outside the Fort Hood Army Base near Killeen, Texas on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. AP Photo/Jack Plunkett In 2009, a US Army major and psychiatrist fatally shot 13 people and wounded more than two dozen others at Ford Hood, an army base near Killeen, Texas. A civilian police sergeant shot the gunman, paralyzing him from the waist down and ending the shooting. He was sentenced to death in 2013 and remains in prison. Five years later, in 2014, Fort Hood was the site of a shooting spree that left three people dead and 14 wounded. San Bernardino, CA: Inland Regional Center, 2015 14 dead, two dozen injured Armored vehicles surround an SUV following a shootout in San Bernardino, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. KNBC via AP In 2015, a married couple opened fire at Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California, where Farook worked as a health inspector. Police said the couple also planted three homemade pipe bombs in the building, though they failed to detonate. The couple fled the scene in a vehicle and were killed by police four hours later. The FBI found that the two US citizens were "homegrown violent extremists" and were inspired by foreign terrorist groups. Edmond, OK: Edmond Post Office, 1986 14 dead, 6 injured A postal worker in Edmond, Okla. weeps following a shooting spree at the post office in 1986. AP Photo/David Longstreath A part-time mail carrier fatally shot 14 postal workers at a US Post Office in Edmond, Oklahoma, in 1986. The attack ended when the gunman fatally shot himself in the head. The gruesome attack was the first of a string of homicides by postal workers between 1986 and 1999, and inspired the expression "going postal." Littleton, CO: Columbine High School, 1999 13 dead, 24 injured In this April 19, 2004, file photo, a sign at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File In 1999, two armed students entered Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado fatally shooting 13 people and injuring more than 20 others. The gunmen killed themselves after the attack. The incident changed schools across the country, and how officials and law enforcement responds to mass shootings. A recent Washington Post report revealed that at least 554 children, educators, and school staff have been killed or injured since the massacre. Binghamton, NY: American Civic Association Immigration Center, 2009 13 dead, four injured Flowers are seen at the base of a sign in front of the American Civic Association in Binghamton, N.Y., Sunday, April 5, 2009. A gunman, Jiverly Wong, killed 13 people in a rampage at an immigrant community center in Binghamton on Friday before committing suicide. AP Photo/Mike Groll A shooter, who donned body armor, stormed into the American Civic Association Center in Binghamton, New York, in 2009, according to local news. The 41-year-old gunman, who took classes at the center, shot 13 people before killing himself, CNN reported. Authorities later learned that the shooter had recently lost his job at the time, per the report. "That this tragedy should have happened in our community to our friends who only wanted to advance their knowledge and love of America is unbearable," American Civic Association told Reuters in a statement. Camden, NJ: 1949 13 dead, three injured A 28-year-old veteran went on a rampage, Aug. 25, 1949. Associated Press A gunman, reportedly a WWII vet, fatally shot 13 people in his own neighborhood in Camden, New Jersey, in 1949, according to USA Today. The shooter was arrested by authorities, and according to NJ.com, confessed to the crime. A Parkland shooting survivor, Carly Novell, said that her grandfather survived the shooting in the Camden massacre decades before, The Courier-Post reported. "When he was 12 years old, he hid in a closet while his family was murdered during the first mass shooting in America," Novell tweeted in 2018. "Almost 70 years later, I also hid in a closet from a murderer. These events shouldn't be repetitive. Something has to change." Wilkes Barre, PA: 1982 13 dead, one injured In 1982, an ex-prison guard killed 13 people in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania on Sept. 25, 1982, PennLive reported. Among the deceased are five of the gunman's children, per the report. The man, who was convicted of first-degree murder charges, was given the death penalty, The Times Leader reported. The York Daily Record previously reported that he was ruled incompetent to die by execution in 2010. Seattle, WA: Wah Mee Club, 1983 13 dead, one injured Multiple people died after being tied, and fatally shot at Wah Mee Club, a gambling spot, in Seattle, Washington in 1983, KING-TV reported. One man survived the attack and was able to testify against the suspects, the report said. Three men were arrested in connection with the incident. One of the men, who was convicted for robbery and assault, was released on parole in 2014 and deported to Hong Kong, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Aurora CO: Century 16 movie theater, 2012 12 dead, 70 injured A colorful sign decorates the entrance of the Cinemark Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colo., on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. AP Photo/Brennan Linsley An armed man opened fire during the midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, in 2012. The gunman detonated smoke bombs and opened fire on the crowd, according to ABC News, resulting in the death of 12 people. The shooter was arrested near the scene and sentenced to life without parole three years later, the outlet reported. Thousand Oaks, CA: Borderline Bar and Grill, 2018 12 dead, 16 injured Mourners attend a vigil for the victims of the mass shooting. Mike Blake / Reuters A 28-year-old Marine Corps veteran shot and killed 12 people and injured 18 at a country bar in Thousand Oaks, Los Angeles, on November 7, 2018. At about 11 p.m. with a .45-caliber handgun that had been legally purchased, police said he shot a security guard and several employees, then opened fire inside the bar. It was estimated there were between 130 and 180 people in the bar. He also killed a deputy sheriff before he killed himself. Washington, DC: Washington Navy Yard, 2013 12 dead, eight injured A dozen people were left dead after a gunman shot multiple people at the headquarters of Naval Sea Systems Command at the Washington Navy Yard in 2013. The gunman, identified as a 34-year-old male who was an ex- U.S. sailor and Navy civilian contractor, was reportedly killed by police "In the aftermath of the incident, the members of MPD first and foremost want to remember and honor the twelve people who lost their lives," the DC Metropolitan Police Department said in a 2014 after-action report. "Twelve people went to work that Monday, but did not return home to their loved ones." Virginia Beach, Virginia: Municipal Center, 2019 12 dead, four injured A makeshift memorial by a police cordon in front of a municipal building that was the scene of the shooting. Patrick Semansky / AP Police said a 40-year-old public utility employee killed 12 people after he opened fire on multiple levels of a municipal center in Virginia Beach, where he had worked for 15 years. Eleven of the victims were employees. He had a semi-automatic pistol with a sound suppressor, and a rifle, and engaged in a gunfight with police. He was shot dead at the scene. Pittsburgh, PA: Tree of Life Synagogue, 2018 11 dead, six injured Mourners embrace. Salwan Georges / The Washington Post / Getty Armed with an assault rifle and three handguns, police said a 46-year-old truck driver entered the Tree of Life synagogue and killed 11 people on October 27, 2018. When he was arrested, the gunman told officers that "all Jews need to die." He was a frequent user of a social network called Gab, which attracted people on the right, where he posted anti-Semitic messages. It is thought to be the deadliest attack on Jewish people in US history. Hamilton, OH: 1975 11 dead The "Easter Sunday Massacre" occurred in 1975 after a man fatally shot 11 people, who were his family members, at a home in Hamilton about 35 miles from Cincinnati, WKRC-TV reported. The gunman was later convicted on two counts of murder, per the report, and his parole hearing is in 2025. Sante Fe, TX: Santa Fe High School, 2018 10 dead, 13 injured People react following a shooting at Santa Fe High School. David J. Phillip/AP A gunman opened fire at Santa Fe High School in Texas, killing 10 and injuring 13. Authorities charged the 17-year-old accused shooter with capital murder. Police said he used a shotgun and a .38-caliber revolver, both legally owned by his father. Police later found a journal that outline his plan for his attack and later suicide, but he ended up being taken into custody. Police also discovered four pipe bombs at the high school and a Molotov cocktail at his house. Local news reported in February that the gunman's trial has been delayed, and that was"recommitted" to a state hospital. Geneva County, AL: 2009 10 dead, six injured A 28-year-old man shot and killed 10 people throughout Geneva county, Alabama in 2009, Reuters reported. Five of the deceased were his family members, including his mother. Another victim was the 18-year-old girl, the daughter of the local deputy sheriff, the outlet reported. CNN previously reported that the gunman took his own life following a firing exchange with police. "He was going to go until he was stopped, by himself or someone else," Col. Chris Murphy of the Alabama Department of Public Safety said at the time, per the outlet. Buffalo, NY: Tops Friendly Market, 2022 10 dead, three injured A crowd gathers as police investigate after a shooting at a supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. Joshua Bessex/Associated Press Law enforcement allege a white 18-year-old man from Conklin, New York traveled to a predominately Black neighborhood in Buffalo and opened fire at Tops Friendly Market, a local grocery store. Officials said 13 people were shot in the "racially motivated" attack and that a majority of the victims were Black. The man, who was dressed in tactical gear and live-streamed the incident, was charged with first-degree murder, to which he pleaded not guilty. Boulder, CO: King Soopers Supermarket, 2021 10 dead, one injured Police work on the scene outside of a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colorado. AP Photo/David Zalubowski Officials alleged that a 22-year-old Colorado man was behind the deadly shooting at King Soopers grocery store in Boulder last year. The gunman is accused of killing 10 people, including a police officer and at least three employees. Local news reported in April that the man was ruled incompetent to stand trial. His next review is set for July. Brooklyn, NY: 1984 10 dead An armed man walked into an apartment in East New York, Brooklyn, in 1984 and killed ten people, including a pregnant woman, Inside Edition reported. The incident became notoriously known as "Palm Massacre Sunday." The gunman was later arrested and convicted of manslaughter, the outlet reported. He was released in 2018, a move that was slammed by officials who worked on the investigation, according to the New York Post. "He doesn't deserve to be on the street . . . He killed poor, innocent children,'" retired NYPD Lt. Herbert Hohmann, who worked on the case, previously told The Post. Read the original article on Business Insider The Daily Beast Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Tulsa Police DepartmentA 45-year-old man killed four people and himself at a medical office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Wednesday after complaining repeatedly about back pain following surgery, police said Thursday.The suspect was identified by police as Michael Louis, who also went by Michelet Louis, his family told The Daily Beast.Tulsa Police called me and verified that its my uncle, Louis niece texted early Thursday morning. We are so distraught. She as Gun sales in the U.S. are rising. So are the deaths caused by those firearms. Whether its in child firearm deaths (which peaked in 2020), or active shooter incidents (which are also up), or gun manufacturing (which has doubled in recent years), these weapons exert a growing force on how we live and, increasingly, how we die, data shows. When the shooter entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, killing at least 21 people, the 19 children he killed joined a growing number of kids in the U.S. who die from gun-related injuries. More than 2,200 children died gun-related deaths in 2020, the first time in the past 20 years that figure had broken 2,000. There have been twice as many active shooter incidents in the last 11 years as there were in the 11 before, FBI data shows. And along the way, people have continued to buy more guns. These six charts show how the gun landscape has changed in the last decade. Firearms were the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. in 2020, surpassing deaths by car crashes, drug overdoses and cancer, according to research published last month in The New England Journal of Medicine. The number of active shooter incidents which the FBI describes as events in which someone is engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area has reached new highs in the last decade. There were 61 active shooter incidents last year, according to FBI data, which topped the previous years record of 40 incidents. Active shooter incidents killed 103 people and left 140 others wounded last year. The FBI doesnt include all gun-related shootings, such as those attributed to gang and drug violence, as well as domestic disputes. Worldwide, the U.S. rate of gun ownership stands out. There are about 120 civilian-owned guns for every 100 residents here, according to Small Arms Survey, a Swiss group that favors gun control. Thats nearly 10 times the average rate of gun ownership among countries with more than 1 million residents, and its more than double the rate of the next-highest country, Yemen. Story continues U.S. gun sales have almost doubled since the Covid-19 pandemic started, rising from an average of 1 million guns sold monthly in 2019 to nearly 2 million a month in 2020, according to data from the FBI and Small Arms Analytics, a firearms research and consulting company based in South Carolina. Sales rose sharply at the start of the pandemic in March 2020 and again in June following widespread unrest in the wake of George Floyds killing that May. Domestic gun manufacturing boomed in the years before the recent rise in gun deaths and shooting incidents. From 1988 to 1992, the production of guns hovered between 3 million and 4 million annually, according to data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Fast-forward to 2009, when more than 5 million guns were made for the first time since President Bill Clinton was in office. Since then, gun manufacturing numbers have increased more years than they have decreased, peaking at 11 million in 2016. And the types of guns have changed. After the Federal Assault Weapons Ban expired in 2004, pistol and rifle manufacturing picked up steam, according to ATF data. The number of guns imported has also risen in recent years, to about 6.8 million in 2020, according to ATF data. That was the most since data started being collected in 1986, when only 700,000 guns were imported. Gun manufacturers made a profit after news of the Texas shooting hit. The share prices for Smith & Wesson and Sturm, Ruger & Co. outperformed the S&P 500 by the end of the business day Wednesday. Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/NuScale/Getty Toiling in a Pittsburgh suburb, a Nigerian-born engineer just might hold the key to decarbonization by using an energy source thats long been maligned and misunderstood: nuclear power. Dr. Sola Talabi is an adjunct assistant professor of nuclear engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and a senior consultant at Pittsburgh Technical, an advisory firm that provides risk management services to the nuclear energy industry. Hes an expert in advanced small modular reactors (SMR), mini-nuclear plants ranging in size from tens to hundreds of megawatts (MWe). Like a large reactor, SMRs generate electricity through nuclear fission. In their core, neutrons collide with fuel atomsusually uraniumsplitting them apart. As the atoms split, they release more neutrons, which split more atoms in a sustained chain reaction, and energy. The energy is transferred to a circulating coolant, usually water, causing its temperature to rise. The heated coolant then passes through a heat exchanger, producing steam that drives an electrical turbine and creating usable energy. Talabi believes that SMRs offer a viable, environmentally-friendly alternative to fossil fuels, able to meet the worlds growing energy demands while slashing carbon emissions and air pollutants. I think nuclear power has the ability to solve [the worlds two biggest problems:] global energy poverty and global warming, Talabi told The Daily Beast. Nuclear can uniquely address those issues. A small modular reactor takes up a fraction of the area a traditional nuclear power plant does. Courtesy of Idaho National Laboratory While novel in the civilian energy sector, SMRs have powered naval warships and submarines for almost 70 years. U.S. naval nuclear reactors have logged more than 5,400 reactor years, and steamed more than 130 million miles without a single radiological incident or radiation-related fatality. This sterling safety record allows the U.S. Navy to operate its reactors largely without controversy even in Japan, a country that has a strong anti-nuclear movement birthed by Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and amplified by Fukushima. Story continues Despite the success, SMRsand nuclear power as a wholehave failed to catch on in the U.S. civilian energy sector. In fact, nuclear provides only about 20 percent of the nations energy, and all from aging large-scale reactors. Incidents such as Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima have further eroded public support. Even if it could overcome the PR hurdles, the industry still faces various financial and supply chain headaches. However, Dr. Talabi insists that all these issues can be solved or minimized by simply scaling down. For starters, he asserts that SMRs are far safer than large-scale reactors. The worst-case scenarios for traditional nuclear plants are loss of coolant or loss of flow accidents in which a plant loses its ability to remove heat produced by the fuel, and the core melts down. At Three Mile Island, this occurred due to a stuck open relief valve in the plants pressurizing system. At Fukushima, it was due to a loss of electrical power to the plants reactor coolant pumps. However, SMRs take advantage of cutting-edge design to eliminate the possibility of such accidents. Circulation through the core is accomplished using thermal convection (hot water rises, cold water sinks), so the plant can remove heat generated by its fuel even if electrical power is lost. Next-generation SMRs are also designed such that they dont require a pressurizing system like the one that failed at Three Mile Island. How We Might Finally Get Over Our Fear of Nuclear Power Even in the extraordinarily improbable event of a core meltdown, Talabi said that SMRs are still remarkably safe. Unlike their large-scale predecessors, the diminutive size of SMRs eliminates the need for active safety systems backed by human operators. If radionuclide particlesan unstable element thats harmful to humansare released from the core, gravity and other natural phenomena such as thermal and steam concentration will force them to settle safely within the confines of the plants containment vessel. In the yet more unlikely case that radionuclide particles breach the containment vessel, Talabis research indicates they will settle over a much smaller area than if they were released from a large-scale reactor, posing far less of a health and environmental hazard and simplifying cleanup. Safety aside, one of the greatest concerns critics have regarding SMRs is their cost. A recent production cost study by the German government holds that over 3,000 SMRs will need to be manufactured to offset their initial construction costs. But Talabi said that estimates like the German governments are dead wrong. Its as though weve only ever built tractor-trailers and were trying to figure out what the cost of a motorcycle is, he explained. Talabi claims that most economists simply take the production cost of a Westinghouse large scale AP1000 reactora popular nuclear power plant designand assume the cost of an SMR will be proportionally smaller. For example, they figure an SMR that produces 100 MWe of power will cost 10 percent as much as an AP1000 that produces 1000 MWe of power. However, the economists dont realize that many of the systems required by large-scale reactors, such as the ones that maintain pressure and coolant flow in the plants core, wont be miniaturized in the smaller plants. Theyll be eliminated. Inside the Gas Industrys Plan to Sink Nuclear Power SMRs should also be less expensive because they can be factory-fabricated, and their smaller parts will be easier for more manufacturers to produce. While only one or two suppliers worldwide can produce a reactor vessel for an AP1000, many manufacturers in the U.S. alone should be able to make one for an SMR. Despite his optimism for SMRs potential, Talabi acknowledges that they have some drawbacks. Widespread use may slash carbon emissions, but will necessitate increased uranium mining. They also create a security risk, as nuclear fuel will need to be transported between thousands of locations, and reactor sites may be targeted by warring states and terrorists. Government statutes also fail to account for differences between SMRs and large-scale reactors, inhibiting their construction. Developing countries badly in need of electrical power lack the regulatory infrastructure to accept the technology. And their citizensexposed to nuclear power only through bad news storiesmight be even harder to win over than Americans. That said, Talabi believes that SMRs potential in solving climate change and global energy poverty far outweighs their risks, and makes overcoming their obstacles well worth it. To that end, he founded Climate Action Through Nuclear Deployment in Developing Countries (CANDiD). CANDiD hopes to use technology to create regulatory frameworks that developing nations can utilize to accept and operate SMRs. It also aims to better familiarize the global population with the workings and benefits of nuclear plants. Its not a technology challenge, Talabi said. With public and government support, SMRs could soon be powering the globe with carbon-free electricity. To Talabi, its just a matter of awareness and understanding. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Chinese American actor Regina Ting Chen is joining the highly anticipated fourth season of Stranger Things. Chen, who currently lives in Atlanta, will portray Miss Kelly, the Hawkins High School guidance counselor. Chen has had a notable acting career so far, having appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home and several hit series such as Marvel's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, USA Networks Queen of the South and HBO's Watchmen. In an interview with Culture Map on Wednesday, Chen revealed that shes a big sci-fi nerd who was a fan of Stranger Things long before being cast as Miss Kelly. More from NextShark: New York pastor warns parents that Pixars Turning Red' is 'demonic' in film review I loved the show prior to even getting the audition, so you KNOW how stoked I was to have gotten a chance to read for the show. Its so rare! she said. According to Chen, the shows upcoming season is darker and scarier than it ever has been before. Its impossible. Hang on tight! Im right there with you because Im scared of the dark and everything spooky! Chen also talked about Asian representation with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, saying, Im a unique Chinese person. Im taller and more broad in the face, more Mongolian. I want to represent that. Im ready for the bigger stuff. Im going to keep fighting forward. Its a tough industry. More from NextShark: Turning Red: 19 surprising Easter eggs you might have missed while watching Pixar's new movie The new season of Stranger Things is making its Netflix debut on Friday. Featured Image via Mulderville More from NextShark: Jennie Nguyen says 'RHOSLC' co-star complicit in racism for not speaking against 'slanted eyes' remark Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Chinese actors brownface portrayal of a Filipino character on Hong Kong TV show draws backlash All four passengers aboard an aircraft that attempted to land on a rural airstrip in Alaska were injured after it crashed just shy of the runway, officials said. Three of the people travelling on board the de Havilland DHC-3 fixed-wing single-engine airplane were seriously injured and required treatment at nearby hospitals, the US Coast Guard said in a press release. The fourth person, the Coast Guard added, suffered only minor injuries and was able to be tended to by community members in the neighbouring community of Yakutat. The cause of the crash has yet to be determined and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate it, the Associated Press reported. On Tuesday at approximately 3pm, the charter flight for Yakutat Coast Airlines attempted to land on the tree lined airstrip but crashed just before reaching it, the Coast Guard said. One of the Coast Guards Sitka helicopters that arrived on the scene transported two of the injured people with critical injuries back to Yakutat while local authorities drove a third person who was experiencing breathing difficulties back to the same area. A de Havilland DHC-3 fixed-wing single engine plane crashed near Yakutat, Alaska, on Tuesday, 24 May 2022, injuring four. (US Coast Guard/Facebook) An aircrew from the Coast Guard then flew all three of those passengers to the Anchorage International Airport, where they were then transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center and Alaska Native Center. The fourth person, who was in more stable condition than the rest, was driven to the Yakutat community by a local volunteer. In April, a small plane transporting a Christian mission organisation also crashed in Alaska, injuring all five passengers on board. A recent investigation conducted by ProPublica in conjunction with KUCB found that Alaska makes up a growing share of Americas fatalities from aircraft crashes, which would include commuter, air taxi and charter flights. The crash occurred about 3pm on Tuesday as the charter flight was attempting to land on the Dry Bay airstrip in rural Alaska. (US Coast Guard/Facebook) The investigation found that while nationally, deaths from these kinds of crashes have been falling, in Alaska, the fatalities have actually increased from 26 per cent in 2000 to 42 per cent since 2016. Experts told the reporters at the time that the investigation was published in June 2021 that the Federal Aviation Administration, who oversees air travel regulations in the country, hadnt done enough to improve aviation safety in Alaska. Researchers studying human remains from Pompeii have extracted genetic secrets from the bones of a man and a woman who were buried when the Roman city was engulfed in volcanic ash. This first "Pompeian human genome" is an almost complete set of "genetic instructions" from the victims, encoded in DNA extracted from their bones. Ancient DNA was preserved in bodies that were encased in time-hardened ash. The findings are published in the journal Scientific Reports. The two people were first discovered in 1933, in what Pompeii archaeologists have called Casa del Fabbro, or The Craftsman's House. They were slumped in the corner of the dining room, almost as though they were having lunch when the eruption occurred - on 24 August 79AD. One recent study suggested that the huge cloud of ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius could have become lethal for the city's residents in less than 20 minutes. The two victims the researchers studied, according to anthropologist Dr Serena Viva from the University of Salento, were not attempting to escape. "From the position [of their bodies] it seems they were not running away," Dr Viva told BBC Radio 4's Inside Science. "The answer to why they weren't fleeing could lie in their health conditions." Clues have now been revealed in this new study of their bones. "It was all about the preservation of the skeletons," explained Prof Gabriele Scorrano, from the Lundbeck GeoGenetics centre in Copenhagen, who led the study. "It's the first thing we looked at, and it looked promising, so we decided to give [DNA extraction] a shot." Both the remarkable preservation and the latest laboratory technology allowed the scientists to extract a great deal of information from a "really small amount of bone powder", as Prof Scorrano explained. Story continues "New sequencing machines can [read] several whole genomes at the same time," he said. The genetic study revealed that the man's skeleton contained DNA from tuberculosis-causing bacteria, suggesting he might have had the disease prior to his death. And a fragment of bone at the base of his skull contained enough intact DNA to work out his entire genetic code. This showed that he shared "genetic markers" - or recognisable reference points in his genetic code - with other individuals who lived in Italy during the Roman Imperial age. But he also had a group of genes commonly found in those from the island of Sardinia, which suggested there might have been high levels of genetic diversity across the Italian Peninsula at the time. Prof Scorrano said there would be much more to learn in biological studies of Pompeii - including from ancient environmental DNA, which could reveal more about biodiversity at the time. "Pompeii is like a Roman island, " he added. "We have a picture of one day in 79AD." Dr Viva added that every human body in Pompeii was "a treasure". "These people are silent witnesses to one of the most well-known historical events in the world," she said. "To work with them is very emotional and a great privilege for me." Follow Victoria on Twitter More on the genetic mysteries of Pompeii on Inside Science on BBC Sounds Ant and Dec are apparently returning to the jungle. (ITV) Ant and Dec have confirmed that they are set to take I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! back to Australia this year. The reality series always used to take place Down Under, which the presenters have said is its "spiritual home". But for the past two years it has been held at Gwrych Castle in Wales because of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more: Ant McPartlin says I'm A Celeb could've 'easily' been cancelled if not for crew's efforts However, with travel restrictions easing, the boys have announced that they look on course to get back to Australia. Speaking on This Morning, Dec said: "As long as they let us in the country, we'll be back (there)." The show is usually in the Australian jungle. (ITV) "We had two lovely years in Wales. "We really enjoyed our time in Wales but the show has to be in Australia, we have to go back." Ant and Dec also chatted to hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about rumours of an 'All Star' series of the ITV reality show. The show has been at Gwrych Castle for the last two years. (PA) I dont know why its never been done before," said Ant. But its a spin-off from the main show where we have got ex-campmates who all come together in South Africa, competing in challenges and trials. "Should I keep talking? he asked, as Dec stepped in and warned him: "I dont think you should! I think this is a secret. Willoughby then asked: "So it's not just Kings and Queens?" The presenters are looking forward to returning Down Under. (ITV) And Ant confirmed that it wouldn't just be past winners of the programme, but other popular campers from across the series. "Stop talking!" Dec exclaimed, while everyone laughed. Read more: Richard Madeley reveals he was suffering from dehydration on I'm A Celeb I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! started in 2002 and had always aired in Australia until 2020, when it was moved to the castle in Abergele. It returned to Wales in 2021. The series was hit with problems, including having to pause for a few days after the production base was damaged during Storm Arwen. Watch: Ant and Dec hope 'I'm A Celeb' returns to Australia in 2022 Former President Trump and two of his adult children must provide testimony in the New York attorney generals probe into his business practices, a state appeals court ruled Thursday, rejecting his challenge to a subpoena. A four-judge panel for the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court unanimously ruled against Trumps appeal in the case, dismissing the former presidents arguments that the subpoena is part of a politically motivated investigation. OAG began its investigation after public testimony of a senior corporate insider and reviewed significant volumes of evidence before issuing the subpoenas, the panel wrote in its four-page decision, using an acronym for the Office of Attorney General. Appellants have not identified any similarly implicated corporation that was not investigated or any executives of such a corporation who were not deposed. Therefore, appellants have failed to demonstrate that they were treated differently from any similarly situated persons. The ruling also applies to Donald Trump Jr., who is currently an executive vice president at the familys company, and Ivanka Trump, who stepped down as a corporate officer in 2017. New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), who is conducting a civil investigation into potential fraud at the Trump Organization, applauded the decision. Once again, the courts have ruled that Donald Trump must comply with our lawful investigation into his financial dealings, James said in a statement. We will continue to follow the facts of this case and ensure that no one can evade the law. James has said that her investigation has found evidence that the Trump Organization fraudulently misrepresented the value of its assets in the years before Trump was elected. Trump attorney Alan Futerfas was not immediately able to comment on the decision. The ruling is not certain to bring an end to Trumps legal battles against James. He could still appeal the decision to the New York Court of Appeals, the states highest judicial body. And Trump is also asking a federal judge to block James from carrying out the investigation, though its not clear when that lawsuit might be decided. Story continues Trump had appealed a lower court ruling ordering him to provide testimony and documents to Jamess office. Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump in contempt earlier this month for failing to comply with the order to provide business records to the investigators. The former presidents lawyers had echoed his public accusations that Jamess investigation was motivated by political animus. They also argued that by forcing him to testify in the civil investigation, the attorney general is jeopardizing Trumps right against self-incrimination in the midst of a parallel criminal probe being carried out by the Manhattan district attorneys office. Futerfas had pointed to Jamess comments promising to go after Trump while campaigning for her office as evidence that the civil investigation is improper and intended to feed information to criminal investigators. They have never denied that whatever information they get under the guise of this civil subpoena is going to go right to the DAs office, Futerfas told the appellate panel at a hearing earlier this month. But the judges also rejected that argument on Thursday, saying James had a valid basis for launching an investigation, citing the congressional testimony that Trumps former attorney Michael Cohen gave in 2019 detailing fraudulent practices at Trumps business. The political campaign and other public statements made by OAG about appellants do not support the claim that OAG initiated, or is using, the subpoenas in this civil investigation to obtain testimony solely for use in a criminal proceeding or in a manner that would otherwise improperly undermine appellants privilege against self-incrimination, the panel said in its decision. Updated at 12:39 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. May 25INDIANA Captain Nate LaMar, Military Academy Liaison Officer for East-Central and Southeastern Indiana, has announced the following regarding area residents graduating from or soon entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York: Benjamin Kinker, son of August and Nancy Kinker of Greensburg. A member of Oldenburg Academy's Class of 2017, Benjamin majored in Business Management with a Systems Engineering track (minor). He graduated from West Point on May 21 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant (O-1) in the Regular Army as an Infantry officer, with his first assignment at Fort Riley, Kansas. The following area residents have been appointed to West Point, to which they will report for Cadet Basic Training in late June: John Hicks, son of Dr. and Mrs. Michael and Janet Hicks of Yorktown. Yorktown High School, Class of 2022. Nominated by Congressman Greg Pence. John also received a Presidential nomination, due to his father's military service career. Payton Plank, daughter of Forrest and Kelly Plank of New Castle. New Castle High School, Class of 2022. Nominated by US Senator Mike Braun. The following students were selected for West Point's week-long Summer Leaders Experience in June: Ella Dieterlen, daughter of Pete and Amy Dieterlen of Dillsboro. Currently a junior at Batesville High School. Tymon Ferguson, son of Paul and Michelle Ferguson of Columbus. Currently a junior at Columbus North High School. Information provided Information provided A U.S. soldier was indicted in federal court after authorities say he swindled nearly $150,000 from at least 25 people in romance scams and other schemes. Innocent N. Ugwu, 24, is now charged with five counts of wire fraud, five counts of laundering monetary instruments and one count of procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Kansas. The soldier, born in Nigeria and now based in Fort Riley, Kansas, is accused of running the schemes from July 2019 through January 2021, according to court records. Authorities say Ugwu enlisted in the Army and applied for U.S. citizenship in 2019. He completed basic training that March and was stationed in Kansas starting in August. As he served the U.S., Ugwu targeted victims with romance scams, advance fee schemes and other fraudulent tricks, according to an indictment filed in court. His defense attorney was not made publicly available as of May 26 and could not be reached for comment. In romance scams, authorities say impostors pose as a potential romantic partner on dating sites to trick people into sending money after expressing romantic interest. Advance fee schemes involve promising victims something like a loan, contract or gift of great value in exchange for money. However, the targeted individual actually receives little or nothing in return, officials said. Ugwu is also accused of providing false information on his citizenship application and in his interview for U.S. citizenship, according to court records. He completed the application in March 2019, but he was allowed to make updates in January 2020. Authorities say he didnt disclose that he took two trips longer than a day outside the U.S. within the last five years, and he claimed a marriage to a U.S. citizen after divorcing and remarrying a Nigerian citizen. Officials say he also falsely answered no to a question about if had committed or been involved in any criminal acts after he had been told his banking activity was fraudulent and criminal. Story continues Fort Bragg soldier deported after faking marriage to get green card, feds say Soldier helps organize sham marriage to skirt immigration laws in NC case, feds say Kansas National Guard soldier admits sexting 11-year-old child in Missouri, feds say By Dmitry Zhdannikov DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Fortescue Metals Group is funding research by a quantum computing venture into ways to produce cheap and abundant green hydrogen as part of the Australian mining giant's ambition to become the world's top green energy group. Founder Andrew Forrest told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos that Fortescue is becoming a funding research partner of Qlimate initiative, backed by Silicon Valley-based PsiQuantum, which aims to build the world's first utility-scale quantum computer this decade. Quantum computing is "a rapidly-emerging technology that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems too complex for classical computers," IBM says on its website. Transportation and high costs have so far presented the main hurdles to green hydrogen rivalling fossil fuels but Forrest, who is Australia's richest man, is betting that quantum computing will provide the solution to the puzzle. "Liquid hydrogen has the same degree of challenges that the natural gas industry had around this time a few decades ago," Forrest, who this month returned as executive chairman of the world's fourth-largest iron ore miner, said in an interview. "Unlike LNG (liquefied natural gas), which is 95% methane already, we can do anything with hydrogen. We can turn it into steel, turn it into fertilisers," Forrest added. Fortescue last year set out a plan to become carbon neutral by 2030, bringing forward the target by 10 years as it aims to start producing green hydrogen as soon as 2023. PsiQuantum was founded in 2016 by Australian-British professor Jeremy O'Brien and other academics to build the world's first commercially viable quantum computer. O'Brien said that once PsiQuantum builds the computer it will be able to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing mankind, including in areas of chemistry. Like the partnership with Fortescue on hydrogen, PsiQuantum has worked with German carmaker Mercedes to study battery chemistry as the world switches to electric vehicles. Story continues PsiQuantum has raised $665 million of funds to date including from fund manager BlackRock, Microsoft's venture fund M12 and Singapore's Temasek, according to its website. Forrest did not say how much funding Fortescue was contributing to the Qlimate initiative. He has previously called on rivals to speed up energy transition and use green hydrogen. "That would have to be the beginning of the end of global warming," Forrest said. "It is a very big vision and I have not received push back. People have been receptive," he said when asked about feedback from Fortescue's competitors. (Reporting by Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Alexander Smith) The baby formula selection at Walgreens, 1920 SE Washington Blvd., was sparse on Thursday, amidst a national baby formula shortage. It began in November, when about 11% of popular baby formula brands were out of stock, according to USA Today. Then came a voluntary recall from Abbott Nutrition, the largest infant formula manufacturer in the country, involving three types of infant formula in February. Four babies became sick with bacterial infections after consuming the products. Two of the infants died in late 2021 and early 2022, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Two months later, stores across the country continue reporting shortages and outages of baby formula. Because of supply chain shortages, consumers were already seeing a limited supply of baby formula products on the shelves. Nearly 40% of popular baby formula brands were sold out at retailers across the country at the end of April, according to USA Today worsening a 31% shortage two weeks prior to the recall. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: New Bern Sun Journal USA Today: Baby formula shortage: FDA chief admits federal regulators were 'too slow' to act As the supply of baby formula continues to worsen, mothers in New Bern say they are searching far and wide to ensure they can properly feed their children. So much so that some mothers are asking others if they are selling their breast milk. "I've heard that several mothers cant find it in stores so they are ordering online, but I've had one mother ask if I was selling my milk," said Ashley Ortiz of New Bern. Ortiz said she planned to stop nursing her son after six months. However, due to the formula shortage, she is forced to continue. Desperation has come into play with New Bern mother Kristen Carter, who says she has driven around Craven County multiple times and to multiple stores in order to find baby formula. More: Middle, lower-class locals, business owners in New Bern facing tough decisions More: 7% pay increase recommended for New Bern aldermen. Should it be more, less? Coupled with the high gas prices, Carter said it's like a double-edged sword where you can't find basic things for your child while wasting gas money looking for necessities. Story continues "At this point, we have resulted to ordering formula online and trying to stock up as best we can," Carter said. "I feel for the mothers who have to go through what we are going through right now." Earlier this week, a C-17 military plane with 78,000 pounds of formula for infants and toddlers with cow milk allergies arrived in Indiana to relieve struggling caretakers amid a national shortage, USA Today reported. More shipments are expected to arrive soon. In the meantime, one local pediatrician says there are several do's and dont's that mothers should follow while the shortages continue. What mothers should and should not do during this time of crisis With reinforcements on the way, there is still uncertainty about when the supply chain for baby formula will correct itself. CarolinaEast Pediatrician Dr. Jennie Mangun explained the health system understands the struggles mothers are going through and is doing everything it can to assist. "We are always pro-breastfeeding and some mothers just can't," said Mangum. "I've had mothers say they were unable to before but are trying as best they can to make it work because they are afraid they are not going to be able to get formula." Mangum said what mothers should do is just as important as what they shouldn't do in finding formula to feed their infants. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services issued the following guidance May 16: Do not water down your babys formula to stretch it out, it can be extremely dangerous to your baby to do so. Do not try to make homemade formula or give your baby toddler formula before their first birthday, these can also be dangerous to your baby. If you cant find formula or cant find your babys specific formula, work with your childs health care provider to determine the best feeding plan. Only buy formula from reputable retailers, not from unknown individuals, online resellers, or from overseas. How formula is stored and shipped can impact its safety for your baby. "If you can't find formula at big box stores, check out smaller grocery or drug stores," Mangum said. "There are also situations where mothers are pumping breastmilk for others and while you may know that person, you may not know their full medical history. Find accredited places so you can have more assurances that precautions have been taken to make sure (breastmilk) is safe." Federal government cutting red tap to alleviate the shortage It is not uncommon for pediatricians to have parents who are stressed, explained Mangum. There are a variety of factors that can cause stress and a shortage of baby formula can only add to it. Families across the country remain concerned about the availability of infant formula, especially families that rely on specialty products that are harder to substitute and some of which are only produced at the Michigan facility by Abbott Nutrition. In the last several months, the federal government has worked to address the production shortfall brought about by the recall. More infant formula has been produced in the last four weeks than in the four weeks that preceded the recall, despite the fact that one of the largest infant formula production facilities in the country has been offline during that period, according to The White House. Additional steps include cutting red tape to get more infant formula to the shelves by urging states to provide flexibility in the WIC program, which can be a key driver of some supply disruptions. State attorney generals are also being called on to crack down on price gouging and unfair market practices related to the sales of infant formula. Reporter Trevor Dunnell can be reached by email at tdunnell@newbernsj.com. Please consider supporting local journalism by signing up for a digital subscription. This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: New Bern mothers search for relief as baby formula shortage worsens WASHINGTON (Reuters) -K-pop superstars BTS will head to the White House next week to address hate crimes targeting Asians and people of Asian descent with U.S. President Joe Biden, the White House said in a statement on Thursday. Biden would host the global phenomenon musical group on Tuesday and would "discuss Asian inclusion and representation, and to address anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination which have become more prominent issues in recent years," it said. The seven members of the South Korean boy band are known for their upbeat songs and dances and have built a loyal global fan base, winning the IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year crown in February for the second straight year. The meeting comes as May's recognition of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) month comes to a close amid a sharp upswing in hate crimes against Asian Americans in the past year. Attacks against people of Asian descent have escalated as some politicians and pundits have encouraged Americans to blame China for COVID-19, amid other tensions. Just this month, a man was charged with allegedly shooting three women of Asian descent at a hair salon in Dallas. Authorities are investigating the incident as a potential hate crime. The K-pop stars are also known for using their lyrics and social campaigns aimed at empowering youngsters since debuting in 2013. "Biden and BTS will also discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion and BTS' platform as youth ambassadors who spread a message of hope and positivity across the world," the White House said in its statement. The group's management Big Hit Music said it was honored to be invited to the White House. "As we are visiting as artists representing South Korea, we look forward to discussing various topics including inclusion, diversity, anti-Asian hate crimes, culture and art," Big Hit Music said. Group leader and rapper RM shared the decision on its online fan platform, Weverse, saying the invitation has a "good cause." (Reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington and Hyonhee Shin and Minwoo Park in Seoul; Editing by Alex Richardson and Sam Holmes) On the second anniversary of George Floyds death at the hands of Minneapolis police, President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order on policing reforms for federal law enforcement. He had made a campaign promise to enact broader reform -- but Democrats in Congress failed to overcome Republican opposition to a measure that would hold local police accountable -- by making federal funding contingent on departments following congressionally-imposed requirements. The order signed Wednesday will apply to roughly 100,000 federal officers total, administration officials said. Speaking in the East Room surrounded by Floyds family members, relatives of Breonna Taylor and civil rights leaders, Biden celebrated the order as a "measure of what we can do together to heal the very soul of this nation to address profound fear and trauma exhaustion." But first, he and Vice President Kamala Harris briefly addressed the shooting that took place Tuesday at a Texas elementary school that left 19 young children and two teachers dead. "Enough is enough," Harris said. "We must work together to create an America where everyone feels safe in their community, where children feel safe in their schools." Biden, who confirmed he will be traveling to Texas with first lady Jill Biden in the coming days, called for gun control reform. "Were here today for the same purpose," Biden said, "to come together and say enough, to act, we must." PHOTO: President Joe Biden looks on prior to a signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House, May 25, 2022. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) The executive order signed by Biden will create a new national database that contains records of federal officer misconduct, including convictions, terminations, de-certifications, civil judgments, resignations and retirements while under investigation for serious misconduct. It also requires all federal law enforcement agencies to revise use-of-force policies, banning chokeholds and restricting the use of no-knock warrants -- two tactics that were widely criticized following the deaths of Floyd and Taylor. Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes. Taylor, a Black medical worker, was shot and killed by Louisville, Kentucky, police using a no-knock warrant in March 2020. Story continues MORE: Officers shouldnt have fired into Breonna Taylors home, report says Vice President Harris said Wednesday it was an honor to be joined by the families, stating shes been moved by their courage. "Your loved ones should be with us today," she added. "You should not have to mourn, should never have had to mourn in order for our nation to feel your pain and to understand what is wrong and to agree that something must be done." PHOTO: Vice President Kamala Harris speaks ahead of President Joe Biden's signing of an executive order to reform federal and local policing on the second anniversary of the death of George Floyd, during an event at the White House, May 25, 2022. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) MORE: More than a year after George Floyd's killing, Congress can't agree on police reform Harris also criticized Senate Republicans for not supporting the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a package of reforms passed by the House last year, stating the GOP members, "walked away from their moral obligation to address what caused millions of Americans to march in the streets." They walked away from their moral obligation to address what caused millions of Americans to march in the streets, Vice Pres. Harris says of Senate Republicans who did not support the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act. https://t.co/Xmb5NFJFRd pic.twitter.com/fDxTahbGYQ ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 25, 2022 On Wednesday, Biden once again called on lawmakers to pass the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act, stating he held off on signing the executive order because he was afraid it would undercut the effort on Capitol Hill to pass reforms. "Today we're acting," Biden said. "We're showing that speaking out matters, feeling engaged matters, that the work of our time -- healing the soul of this nation -- is ongoing and unfinished and requires all of us never to give up." Biden invited Floyd's daughter, Gianna, to come and sit at the desk where he signed the order. "A few years ago ... she pulled me aside and she said, 'My daddy is gonna change the world,'" Biden said at the ceremony. ABC News' Armando Garcia contributed to this report. Biden orders federal policing reform on 2nd anniversary of George Floyd's killing originally appeared on abcnews.go.com WASHINGTON A bipartisan group of senators on Thursday kicked off informal talks on gun safety legislation after a pair of horrific mass shootings at a Texas elementary school and a New York grocery store injected new life into stalled efforts to combat gun violence. The talks are being led by two Connecticut Democrats, Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, who were heavily involved in the failed efforts to pass background check legislation in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in their state nearly a decade ago. The group met Thursday in Murphys hideaway, a small private space he has in the basement of the Senate. Other Democrats in attendance were Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Joe Manchin of West Virginia. The Republicans who joined the meeting were Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana joined by phone. Negotiators said they will break off into smaller working groups to focus on specific pieces of a potential gun safety package. For example, Manchin and Toomey had struck a deal on background checks after the Sandy Hook massacre, but it was defeated in 2013. They will revive those efforts. "Joe and I have a long history of working together, a history of mutual respect and friendship. That's my relationship with Joe," Toomey told NBC News after the meeting. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said that he encouraged Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, to meet with the group and that he was "hopeful that we could come up with a bipartisan solution thats directly related to the facts of this awful massacre." Its unclear what if anything the new bipartisan group will be able to accomplish. During the past decade, the nation has been traumatized by a seemingly endless list of mass shootings in Tucson, Arizona; Aurora, Colorado; Newtown, Connecticut; Charleston, South Carolina; Las Vegas; Parkland, Florida; San Bernardino, California. And yet Congress has been paralyzed with inaction on gun safety measures, largely because of Senate Republicans who say solutions to gun violence should come from states rather than Washington. Story continues People rally against guns outside the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. (Frank Thorp/NBC News) On Thursday, Senate Republicans blocked a House-passed bill to improve communication and information-sharing among law enforcement agencies when it comes to white supremacist and other domestic terrorist groups. That was a response to the May 14 shooting in Buffalo, New York, where a gunman targeted Black shoppers in a grocery store, killing 10. Senate negotiators are tamping down expectations and taking a more realistic approach. It wont be everything I want. It wont be universal background checks. It likely wont be a ban on assault weapons. But, you know, maybe its an expansion of background checks. Maybe its red flag laws. Maybe its adjusting the age that you can purchase weapons, Murphy said Thursday on MSNBCs Andrea Mitchell Reports. Whatever it is, if it saves lives, its good enough for me. Its a start. So Im sober-minded about our prospects, our chances of success, but Im going to do my best. As Murphy acknowledged that universal background checks and a ban on so-called assault weapons won't be included in the package, President Joe Biden injected himself into the negotiations by specifying for the first time since the Uvalde shooting what exactly he wants lawmakers to do. "Congress needs to pass universal background checks, ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines," Biden tweeted Thursday. "Its time to turn this pain into action." While those moves aren't on the table, one idea that does seem to be gaining some bipartisan traction has to do with so-called red flag laws, which allow authorities to confiscate firearms from people who are deemed to be dangers to themselves or others. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., rolled out legislation to provide incentives for states through Justice Department grants to enact red flag laws like the one in Florida. The bill was a response to the shooting in 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, where a 19-year-old gunman murdered 17 people, most of them students. Graham and Blumenthal also have teamed up on similar red flag legislation centering on incentives for states and establishing national standards for red flag laws. They will break off from the larger group and work on a new red flag proposal. But both Democrats and Republicans conceded that legislation mandating a red flag law across all 50 states would never secure the 60 votes needed to clear the Senate. Theres no mystery about taking away a firearm, a weapon, from someone who shows they are dangerous to themselves or others, someone who says Im going to kill people or Im going to kill myself, Blumenthal said at a rally with dozens of gun safety activists sporting red shirts outside the Capitol. A red flag statute is imperative. And I want to see a vote on the floor of the United States Senate on background checks and a red flag statute. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has agreed to give Murphy and Blumenthals group 10 days to reach a bipartisan deal on gun safety. If they fail, he has vowed to bring a pair of House-passed bills to the Senate floor that would expand background checks for gun purchases. Schumer was skeptical, saying Democrats have been "burned so many times before" on gun measures. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., also isn't holding her breath. "I'll believe it when I see it," Warren told reporters. "The Republicans want to talk and deflect and change the subject until the world moves on without ever doing anything about gun violence in this country. ... "Guns are the issue, and that's what Republicans don't want to talk about." As Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine escalated on Thursday, a top Ukrainian defense official said the fighting had reached "maximum intensity." In Moscow, Russian lawmakers agreed to scrap the age limit of 40 for those signing their first voluntary military contracts a move that could bolster its overstretched forces. And in Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday the Biden administration wants to rally the international coalition opposing Russia's invasion of Ukraine to also help counter China, which the U.S. sees as a more serious, long term threat to the global order. While the U.S. sees Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine as the most acute and immediate threat to international stability, Blinken said the administration believes China poses a greater danger. Even as President Putins war continues, we will remain focused on the most serious long-term challenge to the international order and that is the one posed by the Peoples Republic of China, Blinken said in a major address at George Washington University. China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it, he said. Beijings vision would move us away from the universal values that have sustained so much of the worlds progress over the past 75 years. Latest developments: The Ukrainian governor of the eastern Luhansk region says Russian bombardments killed three people in and around the city of Lysychansk, which is a key focus of fighting. In the northern Kharkiv region, governor Oleh Synehubov said two men were killed and 10 others injured, including a 9-year-old girl, in shelling of the town of Balakliya. The Russian military says it has destroyed a large Ukrainian unit with equipment at a railway station in the east. The U.S. will close the last avenue for Russia to pay its billions in debt to international investors on Wednesday, making Russia's first default on its debts in more than a century all but inevitable. The Treasury Department said it does not intend to renew the license for Russia to keep paying its debtholders through American banks. Story continues USA TODAY ON TELEGRAM: Join our Russia-Ukraine war channel to receive updates straight to your phone One U.S. military officer in Ukraine as part of the American diplomatic team The move to reopen the U.S. embassy in Ukraine has brought one American military officer back into the country as part of the diplomatic team, according to the Associated Press. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the defense attache, a colonel, has gone back to Kyiv with other embassy staff. The defense attache reports to the chief of mission and is there for diplomatic work, not security. Kirby said that so far, the State Department is handling embassy protection with diplomatic security personnel and has not asked for Marines. And no other troops are going into Ukraine at this point. Nothing has changed about the presidents direction that US troops will not be fighting in this war in Ukraine, Kirby told reporters at the Pentagon. He said active discussions about security are ongoing with the State Department. Russia starts broadcasting state-controlled news in Mariupol Russia has started broadcasting its state television news in the ravaged port city of Mariupol and other locations it controls in eastern Ukraine, Russian and Ukrainian officials said Thursday. Russia said it has launched three mobile complexes for informing and alerting the population that will be broadcasting news for two hours in different parts of Mariupol. Such mobile units also operate in the city of Volnovakha and the Lyman district of Ukraine's Donetsk province, broadcasting state news, practical information and cartoons for children, Russian state news agency Tass reported Thursday. Belarus will send troops to the Ukraine border, president says Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday he was forming a southern military command and sending battalion tactical groups to the area that borders Ukraine. Lukashenko did not give details, but battalion tactical groups typically consist of mechanized infantry including tanks. Russia used Belarusian territory for rocket attacks on Ukraine at the start of the war, but the country's military has not joined the Russian ground operation. Ukrainian authorities have expressed concern that Belarus may agree to a wider participation in the war. A man helps his father in the basement of their building, where they are living, in Lysychansk, a city without electricity and water, in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas, on May 26, 2022. - Ukraine said may 26 the war in the east of the country had hit its fiercest level yet as it urged Western allies to match words with support against invading Russian forces. Moscow's troops are pushing into the industrial Donbas region after failing to take the capital Kyiv, closing in on several urban centers including the strategically located Severodonetsk and Lysychansk. Finland prime minister visits Ukraine KYIV Finlands Prime Minister Sanna Marin has become the latest European leader to visit Ukraine. Marin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday in Kyiv, according to Ukraine's presidential office. She also visited the towns of Bucha and Irpin where Russian soldiers are alleged to have killed civilians, the office said in a press release. Zelenskyy thanked Marin for Finlands weapons deliveries and its support for sanctions against Russia. "These are very important direct signals of support, first of all for the Ukrainian people, our people, who see that they are not left alone with todays ordeals," Zelenskyy said. Jolted by Russias invasion of Ukraine, Finland recently broke with its policy of non-alignment and applied for membership in NATO together with neighboring Sweden. -Associated Press, Ella Lee Russia has lost substantial amount of military equipment, Pentagon says The Russian military has lost 1,000 tanks, 350 artillery cannons, 50 helicopters and three dozen warplanes since invading Ukraine on Feb. 24, a senior Defense Department official said Thursday. The official said the losses are substantial for Russia. However, Russia still has the majority of the combat forces it deployed to attack Ukraine and more troops and equipment in the fight than Ukraine, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe intelligence assessments. President Vladimir Putin has committed 80% of Russias combat forces to the war in Ukraine, the official said. Those forces continue to make incremental progress in eastern Ukraine with smaller units and smaller objectives than earlier in the war. Resistance from Ukrainian troops remains stiff, the official said. They continue to push Russian troops away from Kharkiv, Ukraines second largest city. Russian troops continue to be killed daily, the official said, declining to say how many casualties its military has suffered since the start of the war. Russia reinforcements to Ukraine are increasingly reservists, the official said. Russia has also raised the age limit for enlistment from 40 to 50. Meanwhile, western military aid and training continues to flow into Ukraine, the official said. U.S. troops are training Ukrainian forces on the use of Harpoon anti-ship missiles that Denmark is providing. The potent missiles are intended to help Ukraine defend its Black Sea coastline. Harpoons are designed to be fired from ships. The Ukrainians will launch them from the ground, requiring significant training, the official said. Ukrainian troops are firing 85 of the 108 M777 howitzer cannons the Pentagon has sent to Ukraine, the official said. Artillery such as the howitzer has become central to the fighting in eastern Ukraine where open terrain favors long-range attacks. U.S. urges groups to keep allowing Russia online Internet providers around the globe should continue to provide services to Russia to encourage the flow of independent information, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said during a briefing Wednesday. We urge involved players around the world not to disconnect Russia from the Internet, so that information continues to flow into the country, and the Internet remains free and open within Russia itself, Price said. -Ella Lee Putin: West will fail in effort to isolate Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin says the West will fail in its attempts to isolate Russia and face growing economic problems. Speaking Thursday via video link to members of the Eurasian Economic Forum, Putin said Russia wasnt going to shut itself off from international cooperation. The forum includes several countries that used to be part of the Soviet Union. Putin said that trying to isolate Russia is impossible, utterly unrealistic in the modern world and those who try to do it primarily hurt themselves. The Russian leader cited growing economic challenges in the West, including inflation unseen in 40 years, growing unemployment, rupture of supply chains and the worsening of global crises in such sensitive spheres as food. This is not a joke, he said. This is a serious thing that will have an impact on the entire system of economic and political relations. Zelenskyy offers condolences after Texas school shooting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered condolences to the families of the 19 children killed in an elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. It's "terrible to have victims of shooters in peaceful times," Zelenskyy said while speaking at a news conference Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. "I would like to express my condolences to all of the relatives and family members of the children who were killed in an awful shooting in Texas in a school," Zelenskyy said. "The people of Ukraine share the pain of the relatives and friends of the victims and all Americans." Authorities said a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday in Uvalde, a small community about an hour from the Mexican border. -Scott Gleeson Contributing: Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine updates: US to use coalition against Russia to counter China Gentry Middle School 7th graders Ryan McClain, left, and Coleon Goolsby cheer a correct answer in a trivia match on the last full day of school in CPS. The multipurpose room at Gentry Middle School buzzed with activity on Wednesday, the last full day of school in Columbia Public Schools. Gentry students competed in a trivia contest, with teacher Michelle Haas reading off questions. "What is the name of the Mizzou mascot?" "Which U.S. president is from Missouri?" "Name two of the three secretaries. Extra points for all three." "What is Missouri's nickname?" For a while, Principal Josh Johnson made his way around to tables offering a little help. Students will be released early from school on Thursday. It has been a weird, sometimes difficult, school year, and it was Brian Yearwood's first school year as superintendent. More: Columbia Public Schools superintendent Brian Yearwood on school safety and the Texas shooting Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood, left, congratulates Jefferson Middle School eighth-grade social studies teacher Sean Dwyer after he was presented with the Columbia Fund for Academic Excellence Award. The school year began with students in-seat, but required to wear masks. Masks remained an issue for the majority of the school year, with opponents and proponents speaking at school board meetings, student walkouts protesting the school board dropping the mask mandate and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt suing the district over its mask requirement. "The mask issue has not been resolved yet," Yearwood said. "We are in the middle of litigation." His wife was still unpacking from their move when news of Schmitt's first lawsuit arrived, Yearwood said. She asked him if she should begin repacking. "I told her 'No, we are staying the course because we believe in the great work we're doing in Columbia Public Schools,'" Yearwood said. More: Superintendent Brian Yearwood gets raise, contract extension from Columbia Public Schools While there have been what Yearwood called "trials and tribulations," he reeled off several high points. They included last week's graduation of more than 1,200 scholars, including 36 who graduated with associate degrees from Moberly Area Community College. Mun Choi, University of Missouri System president and MU chancellor, on Friday helps Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood adjust his tassel before the Douglass High School graduation ceremony in Jesse Auditorium. Yearwood also mentioned Presidential Scholar Kyle Chen and Jefferson Middle School teacher Cassidy Urie, who won a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Story continues The school year also included criticism from State Rep. Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport, who alleged the school district was teaching Critical Race Theory and called for Yearwood's resignation. "The support from the Columbia community reassured me," Yearwood said. The local NAACP chapter held an event after Basye's comments, with speakers voicing support for Yearwood and condemning Basye's remarks. "CRT has a place at the collegiate level," Yearwood said. "I don't see a place for it in our schools." State Rep. Cheri Reisch, R-Hallsville, also has criticized the district over masks and during a legislative hearing, referring to the school district, said "Columbia sucks." Yearwood and Reisch hugged during an event at Battle High School. "We're working together now and we've had several meetings," Yearwood said of Reisch. "At the end of the day, we all want what's best for our scholars," he said of himself, Basye and Reisch. There was a huge shortage of substitute teachers in late January brought on by a spike in COVID cases. The mask requirement, which had been relaxed, was brought back. The school board approved teacher workdays without students as a relief valve. Additional pay for CPS teachers filling in for absent CPS teachers was approved and now is part of teacher contracts. It worked, Yearwood said. "We had to mitigate that situation in an unprecedented time," Yearwood said. Everyone worked together to come up with solutions, he said. "It was a plan that was effective in allowing our teachers time to regroup and re-energize," Yearwood said. The teaching staff and administrative staff are very dedicated, he said. Voters in April overwhelmingly approved an $80 million bond issue. The victory ratio was 76% to 24%. It will finance two elementary schools, an addition at Battle Elementary School and an addition and renovation at the Columbia Area Career Center. Money for other projects, including safety and security, is in the plan. "The Columbia community has always supported our schools," Yearwood said. "That was a huge defining moment for me, personally, to experience the continued commitment to our schools." And the school board extended his contract and gave him a raise. "I'm very humbled by the support of the school board," Yearwood said. "My success would not be possible without the school board." Looking ahead, Yearwood said he wants the start of the 2022-23 school year on Aug. 23 to be a big celebration. "We want our scholars to feel like rock stars," Yearwood said. "It will be a day of celebration for our scholars returning." And the rest of the school year? "We will continue to put scholars first and focus on academic growth," Yearwood said. "We will continue to build innovation in our schools to meet the needs of our scholars. "We will strive to be the best school district in the state of Missouri." Roger McKinney is the education reporter for the Tribune. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia superintendent Brian Yearwood reflects on first year (Reuters) - Britain's competition regulator on Thursday launched its second probe into the advertising practices of Google, saying the Alphabet-owned search giant could be distorting competition and may have illegally favoured its own services. The Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) latest probe follows its into Google and Facebook owner-Meta's "Jedi Blue" agreement earlier this year. Governments around the world are strengthening the regulation of U.S. tech giants that have become even more powerful during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are multiple investigations globally into their market positions, including in the United States and the European Union. Britain imposed a new competition regime last year to prevent Google and Facebook using their dominance to push out smaller firms and disadvantage customers. The move created a dedicated Digital Markets Unit within the CMA which could be given powers to suspend, block and reverse decisions made by technology firms and to impose financial penalties for non-compliance. Companies were told they needed to be more transparent about how they used consumer data and that advertising practices needed to adapt to changing expectations around how data was collected and used. The CMA said on Thursday it was examining three key parts of the ad tech stack chain, services that mediate ad tech, since Google owned the largest provider in each of those components. "We're worried that Google may be using its position in ad tech to favour its own services to the detriment of its rivals, of its customers and ultimately of consumers," said CMA Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli in a . A Google spokesperson told Reuters the company would continue to work with the CMA to answer its questions and share the details on how the company's systems work. (Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm; Editing by Aditya Soni, Matt Scuffham and Mark Potter) British authorities are examining funds said to have been sent to a company that manages Petr Aven's mansion, The Daily Telegraph reported. Reuters British law enforcement raided a Russian oligarch's mansion and seized 30,000 ($37,700) in cash, The Daily Telegraph reported. The EU and UK have sanctioned the oligarch, Petr Aven, who's worth an estimated $5.3 billion. British authorities are investigating possible sanctions violations by Aven, The Telegraph said. British authorities raided sanctioned Russian oligarch Petr Aven's mansion and seized around 30,000 ($37,700) in cash, The Daily Telegraph reported. Several dozen officers from the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) searched Aven's property in Surrey, southern England, The Telegraph said, citing sources with knowledge of the operation. Authorities are thought to be examining a transfer of money to a company that manages Aven's mansion, The Telegraph said. Sanctioned individuals in the UK require licenses to spend money. The Telegraph said there was no suggestion Aven was in possession of the cash at the time of the search, which happened recently. Aven previously told the Financial Times that his wife had visited cash machines in London to withdraw as much money as she could before his assets were frozen, and that he didn't know "how to survive" being sanctioned. Aven also told The FT that sanctions on Russian oligarchs were "understandable" but "not fair." The West imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia and many of its oligarchs after the country invaded Ukraine in late February. Both the EU and the UK have sanctioned Aven, cofounder of LetterOne and former president of Alfa-Bank, whose net worth Bloomberg puts at around $5.3 billion. An NCA spokesperson said: "The NCA does not routinely confirm or deny the existence of investigations, including those who may or may not be the subject of them." Aven declined to comment to The Telegraph and Alfa-Bank didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on his behalf. The EU has said that Aven, who formerly served as Russia's minister of foreign economic relations, is one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's "closest oligarchs" and they regularly meet at the Kremlin. Story continues The UK has frozen Aven's assets, thereby preventing UK businesses from dealing with his funds and barring his access to economic resources. Aven and his business partner Mikhail Fridman both resigned from Moscow-based Alfa-Bank's board of directors the day after they were sanctioned. They also both left the board of LetterOne, the London-based investment firm they co-founded, and Aven said that its staff had since been "afraid" to meet with him personally. Aven and Fridman both told Reuters in March that they would "contest the spurious and unfounded basis for the imposition of these sanctions." Read the original article on Business Insider A mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, left at least 21 people dead. Armed police officers were standing outside the school during the attack, bystanders told the AP. They said they were angry at the police's apparent lack of action and debated charging in themselves. Bystanders were so frustrated with police officers not entering Robb Elementary School during Tuesday's shooting that they considered storming the building themselves, the Associated Press reported. Juan Carranza, who lives opposite the school in Uvalde, Texas, told the AP that people were shouting at police officers to enter the building as the shooting unfolded, but to no avail. "Go in there! Go in there!" he said he heard one woman shouting. Javier Cazares, whose daughter was one of the victims of the attack, told the AP that he suggested storming the school building with other bystanders because the police "weren't doing anything." "Let's just rush in because the cops aren't doing anything like they are supposed to," Cazares suggested to people, he told the AP. "They were unprepared," Cazares said in reference to the police officers. "More could have been done." It is currently unclear if any police officers were in the building at the time. Officials said that two officers who encountered the shooter as he entered the building were shot and injured, AP reported. A video shared on social media showed a crowd of distressed people outside the school arguing with armed police officers who seemed to have blocked access to the building with yellow tape. At one point, one person can be heard shouting at police officers: "What are you doing? Get inside the building!" It is unclear whether the video was shot during or after the shooting. Insider was unable to independently verify the video. The shooting has left 21 people, including 19 children, dead. All those killed were in the same fourth-grade classroom, the AP and CNN reported, citing authorities. Story continues While he was in the classroom, police helped other students and teachers escape, officials said, per AP. The gunman was killed at the scene by law enforcement around 40 minutes after he first entered the building, officials said, the AP reported. Lt. Chris Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety told CNN on Wednesday that the gunman had barricaded himself inside the classroom, which left officers at a disadvantage. "There was not sufficient manpower at that time, and their primary focus was to preserve any further loss of life," he told CNN. US Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz defended police officers' actions, also telling CNN that they "entered that classroom and they took care of the situation as quickly as they possibly could." The Uvalde Police Department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Insider CAMDEN - Holding blood red carnations and bright yellow demonstration posters, students streamed out of the Camden High School campus building and onto Park Boulevard. "No more violence!" some students shouted. Some giggled as kids in front of news cameras might as they walked swiftly down the school's front steps. Their hand-written signs called for an end to gun violence. Students across the nation participated in similar school walk-outs Thursday, with the same message: Stop gun violence in our schools. The small demonstration emerged moments after Camden City Schools Superintendent Katrina McCombs announced new measures to protect her public school district children. Every public school campus in the city, including Renaissance and charter schools, will have an immediate heightened police presence, she said. Armed police officers will patrol school grounds through the end of the school year, and into summer break while summer school and other youth activities go on inside the buildings at least until August. Elsewhere in NJ: Texas school shooting stokes Shore parents' fears, prompts extra patrols Camden High School students hold a planned protest against gun violence on the steps of the Park Boulevard building Thursday, moments after the Superintendent announced increased police pressence in city public schools, May 26, 2022. McCombs and Camden County Police Chief Gabriel Rodriguez are discussing what law enforcement presence will look like on Camden's public schools campuses come September. Rodriguez's immediate concern is for "copycats" acting after Tuesday's devastating school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Two teachers and 19 students were killed in the Texas shooting. It came just after the United States hit 200 mass shootings nationwide for 2022, and 10 days after 10 people were gunned down in a Buffalo grocery store. "Our families deserve to know and be assured their students are safe each and every day," McCombs said. By Sept. 1, every city school building will have silent alarms to protect every door. The installation is already ongoing, with several schools' silent systems already active. Story continues Until then, Rodriguez's Metro force with support from the Sheriff's department and prosecutor's office will keep a close watch on Camden schools. Camden City Schools Superintendent Katrina McCombs announced heightened armed police presence in public schools, May 26, 2022, in the wake of the Uvalde, Texas school shooting. City high schools are already covered, the chief said. Two to three officers will be sent to schools daily as part of officers' daily walking beats. The increased campus patrols will bring no additional cost to the school district. The department may see officer overtime increases, though, Rodriguez said. "They'll give their life to stop that person from harming any children," the chief assured. "We train constantly to respond to these types of incidences." Carly Q. Romalino is a Gloucester County native who's covered South Jersey since 2008. She's a Rowan University graduate and a 10-time New Jersey Press Association award winner. Romalino is based at the Courier-Post and covers South Jersey schools and education issues for the Courier-Post, Daily Journal and Burlington County Times. She hosts NJ Press Pass, a live social media-based interview show diving into what matters to South Jersey residents. Help support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier Post. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Camden NJ students protest violence following Texas school shooting By Steve Scherer OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's delayed decision to ban Huawei Technologies Co 5G equipment is putting pressure on Ottawa to deliver on a promised Indo-Pacific strategy, and to further diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China for things like critical minerals, which is emerging as the battleground for clean technology. Last week's decision to ban Huawei 5G gear was the last vestige of a diplomatic dispute with China that dates back to 2018. With that, Canada joined its Five-Eyes intelligence-sharing partners United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand to ban Huawei equipment over national security concerns. Canada's decision was complicated by diplomatic tensions, after the detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018 and Beijing's subsequent arrest of two Canadians on spying charges. The standoff ended when all three people were released in September after U.S. prosecutors reached a deal with Meng. The same month, the United States, Britain and Australia signed a security pact for the Indo-Pacific, and this week Washington launched an economic engagement plan in Asia, all with an eye to managing Chinese hegemony in the region. Trudeau delayed the Huawei decision in 2019 because he was reluctant to move until the fate of the Canadians held in China became clearer, sources told Reuters at the time. Coming much later than America's action, Canada is now playing catch-up on its Indo-Pacific strategy. Canada also needs powerful partners to have influence there, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has promised to come up with an Indo-Pacific strategy of its own. "The word is out that Canada is just not as reliable a partner as it used to be," said Charles Burton, a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute policy think tank and former Canadian diplomat who served two tours in China. "Australia, the UK, and the U.S. are collaborating on security in the Asia Pacific, and last time I looked at the map, the UK was not an Asia Pacific country, but Canada is," Burton said. Story continues Trudeau has said Canada does not need to be part of the security pact. On Tuesday, he said Canada belongs to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership and another trade agreement in Asia is unnecessary. The government is working on "a way forward" on its Indo-Pacific strategy, a source familiar with the matter said. The future Indo-Pacific strategy will be aimed at engaging with China on trade and things like fighting climate change, while competing in other areas like critical minerals, and confronting it on human rights issues, the source said. Canada is already taking action to develop a domestic supply chain for critical minerals needed for electric vehicles and energy storage to wean it from dependence on China, which is by far the world's largest producer. Here Canada has partners. Last year, Canada and the European Union launched a strategic partnership on raw materials to reduce dependence on China, and officials have open channels with the United States on providing critical minerals there. Canada's 2022 Budget in April proposed C$3.8 billion ($3 billion) in investments over eight years to boost production and processing of critical minerals. After Huawei, "the Canadian government is much more mindful of the vulnerabilities created by dependence on China for critical materials in supply chains," said Roland Paris, a former foreign policy adviser to Trudeau and professor of international affairs at University of Ottawa. (Reporting by Steve Scherer; Editing by Denny Thomas and Nick Zieminski) Capitol Police's decision last month to evacuate the Capitol complex due to a false airplane threat occurred as officials were telling officers the plane posed no danger, according to an internal FAA timeline of events obtained by POLITICO. The House and Senate were out of town on April 20, the day of the evacuation, though the incident caused alarm among staff at the Capitol campus, especially in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack. The plane was actually an U.S. Army parachute plane taking part in a Nationals baseball game demonstration. The situation raised questions about interagency communication with the Capitol Police and the departments evacuation procedures. Since then, the FAA has admitted fault for its failure to provide advance notification of the flight to the Capitol Police, and top lawmakers have vowed accountability for the incident. At 6:26 p.m. on April 20, officers at the Capitol reported seeing a Cessna airplane flying in the vicinity of the Capitol, according to the FAA's timeline of events. About a minute later, the officer on watch at the Capitol called the Capitol Polices officer at the National Capital Region Coordination Center, the interagency group monitoring D.C.s airspace, and asked if they knew anything about a Cessna flying through the area. The officer at the center told the officer on watch that the only aircraft the center saw was the authorized Golden Knights flight, which was not in the prohibited airspace around the Capitol, according to the timeline. By 6:29 p.m. the Federal Aviation Administration official at the coordination center, located in Herndon, Va. verified the Golden Knights flight was a solo flight and told the USCP officer at the center that the flight was a single aircraft on an authorized flight, the FAA timeline said. The USCP officer at the coordination center then called the departments commander at the Capitol to tell them about the solo Golden Knights flight. Then, 42 seconds into the conversation, the coordination center officer was informed the Capitol Police had begun an evacuation of the Capitol, according to the timeline. Story continues The Capitol Polices commander at the Capitol told their officer at the center to figure it out because the Capitol complex had been evacuated, the FAA timeline said, in an apparent flash of frustration. Before the evacuation was confirmed, the centers Air Traffic Security Coordinator observed media reports that the Capitol was being evacuated, requesting more information from the Watch Officer. When the officer replied that Capitol Police did not send out an alert to evacuate, the center believed the media reports were false and no evacuation was underway. Reuters first reported the timeline. The FAA referred POLITICO to its previous statements on the matter, reiterating the agency is conducting a further review into the communication breakdown with partner and other law enforcement agencies. The Capitol Police declined to comment on the timeline. The department has previously defended its actions on April 20 and said officers followed USCP policies and procedures. "The United States Capitol Police must make split-second decisions that could make the difference between life and death," the department said in a April 21 statement. (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Wire) The Prince of Wales has spoken out about the nightmare situation in Ukraine during a trip to Romania to meet refugees who have fled the war in their homeland. Charles was joined by distant relative Margareta, head of the Romanian royal family, for the unannounced tour of a donation centre for refugees in the capital Bucharest. More than a million Ukrainians have crossed the border into Romania since the Russian invasion in February and the nation has had to quickly adapt to deal with the needs of the displaced. Speaking through an interpreter, the prince told a group of Ukrainian families: We feel for Ukraine, a nightmare situation. Keep praying. Charles, who at one point clasped hands with a little boy, added: Im full of admiration for the Ukrainian people. (PA Wire) He met representatives from non-governmental organisations and charities like the Salvation Army and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, working at the Romexpo donation centre to provide everything from childrens toys and toiletries to household goods and pet food. Lilia Nimych, 33, an entrepreneur who produced a range of pet products in her home city of Bila Tserkva in central Ukraine, fled with her daughters Emily, six, and Nilana, 14. She said: Im so happy we came here, weve received so much help. All we saw from windows was bombs dropping thats why we left. We saw bombs coming down on our city scary. (PA Wire) After hearing Charless words of support she said: It makes us brave and gives us the power to stand tall. Charles chatted briefly to Stephen Noble, a minister and Major with the Scarborough branch of the Salvation Army, who for the past month has been working in Romania with the organisations international emergency services section. The section deploys to disasters around the world and from the distribution centre has been providing 10 vouchers to Ukrainians aged under 18 for their families to spend on goods they need. The minister said: It may not seem a huge amount but when you think were seeing something in the order of 13,500 people, thats a lot of money. Story continues (PA Wire) I guess always were trying to bring dignity to people who are in tough situations, here weve got a lot of provision for clothing and provision for food and hygiene, this gives people the dignity to use the voucher in supermarkets, or pharmacies, or even for fuel. The princes tour of the Romexpo donation centre is the latest in a series of events he has attended to show solidarity with the plight of Ukraine and its people. He has been a regular visitor to Romania over the past 20 years and set up the Prince of Wales Foundation Romania to support the development of farming, traditional skills and the preservation of historic buildings through training. It is thought Charles, who earlier met Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, is spending time privately in the country ahead of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations which begin next week. Charles was joined throughout the visit by local and national politicians alongside Margareta, who does not use her title of Queen of Romania but is known as the Custodian of the Romanian Crown. Cosmina Simiean, general manager of the Municipality of Bucharests social assistance department, organised the depot for the refugees, bringing together the NGOs and charities under one roof. Speaking candidly about the issues they faced, when Ukrainians first arrived in the capital by train, she said: We are not prepared in Romania for refugees, it doesnt have a tradition for refugees. But she said her team managed the situation. Highlighting the importance of supporting the refugees, Ms Simiean said Ukrainian women cried when they gave them baby bottles to replace ones they had been unable to sterilise for days. She said about the royal visit: Prince Charles just stopping by and saying hello, it means a lot. China's premier has sounded an unusually stark warning about the world's second-largest economy, saying it must return to normal as the country's zero-Covid strategy bites into growth. China is the last major economy welded to a policy of mass testing and rapid lockdowns to eliminate virus clusters, but the strict curbs have battered businesses. Restrictions on dozens of cities in recent months -- including the manufacturing hubs of Shenzhen and Shanghai as well as the breadbasket of Jilin -- have tangled supply chains and dragged economic indicators to their lowest levels in around two years. In some ways, the challenges now are "greater than when the pandemic hit hard in 2020", Premier Li Keqiang told a State Council meeting on Wednesday, according to a readout by the official Xinhua news agency. "We are currently at a critical juncture in determining the economic trend of the whole year," Xinhua quoted Li as saying. "We must seize the time window and strive to bring the economy back onto a normal track." Li's remarks are the latest in a growing chorus of calls from officials and business leaders for more balance between stopping the virus and helping the ailing economy. China's retail sales plunged 11.1 percent on-year in April while factory output sank 2.9 percent -- the worst showing since the early days of the Covid crisis. And the urban unemployment rate edged back towards its February 2020 peak, challenging policymakers' full-year growth target of around 5.5 percent. In March and particularly in April, indicators such as employment, industrial production, electricity consumption and freight dropped "significantly", Li said at the State Council meeting. He stressed the importance of coordinating virus control and economic development, according to Xinhua. - Wilting growth - China's current outbreak -- fuelled by the highly transmissible Omicron virus variant -- is the worst since the early days of the pandemic in 2020. Its biggest city and business hub Shanghai has been almost entirely sealed off since April, crushing businesses, while curbs are creeping in the capital Beijing. Story continues The government has offered tax relief and a bond drive to help industries, and President Xi Jinping earlier called for an "all-out" infrastructure push. But analysts have cautioned that growth will keep wilting until China eases its rigid virus controls. S&P Global Ratings this month lowered its full-year growth forecast for China from 4.9 percent to 4.2 percent due to Covid curbs. And Nomura analysts warned in a recent note that there is "increasing potential for negative GDP growth in the second quarter". Wednesday's State Council teleconference involved an unusually large cohort of provincial, city and county officials, Chinese outlet The Economic Observer reported. The economic woes come in a pivotal political year for Xi, who is eyeing another term in power at the Communist Party Congress this autumn. bys/mjw/qan China's premier called for more to be done to stabilise the world's second-largest economy, issuing an unusually stark warning as the country's zero-Covid strategy bites into growth. China is the last major economy welded to a policy of mass testing and hard lockdowns to eliminate virus clusters, but the strict curbs have battered businesses. Restrictions around the nation in recent months -- including on the manufacturing hubs of Shenzhen and Shanghai, as well as the breadbasket province of Jilin -- have tangled supply chains and dragged economic indicators to their lowest levels in around two years. In some ways, the challenges now are "greater than when the pandemic hit hard in 2020", Premier Li Keqiang told a State Council meeting on Wednesday, according to a readout by the official Xinhua news agency. "We are currently at a critical juncture in determining the economic trend of the whole year," Xinhua quoted Li as saying. "We must seize the time window and strive to bring the economy back onto a normal track." Li also said officials ought to make sure there is "reasonable" growth in the second quarter, fuelling fears that the country's target for yearly expansion of around 5.5 percent may not be met. Li's remarks are the latest in a growing chorus of calls from officials and business leaders for more balance between stopping the virus and helping the ailing economy. On Monday, the central bank and banking regulator urged financial institutions to boost lending, citing pressure on the economy, Chinese media reported. This came as retail sales plunged 11.1 percent on year in April while factory output sank 2.9 percent -- the worst showing since the early days of the Covid crisis. And the urban unemployment rate edged back towards its February 2020 peak. In March, and particularly in April, indicators including employment, industrial production and freight dropped "significantly", Li said at the Wednesday meeting. He stressed the importance of coordinating virus control and economic development, according to Xinhua. Story continues On Thursday, the State Council will also send teams to 12 provinces to oversee local work in implementing state policies, the report said. - Wilting growth - Two more companies sounded a warning Thursday on the impact of the stringent Covid measures, with e-commerce titan Alibaba reporting its annual profit was down nearly 60 percent. The group warned its domestic business has been "significantly affected by the Covid-19 resurgence in China", and said it had decided not to offer its usual financial outlook for the year ahead. In addition, tech giant Baidu reported $140 million in net loss over the January-March period, while co-founder Robin Li warned that "challenges related to the virus continue to pressure" their operations. China's current outbreak -- fuelled by the Omicron variant -- is the worst since early in the pandemic in 2020. Financial hub Shanghai has been almost entirely sealed off since April, crushing businesses, while curbs are creeping in across the capital Beijing with no clear end in sight. The government has offered tax relief and a bond drive to help industries, and President Xi Jinping earlier called for an "all-out" infrastructure push. But analysts cautioned that growth will keep wilting until China eases its rigid virus controls. S&P Global Ratings this month lowered its full-year growth forecast for China from 4.9 percent to 4.2 percent due to Covid curbs. And Nomura analysts warned in a recent note that there is "increasing potential for negative GDP growth in the second quarter". Wednesday's State Council teleconference involved an unusually large cohort of officials, Chinese outlet The Economic Observer reported. The economic woes come in a pivotal political year for Xi, who is eyeing another term in power at the Communist Party Congress this autumn. China's economy is a key driver of global growth and is crucial domestically for the Communist Party, which has based its legitimacy on delivering steady expansion and improved standards of living. bys-rox/lb Broadcom announced Thursday a $61-billion deal to purchase cloud computing firm VMware in a giant tech transaction that expands the chipmaker's software offerings. The cash and stock deal -- one of the biggest tech mergers ever -- will merge chipmaker Broadcom's software assets into those of VMware, a leader in cloud computing and virtualization technology. The combination is designed to boost Broadcom's offerings to customers enabling "greater choice and flexibility to build, run, manage, connect and protect applications at scale across diversified, distributed environments," said a joint press release from the companies announcing the deal. Led by chief executive Hock Tan, Broadcom has grown by acquisition, reporting fiscal 2021 revenues of about $27.5 billion. In 2017, Broadcom made an unsolicited offer to acquire rival chipmaker Qualcomm for $117 billion, but the transaction was blocked by then-president Donald Trump's administration on national security grounds. Qualcomm's activities are mostly in the United States, but it is based in Singapore. The deal with VMware would dilute Broadcom's dependence on semiconductor revenues amid concerns of "chip cycle peaking," said a note from UBS that also alluded to concerns about higher debt levels due to the deal. Under the transaction, VMware shareholders can elect to receive either $142.50 in cash or slightly more than one-fourth of a Broadcom share for each VMware share. That represents a premium of 49 percent compared with VMware's stock price Friday before news reports of the deal surfaced. Broadcom will also assume $8 billion of VMware debt. VMware was spun out of Dell Technologies in 2021. Michael Dell and private equity firm Silver Lake, who own 40.2 percent and 10 percent of VMware shares respectively, have signed in support of the deal so long as the VMware board backs the transaction, the press release said, Shares of VMware rose 0.9 percent to $121.65 in morning trading, while Broadcom gained 1.9 percent to $541.89. tu-jmb/to Bulldozers destroying old houses The number of buildings being knocked down must be reduced because demolition and rebuilding adds to climate change, MPs say. Previously developers have been encouraged to knock down old, poorly-insulated homes and offices and replace them with buildings needing less heating. More recently the government has agreed with engineers who argued that replacing buildings was often bad for the climate in the short and medium term. That's because lots of emissions are created to make materials for buildings - such as steel, cement, bricks, glass, aluminium and plastics. Demolishing and rebuilding creates double emissions by necessitating the manufacture of two lots of construction materials. The Commons Environmental Audit Committee says the government's recent decision to relax planning rules may be leading to an unintended increase in demolition. It insists that emissions created in the construction of buildings must be reduced if the UK is to meet its climate change targets The Committee chairman, Philip Dunne MP, said: "From homes to offices, retail units to hospitality venues, our buildings have a significant amount of locked-in carbon, which is wasted each time they get knocked down to be rebuilt, a process which produces yet more emissions. "Ministers must address this urgently." The government said it welcomed the report and was carefully considering its findings. A spokesman from the business department said the UK was a leader in tackling greenhouse gas emissions. Don't demolish old buildings, urge architects Climate change: Construction companies told to stop knocking down buildings The issue is complicated. In places such as the City of London, there's often pressure to capitalise on the high value of land by knocking down and building tall. And some developers say that many buildings can't be kept and converted. Take the case of the Marks and Spencer Marble Arch store in London's Oxford Street. Michael Gove, the minister controlling planning in the UK, recently agreed to review a plan to demolish it. Story continues M&S insists that knocking down what it calls a "mish-mash of poor, idle shopping space" is the "green" option. The group's Property Director Sacha Berendi agreed that climate change was an emergency. But he pledged: "Over the long term, the modern lower-carbon building will more than offset any emissions from the redevelopment. "The new building will be amongst the top 10% best performing buildings in London (for energy consumption)." Steel making generates large amounts of CO2 He said that within 17 years the lower energy use in the new building would outweigh the emissions created by making it. The demolition and re-building has been estimated to cause 40,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Will Hurst from the Architects Journal told me: "Climate change is indeed an emergency but if M&S really thought that, they wouldn't be creating extra emissions when they really need to be drastically cut." He pointed to comments in the magazine dezeen from Yamina Saheb, a lead author on the United Nations climate change panel, IPCC. "The (construction) sector hasn't modernised since the Second World War - and now, the data shows it's lagging behind all other sectors," she told the magazine. The Commons committee wants developers to be obliged to calculate emissions over the entire lifetime of buildings. It's urging the government to set ratcheting targets for the buildings sector, which is responsible for 25% of the UK's emissions. The battle against demolition is already underway in the UK, with pioneering architects and engineers urging solutions such as adding extra storeys to existing buildings - such as the Standard Hotel near St Pancras station. Other options are to recycle as much of the old building as possible, or keep the facade - or indeed the foundations, which need vast amounts of carbon-intensive cement. There's now pressure for a major new refurbishment prize for architects to sit alongside the Stirling Prize, which some argue has featured flamboyant creations that showed too little care for the environment. Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Wednesday that under no circumstances will he attend the Summit of the Americas set to be held in Los Angeles in June. In a thread on Twitter, Diaz-Canel said that it is known that the United States had conceived early on that the Summit of the Americas would not be inclusive. I can assure you that, under no circumstances, will I attend, wrote Diaz-Canel. As it has happened often times in the past, the voice of #Cuba will be heard at the Ninth Summit of the Americas, he added. The Biden administration, which is organizing the summit, has yet to announce a formal guest list, but Latin American leaders have asked for every head of government in the Western Hemisphere to be included. Cuban officials and many of their Latin American allies have denounced the United Statess expected exclusion of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the guest list. Earlier this month, the State Departments top official for the Western Hemisphere, Brian Nichols, said in an interview he did not expect the United States to issue invitations to the leaders of Cuba and Nicaragua or to the de facto president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro. U.S. allies in the region, particularly Mexico, reacted negatively to the impending exclusion of leaders who are either not signatories or have openly disdained the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whos celebrated reciprocal visits with Diaz-Canel, said he will miss the event and instead send Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard if Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua are excluded. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has said he will attend the summit, Reuters reported on Wednesday, ending weeks of speculation he was planning to skip it. Bolsonaro, a right-wing populist whos up for reelection, rarely sees eye to eye with the pro-Cuba governments in other large Latin American countries such as Mexico or Argentina. Story continues Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said earlier this month that he will attend the summit, but he echoed Lopez Obradors demands that all leaders be invited. The Summit of the Americas has been held more or less every three years since 1994, and Cubas presence has at times led to discomfort between the United States and other Latin American countries. In 2015, U.S. officials tried to pressure Panama to refrain from inviting then-President Raul Castro, and in 2002, former Mexican President Vicente Fox got tangled up in a web of diplomatic faux pas in trying to host both Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and former U.S. President George W. Bush. Diaz-Canel in his Twitter thread accused the United States of again pressuring Latin American and Caribbean allies to attend the summit despite the expected shortened guest list. It is also known that the United States has been engaged in intensive efforts and has exercised brutal pressures to demobilize the just and firm claims of the majority of the countries of the region demanding that the Summit should be inclusive, wrote Diaz-Canel. We appreciate the courageous and dignified standing adopted by the countries that have raised their voices against exclusions, he added. We share the position adopted by the leaders of the region who have firmly stated that all countries should be invited on an equal footing, he wrote. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Don McLean said he was "sorrowed" by the "terrible, cruel loss" of 21 lives in the shooting American Pie singer Don McLean has pulled out of this weekend's National Rifle Association annual meeting in Texas, following Tuesday's tragic shooting at a school in the state. "I have decided it would be disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform," McLean said in a statement. "I'm sure all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as well." Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the tragedy. A gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School - which teaches children aged seven to 10 - in the city of Uvalde before he was killed by law enforcement, officials said. Authorities have not revealed any motivation behind the incident, but say the suspect was acting alone. There have been calls for the NRA to cancel its event, which is being headlined by former president Donald Trump in Houston - about a four-hour drive from Ulvade. The three-day rally is set to "showcase over 14 acres of the latest guns and gear," according to its official website. Trump confirmed he would still appear at the conference, in a post on his Truth Social platform. Other high-profile Republicans, including Texas senator Ted Cruz and the state's governor, Greg Abbott, are also due to speak. While McLean has pulled out, musicians including Lee Greenwood, Larry Gatlin, former Restless Heart lead singer Larry Stewart and Danielle Peck are still scheduled to perform. Tuesday's incident was the America's deadliest mass shooting so far this year, but it was far from being the first. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the US has seen 212 mass shootings in the last 145 days. A chart showing the deadliest US shootings Soon after the incident, a number of US celebrities reacted to the shooting, with many condemning the government for not imposing proper gun control laws. Singer Olivia Rodrigo called for "stricter gun control laws" during a concert at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. Story continues "I wish we would never have to worry about our safety or our lives at places that are dedicated to our learning and growing," she said. "I'm so heartbroken that this is the reality that we're living in - and we need stricter gun control laws in America." Taylor Swift said she was "filled with rage and grief" by the "ways in which we, as a nation, have become conditioned to unfathomable and unbearable heartbreak." Actor and Uvalde native Matthew McConaughey urged Americans to reassess their values in a lengthy statement. "We have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us," he said, without specifically mentioning guns. "This is an epidemic we can control, and whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better. Action must be taken so that no parent has to experience what the parents in Uvalde and the others before have endured." McLean is unlikely to join calls for greater regulation of firearms in the US. Before his appearance at this weekend's conference, he had given an interview to the NRA website, talking about his favourite weapons. "I am a collector of early western movies," he said. "This led from one thing to another: A love of western history, then western film history, horsemanship (I've ridden for 30 years) and guns of the West. "My favourite was always the single-action Colt and my favourite rifle was the Winchester Saddle Ring Carbine." Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. (Reuters) - The leader of Russian-backed separatists in the breakaway Donetsk region called on Thursday for the military operation in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine to be accelerated, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), said Kyiv had blocked water supplies to key cities in the north of the region and called for military action to be stepped up. (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) A 61-year-old Dover man who police say was driving drunk when he crashed his car Wednesday evening has been charged with vehicular homicide for the death of his front-seat passenger. The wreck occurred just after 6:45 p.m. on Judith Road, south of Dinahs Corner Road, near Hartly when the driver of an SUV "failed to negotiate a moderate left curve" and drove off the edge of the road, Delaware State Police said. The SUV flipped onto its passenger side and continued to roll before hitting a "large" utility pole, police said. The car ultimately stopped on its roof. RELATED: Newark roads open again after police take man armed with rifle, handgun into custody The front-seat passenger, a 64-year-old Dover man, was not wearing a seat belt and died on scene. Police will publicly identify him once family is notified. The driver of the SUV was taken to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Police said they believe he was under the influence of alcohol when the wreck occurred. After being released from the hospital, the driver was arrested and charged with his fifth DUI, as well as several traffic charges in addition to the vehicular homicide charge. He is being held at Sussex Correctional Institution on $16,150 cash bond. Got a story tip or idea? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Dover man charged with 5th DUI, homicide after passenger dies in crash I cannot tell you how much time I spent agonizing over the title of this post. This post that I promised to publish last week Monday but failed to do, and it was not for lack of trying. This post that I do not want to write and cannot believe that Im writing. In my head, if I write it, I will make it true. Yet, its been one month since I last spoke to my mom, and I have never gone this long without speaking to my mom. I have never even gone for up to a week without talking to her. So, it must be true. She must really be gone. How do I tell people that I lost my mom? On Friday, April 22nd, 2022, I woke up before my alarm, turned the ringer on my phone back on, and remained in bed. Then I got a frantic phone call from my cousin who was calling to tell me that my mom was ill, that she was having severe chest pain and difficulty breathing and she was being taken to the hospital. I jumped out of bed immediately and my heart was beating so fast. I hate long-distance relationships of any kind, and this is one of the reasons. Being thousands of miles away from my mom has been a personal torture of mine. If I call her and she does not pick up or call back within a short while, I panic. Being told over the phone that my mom was not feeling well, and being able to do nothing but ask questions made me feel helpless and useless. My day was ruined from the moment I received that call. Still, I remained hopeful. Sometimes, Im overly pragmatic and practical. So, that day, I was practical again in my reasoning. My mind did all the calculations: Mom is only 65. Shes healthy. She has survived so much more than whatever this is. This woman is an ijele nwanyi (strong woman in all aspects). My mommy, she will beat whatever this is, and soon, we will laugh about the time she scared me, and I would warn her to not try that nonsense again. That was how I reasoned it. She will be fine. In fact, shes fine already. How can she not be fine? Shes Nwakaego. I was on pins and needles, calling my cousin every few minutes to ask how she was doing and damning Nigeria for being so far away and he gave me all the updates to keep me relatively calm. They had reached the hospital. The doctors had taken her in. She was receiving treatment. She was doing okay. I asked to talk to her and was told that she couldnt talk yet. Nsogbu adiro (no problem), I will wait. During one of the calls with my cousin, we finished talking but he did not hang up. I heard the conversation between him and another relative. That one was asking if I was crying, and my cousin said yes. That one told my cousin to stop telling me too much. My cousin said he didnt tell me too much. Then the phone cut off. I figured the relative didnt want to scare me with something that was already half-resolved. I called another cousin, Onyi. Hes like my moms son. In fact, some people dont know that hes not her son. So I asked about my mom. He was on his way to the hospital. Everything is fine, Verastic, he assured me. Are you sure? I asked him. He reassured me that all was well. I was not convinced, so I called the other cousin (Nachi), the one who took her to the hospital. I demanded to speak to my mom. He said he would call me once he got back to the hospital, that he just left to get some food. I asked him how she was doing, and he said she was receiving treatment. I asked him if he was sure, and he laughed, said of course. I was not convinced, but long distance is a bitch. There was nothing I could do. But then, I called my Uncle in New York, moms younger brother, and he asked if Aunty Chinelo was at my house. My heart fell out of my body then. Why would Aunty Chinelo be at my house? I asked. It was the middle of a workday, so why would she be at my house unless something was wrong? I dont think I was breathing at this point. My uncle said, She said shes coming with Funmie. Now I was really not breathing. Coming with Funmie for what? Where is my mom? He told me to calm down, that everything was fine. I did not believe him. I was screaming on the phone while my uncle tried [and failed] to convince me that all was well. Just then, Onyi called back. I quickly picked up the phone. All he said was, Verastic. And that was the moment my world crashed. There was a lot of screaming and a lot of crying, but none of it was enough. I just wanted my mom to call me. I just wanted to hear her voice. I just wanted her. At some point, Funmie and Aunt Chinelo came, and there was more weeping. I was inconsolable. Its been a month, and I am still inconsolable. Nothing that anyone has said or done has made me feel better about this loss. I have so many questions for God, and I have asked Him all of them, but He has not answered one single question. Was this His plan all along? Is this like the case of Job where the devil sought permission to torment Job and God consented? What about the long life He promised to satisfy those who love Him with? And did I not beg Him? Did I not beg Him several times, almost every day even, to keep this woman? Was this happening because of something I did? Or something I did not do? Was this a punishment? Last week Sunday (May 15th) was my first Sunday back since the loss. I did not want to go to church, but Ada Verastic had begged and begged to go to church. It was not her desire to be in the house of the Lord that compelled her, but her excitement to wear her new blue dress. During one of the songs, it was sung that God turns what the enemy meant for bad into good, and I wondered, what good could possibly come out of my mom transitioning? She was only 65, and we had so many plans. So, so many plans. I am gutted. Not a single day has passed that I have not wept. Sometimes, I cry silently. Sometimes, I wail out loud. Sometimes, I sit and stare aimlessly. My grief knows no bounds. Sometimes, I wake up in the middle of the night crying. I dont know what causes this. I dont know if I am crying in my dream and waking myself up with the crying or if my heart is aching so much while I sleep that my body needs to wake up and release that pain. Most times, I go to bed crying. I have taken more painkillers in the last month than Id typically take in a year. At this point, I am no longer relying on sleeping pills to sleep or stay asleep, thankfully. Death is ugly. My mom owed me nothing. She gave me everything. I could not have asked for a better mom. I just needed more time to take care of her. I was blessed to have taken care of her, and I know she was proud of me because she told everyone that cared to listen about her daughter, her only child who was like twenty children. It was the promise I made to my mom. I told her that I, her only child, would be to her like twenty children, and I am happy that I was able to do that, but I am not consoled because I had so much more to do. I feel completely upended and violently uprooted. Some days now, I think of her and smile, and other days, I weep. Most times, I weep. I have spoken to many people who have lost their moms, and every single one of them has told me that this is not a pain that will ever go away, that I will only learn to live with it. I cry for many reasons when I think about my mom. She was really my best friend. We could talk for hours about nothing. Sometimes, wed be done talking and wed just be on the phone doing our own thing. She would be watching a Nigerian movie or listening to Nnamdi Kanu or Biafra Radio or Nation or whatever its called. I would be tapping away at my computer. She would say something funny about how fast I type. Kpaka kpaka kpaka, she would say, and wed laugh. We spoke several times a week, but Sunday was our special talking day. Wed talk about church and she and Ada Verastic would talk. Every time Ada Verastic gets her hair done, she would ask me to send it to her grandma. My mom would change her WhatsApp profile picture to Ada Verastics new hair. Ada Verastic would love it. When I retwist my hair, I would send her a picture, too. She never uses my hair on WhatsApp though . She would tell me she was jealous of my locs, and I would tell her to get hers done. She would promise to do it, but we would have this conversation all over again whenever I get my hair retwisted again. I retwisted my locs on Saturday, and there was no mommy to send the pictures to. Ada Verastic will be getting her hair done this evening. There will be no grandma to send the pictures to either. Im thinking about the way she would listen to gospel music early in the morning and disturb everyones sleep. Im thinking about what Onyi told me, about how the market people in Awka used to call her Nwanyi India (Indian woman) because she was so light in complexion and always had a scarf on her head to shield her from the scorching sun. Im thinking about how Id always give her a list of foods to send me, like crayfish, egusi, ogbono, etc, and Im thinking about the love and care that would go into procuring these items for me, how she would meticulously clean everything. My mom was anal about a lot of things. And just like her, I am anal about a lot of things. It pleases me that there are parts of her in me, even if theyre not particularly complimentary. Im thinking about how hands-off I would be with Ada Verastic every time we went to Nigeria because my mommy was in charge now. Nigeria will never be the same for me. And now Im asking myself, who will ever love me like my mommy? I already know the answer: NO ONE. I have read bible verses. I have listened to all types of music. I have listened to people encourage me. I have watched people love on me and show up for me. Nothing has dented this pain and gaping hole my mom has left. I have checked WhatsApp every single day, and it continues to say that she was last online on April 22nd, 2022 at 7:03 AM. I keep wishing it would change. I want so badly to hear her call me Nne again. I want to hear her sing for me again. I dont understand a world without my mommy in it. I dont understand how I am supposed to forge ahead. I dont know what happens to all the plans we made. Who do I do these things with now? Her chat is pinned to the top of my WhatsApp. I cannot decide if seeing this chat every day is helping or hurting me. It hurts to see it, knowing she will never respond to my messages again, but I am scared that if I unpin it, it will disappear. So, for now, Ill take the daily heartbreaks from seeing her chat. Ada Verastic is aware that her Grandma is no more, but she is processing it the way a six-year-old would. Sometimes, I wish I could be six years old, and I wish that my worry in life was what cupcake flavor to pick the next time my mommy takes me to the cupcake shop. I wish that, like Ada Verastic, my fondest memory of her was that she let me eat cookies for breakfast in Nigeria, and I quite enjoyed it. I try not to cry as much in front of Ada Verastic these days. Shes quick to bring me a box of tissue once she notices Im crying. The other day, I was in the shower, crying. I thought I was being quiet, but apparently, I wasnt because the next thing I knew, my baby rushed into the bathroom with a box of tissue. I faked a smile while I told her that I couldnt use tissue while I was under the showerhead. People have told me how happy they are to see how strong I am, considering this loss. I dont feel strong at all. But if theres something I have learned to do so well, its how to break down on my own, behind the curtains, away from concerned hearts and curious minds not because I am trying to be fake but because I dont want people worrying too much about me. So, if you ask me how Im doing, I will always give you the same answers. Im okay. Im hanging in there. Im taking it one moment at a time. Honestly, the last part is true. I am indeed taking it one moment at a time. Not one day at a time because a day is too long. In twenty-four hours, I go through the valley and up the mountain and through the seas. A part of me wants to cut God off, tell Him Im no longer His friend, but a deeper part of me knows that this isnt true. I love Him, but I am very angry at Him. If He would just say to me that Hes aware of whats going on, that He let it happen on purpose, that I would be okay, and that Hes still in control, Id feel better. Yes, I know these words are in the bible, but I want to hear Him say them to me. He does not have to let me see Him, but can He whisper the words in my ears? Can He whisper these words loudly? Can He tell them to me in a dream, clearly? Can He speak to me in a personal, convincing, and private way? The bible isnt private. Its for everyone, and anyone can interpret it as they see fit. Killers, rapists, and slave owners, they all convincingly support their evil with the bible. I have read that God speaks to us, but sometimes, we are not still enough to hear him. I have tried meditating, drowning out the noise, and listening for His voice, but even in my meditation, all I think about is my mom. How was she feeling in her last moments? Was she afraid? Did she cry? Did she think of me? How is she doing now, lying in that cold morgue, all by herself? I know its just her body and her soul isnt there, but the problem is that her soul cant call me on the phone, and her soul cant hug me and laugh with me. Maybe shes around me, but I cannot physically see her or touch her. I remember when I went through divorce and thought that was the most painful thing in life. Well, second most painful. Ill tell you about the first most painful another day. I even said on the first episode of my podcast that divorce felt like the death of dreams. Now I laugh at my naivete. No, divorce doesnt feel like death of any kind. Death of any kind is what feels like death of any kind. Id rather do a thousand divorces and pay for them in cash than lose my mommy. Please forgive me for comparing divorce to death. Na small pikin dey worry me. I have dreaded writing this post because so much tears! Even as I write it now, my top is drenched, but theres a tiny fraction of catharsis from writing. A day after my mommy transitioned, I wrote my raw emotions in my journal. Speaking of transitioning, that seems to be the only word I can comfortably use when describing what has happened to my mom. Saying the D-word has proven abortive. Saying she has joined her ancesters is almost comical, like Im in a Nollywood movie. But saying she has transitioned, seems appropriate, albeit still very agonizing. Every time I go see my grandma, I pretend to be okay, and I pretend that my heart isnt broken into many pieces. I feel like shes watching me and going off of my energy. If I show any sign of worry or sadness, my grandma will follow suit. So, I pretend to be okay, so that she can hopefully be comforted, even if a little bit, by my okay-ness. My family and friends have been unbelievable. And thats putting it mildly. I cannot start mentioning them individually because where do I begin? They have gone above and beyond. Friends have been trooping in and out of my home, from Maryland and from out of Maryland, just to come and stay with me. Ada Verastic has never experienced having so many people in our home, and shes quite excited about it. Like I said, its nice to be six years old. My moms transition has caused me to reconnect with people I have not had contact with in such a long time, even people I grew up with in Nigeria. While the reconnection has been heartwarming, I wish we were reconnecting because of a happy event. I wish these people coming to my home were coming to give me celebratory hugs and kisses. I wish they were coming to join me in singing Alleluia over a great thing that He has done. I wish they did not wear long faces and tell me to jisike and be strong. And you, Sweet Potatoes, you have been nothing short of amazing. I first sent an email to my subscribers, and the responses have not stopped coming in. I apologize that I have not responded to the emails. I simply cannot. I dont have it in me to do so. I have read them all, however, and I have shed a few a lot of tears while reading them. And what about the Sweet Potatoes on social media? Hian. I even tried to like your comments on my personal Facebook over 500 of them and on my professional Facebook page, but I could not keep up. I managed to like the comments on Instagram, but that was as far as I could go. Thank you for the comments, texts, calls, DMs, and emails. I cannot thank you enough. I could write on and on about my mom forever. She was little in size but mighty in her impact. She was so beautiful and so kind and so funny. She never left me wondering if she loved me or how much I meant to her. She was consistent in her affection and dedication. I was free to talk to her about anything, even my salary. She was not the mom that I had to hide financial information from. She knew when I got paid and how much I got paid. She was a mom indeed. She was excited about everything I did and even more excited about Ada Verastic. She was just everything, and I hate that I am writing about her in the past tense. Now Im thinking about how to memorialize my mom. Im told that she has already been memorialized through me and through Ada Verastic. And while I know that thats true, I still want more. Frankly, I know that nothing will be good enough, except just having my mommy back. I keep imagining receiving a phone call saying that its all been a mistake, that she has not really transitioned, that she went into a coma and her body went into some weird aggressive/hibernation life-saving mode, and shes actually now awake and totally okay, and shes on WhatsApp again, and life as I knew it is back to normal. I mean, it wouldnt be the first time that God has raised someone from the dead. Right? And if its true that He is the same today as He was yesterday, then this shouldnt be too difficult for Him. Right? Im having a Service of Songs for my mom on Saturday, June 4th, 2022 at 3:30 PM. If you are in the area or can get to the area Baltimore, Maryland Id love for you to come. Im taking all the in-person hugs that are available to me. I dont want to post the address so publicly because this is the internet, but if youd like to come, email Funmie for the address. Shes easier to reach because Im currently committed to crying daily, and crying daily takes a lot of time. Its okay if youre laughing. Im actually laughing, too. Speaking of Funmie, she is championing a fundraising campaign for me to give my mom a befitting burial. I hate the idea of giving my mom a befitting burial. I dont want to give her a burial at all, and if I must, then let it be at least 30 years from now. Anyway, if you feel led to give, the donations are coming in through several means. Please dont feel pressured to give. One of my moms favorite things to say is that closed mouths dont get fed. If for some reason, youre still able to keep your head above water during this volatile economy and you have enough to share, and your body is doing you sugarcane, sugarcane at the thought of giving Vera, then heres the information on how to give my mom a befitting burial. Thank you very kindly. Zelle: vera@verastic.com | CashApp: $Verastic | GoFundMe: HERE | Zenith Bank (Nigeria): 2288135270 (Account name: N. Vera Ezimora) Please keep me and my family in your thoughts and prayers. This is harder than I have the words to describe. P.S. I am not suicidal. Someone has shown concern and fear over me being suicidal. I assure you that I am not suicidal. I am simply grieving a loss of unfathomable, unbearable, inestimable magnitude. Democratic Republic of Congo has accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group, which the latter denied Thursday as the Congolese army clashed with the militia in the east of the vast country. Fighting with the rebel group erupted on several fronts this week in North Kivu, a conflict-torn eastern province of DRC, which borders Rwanda. "Suspicions are crystallising that the M23 has received support from Rwanda," Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya stated on Wednesday evening, after a crisis meeting with the prime minister. Primarily a Congolese Tutsi group, M23 is one of more than 120 armed groups that roam eastern DRC. It briefly captured North Kivu's provincial capital Goma in late 2012, before the army quelled the rebellion the following year. But M23 resumed fighting this year, accusing the Congolese government of failing to respect a 2009 agreement under which its fighters were to be incorporated into the army. Foreign Affairs Minister Christophe Lutundula also accused Rwanda of backing the M23 and said the militia had attacked Rumangabo army camp, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Goma. "This is the height of brazenness, we cannot remain indifferent, we cannot say nothing," he told delegates at an African Union meeting in Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday. But Rwandan has denied involvement. Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said the country has "no intention of being drawn into an internal matter of the DRC". Clashes between the army and M23 continued near the Rumangabo camp on Thursday, local sources said. In Goma, 50-year-old Kakule Kapitula told AFP he had come to the city because of insecurity elsewhere in the province. "I am afraid because if they arrive, I will have nowhere to run," he said, referring to the rebels. - 'Avoid genocide' - DRC and Rwanda have had a strained relationship since the mass arrival in the republic of Rwandan Hutus accused of slaughtering Tutsis during the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Story continues Kinshasa has regularly accused Rwanda of carrying out incursions into its territory and of backing armed groups there. Relations had begun to thaw after DRC President Felix Tshisekedi took office in 2019, but the recent resurgence of M23 violence has reignited tensions. Tensions have also risen in Goma, an ethnic melting pot with a population of about one million, on fears of escalating violence. General Francois-Xavier Aba van Ang, a high-ranking police officer in North Kivu, on Wednesday told city residents to prepare to defend themselves with machetes, according to a video posted on social media. Muyaya criticised the remarks as "dangerous," however. Resorting to "machetes, hate speech, stigmatisation is extremely dangerous and should be banned," he tweeted on Thursday. M23 also stated that it was concerned by calls to violence. "MONUSCO and the DRC government should stop this very dangerous slippage to avoid the genocide," it stated Thursday, using an acronym to refer to the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC. - Investigation calls - The army launched an offensive against M23 last week, after the militia apparently attacked soldiers as well as UN peacekeepers. On Monday, Rwanda urged an investigation into an alleged rocket attack on its territory by Congolese armed forces. Fighting between M23 and DRC's army erupted again on Tuesday north of Goma, and by Wednesday had spread to other areas of North Kivu, including the Rumangabo camp. DRC on Wednesday announced it had also requested an investigation through a regional body that monitors security incidents in Africa's volatile Great Lakes region. It did not mention Rwanda by name, but said in a statement that shells had been fired into its territory "from the east to the west". bur-at/eml/ah Thousands of easyJet passengers queue for help at Gatwick after the airline cancelled dozens of flights (Supplied via Twitter) Tens of thousands of easyJet passengers have found their flight cancelled by an IT systems failure. The Independent understands that at least 200 flights have been grounded. While the airline hopes to restart operations at 3pm, there appear to be many cancellations after that time. At least 30 flights to and from Gatwick Airport, the carriers biggest base, have been cancelled. Destinations include the Greek islands of Rhodes, Santorini and Mykonos. To and from Manchester, a dozen flights have been grounded, including a round trip to Antalya in Turkey. From Luton, trips to Rhodes, Tenerife and Bodrum are also cancelled. Passengers are entitled to meals and accommodation if necessary, and to be rebooked on the first available flights. A spokeswoman for easyJet said: Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing IT systems issues which means that flights due to depart between 13:00 and 15:00 UK time today may be impacted. Our team of IT specialists is working to restore the systems as soon as possible. We advise customers due to travel with us today to continue to check Flight Tracker to check the status of their flight before making their way to the airport. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and would like to thank customers for their patience as we work to resolve this as soon as possible. Under European air passengers rights rules, passengers are entitled to ompensation of 220 or 350 per person depending on the length of the flight; the higher figure is for distances above 1,500km. EasyJet initially seemed to suggest they would not offer customers compensation, sending a message to many saying the problem was outside of our control and considered to be an extraordinary circumstance. However, a spokesperson for the airline has now contradicted that claim, telling The Independent the extraordinary message was sent in error. LOS ANGELES (AP) Ellen DeGeneres brought her nearly two-decade daytime talk show to an end Thursday with a celebrity lovefest and a forceful assertion of her achievement as a gay woman daring to be herself. DeGeneres and guests Jennifer Aniston, Billie Eilish and Pink shared memories and affection as The Ellen DeGeneres Show concluded its Emmy-winning, 3,200-plus episode run that began in September 2003. Twenty years ago, when we were trying to sell the show, no one thought that this would work. Not because it was a different kind of show, but because I was different, DeGeneres said of the pushback from TV stations. When the syndicated show went on the air, she was prevented from saying the word gay or even the pronoun we, DeGeneres said, since the latter would imply she had a partner. She didn't specify who imposed the ban. Sure couldnt say wife, and thats because it wasnt legal for gay people to get married and now I say wife all the time, DeGeneres added, with a touch of defiance, as actor Portia de Rossi watched from the studio audience. They wed in 2008. The host, who became known for encouraging her audience to join her in impromptu dances, shared some last moves with her sidekick and DJ, Stephen tWitch Boss, to the tune Best of My Love. The dancer-choreographer saluted DeGeneres as someone who inspires others because she has the courage to step out and be your authentic self. Aniston, who as the first guest on the show's first episode gave DeGeneres a Welcome doormat, arrived with another that read, Thanks for the memories." DeGeneres noted the Friends star has been on the show a total of 20 times. You're welcome, Aniston said, teasingly, then turned serious. I love you, and I so appreciate you and what you have given to the world over the last 19 years. The contribution is endless," she said. She introduced a career retrospective video that also touted DeGeneres' philanthropic efforts, said to include more than $400 million in donations to charities and deserving viewers. Story continues I love you," a beaming Eilish told DeGeneres during their chat. I love you so much, its dumb, said Pink, who performed What About Us." DeGeneres' daytime reign hit a serious bump in 2020, when the show was alleged to be a toxic workplace and three producers exited amid the claims. On the air that fall, DeGeneres apologized for things that shouldnt have happened, but defended herself as being the same genuine person if an imperfect one on- and off-camera. The talk show represented a second major TV act for DeGeneres. In 1997, she made an indelible mark when she came out as lesbian and brought her character on the ABC sitcom Ellen with her. The series was axed the next year. Twenty-five years ago, they canceled my sitcom because they didnt want a lesbian to be in prime-time once a week. And I said, OK, then Ill be on daytime every day," DeGeneres said Thursday. The comedian, actor and producer has said she'll take time to consider her next career move, but first she and de Rossi are making a trip to Rwanda. DeGeneres wrapped her daytime show with a plea to her audience, one she said was worth repeating. If I've done anything in the past 19 years, I hope I've inspired you to be yourself, your true authentic self. And if someone is brave enough to tell you who they are, be brave enough to support them, even if you don't understand, DeGeneres said. By opening your heart and your mind you're going to be that much more compassionate, and compassion is what makes the world a better place." Ellen DeGeneres on "Ellen's Game of Games." (NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) After 19 seasons, thousands of celebrity interviews, hundreds of pranks, countless dance breaks and nearly two decades, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" has officially come to an end. The emotional series finale of the daytime talk series premiered Thursday afternoon, following 2020's wave of public scrutiny and reports of a toxic work environment on set. Reflecting on how much has changed over the past 19 years in her last opening monologue, a tearful DeGeneres called the show "the greatest experience I've ever had beyond my wildest imagination." "When we started the show, I couldn't say 'gay' on the show," DeGeneres said. "I couldn't say 'we' because that implied that I was with someone. I sure couldn't say 'wife,' and that's because it wasn't legal for gay people to get married, and now I say wife all the time." (The trailblazing comedian married actor Portia de Rossi in 2008.) "Twenty-five years ago, they canceled my sitcom because they didn't want a lesbian to be on primetime once a week," she continued. "And I said, 'OK, then I'll be on daytime every day. How about that?'" After an obligatory dance session to the tune of the Emotions' "Best of My Love," DeGeneres welcomed one of her final guests, Jennifer Aniston, who was also the show's very first guest at the height of her "Friends" fame in 2003. Also on the finale lineup were pop musicians Pink and Billie Eilish. "What a beautiful, beautiful journey that we have been on together," DeGeneres told the crowd. "If it has lifted you up when you're in a period of some type of pain, some type of sadness anything that you're going through then I have done my job." At the end of the show, DeGeneres took a moment to thank her staff, as well as the executive producers who have been with her "since day one." The actor and comic, whose slogan is "Be kind to one another," concluded her closing remarks with a motivational message to viewers. "I hope I've inspired you to be yourself, your true, authentic self," she said. "If someone is brave enough to tell you who they are, be brave enough to support them. Even if you don't understand, they're showing you who they are, and that is the biggest gift anybody can ever give you. "And by opening your heart and your mind, you're going to be that much more compassionate, and compassion is what makes the world a better place. Thank you so much for being on this journey with me. I feel the love, and I send it back to you." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Meta slammed Apples market power in the mobile app industry in comments for a federal agencys report on the app ecosystem released Thursday. Metas stance escalates the feud between the two industry heavyweights and puts Facebooks parent company in opposition to the industry groups trying to defend the competitiveness of the app market as the Biden administration cracks down on tech giants power. In 19 pages of comments, Meta almost entirely focuses on criticizing Apple. The multibillion-dollar company, which is itself the target of a key federal antitrust lawsuit, paints a picture of Apple as a behemoth that is constraining Metas ability to expand. Despite having some of the most popular apps in the world, Metas ability to innovate on its products and services and even reach its customers is determined, and in some cases, significantly limited, by the most popular mobile operating systems, such as Apples iOS, Meta wrote. Meta accused Apple of engaging for years in a pattern of business conduct designed to lock consumers into iOS devices and deter them from switching to Android or other devices. The comments were made to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is conducting a report on competition in the mobile app ecosystem as part of the Department of Commerces work to review the market as directed under a sweeping executive order on competition from President Biden. Other relatively smaller tech companies, mostly app developers, have targeted Apples market power as well. The Coalition for App Fairness, a group that represents companies including Epic Games, Match Group and Spotify, filed a comment to the NTIA that also criticizes the Apples App Store. While Metas comments seem to solely target Apples power, the Coalition for App Fairness also targeted Google, another dominant company in the field. There is a large body of research and analysis, specific to the app store ecosystem, which was carried out in the U.S. and by government entities in other jurisdictions, that all come to essentially the same conclusion: Apple and Google have gatekeeper power over app distribution on iOS and Android, respectively, which allows them to impose unfair terms and conditions on app developers and engage in other abusive conduct, the group wrote. Story continues A Google spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Facebook for years has feuded with Apple. The fight between the tech giants grew last year, when Apple rolled out a privacy feature that limits the reach of targeted ads by requiring apps to ask users for permission before tracking them. Facebooks business model thrives off selling targeted ads, and the company branded Apples update as focused on profit. But Apple said the move was made to give users more control over their data collection. In a 15-page comment submitted for the NTIA report, Apple defended its app store as a pro-consumer and pro-developer economic engine for app developers. Part of Apples defense is focused around security and privacy features it provides for consumers. The tech giant used a similar defense in a lawsuit against Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, and in hearings with lawmakers looking to add further regulations to how dominant app stores operate. Apple also highlighted third-party apps success in its App Store, even among those that compete with Apple-owned rivals, showcasing the popularity of Spotify over Apple Music or Google Maps over Apples Maps app. Apples comment pointed to Instagram and Facebook Messenger, both under the Meta umbrella, as among the most frequently downloaded free iPhone apps in 2021 as well. In all sectors, third-party developers thrive. Users rely on multiple third-party apps to communicate, listen to music, consume other media, and travel (among many others), Apple wrote. The Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), of which Facebook, Apple, Amazon and Google are all members, sent similar comments to the NTIA defending the competitiveness of the app market. Growth and innovation in the mobile app ecosystem, together with rapid advancements in the power and diversity of mobile devices, have created a fiercely competitive environment benefiting consumers, developers, and the computer industry, the CCIA wrote. The CCIA also touted app stores investments in privacy and security systems that protect consumers and the low fees that some developers pay for hosting their products on the stores as a way to minimize barriers to entry and allow companies to continue investment in the ongoing development of protections that safeguard consumers. Both Googles and Apples app stores charge up to 30 percent commission fees from app developers for some in-app purchases, which has been a sticking point between the dominant companies and developers. Relatively smaller tech companies that run popular apps have been urging Congress and the Biden administration to take action against the power of dominant app store companies, namely Apple and Google. In the comments filed by the Coalition for App Fairness, the group also backed a bipartisan proposal, which advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year, that aims to rein in the power of dominant app stores in part by limiting them from collecting the commission fees and restricting them from blocking developers from using alternative payment systems. The Coalition for App Fairness called the Open App Markets Act an indispensable measure to level the playing field for app developers who rely on Google and Apple to reach consumers, and ensure a consistent standard of conduct across the app ecosystem. Left unchecked, dominant digital platforms such as Apple and Google, will continue to act as gatekeepers and toll-takers between businesses and consumers, the group wrote. It is, thus, critical that the U.S. government take action to enact bipartisan legislation, now pending in Congress, that would prohibit much of the harmful conduct that [Coalition for App Fairness] has identified in these comments. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The claim: The US has had 288 school shootings while other countries had two or less A May 24 massacre at a Texas elementary school that left 19 children and two teachers dead has reignited the debate over guns and focused attention on the uniquely high rate of school shootings in the United States. America, you are broken, reads the caption of a May 25 Facebook post that was shared more than 300 times in less than a day. The post includes a breakdown of school shootings by country, attributing 288 to the U.S., two to France and Canada, one to Germany, China and Russia and zero to several countries including the United Kingdom and Australia. Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks The U.S. does have significantly more school shootings than other countries, but the data included in the post actually understates the scope of the problem in the U.S. The tallies reflect one calculation of shootings from 2009 to 2018, so they don't account for U.S. shootings in the last four years or before 2009. Some broader research shows counts nearly 10 times higher. USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the claim for comment. May 26, 2022: A family pays their respects next to crosses bearing the names of Tuesday's shooting victims at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Claim uses 2018 data, ignore other statistics The statistics in the post line up with a May 2018 CNN article about school shootings since 2009. The network analyzed news reports to compile data on incidents on school grounds in which at least one person was shot other than the shooter. But counts of the total number of school shootings in the U.S vary widely based on methodology and the time period studied. For example, the K-12 School Shooting Database from the Naval Postgraduate Schools Center for Homeland Defense and Security includes 2,012 school shootings in the U.S. dating back to 1970. The CNN research identified 288 school shootings between January 2009 and May 2018 in the U.S. By comparison, CNN found Canada and France each had two, Germany had one, and Japan, Italy and the United Kingdom had none. Based on those numbers, the U.S. had 57 times more school shootings in that time period than the other G7 countries combined. Story continues The story also included data from countries with a higher number of school shootings that were not mentioned in the Facebook post. Mexico, for example, had eight school shootings in the same period, and South Africa had six, according to CNN. India had five while Pakistan and Nigeria each had four. But those were not mentioned in the post. School shootings have continued to plague the U.S. in the years since the article was published. Events missing from this tally include a shooting at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on April 30, 2019, that killed two people and injured four others. One week later, a shooting at a Denver-area STEM school killed one student and injured eight others. Two people were killed and three others were injured in a 16-second rampage at a high school in Santa Clarita, California, on Nov. 14, 2019. Two sisters were fatally shot and a 2-year-old was hurt in a Feb. 3, 2020, shooting at Texas A&M University-Commerce. More recently, four students were killed and seven others were injured in a shooting at a Michigan high school on Nov. 30, 2021. The May 24 shooting in Uvalde, Texas, is the deadliest shooting at a U.S. elementary school since the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut that left 26 dead. More: It's not just Uvalde, Texas gunfire on school grounds is at historic high in the US Our rating: Missing context Based on our research, we rate MISSING CONTEXT the claim that the U.S. has had 288 school shootings while other countries two or less. The data cited here tallies only shootings from 2009 to 2018, so it doesn't include a vast number of shootings before and after that timeframe. One database shows that pushes the tally past 2,000 school shootings in the U.S. Our fact-check sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Claim understates number of school shootings in the US The Daily Beast Omar Marques/GettyWhile some in the West are pondering what kind of a concessions would allow Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin to save face in Ukraine, leading Russian lawmakers and top propagandists are advocating smashing the West, which they say is Russias ultimate target. On the state TV show 60 Minutes, host Olga Skabeeva announced: I have some unpleasant news... Even though we are methodically destroying the weapons that are being delivered [to Ukraine], but the quantities in which the Family: Husband of teacher killed in Texas school shooting has died of a heart attack The grief-stricken husband of a teacher killed Tuesday in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, died on Thursday of a heart attack, his family announced. Irma Garcia, 48, was one of the two teachers killed in the massacre. Her husband, Joe Garcia, 50, visited a memorial to his wife on Thursday to drop off flowers, his nephew John Martinez told The New York Times, and when he returned home, "he pretty much just fell over." In an interview with NBC News, Martinez said first responders "tried doing chest compressions and nothing worked ... they couldn't bring him back." Irma and Joe Garcia were married for 24 years, and had four children, with the youngest in their teens. Martinez told the Times his aunt was "optimistic about everything and just so loving with the people in her life." He also shared that when law enforcement officers entered Garcia's classroom after the shooting, they "found her body there, embracing children in her arms pretty much until her last breath." You may also like Are Russia's gains in eastern Ukraine turning the tide of its war? Uvalde, Texas, gunman was inside the school for an hour as parents urged police to rush in, witnesses say How dangerous is Justice Clarence Thomas' wife? By Divya Chowdhury and Jessica DiNapoli DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Financial firms already struggling with climate-compliance due to unclear measurement metrics will soon face new disclosure requirements for biodiversity, or nature-related, investments. "Nature is a financial risk for business," Elizabeth Mrema, co-chair of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), told the Reuters Global Markets Forum, adding that $10 trillion is accrued every year from nature. The TNFD working group is putting together metrics to measure biodiversity targets in consultation with industry and financial institutions. Its post-2020 Biodiversity Framework is expected to be adopted later this year. "It's about accountability. You cannot improve what you cannot measure. What gets measured gets done. We need that robust measurement system," said Daniel Stander, deputy chair of the Resilient Cities Network. The framework will ask financial institutions and corporate bodies to shift their financial flows from nature-negative to nature-positive outcomes. Another metric will ask the private sector to repurpose and redirect harmful subsidies, worth over $500 billion a year. "Biodiversity is getting higher on the agenda," said David Knibbe, CEO of Dutch insurer NN Group NV, which has 200 billion euros ($214 billion) in assets under management and is active in sustainable finance. "If we get biodiversity problems, let's say the ecosystem is being disturbed, that could lead to food shortages and instability," Knibbe said, adding that NN plans to engage with companies so that the insurer can track their progress. "The good news is quite a few of the biodiversity projects go hand-in-hand with the climate projects," Knibbe said. (These interviews were conducted in the Reuters Global Markets Forum. Join GMF on Refinitiv Messenger: https://refini.tv/33uoFoQ) (Reporting by Divya Chowdhury and Jessica DiNapoli in Davos; Editing by Alexander Smith) The Florida Democratic Party is accusing Sen. Marco Rubio of "failing to deliver" on promises to combat rampant gun violence and is pressing Florida's senior senator to embrace "common sense" legislation in the U.S. Senate. The call to action by Democrats comes in an election year and days after a deadly mass shooting at a Texas elementary school. The gunmen, 18, killed 19 children and two teachers, ranking the tragedy among the worst school shootings in U.S. history. Gun violence is supersensitive in Florida, where the horrors of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland and the 2017 Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, remain steeped in the memories of Floridians. Parkland, Columbine, Sandy Hook: Texas' Robb Elementary adds to list of worst school shootings in U.S. history Parkland shooting: Florida shooting suspect bought gun legally, authorities say Rubio, who is running for re-election in November, shied away Wednesday from proposals banning AR-15-style weapons or bolstering universal background checks. The term "AR-15" is often used loosely to describe a semi-automatic rifle. Instead, Rubio told CNN he favors legislation bolstering school safety and security protocols. The majority of Americans support universal background checks, according to a 2021 Quinnipiac University poll. "The truth of the matter is these people are going to commit these horrifying crimes," Rubio said. "Whether they have to use another weapon to do it, they're going to figure out a way to do it." Rubio, appearing on Fox News' "Jesse Watters Primetime", said more attention needs to center on the shooter's motivation. It's not about the how, necessarily, but the why. [T]hese are people that want to harm people on a mass scale, and the instruments they use, in many cases, are guns. But that sentiment of wanting to hurt people is the one we need to really focus on." Story continues "... these are people that for a period of time were headed in this direction and there was nothing in place to catch it and stop it from happening before it got to that point," added Rubio. Parkland, Columbine, Sandy Hook. Texas' Robb Elementary adds to list of worst school shootings in U.S. history Marjory Stoneman Douglas survivor's mother speaks out Rubio's remarks angered Stacey Wesch, the mother of a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor. Wesch's daughter sheltered in a closet during the 2018 siege in Parkland. The gunman, a 19-year-old former student, killed 17 people and wounded 17 others. He pleaded guilty last year to 17 counts of first-degree murder. Jury selection to decide if he gets the death penalty got underway last month in Broward County. Wesch accuses Rubio who got a A+ National Rifle Association Rating in 2016 of breaking several promises after the Parkland massacre to support gun violence legislation. She, along with others, are calling for universal background check legislation among other measures. Federal law requires a background check for guns purchased at licensed dealers. The same requirement, though, is not mandated of private sales. "We need to elect people who will do better for us than this," Wesch said at Thursday's press event. Florida Democrats want Legislature to take action on gun violence, safety following Texas shooting Rubio, meanwhile, is locked into a pitched midterm election battle against Democratic challenger U.S. Rep. Val Demings, a longtime law enforcement veteran in Florida. Former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell believes the issue of gun violence is a "top priority" among Florida voters. "This issue will determine the 2022 election," Mucarsel-Powell said. "Mark my words." Marco Rubio a top recipient of NRA campaign contributions OpenSecrets, which tracks federal campaign contributions, reports that Rubio is one of the NRA's top recipients. The non-partisan group reported that he has received more than $3.3 million during his Senate career. Only five other senators got more. Rubio was first elected in 2010. The Senate race is widely viewed among the most competitive in the nation. Rubio is leading, according to RealClear Politics, which averages poll results for congressional races. Demings, though, maintains a slight financial edge, according to campaign finance reports. In wake of the Texas shooting, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Rubio are leading calls in Washington to act on a proposal they believe will improve school safety. They co-sponsored a bill that would create a federal clearinghouse for educational leaders and law enforcement agencies to improve school security techniques. The horrific tragedy in Texas should spur Congress to act on proposals that can pass and actually make a difference like our bipartisan Luke & Alex School Safety Act, said Rubio on Wednesday. The bill, introduced last year, is named after two Parkland massacre victims. The legislation, like many other gun-related bills in Congress, is unlikely to win approval. Despite mounting mass shootings in communities nationwide two in the past two weeks alone, including Tuesday in Texas and the racist killing of Black shoppers at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket 10 days earlier lawmakers have been unwilling to set aside their differences and abandon the gun lobby to work out any compromise. In many ways, the end of any gun violence legislation in Congress was signaled a decade ago when the Senate failed to approve a firearms background check bill after 20 children, mostly 6- and 7-year-olds, were killed when a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Contributing: The Associated Press. Jason Delgado is a reporter for the USA Today Network-Florida. He's based in Tallahassee. Reach him at JDelgado@gannett.com This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Marco Rubio's gun laws record gets rebuke from Florida Democrats Marine scientist and former UNC Wilmington dean Aswani Volety is returning to campus as the new chancellor, effective July 1. Volety rejoins the UNC System after serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Elon University since 2019. Before leading Elon as a top administrator, Volety spent five years as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and executive director of the Center for Marine Sciences at UNCW. The UNC System Board of Governors unanimously approved the new chancellor with a vote at its meeting Thursday. UNC System President Peter Hans said he is confident that Volety will guide the Seahawks into a new era of excellence. As a first-generation college student and native of India, Volety has devoted his life to building and serving this countrys public institutions, Hans said. Volety replaces Jose Sartarelli, who is retiring in June after seven years at the helm of the university. UNCW was to host a special campus ceremony to welcome Aswani on the lawn of Hoggard Hall at 2 p.m. Thursday, also livestreamed on Zoom. Aswani Volety, former provost at Elon University, was named the chancellor of UNC Wilmington. Academic leadership at universities At Elon, Volety served as the chief operations officer and chief academic officer, managing administrative operations and leading the direction for the universitys planning and budget. At UNCW, Volety served as chief academic, fiscal and administrative officer for the College of Arts and Sciences, which is UNCWs largest academic unit and awards about two-thirds of the universitys academic credits in 25 departments. He enhanced professional development opportunities for faculty and staff to increase retention and advocated for diversity. At UNCW, 60% of the faculty hires he made were either female or minority candidates, according to his bio. UNCW started its first engineering program, Coastal Engineering, under Voletys leadership. He and his colleagues also implemented other academic programs at the doctoral, masters and undergraduate level to meet regional needs. Story continues He also helped shape and lead the universitys research at the Center for Marine Science. He focused on building partnerships with international universities and enhanced UNCWs fundraising efforts. He also created the Deans Student Leadership Council, giving students a voice in the colleges governance. Aswani Volety speaks at a reception in celebration of the approval of two new engineering programs at UNCW in 2018. Marine science researcher In addition to his administrative career, Volety spent several years teaching and researching marine science. He spent 15 years as a professor of marine science and later as interim dean for the College of Arts & Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University before joining UNCW. Volety has researched marine organism diseases, physiology, immunopathology, toxicology and the management and restoration of marine habitats, according to his bio. His work focuses on how natural stressors and human pollutants affect shellfish. As a scholar, he has received funding from federal, state and private agencies, including the National Research Council, National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection agency, Sea Grant, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Volety earned a doctorate degree in marine science from the School of Marine Science at the College of William & Mary, and masters and bachelors degrees in zoology from Andhra University in Visakhapatnam, India. He also received a Graduate Certificate in Management Development from the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. Mario Nawfal. Mario Nawfal NFT Technologies listed on Toronto's NEO Exchange with a market capitalization of about $17 million. Most companies refrain from public offerings during market downturns. Despite the bear market, NFT Technologies' founder says there's no better time to go public. Here's why. On Wednesday, NFT Technologies, a firm that helps novice investors put their money in Web3, listed publicly on the NEO stock exchange in Toronto. The listing makes it one of the first nonfungible-token companies to make such a move and the first this year. The company is listed at a valuation of about 28 million Canadian dollars, or about $21.8 million. By market close that value dropped to a little over $17 million US dollars. While most companies delay their public launches during market downturns, Mario Nawfal, NFT Technologies' cofounder and CEO, said this could be the best time for crypto firms to list on a public exchange. "We've got more than enough capital, and we're really comfortable, and everything is really cheap," Nawfal told Insider. "An investment of a million dollars into a company would now cost 80 or 90% less, so if anything, we're in a better place." Nawfal said he hoped that listing publicly would help his company attract the "big money" in traditional stock markets. Wahid Chammas, the founder of the Cyprus-based asset-management firm TyreGate Capital, said listing in a bear market could help firms focus on "value creation as opposed to stock price." Chammas told Insider that investor expectations had been lowered, which could allow NFT Technologies to innovate without thinking about the volatility of the market. According to a Google Trends analysis, interest in NFTs peaked in January before collapsing nearly 77% in the past five months. Similar data from NonFungible, a website that tracks the NFT ecosystem, suggested sales of NFTs declined 89.6% since a peak in September. But according to the analytics firm Chainalysis, investors sent over $37 billion to NFT marketplaces in the first five months of 2022, putting them on track to beat the $40 billion sent over the past year. Chainalysis also said the number of unique buyers and sellers in the NFT marketplace had risen every quarter since the second quarter of 2020. Story continues Not everybody is convinced that this is a good time to list publicly. "The listing could present a challenge for our nascent company, given its exposure to the current crypto market. While that challenge is not insurmountable, due to major market headwinds, the listing may not shine as much as it would have a few months ago," said an NFT Technologies employee who spoke with Insider on condition of anonymity, because they were not authorized to talk to the press. He sees an uphill battle for the company since NFTs are still a novel asset with volatile peaks and troughs. For Chammas, the market for NFTs resembles the dot-com era for tech companies. "A few will rise to be unicorns and really impact our lives positively," he said, "But many won't survive." In Chammas view, while the dot-com era had its share of failures, the innovation it spurred has been unparalleled. The same could be true for blockchain technologies, he said. Despite the market headwinds, Nawfal said he believed that the technology behind NFTs, crypto, and other aspects of Web3 were at a turning point analogous to Facebook in the early aughts. "It not only will change society, it is already changing society right now," he said. For Nawfal, Facebook's recent rebranding is a good sign for crypto companies. "Imagine if Ford twenty years ago changed their name to Ford Electric Cars," he said. "If people way smarter than me are changing their name to Meta, I don't know what else could be a good indicator." Read the original article on Business Insider PARIS (Reuters) - France and Australia are ready to rebuild their bilateral relationship after Australians voted last week to oust a government that had angered Paris by ditching a submarine procurement contract between the two countries. In a statement released on Thursday, the French presidential palace said French President Emmanuel Macron had called new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to congratulate him on his election. The Labor Party leader was sworn in on Monday. "After acknowledging the severe breach of trust following the decision of the previous prime minister, Scott Morrison, to terminate the submarine contracts, the French president and Australia's prime minister have agreed to rebuild a bilateral relation based on trust and respect (...)," the Elysee said. "A roadmap will be established to structure this new bilateral agenda (...)," the statement added. Last October, France accused its allies of stabbing it in the back when Australia opted for nuclear-powered submarines to be built with U.S. and British technology instead of a multi-billion dollar French submarine programme. (Reporting by Benoit Van Overstraeten; Editing by Paul Simao) Eric Grizzard will lead Germantown Fire Department as the new fire chief beginning July 1, the city announced Wednesday. Grizzard's appointment comes after current Germantown Fire Chief John Selberg decided to head to Collierville as the town's new fire chief. The internal candidates for the open position of fire chief were very strong, City Administrator Jason Huisman said. It gives me great comfort to know that our Fire and EMS services are well positioned for continued success under an exemplary group of leaders. We are excited about the immediate and long-term future of the department under Chief Grizzards direction. Eric Grizzard will lead Germantown Fire Department as the new fire chief beginning July 1, the city announced Wednesday. Grizzard's appointment comes after current Germantown Fire Chief John Selberg decided to head to Collierville as the town's new fire chief. Grizzard joined Germantown Fire Department in 2005 as a firefighter and was eventually promoted to fire assistant chief of operations in 2021. His duties as assistant chief included personnel management, development and oversight of emergency response. GERMANTOWN DEVELOPMENT: What's next for Carrefour at the Gateway? A new building, rebranding and more GERMANTOWN NEWS: Tax rates, body cameras, drainage: What to know about Germantown's proposed budget Prior to moving to Germantown Fire, Grizzard worked for Ambulance Services Inc., Horn Lake Emergency Medical Services and Southaven Fire Department. He also taught as an adjunct EMS instructor at Southwest Community College for 12 years. I want to continue to uphold the tradition of excellence the department has established, and expand the departments involvement in community outreach and risk reduction programs, Grizzard said. This is the communitys fire department and serving the community with excellence, every call, will continue to be our focus. Grizzard served as the Region 8 president for the West Tennessee EMS Directors Association and as the committee chair for Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Swift Water Credentialing Committee. Dima Amro covers the suburbs for The Commercial Appeal and can be reached at Dima.Amro@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @AmroDima. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Germantown names Eric Grizzard city's new fire chief When social media star Qandeel Baloch was strangled by her brother for unapologetically challenging Pakistan's attitudes towards women, activists fought for her murder to trigger a new era of justice over so-called "honour" killings. Her killer's release in February, less than three years into a life sentence, has instead underlined how the country's legal system still allows for men to abuse, rape and murder women with impunity. In Pakistan, overlapping legal systems riddled with loopholes and a deeply patriarchal society combine to ensure women survivors of violence are unlikely to get justice, activists, lawyers and survivors told AFP. "The whole process from the moment a crime is committed against a woman to registering it with the police -- and then the court procedure -- is structured in such a way that justice remains elusive," said Nayab Gohar Jan, a prominent rights activist. "Add to that societal pressures and stigmas, and you can see the odds are clearly stacked against them." Much of Pakistani society operates under an "honour" code where women can be killed for bringing "shame" on their families by acts such as interacting with men or marrying someone they choose themselves. More than 470 cases of "honour" killings were reported to police in 2021, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), though many cases go unreported by families who collude with the killers -- often male relatives. Pakistan ranked 153 out 156 countries on the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap index in 2021, which noted stark disparities in access to justice, education and employment. - Biased courts - Baloch both captivated and scandalised Pakistan with her short skirts and provocative dancing on Facebook. Her murder in 2016 was arguably Pakistan's most high-profile case of an "honour" killing. Days after killing her, Muhammad Waseem defiantly told journalists that he strangled his sister because of her "intolerable" behaviour. Story continues The government responded to public outrage with new laws against such crimes, including -- crucially -- a ban on victims' families being allowed to pardon relatives or reach out-of-court "blood money" settlements. Waseem was convicted and sentenced to life in jail, but his lawyers found a loophole. They successfully argued on appeal that the murder could not be classed as an "honour" killing - rendering the legal changes inapplicable, and allowing for his mother to pardon him. That decision is being challenged by the state. Lawyers and activists blamed patriarchal mindsets within the justice system and a lack of women lawyers and judges for allowing "honour" killing verdicts to be overturned. Pakistani courts are dominated by men, with less than a fifth of judges and only 12 percent of prosecutors being women, the HRCP says. Lawyer Nida Usman Chaudhary, who founded a collective for women jurists, said male judges often show bias in their interpretation of the honour killing laws. "You've had the Supreme Court literally coming up with case law after case law where they developed an entire defence... to give impunity to the person who is accused," she told AFP. - Victim-blaming - Khadija Siddiqi, who was stabbed 23 times and left for dead by her ex-boyfriend, said her legal case was "delayed so much that we were actually on the verge of giving up". Her attacker was convicted of attempted murder, acquitted on appeal, reconvicted, and then freed early for good behaviour. Like many instances of violence against women, Siddiqi's case was dominated by a culture of victim-blaming, pervasive throughout the police, the courts and the wider community, she told AFP. Allegations of domestic abuse are often viewed as a family matter, and victims of gender-based crimes are treated with suspicion. Victim-blaming attitudes go to the very top. Last year, former prime minister Imran Khan repeatedly linked a rise in sexual assaults to women wearing "very few clothes". In 2020, a provincial police chief publicly admonished a gang-rape victim for driving at night without a male companion. "I was made to feel I had done something wrong and I got what I deserved," said Siddiqi. Social media's power to challenge the indolence of the justice system is growing, but often limited to high-profile cases. Last year, Noor Mukadam, the daughter of a former ambassador, was kidnapped, raped and beheaded by her boyfriend in Islamabad. In February, a court sentenced Zahir Jaffer to death, in a trial that was exceptional for its pace, concluding just eight months after his arrest. The case garnered huge attention, in part because of the brutal nature of the murder and the pair's elite status, but also because her friends were able to mobilise without fear of a backlash. "We built the pressure... and used (social media) as a tactic," said Shafaq Zaidi, a friend of Mukadam who helped lead the campaign. Days before Mukadam was killed, at the other end of the country Quratulain Baloch was tortured and murdered, but her case garnered little attention. Her husband, who denies killing her, was only formally charged in March. "As the verdict in the Noor Mukadam case was read out, Quratulain's murder trial hadn't even begun. Why has there not been the same urgency here?" bristled Sanaullah Buledi, her brother. - Local retribution - In Muslim-majority Pakistan, a British common law-based system uses interpretations of Islamic law, particularly in cases dealing with gender-based violence and family disputes. In rural areas, women victims often do not get the opportunity for a trial at all. Justice can be meted out through village councils comprising local elders - always men - that operate extrajudicially and often order abuse against women as a means of upholding "honour". Although supported by many Pakistanis for their swiftness, these tribunals offer no means of appeal. The country's powerful religious clergy has also been responsible for quashing reform. Last year, the Council of Islamic Ideology - a body that previously proposed legislation allowing husbands to "lightly" beat their wives -- struck down a tough new law against gender-based violence. The appointment of the first female justice to the 17-member Supreme Court earlier this was welcomed as important step in improving the quality of justice for women. Ayesha Malik was a Lahore High Court judge when she banned an invasive "two-finger virginity test" for rape survivors last year. Tough new anti-rape laws have also been introduced, though their impact has yet to be seen. For those who have gone through the system, however, the toll remains high. "There were times when I would wish the ground would just open up and I'd hide myself there, away from the gaze of the men in court," said Siddiqi, the survivor. kf-ecl/aha/ser/smw On a dirt floor normally reserved for bull riding and barrel racing, a community in mourning came together Wednesday night to honor the 19 children and two adults shot and killed inside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Members of the community gather at a vigil for the 21 people killed at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas. (Jordan Vonderhaar) As the sun set on the Uvalde County Fairplex, the friends, families, neighbors, classmates and community leaders of Uvalde, Texas, gathered for a candlelight vigil in honor of the 21 lives lost Tuesday in the second-deadliest school shooting in United States history. More a Sunday morning worship service than a vigil, religious leaders from various churches led the community in hymns and prayer in both English and Spanish before reading passages from the Bible and urging those in the crowd to lean on their faith. "The Lord Almighty is with us," a religious leader said. "The Lord Almighty is with you, and your sorrow and your questions and your pain and your agony. God is there and God sees." A woman in a maroon shirt covers her face as she cries as another woman in black hugs her (CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP via Getty Images)) Many in attendance were seen wearing Uvalde Coyotes colors: crimson and white. A number of students of all ages were also in attendance classmates of those who were killed; friends supporting friends who lost family members; young high school-age couples holding hands and best friends resting their heads on a fellow teen's shoulder. I want you to know that we love you, one faith leader said after the group was led in a song. The ministers of this community the people of this community we love each other. "It doesnt seem real. It doesnt even really hit you," Taylor, 32, a freelance writer who attended the vigil told TODAY Parents after it ended. (He asked that his full name be withheld.) "I hate to say the feeling 'helpless,' but it just feels like we're here to bear witness to a lot of terrible things." He was working with volunteers at the Mexico-Texas border when the shooting at Robb Elementary School occurred. Taylor, along with a group of volunteers, drove straight to the school and watched as the shooting, and the police response, unfolded. Story continues Community members hug each other at a vigil for the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting. (Brandon Bell / Getty Images) "We saw kids getting evacuated and helicopters everything you'd think you'd see," he added. Taylor says the scene Tuesday felt somber and quiet. "The air had a very heavy, dark feeling," he explained. He says he wanted to attend the vigil because Uvalde is "one of the communities I care about." "It doesn't matter what it is, we're here for the community," he added. "For Texas." In the parking lot Wednesday night, "Pray for Uvalde" and "Uvalde Strong" messages could be seen scribbled on vehicle windows and on handheld signs. "We are devastated," the same faith leader said at the beginning of the vigil. "But you know what I also know and I also believe? God's heart is broken. Because God sees us here. I am so grateful, I am so thankful, that you are here." As the vigil ended and attendees spilled into the parking lot, a group of young students were seen hugging a police officer. "Thank you for coming, girls," the officer said as the teens, their cheeks still stained with tears, walked away hand-in-hand. Texas school shooting vigil (Danielle Campoamor / TODAY) Parents with children far too young to comprehend the egregious loss of life their community has sustained were also in attendance. Those children many of whom were toddlers could be seen playing amongst themselves during the vigil; making noises on the bleacher seats while fidgeting; loudly asking (read: demanding) for a snack; fighting with an annoying sibling or uncomfortably crawling across a parent's lap. Those moments of reprieve of the joy borne out of the innate naivete of a child seemed welcomed, not just by their parents but by all of those around them. Related: Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) says he wants Republicans to work with Democrats to pass bipartisan gun control legislation but the proposals under consideration face significant hurdles, and the likelihood of success is small. Schumer initially on Wednesday said most Republicans are so set against proposals to expand background checks or otherwise limit access to firearms that he doesnt think it would be a productive use of Senate time to bring legislation to the floor in response to the mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., and Uvalde, Texas. Later in the day, Schumer said he would allow votes on gun control-related amendments to a domestic terrorism bill thats coming to the floor Thursday. But Republicans say they will block the bill from proceeding, which means gun control-related votes are unlikely before the Memorial Day recess. Schumer has come under pressure from progressives to put Republicans on the record by forcing votes on expanded background checks and other reforms. Im always in favor of putting people on the record. We dont have a single Republican vote for any movement on gun safety, and in the wake of what happened this week in Texas and last week in New York, I think Republicans ought to own up to their shameful, extremist position, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a leading progressive. Schumer acknowledged the pressure in earlier comments on Wednesday in which he criticized GOP senators for inaction on gun control. There are some who want this body to quickly vote on sensible gun safety legislation. They want to see this body to vote quickly, so the American people can know which side each senator is on, he said. But, sadly, this isnt a case of the American people not knowing where their senators stand. They know. They know because my Republican colleagues are perfectly clear on this issue. Crystal clear. Republicans dont pretend that they support sensible gun safety legislation, he added. Story continues The two leading proposals now under discussion are expanded background checks and so-called red flag procedures to take guns away from people deemed dangerous to themselves or others. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a key centrist, told reporters Wednesday that he sees red flag legislation as an issue that could attract bipartisan support. We talked about the red flag. Its worked. Its works in states such as Florida. Its been very effective, he said. He also cited expanded background checks as something that doesnt infringe on gun owners rights. Bolder ideas to ban assault-style rifles something President Biden endorsed last week or to prohibit high-capacity magazines arent getting any serious discussion. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on Tuesday said she hadnt made a decision about whether to push for a vote on her signature issue, a ban on assault-style weapons, which she got enacted into law from 1994 to 2004. Feinstein introduced a new assault weapons ban in March of last year. A House-passed bill to expand the period for reviewing firearm sales to 10 days, a response to the 2015 shooting at a Charleston, S.C., church, has been largely ignored. The relatively mainstream idea of expanding background checks, which several senators pointed to on Wednesday as one of the most likely reforms, still faces a tough path in the Senate. Manchin said last year that he didnt support a House-passed bill to require background checks for all firearm sales. Instead, Manchin last week pitched the bill he negotiated in 2013 with Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and with input from the National Rifle Association to expand background checks but exempt sales and transfers between friends and families. But Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a leading Senate gun control advocate, on Tuesday rejected that bill as originally drafted as insufficient. Manchin-Toomey is not just a background checks bill. Its got lots of sweeteners in it designed to get the NRAs support, he said. You cant do Manchin-Toomey, but you could do a commercial background checks bill. Thats something that would get bipartisan support, he added. Toomey told The Hill last week that he did not see a clear legislative path for Manchin-Toomey. I still support the policy. The political path forward is not obvious to me, he said. Toomey is one of only two Republicans currently in the Senate who voted for Manchin-Toomey when lawmakers considered it in 2013 in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) cast the other yes vote. So far, however, no other Republican has stepped forward to endorse expanded background-check requirements. Red flag legislation is emerging as a more promising option given longstanding partisan disagreements over expanding background checks. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Angus King (I-Maine) introduced legislation last year to direct Department of Justice funds to encourage states to set up procedures similar to Floridas to prevent individuals who pose a threat to the community from purchasing firearms. And Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) also has a bill with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), though they havent yet introduced it this Congress, to encourage states to set up red flag laws. But some Republicans such as Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), who usually fall within the group of possible GOP yes votes when a bipartisan bill is seeking 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, both raised concerns over red flag legislation. I have a concern with existing red flag laws. If Im not mistaken, New York has one and it didnt stop the tragedy in Buffalo, Tillis said. Tillis said Schumers decision to put the two House-passed bills to expand background checks on the Senate calendar would chill the negotiations. Its going to be very difficult to even have anybody enter a room when you have Leader Schumer laying two bills coming from the House, because that sounds like a political stunt and less of a sincere interest in having a conversation and an outcome, Tillis said. I would not support a federal mandate for red flag. I do believe you can create a framework that would encourage [state] legislators to consider it, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Mourners take part in a vigil at El Paso High School after a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, August 3, 2019. Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters On Tuesday, an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, killing 21 people, including 19 children. Earlier this month, a different 18-year-old man dressed in tactical gear and livestreaming on Twitch, fatally shot 10 people in a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, in what authorities described as a racially motivated mass shooting. Already in 2022, the US has seen 27 school shootings and more than 200 mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a Wednesday press conference suggested that mental health concerns are in part, responsible for the rise in mass shootings over the past few decades, but scientific research doesn't support those claims. Experts have repeatedly shown that mental health issues are not predictive of violence. What science has demonstrated, however, is that the number of gun deaths in the US is much higher than in other nations with similar rates of gun ownership like Switzerland and that certain policies can help prevent these fatalities. Studies have linked stricter background checks, rules prohibiting domestic abusers from owning weapons, and secure locks on firearms in the home with decreased rates of gun-related deaths. Read More: Switzerland has a stunningly high rate of gun ownership here's why it doesn't have mass shootings Here's what the data shows. In 2017, 39,773 people in the US died from firearms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Flowers and mementos are seen at a makeshift memorial outside Walmart, near the scene of a mass shooting that left at least 22 people dead, on August 4, 2019 in El Paso, Texas. Mario Tama/Getty Images Most of these firearm deaths are not from mass shootings, but from suicides and homicides, according to the CDC. There are close to as many guns in the US as there are people. There may be more, or there may be less, depending on which study you look at there's no exact count, since there isn't a national database of gun purchases or firearm owners. Federal law does not require gun owners to get a license or permit. Story continues That's one of the many obstacles researchers face when trying to evaluate why so many people die from guns in the US and what might prevent those deaths. Gun violence is one the most poorly researched causes of death in America, according to a 2017 study. More than 80 family members and friends of people who were killed by gun violence gather for a news conference with Congressional Democrats to call for action on gun violence prevention, December 15, 2016 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images "In relation to mortality rates, gun-violence research was the least-researched cause of death and the second-least-funded cause of death," the authors of that study wrote. The study ascribed this paucity of research to a 1996 congressional appropriations bill called the Dickey Amendment, which stipulated that "none of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be used to advocate or promote gun control." Former President Donald Trump signed a bill in 2018 that weakened the Dickey Amendment the new legal provision gives the CDC permission to research the causes of gun violence. But the amendment still maintains a ban on "using appropriated funding to advocate or promote gun control." Researchers do know, however, that the annual number of people who died from firearm injuries worldwide rose from 209,000 to 251,000 between 1990 and 2016. People gather in Juarez, Mexico on August 3, 2019 in a vigil for the three Mexican nationals who were killed in an El Paso shooting. Christian Chavez/Associated Press According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, six countries Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala, and the US accounted for 50.5% of the 251,000 global firearm deaths in 2016. More than 60% of worldwide firearm deaths that year were homicides, while 27% were firearm suicide deaths, and 9% were unintentional firearm deaths. The chart below shows an American's odds of dying in a gun assault or a mass shooting as of 2018, as compared to other causes of death. Accidental gun deaths and suicides using guns are not included in these numbers. Shayanne Gal/Business Insider An American's chance of dying from gun violence overall is more than 22 times greater than the lifetime risk of dying while riding inside a car, truck, or van (though that category excludes pedestrian, cyclist, and other deaths outside of a motor vehicle). It's also more than 10 times as high as dying from any force of nature, such as a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or flood. In remarks following the El Paso and Dayton shootings, President Trump blamed "gruesome video games" and "mentally ill monsters" for the violence. A wealth of research contradicts both claims. President Trump departs after speaking about the shootings in El Paso and Dayton in the White House on August 5, 2019. Leah Millis/Reuters In his comments after shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, Trump said "mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger, not the gun." He called for improvements to mental health treatment and, "when necessary, involuntary confinement" of mentally ill people. Decades of research, however, have shown that mental illness is not a cause of violence; in fact, a person with mental illness is far more likely to be a victim of violence than a perpetrator. A 2016 study from the American Psychiatric Association found that "mass shootings by people with serious mental illness represent less than 1% of all yearly gun-related homicides," and that "the overall contribution of people with serious mental illness to violent crimes is only about 3%." A study published in 2019 supports those findings: Having a mental illness does not make a person more likely to commit gun violence. A better indicator was their access to firearms. Joe Raedle/Getty Images The authors of the study, which published in the journal Preventative Medicine, found that individuals who had access to guns were over 18 times more likely to have threatened someone with a gun compared to people without such gun access. "What we found is that the link between mental illness and gun violence is not there," one of the authors, Yu Lu, said in a press release. There is a link between reduced access to guns and lower rates of suicide. Gun safety and suicide prevention brochures on display next to guns for sale at a local retail gun store in Montrose, Colorado, February 23, 2016. Associated Press/Brennan Linsley More than 60% of the nearly 40,000 annual gun deaths in the US are suicides, according to the CDC; that's almost double the number of homicides. Data from other countries suggests there's a link between reduced availability of guns and fewer suicides. One study found that after the Israel Defense Forces stopped letting soldiers bring weapons home on the weekends, suicide rates dropped by 40%. Barring people convicted of domestic abuse from owning guns also decreases the number of gun deaths. A woman who has been beaten by her husband, holds her child in a shelter for women who suffered from domestic violence. Pavel Golovkin/AP The Lautenberg Amendment to the 1968 Gun Control Act disqualifies people with a misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence from buying or owning weapons. According to a 2017 study, gun murders of female intimate partners decreased by 17% as a result of that amendment. A 2018 report published by Everytown, a non-profit dedicated to reducing gun violence in the US, indicates that in at least 54% of mass shootings, the perpetrator also shot a current or former intimate partner or family member. After Congress let a 1994 ban on assault weapons expire in 2004, gun massacre deaths skyrocketed. A potential buyer looks at a gun at the Heckler & Koch booth at the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 19, 2016. John Locher/AP When people in the US were allowed to start buying military-style firearms with high-capacity magazines (which enable shooters to discharge many rounds of ammunition in a short amount of time), the number of people killed in gun massacres defined as shootings in which at least six people die shot up 239%. By contrast, after the 1994 ban on assault weapons went into effect, the number of gun massacre deaths decreased by 43%, as researcher Louis Klarevas reported in his book "Rampage Nation." There's still debate about whether assault-rifle regulation is effective at reducing overall firearm deaths, since most gun deaths in the US are suicides. But most of the deadliest mass shootings in recent US history involved a military-style weapon with a high-capacity magazine. If US law makers do make policy changes, banning high-capacity magazines and renewing the assault weapons ban should be at the top of their lists, one researcher said. A custom-made semi-automatic hunting rifle with a high-capacity detachable magazine is displayed at a gun store in Rockin, California, October 3, 2013. Associated Press/Rich Pedroncelli "Nearly every mass shooting illustrates that large-capacity magazines can increase the death toll and that forcing a shooter to reload more frequently can provide opportunities for counter-attack by those around," John Donohue, who researches mass shootings at Stanford University, previously told Business Insider. He added: "Accordingly, a ban on high-capacity magazines is absolutely essential if one wants to reduce the loss of life from active-shooter scenarios." There's a widening gap between the number of gun deaths in states with relaxed gun-control laws and states with more restrictive policies, according to a study published in 2019. Scott Olson/Getty Images For the study, researchers assigned each of the 50 US states an aggregate "firearm laws score," ranging from 0 (completely restrictive) to 100 (completely permissive). These scores accounted for 13 factors, including gun permit requirements, if and where guns are allowed to be carried and kept, and whether state laws ensure a right to self-defense. The results suggested that a 10-unit increase in the permissiveness of state gun laws (according to the scoring system) was associated with an 11.5% higher rate of mass shootings. What's more, every state's score shifted towards greater permissiveness from 1998 to 2014. States that have stricter background-check laws for gun purchases have fewer school shootings. Mourners pray around a memorial in front of Santa Fe High School on May 21, 2018 in Santa Fe, Texas. Getty Images/Scott Olson A 2018 study found that states with stricter background checks for weapon and ammunition purchases had fewer school shootings. States that spent more money on education and mental health care also had lower rates of school shootings. Though not the most common form of gun violence, school shootings have spiked in the US: There was an average of one per year from 1966 to 2008, but an average of one per week from 2013 to 2015, the same study found. In 2018, the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma called for gun policies that they say will make Americans safer, including removing firearms from domestic-violence perpetrators and regulating the sale of semi-automatic weapons. Dr. Faran Bokhari, head of the trauma department at Stroger Hospital in Chicago (second from right), and Dr. Jared Bernard, a lieutenant commander and trauma surgeon in the US Navy (third from left), work together during surgery of a gunshot victim, August 6, 2014. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh In a statement published in the journal Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open on August 7, 2018, the Board of Managers for the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma issued 14 recommendations "in an attempt to stem the tide of deaths from firearm violence and support safe firearm ownership." The list also includes regulating the sale of high volume ammunition, bump stocks, and trigger actuators. The surgeons want mandatory reporting of all firearm sales as well. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in 2019 pinpointed 10 policies that could reduce gun violence in the state of Illinois. Their recommendations are similar to the surgeons' list. Nortasha Stingiey (second from left) hold hands in a group prayer during a news conference by "Purpose over Pain," a group of mothers who lost children to gun violence in Chicago, Illinois, May 6, 2016. REUTERS/Jim Young The suggested policies include banning the sale of new assault weapons, denying concealed-carry licenses to some individuals, and prohibiting firearm sales to people convicted of multiple alcohol-related offenses. The most significant change the researchers recommended, however, would be to require gun purchasers to apply for a license in person with law enforcement and undergo safety training, rather than applying online or by mail without training. These recommendations mirror some of Switzerland's gun policies. In that country, nearly one in four people legally owns a gun, but there hasn't been a mass shooting in almost two decades. Nina Christen of Switzerland shoots in a training session prior to the start of the 2016 Olympic Games, August 4, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sam Greenwood/Getty Images Swiss authorities keep a log of everyone who owns a gun in their region. They can also decide on a local level whether to give people gun permits, and police don't take that duty lightly. They might vet the person by consulting a psychiatrist or talking with authorities in other areas in which a prospective gun buyer has lived. People who've been convicted of a crime or have an alcohol or drug addiction aren't allowed to buy guns in Switzerland. The law also states that anyone who "expresses a violent or dangerous attitude" won't be allowed to buy a gun. Most Swiss citizens aren't allowed to carry their guns in public getting a concealed-carry permit is difficult for people who don't work as security officers or police. A concealed carry holster is displayed for sale at the Guntoberfest gun show in Oaks, Pennsylvania, October 6, 2017. Joshua Roberts/Reuters In the US, states that have right-to-carry (RTC) gun laws allow anyone who can own a gun and meet necessary conditions to get a concealed-carry permit. Four decades ago, only five states allowed the concealed carry of firearms. By 2014, all but eight states had reinstated RTC laws. One 2017 study found that concealed-carry laws increased the rate of firearm homicides by 9% when homicide rates were compared state by state. Research shows that states that require background checks on all gun sales had 35% fewer gun deaths per capita between 2009 and 2012. Bodies are removed from the scene of a mass shooting, August 4, 2019, in Dayton, Ohio. John Minchillo / Associated Press Currently, US law only requires background checks when people buy guns from licensed firearms dealers. However, research from the nonpartisan Rand Corporation estimates that universal background checks could prevent 1,100 homicides per year. Seventeen US states and the District of Columbia also have "red-flag laws," which allow family members and law enforcement to file Extreme Risk Protection Orders that restrict or temporarily remove a person's access to firearms if their behavior suggests they pose a violent threat. Former President Trump endorsed those laws, saying, "we must make sure that those judged to pose a grave risk to public safety do not have access to firearms and that if they do, those firearms can be taken through rapid due process." Rates of accidental shootings are also higher when people especially children are around more guns. Police lead children away from Sandy Hook Elementary following a mass shooting on December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut. Twenty-six people died in the attack. AP Photo/Newton Bee/Shannon Hicks In December 2012, a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The tragedy gave rise to calls for gun-control regulation, and that resulted in what's now a predictable phenomenon: People bought more guns. With more guns around in the months after the Sandy Hook shooting, the rate of accidental deaths related to firearms rose sharply, especially among children, according to a study published in the journal Science. The calculations showed that 40 adults and 20 children died as a result of those additional gun purchases. Many accidental gun deaths can be avoided, though, if gun owners lock up their firearms. Students from Centreville, Virginia wear targets on their chests at the March for Our Lives rally on March 24, 2018 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty In 2015, 13 million US households with children contained firearms. Fewer than one in three of those households, however, followed the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations to store all household firearms locked and unloaded. A study published this year found that up to 32% of youth suicides and accidental firearm deaths (with youth defined as any person 19 years old or younger) could be prevented if the remainder of these households were to lock up their guns. Specifically, the researchers found that if 20% of households that keep at least one gun unlocked started locking up all their guns within a year, between 72 and 135 youth firearm fatalities could be prevented. Longer prison sentences for crimes involving a gun like armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon have also been shown to help reduce violent firearm use. AP/Gerry Broome Gun-robbery rates have gone down in states that approved longer sentences for assault or robbery with a gun. In the 1970s and 1980s, legislators passed 30 laws calling for additional prison time for people convicted of robbery or assault with a gun. A 40-year-analysis published in the journal Science found that gun-robbery rates dropped by 5% in the years after these longer sentencing laws were enacted. Replacing medium- and large-caliber weapons with small-caliber guns would dramatically reduce gun deaths as well, according to data from the Boston Police Department. A Boston Police car is seen before game six of the 2013 World Series on October 30, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images In a July 2018 study, researchers examined data from files of 511 gunshot victims kept by the Boston Police Department. They found that weapon caliber which refers to the diameter of the firearm barrel and is an indication of the diameter of the bullet played a big role in how fatal shootings were. People shot with medium-caliber weapons (.38, .380, and 9 mm) were more than twice as likely to die as those shot with small-caliber guns (.22, .25, and .32 mm). And victims shot with large caliber weapons (.357 magnum, .40, .44 magnum, .45, 10 mm, and 7.62 39 mm) were more than 4.5 times as likely to die as those shot with small-caliber firearms. Replacing all large- and medium-caliber guns with small ones would have reduced the homicide rate by 39.5%, the researchers found. Weapons buy-back programs have been successful in reducing mass shootings. David Gray/Reuters After at 1996 mass shooting left 35 people dead in Australia, the country's leaders enacted stricter gun-control legislation and set up a program for citizens to sell their weapons back to the government so they could be destroyed. The initiative appears to have been successful: Firearm suicides dropped by 65% and homicides by 59% over the decade following the 1996 legislation. While Australia saw 13 mass shootings (defined as five or more deaths) in the 18 years before the 1996 massacre, there have only been two in the 23 years since. The US has a higher rate of gun violence than any other similarly wealthy country. Mourners take part in a vigil near the border fence between Mexico and the U.S after a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso, August 3, 2019. Carlos Sanchez/Reuters The US has far more mass shootings than just about any country in the world. Of countries with at least 10 million people, there are more mass shootings per capita in only Yemen, which has the second-highest per-capita rate of gun ownership (the US has the highest). The US is not inherently a more violent society, but its policies make guns easy to get. The data that we have indicates that some gun-control measures like banning some types of weapons, improving background checks, and putting more restrictions on weapon access could save lives. At the very least, gathering and analyzing data could help leaders determine what sort of changes might help prevent another Parkland, Sandy Hook, or Uvalde. Kevin Loria contributed to an earlier version of this story. Read the original article on Business Insider May 25As a member of the Uvalde community for decades, H-E-B is committed to support our partners and neighbors who have been affected by this tragic situation. To show our support and stand with the Uvalde community, H-E-B will commit $500,000 to aid our fellow Texans affected by this heartbreaking event, a press release stated. Also, starting Wednesday, H-E-B, Central Market, Joe V's Smart Shop, and Mi Tienda customers can contribute by making monetary donations in store at the register for $1, $3, $5, $50, or $100 or at checkout in Curbside and Home Delivery orders. Monetary gifts will go into the Spirit of Giving Fund, a 501c3 nonprofit H-E-B created in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and the Sutherland Springs tragedy. Additional donations to support the fund can be made at heb.com/donate. All funds collected from the donation campaign and gifted to the Spirit of Giving Fund will benefit the victims and families of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Additionally, in the spirit of Texans Helping Texans, H-E-B has mobilized to help during this time of great need. HEB stores in the area and our H-E-B Mobile Kitchens will provide meals, supplies, and other resources to community support centers, first responders, and the local school district, and we will work closely with nonprofit organizations providing critical aid to those in need. The company will also provide crisis counselors to support H-E-B Partners and neighbors grieving throughout the community. "Our hearts go out to all the families during this tragic and painful time," Winell Herron, HEB Group Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental Affairs, stated in the press release. "Our neighbors in Uvalde, including many of our H-E-B Partners, have connections to someone touched by this tragedy. We grieve alongside them as they face unimaginable loss. It is our hope that HEB's support, along with our loyal customers' donations, will help during this difficult situation." John McAfee died in a Spanish prison on 23 June, 2021 (Janice McAfee) The widow of John McAfee has launched a campain for his body to be released from a Spanish morgue, nearly a year after the cyber security pioneer died in a Catalan prison. Janice McAfee questioned the motives of Spanish authorities, who have held her husbands body ever since conducting an official autopsy that allegedly confirmed a death by suicide while he was awaiting extradition to the US. Mrs McAfee has questioned the official narrative, claiming that McAfee was not suicidal and that attempts to carry out an independent autopsy have been blocked by the delay in releasing his body. If there were any credibility to that suicide story, then why are they not allowing us to have an independent autopsy? Why cant we get there autopsy report? Mrs McAfee said in an interview with YouTube channel Rice TVx this week. Theres no reason why there should be so many delays. I mean it could be just incompetence on behalf of the Spanish [authorities] but I just feel that there may be something more sinister thats happened here. Theres just too many things that have happened that just dont add up. They were so quick to rush the story of a suicide but yet they wont give us the autopsy report, they wont release his body they dont need to continue to keep his body, theres nothing more that they need to do with it... Why they wont release it doesnt make any sense unless they have something to hide. An online petition calling for McAfees body to be returned to his widow was set up this week, aiming to collect 100,000 signatures to help shed light and provide a conclusion for the mysterious circumstances surrounding the demise of the founder of McAfee Anti-Virus. Without McAfees body, Mrs McAfee has been unable to hold a funeral and has remained in Spain while awaiting his remains. Its inexcusable why they would keep his remains for so long, she said in the interview. Obviously theyre hiding something and I feel like an independent autopsy will help to get some answers as to what possibly might have happened to him and how he died. Story continues Sign this petition and help me pressure Spanish officials into doing what is right for John:https://t.co/PQeyFJ25Gb Janice McAfee (@theemrsmcafee) May 24, 2022 A piece of paper found on McAfees body, which authorities claimed was a suicide note, was shared by Mrs McAfee last July. She believes it was a draft of a tweet, which he shared with her during phone calls from prison to post on the social network site. This note does not sound anything like someone who has no hope and is contemplating ending their life, she wrote last July. This note sounds like one of Johns tweets. Lawyers representing McAfees daughter Jen said in February that the legal process could last the entirety of 2022 before his remains are returned to family. It is my understanding it could take months for a higher court to rule on the lower-court judges [ruling of suicide], Joy Athanasiou told MarketWatch. And if the decision is the police report/ autopsy was not thorough enough, there could be a re-investigation and medical examination of some sort that would take several more months. The Independent has reached out for comment from Spanish Judge Victor Espigares Jiminez, who has presided over the investigation into McAfees cause of death. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Twitter is going to pay $150 million to settle a federal privacy lawsuit over allegations of improperly collecting user data between 2014 and 2019. Meanwhile, Meta ramped up its feud with Apple through comments to a federal agency reviewing competition in the mobile app market. This is Hillicon Valley, detailing all you need to know about tech and cyber news from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Send tips to The Hills Chris Mills Rodrigo (@millsrodrigo), Rebecca Klar (@rebeccaklar_), and Ines Kagubare (@InesKagubare). Someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Twitter to pay $150M to settle privacy suit Twitter is set to pay $150 million to settle a privacy lawsuit brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Justice Department. The settlement, made public Wednesday, concerns allegations that the platform improperly collected user data between 2014 and 2019. The settlement requires a court approval before being finalized. According to the complaint, Twitter asked users for phone numbers and email addresses to secure their accounts and then let advertisers use that information to target ads. The platform misrepresented what the information was being collected to do, per the complaint, allegedly violating a previous settlement from 2011 and the FTC Act. As the complaint notes, Twitter obtained data from users on the pretext of harnessing it for security purposes but then ended up also using the data to target users with ads, FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan said in a statement. This practice affected more than 140 million Twitter users, while boosting Twitters primary source of revenue. Read more here. Meta slams Apple Meta slammed Apples market power in the mobile app industry in comments for a federal agencys report on the app ecosystem released Thursday. Metas stance escalates the feud between the two industry heavyweights and puts Facebooks parent company in opposition to the industry groups trying to defend the competitiveness of the app market as the Biden administration cracks down on tech giants power. Story continues Piling on: In 19 pages of comments, Meta almost entirely focuses on criticizing Apple. The multibillion-dollar company, which is itself the target of a key federal antitrust lawsuit, paints a picture of Apple as a behemoth that is constraining Metas ability to expand. The comments were made to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is conducting a report on competition in the mobile app ecosystem as part of the Department of Commerces work to review the market as directed under a sweeping executive order on competition from President Biden. Apples take: In a 15-page comment submitted for the NTIA report, Apple defended its app store as a pro-consumer and pro-developer economic engine for app developers. Part of Apples defense is focused around security and privacy features it provides for consumers. The tech giant used a similar defense in a lawsuit against Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, and in hearings with lawmakers looking to add further regulations to how dominant app stores operate. Read more here. DORSEYS FAREWELL Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is stepping down from the companys board effective today, a move that was expected and comes amid Tesla CEO Elon Musks multibillion-dollar bid to purchase the platform. As we shared back in November, Jack would be leaving the Board when his term expires at the 2022 meeting of stockholders, a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill. The company held its annual stakeholder meeting on Wednesday. The co-founders departure comes a month after Twitter announced an initial deal to sell itself to the worlds wealthiest man for some $44 billion. Read more here. CYBERATTACK ATTRIBUTION IS KEY As Russian cyber threats continue to evolve amid the war in Ukraine, cyber experts are urging NATO to take authoritative steps to combat state-sponsored hackers, including attributing the actors behind the attacks. Merle Maigre, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, said that NATO should deny covertness by attribution and hold malicious cyber actors accountable for their criminal actions. I think NATO should persuade its opponents that they cannot be clandestine in the cyber operations, Maigre said. Attribution is a good way to make clear to malicious actors that their actions will be seen and will be addressed, she added. Read more here. BITS AND PIECES An op-ed to chew on: US infrastructure is nowhere near ready for Bidens electric vehicle timeline Notable links from around the web: A Face Search Engine Anyone Can Use Is Alarmingly Accurate (The New York Times / Kashmir Hill) Tech Industry Groups Are Watering Down Attempts at Privacy Regulation, One State at a Time (The Markup / Todd Feathers and Alfred Ng) In private, vulnerable Senate Dems back off tech bill (Adam Cancryn and Emily Birnbaum) One last thing: Blinken to unveil China House Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday will announce the launching of a China House in the State Department, a team of diplomats across the agency who will coordinate U.S. policy to confront China on its global ambitions. Blinken will make the announcement on U.S. strategy during a wide-ranging speech at George Washington University on the Biden administrations approach toward relations with Beijing. The China House will be a department-wide integrated team that will coordinate and implement the administrations policy across issues and regions, according to an excerpt of Blinkens remarks provided by the State Department. Read more here. Thats it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hills technology and cybersecurity pages for the latest news and coverage. Well see you Friday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Irma and Joe Garcia. GoFundMe The husband of a teacher killed in Tuesday's Uvalde shooting died two days later, relatives said. On a GoFundMe page, relatives of Irma Garcia confirmed her husband, Joe, died from a "medical emergency." Garcia was one of two adults killed in the massacre which left 19 children and another adult dead. The husband of a teacher killed in Tuesday's mass shooting at a Texas elementary school died two days later of a "medical emergency," a relative said. On a GoFundMe page for slain teacher Irma Garcia, her cousin wrote on Thursday that she was "equally devasted to report Irma's husband Joe has tragically passed away this morning (5/26/2022) as a result of a medical emergency." "I truly believe Joe died of a broken heart and losing the love of his life of more than 30 years was too much to bear," Garcia's cousin wrote. The Garcia's nephew wrote on Twitter on Thursday that Joe Garcia "passed away due to grief." The couple leaves behind four children, relatives said. Irma Garcia was a fourth-grade teacher who was one of two adults killed on Tuesday after an 18-year-old gunman stormed the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and killed 19 children. "Irma was a wife, a mother of 4, a cousin, a sister a daughter, an aunt, and a wonderful person. She would literally do anything for anybody......no questions asked," Garcia's relatives wrote in the GoFundMe. "She loved her classroom kids and died trying to protect them." On Facebook, Irma's sister mourned her as a "HERO." "My beautiful sister. I want to wake up from this nightmare," Marissa Lozano wrote. "I love you.. I miss youI'm broken.." Tuesday's massacre marks the worst at an elementary school since the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, which left 20 children and six adults dead. Onlookers outside the school reportedly urged police to storm the building and confront the shooter, with some even suggesting that parents rush the school themselves. Videos uploaded to social media show Texas law enforcement personnel holding back desperate parents as they pleaded for officers to go into the school, though it's unclear if the video was taken during or after the shooting. Story continues Law enforcement officials have said the shooter was in a classroom at the school for upwards of an hour, but have not fully explained how the gunman entered the building or how police responded. Read the original article on Insider Fifty two years after they were acquitted of conspiracy charges, members of Louisville's Black Six received an apology from the city's top official: Mayor Greg Fischer. The Black Six were a group of Black business people and activists who'd been accused of plotting to destroy buildings in the West End during a week-long rebellion in 1968. Their court case stretched on for two years before going to trial, where Judge Rush Nicholson ruled prosecutors hadn't presented enough evidence to warrant the charges. He directed the jury to issue a verdict of not guilty. Learn about the case: How a trial over the 1968 uprising in the West End stained Louisville history At a recent event discussing the case, Fischer rose from the audience to ask if anyone from the city had ever apologized. "No," said Manfred Reid, one of two Black Six members present. "Until we acknowledge the harm that's happened in the past, it's hard to move on," Fischer responded. "I wasn't there then, but I'm here now. I represent an institution. So I apologize." The moment was one of several at the event hosted by the Frazier Kentucky History Museum, Lean Into Louisville and The Courier Journal where members of the panel and audience spoke about the need for city leaders to take ownership of injustices done to the Black community, including the 2020 police killing of Breonna Taylor. "There are good people in all races here. We've worked together in the past, and we can work together in the future," said Ken Clay, a former business owner who witnessed the rebellion. "But there has to be that effort to bring us together, to really work collectively to rid this community of the hatred and of the injustice. "We've got to stand up and admit that we've been wrong. And we need to hear the apology like the mayor got up and apologized. We need that apology to the Black community as a whole and particularly to the victims. Justice for Breonna has got to be the answer." Story continues Watch a recording of the event below. Reach reporter Bailey Loosemore at bloosemore@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4646 or on Twitter @bloosemore. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: https://www.courier-journal.com/baileyl. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville mayor apologizes for historic injustices against Black Six Suncor CEO Mark Little has flatly rejected Elliotts call to explore the sale of its retail business REUTERS/Todd Korol The clash between one of Canada's flagship energy companies and an American activist hedge fund has gone quiet in recent weeks, leaving Suncor Energy (SU.TO)(SU) shareholders wondering what's next in Elliott Investment Management's push for change at the pioneering oil sands producer. Bay Street money managers are now questioning elements of Elliott's plan, as Suncor stock continues to break 52-week highs. The Florida-based firm, known to instill fear in the hearts of executives, called out Calgary-based Suncor's management nearly a month ago. Its grievances range from an "unacceptable" safety record in the wake of job site fatalities, to disappointing operational performance, to a stock price that's underperformed Canadian peers. Elliott's plan, as published on the website RestoreSuncor.com, promises to "unlock" more than $30 billion in value for shareholders.The firm, which claims to have a 3.4 per cent stake in the company, has asked for five directors to be added to the board, as well as a strategic review of the executive management team, including CEO Mark Little. It's also called for Suncor to review its ownership of Petro-Canada, a roughly 1,600-location gas station chain that Elliott believes would net a hefty profit from a strategic buyer. Petro-Canada gas station in South West Edmonton area. On Thursday, May 12, 2022, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) While Suncor has said the two sides will engage in talks, Little has flatly rejected Elliott's call to explore the sale of its retail business. A spokesperson for Suncor says the company will "take the time to fully assess Elliott's recommendations to determine the best path forward" with the goal of maximizing shareholder returns. "The board and management team looks forward to ongoing constructive discussions with Elliott to better understand their perspective," Leithan Slade wrote in an email on Thursday. "As a general rule, those conversations are confidential." An Elliott spokesperson declined to elaborate on the status of the talks in an email to Yahoo Finance Canada on Wednesday. Story continues Meanwhile, Toronto-listed shares have hit 52-week highs since Elliott went public with its activist campaign in late-April. Suncor's stock is now outpacing Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ.TO)(CNQ) on a year-to-date basis. Elliott referenced that company's shares in its plan to illustrate Suncor's relative underperformance. With oil prices running at multi-year highs, Suncor's first-quarter financial results were another recent bright spot for the company. Michael Sprung, president of Sprung Investment Management and a Suncor shareholder for clients, expects the company will resist changes to its management. As for the fate of Petro-Canada, he sees greater value in leaving Canada's largest integrated energy firm intact. "I'm not sure that I see Elliott having a great deal of success in the long run in this particular venture," he said in an interview. "It just sounds to me like they're rather at an impasse." Sprung says Petro-Canada would likely fetch a higher valuation if it were spun out from Suncor. But like Little, he believes the retail business is an important link in the company's well-to-gas pump value chain. "[Petro-Canada is] probably undervalued within the umbrella of Suncor right now. You always see that conglomerate discount," he said. "But I don't think I'd like to see them split the company into upstream and downstream. There is value in having both. It's added stability." In 2019, Petro-Canada announced the completion of a coast-to-coast network of fast electric-vehicle chargers dubbed "Canada's Electric Highway." Sprung says this adds an additional layer of value as consumers pivot to non-internal combustion vehicles. Lets face it, as activist investors, theyll just move on to the next project if this one doesnt work out.Michael Sprung, president of Sprung Investment Management While the company's retail locations have turned an eye to electric vehicles, Suncor was once a pioneer in oil sands development. Its Base Plant north of Fort McMurray, Alta. was the first commercially successful, large-scale project when it came online in 1967. Greg Taylor, chief investment officer at Purpose Investments, says old assets are among the company's biggest challenges today. "These are assets that have been operating 10 to 20 years longer than some of the other assets [in the industry]," he said in an interview. "While they are still going to generate a lot of cash, they're not going to be able to change them to be as efficient as the new ones overnight. You can't just flick a switch and make them newer." Taylor says oil and gas companies are "tricky" targets for activists by their nature, due to the physical scale and long life of their assets. On the issue of potentially spinning out Petro-Canada, he doubts Elliott's "traditional hedge fund sum-of-the-parts analysis" will lead to a sale. "It's really strategic for Suncor to have those stations. Getting rid of them would be detrimental to the overall operation of the company," he said. "There are players out there, like Parkland or 7-Eleven, that could look at it. But ultimately, I think this is probably going to remain in Suncor's hands," he added, when asked about potential buyers. "We've seen Alimentation Couche-Tard already do a lot of deals in the space to consolidate in Canada and the U.S. It probably would be tough for them to buy those assets." Barry Schwartz, chief investment officer and portfolio manager at Baskin Wealth Management, called the potential sale of downstream assets a "dead issue" in an email to Yahoo Finance Canada. In its plan, Elliott cites Imperial Oil (IMO.TO)(IMO), Valero Energy (VLO), and Marathon Petroleum (MPC) as examples of oil companies that successfully exited their retail businesses without degrading their refining performance. Both Sprung and Taylor agree that Elliott has put a brighter spotlight on the well-known issues at Suncor. However, they remain skeptical of sweeping changes being forced upon the company. "Maybe Elliott gets a position on the board or something. But I don't think they're going to really get anything that they wanted to see out of it," Sprung said. "Let's face it, as activist investors, they'll just move on to the next project if this one doesn't work out." "Elliott is highlighting issues, and certainly management and the board will address them," Taylor said. "I would expect this is something that really just fades away over time." Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jefflagerquist. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. The Telegraph When you're taking your place for the first time in a carriage for Trooping the Colour, the excitement can be too much. And so it proved for Prince Louis, whose enthusiastic waving to the huge crowds in The Mall on Thursday drew the attention of his big sister, Princess Charlotte. ROME (Reuters) - Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday discussed the situation in Ukraine, the food crisis and its impact on poor countries, Rome said in a statement after a phone call between the two leaders. No further details of the call were given. (Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Keith Weir) Jamie Foxx is lashing out at pro-gun lawmakers in the wake of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting. "Little angels, my heart goes out to ur families." the 54-year-old Spider-Man and Ray actor, who was born and raised in Terrell, Texas, wrote on social media along with a photo of 16 of the 19 school children killed on Tuesday. Jamie Foxx, seen here at the Spider-Man: No Way Home premiere in December, has spoken out about the elementary school shooting in his native Texas. (Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images) "Never thought I would live in a society, a 'Christian society,' where they would let little children die over and over again and still not change any laws," the Oscar winner continued. "If the people in this country are leaders and so-called Christians... if they are going to heaven... I'LL PASS!!!!!" Foxx ended his post with the hashtag "the devil is busy." The star grew up outside Dallas about 400 miles from Uvalde, where, on Tuesday, an 18-year-old stormed Robb Elementary School and killed 19 fourth graders and two teachers, wounding others. Prior to his school rampage, he shot his grandmother. He was killed by authorities. The shooter legally purchased an AR-15 style rifle on May 17 one day after he turned 18. Three days later, he purchased a second rifle, and in between bought 375 rounds of ammunition. Many Hollywood stars have spoken out about the tragic events, including Matthew McConaughey, who is from Uvalde. In a statement on social media the day of the shooting, he wrote, in part, "Whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better. We must do better. Action must be taken so that no parent has to experience what the parents in Uvalde and the others before them have endured." TOKYO (AP) Japanese and U.S. forces have conducted a joint fighter jet flight over the Sea of Japan, Japans military said Thursday, in an apparent response to a Russia-China joint bomber flight while U.S. President Joe Biden was in Tokyo. The Japan-U.S. joint flight on Wednesday involved eight warplanes based in Japan, including four U.S. F-16 fighters and four Japanese F-15s, the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces said. The joint flight was meant to confirm the combined capabilities of the two militaries and further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, it said in a statement. The flight occurred hours after North Korea fired three missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile, toward the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, amid concerns about another nuclear test by the North. The missiles fell in waters outside of Japans exclusive economic zone. Chinese and Russian strategic bombers conducted joint flights near Japan on Tuesday, Japans Defense Ministry said. Biden was meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and their counterparts from India and Australia for the Quad, an Indo-Pacific security and economic coalition meant as a counterweight to Chinas growing influence in the region. Chinese H-6 bombers joined Russian TU-95s over the Sea of Japan and flew to areas over the East China Sea, but did not violate Japanese airspace, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said. Separately, a Russian IL-20 reconnaissance plane was spotted flying off the northern Japanese coast. The Chinese-Russian joint flight represented an increased level of provocation and a threat to the Quad, Kishi said. China said the flights were over the the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the western Pacific. Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said it was a routine joint strategic air patrol that has been carried out four times since 2019. This operation is not aimed at a third party and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation, he said in a video statement posted Wednesday on the Defense Ministry website. Open Doors Calls on Biden Administration to Re-Assign Nigeria to Notable List of Countries Violating Religious Freedoms Violence against Christians in Nigeria, including the recently reported news of Christian college student's horrific murder, has continued unabated since the nation was removed last year NEWS PROVIDED BY Open Doors USA May 25, 2022 WASHINGTON, May 25, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- In the six months since the Biden administration removed Nigeria from its list of "Countries of Particular Concern" (CPC)which identifies those in severe violations of religious freedomreligious violence has continued to surge across the region. Last week's gruesome stoning and burning of Nigerian Christian college student, Deborah Samuel, by extremist classmates who accused her of blasphemy, made international news and shocked the world. According to Open Doors' local sources, before she was attacked, Samuel posted a message in a WhatsApp group saying, "Jesus Christ is the greatest. He helped me pass my exams." That simple message led to her death. Last November, as required by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken identified the "Countries of Particular Concern." Notably absent from the list was Nigeria, which ranks #7 on Open Doors' 2022 World Watch List, which ranks the 50 most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. Open Doors USA is calling on the Biden Administration to reverse its "baffling error" and add Nigeria back to its list of "Countries of Particular Concern." Open Doors has reported that in Nigeria alone, an average of 10 Christians a day are killed for their faith, driving a startling 60% worldwide increase in Christian martyrdom last year (based on 2021 data). "I was bewildered last fall when the U.S State Department removed Nigeria's designation as a CPC a decision made even more confusing now, after news of yet another religiously-motivated murder," said David Curry, CEO of Open Doors USA. "The situation in Nigeria continues to deteriorate. The utter failure of the Nigerian government to reign in extremism has created an environment where extremists feel justified to attack Christians." Under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, the President is required to annually review the status of religious freedom in every country in the world and designate each country the government of which has engaged in or tolerated "particularly severe violations of religious freedom" as a Country of Particular Concern. The law defines particularly severe violations as "systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom," including violations such as: (1) torture; (2) prolonged detention without charges; (3) forced disappearance; or (4) other flagrant denial of life, liberty, or security of persons. Other countries appearing on the Countries of Particular Concern list include Burma, the People's Republic of China, Eritrea, Iran, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. "It was a serious mistake for the State Department to remove Nigeria from its list of Countries of Particular Concern," said former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom and Open Doors USA Senior Fellow, Sam Brownback. "Religious freedom in Nigeria continues to face significant challenges, highlighted by the appalling murder of Deborah Samuel. This kind of violence cannot be allowed and the Nigerian government needs to send a message that these actions will not go unpunished." Please direct media inquiries to: opendoors@iconmediagroup.com. About Open Doors USA For more than 60 years, Open Doors USA has worked in the worlds most oppressive and restrictive countries for Christians. Open Doors works to equip and encourage Christians living in dangerous circumstances with the threat of persecution and to mobilize the Western church to pray and advocate for the persecuted. Christians are one of the most persecuted religious groups in the world and are oppressed in at least 60 countries. For more information, visit OpenDoorsUSA.org. SOURCE Open Doors USA CONTACT: OpenDoors@iconmediagroup.com Share Tweet ABC When comedian John Mulaney co-guest-hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! just last week, he joked that unlike the titular host he wasnt going to ruin the show by suddenly crying in the monologue. Its true that Jimmy Kimmel has developed a reputation for getting emotional during what is ostensibly supposed to be a comedy show. But its always been for good reason, whether it was after his infant son almost died or following horrific mass shootings in his hometown of Las Vegas and a high school in Parkland, Florida. And as he said to an empty theater before his show began on Wednesday night, Here we are again on another day of mourning in this country. The tears came almost immediately as Kimmel spoke of the little boys and girls whose lives have been ended and whose families have been destroyed after a teenage gunman shot up an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. As Kimmel put it, our leaders on the right, the Americans in Congress and at Fox News and these other outlets warn us not to politicize this because they dont want to speak about itbecause they know what theyve done. And they know what they havent done and they know that its indefensible. So theyd rather sweep this under the rug. The host spoke out in favor of common-sense gun laws that have failed to pass through Congress again and again. But it doesnt have to be that way, not for this, he said. He specifically addressed Republican leaders in Texas like Greg Abbott, Ted Cruz and John Cornyn who have pointed to everything but stricter regulations on firearms as a way to stop it. If your solution to children being massacred is armed guards, you havent been paying attention to whats going on, Kimmel said. There was an armed guard in Buffalo. There was an armed guard in Parkland. There was an armed guard in Uvalde. They had armed guards. There were police officers armed on the scene and these murders still happen. Addressing his longtime political nemesis directly, he said, I dont believe Ted Cruz doesnt care about children. I refuse to believe he is unaffected by this. Hes a father. I bet he went to bed sick to his stomach last night. Its easy to call someone a monster. But hes not a monster, he is a human being. And some people might not like hearing me say that, but its true. Story continues So heres the thing I would like to say to Ted Cruz, the human being, and Governor Abbott, and everyone, he continued. Its OK to admit you made a mistake. In fact, its not just OK, its necessary to admit you made a mistake when your mistake is killing the children in your state. It takes a big person to do something like that, Kimmel added. It takes a brave person to do something like that. And do I think these men are brave people? No, I dont. But man, I would love it if they surprised me. Seth Meyers Attacks Depraved Ted Cruz and Sean Hannity Over Uvalde Mass Shooting Response Kimmel grew even more visibly emotional as he pointed out that there have now been 27 school shootings so far this year in this country. How does this make sense to anyone? he asked. These are our children. And our representatives are supposed to represent us. And he didnt just point the finger at Republicans. This is not their fault anymore, he said. This is now our fault. Because we get angry, we demand action, we dont get it, they wait it out and we go back to the lives that we should rightfully be able to go back to. But you know who doesnt forget it? he asked. The parents of the children at Sandy Hook and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and now Robb Elementary School. They wont forget it. But if he was hoping his message would reach Texan leaders, it wasnt going to be easy. After the show aired, Kimmel tweeted that the ABC affiliate in Dallas had cut away from his monologue. Whether the decision to censor his speech was intentional or inadvertent, he vowed, I will find out. To my friends in Dallas who are asking: I do not know whether our @ABCNetwork affiliate @wfaa cut away from my monologue tonight intentionally or inadvertently but I will find out. In the meantime, here's what you didn't get to see https://t.co/tqfHoBHMwN Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) May 26, 2022 Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Jimmy Kimmel onstage at the 2020 Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. (Invision/Associated Press) Late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel struggled to keep his composure Wednesday while speaking about the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that killed two teachers and 19 children. In an emotional plea, the father of four urged lawmakers to correct their mistakes and enact stricter gun legislation to prevent another tragedy like the Uvalde massacre. On Tuesday, a gunman barricaded himself inside and opened fire on a fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School, the site of the deadliest U.S. school shooting since Sandy Hook. "I wanted to speak to you directly without an audience for just a bit before we start the show, because here we are again on another day of mourning in this country," Kimmel said at the beginning of Wednesday's show. "Once again, we grieve for the little boys and girls whose lives have been ended and whose families have been destroyed, while our leaders on the right, the Americans in Congress and at Fox News ... warn us not to politicize this. "They immediately criticize our president for even speaking about doing something to stop it, because they don't want to speak about it. Because they know what they've done, and they know what they haven't done, and they know that it's indefensible, so they'd rather sweep this under the rug." Shortly after the somber "Jimmy Kimmel Live" monologue aired, ABC affiliate WFAA/Ch. 8 a TV station serving the Dallas/Fort Worth area was accused of censoring the host's remarks by cutting to commercial for a significant portion of the opening. "To my friends in Dallas who are asking: I do not know whether our @ABCNetwork affiliate @wfaa cut away from my monologue tonight intentionally or inadvertently but I will find out," Kimmel tweeted Wednesday night, along with a YouTube link to the full video. "In the meantime, here's what you didn't get to see." In response to Kimmel's inquiry, WFAA and its director of digital content, Pete Freedman, offered conflicting explanations for the ill-timed commercial break. Story continues "We'd made the decision earlier in the day to extend our 10 o'clock news to include *extra* Uvalde coverage in our broadcast," Freedman responded to Kimmel on Twitter. "We're on the same team." We'd made the decision earlier in the day to extend our 10 o'clock news to include *extra* Uvalde coverage in our broadcast, it had nothing to do with your monlogue. We're on the same team. Pete Freedman (@PeteFreedman) May 26, 2022 However, an official statement from WFAA claimed that "the automated system that triggers commercials aired the first commercial break in error" and apologized on Thursday "for last nights technical difficulties." On its website, the station later uploaded a video of Kimmel's monologue in its entirety. Both Freedman and the station agreed the interrupted broadcast "had nothing to do with" the content of Kimmel's speech. Our apologies for last nights technical difficulties. Full explanation of the technical issues, and your full monologue can be found here: https://t.co/wuYVwPHHcU WFAA (@wfaa) May 26, 2022 "Most Americans support keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and children ... Democrats and Republicans," Kimmel continued during his show. "The reason they call them common-sense gun laws is because that's what they are. "A bipartisan bill passed in the House. It's been stalled in the Senate for over a year now. They won't pass it because our cowardly leaders aren't listening to us. They're listening to the NRA. They're listening to those people who write them checks, who keep them in power because that's the way politics work ... but it doesn't have to be that way." To underscore his point, Kimmel referenced a 1996 school shooting in Scotland after which lawmakers enacted gun-control legislation. There hasn't been another school shooting in the United Kingdom since. "This is the only country where this keeps happening," Kimmel said. "Firearms are now the No. 1 cause of death for American children and teens. No. 1." Later in his speech, Kimmel turned his attention directly to public officials in Texas such as Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. Greg Abbott who are against gun control, and desperately appealed to them as "human beings." "I don't believe Ted Cruz doesn't care about children," Kimmel said. "I refuse to believe he's unaffected by this. He's a father. I bet he went to bed sick to his stomach last night. It's easy to call someone a monster but he's not a monster. He's a human being. ... "So here's the thing I would like to say to Ted Cruz, the human being. ... It's OK to admit you made a mistake. In fact, it's not just OK. It's necessary to admit you made a mistake when your mistake is killing the children in your state." It takes bravery to right a wrong, Kimmel added in an attempt to spur conservative political leaders into action. The comedian insisted that "this is not a time for silence" and called on legislators to "fix this." "Do I think these men are brave people? No, I don't," Kimmel continued. "But man, I would love it if they surprised me. ... Some people say this is a mental health problem. Others say it's a gun problem. It is both, and it can be both. So let's work on both of those." After resting his case, Kimmel aired a public service announcement from gun-violence prevention organization Everytown for Gun Safety. "How does this make sense to anyone?" a distraught Kimmel asked, his voice breaking. "These are our children. And our representatives are supposed to represent us. ... "We get angry. We demand action. We don't get it. They wait it out. We go back to lives that we should rightfully be able to go back to. But you know who doesn't forget it? The parents of the children at Sandy Hook and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and now Robb Elementary School. They won't forget it." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Joby Aviation Inc said on Thursday it had received a certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that would allow it to begin its air-taxi operations commercially with a conventional airplane. Although the certification gives the necessary clearance and is a significant milestone, the company still has additional regulatory hurdles to clear before its five-seater aircraft can legally fly passengers. The FAA's Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate is among the three regulatory approvals critical for Joby's planned launch of all-electric aerial ridesharing service in 2024. The certification would let Joby operate its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as an air taxi service in cities and communities across the United States. The FAA said it issued Joby the Part 135 certificate on May 19 "after they completed the five-phase certification process. Joby has one aircraft on the certificate, a CIRRUS-SR22." Joby said it plans to use the conventional aircraft "to refine systems and procedures in advance of launching eVTOL service targeted for 2024." Joby shares closed up 8%. Asked about Joby's statement that the approval was ahead of schedule -- with completion of the process originally expected in the second half of 2022 -- the FAA said it "doesn't set a schedule for applicants and cant speak to their characterization of the timing." In February, Joby's piloted prototype aircraft met with an accident during a flight test at its base in California but no injuries were reported. Earlier this month, FAA said it had shifted course on its approach to approving pilots for future eVTOL aircraft but does not expect it to delay certification or operational approvals. Joby reported a net loss of $62.3 million in the first quarter this year and flagged costs related to aircraft certification and early manufacturing operations. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva & Shri Navaratnam) Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio), one of five Republican members subpoenaed by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, is asking the panel to turn over the bulk of the information it has collected on him as he weighs how to respond to the compulsory request for his testimony. In a six-page letter, Jordan berates the committee on a number of points before asking that it provide all documents, videos, or other material in the possession of the Select Committee that you potentially anticipate using, introducing, or relying on during questioning. Jordan was subpoenaed earlier this month alongside four other members who, like the Ohio congressman, had previously been asked to voluntarily sit with the committees investigators. The subpoena notes that Jordan was in contact with former President Trump on Jan. 6 and participated in several calls discussing strategy for the day. The lengthy letter repeats a number of talking points the GOP has long relied on in attacking the committee: that it was not properly composed, doesnt have a valid legislative purpose and is overtly political. Jordan also accuses the panel of having misrepresented his actions. He also expressed frustration that the panel failed to respond to a Jan. 9 letter in which he followed up on the committees request to voluntarily speak with him. As I detailed in my January 9 letter to you, I have no relevant information that would advance any legitimate legislative purpose. I had no responsibility for the security of the Capitol Complex on January 6, and I cannot explain why a concern about optics contributed to the limited security posture, Jordan writes. Jordan was one of the Republican members initially assigned to serve on the committee before Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) rejected most of the GOPs picks, leading the party to largely boycott the panel. Jordan has made frequent appearances in its work. Depositions released by the committee in court cases indicate he attended numerous meetings with White House staff to discuss plans for Jan. 6, including Congresss role in certifying the election results. Story continues He was also revealed to be the sender of a text to Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows promoting the theory that Vice President Mike Pence could reject the election results something Jordan later said was a text forwarded by a constituent. Mr. Jordan forwarded the text to Mr. Meadows, and Mr. Meadows certainly knew it was a forward, Russell Dye, a spokesperson for Jordan, said at the time. The letter likewise asks for all documents, communications, testimony, and other material in the possession of the Select Committee in which my name appears or in which I am referenced. He also asks that they provide all legal authorities and legal analyses pertaining to the constitutionality of a non-ethics congressional subpoena to a Member of Congress. The Jan. 6 committee did not immediately respond to request for comment. While Congresss ethics committees have subpoenaed members before, the demand for testimony from the five members was a remarkable step. The committee has continually asserted that it plans to introduce legislation to prevent anything like Jan. 6 from happening again something that could include limitations on its own branch. Its a detail key to its argument that it does have the authority to issue subpoenas to fellow members. While members of Congress can be protected from subpoena by the speech and debate clause, experts have previously said there is no reason members of Congress cant face subpoena for actions taken outside of their official duties. Theres no reason on Gods green earth, it seems to me, that a congressional committee investigating the circumstances surrounding insurrection arent entitled to get information from any source, Jeff Robbins, an attorney now in private practice who has served as both a federal prosecutor and a Senate investigative counsel, previously told The Hill. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former reality TV star Josh Duggar was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in federal prison on Wednesday for receiving and possessing child sex abuse images, officials said. Duggar, 34, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison and ordered to pay fines and special assessments totaling $50,100, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Western District of Arkansas. Duggar was found guilty in December of two charges of "receiving and possessing material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct." Federal prosecutors contended that the "19 Kids and Counting" star downloaded the images on his work computer in May 2019, and used a Linux partition to circumvent software that monitors internet use. The files included "images of prepubescent children and depictions of sadistic abuse," the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Law enforcement detected the activity during an undercover investigation of the online file-sharing program that Duggar used, and found "significant evidence" that Duggar was the only paid employee present when the files were downloaded, the office said. He faced up to 20 years of prison time. Presiding Judge Timothy L. Brooks dropped one charge and ruled that Duggar didn't knowingly distribute child sex abuse images. "We're grateful the judge dismissed Count 2 and rejected the Government's request for a 240 month sentence," Justin Gelfand, an attorney for Duggar, said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing to fight on appeal." Duggar's wife, Anna, and father, Jim Bob, who both appeared on "19 Kids and Counting," were present during the sentencing. His sister Joy-Anna Forsyth and brother Jason Duggar also attended. The family did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. In a statement following Duggar's guilty verdict in December, his parents offered their support to Duggars wife and children, and said, "This entire ordeal has been very grievous." Story continues "As parents, we will never stop praying for Joshua, and loving him, as we do all of our children," Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar said in the statement at the time. Upon his release from prison, Duggar is forbidden from having any unsupervised contact with minors, including with his own children, and must participate in sex offender-specific treatment, according to the sentencing memo. Duggar also isn't allowed to view any pornography, even pornography depicting adults. Unless it's for work, Duggar isn't allowed to possess, use or have access to any electronic devices with internet or photo storage capabilities without approval from his probation officer. He must also comply with adding monitoring software to any electronic device he does use, and will be required to submit to polygraph testing at the probation officer's discretion, the memo said. Duggar also isn't allowed to purchase, possess, use, or distribute marijuana, and cannot obtain a medical marijuana card or prescription, according to the memo. Duggar's friends and family wrote letters to the judge before Wednesday's sentencing. His wife described him as a "kind, loving, supportive and caring father and husband." His mother Michelle wrote, "Joshua has a tender heart and he is compassionate toward others." During the trial, Duggar's family friend Bobey Holt testified that Duggar confessed to molesting teenager girls, according to NBC affiliate KNWA of Rogers, Arkansas. TLC canceled "19 Kids and Counting" in 2015, following revelations that Duggar molested five children, including four of his own sisters. Two of his sisters spoke about the alleged abuse, which Duggar was never charged with, in an interview with Fox News that year. Bravo On the May 25 episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, newcomer Diana Jenkins shared, I dont go out shopping I have clothes sent to my house by designers. Although she didnt explain her rationale at the time, she opened up about why she avoids stores on the shows June 1 episode and the reason is not what we expected. As Diana got ready to go to Sutton Strackes party at her West Hollywood boutique, she was asked, Youve never been to Suttons store before, right? to which she q Dennis Putnam, left, sits with his lawyer, Buck Blankner. TAVARES A Lake County jury on Thursday found former Leesburg rookie police officer Dennis Putnam not guilty of rape. This is a case where Mr. Putnam has maintained his innocence for the past five years, said his attorney, Kendell Ali. Putnam was a 24-year-old in training when a woman told investigators that she had consumed alcohol at a housewarming party at the home of Putnam and his girlfriend on March 5, 2017, fell asleep, and woke up to Putnam fondling her breasts. What the are you doing? she testified as to her response. He then continued assaulting her, even though she repeatedly told him to stop. He reportedly told her, that if I didnt like it I would have stopped a long time ago. She said she was afraid to scream for fear she would be harmed further. The Daily Commercial does not name alleged rape victims. In other recent crime news:Lake County Jury: Cox should remain on death row for fellow prisoner's murder 'Why would you do it?' Cause of shooting a mystery in Lake County murder trial More: Lake County jury finds Andrew Williams guilty of murder, judge sentences him to life Putnams girlfriend, Yareli Artega, who later married him, defended her husband when she took the witness stand Wednesday. she was drinking heavily, Yareli Putnam said. There was a lot of alcohol at the party, including Jell-O shots, a mixture of gelatin and vodka. Asked about her friend of 10 years' reputation in the community, she said, It was known that she was a liar. "The victim is not on trial here, said Assistant State Attorney Kaitlyn Macomber, who described part of the defense strategy as "character assassination. But Putnam was innocent, Ali said. The jury agreed and acquitted him despite the jury not knowing that she made an allegation against another person 17 months ago, Ali said. Before the jury began deliberations, defense attorney Buck Blankner asked Circuit Judge G. Richard Singeltary for a judgment of acquittal. Story continues Many of the womans statements were I cant remember, he argued. DNA evidence in Putnam's case inconclusive A DNA expert from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime lab testified that she found some body fluid on the womans abdomen, and possibly what she called "touch genetic material" matching Putnam on the womans breast. It was his saliva, prosecutors said. It was skin transfer, the defense attorneys said. The defense also presented a brief video clip of the woman riding piggyback on Putnam at the party, which Blankner said might explain how some of Putnams DNA ended up on her body. In his closing argument, he kept referring to touch DNA, or transfer of skin cells. Macomber dismissed that notion. The woman was fully clothed when she climbed on his back, she said. Ali agreed that DNA evidence is key in rape cases, and crime labs can identify semen specifically, Ali said. But in this case, none was found, including where you would expect to find it. Yareli Putnam testified that she wasnt sure when the woman left their home but later that morning, she received a text from her telling not to read the following message in Putnams presence. That message was: He raped me. She said she had to ask who she was talking about, and the woman said Dennis." He was shocked, Yareli Putnam said, when she confronted him with the message. The six-member jury heard the womans testimony, and Putnams, and jurors saw videotaped statements he made to investigators. He stated that he did not have any sexual contact , the probable cause stated. He advised that his semen would not be located in the guest bedroom or [her]. When asked if it was found he replied he would need an attorney. Police had the woman make a recorded phone call to Putnam. Among the things she said was that there would be consequences. Please dont go full cycle with this, he said. She asked what she was supposed to do, since Yareli Putnam was her best friend. I can tell you, youll never have to see me again, he replied. The Leesburg Police Department turned the case over to the Lake County Sheriffs Office. He was hired as a probationary employee on Dec. 29, 2016. He was terminated when he was arrested. Putnams plan now, Ali said, is to live his life with his wife." Macomber could not be reached for comment. This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Jury: Ex-rookie Leesburg Police Department officer not guilty of rape kevin spacey Just as he was trying to make his unwanted comeback, actor Kevin Spacey has been charged with four counts of sexual assault in the UK. The CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) has authorized criminal charges against Kevin Spacey, 62, for four counts of sexual assault against three men, Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said in a statement. He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation. The charges come from three accusers: one who says he was sexually assaulted by Spacey twice in London in March 2005, one who said Spacey assaulted him in August 2008, and a third who claims Spacey assaulted him in Gloucestershire in April 2013. The man with the 2008 allegations also alleges that Spacey forced him to have penetrative sexual activity without consent that same month. After his acting career was rightfully derailed by a wave of sexual assault and misconduct allegations, Spacey had started to return to acting recently. Last year he was cast in the independent Italian movie The Man Who Drew God directed by Franco Nero. More recently, this month, Spacey was announced as the star of 1242 Gateway to the West, a Hollywood picture starring Eric Roberts, Christopher Lambert, and Terrence Stamp. In the film, Spacey is set to play a deeply spiritual man named Cesareani who meets the grandson of Genghis Khan in a castle in Hungary in the year 1242. In 2017 actor Anthony Rapp accused the two-time Oscar-winner of assaulting him at a party in the 1980s when he was underage. While Spacey denied the allegations, other victims also stepped forward, with eventually over 20 people accusing Spacey of sexual abuse and misconduct. None of the accusations led to prosecution, some because the accusers died, some because of statute of limitations, and others for various other reasons. As Spacey is not currently in the UK, the charges against him cant be formally applied until he enters the country. The CPS hasnt announced if they plan on making an extradition request. RELATED | Ho Ho Hell No: Kevin Spacey Is Back With Bizarre Christmas Video Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) announced Thursday that he would back President Bidens nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), a significant win for the White House. King, who previously indicated he would support Steve Dettelbach for the position, made it official in a statement Thursday that cited the importance of having confirmed leadership at the agency in the wake of tragic mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., and Uvalde, Texas. After meeting with Mr. Dettelbach, reviewing his record closely, and monitoring his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday, I am confident that he has the experience and temperament required to lead the ATF with distinction, King said in the statement. I also believe he will work to strike the important balance that this position requires: reducing gun violence while respecting the Second Amendment and the rights of law-abiding gun owners, he added. Kings support for Dettelbach is significant because the Maine senator did not support Bidens first ATF nominee, David Chipman. Biden was forced to withdraw Chipman from consideration last fall after it became clear he lacked 50 votes to win confirmation in the upper chamber. The White House has urged the Senate to move quickly to confirm Dettelbach in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting on Tuesday, which left 19 children and two teachers dead. The shooting has renewed a partisan debate about gun control measures. The White House believes that Dettelbach, a former federal prosecutor from Ohio who has received backing from bipartisan mayors and law enforcement groups, will receive enough votes to be confirmed. Dettelbach will need to receive support from all 50 senators, assuming that no Republicans vote to confirm him. Moderate Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Jon Tester (Mont.) have not yet said how they will vote. Dettelbach sat for his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, and the Senate Judiciary Committee will need to vote to advance his nomination before the full Senate can consider it. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The nations most restrictive abortion ban is now in effect in Oklahoma. Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday signed House Bill 4327 into law, which bans abortions from the point of fertilization with limited exceptions. The new law comes just weeks after the state enacted a six-week abortion ban modeled after one that took effect in Texas in 2021. But Oklahomas law goes further than the restrictive anti-abortion law in Texas that was previously thought to be the strictest in the nation. Related: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signs nation's strictest abortion ban. It starts immediately Proponents have touted the measure as a victory for the unborn. Abortion rights groups have said the law will be devastating for Oklahomans, and they plan to challenge the measure in court. Heres what we know about the new law. Gov. Kevin Stitt's signs Senate Bill 612 on April 12 in the Blue Room at the Capitol. What does this mean for abortion clinics? Because HB 4327 included an emergency clause, it took effect immediately upon the governors signature. Abortion providers said they would stop offering the procedure, if they had not already, as soon as Stitt signed the bill into law. Oklahomas two Planned Parenthood clinics already had halted abortion services following a six-week ban that took effect earlier this month. Although the clinics were looking to resume abortions soon, that changed when the Oklahoma Legislature approved the more restrictive anti-abortion legislation. Related: 'It's horrible.' Uncertainty looms as Oklahoma clinic braces for Texas-style abortion ban The states other two abortion providers, the Tulsa Womens Clinic and the Trust Women clinic in Oklahoma City, said they would stop performing the procedure once Stitt signed HB 4327. Oklahomans seeking an abortion likely will have to travel out of state for the procedure. How does this law differ from Oklahomas six-week abortion ban? HB 4327 bans abortion after fertilization so, any point during pregnancy with limited exceptions. Under Senate Bill 1503, which went into effect earlier this month, abortions were still legal if they occurred before embryonic cardiac activity could be detected on an ultrasound, which is roughly the six-week mark of pregnancy. Story continues SB 1503 provided an exception for later abortions in the event of a medical emergency but had no exception for cases of pregnancy caused by rape or incest. Related: Oklahomans, Texans now comprise majority of patients at Kansas abortion clinic, doc says This law bans most abortions after fertilization. What does that mean and when does it occur? Banning abortion after fertilization essentially prohibits all abortions, because fertilization is the first step that leads to pregnancy. Fertilization happens when a sperm cell and an egg cell join in the fallopian tubes to form a single cell called a zygote. Over the next few days, the zygote will rapidly divide into multiple cells, and that cluster of cells will travel to the uterus, implant there and begin to grow. Pregnancy begins when the fertilized egg implants in the uterus, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. How will Oklahoma's new abortion law be enforced? The law allows people to file civil actions against anyone, including a doctor, who helps a woman obtain an abortion at any point in her pregnancy. Successful plaintiffs could be awarded at least $10,000 in damages. What exceptions does this law provide? Under HB 4327, abortions are only legal under extremely limited circumstances: in the event of a medical emergency, or in the case of pregnancy caused by rape or incest, so long as the person seeking an abortion reported the crime to law enforcement. The vast majority of rapes and sexual assaults go unreported. With so many new anti-abortion laws taking effect in Oklahoma, which ones matter? The abortion ban that begins at fertilization will supersede an earlier law that bans most abortions at about the sixth week of pregnancy. Anti-abortion lawmakers say the near-total ban will work in tandem with a new law that classifies performing an abortion as a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison or up to $100,000 in fines. Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, who opposes abortion, said most of the states anti-abortion laws will work in concert with one another. But it is unclear if that will still be the case should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade spurring Oklahomas trigger law to take effect. Although HB 4327 includes limited exceptions for rape and incest, the states trigger ban only allows for an exception to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency, which would seem to put the two measures in conflict with each other. Who can be sued under Oklahoma's new abortion law? Who cant be sued? Any private citizen who performs an abortion or knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets a woman seeking an abortion in violation of this law could face a civil lawsuit. The law includes little detail about what counts as aiding or abetting, except to say that it includes paying for or reimbursing the costs of a womans illegal abortion The law is written in such a way that someone could be sued even if they dont realize theyre breaking the law by helping a woman. However, a woman who gets an abortion could not be sued. In what appears to be protections for taxi, Uber and Lyft drivers, the law stipulates a person who takes a pregnant woman to a provider cannot be sued if said person is unaware the woman intends to get an abortion. Someone could bring a lawsuit anytime in the six years following a womans illegal abortion. Does this law include medication abortions? Yes. Medication abortions, which are done by taking a series of pills over the course of a few days, are banned under HB 4327. Does this law outlaw Plan B? No. HB 4237 specifically says the law doesnt apply to emergency contraception, also referred to as Plan B or morning after pills. So emergency contraception will remain legal under the law. Plan B isnt an abortifacient. The pills cannot terminate a pregnancy; they work by delaying ovulation, thereby preventing fertilization, or by preventing a fertilized egg from implanting. The pills are meant to be taken within a few days after unprotected sex or after the failure of another birth control method to prevent pregnancy. Does this law outlaw birth control? No. In addition to explicitly allowing for emergency contraception, the law says it does not ban any other type of contraception. So birth control methods like intrauterine devices, or IUDs, implants, condoms and birth control pills all remain legal. What about ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages? The law says any procedure to remove a dead unborn child as a result of a miscarriage, or removing an ectopic pregnancy, is not considered an abortion and wouldnt be prohibited under the measure. An ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening situation that happens when a fertilized egg grows outside of the uterus. Most occur in the fallopian tube, which can rupture as the pregnancy grows and cause internal bleeding. An ectopic pregnancy cant be moved to the uterus and will never be viable, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma implemented the nation's strictest abortion ban. What to know LONDON (Reuters) -The Kremlin on Thursday said the West only had itself to blame for a brewing food crisis due to problems getting Ukraine's grain out to world markets, demanding the United States and its allies scrap what it cast as illegal sanctions. Besides the death and devastation sown by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the war and the West's attempt to isolate Russia as punishment have sent the price of grain, cooking oil, fertiliser and energy soaring, hurting global growth. The United Nations, which says a global food crisis is deepening, is trying to broker a deal to unblock Ukraine's grain exports though Western leaders have blamed Russia for holding the world to ransom by blockading Ukrainian ports. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected those accusations and said the West was to blame for the situation. "We categorically reject these accusations and, on the contrary, accuse Western countries that they have taken a number of illegal actions that led to this," Peskov told reporters. "They (the West) must cancel those illegal decisions that prevent the chartering of ships, that prevent the export of grain, and so on" so that supplies can resume, Peskov said. Russia has captured some of Ukraine's biggest seaports and its navy controls major transport routes in the Black Sea, where extensive mining has made commercial shipping dangerous. Sanctions have also made it hard for Russian exporters to access vessels to move commodities to global markets. Russia and Ukraine together account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies. Chicago wheat futures hit a record price in March on supply concerns, and are still up by 30% since Feb. 24. Ukraine is also a major exporter of corn, barley, sunflower oil and rapeseed oil, while Russia and Belarus - which has backed Moscow in the war and is also under sanctions - account for over 40% of global exports of the crop nutrient potash. Time is running out to get some 22 million tonnes of grain out of Ukraine ahead of the new harvest as Russia continues to blockade the country's Black Sea ports, Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniia Kravchuk said on Wednesday. Story continues "We have about maybe a month and a half before we start to collect the new harvest," she told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos, adding there was not sufficient space to store the fresh harvest. Ukraine has lost the ports of Kherson and Mariupol to Russian occupation, and fears Russia may try to seize a third, Odesa. The Kremlin says Ukraine had made commercial shipping impossible by mining its waters. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is among those who have accused Moscow of using food exports as a weapon, while Kyiv has said Russia has stolen hundreds of thousands of tonnes of grain in areas their forces have occupied. "Putin is trying to hold the world to ransom, and he is essentially weaponising hunger and lack of food amongst the poorest people around the world," British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said during a visit to Bosnia on Thursday. (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Frank Jack Daniel) The Ministry of Defense stated that the threat to Kyiv from the Russian Federation will always exist Because destroying Kyiv and destroying Ukrainian power is the fastest way to conquer Ukraine, the Deputy Minister explained. Read also: Ukrainian sappers destroy about 10,000 explosive hazards in Kyiv Oblast, says Interior Ministry Therefore, we just have to live with the thought that this threat will always exist. Russia's war against Ukraine enters its fourth month. Washington Post Cassandra Ridder was crushed when her 12-year-old son Brody came home from school last week with only a few signatures in his yearbook - including his own. "Hope you make some more friends. - Brody Ridder," the rising seventh-grader wrote in his own yearbook, which was signed by only two classmates, two teachers and himself.Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. "It broke my heart," Ridder said. Brody has been a student at t Story at a glance The award-winning producer, actress and LGBTQ+ activist Laverne Cox has been given her own Barbie doll. Its the first time toy manufacturer Mattel, which owns Barbie, has released a transgender Barbie doll. Coxs doll comes during a year in which hundreds of bills introduced in state legislatures have targeted LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender youth. Actress, producer, writer and activist Laverne Cox has partnered with toymaker Mattel to create a Tribute Collection Barbie in her likeness, available just ahead of Coxs 50th birthday. Its the first time a Barbie doll has been modeled after a transgender woman. The doll honors the ever-glamorous Cox, who in 2013 made history as the first transgender woman of color to land a leading role in a scripted television series on Netflixs Orange Is the New Black, with a scarlet corset and tule skirt worn over a sparkling silver catsuit. The Emmy-award winning producer said creating her own Barbie doll has been a full-circle experience. Im just so grateful that Ive been able to be in this process. Its a process of reclaiming my inner child, healing her, giving her what she didnt have the first go-round, Cox said Tuesday in an interview with People Magazine. So to be turning 50 years old and be transgender and have a Barbie in my life, that feels just like a full-circle kind of healing moment. America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. Cox told People she wasnt allowed to play with Barbie dolls as a child and was told by her mother to take up more traditionally masculine pursuits. Later, when Cox was in her 30s, she was told by a therapist to purchase a Barbie doll for herself, telling her Its never too late to have a happy childhood. Now, Coxs mother sends her a Barbie doll for Christmas and her birthday, Cox said. The stars doll comes less than halfway through a year in which hundreds of bills targeting LGBTQ+ people particularly transgender youth have been introduced in state legislatures nationwide, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by Cox. Story continues In this environment where trans kids are being attacked this can also be a celebration of transness, and also a space for them to dream, understand and be reminded that trans is beautiful, she told People. That theres hope and possibility for them to be themselves. A law criminalizing gender-affirming health care for transgender and nonbinary minors recently took effect in Coxs home state of Alabama. The measure makes it a felony punishable by up to a decade in prison to provide or recommend puberty blockers, hormone therapies or other gender-affirming medical interventions to patients that are younger than 19 years old. A federal judge earlier this month partially blocked the states felony ban through a preliminary injunction. The Laverne Cox Tribute Barbie can be purchased for $40 at MattelCreations, Walmart, Target and Amazon, where it is already a No. 1 release. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. May 25Longtime friends on opposite political sides former Ambassador Tony Hall and former Ohio Gov. Bob Taft will discuss the art of working across party lines to drive positive change. "Reaching Across the Aisle: A Conversation with Tony Hall and Bob Taft" is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, at the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community, 1401 S. Main St. in Dayton. Dayton Daily News Editor and Chief Content Officer Ashley Bethard will moderate the event for the Dayton Area League of Women Voters. Hall, who was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, is a leading advocate of hunger relief programs and improving human rights in the world. A Democrat, he served the 3rd District of Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly 24 years, the district's longest-serving rep. He was invited by President George Bush, a Republican, to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture. In 2015, Hall founded the Hall Hunger Initiative to collaborate with community partners to create a just and equitable food system in the Dayton region. Taft began his career in public service after graduating from college as a Peace Corps volunteer, working as a schoolteacher in Tanzania in East Africa. He served as an elected official in Ohio for 30 years as a member of the state legislature, a county commissioner, Ohio Secretary of State and governor from 1999 to 2007. As governor, Taft focused on improving schools, reforming Ohio's tax system, attracting advanced high-paying jobs, helping communities clean up polluted sites and provide better recreational opportunities for residents. Taft now teaches political science courses and works with state and federal internship programs as a distinguished research associate with the University of Dayton. Tickets for the event are $20 each. Purchase tickets online at www.lwvdayton.org via PayPal or send a check payable to the League of Women Voters of the Greater Dayton Area to 127 N. Ludlow St., Dayton OH 45402. Reservations are due by June 7. For more information, email league@lwvdayton.org or call 937-228-4041. Lexington police have arrested and charged a suspect with murder in the fatal shooting on Caywood Drive Wednesday afternoon. Steven Rubert Wilson, 64, is charged with three counts of murder domestic violence, according to the Fayette County Detention Center website and a Lexington Police Department news release. The three female victims were Lisa Wilson, 65, Bryonny Wilson, 42, and Bronwyn Wilson, 38. The victims were Steven Wilsons wife and daughters, according to an arrest citation filed in Fayette District Court. He shot them with a handgun, according to court records. Counting the three deaths on Wednesday, there have been 11 homicides in Lexington in the month of May alone. (Reuters) - Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday ordered the creation of a new military command for the south of country, bordering Ukraine. "A new front has opened and we can't fail to pay attention to it," Lukashenko, wearing military uniform, told a televised meeting of defence officials. He said the new command had been proposed last year but needed to be set up immediately. "Even before creating it, we are obliged today - quickly, on the run, to work out the defence of our southern borders," Lukashenko said. Belarus is a close ally of Russia and allowed it to launch the northern prong of its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine from Belarusian territory. Any build-up of Belarusian forces near the border will further stretch Ukraine's military as it defends against Russian attacks focused on the Donbas region hundreds of miles (km) to the east. Belarus said earlier this month it planned to deploy special operations troops in three areas near the border with Ukraine, as Lukashenko talked up the role of Russian-made missiles in boosting the country's defences. (Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Catherine Evans) KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said on Thursday she would meet the country's prime minister to discuss possibly stepping down from her post, one of the most important portfolios in the cabinet. Her announcement was made after she switched parties and comes two months before a political stability pact between premier Ismail Sabri Yaakob's government and the opposition expires on July 31, potentially paving the way for a national election. Polls are not due until next year but calls for an early general election have been growing - particularly within Ismail Sabri's ruling party UMNO, following a string of recent local election victories. Zuraida, formerly a member of the government-aligned Bersatu party, said in a statement she was joining Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), a new party set up last year that was also supportive of the prime minister. Zuraida said she planned to meet Ismail Sabri "soonest" to discuss her resignation as commodities minister - a key portfolio in Malaysia, the world's second-largest producer of palm oil. "I will also discuss with him about the role and direction of PBM in strengthening the... government. I have full confidence in the wisdom of the honourable Prime Minister," she said. Since 2018, Malaysia has had three prime ministers and seen the collapse of two governments, amid political turmoil. Ismail Sabri came to power last year, after UMNO pulled support from his predecessor, Bersatu leader Muhyiddin Yassin. UMNO and Bersatu work together in the federal government, but ties have been strained in the past two years with the two parties contesting against each other in local polls. The next national election is expected to be the most hotly contested yet, with both parties set to lead separate coalitions against a divided opposition and several independent parties. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Ed Davies) A man accused of hitting three children with his car has been charged with premeditated attempted murder, along with a host of other charges. The suspect, 26-year old Jason Carlos Guzman, remains hospitalized with a self-inflicted stab wound, according to Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. Guzman on Monday allegedly hit three children with his car as they were walking to Taft Elementary School in Santa Ana, California. The children were hospitalized, but were not seriously injured, according to CBS Los Angeles. "The actions of a single individual have resulted in undue trauma to the victims he hit as well as countless children, parents and school staff," Spitzer said in a statement. "These children were innocently walking to school on the sidewalk with their grandparents and but for the grace of God, this incident did not result in a child being more seriously injured or killed. Children are the most vulnerable victims, and I will do everything in my power to protect our children whether they are at school, at church, and at home." Guzman faces 21 felony charges: seven counts of premeditated attempted murder, seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of hit-and-run with injury, three counts of child abuse and one count of possession of a flammable liquid, the district attorney's office said. According to prosecutors, Guzman, who was convicted in 2017 of assault with force likely to commit great bodily injury, went to Taft Elementary School in Santa Ana around 8 a.m. Monday, where he told a staff member that he was going to use the bathroom. The staffer told him to leave, and he did, prosecutors said. Guzman left in a red Mazda Protege, which he crashed into a barrier in the school's parking lot, the district attorney's office said. Prosecutors allege he then drove onto a nearby sidewalk and crashed into the three children, ages 11, 9 and 6. Guzman is also accused of crashing into another vehicle while fleeing the scene. Story continues Spitzer said that a witness followed Guzman and attempted to confront him, but he brandished a knife at her. She returned to her vehicle and was unharmed, the district attorney said. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found Guzman with an apparent self-inflicted stab wound to his abdomen, prosecutors said. While inspecting Guzman's vehicle, the Orange County bomb squad found "several containers of flammable liquid" which police had initially described as "incendiary devices." In addition to the felony charges, Guzman also faces one misdemeanor count of brandishing a deadly weapon and one misdemeanor count of hit and run with property damage. If convicted of all charges, he could face up to 49 years to life in prison. Santa Ana Unified School District Superintendent Jerry Almendarez said the districts is "continuing this week to have crisis counselors at Taft Elementary to support the social and emotional needs of our students and staff following this traumatic event." Michelle Carter's texts with Conrad Roy Survivor of Appalachian School of Law mass shooting reflects 20 years later Preventing gun violence after deadliest school shooting in a decade Kansas City man accused of kidnapping woman from Ward Parkway home, raping her at gunpoint A 41-year-old man has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the fatal stabbing of a maintenance worker at an apartment complex in Kansas Citys Santa Fe neighborhood. Syan R. Crawford entered the plea on Tuesday during a hearing in Jackson County Circuit Court, records show. He was initially charged with second-degree murder in the killing of 63-year-old Larry Dickerson. According to charging documents, Kansas City police were called to the scene of the stabbing in the 3200 block of Linwood Boulevard on the morning of July 31, 2020. Police arrived at an apartment building to find Dickerson covered in blood with a stab wound to the center of his chest. Dickerson was taken by ambulance to a hospital and died three days later. Witnesses identified the suspect as Crawford in statements to police. One eyewitness reported seeing Crawford take out a knife and lunge toward Dickerson, whose fists were up in a boxing stance. Hours before the stabbing Dickerson called the police to report that Crawford, who authorities say was homeless, had been sleeping in the apartment complexs laundry room. Witnesses said Crawford had talked about retaliating against Dickerson for calling the police. One said Crawford admitted to the crime during a phone call, according to court documents. Investigators also gathered as evidence phone records that allegedly placed Crawford near the crime scene and DNA from a blue bicycle that allegedly belonged to him, according to court papers. Crawford was arrested and charged roughly two weeks after the killing. Under Missouri law, Crawford faces a maximum prison sentence of 15 years for voluntary manslaughter and 15 years for armed criminal action. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 31. A man who was firing at people attending a birthday/graduation party with an AR-15-style rifle was shot to death by a bystander, according to West Virginia police. The victim, later identified as 37-year-old Dennis Butler, parked his vehicle outside of an apartment complex in Charleston, West Virginia, at around 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25, and began shooting at the party, according to a news release from the Charleston Police Department. Some people had approached Butler earlier in the night to complain that he was speeding in the area while children were around. When Butler began shooting, a bystander drew a pistol and fired back, fatally wounding him, the release says. No one else was hurt in the shooting. The bystander who shot Butler waited for officers to arrive and cooperated with the investigation, according to the release. No one has been charged in the shooting. The local prosecutors office will continue the investigation, according to police. Woman shot and killed while working out inside gym, Florida police say Ex-employee posted photos of firearms, sent threats to former co-workers, CA cops say Pregnant woman repeatedly shot after minor car crash in North Carolina, cops say New York police are on the hunt for a man and a woman accused of trying to snatch a $45,000 painting by the famed artist Jean-Michel Basquiat from a Manhattan gallery this month. Police said the duo managed to take the painting, which was on display at Taglialatella Galleries, off the wall at around 5:30 p.m. May 14. They almost managed to walk away with it, but they were stopped. A police spokesperson said it was unclear who stopped them. They fled and were last seen walking north on 10th Avenue. Police valued the painting at $45,000. The spokesperson said police are looking for a woman in her 20s or 30s with blond hair. They said she was wearing a navy coat and a brown backpack. The man was described as being in his 20s to his 30s. He was wearing a maroon and gray sweatshirt with black pants and red sneakers, the spokesperson said. Basquiats art was first publicized in a 1980 group exhibition called Times Square Show. In 1981, he created Red Kings, one of his many influential pieces. It featured a crown that became a signature in his paintings. Born in Brooklyn, Basquiat was celebrated for his authentic painting style, as well as for his collaborative work with Andy Warhol, Taglialatella Galleries says on its website. Taglialatella Galleries did not immediately respond to a request for comment. RICHMOND A Matoaca man was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison and put on lifetime supervised release for producing child pornography over a period of several years through enticing and then extorting his victims to perform online explicit acts while he recorded them. Joshua Clayton Brady, 36, pleaded guilty last January as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors. In exchange for the plea to producing the pornography, prosecutors dropped five other charges against him, including receiving child pornography and various fraud and identification-theft charges. Brady must also pay restitution to his victims totaling more than $34,000 upon his release from prison, undergo psychiatric treatment and register as a sex offender in Virginia. In addition, he is banned for life from Internet use, and he cannot have unsupervised contact with any minors unless his probation officer approves it. Under federal sentencing guidelines, it's the minimum amount of time Brady could receive for his conviction. Had he not reached the plea agreement and been convicted by a judge or jury, he could have received a life sentence. There is no parole for federal sentences, but prisoners are eligible to be released early if they maintain good behavior and follow court-ordered stipulations while behind bars. According to a sentence report, it was recommended Brady serve his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Prince George County. According to his indictment, which was handed up in March 2021, Brady used the pseudonyms "Joshua Weston" and "Theo Schwarzman" to meet adult and underage females over social-media platforms. He also falsely claimed to be tied to wealthy British and American families during his contacts, which date back to late 2015. Brady would then ask his victims to perform sexual acts in front of their cameras while he recorded them. Occasionally he would threaten them with exposure, or offer them money or job opportunities if they hesitated. Story continues Brady has a history of brushes with the law. A check of criminal records in Chesterfield Circuit Court show 19 charges, including passing worthless checks and obtaining money under false pretenses, against him as far back as 2010. In 2020, he pleaded guilty to a charge of bribing a 17-year-old girl to file a false sexual assault charge against a teenage boy. He was sentenced to five years in prison with four of them suspended. More news from The Progress-Index: Petersburg votes on a pay increase for Interim City Manager, timeline for replacement uncertain More news from The Progress-Index: Fort Gregg-Adams: Military panel recommends renaming Fort Lee for trailblazing Black officers Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist and daily news coach for USA TODAY Network's Atlantic Region which includes Virginia. He is based in Petersburg, Virginia. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Matoaca man gets 30 years in federal prison for producing child porn Oxygen In the early morning hours of August 25, 2008, Linda Heidt, the matriarch of a prominent and well-respected Georgia family, placed a chilling 911 call. Help. Please, Linda struggled to tell an Effingham County 911 dispatcher, according to Dateline: Secrets Uncovered, airing Wednesdays at 8/7c on Oxygen. Whats wrong? the dispatcher said. Gun, Linda said. Shot. Through halting words, Linda was able to tell the dispatcher she had been shot in the face. Her husband Philip Heidta prominen Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday gave the greenlight to bipartisan talks on legislation to curb gun violence, revealing that he has asked Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), one of his advisers, to negotiate with Democrats. McConnell said he is hopeful of reaching a bipartisan agreement to respond to the recent mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., and Uvalde, Texas. But the leader cautioned the negotiations should not veer off onto proposals not directly related to the recent violence in Texas that left 21 people dead, including 19 school children. I met with Sen. Cornyn this morning, he told a reporter for CNN, noting that Cornyn traveled to his home state Wednesday to meet with state officials and law enforcement in Uvalde. Ive encouraged him to talk to Sen. Sinema, Sen. Murphy and others who are interested in trying to get an outcome thats directly related to the problem, he said, referring to Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). And so I am hopeful that we could come up with a bipartisan solution thats directly related to the facts of this awful massacre, he said. McConnell emphasized hes interested in coming up with legislation that directly addresses the circumstances of the school shooting in Texas and does not advance the Democratic agenda. What Ive asked Sen. Cornyn to do is to meet with the Democrats who are interested in getting a bipartisan solution and come up with a proposal, if possible, thats crafted to meet this particular problem, he said. McConnell declined to speculate on how much time Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) would allow the negotiations to go on before bringing gun control measures to the Senate floor for a vote, but expressed hope that a bipartisan bill could pass. Im going to keep in touch with them, and hopefully we can get an outcome that can actually pass and become law rather than just scoring points back and forth, he said. Story continues McConnells encouragement is a key development, as it could give political cover to 10 or more Republicans to sign on to red flag legislation. A proposal of this kind has been sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to incentivize states to take firearms away from people judged a danger to themselves or others. McConnells support for bipartisan infrastructure talks last year paved the way for the Senate to pass a $1 trillion infrastructure bill with 69 votes. A group of five Democrats and three Republicans met in the basement of the Capitol Thursday afternoon to begin laying out a path for negotiations with a focus on expanded background checks and red flag legislation. The meeting included Murphy, Sinema, Graham, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) attended the meeting by phone. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The collaboration is the second between Megan Fox and BooHoo. (Getty Images) Actor Megan Fox has announced her second fashion collection in collaboration with online retail giant BooHoo. Fox, 36, first collaborated with the fast fashion brand back in 2021, when they worked together for her first 40-piece collection with the retailer. Now, the actor has revealed a sneak peak of the sophomore collaboration through a series of video clips on her Instagram Stories. Read more: Megan Fox stuns in plunging black dress with extreme thigh-high split at music awards The company also posted a video reel to the BooHoo Instagram account that gave a quick glimpse of whats to come from Foxs second collection with the brand. In the video, the actor dons two different outfits: a sparkling mesh fish-net style dress that highlights Foxs famous physique, and a vibrant orange trench coat, seemingly with nothing underneath and accessorised with gold earrings. Read more: Megan Fox believes she manifested her fiance what is manifesting? SHES BACK, wrote the brands caption under the video. You sold out the first collection, now shes back for round 2. Mark your calendar and sign up to be one of the first to shop the designed collection via the link in bio, it added. The new fashion line which is scheduled to launch on 7 June is said to reflect Fox's own personal style and wardrobe. Maeve Reilly, Fox's stylist, helped her create the first line, which sold out completely after its October 2021 launch. BooHoo brought a lot of design ideas to me," Fox told People of the first fashion collection with BooHoo. As I was going through them, I really did very little eliminating or changing. Because it just fell in line naturally with what I was already doing with Maeve, I feel like some of these looks are things that we already had picked out for me to wear essentially, but with different designers. Megan 2.0 is set to launch in a few weeks, and fans are already desperate to get their hands on Fox's inspired fashion pieces at an affordable price. Story continues SO READY, commented one fan under BooHoos Instagram post, whilst another said they would snap up the whole collection: Bought half the first collection best believe im buying it ALL this time [sic]. The news of the second collection comes after the actor was seen with fiance Machine Gun Kelly at Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's wedding in Portofino, Italy. Watch: Machine Gun Kelly sparks Megan Fox pregnancy rumours at Billboard Music Awards Meghan Markle visits memorial dedicated to victims of Uvalde school shooting (AFP via Getty Images) Meghan Markle is being commended for her dedication to helping others after she visited Uvalde, Texas, to donate food to a community centre and pay her respects to the 19 children and two adults killed in Tuesdays elementary school shooting. On Thursday, the Duchess of Sussex was photographed laying a bouquet of flowers outside a makeshift memorial of white crosses bearing the names of the victims of the school shooting. The duchesss unannounced visit to the memorial took place after she brought two large bags of food for volunteers hosting a blood drive at the nearby Herby Ham Activity Centre, according to BuzzFeed. Meghans gesture has sparked an outpouring of praise, with many applauding the duchess for taking the time to lend support and pay her respects to the community after the tragedy. I love her so. This is so important to show the community that they are not alone in this time of grief, one person wrote, while another said: Thank you Meghan for paying a visit to the memorial of all the beautiful and innocent lives that are lost. So proud of Meghan for doing what shes always done since she was a young girl, which is support vulnerable communities through compassionate acts of charity work. The community in Uvalde needs all of the support they can get, someone else wrote. Meghan Markle brings flowers to memorial of Uvalde shooting (AFP via Getty Images) Others acknowledged that this is not the first time the duchess has shown up to support a community in need, as Meghan previously dedicated her efforts to supporting Hubb Community Kitchen after the Grenfell Tower fire in London. The duchess and her husband Prince Harry also paid respects to the victims of New Zealands 2019 Christchurch shooting, with the couple visiting New Zealand House in London, where they signed a book of condolences. According to the BBC, the couple wrote: We are with you, before signing off the message with the Maori word arohanui, which means much love. During Meghans visit to Texas, community volunteers told BuzzFeed that the duchess was really sweet. She just kind of walked in with her crew and started putting ice waters in the bucket with us and laying out chips for the people who were needing snacks before and after donating, one volunteer said, adding: Its funny, we didnt even know it was her until after she left I mean, to be honest, we thought she was our neighbour. Story continues Another volunteer said the duchess, who wore a pair of jeans, a gray T-shirt and a baseball cap for the visit, spoke with her like they had known each other for years. Duchess of Sussex also donated food to volunteers hosting blood drive (AFP via Getty Images) According to a spokesperson for Meghan, she travelled to Uvalde in a personal capacity as a mother to offer her condolences and support in person to a community experiencing unimaginable grief. The duke and duchess and their two young children live in California, where they relocated after stepping down from their roles as senior members of the royal family. The Daily Beast via YouTube/The Telegraph Russias National Guard has confirmed that a Chechen commander was killed in a bloody firefight with foreign volunteers in Ukraineand they singled out the son of a British lawmaker as one of those responsible.Ben Grant, a 30-year-old former Royal Marine and the son of Helen Grant, a Conservative MP and Prime Minister Boris Johnsons special envoy on girls education, joined British and U.S. servicemen fighting Russian forces in Ukraine back in March, telling British me KYIV (Reuters) - A Moldovan court on Thursday placed former president and pro-Russian opposition leader Igor Dodon under house arrest for 30 days to allow prosecutors to investigate allegations of corruption and treason. The Ciocana district court in Chisinau, the capital, made the order two days after Dodon's house was searched and he was placed under detention for 72 hours. Speaking to the media after the court hearing, Dodon said the case was politically motivated, a charge the government has rejected. Dodon told journalists that the judge was carrying out a "political order" from pro-Western President Maia Sandu, who succeeded Dodon in 2020. Dodon said he had no property other than that which he had officially declared. The government has rejected the allegation of political interference with Justice Minister Sergiu Litvinenco saying the case would be carried out "in strict accordance with the law." Dodon's arrest comes at a time when relations between Moscow and Chisinau are increasingly strained. The Kremlin earlier said it was concerned at reports that Dodon had been detained, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling on Moldovan authorities to respect his rights. In recent months Russian separatists in Moldova's Transdniestria region blamed neighbouring Ukraine for what they said were shootings, explosions and drone incursions, raising fears that Moldova could be drawn into the conflict in Ukraine. (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Conor Humphries; Editing by Leslie Adler) The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office will be holding a mental health awareness event in the hopes of helping to break the stigma around mental illness. The event will be held today from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. at Haven Behavioral Hospital of Dayton. >> Sustained stress: Ways to cope with pressure, stressors brought on by recent events With one in five Americans living with a mental health condition, it is imperative that we bring awareness to these issues by talking openly with our friends, families, and neighbors about how and where they can find the support and services they need, Sheriff Rob Streck said in a release. Members of the Montgomery County DrugFree Coalition and Haven Behavioral Hospital will be at the event to give information on local resources and how to talk to loved ones about mental health, according to a release. (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Thursday that Moscow expected Kyiv to meet its demands, adding that Ukraine needed to have an awareness of the situation for peace talks to take place. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was reacting to comments by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who this week suggested at the World Economic Forum in Davos that Ukraine should let Russia keep Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. Moscow is demanding that Ukraine acknowledge Crimea as Russian territory, and recognise breakaway Russian-backed parts of eastern Ukraine as independent states, among other demands. Ukraine categorically disagrees with Russia's claims. (Reporting by Reuters) Cannes Film Festival has given us some major fashion moments (Doug Peters/PA) Cannes Film Festival (17-28 May) is ostensibly about films and there have been some big ones this year, with screenings of Baz Luhrmanns new Elvis Presley biopic, and Tom Cruise returning in Top Gun: Maverick. And yet thats not really the best thing about Cannes what we look forward to every year is the completely over-the-top red carpet. Its a chance for celebrities to descend on the French Riviera wearing their most glamorous outfits, and this year certainly delivered in the style stakes. The princess dresses Elle Fanning (Doug Peters/PA) Elle Fanning is right at home in Cannes she was the youngest jury member ever in 2019, and consistently brings some of most memorable fashion moments to the French red carpet. This year, she gave us a classic look: a blush Giorgio Armani Prive gown with a fishtail skirt. With crystals on the dress, a bow in her hair and some major diamonds, the whole vibe was delicate and ethereal. Viola Davis (Doug Peters/PA) Dressed in a bright yellow Alexander McQueen gown with puffed sleeves and corset-style boning on the bodice, Viola Davis outfit was reminiscent of a fictional princess: Belle from Beauty And The Beast. Jourdan Dunn (Doug Peters/PA) Giving a modern take on the classic princess silhouette, Jourdan Dunn wore a pale pink gown by Ashi Studio, made up of a structured minidress with a puff caped skirt attached. Winnie Harlow (Doug Peters/PA) Winnie Harlows look was far more classic an Off-White creation with a structured asymmetric bodice and layers of tulle for the skirt. The fashion statements Bella Hadid attends the 75th Anniversary celebration screening of The Innocent (LInnocent) during the 75th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France. Bella Hadid made a bold statement in vintage fashion, wearing an architectural black strapless gown from Versaces spring/summer 1987 collection. Hadid sent Donatella Versace a personal message on Instagram, posting: I hope to make you and Gianni [her brother, the late Versace designer] proud always. Sharon Stone (Doug Peters/PA) Sharon Stones Cannes outfit was two dresses in one. She walked the red carpet in a blue and white Dolce & Gabbana gown with two male models on her arms who then helped remove the bustle attachment, revealing a slim-fit column dress underneath. Story continues Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Doug Peters/PA) Actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchans red carpet look was all about drama, with the beaded gown bursting into an architectural accent over her head. Designer Gaurav Gupta posted on Instagram: Inspired by the birth of Venus, the goddess of beauty and love, rising from the scalloped shell; she transitions from the infinite, pure as a pearl. Adriana Lima attend the Top Gun: Maverick premiere at during the 75th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France. Picture date: Wednesday May 18, 2022. Model Adriana Lima paid tribute to Rihanna in her red carpet look, who served plenty of belly-baring fashion moments when she was pregnant. Lima wore a Grecian-style black Balmain dress, with a major cut-out displaying her growing bump. The nearly-naked looks Naomi Campbell (Doug Peters/PA) Naomi Campbells feathered Valentino gown was a masterclass in plunging necklines, with two thin straps making up the bodice. Kylie Minogue (Doug Peters/PA) Kylie Minogue amped up the sex appeal in a Versace gown, with a sheer corset-style bodice showing off a sparkly black bra. Olivier Rousteing and Cara Delevingne (Doug Peters/PA) Going for Gothic glam, Cara Delevingnes black Balmain dress was dotted with sheer diamond-shaped panels and set off with the must-have red carpet accessory of the moment: gloves. The sparkles Anne Hathaway (Doug Peters/PA) Anne Hathaway has had a standout time at her first Cannes Film Festival, making waves in kicky minidresses and brightly coloured tailoring. But her biggest fashion moment came on the red carpet, in a softly shimmering white Armani dress. It gave off a Nineties vibe, with a tube top attachment, a long shawl trailing on the ground, and Hathaways hair left loose. Eva Longoria (Doug Peters/PA) Eva Longoria went all-in on sparkles in a silver gown by Cristina Ottaviano, looking like she was wearing high-fashion armour. Julia Roberts (Doug Peters/PA) Julia Roberts wasnt wearing an obviously sparkly outfit (instead, she donned a classic black Louis Vuitton suit) but we cant take our eyes off her massive Chopard necklace. According to Chopard, the rare yellow diamond clocks in at over 100 carats, and it gave Roberts ensemble the shine it needed. Nancy Crampton Brophy, left, who was accused of killing her husband in June 2018, watches proceedings in a Portland, Ore., courtroom last month. (Dave Killen / Oregonian) A jury in Portland has convicted a self-published romance novelist who once wrote an essay titled How to Murder Your Husband of fatally shooting her husband four years ago. After deliberating over two days, the jury of seven women and five men found Nancy Crampton Brophy, 71, guilty of second-degree murder Wednesday in the death of chef Daniel Brophy, KOIN-TV reported. Daniel Brophy, 63, was killed June 2, 2018, as he prepared for work at the Oregon Culinary Institute in southwest Portland. Crampton Brophy displayed no visible reaction to the verdict Wednesday inside the crowded Multnomah County courtroom. Lisa Maxfield, one of her attorneys, said the defense team plans to appeal. Prosecutors told jurors that Crampton Brophy was motivated by money problems and a life insurance policy. Crampton Brophy contended during the trial that she had no reason to kill her husband and that their financial problems had largely been solved by cashing in a chunk of Brophy's retirement savings plan. She owned the same make and model of gun used to kill her husband and was seen on surveillance camera video driving to and from the culinary institute, court exhibits and testimony showed. Police never found the gun that killed Brophy. Prosecutors alleged that Crampton Brophy swapped out the barrel of the gun used in the shooting and then discarded the barrel. Defense attorneys said the gun parts were inspiration for Crampton Brophys writing and suggested someone else might have killed Brophy during a robbery gone wrong. Crampton Brophy testified during the trial that her presence near the culinary school on the day of her husband's death was coincidence and that she had parked in the area to work on her writing. Crampton Brophys how-to treatise detailed various options for committing an untraceable killing and professed a desire to avoid getting caught. Circuit Judge Christopher Ramras ultimately excluded the essay from the trial, noting that it was published in 2011. A prosecutor, however, alluded to the essays themes without naming it after Crampton Brophy took the stand. Crampton Brophy has remained in custody since her arrest in September 2018, several months after her husband was killed. Her sentencing has been scheduled for June 13. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. According to the publication, alliance members in Brussels have said that threats of military escalation between NATO and Russia need to be minimized as much as possible, and that Russia may consider the delivery of NATO tanks and warplanes as escalation, with some members worried that Russia may take action in response. Read also: Israel rejects US request to approve missile supplies to Ukraine No such systems have been delivered to Ukraine as of yet. Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has been asked for fighter jets in order to protect its skies from Russian airstrikes. Meanwhile, Russia has already threatened supply lines from Poland to Ukraine with military action, but has so far taken none. Read also: Russia will intensify its offensive in Ukraine in coming weeks, says NATO chief Russia's war against Ukraine goes into its fourth month. Commuters driving through Lagos's wealthy Ikoyi district have been greeted for months by the face of Bola Tinubu whose Nigeria presidential campaign posters are scattered around the city he once ran. The former governor known locally as "Godfather of Lagos" looks down from one electronic billboard over the city's Falomo Bridge with a slogan touting him as a "great leader". Tinubu, 70, may be confident of finally achieving his presidential ambition in the 2023 election, but he is just one in a packed field of high-profile potentials still scrambling for position. Their political fates will be decided this weekend when the ruling All Progressives Congress party and opposition People's Democratic Party both hold primaries for candidates to govern Africa's most populous nation. Deciding the APC and PDP candidates settles who will be the likely favourite to replace President Muhammadu Buhari, a former military commander stepping down after two terms. Buhari, 79, leaves office with Nigeria still struggling with a jihadist conflict in its northeast and violent banditry and kidnapping in its northwest. Africa's largest economy is also dealing with the double hits of the coronavirus pandemic and the Ukraine war that have pushed up fuel and food prices across the continent. As delegates decide on candidates for the presidency, parliament and governorship races, all eyes will be on Buhari to see whom he endorses and whether he will push the APC to accept a consensus candidate. He has also yet to approve an amendment to a new election law, which analysts say is clouding the way some delegates can vote for candidates in the primaries. For the APC, Tinubu faces rivalry from former ally and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who has been touting his experience helping run the federal government. Tinubu and Osinbajo, who once worked together in Lagos State, have busily canvassed support from governors and local delegates in recent weeks. "If there was anybody who can hit the ground running, that person is me," Osinbajo said on a delegate visit to southwest Ogun state. Story continues Rotimi Amaechi, who recently resigned as Buhari's transport minister and who is from Nigeria's southern oil region, is also challenging the two top APC players. An alliance of smaller parties drawn together for the 2015 election, the APC has often struggled to contain internal divisions. For such a key primary competition, it is likely Buhari may again seek a consensus candidate as he did in March with the party convention to choose a new chairman. "Because the conduct of the presidential primaries and the party's eventual nominee will help define Buhari's legacy, he will likely become involved," said Eurasia Group's Africa analyst Amaka Anuku. "Osinbajo is the most obvious choice for Buhari's endorsement." - North to South? - The PDP candidates include perennial challenger Atiku Abubakar who will be on his sixth attempt to run for the presidency. He has been promising a firm hand to end insecurity if elected. Challenging him are Bukola Saraki, a former senate president, and Aminu Tambuwal, the Sokoto State governor who enjoys strong support in mostly Muslim northern Nigeria. PDP also has a southern Christian candidate in Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers State. He is also a financier of the PDP and influential in the party. Since a return to democracy from a military dictatorship in 1999, Nigeria has held six national elections which were often marred by fraud claims, technical difficulties, violence and legal challenges. In 2019, when Buhari was re-elected, the Independent National Electoral Commission was criticised for delaying the initial vote by a week. PDP's Abubakar who lost to Buhari challenged the results in court. With Buhari still not approving an electoral law amendment, analysts say some candidates could open legal challenges as certain party delegates may be excluded from voting for them in primaries. "We have to see what Buhari does, if he signs the law in time, it might change some things," said SBM Intelligence analyst Tunde Ajileye. Under an informal agreement among the political elite, Nigeria's presidency is usually alternatively "zoned" between candidates from the north and the south. After eight years under northerner Buhari, most agree the presidency should now go to a candidate from the south. Rotating power in federal government has been seen as a balancing force in a country almost equally divided between the mostly Christian south and predominantly Muslim north. "There is a general elite consensus to zone power to the south," SBM's Ajileye said. Tinubu is a southern Muslim, Osinbajo is a southern Christian and Amaechi is also from the south as a former governor of oil-wealthy Rivers State. But Ahmed Lawan, current Senate president and a northern Muslim, also recently joined the APC race, raising questions about support from powerful APC northern strongholds. Major PDP main candidates Abubakar and Tambuwal are also northerners, prompting speculation the opposition party may ditch the "zoning" tradition and go for a candidate from Nigeria's north. pma/joa/bp/spm Senate Republican leaders speaking at their weekly press conference on May 10, 2022. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images The Senate just failed to begin debate on a bill to combat domestic terrorism and white supremacy. Democrats pushed the bill in the wake of the Buffalo shooting, and to address gun violence broadly. Republicans argued that the bill is unnecessary and claimed it would be used to target conservatives. The US Senate failed to begin debate on a bill aimed at combating domestic terrorism and white supremacy on Thursday, despite a similar version of the legislation passing the House by voice vote in 2020. The final vote tally was 47-47, with every present Democrat voting in favor and and every present Republican voting against beginning debate on the measure, thus falling short of the 60-vote filibuster threshold. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer switched his vote from yes to no at the conclusion of the vote in order to allow the Senate to possibly reconsider the bill at a later date. "We've got plenty of laws on the books to deal with domestic terrorism," Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told Insider at the Capitol on Tuesday. "So I won't be supporting it." The "Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act" would have authorized new offices focused on domestic terrorism at the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation while requiring joint biannual reports from those agencies on domestic terrorism threats, including assessments of threat posed by white supremacists and neo-Nazis. Furthermore, the bill would've required accounting for "white supremacist and neo-Nazi infiltration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies." "This is a modest bill with a simple goal: ensuring that the federal government devotes existing resources and authorities to what's been identified by the FBI as the most significant domestic terrorism threats," said Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate sponsor of the bill, in a floor speech on Thursday. But Republican senators largely argued that the bill was unnecessary, while some most prominently Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri claimed that the bill would be used to target conservatives. Story continues "I'm completely opposed to this idea that we would be giving the federal government and federal law enforcement power and authority to surveil Americans, to engage in any kind of monitoring of speech that is directed toward censorship," Hawley told the Hill, adding that he finds the legislation "extremely frightening." Schumer said on Thursday that the bill, originally put forward in response to a white supremacist killing in Buffalo, could serve as a vehicle to discuss gun violence prevention more broadly in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. "There is an additional benefit to moving forward today," he said on the Senate floor. "It's a chance to have a larger debate and consider amendments for gun safety legislation in general, not just for those motivated by racism, as vital as it is to do that." The bill passed the House on a largely party-line vote last week. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois was the only Republican to support the measure. That's despite the fact that the bill was originally co-sponsored by three Republicans: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Don Bacon of Nebraska, and Fred Upton of Michigan. Fitzpatrick, explaining his vote against a bill that he had co-sponsored, said in a statement that he was uncomfortable with changes to the bill that were made in response to progressive lawmakers' objections to the original bill, saying the bill would "give DOJ too much leeway in picking and choosing what it considers to constitute domestic terrorism." Read the original article on Business Insider Orlando police identified a man accused of shooting at officers and leading them on a chase late Wednesday. Orlando officers in an unmarked cruiser said they noticed the suspect, identified as William Bullock, 36, driving a stolen car. Soon after, they said Bullock shot at them. A bullet hit the cruiser and officers fired back. READ: Orlando police return fire after suspect shoots from stolen vehicle, suspect arrested after pursuit Investigators said Bulock took them on a pursuit that ended in a mans backyard. Josh Sapp lives in the neighborhood and told our crews, First thing we saw, I heard pops in the backyard, inside. I heard, Get on the ground! I see flooding in the side gate, they bring a canine unit in, starts barking, next thing I know hes crawling behind the fence. READ: Suspect arrested after multi-city chase leads to officer-involved shooting, police say Bullock is facing the following charges: Shooting into an occupied vehicle, fleeing from a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer with a firearm. Police Chief Orlando Rolon said Bullock is a convicted felon. There was a warrant out for his arrest for not making a court date. Bullocks rap sheet goes back to 2004. VIDEO: Orange County Sheriff voices support for assault rifle ban, universal background checks The suspect has been identified as William Deleon Bullock, 36 yrs old. These are the following charges he is facing: Shooting/Throwing into occupied vehicle Flee./Att.Elude a LEO/Siren & Lights Possession of Firearm/AMMO by Convicted Felon Att. 1st Deg. Murder of LEO w/ Firearm pic.twitter.com/sHl5BACJie Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) May 26, 2022 Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images Just days after the deadliest mass school shooting in Texas history, the National Rifle Association (NRA) Americas leading gun lobbyist group will meet a few hours away in Houston on Friday. Ashton P Woods says they are not welcome in his home town. These people are coming into our community. The city of Houston needs to kick them out, said Woods, an activist and founder of Black Lives Matter Houston. We have to be just as tough about these things as they are. Woods is helping organize one of several protests planned just outside the George R Brown Convention Center, where NRA members will browse through exhibits of firearms and gun paraphernalia and hear speeches from key Republican leaders. The goal of the Black Lives Matter protest, Woods said, is to get loud outside while powerful speakers including the Texas governor, Greg Abbott, Texas senator Ted Cruz and former US president Donald Trump take the podium inside. Woods said the issue of firearms was particularly important to the civil rights group that primarily tackles issues of police brutality in America. Whether it be death by suicide, death by cop, death by mass shooter, we need to control the access people have to deadly weapons, Woods said. These things are interconnected. The NRA is a powerful lobbying organization in American politics, spending nearly $5m in 2021 to pressure lawmakers to oppose measures like universal background checks for gun sales and bans on powerful assault weapons. About 55,000 NRA members are expected to attend the event in Houston. The annual meeting is often a draw for activists and counter-protests as members inside discuss firearms policy often the need for expanding access to guns. Outside the convention center, multiple counter-demonstrations are expected in Houston especially in light of a mass shooting that killed 19 children and two adults at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Houston police are also expecting crowds at the convention center. Jodi Silva, a police spokeswoman, said the department does not share details of its policing strategies, but that there would be a visible presence of officers. Story continues We always are aware of the demonstrations and/or counter-demonstrations and staff accordingly, Silva said. We staff accordingly to make sure that everyone can participate and be safe. Megan Hansen and the Rev Teresa Kim Pecinovsky watched the news updates from Uvalde on Tuesday in shock. When they found out the NRA would be in Houston Friday, they decided they also needed to take action. We live in a state full of people who love their guns more than they love the lives of the children in their community, Pecinovsky said. I had to do something with that amount of rage and lament. Hansen and Pecinovsky have organized an interfaith gathering that will include a silent march and a moment of reflection when organizers will read the names of those who died in Uvalde. While Texass politics are staunchly conservative, the Houston area has become a bastion of progressivism. Harris county, which includes Houston, voted for Joe Biden by 56% in 2020. Hansen said she wants others to know that the NRAs message does not reflect that community. Houston is the most diverse city in the United States and we have people from all over the world who do not agree with the rhetoric of the NRA, Hansen said. We want to just say, remember the people who we lost and how can we take this feeling and turn it into action? That action specifically legislative measures to restrict access to high-powered firearms is unlikely to come from Republican lawmakers in the state. Yet activists in Houston want the shooting in Uvalde and protests this weekend to spark more pressure on political leaders to prevent the next tragedy. Im hopeful this will not just be something people attend and then leave, Pecinovsky said. It needs to be a catalyst for real and tangible change. In our hands When is enough enough? How many times do we have to have a mass shooting at one of our schools, or anywhere else for that matter, before our spineless politicians in Washington take action? I am a gun owner. I believe in the right to bear arms. Our Second Amendment calls for a well regulated militia. Well, where on earth are the regulations? It is unconscionable that an 18-year-old can walk into a store and purchase not one, but two assault rifles with virtually no checks in place. Unfortunately, our thoughts and prayers dont do much to address this issue. What does address it is our votes. The vast majority of Americans support commonsense gun control. You have the power to effect change in Washington. Regardless of your party affiliation, vote for representatives who will effect change and vote out those who will not. Lets finally put an end to this terrible madness. - Jeffrey S. Simkins, Overland Park My single issue For years, I have criticized single-issue voters, such as my fellow Catholics who vote for candidates in favor of abortion restrictions but ignore those candidates other serious flaws (lying, megalomania, sedition). However, I am strongly considering becoming a single-issue voter on gun regulations. I would not make handguns for self-defense or rifles for hunting illegal, but I would vote only for candidates who actually do something toward passing gun laws demanding universal background checks without loopholes, raising the age to buy guns, requiring gun locks, banning assault weapons, banning bump stocks, promoting red flag laws and notifying the FBI whenever someone buys body armor. Even many NRA members support these commonsense measures. The NRA itself is bankrupt (morally and financially), and Bambi cant shoot back. Any senator or representative who will not support such measures must be fired. They must not be allowed to hide behind thoughts and prayers anymore. - Mark Johnson, Kansas City Story continues They must act Actions speak louder than words. The words of sympathy from our elected officials after yet another mass shooting are meaningless when not followed by meaningful legislation. The very least Congress should do is ban the sale of assault weapons and ghost guns, and make it illegal to own either period. Accepting campaign contributions from the NRA and those who produce and sell guns is shameful. Too many of those in office are in the pockets of the gun industry. The life you save may include yours or someone you love. - Susanne Shutz, Praire Village No big hopes Like many of us, I vividly remember the somber news of the Sandy Hook massacre of 20 innocent children and six adults. At that moment, I thought that surely a crime so heinous would shake the conscience of even the most adamant pro-gun advocates in Congress and bring about some form of gun-control legislation. I was wrong. I would like to believe that Tuesdays mass killing of 19 children at an elementary school in Texas, along with the slayings of 10 innocent Black shoppers in Buffalo, New York, on May 14, might finally be the catalyst to invoke realistic action toward fighting the proliferation of guns in America. But I wont hold my breath waiting for that to happen. - Eddie Clay, Grandview Fitting memorial As we all know, we must not politicize mass shootings. Rather, now is a time to offer thoughts and prayers to the victims and families. Even after a period of mourning, there is nothing we can do to control guns because we must not infringe on the right to guns enshrined in the Second Amendment. In this paralyzing climate over gun control, I offer a modest proposal. We should erect a monument, ideally in front of the National Rifle Associations headquarters, that recognizes the sacrifices of the hundreds of Americans who have lost their lives in mass shootings in service to the Second Amendment. The great advantage of such a monument is that, after a mass shooting like the one this week in Texas, we can all come together as the names are affixed and remember those who died for our right to keep and bear arms, and remember why we can do nothing to control guns. I look forward to gun rights advocates starting a GoFundMe campaign for such a monument. - Bob Yates, Kansas City A dozen owners and operators of construction companies in the Myrtle Beach area were ordered to pay more than $3.4 million in restitution after being caught illegally paying unauthorized foreign workers under the table. None of the 12, who were connected to seven Horry County companies, were sentenced to jail time, but most will serve several months in home confinement and five years probation, according to a news release from the U.S Department of Justice. The tax and immigration fraud charges they faced were the result of a multi-year investigation led by the Internal Revenue Service and Homeland Security Investigations on the South Carolina coast. All 12 pleaded guilty. The owners and operators used unlicensed check cashers to pay cash to their employees, many of whom were in the country illegally, and falsified documentation showing that these employees were covered under workers compensation insurance. Criminals that exploit U.S. labor and tax laws for profit take advantage of not only the workers, but they also steal revenue from the Government, while also creating an unfair business advantage over their competitors, Special Agent in Charge Ronnie Martinez, of HSI, said in the release. Derek Shoemake, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office in South Carolina, told The Sun News that investigations into this behavior in the Myrtle Beach area will continue despite these convictions. The 12 convicted and their sentences include: Daniel Lavoie and Enrique Reyes, both from Duran Masonry, each received five years probation, 18 months home confinement and are ordered to pay $293,402.50 in restitution. Walter Duran and Lisa Sellers, both from Daniel Lavoie Construction Services, each received five years probation. Duran also received 21 months home confinement and is ordered to pay $976,076.08 in restitution, while Sellers received eight months home confinement and $488,038.04 in restitution. Ming Xue Nan and Katherine Welker, both from Extreme Siding, each received five years probation and were ordered to pay $173,712.43 in restitution. Nan received 14 months home confinement, while Welker received eight months. Josafa Neto and Marylany Lavino, both from Master Homes Calabash, each received five years probation and were ordered to pay $209,847.07. Neto also received 18 months home confinement. Saul and Martha Prieto, of Metro Concrete Finishers, each received five years probation, nine months home confinement and were ordered to pay $74,868.50 in restitution. Marcos Caetano De Almeida, of Master Homes Design Center, received five years probation, 21 months home confinement and was ordered to pay $298,816.52 in restitution. Johanna Carpio, of Paint by Numbers, received five years probation, 14 months home confinement and was ordered to pay $131,449.69 in restitution. Story continues One other person charged in relation to this scheme, Adriano De Araujo, is believed to have fled to Brazil, according to online court records. De Araujo, one of the alleged unlicensed check cashers who helped these construction businesses, was out on bond awaiting trial when he removed his location monitoring unit in December 2020 and left the country, according to a status report filed by former U.S. Attorney Peter McCoy. De Araujos defense attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment. The Daily Beast Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/GettyULVADE, TexasIn the days before Salvador Ramos shot and killed 21 people at Robb Elementary School, his grandmother demanded he remove a gun from her house, according to a neighbor and a law-enforcement official familiar with the investigation.Rudy Martinez, who lives in the same neighborhood as Ramos family, told The Daily Beast that on the Thursday prior to the deadly massacre, Celia Gonzales, also known as Sally, described Ramos b NEW YORK (AP) When choreographer Camille A. Brown is asked to describe her kind of movement, she uses an analogy from the kitchen. Its everything. Its modern, its hip-hop, its tap, its jazz, it's ballet, its social dance. I call it a jambalaya. You stir it up in a pot and you put your own own seasoning on it. And then when it comes out into the bowl, its who you are. Audiences are getting to enjoy the special flavor of Browns work as she caps a remarkable year of stirring the traditional musical pot. She became the first Black director to create a mainstage Metropolitan Opera production and is the first Black woman to serve as both director and choreographer of a Broadway production in over 60 years. Its about Black women being able to share our stories on these platforms that were not made for us, she said. "How empowering it is to be in spaces that were not necessarily made for you, but you are making space inside of it. On Broadway, Brown has been applauded for shepherding a spring Broadway revival of Ntozake Shange's for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf. Shanges amalgamation of words, motion and music uses seven Black women to weave together strands of abuse, resilience, heartbreak and motherhood into a tapestry of shared womanhood. Brown said she wanted to pull out the joy. Even though theres so much heartbreak theyre devastating stories but theyre also stories of reclamation and also stories of empowerment and truth and laughter. Sometimes we have to laugh through the pain, she said. In a brilliant stroke, one of her seven actors, Kenita R. Miller, was pregnant through much of the run. Miller, who went on maternity leave Tuesday, was called upon to deliver one of the more gut-wrenching stories, a woman who watches her abusive husband kill their two children. It helps to elevate the story and make it more devastating because shes talking about the loss of these kids while shes in preparation to have her first child, said Brown. Story continues Some of Brown's other high-profile credits include choreographing Ma Raineys Black Bottom and the Emmy Award-winning Jesus Christ Superstar Live with John Legend and Sara Bareilles. She just has a beautiful strength and kind of quiet power about her. Shes small in stature, but she has a tremendous amount of gravitas as a creator, said Bareilles. I was so happy to see her getting this kind of recognition for this really extraordinary piece that I just feel so lucky that I got to see on Broadway. Brown, the founder and artistic director of Camille A. Brown & Dancers, was born three years after for colored girls made it to Broadway in the late 1970s, but her mother saw it and made it a subtle part of her daughter's childhood. Mom often counselled Brown not to let anyone take her stuff away, a figurative line from the play about protecting yourself. It was only until a couple of years ago that she told me it was from the show, said Brown. All of a sudden, it just made sense. Brown took Shange's work and added small updates to help it connect with today's audiences, like adding jig-a-low to a list of nursery rhymes and replacing a reference to the 60s anthem Dancing in the Street by Martha and the Vandellas to SWV's Im So Into You" from the '90s. When you tap into who you are specifically, I think thats really important, especially because thats what Ntozake did with this work, said Brown. Theres so much of her thats interwoven inside of the poem, she almost gives you a guide of how to work through it. And part of it is being yourself and putting yourself inside of it. The show has earned seven Tony nominations, two for Brown's choreography and for her directorial debut. Even so, the show will close early, despite an independent social media campaign paying for patrons to see it, something Brown is grateful for. The fact that this show by a Black woman, directed and choreographed by a Black woman, performed by seven Black women is being seen by so many people, and people are encouraging other people to see it, thats powerful, said Brown. The show displays her dance versatility and her often cinematic vision. She previously leaned on stepping for the Broadway play Choir Boy and West African, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Haitian dance for the musical Once on This Island. Every time I have a show, I get better trusting my instincts. I just see it in my head and I just go and do it, she said. Whatever Im being called to do, Im responding to it. And I think thats the best thing that artists can do is respond to your instincts. Brown says that dance has always been her favorite forms of communication. She grew up shy and not a fan of public speaking. Movement was always my go-to, she said. Now she's adding directing to her arsenal, late last year making history with the Met's "Fire Shut Up in My Bones." While she was planning ways to mount Shanges work on Broadway, the end image came first: The seven women holding their fists in the air. She didn't know how she was going to get there, but that's how it would finish. I wanted the end to be about empowering and pushing through, like, Yes, these are devastating stories. We thought that our world was going to come to an end because it was so horrible. But we made it through and we made it through together. And you can, too. ___ Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits Police are searching for a woman they say pulled a machete on someone at a metro Atlanta Home Depot earlier this month. The aggravated assault occurred May 13 at the Home Depot on 103 Pavilion Parkway in Fayetteville, Georgia. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police said the woman threatening to hurt people and also pulled out a machete on someone at the store. TRENDING STORIES: Fayetteville police posted surveillance videos of the woman they are looking for. She is wanted for aggravated assault charges. If you have any information or are able to identify the suspect, youre asked to contact Detective Sydney Moore at (770) 719- 4224 or Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta at (404) 577-8477. IN OTHER NEWS: WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's Parliament on Thursday voted in favour of a bill that will replace a contested disciplinary chamber for judges with a new body, clearing the way for the country to get billions in COVID-19 recovery funds from Brussels. More than 35 billion euros in grants and cheap loans were put on hold due to a dispute over the rule of law, but Warsaw now looks set to get the cash after agreeing on terms to unblock it with the European Commission. Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said on Tuesday that approval for Poland's National Recovery Plan, which is necessary to unblock the money, was likely with days. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to visit Warsaw on June 2 to mark the approval of the plan. Nevertheless, critics of Poland's ruling nationalists say that the judicial reform bill, which was prepared by government ally President Andrzej Duda, does not go far enough in ensuring that judges are not subject to political pressure. Poland's ruling coalition was split on how to implement the reform, with the arch-conservative United Poland party of Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, a junior partner in government, opposing plans for an impartiality test for judges it said could paralyse the court system. In the final version of the bill the impartiality test cannot be used retrospectively on cases in which a verdict has been handed down. "The final version of the adopted Act on the Supreme Court takes into account all the key reservations of United Poland to the project," deputy justice minister and United Poland lawmaker Sebastian Kaleta wrote on Twitter The European Union had said Warsaw must implement a ruling from the bloc's top court that required it to dissolve the chamber in order to get the funds. The top court imposed fines on Poland of 1 million euros a day for failing to do so. (Reporting by Alan Charlish; Editing by Leslie Adler) DAKAR, Senegal (AP) A fire in the neonatal unit of a hospital in Senegal has killed 11 newborns, President Macky Sall said. Only three infants could be saved. To their mothers and families, I express my deepest sympathy, Sall tweeted late Wednesday. The tragedy at the Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital in Tivaouane was blamed on an electrical short circuit, Mayor Demba Diop said. The deadly fire comes a year after four other newborns died in a hospital fire in Linguere in northern Senegal. A series of other deaths also have raised concerns about maternal and infant health in the West African nation known for having some of the best hospitals in the region. Earlier this month, authorities discovered a baby that had been declared dead by a nurse's aide was still alive in a morgue. The infant later died. Last year a pregnant woman died in Louga, in the north of the country, after waiting in vain for a cesarean section. Three midwives were given six-month suspended sentences for not giving help to a person in danger. Health Minister Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, who was attending the World Health Assembly in Geneva, cut short his trip to return to Senegal. A bipartisan legislative effort to rein in the nations largest tech companies is facing fresh resistance from a faction of Senate Democrats over complaints the measure could threaten their chances of holding their slim majority, 10 people familiar with the matter told POLITICO. The internal opposition comes as Democratic leaders are pushing for a vote on the bill by summer, in an effort to pass what has become a central element of the partys broader antitrust agenda. The American Innovation and Choice Online Act, S. 2992 (117) led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) would ban major tech firms like Amazon and Google from favoring their products over their competitors. For example, the legislation would bar Amazon from promoting its own private-label products over rival items on its e-commerce platform. The bill marks the most serious attempt at tightening oversight of the tech industry in years and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee with support from both parties earlier this year. Yet in the days since Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told Klobuchar he would hold a floor vote as early as next month, several Democratic senators have privately expressed deep reservations about voting for the legislation, particularly with a midterm election looming, in their conversations with Schumer and other Democratic offices. Tech lobbyists have claimed the bill could harm popular products like Amazon Prime or Google Docs. And among vulnerable lawmakers, there's growing concern that the sweeping legislation is too contentious for an election year and would eat up valuable time Democrats should instead be spending addressing voters' core concerns. We should be focused on items that will help consumers deal with rising costs, said one Senate aide who criticized the legislation as a pet project with little political payoff. Nobody can quite figure out why it would be a priority. On a caucus-wide call held with Democratic chiefs of staff last week, Marc Goldberg, chief of staff to Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), was among a handful of senior aides who raised objections, five people familiar with the matter said. They and others spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss off-the-record conversations. Hassan is up for reelection in a highly competitive race this fall, and Goldberg cited the tech antitrust bill as an example of a potentially controversial vote that senators shouldnt be forced to take just months out from the midterms. Story continues His remark sparked a tense back and forth with Klobuchars chief of staff, Doug Calidas, who defended the bill and argued that the legislation would help, not hurt, reelection prospects for senators in swing states. A poll released this week showed about 76 percent support for the American Innovation and Choice Online Act among a random sample of voters in Georgia, New Hampshire, Nevada and Arizona. Several other recent polls have shown that voters are largely supportive of regulating the tech companies, though they often do not prioritize the issue above concerns like inflation and job loss. A few others on the call, including the acting chief of staff to Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), who is also up for reelection this year, echoed concerns about Democrats legislative agenda ahead of the midterms, though not all directly criticized the antitrust bill. Supporters of the legislation chalked up the last-minute anxiety from vulnerable Democrats to lobbying by the major tech companies, which have spent tens of millions of dollars campaigning against the bill. Anytime a corporate accountability bill gathers steam, the concern trolling heats up and some members try to block a vote because they dont want to alienate powerful companies, said Dan Geldon, former chief of staff to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) who has led the push to break up the largest tech companies. But the idea that a popular bipartisan bill like this would hurt any of the re-elects doesnt pass a straight face test. The polling is incredibly clear on that. Representatives for Klobuchar, Hassan and Bennet declined to comment on the exchange on the off-the-record call. Klobuchar's office late Wednesday night released a revised version of the bill intended to incorporate some of the concerns she has heard from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The behind-the-scenes consternation could jeopardize the legislations path to a floor vote and with it, Democrats long-running bid to bolster oversight of the handful of companies that dominate the tech industry. Klobuchar, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Antitrust and Competition Subcommittee, has spearheaded the partys efforts to limit big techs power for years, developing a sprawling package of reforms targeting alleged anti-competitive behavior by the industrys largest players. She has worked closely with House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee chair David Cicilline (D-R.I.), seeking to carve out a pathway for passing the legislation in both chambers. Klobuchar and Cicillines antitrust push also won a vote of confidence from the Biden administration, which has pledged to intensify scrutiny of the tech giants and their competitive practices. In March, the Justice Department praised their legislation for its "potential to have a positive effect on dynamism in global markets." Lina Khan, President Joe Biden's Federal Trade Commission chair, helped write the House version of the American Innovation and Choice Online Act when she was a staffer on the Judiciary Committee. But even as Klobuchar and other Democratic supporters pushed to prioritize the bill ahead of the midterms, they've struggled to resolve serious fissures within the caucus about whether sweeping antitrust legislation is the best way to wrangle the powerful tech companies or the best use of the party's remaining time in the majority. "Does the Klobuchar bill reduce rising costs in the short term for consumers?" one Senate aide said. "No. So why would it be a focus between now and the election?" Separately, several Democrats, including California Sens. Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstien, have raised concerns about the bill's targeting of specific Silicon Valley companies, such as Apple and Facebooks parent company, Meta. There are also lingering worries about the possible unintended consequences of such wide-ranging legislation raised by the tech giants, who have warned it could create cybersecurity vulnerabilities. A handful of Democrats have also privately complained that Klobuchars office has been unresponsive to criticism about the legislation, and that they've had difficulty convincing her staffers to discuss some of their suggested tweaks. Theres been an open dialogue for months between co-sponsors of the bill and offices about questions or feedback on the bill, said one Democratic aide familiar with the process. Over the past year alone, Google, Amazon, Apple and Meta have shelled out tens of millions of dollars in lobbying spending and advertising campaigns arguing that the bills would harm national security and aggravate consumers who rely on products like Google Search and Amazon Prime. Its like the game of whack-a-mole, Klobuchar told POLITICO earlier this year. Every time I think Ive got something done, some other lobbyist pops up. This years first UK Pride event, Proud and Loud, will kick off at the Royal Albert Hall on 4 June. The festivals line-up includes LGBT+ icons Calum Scott, Hayley Kiyoko, Cat Burns and ariAn. This will mark the first time the Royal Albert Hall has hosted an LGBT+ celebration event in its 150 years of history. Raising money for Pride in Londons Unity Fund, Proud and Loud celebrate 50 years of Pride held in the UK, uniting LGBT+ stars from across the globe. Former Brit School student Burns, 21, will join as a support act, after the success of her hit single GO. Pride in Londons executive director Christopher Joell-Deshields said: This is a massive year for the LGBT+ community and never has the time been better to ensure that every voice can be heard. This 50th year will kick off with the concert at the Royal Albert Hall, we will retrace the route of the original 1972 pride March in July and celebrate even more LGBT+ talent with the final of the 10th Prides Got Talent. How to get tickets: Tickets are on sale via The Royal Albert Hall website here . In his final chat show appearance, Ray Liotta revealed hed never finished watching celebrated HBO gangster series The Sopranos. Liotta, whose death at the age of 67 was reported earlier today, appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers last September to discuss his role in The Sopranos prequel film The Many Saints of Newark. I never really watched it shhh! said Liotta of the original series. A few episodes in the beginning, but at that time I just wasnt into sitting home and watching television. I was out doing stuff. I saw episodes and I said: Wow, this is really good. Every now and then youre flicking and theres an episode thats on. I will I will eventually! He added that as he was playing a new role in was a prequel, he didnt have to base his portrayal on a character who already existed. I didnt have to sound like anybody, he said. Some of the people in our show go on to be in the series. Liotta, who was best known for his leading role in Martin Scorseses 1990 crime classic Goodfellas, died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic while shooting a new film entitled Dangerous Waters, according to Deadline. Cocaine Bear, one of the last films Liottacompleted before his death, announced its official release date only a few weeks before the actors death. The film, which is directed by Elizabeth Banks, is due for a cinema release on 24 February 2023, Universal confirmed earlier this month. Rep. Tony Gonzales, who represents Uvalde, said Beto O'Rourke's outburst during Gov. Greg Abbot's update on the Texas shooting was "spewing rhetoric and hate" when the community needs unity. "It's sad to see politicians try to capitalize politically off of the death of innocent children," Gonzales, a Republican, told Fox News. "Not today. Not today," he continued. "This is about healing." Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke interrupted a press conference held by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott following the Uvalde school shooting. Jordan Vonderhaar/Getty Images TEXAS SCHOOL SHOOTING: BETO O'ROURKE DERAILS GOV. GREG ABBOTT UPDATE ON UVALDE SHOOTING Abbott, a Republican, spoke for roughly 10 minutes before he attempted to give Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick the floor. But O'Rourke, a former U.S. representative running for governor, approached the stage and interrupted. Portions of the Democrat's outburst were inaudible, though he accused Abbott of "doing nothing" to curb gun access and called the governor's response "totally predictable." O'Rourke was escorted out of the auditorium after a brief exchange with several officials on stage. TEXAS SCHOOL SHOOTING TIMELINE "We all need to come together," Gonzales told Fox News. "There's no time for political antics." O'Rourke came down "spewing rhetoric and hate," Gonzales continued. "This is about unity. We all need to come together, because everyone is hurting." The Texas Republican said he'd just come from a briefing where "essentially everyone in the room had to relive this traumatic experience." TEXAS SCHOOL SHOOTING: LIVE UPDATES Gonzales also praised law enforcement's efforts. He specifically named Lt. Javier Martinez, who he said "took fire and was wounded," and within 24 hours was "briefing leadership on what was happening." "Ultimately, this was a joint law enforcement effort," Gonzales said. "That can't be understated." "They saved lives," he continued. "Over 600 children were in this school." "As bad as this situation was, those men and women, Javier Martinez and [Uvalde Police Chief Pete] Arredondo, saved hundreds of lives," Gonzales said. ROME Germanys Rheinmetall will make an offer to take a minority stake in Italian cannon maker Oto Melara within a month, a source acquainted with the operation has told Defense News. If accepted, the deal would see off reported interest in Oto Melara from KNDS the alliance of Germanys Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Frances Nexter which sounded out Oto Melaras owner, Italian state controlled Leonardo, about a sale last year. Leonardo has been keen to sell part or all of the firm, considering it non-core as it focuses on electronics, helicopters, aircraft and cyber technology. Oto Melara produces turrets for fighting vehicles and naval cannons which have been purchased by navies around the world. It also teams with Italian firm Iveco to build wheeled fighting vehicles. Rheinmetalls wish to take a minority stake, rather than the 100 percent purchase reportedly proposed by KNDS, has garnered favor with Italian politicians concerned about ceding the firm to a foreign buyer just as the Ukraine war ups the value of armored vehicle know-how. If the operation goes ahead and Rheinmetall takes a stake in the firm, it would offer to build in Italy its Lynx vehicle to fulfill the Italian armys requirement for a new light tracked fighting vehicle, the source said. The new vehicle would replace Italys ageing Dardo vehicles. Oto Melara is currently valued at 500 million to 600 million euros ($536-$644 million), but its value is expected to grow if and when it obtains work on the new vehicle. Last years Italian defense spending document predicted the new vehicle program would cost 2.14 billion euros ($2.29 billion) spread over 14 years. The turret of the Italian Lynx could be supplied by Oto Melara and the communications by Leonardo, said the source, who could not be named because he was unauthorized to speak to the media. Through its Italian unit Rheinmetall Italia, the German firm already operates six facilities in Italy and employs 2,500. Story continues KNDS and Italys state-controlled shipyard Fincantieri may now also make offers to take stakes in Oto Melara. A 2021 defense budget document stated that the Italian government is keen on developing its new tracked fighting vehicle in a multi-national context, based on alliances between solid European entities that already collaborate with Italian firms. Such a deal would help prepare the ground for Italys involvement in the fledgling European plan for a common main battle tank, the document said. Both KNDS and Rheinmetall are already part of the program, known as the Main Ground Combat System. A Ukrainian soldier outside a residential building damaged by a missile in Kyiv, Ukraine. Pierre Crom/Getty Images Russia has seen "significant losses" among its elite army units, the UK's defense ministry said. The ministry attributed the losses to Ukrainian resistance and "complacency of Russian commanders." Russia is reported to have suffered heavy losses in its war in Ukraine, including top generals. Russia is losing many of its elite troops in Ukraine because of unexpected Ukrainian resistance and "complacency" among its commanders, UK intelligence said in a new assessment. "The failure to anticipate Ukrainian resistance and the subsequent complacency of Russian commanders has led to significant losses across many of Russia's more elite units," the UK Ministry of Defence said in a Thursday update. It said issues with the work of Russia's elite airborne troops, or VDV, in Ukraine showed how Russia's military had been "unbalanced" in the way Russia invested in it. It said the VDV had been used in situations in which "heavier armored infantry" would've been more suitable and as a result had "sustained heavy casualties during the campaign." "Its mixed performance likely reflects a strategic mismanagement of this capability and Russia's failure to secure air superiority," it said. The VDV is a cadre of elite airborne troops who specialize in rapidly seizing key territory via parachute jumps or being launched in helicopters, and their status in the Russian military means they are often used as a rapid-reaction force. These paratroopers use more heavy systems like tanks and infantry-fighting vehicles than their counterparts in the US, as Insider's Stavros Atlamazoglou has reported. The VDV are easily distinguished by their blue berets and the blue-striped undershirts worn under their fatigues. The UK also said the VDV had been "heavily involved in several notable tactical failures since the start of Russia's invasion." In the initial invasion, VDV forces assaulted an airport 20 miles outside Kyiv, Ukraine, via helicopters. The airport's seizure would've allowed Russia to quickly fly in more troops, weapons, and armored vehicles. But the paratroopers lost the field to a Ukrainian counterattack. Story continues Russia failed to meet its strategic aims from the onset of the invasion, failing to capture key parts of the country as it expected, and with Russia ceding control of many areas back to Ukraine three months on. What started as an assault on much of Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv, has turned into a battle focused in the east, near Russia's border. Western intelligence has noted that Russia expected quick victory in its invasion and didn't expect a strong resistance from Ukraine. The exact number of Russian troop losses is unknown, as Russia hasn't shared them. The UK defense ministry estimated in mid-May that Russia had lost a third of its forces. A BBC investigation in April found that Russia's military was losing many elite troops, who are expensive to train. Retired Adm. James Stavridis, a former NATO supreme allied commander for Europe, also said earlier in May that "in modern history, there is no situation comparable in terms of the deaths of generals." A Russian veterans group recently criticized Russia's so-called special military operation a failure and urged the country to officially declare war on Ukraine and mobilize additional forces. Read the original article on Business Insider Russian President Vladimir Putin. Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters Russia said it would allow ships carrying food to leave Ukrainian ports if some sanctions were lifted. Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea have been blocked since Russia's invasion. More than 20 million tons of grains are stuck in Ukraine amid a global food crunch. A senior Russian government official said the Kremlin would allow ships carrying food to leave Ukrainian ports in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea have been blocked since Russia's invasion on February 24, leaving more than 20 million metric tons of grains stuck in Ukraine, per Reuters. This disruption is exacerbating a world food crunch as Ukraine accounts for 12% of global wheat exports and 17% of global corn exports, per ING Economics. It's also the world's largest sunflower oil exporter. "We have repeatedly commented on the matter and said that a resolution of the food problem would require a comprehensive approach, including the lifting of sanctions imposed on Russian exports and financial transactions," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said on Wednesday, as reported by Interfax news agency. Separately, Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, said there is a "safe corridor" allowing access to the key Odesa port, according to a Reuters report. However, Ukraine needs to demine the waters before the safe corridors can be used, Nebenzia said, per Reuters. "They mined the ports, not us," he said. "There is a corridor which exists, which they don't use." Russia's navy has disrupted trade at Ukraine ports and currently controls all traffic in the northern third of the Black Sea, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing a US government document it obtained. This makes commercial shipping unsafe, per the Post. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on May 21 warned of a global food crisis if his country still can't ship grains out of its ports. "There will be a crisis in the world. The second crisis after the energy one, which was provoked by Russia. Now it will create a food crisis if we do not unblock the routes for Ukraine, do not help the countries of Africa, Europe, Asia, which need these food products," said Zalenskyy, according to a transcript from his office. Story continues The war has sent prices of commodities skyrocketing due to disruption in production and shipping from Russia and Ukraine, as well as knock-on impact to global markets. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba hit back at Rudenko's suggestion, calling it "clear blackmail," according to CNN. "You could not find a better example of a blackmail in international relations," Kuleba told the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, per Reuters. "If anyone is buying it, I think there is a problem with that person, and we shouldn't waste too much time trying to understand why that person is making that point." Read the original article on Business Insider Belarus - Ramil Sitdikov /Pool Sputnik Kremlin Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday ordered the creation of a new military command for the south of the country bordering Ukraine. "A new front has opened and we can't fail to pay attention to it," Mr Lukashenko, wearing his military uniform, told a televised meeting of defence officials. He said the new command had been proposed last year, but now needed to be set up immediately. "Even before creating it, we are obliged today - quickly, on the run, to work out the defence of our southern borders," Mr Lukashenko said. The Belarusian leader, who was nearly toppled by popular protests in summer 2020 before Vladimir Putin publicly backed him, has been instrumental in helping Russia with its invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops in February were able to quickly advance to the capital Kyiv by entering from Belarusian territory on Ukraine's northern border. Mr Lukashenko, however, has stopped short of offering up Belarusian troops to bolster Moscow's army. Military analysts say the Belarusian army, at just 62,000 active military personnel, is too negligible for Russia to use in fighting in Ukraine. Yet any build-up of Belarusian forces near the border risks further stretching Ukraine's military as it tries to defend against increasingly ferocious Russian attacks focused on the Donbas region hundreds of miles to the east. 06:09 PM And that's all for today... Thanks very much for following today's liveblog. Here are five key updates from today: Fighting in the eastern Donbas region has reached its fiercest level yet, Ukraine said, as Russian forces push deeper into the industrial region. A senior Ukrainian military official also conceded that Russia has the upper hand on the battlefield in the eastern Luhansk region. Four people were killed in fresh Russian shelling of Ukraine's second city Kharkiv, where many people have returned after Russia's attempts to capture the city were repelled. Volodymyr Zelensky crushed calls for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, comparing it to the appeasement of Adolf Hitler in the run-up to the Second World War. The Kremlin said the West only has itself to blame for an escalating food crisis caused by problems exporting grain due to a Black Sea blockade. Vladimir Putin said that he was glad many foreign companies had left Russia because home-grown businesses could take their place, and he warned the West that Moscow would still find ways to acquire advanced technology and luxury goods. Story continues 05:56 PM Italy bids to unblock Black Sea grain exports Italy aims to free grain exports blocked in Black Sea ports, Prime Minister Mario Draghi told reporters on Thursday following a phone call with Vladimir Putin. "The first initiative one could begin to explore is to see whether a cooperation between Russia and Ukraine to unblock Black Sea ports could be built," Mr Draghi said. He added that he would soon talk to Volodymyr Zelensky on this issue. 05:37 PM Moldova places former president under house arrest A Moldovan court on Thursday placed Igor Dodon, a former president and pro-Russian opposition leader, under house arrest for 30 days to allow prosecutors to investigate allegations of corruption and treason. The Ciocana district court in Chisinau, the capital, made the order two days after Mr Dodon's house was searched and he was placed under detention for 72 hours. Speaking to the media after the court hearing, Mr Dodon said the case was politically motivated, a charge the government has rejected. Mr Dodon said that the judge was carrying out a "political order" from the pro-Western President Maia Sandu, who succeeded Mr Dodon in 2020. Mr Dodon said he had no property other than that which he had officially declared. 04:57 PM Russian propaganda blasted on LED screens around the ruins of Mariupol Russian forces have driven lorries with huge LED screens through the war-ravaged streets of Mariupol pumping out pro-Kremlin propaganda to the local population. After a two-month media blackout, citizens queuing for water and food parcels were faced with a desperate attempt by Moscow to justify the destruction of their city. The move was part of a wider propaganda blitz being undertaken by Russia across its captured regions of Ukraine. Read the full story from Joe Barnes and Nataliya Vasilyeva here 04:42 PM Ukraine says Russia canceling school holiday in Mariupol A Ukrainian official said that Russian troops occupying Mariupol had cancelled school summer holidays in the south-eastern port city to prepare pupils for switching to a Russian curriculum. The strategic city fell to Moscow's forces following a devastating siege that culminated when Ukrainian forces laid down arms last week at the Azovstal steel works where they were holding out. "The occupiers have announced the extension of the school year until September 1," city official Petro Andryushchenko wrote on social media. There was no confirmation of the announcement from the Russian side. "Throughout the summer, children will have to study Russian language, literature and history as well as maths classes in Russian," Andryushchenko said. The aim, he said, was "to remove Ukraine from the curriculum and prepare them for going back to school with a Russian curriculum". 04:21 PM Putin thunderbolt spells end of globalisation, Olaf Scholz warns Olaf Scholz has warned that the era of globalisation that powered the German economic miracle is coming to an inevitable end after Vladimir Putins thunderbolt. The German Chancellor admitted that Europes largest economy faces a very special challenge as the industrial powerhouse is hit by soaring energy prices. Mr Scholz launched a defence of globalisation at the World Economic Forum in Davos but admitted that its era is drawing to a close as inflation rises. Read the full piece from Tom Rees here 04:21 PM Listen to our Ukraine podcast 03:37 PM Russia confirms sacking 100 guards for refusing to fight in Ukraine A Russian court confirmed the dismissal of 115 national guardsmen who challenged their sacking after refusing to take part in Moscow's military operation in Ukraine. The case appears to be the first official confirmation of soldiers refusing to join Russia's military campaign in Ukraine that was launched on February 24. A military court in Russia's southern Kabardino-Balkaria republic said Wednesday it examined the "necessary documents" and questioned officials of the National Guard, a domestic security force separate from the Russian army. It concluded that the defendants "arbitrarily refused to perform an official assignment" and turned down their appeal. The hearing was held behind closed doors to avoid revealing "military secrets", the court added. Citing the court's press service, the Interfax news agency reported on Thursday that the servicemen refused to carry out an assignment related to Moscow's "special operation" in Ukraine. 03:25 PM Pictured: A local resident walks next to a house destroyed by Russian shelling A local resident walks next to a house destroyed in a Russian shelling in Kramatorsk, Ukraine - Andriy Andriyenko/AP 03:24 PM Putin 'glad foreign companies left Russia' President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he was glad some foreign companies had left Russia because home-grown businesses could take their place, and he warned the West that Moscow would still find ways to acquire advanced technology and luxury goods. Putin has cast the invasion of Ukraine as a turning point in Russian history: a revolt by Moscow against the United States, which he says has humiliated Russia since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union. Ukraine says it is fighting for its survival. Besides the death and horror of war, the conflict and the West's attempt to isolate Russia as punishment have crimped global economic growth and triggered a wave of inflation as the prices of grain, cooking oil, fertiliser and energy soar. Since the war, a host of major foreign investors - ranging from BP to McDonald's Corp - have exited just as the Russian economy faces its worst contraction since the years following the turmoil of the Soviet collapse. 02:23 PM Russian shelling kills four in Ukraine's Kharkiv Four people were killed in fresh Russian shelling of Ukraine's second city Kharkiv, a regional official said today, where many people have returned after Russia's attempts to capture the city were repelled. "The occupiers are again shelling the regional centre," the governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleg Sinegubov, said on Telegram. "According to preliminary information, seven people were injured. Unfortunately, four were killed." "We ask residents of Kharkiv and surroundings to be in shelters," he said. He said information about the shelling was being clarified and did not give details of where the strikes hit. An AFP reporter in Kharkiv said the shelling hit the northern residential district of Pavlove Pole and saw plumes of smoke rising from the area. 02:22 PM Calls for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia to prevent a lengthy war should be "carefully studied", says Tory peer Calls for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia to prevent a lengthy war should be "carefully studied", according to a Conservative former chancellor. Lord Lamont of Lerwick highlighted comments from former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at the World Economic Forum this week, in which he advised Ukraine to allow Russia to keep control of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. The veteran US statesman argued that this could prevent a long protracted war in the region. Lord Lamont told the House of Lords: "Has my noble friend read the speech of Henry Kissinger in Davos, where he advised attendees at the conference not to get swept up in the mood of the moment and suggested that negotiations to end the war had to begin in the next two months and I quote, 'before it creates upheavals and tensions that will not easily be contained'? "And he suggested that the starting point for the negotiations should be the pre-invasion de facto borders. 01:06 PM Russia 'has the advantage' in Luhansk region, Ukraine says A senior Ukrainian military official conceded at a briefing on Thursday that Russia had the upper hand in fighting in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region at present. "Russia has the advantage, but we are doing everything we can," General Oleksiy Gromov said. Gromov also said Ukraine had observed Russia moving Iskander missile systems to Belarus' western Brest region, which Gromov said raised the possibility of new missile strikes on west Ukraine. 01:03 PM Pictured: Soldiers from Royal Welsh Battlegroup take part in maneuvers during Nato exercise Soldiers from Royal Welsh Battlegroup take part in maneuvers during Nato exercise operation Hedgehog on the Estonian Latvian border - Jeff J Mitchell/ Getty Images Europe 12:26 PM War in Donbas at 'maximum intensity', says Ukraine Fighting in the eastern Donbas region of the country has reached its fiercest level yet, Ukraine has said, as Russian forces pushed deeper into the industrial region. "The fighting has reached its maximum intensity," Ganna Malyar, Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister told a press briefing, warning that an "extremely difficult" and "long" period of combat lay ahead. 12:11 PM Battle for Donbas shows Russia has finally got its act together That Russia looks poised to close the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the battle for the northern half of the Donbas should not come as a surprise. The surprise is that it has taken this long for a once-upon-a-superpower to get its act together. Following the unceremonious ejection of his forces from the north of the country, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, tried to convince the world his main objective all along had been the liberation of Russian-speaking people in the Donbas. Few were convinced. Read the full story from Dom Nicholls here 11:28 AM Kremlin blames West for Ukraine grain crisis The Kremlin has said the West only has itself to blame for an escalating food crisis caused by problems getting grain out of Ukraine. Russia's warmongering has driven up the price of grain, cooking oil, fertiliser and energy, while leaders around the globe have accused Putin of holding the world to ransom by blockading Ukraine's ports. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the West was to blame for the situation as he called on the US to scrap what he described as "illegal" sanctions. He said: We categorically reject these accusations and, on the contrary, accuse western countries that they have taken a number of illegal actions that led to this. They [the West] must cancel those illegal decisions that prevent the chartering of ships, that prevent the export of grain, and so on. 11:05 AM Zelensky says Kissinger is living in 1938 as he savages calls to give up Ukrainian territory Volodymyr Zelensky has crushed calls for Ukraine to cede some of its territory to Russia, comparing it to the appeasement of Adolf Hitler in the run-up to the Second World War. In his daily address to the nation late on Wednesday, Mr Zelensky pushed back against increasing calls for Ukraine to seek peace with the Kremlin while resigning itself to letting Russia rule the territory it has captured. It comes after Henry Kissinger, the veteran US statesman, told world leaders gathered in Davos that the West should push Ukraine into making concessions to Vladimir Putin, warning that humiliating Russia could have disastrous consequences for the long-term stability of Europe. Read the full story from Nataliya Vasilyeva here 10:30 AM Russia: Western reporters will be expelled if YouTube blocks foreign ministry briefings Western reporters will be expelled from Russia if YouTube blocks the country's foreign ministry briefings, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said. Maria Zakharova, a spokesman, said the foreign ministry had warned YouTube against blocking her content. "We just came and told them: 'You block another briefing, one journalist or American media outlet goes home,'" TASS news agency quoted her as saying. "Another briefing is blocked and we will name a specific journalist or specific media outlet that will go home." Her comments come days after Russian lawmakers passed a bill giving prosecutors powers to shut foreign media bureaus in Moscow if a Western country has been "unfriendly" to Russian media. The measure is meant to retaliate for the closure of some Russian state news outlets in the West. 10:22 AM Latest MoD intelligence Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 26 May 2022 Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/rE0lcSuRxb #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/QCCDhm8rHj Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) May 26, 2022 10:20 AM Comment: Putin could be about to pull off a shock triumph In Ukraines desperate battle for survival, there has been no shortage of pledges of support from Western leaders who want Vladimir Putin to suffer a catastrophic defeat, writes Con Coughlin. Everything from tanks, heavy artillery, and warplanes to powerful anti-ship missiles have been promised to Kyiv to make sure the Russian president does not achieve his goal of seizing control of his southern neighbour. Yet, with the conflict now entering its fourth month, Ukrainian commanders have good reason to ask themselves why, for all the fine words from Western leaders, they now find themselves desperately short of firepower. Read the full story from Con Coughlin here 10:18 AM Pictured: A boy plays in front of houses ruined by shelling in Borodyanka, Ukraine, A boy plays in front of houses ruined by shelling in Borodyanka, Ukraine - Natacha Pisarenko/ AP 10:15 AM I got a crash course in surviving the Donbas If you can hear that noise, its already gone over your head. And if it makes this falling noise, it means its three seconds to impact. Relax. Put your arms out. Breathe. This unsolicited lecture on the sounds of battle came from a soldier about half my height, who had judged from the looks on our faces that we needed reassurance. We were, to be fair, visibly nervous. The sound of heavy shelling is a constant backdrop to life in Donbas at the moment. But over the past week, it has become louder and closer. You can literally hear Ukraines defences creaking under the pressure of the Russian offensive. Read the full piece from Roland Oliphant and Joe Barnes here 10:13 AM Putin can't dictate peace in war he 'won't win', says Scholz Vladimir Putin will not be allowed to dictate peace in a war that he "will not win" in Ukraine, Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor said today. Putin has "already failed in all his strategic aims", the German leader told the World Economic Forum in Davos. Russia's plan to capture all of Ukraine is "further away today than it was at the beginning" of its invasion on February 24 as Ukraine put up an impressive defence. Putin "underestimated" the "resolve and strength" of allies in countering his aggression in Ukraine, said Scholz, noting that Moscow has also now pushed Finland and Sweden to join the NATO defence alliance. "Our goal is crystal clear - Putin must not win this war. And I am convinced that he will not win it," said the German chancellor. 10:12 AM Truss accuses Putin of trying to 'hold the world to ransom' Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, has accused Vladimir Putin of seeking to "hold the world to ransom" through Russia's blockade of Ukrainian grain exports. Speaking during a visit to Bosnia Herzegovina, Ms Truss rejected a demand by the Russian president for the lifting of international sanctions on his country in return for allowing exports to resume through the Black Sea port of Odesa. "It is completely appalling that Putin is trying to hold the world to ransom. He is essentially weaponising hunger and lack of food among the poorest people around the world. We simply cannot allow this to happen," she said. "Putin needs to remove the blockade on Ukrainian grain. We will do all with our allies and partners to get the grain out of Ukraine and supply the rest of world. "What we cannot have is any lifting of sanctions, any appeasement, which will simply make Putin stronger in the longer term." 05:31 AM Russia's VDV failures reflect 'strategic mismanagement' The misemployment of Russias airborne forces the VDV - in Ukraine shows how Vladimir Putin's significant investment in the armed forces over the past 15 years has "resulted in an unbalanced overall force", the UK's Ministry of Defence said. The VDV has been heavily involved in several notable tactical failures since the start of Russias invasion, including the attempted advance on Kyiv via Hostomel Airfield in March, the stalled progress on the Izium axis since April, and the recent failed and costly crossings of the Siverskyi Donets River. The 45,000-strong VDV is mostly comprised of professional contract soldiers, with its members enjoying elite status and attracting additional pay. "The VDV has been employed on missions better suited to heavier armoured infantry and has sustained heavy casualties during the campaign," the ministry said. "Its mixed performance likely reflects a strategic mismanagement of this capability and Russias failure to secure air superiority." Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 26 May 2022 Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/rE0lcSuRxb #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/QCCDhm8rHj Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) May 26, 2022 05:17 AM G7 scrambles to keep climate agenda on track amid Ukraine war Ministers from around the world are set to wrangle over how to keep climate change goals on track as they meet in Berlin on Thursday for talks amid spiralling energy costs and fuel supply concerns sparked by the war. Energy, climate and environment ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) countries want to reaffirm a commitment to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius and protect biodiversity at the May 25-27 meeting. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has triggered a scramble among some countries to buy more non-Russian fossil fuels and burn coal to cut their reliance on Russian supplies, raising fears the energy crisis triggered by the war could undermine efforts to fight climate change. Campaigners urged the ministers of the G7 to make clear commitments that the fallout of the Ukraine war would not derail their targets. "We have a new reality now. The G7 need to respond to that, and they should respond through renewables, and not through fossil fuel infrastructure," David Ryfisch, climate policy expert at non-profit Germanwatch, said. 02:55 AM Five civilians killed, 12 injured in Donbas shelling Russian forces have shelled more than 40 towns in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, killing five civilians and injuring 12, Ukraine's military said. The bombardment threatens to shut off the last main escape route for civilians trapped in the path of the invasion, which continues into its fourth month. Russia has poured thousands of troops into the Donbas region, attacking from three sides in an attempt to encircle Ukrainian forces holding out in the city of Sievierodonetsk and its twin Lysychansk. "The occupiers shelled more than 40 towns in Donetsk and Luhansk region, destroying or damaging 47 civilian sites, including 38 homes and a school," the Joint Task Force of Ukraine's armed forces said on Facebook. The statement said 10 enemy attacks were repelled, four tanks and four drones destroyed, and 62 "enemy soldiers" were killed. A woman walks past a destroyed administration building in the city of Bakhmut in the eastern Ukranian region of Donbas - AFP 01:51 AM Battle for Donbas shows Russia has finally got its act together Russia looking poised to close the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the battle for the northern half of the Donbas should not come as a surprise. The surprise is that it has taken this long for a once-upon-a-superpower to get its act together. Following the unceremonious ejection of his forces from the north of the country, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, tried to convince the world his main objective all along had been the liberation of Russian-speaking people in the Donbas. Few were convinced. Read the full story here A young boy sits in front of a damaged building after a strike in Kramatorsk in the eastern Ukranian region of Donbas - AFP 01:17 AM Hundreds of families get answers on fate of loved ones The International Committee of the Red Cross has been able to give answers to 300 families in Russia and Ukraine about the fate of their loved ones. ICRC Director-General Robert Mardini said the organisation's work trying to determine the fate of missing persons was "very much on track". He did not disclose the fate of the Russians and Ukrainians, but said their families had provided "very concrete questions about their loved ones". Progress has also been made on the right of the ICRC to visit prisoners of war, which is part of the Geneva conventions. "There is agreement on both sides ... which is good news," Mr Mardini said. 12:33 AM Liz Truss: Vladimir Putin must be defeated, not appeased Liz Truss will on Thursday warn against appeasing Vladimir Putin and tell Western allies there can be no backsliding in ensuring Russia is defeated in its war against Ukraine. The Foreign Secretary will demand more weapons for Kyiv and more sanctions against Moscow in a speech to Bosnia and Herzegovina armed forces in Sarajevos Army Hall. Russias aggression cannot be appeased. It must be met with strength, Ms Truss will say. We must not allow a prolonged and increasingly painful conflict to develop in Ukraine. Read the full story here The Foreign Secretary will demand more weapons for Kyiv and more sanctions against Moscow - Shutterstock 12:29 AM Fighting outside Severodonetsk 'very difficult' Lugansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday described the fighting outside of the industrial city of Severodonetsk, a key military goal for Russia, as "very difficult," as Russian troops shelled the city from the outskirts with mortars. "The coming week will be decisive," Mr Gaiday said in a video posted on Telegram. He said he believes Russia's goal is to "capture the Lugansk region no matter what cost". "There is a colossal amount of shelling," he added. Dmytro Mosur, 32, who lost his wife during shelling in nearby Severodonetsk on May 17, holds his two-year-old twin daughters as they wait to be evacuated from the city of Lysychansk, eastern Ukraine - AFP 12:20 AM Today's top stories In this article: ROMAN PETRENKO THURSDAY, 26 MAY 2022, 15:45 On 26 May, Ukrainian air defence forces shot down a Russian missile over Sumy. Source: Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, head of the Sumy Oblast State Administration, on Telegram Quote from Zhyvytskyi: "At noon our air defence forces shot down an enemy missile over Sumy!" Background: The Russian occupiers fired on Kharkiv; 4 people are known to have been killed. ROMAN PETRENKO - THURSDAY, 26 MAY 2022, 09:28 The regrouping of Russian troops in the Kherson region and in the occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, as well as the construction of an additional defence line indicate Russia's intention to gain a foothold in these territories. Source: Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of the Central Ukrainian Intelligence Agency, on Crimea.Realities Quote from Skribitskyi: "In Kherson Oblast, in the occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, we see a strengthening of their position through the movement of troops from the territory of the Crimean Peninsula. And this is a transit from the Russian Federation. Accordingly, we see what a powerful deployment of troops Russia is making in the occupied territories of southern Ukraine. We see that since the beginning of May, the occupying forces have begun to strengthen their defences. Appropriate engineering structures are being prepared: not one, not two, but now the third line of defence is being built. It is these military aspects and military indicators that indicate Russia's intention to seize and hold these territories." North Salinas High School Japanese teacher Cameron Chien reads 'Our American Stories Volume 2,' a book composed partly by his students. How can we begin to change the world around us? How can we begin creating an understanding of each other when acts of racism are happening every day? A North Salinas High School teacher and his students discovered these questions can be answered by telling their stories. The book "Our American Stories: Volume 2" was published by North Salinas, Alisal and Everett Alvarez high school students. In the all-Japanese language collection of stories, students recount the stories of their families' immigration experiences. The book shares photos and stories of local families of all backgrounds. North Salinas High School student Carl Sabado points to his family photos featured in a new book written by him and other local high school students. Strength in numbers NSHS junior Carl Sabado wrote the story of the financial disparity his family experienced after coming from the Philippines. I saw the difference between families with more money and those who didnt have any, like mine, Sabado said. When I was growing up, we didnt have the things other people did. I didnt even want my friends to know how I was living, so I never let them come over." Ximena Vega, another student in the NSHS Japanese class, held a photo of her parents as she recounted their journey from Mexico to the United States. Her mother was eventually able to work and get a college education. Vega says her father, a former farmworker, didn't make the journey without some harrowing incidents, including an escape from immigration officials. "He just started running and he went into a strangers back yard. There was a little boy there, she said. They didnt know each other at all but the little boy allowed him to hide in there with him until the police left. Thanks to that little boy, he became a citizen and was able to have me and my mom and my siblings. North Salinas High School student Ximena Vega holds a photo of her parents as she tells the story of their journey from Mexico to the United States. For Vega, the best part was hearing similar stories from fellow students, like that of Arturo Ordaz Gutierrez. Gutierrez says his parents also immigrated from Mexico at a young age. They didnt know the language. They didnt know where to go or what to do, he said. I know Im very lucky to be born here in the United States because a lot of people that go through so much just to provide for their families. Story continues The students said that stories like theirs are not always talked about, but they are taking steps toward understanding adversity. A book like this is really important right now because this really shows what different families have to go through to get where they are now, Gutierrez said. North Salinas High School student Arturo Ordaz Gutierrez holds the 'Our American Stories (Volume 2)' book which includes his account of his parents' journey to the United States. True stories come to light In 2018, former NSHS Japanese teacher Yo Azama and his students published the first volume of "American Stories" to detail the experiences of Japanese Immigrants on the Central Coast. In the book, Azama wrote: In the midst of challenging political times, our true stories can get lost in debates. Following the release of the first book, Azama was awarded a Civic Innovation Grant by the Monterey County Office of Education and the Dan and Lilian King Foundation. This allowed for a new book and to expand the project to include stories from students and teachers at other high schools in the Salinas Union High School district. NSHS Japanese teacher Cameron Chien says the objective of the book is to teach Salinas students lessons that go beyond the classroom, such as empathy, kindness and building a sense of community and understanding. Their book actually means something. Their words are powerful, Chien says. I hope with this, they can see that they inspire others because what theyre doing here is not only for themselves. Chien says students learned that Salinas had once been used as a stopping point before Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps during World War II. Teacher Cameron Chien instructs students in his Japanese class at North Salinas High School. Today, Chien and his students reflect on the spike in racially motivated hate crimes across the country, including the recent mass shootings of Black community members in Buffalo, New York, and a Taiwanese Church in Southern California. We wrote this book beforehand, but it made us think even more that this is one of the reasons we should put our students and families voices out there, Chien says. If we can start seeing through other peoples lenses, we can hopefully cut down on these unnecessary tragedies." The book is sold on Amazon and accessible to everyone. For more details or to purchase the book, click here. This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Salinas students publish 'Our American Stories: Volume 2' Story at a glance The San Diego City Council passed a resolution declaring it a safe city for reproductive freedom and access to abortion. California has been doubling down on its commitment to abortion access ever since a draft opinion was leaked and showed the Supreme Court is poised to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he would work to enshrine the right to choose in the California constitution. San Francisco is doubling down on its commitment to abortion care, with its city council announcing a resolution declaring San Diego a safe city for reproductive freedom and access to abortion. In a unanimous vote by San Diego City Councilmembers, a resolution was passed affirming the citys commitment to safe and legal abortion access even if the 1973 ruling on Roe v Wade is overturned. The resolution cites San Diegos responsibility as the second-largest city in California to serve as a model and commit to support and defend the right to reproductive freedom and safe access to abortion services. The resolution also noted that if the Supreme Court does overturn Roe v. Wade, as many as 26 states may move to ban abortion entirely. There are 13 states with trigger laws in place that will immediately take effect if Roe is struck down. No matter what happens with the Supreme Court ruling, no matter who you are or where you come from, no matter the color of your skin or your socioeconomic status, I want everyone to know that you are welcome in the City of San Diego to exercise your reproductive rights, said San Diego City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn in a statement. I want all San Diegans who are scared and frustrated about this potential ruling to know that you have members of this city council and a mayor that have your back, and we will not back down. America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. Abortion access was thrust into the national spotlight after a majority draft opinion from the Supreme Court was leaked in early May by Politico. It showed the court was poised to overturn Roe v. Wade which protects the federal right to an abortion. Story continues According to the San Diego City Council, its the first city to adopt such a resolution declaring a city safe for reproductive freedom and access to abortion. California has been doubling down on its support of abortion access. Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors was considering voting in support of legislation that would establish a reproductive health pilot program where patients have safe access to abortions, regardless of their residency. On the heels of the Supreme Court draft opinion leak, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) said he would work with state senators to enshrine the right to choose in the California constitution. Other cities and states have made similar commitments in wake of the courts leaked opinion. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) held a press conference to address abortion access in his state saying let me be clear, no matter what atrocious opinion the Supreme Court officially rolls out this summer in regards to Roe v Wade, abortion is safe and legal in Illinois. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) reiterated a similar sentiment saying As mayor, I have one message to anyone worried about access to abortion careChicagos doors are open. We unequivocally respect you and your choices. Connecticut legislators also approved a bill that expands abortion rights and care in the state, while also preventing state and local agencies from cooperating in investigations and prosecutions of abortion providers in the state, as well as preventing an out-of-state patients medical records from being disclosed. READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA THE LEGAL AGES FOR BUYING A GUN IN THE US MAYE MUSK FEATURED ON SI SWIMSUIT COVER AT 74 GOP STATE SENATOR IN NEW JERSEY INTRODUCES DONT SAY GAY BILL MARVEL INTRODUCES NEW TRANSGENDER SUPERHEROES KENTUCKY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ASKED TO WRITE LETTERS TO IMAGINARY FRIEND STRUGGLING WITH HOMOSEXUALITY For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Many experts believe school safety begins with school wellness, but in Pennsylvania, one counselor to every 250 students is the standard ratio for addressing mental health inside of the classroom. Counselors we spoke with say that simply isnt good enough. Woodland Hills School District has roughly 3,500 students that come from 12 different municipalities. We have two guidance counselors in a school of almost 1,000 kids, said Dawn Golden, the Director of Pupil Personnel Services at Woodland Hills School District. Its overwhelming, said Golden. In Woodland Hills School District, there are two counselors for the high school, one for the middle school, and none across their elementary schools which means addressing mental health can be a challenge. Theyre the first responders, almost, for our students, said Golden. Despite the critical role guidance counselors play in enhancing school safety and student wellness, in Woodland Hills there just isnt enough support. Plain and simple, they are needed and more of them are needed, actually, said Golden. Woodland Hills School District isnt alone in Pennsylvania. More than 50% of schools do not meet the standard of one counselor to 250 students. In the Clarion Area School District, there are three counselors for the entire district. In our communities, mental health outside of school is very difficult to access, said Rosary Pennington, the school counselor for Clarion Area High School. Counselors are tasked with developing career, education plans, scheduling and mental health services; and when tragedies strike, they must be ready. We have a lot of students that are experiencing homelessness, we have a lot of students that have food insecurity, and we have a lot of students that are in foster care, said Golden. The counselor who spoke with Channel 11 News said to be ready, there must be a bigger investment made to provide more support for students mental health. Your metal detectors could help in that sense, but having relationships is priceless, said Pennington. Story continues The Biden administration recently addressed this concern by introducing a historic investment proposal of $1 billion to fund more school counselors, nurses, social workers and other health professionals. This money, if approved, would be available for the 2023 fiscal year. TRENDING NOW: Texas school shooting live updates: All victims were in same classroom Lockdown lifted at 4 Pittsburgh Public Schools after reports of shots fired near Westinghouse 6-12 Police, EMS on scene for incident in Smith Township VIDEO: Target 11 warning shoppers after more skimming devices are discovered DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts In April 2022, KCRA 3 took a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border to track the current status of immigration and how its impacting California. Along the southern border, we encountered both pain and hope from families seeking refuge in the United States. The journey isnt the same for everyone. In KCRA 3s latest documentary Seeking Refuge: Hope on Hold, our team uncovers who is waiting at the border, what theyre seeking and the differences in how their cases are being treated. A United States senator who has taken more than $1m in donations from the National Rifle Association ran into a locked door as he tried to dodge gun control questions. Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, has received $1,269,486 from the gun rights group, according to the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Mr Johnson was asked about gun control by a CNN reporter the day after 19 students and two teachers were killed in a massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. The elected official stayed silent and tried tunsuccessfully to get into an office on Capitol Hill as he was questioned by CNN. The NRA itself has called the mass shooting the act of a lone, deranged criminal. The gun rights group, who is often blamed by critics for standing in the way of meaningful legislation, released a statement on the shooting on Wednesday. Our deepest sympathies are with the families and victims involved in this horrific and evil crime. On behalf of our members, we salute the courage of school officials, first responders and others who offered their support and services. And the group added: Although an investigation is underway and facts are still emerging, we recognize this was the act of a lone, deranged criminal. CNNs @mkraju asks @SenRonJohnson about expanding background checks on firearms following shooting in Uvalde. Johnson does not answer. (Via @CNN) pic.twitter.com/1YHmTYJxU6 Victor Jacobo (@victorjacobo_) May 25, 2022 Donald Trump, Texas governor Greg Abbott and other leading Republican officials are due too appear at the Annual Leadership Forum in Houston this week. Story continues But members will not be allowed to carry guns during the one-term presidents address on Friday, and the NRA says the event is going ahead despite the massacre. As we gather in Houston, we will reflect on these events, pray for the victims, recognise our patriotic members, and pledge to redouble our commitment to making our schools secure. A gunman massacred 19 elementary students and two adults after storming inside a school in Uvalde with an AR-15 assault rifle on Tuesday after first shooting his grandmother. Police say that Ramos had bought two AR-15 style assault weapons for his 18th birthday from a local store. The ATF says Ramos legally bought two riles on 17 May and 20 May. One of the rifles was left in the suspects crashed truck, while the other, a Daniel Defense, was found with him in the school. He bought 375 rounds of 5.56 ammunition on 18 May. A group of GOP senators on Thursday sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to express their concern about the proposed acquisition of Forbes by an entity they say is linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In the letter, the senators urged Yellen to investigate Hong Kong-based Magnum Opus Acquisition Limiteds acquisition of the company, citing Chinas deliberately vague patchwork of intelligence, national security, and cybersecurity laws that they said compel companies to support and cooperate with the governments intelligence work. Not only is Magnum Opus domiciled within the jurisdiction of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but the seed money for Magnum Opus came directly from Chinas sovereign wealth fund, the Chinese Investment Corporation (CIC), they wrote. The senators alleged that the CCP has a clear intent to wield the Forbes brand and quoted a proxy statement from Magnum Opus saying if it acquires the company, Forbes could be subject to oversight and discretion of [Peoples Republic of China] governmental authorities, which could seek to intervene or influence its business operations at any time that the government deems appropriate to further their regulatory, political, and societal goals. The letter was signed by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas.). Forbes is a recognizable American brand with immense propaganda value to the CCP. Additionally, the CCPs direction of Forbes editorial content and business operations, or its access to Forbes financial and personal research, could present a serious national security threat to the United States, the senators wrote in their letter. As members of the Intelligence, Judiciary, Banking, and Finance Committees, we view proposed transactions like this one as a compelling reason for increased oversight of the CCPs predatory economic behavior in American markets, the senators added. We urge you to take the necessary steps to thoroughly review the circumstances and potential consequences of this deal. Magnum Opus and Forbes announced in August that they had entered into a merger agreement, through which Forbes would become a public company. The companies said at the time that they expected the deal to close in late 2021 or early 2022. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. After a teenager wielding an assault-style rifle stormed Parklands Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in 2018 in the states worst school massacre, parents, pundits and politicians pilloried the police response. A Broward Sheriffs school resource officer was charged criminally for failing to enter the freshman building to try and stop the gunman. A state commission found some officers acted heroically, others did not, and the scene was marred by confusion, poor training and even defective radios. Fast-forward to this week, and the same questions are being raised after parents at the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, accused first responders of failing to quickly enter Robb Elementary, where gunman Salvador Ramos also armed with a powerful AR-15-style weapon barricaded himself inside a classroom. He was ultimately shot dead about an hour later, authorities say, but not before murdering 19 children and two teachers on Tuesday. Even though police officers around the nation have been increasingly trained on how to respond to active shooters, the Uvalde case as with the Parkland massacre nevertheless underscores the challenges first-responding cops face when confronting a heavily armed gunman in confined spaces. Law-enforcement experts say concerns about the police response are legitimate, although its too early to definitively pass judgment on whether officers acted appropriately. We dont have all the information yet. And when we get all the information, it will be better than what the officers had at the time, said Pete Blair, the executive director of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University. The school massacre, yet another mass shooting in the United States, has sparked uproar among the public, reignited long-standing calls for gun control and again focused attention on how police officers respond to active shooters. The scrutiny was not lost on former BSO Deputy Scot Peterson, who is facing a September trial on accusations he failed to intervene in the Parkland massacre, the worst school shooting in Florida history. Peterson has long maintained he acted appropriately. On Wednesday, he forwarded a news story about criticism of police to his defense attorney, Mark Eiglarsh. Story continues Most law enforcement officers are dedicated and well-intended, doing the best they can with the limited information they have while encountering the most extreme and stressful of situations, Eiglarsh said. The court of public opinion is unfortunately so quick to judge and assess blame to responding officers who are operating with the best of intentions on behalf of the public that they serve. What we know about the shooting and response Precise details on how officers in Uvalde responded remain fuzzy. Police have said the first report of an armed gunman crashing a truck and approaching the single-story brick school came in around 11:30 a.m. Authorities initially said a police officer tried to stop him from getting into the school. But on Thursday, a Texas safety department official said Ramos walked from the crash site, jumped a campus fence and fired shots at the building before entering the school unobstructed at 11:40 a.m., through an apparently unlocked door. Police first attempted to enter the school at 11:44 a.m., Victor Escalon, regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety South, told reporters on Thursday. But they were pushed back by gunfire and were forced to take cover, he said. Ramos then barricaded himself by locking the door and just started shooting children and teachers that were inside that classroom, a safety department spokesman told CNN. It just shows you the complete evil of the shooter. Officers evacuated students and staffers from other parts of the school as they scrambled to call in reinforcements, Escalon said. About an hour after the gunman entered, according to Escalon, a heavily armed Border Patrol tactical team shot him dead. Escalon said the gunman was in the school for about an hour. What happened in that window will undoubtedly be dissected in the months to come. Parents in the small town near San Antonio told The Associated Press that they quickly gathered outside the building and angrily urged gathered officers to enter. One father who lived across the street and whose daughter was killed described the scene to the AP. There were more of them, Juan Carranza said of officers. There was just one of him. A woman cries as she leaves the Uvalde Civic Center on May 24, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas where 19 students and two teachers were killed in a mass shooting at a South Texas elementary school. The 18-year-old gunman also died. Gathering more information Since the Columbine school shooting in 1999, law enforcement agencies largely changed policies, training officers to actively engage shooters. Still, experts say, there may have been reasons to wait for a heavily armed tactical unit. Blair, of Texas State University, said officers are taught that if a gunman has barricaded himself and the shooting has stopped waiting for backup might be the right call. Thats what happened at Texas Santa Fe High school, where a gunman killed 10 people in 2018 before barricading himself, allowing officers to talk him into surrendering, Blair said. But Blair cautioned that the timeline and details in the Uvalde shooting are unclear, and officers may well have needed to enter the building earlier. If its active gunfire, its not really a barricaded subject, Blair said. Also, if there are cornered people in the room and they are wounded, it takes longer to get to them for treatment. Dave Magnusson, a retired Miami police major and former chief at El Portal police, said initial reports of a wait between 40 minutes and an hour are nevertheless hard to swallow. Thats an awful long time. There may have been difficulty getting into the classroom, but you have to think of something. Something has to be done, he said. Escalon, the Texas safety department official, said on Thursday that the majority of the gunfire was in the beginning but some came later to keep officers at bay. He added that the gunman did not respond to attempts to negotiate. Pressed on whether officers should have gone in sooner, Escalon said investigators will be interviewing officers and reviewing surveillance video. I dont have enough information to answer that question, Escalon said. Blair also said it remains unclear whether there were indeed officers inside, and the cops being harangued by parents were simply staging. He said that mass shootings often lead to an over-convergence of officers, dubbed a blue tsunami, and on-scene commanders may have been trying to create a more effective, measured response. Every cop who is in radio range rushes to the scene to try and help, Blair said. There comes a point where the first set of officers are in, and more officers just rushing into the building is not helping things. It can actually create problems. The scrutiny on police response has been agonizingly familiar for relatives of the victims in the Parkland massacre. Ryan Petty, whose 14-year-old daughter Alaina was murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, tweeted that reports on the response to Robb Elementary makes Parkland response look like a well-oiled special ops mission. In an interview, Petty said Texas officials need to explain the timeline quickly. In Parkland, we learned the shooter was only in the school for six minutes. Six minutes is an eternity, said Petty, who is now a school safety activist and Florida state education board member. Why was [the Uvalde shooter] inside for 40 to 60 minutes? Why did it take a team from the Border Patrol to engage him. These questions need to be answered, very quickly. These families deserve answers. By Ryan Woo and Stella Qiu BEIJING (Reuters) -Pandemic-hit Shanghai, China's financial hub, unveiled more post-lockdown plans on Thursday as it moves towards a return to normalcy, but a nationwide economic recovery is still a distance away, heightening a sense of urgency for more support. China's biggest city by economic output has suffered from the lockdown imposed in early April. Other cities not under lockdown but still hemmed in by COVID curbs, including Beijing, have also struggled, with the highly transmissible Omicron provoking stronger responses from health authorities this year. With the government refusing to loosen its zero tolerance stance on COVID, factories and businesses have been bruised by disruptions caused by lockdowns, endless mass testing and mobility restrictions on vast swathes of the population. Shanghai is set to finally emerge from its lockdown on June 1 after new infections fell sharply. The mega-city of 25 million people has been cautiously allowing more of its population to venture out and putting more vehicles back onto its once busy streets and boulevards. City officials said on Thursday that students in junior and senior high school could return to offline classes from June 6, following word earlier in the week that shopping malls and department stores would be allowed to reopen, although in batches, from June 1. ECONOMIC WOES As the focus turns to recovery, Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday offered a grim view of the world's second-biggest economy, saying the difficulties it faces in some aspects were even greater than in 2020, when China was first hit by the COVID-19 outbreak. Many private-sector economists expect gross domestic product to contract in April-June from a year earlier versus the first quarter's 4.8% growth. China will strive to achieve "reasonable" GDP growth in the second quarter, Li told thousands of government officials across the country in an online conference. Story continues "The unusual meeting caps an increasingly urgent series of official pronouncements in recent days attempting to resolve the economic disruption caused by the wave of COVID-19 lockdowns," research group Gavekal Dragonomics wrote in a note on Thursday. "The urgent high-level focus on stabilising growth opens the door for more aggressive stimulus measures to be deployed in coming weeks." Underlining the tension between economic and COVID policies and the sensitivity surrounding their discussion, social media sharing of state television reports on Li's teleconference was intermittently blocked on China's heavily policed internet. Some online groups on China's popular WeChat mobile app also forbade the sharing of unverified transcripts - audio or written - from the conference as well as discussion about the event, fearing suspension of their accounts. BUSINESS CONFIDENCE "Macroeconomic confidence in China has now deteriorated to the point where what is required is not a loosening around the edges of these broad policy priorities, but wholesale policy U-turns," said JPMorgan in a commentary. The central bank said on Thursday it would promote more credit for smaller firms and urged financial institutions to prioritise lending to central and western regions, as well as areas and sectors hammered by COVID outbreaks. The finance ministry also said on Thursday it would offer subsidies to Chinese airlines from May 21 to July 20 to help them weather the coronavirus-induced downturn and higher oil prices. Domestic air traffic has plummeted because of lockdowns in Shanghai and surrounding cities. Shanghai-based China Eastern said passenger numbers sank 90.7% in April from a year earlier. Overall air passenger traffic last month plunged nearly 85% year-on-year, and stood at barely 15% of its pre-COVID level in 2019, China's aviation regulator said on Thursday. Offering a glimmer of hope, the China Passenger Car Association said on Thursday that national vehicle sales rose 34% in the first three weeks of May compared with the corresponding period in April. But, with measures to control COVID outbreaks depressing incomes, the sales volume was still 16% lower than 12 months earlier, the industry association cautioned. Road freight transportation and express delivery from distribution centres last week were both stronger than a month earlier but still down sharply on the year, Nomura Global Economics said. "As long as China does not relax its COVID policy, any other policy measures are of little value right now," said an automotive fastener factory owner surnamed Zheng in the eastern province of Zhejiang. "Everybody has little confidence or enthusiasm to invest now." (Reporting by Ryan Woo, Stella Qiu, Winni Zhou, Yan Zhang, Ellen Zhang and Brenda Goh; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Gareth Jones) NEW YORK (AP) Phillipa Soo says she noticed a change in the audience immediately. News had just dropped of the Supreme Courts leaked draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, and there was a different vibe coming from the audience at Suffs, in which the former Hamilton star plays an early 20th-century suffragist. Some audience members at the Public Theater seemed to be clearly feeling a link, she says, between two struggles 100 years apart over a womans vote, and over womens reproductive rights. Theres a difference in how people were hearing this play, says Soo, who plays real-life labor lawyer and activist Inez Milholland in the musical. She describes audience members literally reaching their hands up in solidarity with what were saying in the same week that all of this stuff was happening in the news surrounding abortion and bodily autonomy. Suffs creator and star Shaina Taub had the same feeling that Tuesday in early May. That afternoon, Taub had led many of her cast members in song How Long, a cry for liberty at a lower Manhattan rally reacting to the Supreme Court leak. Taub told the crowd how the scene, with protesters and their giant banners, looked strikingly like a suffrage rally a century earlier. I wanted to write a play that was there for us on days like that, Taub says. It was one of many impactful moments the cast recalls of an eventful, emotional run that began in April with huge buzz and advance sales, then was sorely challenged by COVID-19, forcing some 20 canceled shows including opening night itself. Extended three times, the run now closes May 29, and there are certainly hopes of a renewed life elsewhere. I think the show should live on and give as many people as possible the opportunity to see it, says director Leigh Silverman, asked if there were hopes of a Broadway transfer. Thats my hope for it. In interviews, the cast and creatives of Suffs, which covers the final years leading to passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, recalled an emotional visit from Gloria Steinem, two nights after the feminist icons 88th birthday (the cast serenaded her). And another emotional one from Hillary Clinton, who had pointedly worn the suffragists color of white to accept the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016. (She also wore it to the inauguration of her rival, Donald Trump.) Story continues My only regret is she wasnt there in her capacity as president, Taub says of the woman who would have cracked the ultimate glass ceiling. But she adds: At the end of the show we sing Dont forget our failure. Dont forget our fight. Who will make it?... The next one will. Taub stars as Alice Paul, a fiercely determined leader who not only waged hunger strikes and endured brutal forced feedings in jail to achieve suffrage, but immediately afterward started work on a proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing women equal rights under the law whats now called the Equal Rights Amendment (and still isnt law). But Taub, like most people, had never learned in school about Paul and her cohorts. In college at New York University, Taub studied earlier social movements but not the women who changed history in the early 20th century. When she read Jailed for Freedom by suffragist Doris Stevens, Taub thought: These women could be a musical. She dove down a research rabbit hole for several years, poring over footnotes and bibliographies searching for breadcrumbs. It was perhaps inevitable that the show, birthed on the same off-Broadway stage as the juggernaut Hamilton, would become known as sort of a female version a Hermilton, as some dubbed it. Quite frankly, Im thrilled, Soo says of the comparison, because its another example of how art can get people excited about history, about being a citizen, about being involved in democracy. But the task was different. Hamilton, about the nation's founding fathers, "took a story that we knew or thought we knew, and flipped it, director Silverman says. (With) our show there was nothing to flip because nobody knows anything. And so we had a very different kind of responsibility and also challenge. Telling the story isn't easy. The suffrage movement was full of competing characters and clashing leadership styles. And it lasted roughly a century (Suffs comes in for the final decade or so.) Jenn Colella, a Tony nominee from Come From Away, plays Carrie Chapman Catt, an old-guard suffragist who was challenged by the much younger Paul. She, too, says she came into the show a complete blank slate. I felt a little embarrassed, having not known any of these womens names, she says. A dinner with Silverman, who explained the goals of the musical, moved her to tears. She was sold: This feels like exactly where Im supposed to be in my life, in my career, the kinds of shows I want to align myself with. Tears were also Colellas response when she first heard her costar, Nikki M. James, sing the powerful Wait My Turn as Ida B. Wells, the Black journalist and activist who fought for racial and gender justice. The song, an emotional highpoint of the show, is a biting response to how Black suffragists were sidelined by their white counterparts. Colella calls it that moment where every piece of your flesh stands on end and you know something important is happening. James, a Tony winner for The Book of Mormon, notes that despite the density of the play, it still can only touch on five or six main characters: Theres hundreds more where they came from." James recalls how throughout its development, Suffs was impacted by events in the outside world. The protests over George Floyds murder by police prompted Taub to add more of a racial dimension. And when the Supreme Court draft leaked that would overturn Roe, which guarantees abortion rights nationwide, James says it felt like some of Taubs lyrics had been written for that very moment. That night, she says, I walked on stage and I had an inability to be an actor. I felt tears streaming down my face, because the work is never over. As the run draws to a close, the cast of about 20 and comprised solely of female and non-binary actors has been enjoying the interplay with audience members who approach them after the show saying they want to learn more. You know, weve opened a lot of doors and left a lot of breadcrumbs, Soo says, noting that younger women in particular express gratitude to cast members for telling a story theyd never heard. And so now everyones just like, Wait a minute. I didnt know that. Well, what now?' Soo says. 'How do I keep going? A resident of Uvalde, Texas tells Fox News Digital that police officers were on the scene and in the building the "entire time" attempting to subdue alleged school shooter Salvador Ramos as questions arise over how long it took law enforcement to neutralize the shooter. "I know my brother says they were inside the building the entire time," Patricia Chapa, who says her brother is a police officer in Uvalde, said. "They just never had him at the right angle. He had them in the wrong spot." Chapa added, "They were in there, they were in the hallway, they just couldnt get in there fast enough. But, they also couldnt just rush in there like people think that it was so easy for them just to run in." Questions have surfaced regarding the timeline of events during Tuesdays shooting, which left 19 children and 2 faculty members dead , after Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said on Wednesday that the gunman could have been in the school for 40 minutes to an hour before being shot and killed by law enforcement. TEXAS SCHOOL SHOOTING: LIVE UPDATES A department spokesman said later that they could not give a solid estimate of how long the gunman was in the school or when he was killed. "Go in there! Go in there!" A woman standing outside the school shouted at police officers after shots rang out. The officers had allegedly surrounded the area and were keeping people away from the crime scene, according to witnesses. UVALDE MOTHER LIVING NEAR SCHOOL SHARES TEACHER'S HEROIC ACTIONS DURING ROBB ELEMENTARY SHOOTING Javier Cazares, whose daughter was killed in the shooting, was also standing outside and suggested a group of civilians "rush in because the cops arent doing anything like they are supposed to. More could have been done. They were unprepared." Officials say the shooter "encountered" a school district security officer outside the school, though there were conflicting reports from authorities on whether the men exchanged gunfire. Story continues The Austin American-Statesman reported on Thursday that authorities have confirmed they are examining the timeline of the police response to the active shooter situation amid questions about conflicting witness statements. A local resident holds a placard that reads Prayers 4 Uvalde as they grieve for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 25, 2022. CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images The Texas Department of Public Safety, who is leading the investigation into the shooting, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News. Fox News Brie Stimson contributed to this report Jesus Mazariegoss family didnt know what happened to him the day he was robbed, beaten and taken via ambulance to the hospital where he died a few days later. On the morning of April 25, the 70-year-old's adult son dropped him off at the bakery where he worked on Indianapolis northwest side. Mazariegos normally took the bus home from work and would call his son if he was running late. The mans son arrived at their apartment complex off North Mission Drive that evening. Mazariegos wasnt home and his phone was going to voicemail. The son drove to his fathers workplace and was told by the manager that Mazariegos left work at 4:30 p.m. Previous coverage: Suspect arrested in connection with robbery and killing of 70-year-old man in April More news: Man who fatally shot wife after red flag seizure convicted of voluntary manslaughter Mazariegos son began calling area hospitals and discovered his father was an unidentified patient. By the time his son arrived at the hospital, Mazariegos was unconscious. Hospital staff gave the son a bag with clothing and other property, but Mazariegos phone and wallet were missing. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police say Mazariegos was robbed and beaten outside his apartment complex. He died four days later April 29 from his injuries suffered in the assault. Joshua Dye, 30, was arrested Monday and charged with robbery and felony murder in connection with Mazariegos death. Dye was also charged with the robbery of a separate person 25 minutes after and one-tenth of a mile away from where Mazariegos was robbed, according to a probable cause affidavit for Dyes arrest. A witness said she saw the end of the robbery of Mazariegos. She told investigators she saw a man violently shaking Mazariegos before he fell to the ground. Mazariegos was left brain dead and had blunt force injuries, fractured ribs and internal bleeding after the attack, according to investigators. The Marion County Coroners Office determined Mazariegos cause of death was possible physical assault resulting in blunt force injuries. Story continues Originally from Guatemala, Mazariegos spent 20 years in Indianapolis. He was trying to escape poverty and follow his American dream, said his son Jesus Alberto Chan. Tracking down a murder suspect The robbery of Mazariegos was not captured on the apartment complexs security cameras, but shortly before the assault the cameras captured a man parking a blue Subaru Outback on the property, then walking toward where Mazariegos was found injured, according to investigators. The man returned to the vehicle and appeared to be examining a wallet while wearing a dark ski mask. Investigators learned a second man was robbed shortly after Mazariegos. The second victim was walking in a field behind a laundromat on High school Road. Detectives discovered a blue Subaru Outback was parked in front of the laundromat moments before the robbery. In security footage, detectives saw a woman, who the vehicle is registered under, go inside the laundromat, with a man identified as Dye. Dye was wearing the same clothing as the man who robbed Mazariegos, according to the probable cause affidavit. More news: Lawrence North freshman R'Mon Rowley was 'loved by all that knew him' More: Speedway businesses hopeful after Indianapolis 500 roars back to full capacity Dye is seen in surveillance video handling what appeared to be a ski mask then running to the rear of the laundromat and into the field where the second robbery took place, according to police. The second person robbed told police he was walking back to the laundromat to finish his laundry after leaving to go to another store when a man approached, struck him in the face, and stole his wallet. On Monday, the blue Subaru Outback was located by an investigator at a motel on Indianapolis west side. Dye as well as the owner of the vehicle were both detained. During an interview with detectives, the owner of the Subaru told police Dye robbed a man at an apartment complex on North Mission Drive and another man near the laundromat. Dye also allegedly told investigators he was involved in the two robberies using the blue Subaru Outback as transportation, according to investigators. Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Man was unidentified and unconscious after fatal Indianapolis robbery MADRID (AP) The Spanish government will tighten judicial control over the countrys intelligence agency, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Thursday, weeks after the agency admitted it had spied on several pro-independence supporters in the region of Catalonia with judicial authorization. The countrys National Intelligence Center, or CNI, has been under fire since April, after Canada-based digital rights group Citizen Lab alleged that the phones of more than 60 Catalan politicians, lawyers and activists had been hacked with controversial spyware. The CNI later acknowledged in a closed-door meeting with Spanish lawmakers that it had hacked into the cellphones of some of these politicians. On Thursday Sanchez announced plans to overhaul the 2002 law that sets out judicial control of the intelligence agency. Its aimed at strengthening the guarantees of this control, while also ensuring maximum respect for the individual and political rights of people, he told parliament. His government would also seek to replace the current law on official secrets, which dates back to 1968 when the country was still under the dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco. Its imperative to adapt regulations to democratic and constitutional principles, Sanchez added. The extent of the spying scandal widened earlier this month after the government revealed that an external power infected the cellphones of Sanchez, the prime minister, and Defense Minister Margarita Robles with Pegasus spyware last year. It later emerged that the phone of Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the head of Spains police and border control agencies, was also infected with the spyware around the same time. The announcement of legislative reform comes weeks after the Spanish government fired the director of the intelligence agency, Paz Esteban, in what opposition politicians labelled as an effort to temper anger among Catalan separatist parties on which the Socialist-led minority government often relies on for parliamentary support. TOKYO (AP) Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa asked for urgent international help on Thursday as his country suffers from a financial crisis. We are presently undergoing a severe economic crisis that has profoundly impacted the lives of all Sri Lankans, resulting in social unrest, Rajapaksa said in a video message to an international conference in Tokyo. We urgently require the assistance of our friends in the international community" to ensure that our immediate needs such as medicine and food supply are met, he said. For months, Sri Lankans have been enduring shortages of necessities because of the country's lack of foreign currency to pay for imports. The government has halted repayments of its foreign debt. The economic crisis has fueled political turmoil, with protesters demanding Rajapaksas resignation. Attacks on peaceful protesters by government supporters triggered countrywide riots in which nine people died, including a lawmaker, and 200 were hurt. Homes and properties of government ministers and their supporters were burned. The crisis has nearly dismantled Rajapaksa's family dynasty after his brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, resigned as prime minister. In his comments at the The Future of Asia conference organized by Nikkei Inc., the president blamed the economic crisis on the virtual shutdown of Sri Lanka's tourism industry and a sharp decline in money repatriated by overseas Sri Lankan workers because of the pandemic, and rising world inflation. He said other nations could also be affected the long-tail effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporting such vulnerable nations through these difficulties is essential for regional as well as global stability, he said. A memorial honors the victims of the May 14 mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, N.Y. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) A grocery store. A church. An elementary school. Again. Within 10 days this month, mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., Laguna Woods, and Uvalde, Texas, have claimed dozens of lives, shattered families and communities, and put people around the U.S. on edge. As of Wednesday, there have been 213 mass shootings in the U.S. this year, according to Gun Violence Archive , a nonprofit that tracks data on gun-related violence. Mass shootings are defined as incidents in which four or more people are shot. According to FBI data , between 2000 and 2019, 2,851 people died in 333 U.S. active-shooter incidents, defined as an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a conned and populated area. Of the more than 45,000 firearm deaths in the U.S. in 2020, nearly 54% were suicides, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 42%, or about 19,300, were homicides. Determining how many homicides were the result of mass shootings or active-shooter incidents depends on how the deaths are counted. The FBI puts the total at 38 people killed in active-shooter incidents in 2020, and 103 in 2019. Using the Gun Violence Archive mass-shooting definition, Pew Research Center reported, the 2020 total was 513 people killed. Either way, "fatalities in mass shooting incidents in the U.S. account for a small fraction of all gun murders that occur nationwide each year," Pew says on its website. So although mass shootings are much rarer than other forms of gun violence, they are once again occupying the news and our fears. Experts stress that being prepared and conscious of your surroundings is key if you find yourself in an active-shooter situation. In any public space, said Brian Rauchbach, people should be aware of the "baseline" of behavior. Rauchbach is the owner and head trainer at Elite Training Center in Redondo Beach, which teaches several forms of mixed martial arts, as well as active-shooter self-defense courses. Story continues Baseline behavior means seeing how people around you walk, talk and act. People who are engaged in making plans to do harm to other people will stand outside of that baseline because they do different things. They dress differently, they look differently, they start to engage with people differently, Rauchbach said. And as soon as they start to enact their plans or start walking through their plans, they definitely stand out. The 'run, hide, fight' model The U.S. Department of Homeland Security suggests using the "run, hide, fight" model if you ever find yourself in a mass shooting. Rauchbach told The Times last year about his active-shooter and self-defense courses. The classes take a view into the possibility of engaging active shooters and what that means both mentally and physically for somebody who's a civilian, he said. Katie Toney, manager at Elite Training Center, emphasized the importance of active-shooter training for everyday people. Basic citizens are the first line of defense, Toney said. So they kind of have to have some general idea what to do before law enforcement arrives. Training on the run, hide, fight method is commonplace in some workplaces and schools, but what does it really mean? Run If you find yourself in a situation where there is gunfire, your natural reaction may be to freeze. Its how long you take to thaw out and start to move thats important, Rauchbach said. Your main focus should be on putting as much distance between yourself and the shooter as possible, said Matthew Johnson, director of training at Cohen Security, a San Diego firm that provides security services and trainings on active-shooting situations. In other words, run away. It's very difficult to hit a moving target, Rauchbach said. Either if you're aggressing or you're moving away from something, or you're attacking, you still go from a position to a position, and those positions tend not to be in straight lines. While running, its important to make yourself a difficult target. That means keeping low, moving quickly and keeping quiet. You may want to scream, Rauchbach said, but that can draw attention. Hide If you can't get away, Johnson said, the next step would be to put as many obstacles or barriers in between yourself and the shooter. Rauchbach said there are two options for hiding: concealment and cover. Doors, shelves and desks are forms of concealment. Theyll hide you from a shooter's line of sight, but they wont stop a bullet. Things like brick walls, concrete pillars and solid steel provide the cover needed to stop bullets, but structures like that arent always available. Thats when Rauchbach said to combine steps one and two run from cover to concealment and vice versa until you reach safety. Fight If all else fails, you may end up having to fight. Any number of objects around you canned food in a grocery store, books or computers in a classroom or office can be used defensively. Johnson says the specific object you use to defend yourself isnt what matters, but the dedication to making the decision to fight. We're talking about literally fighting for your life right here, so anything can become a defensible weapon, doesn't matter if it's a book, a chair, Johnson said. When people think fight and a weapon, it doesn't necessarily have to be a knife or a firearm. It can just be something, anything that you can turn into a weapon and can be used to help defend your life. Once you've decided to fight, Rauchbach said, its much more effective to coordinate an attack with other people. The main goal of an attack should be to disarm and destroy the target. If the shooter has a handgun, Rauchbach said, focus on attacking the limb thats in control of the firearm. In the case of long guns, such as an AR-15, gain control of the firearm by redirecting the barrel first. Then take down the shooter. What else you should know Run, hide, fight isn't an exact science. Its always up to the individual judgment at the scene at the time, so it's not like if A plus B equals C, then you need to run, and then there's B plus C equals D, then you need to fight that, Johnson said. That's the general guidelines, but each individual needs to determine for themself." In reality, there isn't time in some of those rare mass shootings to recognize what's happening, as in the case of the six-minute Aurora, Colo., movie theater shooting in 2012. Still, education, preparation and training play a part in improving your safety, as well as your frame of mind, according to Rauchbach. The most important aspect of all of this is mindset, Rauchbach said. People focus on the physicality side of it a lot, but the mindset side is truly everything. You're not going to engage correctly if you don't have the proper mindset. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan authorities raided ten Chinese companies suspected of illegally poaching chip engineers and other tech talent this week, the island's Investigation Bureau said on Thursday, the latest crackdown on Chinese firms to protect its chip supremacy. Home to chipmaker giant TSMC and accounting for the majority of the world's most advanced semiconductor manufacturing capacity, Taiwan has ramped up a campaign to counter illegal poaching by Chinese companies in what the island sees as a threat to its chip expertise. The bureau said it raided 10 Chinese companies or their R&D centers which operate in Taiwan without approval earlier this week. It said nearly 70 people have been summoned for questioning in a joint crackdown across several cities including the capital Taipei and the island's semiconductor hub, Hsinchu. "The illegal poaching of Taiwan's high-tech talent by Chinese companies has badly impacted our international competitiveness and endangered our national security," the bureau said in a statement. It said technology is vital to Taiwan's security and urged people to "stay high on alert" for such Chinese activities. The bureau did not name the companies currently being investigated, adding they included integrated circuit design firms and electronics parts makers. China's Taiwan Affairs Office has not responded to Reuters' requests for comment on the issue. The Investigation Bureau has launched investigations into around 100 Chinese companies suspected of illegally poaching technology talents, a senior bureau official told Reuters last month. China's scramble for chip engineering talent has intensified amid Beijing's goal of achieving self-reliance in advanced chips, especially after a trade war with the former Trump administration in the United States. Taiwanese law prohibits Chinese investment in some parts of the semiconductor supply chain, including chip design, and requires reviews for other areas such as chip packaging, making it very difficult for Chinese chip companies to operate on the island legally. In March, the bureau raided eight Chinese companies aimed at countering what it said was "the Chinese Communist Party's illegal activities of talent-poaching and secret-stealing". (Reporting By Yimou Lee. Editing by Jane Merriman) May 25Chris Brochu lives for projects that speak to him. When the script for "Zero Contact" fell on his lap, it was one he wanted to pursue. That was in 2020 during the pandemic and when the film industry was on a hiatus. Luckily, "Zero Contact" was written for the cast to film in seclusion. "It felt like an experiment," Brochu says. "The director turned it into something I couldn't have fathomed and it reinforces that the payoff is big when you take chances." "Zero Contact" is a high-tech thriller that reimagines our isolated, virtual world. Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins plays Finley Hart, the eccentric genius behind a global data-mining program. Upon his death, five remote agents including Finley's son, Sam, played by Brochu are contacted by a mysterious artificial intelligence entity to reactivate the initiative, which may enable time travel. As sinister events occur at each of the agents' homes, they must decide whether entering their passwords will save the world or destroy it. The film is out in select theaters across the country, as well as on demand on digital platforms. Brochu says the entire project exceeds the dream and playing Sam was a good challenge. "Sam is a bit of a loner," he says. "He grew up in a very privileged environment financially. His father wasn't around and his mom died a birth. He tends to be quiet and thoughtful. He's very observant." Brochu says though the cast didn't film together, everything happened organically. "The film shot quickly and (director) Rick (Dugdale) wanted to release it during lock down," Brochu says. "As we were filming, the performances were pretty amazing. Each actor had to be hair, makeup and lighting. It was fascinating to be on that side of filmmaking. My wife helped me with her iPhone so I could film. The assistant director would be on a Zoom call with us and going over lines. It was an experience like no other." Story continues Brochu moved to Taos just before the pandemic and has become part of the community. When he's not acting, he will perform gigs around Taos. "I can't wait to get back to Taos," he says. "We're in Los Angeles right now because of the fires. Luckily, nothing has been lost and we're hoping that the communities can recover as soon as possible. It's devastating." Brochu is no stranger to New Mexico-filmed projects. He starred in the TV movie, "Truth Be Told" in 2011 and Disney Channel's hit movie, "Lemonade Mouth." "I've always been drawn to the mountains," he says. "I can't believe it's been that long since I started working in New Mexico. Now I'm living there and I love it." On demand Taos resident Chris Brochu starts in "Zero Contact," which is available on demand beginning Friday, May 27. Kansas City man accused of kidnapping woman from Ward Parkway home, raping her at gunpoint A jury found a Kansas City teen guilty in the 2020 shooting of another teen over $20 worth of marijuana at a Riverside park, according to a news release from the Platte County Prosecutors Office. The jury, after a seven day trial, found Jay Palmer, who is now 17 years old, guilty of second-degree assault, stealing and two counts of armed criminal action. Palmer, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, was certified to stand trial as an adult. He faces between 14 and 26 years in prison based on the jurys sentencing recommendations, according to the prosecutors office. This is one of far too many recent cases where young people have been shot and seriously injured or killed over small amounts of marijuana, Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said in a news release. Its a miracle this victim lived, but its a tragedy that any normal life for her was cut short over $20 of marijuana. On Dec. 30, 2020, Palmer arranged to buy $20 of marijuana from the victim, who was 17 years old at the time, at Homestead Park in Riverside, according to the the news release. During the transaction, the two had a disagreement over the method of payment. When the victim tried to get the marijuana back, Palmer shot her in the head. Several callers to 911 told dispatchers they heard gunshots and saw a girl lying in a pool of blood. They also saw a sedan driving away at a high speed. The victim was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. Detectives spotted the vehicle the next day and followed it to a Northland apartment where Palmer lived with a relative. Police found the victims blood inside and outside the car. A bloody shirt belonging to Palmer was found in a laundry basket inside his apartment. The victim remains partially paralyzed and blind in one eye. She also can only communicate using one or two-word sentences, according to the prosecutors office. At trial, Palmer claimed the victim attacked him and the gun accidentally went off after he pulled it out to get her to back up, according to the prosecutors office. Sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 15. A Texas deputy showed a group of students photos of AR-15 rifles at an elementary school the day after 19 children and two teachers were killed at a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. A Tarrant County Sheriffs deputy was speaking with kids at a career day at Daggett Elementary in Fort Worth Wednesday when a student asked him what types of firearms his vest protected against, according to a statement from the Tarrant County Sheriffs Office. The deputy then began pulling up images on Google of AR-15 rifles that were displayed an overhead screen. The rifles photos were not a planned part of the deputys presentation and considering the events of this week in Uvalde, it was insensitive and a profound momentary lack of judgment, said the office of Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn. The officer also used inert training spray to demonstrate how law enforcement utilizes pepper spray. Officers use the inert spray to practice self-defense techniques without accidentally harming themselves or others, according to the statement. Sheriff Wayborn takes full responsibility for this incident and apologizes for the concern that has been caused by what happened, the statement said. We strive to keep the public informed about the training our deputies go through, but recognize the presentation was not the best representation for the elementary class. The principal of Daggett Elementary, Kendall Miller, sent a statement to parents about the presentation, denouncing it as insensitive, not suitable and not condoned, according to NBC. Please know we are taking this incident very seriously and are working internally with staff to prevent this from occurring again, Miller wrote. I sincerely apologize for the situation. Officials say the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on Tuesday was carried out by 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos, who bought the two AR-platform rifles used in the massacre days after his 18th birthday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Two days after the deadliest school shooting in Texas, the public is asking law enforcement: why didnt you act sooner to save the lives of young students and their teachers? Shooter Salvador Ramos barricaded himself by locking the door and just started shooting children and teachers that were inside that classroom, Lt. Christopher Olivarez of the Department of Public Safety told CNN. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said Wednesday that it took 40 minutes to an hour from when the gunman opened fire on a school security officer to when a U.S. Border Patrol team shot him, the Associated Press reported. Meanwhile, onlookers were urging police officers to charge into the school. Go in there! Go in there! women shouted at the officers soon after the attack began, according to the AP report. Javier Cazares, whose fourth grade daughter Jacklyn Cazares was killed in the attack, told AP that him and other parents pressed police to move in. A lot of us were arguing with the police, You all need to go in there. You all need to do your jobs. Their response was, We cant do our jobs because you guys are interfering, Cazares said. The Star-Telegram spoke with several Texas police departments to find out what their active shooter protocol is, and whether it differs from how law enforcement acted at Robb Elementary School. What does active shooter police training look like in Texas? The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University, the largest provider of active shooter response training in the country, trains police departments across Texas. While theres not a standard protocol mandated by the state of Texas, ALERRT has been recognized by the FBI as the national standard in response training. ALERRT has trained more than 180,000 police officers across the country from more than 9,000 police agencies. ALERRT trains police officers to respond to active shooter events in two phases: the first is stop the killing and the second is stop the dying. Story continues In the first phase, when a gunman starts shooting victims, police officers are taught to distract, isolate and neutralize the shooter so that no one else gets hurt. If there are signs that theres active violence going on, then officers then proceed to the place where the violence is happening to try to confront the attacker and stop the attack, said Pete Blair, ALERRT executive director. If theres active killing going on, then containing is not the strategy. Blair said sometimes active shooter incidents can turn into hostage situations, where the gunman sequesters in a room with victims and temporarily stops shooting. In those instances, patrol officers are trained to wait out the hostage standoff. If there arent people being killed, then you can negotiate, you can play for time to get the SWAT team there with their negotiators and their specialists to go and deal with the bad guy if thats whats required, Blair said. The decision for police officers comes down to whether they will push or hold. Push means they go into the room and confront the gunman. Hold means they stay outside the room, try to communicate with the shooter and call a SWAT team. The things that theyre assessing when theyre doing that include, Am I hearing active violence? Well, if Im hearing people being killed, then its no longer a hold situation, its a push situation, Blair said. If there are people that I think are in the room that have been injured that I know that the more time it takes to get that person out into definitive care, the higher the likelihood theyre going to die, that can also create a push versus a hold type situation. In the second phase, after the active shooting has stopped, victims who have been injured are given immediate medical care at the scene or rushed to a hospital. Blair said one possible explanation for officers waiting outside is that there were enough police dealing with the situation inside while others were assigned different tasks. Just having 50 officers standing outside that room isnt going to help, he said. Theres a point after that first wave of officers goes in that just sending more officers in the building does not help you. Its creating more problems than its solving. DPS spokesperson Olivarez said that authorities were still working to clarify the timeline of the attack and whether the classroom was, in fact, locked or barricaded in some way, according to AP. Texas Rangers announced Thursday that they will be conducting a review of how police responded to the tragic incident. In the current case, we dont know what information the officers had. We just dont know enough, Blair said. Until you know the full context of what happened and what the officers knew at the time, its difficult to make judgments about what the officers should have done. What do Texas Police Departments do in active shooter events? Texas police departments said that, while circumstances might differ in active shooter situations, their focus is always to act as quickly as possible to save lives. Dallas Police Department spokesperson Kristin Lowman told the Star-Telegram: In any in-progress life threatening situation, which would include an active shooter, all sworn Dallas Police personnel are trained to immediately enter and address the threat. DPDs response to an active shooter, where any delay will result in death or serious injury, is to quickly and aggressively employ law enforcement resources, Lowman said. The threat can be addressed through the use of deadly force. Each response is different, as each call or incident is not alike, Lowman added. El Paso police sergeant Enrique Carrillo says, In an active shooter situation, standard practice is to make entry, search for, close with, and immediately stop the shooter(s). If there is a shooter actively shooting, stop the shooter. There may be situations such as locked or barricaded doors that may delay entry. But absent of that, entry should be made immediately to engage and stop the shooter(s). Fort Worth police officer Jimmy Pollozani said It is the responsibility of the Fort Worth Police Department to respond, contain, and stop active shooter threats and to administer aid to any victims once any threat is neutralized. Further, it is the practice of this department, based on current industry standards and national best practices, to allow initial responding officers the authority and responsibility to take immediate action to contain or neutralize active shooter incidents. In addition, active shooter incidents are dangerous, uncertain, and quickly changing. Preservation of life is the immediate priority. Lubbock Police Department spokesperson Kasie Whitley told the Star-Telegram: Our response based off the following priorities: Stop the suspect or threat, rescue victims, provide medical care, and preserve the crime scene. Whitley said the department trains regularly to continue refining officers skills in order to best respond to an emergency situation. The City of Lubbock will be holding an active shooter training on Monday, June 6, to ensure that not just the police department, but the city as a whole is communicating and coordinating for an emergency event, should we ever be faced with a heartbreaking scenario like Uvalde just saw. She added that the city incorporates a whole-community approach to emergency planning and exercises for all hazards they may face. The home in Uvalde, Texas, where the suspected gunman was living with his grandparents after a falling-out with his mother. (Jordan Vonderhaar / Getty Images) Salvador Ramos appeared to be spiraling. In the weeks before the 18-year-old left a Texas classroom littered with bodies in one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history, Ramos stopped showing up at his high school, lost his job, began posting troubling images to social media and started to collect weapons, according to interviews, published reports and law enforcement documents reviewed by The Times. Eduardo Trinidad, whose son attended Uvalde High School with Ramos, said the young man had minimal contact with other people his age and often dressed entirely in black. In a moment that now seems like grim foreshadowing, Trinidad said he'd warned his son to avoid Ramos. "As I told my son, those are the kids you need to be careful around, because you never know," Trinidad said. One week before Ramos shot 19 elementary school children and two teachers to death, he legally purchased an AR-15 rifle, according to a summary of a law enforcement briefings reviewed by The Times. He bought 375 rounds of ammunition for the rifle the next day, and purchased a second AR-15 two days after that, according to the summary. Under Texas law, there is no waiting period between buying a firearm and picking it up, nor is there a waiting period between firearms purchases. Weapons do not have to be registered. Rifles and shotguns can be purchased by anyone once they turn 18, though Ramos would have been subject to a background check at the time of purchase. Ramos bought the weapons shortly after his 18th birthday, satisfying a long-held fascination with firearms, a friend of Ramos told the Washington Post. About a year ago, Ramos had posted pictures to Instagram of rifles "he would have on his wish list," according to the report. Other images archived from Ramos' now-deleted social media profiles show the teen dressed in all dark clothing with his face twisted into a frown, framed by long, dark hair. Ramos had a falling-out with his mother, according to published reports, and had moved in with his grandparents earlier this year. Story continues He'd stopped showing up to his job at a Wendy's restaurant about two weeks before the shooting, according to an employee who declined to give their name Wednesday. The employee also described Ramos as a "loner" and said the youth was virtually friendless. Trinidad said Ramos was upset that he was not going to graduate from Uvalde High School this year. A school district spokesperson was not immediately able to discuss Ramos' enrollment status. Ramos' frustrations with school started after he was bullied over a speech impediment, a cousin told the Post. He also sometimes drove around shooting at people with a BB gun, according to the newspaper. Despite Ramos' concerning and antisocial behavior, Texas officials said there was no sign Ramos had been planning to carry out Tuesday's massacre. In a series of private Facebook messages sent less than 30 minutes before the attack, Ramos said he had shot his grandmother and was going to open fire at an elementary school, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said. Ramos' grandmother, 66-year-old Celia M. Gonzales, suffered a gunshot wound to the face and was still undergoing surgery Wednesday, according to her husband, Rolando Reyes. In a brief interview with The Times, Rolando Reyes said he and his grandson would speak daily and that the teen had shown no signs that he was in turmoil. I didn't know about any guns," Reyes said as he walked past police tape to his car on Diaz Street in Uvalde. I'm so sorry. I feel terrible for those who lost children," he continued. "They were innocent." Ramos' grandmother had worked at Robb Elementary School, leaving in 2020, but law enforcement officials have not said whether he targeted the school because of her prior employment there. Abbott said Ramos had "no history of mental health care" or criminal record. Hennessy-Fiske reported from Uvalde, Texas. Winton and Queally reported from Los Angeles. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Police walk near Robb Elementary School following Tuesday's shooting. AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills Rolando Reyes, the grandfather of the Texas school shooter, has spoken out. Reyes said he did not know his grandson was in possession of two AR-15 rifles. "I'm against all that," Reyes said during an interview with ABC News. The grandfather of the gunman behind Tuesday's mass shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, has spoken out about his grandson. In a video interview, Rolando Reyes, 72, told ABC's Matt Gutman that he did not know his grandson had recently bought two AR-15 rifles. "I don't like weapons. I cannot be around weapons," Reyes told the outlet. "I hate when I see all the news, all those people that get shot. I'm against all that." Reyes, who has a criminal record and is not allowed to have a weapon at home, said of his grandson: "I didn't know he had weapons or nothing." "If I would've known, I would've reported him," he told ABC. Separately, Reyes told The New York Post that he despises weapons. When asked by The Post if he thought his grandson had planned the shooting, Reyes said he did not know. "I can't say whether he was planning to do this or not," Reyes said, per the outlet. "That's a question that's going to haunt me for the rest of my life." Reyes said that his grandson spent a lot of time in his room and did not go to school. "It still hasn't sunk in," Reyes said of the incident. His wife, the gunman's grandmother, was also shot and critically injured on Tuesday. Authorities revealed on Wednesday that the gunman had purchased two guns right after his 18th birthday. The gunman also wrote in Facebook messages that he would shoot his grandmother and attack an elementary school moments before the shooting began. The mass shooting at the school has left at least 21 people, including 19 children, dead. The gunman was killed at the scene by law enforcement officers. Read the original article on Insider The Uvalde shooting is a cascade of tragic stories. One of those stories is that of Jailah Silguero, 10, a fourth-grader who wanted to stay home from class on Tuesday. With only two days left in the school year, Jailah's mother did the responsible thing that any mother would do and insisted her daughter go to school. She could not possibly have known that her daughter would not come home that day. Jailah's grandmother, Linda Gonzales, spoke with The Daily Beast, telling her that she "didn't want to go to school yesterday." "That's what her momma was really upset about last night: 'If only I had let her stay home,'" she said. Ms Gonzales said the girl was "disappointed" and "wanted to stay home with momma." Late on Tuesday evening Veronica Luevanos, Jailah's mother, learned her daughter had been among the 19 fourth-graders killed earlier that day. Jailah's cousin, Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, was also killed. The attack on Tuesday only added to the deep pain that family was already feeling; just a week prior, a memorial was held for Ms Luevanos' father, who had recently died. Her father was in Mexico, so they were unable to see him before he passed. I told Veronica last night, Just look at it as your daddy taking your baby with him," Ms Gonzales said. She said the children were "sweet kids and lovable." I dont have words," she said. "We think this is a small community, it cant happen here, but oh my God, its happening anywhere. Ms Gonzales said on the day of the shooting that Ms Luevanos' phone had died while they were waiting outside the school and the Uvalde civic centre for updates. She said they did not realise that the students who had been killed were still in the school. They didnt realize there were dead children in the school, Ms Gonzales said. They kept telling them: go to [the] hospital or go to the civic center. Nobody was told theres dead kids in there. Nobody. Story continues The family will likely forever carry the pain of that day with them. One of Ms Gonzales's nephews, a sheriff's deputy, was one of the responders to the shooting. He was forced to go home because his clothes had been drenched with blood. He picked up some children to lay them in someplace so they could be covered, Ms Gonzales said. Hell never forget the scene. WASHINGTON (AP) Joe Biden, then the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, surveyed the collection of black, military-style rifles on display in the middle of the room as he denounced the sale of guns whose only real function is to kill human beings at a ferocious pace. That was nearly three decades ago, and Congress was on the verge of passing an assault weapons ban. But the law eventually expired, and guns that were once illegal are now readily available, most recently used in the slaughter at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. The tragedy, which came less than two weeks after another mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, has refocused Biden's presidency on one of the greatest political challenges of his career the long fight for gun control. Over the years, Biden has been intimately involved in the movement's most notable successes, such as the 1994 assault weapons ban, and its most troubling disappointments, including the failure to pass new legislation after the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Now his White House, which was already trying to chip away at gun violence through executive orders, is organizing calls with activists and experts to plot a path forward. He understands the history of the issue. He understands how the politics have shifted, said Christian Heyne, vice president of policy at Brady, the gun control advocacy organization. He feels a sense of missed opportunities from the past, and he understands that this is his last chance to have an impact on gun violence in America. Even for a politician known for his passion, Biden's reaction to the latest shooting in Texas has been searing. Wheres the backbone, wheres the courage to stand up to a very powerful lobby? Biden said Wednesday as he called for Congress to pass new laws. Stef Feldman, a deputy assistant to the president, said the cascade of deaths from Buffalo to Uvalde to everyday shootings that don't generate nationwide headlines only increases the urgency of the administration's efforts. Story continues Every story that we hear about individuals lost to gun violence provides more energy, more of a drive to continue the work, she said. "If we can save even one life by pushing a little harder on a creative policy idea, its worth it. But executive action such as Biden's order targeting ghost guns, which are privately made firearms without serial numbers might be the best the White House can do if Republicans in the Senate remain opposed to new restrictions and Democrats are unwilling to circumvent filibusters. More challenges could come in the courts, and even the ghost gun rules may become tied up in litigation. Weve got to be clear, said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. This is the Senates job. Its time for the Senate to actually step up and do something. The first new try fell far short on Thursday. A measure to take up a domestic terrorism bill, which could have opened debate touching on guns, drew just 47 of the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster. It's a far different situation than when Sen. Biden was working on gun legislation years ago. Fears about violent crime helped foster bipartisan compromises, and conservative rhetoric about gun ownership was less extreme. First, Congress passed the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act in 1993, requiring a background check when someone buys a gun from a federally licensed dealer. The measure was named for James Brady, the White House press secretary who was shot and wounded when John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981. Next, Congress approved the assault weapons ban as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act in 1994. The law outlawed specific guns, such as the AR-15, and restricted the type of military-style enhancements that firearms could have. However, the ban contained a sunset provision and it was not renewed in 2004. Although the vast majority of shootings are committed with handguns, military-style semiautomatic rifles are staples of the country's deadliest massacres. One of these weapons was used at Sandy Hook, where 26 people, including 20 children, were killed. The violence shocked the nation, and President Barack Obama asked Biden, then the vice president, to lead a new push for gun control. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., crafted legislation that would have expanded background checks. In a speech less than three months after the shooting, Biden said the excuse that its too politically risky to act is no longer acceptable. He recalled successfully pushing for the assault weapons ban years earlier even though the National Rifle Association warned that he was going to be taking your shotgun away. "That kind of stuff doesn't work anymore," Biden added. But it did work, and the legislation failed in the U.S. Senate. Biden described the vote as a betrayal of families who lost children at Sandy Hook, saying I dont know how anybody who looked them in the eye could have voted the way they did today. Darrell A. H. Miller, a Duke University law professor who is an expert on the Second Amendment, said the political landscape had already changed. Its fair to say that the issue of guns has become even more polarized, he said. And the intensity of gun rights opposition to any kind of gun regulation of any description has become more inflexible. Two years ago, guns became the leading cause of death among children and teenagers, outpacing car crashes. There are roughly 400 million guns in the country, more than one for every person. Military-style weapons are a staple of some Republican campaign advertisements. The reality is, were not keeping up with the pace of the gun lobby to arm citizens," said Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018. Its time to start asking," Guttenberg said, why are Republicans so diametrically opposed to doing whatever it takes to save lives? There have been some successes at the state level, including a recent proliferation of so-called red flag laws, which allow authorities to take guns away from those deemed mentally unstable. But Adam Winkler, a law professor at the University of California in Los Angeles, said those victories haven't matched efforts to loosen restrictions. He noted that some states allow people to carry guns, even concealed, without permits. Thats something that was pretty much unheard of when Joe Biden joined the Senate," he said. When Biden launched his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination, he said he wanted to bring back the assault weapons ban even stronger." And this time, he wrote in a New York Times op-ed in 2019, were going to pair it with a buyback program to get as many assault weapons off our streets as possible as quickly as possible. But there has been no political path forward in the narrowly divided Senate, and Biden's major initial legislative efforts have been focused on coronavirus relief and infrastructure. A few months after taking office, the president bristled when a reporter asked if he was failing to prioritize gun control. Ive never not prioritized this, he said. "No one has worked harder to deal with the violence used by individuals using weapons than I have." On Wednesday, Biden sounded like a president who was preparing one more push to target gun violence. I spent my career, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee and as vice president, working for commonsense gun reforms, he said. These actions weve taken before, they saved lives. And they can do it again. ___ More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings Three men sexually assaulted a kayaker on a Georgia river Monday, May 16, authorities said, as deputies are still trying to track down her attackers. The lone kayaker was floating through the horseshoe section of the Tallapoosa River and nearing a sandbar when the attack happened, according to a news release from the Haralson County Sheriffs Office. The three men attacked the kayaker, who managed to escape but had several injuries, according to the sheriffs office. Deputies said they met the victim at Higgins General Hospital after they were notified of the attack. The sheriffs office is investigating the incident as a sexual battery case. The victim and the Sheriffs Office would like to make sure everyone knows about this incident, to be aware of the possible danger that can occur while being in this type of environment, the sheriffs office said. We know that kayaking and floating the Tallapoosa River is very popular and can be a wonderful, relaxing time for individuals, as well as, for small and large groups. Please be aware that not everyone is there for a positive reason. The sheriffs office advised kayakers to travel in groups to deter potential assailants and notify friends and family of their routes in case something happens. Anyone with information on the assault is asked to contact Investigator Brent Duggins at the Haralson County Sheriffs Office at 770-646-2011. Tallapoosa is about 58 miles west of downtown Atlanta. Two boaters spot body floating in water beside kayak in Tennessee lake, officials say Music festival defends hiring registered sex offender to play in North Carolina. Why? Woman attacked from behind, forced into car during sexual assault attempt, NC cops say 73-year-old accused of sex crimes worked as a substitute teacher in NC, officials say The Elvis team was on hand in Cannes for a little more conversation about Baz Luhrmanns boisterous musical drama but how Tom Hanks landed on his mysterious European-American accent as Colonel Tom Parker in the movie will remain a mystery for now. The Oscar-winning actor received the first question from journalists at the Thursday press conference, and was asked how he prepared for his role as Parker and whether he researched his Dutch background and accent. More from Variety Hanks skirted around any discussion of his accent work, and instead spoke at length about learning more about Elvis notorious manager, who was a delightful guy that could light up every room he came into. Was he a cheap crook that played fast and loose? Yeah, when it comes down to that, but I worked that all out to everyones satisfaction, said Hanks, He was a man who brought joy to everything he did along with a bit of larceny. Elvis marks Luhrmanns first feature directorial effort since 2013s The Great Gatsby, which also world premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Butler stars in the title role opposite Hanks as Elvis infamous manager. While critics have praised Butlers tour de force performance, Hanks extremely thick and at times indecipherable accent for Parker, who was from the Netherlands, has been singled out as one of the movies weaker turns, and some have called Hanks prosthetic nose and padding to resemble the heavy-set Parker distracting. Im not interested in playing a bad guy just for the sake of, Before I kill you Mr. Bond would you like a tour of my installation?' said Hanks to laughs from the assembled media. Thats okay. I get it, but I think thats for other stuff. What Baz tantalized me with right off the bat was, heres a guy who saw the opportunity to manifest a once-in-a-lifetime talent into a cultural force. He sought that and knew that about Elvis the first time he saw Elvis effect on an audienceHe realized that guy was forbidden fruit and you could make an awful lot of money off of forbidden fruit. Story continues The amount of ways that Parker cheated people out of nickels and dimes and dollars is extraordinary, and in my own way Ive incorporated some of that in my own life, joked Hanks. As far as his background, I think no one knew the Colonels background. There are some extraordinary, tabloidy, melodramatic stories about why and how he left Holland. Id like to think, yeah, he was running away from an aspect of his past and escaping his small town, and who among us wouldnt jump at an opportunity to do that very thing? Hanks called Parker a mercurial and brilliant man who at the same time lined his own pockets. Elsewhere, Luhrmann was asked why he made an Elvis Presley biopic through the prism of his relationship with his manager. Im a great admirer when Shakespeare takes a historical figure but explores a larger idea, said Luhrmann, who then referenced the 1984 movie Amadeus. Is it really about Mozart, or is it about the jealousy between Antonio Salieri and Mozart? said Luhrmann. I wanted to take Elvis life and really the respect fans have for that character and the expression in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Its about the show and the business. The snowmen and the showmen. Thats what the big idea really is. But on the way, I researched living in the south and being embraced by Graceland, and I learned about Elvis the person. When you can think one thing about someone and come out the other end [thinking something different]. The Moulin Rouge and Australia director also spoke at length about getting the best review I ever had from Presleys ex-wife Priscilla after she saw a cut of the film. Luhrmann said he showed Priscilla a third or fourth cut of the film much later than I would ever like to happen but no critique, no review, was ever going to mean more to us than the review of the person who was married to Elvis Presley. And I cant tell you how long those two hours were when she went to see that movie. The director said he eventually got a message from Priscilla saying Im sorry it took so long, I had to gather myself. She said, I just wasnt ready for that. Every breath of Austin, every move, the spirit of the person, the humanity, the man, not the icon, not the person that someone thinks they know because they made it up in their head. She said, My husband was here today.' Butler, who had been driving to dinner with Luhrmann when he heard from Priscilla, said the message brought tears to my eyes. There hasnt been a person Ive never met that Ive loved more than Elvis, said Butler. I lived with him for three years, so doing justice to his legacy and making the family proud, I could not be more overjoyed and I feel over the moon about that. The 30-year-old actor, who was cast in the role in 2019, also discussed how he became Elvis for the role, and learned how to balance a straight impersonation with imbuing soul into the character. Its such a tricky thing because when I first started, I put these unrealistic expectations on myself that, somehow, if I worked hard enough I could make my face like his and my eyes like his and you couldnt tell the difference, he said. I realized at a certain point that that becomes like going to wax museum. Whats really important is that his soul comes out. It was finding the balance between getting as specific as I possibly could and that meant endless research I would watch one clip of Hound Dog, and watch one second of where his hand was and what it was doing and do that exactly in the mirror. Added Butler: The tricky thing was being there on the day and having it feel like it was happening for the first time. The reason he moved and spoke in that way, that meant finding his inner being. But then its like spinning plates because you want to go back to the specifics, so it was a constant back and forth. Elvis is one of the biggest titles to screen at Cannes, and its star-studded carpet at the Wednesday world premiere included Sharon Stone, Shakira, Kylie Minogue, Diplo, Jeremy O. Harris and Italian rock band Maneskin, which performed at an exclusive after-party. Warner Bros. is opening Elvis in U.S. theaters on June 24. The film joined Top Gun: Maverick as the two Hollywood tentpoles to world premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. In Varietys largely favorable review of the movie, critic Owen Gleiberman said Luhrmann has made a woefully imperfect but at times arresting drama that builds to something moving and true. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Amber Heard fought back against questions from one of Johnny Depp's attorneys Thursday as she returned to the stand on the final day of testimony in the former spouses' long-running defamation case. Heard first gave rebuttal testimony about the ill effects she says she's suffered since former Depp attorney Adam Waldman made comments about her to British tabloids, allegedly speaking at Depp's behest. Those comments are at the heart of her $100-million defamation countersuit against her ex-husband, who she alleges abused her emotionally, physically and sexually for years. "I am harassed, humiliated, threatened every single day," she said Thursday on the witness stand in Fairfax, Va., getting emotional almost immediately as she directed her answers toward the jury. "Even just walking into this courtroom, sitting here in front of the world, having the worst parts of my life, things that I've lived through, used to humiliate me. "People want to kill me, and they tell me so every day," she continued. "People want to put my baby in the microwave, and they tell me that. Johnny threatened promised, promised me that if I ever left him, he'd make me think of him every day that I lived." Under questioning by her attorney Benjamin Rottenborn, Heard said her hands shake and she wakes up screaming at night. She said friends and intimate partners "have rules" they have to live by to avoid triggering her and setting off a panic attack. "Perhaps it's easy to forget that I'm a human being. ... I don't deserve this," she said. She said that through this case, she hopes to reclaim her "right as an American" to talk about what she says happened to her and to "own" her story and her truth. Spectators at the defamation case between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp look up at monitors in a Virginia courtroom Thursday. (Michael Reynolds / Pool via Associated Press) But on cross-examination, her tearful testimony quickly gave way to anger as Depp attorney Camille Vasquez challenged her, saying in her questions that Heard's lies had been exposed. Asked about testimony given by Morgan Knight, the former owner-manager of the Hicksville Trailer Palace in Joshua Tree, Calif., Heard said, "I'm not quite sure who that guy was or if he has any involvement in this. I know a lot of people have come out of the woodwork." Story continues Knight had given testimony that directly contradicted Heard's allegation that Depp had "trashed" a trailer they stayed in on a night she alleges her ex performed a "cavity search" on her as he hunted for a bag of cocaine. Knight testified that a light fixture had been broken but that no excessive cleaning fee had been charged beyond the $62 to replace matching fixtures. He said he didn't see the damage Heard had alleged. "How would he know? He wasn't there," Heard snapped. "I've heard a lot of people say a lot of things to be involved in the Johnny Depp show. But he wasn't there. He doesn't know." Heard also seemed to lump British model Kate Moss who testified Wednesday via video from England that Depp did not push her down stairs during their relationship in the '90s into the "woodwork" crowd. "I didn't expect her to show up or not show up," Heard said about Moss. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't change what I believed at the time. We were on the stairs, and I thought he was going to kill my sister by pushing her down the stairs." During that 2015 staircase fight, Heard previously testified, Depp allegedly pulled her by the hair with one hand, hit her in the face with a hand that was in a hard cast because of his injured finger, then started to take a swing at her sister, who had entered the fray. Heard said she then hit Depp "square in the face" for the first time in their relationship as she tried to protect her sister. Asked by Vasquez whether she was saying these witnesses were willing to perjure themselves just to "curry favor," Heard said she's seen "time and again" how many people are willing to come out in support of Depp. "That's his power," the actor added. Johnny Depp arrives Thursday in the courtroom where his defamation case is being heard. (Michael Reynolds / Pool via Associated Press) "That's why I wrote the op-ed," Heard said, referring to the 2018 Washington Post article that has had her in the defendant's seat in Depp's $50-million defamation lawsuit. In the article, which doesn't mention the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor by name, Heard referred to herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse," a point Depp is contesting as untrue. The two cases are being tried jointly, with proceedings broadcast and streamed live via Court TV and other outlets. Heard finished her testimony Thursday by answering more questions from her own attorney and saying that what she's suffering from now is "just an echo" of the violence she endured during her relationship with Depp. With both sides having finished presenting evidence, Judge Penney Azcarate dismissed the jury early. The attorneys and judge then began hammering out the details of jury instructions. Closing arguments limited to two hours for each side begin at 6 a.m. Pacific on Friday, after which the jury will be given its instructions. The judge told jurors they will begin deliberations Friday afternoon. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. (Bloomberg) -- Former President Donald Trump must testify under oath in New Yorks well founded probe of his company, a state appeals court ruled. Most Read from Bloomberg The appellate panel in Manhattan on Thursday upheld a lower-court ruling from February, rejecting Trumps argument that New York Attorney General Letitia James opened the investigation because shes politically biased. James, who is probing potentially fraudulent asset valuations at the Manhattan-based Trump Organization, only started the probe after Trumps former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen testified to Congress in 2019 that the company had issued fraudulent financial statements, the appeals court said. This sequence of events suggests that the investigation was lawfully initiated at its outset and well founded, the court held. The ruling, the latest of several recent setbacks for Trump in the case, could still be appealed to New Yorks highest court in Albany. The decision applies to the depositions of Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump, who were originally supposed to be questioned in June. Trump was held in contempt of court in April for failing to comply with Jamess subpoena for his records and paid a $110,000 fine. Once again, the courts have ruled that Donald Trump must comply with our lawful investigation into his financial dealings, James said in a statement. We will continue to follow the facts of this case and ensure that no one can evade the law. The appellate panel also rejected Trumps argument that testifying in the states civil probe would put him and his children at risk in a related criminal investigation into the company by the Manhattan district attorney. Story continues The existence of a criminal investigation does not preclude civil discovery of related facts, at which a party may exercise the privilege against self-incrimination, the court held. The Trumps lawyer, Alina Habba, declined to comment. The appeals court didnt buy the Trumps claim that James, who promised to investigate Trump while she was campaigning, would abuse civil subpoenas to gather evidence for an ongoing criminal investigation by the Manhattan district attorneys office. The political campaign and other public statements made by James about the Trumps do not support the claim that she is using the subpoenas in this civil investigation to obtain testimony solely for use in a criminal proceeding, the appeals court said. (Updates with detail from the ruling) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian President Kais Saied issued on Wednesday a decree to call voters to a referendum on a new constitution on July 25, the official gazette said, ignoring the opposition's calls to reverse the controversial move. Saied last week named law professor Sadok Belaid to head an advisory committee that included law and political science deans, to draft a new constitution for a "new republic," excluding political parties from restructuring the political system. The main political parties have said they will boycott the unilateral restructuring of politics. The powerful UGTT union also refused to take part in a limited dialog proposed by the president as he rewrites the constitution. The union said it would hold a national strike at state firms and public services. Belaid said earlier on Wednesday he would go ahead with whomever participates in the panel after prominent academics refused to join it, raising fears the restructuring of the political system would not have a broad consensus. The only question on the referendum will be: "Do you agree the new constitution?" the gazette said. The gazette added that polling will start at 6 a.m. and end at 10 p.m. on July 25. Saied, who took executive power and dissolved parliament to rule by decree, has since said he will replace the democratic 2014 constitution with a new constitution via referendum and hold new parliamentary elections in December. The president's opponents accuse him of a coup that has undermined the democratic gains of the 2011 revolution that triggered the Arab spring, but he says his moves were legal and needed to save Tunisia from a prolonged political crisis. (Reporting By Tarek Amara and Lilian Wagdy; Editing by Chris Reese) By Orhan Coskun ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey is in negotiations with Russia and Ukraine to open a corridor via the Bosphorus for grain exports from Ukraine, a senior Turkish official told Reuters on Thursday. Ukraine's Black Sea ports have been blocked since Russia invaded in February and more than 20 million tonnes of grain are stuck in silos there. Russia and Ukraine account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies and the lack of exports from Ukraine is contributing to a growing global food crisis. "Turkey is negotiating with both Russia and Ukraine for the export of grains from Ukraine," the official said, requesting anonymity because the talks were confidential. "With a corridor to be opened from Turkey, there was a demand for this grain to reach their targeted markets. Negotiations are still ongoing," the person added. President Tayyip Erdogan's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko was quoted as saying on Wednesday that Moscow was ready to provide a corridor for vessels carrying food in return for lifting of some Western sanctions. Turkey neighbours Ukraine and Russia on the Black Sea and has good relations with both, even as it has condemned the invasion. Separately, two other people familiar with the matter also confirmed discussions about Turkey helping the grains be shipped out of Ukraine. One of the people said that despite being a NATO member, Turkey was seen as more "neutral" by Russia than other Western members of the alliance. "Turkey is ready to contribute to a kind of monitoring of these exports from Odesa through the Black Sea because Turkey traditionally is very strong in the Black Sea and they are ready to help," a senior European diplomat said on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity. Turkey already has two frigates, two submarines and a half-dozen patrol and fast-attack ships in the Black Sea and much more could be quickly summoned for such a mission, said Yoruk Isik, Istanbul-based head of the Bosphorus Observer consultancy. Story continues It could hypothetically patrol the food corridor routes and also sweep for mines, which Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of having planted. Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who visited Moscow and Kyiv last month, has been in contact with Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, the United States and the European Union trying to broker what he calls a "package deal" to resume both Ukrainian food exports and Russian food and fertilizer exports. However, there are many hurdles to any deal, including Russian demands for some sanctions to be lifted in return, the drifting mines, and the prohibitive costs of insuring the maritime route, officials and analysts say. (Additional reporting by Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul and Jessica DiNapoli in Davos; writing by Silvia AloisiEditing by Tomasz Janowski) LONDON (Reuters) -Three lawmakers from Britain's governing Conservatives pulled their support for Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday over a damning report that detailed a series of alcohol-fuelled parties at 10 Downing Street that broke COVID-19 lockdown rules. A day after the report was published, describing a boozy culture at his Downing Street office during lockdowns, Conservative lawmakers John Baron, David Simmonds and Stephen Hammond said they could no longer support the prime minister. Their voices add to a growing list of Conservative lawmakers who have called for Johnson to resign over what has been dubbed 'partygate', despite the prime minister's repeated apologies, although there are still not enough to prompt a confidence vote. Baron, first elected in 2001, said he was withdrawing his support because he believed Johnson had "knowingly" misled parliament -- a charge the prime minister denies but which is being investigated by a parliamentary committee. "Given the scale of rule-breaking in No. 10, I cannot accept that the prime minister was unaware. Therefore his repeated assurances in parliament that there was no rule-breaking is simply not credible," he said in a statement. "Having always said I would consider all the available evidence before deciding, I'm afraid the prime minister no longer enjoys my support -- I can no longer give him the benefit of the doubt." Simmonds, who was elected in 2019, said Johnson had lost the confidence of the public. "Accordingly it is time for him to step down so that new leadership can take forward the important work of the government," he said in a statement. More than 15 Conservative lawmakers have publicly called for Johnson to quit since the reports of lockdown-breaking parties began to steadily drip into the media. But Johnson has refused, saying he still has work to do in government. To trigger a confidence vote in Johnson's leadership, 54 Conservative lawmakers in parliament must write letters calling for one to the chairman of the party's 1922 Committee. Former minister Hammond said he had submitted a letter. The letters are confidential, so the chairman is the only person who knows how many have actually been submitted. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper: Editing by Kylie MacLellan and Edmund Blair) May 25Coach Kyle Smith made a stop at the University of San Francisco before moving on to Washington State. Guard Tyrell Roberts did the opposite. Roberts, who entered the transfer portal in late April after one season at WSU, signed Wednesday with USF the program Smith led from 2016-19. Roberts' departure comes as a surprise, considering he had been plucked out of the Division II ranks by Smith last offseason and plugged into the starting lineup of an ever-improving power-conference team. The 5-foot-11 Sacramento native started 31 games at shooting guard for the Cougars in 2021-22 following a two-season stint at UC San Diego, where he earned D-II All-America honors. Roberts finished his lone season at WSU as the team's No. 2 scorer (11.4 points per game). Known mostly for his long-range sharpshooting, Roberts connected on 34.4% of his 3-point attempts, adding 2.0 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game while shooting 92.5% from the foul line and committing just 1.5 turnovers each time out during WSU's most successful season in a decade the Cougars won 22 games and advanced to the semifinal round of the NIT. Roberts, a graduate transfer, will fill an immediate backcourt need for the West Coast Conference's Dons, who compiled a 24-10 record last season and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament. USF lost standout guard Jamaree Bouyea to graduation. Coach Todd Golden a Kyle Smith disciple left the Hilltop for the University of Florida shortly after the season. The Cougs are still awaiting updates from starting posts Mouhamed Gueye and Efe Abogidi, both of whom declared for the NBA draft and entered the transfer portal this offseason. The two have until June 1 to exit the draft pool. Abogidi is reportedly considering Maryland, Arizona, Florida and a return to WSU. Gueye, who competed last week at the NBA G League Elite Camp, told 247Sports.com recently that he's "50/50" on whether he'll remain in the draft or play at least one more collegiate season. Coming back to WSU is "definitely" an option, he said. WSU's 2022 recruiting class is up to three players: Saint Mary's transfer guard Jabe Mullins, four-star 7-footer Adrame Diongue and explosive Central Valley High guard Dylan Darling. By Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration has not invited the governments of Venezuela and Nicaragua to the U.S.-hosted Summit of the Americas next month, a State Department official said on Thursday, amid the threat of an embarrassing boycott by some regional leaders. Kevin O'Reilly, the U.S. summit coordinator, said it would be up to the White House to determine whether to invite Cuba to the June 6-10 meeting in Los Angeles but that Cuban civil society activists had been asked to attend. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Twitter on Wednesday that "under no circumstances" would he go to the summit, accusing Washington of applying "brutal pressure" to ensure that it would not be inclusive. Biden administration officials have scrambled to avoid a boycott threatened by some leaders, including Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, if Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua are excluded. Lopez Obrador said on Thursday he would probably decide on Friday whether he will attend. Possible snubs have raised the risk of unraveling a summit that U.S. President Joe Biden's aides hoped would be a chance to reassert the United States' influence in a region it is often accused of neglecting. Seeking a way to mollify Lopez Obrador, Washington is considering inviting a lower-level Cuban representative as an observer, according to people familiar with the matter. Asked by a Senate subcommittee whether the United States had invited anyone from the Cuban government, O'Reilly said: "That will be a decision for the White House." A senior State Department official said in April that Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua were unlikely to be allowed to attend. Asked whether those countries - Washington's main ideological rivals in the region - would be invited, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said "we're still considering additional invites." Pressed about whether any representative of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government was being invited, O'Reilly said: "Absolutely not. We don't recognize them as a sovereign government." Story continues The United States and a number of other countries have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's rightful president and shunned Maduro, a Socialist, after accusing him of rigging his 2018 re-election. O'Reilly said it would be a "White House call" whether to invite Guaido in Maduro's place. Asked whether Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega had been invited, O'Reilly answered with a terse "No." Ortega, a former Marxist guerrilla who won a fourth term in November after jailing rivals, said last week he was "not interested" in attending. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Richard Pullin) By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked debate on a bill that represented the first effort by Congress to address mass shootings since a white supremacist's killing of 10 Black people in New York and a gunman's massacre of 19 pupils and two teachers in Texas. The 47-47 vote along strict party lines fell short of the 60 yes votes required to launch debate in the 100-member Senate on a bill titled the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act. The vote effectively blocked the bill which would have authorized federal agencies to monitor and report jointly on domestic terrorism within the United States, including incidents related to white supremacy. Republicans said the legislation was unnecessary as Democratic President Joe Biden already had the authority to organize his administration's response to violent extremism. Democrats said the bill was needed to bolster the federal government's response to rising incidents of violent extremism. They said amendments to any such bill could address potential restrictions on guns. Mass shootings in recent years have provoked discussion in Congress on what to do about gun violence but little action as the two parties are deeply divided on gun restrictions. Americans have little confidence in Congress' ability to solve the problem, with a Reuters/Ipsos poll on Tuesday showing that just 35% believe lawmakers will act. The House of Representatives passed the domestic terrorism bill along party lines last week, after an avowed white supremacist killed the 10 Black people in a livestreamed shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, on May 14. On Tuesday, a gunman stormed a school in Uvalde, Texas, and killed the 9- and 10-year-old children and two teachers. Senate Democrats and some Republicans have discussed the possibility of bipartisan legislation to address mass shootings, including proposals to expand background checks for gun purchasers and to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. Story continues Some 79% of Americans - including 78% of Republicans - are more likely to vote for a candidate in November's congressional election who supports passing red flag laws of that kind, the Reuters/Ipsos poll found. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that at least five Democratic lawmakers including Senator Chris Murphy have reached out to Republicans about possible measures related to gun and school safety. Murphy, a leading advocate for gun restrictions, told a news conference that talks with Republicans were expected on Thursday and would continue through next week. But the odds are slim at best that the Senate will enact any bill to restrict guns. "None of us are under any illusions that this will be easy," Schumer said on the Senate floor, accusing Republicans of being in the "vice grip" of the U.S. gun lobby. But he added: "We need to give it a short amount of time to try." Schumer's Republican counterpart, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, told reporters that any proposal capable of passing the Senate would need to be limited to address "the facts" of the Texas massacre. He did not elaborate but Republicans broadly oppose new gun restrictions that would infringe on the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Other Republicans expressed potential interest in red-flag legislation that would encourage states to deny firearms to anyone found mentally unstable or dangerous, possibly using unspent COVID-19 funding to pay for the initiative. With the 100-seat Senate split 50-50, gun legislation would need 10 Republican votes to meet the chamber's 60-vote threshold for passing most bills. (Reporting by David Morgan; Additional reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Scott Malone and Howard Goller) U.S. citizens traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands will no longer have to complete the USVI Travel Screening Portal, putting an end to travel restrictions. Going into effect on May 31 by executive order of Governor Albert Bryan, the USVI will transition to an Open Door Phase. //www.instagram.com/embed.js Who this applies to This phase will apply to all domestic travelers, including U.S. citizens traveling from the U.S. mainland and other U.S. Territories. What about international travelers? International travelers will still adhere to federal guidelines and restrictions. This includes travelers from the British Virgin Islands. International travelers over 18 years of age will have to show proof of vaccination and a negative antigen or PCR COVID-19 test in the travel portal. Travelers must submit this documentation within 24 hours if traveling by plane, or five days in advance if traveling by ferry. Travelers ages 2-17 are exempt from the vaccination requirement. Ferry and water taxi rules Commercial ferry and private water taxis traveling to and from the U.S. Virgin Islands must have less than 75% occupancy. USVI Commissioner of Tourism, Joseph Boschulte says, The health and well-being of our residents and visitors alike continue to be our biggest priority. Boschulte goes on to say, Our measures have proven successful and give us the confidence to continue to ease travel and testing requirements to the territory so that we can continue to safely welcome visitors. Photo Credit: Gray Matter Testing requirements for travel by air: Non-U.S. citizens/non-U.S. immigrants Travelers must take test within 24 hours of travel All travelers must be fully vaccinated and submit proof in the USVI Travel Portal U.S. citizens traveling from an international port Travelers must take test within 24 hours of travel All travelers must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination in the USVI Travel Portal Story continues Testing requirements for travel by ferry: Non-U.S. citizens/non-U.S. immigrants Travelers must take test within five days of travel Travelers must be fully vaccinated and submit proof in the USVI Travel Portal U.S. citizens traveling from an international port Travelers must take test within five days of travel All travelers must be fully vaccinated and submit proof in the USVI Travel Portal **Travelers ages 2-17 are exempt from the vaccination requrement** Read more about the full COVID-19 testing requirements and exemptions here, here, and here. Related: US Virgin Islands Ranks Top Place, In Poll, As A Favorite Caribbean Destination Sexual assault charges have been filed against actor Kevin Spacey in connection with an investigation involving three victims in England, authorities announced Thursday. Spacey, 62, is facing four counts of sexual assault in connection with alleged incidents that took place in London and Gloucestershire, according to Rosemary Ainslie, head of the Crown Prosecution Services Special Crime Division. In a statement, Ainslie said, The CPS has authorized criminal charges against Kevin Spacey, 62, for four counts of sexual assault against three men. Ainslie noted that the charges follow a review of evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police Service. The charges stem from alleged incidents from 2005 through 2013. In 2019, prosecutors in Massachusetts dropped a case accusing Spacey of groping a young man at a resort island bar. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW On May 25, the occupiers continue to fire cruise missiles at Ukraine At about 8 p.m. on May 25, from the territory of the Russian Federation, Tu-22M long-range bombers carried out missile strikes against Ukrainian positions in the Donetsk and Luhansk directions. Another strike was launched against Ukraines southern front. The aircraft of the Air Force once again strikes at the positions of the occupying forces, Air Force Command reported. Read also: Russia failing to gain control of Ukrainian airspace, says UK Ministry of Defense This time a company tactical group was defeated! Manpower and about ten units of light armored vehicles were destroyed. In addition, the air defense of the Ground Forces and the anti-aircraft missile forces of the Air Force shoot down five Orlan-10 UAVs. Air Force Command also noted that while Russian aviation is growing around Ukraines borders, its aircraft is avoiding entering airspace covered by Ukraines air defense. Our May/June 2022 issueour Annual Labor Issueis at the printers, and well send the pdf out to e-subscribers tomorrow. Print subscribers should get their copies in a couple of weeks. (Not a subscriber? You can subscribe online here.) The issues cover story, Shut Up and Work: Free Labor and Unequal Freedom of Expression, by economist and D&S Collective member Zoe Sherman, is posted here. As usual, our p. 2 editors note gives you a tour of the issue: Tipping the Balance The easiest way to tell that right-wingers concern about supposed threats to free speech is a sham is that they tend to ignore the place where speech is suppressed the most: the workplace. In his bid to buy Twitter, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has promised to run the social media platform as a free-speech absolutist, as he has declared himself. But Musk has routinely restricted the speech and expression of Tesla workers, e.g., by requiring laid-off workers to sign separation agreements that restrict them from disparaging the company. The company has also retaliated against whistleblower employees. For Musk, free speech rights seem to extend to the wealthy and powerful and to right-wing extremists, but not so much to people who challenge the powerful. This issues cover story, by economist and D&S collective member Zoe Sherman, charts out how, under the wage-labor system and a government that favors capital, workers sell their free speech rights along with their labor power during the working day. The recent organizing drives at Amazon warehouses and Starbucks stores show how freedom of expression is central to labor struggles, with employers suppressing pro-union speech through surveillance and captive-audience meetings, but recent union victories against those companies show how workers can get their voice and fight back. The articles in this years Annual Labor Issue are about the balance of power between capital and labor in the workplace, in the labor market, and in the economy as a whole. In his Dr. Dollar column, Arthur MacEwan finds an examination of power in the workplace in an unexpected source: a recent report from the U.S. Treasury Department. The report begins its analysis with the monopsony power many firms have in the labor markettheir ability to set wages as if they were the only buyer of labor power. But the report details a range of sources and consequences of employer power. Despite the upper hand capital has often had, labor has its moments of resurgent power, and today seems to be one such moment in the United States, even beyond the victories at Amazon and Starbucks that Sherman discusses. John Millers Up Against the Wall Street Journal column takes a close look the Great Resignation and the current labor shortage that has empowered workers, especially low-wage workers, to seek out better jobs and push up their wages. And Robert Ovetz reminds us of another area of recent organizing surges and victoriesthe nonprofit sector, which, as Ovetz points out, has about 10 times the number of workers that Amazon does. The nonprofit industry ballooned in the neoliberal era, and is now seeing rebellion among its workers against poverty wages and long hours. Bill Barclays feature on how Californias industrial system of intensive agriculture developed, with its reliance on a steady supply of wage laborers, recounts changes in the balance of power between labor and capital in that system. The victories stretch from a successful strike by the Japanese-Mexican Labor Association in 1903 through Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta organizing the United Farm Workers in the 1960s and 1970s, but capital has always seemed to regain the upper hand. While mostly non-white workers have made California an agricultural powerhouse, as Barclay puts it, class power has directed the returns of this bounty into the hands of an almost completely white Anglo landowning class. Meanwhile, Martin J. Bennetts feature on the fight to raise the minimum wage shows the key role California has played on behalf of non-agricultural low-wage workers. This more recent history of labor and organizing in California explains why the state became central to the fight, and how the movements goals, now for $20 an hour and a union, could shape the upcoming midterm elections. Also in this issue: capsule reviews of labor books (and a film) from members of the D&S Collective and the D&S Writing Workshop, an update on current employment and wage conditions from our Economy in Numbers columnist Ed Ford, and more! STORY: The angry comments by Zelenskiy come as Ukrainian troops are facing a renewed offensive in two eastern regions that Russian-speaking separatists seized part of in 2014. The New York Times editorial board said on May 19 that a negotiated peace might require Kyiv to make some hard decisions, given that a decisive military victory was not realistic, and former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger this week suggested at the World Economic Forum in Davos that Ukraine should let Russia keep Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. "Whatever the Russian state does, you will always find someone who says 'Let's take its interests into account'," Zelenskiy said in a late night video address. "You get the impression that Mr Kissinger doesn't have 2022 on his calendar, but 1938, and that he thinks he is talking to an audience not in Davos but in then Munich." In 1938, Britain, France, Italy and Germany sighed a pact in Munich that gave Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler land in the then Czechoslovakia as part of a failed attempt to persuade him to abandon further territorial expansion. With its invasion now into its fourth month, Russia still has only limited gains to show for its worst military losses in decades, while much of Ukraine has suffered devastation as Moscow steps up strikes to offset its slow progress. Students, families and teachers line up for COVID-19 tests at Gardena High School in Gardena, Calif., on Jan. 6, 2022. (Allison Zaucha/The New York Times) As coronavirus cases have increased across the United States, some universities and public school systems have reimposed indoor mask mandates on their campuses, a sign that while the academic year may be coming to a close, the pandemic is still not. The University of Hawaiis mandate was expanded Wednesday on its 10 campuses, requiring masks in all indoor spaces except when working alone or where social distancing is possible. The university said it took the action because nearly the whole state was now in the high-risk category for community transmission under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. The University of Delaware cited rising new-case reports and hospitalizations both in its home state and across the nation when it announced its mask mandate would once again include all indoor spaces, effective Tuesday. President Joe Biden, an alumnus, is scheduled to give a commencement address at the university Saturday. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Some public school systems have taken similar steps this week to reintroduce universal indoor masking, including two in Rhode Island, in Providence and Central Falls. Both are in a county that was recently classified as high-risk, officials from each system said. The schools in Philadelphia restored their mask mandate Monday. When city officials there tried to do the same for other indoor public settings in April, they reversed course after four days. Another omicron subvariant, known as BA.2.12.1, which spreads more rapidly than previous versions, has become the dominant form of the virus among new U.S. cases, according to federal estimates. For the first time since February, the country is now averaging more than 100,000 new confirmed cases a day, according to a New York Times database, and the widening use of at-home testing means the true number of infections is probably higher. Federal health officials have warned that a large share of Americans were living in areas with medium or high levels of virus transmission. The White Houses COVID-19 coordinator, Dr. Ashish Jha, is also urging Americans to mask up. I feel that very strongly that in crowded indoor spaces, in places with high transmission, people should be doing that, Jha said Sunday on the ABC program This Week. Still, conditions appear to be stabilizing in some Northeastern states that were among the first to see a spring surge in cases. Although still high, case rates have started to level off or decline in New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. 2022 The New York Times Company Several residents in Uvalde, Texas, still reeling from the elementary school mass shooting that killed 19 kids and two teachers have spoken out against Democratic candidate Beto ORourkes attempt to derail Gov. Greg Abbotts press conference Wednesday. Abbott had just finished speaking about mental health resources available for survivors and first responders to Tuesday's shooting when ORourke, a pro-gun control gubernatorial candidate, walked up to the stage and accused Abbott of "doing nothing" to prevent these tragedies. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks to the media after interrupting a press conference held by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at Uvalde High School on May 25, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas. Jordan Vonderhaar/Getty Images Some Uvalde residents slammed ORourke for trying to score political points during a moment that was meant to provide information and solace for Uvalde families. "Yeah its bull----, man," one resident, who requested to remain anonymous, told Fox News. "People are grieving, trying to process their loss and Beto is running around doing this stuff. Its bull----, save it for later." UVALDE MAYOR CONDEMNS BETO O'ROURKE'S OUTBURST Fox News Lawrence Jones reported Thursday morning that "the town was not happy about this." "And just to put it into context, this is a Democrat area," he said. "A lot of them are Democrats. This is not even about politics. This is about their loved ones. He took this tragedy and made it about him." Jones said Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, a Republican, had requested ahead of the press conference that politics not be discussed. "He had already given us all a warning saying do not try to use this tragedy for some type of narrative," Jones said. "He told the politicians that were on the stage, This is my town. He had made himself very clear to everyone in the room as well as the press that he didnt want any of that. And so Beto ORourke to come to this town and bring his politics, it was so shady, it was so sad, and I think a lot of the families that are grieving just didnt think much of him after that." HuffPost reporter Daniel Marans also spoke with several people who slammed ORourkes actions. Story continues Cody Ytuarte, whose two cousins were killed in the shooting and another wounded, was in attendance at the press conference. "Theres a time and place to address certain things like that," Ytuarte told HuffPost. "To do it in the moment in which the tragedy is being addressed so recently, to come in and to act in that way is pure propaganda." HuffPost also spoke with Cris Vazquez and Brenda Hidalgo, two Republican Uvalde residents, who said they were "appalled by what Beto did but support closing background check loopholes." Meanwhile, Republicans have not held back in criticizing ORourke for Wednesdays stunt. McLaughlin, who called ORourke a "sick son of a b----" as the event unfolded, told Fox News Thursday morning: "That was not the time and place to have that discussion. If he wants to have that discussion, that's fine. But today at that conference was not the time or place to do that." McLaughlin acknowledged there is a "gun problem" and suggested increased background check specificity, but added the mental health crisis in the United States must be addressed. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who was onstage during O'Rourke's outburst, accused his former senatorial opponent of trying to turn the somber event into a "political rally." "I was shocked it was disgusting," Cruz told Fox News. "To try to politicize it and turn it into a rally the way Beto did I've seen a lot of crass behavior that was embarrassing." Fox News Charles Creitz contributed to this report. While Johnsons resignation speech remains unwritten, his allies perform all sorts of semantic contortions to defend him (Getty) Imagine an alternate reality utterly plausible until only a few weeks ago in which Boris Johnson resigned after the publication of the Sue Gray report. He could have channelled perhaps the most famous political resignation of all time, Sir Geoffrey Howe, who quit the Thatcher administration over her policy towards Europe. In doing so, I have done what I believe to be right for my party and my country, he said at the conclusion of his quietly devastating being-savaged-by-a-dead-sheep resignation speech. Or as he took the rap over Partygate, it could have been the Conservative Party itself he prioritised, as Margaret Thatcher did when she quit in 1990, saying: Having consulted widely among colleagues, I have concluded that the unity of the party and the prospects of victory in a general election would be better served if I stood down to enable cabinet colleagues to enter the ballot for the leadership. He could, like Robin Cook, who walked out as foreign secretary over Tony Blairs Iraq war, have flattered the public, speaking of the respect he had for the good sense and collective wisdom of the British people. Perhaps he could have claimed to be acting in the national interest, as both David Cameron and Theresa May did. The former spoke after the Brexit referendum of needing a period of stability at a time of crisis, and vowed to do everything I can as prime minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months, but I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination. May, you may remember, was both emotional and humble. I will shortly leave the job that it has been the honour of my life to hold. I do so with no ill will, but with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love, she said, through tears. But though Johnsons position looked perilous in February before Russias war in Ukraine he hasnt had to draft a fond farewell, and may not for a good while yet. Instead, he will stay in office for the foreseeable future, defending what many of his senior colleagues believe to be the indefensible. Story continues Johnsons strategy has evolved considerably over the past few months. In December 2021, he claimed all guidance was followed completely in No 10 before adding, just over a week later, that he had been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken. Then, when the wine and cheese pictures emerged, the line from Johnson was that these were people at work, talking about work. In January, when allegations surfaced about a suitcase full of wine being carted to a party on the eve of Prince Philips funeral, he apologised. Multiple apologies later, we had the final evolution of Johnsons defence: his claim that while he took full responsibility for the behaviour of staff who vomited and sprayed red wine up the walls, it was his duty to show his face at lockdown parties to say farewell to valued colleagues. To his critics, this is the ultimate insult. Many, including presenter Andrew Neil, have pointed out they themselves didnt get lockdown leaving parties. Others have reminded the prime minister they didnt have the opportunity to say farewell to valued loved ones, isolated in hospital beds. To keep up to speed with all the latest opinions and comment, sign up to our free weekly Voices Dispatches newsletter by clicking here And while Johnsons resignation speech remains unwritten, his allies perform all sorts of semantic contortions to defend him. Few wanted to put their heads above the parapet and appear on television last night. Theyve seen how Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith was mocked when I asked him on Channel 4 News earlier this week if he was content to back a lawbreaker in office. Without missing a beat, he responded: I certainly am, before appearing to query his own quote after the event on Twitter. Some Labour folk are promising to turn his words into an election leaflet. This after Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns became a meme for explaining that Johnson had been ambushed with a cake at the birthday party that earned the prime minister his one and only fine and his place in history as the only sitting PM to have broken the law. Privately some MPs complain their boss is turning them into a laughing stock. Eventually, Johnson will pen that resignation speech. How soon depends partly on the extent to which todays special fiscal event (an emergency Budget in other words) mitigates the escalating cost of living crisis. If he and Rishi Sunak get it right, Johnson might have at least until the next election to compose his words. Then, though, however comical his long-suffering MPs are content to sound, voters may be less willing to be taken for fools. Cathy Newman is presenter and investigations editor of Channel 4 News Host: Jane Pauley. WATCH THE FULL MAY 29 EPISODE! Arches National Park saw a record 1.8 million visitors in 2021 - and it wasn't even in the Top 10 most popular national parks last year. / Credit: CBS News COVER STORY: Protecting our national parks from overcrowding | Watch VideoOver the past decade, the number of visitors to our national parks has increased 34%, forcing many parks to require reservations, timed entry passes, and shuttle buses in order to limit crowds and traffic. This Memorial Day Weekend (one of the busiest weekends of the year), correspondent Conor Knighton looks at how some of our national parks are dealing with becoming too popular. EXTRA: National Parks with timed-entry permit policies For more info: National Park ServiceArches National Park, UtahProperty and Environment Research Center GUNS: Sandy Hook shooting: The unprecedented $73M settlement with gunmaker Remington | Watch VideoFrancine and David Wheeler, whose son Ben was among the 26 students, teachers and staff killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., are one of nine families who accomplished the unthinkable: they sued Remington Arms, which recently settled the lawsuit for $73 million, the largest payout by a gun company to victims of a mass shooting. Correspondent Tracy Smith looks at the legal strategy used against an industry that was viewed by many as protected from liability over gun violence. For more info: Ben's LighthouseNational Shooting Sports Foundationkoskoff.com HEADLINES: Texas school shooting - Grief, vigils and outrage (Video)As the city of Uvalde, Texas mourns the 19 children and two teachers who were murdered last Tuesday, days of false and conflicting statements by authorities finally gave way to an admission that law enforcement failed to respond rapidly to the shooter. In Houston, some politicians backed out of the National Rifle Association's annual meeting, as protesters chanted outside. Correspondent Omar Villafranca reports. Romero Britto's art skips and dances along the skyline of Miami. / Credit: CBS News ART: Miami is artist Romero Britto's canvas (Video)Miami's sidewalks and skyline glitter with the smile-evoking imagery of Brazilian-born artist Romero Britto, whose vivid pop-art style has decorated city vehicles, hospitals, parking meters, even lottery tickets. Correspondent Faith Salie talks with Britto, who first came to public attention via a vodka ad, and whose colorful creations have made it to the Super Bowl, the World Cup, and the Olympics. Story continues For more info: Romero Britto (Official Site) A Q Cabin - a home that will not burn - constructed in Paradise, Calif., a town that was decimated by wildfires. / Credit: CBS News U.S.: After the Camp Fire: Rebuilding Paradise | Watch VideoIn America nearly 50 million homes are in areas that are prone to wildfires. But residents of Paradise, Calif., who lost their homes to the devastating Camp Fire in 2018, are not giving up. Correspondent Ben Tracy looks at how the community is being reborn, using building materials that are designed not to burn. For more info: Q Cabin kits from Design HorizonsParadise Lutheran Church, Paradise, Calif. PASSAGE: In memoriam (Video)"Sunday Morning" remembers some of the notable figures who left us this week, including actor Ray Liotta, remembered for the films "Field of Dreams" and "Goodfellas." HARTMAN: A Memorial Day tradition: Taps Across America (Video)On Memorial Day, at 3 p.m. local time, musicians across the country will participate once again in a new tradition, honoring America's fallen heroes with the playing of "Taps." Correspondent Steve Hartman reports. For more info: How to participate in Taps Across America Australia's National Firearms Agreement banned certain types of weapons, and instituted a gun buyback program for automatic and semi-automatic rifles and shotguns; nearly 700,000 guns were taken and destroyed. The law also created a nationwide firearms registry, and required a 28-day waiting period for gun sales. / Credit: CBS News WORLD: What can Australia's reaction to a mass shooting teach us about guns and gun control? | Watch VideoIn 1996, just 12 days after 35 people were killed in a mass shooting in Port Arthur, Tasmania, the government of Australia enacted strict gun control legislation, including a ban on the sale and import of all automatic and semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, and a gun buyback program. Since then, there have been only one mass shooting in Australia, and gun homicides decreased nearly 60 percent. Correspondent Seth Doane talks with Australian politicians, and with a victim and gunowner, about the sweeping changes. (This story was previously broadcast on March 13, 2016.) Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in MOVIES: Long live the King! "Elvis" lives | Watch VideoIn director Baz Luhrmann's epic musical biopic, Austin Butler brings Elvis Presley to life, from young rock idol to movie star to Vegas lounge act. Correspondent Luke Burbank talks with Butler about becoming a pop culture icon; and with Luhrmann about how Elvis' ultimately tragic life still holds enduring appeal. To watch a trailer for "Elvis" click on the video player below: For more info: "Elvis" opens in theaters June 24 Angela Davis attends a news conference after being released on bail in advance of her 1972 trial, in San Jose, Calif. / Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images INTERVIEW: Angela Davis on her revolutionary causes | Watch VideoThe activist, professor and writer has spent more than five decades advocating against oppression, white supremacy and police violence. Five decades after she was tried and acquitted on conspiracy, kidnapping and murder charges, Angela Davis is advocating for the abolishment of prisons. She talks with correspondent Lilia Luciano about expanding the possibilities for social change. For more info: "Angela Davis: An Autobiography" by Angela Y. Davis (Haymarket Books), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieboundAngela Davis, UC Santa Cruz Military members place flags near headstones at Arlington National Cemetery, May 21, 2020 in Arlington, Va. / Credit: Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images COMMENTARY: "Who will go for us?" Memorial Day, and honoring those who gave all | Watch VideoUSAF Chief of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown, Jr. on honoring the sacrifices of U.S. service men and women who died protecting the freedoms we all enjoy. For more info: General C.Q. Brown, Jr., Chief of Staff, United States Air Force NATURE: Arlington National Cemetery (Extended Video)"Sunday Morning" takes us to Arlington National Cemetery, where on this Memorial Day weekend members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment have placed more than 200,000 flags at graves of the fallen. Videographer: Brian Fuss. WEB EXCLUSIVES: MOVIES: Colin Cantwell, designer of "Star Wars" spaceships and Death Star, dies at 90The artist's concept sketches and prototype models for the X-Wing, TIE fighters and the Star Destroyer, as well as the Empire's "ultimate weapon," helped set the aesthetic for George Lucas' space epic. Spider-Man was introduced in 1962 in Marvel's "HERE COMES THE SUN": The Marvel Universe and Challenging Puzzles (Video)Author Douglas Wolk explains the depth of the Marvel Universe to Luke Burbank. Also, Martha Teichner meets author and puzzle expert A.J. Jacobs, who illustrates his curiosity for puzzles. The Emmy Award-winning "CBS Sunday Morning" is broadcast on CBS Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. Executive producer is Rand Morrison. DVR Alert! Find out when "Sunday Morning" airs in your city "Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET. (Download it here.) Full episodes of "Sunday Morning" are now available to watch on demand on CBSNews.com, CBS.com and Paramount+, including via Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Chromecast, Amazon FireTV/FireTV stick and Xbox. Follow us on Twitter; Facebook; Instagram; YouTube; TikTok; and at cbssundaymorning.com. You can also download the free "Sunday Morning" audio podcast at iTunes and at Play.it. Now you'll never miss the trumpet! Uvalde shooting victim's sister: She's a hero Preview: Her Majesty The Queen: A Gayle King Special Care home transformed into Buckingham Palace for Queen's Jubilee zimmytws / Getty Images/iStockphoto Increasing numbers of Americans are losing faith in Social Security. According to a 2021 survey from Nationwide, 71% of respondents indicated that they feel Social Security will run out during their lifetimes. For Generation X survey participants, that number jumped to a whopping 83%. Things look even bleaker to nearly half of the millennial respondents, as 47% believe they will not get a dime of the Social Security benefits they have earned. See: 10 Best Countries To Live on Just a Social Security Check Check Out: 15 Worst States To Live on Just a Social Security Check Responses from this study and others clearly show fear among Americans that Social Security is on the brink of vanishing. But the reality is that Social Security is a self-sustaining system, and it isnt going anywhere. Heres how Social Security really operates, along with a look at the news headlines that may be instilling these fears across America. What Is All This Talk of an Insolvent Social Security Trust Fund? Oftentimes, irrational fears come from a kernel of truth, and worries about Social Security going away are no different. Every year, the Social Security Board of Trustees publishes a report on the status of the program, and recent updates have been alarming. According to the 2021 Social Security Trustees Report, the Old Age Survivors Insurance Trust Fund will become depleted in 2033. Its easy to see how many people could read that statement and think that Social Security is going away in 2033, if not even sooner. But the way Social Security actually operates, thats just not going to happen. Live Blog: SNAP (Food Stamps) and Social Security Benefits How Social Security Funding Actually Works On the face of it, Social Security is an ingenious system. The program is funded by payroll taxes paid by workers and employers, with that money then used to pay benefits to current retirees. If you have ever wondered what the FICA deduction on your paycheck was, it stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act, with 6.2% of your gross wages going to Social Security and another 1.45% going to Medicare. The 6.2% taken out for Social Security ends up in the hands of retirees, just like your Social Security payout will someday come from the paychecks of future workers. Story continues At the time Social Security was created, way back in 1935, the program had no problems, as there were far more workers paying into Social Security than there were drawing benefits. In fact, even as late as the end of 2020, there was a $2.9 trillion surplus in the program. But as the proportion of retirees to workers has grown, thanks in large part to increased life expectancy, program income (in the form of payroll taxes) hasnt been able to keep up with program expenses (in the form of benefits paid). To make up for this shortfall, the Social Security Administration has been forced to draw down the Trust Fund surplus, to the point where it will be depleted by 2033. Why Social Security Isnt Going Away Even if the Social Security Trust Fund is completely depleted in 2033, Social Security isnt going away. This is because it is primarily funded by payroll taxes on workers. The Social Security Trust Fund is simply a surplus collected from earlier years, not the primary funding source of the program. According to the same Social Security Trustees Report, if nothing is done to change the current program, benefits will continue to be paid in 2034, after the fund is depleted, but only at 78% of currently scheduled benefits. While this is far from ideal, receiving 78% of your expected benefits is a far cry from losing everything. Still, the U.S. government fully understands that any reduction in benefits is unpalatable to Social Security beneficiaries, so various proposals to shore up the program are already floating about Capitol Hill. Governmental Proposals To Fix Social Security Although fixing Social Security is something of a pressing issue, with the surplus expected to be depleted in 11 years or less, it may take some time for Congress to reach an agreement on how to proceed. Various proposals have come in and out of favor over the years, and while some may have more momentum now, theres no telling exactly how the situation will be resolved. But here are some of the leading ideas when it comes to Social Security reform: Increasing the Social Security wage base Increasing the retirement age Increasing the income thresholds above which Social Security benefits are taxed Increasing the payroll tax rate Increasing the wage base, payroll tax rate and income thresholds for Social Security taxation would all raise additional revenue while increasing the retirement age would attack the issue from the other side by reducing total payouts. Which, if any, of these proposals will ultimately see the light of day is unknown at this time, but some type of change is likely. The Bottom Line Losing faith in Social Security is counterproductive because the program is not going away. Although changes will likely be made, and you should consider a potential benefit reduction in your retirement planning, as long as there are American workers, Social Security will continue to pay out the bulk of its scheduled benefits. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Why You Shouldnt Lose Faith in Social Security Disney+ is finally ready to share more details of its Willow revival. The streamer has revealed that the TV series (simply titled Willow) will premiere November 30th. The accompany teaser trailer doesn't show much, but it has an older Willow Ufgood returning to save a future empress from the clutches of evil. He'll join an eclectic band of adventurers, but this time he's clearly more experienced than in the 1988 movie. The show sees Warwick Davis reprise his role as Willow. At least a few familiar actors are joining the cast, including Ellie Bamber (most recently in Netflix's The Serpent) and Disney alumnus Erin Kellyman (Solo and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier). Jon Chu was originally slated to direct, but was replaced by multiple directors when he had to step down due to pandemic restrictions. Willow movie director Ron Howard is involved as an executive producer. The announcement comes just as Disney shared a wave of details about its next Star Wars shows, including Andor and Skeleton Crew. The company isn't shy about its Disney+ strategy, then. The service is packing its schedule with ever more originals in a bid to keep people watching, and it's not afraid to mine multiple old franchises in the process. School Shooting, Uvalde Texas Family members who lost a sibling place flowers outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 25, 2022. Credit - Wally SkalijLos Angeles Times/Getty Images One day after a gunman took the lives of 19 young children and two adults in Uvalde, Texas, Robb Elementary School is at the center of a frenzy. Members of the close-knit community hoping to pay their respects to those slain inside the school on Tuesday must work through several barriers to get close to the building. The surrounding roads are blocked by barricades and all nearby parking spots are taken. Throngs of journalists and media cameras have set up in front of the school. And then theres the caution tape wrapped around the perimeter, followed by rows of law enforcement in large white vehicles investigating the crime scene. Still, over the past day, dozens of people from Uvalde and neighboring towns have made their way past the obstacles to lay flowers on the WelcomeBienvenidos sign perched in front of Robb Elementary. We wont let these babies be forgotten, one woman says after she and her partner lay their bouquet on the sign. The people of the small town, population of about 16,000, are expressing their grief in a variety of ways after the third-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history rocked their community. They are gathering in churches, the local Starbucks, the community civic center, and the Uvalde County Fairplex to mourn together and remember the victims. Some are painting storefront windows with the phrase Uvalde Strong. Families and friends are embracing each other, or kneeling in front of the school in prayer. Read More: The Uvalde School Shooting Devastated Two Classrooms. Heres What We Know So Far By about 7 p.m., the brick Welcome sign at Robb Elementary was covered in flowers, candles, and balloons. Thirteen-year-old Dariana Cervantes came with her father Humberto to leave a bouquet of red roses at the site at her old elementary school. You could have never seen it coming, she says, her voice shaky. These kids just went to school thinking its a normal day, and then they get their lives taken away. Story continues Some of the Cervantes familys friends, Dariana says, were among the panicked parents looking for their missing children on Tuesday night. To go with no answers to where the kids areit keeps you imagining and asking what happened, she says. When news of the shooting broke, Humberto, who has other young children, says he rushed from work to get to his kids elementary school in a different part of town, panicked that they were in danger. He had forgotten that they were out of town on a field trip in San Antonio. We know most of the people who come to this school, Humberto says. We see them at the festivals, at the park, at the grocery store. Everyone in the town, he says, was impacted by the shooting. Read More: Guns Became the Leading Cause of Death for American Children and Teens in 2020 It wasnt just people from Uvalde who felt anguished after the massacre. On Wednesday afternoon, a group of three friends gathered at the Town Square to hold up signs reading Uvalde Strong, Prayers 4 Uvalde, and Remember their names. I dont want to just be on my phone watching everything come to light, says Ravenn Vasquez, 21, a graduate of Uvalde High School holding one of the signs. [We wanted to] do something so that people see us and know that we care. Though Vasquez grew up going to school in Uvalde, her two friends are from neighboring towns, Knippa and Concan, both in Uvalde County. One way or another, were all connected, Vasquez says, because the cluster of small towns around Uvalde are all very, very intertwined. The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District held a vigil on Wednesday evening for members of the community. Press was not allowed to attend in order to provide more privacy to the grieving community. The line of cars heading to the vigil stretched back at least 2.5 milesabout half the length of the town. Mayor Eric Adams has urged New Yorkers to voice support for the police as violence continues to plague the citys subways and elsewhere across the country. I need you to raise your voice. Everyone silently tells us to support the police. We cannot do this with a whisper, Adams said at an event celebrating Jewish Heritage Month on Tuesday. This community knows how important law enforcement is. The Democratic mayors emotional plea came just hours after the arrest of 25-year-old Andrew Abdullah, a repeat offender accused of fatally shooting 48-year-old Daniel Enriquez on the Q Train on Sunday. He also referenced the deadly mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, which took place earlier on Tuesday. Adams has vowed to improve subway safety since January after 40-year-old Michelle Go was fatally shoved in front of an oncoming train at the Times Square-42nd Street station. Unfortunately, violence has persisted in the city, while his efforts to hold perpetrators to greater accountability have met their own hurdles. More from NextShark: Jollibee Plans to Build 234 More Stores in North America In his remarks, the former New York City Police Department captain said there are days when he and Commissioner Keechant Sewell feel they are the only ones backing our police department. He said it is time for the city to go on a major public relations campaign and announce that New Yorkers support the police. We want our police to do their job. Every billboard would talk about that. Every newspaper should have ads inside them. Radio shows, you should talk about supporting the police, he said. More from NextShark: Nonprofit Raises Over $167K to Help NYs Struggling Street Food Vendors Feed the Hungry Adams said the city is too silent on those who are watering the tree of public safety with their blood. He reminded the public that police officers place themselves in harms way. If we cant live safely in the city free from violence, then we are prisoners in the city that we love. Story continues More from NextShark: China peddles pro-Putin documentary as world condemns Russia for atrocities in Ukraine Featured Image via NYC Mayors Office Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Singaporean scientists develop novel way to turn durian waste into superior antibacterial bandages Deputies in South Carolina are investigating a report alleging a stolen Yorkiepoo dog was killed after it was thrown into a pen of larger dogs. The dog owner told responding York County Sheriffs Office deputies her dog was stolen, a sheriffs office incident report said. The owner told investigators there was a video online that showed her dog being killed by pit bull dogs after it was thrown into the pen, according to the report and other sheriffs office documents. The incident was reported Tuesday in rural eastern York County south of Rock Hill near the Catawba River, north of the Chester County line. Cpl. Johnathan Gilbert of the sheriffs office said deputies are investigating the allegations that the dog was stolen and later killed. No arrests have been made, Gilbert said. Yorkiepoo can be small as 3 pounds A Yorkiepoo dog is a small, mixed-breed dog made up of a cross of a Yorkshire terrier and toy or miniature poodle that can be as small as three pounds and less than 10 inches tall, according to dogtime.com and dailypaws.com. The stolen dog was valued at $450, the report stated. The investigation by York County deputies into dog injuries and death is the second in less than a week. A pug dog was reportedly stabbed five times and had to be put down after a home break-in in western York County on May 20, sheriff officials said. Deputies have not said the cases are linked. OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. 55th Security Forces Squadron received a $4 million temporary Modular Firing Range May 20. Last fiscal year the 55th SFS Combat Arms section trained and qualified 3,115 personnel across Offutt AFB. It will replace the firing range destroyed during the historic flood of 2019 that ravaged 1/3 of the base. The modular range is going to significantly increase our scheduling abilities and our ability to conduct training, said Tech. Sgt. Cody Fiecke, 55th Security Forces Squadron, NCO in charge of combat arms. This facility gives us ownership of our training area and we can facilitate the best training for the 55th Wing and those that rely on it for support. Itll also significantly cutdown travel time, additional costs in range fees and eliminate weather cancellations, allowing us to keep or increase our training tempo. The MFR will have 14 firing lanes, is a fully contained, ballistic protection-rated range capable of supporting the live firing requirements of the Fightin Fifty-Fifth. The MFR will be used for M9 pistol, M18, APC9K and M4 rifle qualification, live-fire sustainment training and test firing for all deployers and SFS members. Currently Team Offutt members have been bused to 1 of 2 range facilities which are about 30 minutes away after learning proper handling and completing the classroom training, in order to shoot the weapon and demonstrate proficiency. Some career fields require members to shoot frequently others only do so for deployment, PCS, or if selected as a 55th SFS Augmentee, Fiecke said. Additionally, we have some units on base that can get short-notice taskings. Having a range on the installation will make it significantly less stressful for the deploying members, base units and combat arms. In the warmer months, Warhawks were traveling to the Eastern Nebraska Gun Club ran by civilians. During the winter, they used the indoor facility at Southwest Iowa Law Enforcement Training Facility which is operated by the Council Bluffs Police Department. The range fees cost from $1,500 to $8,000 a month. Currently, the Council Bluffs PD range we cant operate until 4 p.m. and only Tuesday through Friday and we have to ask students and units to accommodate our swing schedule, Fiecke said. Furthermore, single parents would need to find childcare for that time due in part that training wont conclude until 8 or 9 p.m. Although Team Offutt members could use the facility at ENGC all year, there is no structure in place to protect them from inclement weather. This place cannot accommodate the 55th SFS members with night shooting since ENGC does not allow firing before sunrise or after sunset. The MFR will also benefit Offutts Sailors who assist the 55th SFS. Currently, they travel to another facility 45 minutes away to conduct their firearms training. The MFR wouldnt be possible without Tech. Sgt. David Jensen and Maj. Jacqueline Davis along with the rest 55th Contracting team, who laid the framework on getting and awarding the contract, said Fiecke. The Combat Arms teams adaptability in dealing with the lack of ranges or relying on outside support showcases our ability to qualify any Airman, at any time at any pace to support and project air power across the globe. Board of Supervisors candidate Jeff Jorgensen has lived in Pottawattamie County for nearly 30 years, and in that time, hes come to understand the dual nature of Iowas second biggest county. Ive experienced both sides, Jorgensen said in an interview with the Daily Nonpareil. Pottawattamie Countys a big county, and Ive lived in the rural side of the county and I lived in the metro side of the county, so I understand this split personality. Originally from Audubon, Jorgensen grew up around the family farm-to-market trucking business that his grandfather had started during the Depression to feed his growing family. Jorgensens grandfather had 12 children. My family knows what its like to be without, Jorgensen said. Can you imagine farming and then raising 12 kids back in the Depression? Jorgensens grandfather would drive a truck full of cattle to the Chicago Stockyards, then drive the empty truck back to Audubon, then repeat multiple times per year. He was an amazing guy, Jorgensen said. Jorgensens father took over the business after a short stint in the Army, post World War II, and Jorgensen himself joined the business after his own stint in the Marine Corps. Right out of high school, I enlisted, Jorgensen said. And when I came back, I did go on to school. I played college ball for a couple years at junior college at Iowa Central and I was attending University of Iowa for a while, and I decided to come back home and go work for my dad, and did that until he retired. Jorgensen didnt get into local politics until 2010, after he and his wife Mary Beth had moved to Treynor, when a fellow member of the Treynor Optimist Club asked him to come to a Republican Central Committee meeting. He kind of knew my background, a little bit of how I felt about the issues, and he said, you oughta come to a meeting and think about joining the central committee, Jorgensen said. And so I did, and I really was impressed, and I enjoyed the meetings. Jorgensen was elected committee chair in November 2010. I remember coming home and telling my wife that, at a committee meeting, I got elected as chair of the county party, Jorgensen said. And she looked at me, she said, Youre in way over your head, and I said, I dont deny that. Twelve years later, Jorgensen is running for a seat on the County Board, and there are a number of issues he would like to address. If Im elected county supervisor, Im gonna have a platform, Jorgensen said. I will have a platform I can stand on and tout issues, because a lot of whats going on in this country is going on at the local level. You can talk about voter integrity, you can talk about illegal immigration, you know, theyre flying people in, unknown destinations. A lot of it is at the local level and so we need to take a look at whats going on. And Im not going to be quiet about it either. I never have been, and people know that about me. When asked what his platform might look like, Jorgensen demurred. Theres some things I cant mention right now, because people have signed non-disclosure agreements, Jorgensen said. Im part of some action going on that will certainly make a difference. Jorgensen does want to explore using the countys natural resources as a lure for tourists. Theres a lot of potential, a lot of opportunity in Pottawattamie County, he said. My wife and I fell in love with this place. The history behind Pottawattamie County is something to behold that we could take advantage of. Jorgensen would also like to do something about the roads in rural Pottawattamie County, which he said would help increase economic development. I think one of the most important issues in any rural area is roads, Jorgensen said. There could be economic development if we develop some of the things that were looking to develop, which I cant, at the moment anyway, I cant really talk about, all of Pottawattamie County will benefit. As committee chair, Jorgensen became a bit of an insider in Republican politics, both locally and nationally. In 2011 he escorted Herman Cain from Eppley Airfield to Tishs Restaurant in Council Bluffs for a town hall meeting. We hit it off, Jorgensen said. You know, we just hit it off. Him and I had stayed in touch. He came in and did some events for us specifically. That year, Cain accepted an invitation to be the keynote speaker at the Pottawattamie County Republicans annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner, during which he prematurely announced his candidacy for president. Jorgensen also met Donald Trump thanks to a chance encounter at a Des Moines hotel in 2015, and he was able to secure Trump for that years keynote address. Politics for me was very much exciting, Jorgensen said. I seen it at a level, at a party level, and Iowa is, like I say, every four years, Iowa is the focus of the world. I really, really got to see a lot of things, got to experience a lot of things and got to enjoy what I was doing. I could make a difference. Me. Little old me. 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. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Head of the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh has received warning to hand power to rival Fathi Bashagha, by May 26, Italian news agency Nova reported. The agency did not reveal the side that sent the warning but added that military battalions have informed Dbeibeh, who instructed the armed formations to mobilize. Security sources reportedly confirmed the existence of a security alert in the vicinity of the Prime Ministers office at al-Sikka road in Tripoli. This comes one week after Bashagha failed to seize Tripoli and exercise his duties from the capital. Bashagha has then chosen the coastal city of Sirte as the seat of his government. The House of Representatives (HoR), the countrys Parliament, handpicked Bashagha in February to replace Dbeibeh who has been in power since March last year. The GNU has refused to relinquish power and vowed to leave only after elections. Libya, under Dbeibeh leadership, failed to organize the elections that were scheduled for Dec. 24, 2021. The European Union released Wednesday 300 million accounting for the second tranche of the blocs support for the North African country in surfing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tunisia received the first tranche of the same amount, in June last year. The bloc last year rubber stamped a Macro-financial Assistance (MFA) program worth 600 million for Tunisia. The assistance in the form of loan is without interest and earmarked to support Tunisias economic reforms amid the pandemic. The European Commission has agreed to provide Tunisia with an interest-free loan, with a 20-year repayment period, to support efforts to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, said last year Marcus Cornaro, head of EU mission in Tunisia. The remaining funds will be disbursed based on Tunisias commitment to the reform process, he added. The Republic of Suriname on Thursday opened a Consulate General in Dakhla, translating thus its strong support for Moroccos sovereignty over its Sahara and its territorial integrity. The opening ceremony of the consular mission was chaired by Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin and the governor of the Aousserd region Abderrahmane El Jaouhari, in the presence of several elected officials and consuls accredited in Dakhla. On Wednesday, Suriname also inaugurated its embassy in Rabat, a move that emphasizes the commitment of the South American country to boost its relations with Morocco. In a joint statement issued after the talks the Surinamese official held with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita in Rabat Wednesday, Ramdin reaffirmed Surinames recognition of Moroccos sovereignty over its Sahara, and expressed full support for the Autonomy Plan as the unique basis for a political solution to the regional dispute in full respect of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Morocco and for bringing peace and stability to the region. During these talks, Bourita informed Ramdin of the latest developments on the Sahara issue and stressed the ever-growing support of the international community to the Moroccan autonomy plan under the sovereignty of Morocco, as the only basis for a consensual political solution to this regional dispute. The Moroccan official reiterated, in this regard, Moroccos commitment to the ongoing political process conducted under the exclusive auspices of the United Nations. Surinames position on the Sahara issue is part of a support wave for the national cause expressed by several countries around the world, especially in the Caribbean region. A total of 12 countries out of 14 in this region have changed their positions in favor of Morocco on the Sahara issue. Surinams consulate brings to 25 the number of consular representations opened in the cities of Dakhla and Laayoune. Administration and members of the Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors brandished shovels Wednesday, breaking ground on the expansion of the Health and Science Center at North Platte Community College in North Platte. The total cost of the expansion is estimated at $4.8 million and will provide more classrooms for nursing courses. Additional lab space for nursing and emergency services and an office area for new faculty will also be constructed. Conference rooms, a classroom with flexible table and chair arrangements, private workspaces for students and a virtual innovation lab will complement existing programming and enhance learning experiences. We are the only institute of higher education in our 18-county service area with a physical presence, said Ryan Purdy, MPCC president. As we look across our region, we have one regional medical center and a lot of active rural hospitals. We, ultimately, are the sole provider of our RNs, LPNs and CNAs in this region, as well as the paramedics and EMTs. Purdy said most of the students come from the college service area. If we dont provide this, we dont have the services, Purdy said. It is huge to the region. With the potential economic development projects coming into the region, Purdy said the college needs to be at the table. We know health care and the shortage of nurses is one major challenge and this is one way we can help fill that gap, Purdy said. The Health and Science Center is located on NPCCs South Campus, 601 W. State Farm Road. Built in 2012, it is home to the colleges nursing, medical laboratory technician, emergency medical services, paramedic, dental assisting, math, biology, physics and engineering programs. Mike Steele, vice president of administrative services at MPCC, said the construction is expected to take approximately 12 months. The first six weeks we will see the dirt work and utilities, Steele said. Then we are going to see the foundation going in around the Fourth of July. He said structural steel will start going up about the time faculty comes back for fall classes. Exterior walls will be completed by Halloween and the majority of the exterior completed by Thanksgiving. In the spring, well bring interior finishes and then the final finishing in May, Steele said. Jacob Rissler, director of Institutional Advancement, thanked the major donors who contributed to the project, including Great Plains Health who donated $500,000 on Feb. 23, 2021. Rissler also thanked the Mid-Plains Community Foundation, First National Bank of Omaha, Nebraskaland Bank, Priority Medical Transport, Pat and Kathleen Keenan, Alan Erickson, Tim and Molly OHolleran and several MPCC Board of Governors members who personally donated to the project. Rissler said as he thought about what to say about the project, he wanted to focus on the impact. A lot of what donors care about is, Alright Ill give you the money, but what are you going to do with it, what kind of impact? Rissler said. And I dont mean what Mike was just talking about with capital I mean, student lives. He said seeing the nurses, the tech students, dental assisting, chemistry, biology and physics graduates walking across the stage, thats why we do what we do. The North Platte Community College Foundation is continuing to raise funds for the project. Those interested in making a contribution can contact Rissler at risslerj@mpcc.edu or 308-535-3754. 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. Cathie Wood is always bullish. Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images Around the middle of April, Cathie Wood sat onstage at the storied Fontainebleau hotel in Miami. It was an awkward time to be a keynote speaker at a conference for money managers: Woods flagship fund, the ARK Innovation ETF, had lost roughly half of its value over the prior year, as its aggressive bets on hot companies from Coinbase to Robinhood and Tesla had melted down amid a bear market in tech stocks. Wood, though, had evidently not lost her luster judging by the crowds applause nor her brazen bullishness. A year earlier, shed thought her firm, ARK Invest, would deliver annualized returns of 15 percent, she acknowledged, setting up what seemed like a mea culpa for her poor performance. Instead, she doubled down: Now we think 50 percent. So far, shes been wrong her main fund is down another 34 percent since her comments but her firm still has more than $16 billion in assets, according to fund-tracker Morningstar. While thats a fraction of the $40 billion ARK had in March (a figure the firm still lists on its website), it means Woods pool of money is still roughly the same size as major hedge funds like Bill Ackmans Pershing Square. (Wood declined to comment for this article.) In the realm of Wall Street, Wood is an unusual creature: Not only is she a rare female portfolio manager, but she was also an outlier in her nearly boundless optimism about the riskiest investments on the market, including cryptocurrency and Tesla, which four years ago she (correctly) predicted would go up more than 1,000 percent. Last fall, she put a $500,000 price target on bitcoin, then as bitcoins price cratered raised it to $1 million a few months later. Woods willingness to make such calls so far ahead of reality and so out of step with Wall Streets old guard has earned her a rockstar reputation among stonks-obsessed retail investors, making her a mascot for buy-the-fucking-dip Robinhood traders, some of whom have dubbed her Cathie Bae on Reddit. In an industry loath to make guarantees about the future, Woods brand was like price-prediction porn: To hear her talk was to feel your mind liquefy in a clickbait-like flood of dopamine-inducing buzzwords her portfolio a cornucopia of self-driving cars, crypto, genomic cancer cures, AI, streaming, and gaming. She told risk-drunk investors exactly what they wanted to hear. In her view, it seemed, tech stocks only went up and to the right. Betting it all on super-volatile tech stocks. Photo: Marco Bello/Getty Images Even the origin story of Woods firm was unconventional. She started ARK after reportedly clashing with her former employer: Her old boss at AllianceBernstein told the Financial Times that her biggest blind spot is managing risk and volatility a serious charge against someone responsible for other peoples money. Wood, a devout Christian, credited the inspiration for starting ARK which offers nine exchange-traded funds that anyone can buy like a stock, making them accessible to rank-and-file investors in a way that hedge funds are not to a divine calling from the Holy Spirit. But she also owed some credit for her start to a now-disgraced peer: Bill Hwang of Archegos Capital Management arrested following his funds implosion last year gave Wood critical seed money. Yet Wood tends to plow right on through any adversity, be it criticism or a market sell-off, as though she believes shes fighting a righteous battle. Truth will win out, she said repeatedly on her firms monthly webinar in May, addressing questions about a looming recession and investors shorting her fund. In 2020, Woods predictions appeared to be on their way to coming true. She was riding high atop the Fed-driven bull market: Her ARK Innovation fund, often known by its ticker as ARKK, returned some 157 percent during that first year of the pandemic, compared to just 18 percent for the S&P 500 as a whole. It was a legendary performance that drew accolades from various market watchers, including CNBCs Jim Cramer, who in February of last year tweeted, Cathie Wood is a genius. In late 2020 ARK even started running parody Bad Ideas ads, making fun of investors seeking safety and comfort in traditional funds: As it turned out, Woods ARKK fund had already peaked. And Cramers compliment an apparent vouch for Wood on a day investors pulled a record amount of money from her fund, following a plunge tied to a decline in Tesla stock seemed increasingly questionable. Woods fund is now exactly where it was in March 2020, meaning pandemic investors who bet on her have now round-tripped all the way up and all the way back down. Adjusting for inflation, they have lost money. Woods collapse has started to seem emblematic, not just of the current bear market in tech, but of the excesses that fed into what now appears to be a pandemic bubble. A professional who espoused the to-the-moon mentality of many amateurs, Wood may now be unintentionally teaching them a valuable lesson: Stocks (and cryptocurrencies) do, in fact, go down, too. Theres a generation of young traders that has yet to experience a true crash in their investing lives the COVID bear market of 2020, after all, lasted only two weeks and now, through Wood, has a front-row seat to a bona fide true bear market. Morningstar, a fund-rating company that usually takes a dispassionate perspective, recently published an excoriating review of Woods performance, downgrading ARKK to negative from neutral. Though her fund had beaten all other U.S. stock funds in 2020, Wood was now looking more like a one-hit wonder. Woods returns, Morningstar wrote, had been wretched, making ARKK one of the worst-performing funds in the U.S. since 2020. Her perilous approach and haphazard disregard for risk unlike other asset managers, ARK doesnt employ any risk-management staff, Morningstar noted was likely to hurt investors, according to the analysis. Woods reliance on her instincts to construct the portfolio is a liability, they wrote. I wouldnt even put your money with Cathie Wood, snipes Fraser Perring, a short-seller who founded Viceroy Research and is known for spotting massive fraud at the German company Wirecard well before the authorities did. She is part of the problem. As of recently, Perring is short ARKK. Why wouldnt you be? he says. She invests in every shitco going. (Hes made a couple of million bucks on the bet so far.) Investors who bought Woods fund at its peak last year from which it is down 75 percent would have lost much less money if theyd bought bitcoin instead, despite the fact that the cryptocurrencys price has also plummeted in the meantime, Perring points out. Cathie Wood is the opposite of a short seller shes a capital depleter. The amount of capital shes evaporated in the world, how can people even suggest shes successful? Shes successful at failing. Indeed, since her incredible pandemic run, Wood has gone from the investor to beat to the one to bet against: Since 2020, investors shorting ARK funds have made about $3.3 billion, according to Ihor Dusaniwsky, the head of predictive analytics at S3 Partners, which tracks short activity. As Wood was taking a victory lap a year ago, those old-school investors ARK mocked in its ads were structuring ways to make money off Woods downfall. Matthew Tuttle, a former wealth manager whod grown skeptical of the industry, began worrying that the market in early 2021 looked like a bubble. This reminds me of 1999, he recalls thinking. He was well aware of Wood, having crossed paths with her over the years at investing conferences. You knew Cathie Wood was the person who bought Tesla and bitcoin and basically said F you to all the people who said she was crazy, he says. But it wasnt just what Wood was trading, but how she was trading that made Tuttle, and others, question ARKs methods. She continued beaming hope about her stocks even as others abandoned them, loading up on more shares as the price tanked a dangerous gambit that Wall Street has a special term for: trying to catch a falling knife. (Some accused her of doing this when she bought more shares of Coinbase when they fell 20 percent one day in May after the company reported disappointing quarterly results.) Even if Big Tech stocks like Apple were still propping up the market, Tuttle could see that shares of smaller tech companies were starting to erode, making Woods fund uniquely vulnerable. Beneath the surface, the termites were eating at the foundation, he says. Thats what I loved about ARK its got the termites. In November, Tuttle debuted the antithesis of ARK: the Tuttle Capital Short Innovation ETF, also known as SARK. If you invested in it at launch, you would have doubled your money some six months later. By mid-May, even some of Woods supporters had soured on her. I think that Cathie Wood is the kiss of death, Cramer said on live TV. The Coinbase call was embarrassing. Woods undoing in the midst of a market meltdown was seen as inevitable by those who resisted the bullish frenzy. From our side of the table, none of this is shocking about Cathie Wood. Ive seen this movie before, says Carson Block, the short seller behind Muddy Waters Research, whose investigations have exposed multiple corporate frauds. Its not that you were really that brilliant, you were just long. Even Wood, with her normally sunny outlook, has begun admitting that there may be dark times ahead. There are a lot of indicators to us, saying were in a bit of a bear market here, she said during this months market update. Yeah, we think we could be in a global recession. Still, over a period of years, stocks do tend to go up. But even if the tide eventually turns back in Woods favor, other investors are questioning whether the self-styled futurist has a future in stock-picking, given the volatility that has become her hallmark. After all, Wood, what some call a permabull, could be merely the epitome of the broken-clock parable guaranteed to be right twice a day. That style is what makes Tuttle believe that people will still want to short ARKK even when the market goes up because the fund tends to seesaw even in good times, meaning it can have downdrafts of 10 percent or more in the span of a week or even a single day. In fact, thats what made Woods fund stand out to Tuttle in the first place. This one, from everything Ive seen, he says, is the most volatile one out there. Eclipse Foundation Canada The Adoptium Working Group gives millions of developers, academics, and researchers a single centralized source of fully verified Java binaries, including Eclipse Temurin BRUSSELS, Belgium, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Eclipse Foundation , one of the worlds largest open source software foundations, in collaboration with its Adoptium Working Group, today announced the Adoptium Marketplace . This new market gives users the opportunity to obtain Java SE TCK certified and AQAvit quality-tested binaries, including Eclipse Temurin, via a centralized site managed by the Eclipse Foundation. By doing so, the Eclipse Foundation and the Adoptium Working Group give millions of developers, researchers, and other organizations an easy means of securing high performance, enterprise-caliber, cross-platform, AQAvit verified, and TCK-certified binaries for general use across the Java ecosystem. With the increasing volume and diversity of OpenJDK runtime distributions, its become clear that quality and consistency across the ecosystem must be established, said Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation. The creation of the Adoptium Marketplace provides a vendor-neutral home for the Java ecosystem that makes it incredibly easy for anyone to find Java SE compatible binaries that have been extensively tested and are ready for cloud native and enterprise deployments. The Adoptium Working Group, which was founded by multiple participants, including many Java developers and vendors such as Alibaba Cloud, Azul, Huawei, IBM, iJUG, Karakun AG, Microsoft, New Relic, and Red Hat, provides the Java ecosystem with fully compatible, high-quality distributions of Java runtimes based on OpenJDK source code. There has been an explosion in the number of OpenJDK-based runtime distributions available over the last few years, and not all of them have the high quality bar set by the Eclipse Foundation. The Adoptium project is hosting a website and application programming interface marketplace where working group members can promote Java SE runtimes that meet specific quality assurance criteria. Story continues The Eclipse AQAvit project was created specifically as a means of testing the exacting criteria that will ensure a binary is ready for production deployment. This is a critical service, as thousands of enterprises and millions of developers that run Java need a reliable source of high-quality Java runtimes that come with timely patches and updates for their mission-critical Java applications. The Adoptium marketplace enables working group members to promote their own Java SE releases that meet Eclipse AQAvits quality criteria, and continue to innovate in the cloud-based infrastructure that drives our efficiency as a shared community project. The Adoptium Marketplace complements the Working Groups efforts by delivering a trusted location where developers and enterprises can obtain compatible binaries of OpenJDK builds. Anyone choosing a binary from this Adoptium Marketplace can be assured of these primary benefits: The binary has been tested and passed the relevant version of the Java SE TCK to ensure Java compatibility; The binary has been fully verified using the AQAvit test criteria, having passed through multiple tests to ensure it meets industry quality standards; and The results of the AQAvit quality checks are available for public scrutiny. The Eclipse Adoptium project and governing Eclipse Adoptium Working Group are the continuation of the original AdoptOpenJDK mission, which was established in 2017 to address the general lack of an open, community-based, and reproducible build and test system for OpenJDK across multiple platforms. Eclipse Adoptium is now the leading provider of high-quality OpenJDK-based binaries used by Java developers in embedded systems, desktops, traditional servers, modern cloud platforms, and mainframes. The Adoptium Marketplace extends this leadership role and gives even more organizations a means of distributing their binaries. If your organization is interested in participating in the Adoptium Working Group, you can view the Charter and Participation Agreement , or email us at membership@eclipse.org. Quotes from Participating Organizations Temurin Eclipse Temurin by the Adoptium project is the leading open source distribution of enterprise-ready Java SE across multiple platforms, said Tim Ellison, Adoptium PMC Lead. Temurin is proud to participate in the Adoptium Marketplace alongside working group members who share our vision for highly scalable, secure, and performant runtimes. Through the marketplace, users are assured that the Java they choose for their applications meets the demanding quality verification offered by AQAvit tests. Azul Market adoption of OpenJDK runtimes is rising fast as users explore their options for moving off costly legacy Java vendors, said Simon Ritter, Deputy CTO, Azul. Azul leads more OpenJDK projects and supports more Java versions than any other vendor, including Oracle. Having Azuls builds of OpenJDK on the Adoptium Marketplace along with other distributions gives users the widest choice of runtime accessible from one convenient location. Huawei Huawei BiSheng (JDK 8) is an open source high-performance OpenJDK distribution that can be used in production environments, with optimized performance and enhanced stability on the ARM architecture, said Shanyao Chen, Huawei BiSheng (JDK 8) Senior Project Manager. We appreciate the Adoptium working group building a great marketplace for users to obtain high-quality, open source distributions, and Huawei BiSheng (JDK 8) is proud to be part of it! IBM IBM is proud to make available at the Adoptium Marketplace the IBM Semeru Runtime Certified Edition that includes both the Eclipse OpenJ9 JVM and OpenJDK class libraries, said Theony Mousa, director of Engineering, IBM Application Platform and Runtimes. Our commitment to producing only high quality, secure, and performant Java SE runtimes is firmly echoed in the guiding principles of the Adoptium Marketplace. With Adoptium's AQAvit quality verification testing, the Java community can trust that the IBM Semeru Runtime Certified Edition will reliably run all Java workloads. Microsoft Microsoft has a long history of supporting developer ecosystems, and we are glad to be a part of the Working Group that is launching the Eclipse Foundation's Adoptium marketplace. The Adoptium marketplace will provide a vendor-neutral home where business-ready, Java-compliant OpenJDK binaries are produced and tested by the AQAvit quality suite. It offers Java developers, users, and deployers a trusted source for OpenJDK binaries from multiple vendors with no restrictions, said Amanda Silver, CVP of Product, Developer Division, Microsoft. Alongside the other founding members, Microsoft looks forward to contributing to the Adoptium marketplace with the Microsoft Build of OpenJDK, a free OpenJDK distribution that is optimized for and supported on Azure. Red Hat At Red Hat we have a long tradition of working with communities to ensure open source software is ready for Enterprise IT use, said Mark Little, VP, Engineering, Red Hat. The Adoptium marketplace is a welcome innovation that supports our mission, and we are committed to participating in the working group to define the open AQAvit standard. We are delighted to bring Red Hats build of OpenJDK to the marketplace, demonstrating that it meets the expectations of modern application developers. Alibaba Cloud Alibaba Cloud has a strong record of open source and community involvement. As a founding member of the Adoptium Working Group, we are thrilled to support the launch of Adoptium Marketplace, said Sanhong Li, director of Compiler & Runtime, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. The Adoptium Marketplace is a trusted place where developers can obtain high quality, production-ready binaries of OpenJDK builds. We look forward to participating in the Adoptium marketplace with the Alibaba Dragonwell, a downstream version of OpenJDK optimized for online e-commerce, financial, logistics applications, and numerous other distributed services on Alibaba Cloud. About the Eclipse Foundation The Eclipse Foundation provides our global community of individuals and organizations with a mature, scalable, and business-friendly environment for open source software collaboration and innovation. The Foundation is home to the Eclipse IDE, Jakarta EE, and over 400 open source projects, including runtimes, tools, and frameworks for cloud and edge applications, IoT, AI, automotive, systems engineering, distributed ledger technologies, open processor designs, and many others. The Eclipse Foundation is an international non-profit association supported by over 330 members, including industry leaders who value open source as a key enabler for their business strategies. To learn more, follow us on Twitter @EclipseFdn , LinkedIn or visit eclipse.org . Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Media contacts: Schwartz Public Relations for the Eclipse Foundation, AISBL Stephanie Bruls / Susanne Pawlik Sendlinger Strae 42A 80331 Munich EclipseFoundation@schwartzpr.de +49 (89) 211 871 64 / -35 Nichols Communications for the Eclipse Foundation, AISBL Jay Nichols jay@nicholscomm.com +1 408-772-1551 Decrease Font Size Font Size Increase Font Size Notice body Four Auburn University Living Democracy students will spend ten weeks living and learning in the Alabama communities of Camden, Collinsville, Chatom, and Elba this summer. The 2022 Living Democracy students are Cori Akins, Brin Allen, Dioselin Cruz and Ashby Henry. The students will work closely with community partners and local citizens to discover what it means to live democracy. Akins, a law and justice major from Huntsville, Alabama, will spend her summer in Chatom working with community partner Jessica Ross, director of the Washington County Library. Akins said, Living Democracy is about empowering others by connecting with your community. I hope to learn how to better serve and advocate for others. Allen, a sophomore history and psychology major from Spanish Fort, Alabama, will spend her summer in the northeast Alabama community of Collinsville, a Living Democracy community since 2012. She will be working closely with Jennifer Wilkins, director of the Collinsville Public Library. Allen said, I hope to improve my understanding of communities and develop my skills in developing projects. Living Democracy is an opportunity for college students to see the intersection of community and civic engagement in real situations. Cruz, a history major from Dothan, Alabama, will spend 10 weeks working primarily with the nonprofit organization Restoration 154. The sophomore said, I hope to learn unique lessons from Elba. Henry, from Hope Hull, Alabama, is a senior political science and history major who will be working in Camden. Her community partners are Sulynn Creswell, executive director, and Kristin Law, arts programs and marketing director, at the Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center in Camden. Henry said, I hope to make strong connections in the Camden community and get to know the town on a deep level. I am excited to meet new people, forge new relationships and get to know the ins and outs of such a special place. Living Democracy is a program of the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University. Students also serve as Jean O'Connor-Snyder Interns with the David Mathews Center for Civic Life. For more information, visit https://cla.auburn.edu/livingdemocracy/. The Staircase editor Sophie Brunet never wanted to be a character in HBO Maxs adaptationand exclusively tells V.F. that the series misrepresents her 13-year relationship with Michael Peterson. https://t.co/wdxRAne40h VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) May 21, 2022 The French film editor behind the Staircase documentary sits down with VanityFair to discuss her unhappiness with HBO Maxs The Staircase. The miniseries portrays Sophie Brunet's relationship with alleged wife killer Michael Peterson and potential unethical behavior by her in editing the documentary. Sophie Brunet told showrunner Antonio Campos that she did not want to be a character on the show and he insisted it would be a work of imagination. "I was upset when I heard that I was going to be a character in the Antonio Campos series. I felt betrayed and I was angry with myself that I had trusted Antonio."Neither Camposs representatives nor HBO Max responded to a request for comment. She exhibits a remarkable lack of ethics and self-awareness by admitting that she and Petersoninvolved while she edited episodes and she also contributed money to his defense fund. She claims she did these donations- thousands of her own dollars- to Petersons legal fund on her "personal time." Brunet criticizes HBO Max for not putting a disclaimer on the series to indicate parts of it were fictionalized. However, episodes of the Staircase documentary which she edited never included a disclaimer indicating the editor was in a relationship with Peterson. Regarding her behavior and continued support of the Owl Theory : "At first I just wanted to support and then to love Michael. After his appeals failed in 2008, I also became involved in his defense because I thoughtand still dothat this theory is the only theory of Kathleens death that fits with all the evidence...I worked on the owl theory for years, collecting dozens and dozens of accounts of owl attacks on people." She says her relationship with Peterson didn't begin until after his conviction and after she edited the first eight episodes of the documentary. However, she was in a relationship with him when she was re-hired to edit later episodes. Their romantic relationship lasted about twelve years but she insists that she was able to compartmentalize her personal and professional feelings and was never biased in the editing room. Since she couldn't stop the series, she helped and eventually became friends with Oscar winner Juliette Binoche, who plays her. "I decided to make the best of it and meet with Juliette...I took this new friendship as a late gift, an unexpected happy ending to my painful story." While HBO Max shows Brunet consciously cutting The Staircase to push empathy for Peterson in the hopes of helping him with an appeal, in reality producer Allyson Luchak confirmed that the filmmakers edited the documentary with the understanding that, per an agreement with Petersons defense attorney, they could not release footage until after Peterson had exhausted his chances for appeal. She claims she finished her work on the eight original episodes of The Staircase without ever meeting or corresponding with Peterson. She says she was inspired to reach out to Peterson only after he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in October 2003 because she was shocked by his sentence. She says she was affected by the 'cruelty' and what she saw as a miscarriage of justice. Peterson has since been released from prison after being granted a new trial and submitting an Alford plea. Brunet clarifies that she would never have crossed the ethical line of pursuing a relationship with the subject of a documentary before her work on the documentary had concluded. She traded hundreds of letters with Peterson and flew to visit him three to four times a year. She contradicts Peterson's memories of the relationship, which ended due to distance. "You have to notice that being accurate is not Michaels cup of tea. It took me some time to understand that...Michael was not the man he had pretended he wanted to be. Or he changed too much during the long justice process." She didn't elaborate further but says she had good times in the relationship and doesn't regret it. Brunet states she edited the last three episodes after their break up: "I could not possibly be suspected of wanting to favor Michael, since we had broken up before I finished editing." Despite that, Peterson convinced Brunet to do an interview to help his case. She claims she did not realize at the time that by doing the interview, she was also qualifying the relationship as public domain. "I sacrificed my privacy at that time for the hope that the owl theory would eventually prove Michels innocence." Brunet refuses to accept the way her career is suddenly being called into question because the HBO Max series has taken creative license on her life and work. "I just need to make sure that our professional behavior is not misrepresented. I did not put any bias in my editing of any of the episodes of Staircase. Jean-Xavier never asked Michael to rephrase a statement or give more emotion in a second take. He never asked for second take[s]. He wanted to come as close to the truth as possible...[in the series, Sophie pushes Michael] to take the Alford plea in order to start a new life. This is disturbing to me: I would never have done this." On Colin Firth's portrayal of Peterson: "Colin Firth is a great actor, but he doesnt capture the energy and fantastic humor of his model...He does convey some feeling of him though: a man who found himself lying too many times and sometimes loses track of his own truth." : "Many twists and turns happened that I did not tell Antonio about." Oooooh yay! Im excited, I loved La Fuerza Reply Thread Link SESTRA IS LOOKING GOOOOOD Reply Thread Link Whose face is that? Because it's not Christina's. Reply Thread Link Did you listen to her last EP? It was pretty good! Reply Parent Thread Link Didn't the first one flop? The red hair looks great on her! Reply Thread Link It didnt flop, shes an indie artist how dare you? Reply Parent Thread Link It makes me sad that she's not promoted the way she should be. She was a staple in early and mid 2000s pop and should be treated as such. Prayers for a Britney collab one day! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link the promotion of this project has been awful, and idk if her or her label's to blame tbh. the first ep was so good. Edited at 2022-05-26 01:31 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Oh yes, I was going to listen to the first part. Reply Thread Link check it out, it's six tracks and no skips imo! Reply Parent Thread Link She looks so pretty as a redhead!!! Pa Mis Muchachas is still that bop!!! Reply Thread Link Ok Reply Thread Link I miss her original face but the red hair does look beautiful regardless. I hope she keeps it for a while (even tho I know its hard to maintain). Ill check both EPs out. Its been too long since Ive heard that voice of hers ETA: lol nvm its a wig, idk what I was thinking. Hope she buys lots more in that shade Edited at 2022-05-26 01:39 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link i love the red on her, i wish it was real! but she seems committed to only wearing it for promo related to this project, specifically. Reply Parent Thread Link Really? Aw boo. The platinum blonde needs an update. Reply Parent Thread Link She is so beautiful Reply Thread Link Where's the promo?? I thought her moving to Roc Nation was supposed to fix this I don't understand any Spanish, but La Fuerza is so good Reply Thread Link roc nation doesn't seem like it's all it's cracked up to be, tbh Reply Parent Thread Link I really like her Spanish tracks. Even the 00's ones like "Falsas Esperanzas". Hope this volume is as good as the first ^-^ Reply Thread Link Ame La Fuerza! Espero que el segundo sea igual de bueno, si no, mejor. Reply Thread Link I can't wait! Reply Thread Link Yes Xtina.. these last albums have truly been tormentas Reply Thread Link honest question,.. everyone is asking where the promotion is,.. with this day and age, how would u guys promote this? Or what promotion are you expecting?! Reply Thread Link it's definitely not a criticism of christina, at least not as much as it is one of her label/management. but, i will say that when la fuerza dropped it had only been announced a few days earlier, and this time around she just casually mentioned it in the tweet about the la pride contest. it feels very minimal compared to how much she hyped up her performances at the hollywood bowl, for example. Edited at 2022-05-26 07:41 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link lol the look Elaine gives Amber as the lying buffoon is thinking about the next lie to come out of his mouth. #IStandWithAmberHeard pic.twitter.com/dQiemxruzZ Ivana Escalera (@IvanaE) May 25, 2022 her reaction lmfao pic.twitter.com/NT6ODlvFFU Ivana Escalera (@IvanaE) May 25, 2022 WATCH: #AmberHeard's attorney and #JohnnyDepp got into an intense argument over sexually-explicit comments Depp allegedly made in a text message exchange. "You can pull what you like, I never said those words," Depp told Benjamin Rottenborn. @LawCrimeNetwork pic.twitter.com/Q5CQn4BUsE Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) May 25, 2022 They read out Depp's text to Christian Carino that he wants Amber Heard fired and globally humiliated. Depp is visibly angry at being exposed but then begins to smirk at the texts. All the while Amber Heard is crying listening to this abusive text about her.#IStandWithAmberHeard pic.twitter.com/uKRuc493oP Katie (@total_silliness) May 25, 2022 Hes staring directly at Amber and smirking but his fans were trying to convince us that hes too traumatized to look at her pic.twitter.com/nvNci2iPLR dakota moss (@cocainecross) May 25, 2022 Cross-exam: Bredehodt: "This gets you your 15 minutes of fame, doesn't it?" Tremaine: "I could say the same thing about taking #AmberHeard as a client, for you."#JohnnyDepp pic.twitter.com/OaCXIwJwWR Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) May 25, 2022 Depp vs. Heard is in the final stretch, and today Depp took the stand again in what ended up being a bombshell cross-examination by J. Benjamin Rottenborn in a testimony that included possibly edited photos, a text saying that Amber is, and a wide range of reactions from Amber herself.In addition to this, Kate Moss took the stand for all of about 3 minutes, a person with no certifications in photo forensics took the stand to discuss the metadata in Amber's photos, and the police officer who arrested Amber during the alleged incident with Tasya Van Ree says that she was contacted anonymously about the trial.Depp's team reportedly just has one witness left tomorrow, and closing statements will be given on Friday. From here, the jury will deliberate on their verdict.- Moss is essentially just there to deny Ambers version of events that she was pushed down the stairs. She says that they were staying at a bungalow in Jamaica, and the stairs became wet due to rain. She says she slipped down the stairs, screamed out to Depp, and he lifted her up and took her to the room for medical attention.- Curry, the psychologist who diagnosed Amber with BPD and HPD, is back on the stand. Essentially, she is there to discredit Dr. Hughes, and says that Dr Hughes misrepresented the tests she did on Amber, as well as Currys own testimony, and represented her own opinions as facts. I should note that Hughes is a board certified psychologist, who has trained Supreme Court Justices on IPV, and has previously testified in high profile cases like the R. Kelly trial and the NXIVM sex cult.- Curry says that Hughes testified that she did 12 tests on Amber. Curry says that Hughes only did 8 tests that are checklists, and can be easily exploited, and revealed things they simply cannot reveal. Again, Curry says that Amber showed clear signs of exaggerated symptoms of PTS - Hughes previously testified that the test Curry undertook used percentiles, and the instructions of the test say not to do this . Curry says that Hughes did not administer the test appropriately.- Curry says again that Ambers answers to her tests showed the signs of someone with a personality disorder, and Bipolar Disorder. Curry says that Amber was defensive while testing and tried to underplay her symptoms of these disorders, but the tests still picked up on symptoms anyway; such as externalization of blame, denial about ones own personal faults, extreme hostility to those around them and an explosive loss of temper.- Theres a whole lot more discussion about different testing methods, but as someone who only suffers from mental illness instead of treating it, I dont claim to understand any of it so I dont want to misconstrue any information. Her testimony can be watched in full here if you are interested. - When Bredehoft takes the stand, she points out that Curry is not board certified, is licensed for 10 years, and is being paid by Depps legal team to take the stand - Curry says she does not know how much she has been paid for this as she doesnt do her own books.- Bredehoft again brings up that Curry had dinner at Depps house for 3 - 4 hours, with Depp, Adam Waldman, Ben Chew, and Camille Vasquez. Curry claims that it was an interview, and after 3 hours she asked if she could have something to eat because she got hungry. Depp then offered to order takeout for the entire team. Bredehoft asks if Curry had drinks, she says she doesnt remember but she knows there were drinks there. Bredehoft brings up that in her prior testimony, Curry said she did have a Moscow Mule - Curry says she might have had one. Find this.- Bredehoft brings up the fact that Curry had several designations and reports for this trial, and she did not report the dinner in any of them. Curry says,She says that she did not disclose that she was interviewed because it is standard practice. Bredehoft says that Curry has never met with a client before at their home, and Curry says that Depp wasOP notes that Depp couldnt leave his home to meet Curry, but could fly to the UK in February 2020 to meet with The Daily Mail at their offices.- Curry is asked if her limitations for this case are just to diagnose if Amber has PTSD - she begins to launch into an answer about how she was asked to evaluate Ambers mental state. Bredehoft tries to stop her from talking, but Curry continues talking over her, until Bredehoft cuts her off and asks her to just answer yes or no to questions like these for the sake of time.- After the dinner, Curry provided a designation in February 2021, that saidCurry met with Amber in December 2021, 10 months after saying this. Curry says No, and Bredehoft says that they went over this in her last testimony and it is in her designation. Curry claims again that she did not write this, and doesnt know who on Depps legal team wrote this.- Bredehoft asked if Curry listened to an audio tape where Depp taunts her about having BPD in her prior testimony, and asks Curry again. Curry says that she doesnt recall Depp taunting Amber, merelythat she has BPD. Find audio- When asked, Curry confirms that she has never been qualified to test in IPV and domestic violence cases.- Curry claims that she read all of Heards treatment records in order to aid this diagnosis. It should be noted that not one of 4 psychiatrists and psychologists, Dr. Hughes, Dr. Cowan, Dr. Banks, and Dr. Jacobs, who treated Amber or evaluated her for this trial, diagnosed her with any form of personality disorder.- Curry confirms that she also did not note any any reports or designations that she met with Dr. Shaw, the psychiatrist who testified yesterday. - I just want to note on this post that I have used a few clips here from Amber Heard supporters. All of these were moments that I had noted in my Google Doc while watching the testimony, but after I finished writing these initial notes I found various clips of these doing my usual Twitter searches to find necessary clips. I find that Law & Crime have recently started mainly posting videos that lean very much in favour of Depp - likely because it gets far more engagement for them.- I have also posted quite a few screenshots of Amber reacting to Depp's testimony. I'm no body language expert, nor do I want to be, but I found her reactions to Depp's testimonyinteresting. For the first part of his testimony, Amber seemed the most relaxed she has all trial. She's not trying to look stoic, she simply just looks fed up, and somewhat amused when Depp makes somemistakes while testifying. Again, I'll leave these screenshots, clips, and timestamps, to your own interpretation.- Depp is asked about the defamatory statements that were made by Adam Waldman. He claims that he never saw the statements until August 2020, when Amber countersued him. He says they seem liketo him, and he didnt know where they had come from.Depp is asked about Ambers role in Aquaman - Camille accused Amber of only getting the role because of Depp, which Amber and her agent denied. When Depp is asked when Amber auditioned for Aquaman, instead of just answering the question he launches into a whole backstory about how his band played two shows in Europe, one of which was the Rock and Roll festival in Europe, Whitney was there, they were rehearsing, it goes on and on. At one point, Bredehoft slowly turns to Amber, and they give each other a knowing look.- Depp says that Amber told him that after her audition (or auditions, hes not sure), Aquaman was going to be filmed in Australia, which was a concern to Warner Bros. - he doesnt say exactly why, but its clear its because of the infamous dog smuggling incident in 2015. He says that Amber asked him to speak to Warner Brothers, as he had been working with them on a multi-film deal for a few years (Presumably Fantastic Beasts), and he says that he spoke to 3 people on her behalf, and ultimately she got the role.- Questioning moves to Ambers accusations that Depp took 8 - 10 MDMA pills in Australia. When asked how many times hes taken MDMA, Amber very visibly smirks.Depp says not that many times, maybe 6 or 7 times in his lifetime.Depp says he hasnt done enough to properly experience what MDMA is meant to do to you. Again, Amber reacts to this. When asked if hes ever taken 8 - 10 pills at once, Depp says no because Id be dead.- Questioning then moves to the finger injury. Once again, Depp and his team try to hammer home that it was Amber throwing a glass bottle that injured his finger, despite an Orthopedic surgeon testifying that this was not possible given his injury , and the medical notes from Australia saying that it was a crushing injury. Depp denies that there was a wall mounted phone in the room, which Amber testified she thinks caused his injury. As Depp describes Amber allegedly throwing the bottle at him, she puts her head in her hands before giving Depp this look- Depp is shown the text he sent to Dr. Kipper, he says he sent it when he barricaded himself in a room to stop Amber from getting in. There's no mention of the fact that in this text, Depp again admits to- Depp is asked about the Orient Express incident - Amber claims that she was beat by Depp and choked with his jacket to the point she passed out. Depp again says that Amber was the instigator, and that heto the face by Heard. This is the first time in this trial that Depp has alleged he was hit by Amber in this incident - it wasnt even brought up originally until Malcolm Connelly was asked just about taking the photo . When shown the image that his team submitted, Depp says he sees apost this image later in the post during his cross-examination, because it becomes quite important later on.- Depp is asked about Amber talking about the Kate Moss incident in her testimony. He confirms Ambers version of events, and says he recalls telling Amber about the incident as Kate had told it at this point, Rottenborn objects due to hearsay. After a sidebar, hes asked the question again, and he says, Ill make it easy for Mr. Rotten. Born. Im genuinely unsure if this was a purposeful dig, or just Depp struggling to get out a full sentence as he has done throughout the testimony- Depp says Amber took the story, made it into a, and says that this never happened-- Rottenborn objects again as Amber only testified that she had heard a rumour. Depp responds to Rottenborn, who is talking to the judge, and says. The judge seems to look at him because Depp apologises, and then after the objection is overruled, Depp says to his lawyer,Once again, Depp acts in complete contempt to Rottenborn, who is just doing his job in a seemingly normal and professional manner.- When asked about his relationship with Whitney, Depp said he. And grew to love (her) very much. He says that it seemed likeWhen asked to clarify this comment, Depp says that Whitney was a combination of both a loving and trusting sister, and a lackey for Amber. When Depp begins this answer, Amber has a very curious look on her face, and when he uses the word, she seems visibly taken aback by this- Depp says that Whitney was like a, and says that Amber would verbally demean her or throw wine in her face. Amber looks highly amused by this.- Depp begins describing an incident where Amber allegedly threw wine in Whitneys face in New York, and saysAmber seems bemused by both the mention of the incident, and even moreso when Depp mentions the papers. OP notes that despite having kept up with this case for the last 6 years, I have never heard of such an incident before, mentioned in either this or the UK trial, and when I try to find anything online about it the only results are about this very testimony. When asked how he learnt about this incident, he says that Amber told him in detail..- Depp once again opines how hard it has been for him to live with these accusations, and to have to live with them for 6 years and not be able to tell his story. He says,- Rottenborn takes the stand for cross-examination. Questioning begins with the Orient Express incident. Rottenborn brings up the image that Depps team submitted. He then brings up pictures that were taken of Depp before the train ride, that show the exact sameunder his eyes that is seen on the train photo. Depp tries to claim its the light hitting his under eyes from the side, but Rottenborn says that the picture is not being taken from the side. Depp is not happy with this, and argues back, and is told by the judge to wait for the next question..- Rottenborn then brings up the hail mary - a photo posted by the Orient Express facebook page. The post can be found here . As Ive mentioned before in these posts, Heard fans have posted this photo on Twitter and claimed that the one Depps team submitted has been edited, but I never knew the source of it. Finally we have it. Depp claims his face has been photoshopped. Amber gives an amused look towards the lawyer to her right. The two images, again, for comparison.- Rottenborn says that he is moving to the Australia incident. Depp responds,Rottenborn says that Depp begged for drugs just minutes after the finger incident, Depp says he does not recall doing this but he was in a great deal of pain. A text is then shown sent from Depp to his assistant, the same evening as the finger incident. The text reads:- After this, theres a bunch of back and forth between Depp and Rottenborn. Earlier on in his direct, Depp claimed that Amber had thrown a vodka bottle at him that had a handle. Rottenborn points out that there are no pictures of a handle anywhere on the floor, despite Depp claiming earlier that a photo showed the handled bottle in the corner. Eventually, Depp admits that there is no handle shown in the photo.- Earlier in his testimony, Depp claimed that there was no wall mounted phone in the house. Rottenborn then brings up his UK testimony, where he clearly stated that there was a phone on the wall, that he doesnt remember smashing it, but he does remember ripping it off the wall.- When the statement is brought up, Rottenborn asks Depp if he remembers testifying in the UK trial - he hasnt asked anything about the actual testimony itself, or the phone. Depp says,, and then reads the statement as Rottenborn is trying to ask him a question. It gets to the point that Rottenborn has to say- Rottenborn then reads the statement out loud, and says,Depp says,hes seemingly about to launch into another story or long winded answer, but Rottenborn cuts him off sayingDepp laughs at this- A quote is then read from an article Depp did for Premiere Magazine in 1995, that reads,- Rottenborn then asks Depp,Depp takes a moment, asks him to repeat that, and then as Rottenborn begins repeating it Depp repeats his question. Once Rottenborn is finished saying the question again, Depp responds- Rottenborn then asks,Depp says,Rottenborn then asks for an exhibit to pulled up, and before its even on the screen Depp says,Depp, the man who said he wanted to, says- Rottenborn points out that "Him" has referred to Depp in every text message on this case. Depp says, "Yeah sure, doesn't mean it hasn't been screwed with. That's not anything that I've ever said or written." Rottenborn asks if Depp would like to see the full unredacted version and Depp responds,- Texts are shown allegedly sent from Depp to Stephen Deuters, on February 22nd 2017. Depp fans are claiming that these were sent fromas the texts do say "Incoming", and just before Rottenborn says that when a text says "Him", this means they are from Depp's phone. Depp's team only objected to this evidence being shown due to relevance. I guess we'll see tomorrow what the deal is. The texts below.- Rottenborn asks Depp if he read it right, Depp says,Amber and her team visibly react to this. Rottenborn says that every other text Depp has provided for this litigation has been from him, Depp says "Not necessarily. Sometimes you give your phone to your people."- Rottenborn brings up the Stephen Deuters texts from after the Boston plane incident. He asks Depp, repeatedly, if he had Deuters text Amber on his behalf. Depp keeps denying this in long winded ways, to the point that again, Rottenborn cuts him off to say it is a yes or no question. Depp finally says,- Rottenborn asks Depp if he had Stephen Deuters message Amber after the incident - Depp says he told Stephen toRottenborn asks Depp if he told his team to just said whatever needed to be said, and Depp says,Again, Rottenborn tries to bring up the texts, and again, Depps team objects and stops them from being shown. A reminder of these very detailed and apologetic texts sent to "placate" Amber after the incident.- Rottenborn then brings up that Depp testified that he was responsible for getting Amber the role in Aquaman, and says,This then starts somewhat of an argument between the two. Depp responds,Rottenborn says it was just the one question, and Depp goes to ask what the TRO has to do with it. Rottenborn, again, cuts him off and says,As he is talking, Depp talks over him and says,Rottenborn again asks,and Depp snaps back,It is utterly bizarre and genuinely. uncomfortable to watch.- Rottenborn brings up evidence on to the screen, and before Rottenborn can even get two words out, Depp talks over him again and asksThe text is from Depp to his sister, and Depp says,The text reads:- Rottenborn then says that Depp reached out to Greg Silverstein and Sue Kroll at WB to have her fired. Depp, again, launches into a long winded answer about how he had vetted Amber to WB, and just wont stop talking over Rottenborn. The judge eventually interrupts him and tells him to just answer the question.Depp denies this, as well as reaching out to Kevin Tsujihara to get Amber fired.- The text to Christian Carino, sent in August 2016, is then shown. In it, Depp says that Amber isaccuses her ofhe calls her athreatens to slice the side of Musks dick off, and says about Amber,And thats only about half the text.Amber, who seemed the most relaxed she had for the entire trial for the first half of Depps testimony, is clearly now emotional and is seen wiping away tears as the text is read. Depp, on the other hand, smiles when he tells Rottenborn that he read it correctly.- Rottenborn mentions that Depp first met Waldman a month or so after this text, a nd then brings up Waldmans testimony that the two of them met with The Daily Mail in February 2020. Depp asks him to repeat the question, and then takes a long break before askingRottenborn says no, and says that Waldman testified to this meeting, and Depp saysHe says that heo;- Rottenborn then brings up Depps earlier testimony, that he has waited for 6 years to get the truth out, and that this is hisRottenborn says that this is not true however, because of the lawsuit against The Sun. He brings up the fact that Depp brought a lawsuit against The Sun in June 2018, 6 months before Amber wrote her op-ed. Depp responds,Rottenborn brings up the fact that there was a several week trial in 2020 as a result of this lawsuit, where many exhibits of evidence were introduced, and Depp was on the stand for several days in a trial where much of the same factual evidence was introduced. Rottenborn says,Depp, again begins to launch into a long-winded answer saying,, but Rottenborn has no further questions.- During cross-examination, there's a moment where Depp looks over at Amber, she seems to make eye contact with him and looks away, and then Depp smirks to himself. I guess he got over his promise to never let Amber look into his eyes, once again. - Earlier, TMZs lawyer lost their motion to stop this testimony from happening, which was surprising as most legal experts thought it would easily be stopped due to journalists privilege.- Tremaine was the Field Assignment Manager at TMZ in 2016, and was the go-between for the office and the paparazzi. Essentially, he would dispatch paparazzi to locations, either given to him by news producers, or tips given via a tip line. He says that tips were often given directly from publicists, managers, agents, lawyers, and B-list celebrities.- He testifies that he got a tip from his news producer that Amber was getting a restraining order, and he dispatched camera people to the location. Tremaine says that as it was from a news producer, it meant that the tip had been verified. He says that the objective was to film Amber leaving the courthouse, and that Amber would - Tremaine then says he got a tip on August 6th as he got another tip that Amber was giving her deposition, so he sent cameras to film her in the courtroom car park.- On August 12th, TMZ received the cabinet video via their email tipline. The email was sent via some unknown Dropbox type link. It was quickly added, the TMZ logo added for copyright purposes, and it was posted to their website within 15 minutes of receiving it. He says that he got a tip that Amber would be arriving to LAX, and dispatched camera people to film this - Amber previously testified that she didnt know the video was going to be released, she doesnt know how to do this, and found out once she arrived to LA.- Tremaine says that the video they received is shorter than the one that has been shown in court - the one TMZ was sent didnt have Amber hiding the camera at the beginning, or her seemingly snickering at the end. He denies that they edited it at all.- Tremaine later says that he reached out solely to clarify the timeline of things as he noted the discrepancy between the two videos, and had no intention of testifying.- Tremaine says they got a tip that Amber had flown in to give her deposition again as something had gone wrong with the initial attempt. They again filmed her at the courthouse. Tremaine denies that they received any contact from Depp or his team.- During cross-examination by Bredehoft, Tremaine says that he had watched some of the trial as he saw TMZ had been mentioned. He reached out to Depps team 6 days ago, and was subpoenaed yesterday by a lawyer that represents various witnesses on Depps side, including his sister and Kate James, Ambers former assistant.- Bredehoft points out that the case is being televised, and essentially asks Tremaine if hes doing this for his 15 minutes of fame. Vasquez objects due to "Argumentative", but the judge overrules this. Tremaine denies this, and says that doing this actually puts himself in the target of TMZ who is known to be very litigious. He then says to Bredehoft,Bredehoft responds and says,In the gallery, a few peoples jaws drop at this, and Ben Chew looks back at Camille Vasquez - both look highly amused (This screenshot is from a Fox YouTube channel and not the video above, which I won't be posting for.... obvious reasons).- It should also be pointed out that Bredehoft, at Amber's behest, tried to get this case thrown out of the court.- Bredehoft asks Tremaine if he was aware that Depps attorneys knew that Amber was getting the TRO. Tremaine says he was not. Bredehoft asks if Tremaine knew that one of Depps divorce attorneys, Blair Berk, had a close relationship with TMZ. Tremaine does not. This thread here by Pop Culture Died in 2009 details the relationship between Berk and TMZ, as well as Depp's other divorce attorney Debra Wasser , who Amber mentioned in her own testimony as having a close relationship with TMZ.- I'd also like to point out that within 3 days of Amber getting her TRO, TMZ posted stories about Amber not telling the cops about the incident when they arrived , and the security guards claiming that Amber was nowhere near Johnny as she screamed for him to stop hitting her (One of which has testified to this in this very trial , 6 years later). Again, Tremaine testified about TMZ's very thorough vetting process to ensure stories are from legitimate sources, and that often they can come celebrities, their teams, and their lawyers - make of this what you will.- Norbert is here to speak to the metadata of photos. It should be noted that Camille Vasquez objected to metadata being shown on the photos of Ambers injuries from the cellphone incident during her testimony. It should be noted that metadata can be changed just via sending an image through email, uploading it on social media, putting it through editing software, screenshotting it, etc.- Norbert is then taken through different photos. The first photo is the one that Amber sent to her mother in March 2013. He says that there were dozens of different versions of this photo with different file sizes, chromatic values, and photo values. 3 different files on the image are brought up, and theyre all different photo sizes. Granted these are are thumbnails and the stream is not the highest quality, but all 3 photos look exactly the same. The only difference in them is the sizes. Norbert does say the file size and metadata could be different just by sending it through email, but theres no way to authenticate this.- Photos are shown of Ambers injury from the cellphone incident. The metadata on this photo show that it was taken that evening at 9.24 p.m., but the photo was put through Photos 3.0. An example of the metadata below.- For those unaware, Photos is an Apple software , only used on a computer and not on an actual phone, where you can edit photos, but its also used to simply save and sort photos too.- Later, in his cross-examination, it is brought up that in Norberts deposition he said that a photo having a metadata tag for Photos 3.0 does not mean that it was edited, as it could have this just by being saved in the software. He also said that a file does not change visually just by being saved in the software.- Two versions of the same photo are shown - one that had the Photos 3.0 metadata, and the other that had the original iOS. While one has appears to have had the contrast boosted up, the bruising is still visible in both.- The two photos Amber was accused of editing by Camille Vasquez are shown. Norbert says that one photo has been edited and one hasnt as the- he doesnt say which. Again, unless Amber has a naturally desaturated grey purpleish hue to her skin, I would argue it's the one on the right.- During cross-examination, Norbert admits that while an expert in other fields,- Norbert admits that he isIn his deposition last month, Norbert said that he doesnt believe that the photo Amber sent to her mother.- Things get a bit heated when Ambers lawyer asks Norbert if he found any evidence that the metadata has been edited on the photos, Norbert says that there isnt a way to find this. Theres a back and forth where the lawyer is simply asking Norbert to answer yes or no, did he find this evidence. Norbert keeps repeating thatEventually, even Depp seems frustrated and takes his glasses off and looks back at the lawyer - not something he often does. Norbert says,- Ambers lawyer pushes back, and repeats the question, Norbert repeats the sameanswer. Depps lawyer objects as its been asked and answered, and Ambers lawyer saysThe judge overrules the objection. Norbert again says,Ambers lawyer calls to the judge that hes not answering the question, and the judge asks him to simply respond yes or no. Finally, after almost two minutes of trying to avoid answering the question, Norbert says no.- Ambers lawyer asks if it is Norberts opinion that the metadata on the injury photosNorbert responds and says the photos submitted by Ambers teams are screenshots, not the actual photos, and therefore her team have changed the metadata themselves - Im pretty sure that this was not a great answer, because hes just confirmed that something as simple as screenshotting an image can change the metadata, and this could very easily be why the photos of Ambers bruise on her arm were different, or why perhaps the quality could have degraded.- His deposition is brought up where he said that no, the metadata on the injury photos do not indicate that they went through a photo editing application. Norbert begins to argue back, but Ambers lawyer cuts him off and says he has no further questions.- Beverly recounts that she was in the baggage claim area, and she observed Amber and Tasya getting into an altercation. She says that Amber grabbed Tasyas arm and pulled her necklace off, and says that at this point she got up and went to break it up. She says she got in between the two with a fellow officer that she called over.- She says that Amber was aggressive towards Tasya, and was not very steady on her feet. Beverly says that Ambers eyes were blurry and watery, and she could smell alcohol on her. She says that Tasya raised her hands in a defensive manner, but was largely quite stoic. She says that Tasya was 2 or 3 inches taller than Amber, so she didnt really need to defend herself.- Beverly says she asked them if they were okay, and Amber saidAt this, Amber exchanges a look with Rottenborn.She cant say what the email contained because of an objection.- Beverly says that she contacted Depps counsel late the previous night. Again, Bredehoft implies that Beverly wanted to be on television. Beverly denies this, and says that she had been waiting for a call from Depps team but hadnt been contacted. It should be noted that this story originally broke via TMZ , just over a week after Amber got the TRO, and via the same source that Depp's divorce attorney had connections with. Tasya made the below statement defending Amber.- After this statement was released, TMZ then posted an article claiming that Beverly is a lesbian. She also made a Facebook post regarding TMZ's article, that has since been deleted (This is the only screenshot of it I could find). None of this was mentioned in today's testimony, and Tasya was not even, she was only referred to as Amber's "travel companion."Sources: Set in a nightclub, Anna Delveys solo show seemed like another scamand then her artwork showed up: https://t.co/wvW0lfODLw pic.twitter.com/T2MbC1HgcB Artnet (@artnet) May 23, 2022 Apparently Anna Delvey/Sorokin has been keeping herself busy in jailby creating art. Little Miss Anna had an art show last Thursday, and it wascompletely unlike a typical exhibition openingat first. It was thrown at a trendy Lower East Side hotel, and the guests ranged from24-hour East Village party people, influencers, and everyone in between.The space was set up like a club, and the booze was flowing; the signaturedrink of the night? Anna on Ice. More curious was the absence of Annasdrawings, recently completed at the ICE detention facility using coloredpencils, pens, and other cheap supplies sent to her by Chris Martine, theupstart artists dealer and the organizer of the event.A lot of guests started gossiping about where the art might be (withseveral guessing there was no art at all and that the whole event was atype of conceptual homage to Anna scamming folks) but then finally thelights went down, Kanye Wests Flashing Lights came onand the glassdoors were flung open. Models walked down a catwalk, each one holdingholding a framed drawing of Annas. At this point, the thoroughly trashedcrowd went wild.As with the last batch of drawings, the Allegedly artworks find Sorokinin a self-deprecating mood, mixing cartoon captions, fashion sketchtechniques, and a sardonic sense of humor to both riff on her own personaand perform it. One, for instance, features the artist in the courtroom, asea of cameras behind her and a caption above: Trial is the new sextape,it says. After some tech issues Anna (who is still detained at the OrangeCounty Correctional Facility in Goshen, New York) appeared on a monitor inthe club live from jail and thanked everyone for coming.Before the event, Martine (who represents Sorokin) said the drawings wouldbe priced between 10-15k each, but apparently they were only for sale as aseries (and even then you only get 48% ownership of the art and TheFounders Art Club will always retain 53%) edit: Mods, I added sources and the twitter leads to the artnet link I've provided.:O Ok but why cant this series center around detective CLARICE STARLING???? She the TRUE detective!!! Edited at 2022-05-26 10:15 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Well the other Clarice show that wasn't great, but I liked, got very quickly canceled. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm assuming the answer is 'rights' Reply Parent Thread Link the clarice show got cancelled T_T i liked it a lot. Reply Parent Thread Link ok i am all for that plot. Reply Thread Link reading that plot made me think of The Thing, so I'm down for it! Reply Thread Link Gender/season flipped Insomnia? Ok. Reply Thread Link Because it takes place in Alaska? Reply Parent Thread Link my exact thoughts Reply Parent Thread Link Oh wow wow wow wow! A slight return to Clarice Starling lol! Reply Thread Link I used to love her but her support of Mel Gibson really turned me off her, so no thanks. Reply Thread Link same tbh Reply Parent Thread Link Reading the comments, I think there are probably a whole five of us who care that she supports a raging racist misogynistic anti-Semite. Edited at 2022-05-27 12:49 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link the first season was so good Reply Thread Link the third wasn't bad either, but it was missing the fun spooky stuff Reply Parent Thread Link I'm so mad we never got more than a season. It could have been one of the greats. They already had the base characters, all they had to do was improve on it and it could've been a multiseason show like breaking bad smh. I'm never getting over it Reply Parent Thread Link I really liked season 2, too. Reply Parent Thread Link Here for this She should be in more things Reply Thread Link ...okay, FINE, i'll give you one last chance True Detective!! Reply Thread Link Is her bestie Mel gonna costar? Reply Thread Link was season three good? admittedly i did not watch after how terrible season 2 was lmao Reply Thread Link I thought it was boring. Dont remember much beyond who the two main characters were. Reply Parent Thread Link i feel like season one was a fluke Reply Parent Thread Link these copaganda shows just need to be stopped Reply Thread Link Is it copaganda tho? they cops here were a mess lol I wouldn't want to be associated with this if I were a cop, everyone was either messy, corrupt, lazy, etc. They did not come out looking well Reply Parent Thread Link imo it still is. i watched the previous seasons but i feel it buys into the "tortured" cop trope which assumes an engagement or investment in their cases and the victims which is just pure B.S. i also think these detective shows - and the true crime phenomenon in general - prop up the institution of the police in general and reinforce their position in our society, unless the central focus is in fact on the moral and political corruption of cops and their completely uselessness to society which is rarely ever dealt with in full. from what i remember of the previous seasons, the cops were a mess but there are cues where we're meant to feel sympathy for them, meant to think they care, that they're tortured geniuses in some cases. while they're imperfect, it humanizes them in a way that is imo copaganda, even if it's more subtle than say, shows like brooklyn 99 Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The first season was apparently influenced by the book The King in Yellow but honestly, as good as the show was, the book's stories are even better and weirder. Reply Thread Link I can't remember the show well enough to remember any references. What were they? Reply Parent Thread Link All I remember was the killer and his pals talking about a yellow king (the main killer was the yellow king?) and naming his lair Carcosa. I think the name Casilda was mentioned or I'm mixing that up with a different show. Reply Parent Thread Link Yes, the killer is called the Yellow King. In the short stories, the first 4 anyway, the King in Yellow is a book/play that makes the reader insane. And there's also people turning into marble statues and suicide machines lol. Reply Parent Thread Link i really liked those stories. it was a really interesting premise for a collection Reply Parent Thread Link So The Terror but with accents I can probably understand? Reply Thread Link Iraqs Oil Minister, Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar, last week stated that the country aims to increase its crude oil production to 6 million barrels per day (bpd) by the end of 2027. This sort of statement, with the amount or year changed slightly in each variant, has been made by several oil ministers on several occasions, but with oil prices still at supportive levels for producers this latest statement prompts three key questions: can it be done; can even more be done; and will it be done? The answer to the first question is yes. As analysed in depth in my new book on the global oil markets, Iraq even more so than Iran - remains the greatest relatively underdeveloped oil frontier in the world. Officially, according to Energy Information Administration (EIA) figures, Iraq holds a very conservatively estimated 145 billion barrels of proved crude oil reserves (nearly 18 percent of the Middle Easts total, and around 9 percent of the worlds). Currently, it is producing around 4.1-4.2 million bpd, compared to its April OPEC quota of 4.414 million bpd, and its quota is due to increase to 4.5 million bpd in June. Although Iraq is currently only managing to produce around 4.1-4.3 million bpd, this shortfall is largely attributable to field outages in the south for maintenance reasons, most notably the 400,000 bpd West Qurna 2 oilfield being offline for 12 days of maintenance, and to ongoing upgrading work being done on its export infrastructure. From 2015 to 2020, Iraq crude oil production was frequently recoded at over 4.5 million bpd, with its highest monthly production being 4.83 million bpd in December 2016, according to OPEC figures. Related: Value Of Saudi Oil Exports Surged 123% In March As Prices Spiked In the relatively short-term, certainly before the end of 2027, there certainly appears scope to increase crude oil output from several fields in Iraq concentrating on those in the south, given ongoing difficulties in the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan in the north without too much in the way of costly and time-consuming build-out of the countrys fundamental oil infrastructure. Last August, Iraq approved plans to enable BP to spin off its operations in the supergiant Rumaila oil field with the creation of Basra Energy Ltd that would hold BPs interest in the site and be jointly owned by China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC). This is expected to release a considerable new line of financing for the field, which has been producing around 1.4-1.5 million bpd for many years, since its discovery in 1953. With remaining recoverable crude oil of around 17 billion barrels, the field has a plateau target of 2.1 million bpd. As with the vast majority of Iraqs oil fields both north and south, the lifting cost for oil remains the lowest in the world at around U$2-3 pb, on a par with that of Saudi Arabia. Recent increases in Rumailas crude oil output can be attributed to improvements put into place by BP and CNPC, including the renovation of the Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Plant. This is now capable of treating up to 1.3-1.4 million bpd of river water, allowing for greater extraction of oil from the fields Mishrif reservoir (triple the amount, in fact, that was extracted in 2010). According to industry figures, Rumaila requires around 1.4 barrels of water for each barrel of oil produced from the north of the field, whilst the Mishrif formation in the south will require much higher water injection rates to support production. Related: U.S. Natural Gas Prices Hit $9 For The First Time Since 2008 The Qarmat facility has also supported, and will continue to support, crude oil production increases at the adjunct Zubair field, principally operated by ENI (plus KOGAS and Iraqi partners), as around 14 percent of the water from the Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Plant goes to Zubair. With an initial target of 201,000 bpd, Zubair now produces around 360,000 bpd, and is due to receive a further boost from the construction of a 380 megawatt power plant. These advances are likely to increase oil production to around 600,000 bpd, and there is even further scope for major production increases, given Zubairs initial plateau target of 1.2 million bpd. Pressure has been brought by Iraqs Oil Ministry in recent weeks on the developers of several fields in the ThiQar province, most notably Gharraf and Nasiriya. In the context of this 6 million bpd crude oil production target, the Oil Ministry has called on Japans Japex to speed up its work increasing production at the 1 billion+ barrels of oil reserves Gharraf field, up from the current 90,000 bpd to at least 230,000 bpd. This was the original plateau figure, after the initial target of 35,000 bpd had been reached. As an incentive, good progress on Gharraf would be regarded positively by Iraqs Oil Ministry in assigning favourable development contracts on the nearby 4.36 billion-barrel Nasiriya oilfield. Such increases, although they would allow Iraq to hit its 6 million bpd target, pale into insignificance when considering question two: can even more be done? The answer here, again, is yes. In 2013, Iraq launched its Integrated National Energy Strategy (INES), which formulated the three forward oil production profiles for Iraq. The INES best-case scenario was for crude oil production capacity to increase to 13 million bpd (at that point by 2017), peaking at around that level until 2023, and finally gradually declining to around 10 million bpd for a long-sustained period thereafter. The mid-range production scenario was for Iraq to reach 9 million bpd (at that point by 2020), and the worst-case INES scenario was for production to reach 6 million bpd (at that point by 2020). These figures were based on solid facts and figures from several renowned and trusted external sources, as also analysed in depth in my new book on the global oil markets. According to a limited-circulation report produced at around the same time by the International Energy Agency (IEA), a 1997 detailed study by respected oil and gas firm, Petrolog, had already provided figures that were in line with the Iraq Oil Ministrys later statements that the countrys undiscovered resources amount to around 215 billion barrels. Even using the most conservative figures, according to the IEA back in 2012/2013, Iraq had at that time produced only around 15 percent of its ultimately recoverable oil resources, compared with 23 percent for the Middle East as a whole, and further exploration and development was: Highly likely to add substantially to the proven reserves figure over the coming decades, particularly given the high success rate of drilled prospects in Iraq. The third and final question, then: will it be done, meaning the 6 million bpd and then significantly higher production than that? On the first figure, yes, for the reasons outlined above. On the second figure, everything depends on the proper build out of the interminably-delayed Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP). As shown with the limited but extremely successful water projects of Rumaila and Zubair, the CSSP - which involves taking and treating 12.5 million bpd of seawater from the Persian Gulf and then transporting it via pipelines to six oil production facilities for water injection to boost pressure at these key reservoirs is essential for significant increases in Iraqs crude oil production over and above 6 million bpd. For this, the only company in the world that has proven it can finance and complete such a technically and logistically challenging hydrocarbons project within a deadline is the U.S.s ExxonMobil. For this company to come back into the CSSP, from which it removed itself for reasons analysed in depth by OilPrice.com, would require a sea-change at least for this project if no others in the culture of corruption that has pervaded many elements of Iraqs oil sector (and many other sectors) over many years. This has been repeatedly highlighted by OilPrice.com and independently over many years by Transparency International (TI) in various of its Corruption Perceptions Index publications, in which Iraq normally features in the worst 10 out of 180 countries for its scale and scope of corruption. Massive embezzlement, procurement scams, money laundering, oil smuggling and widespread bureaucratic bribery that have led the country to the bottom of international corruption rankings, fuelled political violence and hampered effective state building and service delivery, TI states. Political interference in anti-corruption bodies and politicisation of corruption issues, weak civil society, insecurity, lack of resources and incomplete legal provisions severely limit the governments capacity to efficiently curb soaring corruption, it concludes. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Crude oil production in Russia could shrink by up to 8 percent this year, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said today, as quoted by RIA Novosti. The total oil output of the country this year could be between 480 and 500 million tons, Novak said, which would be a 5-8-percent decline from 2021. But this forecast could change depending on the situation, Novak said. Earlier this year, the Russian economy ministry forecast a sharper decline in oil production, of about 9.3 percent to 475.3 million tons, under its base scenario. This rises to 17.2 percent in the ministrys conservative scenario, or 433.8 million tons. Novak said that the actual decline in production would be smaller, noting that in April, Russias oil output declined by about 1 million bpd and is already recovering. Novak added that the recovery would likely continue. According to analysts, Russias oil output could yet shed as much as 3 million bpd in the second half of the year as a result of sanction action from the West. The sanctions will also continue to affect production trends in the future, too, as there is virtually no chance of the sanctions being lifted anytime soon. Rosneft, Russias largest oil producer, is also the producer to suffer the biggest decline in production, according to industry data from the Russian Energy Ministry. As of mid-May, Russias oil production was 830,000 bpd lower than it was in February. Rosneftthe top producer and the top refiner in Russiaaccounted for 560,000 bpd of this drop, according to the ministrys data, as cited by Bloomberg. This means that Russias current production is below 10 million bpd, at around 9.16 million bpd, according to the Bloomberg calculations, and more than 1 million bpd below its quota under the OPEC+ production recovery agreement. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Many European and Asian buyers are prioritizing energy security over all other factors. The long-term LNG contract is back. Buyers of liquefied natural gas in Europe and Asia are increasingly committing to long-term purchase agreements, unlike in the past few years when spot contracts gained a significant market share as customers sought flexibility in delivery clauses and lower prices than the oil-linked prices in the long-term deals. Buyers, especially in Asia, frequently took advantage of spot cargo deliveries to replenish their stocks ahead of the winter heating season. This year everything changed in the energy market after Russia invaded Ukraine. The war in Ukraine and Europe's now irreversible pledge to eliminate dependence on Russian pipeline gas sparked energy security concerns globally and a rush to spot contracting that sent spot LNG cargo prices to record highs. Buyers returned to long-term contracts in order to secure long-term supply of non-Russian gas and to insulate themselves from spiking volatile spot prices. In just a few months, the global LNG market turned from a buyer's market to a seller's market, with LNG suppliers commanding a tight market as buyers scramble to secure gas from providers other than Russia. Europe's race to fill gas inventories ahead of next winter amid high uncertainty over whetheror rather whenRussia would cut off gas deliveries to more buyers in Europe, priced out the more-sensitive spot buyers in Asia, while Europe is politically motivated to procure more LNG supply. The Return Of The Long-Term Contract Several deals for long-term LNG supply were announced this week alone. Buyers in both Europe and Asia have announced a flurry of such contracts in recent weeks, mostly with U.S. sellers, which actually need long-term commitments for their supply in order to secure financing and proceed with the many projects for new LNG export terminals. Just yesterday, Venture Global LNG announced a final investment decision (FID) and successful closing of the $13.2 billion project financing for the initial phase of its Plaquemines LNG export facility and the associated Gator Express pipelinethe largest project financing in the world closed so far this year. In addition, the company has executed 20-year Sales and Purchase Agreements for 80% of the full 20.0 MTPA project. Related: Slew Of New Discoveries Brings UAE Closer To Production Goals TotalEnergies signed on Tuesday a deal with South Korea's Hanwha Energy Corporation for the supply of 600,000 metric tons of LNG per year over 15 years, starting in 2024. "It is significant that we have secured business stability by signing a long-term contract with our long-lasting partner TotalEnergies, even though the volatility of the LNG market has increased more than ever due to the recent unstable international situation," said Hanwha Energy CEO Jung In Sub. Top U.S. LNG exporter Cheniere Energy announced on Wednesday a 20-year deal with POSCO Holdings, South Korea's largest steelmaker and owner of the country's first private LNG terminal. Cheniere will supply LNG starting in late 2026 on a free-on-board basis, with the purchase price for LNG indexed to the Henry Hub price, plus a fixed liquefaction fee. The deal is subject to Cheniere making a positive final investment decision to construct the Corpus Christi Stage III Project, expected this summer. On the same day, Sempra Infrastructure signed a heads of agreement with Germany's RWE for the long-term supply of LNG on a free-on-board basis from the Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project under development in Jefferson County, Texas. "Our partnership can contribute largely to securing significant LNG volumes for the RWE portfolio on a long-term basis while building the basis for supplying low carbon gas in the future," said Andree Stracke, CEO of RWE Supply & Trading. In the most curious about-face showing how energy security and Europe's drive to break free from Russian gas dependence have upended the LNG market, France's Engiewhich had abandoned talks on an LNG deal with U.S. NextDecade in 2020 due to environmental concernssigned this month a preliminary 15-year deal with the same firm for supply from the Rio Grande LNG export project in Brownsville, Texas. Assuming the achievement of further LNG contracting and financing, NextDecade expects to make a positive FID on at least two trains of Rio Grande LNG in the second half of 2022. Long-Term Deals Gain Momentum Following the highest level of long-term LNG contracting in five years in 2021, demand for long-term LNG deals continues to gain momentum this year as large volumes have been signed and prices for oil-linked deals under negotiation are rising, Wood Mackenzie said in a report last week. "Many traditional LNG buyers will neither procure spot gas or LNG nor renew or sign additional LNG contracts with Russian sellers. Spot prices have also been high and volatile, pushing many buyers towards long-term contracts," Wood Mackenzie principal analyst Daniel Toleman said. "Additionally, some buyers are returning to long-term contracting on behalf of governments to protect national energy security." In early May, Sempra Infrastructure's chief executive Justin Bird said that the market is seeing a dramatic shift toward long-term contracting. "There has been a dramatic shift in the market in the recent days. Specifically, we've seen a significant amount of long-term contracts," Bird said on Sempra Infrastructure's Q1 earnings call. "So yes, you are seeing a lot of parties, given the volatility in both TTF and JKM. And frankly, the high forwards, you're seeing a definite renewed interest in parties willing to go long term. And those are the conversations that we are having." By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Saudi Arabia, the worlds top crude oil exporter, will hold the huge revenues it is currently receiving at $100-plus oil in its current account and will not immediately spend it on development, growth, and diversification projects as it did in the past boom cycles for oil prices. After years of budget deficits when oil prices slumped in 2015-2016 and in 2020, the Kingdom is now enjoying a budget surplus, but it is not in a hurry to boost government spending, Bloomberg reports. The surplus achieved in Q1 is shown in the government current account and has not yet been deposited to government reserves nor transferred to other groups, Saudi Arabias Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said in a statement to Bloomberg. This allocation will occur after the surplus is realized, which means after the closing of the fiscal year, the minister added. During this upcycle, the Saudis are intent on replenishing coffers before increasing spending. Its likely that the Kingdom will first repay debts and transfer some cash into the sovereign wealth fund or the National Development Fund, which invests in infrastructure in the country. Saudi Arabia, which has suffered through the previous busts in the oil industry when reserves quickly vanished with oil prices crumbling, now looks to have a fiscal sustainability plan under which reserves dont drop below a certain share of GDP. According to that policy, our reserves shall not fall below a certain percentage level of GDP. That figure would be in the double digits, al-Jadaan told Reuters earlier this week. Currently, Saudi Arabia is enjoying a windfall from the high oil prices. The Kingdom booked a budget surplus of $15.3 billion (57.491 billion Saudi riyals) in the first quarter of 2022, the ministry of finance said earlier this month. Oil revenues soared by 58 percent to $49 billion (183.7 billion Saudi riyals) between January and March. The value of Saudi Arabias oil exports soared by 123%, or by $16.7 billion, in March 2022 compared to the same month last year, the General Authority for Statistics said yesterday. For full-year 2022, oil revenues in Saudi Arabia are expected to surge by 66 percent to around $249 billion, Riyadh-based Jadwa Investment said earlier this month. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil prices rose early on Thursday, extending this weeks gains, as demand looks strong with the U.S. driving season starting and Shanghai in China gradually reopening after two months of strict lockdowns. As of 10:51 a.m. on Thursday, WTI Crude prices were up 3.17% at $113.69 and the international benchmark, Brent Crude, had risen by 2.41% on the day at $116.65. Prices extended the small gains from previous sessions, including on Wednesday when oil rose after a supportive weekly inventory report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Commercial crude oil inventories fell by 1 million barrels in the week to May 20. At 419.8 million barrels, crude oil inventories are 14% below the five-year average for this time of the year. Total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 500,000 barrels last week and are about 8% below the five-year average for this time of year. Refinery utilization increased by 1.4 percentage points to 93.2%, the highest operating rate that we have seen from US refiners since late 2019, ING strategists Warren Patterson and Wenyu Yao said on Thursday, adding: US gasoline stocks are likely to remain tight as demand picks up over the driving season. According to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for fuel-savings app GasBuddy, we are likely to see a 7 to 10% rise in gasoline demand today vs week ago as travelers start to hit the road for Memorial Day weekend. Under that would be soft, anything above 15% would be surprising. A tentative reopening in Shanghai, with a gradual resumption of in-person classes at schools in June, is also supportive of oil prices today. On the supply side, OPEC+ is likely to rubberstamp next week its monthly production increase of 432,000 barrels per day (bpd) for July, six sources at OPEC+ told Reuters on Thursday. OPEC+ is estimated to be more than 2 million bpd below quota, and oil output in Russia is fallinginstead of risingdue to the Western sanctions on Moscow over the invasion of Ukraine. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: BP will review its oil and gas investments in the UK, the company said on Thursday, after UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak presented a plan earlier in the day that would assess a 25% windfall tax on North Sea energy companies. The windfall tax is set to stick around until oil and gas prices return to normal levels, or by December 25. BP said earlier this month that it was planning on investing 18 billion in the United Kingdom by the end of 2030 to help the country to deliver on its bold ambitions to boost energy security and reach net zero. But rumors of the UKs windfall tax threatened to deter BPs additional investments beyond that 18 billion. On May 12th, BP stated that its pledged investment would not be affected by any windfall taxbut anything additional could be stymied with such a penalization. But that was before the details of the new windfall tax were announced. Todays announcement is not for a one-off tax its a multi-year proposal. Naturally, we will now need to look at the impact of both the new levy and the tax relief on our North Sea investment plans, BP said on Thursday after the London market closed. The Energy Profits Levy will apply to profits arising on or after May 26, 2022. The new tax will be charged on oil and gas company profits at a rate of 25% and is expected to raise around $6.3 billion (5 billion) in its first 12 months, which will go towards easing the burden on families. Before the announcement of the windfall tax, the main industry body, Offshore Energies UK, warned that such a levy would risk reduced energy security, higher prices for consumers, and long-term damage to the UKs offshore energy industry. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The European Union is in talks with Israel to start importing Israeli natural gas that would be liquefied at an Egyptian facility, Bloomberg has reported, citing documents. Israel has abundant offshore natural gas reserves and has been looking to expand its international presence in the gas market. Over the next two years, Israel plans to double its current production rate to some 40 billion cu m, with Europe the most logical expansion target, according to reports from earlier this year. "The hope is to create a relatively fast working process and already during the summer to reach a framework agreement," Lior Schillat, the director-general of Israel's Energy Ministry, said earlier this month, as quoted by Reuters. This week, the Israeli Energy Ministry announced it was in talks with the European Union, following a March meeting between Energy Minister Karine Elharrar and the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson. According to an Israeli Energy Ministry spokesman, the EU representatives at that meeting had told the Israeli side that if they could not find sufficient amounts of natural gas to replace Russian deliveries, "they would return to coal mining, despite the great environmental damage caused by it." Israel's proven gas reserves stood at 921 billion cubic meters before the latest discovery, made by British Energean, which found an estimated 60 billion cubic meters of gas in an offshore block. Domestic consumption, on the other hand, is not expected to exceed 500 billion cubic meters over the next 25 years, Al-Monitor reported last week. In any case, Israeli gas will not start flowing this year, which would mean the EU would need to look elsewhere for urgent replacements for Russian gas. According to the energy ministry's Schillat, the earliest time when Israel would be able to start delivering gas to Europe via Egypt would be 2024. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The OPEC+ group is expected to rubberstamp next week its moderate monthly increases in oil production when it decides output levels for July, six sources at OPEC+ told Reuters on Thursday. OPEC+, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, has not changed course since it decided last year to gradually return supply to the market, and raise production by around 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) every month until it unwinds all the 10 million bpd cuts announced in April 2020 at the peak COVID lockdowns globally. The alliance has been sticking to modest production rises even after oil prices spiked to more than $100 per barrel after a key member of the pact, Russia, invaded Ukraine. The group says that it sees the market as a balanced one, and price surges are the result of the geopolitical situation. In early May, OPEC+ agreed to leave its production plan unchanged, aiming to boost crude oil production in June by 432,000 bpd, in a move widely expected by the market. This was the third OPEC+ meeting since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For a third consecutive month, OPECs press release on another record short meeting read that it was noted that continuing oil market fundamentals and the consensus on the outlook pointed to a balanced market. The alliance has resisted calls from major oil importers to do more to lower the high oil prices. Commenting on the calls to boost supply more than planned, Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, said in Davos this week that Its much more complex than just bringing barrels to the market. Our assessment is that actually oil supply right now is relatively in balance, the minister added, as carried by Bloomberg. Commenting on the upcoming meeting on June 2, one source told Reuters: Why change what works perfectly? We will announce that we are going to increase our production by 432,000 bpd even if we are no longer able to do so, the source added. While OPEC+ is sticking to its policy of modest monthly increases, many of its members are not pumping to their quotas and the group overall is estimated to be around 2.5 million bpd below its quota. By Tsvetana Paraskova for OIlprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The steel industry, in particular, accounts for as much as 7% of total global carbon emissions. Public opinion remains divided on whether or not to impose a carbon tax on the metal and mining industries. Global public opinion seems divided on whether or not to impose a carbon tax on the metal and mining sector. This goes double for steel. Depending on which side youre listening to at a given moment, youll get very different opinions on the matter. Many economists, environmentalists, and the general public welcome the idea. The steel sector, of course, is firmly on the other side of the fence. Historically, the metals mining sector has opposed carbon taxes. This is largely due to fears that it will inflate the final selling price. However, a growing section of economists believes that a carbon tax would be highly effective at reducing carbon emissions. As per World Banks figures, 27 countries have enacted carbon taxes so far. That said, only seven of them were mining countries. Why the Tax on Steel? Steel serves as one of the most widely-used building materials in the world. The process depends upon coking coal. So, for every ton of steel produced, nearly two tons of CO2 gets released. Altogether, this accounts for around 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These figures relate to BOF operations only. Where Does the US Stand on a Steel Tax? Of late, US lawmakers have been working on a bipartisan energy and climate bill. According to reports, it may include a tax on carbon-intensive products entering the country. Last month, US Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., began talking to both Republican and Democratic lawmakers about the possible impacts of such a bill. According to this report, the discussion was occurring at the same time the European Union (EU) was working to implement a carbon border adjustment mechanism. Green activists feel that such tariffs may eventually cut down on emissions. At the same time, they hope to make domestic manufacturers more competitive against less carbon-efficient foreign companies. But the proposal for such a bipartisan bill is still in the very early stages. In July last year, US Senator Chris Coons, D-Del., co-chair of the Senates Climate Solutions Caucus, proposed a bill to impose a polluter import fee. The policy was intended to affect certain carbon-intensive products entering the US. It would initially apply to commodities like aluminum, cement, iron, steel, natural gas, petroleum, and coal. However, it would eventually expand to other types of imports. The revenue obtained from the fees could then be used to support technologies designed to reduce emissions. In April this year, Pennsylvania became the first fossil fuel-producing state in the US to adopt a carbon pricing policy. This kind of pricing works by putting a monetary value on carbon. And therein lies the rub. Whats the correct price tag to put on carbon emissions? Running the Numbers So far, the Biden Administration has calculated $51 for every ton of carbon released. New York State, on the other hand, pegged the figure at $125. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund has been kicking around a three-tier system. In this structure, developed countries would pay US $75 (56) per ton of carbon, while less-developed parts of the world would pay $50 (37) and $25 (18). Carbon markets can be operated in one of two ways, according to the Paris Agreement 2015. The first is through an emissions trading system that caps a total target for emissions. The other option is to use a system that allocates carbon permits accordingly. Another possibility includes whats known as a carbon offsetting scheme. This provides tradable carbon credits to offset carbon emissions outside the capped area. This third option imposes a fee on every ton of carbon emitted. Ultimately, many in the US oppose levying tariffs on steel and other imports from countries with higher carbon dioxide outputs. This lobby claims that carbon taxes are too complex an issue and that merely imposing a tax will not solve the problem or fight climate change. Their solution? Simply make commodities more expensive. The US & The EU Late last year, the European Union and the US negotiated what was billed as the worlds first carbon-based sectoral arrangement on steel and aluminum trade. However, it would not truly take effect until 2024. In the meantime, the two nations arrived at an interim arrangement for trade in the steel and aluminum sectors. This deal modified tariffs on EU suppliers and strengthened enforcement mechanisms to prevent leakage of Chinese steel and aluminum into the US. The EUs efforts In February of this year, participants in a webinar hosted by Euractiv, a Brussel-based policy events organizer, expressed worries that the European Commissions Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism could be counterproductive. They said this would prove especially true if it didnt provide a solution for those EU exporters of steel and other products impacted by the policy. Incidentally, the European steel industry exports 20 million MT every year, worth almost EUR 20 billion. The Mechanism is currently in the proposal stage and is still being discussed by the European Parliament. Europe, however, seems to be ahead of the US in the march toward carbon compliance. Many steel companies, including H2 Green Steel and Hybrit of Sweden, have begun using hydrogen and non-fossil fuels to produce green steel. The de-carbonization of the steel industry is going to be a long journey. Obviously, taxation is an option thats still on the table. However, steel producers will have to decide on a technologically and economically viable way to decrease their carbon footprint. Whether the use of hydrogen is the answer remains to be seen. By AG Metal Miner More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: The Southern Baptist Conventions Executive Committee and thousands of its rank-and-file members now have opportunities to address a scathing investigative report that says top SBC leaders stonewalled and denigrated survivors of clergy sex abuse over two decades while seeking to protect their own reputations. The report, issued Sunday, says these survivors, and other concerned Southern Baptists, repeatedly shared allegations with the Executive Committee, only to be met, time and time again, with resistance, stonewalling, and even outright hostility from some within the EC. The seven-month investigation was conducted by Guidepost Solutions, an independent firm contracted by the Executive Committee after delegates to last years national meeting pressed for a probe by outsiders. Since then, several top Executive Committee leaders have resigned, and the body under interim leadership will meet Tuesday to discuss the report. Three weeks later, the SBC will convene its 2022 national meeting in Anaheim, California, and the report will be discussed there as well. Our investigation revealed that, for many years, a few senior EC leaders, along with outside counsel, largely controlled the ECs response to these reports of abuse ... and were singularly focused on avoiding liability for the SBC, the report said. In service of this goal, survivors and others who reported abuse were ignored, disbelieved, or met with the constant refrain that the SBC could take no action due to its polity regarding church autonomy even if it meant that convicted molesters continued in ministry with no notice or warning to their current church or congregation, the report added. The report asserts that an Executive Committee staffer maintained a list of Baptist ministers accused of abuse, but there is no indication that anyone took any action to ensure that the accused ministers were no longer in positions of power at SBC churches. The most recent list includes the names of hundreds of abusers thought to be affiliated at some point with the SBC. Survivors and advocates have long called for a public database of abusers. SBC President Ed Litton, in a statement Sunday, said he is grieved to my core for the victims and thanked God for their work propelling the SBC to this moment. He called on Southern Baptists to lament and prepare to change the denominations culture and implement reforms. I pray Southern Baptists will begin preparing today to take deliberate action to address these failures and chart a new course when we meet together in Anaheim, Litton said. Among the reports key recommendations: Form an independent commission and later establish a permanent administrative entity to oversee comprehensive long-term reforms concerning sexual abuse and related misconduct within the SBC. Create and maintain an Offender Information System to alert the community to known offenders. Provide a comprehensive Resource Toolbox including protocols, training, education and practical information. Restrict the use of nondisclosure agreements and civil settlements that bind survivors to confidentiality in sexual abuse matters, unless requested by the survivor. The interim leaders of the Executive Committee, Willie McLaurin and Rolland Slade, welcomed the recommendations, and pledged an all-out effort to eliminate sex abuse within the SBC. The sex abuse scandal was thrust into the spotlight in 2019 by a landmark report from the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News documenting hundreds of cases in Southern Baptist churches, including several in which alleged perpetrators remained in ministry. (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Monkeypox isnt a new disease. The first confirmed human case was in 1970, when the virus was isolated from a child suspected of having smallpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Monkeypox is unlikely to cause another pandemic, but with COVID-19 top of mind, fear of another major outbreak is understandable. Though rare and usually mild, monkeypox can still potentially cause severe illness. Health officials are concerned that more cases will arise with increased travel. Im a researcher who has worked in public health and medical laboratories for over three decades, especially in the realm of diseases with animal origins. What exactly is happening in the current outbreak, and what does history tell us about monkeypox? A cousin of smallpox Monkeypox is caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to a subset of the Poxviridae family of viruses called Orthopoxvirus. This subset includes the smallpox, vaccinia and cowpox viruses. While an animal reservoir for monkeypox virus is unknown, African rodents are suspected to play a part in transmission. The monkeypox virus has only been isolated twice from an animal in nature. Diagnostic testing for monkeypox is currently only available at Laboratory Response Network labs in the U.S. and globally. The name monkeypox comes from the first documented cases of the illness in animals in 1958, when two outbreaks occurred in monkeys kept for research. However, the virus did not jump from monkeys to humans, nor are monkeys major carriers of the disease. Epidemiology Since the first reported human case, monkeypox has been found in several other central and western African countries, with the majority of infections in the DRC. Cases outside of Africa have been linked to international travel or imported animals, including in the U.S. and elsewhere. The first reported cases of monkeypox in the U.S. was in 2003, from an outbreak in Texas linked to a shipment of animals from Ghana. There were also travel-associated cases in November and July 2021 in Maryland. Because monkeypox is closely related to smallpox, the smallpox vaccine can provide protection against infection from both viruses. Since smallpox was officially eradicated, however, routine smallpox vaccinations for the U.S. general population were stopped in 1972. Because of this, monkeypox has been appearing increasingly in unvaccinated people. Transmission The virus can be transmitted through contact with an infected person or animal or contaminated surfaces. Typically, the virus enters the body through broken skin, inhalation or the mucous membranes in the eyes, nose or mouth. Researchers believe that human-to-human transmission is mostly through inhalation of large respiratory droplets rather than direct contact with bodily fluids or indirect contact through clothes. Human-to-human transmission rates for monkeypox have been limited. Health officials are worried the virus may currently be spreading undetected through community transmission, possibly through a new mechanism or route. Where and how infections are occurring are still under investigation. Signs and symptoms After the virus enters the body, it starts to replicate and spread through the body via the bloodstream. Symptoms usually dont appear until one to two weeks after infection. Monkeypox produces smallpox-like skin lesions, but symptoms are usually milder than those of smallpox. Flu-like symptoms are common initially, ranging from fever and headache to shortness of breath. One to 10 days later, a rash can appear on the extremities, head or torso that eventually turns into blisters filled with pus. Overall, symptoms usually last for two to four weeks, while skin lesions usually scab over in 14 to 21 days. While monkeypox is rare and usually non-fatal, one version of the disease kills around 10% of infected people. The form of the virus currently circulating is thought to be milder, with a fatality rate of less than 1%. Vaccines and treatments Treatment for monkeypox is primarily focused on relieving symptoms. According to the CDC, no treatments are available to cure monkeypox infection. Evidence suggests that the smallpox vaccine can help prevent monkeypox infections and decrease the severity of the symptoms. One vaccine known as Imvamune or Imvanex is licensed in the U.S. to prevent monkeypox and smallpox. Vaccination after exposure to the virus may also help decrease chances of severe illness. The CDC currently recommends smallpox vaccination only in people who have been or are likely to be exposed to monkeypox. Immunocompromised people are at high risk. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/what-is-monkeypox-a-microbiologist-explains-whats-known-about-this-smallpox-cousin-183499. Licenced as Creative Commons - attribution, no derivatives. Thank you! You've reported this item as a violation of our terms of use. Error! There was a problem with reporting this article. This content was contributed by a user of the site. If you believe this content may be in violation of the terms of use, you may report it. Report Abuse Log In to report (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Nations that dont have their own satellites providing these services rely on other countries. For those that want to develop their own satellite infrastructure, options are running out as space fills up. I am a research fellow at Arizona State University, studying the wider benefits of space and ways to make it more accessible to developing countries. Inequity is already playing out in access to satellites. In the not-so-distant future, the ability to extract resources from the Moon and asteroids could become a major point of difference between the space haves and have-nots. As policies emerge, there is the risk that these inequities become permanent. Where to park a satellite CubeSats are small, cheap, customizable satellites that are simple enough to be built by high school students. Companies such as SpaceX can launch one of these satellites into orbit for relatively cheap from $1,300 per pound. However, there are only so many places to park a satellite in orbit around Earth, and these are quickly filling up. The best parking is in geostationary orbit, around 22,250 miles (35,800 kilometers) above the equator. A satellite in geostationary orbit rotates at the same rate as Earth, remaining directly above a single location on Earths surface which can be very useful for telecommunications, broadcasting and weather satellites. There are only 1,800 geostationary orbital slots, and as of February 2022, 541 of them were occupied by active satellites. Countries and private companies have already claimed most of the unoccupied slots that offer access to major markets, and the satellites to fill them are currently being assembled or awaiting launch. If, for example, a new spacefaring nation wants to put a weather satellite over a specific spot in the Atlantic Ocean that is already claimed, they would either have to choose a less optimal location for the satellite or buy services from the country occupying the spot they wanted. Orbital slots are allocated by an agency of the United Nations called the International Telecommunication Union. Slots are free, but they go to countries on a first-come, first-served basis. When a satellite reaches the end of its 15- to 20-year lifespan, a country can simply replace it and renew its hold on the slot. This effectively allows countries to keep these positions indefinitely. Countries that already have the technology to utilize geostationary orbit have a major advantage over those that do not. While geostationary orbital slots are the most useful and limited, there are many other orbits around Earth. These, too, are filling up adding to the growing problem of space debris. Low Earth orbit is around 1,000 miles (1,600 km) above the surface. Satellites in low Earth orbit are moving fast in a highly congested environment. While this may be a good place for Earth imaging satellites, it is not ideal for single communication satellites like those used to broadcast television, radio and the internet. Low Earth orbit can be used for communications if multiple satellites work together to form a constellation. Companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin are working on projects to put thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit over the next few years to provide internet across the globe. The first generation of SpaceXs Starlink consists of 1,926 satellites, and the second generation will add another 30,000 to orbit. At the current rate, the major space players are rapidly occupying geostationary and low Earth orbits, potentially monopolizing access to important satellite capabilities and adding to space junk. Access to resources in space Orbital slots are an area where inequity exists today. The future of space could be a gold rush for resources and not everyone will benefit. Asteroids hold astounding amounts of valuable minerals and metals. Later this year, NASA is launching a probe to explore an asteroid named 16 Psyche, which scientists estimate contains over US$10 quintillion worth of iron. Tapping huge resource deposits like this and transporting them to Earth could provide massive boosts to the economies of spacefaring nations while disrupting the economies of countries that currently depend on exporting minerals and metals. Another highly valuable resource in space is helium-3, a rare version of helium that scientists think could be used in nuclear fusion reactions without producing radioactive waste. While there are considerable technological obstacles to overcome before helium-3 is a feasible energy source, if it works, there are enough deposits on the Moon and elsewhere in the solar system to satisfy Earths energy requirements for several centuries. If powerful spacefaring countries develop the technology to use and mine helium-3 and choose not to share the benefits with other nations it could result in lasting inequities. Existing international space laws are not well suited to handle the complicated web of private companies and nations competing for resources in space. Countries are organizing into groups or space blocs that are uniting on goals and rules for future space missions. Two notable space blocs are planning missions to set up bases and potential mining operations on the Moon: the Artemis Accords, led by the U.S., as well as joint Chinese and Russian plans. Right now, the major players in space are establishing the norms for exploiting resources. There is a risk that instead of focusing on what is best for everyone on Earth, competition will drive these decisions, damaging the space environment and causing conflict. History shows that it is hard to challenge international norms once they are established. Moving forward Access to space is critical for the functioning of a modern nation. Space access will only become more important as humanity rapidly advances toward a future of space hotels and colonies on Mars. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the founding document of space law, says that space should be used for the benefit and in the interests of all countries. The policies taking shape today will dictate whether this is the case in the future. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/wealthy-nations-are-carving-up-space-and-its-riches-and-leaving-other-countries-behind-182820. Licenced as Creative Commons - attribution, no derivatives. Thank you! You've reported this item as a violation of our terms of use. Error! There was a problem with reporting this article. This content was contributed by a user of the site. If you believe this content may be in violation of the terms of use, you may report it. Report Abuse Log In to report NEW YORK (AP) Queen Elizabeth II just might have the hardest working wardrobe on the planet. Every outfit worn in public is carefully calibrated to inspire or remind, to signal gratitude or respect, to convey a sense of power or familiarity, wrote The Mail on Sunday in 2015. Her Majesty neither sets trends nor follows them but while she is deaf to the siren call of fashion, she has her own singular style. From her tiaras, hats and Hermes scarves to her Launer London handbags and even her umbrellas, the queen's style has been hyper-documented since her birth, young princess days, ascension to the throne and now, more than 70 years into her reign, as she celebrates her Platinum Jubilee at age 96. Now known for her bright coats (so as to be seen by huge crowds) with matching brimmed hats, the queen was a young, glamorous princess and monarch in earlier decades. Some highlights of the queen's style through the years: HER CHILDHOOD Cotton or wool? The queen's very birth prompted style debate, writes Bethan Holt, fashion editor of The Telegraph and author of this year's The Queen: 70 Years of Majestic Style. Her wardrobe from the get-go was a topic of national fascination with a layette sewn by her mother and grandmother, and a little help from underprivileged women throughout Britain. Declaring that babies in wool looked like little gnomes, Lilibet's mum, then the Duchess of York, opted for frilly cotton, rejecting anything too fussy. When sister Margaret came along four years later, the princesses often twinned it, dressing alike into their teens. But the future queen as a girl never cared a fig about clothes, according to her former governess, Marion Crawford. She wore what she was told without argument, apart from a long, drab mackintosh that she loathed, Crawford wrote in her controversial memoir, The Little Princesses. THE YOUNG HEIRESS With the tumultuous abdication of her uncle and the rise of her father to become King George VI, Princess Elizabeth became heiress presumptive (absent any future male heir, who never materialized). Enter couturier Norman Hartnell, according to Holt. While there were other designers, he was entrusted with dressing the family as they emerged on the world stage, including the two princesses at ages 11 and 6. Their bow-adorned dresses and little cloaks signalled a return to the calm dependability of the monarchy, Holt wrote. During World War II, 18-year-old Elizabeth began to make more public appearances, training as a mechanic in early 1945 toward the end of the war. It was the only time she routinely wore trousers (and boiler suits), according to Holt. The queen was, and remains, a practical dresser when necessary, but also glamorous in sparkly gowns when the moment beckoned. And she often went short sleeved or with no sleeves at all, something that doesn't happen today. She stood for photos with Prince Philip in a simple, light-colored dress with sleeves above the elbow and peekaboo low heels on her size 4 (6 U.S.) feet shortly before their wedding in 1947. People want to see their royals looking like royals, but equally, they dont want to think that taxpayers' money is being blown away, said Nick Bullen, editor in chief of True Royalty TV. THE WEDDING DRESS Hartnell transformed the florals of Botticelli's Primavera into a gown of white crystals and pearls. But it wasn't easy. There were diplomatic questions in the still-miserable aftermath of the war, Holt wrote. Customs impounded 10,000 seed pearls from the U.S., and journalists were assured that the origins of the silk produced in Kent and woven in Essex were worms from nationalist" China rather than enemy Japan. Thousands in the U.K. sent in their ration coupons for Princess Elizabeth to use for dress materials. That would have been illegal, so she saved up her own and asked the government for 200 extra, Holt told The Associated Press. It showed the thirst there was in the country for this big moment of glamour, she said. In recent years, we have known the queen and Prince Philip as this sweet old couple but we have to remember, in that time they were this dazzling, glamorous new couple on the scene. The wedding was not without behind-the-scenes drama. Queen Mary's Fringe tiara, made by Elizabeth's grandmother from a necklace given to Mary by Queen Victoria, snapped right before the ceremony and was rushed off to crown jeweler Garrard for repair. The dress, and the wedding, offered a real moment of hope, Holt said. HER HEMLINES She settled years ago on skirts and dresses just below the knee, but her hemlines were sometimes an issue for senior members of her family. In 1952, the 25-year-old queen led her family in mourning at her father's funeral in accordance to strict dress codes set out during the reign of Queen Victoria, according to Holt. As Queen Mary curtsied to her granddaughter and kissed each cheek, she admonished: Lilibet, your skirts are much too short for mourning, Holt writes. The new queen's dress hovered well above her ankles yet respectfully below the knee, while that of her grandmother reached the ground. All, including Queen Elizabeth II, were shrouded in black veils, as Queen Victoria was for 40 years after the death of Prince Albert in 1861. The evolution of the queens style from young princess to longest-serving monarch in British history has her being of the time but not following fashion, Bullen said. FINDING A UNIFORM The queen we know today wears sensible block heels or brogues, usually handmade by Anello & Davide, a custom Launer perched on her arm and a brooch on one shoulder. She goes with kilts and skirts in tartans and plaids as her country style. But the queen of the early 1950s charmed the world in nipped-in waists, pencil silhouettes and some floaty, full experiments as a post-war fashion quake took hold in the country. In the early years of her reign, she really embraced Diors New Look aesthetic, and women looked to her outfits as a source of inspiration, much like people do with the Duchess of Cambridge today, said Kristin Contino, style reporter for Page Six. There was a playful glamour in the 1970s, '80s and '90s, including a bold multicolored evening dress in 1999 for a Royal Variety Performance. Created by Karl-Ludwig Rehse, it featured a riotous sequin diamond-pattern bodice of bright yellow, blue, green and pink. There were also some trouser days and a turban phase in the 60s and 70s amid a wide range of hat styles. The queen learned of her father's passing on a stop in Kenya en route to Australia. Some reports indicate she was wearing jeans for an encounter with a herd of elephants the moment her father died in his sleep at Sandringham, Holt wrote. She donned slacks on safari in Zambia in 1979, and a trouser set in 2003 as she left King Edward VIII hospital in London after a knee operation. It was Margaret, the rebel, who was renowned as a fashion plate in Dior and other designers, and her influence on Elizabeth was tangible. Little sister helped the queen scout new British designers and introduced her to up-and-comers, such as milliner Simone Mirman, according to Holt. Mirman created some of the queen's standout hats, including her Tudor-style medieval helmet," as Hartnell called it, in soft yellow, for the 1969 investiture of Prince Charles. Margaret was really in tune with fashion. She would have been the one reading Vogue. And so she would often go with the queen to appointments to help her inject that little bit of extra style into her looks, Holt said. Usually sticking to British designers, the queen has a long-held fondness for silk scarves by the French fashion house Hermes. The brand has issued several special designs in her honor. It did so in 2016 with a horse-themed scarf to mark her 90th birthday. One doesn't equate the queen of today with a mad rush to copy her style, but for a brief spell in the 1950s women could do just that thanks to her love of cotton dresses in dainty floral or abstract prints from Horrockses Fashions, a British ready-to-wear brand, Holt said. Another look from those early years stands out as well. In October 1952, soon after ascending the throne, the queen was a sensation at the Empire Theatre for a royal viewing of the musical comedy Because You're Mine. She wore a tuxedo-like Hartnell gown in black with a white front and wide lapels in a halter design, paired with long white gloves, a tiara on her head and a diamond bracelet on one wrist. She hit every magazine and newspaper the next day. Manufacturers rushed to copy it. It was dubbed the Magpie and she never wore it again. MATCHY MATCHY The queen loves to color coordinate, sticking to bright colors and pastels in coats and floral dresses today. That goes for her signature clear, bird-cage umbrellas as well. They're made by Fulton Umbrellas and are attainable at $30 or less, though the queen's are custom made. She owns about 100 in a rainbow of colors but contrary to reports, she doesn't possess 200 of her favorite Launer bags, Holt said. Gerald Bodmer, who rescued Launer in 1981 after a period of decline, was keen to clear up that myth. He says she has several styles in several colors. He says that 200 is very far off the mark, Holt said. Launer extends the straps of her leather bags to make it easier for her to hang them on her arm, and they make them lighter for her to carry. And what does she carry? Bullen said he's heard there's always a lipstick, a handkerchief and a photo of Prince Philip, who died last year at 99. Irish designer Paul Costelloe, who dressed Princess Diana in the 1980s and 90s, told the AP of the queen's style: Shes a bit like a schoolteacher, a good schoolteacher. She never shocks. She gets it right. Follow Leanne Italie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/litalie Associated Press writer Sylvia Hui in London contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. THURSDAY, May 26, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Breastfeeding has long been thought to help boost a child's IQ, but other factors such as mom's education level and/or social standing could also be responsible for some of this benefit. Now, a new study shows that babies who were breastfed for six months or longer scored higher on tests measuring verbal and spatial relations skills up until age 14 when compared with kids who weren't breastfed as babies. The results held after the researchers controlled for moms' education level and socioeconomic status. "In certain countries, mothers from more socially advantaged backgrounds and mothers who score higher in cognitive tests are more likely to breastfeed their babies for longer, and it has been argued that the relationship between breastfeeding and cognitive development is due to these differences," said study lead author Renee Pereyra-Elias. He is a researcher at the University of Oxford in England. However, "after accounting for socioeconomic circumstances and maternal cognitive ability, longer breastfeeding durations are associated with higher cognitive scores in children, even until age 14," Pereyra-Elias added. Breast milk contains polyunsaturated fatty acids and micronutrients, which aid brain development, he said. "It also contains microRNAs, which are pieces of genetic code in charge of programming our brains to develop and function correctly," Pereyra-Elias said. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about six months, followed by continued breastfeeding as foods are introduced for one year or longer. Extended breastfeeding is associated with a long list of potential health benefits, including lower risk for infections and some diseases. For the study, researchers followed more than 7,800 infants born in the United Kingdom from 2000 through 2002 until they turned 14. Twenty-three percent of infants were breastfed for six months or longer, and about 34% werent breastfed at all. The kids took tests measuring verbal and spatial relations skills when they were 5, 7, 11 and 14. Scores on tests were higher among kids who were breastfed for longer, even when researchers adjusted for other factors. Not all women can breastfeed, and this doesn't mean that their children will be at a disadvantage. "It is important to remember that the potential gains in cognitive ability among children breastfed for several months would be equivalent to just 2-3 IQ points in the usual IQ scale, in which the average is 100," Pereyra-Elias said. This difference is more pronounced at a population level. "If a whole population, on average, increases their IQ by 2-3 points, we could see important differences," the researcher added. The study is published in the May 25 issue of PLOS ONE. Outside experts point out that there are other ways to help make sure your baby thrives. Dr. Linda Dahl is an otolaryngologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "There are many ways to bond with your baby. Breastfeeding is one of them," Dahl said. "If, for whatever reason, you can't give your baby breastmilk, that doesn't mean they will be less intelligent or struggle through life." As a nurse in pediatric practice in Florida, Michelle Ferguson counsels new moms on how to best help their babies meet their milestones. "If a woman can't breastfeed, I will suggest age- and stage- appropriate activities and close bonding since they don't get that much bonding when they are bottle-feeding," said Ferguson, also an assistant professor of nursing at Florida Atlantic University. What's more, infant formulas mimic the composition of breast milk so all babies can derive benefits associated with breastfeeding, she said. More information The American Academy of Pediatrics explains how breastfeeding benefits your babys immune system. SOURCES: Renee Pereyra-Elias, MSc, DPhil student and researcher, University of Oxford, England; Linda Dahl, MD, otolaryngologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Michelle Ferguson, DNP, MSN, assistant professor, nursing, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton; PLOS ONE, May 25, 2022 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researcher Melinda Kavanaugh thinks as many as 10 million children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee associate professor of social work says youth caregiving will grow as the U.S. population ages and chronic health problems like diabetes become more common. She and other researchers say young caregivers provide crucial help to their families, and they need support. BOSTON (AP) Nineteen people have been indicted in a complex money laundering scheme to move millions of dollars in drug proceeds from Colombian cartels through U.S. banks, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. The charges brought in Massachusetts federal court are the result of a five-year investigation into the money laundering organization based in Colombia. Authorities say they laundered at least $6 million through the U.S. banking system. Two people were arrested on Tuesday in Jamaica and three others were arrested in Florida, authorities said. Last month, another person was arrested in Florida and 12 others were arrested in Colombia. Prosecutors are seeking the extradition of the Colombian and Jamaican defendants to the U.S., officials said. One person remains at large. If nothing else, this case shows that the long arm of the law does not stop at our borders," said Joleen Simpson, special agent in charge of the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigations in Boston. Those charged played a variety of roles in the conspiracy, including drug suppliers and dollar purchasers, Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins told reporters. The scheme involved the use of so-called peso brokers," who agreed to give pesos to drug traffickers in exchange for the profits of U.S. drug sales, Rollins said. Criminal associates would be handed drug money in suitcases or bags on the street and then peso brokers deposited the funds into U.S. banks, Rollins said. To make it appear like it was legitimate business activity, the money was deposited into bank accounts held by front companies and individuals or through multiple small deposits into different bank accounts, officials said. Nearly 3,000 kilograms (6,600 pounds) of seized cocaine with a street value of more than $90 million have been traced back to the money laundering organization, Rollins said. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. LONDON (AP) Relatives of people killed during Northern Irelands decades of violence protested in London and Belfast on Tuesday, urging the government to drop plans to grant immunity to perpetrators of crimes committed during the Troubles. The British government says its Legacy and Reconciliation bill reflects the vanishingly small likelihood of convicting people for decades-old crimes. If it becomes law, it will end most prosecutions for killings by both British soldiers and members of militant groups. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told lawmakers in the House of Commons that change is needed because the current system is broken. It is delivering neither justice nor information to the vast majority of families, he said. More than 3,500 people died most of them civilians during three decades of violence, known as the Troubles. involving Irish republican and British loyalist paramilitaries and U.K. troops. The bill calls for an independent commission for information recovery loosely modelled on South Africas post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate alleged crimes, and imposes a duty of full disclosure on the British government and security services. People who cooperate with the commission and reveal what they know about past crimes will be granted immunity from prosecution, and new civil claims and inquests over the Troubles will be banned. People who refuse to speak to the commission could still be charged. The government added that condition after an earlier proposal for a blanket amnesty was rejected by all Northern Irelands main political parties, the government of Ireland and human rights groups. But people who lost loved ones say the law will still allow killers to get away with murder. Members of the group Relatives for Justice carried a coffin emblazoned with the word Justice through central London on Tuesday before delivering an open letter denouncing the bill to the prime ministers 10 Downing St. office. The groups chief executive, Mark Thompson, said the proposed law was anti-victim. The beneficiaries of this are the people who pulled the triggers and planted the bombs, said Thompson, whose brother Peter was shot dead by undercover British soldiers in Belfast in 1990. The 1998 Good Friday peace accord ended large-scale violence in Northern Ireland. As part of the peace process, many militants were released from prison or were not prosecuted for actions during the Troubles. The new law would remove the last hope of putting most of them on trial. It would also lift the threat of prosecution from troops who served in Northern Ireland decades ago. Lewis acknowledged that the new law, which will likely take several months to pass through Parliament, would be very challenging for many. But he said it would allow a fuller accounting of a dark chapter of history. Lewis said it was a painful reality that, with more than two thirds of Troubles-related cases now over 40 years old, the prospect of successful prosecutions is vanishingly small. He said the focus would now be on providing truth and accountability about the past. Conservative lawmaker Johnny Mercer, who has campaigned against prosecutions of military veterans of the Troubles, said it was a sad fact that some victims would not get justice and people will get away with things they should not get away with. There are no winners here, he said. The whole thing is a disaster but we have to do what we can to bring some sort of end and finality and truth to this process for the victims, and that is what I want colleagues to focus on. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Moscow pressed the West on Thursday to lift sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, seeking to shift the blame for a growing food crisis that has been worsened by Kyiv's inability to ship millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products while under attack. Britain immediately accused Russia of "trying to hold the world to ransom," insisting there would be no sanctions relief, and a top U.S. diplomat blasted the "sheer barbarity, sadistic cruelty and lawlessness" of the invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin told Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi that Moscow "is ready to make a significant contribution to overcoming the food crisis through the export of grain and fertilizer on the condition that politically motivated restrictions imposed by the West are lifted," according to a Kremlin readout of the call. Ukraine is one of the world's largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but the war and a Russian blockade of its ports have halted much of that flow, endangering world food supplies. Many of those ports are now also heavily mined. Russia also is a significant grain exporter, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said the West "must cancel the unlawful decisions that hamper chartering ships and exporting grain." His comments appeared to be an effort to lump the blockade of Ukrainian exports with what Russia says are its difficulties in moving its own goods. Western officials have dismissed those claims. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted last week that food, fertilizer and seeds are exempt from sanctions imposed by the U.S. and many others and that Washington is working to ensure countries know the flow of those goods should not be affected. With the war grinding into its fourth month, world leaders have ramped up calls for solutions. World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said about 25 million tons of Ukrainian grain is in storage and another 25 million tons could be harvested next month. European countries have tried to ease the crisis by moving grain out of the country by rail but trains can carry only a small fraction of what Ukraine produces, and ships are needed for the bulk of the exports. At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry proposed corridors to allow foreign ships to leave ports along the Black Sea, as well as Mariupol on the Sea of Azov. Mikhail Mizintsev, who heads Russia's National Defense Control Center, said 70 foreign vessels from 16 countries were in six ports on the Black Sea, including Odesa, Kherson and Mykolaiv. He did not specify how many might be ready to carry food. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said his country was ready to agree on safe corridors in principle, but it was not sure it could trust Russia to allow safe passage and not send its military vessels "sneaking" into the harbor to attack Odesa. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Putin was "trying to hold the world to ransom" by demanding some sanctions be lifted before allowing Ukrainian grain shipments to resume. "He's essentially weaponized hunger and lack of food among the poorest people around the world," Truss said on a visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. "What we cannot have is any lifting of sanctions, any appeasement, which will simply make Putin stronger in the longer term." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for imposing even tougher sanctions on Russia, including for the European Union to ban Russian oil and gas. "Pressuring Russia is literally a matter of saving lives," he said in his nightly video address. "And every day of delay, weakness, various disputes or proposals to appease the aggressor at the expense of the victim is new Ukrainians killed. And these are new threats to everyone on our continent." Putin said "it's impossible, utterly unrealistic in the modern world" to isolate Russia. Speaking via video to members of the Eurasian Economic Forum, which is comprised of several ex-Soviet nations, he said those who try would "primarily hurt themselves," citing broken food supply chains. Michael Carpenter, the U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, urged its members to provide Ukraine with what it needs to defend itself against Putin's "revanchist delusions." If Russia achieved "success" in Ukraine, "there would be more horrific reports from filtration camps, more forcibly displaced people, more summary executions, more torture, more rape, and more looting," Carpenter said in Vienna. On the battlefield, Russian forces pressed their offensive in several parts of the eastern Donbas region, Ukraine's military said. That industrial heartland of coal mines and factories is now the focus of fighting after Russia suffered a series of setbacks and shifted to more limited goals. "The enemy is storming the position of our troops simultaneously in several directions," said Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar. "We have an extremely difficult and long stage of fighting ahead of us." Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, also came under renewed shelling on Thursday. Zelenskyy said at least nine people were killed and 19 wounded. Among those killed were a five-month-old baby and its father, and the mother was in serious condition. Military officials said Russian forces continued to try to gain a foothold in the area of Sievierodonetsk, the only part of the Luhansk region in the Donbas under Ukrainian government control. A senior U.S. defense official said Russia is making incremental progress in the Donbas, with fighting centered on towns and villages as Russian and Ukrainian forces trade control over scraps of land. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the U.S. military assessment, said those smaller artillery duels could be prolonged. Russia has 110 battalion tactical groups, each with 800 to 1,000 troops, committed to Ukraine, amounting to 80% of Moscow's total force, the official said, adding that it has lost 1,000 tanks and three dozen fighter jets and other fixed-wing aircraft. Zelenskyy pleaded with the West to send multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine as soon as possible to give it a fighting chance against the Russian offensive in the Donbas. In other developments: In the northwestern town of Kotelva, two Russian soldiers accused of war crimes pleaded guilty to shelling civilian infrastructure with a multiple rocket launcher. Alexander Ivanov and Alexander Bobykin could face up to 12 years in prison; the defense asked for eight, saying they were following orders. Bobykin said, "I regret the actions our troops committed." In the ravaged port city of Mariupol, Russia began broadcasting state television news, about a week after the Russian military declared it had "completely liberated" the city. A leader of Russia-backed separatists suggested there might be more Ukrainian fighters hiding in Mariupol's sprawling Azovstal steelworks, which for weeks stood as the city's last bastion of resistance. The Russian military says 2,439 fighters surrendered from the plant last week. The separatist leader, Denis Pushilin, said more may have been hiding or lost or lagged behind, adding "there are already those that have been found" and captured. Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Russian ally Belarus, said he was sending troops to the border with Ukraine, raising the possibility that he may agree to wider participation in the war. Belarus allowed Russian troops to invade Ukraine from its soil but has not taken part in ground operations. The Pentagon said one American military officer has gone back to Ukraine as the U.S. reopens its embassy in Kyiv. But Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the colonel is there for diplomatic work, and no other U.S. troops are going into Ukraine at this point. ___ Becatoros reported from Kramatorsk, Ukraine. Associated Press writers Andre Rosa in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war: 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. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Fallout from last week's primary election has been playing out in the Pennsylvania General Assembly in recent days, including punishment for two lawmakers who worked to unseat fellow incumbents. In the Senate, GOP gubernatorial nominee Sen. Doug Mastriano was allowed back inside the Republican caucus closed-door meetings Monday. Mastriano, R-Franklin, had been kicked out last year after leaders concluded he had shared information that was supposed to be confidential. It was a leadership decision, said Jason Thompson, spokesperson for President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre, who had sought the nomination against Mastriano. There are members of the caucus that requested that he be added back to caucus discussions. We evaluated that, our leadership team evaluated that, and made the decision to add him back. Thompson said Mastriano was made aware of the decision several weeks ago, but Monday was the first caucus to be held since then. A message seeking comment from Mastriano was left Tuesday with his Capitol staff. House Republican leaders stripped state Rep. Mike Jones of several committee assignments after his primary campaign work in York County helped beat Appropriations Chairman Stan Saylor and longtime Rep. Keith Gillespie. Republican Rep. Dave Zimmerman also lost committee spots over similar efforts in Lancaster County. Saylor's loss to Wendy Jo Fink creates an opening for an ambitious colleague, as the majority chair of Appropriations holds considerable sway over state budget spending decisions. So far there's no sign House Republicans will move to replace Saylor before his term ends later this year. Senate Republicans could face a similar issue because Appropriations Chairman Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, is locked in a tight primary race for the nomination and may lose reelection. The state budget, due July 1, will be the main focus of state lawmakers over the coming five weeks. Appropriations chairs control much larger staffs and spending than do rank-and-file members. Dozens of incumbents chose not to seek another term this year after the once-a-decade redistricting process made changes to district maps across the state. Last week, voters sent addititional sitting lawmakers home, with primary losses by Democratic Reps. Martell Covington in Allegheny County, Pam DeLissio in Phialdelphia and Brian Kirkland in Delaware County; and Republican Reps. Mike Puskaric south of Pittsburgh and Jason Silvis in Westmoreland County. In three districts, lawmakers were put in primary races together: Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie beat Rep. Gary Day in Lehigh County; Republican Rep. Perry Stambaugh beat Rep. Johnathan Hershey northwest of Harrisburg; and Democratic Rep. Chris Rabb defeated Rep. Isabella Fitzgerland in Philadelphia. In the Philadelphia suburbs, the Pocono Mountains, the Pittsburgh area and Reading, campaign strategists are poring over primary results to see what they suggest about the fall campaign. Republicans hold solid majority margins in both chambers, but legislative redistricting is generally expected to give Democrats a boost in what otherwise is shaping up to be a national political environment favorable to the GOP. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. When a shooter attacked a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, on May 14, its security guard tried to stop him. At least one of his shots hit the gunman, but it didnt stop the deadly rampage because the gunman was wearing body armor. Ten Black people died in the racist massacre, including security guard Aaron Salter, a retired Buffalo police officer hailed as a hero. It's the latest mass shooting in which the gunman apparently came prepared for anyone trying to stop him with a gun. At least 21 mass shooters over the last four decades have worn some kind of body armor and the majority of those were within the last 10 years, according to a database maintained by The Violence Project, a nonpartisan research group that tracks gun violence. Among them: A massacre that killed 12 people and injured dozens more at a crowded movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, in 2012, and another in nearby Boulder that left 10 people dead at a supermarket last year. The shooter in Texas's deadliest mass slaying was also wearing protective gear when he killed more than two dozen people at a church in 2017, as was a radicalized Islamic couple who carried out a terror attack in San Bernardino, California, in 2015. Theyre demonstrating this intent that, I want to absolutely kill or hurt as many people as I possibly can before I just cant fight anymore, said Chris Burbank, the former police chief in Salt Lake City whos now with the Center for Policing Equity. The Violence Project database doesn't show a clear correlation with body armor and the number of victims. But such gear can enable attackers to shoot longer and is a symbolic way to adhere to societal expectations of what a mass shooting looks like, said James Densley, a criminal justice professor at Metro State University in Minnesota who co-founded The Violence Project. A mass shooting is intended to be a final act you dont get away with a mass shooting, Densley said. So its meant to be a big spectacle, and its meant to have people pay attention and to notice it. One of the ways you do that is you dress up pretending youre in the military. Police officers are seeing body armor in other types of investigations, like narcotics cases, said former Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina. Body armor is relatively easy to get, especially the soft body armor similar to the bulletproof vests regularly worn by police officers that are effective against handguns. Getting body armor isnt difficult under U.S. laws. Federal law prohibits certain violent felons from buying body armor, but other than that there are few restrictions on purchasing it. Only one state blocks it from being ordered online and shipped to homes: Connecticut, which requires a face-to-face purchase. Colina would like to see more states consider stricter rules. I dont think its something that is really thought about too much, but weve seen it many times and weve seen it here in south Florida," Colina said. "Somebody commits a crime wearing body armor, and its terrifying. The idea that you may not be able to stop them if you had to use deadly force is terrifying. Still, body armor itself isn't inherently dangerous and is in fact aimed at protection something on the minds of many people amid a spike in gun violence in the U.S., Burbank said. And its unclear what effective body armor regulation would even look like, given the difficulty of regulating the weapons that are used in the shootings. Most of those same laws apply to guns," Burbank said. "Does that prohibit anyone in this nation from having access to a firearm? Body armor hasn't been worn in the majority of mass shootings, said James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University who has been tracking mass killings back to 2006 along with The Associated Press and USA Today. But it does indicate a level of planning. Body armor was mentioned more than a dozen times in the online writings attributed to the white suspect in the Buffalo shooting, Payton Gendron, who was arrested at the supermarket and has pleaded not guilty to murder. The Violence Project database also doesn't include slayings that don't meet the definition of a mass shooting because fewer than four people were killed. In one such shooting at Philadelphias Thomas Jefferson University Hospital last October, a nursing assistant wearing blue scrubs and a ballistics vest killed a co-worker and then wounded two police officers before being shot by police and taken into custody. In another, this month in Round Rock, Texas, a 31-year-old Marine veteran wounded a neighbor before engaging in a shootout with law enforcement, after which he was found dead, wearing body armor. In contrast to U.S. laws, four Canadian provinces have enacted severe restrictions on the possession of body armor Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. Residents must obtain permits to possess body armor, including ballistic vests, and must undergo background checks before getting those permits, which must be renewed on an annual or biannual basis. Violators face hefty fines and jail time. Alberta adopted its law in 2012 because of spiraling gang violence in which gang members wore vests while committing crimes such as drive-by shootings and even sported them in public, said Ian Roddick, a spokesman with the provinces Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General. Applicants must have no criminal record. Permits generally are granted to those whose jobs, such as security guards, require protection. Some Australian territories also restrict body armor possession. Associated Press writer Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report. This story was first published on May 18, 2022. It was updated on May 26, 2022, to correct that the shooter in a 2021 Philadelphia case was not killed, but was shot by police and taken into custody. It was also updated on May 26, 2022, to clarify that federal law prohibits certain violent felons from buying body armor. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a 20-strong delegation arrived in the Solomon Islands Thursday at the start of an eight-nation tour that comes amid growing concerns about Beijings military and financial ambitions in the South Pacific region. China says the trip builds on a long history of friendly relations between Beijing and the island nations. But Australia scrambled to counter the move by sending its own Foreign Minister Penny Wong to Fiji to shore up support in the Pacific. Wong had been on the job just five days following an Australian election and had just arrived back Wednesday night from a meeting in Tokyo. In Fiji, Wong said it was up to each island nation to decide what partnerships they formed and what agreements they signed, but urged them to consider the benefits of sticking with Australia. Australia will be a partner that doesnt come with strings attached nor imposing unsustainable financial burdens," Wong said. We are a partner that wont erode Pacific priorities or Pacific institutions. Meanwhile, the Media Association of Solomon Islands called on its members to boycott a news conference in the capital, Honiara, held by Wang and his counterpart from the Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele, following a meeting between the pair. That's because only selected media were invited to the event, and the schedule allowed for just a single question to be asked of Wang by China's state-owned broadcaster CCTV. Its a tough call to make regarding the media boycott for the press event on Thursday, wrote association president Georgina Kekea on Twitter. Our protest is for our govt to see our disappointment. They have failed us & they failed to protect #democracy. According to an official Chinese summary of the meeting, Wang told his counterpart that China would firmly support the Solomon Islands in its efforts to maintain national security and territorial integrity, while Manele described the visit as historic and a milestone in the relations between the two countries. China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands last month in a move that sent shock waves around the world. That pact has raised fears that China could send troops to the island nation or even establish a military base there, not far from Australia. The Solomon Islands and China say there are no plans for a base. In another move by China, a draft document obtained by The Associated Press shows that Wang is hoping to strike a deal with 10 small Pacific nations during his visit. The sweeping agreement covers everything from security to fisheries and is seen by at least one Pacific leader as an attempt by Beijing to wrest control of the region. Wang is hoping the countries will endorse the pre-written agreement as part of a joint communique after a May 30 meeting in Fiji with the other foreign ministers. During his 10-day visit, Wang is also planning to make stops in Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor. Earlier, Australia's new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he'd sent Wong to Fiji because Australia needed to step up" its efforts in the Pacific. We need to respond to this because this is China seeking to increase its influence in the region of the world where Australia has been the security partner of choice since the Second World War, he told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that in recent years, exchanges and cooperation between Beijing and the island nations had been expanding in a development that was welcomed by the Pacific countries. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. One by one, speakers took the stage at the National Rifle Associations annual convention in Houston and denounced the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school across the state. And one by one, they insisted that changing U.S. gun laws or further restricting access to firearms was not the answer. The gathering comes just three days after the shooting in Uvalde. Hundreds of protesters shouted their anger at the NRA outside the meeting. In remarks to the group, former President Donald Trump called for an overhaul of school security and the U.S. approach to mental health problems while dismissing calls to disarm gun owners. The network was extensive. Eleven different Omahans applied for, and obtained, $2.4 million in federal CARES Act money that they used for anything but the payroll assistance and economic boost it was designed to provide. One of them served as a sort of government-grant godfather, doling out advice on how to rip off the Paycheck Protection Program, U.S. Attorney Jan Sharp said Wednesday. The grants were designed to keep businesses afloat and workers employed during the coronavirus pandemic. But, Sharp alleges, these people had designs on using the money to enrich themselves. In some cases, Sharp said, the purported businesses were pure fiction, complete with phony personnel and a false payroll. All done to gain access to this lifeline Congress had thrown at businesses, Sharp said. Nine defendants were arrested Wednesday in Omaha, one in Las Vegas and one in Atlanta. They are scheduled to make their first appearances in federal court in the next few days. The U.S. Attorneys Office identified them as: Ramel D. Thompson, 58; Carl Estwick, 59; Jackie Harper, 49; Tarysh G. Hogue, 48; Richard L. Kelly, 59; Lenfield Kendrick, 49, who also resides in Minnesota; Trevor A. McNeil, 23, who also lives part time in Atlanta; Henry T. Lewis, 54; Shawn A. Prater, 47; and the father-son duo of Michael A. Perkins Sr. and Jr. Altogether, they face 22 charges. All are charged with at least one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. Some are accused of money laundering in addition to the fraud charges. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison on each count. Sharp and Eugene Kowel, special agent in charge of the Omaha FBI office, alleged that the 11 filed 59 fraudulent applications to try to obtain $7.6 million in grants from PPP and a second program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan. They succeeded in getting $2.4 million. Sharp cast Thompson as a go-to guy. The indictment says he advised others as many as five, according to Sharp on how to fraudulently obtain funds (and) prepared false applications and false supporting documents on behalf of other participants. In some cases, the defendants businesses didnt even exist, except on paper. In other cases, their representation of their revenue or payroll didnt seem to pass the eyeball test. The indictment alleges McNeil represented that, on average, each of the 10 employees of his cleaning company made $91,200 a year. Kelly said each of his employees made the same amount $91,200 a year as auto detailers. Kelly also represented that his auto-detailing business generated $1 million in revenue a year but netted a profit of just $31,902, the indictment alleges. Asked whether banks and other lenders should have sensed something amiss just by those numbers, Sharp said the program was, by nature, designed to distribute money quickly so that businesses could stay afloat. To the extent that youre asking if there were checks and balances, were kind of the checks and balances, Sharp said of federal agents and prosecutors. Theres a downside to getting caught doing that. Could (the program) have been done differently? Thats a political question and thats not something Im competent to answer. Kowel said federal agents are in the process of trying to seize assets. So far theyve recovered $64,000 in cash, $96,000 from a bank account, Estwicks 2006 Bentley; Lewis 2013 Chevy Silverado; a house Prater bought for $24,345 and two dump trucks purchased by the Perkins business for $164,000 each. Sharp said prosecutors will continue to try, but theres no way theyll recover the $2.4 million. Not anything thats close, he said. Sharp said this indictment is the largest of a handful of recent cases in which prosecutors have alleged theft of federal COVID-19 relief funds. Last week, a nonprofit business owner and Omaha Learning Community candidate, Brenda Banks, was accused of fraudulently obtaining $202,000 in federal loans. She denies she misused the money. This was designed to stabilize businesses, Sharp said. This was not and was never intended to be free money. 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. LINCOLN A Nebraska Democratic Party leader blasted state Republicans Tuesday for sending out an email within hours of the Texas elementary school shooting that attacked Democratic gubernatorial candidate Carol Blood over a gun bill vote. Their subject line was Carol Blood wants us defenseless, party Chair Jane Kleeb said in a tweet. You mean like the kids and their teacher that was killed? Totally disgusting. Blood called the email hateful and meant to generate fear and said it was not an appropriate response to the killing of 19 children and two adults at a school in Uvalde, Texas. Mr. Pillen who claims he will not participate in dirty campaigning continues to show us with his silence he will only keep his head down and pretend that his silence does not make him complicit, she said. The fundraising email, which was sent out by the Nebraska Republican Party, attacked Blood, who is a state senator from Bellevue, for being a deciding vote against a proposal to let Nebraskans carry concealed weapons without getting a state permit. If she is elected governor, she wont stop there, the email said. Shes a typical leftist politician who values criminals over law-abiding citizens. The proposal at issue was Legislative Bill 773, introduced by State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon. The measure died after a filibuster-ending cloture motion fell two votes short during second-round debate. Blood voted for cloture and for advancing the bill at the first round of debate. But she was present, not voting on the second-round cloture motion. Taylor Gage, the state GOP executive director, said the email was a planned communication and obviously not a response to the shooting. He said the partys actual response was a tweet sent out Wednesday morning that said: Grieving and praying for everyone impacted by the shooting. 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. Gun safety Another school shooting. Twenty-one dead so far. I guess thats just the way it goes. Senator Ted Cruz comments that the answer is to arm school teachers. Does anyone else thinks thats just plain stupid? It may, on the rare occasion, help prevent a few deaths. However, a teacher armed with a handgun facing a shooter armed with a semi-automatic rifle is like bringing a knife to a gunfight. These rifles have a very effective range of 100-plus yards. Most handguns, in the hands of an experienced shooter, may be effective to around 20 yards. The rifle may be equipped with magazines of 30 or even more rounds. Handguns, probably around 17 rounds. Rifles deliver muzzle velocities of above 3,000-feet per second. Handguns, something around 1,000-feet per second. This would place teachers in harms way by arming them. A determined shooter could create deadly havoc before a teacher would even be able to engage them. Cruz and his minions in Congress seem to lack a sense that theres something wrong in our country. We could address this issue without affecting the rights of legitimate and responsible gun owners. Red flag laws, magazine capacities, better background checks ... Surely some sanity must enter into this conversation. We seem to have become a nation governed by monied lobbying groups, namely the NRA. Congress seems to labor fervently to avoid any real and effective gun legislation. Lets not call it gun control. That waves red flags of its own. Let us instead call it gun safety. Its damned well past time. The people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. These words were spoken by President James A. Garfield, and seem to apply today. Barry Marsh, Central City, Nebraska Stop the carnage Another mass shooting at a school. When will it be enough? When will Congress stand up and pass enforceable gun legislation? When will we remove military-style weapons from sellers? How many more have to die? Barbara Chambers, Shenandoah, Iowa Law saves lives It is time for all of us, regardless of our political persuasions, to demand that Congress pass federal gun control laws and to stop listening to the gun lobby. This is not OK. It is not normal. It does not happen to this extent in countries that have passed gun control laws. Gun control does not mean gun eradication no matter how passionately some try to spin it that way. And laws will not likely prevent all mass shootings, but if they prevented even one, I feel that it would be worth it. The founders never intended the right to bear arms to be without limit, nor should it be in a functioning, healthy democratic society. The May 24 shooting was at an elementary school, just like Sandy Hook in 2012. It is heartbreaking and disgraceful that our kids have to learn active shooter drills beginning in kindergarten. It has to stop and no amount of thinking or praying is doing the trick. It has become an epidemic in this country. I wonder if the state law signed a couple years ago by the current Texas governor reducing the age from 21 to 18 to legally purchase the type of gun used in this mass shooting might have prevented this tragedy from happening? The shooter was 18. Sarah Caswell, Omaha Lawmaker negligence Kudos to our U.S. senators who we can now call baby killers for their negligence in passing any common sense gun laws for fear of loosing NRA bucks. Apparently, a few bucks is all it takes in Nebraska to shrug off baby killing. John Gottier, Rushville Arm the children The shooting in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24 is another tragedy in America. Since no permits are needed for concealed carry in Texas, perhaps we need a new approach. Let the schools second-, third- and fourth-graders carry guns in school in order to protect themselves, their teachers and peers. These children should have a right to life by arming themselves in order to confront a shooter in school. Since no federal or state legislators are willing to do anything about gun control, it is time to arm the children. Linda Higa, Omaha Gun reform now As an American voter you must ask yourself, Do you love your guns more than your children? Dee Ebel, Omaha Root cause Once again, the liberals are shouting for gun control after this terrible tragedy in Texas. Instead of trying to get to the root cause of these incidents (which is mental health), they blame guns. Guns are easy to blame. Liberals want to disarm the population; its their goal. You cant have total control and tyranny unless everyone is disarmed. So, theyll use shooting incidents like this to push their agenda. Marxists never let a crisis go to waste. Lou Totilas, Kimballton, Iowa Right to life Obviously, the right to bear arms supersedes the right to life in this society. How can this be? Marylyn Felion, Omaha Expand gun laws Another school shooting, 19 children dead in their classroom. Ben Sasse and Deb Fischer, how many is enough? Fifty, 100, 500, 1,000 a day? Is there any number of murdered children that would encourage you to support legislation that could help? How about voting for background checks and assault weapon bans? The disregard for the lives of children that you and other Republicans display is inhumane. You say you are pro-life? Obviously not. Greg Classen, Papillion Gun and state Politicians for decades have been sitting on their hands, waiting for the inevitable next banana clip rounds of assault rifle bullets to rip into crowds of innocent men, women and children. Sure enough, on May 24, 19 children and two adults were shot and killed at a school in Texas, a state with some of most lax firearm regulations. Predictably, GOP leaders remain paralyzed in fear of the gun lobby. They refuse even the most toothless common-sense laws to rein in the nightmare massacres triggered by the unchecked flow of guns into the wrong hands. They cower in the corners, hatching their hands even as murdered children are laid to rest in urns and tiny coffins. Im not in the least optimistic about any surcease from this gun-worshipping or any other example of Republican-led mass madness. That wont happen until those in power, who continue to rot on the vine of cultist overreach, are replaced by sane people. But dont hold your breath for that. The decay is deep, indeed. When the Republican Party finally molts the reptile skin of pure Trumpism, theres an equally loathsome pit of snakes ready to slither into the spotlight. Bob Copperstone, Wahoo Judy Fletcher cant wait to offer Celtic Quilter customers a new line of sewing and embroidery machines. And when the sewing and embroidery machines become available, Fletcher will be ready thanks to an already established line of credit she has with Core Bank. Her latest interaction with Core Bank was efficient and productive, she said, because of its new RapidTRAC loan program. Using RapidTRAC, Fletcher applied for a loan online, received instant approval and had access to the funds within days. I now have the cash flow available when I need it. Fletcher shared that the application process was painless and easy. Once the documents were completed with the agreement acceptance, they had the line of credit account set up. Helping businesses such as Celtic Quilter easily navigate the loan process and receive funds quickly is the purpose behind RapidTRAC, said Heather Wilderman, Core Bank chief administrative officer. The program consists of three simple steps: Completing an application entirely online. This is not a lengthy application. Its going to take you a few minutes to fill out, she said. For Fletcher, this meant pulling some financial data, keying it in, and I was done. Receiving an immediate response. Gaining access to funds, if accepted, within three business days. Loans through RapidTRAC can range from $10,000 to $150,000, but no more than 50% of a business gross annual revenue. Lines of credit can range from $10,000 to $50,000, but no more than 25% of the business gross annual revenue. Loan recipients must be in business at least one year. Clients have 30 days to accept their loan. Receiving that line of credit, Fletcher said, was the easiest thing I have dealt with since my company opened. All I will have to do is click and transfer the funds. Call Fletcher a satisfied customer twice over. Core Bank understands my business. Providing customers with an easy way to apply for loans is just part of Core Banks focus on customer service, said Wilderman. In addition to business lending, Core Bank offers such services as wealth management, mortgage loans, treasury services and banking centers to its customers at six locations in two states. Fletcher initially turned to Core Bank in 2019 for a Small Business Administration loan to launch Celtic Quilter, a full-service quilting store for patterns, PFAFF sewing and embroidery machines, fabrics, repairs and more. She said she set out to find a bank that understood her business model and chose Core Bank, a preferred SBA provider, after learning its clientele included other quilt shops in Nebraska and nearby states. Strengthening the communities it serves is Core Banks focus, said John Sorrell, president and CEO. If these businesses are successful, they will become even bigger and employ more people. Guess what? That makes our communities stronger. Celtic Quilters survived, then thrived during COVID, thanks to some creative marketing and a temporary focus on creating masks. Following a move to a nearby location at 5080 S. 108th St., Fletcher next looked to expand her product line which prompted a return to Core Bank for the line of credit. Core Bank understands that serving its customers sometimes means meeting in person but may mean conducting business virtually or online. We love meeting with customers, but we know that sometimes its not the most convenient, which is why we have digital channels available, Wilderman said. Sorrell said Core Banks current customers are a great resource. Creating ease of doing business is important to us, Sorrell said. Whether its a quilting business or fence installation, we know our customers talk to one another. Referrals are an important source of business for us. If you are ready to start the process of receiving the financing you need to help your business grow, its easy to get started with RapidTRAC from Core Bank. Visit corebank.com/rapidtrac. UVALDE, Texas An 18-year-old gunman opened fire Tuesday at a Texas elementary school, killing at least 18 children, officials said, and the gunman was dead. The death toll included three adults, according to state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who said he was briefed by state police on the fatalities. But it was not immediately clear whether that number included the assailant. When in Gods name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? President Joe Biden said Tuesday at the White House, shortly after returning from a five-day trip to Asia that was bookended by tragedy. With first lady Jill Biden standing by his side in the Roosevelt Room, Biden added, I am sick and tired. We have to act. Just two days before Biden left on his trip, he met with victims' families after a hate-motivated shooter killed 10 Black people at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. The back-to-back tragedies served as sobering reminders of the frequency and brutality of an American epidemic of mass gun violence. These kinds of mass shootings rarely happen anywhere else in the world," Biden said. "Why? He directed that American flags be flown at half-staff through sunset Saturday in honor of the victims in Texas. Tuesday's shooting was the deadliest at a U.S. grade school since a gunmen killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, almost a decade ago. And it came just 10 days after a gunman in body armor killed 10 Black shoppers and workers at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, in what authorities say was a racist attack. Federal law enforcement officials said the death toll was expected to rise. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release investigative details. The gunman entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde with a handgun and possibly a rifle, Gov. Greg Abbott said. Officials did not immediately reveal a motive, but the governor identified the assailant as Salvador Ramos and said he was a resident of the heavily Latino community about 85 miles west of San Antonio. A Border Patrol agent who was nearby when the shooting began rushed into the school without waiting for backup and shot and killed the gunman, who was behind a barricade, according to a law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about it. The agent was wounded but able to walk out of the school, the law enforcement source said. The school district's police chief, Pete Arredondo, said that the attacker acted alone. The massacre of young children was another gruesome moment for a country scarred by an almost ceaseless string of mass killings at churches, schools and stores. And the prospects for any reform in the nation's gun regulations seemed at least as dim as in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook deaths. "Pray for the lost, their families, and Uvalde," San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a tweet. It was not immediately clear how many people were wounded, but Arredondo said there were "several injuries." Earlier, Uvalde Memorial Hospital said 13 children were taken there. Another hospital reported a 66-year-old woman was in critical condition. Robb Elementary School has an enrollment of just under 600 students, and Arredondo said it serves students in the second, third and fourth grade. He did not provide ages of the children who were shot. This was the school's last week of classes before summer break. A heavy police presence surrounded the school Tuesday afternoon, with officers in heavy vests diverting traffic and FBI agents coming and going from the building. Uvalde is home to about 16,000 people and is the seat of government for Uvalde County. The town is about 75 miles from the border with Mexico. Robb Elementary is in a mostly residential neighborhood of modest homes. The tragedy in Uvalde was the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, and it added to a grim tally of mass shootings in the state that have been among the deadliest in the U.S. over the past five years. In 2018, a gunman fatally shot 10 people at Santa Fe High School in the Houston area. A year before that, a gunman at a Texas church killed more than two dozen people during a Sunday service in the small town of Sutherland Springs. In 2019, another gunman at a Walmart in El Paso killed 23 people in a racist attack. The shooting came days before the National Rifle Association's annual convention was set to begin in Houston. Abbott and both of Texas' U.S. senators were among elected Republican officials who were the scheduled speakers at a Friday leadership forum sponsored by the NRA's lobbying arm. In the years since Sandy Hook, the gun control debate in Congress has waxed and waned. Efforts by lawmakers to change U.S. gun policies in any significant way have consistently faced roadblocks from Republicans and the influence of outside groups such as the NRA. A year after Sandy Hook, Sens. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, and Patrick J. Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican, negotiated a bipartisan proposal to expand the nation's background check system. But as the measure was close to being brought to the Senate floor for a vote, it became clear it would not get enough votes to clear a 60-vote filibuster hurdle. UVALDE, Texas (AP) Surrounded by fellow Republicans on a high school stage, Gov. Greg Abbott was wrapping up his opening remarks about the killing of school children and teachers in Uvalde, Texas, when Beto O'Rourke strode forward from his seat in the audience. Gov. Abbott, I have something to say," the Democrat challenging Abbott for governor this fall said Wednesday, pointing a finger at his rival. "The time to stop the next shooting is right now, and you are doing nothing. A mix of boos and cheers rose up from the crowd as the former congressman and 2020 presidential candidate briefly spoke, then was escorted from the room. Sen. Ted Cruz, standing behind Abbott, shook his head and said sit down! while one woman in the crowd chanted, Let him speak. Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin yelled that O'Rourke was a sick son of a bitch. Some people cried. And with that, the briefing transformed into an argument similar to the one happening in many corners of America after yet another school shooting that inflicted a shocking death toll 19 children and two teachers. Democrats want to talk about enacting restrictions on who can possess a firearm and what type of weapons should be available, while Republicans say such laws are meaningless and prefer to focus on other issues like school security or to avoid the discussion at all. We need all Texans to in this one moment in time put aside their own agendas, think of somebody other than ourselves, think about the people who are hurt, Abbott said immediately after O'Rourke exited, his voice rising. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, taking the microphone moments later, insisted it was time now to focus on the victims and their families, adding: This is not a partisan issue. This is not a political issue. But for many including those in the high school auditorium the partisanship and the politics are inescapable. Tuesday's mass shooting in the small town west of San Antonio was just the latest to occur in Texas in recent years. After a gunman killed 23 people in a racist 2019 attack that targeted Hispanics at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas lawmakers loosened gun laws. Abbott said Wednesday that he considers the steps the Republican-controlled Legislature took in 2019 to be the most profound action anywhere in the U.S. to stop school shootings. He and other GOP officials said the proper place to focus is on mental health and hardening schools, or making them more secure, rather than on restricting guns. He called existing gun laws in Chicago, New York and California ineffective. I hate to say this, but there are more people who are shot every weekend in Chicago than there are in schools in Texas. And we need to realize that people who think that Well, maybe we just implement tougher gun laws is going to solve that Chicago and LA and New York disprove that thesis," he said. Abbotts claim is not supported by federal health data. California and New York consistently register lower rates of firearms deaths than Texas, and have among the lowest per capita rates of firearms deaths in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even with the violence in Chicago that Abbott cites, Illinois too posts a lower firearms death rate than Texas. Meanwhile, O'Rourke stood outside in the parking lot, where he continued calling for gun control. If we do nothing, we will continue to see this, he said, year after year, school after school, kid after kid. Residents of Uvalde also echoed the two sides of the debate. Ariana Diaz, 17, said she has friends in the close-knit community who lost siblings and mothers. Speaking outside her high school, where the news conference was being held, Diaz said shed like to see ORourke elected governor. She noted that the shooter was 18 and able to buy two guns. Its not OK," she said. Hes only 18. Hes not even old enough to purchase an alcoholic beverage. He should not be old enough to purchase a gun. Laura Ligocky, 41, said that as a mother the shooting was gut wrenching but she does not see restrictions on guns as a solution. Everybody wants gun control, and I dont think its helping, she said, in the parking lot where ORourke was calling for restrictions on firearms. I think its making matters worse. Burnett reported from Chicago. Associated Press reporter Jake Bleiberg contributed from Dallas. 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 THURSDAY, May 26, 2022 (HealthDay News) At least some American parents and caregivers needing formula for their infants will be able to find it on store shelves as soon as this weekend. About 60 tons of formula arrived at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, as part of the Biden Administrations Operation Fly Formula. It contains hypoallergenic Nestle Gerber Good Start Extensive HA formula, which will head to a Nestle distribution center in Pennsylvania and then immediately be sent to hospitals, WIC families and retailers nationwide. First lady Jill Biden and US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy were both on hand to witness the arrival of the formula as it was flown in from Ramstein Air Base in Germany, CNN reported. "I've been heartbroken to hear the stories of parents searching for formula. As a mom and a nana, it's impossible to hear stories of children suffering and not imagine your own children in the same position," Biden said. "There is more to do. We know that. Joe knows that." This is the second arrival of formula from overseas companies. More is expected in the coming days, according to US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. Abbott Nutritions leadership apologized on Wednesday for the companys role in a nationwide shortage of infant formula. The shortage was exacerbated when one of Abbotts plants was closed in February for what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration called insanitary conditions. "On behalf of everyone at Abbott, I want to express our extraordinary disappointment about the shortage. We are deeply, deeply sorry," Chris Calamari, who leads Abbotts nutrition division, said at a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation. The company is expected to begin making batches of formula at its Sturgis, Mich., plant on June 4 and have them on store shelves around June 20. The plant can increase capacity by 40% after its in operation, Calamari said. Calamari detailed the companys supply-boosting plans, which include shipping formula on nearly 50 flights a week to 12 airports across the country. The company has converted manufacturing facilities to make formula. It is also working with U.S. Department of Agriculture WIC agencies to provide formula for free to program participants, CNN reported. "By the end of June, we expect we will be supplying more formula to Americans than we were in January, before the recall," he told lawmakers. America's other large formula maker is also helping to alleviate the shortage by increasing production. According to company Senior Vice President Robert Cleveland, Mead Johnson Nutrition (a subsidiary of Reckitt) has increased its supply by more than 30% compared to this time last year. "We're taking all of these measures while keeping a close eye on quality and safety to ensure that we always meet the near-pharmaceutical-grade safety requirements that apply to infant formula production. We will take no shortcuts," Cleveland said. Gerber's Vice President of Technical Production Scott Fitz testified at Wednesday's hearing that his company is also "working tirelessly to help parents and caregivers get the formula that they need, CNN reported. "Our factories run 24/7 to produce formula as efficiently as possible while maintaining our high safety standards. We are prioritizing the manufacture of products that are most in-demand as well as specialty formulas that have been in critically short supply," Fitz said. Typically, state agencies contract with one of three main baby formula manufacturers for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, also known as WIC, and people in the program can only buy from that specific company. Hoping to expand options for families, the USDA announced an exception on Wednesday, CNN reported. It will temporarily cover the costs of alternative brands, sizes and forms of formula for low-income families in states that contract with Reckitt or Gerber for their supply. Abbott is paying the difference in other states. More than half of U.S. formula goes to infants in the WIC program. "Just clarifying that the non-Abbott states can be adding new brands as well is a big piece, which is a position that neither the companies nor USDA had been in a place to say before," said Brian Dittmeier, senior director of public policy with the nonprofit National WIC Association. "That really makes a lot more options for those states." President Biden signed the Access to Baby Formula Act on Saturday, allowing this flexibility. "We encourage states and their formula manufacturers to work together to maximize access to infant formula for WIC participants, and USDA will provide the funding to make that possible," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Wednesday. In another measure to increase formula supplies, the FDA is also allowing Britain-based Kendal Nutricare to import baby formula to the U.S., including two million cans that will be in stores in June. WIC's Dittmeier suggested examining the shortage to address how a shut down at one plant can cause such shortages. "Frankly, a national security concern here has been exposed," he said. "This is an essential product for the country," he said. "This has exposed a weakness in our essential supply line, and that needs to be remedied quickly." More information The American Academy of Pediatrics has tips for parents during the formula shortage. SOURCE: CNN Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. BLOOMINGTON Central Illinois school districts are looking closely at their security measures, plans and protocols following the mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. At least 19 children and two teachers were killed at an elementary school there Tuesday, reigniting national conversations about gun control, mental health and school security. Heres a look at the measures already in place, and further steps being taken, at some districts across Central Illinois. McLean County Unit 5 Students and staff at McLean County Unit 5 practice active shooter drills as Illinois School Safety Drill Act requires: at least one drill per year, with one conducted within the first 90 days of the school year. Superintendent Kristen Weikle said school administrators in the districts 24 buildings work with school resource officers to review the steps students and staff would need to take in a crisis as well. Every time theres an incident nationally, we always review and reassess the measures that we have in place and our plans, she said, noting district staff receive additional training regarding safety procedures in addition to the drills. The district has dedicated school resource officers at each high school and junior high, and those six officers also cover the elementary school, especially if theres an event or a threat or we need to call someone, Weikle said. With school doors locked by default, all visitors that are allowed into the building are screened by building personnel through cameras and speakers before being buzzed in. They then must be checked in at the school office before they can proceed. All district volunteers who have access to the buildings must first complete a background check, Weikle added. The students had a typical normal almost last day of school day on Wednesday, with no added measures to disrupt the students, Weikle said. My heart goes out to the students, staff, families and community in Texas. I can only imagine what theyre going through, the superintendent said. I know a lot of people are sending their thoughts and prayers, but I really hope the community can come together to provide the support they need. Bloomington District 87 District 87 schools generally hold lockdown drills once or twice a year, Superintendent Barry Reilly said. The drills are set in cooperation between the districts director of safety and security, building administrators and first responders. First responders also use the buildings for trainings when students are not present. Reilly highlighted the strong relationship the district has with area first responders, helped by Director of Safety and Security Brian Evans' background in law enforcement. Evans is retiring soon and will be replaced by Rich Hirsch, who used to be a school resource officer in the district. The district has two resource officers, one at the high school and one at the junior high. There are also plans in place for a third resource officer for elementary schools if Bloomington police staffing levels allow for it in the future. There have been discussions about adding metal detectors, but so far the challenges around equipment, personnel and logistics in using the detectors have led the district not to add them, Reilly said. Metal detectors bring with them a whole world of issues and challenges, he said. The elementary schools and junior high school require visitors to buzz into the building. However, the high school has too many students coming and going from the main building during the day to use a single point of entry, Reilly said. The three main sets of doors have either camera systems or hall monitors stationed nearby. The district is also upgrading its security camera systems and plans to implement a new visitor tracking system, which will provide more streamlined tracking of visitors and run quick background checks on them, Reilly said. With a week left of school, students and families may see more police presence at District 87 schools, he said. National events like the Texas shooting lead to a greater vigilance around the districts schools. Beyond the active shooter drills, the staff hold crisis intervention training at least yearly, Reilly said. Incidents like Tuesdays also prompt the district to provide more resources to teachers about how to talk with their students about the news, as well as places they can contact if they need help processing. Events like Uvalde shooting can impact the staff as much or more than the students, Reilly said. That can be especially true if the adults have children themselves. It resonates, it makes you just be thankful for what we have, he said. Clinton School District Curt Nettles, superintendent for the Clinton School District, said they practice active shooter drills annually with an optional additional drill, if we feel that we need to make any changes or tweak it or anything. We want students and staff to know how to behave and how to react. but if were drilling too much, it can create complacency and also we dont want those thoughts, especially in our younger kids heads, too much, Nettles said. Clintons five school buildings have single points of entry with doors locked by default, he said. Visitors are screened by building personnel through cameras and speakers before being admitted to the schools offices. The districts school resource officer, Mike Bennett, covers all five buildings and does a fantastic job of training our administration and staff on what to do in a crisis, Nettles said, noting they do training beyond the drills. Bennett reviews possible scenarios with staff and teaches the appropriate behavior and decision-making skills at least once per school year, the superintendent said. Nettles said he met with Bennett and the Clinton Police Chief Robert Lowers on Wednesday to review their security measures and plans, and had more police presence in the buildings than a typical day. In the wake of the Uvalde shooting, Nettles said he sent a message to staff reminding everyone what their jobs are and to be vigilant. When this sort of thing happens, it just creates a heavy feeling. You start your day and you try to push through knowing when those people in Texas are going through and you feel for them, he said. We have our kids in front of us and we have to push through, but everybody feels a heaviness. Heyworth School District Heyworth students practice active shooter drills annually as required, but throughout the year, some of the strategies that are taught during the drills we try to teach regularly as well, said Superintendent Lisa Taylor. Those strategies include the old adage, If you see something, say something as a reminder to be vigilant for more than just school shootings. Trust your gut and if something makes you uncomfortable, notify an adult, Taylor said, of what they teach students. A reminder to keep the lines of communication open between the children and staff members. The district doesnt have a school resource officer, but through partnership with the Heyworth Police Department, a patrol officer or Chief Michael Geriets frequent the schools, especially during arrival and at events. Geriets also works with teachers reviewing protocol, preparing us for those worst case scenarios that you hope you never have to deal with but need to be ready for, Taylor said. Prior to Tuesdays shooting, the districts safety team already planned to meet this summer to reevaluate and review plans, she said. During the school day, staff was not expected to initiate discussions in response to the shooting, but they were told to prepare for students questions and to reassure them. We do want school to be a safe place for everyone, Taylor said. We want our teachers to listen to them, reassure them and remind them in these tragic situations of how we should respond. The superintendent said the district has no immediate plans to change their security plan but administration has discussed ways to ensure schools have a single point of entry. Taylor said Tuesday night and into Wednesday, she received several messages from worried staff members, some of whom showed a heightened sense of awareness for their security systems and how they could be improved. These stories are too common and theyre the worst nightmare for any staff and any parent, she said. It hits close to home for educators especially as we celebrate the end of the year knowing now some dont get to do that. Tri-Valley School District Tri-Valley School District, based in Downs, conducts lockdown drills yearly, said superintendent David Mouser, who is becoming the District 87 superintendent this summer. Those are just part of continuous discussions around safety among Tri-Valley staff. Our teachers invest emotional energy and genuine love for our kids, thats why stories like these hurt so deeply, he said in an email. It is my continued prayer that we reach a point where we can stop talking about events like these happening at all. The district does not have metal detectors but the schools have single points of entry where visitors have to buzz in. Visitors are also given a sticker or badge. Mouser said that most visitors are parent volunteers there on pre-arranged visits. The district does not have a school resource officer, but there is a daily police presence on campus through cooperation with the Village of Downs. Like everyone, I am devastated by yet again another senseless act of violence in a school, he said. Catholic schools Sharon Weiss, superintendent of Schools at the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, said in an email to the Pantagraph that each of their schools have armed intruder drills and all other drills mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education for non-public schools; recognition and compliance during the academic year. Local law enforcement comes on site annually to conduct armed intruder drills by the state, as well as local fire departments (who) visit each school during Fire Safety Month and observe a fire drill at the school, Weiss said in the email. Four years ago, the Diocese of Peoria hired two law enforcement personnel to come on site at each school which includes Central Catholic High School, Epiphany Catholic School, St. Marys School and Corpus Christi Catholic School to provide consultation and complete an audit of safety measures in place and make recommendations to take further action, Weiss said. There are doorbells to indicate when an individual wants to enter the building and visitor badges are available in the office. Churches with parish schools were also inspected since the schools are in attendance at the parish church for masses and other events scheduled during the week throughout the school year. All schools have a crisis management plan that is reviewed annually with faculty, staff and students and signs are posted in each classroom that provide visuals and written instructions. As our 42 elementary and secondary schools throughout the Diocese of Peoria are one system of schools and under the supervision of the Office of Catholic Schools, we will be asking our schools to be aware and vigilant as they finish their school years, Weiss said. This topic of school safety is ever present, and our diocesan office will be reviewing our protocols, procedures and policies for possible changes in 2022-2023 as we review and update policies each year. Trinity Lutheran School Shawn Hoffman, principal at Trinity Lutheran School in Bloomington, said it performs a lockdown drill with a local police officer once every year, and students are very familiar with the drills. Every year, with the help of local police officers, Trinity re-evaluates its security procedures and that it is an ongoing, evolving process, the principal said. Trinity does not have metal detectors at entrances, but there are strict visitor entrance procedures. Any visitor has to be buzzed in and provide an ID, which is then scanned and checked against a sex offender database. Faculty and staff have active shooter discussions at the beginning, middle and end of the year as well, Hoffman said. During these, they discuss the physical protocols of what to do in the event of an active shooter and what psychological, medical and spiritual needs the students may have. While Trinity does not have a resource officer, they have a strong relationship with the Bloomington Police Department. Hoffman said an officer even stopped by Wednesday morning to check on the school. In a message to parents Wednesday, Hoffman said he encouraged them to talk to their children, but some age-appropriate discussions were held in the classroom as well. He said he checked in on classrooms this morning and found that while students were excited for summer break to begin, they also wanted to offer their prayers for the families and the victims of the Uvalde shooting. Illinois Education Association According to a statement from the Illinois Education Association (IEA), officials said mass shootings like the one that took place at Robb Elementary and others that have happened over the years including Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and the Tops grocery store in Buffalo, N.Y., should raise red flags for us as a country. Its time to stop watching these tragedies and start doing something. We ask for our leaders to come together. This is not a partisan issue. This is not a gun rights issue, Officials said in the statement. This is an issue of children being able to attend school and be safe, of families of color being able to go to the grocery store in the middle of the day and not be targeted by violence, and of helping all of America not live in fear. Officials said they join U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., in his pleas to Congress to come together and find a solution for the ongoing issues of gun violence. This isnt inevitable. These kids werent unlucky. This only happens in this country. Nowhere else, Murphy said on the Senate floor Tuesday. It is a choice. The IEAs joint statement is attributable to president Kathi Griffin, vice president Al Llorens, and secretary and treasurer Tom Lully. The District 87 and Unit 5 teachers unions expressed their dismay at the shooting on their Facebook pages. We have no statement what words could there possibly be? Unit Five Education Associations post read in part. Bloomington Education Associations post similarly said the union was uncertain what to say. We just dont know what to say. We have dedicated our lives to our communitys children. Our hearts go out to Texas. When will this stop? it said. Pantagraph reporters Kelsey Watznauer, Connor Wood, Mateusz Janik and D. Jack Alkire contributed to this story. Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Kelsey Watznauer City Editor Follow Kelsey Watznauer 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 Connor Wood Higher Education Reporter Follow Connor Wood 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 Mateusz Janik Follow Mateusz Janik 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 NORMAL The McLean County Unit 5 board heard some good news about this years budget, but board members and district staff warned that the amounts involved were far from enough to solve the districts structural deficit. The board learned from district Chief Financial Officer Marty Hickman on Wednesday that an amended budget it expects to vote on next month includes a smaller than anticipated deficit in the transportation and education funds. The education fund deficit is covered by a transfer from working cash. The amended budget includes an abatement from working cash to the education fund of around $11 million, down from $12.5 million in the original budget. The deficit in the transportation fund is about $2 million lower than expected, down to $1.28 million from $3.26 million. Factors that helped included higher than expected total equalized assessed valuation (the taxable value of property in the district), corporate personal property replacement tax money, federal revenue, food service revenue and state funding for transportation, Hickman said. The expenses in the amended budget assume the building managers and district directors will spend every dollar they can, which does not actually happen, Hickman said. On this budget, we dial in the revenues as close as we can, but again, we try to take a conservative approach to budgeting the expense side, he said Board member Amy Roser pointed out that the structural deficit is still visible in the education fund as the $11 million transferred from working cash. Working cash is not a viable long-term answer, Hickman said, as the bonds issued to raise it include fees and interest. I think the moral of the story for us as taxpayers is to recognize that when we take out a working cash bond and we pay a dollar in taxes to Unit 5, that whole dollar doesnt get to go towards supporting education, it goes in part to the extensive fees to take out that working cash, in addition to the interest payments, Roser said. The original budget included $193.8 million in revenue and $212.4 million in expenses. The proposed amended budget has total revenue of $242.2 million, which includes the $45 million in working cash bonds the district issued earlier this year. Without the working cash bonds, which are meant to help cover deficits for three years, the revenue would be $197.2 million, with expenses about even with the original forecast at $212.6 million. As the district continues to decide how to address its structural deficit long-term, the public can provide input through a survey on the district website. There is also a phone survey being done, and those who want to take the phone survey can find the number to call on the district website. The board plans to vote on the amended budget at its next meeting. At that meeting, it also plans to take up a standardized tax abatement incentive package to be offered through the Bloomington-Normal Area Enterprise Zone to attach new businesses. Patrick Hoban, president of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, presented to the board on the change Wednesday night. The board also heard from five members of the public opposed to the new standards on sex education. State law now requires districts that provide sex education at certain grade levels to use certain curriculum. Unit 5 only teaches sex education in eighth and ninth grades, and only the ninth grade curriculum will change next year, Superintendent Kristen Weikle said. Some of the audience members had signs telling the district to opt out of the new requirements. Parents do have the option of opting out their children. A link to the curriculum will be available on the districts website and parents will be notified about the unit ahead of time through the course syllabus, Weikle said. One member of the public, Alex Williams, spoke, saying he trusted the teachers and professionals in the district to decide what was age appropriate for sex and health education and that he appreciated all the work that had gone into educating his children at Unit 5. The board approved the changes unanimously as part of the consent agenda. Starting in July, the board will change the time frame for signups for public comments to run starting from an hour and 15 minutes before the meeting and ending 15 minutes before, board president Barry Hitchins said. The board started the meeting with a moment of silence in respect for the children and teachers killed in the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday. Multiple board members remarked on the event in their comments at the end of the meeting as well. As a school board, we are committed to ensuring the safety of every one of our students and I hope, as unfortunate as it is, that we will learn from the experience, board member Alan Kalitzky said. Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter:@connorkwood Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BLOOMINGTON For Smith Bachtold, the taste of that iconic Green Gables smash burger was all it took for him to call off work when he heard the news of the Hudson eatery coming back for one night. I wouldve brought my buddies with but theyre all working right now, said Bachtold, of Fairbury. Events like these are always great and it shows how small towns really come together to help each other out. As a way to help pay for staff wages and the rebuilding process, Epiphany Farms, 220 E. Front St., hosted a Green Gables fundraiser dinner from 4 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday. The event was organized by WJBC radio host Scott Miller, who had owner Amy Tague on-air after the May 9 fire that left the beloved restaurant in ruins. Afterward, he told Tague and his audience that he would do anything to help the restaurant rebuild. Green Gables is an icon, Miller said. Well never be able to replace what you would feel in that building, but the taste may be able to be recreated. Having worked with Tague and co-owners of Epiphany Farms, Ken and Nanam Myszka and chef Stu Hummel, the dinner featured cooks from Green Gables working the grill and served $15 plates which included a classic burger, French fries and cheese balls. Ken Myszka said they contacted their purveyor and coordinated with staff at the Green Gables to make sure the burgers were as close to the original recipe as possible. Were one family. Were not competing, but were cooperating, Myszka said. I can never imagine what would happen if I lost my restaurant ... but maybe we can get other events happening and get other people engaged. A portion of all sales throughout the restaurant that night will be donated to the Green Gables' owners to help pay staff and cover any other immediate expenses related to the fire. During the fundraiser, a framed Green Gables print signed by the restaurant owners was being auctioned off, along with other pieces created and donated personally by Doug Johnson, executive director of the McLean County Arts Center. Its amazing that businesses and people are willing to do this, and I know that if another business was in this kind of situation, we would have done the same thing, especially with how its making us feel, Tague said. My staff was just floored at the opportunity, and we havent all been together since the burn. Before the doors opened, Tague said there was already a line of people waiting outside and even more coming in to pick up their plates throughout the evening. Bartender Mike Schneider, who used to work Wednesday nights at the Green Gables, said he saw multiple regulars and even came across groups who used to gather for wine nights. Although the grills at Epiphany Farms might be half the size, Schneider said both staffs worked together to give customers that same feel they used to have near Lake Bloomington. Its bittersweet, Schneider said. Its good that we get to see each other, but knowing that next Wednesday or Friday I wont be working we just need to take the time we got now and make sure everybodys OK. Thats what is important. Annie Houston, of Normal, who came to Epiphany with her daughter Laurie Kunkel and her husband Charlie, said she remembers driving up to the Green Gables with her daughter in their matching Mazda MX-5 Miatas to get a burger and then race back home. There are so many people all over, not only out of the state but other countries that would come to it, said Houston, who previously lived in Colorado for 27 years but would make trips up to Hudson anytime she came home. I think this is fabulous, and I wasnt going to miss it, so I called the kids and said we gotta go. In terms of rebuilding, Tague said she and her husband Kyle have been talking with the McLean County Department of Building and Zoning about where the new building can be built, and they have considered constructing in chunks or possibly having a temporary food truck. As for now, they have already received inquiries about other partnerships for the future with Destihl Brewery, Crafted Commons and Lil Beaver Brewery, Tague said. My staff and family are so thankful, she said. We plan to be back; one way or another we will get there. 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. The Illinois attorney generals office is investigating whether one of the states largest school districts, located in Chicagos northwest suburbs, violated civil rights laws when police issued tickets to students accused of minor misbehavior. Attorney General Kwame Raoul told the Township High School District 211 superintendent last week to provide records on students cited for municipal ordinance violations related to school-based conduct or truancy, according to a letter obtained by ProPublica and the Tribune. The office also requested data and records related to suspensions, expulsions, student transfers to alternative schools and calls to police regarding students since the start of the 2018-19 school year. The nearly 12,000-student district operates five high schools and two alternative schools in Palatine, Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg. The attorney generals office decided to investigate District 211 after reading about racial disparities in ticketing across the state, which was documented by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica for the investigation The Price Kids Pay. As part of the investigation, reporters created and published a first-of-its-kind database of tickets issued at Illinois public schools over the last three school years, the reasons police ticketed students and, when available, the racial breakdown of students who received tickets. Amy Meek, chief of the Civil Rights Bureau in the Illinois attorney generals office, said District 211 stood out in both the number of tickets issued and racial disparities in the ticketing. She said it is possible the office will examine other districts as well. This is an issue that we are quite concerned about, Meek said. The attorney generals investigation also targets the village of Palatine and its police department, which has jurisdiction at three of the districts schools and has officers, known as school police consultants, stationed in its buildings. The attorney general is seeking documents that include records on tickets, debts sent to collections and truancy fines issued to District 211 students, according to a letter sent to the village. The civil rights investigation is the latest move by the state to address problems uncovered in The Price Kids Pay, a series of stories that, together with the database, have documented nearly 12,000 tickets issued in dozens of Illinois districts. Reporters found that school officials and police were working together to ticket students for misbehavior at school, resulting in fines that could cost hundreds of dollars per ticket. Within hours of the publication of the first story last month, state schools Superintendent Carmen Ayala urged schools to stop asking police to ticket students, saying they had abdicated their responsibility for student discipline to local law enforcement. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he was exploring ways that he and lawmakers could make sure that this doesnt happen anywhere in the state of Illinois. Based on available records from two of the three police agencies that work in the districts schools, reporters documented 541 tickets issued to students at District 211 schools during the past three school years, most of them for truancy, use or possession of tobacco or vaping devices, possession or use of small amounts of cannabis, or disorderly conduct. Most of the ticket records involving District 211 students were obtained from the Palatine and Hoffman Estates police departments and did not include information on the race of the recipients. District 211 does not track the tickets that police issue to students, according to the districts chief operating officer. But in response to a public records request for ticket records, the district did provide information on the race of students involved in 120 truancy incidents. These were labeled truancy ticket issued. More than half of those 120 incidents involved Latino students, even though 26% of the districts students are Latino. Black students represent less than 6% of enrollment but received 10% of the tickets. Under a law that went into effect in 2019, the Illinois legislature banned schools from referring truant students to police so that they could be ticketed. In a written statement, District 211 Superintendent Lisa Small said the district views student discipline as a way to teach students citizenship in the school community, with an emphasis on equity and student success. Small said school officials involve the police when student conduct violates a local ordinance or state or federal law, when it poses a safety threat in the school, or when other interventions, such as parent conferences, arent effective. These responses are implemented regardless of the students race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background or other factors, she wrote. We continually review our practices to ensure we are acting fairly and equitably, responding appropriately and ensuring the results are in the best interest of all students. The Palatine village manager, village attorney and police chief did not respond to requests for comment. Palatine is just one of three towns whose police departments have jurisdiction in District 211. Because the district does not keep records of when students get cited by police, obtaining a complete picture of ticketing practices in the district would require getting records from all three municipalities. Meek said the attorney generals office may still also request information from the other two, Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates. State civil rights inquiries examine whether theres a pattern and practice of unequal treatment based on race or other characteristics, such as gender. Meek said school districts or municipalities can be in violation of civil rights laws when their policies and practices have a disparate impact on certain groups of people, even if it is not intentional. In requesting records related to ticketing and other forms of discipline, the attorney generals office asked for information on the students race and gender and on whether they have a disability. The office also sought information that would indicate the reasons for the tickets and the cost of the fines. In Palatine, records show, police issued 240 tickets from July 2018 to August 2020 to people under 18 at Palatine High School and William Fremd High School. About 170 of those tickets were for truancy. Most of the truancy tickets were written after the law banning schools from referring truant students to police for tickets went into effect. Ticketing by police was far more common at Palatine High School, where nearly 48% of students are Latino, than at Fremd, where about 10% of students are Latino. Excluding parking tickets, Palatine police issued more ordinance violation tickets at Palatine High School than anywhere else in the village during the time period examined, according to reporters analysis of police records. Nearly three times as many tickets were issued at the high school as at the next most common site for ticketing: Nellies Gastropub and Concert Hub, also known as Durty Nellies. At Hoffman Estates two high schools, the Tribune-ProPublica investigation identified more than 300 tickets issued to juveniles during the past three school years for disorderly conduct, possession or use of tobacco, e-cigarettes or cannabis, or truancy. The fines totaled nearly $37,000, and about $13,000 was unpaid, records show. Some Illinois municipalities, including Hoffman Estates, send debt from unpaid student tickets to collections. Schaumburg police would not indicate which of the tickets issued to young people went to students at Schaumburg High School. One former student at Hoffman Estates High School recounted this week how she was ticketed for disorderly conduct at the school when she was 17 years old. She said she had put her hands out during a verbal confrontation after school. Police records show she was ticketed in March 2019 and fined $200. The former student, who is multiracial, said she told school officials that the ticket was unfair and didnt pay it, she said in an interview. Now a 20-year-old college student, she received a notice in January from a collections company that she owes $270. The woman said she was glad that the attorney general is investigating District 211. Hoffman has become more diverse in the past couple of years, and there is a difference in how they treat African American students, any kind of minority students. It is different treatment, she said. Something should have been done a long time ago because it has been going on for a while. Meek said publicly available data on suspensions and expulsions, as well as previous lawsuits against the district, played a role in the decision to launch a civil rights investigation. Meek also said the office is aware that the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation in December into whether an individual student had been disciplined unfairly because of their race and disability status. That investigation is pending. In addition, District 211 settled a federal civil rights lawsuit in 2019 that involved a Black student who had been ticketed at Palatine High School. In that case, filed in 2016, a Palatine senior alleged that a police officer at the school used excessive force when he chased her down a hallway and pinned her to the ground. According to the lawsuit and a police report that became part of the case record, the girl had been running after her sister because the sister, also a student, spilled milk on her. The officer arrested both sisters and put them in cells at the police department. Police wrote each girl a ticket for violating a village ordinance prohibiting disorderly conduct. The district, the police officer and school officials named in the lawsuit denied wrongdoing, but the district agreed to settle the case. District officials said they could not locate a record of how much the settlement was for. The district and Palatine police have until June 30 to provide records sought by the attorney general. If the investigation reveals violations of civil rights law, the attorney general could negotiate with the district to change its practices, seek a court-monitored consent decree or file a lawsuit against the district. Meek said the investigation could take a year to complete. We also encourage people to reach out to the Civil Rights Bureau if they have complaints or concerns about other districts they want to bring to our attention, she added. Smith Richards is a Tribune reporter. Cohen is a Chicago-based reporter for ProPublica. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. The corporate communications practice is an interesting but challenging one. It comes with certain dynamics and intricacies that require the practitioner to be passionate, skillful, experienced, and well-trained. Africas corporate communications landscape is to a good extent filled with bright minds. Here are five of West Africas finest corporate communications professionals. Sophia Lissah Sophia Kudjordji Lissah is a Ghanaian Corporate Communications expert. She started her career as a Journalist at Ghana News Agency. She also built a successful career at the British High Commission, Volta Region Community Water & Sanitation, and UT Holdings. She is currently the Chief Communications Officer at Jospong Group. Sophia Lissah is an alumnus of the University of Ghana, University of Cumbria, and the Ghana Institute of Journalism. She holds professional membership of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Sophia Lissah is the recipient of Ghanas most promising Public Relations Professional award (2012), and Public Relations Personality of the year award (2019). She was listed as one of the top 20 Marketing and Communications Professionals by InstinctWave in 2019. Tomi Ogunlesi With over 12 years cognate experience in strategic brand building, business development and marketing, Tomi Ogunlesi has established himself as one of West Africas finest Corporate Communications expert. The Nigerian professional has designed and implemented marketing and communication campaigns that help communicate brand value and move markets, while working for companies like Volcano Advertising, The Jupiter Drawing Room & Partners, Promisador, Bates Cosse, First Bank of Nigeria, amongst others. He is currently the Head of Corporate Communications at Interswitch Group, a position he has been occupying for over five years. Tomi Ogunlesi is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Institute of Management. He is a contributing writer to various marketing and communications publications, including BusinessDay, Brand Communication, Interbrand Worldwides Brand Channel, and M2 The Journal for Marketing & Management. Francesca Uriri Francesca Onomarie Uriri is a Nigerian communications professional with expertise in content development, event management, perception and crisis management. She has worked with a number of companies ranging from start-ups to NGOs, and Fortune 500 companies, providing insightful ideas and implementing strategies that help build brands. Francesca is an alumnus of the China Europe International Business School. She sits on the board of the Future Projects, organisers of the Future Awards, Africa. She is the Head of Communications at Uber, West Africa. Esther Amba Cobbah Esther Amba Numaba Cobbah is the Lead Communication Strategist and CEO at Strategic Communications Africa located in Ghana. The Ghanaian woman has worked at a number of organisations, including the Ghana Industrial Holding Corporation, and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation. Her skillfulness in designing and implementing communication strategies that grow brands and strengthen initiatives led to her appointment as the first External Affairs Manager for the West Africa Gas Pipeline Project Consortium (consisting of Shell, Chevron, NNPC, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and the gas companies of Togo and Benin). The University of Ghana alumnus is a recipient of a number of awards, including the Institute of Public Relations Ghana PR Personality of the year (2013), Marketing Woman of the Year award (2012) by the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana, Media Personality of the year (2010) award, amongst others. Esther is a member of the International Communication Association and the International Public Relations Association. Leveraging over 30 years cognate experience in the communications field, Esther Cobbah established the centre for Development and Intercultural Communication (CEDIC), an NGO that seeks to promote and facilitate development through communication. Nkiru Olumide-Ojo Nkiru Olumide-Ojo is a Nigerian Corporate Communications professional with expertise in brand marketing, market positioning, and reputation management. The Kingston University alumnus has worked on a broad range of projects and accounts, providing insightful ideas and brilliant communications strategies for a number of companies, including Airtel, Forte Oil, Virgin Nigeria, amongst others. In 2008, Nkiru Olumide-Ojo was recognised as one of the top 40 females under 40 by Nigerians In Diaspora Professionals (NIPRO). She was also the recipient of the best Corporate Brand Manager Award by Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria in 2017, to name but a few. Nkiru Olumide-Ojo is currently the Regional Head of Marketing and Communications at Standard Bank Group, South and Central Africa. She is a sought-after speaker, inspiring men and women to maximise their potentials. Source: bizwatchnigeria.ng 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 Student Representative Council (SRC) Presidents of sandwich campuses of the University of Cape Coast have on behalf of their students honoured Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh. At a ceremony in Cape Coast last Saturday, the coalition of SRC Presidents presented a citation to Dr. Prempeh, in recognition of his impactful leadership during his time as Education Minister in the first term of the Akufo-Addo administration. According to the coalition, Dr. Prempeh contrary to the scepticism of many, successfully supervised the implementation of the biggest governmental intervention in the education sector; the Free Senior High School Policy. On Teacher Education, the coalition said Dr. Prempeh never downplayed its importance in the country. In this regard, he ensured the reinstatement of the monthly allowance of teacher trainees which had been scrapped by the erstwhile administration. He also provided leadership in the birth and implementation of the 3-Semester Post Diploma Sandwich Programme, which has today served as a launching pad for numerous Diploma teachers to acquire a degree certificate the coalition said in a statement. The coalition also indicated that Dr. Prempeh also ensured that the Ghanaian teacher is given the appropriate recognition as a professional by overseeing the successful institutionalization of the teacher licensure policy. These and many more make us believe that he has been an outstanding Minister and thus, deserves our commendation the statement concludes. The citation was received on behalf of the Energy Minister by his Technical Assistant Mr. Kwame Agyin Agyapong and Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Energy, Mr. Kwasi Obeng-Fosu. Other recipients were the General Secretary of GNAT, Mr. Thomas T. Musah and Prof. Christine ADU-Yeboah. The coalition of SRC Presidents of all sandwich campuses of the University of Cape Coast was formed to among others seek the welfare and the interest of sandwich students in the pursuit of university education. 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 The Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) and a leading member of ARISE Ghana, a newly formed nationalist group, Mensah Thompson, says those who have allegedly acquired plots of lands at the protected Achimota Forest and Sakumono Ramsar Site will only own such lands for the next two years. According to him, when there is a change of government in 2024, all those who have acquired parts of the Achimota Forest and Sakumono Ramsar Site will lose such lands and all structures built on them will be demolished. Mr Mensah made the remarks at the maiden press conference of Arise Ghana in Accra on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. He said If you had purchased part of Achimota forest, you are only buying it for two years. When government changes, we will demolish everything on it. He said it was uncalled for for some individuals to use dubious means to acquire lands in the Achimota Forest area, and the Sakumono Ramsar Site. Also speaking at the press conference, the General Secretary of All People's Congress (APC), Mordecai Thiombiano, who is also a leading member of the group, demanded the immediate withdrawal of E.I 144 that declassified parts of the Achimota Forest and an end to the grabbing of the Achimota Forest Reserve lands. We urge Parliament who are the representatives of the people to institute a bi-partisan probe into the matters relating to the sale of lands in the Achimota Forest immediately, he said. In addition he said, This probe should be transparent and all persons, be they past or present government officials, civil or public servants, and all whose hands are soiled by this shameless grabbing of Achimota Forest lands should be named, shamed and the stolen lands retrieved for the State. Mr Thiombiano said the group was surprised by recent reports that a certain E.I 144 seeks to declassify portions of the Achimota Forest as no longer a Forest Reserve. He described the declassification of parts of the Achimota Forest as a tragedy of national proportions, condemning the move by the President. To imagine that the Achimota Forest, one of the few surviving nature reserves in Ghana, would become another subject of the State capture of President Akufo-Addo and his cabal of buccaneers in Government, breaks our hearts greatly, he remarked. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Forward-thinking bathroom design: Different Eurosmart lever variants serve the needs of consumers at different stages of life For those who need extra protection: GROHE SafeStop technology prevents burns Contemporary and timeless design that matches any style today and tomorrow Undoubtedly our society is changing not only is the population constantly growing, but we are also getting increasingly older. By now, every second EU citizen has passed the age of 40. [1] Demographic change is challenging our entire society and forcing us to rethink away from the previous anti-ageing mindset and toward a pro-ageing attitude to life. Growing older no longer means resting and standing still. The so-called silver society, the population over 60 [2], ages differently they want to stay fit and actively shape their own life in the place where they feel safe and happy: at home. [3] GROHE has taken these insights into account when re-designing one of its bestseller products the GROHE Eurosmart to create an innovative, future-ready home. Support and comfort for everyday bathroom rituals at every stage of life Home is part of our identity, our safe place being able to stay home in old ages comes along with well-being for consumers. The bathroom is essential in this respect as this is where very private moments take place. To be able to take care of personal hygiene at home is a major concern, especially for older generations. It gives the feeling of independence and freedom. One key to this is to start thinking about the right bathroom products early on, to be ready for tomorrow, today. And contrary to expectations, age-friendly products do not have to look old-fashioned. The best example is the relaunched GROHE Eurosmart. The timeless design of the line very subtly addresses the special needs of bathroom care for the elderly or people with limited motor skills. Diverse lever variants for diverse lifestyles GROHE ensures that the Eurosmart portfolio always grows in line with a changing societys requirements and that it keeps adapting to modern needs. This is shown by the different lever variants which directly relate to peoples lives. The Eurosmart Loop lever, for example, offers important support for elderly people with limited motor skills since its cut-out center makes gripping easier. A big help for everyday bathroom rituals is also provided by a new pull-out spout variant which offers full flexibility and extra comfort. Consumers enjoy more room to manoeuvre perfect for supporting and enhancing the daily washing routine. When we think about our customers of tomorrow, they are most likely approaching their silver years. While they are officially near or of retirement age, the modern seniors are fit and want products that support them with daily obstacles, even in 10-20 years when their vision decreases or their motor skills are less diminishing. So, we need to ask ourselves: How can we create beautiful products that are future-ready? Our GROHE Eurosmart has evolved with every generation and is a great example of how to react to changing needs with meaningful products, says Jonas Brennwald, Leader LIXIL EMENA. When safety plays a role In addition to comfort, safety also plays a special role when it comes to ageing. The Eurosmart SafeStop provides effective thermostatic protection by limiting the maximum hot water temperature to a preadjustable value. It ensures that the desired water temperature remains constant, and effectively shuts off the hot water if the cold water supply fails. Particularly important for facilities for children, senior citizens or people with restrictions in sensory or motor skills. The combination of modern design, a high level of comfort, easy installation and the versatile options to choose from makes the Eurosmart faucet a real hero for the future-ready bathroom. (Follow us on Social Media via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube) About GROHE GROHE is a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings and has a total of over 7,000 employees in 150 countries 2,600 of them are based in Germany. Since 2014 GROHE has been part of the strong brand portfolio of the Japanese manufacturer of pioneering water and housing products LIXIL. In order to offer "Pure Freude an Wasser", every GROHE product is based on the brand values of quality, technology, design and sustainability. Renowned highlights such as GROHE Eurosmart or the GROHE thermostat series as well as groundbreaking innovations such as the GROHE Blue water system underline the brand's profound expertise. Focused on customer needs, GROHE thus creates intelligent, life-enhancing and sustainable product solutions that offer relevant added value and bear the "Made in Germany" seal of quality: R&D and design are firmly anchored as an integrated process in Germany. GROHE takes its corporate responsibility very seriously and focuses on a resource-saving value chain. Since April 2020, the sanitary brand has been producing CO2-neutral* worldwide. GROHE has also set itself the goal of using plastic-free product packaging by 2021. In the past ten years alone, more than 490 design and innovation awards as well as several sustainability awards confirmed GROHE's success. GROHE was the first in its industry to win the CSR Award of the German Federal Government and the German Sustainability Award 2021 in the categories Resources and Design. As part of the sustainability and climate campaign 50 Sustainability & Climate Leaders GROHE is also driving sustainable transformation. *includes CO2 compensation projects, more on green.grohe.com About LIXIL LIXIL (TSE Code 5938) makes pioneering water and housing products that solve every day, real-life challenges, making better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere. Drawing on our Japanese heritage, we create world-leading technology and innovate to make high quality products that transform homes. But the LIXIL difference is how we do this; through meaningful design, an entrepreneurial spirit, a dedication to improving accessibility for all and responsible business growth. Our approach comes to life through industry leading brands, including INAX, GROHE, American Standard and TOSTEM. Approximately 55,000 colleagues operating in more than 150 countries are proud to make products that touch the lives of more than a billion people every day. Learn more at www.lixil.com 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 In Burundi, drivers are so desperate for fuel that they sleep on forecourts of petrol stations. Senegal has so little jet fuel that Air Frances flight from the capital, Dakar, to Paris has been stopping in the Canary Islands to fill up. Johannesburg has the same problem, which has caused United Airlines to cancel some flights from New York. From Kenya, which recently suffered its worst petrol shortage in a decade, to Lagos, where queues outside petrol stations backed onto motorways, and Cameroon, where thousands of lorries have been stranded without diesel, Africa has been short of the lifeblood of modern economies. Everywhere, everyone is scrambling for diesel, laments Anibor Kragha of the African Refiners and Distributors Association, an industry group. The economic costs of shortages are huge. They bring commerce to a grinding halt, shut the millions of businesses that have to generate their own electricity and force holidaymakers to cancel trips for lack of flights. This is a blow to tourism, a large contributor to GDP in many African countries. The social impact is large, too. Hospitals cannot get drugs and ambulances are immobilised. All this makes politicians jumpy. Anger at shortages can quickly erupt in the streets. Demand for fuel surged across the world last year as economies recovered from covid-19. Yet for the first time in 30 years global refining capacity fell, causing fuel prices to rise. Russias invasion of Ukraine pushed them higher still. In most places fuel has remained available, if expensive. But not in Africa, which is going through its worst supply crisis in 40 years, according to Pierre Barbe, who runs the Africa business at Vitol, the worlds biggest independent oil trader. The shortages are not simply the result of higher prices that have made fuel unaffordable to poorer buyers in many parts of Africa. They have also been caused by several other market changes that particularly affect the continent, says Kristine Petrosyan of the International Energy Agency (IEA), an intergovernmental think-tank. Fuel traders generally use financial markets to lessen the risk of price fluctuations. But they have to spend much more (and tie up more working capital) hedging when prices are high and volatile. Importers to Africa are often smaller than those in richer regions, and have tighter balance sheets. To conserve capital many simply import less fuel. The problem is being aggravated by a turn in the futures market: the price for deliveries of oil at a future date has fallen far below that for immediate delivery. In more usual times traders would park dozens of full oil tankers (known as floaters) off the west African coast, where they would wait for higher prices. Now traders want to unload them as quickly as possible and send them to Asia through the Suez canal, avoiding Africa altogether. Many sub-Saharan countries are particularly vulnerable because they generally buy in small amounts from floaters or tankers sailing by. Whereas many rich countries hold a 90-day supply in reserve, few sub-Saharan countries have any such backup. It is clear that there is little storage capacity in the region, although data on this are scant. A second vulnerability is that sub-Saharan countries refine little oil domestically. Many of their refineries are badly run and operate far below capacity or are too small to compete. Refinery output in sub-Saharan Africa has fallen by half over the past decade, even as oil demand in the region has risen by 19%, according to the IEA. Sub-Saharan Africa now imports about three-quarters of its refined products on average, a greater share than any other region. That leaves it deeply exposed to external shocks. West Africa is especially vulnerable. Senegal, for example, is short on fuel in part because the countrys sole refinery has been shut for maintenance. Having little refining capacity and barely anything in reserve is risky at the best of times. In many African countries poor logistics, bad management and distorting subsidies regularly cause supply shocks. Many African ports can only receive ships with a shallow draft, forcing big tankers to offload into little ones. They are also heavily congested, exacerbating delays. Nigerias recent shortages emerged after the authorities blocked the sale of 350,000 tonnes of petrol: it contained too much methanol. Exactly who messed up is hotly contested but, with tiny reserves, motorists were soon running dry. In Kenya the government subsidises petrol but does so clumsily, worsening fuel shortages. It was recently late paying the equivalent of $112m in subsidies to retailers who were already struggling with a shortage of working capital because of high prices. Things may soon get even worse. Big oil traders are reducing purchases of Russian oil to comply with European sanctions that take effect on May 15th. This will further cut the flow to Africa of fuel refined in Europe from Russian oil. In the long run much hopeand cashis invested in a big refinery being built in Nigeria by the Dangote Group. Though the project is years behind schedule, it is expected to be completed later this year. Yet the project is an exception to the trend of declining capacity. Africa also needs deeper strategic reserves of fuel to weather both global shocks and local troubles. Maybe this will be a wake-up call, the way the 1970s were to Europe, says the IEAs Ms Petrosyan, because it is clear that this situation can repeat in the future. Source: economist.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The issue of absenteeism in Parliament where three Members of Parliament (MPs) have been referred to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for absenting themselves without permission from the Speaker will be heard in camera. The committee will start hearing the three absentee MPs, with Henry Quartey for Ayawaso Central as the first person followed by Sarah Adwoa Safo for Dome Kwabenya and then Kennedy Ohene Agyapong for Assin Central. The hearings will start on Thursday, May 26, 2022. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, referred the three New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for absenting themselves from the House for more than 15 sitting days without his permission. But at a meeting of the committee on Wednesday (May 25, 2022), the members concluded that the media would not be admitted to cover the hearing. This is contrary to previous meetings and hearings of the 31-member committee which had been covered by the media. The problem of absenteeism in the House without permission from the Speaker had been a long-standing issue which needed to be addressed holistically. Hence, when the recent one came to the attention of the Speaker, he referred it to the Committee of Privileges to look into it. The findings of the committee could lead to the expulsion of the absentee MPs from Parliament if the report suggests so and is adopted by the plenary. Explaining why the media has been banned from covering the proceedings, a member of the committee, Kweku Ricketts Hagan, NDC MP for Cape Coast South explained that "the nature of evidence as we've been hinted might be on medical grounds..." "And it is on that basis that the [Privileges] Committee came to that conclusion that it would be best that we give the opportunity for people to come and be able to come and be able to discuss with us, charged with that responsibility on what the reasons were or the evidence. "Of course, when we are done with our work, we will put a report together and seeing the report, it will establish the reason why we recommended that a member should have a legitimate reason to still stay in Parliament or not and I think that will become a public information," Kweku Ricketts Hagan, a member of the Committee of Privileges said in a radio interview with Accra based Citi FM on Wednesday evening [May 25, 2022] monitored by Graphic Online. Pressed further on why previous meetings of the committee had been covered by the media and this time around the media is being prevented from allowing the public to witness the proceedings, Mr Hagan said: "You are querying me on a decision that has been taken by the committee." "I'm telling you the committee's decision is that we didn't think that it will be appropriate to discuss what is likely to be health matters because we know that at least two of them or all three of them have been dealing with some medical issues and we thought that it will not be appropriate," Mr Hagan added. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Lawyer Maurice Ampaw is asking the Special Prosecutor (SP), Kissi Agyebeng to prosecute all politicians for giving out money and goodies during election times. He said that will only justify his bogus interest to arraign before court corruption allegations against the failed nominee for the position of Municipal Chief Executive for Juaben in the Ashanti. Alexander Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka wanted to be the Municipal Chief Executive for Juaben in the Ashanti Region. He was nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo but was rejected on the first and second occasions by the Assembly Members. It later emerged in a video, where he was heard demanding a refund of a GH1000 he paid to an Assembly Member after he was rejected during the confirmation vote. It was alleged that he paid money to some Assembly Members for his endorsement, yet they voted against him. However, Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng upon investigations charged the beleaguered failed MCE with 26 counts of corruption. He said Alexander Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka will be arraigned before the High Court in Kumasi on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. But Maurice Ampaw noted that the reason for charging the failed MCE is totally useless. I have seen politicians giving huge monies and goodies during an election, are they in court now? he questioned adding, this is bogus. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A former Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, has challenged the recollection of circumstances which led to the increase of the acreage of Achimota forest land ceded to the Owoo family. Reacting to the recollection contained in a statement issued by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor on Tuesday [May 24, 2022], Alhaji Fuseini said he was not a party to the alleged extension of the initial grant of 118 acres to 198.501 acres. "I am unaware and unconnected to any subsequent attempts to vary the initial grant of 118 acres to the pre-acquisition owners of the land as alleged by the current minister of Lands and Natural Resources. I could not have varied the initial grant because I am fully aware of the implications of Article 58 of the Constitution of Ghana and could not have placed myself in that awkward position," Alhaji Fuseini said in a statement. Read Alhaji Inusah Fuseini's statement below; House No. B.42 Tishigu, Tamale Northern Region, Ghana. 25th May, 2022 DECLASSIFICATION OF PORTIONS OF ACHIMOTA FOREST RESERVE AND MATTERS ARISING. My attention has been drawn to a press release by the Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources dated May 24, 2020 and captioned RE: ACHIMOTA FOREST MATTERS, in which the Ministry sets out in historical chronological order events surrounding the acquisition and subsequent releases of portions of the Achimota Forest to the Owoo Family consequent on petitions submitted to President Kufuor, the second President under the Fourth Republic and other Presidents thereafter. The press release contain some incorrect assertions and plain misrepresentation of facts skewed against my person and the role l played as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources between the period January 2013 to June 2014. I shall attempt to state the true facts of the matter which came before me and the decisions I took on same during my stewardship at that Ministry. Prior to the 2008 general elections, the acquisition of State Lands by elements within the then NPP/Kufour government and some appointees in the public and civil service became a major national and political issue. Mention can be made of the International Student Hotel land which now houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the La Wireless land which now houses the AU village and the sale of government bungalows to government appointees and sympathizers, one of which was challenged in court. This was a matter of considerable public interest and concern then, as it is presently. So when President John Evans Atta Mills assumed the reigns of government, a total ban was imposed by the government on the sale or alienation of State Lands to enable the government to restore some sanity in the administration of public lands. It is also important to state that the Achimota Forest reserve which until recently stood at 495 hectares was facing serious encroachment. There was therefore the need to protect the Forest from further encroachment. It was the view of the NDC that the best way to protect the Forest was to turn same into an Ecoturism facility as experience shows that the encroachment into the Forest is precisely because it has been lying fallow. The 2012 manifesto with which the NDC sought the mandate of the people of Ghana bears ample testimony to the avowed intention of the NDC to protect the Achimota Forest reserve from further encroachment by turning it into an Eco Park. As said earlier, I assumed the mandate to steer the affairs of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in February 2013 with a clear directive to take steps to convert the Forest into an Ecotourism facility. I set up a Strategic Committee headed by my able deputy Hon. Babara Serwa Asamoah to look at the most prudent and feasible way we could implement this manifesto promise. I reviewed the various petitions from the Owoo Family and recommendations from Committees set up to consider those petitions. Let me state categorically that apart from the Strategic Committee I set up to implement the NDCs manifesto promise, all other committees on the Achimota Forest Reserve up until the time I assumed office pre-dated me. The Committee set up under President Kufuor recommended that 193 acres (not 90 acres as claimed by the current Minister of Lands and Natural Resources) of the Achimota Forest be returned to the Owoo Family with the plan to covert the forest into a second central business district for Accra. This fact has been corroborated by Kwame Gyan Esq., a legal consultant in the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the period 2001 to early 2009 on Joy News. Indeed, he was the witness of the government of Ghana to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Owoo family at the time Hon. Esther Abena Dapaah was the Minister. This MOU was signed sometime in August 2008 but could not be implemented because the NPP lost the 2008 presidential elections. For the records, the Afari-Dateh Committee recommended that only 118 acres of the peripheral portions of the Achimota Forest be returned to the Owoo Family, instead of the 193 acres the Kufour Administration had agreed to grant the family. I sought cabinet approval for the implementation of the committee's recommendations and was granted same. This was the only portion of land that I had the capacity by reason of the delegated authority given to me by the executive President to grant to the pre-acquisition owners of the land. I am unaware and unconnected to any subsequent attempts to vary the initial grant of 118 acres to the pre-acquisition owners of the land as alleged by the current minister of Lands and Natural Resources. I could not have varied the initial grant because I am fully aware of the implications of Article 58 of the Constitution of Ghana and could not have placed myself in that awkward position. It bears repeating that I was not a party to the alleged extention of the initial grant of 118 acres to the Owoo Family. My letter of 4th April, 2014 to the Lands Commission was in respect of the original grant of 118 acres of land to the Owoo family as captured at the last paragraph of the said letter. That letter read together with the original Lease executed by the Forestry Commission in favour of the Owoo Family will leave no doubt in the mind of anyone reading those two documents that they are referrable to the same 118 acres of land granted the Owoo Family pursuant to a cabinet directive. I could not have acted otherwise. The 4th April 2014 letter was addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission to accept for registration the lease granted the Owoo Family by the Forestry Commission which allocated to them only 118 acres of the peripheral portions of the Achimota Forest Reserve on compassionate grounds. I welcome and support calls from the general public for the reversal of the declassification of portions of the Achimota forest reserve as contained in E.I 144 and for an independent enquiry to be launched into these matters to ascertain the truth. Thank you. Signed, Hon. Alhaji Inusah Fuseini Former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Source: Alhaji Inusah Fuseini 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 Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, MP, Assin Central, has opened up on his ambition to succeed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2024 as the President of Ghana. According to him, he will use his first 100 days in office as the President - when he wins the party primaries and the general election - to change the mindset of Ghanaians. He said he will change the fortunes of the youth because there is overwhelming unemployment and as a businessman and entrepreneur, he will use his tenure as the President of Ghana to create jobs for the youth. He said if the governing party wants to break the eight as their mantra for 2024 is, then they must break the eight with Kennedy Agyapong. "Yes, it is true. I have decided that when the NPP opens nominations, I will pick a form and file my nomination to contest the party primaries as the flagbearerI will stand on the ticket of the NPP and nothing will change," Kennedy Agyapong said in a Facebook live interview with The Announcer Newspaper, Wednesday, May 26. Why contesting flagbearership According to Parliament's Defence Committee Chairman, he is the best person who can continue the legacy of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. "When you look at Ghana at the moment, the only person to continue President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos legacy is me, Kennedy Agyapong and that is the confidence I have. "If we make a mistake and select any other person apart from me, the NDC will win the elections and will not continue the legacy of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. If you look at the mistake, we did in 2008 by fighting ourselves and allowing the NDC to win the 2008 elections, President John Agyekum Kufuors uncompleted works were halted, but this time, I am appealing to the members of the NPP not to do such a mistake again," he explained. Agyapong added, "We should make sure that we break the eight and I am the only person who can break the eight for the NPPif they need a new face as the new brand for the NPP, then it is Kennedy Agyapongs ticket...If members of the NPP will vote for me as the flagbearer, I will beat Mahama hands down. I have what it takes to beat Mahama [in any election]." Outlining his vision for Ghana Kennedy Agyapong, in outlining his vision for the country stated that, one thing he will capitalise upon is to create more jobs for the youth. He also stated that he will not take his monthly salary as a President but rather, he will use it in setting up a scholarship scheme that will help brilliant but needy students get the best education they deserve. "I wont take salary or perks; any monetary benefit that should be given to me will be used as scholarships to educate the youth who are from poor backgrounds. "Respectfully even the chop money that I give in the house, if I decide to rely on the government salary then I cant give my wife chop money again. I will use the profits from my companies to take care of myself. If Ghanaians will give me either 4 or 8 years as the President, I wont touch any monies from the state. "I will establish what is known as a Presidential scholarship so that brilliant but needy students can also get some level of education to the university level," he noted. "When I become the President of Ghana, I will use tourism to develop Ghana. President Akufo-Addo has done very well with his 1 District 1 Factory as well as the Free SHS," Kennedy Agyapong said. He praised President Akufo-Addo for the significant improvement he has done within the educational sector, especially with the introduction of his flagship Free SHS. "Look at the graduates coming up, they need jobs and I can tell you gold, cocoa, all minerals put together; if you develop your tourist sites, it promotes the tourism of the country. There is no way that all that the mineral resources have can be compared to what is in the tourism sector but we have overlooked tourism for so long that I think that, this is the time. "When Ghanaians give me the opportunity, this is a dream that I have and with discipline, we shall all wake up, and work hard [we can achieve it]. I will enforce discipline in my administration. I will introduce the clock system so that every government worker that goes to work can be able to clock to indicate the time of reporting and vice versa. Time is money and we waste a lot of time in Ghana doing so many things that are unnecessary. "If you give me the chance within 100 days, I will change the mindset of the people; we have to get a positive mindset to develop this country and we can do it," Agyapong stressed. Message to NPP members and Ghanaians "Ghanaians should have confidence in me because whatever I have said to myself that I will do by the grace of God I have done it. I am going to change the fortunes of the youth in our country because we have to create employment for the unemployed graduates "I will contest the flagbearship race and I will win. I am appealing to the members of the NPP that if they want to Break The Eight you break the eight with Kennedy Agyapong because I walk the talk and have love for Ghanaians. "I am the hope for the hopeless and voice for the voiceless," Kennedy Agyapong stressed. 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 The National Organizer of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Yaw Asani Tanoh, has charged government to auction the alleged state lands owned by the late Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission (FC) Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John. The last Will and Testament of Sir John has raised eyebrows and debate on social media, especially following reports that the government had sold portions of the Achimota forest. Sir John in his Will wrote that he owns 0.987 acres of the Achimota Forest land together with Charles Owusu and he gives his portion to his nephews, Michael Owusu, Yaw Boadu and Kwabena Amoateng, forever. However, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has indicated that it is not aware that Sir John owns portions of the Achimota Forest land. Speaking to this in a panel discussion on UTV's 'Adekye Nsroma' programme, Asani Tanoh said: "how dare Sir John own land at Achimota Forest . . . if we have a government that is morally upright, every land that was acquired, every property of Sir John from 2017 to date should be seized by the state and auctioned. Check his salary and ask yourself how he was able to acquire all these properties . . . and accounts outside the country. How dare Charles Owusu own land at Achimota." "If Sir John was able to acquire all these properties, you can imagine Nana Akufo-Addo, Bawumia, Asante Bediatuo, Yoofi Grant, Amoako-Atta, Gabby Otchere Darko . . . these are people who came for state capture; to destroy the unborn lives and we must stop them . . " he added. Listen to him in the video below: Meanwhile, Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng has been petitioned to look into the alleged state lands owned by Sir John.Corruption Watch in the petition dated 24th May 2022 is asking the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate:1. Whether the said lands were owned by the Republic of Ghana at the time of their alleged acquisition byKwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Jakaypros Limited, Fasoh Limited, DML Limited and Charles Owusu.2. The circumstances of the alleged acquisition3. The Beneficial Owners of the companies implicated in this transaction and compliance with thereporting requirements of such persons where they are PEPs under ss. 13, 35 and 126 of the CompaniesAct 2019 (Act 992)4. Who authorized the alleged sale or purchase of the lands? Your browser does not support iframes. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Eric Adjei, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Deputy Director of Communications for the Bono Region has called out the Akufo-Addo-led administration over controversies surrounding the Achimota Forest. The Achimota Forest became a topical issue when it was alleged that government had sold portions of the forest following an Executive Instrument (E.I) that was signed by President Akufo-Addo to declassify it. The Instrument gazetted on behalf of President Akufo-Addo by the Lands Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, stipulated that effective May 1, 2022, the land on which the Forest is located shall cease to be a forest reserve, pursuant to Section 19 of the Forest Act, 1927 (CAP. 157). However, the Minister denied reports that government is selling the land. According to him, The government intends to enrich the Achimota forest, revamp it and hopefully, in the not too distant future, transform it into the likes of High Park of London and Central Park of New York, where Ghanaians can go and enjoy the beauty of nature and forest reserve as it happens in other parts of the world. Sir John's 'Leaked Will' Subsequently, a leaked Will alleged to belong to the late Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission (FC) Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John emerged indicating how he owned portions of the Achimota Forest. "I give my land also situate at Achimota Forest in the name of Fasoh Limited and measuring 0.987 acres to my nephews Michael Owusu, Yaw Boadu and Kwabena Amoateng, forever. I jointly own a piece of land at Achimota Forest with Charles Owusu, upon my demise, my portion of the said land should be given to Ruth Korkor Odonkor. "I give my portion of the land that I jointly own at the Achimota Forest in the name of DML Limited to Elizabeth Asare Boateng who at the time of making this Will is domiciled in the USA, forever," portions of the Will reportedly read. According to some political pundits, this is a confirmation that the ruling government has indeed sold portions of the land. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has indicated that it is not aware that Sir John owns portions of the Achimota Forest land. Pharisees & Criminals Eric Adjei speaking to this, described members of the ruling government as "Pharisees & criminals" and questioned how Achimota Forest emerged in Sir John's Will if the Executive Instrument was signed just days ago. Eric Adjei who was contributing to a panel discussion on UTV's 'Adekye Nsroma' programme said: "It's sad . . . I don't know if we need to change our names because as for that Akufo-Addo family; that cabal, (they) are criminals in government. They are nation wreckers. The question is if the E.I was signed 19th March, how did Sir John get access to a portion to even Will it to his family? The Pharisees have already shared it . . . the executive instrument that backs the allocation given to the Owoo family, was signed last month and Sir John died almost two years ago; so how did he get a portion? the land was shared three years ago . . . these people are wicked. They came to steal and destroy". "If God exists, He needs to punish this man before he dies, If God is really alive, he should let Nana Addo suffer before he dies . . . we have this crop of leaders; criminals in government, it seems there's no leadership in Ghana. Where are the top clergymen, where's Otabil, Rev. Martey...? Where are we going as a nation?" he added. Listen to him in the video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video NPP Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has incurred the wrath of the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the party over her absence from Parliament and alleged misconduct towards the party. Adwoa Safo's Misconduct Lawyer Sarah Adwoa Safo has for months now not stepped a foot in Parliament to join her colleagues in the deliberation of matters as she is based in the United States of America. She was earlier said to be on an extended leave of absence but it later turned out that she has refused to return to her parliamentary duties. Her refusal to come back to Parliament has gravely affected the NPP, particularly nearly sabotaging their will to implement the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy). Despite all attempts to sweet-talk her to return home and continue her parliamentary assignments as her absence has left her constituents orphan, Lawyer Adwoa Safo remains unperturbed and unwilling to heed the party's pleas. We Saw It Coming Speaking in an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme Thursday morning, the NPP Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Divine Otoo Agorhom sounded very fed up with the behavior of Adwoa Safo. He noted that the party foresaw she would one day exhibit such rude behavior towards them but were still willing to help her. "We saw it coming", he said, expounding that one signal that perhaps should have made the party aware of Adwoa Safo's behavior is that the Dome-Kwabenya MP abstained from the inauguration of her own campaign team during the 2020 elections. "This problem that we are experiencing at Dome-Kwabenya, I saw it long [long] before the elections. Would you believe that when we were doing the inauguration of the campaign team for Dome-Kwabenya, the then MP/candidate refused to partake? . . . She didn't even appear on the scene," he stated. NPP To Post Someone To Dome-Kwabenya Mr. Divine Otoo Agorhom further disclosed that, although Adwoa Safo refused to attend the inauguration, the Regional leadership of the party decided to assist her to win the elections, therefore, he (Divine) sent a key member of the party, Hon. Adjei Sowah, to Dome-Kwabenya constituency to join the campaign train of Lawyer Adwoa Safo.But "she insulted him till the man packed his belongings and said no, no, no; I won't do this again and left," he narrated.He added that the leadership didn't give up but also assigned the former Member of Parliament, Akua Afriyie, who had then lost her seat to Madam Sheila Bartels, to also help Adwoa Safo but the latter continually annoyed her (Akua Afriyie) and did everything to make her job a "living hell".Mr. Otoo Agorhom also revealed that he once reported lawyer Adwoa Safo's character to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The Greater Accra Regional Chairman noted that, although the NPP won the Dome-Kwabenya seat during the 2020 Parliamentary elections, Adwoa Safo's behavior caused the party to loss over 20,000 votes which is a significant number that could have boosted the party's fortunes. He, however, indicated that, despite the struggles they are having with Adwoa Safo, the party may assign another person to support Dome-Kwabenya constituency. "That place now, they have an MP but it's like they are orphans. That's the situation now; so we may be compelled to once again assign somebody to support them until their Member of Parliament will return," he stated. Elections Divine Otoo Agorhom is standing to be re-elected as Greater Accra Regional Chairman in the NPP Regional elections on Saturday, 28th May, 2022. He is appealing to the delegates to consider his good works, thus give him the nod to serve them for another term. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Member of Parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro constituency, Slyvester Tetteh has admonished Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to stop frustrating the good works of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The President has directed the removal of all structures along water courses as a key intervention to stopping the perennial floods in the country. President Nana Addo gave the directive when he commissioned two dredgers and marine equipment by Dredge Masters Limited (DML) at Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region. The President indicated that a monitoring unit has been established at Jubilee House to report to him on the progress of implementation of the flood control measures. "I am, thus, putting all MMDCEs on notice. You will be held accountable for any breachers that result in damage from flooding. As the President of the Republic, I will not allow the selfish acts of a few to jeopardise the collective future of the rest of us," the President said. Contributing to Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme, Slyvester Tetteh scolded the MMDCEs for neglecting their duties but it has to take the President to put them on their toes. "Why must it take the President to direct you before you do your job?", he questioned. He charged them to crack the whip on the irresponsible Ghanaians and foreigners who erect structures at wrong places. "I think the President has given them enough authority to do what they are supposed to do," he said. Sylvester Tetteh urged the MMDCEs to demolish any building or structure that is constructed at inappropriate areas, particularly on waterways and places designated to be used as roads. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah has led a campaign against the Central Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Robert Kutin Jnr, who is seeking re-election in the party's Regional elections. The New Patroitic Party (NPP) will from Friday, May 27 to Sunday, May 29, 2022 hold its Regional elections across all the 16 Regions of the country to elect Regional executives. Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah expressed his distaste for the character of Mr. Robert Kutin. According to him, his leadership style won't help the party in the Region. The Governance Lecturer at the Central University charged the party delegates to reject Mr. Kutin's candidacy. "I will advocate that they should vote against Chairman Kutin. This is my stance. If they can vote for Richard Takyi Mensah, they should but they should vote against Chairman Kutin," he said. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Governance Lecturer at the Central University, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, has called on the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, to wake-up and enforce his strict measures in making Accra work again. The Regional Minister has been acclaimed as the 'best' Minister in the current Akufo-Addo administration due to his unintimidated posture to instilling discipline in the residents in the capital city. The Minister lauched the campaign "Making Accra Work Again" in which he introduced a number of measures like operation clean your frontage exercise to better the sanitation situation in the city, relocating onion traders at Agbogbloshie, issuing directives to drivers who illegally blow sirens to stop it and demolishing structures at inappropriate places among others. Making submissions during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Dr. Otchere-Ankrah expressed disappointment in the Minister. According to him, the Minister seems to have relaxed in fearlessly executing his duties. He asked Henry Quartey not to quench his fire to doing the right thing, stressing, "the best time to implement change is when you have public support . . . the things he said and he had the Presidency support, nothing ever stopped him. I plead with him not to let us down". He added; "Don't let us be disappointed, especially those of us who believed in you. I still believe in you; you can do it. So, please keep the fire burning." Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video " " Family members of Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light rail yard shooting victim Paul Megia react during a vigil at San Jose City Hall on May 27, 2021. Hundreds attended a vigil for the nine people killed when a VTA employee opened fire at the VTA light rail yard during a shift change on Wednesday morning. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images In May 2021, a disgruntled employee at a public transit rail yard in San Jose, California, opened fire on co-workers, firing 39 rounds that killed eight of them and wounding a ninth who later died, before taking his own life in front of law enforcement officers who had rushed to the scene. The mass killer had three 9-millimeter semi-automatic handguns with him and 11 ammunition magazines on his belt. Later, authorities found 12 more firearms and 25,000 rounds of ammunition at the suspect's home [sources: Fernando, Hays and Hauck; Hanna and Vera ]. The horrific slaughter was yet another shock to a nation that in recent decades has been traumatized again and again by mass shootings, from the killing of 20 elementary school students and six adults by a 20-year-old gunman in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, to the massacre of 58 spectators at a country music concert in Las Vegas by a 64-year-old sniper who rained fire down on them from the 32nd floor of a resort hotel [sources: Candiotti and Aarthun; Hutchinson, et al.]. Advertisement From 1999 to 2021, more than 2,000 people were killed in mass shootings, according to an analysis by Reuters [source: Canipe and Hartman]. But mass shootings are just part of the larger pattern of firearm violence. In 2020, despite the pandemic, nearly 20,000 people were killed in homicides and 24,000 died in suicides involving guns [source: Thebault and Rindler].That unceasing carnage has led many Americans to call for stricter gun laws. "We need to treat gun violence as a public health issue, " Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed in a 2018 mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, explained in a 2021 interview [source: Allen]. But gun rights advocates say such laws would violate Americans' constitutional right to bear arms. They also argue that citizens need weaponry to defend against criminals. "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun, " National Rifle Association executive vice president Wayne LaPierre said in 2012 [source: CBS DC]. Others even say that gun rights are essential to stave off the possibility of government tyranny. "The Second Amendment is about maintaining, within the citizenry, the ability to maintain an armed rebellion against the government if that becomes necessary, " Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told an audience a political rally in May 2021 [source: Chamberlain]. So which side is right? That's for you to decide. But to help you make an informed decision, here are answers to 10 big questions in the U.S. gun control debate. May 25, 2022 at 10.00 a.m. H.E. Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce presided over the THAIFEX-ANUGA ASIA 2022 The Hybrid Edition opening ceremony together with Mr. Keerati Rushchano, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Mr.Phusit Ratanakul Sereroengrit, Director General of the Department of International Trade Promotion, Mr. Sanan Angubolkul, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Mathias Cooper, Managing Director of Cologne Messe Company Limited, senior executives of the Ministry of Commerce, and representatives from government and private agencies at IMPACT Challenger Hall 2, Muang Thong Thani. Mr. Jurin revealed that the food and beverage industry is an important industry for the Thai economy. Thailand is reportedly the 13th largest food exporter in the world, with the market share of more than 2.3%, and the 4th largest exporter in Asia. Although the international trade is restricted due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the export of Thailand food products in the first quarter of 2022 could reach the amount of 286 billion baht, an increase of 28.8% compared to the first quarter of 2021. Such numbers can be achieved not because of luck, but as a result of strong collaboration between the public and private sectors in the form of the Joint Public and Private Sector Consultative Committee on Commerce, which is an important mechanism in solving trade problems, especially the international trade. Another outcome from the aforementioned mechanism is to build confidence in food and agricultural products consumption from Thailand that it is safe and free from coronavirus. To create safety standards and enable buyers to trace the origin of the products, Mr. Jurin initiated collaboration between 4 Ministries in issuing COVID-19 Prevention Best Practice certificates to 262 factories, aiming to raise confidence and encourage Thailand to become the hub of the worlds agricultural product and food producers. Another important policy is to make Thai food become the food of the world, taking into account the response to future trends with the BCG Model. In this regard, he instructed the Department of International Trade Promotion to formulate a Soft Power Strategic Plan. In addition to encourage people to know Thai food, this will help create a fondness for the charming and uniqueness of Thailand among people around the world. This Soft Power Plan will lead to greater demand for Thai products and services, as well as generating more exports from Thailand to the world. In addition, the Ministry of Commerce is constantly holding activities to promote international trade in order to meet the requirements of global buyers. At present, many countries have begun to open the country to foreign tourists. As for Thailand, there is the event organized to achieve the goal Thai Food to The Worlds Food. The event THAIFEX ANUGA ASIA 2022 The Hybrid Edition with the theme Re-imagine the Future of Food and Beverage Industry, is organized to meet the requirements of many buyers who wish to buy products from local sellers in Thailand. The on-site trade show will be held from May 24 28, 2022. Meanwhile, the buyers who are unable to travel to Thailand can visit THAIFEX Virtual Trade Show via the online platform at www.thaifex-vts.com. The event will be held online in parallel with the on-site event. Exclusively, buyers can use this channel to find and talk to sellers for another year for more trade opportunities. This hybrid trade show will be able to generate trade value of more than 10,000 million baht for the Thai economy, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce said. The data from the Department of International Trade Promotion indicates that the THAIFEX ANUGA ASIA 2022 The Hybrid Edition is a combination between the event in the exhibition center (offline) and the virtual food exhibition (online). In this year, there are a total of 1,603 offline participants, comprising 722 Thai entrepreneurs and 881 foreign entrepreneurs from 36 countries, such as East Asia, ASEAN, Europe, the United States, Australia, Latin America, the Middle East, and others. It is expected to create a total value of 10,000 million baht, consisting of 9,550 million baht from the offline event and 450 million baht from the online event. More than 75,000 participants are expected to visit the event during May 24-28, 2022. The products exhibited in the event are divided into 11 zones, comprising all types of food products, seafood, frozen food, rice, vegetables and fruits, snacks, beverages, tea and coffee, tools/appliances/equipment, as well as various services related to the food and beverage industry. There is also a special zone for exhibiting Halal products, organic food, and food of the future. As for the online event, it is a virtual food trade show called THAIFEX Virtual Trade Show (THAIFEX VTS) on the platform www.thaifex-vts.com. Users can enter the virtual event 24 hours a day. This is another channel for trade negotiations between Thai exporters and buyers from across the globe. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The murders of at least 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school have led to more demands for a coherent approach to gun and mental health reforms in the United States. Shortly after his 18th birthday this month, the school shooter bought two assault rifles and 375 rounds of ammunition, according to a Texas state senator. One of the rifles was found with the gunman Tuesday after he was killed in a classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, a town of 16,000 people 80 miles west of San Antonio. It was the 212th mass shooting in the U.S. this year involving four or more deaths, and the 27th shooting at a U.S. school. It came 10 days after the racist mass killing of 10 people at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. "When in God's name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?" President Joe Biden said Tuesday night, hours after the Texas shooting. "Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen?" Jack McDevitt, a Northeastern professor who helped drive a new package of gun laws in Massachusetts, says a starting point for overhauling U.S. firearm laws should include mandatory licenses for guns, much the same as driver's licenses are demanded of anyone who operates a motor vehicle. "This kid in Texas could just walk into a store and buy assault weapons, and he wasn't required to get a license," says McDevitt, a professor of the practice in criminology and criminal justice as well as director of the Institute on Race and Justice at Northeastern. "We in Massachusetts have demonstratedas well as in New York, Hawaii and other statesthat requiring a gun license provides a whole lot of things, including a background check so that you know that the person is someone who should be able to get a gun." In response to the 2012 killings of 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, McDevitt was asked by Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo to lead the effort to strengthen the state's gun laws. DeLeo, who is now the University Fellow for Public Life at Northeastern, passed 43 of the 44 proposals offered by McDevitt's commission, which were signed into law in 2014. "As a result, Massachusetts became the safest state in the country in terms of gun suicides as well as gun homicides," McDevitt says. But those efforts failed to spread throughout the U.S., he acknowledges. The need for a comprehensive approach to gun ownership is critical, says James Alan Fox, the Lipman Family Professor of Criminology, Law, and Public Policy at Northeastern. In 2020, more than 45,000 people in the U.S. died from gunfire, representing a 25% increase from 2015. "That's the reason we need to enact stricter gun control," Fox says. He adds, however, that mass shooters are difficult to identify and stop in advance. "These individuals generally will be able to get a gun, regardless of what [obstacles] we put in their path." Fox notes that legally purchased guns were used in Uvalde and Parkland, Florida, where a shooter killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. "Do we need to expand background checks? Yes," says Fox, a principal leader of the Associated Press/U.S. Today/Northeastern University Mass Killing Database. "Would they have prevented those two shootings? No." The complexity of America's contentious relationship with guns is underlined by school shootings, says Fox, who argues that the responding safety measureswhich have included the arming of teachers and surprise intruder-alert drillscan themselves be traumatic to children. "Since 2013, a total of 73 students in K-12 schools have been killed in a mass shooting with at least four total victims by injury or death," Fox says. "I don't wish to minimize in any way the pain to the families and the communities who endure these tragedies. But given that there are over 50 million schoolchildren in America, the probabilities are small." "The irony is these sorts of cases create the most impetus for gun legislation," Fox says of school shootings. "But they are the least likely to be impacted by that legislation." DeLeo says he developed an understanding for the resistance to gun laws after Sandy Hook, when he devoted more than a year to strengthening the Massachusetts regulations. "I learned very quickly that it wasn't going to be as easy as I thought it was going to be," DeLeo recalls. "I couldn't understand where people were coming from. I had visions of these poor second-grade students hovering in the corner with their teacher and being just slaughtered. I learned later on that some of the students were unrecognizable, that they could only be identified as a result of the clothes they were wearing." Though a majority of Massachusetts residents were in favor of gun legislation, DeLeo says they were in danger of being drowned out by a vocal minority with the political backing of the National Rifle Association. "I decided to take it more to the people," DeLeo says. "I worked with the churches, the synagogues, the schoolswherever people would have me, I would get out there to try to stir them up. It was a silent majority with a really good piece of legislation, and to pass it, a lot of folks who were sort of quiet became loud. They were active in terms of reaching out to their legislators and giving them the feeling that they were representing their constituents if they voted in favor of legislation." Instead of waiting for federal legislation that may never come, McDevitt says he would like to see a grassroots drive throughout the U.S. to help people who may be vulnerable. "If you think someone in your family is going through a difficult time, we should care about that person enough to take guns away from that person for a short period of time, until everybody's satisfied that they're not going to be a danger to themselves or others," McDevitt says. "We need an educational campaign and additional mental health services to help people in that time when they might be dangerous." Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The percentage of water in arc volcanoes, which form above subduction zones, may be far more than many previous studies have calculated. This increased amount of water has broad implications for understanding how Earth's lower crust forms, how magma erupts through the crust, and how economically important mineral ore deposits form, according to a new paper published in Nature Geoscience. The estimated water concentrations in primitive arc magmas from this study are more variable and significantly higher than the average of about four weight percent of water found in other studies, according to the paper. The results show that primitive arc magmas may contain ~0.610wt% H 2 O and may reach H 2 O saturation of ~20wt% H 2 O after extensive crystal fractionation in the lower arc crust, the paper adds. "The big picture here is that water is essentially the lubricant of plate tectonics. The water content is going to affect all sorts of different parameters involved in how tectonic plates move," says lead author Benjamin Urann, who was a doctoral student in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering at the time of the study. "Being able to get some idea of what the actual water content of the arc magmas is, which is what we did in this study, can help refine estimates of how much water is being subducted deep into the mantle globally; quantify different water reservoirs on Earth, including surface and deep water reservoirs; and better understand the transport between these different reservoirs," says Urann, who is currently a National Science Foundation Ocean Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Wyoming. Urann added that the paper also discusses the implications of water content for forming economically important ore deposits, such as porphyry copper deposits. These deposits make up about 60% of the world's source of copper, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Many earlier studies have relied on techniques such as measuring melt inclusionswhich are tiny droplets of magma that have been trapped by a crystals that grows around themand measuring lava and other volcanic deposits that have erupted to the Earth's surface. "However, these methods have inherent limitations that obfuscate the full range of H 2 O in arc magmas," the paper states. Urann and his Ph.D. supervisor, Veronique Le Roux, who is a co-author of the paper, developed methods with the Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry instrument located at WHOI to measure water content in minerals, with their work building on other efforts that suggested that arc magmas should contain significantly more H 2 O than inferred from melt-inclusion measurements. The researchers determined that instead of examining lava samples that have erupted to the Earth's surface, it would be fruitful to examine deep crustal magmas that have not lost too much of their water content. "Although you can't retrieve the liquid magma at these depths, what you may be able to sample is a cumulate: it is magma that has solidified at depth in the crust. We're lucky enough that sometimes with plate tectonics, some of those really deep crusts are exhumed at the surface," says Le Roux, associate scientist in the Geology and Geophysics department at WHOI, and Faculty member of the MIT-WHOI Joint Program. The researchers used cumulates that the paper's co-authors had collected from the Kohistan paleo-arc terrane in the Himalaya Mountain range in northwestern Pakistan. Instead of examining surface rocks that travel far up through the crust as magma, and lose much of their water content in the process, the researchers examined magmalower crustal cumulatesthat had crystallized deep down in the crust at a high enough pressure to retain their original water content signature. Le Roux says that "analyzing water in cumulate minerals is a new promising approach to access the deep levels of the crust in subduction zones." The researchers calculated that the magma they analyzed contained between 10-20 weight percent of water depending on the magma's composition. "While this weight percent of water had been predicted experimentally as being possible, it had never been shown on natural samples," Le Roux said. "The bottom line is that arc magmas can be wetter than we thought," said Urann. Explore further Advanced computer simulations reveal intriguing insights on magma deep below Earth's surface More information: Benjamin Urann, High water content of arc magmas recorded in cumulates from subduction zone lower crust, Nature Geoscience (2022). www.nature.com/articles/s41561-022-00947-w Journal information: Nature Geoscience Benjamin Urann, High water content of arc magmas recorded in cumulates from subduction zone lower crust,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-022-00947-w Small individuals of Eupera troglobia sp. n. exposed to the air, with a harvestman (Eusarcus sp.) near them. Credit: Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira Exclusively subterranean bivalvesthe group of molluscs comprising clams, oysters, mussels, scallopsare considered a rarity. Prior to the present study, there had only been three such species confirmed in the world: all belonging to a small-sized mussel genus known from southeastern Europe. Furthermore, bivalves are not your typical 'underworld' dweller, since they are almost immobile and do not tolerate environments low in oxygen. Against the odds, a new study by Dr. Luiz Ricardo L. Simone (Museum of Zoology of the University of Sao Paulo) and Dr. Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira (Federal University of Lavras), published in the open-access scholarly journal Subterranean Biology, describes a new to science species of evidently cave-boundor troglobiticclam from northern Brazil. Named Eupera troglobia, the mollusk demonstrates features characteristic for organisms not meant to see the daylight, including lack of pigmentation, reduced size, delicate shell and fewer, yet larger eggs. Curiously, it was back in 2006 when a report presenting a faunal survey of a cave in northern Brazil featured photographs of what was to be described as Eupera troglobia. However, the evidence was quickly dismissed: the clam must have been carried into the cave by water. In 2010, Dr. Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira accessed the report and noticed the depigmentation of the clams. Wondering whether it was indeed possible that he was looking at a troglobite, he searched amongst the collected specimens from that study, but could not find any of the discoloured bivalve. Casa de Pedra cave, with a partially flooded chamber. Credit: Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira A submerged specimen of Eupera troglobia sp. n. Credit: Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira Ten years later, his team visited the cave to specifically search for depigmented shells. Although the cave was partially flooded, the researchers were able to spot the specimens they needed attached to the walls of the cave. In conclusion, the scientists highlight that their discovery is the latest reminder about how important the conservation of the fragile subterranean habitats is, given the treasure troves in their holdings. Meanwhile, recently amended laws in Brazil put caves at considerably higher risk. Explore further New blind and rare planthopper species and genus dwells exclusively in a Brazilian cave More information: Luiz Ricardo L. Simone et al, Eupera troglobia sp. nov.: the first troglobitic bivalve from the Americas (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Sphaeriidae), Subterranean Biology (2022). Luiz Ricardo L. Simone et al, Eupera troglobia sp. nov.: the first troglobitic bivalve from the Americas (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Sphaeriidae),(2022). DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.42.78074 Volunteer scientist Yuri Gorby with one of the low-cost air-pollution sensors used to create a more accurate picture in Belmont County, Ohio. Credit: Leatra Harper/Freshwater Accountability Project Some residents of Belmont County in eastern Ohio have long suffered from headaches, fatigue, nausea and burning sensations in their throats and noses. They suspected these symptoms were the result of air pollution from fracking facilities that dominate the area, but regulators dismissed and downplayed their concerns. With the technical assistance of volunteer scientists at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, MIT and the American Geophysical Union's Thriving Earth Exchange, local advocacy groups set up their own network of low-cost sensors. They found that the region's three EPA sensors were not providing an accurate picture: The sensors revealed concerning levels of air pollution, and correlations between local spikes and health impacts. The results are published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters. Nestled in an Appalachian valley, Belmont has been booming with new infrastructure to extract and process natural gas. Fracking is known to emit pollutants including particulate matter and volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene, which have been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular health problems. Lung and bronchus cancer have become the leading cause of cancer deaths in Ohio. A 2017 Yale Public Health analysis confirmed the need for additional monitoring and regulation for chemicals associated with unconventional oil and gas development. Concerned about the fumes in certain areas of the community and the lack of information and transparency, two activist groups, Concerned Ohio River Residents and the Freshwater Accountability Project, wanted to set up a high-density monitoring network. After submitting their proposal to the Thriving Earth Exchange, which enables collaborations between community groups and volunteer scientists, they were paired with Garima Raheja, a Ph.D. candidate who studies air pollution at Lamont-Doherty. "We realized that the Thriving Earth Exchange program would give us valuable aid to validate the complaints we often receive from those living near pollution sources in a way that would provide credible and actionable data to improve air quality in the region," said Lea Harper, managing director of Freshwater Accountability Project. With advice from Raheja and other scientists, the community members bought 60 low-cost sensors to monitor particulate matter and volatile organic compounds in the air. Then they identified areas of highest concern, and recruited residents to install and maintain the sensors in backyards, churches and schools in those areas. The new study presents the first two years of data from the sensor network. The team found that many sites frequently experienced days when air pollution exceeded levels recommended by the World Health Organization. For example, in the city of Martins Ferry, where a sensor took measurements for 336 days, it measured unsafe levels of air pollution on 50 of those days. "It is kind of wild," said Raheja, "considering that it's generally a clean area. I think any number of days above WHO guidelines is really concerning for an area like this." She sees a clear link to the area's fossil fuel development. "If there wasn't fracking in this area, there would be no reason for bad air pollution. It's not an urban area. There's not a lot of cars or rush hour or anything like that which usually causes air pollution." The study compares the daily averages collected from the citizen sensors with the EPA's three nearby sensors. The correlation between the two was lowless than 55 percent. "It just goes to show that the EPA monitors might be getting broad trends correctly, like annual or seasonal amounts," said Raheja. "But in terms of daily averages, which is what affects human health, the EPA sensors are not always capturing the heterogeneous exposure that people in this area experience." That's because the EPA sensors are too few and too widely spaced to capture a detailed picture of the air pollution levels, she said. EPA relies on high-grade monitors that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece, which helps explain why the network is so sparse. In contrast, the citizen scientists' sensors cost only a few hundred dollars each, so they were able to set up a denser network. In another aspect of the study, residents picked up air pollution spikes on their monitors and wanted to know where they came from. So the volunteer scientists helped to model local wind patterns to key in on which fracking facilities could be responsible for spikes in specific sensors on specific days. "There are a lot of different sources in the area, and sometimes community activists have to pick which battles to fight first," said Raheja. So far, residents say they are particularly concerned about the area's Williams Compressor Station and the Dominion Compressor Station. The data have allowed community leaders to submit targeted public records requests about these operations and their compliance with air quality standards, the paper notes. Information from the air quality sensors also has helped residents know when to close their windows, wear masks or update indoor air purification systems. Community members also saw correlations between air pollution spikes and their headaches and nausea. For example, some noticed bad smells and more severe symptoms in mid December 2020. At the same time, the air pollution data shows several spikes in emissions. The paper quotes community member Kevin Young: "Before, [there] was no one to help us. None of the Ohio regulators would come to witness the extreme air pollution events that made my wife and me very sick." He added, "Now that we have data to substantiate the harmful amounts of the air pollutants, it seems the regulators are taking us more seriously." The paper notes that the data offered a shared language that community members could use to articulate their complaints to the EPA, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Ohio Department of Health. Regulators are starting to take notice; local activist Jill Hunkler was invited to testify in April 2021 before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Environment. The scientists and community groups hope to continue working together. They are currently applying for grants to scale up their sensor network, and networking with other concerned community groups, some as far away as Louisiana's infamous Cancer Alley, who want to learn more about how to get started on similar programs. "Community-led science and community activism, especially when working with academic scientists, can be really powerful in terms of doing what regulatory agencies cannot do," said Raheja. Explore further First long-term air pollution monitoring in Togo reveals concerning levels More information: Garima Raheja et al, Community-based participatory research for low-cost air pollution monitoring in the wake of unconventional oil and gas development in the Ohio River Valley: Empowering impacted residents through community science, Environmental Research Letters (2022). Journal information: Environmental Research Letters Garima Raheja et al, Community-based participatory research for low-cost air pollution monitoring in the wake of unconventional oil and gas development in the Ohio River Valley: Empowering impacted residents through community science,(2022). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac6ad6 Provided by Columbia Climate School Credit: University of Philippines Press As a child in the Philippines during the 1970s, Joi Barrios-Leblanc remembers singing songs that glorified the country's president Ferdinand Marcos, and his U.S-backed regime of martial law that turned the government into a one-man dictatorship that killed, tortured and incarcerated thousands of its citizens. The songs sung in Tagalogthe Philippine national languagewere slogans of propaganda that stressed the need for the populace to be submissive, disciplined and loyal for the country to prosper, said Barrios-LeBlanc, a UC Berkeley senior lecturer in South and Southeast Asian Studies. Barrios-Leblanc grew up to become an activist, writer and academic who opposed Marcos's rule. A few weeks ago, she witnessed Philippine voters, once again, sing similar songs for Marcos's son, Bongbong Marcos, who won the 2022 presidential election in a landslide nearly 60 years after his father first assumed office. "Same tune, same name," she said. Looking back, Barrios-Leblanc said, those songs are powerful representations of how the use of language can sustain colonial thought processes and suppress the truth. But the power of language can also be used to decolonize our histories by placing the experiences of the colonized at the center of those narrativesand as "part of a larger movement towards political change," she said. "We need to look at the languages we use as being part of the whole conversation around the efforts of decolonization," said Barrios-Leblanc, who has taught courses at Berkeley that delve into Indigenous beliefs in Philippine literature and art, cultural politics and examining film through a decolonized lens. "Language is the doorway to understanding culture and heritage." For more than 15 years Barrios-Leblanc's research has focused on promoting Philippine language and literature. She has published several Philippine language textbooks and award-winning collections of poetry. Her new book Sa Aking Pagkadestiyero, or In My Exile, will be released this July and reflects on Barrios-Leblanc's life through poetry. Most recently, she received a lifetime achievement award in literature from the National Language Commission of the Philippines (Komisyon ng Wika). Berkeley News spoke with her about the role that literature can play in impacting political movements, and why preserving Philippine languages is important work in the efforts toward decolonization. Berkeley News: How does a country's literature impact its politics? Barrios: It actually goes both ways. On one hand, the literature that we write does not exist in a vacuum, meaning writers are constantly influenced by the socioeconomic and political factors in society: What is going on in the streets of the Philippines? Poverty? Protest? What type of government is causing all of this to happen? Asking and answering those types of questions is what writers do with their literature, in their own unique ways. And even the politics around the production of literature, and who owns the printing presses, also impact censorship. But at the same time, I'd like to believe that literature has always been part of a larger movement toward political change. For example, if you look at 19th century Philippine literature you'll find in the Kalayaan (Freedom) newspaper archives of poetry written in Tagalog (the language Filipino is primarily based on), by Andres Bonifacio, a Filipino revolutionary leader who fought against Spain, using these poems to translate his ideas and thoughts about the resistance to Spanish rule. So, the literature was a part of their work as revolutionaries. You have resistance literature because there are resistance movements. Speaking and writing in English is very commonplace in the Philippines. Why do we need literature that is written in Philippine languages? We need to look at language as being part of the whole conversation around the efforts of decolonization because language is the doorway to understanding culture and heritage. We also have to think critically about the reasons a language is, or isn't, being used. For example, during the American occupation in the Philippines, English was imposed on the country by people like (former UC president) David Barrows, and it created a situation where English automatically became the language of the privileged. And so, people tended to look down on others who spoke Tagalog or any of the other 120 or so Philippine languages. English writers also looked down on writers who wrote in their native Filipino languages. Language impacts literature and how it is perceived. We still see that impact now with first-generation Filipinx Americans, whom many are not being taught Philippine languages because their parents wanted to shield them from having an accent or being discriminated against in America, from being seen as less American. But do you need to understand a country's native languages to know its history? Yes, I think you do, because there are colonial narratives that hide a lot of history. And the language is the history. If we don't preserve it, we lose our history. When it comes to the Philippines, a lot of people are not aware that in precolonial times, before the Spanish and Americans came, people were not illiterate. They had their own writing script, the baybayin. But colonizers cut off the opportunities for Filipinos to read that text and the first archives of Philippine history and culture. If you look at the history of Philippine literature, most of the important texts were written in Tagalog, our country's national language. So, if you want to know more about the history of World War II in the Philippines, you're going to want to read the literature of the Hukbalahap guerillas that fought against the Japanese. The texts about the songs they sang in Tagalog are a trove of information because a lot of the guerillas couldn't read or write. But they sang songs during warfare that described what they were experiencing and what they did to push the Japanese out of the country. Examining those songs help us to reexamine the false historical narrative that America singlehandedly saved the Philippines from the Japanese. And there are so many more. In this context around decolonizing our history, when it comes to historical literature and music, should their significance be considered one and the same? I don't think we should separate the impact they have individually, but rather examine them as a whole and how they reveal suppressed histories and languages through their translations. During the Spanish occupation, Filipinos had songs written in Tagalog they called the kundiman de revolucion, meaning a love song to the revolution. And that music would represent the resistance, but the lyrics described a love that's unfulfilledan expression for this freedom they hadn't obtained from colonizing countries. But while songs and literature can reveal our political histories, and vice versa, those words, and the way they are used, also can change depending on the politics of the time. Interestingly, a song like "Bayan Ko" ("For My Country"), was first written and sung as an anthem against American occupation, but throughout the years has become an unofficial national song to express patriotism in the Philippines. The song was also used during martial law by opponents of Ferdinand Marcos at rallies. A lot of people did not realize that because they did not have access to the language that describes that history of resistance in the Philippines. So, preserving a country's languages, I think, is extremely important if we want to decolonize our history, research and so forth. Should this effort to preserve languages be something that other countries, with similar colonial histories as the Philippines, consider when continuing the work of decolonization? I think that all countries who have gone through colonization, to truly appreciate the need to constantly fight for sovereignty is first to understand what the colonization is, and what it entails. Understanding all languages are important in this process, because with language comes access to culture and access to the works written in that language. So, you can get a deeper understanding of your roots, of your people and your colonial histories. Using our language to move toward decolonization will always lead us to the whole discourse on empire and how that still impacts us today. Right now, Indigenous people in the Philippines are still experiencing militarization from western mining companies that have shut down their schools and trampled all over their rights. And when you think about the case of Jennifer Laude, a transgender woman who was killed by a U.S. Marine in 2014, all of this is just another reminder of the violent history of American capitalism and militarism in the Philippines. It is all interconnected. And while we can't be decolonized overnight, we can take steps. Whether it is unnaming Barrows Hall on campus or creating a center for Philippine languageswhich is the vision I share with Filipino language instructors and staff at Berkeley, other UC campuses and universitieswe need to continue to move in that direction. We need to come together as a community to fight for what our community needs. We're teaching our students to have courage and we're teaching them to fight for what is right. As Filipinos, we've always had a history of struggle. A struggle against colonizers, a struggle against dictatorshipsit's a struggle against tyranny. So, all I can say is we know how to struggle, and we have always fought against our oppressors. Why should we stop now? Explore further Analysis of Japanese and English folk songs finds cross-cultural regularities in music evolution Credit: CC0 Public Domain A team led by researchers from Imperial College London, investigated how water molecules move in a confined spacein this case through a polyamide (PA) membrane that is used to remove salt from seawater to produce fresh water. The study could have a significant impact on the processes of water purification and desalination, which are important for drinking water and water used for industrial processes, including in agriculture and energy systems. It had previously been thought that water behaves within membranes in a similar way to how it behaves when it is not trapped, such as when water is kept in a glass, but this seemed unlikely to Professor Joao Cabral, lead author of the study, from Imperial's Department of Chemical Engineering. Professor Cabral says "that just sounded unreasonable to methat a molecule confined to spaces only slightly larger than the size of the molecules themselves would move as if it was unencumbered." The research team used an experimental technique called quasi-elastic and inelastic neutron scattering in a nuclear reactor to measure the geometry of the molecular motions of the water and work out multiple diffusion coefficientshow fast the water was diffusing through the membrane material. This allowed them to understand what was happening at the molecular level, with researchers measuring the interactions between neutrons and a sample to interpret properties of the water molecules. Professor Cabral noted that these types of complex experiments are only achievable through international collaboration, in this case through work with experts from the Institut LaueLangevin in Grenoble, France. Designing the next generation of membranes The significance of the study is that it will allow engineers who are designing the next generation of membranes for desalination and water purification to anchor their work with precise measurements. Professor Cabral said that "people are trying to design new materials and the way to do that can be through trial and error, so engineers will try to combine different materials until they obtain superior properties." "That empirical way has pretty much had its course, because the current membranes for large scale, industrial desalination are still by and large based on those developed back in the 1970s." "The field has reached a point where something new has to happen." One way of designing new materials is to use computer simulations, but these simulators have previously not been able to access rigorous experimental measurements to anchor their work. The Imperial researcher added that their "study now allows anyone who wants to dream up new materials to anchor and validate their work with these very precise values for how fast water is able to move across the membrane and with what mechanisms water can move across this plastic sheet." The study, which also included researchers from University College London and Queen Mary University of London, was conducted using a polyamide (PA) membrane, so the next step for the research would be to examine the behavior of water molecules in other membranes. Professor Cabral said that the research team would also like to look at how the water molecules behave in other scenarios, such as when put under different levels of pressure or when different types of salts are removed from the water. The research is published in Nature Communications. More information: Fabrizia Foglia et al, Multimodal confined water dynamics in reverse osmosis polyamide membranes, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications Fabrizia Foglia et al, Multimodal confined water dynamics in reverse osmosis polyamide membranes,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30555-6 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday proposed protections for some Bristol Bay drainages, a move thatif finalizedwould effectively block attempts to develop an open pit mine to extract gold, copper, silver and molybdenum in a Southwest Alaska region that sustains the world's biggest sockeye salmon runs. The action, announced by the EPA's Seattle regional office, finds that mine development could result in unacceptable impacts on some salmon fishery areas within the Bristol Bay watershed. It is a proposed determination under Clean Water Act Section 404(c). "Two decades of scientific study shows us that mining the Pebble Deposit would cause permanent damage to an ecosystem that supports a renewable economic powerhouse and has sustained fishing cultures since time immemorial," EPA Administrator Michael Reagan said in a written statement announcing the proposed action under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act. "Clearly, Bristol Bay and the thousands of people who rely on it deserve the highest level of protection." The Bristol Bay region sustains the world's largest sockeye salmon runs that storm back into freshwater drainages to spawn and die each summer. This summer, even as some runs of Alaska, Canadian and Northwest salmon struggle, more than 73 million sockeye are expected in a record return to Bristol Bay, according to a state forecast. Pebble Limited Partnership, the mine developer, calls the Bristol Bay deposit "one of the greatest stores of mineral wealth ever discovered." For years, the developer has sought for years to gain federal approvals for a mining project pitched as a major economic opportunity for Alaska that would create some 850 jobs without putting salmon runs at risk. Developers have noted copper, in particular, is forecast to be in high demand to help manufacture wind turbines and in other energy technologies needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change. Mike Heatwole, a spokesman for the Pebble Partnership, said he would refrain from comments until seeing the final details of the proposal. A coalition of environmentalists, some Native organizations, sport anglers and commercial salmon fishermen (including many who live in Washington and hold fishing permits in Bristol Bay) have fiercely opposed the mine. "It is clear the science supports the need for our region's headwaters to be protected from a mine like Pebble's impacts, at the site and downstream," said Alannah Hurley, executive director for the United Tribes of Bristol Bay, in a statement released Wednesday. "We applaud the EPA for taking this step toward protecting Bristol Bay's wild salmon fisheries and the Alaska communities that depend on them," said Chris Wood, president and chief executive officer of Trout Unlimited, a nonprofit organization focused on protecting North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. "There are no good arguments for a large-scale mining operation in the headwaters of some of the world's best and most critical salmon habitat." The Pebble Mine project's prospects have shifted under three U.S. presidents. In 2014, during the Obama administration, the EPA initially proposed watershed protection under the Clean Water Act, but the action was never finalized. That action was urged by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who has been a high-profile congressional critic of the mine. "I commend the EPA for advancing Permanent Clean Water Act protections for Bristol Bay, and I urge them to move swiftly to finalize these protections and ensure Bristol Bay salmon are protected forever," Cantwell said in a written statement. In 2019, during the Trump administration, then Seattle-based regional administrator Chris Hadlock ended up scuttling the proposed restriction as the agency announced it would continue working with the Army Corps of Engineer to review a mine permit. But in November 2020, during the final year of the Trump administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied a permit for the mine, concluding that the project was not in the public interest. The Biden administration's proposed action is another big setback for developers. The proposed determination would prohibit discharges of dredge or fill material within the mine site footprint in the South Fork Koktuli River, North Fork Koktuli River and Upper Talarik Creek watersheds. Seattle-based EPA Region 10 will take public comment on the proposal through July 5. Explore further Alaska Natives and fishermen sue EPA for reversing Pebble Mine decision 2022 The Seattle Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC Credit: CC0 Public Domain Astronomers have searched for extraterrestrial civilizations in planetary systems for sixty years, to no avail. In the paper published by International Journal of Astrobiology, Cambridge University Press, and titled "Migrating extraterrestrial civilizations and interstellar colonization: Implications for SETI and SETA," Irina K. Romanovskaya proposes that the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) may have more chances to become successful when including the search for migrating extraterrestrial civilizations. For example, extraterrestrial civilizations may leave their home planetary systems when they face existential threats. One of the ways to do so is to ride free-floating planets. Free-floating planets can offer space and resources, as well as protection from space radiation, for very large populations embarking on interstellar travel. It is most likely technically impossible that huge starships, also called world ships, can offer the same. Extraterrestrial civilizations may also use free-floating planets to send biological or post-biological species to survey interstellar space, stars, and planetary systems, or to establish their colonies in several planetary systems to preserve and expand their civilizations even before they face existential threats at home. In her paper, Romanovskaya discusses how extraterrestrial civilizations may hitch a ride on free-floating planets that are trespassing through their home planetary systems, or they may ride planet-like objects ejected from their planetary systems by dying host stars. Alternatively, extraterrestrial civilizations may use propulsion systems and gravity assist events to convert Sedna-type Oort-cloud objects of their planetary systems into free-floating planets and ride them among the stars. Romanovskaya points out that with little starlight reaching free-floating planets, extraterrestrials could use controlled nuclear fusion as the source of energy, and they could inhabit subsurface habitats and oceans of the free-floating planets to be protected from space radiation. That would also prepare them for colonization of oceans in planetary systems. Because free-floating planets cannot sustain their oceans forever and more exploration opportunities exist in planetary systems, extraterrestrial civilizations would ride free-floating planets to reach and colonize planets orbiting stars. Upon their close approach to planetary systems, the extraterrestrials could transfer from their free-floating planets to selected Oort-cloud objects of the planetary systems that would carry them inwards and towards the major planets of the planetary systems. Or, the planetary systems could capture such free-floating planets. Then, the extraterrestrials would colonize the planetary systems. To discover extraterrestrials riding free-floating planets, Romanovskaya proposes to search for certain technosignatureselectromagnetic emissions produced by extraterrestrial technologies on the free-floating planets and in their vicinityand in some cases, for matching signs of terraforming in a few planetary systems potentially indicating that one civilization riding free-floating planets could colonize them. If astronomers detect technosignatures produced on a free-floating planet without detecting the free-floating planet itself, they could misinterpret the origin of the technosignatures. For example, on August 15, 1977, astronomers detected the famous Wow! signal in the constellation Sagittarius. Forty-five years later, scientists continue hypothesizing why the signal was detected only once. According to Romanovskaya, if extraterrestrials sent the Wow! signal from an undetected free-floating planet and the planet moved away from the line of observations, then the Wow! signal would not be detected along that line of observations again. Thus, astronomers should search for free-floating planets along the lines of observations of unusual and potentially artificial signals coming from space. Romanovskaya proposes there may be a very small chance that over the last few billions of years, free-floating planets with extraterrestrial intelligent species may have traveled in our stellar neighborhood, and she discusses different ways to look for their artifacts in the solar system and in the nearby planetary systems. At present, somewhere in space, hundreds of light years away from Earth or closer than that, migrating intelligent biological species or post-biological beings with artificial intelligence may be riding free-floating planets and looking for a new home. Romanovskaya recommends that the search for such space travelersthe search for migrating extraterrestrial intelligence (SMETI)should be part of our search for intelligent life in the universe. Explore further Hubble finds flame Nebula's searing stars may halt planet formation More information: Irina K. Romanovskaya, Migrating extraterrestrial civilizations and interstellar colonization: implications for SETI and SETA, International Journal of Astrobiology (2022). Journal information: International Journal of Astrobiology Irina K. Romanovskaya, Migrating extraterrestrial civilizations and interstellar colonization: implications for SETI and SETA,(2022). DOI: 10.1017/S1473550422000143 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Driven by technological, societal and political change, renewable energy technologies are progressively replacing fossil fuels. Under an expectation that governments will fulfill their net-zero emissions pledges, these changes will accelerate, with the consequence that current oil and gas assets may be overvalued by more than $1 trillion, a figure that exceeds the subprime housing mispricing that triggered the 2007-2008 financial crisis. While reduced future demand for oil and gas has previously been quantified under a range of scenarios, and the most vulnerable assets can be identified as those likely to be uncompetitive due to high extraction costs, the ultimate ownership of this financial risk is unknown. How much resides with governments, and of which countries? How much resides with average Americans through pension funds and other investments? To answer these questions, an international team of researchers led by economist Gregor Semieniuk of the University of Massachusetts Amherst mapped the financial shocks associated with mispriced oil and gas reserves, from the oil companies that directly own them via financial intermediaries, such as banks and investment funds, through to the ultimate owners. The researchers examined the economics of 43,439 oil and gas production assets and estimated their production and value under a scenario with strict but plausible climate policies, namely where climate pledges of zero emissions by mid-century in Europe and East Asia already enshrined in law are met. They compared those asset values with a scenario where current asset prices initially reflect investors' anticipation of much higher projections of future demand. In their analysis, published today in the journal Nature Climate Change, Semieniuk and his colleagues found that the stranded assetsthe discounted future lost profitsfrom a realigned expectation about future production and profitability from one to the other scenario may total $1.4 trillion. They mapped these losses initially to oil and gas companies, and then through intermediaries like financial institutions to their ultimate owners, passing through an equity ownership network of 1.8 million companies before they were finally allocated to either governments or individuals through funds or shareholdings. "We expected some international transfer through the financial ownership, but were surprised to find that in all scenario combinations we analyzed, there was a substantial net transfer of loss of between 15-20% of global stranded assets to countries that are part of the OECD, a club of mostly rich countries, from the rest of the world," says Semieniuk, an assistant research professor of economics at the UMass Amherst Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) and Department of Economics. When valued at the site of the oil and gas fields, the researchers found that approximately $550 billion of losses are located in OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, including nearly $300 billion at fields with high production costs in the United States. "However," highlights co-author Philip Holden from the Open University, "the ownership transfer that takes place through the equity network transfers more than $200 billion of additional stranded asset risk to OECD-based investors, including $100 billion of losses originating at Russian fields, which sustain about the same amount of stranding as the U.S." Several European countries and various offshore financial centersincluding countries that do not themselves extract any oil and gasalso receive substantial loss transfers, while some producer countries such as Kazakhstan and Nigeria transfer more than half the losses at their domestic production sites abroad due to substantial foreign ownership of production there. Meanwhile, most OPEC member countries have relatively modest losses in absolute terms due to their lower production costs and an assumption that they move to capture additional market share in a declining market. Institutionally, most losses$1.0 trillionare booked by stock market-listed oil and gas companies. The financial sector owns losses of $438 billion, 88% of which sit in OECD countries, and these losses could potentially be amplified by up to 29% from cross-ownership within the financial sector. As they pass through the network of corporate ownership, losses exceed equity by a total of $129 billion in 239 companies with total debt of $361 billion, potentially leading to substantial insolvencies. Ultimately, governments directly own losses of $484 billion, or about one-third of all losses, with private persons owning the other two-thirds via fundsincluding pension fundsand shareholdings, the researchers found. "Wealthy stakeholders have a larger stake in how the transition to renewable energy is managed than the geographical distribution of fossil-fuel production suggests, both through their support of the fossil-fuel economy and through their potential exposure to stranded assets," Semieniuk says. "Decarbonization efforts by countries in which these stakeholders are based may therefore be more effective in reducing oil and gas supply than previous research might suggest. "For instance, policymakers could work with investors to lower capital expenditure of oil and gas companies rather than simply divest, transferring ownership to other, perhaps less responsive parties ('ownership leakage'). "On the other hand, expectations of government bailouts of financial companies in these wealthy countries could also lead to perverse incentives for increasing overinvestment and reaping the dividends while they flow." The financial geography should be of interest to financial regulators in OECD countries and the major exposure of pension funds raises questions about the sustainability of some private pension funds. Yet, the direct economic consequences of unemployment and adverse consequences for government finances, Semieniuk and his colleagues write, are likely to be largest in undiversified developing producer countries where governments hold most of the risks. The authors note that the global equity ownership network has considerable gaps, and that some asset ownership has changed since their data collection, which reports holdings from 2019. "Recent months have seen major asset write-downs, which could affect our baseline or be interpreted as a staggered asset stranding," co-author Pablo Salas from Cambridge says. He adds that "importantly, although we can say much about the allocation of stranded asset risk and draw historical analogies, our model does not allow us to predict specific implications for financial stability." Co-author J-F Mercure, of the Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter, puts the study in context: "This study quantifies and attributes, for the first time, the systemic risk and its ownership that fossil-fuel assets impose onto the global financial system. "This information will be very useful for financial regulators worldwide, as it forms a basis to act to protect assets and pensions from the high volatility of fossil fuel markets that can be expected to affect oil, gas and coal markets looking forward." The research was carried out by the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the United States, and the Open University, the University of Exeter, the University of Cambridge (C-EENRG and CISL), Cambridge Econometrics and the University of London in the United Kingdom. The overall project was coordinated and led by the Open University. Co-author Neil Edwards of the Open University comments, "The huge complexity of the global financial system is a major source of concern for its potential to redistribute and amplify financial risk arising in the climate transitionour study shows it is possible to track and quantify at least part of that risk, and its implications for individuals and governments." Explore further World's fossil fuel assets risk evaporating in climate fight More information: Gregor Semieniuk et al, Stranded fossil-fuel assets translate to major losses for investors in advanced economies, Nature Climate Change (2022). Journal information: Nature Climate Change Gregor Semieniuk et al, Stranded fossil-fuel assets translate to major losses for investors in advanced economies,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-022-01356-y Credit: CC0 Public Domain The federal suspension of prescribed burns pending a review of how recent fires lit during extreme drought escaped boundaries is reverberating in the Westand complicating Colorado efforts to revive ailing forests and reduce the severity of wildfires. Foresters for years have favored more, not less, deliberate controlled burning as the most affordable and ecologically sound way to boost forest and grassland resilience. The 90-day pause that U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore has declaredresponding to recent mishaps where prescribed fires blew out of controlwill delay projects to reduce risk across 14,000 acres in Colorado and 18,500 acres in the Rocky Mountain region, according to federal data obtained by the Denver Post. Among those projects may be the planned burns to protect threatened water supplies for Colorado Springs and Aurora. The federal halt also is raising concerns at a deeper level that climate warming and extreme aridity increasingly may jeopardize the use of prescribed fire due to safety concerns. Colorado "supports the use of prescribed fire as a management tool, but it has to be done at the right time, in the right place and with the right resources," Colorado's Chief of Wildland Fire Management Vaughn Jones said. "We need to be able to utilize all tools in the toolbox to address the issues of wildland fire. ... Any decisions made about continued use, or pausing the use of prescribed fire, need to be made by individual agencies based on their program and internal policy." The suspension through this summer means Colorado agencies may not be able to take advantage of the past week's wet spell, which brought snow in mountains that could allow prescribed fires under optimal conditions. Forest stewards and ecologists are "feeling hamstrung by this," said Greg Aplet, senior forest scientist for the Wilderness Society. However, most remain confident the three-month review will vindicate the ecological and economic benefits of prescribed fire for restoring overly-thick forests by mimicking suppressed natural processes. "Prescribed fires are an essential tool," Aplet said. "My hope is that this review shows we're not investing enough in prescribed fire. We need to invest enough resources so that we're not doing it on the cheap, so that we have the resources to handle prescribed fire, so that we can do it right." In recent years, Forest Service officials responsible for vast public lands concentrated in the West have been ramping up use of prescribed fires, in partnership with state and local agencies, in a scramble to re-balance forest tree mixes that currently favor ruinous megafires. But recent prescribed fires done on arid land during a windy spring in New Mexico, and possibly also in southwestern Colorado, escaped control boundaries. New Mexico's Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham this month demanded a halt and went public with her concerns about how federal agencies were conducting prescribed burns. "We're done," she declared at a news conference. Controlled burns have become too dangerous due to heat waves and high wind that have primed forests for big burns, she and others contend. The Forest Service must improve its practices, she said, in response to climate-induced extreme conditions. The pause may delay projects including work to protect water supplies. In western Colorado, federal land managers and state partners for more than a year have been preparing to thin forests south of Twin Lakes mountain reservoirs that supply the water for residents of Colorado Springs, Aurora and other municipalities. This watershed now is threatened by wildfires and follow-on erosion and landslides. Forest Service officials have planned a Twin Lakes Vegetation Management Project that includes prescribed fires to treat 4,253 acres of public land, according to agency documents. "Wildfires that have occurred adjacent to other reservoirs have damaged infrastructure and downstream improvements, while increasing erosion and sedimentation into the reservoirs," a USFS document said. Forests near Twin Lakes "have a high dead and down component and are susceptible to high intensity wildfire. There is a need to mitigate the potential impacts from high intensity wildfire to the watershed, reservoir, historic heritage properties, and other resources." Denver-based Forest Service officials declined to discuss potentially delayed work and referred emailed queries to agency headquarters in Washington D.C. Nationwide, the Forest Service conducts roughly 4,500 prescribed fires a year across 1.4 million acres of public landa figure that reflects stepped-up use of prescribed fire. In ordering the pause, Moore cited news reports about prescribed fire mishaps where flames flared and escaped control, and he referred to climate warming. "Wildfires are increasingly extreme because of climate change, drought and dry fuels across many parts of the country," his public statement posted on an agency website said. Moore downplayed the impact of the 90-day pause pending a review of protocols, saying the bulk of prescribed fires are conducted between September and May, when fire risks traditionally have been lower due to cooler temperatures and snow. "Prescribed burn operations are essential tools managers need to protect communities and first responders, improve forest conditions and reduce the threat of extreme fires," he said, adding that controlled burns must resume when protocols are improved. "It is imperative for the Forest Service and partners to work together to increase fuels treatments by up to four times current levels in the West, including using prescribed burning as well as mechanical and other treatments." Colorado's recent 373-acre Simms wildfire south of Montrose broke out around May 19three days after a prescribed 200-acre burn on federally-managed forest in the area. A Forest Service posting addressing the Simms fire on Facebook confirmed that "earlier in the week a prescribed burn was conducted in the vicinity which was monitored daily." The cause of the Simms fire remains under investigation. At least one home was destroyed, and compensation issues loom here as in neighboring New Mexico. In New Mexico, a prescribed fire northwest of Las Vegas escaped in early April. It became part of the Calf Canyon Fire that broke out around April 19 in an area where, three months ago, another prescribed fire also was lit. Wildfires in New Mexico over the past six weeks have burned more than 311,000 acres and destroyed more than 600 homes and other structures. Costs of trying to suppress these fires were approaching $100 millionlet alone compensation for damage. Landscape conditions favoring intense fires have expanded across the southwestern United States. Mountain snowpack levels in Colorado, even after a recent wet spell, still lagged Tuesday at 65% of the norm for this time of year, with southern Colorado's Upper Rio Grande River basin still at 21% of the norm and main river basins in southwestern Colorado at 5%. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration bulletins this week warned of increasingly perilous conditions. Federal drought monitoring has found "extreme and exceptional" conditions persisting in the West for the third summer in a row. The closely-watched Upper Colorado River basin had snowpack around 54% of the norm for this time of year and NOAA officials warned of worsening exceptional drought in New Mexico as fires burned. The planned prescribed burns in Colorado over the next 90 days that now will be delayed might not all have been doneonly "where and when the right opportunities and conditions" were present, Forest Service spokeswoman Michelle Burnett said in an emailed response. So far this year in Colorado, data show prescribed fires were done to reduce fire risk on 4,924 acres in Colorado and 6,041 in the Rocky Mountain region. On average between 2017 and 2021, controlled burns were done to reduce risk on 16,000 acres a year in Colorado. "We understand that using methods like prescribed fire is getting more difficult in some parts of the country since the weather conditions that meet the prescription parameters are less frequent. More than ever, we are looking for tools to reduce fire hazards," Burnett said. "Lessons learned and any resulting program improvements will be in place prior to resuming prescribed burning." Explore further Giant New Mexico fire rages as drought-hit US West braces for summer 2022 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Spotted hyenas adapt well to changes in their environment. Here, a clan of hyenas in the Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania) quickly declared a broken-down roller as their new favorite resting place. Credit: Photo: Oliver Honer Darwinian evolution is the process by which natural selection promotes genetic changes in traits that favor survival and reproduction of individuals. How fast evolution happens depends crucially on the abundance of its "fuel": how much genetic difference there is in the ability to survive and reproduce. New research by an international research team with participation of the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) has now discovered that the raw material for evolution is much more abundant in wild animals than previously believed. The findings were published in Science. Darwin thought of the process of evolution as something slow, visible only over geological ages. However, researchers have since discovered many examples of evolution occurring in just a few years. One such example is that of British populations of the peppered moth, where the abundance of two color morphs changed dramatically in only a few decades, as the result of evolution by natural selection favoring different morphs depending on the level of air pollution. It was unclear however how fast animals with longer lifespans such as birds and mammals can evolve and adapt to environmental change. Led by Dr. Timothee Bonnet from the Australian National University, a team of 40 researchers from 27 institutions addressed this question and measured how much of the "fuel of evolution" exists overall in wild populations of birds and mammals. The answer: many populations of birds and mammals can evolve surprisingly fasttheir amount of genetic difference in the ability to survive and reproduce being two to four times higher than previously thought. One reason why previous studies underestimated the evolutionary potential of species is that earlier work did not fully account for individuals that never had any offspring. Doing so required the development of new statistical methods, as well as a meticulous selection of the data used for the study. Only wildlife populations studied very carefully and for many years could qualify for the task. "To perform this study, we needed to know when each individual was born, who they mated with, when they had babies, and when they died," Bonnet said. Despite this difficulty, they managed to combine 2.6 million hours of field data collection and genetic analyses over decades from 19 populations of 15 species from around the world. "This has been a remarkable team effort that was feasible because researchers from around the world were happy to share their data in a large collaboration. It also shows the value of long-term studies with detailed monitoring of animal life histories for helping us understand the process of evolution in the wild," Professor Loeske Kruuk also from ANU (and now at the University of Edinburgh, U.K.) said. One of the populations included in the study is that of spotted hyenas in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. Leibniz-IZW scientists have been studying this population for more than 26 years and compiled a genetic pedigree spanning more than 2,000 individuals over eight generations. Other populations included superb fairy-wrens from Australia, song sparrows from Canada and red deer from Scotland. If the new study revealed more "fuel of evolution" than anticipated, it also revealed noticeable differences between species. Spotted hyenas, it turned out, have the most "fuel" of all 15 species studied. This came as a surprise to the Leibniz-IZW team. "Spotted hyenas can live in all kinds of habitats and are the most widespread large carnivore in Africa. This suggests that they can adapt well to new environments, but we didn't expect them to be among the best-equipped of all species studied," said Dr. Oliver Honer from the Leibniz-IZW and co-author of the study. Apart from collecting a huge amount of data over decades and developing new methods, the team had to overcome an additional challenge. In highly social species such as the spotted hyena, changes in traits that influence individual survival and reproduction may not only be driven by genetic inheritance but also via social processes such as social learning. The method used to assess the amount of "fuel of evolution" cannot cope for the idiosyncratic details of every single population. Therefore, the team had to find a way to check for possible biases caused by social inheritance. To do so, Dr. Alexandre Courtiol and DFG-funded postdoc Dr. Liam Bailey from the Leibniz-IZW designed computer simulations representing a theoretical hyena population for which inheritance would only be social and compared the amount of "fuel of evolution" estimated for these virtual hyenas to that of the real population. "This additional test did not alter the results, suggesting that hyena populations may indeed have a relatively high amount of 'fuel of evolution' embedded in their gene pool," Courtiol said. According to the researchers, their findings have implications for predictions of species' adaptability to environmental change. "This research has shown us that evolution cannot be discounted as a process which allows species to survive in response to rapid environmental change," Dr. Bonnet said. "With the habitat of many species changing at an increasing rate, there is no guarantee at all that these populations will be able to keep up. But what we can say is that evolution is a much more significant driver than previously thought in the adaptability of populations to the environmental changes we are currently seeing." Explore further Spotted hyenas adjust their foraging behavior in response to climate change More information: Timothee Bonnet, Genetic variance in fitness indicates rapid contemporary adaptive evolution in wild animals, Science (2022). www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abk0853 Journal information: Science Timothee Bonnet, Genetic variance in fitness indicates rapid contemporary adaptive evolution in wild animals,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abk0853 Provided by Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) President receives new ambassadors from Ukraine, Canada President Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted receptions for the newly-accredited ambassadors from Ukraine and Canada, who came to present their credentials. Ukrainian Ambassador Gaman Oleksandr (R) presents his credentials to President Nguyen Xuan Phuc. (Photo: VNA) Receiving the new Ukrainian ambassador, Gaman Oleksandr, President Phuc underlined that Vietnam always attaches great importance to the traditional friendship, partnership and comprehensive cooperation with Ukraine. The sound ties between the two countries have been nurtured and developed by generations of leaders and people of both countries over the past 30 years since Vietnam and Ukraine set up their diplomatic relations, he said. Despite COVID-19 impacts, bilateral economic and trade cooperation has been bolstered, he said, noting that the 15th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee on economic, trade and science-technology cooperation was held successfully. The Vietnamese leader thanked Ukraine for supporting the protection and evacuation of Vietnamese citizens in Ukraine. Conveying sympathy over great losses that Ukraine has suffered, he said he hopes that the situation in Ukraine will become stable soon. President Phuc said that Vietnam has decided to provide humanitarian aid of 500,000 USD to Ukraine people through the Red Cross and United Nations, while standing ready to cooperate in the reconstruction of Ukraine in the future. For his part, Oleksandr thanked Vietnam for the humanitarian assistance. He said that in the time to come, he will visit Vietnamese localities to further expand cooperation between the two countries in many fields. He suggested that the two sides strengthen cooperation in trade and investment in all sectors. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Canadian Ambassador Shawn Perry Steil. (Photo: VNA) At the reception for the Canadian ambassador, Shawn Perry Steil, President Phuc highlighted the growing relations between the two countries. Despite difficulties from COVID-19, the two sides have maintained good political and diplomatic relations, he said, adding that two-way trade reached more than 6 billion USD in 2021, up 18.5 percent year on year. The President said he hopes Ambassador Steil will design plans to further beef up bilateral ties. Ambassador Steil noted that the two countries are enjoying effective cooperation in all fields, including economy, education, defence, security and climate change response. He pledged that he will work hard to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries. President Phuc underlined Vietnams wish to accelerate ties with Canada, especially through the exchange of delegations at high and all levels and people-to-people exchange. He expressed hope that Canada will coordinate closely with Vietnam to organise activities to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2023. The State leader said he hopes the Canadian diplomat will give proposals to promote bilateral collaboration in prioritised sectors after the pandemic as well as open the market for Vietnamese agricultural products, thus making full use of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). He proposed that the ambassador will work to speed up Canadian-supported projects in responding to climate change, natural disasters and sea level rise, especially in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. Over regional and international issues, President Phuc affirmed that Vietnam welcomes Canadas strengthening of cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region, thus contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region. Vietnam hopes that Canada, through the Indo-Pacific Strategy, will continue to make strong commitments in supporting the central role of the ASEAN and the ASEAN-Canada comprehensive partnership, he stated./. Credit: CC0 Public Domain The recent string of mass shootings has once again captured the attention of the American public. The tragic shootings in an elementary school in Texas, a grocery store in New York, a church in California and locally in the streets of downtown Sacramento have many people wondering what can be done to prevent such tragedies. Each time these incidents happen, familiar questions come up around the influence of mental health, social media, socio-economic factors, race and policies. UC Davis LIVE took up these questions in an April 19 program with two experts from the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program: Garen Wintemute, director of the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program and the California Firearm Violence Research Center, is a renowned expert on the public health crisis of gun violence and a pioneer in the field of injury epidemiology and prevention of firearm violence. Amy Barnhorst, vice chair for clinical services at the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and an associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, is a nationally recognized expert on the interface between firearms, suicide, mental illness and violence. She is the director of the BulletPoints Project, a state-funded effort to develop a firearm violence prevention curriculum for health care providers. The following summary highlights many of the main topics discussed during the UC Davis LIVE program. What does the data on gun violence tell us about trends? According to our two experts, public mass shootings typically capture the public's attention; however, they comprise only one percent of all deaths from firearm violence. The majority of deaths from firearms are suicides rather than homicides. Other kinds of firearm violence include domestic violence, unintentional injury, and more, all of which can lead to devastating consequences for the families of both victims and perpetrators and create a rippling effect in their communities. From 2019 to 2020, the number of firearm homicides has seen an unprecedented increase, greater than any other time in the last 100 years of record keeping. Then between 2020 and 2021, the firearm homicide rate increased by 15%, resulting in an average increase of 45% across the states from 2019 to the start of 2022. Barnhorst noted that one unexpected trend that was observed during the initial year of the pandemic was a small dip in firearm suicide rates, which had been rising in the United States over the last 17 years. This was despite the pandemic with people having to live in increased social isolation, going through a mental health decline and being concerned about illness. Are trends in gun purchases linked to trends in firearm violence? There was an unprecedented increase in gun purchases beginning in January 2020. The initial driver may likely have been the prospect of social unrest due to the pandemic, according to Wintemute. Other contributors followed later in the year in the form of political and racial tension and the prospect of new gun control measures following a federal election. The increase in gun purchases ended toward the end of 2021 but appears to be surging again in the spring of 2022. The increase in gun purchasing was positively correlated with the subsequent increase in overall gun violence in the beginning of 2020, but that clear link attributed to purchasing alone was lost as the year rolled on, except for domestic violence. Credit: UC Davis Thirty years ago, there was a tight coupling between the rate of gun violence and the rate of gun purchasing, but that link disappeared about 15 years ago. One contributor may be that privately manufactured guns ("ghost guns") came into the mix, making tracing gun ownership more difficult. The definition of gun ownership also comes into play. Wintemute noted that it is estimated that roughly 80% of the instances of gun violence are committed by someone that is not the original, legal purchaser of the gun. In addition, data indicates that about 40% of the people committing gun homicides are not prohibited from purchasing firearms. Lack of enforcement of existing laws has resulted in federal agencies like the military not reporting events even though they are required to. How effective are background checks? The evidence is mixed on the effectiveness of universal background checks to reduce rates of firearm violence. Establishing this link is difficult because the available data don't always support rigorous research designs. It appears that effectiveness is increased by adding a permitting process, according to Wintemute. What makes a community more vulnerable to gun violence? There are several interconnected factors that make a community more vulnerable to gun violence. According to Barnhorst, it is important to examine social components that shape individual lives within the community. For example, she noted the importance of access to safe parks, schools and healthcare as well as employment opportunities and affordable housing. These key influencers are often governed by socio-economic and environmental factorscreating a self-perpetuating cycleoften more prevalent in marginalized communities where discrimination has taken a toll. Due to a lack of alternatives, these communities often become hotbeds for gun violence and substance abuse. Barnhorst said the key to preventing gun violence lies in early intervention, and not waiting until the last minute to pass some legislation. How can we reduce the risk within specific communities of need? In recent research by the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program, a large number of Californians reported having some experience with firearms violence. These include hearing gunshots in their neighborhoods, encountering sidewalk memorial to violent deaths or learning about violent events on social network. According to Barnhorst, investing early in people's lives through schools, parks, neighborhood spaces and job opportunities can all add up to violence prevention. For example, people who have the privilege of growing up in safe spaces with a lack of stress, abuse and trauma grow up to be emotionally resilient and respond better to crises than individuals on the opposite side of the spectrum. Wintemute voiced optimism about our collective capacity to bring about change. He urged people not to give up hope. "If you see something, say something," he said. In 80% of cases, he said, people who commit mass shootings or slide into suicidal acts make their intentions known in advance either to family members or friends or via social media. In such cases, there's always an opportunity to intervene. "We can't turn away from one another," he concluded. Barnhorst and her team have developed a curriculum for healthcare providers to raise awareness about potential risk situations. Clinicians are encouraged to have conversations on how firearm violence affects their patients, who is at risk, what are the ways they can identify the risk, access to guns and more. For example, if someone has a child at home or living with an adolescent or any person with alcohol abuse or a mental health condition, they should have an open discussion about safe storage so at-risk individuals don't have immediate access to firearms during the times these individuals go through an emotional crisis. Barnhorst also recommended in some circumstances moving the firearms away from the house temporarily to prevent harm. Explore further New research shows violence is broadly felt by millions of Californians More information: Research from the Violence Prevention Research Program can be found Research from the Violence Prevention Research Program can be found here JACKSON A Jackson man is facing charges after a domestic incident. State police responded to a residence at about 7:14 a.m. on May 19. Cody S. Smith, 25, is accused of grabbing and pushing the victim during an argument. The victim was holding a young child at the time of the incident. His actions were in violation of an order of protection, police said. Smith was charged with felony counts of aggravated family offense and first-degree criminal offense as well as a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child. He was transported to Washington County Jail to await arraignment. 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. QUEENSBURY A Queensbury man admitted on Wednesday to sexually abusing a child over the course of at least three years. Zachary A. Mead pleaded guilty in Warren County Court to first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child. The guilty plea had halted jury selection in a trial before Judge Robert Smith that began on Monday and was expected to last about two weeks. Mead was arrested in May 2020, after the Warren County Sheriffs Office received a report of a sexual assault. Police had brought in Child Protective Services to assist in the investigation. The victim was transported to Glens Falls Hospital for an evaluation. Lail said the victim was interviewed at the Glens Falls-based Warren-Washington County Care Center, which provides support services for victims of child abuse or neglect. The victim disclosed information about the sexual assault. The relationship between Mead and the victim was not disclosed. Mead was sent to Warren County Jail pending sentencing, which is scheduled for July 5. In a news release, Warren County District Attorney Jason Carusone thanked Assistant District Attorney Ben Smith and First Assistant District Attorney Matthew Burin for their hard work toward securing the conviction. Carusone also thanked the Warren County Sheriffs Office, which was the lead agency on the case, with assistance from members of the New York State Police. 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. CARTHAGE Lonny Koons, the former Republican candidate for the 21st Congressional District who dropped out last month amidst allegations he had forged petition signatures, is getting back in the race. In an email to reporters Tuesday night, Koons said he believes he needs to reenter the race for Congress in light of the newest district lines, which were finalized Saturday. Koons said the new district excludes U.S. Rep. Elise Stefaniks home in Schuylerville, and he doesnt believe that someone from outside the district should run to represent it. How can you represent your district if youre not really from the district? he said in a phone interview. I know shes just going to end up using that address in Essex County, the cabin or whatever was used last time, but the fact of the matter is she doesnt actually live in NY-21. Under the new district lines finalized Saturday, NY-21 now excludes Saratoga County, where Stefanik lives currently. However, House representatives are not required to live in the districts theyre running for election in, as long as they are residents of the state. During redistricting processes, which happen every decade, its not uncommon for incumbent members of Congress to announce candidacies in districts they dont live in at the time, and they typically move into the district for which they are elected. Stefanik has declared her intent to run for NY-21, but has not made public if she plans to move her legal address back into the district as well. She previously ran for Congress while registered to vote at a cabin owned by her family in Essex County. Koons lives just inside the district lines, in the town of Croghan in Lewis County, although his home address is in the Carthage mailing area. He brands himself as a blue-collar man of the people, intent on bridging the wide gap between liberal and conservative voters in todays United States. Hes a radical supporter of the Second Amendment, notably believing that American citizens should have access to all the same weaponry the U.S. government has, including nuclear weapons. He believes in some of the false allegations that voter fraud was rampant in the 2020 presidential election, supports term limits for members of the House of Representatives and has promoted a regulatory committee to control social media companies, news organizations and other publishers. A month ago, Koons abruptly withdrew from the race for NY-21, after video from a political tracker showed him writing on petitions to appear on the ballot at a Walmart parking lot in Essex County. In the video footage, Koons can be seen clearly writing in blank fields on a petition form, reading from something unseen in the passenger seat of his vehicle. He does not appear to notice he is being filmed through his driver side window. When the video footage was released, Stefaniks campaign was quick to call him out, and called for him to be prosecuted for a crime, although state elections officials said he didnt commit a crime under election law because he didnt turn the documents in or present them as legitimate. No law enforcement agency is known to be pursuing criminal charges against Koons for forgery. In a statement Wednesday, the congresswomans senior adviser, Alex DeGrasse, said the evidence against Koons is unequivocal. Lonny Koons illegally forged signatures on video and immediately stopped his campaign because he knows he committed a serious crime and would have more than likely faced jail time had the fraudulent signatures been submitted, he said. Forging the names of voters is a serious crime that goes to the heart of why election integrity is so important. Koons said he was not forging signatures, as the video appears to show and the Stefanik campaign says. I was writing peoples names above signatures, and somebody filmed that, he said. Basically, they tried to say I was forging signatures so I just stopped. Koons said he was frightened by the swift response of the Stefanik campaign, and was afraid of a legal battle and potential criminal charges. He said he doesnt have the time or money for a court battle like that. But after the last district lines were thrown out, the petitioning process was reopened with a lower number of signatures required and anyone is able to restart the process. Candidates who successfully completed the petitioning process under the last district lines may declare for one of the new districts without having to circulate petitions. Koons said he is hopeful he will have more success with this petitioning process, and is hopeful for the support of local Republican county committees, who he said he would like to see abandon Stefanik now that she doesnt live in NY-21. He said hes heard from constituents in the district, who he said were disappointed he dropped out of the race in April and disappointed with the idea of their congressperson outside the district. She has the funding to get a house or use an address in the district, but that just goes to show that shes so much different from the average U.S. citizen, because none of us can do that, he said. Thats another thing separating the elite status she has from what we are. Koons is largely running his campaign himself, and his campaign takes in almost no donations. He said he doesnt want to ask the people of this district to finance his campaign, and is happy to work his regular job as a semi-truck driver as he campaigns. My job pays the bills, I cant stop doing that, he said. Ill have a webcam set up in my semi. When people want to talk or interview, Ill do it all from there. Koons will have to restart the petitioning process from scratch, earning 1,062 signatures by June 10, about two weeks away. Those petitions, if filed, are likely to garner close attention from the Stefanik campaign and elections officials, in light of the allegations that previously pushed Koons out of the race. If the petitions are successfully submitted and accepted by the state Board of Elections, Koons will stand in a primary election against the congresswoman on Aug. 23, the second-to-last Thursday of the month. Love 0 Funny 4 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 SEA ISLE CITY Following their annual elections in April, the members of VFW Post 1963s Auxiliary installed their officers for the coming year during a ceremony May 9. The list of 2022 Auxiliary Officers includes President Patti Lloyd, Senior Vice President Peg Moore, Junior Vice President Diane McCool, Treasurer Ruth Brown, Secretary Ellen Myers, Chaplain Stephanie Jones, Guard Brian Moran, Patriotic Instructor Maryanne Hamilton, Historian Karen Haugh, Conductor Terry Moore and Trustees Barbara Cummins, Barbara Haines and Linda White. During the ceremony, which was led by post Commander Mark Lloyd, Mayor Leonard Desiderio presented the Auxiliary with a plaque congratulation them for being the largest VFW auxiliary in New Jersey. The Sea Isle Auxiliary has 381 members. After the ceremony concluded, the mayor treated the Auxiliary to a pizza party to thank them for their community efforts. Just before the pizza was gone, the members of Girl Scout Troop 41012 arrived with a Mister Softee ice cream truck that served frozen desserts to everyone in attendance. It was an excellent night, and our Auxiliary members are very grateful to the mayor and our local Girl Scouts for their kindness, said Patti Lloyd. The pizza filled our bellies, and the ice cream was a sweet way to top off the evening. According to Mrs. Lloyd, the Auxiliary plans to continue working with Sea Isles Boy and Girl Scout organizations, and they will also host a variety of events during the year ahead. Currently, we are holding a raffle for two one-night stays in Atlantic City, which comes with vouchers for dinners and shows, as well as $300 in cash for expenses, she said. Raffle tickets cost 3 for $5 and are available to the public at Post 1963, located at 301 JFK Blvd. The raffles winner will be drawn June 18. Also, we will host our annual Dollar Dog Day on July 23, and we will participate in Sea Isles annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies as we always do plus, the merchandise case inside our post is filled with T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and other items, and anyone from the public can stop by and make a purchase that will support the VFW, said Mrs. Lloyd. We are looking forward to another successful year serving our community especially our veterans. To learn more about VFW Post 1963 and its Auxiliary, visit vfwpost1963.com or email pattios@outlook.com. MARGATE Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties was recently awarded a $150,000 Housing for Everyone grant from the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank. JFS was one of seven organizations in the region selected from more than 357 applicants to receive the funds as part of the TD Charitable Foundations annual grant program helping to provide affordable housing since 2005. At JFS, weve witnessed first-hand the increase in need for housing and supportive services from residents. As this is the second generous grant provided to our agency by the TD Charitable Foundation, it reflects the immense need for help from individuals and families in the community, said Andrea Steinberg, JFS chief executive officer. These funds will assure our Atlantic Homeless Alliance staff can continue to work cohesively with those in need to secure them safe and affordable housing. Over the past two years, the housing affordability crisis has worsened from the COVID-19 pandemic impact and housing organizations have worked tirelessly to meet the increasing need for help from individuals and families. Subsequently, this has strained affordable housing organizations as agencies strive to continue to deliver critical resources and services. In three months time, from December 2021 to February 2022, JFS AHA staff was able to provide 48 individuals or families with permanent housing, 150 with temporary housing and reunified four households. The COVID-19 pandemic has created so much uncertainty and presented many challenges for those in our community, and we know there is an immense need for the types of support and services provided by JFS. JFS is a trusted voice in our community, and we have witnessed the incredible work theyve done to support those who need it the most feel more confident about their future. With the support from the TD Charitable Foundation, I am confident that the expansion of their services will empower them to help even more of our neighbors in need, said Mike Carbone, regional president for Metro Pennsylvania/Metro New Jersey at TD Bank. The TD Charitable Foundation awarded $5.8 million through the 16th annual Housing for Everyone grant competition to a total of 33 organizations across TD Banks Maine-to-Florida footprint and Michigan to help support affordable housing organizations provide critical resident services. Since 2005, the TD Charitable Foundation has given more than $42 million to non-profit and charitable organizations through the Housing for Everyone grant competition and helped support over 500 affordable housing projects and initiatives. The Housing for Everyone grant competition supports TDs longstanding commitment to community enrichment through TDs corporate citizenship platform, The Ready Commitment, which actively promotes inclusivity, economic vitality and environmental wellbeing, enabling people of all backgrounds to succeed in a rapidly changing world. For more information on JFS programs and services, including the Atlantic Homeless Alliance, contact 609-822-1108 or visit jfsatlantic.org. To learn more about Housing for Everyone and for a full list of this years grant recipients, please visit td.com/us/en/about-us/communities/ready-commitment/funding-opportunities/housing-for-everyone. NORTHFIELD The JPlace Adult Ed Book Group will meet to discuss The Last Rose of Shanghai, joined virtually by author Weina Da Randel, at 1 pm. on June 1 at Beth Israel. The book tells the story of the forbidden love between Aiyi Shao, a wealthy heiress, nightclub owner, and business mogul in Shanghai, and Ernest Reismann, a penniless Jewish refugee from Germany, whom Aiyi hires to play the piano at her club. It takes place in China during World War II. The book group is free and open to the community. Beth Israel is located at 2501 Shore Road. Please RSVP to the temple office at bethisrael@cbinorthfield.org. For more information, call Beth Israel at 609-641-3600. The largest Reform congregation in the area, Beth Israel is a warm and welcoming home to generations of families who play a vital and integral part in synagogue life. Accommodating to all types of modern Jewish families, Beth Israel welcomes members wherever they may be found on their personal Jewish journey. For more information, visit bethisraelnorthfield.org. NORTHFIELD The city has a long history of recognizing the hometown men and women who have served in all branches of the military. That history added something very special highly visible on May 21 with the dedication of Purple Heart Path at Veterans Park on Oak Avenue. More than 100 gathered just a week ahead of Memorial Day to recognize and honor those soldiers who have earned a Purple Heart. Vietnam veteran and member of the Atlantic County Veterans Advisory Board, Marco Polo Smigliani, a four-time Purple Heart recipient, served as one of the speakers of the event. Smigliani gave an impassioned speech about the American spirit and American exceptionalism. Smigliani, born in Italy and came to the United States as a 10-year-old with his family. He enlisted in the Marines at 18 to serve in Vietnam and was wounded four times within the span of 18 months. The power of the American spirit will not be tamed. It is like a lion who is sleeping after a hearty meal. But to those who would turn us against one another, those who seek to diminish our sense of pride, that lion is restless. Those of us who have served our country and have our heads held high. My unit in Vietnam, 847 men were sacrificed on the altar of freedom, including my Uncle Domenico in 1971. But still we carry on, Smigliani said. We sustain a vison of freedom and strength. Beware of the sleeping lion. He shakes off those shackles of sleep and is prepared to pounce. As he spoke of an America that is not afraid of enemies at home or in Russia or China, Smigliani said, Humanity is the thread that runs through each of us. Sam Davis, wearing George Washingtons Revolutionary War uniform spoke of the history of the Purple Heart. It was George Washington who created the Purple Heart in 1778. In the bitter cold days at Valley Forge leading up to the Battle of Trenton, Gen. Washington saw how his men were surviving. They were cold and starving. They had eaten their dogs and their horses to survive. Washington was begging the Continental Congress for support. We did not need money, we needed food and equipment. But my men never faltered, and never gave up. I wanted to recognize their dedication and their merit, said Same Davis. So, I came up with the Purple Heart, it was to signify merit. It all but disappeared until 1932 when it was again presented to soldiers for wounds sustained in battle or if a soldier was killed it could be given posthumously to the family. My men deserved this recognition for their merit and bravery 1778 and I am pleased it is once again being presented to the brave men and women of our military. The pathway through Veterans Park is the latest addition to the park that just a few years ago was a three-acre former orchid greenhouse. The site was purchased with Green Acres funding at the urging of then Northfield Mayor Vince Mazzeo with the help of Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson in 2009. Since that time the city has continued to beautify the site and make it a place where veterans of all branches of the military are recognized and where an American flag flies everyday alongside the POW-MIA flag in recognition of those veterans who have yet to return home. The Prisoner of War MIA missing man chair is in the center of the park and flanked by the Northfield All Wars Memorial, originally dedicated in 1944 with the names of 266 men and women who served in the military from Northfield. An addition was made for Korean and Vietnam veterans. It was moved to its location in Veterans Park in 2019. The wall honors and recognizes the dedication of U.S. Navy veteran, Sgt. Robert Webb with the creation of the park. A walking path through the site has spots along the way to pay respect to each branch of the military. A brick pathway and marble monument honor individuals who have served. The idea to rename the portion of Oak Avenue from Zion Road to Mill Road, where the park is located was brought to Councilman David Notaro by Smigliani. He also enlisted the help of Atlantic County Institute of Technology instructors Mike Kuhanik and Drew Holmes in the project. Saturdays dedication was the culmination of the work. Students from ACIT CAD class designed the sign and pathway with the help of city engineer, Rami Nassar of Schaeffer, Nassar and Scheidegg. ACIT instructor Amie Kleva enlisted the help of students to do the work of planting along the walkway and Northfield Public Works installed the newly created sign, that reads: Purple Heart Path-They fell so America could stand. The sign includes a QR code that gives the history of the site. The dedication and celebration held Saturday morning was another demonstration of the effort Northfield goes to honor the men and women who have served in the military. The names of the Northfield veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart include: Anthony Bianca, U.S. Air Force, World War II; John Somers Jr., U.S. Navy World War II; William S. Bartholomew, U.S. Marines World War II; Harvey D. Johnson, World War II, Killed in Action; and Norman Thomas, U.S. Army World War II. There are opportunities to contribute to the park and to purchase a memorial brick, visit cityofnorthfield.org. TVs longest-running prime-time medical drama, Greys Anatomy, ends its 18th season with a two-hour finale marking its 400th episode. Its the end of the road after 19 seasons for Ellen DeGeneres daytime talk show, and CBSs Bull closes shop after six years. Historys hit survival competition Alone returns for a ninth season. Saturday Night Lives Michael Che emerges from the Weekend Update desk for a second season of his HBO Max sketch-comedy show. Season Finale 8/7c Theres a blood shortage bedeviling Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in a milestone two-hour Season 18 finale marking the dramas 400th episode, but because ratings are anything but anemic, theres still no end in sight for ABCs enduring hit. Expect to see some familiar faces as the hospital gets an update about the future of its residency program, and Merediths (Ellen Pompeo) ambivalence about remaining in Seattle remains an issue. (No Meredith, no show, lets face it.) In other news, Owen (Kevin McKidd) risks exposure over his controversial efforts to help his fellow veterans. Series Finale Another end of an era as the upbeat comedian completes her 19-season run as daytimes most cheerful inheritor to the Oprah throne. Her final guest, Jennifer Aniston, was also her first, making a tidy and no doubt emotional bookend as Ellen dances off into the sunset, having weathered her share of negative publicity along the way but for the most part maintaining a welcoming, warm persona that brought a dose of good cheer to the daily routine of millions of fans. Series Finale 10/9c Behind-the-scenes turbulence never seemed to disrupt legal business as usual for Bull (Michael Weatherly) and the Trial Analysis Corporation over six seasons. But the star is moving on, so in one last assignment, the TAC team is back in court with a negligent homicide case that could change the company, and their lives, forever. However it ends, its the final curtain. Season Premiere 9/8c For its ninth season, the grueling survival reality series goes to new extremes, dropping 10 willing souls onto the northeast shores of Labrador, Canada, notorious as a hunting ground for polar bears. Equipped with few tools and enough camera gear to record their own journeys, the contestants tough it out until just one is left to collect the $500,000 prize. Followed by a second season of the excruciating Kings of Pain (10:30), where biologist Adam Thorn and animal handler Caveman Rob Alleva subject themselves to bites and stings from all manner of creatures, ranking the pain they endure. This seasons dangerous critters include the orange baboon tarantula, the black-throated monitor lizard, imported red fire ants, a giant desert centipede and (my favorite) the horrid king assassin bug. Season Premiere Deborahs (Jean Smart) road trip with Ava (Hannah Einbinder) continues in the comedys strong second season. Next stops: a rural county fair where Deborah has an uneasy reunion with an old friend (the great Harriet Sansom Harris) who quit the comedy biz long agoand Deborah guiltily knows whythen to Memphis, where a crisis of confidence leads to a breakthrough as well as a sensuous fling. Also on the Stream: The Flight Attendant (streaming on HBO Max): The second season of the silly spy caper ends with Cassie (Kaley Cuoco) connecting the dots in the conspiracy, while Megan (Rosie Perez) looks to start over in Los Angeles. The Ipcress File (streaming on AMC+): Glamorous but icy veteran spy Jean (Lucy Boynton) shows callow novice Harry Palmer (Joe Cole) the ropes as they track a missing scientist in the second episode of the stylish 1960s-era spy thriller. An empty film tin with the Ipcress label teases future mysteries. Look at Me: XXXTENTACION (streaming on Hulu): A documentary explores the brief but influential career of Florida teen Jahseh Onfroy , who gained fame as SoundCloud rapper XXXTENTACION . He was admired for his raw talent and openness about his struggles with mental health until his untimely gunshot murder at age 20. , who gained fame as SoundCloud rapper . He was admired for his raw talent and openness about his struggles with mental health until his untimely gunshot murder at age 20. Fight or Flight (streaming on discovery+): Somy Ali , a Bollywood star-turned-human rights advocate, is at the center of a docuseries about the efforts of her No More Tears nonprofit to rescue victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking. The series launches with three episodes, with three more to follow on Thursdays. , a Bollywood star-turned-human rights advocate, is at the center of a docuseries about the efforts of her No More Tears nonprofit to rescue victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking. The series launches with three episodes, with three more to follow on Thursdays. The Dreamers (streaming on Sundance Now): Set in Tel Aviv in 2008, an Arabic/Hebrew language drama follows three Palestinian students who try to form a community in the war-torn city but get caught up in the drug-dealing machinations of a crime family. Inside Thursday TV: Road to the Bee (8/7c, ION and Bounce): In anticipation of next weeks Scripps National Spelling Bee (now airing on these channels), a special goes behind the scenes with officials and 10 regional competitors to see how all involved prepare for the nearly century-old competition. Welcome to Flatch (9/8c, Fox): In back-to-back episodes ending the offbeat comedys first season, its Christmastime in the quirky small Midwestern burgindeed, the show got a surprise early gift with a Season 2 renewal. Kelly (Holmes), who spends the first episode mired in a green-juice pyramid scheme, is put in charge of the annual town holiday celebration, which predictably goes sideways quick. Crimes Gone Viral (9/8c, Investigation Discovery): A third season of the true-crime series uses footage from surveillance or dashboard cameras to tell the story, including a high-speed chase during which the police realize the driver theyre pursuing has a baby in the backseat. The office is starting its annual Secure the Shore campaign, which bolsters public safety and encourages the public in Atlantic, Cape May, Ocean and Monmouth counties to report suspicious activity, given the counties seasonal population surge. Throughout the summer tourism season, the office will collaborate with law enforcement to help maximize shore towns safety measures and security, it said in a news release. Initiatives include strategic security development and routine public safety checks on boardwalks and at businesses, the office said Thursday. Lifeguards throughout the state also will be trained on how to identify suspicious activity that should be reported to authorities. Atlantic City officials urge residents to sign up for new emergency alert system ATLANTIC CITY The city has a new emergency alert system to inform the public about severe The yearly campaign was announced as investigators continue to search for clues in what provoked 18-year-old Salvador Ramos to fatally shoot 19 children and 2 teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Given that shooting, as well as rising gun violence throughout the U.S., shore visitors and locals should be extra cautious this holiday weekend, officials said. If current events have taught us anything, its that bad actors look for opportunities to strike where mass gatherings are happening, said office Director Laurie Doran. Community engagement and suspicious activity reporting, alongside a united and equipped law enforcement front, is critical to the continued safety and security of New Jersey. Shore-goers can report suspicious activity to local law enforcement or by calling 866-4-SAFE-NJ or emailing tips@njohsp.gov. 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. ATLANTIC CITY Residents have repeatedly complained about the poor condition of city streets, and Mayor Marty Small Sr. said Thursday funding is in place to repave 31 of them this year and next. And two major streets Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Baltic Avenue will be repaved using government grants, but that wont happen until 2023 to 2024. Residents have to be patient, Small said. Sometimes government doesnt move as fast as we want it to. ... Were doing our best to alleviate peoples concerns, Small said during a news conference where he outlined the citys plans to use state and federal funding to improve streets, the Boardwalk, neighborhoods and the business climate. The schedule for repaving the 31 streets is available on the city website at acnj.gov. Click on departments, then public works and streets. The city has received $1.8 million in state and federal grants to repave MLK from Mediterranean Avenue to Route 30, and $1 million for Baltic Avenue from Maine to Missouri avenues, city spokesperson Andrew Kramer said. Atlantic City officials urge residents to sign up for new emergency alert system ATLANTIC CITY The city has a new emergency alert system to inform the public about severe The grants specify the work must happen in 2023 and 2024, Small said, but he said he will make efforts to expedite the process. In another infrastructure project, the city plans to replace a section of the Boardwalk from Florida to Missouri avenues that is more than 100 years old with a $6 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, which U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Menendez, both D-N.J., helped secure. Kramer said engineers will first examine the stretch of Boardwalk to determine how best to spend the money. Engineers will determine how much, if any, of the concrete substructure can be saved and then design new joists and decking, officials said. The total cost to replace the entire Boardwalk is estimated to be $60 million. Work on that section, which includes the Boardwalk in front of historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, should start in the fall and be completed by next summer, officials said. Last year, the city completed construction of a new Boardwalk and promenades from Oriental Avenue to Gardners Basin. The 1.35-mile section was funded by eight separate grant programs totaling more than $55 million. Atlantic City receiving $6 million in federal funding for Boardwalk repairs ATLANTIC CITY Revitalization work on the Boardwalk is set to begin this fall, with the hel Rutala Associates, the citys grant consultant, prepared the USEDA grant application and has been working with federal and state agencies to gain funding support for reconstruction of the rest of the Boardwalk. Small also discussed the city receiving a $500,000 African American Civil Rights grant from the National Park Service. It will be used to help pay for preservation of Atlantic City Fire Station 2, at Indiana and Baltic avenues in a historically Black neighborhood. This grant is in addition to a $750,000 grant that was awarded by the New Jersey Historic Trust recently. The city budgeted $750,000 to match that grant, and the new grant will be put toward the match, saving the Atlantic City taxpayers money, Small said. Rutala Associates secured both grants. Atlantic City also is receiving an $800,000 grant the city has been seeking since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for small business recovery, Small said. He thanked U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, for helping the city secure it. The city is matching with $200,000. Century-old Atlantic City firehouse gets $750,000 state historical grant for renovation ATLANTIC CITY Fire House No. 2 turns 100 next year, and as it reaches that milestone it wi This funding will support staffing to promote economic development; business outreach to help businesses with financial advice and other assistance; and marketing the city to attract tourists, businesses and residents. Small also described $2 million in state grants for neighborhood revitalization in the Chelsea, Ducktown and Midtown neighborhoods. The city is working with other neighborhoods, Small said, to develop plans to seek grants for their development. REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ESTELL MANOR By late afternoon Wednesday, thousands of small American flags whipped in the breeze, placed at the graves of veterans by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, cadets and others in preparation for a veterans memorial program planned for 2 p.m. Friday at the Atlantic County Veterans Cemetery. The work was set to begin at 3:30 p.m., but organizations began showing up much earlier. Among the participating organizations were the Air Force Junior ROTC program from Oakcrest High School and the Atlantic City Division of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, along with several area Boy Scout troops. The veterans cemetery was dedicated in May 1985 in the Atlantic County Park on Route 50 and expanded in 2014. Plans were to place 6,400 American flags at the gravesites, and the goal seemed likely to be reached, with the fields of the cemetery neatly lined in red, white and blue. NJ sees $24M in marijuana sales, grants new licenses One month into existence, New Jerseys recreational marijuana market has done $24 million in sales and regulators on Tuesday voted to grant permits to nearly a dozen new recreational cannabis retailers in their first public meeting since the market opened to the public last month. How long before the new dispensaries open, though, isnt clear, and there will be additional regulatory hurdles before the new shops start selling to adults 21 and over. Regulators also said the 13 facilities open for recreational sales did $24 million in business, averaging about $5 million a week and conducting 212,000 transactions. The Memorial Day holiday is held in remembrance of our fallen veterans who served to protect our country and its freedoms, said Dennis Levinson, Atlantic County executive. In Atlantic County, it is our proud tradition to honor them with this program held on the Friday before Memorial Day. The program is planned to feature the Atlantic County Sheriffs Color Guard, the Atlantic County Corrections Officers Honor Guard, the Atlantic City Fire Department Sandpipers Pipes and Drums, and the presentation of the memorial wreath. Retired Brig. Gen. Douglas R. Satterfield, of Galloway Township, will present the keynote address. Satterfield joined the Army in 1974. After Sept. 11, Satterfield was deployed to combat on three different one-year tours. His last assignment was deputy commanding general of the 412th Theater Engineer Command and wartime engineer for Eighth U.S. Army. Satterfield is a member of the Atlantic County Veterans Advisory Board, is actively involved in a local Boy Scout troop and has written two books on leadership since his retirement. Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE A panel of experts earlier this month suggested the summer of 2022 is unlikely to exceed the highs of 2021. Thats just fine with Diane Wieland, director of Cape May Countys tourism department. We had a good 2021. If we can get 2021 again, were golden, Wieland said Wednesday, speaking after the countys annual tourism conference at the county administration building. Government and tourism leaders gathered in the morning for a report on the countys economic recovery from COVID-19. While the disease continues to spread, with more than 100,000 new cases reported each day across the country, the number of deaths and hospitalizations are way down from 2020, when thousands of deaths were reported each week. Accompanying that toll was a global economic slowdown that slammed most aspects of the economy, including tourism, where most jobs in Cape May County are based, directly or indirectly. Cape May Countys tourism economy dropped by more than $1.5 billion in 2020, a loss of 21.1%, Wieland reported. Even that was not as bad as originally feared, and the county economys recovery was almost as steep. In 2019, the county had a banner year, breaking records in several sectors. As of 2022, the countys tourism economy was back to 94% of the spending in 2019, coming in at $6.6 billion. Wieland said that was the fastest recovery of any county in the state. Employment and visitation exceeded 2019 numbers, which Wieland described as a full recovery. Not only did people come to Cape May County, they spent money while they were here, and this is good for all of us, Wieland said. County and state officials, along with municipal leaders and business representatives, gathered in the meeting room of the county commissioners for the presentation in advance of Memorial Day weekend, the kickoff of the summer tourism season. While the beach remains the main attraction for visitors, and most do come in the summer, Wieland said the days of empty streets from Labor Day to Memorial Day have passed. She cited special events and marketing as helping build the county tourism economy into a year-round concern. Most of the presentation focused on who is coming and what the county is doing to keep them coming. A county survey showed 8% of visitors came to the area for the first time and 39% have been coming for more than 20 years, the largest number of people who responded. With costs climbing and gas prices way up over last year, the county is again marketing itself as less than a tank of gas away from about 30 million people. Wieland joked that the county must have missed a few million of those in previous marketing efforts. This will also be the first summer in years that Canadian visitors will be able to cross the border without issues, with the lifting of travel restrictions. Wieland said the county has redoubled its outreach to the Canadian market, which is a small but consistent percentage of the total number of summer visitors. Many businesspeople say the biggest concern for this summer is a serious shortage of workers, even as hourly wages rise for most jobs. After the conference, Wieland said she does not expect that to impact the number of visitors, though, as it is part of a national trend and most are used to seeing shortages of staff at home as well. On May 11, the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism at Stockton University held its 14th annual Jersey Shorecast, a panel discussion about the upcoming summer. Wieland was included in that panel. There, participants reported that half of all visits to New Jersey are to the shore counties, and more than half of all spending in the state is in the shore counties. At that event, some sounded a cautionary note about the coming season, citing both gas prices and the rising costs of consumer items. Wieland said visitors are very interested in getting to the beach this year, and said there are many reasons to be hopeful for a strong season. She said Wednesday that visitors will economize this summer, possibly by having fewer meals out or opting for pizza instead of fine dining at least some nights. Jersey Shore set for strong summer, but inflation threat looms ATLANTIC CITY The coming summer is looking bright for the Jersey Shore, but the threats of But theyll come, she said. We are looking at a good summer. We are getting reports that reservations are good, higher than expected, Canadians are coming back, so thats a whole group that we have missed out on, the campgrounds are good, the hotels and motels are good, Wieland said. For the three-day Memorial Day weekend, she said, occupancy on the barrier island communities is at about 95.5%, and the response on the countys website has been strong, with many site visitors spending a lot of time on the things to do section or downloading information. Were just hearing so many good reports, she said. Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. State and federal officials are creating a massive offshore wind energy industry with the money of ordinary taxpayers and ratepayers. Among the main benefits and justifications for this colossal government-controlled program is that it will create tens of thousands of good paying jobs. This month, under pressure from the Biden administration and no doubt New Jersey officials as well, industry leader rsted announced that all of those jobs will go to labor unions, which already are in a mutually supportive relationship with government. rsteds six offshore wind projects in development including New Jerseys first that is 15 miles off Atlantic City are the most for a corporation in the U.S. It agreed to the deal, called the National Offshore Wind Agreement, with North Americas Building Trades Unions, a labor federation of 14 construction unions. David Hardy, CEO of rsted, said the agreement sets the industry standard for how offshore wind farms will be constructed. Other offshore wind companies must agree to terms at least as pro-union or expect to have trouble getting government approval. The agreements union conditions will cover all rsted workers building the companys wind farms from Maine to Florida, and all contractors and subcontractors used must follow the terms as well. As weve said before, offshore wind is a massive clean energy resource for East Coast states that must be developed. The Biden administration made clear such development would be subject to political priorities. Gina McCarthy, White House national climate advisor, said the rsted union deal was a model for green energy development. With the new lease sales, the new project approvals, we are showing the world that the United States is open for business business run by union members, McCarthy said. The deal helps solve a political problem for government leaders. Pushing belief in a climate crisis and vilifying fossil fuel industries is advantageous to them, but workers in those industries are among their mutually supporting union allies. Just subsidizing both the old and new energy industries wasnt enough; the path to the future for the union members needed to be smoothed. Biden administration and union officials call this a just transition, and a way to protect the workforce that has benefited from the fossil fuel industry and ensure it is fully supportive of politicians clean energy agenda. People get aggravated with the building trades because they dont always seem to just fall into line, because we have this solemn obligation to represent the economic interests of our members, said Sean McGarvey, president of North Americas Building Trades Unions. We are believers in climate change and we want to do our part. But we need that just transition. About half of the membership of the North Americas Building Trades Unions is in some part of the fossil fuel industry. A group opposing the first rsted project, Ocean City Flooding, told NJ Spotlight that the focus on jobs neglects potential problems such as threats to migrating birds and whales, rate increases and declining property values. Job losses in commercial fishing may more than offset any gains in Cape May County, said Suzanne Hornick, one of its founders. We support jobs for Americans, however it should be noted that here in Cape May County, rsted has not committed to one job. The deal will bring more wealth and power to the unions and to their government supporters. To the people and businesses who will have to buy the electricity generated by offshore wind turbines, it will bring significant increases in what were already expected to be much higher monthly bills. Open and competitive bidding of offshore wind work that didnt exclude non-union companies and contractors would reduce more climate emissions for the buck. That is the industrys primary goal. Anyone expecting to work in the offshore wind industry better either already be a member of one of these unions or have a smooth path to becoming a member. A Milan man faces numerous criminal charges accusing him of sexually assaulting two children in Rock Island County. The Rock Island County States Attorneys Office charged David M. Drawyer, 42, with 11 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, five counts of child pornography and one count of criminal sexual assault, according to court records. The charges are divided between two criminal cases that were filed Monday. Prosecutors allege Drawyer sexually assaulted a child who was younger than 13 years old, between Nov. 16, 2019, and March 31, 2022, according to court records. The predatory criminal sexual assault charges and all but one of the child pornography charges are related to this case. Drawyer was previously charged in April with three counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. Those charges were dismissed in favor of the new case, court records state. In the second case, authorities accuse Drawyer of sexually assaulting another child who was at least 13 years old but younger than 18, between Feb. 14, 2021, and March 31, 2022, according to court records. In both cases, prosecutors allege Drawyer filmed sexual acts involving the children. Drawyer made his first court appearance on Tuesday. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 7. He was being held Thursday on a $1 million cash-only bond in each case, court records state. It was unclear whether they were consecutive or concurrent to each other. 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. An 18-year-old man suspected of fatally shooting a Milan man in Monmouth, Ill., now faces a first-degree murder charge for the killing after turning himself into authorities. Spencer Sage of Monmouth turned himself in on Wednesday and was sent to the Warren County Jail, according to the Monmouth Police Department. He is accused of killing Romel Gilliam 26, of Milan. Monmouth officers were called at about 7 p.m. Monday for a report of a shooting in the 300 block of South 9th Street in Monmouth. When they arrived, they found Gilliam, and he was sent to OSF Holy Family Medical Center for treatment. Gilliam died at the hospital. Sage faces one count of first-degree murder, according to Warren County court records. He made his first appearance Thursday, and his bail was set at $500,000. To be released, Sage would have to post a $50,000 bond. His next court appearance was scheduled for June 21. He remained in the Warren County Jail as of Thursday, according to the Warren County Sheriffs Office. 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. Lawmakers in Iowa and Illinois are calling for immediate gun control measures and policy changes that would allow them to expedite reform after a gunman shot and killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday. The 18-year-old shooter had just purchased two assault rifles on his birthday. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, called for a suspension of the Senate's filibuster rule to enable a majority of Senators to pass gun safety reforms that she said could save lives and that the majority of Americans support. "What happened in Texas (Tuesday) is every parent's nightmare," Duckworth said. "Im heartbroken for these families and angry as hell at Republicans' shameless inaction to save the lives of innocent children. We know how to stop these attacks from happening as often as they do. We know there will be another and another and another attack in the weeks and months ahead if we do nothing. And we know who is preventing action. "The Senate should immediately at a 50-vote threshold vote on commonsense gun safety reforms that the American people have demanded for too long," Duckworth said. "For every victim of this tragedy and every tragedy before it, enough must be enough." U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, called the shooting "heartbreaking and tragic" and demanded that lawmakers to enact gun reform. "My heart is with the families and friends of these lives lost," Durbin said. "I implore beg my Republican colleagues to join Democrats in finally making changes to our gun laws to help prevent Americans from re-living this gun tragedy far too often. We cannot continue to sit on our hands and allow innocent lives to be lost. Congress must act." Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a statement on Twitter. "It is heartwrenching and enraging to hear the news of the elementary students and their teacher gunned down in Texas," Pritzker said. "My prayers are with their families, and my resolve is with all Americans who are working to end senseless gun violence wherever it occurs." U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Moline, also issued a statement on Twitter. "Im a mother who raised three boys todays tragic news makes me sick to my stomach," Bustos said. "My heart breaks for the children and families of Robb Elementary School. "These innocent lives have been taken too soon. Its time for Congress to take action." Iowa lawmakers On a call with reporters, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, called for expanding the Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center to focus more on school violence prevention. The center does research on best practices for violence prevention and training on identifying and preventing threats. The bill would expand its focus on school violence prevention. Democrats hoping to unseat Grassley Abby Finkenauer, Mike Franken, and Glenn Hurst pointed to Grassley's lack of support for restrictions on gun access and contend he has failed to act to prevent mass shootings. U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa tweeted: "A senseless, horrendous act of evil. My heart is with all those in Texas right now." U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks tweeted: "Please pray for the safety of everyone in Uvalde." Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Ross Wilburn on Wednesday called out Grassley for blocking legislation last year in the wake of a Michigan school shooting that would expand background checks for firearms purchases. Grassley acknowledged the Michigan school shooting was a "shocking act of violence," but said the bill was "hostile toward lawful gun owners and lawful firearms transactions." He also said "so-called universal background checks will not prevent crime, but will turn otherwise law-abiding citizens into criminals." Instead, Grassley urged senators to adopt his proposal to improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. "The majority of Americans including gun owners agree that universal background checks are key to ending gun violence in our country," Wilburn said in a statement. "We must pass common-sense gun reform now. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst have a choice to make, do they stand with the gun lobby, or with our nations children?" Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Nine Rock Island police officers have been honored by the city for exemplary actions, including a life-saving award for two officers who talked a man out of jumping off the Centennial Bridge in November. "I'm very proud of all the work that we do," Rock Island Police Chief Richard Landi said during the May 23 city council meeting. "Tonight is a night when we can recognize the extra bit of work and exemplary service done by our staff." Life Saving Award Officers Brieanne Lonergan and Matthew Bundy were each recognized with the Life Saving Award for their actions Nov. 21 when they responded to a suicidal man on the Centennial Bridge who was live streaming himself on Facebook after losing custody of his child. The man, armed with a knife, had climbed over the railing and was threatening to jump off the bridge. Longergan and Bundy initiated a conversation with the man, which lasted more than an hour as they gradually persuaded him to step back from the railing. The man was secured and transported to a local hospital for mental health treatment. "This subject's life was undoubtedly saved thanks to the teamwork and skilled negotiating tactics that (Lonergan) and Officer Bundy demonstrated throughout this tense situation," Landi said. Challenge Coin Award Detective Tina Noe, Sgt. Phil Anderson and Sgt. Ben Meiresonne each received challenge coins from the U.S. State Department for their assistance in an investigation involving a former military member scheduled for court martial. Staff Sgt. Gary Goins, a former teacher for the Davenport and Rock Island-Milan school districts, was placed under investigation for the sexual assault of a minor during a Christmas Eve party Dec. 24, 2020, while he was stationed with the U.S. Army in Saudi Arabia. Noe, Anderson and Meiresonne collaborated with the State Department to locate and interview various witnesses involved with the case. Goins was convicted of one count of sexual assault of a child between the ages of 12 and 15, three counts of sexual abuse of a child involving sexual contact and one count of sexual abuse of a child involving indecent communication. He was sentenced to military prison for 126 months. Meritorious Service Awards Officers Zachary Costas and Andrew Lawler were each recognized with meritorious service awards for exemplary performance and dedication to duty for their roles in the police department's Tactical Operations Division, formed for the purpose of addressing violent crime on the streets of Rock Island. From Jan. 2019 to June 2021, Landi said the teamwork of both officers led to the apprehension of several alleged criminals. "You excelled in identifying, recognizing and apprehending violent repeat offenders who are commonly armed and intent on using those firearms in the furtherance of criminal activity and ultimately victimizing the citizens of Rock Island," Landi said. Certificate of Commendation K-9 handler Alex Bowman, along with his dog, Sparky Jackson, was awarded a Certificate of Commendation for exemplary performance and dedication to duty for his actions during a traffic stop last year in which two firearms were recovered. On Aug. 23, Bowman initiated a traffic stop in the area of 5th Street and 5th Avenue. During the course of the stop, the driver exited the vehicle and Bowman observed the subject was visibly nervous and shaking. After the dog gave a positive alert on the vehicle, Bowman conducted a search, finding a loaded firearm on the front passenger seat and another firearm in a bag on the back seat. One the of firearms was reported as stolen out of Davenport. The driver was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated use of a weapon and possession of a stolen firearm, a Class 2 felony. Certificate of Recognition A Certificate of Recognition was awarded to CSI Officer Garrett Alderson for taking the initiative to become a certified latent print examiner in 2018. The certification allowed Alderson access to the ISP Next Generation Identification (NGI) and the Automated Identification System (ABIS) at no cost to the city of Rock Island. "Having access to these systems will provide the police department with an extensive nationwide database for latent prints that could potentially identify subjects that otherwise would not have been identified," Landi said. 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. CHICAGO - A Chicago man was arrested this week on charges alleging he entered the U.S. Capitol with his father during the Jan. 6 riot and took photos of the mayhem while wearing a Trump 2020 flag as a cape. Matthew Bokoski, 31, of the Uptown neighborhood, was arrested by federal agents Wednesday on a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Washington charging him with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and unlawfully entering a restricted government building. He appeared at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather McShain ordered him released on his own recognizance. Bokoski was at least the 28th Illinoisan to have been charged so far in the Capitol breach, an ongoing investigation that has been described by prosecutors as the largest criminal investigation in the countrys history. Nationwide, nearly 800 people have been arrested as of this month in all 50 states and the District of Columbia on charges stemming from the Capitol breach, according to the U.S. Justice Department. According to the complaint, Bokoski and his father, Bradley James Bokoski, 58, of Utah, traveled to Washington to hear President Donald Trump speak at a rally on Jan. 6 and then followed the crowd to the Capitol grounds, where at about 2:45 p.m. they entered through breached Senate Parliamentarian door. The father and son walked down a hallway as part of a crowd before the group was met with a line of 10 to 15 police officers, according to the complaint. Both men later turned around and left after being in the building for about five minutes. A tipster later sent the FBI screenshots of Matthew Bokoskis Facebook page, including one post depicting a group of people inside the Capitol and a caption reading, I was with my dad and walked right up the capital steps and inside with others, the complaint stated. So only thing Im guilty of is trespassing on federal property if you want to get down to it, Bokoski wrote in another post the next day, according to the complaint. I kept my distance from police and even thanked them for being out and making sure things dont get insane. When FBI agents interviewed Matthew Bokoski in Chicago in January 2021, he allegedly admitted to entering the Capitol and posting the photos and videos on Facebook, according to the complaint. Bokoskis father, who was charged in the same complaint, was also arrested Wednesday near his home in Utah. A court date for the case had not been set in Washington as of Thursday, and no lawyer was listed on the docket for either Matthew Bokoski or his father. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 IOWA CITY The state education budget lawmakers finalized early Wednesday includes a fraction of the $22.1 million increase Iowas public universities sought for the upcoming budget year. The education appropriations bill offers a $6.2 million increase for the Board of Regents, just over a quarter of the increase it requested and called essential in campus efforts to provide high-quality public education, cutting-edge research, and needed public services. Of the Legislatures $6.2 million increase, $5.5 million was designated for general university appropriations to be divided by the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. The Board of Regents is very appreciative of the appropriations that we continue to receive for Iowas public universities, Board President Michael Richards said Wednesday in a statement provided to The Gazette. We have had a great partnership with the state for more than a century, and it continues to provide significant resources to our institutions. While it is unfortunate that we could not receive a general university increase equal to the $12.2 million that Gov. Reynolds had in her FY23 budget proposal, we are still thankful that the state continues to recognize that our universities are key drivers of the state economy and receive significant funding. What was asked The regents in September requested $15 million more in general education dollars for its public universities proposing a split of $4 million to UNI, $4 million to the UI, and $7 million to Iowa State. Additionally, the UI asked for $3 million for its Oakdale campus, State Hygienic Lab, Family Practice Program, and Iowa Flood Center. The Family Practice Program -- with an additional $500,000, bringing its total budget to $2.2 million -- was the only one of those UI-based special units to receive more funding. The Board of Regents, in its September request, had said that money was necessary to maintain community-based family medicine residency programs across Iowa. The program has been instrumental for the state of Iowa to promote primary health care for all Iowans, particularly in rural Iowa, according to the regents request. An increase in financial support is now more important than ever as the future sustainability of these programs is in jeopardy due to rising costs. The state denied more money for the Oakdale Campus, with a budget of $2.1 million; the Iowa Flood Center, with a budget of $1.2 million; and the State Hygienic Lab, which has a $4.8 million budget and that needs $1 million more to be prepared to rapidly respond to a variety of threats against both human and environmental health, according to the budget request. The onset of the pandemic and the need to retain staff and recruit additional talented analysts was never more apparent than throughout this pandemic when over 1 million COVID-19 specimens were tested, according to the boards fall request. Salary increases are critical as the statistics show that the public health lab work force is aging and retiring with fewer new professionals seeking public health labs as a place of employment. $662.8 million in 23 The final education appropriations package ups the Legislatures total Board of Regents appropriations from $616.6 million in the current budget year to $622.8 million next year below the requested $638.6 million hope. It increases the universities general education appropriations from $486 million to $491.5 million, which is below the $493 million at the start of fiscal 2020 before COVID compelled lawmakers to cut $8 million in the middle of that year. The state denied the universities any general education funding increase last year, despite a regent request for an $18 million bump plus restoration of the $8 million cut. The budget includes a $150,000 increase for Iowa States Cooperative Extension Service; a $300,000 increase for the Iowa School for the Deaf; and a $114,000 increase for the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Billy became a local celebrity following her escape from captivity Sept. 18, while she and her sister were being delivered to Milk & Honey Farmstead in Wauconda. The two bison were purchased for breeding purposes. The killing of 19 students and two adults in Uvalde, Texas, has not swayed U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a Republican, to support actions in Congress to toughen gun laws. Visiting Davenport on Thursday for an economic roundtable event with city and chamber leaders, Miller-Meeks answered questions from reporters afterward on what she thinks Congress should do to address and prevent mass shootings like the one in Texas this week where a gunman killed 19 children and two adults. Miller-Meeks said Congress needed to "continue to work to have mental health services, to have the ability for people to notify law enforcement, or notify mental health counselors, if they see a troubled youth." She added that schools should also station resource officers on campuses. But, she avoided addressing legislation that could strengthen background checks as Republican lawmakers have hardened stances in recent years against any infringement on gun laws. Miller-Meeks voted against 2021 legislation that would have strengthened background checks, including lengthening the three-day window that the F.B.I. has to conduct a background check, allowing some buyers to evade them. Authorities say, however, that the gunman in Texas this week bought two AR-15-style semi-automatic rifles legally soon after he turned 18. "What's being talked about right now, would have no effect on this individual having gotten a weapon," Miller-Meeks said. "Most of these crimes are not committed by legal gun-owning citizens," Miller-Meeks said. "So, you want to protect people's Second Amendment rights. But you also want to be able to protect these children and what policies that we can put in place that actually will have any effect." According to a 12-year analysis from Every Town for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for stricter gun laws, a majority of shootings where four or more people are killed happen in the home and a handgun was used. Assault weapons accounted for a quarter of mass shooting deaths during the time period and 76% of injuries, according to Every Town. Mass shootings with assault weapons left six times as many people shot per incident than when there was no assault weapon. Miller-Meeks, who is running for her second term in Congress this fall, faces a challenge from Democrat Christina Bohannan. Nineteen kids were murdered in Texas, and Rep. Miller-Meeks cant even give Iowans a straight answer on what she would or wouldnt do to protect Iowa children from these devastating tragedies," Bohannan's campaign emailed in a statement. "It doesnt get more cowardly than that. Saving the lives of our kids should always come before protecting your own political career. So let me be clear since Congresswoman Miller-Meeks refuses to be: We must pass criminal background checks. The overwhelming majority of Iowans including most responsible gun owners support these background checks to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the dangerously mentally ill. I am a gun owner myself, and I grew up in a hunting family, so I know what it means to protect our Second Amendment Rights. But I also know what it means to protect our kids. On the economy Miller-Meeks visited to talk with chamber and city leaders about the regional economic recovery, and legislative priorities concerning especially workforce development. The meeting wasn't open to the public, but Miller-Meeks said afterward they discussed legislation she helped introduce that would open a path to keep in the U.S. more than 200,000 documented Dreamers children brought to the United States as children. Their parents legally entered the country on nonimmigrant visas such as H-1B, but their children have been excluded from proposed solutions for other Dreamers since 2017. As Iowa faces more job openings than unemployed people and a bulk of Iowa's population growth has stemmed from immigration, business leaders are encouraging lawmakers to look at ways to attract and welcome immigrants into the community. Miller-Meeks said they also discussed the possibility of loan forgiveness for certain industries like law enforcement: "maybe credits for businesses that will help forgive loans of individuals in order to come and work in their industry." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 7 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. Brianna Ryder went to Trinity Lutheran Church in Davenport on Wednesday with her 8-year-old daughter, who is in second grade at Trinity Lutheran School, to attend a prayer service for the victims of the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Pastor Randy Golter scheduled the prayer service just one day after an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 elementary school students and two teachers and wounded 17 others. She actually came home and said that her teacher talked to her about the shooting, and were here praying for those people, and that people need to have faith in Jesus and know that hes with us, Ryder said after the service. We came here for her because shes scared, said Ryder, who works in the mental health field. To have her come home and talk to me about it almost made me tear up, almost made me not want to send her to school. But youve got to have faith, and thats what she told me. It can happen anywhere, Ryder said. I feel like shes in a better place that we came to pray tonight for these children. About 30 people, mostly adults, attended the prayer service. Speaking before the service, Bill Meyer, principal of Trinity Lutheran School, said, For me and my school and this community, we rally around prayer, and we rally around the hope that we find in Christ. Its sad that seemingly we cant come to any kind of agreement as a country about something we can do about it, and maybe there isnt anything because its plain evil, he said. That why we want to do this tonight, Golter said before to the service. We know that parents are afraid. Were all afraid. Whats the next thing thats going to happen? Our constancy is Christ, and he is in the business of comforting people. 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. A Deadwood man allegedly received child pornography over the course of a decade, according to a federal indictment released this week. A grand jury indicted Dean Schallenkamp, 60, on April 22 for receipt of child pornography between 2011 to 2021, obscene visual representation of sexual abuse of children, and possession of child pornography. Law enforcement arrested Schallenkamp on May 19. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on May 20. According to the United States Attorney's office, Schallenkamp's indictment resulted from a Cybertip to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children generated by Microsoft. If convicted, Schallenkamp will face a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or both. He would also serve a mandatory minimum of five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The court could also order restitution. Schallenkamp was released pending trial. The conditions of his release include not having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18, surrendering his passport and refraining from using alcohol or possessing any illegal substances. July 8 is the deadline for the government and Schallenkamp to reach a plea agreement. If that doesn't happen, a jury trial is scheduled for July 26 at the federal courthouse in Rapid City. The investigation is a joint effort between the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriffs office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins is prosecuting the case. Contact Shalom Baer Gee at sgee@rapidcityjournal.com You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 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. Ellsworth Air Force Base made a dent in global history Wednesday morning with a few shovels, as they broke ground for the first Low Observable Restoration Facility hangar for the incoming B-21 Raider. A 95,000-square-foot facility, the Low Observable Restoration Facility, or LO, is the first of 36 major projects that will support the incoming B-21 mission at Ellsworth, supported by the Air Force Global Strike Commands Program Integration Office. The facility will have specialized equipment to ensure that the free worlds next generation stealth bomber is sustained and maintained, said Gen. Anthony Cotton, Air Force Global Strike Commander and Air Forces Strategic-Air, U.S. Strategic Command Commander. We are the only ally in the free world that has bombers, he said at the groundbreaking ceremony, emphasizing the global significance of the B-21, and the mission of Air Force Global Strike Command. The B-21 will form the backbone of the future Air Force bomber fleet, and it begins right in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Cotton said. The B-21 Raider, named in honor of the historic Doolittle Raiders, will be a long-range bomber aircraft with both nuclear and conventional munitions capabilities. The groundbreaking comes during a historic year for Ellsworth, celebrating both the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid and the 80th anniversary of the base. 28th Bomb Wing Commander Col. Joseph Sheffield called the event a great day not only to be members of the great state of South Dakota, but for the United States. We're here because simply, our nation needs us to be here, he said. He referenced a new level of violence escalating from nuclear-capable Russia and China, and the need now more than ever for the ability to deter. And guess what? That's why were here today," Sheffield said. "Foundational to our nation's strategic deterrence is our powerful and ready long-range strike force. U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-SD, called the B-21 an incredibly important part of this nations military history. And it really starts today. He called the day "huge" not just for the Black Hills, South Dakota, or even the United States, but for anybody who loves freedom. China and Russia have the capacity to strike us almost anywhere in the world, almost anytime they want, Johnson said. It is important that we have deterrence. It's important that we have platforms like the B-21 that can project American force across the globe at a moment's notice. A project years in the making, Wednesdays groundbreaking ceremony was the first step of many towards fully supporting the B-21 mission at Ellsworth. We're really excited about today, finally getting this underway, said Box Elder Mayor Larry Larson. Larson and the city of Box Elder have been preparing for the influx of military personnel expected with the B-21 mission, working on infrastructure, housing projects and quality of life issues, he said. Larson, who has been in Box Elder since 1972, is excited to eventually see the B-21s flying overhead, just as he loves seeing the B-1. Its going to be really, really big, he said. The B-21 LO hangar is a state-of-the-art facility that will be dual-use not only for maintaining the aircraft, but for training airmen who maintain the critical LO coatings and structure on the B-21. The two-bay hangar will house specialized equipment for the maintenance of the B-21 bomber. Over 35 re-use and new construction projects are planned to support the B-21 mission, including a Formal Training Unit. Ellsworth will be the only B-21 with the Formal Training Unit, where all future airmen will be trained to perform the B-21 mission. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District awarded The Walsh Groups Federal program, Walsh Federal LLC, with a $131.7 million Military Construction contract for the facility. The first of its kind, and the first of many more to come, the significance of the LO facility, and its place in history, was reflected in the dignitaries present Wednesday, most notably the Air Force Global Strike Commander. My area of responsibility is global, Cotton said. And our mission is central to our nations national defense strategy." Bombers like the B-21, he said, will help them to be always ready. Contact Laura Heckmann at lheckmann@rapidcityjournal.com You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. 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. Sierra Hopp, like many of her classmates, is looking forward to her final year of high school and senior pictures. However, Hopp is excited to be behind the camera. Hopp, 17, has already launched a photography business and this summer, her first solo art show is on display at Custer County Courthouse Art Gallery. Hopps solo exhibit is on display through July 29, with a meet-the-artist reception planned for June 24. Custer County Courthouse Art Gallery is open during courthouse business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This exhibit showcases 12 of Hopps favorite pieces, all inspired by nature and travels with her family to destinations including Glacier National Park, Hawaii, Costa Rica and several states. One of the photos, titled Hint of Color, won first place in the Youth Division and won the Rapid City Journal Peoples Choice Award at the Dahl Mountain Photo Exhibition in April. (My show is) some of my favorite photos of Montana, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Wisconsin. Its different photos of my collection I really liked, Hopp said. I like being able to capture the memories of my travels and being out in nature and being able to have that forever. Hint of Color captured a stunning view that lasted only a few seconds. On the last day of the Hopp familys trip to Hawaii, they were visiting Waimea Canyon on a rainy day. Almost every overlook was covered in a thick fog, Hopp said. Finally, we stopped at one of the few clear overlooks, and the view was so breathtaking. As I was setting up for a photo, my dad said, It would be great if we got a rainbow, and just then, one appeared. It lasted only for a few seconds, but I had the photo. Hopps photos will be available to purchase after her solo art show in Custer ends. Hopp, of Black Hawk, is completing her junior year at Rapid City Stevens High School, where shes active in track and cross country. Shes also a musician who has played the piano for about 10 years and has played the trumpet since fifth grade. Ive always been artistic, but I really got into it in high school, said Hopp, who tried pottery and painting classes, sketching and sewing when she was growing up and has painted murals on her bedroom walls. She also liked taking photos with her parents digital camera, and eventually her grandparents gave Hopp a birthday gift of her own digital point-and-shoot camera. I started realizing how much I liked photography and I had a talent for it, Hopp said. By the time she was about 13, Hopp said she and her mom were making plans for Hopp to start a business, Sierra SD Photography. Hopp said she mostly posts her work on Instagram @sierrasdphotography. Her parents, Ron and Tamie Hopp, helped her purchase a Canon EOS T6 and additional lenses. Though nature and landscapes were what first captured her attention, Hopp said she started attending nonprofit events and photographing the people there. She discovered she liked photographing people so much that she started taking prom and senior photos of friends and has more senior photo shoots lined up this summer. She hopes to go to college to study photojournalism, and she hopes eventually to have a career that allows her to continue traveling and taking pictures of her travels. She credits Kim and Roxanne Horkey and Art Expressions in Custer for helping her set up her first solo show and she hopes it will lead to other opportunities to exhibit her work. M. Claire May contributed to this article. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 UVALDE, Texas An official says an 18-year-old gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school barricaded himself inside a classroom, shooting anyone that was in his way." Lt. Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety told NBCs Today that police and others responding to Tuesdays attack broke windows at the school in an effort to allow students and teachers inside to escape. Olivarez told CNN that all victims were in the same fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School. Eventually law enforcement officers broke into the classroom and killed him. More on those details, as well as reactions from President Joe Biden and other politicians from The Associated Press, in this bonus episode of Hot off the Wire. Texas gunman posted on Facebook before attack on elementary school The gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school warned on social media minutes before the attack that he had shot his grandmother and was going to shoot up a school. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Hours after a fire burned the inside of a Casper abortion clinic set to open next month, clinic founder Julie Burkhart sat on the tailgate of a red truck parked across the street. "I have a lot of emotions," she said. "Anger is probably at the top of the list. "I'm sad. This world seems to be encased in violence." Police believe the fire was intentional, as does Burkhart. According to a statement, police got a call at 3:52 a.m. Wednesday, reporting a possible burglary at the clinic site on Second Street, right next to a Sinclair gas station. The caller said they'd seen someone running away from the building with a "gas can and black bag," police said. When officers arrived, they saw smoke. They called the fire department. No one was at the clinic at the time, and no injuries were reported. Burkhart said she was told there was "extensive smoke damage" inside, and fire damage affecting one area of the building. The clinic planned to open in mid-June, offering services including abortion, OB/GYN, family planning and gender-affirming care. "This was intentional," Burkhart said, looking at the beige building from a barber shop parking lot across the way. "This was not random." Burkhart said she wasn't necessarily surprised when she got the call around 6 a.m. She's been concerned about vandalism at the clinic, but said she's also wary of rising violence around the country. Having worked at clinics in rural areas of Washington, Oklahoma and Kansas, Burkhart said she's no stranger to opposition or violence. Her former boss, nationally known abortion provider Dr. George Tiller, was murdered in 2009 at his Wichita church. A group of anti-abortion protesters have demonstrated outside the clinic every Thursday since its arrival was announced in mid-April. At the first demonstration, anti-abortion activists signed a statement of peace stating they would not damage private property or "threaten, physically contact or verbally abuse" clinic employees, volunteers or patients. Bob Brechtel, a former state lawmaker who coordinates a prayer group that attends those demonstrations, said Wednesday that the fire, if intentional, was a "senseless act" that "doesn't help anybody." "I was absolutely surprised," Brechtel said. "I don't know why anybody thinks something like this can actually fix any problems." Burkhart lives in Colorado, but she was already in Casper when she got the call, preparing to give informal tours of the clinic to press later that day. She came right over, she said, and kept watch over the site all morning. Police told her she probably wouldn't be able to go inside until the afternoon, after it's been cleared by investigators. Leslie Kee, a local Unitarian Universalist reverend and a member of the clinic's advisory board, came to keep Burkhart company. Others on the board, Kee said, were "outraged and shocked" when they heard the news. "If it is intentional, it's an act of violence. That doesn't solve anything. That does not solve anything," Kee said. Casper police spokesperson Rebekah Ladd said investigators are reviewing footage from the clinic which has at least three cameras on the exterior and more inside to try to identify the suspect. If they find an image that appears to show them, she said, the department plans to release it to the public to ask for help. Burkhart and Kee said they hope the police call a press conference to discuss the fire. Ladd said the department is waiting on more definitive information before making that call. In addition to several police and fire vehicles, an officer from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was also on scene Wednesday morning. Uniformed officers milled in and out of the building, which had several windows with glass missing or cracked showing a blackened interior. Detective Andrew Lincowski said there was "lots of damage" inside, but could not elaborate. Burkhart said her team was in the process of putting the "finishing touches" on the clinic, and planned to start training staff next week. While there was some equipment inside, she said she was glad there wasn't more. It's unclear how the fire may affect the clinic's planned opening. "I have no clue what this is going to do for staffing, are people going to be scared and not want to work at the clinic?" Burkhart said. "I just don't know what the temperature is going to be." Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 As the June primary election draws near, the two frontrunner candidates in a state Supreme Court race continue to accuse the other of political alignments that could cast doubt on their impartiality on the bench. James Brown, Republican head of the Public Service Commission whos challenging Justice Ingrid Gustafson for her seat on the Supreme Court, attended a fundraiser hosted by Susan Gianforte, first lady to Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, at their home last week. A week earlier, Brown was speaking at a GOP forum in Butte when he offered to the crowd one of the people who urged him to run in the first place. In February, Im pleased to say that the governor of the state of Montana called me and asked me to consider running for the Supreme Court of Montana, Brown said. The governors theory was that what were seeing in Montana is were seeing the court systems acting as a shadow legislature. For over a year now the GOP has openly regarded the courts as stacked with liberals, as the courts have put the brakes on ambitious Republican-backed policies. Gianforte, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, all Republicans, and the state Republican Party have endorsed Brown. Its a tightrope walk for judicial candidates whose campaigns are bound by the Judicial Code of Conduct. Those rules prohibit judicial candidates from seeking, accepting or commenting on partisan endorsements. Both Gustafson and Brown still work to keep politics at an arm's length through their political messaging. In his campaign ad, Brown states as an attorney, "I believe we deserve impartial and independent courts." Gustafson's campaign ad asserts there's "no room for politics in the courtroom." Yet both have still appeared publicly next to partisan leaders in recent months as they build support to push through the primary election. In an email on Wednesday, Brown said he did not consider his vocal appreciation of Gianforte urging him to run afoul of the judicial conduct rules. I received calls from farmers, ranchers, and small business owners from across Montana asking me to step-up and run for the Montana Supreme Court, Brown said in an email. I was humbled to hear from them, as well as the Governor, as I weighed this decision. Gianforte has been a defendant in a handful of cases that have already reached the state Supreme Court. Asked if the governor's support for his campaign is enough to recuse himself from future cases in which Gianforte is involved, Brown said his only duty to the court would be to the constitution. "That is what is required of me and that's how I will conduct myself on the court," he said. A spokesperson for the governor's office on Wednesday said Brown was already considering a bid for the Supreme Court when Gianforte encouraged him to run. "After hearing Jim Brown was considering running for the Supreme Court, the governor encouraged him to run, because Jim is an exceptional attorney who will interpret laws, not make them from the bench," spokesperson Brooke Stroyke said. Brown, too, has cried foul on the incumbent. In April Gustafson held a fundraiser at Ten Mile Creek Brewery in Helena. Former Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, was in attendance and was among the names listed on the event invitation. Bullock appointed her to the high court after 13 years on the District Court bench. Asked why she would invite a well-known Democrat to a fundraiser for a nonpartisan candidate, Tim Warner, Gustafsons campaign manager, said in an email, "He is a friend." Through her campaign this week, Gustafson rejected any notion that politics have played a role in her time on the bench. "Any allegation that the court or myself are motivated by political idealogue is a manufactured falsehood," Gustafson said. "There is a partisan effort afoot to weaken the judicial branch and remove it as a check and balance to the other branches of government." Still, Democrats' proximity to the Supreme Court has given Republicans ammunition on the campaign circuit. The state GOP called Democratic outrage over its support of Brown a "hypocrisy" in light of the $60,000 Democrats spent in 2016 in support of Dirk Sandefur's Supreme Court campaign, who beat out now-Republican Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras. Last week, retired Supreme Court Justice Mike Wheat spoke at a Democratic forum hosted by the Gallatin County central committee. Wheat is also a former Democratic state senator. There is a wingnut guy thats running against (Gustafson), his names Jim Brown, Wheat said. She needs our help. We have to get out, we have to support her and we have to ensure that she stays on the Supreme Court, because they (Republicans) are looking to take it over. The urgency at the Bozeman Democratic dinner hung on the recent revelation that the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade and leave abortion access to the states. In Montana, the Attorney Generals Office has already asked the Supreme Court to overturn Armstrong, a 1999 ruling that provided a stronger right to abortion access than Roe. In the event Brown wins, however, the addition of an ideological conservative would not alter the immediate course of the Supreme Courts decisions, at least not yet, said Lee Banville, a political analyst and professor at the University of Montana. It happens over a series of appointments, or in this case, elections, Banville said. So if this works, if Republicans strategy of knocking off Gustafson works, I mean, yeah, theyre going to keep doing it. Theres one thing standing in the way from the Republican Party doing whatever it wants to do, and that is an independent judiciary deciding whether a law is constitutional, he continued. And if it stands in your way, try to change it. Thats kind of a natural thing of power politics. As for Gustafson's campaign inviting Bullock, a well-known Democrat to a Helena fundraiser, Banville likened the increasing partisan support to an arms race. The ramifications of politicizing the court, of creating the public perception that the courts are at the whim of the party in power, chips away at the purpose of having the nonpartisan branch of government, Banville said. Nobody had to inject pure political leanings into this race, Banville said. Is it surprising? No. But was it inevitable? No. It didnt have to be like this. The third candidate for Gustafson's seat, Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Mike McMahon, has had a far quieter campaign. While the partisan influences in the race have set the tone, McMahon has tried to keep politics at a distance. "To me, the efforts made by special interest groups and partisan groups certainly supports the other two candidates," McMahon said Wednesday. McMahon has traveled the state to campaign on weekends, he said, from Eureka to Ekalaka. He said people have reached out to him to find out more about his rulings and decisions. Republicans have painted his ruling in a recent case about campus firearm carry as a decision against the Second Amendment. McMahon in that case ruled that the state constitution gives the Board of Regents authority to regulate what happens on university campuses, not the state Legislature, which passed the law in light of legal advice that it might not conform with the constitution. "I've learned there's a lot of uninformed voters out there and my goal is to reach out to them and inform them as best as possible why I'm running and why I think it's important," McMahon said. McMahon has never run for a partisan office but records show he has contributed financially to Republicans, including Gianforte's 2016 unsuccessful run for governor. But he said he doesn't try to bring that up when talking with voters. "That's a partisan issue and this race shouldn't be about partisans. That's all in the past," McMahon said. The Commissioner of Political Practices database shows Gustafson, who has been a judge since 2004, has donated to four candidates, only one of which was partisan: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark O'Keefe in 2000. Brown, by contrast, has donated to 39 Republican candidates, according to COPP records. Through May 14, Gustafson had raised more than $113,000 for the primary; Brown has raised more than $92,000 and McMahon had raised less than $40,000. The primary election is June 7. 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. Richmond police released the identity of a man killed near Creighton Court earlier this month. The incident took place on May 16 around 8:30 p.m., as officers were called to the 2100 block of Creighton Road for reports of a shooting. At the scene police discovered a man suffering an apparent gunshot wound who was later pronounced dead at the scene. Police identified the victim as Keshon Liverman, 20, of Richmond. The Medical Examiner has yet to determine the victims cause and manner of death. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Major Crimes Detective A. Coates at (804) 646-0729, contact Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000 or submit an anonymous tip to the P3 Tips Crime Stoppers app. It was on his day off last November when Richmond police officer Imari Sledge heard gunshots ring out nearby. He wasnt in uniform, but were never off duty, Chief Gerald Smith said Thursday during an hourlong awards ceremony honoring the work of dozens of officers, including Sledge who received the Medal of Valor. Without hesitation, Officer Sledge ran toward the gunfire, said Tracy Walker, a spokeswoman for the department who served as the event emcee. Sledge called for backup and, alone, followed two individuals, one armed, fleeing from the direction he heard the shots. The armed man dropped his gun at Sledges command and was arrested. Another officer found another man, who had been shot several times. As Sledge received a plaque and handshakes from Smith and Mayor Levar Stoney, Sledges grandfather, Rick Pilgrim, watched on with pride. Sledge said after the ceremony that the support of his family helps him decompress and cope with the stresses of the job. Fourteen officers were awarded a de-escalation bar to pin to their uniform for handling situations without using force. On May 15, 2021, officer Reynaldo Perez responded to a call from a frantic mother who said her son was somewhere in the city with a knife and threatened to harm himself or others if officers intervened. Perez said they found the man in a truck parked behind a library and slowly approached him, asking if they could have a conversation. I guess he appreciated that I asked him for, Perez said after the ceremony. He said he asked the man about his life, his family, his children. Little by little, as he started to tell me about his kids, I was able to tell him, Look, I have kids, too. My babies do that, too. ... Ive been through it in the past where I went through a divorce, and its not fun at all. I was able to tell him a lot of personal things about me, which I noticed he started appreciating. We had a really nice conversation, Perez added. I felt like I was in therapy. It felt good to me, too. Eventually, Perez talked the man into giving him the knife and seeking mental health treatment. I walked him over to the ambulance, shook his hand and gave him my number and told him if he ever needed me to call me, I would do anything to help him, he said. Perez and several other officers credited their training with keeping them calm during high-stress incidents like these. The department has been criticized for its lack of de-escalation tactics in the past, especially following the fatal shooting of Marcus-David Peters in 2018. Richmond officers have since shot two other men fatally, including one earlier this year, and wounded three other men, including Orlando Carter, who was shot three times in December 2020. The officer who shot him, Ja-Ontay Wilson, was recognized Thursday for de-escalating a September 2021 bar fight where a gun was present. Since 2020, the department has added training from the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority and other agencies that emphasize de-escalation and mental health awareness. It is also in the process of implementing a response model called the Marcus Alert, after Peters, that includes mental health providers on calls that dont involve a weapon. Officers Rashad Martin and Jason Scott got a standing ovation as they received the final award of the ceremony: the Medal of Honor. They were both shot and seriously wounded while responding to a call in the early morning hours of July 2, 2020. Waseem A. Hackett, whom Scott wounded when he returned fire after he and Martin had been shot twice, was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The annual awards ceremony recognized officers for their work during 2021, but because of their recovery and the pandemic, the department hadnt yet been able to honor Martin and Scott properly, a spokeswoman said. Scott was not expected to survive. He was shot in the chest and stomach, which two years later still causes him pain and to walk with a limp. Scott brushed off Thursdays award following the ceremony. Its great to see the support, Scott said. Im just grateful to be alive. Both men have recovered enough to return to light duty, though they testified in court that they may never be able to return to work fully. Thank you does not go far enough, Smith told the two officers. I lack the words to express our gratitude for your bravery. A 26-year-old Richmond preschool teacher is facing charges of aggravated sexual battery of a child and making child pornography, Richmond police said. Matiko Pierce was arrested Tuesday and arraigned Wednesday morning in Richmond Circuit Court , where he was denied bond. Police said their investigation stemmed from Pierces work at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church Child Care Center, 4401 Forest Hill Ave. Court records said the incidents occurred between March 1 and March 31. Aaron Houghton, the pastor at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, said in an email that the centers leadership and committee are aware of the charges filed against one of our former employees. As soon as they were made aware of these allegations, the Child Care Center leadership and church leadership responded quickly and cooperated to their fullest extent with the authorities conducting the investigation. Houghton said the center fired Pierce after learning of the allegations, but didnt say when that was. He referred all other questions to police. The center has a capacity of 60 people and cares for children between 17 months and 11 years old, according to the Department of Social Services, which inspects child care facilities periodically. A recent DSS inspection found nine separate violations at the facility, including failing to check the educational, criminal and medical history of staff members. It is unclear if the inspection which occurred on April 27 prompted or was prompted by the police investigation. That day, there were 27 children present, ages 21 months to 5 years, with seven staff supervising, the inspector reported. A DSS inspector declined to comment outside of what was disclosed in the inspection. The center did not ensure to obtain an out of state criminal history and sex offender registry check for one staff from any state in which the individual had resided in the preceding five years prior to the first date of employment as required, the violation read. Administration acknowledged that the background checks were missing. Houghton said this violation did not reference Pierce, but rather the centers newest hire and that the background check is not available. Pierce is not currently listed on Virginias sex offender registry, and in court documents he listed that hes lived in Richmond his entire life. Another violation noted that the records of three staff members failed to demonstrate that the individual possessed the education, certification, and experience required by the job position. One staff member was not up-to-date on tuberculosis screening, which is required every two years, according to the inspection. Another staff member, who was found by the inspector working alone with children, did not have current CPR or first aid training. The inspection also noted the center lacked procedures for preventing abusive head trauma, or for children with food allergies. Corrective actions have been taken for each of the nine violations, the inspection said. Anyone with information regarding Pierce is asked to call Major Crimes Detective J. Mills at (804) 646-6734 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers app for smartphones also may be used. All Crime Stoppers reporting methods are anonymous. More than four decades have passed since Johnny Redds first appointment to the Hanover County School Board, but the Hanover native said Wednesday night that hes just as ready now as he was back then. Hanovers Board of Supervisors voted 5-2 to appoint Redd to the Mechanicsville District seat on the School Board, effective July 1. Ashland Districts Faye Pritchard and Board Chair Angela Kelly-Wiecek opposed the appointment. Redd, a certified public accountant for nearly 50 years, served on the School Board from 1980 to 1984. He and wife, Terry Oatman, have two grown sons. He was among eight candidates vying for the seat incumbent Sterling Daniel, as well as Kimberly Thurston, Ryan Hudson, Jerry E. McCormick Jr., Paul Heizer, Ryan Martin, Sarah Gragnani-Butler and Redd. Daniel was not present at Wednesday nights meeting. After the appointment, Mechanicsville Supervisor Canova W. Peterson thanked him for his service to the school division. Daniel was appointed in March 2020 after the sudden departure of School Board member Roger Bourassa in December 2019. His term ends June 30. In explaining his decision to nominate Redd, Peterson said he considered the hundreds of calls, texts and emails he received from constituents. He said he looked at each candidates qualities related to both experience in dealing with school matters as well as their business acumen. Its about the education and its about running the business of the school division, he said. I think the person that can best represent Mechanicsville at this time is Johnny Redd. Prior to the vote, however, members of the public spoke during the public comment period and most of them spoke out against some candidates appointments, particularly candidates they felt were not supportive of transgender students, including Redd. One parent of a transgender student Kelly Merrill likened Redds name to a Neo-Confederate dog whistle. We know he will not support all kids, Merrill said. At best he will toe the current School Board line, prioritizing the irrational fears of anti-trans people over the literal safety concerns of transgender children. There is plenty of evidence that this is not what all Hanoverians want, she said, adding that most Hanoverians have a heart, and care, and love my child and others like him. Hanover parent Jennifer Womble addressed the board, taking issue with Redd for his answers in a Richmond Times-Dispatch candidate questionnaire that ran last week, specifically his comments that his primary purpose of the public schools in Hanover County [is] education of the students, not indoctrination of the students, not promoting social change that is illogical, immoral and/or ungodly. This group has historically been oppressed, Womble said, referring to transgender students. She said actions taken in recent months by the current School Board including its vote to engage with the conservative Christian legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom continues to marginalize that group. Love thy neighbor, she said to the board, all of them. Hanover resident Peggy Lavinder told the board that shes concerned that Redds stance on transgender students means he will find some children immoral for being who they are. Our public schools serve all people, she said, adding that shes concerned that Redd will use his Bible to wield decisions, to wield power over policy and regulations, and will do that first before [looking] at professional, experienced, knowledgeable, caring administrators and educators to make their decisions. She also commented on the time thats passed since Redds first stint on the School Board. Forty years ago, she said, is not relevant now. Pritchard and Kelly-Wiecek shared their concerns about Redd, with Pritchard saying that Wednesday night was the first time she voted against a fellow board members nominee. She said in recent days shes heard from parents of transgender students who feared that Redd would be nominated. I wept for their fear [and] I wept for their concern for their families, she said. Redd made it very clear that he cannot equally support all the children in our schools. Kelly-Wiecek said she, too, typically approves her fellow board members nominees, though she had two concerns with Redds nomination. She said having a candidate with a boots on the ground perspective of having children currently in the school division was critically important in this moment. She also cautioned whether Redd could work collaboratively with the other School Board members. As a member of a seven-member board, you are not the executive its not your way or the highway, she said. I am deeply concerned that we may not be choosing the best and the most collaborative individual. Kelly-Wiecek said she was having trouble squaring previous correspondence and recent conversations with the true nature of collaboration that is needed for todays School Board. Mr. Redd has promised me that that will be him, she continued, and I certainly have never wished to be proven wrong more than I am at this moment. After his appointment, Redd spoke to the board, saying that hes open to all ideas, and that hes already spoken with members of the transgender community. I am open to hear from them, he said. Im just happy that were getting beyond some of this turmoil, and I hope that well be able to work together. Redd will be sworn in prior to July 1. The next School Board meeting is June 14. 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. Attorney General Jason Miyares office has filed a brief with the state Supreme Court backing a former West Point teacher who was fired in 2018 for refusing to use a transgender students preferred pronouns. Miyares office argues, in part, that a 2007 state law, the Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act, barred the West Point School Board from firing Peter Vlaming because of his religious objection to the School Boards pronoun-usage rule. The brief also asserts that the School Boards firing of Vlaming violated Virginias robust constitutional free-exercise protections, which reflect the Commonwealths pioneering history of defending religious freedom. In his own brief, Vlamings lawyers argue that Virginia law offers broader protections of religious expression than the watered-down version of the federal right in the U.S. Constitution. Vlaming, who taught French at West Point High School, was fired in December 2018 after resisting administrators orders to use male pronouns when referring to a freshman student who had undergone a gender transition. Vlaming later sued the School Board. A King William County Circuit Court judge dismissed the case. Vlaming now wants the state Supreme Court to find that the court erred, reverse the decision and send it back to the lower court. Superintendent Laura Abel told the West Point School Board in 2018 that Vlaming refused orders from administrators to refer to the student using male pronouns. Because of his refusal, Abel said, she recommended he be fired. Vlaming agreed to use the students new, male name. But he tried to avoid using any pronouns he or him, and she or her when referring to the student. The student said that made him feel uncomfortable and singled out. Administrators sided with the boy, telling Vlaming he could not treat his transgender pupil differently than he treats others. That discrimination then leads to creating a hostile learning environment, Abel said at the time. And the student had expressed that. The parent had expressed that. They felt disrespected. Attorney Stacy Haney, who was representing the school district, said at the time: Does this board expect its employees to follow its policies or not? In Vlamings opening brief to the state Supreme Court, his lawyers, with Alliance Defending Freedom, say the School Board fired a liked and well respected high-school French teacher, simply because Vlaming declined to affirmatively express his personal agreement with messages that violate his religious beliefs. Specifically, he declined the Schools and a parents demand that he use biologically incorrect preferred pronouns to show a student who identified as transgender that he affirmed and agreed with that identity. Vlaming could not affirm and agree that a persons sex is determined by their beliefs rather than biology. He could not speak religious messages that he does not believe to be true. He could not lie to his students. The filing said he offered to use the students preferred name and avoid using pronouns in the students presence. But that wasnt good enough for the students parent or the School. So they fired him. Vlaming acknowledges in his brief that he slipped in one instance during a class activity in which the student was using a virtual reality headset. The student was about to run into a wall, and Vlaming told others to stop her. Vlamings lawyers write that At its core, the overarching question presented is a narrow one: whether public school teachers can be forced to violate their religious beliefs by expressing personal agreement with the governments viewpoint on an issue of public concern. The answer is a resounding, No. Vlamings brief says that he has been turned down for multiple teaching positions with other school divisions because the School fired him based on accusations he discriminated against one of his students. It says that when Vlaming could not find a teaching job after the School Board fired him, he moved back to France to look for work. In March 2020, then-Gov. Ralph Northam signed a law requiring school divisions to adopt policies regarding treatment of transgender students. During this years regular legislative session Senate Democrats stopped a bill that would have repealed the requirement. Debate over policy regarding transgender students has roiled the Hanover County School Board this year, leading to a couple of student protests. At the heart of the issue in Hanover is the treatment of transgender and nonbinary students, specifically their use of school bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity. The board voted down a policy change last November that would have allowed that. A month later, the ACLU of Virginia filed a lawsuit against the board on behalf of the parents of five transgender students. Virginia has its first possible case of monkeypox in the state. In a Thursday release, the Virginia Department of Health announced that the initial testing was conducted in its state lab, but the agency awaits official confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The patient is a woman from Northern Virginia who had recently traveled to a country in Africa. Officials said she is isolating at home, did not require hospitalization and does not pose a risk to the public. Cases have been found in California, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, Virginia and Washington, per a CDC briefing on Thursday. There are nine total cases that have been identified nationwide. The first U.S. resident to have a confirmed monkeypox case this year was a man from Boston who had recently traveled to Canada. That case was reported on May 18. Transmission requires close contact with someone with symptomatic monkeypox, and this virus has not shown the ability to spread rapidly in the general population, said Dr. Colin Greene, state health commissioner. VDH is monitoring national and international trends and has notified medical providers in Virginia to watch for monkeypox cases and report them to their local health district as soon as possible. Earlier this week, President Joe Biden called monkeypox something that everybody should be concerned about, especially if the virus were to continue to spread. Unlike coronavirus, monkeypox is contagious only when an infected individual is symptomatic and is not easily spread from person to person, said Julia Murphy, the VDHs state public health veterinarian. In a Thursday interview, Murphy assured Virginians that there is no evidence monkeypox would have pandemic potential and said the state is prepared to handle the disease. There are already vaccines available to target monkeypox, an illness that has been around for more than 50 years and is considered extremely rare especially in the U.S. The first monkeypox outbreak nationwide was in 2003 and was concentrated largely in the Midwest among people who had been in contact with sick prairie dogs. The viral illness is transmitted when people have prolonged interactions with body fluids or contaminated materials such as clothing or bedsheets. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches and swelling of the lymph nodes. But one of the more distinguishing signs is the presence of a specific rash with raised red marks that start on a persons face before spreading to the rest of the body and growing into pus-filled blisters. The VDH estimates that the illness lasts anywhere from two to four weeks, with symptoms appearing seven to 14 days after being exposed. The state agency recommends seeking medical care if residents have traveled to parts of Europe, central or west African countries where monkeypox cases have been reported; if they have had contact with someone who has a confirmed or presumed case of monkeypox; and if they are men who have sex with men, as multiple but not all cases identified have been among this group. However, Murphy stressed that its not the only group of people who can contract the disease. It would be a disservice to simply attribute infections to that group of individuals because we are detecting illness in individuals who are not part of that group, Murphy continued. [Were] early in this international investigation at this point, and we very well may learn much more in the coming days. Additional guidance about how monkeypox transmission looks in various communities and who might be at higher risk is expected to be available in upcoming days, Murphy said. Last Saturday, the World Health Organization said in a statement that the spread of confirmed and suspected monkeypox cases with no direct travel links to places where the virus is endemic such as countries in central and West Africa is atypical and a highly unusual event. Endemic means consistently present but limited to a particular region, according to Columbia Universitys School of Public Health. Hence there is an urgent need to raise awareness about monkeypox and undertake comprehensive case finding and isolation [provided with supportive care], contact tracing and supportive care to limit further onward transmission, wrote WHO officials. Murphy said the VDH is working with multiple teams internally such as emergency preparedness, pharmacy and immunization personnel to provide any response support needed. The agency is also arranging webinars and outreach to health care providers to inform them of symptoms to watch out for. As of Thursday night, the VDH has not found any additional monkeypox cases after conducting contact tracing. During the early part of my career, as a bedside nurse at LewisGale Hospital Montgomery in Blacksburg, there were many times my nursing colleagues and mentors would see things in me that I could not see for myself. In the midst of challenging times, it is easy to lose sight of the difference we make as nurses. As we move forward and learn to live with the newest phases of COVID-19, nurses still are bearing emotional wounds from the past two years. To all nurses still working long shifts in enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) who endured extended isolation from family and friends, and who worried for so long about carrying a scary virus home to their loved ones you are seen, you are heard and you are making a difference. The health care landscape has shifted, but it hasnt changed your ability to lead, motivate, heal and care for patients. Being a nurse is impactful during critical moments for patients and their families, and also in so many smaller ways that do not go unnoticed. Nurses show up every day to care for patients who experience personal medical emergencies at the hospital. You comfort family members and visitors who might need encouragement while their loved ones receive medical care. You help people while at the doctors office for a regular check-up, provide care to children while they are sick at school and other countless examples. You have made an impact on those living in your community who needed your help. Earlier this month we celebrated National Nurses Week, a time to remember nurses and recognize you for all that you do. National Nurses Week is celebrated annually between May 6 and May 12 the latter day being the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. As I reflect on National Nurses Week, its evident the contributions Nightingale made 200 years ago remain relevant today as you live out her legacy with your patients. Nurses always have been revered, but in the COVID-19 era, you are seen as true health care heroes. HCA Virginia celebrates all the past and present nurses, serving as role models for future generations of caregivers who will follow in your footsteps. The late Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr., co-founded HCA Healthcare on the principle that good people beget good people. Our nursing colleagues are the backbone of HCA Virginia and the forefront of our commitment to care. By providing a work environment where nurses are put first, and listening to those working at bedsides in our hospitals, HCA Healthcare nurses directly influence strategies and decisions related to patient care. As I approach 25 years at HCA Healthcare, Ive come a long way in my nursing career. I credit much of my success to my colleagues and mentors who invested in me by listening to my ideas, providing me with resources and empowering me with leadership development opportunities that allowed me to grow. The nursing profession is dependent upon tenured nurses serving as mentors to their colleagues. HCA Virginia is investing in its existing nursing corps and expanding the pipeline of qualified nurses throughout the commonwealth, who will help improve the delivery of quality care in the future. Through a partnership with Galen College of Nursing, HCA Virginia will expand and enhance our communitys health care workforce. I remain optimistic about health care careers despite the uncertainty of the pandemic, and I strongly believe the best of nursing is yet to come. That is because I get to see the work our nurse heroes do every day as they show up for their patients, their colleagues and their community. I challenge my nursing colleagues at HCA Virginia and across the Commonwealth to take the lessons learned during the pandemic and look ahead to how we can create healthier tomorrows together. Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has unveiled MHflypass ASEAN, a fixed-rate pass that allows Enrich members to fly to different cities within ASEAN all year round. It is said to offer greater flexibility to passengers as they can use it to plan up to three return trips (or six one-way trips) in the year to selected cities in the region. There are three zone passes that you can purchase under MHflypass ASEAN, each catering to different needs and destinations. Offered at a price range of between RM1,499 to RM2,699 (not inclusive of tax, and other surcharges), there is also an ongoing introductory promotion that lets you enjoy a RM200 discount on any of the passes between today until 5 June 2022. On top of that, you will also earn Enrich Points with the purchase of each pass. The following is key information on the three passes under MHflypass ASEAN that you can purchase: Zone 1 The pass for Zone 1 offers flights between Kuala Lumpur and nine ASEAN cities, namely Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh, Phnom Penh, and Yangon. Priced at RM1,499, the Zone 1 pass is the most affordable option of MHflypass ASEAN. If you buy it during the promotional period, youll only have to pay RM1,299 for the pass. Youll also get to earn up to 1,499 Enrich Points. Zone 2 Meanwhile, Zone 2 passes enable you to travel between Kuala Lumpur and three specific ASEAN cities: Manila, Hanoi, and Bali. It retails at RM2,099, but you can get it for RM1,899 during the ongoing early-bird promotion. With the purchase of this pass, youll also earn up to 2,099 Enrich Points. Zone 3 The final pass, Zone 3, encompasses the most extensive destinations at a price of RM2,699 (RM2,499 during the early-bird promotion). It lets you fly between various selected destinations within the ASEAN region as opposed to the passes for Zone 1 and 2 which require you to either start or end your journey in Kuala Lumpur. Buying this pass will also get you up to 2,699 Enrich points. Heres the full list of the destinations that fall under this pass: Fly to/from Destinations covered Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Yangon Alor Setar, Langkawi, Penang, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bahru, Johor Bahru Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Yangon Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Labuan, Sandakan, Kuching, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Yangon Singapore Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Bangkok, Phuket, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Yangon. Bangkok, Phuket Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Yangon Manila Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Yangon Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Manila, Phnom Penh, Yangon Phnom Penh Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Yangon Yangon Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh *** Aside from offering travel flexibility to its passengers, MHflypass ASEAN also comes with a whole host of other benefits, including: Priority check-in, boarding, and baggage drop Standard seat selection No blackout dates, enabling you to redeem flights throughout the year (subject to seat availability) Unlimited Go Show, allowing you to board an earlier flight (applicable to same-day flights, and subject to seat availability) Unlimited, free change of flight date (subject to seat availability) Extra baggage allowance (35kg check-in and 7kg cabin) Complimentary snacks/meals and beverages If youd like to get yourself a MHflypass ASEAN pass, you can do so online through Journify or Enrich. Note that you cannot purchase the pass through MAS call centres, ticket offices, travel agents or any other ground channels. Additionally, if youre not yet an Enrich member, you must sign up as one before you can purchase any of the passes. Do also be aware that MHflypass ASEAN is valid only for 365 days from the date of purchase. As such, make sure to utilise your trip quota within the validity period as you will not be eligible for any extension or refund if the quota is not used up. MHflypass ASEAN is an extension of MHflypass Malaysia, which was introduced back in April 2021. While MHflypass offers flight coupons for travel within Malaysia, MHflypass ASEAN enables passengers to fly to cities within ASEAN. This exciting expansion gives our passengers a greater range of cities to discover, simultaneously revitalising the tourism industry across the ASEAN region. With accredited COVID-19 measures put in place for our passengers to #FlyConfidently, we look forward to welcoming them back on board, said MAS Group Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, Lau Yin May. (Source: Malaysia Airlines [1, 2]) 0 0 votes Article Rating SHARE ROCKY MOUNT Student empowerment was the focus of a summit for roughly 170 Franklin County teachers and staff members on Wednesday and Thursday. The summit, held at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, focused on the divisions new learner-centered model, Vision 25, which outlines the qualities students should have as a result of their Franklin County Public Schools education. Vision 25 is about student outcomes. We want students to know how to reach out for help or network, Assistant FCPS Superintendent Suzanne Rogers told The Roanoke Times on Wednesday. Vision 25 is made up of four pillars, each of which is in turn described by a list of specific skills and traits. For example, one of the pillars is prepared for progress. According to the Vision 25 model, a student is prepared for progress if they seek information from multiple perspectives and use what they learn to solve problems. One of the goals of the summit was to start FCPS educators off on the same page with respect to Vision 25. Developed in 2019 as a picture of where the division should be by 2025, rollout of Vision 25 was supposed to take place in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the process until recently. Another summit goal was to examine different strategies for achieving Vision 25s desired student outcomes. Really what were looking to do is look at practices or things that will help us make sure that were allowing students a choice. Its not like you abandon what skills need to be done, its about a method of delivery so that students have ownership, Rogers said. ...Whats our traditional way of handling this? Is it going to give us those outcomes? An example shared on Wednesday noted that an 85% score on a math test makes it look like a student is doing well, but they could be seriously behind in one specific skill. A deeper grading report could show parents a breakdown of how their child did on different kinds of questions, providing more information about areas that need improvement. Vision 25 emphasizes student empowerment, which is a core principle of personalized, competency-based learning, or PCBL, which was another strategy discussed at the summit on Wednesday. At a May 9 school board meeting, a group of FCPS educators gave a presentation on Vision 25. During the meeting, Boone District representative Dawn McCray described her understanding of Vision 25 based on a visit to a York, Pennsylvania school where Vision 25-like ideas are already in action. It looked to me like you were incorporating more adult learning concepts into the learning environment, which just engaged kids in the learning process, McCray said. I think the second thing that stood out was it allowed...some differentiation inside the classroom. So kids who were advanced and needed to move a little faster could do so, and kids who maybe needed more attention were receiving some of that. The last thing...[was] they deepened how they were evaluating the students so that you were getting more information as a parent, not less. 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. RICHMOND Attorney General Jason Miyares office has filed a brief with the state Supreme Court backing a former West Point teacher who was fired in 2018 for refusing to use a transgender students preferred pronouns. Miyares office argues, in part, that a 2007 state law, the Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act, barred the West Point School Board from firing Peter Vlaming because of his religious objection to the School Boards pronoun-usage rule. The brief also asserts that the school boards firing of Vlaming violated Virginias robust constitutional free-exercise protections, which reflect the Commonwealths pioneering history of defending religious freedom. In his own brief, Vlamings lawyers argue that Virginia law offers broader protections of religious expression than the watered-down version of the federal right in the U.S. Constitution. Vlaming, who taught French at West Point High School, was fired in December 2018 after resisting administrators orders to use male pronouns when referring to a freshman student who had undergone a gender transition. Vlaming later sued the school board. A King William County Circuit Court judge dismissed the case. Vlaming now wants the state Supreme Court to find that the court erred, reverse the decision and send it back to the lower for further proceedings. Superintendent Laura Abel told the West Point School Board in 2018 that Vlaming refused orders from administrators to refer to the student using male pronouns. Because of his refusal, Abel said, she recommended he be fired. Vlaming agreed to use the students new, male name. But he tried to avoid using any pronouns he or him, and she or her when referring to the student. The student said that made him feel uncomfortable and singled out. Administrators sided with the boy, telling Vlaming he could not treat his transgender pupil differently than he treats others. That discrimination then leads to creating a hostile learning environment, Abel said at the time. And the student had expressed that. The parent had expressed that. They felt disrespected. Attorney Stacy Haney, who was representing the school district, said at the time: Does this board expect its employees to follow its policies or not? In Vlamings opening brief to the state Supreme Court, his lawyers, with Alliance Defending Freedom, say the School Board fired a liked and well respected high-school French teacher, simply because Vlaming declined to affirmatively express his personal agreement with messages that violate his religious beliefs. Specifically, he declined the Schools and a parents demand that he use biologically incorrect preferred pronouns to show a student who identified as transgender that he affirmed and agreed with that identity. Vlaming could not affirm and agree that a persons sex is determined by their beliefs rather than biology. He could not speak religious messages that he does not believe to be true. He could not lie to his students. The filing said he offered to use the students preferred name and avoid using pronouns in the students presence. But that wasnt good enough for the students parent or the School. So they fired him. Vlaming acknowledges in his brief that he slipped in one instance during a class activity in which the student was using a virtual reality headset. The student was about to run into a wall, and Vlaming told others to stop her. Vlamings lawyers write that At its core, the overarching question presented is a narrow one: whether public school teachers can be forced to violate their religious beliefs by expressing personal agreement with the governments viewpoint on an issue of public concern. The answer is a resounding, No. Vlamings brief says that he has been turned down for multiple teaching positions with other school divisions because the School fired him based on accusations he discriminated against one of his students. It says that when Vlaming could not find a teaching job after the school board fired him, he moved back to France to look for work. In March 2020, then-Gov. Ralph Northam signed a law requiring school divisions to adopt policies regarding treatment of transgender students. During this years regular legislative session Senate Democrats stopped a bill that would have repealed the requirement. Debate over policy regarding transgender students has roiled the Hanover County School Board this year, leading to a couple of student protests. At the heart of the issue in Hanover is the treatment of transgender and non-binary students, specifically their use of school bathroom and locker rooms that align with their gender identity. The board voted down a policy change last November that would have allowed that. A month later, the ACLU of Virginia filed a lawsuit against the board on behalf of the parents of five transgender students. RICHMOND The Washington Commanders have drawn up plans for a second potential stadium site, this one in Virginia's Loudoun County, according to renderings obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The site would be the current location of a rock quarry run by Chantilly Crushed Stone, and would sit northeast of Dulles Airport, next to Metro's new Silver Line service. It's a site that has been at the center of development talks for years, as the county has urbanized, and a mixed-use development referred to as "Waterside" has long been rumored for the space with the filled-in quarry providing the lake that would be the centerpiece of the development. However, unlike the Woodbridge site that was unveiled earlier this week, the Commanders have not yet secured the land. The Washington Business Journal reported Monday that the team made an offer on the land but it was not accepted. The outlet cited a source as saying the team offered double what it paid for the Woodbridge land, or $400 million. The fate of both stadium projects, as well as a third proposed site in Dumfries, is hanging on a vote by the Virginia legislature next week on a $350 million state subsidy to the team and its development efforts. According to a source with knowledge of the team's thinking, even though the $350 million represents a small slice of the $3 billion overall project, the team would not go through with a Virginia project without state support. The bill in front of the legislature does not specify a site, and would give the team broad latitude to make that determination. Early in the process, some Virginia legislators preferred the Woodbridge and Dumfries site, because it provides broader access to the team to the rest of the state, but anecdotally, D.C.-area fans seem to prefer the Loudoun site for its Metro accessibility. The proposed site is just minutes from the team's current Loudoun County headquarters. The drawings show a modern stadium anchoring a mixed-use development around the quarry's lake, with retail, office, residential and other development, including an amphitheater and conference center with resort hotel. The Commanders have also done similar exploration of a stadium project in Landover, Maryland, at the site of their current stadium, FedEx Field. Maryland has approved a $400 million subsidy for the infrastructure surrounding that project, with the caveat that it not be used to build the stadium itself, which would cost an estimated $1 billion. In the world of the disrupted supply chain, if its not one thing, its another. There for a while you couldnt get bleach and paper towels. Later it was chicken breasts. Last Christmas my wife wanted canned biscuits for a dessert she makes, but no luck despite driving to a dozen groceries. But none of that concerned me nearly as much as the current crisis: the shortage of baby formula. Lets face it, everything else that has been in short supply is pretty much replaceable. No chicken? Get turkey. We survived just fine without the canned biscuits. But for parents (and of course their babies) who need formula, there is no substitute. Its not like you can say Here, kid, suck down some Pepsi! And its been personal to my family. My oldest daughter is fostering a 5-month-old little girl, hopefully moving to the adoption phase soon. My grandbaby (shes pretty darn cute, by the way) for various reasons can only ingest one particular formula, and no surprise its been very difficult to find. Luckily things havent progressed to crisis mode yet. A coworker of mine chanced to find two cans at a Walmart in another town and snatched them up. I texted sisters in three different states and have them looking. Some other friends have lucked into the can here and there. As I write this, the babys set for a few weeks at least. Weve been fortunate. But you dont have to look far into news websites to find other families who are desperate. Ive heard of babies sickened or even hospitalized by ingesting the wrong formula or worse, by tainted or fake stuff sold online to frantic parents. This is bad, and my heart goes out to these families who only want to feed the babies they love. My wife was able to nurse our kids, so my experience with formula is limited. But I know that until a few weeks ago, we all took for granted that we could stroll into a store and buy what we need. I have no doubt the shortages arent forever, but for now many families are in a pinch and a potentially dangerous one. So, how did we get here? The start of the crisis can be traced to the shutdown of a massive plant in Michigan that produced a significant share of the formula market. There were suspicions of bacterial contamination at the plant and four babies who had ingested their formula had been sickened. Now, naturally, we expect a company manufacturing such a vital item to turn out safe, wholesome products, and almost everyone expects government inspectors to step in when necessary. But it now appears that it may have been much ado about nothing. Abbott, the massive company that operated the plant, reports that no contaminated formula was found in the factory. A sample of bacteria (a common strain found nearly everywhere) was discovered at the plant, but not in an area where formula is produced plus no genetic link was found between that bacteria and the sick babies. Nor was there a genetic link between the bacteria that sickened the four babies, and the formula they consumed were all from different batches made on different days. Naturally Abbott is going to spin the story in their own favor, but it may well be that this was all coincidence. And yet, moms everywhere are frantically searching empty shelves and stalking online providers. The Biden administration just announced that some formula will be sourced from overseas, and hopefully the Abbott plant will be back in production soon (incidentally, Abbott doesnt even produce the brand my granddaughter needs myriad factors are disrupting the supply chain). Politicians love to point fingers at each other, and the president is certainly getting a lot of blame for the crisis arguably more than is fair. He cant be a miracle worker. Ultimately, though, I think it will be the free market that alleviates the shortages, not government programs. But that eventuality may not comfort a parent with a hungry child today. So theres another force to put into play here, found outside of market economics and government intervention. Lets help each other. Do what my family is doing: rally around a baby in need. Dont hoard. Maybe you have unexpired formula your baby doesnt need anymore pass it on to someone who does. Churches with food banks can perhaps put a special emphasis on baby formula right now. Well get through this, together. Long is a historian, writer and educator from Salem. A developer has filed a lawsuit against the city of Solvang and 25 unnamed individuals for allegedly pushing along a major downtown renovation project with assurances that permits were valid, then pulling the rug out from under it after the company had invested millions, forcing it to sell the property. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. " " Euclid (L) holds a sphaera and looks through a dioptra. Beside him sits Hermann of Carinthia, a medieval translator of Arab works on astronomy, holding an astrolabe. Euclid is ancient but can we consider him the first scientist? Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The word "scientist" entered the English language in 1834. That's when Cambridge University historian and philosopher William Whewell coined the term to describe someone who studies the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. You could make the argument, then, that the first modern scientist was someone like Charles Darwin or Michael Faraday, two iconic figures who also happened to be Whewell's contemporaries. But even if the term didn't exist before the 1830s, people who embodied its principles did. To find the very first scientist, we must travel back in time even further. We could go back to the most ancient of the ancient Greeks, all the way back to Thales of Miletus, who lived from about 624 B.C.E. to about 545 B.C.E. By many accounts, Thales achieved much in both science and mathematics, yet he left no written record and may have been, like Homer, a celebrated figure who received credit for many great achievements but who may never have existed at all. Advertisement We could consider other ancient Greeks as well, such as Euclid (the father of geometry) or Ptolemy (the misguided astronomer who put Earth at the center of the cosmos). But all of these men, although great thinkers, relied on making arguments instead of running experiments to prove or disprove hypotheses. Some scholars believe that modern science had its origins in an impressive class of Arabic mathematicians and philosophers working in the Middle East decades before the European Renaissance began. This group included al-Khwarizmi, Ibn Sina, al-Biruni and Ibn al-Haytham. In fact, many experts recognize Ibn al-Haytham, who lived in present-day Iraq between 965 and 1039 C.E., as the first scientist. He invented the pinhole camera, discovered the laws of refraction and studied a number of natural phenomena, such as rainbows and eclipses. And yet it remains unclear whether his scientific method was truly modern or more like Ptolemy and his Greek predecessors. It's also not clear whether he had emerged from the mysticism still prevalent at the time. It's almost impossible to determine when the influence of mysticism had faded completely among scientists. What's easier to identify are the characteristics of a modern scientist. According to author Brian Clegg, a modern scientist must recognize the importance of experiment, embrace mathematics as a fundamental tool, consider information without bias and understand the need to communicate. In other words, he or she must be unshackled by religious dogma and willing to observe, react and think objectively. Clearly, many individuals doing scientific work in the 17th century Christiaan Huygens, Robert Hooke, Isaac Newton satisfied most of these requirements. But to find the first scientist with these characteristics, you have to travel to the Renaissance, to the mid-16th century. We'll head there next. FLORENCE, S.C. Twelve defendants across seven construction-related companies have been sentenced for employment tax fraud felonies and crimes related to hiring unauthorized aliens in the largest criminal Internal Revenue Service operation in the history of the Pee Dee region. The convictions are the first to come from an expansive multiyear undercover investigation in the Myrtle Beach area and throughout the South Carolina coast led by the IRS and Homeland Security Investigations. The operation targeted those in the construction industry who used unlicensed check cashers to facilitate under-the-table cash payments to employees, many of whom were unauthorized aliens. The check cashers would also provide certificates of insurance falsely stating that the employees were covered under workers compensation insurance. These off-the-book payments defrauded the United States out of applicable employment taxes on the employees. At least $15 million in checks were cashed by these defendants, resulting in millions of dollars of total losses to the government. Based on the investigation, at least tens of millions of dollars of tax losses have occurred throughout the South Carolina coast because of similar schemes. These defendants stole money from South Carolina taxpayers, they stole opportunities from those in the construction industry who did the right thing, and they stole safety from the workers who labored on jobsites without insurance, said U.S. Attorney Corey F. Ellis. This successful prosecution was only possible because of the tireless and dedicated investigative efforts of IRS and HSI, as well as the work of our local partners. The defendants in this case, none of whom had criminal records before this investigation, are all now convicted felons. Several face potential deportation, several have lost their homes and face financial ruin and many will never be able to return to the work they spent their lives pursuing. This case should be a message to businesses and individuals who try to get ahead by breaking the law: it is not worth it because we are watching you and we will prosecute you. Unscrupulous businesses who willfully skirt their tax and legal workforce obligations must be held to account, said IRS CI Special Agent in Charge Donald Trey Eakins. Employers who deliberately deflect these obligations undermine what is owed to the U.S. government in payroll taxes and other fees, in addition to creating an unfair economic advantage over law-abiding business owners who play by the rules. Criminals that exploit U.S. labor and tax laws for profit take advantage of not only the workers, but they also steal revenue from the government, while also creating an unfair business advantage over their competitors, said Special Agent in Charge Ronnie Martinez, who oversees HSI operations in North Carolina and South Carolina. Thanks to the great work done by our agents along with our state, local and federal partners we were able to stop this criminal organization from defrauding the Government and hurting the local economy. Evidence presented to the court showed that beginning around late 2018, IRS and HSI began jointly investigating the practice of illegal check cashing within the construction industry in the Myrtle Beach area and in other regions along the South Carolina coast. In approximately 2019, various IRS undercover agents embedded themselves in the Myrtle Beach area and recorded multiple interactions with the various defendants companies. Specifically, certain construction companies would use check cashers so that they could hire unauthorized aliens and avoid paying employment taxes on their workers. To facilitate the scheme, a member of the construction company would meet with an unlicensed check casher in places like parking lots for retail stores or coffee shops. The construction company would give the check casher a business check in a certain amount made out to a company the check casher had created, and the check casher would give the construction company representative a bag of cash that would be used to pay the employees. In exchange for their services, the check casher held back a fee of approximately 3%. To make it appear like the employees had valid insurance on job sites, the check casher would also provide a certificate of workers compensation insurance that was not actually valid for any of the construction companys employees. The parties agreed that the check casher would, on paper, claim to be a subcontractor who provided the employees and provided insurance. However, the parties knew that the check casher provided no other services or employees to the construction company. The check casher only provided a way to hide the true nature of the scheme, to allow the construction company to hire unauthorized aliens, and to pay workers with untaxed cash. Chief United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell sentenced each of the defendants to five years probation, with all but one sentenced to home confinement. Further, the court ordered each defendant to pay restitution as a result of the tax losses they caused the government. The court imposed the probation sentences largely because the defendants admitted guilt early, agreed to assist authorities, paid collectively nearly a million dollars toward the approximately $3 million dollars owed to the IRS in restitution, and agreed as a condition of probation to make monthly payments in most cases substantial payments until the IRS is made whole. The following Defendants from the respective companies were sentenced in the case: Daniel Lavoie Construction Services (4:21-cr-00585) Daniel A. Lavoie, 49, of Conway: Five years probation, 18 months home confinement with location monitoring, and $293,402.50 in restitution Enrique R. Reyes, 48, of Conway: Five years probation, 18 months home confinement with location monitoring, and $293,402.50 in restitution Duran Masonry (4:21-cr-00584) Walter A. Duran, 45, of Myrtle Beach: Five years probation, 21 months home confinement with location monitoring, and $976,076.08 in restitution Lisa Caulley Sellers, 57, of Myrtle Beach: Five years probation, eight months home confinement with location monitoring, and $488,038.04 in restitution Extreme Siding (4:21-cr-00595) Ming Xue Nan, 52, of Myrtle Beach: Five years probation, 14 months home confinement with location monitoring, and $173,712.43 in restitution Katherine L. Welker, 39, of Myrtle Beach: Five years probation, eight months home confinement with location monitoring, and $173,712.43 in restitution Master Homes Calabash (4:21-cr-00581) Josafa P. Neto, 43, of Myrtle Beach: Five years probation, 18 months home confinement with location monitoring, and $209,847.07 in restitution Marylany Hardman Levino, 36, of Myrtle Beach: Five years probation and $209,847.07 in restitution Metro Concrete Finishers (4:21-cr-00594) Saul Prieto, 56, of Myrtle Beach: Five years probation, nine months home confinement with location monitoring, and $74,868.50 in restitution Martha E. Zarate, a/k/a Martha E. Prieto, 54, of Myrtle Beach: Five years probation, nine months home confinement with location monitoring, and $74,868.50 in restitution Master Homes Design Center (4:21-cr-00582) Marcos Caetano De Almeida, 45, of Myrtle Beach: Five years probation, 21 months home confinement with location monitoring, and $298,816.52 in restitution Paint By Numbers (4:21-cr-00583) Johanna A. Carpio, 38, of Myrtle Beach: Five years probation, 14 months home confinement with location monitoring, and $131,449.69 in restitution Each of the 12 defendants previously pleaded guilty to an information charging them with one felony count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one misdemeanor count of unlawful employment of aliens. This case was investigated by IRS and HSI, with assistance from the Myrtle Beach Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Derek A. Shoemake and Carrie Fisher prosecuted the case. Seguin, TX (78155) Today A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 93F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 73F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Former reality star Josh Duggar sentencing to just over 12.5 years in federal prison for child pornography offense | Main | Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals decides court martialed prisoner cannot seek compassionate release in military courts May 26, 2022 Spotlighting the messiness of AEDPA more than a quarter century later The Supreme Court's ruling earlier this week on the limits of federal habeas review (basic here, commentary here) has folks talking a bit more about the legal mess that is AEDPA. The folks at The Marshall Project now have this new review under this full headline: "The 1990s Law That Keeps People in Prison on Technicalities: How the Supreme Court expanded the most important law youve never heard of." Here are some excerpts (with links from original): Earlier this week, the Supreme Court told Arizona prisoner Barry Jones that even though four federal judges agreed he may well be innocent of the 1994 murder that sent him to death row, the high court couldnt overturn his conviction or stop Arizona from executing him. (Jones had argued he was hindered by poor lawyering at multiple stages of his case.) In a 6-3 decision on Monday, in a case titled Shinn v. Martinez Ramirez, the conservative justices said they couldnt do anything about it, because of one wonky law passed by Congress in 1996 and signed by then-President Bill Clinton. Misleadingly called the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, the law was created during the tough-on-crime 90s, to keep violent prisoners from getting released on what politicians called technicalities. But now, experts say the law actually keeps innocent people in prison on technicalities and most of the cases it affects have nothing to do with terrorism or capital punishment. In these cases, the importance of finality outweighs any claims the prisoners might make, the courts conservative majority said. Serial relitigation of final convictions undermines the finality that is essential to both the retributive and deterrent functions of criminal law, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote. While many judges and prosecutors complain about the length of the appeals process, these days there are few defenders of the 1996 law other than state attorneys general who prosecute appeals in federal courts. Lots of people are stuck, said Christina Mathieson, director of the National Habeas Institute, which advocates for prisoners in these cases. The gates to the federal courts are closed. Here are five things you should know about the law known as AEDPA (ed-puh): It was created after the Oklahoma City bombing.... The law makes it harder for many prisoners to win appeals.... The law was intended to speed up death row appeals, but failed.... It doesnt just affect terrorism and death penalty cases.... It makes federal courts less powerful.... May 26, 2022 at 11:22 AM | Permalink Comments Post a comment LONDON, May 26, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Ratings (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of "a" (Excellent) of Aspen Insurance UK Limited (AIUK) (United Kingdom), Aspen Bermuda Limited (ABL) (Bermuda), Aspen American Insurance Company (AAIC) (Austin, TX) and Aspen Specialty Insurance Company (ASIC) (Bismarck, ND). Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of "bbb" (Good) of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited (Aspen) (Bermuda), a non-operating holding company. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. AM Best has also affirmed the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IRs) on the debt instruments and preference shares of Aspen. (Please see below for a detailed listing of the Long-Term IRs.) The ratings reflect Aspens consolidated balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as the groups adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The ratings of AIUK, ABL, AAIC and ASIC reflect their integration and strategic importance to Aspen. Aspens balance sheet strength is underpinned by risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). In addition, the balance sheet benefits from a loss portfolio transfer (LPT), which the group entered into in January 2022 to protect against the adverse development of losses incurred on or prior to 31 December 2019 on a diversified mix of business. The LPT replaced the adverse development cover that was previously in place, providing the group with increased protection. The adequate operating performance assessment considers corrective actions taken by management to improve underwriting profitability, such as reducing catastrophe exposure, exiting poorly performing lines of business, enhancing underwriting risk selection and reducing operating expenses. AM Best expects these actions to translate into further improvements in underlying results, supporting adequate performance over the underwriting cycle. The groups performance in 2021 was negatively affected by significant catastrophe claims, which contributed 13.6 percentage points to the 104.8% combined ratio (2020: 14.2 percentage points, including 7.1 percentage points related to COVID-19, out of 107.5%), as calculated by AM Best. Story continues Aspens business profile benefits from the companys well-diversified portfolio of property/casualty and specialty insurance and reinsurance business, as well as a good geographic footprint. The groups ERM is developed and considered appropriately aligned with Aspens relatively high-risk profile. The following Long-Term IRs have been affirmed, with a stable outlook: Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited -- "bbb" (Good) on USD 300 million 4.65% senior unsecured notes, due 2023 -- "bb+" (Fair) on USD 275 million 5.95% fixed-to-floating rate perpetual non-cumulative preference shares -- "bb+" (Fair) on USD 250 million 5.625% perpetual non-cumulative preference shares -- "bb+" (Fair) on USD 250 million 5.625% perpetual non-cumulative preference shares The following indicative Long-Term IRs under the universal shelf registration have been affirmed, with a stable outlook: Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited -- "bbb" (Good) on senior unsecured debt -- "bbb-" (Good) on senior subordinated debt -- "bb+" (Fair) on junior subordinated debt -- "bb+" (Fair) on preferred stock This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2022 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005498/en/ Contacts Stanislav Stoev, ACCA Financial Analyst +44 20 7397 0306 stanislav.stoev@ambest.com Ghislain Le Cam, CFA, FRM Director, Analytics +44 20 7397 0268 ghislain.lecam@ambest.com Christopher Sharkey Manager, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com Jeff Mango Managing Director, Strategy & Communications +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644 jeffrey.mango@ambest.com FILE PHOTO: A worker sits on a truck being loaded with coal at a railway coal yard on the outskirts of Ahmedabad By Clyde Russell LAUNCESTON, Australia (Reuters) -India's coal woes show no sign of abating, with lower domestic supply expected to boost the need for imports, with this likely to keep seaborne prices at elevated levels. India cut the amount of coal domestic power plants can expect to receive in June by 11.1%, with utilities now forecast to get 56.2 million tonnes, down from an earlier estimate of 63.3 million tonnes. The power ministry also called for higher imports to meet the shortage of domestic supplies, according to a ministry document reviewed by Reuters. This means that India is likely to try to boost imports further, even though prices for many seaborne grades of coal are still close to record levels. Australian benchmark Newcastle thermal coal futures ended at $408 a tonne on Wednesday, down 1.9% from the prior close, and 7.3% below the record close of $440 on March 2, reached in the wake of Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine that raised fears over sanctions on Russia's exports. Despite the recent retreat in prices, it's worth noting that Newcastle futures are up 141% since the end of last year and are almost four times their levels in late May last year. Physical Newcastle cargoes also continue to attract high prices, with globalCOAL setting its price at $434.33 a tonne on Wednesday. Australia is the world's second-largest shipper of thermal coal behind Indonesia, and is the top exporter of coking coal, used to make steel. India has been buying more coal from Australia since China imposed an informal ban on imports from Australia amid an ongoing political dispute with Canberra. This forced a reshuffling of seaborne coal around Asia, with China buying more from Indonesia and Russia, while India switched to supplies from Australia and South Africa, the fourth-biggest exporter behind third-placed Russia. Moscow's Feb. 24 attack on Ukraine is forcing yet another re-alignment of coal flows in Asia, with South African cargoes being pulled to energy-hungry Europe, which in turn is prompting India to buy more from Indonesia. Story continues India has been able to successfully switch to buying more coal from Indonesia, primarily because China, the world's biggest buyer of the polluting fuel, has been easing back on imports in recent months amid strong gains in domestic output. India's coal imports are estimated at 20.05 million tonnes in May by commodity analysts Kpler, which would be the most since March's 22.26 million, which in turn was the highest since April 2019. SUPPLY SWITCHING May's imports also show the rotation of India's suppliers, with shipments from Indonesia expected to be around 11.06 million tonnes, up from 8.13 million in April. Imports from South Africa are expected to drop to 1.19 million tonnes from 1.26 million in April and 3.14 million in March. India's imports from Australia are pegged at 4.30 million tonnes, down from 4.94 million in April and 5.16 million in March. Drilling down to split between imports of thermal and coking coal shows that Australia is losing ground on the thermal front, with imports of this grade expected at 895,853 tonnes in May, down from 1.18 million in April and 2.60 million in May of last year. It's perhaps not surprising that India is trying to buy more thermal coal from Indonesia given the massive price advantage, even once differences in energy values are taken into account. Indonesia coal with an energy value of 4,200 kilocalories per kilogram (kcal/kg> traded on the Singapore Exchange ended at $89.50 a tonne on Wednesday. It has fallen 36% since its record high of $140 a tonne on March 3, reflecting softer Chinese demand. While the Newcastle benchmark is a higher quality 6,000 kcal/kg, at a price of more than four times the lower grade Indonesian coal it's entirely uncompetitive and is probably maintaining a presence in Indian imports because of the lack of alternatives. Overall, it seems likely that India will seek to maximise thermal coal imports from Indonesia while minimising those from Australia. The joker in the pack is Russia, which will be seeking new customers for its coal, which is increasingly being rejected by European buyers and also by Japan and South Korea. So far there is little evidence that India's imports are increasing dramatically, with arrivals from Russia estimated by Kpler at 411,439 tonnes in May, up modestly from April's 344,708 and March's 357,972. GRAPHIC-India's coal imports by source:https://tmsnrt.rs/3lI15gj (Editing by Richard Pullin) ReportLinker Bromine Market Research Report by Derivative (Bromide Salts, Hydrogen Bromide, and Organo Bromines), Application, Region (Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa) - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 New York, May 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Bromine Market Research Report by Derivative, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06276849/?utm_source=GNW The Global Bromine Market size was estimated at USD 2,491.34 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 2,707.09 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 8.91% to reach USD 4,158.70 million by 2027. Market Statistics: The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2019 and 2020 are considered historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered the forecast period. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Bromine to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Derivative, the market was studied across Bromide Salts, Hydrogen Bromide, and Organo Bromines. Based on Application, the market was studied across Butyl Rubber, Flame Retardants, HBr Flow Batteries, Mercury Emission Control>, Oil & Gas Drilling, Others, Pesticides, Pharmaceuticals, Plasma Etching, PTA Synthesis, and Water Treatment & Biocides. Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict: We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Bromine market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Bromine Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Market Share Analysis: The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits. Competitive Scenario: The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service. Company Usability Profiles: The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Bromine Market, including Albemarle Corporation, AquaChina Chemical Co., Ltd., Chemcon Speciality Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., Dhruv Chem Industries, Gulf Resources, Inc., Hindustan Salts Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., ICL Group Ltd., ICL-IP America, Inc, Jordan Bromine Company Ltd., Lanxess AG, MORRE-TEC Industries, Inc., Perekop bromine, Sang Froid Chemicals Pvt Ltd, Satyesh Brinechem Pvt. Ltd., Shandong Yuyuan Group Co., Ltd., Solaris Chemtech Industries Ltd., TATA Chemicals Ltd., TETRA Technologies, Inc., and Tosoh Corporation. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Bromine Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Bromine Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Bromine Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Bromine Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Bromine Market? 6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Bromine Market? 7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Bromine Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06276849/?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. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 BW Energy Limited 2022 Annual General Meeting Notice Notice is hereby given that the 2022 Annual General Meeting of BW Energy Limited will be held at Washington Mall Phase 2, 4th Floor, Suite 400, 22 Church Street, HM 1189, Hamilton, HM EX, Bermuda, on 26 May 2022 at 09:00 a.m. (Bermuda time). Please see the attached documents in relation to the Annual General Meeting: Chairmans Letter Notice of the 2022 AGM Form of Proxy Recommendation from the Nomination Committee For further information, please contact: Knut R. Sthre, CFO, +47 91 11 78 76 ir@bwenergy.no About BW Energy: BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs through low risk phased developments. The Company has access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore developments. The main assets are 73.5% of the producing Dussafu Marine Permit offshore Gabon and a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil, both operated by the Company. Total net 2P+2C reserves were 240 million barrels at the start of 2022. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act Attachments After the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2012, National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre dug in his heels against gun reform, famously saying that the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. The NRA Convention offers a perfect testing ground for that theory, but attendees arent allowed to bring guns onto the convention floor. Some cant even take them into their hotel rooms. Photos of NRA CEO and Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre (left) and former president of the NRA Oliver North (right) are on display during the third day of the National Rifle Association convention in 2019. (Photo: Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images via Getty Images) Photos of NRA CEO and Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre (left) and former president of the NRA Oliver North (right) are on display during the third day of the National Rifle Association convention in 2019. (Photo: Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images via Getty Images) Several news outlets have called attention to the glaring irony of Americas largest gun rights group blocking legal firearm owners from exercising their second amendment rights, in light of Tuesdays elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. An 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two teachers, resurfacing the controversial gun debate that sparks up after Americas increasingly common mass shootings. The NRA posted an announcement on its website explaining that Secret Service barred carrying firearms into the convention because several prominent Republicans including former President Donald Trump will speak there. Attendees will also have to leave their selfie sticks, toy guns, umbrellas and drones at home. But attendees wouldnt be able to bring their guns even if no politicians spoke at the event because the George R. Brown Convention Center itself doesnt allow weapons of any kind on site a blanket restriction that includes pepper spray and mace. Several of the hotels recommended by the NRA have similar restrictions. Some allow guns in the room but not in the lobby or at the bar. Others required them to be secured and out of sight of the cleaning service. One only allowed guns inside if locked in the hotel safe. At least two of the hotels did not allow anyone but law enforcement to carry firearms on their premises at all. Story continues The NRA did not respond to a request for comment about the conventions restriction of personal carry. Texas is one of the easiest states to buy and carry a gun. The Uvalde shooter bought two AR-15s legally, shortly after turning 18 years old. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a bill last year allowing people to carry concealed handguns without passing a background check and proficiency test that is required for a license. Private Texas businesses can choose whether to allow customers to bring guns into their establishments. Most businesses that restrict guns post signs out front to make customers aware of their policy. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. World champion Max Verstappen heads home this weekend hoping to survive the chaos and beat arch-rival and luckless local hero Charles Leclerc again in Sunday's 79th running of the Monaco Grand Prix. Just days after leading his team-mate Sergio Perez over the line in a Red Bull one-two last weekend in Spain, the 24-year-old Dutchman will bid for a repeat to consolidate his grip at the top of this year's title race. Verstappen took control of the championship by easing six points clear of Monegasque driver Leclerc of Ferrari, who was forced into retirement at the Circuit de Catalunya. He seeks a fourth consecutive win and second in the classic contest in Sunday's potentially rain-affected race. "Qualifying is critical, like always," said the 2021 victor. "Monaco is always a hectic weekend, but special. The track is old school, narrow and it makes your heart rate go so high it's insane. "We have to be constantly on the edge. It's a pretty crazy place with Formula One cars! I finally won there last year -- and it was a massive relief to cross the line." Like Leclerc, who was born and lives in the Mediterranean principality, Verstappen is based there for climatic and tax purposes -- along with several other drivers including seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo. As a result, they enjoy an intimate knowledge of the circuit regarded as the most iconic and glamorous on the F1 calendar, but also the rare luxury of sleeping at home during a race weekend. For Leclerc, however, that comfort has yet to be of any help on the tight, unforgiving and sinuous barrier-lined street track that requires total concentration and extraordinary driver skills. At just 3.337 kilometres, it is the shortest on the calendar, offers few overtaking opportunities, rapid and multiple gear changes and tricky changes in elevation and direction. Only 42 percent of the lap is run at full speed, the lowest of the year. Story continues Despite knowing all this and having gone by bus to school on the same stretches of asphalt, Leclerc has yet to finish his home Grand Prix in three attempts since 2018. Last year, after crashing on Saturday, he could not start Sunday's race. - 'Smallest mistake' - Before that, he had to retire after starting from pole in a Formula Two race in 2017 and, more recently, earlier this month, crashed a classic 1974 Ferrari, raced by Niki Lauda, at a historic demonstration event. Yet he remains calm and optimistic, hoping a change to the classic Monaco routine this year - with practice starting on Friday, and not Thursday, as was once traditional -- will help. "I think it gives us the rhythm of the other races, which could be good so I am looking forward to that and giving it a go," he said, deflecting any negative thoughts after a power failure in Spain, while leading, brought him his first DNF (Did Not Finish) of the season. "My attitude is always the same, regardless," he added. "Every point is valuable. We know that even the smallest mistake can make a bid difference." After dominating practice and starting from pole in Spain, Leclerc and Ferrari will hope they can continue to set the pace, but they know Red Bull will be a threat and reliability a key factor. "Since the start of the season, the team that has done everything perfectly was the one to win. We will do everything to be that team," said Leclerc. "We have the confidence that we can make it, which is a good starting point." After returning to competitive form with a heavily upgraded car in Spain, where George Russell was third and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton fifth, Mercedes will also be hopeful, but realistic. "We made a big step and halved the advantage of the front-runners," said team chief Toto Wolff. "But there's still a long way to go. And Monaco was not our happiest place in the past. My expectations are lower than at any other circuit." Mercedes have won only once since 2016 after winning four in a row and the unique showpiece race has been Red Bull's twice in three years since Ferrari's last win in 2017, with Sebastian Vettel. To many observers, another Ferrari win and an end to Leclerc's agonies is long overdue. str/nr/jc 36 cakeLady M1.5 link MIRROR 40 1.5% 7.4% 1330 16% 8.813% 2500 9% 28.24% 26%14% 26% 6.8829% 23%29% 14% 62 3 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Eli Lilly and Company plans to invest $2.1 billion in two new Indiana manufacturing sites, a move that's expected to create hundreds of new jobs in the Hoosier state, the company announced Wednesday. The new facilities will expand the Indianapolis-based company's manufacturing network for active ingredients and new therapeutic drugs, including those used to treat diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's and cancer, Lily officials said during a news conference at the governor's residence. Were fortunate to have had a very successful run lately in our laboratories in our pipeline... we have tremendous growth at Lilly, but we have even more promise ahead," said David Ricks, Lillys chair and CEO, emphasizing that the company has called Indiana home for 146 years. "Theres a lot of work to do. But I think it exemplifies whats special about Indiana, which is people come together to solve tough problems. The LEAP Lebanon Innovation and Research District in Boone County, located 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) northwest of Indianapolis, was selected for its strategic proximity" to downtown Indianapolis, Purdue University in West Lafayette, and the I-65 corridor, Ricks continued. Ricks did not provide a timeline for construction and said it could be three of four years before the facilities begin producing medicine for patients. He said ground-breaking in Boone County is expected much sooner," however. The project is pending zoning and annexation approvals by local officials, however. The Indiana Economic Development Council said it is working with Lilly to finalize a performance-based incentive package, which Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers said could happen within the next 30 days. The proposed project is expected to create up to 500 new Lilly roles with an additional four indirect jobs for every Lilly position created, Ricks said. An estimated 1,500 construction jobs will additionally be required while the facilities are being built. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb commended Lilly on the announcement, noting that the company has been an anchor in Indianas economy for generations." He said the announcement invest in our home state is a likely sign that the company will continue to stay in Indiana long-term. I am incredibly proud Lilly continues to make exciting investments in Indiana that will better the lives and opportunities of Hoosiers for decades to come, Holcomb said. And in turn, the very research and pharmaceutical manufacturing spearheaded here in our state will improve lives worldwide. Casey Smith is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Smith on Twitter. 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 Britain is getting ready for a party featuring mounted troops, solemn prayers and a pack of dancing mechanical corgis. The nation will celebrate Queen Elizabeth IIs 70 years on the throne this week with four days of pomp and pageantry in central London. But behind the brass bands and the queen's appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace lies a drive to show that the royal family still remains relevant. The royals, sometimes criticized as being out of touch, want to show that their support comes from all parts of a society that has become more multicultural amid immigration from the Caribbean, South Asia and Eastern Europe. The jubilee is also part of the effort to prepare the public for the day when Prince Charles takes the throne. CEDAR CITY, Utah (AP) She walked up a red carpet and crossed a stage to accept her diploma wearing an eagle feather beaded onto her cap that her mother had gifted her. Amryn Tom graduated this week from southern Utah's Cedar City High School. Her family cheered. For the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah and other Native Americans, eagle feathers of the variety Tom wore are sacred items passed down through generations, used at ceremonies to signify achievement and connection with the community. This is from your ancestors, Tom said her mother, Charie, told her. One year ago, students in Tom's school district would have been barred from wearing any form of tribal regalia along with their traditional cardinal-colored caps and gowns. Not this year. In March, Utah joined a growing list of states in enshrining Native American students' rights to wear tribal regalia at their graduation ceremonies. In Iron County, where the school district tried to bar two graduates from wearing regalia at last year's ceremonies, Tom and other Native American students savored the hard-won right. Its kind of huge, said Paiute tribal member Brailyn Jake, an eagle feather and beads dangling from her turquoise cap. Her cousin was one of the students stopped from donning beads last year. People dont understand our culture, the meaning behind it and how, when youre turned down for something this big, its kind of like, wow," Jake said. Students across the U.S. often sport flower leis or flashy sashes at graduation with little controversy. But the rules governing tribal regalia at high school graduations have emerged as a legislative issue in several red and blue states after reports of students being prevented from wearing attire like Jake and Tom's. In Utah, Paiute Chairwoman Corrina Bow brought the issue to state lawmakers after last year's two Iron County incidents. The district had no formal rules prohibiting Native American students from donning regalia. Bow noted the graduation rate for Native American and Alaskan Native students was 74% in 2019, the lowest of any demographic group, and told lawmakers that guaranteeing students statewide the right to wear regalia would allow them to honor their culture, religion and heritage. Similar controversies have occurred at schools in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, suburban Chicago and elsewhere, with graduates being barred from wearing everything from beadwork and moccasins to sealskin caps. The incidents pit Native American students and their parents against administrators who say they want to maintain uniformity at graduation ceremonies. Emalyce Kee, who is Navajo and Rosebud Sioux, was one of the two students told not to wear a beaded cap or plumes to her Cedar City High School graduation ceremony last year. She did it anyway. Before walking across the stage to accept her diploma, Kee switched out her plain cap for one with a plume and beadwork by her uncle. Half a dozen family members in the front row applauded. "I hadn't felt that powerful before that moment, standing up with my diploma, with my Native cap on and then shaking my principals hand," Kee said. At a high school that used Redmen as its mascot until 2019, Kee and her mother, Valerie Glass, said it stuck with them how the principal had argued beaded caps would set a precedent to allow all students to decorate their graduation attire. Its not decorative regalia. It's traditional beaded regalia. How can you have the Cedar Redmen for so long and not honor your Native American students? Glass said. Iron County Superintendent Lance Hatch was not available for comment. Hoksila Lakota gifted his nephew Elijah James Wiggins, who is of Lakota ancestry, an eagle feather in honor of his graduation from Cedar City High School on Wednesday. He said eagle feathers called wamblii wakan in Lakota are fundamental to celebrating once-in-a-lifetime achievements, with many believing they hold a connection to God. These arent something you find on the floor and do whatever with, he said. "These are sacred items given from grandfather to son or uncle to nephew." Metz reported from Salt Lake City. 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 CHEROKEE, IOWA -- Cherokee Regional Medical Center will soon be able to build a new ambulance station through a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant. According to a recent press release from the USDA's Rural Development group: 12 Iowa businesses received more than $8 million in loans and grants for projects intended to bolster medical services, expand the biofuel industry and open a new daycare. One of those businesses, C-M-L Telephone Cooperative Association, based in Meriden, Iowa, is getting $300,000 for a revolving loan fund. Per the release, that fund is meant to help construct the new station at Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee. A majority of rural ambulance services nationwide are dependent on volunteers. The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) reports that 53% of rural EMS units are staffed by volunteers-only, versus 14% in urban areas. A 2019 Iowa Department of Public Health publication states that 75% of Iowa's emergency medical services are entirely volunteer-based and respond to approximately 10% of all EMS calls in the state. Along with Cherokee County, Butler County, Greene County, Washington County and Wright County also will received money through the program. 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. SIOUX CITY -- A man found guilty of beating a Sioux City homeowner to death while breaking into his home a second time will see his prison sentence reduced after the Iowa Court of Appeals ruled there was insufficient evidence for one of the charges of which he was convicted. A three-judge panel ruled Wednesday there was inadequate evidence to show Gary Dains Jr. would have burglarized Paul Smith's home in the future after he killed Smith and, therefore, did not meet a legal requirement showing Dains committed the burglaries on a "continuing basis." The court vacated Dains' conviction for ongoing criminal conduct and the charge's 25-year prison sentence. District Judge Tod Deck sentenced Dains to 60 years in prison in April 2021 after a Woodbury County jury a month earlier found him guilty of voluntary manslaughter, ongoing criminal conduct, second-degree theft and first-degree burglary. The Court of Appeals reaffirmed the other sentences. The court's action reduces Dains' total prison sentence for Smith's death to 35 years. Dains was later sentenced in a separate case to an additional 10 years in prison for biting a fellow jail inmate while awaiting trial, giving him a total prison sentence of 45 years. Dains, 47, of Carroll, Iowa, was originally charged with first-degree murder for the July 16, 2019, beating death of 65-year-old Smith, who had interrupted Dains breaking into his home at 314 20th St. Jurors found him guilty of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, sparing him from a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole, in addition to the theft, burglary and ongoing criminal conduct charges. Dains appealed, saying Deck, who presided over the trial, should have granted his motion of acquittal on the ongoing criminal conduct charge. The appeals judges agreed, saying in their 10-page ruling the evidence was insufficient to show Dains would have continued to commit similar offenses in the future because after Smith was killed, he would no longer be able to restock his home with more items for Dains to steal. Dains had previously lived with his estranged wife in an apartment in Smith's home, but she kicked him out weeks before Smith's death because of his methamphetamine use. Dains broke into Smith's home on July 8, 2019, and stole coins he later pawned for $47 to support his meth habit. Eight days later, Smith interrupted Dains burglarizing his home a second time and confronted him. An autopsy showed Smith died of blunt-force trauma to the face and head and had been struck at least four times. He also had been strangled, but the autopsy was inconclusive if that was the cause of death. On the day of Smith's death, Dains took $120 in cash and Smith's Ford Explorer, which he later gave away. Under Iowa sentencing laws, Dains still could have his sentence cut in half for good behavior while in prison, and he could be paroled before then. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 5 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. DOW CITY-- One of the last remaining U.S. Navy W.A.V.E.S., a group of women who served in World War II, has died. Estelle J. Leinen died at home on May 17 at the age of 100. Graduating from high school in 1940, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services (or W.A.V.E.S. for short) in 1943, after being recruited by Genevieve Sullivan, sister of the five Waterloo, Iowa-born Sullivan Brothers, who were all killed in action on the light cruiser USS Juneau in 1942. The women's branch of the U.S. Naval Reserves W.A.V.E.S was established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This law authorized the Navy to accept women into the Naval Reserve as commissioned officers and, at the enlisted level, effective for the duration of World War II, plus six months. Although the branch was only around from July 1942 to Sept. 1946, an estimated 87,000 W.A.V.E.S. served at that time. This included Leinen, who completed U.S. Naval Training School at Hunter College, in the Bronx, New York, where she receive the rating of a storekeeper. She subsequently completed Storekeeper Specialist Training School from the University of Indiana, in Bloomington, Indiana. For her W.A.V.E.S. service, Leinen received her Honorable Service Lapel in Aug. 1946. She married her husband Lavern P. "Spider" Leinen, a sailor from Earling, Iowa, the very next month. Eventually, the Leinens settled in Dow City, where they had a large family farm as well as Leinen's Produce, which bought and sold agricultural products from farmers in four counties in Iowa. According to Leinen's son Vincent Leinen, she was honored by the Rev. R. Walker Nickless, the Bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City, on her 85th birthday in 2007. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SIOUX CITY With the frequency of school shootings increasing, the Sioux City Schools have increased prevention and preparation. Weve done more in the last five years than I think this districts ever done in history in terms of preparing students and staff for the way in which they will react should a tragic situation occur, he said. An 18-year-old gunman opened fire Tuesday at a Texas elementary school, killing at least 19 children as he went from classroom to classroom, officials said, in the latest gruesome moment for a country scarred by a string of massacres. The assault at Robb Elementary School in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde was the deadliest shooting at a U.S. grade school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, almost a decade ago. It was tragic and another tragedy in a very long list of tragic incidents much like that one, Gausman said. Gausman said he does not like that the staff and students have to prepare for these types of incidents when they should be focused on learning. But they do have to be prepared, he said. Everything we can do we have attempted to do, with partner agencies, with law enforcement, with training, clearly the first and best step is prevent an incident like this from occurring. The first step is encouraging students, staff, parents and community members to see something, say something, Gausman said. If an individual sees a threat or something concerning, the district has a variety of places for tips to be submitted, such as a Lets Talk form on the district's website. Weve got to keep our eyes open, our ears open and talk with one another when we are concerned about something, he said. Each district building has a locked, secure entryway with video surveillance to verify those entering. Gausman said with partnerships with the Sioux City Police Department and Woodbury County Sheriffs Office provides the district with more police presence in the schools. A positive and proactive presence, where theyre building good relationships with students and families, he said. If an incident cannot be prevented, Gausman said the district is prepared to react. The district has a crisis guide that has step-by-step plans for all potential crises. Each school building has an active safety committee to review safety plans and understanding the unique needs of each building. All staff members also take an active shooter crisis training and administer age-appropriate training exercises. Drills are also conducted at each school for intruder situations, along with fire, tornado and evacuation. Gausman said around four or five years ago the district decided to train students for a crisis, not just staff members. District crisis plans are not publicly discussed or displayed for safety reasons. Parents who are concerned or want to learn more about the districts plan can visit www.siouxcityschools.org/parents/safety/ Gausman, who is leaving the district on June 30 to become superintendent of the Lincoln Public Schools district, said parents can work with their building administrators to discuss concerns. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SIOUX CITY Wednesday was the last day Hunt A+ Arts Elementary School students spent in the former Crescent Park Elementary School. Students celebrated the last day by receiving awards and facing off against the staff in a kickball tournament. Superintendent Paul Gausman joined the festivities, throwing out the first pitch. Hunt Elementary Principal Cami Barker said the year has gone by quickly as construction nears completion on the new Hunt elementary school about 1.5 miles away. For the past three years, students have attended school in the aging building at 114 W. 27th St. Wednesday marked the last hurrah for the former Crescent Park Elementary. Built in 1920, it's by far the oldest school building in the district. The old Hunt school was even older, built in 1906. The original Hunt school was demolished in 2019 to make room for the new structure, which is located just north of 19th Street between Jackson and Nebraska streets. The new L-shaped building is about three times larger than the original Hunt. Barker said some of her students tell her about the brand new school going up by my house. Thats our new building, she responds. She said previously 95 percent of the kids walked to the original school. The incoming fourth and fifth graders will have attended classes at all three school locations. For the younger students, they never attended the old Hunt Elementary. Caitlin Bauerli has been teaching fourth grade in the temporary Hunt location for two years. She said she is excited about every aspect of the new building. The temporary location is smaller than needed for the staff and students, with challenges surrounding the lack of gymnasium space and limited classroom space. Bauerli said the new classrooms will give students their own lockers and in- classroom sinks and drinking fountains. She is looking forward to more classroom storage space. Because Hunt is named the A-plus for arts and music school, there is a performing arts stage in the gymnasium, a black box theater for small performances and a gallery for students to display art. A majority of the new school is on one floor, but a lower level features additional classrooms. Because of the design of the building, each classroom offers large windows. There will be three outdoor playgrounds, with each geared to a specific grade level, the same as other recent elementary schools built in the district. As with other new schools, the new Hunt will have one main entrance, with a security system during school hours to keep pupils safe. Visitors will be directed solely to the principal's office area. The entire school is also geothermal, a more efficient heating and cooling system. Gausman said he is proud of the district for providing more than $400 million in construction projects, but said staff makes it matter. "Everything that's great about the Sioux City Schools starts with people," he said. Barker said she will start the transition to the new building in June, and the teachers will start in July. Because the school released a day early, the teachers will have an extra day before school starts to set up their new classrooms, she said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As part of the run-up to the June 7 primary, Sen. Chuck Grassley is planning to hit O'Brien and Sioux counties in the coming week. According to a press release from Grassley's office, the seven-term incumbent will visit the Primghar Community Building in Primghar on Tuesday, May 31 at 12:15 p.m. and then stop at the Parkview Event Center in Rock Valley at 2:30 p.m. the same day. "This is Grassleys 42nd year of holding meetings in every one of Iowas 99 counties," the release noted. "Grassley has held at least one meeting in every county, every year since he was first elected to serve in the U.S. Senate. He takes and answers questions on any subject raised. Iowans set the agenda." For this election cycle, Grassley faces a challenge from fellow Republican Jim Carlin, a state senator and lawyer from Sioux City. During the campaign, Carlin has criticized Grassley for not sticking to campaign promises. The 88-year-old Grassley has said, if elected to an eighth term, he would make sure "Iowa punches above its weight at the policymaking tables." 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. In the June 7 GOP primary, State Rep. Dennis Bush (R-Cherokee) will not have the support of sitting Gov. Kim Reynolds. Wednesday afternoon, Reynolds, who's running for re-election this year, announced via a statement that she'd endorsed Zach Dieken of Granville who is one of three candidates in the Iowa House District 5 race along with Bush and Thomas Kuiper of Sibley. The newly-drawn district takes in all of O'Brien and Osceola counties and parts of Buena Vista and Cherokee counties, including the city of Cherokee. "Zach Dieken will be a strong advocate for freedom, parental choice in education, and the pro-life movement," Reynolds said (per Iowa's News Now). During a Feb. 19 event at Pizza Ranch in Sheldon, the N'West Iowa Review's Elijah Helton reported that Bush had issues with the so-called voucher bill which would shift taxpayer funding for public schools to scholarships for private school tuition assistance. "I personally have a problem with it. One of the founding principles of this nation was the separation of church and state, and I have a problem getting past taking public tax dollars. . . and taking that to a private, religious school," Bush was quoted as saying. Then, on Tuesday, May 5, Helton reported Bush went farther during a debate that also featured Dieken and Kuiper. "I might as well come out and say it. The governor is trying to use this election as a referendum for her voucher bill," he said. "Im the only candidate running for the House of Representatives thats standing with our public schools. To paint all our public schools with the same brush is doing a disservice," the Review reported Bush as saying. Just this past week, Reynolds endorsed another opponent of a sitting state legislator from the Republican Party. As the Gazette noted: "Reynolds endorsed McCulla even though Iowa Rep. Jon Thorup, a state trooper from Knoxville who is serving his second term in the House, also is running in the district...Thorup last month publicly stated his opposition to Reynolds proposed legislation that would create taxpayer-funded scholarships for private school tuition assistance." Bush is serving his first term in the Iowa House but previously served two terms on the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Gunman's final 90 minutes fuel questions about police delays UVALDE, Texas (AP) It was 11:28 a.m. when the Ford pickup slammed into a ditch behind the low-slung Texas school and the driver jumped out carrying an AR-15-style rifle. Twelve minutes after that, authorities say, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos was in the hallways of Robb Elementary School. Soon he entered a fourth-grade classroom. And there, he killed 19 schoolchildren and two teachers in a still-unexplained spasm of violence. At 12:58 p.m., law enforcement radio chatter said Ramos had been killed and the siege was over. What happened in those 90 minutes, in a working-class neighborhood near the edge of the little town of Uvalde, has fueled mounting public anger and scrutiny over law enforcement's response to Tuesday's rampage. "They say they rushed in," said Javier Cazares, whose fourth-grade daughter, Jacklyn Cazares, was killed in the attack, and who raced to the school as the massacre unfolded. We didnt see that. Daughter and her best friends 'are all gone now,' dad says UVALDE, Texas (AP) Jacklyn Cazares hadnt yet reached her 10th birthday, but she was already a tough-minded firecracker always looking to help people in need, her father said. Jacklyn and her second cousin, Annabelle Rodriguez, were especially tight with three other classmates at Robb Elementary School. They are all gone now, Javier Cazares said. "All her little best friends were killed too. The girls were among 19 students killed Tuesday when an 18-year-old gunman barricaded himself in a fourth-grade classroom at the school in the southwestern Texas town of Uvalde and began to kill. Their families can only cling to memories, and each other. Jacklyn would have turned 10 on June 10. Despite her young age, she was equal parts tough-minded and compassionate. She had a voice, her father said. She didnt like bullies, she didnt like kids being picked on. All in all, full of love. She had a big heart." Texas shooter sent warning signs, messages, mostly too late UVALDE, Texas (AP) Monday morning at Robb Elementary School, a line of graduating high school seniors in maroon caps and gowns paid a visit to the children to offer smiles, high fives and encouragement that one day, if they studied hard enough, they could graduate too. Notably missing from those Uvalde High School seniors was 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, who had frequently skipped class and was not set to graduate. The next day, he shot his grandmother and then went to the school alone with an AR-style rifle and fatally shot 19 children and two teachers for reasons authorities are still at a loss to explain. State police say Ramos had no criminal record, no history of mental illness treatment and no obvious signs he was a danger to this tight-knit, largely Latino community 85 miles west of San Antonio. But those who knew him saw increasing signs of isolation, outbursts and aggression. And there were a series of cryptic social media messages -- including to apparently random teenage girls in Germany and California -- that offered photos of rifles, ammo and hints of his desire to hurt and kill. He always seemed to take his anger out on the most innocent person in the room, said 17-year-old Crystal Foutz, who attended school with Ramos and worked with him at the fast-food chain Whataburger. He would get angry at people thinking he wasnt OK. He was just always super odd. Russia slams sanctions, seeks to blame West for food crisis KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Moscow pressed the West on Thursday to lift sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, seeking to shift the blame for a growing food crisis that has been worsened by Kyivs inability to ship millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products while under attack. Britain immediately accused Russia of trying to hold the world to ransom, insisting there would be no sanctions relief, and a top U.S. diplomat blasted the "sheer barbarity, sadistic cruelty and lawlessness of the invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin told Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi that Moscow is ready to make a significant contribution to overcoming the food crisis through the export of grain and fertilizer on the condition that politically motivated restrictions imposed by the West are lifted," according to a Kremlin readout of the call. Ukraine is one of the worlds largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but the war and a Russian blockade of its ports have halted much of that flow, endangering world food supplies. Many of those ports are now also heavily mined. Russia also is a significant grain exporter, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said the West must cancel the unlawful decisions that hamper chartering ships and exporting grain. His comments appeared to be an effort to lump the blockade of Ukrainian exports with what Russia says are its difficulties in moving its own goods. Trump loses appeal, must testify in New York civil probe NEW YORK (AP) Former President Donald Trump must answer questions under oath in the New York attorney generals civil investigation into his business practices, a state appeals court ruled Thursday, rejecting his argument that he be excused from testifying because his answers could be used in a parallel criminal probe. A four-judge panel in the appellate division of the states trial court upheld Judge Arthur Engoron's Feb. 17 ruling, which enforced subpoenas requiring that Trump and his two eldest children Ivanka and Donald Jr. give deposition testimony in Attorney General Letitia James probe. The existence of a criminal investigation does not preclude civil discovery of related facts, at which a party may exercise the privilege against self-incrimination," the appellate panel wrote, citing the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and other legal protections for witnesses. Lawyers for the Trumps agreed in March that they would sit for depositions within 14 days of an appellate panel decision upholding Engorons ruling. They could also appeal the decision to the states highest court, the Court of Appeals, delaying the matter and the Trumps potential testimony indefinitely. A message seeking comment was left with lawyers for the Trumps. CEO pay rose 17% in 2021 as profits soared; workers trailed NEW YORK (AP) Even when regular workers win their biggest raises in decades, they look minuscule compared with what CEOs are getting. The typical compensation package for chief executives who run S&P 500 companies soared 17.1% last year, to a median $14.5 million, according to data analyzed for The Associated Press by Equilar. The gain towers over the 4.4% increase in wages and benefits netted by private-sector workers through 2021, which was the fastest on record going back to 2001. The raises for many rank-and-file workers also failed to keep up with inflation, which reached 7% at the end of last year. CEO pay took off as stock prices and profits rebounded sharply as the economy roared out of its brief 2020 recession. Because much of a CEOs compensation is tied to such performance, their pay packages ballooned after years of mostly moderating growth. In many of the most eye-popping packages, such as Expedia Groups, valued at $296.2 million and JPMorgan Chases $84.4 million, boards gave particularly big grants of stock or stock options to recently appointed CEOs navigating their companies through the pandemic or to established leaders they wanted to convince to hang around. Dominant coronavirus mutant contains ghost of pandemic past The coronavirus mutant that is now dominant in the United States is a member of the omicron family but scientists say it spreads faster than its omicron predecessors, is adept at escaping immunity and might possibly cause more serious disease. Why? Because it combines properties of both omicron and delta, the nation's dominant variant in the middle of last year. A genetic trait that harkens back to the pandemic's past, known as a delta mutation," appears to allow the virus "to escape pre-existing immunity from vaccination and prior infection, especially if you were infected in the omicron wave," said Dr. Wesley Long, a pathologist at Houston Methodist in Texas. That's because the original omicron strain that swept the world didnt have the mutation. The omicron subvariant gaining ground in the U.S. known as BA.2.12.1 and responsible for 58% of U.S. COVID-19 cases last week isn't the only one affected by the delta mutation. The genetic change is also present in the omicron relatives that together dominate in South Africa, known as BA.4 and BA.5. Those have exactly the same mutation as delta, while BA.2.12.1 has one that's nearly identical. This genetic change is bad news for people who caught the original omicron and thought that made them unlikely to get COVID-19 again soon. Although most people don't know for sure which variant caused their illness, the original omicron caused a giant wave of cases late last year and early this year. NRA stages big gun show in Texas days after school massacre HOUSTON (AP) The National Rifle Association begins its annual convention in Houston on Friday, and leaders of the powerful gun-rights lobbying group are gearing up to reflect on and deflect any blame for the deadly shooting earlier this week of 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Former President Donald Trump and other leading Republicans are scheduled to address the three-day firearms marketing and advocacy event, which is expected to draw protesters fed up with gun violence. Some scheduled speakers and performers have backed out, including two Texas lawmakers and American Pie singer Don McLean, who said it would be disrespectful to go ahead with his act in the aftermath of the countrys latest mass shooting. While President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress have renewed calls for stricter gun laws, NRA board member Phil Journey said the focus should be on better mental health care and trying to prevent gun violence. He said he wouldn't support banning or limiting access to firearms. The NRA said in an online statement that people attending the gun show will reflect on the Uvalde school shooting, pray for the victims, recognize our patriotic members, and pledge to redouble our commitment to making our schools secure. Ray Liotta, 'Goodfellas' and 'Field of Dreams' star, dies Ray Liotta, the blue-eyed actor best known for playing mobster Henry Hill in Goodfellas and baseball player Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, has died. He was 67. Liotta's publicist, Jen Allen, said he was in the Dominican Republic shooting a new movie and didn't wake up Thursday morning. Police in the Dominican Republic said they received a call just before 6 a.m. Thursday at a hotel where Liotta was staying with his fiancee and found the actor dead. Robert De Niro, who co-starred with Liotta in Goodfellas, said in an emailed statement that he was saddened by Liotta's passing. He is way too way young to have left us," De Niro said. Another Goodfellas star, Lorraine Bracco, who played Henrys wife Karen Hill, tweeted Thursday that she could be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas. Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the sameRay Liotta. Liotta was also mourned by Alessandro Nivola, who recently appeared with him in The Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark, and by the films writer and producer David Chase. Nivola called Liotta dangerous, unpredictable, hilarious, and generous with his praise for other actors. Chase said in a statement that We all felt we lucked out having him on that movie. Ellen DeGeneres ends daytime show with plea for compassion LOS ANGELES (AP) Ellen DeGeneres brought her nearly two-decade daytime talk show to an end Thursday with a celebrity lovefest and a forceful assertion of her achievement as a gay woman daring to be herself. DeGeneres and guests Jennifer Aniston, Billie Eilish and Pink shared memories and affection as The Ellen DeGeneres Show concluded its Emmy-winning, 3,200-plus episode run that began in September 2003. Twenty years ago, when we were trying to sell the show, no one thought that this would work. Not because it was a different kind of show, but because I was different, DeGeneres said of the pushback from TV stations. When the syndicated show went on the air, she was prevented from saying the word gay or even the pronoun we, DeGeneres said, since the latter would imply she had a partner. She didn't specify who imposed the ban. Sure couldnt say wife, and thats because it wasnt legal for gay people to get married and now I say wife all the time, DeGeneres added, with a touch of defiance, as actor Portia de Rossi watched from the studio audience. They wed in 2008. 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 Onlookers urged police to charge into Texas school UVALDE, Texas (AP) Onlookers urged police officers to charge into the Texas elementary school where a gunmans rampage killed 19 children and two teachers. That's what a witness said Wednesday as investigators worked to track the massacre that lasted upwards of 40 minutes and ended when the 18-year-old shooter was killed by a Border Patrol team. Juan Carranza saw the scene from outside his house, across the street from Robb Elementary School in the town of Uvalde. Carranza said the officers did not go in. Minutes earlier, Carranza had watched as Salvador Ramos crashed his truck into a ditch outside the school, grabbed his AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle and shot at two people. 'Precious individuals' taken in Texas school shooting UVALDE, Texas (AP) One student was an avid runner, so fast she swept all the races at field day. Another was learning football plays from his grandfather. One girl sensed something was wrong and wanted to skip school. On Wednesday, stories began to emerge about the lives of the 19 grade schoolers described by the school district superintendent as precious individuals and their teachers who were gunned down behind a barricaded door at Robb Elementary School in the southwestern Texas town of Uvalde. Superintendent Hal Harrell says it was obvious by "their angelic smiles that they were loved. Oklahoma governor signs the nation's strictest abortion ban OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed into law the nations strictest abortion ban. The ban, passed by state lawmakers last week, prohibits all abortions with few exceptions. Stitt signed the bill on Wednesday. Providers have said they will stop performing the procedure as soon as the bill is signed. The law is part of an aggressive push in Republican-led states to scale back abortion rights. The only exceptions included in the law are to save the life of a pregnant woman or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest that has been reported to law enforcement. Biden signs policing order on anniversary of Floyd's death WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to improve accountability in policing. It's a meaningful but limited action on the second anniversary of George Floyds death that reflected the challenges in addressing racism, excessive use of force and public safety with a deadlocked Congress. Most of the order issued Wednesday is focused on federal law enforcement agencies for example, requiring them to review and revise policies on use of force. It will also create a database to help track officer misconduct. The administration cannot require local police departments to participate in the database, which is intended to prevent problem officers from job-hopping. The order also restricts the flow of surplus military equipment to local police. Scars of war seem to be everywhere in Ukraine after 3 months KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AP) No matter where Ukrainians live, the 3-month-old war never seems to be far away. Those in towns and villages near the front lines hide in basements from constant shelling, struggling to survive with no electricity or gas and often no running water. But even in regions out of the range of the big guns, frequent air raid sirens wail in a constant reminder that a Russian missile can strike at any time, even for those walking their dogs, riding bicycles or taking their children to parks in cities like Kyiv, Odesa and Lviv. Curfews, checkpoints and fortifications are commonplace. So are fresh cemeteries, uprooted villagers and war-scarred landscapes, as Moscow intensifies its attacks in the east and south. EXPLAINER: What's at stake for China on South Pacific visit? BEIJING (AP) China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting South Pacific nations amid concerns over Beijing's growing military and diplomatic presence in the region. The U.S. traditionally has been the major power in the area, but China has been pursuing inroads. It has a new security pact with Solomon Islands that has raised concerns from its neighbors. In addition, a draft plan revealed Wednesday shows China wants several nations to sign a sweeping agreement to cooperate more on security, fisheries, internet networks and other areas. China has long waged a battle for influence in the South Pacific, where Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, maintains some of its last remaining diplomatic allies. Beto O'Rourke interrupts briefing, echoing US debate on guns UVALDE, Texas (AP) Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke has blamed Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for inaction on gun control. His remarks echo a debate happening across the U.S. after the latest deadly school shooting. As the Republican governor was finishing his opening remarks Wednesday about the deaths of 19 children and two teachers in the small town of Uvalde, ORourke approached the stage, pointed to the governor and blasted him for doing nothing. Republicans countered that it wasn't time to talk about politics and partisanship. But Abbott went on to say that he doesn't support restrictions on guns and prefers to focus on issues such as mental health and school security. Officer in Buffalo supermarket attack honored at funeral GETZVILLE, N.Y. (AP) The retired police officer killed in the Buffalo supermarket shooting has been posthumously awarded the city police department's medal of honor and promoted to lieutenant. The honors were announced Wednesday as Aaron Salter and another shooting victim, Pearl Young, were laid to rest and as the country processes a newer massacre at a Texas school. Salter was working security and fired multiple times at the gunman who attacked the Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo. The 77-year-old Young is being remembered as a great-grandmother, Sunday school teacher at her church, a longtime volunteer in its soup kitchen, and a substitute teacher in Buffalo Public Schools. 'Trump is in the past': Mounting losses show limits of power WOODSTOCK, Ga. (AP) Donald Trump began May with a decisive win for a favored candidate in Ohio, catapulting a Senate hopeful to a primary victory. But the month ended in stinging defeat for Trump as one of his top targets for retribution walloped the Trump-endorsed challenger by more than 50 percentage points in the Georgia governor's GOP primary. As the first round of primaries comes to a close, the month has laid bare Trumps diminished grip on the Republican Party. But the races have also made clear the extent to which the party has been transformed in Trump's image. And they've shown that his MAGA movement isnt going anywhere, whether he decides to run for president again or not. Boeing capsule lands back on Earth after space shakedown CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) Boeing's astronaut taxi has returned to Earth from the International Space Station, completing a repeat test flight with a mannequin on board. The Starliner capsule parachuted into the New Mexico desert just four hours after leaving the orbiting lab Wednesday. Aside from a few snags, Starliner appears to have clinched its high-stakes shakedown cruise 2 1/2 years after its botched first attempt. That means NASA test pilots will fly next, perhaps by year's end. NASA wants two competing U.S. companies ferrying astronauts to and from the space station. SpaceX is already the established leader. 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 JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) Alaska Senate President Peter Micciche said Wednesday he will not seek re-election this year, citing a desire to spend more time with family. His announcement comes after the Legislature last week ended its four-month regular session and a week before a candidate filing deadline. The Soldotna Republican said he has spent nearly 11 of the last 16 months away from his four daughters and wife, who need me at home. My family is my priority. Last year was marked by drawn-out budget fights and four special sessions. The Division of Elections shows that Micciche had previously filed to run for the seat. Leona Long with the Senate Majority press office said by email that he had filed months ago and things have changed. The division currently shows three other candidates for the Senate seat, including Tuckerman Babcock, a former Republican state party chair. Micciche was first elected to the Senate in 2012 and has been Senate president since last year. He led a Republican-majority caucus whose members had sharply different views on the annual dividend paid to residents from Alaska's oil-wealth fund. Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich last week called Micciche a friend. The two spoke to reporters together in Micciche's office on May 19 about their impressions of the legislative session that had just ended. Begich, an Anchorage Democrat, said working with Micciche had been a joy and a delight." 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 The office of Albania's prime minister says the country has offered to NATO a naval base in an effort to highlight the tiny countrys value in the alliance in these difficult times." Prime Minister Edi Rama said Thursday Pashaliman naval base, 180 kilometers (110 miles) south of the capital Tirana, could be an added value to the alliance and they had prepared a project on its renovation. Albania has joined the United States and the European Union in denouncing Russias aggression on Ukraine. The base was built in the 1950s when then-Soviet Union brought 12 submarines. Following the breakdown of the Tirana-Moscow ties in 1961 it continued to serve as a naval base with four remaining submarines and other small military ships. Albania became a NATO member in 2009. Two of the leading candidates for the GOP nomination for Michigan governor say they will ask the courts to intervene after they were found ineligible Thursday for the August primary, reshaping the race to challenge Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in the battleground state this fall. Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig, who has led in most primary polls, and businessman Perry Johnson, along with three other lesser-known candidates, did not qualify for the ballot. The state elections bureau recommended they be disqualified, saying it found thousands of fraudulent signatures on petitions submitted by the candidates. The vote by the bipartisan Board of State Canvassers was 2-2, with two Democrats supporting the recommendation and two Republicans saying the candidates should get on the ballot. A tie vote means the candidates lost. Craig criticized the board's partisan decision as a travesty and said the bureau should have done a line-by-line verification of signatures he submitted, rather than rejecting entire pages based on its findings of fraud. He said the campaign will file an immediate appeal. "We are confident that when the law is justly applied, our campaign will be on the ballot this August, Craig said. Johnson has already spent millions of his personal fortune on the contest. Attorney Jason Torchinsky said the state's process had fatal flaws that didn't follow election law and that he's confident Johnson will be on the ballot after the court review. The other lesser-known GOP candidates Donna Brandenburg, Michael Brown and Michael Markey also were found ineligible after elections staff said they, too, didnt turn in enough valid signatures. Brown withdrew from the race on Tuesday. Democrats challenged the GOP candidates petitions, alleging mass forgery and other issues. Another Republican candidate, Tudor Dixon, had also contested Craigs voter signatures as fake. But the bureau, which is part of Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's department, said it discovered the fraud in its own review and didn't process the challenges filed by the Michigan Democratic Party and Dixon. Candidates for governor were required to submit valid signatures from 15,000 registered voters to make the ballot. In a report released late Monday, bureau staff said multiple petition sheets for various candidates displayed suspicious patterns indicative of fraud. Some of the petitions for Craigs campaign, for example, had signatures that all appeared to be written in the same handwriting. Staff said that while its typical for petitions to include scattered instances of dubious signatures, the Bureau is unaware of another election cycle with such a substantial volume of fraudulent signatures involving multiple candidates. They identified 36 petition circulators who are often paid per signature gathered who submitted petition sheets made up entirely of invalid signatures. The Republicans who remain on the ballot are Dixon, who recently was endorsed by the family of former Trump administration Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, real estate agent Ryan Kelley, businessman Kevin Rinke, pastor Ralph Rebandt and chiropractor Garrett Soldano. An attorney for Craig said Thursday he has signed affidavits from 15 registered voters whose signatures were determined to be forged, but who say they did sign the candidate's petition. Lawyer George Lewis also said the campaign acknowledges it appears there was fraud by the people who gathered signatures, but said Craig himself is a victim. Democratic board member Mary Ellen Gurewitz pushed back. She described Craig's petitions as obviously fraudulent" and said the law puts the burden on the candidate to submit valid signatures. Gurewitz also asked what the campaign did to check the validity of the signatures. Lewis said he wasn't able to provide an answer. Republican board member Tony Daunt said he rejects suggestions that state staff acted for partisan reasons, as some have alleged. But he said he couldnt support kicking candidates off the ballot because the staff didnt have the resources to check every signature. The bureau said Craig submitted 10,192 valid signatures well short of the 15,000 needed. It tossed 11,113 signatures, including 9,879 that were allegedly fraudulently collected by 18 paid circulators. Staff said Johnson turned in 13,800 valid signatures. They threw out 9,393, including 6,983 that they said are fraudulent and were gathered by many of the same people who also forged signatures that Craig submitted. The bureau said it doesn't believe specific campaigns or candidates were aware of what fraudulent-petition circulators were doing, and said it's working to refer the fraud to law enforcement for criminal investigation. Republican Norman Shinkle, chairman of the Board of Canvassers, said the people who committed fraud should go to prison but that the courts should decide whether candidates make the ballot. Michigan Republican Party Chairman Ron Weiser said in a statement that the candidates should have their time in court" and that they are fighting against voter disenfranchisement. Meanwhile, Michigan Democratic Party Chairwoman Lavora Barnes called on the GOP candidates whose petitions were reviewed Thursday to withdraw from the race. Michiganders deserve accountable leaders, and these candidates have shown they are not capable of that, she said. 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 DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) Irans foreign minister sat before an audience of Western business executives and policymakers at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, fielding questions about why Iran has yet to condemn Russia for its invasion in Ukraine and why efforts to revive its nuclear deal have stalled. It was a rare opportunity for many in the audience to hear directly from Hossein Amirabdollahian, who was interviewed Thursday by CNN's Fareed Zakaria. When pressed on why Iran has not condemned its ally Russia for the war in Ukraine, he said Iran has, just as it had wars against Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Palestine." In Ukraine, however, he says the U.S. and NATO were involved in actions that provoked Moscow. On stalled nuclear talks, he says some people in Iran and the U.S. are against reviving the accord for their own reasons, including members of Irans elected parliament. Amirabdollahian says he thought U.S. President Joe Biden is facing some kind of inaction. I hope that the American side will act and behave realistically. He added that Iran is keeping the window of diplomacy open and that the Trump administrations sanctions must be lifted. He dodged questions on whether removing Iran's Revolutionary Guard from a list of terrorist organizations was on obstacle to a deal. He hinted that the issue isn't essential as long as Iran is guaranteed economic benefits. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated his conviction that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not win the war in Ukraine. In a speech Thursday at the end of the World Economic Forums annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Scholz said of Putin: He has already failed to achieve all his strategic goals. The chancellor said that a capture of all of Ukraine by Russia seems further away today than it did at the beginning of the war. More than ever, Ukraine is emphasizing its European future. In addition, Scholz said the brutality of the Russian war has prompted two states to move closer to NATO: With Sweden and Finland, two close friends and partners want to join the North Atlantic alliance. They are most welcome! The chancellor added that Putin underestimated the unity and strength with which the Group of Seven major industrialized nations, NATO and the European Union had responded to his aggression. The mayor of Kyiv says he's grateful to receive calls from the leaders of other cities around the world pledging their support for rebuilding the Ukrainian capital. Speaking Thursday at the World Economic Forum's meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Vitali Klitschko says the support is important but first of all, right now, we have to stop the war. And after that, we have to rebuild all infrastructure which destroyed (by) aggressors." He says 300 hundred buildings in Kyiv have been destroyed, including 220 apartment towers. Klitschko says the main priority right now until the winter season is to rebuild, to make a reconstruction for these buildings and give these services to these people who is right now homeless. For that, he says around 80 million euros ($85.6 million) is needed. Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Germany must pursue its climate goals even more resolutely because of Russias war in Ukraine. In a speech Thursday on the last day of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Scholz said Germanys plan to become carbon-neutral by 2045 has become even more important as a result of the war. He added that while the conflict is not the sole trigger of the turning point, it increases the pressure to act. If the Paris climate targets were not met, he says the world would be heading for a catastrophe. The German chancellor also mentioned how new, emerging powers in Asia, Africa and Latin America are taking advantage of the opportunities offered by globalization. He says that for too long, we have practically equated democracy with the West in the classical sense. To broaden multilateral cooperation, Scholz says he invited South Africa, Senegal, India, Indonesia and Argentina to the summit of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations in Elmau, Bavaria, next month. Scholz says, they represent countries and regions whose cooperation the world needs to move forward on global challenges in the future. He added that a new partnership also means showing solidarity in the face of looming hunger, commodity and inflation crises. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply condemned Russias war on Ukraine and called for global cooperation to overcome life-threatening challenges such as climate change, hunger and dependency on fossil fuels. Speaking Thursday at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Scholz said the invasion of Ukraine does not mark the outbreak of any conflict anywhere in Europe. Here, a nuclear-armed superpower claims to redraw borders. Scholz said Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to return to a world order in which the strongest dictate what is right, in which freedom, sovereignty and self-determination are not. The German chancellor described Putins war politics as imperialism, which is trying to bomb us back to a time when war was a common means of politics, when our continent and the world lacked a stable peace order. He says the world is no longer bipolar like during the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union. Instead of using the power politics of past centuries, the chancellor said its important all powers work together to solve threats like hunger, climate change or dependence on fossil fuels. Scholz said: If some want to take us back to the past of nationalism, imperialism and war, our answer is not with us. We stand for the future. Journalists, press freedom advocates and human rights activists debated how governments and the private sector can safeguard a free press. Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said Thursday at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos that while hundreds of journalists have been imprisoned in repressive regimes, there are also invisible prisons, invisible bullets journalism itself, beyond journalists, is under attack by digital platforms and social networks. Also speaking on a press freedom panel, Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth said that social media has become a way for autocrats and others to evade that kind of journalistic accountability provided by traditional news organizations. Roth said powerful governments can set up fake sites and trolls and pump out misinformation. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is wrapping up the World Economic Forums annual meeting with a speech in Davos. His address Thursday comes after days of discussions about Russias war in Ukraine, a global food crisis, climate change and other hot-button issues. The yearly gathering of elites that was suspended twice over the COVID-19 pandemic has been overshadowed by the war in Ukraine. It's doused moods among policymakers but not stopping advocacy groups and business leaders from trying to improve fortunes and as forum organizers hope the state of the world. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and an array of lawmakers, local officials and business leaders captured the spotlight in-person and virtually to drum up support for their countrys fight. Attention is turning to Scholzs near-finale address, mostly to see if he might try to answer two of Ukraines key appeals: for stronger sanctions against Russia and better weapons to help their forces fight. 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 Workers at two Chicago Starbucks voted overwhelmingly to unionize Wednesday, becoming the first unionized Starbucks workers in the city. Baristas at the Starbucks at 5964 N. Ridge Ave. voted 20-3 to join the union and baristas at 1070 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. voted to do so 10-1, according to organizers with the Chicago and Midwest Joint Board of Workers United, the Service Employees International Union affiliate that represents the Starbucks workers. The Starbucks workers voted in person over two days at The Edge Theater. The stores are located in the Edgewater and Edgewater Beach neighborhoods, respectively. Advertisement Teddy Hoffman, a barista at the Ridge and Clark Starbucks, called the union vote exhilarating. Hoffman has worked at Starbucks for more than six years. I think the biggest part is just finally feeling like we have a voice, and that our work has amounted to something, he said. Advertisement I think it means that we matter, that were heard, and that we will be heard and that our resilience has paid off, he said. Sticking points for his co-workers have included wage increases and guaranteed hours so they can maintain access to Starbucks benefits, he said. Starbucks worker Kaylie McKinley wears a t-shirt and button promoting unionization, outside a location in the 100 block of North Wabash Avenue Thursday, April 7, 2022, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Nationally, the Starbucks Workers United campaign continues to grow. As of this week, baristas at more than 260 stores have filed for union elections, according to the National Labor Relations Board. As of Tuesday, Starbucks workers had voted to unionize at 85 out of 102 stores where elections had been held. A handful of results remained under contestation. In late April, Starbucks employees at two stores in Cary and Peoria became the first in Illinois to unionize. Earlier this month, baristas in La Grange voted against joining the union in a 9-6 vote. The vote came a few days after interim Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announced new pay raises and benefits that he said would not apply to employees at stores that have unionized or sought to do so. Workers at Hoffmans store filed for union representation in March; employees at the Edgewater Beach store filed in April. In a statement, Workers United International Vice President Kathy Hanshew said the union was extremely proud to welcome the Chicago Starbucks workers into the union. Starbucks bosses are no match for this new generation of union activists, and no match for a united labor movement that is steadfast in its commitment to stand with them, Hanshew said. In a statement, Starbucks said it respected the right to organize and was committed to following the NLRB process. From the beginning, weve been clear in our belief that we are better together as partners, without a union between us, and that conviction has not changed, the company said. Advertisement Vote counts for four other Chicago Starbucks are coming up in June. Those stores are located in the Loop, Hyde Park, Logan Square and Bucktown. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greece has told the head of the United Nations that Turkey is directly challenging its sovereignty over islands in the eastern Aegean Sea, and pursuing a hostile and revisionist policy that is destabilizing the region. The four-page letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, dated May 25 and signed by Greece's permanent U.N. representative, Maria Theofili, was seen by The Associated Press on Thursday. Greece solemnly calls upon Turkey to stop questioning Greeces sovereignty over its Aegean islands, in particular through legally baseless and historically false assertions (and) to abstain from threatening Greece with war, the letter reads. Greece and Turkey have been at odds for decades over sea boundaries, but the disagreement flared in 2020 as oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean intensified. Turkey is demanding that Greece demilitarize its eastern islands, maintaining the action is required under 20th century treaties that ceded sovereignty of the islands to Greece. The Greek government calls the demand a deliberate misinterpretation and has accused Turkey, a fellow NATO member, of stepping up hostile actions in the area. Highly threatening acts by Turkey (include) repeated overflights of Greek territory by fighter jets in contravention to international law, the letter said. The Greek-Turkish dispute largely centers around oil-and-gas drilling rights in the eastern Mediterranean, specifically around Greek islands near Turkeys coastline. A Turkish survey mission two years ago triggered a tense naval stand-off that Western allies had warned ran the risk of escalating into a military conflict. In response to the energy crisis worsened by the war in Ukraine, Greece has pledged to temporarily reverse a coal phase-out and step up hydrocarbon exploration along its western coastline. ___ Follow Gatopoulos on Twitter at https://twitter.com/dgatopoulos 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 WASHINGTON (AP) Democrats first attempt at responding to the back-to-back mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas, failed in the Senate Thursday as Republicans blocked a domestic terrorism bill that would have opened debate on difficult questions surrounding hate crimes and gun safety. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., tried to nudge Republicans into taking up a domestic terrorism bill that had cleared the House quickly last week after mass shootings at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and a church in Southern California targeting people of color. He said it could become the basis for negotiation. But the vote failed along party lines, raising fresh doubts about the possibility of robust debate, let alone eventual compromise, on gun safety measures. The final vote was 47-47, short of the 60 needed to take up the bill. All Republicans voted against it. We're disappointed, said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. She said it's "shameful" that the National Rifle Association and others have stood in the way of advancing such measures but encouraged Congress to press ahead. The president has been very clear thats its time to act," she said. Rejection of the bill, just two days after the mass shooting at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 children and two teachers, brought into sharp relief Congress' persistent failure to pass legislation to curb the nation's epidemic of gun violence. It also underscored the prevalence of mass shootings in the U.S. as Congress struggled to react to earlier shootings but was confronted by yet another massacre. Schumer said he will give bipartisan negotiations in the Senate about two weeks, while Congress is away for a break, to try to forge a compromise bill that could pass the 50-50 Senate, where 60 votes will be needed to overcome a filibuster. None of us are under any illusions this will be easy, Schumer said ahead of the vote. A small, bipartisan group of about 10 senators who have sought to negotiate legislation on guns met Thursday afternoon for the second time searching for any compromise that could win approved in Congress. They narrowed to three topics background checks for guns purchased online or at gun shows, red-flag laws designed to keep guns away from those who could harm themselves or others, and programs to bolster security at schools and other buildings. We have a range of options that were going to work on, said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who is leading the negotiations. They broke into groups and will report next week. Murphy has been working to push gun legislation since the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, that killed 20 children and six educators. He was joined Thursday by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and others. Collins, a veteran of bipartisan talks, called the meeting constructive. What is clear, however, is that providing funding for local gun safety efforts may be more politically viable than devising new federal policies. GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina exited the meeting saying there is no appetite for a federal red flag law or a so-called yellow flag law which permits temporary firearm confiscation from people in danger of hurting themselves or others, if a medical practitioner signs off. But Graham said there could be interest in providing money to the states that already have red flag laws or that want to develop them. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who circulated a draft at the meeting, will work with Graham on a potential compromise. These laws save lives, Blumenthal said. Toomey told reporters that the Manchin-Toomey background check bill which failed in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school shooting a decade ago still does not have enough support. Manchin said he hoped this time would be different. I cant get my grandchildren out of my mind. It could have been them, Manchin said. None of the lawmakers could say definitively if any of the efforts will be able to win all Democrats and have the 10 Republican senators it needs to advance past a GOP-led filibuster. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who has said little about gun legislation since the several tragedies have unfolded, told reporters he met with Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas earlier and encouraged senators to collaborate across the aisle on workable outcomes. I am hopeful that we could come up with a bipartisan solution thats directly related to the facts of this awful massacre, McConnell said. The domestic terrorism bill that failed Thursday dates back to 2017, when Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., first proposed it after mass shootings in Las Vegas and Southerland Springs, Texas. The House passed a similar measure by a voice vote in 2020, only to have it languish in the Senate. Since then, Republicans have turned against the legislation, with only one GOP lawmaker supporting passage in the House last week. What had broad bipartisan support two years ago, because of the political climate we find ourselves in ... or to be more specific, the political climate Republicans find themselves in, were not able to stand up against domestic terrorism, Schneider, who came into office in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting, told The Associated Press. Republicans say the bill doesnt place enough emphasis on combating domestic terrorism committed by groups on the far left. Under the bill, agencies would be required to produce a joint report every six months that assesses and quantifies domestic terrorism threats nationally, including threats posed by white supremacists and neo-Nazi groups. Proponents say the bill will fill the gaps in intelligence-sharing among the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI so that officials can better track and respond to the growing threat of white extremist terrorism. The efforts would focus on the spread of racist ideology online like replacement theory, which investigators say motivated an 18-year-old white gunman to drive three hours to carry out a racist, livestreamed shooting rampage two weeks ago in a crowded supermarket in Buffalo. Or the animus against Taiwanese parishioners at a church in Laguna Woods, California, that led to the shooting death the following day of one man and the wounding of five others. While Schneider acknowledged that his legislation may not have stopped those attacks, he said it would ensure that those federal agencies work together to better identify, predict and stop threats. Under current law, the three federal agencies already work to investigate, prevent and prosecute acts of domestic terrorism. But the bill would require each agency to open offices specifically dedicated to those tasks and create an interagency task force to combat the infiltration of white supremacy in the military. Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Alan Fram and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report. This story has been corrected to show that Sen. Collins' vote was incorrectly announced in the Senate chamber as a yes vote. All Republicans voted against the measure. More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings 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 PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A jury in Portland has convicted a self-published romance novelist who once wrote an essay titled How to Murder Your Husband of fatally shooting her husband four years ago. The jury of seven women and five men found Nancy Crampton Brophy, 71, guilty of second-degree murder Wednesday after deliberating over two days in chef Daniel Brophys death, KOIN-TV reported. Brophy, 63, was killed June 2, 2018, as he prepped for work at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Southwest Portland. Crampton Brophy displayed no visible reaction Wednesday inside the crowded Multnomah County courtroom. Lisa Maxfield, one of Crampton Brophys attorneys, said the defense team plans to appeal. Prosecutors told jurors that Crampton Brophy was motivated by money problems and a life insurance policy. Crampton Brophy said during the trial, however, that she had no reason to kill her husband and that their financial problems had largely been solved by cashing in a chunk of Brophy's retirement savings plan. She owned the same make and model of gun used to kill her husband and was seen on surveillance camera footage driving to and from the culinary institute, court exhibits and court testimony showed. Police never found the gun that killed Brophy. Prosecutors alleged Crampton Brophy swapped out the barrel of the gun used in the shooting and then discarded the barrel. Defense attorneys said the gun parts were inspiration for Crampton Brophys writing and suggested someone else might have killed Brophy during a robbery gone wrong. Crampton Brophy testified during the trial that her presence near the culinary school on the day of her husband's death was mere coincidence and that she had parked in the area to work on her writing. Crampton Brophys how-two treatise detailed various options for committing an untraceable killing and professed a desire to avoid getting caught. Circuit Judge Christopher Ramras ultimately excluded the essay from the trial, noting it was published in 2011. A prosecutor, however, alluded to the essays themes without naming it after Crampton Brophy took the stand. Crampton Brophy has remained in custody since her arrest in September 2018, several months after her husband was shot. Her sentencing has been scheduled for June 13. 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 NEW ORLEANS (AP) About $33 million of the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan recently signed into law by President Joe Biden will go toward cleanning up 277 of an estimated 15,000 abandoned oil and gas wells on federal land, the nation's interior secretary said Wednesday. Millions of Americans live within one mile of an abandoned oil or gas well, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said, adding during a news conference that the wells pose a danger to people, particularly in communities of color and rural communities. With tens of thousands of known orphaned wells across the country there is a significant amount of work to be done, so the program will provide many jobs that pay well, Haaland said. There are an estimated 15,000 abandoned wells on federal land and states have indicated that they would need more than $8 billion to clean up 130,000 other orphaned wells, said Laura Daniel-Davis, principal deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals. Those figures could be low the Environmental Protection Agency has estimated the national total at 3.2 million. Daniel-Davis said money to help nail down state inventories is included in $1.1 billion announced in January as available to states under the infrastructure law. This is the first installment of $250 million provided through the infrastructure law for cleaning up orphaned wells and well sites on federal public lands, national parks, national wildlife refuges and national forests, Daniel-Davis said. The next will probably be announced during the fiscal year which starts Oct. 1, she said. Including wells on federal land, the bill will provide $4.7 billion to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells, said Mitch Landrieu, Biden's infrastructure coordinator. States are now finally counting them, he said. Wells covered by Wednesday's announcement are considered high-priority because pollution threatens human health and safety, the climate and wildlife. Several wells, particularly in Pennsylvania and Louisiana, are near disadvantaged groups, Daniel-Davis said. Some 163 wells are in Louisiana, in five wildlife refuges and the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve's Barataria unit. Sixty-eight are in the Darbonne National Wildlife Refuge and 59 in the Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge. There are 24 each in Kentucky, in the Daniel Boone National Forest, and in Oklahoma, in the Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge. Another 20 are in Texas, 18 in the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania and 14 in Bureau of Land Management lands in Utah. In addition, the government will inventory and assess wells in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah. Ten wells are in California, three in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio and one in the Gauley River National Recreation Area in West Virginia. Contractors will measure methane before and after cleanup, Haaland said. Louisiana has about 4,600 orphaned wells, defined in state law as those with owners that have either gone out of business or have ignored state clean-up orders, said Patrick Courreges, spokesman for the state Department of Natural Resources. He said environmentalists often count those which have been plugged for at least five years as abandoned. As of last fall, he said, there were 9,352 such wells, owned by 447 companies. Louisiana has been plugging 120 to 200 abandoned wells a year for the past five or six years, he said. It is our hope to at least double that" with money from the infrastructure bill, said Courreges. 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 RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) The Palestinian Authority on Thursday announced the results of its investigation into the shooting death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, saying it had proven she was deliberately killed by Israeli forces as she tried to flee. The conclusion echoed the results of a preliminary investigation announced nearly two weeks ago and were widely expected. Israel rejected the findings, with Defense Minister Benny Gantz calling them, a blatant lie. Abu Akleh, a veteran Palestinian-American reporter for Al Jazeeras Arabic service, was shot in the head on May 11 during an Israeli military raid in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Witnesses and Palestinian officials have said she was hit by Israeli fire. Israel says she was shot during a battle between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants. It says that only a ballistic analysis of the bullet which is held by the Palestinian Authority and the soldiers guns can determine who fired the fatal shot. Announcing the results of his probe at a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah,, Palestinian Attorney General Akram Al Khateeb said he had determined there were no militants in the immediate area where Abu Akleh was located. The only shooting was by the occupation forces, with the aim of killing, he said. Abu Akleh was in a group of journalists wearing helmets and protective vests marked press. Al Khateeb said the army saw the journalists and knew they were journalists. He accused Israel of shooting Abu Akleh directly and deliberately as she tried to escape. He also repeated the Palestinian position that the bullet will not be handed over to the Israelis for study. He said they decided not even to show images of the bullet to deprive (Israel) of a new lie. Al Khateeb said his investigation was based on interviews with witnesses, an inspection of the scene and a forensic medical report. In a speech later Thursday, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi said it was impossible to know who fired the bullet and once again called on the Palestinians to cooperate to get to the bottom of what happened. But there is one thing that can be determined with certainty," the military chief said. "No soldier fired intentionally at a journalist. We investigated that. We checked it. That is the conclusion. There is no other. Israel denies targeting journalists and has offered two possible scenarios, saying Abu Akleh was either shot by Palestinian militants who were firing recklessly at an Israeli army convoy or that she was hit by Israeli gunfire aimed at a nearby militant. The military has identified the rifle that may have been used in that scenario, but says it needs to test the bullet to make any final determination. An AP reconstruction of events has lent support to eyewitnesses who say she was shot by Israeli troops. But a weapons expert interviewed by the AP as part of the reconstruction said that it was impossible to reach a conclusive finding without further forensic analysis. Palestinian witnesses say there were no militants or clashes anywhere near Abu Akleh. The only known militants in the area were on the other side of the convoy, some 300 meters (yards) from her position. They did not have a direct line of sight, unlike the convoy itself, which was some 200 (meters) away on a long straight road. Israel has publicly called for a joint investigation with the PA, with U.S. participation, and has asked the PA to hand over the bullet for testing. But the State Department said Wednesday that it had received no formal request for assistance from either side two weeks after her death. The PA has refused to hand over the bullet to Israel or cooperate with it in any way, saying Israel cannot be trusted to investigate its own conduct. Rights groups say Israel has a poor record of investigating when security forces shoot Palestinians, with cases often languishing for months or years before being quietly closed. The PA administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hussein Al Sheikh, a top Palestinian official, said Thursday's report would be shared with the U.S. administration. Copies will also be delivered to Abu Akleh's family and to Al Jazeera, he said. The Palestinians say they will also share their results with international parties, including the International Criminal Court, which launched an investigation into possible Israeli war crimes last year. Israel has rejected that probe as being biased against it and is not cooperating with it. The severe distrust means the Israeli and Palestinian investigations into Abu Aklehs death are unfolding separately, with neither likely to accept any conclusions reached by the other. Each side is in sole possession of potentially crucial evidence. Ballistic analysis could match the bullet to a specific firearm based on a microscopic signature, but only if investigators have access to both. Lt. Col. Amnon Shefler, a military spokesman, told the AP the military has additional footage from that day, but declined to say what it shows or when it would be released, citing the ongoing investigation. Palestinians are still mourning Abu Akleh, a widely known and respected on-air correspondent who rose to fame two decades ago, during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, against Israeli rule. The 51-year-old documented the harsh realities of life under Israeli military rule now well into its sixth decade with no end in sight for viewers across the Arab world. Jenin has long been a bastion of Palestinian militants, and several recent attacks inside Israel have been carried out by young men from in and around the town. Israel has continued to carry out near-daily raids in Jenin since Abu Aklehs death, which it says are aimed at preventing more. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 war and has built settlements where nearly 500,000 Israelis live alongside nearly 3 million Palestinians. The Palestinians want the territory to form the main part of their future state, but peace talks broke down more than a decade ago, and Israels dominant right-wing parties are opposed to Palestinian statehood. The PA itself is seen by many Palestinians as a corrupt and authoritarian body that aids the occupation by coordinating with Israel on security matters. Any cooperation with Israel on the Abu Akleh investigation would likely spark a popular backlash among Palestinians, who view her as a martyr to both journalism and their national cause. Associated Press writer Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The other day I came across a quote attributed to Jan Owen, CEO of The Foundation for Young Australians: If youre over 45 and you dont have an under 30-year-old mentor not mentee, but mentor youre going to miss fundamental shifts in thinking that are happening. Reverse mentorship, in which a company pairs younger employees with executives, is becoming increasingly popular as organizations struggle to keep current with social and cultural change. Those who participate in such programs report that it helps them communicate better and develop more informed strategies. Fundamental shifts in the way societies view themselves and the world around them have always happened, but for most of human history they happened gradually, with long increments of time in between. Advice tended to flow in one direction from the more experienced to the less experienced because the lessons learned along the way were still relevant 10, 20 or even 50 years later. Today, however, social and cultural changes are occurring more frequently because of the speed with which new technologies are being developed. Personal computers, email, smartphones, social media, artificial intelligence each new development affects how we interact with one another, how we communicate, even how we see ourselves. The resulting social and cultural changes not only occur more frequently, they go deeper as well. Early in my career I was asked to meet regularly with a senior colleague. He had been assigned to me as part of a mentorship program at the university where I had just been hired. It was not a good fit. I was looking for advice about how to keep students engaged in the classroom and how to focus my scholarly work on areas that would be timely and relevant. He was cordial, happy to meet with me and have someone listen to his reminiscences, but he didnt have anything useful to offer. He had not kept current with recent literature in our field. His research was fascinating to him but, to my mind, inconsequential. It was like we were living in two different worlds, and he did not know it. In Buster Keatons masterpiece, The General, Keaton plays a Confederate railroad engineer fleeing from Union soldiers who are pursuing on another train. As he stands on top of the tender, furiously chopping wood to feed the engine, one can see the Union Army advancing and the Confederates in retreat, the battle lines shifting behind his back. He is too engaged in his work to notice what is going on around him. From that point on, all his progress takes him deeper into enemy territory. The scene depicts the predicament many of us face in todays world. We work hard to obtain some measure of success. The harder we work, the more attention we pay to it, the more we lose sight of what is going on outside our focus. When we take a break to look around, we find the world has changed. It is deeply unsettling to live in a world that is constantly changing, not just in superficial ways but seismically. One can go from useful to useless in the blink of an eye. One day you are teaching your kids how to drive; the next you are asking them how to connect to Bluetooth. They are thinking: This is the guy who wants to tell me how to live? But as unsettling as change can be for older people, it can be much worse for the young, who often think they have nobody to rely upon for advice about the most important things. I am convinced this is part of the reason for increasing rates of anxiety and depression among the young. We are not going to slow down the rate of change. Technological development has become the defining feature of contemporary life. We need to learn how to live with it. That is going to require more attention to the quality of intergenerational relationships. Older people and younger people need each other, and the more we acknowledge that and work to establish and maintain healthy, mutually beneficial relationships, the better off all of us will be. When I was growing up, I spent a great deal of time with my grandpa Ralph. Most of his advice came from his time as a turkey farmer or from his days as a hobo during the Great Depression. One day we were walking through the woods. He bent over, picked up a pebble and stuck it in his mouth. If you ever run out of water, he said, just suck on a pebble. Most of his advice consisted of simple, practical tips about surviving through hard times. It was interesting but not terribly relevant to my life, as far as I could see. As I got older and went off to college, he had little to offer me. But his advice could be cryptic, and I came to understand that much of what he said had more than one meaning. His last words to me were like that. Dont take any wooden nickels, he said. Nobody tries to pass off coins made of wood anymore, but you still need to look out for those who would give you nothing for something. As technology develops, the culture changes. Thats why older people needed younger people to help them stay current. But human nature stays the same, and thats why younger people need the wisdom of those who have been around a while. We need each other. And thats a good thing. Richard Kyte is director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis., and co-host of The Ethical Life podcast. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I was roommates with a girl five years ago. I was a spoiled brat for many years, but I've worked very hard to change. She, on the other hand, is still supported by her father, has no job or interests, and just wants to get married. Whenever she calls, she wants advice on the same boy drama. I just don't have the time or patience for this anymore. I tried not responding to her, but she keeps calling and texting, "I need to come over right now!" Drama-Weary "I need to come over right now!" What are you, a day spa for her emotions crossed with the Burger King drive-thru? It's easy to confuse the chunk of time a friend has been in your life with reason for them to continue being there. It helps to unpack the mystique about how friendships form. Social science research finds that a major driver of friendship is similarity shared values and attitudes, for example. But demographic similarity is part of it, too like both being 30-year-old single female zoo workers who went to a crappy college. And though we want to believe we carefully choose the friends in our lives, personality psychologist Mitja Back and his colleagues are among the researchers who've found that "mere proximity" seems to play a big role in who our friends are. This means, for example, living in the apartment next door, working in the same department, or, in Back's study, being randomly assigned to "neighboring seats" in a college class. In other words, you probably became friends with this woman because she was sleeping in the next room, not because you conducted a nationwide search for the best possible buddy for you. Now's the time to choose whether she stays in your life and you don't do that by hoping she'll hear your vigorous eye-rolling over the phone and take the hint. Breaking up with a friend if that's what you want to do should work like breaking up with a romantic partner. Don't just wordlessly cut off contact; that's cruel and likely to backfire. Tell her that you need to end the friendship, explaining the problem in broad terms: You've "grown apart" or you're "in different places" in your lives. Even if she presses you, keep it kind by keeping it vague. The point is telling her it's over, not informing her that she's got all the emotional depth of a goldfish and then ducking out forever via call waiting: "Sorry gotta go. Important robocall from Rachel from Card Services on the other line!" To The Bitter Friend After six years of hard work, I'm starting to have some success in my career. Disturbingly, my best friend seems envious. I'll tell her some exciting news, and she'll barely respond. I understand that she's trying to break through while working a menial job, but my other friends are really supportive and happy for me. She claims she is, too, but her behavior says otherwise. It really hurts my feelings. Disappointed We often do crazy things simply to keep up with our peers who are doing those things not, say, because we were bored on a Saturday afternoon and had a little brainstorm: "I know! I'll pay some total stranger $55 to spread molten wax on my labia and rip out all my pubic hair!" We evolved to be creatures of "social comparison" judging how well we're doing personally and professionally by how we stack up to others. As I often explain, our emotions are not just for mental decoration; they're motivational tools. When we're lagging behind our peers, envy often rises up as it seems to be in your friend. Envy is mistakenly assumed to be ugly and shameful, but evolutionary social psychologist Bram Buunk and his colleagues explain that the feelbad we get from envy pushes us to get on the stick and narrow the "status gap" between ourselves and others. Understanding the underpinnings of envy can help you have compassion for your friend, which might help you avoid taking it personally when she fails to celebrate your achievements by pulling out confetti and a kazoo. Try to accept that she probably can't express the excitement you'd like her to because every success you rack up sneers, "Hey, loser! How come she's up there and you're down here?" If you do tell her about some win, consider pairing the news with mention of the years of grubby work and daily failures that went into it. This might help her view the success you've achieved as something attainable as opposed to some magical gift: "OMG, I was just sitting on my porch drinking a beer, when my boss called and said, 'You often cut work and smoke a lot of pot. Let's give you the VP job.'" Mounting a critique of privilege at a film festival is inevitably an exercise in friendly fire. Ill never forget watching The Queen of Versailles portrait of grotesque new-money excesses at Sundances opening-night gala, seated a few rows in front of Sen. Barbara Boxer and next to a charming older man who a few minutes earlier had been talking to me about his good friend Steve Young. But its an especially odd experience at Cannes, where screenings are held in a complex called the Palais du Cinema, and reaching them involves navigating knots of movie stars in expensive formalwear and the throngs of onlookers hoping to catch a glimpse of them. Advertisement Cannes is one of the worlds greatest film festivals, and also one of its most status-driven. Unless youre one of the lucky few who can snag a ticket by standing in the sun with a handmade sign, screenings are invitation-only, and even press access is tiered according to a notoriously opaque system of colored badges. (In an especially fun wrinkle, the festival wont tell you your status until you show up in France, although apparently my rose badge is one of the better ones.) In other words, the audience might have been particularly ripe for Ruben Ostlunds Triangle of Sadness, a blunt, rip-roaring satire about status anxiety. Set largely aboard a luxury superyacht of the kind that dot the harbor just beyond the screening rooms, the movie charts a vertiginous downward spiral through the circles of cringe hell, led by a pair of fashion modelslash-influencers played by Harris Dickinson and Charlbi Dean. In an early, powerfully uncomfortable scene, the couple engage in a tense argument about which of them is paying for dinner, a passive-aggressive standoff that grows less passive when he points out how she always manages to be distracted when the check shows up despite the fact that shes the more successful of the two. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for the Slate Culture Newsletter The best of movies, TV, books, music, and more, delivered to your inbox. 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. Those sorts of confrontations multiply exponentially once the beautiful couple climbs on board the megayacht, for an ultra-high-end cruise whose other passengers include a genial couple of elderly land mine manufacturers and an Eastern European oligarch who specializes in manure. (As he likes to put it, very loudly: My business is shit!) The faceoffs between the cruises elite participants and its service staff grow increasingly uncomfortable as the boat sails into choppy waters both figurative and literal, culminating in an uproarious sequence where the travelers, whove been advised to chow down on a series of colorful dishes to stave off seasickness, start spewing brilliant-hued upchuck all over themselves. As one critic for Slate France put it, en francais, I havent seen that much vomit since Jackass 3D. (It turns out the French for Jackass 3D is Jackass 3D.) The BBCs review wondered if Triangle of Sadness might be the most disgusting film of 2022this in the same week as the debut of a new body horror film from David Cronenbergbut they meant it as a compliment. Advertisement Despite its class war broadsides, Triangle of Sadness got a reported eight-minute ovation at its formal premiere, and even the downscale press screening next door regularly rippled with laughter. (The film was picked up for distribution a few days later by Neon, who swept the Croisette with Parasite in 2019.) Although a handful of boos got the movie labeled divisivethe ideal result for a director whose brand is as a provocateurit still seems, days later, a leading contender for the festivals top prize, the Palme dOr. What Triangle lacks in specificity it more than makes up for in gusto, but its also the kind of movie that almost anyone can walk away from without feeling implicated. Its a critique you laugh at, rather than one you feel. The closest it comes to self-reflection is when Woody Harrelsons yacht captain, a drunken leftist who screams quotations from Karl Marx and Edward Abbey during an argument, admits he cant be a good socialist, because I have too much stuff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By contrast, perennial Cannes favorite James Gray, back at the festival for his fifth time, is everywhere in Armageddon Time, the semi-autobiographical story of a kid from Queens whose blue-collar familys social aspirations lead them down an ultimately monstrous path. Based on Grays own childhood experience of being transferred to the boroughs Kew-Forest School, which counts Donald Trump among its alumni (members of Trumps family appear as characters), the movie begins as a soft-edged childhood reminiscence, complete with Anthony Hopkins as a twinkly-eyed grandfather, and turns increasingly and deliberately sour. Grays middle school stand-in, Paul Graff (Michael Banks Repeta), turns out to be exaggerating when he tells a Black friend (Jaylin Webb) its no problem for him to pay the field trip fee his classmate cant afford because his parents are rich, but its only because his grasp of what the word means is so limited. (Likewise, he cant seem to understand that his mother being president of the PTA doesnt mean she runs the school.) He doesnt yet understand his place in the world, or the options available to himand especially that the latter arent equally available to everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pauls parents, played by Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway, are working-class Democrats who scowl every time Ronald Reagan comes on the television, and she recoils when her mother makes a racist comment at the dinner table. But theyre also fixated on allowing their children to better themselves, and Gray unsparingly depicts how that superficially laudable and iconically American goal allows a gulf to yawn between their ideals and their actions. Theres rue in their voices when they tell their son that the world isnt fair, but their solution is to make sure their kids have the tools to exploit the uneven playing field, not to instill in them a feeling of responsibility to level it. Any parent, especially any white parent, who isnt moved to reflect on their choices is either much nobler than I am or in much deeper denial. Advertisement Advertisement At the press conference for Armageddon Time, Gray was blunt about the films subject: Its impossible to look at the world, he said, and not see white privilege as one of the guiding mechanisms that are in existence. But the industry bible Variety speculated that the movies depiction of racial inequalities might turn off awards voters, and the Hollywood Reporter said that its post-premiere ovation lasted a scant four minutes. (A separate account in the same publication counted six, which gives you some idea of the level of science involved.) Although Triangle of Sadness was labeled divisive, really it was Armageddon Time that seemed more sharply to divide viewers, with some lauding its subtle precision and others reading it as a too-cute-by-half fable that never holds its characters to account. Still others felt it was simply an inappropriate or at least ill-timed story to tell at all, yet another movie about a white person who learns from a Black persons misfortune. Gray has made a movie about his familys, and his own, complicity without making excuses, or even providing a neat resolution that suggests things will get better. (The movie ends in the early 1980s, so we know what happened next: They didnt.) Hes staying in his lane but looking outside it, and trying to show us all the things he still cant see. The grim logic of modern gun rights culture and the relentless assault on gun regulation has made America an outlier among industrial democracies when it comes to gun violence. This was again illustrated by Tuesdays horrific massacre in Uvalde, Texas, during which 19 elementary school children and two adults were murdered by a killer using high-powered weaponry. Instead of debating the issue head-onthe fact that we live in the only country where something like Tuesdays mass murder of school-age children can happen with such regularity and that our libertine attitude toward guns plays a major rolegun rights activists would rather point to distractions instead of dealing with the issue before us. Despite being handed one legal and political victory after another, they continue to vent outrage and venom, eschewing reasoned debate and carrying forward the grievance culture that animates so much right-wing thought in America. This is readily demonstrated by Kevin Williamson of National Review, responding to Tuesdays massacre by writing a nearly 700-word article about a minor factual error I made in a recent article, which Slate has since corrected. Advertisement 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. The mistake was in an extrapolation that I made from an academic study to determine how much more powerful modern weapons were than Revolutionary Warera muskets. The study I briefly referenced did not discuss the AR-15, so I hypothesized based on this research that these guns were 200 times more lethal than the muskets used in the founding era. It turns out that the number is more likely closer to 50 times as deadly. Thisthiswas what prompted Williamsons anger in the aftermath of the countrys most horrific shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School gun massacre and just days after a white supremacist gun massacre at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. An email noting the error and asking for a correction from me would have sufficed, and I wrote to Williamson to say that I would happily correct the error and asked him for an alternative figure for the comparison, but he declined. (Nowhere in Williamsons piece does he mention that same days mass murder of fourth graders.) Advertisement Advertisement Williamson took issue with an illustrative figure I offered in a recent Slate article comparing the lethality of todays semi-automatic high-velocity weapons with Revolutionary era muskets. In that article I suggested that todays weapons were 200 times more deadly, a claim that would be hard to document in a rigorously scientific fashion and that I offered as a guesstimate based on an extrapolation from an influential 1960s-era study. That study suggested that World War IIera weapons were more than 200 times deadlier than 17th century muskets. However, as Williamson and others rightly noted, the AR-15 cannot be said to be more deadly than fully automatic machine guns used in WWII, and in any event Revolutionary soldiers used 18th century flintlocks that still took much longer to load and were far less accurate than the WWII weapons. Working out of the lethality index developed early in the Vietnam War era, a better comparison would have been to suggest that modern weapons are more like 20 to 50 times as deadly as what founding-era soldiers would use, rather than 200. For Williamson, this is the pressing issue that demands public attention, not the bodies of 19 massacred children being claimed by their parents in Uvalde. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After reviewing these criticisms and reading Williamsons article, I wrote to him and conceded that this claim, which had nothing to do with the substance of my argument, needed to be corrected. What is astonishing to me is that Williamson clearly seems far more immediately interested in taking me to task for this error than in dealing with the horrific shootings in the news. His response is morally obtuse. His macabre focus on the relative power of guns, and apparent disregard of the gut-wrenching loss of human life caused by gun violence in America, is sadly common among people who share his worldview. The lethality index was devised by military historians and policymakers to evaluate and compare weapons on a battlefield, not an elementary school. If the shooter in Uvalde or Buffalo had used a musket, most likely all of the victims would be alive today, so in some sense the number 200 that I offered does not even begin to quantify the magnitude of the potential carnage that modern weapons can cause in a school setting. Advertisement Advertisement Williamsons myopic response highlights the moral bankruptcy of his distorted and supersized vision of the Second Amendment. With more guns in America than people, and more gun violence than any other industrial democracy, one wonders why these are the sort of things that gun rights advocates choose to focus on. Of course, the answer is obvious: If you address the madness of gun violence in America, then you have to acknowledge the intellectual and moral shallowness of the gun rights position adopted by Williamson and others of his ilk. Advertisement Advertisement Once upon a time in America, sensible gun regulation was a bipartisan issue. Comparing Richard Nixons views of gun control with Barack Obamas, one would be hard-pressed not to prefer the former to the latter. The fact that Republicans in 1968 were more sound on the need for sensible gun regulation than many in todays Democratic Party only underscores how far American culture has drifted on this issue toward extremism. Many journalists and scholars ask why so few individuals come forward to participate in this fractious, contentious, and nasty debate. I think Kevin Williamson has given us a brief tutorial about why gun rights culture, a radical but vocal fringe element of gun owners, has effectively poisoned the well of public discourse on this issue. The exhibits on display come from archaeological excavations carried out in the locality since the early 1960s. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled A Roman military camp, which became Bratislavas first UNESCO World Heritage Site, is hosting a new exhibition. The camp was named Gerulata at the borders of the Roman Empire and it demonstrates the importance of ancient Gerulata in Bratislava Rusovce. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Lost in Bratislava? Impossible with our City Guide! Visitors are able to learn about the daily workday of soldiers in the camp, as well as about the life, social composition and activity of citizens of the civic settlement and distant base with villas and rustic estates, stated the Bratislava City Museum, as quoted by the TASR newswire. The exhibition will include objects based on research of a house with hypocaust underfloor heating, an exceptional technical achievement of Roman times, as well as a collection of stone art works. "The exhibits on display come from archaeological excavations that have been carried out in the locality since the early 1960s," adds the museum, as quoted by TASR. Gerulata in Rusovce has been a national cultural monument since 1963. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List at the end of July 2021 as part of the Roman Empire Border Danube Limes (western part). In addition to Gerulata, it includes the Roman military camp (castle) in Iz near Komarno. Gerulata is open from May until September, between 10:00 and 17:00, and closed on Mondays. Roman military camp in Bratislava makes UNESCO list Read more Spectacular Slovakia travel guides Monkeypox cases rising in EU, authorities urge countries to take measures Xinhua) 08:21, May 26, 2022 ROME, May 25 (Xinhua) -- With monkeypox cases rising in Europe, European health authorities are urging countries to take extra steps to bring the spread of the virus under control. The disease, which is not new, is usually not deadly, and medical experts have said that existing vaccines are effective against it. Monkeypox is relatively common in some parts of Africa, where it has in the past spread from some kinds of primates and rodents to human populations, and sometimes from human to human. However, until recently, cases in other parts of the world have been rare. In Europe, Britain has the highest number of confirmed cases, at over 71. Meanwhile, the bulk of the confirmed cases within the European Union are in Spain and Portugal, followed by Italy. Spain has seen at least 55 confirmed cases. In Portugal, 39 cases of monkeypox have been reported so far, while in Italy the number on Wednesday rose to seven. Italian news reports indicate that another 15 residents who had been in contact with five patients hospitalized in Rome have been isolated awaiting test results. Most of the cases in Rome are linked to tourists returning from Spain's Canary Islands. The Canary Islands confirmed its first case this week, and health officials there have begun testing at-risk individuals. Meanwhile, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said this week that the outbreak risked becoming entrenched and difficult to eradicate if person-to-person transmission continues, and if the disease infects Europe's animal population. However, the risk of the latter happening is believed to be "very low." European health officials have urged member states to prepare to conduct contact tracing, and ramp up supplies of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food safety, said Monday she was "concerned" about the increasing number of monkeypox cases in the European Union (EU) and globally. "While currently the likelihood of spread in the broader population is low, the situation is evolving," she said. The European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority has begun collaborating with the European Medicines Agency and health officials in individual EUmember states to curb the rising numbers of cases. The World Health Organization said Tuesday that since the first case was reported on May 7, there have been at least 131 confirmed cases of monkeypox, and 106 suspected cases of the disease in 19 countries outside of Africa. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Jars of tahini on display at Albaik Tahini on May 25, 2022, in Arlington Heights. The brand is a freshly ground tahini. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Ayub Julany grew up confident he didnt want to go into his familys tahini business based in Abu Ghosh, Israel. Born in the United States and raised in Jerusalem, he decided to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign so he could get a degree in molecular and cellular biology. Advertisement I thought I wanted to be a food technologist, Julany said. After graduating, he quickly got a job in that field and even enjoyed it at first. But as he settled in, a nagging feeling crept in that he couldnt shake. After a couple of months, it got really boring, he said. I was doing the same thing every day. On a trip back to visit his family, he realized what he wanted to do. Thats where it all clicked, Julany said. I knew I wanted to start my own tahini brand here in Chicago. Advertisement Jars of tahini on display at Albaik Tahini on May 25, 2022, in Arlington Heights. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) That idea eventually became Albaik Tahini, which Julany is proud to point out is the only freshly ground tahini produced in Illinois. He explains that most tahini on the shelves is imported from overseas and is often many months old, which explains why youll see the oil separate from the sesame paste in the jar. Its the main ingredient in all of these Middle Eastern dishes like hummus, baba ghanoush, he said. Im making the same quality of freshly made tahini you can find in Jerusalem. Thanks to his familys business, he knew exactly the kind of tahini he wanted to make, but it still took him years to save up enough money and track down the right equipment. I had to travel to Turkey to get the right machine, he said. Julany prefers for the sesame seeds to be ground by stone, not metal. A lot of tahini is made using steel machines that grind the sesame seeds at high temperature, he said. But the sesame oil will lose its quality at high temperatures. Itll also change the taste and the color. Julany is also very picky about the kinds of sesame seeds he uses. We actually use a mix of two kinds, one from Ethiopia and one from Sudan. The oil content is high, the taste isnt bitter, and the color white. I could get seeds for half the price, but I like the ones from Africa. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > When he first opened a little over two years ago, he spent a lot of time selling tahini directly to restaurants, a process he admits took some time. They had been using other tahini for a number of years, he said. They worried that the taste would be different and their customers wouldnt like it. But thanks to his passionate pitch, and lots of samples, he was able to make some progress. It was going really well in 2020 for the first two months, Julany said. Then it all disappeared with the pandemic. Forced to make adjustments, he learned how to bottle the tahini to sell at grocery stores. Currently, you can find Albaik Tahini at a number of Chicago stores, including Sanabel Bakery (4213 N. Kedzie Ave.), Middle East Bakery & Grocery (1512 W. Foster Ave.) and Nohadra Grocery (2959 W. Devon Ave.). Hes hoping to get his product into some larger stores soon. You can also order the tahini online. He has also found a lot of success at farmers markets. I am able to connect to people on a personal level, he said. It was the best thing I could ever do. Im telling my story, while youre sampling. He has recently made appearances at the Logan Square Farmers Market, Lincoln Park Farmers Market, Arlington Heights Farmers Market and Elgin Farmers Market. [ 57 Chicago-area farmers markets, mapped ] Albaik Tahini is still mostly a one-man business, though Julany did hire his uncle part time to help him run the stone grinder. I also have a friend helping me with the farmers markets, he said. But other than that, its only me. Its growing, and it wont stop anytime soon. I guarantee that. Advertisement nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. Difficult feat to capture object at heart of the Milky Way The supermassive black hole in the centre of the Milky Way galaxy. (Source: EHT Collaboration) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled For many years, scientists have suspected that there is a supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy, the Milky Way. The clearest evidence so far has been how gravity governed the paths of surrounding stars. Now, astronomers have unveiled an image of the object known as Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), giving the very first visual evidence of this phenomenon. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The new image, released on May 12, was created by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration, a global research team of several hundred scientists that used a network of radio telescopes all over the world, essentially creating a telescope as big as our planet. Using this, they were able to peer through interstellar dust clouds and gather enough data to take the picture. Related article Related article Computer scientist explains how robots see and translators translate Read more The black hole itself cannot be seen, as nothing can escape it, not even light. But glowing gas with bright spots around a dark central region is a telltale sign of its existence. Visually, the picture is remarkably similar to the very first image of a black hole, released in 2019, at the centre of the distant Messier 87 galaxy. Thanks to the two images, astronomers can now study the differences between them and gain new insight about their features. video //www.youtube.com/embed/TF8THY5spmo A time-lapse video spanning over 20 years shows stars orbiting the supermassive black hole that lies in the centre of the Milky Way.Credit: ESO/MPE A difficult feat Black holes are possibly the strangest consequence of general relativity - the theory published in 1915 by Albert Einstein that describes how everything in the universe is governed by gravity. However, not even Einstein himself believed that such an object could actually exist. The law is meant to address insufficient housing options in Slovakia. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The law on rental housing that MPs have passed on May 25 should serve as the legal basis for the rental housing policy the coalition has set among its priorities. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The law, authored by Sme Rodina, addresses the problems regarding the lack of accessible housing for wide groups of inhabitants. 126 of the present 130 MPs voted in favour of the law. Sme Rodina's leader, Speaker of Parliament Boris Kollar, asserted that a number of investors are ready to start building state-supported rental flats. An Austrian investor promised to invest 500 million in the first rental flats, he said as reported by the TASR newswire. Under the law, there should be a clear specification on the procurement of rental flats by landlords who want to provide flats as part of the state support programme for rental housing. The law also expands the possibilities of acquiring flats through shares in companies that own the respective buildings. The required minimum for rental housing projects is set at 20 flats. The government has the right to cap the rents, differing by the region or project in question. Employers to help with rent To regulate and help with the housing demand, a new agency for supporting state rental housing is set to be created. Its rights include issuing approvals for housing projects, including its financing and overseeing the project implementation. Employers will receive the chance to help their employees with state-supported rental housing via an allowance exempted from income and payroll taxes. The lowering of VAT on procuring state-supported rental flats has also decreased from 20 to 5 percent. This lowered VAT applies to landlords registered in the agencys list of landlords who own the residential building. Deal should come soon, says ministry Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Doctors and representatives of the Faculty of Medicine at Comenius University have called on the government to make a quick decision on the construction of a new university hospital in Bratislava. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Related article Related article New hospital in Bratislava won't open fully till autumn 2023 Read more Education a priority They say they need the new hospital to help train future doctors. "We have been hearing that we cannot have a new hospital because there is no money, but now the European Union is offering it. It is no longer a financial problem," said Peter Visolajsky, Chairman of the Medical Trade Unions Association (LOZ). "The question of the university hospital is now a question of whether the Health Ministry is doing its job and whether the PM, the Health Minister, and the coalition parties will keep the promise they made to citizens before the elections and build the hospital," he said. In Visolajsky's opinion, the health system may have a shortage of up to 4,000 doctors by 2025. Related article Related article Head of hospital: We have no replacement for Ukrainian doctors who decide to join the army Read more Deal should come soon, says ministry According to the Health Ministry, construction of a new university hospital is a priority. The public procurement for the documentation of the project is currently being evaluated. The process of evaluation should be completed in the coming weeks and a contract with a supplier will be signed, the Ministry said. "It is the intention of the Ministry to prepare, implement, and operate a new hospital that will provide comprehensive and top services in medical care, high-standard diagnostics and treatment, and at the same time serve as a center for research and education," said Petra Lanikova, Health Ministry spokeswoman. For your summer beach reading: "Last Summer on State Street" by Toya Wolfe; "An Immense World" by Ed Yong; "Trust" by Hernan Diaz; "Rogues" by Patrick Radden Keefe; "Cult Classic" by Sloane Crosley; "Sleepwalk" by Dan Chaon; "This Body I Wore" by Diana Goetsch; "Lapvona" by Ottessa Moshfegh; "Look Closer" by David Ellis; "Serious Face" by Jon Mooallem; "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt; "Spider-Man" by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko; "Captain America" by Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, Stan Lee, Jim Steranko and John Romita Sr.; "Black Panther" by Don McGregor, Rich Buckler, Billy Graham, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby; "Meet Me By the Fountain" by Alexandra Lange; "Crying in the Bathroom by Erika L. Sanchez; and "Two Wheels Good: The History and Mystery of the Bicycle" by Jody Rosen. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Look, this summer, read whatever you want. Dont listen to me. Indulge your whims. Its been a few summers since you could comfortably relax on a beach, towel to towel with strangers, and just lose yourself in a long book for a couple of hours. Not entirely sure you can do that now, either. But its likely. So read the collected works of Proust. Or the collected works of Nora Roberts. Read comics (the finest ones right now are smarter than many novels). Read self-help, or if youre in tune with the coming dystopia, read something darker and devoid of help. Advertisement Like the climate itself, our cultural climate is as fluid as it has ever been. Once a season defined by escapist, light reads, summer is still that, plus a world of variety that acknowledges: Not everyone has a beach or time for a long book. What follows are 44 titles (new or coming soon), ideal for the warmest months of the year, with an eye on the many moods and scenarios of summer, now to Labor Day: Advertisement SUMMER LAUGHS There was a time I would be excited by a new David Sedaris book, but somewhere in the past 20 years, while his autobiographical snapshots stayed as mordant and funny as ever, a familiarity set in. Happy-Go-Lucky ($29, Little Brown) is like a reminder of an old friend who can still make you laugh out loud, but with a poignance now. Subjects include the ugliness of his father, art school in Chicago (if you could draw Snoopy on a napkin, you were in) and entitled fans. I could feel the trouble but I couldnt put words to it, Isaac Fitzgerald writes plainly in his rowdy, more traditional memoir, Dirtbag, Massachusetts ($27, Bloomsbury), about a childhood of homelessness, told without piety or violin strains of uplift, but rather, an embrace of the chaos of just getting by. SUMMER HITS David Ellis, a justice in the Illinois First District Appellate Court, has built an impressive side gig from the Chicago suburbs as a master of the classic airport thriller meaning the sort you absorb during a plane ride someplace warmer. If the name is familiar, hes also a James Patterson co-writer, and that speedy tone rubs off. Look Closer (Putnam, $27), his latest, is full of Loop business bros and loathsome Wicker Park creeps, and the tale of murder and misdirection is a solid two days of beach escape. Conversely, Remarkably Bright Creatures, the debut of Chicago transplant Shelby Van Pelt, is sweet and warm, and you can see the Oscar adaptation clearly: A kindhearted elderly widowed janitor strikes up a friendship with an aquarium octopus (who also narrates). SUMMER STUDENTS Toya Wolfe reaches into her debut novel, Last Summer on State Street (William Morrow, $28) and pulls out a thoughtful snapshot of the end of public housing high-rises in Chicago. Wolfe grew up in the Robert Taylor Homes on the South Side and seems to have remembered the living room of every neighbor and the quality of the light in every hallway, mapping the geography of a childhood with the kind of vividness that brushes aside nostalgia. Advertisement Beyond the North Side, in Evanston, we find 80s theater students in Adam Langers Cyclorama (Bloomsbury, $27). When the plot skips ahead 40 years, and accusations fly among the former students, as in his 2004 breakthrough, Crossing California, Langer arranges the present beside a harsh reassessment of the past. SUMMER OBSESSION "This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch" by Tabitha Carvan and "Acting Class" by Nick Drnaso. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Everything I Need I Get From You: How Fangirls Created the Internet As We Know It (MCD, $18) is partly about One Direction, and This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch (Putnam, $17), is, yes, mostly about Benedict Cumberbatch. But the real subject of both these wonderfully fresh takes on fandom is the unabashed, self-aware embrace of joy. Kaitlyn Tiffany, a writer at The Atlantic, uses her love of One Direction ingeniously to trace how online culture came to feel. And Tabitha Carvan, now long out of adolescence, wrestles bravely with an embarrassing addiction to the former Sherlock, but also, considers the way we treat women who feel deeply: When a lot of women love anything, thats all we need to know about it. Subversively important stuff. SUMMER OUTDOORS Two Wheels Good: The History and Mystery of the Bicycle" by Jody Rosen; "The Midwich Cuckoos" by John Wyndham; "The Kraken Wakes" by John Wyndham; "The Day of the Triffids" by John Wyndham and Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Its a good time for books about the natural world, and that (sorta) includes Jody Rosens Two Wheels Good: The History and Mystery of the Bicycle (Crown, $29), if you see it as a lively biography of a tool central to the greening of urban spaces. Its also a fascinating, sweeping everyday explainer, moving from the bikes 19th-century origins to its importance globally, allowing room for side trips into health, class, death. This America of Ours: Bernard and Avis DeVoto and the Forgotten Fight to Save the Wild (Mariner, $28) by Nate Schweber recounts another underreported history. Here, the midcentury struggle to push back attempts by industry and politicians (including Joseph McCarthy) to reclaim and strip the national parks. Advertisement Similarly touching: In the Spirit of Wetlands: Reviving Habitat in the Illinois River Watershed (3 Fields Books, $20), by former Peoria Journal Star staffers Clare Howard and David Zalaznik, is a set of slender profiles of conservationists and their projects, across the state, quietly preserving your world. SUMMER CITIES Just when you thought the great Chicago epic was a relic of the literary past, Chicagoan Adam Levin drops Mount Chicago (Doubleday, $30), a vast new Chicago novel with the satire and raunchy pulse reminiscent of old-school Roth or Bellow. Boy, this premise: A sinkhole eats the Loop, which draws together a comedian, his fan and the mayor of Chicago who refers to the tragedy as a seismic event until it sounds too earthquakian and depressing. Sure to become, at the least, a local classic. And certainly, a nice antidote to the usual New York epic, such as, sigh, another great one, Trust (Riverhead, $28), by Pulitzer finalist Hernan Diaz. As much as Levins book is about politics, this is about money, rooted partly in Henry James, partly in Succession. SUMMER INDOORS My favorite biography is always about an influential outsider I assumed I knew. Alec Nevala-Lees deeply researched Inventor of the Future: The Visionary Life of Buckminster Fuller (Dey, $35), scratches that itch. The Oak Park author offers a history of revelatory design so transformative that much of it remains unrealized. Its also a clear-eyed portrait of the cult of (tech) personality that reads very 2022. Alexandra Langes Meet Me By the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall (Bloomsbury, $28) works similar magic, reacquainting us with the roots of half-accomplished dreams; in this case, one of our best design writers traces the influence of Waukegans Genesse Street, Dawn of the Dead and department stores on now-struggling suburban sprawls saddled with acres of parking. Advertisement SUMMER SEQUELS When last we saw her in Alexander Paynes classic comedy Election, Tracy Flick (played by Reese Witherspoon) was in Washington, her high school ambitions running unchecked in the real world. That was the film. Tom Perrottas 1998 novel was more vague. Tracy Flick Cant Win (Scribner, $27) catches up with her decades later as a high school vice principal, for a new microcosm of a book about frustration and small-town power. (The author of The Leftovers and Little Children, Perrotta knows the subject.) Less clear is Heat 2 (William Morrow, $29), Chicago-born Michael Mann and Meg Gardiners literary sequel to another 90s classic. All I know is that its a prequel and a sequel. SUMMER SCARES I leave room each summer for one good horror. Maybe its a reflection of the dread hanging over this country, but one wont cut it now. Other Terrors: An Inclusive Anthology (William Morrow, $17) by Vince Liaguno and Rena Mason is an ingenious collection of frights by marginalized identities. Vampires aid the trans community. Latinx heroes see something in the woods. Its a lot of fun. As is Modern Librarys welcome, ongoing new reissues of the great underappreciated British science fiction writer John Wyndham, best known for being the inspiration of drive-in classics like Village of the Damned and The Day of the Triffids. Hes also aged well. Trouble with Lichen is about a feminist revolution, and The Kraken Wakes addresses rising seas. And those are 60-plus-year-old books. Advertisement SUMMER SCHOOL Do you spend summers pining to return to class? (Regardless of your age?) Try Jhumpa Lahiri, Pulitzer fiction winner in 2000, who spent part of the decades since then in Rome, translating, and learning to write in Italian. Translating Myself and Others (Princeton, $22) is about how translation changed how she related to fiction, teachers, her mom. How to Read Now (Viking, $26), by Elaine Castillo who had a hit with her generational Philippine saga America is Not the Heart aims to remind us how provocative great writing can be. As in, she questions rigorously the familiar ideas that fiction installs empathy and reading needs to be a safe space. Often thrilling stuff. SUMMER LIVES The memoir that doesnt wind its way toward a harsh revelation or the summiting of a mountain, the memoir that merely considers a life, is rare. But heres a pair of excellent new examples from Chicago: Crying in the Bathroom (Viking, $27), by Erika L. Sanchez, whose YA hit I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter was a National Book Award finalist (now being developed into a film). Its an account of childhood depression, and falling in love with comedy, a fraught relationship with her grandmother, suffering through a bad marketing job in the Sears Tower, risking the uneasy life of a writer. Its also a lesson in nurturing a clear voice. Jesse Balls Autoportrait (Catapult, $20), you might say, is all voice. A writing professor at School of the Art Institute, his small memoir is one solid 118-page paragraph, yet so evocative and bright, it rarely reads like a chore. Its less a narrative than a set of memories that add up to a person. Advertisement SUMMER SATIRE The funny novel that doesnt evaporate as you turn the page is hard to pull off. So much so that I read Invisible Things (One World, $27) waiting for a crash that never came. Instead, once done, I picked up Mark Twains A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court to compare. Mat Johnson, whose great novel Pym took on Poe, is that good. Here, he tells the story of astronauts who discover a city of Americans somehow living in a bubble on a moon orbiting Jupiter a city just as ideologically polarized as the Earth kind. Sloane Crosleys Cult Classic (MCD, $27) adopts a similar soft sci-fi vibe, and slaps it against a rom-com: A young New Yorker runs into an old boyfriend, then another. Then another. That plot (shes the unwitting focus of an experiment) is less interesting than Crosleys spot-on understanding of dating, and the roads not traveled. SUMMER CHARMS Rarely does a book arrive so on time, blowing out the noise. Diana Goetschs This Body I Wore (FSG, $28) is not a memoir of a New York City schoolteacher who transitions but rather, a straightforward, well-remembered, hilarious personal history of the full life as a trans woman. Its never pedantic or even inspirational, which is exactly why it is. Getting a new reissue in July, the influential 2013 novel Nevada (MCD, $17), by Imogen Binnie. Like Goetsch, her tale of a trans woman doesnt serve lessons so much as a portrait of awkwardness, acceptance and kindness in unexpected places. Advertisement SUMMER MARVELS "Spider-Man" by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko; "Black Panther" by Don McGregor, Rich Buckler, Billy Graham, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby; and "Captain America" by Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, Stan Lee, Jim Steranko and John Romita Sr. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Nothing about the new Penguin Classics Marvel Collection ($50 each) suggests a beach read. Theyre weighty, elegant, stuffed with dozen vintage issues of Captain America, Black Panther and Spider-Man; archival letters; and appreciations (including from Flossmoors Nnedi Okorafor on Black Panther). Each, though, is an ideal rainy day of escape, and posterity. Theyre also a nice warm-up for Fantastic Four: Full Circle (Abrams, $25), the first book-length story by Chicagos Alex Ross, and Acting Class, (Drawn & Quarterly, $30) by Nick Drnaso, the North Side cartoonist whose eerie last book, Sabrina, was longlisted for the Booker Prize. This new one shows Drnaso becoming one of our leading voices on American disconnect and loneliness. SUMMER NATURAL My favorite kind of book right now explains, with clarity and humor, how the world works, and no one is better at this than science writer Ed Yong, whose latest, An Immense World (Random House, $30) restores our wonder to animals by describing the very different sensory worlds they inhabit. How owls hear, squid see, crocodiles feel. Each page is a peek inside hidden alcoves, suddenly available. This is also true of Serious Face (Random House, $28), by Jon Mooallem, whose sweet spot, journalistically, occupies the space between the natural world and our confusion toward it. His new collection spends time with cloud fandoms, Neanderthals, loose monkeys in Florida. Advertisement Both books bring you closer to nature, but leave room for Barry Lopezs goodbye, Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World (Random House, $28). The outdoors writer, who died of prostate cancer in 2020, looks back on life, considers his impending death, and what we owe the land. Never afraid to get lyrical, his climate-change writing alone is for the ages: We are searching for the boats we forgot to build. SUMMER SONGS "Black Oak" by Harold Green III; "Crying in the Bathroom" by Erika L. Sanchez and "Black Roses" by Harold Green III. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Hear me out: Grab one of Harold Green IIIs two new books or both, theyre designed as companions find a spot by the lake then read his poems while staring meaningfully into the waters. Im only half-kidding. Green is a Chicago poet whose heart is with the relatable, appreciative, unabashedly sincere. Black Oak and Black Roses (Harper, $18 each) are collections of thanks, Oak for Black men and Roses for Black women. Subjects include Kerry James Marshall, Jennifer Hudson, Chance the Rapper, teachers, pastors, comics, activists. Illustrator Melissa Koby sprinkles sweet pastiches throughout. SUMMER TRAVELS Two of my favorite novels lately: Dan Chaons Sleepwalk (Holt, $28) and Ottessa Moshfeghs Lapvona (Penguin, $27), which share only a resistance to easy summary. Lapvona tells the story of a shepherds son who comes fatally close to the rulers of a medieval fiefdom. Moshfegh, following up on her acclaimed My Year of Rest and Relaxation, continues to plumb entitlement and class; here, she adds magic and revenge. Sleepwalk offers a world of similar cruelties, set in a near future. From his Cleveland home, Chaon has been an underrated gem for so long its nice to say his latest reads like a breakout: A Big Lebowski-esque drifter navigating a crumbling country learns his time in Evanston left a strange, unsettling legacy. To say more would spoil it. SUMMER STORMS Advertisement Another pair of recent favorites: His Name is George Floyd (Viking, $30), by Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa of the Washington Post, reaches way beyond the familiar narrative to consider the world of George Floyd, his country, his history, and the politics and policies that shaped his family and the family of his murderer, Derek Chauvin. Its a feat of fresh reporting, and vivid, contextual contemporary history. As is Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks (Doubleday, $30) by Patrick Radden Keefe, who set new standards for contemporary true crime with the bestsellers Say Nothing and Empire of Pain. This is a victory lap, a collection of New Yorker pieces, yet also timeless, intricately built portraits of willful neglect, madness and hubris featuring mass shooters, drug lords and The Apprentice creator Mark Burnett. SUMMER SLEEPERS "Mount Chicago" by Adam Levin; "Planes" by Peter C. Baker; "Translating Myself and Others" by Jhumpa Lahiri and "The Last White Man" by Mohsin Hamid. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Planes (Knopf, $27), the debut novel of Evanston writer Peter C. Baker, which reads like vintage Don DeLillo at his most thoughtful, is a short work of recent history about the way our choices resonate beyond our view. The life of a woman in Italy whose husband has been renditioned by the United States is altered when a woman in Virginia runs across a sliver of black-op info. Baker isnt depicting le Carre-like geopolitical maneuvers, but internal, personal ethics. The Last White Man (Riverhead, $26), Mohsin Hamids first novel since his celebrated 2017 hit Exit West, veers more toward Kafkaesque fable. White people start to become Black. No one understands why. But like Bakers novel, that mystery is less important than a chance to see one another again, with fresh eyes. SUMMER SAND Advertisement I dont understand bringing a book about people on vacation with me on vacation. If I want to feel bad about vacation plans, theres Instagram. The Beach Trap (Berkley, $17) by Ali Brady the pen name of friends Alison Hammer of Chicago and Bradeigh Godfrey of Utah at least have the decency to smirk at the feud between half-sisters who inherit (boo hoo) beachfront property in Florida. The Lost Summers of Newport (William Morrow, $29) by a trio of historical fiction icons, Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White is an elegant approach to the old trouble in paradise scenario, spanning generations of deceit in a New England mansion. Now for my own shocking admission: I like Elin Hilderbrand. You should, too. Her latest is The Hotel Nantucket (Little Brown, $29), and like Stephen King, she brings knowing confidence to an abused genre. This one is about secrets. And pretty nuts. But then, arent they all? cborrelli@chicagotribune.com At Cassell Elementary in Mount Greenwood, girls are instructed in this years student handbook that their shirts must meet the waist and not reveal cleavage. The dress code at Ashburn Community Elementary permits girls to wear pants, shorts or skirts, but boys are limited to pants. Boys also cant wear earrings or bracelets, though girls can. In Pullman, only the girls at Corliss High School are told not to show their thighs or to wear clothing with writing on the buttocks. The student code of conduct for the Chicago Public Schools has stated for a decade that dress codes and uniform policies should be gender neutral. Yet in a comprehensive review of hundreds of recent school policies, the Tribune identified 95 schools that set separate rules for girls and boys in apparent violation of district rules. Such policies may subject transgender and nonbinary students to increased discipline, research suggests. The code also says CPS students may not be barred from attending class for not following dress code rules, but 53 schools governed by district policies recently have stated students can be removed from the classroom, referred to the office or sent home for the day for wearing the wrong clothes or accessories. In addition, the Tribune identified 26 Chicago public schools that had some form of hair prohibition in place this school year, according to current school handbooks or undated policies posted on schools websites. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law in August that was intended to eliminate discrimination based on hairstyles tied to race and ethnicity including, but not limited to, protective hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists. The law took effect in January. More than half of the schools with hair restrictions are predominantly Black. Students arrive at Westinghouse College Prep, which eased dress code rules after officials noticed some students were admonished for violations more than others. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune) The Tribune also found that nearly half of the citys more than 600 public schools have set conditions around modesty that go beyond limiting nudity, such as bans on leggings, spaghetti-strap tops and skirts or dresses shorter than fingertip length. More than 300 imposed bans on baggy clothing, pants worn low, hoodies or hair-care items like do-rags or headwraps. Those bans are not against district rules; the code of conduct says, Local School Councils may adopt a dress code policy that forbids students from wearing certain items. But educators say such restrictions can put girls and children of color at higher risk of being punished. The CPS code of conduct says students who do not uphold the dress code may be given detentions or excluded from extracurricular activities, and it allows for additional consequences if a students attire could disrupt the learning environment. Researchers have found that being disciplined for any reason can have negative consequences on student performance and classroom relationships between students and teachers, especially for students of color who have historically faced disproportionate discipline that removes them from classrooms. Some Chicago students told the Tribune they can understand the need for clothing bans tied to safety, like those aimed at identifying intruders in the hallways or barring overt gang symbolism. But they said other rules made them feel unfairly targeted because of their body type or culture. Support local journalism Subscribe to the Chicago Tribune Get daily news updates from the Tribune in your inbox Judai Smith, a Kenwood Academy High School senior, said the schools rules have left her feeling that students full identities are not welcome in the classroom. The student handbook says students should refrain from wearing hats, headgear and loose, sagging pants, among other items. They want us to conform to this Eurocentric (view) of what it means to be a scholar or what it means to be professional and it takes away from our Blackness, Smith said. We feel like our Blackness is criminal, our Blackness is not supposed to be there and our woman-ness, because they still police our bodies as well with the dress codes. Jada Valle said she has been frustrated by her schools ban on leggings, one of the few types of pants that fit her comfortably. She said the thought that her body could be a distraction to other students makes her angry. Whats on my body does not define me, said Valle, a freshman at Goode STEM Academy in the Ashburn neighborhood. Me wanting to be comfortable is different from you wanting to look at me and saying that Im trying to show off my body when its not that, its a whole different story. The Tribune reviewed recent dress code policies from roughly three-quarters of CPS schools, including neighborhood elementary and high schools as well as charter, magnet, selective enrollment, alternative and occupational schools, and the districts six military academy high schools. When tallying how many schools appeared to violate district rules on gender-neutral dress codes and loss of class time, the Tribune excluded schools that are exempt, including charter schools and the military academies. Dress code rules were identified through public records requests and via schools websites and social media accounts. Most policies were from the 2021-22 student handbook or were posted online this school year. Some policies date as far back as the 2018-19 school year if more recent policies could not be obtained. Schools may have altered some policies after they were obtained and analyzed, and schools also do not always enforce their written policies. The Chicago Public Schools did not make anyone available to answer questions about the Tribunes findings but said in a statement Tuesday that it aims to ensure that our district policies are consistently applied for all students and schools. In an earlier statement, the district said that in April it began planning a systemwide audit process to examine schools dress codes, with a goal of determining whether policies are harming students or leading to inequities. Of all the places that children experience systemic discomfort based on their appearance, schools should never be on the list, the statement said. Most leaders at individual schools contacted by the Tribune either did not respond or referred questions to the district. Kenwood Academy Principal Karen Calloway said in an interview that her schools dress policy is loose and very liberal to support student individuality and described the ban on headgear as safety related and necessary. Calloway also said the school plans to update obsolete language that bars students from wearing spaghetti straps or sagging pants. Most students do not have an issue with the dress code, she said, adding that there were more important things worth highlighting at Kenwood, like the number of students receiving scholarships. I think they would love, in a perfect world, to be able to put their hoods on or whatever the case, but they do understand why were not doing it, Calloway said. The dress code debate The issues surrounding school dress codes are complex. Many of the rules are based on well-intentioned goals like helping students stay safe, limiting classroom distractions and preparing students for the professional world. At the Chicago Math and Science Academy charter school in Rogers Park, for example, this years student handbook says the dress code policy helps to create a safe and orderly environment, instill discipline and eliminate the competition and distractions caused by varied dress styles. Some public schools chose to adopt the strictest of dress codes a school uniform in the 1990s following incidents when young people in Chicago were mugged, shot and killed over Starter jackets, other expensive clothing or gang-colored attire. In 1996, the U.S. Department of Education said uniforms potential benefits included reducing violence and theft, preventing gang symbolism, helping students concentrate, teaching young people discipline and making it easier to identify intruders. But research on whether uniform policies are effective in creating safer environments or better outcomes for students has been mixed. Some parents told the Tribune they were comfortable with rules barring gang symbolism, limiting how much skin can be shown and promoting a distinguished look for students. They said uniforms in particular made mornings easier, saved money and helped reduce bullying. Lisa Thomas, a mother of four and parent member of the Local School Council at Morrill Math and Science Elementary in Chicago Lawn, said her sons uniform has saved her money and she thinks it reduces conflict among students. There are kids that dont have the name-brand clothes, Thomas said. They can be bullied or teased because they dont have that type of clothes, so I think (the) uniform plays a very significant part. Lisa Thomas, right, says she supports the uniform policy at Morrill Math and Science Elementary, where her son, P.J. Martin, is in eighth grade. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune) Other parents disagreed that uniforms always made things easier for families, noting the cost of buying uniforms, the need to do more laundry and their childrens resistance to wearing them. Vanessa Gracia, a parent and Local School Council member at Holden Elementary in Bridgeport, said she has a complicated relationship with the schools uniform policy. Many families at the school are low-income, she said, and the policy evens the playing field for students while providing structure for the children. But with three children at the school, she said, buying uniforms can be costly. Im always on the fence when it comes to the uniform I love it, but I hate it, Gracia said. LeeAndra Khan, executive director at EPIC Academy in South Chicago, said she understands why many schools implement uniform policies. But, she said, the rules also bring unintended consequences. One consequence is that rigid policies can limit students gender expression, especially those who are transitioning or nonbinary. Roughly half of transgender and gender nonbinary respondents to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey reported being prohibited from expressing their gender identity through dress during their K-12 education. [ The Price Kids Pay: Read our investigation on students being ticketed at school ] The survey, conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality, also found transgender and nonbinary students who had negative experiences in educational settings were more likely to have attempted suicide, experienced homelessness and dealt with psychological distress. Seventeen percent of transgender and nonbinary people said they left school because of mistreatment. Students also have increasingly been pushing back on what they view as sexist restrictions on clothing often worn by girls and women. Many argue that rules against do-rags and other attire are grounded in racism. As awareness around issues of inequality has grown, some Chicago schools have chosen to relax dress code policies. Several have adopted policies similar to a model dress code created in 2016 by the Oregon chapter of the National Organization for Women. Such policies often require only that all students wear a top, bottom and shoes and cover their breasts, genitals and buttocks with opaque fabric. Parents and administrators at some Chicago schools that recently eased their policies said the changes were generally positive and did not lead to behavioral disruptions. Students at Westinghouse College Prep in Humboldt Park walk to school in May 2022. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune) Harrison Baker and Madisson Dickson, assistant principals at Westinghouse College Prep in Humboldt Park, undertook a monthslong dress code overhaul after noticing some students were admonished for violations more than others. Among the first steps: lifting bans on hats and hair-care items like do-rags and bonnets that some people of color use to protect their hair. When I look around and I see students who are able to wear their hats and wear their hoodies and feel comfortable and still make it to class, I see this as a place where they are affirmed in who they are and not turned away because of things that were historically looked at as not professional, or not mainstream culture, Baker said. Some pretty outdated ideas After spending her entire junior year online, Hubbard High School senior Giuliana Huerta came into school this fall wanting to show her style. But according to this years student handbook, the dress code at the West Lawn school prohibits skirts and shorts shorter than fingertip length as well as spaghetti straps, sheer tops, plunging necklines, crop-tops and tube tops, among numerous other rules. Huerta said getting told she needs to cover up at school leaves her feeling embarrassed, lowers her self-esteem and causes her to shrink down. Giuliana Huerta, a senior at Hubbard High School, applies makeup as she gets ready for school at her Chicago home in April. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune) Giuliana Huerta said she has gotten "dress-coded" many times for wearing clothing that makes her feel comfortable, but administrators have deemed inappropriate. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune) Huerta, who is a student representative at the school, surveyed her classmates about the dress code and found many also thought the rules were unfairly enforced. Girls with more developed bodies, they said, were often told to cover up, while other similarly dressed girls were not disciplined in the same way. If it distracts the males, then maybe it should be more of their problem, like they should be controlled rather than us, Huerta said. Why are we being told something? The Tribunes review found dozens of schools have prohibited students from showing particular parts of their skin, including their shoulders and arms, chests, stomachs or thighs, in dress codes from the last few years. At least 69 barred plunging necklines or cleavage of any kind, and 132 schools warned against showing a students midriff. Dress codes at 62 schools prohibited spaghetti straps. Students at 120 schools were restricted from wearing leggings as pants, and more than 240 prohibited short shorts, skirts and dresses. All of these clothing items are commonly marketed to and worn by girls and teens. Azaria Gavin, a freshman at Goode, said she also has seen how dress code policies affect students whose bodies are more developed than others. If you wear a certain shirt, they will tell you to take it off and put a hoodie on, she said. How are you going to make them take off what they want to wear because of something that they were born with? Codes that target girls with modesty rules are found at schools throughout the country, said Richard Thompson Ford, a civil rights and anti-discrimination law professor at Stanford University who authored Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History. Those are almost universal and are premised on some pretty outdated ideas or problematic ideas about womens bodies, about how women should feel about their bodies as a source of shame, Ford said. And theyre being implemented at a time when young girls are physically developing into mature women and, of course, with all of the anxiety that necessarily accompanies those kinds of changes through adolescence. And these dress codes are really compounding it in some cases by making them feel pretty bad about themselves. Such policies ultimately come down to controlling bodies, said Kelly Reddy-Best, an associate professor at Iowa State University who has studied dress codes. Especially with things related to gender, that is the early phases of the oppression of girls and womens bodies, Reddy-Best said. That is an active form of oppression that those people are engaging in, whether they are consciously thinking that or not. Automatically being stereotyped Shujaa Ajamu is one student at Kenwood Academy who said he would like his school to change its policy against headgear. School administrators sometimes confiscate do-rags and other items used to protect textured hair, he said. Whos wearing bonnets and do-rags? Black people are wearing (them), said Ajamu, a junior. Its Black culture that youre banning from school. And its a predominantly Black school in general. Calloway, the principal, said the ban on headgear was meant primarily to target hoods, which can make students difficult to identify on surveillance cameras when needed. She said she believes that Kenwood students generally are not upset about restrictions and that most are not waking up in the morning trying to wear a bonnet to school. Is there a subset of African American people who may wear bonnets outside or do-rags outside? Absolutely, Calloway said. Are our students indicative of that subculture? I think if they are, its (at an) almost minute scale. The Tribune found 116 schools where recent dress code policies specifically banned do-rags, bonnets, wave caps, bandannas, headscarves or other hair accessories worn by some people of color. More than 260 schools set specific restrictions on hoods, hoodies, sagging pants or overly baggy clothing, all popular choices with many young people. Research suggests that wearing these items can trigger stereotypical thinking in others; hooded sweatshirts, for example, can be perceived as threatening on some bodies. Sagging pants, too, have been associated with harmful stereotypes and have been formally criminalized in some cities. One study published in 2017 found that when people of color wore sagging clothing and particular hairstyles associated with rap and hip-hop culture, they were subjected to bias and more aggressive policing. Bans on hoodies, braids and sagging pants unfairly categorize students and adults as problems based on their culture or race, said CPS parent Thomas. A lot of African American guys, they wear their pants sagged, she said. If they see them with their pants sagging because maybe its just a style and they like it, theyre automatically being stereotyped, theyre put in a category. Thomas said she generally supports the uniform policy at Morrill, where her son is in eighth grade. But she didnt like it when the school took issue with the teen wearing a warm hoodie shed bought because he complained of being cold in class. At Goode, the schools online policy says hooded sweatshirts are not allowed, though students said in reality they are barred only from wearing the hoods up. Samuel Vincent Barnes, a junior there, said he gets tired of being scolded for wearing his hood and is sure security guards get annoyed with enforcing the rule as well. Im either going through something and I just need my hoodie on so I can think better or process these things, or its just cold, Barnes said. Destiny Vasquez, a junior at George Washington High School in the East Side neighborhood, said she felt insulted when school officials warned her about wearing a bandanna, which she said they viewed as a gang-related thing rather than a part of Chicano culture. Not all students and parents agreed that all bans on headwear or hoodies were problematic. Tiara Fields, a senior at Uplift Community High School in Uptown, and her mother, Karonda Locust, said they understand why bonnets or do-rags may be unwelcome at school, since both view those items as loungewear meant to be worn at home. Locust, the Local School Council chair, said she views such restrictions as helping students learn to conform to rules they will need to observe in the workplace. Fields, who is Black, said she is happy her high school allows students to wear headwraps, an item often banned elsewhere. Being welcome to wear a headwrap to protect her hair, she said, makes her feel like she can express her identity freely and fully at school. Because there are times I cant wear that without being seen some type of way, Fields said. Tiara Fields, a senior at Uplift Community High School in the Uptown neighborhood, says she appreciates that the school's dress code allows her to express her culture. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) The same is true for a Muslim friend who wears a headscarf as a religious observance, she said. She wears her hijab, too, and we can express our culture, Fields said. Cathy Cohen, a professor at the University of Chicago and founder of the Black Youth Project, said dress code restrictions sometimes limit who Black people can be and force them to leave distinctive parts of their culture out of certain spaces. Many school systems that have these types of dress codes believe in fact that theyre helping students, in particular Black students, to learn how to be professional so they can succeed in a society that is predominantly white, Cohen said. But what they are also doing is replicating a set of norms that say that Blackness is other, that its less than. And that the only way to succeed is to conform instead of resist. And I think thats the wrong message to send to young Black people. A direct attack Adolescence is a sensitive, emotional and critical time for exploring identity, said Bonsai Bermudez, who works through the Youth Empowerment Performance Project with LGBTQI+ young people experiencing homelessness. When a person finds their family, school or religious institution is not affirming their gender identity or gender expression, they often leave, Bermudez said. The suicide rate within this community is also pretty high, and part of people ending their lives is connected to not being affirmed in their truth, Bermudez said. So, through that lens I think its a humongous responsibility of Chicago as a city, of the school system, to make sure that we are implementing practices that are responding to that public health issue. In fact, district guidelines related to supporting transgender and nonbinary students note that students have the right to dress in a manner consistent with their gender identity and school policies should not restrict students clothing or appearance on the basis of gender. The Chicago Board of Education has required since 2012 that schools dress codes be gender neutral. [ The Failures Before the Fires: Read the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation ] Still, the Tribune identified 95 schools governed by district policies whose recent dress codes had separate rules based on a students gender, such as banning earrings for boys or spaghetti straps for girls. At least 18 schools that are exempt from the gender-neutral requirement also have such policies. At least 329 schools, including 89 charter schools, set specific uniforms in their dress codes. Emily Jade Aguilar, now a 22-year-old youth organizer at Communities United, came out as transgender during her junior year at Steinmetz College Prep in Belmont Cragin, where she said a new, strict uniform policy made an already painful time even more difficult. All students had to wear a green polo shirt and khaki pants, which Aguilar said didnt allow her to fully express herself and be comfortable in her body. Aguilar said shed already had trouble in middle school with workers reproaching her for experimenting with lip gloss and nail polish. But so many things she dealt with during high school were traumatic including the dress code and not being able to use the girls bathroom that she became suicidal, she said. In hindsight, if we didnt have uniforms, or if we didnt have those staff members, kind of like giving us eyes or not creating a safe space for us, I feel like my development as a young trans youth could have definitely been a lot better, she said. Aguilar said some schools now have dress code policies that are more responsive to students needs. But strict uniforms and clothing bans tied to stereotypes remain a problem, she said. Like, trans people, what does that tell them? You arent fit for this. This is not your body, you arent who you want to be, Aguilar said. Thats a direct attack on that community when youre doing this, when you have these policies in place. Ivan Perez, a parent member of the Local School Council at Palmer Elementary in Albany Park, said students pressed to move away from a uniform last year, saying they wanted to be trusted to make their own decisions about what to wear. Rwan, left, and Hailey, both in fifth grade, work on a project at Palmer Elementary. The school moved away from requiring uniforms last year. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune) A number of students joined a call with members of the council, including one who shared the importance of young people being able to fully express themselves from the LGBTQ perspective, Perez said. The adults told themselves: Dont come in with your baggage, he said. We just listened then decided, how do we address this. Ultimately the school decided to require students to cover certain body parts and to prohibit profanity, but to allow nearly anything else. The school implemented the new policy in August and nobody has raised anything since, Perez said. There are no issues. Taking away class time When Khan came to EPIC Academy two years ago as executive director, she said students were held to a strict no nonsense dress code policy. Failure to comply could get a student booted from class. The belief was that stricter rules lead to better student outcomes, she said. But when Khan took a look at the South Chicago charter schools discipline data, she found that nearly half of the student body had missed class to serve an in-school suspension in the 2017-18 school year, usually for dress code or cellphone violations, she said. That just creates this tension between students and teachers that makes it harder to relationship-build, Khan said, adding that enforcing dress code policies takes away time from helping students with actual academic-based problems. Khan said she slowly began relaxing parts of the dress code and classroom removal is no longer an option for a dress code violation at EPIC. Though EPIC has changed course, the Tribune identified 53 schools subject to district rules that have noted in recent dress code policies that violations may lead to loss of instructional or class time. More than 40 charters and other exempt schools did the same. In some cases, policies state that repeated violations or wearing colors affiliated with gangs will result in removal from class or in-school suspensions. Others say that students may be immediately sent to a school office if they are out of compliance with the dress code and that the students must change or put on additional clothing before returning to class. Its unclear how many CPS students have been disciplined for their attire. Chicago Public Schools tracks violations of the student code of conduct but does not have a specific incident category for dress code- and uniform-related incidents. Abril Morales, now a senior at Farragut Career Academy in Little Village, said she has seen classmates lose substantial learning time over clothing violations. When she was in middle school, she said, one friend was sent to the office daily because of the pink trim on her black shoes. Abril Morales walks from her home to Farragut Career Academy. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune) Morales also recalled that on a day when she arrived at school wearing a red dress with black tights, she was immediately diverted to the front office and told not to wear those colors again because of a gang association. Morales said she missed only five minutes of class, but the incident affected her relationship with adults at the school. It kind of made me feel disappointed in the staff of the school because they should know that I go to school to learn, not to cause trouble or anything, she said. And for them to like associate that with me, I dont know, it kind of did bring me down a bit. Tina Curry, a Chicago teacher and adjunct professor at DePaul University and National Louis University, said that when she used to teach at Goode, students who violated the dress code would have to sit in the deans office all day, missing class. She also said some students used to be required to change into embarrassing loaner uniforms before the school stopped that practice. Curry said she saw students return to class following dress code issues and put their heads down on their desks in defeat. In that moment that child is opting out of learning, Curry said. He feels what has happened to him is not fair, its not just, so hes going to opt out of learning today. Tribune reporters Tatyana Turner and Cecilia Reyes contributed to this story. ehoerner@chicagotribune.com FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. Former reality TV star Josh Duggar was sentenced Wednesday to about 12 1/2 years in prison after he was convicted of receiving child pornography. Duggar was also convicted of possessing child pornography in December, but U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks dismissed that conviction after ruling that, under federal law, it was an included offense in the receiving child pornography count. Advertisement Prosecutors had asked U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks to give the maximum term of 20 years to Duggar, whose large family was the focus of TLCs 19 Kids and Counting. They argued in a pre-sentencing court filing that Duggar has a deep-seated, pervasive and violent sexual interest in children. The judge sentenced Duggar to 12 years and seven months in prison, one day after denying a defense motion to overturn the guilty verdict on grounds of insufficient evidence or to order a new trial. Advertisement U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes said he was pleased with the sentence. While this is not the sentence we asked for, this is a lengthy sentence, Fowlkes said outside the courthouse. This undated photo provided by Washington County (Ark), Detention Center shows Josh Duggar. A federal judge has sentenced reality TVs Duggar to about 12 1/2 years in prison for his conviction on one count of receiving child pornography. Prosecutors had asked the court to sentence the former 19 Kids and Counting star on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, to the maximum 20 years. (AP) Duggar, whose lawyers sought a five-year sentence, maintains his innocence. Defense attorney Justin Gelfand said he is grateful Brooks declined to impose the full 20-year sentence requested by prosecutors. Well immediately file the notice of appeal within the next 14 days, Gelfand said. Duggar was arrested in April 2021 after a Little Rock police detective found child porn files were being shared by a computer traced to Duggar. Investigators testified that images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including toddlers, were downloaded in 2019 onto a computer at a car dealership Duggar owned. TLC canceled 19 Kids and Counting in 2015 following allegations that Duggar had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter years earlier. Authorities began investigating the abuse in 2006 after receiving a tip from a family friend but concluded that the statute of limitations on any possible charges had expired. Duggars parents said he had confessed to the fondling and apologized. After the allegations resurfaced in 2015, Duggar apologized publicly for unspecified behavior and resigned as a lobbyist for the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian group. Months later, he publicly apologized for cheating on his wife and a pornography addiction, for which he then sought treatment. Advertisement In seeking a 20-year sentence, prosecutors cited the graphic images and the ages of the children involved as well as court testimony about the alleged abuse of Duggars sisters. Duggars past behavior provides an alarming window into the extent of his sexual interest in children that the Court should consider at sentencing, federal prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum. This past conduct, when viewed alongside the conduct for which he has been convicted, makes clear that Duggar has a deep-seated, pervasive, and violent sexual interest in children, and a willingness to act on that interest the court filing said. Prosecutors also noted that Duggars computer had been partitioned to evade accountability software that had been installed to report to his wife activity such as porn searches, according to experts. There is simply no indication that Duggar will ever take the steps necessary to change this pattern of behavior and address his predilection for minor females, prosecutors wrote. Duggar accepts that he is before this Court for sentencing and that this Court must impose a penalty, his attorneys wrote. That is justice. But Duggar also appeals to this Courts discretion to temper that justice with mercy. Ridge Warren collected career win 1,000 on Wednesday (May 25) at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows when he piloted Sportsbook Hanover to victory in race two. He took three quick steps to the next milestone by capturing races four, five and the featured eighth with Mary Puffins, Marlboro Seelster and Lady Newton. Warren, 33, grew up in Fenton, Michigan, where he and his sister Taylor were named for characters in the long-running soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. My grandmother still watches it, said Warren. Heres a shout-out to Grandma Janice. But there was nothing melodramatic about his apprenticeship under the tutelage of his dad, top Midwest trainer/driver Todd Warren, who boasts more than 5,200 career driving victories. His son describes his approach as meticulous. When I was a kid, we had 20 to 30 horses and Dad was winning a lot, he recalled. Hes at the barn all day, rubbing on legs, and the horses look like theyre worth a lot of money. He takes pride in his work. Thats an old-school horsemanship thing thats kind of gone out the window these days. I appreciate his work ethic and his desire always to make a horse better. Still, the younger Warren wasnt completely sold on harness racing as a career. In high school, he took college-level law enforcement courses and considered pursuing a job in homeland security. Once I got out to Illinois with my dad and [started] sitting behind more horses and getting that buzz, that stuck, and the law enforcement thing went out the window. I started training side-by-side with my dad. Still, Warrens commitment to harness racing had to survive one more test the decline in opportunities in Illinois and Michigan. When Illinois went downhill, that was a real eye-opener for me. I got involved in investing in some businesses, some small franchises. I had a real job and raced as a hobby. About a year and [a] half ago, I decided to race full time and stepped out of the investments. It was a great learning experience in my life. Im a people person and I love talking to people. But at the end of the day, I love the adrenaline rush of racing horses and being under the lights. Its hard to compare anything to this. Warrens renewed dedication to racing showed. He enjoyed his best year ever in 2021 with 166 wins and more than $1.6 million in purses. These days, Warren has added a wrinkle to his game; hes driving at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono as well as The Meadows, his home base since 2020, meaning hes working seven days a week. Thats the sort of schedule he prefers. I just want to keep chipping away at the wins and improve my abilities by being out there more. The more you race, the better you get. In an unusual, perhaps unprecedented coincidence, while Ridge was en route to driving win 1,000, his dad was on a similar path to his 1,000th training victory; hes at 997 at the moment and soon will become the 17th North American horseman all time with at least 5,000 winning drives and at least 1,000 training victories. Ridge said he wont give the old man any grief about beating him to 1,000. When were racing together, were chippy on the track. If hes coming, I know hes coming. If I beat him, I let him know. Thats fun. Its the competitiveness in us. But for him to get 1,000 training wins, thats just an amazing accomplishment. Ill be happy for him. Lady Newton Upsets In Mares Open Lady Newton shot the Lightning Lane to outkick her stablemate, Blue Ivy, and pull off a 16-1 upset in Wednesdays featured $16,000 Filly & Mare Open Handicap Pace. Game Of Shadows led the field turning for home and was challenged outside by the pocket-sitting Blue Ivy. Lurking inside, however, was Lady Newton, who surged late for Warren to score in 1:52, a neck better than Blue Ivy. Game Of Shadows saved show. Bill Bercury trains Blue Ivy and Lady Newton, a four-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou-Im Sassy who lifted her lifetime bankroll to $149,634, for Renee Bercury. Live racing at The Meadows continues Thursday when the 12-race program features a pair of carryovers $13,318.25 in the final-race Super Hi-5, $6,001.52 in the Jackpot Pick 5 (race four). First post is 12:45 p.m. (With files from MSOA) FORESTA Forest couple is working to raise awareness and advocate for preservation of the last standing former cabin for enslaved people on a historic Bedford County property. Established around 1772 by Capt. Henry Brown, Ivy Cliff was originally a plantation called Otter Hills but was renamed closer to 1900, said owner Sophie Taylor, data corroborated by Bedford County geographic information systems. Possibly consisting of roughly 3,400 acres at its peakthe exact original expanse is uncertain, according to the owners, who still are researching the history of the propertythe plantation originally had an estimated seven to 11 cabins for the enslaved, but only one remains standing today. That remaining cabin made it onto Preservation Virginias 2022 most-endangered places list. The Richmond-based organization aims to help preserve historic sites across the commonwealth that face sustained or imminent danger, through promoting awareness and advocacy for the vulnerable buildings and sites it identifies. The venerable nonprofit established its annual list of most endangered historic places in 2005. Sophie Taylor said she and her husband, Mike Taylor, do not know how many enslaved people lived on the plantation historicallyat least not yet. The names of many enslaved people were found mentioned in Capt. Henry Browns will, including those of Dick, Bill, John, George, Christian, Ham, Wilson, Eliza, Nancy, Mary Ann, Anna, Martha and Manda. Some of those names are repeated on a medical service bill, as well. I cant say that were experts on the property yet, but were trying, Sophie Taylor said. The couple has been researching relentlessly since they bought the property about a year ago, according to Sophie Taylor. They moved to the area from Florida after falling in love with the house at New London Road, and it kindled a desire to preserve its history. It is the first historical property the couple has owned, and Sophie Taylor emphasized that although they have spent significant time researching the property since obtaining it, there is still much to learn. Their ultimate goal is to preserve the cabin, continue learning the propertys history, and eventually open the place for educational tours to help deepen peoples knowledge of Virginia history. The Taylors have spent hours poring over records of the estates original family and the property through sources at the College of William & Mary, Bedford County-based historical resources and records, and findings from a 2013 house and land study by the Poplar Forest Restoration Field School led by Travis McDonald. Descendants of the original families and previous owners of the property have also talked with the Taylors. While the main house had been carefully restored over the years, including at least three additions, Sophie Taylor said, the last surviving cabin had ultimately been neglected. Its preservation became the Taylors ultimate mission. When we purchased the house, a lot of the restoration work had already been done to the [main] house. Theres a bunch of other outbuildings here. Really everything had been touched, and this had not, and that was one of the reasons whyother than we fell in love with the house and the areawe felt a responsibility to restore the cabin, and so were in the process of figuring out how to do that, and were so happy that Preservation Virginia agreed that it was historically significant and worth saving, Taylor said. According to Harrison Daniels Bedford County, Virginia, 1840-1860: the History of An Upper Piedmont County in the Late Antebellum Era, cited in an academic research project by Emily Parrow, enslaved people comprised 40% of Bedford Countys population by the late antebellum period. In her research, Parrow found that in Browns tax records, enslaved people were listed in the same category as horses, representing the widespread mentality of the era that the enslaved were property. The cabin is enormous, Sophie Taylor said, not at all what we would have expected a cabin to be. The two-story dwelling is a log cabin on a stone foundation, the same type of stone foundation on the main house, Sophie Taylor said. Built in a dogtrot or saddlebag style, relatively out of sight from the main house on lower ground, its four main rooms, once called pens, are divided by a shared breezeway. Two stone chimneys run through the cabins roof at either end from the fireplaces inside. A wooden staircase leads to the second floor. Some roof beams are marked with Roman numerals, Sophie Taylor noted during a walk-through tour. The only inhabitants of the cabin today are barn swallows and groundhogs. Although the structure was well-built, the years and lack of preservation over the decades have inevitably taken a toll. Sophie Taylor described the cabin as well-built but crumbling. The north side of the cabin seems to have taken the brunt of weather and decay, Sophie Taylor said, particularly evident in the deteriorated wood. The roof was in danger of collapsing at one point, saved temporarily by being shored up. One of the stone chimneys appears to be in fine condition, but the second needs to come down and be rebuilt entirely, she added. More than the cabin remains on the property as a testament to the lands history. Sophie Taylor frequently finds various artifacts scattered around the grounds, remnants of the lives of those who lived there in centuries past. I find stuff around this cabin every day. I go for walks, and Ill find a handmade button, or a bottle, shards of pottery and glass, shoe forms and old ice skates, just ridiculous amounts of stuff, Sophie Taylor said. Mike Taylor said he would like to investigate the rest of the property to check for other artifacts or outbuilding foundations. Theres a lot more history. Weve got a lot of work to do, and its all worth it. Were excited about doing it, he said. The Taylors are still assessing the work to be done on restoring and preserving the cabin. No official cost estimate or plan of restoration has been figured yet, although Taylor said one person she has spoken with speculated the endeavor could easily cost anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000. One possible option for restoration would be to deconstruct the cabin, then reconstruct it using salvageable logs and other original pieces in good enough condition, Sophie Taylor said. The couple plans to work with experts and professionals in history and construction to identify what needs to be done to restore the cabin to historical accuracy and stability. Im sure these things were built by the enslaved. They were such incredible craftsmen, Sophie Taylor said of the cabin and other outbuildings on the property. Im just astounded. I could stare at that building forever, and how custom everything was done. Not just the skill, but the math required, and the engineering required to build that cabin. To fund the restoration and preservation efforts, the Taylors are in the process of obtaining nonprofit status. This way, donations can be received and the family could be eligible to apply for certain grants aimed at preservation work. With a growing network of friends and family, some of whom work in construction, the Taylors are confident the cabin can be saved if the necessary resources can be obtained. We just have a group thats willing to assist if we can get real people in who know what theyre doing with historical restoration, Sophie Taylor said. Mike Taylor, a woodworker, is eager to get started as soon as possible, perhaps in league with a local acquaintance involved with lumber and a saw mill. Ive got a full woodshop in that old barn across the way there, and Im ready to go and do what needs to be done, he said. In the meantime, the Taylors plan to continue researching to identify how to restore the cabin to its historical accuracy while piecing together more of the story of those who lived there. We really wanted the opportunity to take care of a historic place, and just sort of be the caretakers for however many years were given here, and see what we can do to keep things the same or better for a while, Sophie Taylor said. Our hope for this is that we can get it renovated, and then hopefully do something where we can get local school groups in, and let the local kids see, Heres the real history of Virginia. Virginia Regional Transit bus driver Gary Gray greets a pedestrian Wednesday morning as he pauses on his route at the Culpeper Elderly Leaflin Lane Apartments just off Orange Road. The transportation nonprofit aims to deliver efficient, cost-effective and quality services for riders so they can move about their communities and live their lives fully, VRTs website states. Based out of Purcellville, VRT serves fifteen different jurisdictions including Loudoun, Fauquier, Culpeper, Orange, Clarke, Warrenton, Augusta and Charlottesville. It operates on weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and weekends 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It costs 50 cents each way, with children age 6 and under free, when accompanied by an adult. Culpeper County Public Schools increased its security presence around the division Wednesday following the latest deadly school shooting, this time in Texas. Local schools are reasonably prepared when it comes to such threats, including having secure vestibules at the front entrance to all six elementary, two middle and three high schools, said Dr. Russell Houck, executive director of student services, in a phone call. Culpeper public schools are also served by a mixture of on-site school resource officers from the Culpeper County Sheriffs Office and security officers employed by the school. Deputies in the schools are armed and so are security officers who worked previously in law enforcement. The main purpose behind increasing their presence Wednesday was bolstering psychological safety, Houck said. The odds of an incident today in our schools are very low. Theres 100,000 schools in this country and unfortunately that one got attacked, he said of the estimated 19 students and two teachers killed at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday. But certainly we want psychological safety for our students, staff, visitors and our parents and real safety. Armed personnel give us that. CCPS was among the first divisions in Virginia in 2018 to arm its school security officers, Houck said, after 17 people were killed in a school shooting in Parkland, Fla. It was also the year that entrances at Culpeper schools were outfitted with break resistance glass. What we try to do is not overreact to a perceived threat, because thats not good for us emotionally. We must try to get our response appropriate to the perceived threat. Thats something Ive been doing since Ive had this job 15 years now, Houck said. Cautioning against giving the public a false sense of security, he said break resistance windows would not stop someone with a high capacity weapon determined on entering a school. Would it slow someone down? Absolutely. Houck said. Give time for law enforcement to respond. The slowing down is part of the response, added school spokeswoman Laura Hoover, a former principal, in the phone call. To make it more difficult to get to our staff and kids, Houck added. CCPS personnel have been doing security trainings with CCSO since 2013, he said, mentioning the year after 27 people were killed in a school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. It was also in 2013 the county approved funding for the secure vestibules. That means someone has to be buzzed in who approaches the main entrance. All other doors are expected to be locked. We have greatly tightened up on that vulnerability from the past, the local administrator said. CCSO spokesman Lt. Les Tyler, while declining to release specific agency details about operational and security plans in the schools, assured that they were in place. We work with the school board and the schools to ensure the safety of the student population, and their facilities, Tyler said. We do active shooter training on a regular basis. After the shooting on the Virginia Tech college campus in 2007 that killed 32 people, the Commonwealth of Virginia created the School Campus Safety Center with Dept. of Criminal Justice Services, Houck said. The program provides grant monies to up security in schools, an effort local elected officials have also supported with funding. Another measure in place at CCPS is surveillance cameras at all the schools, he said, adding there is not dedicated staff available to monitor the cameras at all times. Students, in addition, as required by law, to regularly participate in active shooter drills, with different levels of alerts in place depending on the situation. If a student is in the middle of a classroom change at a high school, well, lockdown is not easy, what happens to all those kids scurrying to get to a secure location? We talk about run, hide, fight. Sometimes running is your best option, Houck said. Preventing school shootings is the best defense, he added. The No. 1 way to prevent acts of violence is having positive relations in our schools with parents, students and community members alerting us and law enforcement when someone is contemplating an act of violence, he said. School shootings have been going on for 25 years now, Houck said of the repeating issue. If we could solve this problem we would have solved it, wouldnt we? Its so multi-layered. We could talk about gun legislation, red flag laws, how mentally ill do you have to be to not have access to a gun? Where is that line drawn? And 18-year-old kids can buy an AR-15, but they cant buy cigarettes and alcohol, he said. At CCPS, its threat assessment processes and the nature of good communications have prevented more suicides, than other acts of violence, Houck said Wednesday, asked about past incidences locally. We have much more threats of self-harm that are considered medium to high level than threats to others, he said. But what we know is this: a person who is suicidal is not a far stretch from a homicidal suicidal person. Time and time again with these active shooters, their rampage is a suicide rampagethey just want to take other people with them. Threats by students against other students mostly show up on social media, Houck said. The division handles those seriously as well. Our protocol with the sheriffs office is we are going to send officers to that childs home that evening to intervene, he said. The child is not always arrested, Houck added, but he or she will not be riding the school bus to school and a meeting with the parent, child, SRO and administrator is required to get an understanding of what led to the threat. Disciplinary action is taken as appropriate. Sad to say, but this generation has grown up with school shootings. It hits the adults harder, Houck noted of the somberness and anxiety that always follows. Its a great weight that we educators carry to know that this is happening again, he said. Added Hoover, Its your worst nightmare. Houck added, Its trauma for us. But we cant emote that, we have to be the leaders of the school division, our principals and counselors have to be strong for their staff members, students and parents who are emoting or not coming to school today because of what happened yesterday. One of the best things everyone can do for their children, especially the younger ones, is to carry on with the normal, fun things in life, Hoover said, mentioning end-of-year activities taking place division-wide. The school system will continue to prioritize safety and security, Houck said. We are doing all that is reasonable, but to do all we can is an impossible task. Thats true for every government and private facility in this nation, he said. Were all vulnerable. 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. We didnt make it into town very often in the summers. My brother and I were stuck reading the books our parents owned. My mother was a librarian and my father was a voracious reader, so we never suffered for anything to read, but most of it wasnt what we would have chosen ourselves. I remember poring over a 1920s book of riddles and conundrums that had belonged to my grandmother when she was a child. It contained jewels like A man, a plan, a canal. Panama. Educators talk about The Summer Slide. During the summer many kids lose part of what they learned over the last school year. Summer reading programs are meant to decrease that slide. Libraries developed summer reading programs in the 1890s as a way to encourage school children to use the library and develop the habit of reading for enjoyment outside of school. Many children couldnt participate because they were working in the fields. Others were not allowed into libraries because of the color of their skin. Now most public libraries offer summer reading programs for adults and teens as well as children. They have evolved from keeping track of the books a child reads over the summer. Many libraries offer creative programming involving hands-on learning and fun activities along with reading challenges. Everyone is welcome in the library, and those who dont come to town often can use Libby and Overdrive to read. Gering Public Librarys summer reading kick-off party is June 1 at Legion Park from 3-5 p.m. We have all sorts of fun planned that day and throughout the month. We have storytimes planned for the little ones and experiments, games and plays for bigger kids. Teens can compete at trivia, and Squid Games. When you return books this summer, make sure the librarian knows which school you attend. The grade schools compete for a coveted traveling trophy, which is awarded to the school whose students read the most books over the summer. Reading is essential to learning, but so is math. If you want to keep your childs math skills sharp over the summer, I recommend www.bedtimemath.org. Its a fun website (also available as an app) that provides a daily math problem for kids of all ages and it doesnt feel like schoolwork. Summer reading isnt just for kids. Adults can create art and learn about bees and cryptocurrency this summer. Graduating is no excuse to stop learning and growing. Stop in the Gering Library for more information or check out our webpage at www.gering.org/library. We have lots of fun planned this summer and you wont want to miss out. I spent summers in my early teens reading books like Slogum House (1937) by Mari Sandoz, The Good Earth (1931) by Pearl S. Buck, and Kon Tiki (1948) by Thor Heyerdahl. My brother remembers enjoying Youre Stepping On My Cloak and Dagger (1957) by Roger Hall and lots of Ian Flemming books. (He developed James Bond.) While we had access to a lot of books, I am not sure they would be on any teachers reading list for grade school students. If you can, I encourage you to come to the library and participate in the summer reading program. It beats giving your kid 50-year-old adult books to read. (I highly recommend Our Hearts Were Young and Gay (1942) by Cornelia Otis Skinner.) Chadron State College students, a CSC alumna, and elementary students joined hundreds of other volunteers collaborating with a University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) community science project this spring. The purpose of the project is to determine if spotted skunks remain in Nebraska since the last known sighting of the species occurred in 2017. More than 600 volunteers are assisting to determine if any populations are left, and if so, where they are located, and what habitat they prefer. Dr. Teresa Frink, professor of Agriculture and Range Management, contacted UNO graduate student, April Sperfslage, who is overseeing the project and was able to involve 39 CSC students and Hay Springs Higher Ability Learners (HAL) in the spotted skunk survey. The CSC students worked in small teams to place 20 trail cameras with bait stations a specified distance from the cameras in an effort to document the presence of spotted skunks. CSC alumna Crystal Vander May, HAL leader at Hay Springs, and her students participated by placing a camera on Frinks land, south of Hay Springs. CSC students Sage McGinnis, Hayden McGinnis, Brolin Morgan, and Morgan Fawver, participated in the project from mid-March until early May. Sage McGinnis and Hayden McGinnis of Buena Vista, Colorado, who are siblings, worked in a team with fellow CSC student Emma Pendleton of Hemingford. Sage McGinnis said working with UNO and the NGPC was a rewarding experience and the process allowed her to have an increased understanding of the complexity of a study of wildlife populations. It is satisfying to work on a project that will be utilized outside of the school setting. Moving forward in our individual careers, it will be extremely beneficial to have this experience and knowledge about how to collaborate with various organizations working towards a common goal, Sage McGinnis said. Hayden McGinnnis said he gained important insights from conducting hands-on research. A lot can be learned in the classroom, but often the most beneficial experience comes in the field. It was fun to go out and set the camera traps following various protocols and methodologies relating to the study. Overall, it was very interesting to participate in and witness how the research process works in the field, he said. Hayden McGinnis said his team placed its camera southeast of Crawford near some abandoned buildings and a seasonal wetland. Many images were tumbleweeds and grass blowing in the wind, some were of cats, raccoons, deer, robins, and doves, but none were spotted skunks. It was a challenge to keep the vegetation clipped enough so that when the wind blew the camera would not be tripped by the blowing vegetation. With each camera check we had to modify it a little bit to minimize these impacts, Hayden McGinnis said. Morgan and her research partner, Fawver, both of McCook, placed their camera on land by Maxwell, near the Platte River. The two refreshed the bait over several weeks, and the camera captured photos of white-tailed deer, common raccoon, and Virginia opossums, although no spotted skunks, according to Morgan. Vander May said starting the project with her HAL students triggered a flood of questions and resulted in them researching more about the species and possible reasons for a declining population including reproduction, food supply, environmental changes, and predators. Vander May said she and the HAL students measured the trees distance and height in order to find a suitable location for luring a spotted skunk. The Frink family updated the bait and checked on the camera. Our prediction of the spotted skunk being rare was confirmed when we had no sightings of them on our trail camera. However, we were able to access a website with more trail camera photos of animals that others had caught on their trail cameras, including a spotted skunk, Vander May said. Shaun Dunn, Natural Heritage Zoologist and Certified Wildlife Biologist with the NGPC, said partners like CSC and Hay Springs are valuable in gathering data and photos. This has allowed us to expand our efforts across the state and include some really needed data to the project, Dunn said. Sperfslage said students bring the additional benefit of being familiar with field sites that professional researchers may not be able to access due to lack of time or knowledge of suitable habitat. These students have the drive and enthusiasm to contribute to real science, Sperfslage said. It's difficult for just a few researchers to gather data on our own, especially if we're interested in determining where populations of spotted skunks may remain across the entire state of Nebraska. Involving elementary school children is an additional positive aspect of the project, according to Dunn and Sperfslage. Its a great thing for the kids to be able to say, I helped with that, Dunn said. Sperfslage said exposing young children to wildlife research can shed light on the work. My hope is even if children don't fall in love with the field of wildlife research, that through community science projects they will gain respect for wildlife, the environment, and understand the importance of science, Sperfslage said. Anyone interested in participating in the long-term community science project may sign up online until spring 2023 http://outdoornebraska.gov/spottedskunk/ or contact Dunn or Sperfslage. As a young boy growing up in Alliance, Christian Voss had a dream to become an actor. With over two decades in the industry, Voss teamed up with directors Dave Campfield and Paul Chomicki to pay tribute to his late wife and highlight the trafficking market relevant to many families in Nebraska and South Dakota with a thriller Fortress of Sin. The film features several native born Nebraskans in the cast and crew. After moving to Montana and serving in the Air Force, he got tired of shoveling snow and move to Los Angeles, California. With his wife, Robin Ritter by his side, the two enjoyed a 25-year career in filmmaking. The duo were involved in ghost hunting films to reality shows to low budget features. After Ritter died May 18, 2018, Voss decided to clear his head and go home to his fathers property in Hay Springs. While helping out his father, Voss received a call from Dave Campfield, the director of Caesar and Ottos Summer Camp Massacre, about creating a tribute film for Voss late wife Robin. It was about a young girl who joined a cult and it was based in New York, and involved a pastor of a congregation in North Carolina, Voss said. He had actually cast me as the pastor of the church. The script was rewritten to accommodate a shift in venue due to limited resources. So we formed a writing coalition between the three of us (Voss, Campfield and Chomicki), he said. As the script evolved, the three men found inspiration for the characters names, as each experienced the death of a family member. Voss wife had died, and both Campfields and Chomickis brothers had died, one from cancer and the other from a stroke. So we each had this tragedy in our lives, and it was almost the same time so we decided to make a tribute to them, Voss said. The film tells the story of a Native American woman, named Robin, who goes missing after joining a church cult. Robin is abducted to be trafficked to a cartel. Using his local connections to the ranchers, Voss found locations for scenes in the film around the Sandhills area and Sheridan County. He contacted Ryan Lovell, who is involved with the Sheridan County Players and is the Gordon-Rushville High School music teacher. Ryan Lovell was absolutely instrumental in this film, Voss said. Im so grateful for him and his ability. Hes got a passion as an actor and hes very focused on how this is going to affect the community. Aside from using Lovell as a casting director, he also portrays Walt. Some of Lovells favorite scenes were taken in a pig farm outside of Hay Springs and neighboring Badlands National Park. We went in there are night and found some night stuff that was really creepy, Lovell said. Then, we were near the Badlands and shot in this really old church up there. We camped up there for that evening then shot again for two full days in the Badlands. You cant see any cities around you, no glow of lights or anything. It was beautiful. Jama Bourne, a Gordon-Rushville High School graduate, plays the character of Robin. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Bourne said. Its something I had never done before, so it was interesting to see the dynamics that went with it. As she portrayed her character, Bourne said she found inspiration from her life. I can relate to quite a bit of it because my dad wasnt really in my life when I was growing up, so I was raised by a single mom, she said. That was realistic to me because I always wanted my dad in my life. Bourne said the story also touches her as she has several family friends who have had children gone missing and were later found dead. Its kind of like an eye-opener for me that it is a real thing, she said. It just touched home. Working alongside some of his former students, Lovell hopes they take the experience as a chance to grow and inspire change. I think obviously it lends time to getting them in front of the camera and giving them some experience, but I think the main thing is that this is actually happening, Lovell said. Theyre aware that the indigenous Native American women are actually coming up missing and being trafficked. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed some filming, requiring the directors to make multiple trips to Sheridan County over the past two years to capture all of the scenes in the desolate and derelict locations as a lonely man seeks his daughter. Our biggest thing is the awareness of the missing and the murdered Indigenous women, Voss said about the message of the film. Trafficking is reality and its everywhere. The film is produced by Ragged Sky and Fourth Horizon Cinema. The film is available on Amazon and Best Buy. The Gordon Theater will screen the film on June 11 at 7 p.m. Some members of the cast will be in attendance. The film has won international awards at festivals, including Best Feature Film at the Eastern European Film Fest. 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. MADISON, Wis. The Wisconsin Elections Commission postponed choosing its new chairman Tuesday after a Republican commissioner who could have challenged for the post abruptly resigned, saying the state GOP doesnt want him to lead the commission because he believes Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden fair and square. Dean Knudson told the commission in a farewell speech that Republican leaders have branded him a RINO, or Republican In Name Only, a derogatory term Republicans attach to members of the party they dont feel are conservative enough. Advertisement Knudson said he believes that the GOP has falsely peddled conspiracy theories that Biden somehow stole Wisconsin from Trump, even though multiple recounts and court rulings have found no widespread fraud and that Biden beat Trump by about 21,000 votes in the state. The painful truth is President Tump lost the election in 2020... and it was not due to election fraud, Knudson said. Its been made clear to me from the highest levels of the Republican Party of Wisconsin there was a deep desire that I not be chair and thats fine. Advertisement Anna Kelly, a spokeswoman for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, didnt immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment. The commission is made up of three Democrats and three Republicans. The chairmanship rotates between the parties every two years. This year is the Republican turn at the helm. Under state law, only Knudson and Republican commissioner Bob Spindell are eligible for the post. Spindell has been publicly campaigning for the post. Spindell was one of 10 Republicans who cast Electoral College votes for Trump in Wisconsin, even though Trump lost. He and the other fake GOP electors were sued last week. The next chair will hold the position heading into the November election and in the lead up to the 2024 presidential election in battleground Wisconsin. The chair by state law approves the vote canvass following elections and certifies results. The chair also sets the agenda for the commission and can exert influence over how questions are framed, an important power on the board that is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. Knudson suggested the commission hold off on a vote until Assembly Speaker Robin Vos appoints his successor. Despite Spindells urgings to take the vote, the commission voted 5-1 to postpone the contest until its June 10 meeting. Spindell was the only commissioner who voted against the move. Despite the findings that the 2020 election was free of widespread fraud, the commission has come under intense criticism from Republicans for a host of decisions it made leading up to the contest, including not sending special voting deputies into nursing homes to assist residents with casting absentee ballots as the COVID-19 pandemic was raging and expanding the use of ballot drop boxes. The four Republican candidates running for governor all want to dissolve the commission. The last holdout, Tim Michels, initially said he wanted to keep the commission but overhaul its operations but reversed his position on Wednesday and called for abolishing the agency. The three Republican candidates running for secretary of state want to shift election oversight from the commission to that office. Advertisement Spindell has said he supports keeping the commission in place, but during a speech Tuesday night he said he would be in favor of shifting election oversight to a Republican secretary of state. He said no one understands what the commission does and many Wisconsin residents still dont know if the commissions decisions leading up to the 2020 election were legal. As Kathleen Roehl, of Scottsbluff, sewed eight different aboriginal fabrics together into a quilt, she did not know her quilt would soon be gifted to Pope Francis. My enjoyment is that I enjoy sewing, Roehl said. I grew up clothes sewing, so I make things that I enjoy out of a fabric pattern. Roehl has worked at Prairie Pines Quilt Shop in Gering for several years, after she started quilting in the early 2000s. At first, I thought it was really crazy to pick a lovely piece of fabric and cut it all up and sew it back together again, she said. It makes me look at fabric in a much different way. The eighth different indigenous fabrics used to create the quilt are inspired by native stories, Roehl said. I made the quilt out of that aboriginal fabric as a sample to showcase it, she said. We hung it up just so people could see a sample. The roughly 50x70 inch quilt is sewn using the Yellow Brick Road pattern, where the sections of the quilt are rectangular or square in shape. Each rectangle row is staggered, resembling a brick road. Father Jim Sichko, who is a papal missionary of mercy from the diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, visited the area in October of 2021 on a parish mission at Christ the King Church in Gering. Roehl invited him to the quilt shop after Sichko expressed an interest in quilts. He came over and saw that quilt and wanted to buy it, Roehl said. Actually, since it was my quilt, I gave it to him. Sichko said he would give the quilt to the pope during his upcoming trip to Greece in May. As a member of the popes private audience, Sichko bestowed many gifts, including Roehls quilt that had traveled around the world. I thought it was interesting that aboriginal fabric from Australia would wind up in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and a quilt made from it would go to Rome, Roehl said. I was very pleased that Father Jim liked it enough to think it was a good gift for the pope. Sichko shared a post highlighting the gift on Facebook earlier this month, as well as other gifts that he gave the pope during his visit. Roehl encourages people interested in sewing to visit a local quilt shop and sign up for a class. Its enjoyable and people who quilt are generally very eager to share their expertise and love of sewing with others, she said. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As our national anthem says, the United States of America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. As Americans we never tire of sharing those stories of fearless bravery which have provided us with freedom and protected our liberties for almost 250 years, especially against foreign oppressors. As we enter into the Memorial Day weekend, one of those stories I have read of valiant bravery has finally come to a peaceful end. It is the story of Marine Corps sergeant, John Lee Canley. John Lee Canley was born on December 20, 1937, in Caledonia, Arkansas. He was only 15 years old when he got the urge to become a soldier. Because he was too young, he used his older brothers papers to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. The plan worked. After boot camp Canley served in South Korea and Japan before getting shipped off to the war in Vietnam. On January 30, 1968, the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Peoples Army of Vietnam launched the Tet Offensive. The Tet Offensive consisted of surprise attacks on more than 100 cities and towns countrywide on the day of the Vietnamese lunar new year. The strategy was to spread out U.S. air and sea defenses, essentially rendering them useless and ineffective. It was a brilliant plan, save for the valor and effectiveness of U.S. ground forces. The very next day John Lee Canley along with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines was loaded onto a truck and sent to reinforce soldiers under siege in Hue City. On the way, the convoy came under a barrage of enemy sniper fire. In one town the troops were forced to dismount and clear the houses on both sides of the main street through heavy house-to-house combat. During the street fighting company commander, Captain Gordon Batcheller, was wounded and could no longer lead his troops in battle. Together with sergeant Alfredo Cantu Gonzales, sergeant John Lee Canley, assumed command of Alpha company. The fighting intensified again in the afternoon. Despite being wounded Canley crossed fire-swept terrain several times to carry his own wounded Marines to safety. Finally, at 3:15 p.m. they reached their destination, the compound at the Military Assistance Command Vietnam in Hue City. One month later, on February 6, 1968, during the Battle of Hue City Canleys unit came under intense fire at a hospital compound. Canleys men would later testify about how they saw sergeant Canley scale a wall in full view of the enemy twice in order to carry wounded Marines to safety. The Battle of Hue City continued for almost another month until Allied forces finally drove out the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Peoples Army of Vietnam on March 2, 1968. In the end the Allies lost 668 men in the battle while another 3,707 were wounded. John Lee Canley was initially awarded the Navy Cross for his acts of valor at the Battle of Hue City; however, at a White House ceremony on October 17, 2018 President Donald Trump upgraded the award by issuing him the Marines Medal of Honor. Canley did not get very many opportunities to display that award around his neck because cancer took him earlier this month. On May 11, 2022 Sergeant Major John Lee Canley (retired) died at his daughters home in Bend, Oregon. I share the story of Sergeant John Lee Canley with you today in hopes that you might gain better appreciation for the tremendous cost that our men and women in uniform have paid to secure our freedoms. Many of these stories never get told, yet many of those who have gone to battle for us have displayed unspeakable courage and unfathomable fearlessness in the face of the enemy. So, let us honor them this year by telling their stories and remembering the sacrifices they have made for the cause of liberty. Remember that all gave some, but some gave all. The Class of 1965 at Unity High School recently held its 57th reunion and paid tribute to the members of the class who served in the armed forces. Unity was a school for Black students, and it closed just a few years after the class of 65 graduated. On May 31, 1965, 82 students graduated from Unity High, which was on Salisbury Road in Statesville. Over the years, 30 of these students entered various branches of the military. We were blessed that none of our classmates were killed in action, Phyllis Bailey, a member of the class and a local historian, said. However, 12 have died since their return from serving in the military. The U.S. did not begin its heavy military commitment to Vietnam until 1964. However, from 1965 to 1973, it became an increasingly unpopular war. The death toll climbed every day. The dense tropical jungle, river valleys and central highlands made the best of the American weaponry and troops seemed at odds with the guerilla tactics of the unrelenting numbers of the Viet Cong soldiers. African Americans found themselves in every conceivable position in the war. They were represented in the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marine Corps in all ranks up to admirals and generals. The Vietnam War ended with a cease-fire agreement under President Richard Nixon. The last U.S. troops left Vietnam on March 29, 1973. During the memorial tribute, it was realized that 49 classmates, which includes the veterans, have died. We want to thank those who put their lives in harms way for our safety. May all of you who read this article be blessed and stay safe, Bailey said. ABINGDON, Va. Two years after opening Appalachian Teas & Botanicals, community herbalist Lori Briscoe is celebrating a flourishing Abingdon business, a dream shes been cultivating ever since she was a girl listening to stories about medicinal herbs from her grandfather. A cozy aromatic tea room in the back of Wolf Hills Coffee on Court Street is brimming with a tall shelf of jars filled with bioregional herbs, a mortar and pestle for mixing the herbs, and other materials for creating her custom tea blends. Drawing inspiration from the stories told by her grandfather, Briscoe turned her love of herbs into a tea and botanical business in 2020 when she moved into The Spring House, a historic building on Court Street that also houses Wolf Hills Coffee, Tumbling Creek Cider Co. and Peddling Jacks. Her store is the culmination of a 20-year devotion to learning about the biological diversity and rich history of the Appalachian region. The herbalist marries local herbs with black, green and other teas that come from sources throughout the world, offering customers a variety of tea blends, all of which contain herbs for supporting health and wellness. Customers can choose from dozens of varieties, one of which is a Blue Ridge Breakfast Blend, a tea blended with ginseng leaf for improving overall health. Another shelf in the tea room contains packages of Wild Ramp Salt, a collection of ground dehydrated ramp leaves combined with salt from Saltville, Virginia. This is about as local as you can get, Briscoe said, while adding the blend can be used as a seasoning. Another product, Forest Bathing Tub Tea, contains deciduous tree leaves blended with essential oils, salt from Saltville and Epsom salt. Its just amazing taking a bath with the feeling like youre in the middle of a forest, she said. Plants are something shes very connected to and finds great joy in, the herbal educator and teacher said. She shares her love for native herbs by leading a nature outdoor program, Wednesday Wildlings, each season for children ages 5 to 9. Because of high interest in the community, she is offering two sessions of the program this summer. Later this summer, she will begin accepting clients for wellness visits, performing comprehensive wellness assessments for a holistic approach to natural herbal remedies. One of her favorite herbs on the shelf in the tea room is stinging nettle, a readily available local herb she described as a nutritional powerhouse. Its a brilliant plant to blend in any tea. Its mild and salty earthy flavors are perfect for blends. Using the tagline, plants, people and place, Briscoe operates her business with a passion for authentic healing a method for taking care of ourselves by connecting to the places we live. Her unique business strategy won her first place in the startup business category for the 2022 Washington County Business Challenge in April, a business plan competition designed to attract entrepreneurs to start and expand their businesses. She also won a competition for Best Pitch, and most knowledgeable and equity awards, all of which earned her more than $8,000 to help grow her small business. I feel very fortunate since I started out flying by the seat of my pants and am now able to shape this love into a business that reflects my passions and my love for this region, community and plants, said the first-time entrepreneur. Partnering with the Virginia Highlands Festival Her contributions to the herbal industry are catching the attention of community leaders, who recognize her work. Briscoe was asked to create a tea blend for the Virginia Highlands Festival this year that will represent the story of the 73-year-old summer event. During the festival, Briscoe will be a special guest at Chef Chat: Broadening the Story Weve Been Given, an event hosted by chef Travis Milton at 7:30 p.m. on July 20 at the Barter Theatre. The following evening on July 21, Briscoes signature tea blend will be served at 6:30 p.m. during a cocktail hour and at 7:30 p.m. during a supper at Hickory restaurant at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyard in Bristol, Virginia. The signature blended tea reflects the regions history along with a global perspective at the same time, she said. The cocktail is a blend of Asian teas combined with regional ingredients that are significant to the Appalachian region, such as ginseng leaves, a panacea herb thats been a defining plant in the Appalachia for centuries. Each herb was selected because it reflects something about the region or the story of the festival, Briscoe said. Rose petals are another ingredient in the custom blend. Rose petals often are thought of as a heart plant, not just romantically but anything that brings beauty to a place. I cant help but associate roses with Robert Porterfield and the cultural experience he helped to create for our region. Also during the festival, Briscoe will host an Appalachian Field & Forest Excursion from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 30, at Fairhaven Farm in the Alvarado community. Briscoe and participants will ramble through the fields and forest, uncovering native plants and their food and healing applications. Sustainably grown and harvested Briscoes haven for solitude and joy is usually out in the woods where she gathers herbs and continues her research on plants. The woods are like my church, and Im always gathering and learning, she said. In addition to the herbs she harvests locally, the herbalist partners with the Appalachian Harvest Food Hub, which operates a Herb Hub in its Duffield, Virginia, facility. Briscoe purchases plants that are sustainably grown and harvested at the Herb Hub. She will co-host an event with Appalachian Sustainable Development at 6 p.m. Aug. 13 at The Spring House to help bring awareness to the Herb Hub and the forest farming program offered by Appalachian Sustainable Development. An Appalachian SustainabiliTEA, custom-blended by Briscoe, will be introduced during the event. The tea will feature plants grown from the programs network of farmers. According to Briscoe, proceeds from the event will benefit Appalachian Sustainable Development. Botanical Book Lovers Group Briscoe launched a Botanical Book Lovers Group in January as a way to gather friends who love to read about plants or the people who grow them. The group meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays every other month at The Spring House at 112 Court St. in Abingdon. The group is open to the public, and drop-ins are welcome. The next meeting is Thursday, May 26, when participants will discuss Grandma Gatewoods Walk by Ben Montgomery and When Grandma Took a Hike by Michelle Houts. To learn more about Appalachian Teas & Botanicals, visit the website at www.appalachianteasandbotanicals.com and follow the page on Facebook. Carolyn R. Wilson is a freelance writer in Glade Spring, Virginia. Contact her at citydesk@bristolnews.com. The former and new owners of Dogtown Roadhouse in Floyd announced earlier this month the venue and eatery has traded hands. Anga Miller and Ed Erwin owned the establishment for nine years and implemented many of the regular events that Dogtown is known for. Dogtowns support of local musicians has made it part of artists' journeys including Morgan Wade, Donna the Buffalo and Will Easter & The Nomads. Alee Epperly, Elizabeth Retting and Chad Hull collectively purchased the downtown staple in the beginning of May. The trio, which all stumbled upon Floyd in serendipitous ways, Retting said last week, has more than 15 years of experience in the restaurant and music industries. The teams vast experience of wearing many hats, Retting said, has formed herself, Epperly and Hull into a well-rounded team thats excited for this new chapter. Dogtown has been a special place for each of its new owners. We've made real and lasting relationships over the years by spending time at Dogtown, Retting said. When the opportunity to buy the restaurant presented itself, Retting said, we knew we wanted to jump in and keep the tradition alive. The new owners said they would love to partner with local farms and use fresh produce in menu items. They plan to ramp up and diversify Dogtowns music offerings and utilize the downstairs patio, especially for events in the park, Retting said. The trio said between the mountains, the community, the music, and its history; Floyd and Dogtown mean home. There will be a special ribbon cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 3, with the Floyd Chamber of Commerce. The new owners are planning a special pizza and drink that highlights some of their favorite ingredients for the occasion, Retting said. Ten percent of the evenings profits will benefit FISH, the local nonprofit. Learn more about Dogtown Roadhouse, its menu and upcoming events at www.dogtownroadhouse.com. Visit in person at 302 S. Locust St. in Floyd. 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. Burglary and theft Castle Rock police Tuesday arrested Ali Geffre, 29, of Vancouver, on suspicion of second-degree burglary, second-degree theft, third-degree theft and resisting arrest. Drug possession Cowlitz County deputies Tuesday arrested Brian Roman, 25, of Longview, on suspicion of felony drug possession with intent to distribute. Fraud Longview police were called Tuesday after a fraudulent check was cashed at a business. Assaults 400 block of Three Rivers Drive, Kelso. Tuesday. Man allegedly thrown to ground by person claiming to be security. 1800 block of 13th Avenue, Kelso. Tuesday. Woman allegedly slapped at work. Stolen vehicle 3200 block of Ocean Beach Highway, Longview. Tuesday. Blue 2004 Honda Odyssey. Recovered same day with catalytic converter missing. Thefts 2300 block of Lewis River Road, Woodland. Tuesday. Multiple catalytic converters stolen. 400 block of Kirby Avenue, Castle Rock. Tuesday. Rolex watch taken. 600 block of Broadway Street, Longview. Tuesday. Catalytic converter taken. 700 block of Fishers Lane, Longview. Tuesday. Business checks missing, possibly taken from mailbox. 200 block of Beech Street, Longview. Tuesday. Items missing from garage. 1900 block of Atlantic Avenue, Woodland. Tuesday. Multiple catalytic converters stolen. Vandalism/malicious mischief 300 block of Kilkenny Road, Kalama. Tuesday. Livestock fence cut. Vehicle prowl 200 block of Ross Road, Kelso. Tuesday. Wallet stolen. 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. RIDGEFIELD Ian Mansfield is the new principal of View Ridge Middle School in Ridgefield. Mansfield replaces Tony Smith, who will start as principal of Cascade Middle School in Longview this fall, according to the Ridgefield School District. Smith was principal at View Ridge for seven years, the district reports. Mansfield is the current Skyview High School assistant principal in Vancouver, where he has worked since 2019. He taught middle school special education in Vancouver from 2011-15, and later oversaw the districts crisis prevention training, according to the Ridgefield School District. Mansfield received his bachelors and masters degrees from Willamette University in Salem. The Daily News The Daily News, Longview, Wash. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Longview nonprofits proposal to manage the citys existing homeless camp brought mixed opinions by county commissioners, city officials and the public Wednesday during a three-hour meeting. The Cowlitz County commission agreed to review the proposals details within the next month to ensure county and city officials agree with Community House on Broadways plan to run a hosted homeless encampment. Quote "Community House for 40 years has proven they know what they're doing." John Jabusch, Cowlitz County commissioner. Commissioner John Jabusch suggested forming a committee that includes a county commissioner, county health official and city of Longview representative to work with Community House on the proposal and come back to the full board in 30 days. Community House for 40 years has proven they know what theyre doing, Jabusch said. We may not agree with all the things they do but they know what theyre doing. I think we can tweak what they have presented and end up with something that could work for our community. Community House on Broadway submits only request Tuesday to operate hosted homeless camp in Longview Community House on Broadway was the only agency Tuesday to submit a proposal to Cowlitz County to operate the county and city of Longviews lo Commissioner Dennis Weber said the committee will flesh out how Community House will collaborate with other agencies, explore differences between the proposal and needs of homeless people, create a realistic code of conduct, and move toward a different location. Frank Morrison, Community House executive director, said the organization is open to negotiating the proposal. Community House was the only agency that responded to the countys March request for proposals to operate the site. Community Houses plan estimates a $1.1 million cost to run the site for a year, from July 1 to June 30, 2023. The county would pay for the project with document recording fees. Many people who spoke Wednesday expressed support for Community House and doing something different than the current unhosted homeless site, but had questions or concerns about the plan. Quote "I appreciate Community House being willing to take a step forward but this is a flaw that will come back to haunt the county and city because more than half the residents won't be able to stay in the place you're paying to operate." Liz Kearny, Longview Presbyterian pastor. Some said the proposed rules would deter many homeless people from staying there, and others argued it wouldnt help solve the problem. Gena James, health and human services deputy director, said Wednesday the proposal included stricter guidelines than the county outlined, including drug testing, medication storage and background checks. The proposal did not explain how the organization would collaborate with other agencies at the site, she said. Some of the rules proposed were based on Longviews municipal code regulating hosted homeless encampments, including the limit of 100 people and a requirement to check for sex offenders and active warrants, said Nora Winters with Community House. The intent was for our proposal to put out something, some starting point, she said. We dont think were the end-all be-all, but its clear something has to happen. Cowlitz County commissioners discuss, add tiny homes to hosted homeless site plan Cowlitz County and the city of Longviews long-discussed plan for a hosted homeless encampment took a step forward this week with a notable ad Liz Kearny, Longview Presbyterian pastor, said based on her experience working at the severe weather shelter and information from people who visit the camp, many currently at Alabama Street wouldnt stay at the hosted site if they have to pass a drug test. I appreciate Community House being willing to take a step forward but this is a flaw that will come back to haunt the county and city because more than half the residents wont be able to stay in the place youre paying to operate, she said. Commissioner Arne Mortensen said he did not want the county to duplicate services, and although Community House helps people, the nonprofit would be offering services at the camp, which the organization already offers at its Longview location. Mortensen voiced concerns that the proposal did not define how success would be measured. One citizen who did not give his name said its not the governments job to pay for this type of project. As much as I support Community House, I dont believe we need to be expanding it and making it bigger and larger and accommodating a bigger and larger homeless population, he said. Longview City Manager Kurt Sacha requested the county move forward with the proposal, which would better address unhoused peoples needs by providing wrap-around services. City Councilwoman Ruth Kendall also voiced support for a committee to make the proposal workable, by insuring it doesnt kick too many people out of the camp. City, county officials look to Vancouver Safe Stay Community to address homelessness As Longview and Cowlitz County figure out the next steps for helping the homeless, officials are looking at the programs Vancouver has put in place. Shannon, a Highlands resident who didnt give her last name, said the proposal could work with some adjustments but people have to be respectful and held accountable. She said it would be inappropriate to keep the site at Alabama Street. Jabusch said the site would improve if it was manned 24 hours a day but agreed the location is not ideal. The reality is the two years its been there, it has caused significant angst in that community and we need to be perceptive of that and try to move it, he said. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 2 Angry 3 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. An 8-year-old girl who was found unresponsive in an Uptown apartment with her mother Wednesday was asphyxiated, Chicago police said. Paramedics and police were called to the 4600 block of North Winthrop Avenue about 11 a.m. after getting a report a young girl on a bed inside the home was unresponsive, according to an online media notification from police. Advertisement The child, Amaria Osby, was pronounced dead in her apartment at 11:23 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiners office. Amaria, 8, of the same block where she was found, had bruises on her leg and had been asphyxiated, according to the agency and a Chicago police report. Her mother, a 38-year-old woman, also was found in the home and was taken to nearby Weiss Memorial Hospital, where she had been reported in good condition. Advertisement According to the report, the mother had a meeting scheduled with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services on Tuesday. A Thursday autopsy to determine the cause and manner of Amarias death was inconclusive and pending, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. The principal of a nearby elementary school in Uptown sent a letter home Wednesday informing students, parents and guardians a child enrolled at the school had died. The letter did not say the age or gender of the student and it was not immediately clear whether Osby attended the school. This loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for the entire school, especially our students. The Chicago Public Schools crisis management unit will work with our own counselor, social worker, and psychologist to provide grief counseling and support to students and staff members. If your child expresses any concern(s), please contact us so that we can provide additional support, the letter said. Check back for updates. The Hubble Telescope has taken a stunning picture, shared by NASA, of a massive Galaxy that is 2.5 times larger than our own Milky Way galaxy! Here are all the details. NASAs Hubble Telescope has captured a stunning giant Elliptical Galaxy, which is 2.5 times larger than our own Milky Way galaxy! The elliptical galaxy which has been dubbed as NGC 474, is situated roughly 100 million light-years from Earth. The Hubble telescope captured a close-up look of the galaxy's centre, revealing its massive scale. NGC 474 is 2.5 times the size of our own Milky Way galaxy, measuring around 250,000 light-years wide. According to NASA, the size of the NGC 474 isn't its only distinguishing attribute, which released the stunning image on May 18. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: Not just its enormous size, the image of Galaxy NGC 474 has shown a series of complex layered shells that surround its spherical-shaped core in a beautiful manner. NASA couldnt find the source of these layered shells, but astronomers believe that these shells may be the after-effects of the process of absorption of one or more smaller galaxies into this giant one. The same way a pebble creates ripples on a pond when dropped into the water. These shells around the NGC 474 could have the same ripples effect after the galactic merger. Also Read: NASA Voyager 1 space probe sends data to Earth that shocks scientists! NASA explained the structure of this giant galaxy, About 10% of elliptical galaxies have shell structures, but unlike the majority of elliptical galaxies, which are associated with galaxy clusters, shelled ellipticals usually lie in relatively empty space. The report further explained, "It may be that they've cannibalized their neighbors." Also Read: Tragedy averted! NASA cancels spacewalks after water fills up astronauts helmet How NASA's Hubble Telescope captures this new image of Galaxy NGC 474 while depicting the stunning yet complex shells around it? This new image of the Galaxy was captured while using data from Hubbles Advanced Camera for Surveys. NASA mentioned that additional gap-filling data was provided by Hubbles Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 and Wide Field Camera 3 to create the final output of this giant galaxy. Along with the technique, the space agency shared a detailed image explaining that the colour blue represents visible blue light while the colour orange represents near-infrared light around the Galaxy. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Researchers from Skoltech, Shandong University, and ORE Catapult have proposed a way to stabilize wind farms under overvoltage conditions, when imbalances in the power grid causing voltage swells can temporarily knock out wind turbines. The team describes how precisely calibrated reactive current injections may enable continuous clean power generation in spite of brief voltage swells in the system. The study is reported in the International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems. Wind is a clean but inherently variable and intermittent energy source. To ride out wind speed fluctuations and continuously generate electricity, turbines are fitted with what's known as power electronics. Yet while power electronics are great for dealing with variable wind speeds, they are themselves vulnerable to another kind of imbalance that may arise in the power grid: under- and overvoltage. These could damage sensitive power electronics components, halting power production and the supply of customers. The study's principal investigator, Skoltech Professor Vladimir Terzija, explains: "Imagine you have many generators simultaneously connected to the grid. They are all supplying energy, which is consumed by customers. It's a complex system that constitutes a critical part of our society's infrastructure. At any given time, at the point where a generator is connected, different conditions may be present: The operating voltage may be nominal, which is desirable, or it may be lower or higher than that due to what's happening elsewhere in the grid." Voltage swells and dips of this kind are usually transient, but without adequate coping strategies, they still have the potential to incapacitate the turbine by damaging its sensitive power electronics. To avoid this, the generator has to be automatically disconnected when under- or overvoltage is anticipated, but that means no electricity will be generated for some time, and some other power plants will have to make up for that missing energyperhaps by burning fossil fuels. This is precisely the problem addressed in the study by Terzija and co-authors. "Engineers have already made sure that generators can withstand undervoltages that persist for some seconds without disconnection, so as it stands, the overvoltage conditions are more of a problem," the researcher commented. "Our solution is to respond to imminent voltage swells by injecting reactive current into the grid, and the paper explains how to implement this approach in a robust and secure manner, making sure that power delivery is not interrupted and the system sustains no damage." The researchers have thus shown a way to "ride out" overvoltage conditionsas opposed to "sitting them out" by temporarily shutting down the turbine. By maximizing wind generator uptime, this strategy makes renewable power more economical and further reduces our dependence on unsustainable fossil fuels, making sure that wind farms can continue operating even under unfavorable grid conditions and capture every bit of green power available. Explore further A new approach to improve the power control of wind farms More information: Peilin Liu et al, High-voltage ride-through strategy for wind turbine with fully-rated converter based on current operating range, International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems (2022). Peilin Liu et al, High-voltage ride-through strategy for wind turbine with fully-rated converter based on current operating range,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijepes.2022.108101 MIT researchers have created an integrated design pipeline that enables a user with no specialized knowledge to quickly craft a customized 3D-printable robotic hand. Credit: Lara Zlokapa MIT researchers have created an interactive design pipeline that streamlines and simplifies the process of crafting a customized robotic hand with tactile sensors. Typically, a robotics expert may spend months manually designing a custom manipulator, largely through trial-and-error. Each iteration could require new parts that must be designed and tested from scratch. By contrast, this new pipeline doesn't require any manual assembly or specialized knowledge. Akin to building with digital LEGOs, a designer uses the interface to construct a robotic manipulator from a set of modular components that are guaranteed to be manufacturable. The user can adjust the palm and fingers of the robotic hand, tailoring it to a specific task, and then easily integrate tactile sensors into the final design. Once the design is finished, the software automatically generates 3D printing and machine knitting files for manufacturing the manipulator. Tactile sensors are incorporated through a knitted glove that fits snugly over the robotic hand. These sensors enable the manipulator to perform complex tasks, such as picking up delicate items or using tools. "One of the most exciting things about this pipeline is that it makes design accessible to a general audience. Rather than spending months or years working on a design, and putting a lot of money into prototypes, you can have a working prototype in minutes," says lead author Lara Zlokapa, who will graduate this spring with her master's degree in mechanical engineering. Joining Zlokapa on the paper are her advisors Pulkit Agrawal, professor in the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), and Wojciech Matusik, professor of electrical engineering and computer science. Other co-authors include CSAIL graduate students Yiyue Luo and Jie Xu, mechanical engineer Michael Foshey, and Kui Wu, a senior research scientist at Tencent America. The research is being presented at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation. Mulling over modularity Before she began work on the pipeline, Zlokapa paused to consider the concept of modularity. She wanted to create enough components that users could mix and match with flexibility, but not so many that they were overwhelmed by choices. She thought creatively about component functions, rather than shapes, and came up with about 15 parts that can combine to make trillions of unique manipulators. The researchers then focused on building an intuitive interface in which the user mixes and matches components in a 3D design space. A set of production rules, known as graph grammar, controls how users can combine pieces based on the way each component, such as a joint or finger shaft, fits together. "If we think of this as a LEGO kit where you have different building blocks you can put together, then the grammar might be something like 'red blocks can only go on top of blue blocks' and 'blue blocks can't go on top of green blocks.' Graph grammar is what enables us to ensure that each and every design is valid, meaning it makes physical sense and you can manufacture it," she explains. Once the user has created the manipulator structure, they can deform components to customize it for a specific task. For instance, perhaps the manipulator needs fingers with slimmer tips to handle office scissors or curved fingers that can grasp bottles. During this deformation stage, the software surrounds each component with a digital cage. Users stretch or bend components by dragging the corners of each cage. The system automatically constrains those movements to ensure the pieces still connect properly and the finished design remains manufacturable. Fits like a glove After customization, the user identifies locations for tactile sensors. These sensors are integrated into a knitted glove that fits securely around the 3D-printed robotic manipulator. The glove is comprised of two fabric layers, one that contains horizontal piezoelectric fibers and another with vertical fibers. Piezoelectric material produces an electric signal when squeezed. Tactile sensors are formed where the horizontal and vertical piezoelectric fibers intersect; they convert pressure stimuli into electric signals that can be measured. "We used gloves because they are easy to install, easy to replace, and easy to take off if we need to repair anything inside them," Zlokapa explains. Plus, with gloves, the user can cover the entire hand with tactile sensors, rather than embedding them in the palm or fingers, as is the case with other robotic manipulators (if they have tactile sensors at all). With the design interface complete, the researchers produced custom manipulators for four complex tasks: picking up an egg, cutting paper with scissors, pouring water from a bottle, and screwing in a wing nut. The wing nut manipulator, for instance, had one lengthened and offset finger, which prevented the finger from colliding with the nut as it turned. That successful design required only two iterations. The egg-grabbing manipulator never broke or dropped the egg during testing, and the paper-cutting manipulator could use a wider range of scissors than any existing robotic hand they could find in the literature. But as they tested the manipulators, the researchers found that the sensors create a lot of noise due to the uneven weave of the knitted fibers, which hampers their accuracy. They are now working on more reliable sensors that could improve manipulator performance. The researchers also want to explore the use of additional automation. Since the graph grammar rules are written in a way that a computer can understand, algorithms could search the design space to determine optimal configurations for a task-specific robotic hand. With autonomous manufacturing, the entire prototyping process could be done without human intervention, Zlokapa says. "Now that we have a way for a computer to explore this design space, we can work on answering the question of, 'Is the human hand the optimal shape for doing everyday tasks?' Maybe there is a better shape? Or maybe we want more or fewer fingers, or fingers pointing in different directions? This research doesn't fully answer that question, but it is a step in that direction," she says. Explore further Soft assistive robotic wearables get a boost from rapid design tool More information: An integrated design pipeline for tactile sensing robotic manipulators Credit: Aomi Construction Co.,Ltd. From large-scale submarines to solo divers, safe passage through shallow waters represents a common navigational challenge. But recently, researchers from Japan have achieved centimeter-scale accuracy in the acoustic positioning of a submerged object. By digitally removing reflected wave signals, the effects of multipath interference can be reduced. This work may help accelerate commerce by allowing underwater navigation in ports and other shallow areas. Acoustic positioning is similar to sonar, but instead of the same object sending and receiving sound pulses, as in echolocation, here the moving object, which could be a submersible vehicle or diver, sends only the sound waves. The waves are received by hydrophones (i.e., underwater listening devices) in the water with known locations, so the exact position of the moving object can be calculated based on the arrival times of the pulses. However, this method can be unreliable in harbors or other areas with shallow water because the sound waves can be reflected along multiple paths before reaching the hydrophones. A new approach that is not thrown off by multipath interference is needed. Now, a team of researchers from the University of Tsukuba and Aomi Construction in Tokyo, Japan, has proposed a new approach that allows for accurate positioning of underwater objects even in shallow water. However, their approach does not rely on simply taking the loudest signal. "The amplitude of a reflected wave may, in fact, be larger than that of the direct wave due to interference effects, which is why our method is needed," author Professor Tadashi Ebihara says. Instead, a database of signals is pre-collected by calculating the sound arrival times received when the source is at one of the points of a 2D "mesh" underwater. This provides rough positioning by matching a new signal to the closest pattern in the database. Then, a more precise location can be found by using this information to selectively remove the reflected wave, leaving only the direct wave. This method can work as long as the depth of the transmitter is also known. In experiments using a test tank, the locations of objects could be determined to an accuracy of a few centimeters. "Our process can be easily implemented using existing hydrophone installations," Professor Ebihara says. The team hopes that this work can be extended to other applications, such as sending research subs into narrow underwater channels. Their research is published in the Japanese Journal of Applied Physics. More information: Tohru Yoshihara et al, Underwater acoustic positioning in multipath environment using time-of-flight signal group and database matching, Japanese Journal of Applied Physics (2022). Tohru Yoshihara et al, Underwater acoustic positioning in multipath environment using time-of-flight signal group and database matching,(2022). DOI: 10.35848/1347-4065/ac6a3d DALLAS Hours after Texas deadliest school shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, state Republicans called for efforts to harden schools and arm more teachers. We cant stop bad people from doing bad things, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said on Fox News. We can potentially arm and prepare and train teachers and other administrators to respond quickly. That, in my opinion, is the best answer. On Tuesday, a gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, near San Antonio, killing at least 19 children and two adults. The shooting was the deadliest in Texas history, surpassing the death toll from the 2018 Santa Fe High School tragedy. After the Santa Fe shooting, Gov. Greg Abbott unveiled a school safety plan that, among other things, called for the expansion of a program that allows campuses to arm staff. Lawmakers eventually budgeted $100 million for the hardening of public schools. Also on Fox News on Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick suggested Texas did a lot of things after the shooting at Santa Fe High School that claimed the lives of 10 people. Obviously, we have to do more, he said, adding the state has to harden these targets so no one can get in except through one entrance. Theres no assurance that an employee with a handgun can halt a school shooting.For instance, during the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, an armed school resource officer never went inside the high school or attempted to engage the gunman during the attack. Texas schools already have two options to arm teachers and campus staff: appointing school marshals or enacting whats known as the Guardian Plan. School marshals School districts, private schools and community colleges can appoint one or more marshals per campus. These marshals, who may be teachers or staff members, have access to a handgun at school. The purpose is to prevent the act of murder or serous bodily injury on school premises, according to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, or TCOLE. Marshals must be up to date on licensing and certification and take an 80-hour training course conducted by a law enforcement academy. Through this training, they learn about physical security, improving campus security, use of force, weapon proficiency and active shooter response. The names of districts with school marshals in place and names of the employees who are marshals are confidential, said TCOLE spokeswoman Gretchen Grigsby. Currently, Texas has 256 school marshals, she added. School marshals can only use a handgun under circumstances that would justify the use of deadly force or protection of others as defined under state law, according to the Texas Association of School Boards. A 2021 law that went into effect last September removed restrictions preventing marshals from carrying handguns on their person and requiring the firearm to be in a locked and secured location. Guardian Plan Under the more loosely regulated guardian plan, school boards can authorize employees to carry guns on campus. District officials are directly responsible for determining training plans and the vetting process for their guardians. In most cases, school districts limit employee authorization to commissioned peace officers, a TASB document stated. But, the group notes, some districts grant guardian status to others, including classroom teachers. The plan was created by Harrold ISD Superintendent David Thweatt in 2007. When (an active shooter) comes to the school, theyre going to get swarmed from multiple directions, Thweatt told the Texas Tribune in 2018. Armed shooters go where they know theres going to be little resistance, but if they dont know where theyre going to get resistance, theyre not going to come to our schools. Uvalde school leaders held a meeting in early 2018 asking community members for feedback on what would make their schools safer, according to the Uvalde Leader News. At the time, two nearby school districts Nueces Canyon CISD and Utopia ISD had plans in place to arm staff members. Its not clear whether Uvalde CISD had a similar plan in place at the time of Tuesdays shooting. 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Too often big corporations and executives needs are put before the community and the hardworking people of the 9th, DeVaughan said in a statement. The miners, the teachers, the health care providers, and the aging population of the 9th, families along with young people who are fleeing need to know that someone is going to fight for them and their futures every day. The Oklahoma native has been a Virginia resident since 2011, lives in Big Stone Gap with her son, and is an enrolled member of the Comanche Nation, according to her online bio. DeVaughan is the first woman to earn a 9th District main political partys nomination for Congress, a press release said. In the press release, DeVaughan said it is important that girls who look like her, both in the Comanche Nation and in the 9th District, see that they can run for political office. She sees traditional family values and the personal faiths held close by voters as building blocks to enhance the 9th districts future, the press release said. So far, DeVaughan has raised about $10,000 for her campaign, according to data available through the Virginia Public Access Project. Meanwhile, the incumbent Griffith is reporting $450,000 in campaign finances. In Virginias 6th Congressional District, Democrat Jennifer Lewis from Waynesboro is running against third-term U.S. Rep. Ben Cline, R-Botetourt. But first this year, Cline faces a GOP primary in June, against Merritt Hale of Frederick County. Lewis, who announced her candidacy in 2021, said on Facebook last week she was declared the 6th Districts Democratic nominee. The mental health worker and community advocate is running for a second time against Cline. She lost that race in 2018. Lewis website lists health care, environment, criminal justice reform, working families, education, agriculture, infrastructure and rural broadband as key platform issues. Her fundraising efforts are at almost $35,000 so far, compared to nearly $457,000 raised by Cline. Chicago moved into a high community level of COVID-19 Thursday evening, officials said, as the city braces for an estimated 1.4 million people to visit Chicago over Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of the summer season. The development affects areas that include Chicago, Cook County and surrounding counties in northeastern Illinois as well as counties around Peoria, according to an emailed statement from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Advertisement The counties listed at high community level are Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Will, Grundy, Boone, Lee and Winnebago in northern Illinois and Fulton, Knox, Henderson, Mason, Peoria and Tazewell in central Illinois, the statement said. An additional 30 counties in Illinois are now rated at medium community level, according to the CDC. Advertisement But the new designation will not trigger a reinstatement of mask mandates or vaccine requirements, officials said at a news conference earlier Thursday, because the citys health system remains stable. Instead, officials emphasized the importance of voluntarily wearing masks in indoor public settings again, as well as getting vaccinated and boosted. As we approach the summer and the long holiday weekend for Memorial Day, its important for our city to safely welcome visitors and reassure them, as well as our residents, that we are taking public health measures, said Chicagos Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection commissioner Kenneth Meyer. As a doctor, Ill just reiterate we are not reinstating the mask or vaccine requirements mandates because the health system in Chicago remains stable. However, as cases do remain high, we strongly encourage residents and visitors to wear masks. ... I also encourage everyone to get vaccinated and get their booster shots as soon as possible. Earlier Thursday, eight other Illinois counties currently record high transmission levels, including Champaign and neighboring Ford, as well as Rockford-area counties Winnebago, Stephenson and Boone. Chicagos public health Commissioner Allison Arwady said the city is pretty confident that hospital admissions are the reason Cook County, including Chicago, is moving into the higher risk of the metric used by the CDC. Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, on Feb. 22, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Last week, the county was at 9.8 new admissions per 100,000, the database shows. When a region gets to 10 new weekly admissions per 100,000, the CDC considers them high risk. The CDC looks at the whole health service area when theyre looking at things like hospitalizations, Arwady said. With the most recent updates, the city of Chicago is averaging 290 cases per 100,000. For the last seven days, anything over 200 is over goal, but you can see Cook County overall is at 367. The Midwest region is now among those with the highest COVID-19 cases in the country and Arwady said it was because the Midwest is doing more testing than the South and also because were getting through this soft variant (of omicron) right now. The CDC categorizes areas as having low, medium or high community transmission levels based on case numbers, hospital admissions and inpatient bed use. Advertisement Arwady recommended that people avoid crowded indoor gatherings, get tested if they show any flu or COVID-like symptoms, and make a preventive plan of treatment with a primary doctor for immunocompromised people. Last week, the Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer booster for children 5 to 11, though children in that age group are lagging overall when it comes to COVID-19 vaccinations. As cases rise, the FDA is poised to review data from Moderna and Pfizer trials on children 6 months to 5 years on June 15, a highly anticipated step toward authorizing a vaccine for the youngest and final age group. tmijares@chicagotribune.com The herd of Black Angus cows that approached Alex Hunt on his Franklin County farm, hoping for a handout of grain, seemed benevolent enough. But if left to freely roam 430 acres of fields and forest, the cattle would surely head for one of four creeks on the land. There, they would drink the water, eat the vegetation and wallow along the banks, carving out large mud pits from which sediment would be swept downstream. I can say without question that in livestock regions like Franklin County, Augusta County and Rockingham County, the number one water pollution issue is cattle in streams, said Bobby Whitescarver, a retired government conservation official who now runs a consulting business that works to restore watersheds. Youre talking about 1,000-pound bovines gouging the stream bank with their hooves, he said. They absolutely destroy water quality. There is a solution, and Hunt is part of it. With financial help from state and federal agencies, the third-generation farmer had nearly 10 miles of barbed-wire fences installed to keep the cows out of the creeks and, as a result, sediment out of the water. The project also entailed planting trees on 8 acres of stream-side land and building alternative watering spots for his cows, who now drink well water pumped to troughs. I think the payoff was well worth it, Hunt said on a recent May afternoon, as he stood next to a head of about 85 cows that had congregated in the shade of trees a safe distance from an unnamed tributary of Maggodee Creek. Hunt remembered having reservations when he started the work about eight years ago. I was younger when I did this, the 40-year-old said. I was borrowing a whole lot of money and I wasnt 100% sure that I would get paid back. It was a gamble. But I think in the long run, its money well spent. The improvements cost about $100,000, which has since been repaid in full by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and federal agencies such as the Farm Service Agency and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. Earlier this year, Hunts farm was one of nine statewide to receive a Clean Water Farm Award from the DCR and local soil and water conservation districts. These farms are shining examples of the commitment to improving water quality by the agricultural community, Darryl Glover, a deputy director for the state conservation agency, said in an announcement of the awards. State commitment grows With the advent of more severe storms that are being attributed to climate change, the risks posed by erosion and sedimentation in streams and rivers are getting more attention in Virginia and across the country. When mud and silt whether caused by cows, construction projects, or runoff from urban streets and parking lots infiltrate water bodies, it can threaten fish, invertebrates and aquatic vegetation. As it moves downstream, sediment can also affect drinking water supplies and coat the bottoms of rivers and lakes with a layer of silt that gradually grows thicker. From Hunts farm, surface water flows into Maggodee Creek, which then joins with the Blackwater River on the way to Smith Mountain Lake and beyond. Also known as nonpoint source pollution meaning that it comes from multiple locations instead of a single industry or construction site sedimentation has been identified as a major risk to water quality by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Manure from cows, who especially like to wallow in creek and river beds to get relief from the summer heat, is another problem. Virginia is stepping up its efforts to encourage farmers to follow Hunts example, and is committing more funds to the conservation program, Glover said. The General Assembly approved $74 million in the current fiscal year for efforts to reduce sedimentation from farms. The money was distributed to 47 local soil and water conservation districts, which are responsible for taking applications and awarding the grants. The Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District, which serves the counties of Franklin, Henry and Roanoke and the city of Roanoke, received about $642,000 this year. The district nominated the Hunt farm for this years award, chairman Roger Holnback said, because they were really heart and soul committed to doing the right thing. Participation in the program is voluntary, and more signups are needed, said Whitescarver, a retired U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation official who now runs a private consulting business, Whitescarver Natural Resources Management. On a more positive note, there is more public funding, he said. Although details of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year have yet to be finalized, Glover said the amount for the Virginia Agriculture Best Management Practices Conservation Program is expected to be significantly higher than the current $74 million. The exact percentage of agricultural operations that have opted to take advantage of the program to date is unclear, in part because of the constantly changing number of farms in Virginia. But in the Chesapeake Bay region, a drainage area that includes about 60% of the state, work had been completed on 37% of the footage of streams targeted for improvements through last June, Glover said. Efforts to reduce sedimentation in streams and rivers are not limited to farms. In Roanoke, for example, the city council imposed a storm water utility fee in 2013 that is based on the square footage of all impervious surfaces driveways, parking lots and the like owned by residents, businesses and government entities. Concerns that such a mandate might eventually be imposed on farmers was one reason why Hunt decided to take advantage of the states program when he did. Making the farm look better As he drove his white heavy-duty pickup truck through the rolling hills of his farm, Hunt talked about how the improvements have increased the number of deer, turkey and other wildlife that now have a better habitat. While the cows used to be allowed to go where they pleased on the property, the only two areas were they can now access a stream are narrow crossings that been made more erosion-resistant with geo-fabric and gravel. It just makes a farm look better, Hunt said. And the people downstream, Im sure they appreciate it. Theyre not seeing cow turds floating past them. Protecting the farm was important to Hunt, whose life was built and shaped by the land he grew up on. Its my comfort zone, he said of the wide-open space largely untouched by development. The work has also added long-term value to the land, even as Hunt has recently reduced his farming activities to make time for a new venture as a real estate agent for a firm that specializes in large, rural parcels. A herd of about 150 beef cattle, who now have a new owner, remain on the farm. Hunt keeps about a dozen close to his home, the farmhouse he was raised in. A slight smile crossed Hunts face when he was asked what the cows think of the new arrangement, which bars them from their favorite watering holes. Honestly, they probably dont like it as much, he said. But there are some sacrifices to this. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The class president at a Florida high school says he wasn't allowed to share his experience as a gay student in his graduation speech or how the state's so-called "Don't Say Gay" law will affect students like him, so he talked about something else that makes him a little different from his classmates -- his curly hair. Zander Moricz, 18, has been active in social justice causes as a student at Pine View School in Osprey, Florida, and led a student walkout in March to protest the controversial measure that bans certain teachings about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools and goes into effect in July. He's also one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the law. Moricz told CNN that a few weeks before graduation, the school's principal met with him and told him he couldn't talk about that issue. "He'd always been very supportive of me and my identity and I was really hurt," he said. Moricz came out during his freshman year and was the first openly gay class president at the school, so he felt a responsibility to address the controversy. He told CNN that school is the only guaranteed space that kids have in the state. "When you take that only guaranteed space and you make it one that victimizes an entire population of students, what you're doing is you're forcing kids to make the choice of either not come out safely or not come out at all," he said. So when it came time to speak at Sunday's ceremony, Moricz took off his mortarboard hat and pointed to his head. "I used to hate my curls. I spend mornings and nights embarrassed of them trying desperately to straighten this part of who I am. But the daily damage of trying to fix myself became too much to do," he said in his speech. "So while having curly hair in Florida is difficult, due to the humidity, I decided to be proud of who I was and started coming to school as my authentic self." Moricz said his teachers were some of the first people he went to for advice because he didn't have "other curly-haired people" to talk to and said the support he got at school helped him grow. "Now I'm happy. Now I'm happy, and that is what is at stake. There are going to be so many kids with curly hair, who need a community like Pine View and they won't have one," Moricz said. "Instead, they'll try to fix themselves so that they can exist in Florida's humid climate." After the speech, Pine View School Principal Stephen Covert applauded and gave Moricz a hug on stage. "We honor and celebrate the incredible diversity in thought, belief, and background in our school, and champion the uniqueness of every single student on their personal and educational journey," Covert said in a statement. Moricz said he had an emotional moment backstage after the ceremony with school officials who had been there for him over the years. Sarasota County Schools said in a statement that school administrators review all graduation speeches before they are delivered and confirmed that Covert met with Moricz before he submitted his speech "to remind him of the ceremony expectations." "As in years past, student speakers were reminded that graduation is a community celebration and were encouraged to tailor their remarks to be reflective of experiences & memories that all students could appreciate to best reflect all facets of the graduating class's achievements," the statement said. Moricz was also the first student to be elected class president for all four years of high school, so he's been thinking about this speech since he was a freshman. He ended up writing the speech that was approved by the school in about a day. In the speech, he reminded his classmates of times they rallied together against anti-Black violence and to draw attention to the climate crisis, as well as an unsuccessful campaign to convince rap superstar Pitbull to perform in their school gym. He said that the students have power and need to use it. "When you waste your power, what you're really doing is giving it to whoever has the most already, and right now, those who have the most power are coming for those with the least," he said in his speech. "We should not have to deal with this, but we're gonna." Moricz told CNN that the controversy surrounding his speech over the past few weeks has been pretty terrible, but he doesn't have any hard feelings toward the principal or school officials. "I'm angry at the governor and I'm angry at our legislators in Florida," Moricz told CNN. "That's where my anger is directed towards, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I hold everyone a little bit accountable. We're all responsible to push against things like this." Moricz plans to attend Harvard University in the fall to study government. The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. The sale of 13 acres of city land at Capital Avenue to CHI Nebraska was finalized by Grand Island City Council Tuesday. Closing is expected to take place on June 2. A vote Tuesday to approve authorizing the mayor to execute closing documents passed with a 5-4 vote. Council members Michelle Fitzke, Justin Scott, Mike Paulick and Chuck Haase voted against, with Bethany Guzinski abstaining. Mayor Roger Steele made sixth and deciding vote in favor. CHI Nebraska plans to bring a new facility to Grand Island directly west of the former Veterans Home campus, now called Liberty Campus. On March 8, council approved the sale of the 12.7 acres for $318,575, or roughly $25,000 per acre, via Ordinance No. 9875. That ordinance passed with a 6-4 vote. The vote Tuesday was to approve the documents to complete the sale. The items before council tonight, specifically the closing documents, including the restrictive covenants and the gap title insurance matter, were addressed in the purchase sale agreement that was approved by the council, said City Administrator Jerry Janulewicz. -Against Haase spoke against the lack of council and public involvement in the plans for the property, which was due to a suspension of the rule requiring three readings for an ordinance. We werent in the negotiation. The public wasnt aware of the negotiation. Then were told from legal staff you cant re-negotiate a contract in the middle of a council meeting. Its already been done, he said. I really feel the council participation, the public participation, really didnt happen very well with this item. Haase said he has received comments from constituents not only against the sale, but its non-compete clause. This prohibits the use of any land within 300 feet of the site to be used for surgery centers, pharmacies, medical clinics, imaging centers or physical therapy clinics. The community has spoken to me, from anybody who has a concern about this topic, and it is about, theyre wishes really didnt get heard, he said. Paulick was also displeased with how the ordinance was handled, saying he hasnt seen one plan yet, except that the farmer didnt plant corn in that section of ground. Guzinski echoed the sentiment, saying she had not heard from anyone in support of effort. -Support Council member Mitch Nickerson voiced support for the project, saying there was discussion about the proposed use when it was brought up as an ordinance, and that he hadnt heard any opposition for the plan. Ive not seen any pushback like I would expect if it was a terrible idea, which the community would have done that, and has done that, he said. I know the veterans feel very strongly about this, but I also think, as it was explained to us, this seems to be a good fit to start a development in that area. He added, You can back out of deals, but its not necessarily the right thing to do. Council member Vaughn Minton agreed, calling it, the right project for that area. I think this is the stepping stone we need to get the rest of that area out there developed, he said. Im afraid of the negative impact if we dont move forward on this. Its been a long time since weve had actually people look at that place and want to buy that land. Steele defended the sale, saying hes received overwhelming support for placing a medical clinic next to former veterans home. One of the most often repeated statements is that its compatible with the legacy of the veterans home. Its a care facility. Its compatible with the veterans cemetery, he said. Its not a used car lot. Its not retail. Its a medical clinic there to serve a community thats largely under-served. He added, I think its a very noble thing to have a medical clinic that serves an under-served population. Steele also noted that council was asked first if they wanted to suspend the rule for three readings for the ordinance, and they chose to move forward. It is not my job as mayor to quiz the council members, are you sure you want to do that? Or, do you want to talk about it more later? he said. That was a decision you made. I cant undo that decision. Ground work for the estimated $15 million project is expected to start this fall with a 12 to 16 month construction period to follow. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Paris, TX (75460) Today Thunderstorms in the morning, then cloudy skies late. High 79F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Some clouds and possibly an isolated thunderstorm after midnight. Low near 65F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Paris, TX (75460) Today Thunderstorms likely in the morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 77F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. CARBONDALE City leaders say they want more time to review applicants that submitted requests for the city's American Rescue Plan Act funding. During the Carbondale City Council's Tuesday night meeting, Mayor Mike Henry suggested they take another four weeks to look at the applications and comments. At the meeting, the council discussed public comments made in support of and opposition of ARPA applications. The city received 56 applications and allowed residents to submit comments with a deadline of 30. As a result, they received 266 comments in support of specific applications and 42 comments to oppose specific applications in the 100 written comments the city received. Dr. Ella Lacey asked the council if the delay meant programs would not receive funding July 1, as the original schedule suggested. The answer was funding would be available quickly after decisions were made. The council will discuss this again during its June 28 meeting. The council also passed an ordinance making June 19 as Juneteenth in Carbondale. Juneteenth became a holiday in Illinois on Jan. 1. After councilperson Ginger Rye-Sanders made a motion to vote on the holiday, the mayor asked Carolin Harvey for a second. The women are the only two African-Americans on the council. Because this years holiday falls on Sunday, it won't affect employees or city offices until 2023. They will negotiate implementation with unions covering city employees before June 2023. The council also passed an ordinance amending the licensing of food trucks, trailers and push carts in Carbondale. The council reviewed this amendment at its May 11 meeting. The ordinance removes requirements for criminal history checks for food truck/trailer and pushcart operators regardless of whether they operate from public or private property and exempts those operators from license denial or revocation due to a disposition of guilt through supervision, probation, or conviction. It also states that license fees only apply to food truck, trailer and pushcart owners who operate at specially designated city-controlled public property locations. The council also discussed proposed design standards for the new residential tax increment financing district in portions of northeast and northwest Carbondale and the Arbor District. The city council directed staff to develop a set of design standards for the new TIF district. Incorporating design standards in the TIF is to encourage quality building design and construction while also requiring variation in colors and facade features. The proposed standards include: Exterior colors, roofing details, exterior building materials, fencing and anti-monotony requirements. 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. MARION The city of Marion tacked on a gold star to its already strong economic development portfolio with the addition of a new tenant that has laid claim to the former Circuit City distribution center on Marion's west side. ReaderLink, which services more than 100,000 chain retailers and specialty stores nationwide, is now the main occupant of the 1-million-square-foot facility. Established in 2011, ReaderLink has more than 100 positions open to fill at present - both hourly workers and management - with plans to hire additional workers later. "This is a big win for us," said Marion Mayor Mike Absher. "Although it's not been the city's responsibility to fill the building because it's privately owned space, we did want to help out." Absher said the city helped to secure a $1 million grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to help purchase some equipment a returns sortation device as part of a deal worked with the company to locate in Marion. ReaderLink made a $3.3 million initial investment as part of the expansion grant agreement. "One of the primary functions of this facility is to centralize the inventory for our publishing company," said Jeff McReaken, company spokesman. "We serve clients such as Target, Sam's and Costco." The Oakbrook, Illinois-based company owns six distribution centers in all nationwide, including Marion, which is known as the Midwest Publishing Distribution Center for ReaderLink. Other distribution centers are located in Salem, Virginia; Winder, Georgia; Romeoville, Illinois; Denton, Texas; and Ogden, Utah. "They've been ramping up for business here in Marion the last several months," Absher said. According to the company's website, ReaderLink has become the largest full-service book distributor in North America, reaching 99% of the U.S. population every week and selling one-third of all printed trade books. ReaderLink also has partnerships in the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and various U.S. military installations across the world. "Ultimately, we're just proud to be part of a team that's been brought to this area," McReaken said. "We have great local business support from the mayor's office, Glenn Clarida, Senator Dale Fowler, Kathy Lively with Man-Tra-Con; John A. Logan College's workforce development center and Cary Minnis with the Greater Egypt Regional Planning Development Commission. "Their support is what made bringing this company to Marion such a success," McReaken added. "The local team that we are continuing to build is huge. We're building a great team here." ReaderLink's publishing division, Printers Row Publishing Group, is a Top 10 U.S. trade publisher. The company distributes interactive children's books, activity kits adult reference books and classic literature. "In todays market, we know that people buy books beyond the traditional bookstore," McReaken said. ReaderLink services all kinds of retailers, curating the perfect collection of books to resonate with a variety of shoppers." ReaderLink also boasts the ReaderLink Cares initiative, having donated over $8 million in books to help foster the love of reading in local communities. ReaderLink has also raised and donated millions of dollars to support reading and literacy. ReaderLink is located at 1100 Glenn Clarida Drive on the far west end of Marion. The distribution center is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. People interested in employment at ReaderLink should browse the website at readerlink.com to learn more about the company and potential career opportunities. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Jose Mata, a brother of Xavier Lopez, carries a wooden cross decorated with a baseball bat to place it at a memorial honoring his brother outside his home in Uvalde, Texas on May 31, 2022. Lopez was one of the students killed in last week's elementary school shooting. (Jae C. Hong/AP) Aline Stern of the Lincoln Square neighborhood found it difficult to send her two children to school on Wednesday, the morning after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire in an elementary school in Texas, killing 19 children and two adults. She sensed a fearful tension among many other parents at drop-off as well. Advertisement I think we were all scared, she said. We all hugged them a little tighter. School is supposed to be a safe haven for kids. Not a place where youre afraid. Parents, teachers and politicians around the Chicago area spent Wednesday mourning the loss of lives following Tuesdays mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, as well as grappling with the nations gun violence crisis. Advertisement Meanwhile, politicians again traded barbs over Chicagos violence, with Republicans repeating the refrain of using the city as a political punching bag to suggest stricter gun control will do nothing to slow the seemingly never-ending heartbreak caused by mass shootings. The city was rocked last weekend by a shooting downtown that left two dead and seven injured. Politicians in Texas took jabs at calls for more gun control laws by pointing at Chicago. When Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin was asked if he would support requirements such as a license to own a firearm, he said a license wouldnt have altered the fatal outcome in his city. Look at Chicago, McLaughlin said. You cant even buy a gun in the city of Chicago, but they have shootings every weekend. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also pointed to gun violence in other cities with tighter regulations, including Chicago. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in Uvalde, Texas, on May 25, 2022. (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP) I hate to say it, but there are more people who are shot every weekend in Chicago than there are in schools in Texas, Abbott said, according to CNN. So, youre looking for a real solution, Chicago teaches that what youre talking about is not a real solution. Our job is to come up with real solutions that we can implement. Mayor Lori Lightfoot bristled at Abbotts comments at a news conference Wednesday. Well, theres probably not anything nice that I can say about the Texas governor, she said. This is a man who is determined to be a race to the bottom. Hes obviously trying to burnish his credentials for what was likely a run for president. And hes doing that, frankly, at the expense of people in that state. ... Its a long-standing Republican trope to try to put a city like Chicago in their mouths and criticize us. But the fact of the matter is, that guy needs to focus on taking care of business there. She added: Its not personal between the two of us. I dont know that guy. And frankly I dont want to know the guy. What I watched him do is a race to the bottom to try and out-Trump his competitors and what he thinks he is going to burnish his candidacy). I think people all over the country can see right through that. ... Im going to defend my city against attacks from somebody who is a clown like Governor Abbott of Texas, who lies about our city. Advertisement Mayor Lori Lightfoot at City Hall on May 25, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Gov. J.B. Pritzker responded on Twitter saying shame on you, to the Texas governor, posting a news article showing that most of guns used in Chicago crimes come from outside of Illinois. You are lying about Chicago and what actually perpetuates gun violence, Pritzker said. The majority of guns used in Chicago shootings come from states with lax gun laws. Do better. You have 19 kids and two teachers who deserve our best. Former President Donald Trump repeatedly called out Chicago in a similar way, drawing reactions from city leaders. Days before the elementary school massacre in Texas, a white gunman in body armor fatally shot 10 Black victims at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. Authorities have described the crime as racially motivated violent extremism. In mid-May, a man with a gun opened fire at a Taiwanese church in California, after chaining the door shut and hiding firebombs inside. One person was killed and five others were wounded in the attack, which authorities said was motivated by political hatred for Taiwan. Stern said she believes something can be done, but not at our level, adding that politicians could act to pass more gun control measures and curb violence, but they arent willing to do so. Advertisement I feel very helpless as a parent, she said. I feel like there is nothing I can do. Researchers and experts criticized politicians for flippantly citing Chicago to push back against the premise that certain gun laws and restrictions can contribute to a reduction in firearm deaths and injuries. Joseph Avila prays on May 25, 2022, while holding flowers honoring the victims killed in Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. (Jae C. Hong/AP) Experts pointed out that Texas and Illinois have nearly the same deaths from firearms, with one expert noting that Texas death rate is even slightly higher. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from 2020, more people died from guns in Texas than Illinois, when suicide and accidental shootings are included, said Cassandra Crifasi, a researcher and an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. The rate of all gun deaths in Texas is higher than the gun death rate in Illinois, Crifasi said. Crifasi said Illinois has more homicides, but there are more suicides in Texas. Advertisement The common trope is that places like Baltimore or Detroit or Chicago are the reasons we have so many gun deaths in this country, she said. And yes, those places have unacceptable rates of gun homicides. But the places with the highest rates of gun deaths are not Maryland, Michigan and Illinois. They are Mississippi, Louisiana, Wyoming, Missouri and Alabama. The places with the weaker gun laws have higher rates of death. The availability of guns that are used in Chicago crime is directly impacted by laws in surrounding states, meaning the ability to traffic guns out of Indiana or Wisconsin contributes to the violence. According to a 2017 report by the University of Chicago Crime Lab, as many as 60% of recovered firearms came from out of state. Chicago is affected by the laws and policies in the rest of the continental U.S., said Crime Lab director Roseanna Ander. Particularly those most proximate to us. You can be in Chicago and be closer to Indiana than you are to the Loop. Crifasi added that states with strong gun laws are at the mercy of states with weaker gun laws. The Illinois Education Association, the states largest teachers union, on Wednesday called on Congress to pass common sense gun laws, as well as shore up mental health services in schools and surrounding communities. Men pray outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 25, 2022. (Ivan Pierre Aguirre/The New York Times) We face another tragedy an almost unbearable and oft-repeated incident of kids getting on a bus, going to school and hanging up their backpacks on a hook in a classroom to never walk out, the union said in a news release. Its time to stop watching these tragedies and start doing something. We ask for our leaders to come together. This is not a partisan issue. This is not a gun rights issue. This is an issue of children being able to attend school and be safe, of families of color being able to go to the grocery store in the middle of the day and not be targeted by violence, and of helping all of America not live in fear. Advertisement The Joliet Police Department announced Wednesday that it will have a heightened police presence at all Joliet schools until the end of the school year, in response to the Texas school shooting. School districts in Ohio, Nevada, Connecticut and other states across the country also increased security and police officers at schools following the tragedy. New Jersey acting Attorney General Matthew Platkin increased the law enforcement presence at schools throughout the state effective immediately, according to a news release. Our students, their families and caregivers, teachers, and school administrators should feel safe in school, and be assured that New Jerseys law enforcement agencies will do everything in their power to protect them, the news release said. In west suburban St. Charles, one retired elementary school art teacher said news of the Texas shooting felt like a bolt of electricity going through me. As she watched the horrific images and media reports, Lynette Niequist couldnt help but think of the faces of all the children she had taught over more than two decades. Advertisement It immediately brought to mind an untold number of active shooter lockdown drills where I might have a class full of frightened kindergartners through fifth graders jostling for space in my art supply room while trying to keep (as) quiet as possible, she said. Niequist recalled that during one of those drills, a little girl commented that she probably shouldnt wear her shoes with a neon light-up sole, because the blinking lights might give away her hiding spot to a potential shooter. For a child to think that, its just heartbreaking, Niequist said. For her to have to be thinking of being a target of a shooter at that age, what a reality. She added that the magnitude and horror of gun violence can seem overwhelming and almost painful too to look at it. But we need to look at it, she said. We cant turn our eyes away. Chicago Tribunes Alice Yin and Tracy Swartz contributed. Advertisement eleventis@chicagotribune.com asweeney@chicagotribune.com WAUCONDA - Billy, the wily bison that escaped a Wauconda farm and eluded capture for eight months, has finally been caught. Lake County Forest Preserves announced that the 1,300-pound bovine was safely and humanely removed from Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda early Wednesday by a professional wildlife specialist. We are thankful the animal has been removed from the forest preserve safely before Memorial Day weekend when attendance at preserves increases, Mike Tully, chief operations officer for the Lake County Forest Preserves, said in a news release. The safety of our users and the animal has been our No. 1 priority throughout this process. Bison are considered domestic livestock in Illinois, therefore roaming free in a public forest preserve is not an appropriate place for it to call home. The forest preserves brought in Matt Noble, owner of Loose Cattle Caught, on Friday to assist in humanely capturing the bison, according to a news release. Noble deployed a crew of specialists, a drone, a horse and a dog in his attempt to locate the bison, which may have been living at the forest preserve since early April. Billy was located early Wednesday, and Noble lightly tranquilized her. The tranquilizer, intended to make her slow down, did not endanger Billy or make her fall to the ground, according to the release. The bison slowly made her way to the barn for food, and Noble was able to close the door. Noble was able to relocate the bison to his compound, and he is in the process of contacting the owners, the release said. Billy became a local celebrity following her escape from captivity Sept. 18, while she and her sister were being delivered to Milk & Honey Farmstead in Wauconda. The two bison were purchased for breeding purposes. Citizens posted photos and videos of Billy who doesnt yet have an official name on Facebook, along with jokes, nicknames and statements of support. A local artist painted Billys portrait, and the Island Lake police posted video of an officers encounter with our beloved Island Lake bison who has proved as elusive as Sasquatch. In recent months, her owners had been trying to lure Billy back to the farm with sweetened feed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHICAGO - Mayor Lori Lightfoots curfew expansion for young people received final approval in City Council Wednesday, making permanent a controversial restriction on how late children can stay out in Chicago. The move to lower the curfew to 10 p.m. from 11 p.m. for all days of the week following a teens fatal shooting at The Bean in Millennium Park garnered a 30-19 vote. It also comes on the heels of the mayor signing an executive order with the same adjustments as well as a separate directive she imposed on banning unaccompanied minors from Millennium Park on weekend nights. Some aldermen on the council floor balked at what they said was an overreach that impinges minors rights, particularly for youths of color, and could be counterproductive. Other council members said the change wont curb violence because the existing curfew is scantly enforced and that studies suggest such curfews dont work. Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th, evoked the photos of the young victims from Tuesdays mass shooting at a Texas elementary school while arguing the council must do everything in its power to prevent more children killed a goal he said cannot coexist with a juvenile curfew. Its clear: expanding teen curfew leads to an increase in gun violence, Ramirez-Rosa said. A vote for this ordinance, the evidence shows, is a vote to increase gun violence. We need the gun violence to stop. Ald. Emma Mitts disagreed. Curfew is not going to kill the kids, she said, adding that the measure is not perfect, but its a start. Mitts echoed others who favored the move, saying they felt it was important to take even a small step and also to send a message to teens and their parents. Before the vote, Lightfoot sought to make the case that a shift in curfew hours bolsters public safety as the summer season and its usual increase in violence approaches. She also dismissed aldermanic criticism of the policy as mystifying. A curfew has been on the books in the city of Chicago since 1992 1992, Lightfoot repeated. Were tweaking what already exists, changing and making it uniform across every single day. Its not Armageddon and, with due respect, its offensive and wrong and demonstrably false to say these modest changes are going to increase gun violence. Immediately after the passage of the curfew changes, the ACLU of Illinois released a statement condemning the policy and said it will closely monitor its implementation and consider all legal options. The curfew sends a terrible message that young people, and particularly youth of color, are unworthy of being out in public, said ACLU senior attorney Alexandra Block. The mayor, who is expected to announce her reelection campaign in the coming weeks, has faced a groundswell of questions over how to address crime following a spate of high-profile violence downtown, including the May 14 fatal shooting of 16-year-old Seandell Holliday near The Bean, allegedly by a 17-year-old. Lightfoot responded to that spurt of gun violence by issuing an executive order creating a 10 p.m. curfew for minors all days of the week and banning unaccompanied minors from entering Millennium Park after 6 p.m. Thursday to Sunday. Later that week, she introduced the 10 p.m. curfew ordinance amendment that aldermen approved Wednesday. During last weeks committee hearing on the curfew amendment, Chicago Police Lt. Michael Kapustianyk said as of that week, there have been 98 curfew violations documented by Chicago police this year. In 2020, that number was 635. In 2019, the number was 1,804, and in 2018 the number of curfew violations issued was 2,453. Among the research cited by progressive council members who were against the amendment was a review published in 2016 by the Campbell Collaboration nonprofit that found a lack of evidence that juvenile curfews truly stem crime. In fact, a working paper published in 2017 suggests an earlier curfew for children in Washington, D.C., led to an increase in gunfire detected by the citys ShotSpotter system. The curfew law, which was passed in 1992, had imposed a 10 p.m. cutoff on weekdays and an 11 p.m. curfew on weekends, both of which apply to those ages 12 to 16. Lightfoots ordinance amendment moves up the curfew at 10 p.m. across the board and has it include 17-year-olds as well. For children under 12, the curfew remains 8:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. So far this year, shootings have been slightly down compared to this point in 2021, but experts have warned its too soon to tell whether Chicagos crime spike that began in 2020 is waning. And the mayor has said the city must act swiftly to address what she has said in her executive order was an emergency of an increase in crimes committed by minors, according to the decrees text. In defending the additional curfew hours for minors, Lightfoot has cited Hollidays death as well as a mass shooting last week near a McDonalds on the Near North Side, though nearly all of the victims whose ages were released by authorities are adults. Meanwhile, over the weekend a 22-year-old South Side man was shot in Millennium Park by a security guard, at whom he allegedly pointed a gun. City Councils discussion on crime is due to continue later Wednesday afternoon, when aldermen have scheduled a special hearing over summer safety featuring Chicago police Superintendent David Brown, Chicago Park District head Rosa Escareno and Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez. Also Wednesday, Southwest Side Ald. Matt OShea, 19th, introduced a law providing cops with incentives to keep working for the department. The move comes as police staffing continues shrinking. New and first-time homebuyers would receive $10,000 in down payment assistance that would be offered interest free, according to the proposal. The city would also pay out a $10,000 signing bonus to veteran cops who transfer into Chicago. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SPRINGFIELD The senseless massacre of 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday the deadliest American school shooting since Sandy Hook Elementary a decade ago has brought the issue of gun violence back to the forefront in the Illinois governor's race. The six Republican candidates for governor met at two competing debates that evening, where they were asked at the top how they would prevent such tragedies from happening again. As has often happened following mass shootings in the past decade, Republicans sought to shift the conversation away from stricter gun laws and emphasize mental health and enhanced school security among other things. "I really do feel when you remove God from our society, these are the types of things that happen," said venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan. "And the Democrats always want to talk immediately about gun control and limiting our Second Amendment rights. But we have the strictest gun laws in the nation here in Chicago and what is that doing for us?" Sullivan suggested that focusing on the impact of "fatherhood and promoting the family in our society again" would help reduce such heinous acts. At the same debate, hosted by WGN-TV, state Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, said he would look to partner with community groups and church groups to deal with mental health as "much of these issues that we're dealing actually have to do more with mental health than anything else." Bailey said he would not support additional gun control measures and would seek to eliminate the state's FOID card requirement. "We have the federal background safety check and I feel confident that that is enough, and that the FOID card hinders the freedoms of Second Amendment gun owners," Bailey said. Businessman Gary Rabine said "we gotta raise our kids better than we are," saying that additional gun control would not prevent such a tragedy. "There's no way the most stringent gun laws in the country or our city are going to eliminate that," he said. At the competing debate on NBC Chicago, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin recalled his response to the mass shooting in his city at Henry Pratt Company in 2019. He said he remembered "going to the funerals and seeing the pain on the parents' face at the loss of their adult children." "I believe in the Second Amendment," Irvin said. "But, I believe that background checks are very necessary." "The (FOID) system is broken and definitely needs to be fixed, but we need background checks to ensure that guns don't get into the hands of criminals and folks with mental illnesses and make it harder for us to protect our residents," he added. Former state Sen. Paul Schimpf called the shooting "absolutely horrific," but said the state should enforce the gun laws it has one the books while eliminating the FOID card. Attorney Max Solomon said he would "makes sure that every school has armed security guards." "I've always believed personally that it takes a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun," Solomon said. Authorities say the Texas shooter exchanged fire with an armed school district officer, and also with two arriving police officers at the scene. For Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the GOP candidates' words were not enough. In the simplest of terms, this is the fault of the Republican Party," Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said in a joint statement. "This is a uniquely American problem because we have a political party that is more concerned with banning books and policing reproductive rights than actually saving lives." "Thoughts and prayers have never been enough its time for real, substantive action to end the gun violence epidemic in our country, they added. National action on gun violence has largely been limited over the past decade, a reflection of the deep political and cultural divide on the issue. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, acknowledged that chances of action from Congress were "slim" given the 50-50 Senate and the bare Democratic majority in the House. In Illinois, gun control measures have received friendlier reception in recent years given Democratic supermajorities in the legislature and Pritzker in the governor's mansion. Just last week, Pritzker signed legislation banning "ghost guns," which are unserialized weapons that are often homemade and difficult or impossible to trace. Last August, Pritzker signed a bill that streamlines the FOID process and will expand background checks to all gun sales including private sales in 2024. Whether more action is taken remains to be seen. But, there is precedent. In 2018, state lawmakers proposed a menu of gun control proposals following the the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida and the killing of Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer. Some of those proposals, such as a "red flag" law allowing for guns to temporarily be taken from those deemed a danger to themselves or others, a 72-hour wait period and gun dealer licensing legislation, were eventually signed into law. But, as Democrats and Republicans have both alluded to in one way or another, a state's gun laws are often limited in their effectiveness when surrounded by states with far more lax policies. Simply put, the gun issue is a microcosm of our national divide. Illinois has fairly strict gun control laws on the books. And it could add more with the Democratic legislature's vote and Pritzker's pen. But it would be another blue state enacting gun control while red states continue to loosen gun laws. This, of course, could change with the election of one of the six Republicans as governor. It remains an open question if action at the state level in absence of corresponding federal measures could stop such a tragedy. But the very least, there will be another conversation about gun violence in the governor's race and state legislative races here as well as nationally. Contact Brenden Moore at brenden.moore@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter: @brendenmoore13 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. Former President Donald Trump will be joined by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, two of his most fervent supporters in Congress, at a rally in Casper on Saturday. The rally is expected to draw around 10,000 people to Caspers Ford Wyoming Center, venue manager Brad Murphy estimated. The former president is appearing in Wyoming in support of Harriet Hageman, a land attorney he endorsed to challenge Rep. Liz Cheney in this falls Republican primary for the states lone House seat. Saturdays lineup, announced Thursday in a post on Trump PAC Save Americas website, also includes a special video address from Reps. Kevin McCarthy of California, Elise Stefanik of New York and Ohios Jim Jordan. Stefanik replaced Cheney as the third-ranking Republican in the House after the GOP punished Wyomings lone congresswoman for speaking out against Trump. Reps. Andy Biggs, R-AZ, and Kat Cammack, R-FL, will join Boebert and Gaetz as in-person guest speakers. Wyoming state lawmakers Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Lingle and Reps. Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, and John Bear, R-Gillette, are also set to speak at the rally. Frank Eathorne, chairman of the Wyoming Republican Party, and Marti Halverson, a former state legislator and president of anti-abortion group Right to Life Wyoming, round out the list of guest speakers. Eathorne led the state partys effort to censure Cheney following her vote to impeach Trump in early 2021. A few months later, the former president issued a statement endorsing Eathorne for reelection as chairman. Saturdays rally will be Trumps first political visit to Wyoming, the state with the highest per-capita support for him in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. He will be accompanied by his son, Donald Trump Jr. Gaetz came to Wyoming last year, speaking to a crowd in front of the state capitol in Cheyenne to condemn Cheneys vote to impeach Trump just weeks after the Jan. 6 riots. During his appearance, Gaetz called for Cheneys replacement in the upcoming election, and called Trump Jr., who spoke to the crowd over the phone. After months of speculation, Trump endorsed Hageman in September to run against Cheney. The former president told K2 Radios Wake Up Wyoming host Glenn Woods on Wednesday that one of Wyomings senators encouraged him to make the endorsement. A spokesperson for Sen. John Barrasso told the Star-Tribune that he did not make the recommendation. Trumps original statement endorsing Hageman mentioned Sen. Cynthia Lummis support and respect for the Cheney challenger. Hotels around Casper are fully booked ahead of Saturdays rally, forcing some to seek lodging in Douglas, roughly 50 miles away. Law enforcement in the area is bracing for traffic backups all day Saturday and limited road closures following the event. According to the PAC website, Trump is set to speak around 4 p.m. Other speakers should come on starting at 1 p.m., and doors will open at 11 a.m. The venue will open parking at 6 a.m. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 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. Rep. Liz Cheney officially filed to run for U.S. House on Thursday, announcing her reelection bid in a video that focused on her allegiance to the U.S. Constitution. The announcement, one day before the filing deadline, puts to rest speculation that she might bow out ahead of the toughest election fight of her political career. If we set aside our founding principles for the politics of the moment, the miracle of our constitutional republic will slip away, she says in the video. We must not let that happen. Cheney angered many in her own party by voting to impeach former President Donald Trump over the Capitol riot and for her steady criticisms of him as a threat to democracy. That anger prompted several Republicans to challenge her in the primary. She is facing Trump-endorsed lawyer Harriet Hageman, a natural resources lawyer from Fort Laramie. Also in the race are state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Burns, and retired army colonel Denton Knapp. Cheney, who announced Wednesday that she had tested positive for COVID-19, did not mention any of her opponents by name in the video announcement. The video starts off with Cheney mapping out her familys roots in Wyoming. Since she first decided to run for elected office in Wyoming, Cheney has repeatedly fended off carpetbagger criticisms because she spent many years of her life in Northern Virginia. Cheney spent her middle school years in Casper and bought a home in Wilson in 2012, the year before she ran for U.S. Senate against Mike Enzi. She later dropped out of that race, citing a family members health issues. She ran for House in 2016, coming out on top in a nine-person Republican primary and coasting to victory in the general election. In a nod to her Wyoming roots, Cheney referenced The Code of the West, the states official code, in her campaign announcement. In Wyoming, we know what it means to ride for the brand, Cheney said. We live in the greatest nation God has ever created, and our brand is the United States Constitution. Hageman also officially filed for House on Thursday. Soon after Cheneys filing became public, Hagemans campaign released polling information showing the incumbent remains unpopular among Republican primary voters. The poll was conducted by Cygnal, which received a B+ rating from the poll analysis website FiveThirtyEight. While Cheney has been clear about her intentions previously telling the Star-Tribune and NBC news that she is committed to the House race many Wyomingites, including Bouchards campaign coordinator April Poley, speculated that Cheney would not end up running. Cheney has done little campaigning so far despite having nearly $7 million in the bank. Thats a huge sum for a House race in Wyoming or elsewhere. The news of Cheneys filing comes two days before former President Donald Trump is set to visit Caspers Ford Wyoming Center for a rally in support of Hageman. Ahead of the rally, Trump told K2 Radio that one of Wyomings senators had pushed hard for him to choose Hageman as his candidate to run against Cheney. Trump will be joined by some of his most fervent supporters in Washington and Wyoming: Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert and chairman of the Wyoming GOP Frank Eathorne, among others. Eathorne helped lead successful efforts by the state party and the Republican National Committee to censure Cheney following her vote to impeach Trump. Cheney has represented Wyoming in the House since 2017. She became the third-ranking Republican in that chamber, but the GOP stripped her of her leadership role amid her unrelenting criticism of Trump for his false claims of widespread election fraud. The Wyoming Republican primary is Aug. 16. Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis Love 3 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Cierra Corbitt, mother of the 13-year-old who was shot by police last week, walks toward media outside Stroger Hospital flanked by attorneys Steven Hart, left, and Andrew Stroth on May 26, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) The family of a 13-year-old boy who is among the youngest people Chicago police have linked to an alleged carjacking in recent years filed a federal lawsuit Thursday accusing an officer of needlessly shooting the unarmed youth in the back during a foot chase. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court on behalf of the teens mother, Cierra Corbitt, lists the city and the unidentified officer who fired the shot as defendants and alleged the shooting was a direct result of the citys failed implementation of a new policy governing inherently dangerous foot pursuits. Advertisement The teen, who is Black and in seventh grade, is identified only by his initials, A.G. The lawsuit stated that A.G. is currently lying in Stroger Cook County Hospital with a bullet still lodged in his body after being shot in the back by the officer on May 18. Authorities have said the 13-year-old possibly was linked to a carjacking and that he was shot and seriously wounded as he ran from police officers in the South Austin neighborhood. Advertisement The officer involved has been relieved of his police powers pending an investigation, the Chicago Police Department has said. Corbitt addressed reporters Thursday outside the hospital and said her son was shot needlessly. Its crazy because they had no reason to shoot my child, she said. He complied with them, and all they had to do was grab him. All I want is justice for my baby. Thats all I want. Cierra Corbitt, mother 13-year-old who was shot by police speaks outside of Stroger Hospital, May 26, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) The boy may never walk again, Corbitt said, recalling her sons love for football and basketball and riding bikes. Andrew Stroth, a civil rights attorney and managing director of Action Injury Law Group, said all Corbitt is asking for is full transparency. And one week after the shooting, those representing Corbitt and her son dont know everything that happened. This young man is fighting to be able to walk again, Stroth said. He has a major spinal cord injury. He has a bullet still lodged in his back. He said Chicago has a pattern and practice of unjustified use of excessive and lethal force, especially in communities of color, and took a moment during the news conference to name some victims of previous foot pursuits. He said the legal team is asking for video evidence to be released so Corbitt can find truth of what happened and hold the officer accountable. How many Black and brown individuals need to be shot, killed or severely injured, like Ms. Corbitts son, until the city of Chicago will change and implement a real foot pursuit policy, the lawyer said. Advertisement In addition to alleging civil rights violations, the suit claims the city has allowed police officers to routinely use excessive force, including deadly force, disproportionately against minorities. Tragically, the deep-(seated) systemic problems that led to the entry of the consent decree implicit bias and failures in training, supervision, and accountability still exist today, the 32-page suit stated. A.G. is the latest victim of CPDs systemic failures. A city spokeswoman said in an email Thursday the Law Department has not yet been officially served with the complaint through the proper legal channels, and that the department would not be commenting because the matter is now in litigation. Two Chicago police officers stand by as about 20 people protest in front of police headquarters at 35th and Michigan on May 20, 2022, in response to an officer shooting a 13-year-old boy. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Police have been clear on connecting the 13-year-old to an alleged carjacking, saying he ran from a stolen car linked to an earlier crime. Officers were trying to stop a stolen vehicle wanted in connection with a vehicular hijacking from Oak Park when the shooting took place, according to a statement from Chicago police. After he fled on foot, the boy turned toward officers and was shot once, Chicago police Superintendent David Brown said during a brief evening news conference at police headquarters last week. Advertisement The boy was unarmed, authorities said, as no gun was recovered. Brown did not say whether the boy did or did not have a gun when he was wounded in the lot of a nearby gas station. A broken fence at a gas station in the 800 block of North Cicero Avenue on May 19, 2022, where Chicago police shot a 13-year-old carjacking suspect. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) No shots were fired at officers, Brown said. He declined to say how many times police fired. Steven Hart, another attorney on the case, said at the press conference that Brown had no business casting aspersions to a 13-year-old boy to justify his shooting, especially without any proof and formal charges. The Chicago Police Department issued a statement in the wake of the shooting. The officer involved in the shooting Wednesday night in the Austin neighborhood has been relieved of police powers, effective today, while the Civilian Office of Police Accountability is conducting this investigation, according to the statement. Advertisement Stroth said his team has spoken to COPA and expects to watch the video evidence early next week, but we have not seen it yet. He added Corbitt wants the video evidence to be released to the public. According to the lawsuit, witnesses reported the officer who was chasing A.G. was screaming for him to stop running and put his hands up. A.G. was unarmed and did as he was instructed. But the officer still shot him recklessly, callously and wantonly right through his back, the suit stated. The Police Department has been operating under a draft foot-pursuit policy in the wake of a pair of high-profile shootings of suspects by police, including that of another 13-year-old, Adam Toledo, who was killed by a police officer in the Little Village neighborhood during a chase last year. Friday closed out one of the last chapters of a nearly 10-month process to finalize the Chicago Police Departments foot pursuit policy after multiple public comment feedback sessions, coming the same week the family of a man killed by police during one such chase last spring filed suit. A public comment period on the preliminary policy ended earlier this year. The early version calls for pursuing suspects on foot not to be an automatic response by police going forward. Advertisement The policy reflects recommendations from experts and rules that other departments have implemented nationally, including that officers weigh factors such as whether there are other means that could achieve the apprehension of a suspect. Other factors officers should consider are whether the officer is alone and whether support such as helicopter pursuit could be available, as well as whether a suspect could be arrested later. Hart said Thursday that law enforcement should be trusted to use their handguns and firearms responsibly, and too often in the city, that is not the case. This is as much an institutional problem with the citys Police Department as it is the officers who shot A.G., Hart said. There simply is not the appropriate emphasis, training and care of officers who are carrying Chicago Police Department-issued firearms. There can be no justification for opening fire on a 13-year-old boy with his hands up and who was unarmed. Chicago Tribunes Paige Fry contributed. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com sahmad@chicagotribune.com INVESTMENT in hotels to increase the countrys room stock is on an upward trend, as businesspeople envision stronger demand for tourist accommodation in Trinidad and Tobago. This was revealed by Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell recently, as he answered questions put to him by the Express Business on this countrys plans to accommodate more tourists. Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says the Government is not yet ready to remove the mask- A migrant has been killed by a Border Patrol agent in downtown Douglas, the second migrant death in a use-of-force incident this year in the border community involving the agency. The Mexican national was in Border Patrol custody a few blocks from the border, about 12:43 a.m. Tuesday. He died during a use-of-force incident, according to a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It gave no more details about how the man died. The Department of Homeland Securitys Office of the Inspector General, Customs and Border Protections Office of Professional Responsibility, the Douglas Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation responded to the scene, the statement said. The FBI and CBPs Office of Professional Responsibility are investigating. In the past, such incidents were often investigated by Border Patrols controversial Critical Incident Teams. CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus, however, announced earlier this month those teams would be disbanded in October. Similar use-of-force cases would be handled by the departments Office of Professional Responsibility. The mans body was taken to the Pima County Medical Examiner for an autopsy. The Consulate of Mexico in Douglas demanded an exhaustive investigation into the incident to clarify the facts and hold the agent accountable, if appropriate. The government of Mexico regrets the incident in which a person lost his life at the hands of a Border Patrol agent, the consulate said in a tweet on Tuesday. In the previous incident, Border Patrol Agent Kendrek Bybee Staheli shot and killed a 32-year-old father of three from Puebla, Mexico, Carmelo Cruz Marcos, on Feb. 19, in a remote canyon about 30 miles northeast of Douglas. Staheli said that Cruz was about to throw a rock and he feared for his life. Cruzs family called for an independent investigation of the incident by the FBI and retained an attorney who called on Border Patrol to answer questions about how the agent failed to de-escalate the situation, why the use of force was deadly, and why the investigation into the shooting was not started until the next day. The Cochise County Attorneys Office declined to prosecute , saying there was insufficient evidence to contradict the agents explanation of the events. Stahelis actions appear to be justified under Arizona laws on self-defense and use of deadly force by an officer, Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre wrote in a May 6 letter to the Cochise County Sheriffs Department. The letter was also the first time officials publicly released the agents name. Officials have not released the identity of the agent in Tuesdays incident. The Mexican Consulate says the man who died was from Chiapas. They are in touch with his family and are helping repatriate his remains. The consul said they could not release the mans identity because of Mexican privacy laws. Consul Ricardo Pineda Albarran said the man hurt himself jumping over the border fence. He was apprehended by the Border Patrol agent, who took him to the Copper Queen Community Hospital in Douglas. While at the hospital, the man apparently fled and had some sort of altercation with the Border Patrol agent, which resulted in his death, Pineda said. Its very important for the family and for the Consulate to get the details that led to this event, Pineda said.The government of Mexico regrets the death of a compatriot and condemns any act of violence against migrants, a news release said. 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. Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they push barricades to storm the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C on Jan. 6, 2021. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images) A Chicago man was arrested this week on charges alleging he entered the U.S. Capitol with his father during the Jan. 6 riot and took photos of the mayhem while wearing a Trump 2020 flag as a cape. Matthew Bokoski, 31, of the Uptown neighborhood, was arrested by federal agents Wednesday on a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Washington charging him with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and unlawfully entering a restricted government building. Advertisement He appeared at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather McShain ordered him released on his own recognizance. Bokoski was at least the 28th Illinoisan to have been charged so far in the Capitol breach, an ongoing investigation that has been described by prosecutors as the largest criminal investigation in the countrys history. Advertisement Matthew Bokoski, 31, of Chicago, above, is allegedly seen in a surveillance image after he entered the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, wearing a "Trump 2020" flag as a cape. Authorities say his father, Bradley James Bokoski, 58, of Utah, is shown in the foreground. They were charged in the same complaint. (U.S. District Court photo) Matthew Bokoski, 31, of Chicago, is allegedly shown in a surveillance image after he entered the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, wearing a "Trump 2020" flag as a cape. (U.S. District Court photo) Nationwide, nearly 800 people have been arrested as of this month in all 50 states and the District of Columbia on charges stemming from the Capitol breach, according to the U.S. Justice Department. According to the complaint, Bokoski and his father, Bradley James Bokoski, 58, of Utah, traveled to Washington to hear President Donald Trump speak at a rally on Jan. 6 and then followed the crowd to the Capitol grounds, where at about 2:45 p.m. they entered through breached Senate Parliamentarian door. The father and son walked down a hallway as part of a crowd before the group was met with a line of 10 to 15 police officers, according to the complaint. Both men later turned around and left after being in the building for about five minutes. A tipster later sent the FBI screenshots of Matthew Bokoskis Facebook page, including one post depicting a group of people inside the Capitol and a caption reading, I was with my dad and walked right up the capital steps and inside with others, the complaint stated. So only thing Im guilty of is trespassing on federal property if you want to get down to it, Bokoski wrote in another post the next day, according to the complaint. I kept my distance from police and even thanked them for being out and making sure things dont get insane. When FBI agents interviewed Matthew Bokoski in Chicago in January 2021, he allegedly admitted to entering the Capitol and posting the photos and videos on Facebook, according to the complaint. Bokoskis father, who was charged in the same complaint, was also arrested Wednesday near his home in Utah. A court date for the case had not been set in Washington as of Thursday, and no lawyer was listed on the docket for either Matthew Bokoski or his father. Advertisement jmeisner@chicagotribune.com A computer monitor square that lights green on the edges when he speaks has become Steven Zylstras de facto office. Zylstra is one of a sizable number of Arizonans who have yet to go back to the office two years after the start of the pandemic, opting instead to meet all his clients, co-workers and other professional connections in the digital space. The latest Census Household Pulse Survey found that slightly more than 60% of Americans were working on-site in the first week of this month, with the rest either working from home or not working at all. In Arizona, the number was even lower, with just 58.1% of people zooming back to the office, as opposed to Zooming to the office. The rate for the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler region was virtually the same, at 58.2%. Some CEOs want their people back right in the office, said Zylstra, the president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council. I dont think thats going to bode very well for those CEOs in the long run. Because theres, you know, too many advantages for us to work from home. Only eight states and the District of Columbia had a lower percentage of on-site workers than Arizona. Participation rates ranged from a high of 70.7% of onsite workers in Utah to a low of 51.6% in Mississippi. Experts attribute Arizonas popularity among the sweatpants set to the early days of the pandemic, when relative affordability and less-competitive real estate markets attracted workers to the state. They also say the types of jobs available in a state also affect the ability to telework for employees. And Arizona has recently experienced a steady growth in the tech industry, where remote working was ubiquitous even before the pandemic. More tech supports more remote work, said Dennis Hoffman, an economics professor at Arizona State University. But really, the driver is quality of life and great internet connectivity. Last year, the number of tech jobs in Arizona increased by 3.09%, according to an Arizona Technology Council report, which said there are currently more than 207,000 tech jobs in the state. The Phoenix area alone is home to 795 software companies and 275 new startups, according to Gregslist, a directory of tech firms and jobs. Travis Laird, vice president for business consulting firm Robert Half, has seen the demand for remote work rise in Arizona. And in the current state of candidate-friendly job markets, Laird said, companies need to offer perks, like work-from-home, for new hires or to keep the people they already have. We hear from candidates all the time that, If my employer changes my work setup which is fully remote they want me to be hybrid or they want me to work back on site full time, I will immediately consider a job change, Laird said. Data from Robert Half show roughly 50% of employees want to continue remote working or experiment with a hybrid work environment. However, following two years of disruption to the traditional work model, managers are now craving the bygone days. According to Robert Half, 73% of employers in the Phoenix-metro area want and expect workers to return to the office shortly. That number was about 60% a year ago. What we went through in 2020 was one of the biggest shifts in how people work, Laird said. And I think those that are more successful on the other side of this will continue to embrace that mentality of factoring in that employees are now going to view how they work or where they work as a critical component. But Hoffman said thats going to be a tough sell to workers who were attracted to the state by the possibility of working without going to an office. Remote work has resulted in an acceleration of domestic in-migration to Arizona, Hoffman said. People can now, in many cases, live where they want and remote work. No need to be in large cities, commuting, etc. Zylstra said he thinks remote work is here to stay, as Arizona continues to attract companies and competition for workers remains high. Now people can live in Prescott or Flagstaff or anywhere and live in an environment thats conducive to their desires and work from those remote areas, he said. So it creates an advantage for building a workforce for Arizona. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. The owner of a chain of clothing stores in Tucson and Phoenix, BBB Fashion, kept cash paid by customers, which was not reported to accountants for several years. PHOENIX Beaten back two years in a row, Gov. Doug Ducey may make one more try at enacting legislation to allow parents and school officials to ask judges to take guns away from people who are a danger to themselves or others. We thought it was good policy then, press aide C.J. Karamargin told Capitol Media Services Wednesday in the wake of the shooting in Texas that left 19 students and two teachers dead. We still do, he said. And we remain committed to measures to increase school safety. Ducey did manage to get his plan out of the Senate in 2018 by agreeing to dilute some of the provisions, only to have the House refuse to take it up. A subsequent bid in 2019 fared no better. And Ducey has not brought it up since amid opposition from the fellow Republicans who control both the House and Senate. Politics intervened, the governor told Capitol Media Services at the time. But Karamargin said his boss never has completely given up on the idea. We thought then, and still do, it was a common-sense plan that protects the Second Amendment rights for law-abiding citizens while keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals who are a lethal threat, he said. The current legislative session is at a point where new policy bills are not supposed to be introduced. In fact, the session should have wrapped up a month ago. But lawmakers remain at the Capitol because they have yet to approve a spending plan for the new fiscal year that begins July 1. But Ducey has the constitutional power to call lawmakers into a special session even one that runs concurrently with the regular session to address specific issues. And Karamargin said he will not rule that out, saying a decision is undetermined at this time. Any bill the governor would ask be enacted would go to a highly divided legislature. In a floor speech Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Rios, D-Phoenix, said the reason children were murdered in Texas is directly attributable to the lack of action by not just Republicans in the U.S. Senate on gun-reform legislation but also by state legislatures just like ours that refuse to act to end the gun violence epidemic in this country but rather send a nicely packaged thought and prayers message. That drew a sharp response from Senate Majority Leader Rick Gray, R-Sun City, who said that its not the lack of gun laws that lead to mass shootings. For decades weve been teaching our children in school there is no God, he said. You cant pray, you cant even pray on the field, Gray said. There are no absolutes. Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Glendale, said there are things that could help if only the Republican majority would allow them to be considered. He ticked off a list of measures introduced by Democrats this year which did not even get a hearing. These include requiring parents to ensure that children do not have access to firearms and requiring a background check for all gun sales, including those person-to-person sales at gun shows. And there was something else: allow judges to order a severe threat order of protection to remove weapons, at least temporarily, from the hands of those who present a danger to themselves or others. That is pretty much what Ducey proposed in 2018 and again in 2019 and may be willing to make one more try before he leaves office at the end of the year. The plan actually was based on a study by the governors office of prior mass shootings, including what were at the time the deadliest school shootings in the last 20 years. Ducey said that requires increased law enforcement and increased mental and behavioral health resources. But the governor also said there are flaw in current laws on who can have a gun. Individuals who either suffer from mental illness or appears to be a danger to themselves or others are not necessarily prohibited form purchasing or accessing a firearm, his plan stated. And as proof he cited the 2008 shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson. He pointed out that the gunman had been dismissed from Pima Community College and that his parents had taken away his shotgun fearing he was a danger. Ducey said a procedure for STOP orders could have prevented that and could prevent future incidents. It would allow family members, law enforcement, school administrators to seek a court order to keep people from purchasing or possessing weapons for some period of time. Ducey, in an interview with Capitol Media Services at the time, defended the idea of letting others trigger a mental health exam of those who may be dangerous. This law was brought together by superintendents and principals and teachers, he said, people who want to remove guns from dangerous individuals before they show up at school. Part of what the governor said at the time may have been working against the legislation is that Arizona has not had the kind of school shootings that have plagued other states. Ducey said thats irrelevant. Why would this only be the focus in response to one of these school shootings? he asked. Why cant we do something proactively? The governor acknowledged the opposition the measure faced from the National Rifle Association and the Arizona Citizens Defense League, both of which raised questions about the plan. Both are likely to raise renewed objections. But Ducey said that should not be a barrier. I believe we can get the full school safety package passed, he said. And Ducey said if theres a problem with that, the onus is on us as elected leaders, the onus is on the legislature to make the right vote. But current legislators the ones who would have to consider such a plan have their own ideas about dealing with school shootings. I think the solution is we need to arm our schools, plain and simple, said Sen. Kelli Townsend, R-Apache Junction. And that, she said, includes volunteer veterans, police and teachers. The thing that stops this is equal force, she said. Are you kidding me? responded Sen. Christine Marsh, D-Phoenix, who is a teacher. Marsh said this comes as Republicans are saying the law needs to be amended because teachers cant be trusted to decide how they teach about race, a reference to legislation to ban what foes call critical race theory. And now youre suggesting you do trust them, though, to carry guns to school? Marsh said. I mean, give me a break. The governor himself has been cool to the idea, saying in 2018 in the wake of a mass shooting in Florida that he doesnt see arming teachers as a way to deal with school violence. I want to see our teachers be put in a position where they can teach our kids, he said. And Ducey said security and weapons should be the job of school resource officers, people that are there in charge of security so the teachers can go ahead and teach, Ducey said. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. A $6.9 million Tucson-area property has sold for the highest sale price ever recorded for a single-family home in the Multiple Listing Service of Southern Arizona. The home, within The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, closed on May 10. It had been on the market since before Thanksgiving but sold at the listing price, said Maria Anemone, associate broker with Long Realtys Dove Mountain office. Dubbed The Point, the home, at 6355 W. Rockpoint Ridge Place has four bedrooms, five baths and a host of amenities. It was built in 2020 and sits on a 3.13-acre lot. The sale broke the record set just days earlier on the very same street, at 6280 W. Rockpoint Ridge Place, which sold for $5.2 million on May 5. Private sales outside of the MLS are not included. The Point features architectural design by Tucsons Ron Robinette and interior design by the Tucson-based Baker+Hesseldenz. People said I was crazy to take this on, Anemone said, but my goal was to set a record and make history. I built an amazing marketing plan with Long Realty and worked hard to make it happen. Photos: This Tucson-area home sold for a record-breaking $6.9M 6355 W Rockpoint Ridge Place 6355 W Rockpoint Ridge Place 6355 W Rockpoint Ridge Place 6355 W Rockpoint Ridge Place 6355 W Rockpoint Ridge Place 6355 W Rockpoint Ridge Place 6355 W Rockpoint Ridge Place 6355 W Rockpoint Ridge Place 6355 W Rockpoint Ridge Place 6355 W Rockpoint Ridge Place 6355 W Rockpoint Ridge Place Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. For 45 years, Eric Lepie has put in 10- to 12-hour days, five, six and sometimes seven days a week, at 1702 E. Speedway. For 30 years, he ran his namesake restaurant and ice cream shop in the space. Over the last 15 years, hes tossed pizzas and poured craft beers, many of them locally brewed, at 1702 the sign explained the name with a simple statement: Its the address. When he and his partner Austin Santos decided to jump into the local craft brewing scene in late 2011, they dubbed their nanobrewery The Address, also a play on the 1702 street address. But at the end of business on Friday, May 27, Lepie will turn out the lights one final time when he locks the doors of 1702 for good. We really never recovered from the pandemic, he lamented earlier this week as the clock ticked on the pizzerias final days. The research people (from the nearby University of Arizona) really havent come back to their offices. The parking lot has been empty for the past two or three years. 1702 never closed during the pandemic, pivoting to takeout and delivery using a third-party delivery app. The costs, Lepie said, ate up 30% to 40% of his sales. He and Santos scaled back the menu, taking pastas and sandwiches off and streamlining to chicken wings, pizza and craft beer to cut food costs. They kept the smaller menu in place after things started opening up in summer 2020, but with all the new variations of COVID-19 and the threats of infection that followed, the parking lot remained mostly empty. In February, Lepies neighbor Greek House at 1710 E. Speedway threw in the towel after eight years, telling its customers in a Facebook post on Feb. 20 that COVID just proved to be too much for us. Part of the Greek restaurants menu is being served by its sister restaurant Dolce Vita Italian Bistro at 1800 E. Fort Lowell Road. I think when the Greek place went out, the writing was on the wall, said Lepie. Not only will Lepie be closing the restaurant on Friday but hes also closing the final chapter of a 45-year restaurant career in Tucson. He opened his first restaurant, the popular Erics Fine Food & Ice Cream, in 1977 and gained a reputation for unusual and innovative (for the times at least) ice cream flavors, including his Gentle Persuasion, made with oatmeal and prunes. The treat landed on Letterman and The Tonight Show and was lauded by the The New York Times when it was dubbed 1987s product of the year by a national food trade magazine. Lepie is most proud, though, of sending a gift certificate good for a free burger to Mars as part of the UA-led Pathfinder landrover mission in 1996. Lepie said he was an honorary member of the Pathfinder team, which regularly came to his restaurant after hours. He would open the restaurant just for them, he said. I was hoping that either (Jeff) Bezos or (Elon) Musk would bring it back, he joked, alluding to the two mutlibillionaires private space flight companies. When he closed Erics in 2006, he pivoted to pizza at 1702 and business was good from the start. We had an incredible crew, great people in the kitchen, great management, he said The pandemic came on and it kind of crushed us. Lepie said his plans after Friday include renewing his passport so he can travel more and visiting his daughter. Its been a struggle and after doing this since 1977, I figured its time to enjoy life again, he said. 1702 will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m. Thursday, May 26, and Friday, May 27. Photos: Eric's Ice Cream and 1702 near UA campus through the years Eric Lepie, Eric's Ice Cream, 1702 Eric Lepie, Eric's Ice Cream, 1702 Eric Lepie, Eric's Ice Cream, 1702 Eric Lepie, Eric's Ice Cream, 1702 Eric Lepie, Eric's Ice Cream, 1702 Eric Lepie, Eric's Ice Cream, 1702 Eric Lepie, Eric's Ice Cream, 1702 Eric Lepie, Eric's Ice Cream, 1702 Eric Lepie, Eric's Ice Cream, 1702 Eric Lepie Eric Lepie 1702 pizza closing Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com. On Twitter @Starburch 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. It's tempting to succumb to numbness. Years of absorbing the massacres of our country's children or the ordinary shootings of our fellow Americans and doing nothing about it produces in me a narcotic stupor. Maybe in you, too. We've seen this before, we've felt the shock, we've wept for the victims and the families, we've screamed at the state of our country, and we've moved on. As a survival mechanism, we've learned to sedate ourselves against the justified fear and rage that comes welling up. Maybe this time, let's not. We don't need to plumb the depths of our national pathology anymore to measure the dimensions of the problem, to puzzle out the causes or dream up solutions. We've done that all before, and still the problem is getting worse. Gun deaths have been rising as a cause of death among American children since 2013, the year after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. But in the last three years, from 2019 forward, the shooting deaths of children have really spiked, the New England Journal of Medicine reports. Gunfire surpassed car crashes as the top cause of death for children in the United States in 2020. Children are perpetrators as well as victims. At least 14 teens were arrested for murders committed in Tucson last year. The most recent one arrested, 17-year-old Fabian Kristyan Montiel, was accused of shooting to death a 70-year-old homeless woman, Linda Mendibles, along the I-10 Frontage Road, possibly as she slept. So we know the problem is both chronic and getting worse. And now, the desperate efforts to blame anything but our easy access to guns are falling apart, too. It is guns People have said we need to "harden" school security, but this failed in Uvalde yesterday. A school security officer exchanged gunshots with the killer, who wounded him and made it inside the school. Police also fired at the armed teen before he'd committed his massacre, but he fired back, warded them off, and made it into a classroom. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and even the mayor of Uvalde, Don McLaughlin, have tried desperately to steer the conversation in the aftermath toward mental health problems. We do, of course, have serious mental health problems in the United States, especially after the pandemic, but we're not too different from any other country in that sense. We're the only country where these mental health problems regularly turn into gun massacres, especially by teens and young men. Reckless and mentally ill teens are nothing new, of course. Impulsivity and the onset of mental illness occur naturally in teens. But their free access to firearms is, if not new, growing in our state and country. And when you combine impulsivity with guns, and maybe even throw in mental illness, it can be a deadly combination. There is no reason a kid should be able to buy a semi-automatic rifle like an AR-15 as soon as he turns 18, as the killer in Uvalde, Texas, did this month and as the killer in Buffalo did earlier this year. A California law establishing a higher age limit has been challenged in the courts, but it seems obvious that if we regulate teens' purchases of alcohol, we should regulate their purchases of guns. At minimum, we could put more training requirements or other checks on teens' purchases. Making it harder to buy guns won't eliminate teen killers, of course, but any obstacle might work in a given case. And of course, we know that the free access we offer now doesn't work. Red-flag proposals Of course young people don't make up the majority of our killers or victims just a distressingly large proportion. For others who are disturbed, armed and potentially violent, so-called "red-flag laws" fill a need. These are court orders that allow police to remove a person's guns when the person is a threat to himself or others. Among them was what he called Severe Threat Orders of Protection, or STOP Orders, Ducey's version of a red-flag law. The proposal passed the Arizona Senate but failed in the House due to opposition from the gun lobby and the governor's own GOP. Ducey said Wednesday it's worth another try. This year, House Democrats have introduced at least 13 bills related to regulating firearms, including a STOP Orders bills. Most of them were introduced by Rep. Jen Longdon, who was injured in a shooting and uses a wheelchair, and none have passed. More popular and widely known than either of these ideas are proposals for universal background checks. As it stands, licensed gun dealers must conduct background checks before making a sale, but other sellers at gun shows and elsewhere don't have to. The U.S. House has passed bills requiring background checks and other regulations, but the Senate has not followed suit. In fact, Arizona's senators presented an eyebrow raising contrast when asked about what the body could do following this latest massacre. "It's f---ing nuts to do nothing about this," Sen. Mark Kelly said. But Sen. Kyrsten Sinema was cautious, saying "I dont think the D.C. solutions are helpful here, but there are things that we can do, right? Theres some shared agreement on red flag which I think might be a good place to start conversations to actually get something done for real that would make a difference to people." Majority rules These things are only unrealistic if we allow ourselves to remain paralyzed by the awful repetition of our recent history. It's true that a strong minority of Americans oppose some of these relatively modest ideas, as does a powerful special interest with a lot of money. But the majority must eventually prevail, if we keep pushing, to pass reforms that help reduce the death toll and also respect constitutional rights. As former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia put it in the landmark 2008 Heller decision: "Like most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose." We, of course, have significant laws that we should be enforcing now. Too often the killers are found to have given our authorities reason to stop them before they went on a rampage. But we also need new tools to lessen the carnage. So let's snap out of the stupor and get this done. Contact columnist Tim Steller at tsteller@tucson.com or 520-807-7789. On Twitter: @senyorreporter 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. Onlookers urged police to charge into Texas school UVALDE, Texas (AP) Frustrated onlookers urged police officers to charge into the Texas elementary school where a gunman's rampage killed 19 children and two teachers, witnesses said Wednesday, as investigators worked to track the massacre that lasted upwards of 40 minutes and ended when the 18-year-old shooter was killed by a Border Patrol team. Go in there! Go in there! nearby women shouted at the officers soon after the attack began, said Juan Carranza, 24, who saw the scene from outside his house, across the street from Robb Elementary School in the close-knit town of Uvalde. Carranza said the officers did not go in. Javier Cazares, whose fourth grade daughter, Jacklyn Cazares, was killed in the attack, said he raced to the school when he heard about the shooting, arriving while police were still gathered outside the building. Upset that police were not moving in, he raised the idea of charging into the school with several other bystanders. Lets just rush in because the cops arent doing anything like they are supposed to, he said. More could have been done. 'Precious individuals' taken in Texas school shooting UVALDE, Texas (AP) One student was an avid runner, so fast she swept the races at field day. Another was learning football plays from his grandfather. One girl sensed something was wrong and wanted to skip school. On Wednesday, stories began to emerge about the lives of the 19 children precious individuals according to the school district superintendent and their two teachers who were gunned down behind a barricaded door at Robb Elementary School in the southwestern Texas town of Uvalde. Vincent Salazar said his 10-year-old daughter, Layla, loved to swim and dance to Tik Tok videos. She was fast she won six races at the schools field day, and Salazar proudly posted a photo of Layla showing off two of her ribbons on Facebook. Each morning as he drove her to school in his pickup, Salazar would play Sweet Child O Mine, by Guns N Roses and theyd sing along, he said. She was just a whole lot of fun, he said. Oklahoma governor signs the nation's strictest abortion ban OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday signed into law the nations strictest abortion ban, making the state the first in the nation to effectively end availability of the procedure. State lawmakers approved the ban enforced by civil lawsuits rather than criminal prosecution, similar to a Texas law that was passed last year. The law takes effect immediately upon Stitt's signature and prohibits all abortions with few exceptions. Abortion providers have said they will stop performing the procedure as soon as the bill is signed. I promised Oklahomans that as governor I would sign every piece of pro-life legislation that came across my desk and I am proud to keep that promise today," the first-term Republican said in a statement. From the moment life begins at conception is when we have a responsibility as human beings to do everything we can to protect that babys life and the life of the mother. That is what I believe and that is what the majority of Oklahomans believe." Abortion providers across the country have been bracing for the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Courts new conservative majority might further restrict the practice, and that has especially been the case in Oklahoma and Texas. The impact will be disastrous for Oklahomans," said Elizabeth Nash, a state policy analyst for the abortion-rights supporting Guttmacher Institute. It will also have severe ripple effects, especially for Texas patients who had been traveling to Oklahoma in large numbers after the Texas six-week abortion ban went into effect in September." Biden signs policing order on anniversary of Floyd's death WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday to improve accountability in policing a meaningful but limited action on the second anniversary of George Floyd's death that reflected the challenges in addressing racism, excessive use of force and public safety when Congress is deadlocked on stronger measures. The event shaped by one tragedy occurred a day after a second one, a mass shooting at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 children and two teachers. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris gave remarks that tried to comfort those affected by the shooting as well those who have suffered from police brutality, promising them that change could come eventually despite the partisan divides on Capitol Hill. I know progress can be slow and frustrating, Biden said. Today were acting. Were showing that speaking out matters. Being engaged matters. That the work of our time, healing the soul of this nation, is ongoing and unfinished and requires all of us never to give up. Floyd's family was in the audience at the White House as the president declared that what we do in their memory matters. With lawmakers unable to reach agreement on how to reform police policies or on efforts to reduce mass shootings, the president has limited avenues for advancing his campaign promises. And as he tries to build consensus, Biden is also attempting to strike a balance between police and civil rights groups at a time when rising concerns about crime are eclipsing calls for reform. Most of Biden's order is focused on federal law enforcement agencies for example, requiring them to review and revise policies on use of force. It will also create a database to help track officer misconduct, according to the White House. Scars of war seem to be everywhere in Ukraine after 3 months KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AP) Piano music wafted from an apartment block on a recent spring evening in Kramatorsk, blending with distant artillery fire for a surreal soundtrack to a bomb-scarred neighborhood in the eastern Ukrainian city. Everywhere in Ukraine, the 3-month-old war never seems to be far away. Those in towns and villages near the front lines hide in basements from constant shelling, struggling to survive with no electricity or gas and often no running water. But even in regions out of the range of the heavy guns, frequent air raid sirens wail as a constant reminder that a Russian missile can strike at any time even for those walking their dogs, riding their bicycles and taking their children to parks in cities like Kyiv, Odesa and Lviv. Curfews, checkpoints and fortifications are commonplace. So are fresh cemeteries, uprooted villagers and war-scarred landscapes, as Moscow intensifies its attacks in eastern and southern Ukraine. China wants 10 Pacific nations to endorse sweeping agreement WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) China wants 10 small Pacific nations to endorse a sweeping agreement covering everything from security to fisheries in what one leader warns is a game-changing bid by Beijing to wrest control of the region. A draft of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press shows that China wants to train Pacific police officers, team up on traditional and non-traditional security" and expand law enforcement cooperation. China also wants to jointly develop a marine plan for fisheries which would include the Pacific's lucrative tuna catch increase cooperation on running the region's internet networks, and set up cultural Confucius Institutes and classrooms. China also mentions the possibility of setting up a free trade area with the Pacific nations. Chinas move comes as Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a 20-person delegation begin a visit to the region this week. In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price expressed concern Wednesday about Chinas intentions, saying Beijing might use the proposed accords to take advantage of the islands and destabilize the region. Beto O'Rourke interrupts briefing, echoing US debate on guns UVALDE, Texas (AP) Surrounded by fellow Republicans on a high school stage, Gov. Greg Abbott was wrapping up his opening remarks about the killing of school children and teachers in Uvalde, Texas, when Beto O'Rourke strode forward from his seat in the audience. Gov. Abbott, I have something to say," the Democrat challenging Abbott for governor this fall said Wednesday, pointing a finger at his rival. "The time to stop the next shooting is right now, and you are doing nothing. A mix of boos and cheers rose up from the crowd as the former congressman and 2020 presidential candidate briefly spoke, then was escorted from the room. Sen. Ted Cruz, standing behind Abbott, shook his head and said sit down! while one woman in the crowd chanted, Let him speak. Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin yelled that O'Rourke was a sick son of a bitch. Some people cried. And with that, the briefing transformed into an argument similar to the one happening in many corners of America after yet another school shooting that inflicted a shocking death toll 19 children and two teachers. Democrats want to talk about enacting restrictions on who can possess a firearm and what type of weapons should be available, while Republicans say such laws are meaningless and prefer to focus on other issues like school security or to avoid the discussion at all. Officer in Buffalo supermarket attack honored at funeral GETZVILLE, N.Y. (AP) The retired police officer killed while trying to stop the gunman in a racist attack at a Buffalo supermarket was awarded the department's medal of honor at his funeral Wednesday, as the country processed another massacre at a Texas school that killed 19 children and two adults. Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia also posthumously promoted Aaron Salter to lieutenant, saying his actions on May 14 firing multiple times at the shooter, striking his body armor bought precious time that allowed others in the store to escape. Aaron bravely fought evil that day, Gramaglia said at The Chapel in Getzville, where law enforcement officers from U.S. and Canadian departments filled a dozen rows. Services were also held for Pearl Young, a 77-year-old grandmother, great-grandmother and substitute teacher who was devoted to her church. Salter and Young were among the 10 Black people killed when a white gunman with a helmet-mounted camera targeted shoppers and workers at Tops Friendly Market, in a predominantly Black neighborhood on a Saturday afternoon. Three others were injured in the attack, which federal authorities are investigating as a hate crime. 'Trump is in the past': Mounting losses show limits of power WOODSTOCK, Ga. (AP) Donald Trump opened May by lifting a trailing Senate candidate in Ohio to the Republican nomination, seemingly cementing the former president's kingmaker status before another possible White House run. He's ending the month, however, stinging from a string of defeats that suggest a diminishing stature. Trump faced a series of setbacks in Tuesday's primary elections as voters rejected his efforts to unseat two top targets for retribution: Georgia's Republican governor and secretary of state, both of whom rebuffed Trump's extraordinary pressure to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. But the magnitude of defeat in the governor's race more than 50 percentage points was especially stunning and raised questions about whether Republican voters are beginning to move on from Trump. Nearly seven years after the onetime reality television star launched what seemed to be an improbable campaign for the White House, the Make America Great Again movement Trump helmed isn't going anywhere. But voters are increasingly vocal in saying that the party's future is about more than Trump. I like Trump a lot, but Trump is in the past, said David Butler of Woodstock, Georgia, who voted for Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday and said Trumps endorsements had no impact whatsoever on his thinking. It was the same for Will Parbhoo, a 22-year-old dental assistant who also voted for Kemp. Boeing capsule lands back on Earth after space shakedown CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) Boeings crew taxi returned to Earth from the International Space Station on Wednesday, completing a repeat test flight before NASA astronauts climb aboard. It was a quick trip back: The Starliner capsule parachuted into the New Mexico desert just four hours after leaving the orbiting lab, with airbags attached to cushion the landing. Only a mannequin was buckled in. Aside from thruster failures and cooling system snags, Starliner appeared to clinch its high-stakes shakedown cruise, 2 1/2 years after its botched first try. Flight controllers in Houston applauded and cheered the bull's-eye touchdown. Its great to have this incredible test flight behind us, said Steve Stich, director of NASA's commercial crew program. He described the demo as extremely successful, with all objectives met. Added Boeing's Mark Nappi, a vice president: On a scale of one to 10, I think Id give it a 15." 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. Gunman's final 90 minutes fuel questions about police delays UVALDE, Texas (AP) Texas authorities say the gunman who massacred 21 people at an elementary school was in the building for over an hour before he was killed by law enforcement officers. The amount of time that elapsed has stirred anger and questions among family members, who demanded to know why authorities did not storm the place and put a stop to the rampage more quickly. Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Travis Considine said 18-year-old Salvador Ramos entered Robb Elementary School and began his rampage at 11:40 a.m. Tuesday. A Border Patrol tactical unit began trying to get inside the building an hour later, and at 12:58 p.m., radio chatter noted he was dead. Daughter and her best friends 'are all gone now,' dad says UVALDE, Texas (AP) Jacklyn Cazares hadnt yet reached her 10th birthday, but her father described her as a tough-minded firecracker always looking to help people in need. Jacklyn and her second cousin, Annabelle Rodriguez, were especially tight with three other classmates at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Now, Javier Cazares says, they are all gone. The girls were among 19 students killed Tuesday when an 18-year-old gunman barricaded himself in a fourth-grade classroom at the school in the southwestern Texas town and began to kill. Their families can only cling to memories, and each other. Texas shooter sent warning signs, messages, mostly too late UVALDE, Texas (AP) State police say the suspect in the Texas shooting had no criminal record or known mental illness that could have signaled he was capable of gunning down 19 children and two adults. But there were warning signs. The shooting was presaged by scattered, often cryptic warnings that disturbed classmates and neighbors. Salvador Ramos lashed out on social media, posting of trouble with his mother and photographs of his newly acquired rifles. And there were outbursts and fights with classmates, as well as online exchanges with teenage strangers thousands of miles away, hinting at a desire to hurt and kill. Russia slams sanctions, seeks to blame West for food crisis KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russia is pressing the West to lift sanctions over the war in Ukraine, seeking to shift the blame for a growing food crisis. That crisis is worsened by Kyivs inability to ship millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products because of the conflict. According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Italy's prime minister that Russia would help with grain exports if sanctions are lifted. Britain accused Moscow of trying to hold the world ransom and insisted there would be no sanctions relief. Meanwhile, Russia made incremental advances as fighting continued in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. Separately, two Russian soldiers pleaded guilty to shelling civilian infrastructure during the war, which is now in its fourth month. Trump loses appeal, must testify in New York civil probe NEW YORK (AP) A New York appeals court has ruled former President Donald Trump must answer questions under oath in the states civil investigation into his business practices. A four-judge panel in the appellate division of the states trial court on Thursday upheld Manhattan Judge Arthur Engorons Feb. 17 ruling enforcing subpoenas for Trump and his two eldest children to give deposition testimony in Attorney General Letitia James probe. Trump had appealed, seeking to overturn the ruling. His lawyers argued that ordering the Trumps to testify violated their constitutional rights because their answers could be used in a parallel criminal investigation. CEO pay rose 17% in 2021 as profits soared; workers trailed NEW YORK (AP) Pay for CEOs who run the biggest U.S. companies soared 17.1% last year, up to a median of $14.5 million. That's according to the AP's annual pay survey conducted with Equilar. Such raises tower over the 4.4% gain in wages and benefits netted by private-sector workers. The raises for many rank-and-file workers also failed to keep up with inflation, which reached 7% last year. CEO pay took off as stock prices and profits rebounded sharply and the economy roared out of its brief 2020 recession. Because much of a CEOs compensation is tied to such performance, their pay gains zoomed higher after years of mostly moderating growth. Dominant coronavirus mutant contains ghost of pandemic past The coronavirus mutant that is now dominant in the United States spreads faster than its omicron predecessors, is adept at escaping immunity and might possibly cause more serious disease. The new variant is a member of the omicron family, but it carries a mutation called delta that was a feature of the variant that was dominant in the middle of 2021. This appears to allow the virus to escape immunity from vaccines and prior infection, especially if someone was infected in the huge omicron wave that swept the world late last year and early this year. NRA stages big gun show in Texas days after school massacre HOUSTON (AP) The National Rifle Association begins its annual convention in Houston on Friday, and leaders of the powerful gun-rights lobbying group are gearing up to reflect on and deflect any blame for the deadly shooting earlier this week of 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Former President Donald Trump and other leading Republicans are scheduled to address the three-day gun industry marketing and advocacy event, which is expected to draw protesters. Some scheduled speakers and performers have backed out, including two Texas lawmakers and American Pie singer Don McLean, who said it would be disrespectful to go ahead with his act. China's FM visits Kiribati, where fishing ground is at stake WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Chinas foreign minister is visiting the remote Pacific nation of Kiribati, where the future of a vast fishing ground is at stake. The four-hour visit by Wang Yi is his second stop on an eight-nation tour that comes amid concerns about Beijings military and financial ambitions in the South Pacific. Kiribati has closed its borders as it tries to stamp out a COVID-19 outbreak but made an exception for Wang and his delegation. At stake in Kiribati is the future of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, a stretch of ocean the size of California that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Kiribati's president has announced plans to end a commercial fishing ban there. China already dominates fishing in the region. Ray Liotta, 'Goodfellas' and 'Field of Dreams' star, dies Ray Liotta, the actor best known for playing mobster Henry Hill in Goodfellas and baseball player Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, has died. He was 67. An official at the Dominican Republics National Forensic Science Institute who was not authorized to speak to the media confirmed the death of Ray Liotta and said his body was taken to the Cristo Redentor morgue. Liottas publicist, Jen Allen, said he was in the Dominican Republic shooting a new movie and didnt wake up Thursday morning. Liotta's most iconic role, as real life mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorseses Goodfellas came in 1990. 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. WASHINGTON (AP) The United States has taken control of Afghanistans embassy in Washington and the countrys consulates in New York and Beverly Hills, California, the State Department said Tuesday. The State Department said that it had assumed sole responsibility for the security and maintenance of the diplomatic missions effective on Monday and would bar anyone from entering them without its permission until further notice. The move came after the department determined that the embassy and consulates had formally ceased conducting diplomatic and consular activities in the United States" at noon on May 16. The U.S. does not recognize the new Taliban government in Afghanistan, which took power last year after the withdrawal of American and allied troops, and does not have formal diplomatic relations with the country. Until further notice, the Department of States Office of Foreign Missions has assumed sole responsibility for ensuring the protection and preservation of the property of the referenced missions, including but not limited to all real and tangible property, furnishings, archives, and financial assets of the Afghan Embassy or its consular posts in the United States, the department said in a notice to be published Wednesday in the Federal Register. The missions were identified as the Afghan embassy in Washington, and consular posts in Little Neck, New York, and Beverly Hills, California. A department official said the U.S. had taken control of the facilities in an agreement with diplomats from the former Afghan government who faced severe financial constraints that made continued operations unsustainable. The official said the step did not signal any change in U.S. policy toward Afghanistan and that it did not affect the Afghan mission to the United Nations. The department noted Afghanistan had not requested a third country to serve as a protecting power for its facilities or interests in the U.S. Since Washington closed its embassy in Kabul, Qatar has served as the U.S. protecting power in Afghanistan. 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. Most deadly school shooting in decade amid unending U.S. gun violence exposes dysfunctional system 08:21, May 26, 2022 By Xu Jianmei ( Xinhua * As of Tuesday, over 31,300 people have died or been injured due to gun-related incidents in the United States this year, according to a database run by the nonprofit research group Gun Violence Archive. * The time has come for the United States to truly mend its extensive gun violence and heal the wounds of a society in disarray. * The United States has seen at least 212 mass shootings so far this year, according to an online database that keeps a record of the country's gun violence incidents. HOUSTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The names of at least 19 children and two teachers who were killed on Tuesday in the deadliest U.S. school shooting over nearly a decade are gradually being revealed in Uvalde, in the U.S. state of Texas. Eight-year-old Uziyah Garcia and ten-year-old Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez were among the victims, local media outlets reported early Wednesday morning. Distraught families of the Robb Elementary School students gathered at a local community center late into the night of Tuesday, making pleas for help to find missing children. A number of parents had been asked for DNA swabs to confirm their relationship with their children, local media reported. The tragedy is the deadliest shooting at a school since the Sandy Hook massacre in Connecticut in 2012 that left 26 people dead, including 20 children between 6 and 7 years old. The U.S. flag flies at half-staff on top of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 24, 2022. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) The shooting once again demonstrates that gun violence, a deep-rooted problem in the United States, is worsening. As of Tuesday, over 31,300 people have died or been injured due to gun-related incidents in the United States this year, according to a database run by the nonprofit research group Gun Violence Archive. The time has come for the United States to truly mend its extensive gun violence and heal the wounds of a society in disarray. What lies behind the chronic woe is a long-overdue response by self-serving political elites, more obsessed with political posturing than passing legislation to bring about necessary changes. "There are parents who will never see their child again, never have them jump in bed and cuddle with them ... To lose a child is like having a piece of your soul ripped away," U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday night. The president has ordered U.S. flags on federal grounds to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Saturday to remember the victims of these "senseless acts of violence." The U.S. flag flies at half-staff on top of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 24, 2022. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) The number of the injured remained unclear as of early Wednesday morning. Uvalde Memorial Hospital spokesperson Tom Nordwick earlier said that as many as 13 children and a man in his 40s were being treated for injuries following the shooting. Erika Escamilla, a local resident, told The Washington Post of her 10-year-old niece's experience during the shooting happening in the classroom next to hers. The young girl heard a man cursing and yelling, and then gunshots. Afterward, when her class was evacuated, she looked into the classroom and saw the horrific scene, said Escamilla. "She's traumatized ... She saw blood everywhere," said Escamilla. The assailant, an 18-year-old man who entered the school with a handgun and possibly a rifle, "shot and killed (these kids) horrifically, incomprehensibly," said Texas Governor Greg Abbott at a news briefing earlier on Tuesday. Police are believed to have killed the gunman, identified as Salvador Ramos, a local high school student aged 18 who also shot his grandmother before crashing a vehicle near the school. He is believed to have acted alone. The U.S. flag flies at half-staff on top of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 24, 2022. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) "I am sick and tired of it. We have to act," Biden said from the White House hours afterward, calling the shooting a "carnage." "The gun manufacturers have spent two decades aggressively marketing assault weapons which make them the most and largest profit," said Biden, "We have to have the courage to stand up to the industry." "How many more children must lose their lives from senseless gun violence?" Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner questioned in a statement following the shooting. "By doing nothing to prevent gun violence, (our) nation chooses this pain," an editorial published by the San Antonio Express-News said. March for Our Lives, a student-led movement supporting gun control legislation, tweeted that "you can't stop a bullet with thoughts and prayers." "To honor those lost and save countless lives, we need action," the group wrote. "We're dying while we wait for it." Before the Uvalde shooting, there had been at least 39 shootings in K-12 schools, colleges and universities through 2022, resulting in at least 10 deaths and 51 injuries across the United States, according to a CNN report. The United States has seen at least 212 mass shootings so far this year, according to an online database that keeps a record of the country's gun violence incidents. More than 17,000 people have died in gun-related episodes across the United States over the past five months, including approximately 640 children and teenagers. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut delivered an emotional call to action on the Senate floor following the school shooting in Uvalde, saying that "our kids are living in fear every single time they set foot in a classroom because they think they're going to be next." "What are we doing? Why do you spend all this time running for the United States Senate? Why do you go through all the hassle of getting this job -- of putting yourself in a position of authority -- if your answer is that as the slaughter increases, as our kids run for their lives, we do nothing," the senator said. Photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows the flags at half-staff on top of the Texas Department of Transportation building in Austin, Texas, the United States. (Photos by Bo Lee/Xinhua) Last week, 38 gun control groups urged lawmakers to take immediate action in a letter to Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The groups first requested that House Democrats "appropriate 750 million U.S. dollars for evidence-led Community Violence Initiatives," which they said could "break cycles of violence by addressing their root causes through meaningful investments to community-led programs." They also urged Senate Democrats to "live up to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's pledge to hold a Senate debate" and vote on legislation to expand background checks to all gun purchases. They also wanted the leaders to address the "Charleston Loophole," which allows gun purchases to move forward after three business days, even with an incomplete background check. "Following the most recent racist act of domestic terrorism in Buffalo, New York and the increase in gun violence across the country, we are calling on you to immediately do everything and anything in your power to live up to the promises you make to voters every election year," the groups wrote in their letter. (Xinhua writers Xia Lin in New York City and Sun Ding in Washington D.C. also contributed to the story.) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Its been three weeks since the U.S. Supreme Courts leaked draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was made public. Striking down the 1973 decision would end federal protection for abortion rights, opening the door for states to ban or restrict access to the procedure. A number of states have already passed measures that would outlaw or curtail abortion in the wake of the ruling. Since then, protests have stepped up around the nation and residents cant help but wonder what the after will look like locally and regionally if the landmark decision is overturned this summer. Advertisement Feminism failed to show up for voting rights and feminism failed to show up for candidates of color who talked about reproduction, so now here we are with mainstream feminism facing its worst fears because it wasnt showing up for any of the other fights that might have prevented this, said Mikki Kendall, author of Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot a book that centers feminism in a community-based activism lens. On Mothers Day weekend, we talked with Nadine Naber and Souzan Naser, co-directors of MAMAS (Mamas Activating Movements for Abolition and Solidarity), a Chicago-based collective that works with mothers/caretakers of color impacted by violence, surveillance and deportation by law enforcement. Advertisement Rosemary Cade, 67, joined MAMAS for the camaraderie. The Roseland resident is mother to Antonio Porter, who is serving a 71-year sentence for a 2002 murder conviction stemming from a dice game slaying. Cade spoke about her sons story at a rally Mothers Day weekend. She said being in community with other mothers offers comfort. Theres other mothers suffering and struggling with the same situation that Im going through with my son thats a lot of stress, Cade said. The fight is the struggle. We got to keep fighting. We cant give up. Bertha Escamilla, center left, and Rosemary Cade, members of Mamas Activating Movements for Abolition and Solidarity, attend an event to recognize those who have experienced incarceration, outside Cook County Jail on May 7, 2022, in Chicago. Escamilla's son, Nick Escamilla, and Cade's son, Antonio Porter, are both imprisoned. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Established in 2019, the collective sees police violence as a feminist issue, where prisons are impacting their children and by extension impacting them. MAMAS seeks to integrate mothers voices into social movements. Naber, University of Illinois at Chicago professor of gender and womens studies and global Asian studies and faculty founder of UICs Arab American Cultural Center, and Naser, licensed clinical social worker, counselor and assistant professor at Moraine Valley Community College and Arab American Action Network president, spoke about the intersectionality of feminism, reproductive justice (reproductive rights, access, and social justice) and the upcoming decision on Roe v. Wade. For women of color, the fight for Roe vs. Wade has to be accompanied by the fight for all women to have access to health care and for all women to have the capacity to have or not have kids and to mother in safety and dignity, Naber said. Our issue is that no matter what argument you make for the right to choose, its still not going to be enough if people dont have health care and people arent protected from state violence. Naber said MAMAS wants to make sure that mothers of color have a seat at the table in movements of change. Were working with mamas who are resisting immigration bans, mothers who are surviving war and colonization, Naser said. We need to take seriously the ways prisons impact people of color, not just in the U.S., but colonized people across the globe, including Palestine. We need to talk about how prison, colonization, immigration bans and detention devastates mothers and caretakers economically. It impacts their physical and mental health. It interferes with their ability to survive, and to thrive with dignity. Mothers and caretakers bear all of these burdens when they are supporting their incarcerated family members, when theyre resisting war and colonization. The interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. Q: What are the collectives thoughts about the draft decision news? Advertisement Naber: Fighting for the right to choose it couldnt be more urgent. Were very critical of how society is grappling with this moment, that our society is grappling with it in white, middle class, feminist terms. Those terms exclude the realities that women of color face and how they would be impacted. Reproductive justice is about the human right to parent your child. If you were to have a child and then the state forcibly separates mothers from their children, which very much disproportionately affects women of color, who, whether theyre immigrants, undocumented refugees, that trauma is reproduced generationally. For us, its the police violence issue of the Chicago Police Department, either killing children and forcibly separating mothers from their children and Chicago police incarcerating Black and brown men en masse, as well as the Chicago Police Department forcing confessions en masse. The question is: Whos going to address these communities and these mothers who are facing a massively urgent reproductive justice issue thats beyond a right under the law to choose whether to have a child or not? Its about a state taking away your capacity to be a mother to your child. Naser: It goes back to who has access and who is this ban going to impact the most. Its going to impact minority individuals and marginalized communities because the white middle-class folk are still going to be able to carry on as normal. They have the money, they have the ability to get their health care needs. Naber: Controlling womens bodies has always been essential to white supremacy we know that from the history of enslavement and Native American genocide. The hetero-patriarchal family, conservative concepts of womens respectability, the white middle-class family must maintain itself if white supremacy, white privilege, and capitalism are to remain, which is what the U.S. is based on. Q: If the mainstream is single-issue feminism, do people of color have to create their own form of feminism to be included? Naber: Movements are often single issue. In our case, its about sexism and racism. Its intersectional and thats why we have to create our own because we need a space that can work on both at the same time its gender and race together. Its the mothering and the police violence. There are many movements like ours, but all of those groups are similarly on the margins ... other groups of people doing the intersectional framing but maybe theyre just not as known. Naser: When we think about the womens rights movement, it was initially led by middle-class white women who didnt include, prioritize or vocalize, or stand up for the needs of women of color and other marginalized women who have historically and continue to have limited access to health care, who have a lack of choices for effective birth control. Just think about the different ways that reproductive injustices are maintained BIPOC mothers and caregivers continue to be dehumanized for social problems. One of our mothers talked about how shes treated when she used to be able to go in person and visit her incarcerated son, how racist and sexist that process is during prison visits for her or in the courtroom and how corporate media blames mothers of color for their childrens death, or for their incarceration. Reproductive injustices include all of this. Advertisement Q: Is there a way to make more people drink the inclusive feminism Kool-Aid? Naber: Mainstream discussion says that if we really want women to have autonomy over their bodies, then they should get these rights under the law. Were saying thats not enough. If we really want women of color to be included in this, we need to say that women should get to choose to have or to not have a child. Some people dont even get the choice to have and after you have, you should be able to parent, to mother your child in safety and dignity. Thats a women of color framework on it; to be able to raise your kids in sustainable communities with dignity and safety and to not have to fear that your child is going to die or be taken from you. To drink the Kool-Aid, we need to couple the fight for Roe v. Wade with multiple fights at the same time thats what makes it a women of color perspective, that it always has multiple asks and multiple struggles. Thats whats hard for the mainstream to understand, they want the one thing, but women of color feminism is never one thing, because if were talking about housing, we need housing and child care. Naser: If they continue to chip away at peoples rights whats to say that theyre not going to restrict individuals from being able to go out of state to get medication that they need, the health care that they need, the abortion that they need? drockett@chicagotribune.com WASHINGTON (AP) A government watchdog says decisions by Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden to pull all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan were the key factors in the collapse of that nation's military. The new report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, or SIGAR, mirrors assertions made by senior Pentagon and military leaders in the aftermath of the U.S. troop withdrawal that ended last August in the chaotic evacuation of Americans and other civilians from the embattled country. Military leaders have made it clear that their recommendation was to leave about 2,500 U.S. troops in the country, but that plan was not approved. In February 2020, the Trump administration signed an agreement with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, in which the U.S. promised to fully withdraw its troops by May 2021. The Taliban committed to several conditions, including stopping attacks on American and coalition forces. The stated objective was to promote a peace negotiation between the Taliban and the Afghan government, but that diplomatic effort never gained traction before Biden took office in January 2022. Just a few months later, Biden announced he would complete the U.S. military withdrawal. The announcement fueled the Taliban's campaign to retake the country, aided by the Afghans' widespread distrust of their government and entrenched corruption that led to low pay, lack of food and poor living conditions among the Afghan troops. Many Afghans thought the U.S.-Taliban agreement was an act of bad faith and a signal that the U.S. was handing over Afghanistan to the enemy as it rushed to exit the country, the interim report said. Its immediate effect was a dramatic loss in (Afghan troops) morale. U.S. officials have said they were surprised by the quick collapse of the military and the government, prompting sharp congressional criticism of the intelligence community for failing to foresee it. At a congressional hearing last week, senators questioned whether there is a need to reform how intelligence agencies assess a foreign military's will to fight. Lawmakers pointed to two key examples: U.S. intelligence believed that the Kabul government would hold on for months against the Taliban, and more recently believed that Ukraine's forces would quickly fall to Russia's invasion. Both were wrong. Military and defense leaders have said that the Afghanistan collapse was built on years of missteps, as the U.S. struggled to find a successful way to train and equip Afghan forces. In a blunt assessment of the war, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress last fall that the result was years in the making. Outcomes in a war like this, an outcome that is a strategic failure the enemy is in charge in Kabul, theres no way else to describe that that is a cumulative effect of 20 years, Milley said, adding that lessons need to be learned, including whether the U.S. military made the Afghans overly dependent on American technology in a mistaken effort to make the Afghan army look like the American army. Indeed, in the end, the new report said that the Afghans were still heavily dependent on U.S. air support for strikes and emergency evacuations, and also on U.S. contractors to maintain and repair aircraft and other systems. But all agree that the Doha agreement was a lynchpin in the collapse. The signing of the Doha agreement had a really pernicious effect on the government of Afghanistan and on its military psychological more than anything else, but we set a date-certain for when we were going to leave and when they could expect all assistance to end, Gen. Frank McKenzie told Congress last year. McKenzie, who was then the top U.S. general in the Middle East and has since retired, argued to keep 2,500 U.S. troops there, as did Milley. The Doha agreement, said the SIGAR report, led the Afghan population and its military to feel abandoned. And the Trump administration's decision to limit U.S. airstrikes against the Taliban stopped any progress the Afghans were making, and left them unable and eventually unwilling to hold territory, it said. According to the report, a former U.S. commander in Afghanistan said the U.S. built the Afghan army to rely on contractor support. Without it, it cant function. Game over, the commander told SIGAR. "When the contractors pulled out, it was like we pulled all the sticks out of the Jenga pile and expected it to stay up. More broadly, the SIGAR report said that both the U.S. and Afghan governments lacked the political will to dedicate the time and resources necessary to reconstruct an entire security sector in a war-torn and impoverished country. Neither side, it said, appeared to have the political commitment to doing what it would take to address the challenges. As a result, it said, the Afghan military couldn't operate independently and never really became a cohesive force. 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. Agatha is the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in May in the eastern Pacific, said Weather Underground's founder. Get the latest, plus exclusive insights from our 'Across the Sky' weather experts. WEDNESDAY, May 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Even with Roe v. Wade still the law of the land, primary care doctors in the United States have difficulty prescribing U.S. federally approved abortion pills, a new study finds. Getting in the way is a complex combination of state and federal regulations, insufficient training and institutional hurdles, researchers found when they surveyed dozens of doctors. "As family physicians provide comprehensive medical care to individuals throughout their life course -- including supporting their reproductive choices -- they are prime individuals to provide medication abortion," explained study lead author Dr. Na'amah Razon. "We found a range of barriers that prevented family physicians from integrating medication abortion into their primary care practices," said Razon, an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, Davis. It's a landscape that will likely only gets worse, said Razon, whether or not Roe v. Wade is actually overturned, although a leaked draft from the U.S. Supreme Court indicates it will be. "Given the recent movement toward restricting abortions in the United States, family physicians could face increasing barriers in providing medication abortion," she noted. The two-pill regimen consists of mifepristone and misoprostol. Planned Parenthood notes this noninvasive method is safe and 94%-96% effective. And the Guttmacher Institute says that the medicinal approach now accounts for more than half of all abortions in the United States. Until December 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration only allowed mifepristone to be administered in-person at a clinic, a hospital or under the direct supervision of a certified medical provider. Retail pharmacy pickup and mail orders were not allowed. The December FDA ruling did away with the in-person requirement, allowing telehealth consultation, though all the doctors in the current study were interviewed before that decision came down. For the study, 48 U.S. primary care doctors were interviewed in 2019 and classified into one of three groups: those who did not provide abortions and had not been trained to do so (11 doctors); those who didn't provide abortions, despite having received training (20 doctors), and those who had been trained and did provide abortion services (17 doctors). Roughly two-thirds were not providing abortions at the time they were surveyed. Those in the untrained/non-provider group said their lack of training was the main reason for not offering abortion care. Such doctors variously said their lack of abortion care skills left them "uncomfortable," unfamiliar with the medications involved, and/or unconvinced that abortion services truly falls within the realm of family medicine. They were also the most likely to point to their state's anti-abortion political climate, a lack of community support, and a poor understanding of local hospital regulations as discouraging factors. By contrast, those who didn't provide abortion services despite their training generally said they understood all too well the wide range of primary care, clinic and hospital restrictions in place in their region. This group also cited the federal Hyde Amendment as a red-tape barrier to providing care in their own practice and elsewhere. That law prevents any federal funds from being used for abortion. In addition, the group highlighted the FDA's REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) as another impediment. REMS is a drug safety protocol applied to certain medications. Since 2011, the FDA has applied REMS to mifepristone to restrict how, where and when it can be prescribed and obtained. Among primary care doctors who were trained and currently providing abortion care, 60% said they didnt offer abortion pill prescriptions as part of their family practice, but only at specialized reproductive health clinics. Researchers also found that practitioners who offered abortion pill prescriptions in their primary care setting were located in either the Northeast or West; none resided in states with highly restrictive abortion laws in place. Some also noted that the institutions and/or hospital ob-gyn departments with which they worked prohibited abortion services of any kind. Several said that in order to make abortion pills available at a family practice or a specialized clinic it was necessary to have a "champion" on board willing to jump through the regulatory hoops involved. Elisa Wells is co-founder and co-director of Plan C, an organization dedicated to ensuring unrestricted and non-stigmatized access to abortion pills. She expressed frustration with the status quo. "The science about the absolute safety of medication abortion doesn't support these added barriers to access," Wells said. "Many primary care providers we have talked to are not in practices that allow them to do abortion, so that's a huge hurdle," even among those who are trained and willing. Wells, who was not involved in the study, said that ensuring widespread abortion pill access will mean convincing the FDA to remove all REMS restrictions for mifepristone. "Mifepristone is an extremely safe medication," she noted, "and any licensed provider should be able to write a prescription for a patient who qualifies for it, and the patient should be able to fill that prescription at any pharmacy." The findings were published in the May-June issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. More information There's more on abortion medication at Plan C. SOURCES: Na'amah Razon, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento; Elisa Wells, MPH, co-founder and co-director, Plan C; Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, May-June 2022 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. An Oklahoma City developer proposes to convert a downtown Tulsa parking lot into roughly a $51 million project anchored by a four-star hotel, apartments and a parking garage. Pivot Project Development outlined the plan Thursday at a meeting of the Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity, which approved the sale of land at 311 N. Boulder Ave. and a redevelopment agreement through WPA Development Partners Inc. WPA is a joint venture between Pivot Project and contracting partner CMS Willowbrook, said David Wanzer, co-founder and chief financial officer of Pivot Project. We really do specialize in urban-core redevelopment projects, Wanzer said. We saw this opportunity for this site right in the middle of the Arts District. We like to try to effect positive change on the buildings that we renovate, the blocks that we develop on, the neighborhoods we develop in. This site just fit right in our core values as a company. The developers plan to sink roughly $26 million into the 90-room boutique hotel, $15 million into 88 apartments and $10 million into the 200-space parking garage, Wanzer said. A total of 20,000 square feet of retail space also is part of the project. Following the parking garages completion, the Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity, which was rebranded as PartnerTulsa on Thursday, will purchase the garage, leasing 88 spaces back to the developer for hotel guest and apartment residents to use. PartnerTulsa will realize at least $2,244,870.26 from the sale of 311 N. Boulder Ave. and pay a maximum of $7,150,526 for the new parking garage, excluding land, according to the agreement. Its going to be fantastic for the Arts District, said Casey Stowe, senior vice president of PartnerTulsa. Its an exciting project for the area and for Tulsa. Construction is set to start on the project in August 2023 and take 18 to 25 months, Wanzer said. This is a very unique project, a partnership between a city entity and private enterprise, PartnerTulsas A. Craig Abrahamson said. Hopefully, it will be a big success and a model for future development. The apartments will sit above the garage podium and the retail space between the garage liner area and hotel. The hotel will have a rooftop bar, and the multifamily component will have a rooftop recreation area as well. The designer will be architect Chris Pardo of Palm Springs, California, Wanzer said, adding that this is Pivots first project in Tulsa. We really wanted to bring a really vibrant mix to what is a crucial intersection of the district, he said. We believe a small boutique hotel made sense right there, as well, especially with the Cains (Ballroom) close and the OKPOP museum opening up. Multifamily also makes sense in this district. People want to live here. And it was really important to anchor all three sides of the site with ground-floor retail to activate the street. Featured video: Italian restaurant from FarmBar owners opens in downtown Tulsa 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. 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. A local packaging company celebrated a roughly $90 million investment with a ribbon cutting Tuesday, a company official said. Green Bay Packaging recently opened a 540,000-square-foot manufacturing center and 28,000-square-foot office building at Polson Industrial Park in west Tulsa County, said Ryan Boegh, Green Bay's vice president/general manager of the Tulsa division. "It's made a big difference for us so far," he said by phone. "We're about 75% of the way at our start-up curve. We started some production transitions in late October through the end of last year and full production here as of February." Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Green Bay Packaging employs 115 people locally and plans to increase that number to 135 in the next few years. It also has a state plant in Chickasha that employs about 45, Boegh said. "We're still learning, still growing," he said. "But it's great to have some space to stretch out and serve our growth for our current customers and future customers." 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. 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. Laffa Medi-Eastern Restaurant held its final service Sunday, owner Miranda Kaiser announced. They say all good things have to come to an end, Kaiser said in a statement. This has been a great chapter in our book, but it has to end so we can all move on to the next one, which should be even better. Its sad but were ready and excited to see what happens next. My crew and I have busted a-- these last few months, she writes. We always seemed to be one or two people short in order to function comfortably, and its only going to get worse with the busy summer coming on. We deserve a calmer, more stress-free work environment, and thats why I decided to pull the plug now, Kaiser wrote in a Facebook post. This way I was also able to get our crew great jobs. With the skills they have learned while working with me, they all got the jobs they wanted & deserved. Kaiser opened Laffa at 111 N. Main St. in 2012, offering her unique approach to Israeli cuisine. It was chosen as the best new restaurant of the year for 2013 by the Tulsa World. Kaiser also owned Cosmo Cafe on Brookside, which she operated until 2019. For almost 10 years we got to work with, feed and meet some stellar people, many of whom I hope to remain friends with forever if theyll have me, Kaiser writes. The Laffa memories will keep me smiling for the rest of my life, but the stress would have cut that life super short, and thats why its time to close up shop. Tulsa chef to appear on Rat in the Kitchen Tulsa chef Candace Conley will appear in the Thursday, May 26, episode of the TBS cooking competition show, Rat in the Kitchen. Conley, who owns The Girl Can Cook! cooking studio and kitchen in Broken Arrow, is one of six cooks who are tasked with completing two unique culinary challenges, while trying to figure out which of their colleagues is the rat trying to sabotage the groups work. Internationally renowned chef Ludo Lefebvre judges the finished dishes and rates each one as a pass or a fail, depending on how effective the rat has been at his or her sabotage. Comedian Natasha Leggero serves as the shows host. The episode is titled The Case of the Awful Waffles, which will air 8 p.m. Thursday; the episode will be re-broadcast at 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday, May. 28 on TBS. Conley plans to host a live watch party at her The Girl Can Cook! studio, 315 S. Main St., in Broken Arrow, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Conley will share some behind-the-scenes stories during the evening. For more: thegirlcancook school.com Sapulpas Hickory House to close Hickory House Bar-B-Q, which has operated in Sapulpa for more than 40 years, will close permanently at the close of business Saturday, May 28. The restaurant has been owned by Gilbert and Roberta Ortiz since 1981, and moved to its present location, at 626 N. Mission St., five years later. A fire closed the restaurant for 18 months in 2002-03 before it was remodeled and reopened. A three-star review by the Tulsa World in 2011 praised the restaurants ribs, brisket and smoked chicken, adding that The rustic dining room is one of those filled with all sorts of antiques and memorabilia, so much it is impossible to take it all in on one trip. Decorative plates, hubcaps, John Wayne and Elvis stuff, old kitchen and farm implements, patriotic posters, guitars, Bob Wills and Eldon Shamblin concert posters and photos, moose antlers, and a deer head are just of few of the items displayed. Shilohs, Oklahoma Joes close Two downtown locations of established local restaurants have closed. Oklahoma Joes, 25 W. Fifth St., has been listed as Temporarily Closed for several months, but the location is no longer listed on the Oklahoma Joes website, and its phone number has been disconnected. Oklahoma Joes continues to operate restaurants at 6175 E. 61st St.; 19361 N.E. Robson Road, Catoosa; and 333 W. Albany St. in Broken Arrow, as well as a location in Omaha, Nebraska. Shilohs Downtown, which in mid-2021 opened in the space that had been the longtime home of Billys on the Square, has closed, according to a post on the restaurants Facebook page. Hey friends, as much as we have loved getting to know and serve our downtown community, our time at this location has unfortunately come to an end, the post reads. We will miss seeing your friendly faces, but hope to see them at one of our other locations. Thank you for your continued support. Shilohs, which specializes in comfort foods such as meatloaf, chicken fried steak, and breakfast entrees, continues to operate at 2604 N. Aspen Ave. in Broken Arrow; and 50160 Highway Drive in Cleveland, Oklahoma. Featured video: 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. WEDNESDAY, May 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Many COVID-19 patients who didn't wind up in the hospital continue to battle lingering health issues more than a year later, a new study finds. These long-haulers continue to suffer neurologic symptoms, fatigue and a compromised quality of life long after their initial infection. "We were surprised by the persistence of most of the debilitating neurologic symptoms of our patients, and by the late appearance of symptoms that suggest dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system," said Dr. Igor Koralnik, who oversees the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic at Northwestern Medicine, in Chicago. For the study, his team studied the development of neurologic symptoms in non-hospitalized COVID-19 long-haulers at the clinic. It has treated nearly 1,400 long-haul patients from across the United States. On average, long-haulers continued to have brain fog, numbness/tingling, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus and fatigue for 15 months after their initial infection, the investigators found. When assessing patients six to nine months after their first clinic visit, the researchers found that their heart rate, blood pressure variation and gastrointestinal symptoms increased. At the same time, their loss of taste and smell decreased. Other studies have yielded similar results. "This new study is novel and reports the longest follow-up period of neurologic symptoms impacting non-hospitalized patients suffering from long COVID anywhere in the world," said Koralnik, who is chief of neuro-infectious diseases and global neurology. This study focused on patients who were initially evaluated between May and November 2020. Their initial COVID symptoms were mild and they were never hospitalized for pneumonia or low oxygen levels. The findings are a follow up to a March 2021 study by the same team. In that study, 85% of long-haulers had four or more neurologic symptoms that affected their quality of life. Thinking and memory were also affected in some. The investigators found no significant change in frequency of most neurologic symptoms between first and follow-up appointments. This included brain fog, with 81% experiencing it initially and 71% at the follow up; numbness and tingling (69% versus 65%); headache (67% versus 54%); dizziness (50% versus 54%); blurred vision (34% versus 44%); and fatigue (87% versus 81%). At the initial visit, 63% reported loss of taste, compared to 27% at the follow up; and loss of smell dropped from 58% to 21%. But 56% had heart rate and blood pressure variation at the follow up, compared to 35% initially. And 48% had gastrointestinal symptoms, versus 27% to start with, the findings showed. While about 77% had been vaccinated for COVID-19, the researchers found it did not affect thinking and memory skills or fatigue. "Vaccination didn't cure long COVID symptoms, but didn't worsen them either, which is a reason given by some long-haulers for not getting vaccinated," Koralnik said in a Northwestern news release. "As new variants emerge and the number of patients impacted by long COVID rises, we're now focusing our research on understanding the root cause of long COVID. We're also devising interventions to improve the management of those patients and find the best treatment options for them." On average, participants were 43 years of age. Nearly three-quarters were female. The findings were published online May 24 in Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on long COVID conditions. SOURCE: Northwestern Medicine, news release, May 24, 2022 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. Police suspect arson was behind a fire that damaged a clinic under construction in Casper that would become Wyomings sole site for procedural abortions. A caller phoned 911 shortly before dawn Wednesday to report seeing someone with a gas can running away from the building near downtown Casper. Smoke billowed from the buildings windows by the time authorities arrived, Casper police said. The facility appears to have internal damage, one of its organizers said later Wednesday. Wellspring Health Access, the nonprofit developing the clinic, plans to make repairs. But founder Julie Burkhart said whether the clinic will open on schedule in June is unclear. Im just really sad and angry that people would take it upon themselves to try to shut us down this way, Burkhart said, speaking by phone from outside the building. Even before the fire, the clinics future was unclear. Wellspring is moving forward with its plan despite an imminent U.S. Supreme Court decision expected to reverse constitutional protections for abortion rights provided by the landmark 1973 case Roe v. Wade. A recently enacted trigger law in Wyoming would take effect days after such a ruling, banning most abortions in the state. Burkhart said Wednesday that shes glad no one was hurt by the fire. She said the building contains some furniture, exam tables, and medical equipment. She suspects the inside of the building has fire and smoke damage, since the walls appeared blackened. Bob Brechtel, who has helped organize anti-abortion prayer vigils outside the Casper site, condemned the suspected arson. Were really sorry that this thing happened, said Brechtel, who previously served as a Republican state legislator. Something like this is of no help to us or anybody else. Damaging somebody elses property will not fix anything, so we certainly would not condone it in any respect. Brechtel said people who attend the weekly vigils are asked to sign a document promising to be peaceful and to allow people access to the facility. Burkhart said local police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the scene Wednesday. She hopes the clinics surveillance cameras captured images of the suspected arsonist. Casper police spokesperson Rebekah Ladd said investigators are examining footage from the cameras. If they find clear images of the suspect, they will ask the public to help identify the person. Wyomings only other clinic that offers abortions is in Jackson a five-hour drive to the west and it offers only medication abortions up to 10 weeks of gestation. The new Casper clinic plans to offer medication and procedural abortions. It would become the nearest place to get an abortion for many people in what the nonprofits founders describe as an abortion desert, stretching from eastern Wyoming into western Nebraska and South Dakota. This is not the first time clinics that offer abortions have been targeted. A Planned Parenthood clinic in Tennessee was destroyed in an intentional fire on New Years Eve. Years earlier, the man behind the fatal bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics also bombed two clinics that provided abortions. Meanwhile, an anti-abortion groups office in Wisconsin was recently targeted with Molotov cocktails. An abortion-rights group has claimed responsibility, but police have made no arrests. KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. USE OUR CONTENT This story can be republished for free (details). In light of Tuesdays school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, a local pediatric mental health professional is encouraging parents to maintain an open, honest environment when it comes to talking about traumatic events with their children. Kids still need a space where they can feel safe or loved, Dr. Scott Moseman said. Ignoring or not talking about the situation is not the right approach ... but meeting them where theyre at is important. An attending physician at Laureate Psychiatric Clinic, Moseman said there is not a universal reaction among children to events such as Tuesdays shooting at Uvaldes Robb Elementary School that killed 19 children and two adults. Uvalde, Texas, is 85 miles west of San Antonio or about 10 hours southwest of Tulsa. Some kids will want to talk a lot about it and you might have to tamper down their anxiety, he said. Meanwhile, some kids arent going to be too concerned. Just having the conversation with them and them knowing youre a safe place to talk about is important. However, Moseman said, it is important for parents to find a balance for their own concerns before sitting down with children in order to avoid imposing their emotions on others. In everything we do as parents, it is important to remember that how we react to things is absorbed by our children, he said. Most Tulsa-area school districts are already out for the summer. Thursday is the last day of classes for Collinsville, Jenks and Tulsa, while Friday is the last day for three TPS-authorized charter schools. On Wednesday afternoon, a spokesman for Jenks Public Schools said none of the districts sites reported an increase in absences that day. Meanwhile, Edison Preparatory Middle and High School was on modified lockdown for part of Wednesday morning after a threat was made against the school. It was ultimately deemed to not be credible, but campus police remained on site throughout the day. Both Jenks Superintendent Stacey Butterfield and Tulsa Superintendent Deborah Gist emailed letters to parents Wednesday, reiterating resources available to families and students, including safety hotlines to report threats or suspicious activities. It is difficult for all of us to comprehend such catastrophic events, Gist wrote. As parents and family members who love our children more than life itself, we feel closely connected to the families, educators, and community members who are devastated by this loss of innocent lives in their community. Please know that our Tulsa Public Schools team regularly evaluates our practices and works to improve the ways in which we keep our students and teachers secure. Our safety protocols are continuously evolving to keep up with the changing world outside of our school buildings. Featured video: Speaking to kids about shootings at schools 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. Excitement was in the air at a special education school in Northwest China's Gansu province last week when a "mobile museum" visited the campus. Students gathered in front of colorful boards placed in the school's playground by the Museum of Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Gansu, which displayed images of treasured items from the museum's collection. Chen Bingren, head of the museum's display department, was the curator of the one-day exhibition. With over 20 years of working in the museum industry, it was Chen's first time guiding a tour for children with disabilities. The Gannan special education school currently has 158 students, including children with hearing loss, learning difficulties and autism. Though many of them have difficulty talking, the curiosity showed that they had a lot to say. With the help of a sign-language teacher at the school, the discussion between Chen and the students went smoothly. Chen asked, pointing to an image of an ancient pot on the board, "What kind of pattern do you see here?" The children put their wrists together, repeatedly closing and opening their palms, to simulate a frog's mouth, as their way of describing the frog-shaped pattern. Huang Baoping, an eighth grader at the school, who is hearing-impaired, has a passion for drawing. As a big fan of art, he had been excited for days after first learning of the exhibition's visit. Closely following Chen and the sign-language teacher, Huang kept asking questions like, "What are the images on the pottery pieces?" and "Why did the ancient people draw things like that?" Later on, he attended a pottery workshop that is part of the exhibition program. Huang made a lotus flower, because Chen had told him that the ancient people in China liked to compare lotus flowers to men with noble characters and often painted them on pottery and porcelain. Chen was amazed by the children's perception of art. "We prepared three patterns for them to imitate, but many children, like Huang, made creative works based on their own preferences and understanding of things," says Chen. In recent years, museums across China have launched "mobile museum" services for grassroots communities, rural areas and remote mountainous regions. A combination of online and offline displays has also broadened the coverage of museums. For example, the Gannan museum, which was opened in 1986, has seen its visitor numbers multiply to about 60,000 per year. Of these, around 50 percent are from online exhibitions or exhibitions held outside the museum. As the museum staff packed up the boards at the end of the day, the children didn't want them to leave. Some of them asked, "When will you come again?" Ma Yujiao, a teacher at the special education school, says they have organized trips to local museums in the past, but an exhibition held in the school felt different, and provided a precious inclusive opportunity for the children to learn about Chinese history and culture. "Museums undertake the important functions of history and art education and cultural inheritance, so we have the important mission of spreading the power of museums to a wider audience," Chen says. The federal contracting arm of the Cherokee Nation is working with the U.S. government on a proposal to open a facility just north of Tulsa that would provide temporary housing and placement services to unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the United States. The 873,896-square-foot complex would be made up of five existing buildings at Cherokee Industrial Park, which is on tribal land at 6929 N. Lakewood Ave. Cherokee Nation officials said Wednesday that the project would be overseen and administered by Cherokee Nation Management & Consulting, a company under Cherokee Federal, the federal contracting arm of Cherokee Nation Businesses. CNB is scheduled to go before the Tulsa County Board of Adjustment on Tuesday to request a use variance that would be needed to move forward with the project. The Federal Government has approached the Cherokee Nation about the prospect of assisting with the ongoing crisis of unaccompanied refugee children who are seeking asylum in the United States from locations such as Ukraine, South America, and Afghanistan, CNBs application to the BOA states. As part of that relationship, the Cherokee Nation has been tasked with locating a facility that can be repurposed to temporarily provide housing and sponsor placement services to these children while they are being relocated from their respective countries of origin to their sponsor homes around the country. Tim Roberts, senior vice president of CNB, said the preliminary proposal laid out in the BOA application provides the groundwork for a humanitarian mission to provide temporary shelter for immigrant children. This proposed project could create significant economic development opportunities for the betterment of Cherokee Nation citizens and the community at large, Roberts said. The economic impact could be substantial, creating more than 2,000 jobs in the Tulsa area. If this humanitarian opportunity to help immigrant youth comes to fruition, we look forward to partnering with the community to serve this mission. The proposed immigration facility would be in keeping with other humanitarian efforts CNB has undertaken with the federal government, including welcoming Afghan refugees into the country and leading a California emergency intake site for immigrant youth, according to Cherokee Nation officials. The Board of Adjustment application makes no reference to how many children would be housed in the facility. Cherokee Nation officials said that would be up to the federal government to determine. The application also makes no mention of when the facility would open but does stress that time is of the essence. To ensure that the program is in place in time to meet the need for accommodations, the Cherokee Nation must move quickly, the application states. The unaccompanied minors would not be placed in local communities unless, by coincidence, the sponsor family already resided locally, according to the application. The application defines temporary housing as no more than eight months. Verizon Business Network Services LLC is listed as the current owner of the building complex. The facility would include four interconnected structures, or mods and an adjacent fifth building. The structures were built as an office park in 1985, according to the application. The Subject Property is unique because it provides an existing large square footage of interconnected buildings that can quickly and easily be repurposed for the intended use in time to accommodate the very unique program that is unlike any other in Tulsa County, the application states. Further, unlike other similar properties, the Subject Property has an ample campus and internal circulation infrastructure that is important for circulation while being somewhat isolated from more densely populated adjacent uses. Cherokee Expressway Industrial District, now known as Cherokee Industrial Park, was established in 1977 east of U.S. 75 and south of 76th Street North in unincorporated Tulsa County. It is home to multiple major employers, including a Macys Fulfillment Center and a Whirlpool Distribution Center. A use variance is exactly what it sounds like a variance from the allowed uses listed in the zoning code. The county BOA meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the St. Francis conference room of Williams Tower 1 at 1 W. Third St. The proposal drew immediate and strong opposition late Wednesday night from U.S. Sen. James Lankford on Twitter. I will strongly and vocally oppose this plan, Lankford wrote. Oklahomans respect legal immigration and have great compassion for any young child surrendered to human traffickers by their parents. However, the bulk of unaccompanied minors crossing our southern border are older teenagers, mostly male, who are coming to connect with family members who are already illegally present in the United States. We should be working to have less illegal entry instead of facilitating more illegal entry. Editor's note: This story was updated after publication to include a statement from U.S. Sen. James Lankford. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Democratic nominee for Ohio attorney general filed a criminal complaint against the five Republican members of the state's redistricting commission Thursday, a day after the Ohio Supreme Court rejected the commission's legislative maps for the fifth straight time. State Rep. Jeff Crossman said the filing seeks charges of dereliction of duty and of civil rights interference, on grounds that gerrymandering in Republicans' favor dilutes Democratic votes, harms voter confidence and prevents all votes from being equal. He has framed his campaign against Republican Attorney General Dave Yost as a fight against corruption in Columbus. Its time to hold these politicians accountable and show that no one is above the law!" he tweeted. The five redistricting commission members named in the filing are Gov. Mike DeWine, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Auditor Keith Faber, Senate President Matt Huffman and House Speaker Bob Cupp. Ohios map fight comes amid the once-per-decade political mapmaking process that all states must undertake to reflect population changes from the census. A combination of Republican foot-dragging and legal wrangling has extended redistricting well into the 2022 election season and stymied Ohios legislative primaries. Maps were supposed to be completed last fall. Crossman said he filed the complaint with Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein, a fellow Democrat, at the direction of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The filing did not target Democratic members of the commission, who opposed all five plans for Ohio House and Senate district boundaries. It did, however, target Faber despite his votes against the last three of five plans for legislative districts. In Wednesday's ruling, the Ohio Supreme Court accused GOP members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission of a stunning rebuke of the rule of law, after they resubmitted previously rejected maps in response to a court order. The high court has said, however, that Ohio's new redistricting guidelines gave it no legal power to hold commissioners in contempt, nor to draw alternative maps itself. Justices have ordered the commission to draw a brand new plan by June 3. At the same time, a federal court previously said that it would intervene and impose the previously invalidated maps if the state dispute isn't resolved by this Friday. It wasn't immediately clear how the conflicting court deadlines would play out. The Ohio Republican Party criticized Crossman for plugging the criminal complaint a day after missing votes on two proposed constitutional amendments: one revising rules on bail for criminal suspects, and one restricting noncitizens from voting in local elections. Crossman reported to Cupp mid-session that he had become ill. Jeff Crossman faking an illness to avoid voting on legislation that will impact public safety and the integrity of Ohio elections is a slap in the face to his constituents and voters across Ohio," spokesman Dan Lusheck said in a statement. "It is amazing that he recovered in time to keep campaigning despite shirking his official duties. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Editors Note: The following article reflects the personal views of the writer, which are not necessarily those of the Osage Nation. At the pinnacle of Osage Nation oil wealth in the mid-1920s, my father went to visit his father. My grandfather, a full-blood Osage citizen, had taken up with a woman unknown to our family. It is customary to invite any guest to have something to eat, and family is no exception. This day was different. My grandfather, Raymond Red Corn Sr., pulled his 17-year-old son aside and gave him a warning. Do not eat here. In a short time, my grandfather was dead at age 47. The official cause of death was heart failure. The real cause of death we will never know. This story is repeated over and over in the small communities of what we still call the Osage Reservation. Osage fathers, mothers, aunts and uncles left this world and their families, their lives taken by others. Their wisdom, their strength and, most of all, their everyday presence, gone. In isolation, such stories are little more than anecdotal bits of family history. In brutal fact, local businesses sold booklets with the name, sex and age of Osage headright holders and photographic postcards of Osage women with multiple headrights. So, what happens when a major American corporation one of the largest in the world decides to tell this story for profit? Worry, in short. Worries that it is yet another form of exploitation. Worries that our culture which survived this genocidal conspiracy intact will be monetized by others. Worries that our public image will be forever frozen in that terrible time. Despite those worries, Osage Nation leadership placed its faith and trust in one man to get it right; Martin Scorsese. Why? Because he listened, and he kept his word. Marty, as he prefers to be called, met early and often with our leadership and our people. He sat at our feast tables. He shook our hands. He hired our people. He gave us a seat at every shoot and welcomed our input. He hired consummate professionals on the front lines of interaction with our community. Put bluntly, he left a lot of Apple Films money in those communities, and in the process remediated, and in some cases saved, many historic buildings, making them fit for future use. The Osage Nation now holds its collective breath, waiting to see if our faith and trust have been well placed. We wait to see if old wounds will be reopened and if events beyond our collective memory will haunt us yet again. We wait to see if the world, once exposed to this dark chapter of our history, will believe this is who we are, and nothing more. Titanic is not the history of ocean travel, and Killers of the Flower Moon is not the history of the Osage. The events of the 1920s shaped us but did not define us. Those events inform us but do not hold us back. Its like thinking about a grandfather you never met. You wonder, consider, ask questions and learn. Sometimes you mourn. And you move on. Featured video: Raymond Red Corn is the assistant principal chief of the Osage Nation and former speaker of the Osage Nation Congress. He is a member of the Tulsa World Community Advisory Board. 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. Tam Nong Market in Tram Chim Town, Dong Thap Province used to be a hotbed of wildlife trafficking in southern Vietnam. Nowadays, however, the flood of endangered wildlife flowing into local markets from nearby Tram Chim National Park and Cambodia seems to have slowed, but across the region traffickers still breed and butcher rare animals. Any animal in demand Though the wildlife trade in Dong Thap is not what it once was, some vendors at Tam Nong Market still deal in rare animals. Tam is one of these vendors. Keeping a watchful eye of the turtles for sale at her stall, she agreed to deliver a large shipment of endangered turtles to an undercover reporter, provided that they would be set free at pagodas. Tai, a vendor at the market who primarily deals in both live and frozen copperheads and banded kraits, claims himself as the biggest wildlife seller in Tam Nong. Turtles up for sale at the Thanh Hoa bird market in Long An Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Tam Le / Tuoi Tre When undercover reporters asked what other animals Tai had access to, he gladly led them to his home where three freezers filled with animal parts awaited. The stork and night heron meat is fresh and newly-slaughtered, he claimed. I have sold them to restaurants in Saigon and Binh Duong, and even sent them by air to Hai Phong [in the north]. "I pay delivery costs. According to Tai, most of the animals he sells are hunted in paddy fields and at Tram Chim National Park during flooding seasons. The conversation between Tai and the undercover reporters of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper was cut short when a woman, his wife, came rushing into the room. There is nothing to sell here, you should leave, she said, pushing the reporters out the door. 'Banned goods are kept in freezers' About 20 kilometers from Tram Chim Town sits Tan Cong Sinh Market, where wildlife wholesalers abound. One particular stall at the market caught the eye of undercover reporters thanks to a coterie of nets and traps displayed at its entrance. Inside that stall sat Nhung, a middle-aged woman who claimed to have stork for sale. [Stork meat] is prohibited so I keep it in a freezer and dont put it on display. I dont want authorities to seize it and fine me, she explained In a dual-compartment freezer at her market stall, Nhung keeps little egret and yellow bittern meat that is so fresh. Inside the freezer are 17 storks priced at VND180,000 (US$7.8) per individual. Each weighs over a kilogram and Nhung offers discounts of VND10,000 ($0.43) to wholesalers. When asked how she transports these endangered animals to buyers, Nhung explained that it is only difficult to send live animals. One of the three large freezers full of storks at Tais house in Tram Chim Town, Dong Thap Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: D.Qui / Tuoi Tre Transporting frozen meat is much easier. I just need to put it in a Styrofoam box and seal it with tape. If police check, I can just say it is another [legal] animal, she said. The storks are hunted in fields and forests, according to Nhung. The hunters only call her after they have made a kill and she cannot guarantee products to customers in advance. In nearby Long An Province, the once bustling rare bird trade at Thanh Hoa Bird Market in Thanh Hoa District is now kept under wraps following a crackdown authorities began at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Approaching stall owners and claiming to be buyers in search of turtles to set free at pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City, Tuoi Tres undercover reporters were welcomed by sellers there. Turtles are available, Oanh, a bird vendor said while leading the reporters to the back of her house. Oanh then disappeared into a backroom and appeared a few minutes later with a bag of 15 medium-sized Mekong snail-eating turtles and an elongated tortoise. Yellow turtles are priced at VND500,000 [$21.5] per kilogram; elongated tortoise, VND400,000 [$17.2]; and the rest cost VND350,000 [$15.1]," Oanh said. The price is quite high because these turtles are hard to find during this season. "Next season, it will become cheaper. At another stand, no turtles were on display but the owner led the reporters to a backroom where she opened a box with two turtles inside. The transport [of turtles] is currently difficult because forest rangers in civilian clothes often sit in front of the market, but I can still have the reptiles delivered to any bus station you want, the owners husband said as he was handing his business card over to the reporters. At another kiosk, when the undercover reporters asked to purchase barn-owls, the owner said they were not immediately available, but could easily be hunted at a cost of VND250,000 ($10.8) per owl. About half an hour after leaving the kiosk, she called the reporters to say the barn owls were available. The undercover reporters then visited yet another counter known as the largest bird stall at Thanh Hoa Bird Market and also for a large fine it received from local authorities for keeping a smooth coated otter. Though the operator was wary of the undercover reporters, she immediately warmed up when asked about turtles to be set free at pagodas. She then led the reporters to a locked door, behind which were three Mekong snail-eating turtles, four elongated tortoises, and 15 yellow-headed temple turtles, all attempting to escape the tank. Aggressive sales tactic At Dieu Phap Pagoda in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, five stores specialize in the sale of wild animals. These stores, in particular, are notorious as their owners are not afraid to swear at, threaten, or beat customers with whom they disagree. A Malaysian hawk is up for sale at Tan Hung Market in Long An Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: D.Qui / Tuoi Tre Trung, the owner of a bird store at the pagoda, shared, [My store] has turtles, but we must hide them because authorities often patrol this area. Inside Trungs shop was a box with 1.5-kilogram Mekong snail-eating turtles. The turtles shells bear bad luck, he claimed. A woman near Trungs shop then showed the undercover reporters a box of ornamental turtles priced at VND90,000 ($3.9) each. When being asked about larger reptiles, the woman said she did not have any, though another compartment inside the same box held two elongated tortoises. How much are these elongated tortoises? the reporters asked. They are very expensive; can you afford them? she said, adding that they cost VND1.1 million ($47.3) each. Animals hidden in plastic bags There are ten bird stores on the street leading from the Xang Bridge to Tinh Quang Pagoda in Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City. Some of these stores keep rare turtles on display and the shopkeepers enthusiastically wave to customers. Others discreetly observe customers before conducting transactions. Be, the owner of a store specializing in birds, yellow turtles, and giant Asian pond turtles, said that she is able to transport these animals around the city by keeping them in black plastic bags. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Root-Seeking Festival, an annual ceremony commemorating the birth of the Yan Emperor (Yandi), was held on May 26 at Suizhou Emperor Yan Shennong native place scenic spot, in the city of Suizhou, central China's Hubei province. Yan Emperor is widely believed to be the common ancestor of all Chinese people, and Chinese people from all over the world are being called upon to salute their forebears. Chinese people from home and abroad participated in the ceremony via video link or in-person to salute their common ancestor, in a bid to enhance consensus around Chinese identity and promote Chinese civilization and culture. Themed "Global Chinese: A Family Jointly Realizing the Chinese Dream," the festival included a main ceremony along with eight smaller activities that took place throughout May. The main ceremony featured a cauldron lighting and bowing, as well as an ancestral worship ceremony. The Yan Emperor, also known as Shennong or the "Divine Farmer," first emerged as a legendary figure among the Chinese people more than 5,000 years ago, and so is considered as the common forebear of all Chinese. It is believed that he was born on April 26 on the Chinese lunar calendar in Hubei's Suizhou city. Every year since 2009, the city has held a ceremony commemorating the emperor's birth. He is celebrated for introducing major agricultural innovations to the Chinese people of ancient times. He is credited with the invention of "slash-and-burn cultivation" and for devising tools, such as the plough. He is also said to have sampled hundreds of plants in a bid to find the ideal ingredients to produce herbal medicines. He also pioneered the founding of markets for bartering and trade. His achievements, alongside those of fellow tribal leader, the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi), have long seen the two of them esteemed as the co-founders of both the Chinese nation and its civilization. This is why, traditionally, Chinese people refer to themselves as the descendants of Yandi and Huangdi. The ceremony for the Root-Seeking Festival in Suizhou has become a national-level rite to revere Chinese ancestors and a renowned cultural brand of Hubei province. The event has been jointly hosted by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, Association for Yan Huang Culture of China, and Hubei provincial government. Pfizer Inc will make all of its patented medicines including COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid and big-selling breast cancer drug Ibrance available at a not-for-profit price to 45 of the world's poorest countries, the drugmaker said on Wednesday. These countries lack good access to innovative treatments. It can take four to seven years longer for new treatments to become available in low-income countries, according to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, if they become available at all. Pfizer said its plan includes 23 wholly-owned, patented medicines and vaccines that treat infectious diseases, certain cancers, and rare and inflammatory diseases. In addition to Paxlovid and Ibrance, the list includes pneumonia vaccine Prevnar 13, rheumatoid arthritis drug Xeljanz and cancer treatments Xalkori and Inlyta. The COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty developed with BioNTech SE was also on the list. Chief Executive Albert Bourla said in an interview that all the medicines being made available should be of use. "But clearly the antiviral (Paxlovid) is going to be a very big deal for them - if they need it they can get it immediately," he said. When Pfizer launches new medicines and vaccines, they will also be included in the drug portfolio at a not-for-profit price, it said. The 27 low-income countries and 18 lower-income countries included in what Pfizer is calling "An Accord for a Healthier World" cover most of Africa and much of Southeast Asia. Five countries - Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal and Uganda - have already committed to joining the accord, which was announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera said in a statement the accord will allow the countries and the drugmaker to share "the burden of costs and tasks in the production and delivery of supplies that will save millions of lives." Pfizer has been criticized for how it rolled out its COVID-19 vaccine, with some poorer countries waiting for months after the earliest doses arrived in wealthier countries. Bourla said the new accord has been informed by the difficulties of that rollout, particularly the lack of health infrastructure in some countries that made distributing the vaccine difficult. "Instead of washing our hands and saying, 'I gave you the product, do whatever you want with them,' we're saying, 'We'll give you the products and we will sit with you to see how we can help organize a system that can utilize them,'" Bourla said. Check out the news you should not miss today: Society -- An elevator at a seven-story apartment building in Ba Dinh District, Hanoi fell from the sixth floor on Wednesday evening, killing two repairmen. -- A 23-year-old man was stabbed to death near a university in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday night by another man over a love conflict. -- A fire blazed up at a South Korean vest manufacturing workshop in the central province of Quang Nam on Wednesday afternoon with no reported casualties. -- Police in Ho Chi Minh City are investigating a case where a 34-year-old man was stabbed to death on Wednesday at an apartment in Binh Thanh District over a financial dispute. -- The Peoples Court in An Giang Province, Vietnams Mekong Delta handed down a life sentence to a 52-year-old man for murdering his wife in 2021. -- One student died while bathing in a local lake in Dak Song District, Dak Nong Province, local authorities said on Wednesday evening. Lifestyle -- Vietnam Bear Rescue Center and Animals Asia launched the #NoBearLeftBehind campaign on Wednesday with the goal of rescuing all bears held in captivity throughout Vietnam and putting an end to the practice of bear bile collection. -- The Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment has recognized 36 white crape myrtle trees and one ancient banyan tree in Dak Nong Province as national heritage trees, according to a representative of the Southern Central Highlands Forestry One Member Company Limited on Wednesday. Sports -- The Peoples Committee of Hau Giang Province organized a ceremony on Wednesday to honor and reward athletes and coaches who succeeded at the 31st SEA Games. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Businesses that do not have representative offices in Vietnam, such as Google and Facebook, are still required to remove photos and videos deemed harmful to children at the request of local authorities, according to a statement given at a seminar on Wednesday. The seminar was organized in northern Hoa Binh Province on Wednesday, in conjunction with Action Month for Children, focusing on child protection on the Internet. The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Information and Communications have issued several announcements in reaction to violations by web-based platforms related to the dissemination of toxic information, particularly on social networks such as Facebook and YouTube, said Nguyen Thi Nga, deputy head of the Department of Childrens Affairs under the social affairs ministry. Despite having no representative offices in Vietnam, businesses such as Facebook and Google must still filter images and videos deemed harmful to children, as well as other content that violates Vietnamese law at the request of state management agencies, Nga stressed. Only 10 percent of children in Vietnam have knowledge of online safety, Dang Quoc Viet, representative of Plan International Vietnam, quoted the findings of a survey conducted by his organization. Nguyen Thi Nga, deputy head of the Department of Childrens Affairs under the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs, speaks at the seminar in Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam, May 25, 2022. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre Plan International Vietnam has thus coordinated with Plan International Germany in mobilizing funds for a project dedicated to keeping children and young people safe in cyberspace, Viet shared. The goal of the project is to equip children with knowledge and skills so that they can protect themselves and others from bullying and gender-based violence in the online environment. It targets more than 9,000 children aged 10 to 18 and is set to run from August 2021 to July 2024, Viet elaborated. Parents should pay close attention to their childrens mental health during the post-COVID-19 period, as serious mental conditions can potentially lead to suicidal behaviors, said Dang Hoa Nam, head of the Department of Childrens Affairs. They should talk to their children if noticing any unusual behaviors, or contact 111 - the national hotline for child protection - for further advice, Nam continued. As of February 2021, Vietnam had had 72 million social media accounts and over 68.7 million Internet users, accounting for 70.3 percent of the countrys population. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children and teenagers have been using the Internet to study, communicate, and entertain themselves, leading to increased risks of online bullying and abuse. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Extremely heavy rains have been recorded over the past four days in Vietnam's northern and north-central provinces, with total rainfall amounting to over 800 millimeters in Vinh Phuc, signaling possible unusual natural disasters this year, the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting has warned. From the early morning of May 21 to May 24, Tam Dao District of Vinh Phuc Province recorded a total rainfall of 808 millimeters, the highest ever compared to the same period of May in the last several years, the center said on Wednesday. This record precipitation was followed by Quan Chu Town in Thai Nguyen Province with 692 millimeters, Kien Thiet Commune in Tuyen Quang Province with 612 millimeters, Xuan Khanh Commune in Thanh Hoa Province with 594 millimeters, Tam Duong District in Vinh Phuc Province with 496 millimeters, Dong Lai Commune in Hoa Binh Province with 442 millimeters, and Phuc Tho District in Hanoi with 396 millimeters. In other localities, the common rainfalls ranged from 150 to 350 millimeters, the center reported. This rainy pattern was blamed on the monsoon trough whose axis have been running through the northern region, the center said. Usually in May every year, the northern part is hit by heavy showers and thunderstorms, but there has never been a year with so torrential rain like this year, with the highest precipitation seen in Tam Dao, the center said. On Monday and Tuesday, the northwestern region and some localities in the Red River Delta, including Hanoi, were struck by downpours of up to 300 millimeters. The total rainfalls of the two days in the places have exceeded their average monthly rates over the past many years by 30 to 50 percent, the center said. On Wednesday, Tam Dao saw a rainfall of 464 millimeters, which was the highest single-day precipitation there since 1962, and surpassed the previous record of 379 millimeters that hit the area on August 25, 2003. The rainy situation is rare, with a similar rain pattern documented from May 23 to 26, 2016, the center said, warning that Vietnam will likely face many unusual natural calamities this year. Over the next several days, rainstorms and torrential rains will continuously batter the mountainous areas and midlands of the northern regions, together with tornadoes, lightning, thunderstorms, hail, and strong squalls, the center forecast. Flash floods and landslides may hit high mountainous areas while inundation will likely occur in low-lying regions. From now to the end of this year, the northern part tends to have higher rainfalls than the annual average rates of the past years, while the Central Highlands and southern regions may have insufficient precipitation from June to September compared to annual average, the center said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A married couple and their two children were found dead in an apartment in Hanoi on Thursday, local authorities confirmed the same day. Four people in a family died in a flat, which is part of a premium complex in Mai Dong Ward, Hoang Mai District, Hanoi, leaders of the ward told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday evening. They were found dead in their apartment on the 28th floor at 3:00 pm the same day and officials are investigating the case, they added. Their relatives had reported to the complex receptionists that they had been unable to contact the family in the apartment in question, numbered 2805, and requested help as a result. Sensing something unusual, the receptionists called for assistance from Mai Dong police officers to open the door of the apartment and discovered the four family members dead inside. The husband, N.H.H. born in 1979, was found dead hanging in the living room. His wife, 43-year-old V.T.L., and their two children, aged 16 and five, died in the bedroom. An investigation is underway. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Thirty-six sang le or bang lang (crape myrtle) trees and one ancient banyan tree in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong have been recognized as heritage trees by the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE). Nguyen Ngoc Binh, chairman of South Central Highlands Forestry One Member Co. Ltd., the group which manages the forest in Quang Truc Commune, Tuy Duc District, Dak Nong, where the 37 trees are located, announced the recognition on Wednesday afternoon. The official recognition by the VACNE was part of its efforts to promote environmental protection and preserve biodiversity. The association also aims to raise awareness about conservation, beautiful landscapes, and cultural and historical values. Binhs company originally proposed that VACNE recognize a total of 56 crape myrtle trees and one ancient banyan tree in Quang Truc Commune as heritage trees, according to the chairman. Rangers and officials hug a 600-year-old crape myrtle tree that has been recognized as a heritage tree in Quang Truc Commune, Tuy Duc District, Dak Nong Province, Vietnam. Photo: D.P. / Tuoi Tre However, the association decided to grant the title only to 36 crape myrtle trees and the ancient banyan, all of which met the recognition criteria. To be named as a heritage tree, a tree must be at least 200 years old if it is a wild tree and at least 100 years if it is a planted one. The tree must also be connected with the historical and cultural characteristics of the area where it grows. Notably, among the 36 honored crape myrtle trees, one is estimated to be up to 600 years old. A recognition ceremony for the heritage trees is already scheduled, Binh said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Vietnam Bear Rescue Center and Animals Asia launched a #NoBearLeftBehind campaign on Wednesday with the goal of rescuing all bears held in captivity throughout Vietnam and putting an end to the practice of bear bile collection. American actress Tara Buck, American actress and former fashion model Torrey Devitto, American television actress Marina Squerciati, Australian TV star Josh Packham, and Vietnamese actress and model Tang Thanh Ha participated in the campaign launch. The celebrities joined bear care and rescue tasks, such as preparing food, as well as teaching bears to look for food and playing with them in semi-natural areas at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in northern Vinh Phuc Province, currently home to more than 192 bears rescued from bear bile farms across the country. During an event held to announce the launch of the campaign, actress Squerciati said she expected her TV stardom to help attract people to acknowledge the campaigns message of protecting bears. From left to right: American actress and former fashion model Torrey Joel Devitto, American actress Tara Buck, American television actress Marina Squerciati, and Australian TV star Josh Packham attend the launch of the #NoBearLeftBehind campaign at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam, May 25, 2022. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre According to statistics, more than 300 bears are currently being held on farms in Vietnam, often for the purpose of bile extraction using invasive, painful, and life-threatening techniques. Through the #NoBearLeftBehind campaign, Animals Asia, which seeks to end cruelty to animals on the continent, is urging animal lovers around the world to support and contribute to the construction of a second site for the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in central Thua Thien-Hue Province. Construction of the 12.7-hectare project is expected to be complete in 2026. It will be able to accommodate over 300 bears rescued from private bear farms and other bear rescue operations. Its goal is to end private bear farming that same year. Australian writer Jan Sardi (L) and Vietnamese actress Tang Thanh Ha attend the launch event for the #NoBearLeftBehind campaign at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam, May 25, 2022. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre The rescued bears will be conserved under a program which aims to eventually reintroduce them to the wild. Animals Asia pledged to provide non-refundable aid of US$10.5 million to back the program. The Hong Kong-based charity organization also kicked off a worldwide fundraising campaign and has planned to premiere an animated film focused on bear protection in Vietnam and on social media on Friday. American actress Tara Buck (L) and television actress Marina Squerciati prepare food for rescued bears at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam, May 25, 2022. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre American actress and former fashion model Torrey Joel Devitto prepares food for rescued bears at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam, May 25, 2022. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre A bear is cared for at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam, May 25, 2022. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Medical staff tend to a bear at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam, May 25, 2022. Photo: Minh Hoang / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Stan has announced its feature crime documentary Revealed: No Mercy, No Remorse, will premiere in June. Directed and produced by Terry Carlyon (The Brotherhood, Conviction) the doco formerly titled The Price of Hate, is a forensic examination of the Frankston Serial Killer Paul Charles Denyer, reported by The Ages veteran crime reporter John Silvester. Stan Chief Content Officer Cailah Scobie said: Delving into one of Australias most notorious serial killer cases, Revealed: No Mercy, No Remorse expands on Stans landmark investigatory documentary slate. The harrowing impact of these murders is still felt almost thirty years later, and this documentary will uncover the tireless work of the detectives who captured Paul Charles Denyer in 1993. Developed in collaboration with director Terry Carlyon and veteran reporter John Silvester, we look forward to sharing this next instalment of the Revealed slate in June. The Age crime reporter John Silvester said: The pressure on detectives tracking a serial killer is immense, for they know the offender will continue to strike until caught. In Revealed: No Mercy, No Remorse, those directly involved, from the police who pursued him to the judge who sentenced him, relive the time a then-unknown Paul Charles Denyer was discovered to be the man who found pleasure in killing. When Denyer realises during the methodical interview that he is trapped, he enthusiastically confesses as if proud of what he has done. For the victims there was no mercy, and for the killer, no remorse. In 1993, 21-year old Paul Charles Denyer murdered three women in Frankston, Melbourne across a seven-week period: 18-year-old Elizabeth Stevens, 22-year-old Deborah Fream, and 17-year-old Natalie Russell. Denyer is currently serving three life sentences for the Frankston murders but will be eligible for parole in June 2023. Despite murdering three women, he could be allowed to return to the community he once terrorised. Revealed: No Mercy, No Remorse includes the police tapes from Denyers interrogation, as detectives work tirelessly through the night to unravel Denyers version of events. It took more than 1500 questions by lead investigator, Detective Senior Sergeant Rod Wilson, and his team to break Denyers story an interview still considered to be a murder interrogation masterclass. Viewers will witness the breakthrough that helped detectives secure a confession. For the first time, the detectives who investigated the 1993 Frankston murders will speak about the case and how they captured Paul Charles Denyer. Revealed: No Mercy, No Remorse explores the psychology of the serial killer, whose power to create fear in a community is magnified by the fact that he can live undetected in that community, often for years. The greatest danger of a serial killer is the camouflage that lets him masquerade as one of us. Serial murder has little to do, personally, with the victims it is all about the killer and his motive will usually only be apparent once he has been caught. Stans original documentary slate Revealed is created in collaboration with award-winning journalists, filmmakers and philanthropists from Australia and around the world. Revealed began with the premiere of the feature documentary Revealed: Amongst Us Neo Nazi Australia, an eye-opening investigation exploring the terrifying rise of neo Nazi activity in Australia. The Stan Original Documentary Revealed: No Mercy, No Remorse is produced by Stan with financial assistance from VicScreen. Thuesday 23 June on Stan. Subtle changes (or possibly big changes) could be coming to long running British shows Antiques Roadshow & Songs of Praise. Both will be put out to tender by the BBC. BBC will invite pitches from producers but retain all Intellectual Property rights for the programmes, which will continue to be shown on the BBC. David Pembrey, Chief Operating Officer, BBC Content says: These programmes are important brands for the BBC and valued by audiences. The three tenders form part of our commitment to competition, and alongside our rolling commissioning briefs provide a significant range of opportunities for producers to pitch for. Songs of Praise was previously put out to tender in 2016 and was awarded to Avanti and Nine Lives but both companies have now agreed to bring their partnership to an end. Both screen in Australia on ABC. By Shawn Robinson, associate director of news and communications New leadership in the University of Dayton School of Engineering Ethos Center is deepening engagement in the Dayton community. This summer, about 15 UD students will work with 10 area organizations to connect their engineering skills with each organizations' needs and aspirations. "Local community organizations, which are focused on human wellbeing, equity and sustainability, sometimes have technical needs and aspirations, or design challenges, they often don't have the time or resources to pursue. Our students bring an engineering mindset and skill set to collaboratively address these challenges and potentially design solutions," said Kelly Bohrer, first-year executive director of the Ethos Center and director of community relations in the School of Engineering. Lauren Doorley, a sophomore who graduated from Archbishop Alter High School in the Dayton suburb of Kettering, Ohio, is working with Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley to develop processes for analyzing Dayton neighborhoods to determine the best fit for refugees coming to the area. She will interview citizens to hear what attracted them to their neighborhoods and why their neighborhoods could be good for refugee resettlement. "Moving from one country to another is stressful for refugees, and Catholic Social Services is interested in improving processes to make resettlement easier," Doorley said. "By learning as much as we can about Dayton communities, we can help refugees acclimate better and find a place where they can thrive." Catherine Kinman, a graduate student from Hagerstown, Maryland, is working with Mission of Mary Cooperative to improve the processes for harvesting and packing. She also will have an opportunity to help the network of six urban farms, which provide more than 60,000 pounds of food each year in what was once a food desert, improve soil health and automate their watering system. "People don't necessarily have access to go to a grocery store or, if they do, the grocery store does not have nutritious or affordable produce. So what Mission of Mary does is grow nutritious organic food for the community at a reasonable cost or donate it," Kinman said. "It's a way to build up communities in Dayton." FiveRivers MetroParks, We Care Arts, United Rehabilitation Services, Co-Op Dayton and Homefull urban farming also are among the nonprofits students are working with this summer. Their work will range from developing rainwater catchment systems to designing assistive devices to project management for solar energy systems. The center's work also has expanded to CityWide Development Corp., the Miami Conservancy District, Hall Hunger Initiative, Dayton Regional Green, the Dayton Early College Academy and the West Dayton Makerspace, among others. "Former dean Eddy Rojas stressed, and now our Interim Dean Margie Pinnell stresses, the importance of engineering for the common good and having a positive societal impact where you live," Bohrer said. "Our Fitz Center for Leadership in Community has done similar work in the community for years with students in other disciplines, so we are excited to also engage our engineering students in meaningful ways for them and for our local community." For 20 years, students participating in immersions have traveled to more than 15 countries to work with approximately 25 organizations. Students help the organizations collaboratively work in their local communities on projects that include replacing indoor wood stoves with cleaner, more efficient cookstoves; bringing solar energy solutions to areas with limited energy access, and expanding access to clean water where there was little. "Our work traveling to remote locations on the other side of the world is great. But our students can engage with communities and cultures locally that also are very likely going to stretch them outside of their comfort zone," said Scott Schneider, Ethos Center professor for leadership in community. Click here to read more about the Ethos Center's work in the Dayton community. Much of the center's work is supported by grants and donations. The Marianist Foundation Board and One Day, One Dayton Giving Day gifts in 2021 and 2022 have supported programming. A donor-supported endowment funds one student's immersion experience each year. Donations to the Ethos Center can be made here. "We are extremely thankful for the philanthropic support we receive that benefits hands-on, living and learning experiences for our students that also show them how their skills can positively impact Dayton organizations," Bohrer said. "We don't want our students to see this as 'service' here and 'engineering' there. They can do this together, and do it for the common good." The University of Dayton is among the first group of colleges and universities earning Ohio's Collegiate Purple Star designation for being supportive and inclusive of military-connected students. Criteria for selection include having a dedicated military/veteran point of contact and/or office on campus, establishing priority registration for veterans and servicemembers, and allowing the establishment of student-led groups and organizations for veterans and servicemembers. An advisory committee appointed by Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner and made up of representatives of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the Ohio Veterans Education Council, the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, the Ohio Adjutant General's Department and the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission K-12 Purple Star Committee makes the designations. The efforts of the University of Dayton and its Military and Veteran Programs and Services office have earned the university a place in this first group of Collegiate Purple Star designees, Gardner said. The support provided helps those who are transitioning to higher education or balancing their education with continued military service. More information on the Collegiate Purple Star program is available online at https://www.ohiohighered.org/purple-star. Earlier this year, the University joined the U.S. Department of Defense Statement of Support Program, which affirms employer support for employees in the National Guard and Reserve. Employers pledge they will comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and provide supervisors with tools to effectively manage employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve. Among the tools the program will provide is a live virtual training for employees in the Guard or Reserve and their supervisors. The University, also registered with Ohio Means Jobs as a military-friendly employer, has identified at least 12 employees in the National Guard or Reserves and 100 military- or veteran-affiliated employees overall. "In the classroom and our offices, current and past service members bring a distinct set of experiences and perspectives that enrich our community," UD President Eric F. Spina said. "We are humbled and thankful they have chosen us to further their education or careers, as we are humbled and thankful the state and federal governments have entrusted us with these designations." For interviews, contact Shawn Robinson, associate director of news and communications, at srobinson1@udayton.edu or 937-232-2907. Next-generation sequencing version of MammaPrint and BluePrint enables decentralized testing in CE-mark jurisdictions like Germany Analysis for Belgian Health Care Package shows MammaPrint yields cost-savings for breast cancer care systemically IRVINE, Calif. & AMSTERDAM, May 03, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Agendia, Inc., a commercial stage company focused on enabling optimized decision-making by providing physicians with next-generation diagnostic and information solutions that can be used to help improve outcomes for breast cancer patients worldwide, today announced that it will present new data at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Breast Cancer Congress 2022 taking place in Berlin, Germany on May 3-5, 2022. The first of the two poster presentations, entitled Equivalence of NGS-based MammaPrint 70-gene signature risk of recurrence and BluePrint 80-gene signature of molecular subtyping tests to the centralized microarray tests [234P], concludes that the next-generation sequencing (NGS) version of MammaPrint and BluePrint[1] is equivalent to the centralized microarray test, as demonstrated by results from various labs globally. This enables a more accurate decentralized solution to breast cancer care fostering worldwide accessibility to more reliable genomic testing. "The accessibility of breast cancer care is crucial and by validating the interchangeability of the NGS version of MammaPrint and BluePrint compared to the standardized microarray tests, new doors are opened for global physicians who may need to rely on in-country platforms in order to secure the MammaPrint and BluePrint results their patients may require," said Annuska Glas, Senior Vice President Research and Development and Innovation at Agendia. "MammaPrint is a valuable tool to support treatment planning for breast cancer patients and with the decentralized NGS platform, this can be offered in even more countries. These findings further confirm that MammaPrint and BluePrint can provide the same accurate results through NGS." Story continues Agendia is expanding novel ways to ensure accessibility of care worldwide by advancing solutions with a decentralized option for testing kits to run on an NGS platform, and innovative modalities such as digital AI pathology. This data presented at ESMO Breast follows an announcement from Agendia earlier this year that it is progressing its Digital MammaPrint artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platform in Brazil to potentially fundamentally change the way breast cancer is treated by providing essential information more quickly and elevating the capabilities of global physicians treating women with breast cancer in their local communities. A second poster presentation, entitled Budget impact analysis for the Health Care Package by using MammaPrint in Belgium [238P], builds on earlier research from the landmark MINDACT trial and combines this with the results of the interim analysis of the pilot study performed in Belgium (unpublished data). The budget impact model shows that use of MammaPrint yields savings for breast cancer care in Belgium for the Belgian Health Care Package when compared to no gene expression profiling testing. According to the budget impact model, the use of MammaPrint in patients selected according to criteria of the pilot study leads to high savings. If gene expression profiling was performed for all clinical high risk patients, savings would even be higher. By combining the cost of genomic testing with the savings made due to a net reduction in chemotherapy usage, the annual savings add up to more than 5,800,000, an average savings of 3,900 per patient, compared with standard clinical care of a patient with breast cancer in Belgium. MINDACT has produced previous multi-country health savings analyses, published in the European Journal of Cancer, showing that genomic testing is beneficial as it provides valuable insights that potentially allow patients to avoid the complexity of chemotherapy, passing down significant financial savings to them while also triggering significant cost savings for large health systems around the world. "Drawing from the impact data used from the pilot study performed in Belgium, we are able to determine new insights that the use of MammaPrint could grant substantial cost savings to women who may not require chemotherapy and could ultimately alleviate some of the burden on Belgiums health care system as a whole," said Pino Cusumano, MD, Breast Surgeon, Centre Hospitalier Chretien, Liege in Belgium. "Data has previously demonstrated that by de-escalating women with Low Risk cases from chemotherapy treatment, outcomes are still as good and women are able to follow a more personalized treatment plan. We believe these data demonstrate that the previous analysis holds for the state of breast cancer care in Belgium in 2022, and that the overall patient benefit extends beyond physical care into financial wellness too." Taken together, the two posters presented at ESMO Breast 2022 suggest that regardless of where the patient is located, she is able to receive the same high-quality results with the added benefit of cost-effective treatment planning. "The studies presented at EMSO 2022 underpin our central efforts at Agendia to ensure our genomic tests are widely accessible and affordable, without compromising scientific integrity or decision-making, to bring the clarity women with breast cancer seek to guide their treatment planning," said Bastiaan van der Baan, Chief Clinical and Business Development Officer at Agendia. "Through our steadfast commitment to enable global adoption of MammaPrint and BluePrint, we look forward to continuing studies such as these to grow evidence supporting our mission to serve women with breast cancer throughout their treatment journey." 1MammaPrint and BluePrint next-generation sequencing kits are not yet cleared for sale in the United States by the US Food and Drug Administration; BluePrint has been CE-marked for use in Europe. BluePrint is also commercialized as a Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) and audited under CAP/CLIA in the United States. About Agendia Agendia is a mission-driven, commercial stage company focused on enabling optimized decision-making by providing physicians with next-generation diagnostic and information solutions that can be used to help improve outcomes for breast cancer patients worldwide. The company currently offers two commercially-available genomic profiling tests that help surgeons, oncologists and pathologists to personalize treatment for women at critical intervention points throughout their patient journey. MammaPrint is a 70-gene prognostic test that, along with other clinicopathologic factors, determines a specific patients breast cancer recurrence risk. BluePrint is an 80-gene molecular subtyping test that identifies the underlying biology of an individual breast cancer to provide information about its behavior, long-term prognosis and potential response to systemic therapy. Together, MammaPrint and BluePrint provide a holistic view of the biology underlying an individual patients breast cancer, enabling physicians to objectively select the best treatment plan. For more information on Agendias assays and ongoing trials, please visit www.agendia.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220503005531/en/ Contacts Media Terri Clevenger ICR Westwicke Healthcare PR Tel: 203.856.4326 Terri.Clevenger@icrinc.com Social media posts shared hundreds of times claim airlines in Spain and Russia warned people who have been vaccinated for Covid-19 not to fly because they have an increased risk of developing blood clots. This is false: airlines in those countries have issued no such advice as of May 25, 2022. Health experts say blood clots are a rare side effect of the Covid-19 vaccine and are not the same as those that occur during flights. Fun Fact: Airlines in Spain and Russia are warning COViD vaccinated people not to fly due to the increased risk of blood clots reads a tweet by an Australia-based user on May 8. The post has been retweeted more than 300 times. It previously circulated here, here and here on Facebook in countries including the Philippines, the United States and Canada. It was also shared in Hong Kong and China on Twitter. Comments on the posts indicated they were misled by the claim. One user wrote: "What about the vaccinated pilots? That should be everyones concern, while another commented: "At least they are honest. A similar claim was debunked by AFP in 2021 after commentator and former Australian senator Cory Bernardi claimed on a Sky News Australia TV segment that airlines in Spain and Russia are warning people who've been vaccinated against coronavirus not to travel because of the risk of blood clots. But the claim remains false as of May 25, 2022. 'No truth' The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 290 airlines worldwide including Russias largest airline Aeroflot and Spains largest airline Iberia, told AFP it was not aware of any airlines considering denying vaccinated passengers travel due to the blood clot risk. There is no truth to these suggestions. In a July press release, IATA advised that their medical advisory group had not considered vaccine-induced blood clots to be of risk. We are also not aware of any suggestion in medical literature that the particular blood clot phenomenon [known as Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia TTS], which has been designated as a rare side effect of one or possibly two types of COVID vaccines, has any impact on air travel. Story continues In May 2021 Aeroflot launched a programme to support mass vaccination, with CEO Mikhail Poluboyarinov saying in a press release that Covid-19 vaccine promotion was important for industry rehabilitation. Promoting vaccination is our contribution to facilitate a full-fledged recovery of air transportation and provide convenience and comfort to our passengers. Weve launched the programme as part of the federal initiative to encourage mass vaccination. A keyword search found no mention of the claim on Aeroflot's website or in its published press releases. Iberia told AFP that it has never made any recommendation in that sense. The airline has a comprehensive Covid-19 policy in place for travellers that can be found here. Blood clots Australia's health department told AFP the blood clots that occur during flights are different to those caused by vaccines. Among case reports, there are no known markers for increased risk for thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) including air travel, following vaccination with Covid-19 vaccines, a department spokesperson said. Blood clots associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine are a very rare side effect occurring in around four to six people in every million after being vaccinated, the health department said in September last year. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are not associated with such a risk, according to the Australian government's Therapeutic Goods Administration and health department. According to material released by the department, TTS is different from general clotting disorders such as deep vein thrombosis [DVT]. TTS can occur at different parts of the body, including the brain (called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis) and in the abdomen (idiopathic splanchnic vein thrombosis). Healthdirect Australia, the national public health information service supported by the government, advises that DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body. Anything that slows blood flow in deep veins can cause DVT '' usually as a result of long periods of inactivity such as a long flight, Healthdirect said. Professor of vascular medicine at the University Hospital of Amiens, Marie-Antoinette Sevestre-Pietri, told AFP that blood clots resulting from Covid-19 vaccines are immunological. "There is absolutely no reason not to take a patient on a flight on the pretext that he is vaccinated, she said. Bernie Ecclestone has been arrested in Brazil. (PA) Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has been arrested in Brazil while illegally carrying a gun, police have said. The 91-year-old was travelling from Viracopos International Airport to Switzerland via his private jet when Brazilian police found an undocumented 32-caliber LW Seecamp pistol in Ecclestone's luggage during an X-ray check. Ecclestone acknowledged ownership of the gun but said he didn't know it was in his luggage at the time, police said. The Briton has posted bail and was released to travel to Switzerland. Ecclestone acknowledged ownership of the gun but said he didn't know it was in his luggage at the time. (PA) Ecclestone is married to Brazilian Fabiana Ecclestone, vice president of the FIA and a member of the World Motor Sport Council. In May they attended several events in the South American country, including a race near Sao Paulo and a meeting with triple world champion Nelson Piquet in Brasilia. According to Globo, the firearm was unloaded and in a shirt pocket in his suitcase. He was not carrying a magazine or ammunition. Ecclestone is said to bought the weapon five years ago from an F1 mechanic, and has since kept it at a rural property in Sao Paulo. Bernie Ecclestone and his wife Fabiana Flosi at the Circuit de Monaco. (PA) The newspaper also reported that a bond of R$6,060 (999) was set and paid by Ecclestone. People who are convicted of the illegal possession of a weapon in Brazil could face up to four years in prison. Ecclestone spent 40 years as the head of Formula One before stepping back in 2017. He had previously entered two Grand Prix races as a driver during the 1958 season, but failed to qualify for either of them. An image of ominous-looking clouds was shared thousands of times globally on social media alongside a claim it was shot in India's financial capital of Mumbai. Some social media users appeared to believe the image shows a genuine cloud formation, but it is actually a digital artwork created using a stock photo of Mumbai. "A unique formation of Mammatus clouds over Mumbai, India," reads the caption alongside the image shared here by an India-based Facebook user. Mammatus formations are distinct series of bulges or pouches emerging from the base of a cloud. They are associated with clouds that bring thunderstorms. Screenshot of the misleading post taken on May 26, 2022 The image was shared alongside a similar claim more than 18,000 times on Facebook here -- and circulated worldwide in social posts from the Philippines, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. Several social media users appeared to believe the image shows a genuine cloud formation. "Beautiful!! I didn't know there was that kind of cloud.." one wrote. "Wow, never have seen anything like that before," another said. Meteorologist Eric Zernich shared a similar Facebook post here but credited the image to US-based visual artist Brent Savnore. In response to the posts, Savnore told AFP the image is "not real". "This image is digital art and was created by me using stock photography," he said. Savnore originally posted the artwork on August 29, 2020 on Facebook alongside the caption, "The finest souls are those who gulped pain and avoided making others taste it." The post was geotagged in Mumbai, India. Savnore's Facebook and Instagram accounts contain similar digitally edited images of cloud formations. A reverse search on TinEye found the unedited photo on the Canadian stock images website iStock here. The iStock caption reads: "Moonrise over south-central Mumbai -- the financial capital of India -- showing a glittering metropolis with a reputation of a city that never sleeps with dwellings of lower middle class in the foreground and newer towers where elite stay in the far background." Story continues The photo was uploaded to the site on April 7, 2020. Below is a screenshot comparison of the image in the misleading posts (left) and the iStock photo (right): AFP previously debunked online posts that passed off Savnore's digital artwork as a real storm in South Carolina. Busy 2022 GUKPT Season Continues With the Tour Heading to Luton May 26 2022 Matthew Pitt Editor The 2022 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) heads to Luton for the 15th time in 16 seasons from May 26 and it should be one of the busiest stops on the schedule if past events are anything to base judgement on. Luton is one of the most popular GUKPT stops, with only the 2020 edition (Season 15) missing since the GUKPT formed and that was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A 560 buy-in GUKPT Midi Main Event kicks things off on May 26. It has a trio of Day 1s before crowning its champion on May 28. The Midi Main Event made its debut at the 2022 GUKPT London festival and saw Alexios Zervos outlast 647 opponents and scoop 77,910. The 250 buy-in Mini Main Event has become a staple tournament on the GUKPT circuit and is massively popular. Last season's GUKPT Luton Mini Main Event drew in a crowd of 828 players and ended in a three-way chop. Daniel Peacock finished third for 26,310, Amanpreet Singh banked 32,000 after falling in second place, while Bhavin Khatri got his hands on 35,000 and the title. Of course, the 1,250 buy-in Main Event is the tournament everyone looks forward to. The first of three Day 1s shuffles up and deals at midday on June 2, with Day 1B and 1C taking place on June 3. We discover who the 2022 GUKPT Luton Main Event champion is on June 5. David Docherty is the reigning champion after he came out on top of a 513-strong crowd in 2021. Docherty, a permanent fixture on the GUKPT, overcame a star-studded final table that housed the likes of Lee French, Leon Campbell, and runner-up Dominik Nitsche. Full 2022 GUKPT Luton Schedule Date Time Tournament Buy-in Thu 26 May 12:00 p.m GUKPT Midi Main Event Day 1A 560 Fri 27 May 12:00 p.m. GUKPT Midi Main Event Day 1B 560 9:00 p.m. GUKPT Midi Main Event Day 1C Turbo 560 Sat 28 May 12:00 p.m. GUKPT Midi Main Event Day 2 2:00 p.m. 300 Side Event 330 8:00 p.m. GUKPT Mini Main Event Online 560 Sun 29 May 12:00 p.m. GUKPT Midi Main Event Day 3 3:00 p.m. GUKPT Mini Main Day 1A 250 Mon 30 May 3:00 p.m. GUKPT Mini Main Day 1B 250 Tue 31 May 12:00 p.m. GUKPT Mini Main Day 1C Turbo 250 4:30 p.m. GUKPT Mini Main Day 2 Wed 1 Jun 3:00 p.m. GUKPT High Roller 2,200 4:00 p.m. PLO 4/5/6 card 200 5:00 p.m. GUKPT Mini Main Final Day Thu 2 Jun 12:00 p.m. GUKPT Main Event Day 1A 1,250 3:00 p.m. GUKPT High Roller Final Day Fri 3 Jun 12:00 p.m. GUKPT Main Event Day 1B 1,250 9:00 p.m. GUKPT Main Event Day 1C Turbo 1,250 Sat 4 Jun 12:00 p.m. GUKPT Main Event Day 2 7:00 p.m. 200 Turbo 200 Sun 5 Jun 12:00 p.m. GUKPT Main Event Final Day 1:00 p.m. Seniors 150 4:00 p.m. Bounty (50 bounties) 170 Past winners of the GUKPT Luton Main Event Plenty of stellar names have returned home with the GUKPT Luton Main Event title in tow. Sam Trickett won the second-ever Luton Main Event back in Season 2 of the GUKPT. Others to emerge victoriously include Richard Gryko, Neil Channing, Chaz Chattha, Jamie O'Connor, and John Eames. A special mention must go to Driton Haxhiaj who has taken down this tournament twice, doing so in Season 7 and again in Season 10. Docherty, last year's champion, won 138,000 which is the largest-ever GUKPT Luton Main Event top prize. *Season 14 saw Luton cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2022 GUKPT Results So Far The 2022 GUKPT season has crowned four champions so far, and attendances are on par with those spectacular figures put up in 2021 when the COVID-19 shackles were removed. Timothy Chung, Joe Hindry, Trevor Reardon, and Gary Armstrong have won the first four Main Events of the 2022 campaign. Do not be surprised if they head to London and attempt to reel in another trophy and bankroll-boosting top prize. Super Stephen Chidwick Denies Tony G Triton Madrid Short Deck Title May 26 2022 Matthew Pitt Editor Stephen Chidwick got his hands on a Triton Poker title plus a massive 1,800,000 payday after he denied Antanas "Tony G" Guoga in the 100,000 No-Limit Hold'em Short Deck event at the Triton Poker Series Madrid festival. Chidwick's impressive victory came only a few days after he finished second to Michael Addamo in 75,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em 8-Handed tournament, a result that banked the popular Brit 1,291,414 after a heads-up deal. Chidwick has now won more than $5 million during 2022, and is now ranked fourth in poker's all time money listing, leap-frogging both David Peters and Erik Seidel, with $42,746,701 in earnings. Thirty-eight unique players purchased 28 re-entries between them and created a 6,000,000 prize pool that the top eight finishers shared. Michael Soyza was the first player heading for the cashier's desk. After losing some chips to Danny Tang, Soyza moved all-in with ace-nine of spades 665,000 and Chidwick re-shoved for 1,125,000 with pocket tens. The five community cards ran out void of aces or flushes, and Soyza busted in eighth for 240,000. The final table's two American stars, Seth Davies and Isaac Haxton were the next players eliminated. Davies will count himself unlucky after committing his stack with ace-king on an ace-king-nine flop and getting a call from the ace-queen of Mikita Badziakouski. The turn and river came a jack and a ten to improve Badziakouski to a Broadway straight. Tang's pair of red queens lost to the suited king-queen of Chidwick when the latter flopped a straight. Tang doubled up but lost a coinflip with jacks against Badziakouski's ace-queen on the first hand back after the dinner break. Then came the demise of Richard Yong; Tony G did the damage. First, Tony G doubled through Chidwick, then through Yong, before his jack-eight came from behind against ace-eight to relieve Yong of his remaining chips. Heads-up was set when Badziakouski, who won 50,000 NHLE 7-Handed event earlier in the series of 1,340,000, fell in third. The Belarusian was left nursing a short stack after a clash with Chidwick did not go to plan. Badziakosuki pinned his hopes on queen-ten but he could not get there against Tony G's ace-six, and he had to make do with the 840,000 third-place prize. Tony G held the chip lead but Chidwick got fortunate when his king-queen hit a queen on the river to beat his opponent's dominating ace-king. After an intense battle, the final hand saw Tony G all-in with ace-queen against Chidwick's ace-king. No help arrived from the board, leaving Tony G with no chips but a 1,350,000 runner-up prize. Chidwick collected 1,800,000 Event #12: 100K Short Deck Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Stephen Chidwick United Kingdom 1,800,000 2 Antanas "Tony G" Guoga Lithuania 1,350,000 3 Mikita Badziakouski Belarus 840,000 4 Richard Yong Malaysia 640,000 5 Danny Tang Hong Kong 490,000 6 Isaac Haxton United States 380,000 7 Seth Davies United States 305,000 8 Michael Soyza Malaysia 240,000 Career-Best Score For Denmark's Henrik Hecklen Henrik Hecklen got his hands on a career-high score of 2,170,509 when he came out on top of a 93-strong crowd in the 100,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event. Hecklen's previous largest prize weighed in at $1,284,260, his reward for a runner-up finish in a $100,000 Super High Roller at the 2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. Now his biggest cash tips the scales at the equivalent of $2,293,679. Hecklen has had a busy couple months, cashing three times at EPT Prague, going deep in the UKIPT London Main Event, and cashing in a 50,000 buy-in event at the Triton Poker Series Madrid festival. What a way to round out May, with a 2,170,509 payday. Sam Greenwood's quest for this title ended when his pocket kings lost to the pocket eights of Kevin Paque courtesy of an eight on the flop. Alfred DeCarolis, Brazilan Bruno Volkmann, and Finnish legend Patrik Antoinus were the next players who bowed out. Antoinus lost a coinflip with pocket sevens against the ace-ten of Aleksejs Ponakovs; he collected $558,000 for his sixth-place finish. Team PokerStars' Sam Grafton was the next player to find himself without any chips. Grafton's shove with pocket fives came at the worst possible time because Orpen Kisacikoglu was dealt a pair of aces in the small blind. The UK-based Turkish businessman's rockets remained true, and Grafton was gone, albeit with 716,000 to show for his efforts. Ponakovs lost most of his stack when he flopped a flush against the sneakily played pocket aces of Kisacikoglu which ultimately because a full house. Ponakovs crashed out at the hands of Hecklen soon after. The remaining three people were guaranteed seven-figure hauls. Kevin Paque claimed the 1,134,000 third-place prize when he made attempts to rectify his short stack by jamming with ace-five. Unfortunately for Paque, Hecklen looked him up with the superior ace-jack. Hecklen held a narrow lead over Kisacikoglu and the heads-up duo looked at the numbers for a deal. After a little haggling, which included Hecklen asking for more than what ICM offered, the duo settled on figures they were happy with, and left 80,000 to play for in addition to a Jacob & Co watch. The final hand saw Kisacikoglu initially limp in with pocket fours but then push all-in after Hecklen three-bet. Hecklen instantly called with pocket kings. An ace-high board was safe for the Dane's cowboys and he became the biggest winner of the Triton Poker Series Madrid festival so far. Event #9: 100K NL Hold'em Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Henrik Hecklen Denmark 2,170,509* 2 Orpen Kisacikoglu Turkey 2,016,491* 3 Kevin Paque Netherlands 1,134,000 4 Aleksejs Ponakovs Latvia 888,000 5 Sam Grafton United Kingdom 716,000 6 Patrik Antonius Finland 558,000 7 Bruno Volkmann Brazil 440,500 8 Alfred DeCarolis United States 344,000 9 Sam Greenwood Canada 260,500 *reflects a heads-up deal Full Triton Poker Series Madrid Results Michael Addamo triumphed in the opening event of the festival and made it two titles when he outlasted 62 opponents in the 75,000 No-Limit Hold'em 7-Handed tournament. The second win came with 1,152,086 after a heads-up deal with fellow elite grinder Chidwick. Event Entrants Prize pool Champion Prize 20,000 NLHE 8-Handed 90 1,800,000 Michael Addamo 478,000 30,000 NLHE 7-Handed 93 2,790,000 Paul Phua 740,400 20,000 NLHE Short Deck Ante Only 62 1,240,000 Chris Brewer 372,000 25,000 NLHE Short Deck Ante Only 68 1,700,000 Rui Cao 497,000 50,000 NLHE 7-Handed 101 5,050,000 Mikita Badziakouski 1,340,000 75,000 NLHE 8-Handed 63 4,725,000 Michael Addamo 1,152,086* 50,000 NLHE Short Stack Ante Only 57 2,850,000 Chin Lim 855,000 100,000 NLHE Main Event 93 9,300,000 Henrik Hecklen 2,170,509* 50,000 NLHE 8-Handed Turbo 37 1,850,000 Laszlo Bujtas 630,000 25,000 PLO 34 850,000 Tom Dwan 290,000 100,000 NLHE Short Deck Main Event 60 6,000,000 Stephen Chidwick 1,800,000 Images courtesy of Triton Poker /Joe Giron Selcuk Bayraktar, the man behind the Turkish drone taking out Russian forces in Ukraine, was awarded an honorary doctorate in Azerbaijan on Wednesday 25 May. Bayraktar is Technology Director of Baykar Company and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation). He the architect of Turkey's first indigenous combat drone system. The Bayraktar TB2 UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) has proved devastatingly effective against Russian forces in Ukraine, despite being relatively slow and lacking sophisticated stealth technology. The drone was also used in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, by Azerbaijan against the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh and its backer Armenia. Bayraktar was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) with the Order of Karabakh. The event was attended by Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Jahid Bagchi and heads of various ministries of the two countries, as well as teachers and university students. Ireland must convince sceptical countries of the importance of Ukrainian EU membership, the Oireachtas EU Affairs Committee has heard (Brian Lawless/PA) (PA Wire) Ireland must convince sceptical countries of the importance of Ukrainian EU membership, an Oireachtas committee has heard. Leading Ukrainian politician Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze praised consistent Irish support for her countrys bid to join the European Union. It comes as Ukraine seeks to achieve EU candidate status in the coming weeks, one of the early stages in the process towards full membership. However, several EU leaders have sought to play down Ukrainian expectations amid division across the bloc over the pace of the countrys accession. Irish politicians, including Taoiseach Micheal Martin, have been steadfast supporters of Ukrainian efforts to obtain full EU membership. Russia is totally opposing our right, not only to build a European future, but to live in this moment Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze Ms Klympush-Tsintsadze told the Oireachatas EU Affairs Committee her country is grateful for the backing of Ireland. The politician, who is chairwoman of the Committee on EU Affairs in the Ukrainian Parliament, said: Russia is totally opposing our right, not only to build a European future, but to live in this moment. Speaking virtually from Davos in Switzerland, Ms Klympush-Tsintsadze said Ireland has shown a clear and dedicated stance on Ukraines ambition to join the EU. She said she wanted to ask you to do your utmost to talk to sceptical colleagues in other countries. Unfortunately, not everyone is on board at this particular moment. We should not be hiding behind legalities, but take this political decision already now. Ms Klympush-Tsintsadze mentioned several countries that she said are failing to back Ukraines entry into the EU, including France, Germany and the Netherlands. Oireachtas committee members on Wednesday praised Ukrainian efforts and pledged Irish support, while also probing the Ukrainian representatives on sanctions, energy and food security. Ms Klympush-Tsintsadze also hit out at states and commentators that she said are trying to push Ukraine into concessions and try to find compromises at the expense of Ukraine, as opposed to continuing to help us further. Story continues It was reported this week that Henry Kissinger, a key figure in US foreign policy over several decades, said Ukraine should concede territory to Russia to end the war. Sinn Fein foreign affairs spokesman John Brady joined the criticism of Mr Kissingers comments, which he called absolutely disgraceful. Russia is trying to erase us from the map of the world, as a nation and as a state Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze Ms Klympush-Tsintsadze said: Russia is trying to erase us from the map of the world, as a nation and as a state. She said it is heart-breaking that the latest package of EU sanctions has not yet been agreed and condemned loopholes in the current measures adopted against Russia. This war has to be ended with Russian defeat, with Russian isolation. Definitely with Russian punishment, she told Irish parliamentarians. There are many Buchas (scene of Russian atrocities) around Ukraine that have been done by these so-called armed forces. She called for what she described as a Nuremberg 2.0 to investigate alleged Russian war crimes. We are counting on Irish engagement and support in this endeavour as well. Later, she told the committee: We have to understand that concessions are only indulging additional appetite for (Vladimir) Putin. Ms Klympush-Tsintsadze also asked for Irish help in de-mining agricultural land in Ukraine. While thanking Ireland for its contribution to non-lethal aid for Ukraine, she said: Your expertise, your training, your equipment in that regard would be extremely important. Ms Klympush-Tsintsadze, questioned by committee members, declined to urge Ireland to reopen its embassy in Kyiv. She indicated that it was the decision of Irish foreign affairs officials based on security assessments. I think Ukrainian people are watching with much attention and a lot of hope and welcome when embassies are being reopened in Ukraine. Watch LIVE as the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs continues to meets Engagement with the Ukrainian Ambassador, H.E. Ms Larysa Gerasko @GeraskoLarysa, & Chair of the Committee on EU Affairs, Ms Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze @IKlympush #seeforyourself https://t.co/5isRkFPPCi Houses of the Oireachtas - Tithe an Oireachtais (@OireachtasNews) May 25, 2022 Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko, who also appeared before the committee, spoke about some of the challenges faced by refugees since arriving in the country. While Irelands response was welcomed by both Ukrainian representatives, Ms Gerasko said: The only one challenge is accommodation, of course you know about that. Unfortunately our displaced people have to move from other places. She said it is a little bit difficult for children, who often have to move between schools. UNCW Researcher Part of NSF Grant to Explore Economics of Sustainable Coffee UNCW Economics Professor Peter Schuhmann has been awarded $55,278 as part of a more than $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate a new sustainable system for coffee cultivation. The grant, GCR: Collaborative Research: Designing a Sustainable Agriculture Production System through Convergence Research Using a Multi-Scale Ecosystems Approach, is funded for two years with an additional three years possible. It is part of the NSFs support of convergence research, which brings together knowledge, methods and expertise from different disciplines to solve complicated societal problems. That's the most exciting part about thisit's a truly interdisciplinary team, Schuhmann said. Five universities and two outside groups have banded together to experiment with an innovative approach to coffee farming in Honduras. The grant study is led by Caz Taylor, an ecologist at Tulane University, and includes experts in biology and economics from University of Massachusetts Amherst, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras, as well as support from the Mesoamerican Development Institute and Birding Coffee. Called integrated open canopy cultivation, the approach integrates the natural forest into the coffee farm landscape. Not purposefully planted banana trees or other fruits and vegetables that coffee farmers might grow to supplement their income or to supplement their food, Schuhmann clarified, but rather, the native forest plants that would naturally grow there. The researchers believe that this could help coffee cultivation in at least three ways. First, the forest acts as a wind buffer, which stops the spread of wind-borne pathogens such as the leaf rust fungus, which can destroy a coffee farm. The forest also attracts birds, which will feed on the destructive coffee borer beetle, and bees, which will increase pollination. A big part of this NSF project is doing sort of natural science experiments on coffee farms in Honduras to test those three hypotheses, Schuhmann said. To reduce forest clearing, the IOC method also calls for using solar panel dryers to dry the coffee beans rather than wood-fired kilns. By allowing the native forests to regenerate and by slowing the rate of deforestation, landowners can earn marketable carbon credits. Our goal is to model this entire system mathematically and statistically, Schuhmann said, and try to find the trade-offs. Schuhmann will use choice experiments to understand the decisions people make in running the coffee farms and in wholesale coffee purchases. The methodology highlights how a variety of factors affect adoption of sustainable practices and how coffee production characteristics affect wholesale coffee prices. This is my part, the economics of it, Schuhmann said. Basically, trying to figure out what goods and services provided by the natural environment are worth in dollars. Schuhmann has worked throughout his career to answer variations on that question. Hes built a nice set of tools for determining non-market valuation, said Adam Jones, chair of the Economic and Finance Department in the Cameron School of Business. If you want to know what gets people to make changes, you have to find a way to put numbers to that. Schuhmann has been involved in more than 20 studies involving choice experiments in different contexts since a research assignment in Barbados in 2007. Dr. Schuhmanns NSF-funded work is a good example of a faculty member putting their research and scholarly expertise to work, said Stuart Borrett, associate provost for research and innovation. In this case, the project will generate new knowledge about the adoption of sustainable coffee production in Honduras, which may help improve the coffee production and the producers. The IOC method is already seeing success, with about 20 farms in the Yoro region of Honduras producing coffee now sold under the name Cafe Solar. This is really sustainable coffee, Schuhmann said. How much more are you willing to pay? -- Stacie Greene Hidek #RESEARCH #CSB "When I was in eighth grade, my parents told me I would be responsible for paying for college," he said. "So I started working and becoming self-supporting. My dad was excited when I won the scholarship because he said his fear was that I wouldn't get a college education because of the money. He told me to have faith and trust in God. The scholarship made a big difference for me and my sisters." Melissa Lopez said that going to college has always been a priority, but she knew it was expensive. Becoming a Dell Scholar meant she would not have to put herself in debt. "When the time came for me to apply, I was so nervous about whether I should apply and if it would even be possible for me to get it," she said. "My brother knew how much the scholarship helped him, and so he pushed me to apply. After I applied and all the selections were over, I was so excited when I saw the email saying I had gotten the scholarship. I'm so grateful for the scholarship and for the fact my brother has always pushed me to do better." Courtesy of the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, scholars receive a $20,000 scholarship which can be used up through graduate school, as well as other resources and services. Dr. Latrice Richardson, director of Pre-College Access Grant Programs at UNG, has worked with the family since 2017, when the Upward Bound program began at Gilmer High School, and remains in touch. Jerson Lopez was one of the first students in the Upward Bound program, she said, adding that the family is close to her heart. As a college access program, Upward Bound inspires, mentors, and prepares future leaders everyday just like the Lopez-Martinez siblings, Richardson said. Our scholars are inquisitive and relentless in their pursuit of postsecondary education. Scholars and parents are excited when the college acceptance letters start rolling in. The expense of it all can be discouraging for first-generation students. One of the primary focuses for UB is helping juniors and seniors figure out how to minimize student loan debt. Scholarships like the Dell award assist in that mission. Upward Bound serves underrepresented and underserved students prepare for, enroll and graduate from institutions of higher learning; at UNG, the program serves students from Gilmer High and Johnson High School in Gainesville, Georgia. The University of North Georgia's (UNG) collegiate chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) received a 2022 Collegiate Chapter of Excellence award from the national group in the professional development category. "It puts UNG music education on the map in terms of a national footprint," Dr. Marie Graham, UNG assistant professor and coordinator of music education, said. "Previous winners include Florida State University, Vanderbilt University, and Indiana University with much larger programs, so it's a huge honor." This annual award recognizes a chapter that demonstrates significant contributions to the state, campus, and chapter experience through meaningful professional development. Hosting live or virtual events broadens the experience of the chapter and music education community. "Contra Flow," the UNG event, was a series of contra dance workshops fiddle, keyboard, percussion, and dance calling and a community Contra dance held on UNG's Dahlonega Campus. A UNG Presidential Incentive Award for Graham funded the project. Flash China is saddened by the heavy casualties caused by repeated deadly shootings in the United States and has expressed condolences to the victims and sympathy to the injured and bereaved families in the Texas shooting incident, said a foreign ministry spokesperson on Wednesday, also urging the U.S. side to effectively safeguard its own people's human rights. Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing after an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two adults at a Texas elementary school in southern America on Tuesday. "The right to life is the biggest human right and racial discrimination is the worst injustice," Wang said, noting that the United States is the country with the worst gun violence and racial discrimination, and the worst human rights deficit, however, "the U.S. government has not been seen to do anything substantive to address these problems in the past decades." "In the past 25 years, the U.S. federal government has failed to adopt a single gun control act and nearly 60 years have passed since Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream,' but the brutal reality of George Floyd's 'I can't breathe' is still visible," Wang said. The spokesperson further pointed out that the U.S. government is indifferent to the systematic violation of human rights of the American people, but is keen on wanton attacks and interference against other countries under the guise of human rights. "This fully shows that the so-called U.S. emphasis on human rights is completely hypocritical and empty," Wang said, adding that if the U.S. government doesn't care about the human rights of its own people, how can it really care about the human rights of other countries? "We urge the United States to take the human rights of the American people seriously and submit an American human rights report to the world as soon as possible," Wang said, also urging the U.S. side to take effective measures to protect the lives of the American people and ensure that they enjoy the right and freedom from fear, gun violence and racial discrimination. Editor's note: "Unmaking a Murderer," scheduled for Friday night, was canceled on Wednesday. The Waco Hippodrome will contact ticket holders with details on receiving a refund. As attorney, podcaster and author Rabia Chaudry knows, sometimes solving a crime comes after a jurys decision. And as investigator Sarah Cailean knows, solving a crime sometimes happens years after criminal investigators have closed a case. Waco fans of true crime stories and podcasting will see how insights from the two womens work and experiences overlap in their live presentation Unmaking a Murderer Friday night at the Waco Hippodrome. She does cold cases, I do innocence cases. I do criminal justice and talk about how to undo a conviction. Sarah does justice work. Theres a lot of overlay, explained Chaudry, whose name may be familiar to those whove followed the long case of Adnan Syed. Syed was a Baltimore high school student convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the 1999 murder of a classmate he had dated, Hae Min Lee. The case drew national attention thanks to the podcast Serial, whose first season explored flaws in the investigation and subsequent trials, and put podcasting on the map for millions of listeners. Chaudry, a childhood friend of Syed, initially brought his case to the attention of Serial producer and host Sarah Koenig, then followed Serial with her own podcast, Undisclosed, in which she, Susan Simpson and Collin Miller examined the Syed case in more detail. That more detailed story Chaudry captured in her book, Adnans Story, which became a New York Times best-seller, and in the HBO series The Case Against Adnan Syed. The response to Undisclosed steered Chaudry deeper into innocence work and podcasting, with Chaudry and her Undisclosed colleagues exploring other cases of unwrongful convictions. At last count, Undisclosed has led to the exonerations of more than a dozen people in prison, with some 400 million downloads by listeners. She and Simpson collaborated on the podcast The 45th, which looked at the policy developments and consequences during the administration of President Donald Trump, and she hosted two others coming out of her own interests and literary tastes: The Hidden Djinn, folk stories in Arabian and Muslim mythologies told about the Djinn, and her current collection of spooky bedtime stories, Nighty Night. Theres also a new book on the way this fall, Fatty Fatty Boom Boom: A Memoir of Food, Fat and Family, her account of food, body image and growing up in an immigrant Pakistani family. Cailean, a former police officer, comes to Waco as a civilian special investigator for the Mobile County Sheriffs Office in Alabama and heads the consulting firm Cailean Investigations, with more than a decades experience in criminal investigation. She also created the documentary series Hell in the Heartland: What Happened to Ashley and Lauria? Fridays presentation with Cailean came after the two had been booked for a Magnolia executive event. While in Waco, they thought about doing a public presentation on their work, resulting in the Hippodrome event. Well walk through a case and see how do you approach old evidence? said Chaudry, speaking by phone from New York. What Sarah and I do is go back to the beginning. What steps would I have taken if I were the investigator? Chaudry will share from her work with the Syed case, while Cailean will present a case that Fridays audience likely has not heard about. While the two seek justice from different ends of a case, Chaudry after a jury conviction, Cailean for cases that never get that far, theres common ground in the problems they find that steer investigators and prosecutors away from finding the true criminals. Chaudry ticks off the usual suspects: tunnel vision that keeps investigators from exploring alternate explanations, poor documentation of evidence or investigatory steps, no forensic testing, bad police practice or poor legal work. Its territory theyve explored in sound through podcasts, only Fridays audience will get to see the documents and photos they use this time. For those who love unraveling mysteries, innocence justice work and cold cases offers those sort of stories, but often with the happy ending of justice accomplished and innocents freed. Thats the motivation for Chaudry. I love it. I love the work, she said. 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. Two theaters take a look at stories through different slivers of time, one through the lens of history, another inspired by whats captured in the instant of a photograph. Silent House Theatre Company presents the former in its production of The Crucible, playwright Arthur Millers well-known drama set in the 1692 Salem witch trials. The latter comes in the Waco Civic Theatre presentation of the rock-flavored musical 35mm, a set of 22 songs that inspired by photographs capturing a story or mood. Bradyn Brazier, co-founder of Silent House, says The Crucible may be familiar territory for many, but the company decided to stage it due to its relevance during a polarizing time and its multiple silent house moments when the drama onstage makes an audience silent. Its the largest production for the young theater company, with a cast of 30, and the research into the plays background involved a trip to Salem, Massachusetts. Millers play, written in 1953 during the McCarthy era, follows how even the innocent got pulled into accusations of witchcraft in the village of Salem, even as they sought to challenge or defuse the accusations. As allegations of witchcraft begin to mushroom, farmer John Proctor (Ethan Trueman) finds his wife Elizabeth (Braziel) accused by a former servant, Abigail Williams (Aedin Waldorf), with whom he had an affair. Proctor finds himself powerless as hysteria sweeps the trials and more and more villagers find themselves accused. While Miller was addressing the anti-Communist attacks led by Sen. Joseph McCarthy that destroyed reputations and careers in and outside government, the mob mentality sometimes seen today in social media keeps the message of "The Crucible" relevant. Its easy to point the finger at the minority the witch trial never ends. Its always driven by the paranoia of the unknown, Brazier said. Ryan Scott Olivers 35mm, in a single performance Friday night, uses stories and moods captured in photographs by Matthew Murphy as the starting point for 22 songs about love, relationships and life. A cast consisting of Lexie Rains, Joey Tamayo, Emily Arden Seggerman, Sanders Markham, Jarrod Wells and Calder Meis bring musical life to those moments, many expressed in strong language and with adult content. Backing them is a six-piece band with guitar, cello, keyboard, drums, bass and violin, with music direction by Rains. Meis and Lauren Weber are the musical's co-directors. The subject matter and themes, in line with previous WCT summer productions of Heathers, Spring Awakening and Lizzie, make for a relatively late night starting time. 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. A plan to build 151 homes on the border of Cameron Park moved forward another step during a Waco Plan Commission meeting Tuesday night. The commission voted unanimously to recommend rezoning the 36-acre property between Park Lake Drive, Greenwood Drive and Adeline Drive to a Planned Unit Development to accommodate the construction proposed by Turner Behringer. The vote came after residents who live in the surrounding neighborhood spoke in opposition to the development. Most speakers were concerned the new housing would come with disruptive and dangerous car traffic. David Mills, who lives near the proposed development, said he and his wife came to the Cameron Park neighborhood because it is quiet, safe and wooded. He said the new houses would mean cyclists, parents with strollers and other pedestrians would not be able to walk in the old neighborhood, which lacks sidewalks. Im not alone in believing that any significant increase in traffic in our neighborhood will reduce the safety and thereby reduce the value of our neighborhood and our homes, Mills said. The commission voted to recommend approval of the measure with conditions, including a traffic impact analysis the developer must submit with its final zoning application. The Waco City Council will vote on the PUD change at a future meeting. The proposed subdivision is designed to be walkable, said Jim Adams, president of McCann Adams Studio, the Austin-based design firm working with Turner Behringer on the development. A traffic impact analysis will shed more light on the potential effects of the estimated 1,400 additional car trips per day through the neighborhoods. Were trying to address the need for housing in the community, and so the diversity of housing types here will do that, Adams said. If approved, construction on the empty land between the Waco Center for Youth and Cameron Park would start in phases, beginning with 31 lots slated for completion next fall. The next four phases include 30 lots each. The PUD application shows two entrances to the development on Park Lake Drive and one entrance on Greenwood Drive. The Greenwood Drive entrance would connect the new neighborhood to the old one. Steve OConnor, who owns 4 acres of land on Merriwood Lane, about 150 feet from the development site, asked if the commission could limit the flow of traffic through the Greenwood entrance. Adams said the developers looked at turning Merriwood or Adeline Drive into main entrances, but realized those roads would not work. Its a challenge because there arent very many ways in and out of the site, Adams said. Waco Planning Director Clint Peters said the Plan Commission and the Waco City Council could easily vote to limit access to Greenwood Drive if the traffic study reveals negative impacts from new traffic. Theyll take traffic counts and existing conditions, Peters said. Theyll look at the projected volumes that are being created by the development and where those trips are going to go, then have recommendations to mitigate that. Of the proposed homes, 34 would not have yards and would have garages located in the rear, 39 would have lawns and rear garages, and another 78 would have garages in front. Plans call for a small pond on the property to be expanded into a retention pond. Developers Shane and Cody Turner and Todd Behringer also plan to include trails connecting the park to the development. The application for the PUD states most of the site would be filled with single-family residential homes. Lot sizes will range between 2,100 square feet and more than 8,000 square feet, with an overall density of 4.2 housing units per acre. Documents submitted to the Plan Commission show about 25 lots, mostly smaller, directly on the park boundary. Many speakers said they worry traffic to and from the new development would make Greenwood Drive too dangerous for pedestrians. Longtime resident Darcy Lopez said she watches cars speed down Clark Avenue to get to 19th Street from 15th Street on a regular basis, and she is worried more homes will mean more speeding cars. I appreciate everything you are all saying, but something needs to be done about the area now, Lopez said. It was a quiet area 20 years ago when I moved there, but now its become so congested with cars and people racing. 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. Earlier this spring, H-E-B representatives visited Woodgate Intermediate School in Midway ISD to surprise Principal Wes Kanawyer with news of his selection as an H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards finalist. Kanawyer was later recognized by H-E-B as one of five state finalists for the 2022 Principal of the Year Award. The award honors outstanding public school professionals as some of the best in Texas and celebrates their dedication and commitment to their school communities. Kanawyer was chosen as a Principal of the Year finalist for consistently going the extra mile each day to serve students and staff. H-E-B presented each finalist with a cash prize and a grant for their school. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Excellence in Education Awards program, which was launched by H-E-B in 2002 in cooperation with the Texas Association of School Administrators as a way to support public education in Texas. It has now become the largest monetary program for educators in the state, spotlighting best practices and celebrating the passion and creativity of Texas educators. H-E-B asks customers, employees and community members to nominate teachers, principals, districts, early childhood facilities and school boards in Texas. A team of judges reviews the applications, narrowing the field to semi-finalists. From that pool, five regional judging panels composed of former winners, administrators, and university and community leaders not affiliated with H-E-B select teacher and principal finalists. The many impacts of the climate crisis from heat waves to droughts to floods are caused by mankinds combustion of fossil fuels, which has increased the heat content of the planet. Ironically, in industrialized nations, we almost never visualize this actual combustion with the exception of seeing the flames of our gas cooking stoves. Observing the flames of propane in my home stovetop, I realized immediately I must eliminate this symbol of fossil fuel damage to our planet. How common are gas stoves? The most recent report of the U.S. Energy Information Administration found that in 2015, 63% of U.S. households used electricity for cooking, 33% used natural gas and 5% used propane. Natural gas is typically delivered through gas hookups from utility companies, while propane (liquefied petroleum gas) comes from outdoor tanks at individual residences. How do gas stoves contribute to global warming? Approximately 13% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that produce climate change derive from residential and commercial buildings in the U.S. Cooking is a major source of emissions in these buildings through two mechanisms. First, when stoves burn natural gas or propane, the GHG carbon dioxide is produced. Relative to carbon dioxide, which has a global warming potential (GWP) of 1 on a 100-year time horizon, natural gas has a powerful GWP of 28, while propane has a lesser GWP of 4 to 10. Second, natural gas stoves, even when turned off, constantly leak unburned methane, a highly potent GHG, according to a peer-reviewed study in Environmental Science and Technology (January 2022). As a result, the climate warming impact of natural gas stoves in the U.S. is equal to that of approximately 500,000 gas/diesel cars. To eliminate this source of climate warming, natural gas and propane cooking stoves must ultimately be replaced by electric stoves. Electric stoves emit no GHGs, although GHGs are released in the production of grid electricity. Thus, overcoming the contribution of buildings to the climate crisis may be viewed as two simultaneous challenges: electrifying everything (electric appliances only) and obtaining all electricity from clean, renewable sources. (Although this column focuses on stoves, all other appliances, including water heaters, will need to be electric as soon as possible.) Do gas stoves have other hazards? Natural gas stoves may release nitrogen dioxide, which contributes to asthma, increased susceptibility to respiratory infections and negative general cognitive function. Released particulate matter 2.5 contributes to fatigue, memory disturbance, loss of concentration, nonfatal heart attacks, cardiac arrhythmias and premature death in people with heart or lung disease. Both natural gas and propane stoves may release carbon monoxide, which produces many neurological effects, including fatigue, confusion, coma and death. Natural gas and propane are a fire risk, with 4,300 natural gas home fires reported in 2016 by the National Fire Protection Association. Finally, both may cause suffocation and are explosive, especially if warmed over 120 degrees Fahrenheit. How can gas stoves be eliminated? The most economical method is mandating that all new construction of residential and commercial buildings be all-electric, with no gas hookups. For older structures containing gas appliances, retrofitting will be required. Thus, in my home the gas stovetop was removed, gas line occluded, 220-volt electric cable routed, electric stovetop positioned, stove hard wired and stove facade fashioned. The approximate costs were: Whirlpool electric stovetop $900, electrician $1,000 and handyman $250. Although costs will vary for each home, these expenses illustrate the advantage of banning gas hookups during original construction. (If it is not possible to replace a gas stove, Physicians for Social Responsibility recommends the following steps: install a carbon monoxide detector, run an exhaust hood while cooking, open a window while cooking and cook on the back burners.) Are there disadvantages of electric stoves? First, the traditional complaint from some chefs is that temperature can be controlled more accurately and rapidly with gas stoves. However, the chefs in my home do not concur with this complaint. Second, the glass of electric stovetops is prone to fractures from physical or temperature stress. Replacement of cracked glass is recommended to avoid electrical shock. Are gas hookups being banned? New York City and over 50 cities in California, are phasing in bans on gas hookups in new buildings. In response, 20 states, including Texas, Alabama and Florida have passed preemption laws to prevent municipalities from passing these measures. Finally, New York state and Washington state are attempting to pass statewide laws banning such natural gas infrastructure in new construction. What is our inspiration to fight back? McLennan County is feeling the impacts of the climate crisis right now. In 2018, Waco experienced its highest recorded temperature of 114 degrees. In 2021, FEMA rated the county at high risk for drought, river flooding and lightning. On May 17, the entire county was in drought, from severe to exceptional. Lake Waco is 5.3 feet below normal levels, nearing the point for mandatory conservation measures. And this is just the beginning, as our current 1.2 degrees Celsius increase above pre-industrial levels may rise to 4 C or 5 C this century. But there is much we can do to fight the climate crisis. We can convert our cooking stoves, and all home appliances, from fossil fuels to electricity, especially during retirement of old equipment. Besides lightening our carbon footprint and improving our indoor air quality and health, I can attest to the joy of extinguishing a fossil fuel flame emblematic of our planets suffering. Alan D. Northcutt is a retired Waco physician and director of a grassroots climate action and education group, Waco Friends of the Climate. His email address is anorthc@aol.com. Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone conversation on Thursday with newly-appointed French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, with both sides vowing to improve bilateral ties and deepen China-EU cooperation. Wang said France, as a major country that enjoys global influence, has always adhered to an independent foreign policy. Faced with the once-in-a-century changes taking place in the world, it is necessary for China and France to deepen their strategic coordination, Wang noted. The heads of state of the two countries have forged solid mutual trust and friendship, and maintained close communication, which provided strategic guidance for the both countries to jointly tackle global challenges and injected stability into a turbulent world, he added. Noting that the two heads of state agreed recently, at their phone talks, to stick to the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France and respect each other's core interests, Wang urged both sides to jointly implement the consensus reached by the two leaders and make new efforts to advance China-France relations, deepen China-EU cooperation and improve global governance. Calling China a key partner and friend of France, Colonna said France attaches great importance to the implementation of the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders and an action plan for bilateral ties. France is committed to enhancing bilateral friendship and stands ready to maintain high-level exchanges and take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to deepen practical cooperation in a wide range of areas, so as to push the France-China comprehensive strategic partnership to a new high, she said. Wang said China-France practical cooperation across the board has not only brought benefits to both countries but also contributed to world peace and development, adding that China gives priority to the implementation of the action plan for China-France relations and stands ready to continuously add new dimensions to bilateral cooperation. The two sides also agreed to jointly lead the positive momentum for global cooperation on climate change and biodiversity conservation, as well as work for positive outcomes in the second part of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15). Wang said China firmly supports the European integration and backs France in playing its role as the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union to enhance Europe's strategic autonomy. Stressing that friendship is the defining feature of China-EU relations and cooperation is the mainstream, Wang said China and the EU are each other's partners, not rivals. China and the EU should avoid megaphone diplomacy and carry out candid and in-depth communication on the basis of mutual respect and for the purpose of enhancing mutual understanding, he said. Colonna said France cherishes its tradition of independent diplomacy and is committed to deepening EU-China cooperation and jointly tackling global challenges. The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine issue and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The Russian-Ukrainian situation, Wang said, has reached a new crossroads. On the one hand, the conflict tends to be prolonged and complicated, and on the other hand, there are growing calls for peace and efforts to promote peace talks. The immediate priority is that all parties should work together to facilitate dialogue for peace, instead of fanning the flames of conflict, Wang said. They agreed that both sides should play a constructive role to facilitate dialogue for peace in Ukraine. Another mass shooting. This time at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. It was predictable and perhaps even preventable. Texans want safe schools and reasonable improvements to gun control and mental health policies, but state policymakers have failed to enact commonsense policies that would save lives. The trauma endured in the Uvalde community was predictable because Texas has already witnessed too many mass shootings in schools, churches and retail stores without any meaningful policy changes to date. The Uvalde school shooting was also the 27th school shooting this year. Four other mass shootings stand out and should have brought about significant policy changes. In 2019, a 21-year-old racist from the Dallas area drove to El Paso and killed 23 people. A few weeks later, another mass shooting killed 18 people in Midland-Odessa. In 2018, 10 adults and students were killed and 13 were injured by a 17-year-old student at Santa Fe High School in the Houston area. In 2017, 26 people were killed at a Sutherland Springs church the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history. In the wake of the El Paso shooting, Gov. Greg Abbott said, Our goal is to make sure we do everything we can to make sure a crime like this doesnt happen again. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said on Fox News he was willing to take an arrow from the National Rifle Association for strengthening background checks. Unfortunately, the Texas Legislature went in the opposite direction and made it legal for individuals to carry handguns without a license or training in 2021. Days after the Santa Fe shooting, Abbott presented a 40-page list of recommendations to improve school safety, including providing mental health evaluations that identify students at risk of harming others. Yet, many of these recommendations were never implemented, and the events in Uvalde suggest that many schools are not safer. Mass shootings keep happening amid broken political promises. And most Texans report a desire for reform. Overall, almost 60% of Texans oppose unlicensed carry, and almost half of Texas voters would make gun laws stricter if they could. Only 18% of Texans oppose criminal and mental health background checks. The failure to listen to the public consensus on gun control is also made worse by a broken school finance system. A recent analysis revealed that Texas was among the bottom three states nationally (with Alabama and Mississippi) for funding adequacy at the district level. Consequently, many Texas schools lack a full-time school counselor who can conduct mental health assessments, work with teachers to implement a mental health program for the school, and provide counseling to students and families in need. These policy failures are unacceptable. As education researchers, we have been in hundreds of schools across the state and interviewed and worked with teachers, principals, superintendents and school counselors. They care deeply about their students, and they need help. We hope the horrific events at Robb Elementary School compel state policymakers to enact commonsense reforms. They can start by reviewing state policies that allow teenagers to access weapons. Policymakers should also address the lack of mental health support within schools. In many rural contexts like Uvalde, schools can be an important community hub for health care and mental health support. Additional investments can be made to ensure every school has a school counselor and student caseloads do not exceed 250 students. In addition, the state can provide more funding for training school counselors, providing additional professional development for all school personnel on mental health, and assisting schools and community organizations in implementing research-informed community and school violence prevention programs. We all want a safer Texas where children and adults do not need to live in fear of the next mass shooting. Gun violence is complicated and each case is unique, but we need state policymakers to support our schools and enact commonsense gun control policies to prevent the next mass shooting. David DeMatthews is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at The University of Texas at Austin. Carleton Brown is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Services at The University of Texas at El Paso. During the 2020 campaign, Joe Biden was outspoken in his desire to revive the spirit of bipartisanship in this country. On May 15, Politico reported that, at the urging of many advisers, Biden had mostly given up on working with the GOP, which he purportedly now views as an existential threat to the nations democracy. Four days later, Biden enjoyed the biggest bipartisan victory of his presidency. Talk about timing. The historic $40 billion aid package for Ukraine was, as Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell predicted, a big bipartisan landslide. Just shy of 80% of Republican senators voted for it. Biden did applaud the Congress for sending a clear bipartisan message to the world in a written statement as he left for Asia. But he hasnt boasted about delivering on his promise of bipartisanship. Meanwhile, other leading Democrats think the real story is about the Republicans who voted against the Ukraine package. It is beyond troubling to see a growing circle of Senate Republicans proudly oppose Ukrainian funding, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Thursday. It appears more and more MAGA Republicans are on the same soft-on-Putin playbook that we saw used by former President Trump. Schumer has a point the share of Republicans opposing Bidens requests for support has grown; only three House Republicans objected to Bidens initial statement of support for Ukraine in March. But Schumers focus on the rump group that lost the vote illustrates why few in either party want to tout their bipartisanship. Theres very little incentive, particularly heading into the midterms, to brag about working with the enemy. The base just doesnt want to hear it. This has been a dynamic in Washington for a long time. When members of Congress work on a bipartisan basis, they like to do it as under the radar as possible, to avoid seeming like sellouts to the parties respective bases that see any compromise or collegiality as cowardly surrender. Some call this the secret or shadow Congress. In an era of hyperpartisanship, if you want to get something done, the best thing you can do is not make a big deal about it. Its a zero-sum calculation if one party can declare a victory, the other party sees it as a loss. Thats both why Biden rarely boasts of the bipartisan in his Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill win (officially the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) and why the Republicans who voted for it have been treated like traitors by the base. All Republicans who voted for Democratic longevity should be ashamed of themselves! Trump declared in November. That Trump desperately wanted an infrastructure bill when he was president shows how partisanship is a bigger priority than policy. Still, in such a climate, one might wonder, why did Republicans overwhelmingly support the Ukrainian aid package? The most important, and obvious, reason is that it was necessary on the merits. A second reason is that a huge majority of Americans including Republicans support helping Ukraine any way possible short of sending troops. Republican approval of Bidens handling of Ukraine is low, but that probably reflects Republican disapproval of Biden generally. Indeed, Republicans have often been more likely to say Biden has been too weak on Ukraine. Theres a third answer that doesnt fit a popular narrative among Democrats and many in the media. Despite decades of handwringing to the contrary, the GOP is not an isolationist party, a fact Trump often learned to his consternation in the White House as he was forced to sign Russian sanctions and intervene militarily in the Middle East. Even among the opponents of helping Ukraine, most argue that the U.S. should focus on confronting China instead, hardly an isolationist argument. Others hide behind newly discovered concerns about fiscal or procedural propriety. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, a leading noninterventionist, claimed that he merely wanted an inspector general to oversee the spending of the aid money. Its true that there is a loud noninterventionist or realist bloc on the right, increasingly and surprisingly led by the Heritage Foundation and unsurprisingly by various instruments of the Koch network. But such efforts are hardly new, even if they are often treated that way. Indeed, one might ask, why are Democrats so supportive of Bidens effort? The most important answer to that question is the same for Democrats, too: Its necessary and popular. But the fact that Biden is president is probably a big part of it as well. After all, when Vladimir Putin seized Crimea, Democrats rallied to President Obamas fairly tepid response. Partisanship works wonders. Jonah Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch and the host of The Remnant podcast. WAHOO The conditional use permit needed for Texas-based Champion Feeders to continue operations at the Mead Cattle Company feedlot passed an annual review at the May 17 Saunders County Board of Supervisors meeting. The approval was recommended by the Saunders County Planning Commission, and Planning and Zoning Administrator Mitch Polacek said Champion Feeders has been in compliance with the permit since it was granted in May of 2021. At that time, two of the seed companies that provided their pesticide-coated seed to the troubled AltEn ethanol production site directly adjacent to Mead Cattle Company had asked the Board of Supervisors to table approval of the permit because of Mead Cattles relationship with AltEn. The state shut down the AltEn facility in February 2021 after years of complaints from citizens and after toxic runoff had spread through parts of Saunders County. AltEn had used manure from Mead Cattle to produce the methane needed to power its ethanol operation, and AltEn would repay them with wet distillers grain, or wet cake, for the feedlots cattle. The two seed companies, Corteva and Syngenta, indicated that the relationship between Mead Cattle and AltEn had contributed to the contamination of the wastewater that was and is still stored on the site. However, lab results showed little pesticide contamination in Mead Cattles manure holding basins and water tanks. Before approving the permit in 2021, the board added two amendments one requiring Champion Feeders to allow site access to University of Nebraska Medical Center researchers, and the other requiring groundwater sampling results from the Mead Cattle site to be shared with the board. A condition in the permit called for an annual compliance review. Polacek said after one year as Mead Cattles owners, Champion Feeders has been in compliance with the permit. The only issue that had arisen in the past year, he said, was an issue with UNMC researchers not being granted access to the site. He said that issue had been rectified. Andy Scholting of Nutrient Advisors, which monitors environmental compliance in the livestock industry, said testing at Mead Cattle showed moderate-to-high levels of nitrates in the propertys wells, but he said that is typical of the area. Mead Cattle is also required to report testing levels of ammonia and chloride. There are high nitrates throughout the area, but we dont see any discrepancy between the wells that are upstream or downstream from the feedlot, Scholting said. We also dont see any ammonium in the water, which is a telltale indicator of manure contamination. District 5 Supervisor John Smaus asked if there was any contamination detected on Mead Cattles site from AltEn. Scholting said Mead Cattle is not required to test for pesticides only chloride, ammonium and nitrates. AltEn has an extensive program of new monitoring wells, thats their deal, Scholting said. Were monitoring for completely different contaminants. Sam Crisler is a reporter for the Wahoo Newspaper. Reach him via email at samuel.crisler@wahoonewspaper.com. Delft University of Technology researchers teleported quantum data across a network. Improved quantum memory and quantum connectivity between the network's three nodes enabled this feat. This is the first step toward a future quantum internet. The technology will execute tasks in minutes that even the most powerful supercomputers have not been able to finish in thousands of years. It will do this by harnessing the mysterious forces of quantum mechanics. Google presented an experimental quantum computer in the fall of 2019, demonstrating that such a thing was indeed conceivable. Two years later, a laboratory in China carried out much the same experiment. Quantum computing, on the other hand, won't be able to live up to its full potential until another technical breakthrough is made. It's been dubbed the "quantum internet" since it's a computer network that can transmit quantum information between devices located in different locations. A group of physicists working at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands has taken a significant step toward creating the future computer network. They did this by employing a method referred to as quantum teleportation to send data between three different physical locations. In the past, this might have been accomplished with simply two. Based on the latest experiment results, it appears that researchers can extend a quantum network across an ever-growing number of locations. According to Ronald Hanson, the physicist at Delft who supervises the team, "We are now establishing modest quantum networks in the lab." However, the goal is to construct a quantum internet at some point in the future. Their findings, which were presented this week in a report published in the scientific magazine Nature, illustrate the potency of a phenomenon that Albert Einstein previously believed to be impossible. Quantum teleportation, which he referred to as "spooky action at a distance," makes it possible to move information from one point to another without transferring the physical stuff that stores the information. This technology can radically alter the transmission of data from one location to another. Quantum mechanics is a branch of physics that rules the subatomic realm and operates differently, unlike anything we encounter in our everyday lives. This theory is based on more than a century of research concerning quantum mechanics. Not only may data be transferred between quantum computers using quantum teleportation, but this process is carried out in a way that prevents any third party from eavesdropping on it. "In today's world, things don't operate that way. Google is aware of the software that you are hosting on its servers. According to Tracy Eleanor Northup, a researcher at the University of Innsbruck's Institute for Experimental Physics who is also investigating quantum teleportation, "This means that the quantum computer can solve your problem and that it does not know what the problem is." A quantum computer takes advantage of how certain particles behave when they are extremely small (like an electron or a particle of light) or extremely cold (like an exotic metal cooled to nearly absolute zero, or minus 460 degrees Fahrenheit). In the circumstances such as these, a single thing can exhibit the behavior of two distinct objects simultaneously. Traditional computers carry out computations by processing "bits" of information, where each bit can store either a 1 or a 0, and each bit can be either one or the other. A quantum bit, also known as a qubit, can store a mixture of 1 and 0 by utilizing the peculiar behavior of quantum physics. This is analogous to how a spinning coin offers the enticing potential that it will land with either heads or tails when it ultimately comes to rest on the table. This indicates that two qubits can simultaneously store four values, three can store eight values, four can store sixteen values, and so on. The power of a quantum computer increases exponentially in direct proportion to the size of its qubit count. Researchers think that one day these gadgets will be able to speed up the process of developing new medications, fuel improvements in artificial intelligence, and defeat the encryption that safeguards systems that are essential to national security. Exploration of the technology is costing billions of dollars worldwide and is being funded by governments, academic labs, start-ups, and large technology companies. In 2019, Google announced that its machine has achieved what scientists refer to as "quantum supremacy." This meant that it could complete an experimental challenge that was previously unattainable with conventional computers. However, the vast majority of industry professionals believe that it will be at least a few more years before a quantum computer can accomplish something valuable that can't be done with any other type of machine. One of the difficulties stems from the fact that reading information from a qubit causes it to "decohere," which means it transforms into a conventional bit that can store either a 0 or a 1, but not both at the same time. However, suppose scientists successfully string together many qubits and invent methods to protect against decoherence. In that case, they should be able to construct machines that are not only powerful but also useful. In the end, and ideally, these would be connected into networks that can send information between nodes, making it possible for them to be used from any location. This is analogous to how cloud computing services, such as those offered by companies like Google and Amazon, make processing power widely accessible today. However, this presents its own set of challenges. Quantum information cannot simply be replicated and transmitted over a conventional network, in part because doing so would lead the information to lose its coherence. There is also the possibility of using quantum teleportation. Even though it cannot move physical objects from one location to another, it can move information by taking advantage of a quantum property known as "entanglement." This property states that a change in the state of one quantum system instantly affects the state of another quantum system that is located far away. Dr. Northup explained that once entanglement occurs, it is no longer possible to define these states separately. "In its most basic form, it is now a single system." It's possible that electrons, light particles, or other kinds of particles could make up these entangled systems. In the Netherlands, Dr. Hanson and his team used something known as a nitrogen-vacancy center. This is a minuscule void that exists inside of a synthetic diamond and is capable of trapping electrons. The group assembled three of these quantum devices and gave them the names Alice, Bob, and Charlie before stringing up strands of optical fiber to join them in a row. After that, the scientists could entangle these systems by passing individual photons, which are light particles, back and forth between them. First, the scientists mixed up the properties of two electrons, one of which belonged to Alice and the other to Bob. This allowed all of the electrons to store the same information, a specific set of one and zero values. In practice, all of the electrons were given the same spin, and as a result, they were combined, or entangled in a single quantum state. After that, the researchers could transfer this quantum state to another qubit, which was a carbon nucleus contained within Bob's synthetic diamond. After doing these steps, the electron belonging to Bob was no longer trapped, and the researchers were able to combine it with an electron that belonged to Charlie. The researchers were then able to glue the two entanglements together by conducting a specific quantum operation on Bob's qubits, the electron, and the carbon nucleus. This allowed them to achieve the following result: Alice and Bob attached to Bob and Charlie. The end consequence was that Alice and Charlie became entangled with one another, which made it possible for data to teleport across all three nodes. Data can't be lost when transmitted in this manner since it does not have to transit the distance between the nodes physically. According to Dr. Hanson, "Information can be fed into one side of the connection, and then it can appear on the other side." Additionally, there is no way to intercept the information stealthily. A future internet driven by quantum teleportation may be able to deliver a new type of encryption that is, in theory, impossible to crack. In the latest experiment, the network nodes were spaced relatively close together, at about 60 feet apart on average. However, results from earlier experiments have demonstrated that quantum systems can be entangled at greater distances. After a number of additional years of research, it is hoped that quantum teleportation will be practical at a distance of many miles. Dr. Hanson stated that they are currently attempting to carry out their research outside the laboratory. From Alice to Charlie the next step for the quantum internet Twelfth in a series on Cedar Valley Top 15 Nurses WATERLOO Ask Claudia Robinson about her nursing career and she will tell you, Its the best job in the world. Repeatedly. When I was just in fourth grade, I got hooked on reading books about nursing and caring for the elderly. Our grandmother was living with us and I would help take care of her. I loved it. I always really wanted to be a nurse. A product of the Waterloo school system and a young mother at 16, Robinson attempted to juggle her responsibilities. That changed my trajectory, she said. I tried several different ways to go to school and work full-time. I ended up working for the phone company for 15 years. But I knew that nursing was in my heart. When the phone company offered an early out and to pay for school, I jumped on it. I got an associate degree and then my RN. Robinson has had a varied nursing career. At UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital, she worked on the cardiac floor for a few years and in the resource pool where she floated to different areas of the hospital. She then took a job at a cardiologists office. I learned a lot there. Dr. Hugo Koo was a wonderful teacher. She also worked in student health at Wartburg College in Waverly and at John Deere for a short time. But Robinson seemed to find her true calling after joining the Black Hawk County Health Department. When I started, I was working in the child health division, going into the day cares and working with kids, doing immunizations, checking their teeth. You know, taking care of the babies. Then I switched up and came to the Pinecrest Health Center where I focused more on sexual health and disease investigation as a disease prevention specialist. We do training with the communicable diseases, do partner services to inform and track infections, provide education, she said. Its a lot of teaching. A lot of providers call us for information for treatment and testing. Sometimes, in tough situations, I am able to provide a safe, supportive environment, offer them treatment and education. Its the best job in the world. Robinsons colleague, Janine Johnson nominated her for Top Nurses honors. Claudia Robinson is a registered nurse who cares deeply about her community. She is committed to providing health care and services to the public and meeting them where they are, Johnson wrote. She is a special person and knows how to communicate effectively with people when discussing sensitive health issues, Johnson continued. Her patients love her and so do her co-workers. She has a heart of gold and has so much knowledge and a desire to share that knowledge with providers, Allen nursing students, co-workers, the public and her patients. Her dedication to public health is admirable, and I am blessed to work with her. We have a great staff, Robinson said of her co-workers. We work together. Through the Black Hawk County website (blackhawkcounty.iowa.gov), were trying to work on building our referral resources, giving complete health support, trying to connect those dots in our community. Black Hawk County has great services, great supportive resources. Robinson was surprised to find out she was chosen as a top nurse. I just really appreciate being nominated, she said. It is a great honor. Its wonderful that the community has this type of acknowledgement. Its great to be recognized, but there are so many nurses who are working every day who have big hearts. If you have a nurse who is doing her job right, its hard work. You give a piece of yourself to so many people. Robinson stays just as busy outside of work. She and her husband, Ricky, have been together for 39 years and have seven kids. Theres mine, his and ours, she said. And the pair have more than 20 grandchildren. Robinson is also a partner in 100 Strong Coalition. She encourages young people to go into the nursing profession. There are so many different areas you can go into in nursing, she said. Go to school. Get your degree, and just enjoy it and work hard. It will pay off. It is rewarding. You can make a living and take care of your family and receive a reward just by going to work. Its the best job in the world. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WATERLOO A Waterloo woman will remain in custody pending trial on federal opioid charges. Last week, a magistrate ordered Sheryl Ann Wellner, 43, be detained until trial, which is currently scheduled for July in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. Wellner is charged with one count of possession of heroin and fentanyl with intent to deliver. Details werent available, but authorities allege she possessed the drugs Aug. 31. She also has a prior felony crack cocaine conviction from 2005, records state. A grand jury handed up the opioid indictment May 3, and it remained sealed until May 16 when she was arrested. Wellner is also awaiting trial for ongoing criminal conduct charges in a stolen check investigation from August 2021. 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. Thank you! You've reported this item as a violation of our terms of use. This content was contributed by a user of the site. If you believe this content may be in violation of the terms of use, you may report it. He took part in a meeting of the President of Russia on the development of certain areas of the transport complex. Putin called infrastructure development one of the main drivers of economic development. He called for accelerating the development of the countrys transport complex, launching new initiatives, and getting rid of any delays that would delay the creation of infrastructure. The head of state also noted that Russia would expand cooperation with countries interested in developing business relations. Transport corridors, according to Putin, need to be expanded in the direction of predictable and responsible partners. It is also important, according to the head of state, to build new and modernize existing checkpoints at the border in order to ensure faster, more convenient for business passage through customs, phytosanitary and other types of control. As a result of the meeting, relevant instructions were given. We, in turn, support everything that has been said. The development of the transport complex directly affects the sociology-economic development of the country, the quality of life of its citizens. We understand this and will work hard to achieve our goals. WtR Flash U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order aimed at reforming federal police practices. The action came on the second anniversary of police killing of African American man George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota during an arrest. Biden, speaking at an event from the White House, said that the order "promotes accountability," with measures including the creation of "a new national law enforcement accountability database to track records of misconduct so that an officer can't hide the misconduct." It also bans chokeholds, restricts no-knock warrants, and tightens use-of-force policies to emphasize de-escalation, according to the White House. Biden underlined the executive order applies directly to all federal law enforcement officers, whose number exceeds 100,000. "Though federal incentives and best practices they're attached to, we expect the order to have significant impact on state and local law enforcement agencies as well," he added. The families of Floyd and Breonna Taylor, who was killed in 2020 by officers executing a "no-knock" warrant in Louisville, Kentucky, attended the signing ceremony. Floyd's death sparked massive demonstrations across the United States in the summer of 2020 against police brutality and systemic racism. "For many people, including many families here, such accountability is all too rare," Biden said on Wednesday, calling on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which is stalled in the Senate, and send it to his desk. Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer who put his knee on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes, was convicted last year of murder and is serving his sentence in prison. Three other ex-cops were found guilty in a federal trial earlier this year of violating Floyd's civil rights. A vigil in memory of Floyd was held on Wednesday night at the intersection in Minneapolis where the 46-year-old man died. Several other U.S. cities and places organized similar events. California's coastal camping options are nearly limitless. So go get cozy around a campfire and enjoy the outdoors every month of the year. Jedediah Smith Campground Located on the banks of the Smith River, Jedediah Smith Campground may be the most picturesque of the Redwood National and State Park campgrounds. The campground offers 106 sites nestled among old-growth coast redwoods, about a dozen of which lie adjacent to the Smith River. PROS: Smith River access. Old-growth redwoods. CONS: Summer crowds. REGION: Redwoods + Del Norte Coast CONGESTION: High CAMPING FEE: $35 DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required TENT/CAR SITES: 106 TENT/WALK-IN SITES: 5 GROUP SITES: 5 PICNIC TABLES: Yes DOGS ALLOWED: Yes Albion River Campground Albion River Campground sits along the mouth of the Albion River. It's next to the lofty wooden truss structure supporting the Albion River Bridge that crosses Highway 1. The campground caters to RV camping with partial to full RV hookups available, including WiFi, for all of the 117 campsites. Tent and car camping is also available, but the fee is the same regardless of whether you have an RV, car, or tent. The campground layout is split into 4 groups: A, B, C, D. The A group with full RV hookups is nestled against a Eucalyptus covered hillside and offers a bit more privacy. Showers are provided in the camp restrooms. Two boat launches are available for on-site use, as is a fish cleaning station. The Flats Cafe, a wonderful campground amenity, shares space with the campground office. Try the corned beef hash. It's fantastic. PROS: Great river access for recreation and fishing. CONS: Can get crowded with RVs in spring and summer. REGION: Mendocino Coast + Clear Lake Area CONGESTION: High CAMPING FEE: $35 DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required FULL HOOK-UP RV SITES: 17 RV SITES: 90 TENT/CAR SITES: 90 PICNIC TABLES: Yes Anchor Bay Campground A local favorite, this campground is ideal for those who want to spend time on the beach. The northwest wind protection is key for sunny days, and it helps to keep the beach much warmer than nearby options. The speardiving, kayaking, abalone diving, fishing and crabbing are some of the best in NorCal. The Stellar Sealion rookery just offshore on the island of Fish Rocks is a sight to see and hear by kayak. Hundreds of sealions gather here to haul themselves out of the water and loaf on the rocks. In the recent years a few elephant seals have also been spotted in and amongst the other pinnipeds. PROS: One of the best beaches in the area. Perfect wind pertection. Surfing, fishing, crabbing, and abalone diving. CONS: Lots of trailers. Located on Highway 1. REGION: Mendocino Coast + Clear Lake Area CONGESTION: Moderate CAMPING FEE: $40 DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: General Day Use Fee ($3) FULL HOOK-UP RV SITES: 52 RV SITES: 45 TENT/CAR SITES: 40 PICNIC TABLES: Yes Gualala Point Campground Gualala Point Regional Campground is a great example of the amazing redwood forests that used to dominate the coast of Northern California. It is a very peaceful campground with a relatively small number of campsites. Great hiking trails lead along the scenic Gualala River and link to Gualala Point Park on the west side of Highway 1. It is also possible to hike from the campsites to the Gualala Point Park and then connect south onto the Sea Ranch Coastal Trail System for a much longer beach and cliff hike, an excellent locale for whale watching. During the whale watching season, a hike to the beach might earn the breathtaking sight of the great migration in progress. Try waiting until sunset when whale spouts become a backlit exclamation mark in the sea, making for easy spotting. With amazing access to sunny river banks, swimming holes, beaches, hiking trails, and the nearby town of Gualala, this campground is a great spot for all those interested in relaxing in the redwoods and enjoying the awe of the northern California coast. PROS: Quiet, beautiful, and serene. Huge redwoods in most campsites. Swimming holes and beach access. CONS: Shady and cold in the mornings due to large trees. REGION: Sonoma Coast + Napa Area CONGESTION: Low CAMPING FEE: $32 DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: General Day Use Fee ($7) TENT/CAR SITES: 20 TENT/WALK-IN SITES: 6 PICNIC TABLES: Yes Gerstle Cove Campground Gerstel Cove Campground in Salt Point State Park has 30 drive-in sites located on the ocean side of Highway 1. While other campgrounds are available in the park, Gerstle Cove Campground offers the nearest ocean access and remains open year-round. As the name suggests, the campground is adjacent to Gerstle Cove, a State Marine Reserve that hosts a healthy underwater kelp forest. The rich marine ecosystem makes Gerstle Cove a popular spot for divers staying at the campground. PROS: Easy access to Gerstle Cove. Exploring Salt Point State Park CONS: Can be booked weekends March through October. REGION: Sonoma Coast + Napa Area CONGESTION: High CAMPING FEE: $35 DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required TENT/CAR SITES: 30 PICNIC TABLES: Yes Reef Campground Reef Campground is a cozy little coastal campground located within Fort Ross State Historic Park, that is open between April 1 and November 30 each year. The 21 campsites lie adjacent to the ocean coves near Fort Ross, extending up a narrow, redwood-lined gulch. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can accommodate vehicles up to 18 feet; there are no hookups. PROS: Small and cozy campground. Ocean access. Fort Ross. CONS: Closed in winter. Some sights unshaded. REGION: Sonoma Coast + Napa Area CONGESTION: Moderate PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Summer, Fall CAMPING FEE: $35 DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required TENT/CAR SITES: 21 PICNIC TABLES: Yes DOGS ALLOWED: Yes Bodega Dunes Campground Tucked away in the dunes behind the sand and crashing surf, Bodega Dunes Campground offers a beach access and a tranquil camping option for visitors to Bodega Bay and the surrounding area. The campground is a couple of dunes away from South Salmon Creek Beach, a picturesque setting for beach combing, kite flying, and picnics. There's also a few surfing spots nearby, such as North Salmon Creek Beach a mile to the north. PROS: Beach access. Shaded campsites. CONS: Sounding of a foghorn througout the night. REGION: Sonoma Coast + Napa Area CONGESTION: Low CAMPING FEE: $35 DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required TENT/CAR SITES: 98 TENT/WALK-IN SITES: 1 GROUP SITES: 1 PICNIC TABLES: Yes Doran Beach Campground Surrounded by the waters of Bodega Bay and Bodega Harbor, Doran Beach Campground offers visitors a beautiful beachside setting and both car/tent sites and RV sites (although with no hookups). It's a great camping spot for beachcombers and kayakers, with Doran Beach just a stone's throw away. PROS: Direct access to Mount Tamalpais' best hiking trails. CONS: Limited number of sites. REGION: Marin CONGESTION: Moderate CAMPING FEE: $25 DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: State Park Fee ($10) TENT/WALK-IN SITES: 16 PICNIC TABLES: Yes Bootjack Campground After over 40 years of closure, a renovated Bootjack Campground reopened in the fall of 2013, offering an additional 15 historic campsites within Mount Tamalpais State Park. The campground provides walk-in sites adjacent to the parking and day use area and two sites that meet ADA standards. In an effort to preserve the historic character of the campground, campsites feature grills suspended over rock fire rings that are reminiscent of the Civilian Conservation Corps era. PROS: Quiet campground. Access to hiking trails. CONS: Limited number of sites. REGION: Marin CONGESTION: Low PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Spring, Summer, Fall CAMPING FEE: $25 DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: State Park Fee ($10) TENT/WALK-IN SITES: 15 PICNIC TABLES: Yes Sempervirens Campground The Sempervirens Club was started by the original founders of Big Basin Redwoods State Park. This campground was a gathering place for the club to host events and meetings. These grounds hold a lot of important history, for if it was not for the actions of this group, these old-growth redwoods may not exist today. Grateful are the many who come to see California's first state park! PROS: Camping in old-growth forest. CONS: Close to Highway 236. REGION: San Francisco Peninsula + Santa Cruz CONGESTION: High CAMPING FEE: $35 DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Reservation Fee ($8) RV SITES: 7 TENT/CAR SITES: 27 PICNIC TABLES: Yes DOGS ALLOWED: Yes Trail Camp Walk-in Campground Trail Camp is Andrew Molera State Park's one and only campground. As a walk-in environmental camp with 24 sites located about a third of a mile from the trailhead, this is more of a gear haul than a backpacking trip. The campground has limited shade and privacy, although a handful of sites are tucked up against sycamore and oak trees that offer some respite from the sun. Sites are limited to four people and have a maximum duration of seven nights. PROS: Waking up within the park. Easy beach access. CONS: Hauling gear. REGION: Big Sur Coastline CONGESTION: Moderate CAMPING FEE: $15 DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: State Park Fee ($10) TENT/WALK-IN SITES: 24 PICNIC TABLES: Yes Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Located in the heart of northern Big Sur on the forested floor of the Big Sur River Valley, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is one of California's best kept state parks and an ideal base from which to explore the Big Sur coastline. The park is home to Big Sur's largest public campground, diverse hiking trails, the rustic yet comfortable Big Sur Lodge, and over 3 miles of Big Sur River access, including the swimming holes of the Big Sur River Gorge. PROS: Centrally located for exploring Big Sur. River access. Redwoods. CONS: Campground can get crowded. REGION: Big Sur Coastline CONGESTION: Moderate DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: State Park Fee ($10) PICNIC TABLES: Yes Sykes Hot Springs What better way to relax after a strenuous 10-mile hike than to take a dip in a soothing hot spring? Sykes Hot Springs in Big Sur is one of the most famous and popular backcountry hot springs in California, and it is easy to understand why. Sykes in nestled deep in the Ventana Wilderness, a 234,000-acre protected area that was first established in 1969. Sykes became popular during the counter-culture movement of the 1960s, and it has since has become a favorite destination for backpackers and locals alike. PROS: Beautiful canyons and forests. Relaxing hot springs. Good introductory backpacking. CONS: Can be extremely crowded. Trash is an issue. No group restrictions. REGION: Big Sur Coastline CONGESTION: High DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: General Day Use Fee ($5) Limekiln State Park Campground Reopened in 2010 following two years of closure after the Chalk Fire, Limekiln State Park's campground offers a cozy camping experience along a quieter section of the Big Sur coast. A good overnight midway point for those passing through Big Sur country, the park itself is a worthy destination, home to historic limekiln furnaces hidden in a redwood forest, Limekiln Beach, and beautiful trails that explore the creeks and canyons above the campground. The beach offers good fishing access and, when ocean conditions are calm, a put-in spot for kayaks. PROS: Ocean access. Nearby trails. CONS: Limited parking. REGION: Big Sur Coastline CONGESTION: Moderate CAMPING FEE: $35 DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required TENT/CAR SITES: 28 PICNIC TABLES: Yes Kirk Creek Campground Perched on a bluff along Big Sur's south coast, Kirk Creek Campground is arguably one of the most beautiful coastal campgrounds in California. The campground sits 100 feet above the ocean, and this perspective offers stunning views of the Santa Lucia mountains as they run toward the Pacific. PROS: One of coastal California's most scenic campgrounds. Ocean access. CONS: Difficult to get a reservation. Noise from adjacent Highway 1. No water. REGION: Big Sur Coastline CONGESTION: High CAMPING FEE: $25 DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required TENT/CAR SITES: 34 TENT/WALK-IN SITES: 5 PICNIC TABLES: Yes DOGS ALLOWED: Yes Plaskett CreekCampground Set within a grassy, park-like meadow shaded by Monterey pine and cypress tress, Plaskett Creek is a well-kept and comfortable campground along Big Sur's south coast. Located across Highway 1 from scenic Sand Dollar Beach, the main attraction of the area, the campground is popular with beachgoers and surfers. PROS: Nearby Sand Dollar Beach. Grassy, park-like camping setting. CONS: Reservations are needed most weekends. REGION: Big Sur Coastline CAMPING FEE: $25 DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQUIRED: Not Required TENT/CAR SITES: 37 TENT/WALK-IN SITES: 3 GROUP SITES: 3 PICNIC TABLES: Yes DOGS ALLOWED: Yes FDA Expedites Vaccine Advisory Committee Dates The FDA advisory committee meetings on COVID-19 vaccines for kids will be June 14 for Modernas EUA request for children ages 6 months to 17 years, and June 15 for Modernas and Pfizers applications for children under ages 6 months and under 5 years. FDA Expands Eligibility for Pfizer Vaccine Booster Dose to Children 5-11 Years The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine EUA authorizes a single booster dose for children 5 through 11 years of age at least five months after completion of a primary series with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The AAFP is monitoring the authorization process and awaiting additional information from the CDC. FDA Limits Use of J&J COVID-19 Vaccine to Certain Individuals The Janssen vaccine is now only authorized for people 18 years and older when other COVID-19 vaccaines aren't accessible or clinical appropriate, or people 18 years or older who want the J&J COVID-19 vacccines because it's only one dose. FDA Announces Tentative Advisory Committee Meetings Schedule for COVID-19 Vaccines VRBPAC will meet in early June on expected EUA vaccine requests from several vaccine manufacturers. This includes the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for people 18 years and older, and Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for children younger than 5. On June 28, VRBPAC will discuss if the SARS-CoV-2 strain composition should be modified for future strains. The AAFP is encouraged the FDA will meet to discuss applications for COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5 and hope this timeline provides clarity to families. We will review the data and continue providing information to support our members in counseling and immunizing their patients and families. AAFP Board Chair Speaks on White House and HHS Summit to Encourage COVID-19 Vaccinations On April 22, Dr. Ada Stewart was a featured speaker in the "We Can Do This Summit: Conversations on Encouraging COVID-19 Vaccinations." She shared her perspective as a family physician and how to have conversations when a patient or family is hesitant. Moderna to Ask FDA to Authorize Vaccine for Kids Under 6 Years Data for Moderna's vaccine shows comparable immune responses to young adults, but a decision will be held until the FDA's advisory council meeting in June. Pfizer-BioNTech Will File for Kid Booster Dose EUA On April 15, the company announced it will ask the FDA to authorize a booster dose of its pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11. The data shows an increase in immune response in the clinical trial. CDC Updates Recommendations for Second Booster to Further Protection On March 29, after an expedited FDA review of evidence, the CDC updated its recommendations to allow for the administration of a second booster dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in individuals age 50 years and older and in people with certain types of immunocompromising conditions. These recommendations have been reviewed and approved by the AAFP. Family Physicians Urge All Eligible Children and Adults to Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19 In response to the Florida Department of Health announcement about healthy children not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, the AAFP issues a statement by AAFP President Sterling Ransome, M.D. that reaffirms the likelihood of infection and the health risks associated with COVID-19 outweigh any potential risks associated with COVID-19 vaccines. CDC Updates Vaccine Timing for mRNA Primary Series The updated interim clinical considerations include: Option for extending interval between 1 st and 2 nd dose of mRNA vaccines for individuals 12 years and older. Based on the data from other countries showing increased immune response and decreased risk of myocarditis, some individuals can choose to extend the interval, except if they are need to have rapid protection (increased risk of COVID) or are immunocompromised. and 2 dose of mRNA vaccines for individuals 12 years and older. Based on the data from other countries showing increased immune response and decreased risk of myocarditis, some individuals can choose to extend the interval, except if they are need to have rapid protection (increased risk of COVID) or are immunocompromised. Removal of recommendation to defer vaccination after receipt of monoclonal or passive antibody treatment. The only caveat is the recommendation of delaying providing EVUSHELD for preexposure prophylaxis until 2 weeks after vaccination. Clarification of dosing schedule for individuals who are immunocompromised: Moderna Vaccine Gets Full Approval From FDA, CDC ACIP unanimously approved a recommendation for the FDA-approved Moderna (Spikevax) vaccine primary series for use in individuals 18 and older. This recommendation was endorsed by the CDC. These recommendations have been reviewed and approved by the AAFP. FDA Gives Full Approval to Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine has been fully approved by the FDA for people 18 years and older. The approved vaccine will be marketed as Spikevax for the prevention of COVID-19. Full approval means Spikevax meets the FDAs rigorous standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality required for approval. Vaccine Education And Equity Project Issue Brief Addresses Vaccine Disparities In a new white paper, the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project is confronting issues that allow for COVID-19 vaccine disparities to persist. Ongoing gaps in vaccine access are creating vaccine disparities in communities nationwide. Supreme Court Upholds CMS Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers On Jan. 13, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on COVID-19 vaccine mandates. They struck the vaccine mandate for employers with 100+ employees, but upheld the vaccine mandate for health care workers. This decision sets a consistent COVID-19 vaccination standard for workers in facilities that participate in Medicare and Medicaid. Learn more on our Vaccine Mandates & Exemptions page. CDC Updates Recommendations for mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters, Additional Doses for Children Who Have Immunosuppression On Jan. 7, the FDA amended the EUA for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to shorten the time between the completion of a primary series of the vaccine and a booster dose to at least 5 months for individuals 18 years of age and older. On Jan. 5, the CDCs ACIP issued updated interim recommendations for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to recommend a single booster dose for individuals aged 12-17 to be given at least 5 months following completion of the primary series. This recommendation was based on data showing that the rates of myocarditis and other adverse reactions remain low in this age group in addition to data showing that booster doses increased vaccine effectiveness against the Omicron variant. View the evidence to decision framework. The CDC issued two additional updated recommendations specific for the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine: booster doses should now be given at 5 months following completion of the primary series of Pfizer-BioNTech for all other eligible individuals children aged 5-11 who have moderate to severe immunosuppression can receive an additional dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine using child-specific dose/formulation These recommendations have been reviewed and approved by the AAFP. Staff are working to update AAFP resources. FDA Authorizes Boosters for Adolescents, Third Doses for Children Who Are Immunosuppressed On Jan. 3, the FDA amended the EUA for the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine to allow for expanded use in adolescents and shorten the interval between the primary series and booster dose for all ages. The amendment includes: Use of a single booster dose for individuals 12 through 15 years of age. Shorten the time between the completion of primary vaccination of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and a booster dose to at least five months. Allow for a third primary series dose for children aged 5-11 who have moderate to severe immunosuppression. Decisions were based on review of laboratory and real-world data supporting the safety and efficacy of the vaccine in adolescents. The EUA fact sheets have been updated to reflect these changes. AAFP Approve New Preferential Recommendation for mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines The CDC and AAFP support the ACIP's recommendation, mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are preferred over the Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine for individuals aged 18 and older. This is based on safety data related to cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) following vaccination with the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. The updated EUA fact sheet has information and a contraindication for individuals with a history of TTS. The CDC also released updated clinical considerations. CDC, AAFP Approve Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine for Ages 16-17 As of Dec. 10, individuals 16 and 17 years of age can receive a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine at least six months after completion of a primary series of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. These individuals should only receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine as their booster dose. FDA Issues EUA for Monoclonal Antibody Combination to Support Immunocompromised Individuals On Dec. 8, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the use of the monoclonal antibody combination of tixagevimab and cilgavimab (EUVASHELD) for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in immunocompromised individuals aged 12 and older. The EUA is specific for the following individuals: Those who are not currently infected with SARS-CoV-2 and who have not had a known recent exposure AND who have moderate to severe immune compromise AND who may not mount an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination OR who is unable to receive a COVID-19 vaccine due to a history of severe adverse reaction (e.g., severe allergic reaction) to a COVID-19 vaccine or its components IMPORTANT: EUVASHELD is not authorized for treatment of COVID-19 and is not a substitute for vaccination against COVID-19. Clinical info: The product contains two vials of 150 mg of tixagevimab and cilgavimab which should be administered consecutively via intramuscular injection. The EUA was based on 2 Phase III clinical trials that enrolled over 6,000 participants. Only one trial showed a reduction in symptomatic cases of COVID-19 (77%, 95% CI 46-90). There were cases of serious cardiovascular events, particularly myocardial infarction and heart failure, observed in the larger trial. Clinicians should inform patients about these increased risks prior to administration of the product. Monitoring Omicron Variant, Promoting COVID-19 Vaccinations The omicron variant has been identified in the U.S. Scientists are still working to understand the effect of this variant. The AAFP strongly recommends everyone get vaccinated against COVID-19. Additional prevention strategies, such as wearing masks in public indoor settings or crowded public areas, physical distancing, and hand washing are encouraged to hope prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. View the CDC's Omicron Variant web page for the newest information. CDC Approves mRNA Booster Doses (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) of COVID-19 Vaccine for All Adults All individuals age 18 years and older who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine primary series should receive single booster dose. These booster doses are given at least six months after the primary series. Recommendations for individuals in long-term care facilities and for those who received the Janssen vaccine are unchanged. FDA Authorizes Booster Doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines for All Adults On Nov. 14, the FDA amended the emergency use authorizations (EUA) for both the Moderna and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, authorizing use of a single booster dose for all individuals 18 years of age and older after completion of primary vaccination with any FDA-authorized or -approved COVID-19 vaccine. CDC Recommends Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Aged 5-11 The CDC approved the use of the COVID-19 vaccine for children 5-11 years old. They agreed the clinical trial demonstrated the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective in this age group, and can reduce the devastating impact of COVID-19 on children. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (10ug) will be available for all children in this age group under the FDAs EUA. The AAFP quickly signed off on the child COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. The CDC's endorsement clears the way for family physicians and other health care professionals to begin administering the vaccine to children starting the week of Nov. 8. 2. Get rid of gunk Use a putty knife, brush and skewers to get all of last years gunk out, Serritella says. That includes the inside cover, sides and bottom of the grill. This will make sure that nothing burns off right onto your food. Soak a few old dish towels in the hot water and dish soap solution, and wipe down all areas of the grill. Then spray the inside top of the grill with a solution of 1/3 vinegar to 2/3 water. Think of this like cleaning a dirty pan before you are ready to use it to cook. Let sit for at least a half hour, then wipe down the inside and outside of the grill with warm water to remove any of the leftover char from last year, dirt that may have blown in or bugs that got trapped. If you cook with a charcoal grill, make sure to remove any residual ashes, says Octavius Nelson, owner of Bobbys BBQ in Fountain Inn, South Carolina. A lot of people leave the ashes in there and cook on top of them next time, but that can rust out your grill box, he says. Its best to remove the charcoals after every use, once the grill cools down. Remove your grills drip tray if it has one (most gas grills do) this is what catches any dripping grease and re-cover with foil before you place it back. 3. Prep your grill grates Once youve done a deep clean, its time to prep your grill. Nelson recommends oiling the grates of the grill to counteract any rust that may have built up. If youre an experienced griller, put some cooking oil on a towel after your grill is hot and rub the grates to wipe it down, he says. If youre more of a beginner, take the grates off your grill before you light it, and rub the oil on them cold. Then put them back on, heat up your grill and use a grill brush to clean them off. Grillers can also do a pre-burn with the oil grates for about 10 minutes before cleaning, to burn off any excess, Serritella says. 4. Cover it up Grills are made to withstand the elements, but getting a cover and protecting your equipment between uses will prevent the need for frequent heavy-duty cleaning. If rain gets in your grill, it could get moldy, says Nelson. A cover will also help keep critters and bugs out, especially bees. Make sure to wait until your grill cools down to cover it each night. PHOENIX Arizona Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego lashed out at the National Rifle Association and Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in a series of profane tweets in response to a massacre at a Texas elementary school. Gallego responded Tuesday to Cruzs comments predicting that Democrats and the media would try to politicize the shooting. F you @tedcruz you care about a fetus but you will let our children get slaughtered, Gallego wrote. Just get your ass to Cancun. You are useless. Cruz opposes abortion and was roundly mocked last year when he went to Cancun during widespread power outages that left many Texans without heat in frigid temperatures. Gallego followed that tweet a few minutes later with another: Just to be clear f you @tedcruz you f baby killer. Gallego was reacting to comments Cruz made to a CNN journalist. Inevitably when theres a murderer of this kind, you see politicians try to politicize it, you see Democrats and a lot of folks in the media whose immediate solution is to try to restrict the constitutional rights of law abiding citizens, Cruz said. The Texas senator later tweeted that he and his wife are lifting up in prayer the entire Uvalde community. An email sent to Cruzs media office seeking comment on Gallegos tweets was not immediately returned. Gallego also targeted his ire at the nations largest gun lobby, writing F you @NRA, and at California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, who offered thoughts and prayers to the victims. F your prayers, Gallego wrote. They havent worked for the last 20 mass shootings how about passing laws that will stop these killings. Gallego, a former Marine and Iraq war veteran, has a history of using profanity on Twitter, especially during times of national crisis. He has directed variations of the F you phrase at Russian President Vladimir Putin, Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward and former Fox News host Geraldo Rivera. Nearly $2 billion is a lot of money, even for the largest school district in New Mexico. So instead of approving a budget due to the state Public Education Department by May 31, Albuquerque Public Schools leaders have decided to ask for more time. On a motion by APS board member Danielle Gonzales, the board voted 4-3 to table a $1.9 billion budget resolution instead of sending it to the PED for review. Gonzales, Peggy Muller-Aragon, Courtney I. Jackson and Crystal Tapia-Romero voted to table the budget. Yolanda Montoya-Cordova, Barbara Petersen and Josefina E. Dominguez voted against the motion. Im very concerned very concerned about that delay, Chief Financial Officer Tami Coleman said. Im very concerned too, Gonzales replied. By state law, the budget has to be approved by the board by June 20. It must be finalized by July 1 otherwise, the district could be forced to close its doors. Several board members were concerned by the budgets growth, and they complained about limited information about how the money would benefit the district. Last years budget was nearly $1.87 billion. A $1.936 billion budget. That is huge, said Muller-Aragon. I understand costs are up, but $1.936 billion when we have 71,000-some children, and I dont know what kind of effects, either, that there are on programs, on personnel our Yazzie-Martinez kids. Board members questioned where cuts were applied and asked for more specific information. That included particulars on changes to schools individual budgets, the number of full-time employees and programs. Its very hard for me to vote yes on this budget not knowing what the changes are, Gonzales said. I dont feel that my voice, questions, vision are reflected in this budget the district has just plowed along, and here we are at the end, asking for us to approve a budget which I dont feel that I have the information to feel confident that Im representing my constituents views. Coleman said some of those details had been fleshed out in meetings over the last few months, and that Wednesdays presentation was a culmination of information presented at those meetings. Superintendent Scott Elder said the budget would shrink as the district continues to right-size and if student enrollment continues to decline. He said the district has eliminated some 300 positions based on enrollment. Thats involved transplanting teachers into open positions and condensing classes. We did it in a way that people got to keep their jobs, he told the Journal. The districts savings from vacancies will be around $7.9 million, planners projected in the budget. The biggest slice of the pie in the proposed budget is the operational fund, which accounts for nearly 45% of the total budget at over $869 million. Federal grants account for nearly $381 million, just under 20%. State funding is expected to sharply rise in the coming year, a direct result of raises approved by lawmakers and the governor this spring for teachers and other public education employees. APS received $719.3 million in 2022, and expects to be able to use around $787.4 million in state funds next year. Next steps, Superintendent Elder said, would be meeting with New Mexico Secretary of Education Kurt Steinhaus to find out if there is a process to extend APS deadline. Elder said hed already reached out to him, and would speak with him on Thursday. In the meantime, he said he and budget planners will work on getting the information board members requested so they feel more comfortable. We need to have the answers going forward, board member Crystal Tapia-Romero told the districts finance team. (It) doesnt feel good when we have to go and make these hard decisions. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal The two candidates running for the Democratic nomination for state attorney general sparred over their qualifications during a televised debate Wednesday, and vowed to use the power of the office, if elected, to increase gun safety in New Mexico. State Auditor Brian Colon said he backs reforms to increase school safety, adding, The days of saying our thoughts and prayers are with you are over. Raul Torrez, 2nd Judicial District Attorney in Albuquerque, noted he was a chief advocate of a bill for universal background checks at the state Legislature, adding we need to focus on prevention. In one of the more heated exchanges of the night, Torrez took Colon to task for taking $175,000 in campaign contributions from out-of-state firms. Torrez said those firms expect to be selected by the AG to bring major consumer litigation on behalf of the state. This kind of pay-to-play scheme has to stop, said Torrez. We need to rebuild the consumer protection division inside the office and we need to train real litigators. Torrez said the one local law firm selected by current AG Hector Balderas to work on those cases is Robles, Rael & Anaya, the firm Colon was associated with before being elected state auditor. Colon fired back that Torrez is accepting campaign contributions from in-state attorneys who have cases being prosecuted by Torrezs office, but didnt offer details. Colon said the hiring of out-of-state firms is a successful model endorsed by the last several state attorneys general that has brought in millions of dollars to New Mexico, but said his opponent likes to use it as a political cheap shot. He said the law firms, just know that I believe in the approach and my opponent says he wants to decimate it. Thats why contributions come in. The winner of the June 7 Democratic primary faces Gallup attorney Jeremy Gay in the general election. Balderas, the current AG, is term limited. The AG serves as New Mexicos top law enforcement officer and top lawyer, whose duties also include consumer protection. Colon, a former state Democratic Party chief, touted his ability to bring various groups together, stating, The DAs in New Mexico have not had a good experience working with my opponent. Torrez, who led an unsuccessful push last legislative session to make it easier to detain certain violent defendants prior to trial, reiterated his experience as a prosecutor. To that Colon asked, Hows your conviction rate going? Colon has previously cited a legislative study showing the DAs Office under Torrez had a 59% conviction rate for violent felony cases in 2020, although Torrez released data showing a 78% conviction rate for such cases. Torrez emphasized his 20 years as a prosecutor, both in the state and federal systems. To address violent crime in New Mexico, he said, The first thing we need is to have an AG who has experience working inside the courtroom. He also advocated prevention measures to address destabilized homes, and child abuse and neglect. Colon said he has broad experience as a civil litigator for 21 years. And, he added, he has prosecuted cases, even when I was a law clerk. To that Torrez said, You havent managed a single attorney in this broad career you say you had. No one has seen you in the courtroom. Colon touted his record in uncovering wrongdoing involving public officials through audits his office has conducted. By comparison, he added, Torrez actually has pretty narrow experience. The state Supreme Court found suspended attorney Victor Marshall in contempt of court Wednesday and fined him $2,000 for his outrageous conduct during a hearing on whether he had violated the terms of his suspension and was continuing to practice law. Marshall, who was indefinitely suspended for at least a year in January, said he wanted to address the court in his defense. But Chief Justice Shannon Bacon said since he is not currently a licensed attorney, Marshall would have to be placed under oath first. Marshall balked. He cited the First Amendment, claimed a violation of his due process rights and said he wanted to seek redress in federal court. Marshall, a former state legislator from Albuquerque, repeatedly interrupted Bacon until she finally halted the hearing and the justices walked out of the courtroom. When they returned minutes later, Bacon announced she had spoken with the courts IT folks to mute Marshall, who was appearing at the hearing remotely. The court ultimately found him in contempt of court for failing to adequately notify his clients, opposing counsel and judges on his cases of his suspension. He was also accused acting as an attorney in asking the courts to keep his cases on hold. For that, the Supreme Court added another six months to Marshalls indefinite suspension and threatened to permanently suspend him if he didnt comply with the notifications. The court also found him in direct contempt for his behavior during the hearing, ordering him to pay $2,000 to the New Mexico Client Protection Fund, which is used to reimburse losses caused by dishonest lawyers in the state. There is no question that Mr. Marshalls conduct before the New Mexico Supreme Court today was contemptuous and in fact it was aggressive and outrageous, Bacon added. Marshall, who has practiced law for 47 years, was suspended after he claimed a former appeals court judge was biased in approving a major water rights settlement in 2013. WELLINGTON, New Zealand Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a 20-strong delegation arrived in the Solomon Islands Thursday at the start of an eight-nation tour that comes amid growing concerns about Beijings military and financial ambitions in the South Pacific region. China says the trip builds on a long history of friendly relations between Beijing and the island nations. But Australia scrambled to counter the move by sending its own Foreign Minister Penny Wong to Fiji to shore up support in the Pacific. Wong had been on the job just five days following an Australian election and had just arrived back Wednesday night from a meeting in Tokyo. In Fiji, Wong said it was up to each island nation to decide what partnerships they formed and what agreements they signed, but urged them to consider the benefits of sticking with Australia. Australia will be a partner that doesnt come with strings attached nor imposing unsustainable financial burdens, Wong said. We are a partner that wont erode Pacific priorities or Pacific institutions. Meanwhile, the Media Association of Solomon Islands called on its members to boycott a news conference in the capital, Honiara, held by Wang and his counterpart from the Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele, following a meeting between the pair. Thats because only selected media were invited to the event, and the schedule allowed for just a single question to be asked of Wang by Chinas state-owned broadcaster CCTV. Its a tough call to make regarding the media boycott for the press event on Thursday, wrote association president Georgina Kekea on Twitter. Our protest is for our govt to see our disappointment. They have failed us & they failed to protect #democracy. According to an official Chinese summary of the meeting, Wang told his counterpart that China would firmly support the Solomon Islands in its efforts to maintain national security and territorial integrity, while Manele described the visit as historic and a milestone in the relations between the two countries. China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands last month in a move that sent shock waves around the world. That pact has raised fears that China could send troops to the island nation or even establish a military base there, not far from Australia. The Solomon Islands and China say there are no plans for a base. In another move by China, a draft document obtained by The Associated Press shows that Wang is hoping to strike a deal with 10 small Pacific nations during his visit. The sweeping agreement covers everything from security to fisheries and is seen by at least one Pacific leader as an attempt by Beijing to wrest control of the region. Wang is hoping the countries will endorse the pre-written agreement as part of a joint communique after a May 30 meeting in Fiji with the other foreign ministers. During his 10-day visit, Wang is also planning to make stops in Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor. Earlier, Australias new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said hed sent Wong to Fiji because Australia needed to step up its efforts in the Pacific. We need to respond to this because this is China seeking to increase its influence in the region of the world where Australia has been the security partner of choice since the Second World War, he told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that in recent years, exchanges and cooperation between Beijing and the island nations had been expanding in a development that was welcomed by the Pacific countries. The Bandelier National Monument is scheduled to reopen to visitors Friday, May 27. The monument has been closed since April 30 due to the Cerro Pelado Fire. As the fire containment continues to increase and fire defense measures are being removed, we can safely welcome back the public, Superintendent Patrick Suddath said in a news release. Due to the extreme fire danger across the entire region, the open areas are limited to: Pueblo Loop Trail the main trail behind the park visitor center Falls Trail to Upper Falls Frey Trail Tyuonyi Overlook Trail Tsankawi Trail All campgrounds, wilderness and backcountry areas, and the Alcove House and Alcove House Trail will remain closed. Extreme fire danger is expected to persist until Northern New Mexico receives significant moisture and conditions have improved. This is in step with the Stage 3 forest-wide closure for the Santa Fe National Forest. Under Stage 3 fire restrictions, the following are prohibited: All outdoor burning, the use of campfire or charcoal grills (gas grills may be used); all outdoor smoking except for inside vehicles. Fort Union National Monument, Pecos National Historical Park and Valles Caldera National Preserve remain closed. For more information visit nps.gov/band. LONDON British prosecutors said Thursday they had authorized police to charge actor Kevin Spacey with four counts of sexual assault against three men, an announcement that came as the actor was in court in New York testifying in a different case. The Crown Prosecution Service said it had authorized criminal charges on the four sex assault counts and one of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The alleged incidents took place in London between March 2005 and August 2008, and one in western England in April 2013. The alleged victims are now in their 30s and 40s. Rosemary Ainslie, head of the services Special Crime Division, said the charges followed a review of evidence gathered by Londons Metropolitan Police. Prosecutors initially said Spacey had been charged. However, they later clarified that charges had been authorized, but the formal charging by police had not yet taken place. The authorization to charge means criminal proceedings against Spacey are underway. The police force said Spacey who is not currently in Britain will be formally charged at a later date. If Spacey does not return to Britain to face the charges, prosecutors could seek to start extradition proceedings. Spacey, a 62-year-old double Academy Award winner, was questioned by British police in 2019 about claims by several men that he had assaulted them. The former House of Cards star ran Londons Old Vic Theatre between 2004 and 2015. Spacey won a best supporting actor Academy Award for the 1995 film The Usual Suspects and a lead actor Oscar for the 1999 movie American Beauty. But his celebrated career came to an abrupt halt in 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp accused the star of assaulting him at a party in the 1980s, when Rapp was a teenager. Spacey denies the allegations. Spacey testified Thursday in a courtroom in New York City in the civil lawsuit filed by Rapp. Spacey didnt respond to reporters as he left the courthouse talking on his mobile phone. The British charges were mentioned briefly by Rapps lawyers during the court hearing, and Spaceys lawyers were asked about it by reporters during a break in testimony. They declined to comment. Another criminal case brought against Spacey, an indecent assault and battery charge stemming from the alleged groping of an 18-year-old man at a Nantucket resort, was dismissed by Massachusetts prosecutors in 2019. Thursdays court session in New York City dealt with a technical issue in the civil lawsuit, whether it was better handled in a federal or state U.S. court. Spacey was called to testify about where he lived, not about the truthfulness of the allegations against him. Spacey testified that his main residence and domicile is in Baltimore, where he moved for the filming of House of Cards. He said he was beguiled by its charm, its beauty. But he also testified about his time living in London as the artistic director of the Old Vic. It was extremely important to me that I endear myself to the British public, that Im not running away, he said, noting that his start there was troubled by a disastrous production in 2005 of Arthur Millers last play. But, he said, Im an American citizen. Once the job was done, I came back to America. He said he made a trip to London in February 2020 for a possible film, but then the pandemic hit. His U.S. doctor recommended he stay there, where he resided until the following September, when his visa expired and he flew to Los Angeles for an arbitration proceeding. He said he has not returned to the U.K. since then. ___ Associated Press writer Larry Neumeister contributed to this report from New York. ___ This story has been corrected to say British prosecutors authorized charges against Spacey and he will be formally charged by police later, not that Spacey has been formally charged, and to reflect that it was Rapps lawyers, not Spaceys, who brought up the criminal charges in court. BOULDER, Colo. A 14-year-old boy who allegedly threatened to open fire at a middle school was arrested Wednesday, police said. Police learned Tuesday morning that the student had made threats of a shooting during scheduled end of year school celebrations at Casey Middle School Thursday and other possible threats of violence, the Boulder Police Department said in a statement. Officers worked with the FBI and prosecutors investigating tips and provided extra police presence around the school, the statement said. Detectives searched the boys home Wednesday and he was arrested on suspicion of inciting destruction of life or property and interference of staff or students of educational institutions, police said. This type of situation is every parents worst nightmare, and we know our community felt this even more profoundly considering what happened in Texas yesterday, Boulder polices Deputy Chief of Operations Stephen Redfearn said in Wednesdays statement. There was no indication that the alleged Boulder threats were influenced by Tuesdays school shooting in Texas, police spokesperson Dionne Waugh said Thursday. The school remained open on Wednesday and planned to hold its year-end celebrations with some extra security precautions, the Daily Camera reported. Meanwhile, two people were arrested Thursday after a report of a student with a gun at a Denvers Northfield High School, police said. Police did not provide many details but said a paintball gun was recovered and that all students were safe. A student saw something suspicious and reported it school security, who notified police, Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said. RAMALLAH, West Bank The Palestinian Authority on Thursday announced the results of its investigation into the shooting death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, saying it had proven she was deliberately killed by Israeli forces as she tried to flee. The conclusion echoed the results of a preliminary investigation announced nearly two weeks ago and were widely expected. Israel rejected the findings, with Defense Minister Benny Gantz calling them, a blatant lie. Abu Akleh, a veteran Palestinian-American reporter for Al Jazeeras Arabic service, was shot in the head on May 11 during an Israeli military raid in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Witnesses and Palestinian officials have said she was hit by Israeli fire. Israel says she was shot during a battle between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants. It says that only a ballistic analysis of the bullet which is held by the Palestinian Authority and the soldiers guns can determine who fired the fatal shot. Announcing the results of his probe at a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah,, Palestinian Attorney General Akram Al Khateeb said he had determined there were no militants in the immediate area where Abu Akleh was located. The only shooting was by the occupation forces, with the aim of killing, he said. Abu Akleh was in a group of journalists wearing helmets and protective vests marked press. Al Khateeb said the army saw the journalists and knew they were journalists. He accused Israel of shooting Abu Akleh directly and deliberately as she tried to escape. He also repeated the Palestinian position that the bullet will not be handed over to the Israelis for study. He said they decided not even to show images of the bullet to deprive (Israel) of a new lie. Al Khateeb said his investigation was based on interviews with witnesses, an inspection of the scene and a forensic medical report. In a speech later Thursday, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi said it was impossible to know who fired the bullet and once again called on the Palestinians to cooperate to get to the bottom of what happened. But there is one thing that can be determined with certainty, the military chief said. No soldier fired intentionally at a journalist. We investigated that. We checked it. That is the conclusion. There is no other. Israel denies targeting journalists and has offered two possible scenarios, saying Abu Akleh was either shot by Palestinian militants who were firing recklessly at an Israeli army convoy or that she was hit by Israeli gunfire aimed at a nearby militant. The military has identified the rifle that may have been used in that scenario, but says it needs to test the bullet to make any final determination. An AP reconstruction of events has lent support to eyewitnesses who say she was shot by Israeli troops. But a weapons expert interviewed by the AP as part of the reconstruction said that it was impossible to reach a conclusive finding without further forensic analysis. Palestinian witnesses say there were no militants or clashes anywhere near Abu Akleh. The only known militants in the area were on the other side of the convoy, some 300 meters (yards) from her position. They did not have a direct line of sight, unlike the convoy itself, which was some 200 (meters) away on a long straight road. Israel has publicly called for a joint investigation with the PA, with U.S. participation, and has asked the PA to hand over the bullet for testing. But the State Department said Wednesday that it had received no formal request for assistance from either side two weeks after her death. The PA has refused to hand over the bullet to Israel or cooperate with it in any way, saying Israel cannot be trusted to investigate its own conduct. Rights groups say Israel has a poor record of investigating when security forces shoot Palestinians, with cases often languishing for months or years before being quietly closed. The PA administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hussein Al Sheikh, a top Palestinian official, said Thursdays report would be shared with the U.S. administration. Copies will also be delivered to Abu Aklehs family and to Al Jazeera, he said. The Palestinians say they will also share their results with international parties, including the International Criminal Court, which launched an investigation into possible Israeli war crimes last year. Israel has rejected that probe as being biased against it and is not cooperating with it. The severe distrust means the Israeli and Palestinian investigations into Abu Aklehs death are unfolding separately, with neither likely to accept any conclusions reached by the other. Each side is in sole possession of potentially crucial evidence. Ballistic analysis could match the bullet to a specific firearm based on a microscopic signature, but only if investigators have access to both. Lt. Col. Amnon Shefler, a military spokesman, told the AP the military has additional footage from that day, but declined to say what it shows or when it would be released, citing the ongoing investigation. Palestinians are still mourning Abu Akleh, a widely known and respected on-air correspondent who rose to fame two decades ago, during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, against Israeli rule. The 51-year-old documented the harsh realities of life under Israeli military rule now well into its sixth decade with no end in sight for viewers across the Arab world. Jenin has long been a bastion of Palestinian militants, and several recent attacks inside Israel have been carried out by young men from in and around the town. Israel has continued to carry out near-daily raids in Jenin since Abu Aklehs death, which it says are aimed at preventing more. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 war and has built settlements where nearly 500,000 Israelis live alongside nearly 3 million Palestinians. The Palestinians want the territory to form the main part of their future state, but peace talks broke down more than a decade ago, and Israels dominant right-wing parties are opposed to Palestinian statehood. The PA itself is seen by many Palestinians as a corrupt and authoritarian body that aids the occupation by coordinating with Israel on security matters. Any cooperation with Israel on the Abu Akleh investigation would likely spark a popular backlash among Palestinians, who view her as a martyr to both journalism and their national cause. ___ Associated Press writer Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem contributed to this report. WASHINGTON With mass shootings in Texas, New York and California fresh in Americans mind, the Supreme Court will soon issue its biggest gun ruling in more than a decade, one expected to make it easier to carry guns in public in some of the largest cities. Already in an uncomfortable spotlight over a leaked draft opinion that would overrule Roe v. Wades nationwide right to abortion, the justices also are facing a possible backlash from the guns case. In both cases the court could issue decisions that polls say would be unpopular with the majority of people in the United States. I think the court is heading into uncharted waters. I cant recall the last time the Supreme Court ruled in so many cases likely to spark a strong political backlash, said UCLA law professor Adam Winkler, an expert on the court and gun policy. Winkler predicted the recent shootings would not do anything to change the outcome in the guns case, where the courts conservative majority has been expected to strike down a New York gun law. Pro-gun justices are pro-gun, he said, adding it is not likely that recent mass shootings have done anything to change that. The decisions in both the abortion and guns cases are expected to be released sometime in the next month before the justices take their summer break. The reaction to the decisions could add to criticism the court has faced recently over the disclosure that conservative political activist Virginia Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, urged the White House and Republican politicians in Arizona to work to overturn Joe Bidens presidential victory and keep Trump in office. A poll released this week found public approval of the court has fallen to 44%, down from 54% in March. The poll was conducted after the leak of the draft abortion decision, which has sparked protests and round-the-clock security at justices homes, demonstrations at the court and concerns about violence following the courts ultimate decision. The court itself has been ringed in a tall security fence for weeks in anticipation of the abortion ruling. In 2020, AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of the electorate, showed 69% of voters in the presidential election said the Supreme Court should leave the Roe v. Wade decision as is, while 29% said the court should overturn the decision. In the leaked decision overturning Roe, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that the court should not be swayed by public opinion. We do not pretend to know how our political system or society will respond to todays decision. And even if we could foresee what will happen, we would have no authority to let that knowledge influence our decision, he wrote. Still, the justices do not live in a bubble, and New York University scholar Barry Friedman has argued that the courts decisions are never too far out of step with public opinion. You know we dont have an army. We dont have any money. The only way we can get people to do what we think they should do is because people respect us, Justice Elena Kagan said in 2018. Eric Tirschwell, the legal director at Everytown for Gun Safety, said it is hard not to think that whats going on in the country doesnt impact to some degree how the justices go about their work. The recent violence, he said, underscores that interpreting the Second Amendment is not an abstract exercise. It has life or death consequences. About half of voters in the 2020 presidential election said gun laws in the U.S. should be made more strict, according to AP VoteCast. An additional one-third said gun laws should be kept as they are, while about 1 in 10 said gun laws should be less strict. The gun case the court is considering involves a New York law that makes it difficult for people to get a permit to carry a gun outside the home. To do so, a person has to show a particular need to carry the weapon. When the case was argued in November, it sounded from the justices questions as though the justices were prepared to strike down the law as too restrictive. Similar laws exist in California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island, and the Biden administration has said those states could be affected by a ruling against New York. Opponents have said that could lead to more guns on the streets and more resulting violence. Just since the court heard arguments in the case, there have been 16 shootings where four or more people were killed, according to The Associated Press/USA TODAY/Northeastern University mass killing database. Those shootings have left 94 dead, including 31 adults and children in Buffalo and Texas, and 45 injured, the database says. One of two conservative justices, Thomas or Amy Coney Barrett, probably is writing the guns opinion, based on the courts usual practice of giving each justice at least one opinion for each month the court hears cases. Neither has written yet in the cases heard early in November. No matter how the court decides the New York case, other gun rights disputes are already at or nearing the court. The justices have been asked to hear cases challenging limits on ammunition magazine capacities in New Jersey and California as well as a challenge to Marylands assault weapons ban. Earlier this month, a federal appeals court struck down Californias ban on the sale of semiautomatic weapons to adults under 21, holding it violated the Second Amendment. That case too could be headed to the court. ___ More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings OLYMPIA, Wash. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee was quick to react to this weeks carnage at a Texas elementary school, sending a tweet listing the gun control measures the Democratic-controlled state has taken. He finished with: Your turn Congress. But gun control measures are likely going nowhere in Congress, and they also have become increasingly scarce in most states. Aside from several Democratic-controlled states, the majority have taken no action on gun control in recent years or have moved aggressively to expand gun rights. Thats because they are either controlled politically by Republicans who oppose gun restrictions or are politically divided, leading to stalemate. Here I am in a position where I can do something, I can introduce legislation, and yet to know that it almost certainly is not going to go anywhere is a feeling of helplessness, said state Sen. Greg Leding, a Democrat in the GOP-controlled Arkansas Legislature. He has pushed unsuccessfully for red flag laws that would allow authorities to remove firearms from those determined to be a danger to themselves or others. After Tuesdays massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 students and two teachers dead, Democratic governors and lawmakers across the country issued impassioned pleas for Congress and their own legislatures to pass gun restrictions. Republicans have mostly called for more efforts to address mental health and to shore up protections at schools, such as adding security guards. Among them is Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has repeatedly talked about mental health struggles among young people and said tougher gun laws in places like New York and California are ineffective. In Tennessee, GOP Rep. Jeremy Faison tweeted that the state needs to have security officers in all of our schools, but stopped short of promising to introduce legislation during next years legislative session. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has called for universal background checks and red flag laws, only to be ignored by the Republican-controlled Legislature. We cannot accept that gun violence just happens, Evers said in a tweet after the Texas school shooting. We cannot accept that kids might go to school and never come home. We cannot accept the outright refusal of elected officials to act. On Wednesday, a day after the shooting, legislative Democrats asked that the Wisconsin gun safety bills be taken up again, to no avail. Instead, state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican, told The Associated Press on Thursday that he is open to the idea of arming teachers to better protect schools, along with adding police and armed security guards. In New Hampshire, the Republican-led House on Thursday rejected an effort to reintroduce legislation that would have required criminal background checks for commercial firearms sales. Democratic state Rep. Debra Altschiller said there have been dozens of mass shootings nationwide since the bill was defeated in March. We can make a change so we dont have to live like this, she said, her remarks met by boos from some of her colleagues. Their jeering turned to applause when Republican Rep. Terry Roy said voters dont want further gun control: We should not ever, ever use tragedy to push legislation, he said. An effort on Wednesday by Democratic lawmakers in Pennsylvanias GOP-controlled Legislature to ban owning, selling or making high-capacity, semi-automatic firearms also failed, as House Republicans displayed their firm opposition to gun restrictions. The situation is similar in Michigan, where Republicans have majorities in the Legislature. Democrats in the state Senate were thwarted Wednesday in their efforts to advance a group of bills that would have required gun owners to lock up their firearms and keep them away from minors. Every day we dont take action, we are choosing guns over children, said Democratic Sen. Rosemary Bayer, whose district includes a high school where a teenager was charged in a shooting that killed four in November and whose parents are charged with involuntary manslaughter, accused of failing to lock up their gun. Republican state Sen. Ken Horn responded by urging discussion about other potential causes of gun violence. I would just point out that there are political solutions, but there are just as many spiritual solutions, he said. We dont know whats really happening in this world, whats happening in this country, whats happening to young men. Florida stands out as a Republican-controlled state that took action. The 2018 shooting at a high school in Parkland that left 14 students and three staff members dead prompted lawmakers there to pass a law with a red flag provision that lets law enforcement officers petition a court to confiscate guns from a person considered a threat. Democrats want that expanded to allow family members or roommates to make the same request of the courts, but there has been little appetite among Republicans to amend the law. Instead, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants lawmakers to allow people to carry handguns without a permit. The state currently requires a concealed weapons license. While Republicans have supported red flag laws in some other states, most legislative action around gun control in recent years has been in states led by Democrats. In Washington state, the governor earlier this year signed a package of bills related to firearm magazine limits, ghost guns and adding more locations where guns are prohibited, including ballot counting sites. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom and top Democratic legislative leaders on Wednesday vowed to fast-track gun legislation, identifying about a dozen bills they plan to pass this year. Newsom highlighted a bill that would let private citizens enforce a ban on assault weapons by filing lawsuits similar to a law in Texas that bans most abortions through civil enforcement. Oregons Democratically controlled Legislature has passed bills that require background checks, prohibit guns on public school grounds, allow firearms to be taken from those who pose a risk and ensure safe storage of firearms. On Wednesday, a group of six Democrats pledged additional action after the mass shooting in Texas and the racially motivated massacre in Buffalo, New York. We ran for office to solve big problems and make life better for our constituents and that includes taking on the gun lobby and politicians that place profits and political power over childrens lives, they said in a joint statement. But there are limits even in some Democratic-controlled states, underscoring the challenge of gaining consensus to combat the rising frequency of mass shootings in the U.S. Rhode Island has passed restrictions in recent years that include measures to ban firearms from school grounds and close the straw purchasing loophole that had allowed people to buy guns for someone else. But bills that would ban high-capacity ammunition magazines and assault weapons have been bottled up in committee, in part because the overwhelmingly Democratic chamber includes many lawmakers who have opposed the measures, citing their support for the Second Amendment. In Connecticut, gun violence legislation supported by both parties passed soon after 20 children and six staff members were shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary Schoo l in 2012. But additional gun control measures stalled this year in the Democratic-led General Assembly, in large part because of a short legislative session and threats by Republicans to hold up legislation through a filibuster. Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said Wednesday hes uncertain whether he will call a special session on the bills. They would put limits on bulk purchases of firearms and require the registration of so-called ghost guns, untraceable firearms that can be assembled at home. I think its become an incredibly partisan argument right now in our society, Lamont said. It wasnt that way, you know, 30, 40 years ago. So that is disturbing, even in a state like Connecticut, where after Sandy Hook we had strong bipartisan support. ___ DeMillo reported from Little Rock, Arkansas. Associated Press statehouse reporters from around the U.S. contributed to this report. Police are looking for suspects who fired a gun into the air Thursday afternoon outside Highland High School. Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque police spokesman, said nobody was injured and there was no active threat. He said sometime before 3 p.m. someone fired into the air from a passing vehicle by the school, near Coal and Washington SE. Gallegos said the high school and a nearby charter school were briefly given a shelter in place order. Officers are investigating, he said. WEF applauds China's commitment to combat COVID-19 pandemic: senior healthcare executive Xinhua) 08:37, May 26, 2022 Photo taken on March 29, 2022 shows packages of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua) China has made a significant contribution with its at least three listed COVID vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO), said Shyam Bishen, head of Shaping the Future of Health and Healthcare at the World Economic Forum (WEF). DAVOS, Switzerland, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Shyam Bishen, head of Shaping the Future of Health and Healthcare at the World Economic Forum (WEF), welcomed China's calling for the building of "a community of common health for mankind" amid the global public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. COMBATING COVID-19 "The WEF applauds this commitment from the government of China and President Xi... of both funding and resources to combat the ongoing (COVID-19) pandemic," Bishen told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting here on Wednesday. He also underlined the problems of access of developing countries to COVID vaccines, naming it a problem that links to health equity. "The problem was that most of the production for vaccine was coming from rich nations and was concentrated in just certain areas in the developed world. It was very hard to get out vaccines to developing low and middle-income countries in Africa and other parts of the world," said Bishen. "Even now we only have about 16-17 percent of the African population vaccinated, whereas there is an oversupply of vaccine in the developed world," he said, urging for a more distributed vaccine manufacturing capacity. China, he said, has made a significant contribution with its at least three listed COVID vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO). "COVID vaccines from China are being used in many developing countries. China has made very good contributions," he said. Staff members convey Chinese COVID-19 vaccines at an airport in Managua, Nicaragua, Dec. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) HEALTH EQUITY Bishen said the goal of health equity can only be achieved if "both the social determinants as well as non-social determinants of health equity" are looked at. "We have challenges with regard to the access to health care products and services because of the social determinants, and because of poverty and inequality in society where many people do not have access to good education," Bishen said. "They don't have access to transport or to good food, and that leads to health inequality," he noted. "At the same time, people don't have access to health care products because of the places or the regions they are living, and because of their social-economic situation." File photo taken on July 24, 2021 shows a site of a mass drug administration (MDA) campaign launched by China's expert team at the outskirts of Sao Tome, capital of Sao Tome and Principe. (Xinhua) "We are trying at the World Economic Forum to create public-private partnerships to bring about better health equity so that products and services can be made available across the world, irrespective of the geography," he added. Looking ahead to the next pandemic, Bishen said it would require global cooperation, including a pathogen surveillance and timely share of information. "If (the next pandemic) happens, we want to make sure we do a better job of controlling that pandemic through easy access to vaccines, easy access to diagnostics, as well as treatments," he said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The secret of beauty lies in love, not only love for yourself but for the environment as well. Better beauty is a luxurious, sustainably crafted skincare brand which will be exclusively available on clean beauty platform Vanity Wagon. The brand caters to the line of scientific and bio-compatible skincare that is pure, proven and potent. The products are designed to be gentle on ones skin while also caring for the environment. This skincare range is toxin-free and pledges to be sustainable with its packaging as well. The spokesperson of Better Beauty, famous actor Anita Hassanandani Reddy, herself swears by the mantra of minimalist and scientific skincare. Beginning her career with a Telugu movie in 2001, Anita Hassanandani performed several charismatic roles on-screen, from Shagun in Yeh Hain Mohabbatein to the lead diva in Naagin 3. She also marked her presence in the industry by being the brand ambassador of remarkable brands in different categories. After juggling both career and personal life successfully, she wanted to turn entrepreneur with something that she really believes in. Her strong advocacy towards the environment and its preservation led her to come-up with a brand of her own. Being a new mom, she understands the need of the hour, a scientific, safe and biocompatible skincare range. Better beauty claims to be cruelty-free, paraben-free, and mineral-oil free. The brand believes in crafting safe and potent formulas which are suitable for all skin types. The product line promotes a simple skincare routine with potent ingredients to fit-in perfectly with the fast-paced life. The range includes a Hydration booster moisturiser, skin balancing foaming cleanser with HA, VC20 Intense boost serum and a skin beauty buffet serum. The product line is best for those who want to invest in honest skincare that's effective and safe and does not harm the skin in any way. Strengthening its commitment to accelerate the growth of micro, small and medium businesses in the country, Meta today announced that it had partnered with leading VC fund Kalaari Capital to upskill and scale young, invested businesses by providing them with timely business skilling support. The partnership is a part of Metas VC Brand Incubator Initiative, which is an industry-first program for building the ecosystem for small business growth in the country along with leading venture capital funds. The program is geared towards providing young, invested businesses with timely business and digital skills and customized training to improve key profitability levers such as new customer acquisition, reach, and brand engagement. Talking about the partnership with Kalaari Capital, Ajit Mohan, VP and MD at Meta in India said, The VC Brand Incubator program is geared towards unlocking the potential of small businesses in India by enabling early-stage, invested businesses to scale rapidly. As part of this initiative, Meta has partnered with Indias largest VC funds, and in the last three years some of Indias fastest growing startups have been a part of this program. We are thrilled to now partner with Kalaari Capital that has been instrumental in the growth journey of many startups. Kalaari Capital is an early-stage, technology-focused venture capital firm based in Bengaluru, India. Since 2006, Kalaari has empowered visionary entrepreneurs building unique solutions that reshape the way Indians live, work, consume and transact. Said Vani Kola, Founder and Managing Director, Kalaari Capital, Indian startups are powerful agents of economic growth and social change. Im incredibly excited by their potential to drive Indias progress as a global epicenter for innovation. As startups scale, they need to leverage several tools and platforms like Meta to support their growth. We are delighted to partner with Metas VC Brand Incubator, as we look to collectively enable this digital ecosystem and turbocharge the growth of our early-stage companies. The partnership with Kalaari Capital marks the completion of the three year milestone of the VC Brand Incubator Initiative. In a span of 36 months since its inception, Meta has tied-up with sixteen VC funds, including Kalaari Capital, and has successfully skilled, trained, and mentored more than 500 small businesses at various stages of their growth journey. As part of this special edition of VC Brand Incubator initiative with Kalaari Capital, Meta is going to have several young, invested businesses from emerging sectors such as ed-tech, social commerce, gaming, and fin-tech, among others participate in the initiative. Whisper Media has revolutionised the manner in which complex product placements and brand integrations can now be delivered in a simplified, fast-paced, scalable, and accountable manner using technology. Whisper Media has already partnered with ZEE and Star Network in India and has worked with over 100 brands in FY21. The company has achieved exponential growth, especially in the second half of FY21, and looks forward to exponential growth in FY22. In conversation with Adgully, LS Krishnan, India CEO & Director, Whisper Media, speaks at length about the company's association with ZEE and Star, In-Content advertising, how consumer habits have changed and much more. About Whisper Medias association with ZEE and Star India, LS Krishnan said, If you look at the journey, we are about three-year-old now, of which 2 years have been during the pandemic. I think that the Star Network and Zee Network believe that this is a format which has a future, and they have given continued support in terms of expanding into multiple markets with most clients. Because this is a relationship which is symbiotic in the sense that the pricing is done for every client specially customised and we need support from the broadcasters, and thats been there with us for about three years, and we see the growth happening. Speaking about the growth roadmap for Whisper Media till now he shared, We have been growing at 100% year-on-year per year despite the pandemic. I think we will continue with that growth percentage for the next couple of years. Last year, we did 150+ campaigns in 2021 despite COVID, weve got 75+ brands to come across categories from FMCG, consumer durables to retail brands. We have offices in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, which are large markets. We have about 13 channels that we handle across the two networks, and we have 78+ programs that we have to offer, so there is a huge market that people can address through Whisper Medias ICA to efficiently integrate their message into the content. Explaining about how the pandemic impacted Whisper Media and the challenges faced, he said, The pandemic actually hit us much harder than what we imagined, for the simple reason that the discretionary money or even energy to do something new came down dramatically because we were in the first year of operations when the pandemic came. For us, it was more awareness to be done, more acceptance to be gotten from the advertisers, that was not coming in right. But since October of last year, multiple brands have used ICA. And I think 30% to 40% of them are repeat clients in our current business; and we have large corporations who are now coming onboard with us. The face of business perspective is that it is a new concept and new format. And it takes time and effort for somebody to kind of move away from the status quo and try something new. We invest a lot of money on the research side to demonstrate ROI for brands. We do something called Viewability, which is to see whats the percentage of users who have seen the ad, and how much time they spent looking at the ad. The other is the BLI brand studies that we do for most of our brands. That demonstrates the value proposition much more deeply, and therefore critical to get the business. So, the challenge that I see is the ability to try something new, which I think as months go by and years go by, it will become much easier as compared to the initial years. Adding on the challenges they face while offering this premium form of advertising in India, he said, Anything that is new, has a lot of questions and doubts, whether it is effective or not. The other formats or something people have accepted; they know they are comfortable with it. So, that was a challenge for us. But our whole focus has been on building credibility and doing good execution. We truly believe that if you can do a good job on the execution front, then there is comfort. And one of the largest challenges is how seamlessly you can integrate, how can I know how we do not take too much of effort put in by the agencies and the brand teams. So, we have a seamless workflow, which once you have approved the campaign, at a creative level, then it gets executed. And at the touch of a button, they will get all the data on how each spot has done. So, I think the challenge was to kind of get somebody to use it once, and then have the comfort and ensure that we do a good job. Thats how we are building credibility for our clients. When asked about the role that In-Content Advertising plays in the evolving media universe, he explained, The point is very simple, we sell attention for the advertisers. A TVC has an ability to tell a story, and in our format, given that we can only do one integration, or one ICA in 10-15 minute episode, it gives the brand a mindspace to communicate. And what our format does is to kind of reiterate some of the key features of the brand communication. So, we truly believe that the TVC has an ability to tell a story and ICA has an ability to kind of reiterate some of the key propositions for the brand communication. Both together become an important combination for a TV format, and, therefore, they're able to build effectiveness of the brand communication on TV a lot more. So, thats our proposition. And I think, across many parts of the world, we have brought the business to scale. And for most of the branches in conventional TVC campaigns, it also helps them to get higher recall for TV spots. In the evolving landscape I think, given that TV is kind of having competition with the digital landscape. This format also helps TV to get a larger foothold in the budget of the advertisers, and that's one new format being offered to the advertisers. It helps to even get the broadcasters to get additional revenue from the advertisers. Giving his views on how the media landscape and customer habits have changed, especially in the last two years, he said, Content consumption has changed, and more on the digital side. The new formats have come to take some part of the time spent on television, but I feel that India has still a long way to go to become a huge OTT consumer, because there is a cost of bandwidth. Linear TV is by far cost effective in terms of the cost per month. So, I think TV will continue to have a place of its own and even the market would need a global reach for any of these campaigns across target markets which is effective, but the landscape is changing because people will have more money or spend more time with OTT platforms. So, I think there will be more segmentation of the market and I think that will also kind of give advertisers more opportunities to leverage TV. Thomas S. Murphy, who served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capital Cities/ABC for 30 years and oversaw its merger with The Walt Disney Company, died Wednesday, May 25, at his home in Rye, New York. He was 96. One of the most respected and admired businessmen of his era, Murphy was also named a Disney Legend in 2007 for his contributions to the Company. In addition to leading Capital Cities to success, Murphy distinguished himself as a responsible corporate citizen by a constant emphasis on public service. Tom Murphy was unrivaled in our industry, not just for his business achievements, but for his impeccable ethics, his unwavering kindness and his boundless generosity, said Robert A. Iger, former CEO of The Walt Disney Company. He was a deeply principled man, setting and demanding high standards, always living up to them, and never compromising ethics in the service of business To me, he was more than a mentor. He was a father figure, placing trust in me, instilling confidence, exhorting innovation, being accessible, and just as capable at commiserating failures as he was at cheering on successes. I will never cease to appreciate his friendship and his goodness. Murphy began his broadcasting career in 1954, leaving his brand-manager job at Lever Brothers in New York City to manage a near-bankrupt TV and radio station in Albany, New York. It may have seemed a strange decision for this Harvard MBA graduate, but it was the start of his building a new company, Capital Cities Communications, Inc., which over decades would grow into a well-known, highly successful media company with television, radio, publishing, and cable properties. In 1985, Murphy surprised colleagues and observers alike with the announcement of his companys merger with ABC, Inc., a significantly larger organization. It was a $3.5 billion transactionthe largest non-oil merger to have been concluded to that date. One writer described what happened as a minnow that swallowed the whale. Murphy and Chief Operating Officer Dan Burke established a company culture that stressed managerial decentralization and strict cost control. They felt strongly that managers needed to contribute to their communities and that ethical behavior was paramount. The two gathered their managers annually, and the meetings always ended with Murphys reading of the company credo. Decentralization is the cornerstone of our management philosophy, it read. Our goal is to hire the best people we can find and give them the responsibility and authority they need to perform their jobs. Decisions are made at the local level, consistent with the basic responsibilities of corporate management We expect a great deal from our managers You can make mistakes, but only honest mistakes. There is no second chance at Capital Cities/ABC if you discredit yourself and your company with unethical or dishonest actions or activities. Ten years after the ABC acquisition, Murphy surprised the business world again with the announcement of the merger of Capital Cities/ABC with The Walt Disney Company. It was a $19 billion transaction. The growth of the company had been notable. People who became shareholders when Capital Cities went public in 1957 garnered $2,000 for every dollar they invested. For the original stockholders, the ones who cast their lot with Murphy and team in Albany, the gain was $10,000 to one. Murphy served on the Disney Board of Directors for seven years, from 1997-2004, and retired recently from the Board of Berkshire Hathaway, which he joined in 2003. Tom Murphy has taught me more about running a business than any other person, said Warren E. Buffett. We have been friends and mental partners for more than 50 years Tom Murphy brought out the best in everyone whose life he touched. Tom led by example, and it was very effective, whether you were a pauper or a prince. He didnt distinguish between the two. Murphy was also active philanthropically, remaining on some community boards for decades. He served as Chairman of the Board of Save the Children from 1998 to 2005 and was a member of the Board of Trustees for six years. Murphy was a Trustee of the Board of NYU Langone Medical Center from 1972 until his passing and Chairman of the Board for seven years. He joined the Board of Madison Square Boys & Girls Club in 1963, and served as President and later Chairman during his years there. His early jobs were as an industrial oil salesman with the Texas Company (now Texaco Inc.) and as an account executive for Kenyon & Eckhardt. He was also appointed to three boards, those of IBM, Johnson & Johnson, and Texaco. Murphy was born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 31, 1925. His father, Charles Murphy, was a lawyer and later a judge for the New York State Supreme Court; his mother was a housewife. He received a Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering degree from Cornell University in 1945 and an MBA from the Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard University, where he was a Baker Scholar, in 1949. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the US Navy from 1943-1946. His wife, Suzanne Crosby Murphy, passed away in 2009. He is survived by four children and their spouses: Emilie Murphy and Byron Nimocks of Rye, New York; Thomas S. Murphy Jr. and Karen Murphy of Greenwich, Connecticut; Kathleen Murphy and John Seiner of Boulder, Colorado; Mary Conlin and John Conlin of Los Angeles, California; and by nine grandchildren. The family asks that remembrances in Murphys name be made to the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club of New York City or Save the Children. Media consulting firm Ormax Media announced the release of its latest research report on the Indian streaming category, titled The Ormax OTT Audience Report: 2022. The report, based on research conducted across more than 6,000 SVOD & AVOD audience in urban India, is Indias largest profiling study on the streaming category. As per Ormax Medias 2021 estimates, Indias digital video audience universe stood at 353.2 Million, of which 31% were SVOD audience while the remaining (69%) were AVOD audience. In this follow-up report, the SVOD and AVOD groups have been profiled in depth, on various aspects of their digital video consumption, such as viewing behaviour, languages, format & genre preference, subscription drivers & barriers, media habits, etc. The report is now available for subscription for streaming platforms, brands and content producers. The report reveals that the audience are watching content across multiple languages, because of the presence of dubbing and subtitling options that are widely available, especially on SVOD platforms. An Indian SVOD audience watches content in 4.6 languages on an average. A large share of audience of content in the four South Indian languages comes from outside their native state. For example, 88% Malayalam content viewers are from outside Kerala, while 82% Tamil content viewers are from outside Tamil Nadu. The AVOD outlook on language content is more conservative, primarily because of the low presence of multi-language dubbing on AVOD services, including YouTube. Dubbing has also fuelled the growth of English and other foreign language content, including Korean. 65% SVOD audience and 43% AVOD audience in urban India watch English language content, though a sizeable section among them (more than half) prefer to watch it in an Indian language via dubbing. Average number of languages of content consumption among SVOD audience are higher in the Southern states, with Karnataka leading with an average of 5.7 languages. UP, Rajasthan, MP & Chhattisgarh rank the lowest on this measure, at an average of less than four languages. Speaking about the report, Shailesh Kapoor, Founder & CEO, Ormax Media, said: Streaming is a fast-growing category in India, and hence, it is important for content creators and marketers to constantly upgrade their understanding of the audiences, their taste, their viewing habits, and their viewing triggers. This report is a comprehensive update on how the behaviour and choices of Indian OTT audience have evolved over the course of the pandemic years, where there was unprecedented exposure to streaming content. Speaking about another key finding besides the growth of multi-language content, Kapoor said: A lot of AVOD content is being made in India today with an SVOD lens. However, this report reveals that the formats and genres preferred by SVOD and AVOD audience are significantly different from each other. Since streaming has come up in India only recently in a big way, a lot of content greenlighting in the category has happened on instinct so far, without any robust consumer data to aid the decision-making process. The Ormax OTT Audience Report is our endeavour to help platforms make more informed content choices. ZEE Hindustan Indias leading 24x7 Hindi News channel, has launched its extensive marketing campaign in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. The channel which has seen tremendous love and increasing viewership across India has launched a prelude for the marketing campaign with 3d model installation of 8ft tall mic in prime locations of Delhi, Lucknow, and Indore such as Nehru place market, Indore Airport and Lucknow. This is also followed by a brand campaign in Delhi across three metro lines, 300 cabs and 500 autos. In order to further the growing popularity of ZEE Hindustan, the channel has been running a contest Dekho Zee Hindustan, Jeeto Gold as an initiative to create brand recognition, awareness and create product sampling. The four-week contest will require audiences to answer the question and lucky winners will stand a chance to win gold worth of 50 thousand rupees from the channel. Being one of the largest news networks in India with a robust reporter strength, ZEE Hindustan addresses the need gap of a channel exclusively focused delivering news on national issues in Hindi. The channel offers specially curated programming that caters beyond politics and debates by including shows on crime, lifestyle, health etc. Anindya Khare, Head of Marketing, Zee Media Corporation Limited, said, Within a short span of time ZEE Hindustan has been able to create a distinct identity for itself and thereby amassing viewer preference. This campaign is aimed at engaging with our viewers and gratifying them for their channel loyalty. Our viewership on the digital platforms has also grown exponentially which is a testament of viewers trust in the Zee Hindustan brand. We are positive that it will also reflect in the viewership of other mediums as well. To further promote the channel in these regions, ZEE Hindustan has also partnered with radio channels and outdoor media campaigns. For a pandemic to be brought under control, a sufficient part of the population needs to acquire sterilizing immunity so that transmission among individuals can be minimized and herd immunity of the whole population can be achieved. COVID mass vaccinations have been a medical disaster in the U.S. and many other countries because the vaccines allow high levels of transmission of the virus and block our innate and naturally acquired immunity. As a result of this high level of COVID infection spread, the current lull in virulence (severe outcomes and deaths) will soon skyrocket to levels far higher than in 2020. This warning that the pandemic is "far from over" comes from Geert Vanden Bossche, a well-known vaccinologist based in Belgium who has been ringing alarm bells for over a year. Geert is not alone in coming to this conclusion, but he is one of the few prominent researchers speaking out. Many research papers came to this conclusion more than a year ago. Geert refers to one such paper, "Risk of rapid evolutionary escape from vaccines targeting Sars-CoV-2 spike protein": The spike protein RBD [receptor binding domain] of Sars cov2 is the molecular target for many vaccines aimed at bringing the virus under control. Such a narrow molecular focus raises the specter of viral immune evasion as a potential failure mode. In this context, vaccines that do not provide sterilizing immunity (and therefore continue to permit transmission) will lead to a buildup of large standing populations of virus, greatly increasing the risk of immune escape. Early last year, Geert sent a video message to the World Health Organization about his urgent concerns regarding mass vaccinations. His plea was to "open the scientific debate on how human interventions are currently driving viral immune escape." He called the mass vaccinations a "colossal blunder." He called for "devising a strategy ... to eradicate the steadily emerging highly infectious variants." Geert has been particularly alarmed by the vaccination of the young, who have the best innate immune systems, which normally act as a sponge, or drain, for the entire population to rid itself of a pandemic. In his view, it is the superior strength of the innate immune systems in children, with their ability to neutralize the virus, that helps to enable the population to achieve herd immunity. But by injecting vaccinal antibodies into young people, Geert is warning that we are in effect replacing neutralizing antibodies with non-neutralizing antibodies: Can you imagine what this would mean if you suppress the innate immunity of young people on a permanent basis? Because that is exactly what we will do if we vaccinate the young. These people will have their innate antibodies completely suppressed, and their acquired antibodies from the vaccines will be completely worthless[.] ... It will prevent the population from ever achieving herd immunity. Geert publishes on Substack. Among his many interviews are two long-form interviews on The HighWire with Del Bigtree (Nov. 18, 2021, here and May 6, 2022, here). In his November 2021 interview with Del Bigtree, Geert predicted that the delta variant, which had already been infecting the vaccinated, would soon be replaced by a new variant, which would have transmission immunity from the vaccine and may even enhance that transmission. It turns out that Geert was correct. The next month, omicron appeared. This new variant is more transmissible than delta, and in his opinion, infections seem to be just as or more prevalent in the fully vaccinated and can reinfect recovered patients, as he predicted. In the May 2022 interview, Geert, who predicted the omicron family of viruses accurately, is now predicting that a new type of variant is right around the corner a variant that not only will allow transmission of the virus but will be far more virulent than omicron. He told Del, "The pandemic is anything but over." His thesis is that a mass vaccination that allows the virus to escape places pressure on the virus to become more transmissible, following natural selection of the fittest. Since many in the population are in the same situation, meaning they are vaxxed and the vax is putting immune pressure on the virus in similar ways, the fittest mutant virus (fittest in transmission) ultimately becomes the dominant variant in the population. But it is the second phase of viral mutation that most concerns Geert. Now that it has become highly transmissible, the virus is working on the next step of the viral attack: virulence. Geert predicts that the combination of a non-sterilizing vaccine and the mutating virus will lead to both high infectiousness and a much higher level of severe disease and death. He describes the science behind his belief in the May 2022 interview. While that science is not easy to understand, it could be described as follows: the same factor that is making the virus highly transmissible in the nose and throat area is also blocking the transfer of the disease among cells in the lower respiratory area, which is where severe disease occurs. Geert believes that the virus mutations are hard at work in overcoming that obstacle in the lungs. He believes that the virus has experienced massive pressure to mutate in such a way as to cause severe respiratory disease and predicts that this will happen in a matter of weeks. The overall message that this scientist is sending might be that we are at war not only with a mutating virus, but with a complex interplay among a mutating virus, population segments that have well functioning innate and natural immunity, and population segments (most of the population) that carry vaccinal antibodies that do not neutralize the virus. This is uncharted territory, and the discussion is made difficult by scientific complexities that are not easy to understand. It is worth listening to Geert's voice because he takes the time to explain his point of view and looks at different aspects of science vaccinology, virology, immunology, and evolutionary biology. Geert's thinking takes time to understand, but it is a good antidote to the confusion generated by COVID news. Image: qimono via Pixabay, Pixabay License. In solidary with the Ukrainian people, and to put a punctuation mark on its opposition to Russias invasion of Ukraine, Starbucks is closing its 130 stores in Russia. The global coffee retailer joins a list of nearly 330 companies that have likewise pulled business from Russia, per Investopedia, March 10. But at last check, none of these enterprises are dropping out of China. Anyone who loves freedom and stands for human rights should wonder why. Starbucks and those other hundreds of companies yanking business from the Russian Federation are well and good -- Putin bad. Russias invasion bad. Check and check -- but why arent they exiting the Peoples Republic of China? There isnt a compelling moral case to be made that Xi Jinpings regime is at least as reprehensible as Putins oligarchy? Shall we say, Follow the money? Always follow the money and power. The PRC is a documented ongoing, flagrant abuser of human rights. Even Bidens State Department says so. From U.S. State Department Report: Human Rights Violations Against Falun Gong and Other Groups in China, via Falun Dafa, April 2, 2021: The 79-page section on China mentioned forced organ harvesting: ...activists and some organizations continued to accuse the government of forcibly harvesting organs from prisoners of conscience, including religious and spiritual adherents such as Falun Gong practitioners and Muslim detainees [Uyghurs] in Xinjiang. You got that right, forced organ harvesting, which the communist Chinese have turned into a lucrative enterprise. This from NBC News, June 18, 2019: Some of the more than 1.5 million detainees in Chinese prison camps are being killed for their organs to serve a booming transplant trade that is worth some $1 billion a year, concluded the China Tribunal, an independent body tasked with investigating organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in the authoritarian state. Ask the Uyghurs and Falun Gong about the truth. Both groups are the primary victims of this evil organ-harvesting scheme. The day will come when witnesses of this gruesome practice give chilling testimony before international human rights tribunals. Just like the illicit fentanyl trade that Xis China is neck-deep in, forced organ harvesting generates millions of dollars annually in revenues for the communist regime. But why should Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz focus on so inconvenient a truth? Going crosswise Xi might imperil Starbucks mainland China operations. Cant do that. In addition to killing people for their organs, the communist Chinese are oppressors of liberty and democracy. Ask brave Hongkongers about the communists snuffing out freedom and rights there. From the HK Post, May 23: After the pro-democracy protests began in 2019, Beijing made the national security law in 2020, which had crushed the dissent on the island territory. Hong Kongs Churches, which used to be the space for discussing social issues, have now come under pressure. According to 18 pastors and religious experts, Churches have been pushed into censoring themselves and also avoiding appointing the pastors which deemed to have political views, and at least one major church is restructuring itself in case the government freezes its assets, reported The Washington Post. Speaking of invasions, or the potential thereof, what about Taiwan? The Taiwanese are routinely threatened with invasion by President-for-Life Xi Jingping and weekly menaced by the PRCs navy and air force. From Online Columnist, April 20: Chinas Peoples Liberation Army [PLA] sent warships, bombers and fighter planes into the Taiwan strait after a visit by U.S. Senators to the independent island nation once a refuge for Mainland Chinese nationals led by Chiang Chai Shek fleeing the 1949 Maoist Revolution to the Island of Formosa. PRC leaders, from Mao to Xi, have an oft-stated goal of conquering Taiwan. Its simply a matter of when and how it will be attempted. It may happen sooner than later, Xi being an apex predator and addled Joe Biden being -- well, not a warrior, but something akin to prey. Biden is a wartime leader like Captain Kangaroo commanded a battleship in WWII. Xi surely sees his window for conquering Taiwan during hapless Joe Bidens term. And you think Xi is the least bit intimidated by Kamala Harris? Dont the PRCs widescale human rights abuses and its increasing belligerence toward Taiwan register with Howard Schultz and his crack team of affluent, mostly white progressives, all of whom, from the safety and comfort of their corporate suites in Antifa and BLM-trashed Seattle, love to be down with causes? But heres the real skinny. Heres why Starbucks is glad to exit Russia but not remove itself from the PRC. Starbucks has only 130 stores in Russia, as mentioned. Per Statista, the international coffee chain operates a whopping 5,358 stores across mainland China. Starbucks opened its first store there in 1999, meaning its averaged opening 233 every year for the past 23 years. Expansion is ongoing. Globally, Starbucks has 34,000 locations. Whereas the Russian stores constitute a mere .004% of its worldwide total, the mainland China shops are nearly 16% of its universe. Losing the Russian stores doesnt even amount to a rounding error for Starbucks. On the other hand, closing the PRC stores would be a sizeable hit to the companys multibillions of dollars in revenues. Dont expect Schultz to explain the contradiction. Dont expect anyone in Corporate America to publicly discuss why doing business with Xis tyranny is good but Putins regime is bad. And dont expect corporate media to challenge big businesses raking in profits from their China ventures. None will be expected to go on record as to why its okay to engage a Chinese regime thats as increasingly despicable as the Soviet Union or National Socialist Germany. As for Democrats and establishment Republicans pressing the case -- nope, mums the word. When was the last time Mitch McConnell pushed legislation sanctioning the PRC for its human rights abuses? Ah, yes, McConnells wifes family profits smartly from the China trade. Plenty of D.C. players are reaping handsome retainers lobbying for big businesses engaged in China. Cant turn off the money spigot, not for mere human rights abuses, murder, and oppression. In years to come, as theres a Holocaust Museum in D.C., so theyll be a museum dedicated to the millions of victims of communist Chinas tyranny, a tyranny started by the bloodthirsty Mao Zedong. Future U.S. business leaders whose enterprises made fortunes off communist China will eagerly stroke generous checks underwriting the museum. Theyll do so to try to expunge the taint clinging to their enterprises. Theyll do so to try to ease their consciences. But in that future time, we must remember that those businesses today are doing so, following the money. Moral right and how their outfits enabled the Chinese Communist Party to create millions of victims never factored into their execs calculations. We must never forget. J. Robert Smith can be found regularly at Gab @JRobertSmith. He also blogs at Flyover . Image: Starbucks The "fatherhood bill" of Florida governor Ron DeSantis is predictably attacked by the radical left. This is because the left is clever and the right is foolish. That is why the left is in power. Leftists attack even their own policies in order to skew the public agenda ever farther left. The right defends anything the left attacks, however misguided or counter-productive (or even leftist). DeSantis has impeccable credentials as a defiant conservative. The fact that even he was hoodwinked demonstrates how conservatives are outmaneuvered on many issues, especially the family. The bill exemplifies how Republicans are routinely fooled into enacting Democrats' measures. In fact, it lays the groundwork for understanding how they invited the extreme left to seize control of the U.S. government two years ago. The bill can do nothing for either fatherhood or the family. It is modeled on useless programs devised by the Clinton administration based on the distorted research of liberal house intellectuals like David Popenoe and especially David Blankenhorn and his federally funded Institute for American Values. Blankenhorn describes himself as a liberal Democrat. His background is in Saul Alinsky community organizing (quasi-communism). Yet for years he dominated family advocacy groups like the Family Research Council and Heritage Foundation before endorsing the redefinition of marriage. These programs did not and could not ameliorate the fatherhood crisis. Later rebranded as "promoting marriage" by the Bush administration, they proved equally ineffective and even counterproductive. Several conservative politicos were implicated in financial scandals involving federal funds. The bill defies common sense. How does government "promote fatherhood" and "encourage good fathering" (or later, "promote marriage")? The programs distribute government largesse to psychotherapists, most of whom are hostile to both fathers and marriage and keen to "redefine" both out of existence. Anyone who trusts "parenting education" (Sect. 5[1][d]5) from professional therapists and social workers to be anything other than ideological indoctrination is ignorant of what happened under Clinton and Bush. (Programs also inculcated "relationship skills" and "child behavior management.") But the larger purpose was and is to deputize private groups with lucrative grants to collect child support a program predicated not on children having fathers, but on children being separated from their fathers, often forcibly. Should nonprofit groups, including "faith-based" organizations, really be recruited as agents of federal law enforcement? If this is worthy, why is it being disguised? In fact, child support enforcement has repeatedly been exposed as a dishonest and destructive bureaucratic boondoggle that creates the very problem it claims to solve by encouraging more fatherless homes with all the social pathologies that ensue. The system has been plagued with numerous ethical improprieties, conflicts of interest, and scandals, including criminal fraud, as well as unconstitutional and authoritarian practices that violate Americans' constitutional rights. Advertised as a program to provide for children whose fathers have "abandoned" them, the reality is a system where "a father is forced to finance the filching of his own children." Child support enforcement was Bill Clinton's answer to welfare and promoted to save taxpayers' money. In fact, the program consistently loses billions. Moreover, no need for it has ever been demonstrated, since the preponderance of child support is paid automatically by wage withholding. Far more serious, the money subsidizes and therefore proliferates single-parent homes. Numerous scholars (at least those not profiting from the system) have demonstrated that the livelihoods of child support officials depend on broken homes and that "child support enforcement policies have a negative effect on contact between non-custodial parents and their children." Attorney Jed Abraham describes the apparat as "a veritable gulag, complete with sophisticated surveillance and compliance capabilities such as ... license revocation, asset confiscation, and incarceration. The face of this regime is decidedly Orwellian." Diabolically, it even gives state governments a vested financial interest in encouraging as much divorce and single parenthood as possible. State governments fill their coffers with child support money and federal payments based on the volume of child support they collect. Not delinquent support all support. (Imagine the effect of the federal government paying states money according to the amount of income tax they collect.) This incentivizes them to encourage family breakdown and multiply fatherless homes at taxpayers' expense. Shockingly, "[i]f the state needs more highway funding," as one commentator puts it, accurately, "all they need to do is raise the state's level of child support and they can spend their resulting welfare incentive increases on highway projects and remain in perfect compliance with the relevant programs funding requirements." Now they are spreading the largesse to private organizations, with generous grants to collect child support. This gives "fatherhood" and "family" groups a stake in encouraging broken homes and fatherlessness. Ever wonder why all those Christian groups that advertise themselves as "pro-family" and "defending marriage" never make the slightest effort to reform our easy and predatory divorce laws? It is because they are making money from divorce as shills for the child support apparat. Republican lawyers, who earn huge sums from divorce cases, also profit from child support collection. Florida's Legislature approves this because, like every state house in America, it is controlled by lawyers, with a heavy contingent of divorce lawyers from both parties who have no desire to bring the divorce epidemic under control. A more ruthless family-destruction machine could hardly be devised replete with the financial payments that co-opt and corrupt potential opposition groups. It is why decade after decade the fatherhood crisis never abates, but only worsens. As always, government programs create the problem they claim to be solving and simply enrich and empower welfare apparatchiks. Yet conservative Republicans readily sign on to this one. One of the most insidious features of the divorce regime (like the welfare machinery from which it sprang) is this power to suck otherwise decent people into the operation, place them on the payroll, and make them active agents in destroying other people's marriages, families, children, and lives. Those advertised "for the children" are the worst. This also provides the model for today's bureaucratic takeover of the U.S. government. The far-left insurrections of 2020 were overwhelmingly driven by rebellious, dysfunctional, and fatherless adolescents, who have been effectively raised by the functionaries of the welfare state. If Governor DeSantis really wants to ameliorate the fatherhood crisis, he will show real courage and break the power of the welfare behemoth and crooked family courts that routinely confiscate huge numbers of children from perfectly fit, legally innocent fathers, who are then plundered and incarcerated without trial or record by the child support gendarmerie. He will allow fathers to raise their own children, without the "services" of busybody government bureaucrats. Stephen Baskerville is Professor of Political Studies at the Collegium Intermarium in Warsaw. He served on Virginia's Child Support Guideline Review Panel and is the author of The New Politics of Sex: The Sexual Revolution, Civil Liberties, and the Growth of Government Power (2017) and Taken into Custody: The War against Fathers, Marriage, and the Family (2007), where the points in this article are documented. Image via Pxhere. Whenever I listen to Klaus Schwab and his Davos Death Cult buddies openly discuss their plans for world domination, I always think, "Are we really going to let another power-hungry German walk us into global conflagration?" For a while there, I believed that Western allies had endured enough death and slaughter from the first two world wars to forge an informal understanding among themselves that uncontrolled German megalomania invariably leads to malignant outcomes for all. Then came German reunification, and the nation's inevitable economic dominance over all of Europe assured its status as the most powerful member of the European Union. All that effort to constrain the German empire's influence went up in smoke. It turns out that it is far easier to conquer the European continent with flowery promises of "peace," "economic integration," and "international cooperation" than it is to send jackbooted shock troops marching past the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs-Elysees. Still, the Americans, Canadians, and Brits would never sit idly by while German powerbrokers remake the world in their image, right? Wrong! Just listen to Joe Biden, Justin Trudeau, and Boris Johnson all parroting that same Build Back Better Boobery in unison, as if they operated under the influence of some nefarious hive mind. At first, hearing world leaders squawk identical World Economic Forum talking points was disconcerting. Then it was nauseating. Now it just makes them sound like walking, talking robots all under the WEF's control. Is it possible that Ol' Klaus already lobotomized the West's putative leadership and replaced their neural CPUs with state-of-the-art, German-made "Great Reset" implants? Curse you, German engineering! That's where we are today, as the world's 1% of the 1% celebrate their own magnificence in Davos and plot mankind's future without even the pretense of seeking mankind's consultation, let alone permission. "The future is not just happening," Schwab proclaimed to his SPECTRE-like cabal in Switzerland. "The future is built by us, by a powerful community such as you here in this room." "Good German" Klaus and his merry band of global gentry have decided to take over the planet, and they're so confident in their endeavors that they no longer deign to pretend otherwise. Yep, here are our New World Order master plans! Yes, we know we've called you guys "conspiracy theory nuts" for forty years, but you were right. In hindsight, wasn't it obvious? So now the world waits in trepidation to discover just what Kaiser Klaus and his new nobility have in store for the rest of us. Will another paralyzing round of viral pandemics bring a return of economic lockdowns, rigid population control, and injection mandates? Will a global cyber-attack cut off the internet for billions and plunge the world into darkness? Will Green New Steal socialism exacerbate global poverty, unleash famine, and trigger mass population die-offs? Whatever happens next, the WEF has already gamed the situation and is ready to profit from the world's pain. In another era, World Economic Forum attendees would be rounded up and put on trial for undermining the health and security of sovereign nations. Heck, if people properly understood the WEF as an evil engine for driving Marxist totalitarianism around the planet, they might skip the trials and go straight to the sentencing. When so many of today's leaders have already handed over their nation states' keys to the aspiring dictators in Davos, however, ordinary people around the world have a real problem. Kaiser Klaus does not hide his master plan to destroy national self-determination. It's a simple two-step process. First, you capture political and economic leadership by bringing them into the WEF Club. Then, by hook or by crook, you train those global leaders to "collaborate" for the benefit of the WEF's members, rather than the national populations they ostensibly represent. In my reckoning, that makes every WEF attendee committed to undermining national interests for those of Klaus's Fourth Reich a double agent and saboteur. No one can serve two masters; those who have pledged allegiance to Schwab's global coalition of the wicked cannot be trusted to serve their homelands, too. There's an important lesson here for those who properly object to a bunch of unelected oligarchs manipulating world events for their own purposes. When the wealthy and powerful sing the praises of "international cooperation," they are almost always sticking it to ordinary people. Rigorous competition, not cooperation, is the key to keeping power in check and providing ample opportunity for all. Since WWII, the West has been brainwashed into accepting the opposite falsehood that competition leads to tragedy and that only forced cooperation can foster long-term peace. Nationalism is equated with racism. Patriotism is derided as another civic opiate for the masses. Free markets were long ago buried with byzantine domestic regulations and international trade agreements that protect multinational monopolies at the expense of aspiring start-ups lacking the resources to overtake companies with heavy political clout. Just as American workers can't compete against Chinese slave labor, and oppressively regulated American factories can't compete against scarcely regulated foreign enterprises, American voters can't find representation in Washington, D.C., when that town's bureaucratic army works not for Americans, but rather for the interests of foreign governments, multinational corporate boards, international financial heavyweights, and Western military alliances. As Biden hands the Chinese-aligned World Health Organization power over Americans' health and delivers to the United Nations control over Americans' future use of hydrocarbon energy, an ever-smaller group of global elites assumes greater control over everyone else. As they do so, they glorify their efforts as a victory for a "rules-based international order." In reality, a "rules-based international order" is antithetical to American liberty and independence. It undermines the power and self-determination of ordinary Americans and empowers the technocratic assembly of self-identified "experts." It disregards the democratic interests of Americans generally and imposes the will of the uber-1% upon everyone else. It sacrifices American law for international agreements. It substitutes government-approved speech for free speech. It destroys privacy while justifying mass surveillance. It transfers Americans' control over their personal wealth to the intermediary machinations of money-printing central banks. It elevates the power of global governing bodies over the statutory authority of local jurisdictions. It fortifies the intrusive reach of an unelected bureaucracy while weakening protections for individual rights. It resurrects, in other words, a feudal system where a small number of lords and ladies hoard power over a borderless economic zone whose surviving serfs are expected to "own nothing and be happy" or else. When "elites" cooperate among themselves, they take what they can, regulate what they can't, and shiv everyone else. That's the World Economic Forum in a nutshell. Image: World Economic Forum via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. On Tuesday, an evil man slaughtered 21 people, 19 of whom were children under ten. On Wednesday, two morally bereft DemocratsBeto ORourke and Barack Obamaused those deaths to score political points. Decent people were outraged. Indecent ones cheered them on. Beto ORourke is an inconsequential man with few accomplishments who is determined to force people to recognize his non-existent greatness. Having failed both in his runs for U.S. Senator and U.S. President, his latest effort is to become the governor of Texas. Somewhere along the way in his quixotic political journey, the beta man heard that theres no such thing as bad press. If you can get the publics attention, youre gold. This swinish man then decided that he should crash Gov. Greg Abbotts press briefing, which grieving parents might attend, to score political points. You can see his indecent grandstanding here, as well as the tongue-lashing he received from Uvaldes mayor, Don McLaughlin, and from a member of the audience: The man who is on stage telling Beto O'Rouke to leave and saying he is out of line is Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin. https://t.co/nQ53XRgBZ7 Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) May 25, 2022 You and I, who have respect for the decencies of mourning, are shocked, as was Cody Ytuarte, the man who said Thats propaganda, bro. Ytuarte is a former Democrat of Hispanic lineage in Uvalde. He reminds us of the changing face of the Hispanic community in America: Cody Ytuarte, a carpenter from Harper, Texas, is in town because a cousin Kendall Olivera was shot and survived, and two other distant cousins whose names escape him were killed. pic.twitter.com/aUluMwVbh7 Daniel Marans (@danielmarans) May 25, 2022 Ytuarte, 38, grew up a Democrat but explains that he left the party between 2008 and 2012 because he thinks Democrats began exaggerating racism, including in policing (though he concedes differential treatment is an issue). pic.twitter.com/0cMYGqbTo5 Daniel Marans (@danielmarans) May 25, 2022 Finally, I asked Ytuarte why he likes Trump. I really enjoyed his mean tweets. He thinks media took comments out of context to make Trump seem racist. pic.twitter.com/DCQszjeSJz Daniel Marans (@danielmarans) May 25, 2022 A lot of mixed views around here on gun control however. Cris Vazquez and Brenda Hidalgo, both Republicans, were appalled by what Beto did but support closing background check loopholes. pic.twitter.com/oisvxaF5dI Daniel Marans (@danielmarans) May 25, 2022 Sensible, yes? But not everyone is sensible. A lot of people thought that the real culprit was Mayor McLaughlin for both believing in the Second Amendment and daring to push back against the beta mans crass stunt: The guy who went off on Beto is the Mayor of Uvalde. Contact info He was very unprofessional Don McLaughlin. Mayor Don McLaughlin. Wk Number-830-278-3315 ext.142, Everardo_Zamora. District 1 Everardo Zamora Wk Number-830-278-3315 ext.142 Teddi Murphy (@murphy_teddi) May 25, 2022 It was Uvaldes Mayor Don McLaughlin who called ORourke a sick son of a bitch. It doesnt take a genius to quickly realize McLaughlins remarks were classic pathological projection pic.twitter.com/x2dcgKD8bk RobertBerg (@robertjlundberg) May 26, 2022 Stay classy, dudes. And speaking of staying classy, initially, Barack Obama really couldnt be bothered at all about the Uvalde shooting. A long time ago, Trayvon Martin was the son he never had but, two years ago, another icon was added to that place in Obamas political heart: As we grieve the children of Uvalde today, we should take time to recognize that two years have passed since the murder of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer. His killing stays with us all to this day, especially those who loved him. Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 25, 2022 Inspired by these young leaders, @MBK_Alliance launched a Reimagining Policing Pledge for mayors and cities ready to take action. If youre wondering how you can help make things a little better today, here are some ways to get involved: https://t.co/1E1MfT1sza Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 25, 2022 As a reminder, Trayvon Martin was a proud wannabe gangbanger who played with guns and was cruising for drugs when he tried to beat George Zimmerman to death. George Floyd was an ex-felon who had committed dangerous crimes and who had so many drugs in his system that he was a dead man walking. Its doubtful even a trip to the hospital could have saved him but, because the race-hustling crowd was threatening the police officers, they were unable to get Floyd any medical help as he lay dying from overloading his heart with, among other things, fentanyl hed stuck up his butt for an instant high. These are Obamas martyrs and he can barely show his impatience with those icky dead kids who are getting in the way of his political activism. It was only hours later, after a fair amount of pushback, that Obama was able to rouse himself to do the usual So sad they died; gun control series of tweets. While Obama got strong, and deserved, Twitter grief from conservatives, his supporters were there for him, with his George Floyd tweet garnering over 57,000 likes. Obama and Beto are birds of a feather. Obama had his time in the sun and managed to get two terms in the White House, plus a third proxy term with Biden. Its to be hoped that Beto, who lacks both Obamas cool and his melanin content, is unable to follow in his footsteps. Neither man respects the Constitution, America, or Americans, and each has a very grim, dystopian view of America. Image: YouTube screen grab. After the horrific Texas elementary school shooting which killed 21 people, including 19 children, the Democrats reacted as follows: "As a nation, we have to ask, when in God's name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?" Joe Biden said. "When in God's name will we do what we all know in our gut needs to be done?" "Enough is enough. As a nation, we have to have the courage to take action and understand the nexus between what makes for reasonable and sensible public policy to ensure something like this never happens again," said Kamala Harris. "Nearly ten years after Sandy Hook and ten days after Buffalo our country is paralyzed, not by fear, but by a gun lobby and a political party that has shown no willingness to act in any way that might help prevent these tragedies," said Barack Obama. For too long, some in Congress have offered hollow words after these shootings while opposing all efforts to save lives. It is time for all in Congress to heed the will of the American people and join in enacting the House-passed bipartisan, commonsense, life-saving legislation into law," tweeted Nancy Pelosi. Texas gubernatorial nominee for the Democrat party, Beto O'Rourke used the shooting to stage a publicity stunt. ORourke interrupted a presser held by Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and viciously attacked Abbot saying Its on you Hillary Clinton tweeted: Thoughts and prayers are not enough. After years of nothing else, we are becoming a nation of anguished screams. We simply need legislators willing to stop the scourge of gun violence in America that is murdering our children. Far-left propagandist Michael Moore, appeared on MSNBC to call for a repeal of the Second Amendment, claiming that the Founders never would have included it in the Constitution if they had knowledge of bullets. There are two problems with all their assertions. The first problem is that most of these individuals have been in positions of power for long periods of time, but did nothing to implement any form of gun control. Obama was in politics for 25 years, and he was president for eight years. Biden has been in politics for more than 50 years -- he was a senator for 36 years, vice president for eight years, and has been president since January 2021. Nancy Pelosi has been in the U.S. House of Representatives for 33 years while Beto ORourke was in the House for three terms. Hillary Clinton was a senator for two terms and served for four years as Obama's secretary of state. She also spent eight years as President Clinton's first lady and served various political functions as a lawyer in both the Arkansas statehouse and in Washington for decades before that. These statements are straight out of Obamas playbook. When Obama presided over any catastrophe as president, he never ever took responsibility. Instead, he would address the issue like a bystander commentator. He would also project emotions to convey compassion, knowing that most people conflate a display of compassion and empty words with actions or even an apology. Finally, Obama would resort to blaming everyone but himself. Never for a moment was there ever a personal apology from him. Obama knew that the media was always around to cheerlead and elevate him. The Democrats have applied this for the past few days, but no longer indulge in commentary nor do they feign sadness, they directly and viciously attack and blame their political opponents. This is part of their campaign for the midterms in November. Now for the naked hypocrisy behind these hollow utterances: Every Democrat who has issued statements imploring the need to stand up to the gun lobby are under the protection of armed guards. Their homes and offices are surrounded by armed bodyguards. Whenever they make public appearances, they are surrounded by armed bodyguards. They take their own security very seriously and guns are a large part of it. Obama claims to be an ardent admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, so perhaps he ought to practice the Gandhian principle which says: Be the change you wish to see in the world. Instead of merely pontificating about gun control and the need to seize guns, Obama could begin asking all his bodyguards to give up their arms. Once this is accomplished, he could ask Biden, Pelosi, ORourke, and Hillary Clinton to follow him. Washington D.C. can also follow this example. If they want to repeal the Second Amendment, how about pilot-testing that change in Washington D.C. first? How about a total ban on arms in Washington D.C.? Will the powerful in Washington agree to that? We all know the answer to that. For the Democrats, it has always been one rule for the 'ruling class' and another for the public. The Democrats frequently claim that the U.S. is a nation of immigrants -- hence, every illegal migrant must be welcomed and treated with compassion. But when it comes to settling these migrants, they chose working-class neighborhoods. You will never see a group of poor migrants settled next door to any of the luminaries in Washington who frequently feign compassion. In the event that one of these migrants turns out to be a violent criminal, who suffers? But of course: The working class. If the migrants agree to work for less than the minimum wage, once again the working class sees a depression in wages or perhaps are rendered unemployed, particularly if they can't speak Spanish. There's also an impact on the ordinary middle classes, according to this Harvard study: Exactly what economics says will happen with high immigration levels - a huge wealth transfer from labor to capital. Inequality increases. https://t.co/CZJ3w9Z5uQ pic.twitter.com/IX5tgZvZJR Andrew Good (@Drewbueno) May 25, 2022 The Democrats condemned Trump's proposal for a border wall and did their best to block the funding for the wall. The same Democrats demanded that the whole of Washington D.C. be barricaded after January 6, because they were petrified of protestors. The Democrats also have high walls around their personal property. The Democrats have additionally been demanding the defunding of the police and calling for the removal of police in schools. "Community, not cops!" "Dignity in schools!" they bray. These same Democrats demanded that Washington D.C. be guarded by armed law enforcement following the January 6 protest. They also have law enforcement guarding their personal properties. The defunding of police that the Democrats demand only applies to those who live in poor neighborhoods and must go to public schools. A firearm is perhaps the only way regular citizens can defend themselves against unruly elements and actual killers. The second hope is that the police patrolling in the vicinity will be of assistance. If the Democrats have their way, citizens will be left with no means of protection while the crime wave makes their neighborhoods more unsafe every day. The only groups of people who can afford the luxury of firearms will be criminals and the security teams of Democrat politicians and their affluent donors. The Democrats are sending a message to everybody that only their lives matter. Image: Taymaz Valley, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0 This week, Nikole Hannah-Jones of the 1619 Project tweeted, "Black people posed a danger to the country's idea of itself; they held up a mirror into which the nation preferred not to peer. So the inhumanity visited on Black people by every generation of white America justified the inhumanity of the past and the inequality of the present." She added, "The North did not fight the Civil War to end slavery." At the start of the Civil War, she was, technically correct. The Union Army was just that: an army raised to preserve the United States. However, on January 1, 1863, President Lincoln changed the context of the war with the Emancipation Proclamation. For the next three years, the North was fighting to put an end to the institution of slavery and to bring the rebel states back into the fold. Let's not forget that the South initiated the secession because of the fear that President Lincoln and the North would abolish slavery in the first place. This isn't the first attempt by the Progressives to rewrite our history. Most of these instances, such as the one above, are laughable at least on the surface. Conservatives tend to view them with scorn. Instances like this latest tweet are glossed over and mocked. Yet they are out there, propagating a twisted narrative. What is that narrative? The United States was never a great country. It was built by slaves and other oppressed people. It was flawed from its inception. Our country's iconic heroes such as Washington, Jackson, Jefferson, and others should be cast down because they owned slaves. Capitalism is a system of racial and social oppression that, by its nature, makes it corrupt and evil. There is no American dream. To the Progressives, America is so deeply corrupted that it must be changed from the ground up starting with the history of the nation. George Orwell wrote, "Who controls the past controls the future." The far left has adopted this mantra and is running with it. Leftists intend to reboot the United States. Our history, our true history, stands in the way of that. So do our American values, our love of country, and the moral center that our religions provide. On the historical front, their solution is eloquent and dangerous: change the history as the basis for forging a new Progressive future. This is not just about rewriting history books. They will alter our money, removing the "undesirable" presidents and replacing them with approved Progressive icons. Monuments are already toppling and have been for years. It is easy to imagine the left demanding that the Washington monument be renamed, or that the Lincoln Memorial be replaced with something they deem more socially and politically acceptable. To underestimate how far they are willing to go is a mistake we cannot afford. Our nation is not perfect. We have flaws, but we constantly strive to overcome them. Our leaders are far from being saints. In my lifetime, race relations are better than they have ever been. Some business people are corrupt, but our economic system has given millions the opportunity for a better life. We are one of the best nations to live on the Earth. We have fought wars around the globe to liberate oppressed people. We are a nation where anyone can become whatever he desires...if he puts the effort into it. We are prosperous, hardworking, and a deeply convicted people. The American glass is not half-empty; it is almost full. Yes, things could be better, and we are willing to undertake that work. A nation that alters its history to fit current imaginary social constructs is doomed. Erasing a people's past does not make anything better; it serves only to foster division and hate. Tearing down works of art because you don't like the politics of the people they represent is the act of radicals and anarchists. No nation that has cast aside its past to fit an agenda has ever achieved lasting greatness. Conservatives need to take a harder stand against these efforts. History is not a plaything for politicians with narratives to fulfill. History exists for us to learn from. Lying about it, altering its context, and attempting to change it for nefarious reasons will ultimately tear this country apart. History can be added to but it is not there to be treated as a plaything. We run the risk of an entire generation of our youths not understanding where they come from, what they represent, or what they stand for. If we do not take a stand, they will be taught a story that has no bearing on reality which means we will have already lost them. Blaine L. Pardoe is author of Blue Dawn: The most chilling "what-if" in history...the progressive overthrow of the United States and The Democratic Party Playbook, Election 2022 Edition. Pardoe is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author who lives in Virginia. He is the author of numerous science fiction, military history, true crime, horror, and business leadership books. Image via Max Pixel. This time its Uvalde, Texas. The killer was mentally unbalanced, many people died, law enforcement killed the killer, and politicians trumpet We need to do something! Same pattern, same outcome, same rhetoric, same hand wringing without action. Right. Something should be done. Politicians, school officials, and law enforcement have been saying that for years. The left gins up its traditional run at the Second Amendment, hoping to use the crisis to disarm the American citizenry. But no proposal is relevant. The problem is immune to anti-gun legislation. There is no law that will keep deranged killers from getting guns. The problem is not that there are too many guns. The problem is that there are not enough guns in the right places. The essence of the problem is that, when the little killer gets off the bus, he is assured that he is the only one at school carrying a gun. Change that assurance and the problem goes away. There are in reality only two lines of solution to the problem: (1) Close the government schools and send the kids to private school or home school and (2) arm the schools. Image: Classroom by creativeart. Solution #1 would solve a lot of problems besides the mass slaughter problem. All the outrages of Critical Race Theory, homosexual and transsexual grooming, and anti-American propaganda would disappear in one fell swoop. Many parents who think they are financially unable to home school will learn otherwise from the many home school programs available on the internet. And some mama bears will be able to induce their church boards to create programs supportive of homeschooling. Solution #2 might be approximated by providing a school cop. However, merely having a school cop is not arming the school. There is no way the cop is going to be where he is needed at the moment he is needed there. Even the most insane little killer will be clever enough to avoid the school cop (or to shoot him first). No, the only way to arm the school is to arm the teachers. Every teacher should carry openly, with a handgun on hip or carbine slung over shoulder. Whats that you say? Some teachers will refuse? Fine. Fire them and replace them with teachers willing to protect the children. Some will object to this by saying they dont want to live in a society with armed teachers. Right. I agree. I also dont want to live in a post-Christian society in which government encourages the mob violence destroying our inner cities. But it is what it is. Lets choose life! In 1883, a Jerusalem antiquities dealer named Moses Wilhelm Shapira announced the discovery of a remarkable artifact15 fragments of ancient manuscripts written on leather which he claimed had been found near the Dead Sea. The manuscript contained bible verses from the Book of Deuteronomy, but they were slightly different from those used in churches and synagogues. Shapira explained that the different text and the paleo-Hebrew inscription suggested that the manuscripts were older than the Book of Deuteronomy, dating to the period of the First Temple, before the Babylonian Exile. If true, this would make the scrolls the oldest biblical manuscript in the world. A fragment of a copy of the Shapira scroll prepared in 1883 in consultation with the British scholar Christian David Ginsburg. Shapiras claim aroused great public interest and drew newspaper headlines around the world. But experts were skeptical of Shapiras bold claim. Shapira had a reputation of peddling counterfeit artefacts. A few years earlier, he was caught trying to sell a fake coffin of Samson with a misspelling of the name Samson in the epitaph. In another lucrative deal, he sold 1,700 fake figurines, the so-called Moabite forgeries to a Berlin museum. With the money earned through this fraudulent transaction, Shapira bought an elegant villa outside the old city walls of Jerusalem. Shapira tried to authenticate his find by sending them copies to various archeologists and scholars in Germany. But their decision was unanimousthe manuscripts were forgeries. The Royal Library of Berlin even offered to buy the scrolls from Shapira so that German students could study the forger's technique. Shapira refused and instead, offered the treasure to the British Museum for a million pounds. The museum put two of the fragments on display, attracting throngs of visitors, including Prime Minister William Gladstone. The rest were sent to prominent bible scholar Christian David Ginsburg for evaluation. Four weeks later, Ginsburg came out with a verdict: the manuscript was a fake. Ginsburg said that Shapira had taken a genuinely old Torah scroll, sliced off its blank lower margin, and inscribed that ancient-looking strip with his own version of Deuteronomy. Ginsburg also indicated that the shape of the strips, their ruling, and the leather used matched Yemenite scrolls Shapira had sold to the Museum previously, suggesting that the Shapira scrolls were possibly cut from the Yemenite scrolls. The form of Shapira's strips compared to a synagogue scroll margin. An illustration prepared by Clermont-Ganneau Ginsburg's conclusion drove Shapira to despair, and he fled London. On August 23, 1883, he wrote to Ginsburg: You have made a fool of me by publishing and exhibiting things you believe to be false. I do not think I shall be able to survive this shame. Although I am not yet convinced that the manuscript is a forgery unless Monsieur Ganneau did it. I will leave London in a day or two for Berlin. Yours truly, Moses Wilhelm Shapira In spite of writing to Ginsburg that he would leave for Berlin, he fled London to Amsterdam instead, leaving the manuscript behind, and from Amsterdam he wrote a letter to Edward Augustus Bond, principal librarian of the British Museum, begging for reconsideration of the manuscript. In both letters, Shapira reaffirmed his belief in the scroll's authenticity. Six months later, he shot himself in a hotel room in Rotterdam. A couple of years later, the Shapira scrolls appeared in a Sotheby's auction, where it was sold for 10. The scrolls were last seen at a public lecture in Burton-on-Trent in 1889, after which they disappeared for good. Shapiras scrolls were nearly forgotten until more than 60 years later when the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered at the Qumran Caves on the shores of the Dead Sea in exactly the same circumstances that Shapira claimed he found his manuscripts, thus igniting a new interest in Shapiras scrolls. Could those manuscripts have been genuine? This cartoon appeared in Punch following Ginsburgs verdict. Idan Dershowitz, a 38-year-old Israeli-American scholar at the University of Potsdam in Germany, believes the manuscript was an authentic ancient artifactan ancestor of the Book of Deuteronomy. Dershowitz feels that the dismissal of Shapiras manuscript nearly 140 years ago was not just a mistake, but a tragedy and not just for Shapira. Its mind-boggling that for almost the entire existence of the discipline of Bible studies, this text that tells us more than any other manuscript discovered before or since hasnt been part of the conversation, he said. Many modern scholars still believe that the scrolls were forged. In The Lost Book of Moses, a 2016 book about the Shapira affair, the journalist Chanan Tigay claimed to have found the original leather leaves from which Shapira had sliced off the bottom, just as Ginsburg and later Clermont-Ganneau had speculated. But according to Dershowitz, the Torah scrolls were likely cut off to prevent rot after a water damage, and not to provide material for a forgery. Dershowitz also traveled to the Berlin State Library to look at Shapiras papers. There, scattered in a bound volume of jumbled invoices and notes, he found something he said no one had ever noted: three handwritten sheets that appeared to show Shapira trying to decipher the fragments, with many question marks, marginal musings, crossed-out readings and transcription errors. Its amazing because it gives you a window into Shapiras mind, Dershowitz said. If he forged them, or was part of a conspiracy, it makes no sense that hed be sitting there trying to guess what the text is, and making mistakes while he did it. Moses Wilhelm Shapira Dershowitz found encouragement from many scholars when he presented his findings at a confidential seminar at the Harvard Law School. Michael Langlois, an epigrapher at the University of Strasbourg who attended the seminar, credited Dershowitz for making the best case yet, even if it remained, in his view, dependent on many hypotheticals. But he noted that when the first Dead Sea Scrolls surfaced in 1947, some leading scholars, mindful of the Shapira fiasco, initially dismissed them as fakes. Can you imagine what would have happened if no one had had the guts to consider them authentic? Langlois said. We would not even have the Dead Sea Scrolls today. Sidnie White Crawford, an epigrapher and Dead Sea Scrolls expert at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said that without the original fragments Dershowitzs arguments cant be proved or disproved, so they must remain a footnote in the scholarly discussion of the origins of Deuteronomy. The Shapira story is trailed by a tantalizing swirl of what-ifs, Jennifer Schuessler writes for The New York Times. What if someone with a less checkered reputation had found the fragments? What if Shapira hadnt committed suicide? What if they hadnt been lost or had first surfaced 80 years later, after the Dead Sea Scrolls, when scholars might have viewed them differently? And of course, what if they really were forgeries? How do you define a war? Should both sides have a fair chance of winning? Is a coup within a protectorate justified as war? Does the conflict end even if the reigning individual survives amidst desolation and complete destruction of his kingdom? And how short do you think the shortest war in history was? A few minutes, maybe about an hour, a day at large if you account for the mundane details. Thats how long the Anglo-Zanzibar war lasted. Was it fair to call it a war? Soldiers at the palace of the Sultan of Zanzibar, circa 1880 1920. St Thomas Aquinas answered all these questions in his definition of war. According to him, a war should be just in the reason for its inception as well as in the means with which it is fought. While the justness of the Anglo-Zanzibar tiff floated in murky waters, literally, a sum of its elements designated the conflict as a war alright. On 25 August 1896, the Sultan of Zanzibar Hamad bin Thuwaini died. His nephew Khalid bin Bargash seized power by force almost immediately. But the imminent war was not among kin. Zanzibara tiny island off the East African coast that is now a part of Tanzaniawas an independent country where the British had established a protectorate. While the sultan was clearly under their paw, his doubts had made him create an army of 1,000 men that were loyal only to the throne. Upon his passing, the acquiescent Hamud Mohammed was going to be the chosen sultan, but Khalid bin Bargash stole the show, reigning in this military force to his advantage. A thriving clove industry kept the Anglos deeply interested in the affairs of the state. Naturally, when the royal nephew made it clear that he would not be controlled, they were furious. Moreover, they knew about Khalids unequivocal resistance to the abolishment of slaverya cause his brother had given in to long ago. Diplomacy was their first go-to option. At 8am chief diplomat Basil Cave issued a formal warning to Khalid, asking him to surrender. To go against direct British orders would mean inviting bombardment of the sultanate for retaliation. Khalid did not leave the palacenot for a while at least. That evening, Cave wired the Foreign Office asking, Are we authorised in the event of all attempts at a peaceful solution proving useless, to fire on the Palace from the men-of-war? With a yes in answer to the blatant rebellion, British troops cruised the waters in their vessels to reach the coastal town. Another warning was issued to Khalid on 26 August, but it wasnt until the next morning that he replied saying, We have no intention of hauling down our flag and we do not believe you would open fire on us. Map showing the disposition of the naval forces and the exchange of fire at the outbreak of the Anglo-Zanzibar War, 27 August 1896. Image credit: PaulVIF/Wikimedia The Zanzibari forces were prepared with their artillerymost of which had been a gift from the protectorate. Khalids insurgent remark had finally declared war. Heavy bombardment ensued, unmatched in size or force by the trickling army of Zanzibar. Their modest numbers were no match to the heavily populated warships of Britain called HMS Philomel and HMS Rush. Backup ships joined the conflict too. Battle shells flooded the coastline and within 30 to 45 minutes the royal yacht had sunk to the water bed, taking down over 500 soldiers and civilians. Only a single British officer was harmed in the duration. The only clocktower in the area was shot down, which was why reports were never able to define the exact duration for which the tryst lasted. But it could not have been north of an hour. Khalid survived the loss though and fled to the nearby German consulate to seek refuge. From there he was exiled out of the country. The Germans assured the British that they would not be bothered by Khalid, and Hamud bin Muhammed was restored as the chosen leader of the sultanate. According to Hew Strachan, a military historian of Oxford University, an individual cannot go to war. It is a group activity. The war survivor then had no leverage left. The battle was over within the day. Destroyed Palace and other buildings after the attack in the Anglo-Zanzibar War. The sultanate continued to exist under stringent compliance rules till the 1960s when it was merged with Tanzania. Khalid lived on for years, until dying in British Mombasa in 1927. The next war to come closest to breaking the Anglo-Zanzibar occurred in 1967. It was the Six-Day war which lasted close to a week. None, though, that could be described as briskly as they came, they saw, they conquered. References: # History-uk.com # History.org.uk # Atlas Obscura # National Geographic Recent news surrounding an attempted buy-out by Elon Musk isnt the only problem at Twitter if a recently-reported lawsuit from the US government is any indicator. If the suit bears any fruit, in fact, the controversies surrounding Mr. Musk may be the least of the companys problems. Filed in the Northern District of California, the lawsuit claims that Twitter has misled users regarding their data privacy. Most prominently with regard to user phone numbers and email addresses. According to the lawsuit, Twitter told users those credentials were only used to protect their accounts. But Twitter also used those details to help advertisers target users if the allegations bear out. Why else did the US Government file a lawsuit against Twitter? The lawsuit specifically centers around a timeframe extending from May of 2013 through September 2019. So the case could potentially be made that Twitter no longer engages in the activity thats led to the lawsuit. However, the unconsented use of phone numbers and email addresses for ads isnt the only issue at hand either. Advertisement In fact, the other issue presented in the lawsuit could potentially be more damaging. The US government also brought its lawsuit against Twitter over the apparent mishandling of even more private data. Namely, users messages. According to the filing, Twitter first failed to ensure that tweets and DMS couldnt be read by employees. Specifically, thats tweets and direct messages from the apps protected accounts. Following in that same vein, Twitter also allegedly didnt put any safeguards in place to protect private DMs, to begin with. That means that although Twitter claimed direct messages could only be viewed by recipients, there werent any protections in place to ensure that was the case. Moreover, during the above-mentioned timeframe, Twitter didnt restrict employee access to private user information based on their job requirements. Advertisement Moreover, Twitter stands accused of misleading users about the safety and security of their messages on the platform. The lawsuit alleges that Twitter failed to ensure that tweets and DMs from protected accounts were inaccessible to Twitter workers. And that it failed to protect private direct messages. So workers across the board, if the allegation holds true, had ready access to user details well beyond phone numbers and email addresses. What will happen with this lawsuit? Now, Twitter has effectively been accused of breaching the FTC Act and Order of 2011. That makes prohibitions against companies misrepresenting the security of nonpublic consumer information. The lawsuit is seeking civil penalties for the violations. But exact amounts Twitter could end up owing have not been disclosed. Additionally, it isnt immediately apparent what the maximum fine for the violations might be. The government is also seeking to ensure that Twitter doesnt violate user trust again. Namely, by asking for a permanent injunction against Twitter to that effect. Advertisement How, exactly, that will play out for the hugely popular social media site and service remains to be seen. (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 26 - A 'Miss Sexy Bum' contest has been scrapped near Turin after an outcry against alleged sexism and objectification on social media. The competition for best female rear of the year was set up by the municipal culture body in Bollengo, a small town in the Turin metropolitan area. The committee has now replaced the Sexy Bum contest with the Miss Smile competition, replacing all the posters for the event. The association apologised to everyone who had felt offended saying "it was not our intention to objectify women". There are many similar events around the world, the most famous perhaps being Brazil's Miss Bum Bum contest. photo: Miss Bum Bum 2015 in Sao Paulo (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 20 - Three Italians and a Togo citizen have been kidnapped by armed men in Mali, local sources cited by France Presse said Friday. Mali's human rights situation deteriorated in 2020 amid ongoing abuses by armed Islamist groups, ethnic militias, and government security forces. A political crisis resulted in the August toppling of the government in a military coup. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 26 - Italian police on Thursday smashed a teen gang they said had "sown terror" among their peers across Turin, forcing them to hand over phones and cash at knife-point. Four youth aged between 15 and 17 were arrested for their alleged reign of terror in the centre of the Piedmont capital between November and February, police said. They have been charged with robbery, damage, bodily harm, resisting arrest and wielding sharp weapons. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 26 - Gas and green hydrogen deals were among the important accords signed by visiting Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Premier Mario Draghi in Rome Thursday. The accords also included agreements on the exchange of financial information, on cultural cooperation, micro-businesses and tourism. Algerian energy giant Sonatrach and Italian fuels giant Eni are set to sign a memorandum of understanding to develop gas fields and green hydrogen in Algeria. photo: Tebboune with President Sergio Mattarella (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 26 - The government has tapped diplomat Andrea Benso as Italy's new religious freedom envoy, Deputy Foreign Minister Marina Sereni told the Lower House foreign affairs committee Thursday. Benso, hitherto serving on the general directorate for public and cultural diplomacy, will take up his post as special envoy for religious freedom and inter-religious dialogue shortly, she said. The new position was unanimously approved by the committee a few months ago on a motion from the rightwing League party. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 26 - Russia must feel "strong pressure" from Europe to end its war on Ukraine, President Sergio Mattarella said after talks with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Rome Thursday. "We spoke about the sad affair of Russia's war on Ukraine. I remarked that in Italy's view it is necessary to pressure the Russian federation so that it agrees to a truce. WE must arrive at a cease-fire and negotiations. We hope that this will happen but we believe that Russia must feel strong pressure from Europe," the Italian head of state said. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 26 - Gas and green hydrogen deals were among the important accords signed by visiting Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Premier Mario Draghi in Rome Thursday. The accords also included agreements on the exchange of financial information, on cultural cooperation, micro-businesses and tourism. Algerian energy giant Sonatrach and Italian fuels giant Eni are set to sign a memorandum of understanding to develop gas fields and green hydrogen in Algeria. The accord, a note said, will enable the groups to assess the gas potential and development opportunities of some fields already discovered by Sonatrach, with an expected volume of gas production of around three billion cubic metres a year through the Transmed pipeline. President Sergio Matteralla thanked his opposite number and said Algeria was one of Italy's strategic partners. Italy has been trying to wean itself off Russian gas, which currently accounts for 40% of total gas imports. The government had "moved rapidly" to diversify suppliers by scrambling to set up alternatives with countries like Algeria, Angola, Congo, Libya, Egypt and Mozambique, Draghi said recently. photo: Tebboune with Mattarella (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 26 - Italian Premier Mario Draghi on Thursday called Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war, the Kremlin said, according to TASS. Russian Foreign Minister earlier rejected the Italian peace plan for Ukraine as "not serious". Italy's four-stage plan would feature a ceasefire, talks on Ukraine's 'international status', i.e. whether it is neutral, a bilateral agreement between Kyiv and Moscow on the contested areas of Crimea and Donbass, and a multilateral agreement on peace and security in Europe. "Serious politicians who want to achieve results and are not engaged in self-promotion for their electorate cannot propose this kind of thing," Lavrov told Russia Today. Lavrov reiterated that Italy has not sent the plan to Moscow but "what appears in the media provokes a feeling of sorrow". He appeared to be referring to the idea of the Donbass and Crimea being under Ukrainian sovereignty with an autonomous status, Moscow watchers said. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 26 - The Italian peace plan for Ukraine is "not serious", Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday. Italy's four-stage plan would feature a ceasefire, talks on Ukraine's 'international status', i.e. whether it is neutral, a bilateral agreement between Kyiv and Moscow on the contested areas of Crimea and Donbass, and a multilateral agreement on peace and security in Europe. "Serious politicians who want to achieve results and are not engaged in self-promotion for their electorate cannot propose this kind of thing," Lavrov told Russia Today. Lavrov reiterated that Italy has not sent the plan to Moscow but "what appears in the media provokes a feeling of sorrow". He appeared to be referring to the idea of the Donbass and Crimea being under Ukrainian sovereignty with an autonomous status, Moscow watchers said. (ANSA). ROME - Gas and green hydrogen deals were among the important accords signed by visiting Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Italian Premier Mario Draghi in Rome Thursday. The accords also included agreements on the exchange of financial information, on cultural cooperation, micro-businesses and tourism. Algerian energy giant Sonatrach and Italian fuels giant Eni are set to sign a memorandum of understanding to develop gas fields and green hydrogen in Algeria. The accord, a note said, will enable the groups to assess the gas potential and development opportunities of some fields already discovered by Sonatrach, with an expected volume of gas production of around three billion cubic metres a year through the Transmed pipeline. President Sergio Matteralla thanked his opposite number and said Algeria was one of Italy's strategic partners. Italy has been trying to wean itself off Russian gas, which currently accounts for 40% of total gas imports. The government had "moved rapidly" to diversify suppliers by scrambling to set up alternatives with countries like Algeria, Angola, Congo, Libya, Egypt and Mozambique, Draghi said recently. Tunisia: new draft Constitution to be published by June 30 Constitutional referendum scheduled on July 25 (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, MAY 26 - The draft of the new Tunisian Constitution will be published on June 30 and voters are scheduled to express their opinion in a referendum on July 25, 2022, according to a presidential decree published on Thursday by Tunisia's Official Gazette. Tunisians living abroad will start voting on July 23. By June 20, the "national consultative commission for a new Republic", which was recently created, will have to present to President Kais Saied a project of constitution "for a new Republic". The Commission is divided into three substructures, a consultative committee for economic and social affairs formed by representatives of Ugtt, Utica, Utap, Unft and Ltdh, a consultative committee for legal affairs composed by the deans of faculties of law, juridical and political sciences, and chaired by the oldest member, and a committee of national dialogue including members of the two previous committees and chaired by the president who coordinates the national consultative commission, constitutionalist Sadok Belaid. Many members of the opposition have accused of authoritarianism the organization of this commission and the mechanism of "national dialogue" refused in this form by the union Ugtt. The deans of law faculties have also refused the dialogue, stressing the "firm will to guarantee the neutrality of university institutions and the need to keep them away from political issues".(ANSAmed). (by Patrizio Nissirio) ARGOSTOLI - In the still-pleasant heat of May, Lambros Papalambros, a jewelry designer as well as a trekking guide, is climbing fast amid rocks and goats through the cyclopean walls of the ancient acropolis of Sami, one of the villages of Kefalonia. The area is enveloped by thick vegetation - olive trees, cypresses and especially oak trees - like most of this Ionian island which, like its 'smaller sister' Ithaca, is once again attracting tourists after two difficult seasons. Walks through nature, along hundreds of kilometers of trails, are in fact one of the main attractions highlighted by locals, along with splendid beaches - including the famous Myrtos - and the incredible turquoise sea. And nature here has much to offer: in April 2022, Kefalonia and Ithaca were recognized as a Global Geopark by UNESCO, an area whose unique quality is symbolized in particular by a phenomenon thanks to which seawater falls non-stop from a sinkhole close to the main city of Argostoli through a subterranean path where it mingles with rainwater from the mountains to reach lake Melissani, on the other side of Kefalonia, a crater with crystalline water and stalactites, which can be explored with small rowing boats. Overall, 49 sites can be visited on the two islands, along with the sea that surrounds them. "It's not just a matter of natural beauty - said the park's geologist Eleni Zoumbouli - nature influences culture, human activities inland and at sea, history and its events. This is also why it is important to get to know it and visit it and this is the idea behind the Geopark". The recognition could have a significant impact on tourism. "These remain islands that have been loved especially by the Britons, with over 60,000 who arrived in 2019, followed at a distance by Italians, some 35,000", explained Gerasimos Timotheatos, president of the association of hoteliers on Kefalonia and Ithaca. "Then there was coronavirus, but this year we expect many Italians to return". And for Italian visitors, along with the local beauty and food, Kefalonia also represents a place holding a difficult memory - a monument remembering the thousands of soldiers killed by the Germans following September 8, 1943, after they refused to surrender and hand over their weapons. Ex-president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, during a visit to the island, indicated this episode as "the first act of Resistance by an Italy freed from fascism". There is also another Italy, on these shores, with the name of wine producers Gentilini whose wines well represent the growth of Greece's wine production over the past 20 years, including the typical Robola, and its coat of arms with a stylized lion of St Mark. And Venetian echoes - after 300 years of power starting from the 1500s - are the protagonists of traditional local cuisine, starting with the names of dishes: agliada, or baked potatoes mixed with garlic, oil and lemon (in other parts of Greece a similar recipe is called skordalia, from 'skordo', or garlic in Greece); toasted almonds (called here with a clear Italian echo 'mandole', from 'mandorle'); or a dessert made with dried fruit ('mandolata'). And if Kefalonia offers quiet corners also during high season, those who want to be far away from everything and everyone, can take a boat from Sami to reach Ithaca - which in spite of its suggestive name and a statue of Ulysses in the center of the main city Vathi does not correspond to the coveted homeland of the Odyssey. It is almost entirely enveloped by vegetation and has a few, tiny villages. Nature is the absolute protagonist, alongside the legendary Greek hospitality ('filoxenia') on which local operators are investing in the hope that the pandemic will soon become only a distant memory. The average number of migrants on board each boat crossing the Channel almost doubled in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2021, figures show. A Home Office report published on Thursday said there had been an average of 32 people per small boat in January to March 2022, compared with 18 people per boat in the first quarter of last year. The number of boats detected also almost doubled, from 74 to 141 in that time. The statistics which confirm the Governments official recorded data on Channel crossings show there were 4,540 people detected arriving by small boats in the first three months of 2022, more than three times higher than the same period a year earlier (1,363). (PA Graphics) Crossings took place on 30 out of the 90 days. Most of the people who made the crossing (89%) were male, the same as the average between 2018 and 2021, according to the Home Office data. Some 3,448 men were recorded to have made the journey in the three-month period, as well as 342 women and 743 children, of which 594 were boys and 142 were girls, with seven recorded as unknown. Some 24% (1,094) of the people arriving were Afghan nationals, the most out of any nationality recorded, 16% (722) were Iranian and 15% (681) were Iraqi. But information on age, gender and nationality was not available for some arrivals. Some 9,330 migrants have reached the UK after navigating busy shipping lanes from France in small boats like dinghies since the start of 2022, according to analysis of Government data by the PA news agency. A total of 28,526 people made the crossing in 2021, compared with 8,466 in 2020, 1,843 in 2019 and 299 in 2018, according to official figures. A protest is to be held outside Downing Street on Friday amid growing anger over revelations in the partygate report over the way cleaners and security staff were treated. Sue Gray said in her report that she learned of multiple examples of unacceptable treatment of security and cleaning staff during her investigation. She wrote: I found that some staff had witnessed or been subjected to behaviours at work which they had felt concerned about but at times felt unable to raise properly. I was made aware of multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff. This was unacceptable. While government officials and staff were eating pizza, drinking Prosecco and making a mess, an army of invisible workers had no choice but to risk their lives and clean! We call on all low paid and precarious workers to TELL THE Government to clean up their own mess! pic.twitter.com/mu0spcoeDU United Voices of the World the union (@UVWunion) May 26, 2022 Staff members drank excessively at the Downing Street Christmas party on December 18 2020, and a cleaner found red wine was spilled on one wall the next morning, the report said. United Voices of the World (UVW), a union which represents cleaners and security guards in government buildings, has called the protest outside Downing Street. The union said it was protesting against the culture of disrespect towards low-paid workers, such as cleaners and security guards, in government buildings and offices across London. Petros Elia, UVW general secretary, said: Were not in the least bit surprised by the revelations in the Sue Gray report. We have thousands of members who work as cleaners and security guards and these workers face disrespect and discrimination on a daily basis in offices and government buildings across London, not just in Downing Street. It is outrageous to have rowdy and illegal parties during the pandemic but to then expect cleaners to mop up after you and to pay them, as well as porters and security guards, poverty wages and deny them full sick pay is abhorrent. Most of the cleaners and security guards out there are ethnic minority workers, Black, brown and migrant people, who are disproportionately impacted by poor working conditions and racialised inequalities. We represent cleaners at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) who had to walk off the job during the pandemic because they were not given adequate PPE and were denied full sick pay, which they eventually won for Covid-19 absences. One of our members who worked as a cleaner at the MoJ tragically died an untimely and avoidable death. Thats how far the levels of disrespect and mistreatment went and goes towards low paid workers. A leading official of the cleaning industry is calling for a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary over the way cleaning staff were treated at 10 Downing Street. Jim Melvin, chairman of the British Cleaning Council, said he was appalled and upset at revelations in Sue Grays partygate report. Mr Melvin has written to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, saying: At a time when many cleaning and hygiene operational staff, arguably as frontline workers, were putting themselves directly at risk to maintain high standards of hygiene and ensure that key workers and the public were kept as safe as possible during the pandemic, it is absolutely appalling and upsetting to hear that they were being treated with such contempt by people who may sit within Government or the Civil Service and who frankly should know better. The BCC is appalled and upset to hear that Sue Grays report into parties at Number Ten revealed multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff.https://t.co/t8BVu9rj6r The British Cleaning Council (@BritishCleaning) May 26, 2022 It is our position that cleaning and hygiene operatives are hardworking, professional and deserve to be respected in their vital work, just like anyone one else and certainly how the people concerned would expect to be treated. For further clarification and information, in some parts of the cleaning industry, the demand for increased standards of hygiene during the pandemic has combined with severe staff shortages to drive many colleagues close to breaking point. What cleaning staff need is support and recognition from the Government and Civil Service, not to be treated with any level of disrespect. Doctor Whos TARDIS has materialised in Liverpool for an exhibition exploring the science behind the popular TV series. Daleks, Cybermen and Weeping Angels are among the creations who have taken up residence at the citys World Museum for the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition, which opens on Friday. With narrators including The League of Gentlemens Mark Gatiss, who has written episodes of Doctor Who, actress Zoe Wanamaker and the BBCs The Sky At Night presenter Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, the show allows visitors to try out the TARDIS Tech Room, learn about the science behind time travel and have a look at some of the programmes artefacts. The Monster Vault at the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition in Liverpool (Robin Clewley/PA) Head of museum exhibitions at National Museums Liverpool, Catherine Johnson, said: The exhibition spans the whole 60 years of Doctor Who and is just a fantastic array of props, costumes and objects, some of which havent been seen on display before. A lot of the storylines from the show were based on real science so there are inspirations from the natural world, from cybernetics, from AI and from astrophysics and there is a real depth to the show that is underpinned by science. Visitors to the exhibition, which is sold out for the first two days, will be greeted on their way in by a Weeping Angel, before going on to see some of the other creatures in a Monster Vault. Ms Johnson said: It has been really interesting watching people hone in on the things they remember from the show and being confronted by some of those monsters they used to hide behind the sofa from! As well as viewing an original TARDIS console from the show and a case of sonic screwdrivers, guests will be able to get inside a Dalek and transform their voices to sound like the extra-terrestrials. A mural by artist Paul Curtis at the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition at World Museum Liverpool (Gareth Jones/PA) Ms Johnson added: You dont necessarily have to be a huge Doctor Who fan to get things out of the exhibition. Its a really fun experience and theres something there for all curious minds. To mark the opening, Liverpool artist Paul Curtis has created a 15-metre wide mural showing icons from the series landing in Liverpool. He said: Its been really exciting to work on this painting at World Museum the mural contains some classic icons from over 60 years worth of TV, along with the fascinating scientific elements that underpin the exhibition. Acting as the entrance point to the show, I hope it can attract visitors to come in and explore some of the incredible behind-the-scenes stories about the science that brings Doctor Who to life. The exhibition, produced by design experts Sarner International under license from BBC Studios, also includes a Liverpool Connections area where visitors can find out more about the Merseyside stars who have featured in the series from John Bishop to Sir Ken Dodd and learn about how The Beatles almost met the Daleks. A man whose hands were left unusable by scleroderma has been given a new lease of life after what is believed to be the worlds first double hand transplant for the condition. Steven Gallagher, 48, was diagnosed with scleroderma, an autoimmune disease that causes scarring of the skin and internal organs, after he developed an unusual rash on his cheeks and nose about 13 years ago, and pains in his right arm. Doctors initially said it could be lupus, then thought it was carpal tunnel syndrome and he underwent an operation, but when the pain returned in both arms he was referred to a specialist who confirmed he had scleroderma. The condition affected areas including his nose, mouth and hands and, about seven years ago, his fingers started curling in until they were in a fist position and he was suffering horrendous pain. When experts suggested the idea of a double hand transplant the father-of-three initially dismissed the idea but then decided to go ahead despite the risks. Mr Gallagher can now use his phone (Jane Barlow/PA) He told the PA news agency: My hands started to close, it got to the point where it was basically two fists, my hands were unusable, I couldnt do a thing apart from lift things with two hands. I could not grab anything, it was a struggle to get dressed and things like that. When Professor Hart in Glasgow mentioned to me about a double hand transplant, at the time I laughed and thought thats space age kind of things but, after thinking about it for a wee while, I spoke more to Professor Hart, and I went down to Leeds and spoke to Professor Kay. They were really understanding and were really open about what might happen, that I could lose my hands altogether, they said it was unlikely but it was a risk. My wife and I spoke about it and came to the agreement to go for it. I could end up losing my hands anyway, so it was just a case of letting them know I was going to go with it. Mr Gallagher, from Dreghorn in North Ayrshire, had to undergo psychological evaluation to ensure he was prepared for the prospect of a transplant. He then underwent the 12-hour operation in mid December 2021 after a suitable donor was found. The hand transplant team at Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, which carried out the surgery, said it is the first time anywhere in the world that hand transplantation has been used to replace hands terminally affected by scleroderma. Mr Gallagher said: After the operation I woke up and it was quite surreal because before it I had my hands and then when I woke up from the operation I still had hands so in my head I never really lost any hands. These hands are amazing, everything has happened so quickly. From the moment I woke up from the operation I could move them. He added: It has given me a new lease of life. Im still finding things hard just now but things are getting better every week with the physio and the occupational therapists, everything is just slowly getting better. The pain is the big thing. The pain before the operation was horrendous, I was on so much pain relief it was unbelievable, but now Ive no pain at all. Mr Gallagher, who has three daughters aged 12, 24 and 27, spent about four weeks in Leeds General Infirmary following the operation and has regular visits to hospitals in Glasgow for physiotherapy and monitoring. More than five months on from the operation, his condition is improving and although he cannot do tasks requiring great dexterity, such as doing up buttons, he can do things like stroke his dog, turn on the tap and fill a glass of water. The 48-year-old worked as a roof tiler and was made assistant contracts manager but had to stop work due to his condition. He is now hoping to return to some kind of work once his hands have improved enough, and is very grateful to the person and family of the donor who made the transplant possible. The surgery involved a 30-strong team of professionals from many disciplines. Professor Simon Kay, of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: This operation has been a huge team effort with input from our colleagues here in Leeds and in Glasgow. Having a hand transplant is very different from a kidney or other organ transplant, as hands are something we see every day and we use them in so many ways. For this reason, we and our expert clinical psychologists assess and prepare patients, in order to be sure that they will be able to cope psychologically with the permanent reminder of their transplant, and the risk the body may reject the transplanted hands. The UKs competition watchdog has launched an investigation into whether Google has broken the law by restricting competition in the advertising technology market. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it would assess whether the tech giant had distorted competition and made it more difficult for rival advertising services to compete. The regulator said its investigation would focus on advertising technology intermediation, also known as the ad tech stack, a set of services which facilitate the sale of online advertising space between sellers and buyers, and is said to be worth around 1.8 billion a year. The CMA said Google has a strong position at various different levels of this space, providing a wide range of services including platforms where advertisers can buy online advertising space, technology that automates the sale of advertising space and those for managing ad inventories for publishers, which decide which ads to show. The range of services Google offers means it deals with and charges fees to both ad sellers and buyers. The CMA said it wanted to assess whether Google was distorting competition in the sector by limiting the interoperability of some services and contractually tying some of its services together making it more difficult for others to compete. The competition regulator said it also had concerns that Google may have used its platform to illegally favour its own ad services while taking steps to exclude those offered by others. Were worried that Google may be using its position in ad tech to favour its own services to the detriment of its rivals, of its customers and ultimately of consumers, CMA chief executive Andrea Coscelli said. This would be bad for the millions of people who enjoy access to a wealth of free information online every day. Weakening competition in this area could reduce the ad revenues of publishers, who may be forced to compromise the quality of their content to cut costs or put their content behind paywalls. It may also be raising costs for advertisers which are passed on through higher prices for advertised goods and services. Its vital that we continue to scrutinise the behaviour of the tech firms which loom large over our lives and ensure the best outcomes for people and businesses throughout the UK. In response, a Google spokesperson said: Advertising tools from Google and many competitors help websites and apps fund their content, and help businesses of all sizes effectively reach their customers. Googles tools alone have supported an estimated 55 billion in economic activity for over 700,000 businesses in the UK and when publishers choose to use our advertising services, they keep the majority of revenue. We will continue to work with the CMA to answer their questions and share the details on how our systems work. Cannes Film Festival (17-28 May) is ostensibly about films and there have been some big ones this year, with screenings of Baz Luhrmanns new Elvis Presley biopic, and Tom Cruise returning in Top Gun: Maverick. And yet thats not really the best thing about Cannes what we look forward to every year is the completely over-the-top red carpet. Its a chance for celebrities to descend on the French Riviera wearing their most glamorous outfits, and this year certainly delivered in the style stakes. The princess dresses Elle Fanning (Doug Peters/PA) Elle Fanning is right at home in Cannes she was the youngest jury member ever in 2019, and consistently brings some of most memorable fashion moments to the French red carpet. This year, she gave us a classic look: a blush Giorgio Armani Prive gown with a fishtail skirt. With crystals on the dress, a bow in her hair and some major diamonds, the whole vibe was delicate and ethereal. Viola Davis (Doug Peters/PA) Dressed in a bright yellow Alexander McQueen gown with puffed sleeves and corset-style boning on the bodice, Viola Davis outfit was reminiscent of a fictional princess: Belle from Beauty And The Beast. Jourdan Dunn (Doug Peters/PA) Giving a modern take on the classic princess silhouette, Jourdan Dunn wore a pale pink gown by Ashi Studio, made up of a structured minidress with a puff caped skirt attached. Winnie Harlow (Doug Peters/PA) Winnie Harlows look was far more classic an Off-White creation with a structured asymmetric bodice and layers of tulle for the skirt. The fashion statements Bella Hadid (Doug Peters/PA) Bella Hadid made a bold statement in vintage fashion, wearing an architectural black strapless gown from Versaces spring/summer 1987 collection. Hadid sent Donatella Versace a personal message on Instagram, posting: I hope to make you and Gianni [her brother, the late Versace designer] proud always. Sharon Stone (Doug Peters/PA) Sharon Stones Cannes outfit was two dresses in one. She walked the red carpet in a blue and white Dolce & Gabbana gown with two male models on her arms who then helped remove the bustle attachment, revealing a slim-fit column dress underneath. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Doug Peters/PA) Actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchans red carpet look was all about drama, with the beaded gown bursting into an architectural accent over her head. Designer Gaurav Gupta posted on Instagram: Inspired by the birth of Venus, the goddess of beauty and love, rising from the scalloped shell; she transitions from the infinite, pure as a pearl. Adriana Lima (Doug Peters/PA) Model Adriana Lima paid tribute to Rihanna in her red carpet look, who served plenty of belly-baring fashion moments when she was pregnant. Lima wore a Grecian-style black Balmain dress, with a major cut-out displaying her growing bump. The nearly-naked looks Naomi Campbell (Doug Peters/PA) Naomi Campbells feathered Valentino gown was a masterclass in plunging necklines, with two thin straps making up the bodice. Kylie Minogue (Doug Peters/PA) Kylie Minogue amped up the sex appeal in a Versace gown, with a sheer corset-style bodice showing off a sparkly black bra. Olivier Rousteing and Cara Delevingne (Doug Peters/PA) Going for Gothic glam, Cara Delevingnes black Balmain dress was dotted with sheer diamond-shaped panels and set off with the must-have red carpet accessory of the moment: gloves. The sparkles Anne Hathaway (Doug Peters/PA) Anne Hathaway has had a standout time at her first Cannes Film Festival, making waves in kicky minidresses and brightly coloured tailoring. But her biggest fashion moment came on the red carpet, in a softly shimmering white Armani dress. It gave off a Nineties vibe, with a tube top attachment, a long shawl trailing on the ground, and Hathaways hair left loose. Eva Longoria (Doug Peters/PA) Eva Longoria went all-in on sparkles in a silver gown by Cristina Ottaviano, looking like she was wearing high-fashion armour. Julia Roberts (Doug Peters/PA) Julia Roberts wasnt wearing an obviously sparkly outfit (instead, she donned a classic black Louis Vuitton suit) but we cant take our eyes off her massive Chopard necklace. According to Chopard, the rare yellow diamond clocks in at over 100 carats, and it gave Roberts ensemble the shine it needed. People fleeing Afghanistan made up almost a quarter of the migrants crossing the Channel in the first three months of the year. Out of 4,540 people detected arriving by small boats between January and March 2022, some 24% (1,094) were Afghan nationals, according to Home Office figures. This was the most out of any nationality recorded, followed by 16% who were Iranian (722) and 15% (681) Iraqi which both typically outrank Afghans in the numbers. The rise has prompted concerns from campaigners that the Governments resettlement scheme in the wake of the Taliban takeover is failing and raised questions over whether Afghans could be at risk of being deported to Rwanda because they could be deemed to have arrived in the UK illegally under new immigration rules. (PA Graphics) It comes as separate figures showed the number of asylum claims made in the UK has climbed to its highest in nearly two decades, while the backlog of cases waiting to be determined continues to soar. Marley Morris, from think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), said: Todays migration stats show a shocking rise in the number of Afghans arriving in the UK on small boats. The government has said it is giving Afghans a warm welcome, but these figures reveal that many have felt they have been left with no option but to take this dangerous route to make it to the UK. Now the governments new plans in response to the Channel crossings could mean that Afghan asylum seekers will be sent to Rwanda. This would be an unimaginably awful outcome for people who have already faced such great hardship. Contrary to the governments claims, there are few safe routes for people forced into small boats to make it to the UK. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: The sharp increase in the numbers of people fleeing Taliban atrocities in Afghanistan, having no choice but to make desperate journeys over the Channel to find safety here in the UK, is concerning but unsurprising. This increase is the inevitable consequence of the restrictive nature of the Afghanistan resettlement schemes, for which the vast majority of Afghans are simply ineligible. The government must honour the promises they made to the people of Afghanistan by immediately ensuring the most vulnerable people in the country are able to access a safe route to the UK, so they are not forced to risk their lives in order to find safety here. Dr Peter William Walsh, senior researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford said: The arrival of Afghans in small boats on the UK coast indicates that many more wish to find protection here than are able to do so under the UK governments existing schemes. The Government pledged to resettle 20,000 refugees, with as many as 5,000 in the first year under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). It relocated the first people on January 6 2022 once the scheme opened some six months after the Taliban took over the countrys capital Kabul in August. But questions remain over its progress to date. Meanwhile, an estimated 7,000 people have been relocated under the existing Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) which launched in April last year and offers priority relocation to the UK for current or former locally employed staff who had been assessed to be under serious threat to life. The Home Office said: The UK has made one of the largest commitments to support Afghan refugees of any country, and will resettle up to 20,000 Afghan women, children and others at risk. The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable. The Nationality and Borders Act will crack down on the evil people smuggling gangs who are abusing our immigration laws, risking lives and hinder our ability to help people come through safe and legal routes. The official Government figures on Channel crossings show the number arriving in the first quarter of this year was more than three times higher than the same period a year earlier (1,363). They also show most of the people who made the crossing (89%) were male, the same as the average between 2018 and 2021. Some 3,448 men were recorded to have made the journey in the three-month period, as well as 342 women and 743 children, of which 594 were boys and 142 were girls, with seven recorded as unknown. But information on age, gender and nationality was not available for some arrivals. The average number of migrants on board each boat crossing the Channel almost doubled in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2021, up from 18 to 32. Crossings took place on 30 out of the 90 days. Some 9,330 migrants have reached the UK after navigating busy shipping lanes from France in small boats such as dinghies since the start of 2022, according to analysis of Government data by the PA news agency. A total of 28,526 people made the crossing in 2021, compared with 8,466 in 2020, 1,843 in 2019 and 299 in 2018, according to official figures. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde are doing their best to ensure they still get to spend quality time together, despite their respective commitments. Harrys excited about his tour but bummed itll take him away from Olivia for a while, a source exclusive reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly. But shell come to a few of the gigs and theyre planning on making fun little trips in various cities when she can take a break herself. Read article Though the couple arent looking forward to being apart, theyre not concerned about the distance taking a toll on their relationship. Theyre not nervous about spending time apart, it adds to the attraction when they reunite after some time off, the insider continued. Both of them are secure and positive about what the future holds for them. Earlier this month, Wilde, 38, and Styles, 28, were spotted on an Italian vacation, where the duo were photographed strolling through a small village together. Harry and Olivia had such a great time in Italy, it was just what they needed, the source noted, adding that it was the perfect opportunity to relax together before their schedules get packed with obligations. Shutterstock (2) The getaway marked the second time that the Booksmart director has traveled to Italy with Styles. In July 2021, the duo visited Monte Argentario, a peninsula in the Tuscany region, where they were photographed kissing and cuddling on a yacht. Read article On May 16, the Watermelon Sugar musician opened up about his love for the European country. I drove to Italy by myself, Styles recalled during an interview with Zane Lowe, noting that he started the trip with a friend but eventually began exploring on his own. It was, like, an open-ended trip. I just stayed there for a couple of weeks by myself and just went so slowly and felt much more present than Id been in a really long time. He continued: And Id walk around, and Id get a coffee and Id sit down. I think I just relaxed a lot and felt like no one knew where I was and felt like a human being and felt very small in a really nice way. Wilde and the Fine Line crooner first made headlines when they attended his managers wedding together in January 2021, two months after news broke about her split from fiance Jason Sudeikis. (The actors share son Otis, 8, and daughter Daisy, 5.) A source exclusively told Us at the time that the twosome hit it off while working on the movie Dont Worry Darling. Harry and Olivia had chemistry almost instantaneously on set, the insider said. It was only a matter of time before they got together. Read article Last month, Wilde praised her boyfriends performance in Dont Worry Darling, describing him as nothing short of a revelation during an appearance at CinemaCon. Styles, for his part, has been equally effusive about working with the O.C. alum. I had a wonderful experience being directed by Olivia, he said during a May 18 appearance on the Howard Stern Show. Acting is kind of uncomfortable at times. You have to trust a lot. Being able to trust your director is a gift, that was very helpful. Kevin Spacey (pictured in 2019) has been charged with sexual assault. (Photo: Getty Images) Actor Kevin Spacey has been charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men in the United Kingdom. Rosemary Ainslie, head of the Crown Prosecution Services's Special Crime Division, said, The CPS has authorized criminal charges against Kevin Spacey, 62, for four counts of sexual assault against three men. He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr. Spacey are active and that he has the right to a fair trial. The alleged incidents took place in London between March 2005 and August 2008, and in the English county of Gloucestershire in April 2013. It follows a review of the evidence gathered by London's Metropolitan Police in its previous investigation into the actor. Spacey was questioned by Scotland Yard detectives about sex assault allegations in the U.K. back in 2019. The Oscar winner was voluntarily interviewed under caution but not arrested in May 2019. The Hollywood actor had been facing six allegations of sexual assault in the U.K. between 1996 and 2013. Spacey, who was artistic director at Londons The Old Vic theater between 2004 and 2015, was one of the first Hollywood stars to face allegations in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. Actor Anthony Rapp alleged he was 14 when Spacey, then 26, made a sexual advance to him in 1986. Spacey said he did not remember the alleged encounter but apologized for any inappropriate drunken behavior. The star was fired by Netflixs House Of Cards and removed from his completed film All The Money In The World in re-shoots costing millions. The Old Vic found 20 people who claimed they had been subjected to inappropriate behavior from the actor. Spacey has denied all allegations against him. Hollywood tributes are pouring in for Ray Liotta, the distinctive Goodfellas actor who died suddenly at 67 years old. The actor was in the Dominican Republic at the time of his death shooting the movie Dangerous Waters. Liotta went to sleep and never woke up, the actors publicist confirmed. Liotta is forever known for his performance as mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorseses Goodfellas. His other well-regarded roles include playing Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams. Additional credits include Blow, Killing Them Softly, The Place Beyond the Pines and Marriage Story. The actor recently earned acclaim for his double role in The Sopranos prequel movie The Many Saints of Newark and for his supporting turn in Steven Soderberghs crime caper No Sudden Movie. He recently wrapped production on the Elizabeth Banks-directed Cocaine Bear. RELATED: Ray Liottas Career in Photos, From Goodfellas to The Many Saints of Newark His Goodfellas co-star Robert De Niro shared a statement, writing, I was very saddened to learn of Rays passing. He is way too young to have left us. May he Rest in Peace. I am utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray, the late actors Goodfellas co-star Lorraine Bracco wrote on Twitter. I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas. Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the sameRay Liotta. I am utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray. I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas. Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the sameRay Liotta. pic.twitter.com/3gNjJFTAne Lorraine Bracco (@Lorraine_Bracco) May 26, 2022 Shocked and saddened to hear of Ray Liottas passing, filmmaker James Mangold wrote on Twitter. Beyond the tough guy exterior and the tightly wound emotions of his signature characters, he was a sweet, playful and passionate collaborator and brilliant actor. RIP. Shocked and saddened to hear of Ray Liottas passing. Beyond the tough guy exterior and the tightly wound emotions of his signature characters, he was a sweet, playful and passionate collaborator and brilliant actor. RIP. pic.twitter.com/O5tueLlBMP Mangold (@mang0ld) May 26, 2022 Ray Liotta. Man. Just met dude for the first time last year. GREAT actor, actor Jeffrey Wright wrote. Nice to have had a chance to say that to him. RIP. Ray Liotta. Man. Just met dude for the first time last year. GREAT actor. Nice to have had a chance to say that to him. RIP. Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) May 26, 2022 Jamie Lee Curtis added her own tribute: Ray Liotta has died. His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human being. A gentle man. So sad to hear. Ray Liotta has died. His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human being. A gentle man. So sad to hear. Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis) May 26, 2022 Oscar and Emmy winner Viola Davis shared an obituary for Liotta and wrote to her followers that she loved his work, while Rosanna Arquette added, Im really sad to hear that Ray Liotta has passed away. He was a friend back in the day and its very sad. We had a lot of laughs Rest In Peace My friend. RIP Ray Liotta!! Loved your work https://t.co/XmoRVn4L3R Viola Davis (@violadavis) May 26, 2022 Im really sad to hear that Ray Liotta has passed away. He was an friend back in the day and its very sad. We had a lot of laughs Rest In Peace My friend. rosanna arquette (@RoArquette) May 26, 2022 See more tributes to Ray Liotta in the posts below. I cant believe Ray Liotta has passed away. He was such a lovely, talented and hilarious person. Working with him was one of the great joys of my career and we made some of my favorite scenes I ever got to be in. A true legend of immense skill and grace. Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) May 26, 2022 RIP Ray Liotta. Hope they don't serve you egg noodles and ketchup in heaven pic.twitter.com/OeYNlD6MMS Matt Oswalt (@MattOswaltVA) May 26, 2022 RIP Ray Liotta Jay Baruchel (@BaruchelNDG) May 26, 2022 RIP Ray Liotta. I feel so lucky to have squared off against this legend in one of his final roles. The scenes we did together were among the all time highlights of my acting career. He was dangerous, unpredictable, hilarious, and generous with his praise for other actors.Too soon pic.twitter.com/FvsV2NNHkw Alessandro Nivola (@SandroNivola) May 26, 2022 I try not to do the RIPs but Ray Liotta was truly one of my favorites to watch. He just has this magnetic draw to his performances, which is part of the reason Goddfellas remains tied with Aliens as my favorite film(s) ever made. This one stung more than usual. devon sawa (@DevonESawa) May 26, 2022 Ray Liotta Dies: Goodfellas Star & Field Of Dreams Actor Was 67 Deadline / was privileged to work with and get to know liotta on two films. What a wonderful actor and sweet man https://t.co/MchjrhxtEX cassian elwes (@cassianelwes) May 26, 2022 Subscribe to Variety Newsletters and Email Alerts! By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court has not yet released its decision that looks set to dramatically scale back abortion rights, but one of the next legal battles has already begun in a Mississippi court. That is where the manufacturer of a pill used to carry out medication abortions, Las Vegas-based GenBioPro Inc, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the conservative state's restrictions on the pill, used in more than half of all U.S. abortions. Litigation over medication abortion, approved for use at up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, is likely to take center stage should the Supreme Court gut or overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. That case, also from Mississippi, concerns the state's effort to ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. GenBioPro sells mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medication abortion. The company argued in a 2020 lawsuit that Mississippi's restrictions on the pill conflict with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval for use in abortions. In legal jargon, GenBioPro says the state law is pre-empted by the FDA's approval, meaning federal authority trumps any state action. The more than a dozen states that plan to almost totally ban abortion if Roe is overturned will face difficulties enforcing restrictions on medication abortion because women are still likely to be able to obtain the pills online or in other states. "In a world without Roe, medication abortion becomes the big challenge for these states that want to regulate abortions out of existence," said Greer Donley, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law who is an expert on reproductive rights. GenBioPro's lawsuit, which legal experts say is a long shot, takes aim at various Mississippi requirements, including one that says women are required to take the pill in the presence of a doctor. Mississippi is one of 19 states that require women to make an in-person visit to obtain the drug, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports the right to an abortion. The FDA does not require an in-person meeting. The Mississippi restrictions "upset the balance that the FDA struck between risk mitigation and ensuring access to a safe and effective medication," the GenBioPro lawsuit said. The company, via its lawyers, declined to comment. The state asked in a court filing that the lawsuit be thrown out, saying there is "no evidence that Congress ever intended the FDA to have the power to nullify a state's ability to regulate in the controversial and highly sensitive area of abortion." A spokesperson for Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who is defending the state restrictions, declined to comment. The judge has yet to rule. 031d2cca-fae5-4f44-8b61-9c5e7546a55d4 (Graphic: -Telehealth restrictions for medical abortion - https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-ABORTION/PILL/gdvzyaaqopw/chart.png) LONG ODDS Mifepristone was approved for use in abortions by the FDA in 2000, long after Roe was decided. The pill, also known as RU 486, blocks the pregnancy-sustaining hormone progesterone while the other drug used, misoprostol, induces uterine contractions. GenBioPro's legal theory is a novel one when it comes to FDA-approved drugs. One of the few similar cases concerns an opioid that Massachusetts tried to prohibit. A federal judge in 2014 ruled that federal approval of the drug preempted the state's effort to ban it. Legal experts say the law is murky because Congress has never said explicitly that FDA approval trumps state law as it has done in the context of medical devices. Therefore it would be left to courts to decide the question under a theory known as "implied preemption." Wide availability of medication abortion in states that want to restrict or ban the procedure would be a major setback to anti-abortion campaigners who have long sought to ban abortion outright. Katie Glenn, a lawyer at anti-abortion-rights group Americans United for Life, said her organization wants abortion bans to cover medication abortion but that does not mean that mifepristone, which has been prescribed for other purposes, should be barred altogether. "Its not about banning the drug. Its about stopping abortions," she said. Attempts to challenge state restrictions could run aground at the Supreme Court, not only because the 6-3 conservative majority has shown its opposition to abortion rights but also because the justices are often skeptical about federal preemption claims. "The court has generally moved in an anti-preemption trend and has been skeptical of arguments that a state law generally impedes the interests of the federal government," said Ilana Eisenstein, a Philadelphia-based lawyer who has argued cases before the justices. If Roe is overturned, states would also have more leeway to argue they have a separate interest in preventing abortions based on moral objections to abortion. "I do think there is some basis to think that states can't ban an FDA-approved drug," Donley said, "but it gets a lot more complicated in a post-Roe world when a state bans abortion." (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Scott Malone and Lisa Shumaker) FILE - Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends the opening of the Tesla factory Berlin Brandenburg in Gruenheide, Germany, March 22, 2022. Twitter shareholders have filed a lawsuit accusing Musk of engaged in unlawful conduct aimed at sowing doubt about his bid to buy the social media company. The lawsuit filed late Wednesday, May 25, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California claims the billionaire Tesla CEO has sought to drive down Twitters stock price because he wants to walk away from the deal or negotiate a substantially lower purchase price. (Patrick Pleul/Pool Photo via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Twitter shareholders have filed a lawsuit accusing Elon Musk of engaged in unlawful conduct aimed at sowing doubt about his bid to buy the social media company. The lawsuit filed late Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California claims the billionaire Tesla CEO has sought to drive down Twitters stock price because he wants to walk away from the deal or negotiate a substantially lower purchase price. San Francisco-based Twitter is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, which seeks class action status as well as compensation for damages. A representative for Musk did not immediately respond to a message for comment on Thursday. Twitter declined to comment. Musk last month offered to buy Twitter for $44 billion, but later said the deal cant go forward until the company provides information about how many accounts on the platform are spam or bots. The lawsuit notes, however, that Musk waived due diligence for his take it or leave it offer to buy Twitter. That means he waived his right to look at the companys non-public finances. In addition, the problem of bots and fake accounts on Twitter is nothing new. The company paid $809.5 million last year to settle claims it was overstating its growth rate and monthly user figures. Twitter has also disclosed its bot estimates to the Securities and Exchange Commission for years, while also cautioning that its estimate might be too low. To fund some of the acquisition, Musk has been selling Tesla stock and shares in the electric carmaker have lost nearly a third of their value since the deal was announced on April 25. In response to the plunging value of Teslas shares, the Twitter shareholders' lawsuit claims Musk has been denigrating Twitter, violating both the non-disparagement and non-disclosure clauses of his contract with the company. "In doing so, Musk hoped to drive down Twitters stock price and then use that as a pretext to attempt to re-negotiate the buyout, according to the lawsuit. Twitter's shares closed Thursday at $39.54, 27% below Musk's $54.20 offer price. Before announcing his bid to buy Twitter, Musk disclosed in early April that he had bought a 9% stake in the company. But the lawsuit says Musk did not disclose the stake within the timeframe required by the Securities and Exchange Commission. And the lawsuit says his eventual disclosure of the stake to the SEC was false and misleading because he used a form meant for passive investors which Musk at the time was not, because he had been offered a position on Twitter's board and was interested in buying the company. Musk benefited by more than $156 million from his failure to disclose his increased stake on time, since Twitter's stock price could have been higher had investors known Musk was increasing his holdings, the lawsuit claims. By delaying his disclosure of his stake in Twitter, Musk engaged in market manipulation and bought Twitter stock at an artificially low price, the lawsuit says. Experts say it's normal to feel helpless after yet another school shooting. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) After yet another school shooting most recently on Tuesday at an Uvalde, Texas, elementary school, which marks the 27th school shooting this year alone its hard not to feel heartbroken and helpless, particularly if youre a parent. Many parents are understandably feeling fearful, sad, angry and helpless as they learn about another heartbreaking loss of life connected to gun violence in schools, Arianna Galligher, a licensed independent social worker supervisor and the associate director of the STAR Trauma Recovery Center at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells Yahoo Life. Many are struggling to trust that their own children will be safe and protected in this setting, and theyre saddled with vicarious grief as they contemplate the devastation of parents whove suffered the tragic loss of their children in this manner. Barbara Greenberg, an adolescent and family psychologist, tells Yahoo Life that its normal to be going through a range of mixed emotions right now, including feeling distraught, numb, confused, unsafe, out of control, terrified, helpless and outraged. She adds: Its a mixture of feelings that leave you feeling helpless and despondent, and thats a lot to carry. Its more than any parent should have to carry. Greenberg says these feelings of helplessness are normal particularly for parents. It's a parents job to protect our children, she says. Anybody any loving parent is going to feel that. Eric Storch, professor and vice chair in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life that others may be experiencing feelings of anxiety and struggling to concentrate or focus on work, feeling really raw, and without some direction. He points out that many may also be feeling powerless or frustrated over the inaction or ineffective action that tends to follow each mass shooting in the U.S. When similar patterns keep repeating themselves and leaders consistently fall short of enacting meaningful change to address the problems and control the controllables, it can be difficult to avoid feeling powerless, says Galligher. Its also common to feel overwhelmed by the depth and breadth of the problem. Storch explains theres also a domino effect happening, with one trauma on top of another, noting the dozens of shootings in the past couple of months, while coming off of a difficult pandemic, which we're still not out of, he says. Its like squirting some lighter fluid on something that was already burning kind of robustly. So what can people do to take care of themselves? Experts suggest checking in with yourself and figuring out what your needs are. For example, that might mean getting extra hugs from your kids or partner. Other parents might need quiet time, Greenberg says. Others might need exercise and movement. Others might need to talk to other people, such as a group of friends. Above all, be intentional about engaging in activities that soothe you and replenish your energy, says Galligher. Experts also recommend being mindful of your media consumption, both for your own mental health and for children who might overhear the news. Set limits around when and how much news youre consuming on this topic at one time, says Galligher. If youre feeling (understandably) stressed, be mindful of that around your children. Do the best you can not to overwhelm them with your anxiety, because they will feel that, says Greenberg. I know that's hard, but part of being a parent is attending to your children's needs, and sometimes that means dealing with your anxiety in another place. Storch suggests that parents check in with their kids as well and see what they know about the news. Correct what may be inaccurate and provide confident reassurance of their safety, even if you dont feel that way inside, he says. He shares that many people are feeling shaken by the tragic news, but stresses that its important for parents to let their kids see them as a role model of confidence and self-assurance, even if inside youre sort of struggling. What actions can people take to feel less powerless? One of the best ways to counter feelings of helplessness and hopelessness is to do something. As Galligher puts it: The antidote to despair is action. However, she points out that One person isnt likely to be able to solve the problem all on their own all at once, but that doesnt mean we should do nothing. Galligher recommends taking the initiative to learn about the gun violence problem from different angles and perspectives, and then taking stock of your own strengths and resources. Consider what you could do to make the problem better even if its a very small thing, she says. Choose one or two priorities that you really want to have an impact around and think about actions you can realistically take to affect those priorities. Focus on things you can control or influence whether its with your voice, your wallet or your personal effort. Storch says that can mean anything from protesting to volunteering, trying to do your part to make the world a little better. You can volunteer at or donate to gun violence prevention organizations, such as Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action (a grassroots movement thats part of Everytown) and Sandy Hook Promise. Greenberg also recommends contacting your childs school to ask about its safety protocols. Some have doors locked and safety officers who check people in, she says. Other schools dont have that. Be active reach out to the school about their protocols. She also suggests calling or emailing local lawmakers (you can find your representative here) to make sure they support sensible gun legislation and raise the roof on this. As Greenberg puts it: This is a life or death situation, and persistence prevails. Want lifestyle and wellness news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. In the hours and days after the horrifying school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, foreign governments around the world expressed their condolences to the American people. But in Mexico, officials added something different -- outrage, anger, and calls to action. "The gun lobby has succeeded in selling weapons of war, of a military nature, with the potential to leave victims unrecognizable, to civilians knowing the damage they cause. This failure to foresee, to prevent the damage is negligence, and the gun firms must be held responsible," said Alejandro Celorio Alcantara, the Mexican Foreign Ministry's legal adviser, in a tweet. That vocal criticism is part of a new, more assertive stance by Mexico's government against American guns, which have flooded into Mexico by the hundreds of thousands and helped fuel waves of violence. MORE: How the shooting at a Texas elementary school unfolded Last year, Mexico sued 10 gun manufacturers and distributors in U.S. court for billions of dollars in damages -- an unprecedented lawsuit that accused these companies of all but aiding drug cartels' acquisition of arms. Mexico has also pressed the issue repeatedly with U.S. administrations, calling for more frequent U.S. inspections at the border and enhanced technology to conduct them. PHOTO: A sheriff checks his phone as he sits on the sidewalk with two women outside Robb Elementary School as state troopers monitor the area in Uvalde, Texas, May 24, 2022. (Allison Dinner/AFP via Getty Images) "In recent years, the Mexican government has carried out more and better actions to advance an agenda of arms control in the U.S. than the U.S. government can or wants to," Ximena Medellin Urquiaga, a professor of legal studies at Mexico's Center for Research and Teaching in Economics, tweeted Wednesday. The outrage over the Uvalde killings is also fueled by the close ties the city has to Mexico. Some 78% of Uvalde's 15,000 residents are Hispanic or Latino, according to the 2020 U.S. census, with the U.S.-Mexican border just 54 miles away. "Just look at the last names" of the victims, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told reporters Wednesday. "They are the children and grandchildren of Mexicans." Mexico's top diplomat at its consulate in nearby Eagle Pass, Texas, was on the scene late Tuesday, offering consular assistance to any Mexican citizens potentially affected by the carnage. The Mexican Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it would wait for U.S. authorities to confirm whether any Mexican citizens were killed or injured in the shooting. Eight Mexican citizens were killed and seven injured in the 2019 shooting at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart. But while Lopez Obrador declined to answer questions on U.S. gun laws Wednesday, several senior Mexican diplomats did not hold back, including in blaming the U.S. gun lobby for violence on the southern side of the border. "The horror. This will continue to happen as long as weapons are readily available. Whether it's the 1st economy in the world, the 15th or the 190th. Parents lose their children. We all lose. The only winner is the gun industry. Let's hold them accountable," Salvador Tinajero, the Foreign Ministry's deputy legal adviser, tweeted Tuesday. An estimated 200,000 guns are trafficked from the U.S. into Mexico each year, according to the Mexican government -- a figure that the U.S. government called "the best estimate available," according to a February 2021 U.S. government watchdog report. In its lawsuit last August, Mexico alleged the number is now higher -- between 500,000 and 873,000 guns per year. PHOTO: People gather at Robb Elementary School, the scene of a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, May 25, 2022. (Nuri Vallbona/Reuters) Approximately 70% of the firearms recovered in Mexico from 2014 to 2018 came from the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Justice -- although that number could also be even higher because those are only the firearms submitted for tracing by Mexico's federal government, not including those recovered by Mexican states, according to that U.S. watchdog report. Experts say that enormous southern flow of weapons is because access to guns is much easier in the U.S. In contrast, Mexico has strict laws that all but forbid guns from public. While firearms are not illegal to own and keep at home, heavy requirements for ownership usually mean months of paperwork -- and guns can only be purchased from the country's one gun store on a military base in Mexico City. Despite those restrictions, Mexico suffers from some of the worst gun violence in the world. Between 2015 and 2021, more than 141,000 people were killed with a gun across the country -- a rate of homicide by firearm that rose 109 percent, according to the "Mexico Peace Index 2022" report by the Institute for Economics and Peace, a nonpartisan think tank. Years of working with the U.S. government, including $54 million from the State Department between 2015 and 2019 to boost Mexican law enforcement's counter gun trafficking, has not eased the problem. Instead, in its lawsuit last August, the Mexican government took a page from U.S. gun safety groups by going after gun manufacturers like Smith & Wesson. The companies "sell to any distributor or dealer that has a U.S. license to buy and sell the product, regardless of the buyer's record of flouting the law and despite blazing red flags indicating that a gun dealer is conspiring with straw purchasers or others to traffic Defendants' guns into Mexico. Defendants use this head-in-the-sand approach to deny responsibility while knowingly profiting from the criminal trade," the lawsuit alleged. The case has little chance at success because U.S. federal law largely protects gun manufacturers from being sued by victims of gun violence, and it's unclear whether Mexico has standing to sue them in U.S. court. In November, several manufacturers first moved to have the case dismissed, arguing in court again last month that any connection between their sales and the alleged damage is too far removed to make them responsible. Even more assertively, the NRA accused the Mexican government in February of "deflect[ing] criticism of their own failures by abusing the legal system to blame law-abiding gun manufacturers." But the political message of the lawsuit and another round of vocal Mexican criticism could have a more lasting effect, as the U.S. appears increasingly singular in its gun violence problem. In remarks Tuesday evening, President Joe Biden noted he learned about the Uvalde massacre while flying back from his first trip to Asia, saying, "What struck me was these kinds of shootings rarely happen anywhere else in the world." His spokesperson at the State Department went further, saying the shooting has "implications for our standing" in the world. It even potentially makes the U.S. a "source of confusion, a source of disbelief for our closest friends and allies -- worse yet, an object of pity," Ned Price said Wednesday. But for Mexico, it's the U.S. as a source of guns themselves that looms largest -- a destabilizing neighbor, according to some officials. "Mexico is standing up to the gun industry in courts. Their negligent and profit-driven practices are wrecking havoc in our communities," Guillaume Michel, head of legal affairs at the Mexican embassy in Washington, tweeted Wednesday. Whether repeated incidents of that havoc will lead to any legal changes -- in court or Congress -- remains to be seen. Across the border from Uvalde, anger, sorrow, calls to action in Mexico after another US mass shooting originally appeared on abcnews.go.com OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian police said on Wednesday they had barred Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from a fundraising event over safety concerns after protesters with several cars and trucks started gathering outside the venue. Trudeau had been due to address an event held by the ruling Liberal Party in the province of British Columbia on Tuesday. Last year he had gravel thrown at him during an election campaign stop. "Due the size and composition of the protest group and for the safety of everyone in attendance, a decision was made that it was not safe for the prime minister to attend," the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement. One of the protesters carried a model gallows and noose adorned with a slogan accusing Trudeau of treason. Asked about the incident, Trudeau told reporters earlier on Wednesday that attendees had been faced with harassment, racist insults and threats of violence. "The safety of Canadians choosing to make their voices heard and politics should never be in question as it was last night and as we're increasingly seeing across the country," he said. Earlier this year, hundreds of truckers occupied downtown Ottawa in what started out as a protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates but quickly turned into an anti-government and anti-Trudeau demonstration. Jagmeet Singh, leader of the smaller left-leaning New Democrats, was jostled and sworn at by protesters in the Ontario town of Peterborough on May 10. His party is keeping Trudeau's Liberal minority government in power. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil, editing by David Ljunggren and Lincoln Feast.) Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, right, shakes hands with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador at Revolution Palace in Havana on May 8. (Yamil Lage / Associated Press) The president of Cuba announced Wednesday that his country will not attend next month's Summit of the Americas, a major conference to take place in Los Angeles, after the U.S. refused to extend a proper invitation. The decision throws the summit, which is crucial to the U.S.' ability to demonstrate its influence in the Western Hemisphere, into further disarray. President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Twitter that "under no circumstance" would he attend. His comments came after days of speculation and an attempt by the Biden administration to find a compromise that would absolve it of having to invite a "non-democratic" government while avoiding the risk of infuriating much of Latin America. When Brian Nichols, assistant secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, told The Times and other media last month that the U.S. would not invite Cuba, the backlash was swift. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador threatened to boycott if the U.S. government, as host of the event, did not invite all the countries of the hemisphere. A regional summit hosted by the U.S. without Mexico's attendance would be seen as a major embarrassment for the Biden administration. In addition to excluding Cuba, the administration plans to leave Nicaragua and Venezuela off the guest list. All have authoritarian governments that Washington considers to be in violation of the democratic spirit that the hemispheric conference is supposed to promote. After Mexico's threat, a cascade of boycotts seemed to be in the offing. Several Caribbean countries balked at attending, though several have since backed off Guatemala said it was staying home after the U.S. criticized its handling of official corruption cases, and the right-wing president of Brazil, the largest country in Latin America, said he also would not attend. A major ally of former President Trump, Jair Bolsonaro is angry at U.S. and other Western criticism of his handling of the depredation of the Amazon. The Summit of the Americas is held every three or four years and was inaugurated in Miami in 1994, the last time that the U.S. was host. Cuba was excluded or chose not to attend most of the time until 2015, when, at the summit in Panama, Raul Castro famously met and shook hands with then-President Obama, opening the way to a historic thawing of Cold War-era relations between Washington and Havana that has since backtracked under Trump and with Biden. Diaz-Canel, the first non-Castro to lead the communist-ruled country in more than half a century, lamented the U.S. position for failing to be "inclusive." "We share the position adopted by the leaders of the region who have firmly stated that all countries should be invited on an equal footing" to the summit, he said on Twitter. "We appreciate the courageous and dignified standing adopted by the countries that have raised their voices against exclusions," he wrote. One idea that U.S. officials have floated, more so in Washington than in Latin America, was to invite a lesser-level Cuban official, potentially someone from the Foreign Ministry, and possibly as an observer instead of as a full participant. But Cuban sources told The Times that such an arrangement would not be acceptable. Neither the White House nor the State Department responded to a request for comment Wednesday night. Times staff writer Courtney Subramanian contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. State Sens., from left, Gary Farmer, D-Lighthouse Point, Jason Pizzo, D-North Miami Beach and Lauren Book, D-Plantation confer during debate on Senate Bill CS/SB 2-D: Property Insurance in the Florida Senate Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Sears) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Florida will require statewide recertification of condominiums over three stories tall under new legislation Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Thursday as a response to the Surfside building collapse that killed 98 people. The governor's signature came the day after the House unanimously passed the bill during a special session originally called to address skyrocketing property insurance rates. The condominium safety bill was added to the agenda Tuesday and immediately passed by the Senate. We owe the public a very detailed explanation of each section, Democratic Sen. Jason Pizzo said in a text message. Pizzo, who represents Surfside, plans to hold a public forum with other lawmakers next month to address questions about the new law. Recertification will be required after 30 years, or 25 years if the building is within 3 miles (5 kilometers) of the coast, and every 10 years thereafter. The Champlain Towers South was 40 years old and was going through the 40-year-recertification process required by Miami-Dade County when it collapsed last June. At the time, Miami-Dade and Broward counties were the only two of the states 67 that had condominium recertification programs. There are more than 1.5 million condominium units in Florida operated by nearly 28,000 associations, according to a legislative analysis conducted earlier this year, Of those, more than 912,000 are older than 30 years and are the home to more than 2 million residents. The bill would require that condominium associations have sufficient reserves to pay for major repairs and conduct a study of the reserves every decade. It would also require condominium associations to provide inspection reports to owners, and if structural repairs are needed, work must begin within a year of the report. Similar legislation failed during the regular session that ended in March. The condominium measure was attached to a bill that would forbid insurers from automatically denying coverage because of a roofs age if the roof is less than 15 years old. Homeowners with roofs 15 years or older would be allowed to get an inspection before insurers deny them coverage. While some Democratic lawmakers complained that the special session on insurance didnt go far enough to help relieve homeowners, they did praise the addition of the condominium safety legislation. By Tom Hals (Reuters) - An 18-year-old gunman stormed a Texas elementary school on Tuesday and killed 19 children and two teachers, reigniting a debate in the United States over gun control and the potential legal liability for manufacturers of firearms. Below is a look at attempts to use the courts to hold manufacturers liable for mass shootings. U.S. GUN COMPANIES ARE GENERALLY PROTECTED FROM LAWSUITS Since 2005, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) has provided near blanket immunity for gun makers and dealers from liability for crimes committed with their products. The law was passed after lawsuits by several cities tried to hold companies liable for gun violence. ARE THERE EXCEPTIONS? Yes. The PLCAA has several provisions that allow a company to be sued, including for claims a company has knowingly violated laws related to the marketing of the product related to the shooting. The Connecticut Supreme Court said in 2019 that the federal law permitted a lawsuit by some of the families of the victims of a 2012 shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. The families sued Remington for violating the state's marketing law by allegedly promoting its Bushmaster rifle for criminal use. Remington, which twice filed for bankruptcy during the case, agreed in February to pay the families $73 million, the first settlement of its kind. Also in 2019, the Indiana Court of Appeals said PLCAA did not prevent the city of Gary from pursuing a 1999 lawsuit against firearms manufacturers under the state's public nuisance laws. Nuisance laws can be used to hold a defendant liable for damage done to a public good, like community safety, and the city alleged the manufacturers knew of illegal handgun sales and failed to prevent them. Two federal appeals courts, however, have ruled that public nuisance lawsuits are barred by PLCAA because they don't apply to the sale or marketing of firearms. OTHER LEGAL CASES Following the Connecticut Supreme Court ruling, other cases were launched that are working their way through the courts, seeking to seize on exemptions in PLCAA. Victims of a 2019 mass shooting at a California synagogue sued Smith & Wesson, saying the company negligently marketed the AR-15 style rife used by the shooter. A state court judge rejected last year the company's argument the lawsuit was barred under PLCAA. Meanwhile, the Texas Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that an online seller of ammunition, Luckygunner.com, was not protected by PLCAA from a lawsuit on behalf of victims of a 2018 shooting at a Santa Fe, Texas, high school. The company is accused of knowingly violating a law that makes it illegal to sell ammunition to minors. Mexico last year sued Smith & Wesson Brands Inc and Sturm, Ruger & Co and other firearm makers for the flood of weapons across the border from the United States. The lawsuit alleges the companies designed, marketed and distributed military-style assault weapons in ways they knew would arm drug cartels, fueling murders and kidnappings. The companies have argued they cannot be held liable for crimes in Mexico stemming from legal sales of their products in the United States. The judge overseeing the case in Boston has questioned whether allowing the case to proceed could undermine PLCAA. RECENT LEGISLATIVE ACTION In July, New York's governor signed into law a measure that allows firearm sellers, manufacturers and distributors to be sued by the state, cities or individuals for creating a public nuisance. A U.S. judge on Wednesday ruled against the firearms industry which sued to block the law and argued it was barred by PLCAA. On Tuesday, California senators approved a bill hours after the Texas shooting that would allow private citizens to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes, transports, imports, or sells assault weapons and untraceable ghost guns. The bill, which is supported by Governor Gavin Newsom, is styled on a Texas anti-abortion "vigilante" law that is meant to skirt conflicting federal law. It will now be considered by the state's assembly. LAWSUITS CHALLENGING GUN RESTRICTIONS Guns rights advocates have also used the courts to challenge firearms restrictions and the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to rule on a case over New York's limits on carrying concealed handguns in public. The conservative court appeared at arguments in November ready to strike down the law. Other lawsuits against restrictions include cases against bans on assault-style weapons in California and Maryland, which challengers say violates the constitutional right to bear to arms. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Diane Craft) FILE PHOTO: Wheat grains are seen at the Farmers Cooperative Exchange during harvesting in Bessie CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will allow farmers who are part of the federal conservation land contracts to voluntarily terminate their contracts and plant on that land, in order to help mitigate the global food crisis, the agency said on Thursday. The offer is open to farmers who are in the final year of their contract with the agency's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), USDA said on a statement published on their website. "Participants approved for this one-time, voluntary termination will not have to repay rental payments, a flexibility implemented this year to help mitigate the global food supply challenges caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other factors," according to the agency's statement. (Reporting By P.J. Huffstutter in Chicago.) FILE - New York's Lower Manhattan skyline, including the One World Trade Center, left, is reflected in water on April 6, 2013, as seen from Liberty State Park in Jersey City, N.J. Eight of the 10 largest cities in the U.S. lost population during the first year of the pandemic, with only Phoenix and San Antonio gaining new residents from 2020 to 2021, according to new estimates released, Thursday, May 26, 2022, by the U.S. Census Bureau. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) Ko Im always thought she would live in New York forever. She knew every corner of Manhattan and had worked hard to build a community of friends. Living in a small apartment, she found her attitude shifting early in the pandemic. After her brother accepted a job in Seattle in the summer of 2020, she decided to move there too. It was fine until it wasnt, said Im, 36. The pandemic really changed my mindset about how I wanted to live or how I needed to live." Eight of the 10 largest cities in the U.S. lost population during the first year of the pandemic, with New York, Los Angeles and Chicago leading the way. Between July 2020 and July 2021, New York lost more than 305,000 people, while Chicago and Los Angeles contracted by 45,000 residents and 40,000 people, respectively. Although San Francisco's not among the 10 largest cities, almost 55,000 residents left that city, or 6.3% of its 2020 population, the highest percentage of any U.S. city. Among the 10 largest U.S. cities, only San Antonio and Phoenix gained new residents, but they added only about 13,000 people each, or less than 1% of their populations, according to 2021 vintage population estimates. Justin Jordans move to Phoenix a year ago was motivated by a job offer paying him more money than the one in Moundsville, West Virginia, where he had been living. He has had to adjust to 110 degree Fahrenheit (43.3 degree Celsius) temperatures and unwieldly traffic. I love the weather, the atmosphere, and all the stuff to do, said Jordan, 33, a senior operations manager for a business services firm. Austin and Fort Worth in Texas; Jacksonville, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Columbus, Ohio also registered modest population gains. In March, the Census Bureau released estimates for metro areas and counties showing changes from mid-2020 to mid-2021. The estimates released Thursday offer a more granular perspective. For instance, the March data showed metro Dallas had the largest population gain of any metro area in the U.S., adding more than 97,000 residents, but Thursday's estimates show the city of Dallas lost almost 15,000 residents. The growth occurred in Dallas suburbs like Frisco, McKinney and Plano. Reasons for population changes vary from city to city, driven by housing costs, jobs, births and deaths. The pandemic and the lockdown that followed in spring 2020 made living in a crowded city less appealing for a time, and those who could leave workers who could do their jobs remotely, for example sometimes did. Brookings Institution demographer William Frey said he believes the population declines in most of the largest U.S. cities from 2020 to 2021 are short-lived and pandemic-related." When it came to growth rates, as opposed to raw numbers, the fastest-growing cities with populations of at least 50,000 residents were in the suburbs of booming Sunbelt metro areas. They included Georgetown and Leander outside Austin; the town of Queen Creek and the cities of Buckeye, Casa Grande and Maricopa, outside Phoenix; the city of New Braunfels, outside San Antonio; and Fort Myers, Florida. They had growth rates of between 6.1% and 10.5%. As metro Austin has grown by leaps and bounds, so has Georgetown, located more than 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of the Texas capital, said Keith Hutchinson, the citys communications manager. The city grew by 10.5%, the most in the nation last year, and now has 75,000 residents. Its not really a surprise, Hutchinson said. People are moving here for jobs. The estimates also showed population declines of 3% to 3.5% in New Jersey cities outside New York, such as Union City, Hoboken and Bayonne. Similar declines occurred outside San Francisco in Daly City, Redwood City and San Mateo, as well as Cupertino in Silicon Valley. Lake Charles, Louisiana, which was devastated by Hurricane Laura in 2020, lost almost 5% of its residents, the second-highest rate in the U.S. behind San Francisco. Though the Category 4 storm was the driver there, elsewhere, the pandemic created opportunities to move. Andrew Mazur, 31, had been wanting for some time to leave Philadelphia for South Florida where he grew up, and the chance to work remotely in his job at a large professional services firm arrived in November 2020. He joined almost 25,000 residents who left Philadelphia between 2020 and 2021. Although he now needs a car to get around, Mazur loves golfing every weekend and going to the beach. He recently moved out of his parents' home, getting his own apartment in Fort Lauderdale. He made the move official three weeks ago by obtaining a Florida driver's license. I'm not going back. It has been great," Mazur said. Philly, New York, Chicago tons of people from there are moving down here." ___ Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) -An Israeli appeal court on Wednesday overruled a magistrate who had stirred Palestinian anger by questioning the legality of barring Jewish prayer at a contested Jerusalem shrine, as the United States warned its citizens over travel in the vicinity. Al Aqsa mosque compound, which Jews revere as a vestige of their two ancient temples, is in Jerusalem's Old City and at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Under a decades-old "status quo" arrangement with Muslim authorities, Israel allows Jews to visit on condition they refrain from religious rites. Three Jewish youths who received a restraining order after praying at the site successfully challenged the police decision at Jerusalem Magistrates Court, which ruled on Sunday that their actions had not constituted a breach of the peace. That prompted protests and threats from the Palestinians and a pledge from Israel that the status quo would be preserved. A planned flag march by Israeli nationalists in the Old City on May 29 has further stoked tensions. The state filed a counter-appeal on Wednesday with Jerusalem District Court, which found in favour after nightfall. "The special sensitivity of the Temple Mount cannot be overstated," Judge Einat Avman-Moller said in her ruling, using the Hebrew name for a site Muslims know as the Noble Sanctuary. A right to freedom of Jewish worship there "is not absolute, and should be superseded by other interests, among them the safeguarding of public order", she said. In a statement to Reuters, Nati Rom, a lawyer for the defendants, said: "It is strange and regrettable that, in the 21st century, in a Jewish and democratic country, the basic human rights of Jews would be so harmed." With Jewish visits increasing in number, including over the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan that coincided this year with the Jewish Passover festival, Palestinians have cried foul. Jordan, a U.S.-backed Israeli security partner that serves as custodian of Al Aqsa, has also voiced concern. The flag march, scheduled for Sunday, marks the Old City's capture by Israel in a 1967 war. The annual event is resented by Palestinians who want the Old City for a hoped-for future state. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem urged vigilance on Wednesday, adding an advisory that U.S. government employees and their families "cannot enter the Old City at any time on Sunday". (Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Bill Berkrot, John Stonestreet and Gareth Jones) Robert Malley, the Biden administration's special envoy for Iran, testifies about the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action during a Senate hearing on May 24, 2022. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images) It's only been a couple of months since U.S. and European officials said a renewal of the Iran nuclear deal was "imminent." But with little progress since then, and a shifting global geopolitical scene, the top U.S. envoy for the Iran negotiations testified Wednesday that prospects for reviving the landmark deal were, "at best, tenuous." "We do not have a deal," the Biden administration's special envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The deal, which was signed in 2015 by then-President Obama and the leaders of China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany, and ratified by the United Nations, limited Iran's ability to process uranium, forced it to get rid of heavy water, centrifuges and other potential nuclear products, and allowed international inspectors to enter Iran. But President Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018, saying it hadn't gone far enough, and freeing Iran to ignore its obligations and ramp up production of materials that could eventually be used in making a nuclear bomb. President Biden last year dispatched Malley and a team of negotiators to find a way for both the United States and Iran to return to the deal's requirements, which for Washington includes removing a number of economic sanctions that Trump stiffened to punish Tehran and that have devastated its economy. In hotels in Vienna, multiple rounds of "indirect talks" ensued. The Iranians and the other signatories to the deal the Europeans, Russia and China negotiated face to face. Separately, Malley and his team awaited word from the Europeans on what transpired. U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken expressed hopeful urgency, saying earlier this year that the "runway" to a renewed deal was getting shorter and shorter. Time was running out, he said, but a destination seemed clear. As recently as late February and early March, even though the U.S. and Iranian representatives had never officially sat down together, more optimism was being expressed. Kamal Kharrazi, Iran's special representative to the talks, said an agreement was "imminent." He was echoed by officials of the European Union, hosts of the Vienna talks. Josep Borrell, the foreign secretary for the EU, said in March that a "final text" was "essentially ready." EU negotiator Enrique Mora concurred, saying "almost everything is done." And in Washington, then-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the sides were "getting closer." But two issues threatened to scuttle the talks. Iran wants its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a militant branch of its armed forces that has been accused of attacks throughout the region, removed from the U.S. list of terrorist organizations. U.S. negotiators expressed willingness to do that over significant opposition from congressional hawks by saying the Revolutionary Guard would remain sanctioned through other means. And then came Ukraine. After Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24, Moscow's negotiators conditioned its agreement to a new nuclear accord on the U.S. and other Western powers removing sanctions they had placed on Russia as punishment for attacking Ukraine. Iran, a Moscow ally, also became reluctant to agree to a deal without the Kremlin's blessing. Blinken said the two issues were "irrelevant" to each other. Malley said Wednesday that is where the talks have stalled. But he insisted at the highly critical hearing with both Democratic and Republican lawmakers that seeking a diplomatic resolution remained the best option for the United States. A military response as advocated by Israel and some others would at best slow down Iran, but not stop it in its nuclear pursuits, he said. The Iran deal was never popular among many in Congress and in conservative Washington think tanks. Any deal now would be "fatally flawed" and even weaker than the earlier version because of the advances Iran has made since Trump walked away, Mark Dubowitz of the conservative Foundation for Defense of Democracies testified to the Senate panel Wednesday. "Irans nuclear program will leap forward like a jack-in-the-box," he said. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency, said last week that Iran has amassed about 90 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% purity a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A jury in Portland has convicted a self-published romance novelist who once wrote an essay titled How to Murder Your Husband of fatally shooting her husband four years ago. The jury of seven women and five men found Nancy Crampton Brophy, 71, guilty of second-degree murder Wednesday after deliberating over two days in chef Daniel Brophys death, KOIN-TV reported. Brophy, 63, was killed June 2, 2018, as he prepped for work at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Southwest Portland. Crampton Brophy displayed no visible reaction Wednesday inside the crowded Multnomah County courtroom. Lisa Maxfield, one of Crampton Brophys attorneys, said the defense team plans to appeal. Prosecutors told jurors that Crampton Brophy was motivated by money problems and a life insurance policy. Crampton Brophy said during the trial, however, that she had no reason to kill her husband and that their financial problems had largely been solved by cashing in a chunk of Brophy's retirement savings plan. She owned the same make and model of gun used to kill her husband and was seen on surveillance camera footage driving to and from the culinary institute, court exhibits and court testimony showed. Police never found the gun that killed Brophy. Prosecutors alleged Crampton Brophy swapped out the barrel of the gun used in the shooting and then discarded the barrel. Defense attorneys said the gun parts were inspiration for Crampton Brophys writing and suggested someone else might have killed Brophy during a robbery gone wrong. Crampton Brophy testified during the trial that her presence near the culinary school on the day of her husband's death was mere coincidence and that she had parked in the area to work on her writing. Crampton Brophys how-two treatise detailed various options for committing an untraceable killing and professed a desire to avoid getting caught. Circuit Judge Christopher Ramras ultimately excluded the essay from the trial, noting it was published in 2011. A prosecutor, however, alluded to the essays themes without naming it after Crampton Brophy took the stand. Crampton Brophy has remained in custody since her arrest in September 2018, several months after her husband was shot. Her sentencing has been scheduled for June 13. COVID-19 cases surge again in U.S. as new Omicron subvariant takes hold Xinhua) 08:39, May 26, 2022 U.S. national flags fly at half-staff at the Washington Monument to mourn 1 million American lives lost to COVID-19 in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The country is averaging over 3,000 new COVID-19 hospitalizations each day, up 24.2 percent from a week before. LOS ANGELES, May 25 (Xinhua) -- COVID-19 cases are surging again in the United States, powered by a rising tide of Omicron subvariants circulating rapidly across the country. A new form of the Omicron subvariant, known as BA.2.12.1, has become the dominant strain among new U.S. COVID-19 cases, according to the latest estimates released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday. The new subvariant made up about 58 percent of all new U.S. cases for the week ending May 21, according to the CDC. The data increased from 49.4 percent a week before, and 39.2 percent two weeks prior, CDC data showed. BA.2.12.1 spreads more rapidly than previous versions of Omicron. The new version evolved from BA.2, which was more contagious than any previous coronavirus variant. Yet there was no indication that the new subvariant causes more severe disease than earlier forms did, health experts said. As Americans approach their Memorial Day weekend, the country is averaging more than 100,000 new confirmed cases per day for the first time since February, according to CDC data. COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continued to rise in the country as the death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed one million. Many regions have moved from low COVID-19 community levels into medium and high levels, according to the CDC. A U.S. flag flies at half-mast in the Central Park in San Mateo, the United States, on May 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) The country is averaging over 3,000 new COVID-19 hospitalizations each day, up 24.2 percent from a week before, CDC data showed. The surge came as many of the country's pandemic restrictions were lifted. Some infectious disease experts said the virus' unpredictable nature could lead to a fickle COVID-19 summer. Summer surges may hopefully be much less severe this year, because many more people now carry some form of vaccine- or infection-induced immunity, said Dan Barouch, director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Still, it is hard to project exactly what will happen, Barouch said. Health experts urged the public to wear masks on public transportation and indoor public spaces, even though the country no longer has a federal mask mandate. The CDC said people who are up to date on vaccines have much lower risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19 compared with people who are unvaccinated. CDC's COVID Data Tracker showed that in March, adults ages 18 years and older who were unvaccinated were about 5 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who were up to date. In the same month, people ages 12 years and older and unvaccinated were 17 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than those who were up to date. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday signed into law the nations strictest abortion ban, making the state the first in the nation to effectively end availability of the procedure. State lawmakers approved the ban enforced by civil lawsuits rather than criminal prosecution, similar to a Texas law that was passed last year. The law takes effect immediately upon Stitt's signature and prohibits all abortions with few exceptions. Abortion providers have said they will stop performing the procedure as soon as the bill is signed. I promised Oklahomans that as governor I would sign every piece of pro-life legislation that came across my desk and I am proud to keep that promise today," the first-term Republican said in a statement. From the moment life begins at conception is when we have a responsibility as human beings to do everything we can to protect that babys life and the life of the mother. That is what I believe and that is what the majority of Oklahomans believe." Abortion providers across the country have been bracing for the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Courts new conservative majority might further restrict the practice, and that has especially been the case in Oklahoma and Texas. The impact will be disastrous for Oklahomans," said Elizabeth Nash, a state policy analyst for the abortion-rights supporting Guttmacher Institute. It will also have severe ripple effects, especially for Texas patients who had been traveling to Oklahoma in large numbers after the Texas six-week abortion ban went into effect in September." The bills are part of an aggressive push in Republican-led states to scale back abortion rights. It comes on the heels of a leaked draft opinion from the nations high court that suggests justices are considering weakening or overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nearly 50 years ago. The only exceptions in the Oklahoma law are to save the life of a pregnant woman or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest that has been reported to law enforcement. The bill specifically authorizes doctors to remove a dead unborn child caused by spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, or to remove an ectopic pregnancy, a potentially life-threatening emergency that occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, often in a fallopian tube and early in pregnancy. The law also does not apply to the use of morning-after pills such as Plan B or any type of contraception. Two of Oklahomas four abortion clinics already stopped providing abortions after the governor signed a six-week ban earlier this month. With the states two remaining abortion clinics expected to stop offering services, it is unclear what will happen to women who qualify under one of the exceptions. The law's author, State Rep. Wendi Stearman, says doctors will be empowered to decide which women qualify and that those abortions will be performed in hospitals. But providers and abortion-rights activists warn that trying to prove qualification could prove difficult and even dangerous in some circumstances. In addition to the Texas-style bill already signed into law, the measure is one of at least three anti-abortion bills sent this year to Stitt. Oklahoma's law is styled after a first-of-its-kind Texas law that the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed to remain in place that allows private citizens to sue abortion providers or anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion. Other Republican-led states sought to copy Texas ban. Idahos governor signed the first copycat measure in March, although it has been temporarily blocked by the states Supreme Court The third Oklahoma bill is to take effect this summer and would make it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. That bill contains no exceptions for rape or incest. The home in Uvalde, Texas, where the suspected gunman was living with his grandparents after a falling-out with his mother. (Jordan Vonderhaar / Getty Images) Salvador Ramos appeared to be spiraling. In the weeks before the 18-year-old left a Texas classroom littered with bodies in one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history, Ramos stopped showing up at his high school, lost his job, began posting troubling images to social media and started to collect weapons, according to interviews, published reports and law enforcement documents reviewed by The Times. Eduardo Trinidad, whose son attended Uvalde High School with Ramos, said the young man had minimal contact with other people his age and often dressed entirely in black. In a moment that now seems like grim foreshadowing, Trinidad said he'd warned his son to avoid Ramos. "As I told my son, those are the kids you need to be careful around, because you never know," Trinidad said. One week before Ramos shot 19 elementary school children and two teachers to death, he legally purchased an AR-15 rifle, according to a summary of a law enforcement briefings reviewed by The Times. He bought 375 rounds of ammunition for the rifle the next day, and purchased a second AR-15 two days after that, according to the summary. Under Texas law, there is no waiting period between buying a firearm and picking it up, nor is there a waiting period between firearms purchases. Weapons do not have to be registered. Rifles and shotguns can be purchased by anyone once they turn 18, though Ramos would have been subject to a background check at the time of purchase. Ramos bought the weapons shortly after his 18th birthday, satisfying a long-held fascination with firearms, a friend of Ramos told the Washington Post. About a year ago, Ramos had posted pictures to Instagram of rifles "he would have on his wish list," according to the report. Other images archived from Ramos' now-deleted social media profiles show the teen dressed in all dark clothing with his face twisted into a frown, framed by long, dark hair. Ramos had a falling-out with his mother, according to published reports, and had moved in with his grandparents earlier this year. He'd stopped showing up to his job at a Wendy's restaurant about two weeks before the shooting, according to an employee who declined to give their name Wednesday. The employee also described Ramos as a "loner" and said the youth was virtually friendless. Trinidad said Ramos was upset that he was not going to graduate from Uvalde High School this year. A school district spokesperson was not immediately able to discuss Ramos' enrollment status. Ramos' frustrations with school started after he was bullied over a speech impediment, a cousin told the Post. He also sometimes drove around shooting at people with a BB gun, according to the newspaper. Despite Ramos' concerning and antisocial behavior, Texas officials said there was no sign Ramos had been planning to carry out Tuesday's massacre. In a series of private Facebook messages sent less than 30 minutes before the attack, Ramos said he had shot his grandmother and was going to open fire at an elementary school, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said. Ramos' grandmother, 66-year-old Celia M. Gonzales, suffered a gunshot wound to the face and was still undergoing surgery Wednesday, according to her husband, Rolando Reyes. In a brief interview with The Times, Rolando Reyes said he and his grandson would speak daily and that the teen had shown no signs that he was in turmoil. I didn't know about any guns," Reyes said as he walked past police tape to his car on Diaz Street in Uvalde. I'm so sorry. I feel terrible for those who lost children," he continued. "They were innocent." Ramos' grandmother had worked at Robb Elementary School, leaving in 2020, but law enforcement officials have not said whether he targeted the school because of her prior employment there. Abbott said Ramos had "no history of mental health care" or criminal record. Hennessy-Fiske reported from Uvalde, Texas. Winton and Queally reported from Los Angeles. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Sam, a transgender woman who lives in Georgia, said that on Tuesday evening, Reddit users started commenting on a photo of her that she had shared on the platform three months ago. They told her the photo was being shared on 4chan, a forum website with little moderation, and people were saying that it showed the shooter who killed 19 children and two adults at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday. The shooter, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was killed on the scene by police. Sam, 20, who asked to go by her first name to protect her privacy and safety, told NBC News that the photo and others were taken from her personal Instagram page, and that shes faced harassment and threats as the image has spread. This isnt the first time I was harassed, but it is the first time Ive been accused of murder, she said. For Sam, the false narrative around her image is a safety concern. I just want to live without being attacked when I leave my house, she wrote on Reddit. (Sam) The false claims started shortly after news of the shooting first broke. A photo of Sam was posted to 4chan on Tuesday afternoon, in a post that began with heres the shooters reddit before linking to her Reddit account and posting a transphobic slur. While some users said they did not believe the photo was of the shooter, other users posted new threads soon afterward, using pictures with fewer details of Sams face from her profile. She said shes feeling annoyed more than anything: Im more worried about the families of the victims of the attack, she told NBC News. Social media users and trolls on 4chan, Twitter and Facebook are using Sams photos and images of at least two other transgender women to spread the baseless theory that the shooter was transgender. In some cases, they have created collages that place the womens photos alongside images from an Instagram page believed to have belonged to the shooter. The claims were spread by some prominent conservatives on Tuesday. Rep. Paul Gosar, an Arizona Republican, said of the shooter in a since-deleted tweet, Its a transsexual leftist illegal alien named Salvatore Ramos. Gosar has not returned a request for comment. One of Sams photos was shared by the Young Conservatives of Southern Indiana Facebook page, which has more than 4,000 followers. Sam, 20, started posting photos of herself and her art online to help build up her confidence. (Sam) Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist who was successfully sued for defamation for falsely claiming the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting was a hoax, also echoed the misinformation that the Uvalde shooting suspect was trans. Representatives for Jones website did not immediately respond for comment. Conservative personality Candace Owens joined in on Wednesday, referencing cross-dressing photos she said shed seen of the suspect. Owens has previously shared misinformation in her feeds and unsuccessfully sued Facebook in 2021 after the company added a fact-checking warning to one of her posts. The photos that social media users are claiming show the shooter are actually of three different transgender women wearing skirts, including Sam, according to Trans Safety Network, a U.K.-based group that monitors online threats made against the transgender community. The group wrote in a post that all three women have confirmed they are alive. In an effort to debunk the theory, Sam shared a photo of herself standing in front of a transgender Pride flag on Reddit Tuesday evening and wrote, Its not me, I dont even live in Texas. In response to a comment on the post, she said she just wants to live without being attacked when I leave my house. She also shared another photo of herself holding a piece of paper with the date on it. She encouraged people to be careful about what they see online. Transphobic people exist and people are quick to blame someone for terrible things instead of looking for the truth about what actually happened, Sam told NBC News. Despite the fact that the posts including Sams photos violate Twitter and Facebooks misinformation policies, the platforms have done little to combat the emerging false narrative. A review of posts on Twitter and Facebook Wednesday morning found numerous tweets and posts using Sams image and labeling her as the shooter. In a statement, a Twitter spokesperson said, In line with our hateful conduct policy, we will require the removal of Tweets that share misleading claims about the identity of the perpetrator with the intent to incite fear or spread fearful stereotypes about a protected category. Additionally, the spokesperson said, In line with our synthetic and manipulated media policy, we will require Tweets to be removed if they contain media that present false or misleading context surrounding the identity of the perpetrator. A Meta spokesperson said the company is removing content that violates its Bullying & Harassment policy, which forbids content in which criminal allegations pose off-line harm to the named individual. Theyve been relying on me and others to report the misinformation before doing anything, Sam said. Some advocates condemned the basely theory that the shooter was transgender. This has GOT to stop, Erin Reed, a trans advocate, said on Twitter. She went on to reference investigations that Texas opened into the parents of some transgender youths in March following a directive from Gov. Greg Abbott that ordered state agencies to investigate claims of parents providing gender-affirming medical care to minors. A sitting congressman just spread a lie about the Texas shooter to pin it on transgender people spread by troll sites, in a state where they are spending more time banning trans kids than they are spending regulating guns, she said. Sam on May 25, 2022. (Sam) Another advocate, Charlotte Clymer, criticized Gosar and said he owes the public an apology. Its pathetic that @DrPaulGosar sought to exploit this horrific tragedy for anti-trans propaganda, she said. There is zero evidence that the shooter is transgender. Reporter and MSNBC contributor Katelyn Burns said this isnt the first time right wing liars have tried to falsely claim a mass shooter was trans. She referenced an article she wrote in April 2018 following a shooting at YouTubes headquarters in San Bruno, California, in which three people were wounded. The shooter died by suicide by the time police arrived at the scene, and afterward, some far-right websites and conservative critics speculated, without evidence, that the shooter was transgender. Similarly, Burns noted that following a 2015 shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that left three people dead, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, shared the unsubstantiated theory that the shooter was transgender after a far-right outlet reported that he registered to vote as a woman. Well, its also been reported that he was registered as an independent and a woman and transgendered leftist activist, if thats what he is, Cruz said during a campaign event in 2015, according to audio obtained by the Texas Tribune. Cruzs campaign later told news outlets that he was trying to make a point that there were still many unknown details about the shooter. This article originally appeared on NBC Out. KABUL (Reuters) - The United Nations rights envoy in Afghanistan said on Thursday the country faces "severe" human rights challenges and called on Taliban authorities to reverse growing restrictions on women and investigate attacks against religious minorities. Richard Bennett, UN special rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan spoke to reporters at the end of an 11-day visit to the country, his first since his position was created. "I urge the authorities to acknowledge human rights challenges that they are facing and to close the gap between their words and the deeds," he said. Bennett expressed concerns over access to education after the Taliban made a U-turn on allowing girls to go to high school in March and this month announced that women must cover their faces, to be enforced by punishing their closest male relatives. "Directives on maharams (male guardians), enforcing a strict form of hijab and strong advice to stay at home feed the pattern of absolute gender segregation and making women invisible in society," he said. Taliban deputy spokesman Inamullah Samangani denied human rights concerns, saying authorities had paid attention to the issues mentioned and were working on the issue of girls' secondary education. Bennett also called for investigation of attacks targeting Afghanistan's Shia and Sufi religious minorities, a trend he said bore "hallmarks of crimes against humanity". Recent months have seen more attacks on mosques and other civilian targets, some of which have been claimed by Islamic State. The militant group said it was behind three explosions in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday that killed at least 15 in predominantly Shia areas. Another, unclaimed, blast the same day tore through a Sunni mosque in the capital Kabul, killing at least five people. (Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar; Writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Catherine Evans) KYIV (Reuters) - Russia shelled more than 40 towns in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, destroying nearly a dozen high-rise buildings, authorities said on Thursday, as Moscow's forces sought to surround their Ukrainian foes, outnumbering them in some places. After failing to seize Ukraine's capital Kyiv or its second city Kharkiv in its three-month-old war, Russia is trying to wrest full control of the Donbas on behalf of separatists. The industrial region comprises the Luhansk and Donetsk provinces. Russia has poured thousands of troops into the region, attacking from three sides in an attempt to encircle Ukrainian forces holding out in the city of Sievierodonetsk and its twin, Lysychansk. Their fall would leave the whole of Luhansk province under Russian control, a main Kremlin war aim. "Everything now is focused on the Donbas," Ukrainian interior ministry adviser Vadym Denisenko told a briefing. He said the situation was very tense as 25 Russian battalion tactical groups attempted to surround the Ukrainian forces. The Joint Task Force of Ukraine's armed forces said the Russians had shelled more than 40 towns in the region, destroying or damaging 47 civilian sites, including 38 homes and a school. "As a result of this shelling five civilians died and 12 were wounded," it said on Facebook, adding that 10 Russian attacks had been repelled, four of its tanks and four drones destroyed, and 62 "enemy soldiers" killed. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office said 11 high-rise buildings were destroyed in Sievierodonetsk and eight in Lysychansk. Zelenskiy has said Russian troops heavily outnumber Ukrainian forces in some parts of the east and Kyiv has been trying unsuccessfully to arrange a prisoner swap with Moscow. The number of Ukrainian prisoners of war held in the Russian-backed self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics number is increasing daily, Luhansk official Rodion Miroshnik was quoted by TASS news agency as saying. "There are a lot of prisoners," Miroshnik said. "Now the total number is somewhere in the region of 8,000. That's a lot, and literally hundreds are being added every day." Reuters was unable to independently confirm the battlefield reports of either side. Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Donetsk region As Russia seeks to solidify its grip on the territory it has seized, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree simplifying the process for residents of newly captured districts to acquire Russian citizenship and passports. The Russian parliament scrapped the upper age limit for contractual service in the military on Wednesday, highlighting the need to replace lost troops. In a late night video address, Zelenskiy, commenting on the new Russian enlistment rules, said: "(They) no longer have enough young men, but they still have the will to fight. It will still take time to crush this will." Zelenskiy said this week the conflict could only be ended with direct talks between him and Putin. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation" to disarm Ukraine and protect it from fascists. Ukraine and the West say the fascist allegation is baseless and the war is an unprovoked act of aggression. Ukraine and the West say Russian forces have targeted civilians and have engaged in war crimes, accusations that Russia rejects. A 21-year-old Russian tank commander was jailed for life this week after being found guilty of war crimes for killing an unarmed civilian. Police in Lysychansk are burying the bodies of civilians in mass graves, Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Gaidai said. Some 150 people have been buried in a grave in one district, he added. Families of the people buried would be able to carry out a reburial after the war, and police are issuing documents enabling Ukrainians to secure death certificates for loved ones, Gaidai said. Russia has blockaded ships from southern Ukraine that would normally export grain and sunflower oil through the Black Sea, pushing up prices globally. The African Union urged the two countries on Wednesday to unblock exports of grains and fertiliser to avoid widespread famine. Russia has blamed severe Western sanctions for the food crisis. It said on Wednesday it was ready to provide a humanitarian corridor for vessels carrying food but wanted sanctions to be lifted in return. The economic pressure mounted on Wednesday when the United States did not extend Russia's licence to pay bondholders, pushing it closer to the brink of a historic debt default. The waiver has allowed Russia to keep up government debt payments until now. The European Commission has proposed making the breaking of its sanctions on Russia a crime. The EU also said it hoped to agree sanctions on Russian oil before the next meeting of EU leaders. But Russia, for now at least, is not short of money. Oil and gas revenues stood at $28 billion in April alone thanks to high energy prices. The impasse over Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol is not a real crisis, a senior US Congressman has insisted. Richard Neal said the deadlock was instead a problem to be solved after he and fellow members of a Congressional delegation held talks with Stormonts five main parties in Belfast. Powersharing in Northern Ireland is on ice after the DUP refused to re-establish a devolved executive following the recent Assembly election in protest at arrangements that have created economic barriers on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Mr Neal, who is chairman of the influential House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, has faced intense unionist criticism for describing the protocol dispute as a manufactured issue. Congressman Richard Neal at Stormont (Brian Lawless/PA) On Thursday, Mr Neal acknowledged he could have picked a more artful term to describe the impasse but he said no harm was intended by the comment. Anybody that would suggest that it was maliciously intended would be misguided, he said. Mr Neal suggested the protocol was a slight bump and momentary challenge in the political journey Northern Ireland has been on over the last three decades and paled in comparison to obstacles overcome during the peace process. To describe the protocol issue as a crisis is inconsistent with the success weve had over 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement, he said. I still dont think its a crisis. I think its a problem to be solved, duly negotiated much of it emanates from Brussels and London but it should include the people of Northern Ireland in the discussion and deliberation. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson speaking to the media following his meeting with the Congressional delegation (Brian Lawless/PA) He added: I think that every time we simply use the word crisis to describe everything, then we forget what a real crisis means, and I just continue to believe this is not a real crisis. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson heavily criticised Mr Neal after meeting him at Parliament Buildings, describing the delegations fact-finding mission as the most undiplomatic visit he had ever seen to Northern Ireland. Sir Jeffrey branded Mr Neals language in the earlier part of the week as unhelpful, adding it displays an alarming ignorance of the concerns of unionism. However, he said he heard a more realistic approach during the meeting with the delegation at Stormont on Thursday. Mr Neal, who said his meeting with the DUP went very well, said unionist apprehensions about the protocol were legitimate. I think I was very clear in the meeting that I had with the DUP that while I dont want to see a hard border on the island, I also pointed out to them that I understood the apprehension that they have raised about a border in the Irish Sea I thought that they were very receptive to that argument, he said. Mr Neal added: I would like to see the issue negotiated. I thought that the apprehension that they raised was legitimate. I think that there is an acknowledgment that there are some problems with the protocol. We want to see them smoothed over and repaired. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill (Brian Lawless/PA) Sinn Feins Stormont leader Michelle ONeill, who would be in line to become first minister if the DUP dropped its boycott of the devolved institutions, said the delegations visit was welcome. For many years we have enjoyed the support of successive American administrations in terms of our peace process, so I very much welcome the fact that we have such a strong delegation visiting here, she said. (They are) big supporters of the peace process, big supporters of the Good Friday Agreement and the need to protect that agreement. We have had a very good meeting with them in terms of our shared objective which is to have this Executive and Assembly up and running, supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis, addressing our health service needs. Meanwhile, Sir Jeffrey revealed his party confronted Mr Neal about his use of the term planter to refer to unionists in Northern Ireland. He said that during the meeting the DUP compared the stand-off over the protocol to a well-known event in the history of the America revolution, the Boston Tea Party. Sir Jeffrey said that when revolutionaries pushed tea chests into the harbour in Boston in 1773 the mantra was no taxation without representation. And I reminded Congressman Neal and his colleagues that this too is our mantra: that today Northern Ireland is subjected to laws and taxes into which it has no say, that not a single member elected to this Assembly can influence many of the laws that now oversee how we conduct trade in our country because they are imposed by the European Union, and there is no democratic accountability to this institution or any democratic institution in this country, he said. Richard Neal spoke to reporters at Stormont after his meetings (Brian Lawless/PA) Stormont was the last stop on the US delegations visit to the island of Ireland. The bipartisan delegation has also held meetings in London and Brussels during its protocol-focused mission. Many unionists and loyalists are vehemently opposed to the protocol, claiming its requirement for checks on goods moving across the Irish Sea has undermined Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdom. The Ways and Means committee would have a key role in approving any future trade deal between the UK and US, and Mr Neal has made clear such an agreement would be at risk if the London government pressed ahead with its plan to unilaterally scrap parts of the protocol. He said a trade deal was very desirable but added: As part of that, we want to make sure that that agreement is reconciled with the idea that we are a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and we dont want to see it jeopardised. Mr Neal said his position was entirely in line with the US administration in Washington DC. He insisted his role and that of the US was as an honest broker. Mr Neal said the issue of whether the Biden administration should appoint a special envoy to Northern Ireland was a matter for the US president to decide on. I actually asked the last president (Trump) to do that, to appoint an envoy he told me he was going to but he did not in the end, he added. Asked what he felt the prospect of a visit by President Joe Biden to Northern Ireland might be, Mr Neal said he would like to see a presidential presence at events to mark next years 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. He said: I would hope that British prime ministers, taoisigh from the Republic of Ireland, American presidents, American members of Congress, members of the Dail, senate and certainly the Assembly would all gather here for the 25th anniversary and say hooray, that challenge 30 years ago should remind the world of what again people of goodwill can do and they did it. Members of the Loyalist Communities Council met Mr Neal to discuss the Northern Ireland Protocol on Thursday. In a statement, the group said that the US could no longer be viewed as honest brokers in Northern Ireland and that the Biden administration has openly taken sides with the nationalist position. They added: Congressman Neal was asked to use his influence on Capitol Hill to require the ending of the Irish Sea Border just as much as he opposed any hard border on this island. Northern Ireland has endured far more grim moments than the current dispute over post-Brexit trade, a senior US Congressman has said. Richard Neal was commenting as he arrived at Parliament Buildings in Belfast for talks with the main Stormont parties about the Northern Ireland Protocol impasse. Powersharing is on ice in the region after the DUP refused to re-establish a devolved executive following the recent election in protest at arrangements that have created economic barriers on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Unionist politicians have reacted angrily to remarks by Mr Neal in Dublin on Tuesday when he claimed the protocol dispute was a manufactured issue. The Congressional delegation visited Londonderry on Wednesday (David Young/PA) Standing in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, Mr Neal told reporters: I have been in this hall many times, through far more grim moments than the one were currently witnessing, and I think that the role that weve (the US) offered, the dimension that we brought to bear, is overwhelmingly over all of these years been very helpful. So, looking forward to what all the parties have to say. Mr Neal also spoke of the need to duly honour the 25th anniversary of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement next year. Its an extraordinary success story, he added. Stormont is the latest stop on the US politicians ongoing visit to the island of Ireland. The delegation has also held meetings in London and Brussels during its protocol fact-finding mission. Many unionists and loyalists are vehemently opposed to the protocol, claiming its requirement for checks on goods moving across the Irish Sea has undermined Northern Irelands place within the United Kingdom. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has branded the Congressional visit as terrible. Ahead of his partys meeting with Mr Neal on Thursday morning, DUP economy minister Gordon Lyons criticised the suggestion that the row about the protocol was manufactured. Its an absolutely disgraceful comment to make, he told BBC Radio Ulster. And it means that hes either downplaying the impact that it is having or just doesnt understand the impact that it is having. A Tory peer has set the record straight after taking part in a conference in Hungary which featured a far-right journalist accused of antisemitism. Lord Wharton of Yarm, chairman of the Office for Students (OfS), was criticised by Jewish students for sending a video message to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Hungary. In the clip, he endorsed the re-election of the countrys Prime Minister Victor Orban, who is considered Russian President Vladimir Putins closest EU ally. Mr Orbans government has been accused of eroding democratic freedoms in Hungary since taking power in 2010. His populist Fidesz party won a fourth straight election victory on April 3, giving him an additional four-year term. In his message to the conference, Lord Wharton said Conservative ideas, the ideas of the centre-right, the belief in the individual those ideas can be as popular today as they were in the past and they are perhaps more important today than they have ever been. Its events like CPAC Hungary that allow those of us who share those views, who share common beliefs, to come together to meet old friends and to make new ones, to share ideas, he said. The conference was addressed on the same day by right-wing journalist Zsolt Bayer, who has referred to Jews as stinking excrement and referred to Roma as animals. On Monday, the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) said: We are concerned by this issue and have contacted Lord Wharton to seek urgent clarification due to the impact this could have on Jewish students. On Thursday, Lord Wharton wrote to OfS staff after meeting with UJS representatives. He wrote: I recognise that some of you may have concerns about reports of my appearance at the US Republican Party CPAC conference in Hungary recently. I want to set the record straight about my position. He said he didnt know that Zsolt Bayer, who has expressed racist and antisemitic views, was also speaking at the event. Even if I had known, I had never heard of him. It goes without saying that I have no time for racist or antisemitic views of any kind and whatever he might hold as his views certainly do not reflect mine, he said. He said he had an extremely positive meeting with the UJS and will continue to ensure the OfS is at the forefront of tackling racism and antisemitism. I hope you will all accept that same reassurance and my ongoing commitment to supporting free speech and academic freedoms, he wrote. Mr Whartons letter did not mention his message of support for Mr Orban. A UJS spokesman said: Yesterday, UJS met with Lord Wharton, chair of the OfS, following his video message to CPAC. He apologised for any concern this had caused Jewish students. He reaffirmed OfSs dedication to tackling antisemitism. UJS were reassured by his commitment to future engagement and the sincerity of his apology and hope to continue to work together to support Jewish students. The family of a 79-year-old grandmother found dead at home have described her as a beautiful and independent woman. Mari OFlynns body was discovered at a house in Leach Road, Bettws, Newport, at about 1.55pm on Tuesday. A 51-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and remained in police custody on Thursday afternoon, Gwent Police confirmed. In a tribute to Ms OFlynn, her loved ones said: Our beautiful mum, nan and sister was a strong, independent lady. We are completely devastated by the way our mum has been cruelly taken away from us. They said Ms OFlynn had much to look forward to, including a trip to Greece, where she had lived for 10 years with her husband. They added: We never would have imagined ourselves in this situation and cannot find the words to describe the grief that we are currently experiencing. The only comfort we can take from this situation is knowing she has been reunited with her husband and soul mate, whom she has missed dearly. The hole she has left will never be filled and she will be dearly missed by everyone, family and friends alike. Police said that on the day Ms OFlynn was found, officers attended along with paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service, who confirmed that she had died. A force spokesman said: A referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in line with normal procedures. A visit by a US delegation led by Congressman Richard Neal has been termed the most undiplomatic to these shores by the DUP leader. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson slated the language used as unhelpful, adding it displays an alarming ignorance of the concerns of unionism, with reference to Mr Neals comment about the dispute over the Northern Ireland Protocol being a manufactured issue. However, Sir Jeffrey said he heard a more realistic approach during his partys meeting with the delegation at Stormont on Thursday. UUP leader Doug Beattie (left) speaking to the media in the great hall following his meeting with Congressman Richard Neal at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast (Brian Lawless/PA) Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said he feels the delegation now understand the issues at hand. I think they get it now but we will know if they get it if they come out and say, We now understand, because we made that point quite heavily to them, he said. The senior US Congressmen led his delegation in meetings with all Stormont parties on Thursday. Sinn Feins Stormont leader Michelle ONeill said the attention was to be welcomed. Congressman Richard Neal (second right) and members of the Congressional delegation with Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle ONeill for a meeting at Parliament Buildings, Stormont in Belfast (PA) We have had a very good meeting with them in terms of our shared objective, which is to have this Executive and Assembly up and running, supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis, addressing our health service needs, she said. Very much welcome their commitment and we share their objective in terms of their support for the Good Friday Agreement. There is work to be done but I think the attention from this delegation is something that is very much to be welcomed. Meanwhile, Sir Jeffrey revealed his party confronted Mr Neal about his use of the term planter to refer to unionists in Northern Ireland. He said his party colleague Jonathan Buckley told Mr Neal he is also a planter and that comparisons were made between Northern Ireland today and one of the most seismic events in US history, the Boston Tea Party. Sir Jeffrey said that when tea chests were pushed into the harbour in Boston in 1773, the mantra was no taxation without representation. And I reminded Congressman Neal and his colleagues that this too is our mantra: that today Northern Ireland is subjected to laws and taxes into which it has no say, that not a single member elected to this Assembly can influence many of the laws that now oversee how we conduct trade in our country because they are imposed by the European Union, and there is no democratic accountability to this institution or any democratic institution in this country, he said. So I reminded Congressman Neal that the principle of no taxation without representation applies to Northern Ireland and we need to sort that out and until we sort it out and see the solution being put in place we cannot make the progress that we want to see. Congressman Richard Neal speaks to the media at Parliament Buildings, Stormont in Belfast, with the Congressional delegation (David Young/PA) Earlier, as he arrived at Parliament Buildings, Mr Neal said Northern Ireland has endured far more grim moments than the current dispute over post-Brexit trade. Power-sharing is on ice in the region after the DUP refused to re-establish a devolved executive following the recent election in protest at arrangements that have created economic barriers on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Unionist politicians have reacted angrily to remarks by Mr Neal in Dublin on Tuesday when he claimed the protocol dispute was a manufactured issue. Standing in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, Mr Neal told reporters: I have been in this hall many times, through far more grim moments than the one were currently witnessing, and I think that the role that weve (the US) offered, the dimension that we brought to bear, is overwhelmingly over all of these years been very helpful. The Congressional delegation visited Londonderry on Wednesday (David Young/PA) So, looking forward to what all the parties have to say. Mr Neal also spoke of the need to duly honour the 25th anniversary of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement next year. Its an extraordinary success story, he added. Stormont is the latest stop on the US politicians ongoing visit to the island of Ireland. The delegation has also held meetings in London and Brussels during its protocol fact-finding mission. Many unionists and loyalists are vehemently opposed to the protocol, claiming its requirement for checks on goods moving across the Irish Sea has undermined Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdom. Marysville, CA (95901) Today Sun and clouds mixed. High around 95F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low near 60F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. The United Nations Security Council will hold a meeting on North Korea on Thursday, according to its program released on Wednesday, reports TASS. On Tuesday, North Korea conducted three missile test launchers. Voting on a US draft resolution calling for tougher sanctions against Pyongyang is expected to be held, Reuters said citing an administration official. According to Seoul, North Korea test launched three ballistic missiles on Wednesday. One of them, according to the South Korean military, was an intercontinental missile, the two others were short-range missiles. The launch od one short-range missile was probably abortive. In response to Pyongyangs tests, two missiles, one South Korean and one American, were launched toward the Sea of Japan. YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting with United States Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy. During the meeting the Prime Minister underscored the intensification of the Armenia-United States cooperation and strategic dialogue and attached importance to the clear position of the United States as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing country in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement issue, which contributes to regional stability, the Prime Ministers Office said. PM Pashinyan said that the Armenian Government is guided by the agenda of establishing peace and highly values the continuous support to this process by international partners, including the United States. Ambassador Tracy thanked the Prime Minister for the appreciation and reiterated the readiness of the United States to continue supporting the democratic reforms in Armenia, the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and establishing regional stability. In this context Ambassador Tracy mentioned the recent call between the Armenian PM and the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and praised the Armenian Ambassador to United States Lilit Makunts efforts for intensifying the bilateral relations. The sides also exchanged views over the Armenia-United States relations agenda. YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. The launch of the first space satellite of the Republic of Armenia into the orbit of the planet Earth is an important infrastructure for the development of the sphere in the country, ARMENPRESS reports Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry Davit Sahakyan mentioned told the journalists. "This process started a long time ago, but was most active in 2022. It is a powerful infrastructure for building a space ecosystem in the country. During the Soviet years, Armenian scientists made great achievements in this field, now, taking into account the previous experience, we try to restore the success of the past. The ecosystem is multi-layered, it involves the production of space equipment, software development, etc. Armenia has that potential," said the Deputy Minister, adding that the goal is to promote the activation and development of enterprises operating in the sphere. An important component in the development of the sector is the establishment of a satellite control center and receiving station. The Deputy Minister noted that numerous events are planned in a number of directions for the activation and development of the sphere in Armenia. There are already companies in the field that have registered results in terms of attracting tangible financial resources. They are successful not only in the Armenian market but also abroad. The Deputy Minister did not provide details on the process of launching the first space satellite of the Republic of Armenia into orbit, taking into account confidentiality. He only mentioned that the satellite will remain in the orbit of the planet for at least 4 years. by Nirmala Carvalho Former Finance Minister Chidambaram calls for even stricter regulations in India on sale and possession. While in Karnataka, nationalist right-wing movements promote training camps for boys on guns and the trishul, India's traditional trident. New Delhi (AsiaNews) - After the new massacre at a Texas school, laws related to gun ownership are also being debated in India. Raising the issue was Palaniappan Chidambaram, a prominent Congress party member and former finance minister in the New Delhi government. "There are no words," he said, "to condemn the horrific killing of 19 children. The whole world mourns with the American people and the families of the victims. One way to do this is to impose strict gun controls and severely restrict who can buy or own a gun. American laws are too lenient in this regard, but India should also review and tighten these regulations. As hate speech and hate killings thrive, we must use all avenues to prevent this madness from sweeping the entire world." India actually already has fairly restrictive legislation, in this regard, requiring a license, either issued by the central government or by individual states depending on the type of weapon. However, in Karnataka, a state ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), right-wing organizations are promoting initiatives to teach boys to use guns, knives and trishuls (the traditional Indian tridents). The Bajrang Dal recently conducted a "weapons training" camp with guns and trishuls: it was held in Ponnampet in Kodagu district, about 240 km from Bengaluru, and lasted a week. According to reports in the Hindustan Times, the "camp" was attended by more than 100 people who were given trishuls. This is not the first time these right-wing groups have held such initiatives in the state; the government has been accused of turning a blind eye to these activities. However, Bajarang Dal delegate for South Karnataka, Raghu Sakleshpur, said the tridents distributed were "only 5.5 inches (14 centimeters ed.) and not even sharp; it is not a weapon but a religious symbol." Today's headlines:Health chief fired as Covid cases rise in Beijing; a series of explosions hit Afghanistan, at least 16 killed; Aung San Suu Kyi's family lodge a complaint to the UN against junta imposed detention; in Kazakhstan the quarantine-related "baby-boom" continues. INDIA An Indian court sentenced Yasin Malik, one of the prominent leaders of separatism in Kashmir, to life in prison. The judges found him guilty of participating in and supporting "terrorist activities" and involvement in "criminally motivated conspiracy." He responded to the reading of the verdict by recalling that he left the armed struggle back in the 1990s. TURKEY The Turkish military "neutralized" eight elements across the border in Syria and Iraq who were considered "terrorists." The first operation in Kurdistan with the use of artillery and resulted in the death of three Pkk elements. The second in Syrian territory, five killed. Erdogan announced a large operation in Syria, which Damascus considers a "war crime and against humanity." CHINA Beijing has ousted the health chief in the capital, where there is an increase in Covid-19 cases in spite of the zero-tolerance policy and restrictions imposed some time ago. The Omicron variant has caused hundreds of infections, millions must work from home, and transportation is largely suspended. Thousands have been forcibly transferred to quarantine centers. AFGHANISTAN A series of explosions rocked Afghanistan yesterday, killing at least 16 people. Attacked the Hazrat Zakaria mosque in Kabul where five people died, several injured. In the north in Mazar-e-Sharif three minivans were hit by a local cell of the Islamic State (IS, formerly Isis); the victims were all members of the Shiite minority. Still unknown is the matrix of the attack in the capital. MYANMAR Family members of Aung San Suu Kyi are set to file a complaint with the United Nations against the detention imposed by the coup junta in Myanmar. The 76-year-old Burmese democracy icon is in military custody and faces up to 150 years in prison. Her lawyers speak of "seizure at the hands of the judiciary" and announce appeal to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. RUSSIA The Russian fleet in the Caspian Sea staged a mutiny to avoid being sent to Ukraine. Ships stationed in the area are beginning to lack spare parts, which are being replaced with parts from China. This is causing sailors to refuse, even more than criticism of the military operation against Kiev. KAZAKHSTAN The "quarantine baby-boom" continues in Kazakhstan, with strong growth in births in the two pandemic years: 427,000 in 2020 and 447,000 in 2021, +4.6 percent and +11 percent, respectively, over 2019. In the first three months of 2022, nearly 100 thousand Kazakh babies were born. by Sumon Corraya In a meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, the Bangladeshi leader expressed concerns about 1.1 million Rohingya refugees, stuck for years in Cox's Bazar. Myanmar authorities have said that they will repatriate the displaced, but the latter want guarantees on their right to citizenship. Meanwhile, those who fled to India are now moving to Bangladesh. Dhaka (AsiaNews) Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met on Tuesday with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi in Dhaka. During the meeting, she expressed concern about the situation in Ukhia, a heavily forested area in Cox's Bazar district, where over 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals have been forced to live for years. The Rohingyas, she said, are becoming frustrated due to protracted uncertainty over their repatriation which has a potential risk as it entices many of them to get involved in criminal activities. What is more, They are reducing the forest by cutting trees and thus creating great environmental hazards in the area, she explained, adding that each year some 45,000 babies are born in Rohingya camps in Bangladesh. Her government, she noted, is providing temporary shelter on Bahanchar Island, Noakhali, with accommodations for up to 100,000 Rohingya. So far, some 30,000 have already been relocated. For his part, High Commissioner Filippo Grandi shared Bangladeshs concerns. Speaking about his recent visit to Myanmar, he said that he asked the government to start repatriating the Rohingya. Myanmar authorities agreed and the UNHCR has offered assistance to this process. During his five-day visit to Bangladesh, Grandi visited Cox's Bazar and Bahanchar, where he met some Rohingya. Local sources report that refugee representatives told the High Commissioner that they will not return to Myanmar until they are granted citizenship. Meanwhile, more and more Rohingya are coming to Bangladesh, but not from Myanmar. As a result of persecution in Myanmars Rakhine State, many had fled to India and are now crossing illegally into Bangladesh. Since last year, more than 2,000 have reached camps in Ukhia-Teknaf. For these Rohingya, refugee camps in Bangladesh are better stocked with food supplies and relief aid. In Cox's Bazar, however, resentment against the refugees is growing because of the involvement of some in murders, kidnappings, drug trafficking and the presence of armed groups at the border, which represents a threat to the Ukhia-Teknaf area. In the past five years, about 115 people have been killed in Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar. by Vladimir Rozanskij Rumors mount of a change in leadership in the Kremlin. Health problems for the Russian president, criticized for the course of the war in Ukraine by "hawks" and "doves." Fears over the effects of Western sanctions. Patrusev, however, would be in continuity with the Putin line. Moscow (AsiaNews) - Many sources close to the Kremlin are speaking about a possible replacement for Putin, who is grappling with increasingly obvious health problems, and would see Security Council head Nikolai Patrusev, the leader of the regime's "hawks," in his place. Three months of war in Ukraine have so far yielded no obvious results, with an increasingly impressive sequence of deaths and destruction, not to mention the consequences on the Russian economy of Western sanctions. All this would only increase the chances of a change at the top of the state. Members of Russia's military and political elites have, after all, repeatedly changed their views on the war and the situation in the country to settle on a general pessimism, and an increasingly widespread discontent with Vladimir Putin, both in those who oppose the war and those who continue to support it. The latter accuse the Russian president of weakness, calling for a more decisive and systematic relaunch of the offensive. Some anonymous Kremlin sources spoke to Meduza.ru correspondents, explaining that according to the hawks, "once you have started, you must have the courage to go all the way, acting without getting too much scruples." By this is meant general mobilization and war "until victory," meaning until Kiev is taken. The problem is that mobilization would not be accepted by the majority of the population, even by those in favor of the war, according to the results of various "secret" polls circulating in high places. The ranks of the "peace party," supported by leading businessmen and civil administration officials, are also swelling. Economic problems will begin to manifest themselves in the summer, in transportation, medicine and agriculture, and there is great fear of a total Western embargo on Russian gas and oil. The president and his closest entourage continue to disbelieve this eventuality, which is instead considered more than possible outside the "Putin bunker." Thus a list of Putin's possible successors is beginning to spread, if not immediately, then within a year or two at most. Names are being mentioned of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobjanin, former President Dmitry Medvedev, and the deputy chairman of the presidential administration, Sergei Kirienko. The latter has been seen increasingly at the side of Putin, who has appointed him supervisor of the Donbass, and is one of the few with whom he discusses prospects for the national economy; Kirienko had been prime minister still under Yeltsyn. The most popular candidate, however, remains Nikolai Patrusev (see photo), 70, who in recent days gave an interview to the magazine Argumenty i Fakty, declaring that "Russia in the special operation does not chase chronological terms," and if "Nazism is not eradicated 100 percent, in a few years it will raise its head again." Patrusev also added that in Russia we need to substantially increase the production of literature and art, as well as cinema and television programs, in order to "enhance and protect the country's historical memory, education in pride in the homeland and the formation of a mature civic sense, which clearly recognizes responsibility for its development and growth in all fields...only in this way will we be able to counter the threats and challenges brought to us by the collective West, which seeks to influence the consciences of individual citizens and the entire society." Words of Putin's perfect heir. by Shafique Khokhar The attacker, now in custody, struck Muhammad "Chacha" Sharif in the stomach in broad daylight, then slit his throat. He was shouting hateful phrases during the attack. Local sources speculate disputes over a sum of money behind the act. Sargodha (AsiaNews) - Yet another murder linked to blasphemy allegations in Pakistan, in broad daylight in front of a crowd that watched the act helplessly, unable to intervene. An 80-year-old man, known to most by the nickname Chacha (Uncle) Sharif (pictured), was killed in a brutal manner, stabbed in the stomach and then slashed with a machete, by a young man who shouted hateful phrases and slogans including, "I kill a blasphemer" as he struck. The incident dates back to May 19, but only after a few days did it emerge in all its cruelty. Muhammad Sharif, a trader with a 40-year bicycle repair business in Sargodha, Punjab, was beheaded by a 20-year-old man at 1 p.m. near a bus stop in an area crowded with people on their way to work. Eyewitnesses report a scene of violence and terror, with some people wanting to render aid to the agonized elderly man but fearing the reaction of the young man--arrested hours later by police--wielding a machete and accusing Chacha Sharif of being a blasphemer. Some people in the area speculate a dispute over a sum of money among the causes of the assault, and that it prompted the young man to kill the merchant using the pretext of the law that punishes those who desecrate the Quran or denigrate the Prophet Muhammad. Journalists and activists, including reporter Sabookh Syed, accuse the major national media of keeping the story quiet and concealing both the murder and the pretext that triggered it. Pro-human rights activist Mariyam Kashif Anthony speaks of the event as "appalling and deplorable," while calling for decisive government action to prevent similar events in the future. Blasphemy-related controversies are a sensitive issue in Pakistan, she adds, because they are exploited to "take justice into their own hands" or to settle personal disputes, in many cases by stirring up mob reaction that becomes complicit in crimes against innocent people. Recent examples include the Sri Lankan-born businessman Priyantha Kumara, who was lynched in his company, or Muhammad Mushtaq, who suffered from mental problems and was stoned to death after being accused of burning the Quran. According to the Center for Social Justice (Csj), between 1985 and December 2021 at least 1,949 people were indicted on false blasphemy charges, resulting in endless trials, threats and death row detentions. Of these, at least 84 were killed in extrajudicial killings because they were even suspected or indicted under the blasphemy laws. ADEN, Yemen, May 26 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and dozens injured in a grenade explosion in Yemen's southern port city of Aden on Thursday, a security official told Xinhua. "An explosion caused by a homemade grenade occurred inside a crowded public market in Sheikh Othman district in Aden Province," the local security source said on condition of anonymity. "Four people died on the spot and more than 25 were left injured and evacuated to a nearby health facility for treatment," the source added. Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that a person detonated his homemade grenade among a large crowd of shoppers inside the public market of Sheikh Othman district. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast yet, and Aden's local government made no comments on the incident. Considered Yemen's temporary capital, Aden is where the Saudi-backed government has based itself since 2015. Local authorities are trying to maintain security and stability in Aden. However, sporadic bombings and drive-by shootings still hit the strategic Yemeni port city. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014, when the Houthi rebels seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally-recognized government out of the capital Sanaa. by Tafara Mugwara HARARE, May 26 (Xinhua) -- From helping Africa free itself from the claws of colonialism by supporting some of the continent's liberation movements to the current struggle for economic development, China's role in Africa has evolved with the continent's needs. The remarks were made by Donald Rushambwa, a researcher at the Harare-based China-Africa Economic and Culture Exchange Research Center. "China played a pivotal role in Africa's fight for independence. When Africa was fighting for independence from colonial powers, China would give a helping hand, giving arms and training to their brothers so that they can liberate themselves from the colonial masters," Rushambwa told Xinhua. As the continent marks Africa Day on May 25, China is still playing a pivotal role in Africa's development. "It's still playing that role again in today's Africa's struggle for economic development because when we gained our independence, the colonial masters didn't really give us the economic independence," Rushambwa added. Writing his weekly column in the government-controlled Sunday Mail newspaper this week, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said while the West was trying to hamstring Zimbabwe's independence, China had come back to join in gainful partnerships for economic development in the second phase of Africa's struggle of economic development. "Apart from generous grants, interest-free or light loans, they have now come back to the continent they helped liberate as new, non-traditional investors. Read against time and historical circumstances, they are new and latecomers in this domain, unlike Western interests which have been exploiting our continent even well before its formal occupation," Mnangagwa said. He said China had brought value and employment to local economies and societies through mutually gainful partnerships, adding that Chinese capital is supporting landmark and iconic infrastructural projects across Africa. "Here in Zimbabwe, China has helped fund and implement several projects in the sectors of energy, air transport, water, real estate, industrial value addition, mining and defense. All these have secured and bolstered our independence while changing the structure of our economy in this season of punitive Western sanctions," he said. Mnangagwa said the West, which still sees Africa as its colonial dependence, has been left feeling challenged by alternative capital which provides new opportunities to Africa. Historical experts say contact between China and Africa predates the era when the Asian country supported Africa's liberation movements. Cornelius Mushangwe, an archaeologist, said vast evidence of foreign items like glass beads and Chinese porcelain have been unearthed by archaeologists at the Great Zimbabwe ruins as a sign that the locals were in contact with foreign traders from the East. The Great Zimbabwe was a medieval city near modern-day Masvingo in Zimbabwe. "Probably the eastern coast was the trading harbor where people from Southern African hinterland could exchange goods and come back home. However, you must remember that this trade was a pass-on thing where people from closer regions could pass it on to other regions until it reached the final destination," he added. Today China is actively involved in Africa's battle for development, particularly in infrastructure. According to Deloitte, a consultancy, investment in African infrastructure is a global public good in the context of the worldwide significance of Africa's demographic evolution and its necessary productive transformation. The report notes that the largest addition to the workforce in the 21st century will be in the African continent. Improved infrastructure would facilitate domestic and international trade, reduce the cost of doing business and enhance Africa's competitiveness both as an exporter and a destination for investors, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB). China continues to play a significant role in building Africa's infrastructure projects. In 2020, Chinese firms were responsible for 31 percent of all infrastructure projects in Africa with a value of 50 million U.S. dollars or more, according to Deloitte. Shared Future for Mankind China has emerged as Africa's biggest bilateral trading partner, one of the continent's biggest bilateral lenders, as well as one of the biggest foreign investors. Trade between China and Africa reached an all-time high in 2021 of 254 billion U.S. dollars, from about 10 billion U.S. dollars in 2000. China's partnership with Zimbabwe began with its support for the country's liberation struggle against British rule in the 1960s. The relationship further strengthened during the early 2000s when Western countries imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe following its land reform program that aimed at addressing colonial land ownership imbalances. In response to increased economic isolation and capital flight, Zimbabwe in 2003 adopted the Look East policy, which pivoted the country economically toward the Asia-Pacific region, with an emphasis on closer trade relations with China. Since that time, China has taken a leading role in modernizing Zimbabwe's agriculture, telecommunication and mining sectors. Cooperation in other fields such as education, science, culture, and health has also made significant progress. Godfred Sowah Khartey, an international relations expert and Teaching Assistant at Xiamen University's School of International Relations said China has emerged as the preferred development partner due to various reasons. "Africa's quest to realize and attain a respectable developmental status has seen her moving and looking East, mainly to China for infrastructure and other developmental projects. "The gradual shift from traditional developmental partners namely and largely, Western countries is as a result of the nature of conditionalities placed on loans and grants which in so many ways seek to question the sovereignty of such borrowing nations," he said. Share This: Tesla and General Motors material supplier Glencore and Glencore Ltd. pled guilty to several violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in relation to bribery and commodity and price manipulation. Glencore agreed to pay more than $1.1 billion in fines to resolve the governments investigations into illegal acts committed by the Switzerland-based companies. Glencore will pay the penalties to authorities in the U.S., UK and Brazil, and said it cooperated with each countrys investigations. Glencore said it will pay $700,706,965 to resolve bribery investigations and $485,638,885 to resolve market manipulation investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Additionally, $165,930,959 will be credited against other, parallel matters, including in the UK, so that the net amount payable to the U.S. authorities is expected to be $1,020,414,891, the company said. Glencore also agreed to a $39,598,367 penalty under a resolution signed with Brazils Federal Prosecutors Office in connection with its bribery investigation. The DOJ said in its statement regarding Glencores violations it and its subsidiaries caused around $79.6 million in payments to be made to intermediary companies in West Africa. The purpose of these payments was to secure improper advantages to obtain and retain business with state-owned entities in the West African region. Glencore concealed the bribe payments by entering into sham consulting agreements, paying inflated invoices and using intermediary companies to make corrupt payments to foreign officials, the DOJ said. The scope of this criminal bribery scheme is staggering, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. Glencore paid bribes to avoid government audits. Glencore bribed judges to make lawsuits disappear. At bottom, Glencore paid bribes to make money---hundreds of millions of dollars. And it did so with the approval, and even encouragement, of its top executives. Glencore admitted, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it offered to pay... SUV Dont let its new name trick you, as it is not an entirely new model that you are looking at, but rather an automotive artwork , as the company describes it. The Bentley Unifying Spur bears the signature of the brands Design team, celebrating diversity in all forms, and the unifying power of humanity.Shown to the world in the Netherlands, and taken out for a quick drive, accompanied by a photoshoot, this one-off car has unity, love, diversity, and inclusion written all over its lively looks. It combines everything with the great achievement of the brand in the market, according to Bentley, which inaugurated its first showroom there in 2012. Bentley Leusden was followed by the Bentley Maastricht in 2017 and will be joined later this year by Bentley Rotterdam.The Netherlands is an important market for Bentley Motors, and since the team at Pon Luxury Cars B.V. has started in 2012, the brand has continuously grown and expanded, said Bentleys Regional Director of Europe, Balazs Rooz. Thanks to the commitment of our dear retail partners in delivering a best-in-class customer experience, we are starting the upcoming new decade with full confidence that the brand will continue its progression, and we are looking forward to the exciting next chapter with the official opening of Bentley Rotterdam.Bentleys Flying Spur range comprises the normal model, as well as the Azure, and Mulliner. The other low-riding vehicles in its lineup are the Continental GT and Continental GTC, joined by the popular Bentayga. Theis offered with different powertrains, and, as of recently, with more inches between the axles in the Bentayga EWB version. The leading electric aviation company based in Northern California might have its first certification from the FAA. However, it still has some regulatory hurdles to clear before beginning operations.A key advantage of eVTOLs is noise reduction. Compared to regular aircraft, these futuristic air vessels are significantly quiet. The North California-based company took part in NASAs Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign earlier in the month to earn extra credit for acoustic performance. It ran a couple of acoustic tests on its eVTOL.The FAA awarded the electric aviation company a Part 135 Air Carrier Certification required to operate an on-demand air taxi service. This certification authorizes Joby to operate its 5-seater eVTOL as an air-taxi service in cities and communities within the United States.Tests run through NASAs Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign recorded noise levels below 65 dBA during take-off and landing, measured at 100 m (330 ft) from the flight path.Not all tests have been successful, and in February, the eVTOL companys prototype aircraft got into an accident during a flight test at its California base. No injuries were reported.The futuristic eVTOL aircraft is no doubt a game-changer in transportation. JoeBen Bervirt, Joby CEO, boasts their 5-seater will change how the world thinks about transportation.According to the company, their electric eVTOLs are designed with acoustics in mind. Each component is carefully picked to minimize its acoustic footprint, improving the aircrafts character of sound.FAA earlier in the month said it changed its approach to issuing approvals for future eVTOLs. Still, it doesnt expect its change of course to delay certifications or operational licenses. The footprint for development will be substantially extended pic.twitter.com/4z2yPylMyP JPR007 (@jpr007) May 26, 2022 We already know that Tesla intends to add another 100 hectares (247 acres) to its Giga Berlin gigafactory real estate. The plans surfaced in German media in the first week of May when rbb24.de first wrote about them. The same media outlet announced that the planned expansion has already started, at least as far as paperwork is concerned.For Tesla to be able to change the Berlin Gigafactory plans, local authorities need to approve new plans for the area. This was put in motion by Tesla applying with the municipality of Gruenheide. The filing to change the B Plan (which regulates what can be built on a specific piece of land) has been confirmed by Gruenheide mayor Arne Christiani.The municipality of Grunheide has received an application to initiate a B plan procedure in the immediate vicinity of the current 300 hectares main B plan, said Christiani, according to the rbb24.de report.The B plan change needs to be approved by the local authorities. The municipality of Gruenheide is said to analyze the application on June 2. The committee will make sure that Teslas plans align with those of the local community. Considering Teslas success in weathering the worst of German bureaucracy, Tesla should have no problems in securing the expansion approvals.The mayor noted he expects most of the main committee members to approve the new development plans, but this does not mean Tesla will have it easy. According to Christiani, a resolution on the Tesla application is not expected to come earlier than next summer. If we were to consider previous cases , we would be surprised if Tesla could get all the permits for the factory extension earlier than 2025 The 1975 model was exported to Japan in the late 1970s, then converted to LP 400 Series II specifications before it was reimported to the United States in the 1980s. The current owner drove it for approximately three years, then locked the car in the garage for the better part of two decades. Fast forward to 2017, and thats when the peeps at Bobileff Motorcar Company in San Diego restored the raging bull of SantAgata Bolognese at much expense.The numbers-matching engine shows 14,298 miles (23,010 kilometers) on the clock, yet as its often the case with Italian classics, true mileage isnt known. Refinished in the original color, the periscope-style model is called this way after the roof depression carrier over from the LP 500 prototype LP stands for longitudinally-mounted engine, whereas 400 approximates the displacement of the Giotto Bizzarrini-developed powerplant. When it was brand-spanking new, the 3.9-liter V12 used to crank out 370 horsepower at 8,000 revolutions per minute and 269 pound-feet (365 Nm) at 5,000 rpm.Serviced with fresh oil in the fall of 2021, the free-breathing lump is joined by six carburetors, twin coils, and twin distributors. The only transmission offered in the Countach, regardless of variant, is a Lamborghini -developed manual that originally featured a dry-plate clutch from Fichtel & Sachs.Pictured on Campagnolo alloys and Michelin XWX tires, the Countach LP 400 Periscopio in the featured clips also flaunts gold-painted brake calipers on every corner. The brake fluid was flushed in preparation for the sale.Trimmed in tan leather, brushed suede, and beige carpeting, this amazing piece of automotive history isnt exactly cheap. The car is currently rocking a high bid of $750k on Bring a Trailer , with eight days left on the ticker. In this case, TBIRD stands for TeraByte InfraRed Delivery. Its a technology NASA has been working on in light of the upcoming missions to the Moon and later on to Mars, which will require much faster comms systems than we now have at our disposal.Presently, the space agency mostly uses radio frequency to talk with spacecraft in space, but thats a bit like using dial-up. A laser system is the equivalent of high-speed internet in this case, and this is what NASA is gunning for.TBIRD launched yesterday on board the SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-5 (rockets launch in the video below), as part of the American space agencys Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator 3 (PTD-3) mission. Once deployed in orbit, it will be used to demonstrate high-data-rate capabilities.What does that mean? NASA hopes to have the thing (which is, in essence, a loaded CubeSat) fire up its communication tech and, during a seven-minute pass, to send back to Earth terabytes of data at 200 Gbps.TBIRD is a game changer and will be very important for future human exploration and science missions. said in a statement Andreas Doulaveris, TBIRDs mission systems engineer.The tech will remain in orbit for the following six months, during which time the parties involved (the Goddard Space Flight Center, MIT, the Ames Research Center, JPL, and the Terran Orbital Corporation) hope to gather as much data on the capabilities of such a system.At the time of writing, its not clear if or when such a technology could be deployed on an actual spacecraft. Palmdale, CA (93550) Today A mix of clouds and sun with gusty winds. High near 90F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 64F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Pashinian said that the apparently small satellite was carried into space by a SpaceX rocket that blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Wednesday. Photographs to be taken by the satellite will be used in Armenia for border control, prevention and management of emergencies, environmental protection, including climate change monitoring, urban development, road construction, geology, and other purposes, he told a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan. Pashinian said the satellite launch was the result of cooperation between the state-run Armenian company Geocosmos and Satlantis, a Spanish firm that specializes in the production of small satellites and cameras for them. He did not reveal financial terms of the deal or technical parameters of the satellite, photographs of which were released by the Armenian governments press office. Armenia had first announced plans to launch its first commercial satellite after holding talks with Russias Federal Space Agency in 2012. A year later, a senior official from the countrys former government said Yerevan hopes to attract private investments in the project worth as much as $250 million. The project never materialized. Pashinian did not explain why his administration opted for a different, more small-scale space project and contracted Western, rather than Russian, companies to implement it. Armenias arch-foe Azerbaijan launched its first communication and observation satellite into space in 2013. The Azerbaijani army reportedly used satellite images for its offensive military operations carried out during the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Leaders of the Hayastan and Pativ Unem blocs announced late on Wednesday plans to push a relevant resolution through the National Assembly as they continued daily demonstrations in Yerevan demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians resignation. Hayastans Artsvik Minasian said on Thursday that they will try to force an emergency session of the parliament for that purpose on June 3. The purpose of this statement is to clarify whether we are going to protect our interests or serve the interests of the Turkish-Azerbaijani duo, said Armen Rustamian, another senior Hayastan parliamentarian. If they [the parliaments pro-government majority] dont accept this resolution it will mean that they serve the interests of the Turkish-Azerbaijani duo. Lawmakers representing Pashinians Civil Contract party would not say whether the parliamentary majority will back the resolution or at least agree to discuss it on the parliament floor. Let them come [to the parliament] and well figure out, one of them, Artur Hovannisian, told reporters. Opposition lawmakers have been boycotting regular sessions of the National Assembly since the start of the anti-government protests in Yerevan on May 1. The protests began two weeks after Pashinian signaled his readiness to lower the bar on Karabakhs status acceptable to Armenia. Critics claim that he pledged to recognize Azerbaijani sovereignty over the Armenian-populated territory in ongoing peace talks mediated by the European Union. Pashinians political allies deny such claims. But they have not publicly clarified whether Yerevan will insist on the Karabakh Armenians right to self-determination in planned negotiations on a peace treaty with Baku. MADRID, May 26 (Xinhua) -- As China's growth has made the country "an attractive market" for Europe, it is high time for the continent to establish its own China policies and foster trade relations with China, a Spanish expert has said. Saying economic cooperation with China can help Europe become stronger, Eduardo Irastorza, a professor at Spain's OBS Business School in Barcelona, told Xinhua in a recent interview that Europe needs "unified and long-term commercial strategies." "Europe competes with quality but not quantity, and this is the competitive advantage" when trading with China, the Spanish expert noted, adding that the stability of the Chinese economy will allow Europe to be confident when making long-term agreements. At the end of 2020, China had been the world's second largest import market for 12 consecutive years, as well as the main export destination country of many countries and regions. Last year, China's foreign trade exceeded 6 trillion U.S. dollars for the first time, reaching 6.05 trillion dollars, according to the General Administration of Customs of China. As a global leading trader, China has become a "developer" of great technological innovations, Irastorza said, noting that the Asian country enjoys inventive, competitive and economic advantages. Pashinian put the confirmed total number of captives at 39 when he spoke on Wednesday about the Armenian governments efforts to secure their release. Siranush Sahakian, a lawyer representing Armenian POWs in the European Court of Human Rights, said he is taking at face value the number of Armenian prisoners acknowledged by Baku. Data and evidence possessed by our organization show that apart from these 39 prisoners the Azerbaijani armed forces also captured 80 other individuals who now have a status of the forcibly disappeared, she told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. Sahakian charged that the Armenian government is effectively washing its hands of the 80 detainees and reducing chances of their quick repatriation. The evidence cited by the lawyer includes videos that were posted on social media by Azerbaijani servicemen during the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh. They showed Armenian POWs who are not on Bakus current list of captives. Many of those POWs have been recognized by their family members. Among them is Lyuba Mkrtchian, whose husband Yuri Poghosian went missing in Karabakh in October 2020. Im sure that my husband is in an Azerbaijani prison I hope he comes back, Mkrtchian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. Speaking in the parliament, Pashinian said that the fate of the 39 other prisoners was high on the agenda of his latest meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held in Brussels on Sunday. He complained that Aliyev keeps setting additional conditions for their release. Humanitarian issues must not be linked to political issues, said Pashinian. Baku released only one Armenian POW, Eduard Martirosov, as a result of the Brussels summit. The 19-year-old conscript, who accidentally crossed the Armenian-Azerbaijani border last month, was handed over to Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh on Thursday. Most of the 38 other Armenian prisoners have received lengthy prison sentences in Azerbaijani trials condemned by Armenia as a travesty of justice. Yerevan maintains that they are held in breach of a Russian-brokered agreement that stopped the six-week war. Baku says the ceasefire agreement does not cover them because they were captured after it took effect in November 2020. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @idesai98 on Twitter. Around the world, lives changed almost overnight. Workplaces and schools closed their doors, aircraft were grounded, and people found themselves confined within their own homes. But while the disruption caused by the coronavirus has pushed many of the worlds economies to the brink of recession, one often overlooked material has been instrumental in keeping the situation from being far worse. Thanks to silicon-based semiconductors, the world has experienced Covid-19 as a very modern pandemic. While the circuits printed onto wafers of silicon might be small, semiconductor chips have packed a big punch in our efforts to both fight Covid-19 and adapt to life with it. Their useful electrical properties make semiconductors essential to electronics manufacturing. Found inside objects ranging from ventilators to smartphones, theyre proving crucial to just about every aspect of life during the pandemic. Thanks to these wafers of silicon inside our technology, businesses have been able to move their operations online and allow staff to work remotely. Families have enjoyed video calls with loved ones living far away, and teachers have delivered lessons remotely. Meanwhile scientists have shared research and data about the new virus over the internet, collaborating on an unprecedented scale against a global health threat. Genetic sequencing machines used to diagnose those infected by Covid-19 and ventilators given to the most seriously ill rely on the semiconductors inside them to work. Microchips inside every smartphone have also made it possible to track and trace people who have had contact with those who are infected. RABAT, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel has vowed to enhance cooperation with Morocco in water management to help the North African country better cope with water shortages, Moroccan news agency MAP reported Thursday. The pledge was made by visiting Israeli Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology Orit Farkash-Hacohen, when she addressed a bilateral technology and business conference on Wednesday in Casablanca. Water shortages have pushed Israel to innovate technologically by promoting water desalination processes, wastewater treatment and smart irrigation, said Farkash-Hacohen. Suffering one of its worst droughts in history, Morocco announced last month the construction of a new seawater desalination plant in the central city of Agadir to offset future drought periods. The Israeli official also praised the development achieved between Israel and Morocco since the countries resumed diplomatic ties 18 months ago. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UVALDE, Texas (AP) Surrounded by fellow Republicans on a high school stage, Gov. Greg Abbott was wrapping up his opening remarks about the killing of school children and teachers in Uvalde, Texas, when Beto O'Rourke strode forward from his seat in the audience. Gov. Abbott, I have something to say," the Democrat challenging Abbott for governor this fall said Wednesday, pointing a finger at his rival. "The time to stop the next shooting is right now, and you are doing nothing. A mix of boos and cheers rose up from the crowd as the former congressman and 2020 presidential candidate briefly spoke, then was escorted from the room. Sen. Ted Cruz, standing behind Abbott, shook his head and said sit down! while one woman in the crowd chanted, Let him speak. Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin yelled that O'Rourke was a sick son of a bitch. Some people cried. And with that, the briefing transformed into an argument similar to the one happening in many corners of America after yet another school shooting that inflicted a shocking death toll 19 children and two teachers. Democrats want to talk about enacting restrictions on who can possess a firearm and what type of weapons should be available, while Republicans say such laws are meaningless and prefer to focus on other issues like school security or to avoid the discussion at all. We need all Texans to in this one moment in time put aside their own agendas, think of somebody other than ourselves, think about the people who are hurt, Abbott said immediately after O'Rourke exited, his voice rising. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, taking the microphone moments later, insisted it was time now to focus on the victims and their families, adding: This is not a partisan issue. This is not a political issue. But for many including those in the high school auditorium the partisanship and the politics are inescapable. Tuesday's mass shooting in the small town west of San Antonio was just the latest to occur in Texas in recent years. After a gunman killed 23 people in a racist 2019 attack that targeted Hispanics at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas lawmakers loosened gun laws. Abbott said Wednesday that he considers the steps the Republican-controlled Legislature took in 2019 to be the most profound action anywhere in the U.S. to stop school shootings. He and other GOP officials said the proper place to focus is on mental health and hardening schools, or making them more secure, rather than on restricting guns. He called existing gun laws in Chicago, New York and California ineffective. I hate to say this, but there are more people who are shot every weekend in Chicago than there are in schools in Texas. And we need to realize that people who think that Well, maybe we just implement tougher gun laws is going to solve that Chicago and LA and New York disprove that thesis," he said. Abbotts claim is not supported by federal health data. California and New York consistently register lower rates of firearms deaths than Texas, and have among the lowest per capita rates of firearms deaths in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even with the violence in Chicago that Abbott cites, Illinois too posts a lower firearms death rate than Texas. Meanwhile, O'Rourke stood outside in the parking lot, where he continued calling for gun control. If we do nothing, we will continue to see this, he said, year after year, school after school, kid after kid. Residents of Uvalde also echoed the two sides of the debate. Ariana Diaz, 17, said she has friends in the close-knit community who lost siblings and mothers. Speaking outside her high school, where the news conference was being held, Diaz said shed like to see ORourke elected governor. She noted that the shooter was 18 and able to buy two guns. Its not OK," she said. Hes only 18. Hes not even old enough to purchase an alcoholic beverage. He should not be old enough to purchase a gun. Laura Ligocky, 41, said that as a mother the shooting was gut wrenching but she does not see restrictions on guns as a solution. Everybody wants gun control, and I dont think its helping, she said, in the parking lot where ORourke was calling for restrictions on firearms. I think its making matters worse. ___ Burnett reported from Chicago. Associated Press reporter Jake Bleiberg contributed from Dallas. WOLF CREEK, Pa. (AP) Pennsylvania state police say they have solved the slaying of a Chicago man whose burning body was found 42 years ago near Interstate 80 in a northwestern town. Edwin Rodriguez was identified through the use of DNA testing and genealogy tools, authorities announced Wednesday. Rodriguez was 18 when he and a family friend, Nestor Quintanal, left Chicago for Florida in the fall of 1980, and Rodriguezs family never heard from him again. His burning body was found Nov. 6, 1980, near Interstate 80 in Wolf Creek. Authorities said Quintanal who died in Florida in 2002 at the age of 71 is believed to have killed Rodriguez, who had third-degree burns on 70% of his body. A possible motive for the killing was not disclosed. The Mercer County District Attorney's office paid for state police to have an advanced DNA analysis performed, and in 2007 the office secured a DNA profile of the victim through evidence collected at the autopsy. In January 2019, the profile was sent to a lab for DNA phenotype testing and a genetic genealogy screening. The testing linked the body to a first cousin of Rodriguez, authorities said. Police reached out to the individual, who was able to confirm the victim was Rodriguez. His remains have since been returned to his family in Chicago. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) As the mother of a girl killed at Sandy Hook, Michele Gay was devastated by the massacre at a Texas elementary school, with its aching parallels to the 2012 attack in Connecticut. It was all the more saddening in light of the work she has invested in the years since to promote school safety. This one has been particularly devastating for me, for my family, for our community, Sandy Hook. We're just literally transported back in time, said Gay, co-founder of the nonprofit Safe and Sound Schools. I've got to dig deep. I'm not going to lie. In the decade since 20 children and six educators were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary, some of their loved ones who channeled grief into advocacy have claimed success, gradually, in areas including gun safety, attitudes around gun violence, and mental health awareness. The attack in Uvalde has tested their resolve like no other. Like the Newtown gunman, the attacker in Texas was a young man who shot an older family member he lived with before opening fire with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle inside a nearby elementary school, slaughtering small and defenseless children. As details of Tuesdays shooting emerged, Matt Vogl was texting with Jennifer Hensel, whose daughter Avielle was killed in Newtown, and others involved in an advocacy effort named in the girls honor, the Avielle Initiative, which promotes efforts to make mental health care more widely available through technology. We were all just crying and texting. It's brutal because it triggers some of the darkest memories we have, said Vogl, executive director at the National Mental Health Innovation Center in Colorado, where the program is based. The effort was launched after the Newtown attack by Hensel and her husband, Jeremy Richman, who died by suicide in 2019. If I can't stay optimistic I need to quit and find something else to do. On days like today its all you got. The vast majority of people dont go into schools and shoot them up, Vogl said. In the first months after the Newtown shooting, much of the families' advocacy work centered on gun control, particularly a failed effort in 2013 to get a federal law banning some semi-automatic weapons and expanding criminal and mental background checks for gun purchases. One of the best known groups, Sandy Hook Promise, pivoted afterward to campaigns that helped pass state laws limiting sales of some guns and, more recently, to community-based prevention programs. There have been victories. Trainings offered to schools by Sandy Hook groups have been credited with stopping potential suicides and school shootings. Victims' families have prevailed in legal fights with conspiracy theorists and a lawsuit against gun-maker Remington that held the company responsible for its marketing of military-style rifles like those used in the Newtown and Uvalde attacks. For Mark Barden, a co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise, the Texas shooting was all the more frustrating because of everything that has been learned about how looking out for warning signs can prevent such tragedies. Today its hard because my mind is with with these families in that community, said Barden, whose son Daniel was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting. But I do have to buoy myself from crashing because I know that we have something here that works. Gay, whose group works with schools around the country, said it was disheartening to hear indications that signs might have been missed in the Texas case. Already it appears there were numerous red flags, numerous changes in his behavior over the last year of his life, social media postings that were opportunities to report and then provide intervention, she said. That's hard. Survivors of the Newtown shooting where among those expressing outrage. Mary Ann Jacob, a former Sandy Hook library clerk, was huddled in a closet with 18 children during the 2012 shooting. Yesterday, I was right back in that closet, remembering the fear and horror we experienced, trying to be brave for the kids we were with, while we were more frightened than wed ever been in our lives, she said Wednesday during an appearance with Connecticut's governor in Hartford. "Once again, gun violence has forced its way into our schools, leaving nothing but devastation, trauma and tragedy in its wake. Schools across Newtown had a stepped-up police presence on Wednesday and Superintendent Lorrie Rodrigue said counselor teams were on alert for students who might be traumatized by the news from Texas, including high school students who survived the Sandy Hook shooting. In just visiting today, it was very obvious that staff were right there to support their students, especially those at the high school who were at Sandy Hook, she said. Although Congress hasnt passed a meaningful gun control law since the Newtown attack, Erica Lafferty, the daughter of Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, the slain principal of Sandy Hook, pushes back on those who say nothing has changed since Sandy Hook. A program manager at Everytown for Gun Safety and an advocate for universal background checks, she said gains have been made quietly in states around the country. That is absolutely not something that I see stopping. I do hope that this is an eye opener, as Sandy Hook was, for a push on the federal level," she said. "But what thats going to be? Your guess is as good as mine. ___ Associated Press writer Susan Haigh contributed from Hartford, Connecticut. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat with a history of opposing abortion rights, came out Wednesday emphatically against legislation that could subject women to prosecution and prison for getting abortions. Edwards told a Baton Rouge civic club he would veto a measure by Rep. Danny McCormick, an Oil City Republican, according to news outlets. Later, he issued a statement calling the bill anti-woman. He called it patently unconstitutional and said it would criminalize some types of contraception and parts of the in vitro fertilization process. McCormicks bill, set for debate in the state House on Thursday, was introduced in March. But it got its first legislative hearing last week, less than two days after the leak of a draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion indicating the high court is preparing to overturn decisions upholding a constitutional right to abortion. It makes abortion a crime of homicide for which a woman ending her pregnancy could be charged, along with anyone helping her. It also declares that any federal law, regulation or court ruling that allows abortion is void and that any judge who blocks enforcement of the bills provisions could be impeached. In addition to the fact that this legislation is patently unconstitutional, this bill would criminalize the use of certain types of contraception, as well as parts of the in vitro fertilization process, and it could even serve as a barrier to life-saving medical treatment for a woman who is suffering a miscarriage," Edwards said. To suggest that a woman would be jailed for an abortion is simply absurd. In addition to the anti-abortion governor, the bill has also drawn opposition from the anti-abortion organization Louisiana Right to Life, as well as numerous groups supporting abortion rights. A pellet gun was confiscated from a student Wednesday morning at Blanchette Elementary. The incident comes one day after 19 students and two adults were killed in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. "Campus staff swiftly followed Beaumont ISD protocols," district spokesperson Hannah LeTulle said in a statement. The student was investigated by Beaumont ISD police and has been disciplined, according to the statement. Officials did not give the student's age or any additional information. "The remaining students in the class completed their school day safely as scheduled," LeTulle said. With the school year quickly coming to a close, the district said it wants to assure parents and families that safety and security continues to be their top priority. olivia.malick@hearst.com twitter.com/OliviaMalick This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SEOUL, South Korea (AP) When the U.S. and South Korean leaders meet Saturday, North Koreas nuclear weapons and missile program, already a major focus, may receive extra attention if intelligence predictions of an imminent major weapons demonstration by the North, which is struggling with a COVID-19 outbreak, are right. What's less clear, however, is whether the meeting between Joe Biden and newly inaugurated Yoon Suk Yeol will produce a meaningfully new way to handle a nuclear threat that has bedeviled the allies for decades. There's worry in Seoul that Washington is slipping back to the Obama administrations strategic patience policy of ignoring North Korea until it demonstrates seriousness about denuclearization, an approach that was criticized for neglecting the North as it made huge strides in building its nuclear arsenal. U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials say North Korea may welcome Biden to the region he's also visiting Japan with a ballistic missile test or its first detonation of a nuclear device since 2017. There's little chance of any real nuclear diplomacy. North Korea has ignored South Korean and U.S. offers of assistance after its admission of a COVID-19 outbreak last week, dashing hopes that such cooperation could help ease nuclear tensions or even lead to talks. Yoon, a conservative former prosecutor who took office on May 10, has said he wants to strengthen ties with Washington while enhancing South Koreas missile strike and defense capabilities. He has also called for the resumption of large-scale U.S.-South Korean military exercises. Those were downsized or suspended over virus worries and during ultimately fruitless nuclear talks between former President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Biden may raise with Yoon a desire for a broader role from South Korea in the alliance, moving away from a focus mostly on North Korea as U.S. foreign policy attention shifts toward confronting China and Russia. Yoon will likely use the meeting with Biden to declare South Koreas participation in the Indo Pacific Economic Framework, a new U.S.-led regional partnership aimed at promoting cooperation in trade, supply chain resiliency, technology and other issues. That will almost certainly anger China, South Koreas largest trading partner. Yoon also will seek a robust statement from Biden reaffirming a U.S. commitment to provide extended deterrence to South Korea and a vow to defend its ally with its full range of military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, in the event of war with North Korea, said Go Myong-hyun, an analyst at Seouls Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Prolonging the stalemate in diplomacy, North Korea has rejected repeated U.S. offers of open-ended talks. The Biden administration has shown no willingness to remove crippling economic sanctions against North Korea unless it accepts meaningful cutbacks to an arsenal Kim Jong Un sees as his strongest guarantee of survival. Yoon may seek to defuse worries in Seoul that Washington is ignoring the North Korean threat. For South Korea, its crucial to protect itself from North Korea's nuclear missiles, so Seoul is hoping that the United States will show more aggressive and substantial action to resolve the North Korean threat, said Moon Seong Mook, an analyst at South Koreas Korea Research Institute for National Strategy. The United States, for its part, wants strengthened security cooperation with South Korea and Japan, Moon said, and a stronger role for Seoul in the region. As a presidential candidate, Yoon criticized liberal predecessor Moon Jae-ins foreign policy, describing his warm approach to North Korea as subservient and accusing him of undermining South Koreas alliance with the United States and of being too soft on China. But now that Yoon is president, he's unlikely to try to alienate China or pressure North Korea too much, said Kim Yeol Soo, an expert at South Koreas Korea Institute for Military Affairs. Yoon should instead try to keep alive the possibility of a dialogue with North Korea while consulting with the United States over ways to better cope with the North Korean threat, Kim Yeol Soo said. Challenges posed by North Koreas escalating COVID-19 crisis and its decaying economy may eventually provide new diplomatic opportunities to keep its nuclear advancement in check, he said. North Koreas state media have reported nearly 2 million suspected COVID-19 cases and 63 deaths a week after it acknowledged an omicron outbreak last Thursday. The situation is almost certainly worse because the country lacks virus tests and other health care resources and may be underreporting deaths to soften the political impact on Kim Jong Un. South Koreas spy agency told lawmakers Thursday that North Korea will likely seek help from its main ally, China, but may reach out to the United States or South Korea as a last resort, according to Ha Tae-keung, one of the lawmakers who attended the closed-door briefing. The United States and South Korea have long struggled to find effective ways to counter destabilizing threats from the North. North Korea has tested missiles 16 separate times this year, including, in March, when its first flight of an intercontinental ballistic missile since 2017 demonstrated a potential range including the entire U.S. mainland. It is also expanding its arsenal of short-range solid-fuel missiles targeting South Korea, which hosts about 28,500 U.S. troops. Kim Jong Un recently warned that North Korea would proactively use nuclear weapons if threatened or provoked, suggesting an escalation in its nuclear doctrine. What we need now is a kind of strengthened deterrence that prevents provocations, rather than the kind that reacts to them after they happen," said Kim Hyun-wook, a professor at Seouls Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Some South Korean conservatives have called for the government to ask the United States to bring nuclear weapons back to South Korea after removing them in the 1990s. But more effective and plausible options for Seoul and Washington include restoring combined field exercises, better coordinating defense procurement, and regularizing trilateral security cooperation with Tokyo, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot are criticizing Gov. Greg Abbott after the Republican leader, during a press conference Wednesday about Tuesday's mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, pointed to Chicago crime as an example of why tough gun laws are "not a real solution." In his remarks following the tragedy that left 22 people dead, including 19 children, Abbott blamed a mental health crisis for the shooting. He also singled out gun laws in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles he said have been ineffective. "I hate to say this but there are more people who get shot every weekend in Chicago than there are schools in Texas," Abbott said. "And we need to realize that people who think that well, maybe we can just implement tougher gun laws, it's gonna solve it. Chicago and L.A. and New York disprove that thesis." Abbott continued, adding: "If you're looking for a real solution, Chicago teaches that what you're talking about, is not a real solution. Our job is to come up with real solutions that we can implement." Pritzker took to Twitter to respond to Abbott shortly after the comments were made. "Shame on you, @GovAbbott," he wrote, pointing to a report that a majority of guns used in Chicago crimes came from outside of Illinois. "Don't feed into the false narrative about Chicago and Illinois - it's an excuse that politicians like you hide behind to stop the federal legislation we need to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people." Pritzker also accused Abbott of lying and explained that his comments perpetuate gun violence. "The majority of guns used in Chicago shootings come from states with lax gun laws," he wrote. "Do better. You have 19 kids and two teachers who deserve our best." Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot also defended against Abbott's comments, tweeting, "Gov. Abbott, instead of coming after my city, take a moment to think about how YOU can stop this carnage. I work day and night to stop the violence. I see the suffering. Open your eyes. Lives are being lost. Be a part of the solution or get the hell out of the way." Abbott and other Texas Republicans, including Sen. Ted Cruz and Uvalde Rep. Tony Gonzales, who also faced criticism after the shooting for their stance on gun ownership and for helping to pass laws that allowed the 18-year-old shooter, identified by authorities as Salvador Ramos, to purchase the assault rifle-style weapon he used in the shooting in Uvalde. Authorities said he bought two such rifles the previous week shortly after turning 18. Family members of African American man George Floyd gather to mourn on the second anniversary of police killing of him during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022. (Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) WASHINGTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order aimed at reforming federal police practices. The action came on the second anniversary of police killing of African American man George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota during an arrest. Biden, speaking at an event from the White House, said that the order "promotes accountability," with measures including the creation of "a new national law enforcement accountability database to track records of misconduct so that an officer can't hide the misconduct." It also bans chokeholds, restricts no-knock warrants, and tightens use-of-force policies to emphasize de-escalation, according to the White House. Biden underlined the executive order applies directly to all federal law enforcement officers, whose number exceeds 100,000. "Though federal incentives and best practices they're attached to, we expect the order to have significant impact on state and local law enforcement agencies as well," he added. The families of Floyd and Breonna Taylor, who was killed in 2020 by officers executing a "no-knock" warrant in Louisville, Kentucky, attended the signing ceremony. Floyd's death sparked massive demonstrations across the United States in the summer of 2020 against police brutality and systemic racism. "For many people, including many families here, such accountability is all too rare," Biden said on Wednesday, calling on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which is stalled in the Senate, and send it to his desk. Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer who put his knee on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes, was convicted last year of murder and is serving his sentence in prison. Three other ex-cops were found guilty in a federal trial earlier this year of violating Floyd's civil rights. A vigil in memory of Floyd was held on Wednesday night at the intersection in Minneapolis where the 46-year-old man died. Several other U.S. cities and places organized similar events. Community members and residents gather to mourn on the second anniversary of police killing of African American man George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022. (Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) Community members and residents gather to mourn on the second anniversary of police killing of African American man George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022. (Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) Community members and residents gather to mourn on the second anniversary of police killing of African American man George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022. (Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) Community members and residents gather to mourn on the second anniversary of police killing of African American man George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022. (Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) Family members of African American man George Floyd gather to mourn on the second anniversary of police killing of him during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022. (Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) Community members and residents gather to mourn on the second anniversary of police killing of African American man George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022. (Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) Community members and residents gather to mourn on the second anniversary of police killing of African American man George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022. (Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) After a gunman killed at least 19 children and two faculty members at Robb Elementary Schoool in Uvalde, families throughout the U.S. are navigating the ripples of the tragedy. San Antonio's proximity to the shooting about 80 miles to the east is an added layer of trauma. Residents are experiencing the suffering first hand on social media and many have connections to the neighboring community. San Antonio students may have walked onto campuses that looked much different than earlier this week as many districts responded to the tragedy by heightening security and banning backpacks. Barbara Robles-Ramamurthy, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, is offering a range of advice for people processing the shooting, from parents helping children navigate the violence to anyone grappling with mourning the loss of innocent lives. Overall guidance for parents Robles-Ramamurthy wants parents to know it's "totally OK to feel uncertain and unsure about how to talk about this because this is just so not normal." She says it is important that parents and caregivers check in on their children in response to the shooting. Robles-Ramamurthy offers a five-step approach, which follows. She says it's important to listen to what children know before reacting. Asking open-ended questions like "What do you know," "What have you heard," and "What questions do you have?" will help guide adults in their response. Robles-Ramamurthy wants adults to consider the developmental stage of children in mind in their response. What a teenager needs to hear may be different from what a Pre-K student should know. She also suggests giving children information "little by little," allowing them time to ask questions as opposed to "dumping" news on them. Children should also know that adults are available for questions that they may have at a later time, Robles-Ramamurthy says. Lastly, she advises parents to set the stage for their children by reminding them that emotions are not linear and equipping them with ideas on how to manage their feelings. Advice for parents with children who have access to social media With the news of the shooting and other traumatic events unfolding on social media, parents may want to shield their children by limiting screen time or taking phones away altogether. Robles-Ramamurthy says navigating this kind of situation is "tricky," because isolation can be detrimental. She suggests collaborating with kids to figure out when online connection is helpful and when intervention is needed. Because the conversations between parents and children on phone usage can cause tension, Robles-Ramamurthy suggests having another trusted adult like a relative, friend, or faith leader on hand that can help navigate questions with the child. For parents who are uneasy about sending their children to school She says traditionally therapists guide parents to teach against avoiding things that cause fear. However, Robles-Ramamurthy says the situation is difficult because it's "new territory." She says she's a proponent of mental health days if families can ensure a safe at-home environment. "If kids are feeling extremely overwhelmed and they think that being at school would be harmful to their overall wellbeing and the parents have the ability to be with them, that can be an option," she says. If parents are unable to provide a caregiver at home and the family believes the school is a safe space, then parents should share that with kids. She says it ultimately comes down to parents' resources. She says it's important to remind children that in this moment they are physically safe and work with them to bring a sense of psychological safety to their minds. She also tells parents to encourage students to seek help when they need it. For San Antonians grappling with the 'close to home' feelings Robles-Ramamurthy is telling the residents to give themselves space to grieve. "It's kind of like when a relative that you don't see often has died but you still feel that pain and the ripple that it causes for the rest of the family that still affects you," she says. "Allow yourself to feel that grief and that pain of that loss that we have experienced. Don't ignore those feelings." She says that in times of trauma it's also important to foster a sense of connection and support one another. A city-hosted vigil for Uvalde is taking place on Wednesday night, May 25, at Main Plaza. San Antonio restaurants are also offering ways for residents to pitch in on relief by buying food. Indonesian President Joko Widodo reacts while talking with Elon Musk, the founder and chief executive of Tesla Motors, during their meeting at the SpaceX launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, May 14, 2022. A top aide to the Indonesian president is playing down expectations that U.S. electric carmaker Tesla will swoop in to invest in manufacturing operations in Southeast Asias biggest economy. Luhut Pandjaitan, Indonesias minister for maritime and investment affairs who is also considered the most trusted aide to President Joko Jokowi Widodo, tempered claims made by a fellow cabinet member last week that Tesla steered by the worlds richest man had agreed to build an electric vehicle plant in Central Java. No official deal had been reached and the Indonesian people needed to be patient, Luhut said earlier this week. Making an investment decision is not as easy as snapping fingers. It takes a long process and time. Moreover, this is an investment of huge value. So we have to be patient, he told reporters. But what must be remembered, this is still in the negotiation stage, so once again, all must be patient. But it was easy to understand the unbridled enthusiasm of Luhuts colleague, Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, when he announced on May 19 that Tesla had agreed to invest in battery and electric vehicle manufacturing in Indonesia. But I cant announce the month yet. Lets wait, because we havent signed an agreement yet. How much investment is still being kept secret, still waiting. But this is good stuff, big stuff, Bahlil said at the time. He blurted out the informal announcement days after Jokowi and Elon Musk, Teslas founder and CEO, were photographed hanging out and seeming to have a good old time at the rocket launch site in Texas for Musks aerospace company, SpaceX. Jokowi had popped by to meet with Musk while on his way home to Jakarta and a day after attending a U.S.-ASEAN summit in Washington. Musk was fresh off his U.S. $44 billion acquisition of Twitter. The multibillionaire many times over sported a black t-shirt, while the president of Indonesia wore a white dress shirt untucked with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Afterwards, Jokowi said he and Musk had chatted about technology and innovation. Musk, for his part, said he was fired up by Indonesias enthusiasm. Were going to look closely from the Tesla and SpaceX standpoint to try to do some partnerships in Indonesia, he said in a video that circulated online after the meeting. Meanwhile, a statement from Jokowis office said Musk planned to visit Indonesia in November, the same month when the Southeast Asian nation hosts the G-20 summit. Luhut, too, acknowledged this week, that Teslas team is moving really fast. They came to Indonesia earlier this month, visited several nickel processing plants, and we also responded quickly to show our seriousness and support, Luhut said. India vs Indonesia Besides, it is no secret that while Indonesia has been wooing Musk for some years now, the Tesla founder, too, is in search of large markets that are not China. Jakarta has been trying to woo Tesla for a few years now as it seeks to take advantage of being the worlds largest producer of nickel, a critical element in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. In 2019, Indonesia released a road map to make the country a regional manufacturing hub for electric vehicles and their ecosystem, including nickel processing as well as battery and EV production. Jakarta has also set a goal that by 2025, one fifth of cars made in Indonesia will be electric vehicles. For his part, Musk is looking to emerging economies that have less regulation, [lower] import tariffs and good infrastructure, said Yayan Satyakti, an economist at Padjadjaran University in Bandung. Elon Musk likely sees Indonesia as an emerging economy with great potential and prospects, Yayan told BenarNews. Indonesia is deemed more attractive than India or Brazil, thanks to investment-friendly reforms following the passage of the so-called jobs creation law. Yayan said Musk no longer saw China as a lucrative market for Tesla because the country is home to carmakers that are already manufacturing electric vehicles. The Chinese governments pressure on Tesla has also prompted the company to look elsewhere for supply chains and new markets, he said. However, Muhammad Nur Yuniarto, an engineer who researches electric vehicles, said Indonesia may not be ready to be the site of a Tesla Gigafactory. A Gigafactory is how the trade refers to Teslas manufacturing plants. Especially in terms of the local manufacturing of components, I think its still not ready, he said on CNBC Indonesia. Starship prototypes are pictured at the SpaceX South Texas launch site in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., May 22, 2022. [Reuters] Papuan rocket launch site Meanwhile, Indonesia has offered Musks other company, SpaceX, to build a launch site for his space project in Biak, an island in Papua province. The proposal for a SpaceX launch site in Biak, an island near the northern coast of Papua, has been criticized by locals, although it is not clear if Musk had seriously considered it. Until now, theres no certainty about SpaceXs investment plans in Indonesia for rocket launches, Erna Sri Adiningsih, executive director of the Indonesia Space Agency (INASA), told BenarNews. Erna said SpaceX had once considered building a landing and launch site in Indonesia for intercontinental transport rockets. But there has been no concrete follow-up, she said. Tineke Rumkabu, an activist who advocates for victims of alleged human rights abuses in Papua, where a separatist insurgency has simmered for decades, said that Biak people had vowed to resist any plan to build a rocket launch site there. We have been on this land our whole life. We will defend our land, Tineke told BenarNews. What about the future fate of our children? she said. Give children schools so that they can work on their land. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong walks from the lectern after delivering a speech at The Future of Asia conference in Tokyo, May 26, 2022. Singapores prime minister warned Thursday that trade and security were being put at risk by U.S.-China tensions and urged better communication between Washington and Beijing to maintain stability and growth in Asia. If U.S.-China relations continue on this path, it will lead to further bifurcation of technology and splitting of supply chains or even worse, unintended consequences, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told an audience at the 27th Future of Asia conference in Tokyo. His comments came hours before the top U.S. diplomat, Antony Blinken, made a speech in Washington where he accused China of seeking to reshape the international order. He also said the U.S. was not looking for conflict or a new Cold War. Lee, on a four-day working visit to Japan, delivered a keynote speech at the annual, two-day conference, organized by Nikkei Inc., where Asian political leaders and academics are discussing regional issues. Lees sentiments were echoed by Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob who said that old divisions are deepening because of the Ukrainian war and the U.S.-China tensions. Look at the U.S.-China trade war. These discriminatory tariffs and now real possibility of a divided supply chain have caused negative ripple effects throughout the world, he said. Lee called for adversaries to talk to each other. He noted that even during the Cold War, there were channels of communication on many levels between the U.S. and Soviet Union leadership. He said that not only the U.S. and China, but countries that have disputes with each other should talk, too. We arent looking for conflict The Southeast Asian leaders remarks came on the heels of U.S. President Joe Bidens first visit to Asia since taking office in January 2021. In Tokyo this week, Biden announced the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) which Singapore, together with 12 other nations, signed up for with hopes that it will lead to a free trade agreement in the future. IPEF does not include China and has been criticized by Beijing as a U.S. tool to coerce regional countries. Biden also attended a summit of the Quad, an Indo-Pacific security grouping that is widely seen as countering Chinas rising influence and assertiveness in the region. U.S. Secretary of State Blinken followed up on that strategic push with a China policy speech at George Washington University on Thursday, where he vowed that the U.S. would defend and strengthen international law, principles and institutions which he argued that China was undermining. While critical of Beijing, Blinken said: We arent looking for conflict or a new Cold War. To the contrary, were looking to avoid both. He added that the U.S. stands ready to increase direct communication with Beijing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at George Washington University in Washington, May 26, 2022. [AP] Warning of an arms race Prime Minister Lee urged that China be integrated into the region. Most countries would prefer not to be forced to choose between the U.S. and China, he said. While praising Washington for providing the framework for peace and stability in the region since the end of World War II, Lee said countries should acknowledge that Chinas economic influence in Asia is large and growing and it has benefitted the region immensely. Its far better that Chinas economy be integrated into the region, than for it to operate on its own by a different set of rules, he said. The Singaporean leader said Asian countries have increasingly emphasized national security considerations over the economic gains from free trade and investment flows. If we only look at regional security from the perspectives of individual nations, we may end up with an arms race and an unstable outcome, Lee warned. He suggested that countries should work together for collective security and they must do it beyond forming alliances and formal groupings of like-minded partners but also through engagement and trust-building arrangements with potential adversaries. Food supply chain disruption Participants at the Tokyo conference highlighted the impact of the conflict in Ukraine. Malaysias Ismail Sabri said current supply chain disruptions, including food, affect developing nations first. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is facing mass protests and is accused of economic mismanagement, asked the international community for help. The indebted Indian Ocean island-nation is struggling to import sufficient food and fuel to meet its needs. Participants watch Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksas pre-recorded speech at The Future of Asia conference in Tokyo, May 26, 2022. [AP] In a pre-recorded message, Rajapaksa said the last few months have been extremely difficult for his country. We are presently undergoing a severe economic crisis that has profoundly impacted the lives of all Sri Lankans resulting in social unrest, he said. We urgently require the assistance of our friends in the international community to ensure ... our immediate needs, the president said. Rajapaksa said the shortages of food items and sharp increases in food prices likely to occur in the months ahead will place considerable strain on many countries. A Chinese participant to the conference, former Vice Minister of Commerce Yi Xiaozhun, went further, saying that if the Ukrainian conflict continues, it will escalate energy and food shortages worldwide, and even trigger a global economic crisis of a scale no less than the 2008 international financial crisis. Yi, who once served as Chinas envoy to the World Trade Organization, said as countries in Asia are largely dependent on trade, they would be affected the most when global trade declines in the post-pandemic era. Subel Rai Bhandari in Bangkok contributed to this report. Military investigators search for evidence around a passenger bus after a bomb exploded near the southern Philippine town of Aleosan, Jan. 11, 2022. An explosion believed to be caused by an improvised bomb ripped through a passenger bus in the southern Philippines on Thursday, injuring two passengers, police and military officials said. The vehicle, owned by the Yellow Bus Line Inc., was on a busy highway in Koronadal city when the device went off at noon, they said. A few minutes later, a second bomb exploded in a vacant lot near a bus station in Tacurong city, but did not cause any injuries. There was no threat received by the bus firm. Our experts are investigating the incident, Koronadal Mayor Eliordo Ogena said, adding that the two passengers suffered non-life threatening injuries. Maj. Andrew Linao, public information officer for the regional military command, said the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device. Theres a directive to all units to intensify checkpoint operations and intelligence monitoring, he said. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombings, but members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a militant group that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, have carried out similar attacks. The bombings Thursday happened hours after the Philippine military confirmed that a top BIFF leader, Abu Turaife, and other fighters were injured during an air assault on their encampment in Maguindanao earlier this week. The offensive left two militants dead and hundreds of families displaced. Turaife is one of the hardcore leaders of the BIFF, a splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which signed a peace deal with Manila in 2014 and controls a Muslim autonomous area in the south. On Monday, the military launched air and ground assaults against Turaife and his men in Datu Salibo town in Maguindanao, displacing more than 1,000 residents. Acting regional military commander Brig. Gen. Eduardo Gubat said Turaife was believed to have been injured during the assaults. Reports gathered by intelligence sources on the ground said he had retreated into a marshland area controlled by the BIFF. There were 17 militants including Turaife who were wounded, Gubat told reporters. Officials have blamed militants linked to the group for carrying out two roadside bombings in January 2021 that killed three and injured dozens of people. More recently, at least six people were injured in April when a homemade bomb exploded aboard a passenger bus in the Parang town. Three months earlier, a 5-year-old boy was killed and six others, including his two younger siblings, were injured in a similar attack in Aleosan town. In both cases, IS-linked militants were blamed. Philippine President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks to reporters at his campaign headquarters in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, May 23, 2022. President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed Thursday that, after taking office, he would assert a 2016 arbitral ruling won by the Philippines against China over the South China Sea, a sensitive issue that his predecessor failed to address adequately. In a news conference with a select few reporters, Marcos stressed there was no wiggle room on the issue of sovereignty his strongest public comments yet about the territorial dispute with the Philippines biggest Asian neighbor. We will use it to continue to assert our territorial rights. Its not a claim, it is already our territorial right and that is what the arbitral ruling can do to help us, he said. Our sovereignty is sacred and we will not compromise it in any way. We are a sovereign nation with a functioning government, so we do not need to be told by anyone how to run our country. Manila, under his leadership, will not allow its sovereignty to be trampled upon, he added. The Philippines traditionally has been the United States biggest ally in Southeast Asia, though the alliance was tested under the leadership of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, who ingratiated himself to China by setting aside the 2016 ruling in favor of bilateral economic cooperation. While Duterte changed his approach on the South China Sea issue toward the latter part of his six-year term, China has strengthened its presence in the disputed waterway and encroached on other claimant states exclusive economic zones. During his press conference Marcos promised to talk to China with a firm voice even as he acknowledged that the Philippines was at a disadvantage militarily against Beijing. Asked about the Philippine president-elects statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Beijings position on the South China Sea arbitration case is consistent, clear and unchanged. China and the Philippines are friendly close neighbors. We have established a bilateral consultation mechanism on issues relating to the South China Sea and maintain communication and dialogue on maritime issues, he told reporters on Thursday. China stands ready to continue working with the Philippines through dialogue and consultation to properly handle differences and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. ASEAN role Continuing to pursue multilateral talks with China involving fellow members of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as dealing with Beijing bilaterally, would be on top of his foreign policy agenda, Marcos said. In fact, this is what I mentioned when I spoke to President Xi Jinping when he called me to congratulate me on winning the election. I immediately went and I said we have to continue to talk about this. This cannot be allowed to fester and to become more severe in terms of a problem between our two countries, he said. Marcos was elected president in a landslide on May 9, receiving 31.6 million votes more than twice his nearest rival, outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo. The 2016 landmark international tribunal ruling was a result of the arbitration case filed by the administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III against China and came just days after Duterte succeeded him in office. China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including waters within the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. While Indonesia does not regard itself as a party to the South China Sea dispute, Beijing claims historic rights to parts of that sea overlapping Indonesias EEZ as well. Analysts had predicted that Marcos would likely echo Dutertes stance with regard to the South China Sea dispute. His campaign rallies did not focus on foreign policy but included generic talk about unifying a highly divided country. Meanwhile, Robredo, the opposition leader, had vowed to use the ruling to create a coalition of nations that would help the Philippines in the territorial dispute. US versus China Citing the competition between the United States and China, Marcos said the Philippines must have an independent foreign policy similar to what Duterte originally espoused. Duterte, for his part, forged warmer ties with Beijing while criticizing the U.S. for interfering with his anti-drug campaign that has killed thousands of Filipinos. To strike this balance, Marcos said the countrys ties with ASEAN is of critical importance. We are a small player amongst very large giants in terms of geopolitics, so we have to ply our own way. I do not subscribe to the old thinking of the Cold War where you are under the influence of the U.S., Soviet Union, Marcos said. I think we just find an independent foreign policy where we are friends with everyone. Its the only way, he said. Marcos, whose family has been welcoming of Beijing and has attended Chinese embassy events, said he would continue Manilas traditional relationship with the U.S. His father, the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, began forging ties with Chinas late chairman, Mao Zedong, in 1975, while also being one of the staunchest U.S. allies in Southeast Asia. We define that role very simply, it comes from our traditional relationship with the U.S., which has been very strong and very advantageous to both of us for the past 100 or so years, the president-elect said. Thats how we define that, and so we must maintain that balance. I dont think we are the only country thats having to do that. YINCHUAN, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A freight train loaded with fiberglass departed Thursday morning from Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, bound for Budapest, Hungary. The 1,300 tonnes of fiberglass, worth 10.5 million yuan (about 1.6 million U.S. dollars), is scheduled to travel around 8,500 km and arrive at its destination in 21 days, according to China Railway Lanzhou Group Co., Ltd. It is the first China-Europe freight train operated from Ningxia this year, and also the first route linking the two cities. The new route will greatly shorten the delivery time of enterprises, effectively accelerate the speed of goods circulation and payment, and reduce transportation costs. Military officials inspect the wreckage of a car burned during an attack by suspected rebels on a marine police station, in the Tak Bai district of southern Thailands Narathiwat province, May 26, 2022. A dramatic attack shattered a nearly two-month-long pause in violence in Thailands insurgency-wracked Deep South, when more than 10 gunmen armed with assault rifles and grenades hit a police station along the Malaysian border late Wednesday, injuring three security officials, police said. By Thursday, no one had yet claimed responsibility for the attack in the Tak Bai district of Narathiwat province, officials said. Police said it could be the work of smugglers or disgruntled insurgents left out of ongoing peace talks between the Thai government and BRN (Barisan Revolusi Nasional), the largest insurgent group in Thailands southern border region. In the attack the biggest eruption of violence since the two sides agreed in early April to a 40-day truce to last through Ramadan police said the gunmen hurled explosives and opened fire with automatic rifles at a nearby customs office and a convenience store, in addition to the marine police station along the Kolok River that separates Thailand from Malaysia. Three personnel were injured during the exchange of gunfire, Col. Narawi Binwae-arong, the police chief of Tak Bai district, told reporters outside the bombed police station on Thursday. The injured were in stable condition, he added. The attackers targeted four places in a coordinated manner, Narawi said. According to the initial witness investigation, the attackers were split into groups, with one entering the marine police station before hurling pipe bombs and firing M-16 rifles at the officials inside, while another group stayed outside to deliver supporting fire and deter assisting security forces, he said. Other groups attacked the nearby Tak Bai Customs Office and set off a homemade bomb at a convenience store about five minutes later, Narawi said. The attackers had earlier brought down six utility poles along the road, Narawi said, adding they had also scattered nail spikes on the streets to flatten vehicle tires. Officials are investigating the case, checking out surveillance cameras for evidence, and issuing arrest warrants, he said. Several fire-gutted vehicles were visible Thursday inside the police compound wrecked by the grenades. Attackers likely illegal trade operators Last nights attack was quite shocking. It will take time to analyze, said Maj. Gen. Pramote Prom-in, deputy director for regional military command ISOC-4, upon inspecting the site of the clash. We [are looking] at two factors: the insurgents who disagree with the peace talks and [those] who were left out of them. Pramote, however, added that authorities believe it is more likely the attack was carried out by illegal trade operators who we have purged from April to May. He was referring to smugglers, mainly of drugs. The attack was the first one since the Ramadan-time truce, brokered by Malaysia and which had held mostly intact, expired on May 14. The military had recorded five incidents of violence but they were mostly unrelated to the insurgency, officials said. Four incidents had to do with personal disputes and drug addiction, while a deadly roadside bombing that killed a civilian was carried out by another armed separatist group, the Patani United Liberation Organization, or PULO. PULOs leader claimed at the time that the group had carried out the attack in the middle of Ramadan because it was sidelined from the peace talks and wanted to be included Last nights attacks had nothing to do with peace talks and PULO has no hands in last nights incident, Kasturi Mahkota, the PULO leader, told BenarNews on Thursday. Rahim Noor, the Malaysian facilitator of the peace talks, also played down the attack. We do not know who did it and why they did it. This will not affect the next round of peace talk negotiation. That is my opinion, Noor told BenarNews over the phone on Thursday. BenarNews tried to contact BRN, but they did not immediately respond. Under the Ramadan Peace Initiative, the BRN separatist rebels and Thai security forces agreed to cease hostilities throughout Islams holy month of fasting and into mid-May. Additionally, in a first, unarmed rebels were allowed to visit their families during the period. The peace initiative was agreed to at the end of the latest round of in-person peace talks between Thai negotiators and the BRN on March 31-April 1 that were brokered by Malaysia. The Deep South encompasses Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala provinces and four districts of Songkhla province in Thailands majority Muslim Malay southern border region. Since the insurgency reignited in January 2004, more than 7,000 people have been killed and 13,500 others injured in violence across the region, according to Deep South Watch, a local think-tank. The armed separatist movement against Buddhist majority Thailand began in the 1960s. The movements primary demand had been independence for the region. A formal peace process to solve the issue began in 2013, but it never progressed. Vested interest Lt. Gen. Nanthadech Yoinual, commander of the 9th regional police bureau in the Deep South, said it was important to note that the assailants released a [video] clip of the attacks to promote evidence of violence in Deep South to show their existence and capability. In reality, there had been peace for 50 to 60 days. But a small group of insurgents does not want any peace in this region due to their vested interest. Only a few people want violence. There could be many motivations, ranging from the recent arrest of over ten drug gang members, human smugglers to Malaysia. We do not rule out [anything], Nanthadech said. A political analyst described the attack as a show of strength. Last nights attacks were meant by the insurgents to show their existence, Srisompob Jitpiromsri, who heads Deep South Watch, a Pattani-based think-tank Who exactly were they? We have to wait for officials to find that out. Patience is needed to make eternal peace. On the other side of the border, Malaysian authorities said there was no involvement of Malaysians in the attack. That was in Southern Thailand, but, so far, there has been no announcement that Malaysians are involved, Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin said. There is also no information that the culprits are hiding in Malaysia. We are working with Thai authorities on this matter, Kelantans acting police chief Muhamad Zaki Harun told BenarNews, although it is widely believed that BRN leaders and supporters live in northern Peninsular Malaysia. Authorities would not close the Malaysia-Thai border, he said, adding that closing it would be akin to severing diplomatic ties with Thailand and would also mean that we give in to the threat. Subel Rai Bhandari in Bangkok contributed to the report. TRIPOLI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Wednesday it has arranged the voluntary return of 141 illegal migrants from Libya to their home country Mali. "IOM's Voluntary Humanitarian Return (program) continues to offer an immediate safe alternative to migrants in Libya who wish to return home. IOM just facilitated a charter flight from Sabha, Libya to Bamako, Mali with 141 migrants," IOM said in a statement. The migrants were living in different urban settings in Libya, the statement said. The program, run by IOM, arranges the return of illegal immigrants stranded in Libya to their homeland. Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores. So far in 2022, a total of 6,340 illegal migrants have been rescued and returned to Libya, including 510 women and 273 minors, according to IOM. In 2021, a total of 32,425 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, while 662 died and 891 others went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, IOM 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. 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. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. ART TO VIEW 5 gallery shows to see in the Berkshires over Memorial Day weekend ROOTS AND SHOOTS CONCERT SERIES The Lucky 5 brings its unique blend of jazz and swing to Spencertown Academy South Africa: African market is important for sustainable growth With May celebrated as Africa Month, the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has identified the rest of the African continent as an important market for sustainable growth. This is consistent with its strategic plan 2020-2025, but also as part of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. In the next financial year, the CDC will focus on fast-tracking the implementation of projects in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Zimbabwe, whilst marketing its services to increase the portfolio of clients, CDC Programme Director Idriss Mouchili said on Wednesday. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Strategic Framework 2020-2030, has identified cross-border exchanges with the rest of Africa as a key pillar of the implementation of reconfiguring and expansion of existing SEZs. The CDC has expanded its non-SEZ services to other markets in countries that include Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal under the Coega Africa Programme (CAP). The CDC is providing technical advisory and co-development of SEZs, industrial parks, dry ports and public infrastructure. Through its African Trade and Investment Solutions Strategy, the CDC is championing the countrys renewed push for business exchanges between South Africa and the rest of the continent. The CDC, with its proven track record in infrastructure implementation and programme management spanning over two decades, has delivered mega infrastructure projects successfully within budget, scope and quality standards. The organisation has an arsenal of systems and processes, utilising international best practice in project management using advanced project methodology which also enables job creation and transform economies through developing emerging businesses, the CDC said. With a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of more than USD3 trillion, the CDC said the African continent is a major market for trade for any country that is serious about sustainable development. According to the CDC, the AfCFTA, which is the largest global free trade area by countries participating, could transform the continent's economic prospects. The agreement aims to reduce all trade costs, improve intra-African trade and enable Africa to integrate further into global supply chains. Ultimately, AfCFTA aims to improve the continents economic integration in line with the Agenda 2063s Pan-African vision of an industrialised, stable, and peaceful Africa, the CDC said. The agreement also aims to eliminate customs tariffs for intraregional trade, to improve capital and individual mobility, and to facilitate investment at the national and continental levels. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Regional Economic Outlook (April 2022), looking beyond the pandemic and current geopolitical tensions, job creation and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals will require strong, inclusive, and sustainable growth in the region. To this end, decisive policy action is needed to enhance economic diversification, unleash the private sectors potential, and address the challenges posed by climate change. Africas land area exceeds that of China, Europe, and the United States combined. Its 54 countries have a collective population of 1.2 billion, with over a thousand languages being spoken, huge diversity in income levels, resource endowment, business sophistication and infrastructure development. With the worlds largest free trade area and a 1.2-billion-person market, the continent is creating an entirely new development path, harnessing the potential of its resources and people. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-05-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. U.S. vice president warns of health worker burnout: media Xinhua) 08:43, May 26, 2022 WASHINGTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday warned of burnout among the country's health workers over two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, local media reported. A report issued by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy projected a shortage of 3 million "essential low-wage health workers" in the next five years and nearly 140,000 doctors by 2033. Unless changes are made, Murthy said, the United States will be less prepared for future public health emergencies. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) CAIRO, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Thursday discussed here with Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides the latest developments at the regional and international levels, according to a statement by the Cairo-based pan-Arab bloc. They explored means of promoting cooperation with the Arab countries in the light of the special ties connecting Cyprus and the Arab world, the statement said. The Ukrainian crisis was also among their talking points. Aboul-Gheit called for finding a diplomatic solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict that leads to a cease-fire, so as to mitigate the crisis's repercussions on the food security in the region and curb the negative impacts of the rising living costs on the security of the Arab countries. The two sides also discussed the latest developments of the Palestinian cause and the Syrian crisis, and ways of benefiting from the energy sources in the Eastern Mediterranean region. After six days of testimony, the case of the admitted shooter of Nick Carnevale and a co-defendant was submitted to the jury for deliberations. Pittsfield Reporter Meg Britton-Mehlisch is the Pittsfield reporter for The Berkshire Eagle. Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, she previously worked at the Prior Lake American and its sister publications under the Southwest News Media umbrella in Savage, Minnesota. Managing editor for innovation Larry Parnass joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant, CommonWealth Magazine and with the Reuters news service. Donald Morrison is an Eagle columnist and co-chairman of the advisory board. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of The Berkshire Eagle. Scripture is full of promises from God which give believers comfort, joy, and hope. The Bible also teaches plenty of helpful insights about Gods promises, so that we can better understand them. We can count on these promises and be confident that God is faithful to fulfill each one. Many biblical heroes experienced Gods promises coming to fulfillment Abraham, Esther, David, Jeremiah just to name a few. Gods promises are still relevant for believers today. Perhaps in your own life there have been moments where you have experienced Gods promises coming to fruition. In the New Testament, we read of renewed assurance of Gods faithfulness to keep His promises. For no matter how many promises God has made, they are Yes in Christ. And so through him the Amen is spoken by us to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 1:20). This verse, which might sound a bit confusing, was written by the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. It conveys that Jesus Christ is the yes and amen of all Gods promises, meaning in Jesus is the guarantee and confirmation of Gods promises. Christians respond with an amen to the assurance of Gods promises which signifies our affirmation of and trust in Gods faithfulness. What Does This Mean That Gods Promises Are Yes and Amen? In this first chapter of the second letter to the Corinthians, found in the New Testament, Paul begins by defending his change of plans. The church in Corinth was likely upset that Paul had intended to visit them but had to cancel this travel plan. His integrity and honesty were questioned by some in the congregation. Paul acknowledged that our yes should be yes, and our no should be no, but went on to write that it was also God who caused him to have to change his plans. Paul made the connection in this first chapter that just as Jesus is the yes and amen to all Gods promises, so He was also the yes to Paul having to change his itinerary. The word in the original Greek language for amen is . This word is sometimes translated amen, and other times, it is translated as surely, so let it be, verily, or truly. The word itself has a powerful meaning. It can mean firm, faithful, confirmed, or of truth. Essentially, this verse declares boldly that Gods promises are amen in Jesus or Gods promises are true, faithful, and confirmed in Jesus! There is an interesting lesson found in this first chapter because as human beings we are habituated to make plans, cast a vision for where our life is going, and orient our lives to what we hope to accomplish. However, Scripture teaches that even though we make plans, what we come up with could change at any time because God is the one who ultimately ordains our steps (see Proverbs 16:9). Paul was quick to correct the church in Corinth not to get distracted by his change in travel plans, but rather, to focus on the faithfulness of God. Our hearts and minds should be set on God. What Is the Context of This Verse? The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth, a Greek city within the Roman empire. It was a very wealthy city and a major port of trade at the time this letter was written. Most scholars believe this was one of a few letters that Paul wrote to this church to support them in their faith and encourage them to keep following the Gospel. This first chapter of the epistle begins with a greeting, Pauls introductory thoughts, and his original desire to travel to Corinth and see this congregation in person. He discussed in the letter the change to his original plans to come and visit the church in Corinth. Paul knew that the congregation took such news with criticism and accused him of not sticking to his word. Therefore, he went on to defend himself and his ministry against accusations of being unreliable. The end of this first chapter gives great encouragement when facing changes and uncertainty. We can count on the promises of God no matter what. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). Though the world is changing, Gods promises do not. As believers, in Christ we stand firm as the Spirit takes residence in our hearts and we are guaranteed the promises to come! What Promises Does God Offer? God has promised many good things, and ultimately, He has promised that Jesus will come again (see John 14:3)! God continues to say yes to His promises. This is significant because it means we have an amazing hope and assurance that Jesus is coming back. Believers can anticipate Jesus return and know that God will be faithful to this and all His promises. God continues to say yes to what He has promised throughout Scripture. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us by me and Silas and Timothy was not Yes and No, but in him it has always been Yes (2 Corinthians 1:19). Jesus has remained faithful to Gods word. When we read about the life of Jesus in the Gospels, it is clear that He lived on earth with integrity, honesty, and demonstrated the faithfulness of God. As Paul wrote, Jesus was always yes, and His life undeniably showed that. Why Do We Say "Yes and Amen" Today? It is common to say yes and amen when we finish saying a prayer or hear an insightful sermon. It is important to remember that saying yes and amen does not mean that every prayer or desire we have will come to pass rather this verse is specifically teaching about the promises of God, not prayers. Yet better than our personal wants or desires are Gods promises that we read in the Bible, and certainly, we can find joy in knowing His promises are yes and amen! Believers can trust God to do what is best in our lives and cling to the hope of Jesus return. When we say yes and amen, it is an expression of our trust in Gods faithfulness. When we say yes and amen, we are putting our focus rightly on Gods promises found in the Bible instead of being distracted by the passing trials in this world. When we face hardships or obstacles, we can look to Scripture for encouragement and hope. This verse challenges followers of Jesus to trust in Gods promises found throughout Scripture because they are guaranteed and affirmed in Christ Jesus. At times we may feel that not much can be counted on. The world around us changes quickly and there are many letdowns we endure. Scripture teaches that Gods promises will never fail! It is in Christ that every promise of God is yes and amen meaning that Gods promises are guaranteed and confirmed through Jesus. God loves His children and wants us to have confidence in His promises no matter what is happening in our lives, the changes we face, or the uncertainty of the world. We can be confident of whats to come! Related articles 6 Powerful "I WILL" Promises of Jesus Is It True That if You Ask, Then You Shall Receive? 10 Promises from the Bible to Embrace Today Photo credit: Getty Images/fotogestoeber.de Pamela Palmer is a writer, chaplain, and the founder of upheldlife.com, the platform on which she produces weekly devotionals and faith resource articles to inspire keeping faith at the center of it all. She lives and thrives on Jesus, coffee, and music. She is in pastoral ministry and gets to share in the emotional and spiritual lives of many people, being a small piece of each journey. Pamela married the perfect man for her and they have two beautiful kiddos. She has been published on herviewfromhome.com and you can follow her at upheldlife.com, or on Facebook.com/upheldlife. First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain. Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that. And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details. If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Is the threat of global stagflation getting real? Can the Chinese economy resist the mounting downward pressure and continue to power a more sustainable global recovery as it did in the 2008 global financial crisis? These concerns were raised by world leaders, business tycoons and scholars at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) amid the whirlwind of challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis overcasting an already lackluster global economy. Against such a backdrop, the Chinese economy has also encountered headwinds in recent months as the COVID-19 resurgence weighed on some metropolis like Shanghai and Beijing. To weather those challenges, the Chinese government has been trying to coordinate epidemic control with economic and social development in an efficient way. The Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, published last week an article by Chinese President Xi Jinping, in which he said that since the 1990s, China has successfully responded to major tests such as the Asian financial crisis, the international financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Xi also admitted risks in China's economic and financial sectors, but said they are under control, while expressing his confidence in the sustainable and healthy development of the Chinese economy. TARGETED MEASURES Thanks to relentless hard work, China is witnessing a steady decline in its recent COVID resurgence. In Shanghai, after several months of a tough fight, the megacity of 25 million declared on May 17 that all its 16 districts had cut off community transmission. Now the metropolis is gradually reopening commercial outlets, with the resurgence largely under control. To resume production and shore up growth as well as confidence, the Chinese government has acted with no delay. It has rolled out a sweeping package of targeted measures, including increasing tax refunds, providing subsidies to encourage employment and extending financial support to micro and small businesses. On May 15, a ship loaded with over 4,000 electric cars produced by Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory left for Belgium. This is the second export shipment of Tesla cars from Shanghai since the factory resumed production on April 19. All four factories of U.S. manufacturing company 3M in Shanghai have also resumed production. "It's so wonderful to be back at this familiar store and reconnect with the community and customers again by making cups of coffee," said Sheng Li, the manager of the Starbucks store on Shanghai's Huaihai West Road. As of Monday, nearly 20 Starbucks stores in Shanghai's 12 districts had reopened, covering downtown and suburban areas. Sheng said she has been fully occupied these days as expected. Despite downside risks, China has the policy space and capacity to respond to economic shocks, World Bank East Asia and Pacific Chief Economist Aaditya Mattoo told Xinhua. FUNDAMENTALS UNCHANGED In a recent press release, Fu Linghui, spokesperson for China's National Bureau of Statistics, said that "the fundamentals of the Chinese economy remain unchanged. The overall trends of economic transformation and upgrading and high-quality development remain unchanged." Despite the downward risks, the Chinese economy remains resilient with a super-large market, complete industrial and supply chains and huge domestic demands. China announced last year its victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The country boasts the world's biggest middle-income group -- 400 million people, offering tremendous potential for its own and others' businesses. Moreover, it is the only country in the world to obtain all the industrial categories listed in the United Nations industrial classification. Among the world's more than 500 major industrial products, China ranks first in output at over 220. When the pandemic was at its height, it was China that quickly brought the disease under control, and restored the previously disrupted global supply chains. According to Bloomberg, China ensured "that everything from iPhones and Teslas to fertilizer and car parts continues to flow to the rest of the world." "China is the world's largest manufacturer with the most comprehensive and resilient supply chain system, which has helped China's economy recover rapidly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Jerry Zhang, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank (China). China is also building new fundamentals for future growth. The country's drive for stronger innovation capabilities provides solid support for fostering a new development paradigm and achieving high-quality development, which are key components of "Xiconomics," the Chinese president's economic philosophy. In 2021, China's spending on research and development hit a new high of 2.44 percent of its GDP, amounting to about 2.79 trillion yuan (about 441.13 billion U.S. dollars) and ranking the second in the world. China's economy boasts excellent potential and resilience, said Swiss banker Fiorenzo Manganiello, adding that China can withstand downward pressure and risks and has the confidence to stabilize the macroeconomic market, which is "very important to global investors." COMMON PROSPERITY In the first four months this year, China's exports grew 10.3 percent year on year to 6.97 trillion yuan (about 1.04 trillion dollars), while imports rose 5 percent. Over the same period, foreign direct investment into the Chinese mainland, in actual use, expanded 26.1 percent year on year to 74.47 billion dollars. These numbers testify to just how closely China and the rest of the world are connected in terms of trade and commerce, as well as in the need to promote shared development globally. As Xi has noted, China's growth aims to realize common prosperity in the country and shared development beyond its border. To realize common prosperity, China should first "make a bigger and better cake" through the joint efforts of its people, and then divide and distribute the cake properly through rational institutional arrangements, Xi said in his Qiushi article. China is steering its economy with a new development philosophy and paradigm that features innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared growth, and puts more weight on the domestic market while developing the overseas one. To turn global awareness into collective action, China has been translating Xi's vision for common development into cooperation frameworks such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative which have earned support from countries and organizations across the world. Addressing the conference of the 70th anniversary of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit, Xi underlined China's commitment to the WTO-centered multilateral trading regime, pledging to "ensure security and stability of the global industrial and supply chains, and make the 'pie' of cooperation bigger to allow development gains to better trickle down to people of all countries." Xi's renewed commitments to global cooperation injected a dose of certainty into this uncertain world. Standard Chartered "is very optimistic about China's long-term development prospects and will continue its investment in China," Zhang said, citing the group's decision to invest 300 million dollars into China-related business in the next three years. Manganiello, the Swiss banker who hailed the Belt and Road Initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership as "powerful engines for the recovery of the global economy," also said he believes that China will continue to promote globalization and regional economic integration. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, China's economic growth faces some short-term challenges, but the Chinese government is taking measures such as expanding domestic demand, reducing export dependence and cultivating high value-added industries to ensure economic growth, said WEF President Borge Brende. "So for long and medium term, I'm quite bullish on China's economy," Brende added. Khanna is a techno-commercial leader with over 19 years of experience in institutional and commercial healthcare businesses Redcliffe Labs has announced Ishaan Khanna as Director - Reproductive Medicine and Genetics. Khanna is a techno-commercial leader with over 19 years of experience in institutional and commercial healthcare businesses. He has effectively built organisations from the ground up and demonstrated success in establishing successful; diagnostic business models in India and abroad. He started his career as a scientist with assignments spanning across Australia and UK. After coming back to India he worked in business development leadership roles in biotech and pharma companies such as Avesthagen and Krishna Antioxidants. His last assignment was at Lifecell where he was the CEO, Biobank and Diagnostics where he spent over a decade. Khanna is a Gold Medalist in Bachelors Biotechnology, Manipal University, Kasturba Medical College/ Manipal Lifescience School India; and holds Masters in Biotechnology and Masters in Enterprise, University of Manchester. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) on Wednesday, 25 May, said it had signed a wage deal with ArcelorMittal South Africa, ending a two-week strike over a pay dispute. Source: Reuters/Sumaya Hisham Above-inflation increase The union, which embarked on a strike on 11 May demanding a 10% wage hike, said it had agreed on a 6.5% increase across the board - on basic pay and allowances - backdated to 1 April 2022.The company, Africa's biggest steel producer which is majority-owned by Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal SA, also agreed to make a one-off payment to all workers of R5,000, the union said."The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa is pleased to announce that it has signed an above-inflation increase for all workers at ArcelorMittal South Africa (Amsa)," Numsa said in a statement late Wednesday."We met with the executives of the company today to negotiate an end to the strike our members accepted. As a result, the strike at AMSA is over."ArcelorMittal was not immediately available to comment.The company had tabled a final offer of 7%, made up of a 5% increase across the board on all remuneration elements as well as a 2% cash equivalent based on all remuneration elements. The City of Cape Town is not addressing the housing crisis with enough urgency, says activist organisation Ndifuna Ukwazi, with only one out of 11 planned affordable housing projects announced five years ago complete. Caption: Social housing is to be built on the Salt River Market site. Source: Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp Rising need for affordable homes 'Heavy statutory environment' 500,000 houses needed by 2028 Ndifuna Ukwazi researcher Robyn Park-Ross says by the citys own admission in its latest Municipal Spatial Development Framework, it will take more than 70 years to eradicate Cape Towns current housing backlog.Of 11 affordable housing projects announced in 2017 in Woodstock, Salt River, and the city centre, only one - the Pickwick Transitional Housing project - has been completed and is occupied.The other sites are located in Pine Road, Dillon Lane, Salt River Market, James Street, New Market Street, Fruit and Veg, Upper Canterbury Street, and two sites at the Cissie Gool House (the former Woodstock Hospital and the hospital park).Park-Ross said that there is a growing and urgent need for affordable homes to be built in well-located areas in the city. Park-Ross quoted from the citys Integrated Human Settlements Sector Plan that an estimated 53% of new dwellings each year between 2020 and 2040 will be informal settlements. This is a direct reflection of the growing need for affordable homes, she said.She said the need for houses had been drastically increased by the Covid pandemic. Many people have lost work and incomes, pushing many into an impossible choice between living on the street or occupying land.Park-Ross also raised concerns about an increase in evictions now that the National State of Disaster has ended.Ndifuna Ukwazi and Reclaim the City protested outside the Cape Town convention centre during the citys Affordable Housing Indaba in early April, demanding that the moratorium on evictions be extended until the city could find a solution to homelessness.Building social housing is complicated and it can take a long time, said Malusi Booi, the citys mayco member for human settlements. Social housing is an immensely complex housing model and done in a heavy statutory environment. Unfortunately, this takes time, he said.Legislative processes including land rezoning, public asset transfer, feasibility studies, partnership agreements, and lengthy public participation processes were necessary.Booi said that social housing developments at Cissie Gool House (the former Woodstock hospital) and Helen Bowden Nurses Home had been stalled for nearly four years now due to two hi-jackings by Ndifuna Ukwazi soon after it was announced that the sites would be used for affordable housing.Booi said that between 1996 and 2016, Cape Towns population had increased by 56% to more than 4.3 million. Over the same period, the number of households had increased to about 1.36 million.To meet the current housing demand and also accommodate projected growth, about 500,000 houses needed to be created between now and 2028, he said. The city currently has 6,500 social housing units planned across 50 land parcels, and the budget for housing opportunities is about R2bn a year.The city said the Pine Road and Dillion lane projects had been awarded to a social housing institution for development. The Salt River Market project had received rezoning approval and the city council had approved the release of the land. The site in Upper Canterbury Street needed the de-proclamation of the road, and at the projects in James Street, Pickwick Road, Newmarket Street and Fruit and Veg City development packaging preparing the project to meet all relevant national, provincial and municipal requirements was underway. Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries SUBSCRIBE Workers work at a juice processing plant in Kandahar, Afghanistan on May 23, 2022. (Photo by Arghand/Xinhua) KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, May 26 (Xinhua) -- In a country already beset by innumerable destabilizing factors, power shortages are doing nothing help Afghanistan's recovery. In southern Kandahar province, like anywhere else, no electricity means no productivity. Elham Haqmal manages a milk processing plant in Kandahar's Industrial Park. "We have no mains electricity at all. We operate on the power from our own generators. It's a very costly way to do business," Haqmal said. "Only a handful factories out of the 300 in the park are operational. If the power problem continues for much longer, all the plants will have to be shut down." "Our products are highly perishable. Without power, everything can be spoiled. We have to pour gallons of perfectly good milk down the drain," he added. Running factories and plants need sufficient and stable sources of power. Power is imported from neighboring Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. But in Afghanistan almost all the infrastructure, including power plants and factories, has been wrecked or destroyed by more than 40 years of almost continuous conflict. The war may be over, but trouble continues. Unknown forces have recently attacked power lines to disrupt the supply to capital Kabul and other provinces. State news agency Bakhtar reported that in the latest attack on power transmission lines, unidentified men blew up three pylons in the northern Samangan province on Sunday night, the second attack in a month. In the previous incident, unknown attackers targeted two pylons in Salang district of the eastern Parwan province. Power is yet to be restored to the area. The war-weary and poverty-stricken Afghans often blame the U.S. military invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001 on the excuse of fighting terror for the current mess, saying Washington during its 20-year military presence ended in August last year didn't build any economic infrastructures, while claiming spending billions of dollars here. Workers work at a juice processing plant in Kandahar, Afghanistan on May 23, 2022. (Photo by Arghand/Xinhua) HONIARA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here on Thursday with Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele to exchange views on further improving bilateral ties and expanding pragmatic cooperation in various fields. Wang said his visit aims to strengthen coordination, increase mutual trust, reach consensus, deepen friendship and expand cooperation between China and the Pacific island countries, adding that China-Solomon Islands relationship has shown great resilience and vitality in past years. China will always firmly support the Solomon Islands' efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity, protect national unity and solidarity, and speed up national development and rejuvenation, said Wang, offering all help to the Solomon Islands within China's capability. China is willing to work with the Solomon Islands to implement the important consensus reached between the leadership of the two countries, and elevate bilateral relationship to a higher level to make it a model of political mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and island nations, Wang said. For his part, Manele said equal treatment and mutual respect are the foundation of Solomon Islands-China relations. The Solomon Islands will always firmly adhere to the one-China principle and support China in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity. China has become a close friend and key development partner of the Solomon Islands, and all bilateral agreements have been effectively implemented, Manele said, adding that China's support has played an important role in the Solomon Islands' efforts to develop economy, improve people's livelihood and fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and has brought a great amount of employment to the country. He said the Solomon Islands wishes a great success for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and looks forward to learning from China's governance experiences. As China's development is the growth of peaceful forces and developing countries, it will make the world a more peaceful place and the international relationship a fairer one, which fully serves the common interests of developing countries, Wang said. The two sides agreed to join hands to forge flagship mega-projects of the Road and Belt Initiative (BRI) and make good use of the preferential policies for tariff-free exports to China and help the Solomon Islands fully tap its resource advantages and development potentials. They pledged to expand pragmatic cooperation in the areas including agro-fishery, timber, minerals, health and fight against the pandemic, disaster mitigation and relief, to deepen experience exchanges on product processing, industrial incubation and special economic zones, and to help the Solomon Islands promote its capacity of self-development and accelerate industrialization and modernization. The two sides vowed to enhance coordination and cooperation in the fields of development issues, dealing with climate change and multilateral affairs. The Solomon Islands foreign minister said his country supports China's Global Development Initiative and stands ready to strengthen alignment and foster greater synergy with China. They spoke highly of the fruitful results of the cooperation between China and the Pacific island countries, and promised to work together for the successful holding of the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' meeting to be held in Fiji. Wang is visiting the Solomon Islands as part of his tour to the South Pacific island nations, which will also take him to Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, as well as Timor-Leste. Former president Barack Obama said Wednesday in a statement grieving the massacre of children in Uvalde that we should all take time to remember "the murder of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer." "As we grieve the children of Uvalde today, we should take time to recognize that two years have passed since the murder of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer," Obama said. "His killing stays with us all to this day, especially those who loved him." As we grieve the children of Uvalde today, we should take time to recognize that two years have passed since the murder of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer. His killing stays with us all to this day, especially those who loved him. Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 25, 2022 In the aftermath of his murder, a new generation of activists rose up to channel their anguish into organized action, launching a movement to raise awareness of systemic racism and the need for criminal justice and police reform. Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 25, 2022 Indeed, we should all take time to remember the felon, drug addict and porn star who robbed a woman by sticking a gun to her belly and threatening to execute her while his friends robbed her place. Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab, Minds and Telegram. BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- China is facing tough challenges in promoting reform, development and stability, as both drastic changes and a pandemic unseen in a century have been transforming the international arena and thrusting the world into a new round of turbulence and shifts. Against this backdrop, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has highlighted both high-quality development and high-level security amid the country's efforts to embrace a brighter future for the Chinese economy. PROTECT LIFE, STEADY ECONOMY The huge "black swan" of the COVID-19 pandemic has become the biggest variable affecting the recovery of the global economy. The virus is still ravaging the world and mutating, after having resulted in some 520 million confirmed cases worldwide, and over 6 million related deaths. Since March this year, COVID-19 resurgences have hit parts of China, markedly impacting the country's economic recovery. Xi has stressed the importance of effectively coordinating COVID-19 prevention and control with economic and social development, protecting people's health and safety to the greatest extent, and minimizing the impacts of the pandemic on economic and social development. Local regions have taken effective measures to check COVID-19 resurgences. For example, earlier this year, the southern city of Shenzhen, a tech hub and a major center for foreign trade in China, saw a resurgence of COVID-19 infections. The city took a series of measures, such as suspending public transportation and closing some businesses, from March 14 to 20, and successfully brought the situation under control. Shanghai has cut off the community transmission of COVID-19 in all its 16 districts as of May 17. Besides fighting the virus resurgences, China has rolled out a series of policies to steady the economy and safeguard development security, involving efforts to keep logistics smooth and industrial and supply chains stable. The country has carried out new combined supporting policies through tax and fee cuts. Tax refunds and cuts are expected to total around 2.5 trillion yuan (about 375.38 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022. Shifts in the domestic and international economic environment have brought tremendous pressure, but the fundamentals of the Chinese economy, characterized by strong resilience, enormous potential and long-term sustainability, remain unchanged. "We have every confidence in the future of China's economy," said Xi at the virtual session of the 2022 World Economic Forum held in January. STAY RESILIENT Facing complicated situations at home and abroad, China has taken initiatives to ensure that key areas are safe and controllable to safeguard the bottom line of achieving high-quality development. Global energy and grain markets have experienced volatile fluctuations, adding pressure to domestic supply and price stability. "For a big country like China, ensuring the supply of primary goods is a major strategic issue. We must strengthen strategic planning and make early adjustments to ensure supply security," Xi said at the tone-setting Central Economic Work Conference in December 2021. Noting that food security is critical to the country's stability and prosperity, Xi urged against slacking off on the food security issue on various occasions. A slew of measures have been taken to ensure grain output exceeds 650 million tonnes this year. Currently, the planting area of winter wheat remains stable at 330 million mu (22 million hectares), laying a sound foundation for a bumper summer harvest. As energy serves as the fundamental underpinning of economic and social development, Xi has stressed the need to safeguard the country's energy supply. To ensure energy security, China will add an additional 300 million tonnes of coal production capacity this year. Oil and gas exploration will be strengthened, and the building of large wind power and photovoltaic bases will be accelerated. Besides, coal imports will be exempt from tax between May 1 this year to March 31, 2023. China is also striving to strengthen scientific and technological innovation and promote tech self-sufficiency. China's indigenously developed C919 large passenger aircraft is a case in point. "We must have our own large jets," Xi said during a visit to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China eight years ago. Researchers have been stepping up efforts to overcome technical difficulties. The first C919 aircraft to be delivered completed a successful maiden test flight on May 14. MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE AS FOUNDATION Chairing the 11th meeting of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs held on April 26, Xi, also head of the committee, called for all-out efforts to strengthen infrastructure construction in the country's endeavor toward building a modern infrastructure system. Calling infrastructure a pillar for economic and social development, Xi urged the country to coordinate development and security, and optimize the layout, structure, functions and development models of infrastructure. On April 29, a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, chaired by Xi, reiterated the need to comprehensively reinforce infrastructure construction. From the central to local authorities, a slew of arrangements have been unveiled and a blueprint of building a modern infrastructure system has been rolled out step by step. Efforts have been made in advancing infrastructure construction with a focus on shoring up weak links, with the construction of 102 major projects for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) being accelerated. Of the 800 billion yuan of investment earmarked for water conservancy projects this year, 195.8 billion yuan has been invested from January to April, surging 45.5 percent year on year. Meanwhile, the country is also striving to build technological and digital infrastructure as a part of its long-term goal to optimize the overall economic layout and foster new growth drivers. As part of the digital information infrastructure, the number of 5G base stations in the country increased by about 134,000 during the first quarter of the year, bringing the total to nearly 1.56 million. Earlier this year, China initiated work on a mega project to establish eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters in a bid to improve overall computing power and resource efficiency. The country's moves to comprehensively reinforce infrastructure construction and build a modern infrastructure system, with both the current needs and long-term goals taken into account, will lay a solid foundation for future development and bring opportunities for technological innovation. ECONOMIC REORIENTATION Amid an increasingly complex external environment, Xi has urged efforts to accelerate the building of a new development paradigm and advance China's high-quality development, seeking to reorient the country's economic growth pattern to build up resilience against global volatility. The strategy recently got a vital boost as authorities detailed a plan on how to build a national unified market to enable a more efficient and smooth flow of labor and goods across the country. The move is key to the country's new development paradigm of "dual circulation," floated in 2020 as a strategic solution that takes the domestic market as the mainstay while letting internal and external markets boost each other. "To speed up the construction of a new development paradigm is to enhance our survivability, competitiveness, development and sustainability in the face of various predictable and unforeseen storms and turbulent waves, so as to ensure that the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not be delayed or even interrupted," Xi noted. In the meanwhile, the focus on the domestic market does not mean neglecting the bigger global market. As "dual circulation" is by no means a closed domestic loop, Xi has expounded on how China's unlocked market potential, wider opening up and deepening international cooperation under the new development paradigm will offer more development opportunities and bring shared prosperity to the world. To make good on the commitment, China has advanced the construction of 21 pilot free trade zones, and signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with 149 countries and 32 international organizations. It has also prompted the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and officially filed an application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. STRIVING FOR NEW SUCCESS Engines started rumbling again at train stations in Shanghai. A shipbuilder in the city has recently delivered a large ethane carrier, the first after its operation resumed. While COVID-hit Shanghai is returning to normalcy step by step, it now faces a race against time to regain what was lost in the epidemic. A steadily recovering Shanghai has proved once again the resilience of the Chinese economy. Looking forward, in its great modernization drive, China is sure to encounter various risks and challenges, some foreseeable and others not. A balance must be struck between development and security. "We should ensure both development and security and be ever ready to protect against potential dangers in times of peace. This is a major principle underlying the Party's governance," Xi has said. During the annual "two sessions" in March, Xi listed China's five strategic advantages, which are the strong leadership of the CPC, the institutional strength of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the solid foundation accumulated in the country's sustained and rapid development, the long-term stability of the Chinese society, and the confidence and resolve of the Chinese people to overcome difficulties. The five advantages explain why China has succeeded and how the country can remain successful in the future. "The world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, but time and situation are in our favor," which is precisely where China's composure and confidence come from, Xi has said. BRASILIA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Senator Simone Tebet, a so-called "third way" presidential candidate from the Brazilian Democratic Movement, voiced Wednesday her readiness to represent the democratic center in Brazil's October general elections. Tebet said she is confident that the Brazilian Social Democracy Party will decide to support her, after Joao Doria, former governor of Sao Paulo, withdrew his candidacy two days ago. Although she is little known to Brazilian voters, Tebet said she will manage to overcome the current polarization between President Jair Bolsonaro from the rightist Liberal Party, and former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from the leftist Workers' Party. The presidential hopeful also committed herself to a liberal economic agenda, noting that as a senator she was in favor of labor and social security reform, and the establishment of a public spending ceiling. According to the latest polls, Lula da Silva leads with 40-43 percent of the vote, followed by Bolsonaro with 32-35 percent. The possibility of a "third way" is encouraged by various political forces to overcome the polarization between the two strong candidates, although neither name has managed to arouse the interest of voters. Danielle Roy says multiple sclerosis has turned her into a prisoner of her own body, which is why she is seeking a procedure that is only available outside of Canada and she needs the publics help to afford it. Advertisement Advertise With Us Danielle Roy says multiple sclerosis has turned her into a prisoner of her own body, which is why she is seeking a procedure that is only available outside of Canada and she needs the publics help to afford it. The autoimmune disorder has slowly taken away her ability to walk and hold objects, leaving her wheelchair-bound after years of fighting to keep what mobility she has left. Roy said she is not giving up and is setting her sights on a stem-cell procedure that is still in the experimental phase in Canada but is being used in other countries to treat autoimmune disorders. SUBMITTED Danielle Roy is reaching out to the public to help her pay for an experimental stem-cell procedure in Mexico to halt the progression of her MS. However, the nearest clinic is in Mexico, and it is going to cost her around $84,000. Neither Roy nor her caregiver and friend Evan Anthony have that kind of money, so they launched a campaign on GoFundMe to raise funds before applying for loans. Roy said she knows asking for that much money is a lofty goal, but she has reached a point where she cannot tolerate her MS any longer. "Im going to be bedridden soon. Im lucky I still have a lot of upper-body strength to get out of bed and into my chair," she said. "Really, I dont want to have to face another winter with this. For some reason, it makes my MS worse, and things really started going downhill after this winter." What Roy is hoping to undergo is known as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). According to the medical information website Medscape.com, this involves injecting hematopoietic stem cells into the veins to re-establish blood-cell production in patients whose bone marrow or immune system is damaged or defective. This technique has been used with increasing frequency over the past 50 years to treat numerous malignant and non-malignant diseases. Cells for HSCT may be obtained from the patient or from another person, such as a sibling or unrelated donor or an identical twin. Cell sources include bone marrow, peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood. Roy said the stem cells from her own body will be used. According to the MS Society of Canada, the disease attacks the myelin, the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation and often damaging the myelin in patches. When this happens, the usual flow of nerve impulses along nerve fibres (axons) is interrupted or distorted. Depending on the type and the persons overall health, the result may be a wide variety of symptoms, depending on which part or parts of the central nervous system are affected. This includes numbness, loss of muscle control, paralysis, difficulty speaking, dizziness, loss of bowel and bladder control, difficulty swallowing and tremors. Not all people with MS will experience all symptoms, and often the symptoms will improve during periods of remission. There are various ways to manage symptoms, ranging from drug treatments to non-medicinal strategies such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, exercise programs and alternative and complementary treatments. Roy was diagnosed in 2005 at the age of 19 and slowly lost mobility until she required an electric wheelchair. In 2010, she and her family ran a penny collection campaign to pay for a treatment anchored in the theory MS was caused by blocked neck veins that needed to be opened with angioplasty. At the time, such treatments were only available overseas. Since then, it has been a series of ups and downs with several medications and therapies. The problem with those, she said, is they only slow down progression or manage symptoms for a time before they become worse. The psychological effects have been just as devastating. "I used to be so active, a cheerleader, a runner," she said. "Now, I feel a little jealous when I see someone holding a cup of coffee. This is my life, and Ill try anything to save it." The hope is this treatment will stop the progression of MS and allow her body to heal itself and regain at least some of her mobility. "Other treatments slow things down or do damage control, but with HSCT, it stops progression entirely," Anthony said. "Its not a treatment, but its hard to not call it a treatment. You can get it more than one time, but it is really meant to be a procedure done once." Anthony said he can take out a loan to help pay for some of the procedure, but not for more than $84,000, which is why they are once again reaching out to the public to help Roy. To donate, visit gofund.me/f3b0eaf8. kmckinley@brandonsun.com Twitter: @karenleighmcki1 Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, talks with villagers at Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Gansu Province, May 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) LANZHOU, May 26 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang has stressed the importance of advancing high-quality development and ensuring lasting stability in the country's prefectures and counties with large Tibetan populations. Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a recent inspection tour to Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Gansu Province. From Monday through Wednesday, Wang visited rural areas, pastoral areas, schools and religious venues in Gannan, where he had in-depth exchanges with people of various ethnic groups and figures from the religious circles to learn about the economic and social development and work related to ethnic and religious affairs in prefectures and counties with large Tibetan populations. During the tour, Wang presided over meetings to solicit opinions and suggestions. Wang underscored greater efforts to combat separatist activities and rely closely on people of all ethnic groups to forge an ironclad shield for national security. He noted the need to preserve and pass down cultures of various ethnic groups, and promote interactions, exchanges and integration among all ethnic groups. Wang stressed the importance of upholding the principle of developing religions in the Chinese context and guiding Tibetan Buddhism to adapt to the socialist society. He called for consolidating achievements in poverty alleviation, promoting rural revitalization, developing industries with local characteristics and strengths based on resource endowment, and exploring new ways for areas with large ethnic minority populations to march toward modernization and common prosperity. The environment and ecology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau should also be well protected, Wang said. CFB SHILO Carefully studying the skies to understand and predict weather events, a group of five meteorological technicians are a silent guiding hand for the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery at CFB Shilo. CFB SHILO Carefully studying the skies to understand and predict weather events, a group of five meteorological technicians are a silent guiding hand for the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery at CFB Shilo. Sgt. Gilles Szikora, Cpl. Mitchell Read and Master Cpl. Ryan Halmich have diligently trained to become military meteorological technicians. There are about 240 technicians in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) posted across the country in all three elements of the military navy, air force and artillery. LEFT: Szikora (left) and Read stand outside the CFB Shilo Meteorology Centre. RIGHT: Szikora holds a radiosonde at the CFB Shilo Meteorology Centre earlier this month. Szikora has always loved anything related to the weather, he said, and as a teenager, he was glued to the Weather Network. Every hour, I would check the Weather Network and see what was going [on], what the changes going on in the atmosphere were. I was just absolutely obsessed, Szikora said. I just think weather is fascinating. He initially looked to join the military as an air force member, but soon learned about the meteorological technician position, colloquially known as met techs, after looking at a wall of pamphlets. Cpl. Mitchell Read sets up a device at the CFB Shilo Meteorology Centre on Tuesday, May 10. (Chelsea Kemp/The Brandon Sun) He was excited to discover there was a job available for his two passions military and weather. In the artillery unit, met techs are soldiers first, Halmich said. All technicians have soldier qualifications and weapons training to ensure they are ready for deployment. If were out in the field and we dont know how to defend the position that we are at, then we are just a bunch of sitting ducks with a bunch of other guys that have to take care of us, Halmich said. LEFT: Master Cpl. Ryan Halmich (left), Sgt. Gilles Szikora and Cpl. Mitchell Read stand inside a portable meteorology command centre at the CFB Shilo Meteorology Centre on May 10. RIGHT: Read releases a weather balloon at the CFB Shilo Meteorology Centre. (Photos by Chelsea Kemp/The Brandon Sun) After basic training, met techs complete a six-month course in Winnipeg at the CAF School of Meteorology. During the course, they learn basic weather theory, and how to brief and observe the data they receive. Once their training in Winnipeg is completed, they are sent to Gagetown, N.B., for on-the-job training in ballistic meteorology, including how to use weather balloons to gather data. Halmich completed his course last year and described it as the most challenging thing he has ever done academically. Halmich (left) and Read pose for a photo at the CFB Shilo Meteorology Centre on May 10. Met techs engage in purple training, meaning they can be stationed in the army, navy or air force. These guys are basically going to be meteorologists except ... without the degree. Theyre going to be able to do almost everything that a meteorologist can do, Szikora said. Once these training landmarks are completed, the met techs are stationed on bases across Canada. Halmich said as a trade, technicians will typically be posted at a base for three to five years. Cpl. Mitchell Read releases a weather balloon at the CFB Shilo Meteorology Centre on Tuesday, May 10. (Chelsea Kemp/The Brandon Sun) The roles taken on by meteorological technicians are diverse and centred on the base they are stationed at, Szikora said. At CFB Shilo, the focus is placed on ballistic meteorology. Ballistic meteorology is used by the gun line in 1RCHA. Met techs will launch weather balloons with a small radiosonde attached. As the radiosonde travels across the atmosphere, it will collect data and send it back to the met techs computers every two seconds. Halmich monitors lightning strikes on the computer at the CFB Shilo Meteorology Centre. The radiosonde measures temperature, wind speed and direction, humidity, altitude barometric pressure, and its directional position sends the data back to the met techs. The information is analyzed on the computer and shared with commanding officers for use in military operations. What those do is basically, they just show the gun line when they put that into their computer at the CP or at the actual gun itself, it will give basically an elevation and angle that they have to put the gun at in order to be able to reach their targets dead-on, hopefully, Halmich said. Were like the Amazon Prime. We try and deliver the package right onto target [using our data]. Other met techs will do weather observations on the hour if at an air force base to share with the world and for forecasters to use along with doing briefings for pilots. Sgt. Gilles Szikora holds a radiosonde at the CFB Shilo Meteorology Centre on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. (Chelsea Kemp/The Brandon Sun) Briefs are centred on planning and operational purposes, Read said. For example, if an exercise is planned for troops in Shilo, the met tech team will provide insights into what weather to expect and how it could impact an operation. Met techs have been critical in the history of the military, he added, citing the storming of the beaches during Normandy on D-Day in June 1944. It got delayed a day because of the weather, and the met tech ... briefed the commander, and said, this is a bad day for the weather, we should postpone an extra day, Read said. That was a piece of history in our trade. The Shilo team does not undertake much forecasting, Szikora said, but is steeped in research each week. The data gathered allows them to create packages for the bases commanding officer. For example, when a Colorado low brought in a big snowstorm at the end of April, the met techs provided insights on the potential impacts to troop training. In the end, based on extreme weather conditions, the base was closed for a couple of days with only essential personnel on hand. Szikora said that for the last couple of weeks, a focus has been placed on flooding due to excess moisture in the province. Understanding the potential of flooding is critical because troops need to know if they will be called upon by the province if an emergency happens. Szikora said serving as a met tech has been an incredible position as it has opened the doors to unique and memorable opportunities. Read spent time at the northern tip of Nunavut and Szikora has been to Latvia and Afghanistan. Read and Szikora will be deployed to Latvia in June for six months as part of Operation REASSURANCE, a deterrent mission with NATO. Halmich was recently posted to CFB Esquimalt on a Navy frigate in mid-May. The artillery wouldnt be anywhere without us [in the] support trades, Szikora said. At the artillery, probably half the people that work at that building are not artillery; you have cooks, maintenance people, electricians, padres, medics, a lot of everything. ckemp@brandonsun.com Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp The sultans of Silicon Valley are in a political snit, with some billionaires suddenly turning against Democrats. Its not just Elon Musk. Other prominent players, including Jeff Bezos, have lashed out at the Biden administration, and we now know that Oracles Larry Ellison participated in a call with Sean Hannity and Lindsey Graham about overturning the 2020 election. The timing of this hard right turn by some tech aristocrats is remarkable given whats happening in US politics. Its hard, for example, to imagine what kind of bubble Musk lives in that he could declare Democrats the party of division and hate at a time when Tucker Carlson, not a politician but still one of the most influential figures in the modern GOP, is devoting show after show to replacement theory, the claim that liberal elites are deliberately bringing immigrants to America to displace white voters. (Polls show that nearly half of Republicans agree with this theory.) Tesla chief Elon Musk and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos were mentioned specifically as billionaires who should do more to help solve the food crisis. Credit:AP The plutocrats railing against Democrats are also remarkably petty; nothing says visionary titan of industry like sending poop emojis. But the pettiness may actually be central to the political story. Whats going on here, Id argue, isnt mainly about greed (although that, too). It is, instead, largely about fragile egos. Its true that some real economic interests are at stake. Democrats have proposed new taxes on the wealthy, while President Joe Biden has appointed officials known for advocating much stronger antitrust policy. Its also true that tech stocks have fallen substantially over the past few months, reducing the paper wealth of moguls like Musk and Bezos. Over the past few years the chair of Chunky Moves board has asked artistic director Antony Hamilton the same thing: does he like running the company? I always find it really hard to answer that question, he says. Because it is a double-edged sword. Like anything, it cant all be fun all the time. Its a lot of hard work. He pauses with a twinkle. But its important to note that Im saying that with a smile. Its not a grin-and-bear-it situation. If you play things right, scoring the top job at a company like Chunky Move can be enough to instantly catapult you to international stardom. But for most of Antony Hamiltons first few years as the companys artistic director only the third in its 27-year history he has tried not to hog the spotlight. Hamilton and executive director Kristy Ayre typify a generation of artistic leaders who eschew fame and glamour in favour of collaboration and exchange. Chunky Moves artistic director Antony Hamilton. Credit:Chris Hopkins When Hamilton and Ayre took up the reins in 2019, they saw the company as a vessel in which they were guests. Certainly, there was a strong aesthetic emphasis and a visual language that we wanted to project, but we didnt want ourselves in that picture as much. We wanted the work to speak of something a bit bigger than us, that was addressing ideas and concerns that were a bit more exciting and curious. Some choreographers fall in love with the spectacle of their own status; some want to leave a legacy the size of a meteor crater. Hamiltons philosophy of dance is more zen-like. Its an art form composed of fleeting moments, he says. It leaves nothing behind. Its an ephemeral, experiential art. But that notion of ephemerality butts up hard against the role he plays as custodian of a citys most prominent contemporary dance company, a big company that has a job to do in terms of projecting the visibility of an art form. Baz Luhrmann is used to getting critical brickbats as well as praise. When it came to Elvis, which had its gala launch at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday, there was only one review he actually feared. Thanks to COVID-19 restrictions and hold-ups, he had been working on the film for three years by the time he was able to have an early cut screened for Priscilla Presley. For him and Austin Butler, who plays and sings Elvis on screen, it was the moment of truth. Director Baz Luhrmann and Austin Butler at the Elvis launch at the Cannes film festival. Credit:Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images I cant tell you how our stomachs felt when she went to see that movie. I cant tell you how long that two hours was, he said at a press conference in Cannes. I think Priscilla had fear about it too. So much has been said about the icon Elvis, so many things that are just not true. Days later, she sent him a note. Anthony Albanese returns to Australia after first overseas trip Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss Four men have been charged in connection with the killing of 18-year-old Omar Elomar, who was shot dead in Sydneys west two years ago during a confrontation over what began as a schoolyard conflict. Elomar had been sitting in the front seat of a car in Miller, near Liverpool, about 11pm on February 15, 2020, when the meeting arranged to sort out an issue between a younger relative and another boy escalated. Omar Elomar, inset, died on February 15, 2020. Credit:NSW Police Detectives allege Elomar, an innocent party with no criminal history, was trying to resolve the conflict peacefully when a gun was produced, and he was shot once in the chest. He died at the scene, as multiple witnesses and alleged participants scattered. William Baraks descendants purchased two of his culturally significant Aboriginal artworks overnight, following a crowdfunding campaign and last-minute support from the Victorian government. Wurundjeri traditional owner Uncle Colin Hunter, a descendent of Barak, was overjoyed to win the auction Thursday morning. Its National Sorry Day here in Melbourne, thats one of the biggest days on our calendar in our community. So were over the moon to have the paintings restored on this day, he said. The artwork Corroboree (Women in possum skin cloaks) and (inset) its creator William Barak. The successful bid at the Sothebys auction in New York ensured the pieces would return to Victoria and the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people. More than $600,000 was spent on the items. Half an hour after fatally stabbing a woman as her partner tried to protect her, Mohammed Ibrahim was filmed at a 7-Eleven in Hawthorn, casually walking along the aisles and buying a bottle of water and an energy drink. He left the shop and struck up a conversation with a man on a street in nearby Kew, before delivering a fatal knife wound to his stomach and fleeing the scene. Sally-Anne Wills was stabbed and died in Hawthorn. Soon after, confronted by police but refusing to drop his knife, Ibrahim was fatally shot. Coroner Leveasque Peterson on Thursday found police had acted in a timely and responsible way as they searched for Ibrahim following his attack on Protective Services Officer Josh Davies at Jolimont train station on March 11, 2020. Former Mr Universe Calum von Moger had a Netflix special, a high-flying life in Los Angeles and his own clothing brand. The bodybuilder even played his hero Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Hollywood biopic Bigger. But in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday, nursing one of his big arms in a sling, he pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine, cannabis oil, testosterone and other illegal bodybuilding drugs. Former Mr Universe Calum von Moger pleaded guilty. Credit:The Age His fall from grace started in his adopted home of Los Angeles. A highly publicised dispute over his two-year-old son had been dragged into Family Court in California. He injured his arm, setting back his career. He got an emotional support dog to lift his spirits, but it died. Von Moger was the victim of carjackings and had guns pointed at him, leaving him scarred and traumatised, his lawyer, Bernard Campigli, told the court. The University of Melbourne student union has rescinded a controversial motion calling for the university to boycott and divest from Israel after being threatened with legal action and a potential class action. Postgraduate law student Justin Riazaty, 21, engaged pro bono lawyers to send a letter of demand to the University of Melbourne Student Union calling on them to rescind the motion and apologise. Melbourne University postgraduate law student Justin Riazaty. Credit:Chris Hopkins. The motion passed on April 29 called for the university to launch an academic boycott and cut ties with Israeli institutions, researchers and academics that support the Israeli oppression of Palestinians. It also called for divestment from corporations involved with Israel. In a meeting on Thursday, the student council reiterated it was committed to a voice on the Palestinian cause. But it proposed to rescind and amend the earlier motion due to a desire for UMSUs funds to not be unnecessarily spent defending legal proceedings and to ensure that motions are robust, passed with due diligence and with regard to the interests of members. TEHRAN, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in a 10-storey commercial building collapse in Iran's southwestern city of Abadan has risen to 19, semi-official news agency ISNA reported Thursday quoting a local official. So far, 37 have been injured and are under treatment in the hospitals, Ehsan Abbaspour, deputy governor of Khuzestan Province, told ISNA. About 2,000 workers are involved in the rescue work which will continue until the last casualty is evacuated, according to Abbaspour and the report. On Tuesday, the judiciary's Mizan news agency reported that 10 people were arrested in the wake of the incident that also killed the building's owner and contractor. The building under construction is located on a crowded street in downtown Abadan, surrounded by commercial and medical complexes. Former veterans affairs minister Darren Chester will challenge Barnaby Joyce for the Nationals leadership when the party meets in Canberra on Monday. Chester confirmed his intention to nominate for the leadership late on Thursday, telling The Age and Sydney Morning Herald it was time for a change. Nationals MP Darren Chester. Credit:Simon Schluter We need to be honest with each other in the party room and take some responsibility for the Liberal losses in the city, Chester said. How we develop our policies, deliver our message, and work with our Coalition partners in the future will determine whether we can return to government and deliver for regional communities. Singapore: Foreign Minister Penny Wong has warned Pacific leaders a region-wide security and trade deal with Beijing could sacrifice their independence, lead to unsustainable debt levels and endanger the region. Wong spoke in Suva after new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese blamed the former Coalition government for Chinas rising influence in the Pacific, arguing Australia had dropped the ball by neglecting its closest neighbours. Albanese said the security deal between Beijing and Solomon Islands signed last month was just the first of a range of deals that they want to exercise and that Australia had to increase respect as well as funding for the Pacific. In her first press conference as foreign minister, at the Pacific Islands Forum on Thursday evening, Wong set off a fight over the future of the region as Canberra and Beijing vie for influence and allies through promises of economic development, security assistance and climate change action. Kyiv/Svitlodarsk: Advancing Russian forces came closer to surrounding Ukrainian troops in the east, briefly seizing positions on the last highway out of a crucial pair of Ukrainian-held cities before being beaten back. Three months into its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has abandoned its assault on the capital Kyiv and is trying to consolidate control of the industrial eastern Donbas region, where it has backed a separatist revolt since 2014. A destroyed Russian tank in a town in northeastern Ukraine. Credit:Getty Thousands of troops are attacking from three sides to try to encircle Ukrainian forces in Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk. If the two cities straddling the Siverskiy Donets river fall, nearly all of the Donbas province of Luhansk would be under Russian control. Russia has the advantage, but we are doing everything we can, said General Oleksiy Gromov, deputy chief of the main operations department of Ukraines general staff. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The government on Thursday withdrew its offer to sell its entire 53 per cent stake in BPCL, saying that majority of bidders have expressed their inability to participate in the current process due to prevailing conditions in the global energy market. The government had planned to sell its entire 52.98 per cent stake in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and invited Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from bidders in March 2020. At least three bids came in by November 2020. However, the was stalled after two bidders walked out over issues such as lack of clarity in fuel pricing, with just one bidder left in the fray. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) said in response to the invitation, multiple EoIs were received from interested parties. Qualified Interested Parties (QIPs) had initiated due diligence of the company. However, the multiple COVID-19 waves and geopolitical conditions affected industries globally, particularly the oil and gas industry. "Owing to prevailing conditions in the global energy market, the majority of QIPs have expressed their inability to continue in the current process of disinvestment of BPCL," it said. In view of this, the group of ministers on disinvestment has decided to call off the present EoI process for the strategic disinvestment of and the EoIs received from QIPs shall stand cancelled, DIPAM said. "Decision on the re-initiation of the strategic disinvestment process of will be taken in due course based on review of situation," it added. Shares of settled at Rs 324.25, down 0.54 per cent over its previous close on the BSE. The of India's second-largest state oil refining and fuel marketing company had not attracted much interest initially due to the volatile global oil price scenario and later because of lack of clarity in domestic fuel pricing. The government was to seek financial bids once bidders completed due diligence and the terms and conditions of the share purchase agreement were finalised. Mining mogul Anil Agarwal's Vedanta group and US venture funds Apollo Global Management Inc and I Squared Capital Advisors had expressed interest in buying the government's 53 per cent stake in BPCL. But the two funds withdrew after failing to rope in global investors amid waning interest in fossil fuels. Public sector fuel retailers, which control 90 per cent of the petrol and diesel market, sell these fuels at prices below the cost. As the government takes a fresh look at BPCL privatisation, including revising the terms of sale, it may offer a 26 per cent stake along with management control in the company, considering the geopolitical situation and energy transition, a source said. This will limit the amount of money a bidder has to put upfront to buy the company. BPCL is India's second-largest oil marketing company after Indian Oil, and with refineries in Mumbai, Kochi and Madhya Pradesh, it has the third-largest refining capacity after Reliance and Indian Oil. (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.) Industries Ltd, an Aditya Birla group company, is planning to raise upto Rs 2,000 crore through debentures to fund its capital expenditure programme. The company has lined up investment for foray into decorative paints with project cost estimated at Rs 10,000 crore by FY25. The company spokesperson declined to comment on debt raising plans. While the planned towards the paint business would entail some debt funding, the overall debt coverage metrics for the company are expected to remain comfortable. Steady cash accruals over the past several years resulted in a healthy financial profile for Grasim, despite sizable and investments in subsidiaries and Joint ventures, ICRA said in a statement. ICRA has assigned AAA\ stable rating to non- . The company is at zero net debt with net cash of 7,553 crore as on March 31, 2022. The total spent during FY22 stood at Rs 2,537 crore, which includes Rs 579 crore spent for the paints business. In FY22, the company neared the completion of its Rs 7,700-crore capex cycle for its viscose staple fibre and chemical businesses. About paints business activities, in the post results (FY22) statement said the business is focused on the timely execution of its capacities. The civil construction has already commenced at two of its plant sites (Panipat and Ludhiana) and is expected to start shortly at Chamarajanagar. The remaining three plants for manufacturing paints are at different stages of the government approval processes. The market dynamics of the decorative paints sector has changed with new capacities being announced backed by strong growth and outlook. The stable outlook on financial instruments, including debentures, reflects expectation that will continue to maintain a robust credit profile, aided by its strong business profile and expectations of healthy cash flows. The entity is expected to continue to maintain a significant financial flexibility, being a key holding company for the Aditya Birla Group for various investments, while prudently managing its various expansion and diversification initiatives. IT services major has recommended to revise the compensation package of its CEO to Rs 79.75 crore up 88 per cent from his previous salary of Rs 42.50 crore, said the companys annual report for fiscal 2022. These changes are part of the recent announcement of reappointment of Parekh as the CEO and MD of the company for five years. For FY22 Parekh received a total remuneration of Rs 71.02 crore, up 43 per cent. This compensation included Rs 52.33 crore from restricted stock unit options. Under the new remuneration composition, Parekhs performance based compensation will go up to 86 per cent from the earlier 77 per cent. Fixed compensation will be less than 15 per cent. This includes a fixed pay, which would constitute 10 per cent from the earlier 15 per cent, and time based stocks will be 4 per cent from the earlier 8 per cent. At Indias largest IT services company TCS, its CEO and MD Rajesh Gopinathan received a remuneration package of Rs 25.8 crore for FY22 up 26.6 per cent. The average annual increase in the salaries of employees at was 14.6 per cent in India, after accounting for promotions and other event-based compensation revisions. At TCS, the average annual increase was in the range of 5-8 percent in India. However, during the course of the year, the total increase is approximately 10.5 percent, after accounting for promotions and other event based compensation revisions. Employees outside India received a wage increase varying from 1.5 to 6 percent. The annual report of TCS said that increase in the managerial remuneration for the year was 27.38 per cent. in its annual report also gives a detailed explanation on the need for the change in the compensation. Salil is not a first-time CEO and MD, as he was at the time of his initial appointment. Salil is the CEO of Infosys, a globally listed entity and has demonstrated successful business and overall performance since his appointment. Salils remuneration has to be determined keeping in view international benchmarks. Salils proposed total target remuneration vis-a-vis the remuneration most recently paid to CEOs of the peers (based on publicly available information as analyzed by the companys external advisors Egon Zehnder) would be around the median, said the company in the annual report. For this analysis, the companys peers are Accenture plc, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, DXC Technology Company, Tata Consultancy Services Limited, Wipro Limited, Tech Mahindra, Capgemini, HCL Technologies Limited, International Business Machines Corporation, and Atos SE as defined in the Infosys Expanded Stock Ownership Programme, 2019. PAY SLIP Salil Parekh, who has been reappointed as CEO & MD of Infosys, took home a salary of Rs 71.02 crore in FY22 which included Rs 52.33 crore from restricted stock unit options For FY22, TCS CEO and MD Rajesh Gopinathan received a remuneration package of Rs 25.8 crore Average annual increase in salaries of Infosys employees in India was 14.6% At TCS, its in the range of 5-8% The report further stated, It is pertinent to note that Salil will be granted 2,21,000 PSUs (Rs 34.75 crore) for the fiscal 2023 performance, which is a similar number to the 2,17,200 (adjusted for bonus shares) PSUs (Rs 13 crore) that was granted in his first year of appointment. This vividly reflects the substantial value accretion to the Companys share price. Under Salils leadership, the companys Total Shareholder Return (TSR) was an impressive 314 per cent, the highest among peers, and was well above the TSR (in INR) of benchmark indices of NIFTY at 77 per cent and S&P 500 at 117 per cent. The companys market capitalisation increased during his tenure by Rs 5,77,000 crore ($69 billion). In comparison, during the preceding four-year period, prior to the appointment of Salil, the Companys TSR was 30 per cent as compared to the peers median TSR of 47 per cent, said the annual report. This growth is accompanied by an increase in the total number of employees from 204,107 to 314,015 during his tenure. The explanation further added that the revenue growth of the Company under Salils leadership has accelerated and grown from Rs 70,522 crore (FY18) to Rs 1,21,641 crore (FY22), a CAGR of 15 per cent (prior four years CAGR 9 per cent) and the profits have also increased from Rs 16,029 crore to Rs 22,110 crore. These results were delivered under the Navigating your Next strategy, led by Salil, comprising Scaling digital revenue, accelerating the core, localisation and reskilling, which has resulted in an increased market share in a highly competitive environment." The company has executed its market-differentiating strategy by more than doubling the share of digital revenue from 25.5 per cent (FY18) to 57.0 per cent (FY22) and is now considered a leading digital company with industry analysts rating it as a leader in 32 categories, said the company in the report. Infosys has signed large deals with a total value of $39 billion for the four-year period from FY19 to FY22. As part of its strategy execution, the company also launched Infosys Cobalt a set of services, solutions and platforms to accelerate the cloud journey for enterprises. The strength and stability of leadership across the organization, increase in number of $100 million clients from 20 in FY18 to 38 in FY22, strategic mergers & acquisitions, successful implementation of the new capital allocation policy, path-breaking ESG 2030 5 vision and seamless navigation of the uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic while converting challenges into business opportunities have all been drivers of significant long-term shareholder value creation, under the leadership of Salil, said the report. JERUSALEM, May 26 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli military drone has crashed in Lebanon due to "malfunction," the Israeli military said on Thursday. "A few days ago, during a routine operation, an unmanned Skylark aircraft crashed due to a technical malfunction," the Israeli military wrote on Twitter, without elaborating on the details. "The aircraft was recently located in Lebanese territory," it said, adding that no information from the drone was leaked. Israel frequently operates drones in Lebanon to collect information about Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shiite organization. Israel and Hezbollah fought a deadly war in 2006 that ended with a fragile truce. USAs and travel giant InterGlobe Enterprises will partner to run a company in India, where they will offer a portfolio of business-to-business (B2B) services. The new company, Movin, will offer day-definite, time-definite and express services using ground and air resources. Movin will be headquartered in and it will start services in Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Bengaluru before expanding to other places. international business has been in the country for 30 years now. This is a complementary product. We will be complimenting international business with what Movin will be doing. So, there is the synergy, said Ufku Akaltan, UPS president, Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Africa. We will bring in best global best practices. We will be upscaling the entire system and provide first and last mile and totally focused on day definite and time definite service. We are certain that our foray into with Movin will contribute significantly to the rapid development and growth of businesses in India. said JB Singh, director at InterGlobe Enterprises, who will oversee the new brand. UPS brought in all the domain knowledge. Interglobe used a variety of suppliers to indigenize it, Singh said. UPS is looking to expand its footprint in India, said Akaltan. A UPS 747 flight connects India directly to Europe, North America and Latin American markets. UPS had a joint venture with an affiliate of Jet Airways, but after the airline went bankrupt the venture has been all but dead. India has been on the cards of global giants. German logistics major DHL acquired Blue Dart in 2004 and currently holds 74 percent stake in the company. UPS US rival FedEx last year invested $ 100 million in logistics start-up Delhivery which got listed in the stock market. All India Jet Airways' Officers and Staff Association on Thursday said it has filed an appeal before the NCLAT against Jalan-Kalrock consortium's resolution plan for the airline. In October 2020, the airline's Committee of Creditors (CoC) approved the resolution plan submitted by the consortium of the UK's Kalrock Capital and the UAE-based entrepreneur Murari Lal Jalan. The plan was later cleared by the Mumbai bench of the (NCLT). Last week, Jet Airways' air operator certificate was revalidated by the aviation regulator DGCA, paving the way for the relaunch of the airline, which was grounded in April 2019 due to financial woes. "The resolution plan is contingent on many hypotheticals about the use of crucial assets of the former Jet Airways, including its property, flight slots, and most importantly, its workers and employees," All India Jet Airways' Officers and Staff Association President Kiran Pawaskar said in a statement. In its petition before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), the association has prayed for complete payments of the gratuity, unpaid wages, privilege leave encashment, bonus from April 2018 to June 2019 and retrenchment compensation to all workers and employees, the statement said. Among others, the association has demanded that any employee re-hired by the resolution applicant or the Monitoring Committee are paid their gratuity, unpaid wages, privilege leave encashment, bonus and retrenchment compensation as per their entitlements and that any signed document for the waiver/forfeiture of these amounts not be enforced against them. Currently, the airline, which is expected to restart services in the coming months, is managed by the Monitoring Committee. Narayan Hariharan, former Senior Vice President of and legal advisor to employees, said the resolution plan is "precariously held together by a vague business plan". The airline is forcing workers to waive all their statutory rights they are owed, particularly gratuity, privilege leave, unpaid salary and bonus, the association claimed. The airline was earlier owned by Naresh Goyal and Gulf carrier Etihad. Bogged down by financial woes, the full service carrier shuttered operations in April 2019. Later, a consortium of lenders, led by State Bank of India (SBI), filed an insolvency petition in June 2019 to recover outstanding dues worth over Rs 8,000 crore. (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.) Automotive and mobility ecosystem focused IT services player announced the acquisition of cloud-based vehicle diagnostics specialist SOMIT solutions. The total value of the acquisition will be around GBP 7.68 million (around Rs 75 crore). SOMIT enables after-sales operations of high tech luxury and new age OEMs through a cloud-based vehicle diagnostics platform & expert consulting services. "SOMIT has created a niche for themselves in the challenger EV OEM segment. Their cloud-based platform complements KPITs existing after-sales platform to offer a more integrated solution for the benefit of our T25 clients. KPITs strategic T25 clients will benefit immensely. Generating revenue through the lifecycle of a vehicle is a key priority for OEMs. SOMIT and KPIT will better enable their OEM clients in realizing this strategic objective. This will be one of the fastest-growing market opportunities in the next 3-5 years," said Kishor Patil, co-founder, CEO, and MD, . Vehicle complexity is outgrowing existing servicing capabilities due to rapidly evolving software-centric architectures, high-tech automotive engineering, and an acute shortage of trained and certified service technicians across the globe. Julian Soanes, founder and CEO, SOMIT solutions, said, We are thrilled to join forces with KPIT. KPITs global leadership in the mobility ecosystem and complementary expertise in vehicle diagnostics will help us to offer holistic solutions to clients. Our vision to build cloud-based, scalable diagnostics and after-sales solutions that offer comprehensive coverage will be strengthened by KPIT. Together we will create leadership and innovation in this business segment. SOMIT had revenue of GBP 2.6 million for CY2021. SOMIT has a presence in the UK and US, with a current employee strength of 19. It is headquartered in Oxfordshire, UK. on Thursday reported a marginal decline in its consolidated net profit at Rs 1,006.23 crore for the quarter ended March as core income fell. The non-banking finance company, mainly into services, had registered a net profit of Rs 1,023.76 crore in the same period a year ago. Compared sequentially, the net profit was lower than Rs 1,043.64 crore reported in the preceding December quarter. The company's total income during Q4 FY22 declined to Rs 3,041.14 crore from Rs 3,118.98 crore in same period of FY21, said in a regulatory filing. The income was down by 3.7 per cent at Rs 2,916.87 crore from Rs 3,029.83 crore in the year-ago period. However, for the full fiscal year 2021-22, the net profit of the gold financier grew by 5.6 per cent to Rs 4,031.32 crore from Rs 3,818.87 crore in 2020-21. Total consolidated income during the year also rose to Rs 12,237.46 crore from Rs 11,570.20 crore. Consolidated loan assets under management increased to Rs 64,494 crore as of March 31, 2022, up by 11 per cent from the same period a year ago. The company said it has declared a dividend of 200 per cent on face value of shares of Rs 10 each, involving a payout of Rs 803 crore. "As the economy is gradually recovering, the demand for gold loans has been steady and we remain optimistic for the coming financial year. Gold prices have been steadily rising over the last three years and this has attracted new customers towards the product and has positively helped the sector," said George Jacob Muthoot, Chairman, . George Alexander Muthoot, Managing Director of Muthoot Finance said, "Since we are witnessing signs of recovery in the economy, the RBI rate hike may not dampen overall demand scenario and we are expecting borrowing cost to go up gradually during the year. "Gold loans are a great option, both in times of rise and drop in economic activities. As the economy recovers and overall economic demand revives, our focus will be to make the most of the opportunities and keep innovating further." He said the AUM grew by 11 per cent in FY22. "We remain optimistic about a growth of 12-15 per cent in AUM for FY23 as well. With respect to our subsidiaries, following the rise in demand in the economy, the collections from microfinance, vehicle finance and home loans have improved. We aim to further improve our collections in these segments," he said. The company has subsidiaries in affordable housing finance, microfinance, vehicle finance, insurance broking, apart from a diversified NBFC in Sri Lanka. Stock of Muthoot Finance closed at Rs 1,137.30 apiece on BSE, up by 1.28 per cent from previous close. (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.) Singapore-based telecom firm is in talks with chairman to sell its 2-4 per cent stake in the company, a source aware of the development said on Thursday. As per market capitalisation, will be able to generate close to Rs 7,500 crore on sale of its 2 per cent stake. "The discussion is going on between and Mr Mittal. Singtel is looking to sell 2-4 per cent stake in to Mr Mittal," a source who did not wish to be identified told PTI. The source, however, did not disclose whether the transaction will take place in or . An e-mail sent to Bharti Airtel seeking comments did not elicit any response. Singtel's effective stake in Bharti Airtel is 31.7 per cent. It holds a 49.44 per cent stake in Mittal family owned firm . holds a 35.85 per cent in Bharti Airtel. (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.) Ahmedabad-based said on Thursday it has entered into an agreement to acquire four brands from Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (DRL). 'Styptovit-E', 'Finast', 'Finast-T', and 'Dynapress' will strengthen Torrents presence in the therapy segment. Styptovit-E, a gynaecology product, has an estimated market size of roughly Rs 500 crore, according to data from AIOCD, a pharmaceutical market research company. 'Finast', 'Finast-T', and 'Dynapress' are used in the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and they will aid Torrent's presence in the urology therapy. The terms of the definitive agreement mandate that Torrent Pharma will take over the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of these brands in India. The two sides did not reveal the amount paid for the acquisition. The integration and transition of the brands is expected to be completed by June 2022. There is an update at the end of the story. Metals and mining major has pledged 86.1 per cent of its shareholding in in the quarter ending March 31, 2022, marking a sharp increase in pledged shares by the promoter versus the December quarter. has a 64.9 per cent stake in . To put things in perspective, had pledged only 22.8 per cent of its shareholding in in the December quarter, which was valued at Rs 19,839.4 crore. This jumped to Rs 73,102 crore in the March quarter, data compiled by BS Research Bureau shows. The number of shares pledged by the promoter, according to BS Research data, now stands at 2,360.5 million shares versus 626.2 million shares pledged in the October-December period. The share pledging by Vedanta acquires significance in the wake of the government's decision to sell its entire residual stake in Hindustan Zinc. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had on Wednesday approved the sale of the governments remaining stake of 29.5 per cent in Hindustan Zinc, as it sought to accelerate its disinvestment drive. The sale of the entire 29.5 per cent stake in the company would fetch the Centre Rs 38,062 crore. It would be sold in tranches through an offer for sale, a government official had told Business Standard. Anil Agarwal, founder and chairman of Vedanta, had said recently that his group could not buy more than five per cent of the governments residual stake in Hindustan Zinc unless the terms of the contract were changed. Shares of Hindustan Zinc were down 1.97 per cent at Rs 299.05 apiece on the BSE at close of trade on Thursday. This came even as the broader BSE Sensex closed trade at 54,252.53, up 0.94 per cent over the previous days close. Hindustan Zinc was a government-owned company till 2002. In April 2002, the government offloaded a 26 per cent stake in the company to Vedanta groups Sterlite Opportunities and Ventures. The group later bought 20 per cent from the market and another 18.92 per cent from the government in November 2003. Clarification The article Vedanta pledges 86% HZL stake in March quarter published on May 27, had mentioned that Vedanta had pledged 86.1 per cent of its shareholding (of 64.9 per cent) in Hindustan Zinc (HZL). Vedanta Limited (Vedanta) has clarified that: "In FY21, it pledged 14.82% and created Non-Disposal Undertaking (NDU) on 50.11% of HZL shares to secure a Loan. The non-disposal undertaking is not a pledge but rather done to ensure that the Promoter (Vedanta Limited) retain management control of HZL. In December 21, Vedanta Limited has refinanced the said loan and reduced the pledge on HZL shares from 14.82% to 5.77% but kept NDU unchanged at 50.1% of the total shares of HZL." It further said: "As per SEBI rules, the NDU is reported as otherwise encumbered as these shares are not pledged. Hence, the pledge on HZL shares has reduced from December 21 quarter and as of now, the pledge is only on 5.77% of HZL shares (i.e. 8.88% of the Vedantas holding in HZL)." Prime Minister dedicated to the nation several completed projects and laid the foundation stone for several new schemes during his visit here on Thursday. Chief Minister M K Stalin, in his address, sought a raise in funding to the state and outlined that Tamil Nadu's growth is unique as it is based not merely on economic parameters but on the 'Dravidian model' of inclusive growth. The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation 5 projects worth over Rs 2,960 crore, in the presence of Governor R N Ravi, Union Minister L Murugan and Chief Minister . The programme also witnessed inauguration of 1,152 houses constructed as part of the Light House Project-Chennai, built at a cost of Rs 116 crore under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban. Chief Minister said such infrastructure projects are important for the growth of and the state is already a pioneer in the country across several sectors. Stalin said Tamil Nadu's growth trajectory is unique as it is not only about economic growth, but its about all inclusive growth driven by social justice and equality, which is the 'Dravidian model'. Emphasising on cooperative federalism, Stalin demanded that the Central government enhance funding for projects. I appeal to the Government to return the central GST dues of Rs 14,006 Crores to our state. I also appeal to the PM that Tamil should be announced as an offical language at the High court: CM MK Stalin in Chennai pic.twitter.com/ADovlAvHCm ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2022 As part of kickstarting the scheme, allotment of houses were given to some beneficiaries on the occasion by the dignitaries. Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of 6 projects, worth over Rs 28,000 crore. The 262 km long Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway would be built at a cost of over Rs 14,870 crore. It would pass through the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and help reduce travel time between Bengaluru and Chennai by 2-3 hours. The 4 lane double decker elevated road connecting Chennai Port to Maduravoyal (NH-4), of about 21 km would be built at a cost of over Rs 5,850 crore ensuring round the clock movement of cargo vehicles to Chennai port. The 94 km long 4 lane Neraluru to Dharmapuri section of NH-844 and 31 km long 2-lane with paved shoulders of Meensurutti to Chidambaram section of NH-227, at a cost of around Rs 3870 crore and Rs 720 crore respectively, would help provide seamless connectivity in the region. The PM also laid the foundation stone of a Multi Modal Logistic Park at Chennai worth around Rs 1430 crore. It would provide seamless intermodal freight movement and also offer multiple functionalities. Quoting a couplet from Tamil classic Tirukkural, Union Minister L Murugan hailed Modi as a leader who has fulfilled his assurances perfectly in sync with the promises made. The Tamil Nadu BJP gave a rousing reception to Modi, who is on his maiden visit to the state after the ruling DMK government assumed office in May 2021. BJP supporters hailed Modi by raising slogans like 'Modi ji Vaazhga,' (Long live Modi) and DMK cadres welcomed Chief Minister by showering praise on him and raised slogans including 'Thanga Thalapathi Vaazhga' (Long live our commander with a golden heart). (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.) Rouse Avenue Court here on Thursday granted interim protection from arrest to Lok Sabha MP till May 30 in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) linked to an alleged Chinese visa scam. The ED had filed the money laundering case against the Congress MP, his close aide S Bhaskararaman, and others in connection with the alleged scam, which facilitated project visas for Chinese nationals for a power project of the Vedanta group in Punjab in return for bribes, when his father was the Union Home Minister during the Congress regime. Earlier in the day, Karti appeared before the CBI at its headquarters here to record his statement in connection with the case. On Wednesday, Bhaskararaman, Chartered Accountant of Karti, was arrested by the CBI from Chennai for allegedly helping Chinese nationals get visas by flouting the rules. According to the FIR, a Mansa (Punjab)-based private firm, Talwandi Sabo Power Limited, took the help of a middleman and allegedly paid Rs 50 lakh to get the visa issued for Chinese nationals to complete a project before the deadline. On Thursday, Karti after appearing before CBI in the case denied all the allegations and said that he "did not felicitate a single Chinese national" and the case was bogus. According to CBI, "a bribe of Rs 50 lakh was allegedly demanded by the private person based at Chennai through his close associate which was paid by the Mansa-based private company. "The payment of said bribe was routed from the Mansa-based private company to said private person of Chennai and his close associate through a Mumbai-based company as payment of false invoice raised for Consultancy and out of pocket expenses for Chinese visas related works, whereas the private company based at Mumbai was never in any kind of work relating to visas rather it was in an entirely different business of industrial knives." --IANS jw/svn/ (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 Defense Minister Benny Gantz is set to travel to India next week to sign a "security declaration" marking three decades of diplomatic ties between the two countries, a media report said on Wednesday. Gantz will depart on June 1 on a trip that was meant to take place in March but got cancelled, The Times of Israel (TOI) reported. This trip was cancelled after he contracted COVID-19 in the backdrop of a series of terror attacks in Israel that left dozens of people dead. Although the visit was announced on Wednesday, Gantz's office did not reveal the details of the trip but said he will meet and sign the document with his Indian counterpart . Earlier in March, Israel's Defence Minister during a call with Defence Minister and informed him that his proposed visit to India from March 30-31 had been postponed due to some unavoidable reasons. According to the Israeli newspaper, the meeting in March was scheduled to include talks on improving security relations between India and Israel. The report added that Tel Aviv has sought to enhance defence ties with New Delhi in recent years, especially in the fields of air and missile defence. (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.) BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense spokesperson said on Thursday that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affairs, and Japan must refrain from making any irresponsible remarks or interference. Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said that as everyone knows, Japan had once snatched Taiwan from China by means of aggression. During its colonial rule over Taiwan for half a century, Japan had committed innumerable crimes. It has no right to make any irresponsible remarks over the Taiwan question, Wu said. The spokesperson urged the Japanese side to learn lessons from history, earnestly reflect upon historical responsibilities and take concrete actions to win back the trust of its Asian neighbors. In response to Japan's exaggeration about its vessel and aircraft tracking the Chinese navy's flotilla with the aircraft carrier Liaoning, Wu said the training activities conducted by the aircraft carrier are completely legitimate and reasonable. He pointed out that this is simply Japan's attempt to hype up the issue and find a pretext to pursue military expansion. Live news updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is speaking in Chennai, where he launched several welfare and developmental projects worth over Rs 31,400 crores, including the Bangalore-Chennai Expressway. On his way to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Modi held a roadshow wherein he waved to people standing in large numbers on both sides of the road. Advancing Russian forces came closer to surrounding Ukrainian troops in the east, briefly seizing positions on the last highway out of a crucial pair of Ukrainian-held cities before being beaten back, a Ukrainian official said on Thursday. Russia has poured thousands of troops into its assault in the eastern Donbas region, attacking from three sides in an attempt to encircle Ukrainian forces in Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk. The cities' fall would bring nearly the whole of Luhansk province under Russian control, a key Kremlin war aim. Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil has stirred a controversy with his comments asking NCP MP to "go home and cook" instead of being in politics, drawing a sharp reaction from her party. Patil made the remarks on Wednesday during a protest by the state BJP unit in Mumbai for seeking reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in elections. After the Supreme Court recently allowed reservation for the OBCs in local body elections in Madhya Pradesh, Sule, whose party shares power with the Shiv Sena and Congress in Maharashtra, had said she had contacted MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan during his Delhi visit, but he did not divulge what he did to get nod for the reservation. On Wednesday, Patil, during the BJP's protest, hit out at Sule, who is NCP chief Sharad Pawar's daughter, saying, "Why are you (Sule) even in politics, just go home and cook. Go to Delhi or to a cemetery, but get us the OBC quota. Despite being a Lok Sabha member, how come you don't know how to get an appointment with chief minister." Taking a dim view of Patil's remarks, NCP's state women wing president Vidya Chavan, without taking his name, said a person who denied ticket to a sitting woman MLA and contested from her constituency is bad-mouthing an MP, who has been honoured with the Sansad Ratna award (for good performance) twice. "We know you believe in Manusmriti, but we will not remain silent anymore," she said. "He should learn to make chapattis so that he can help his wife at home," the NCP leader quipped. Notably, Patil, who hails from Kolhapur, contested the 2019 state Assembly election from Pune's Kothrud seat, where sitting BJP MLA Medha Kulkarni was denied the ticket to make way for him. Supriya Sule's husband Sadanand Sule also in a social media post criticised Patil's remarks, saying, "This is the Maharashtra BJP president speaking about Supriya. I have always maintained that they (BJP) are misogynistic and demean women whenever they can." "I am proud of my wife who is a homemaker, mother and a successful politician, one amongst many other hardworking and talented women in India. This is an insult to all women, 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.) Monkeypox virus may persist in the body for 10 weeks, even after the tell-tale rash has disappeared, according to a retrospective study published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases. The finding, led by a team of researchers from Liverpool University Hospitals, is based on an analysis of the UK's seven previous cases, who were struck down between 2018 and 2021. According to the research, one of the UK's seven previous cases - a man in his 40s, who caught monkeypox in Nigeria before being hospitalised in the UK - still tested positive 76 days after first falling ill, Daily Mail reported The man, who wasn't identified, was given the all clear and sent home from hospital a few weeks after being struck down with the virus. Six weeks later, when he had sex for the first time after his illness, his virus came back, the doctors claimed. The man told doctors how his lymph nodes had swollen in size, researchers wrote in the paper. This swelling came with pustular skin lesions, characteristic of monkeypox. Subsequent PCR tests of the lesions and his throat came back positive for the virus. But the man's relapse was short and he was 'otherwise clinically well', the report said. Although the study reported detection of monkeypox virus in blood and throat swabs, lead author Dr. Hugh Adler from the Hospital said they were "surprised" that the virus could linger in the throat and blood "for that length of time". "It remains positive in the throat and blood for the length of the illness and maybe even longer after the rash," he was quoted as saying. Traditionally, monkeypox patients are considered infectious while they have the characteristic rash and lesions, which tend to scab over and fall off after a few weeks. The man did have a second rash, which likely means he was infectious again, the report said. Other patients tested positive for monkeypox on PCR tests up to four weeks after their rash disappeared. No other patients experienced a relapse. Dr Adler warned more research was needed to confirm whether the virus could be transmissible after the hallmark rash has disappeared, the report said. "We don't, in our paper, see any signal these patients are infectious for longer than the rash persisted. But it is a very notable finding that has not been demonstrated before that changes our understanding of how the disease works," he added. Monkeypox has for the first time been widespread in countries, where it is not typically found. The current outbreak has affected nearly 300 people, spread across more than a dozen countries. hile the virus itself is not a sexually transmitted infection, which are generally spread through semen and vaginal fluids, the most recent surge in cases appears to have been spread among men who have sex with other men. --IANS rvt/vd (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation of the Karnal Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and ammunition recovery case in which four terror suspects were held earlier this month by Haryana Police, the agency said on Thursday. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed over the case to the NIA to probe the matter and the anti-terror agency registered an FIR this week. "We took over Karnal IED recovery case this week," a senior NIA official, privy to the development, told ANI. Four terror suspects were arrested by Haryana Police near Bastara toll plaza at 4 am on May 5. The suspects were identified as Gurpreet, Amandeep Parminder and Bhupinder. Three IEDs, one country-made pistol, 31 live cartridges, 1.31 lakh cash and six mobile phones were recovered from the terror suspects who belong to Punjab. Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij had said that the terror suspects got explosives from Pakistan through drones and were tasked with carrying them to Adilabad in Telangana. The operation to nab them was carried out jointly by Telangana, Punjab and Haryana Police. "Pakistan-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) commander Harvinder Singh Rinda had shared a location with the four accused directing them to deliver the explosives to Adilabad, Telangana. Rinda is backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). BKI had executed the 2021 Ludhiana blast with the help of Rinda," Haryana Police 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 public sector Numaligarh Refinery Limited contributed an amount of Rs 2.5 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to aid the state government's relief efforts to tackle the large scale devastation caused by the ongoing spate of floods in the state. The cheque was formally handed over to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma by NRL Managing Director (In-Charge) Bhaskar Jyoti Phukan recently, an NRL release said on Thursday. Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameshwar Teli, NRL Director (Finance) Indranil Mittra, the oil major's independent Directors Sylvanus Lamare and Sudip Pradhan were present on the occasion. This is a token gesture by NRL to help the state machinery in dealing with the magnitude of destruction and damage caused by the floods, resulting in loss of precious lives, large scale destruction of property and displacement of lakhs of people from their homes, according to the release. The chief minister appreciated NRL's gesture of coming forward to help the government in this hour of crisis, the release 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.) Lashing out at the TRS government in Telangana, Prime Minister on Thursday said that when parties dedicated to one family come to power, members of that family become the biggest faces of corruption. Addressing a public meeting in the state, PM Modi said, "Due to political dynasties, the youth, talents of the country do not even get an opportunity to enter politics. Parivarwad crushes every dream of such youth and closes every door for them. Therefore, freedom from dynasties, freedom from family parties is also a resolution for the India of the 21st century." "The people of Telangana are seeing that when parties dedicated to one family come to power, the members of that family become the biggest faces of corruption. The people of Telangana are seeing that family parties only prosper and fill their coffers," he added. The Prime Minister highlighted that when political dynasties are removed from power, it opens up avenues of development. "Now it is the responsibility of my brothers and sisters of Telangana to take this campaign forward," he said. Notably, Telangana Chief Minister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao's son, KT Rama Rao, is a legislator from Sircilla and is the cabinet minister for IT, Municipal Administration and Urban Development. KCR's daughter, Kavitha, served as MP from Nizamabad and currently serving as a Member of the Legislative Council, Nizamabad since 2020. KCR's nephew, Harish Rao, is an MLA for Siddipet and Telangana's cabinet minister for finance. However, Telangana Chief Minister avoided meeting with Prime Minister for the second time in the last four months as he flew to Bengaluru on Thursday to call on former PM HD Deve Gowda and his son HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S). PM Modi is in Hyderabad today to attend an event at the Indian School of Business. In February, had skipped meeting PM Modi at the airport when he had visited Hyderabad to unveil the statue of equality at Muchintal. Rao had cited health reasons. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a bid to prepare ground for "Jan Suraaj" (Good Governance) campaign, ace political strategist-turned-political leader Prashant Kishor (PK) will start his mission from Bihar's Vaishali within 10 days. "The actual idea is to establish regional connections with the people who are active in society," he said. During the first press meet in Patna on April 5, Kishor claimed that he wanted 18-20,000 people to join his campaign. Now, he has already met with 60,000 people from across the state and everyone is enthusiastic about joining the campaign and are wanting to change the system, he added. He said due to the enthusiasm and eagerness that they are showing towards Jan Suraj campaign, they are wanting him to visit their respective areas and the regional connectivity programme is geared towards this. He said that he will start from Vaishali and then go to other districts according to the wishes of the people. "Such a regional connectivity initiative will actually help to understand what actual problems people of are facing now. We want to prepare separate plans for separate issues. The motive of Jan Suraaj campaign is not only to connect with people but also provide solutions to them as well," he said. The Jan Suraaj campaign is kicking off from Mahatma Gandhi Ashram in West Champaran district on October 2 this year and he will do a Padyatra of 3,000 km across . During the 3,000 km Padyatra, he said that he will cover 12 to 15 km in one day and stay there at night, and not come to his residence in Patna in between to rest. --IANS ajk/vd (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister on Thursday asserted that the Centre is focused on ramping up top class infrastructure and outlined a commitment to further popularise Tamil while Chief Minister stuck to his pet 'Dravidian model' and sought retrieval of Katchatheevu islet from . Stalin urged Modi to uphold the 'true spirit of cooperative federalism' and said the Centre should increase funds and projects for the state and sought exemption to from NEET. Dedicating to the nation completed projects and laying foundation stone for new schemes, Modi said the Centre is focused on building infrastructure that is of top quality and sustainable, both physical and coastal. The Prime Minister stressed on the government support to Sri Lanka, and work to achieve saturation level coverage of all important schemes. "Our emphasis on social infrastructure indicates our emphasis on the principle of Sarv Jan Hitaya and Sarv Jan Sukhaya,' Modi said. This is the first official event the Prime Minister is participating in after the DMK assumed office in May 2021. Modi praised as a special place and lauded the Tamil language as eternal and its culture as global. He quoted a popular verse of nationalist poet Subramania Bharathi in praise of Tamil and said that in every field someone from Tamil Nadu was excelling. Stalin in his address said TN is a pioneer, not only in economic and other related factors but also in social justice, equality and women's empowerment. "In brief, Tamil Nadu is a state for inclusive growth. This is what we call the Dravidian model." Receiving Modi here, Stalin presented a copy of Tamil epic, 'Silapathikaram.' Highlighting Tamil Nadu's contribution to the economy, he said the state's share in India's GDP is 9.22 per cent. In the overall tax income of the Centre, Tamil Nadu's share is 6 percent. Referring to other economic parameters vis-a-vis the state, Stalin said the union government must increase its contribution to schemes and fund allocation, to do justice to the contribution lent by developed states like Tamil Nadu in the country's development and economy. "Only then will the true spirit of co-operative federalism be upheld." "The GST compensation due to Tamil Nadu as on 15 May 2022 is Rs 14,006 crore. I request that this be released immediately. At a time when many states' revenues have not yet recovered completely, I demand that the GST compensation period be extended for at least two more years from June 2022." Stalin said "this is the right time to retrieve Katchatheevu," an islet ceded to by India in 1974. He said it is the solution to the problems faced by fishermen and it would uphold their traditional rights to fish in that region. Modi began his address with 'Vanakkam' and welcomed the 'sisters and brothers' of Tamil Nadu to the event and said that the Tamil language is eternal and its culture as global. Referring to cities in Tamil Nadu and nations like Canada, USA and Malaysia and South Africa with a sizable Tamil diaspora, he said the occasion of Pongal and the Tamil New Year are marked with great fervour. The PM said the Centre is fully committed to further popularising Tamil language and culture. In January this year, the new campus of Central Institute of Classical Tamil, fully funded by the Centre was inaugurated in Chennai. He also pointed to the announcement of a 'Subramania Bharati Chair' on Tamil studies at Banaras Hindu University in his Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Pointing to the Cannes film festival in France, Modi said, the "Son of this great soil Tamil Nadu, Thiru L Murugan (Union Minister) walked the red carpet in traditional Tamil attire and it made Tamil, all over the world very proud." Murugan, who was on the dais stood up and thanked Modi with folded hands. Describing the new projects rolled out as yet another glorious chapter of Tamil Nadu's growth journey, he listed the Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway and the Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated road project to underscore that the focus on road construction is 'clearly visible' as it is directly linked to economic prosperity. Road projects like the Neraluru-Dharmapuri and Meensurutti to Chidambaram sections, would bring many benefits to the people and the re-development of 5 railway stations in Tamil Nadu is being done keeping in minds the needs of future. Such railway project initiatives would factor in the local art and cultural aspects, he said. The 75-km long Madurai-Theni Railway Gauge Conversion Project (southern Tamil Nadu) inaugurated by him would open up more market access to farmers. On the inauguration of 1,152 houses, constructed as part of the Light House Project-Chennai, at a cost of Rs 116 crore under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban, Modi said it is very affordable, durable and environment friendly which was completed in record time and it is in Chennai, he said. Underscoring the New Educational Policy, he said technical and medical courses can be pursued in local languages and youngsters from Tamil Nadu could benefit from this. The DMK regime is opposed to the NEP and Modi's comment is seen as a counter to the ruling party's stand. India is providing all possible support to including financial, fuel, food, medicine and other essential items, he said and recalled he was the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Jaffna. As regards NEET, Stalin said Tamil Nadu has been continuously opposing the test. Referring to the anti-NEET Bill passed by the Assembly and sent to the Centre for Presidential assent, he said the Centre should take steps to clear it. Union Minister of State Murugan hailed Modi as a dynamic leader who fulfilled all assurances and said the country under his leadership is the fastest growing economy in the world. In Tamil Nadu, BJP is targeting the DMK regime over the poll promises it made ahead of the last year polls. Modi was accorded a rousing reception by the Saffron party. (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.) Switzerland is famous for its pristine views, banks, watches, chocolates and of course cheese. A visit to Switzerland becomes an excuse to try fondue and raclette and the 2022 at is no different. The Congress Centre of WEF at is a popular place to bump into heads of states and famous personalities. As they discuss and debate global issues related to the economy, geo-politics, and business, a robot at the Congress Centre is keeping them happy with cheese. The robot has mastered the art of preparing and serving raclette, a popular Swiss cheese dish, to the delegates. Raclette involves heating a block of cheese and then a melted portion is served with vegetables. At WEF, this robot heats and serves the cheese on the plates of the delegates who wait patiently in a long queue for an automated meal. A virtual reality experience centre also caught the attention of many delegates. A few years ago, a virtual assistant enthralled participants with interactive conversation. Such assistants are commonplace now. Earlier on Sunday, delegates were offered slices of pizza on the Promenade to mark the day when Laszlo Hanyecz used the crypto to buy two pizzas from Papa Johns in Florida on May 22. Hanyecz paid 10,000 BTC, then worth $41, to buy pizza, which was the first physical commodity to be bought with digital currency. The value of BTC has soared since then, and at today's valuation, the 10,000 BTC are valued at around $300 million. Expensive pizza, but then, creating history always comes at a cost. The cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to replace the governor with the chief minister as the chancellor of state-run . State Education minister Bratya Basu, while addressing a press conference post a cabinet meeting, said the proposal would soon be introduced in the state assembly in the form of a bill. Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who has shared an acrimonious relationship with the state government since assuming charge in Bengal, is yet to react to the development. "Today, the state cabinet gave its consent to the proposal to make the chief minister the chancellor of all state-run universities, in the place of the governor. This proposal will soon be introduced as a bill in the Assembly, and then be made a law," Basu said. The governor, by virtue of his position, is the chancellor of all state-run in the state. Dhankhar had recently locked horns with and the state government over appointment of vice-chancellors (VCs) of state-run varsities amid other issues. He had alleged that vice-chancellors of "24 have been appointed illegally without the chancellor's approval". In December last year, the governor had expressed anguish after chancellors and vice-chancellors of private universities skipped a meeting called by him at his official residence. They had expressed inability to attend the meeting citing the COVID-19 situation. Dhankhar had faced a similar situation in January 2020 when vice-chancellors of state-run universities were invited for a meeting. Basu had last year said that it was time to introspect whether there was a "need to continue with the colonial legacy" of getting the governor to hold the post of chancellor. Meanwhile, condemning the cabinet move, BJP secretary Anupam Hazra claimed that 14th-century Delhi Sultan Muhammad Bin Tuglaq often referred to as a tyrant king "would have felt insecure, had he witnessed the state of affairs in Bengal". "Today, the state cabinet decided that the chief minister will be the chancellor of state-run universities. Next, it might also decide that the chief minister should be addressed as the prime minister of the state," BJP secretary Anupam Hazra said. CPI (M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty, too, slammed the decision as a "reflection of an authoritarian mindset" that seeks to control every lever of power. The decision evoked mixed response from the educationists, with some describing the move as an infringement on the autonomy of the educational institutions, while others stating that it would help foster better coordination between varsity heads and the government. Amal Mukhopadhyay, the former principal of Presidency College (before it became a university), said the decision was "uncalled for" and would only "result in erosion of autonomous status of a higher educational institution". "Effort to make her the chancellor is nothing but a political step. This may only vitiate the academic atmosphere in the institutions," Mukhopadhyay said. Educationist Pabitra Sarkar said the governor had been shouldering the chancellor's responsibilities in this state for ages, and "now the cabinet has taken a decision to reverse that". "We don't know the reason behind such move. Will it help in improving the academic atmosphere?" he wondered. Noted historian and indologist Nrisinga Prasad Bhaduri, however, welcomed the decision. "Everyone knows that the chief minister is concerned about academic developments in . It will be in the fitness of things to have someone who has a grasp on the day-to-day matters on the campuses," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stronger efforts urged to boost growth, jobs 09:00, May 26, 2022 By XU WEI ( China Daily Premier Li Keqiang speaks at a national teleconference on stabilizing the fundamentals of the economy, on May 25, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] Premier Li Keqiang called on Wednesday for heightened efforts to ensure economic growth in the second quarter and bring down the unemployment rate, saying that the government's aid packages must be extended to all eligible businesses. Speaking at a national teleconference on stabilizing the fundamentals of the economy, Li said that China's economy, in some respects, now faces difficulties even greater than in early 2020, when the nation was hit hard by COVID-19. He pointed to sluggish indicators in the job market, industrial production, power consumption and freight volume, saying that growth remains a key factor underpinning all solutions to problems faced by the nation. Li highlighted the significance of the current period in deciding the momentum of economic growth this year, saying that it is important to seize the window of opportunity to bring the economy back on track. The premier reiterated the need to protect market players in protecting payrolls and public wellbeing, a move that is also key to protecting the resilience of the Chinese economy. The meeting was held after China's economic activity, hit hard by a surge in cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and by lockdown in some economic powerhouses of the nation, contracted in April and was the most severe since early 2020 during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the country's value-added industrial output fell by 2.9 percent year-on-year in April, and retail sales declined 11.1 percent. In addition, NBS data shows that the surveyed urban unemployment rate reached 6.1 percent in April, above the government's target of lower than 5.5 percent for this year. The surveyed unemployment rate for people age 16 to 24 reached 18.2 percent. In its recent executive meeting, the State Council, China's Cabinet, rolled out 33 additional measures to stabilize growth, including steps to expand the amount of tax relief and offer businesses deferrals in their payments of social security contributions. The premier said at the Wednesday conference that authorities must ensure the implementation of policies already rolled out with a greater sense of urgency. He said that the nation, after having refrained from resorting to a deluge of stimulus to stabilize growth over the years, still has ample policy room and must be prepared for worst-case scenarios. He urged local authorities to complete their tasks for social and economic growth while putting in place sound measures to contain the pandemic, saying that sweeping policies should be avoided. Local authorities must explore the potential for the rollout of more policies to help struggling businesses, stabilize payrolls and create more jobs, he said. He stressed the need to continue leveling the playing field for State-owned enterprises, private businesses and foreign businesses, saying that greater efforts must be made to unclog logistics, ensure unimpeded industry chains, and enable businesses to reopen at full capacity. It is important to take concrete steps to ensure public well-being, including measures to issue unemployment benefits and other aid packages to underprivileged groups, to prevent the recurrence of poverty on a large scale, he said. Zhou Jingtong, deputy head of the research institute of Bank of China, said the meeting was held at a key period for the Chinese economy, with major indicators slowing down. However, with the pandemic gradually put under control and macro policies taking effect, the economy is likely to turn for the better in the second quarter, Zhou said. "It is paramount for various sides to protect economic growth, as growth means jobs, tax revenue and residential income," he said. Wang Han, chief economist at the brokerage Industrial Securities, said the meeting signaled heightened efforts by the central government to shore up economic growth for this year, including steps to encourage local authorities to beef up measures to protect the economic fundamentals. "The goal is more than clear: The nation must ensure that its major economic indicators are within a proper range this year and create more jobs for key groups, especially college graduates," he said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat speaks during the 35th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) The African continent on Wednesday marked the annual Africa Day with the widespread call for the realization of Africa's continental development aspirations -- unity, peace, integration and prosperity. ADDIS ABABA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The African continent on Wednesday marked the annual Africa Day with the widespread call for the realization of Africa's continental development aspirations. Africa Day is observed annually on May 25 to celebrate the achievements of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the predecessor of the African Union (AU), from its creation on May 25, 1963. The Day is commemorated to acknowledge the role of the continental bloc in the fight against colonialism, as well as the progress that Africa has made while reflecting upon the common challenges that the continent faces in a global environment, according to the AU. The Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat in his message on the Africa Day celebration said that during the past ten years, Africa has been confronted with the challenges of terrorism, violent extremism and transnational crimes of human trafficking, drug trafficking, and arms trafficking. Mahamat said terrorism, in particular, is constantly gaining ground in Africa as many AU members devote a good part of their resources and energies to fighting or protecting themselves against this phenomenon, thus depriving vital sectors such as health and education of the resources they need. Common continental challenges such as corruption, inter-community conflicts, recent waves of unconstitutional changes, youth unemployment and the persistent precariousness of African women, among others, are also said to be challenges affecting the African continent. The AU statement said the economic crisis which is burdened by growing debt, the climate and energy crisis which, in turn, affects food prices through the exorbitant cost of transport, while the health crisis following the outbreak of COVID-19, weakens the production capacities of the various economic agents. According to the AU, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, which entered into force in 2021, making Africa the largest common market in the world and accelerating Continental integration is among the ongoing initiatives that have the potential to propel the continent and overcome the challenges. The AU called on Africans from all walks of life to join hands toward the success of AfCFTA and other continental aspirations. "Fellow Africans, it is to this exercise of reflection that I would like to invite you on this memorable Day, where the festive activities, quite understandably should not relegate to the background our essential concerns," an AU statement quoted Mahamat as saying. Senegalese President Macky Sall, who is also the current chairperson of the AU, called on Africa's populace to expedite the continent's integration ambition as a continuation of building a united Africa. Macky Sall, president of Senegal and chairperson of the African Union, speaks at the opening ceremony of the 6th European Union-African Union Summit in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 17, 2022. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua) The Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed echoed Sall's comments as he called for the realization of the major aspirations of the AU toward the betterment of Africa. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed addresses the inauguration ceremony of a building of the new headquarters of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ping) "On this Africa Day, we reaffirm the vision of continental unity and the commitment of our ancestors' towards a peaceful, integrated and prosperous future," Ahmed said. This year's edition of Africa Day is marked under the AU's theme of the year "Building Resilience in Nutrition on the African Continent: Accelerate the Human Capital, Social and Economic Development." A new (EU) is emerging that is ready to adopt a more assertive role as a global economic and geopolitical force for good, the European leaders told participants at the Annual Meeting 2022 on Wednesday. On the panel at the session, European Unity in a Disordered World?, European Central Bank (ECB) President said the Ukraine war has revealed how powerful Europe is collectively. The war on Ukraine has also revealed weaknesses including global supply chain vulnerabilities and over-reliance on Russian energy, Lagarde said, but Europe is addressing this and can begin to flex its muscles on the global stage. Europe has untapped purchasing power, trading power, technology power, pension power and moral power, she added. Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, reinforced the point. This is Europes moment, she said. Europe can become the global project for peace. Referring to the EUs support and defence of Ukraine, she was emphatic: This is not the time to talk about face-saving for Russia or appeasement. Eduard Heger, PM of Slovakia, also on the panel, said: If Ukraine falls to Russian aggression, Slovakia is next. He added, "We must continue to provide military support as well as step up humanitarian aid. Above all we need to give Ukrainians hope. Micheal Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland, said of Russias invasion of Ukraine: The people of Europe have spoken. Enough is enough. In response there is much stronger unanimity between member states and more support than ever to accept the accession of new members. He continued: We see the EUs future in terms of the green economy and in terms of the digitalization but also in terms of enlargement. The Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte called on European member states to continue to raise their defence spending. The Nato alliance members are inseparable, but Europe must play its part, he said, adding that this will help transform Europe from a soft power to a hard power. The world is on an "overswing on the side of green solutions" and new technologies had proved fragile in the Ukraine crisis, said chairman on Thursday at the World Economic Forums (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Pointing out the "sparse" attendance of China, Japan and Korea this year at Davos, Adani said the meeting was one-sided and a "cause for concern". Countries are growing close-minded and withdrawing behind their borders as they respond to the coronavirus pandemic. "The response to the pandemic, around the world, has been a strange mix of ingenuity and global cooperation on the one hand and blatant selfishness on the other," he said while talking about paradoxes such as the contrast in speed of vaccine development via cross-border collaborations and the "deep mistrust, suspicion, prejudice, and greed" in its rollout, availability and pricing. Adani argued that the response to the coronavirus was now being repeated in energy. Developed nations that set climate change targets for the rest of the world were now "less censorious" as their own energy security is threatened. "Very few are willing to admit that there had been an overswing on the side of green solutions and technologies that were still in their nascent stage and that this fragility has been totally exposed by the crisis in Ukraine," he said. Adani rued over the fact that more than climate change, several of the delegates that he met at Davos ended up discussing defence, triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war. "When you overlay these concerns with resentment over the uneven distribution of Covid vaccines and the uncertainty around energy supply, it is understandable that nations (even those that are in NATO) are beginning to see sense in augmenting their border security. Almost every leader I spoke to acknowledged, and some even explicitly stated, that a new and more sophisticated arms race may now be coming on." Terming the current state cooperation among nations a "facade", Adani stated that a combination of the pandemic, followed by the war in Ukraine and the effort to limit climate change, has exposed the limits of global cooperation. "The time has come for global collaboration rather than cooperation. 'You must cooperate with me' cannot imply coercion. Cooperation cannot only mean cooperating with the existing world order." Driving home the lessons he learnt at Davos, Adani stated that, as a response to global conditions, India needed to be more self-reliant across all sectors, be it vaccinations, defence or semiconductors. However, he also cautioned about "pushbacks" in India's efforts to be self-reliant such as controversies and attempts at stopping from building semiconductor plants. "Many will dissuade us from investing a larger portion of our GDP in defence. Our principles will come under criticism. What we must keep in mind is that many of those who set targets for emissions reductions for India are also those that shy away from acknowledging the disproportionate responsibility borne by a small number of developed countries for the climate crisis. In other words, it is far easier to talk than to walk the talk." Talking about India's "very large" presence at the WEF, Adani stated that the same showed the country was no longer shy of asserting itself in the global arena. "India is right to focus on self-reliance, while also seeking to provide an alternative to a world in need of alternatives... Let's seek a more stable world order built around countries that are self-confident, self-reliant and willing to speak to each other in terms of mutual respect rather than coercion and condescension. This is the paradox we must solve." A day after a Delhi court awarded life imprisonment to in a terror funding case, Tihar prison authorities here on Thursday said the separatist leader has been kept in a separate cell under heavy security. "For security reasons, Mailk may not be assigned any work in jail. He has been kept in a separate cell in jail number seven under heavy security. His security will be regularly monitored and reviewed from time to time," a senior jail official said. Mailk will also not be entitled to any parole or furlough since he is a convict in a case of terror funding, jail officials said. Even before being awarded life imprisonment, Malik was kept in the separate cell where he stayed alone in jail number seven, they said. A Delhi court on Wednesday awarded life imprisonment to Malik in a terror funding case, saying the crimes committed by him struck at the "heart of the idea of India" and were intended to forcefully secede Jammu & Kashmir from Union of India. Special Judge Praveen Singh awarded varying jail terms to Malik for offences under the stringent anti-terror law--Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the IPC, rejecting the NIA's plea for capital punishment. According to the Supreme Court, life imprisonment means incarceration till the last breath, unless the sentence is commuted by the authorities. The entire Delhi Prisons, which comprises -- Tihar, Mandoli and Rohini jails -- currently has 1,600 convicts out of the total of 19,500 prisoners, they 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.) By Aditya Kalra and Dmitry Zhdannikov DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - The will revert to January for its 2023 annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort of Davos after moving to the spring for the first time due to the coronavirus pandemic. After a hiatus of more than two years, the annual gathering this year attracted a mix of global political and business leaders, who met amid the usual high security. By returning to the start of the year, the privately-funded WEF will hope to regain its place where the global agenda for the months ahead is discussed and in some cases set. For those attending this year's summit the main talking points included Russia's invasion of Ukraine, threats to the global economy and investment shifts prompted by climate change. "This is not a place that even the most optimistic person expects to come to and get all the answers. In fact they might leave with more questions. This is the place to build the relationships that lead to long-term engagement and hopefully a focus on strategy," Nela Richardson, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist for HR services firm ADP, said. Many participants at this year's event, which wrapped up on Thursday, have welcomed occasional sunshine, alpine spring flowers and screeching swifts circling overhead as a welcome change from sub-zero temperatures and perilous icy sidewalks. Others have missed the winter wonderland atmosphere. "There's never been anything like this, walking around not slipping and falling on the ice and bundling up with coats and jackets in the snow, it's actually fun," Jay Collins, Citigroup's Vice Chairman of Banking, Capital Markets and Advisory, said this week. "I love winter in Davos, I've been doing it for years, but I definitely think springtime has been a nice change," The event is scheduled for Jan. 15-20 in 2023, provided that there are no problems as a result of COVID or other issues, a WEF official told Reuters. After a coronavirus-enforced cancellation in 2021 and the postponement of the event from January 2022, many participants asked by Reuters about its relevance said the WEF event remains a unique talking shop. "The WEF and Davos is a unique forum for leaders from across industry - public, private - from across the globe to come together to talk about some of the most pressing issues that face the globe," Dave Fredrickson, AstraZeneca's Executive Vice-President of Oncology, told Reuters this week. 'CRISIS OF TRUST' There are also questions about the relevance of the WEF event at a time of global fragmentation and public scepticism. The final day of the 2022 meeting was marked by a demonstration by activists calling for more urgent action on climate change. Their protest echoed previous ones at the last WEF meeting in January 2020, when Swedish activist Greta Thunberg warned participants that the world was "still on fire". by international research agency Glocalities found public mistrust of the WEF just months before the event. The poll in February and March of more than 26,000 respondents in 25 countries found nearly four out of 10 said they did not trust the WEF, compared to slightly fewer than three out of 10 who said they did, with the rest undecided. "The survey data clearly show that trust in the WEF is closely related to the larger crisis of trust," said Martijn Lampert, research director at Amsterdam-based Glocalities. But attendees at the event say it has much to offer. "It's the last place where people can gather and say what they think," Akash Shah, Bank of New York Mellon's Chief Growth Officer, told Reuters this week. (Reporting by Reuters Team in Davos; Editing by Alexander Smith) (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.) Hectic preparations have begun for the in Uttar Pradesh, which will pave way for making the state a $1 trillion economy. The third ground-breaking ceremony will be held on June 3 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and more than 60 giants from the corporate and industry world. According to an official spokesman, the Prime Minister will perform 'bhumi pujan' for about 2,000 projects worth Rs 75,000 crore at the ceremony. has reinforced its reputation as an industry and investment-friendly state with the repeated investment by global giants in many sectors. In the last five years, sectors such as Information Technology and Electronics, Food and Food Processing and Infrastructure have seen massive investment by companies with a global footprint. The third GBC and investment ceremony marks a display of confidence by the industry and corporates of India and abroad in the industrial environment created by the Yogi government in the last five years. While the Investor Summit held in February 2018 was followed by the first GBC, the second GBC was held in July 2019. In the UP Investors Summit and GBC held in February 2018, 81 projects with projected investments worth Rs 61,800 crore were put into operation. The second GBC held on July 28, 2019, saw 290 projects worth Rs 67,000 crore put into operation. The third GBC is bigger than the previous two with a higher projected investment. In terms of number of projects, the top department is food processing, with 474 projects, worth Rs 4,118.39 crore as the sum of investment intent. However, in terms of value, the top department is IT and electronics, where the number of projects is 14, but the sum of investment intent is a staggering Rs 20,587.05 crore. In the IT and electronics sector, projects are related to setting up of data centres, software development centres, IT and ITEs centres. This indicates the preference of intending companies for as a suitable destination for IT and electronics projects. Notable among other departments with a large number of projects are: FSDA or Food Safety and Drug Administration (59), Tourism (23), Cooperative (24), Housing (23), Additional Sources of Energy (20), Excise (13), Textile (12), Animal Husbandry (6), Higher Education (4) and Dairy (3). Among facilitating departments, the UP State Industrial Development Authority or UPSIDA has the highest number of projects at 647, followed by NOIDA (47), UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority or UPEIDA (25), Greater Noida (17), Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority or GIDA (14), Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority or YEIDA (7) and Infrastructure and Industrial Development Department or IIDD (3). The huge interest shown in by top industrial houses in varied sectors will go a long way in boosting the state's economy and create lakhs of employment opportunities. --IANS amita/ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Executive Vice-President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis has said the EU will formally launch negotiations for the proposed with "very soon". He has held a meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on the sidelines of the WEF meet in Geneva. "Excellent meeting with Minister Goyal @PiyushGoyal from . Will formally launch negotiations very soon, according to a tweet by Dombrovskis. India's Commerce Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam in April had said that and the 27-nation (EU) will restart negotiations for their long-pending in June. The proposed agreement, officially dubbed as Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) between India and the EU has been stalled since May 2013 due to several issues. BTIA is a proposed comprehensive free trade agreement being negotiated by the two sides. India's merchandise exports to EU member countries stood at about USD 65 billion in 2021-22, while imports aggregated to USD 51.4 billion. (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.) St. Stephen's College on Thursday wrote to urging it to "reconsider its decision" of treating admissions done through the 85:15 weightage formula as "null and void", a senior varsity official said. In the letter to the administration, the college mentioned that in 1992, the Supreme Court had given permission to St. Stephen's for admitting students through interview process, he said. The varsity official, however, said the (DU) is firm on its decision. The development comes days after the university warned the St. Stephen's College that it will declare "null and void" all admissions made by it in violation of the Central Universities Entrance Test (CUET) guidelines after the college released a prospectus announcing that it will admit students for undergraduate courses while sticking to its stated 85:15 weightage formula. The prospectus for the undergraduate courses 2022-23 stated, "St Stephen's College will adopt the CUET as the eligibility criteria with 85 per cent weightage for CUET and the college's interview for shortlisted candidates with a weightage of 15 per cent." The university asked the college to withdraw the prospectus containing an "incongruent policy immediately". In a letter to St Stephen's principal John Varghese, varsity's registrar Vikas Gupta had said any admission done in violation of the admission norms will not be recognised and treated as annulled for all purposes. The University Grants Commission has decided to hold a Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to all central universities for academic session 2022-23. The St. Stephen's College, asserting its minority institution character, has said it will accord 85 per cent weightage to the CUET score and 15 per cent to physical interview for all categories of candidates, a stand strongly opposed by DU, which wants interviews to be conducted only for the reserved category students. On May 9, DU wrote to St Stephen's College, asking it to conduct admissions to the unreserved seats solely on the basis of CUET scores, senior officials said. However, in an admission notice posted on its website last month, St Stephen's College said it will give 85 per cent weightage to CUET scores and 15 per cent to interviews for all categories of students. The college also said that it reserves the right to proceed with admissions in accordance with its own admission policy guaranteed to it as a minority institution. (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 Board of Secondary Education, (Seba) is likely to release the HSLC result 2022 soon on its official website sebaonline.org and resultsassam.nic.in. It has not made confirmed the exact date and timings to announce the Seba result of the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC), or 10th result 2022. Tentatively, the HSLC Result 2022 is expected to be declared by the end of May or the first week of June. Steps to check Assam HSLC Result 2022: Visit the official website of Seba -- sebaonline.org On the homepage, click on the Class 10 result 2022 link Fill in the required details as per your admit card and hit submit Once your result appears, download and take a printout for future reference Other than the official website resultsassam.nic.in, students can also check their Seba result on: results.sebaonline.org resultsassam.nic.in www.examresults.net www.indiaresults.com exametc.com yesresult.com www.result.shiksha www.assamonline.in assamjobsalerts.com Assam Class 10 were conducted in two shifts by the Seba from March 15 to March 31 this year and around 431,000 students registered to take the Seba HSLC examination 2022. About Seba The Board of Secondary Education, Assam (Seba) is the state regulatory board under the Ministry of Education, Government of Assam. Seba conducts examinations and provides assurance for the quality of imparted in affiliated schools in Assam. The authority of the board gives High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) as an award to students who pass the HSLC examination successfully. President signed an executive order Wednesday to improve accountability in policing a meaningful but limited action on the second anniversary of George Floyd's death that reflected the challenges in addressing racism, excessive use of force and public safety when Congress is deadlocked on stronger measures. The event shaped by one tragedy occurred a day after a second one, a mass shooting at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 children and two teachers. Biden and Vice President gave remarks that tried to comfort those affected by the shooting as well those who have suffered from police brutality, promising them that change could come eventually despite the partisan divides on Capitol Hill. I know progress can be slow and frustrating, Biden said. Today we're acting. We're showing that speaking out matters. Being engaged matters. That the work of our time, healing the soul of this nation, is ongoing and unfinished and requires all of us never to give up. Floyd's family was in the audience at the White House as the president declared that what we do in their memory matters. With lawmakers unable to reach agreement on how to reform police policies or on efforts to reduce mass shootings, the president has limited avenues for advancing his campaign promises. And as he tries to build consensus, Biden is also attempting to strike a balance between police and civil rights groups at a time when rising concerns about crime are eclipsing calls for reform. Most of Biden's order is focused on federal law enforcement agencies for example, requiring them to review and revise policies on use of force. It will also create a database to help track officer misconduct, according to the White House. Although the administration cannot require local police departments to participate in the database, which is intended to prevent problem officers from hopping from job to job, officials are looking for ways to use federal funding to encourage their cooperation. In addition, the order is designed to restrict the flow of surplus military equipment to local police. Many organizations and lawmakers said the order was an important but incomplete step forward. While this action does not have the long-term impact that we had hoped for, Floyd family lawyer Ben Crump said in a statement, it does represent incremental progress, and we need to commit ourselves to making progress every day. The Association of Chiefs of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police both engaged with the Biden administration on the order. They said that they see many components of the order as a blueprint for future congressional action. Yet not everyone was satisfied. President Biden's executive order is a poor excuse for the transformation of public safety that he promised the Black voters who put him in office," the Movement for Black Lives, a civil rights group, said in a statement. Floyd's killing by Minneapolis police sparked nationwide protests two years ago. It was the largest series of demonstrations in American history, occurring in the midst of coronavirus lockdowns and President Donald Trump's divisive reelection campaign. However, transforming the initial outcry into political change has proven difficult. When four officers were convicted last year for killing Floyd, Biden urged Congress to pass legislation to reform police by the anniversary of his death. The guilty verdict was not enough, he said, and we can't stop here." However, no legislation was passed, and bipartisan talks dragged on, and later broke down. The White House eventually decided to move forward with executive actions rather than wait for Congress. Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat who helped lead the talks, said the order will enhance transparency, accountability and policing standards. But he noted that additional efforts will be needed for the police to improve relationships with the people they are to protect and serve. Across the United States, there is a deficit of trust between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect particularly Black and Brown communities, Booker said. In September, the Justice Department curtailed federal agents' use of no-knock warrants which allow law enforcement agents to enter a home without announcing their presence and updated its policy to prohibit agents from using chokeholds in most circumstances. But extending such rules to local police is more challenging, and White House officials have spent months in negotiations with civil rights groups and police organizations. The resulting set of policies is less extensive than originally sought, not to mention delayed by a year. We know full well that an executive order cannot address America's policing crisis the same way Congress has the ability to, but we've got to do everything we can, said a statement from NAACP President Derrick Johnson. The order goes beyond issues involving misconduct and use of force. It also assesses the impact of facial recognition software on civil liberties, looks for ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in federal correctional facilities and suggests better ways to collect data on police practices. Biden is only the latest president to sign an executive order on police reform. His predecessor, Trump, signed a similar order less than a month after Floyd's death in 2020 aimed at curbing police brutality. It provided federal dollars to departments that met certain credentialing standards on the use of force. One of the elements of the order called for the establishment of a database tracking terminations, criminal convictions and civil judgments against law enforcement officers for excessive use of force. Former President Barack Obama also tried to push for police reform through a task force he formed in 2014. One of that task force's recommendations was an expansion of an already existing database of officers who had been decertified. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, is held at UN Headquarters in New York on May 26, 2022. UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland on Thursday called for a better coordinated and strategic approach to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, May 26 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland on Thursday called for a better coordinated and strategic approach to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. "We must push beyond the paradigm of managing the conflict and move toward resolving it," he told the Security Council in a briefing. The persistence of conflict drivers and the absence of real political will to change course have empowered extremists and are eroding the perception among Palestinians and Israelis that a resolution of the conflict is achievable. These dynamics, combined with the financial crisis, are dangerously converging and intensifying, he warned. While immediate steps to reverse negative trends and support the Palestinian people are essential, a better coordinated and strategic approach by the parties and the international community is needed, he said. "Economic relief must be expanded and made more sustainable. An agreed and updated regulatory framework for the Israeli-Palestinian economic relationship is not only vital to bringing about meaningful economic dividends for the Palestinians but would add a tangible political perspective to these economic steps," he said. "This approach, however, must be combined with political and security steps that address core conflict drivers and ultimately lead us toward an end to the occupation and the achievement of a negotiated two-state solution." Recent weeks have been filled with the familiar pattern of daily violence, including armed clashes, settlement expansion, evictions, demolitions and seizures of Palestinian structures, as well as a deadly terrorist attack in Israel, said Wennesland. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority's financial situation, compounded by the constraints of the occupation, the absence of serious Palestinian reforms and unclear prospects for donor support, is dire and requires urgent attention, he said. In Gaza, efforts by the United Nations and international partners to improve Palestinian lives, and measures by Israel to ease pressure and facilitate more economic activities have enabled the fragile cease-fire to continue. Keeping the calm, however, is neither enough nor sustainable. More needs to be done to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and lift Israeli closures, he said. Wennesland expressed particular concern over a possible escalation in the West Bank. "As Jerusalem Day approaches on May 29, with the planned provocative flag march through the Muslim quarter in the Old City, I again urge authorities to take wise decisions to minimize confrontations and the risk of more violent escalation. I reiterate that the status quo at Jerusalem's holy sites must be upheld and respected," he said. "More broadly, I am extremely concerned that current dynamics, particularly in the occupied West Bank, could spiral out of control at any time. I encourage leaders on both sides to make difficult but critical decisions that will take us back from the brink and help stabilize the situation. The irresponsible and provocative language and incitement to violence must stop," he added. There are tangible, ongoing arrangements that can be regularized and expanded immediately -- if there is political will, said Wennesland. "I urge, and remain actively engaged with, Israelis, Palestinians, regional states and the broader international community to take action that will lead us back to the path of negotiations, which will end the occupation and establish two states, in line with UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements." UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland speaks at a Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, at UN Headquarters in New York on May 26, 2022. Wennesland on Thursday called for a better coordinated and strategic approach to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) US President is set to nominate Indian-American career diplomat Gautam Rana as the new US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to . In a statement on Wednesday, the White House announced the president's intent to send Rana's nomination for further ratification. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, US - with rank of Counselor, Rana is currently Deputy Chief of Mission of the in Algeria and was the Charg d'Affaires ad interim there from August 2020 to February 2022. Earlier, Rana served as the Deputy Chief of Mission and Charg d'Affaires ad interim at the in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Among other positions, Rana was Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan on the National Security Council staff and the Deputy Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the in New Delhi. Rana also served as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State, Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, and worked in Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the UAE, the White House release read. Rana earned B.A and B.S degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, a J.D from the Vanderbilt University School of Law and an M.A degree from the National Defense University. In addition to English, he speaks Hindi, Spanish, and Gujarati. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A series of explosions shook on Wednesday, the Taliban said, including a blast inside a mosque in the capital of Kabul that killed at least five worshippers and three bombings of minivans in the country's north that killed nine passengers. The group's local affiliate claimed responsibility for the minivan bombings. The Kabul Emergency Hospital said it received 22 victims of the mosque bombing, including five dead. There were no further details on the blast that struck the Hazrat Zakaria Mosque in the city's central Police District 4, according to Khalid Zadran, a Taliban police spokesman in Kabul. The blast took place while people were inside the mosque for the evening prayers, Zadran said, adding that they were waiting for an update. The minivans were targeted in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif after explosive devices were placed inside the vehicles, according to Mohammad Asif Waziri, a Taliban-appointed spokesman in Balkh province. He said the explosions killed nine and wounded 15. All the victims in Mazar-e-Sharif were from the country's minority Shiite Muslims, according to a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to give details to the media. The IS claim of responsibility was posted on the Sunni militant group's Aamaq news agency. The statement said IS targeted three buses with improvised explosive devices. There was no claim of responsibility for the Kabul mosque explosion but it also bore the hallmarks of the regional affiliate of the group, known as in Khorasan Province, or IS-K. The IS affiliate, which has been operating in since 2014, is seen as the greatest security challenge facing the country's new Taliban rulers. Following their takeover when they seized power in Kabul and elsewhere in the country last August, the Taliban have launched a sweeping crackdown against the IS headquarters in eastern . (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.) Britains competition regulator on Thursday launched its second probe into the advertising practices of Google, saying the Alphabet -owned search giant could be distorting competition and may have illegally favoured its own services. The Competition and Markets Authoritys (CMA) latest probe follows its investigation into and Facebook owner-Metas Jedi Blue agreement earlier this year. Governments around the world are strengthening the regulation of US tech giants that have become even more powerful during the Covid-19 pandemic. There are multiple investigations globally into their market positions, including in the United States and the . Britain imposed a new competition regime last year to prevent and Facebook using their dominance to push out smaller firms and disadvantage customers. The move created a dedicated Digital Markets Unit within the CMA which could be given powers to suspend, block and reverse decisions made by technology firms and to impose financial penalties for non-compliance. were told they needed to be more transparent about how they used consumer data and that advertising practices needed to adapt to changing expectations around how data was collected and used. The CMA said on Thursday it was examining three key parts of the ad tech stack chain, services that mediate ad tech, since owned the largest provider in each of those components. Were worried that Google may be using its position in ad tech to favour its own services to the detriment of its rivals, of its customers and ultimately of consumers, said CMA Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli. Google would continue to work with the CMA to answer its questions and share the details on how the firms systems work, a Google spokesperson said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Wednesday announced military drills around Taiwan, days after US President said Washington would intervene militarily if Beijing tried to reunify with the island by force. continues to regard as its province even after decades of separate governance. Chinese President even threatened to take the island, if needed. "The recent patrol and training exercises by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) around the Island were necessary actions against the collusion between and the United States," a Chinese defence spokesperson was quoted as saying by Xinhua on Wednesday. Tan Kefei, the spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said that the PLA Eastern Theater Command had recently organized a joint war-preparedness alert patrol and combat training exercises involving troops of multiple services and arms in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island. "These are necessary actions taken targeting the collusion between Taiwan and the United States, and conforming to the need of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Tan said. Seeking "Taiwan independence" is doomed to fail, and so is supporting such actions, Tan said, adding that by playing the "Taiwan card" to contain China, the United States is putting the situation in jeopardy. The PLA is on high alert and ready to take all necessary measures to resolutely thwart any external forces' interference and secessionist attempts for "Taiwan independence," he added. This strong reaction from comes after Biden on Monday said that Washington is ready to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan in the event of invasion. Biden met with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan on Monday to advance cooperation on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. During a joint press conference with the Japanese PM, Biden reaffirmed Washington's commitment to ensuring the security of the Taiwan Strait and preventing any change in the status quo unilaterally. When asked whether the US is ready to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan, he replied in the affirmative, adding that this is the commitment that the US has taken on. "We remain committed to supporting peace and stability in Taiwan Strait. The US stands firmly with Japan and other nations not to let that happen (China taking over Taiwan)," 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.) Chinas Premier Li Keqiang gave his starkest warning yet about the as it comes under severe strain from Covid outbreaks and lockdowns, suggesting the governments growth target is moving further out of reach. Li held an emergency meeting on Wednesday with thousands of representatives from local governments, state-owned companies and financial firms, calling on them to do more to stabilize growth. He said the is in some respects faring worse than in 2020 when the pandemic first emerged and urged more efforts to reduce a soaring unemployment rate. Lis warnings add to expectations that Beijing may admit to missing its target by a large margin this year as it keeps its focus on controlling Covid-19 infections through stringent controls. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg forecast the will grow 4.5 per cent this year, well below the governments target of about 5.5 per cent. Lis bearish comments initially weighed on stocks, with the CSI 300 Index dropping as much as 1.1 per cent in early trading, though it later erased losses to trade up 0.6 per cent by the midday break. Chinas 10-year government bond yield extended its decline for a fourth day to 2.75 per cent. Its obvious that Li was very worried, as he ordered all possible ways to stabilize growth, jobs and businesses as soon as possible, said Raymond Yeung, chief economist for Greater at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. But the State Council can only do their best under the unchanging framework of Covid Zero, and it ultimately depends on the transmission of the virus. The premier highlighted the economys weak performance, saying economic indicators in have fallen significantly, and difficulties in some aspects and to a certain extent are greater than when the epidemic hit us severely in 2020. He called on officials to ensure unemployment falls and the economy operates in a reasonable range in the second quarter of this year, state media cited him as saying. Latest official data showed a contraction in industrial output for the first time since 2020 and a jump in the surveyed jobless rate to 6.1 per cent in April, close to a record. High-frequency data for May showed the economy remained in a deep slump, according to Bloombergs aggregate index of eight indicators. The economy is at its most grim moment since the second quarter of 2020, said Bruce Pang, head of macro and strategy research at Renaissance Securities Hong Kong Ltd. The meeting was not intended to announce more policy measures, but instead to strengthen the consensus, flesh out the details and urge the implementation of policies to ensure all existing policies are taking effect. State media echoed Lis plea on Thursday to boost growth. China has to take more strenuous effort to achieve this years economic growth target, and all work on stabilizing employment and helping small businesses needs to accelerate, the Economic Daily said in a commentary. The newspaper is affiliated with the State Council, Chinas cabinet. Lis emphasis on growth in the second quarter may be an implicit acknowledgment that the growth target set in early March will be challenging, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. economists wrote in a note. Chinese policy makers are in greater urgency to support the economy after the very weak activity growth in April, anemic recovery month-to-date in May, and continued increases in unemployment rates. The meeting is the latest in a series of calls by Li to support growth, which has come under enormous pressure since March from Covid outbreaks and President Xi Jinpings commitment to Covid Zero, requiring strict restrictions on activity where outbreaks occur. Li said that economic data for the second quarter would be released accurately -- amid some suspicion that official data could be massaged to appear less bad. The premier indicated that China will try to reduce the economic impact of its strict control policies, without specifying how that would be achieved. At the same time as controlling the epidemic, we must complete the task of economic development, he said. Beijing has never admitted to missing its annual growth target by a large margin since it began setting such goals more than three decades ago, with only one narrow miss previously reported in 1998. It didnt report a target in 2020, when the pandemic first hit. Beijing has also never revised the GDP target during the year. The target is part of the governments work report, approved by the National Peoples Congress, the Communist Party-controlled parliament. So if it were to be changed, it would likely need approval by the NPCs standing committee. Officials have been de-emphasizing growth in favor of other priorities such as national security and controlling financial risks, so missing the target may not be a major political risk for Xi as he seeks a third term as leader at a Communist Party congress in the fall. Xi wrote into a key Communist Party document last year that GDP growth should no longer be a sole criterion of success. In a State Council meeting on Monday, Li outlined 33 support measures to help businesses, including more than 140 billion yuan ($21 billion) of additional tax reductions including one for vehicle purchases. Local governments were told to spend most of the proceeds from 3.65 trillion yuan of bonds used mainly for infrastructure by the end of August. Li said more detailed instructions on how to implement those policies would be issued this month. The central bank and banking regulator also held a meeting with major financial institutions on Monday to urge them to boost loans. State media reported following the meeting that some banks had been handed specific quotas requiring them to accelerate loan growth. Billionaire was sued by investors for delayed disclosure of his stake in the social media company in a complaint filed on Wednesday in California federal court. The investors said Musk saved himself $156 million by failing to disclose that he had purchased more than 5 per cent of by March 14. He continued to buy stock after that, and ultimately disclosed in early April that he owned 9.2 per cent of the company. By delaying his disclosure of his stake in Twitter, Musk engaged in market manipulation and bought stock at an artificially low price, said the investors, led by Virginia resident William Heresniak. The suit comes after Musk pledged an additional $6.25 billion in equity financing to fund the $44-billion offer for Twitter Inc, reducing the billionaires margin loan against his Tesla Inc shares to zero. The disclosure made in a regulatory filing on Wednesday signaled Musk is working to complete the deal even though he had last week linked its progress to Twitter presenting proof that spam bots accounted for less than 5 per cent of the total users. Twitter Director Egon Durban, the co-Chief Executive Officer of private equity firm Silver Lake, failed to get enough votes for re-election to the board during the companys annual shareholder meeting Thursday. Institutional Shareholders Services, an advisory firm, had recommended against Durbans re-election because he serves on the boards of more than five publicly-traded . Durban, however, may still remain a Twitter director despite failing to receive a majority of shareholder votes, according to Twitters proxy statement. The company requires board nominees to offer an irrevocable resignation in advance of the voting, which would kick in if a nominee failed to win the approval of shareholders and the board accepted the resignation. But the board has the power to reject the resignation, leaving the nominee as a director, according to the proxy statement. Egon Durban has tendered his resignation to the board, a Twitter spokesperson said. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board will promptly consider whether to recommend that the Board accept Mr. Durbans resignation and provide an update in due course. Former Chief Executive Officer did not stand for re-election Wednesday, and is no longer a board member, ending his formal relationship with the social network he co-founded in 2006. He has been a director since 2007, and was most recently Twitter CEO from mid-2015 until his resignation last year. It wasnt a surprise that Dorsey didnt stand for reinstatement to the panel -- in November he said would step down as CEO as well as leave the board when his term expired. But Dorseys exit marks the first time in Twitters history that none of its co-founders is working at the company, or sitting on the board. Twitter shareholders voted on a number of issues Wednesday, but didnt weigh in on the biggest change confronting the San Francisco-based company: a looming buyout by billionaire . Twitters board accepted an offer from Musk in late April to take the company private for about $44 billion. The shareholder vote on whether to approve the deal will take place at a later date that hasnt yet been announced. Under the watchful eye of the United States, Chinese Foreign Minister will pay an official visit to South Pacific island countries starting Thursday to ramp up ties with tiny but strategically located island nations. Wang Yi's schedule includes visits to the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor from May 26 to June 4. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Tuesday said that Wang will meet with Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of the Cook Islands and Niue via video, and chair the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Fiji. Wang's trip will cover cooperation and deals in many fields including economy, infrastructure, climate change, public health, policing and security. "The reason why China's presence has been welcomed by the regional countries is that could promote the livelihood of the locals and activate the economic potentials of those islands, experts said. However, some Western media have focused only on the cooperation about security, and tried to exaggerate that the cooperation could spark a new Cold War' between and the West in the region," state media outlet Global Times said in a report. During a press conference on Wednesday, Wang Wenbin said this visit by to the South Pacific aims to deepen the friendly and cooperative relationship between and relevant countries, and contributes to peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific. "I fully disagree with the sensational remarks by some people. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some facts about China-PICs cooperation," he added. The United States, who earlier raised concern about the security pact between China and Solomon Islands, warned South Pacific nations to be wary of "shadowy" agreements with China, which has put forth a package to expand cooperation dramatically. "We are concerned that these reported agreements may be negotiated in a rushed, non-transparent process," State Department spokesperson Ned Price. He added that China has a pattern of offering shadowy, vague deals with little transparency. (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.) Calling the current environment a crucible moment, warned that the good times are not only over, theres no indication when theyll return. In a Zoom call earlier this month with the founders of its approximately 250 portfolio companies, the venture firm reviewed a 50-page presentation titled Adapting to Endure, according to documents obtained by Bloomberg News. Sequoia laid out the case for a long and drawn-out recession, and instructed founders to do the cut exercise immediately if they havent already done so by examining ways to conserve cash through eliminating or scaling back projects, R&D, marketing and other expenses. It doesnt mean you have to pull the trigger, but that you are ready to do it in the next 30 days if needed, Menlo Park, California-based Sequoia wrote in the presentation. The Information earlier reported the presentation. An increasing number of late stage private tech -- the same ones that were bankrolled by investors to grow at all costs - are re-focusing on profit. Swedish buy-now-pay-later company Klarna Bank AB and Istanbul-based rapid delivery startups Getir -- both backed by Sequoia -- are among businesses that have laid off hundreds of people recently. Sequoia, which also weighed in on the 2020 dip with its Black Swan memo and the RIP Good Times in 2008, called out pre-IPO startups as being particularly vulnerable if they werent focused on delivering profits. On Tuesday, rapid grocery delivery app Gorillas Technologies GmbH announced it was cutting 50% of its global office staff, or around 300 workers. Online health-care provider Kry AB, valued at $2 billion last year, recently said it would slash 10% of its 1,000-strong workforce. Sequoia also took a shot at hedge funds that have been targeting private investments, who are now tending to wounds in their public portfolios which have been hit hard. Tiger Globals flagship hedge fund recently posted a 15% April decline, extending its loss for the year to 44%, fueled by declining tech investments. SoftBank Group Corp. also reported a record annual loss at its giant Vision Fund unit after a selloff in tech shares pummeled the value of its portfolio companies, including public holdings like Coupang Inc., Uber Technologies Inc. and Didi Global Inc. Not everyone is so pessimistic about future markets. Andreessen Horowitz said Wednesday that it had raised a $4.5 billion crypto fund, the industrys largest to date. Palo Alto, California-based TripActions is also in discussions with investors to raise new money at around a $9 billion valuation, according to people familiar with the matter. As Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan's caravan is on its way to famous D-Chowk after entering Islamabad on Thursday, the federal government has called in the Army for the security of the capital's Red Zone. "Pursuant to the law and order situation in the Islamabad Capital Territory, the federal government, in exercise of powers conferred under Article 245 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is pleased to authorise deployment of sufficient strength of troops of in Red Zone in ICP in aid of civil power," The Express Tribune reported citing a statement issued by the Interior Ministry as saying. The statement said that the decision was taken for the protection of important government buildings including the Supreme Court, Parliament House, Presidency, Prime Minister's Office and others. It further said that the exact number of troops to be deployed will be worked out by the Army authorities in consultation with the ICT administration, The Express Tribune reported. Earlier in the day, the former Prime Minister had asked his supporters to reach the D-Chowk of federal capital. "The workers present at D-Chowk wait for me... I am bringing a sea of people there," he announced atop his container. However, soon after the announcement, the Capital Police vowed to stop anyone from entering the Red Zone. "If anyone tried to come near the Red Zone, he will be dealt with an iron hand," Islamabad IG Akber Nasir said. Nasir said that he has asked the officers not to use force in other areas of the capital. He also appealed to the protesters not to damage public property and remain peaceful. --IANS san/ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As a close friend and neighbour, India is providing support to which is reeling under a serious economic crisis, Prime Minister said here on Thursday. He was speaking at a function here where he dedicated to the nation some infrastructure projects and laid the foundation stones for some new projects cumulatively valued at about Rs 31,500 crore. Modi said is passing through difficult times. "I am sure you are concerned with the developments there. As a close friend and neighbour, India is providing all possible support to Sri Lanka," Modi said. Recalling his visit to Jaffna in Sri Lanka, Modi said he was the first Indian Prime Minister to visit that place. He said the Government of India is undertaking numerous projects to assist Tamil people in . These projects cover healthcare, transportation, housing and culture. Earlier speaking at the function, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin urged PM Modi to secure the Katchatheevu islet transferred to Sri Lanka long back. --IANS vj/skp/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CAIRO, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Thursday hailed the "peaceful transfer of power" in Somalia, the pan-Arab bloc said in a statement. In a phone conversation, Aboul-Gheit congratulated Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on his election as the new president and discussed means of supporting Somalia on its path to political reconciliation and stability. He expressed the Arab League's support for Somalia in combating all challenges, especially the threat posed by terrorist groups. "The historical elections will be a turning point for promoting stability and security in Somalia and will help get Somalia constructively involved in the international community," the Arab League chief said. Aboul-Gheit reiterated his confidence in Mohamud's ability to meet challenges and crises through his wide range of experiences, including serving as Somalian president from 2012 to 2017. Mohamud was confirmed to have defeated incumbent President Mohamed Farmajo by 214 votes against 110 in a third-round runoff on May 15. has said that it is closely monitoring hostile activities of and reserves the right to strengthen its defence capability in response. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova made the remarks in a statement commenting on Japan's "so-called" protest against the joint strategic air patrol by Chinese and Russian air forces on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported. Cooperation between the Russian and Chinese militaries is an important part of the bilateral ties, and the regular joint air patrols have demonstrated the high level of mutual trust and interaction between the two armed forces, she said. These patrols were held in strict accordance with the norms of law and fully met the objectives of strengthening peace, stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region and in the world as a whole, she added. Zakharova criticised Tokyo for clinging to these already traditional training events, distorting their goals and content, and wrongly linking them with Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. The diplomat dismissed Japan's so-called protest as "groundless and absurd." Zakharova stressed that the Japanese government is accelerating the build-up of military-political cooperation with the United States and non-regional outsiders from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and conducting joint military exercises of unprecedented scale near the Russian borders. is seeking to connect to the Australia-UK-US (AUKUS) trilateral security partnership, studying the prospects for deploying US medium- and shorter-range missiles on its territory, and taking other provocative actions that pose a serious challenge and potential threat to Russia's security in the Far East, she added. --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.) South Africa, the worlds 13th-biggest source of greenhouse gases, will need to spend $250 billion over the next three decades closing down its coal-fired power plants and replacing them with green energy, according to a study. In addition to closing down the countrys coal-fired plants and building wind and solar power plants, money will need to be spent compensating coal-dependent communities whose livelihoods are threatened by the change, The Blended Finance Taskforce and the Centre for Sustainability Transitions at Stellenbosch University said. Most of the money will need to come from the private sector, according to the study. The estimate comes as South Africa, which relies on for more than 80% of its electricity, is in the process of negotiating $8.5 billion in climate grants and concessional loans with some of the worlds richest nations. The potential deal, announced at last years COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, envisages retiring some of its coal-fired power plants. The $8.5 billion pledge can be a catalyst to unlock this $250 billion, researchers said in the study released Thursday. It should offer the global blueprint for transition finance. The deal, some details of which are expected before the COP27 climate summit in Egypt later this year, is being negotiated between and a group consisting of the US, UK, France, Germany and the European Union. With its aging coal-fired power infrastructure, much of which is nearing the end of its design life, and an economy heavily dependent on the dirtiest fossil fuel, is regarded as an ideal nation with which to forge an energy transition deal that could be mirrored in talks with other nations. Vietnam, Indonesia and India are seen as countries that could start similar talks to those being pursued by the African nation. accounts for more than 5% of South Africas gross domestic product and the industry employs 125,000 people, each with between three and 10 dependents. Under the plan presented in the study, the country would need to install 5 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity annually until 2050. That would create 5,000 jobs a year over the next decade in construction, operation and maintenance of the plants, the researchers said. Wind, Solar South Africa is home to some of the best solar and wind resources globally, offering economic opportunities through an accelerated energy transition, the researchers said. The researchers envision expenditure over 30 years as follows: $125 billion on 150 gigawatts of solar and wind power plants $18 billion on 33 gigawatts of battery storage $8 billion on 5 gigawatts of pumped hydro storage $18 billion on 30 gigawatts of natural gas-fired power generation $50 billion on improving the power transmission and distribution networks $24 billion to close the coal-fired power plants owned by national power utility, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., by 2040 $10 billion to compensate affected coal workers and to rehabilitate the environment at idled coal mines Financing for the program will need to come from the private sector in both South Africa and the rest of the world, the researchers said. Government-linked institutions such as the Public Investment Corp., which oversees 2.34 trillion rand ($149 billion) of mainly government worker pensions, the Development Bank of Southern Africa Ltd. and the Industrial Development Corp., should play a role the researchers said. The majority of the $250 billion needed for South Africas Just Energy Transition can be funded by private finance investing into scaling renewables and other enabling infrastructure, the researchers said. About a third of the funding will be needed from capital providers with a mandate that is not entirely commercial to support the social costs of the transition. Motor Cars Ltd is concerned ongoing issues could prolong waiting lists that already stretch into the second half of next year for some models. Parent AG has prioritised feeding semiconductors Rolls-Royces way because of the contribution it makes to the groups profitability, Chief Executive Officer Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes told Bloomberg Television. Recent lockdowns in China have forced the British luxury-car maker to import some parts by air. is something that worries us, I would even say daily, Mueller-Oetvoes said Thursday. With all these port lockdowns in China, we also see certain constraints now. If only one part is missing, I cant finish the product. Carmakers that already were struggling to source chips are now also grappling with disruptions stemming from Chinas efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19, as well as Russias invasion of Ukraine. is coming off a record year, having delivered almost 5,600 vehicles globally in 2021. is continuing its dialogue with to secure Ankara's support for Stockholm's bid to join the military alliance, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said here. "Sweden's dialogue with is ongoing, and I look forward to strengthening the Swedish-Turkish bilateral relations including on peace, security and the fight against terrorism," Andersson told a press conference held jointly with Charles Michel, visiting President of the European Council. and simultaneously handed in their official letters of application to join on May 18, reports Xinhua news agency. has been the only member to object to these bids, citing the two Scandinavian countries' support to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the Syrian branch of PKK. Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday demanded a "written agreement" from and on steps to end their "support for terrorism" if they want to join NATO. Michel said in his turn that the European Union (EU) looks forward to a "positive resolution to discussions among NATO allies". He reiterated the EU's support for Sweden and Finland's NATO membership bid. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The have signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates on operating airports in Afghanistan, the group's transportation and civil aviation minister said on Tuesday, after months of talks with the UAE, Turkey and Qatar. Taliban's deputy minister of transport and civil aviation Ghulam Jailani Wafa signed a deal on Tuesday with a GAAC corporation representative in the presence of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, first deputy prime minister. Speaking at the contract signing event, Mullah Baradar stated that the country's security is strong and that the Islamic Emirate is willing to work with foreign investors. Baradar stated that with the signing of this deal, all foreign airlines would begin flying to Afghanistan safely and dependably. "When we were in a severe and emergency position, the assisted us with technical assistance and free terminal repairs," said Ghulam Jailani Wafa, Minister of Transportation and Civil Aviation. "The GAAC Corporation is a multinational firm that offers aviation services in the United Arab Emirates." The took over Afghanistan in August 2021, which led to the collapse of the previous government. In December 2021, Turkish and Qatari companies signed a memorandum to operate the airport, and airports in the provinces of Balkh, Herat, Kandahar and Khost, which are currently struggling to operate due to severe economic conditions in Afghanistan. (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.) Fierce battles raged in eastern on Wednesday, with Russian troops on the verge of encircling a key industrial city, as President issued a bitter rebuke of the West for not doing enough to help Kyiv win the war. Lugansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday described fighting outside of the industrial city of Severodonetsk, a key military goal for Russia, as very difficult, saying Russian troops were shelling the city from the outskirts with mortars. The coming week will be decisive, Gaiday said in a video posted on Telegram, adding he believes Russias goal is to capture the Lugansk region no matter what cost. There is a colossal amount of shelling, he added. Earlier in the day, addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukraines Foreign Ministry Dmytro Kuleba compared the battle for Donbass to the epic battles fought in World War II and said his country badly needs multiple launch rocket systems to match Russian firepower. In Kyiv, Zelensky echoed that plea. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Wednesday announced that the is, for the second time, requesting dispute settlement consultations with under the - Mexico - Agreement (USMCA) to address dairy restrictions by that are contrary to its USMCA commitments. Specifically, the is challenging Canada's dairy tariff-rate quota (TRQ) allocation measures, which deny allocation access to eligible applicants, including retailers, foodservice operators, and other types of importers, and impose new conditions on the allocation and use of the TRQs. According to an official release by the US Trade Representative, the United States is also challenging Canada's failure to fully allocate its annual dairy TRQs; Canada is instead parceling out a few months' quota at a time. Through these measures, Canada undermines the market access that it agreed to provide in the USMCA. "I am deeply troubled by Canada's decision to expand its dairy tariff-rate quota restrictions," Ambassador Katherine Tai said. "We communicated clearly to Canada that its new policies are not consistent with the USMCA and prevent U.S. workers, producers, farmers, and exporters from getting the full benefit of the market access that Canada committed to under the USMCA. We will continue to work with USDA to ensure that our can bring a wide range of high-quality American products to Canadian customers." "Canada's protectionist dairy policies are a top concern for the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Biden-Harris Administration," Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said. "Canada has failed to honor and implement its USMCA commitments by removing the trade restrictions that disadvantage and deter U.S. dairy producers and exporters from enjoying real and meaningful access to the Canadian market. Obtaining that access remains a top priority for the Administration and we are considering all options available to achieve this objective." This is the second dispute the United States has brought under the USMCA regarding Canada's allocation of its dairy TRQs. While the United States prevailed in the first dispute, Canada's implementation measures and other actions have moved Canada further away from full compliance with its USMCA obligations. If the United States and Canada are not able to resolve U.S. concerns through consultations, the United States may request the establishment of a panel under the USMCA, the office of the US trade representative 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.) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday said Russian President cannot be allowed to win his war in Ukraine and sought to end any dependence on Russian fuels, even as he asserted that deglobalisation was not going to work. In a special address on the last day of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Scholz said it was not only the statehood of Ukraine that was at stake, but also the system of cooperation, designed in the aftermath of two world wars to the vow of "never again". A system that subjects power to law, bans violence and guarantees freedom, security and prosperity is also at stake, he asserted. He, however, said Putin's war was not the sole reason for a global watershed moment. "In this multipolar world, very different countries with growing influence are demanding a greater political participation. This is not a threat. We will open up new ways of cooperation," he said. The chancellor further said, "One thing is clear -- deglobalisation is the wrong track. It will not work. We need a different globalisation that promotes smart and sustainable solutions to climate change as well as solidarity-based action in the food crisis or in the fight against pandemics." Speaking about the need to resist Russia's aggression against Ukraine, he said, "Our goal is therefore crystal clear -- we cannot allow Putin to win this war." He also said the 2020s will be years of change, renewal and rebuilding, and that he is looking forward to a more hopeful future for Europe. (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 CEO Action Group, representing 50 European companies and a combined annual turnover of 1.4 trillion euros, published its manifesto on Implementing the European Green Deal on Thursday at the (WEF) Annual Meet 2022. The group renewed its commitment to a 55 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030 and said it will focus its efforts not only on energy but also on food systems. The manifesto specifies four drivers crucial to achieving this green transformation: innovation ecosystems; job markets; sustainability standards; and financing. It calls for closer collaboration with national and regional policy-makers to facilitate that transformation. The Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte identified expansion of renewable energy as the key to achieving genuine strategic autonomy for the . Renewables give us the freedom to choose an energy source that is clean, cheap, reliable and ours. To make our own energy is the best answer, Rutte said. ALSO READ: WEF 2022: 'New dawn' for Europe as Russia-Ukraine conflict strengthens EU European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde emphasised the crucial role the private sector must play and said it is important that business and industry leaders live up to the commitments of the European Green Deal. The is determined to end our dependence on Russian fossil fuels as quickly as possible. We need to boost investment in the technologies of the future and stop funding Putins war machine, warned European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans. The current global geopolitical landscape has marked a turning point for Europe. Energy security has enhanced the need to meet climate goals on an accelerated timeline, therefore the CEO Action Group for the EU Green Deal will be key in setting the trajectory for European Unions green transition, said Brge Brende, President, WEF. "Europe has a unique opportunity to make itself greener, healthier and more sustainable to the benefit of all Europeans. Companies and can support this journey, which will make Europe also more competitive while striving for inclusive growth," said Feike Sybesma, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Royal Philips. Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba struck a defiant tone in a session at the Annual Meeting 2022 on Wednesday, categorically rejecting the idea that should give up territory for Russia's President Vladimir Putin to save face. Making concessions failed between 2014 and 2022, ultimately bringing us all the biggest war in Europe since the Second World War," he said. When asked about the possibility of a negotiated peace, Kuleba said, If Russia had preferred dialogue to war, they would have behaved differently. He said there is still an urgent need for weapon supplies and urged global leaders to provide more heavy artillery to . Kuleba pointed out that the sanctions policy on Russia should be reconsidered. The Ukrainian economy is suffering more from Russian attacks than the Russian economy is suffering from sanctions, the foreign minister said, adding that the worlds taxpayers should not pay for Russian aggression, suggesting we should make Russia pay through seizure of assets. Addressing food and commodity shortages, Kuleba said that those who may have believed the situation would only affect Russia and are already feeling the pressure of the food crisis. He reminded global leaders that the price for every delayed decision is loss of life and loss of territory. Kuleba said that while the situation is better than a month ago, countries should not drag their feet when making important decisions. When asked about whether Ukraine will ever join Nato, he said: We are focused on winning the war. This is the war for our existence and our identity. This is the war between Russia as a state and the people of Ukraine, and it is impossible to win a war against the people. PHNOM PENH, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's anti-drug police have arrested a group of four foreigners for manufacturing, possessing and trafficking more than 40 kilograms of illicit drugs, the country's Anti-Drug Police Department (ADP) said in a news release on Thursday. The four men were arrested at two secretive drug labs, with one of them in mango farms in western Kampong Speu province, and the other at a condo in capital Phnom Penh, on May 19 after an investigation for more than two months. "A total of 40.5 kilograms of ketamine and 1.42 tons of its ingredients were confiscated from the suspects during the raids," the police said. A large number of equipment used for manufacturing and packaging drugs as well as 11.5 tons of chemicals thought to be used for producing drugs were also impounded, the police added. On May 18, the kingdom caught a group of three foreigners in Phnom Penh and in the coastal province of Preah Sihanouk, seizing a total of 30.4 kilograms of heroin, ecstasy, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine, ketamine, and nimetazepam. The southeast Asian nation has no death sentence for drug traffickers. Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of drugs could be jailed for life. According to the ADP, Cambodia nabbed 4,602 drug suspects, including 66 foreigners, during the first four months of 2022, confiscating 1.55 tons of illicit drugs and 173 tons of ingredients. Shares of the parent company of soared 10 per cent to Rs 1,808.5 apiece on the BSE on Thursday after the companys chief executive officer (CEO) Ronojoy Dutta said that profitability was the top-of-the-mind priority for the company. "You almost have to hit the point - the sweet spot just right - because you can keep pushing up fares and then at a certain point demand actually falls off So, you have a tug-of-war, but the key to profitability is to keep managing our business on the revenue side," he said. The comments came on the back of Rs 1,681-crore loss for the January-March quarter of FY22 (Q4FY22) due to the rise in jet fuel prices and higher exchange rate. The airlines fuel expenses increased 68 per cent to Rs 3,220.58 crore in Q4, from Rs 1,914.45 crore in the corresponding period last year. The loss was significantly higher than the average estimate of Rs 830 crore from analysts tracked by Bloomberg. The company had reported a small, but surprise profit of Rs 128 crore in Q3. Moreover, the airline earned 29 per cent higher revenue of Rs 8,020.75 crore at a better yield of Rs 4.24 per kilometre, compared with Rs 3.76 a year ago. Going forward, analysts are cautiously optimistic on the prospects of the airline as it manages demand revival amid increased competition. Edelweiss Securities, for instance, said that is a near-term proxy play for a re-opening trade led by better yields and pent-up passenger demand. Over the long-term, addition of XLRR fleet and improved cargo business shall enhance competitiveness. The brokerage has, however trimmed target price to Rs 2,256 on weak near-term outlook amid soaring fuel prices, but has maintained buy rating on robust long-term outlook. Those at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, on the other hand, said that despite the near-term challenges, will be out of the woods stronger than before with various preemptive measures already undertaken. However, the resurgence of airlines (Air India, Spicejet) and upcoming Akasa along with established Jet Airways would reduce IndiGos market share going forward. We value the stock at 7x FY24E EV/EBITDAR to arrive at our target price of Rs 1,779. We maintain Neutral owing to the limited upside from current levels, it added. The shares had pared gains partially by noon and were up 5 per cent at Rs 1,725 at 11:40 AM. In comparison, the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex was down 0.54 per cent. By Scott DiSavino NEW YORK (Reuters) -Oil prices rose about 3% to a two-month high on Thursday on signs of tight supply ahead of U.S. summer driving season, as the (EU) wrangled with Hungary over plans to ban crude imports from Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Brent futures for July delivery rose $3.21, or 2.8%, to $117.24 a barrel by 11:15 a.m. EDT (1515 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $3.98, or 3.6%, to $114.31. Brent was up for the sixth straight day in a row and on track for its highest close since March 25. WTI was headed for its highest close since March 23. "The fundamental backdrop ... is getting price supportive as the driving season is approaching and will turn even more bullish once the EU sanctions on Russian oil sales are endorsed by all parties involved," PVM Oil's Tamas Varga said. European Council President Charles Michel said he was confident an agreement can be reached before the council's next meeting on May 30. Germany's economy minister Robert Habeck said the EU can strike a deal on an oil embargo within days or look to "other instruments." Hungary remains a stumbling block, as EU sanctions require unanimous support. Hungary is pressing for about 750 million euros ($800 million) to upgrade its refineries and expand a pipeline from Croatia. Even without a formal ban, much less Russian oil is available as buyers and trading houses have avoided suppliers from the country. Russia's oil production should decline to 480-500 million tonnes this year from 524 million tonnes in 2021, state-run news agency RIA reported, citing Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. OPEC+ meets on June 2 and is expected to stick to an oil production deal agreed last year and raise July output targets by 432,000 barrels per day, six OPEC+ sources told Reuters, rebuffing Western calls for a faster increase to control prices. Other factors also are supporting oil prices. "Shanghai is preparing to reopen after a two-month lockdown, while the U.S. peak driving season begins with the Memorial Day weekend," said Sugandha Sachdeva, vice president of commodities research at Religare Broking. The United States celebrates Memorial Day on Monday. "All of the variables are pointing to further gains in oil prices going ahead." The U.S. government confiscated an Iranian oil cargo held on a Russian-operated ship near Greece and will send the cargo to the United States aboard another vessel. Britain announced a 25% windfall tax on oil and gas producers' profits, alongside a 15 billion pound ($18.9 billion) package of support for households struggling to pay bills. Hungary also announced new windfall taxes worth 800 billion forints ($2.19 billion) on "extra profits" earned by banks, companies and other firms. ($1 = 0.9348 euros) ($1 = 0.7942 pounds) ($1 = 365.7200 forints) (Additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar in London, Sonali Paul in Melbourne and Mohi Narayan in New Delhi; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle, Mark Potter and David Gregorio) (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shares of tanked 17 per cent to hit a fresh 52-week low of Rs 101.45 on the BSE in Thursdays trade on the back of heavy volumes after the company's consolidated profit after tax (PAT) more-than-halved to Rs 9 crore in the March quarter (Q4FY22). At 11:19 am; the stock was trading 13 per cent lower at Rs 106.15, as compared to a 0.38 per cent decline in the Sensex. The trading volumes on the counter had doubled with a combined 4.8 million equity shares having changed hands on the NSE and BSE. Moreover, the scrip has corrected 70 per cent from its 52-week high level of Rs 336.40 touched on June 29, 2021. The decline in the company's net profit was due to higher operational cost. The company, which is engaged in businesses across animal health (Alivira) & analytical services, had posted a profit of Rs 20.6 crore in the year ago quarter. Its consolidated revenue grew 6 per cent year on year to Rs 383.7 crore from Rs 361.8 crore in the corresponding quarter of previous fiscal. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) margin contracted 360 bps YoY at 10.1 per cent. On a full year-basis, the companys consolidated net profit declined 49 per cent YoY to Rs 109 crore in FY22 against Rs 216 crore in FY21. EBITDA margin declined to 7.7 per cent from 15.9 per cent in the previous year. "The macro environment continues to be challenging due to volatility in costs and disruptions across supply chains. India business achieved a key milestone crossing the landmark of Rs 100 crore revenues for the year. The Europe business' weakness was owing to supply chain pressures and slowdown in demand. Surprises in currency volatility impaced Turkey growth, and uncertainty is likely to continue in the near future," the management said. Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) declined 2.16% to Rs 318.95 after the PSU company reported 82.2% fall in standalone net profit to Rs 2,130.53 crore in Q4 FY22 as against Rs 11,940.13 crore in Q4 FY21. Net sales came at Rs 108,773.57 crore for the quarter ended 31 March 2022 as against Rs 76,890.50 crore during the same period in the previous year, registering a growth of 41.5%. Profit before tax stood at Rs 3,039.55 crore in Q4 FY22, down by 75.2% from Rs 12,237.44 crore in Q4 FY21. The company's total expenditure surged 45.5% to Rs 104,524.23 crore in Q4 FY22 over Q4 FY21. Cost of raw material consumed soared 55.44% to Rs 44,459.52 crore while employee benefit expenses drop 19.32% to Rs 913.99 in Q4 FY22 as compared to the corresponding quarter previous year. Refinery Thoughtput declined 3.22% to 8.12 metric million tonnes (MMT) in Q4 FY22 as compared to 8.39 MMT in Q4 FY21. Market sales grew 5.82% to 11.82 MMT in Q4 FY22 as against 11.17 MMT in Q4 FY21. Sales growth stood at 5.82% in Q4 FY22 from 4.10% posted in Q4 FY21. Export sales surged 23.81% to 0.78 MMT in Q4 FY22 from 0.63 MMT in Q4 FY21. On full year basis, the company recorded 53.8% fall in net profit to Rs 8,788.73 crore on a 55.8% surge in net sales to Rs 362,276.78 crore in FY22 over FY21. The market sales of the corporation for the year ended 31 March 2022 was 42.51 (MMT) as compared to 38.74 MMT for the year ended 31st March 2021. Increase is mainly in MS-Retail (13.05%), HSD-Retail (6.64%) and ATF (31.91%). The Average Gross Refining Margin (GRM) of the corporation for year ended 31 March 2022 stood at $9.09 per barrel as compared to $ 4.06 per barrel reported in FY21. Meanwhile, the board of directors of the company recommended a final dividend of Rs 6 per equity share, for the financial year ended 31 March 2022. BPCL is the second largest Indian oil marketing company, engaged in refining of crude oil and marketing of petroleum products, with a significant presence in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. The company attained the coveted Maharatna status, joining the elite club of companies having greater operational & financial autonomy. The Government of India holds 52.98% stake in BPCL as of 31 March 2022. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ITI climbed 10.91% to Rs 93 after the company's consolidated net profit rose 78.33% to Rs 356.06 crore on 9.86% decline in net sales to Rs 1,141.50 crore in Q4 March 2022 over Q4 March 2021. On a consolidated basis, profit before tax rose 77.54% year-on-year to Rs 357.38 crore in Q4 March 2022. The company reported other income of Rs 225.54 crore in Q4 March 2022 (up 248.38% YoY), which includes Rs 2.89 crore towards provisions/liabilities written back/no-longer required related to earlier year during the year. Total expenses fell 13.14% to Rs 944.22 crore. Cost of material consumed fell 26.36% to Rs 605.82 crore while employee benefits expenses fell 23.97% to Rs 54.61 crore. For the year, net profit surged 1,162.66% to Rs 119.70 crore on 21.23% decline in net sales to Rs 1,860.73 crore in the year ended March 2022 over the year ended March 2021. Other income climbed 57.75% YoY to Rs 254.57 crore in FY22. ITI is primarily engaged in business of manufacturing, trading and servicing of telecommunication equipments and rendering other associated / ancillary services. The company is also engaged in defence projects. The Government of India held 89.97% stake while Governor of Karnataka held 0.03% stake in ITI. 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 delivery of industry-oriented courses to Anna University L&T EduTech, the hybrid learning platform from Larsen & Toubro, took significant steps in its endeavour to create workplace-ready talent by announcing the signing of an MoU with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the completion of abridged Industry oriented courses to students of Anna University, Chennai. The learning modules offered by L&T EduTech will now be featured on the AICTE website and accessible to engineering students across the country to reinforce their conceptual learning and expose them to the tenets of professional practice from an industry standpoint to improve their employability quotient. L&T EduTech has also joined hands with Anna University (AU), Chennai, an internationally recognised institution to offer Abridged Industry oriented courses for their final year and pre-final year students as a first step. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prior to joining RattanIndia Enterprises, Gudlavalleti worked in organisations like Quikr, Microsoft, Nokia and Coca-Cola in various leadership roles. Rattanindia Enterprises on Thursday (26 May 2022) announced the appointment of Sarath Chandra Gudlavalleti as chief executive officer of its drone business in NeoSky India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company. "Sarath Chandra Gudlavalleti, an alumnus of XLRI, Jamshedpur has over 20 years of experience in technology & retail sector with expertise in setting and scaling up businesses. He is proficient in managing digital transformations and innovative solutions across multiple industries," the company said in a statement. NeoSky India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RattanIndia Enterprises, is developing 360 degree drone solutions platform with Drones as a Product (DAAP - drone hardware), Drone As a Service (DAAS drone service solutions) and Software as a service (SAAS drone softwares) focused on consumer as well as industry applications in India. The company intends to be the market leader in Drone sector in the country. RattanIndia Enterprises is engaged in building businesses in new-age sectors including electric motorcycles, drone (UAV), e-commerce and fintech. The board of RattanIndia Enterprises will consider Q4 results on 30 May 2022. On a consolidated basis, the firm reported net loss at Rs 5.52 crore in Q3 FY22 as against net profit of Rs 0.10 crore in Q3 FY21. Net sales stood at Rs 0.67 crore in Q3 December 2021. Shares of RattanIndia Enterprises tumbled 5.04% to settle at Rs 39.60 on Wednesday. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Motors has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary, viz., 'TML Smart City Mobility Solutions' for undertaking urban mass mobility business inter alia under an own, operate and maintain model. With the launch of TML Smart City Mobility Solutions (TSCMSL), the Company intends to bring specific focus to its Electric Vehicles (EV) segment as a service offerings across its portfolio of commercial vehicles. In addition to existing State Transport Units (STUs) and government fleets, TSCMSL will also cater to all business opportunities across passenger mobility applications. The Company already has ~650 EV buses plying on roads across various cities in India with a cumulative coverage of >35 million kms and has operationalized 250+ EV buses in 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.) Torrent Pharmaceuticals posted a consolidated net loss of Rs 118 crore in Q4 FY22 as compared to a net profit of Rs 324 crore in Q4 FY21. Net sales rose 9.9% to Rs 2,104 crore in quarter ended 31 March 2022 from Rs 1,915 crore reported in the same period last year. The drug maker reported an exceptional of Rs 485 crores in Q4 FY22, with respect to impairment provision cost related to discontinuation of liquid business in the US. Profit before exceptional items and tax rose nearly 4% to Rs 398 crore in Q4 FY22 from Rs 383 crore in Q4 FY21. On a consolidated basis, gross profit rose 5% to Rs 1,509 crore in Q4 FY22 as compared to Rs 1,441 crore in Q4 FY21. EBITDA before exceptional item declined 1% to Rs 612 crore in Q4 FY22 from Rs 620 crore reported in the corresponding quarter previous year. Meanwhile, EBITDA margin declined to 29% in Q4 FY22 from 32% posted in Q4 FY21. R&D spend spiked 8% to Rs 138 crore in Q4 FY22 from Rs 148 crore in Q4 FY21. India revenue at Rs 1,034 crores grew by 12%. Growth was aided by new launch momentum, robust performance of top brands and continued market outperformance across focus therapies. Brazil revenue at Rs 251 crores, were up by 33%. Constant currency revenue stood at R$ 172 million in Q4 FY22. Strong growth and market outperformance was complemented by performance of top brands and new launches. US revenue grew by 5% year on year to Rs 282 crores in Q4 FY22. Constant currency revenue stood at $37 million. Revenue grew sequentially by 20% aided by the launch of Dapsone during the quarter. As on March 31, 2022, 57 ANDAs were pending approval with USFDA and 5 tentative approvals were received. During the quarter, 6 ANDAs were filed & 1 ANDA was approved. Germany revenue stood at Rs 218 crores, down by 18% year on year. Torrent Pharma said growth was adversely impacted by loss of products in a recent tender. Commenting on the Q4 results, Samir Mehta,the chairman of Torrent Pharmaceuticals said, We are pleased with the robust operational performance delivered during the quarter. The branded businesses contributed to 70% of total revenues in Q4 and grew by 15% with India and Brazil continuing on a strong footing. The US business registered sequential growth aided mainly by launch of a new product. While our EU business faced some headwinds, we remain optimistic that the cost efficiency measures being taken will bring us back to growth in this market in the coming quarters. He further added, We have taken a difficult decision of discontinuing our liquids business in the US. We believe the incremental investments required will exceed the potential economic benefits in this segment due to changing market conditions, as economics and competitive intensity have turned unfavorable compared to the time of conceptualization. On full year basis, the company recorded 37.9% fall in net profit to Rs 777 crore on a 6.8% rise in net sales to Rs 8,419 crore in FY22 over FY21. The company's board approved to seek shareholder nod to raise Rs 5,000 crore through various means including Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP). The company's board has also recommended issue of bonus shares in the ratio of 1:1 i.e. one equity share for each fully paid up equity share held as on record date fixed for the purpose. The company will inform in due course the record date for determining shareholders that will receive bonus shares. Meanwhile, the board of directors of the company recommended a final dividend of Rs 23 per equity share including the special dividend of Rs 15 per equity share, for the financial year ended 31 March 2022. The record date for the said dividend is 6 June 2022. Torrent Pharma, with annual revenues of more than Rs 8,000 crore, is the flagship company of the Torrent Group. It is ranked 8th in the Indian pharmaceuticals market and is amongst the Top 5 in the therapeutics segments of Cardiovascular (CV), Gastro Intestinal (GI),Central Nervous System (CNS), and Vitamins Minerals Nutritionals (VMN) Shares of Torrent Pharmaceuticals were trading 8.49% higher at Rs 2858.25 on the BSE. 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 in the negative zone, with the S&P BSE Utilities index falling 25.18 points or 0.7% at 3556.21 at 13:48 IST. Among the components of the S&P BSE Utilities index, Adani Green Energy Ltd (down 3.99%), Rattanindia Power Ltd (down 3.39%),Adani Transmission Ltd (down 2.65%),Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (down 2.44%),Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd (down 2.42%), were the top losers. Among the other losers were Reliance Power Ltd (down 2.23%), JSW Energy Ltd (down 0.64%), GAIL (India) Ltd (down 0.62%), and Tata Power Company Ltd (down 0.52%). On the other hand, Gujarat Industries Power Co Ltd (up 4.52%), NLC India Ltd (up 3.67%), and Nava Bharat Ventures Ltd (up 3.49%) moved up. At 13:48 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 413.76 or 0.77% at 54163.02. The Nifty 50 index was up 116.55 points or 0.73% at 16142.35. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 136.62 points or 0.54% at 25259.92. The S&P BSE 150 Midcap Index index was up 68.17 points or 0.88% at 7818.04. On BSE,1438 shares were trading in green, 1798 were trading in red and 127 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.) ATHENS, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Greece aims to increase the ratio of exports of goods and services to its gross domestic product (GDP) to 48 percent by 2023, up from 37 percent recorded in 2019 before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the National Strategic Extroversion Plan 2022 unveiled here on Thursday. The plan serves as a roadmap for the country's international economic relations with timetables per geographic region and field of business activity, according to the government. The ratio of Greece's foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows to GDP is expected to increase to 4 percent by 2023, up from 1.8 percent achieved in 2019, according to the plan. "Crisis creates windows of opportunity. With good reflexes, we can achieve positive results," Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias said, addressing an event on the presentation of the plan. The plan foresees 670 planned actions in 47 countries across the world, including 36 in China, in the coming months to boost economic cooperation on bilateral and regional levels, attract more investment and promote exports, said Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy and Openness Kostas Fragogiannis. Emphasis will be put on tourism, energy, logistics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and agricultural products among others. "Increased extroversion brings growth and growth touches upon everyone," Fragogiannis said in a press statement. In 2021, real GDP in Greece grew by 8.3 percent, offsetting the 2020 GDP contraction of 9 percent and the Greek economy is expected to continue to grow in 2022, albeit at a slower pace, according to a recent Bank of Greece (BoG) report. The CBI Thursday questioned Congress MP for nine hours in connection with an alleged scam pertaining to the issuance of visas to 263 Chinese nationals in 2011 when his father P Chidambaram was home minister, officials said. A special court had ordered Karti to join the CBI investigation within 16 hours of his arrival from the UK and Europe, where he had gone with the permission of the Supreme Court and the special court. The MP returned from his trip on Wednesday, and arrived at the CBI office around 8 this morning to answer questions related to the case. Speaking to reporters outside the CBI headquarters, Karti said the case against him was "bogus", and claimed that he had not facilitated the issuance of visa to any Chinese . He was allowed to go for a recess for about an hour in afternoon after which the questioning resumed. The MP was quizzed till about 6 pm. Coming out of the intense questioning, said it all was a political vendetta, and that he would depose again if the agencies call him. The case pertains to the allegations of Rs 50 lakh being paid as bribe to Karti and his close associate S Bhaskararaman by a top executive of Vedanta group company Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd. (TSPL), which was setting up a power plant in Punjab, for re-issuance of project visas for 263 Chinese workers of a firm company which was executing the project, the CBI FIR said. The agency has already taken Bhaskararaman in custody in connection with the case. has denied all allegations, saying "if this is not harassment, not a witch-hunt, then what is". The CBI has alleged Makharia, a representative of the power company, approached Karti through his "close associate/front man" Bhaskararaman, officials said. "They devised a back-door way to defeat the purpose of ceiling (maximum of Project visas permissible to the company's plant) by granting permission to re-use 263 Project visas allotted to the said Chinese company's officials," Joshi said. Makharia allegedly submitted a letter to the home ministry seeking approval to re-use the project visas allotted to this company, which was approved within a month and permission was granted to the company, the officials said. It has been further alleged that the payment of the said bribe was routed from Talwandi Sabo to Karti and Bhaskararaman through Mumbai-based Bell Tools Ltd camouflaged as payment of false invoice raised for consultancy and out of pocket expenses for Chinese visas related works, the CBI FIR said. "... Whereas the private company based at Mumbai was never in any kind of work relating to visas rather it was in an entirely different business of industrial knives," Joshi 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.) Chief Minister on Thursday visited the Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Mangubhai Patel. The courtesy meeting came a day after the state government sent an ordinance for direct election of municipal corporation mayors to the Governor for his consent on Wednesday. Notably, the state government had earlier sent the ordinance for an amendment on Municipalities Rules (Amendment) - 2022 to Raj Bhavan on May 14, however, it was withdrawn on May 16. It has said that the ordinance was taken back due to differences within the BJP. However, a week later, the BJP-led state government sent the ordinance to the governor's office again to seek his consent ahead of the panchayats and local body polls, which would be conducted soon. The government has decided that mayors and chairpersons of municipalities would be elected directly by the electorate. There are as many as 16 municipal corporations, 99 municipalities and 292 town councils in the state. Notably, the erstwhile Kamal Nath-led Congress government had ended the system of direct election of mayors and chairpersons of municipalities and town councils by voters. However, after returning to power, Shivraj's cabinet passed an ordinance on December 9, 2020 to return to the system of direct election of mayors by the electorate. Digvijaya Singh led the Congress government (1993-2003) that introduced the system of direct election of mayors in . Till 1998, the state corporators elected their leader as mayor of municipal corporations after local body elections. After the Supreme Court permitted the state government to conduct local body polls with OBC reservation, the state elections commission (ECS) has started the process of reservation of panchayats and local wards in all districts. --IANS pd/shb/ (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.) Launching a scathing attack on Rashtra Samithi (TRS), Prime Minister on Thursday called for liberating from family rule and appeasement. Addressing BJP leaders and workers at Begumpet Airport, he said dynastic and family-centric parties are the biggest enemy of democracy and youth of the country. He appealed to people of to carry forward the movement to end the rule of family-centric parties, saying this would open the doors for rapid development of the state. He claimed that change is certain in Telangana and that BJP will definitely come to power in the state. He said enthusiasm of BJP workers under hot sun shows that the party's hard work was yielding results. "They want to make Telangana a hub of appeasement, we want to make Telangana a technology hub. They want to continue family rule, we want to take Telangana to new heights in tune with 21st century thinking and by working with the youth of Telangana," he said without naming TRS. He said those who conspired to divide the country and dreamt of ruling Telangana with oppression neither succeeded at the time of Independence nor will succeed now. "BJP's fight is against these conspiracies and this thinking," he said. Modi said thousands of people struggled and gave sacrifice during the Telangana movement for the bright future of Telangana and not to allow one family to trample the dream of the state and destroy it with new conspiracies. "The country has seen when a party which is dedicated to a family comes to power, corruption becomes its biggest identity. People of Telangana are watching how family-centric parties develop themselves, fill coffers of their own members and have no concern for the poor. Their is only to make sure that one family remains in power and continue the loot and for this they plan to divide the society. They want the society to remain backward so that they benefit out of it," he said Modi also alleged that the Telangana government changed the names of various Central schemes and remarked 'You can't erase our name from people's heart'. Stating that BJP is aware of potential of Telangana and its people, especially youth, he said the party wants fast pace of development in the state. "Telangana needs a progressive and an honest government and only BJP can provide it," he added. Modi also targeted Chief Minister K. Chandrsekhar Rao over his alleged superstitious beliefs. "We want to save Telangana from the superstitious people. In the 21st century, they have become slaves of blind faith and they can harm anybody," he said. Modi said when he was the chief minister of Gujarat, some people used to say that if the chief minister visits a particular city, he will lose power. "I used to go there repeatedly because I believe in science and technology," he said. He also congratulated Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for rejecting the superstitious beliefs. He recalled that in 2013, Hyderabad had scripted history and changed the thinking of the entire India when people of Telangana bought tickets to attend a public meeting and hear him. Stating that it was the turning point in serving the people of the country, he exuded confidence that people of Telangana will again make history by bringing BJP to power in the state. --IANS ms/svn/ (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 on Thursday claimed the Enforcement Directorate's raids on the premises of party's Maharashtra minister Anil Parab were a way to exact "political revenge" and that this will only make the Sena's resolve stronger to fight the BJP. Accusing the BJP of misusing the central agencies, Shiv Sena's chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said their party and the state Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA- comprising the Sena, NCP and Congress) government stand with Transport Minister Parab. "Such actions are being carried out to exact political revenge. You (BJP) have central agencies with you. If anyone thinks their political opponents will be destroyed by this, if anyone thinks that such acts will build pressure on the or the Maha Vikas Aghadi, then it is wrong. Every action will only make our resolve stronger," the Rajya Sabha member said. All elections will go on smoothly, Raut added. Elections to various civic bodies in the state are due soon. Raut also claimed that BJP leaders have more serious charges against them than what the Sena and other MVA leaders are being probed for. The ED on Thursday raided multiple locations in Maharashtra as part of a money laundering probe against Parab and others linked to alleged irregularities in a land deal in coastal Dapoli area of Ratnagiri district and other charges, officials said. The federal probe agency has filed a fresh case against the minister and others under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). At least seven premises, including Parab's official residence in Mumbai, linked premises in Dapoli and Pune are being searched by the agency with a security escort provided by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Parab (57), a three-time legislator in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, the upper house of the legislature, is said to be close to Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. He is facing multiple charges of alleged irregularities and corruption that are understood to have formed the basis of the latest (ED) case. Parab is the third MVA minister on the ED's radar. The probe agency had earlier arrested Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik and former state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in different money laundering cases. (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.) Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao flew out of to on Thursday, a couple of hours before the arrival of Prime Minister in the city. KCR, as Rao is popularly known, left for Karnataka capital in a special aircraft from Begumpet airport, where PM Modi landed for a two-and-a-half-hour-long visit to the city. PM Modi is in the city to attend 20th annual celebrations at the Indian School of Business (ISB) KCR, who is eyeing a key role in national politics, is scheduled to meet former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) leader H. D. Deve Gowda in . The TRS leader is accompanied by party MP J. Santosh Kumar, four MLAs and other party leaders. This is the second time in less than four months that KCR avoided greeting Prime Minister Modi on the latter's arrival in . KCR had not received Modi on his arrival in on February 5 and also skipped the two programmes attended by the PM. During the day-long visit, the PM unveiled statue of saint Ramanujacharya and inaugurated 50th anniversary celebrations of ICRISAT. He had come under sharp criticism from BJP, which alleged that KCR insulted the PM. KCR's action was viewed in political circles as a symbolic protest against Modi government's discrimination against Telangana. The PM's visit had also come amid bitter attack by the TRS chief on BJP for its failure on all fronts and for whipping up communal passions in various parts of the country for political mileage. However, the chief minister had later clarified that he did not receive the PM as a couple of his family members had Covid-like symptoms. This time too, the PM is visiting Hyderabad at a time when KCR has stepped up his efforts to work for a national alternative. He has been holding consultations with leaders of various political parties. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief had returned to Hyderabad Monday from Delhi after a four-day visit to the national capital and Chandigarh. At the 20th formation day celebrations of TRS, KCR had hinted at floating a national party to play a key role in national . The state leadership of BJP has slammed KCR for once again avoiding a meeting with the PM. State BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar alleged that the TRS chief is running away from the state to avoid facing Modi. He said KCR deliberately planned his visit to other states as he was scared of facing the PM. The TRS leaders, however, rubbished the allegations by BJP. They claimed that KCR's visit to was already scheduled. --IANS ms/shb/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Thursday morning left for Bengaluru, just hours ahead of the arrival of Prime Minister here. This is the second time in the last four months that KCR has avoided meeting Modi during his visit to . Earlier in February, PM was here to unveil the Statue of Equality, a giant statue of saint Ramanujacharya, near here. Official sources then said Rao could not receive the PM as he was 'unwell'. Rao called on former Prime Minister and JDS Supremo HD Deve Gowda in the Karnataka capital and discussed . Hon'ble CM of Shri K. Chandrashekhar Rao visited me at my residence, today. We exchanged views on various topics of importance. It was a candid and cordial meeting, Deve Gowda tweeted after the meeting. Gowda's son and former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy were amomg those present during the meeting at Gowda's Padmanabhanagar residence. Recently, KCR, as he is popularly known, undertook a tour to attend national-level political and social programmes. As part of that, he had called on Delhi and Punjab Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann respectively. In Chandigarh, he offered financial assistance to families of farmers who laid down their lives during the nationwide farmers' agitation against the farm laws. Modi landed in the State capital this afternoon to participate in the 20th year celebrations of the Indian School of Business (ISB). He addressed BJP leaders and cadre also at the Begumpet Airport where he was accorded a rousing reception upon his arrival. He lambasted "family-run parties" describing them as enemies of the country. The PM later attended the graduation ceremony of the Post Graduate Programme class of 2022 of ISB and addressed the students. (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.) Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Thursday called on JD(S) supremo at his residence here and held discussions on various issues. KCR, as he is popularly known, left for Bengaluru hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hyderabad visit to participate in the 20th year celebration of the Indian School of Business. Gowda's son and former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy were amomg those present during the meeting at Gowda's Padmanabhanagar residence. After the meeting, Gowda tweeted, Hon'ble CM of Telangana Shri K. Chandrashekhar Rao visited me at my residence, today. We exchanged views on various topics of national importance. It was a candid and cordial meeting. (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.) Tech giant Google has reportedly delayed the release of its first foldable smartphone, the so-called Pixel Notepad foldable phone, until 2023. According to SamMobile, following the pushback, the first foldable phone from Google is now reportedly scheduled to hit the market next spring. As per the report, it is too early to tell, and there are plenty of unfounded speculations flying around as to why Google could have delayed its first foldable phone to spring 2023. A recent report said that the device may cost less than the $1,799 Galaxy Z Fold 3. In Android 12L Beta 2 new animations were discovered that depict how to insert a SIM card into the upcoming foldable phone. The animations for the SIM setup screen showed a smartphone that has a larger foldable display instead of the usual single-screen design. It showed that the SIM card slot is situated at the bottom while the volume rocker keys are at the lower right side. It appears that the Google Pixel Fold could be similar to the recently launched OPPO Find N instead of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3, the report had said. --IANS vc/ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], May 26 (ANI/GPRC): Cycle Pure Agarbathi, the world's largest manufacturer of agarbathi, launched the Heritage and Flute range of incense sticks at an event organised in Indore today, as part of its product expansion and innovation strategy. Arjun Ranga, MD, Cycle Pure Agarbathi, unveiled the Heritage range of prayer sticks inspired by traditional Indian art forms, and the Flute range of incense sticks with fruity and floral fragrances. The new range of Heritage prayer sticks is made the traditional way using original 'base' bathi, with the objective of reviving and patronizing the ancient, beautiful Indian art forms of Madhubani Folk Art, Warli Folk Art, Santhal Tribal Art and Sanjhi Folk Art. Every purchase helps support heritage artists. Flute is an exciting range of agarbathi made with fruity and floral fragrances. It includes 9 fragrances of Aamrasiya, Gulabiya, Lavani, PushpahPhala, Nimboori, Coconeer and Shiuli. Speaking at the event, Arjun Ranga, Managing Director, Cycle Pure Agarbathi, says, "As a brand, we strive to provide hope and inspire the current and future generations of India with our fragrances while delivering quality products to our millions of consumers all over the world. We aim to help preserve the exquisite, traditional art forms of Madhubani, Warli, Santhal and Sanjhi through the Heritage range of prayer sticks. Flute, on the other hand, is inspired by nature's bounty with its favourite fruits and flowers, a collection that is sure to rejuvenate the hearts and homes of our customers." All ingredients used in Cycle products are ethically and sustainably sourced. The entire Carbon footprint during the manufacture of its products is offset as it is a certified Zero Carbon Manufacturer. Both Heritage and Flute range of agarbathi are available across retail outlets as well as on cycle.in. The leading manufacturer and exporter of agarbathi, has always nurtured an eco-friendly approach in all its endeavors. Cycle Pure Agarbathi is the only agarbathi company in India certified as the Carbon Neutral Manufacturer by the UK-based The Carbon Neutral Company - the leading provider of carbon reduction solutions in the World. A champion of environment-friendly practices, the company has set up re-cycle corrugated boxes at relevant units and ensures the usage of natural ingredients that are IFRA certified aroma materials and are not harmful to the environment or health. Cycle Pure Agarbathi has an array of agarbathi in the premium category: Rhythm, Woods, Flute, and Three-in-One are the marquee brands. Heritage Agarbathi is its latest offering. For more information on the Group, please visit (http://www.nrgroup.co.in) The Mysuru-based NR Group was founded by N. Ranga Rao in 1948. A true visionary and philanthropist, Shri. Ranga Rao created the ubiquitous Cycle Pure Agarbathi which has today become the largest selling incense stick brand in the world. From a home-grown enterprise, NR Group has evolved into a successfully run business conglomerate with established presence in India and abroad. The Group has diversified into various business categories like functional air care products (Lia brand of room fresheners and car fresheners), wellness home fragrance products (IRIS) under Ripple Fragrances, floral extracts (NESSO) and Rangsons Technologies. Today it is truly an Agarbathi to Aerospace conglomerate as it is also involved in making parts for defense helicopters. The organization has largely committed towards social responsibilities and fulfills them, through its charity arm 'NR Foundation'. NR Group today is managed by the third generation of the Ranga family. For more information on NR Group, please visit (http://www.nrgroup.co.in). 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.) Last week, Apple informed its customers in India that it will no longer store their card information on file and will not be accepting payments made by debit cards and credit cards for purchases or subscriptions on the App store or other Apple services in light of the upcoming regulations. It will still be accepting payments through UPI. The decision of the US giant surprised many. But not those who are scrambling to meet the deadline on tokenisation of cards which is June 30, 2022. Come July 1, merchants, payment aggregators, payment gateways and acquiring banks can no longer store the card details of customers. Only card issuing banks and card networks can store the actual card data. With businesses still reeling with the disruption caused by RBIs rules for card-based recurring payments that came into effect January 1 this year, another storm is brewing for them. Businesses and other entities that have stored any such data will have to purge them and apply tokenisation. Tokenisation is the replacement of a card number with an alternative code called the token. Once created, the tokenised card details will be used in place of the actual card number for online purchases initiated or instructed by the cardholder. A tokenised card transaction is considered safer as the actual card details are not shared with the merchant during transaction processing. It will cut the chances of card information leakage. For transaction tracking and reconciliation purposes, entities can store the last four digits of card number and card issuers name. The customers consent and OTP-based authentication is required for creating a token. A customer can, however, still choose not to tokenise his or her card. In such a case, customers will have to enter complete card details everytime they make a payment. This could lead to a decline in revenues for merchants as a significant number of conversions happen through saved cards. First deadline to tokenise the card details was June 30, 2021. But at the request of merchants and payment aggregators, as well as card companies and banks, it was extended to December 31, 2021. And the deadline was again extended by six months. Earlier this month, Paytm said it had tokenized 2.8 crore cards across Visa, Mastercard and Rupay, accounting for 80% of monthly active cards on the the app. Other businesses are also nudging users to tokenize their cards in order to enjoy a seamless experience from July 1. For instance, everytime a user opens the Swiggy app, he is greeted with a message at the bottom of the screen to secure his cards before June 30. PayU, Razorpay, PhonePe, Worldline, Cashfree Payments and Pine Labs are among the companies that have come up with tokenisation solutions to help businesses transition to the new framework. Khilan Haria, VP and Head of Payments Product, Razorpay told Business Standard said that Visa, Mastercard, Rupay and Diners Club have gone live on its tokenisation platform with American Expresses expected to go live soon. However, it is not just card networks, but card issuing banks too have to come onboard. With just about five weeks to go, where does the payments ecosystem stand in terms of its preparedness? Speaking to Business Standard, Khilan Haria, VP and Head of Payments Product, Razorpay says, he doesn't expect any large scale disruptions from July 1. According to him, 100% of Razorpay merchants are live on its tokenisation solution, and post tokenisation, card networks are ready to process transactions at scale. Majority of the banks are also expected to be ready, he added. Meanwhile, a lack of compliance by banks with RBIs rules on recurring payments is already leading to a large number of recurring transaction failures. Razorpays Haria said it would take about 6-9 more months for reaching the stabilisation phase where coverage would be near complete. Several banks are yet to integrate with mandate hubs like BillDesks SiHub or Razorpays MandateHQ, affecting publishers, B2B SaaS companies, and small businesses and startups that majorly depend on subscriptions for revenue. While recurring payments still make up only a minor portion of overall payments, the magnitude of the impact from card tokenisation will be enormous, affecting merchants of all sizes including major e-commerce companies and food delivery firms. The Merchants Payments Alliance of India, whose members include Netflix, BookMyShow, Disney+Hotstar, Microsoft and Zoom, said it observed that requisite back-end infrastructure isnt ready. It said that unless the back-end infrastructure for processing payments using tokens is ready by June 30th, data purging by merchants and payment aggregators would lead to a breakdown in settlements, reconciliation and services such as refunds, cashbacks and chargebacks. The alliance said that data purging without demonstrated ecosystem readiness at scale across use cases would give rise to business continuity challenges for merchants of all sizes. Vivan Sharan, Secretary, The Merchants Payments Alliance of India (MPAI) says, we have limited visibility on the state of readiness of the payments ecosystem. We still dont have final APIs that will enable consumers to transaction, he says, adding that theres good progress on token generation side. Token processing solutions are still at the development/early testing stage. With some banks, particularly smaller ones, not expected to be compliant with the regulations from day 1, customers can expect some friction while making payments online. The transition to the new payment regime will certainly not be smooth. Small merchants and consumers are going to face problems. The next five weeks are crucial in this transition. Banks and other players of the payment ecosystem will have to work in tandem to ensure that everything falls in line. As the economic activities shifted online, a dark industry of sophisticated hackers mushroomed around it. And as the nations and companies ramped up security to save their data, fraudsters too shifted the gears. It is an ongoing battle in which corporates are bleeding, and hackers flourishing. On Wednesday morning, flight operations of SpiceJet were hit after what it called an attempted attack. Indias central bank too has been taking preventive steps to safeguard crucial consumer data. Last year, it directed merchants not to store customer card details on their servers starting January 1, 2022. Unique tokens were supposed to replace the card details, a process referred to as tokenization. But it was easier said than done. After the industry cried foul, the implementation date was pushed to June 30. It is drawing close now. So is India ready for this big payment system reform this time? Experts believe that initial few months will be bumpy in Indias transition to tokenization. Meanwhile, Indian have outperformed even in the recent correction as flows from mutual funds and retail investors have remained robust. Our next story takes a dive into how retail investors are looking at macro-economic developments, and can their flows into the equities shrink going ahead? In the ongoing choppy market, knowing entry and exit points may turn fortunes in your favour. They are the most crucial factors for a successful trade. This episode of the podcast highlights a few easy trading strategies to identify entry and exit points. Hundreds of fliers spent restless hours at Indian airports Wednesday morning after aircraft of Spicejet came to a standstill. Some took to social media platforms to register their ordeal, claiming that they were stranded for hours without a word from the private airline. Spicejet came out with a clarification later, and said that it had faced an attempted attack. It also said that services were resumed in a few hours after its IT team contained the situation. But not before it gave Spicejet brass some really scary moments. One of the tweets written in response to Spicejets announcement in a way highlighted most firms stand on cyber-security. It is more of defensive, than pre-emptive. What is * is a type of malware that hacks and prevents you from accessing your files or system *It demands that you pay a ransom in order to regain access *Ransomware employs encryption to hold the victims information at ransom *Your critical data gets encrypted so that you cannot access files, applications, and databases Ransomware is a malicious software which blocks access to a computer system. The hackers give access or the inscription key in lieu of money. In April, Oil India reportedly suffered a cyber-attack that disrupted its operations in Assam. The PSU major had also received a ransom demand of over USD 75,000,00 from the hackers who had asked for the equivalent amount in bitcoins. In the subsequent police complaint, an OIL official said that the company and the government exchequer had incurred a huge financial loss due to the ransomware. And this seems to be the tip of the iceberg. Cybersecurity firm Sophos said in a recent report that around 78 per cent of Indian organisations that were surveyed had been hit by ransomware in 2021. The survey examined the impact of ransomware on 5,600 mid-sized organisations in 31 countries. This included 300 organisations from India. And it found that in 2021, 78 per cent of Indian organisations that had their data encrypted due to ransomware ended up paying the ransom. This was the highest rate of ransom payment reported across all 31 countries surveyed. According to the survey, 48 per cent of Indian companies paid less than 5,000 dollars as ransom in response to ransomware attacks. Meanwhile, 10 per cent paid 1 million dollars or more. In fact, three companies in the survey admitted to paying a ransom of 10 million dollars or more to hackers to get their data back. According to research from Unit 42 by Palo Alto Networks, ransomware payments hit new records in 2021. India saw a 218 per cent jump in ransomware attacks in 2021. The 2022 Unit 42 Ransomware Threat Report found that India ranks 10th globally with regard to the number of ransomware attacks. In fact, the country ranks second in the Japan and Asia-Pacific region. is well aware of the threat environment it is operating in. According to a survey by PwC, around 80 per cent of Indian organisations are likely to increase their cybersecurity budget in 2022. According to Gartner a technological research and consulting firm based in the US end-user spending on security and risk management in India is forecast to touch 2.6 billion dollars in 2022, which would amount to an increase of 9.4 per cent from 2021. Gartners research has found that there is a significant shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals in the country. As a result, end-user organisations in India often go to security service providers to meet their cybersecurity objectives. Therefore, spending on security services is forecast to be 1 billion dollars in 2022, which is the highest among all segments. This will be followed by spending on network security equipment and infrastructure protection. is going to become an even more target-rich environment for malicious actors owing to the digital leap many firms took due to the pandemic. At the end of the day, a certain percentage of attacks will always slip through, which would still be a large number given the sheer volume of such attacks India faces. As such it's worth asking, should Indian companies continue their habit of caving in to ransomware attacks? Isn't that only going to embolden the malicious actors of the world? WASHINGTON, May 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden will travel to Uvalde, Texas on Sunday in the aftermath of a school mass shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead. Biden and first lady Jill Biden plan to "grieve with the community that lost twenty-one lives in the horrific elementary school shooting," the White House announced on Thursday. The gunman -- identified as 18-year-old Uvalde High School student Salvador Rolando Ramos -- was killed by responding officers. He used two AR-style rifles, both legally purchased, for the attack. "The idea that an 18-year-old kid can walk into a gun store and buy two assault weapons is just wrong," Biden said in a speech from the White House on Tuesday night. He has also called out the influential gun lobby in the United States and urged Congress to pass gun control legislation in the wake of rising firearms-related violence. Senate Republicans have signaled a willingness to talk with Democrats on gun legislation that has long been stalled on Capitol Hill. Students across the United States held walk-outs on Thursday to protest against gun violence and the inaction of politicians. In Rhode Island, students from schools in Providence lay down for three minutes outside the Rhode Island State House, according to a tweet from state lawmaker Tiara Mack. Hundreds of gun control activists gathered on the lawn outside of the northeastern corner of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday to demand action on what they called the "gun violence epidemic." "This is a uniquely American crisis," Moms Demand Action gun control advocacy group founder Shannon Watts said. "Parents across the rest of the developed world kiss their kids goodbye as they head off to school and don't have to give it a second thought, because they don't have 400 million guns flooding their streets, homes, and schools," Watts added. The United States has seen at least 214 mass shootings so far this year, according to an online database that keeps a record of the country's gun violence incidents. More than 17,000 people have died in gun-related episodes across the United States over the past five months, including at least 653 children and teenagers. MEXICO CITY, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and his Argentine counterpart Santiago Cafiero reiterated Thursday that their governments reject the exclusion of any country to regional forums, such as the Ninth Summit of the Americas to be held next month in Los Angeles, the United States. At a press conference on Cafiero's working visit to the Mexican capital, the two foreign ministers asserted the importance of having all countries represented at a meeting that intends to address key regional issues. "The exclusion of any Latin American and Caribbean country should not be accepted or promoted," Ebrard said, adding that all foreign ministers with whom he has spoken to during the convening and preparation for the event are of the same opinion. Cafiero agreed with his Mexican colleague and stressed that Argentina, as president pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), "has been stressing the need for no exclusions," and for "all voices to be heard and all countries to participate in the summit." "CELAC is a forum without exclusions," the Argentine official said, adding that this diversity "is the strength we have found all these years to continue with a model of integration based on respect for others and the understanding that others may think differently." Mexico and Argentina have been advocating that all countries be invited since it became known last month that the United States intended to exclude Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, leading Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to rule out attending if the exclusions are carried out. Photo: Contributed Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola MP Dan Albas This week is a non-sitting week for the House of Commons, allowing MPs to be back in their ridings to meet with, and hear the concerns of, local residents. One of the challenges of public office is, while some concerns may fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of local, provincial or the federal government, other concerns overlap and fall under several jurisdictions. I raise this point because one serious concern I am hearing about from many communities in our region is prolific criminals and what many are calling our catch and release justice system. Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran, as well as Kelowna-West MLA Ben Stewart, have met with me to share information and convey concerns, as have many residents who seek answers to what remains a thorny issue. In almost every community, there is a small but very well-known group of offenders who commit serious crimes on a habitual basis. A recent news article from one community summarized the situation well: A judge granted a prolific offender bail in court on Wednesday afternoon, giving him one more chance to abide by his conditions after being arrested multiple times for allegedly failing to meet them. The offender in question is reported to already have 60 convictions over the past decade. The police are also extremely frustrated. In some situations, these criminals will commit crimes within hours of being released while they await trial. When you hear from victims, it is devastating. One mobility challenged senior had her motorized scooter stolen from a secure underground garage. It was not insured and she cannot afford to replace it. The senior has now become house bound and her quality of life has deteriorated immensely. The person (believed to be) responsible was caught, charged and immediately released and is again (believed to be) committing crimes within the community. At the provincial level, the B.C. government has admitted it is aware this is a serious problem but have no ideas about how to resolve it. Attorney General David Eby has announced the government will hire two experts to come up with ideas about how to take action on this serious problem. Fortunately, in our Conservative Opposition caucus, we have a new MP with significant experience in this area. Frank Caputo, MP for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, is a former Crown prosecutor with experience in corrections, who also served as a law professor at Thompson Rivers University. He recently tabled Private Members Bill C-274. When he introduced the bill, he noted roughly 5% of offenders commit 90% of the crimes that use police resources. Many of these criminals commit these crimes while awaiting trial for other crimes. Bill C-274 proposes to create a presumptive detention for criminals accused of three or more indictable offences with a maximum penalty of five years or more. This would not be a mandatory requirement, however, it would allow judges more discretion to keep serious criminals in jail where they cannot continue to re-offend. If a judge felt there was an exceptional reason or circumstance for a habitual offender to be released, they would still have the discretion to release the person. This bill will not resolve all of the challenges our local communities face with crime, but it most certainly could assist local law enforcement in dealing with serious, re-offending criminals. I was proud to second Bill C-274. My question this week: Do you support this proposed legislation? I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll free 1-800-665-8711 This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. Photo: Glacier Media B.C.s Court of Appeal has rejected a womans appeal saying she had an elaborately concocted alibi and failed to provide evidence of medical conditions she claimed. Linnea Louise Labbee, 74, was convicted of having control of a vehicle involved in an accident with another person and with the intent to escape liability, failing to stop her vehicle, give her name and address, and offer assistance, knowing that bodily harm was caused to the person and reckless as to whether death ensued. The May 4 ruling, released May 25, said Labbee was driving her pickup truck in Chilliwack under the speed limit when she hit and killed 73-year-old Fourghozaman Firoozian in a crosswalk. After striking and driving over top of the victim, Ms. Labbee pulled her truck over and stopped, the ruling said. She looked back at Ms. Firoozian lying motionless on the ground, but after a moment sped away and drove straight to a nearby mall. The court said that Labbee falsely claimed that she had been at the mall all day and suggested that her truck had been stolen from the parking lot by a woman who panhandled at the mall. She represented herself at trial. Then, the court said, Labbee maintained the false alibi in the several years leading up to trial and forged letters from fictional witnesses and a bank manager to support it. In the letters, Ms. Labbee continued to put the blame on someone else and falsely accused the police of serious misconduct, the court said. She was sentenced to two years less a day in jail, followed by two years probation. The sentencing judge noted Labbees past, including four years without a licence, a conviction for contempt of court and several convictions for dishonest behaviour. In her appeal, Labbee claimed the court relied on her attempts to mislead as a significant aggravating factor and failed to give sufficient weight to her health issues. She contended the sentence was unfit and should be replaced with a conditional sentence order or nine months of incarceration. The appeal court said it was the obstructionist behaviour following the offence and during the police investigation that the sentencing judge considered aggravating. As for health conditions, the appeal court said Labbee provided no independent evidence of her medical conditions, despite the judge strongly suggesting that she do so. But, the appeal court said, the judge nonetheless accepted Labbee had health issues and that jail would not be easy for her. Further, the judge found the medical issues could be accommodated in prison and, more importantly, expressly took those issues into account in determining a sentence. Photo: APD Homicide investigators have been called after an assault turned deadly in Abbotsford. Police say they were called to the parking lot of a large shopping mall in central Abbotsford about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. An unnamed man was found with life-threatening injuries and was treated in hospital but died a short time later. The police statement says "individuals suspected to be involved" in the death are in custody. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is taking over the case. Abbotsford Police say that team will provide any further updates and anyone with information, dashcam or surveillance video should contact homicide detectives. Photo: The Canadian Press British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. The British foreign secretary has often been mocked for her preoccupation with cheese. It started eight years ago when Liz Truss expressed outrage in a speech to her partys annual conference. We import two thirds of our cheese, she raged. That is a disgrace. Now Truss is facing another battle over cheese, this time with Canada. Britain wants greater access to Canadian markets for more than 700 varieties of cheese including Stilton, Cheshire, and Wensleydale, a crumbly variety originating from Yorkshire. But Ottawa has made it clear it does not want to see more British cheddar, let alone artisan varieties such as stinking bishop, renegade monk and Hereford hop, on Canadian fridge shelves. During the first round of negotiations of the U.K.-Canada trade deal, Canada told Britain that a larger quota for British cheese is not on the negotiating table. When it was a European Union member, Britain was part of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Canada, giving it some access to Canada's cheese market. After the U.K. left the EU, a continuity agreement with Canada was swiftly put in place to maintain the CETA arrangement until a bilateral trade deal could be struck. Ralph Goodale, Canadas high commissioner to the U.K., said if Britain wants more access to Canadian markets for its cheese as part of a bilateral free-trade agreement, it will have to knock on Brussels door and get its part of the dairy quota back. The point is we have already provided that volume in the EU deal and the British left it there without taking it with them," he said in an interview. "Thats an issue they need to resolve with the Europeans because the Europeans have their quota. Goodale said the U.K.s request for extra access for British cheese on top of the access given to the EU is what the Canadian negotiators consider to be pretty much a dead end. You are talking about a double concession one we have already made to the EU and the request is being made by the U.K. for yet another one on top of that, he said. The high commissioner said Canada values its trading relationship with the U.K., adding that he is confident that a mutually-beneficial trade deal will be reached. But if Canada allows the British to export more of their cheese it would involve a major commitment of compensation to dairy producers" in Canada to make up for lost incomes. In 2018, after the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement gave the U.S. fresh access to the Canadian dairy market, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would compensate Canadian dairy farmers. Canadas dairy industry was worth over $7 billion in 2020, according to the Canadian Dairy Commissions annual report. There are over 10,000 dairy farms in Canada most of them in Quebec and Ontario with an average of 92 cows per farm, it said. Until at least the end of next year, Britain will be able to keep exporting its cheese to Canada under the trade continuity agreement, the U.K.s trade department said. This allows U.K. cheese exporters to access the Canadian market tariff-free under the EU portion of Canadas World Trade Organization cheese tariff rate quota. As part of the 1995 WTO agreement on agriculture, Canada established tariff rate quotas for cheese and other dairy products. The quotas set out quantities of dairy that could enter Canada with little or no duty. For Britain, a fully fledged free trade deal with Canada is crucial after Brexit left it looking for fresh tariff-free markets. We want to negotiate an ambitious and comprehensive new agreement with Canada that will strengthen our close and historic bilateral trade relationship, said a U.K. government trade spokesman in a statement, adding the relationship was worth about $34.5 billion in 2021. In March, U.K. Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan flew to Canada to announce with Canadas Trade Minister Mary Ng that bilateral negotiations had officially begun. As a sign of how seriously Downing Street is treating the trade talks, on Thursday Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed Maria Miller, a senior Tory MP, former culture secretary and women and equalities minister, as his new trade envoy to Canada. In a speech in the House of Lords in London earlier this month, Goodale reported on progress in the talks, saying that both sides are optimistic that, as good as CETA and the continuity agreement were, we can do better still when Canada and the U.K. negotiate a deal face-to-face, directly with each other. Like Goodale, Ng said Canada is confident a free-trade deal with Britain will be reached, enhancing co-operation in a number of areas, including on renewables, sustainability and the digital economy. Canada values the relationship with the United Kingdom. They are an important trading partner and a trade agreement with the U.K. will be very good for Canadian businesses, she said in a phone interview from Thailand last weekend. But she was also firm about the need to protect Canadas dairy producers, and that means keeping more British cheese out. I have been very clear, our government has been very clear, that we will not provide access to our supply-managed sector, she said. We have been clear about that from the get-go. The Canadian dairy sector now produces 1,450 varieties of cheese, including ewe, goat and buffalo varieties, as well as the cheese curds used in the Quebecois dish poutine. At least half of Canadas cheese is made in Quebec, which is home to a number of artisan varieties including bleu lermite, or blue hermit, and Oka, a popular semi-soft rind cheese. Pierre Lampron, president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, has made it clear he will fiercely protect Canadian cheese from British interlopers. Lampron said he had validated that the issue of access to the Canadian dairy market was not on the agenda of these trade talks. Canada's protectionist stance toward its dairy industry may have pleased farmers. But it has caused some tension with close allies. Earlier this month, New Zealand launched a formal trade dispute against Canada, accusing the federal government of breaking promises to give access for dairy imports under the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. The Biden administration also recently said it was asking for a second dispute settlement panel under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to review a trade dispute with Canada over dairy import quotas. Photo: GoFundMe A man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his three-year-old daughter. Frank Nausigimana, who is 29, was arrested in Winnipeg last July in the death of his daughter Jemimah. He was initially charged with first-degree murder. Police have said the girl was abducted from her mother at knifepoint. She was found a short time later with stab wounds. Nausigimana is hearing impaired and an American Sign Language interpreter translated the court proceeding. Photo: The Canadian Press Tens of thousands of Ontario residents are facing another day without power as restoration efforts continue following a vicious weekend storm. Environment Canada said a derecho a rare widespread windstorm associated with a line of thunderstorms developed near Sarnia, Ont., on Saturday and moved northeastward across the province. Hydro One says about 68,800 customers are still in the dark, with those in the Bancroft, Perth and Tweed regions expected to be without power for several days. Hydro Ottawa says some 45,000 customers are still without power but most are expected to have service restored by Friday. At least 10 people died after Saturdays storm, which toppled trees, downed power lines and damaged property. Peterborough is the latest community in Ontario to declare a state of emergency after the storm hit on Saturday. Residents in the area are being asked to avoid unnecessary travel to make it easier for emergency services to respond to calls for assistance with downed trees and power lines. The communities of Uxbridge, Ont., east of Toronto, as well as the Township of Greater Madawaska, and Clarence-Rockland also declared states of emergency. Photo: Craigslist People continue to post ads offering to hold space in Metro Vancouver passport lines weeks after exasperated locals shared photos of gargantuan lines snaking around Service Canada offices. As travel opens up around the world, Canadians have flooded Service Canada with requests for passports. The agency has processed nearly 1.3 million passports between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022 a sharp increase from the roughly 360,000 passports processed over the previous fiscal year. Metro Vancouverites continue to face long waits at passport offices, with many of them being turned away after waiting upwards of eight hours. Lauren Skinner writes on Twitter that she was sent home after waiting for eight-and-a-half hours with an 8-month-old baby. She was told to come back the following day and that the lineup started at 6 p.m. in the evening, not in the morning. In response, one man quips, "Like people camp out overnight? Does a passport come with the latest iPhone and Ariana Grande tickets?!" Sharon Stewart took to the social media platform after she was issued an $80 parking ticket from Concord Pacific while waiting in line for a passport at Central City in Surrey. In early May, ads for "passport line holders" started popping up in online forums such as Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist Vancouver, and via personal websites. For many people, waiting in a long line for several hours is either impossible given their schedule or simply a frustrating inconvenience. Some of these individuals were desperate for an alternative to waiting all day long, which has prompted several individuals to offer to wait on their behalf for a price. One of the most striking listings was asking a whopping $800 for an overnight waiting service at Sinclair Centre in downtown Vancouver. The seller's posting is still up on Facebook Marketplace. Andrea Steinke writes: "If you dont have an appointment to get your passport you need to be lining up at night to get your passport. But if youre not up for it (understandably so), I will keep your place in the line for you so you can show up at 8:30 am and sleep the night!" Other postings offer similar services, with prices ranging from $20 an hour to $360 for "a night to wait in line from 9:00 p.m. [to] 5:30 a.m." Service Canada says it has seen a big boost in demand for passport renewals, which has made for long lineups and longer waits for documents. The federal agency aims to process passports within 20 business days for mail-in applications, but right now the wait is averaging 26 days. About 72 per cent of applications are processed on time, but some are taking much longer. I heard about the (latest) Texas (school) shooting on a Kelowna rock radio station. The DJ made a passionate plea for gun control in the U.S. When I got home I started refreshing my mind with regard to the 1994 U.S. ban on assault weapons and just how that legislation was overturned. Under (former U.S. president Bill) Clinton, it prohibited the manufacture or sale for civilian use of certain semi-automatic weapons. The act also banned magazines that could accommodate 10 rounds or more. Commonly known as the Assault Weapons Ban, the legislation was enacted in part as a reaction to a schoolyard shooting in Stockton, California where five small children were killed and 28 others wounded. Soon thereafter, another mass shooting took place at a law firm in San Fransisco. Certain concessions were made to appease the Republican men and women in congress in order to push the act through. Sponsors accepted a "sunset provision, by which the 1994 ban would automatically expire after 10 years unless renewed by a vote of Congress. Thanks to the fact that the Republicans controlled both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives at the time, the bill was shot down in 2004. Ironically one reason for this was that after 9/11 the U.S. electorate had more extreme protectionist priorities it is said. So yes, I am saying there is a good chance yesterday's tragedy, amongst others, are a result of direct action taken by the GOP and the National Rifle Association (NRA) to overturn th e assault weapons ban. So how did this play out in Canada? After Canada's Liberal government took the bold, but correct, stance not to partake in the "War for Oil ' in Iraq, the country elected the uber-right, evangelically minded (Conservative) Stephen Harper, who was, as the leader of the Opposition, almost fanatically in favour of Canada's involvement in the war. Firearms flooded into Canada after Harpers Conservative government dismantled the federal long gun registry in 2012nearly two million rifles, shotguns and handguns were imported for retail sale across the country over just five years, federal records show. The surge of firearms, with a total import value of $751 million, rose 79% in Canada during that time period. That included numerous semi-automatic models between 2014 and 2018, until the Liberals were re-elected (to government) and started a campaign to stop those imports. Since then, there have been multiple demonstrations across Canada by pro-gun organizations citing freedom (concerns). Currently there are a reported 300 million to 400 million firearms owned by private citizens in the U.S. (between 30million and 40 million being of the assault variety). In Canada, there are currently more than 100,000 restricted firearms among the models that are now prohibited. This number does not include other newly-prohibited models that were not subject to registration requirements, according to the Canada governments website. Ian Skinner Photo: Dan Toulgoet Former Vision Vancouver school board trustee Ken Clement has been charged with obtaining for consideration the sexual services of a person under the age of 18 years. The lawyer for a former Vancouver school trustee charged with communicating for sexual services of a person under the age of 18 is concerned about the length of time the case is taking. Former Vision Vancouver trustee Kenneth Joseph Clement is one of seven men charged in an underage sex sting about people allegedly targeting underage girls between the ages of 15 and 17. Clements lawyer Sarah Rauch appeared before justice of the peace Matthew Fong on May 26. It was the 20th appearance in the case, now set to return to court in October. The first appearance, court records show, was July 24, 2020. It was initially set for trial April 19, 2021, then Sept. 13 of the same year. Since then, there have been multiple appearances. Im concerned for the length of time for continuations, Rauch told Fong. Rauch also wanted assurance a police officer would be appearing. Crown prosecutor Chris Johnson said the officer has been notified of their need to appear in court. Vancouver Police Department deputy chief constable Laurence Rankin said at the time of the arrest in 2019 that an investigation began in June 2018 and ended that November. According to court records, the offence related to Clement took place on June 27, 2018. Clement was announced as a Vision candidate on June 20 of that year and dropped out of the race the following week. At the time, Vision spokesperson Michael Haack said Clement was not running in the upcoming election race due to health reasons. Clement was the first municipal official of First Nations descent in Vancouvers history when elected to the school board in 2008. None of the allegations have been proven in court. Photo: Google Earth Homes built on Eastridge Road in North Vancouver's Deep Cove neighbourhood sit atop a steep cliff. The BC Human Rights Tribunal has ordered a local strata to build a tram for a senior with disabilities A Deep Cove strata has been ordered to install a hillside tram to assist a senior resident who has been housebound for more than two years. Gerald Testar, 84, took his Eastridge Road strata to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, arguing their refusal to install a tram amounted to discrimination on the basis of disability. Testars home is unique in the four-lot North Vancouver subdivision in that it is landlocked at the bottom of seven flights of stairs, containing 102 steps, connecting it to the parking lot, according to a tribunal ruling released May 18. With numerous heart and lung ailments, vertigo, and arthritis in his knee and ankle, Testar found it was no longer safe to go up and down the stairs. His last outing was for a family visit in December 2019. The following month, he formally requested the strata install a tram from a company he had chosen. But the strata members opposed the installation of the tram running through common property, arguing it would negatively impact the property and that it wasnt a reasonable request. The strata asserted that a commercial-grade tram available to all residents would be required on the common property and the company Testar had chosen would not meet those requirements. Instead, the council proposed a series of workarounds, including more ramps and places to sit, or a powered chairlift added to the existing stairs. Apart from the costs, neighbours within the strata testified the tram would be noisy and impact the look of their property, as well as diminish views and create potential encroachments on their lots, the ruling shows. In January 2021, the strata voted to accommodate Testar with a chairlift system, which would result in a $17,500 levy for each strata owner. But the chairlift option would be too difficult to get into and out of, Testar argued, and too slow, exposing him to the elements. The chairlift would require a trained operator and, not only would it be impossible for him to use in a medical emergency, it may impede first responders from carrying him up the stairs. He also argued that there was no confirmation the staircase itself would be safe or feasible to have a chairlift installed because an inspection commissioned by the strata found the staircase was built without a permit and did not meet current code, the ruling states. The tram could accommodate up to four people and make the trip in about 90 seconds, the ruling notes. The most recent quote for a tram came in at more than $151,000. Testar proposed they go ahead with the tram option and offered to pay any costs above the $17,500 per owner levy, and indemnify the strata for any insurance and maintenance costs. The strata never responded to the offer, and the sides were at an impasse when Testar filed a B.C. Human Rights Tribunal complaint. During the tribunals hearings, Testar illustrated how the stratas decisions had impacted him. I look out the window and I can't go shopping. I lack access to the meaning of the world out there. My wife Coralee had a stroke in the hospital and I am not able to visit her at all. I have lost my connection to community, he testified. I feel isolated and I fight depression on a daily basis. I like to interact with people in the community. I like to shop. I have to rely on family to take out the garbage. I do not have any independence. In her ruling, tribunal member Amber Prince said there was no question Testar would be considered disabled under the law, and that the strata had a duty to accommodate him. The plan to install a chairlift was inadequate, she found, for all the reasons Testar argued. Princes order gives the strata six months to make all reasonable efforts to approve and build the tram that Mr. Tester seeks as soon as reasonably possible. Prince also ordered the strata to pay Testar $35,000 as compensation for injury to his dignity, feelings and self-respect, acknowledging that the strata took a resistant and inflexible approach, leaving Testar essentially a prisoner in his own home. In the context of Mr. Testars age, progressive health conditions and limitations, the nature of the discrimination is serious, and has had a significant impact on Mr. Testar, she wrote, adding later: No one should have to spend their golden years fighting with their strata to have their accommodation needs met. Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan is surrounded by another controversy as a complaint has been lodged against him by a member of the Assembly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the country's anti-corruption bureau for allegedly using the province's resources for personal use. Sobia Shah has lodged a complaint against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan with the NAB's (National Accountability Bureau) KP region. According to the complaint, "Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi is involved in blatantly misusing resources of the Government of KP, including use of official helicopter of the KP Chief Minister for personal purposes, thus causing huge losses to the government exchequer, which is an offence under the relevant provisions of NAO, 1999, reported Dawn. The complainant said that any other additional documentary evidence of Imran Khan using the KP resources will be produced in due course of time if needed. The former PM is already facing a NAB case on the same charges levelled in 2018 and had appeared before NAB at its KP office, as per the media portal. Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz on Friday slammed the ousted Prime Minister while shedding light on the alleged corruption charges against former first lady Bushra Bibi's friend Farah Khan and said that the PTI's "so-called independence march" is actually a "save Gogi" march. "Farah Gogi's corruption trails lead to Bani Gala. It's unfortunate that Imran Khan never publically tried saving his sister Aleema Khan when there were allegations hurled against her, but he came to Gogi's rescue while speaking on national TV," she said. As per sources, the Pakistan authorities will check the banking records of ousted Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan from the year 2013 to 2022 in lieu of foreign funding. They added that Imran Khan's party, PTI were provided with a huge sum of money. The records will hence disclose how much money Imran Khan borrowed and from whom. (ANI) Algerian port exports record clinker levels in 4M22 26 May 2022 The port company of Skikda in Algeria has exceeded its annual clinker export target set at 274,907t, by exporting more than 325,000t in the first four months of the year, according to Abdelmalek Hamidecha, the company's communication and information officer. The increase in clinker exports at the port has been enabled through facilitation measures taken to encourage and support economic operators and promote exports. The clinker was exported from the port to Germany, France, Great Britain, Senegal, Nigeria and Mexico. Mr Hamidecha added that this quantity of clinker was exported by four operators, including the Groupe Industriel des Ciments d'Algerie (GICA) and the Lafarge Algerie, adding that four quays are dedicated for clinker exports at Skikda. He also announced the forthcoming acquisition of a new large-format crane with a lifting capacity of 2000tph, the cost of which is estimated at EUR3.393m, in order to facilitate the clinker lifting operation. Published under Unprecedented happy life enjoyed by people of all ethnic groups represents biggest human rights success in Xinjiang 09:00, May 26, 2022 By He Yin ( People's Daily By creating an unprecedented happy life for people of all ethnic groups and enabling them to enjoy stability, security, development and progress, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has made its most important achievement in respecting and protecting human rights. Tourists buy flowers at a flower industrial park in Fengqing township, Beitun city, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, May 3, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/ Li Haiting) During the 12th China Tourism Day celebrated across the country on May 19, various thematic activities were held in Xinjiang, making the culture and tourism brand, Xinjiang is a Wonderful Land, more attractive. The exuberant vitality and increasingly prominent role of Xinjiangs tourism industry in driving economic and social development have reflected the regions progress in human rights development to a certain extent. Over the past more than six decades since the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the regions GDP has expanded 160 times, its per capita regional GDP has grown 30 times, while its Uygur population has increased from 2.2 million to about 12 million and its residents average life expectancy has climbed from 30 years to 74.7 years. There is one mosque for every 530 Muslims in Xinjiang. The ratio is higher than that in many Western countries and Islamic countries. Since December 2018, more than 2,000 people from all walks of life in more than 100 countries have visited Xinjiang and witnessed the regions achievements in development, including social stability, economic prosperity, as well as ethnic unity and harmony. Sonia Bresley, a French writer and expert on China, has visited Xinjiang many times and written multiple monographs on the region. She pointed out that it is because of the Chinese governments policies on ethnic groups and for the governance of Xinjiang that the vast region with a good number of ethnic groups has realized tremendous economic development, continuously improved local peoples living standards and heightened their sense of happiness. The right to development is an inalienable human right. In Xinjiang, people of various ethnic groups have shaken off poverty, sought prosperity through hard work, and enjoyed an increasingly strong sense of gain, happiness and security, which is the best proof of human rights development. Villagers of Nantougong village, Sangong township, Changji city, Changji Hui autonomous prefecture, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, sing and dance joyously to celebrate Eid al-Fitr festival which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, May 3, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Liang Hongtao) Due to natural and historical reasons, Xinjiang used to be one of the main battlefields and key regions in Chinas fight against poverty. Through painstaking efforts, the region eradicated extreme poverty and won the battle against poverty through the strategy of targeted poverty alleviation at the end of 2020. The region has lifted all its nearly 3.06 million rural residents living below the current poverty line in China out of poverty and removed all its 3,666 poor villages and 35 poor counties from the poverty list, bringing about a historic solution to the problem of absolute poverty. Personages from many countries have spoken positively of Xinjiangs achievements in human rights protection, praised Chinas people-centered development philosophy and efforts to promote human rights through development, and believe that Chinas remarkable achievements in human rights development have also contributed to global human rights progress. Social stability is an important guarantee of the realization of human rights. Xinjiang has suffered from the combined impact of ethnic separatists, religious extremists, and violent terrorists, and been plagued by frequent terrorist attacks, which have severely jeopardized the safety of the lives and property of people of various ethnic groups and posed serious threats to peoples basic human rights, including the rights to life, health, and development. In an effort to protect people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang from terrorist acts, China has carried out anti-terrorism and de-radicalization struggle in the region in accordance with the law, guaranteeing the peoples basic human rights to the greatest possible extent. Since the end of 2016, there have been no violent terrorist cases and incidents in Xinjiang for over five consecutive years. In addition, the infiltration of extremism has been effectively curbed, and the right to life of people of all ethnic groups in the region has been fully guaranteed. Photo taken on May 13, 2022 shows workers installing a road sign with a crane at the K039 section of the third desert highway in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The highway linking Yuli county and Qiemo county in Bayingolin Mongolian autonomous prefecture, Xinjiang, is expected to open to traffic at the end of June. (Peoples Daily Online/Li Fei) All foreigners who have visited Xinjiang and adopted an impartial and objective attitude toward China believe that Xinjiangs experience in anti-terrorism and de-radicalization is worth learning from by the international community. Ignoring the remarkable achievements Xinjiang has made in human rights development, some politicians in Western countries including the U.S. have cooked up and spread lies about Xinjiang to vilify Chinas governance of the region, misrepresent the regions human rights situation, and seek excuse for abusive unilateral sanctions. By despicably confusing right and wrong, these politicians have politicized human rights issues and used them as a tool, affronting and contaminating global human rights cause. Scholars and media outlets in many countries have published articles to share true stories of Xinjiang. They revealed that by concocting lies about Xinjiang, certain Western politicians have intended to contain China and sabotage Xinjiangs ethnic unity, stability, and development. Last year, representatives of nearly 100 countries voiced support for Chinas legitimate position on Xinjiang-related issues in ways including making joint speech and individual speech and sending letters, at meetings of the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Third Committee of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The voices of justice have fully proven that justice naturally inhabits mans heart. Xinjiang is in the best period for development in its history, and is constantly scoring new achievements in human rights development. Looking forward, the more than 25 million people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang and their compatriots in the rest of the country are bound to embrace a better future, jointly create a new chapter of Chinas human rights cause, and promote the sound development of global human rights cause. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. A man on 15th Avenue told police that his son had shown up to his home just prior to calling and was highly intoxicated. The man said he wished for both his son, as well as his girlfriend, to leave his residence due to their actions and levels of intoxication. He told police that at this time, due to the thunderstorms currently passing through the area, he did not have any issues with the girlfriend staying on his porch until the weather cleared and she could arrange for a ride. He also did not have issues with his son staying on his property until the weather cleared. At this time all of them have separated and no further verbal disorder was taking place. * * * A man on Frosty Pine Trail told police that sometime in the past week someone stole his Trek bicycle off the patio of his apartment. He said it is dark gray with the Trek logo, 28-inch wheels and 18 speeds. He says he will attempt to locate the serial number and call back with that information. * * * A man told police his bike was near the Chattanooga Choo Choo, 1400 Market St., when a man jumped on the bike and road off. He said the man headed south on his bike. Police drove through the area and could not locate the suspect. * * * Police were called to have a woman move along as she was loitering at the Walmart, 2020 Gunbarrel Road. After police spoke with her, the woman left the area. * * * A security guard at EPB, 1350 E 8th St., called police about a black male that he asked to leave the property. He said the man picked up a stick, walked away from the property, and said he was going to kill someone. The security guard said it was not directed towards him, but he just wanted the man checked on. Officers checked the area, but did not locate the man. * * * A man told police that sometime overnight someone broke into the company trailer at his work site, 1394 Workman Road, and stole a hammer drill ($250) and a battery caulk gun ($300). The property is owned by Chattanooga Floor Care. * * * A man on 15th Avenue told police that sometime overnight someone stole the catalytic converter ($2,500) off of his 2008 Honda CRV. There is no suspect information available. * * * A woman told police she last had her wallet at the Speedway, 2245 Hickory Valley Road, between 8:20-9:45 p.m. She said when she returned, her wallet was gone. Lost were the wallet (worth $30), miscellaneous IDs and $580 in cash. * * * A man on Olive Street called police to report fraudulent use of his debit card. He told police that he was in the hospital when he gave a woman his card to go pay his hospital bill. The man claims that the woman went to an ATM and withdrew approximately $1,000 from his First Horizon Bank account. While police were asking the man questions in relation to the incident, he hung up the phone. Police called the man back three times, but he would not answer the phone. * * * The front desk employee at Best Western, 7641 Lee Hwy., told police that over the past few years they have had issues with a woman who comes onto the property and scams people out of their money with sob stories. The woman was seen leaving in a Toyota Corolla, which is registered to her. The woman was also seen on camera. The employee wants police to trespass her if contact is made. The woman is a suspect of multiple scam reports. * * * A lady at a business at 3662 Tanaka Trail told police a tree broke and fell on several cars in the parking area, causing damage to all three vehicles. Police canvassed the area to confirm that those were the only cars damaged. The woman was given a report number to file a claim with her insurance company. * * * A man on E. 11th Street told police that his son was at his apartment knocking on his door and disturbing him. He said his son is not welcome at his residence and has previously been trespassed from there. He said the son had not made entrance into his residence, and was only banging on his door. The son was no longer there upon police arrival. * * * A suspicious person was reported at the Mapco, 2727 Rossville Blvd. The night shift manager told police that a black male was repeatedly panhandling customers there. Upon arrival, police spoke with the man and identified him. Police told the man that he cannot panhandle at this location and that he needed to leave. The man acknowledged what was told him and police observed him leave the Mapco. * * * A woman on W. 14th Street Court told police that sometime while she was away on vacation someone vandalized her Ford Focus by breaking the windshield and breaking the door handle ($1,000 damage). There is no suspect information. * * * A disorder was reported at the Raceway at 2528 Broad St. The manager told police that an older white male, later positively identified by police, was outside of the Raceway yelling and hanging out by the ATM. The manager said this was disturbing the business and she asked the man to leave. She said the man was refusing to leave. She wanted police to have the man trespassed. Police spoke with the man and he was formally notified he was trespassed from the Raceway and no longer allowed on the property. The manager was provided the report number to reference in the event the man were to return to the property. During my Morning Readings one day last week I came across an essay that appeared in the Epoch Times on October 27, 2020 entitled The Mans Pledge. It is one of many stories from the newspapers readers to its Dear Next Generation where the idea is to plant well, figuratively take a seed pod from an older tree and nurture a seedling that will grow into a new tree. The story was written by a man named Richard Schlatter in Michigan. It is a tale he first shared with his granddaughter and later developed into a childrens book. I hope youll relish this as much as I did: * * * THE OLE MANS PLEDGE (Written by Richard Schlatter for The Epoch Times, Oct. 27,2020) No matter how old we are, life teaches us new lessons every day. I am 76 and still learning. Just a few years ago, while in my 60s, I learned an important life lesson that I shared with my then 5-year-old granddaughter, and now I would like to share it in this column. Many years ago, we purchased the home we still live in today. The only tree in the backyard was a small maple tree, close to the patio. I wished the tree were bigger so it would give more shade. As the years went by, the tree got bigger and I got older. I eventually added a three-seasons room over the patio and built a deck near the tree. I added plantings, including a small pond with a waterfall, under the tree. At night, I illuminated the tree with a spotlight. I really loved that tree. It was like we were friends. However, even though the tree was now big and covered my deck and yard with shade during the hot summer, it also covered my roof with seed pods in the spring, which caused my gutters to clog up. As I got older, it became more of a problem every year. Then one spring, frustrated with clogged gutters and my roof covered with seed pods, in a snap decision, I called a tree service company and had the tree cut down. Within a few short hours, all that was left was a big stump. I walked over to the stump and sat down on it. As I sat there in the hot sun, I thought about the many years we spent together. I thought about the cool shade it provided, but now the shade was gone. I thought about the home the tree provided for songbirds like cardinals and chickadees. I thought about the beautiful color the tree displayed in the fall. I felt really sad, like I had just lost my best friend. I thought, Even though the tree annoyed me in the spring by shedding its seed pods, why did I get rid of such a good friend with so many good qualities? What if my friends cut me down or got rid of me because I had a bad habit? I felt sick. My friend, the maple tree, was gone. I realized that it took a lifetime to build a friendship, but one bad decision ended that friendship forever. As I sat there on the stump, I looked down at the ground and saw a few seed pods from the tree on the ground. Then I got an idea. I picked one up, and planted it in a small pot of dirt. Within months, a small seedling the small tree in my seedling began to grow. The following spring, I planted the small tree in my backyard, not far from where the old maple tree once stood. I knew that I would never enjoy its shade, but hoped that the next owner of my house would not only enjoy its shade, but its color in the fall and the sweet sounds of the songbirds perched on its branches. This event in my life taught me three important lessons. First, it takes a long time to develop a friendship. Treat your friends with respect and never do or say anything hurtful, because you might lose your friend forever. Second, think first before taking action. Dont act in haste or out of frustration. There were other solutions to my seed-pod problemlike adding gutter guardsbut I didnt think it through. And finally, we are all stewards of the earth. If we cut down a tree, its important to plant a new one. After sharing my story with my granddaughter, I was inspired to write and illustrate a childrens book, The Old Man and The Tree. Over the past several years, I have visited thousands of second-grade students in classrooms all over Michigan, reading my story. At the end of each presentation, I give each child an autographed copy of my book. However, before they get a book, I ask them to recite the Old Mans Pledge with me: I promise to never cut down my friends. Richard Schlatter Michigan ---- royexum@aol.com The Chattanooga Fire Department responded to a duplex fire in the 4700 block of Murray Lake Lane off Highway 58 Wednesday afternoon. Quint 6, Squad 7, Ladder 7, Engine 4, Quint 8, Squad 19, Battalion 2 and Battalion 3 (Red Shift) responded at 5:13 p.m. Fire companies arrived on scene and saw fire and smoke coming from the structure. The incident commander, Lieutenant Julius Hubbard, had crews initiate an interior fire attack and primary search. Occupants from the B side apartment had already exited the structure when firefighters arrived on scene. Crews had the fire out within 15 minutes. The occupants of Apartment A were not home at the time of the fire. There were no injuries and the cause is under investigation. Squad 7 personnel saved one dog during firefighting operations. The Signal Mountain Police and Fire Departments are hosting an Open House on Saturday, June 11 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1111 Ridgeway Ave. "Sparky the Fire Dog will be returning and well also have the crash test dummies visiting," officials said. Informational demos will be scheduled, such as the residential sprinkler demo and an extrication demo. Other activities include a fire extinguisher prop, drones, seat belt demonstrator ride, driving simulators and an impairment driving course. Police cars and fire trucks will be on display and tours of the facility will be available. There will be photo opportunities, give-away items for the kids and food trucks will be there as well. "Come out and meet your law enforcement officers and firefighters and learn more about what they do on a daily basis to keep our community safe," officials said. "We hope to see everyone there." Governor Brian Kemp announced Thursday that Qcells, a renewable energy solutions provider, will invest $171 million in a new solar module manufacturing facility in Dalton, creating 470 new jobs in Whitfield County. The facility is expected to increase the number of Qcells employees in Georgia to more than 1,000."We are proud that Qcells, like so many other job creators, has chosen to expand its operations here in the No. 1 state for business," said Governor Kemp. "For decades, Georgia and Korea have enjoyed a strong, prosperous relationship.I purposefully chose to visit this great partner on my first economic development trip as governor, and I am thankful that Qcells' facility will ensure Whitfield County remains a hub for manufacturing as we continue to prioritize bringing jobs and opportunity to all parts of our state, including our rural communities.""Qcells is a leader in the world's solar industry, and its parent company Hanwha Group is among the largest business enterprises in South Korea," officials said. "Being one of the biggest solar module manufacturers in the world, Qcells boasted an estimated total annual production capacity of 12.4 gigawatts as of 2021. Qcells currently operates a 1.7-gigawatt solar panel manufacturing facility in Dalton, with more than 750 employees. The facility, which opened in 2019, produces 12,000 panels a day.""We are thrilled to announce additional manufacturing investment in Georgia. Expanding our production capacity in Dalton underscores Qcells strong commitment to the Dalton-Whitfield County region, Georgia, and the U.S. solar market," said Justin Lee, CEO of Qcells. "We are incredibly grateful to Governor Kemp, the State of Georgia and the numerous economic officials supporting this expansion which will provide hundreds of good-paying jobs in Northwest Georgia."The new Qcells facility will be located at 310 Nexus Dr. in Dalton, and ground breaking is expected to begin in fall 2022. The factory is expected to come online as early as the first half of 2023. With its planned 1.4-gigawatts of manufacturing capacity, Qcells total production capacity in the U.S. will exceed three gigawatts equivalent to one-third of U.S. solar module production capacity. The company will be hiring for positions in engineering, finance, production and related functions. Interested individuals can learn more about working at Qcells by searching Qcells, Dalton on www.indeed.com.Energy production from solar increased in the U.S. by 20 percent in 2021. Qcells and Whitfield County citizens contributed to this growth by opening the largest solar factory in North America in 2019, said Jevin Jensen, chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners. We are excited to partner again with Qcells on this major expansion, which will boost our contribution to the growing renewable energy sector and continue to diversify our solid manufacturing base in Whitfield County.Director of Korean Investment Yoonie Kim represented the Georgia Department of Economic Developments Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (Georgia EMC), and Georgia Quick Start.There is no doubt that we are witnessing the rebirth of the solar panel manufacturing industry in the United States, and Qcells is a pioneer in that movement," said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. "In 2019, the company opened their state-of-the-art facility in Dalton, which ultimately became the largest solar panel manufacturing facility in the Western Hemisphere. Today we celebrate not only the successes of the past, but the future that Qcells brings by expanding their footprint in Georgia. Many thanks to Qcells for continuing to invest in Georgia, solidifying our position as a leader in renewable energy job growth. Congratulations and thank you to our partners in Dalton and Whitfield County for creating a business friendly environment that provides companies the support they need to succeed."Since 2009, Georgia has increased net electricity generation from renewable sources by more than 93 percent, and today the states electricity mix consists of nearly 12 percent renewable energy," officials said. "As a Top Ten state for solar, solar PV is the states fastest-growing source of renewable energy. Over three percent of the states electricity now comes from solar power, with enough installed capacity to power 373,248 homes. Georgias energy solutions providers are helping to accelerate the development of renewable energy products by lowering risks, reducing costs, providing access to innovative industry research, and investing in a superior infrastructure network."The Republic of Korea has maintained a consular presence in Georgia since 1971. Mr. Yoonjoo Park has served as consul general since June 2021. The State of Georgia has maintained continuous representation in Korea since 1985 with an office in Seoul." The Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee will hear two election challenges from Hamilton County, including one for the county mayor race, by Zoom on Friday night. Sabrena Smedley is challenging the county mayor contest on grounds of many cross-over votes by Democrats that she said helped Weston Wamp win. The Hamilton County Election Commission has certified Mr. Wamp as the winner. Cindy Fain has also challenged the District 6 School Board race, citing "illegal Democratic crossover voters." Scott Golden, state party chairman, said: The Tennessee Republican Party is now sending to you the procedures and process for the disposition of this primary election contest under Tenn. Code Ann. 2-17-104 (Contest of Primary Elections). To the extent that you have any objections to these procedures, you must express those in writing within 24 hours of my sending of this correspondence. However, the TRP believes the procedures set forth herein are just and fair. 1. It will be noted this is not a legal process. It is a political process to the standards of 2-17-104, which require the State Primary Board to render a decision "which justice and fairness require." See Kurita v. State Primary Bd. of Tennessee Democratic Party, No. 3:08-0948, 2008 WL 4601574, at *4 (M.D. Tenn. Oct. 14, 2008), aff'd, 472 F. App'x 398 (6th Cir. 2012). 2. Neither the contester, nor the contested are required to have legal counsel; but can choose to have legal representation. 3. The disposition of the contest will be open to the public under State Sunshine laws where the press/media will be invited to attend. 4. The Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee will serve as the State Primary Board for the purpose of TCA 2-17-104. The TNGOP Bylaws lays out the rules and procedure under Rule J. 5. A zoom link will be provided and will be available 6. Order of Events: 1. Challenger will have up to 5 minutes to present to the State Primary Board. 2. Challenged will have up to 5 minutes to present a response to the State Primary Board. 3. SEC members, acting as the State Primary Board, will have 10 minutes to ask questions of candidate/counsel and discussion 4. The SEC members, acting as the State Primary Board, will vote. RULE J Contests of a Republican Primary Election This Rule J is adopted pursuant to TCA 2-17-104, as it may be amended from time to time. This Rule is intended to govern the procedure the State Primary Board to hear and determine a primary election contest and make the disposition of the contest which justice and fairness require, including setting aside the election if necessary. Section 1. Upon satisfaction of TCA 2-17-104 (b) a contest shall deem to exist. The State Chairman, who also serves as the Chair of the State Primary Board, shall review the contest and determine if grounds for a contest exist. He shall consult with the legal counsel of the TRP in making this determination. The State Chairman has the authority to dismiss the contest should he determine grounds for a contest do not exist. At a Hamilton County Recovery Court graduation in November 2021, a father, with tears in his eyes, embraced his son in his arms and said, Im just so glad to have my son back. A group of clients was recently surveyed about the best change in their life since they began recovery court, and the response was unanimous: reconnection with family and children. These reconnections, and so many others like them, emanate the reasons why treatment and recovery courts in Tennessee are so important. A courtroom is not a place where one expects to find scenes of celebration and tears of joy; except it happens all the time in Hamilton Countys Recovery Court. This May, treatment courts throughout Tennessee will join the nearly 4,000 such programs nationwide in celebrating National Drug Court Month. In Tennessee alone there are 82 recovery courts. This year more than 150,000 individuals nationwide will receive lifesaving treatment, the chance to repair their lives, reconnect with their families, and find long-term recovery. National Drug Court Month is a celebration of the lives restored by treatment courts, and it sends the powerful message that these programs must be expanded to reach more people in need. More than 30 years ago, drug courts were created with a simple premise: Rather than incarcerate individuals who suffer from substance use disorder to cycle through the justice system at a great expense to the public, use the leverage of the court to keep them engaged in treatment long enough to be successful. Drug court saved my life is an often heard phrase in our program. Today, drug courts and other treatment courts have proven that a combination of accountability and compassion saves lives while also saving valuable resources and reducing exorbitant criminal justice costs. In Hamilton Countys Recovery Court, clients are not only able to work for the first time in years but also able to save for future financial goals like a home or a car. It is not uncommon for parents to be reunited with their children and for children to have their parents present during the holidays instead of visiting them in jail. Recovery Courts help our clients develop and realize goals that they previously thought were impossible to achieve. Many clients make meaning of their recovery journey by training to become Certified Peer Recovery Specialists. Who would have thought that recovery from a lethal disease would lead to a satisfying career of saving lives? Numerous studies have found that treatment courts reduce crime and drug use and save money. They also improve education, employment, housing, financial stability, and family reunification. Treatment courts represent a compassionate approach to the ravages of addiction. For 2022, the Hamilton County Recovery Court is redoubling its efforts and reshaping its approach by expanding its outreach to reach more justice-involved citizens who struggle with substance use disorder, offering evidence-based treatments that cater to this specialized population, and developing new community partnerships to connect our clients with the services of greater Chattanooga area. Kevin Webster, LPC-MHSP, MAC Hamilton County Recovery Court Recovery Court Clinician The Hamilton County Health Department will begin administering Pfizer booster shots to individuals ages 5-11 at all Hamilton County Health clinics beginning on Friday. Per the CDC, individuals 5-11 years of age are now eligible to receive a Pfizer booster shot if it has been a minimum of five months after the second shot in their primary series. A parent or legal guardian must be present at the appointment and bring current, valid photo ID. If you are the legal guardian, please bring proof of guardianship with you. 5-11 Pfizer Booster Sites: East 3rd Street Campus, 921 East 3rd St., Chattanooga, Tn. 37403 Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Sequoyah Health Center, 9527 W Ridge Trail Road, Soddy Daisy, Tn. 37379 Monday Friday from 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Birchwood Health Center, 5625 TN-60 Birchwood, Tn. 37308 Monday Friday from 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Ooltewah Health Clinic, 5520 High St Ooltewah, Tn. 37363 Wednesday Friday from 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Additional Information & Resources Masks must be worn inside all Hamilton County Health Department facilities. To view COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, please visit the CDCs website athttps://bit.ly/3JgRqqM. Call the Health Departments COVID-19 hotline at 423-209-8383 if you have questions about vaccinations, testing locations, or if you need isolation or quarantine guidance. Vaccines are widely available in the community through a number of providers. Please visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccination site near you. Dr. Lori West, professor of biology and assistant chair in the Department of Natural Sciences, has been selected as the winner of Lee Universitys 2022 Excellence in Teaching Award. Lee President Dr. Mark L. Walker recognized Dr. West for this honor during spring commencement. The Excellence Awards are the highest honors presented to Lee faculty members and recognize advising, scholarship, and teaching. The Excellence in Teaching is the oldest award and considered to be superior among the three. The winner of this award is chosen by a special committee which includes representatives of six different academic departments. Teaching excellence is one of the highest honors a Lee University faculty member can receive, because it is what we value most from our faculty, said Dr. Walker. Dr. Lori West has demonstrated that value at the highest level. She is well-deserving of this recognition. Dr. West joined Lees faculty in 2006 and teaches courses in molecular biology, cell biology, and genetics, among others. She has served as program director for four recently-funded Tennessee Higher Education Committee (THEC) grants and as a mentor for many student research projects at Lee. Dr. West has served on multiple committees, including serving as the chair of the Faculty Council. She is also the faculty sponsor of the Womens Track and Field Team. In 2017, West was the recipient of the Excellence in Scholarship Award. Dr. West coordinated the annual local Science Olympiad tournaments for three years, a competition for middle and high school students, and will continue to assist in the future. Prior to her arrival at Lee, Dr. West conducted post-doctoral research in the nutrition department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and served as a visiting lecturer at Maryville College. I have the pleasure of teaching alongside outstanding faculty, said Dr. West. I am very honored to have been selected as a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award. Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System was awarded a 21-month SAMHSA grant to place seven co-responders in law enforcement departments around middle and east Tennessee. Murfreesboro, Lebanon, Cookeville, McMinnville, Cleveland, Chattanooga and Williamson County were chosen after analyzing data from our Mobile Crisis Teams to determine which areas out of the 30 plus counties have the highest call rate. Currently, co-responders are not 24/7. Co-responder schedules vary by location as law enforcement provides statistics of when they receive the most mental health calls for service to better utilize these clinicians during peak times. The co-responders will assist their specific law enforcement agency in responding to individuals in the community having a mental health crisis to provide de-escalation, assessment, resources, and linkage to services. The combined expertise of the responder and law enforcement will allow for increased safety and on-scene evaluation to help individuals obtain the most appropriate level of care while avoiding unnecessary emergency department admissions and offering an alternative to incarceration for crimes related to their mental illness. The theory underlying these programs is that a joint response is preferable, as police are specialists in handling situations that involve violence and potential injury, while mental health professionals are specialists in providing mental health care to individuals in crisis. While co-response models all have similar basic elements, it is important to note that it is not a one size fits all program. The program and structure vary between locations to best meet the needs of the community and the partnering agencies, taking population density and other available resources into consideration. There are generally two approaches: a first response which involves an officer and behavioral health specialist that ride together in the same vehicle for an entire shift or a secondary response where the behavioral health specialist is called to the scene using their personal vehicle and the call is then handled together. Six of our co-responders will be primary response and two will be secondary. Requirements to be a co-responder include having a masters degree in the clinical field with licensure preferred. This grant is set to expire in March 2023, so officials are currently in the process of looking for additional grant funding and communicating with city governments regarding overall cost. Luke Hannah is the newest member to join Volunteers co-response program and will be the co-responder embedded with Cleveland Police Department. Prior to joining VBH, Mr. Hannah worked for Volunteer Comprehensive Treatment Center, providing substance abuse counseling for individuals struggling with opioid use disorder. A proud veteran, Mr. Hannah was a Master at Arms in the United States Navy who provided law enforcement and security for Naval installations overseas, in Greece and Bahrain. He has experience as a mental health case manager, where he helped clients gain access to community services, and navigate the mental health care system to better their overall well-being. Mr. Hannah completed his masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in August 2020 and is actively working towards licensure. He is looking forward to establishing himself in the community, and helping individuals gain access to the services they need to live a better quality of life. Officer Nathan Hartwig is originally from Wisconsin. He served in the Army National Guard for six years. In 1999, he began his law enforcement career in Wisconsin and then continued to serve the community, after moving 700 miles from Wisconsin, to relocate to East Tennessee and work for the Chattanooga Police Department. After returning to Wisconsin to be with family, Officer Hartwig continued to serve as a police officer. However, the mountains of Tennessee were calling him and his family back home. He has now been a Cleveland Police Department officer for the past three years working as a patrol officer and as a school resource officer for Mayfield Elementary School. Officer Hartwig has an associate degree in Police Science. Mayor Tim Kelly said citizens are invited to help with the creation of a new Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors Plan. A community workshop will be Wednesday, June 8, from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center Auditorium, 200 E. ML King Blvd. Mayor Kelly said, "For generations, Chattanooga has been known for its outdoor opportunities and world-class parks and greenways. Now, we are looking to take it to the next level! "We are excited to kick off the Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors Plan (POP) and invite the community to join us in creating a shared vision. The purpose of the project is to create a road map and path forward to reinvent Chattanooga as a city in a park - where a system of parks and protected open spaces connect people to each other and where all neighborhoods have well-loved and well-used parks. "We need your help to ensure that all Chattanoogans can enjoy vibrant, healthy, high-quality parks and outdoors that meet their needs! We invite you to participate in the planning process by taking a survey and attending a community workshop to learn more and share your ideas. Food, Spanish translation, and fun activities for kids will be provided. The Tennessee Medical Association assembled nearly 130 of its physician members in Franklin, Tn. for the 187th annual business meeting of the TMA House of Delegates. Delegates participated in a special session which included testimony from TMA physician leaders about patient care issues and concerns due to prior authorization. It was identified as a top issue facing Tennessee physicians and their patients, and a resolution was introduced to combat its detrimental effects. Physician wellness, another top concern raised by incoming TMA president Ed Capparelli, MD, of Jacksboro, Tn., was affirmed by the House of Delegates through a resolution calling for increased statewide access to mental health and wellness services for physicians. The expansion of healthcare services to rural and underserved populations through the development and fortification of existing programs and utilization of existing infrastructure was also prioritized by the assembly. One of TMAs most important functions is its ability to rally physicians from across the state to engage in constructive discussions on healthcares most pressing issues, said Lee Berkenstock, MD, a family physician from Memphis and newly elected chair of the TMA Board of Trustees. We bring unique perspectives across the diverse set of medical specialties, practice environments, and geographic locations in which we live and practice. "Healthy dialogue with legislators, insurance companies and other stakeholders is key as we physicians strive to deliver the highest level of care in our state. While we may not always agree, doctors are well positioned to positively impact the process, and we remain committed to working together to achieve common ground. This is why membership in our organization is approaching record levels, and TMA is respected and seen as the most valuable and trusted advocacy organization on Capitol Hill. TMA POLICY UPDATES Physicians in the House of Delegates debated resolutions on a number of healthcare topics. The assembly approved one resolution calling for reform of the prior authorization process under health insurance regulations that requires healthcare providers to pre-qualify treatments with insurance companies before rendering services. Dr. James Cates, a Cookeville family physician, and 2021-22 chair of the TMA Board of Trustees, authored the resolution to address the organizations concerns with improper denials, delays and disruptions in necessary medical care and exorbitant costs absorbed by medical practices due to staffing needs and unnecessary wait times. Other notable policies the association adopted or referred to the TMA Board for possible action: Developing programs to better coordinate and expand access to healthcare services for rural and underserved populations. Prioritizing and promoting physician wellness efforts by strengthening and expanding regional programs and raising awareness of their services. Seeking to eliminate the gap between the days of prescriptions and the availability of refills allowed by insurance plans. Improving public health and safety by reducing the availability of shared dockless electronic scooters in the state and enforcing mandatory helmet laws and availability of helmets. Continuation of TMA work toward expansion of much-needed medical residency training positions and medical schools. Adoption of a medical staff member bill of rights and a standard of concepts to be included in medical staff bylaws to protect medical staff self-governance and autonomy. Requiring syringe services programs to distribute fentanyl test strips when requested and annual reporting of distribution totals. Supporting prohibition of indoor tanning services using ultraviolet rays to those under 18 years of age. Reviewing available educational resources on gun safety and proper storage practices through the organizations Board of Trustees and public health committee. NEW TMA OFFICERS Dr. Ed Capparelli, a Jacksboro, Tn. family physician, was officially installed as TMA president. He is the 168th president for the association. The TMA Board of Trustees transitioned its leadership positions for the coming year, and members reelected the speaker and vice speaker presiding over the business of the House of Delegates. Lee Berkenstock, MD, a Memphis family physician, will serve as chair of the TMA Board of Trustees. Gene Huffstutter, MD, a Chattanooga rheumatologist, was elected to serve as vice chair of the TMA Board of Trustees. Landon Combs, MD, a Gray, Tn. pediatrician, was reappointed as secretary/treasurer. Andrew Watson, MD, a cardiologist in Memphis, will serve as TMA president-elect. John McCarley, MD, a nephrologist in Chattanooga, was reelected as speaker of the TMA House of Delegates. George Trey Lee, MD, a neurologist in Nashville, was reelected as vice speaker of the TMA House of Delegates. For more information about TMA, visit tnmed.org. Kyla Ann Padgett, 25, of LaFayette, was convicted on Friday by a Walker County jury of involuntary manslaughter for the death of her 22-month-old daughter, Ryleigh Padgett. The evidence presented at trial showed that on June 4, 2020, Kyla Padgett was using methamphetamine and marijuana while her young daughter was in her care. Ms. Padgett brought her daughter and a male friend to a wooded area approximately a mile from Ms. Padgetts house, where the three spent the evening. Ms. Padgett placed her daughter to sleep in the cluttered backseat of her vehicle. Early in the morning on June 5, 2020, Ms. Padgett and her male friend fell asleep in the vehicle, with Ms. Padgett sleeping in the drivers seat. Ms. Padgetts daughter woke on multiple occasions, and Ms. Padgett repeatedly placed the young child in the backseat of the vehicle, unrestrained in any type of car seat, while Ms. Padgett slept in the front. The backseat where Ryleigh was placed by the defendant was full of various items including a bottle of whiskey and a knife. At approximately 8 a.m., Ms. Padgett turned the ignition to the car on and rolled the windows down before going back to sleep. Ms. Padgetts daughter was discovered several hours later hanging from the rear drivers side window by her neck, asphyxiated and deceased. The child had stepped on the power window switch, rolling the window up on her neck, while Ms. Padgett was sleeping in the front seat merely inches away from her daughter. Ms. Padgett admitted to using methamphetamine and marijuana during the day before the childs death and tested positive for both drugs shortly after her daughter was found deceased. There was also evidence that the defendant and her male friend smoked marijuana during the night or early morning. Due to Ms. Padgetts drug use she failed to provide proper care or supervision to her child and when Ryleigh was fighting for her life, just inches from the defendants head, her drug use rendered her incapable of coming to Ryleighs rescue. Evidence presented to the jury indicated that the Ms. Padgett's mother, Ryleighs grandmother, routinely cared for little Ryleigh, and that the defendant and Ryleigh lived with her. The grandmothers residence was only a quarter mile from where defendant chose to park with her drug buddy. Despite having nearby, readily available care for Ryleigh the defendant made no effort to take her daughter home to her grandmother and her own bed. After a four-day trial, presided over by Superior Court Judge Don W. Thompson, a jury returned a guilty verdict to involuntary manslaughter. Once the jury returned the verdict the court inquired of the defendant if she could pass a drug test right now, and she said no. Ms. Padgett is currently in custody and scheduled for a sentencing hearing on June 28. The State of Georgia was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Deanna Reisman and Alan Smith. Reisman and Smith were assisted by victim advocates Ashley Nicholson and Cindy Clark. Georgia Bureau of Investigation Agent Daniel Nicholson led a team of law enforcement representatives from the GBI and Walker County Sheriffs Office who investigated the case. District Attorney Chris Arnt thanked the Walker County Sheriffs Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for their efforts in investigating this difficult case. DA Arnt praised ADAs Deanna Reisman and Alan Smith for the hundreds of hours of preparation they put into getting the case ready for trial. DA Arnt said, Any case involving the death of a child is a difficult and emotional case for all those involved. Deanna and Alan worked tirelessly to seek justice for Ryleigh and were able to present a compelling case to the jury allowing them to hold the defendant accountable for her failure to care for her daughter. The defendant chose drugs over her daughter that night and it cost Ryleigh her life. We are heartbroken over the loss of Ryleighs life but hope that the jury holding this defendant accountable for her actions will send a message to others that may save other childrens lives. With Stranger Things 4 right around the corner, its no surprise that interviews with the cast are popping up left and right. Stranger Things star Brett Gelman, who plays the eccentric but lovable Murray Bauman, continues to get more screentime with each season. Audiences see even more of Murray in the upcoming season. STRANGER THINGS. (L to R) Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers and Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman in STRANGER THINGS. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix 2022 Who is Brett Gelmans character, Murray Bauman, in Stranger Things? Fans may think Gelman first appeared in Stranger Things Season 2, but thats incorrect. Gelman appeared in the shows inaugural season in 2016 in a blink-and-you-miss-it moment. Audiences saw Murray in a scene with Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) at the police station. He ranted about a secret plan from the Russians. Hopper dismissed him at the time. Although, as it turns out, Murray actually knew something about what was happening in Hawkins, Indiana. In Stranger Things Season 2, Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) search out Murray when they learn that Barb Hollands (Shannon Purser) parents hire him to look into the whereabouts of Barb. Nancy and Jonathan travel to Murrays house to talk about their suspicions of the happenings in their small town. By Stranger Things Season 3, Murray became a bonafide member of the group trying to defeat the Upside Down. RELATED: Stranger Things Star Noah Schnapp Chats About His Favorite Characters, the Saddest Scene, and More Brett Gelman teased his scenes with Winona Ryder at the Stranger Things 4 premiere in New York City Gelman called his time working with Winona Ryder a dream come true. He also gave fans some hints about what to expect in Stranger Things 4. Speaking to Insider, Gelman said, Mine and Winonas role in this, we very much function as an action-comedy duo. I think that people will really have a lot of fun with that. This season is just the best Its just so action-packed and its expansive. Theres more characters, and more locations, so its just huger than its ever been. Most of the cast has told fans to expect a much scarier season. However, Gelmans take on his and Ryders scenes seems like they might give fans a bit of a breather between the more intense moments in Stranger Things 4. In a previous interview with Polygon, Gelman compared this seasons feel to that of Indiana Jones. The shows creators, Ross and Matt Duffer said they leaned hard into the horror genre this year, so Gelmans comparison hints at not every scene relying on chills and thrills. Brett Gelman said he grew up watching Winona Ryder Even though Gelman and Ryder are close in age, Gelman told Insider that he grew up watching her, just like thousands of other Gen Xers. Ryders return in Stranger Things only proved shes still got the magic touch needed to grab everyones attention when shes onscreen. Shes the same age as me, pretty much, but I grew up watching her because she was famous at a very young age, Gelman told Insider. To be doing these things with a hero of mine, somebody I looked up to since I was a lot younger than I am now, not that Im old, but its just one of those pinch me moments. Fans can look forward to Stranger Things 4 when it premieres on Netflix on Friday, May 27, 2022. RELATED: Stranger Things 4 Star Logan Riley Bruner Talks About His Favorite Ship and How the Series Came Full Circle For Him [Exclusive] CHENEY- Senior Program Officer for the Center for Russia and Europe at the U.S. Institute of Peace Heather Ashby visited Eastern Washington University last week to present her series, "Peace Studies Podcast: Russia's War on Ukraine." The podcast series started at Spokane Community College, where Ashby met Scott Finnie, an Eastern senior faculty member. It was the third podcast they've hosted together, but Ashby travels beyond Eastern Washington to attend panels and host other discussions. Ashby focuses on Russia's involvement in international conflicts. Her goal is to get to the heart of the issue as she opens the discussion. "This series is meant to cut through the news and see the broader picture of the conflict [between Russia and Ukraine]," she said. "It's to get people to understand why this war matters and recognize the broader implications of this in the short and the long term." Like Ashby, Finnie said he is interested in conversations that might lead to solutions. "Having Dr. Ashby here is an opportunity to get someone devoted, researched, and involved in how to communicate peace," Finnie said. "This is dealing with a part of humanity that takes humanity hostage." Ashby said a fundamental concept of the series thus far has been self-determination and diversifying the audience on the other end of these conversations about the war against Ukraine. "It is a right of a country to determine their own future," Ashby said. "It's great to speak to people outside of the Washington D.C. bubble to get them involved." Ashby spoke to attendees about ongoing discussions in D.C. and frequently raised questions within USIP and other federal organizations. The Responsibility to Protect, a concept defined by the United Nations as a political commitment to end the worst forms of violence and persecution, was a point Ashby referred to frequently during the roundtable discussion. "Russia is using this concept to say that they can invade Ukraine. Russia uses a manipulation of the rules to seek their own ends," she said. "USIP, other organizations, and the U.S. government are working together - How do you handle the responsibility to protect? What are the rules to stop these atrocities?" The small audience led to a personal conversation where Ashby could answer challenging questions. One of the questions was about the theoretical end of the war against Ukraine. "People who study Russian military and army said that August or September could be the end of the war," Ashby said. One attendee asked a series of questions about how USIP, as an organization designed for the nonviolent prevention of deadly conflict, is actively engaging in solutions toward peace and how they can do so for the U.S, which has participated in acts of violence. Ashby recognized that the U.S. was not innocent by any means but couldn't answer every question posed by attendees. Unanswered questions did, however, make way for other avenues of discussion. Ashby revealed that this conflict and its solution are subject to pre-existing issues like immigration laws and other foreign relationships. She urges people to get involved in government wherever they can and get involved in peace to see change. On May 6, an explosion rocked a heavily transited corner of La Habana Vieja (Old Havana). The almost century-old Hotel Saratoga, set to reopen the following week after extensive renovations, was left in ruins. Media coverage centered on the iconic hotel, and images of the massive damage to the building and to the buses and other vehicles on the street in front of it circulated around the world. A week later, the final number of those killed by the explosion, including children, elderly people, and a pregnant woman, had reached 45, with more than 100 people hospitalized because of injury. Officials put the blame on the accidental ignition of liquid gas. Government officials and state media coverage focused heavily on the hotel, which is owned by a tourism company belonging to the Cuban military, but also mentioned damage to surrounding buildings, including a school and some apartment buildings. Absent from all state media coverage has been any mention of the catastrophic damage to Calvary Baptist Church, which shares a wall with Hotel Saratoga, or the total destruction of the home of an elderly retired couple, both Baptist leaders, which was sandwiched between the church and the hotel. Calvary Baptist Church is one of the most historically important religious buildings on the island. The church, established in the late 1870s on the site of a former circus, was the first Baptist church in what would later become the Baptist Convention of Western Cuba. In addition to the sanctuary, church buildings house a seminary and administrative offices for the denomination. At the time of the explosion, 18 people, including three young children, were inside the church facilities. Miraculously, despite the collapse of the dome of the sanctuary and some of the administrative buildings, no one was hurt. Survivors managed to find one another and help each other climb out of the building to safety. The elderly couple were out of the house when the explosion took place. Jorge Luis Iriarte, who works as a cook at Calvary Baptist Church and was there with his son during the explosion, shared his belief that a miracle had occurred, noting that the lives of many of church workers and children were saved because, for various reasons, at the time of the explosion they happened not to be where they were supposed to be. Once outside we really saw what had happened, he said in a written statement. The hotel lost almost three floors and the side that adjoins the church collapsed, destroying everything in its path, [including] the bathroom, the pastors house, the side classrooms, offices and the roof of the sanctuary. Image: Courtesy of Reverend Abel Perez Hernandez There are many questions about what will happen next. The Cuban government controls gas utilities, and the military owns the hotel, where the explosion occurred. These facts would suggest that the government should assume responsibility for all of the damages incurred and make restitution to those affected. That, however, seems highly unlikely to happen. The government has said that the future of the Hotel Saratoga building is under consideration. As the property belongs to the Cuban military and is located on some of the most sought-after real estate on the island, it seems probable that the government, in partnership with private companies, will invest to ensure that it continues to serve tourists and bring in income in one form or another. Tourism is one of the main income streams for the Cuban military and government, and it would be surprising if they let the hotel go, despite how expensive it will likely be to rebuild. The future of the church is more complicated. The government has a long history of making it very difficult for religious groups to repair their buildingseven when they have managed to obtain building materials despite chronic shortages on the islandby denying or failing to respond to requests for required permits. Article continues below Calvary Baptist Church also sits at the center of Cubas lucrative tourism industry, on Old Havana prime real estate. Residents in the area report being approached by self-identified businessmen who have offered to buy them out of their homes. And although the Baptist Convention of Western Cuba is a historic, legally registered religious association, it is not part of the government-supported Cuban Council of Churches. Its leadership has, in recent years, been targeted by the government because of its involvement in interdenominational unity initiatives and public criticism of government policies. In order to rebuild, Calvary Baptist Church and the entire denomination will face an uphill battle. Based on previous experience, they can expect a lack of support, if not active obstruction, from the government. Rebuilding and restoring the historic church and denominational headquarters will be prohibitively expensive, and will require materials that are difficult, if not impossible, to find on the island. Even if foreign groups attempt to help by donating financially and materially, they will still need permits to allow funds and goods onto the island. If they succeed in that, they will then need additional permits from the government for the work itself. Every step will rest on support and cooperation from the government. Cuban Christians have expressed concern to CSW (formerly Christian Solidarity Worldwide), pointing out that the government may see an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. By simply failing to grant permits, or dragging out the process to the point that restoration of the historic buildings is no longer viable, the government has the power to force a religious group it views as a thorn in its side to surrender a site of deep historic and symbolic importance to Cuban Protestants. It could then potentially take it over and convert it into yet another money-making enterprise for the military via the tourist industry. Image: Courtesy of Reverend Abel Perez Hernandez The building is considered [part of Cubas] national heritage, with a possibly English design. This means that any modifications must be approved by the government, and the exterior facade must be maintained. It will have to be transformed and the interior made more modern, a legal expert based in Havana, who asked to be kept anonymous, told CSW. However you look at it, it will be extremely expensive. [The government] helps with the restoration of buildings in Old Havana considered to be part of the national heritage, but they do not help the churches. They have to do it with their own resources via donations. The Office of Religious Affairs (ORA) of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party is responsible for approving permits for religious groups for anything ranging from a simple repair on a roof or the installation of toilets to the remodeling of existing buildings. The ORA has long used the issuing of permits as leverage, in many cases rewarding groups deemed as sympathetic to the government with permits while denying permits, or simply failing to respond to requests, to religious groups deemed unsupportive or hostile. For example, in 2010, after the leadership of Trinity Baptist Church in Santa Clara (also part of the Baptist Convention of Western Cuba), refused to ban the family members of political prisoners from attending the historic church, the government froze the churchs bank account, preventing it from accessing aid that had been donated from abroad to make critical repairs to the church roof. Article continues below In another example, El Cristo Baptist Church, originally built in 1901, which belongs to the Baptist Convention of Eastern Cuba (also registered but not part of the Cuban Council of Churches), waited 20 years for a response to a 1996 request to make vital repairs to the church roof. In the interim, the building was infested by bats and became so hazardous that in 2005 the Ministry of Health shut it down. The members of the church were forced to meet in a makeshift structure built onto the side of the church; the structure was unpermitted and so technically illegal. Only in 2016, after a hurricane devastated the area, did the government issue permits for the church to make repairs, like other buildings in the area, and allow it to receive donations from abroad to rebuild. Sadly, the long-term pastor of the church who fought for over a decade to repair the church died before its restoration. There are hundreds of similar stories. In the case of Calvary Baptist Church, its unique location on highly valuable real estate of significant potential financial interest to the military itself makes the denominations prospects of fair treatment even more uncertain. The legal expert expressed hope that the denomination will stand its ground. We should insist on not losing the locationthe place itself is what is most valuable financially. The church should not give up the location or trade it for another. [The government] wants to convert the entire area into hotels. Theyll wait for it to fall down so that [the denomination] has to leave and they can begin putting a hotel there. Monitoring and advocacy in and outside of Cuba will be vital. It is highly unlikely that the Cuban government will accept responsibility for the destruction wrought by the explosion and indemnify those affected (except its own). Those who care about freedom of religion or belief in Cuba cannot remain on the sidelines. As the Baptist Convention of Western Cuba is able to secure funding and materials from counterparts and supporters abroad, our help will be needed to closely monitor the process. We must pressure the government to ensure that the authorities issue permits swiftly to allow for the urgent and expansive repairs and restoration work needed to ensure that Calvary Baptist Church continues to serve Christians in Cuba, from its strategic location, for decades to come. In the meantime, some of those directly affected by the explosion still find reasons to give thanks. The elderly pastor whose home was destroyed in the explosion told CSW, For two Sundays in a row, the government has allowed Calvary Baptist Church to meet [for religious services] in public places, something which, for more than 60 years, we were unable to do. God is in control. Anna-Lee Stangl is CSWs head of advocacy and Americas team leader. Speaking Out is Christianity Todays guest opinion column and (unlike an editorial) does not necessarily represent the opinion of the publication. [ This article is also available in espanol. ] This piece was adapted from Russell Moores newsletter. Subscribe here. If you ever want to do something kind for me, please dont send flowers. If I were to see a bouquet of them at the door, I would probably have a reflexive adrenal response. Thats because, for years in my Southern Baptist context, the lore was always about a leader in the denominationwho fancied himself a sort of party boss or even bishopwho would send to those who crossed him a bouquet of flowers, with nothing but a card with his name. The flowers were interpreted to signify something along the lines of Youre dead to me or I know what you did or some such thing. The first time I heard this, I stopped and thought, Wait, how is this not the mafia? Now I dont know how many people ever received such flowers. When younger people asked about it, the leader would grin and look away. Maybe the legend was always bigger than the reality. But when it comes to fear and intimidation, legend is really all it takes. And behind the legend is an even larger truthone that the rest of the world can now peek into ever so slightly, after the release of an independent investigation that describes a culture of cover-up, retaliation, and stonewalling by the Southern Baptist Conventions Executive Committee on matters of church sexual abuse, church sexual abuse survivors, and the advocates and whistleblowers who stood with them. Since then, many people from outside the denomination called or texted as they watched some of the official proceedings, and all expressed some variation of how creepy they found the southern politenesswith everyone calling each other Brother So-and-sogiven the circumstances. To some of them I passed along a tweet by religion journalist Bob Smietana: For those who are new to SBC politics. Theres so much going on when people call each other brother or say they want to change the direction and say I appreciate you. Its all Bless Your Heart and the Bible and Roberts Rulesand behind-the-scenes knives. Knives, yes. And flowers. Its not just that a Mayberry Mafia could hide stonewalling political tactics behind syrupy rhetoric of sweet brother, and so on. Its also that folks like that could, and often did, exploit in others a genuine priority of unity and cooperation and love of the brethren. A few months after I left, a reporter stopped me when I was defending Southern Baptists about something and asked whyto which I said, I love them, and 90 percent of them are great people. He said, I think your math is off. Maybe that was a kind of Stockholm syndrome, as he implied, of someone who couldnt bear to think otherwise. Maybe. But its also, if not entirely accurate mathematically, true. There are a lot of sweet people in those pews. The vast majority of them would never imagine that anyone would carry out mafia-style tactics in their nameand, even more so, they would never countenance mistreating sexual abuse survivors in the name of Jesus. I still believe that. But it doesnt matter if people dont recognize that the mafia business is going on behind the scenes and understand how it works. The primary way it works is through the fear of exile. Flowers at the doorwhether literal or metaphoricalarent a threat to kill anybody. They are a threat to remove somebody from the tribeto marginalize that person so that for anyone to listen to them on anything would mean to face the threat of exile themselves. Article continues below This works even more effectively in local churches. If a survivor comes forward to talk about what she experienced, she may be told that shes sowing division and hampering the witness of the church. Those who stand with her may quickly find themselves considered controversial. From there, people find othermore popularways to show others that those calling for reform arent really one of us. Rob Downen, the Houston Chronicle journalist who broke the SBC sexual abuse crisis story, detailed in a very perceptive Twitter thread the background of this current crisisincluding the use of critical race theory as a way of demonizing people who were deemed to be liberal. As a matter of fact, sociologist Ryan Burge shows with Google search analytics how CRT was a controversy in the SBC a full two years before it started showing up in the national culture wars. It would have been easier for me to find a Southern Baptist vegan at a mens prayer breakfast that a Southern Baptist holding to critical race theory anywhere. But thats precisely why the tactic works. Imagine in a local congregation, Brother Tommy, the deacon, says in a prayer, Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. A group of people starts talking about their concern with Brother Tommys Unitarianism. They start to pass along Wikipedia links about what Unitarianism is, and how its a heresy that leads to nowhere good. Maybe even they hire an atheist to say how, yep, Brother Tommys a Unitarian and this is how thats not consistent with Christian doctrine (that part might be far-fetched; surely that would never happen, but this is just a parable so lets go with it). Brother Tommy agrees that Unitarianism is a heresy; hes Trinitarian to the core. His prayer was quoting a Bible verse from Deuteronomy 6and saying something fully consistent with the Trinity. When the congregation then starts talking about how worried they are about Unitarianism in our church, Brother Tommy is caught off guard. Hes not defending Unitarianism. He hates Unitarianism. It doesnt exist in that church. As a matter of fact, he knows theres a bunch of polytheism going on. But if he addresses the Polytheist Society thats been gathering after Wednesday night business meeting, hes told to stop being divisive. When he outlines the danger of the Asherah poles some folks are wanting to put up at the church bazaar, hes told to stop being divisive. When he quotes Deuteronomy 6, hes told to leave the politics alone and stick to preaching the gospel. So, to take down Unitarianismwhich is not a problem in that church at the timeBrother Tommy would have to first explain how Deuteronomy 6 is not Unitarian. Then when people who know betterwhove known Brother Tommy for years and who know theres no Unitarian anywhere near that churchstart to talk about how they are taking a stand against Unitarianism, hoping to quell the crowds and maintain their standing with those who are falsely charging Unitarianism, what is one to do? At the end of all of that, Brother Tommy is considered toxic to be around, nobodys paying a bit of attention to the Polytheist Societys moving in another statue to Zeus, and theres still not a Unitarian in sight. And maybe some of the people who believe Deuteronomyafter having been told its Unitarianismmight actually become Unitarians. Article continues below Its a confused mess. If, in addition to all of that, theres also some really dark things happening to vulnerable peoplewell, whos talking about that? At least the so-called Unitarians have been defeated. In a church context, any sort of reform on real issues can become difficult because those issues cant be addressed by either insiders or outsiders. Those who stay will be toldespecially if they hold office in the churchthat they cant show disloyalty by trying to blow everything up. So, they often attempt the slow process of working through the system, trying to do everything the right way because, if they dont, thatnot the abusewill become the issue. They often encounter obstacle after obstacle after obstacle, finding themselves having to fight on 15 other frontsoften against imaginary or exaggerated issuesso that other people can then say, See, they are always trying to cause trouble. After every stonewall, they will be told, Be patient. Trust the process. We dont want hot takes on this very new, sudden problem that we only discovered a mere 20 years ago. Behind all of that will be an appeal to responsibilityYall are leaders in this church and you cannot stir disunity. We cant fix this in chaos. You need to respect the other leaders and move this along. When nothing happensand those calling for reform live through all the knifings and obstacles, and often gaslighting and psychological warfarethey might try to tell the congregation, in the politest of terms, that theres a problem. And when people continue to ignore that, they might then venture to say explicitly what theyve experienced. But they know that then the problem will be the way they approached the issue. They shouldnt have done it that way. If they say it publicly, theyll be told they are blowing everything up in order to take everyone down with you. If they say it privately to leadership, and others find out about it, theyll be accused of saying it privately knowing that it will eventually become public. At that pointafter many of their friends and mentors pretend not to even know the troublemakersthey might conclude theres nothing they can do. And so, they leave. Now, the people who previously said it would be inappropriate to speak up because they have responsibilities on the inside are now told that its inappropriate to speak up because they are on the outside. You left; you dont get a say in this or To say anything about this would be I told you so and would be unseemly. That can even be the case after what they have said is proven to be true. If this happens to people with power in a congregation, how much worse can it be for the powerless and voiceless ones who suffer the crimes or the abuse? One of them might look at what happens to those trying to call attention to the mafia empowering the problem and conclude that she would never have a chance. She might even start to believe that the abusers and their protectors are right and that shes ungodly or satanic or crazy. And so, the message projected to the rest of the community is You dont want to be that guy or You dont want to be like her. This is not a uniquely Southern Baptist problem. It can happen in any church, in any congregation, in any institution. In Southern Baptist life, it works well because being a Baptistbelonging as a Baptistis part of what we were taught from birth. But this can happen anywhere. Article continues below The first step to achieving any sort of justice for anybody is to first break the power of the fear of exile. And thats hard to do. But eventually, people will start to tell the difference between conviction and mafia threats, between resurgence and power politics, between preaching and demagoguery, between politeness and complicity. Almost 30 years ago, I heard several good sermons from multiple people referencing Elton Truebloods warning of a cut-flower churchin which a bouquet in a vase can seem lovely and alive, but when severed from the root, it has only the appearance of life. Thats true. And it doesnt just apply to people who lose their faith to liberalism, but to those who lose their way from Christ by any means. In whatever context, mafiaswhether real or metaphoricalonly work if all that matters is belonging and safety. Flowers can only scare you until you can see that theyve been dead all along. Russell Moore leads the Public Theology Project at Christianity Today. Duggar sister reacts to her brother's 12-year prison sentence: 'God has carried out his vengeance' Josh Duggar's sister and brother-in-law Jill and Derick Dillard say they are relieved he was finally held "accountable" after the 34-year-old was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison Wednesday for possessing child pornography. The Dillards released a statement on their blog Thursday, the day after the oldest son of Christian reality TV parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar was sentenced to 151 months in prison. The former "Counting On" stars are "thankful" the case "is finally over" but stressed that the sentencing was part of God's "vengeance." The Duggars, a conservative Christian family from Arkansas, were featured on the television shows "19 Kids and Counting" and "Counting On." In 2021, authorities found images of child pornography on a computer at a cardealership owned by Josh Duggar. Investigators accused Duggar of having over 200 images of child porn on his devices "ranging from about 18 months of age to 12 years of age." Duggar pled not guilty to the charges, and his defense claimed someone else was responsible for the illegal files on the computer. Investigators contend Duggar's claim is unlikely. The judge rejected a defense motion for retrial on Tuesday. Along with the prison time, the father of seven will have to pay fines amounting to $50,100 and undergo 20 years of parole after his release. He also can't have unsupervised contact with minors, including his own children. He will be required to attend sex offender treatment and is prohibited from watching pornography of any kind. The Dillards, who married in 2014, said they are "neither rejoicing nor disappointed" over her brother's prison sentence. "The last several weeks and months have been difficult emotionally. Yesterday was another one of those hard days," they wrote. "The Bible clearly states that God [affects] justice and vengeance through the governing authorities," the Dillards added. "Though some believe Josh should have received a greater sentence and still fewer believe he should have received a lighter sentence, God has carried out his vengeance today for his unspeakable criminal activity." "Until now, he has yet to be held accountable to the extent necessary to cause change in his dangerous pattern of behavior," the Dillards continued. "It is unfortunate, but it seems that it may take spending over a decade in federal prison, and still more on probation, for Josh to have any potential for rehabilitation to the point he can safely live in society again." The couple hopes Duggar can "get treatment and begin to work toward a lifestyle where he is less likely to re-offend." "If for nothing else, the notoriety of this case has hopefully contributed to the deterrence of potential offenders and will help protect children by decreasing the demand for CSAM," the statement concludes. "We continue to love Josh and his family and will be there for them however we can." After the verdict, Josh Duggar's defense attorney said in a statement they are "grateful the judge dismissed Count 2 and rejected the Government's request for a 240-month sentence." Duggar will be on parole for 20 years after his release and can't have unsupervised contact with minors, including his own children. In 2015, it was revealed Duggar previously admitted to molesting his sisters when they were younger. The revelation led to the canceling of "19 Kids and Counting." Duggar's cousin Amy King told Celebuzz that she thinks the 12.5-year sentencing "isn't enough." "I hope that every single second he's there feels like an eternity," she said. King, the outspoken daughter of Jim Bob Duggar's sister, posted a video reaction on Instagram Wednesday night. "I knew him getting the maximum sentence wasn't going to be the easiest to prove since it's his first offense in the judge's eyes which I hate but at the same time, he cannot have his computer, he cannot hurt [and] exploit any more children and when he sees his kids, he has to be supervised," she said. "Josh's sickness stems from somewhere, and eventually we will hear about the trauma. I don't know when, or how, or who but eventually I think more will come out. But hopefully tonight, I can sleep for the first time ever and rest assured that another monster will be put behind bars makes my heart feel a little lighter."] Josh Duggar's younger brother, Jason "Jase" Duggar, also reacted to the news in a lengthy statement posted to his Instagram Story on Thursday. "In my opinion, judge Timothy L. Brooks was fair in his ruling giving Josh a sentence that would be considered below the median for the crimes he has committed," he wrote. "My heart is grieved over the choices my brother has made, his actions do not reflect that of a Christian believer and have doubtlessly defamed my Lord and Saviors name!! Joshua's poor decisions have greatly effected [sic] those around him, in particular his wife, seven children and our family as a whole." The former TLC star said he has forgiven his older brother for "his wrongdoings." "With that said, I will never stop loving my brother, regardless of what he does, just as my savior has forgiven me so I have forgiven my brother of his wrongdoings!" he wrote. "My prayer is that God will use this circumstance to truly humble him and bring about a true change in his life!" AME Church sues former executive, alleged accomplices for plundering millions from retirement fund The African Methodist Episcopal Church has filed a lawsuit against the former head of its retirement service Rev. Jerome Harris and 10 other individuals and entities, alleging involvement in a sophisticated scheme to defraud millions from the retirement funds of thousands of clergy and employees. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee in Memphis. The litigation comes about two months after retired pastor Rev. Cedric V. Alexander filed a proposed class-action lawsuit claiming the denomination lost 70%, or nearly $100 million, from its retirement plan through "foolish" and risky investments. About 5,000 plan participants were impacted financially. Along with Harris, who served as executive director of the AMEC Department of Retirement Services from July of 2000 until 2021, the nine-count complaint lists Symetra Financial Corporation as a cross-defendant. Third-party defendants are Robert Eaton, Jarrod Erwin, Randall Erwin, Financial Freedom Group, Inc., Motorskill Asia Venture Group, Motorskill Asia Ventures 1, LP, Motorskill Venture Group, Motorskill Ventures 1, LP, and Rodney Brown & Company. Eaton, who resides in Illinois, was designated by Harris as the financial advisor for the Department of Retirement Services. The Erwins, both of Sugar Land, Texas, served as principals of Motorskill Ventures, Inc. Financial Freedom Group, Inc. is a corporate entity established in 2007 and owned by Harris and Eaton jointly. Motorskill Venture Group, Motorskill Ventures 1, LP, Motorskill Asia Venture Group and Motorskill Asia Ventures 1, L.P. are private equity funds into which Harris, in consultation with Eaton and Erwin but without any authority from AMEC, invested millions of dollars from the annuity plan, the complaint claims. Rodney Brown & Company is an external certified public accounting firm retained by the AMEC to perform annual financial statement audits for the last 15 years, including in 2020 and 2021. The complaint alleges that the denomination only discovered the fraudulent scheme after they elected a new director for the Department of Retirement Services in 2021 and immediately hired an expert legal and forensic team to conduct an investigation. "Dr. Harris and/or Eaton, without the knowledge (and accordingly, without consent) of AMEC General Board, the AMEC Commission on Retirement Services, or any other AMEC bodies or officers, created various entities that purported to either perform services for the Department or use Department and/or Annuity Plan funds," The AMEC lawsuit says. In the complex scheme alleged by the historically black denomination, Harris repeatedly stole through his professional capacity with AMEC and the help of his alleged accomplices while presenting investors with "a deceptive, false, and grossly inflated value for the Annuity Plan." "AMEC learned that only about $37,000,000.00 of Dr. Harris's previously reported $128,000,000.00 valuation of the Annuity Plan was held by Symetra," the complaint states. AMEC claims there is no evidence that the total value of the retirement fund reported by Harris was ever the actual value of the funds. "The $128,000,000.00 valuation reported by Dr. Harris was a baseless representation recklessly and deceptively made to plan participants without any third-party verification," the complaint reads. The complaint filed by Alexander in March claims Harris was "given sole authority to invest tens of millions of AMEC clergy's and other Church servants' retirement savings in a questionable and potentially unlawful purchase of undeveloped land in Florida, a promissory note to an Illinois installer of solar panels, and an even more foolish investment in a now non-existent capital venture outfit." While this was happening, church officials kept reporting to the plan's beneficiaries that their retirement funds were safely flourishing as investments in annuities from Symetra Financial. During a meeting of the denomination's general board on Jan. 31, participants in the church's retirement plan were told that "more than $90 million of [the denomination's] $126.8 million [retirement fund] was missing." Investors were informed no one connected with the denomination except Harris knew where the "money and other plan-related records went." AMEC accused Symetra Financial Corporation of approving requests from Harris to electronically wire annuity plan funds to Motorskill Entities "without confirmation that Dr. Harris had the authority to do so." The Christian Post reached out to Symetra Financial for comment on the lawsuit. A response is pending. "From 2005 to 2021, Dr. Harris via Department and/or Annuity Plan funds paid about $37 million to Motorskill Entities," the complaint said. AMEC Council of Bishops President Anne Henning Byfield said the lawsuit is part of the church's effort to hold the perpetrators accountable. "This financial crime has been committed against the AME Church community, and specifically our clergy and Church employees," she said in a statement to The Christian Post. "With the help of our legal team, the AMEC community is committed to holding those responsible accountable and recovering embezzled funds." Atlanta pastor stabbed, set on fire by man she was ministering to at his home A metro Atlanta church is mourning the loss of a pastor killed by a man she was reportedly trying to help. The body of Marita Harrell, 57, was discovered last Wednesday when law enforcement responded to a homicide call near the 1600 block of Coffee Road, according to the DeKalb County Police Department. Officers found Harrell dead at the scene. The following day, police arrested 27-year-old Christopher Griggs, according to reports. Investigators told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Griggs stabbed Harrell while she was ministering to him at his home. According to warrants cited by a local CBS affiliate, Griggs stabbed Harrell with a large kitchen knife and set her on fire in his Atlanta home. Police say Griggs then left Harrell's body on the side of the road, where it was later discovered. A search of the Dekalb County inmate database found Griggs was previously jailed for domestic violence and other charges. Harrell served as the senior pastor at Connections at Metropolitan church, according to her bio on the church's website. A statement from Connections at Metropolitan in response to Harrell's death reads: "On behalf of the congregation we would like to thank everyone for the outpour of love, support and prayers. All of your kind words are very much appreciated during this time. Your continued prayers are appreciated!" The church described itself as a "multi-cultural, multi-generational, body of believers, connected to its community through partnerships, programs, and ministries that connect people to Christ." Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church said it "appears [Harrell] died at the hand of one she was helping." "Marita was a friend and a shining light among us. I pray for her family, her church, and all who loved her," Haupert-Johnson said. "I am grateful that the Lord she represented so well was with her in all things and accompanied her to her eternal home. May His Spirit comfort those of us who remain." Haupert-Johnson announced the North Georgia Conference will provide grief support and free counseling sessions for Harrell's clergy colleagues in the wake of her passing. Rivertown UMC, where Harrell served as pastor from 2016 to 2018, mourned her loss on Facebook. "I know the love Rivertown has for her, and the love she has for Rivertown. We are asked to be in prayer, especially for her husband and daughters. Please keep the entire family in your prayers," the post reads. "May God's comforting arms envelop her family, friends, and loved ones." Harrell moved to Atlanta from Chicago over 30 years ago. She worked for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper for 22 years. She graduated from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in May 2014. She is survived by her husband Antonio and daughters Marae and Alyse. China police told to shoot dead Uyghurs who escape re-education' camps, leaked documents show Leaked files containing details about incarcerated Uyghurs and China's "re-education camps" have called into question the Chinese Communist Party's claims that the government is merely housing members of the ethnic group in schools. The files were hacked from police computer servers in the western Xinjiang province by an unknown source and passed to Dr. Adrian Zenz, a Xinjiang scholar, who shared them with the BBC earlier this year. The BBC released the photos this week after a months-long investigative authentication effort, offering "significant new insights into the internment of the region's Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities." The hacked documents contain more than 5,000 photographs of Uyghurs a community that resides mostly in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China taken between January and July 2018. Based on other accompanying data, at least 2,884 of those depicted in the photos have been detained. One set of the hacked documents published by the BBC describes armed police stationed at all the main buildings and in watchtowers at a prison outside the city of Kashgar. Inside, police carrying shields, batons and handcuffs watch over the lessons. Another set of documents purports to show that the protocol for dealing with escapees if warning shots are ignored is to "shoot them dead." "In the most significant document in this part of the dataset, officers are ordered to be prepared to use the weapons in the event of an escape," the BBC report states. "When the alarm is triggered, the papers say, the perimeter roads must be sealed off, the buildings locked down and the camp's own armed police 'strike group' sent in. After a warning shot is fired, if the 'student' continues to try to escape, the order is clear: shoot them dead." The hacked files also contain spreadsheets of "draconian" jail sentences for Uyghurs accused of showcasing expressions of the Islamic faith. One such man, Tursun Kadir, was sentenced to 16 years in jail for growing a beard, which was then "forcibly removed." Others, such as Tursun Memetimin and Ashigul Turghun, were jailed for listening to "illegal religious lectures." One man, Abdurahman Hasan, reportedly has not seen his wife and children since he left Xinjiang in 2017. The hacked files contain a photo of his wife and reveal that she was sentenced to 16 years in prison for "gathering a crowd to disturb the social order." According to the BBC, this particular offense appears many times in the data. "You can see how her spirit is broken," Hasan said in an interview with the BBC. Another man, Mahmutt Tohti, knew his son had been jailed but did not know his son was sentenced to 15 years for "terrorism offenses" until he saw the database. The only evidence of his crime listed is his devout Islamic faith. In a Tuesday press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin described the BBC report as "the latest example of the anti-China forces' smearing of Xinjiang." "It is just the same trick they used to play before," he said. "The lies and rumors they spread cannot deceive the world, nor can they hide the fact that Xinjiang enjoys peace and stability, its economy is thriving and its people live and work in peace and contentment." Estimates suggest that between 1 million to 3 million Uyghur Muslims have been detained in internment camps in Xinjiang. They are taught to be secular citizens who will never oppose the ruling Communist Party. In 2019, China allowed journalists like BBC reporter John Sudworth to visit select "training education" centers built throughout Xinjiang province. The government claimed they're holding the Muslim minorities in "training education" camps to help set terrorists on the right path. "China used to deny that these places exist. But now we are being given a tour. The message: these are schools not prisons," Sudworth said. "This is what [the government] wants the world to see, [to] offer to others proof that these are not prisoners, but students willingly being guided away from extremism." In 2019, documents called "The China Cables" were leaked to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, a consortium that has worked with 17 media partners, including the BBC and The Guardian. The documents were received from a chain of exiled Uyghurs, and ICIJ said that leading experts confirmed their authenticity. ICIJ reported that the documents included a list of classified guidelines approved by the region's top security official as a manual for operating the detention centers. Included in the leak is a nine-page memo sent to officials operating the camps by then deputy-secretary of Xinjiang's Communist Party, Zhu Hailun, in 2017. As the BBC reported, the memo stated that the detention centers should be run as high-security prisons. The memo also orders detention center officials to "increase discipline and punishment of behavioral violations," make remedial Mandarin studies a top priority and "promote repentance and confession." Sophie Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch, said in a 2019 statement to the BBC that prosecutors should use the leaked 2017 memo. "This is an actionable piece of evidence, documenting a gross human rights violation," she said. "I think it's fair to describe everyone being detained as being subject at least to psychological torture because they literally don't know how long they're going to be there." The administration of former President Donald Trump classified the Chinese government's actions against Uyghurs as genocide shortly before leaving office last year. The Biden administration has also imposed sanctions on top Chinese officials in response to what it also described as genocide. Josh Duggar sentenced to 12 years in prison for child porn after retrial request was rejected Former reality TV star Josh Dugger was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison Wednesday after his request for a retrial or acquittal of two child pornography convictions was denied. The 34-year-old father of seven was also ordered to pay fines amounting to $50,100. Images of child pornography were found in a computer at a cardealership owned by the eldest child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. The Duggar family was featured on the reality television shows "19 Kids & Counting" and "Counting On." The Duggars are an ultra-conservative Christian family that lives in Arkansas. Duggar was accused of having over 200 images of child porn on his devices of children ranging from about 18 months of age to 12 years of age. Josh Duggar had pled not guilty to the charges, and his defense claimed someone else was responsible for the illegal files on the computer, a claim investigators found to be unlikely. In December, he was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. The possession of child pornography charge was dismissed. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Roberts had previously told the media that "possession of child pornography is a lesser included offense" and that "by function of law, you can't be convicted of both." On Wednesday, at the Western District of Arkansas Federal Courthouse in Fayetteville, U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks sentenced Dugar to 151 months. Prosecutors had requested a 20-year sentence. According to reports, Duggar remained emotionless when the sentence was delivered. Although he did not comment on the sentencing, his lead defense attorney, Justin Gelfand, stated that Duggar maintains his innocence and will be filing a notice of appeal. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas David Clay Fowlkes celebrated the sentencing. "This isn't the sentence we asked for, but it is a sentence we're proud of," Fowlkes shared in a statement cited by People. After the verdict, Duggar's defense attorney said in a statement he and his client are "grateful the judge dismissed Count 2 and rejected the Governments request for a 240-month sentence. Fowlkes hopes the trial outcome will help victims of child pornography know that "their pain is real." "And we will do everything within our power to make sure justice is served," he stressed. Duggar had previously admitted to molesting his sisters when he was younger. His history of abuse resulted in the cancelation of the family's reality show. Duggar's legal team is accusing the government of violating multiple rules of procedure and evidence, claiming that investigators did not thoroughly investigate the possibility that someone else could be responsible for the files found on the computer. The judge rejected the claims and denied requests for either a new trial or acquittal on Tuesday. After serving his sentence, Duggar will be on parole for 20 years and can't have unsupervised contact with minors, including his own children. Duggar will be required to attend sex offender treatment and is prohibited from watching pornography of any kind. Duggar's cousin Amy King told Celebuzz that she thinks the sentencing "isn't enough." I hope that every single second hes there feels like an eternity, she added. King, the daughter of Jim Bob Duggar's sister, has spoken out publicly about her famous family members on many occasions. She also posted a video reaction on Instagram Wednesday night. I knew him getting the maximum sentence wasnt going to be the easiest to prove since its his first offense in the judges eyes which I hate but at the same time, he cannot have his computer, he cannot hurt [and] exploit any more children and when he sees his kids, he has to be supervised, she said. Joshs sickness stems from somewhere, and eventually we will hear about the trauma. I dont know when, or how, or who but eventually I think more will come out. But hopefully tonight, I can sleep for the first time ever and rest assured that another monster will be put behind bars makes my heart feel a little lighter." Oklahoma bans most abortions throughout entire pregnancy Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a new law Wednesday that bans most abortions through all nine months of pregnancy, with the measure being enforced via litigation brought by private citizens. Stitt signed House Bill 4327, which was modeled off of a Texas law that bans most abortions after six weeks into a pregnancy but uses private civil actions to enforce the legislation. While Stitt had previously signed a six-week abortion ban, this new law bars abortions through the entire length of a pregnancy, making it one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the United States. Exceptions include rape, incest and life-threatening medical emergency for the mother. In a statement, Stitt said he promised to "sign every piece of pro-life legislation" that came across his desk. "l and I am proud to keep that promise today," he declared. "From the moment life begins at conception is when we have a responsibility as human beings to do everything we can to protect that baby's life and the life of the mother," Stitt said. "That is what I believe and that is what the majority of Oklahomans believe. If other states want to pass different laws, that is their right, but in Oklahoma, we will always stand up for life." The law allows for private individuals to sue abortion providers and anyone who "aids or abets" a woman seeking an abortion. The Center for Reproductive Rights said in a statement that Oklahoma is the first state to enact a "citizen-enforced total ban on abortion." A coalition of abortion providers and a "reproductive justice" organizations will imminently file a lawsuit hoping to block the law in court. "Banning abortion after six weeks was not extreme enough for Oklahoma lawmakers," Center for Reproductive Rights President Nancy Northup said in a statement. "The goal of the anti-abortion movement is to ensure no one can access abortion at any point for any reason." The Oklahoma bill was denounced by the White House last week when it passed the state legislature. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called abortion a "fundamental right" and labeled HB 4327 "the most extreme effort to undo these fundamental rights we have seen to date." "In addition, it adopts Texas' absurd plan to allow private citizens to sue their neighbors for providing reproductive health care and helping women to exercise their constitutional rights," she continued. "This is part of a growing effort by ultra MAGA officials across the country to roll back the freedoms we should not take for granted in this country." Last December, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the case of Dobbs v. Jackson, which centers on a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks into a pregnancy. If the high court upholds Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban, it could overturn or weaken the landmark 1973 opinion in Roe v. Wade, which prohibited laws restricting abortion before the unborn child attains viability. Earlier this month, Politico published a leaked draft opinion in the Dobbs case, which indicated that the Supreme Court would overturn Roe and allow states to decide their abortion laws. Although Politico acknowledged that the draft opinion was not final and did not necessarily mean Roe would be overturned, the report nevertheless sparked numerous protests and several acts of vandalism against churches and pro-life pregnancy resource centers. A ruling is expected by the end of June. If Roe is overturned, 21 states would either ban or severely restrict abortion, 16 states will continue to allow abortion throughout most or all of pregnancy. Existing abortion restrictions would remain in effect in 10 states. State Farm abandons support for LGBT book program targeting kids after whistleblower email release State Farm has withdrawn its support for a program that distributes LGBT-themed books to schools and libraries after a whistleblower leaked an email showing the company encouraged staff to donate books about gender identity to children as young as 5. The insurance company's Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President of Public Affairs, Victor Terry, announced the end of the collaboration with the organization behind the program, GenderCool Project, in a Monday email to staff obtained by the Twitter account Libs of TikTok. The GenderCool Project describes itself as a "youth-led movement" designed to highlight "transgender and non-binary youth who are thriving." BREAKING: @StateFarm sent out a mass email to their staff today stating we will no longer support that program after they were exposed for supporting a project to push LGBTQ books into schools. A source tells me the agents were really upset when we found out. W pic.twitter.com/55P1QJ0oLa Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 23, 2022 "State Farm's support of a philanthropic program, GenderCool Project, has been the subject of news and customer inquiries. This program that included books about gender identity was intended to promote inclusivity," the email reads. "We will no longer support that program." Terry also wrote that State Farm does not support mandating school curriculum on gender identity, stating that "[c]onversations about gender and identity should happen at home with parents." The chief diversity officer said that the company supports organizations that provide "resources for parents to have these conversations." State Farm confirmed in a Wednesday statement to The Christian Post that it's no longer affiliated with the organization, insisting again that the program was created to promote "inclusivity." "We will continue to explore how we can support our associates, as well as organizations that align with our commitment to diversity and inclusion, including the LGBTQ+ community," the company told CP. "We recognize and value the diversity of all people and support a culture of respect and inclusion in the communities in which we live and work, as well as our workplace." State Farm's announcement about the discontinuation of its partnership with The GenderCool Project followed the release of a Jan. 18 email leaked to the nonprofit organization Consumers' Research by concerned employees at the insurance company. Consumers' Research, an organization that educates people about policy issues and corporate activities, has launched the "Like a Creepy Neighbor" public awareness campaign in response to State Farm's partnership with the GenderCool Project. The title of the campaign is a play on the company's catchphrase, "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there." The leaked email was sent by Jose Soto, a corporate responsibility analyst for State Farm in Florida. It reveals that State Farm was "partnering with The GenderCool Project to help diversify classroom, community center and library bookshelves with a collection of books to help bring clarity and understanding to the national conversation about being transgender, inclusive and non-binary." ???? Emails leaked to @ConsumersFirst from concerned @StateFarm employees show the company engaged in the woke indoctrination of kids age 5+. State Farm partnered with The GenderCool Project which aims to have conversations with children about being Transgender and Non-Binary. pic.twitter.com/MYcZSW8Yp1 Will Hild (@WillHild) May 23, 2022 The collection of books created by The GenderCool Project that State Farm sought to distribute includes works titled, A Kids Book About Being Transgender, A Kids Book About Being Inclusive and A Kids Book About Being Non-Binary. The books are designed to help children 5 years old and older have "challenging, important, and empowering conversations about the toughest and most pressing topics we face today." "The project's goal is to increase representation of LGBTQ+ books and support our communities in having challenging, important and empowering conversations with children age 5+," Soto's email reads. "This is a fantastic way to give back and an easy project that will help support the LGBTQ+ community and to make the world around us better." The company reportedly intended to recruit six insurance agents to "[receive] these books in March, then [donate] them to their community by the end of April." While the email only referenced recruiting agents in Florida, it indicated that the program is not just a regional initiative. "Nationwide, approximately 550 State Farm agents and employees will have the opportunity to donate this three book bundle to their local teacher, community center, or library of their choice," Soto wrote. Hild told The Washington Examiner and other news organizations in a Zoom call that the program likely would not be allowed in Florida schools come July 1, when the Parental Rights in Education Bill takes effect. Critics of the bill, signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in March, have derided it as a "Don't Say Gay" bill that could stigmatize LGBT students. The legislation prohibits public schools and third parties from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity with students in kindergarten through third grade. "We would hope State Farm would ... cooperate with the governor's office or law enforcement in [Florida] and retrieve any of these books that may have been donated to public schools that by law now do not belong there," Hild said, adding that such discussions with children are inappropriate according to "any reasonable understanding." The issue of gender identity in schools has appeared in several learning institutions throughout the country in recent months. Earlier this month, Fairfax County Public School Board, which oversees the largest school district in Virginia, reviewed a student handbook that includes suspension as a potential punishment for students who "maliciously" misgender their trans-identifying peers. The proposed revisions to the district's Students' Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) handbook indicates that students can face a five-day suspension for "malicious deadnaming," which is defined as "[w]hen someone, intentionally or not, refers to a person who is transgender or gender-expansive by a name other than their own chosen name." In April, two sets of parents of the Ludlow Public School District in Massachusetts filed a lawsuit against school officials at Baird Middle School in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts Springfield Division. The complaint maintains that the school officials reportedly encouraged their children to secretly adopt new gender identities without informing their parents. The lawsuit accused the school of having a "protocol and practice of concealing from parents information related to their children's gender identity." Biden-backed WHOs latest power grab fails The Biden administrations attempt to usurp Congresss public health authority by rewriting international law may have just encountered an untimely grave. The Biden administration submitted a number of amendments for consideration at the World Health Assembly which would bolster the World Health Organization (WHO) Director Generals pandemic authority without the consent of member states. The World Health Assembly is the WHOs decision-making body and is meeting in Geneva this week, but the most interesting thing that happened did not happen at the assembly itself, said Michael Alexander, co-chair of the Law and Activism Committee of the World Council for Health. A first-year law student in the U.K. objected to the amendments, Alexander explained on Washington Watch. He asked the courts to review these amendments, and the court rejected him summarily. So he appealed. And then he got a letter from the government that said 12 of 13 international health regulation amendments have been taken off the table and will not be addressed at this Assembly, at least at this time. Its unclear how or why the amendments were tabled. It seems they were considered by a working group comprised of member states, but the group is not transparent, Alexander said. We dont know whos on it and whos saying what, or even how many nations are members although there are rumors that Brazil and Russia opposed the amendments. Its also unclear whether their tabling was permanent. We also dont know how the approval process works The 12 amendments are off the table right now, Alexander continued, but maybe theyll come back on in a day or two, and theyll be approved in some way that is not transparent to us. So we have good news for the moment, [but] we have to keep an eye on whats happening there. What is clear is that the Biden administration is unable to advance its public health agenda without these amendments. The United States clearly didnt play a role in tabling the amendments, Alexander said. But what is the Biden administrations agenda at the World Health Assembly? They would add duties to states like, The State Party shall accept or reject such an offer of assistance within 48 hours and, in the case of rejection of such an offer, shall provide to WHO its rationale for the rejection, which WHO shall share with other States Parties. They propose changing State Party within whose territory the public health emergency of international concern has occurred to relevant State Parties, which is undefined. They propose to delete language such as taking into account the views of the State Party concerned and WHO shall consult with and attempt to obtain verification from the State Party in whose territory the public health emergency occurred. The changes largely tend either to decrease the sovereignty of a state, increase the rights of other states to meddle in its affairs, and increase the power of WHO officials. In a letter to President Biden, Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) complained the amendments would grant unilateral authority to declare public health emergencies of international or regional concern to the WHOs Director General and Regional Directors, respectively. This would be an alarming transfer of U.S. sovereignty to an unelected U.N. bureaucrat. Leftist outfits like Snopes and The Washington Post have taken great pains to dispel conspiracy theories about this years World Health Assembly, which is usually considered a dry, technocratic event, but they achieve nothing more than missing the main point. The very trouble they take to defend the Biden administrations amendments demonstrate something more is going on. The concluding notes of the COVID-19 pandemic didnt satisfy the Biden administration. Their efforts to chase down increasingly unrealistic objectives with increasingly onerous mandates ended with the virus mostly burning itself out, even while the administration was still arrayed on the losing side of multiple legal battles. Pharmaceutical companies, public health agencies, and administration officials all suffered precipitous drops in credibility. It seems that the administration has finally admitted to itself what most of the country already knew the executive branch lacks the power to unilaterally impose its desired draconian response to a public health emergency under current U.S. law. But instead of concluding that extreme public health responses were out of bounds, the administration has tried to steal a run on the American people. The Biden administrations proposed amendments to the World Health Assemblys international health regulations seem calculated to force a nations hand on public health matters, if a global cadre can agree on the measures they should take. If the amendments were ratified, an administration could defend extreme measures during the next pandemic by protesting that they simply had to take certain actions because of international consensus. As problematic as such surrender of sovereignty would be under any circumstances, it is even more concerning given the WHOs pathetic response to COVID-19. This is the same organization that parroted the narrative from the Chinese Communist Party throughout the COVID pandemic, said FRC President Tony Perkins. First, they said, its not human-to-human transmission. And then they sat on [data] for so long. And they failed really at every turn, even so much that the previous administration withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization. Alexander agreed that the WHO was a captured organization, dependent on giant pharmaceutical companies and rich donors. This is not an independent, neutral bureaucratic organization, not an organization that is looking to the common good of its members. In his opening address on Sunday, WHOs Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus asserted that the pandemic is most certainly not over. Alexander warned Ghebreyesus is Chinas man, a former Marxist warlord in Ethiopia who obtained his position with the lobbying of the Chinese. Is that really who we want running public health here in America? Originally published at the Family Research Council. As Evangelical Christians, we are bringing reproach to the name of Jesus When the children of Israel were in exile, scattered from their homeland because of their sin and with the holy temple in Jerusalem in ruins, it made the God of Israel look bad. Couldnt He take care of His own? As the Lord said through the prophet of Isaiah, And all day long My name is constantly blasphemed (Isaiah 52:5). It is the same with us today as evangelical followers of Jesus: because of our failings and scandals and carnality, the name of the Lord is being mocked and ridiculed. This is heartbreaking on so many levels. In years past, the guilt of a few prominent TV preachers tarnished the names of other good Christian leaders, making Jesus look bad. Why did the Lords orchard have so many bad apples? More recently, because of the politicizing of the Gospel, many Christian conservatives became better known as followers of Trump than followers of Jesus, with some of them even emulating his mean-spirited behavior. This was the new model of Christian boldness. And once again, the name of Jesus was dragged down. Then we were shocked to learn about the failings of a beloved apologist. And to hear the salacious details about an affair that threatened the marriage of the famous leader of the worlds largest Christian university. This year, the worldwide Hillsong movement has become associated with the word scandal. And now, in devastating fashion, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the nations largest Protestant denomination, has been accused of a massive cover-up of sexual sins. As widely reported, an independent, third-party investigation indicated that SBC leaders stonewalled and denigrated survivors of clergy sex abuse over two decades while seeking to protect their own reputations. In the words of the SBC Task Force that called for the investigation, "...we grieve for what has been revealed in this report. We lament on behalf of survivors for how they have not been protected and cared for as they deserve and as God demands. With broken hearts, we want to lead the way by publicly repenting for what has happened in our convention. We implore our Southern Baptist family to respond to this report with deep repentance and a commitment to the ongoing moral demands of the gospel as it relates to sexual abuse. We must resolve to give of our time and resources to not only care well for survivors of sexual abuse, but to provide a culture of accountability, transparency, and safety as we move forward. We acknowledge that any act of repentance requires ongoing, deliberate, dedicated obedience and sacrifice. This is the calling of our Savior to unite as a body in following after Him." Who can fathom the amount of damage that has been done? First, there are the victims of sexual abuse who suffered the double indignity of being abused and then ignored, demeaned, disbelieved and silenced. And this was at the hands of well-known, highly respected Christian leaders, according to the report. How can this be? Then, there is the spiritual rot that follows in its wake, as sin and guilt are swept under the carpet, only to fester and grow. (Remember: were not talking about people who were guilty of minor indiscretions and then repented and lived above reproach thereafter. Were talking about allegations of rape and even abuse of children, with the offending leaders not even punished.) Then, as things explode publicly, the name of the Lord is mocked and ridiculed. You see, the world shouts, we told you these Christians were a bunch of hypocrites. And we told you this whole Jesus-thing was a sham. Now you have living proof! What a terrible, inexcusable shame. Its one thing if we say to the world, We dont claim to be perfect, but we are true to our faith, and where we fall short, we acknowledge it and make amends. It is another thing when we willfully and systematically cover up sin. And to think: for many women, in particular, the place that should be a safe haven, a place of refuge and protection, has become a place of fear, shame, and abuse. To ask again: how can this be? I personally have no formal connection with the SBC or Hillsong, and Im sure there are many godly people in these two large movements, the SBC being, by far, the largest. I dont doubt for a second that there are plenty of devoted ministers among them, many ethical leaders, along with countless believers who love the Lord and seek to honor Him. In fact, I would expect that the great majority are true blue. And in the circles in which I travel, I have worked side by side with some of the finest Christians on the planet, people of integrity and high character, people who are above reproach. I am honored to call them friends and co-workers. Yet there is no denying that, as conservative followers of Jesus, many of us identifying as evangelicals, we together look bad right now. Our brand has been tarnished. Our reputation has been smeared. And our Lord is being mocked. Thats why, together, we should get low before God and before people. We should confess corporately our guilt and sin. We should ask the watching world to forgive us for bringing reproach to the name of Jesus. And we should say, By Gods grace, we pledge to learn from our failings, to make amends, and do better. And if you get to know us personally, you might be pleasantly surprised. Theres a lot of good that we have done as well because of what Jesus has done in our lives. The bad news is that many lives have been destroyed and much damage has been done. The good news is that God gives grace to the humble, and the lower we go in our repentance, the higher He will lift us up. You can be sure that He, far more than any of us, is jealous for the reputation of His Son. And He will act to glorify His name. As He said through the prophet Ezekiel, And wherever [the Israelites] went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, These are the LORDS people, and yet they had to leave his land. I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. (Ezekiel 36:20-21) And so, He acted, bringing the exiles home, thereby restoring honor to His name. I trust He will act again. Matthew McConaughey says Americans must 'rearrange our values' after school shooting in hometown of Uvalde Academy Award-winning actor and Uvalde, Texas, native Matthew McConaughey said "action must be taken" and the United States must "rearrange our values" following the school shooting in his hometown that left 19 children dead. At least 21 victims, including 19 students and two teachers, have been confirmed dead after a lone 18-year-old gunman went on a shooting rampage in a single classroom at Robb Elementary School in the small Texas town on Tuesday. Before entering the school, the shooter was on the run from police after he shot his grandmother in the face. McConaughey took to Instagram after the shooting to share his heartbreak and make a call for action. "Once again we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us," the "Dallas Buyers Club" actor said. He called on Americans to ask themselves several questions and urged the country not to accept mass shootings as the norm. "What is it that we truly value? How do we repair the problem? What small sacrifices can we individually take today, to preserve a healthier and safer nation, state and neighborhood tomorrow?" he asked. "As Americans, Texans, mother and fathers, its time we re-evaluate, and renegotiate our wants from our needs," the father of three continued. "We have to rearrange our values and find a common ground above this devastating American reality that has tragically become our childrens issue." The University Health Hospital in San Antonio is caring for four patients connected to the shooting, including the gunmans 66-year-old grandmother, who was shot before the attack at the school, according to the Austin-American Statesman. The other patients include a 10-year-old girl in serious condition, another 10-year-old girl in good condition, and a 9-year-old girl also in good condition. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott identified the shooter as Salvador Ramos, who was shot and killed at the scene. McConaughey, who regularly attends church, stressed that mass shootings are an "epidemic we can control. He said that regardless of one's political affiliation, "we all know we can do better. We must do better." "Action must be taken so that no parent has to experience what the parents in Uvalde and the others before them have endured," he said. McConaughey ended his post with a note to those grieving the horrific shooting. "To those who dropped their loved ones off to school not knowing that today was goodbye, no words can comprehend or heal your loss, but if prayers can provide comfort, we will keep them coming," he wrote. Uvaldes massacre is the deadliest school shooting since Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut in 2012. AOC criticized by non-Christians after blaming 'fundamentalist Christians' for abortion opposition Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's recent comments blaming "fundamentalist Christians" for the "theocratic" push against abortion and suggesting that Judaism is OK with abortion have drawn the ire of some non-Christians. In a lengthy Instagram post last Thursday, the progressive lawmaker from New York City criticized the argument of abortion opponents who believe that abortion is "harming a life." "Well, some religions don't [believe that]," she responded. "Our Jewish brothers and sisters, they are able to have an abortion according to their faith." "[T]here are so many faiths that do not have the same definition of life as fundamentalist Christians," she said, expressing concern about the ability of non-Christians to "exercise their faith." "It's ridiculous and it is theocratic, it's authoritarian, it is wrong," she declared. Terrisa Bukovinac, a pro-life atheist and the founder of the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, described Ocasio-Cortez's "claim that you have to be religious to oppose killing children in their earliest stages of life" as a "lie" being "perpetuated by the Abortion Industrial Complex since before Roe v. Wade." "You don't have to be religious to recognize that abortion is murder," Bukovinac said in a statement to The Christian Post. "Pro-life people are the ones working towards a separation of church and state," Bukovinac asserted. "We want the law to reflect the scientific reality that life begins at conception, not just whenever we believe life begins. The concept of a human non-person has been used exclusively to discriminate against whole groups of human beings and in the case of the unborn, that discrimination is lethal almost 100% of the time." The Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro, an Orthodox Jew and conservative political commentator, pushed back against Ocasio-Cortez's assertion that Judaism permits abortion. "Explain to me where in Jewish law abortion is widely permissible," he said on Monday's episode of "The Ben Shapiro Show." "I'm waiting to hear, rabbi." An amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court last year by the Jewish Pro-Life Foundation, the Coalition for Jewish Values and other Jewish organizations and rabbis contends that "Jewish law prohibits abortion and Judaism obligates us to protect innocent life in the womb." Ryan Jones, an editor for Israel Today who is Christian, wrote in an op-ed that Ocasio-Cortez's assertion about Judaism might seem "well-founded in light of how easily Israel approves the procedure." "But in reality it betrays an ignorance of Judaism's position on the subject," Jones wrote. "In broad strokes, Judaism views a fetus as living creature, but refrains from granting it the status of personhood. However, Judaism is largely noncommittal about the entire affair. And it certainly shouldn't be portrayed as pro-abortion or pro-choice." Protests have occurred nationwide in recent weeks following the leak of a draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion that indicates that the nation's high court could overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Defending Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban, the law at the center of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Courtcase, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch argued in a brief that a human heart begins beating at five to six weeks gestation and that the baby begins to "move about" in the womb around eight weeks. "At 9 weeks, 'all basic physiological functions are present' as are teeth, eyes, and external genitalia," she wrote. Citing additional findings from the state legislature, Fitch said that "at 10 weeks, 'vital organs begin to function' and '[h]air, fingernails, and toenails begin to form,'" "at 11 weeks, an unborn human being's diaphragm is developing and 'he or she may even hiccup'" and that "at 12 weeks' gestation, he or she can 'open and close fingers,' 'starts to make sucking motions,' and 'senses stimulation from the world outside the womb." She also stated that 15 weeks into a pregnancy, an unborn baby "has taken on the human form in all relevant respects." Ocasio-Cortez used her Instagram video to announce her intention to spearhead a fundraiser for National Abortion Funds. She characterized the group as "a national network of several different individual abortion funds that help facilitate people being able to access ... their right to healthcare." She told pregnant women in states that have enacted abortion restrictions like Texas or Oklahoma that they are "welcome in New York." "We will do what we can to welcome you," she said. "We have taken actions on a state level, including opening up abortion funds to help people get the transportation needed to get here and I also know that there's just an enormous amount of organizing efforts that are launching for people to open up their homes to people who are seeking an abortion or needing that care." After detailing her experience with sexual assault, the member of Congress accused Republicans of "taking women's bodies" and "forcing their opinions, forcing their perspective on women's bodies without their consent." She believes Republicans are "violating not just women but trans people and non-binary people in this country." As she spoke, Ocasio-Cortez wore a shirt advocating for the abolition of the government agency tasked with removing undocumented immigrants from the U.S., reflecting the "Abolish ICE" movement embraced by the most progressive faction of the Democratic Party. The leaked initial draft opinion by Justice Samuel Alito in the Dobbs case, which is not final, proclaims that Roe was "egregiously wrong from the start" and "must be overruled." A final decision in the Dobbs case is expected by the end of June. Should the Supreme Court overturn Roe, the legality of abortion would be up to each state. While 21 states would either ban or severely restrict abortion in the absence of Roe, 16 states would continue to allow abortion throughout most or all of pregnancy. In 10 states, existing abortion restrictions would remain in effect. Voters in the remaining three states could decide the fate of abortion laws at the ballot box later this year. Florida suspends abortion clinic after 2 women hospitalized for botched abortions A prominent abortion clinic that has operated for decades in Florida has had its license suspended by state officials due to multiple hospitalizations tied to botched procedures. American Family Planning of Pensacola was suspended by the Agency for Health Care Administration, with the suspension taking effect on Saturday, according to The Associated Press. The Agency for Health Care Administration cited two incidents from earlier this year in which women who had abortions performed at the Pensacola clinic had to be hospitalized due to complications. In one of the incidents from this year, a woman was transported to a hospital due to hemorrhaging and low blood pressure and had to undergo an emergency hysterectomy. The suspension order said the abortion clinic failed to properly monitor the patients and did not provide medical records when the patients were transferred to other facilities, noted the AP. A third cited incident involved a woman who underwent an abortion at the clinic in August 2021, with the patient having to have parts of her colon removed as a result, according to the Pensacola News Journal. Reportedly the only abortion clinic in Pensacola and one of the few in the general area, American Family Planning has long been a focal point in the debate over abortion, as well as violence. In 1984, when the facility was known as the Ladies Center, it was bombed twice, first in June and then in late December after it had moved its practice to another location. On New Years Day 2012, 41-year-old resident Bobby Joe Rogers set the facility on fire, eventually being sentenced to 10 years in prison for arson and damaging a reproductive health facility. This defendant destroyed this clinic because of its lawful work in providing reproductive health services, said Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, in a press release dated October 2012. Such violent extremism will not be tolerated. The Department of Justice will continue to vigorously prosecute interference with services provided by the health community. Last year, the clinic was the focal point of months of protests between activists, with local media interviewing a pro-life protester identified as David. We're here to offer them other hope besides murdering their child, whether it be adoption or medical attention that's provided to women for free, David told WEAR at the time. If I could adopt every child here, I would do it. In April, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill known as the Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality Act, that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of gestation, which is scheduled to take effect on July 1. 'The Lord is near to the brokenhearted': Biden calls for prayers after Robb Elementary School shooting President blames gun lobby, manufacturers for mass shootings President Joe Biden quoted the Bible and asked for prayers for families who lost loved ones in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where at least 19 children and two teachers were gunned down Tuesday. At a press conference Tuesday evening, Biden talked about the school shooting and the tragedy of a parent losing a child. He also blamed the gun lobby and gun manufacturers for school shootings. To lose a child is like having a piece of your soul ripped away, said Biden, who himself has lost two children, one to a car accident in 1972 and another to cancer in 2015. Theres a hollowness in your chest; you feel like you are being sucked into it and never going to be able to get out. It's suffocating. And its never quite the same. Biden quoted Psalm 34:18, saying, The Lord is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit, and asked people to pray for the victims' families. The president then called for stricter gun laws in response to the mass shooting, asking, When in Gods name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? I am sick and tired of it. We have to act. And dont tell me we cant have an impact on this carnage, he continued, citing his efforts to pass commonsense gun laws while in Congress. We cant and wont prevent every tragedy, but we know they work and have positive impact. When we passed the assault weapons ban, mass shootings went down. When the law expired, mass shootings tripled. What in Gods name do you need an assault weapon for, except to kill someone? Biden then spoke about a recent meeting with national leaders from Asia and how their countries don't have as many mass shootings as the United States. These kinds of mass shootings never happen with the kind of frequency they happen in America, the president continued. Why? Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen? "Where in God's name is our backbone ... the courage to stand up to the lobbies? It's time to turn this pain into action," he declared. Biden then listed other mass shootings at schools, movie theaters and houses of worship, including the shooting at Tops grocery store in Buffalo, New York, but didn't name the shooting at the Taiwanese Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California, two Sundays ago. On Tuesday afternoon, an 18-year-old Uvalde High School student entered Robb Elementary School and opened fire, killing at least 19 children and one teacher before being shot and killed. The shooter also allegedly shot his grandmother before entering the elementary school, according to a statement released by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday. Abbott added that authorities are fully investigating the crime and that he and his wife mourn this horrific loss and called on people to show unwavering support to all who are suffering. San Francisco Mayor Breed refuses to march in city's pride parade over police uniform ban San Francisco Mayor London Breed, police and other first responders say they will not attend San Francisco's upcoming pride parade because organizers barred LGBT officers from marching in uniform, prompting concerns about solidarity and inclusion at the event. San Francisco Pride is a nonprofit organization that organizes the annual San Francisco pride celebration and parade at the end of June, which LGBT activists recognize as "pride month." The June 26 event is reportedly one of the largest LGBT community gatherings in the United States, welcoming nearly 1 million attendees in a typical year. In a statement released Monday, the San Francisco Police Officers Pride Alliance, along with LGBT members of the San Francisco Sheriff's Office and the San Francisco Fire Department, announced that they will not be marching in the parade unless the San Francisco Pride board reverses its decision "not allow uniformed LGBTQ+ members of police agencies to march in this year's SF Pride celebration." "[T]he board of SF Pride offered only one option: that the LGBTQ+ peace officers hang up their uniforms, put them back in the closet, and march in civilian attire," the statement reads. The decision to ban uniformed LGBT police officers from marching in the parade followed the nationwide outrage over the death of unarmed African American George Floyd in police custody in 2020. The push to ban law enforcement officials from marching in uniform at the parade stems from an incident at the 2019 parade, where a group of demonstrators "peacefully disrupted the Parade for several minutes." San Francisco Pride alleges that "several officers of the San Francisco Police Department unexpectedly and rashly overreacted to the disruption, swarming the area and leading to a larger scuffle." In a statement published by KGO-TV, Breed revealed she is skipping the parade. "I love the Pride Parade, and what it means for our LGBTQ community and for our city. It's one of my favorite events of the year. However, if the Pride Board does not reverse its decision, I will join our city public safety departments that are not participating in the Pride Parade," Breed said. "I've made this very hard decision in order to support those members of the LGBTQ community who serve in uniform, in our Police Department and Sheriff's Department, who have been told they cannot march in uniform, and in support of the members of the Fire Department who are refusing to march out of solidarity with their public safety partners." The San Franciso Police Department, the San Francisco Mayor's Office and San Francisco Pride did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment. Officer Kathryn Winters of the SFPD Officers Pride Alliance called for San Francisco Pride to "embrace the values of San Francisco, the values of radical inclusion." "We want to be able to show the members of our community that there are people just like you who put on these uniforms every day and are out there to support, help, and protect you," Winters told KGO-TV. Suzanne Ford, interim executive director of San Francisco Pride, told the Bay Area Reporter that the organization does want LGBT police officers to march in the parade, just not in uniform. "This is not a ban; this is merely an invitation to participate with a condition attached," she said. Ford insisted that law enforcement can wear shirts that identify themselves as police officers but cautioned that uniforms could make people feel unsafe. The 2022 pride parade marks the first time the event has been held in person since the coronavirus pandemic, making it the first to occur with the new policy in effect. "Let us be clear: this committee would not order the leather community to wear polyester at the parade," the public safety officials maintained in their joint statement. "But they have told us, peace officers, that if we wear our uniforms, we may not attend. For LGBTQ+ officers, this brings us back to a time when we had to hide at work that we were LGBTQ+. Now they ask us to hide the fact of where we work." Chicago store accused of kicking out uniformed police officer shopping for Bible A Chicago bookstore has been accused of asking a woman purporting to be an Illinois police officer to leave the store because it was not a "cop-friendly" business. The incident was first reported on May 17 by a Facebook user going by the name of Jo Riv Bridges, who said she walked into her "beloved" Pilsen Community Books (PCB) in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago to purchase a Bible while dressed in her on-duty uniform. As of Wednesday afternoon, her post has received nearly 500 reactions, more than 100 comments and almost 200 shares. Bridges who identified herself as a "gay Mexican-American woman" said she was initially told to leave the store because of her police gear. "When I walked in, in uniform, I was told I couldn't be in there because of my equipment. I told her I was on duty, and could carry," she wrote. At that point, a PCB employee told Bridges: "This is not a cop-friendly space." "As a gay Mexican-American woman, whose served her country and continues to serve her community, I'm shocked and heartbroken," Bridges wrote. The Christian Post has not been able to confirm the officer's identity, but pictures on her social media page bear a resemblance to news photos of Illinois State Police Trooper Johanna Rivera. Illinois State Police didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on the Facebook post. The officer said she was "embarrassed and heartbroken" by how she was treated. "I promise you, I didn't get mad as I walked out but my voice did crack when I told her how as a woman, a Mexican, a member of the community, I couldn't believe what she was doing," she wrote. The Christian Post reached out to Pilsen Community Books and the Jo Riv Bridges Facebook account for comments on the post. Responses are pending. PCB said on Twitter the day after the Facebook post was issued that its policy is to keep "a police-free store." In the words of Ruth Wilson Gilmore, abolition is presence. Fighting for a world where everyone is free is more than a cheeky t shirt, a slogan or a few well-timed tweets; to us, it means fostering a space where the most vulnerable feel welcome and safe. pic.twitter.com/m0xGODu4oX PilsenCommunityBooks (@PilsenCommBooks) May 18, 2022 "Fighting for a world where everyone is free is more than a cheeky t shirt, a slogan or a few well-timed tweets; to us, it means fostering a space where the most vulnerable feel welcome and safe," the store's May 18 post stated. After identifying "young organizers," teachers and parents as how PCB defines community, the post continued: "THESE people are our community, and these people are always welcome." "In the interest of fostering a safe space for all of these people, whenever possible, we aim to keep PCB a police-free store," the tweet asserts. A picture of several books with titles indicating a desire to abolish the police accompanied the Twitter thread. The store also partners with "Liberation Library," an effort to provide books to incarcerated youth in Illinois and ultimately "fight for a world where prisons no longer exist," according to the PCB website. While the Civil Rights Act of 1964 explicitly prohibits businesses from refusing service to patrons based on race, color, religion or national origin, refusing service strictly based on one's profession is unlikely to reach the threshold of discrimination. But for Bridges, this visit to PCB was likely her last. After expressing disappointment about the treatment she received from "My beloved Pilsen, my home, my barrio where I lived for 7 years and still own a home there," she vowed to "never go there again." Church of Scotland votes to allow ministers to marry same-sex couples The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland voted Monday to allow ministers and deacons to marry same-sex couples. By a vote of 274 to 136, ministers and deacons in the reformed Calvinist denomination can now apply to become authorized celebrants to conduct same-sex ceremonies. According to a statement released by the Church of Scotland, "no person [will] be required to participate in or be involved in the arrangements for the same-sex marriage unless they explicitly wished to do so." "There has been a lengthy, prayerful and in-depth discussion and debate about this topic for many years at all levels of the Church to find a solution that respects diversity and values the beliefs of all," General Assembly Moderator the Rev. Iain Greenshields said in a statement. Greenshields said that the Church of Scotland is a broad church with many diverse views on marriage among its over 300,000 members, noting that the church is committed to handling the topic in "grace and humility." "The tone and tenor of discussions are civil and people are respectful of those who hold opposing views," Greenshields added. "All celebrants would be expected to take account of the peace and unity and pastoral needs of the congregation and any parish or other grouping of which it is a part while considering to conduct a same-sex marriage ceremony." Under the new rules, pastors who want to conduct same-sex marriages would first have to apply to the principal clerk's office, which will send an application to the Registrar General of Scotland on their behalf. The principal clerk plans to maintain a record of those who conduct same-sex weddings. And church leaders are responsible for renewing their status to perform same-sex ceremonies every three years. The Church of Scotland is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches founded in 1560. It has over 800 ministers serving in parishes and chaplaincies, mostly in Scotland but also in England and Europe. The Rev. Phil Gunn, minister of Rosskeen Parish Church in Ross-shire, believes the overture is "not biblical." "A Church that does not provoke any crisis, preach a Gospel that does not unsettle, proclaim a Word of God that does not get under anyone's skin or a Word of God that does not touch the real sin of the society in which it is being proclaimed, what kind of Gospel is that?" asked Gunn in a statement. "We see the scriptures, old and new, that point to God's teaching on marriage and human sexuality. We are called to love everyone as Christ commanded us. We are to demonstrate God's love to the world so they might recognize something different in us, but that does not mean we have to conform to the ways of society or the world." Gunn said that "the Bible is the supreme rule of faith and life for the Church." "God has called us as His followers to be bold and make a stand for what is right in his eyes," Gunn proclaimed. "If we choose to turn our back on scripture how can we stand up and say we are ministers of God's church if we then change what God says?" The Rev. Lezley Stewart, a minister and a commissioner, agrees with the Church of Scotland's new policy to allow same-sex marriages. "We have always lived with differences and we always will. No one in this General Assembly hall is the same as you and no one thinks the same as you and maybe we should thank God for that," Stewart said. "But we are the Church together and if you look to your right, to your left, look in front of you and look behind you, hopefully, what you can see is simply a reflection of Christ we are the Church together." Stewart believes that Jesus wants everyone to be "seen by our love for one another." "I do respect the choice of ministers to choose," Stewart continued. "I do respect the faith and desire of members and ministers to say I do and be married in their church in a way that most of us have been able to do throughout the whole of our lives and take for granted." Ahead of Monday's vote, members of the assembly expressed differing thoughts on the legislation. The first openly gay clergyman in the Church of Scotland to have his appointment approved in 2009, the Rev. Scott Rennie, told the General Assembly he could not marry his husband in a religious wedding in the way that he would have wanted to in the past. "I sincerely hope the assembly will find it in itself to support the deliverance, even those who have their doubt," Rennie said, according to the BBC. "I want to say that marriage is a wonderful thing. My marriage to my husband Dave nurtures my life and my ministry. Frankly, I couldn't be a minister without his love and support. It is much the same as opposite-sex marriage in its joys and its glories." The vote's outcome was expected because a majority of the denomination's presbyteries had voiced their support last month. The U.K.-based Christian Institute said it's "very sad" to learn that most of the presbyteries support same-sex weddings. The Christian Institute's Scotland Officer Nigel Kenny said in a statement that "the Bible is crystal clear" about the traditional biblical beliefs of marriage. "True, God-honoring marriage is only between one man and one woman. Jesus' own teaching on this in Matthew 19 could not be clearer. But it seems that the majority of presbyteries are more interested in taking their cue from culture rather than Christ," Kenny stated. The Covenant Fellowship Scotland, a group of Evangelicals within the Church of Scotland, said in a statement that the Church of Scotland is making a "serious mistake." "The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, in converting an overture permitting ministers and deacons to officiate at same-sex marriages into an Act of the Church, has acted in a way which is both unbiblical and sinful," the statement reads. "We all have a deep pastoral care and concern for those who wish to enter into same-sex marriages, and we understand the pastoral impulse of ministers and deacons who wish to help people at life's key moments. But we must nevertheless point to the complete absence of any compelling or persuasive biblical evidence that might permit ministers and deacons of the Church of Scotland to officiate at same-sex marriages." The Covenant Fellowship contends that the Church of Scotland's decision "contradicts everything the Bible has to say about the complementary nature of men and women, and of the character and purposes of marriage." "Instead of following the clear and unambiguous teaching of God's written word, the Bible, the Church of Scotland continues to follow popular opinion," the statement concluded. (Bloomberg) -- Google executive Prabhakar Raghavan recently had an issue with his rose bushes. His wife took a photo of the plants on her phone, uploaded the image to Google, identified the culprit and followed a link for a fungicide. Then she bought it. A seamless transaction that didnt involve typing into a search bar, it was a real-life test of sorts for Raghavans strategic vision. A senior vice president responsible for most of Googles largest servicessearch, maps, advertising and morethe 61-year-old executive is determined to crack e-commerce, a market projected to hit $2.27 trillion in 2025 that the Alphabet Inc. division has tried and failed to figure out many times before. In the past, Google has tried emulating Amazon.com Inc.s online retail and delivery services, with little luck. Now, under Raghavan, the search giant is positioning itself as a kind of anti-Amazon, a free marketplace for merchants and Amazon rivals thats designed to get consumers more comfortable shopping with Google. Earlier this month, at Googles I/O software conference, Raghavan and his deputies demonstrated new features they hope will achieve that end, including one that lets visitors use photos to search for nearby retail products or find any item in the physical world with the click of a camera. And on Tuesday, the company unveiled a feature that lets people go from merchant listings on Google search to their checkout pages in one click. Raghavan hopes the various initiatives will persuade millions of people to click buy, prompting sellers to purchase many more Google ads. For Amazon, which built a booming business by essentially renting its digital real estate to small sellers, the risk is that Google could give those brands a pathway to thriving outside its marketplace. That in turn could force the Seattle-based company to more aggressively court sellers with discounts on fees, advertising or logistics services. Still, Amazon remains a formidable rival, and Google confronts daunting challenges. Its renewed push into e-commerce coincides with a slowdown in online shopping as consumers revert to their pre-pandemic habits. Amazon and EBay Inc. both recently reported slowing growth and weak profit outlooks. Moreover, Google has always sought to make its technology fade into the background. Turning the site into a shopping destination risks wrecking the experience and alienating visitors. Ahead of the I/O presentation, Raghavan took pains to say shopping on Google would be super smooth. If the concept works as advertised, he said, shoppers wont have to think: Am I doing a search? Am I on Amazon or Google? Raghavan is the first Google executive to oversee the technical operations behind both search and the ads division since Sundar Pichai did in 2014, shortly before he became CEO. Raghavan is also one of the companys best compensated executives, pulling down $28.6 million last year in salary and stock grants. As such, he has the clout to set an ambitious e-commerce strategy and, at least theoretically, get people who traditionally operated in silos to collaborate instead. Those who have worked with Raghavan point to his technical mastery and operational shrewdnessan unusual combination of attributes at a company that has so often coasted on its inventions and profits. Google is violently allergic to strategic thinking, said Sam Ramji, a former executive who worked with Raghavan on Googles cloud products. Hes the man who brought strategy to Google. Adds Martha Welsh, Googles director of commerce strategy: He really takes a holistic view of the business. Since Raghavans promotion in mid-2020, he has torn up Googles e-commerce playbook, scrapping the fees the company levied for online purchases and shuttering the delivery service. He has tried poaching merchants irritated with Amazon, reshuffled the leadership ranks, and overhauled Googles payments operations by dropping its banking plans and narrowing the focus. He even tasked his search division with catering to people making heady commercial decisions, like buying a home or picking a college. Hes willing to make bold moves, said Bill Ready, Googles president of commerce, who joined in 2020 as one of Raghavans top deputies. Boldness is required. While Googles advertising operation continues to print money, the model is under siege from regulators and privacy clampdowns, including Apples ban on targeted marketing messages. Due in part to these headwinds, the growth rate of the ad business is destined to slow, and Google isnt the only one jumping into e-commerce to goose revenue; Meta Platforms Inc. and TikTok are as well. Meanwhile, even as Google tries to build an online shopping destination to complement its ad business, Amazon has done the inverse: created a robust advertising operation on top of its enormous online bazaar. Googles success is hard to gauge because it doesnt break out e-commerce sales or retail ads. Amazons is easy to see; its ads business posted 23% growth in the first quarter. That seems to be working way better for Amazon than it is for Google, said Mike Ryan, a portfolio strategist for Smarter Ecommerce GmbH. Raghavan has tied Googles main revenue and profit driverssearch and adsmore tightly to its e-commerce efforts than ever before. Thats all put more pressure on him to deliver on his strategy. Shopping Express Googles last big e-commerce push involved going at Amazon head-on. In 2013, Google launched Shopping Express, a delivery service with a nifty app and a promise to ship many items on the same day. Google had huge retail partners on board, including Target Corp. and Walgreens, and planned an annual subscription model a la Amazon Prime. Back then, when quick e-commerce delivery was a novelty, Googles service looked like a natural Amazon contender. But it never was. Shopping Express expanded to a few cities outside of the San Francisco Bay Area, but had little appeal for consumers. Googles Shopping site, accessible as a tab on its homepage, aggregated listings from online retailers with paid ads at the top, but attracted relatively few visitors compared with the main search page. Former Google employees say managerial indecision and an unwillingness to invest heavily in the margin-thin business undercut the strategy. Then in 2015, Europe hit Google with a massive anti-monopoly suit that argued the search engine unfairly promoted its own shopping service over others. That forced the company to spin off the European business and move more cautiously. Google brought in consultants from BCG to assess a specific e-commerce strategy, but didnt follow the firms recommendations. The company shortened the delivery services name (to just Express) and revamped it to center on its digital voice-assistant, another Amazon competitor. That effort fizzled, too. For the past 15 years, Google has been trying to figure out commerce, said Rick Watson, the head of RMW Commerce Consulting. And theyve never really executed. In early 2020, Google reset its strategy. Management recruited Ready from PayPal to lead the commerce unit and realigned the search, payments and maps divisions to work more closely with his. To run that entire portfolio, Google picked Raghavan, a veteran of its enterprise division who was put in charge of ads in 2018. Before joining Google in 2012, Raghavan spent years at tech research labs and in academia, where he became an expert on web search technologies just as they began taking off. He speaks five languages and still carries himself more like a professor than a senior executive. While discussing Googles decision to emulate the visual, rapid-fire features of TikTok, he said, It behooves us to also start thinking about those paradigms. He once requested classical music to accompany his entrance onstage at an event before a staffer interceded. Hes always surprised when he gets more responsibility, said Jayshree Ullal, a longtime friend who runs Arista Networks Inc. You can never tell hes a high-powered number-two executive at Google. Still, Raghavan made his e-commerce ambitions clear during the first year in his new role. Google, he told colleagues, should think of users being on journeysnot simply coming to Google.com for information but to research and, hopefully, buy something. He and Ready quickly decided to pull the plug on Express. They dropped the commission Google took for sales on its properties and the fees it charged merchants to list items on its shopping site, a signal to the industry that it wanted to be an open marketplace, not a competitor. Were not trying to put boxes on doorsteps, Ready explained. What were trying to solve is the information part of the problem. By that, Ready meant making it easier for consumers to find desired products, deals or brandseven those that havent bought an ad. Search results now identify identify discounts and loyalty programs, while new widgets list the shipping costs and hidden fees on specific purchases. Google cut deals with Shopify Inc., Block Inc. and other commerce companies to make it more compelling for businesses to sell on Google properties. Those features are designed for buying products like sneakers and cooking pans. But the company is also experimenting with items that arent on most e-commerce siteshelping consumers buy NFTs via image search or research such big-ticket purchases as real estate. The company has noticed that searchers in the market for a home, college or car will often return to Google more than 60 times with similar queries before making a decision. The idea is to customize the search experiences for these use cases in ways Google hasnt before. Google has already done that with certain categories, creating unique features for people searching for jobs or hotels. Companies like Yelp and the online travel industry have complained that these changes buried their sites and forced them to buy more ads to get clicks. Googles search team has been quietly working on adding more topics. Under the project, codenamed Mercury, the search team has ceded to the advertising group such areas as shopping, real estate, mortgages, etc, according to a memo reviewed by Bloomberg. The authors of the document prioritized boosting traffic for merchants and creating oh wow moments! that would lure searchers back to Google.com and, eventually, a purchase. Google declined to comment on the project, but executives have said the ads division doesnt influence unpaid search results. Raghavan said the company has no plans to rival real estate brokers like Redfin. And, so far, Google has resisted using the search history of repeat visitors to tailor results. Thats largely to avoid violating peoples sense of privacy, he explained. Can you, in these situations, offer the user more support in a long-running journey, without in any way creeping them out? Raghavan said his teams were still exploring if they could. Some in Silicon Valley have blasted Google for filling search results with too many ads. Raghavan said increased demand from advertisers during the pandemic probably drove the recent uptick in advertising, and he expects it to cool off amid easing restrictions on travel and events. Early Success There are signs that Raghavans strategy is starting to pay off. Earlier this year, Google revealed that e-commerce advertising was a leading contributor to a 43% bump to search revenue in 2021. Google also said last year that over a billion people shop on its properties every day, though it hasnt updated the figure. In the fall, Morgan Stanley research showed that consumers were using Google and YouTube to research products and price-shop more often than they used Amazon, EBay or Walmart. In April, the bank reported that 59% of survey respondents who are Amazon Prime members said they started researching products on Google, up from 50% in the fall. Talley & Twine, an independent watch brand based in Virginia, started getting serious about Google in the past two years and has sometimes seen a fivefold return on its ad spending. Its been a saving grace for us, said President Randy Williams. The other benefit, he added, is that the search engine sends customers to his web store. Thats the roadblock we have with Amazon, Williams said. Amazons customers are Amazon customers. Still, some industry insiders say Googles biggest moves to create a marketplacecutting commissions and listing fees for merchantshave yet to attract significant numbers of shoppers. When those changes were announced, some merchants braced for a big uptick in traffic and sales, said Ryan, the e-commerce strategist. Then nothing happened, he said. I would describe it as nice, but low-impact. Kirk Williams, head of the online agency Zato Marketing, said he wouldnt be surprised if Googles fee adjustments didnt alter consumer behavior enough to lure in more merchants. Not many more people visited Googles shopping site, and most eyeballs remained on the search page, where merchants still feel they have to buy ads to get in front of consumers. It hasnt been anywhere near the traffic volume that they were hoping to see, Williams said. 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Along the edge of the Gulf, Nathaniel 'Natty' Adams details the people, places, culture and moments that make New Orleans one of America's most colorful and vibrant cities. On a sunny May afternoon, New Orleans Loyola University Jazz Ensemble meets in a large rehearsal room in the music building on St. Charles Avenue across from Audobon Park. Roughly 60 students in various modes of casual college dressT-shirts, shorts, sneakersstroll in unhurriedly, picking up and unpacking their instruments from the cases lining the walls, chatting, and finding their seats. Members of the Jazz Vocal Ensemble congregate on one side of the room, talking. Instruments are tuned, the piano and bass fall into a groove together, the flute and clarinet joining in before the saxophone section begins a honking playful battle. The band is excited as Dr. Gordon Towell, director of the program, gradually calls them to attention. On the following Friday the Jazz Ensemble, showpiece of the largest Jazz education program in New Orleans, was scheduled to perform at the first New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. They were given an opening slot at 11:15 on Sunday morning. For the seniors this gig would mark the culmination of four years of difficult pandemic-era musical educationit was to be a celebration of all of their hard work. Spencer Moore, a saxophonist born and raised in New Orleans, says that Jazz Fest isnt just a festivalits a community; a family reunion. He joined as a freshman in 2020, and says that because of the pandemic the band didnt get to do what we were born to do: to play jazz in front of people and get their reactions. I was in high school the last time they had a Jazz Fest, he points out. Christopher Casillas, a graduating senior says hes nervous because the sets second piece centers around his soprano saxophone soloing. Hes been gigging locally at the live music bars up and down Frenchman street with musicians outside the school, but the ensembles big band is a different experience. His fellow senior Peter James has even more reason to be excited for Jazz Festit will be the debut of his first original composition with the band, a funky piece called False Report featuring Motown horn blasts and shimmering disco hi-hats, all held together by a percussive piano melody. Conducting his fellow students at practice, James runs through each section of the song several times until they have it down pat. Saskia Walker, a junior in the vocal ensemble, moved to New Orleans from Rome, Italy. Her parents are both musicians, but she grew up going to musical schools almost by happenstancethey were just the closest to my home, she says. New Orleans musical heritage had always held a fascination for her, and when she discovered the Loyola program she knew she had to go. So many university towns are just that, she says. In New Orleans I get to go to Frenchman Street and sit in with other musicians. The famous yearly Jazz and Heritage Festival was one of the things she was most excited about seeing and participating in when she arrived in Fall of 2019. The following spring the University, the city, the country, and most of the world went into lockdown for the Covid-19 pandemic. Campus shut down and the students were sent home, crestfallen, to await news on what was next to come. The Loyola University Jazz programs staff diligently came up with ways to continue teaching the students when in-person classes resumedwith precautionary measuresin the fall semester. The band was broken up into smaller groups for rehearsal, they learned how to record in separate sections to give them an idea of studio work, the horn players had special medical-grade materials stretched over the bells of their instruments, and the vocalists were given wire-framed masks that enabled them to open wide, sing, and breathe in and out without getting a mouth full of fabric. On some days they would rehearse outside, competing with the St. Charles Street traffic and the fighter jets that occasionally fly over the city from the local military base. School janitors were often their lone audience on a relatively empty campus. At rehearsal, Towell helps them organize their carpools to the festival. He tells them to wear something casual nice, like khakis and a colorful shirt. If you wear flip flops to Jazz Fest youre not from here, he warns them. Thats like wearing flip flops in the French Quarter. A groan of disgust goes up from the band. He also warns them that bands have been cut due to weather in the past, and that the Festival is very strict on timing. Ive seen them cut Arturo Sandovals mic, he swears, to gasps of horror. The band has a warm-up gig on Wednesday at the New Orleans Jazz Museum in the French Quarter as part of a showcase of local jazz education programs covering all ages. In front of a crowd lounging on the grass, Chris Casillass nerves melt away as he stands for his sinuous soprano saxophone solo. He sways to the rhythm, eyes closed, his many-ringed fingers deftly moving, earning him cheers and applause when hes finished. Peter Jamess False Report, is a flawless hit with the audience. The band is ready for Jazz Fest. On Friday morning Stephen Moore woke up at 5:30 AM, too excited to sleep any more. Rain was pouring outside, with occasional peals of thunder. But rain comes and goes quickly andfutile as forecasts can be in New Orleansall signs pointed to it being over by their set. The band carpools to the fairgrounds from all over the city, talking not only about the set but about what acts theyll go see after they play. Fifteen minutes after they arrive at the tent with their instruments, at around 9:30 a.m., a festival representative comes to tell them they wont be playing, partly for fear that the rain and lightning might compromise their safety and equipment. A handful of sound techs, taking pity on the crushed students, let them play a couple of songs to sound check the stage. By the time the doors are open to the public the Loyola Jazz Ensembles name has vanished from the websites schedule. By the time 11:15 rolls around the sky is clear and the students are dispersed around the festival, trying to make the best of a bad day. This was my first year in the big band, says Casillas. And this was supposed to be my last concert. It is what it is. At least we had Wednesday. The seniors, despite missing this musical have big things to move on to: Casillas will be attending NYUs Screen Scoring Masters program in the Fall. James will be attending the University of Miami for a Masters in Musical Composition. False Report will be distributed among his fellow composition students when they sight read one anothers pieces. For now, the ensemble is done playing and the students are taking their final exams. They may not have played Jazz Fest 2022, but it wasnt entirely wasted. Going to the Fest was still a bonding experience for us, says Walker. We got to listen to the music we all love together. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) Amber Heard told jurors Thursday that a harassment campaign waged against her by ex-husband Johnny Depp has left her humiliated and scared for her life from multiple death threats, and said she just wants Johnny to leave me alone. Heard was the final witness in the six-week libel trial Depp brought against his ex-wife. With cameras in the courtroom, millions of people have followed the trial, and interest seemed to gain momentum as the weeks went on and both Depp and Heard testified about the ugly details of their relationship. Online and at the courthouse, Depp's fans have overwhelmingly dominated the narrative, with groupies lining up overnight to get one of the few spots in the courtroom and wave at Depp as he walks in and out. Heard has been booed by spectators on the street as she enters and leaves the courthouse. The harassment and the humiliation, the campaign against me thats echoed every single day on social media, and now in front of cameras in the showroom every single day I have to relive the trauma, Heard said as she fought back tears. Perhaps it's easy to forget I'm a human being. On cross-examination, Depp lawyer Camille Vasquez told Heard that your lies have been exposed to the world" and questioned her about people who contradicted portions of her accounts. I know how many people will come out of the woodwork to be in support of Johnny, Heard responded. Depp is suing Heard for libel in Fairfax County Circuit Court over a December 2018 op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post describing herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. His lawyers say he was defamed by the article even though it never mentioned his name. Heard said she hopes the lawsuit will allow her to regain her voice, and said she had the right as an American to publish an article that described her experiences and how they relate to the national debate over domestic violence. Johnny has taken enough of my voice, she said. I have the right to tell my story. She said Depp has been fixated on revenge ever since she filed for divorce and obtained the restraining order against him. She referenced earlier testimony in which Depp texted Heard's disgruntled former personal assistant and urged her to come over for a spot of purple and well fix her flabby a nice and good!!! Johnny promised me promised me that hed ruin my life, that hed ruin my career. Hed take my life from me, Heard said. Depp has denied he ever struck Heard, and says she was the abuser in the relationship. Heard has testified about more than a dozen separate instances of physical abuse she says she suffered at Depps hands. The final witness Thursday morning for Depp's side was a hand surgeon, Richard Gilbert, who said he thinks the injury that occurred to Depp's middle finger could have occurred as Depp describes it. The tip of the finger was severed during a fight the couple had in Australia. Depp says it occurred when Heard threw a large vodka bottle at him. Heard says Depp did it to himself in a drug-fueled rage on a night when he also sexually assaulted her with a liquor bottle. Jurors will hear closing arguments on Friday. Click here to read the full article. Kevin Spacey has been charged with four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The decision was unveiled Thursday by the U.K.s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which has spent over a year reviewing a file passed to them by the Metropolitan Police. The CPS has authorized criminal charges against Kevin Spacey, 62, for four counts of sexual assault against three men, said Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division. He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Spacey are active and that he has the right to a fair trial. At least some of the charges are believed to stem from Spaceys time at the Old Vic theater in London, where he served as artistic director from 2004-2015. Following a cascade of sexual assault allegations against the actor in the U.S., the theater undertook an internal investigation which, according to the BBC, resulted in 20 victims coming forward who claimed he had behaved inappropriately toward them. The charges are the latest in a series of legal battles both civil and criminal that Spacey has been fighting since allegations of his sexual assault and misconduct were first publicly exposed in 2017 by Rent and Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp. Rapp told Buzzfeed News that when he was 14 Spacey made a non-consensual sexual advance toward him at a party. Spacey, who has denied Rapps claims, is still embroiled in a civil suit over the allegations after Rapp sued him in New York for sexual abuse. Last month, Spacey reportedly filed paper requesting the case be dismissed. Rapps co-claimant, known only as C.D. and who also claimed Spacey had abused him as a teenager, was dropped from the lawsuit last June after refusing to reveal his identity to the court. In 2018, a criminal charge against Spacey was dropped in Massachusetts after the alleged victim refused to testify and also withdrew a civil lawsuit. Spacey pled not guilty before the criminal case was dropped. In the same year he escaped a potential criminal charge in Los Angeles after prosecutors said the alleged incident was time-barred under Californias statute of limitations. And in 2019 a civil suit against the actor alleging sexual assault was also dismissed after the plaintiff died. The death also meant Spacey sidestepped criminal charges, according to the Los Angeles Times, after Los Angeles County District Attorneys office told the newspaper they would not pursue the case. Spacey also continues to fight a $31 million arbitration claim related to his time on House of Cards. Spacey was fired from the former flagship Netflix show following Rapps allegations. In 2020, MRC, which produced the show, won an arbitration ruling saying the actor owed them $31 million in lost profits as a consequence of Spaceys removal from the show. (Varietys owner, Penske Media, owns a joint venture with Media Rights Capital called PMRC). In January this year, Spacey attempted to block the arbitration award by filing a request in civil court for a judge to set aside the arbitration ruling. It is unclear whether Spacey will submit himself to the authorities in London following the charges. His whereabouts in recent years have been something of a mystery, although in 2019 he was formally interviewed as a suspect by the Metropolitan police in the U.S., according to the Daily Mail. In August 2019, he unexpectedly turned up to give a poetry reading at a museum in Rome. Two years later, he was cast in his first project since his dismissal from House of Cards, a supporting role in Lumo Che Disegno Dio (The Man Who Drew God), from Italian director Franco Nero. Earlier this month, Spacey appeared to be attempting a comeback after two films starring the actor Peter Five Eight and Gateway to the West were shopped around at Cannes. Its likely any comeback will now be put on hold as he turns his attention to his latest legal battle. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Every other Thursday, Chron taco columnist Marco Torres tells the story of Houston through Mexican food in "Tacos y Mas." On the Netflix series "Chef's Table," acclaimed Mexican chef Enrique Olvera said: "You have to eat a lot of tacos to know how a good taco feels in your mouth." I've been preaching this my whole life. My name is Marco Torres, but most of my friends and colleagues know me as "Marco from Houston." I am a full-time freelance photographer and taco journalistthat's how I've been introducing myself for most of my adult life, way before I got a tattoo of a taco inside the outline of the state of Texas on my arm. It's who I am, it's where I'm from, and it's what I represent. I'm honored to have received this opportunity to share my love and knowledge about tacos with you, Houston. Welcome to "Tacos y Mas." For this inaugural column, the focus is on birria: What it is, who makes it, and where you can eat some of that good good. Last weekend, Jose Jesus "Jesse" Esparza, owner of TJ Birria y Mas (no relation!), was crowned El Rey de la Birria. He and his team served thousands of quesabirria tacos at the La Feria Festival held at the Humble Civic Center, where they also participated in the birria contest. The judgesmyself includedwere delighted with the flavor and juiciness of their birria, complemented by a spicy green salsa and flavorful consomme. Marco Torres Que es birria? Birria is a dish that originated in the Mexican state of Jalisco. The traditional meat of choice for birria is goat, although lamb and beef can also be used. The meat is marinated with chiles and other spices, then stewed in a pot for hours, creating a fragrant dark red consomme and exceptionally tender meat. In Mexico, birria is served in a bowl, with the meat floating and drowning in its own juices. Fresh tortillas are provided for tacos, or you can roll up the tortilla and eat it alongside your soup. Marco Torres Birria has been a Mexican cuisine favorite for generations. It was usually reserved as a dish served at wedding celebrations or similar festivities. Although birria has been available at some Mexican restaurants and taquerias in Houston for a while, it definitely wasn't as prevalent as it is now. And that's just traditional birria. The quesabirria trend has dominated social media in the last few years, a result of Tijuana-style birria tacos filled with cheese and wrapped in consomme-dipped tortillas. The trend traveled north of the border, up California to Los Angeles, then spread across the nation. At TJ, it's a cooking style, not a type of meat As I walked into TJ Birria y Mas during the lunch rush one weekday afternoon, I encountered a trio of Harris County Sheriff deputies on their break ordering quesabirria tacos. "Do you guys come here to eat often?" I asked. "Yes, we definitely do, but usually not in uniform," responded one of the deputies. "I've eaten birria all over town, and this is my favorite," declared another. "The other spots just can't compete with TJ's." Esparza, the owner, believes that birria is more of a cooking style rather than a type of meat. For his birria, he uses three cuts of beef: brisket for fat, chuck roast for tenderness, and shoulder clod for volume. The meat is then shredded and ready for tacos, quesabirria, and even birria ramen. Marco Torres Esparza was born in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi, and has been in Houston since he was about 5 years old, growing up in the Bellaire and Sharpstown neighborhoods. At the age of 16, he started working as a dishwasher at a Black-eyed Pea restaurant, later moving up as a line cook and server. He distinctly remembers making the chain's famous chicken-fried steaks. Later in his career, he worked for Fish City Grill, first as a cook, then a kitchen manager and general manager. He started Taquizas El Jesse in 2018, a taco catering business that was fairly successful. The original TJ Birria y Mas opened in Stafford in May 2020, and the Heights location followed in April 2021. Opening during a worldwide pandemic has been a challenge, but both restaurants have found success with birria as the best-seller on the menu. In Spring Branch, a matriarch inspires a restaurant Tacos Dona Lena in Spring Branch is another prominent birria establishment. The restaurant is named after Magdalena "Lena" Cabrera, a native of Salamanca, Guanajuato, in Central Mexico. Cabrera had been selling tacos out of her home in Mexico since 1985, continuing when she moved to the States in the 1990s, and eventually leading to her namesake restaurant that opened in April 2020. Business slowed during the pandemic, but Tacos Dona Lena built a following through word-of-mouth praise for their quesabirria and other authentic Mexican offerings. Marco Torres "Me encanta la cocina," said Cabrera, expressing love for her kitchen on a pleasant Monday evening as we chatted in front of her restaurant. Most of the tables were full around 8 p.m., only an hour before closing time. Her son Angel was running around, taking orders, helping run food, and making aguas frescas. So what makes Dona Lena's birria so good? Cabrera keeps her secret adobo recipe close to her heart. She also credits her family's love and passion for food and hospitality as a major factor of their success. "Este trabajo es muy pesado (This work is very draining)," she confessed. "Pero nos encanta! (But we love it!)" Dona Lena's birria tacos are made with tortillas bathed in red consomme and planted with a little Mexican flag perched atop of a toothpick. The steaming birria soup is served in a white styrofoam cup, topped with cilantro and freshly diced onions. Alongside, six salsas are of varying spice levels, from the traditional tomatillo and verde, to the rojo molcajete salsas, and the hottest two aptly named El Mocoso and La Llorona. From social media hype to real life, it seems like birria in Houston is here to stay. I definitely believe that we're still a fajita, trompo and barbacoa town, but there's more than enough room for all the delicious tacos in my heart and in my belly. Marco Torres TJ Birria y Mas Find it: 2025 N Durham Dr Suite A, Houston, TX 77008 Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tacos Dona Lena Find it: 8788 Hammerly Blvd G, Houston, TX 77080 Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.-9 p.m. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) An Alabama man who pleaded guilty to using bank fraud to live an opulent lifestyle that included a private jet and luxury cars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay $12 million in restitution, prosecutors said Thursday. Christopher A. Montalbano, 39, of Vestavia Hills pulled off the scheme over a four-year period that ended in 2020, authorities said in a statement. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy, bank fraud and money laundering in November and was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Annemarie Axon. CHICAGO (AP) Another Illinois resident has been charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol after being arrested this week. Matthew Bokoski, 31, was arrested Wednesday on a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Washington charging him with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and unlawfully entering a restricted government building. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will travel to Uvalde, Texas, on Sunday to console families and honor victims of Tuesdays mass school shooting in which 19 children and two teachers were killed. The White House said the Bidens would grieve with the community that lost 21 lives in the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary School. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president would meet with the community and religious leaders and victims' families. Jean-Pierre, the parent of an elementary school student, delivered an impassioned plea at the White House for lawmakers to come together to address gun violence. These were elementary school kids, they should be losing their first teeth not losing their lives, she said. Asked about the propriety of the National Rifle Association going ahead with its planned conference in Houston this weekend, Jean-Pierre, said, What is inappropriate is that the leadership of the National Rifle Association has proven time and time again, that they are contributing to the problem of gun violence, not trying to solve it." Its shameful that the NRA and their allies have stood in the way of every attempt to advance measures that we all know will save lives, she said. Jean-Pierre echoed Biden, who in remarks Tuesday evening, spoke from personal experience about the pain of losing a child, and called on the country to tighten gun laws in response to the shooting. When in Gods name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? he said. Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen? ___ More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Irma Garcia's family was already reeling from her death in the Texas school shooting that targeted her fourth grade classroom and killed her co-teacher and 19 students. Then, a mere two days after the attack, her grieving husband collapsed and died at home from a heart attack, a family member said. Joe Garcia, 50, dropped off flowers at his wifes memorial Thursday morning in Uvalde, Texas, and returned home, where he pretty much just fell over and died, his nephew John Martinez told The New York Times. Married for 24 years, the couple had four children. Martinez told The Detroit Free Press that the family was struggling to grasp that while the couples oldest son trained for combat in the Marine Corps, it was his mother who was shot to death. Stuff like this should not be happening in schools, he told the newspaper. The Archdiocese of San Antonio and the Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary confirmed Joe Garcias death to The Associated Press. AP was unable to independently reach members of the Garcia family on Thursday. The motive for the massacre the nations deadliest school shooting since the 2012 attack in Newtown, Connecticut remained under investigation, with authorities saying the 18-year-old gunman had no known criminal or mental health history. The rampage rocked a country already weary from gun violence and shattered the community of Uvalde, a largely Latino town of some 16,000 people about 75 miles (120 kilometers) from the Mexican border. The Garcias loved to barbecue, 48-year-old Irma wrote in an online letter to her students at Robb Elementary School. She enjoyed listening to music and traveling to Concan, a community along the Frio River about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of Uvalde. The couples oldest child, Cristian, is a Marine. The couple's other son, Jose, attends Texas State University. Their eldest daughter, Lyliana, is a high school sophomore, while her younger sister is in the seventh grade. The school year, scheduled to end Thursday, was Garcia's 23rd year of teaching all of it at Robb. She was previously named the school's teacher of the year and was a 2019 recipient of the Trinity Prize for Excellence in Education from Trinity University. For five years, Garcia co-taught with Eva Mireles, who also was killed. The suspect, Salvador Ramos, was inside the classroom for more than an hour before he was killed in a shootout with law enforcement, authorities said. Mrs. Irma Garcia was my mentor when I began teaching," her colleague Allison McCullough wrote when Garcia was named teacher of the year. "The wealth of knowledge and patience that she showed me was life changing." ___ Associated Press journalist Jamie Stengle in Dallas contributed to this report. ___ More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California lawmakers could soon ban the declawing of cats solely for the convenience of humans, advancing a bill on Thursday to halt what animal rights activists say is a painful procedure used primarily to prevent torn furniture and scratched skin. Claws on cats grow from the bone, not skin. Removing them sometimes requires amputating bones, while other procedures sever tendons to prevent a cat from extending its claws. Animal rights activists have long said declawing is inhumane when done solely for the benefit of humans, arguing the procedure is painful, leaves the animal defenseless and can cause other health problems. The American Veterinary Medical Association discourages declawing as an elective procedure," saying it is not medically necessary in most cases. But the association says it is sometimes necessary when a cat's excessive or inappropriate scratching behavior causes an unacceptable risk of injury or remains destructive." The bill that passed the state Assembly on Thursday would ban declawing except for a medically necessary purpose of addressing a recurring infection, disease, injury or abnormal condition that affects the cat's health. The bill specifically bans declawing for a cosmetic or aesthetic purpose or to make the cat more convenient to keep or handle. The California Veterinary Medical Association says that ignores situations where cat owners are taking blood thinners, receiving immunosuppression drugs, or other persons whose health would be endangered by a severe scratch. In a letter to lawmakers, the association wrote that the veterinary industry has appropriately regulated itself regarding this procedure over the years, and continues to do so in a thoughtful and compassionate manner. The bill now heads to the state Senate. New York was the first state to ban the procedure in 2019, followed by Maryland earlier this year. This is at least the fourth time California lawmakers have tried to ban declawing since 2018. All of the previous attempts failed. Eight California cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco ban declawing. In 2008, California lawmakers passed a law that would have stopped local governments from banning declawing. But the bill never became law because then Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it. Thursday, a majority of lawmakers in the California Assembly appeared eager to ban the procedure statewide. Democratic Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo, the author of the bill, quoted primatologist Jane Goodall in saying that cruelty is the worst of human sins. Democratic Assemblymember Alex Lee talked about his cat, Soba, saying it would be heartbreaking to know cats like her would be declawed. If a cat has essentially their finger bones taken out, their only defense becomes their teeth, Lee said. And having had many loving bites from my cat, I would rather be scratched than bitten by my own cat. A panel of three federal appeals court judges has temporarily stopped the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack from accessing records it has demanded of the mass email marketing vendor used by the Republican National Committee and Donald Trump's 2020 reelection campaign. A lower court had ruled that a House committee could subpoena for the records, which the panel said it needed ahead of scheduled public hearings in June as part of its probe into whether Trump's campaign stoked violence while spreading false claims of fraud after the 2020 election. But a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit enjoined the release of records to Congress while it considers an appeal from the RNC. Judges Gregory G. Katsas, Neomi Rao and Justin R. Walker, all Trump appointees, first issued an emergency order Tuesday, followed by an injunction Wednesday. The panel will hear oral argument on June 14. The House select committee is set to end its public hearings the following week. The committee subpoenaed the digital marketing company Salesforce in pursuit of evidence that some rioters were inspired to attack the Capitol by false and inflammatory claims spread in RNC and Trump campaign fundraising emails. After Jan. 6, Salesforce said in a statement that the company had "taken action to prevent [RNC] use of our services in any way that could lead to violence." U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly of Washington, another Trump appointee, had rejected the RNC's claims that the House committee lacked a legitimate purpose and imperiled the First Amendment by prying into Republican political messaging. "It is hard to imagine a more important interest for Congress than to preserve its own ability to carry out specific duties assigned to it under the Constitution," he wrote. Kelly gave the RNC time to appeal his ruling but would not stay his ruling beyond that, saying the GOP committee "has not shown that the balance of the equities and the public interest tip sharply in its favor." --- The Washington Post's Spencer S. Hsu contributed to this report. MEXICO CITY (AP) Authorities said Thursday that the death toll in a bus crash in northern Mexico has risen to seven. All of the dead and the 24 injured were migrants. One of those killed was a pregnant woman, and two of the injured were minors. No nationalities were immediately available for the seven dead, but of those who survived, 11 were from El Salvador, seven from Honduras and four from Cuba. Also injured were one Panamanian and one Mexican citizen. The bus plunged through a guardrail and down an embankment in the northern state of San Luis Potosi on Wednesday. Local media reported the bus had departed from an area near Mexico City and was heading toward the U.S. border. Photos from the scene suggested the bus had flipped onto its side. Immigrant traffickers frequently cram migrants aboard freight trucks and buses to traverse Mexico on their way to the United States. It was the latest in a series of deadly crashes and drownings of migrants in the last week. Immigrants activists say crackdowns on migrant crossing have led some to use riskier routes to the U.S. border. More people are choosing to take more dangerous routes, wrote immigrant activist Irineo Mujica. The number of people who die trying to cross Mexico is rising. On Tuesday, authorities in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz said six migrants drowned off Mexicos Gulf coast and one was still missing. Apparently, all were from Honduras. Smugglers sometimes take migrants in open boats across the Gulf to avoid highway immigration checkpoints. Four migrants, also Hondurans, were pulled alive from the ocean by rescuers after their 25-foot open boat apparently capsized off the coast. In another incident, immigration officials said this week that a migrant father and his 7-year-old son were found dead in the Suchiate River, which marks the border between Mexico and Guatemala. Mexicos national immigration institute said the 36-year-old man and his son were from El Salvador. Migrants frequently wade, swim or take rafts and boats to cross the border river into Mexico during their attempts to reach the U.S. frontier. Mexican officials have tightened border inspections along the Guatemalan border, but tens of thousands of Central Americans still make it across, often with the aid of smugglers. On Saturday, four migrants died and at least 16 were injured in a traffic collision in a town not far from the Guatemala border. The migrants were being transported in the back of cargo truck in the township of San Juan Chamula, just north of the tourist city of San Cristobal de las Casas. The prosecutors office did not identify the nationality of the dead men, but said the injured included nine people from Honduras, four from Guatemala, a Nicaraguan and an Ecuadorian, as well as one person whose nationality was not clear. A much larger truck carrying migrants overturned on a highway near the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez in December, killing at least 56 people. DOVER, Del. (AP) A Delaware man is facing multiple charges in connection with a traffic accident in which a passenger inside his vehicle was killed, authorities said. Delaware State Police said in a news release that an SUV was traveling southbound on Judith Road south of Dinahs Corner Road near Dover on Wednesday evening. The SUV left the road in a curve and overturned onto its passenger side before hitting a utility pole and resting on its roof, police said. BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) Developers want to build a $390 million wind farm in south-central North Dakota. The state Public Service Commission has scheduled a hearing in late June for Badger Wind, a project under development by Orsted Onshore North America. The company is proposing a 74-turbine farm west of Wishek. It would have a generating capacity of 250 megawatts which is comparable to powering 70,000 homes, the Bismarck Tribune reported. Orsted Onshore plans to start construction in September if it receives the necessary permits. The project would be completed late in 2023. Badger was still looking for an entity to purchase the wind farms output when it filed its application with the PSC in February. . After nine months, more than 50 meetings, three community engagement sessions and one public survey, the Edwardsville School District 7 Board of Education voted to adopt the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan during the final business meeting of the school year on Monday. Over 100 people have been involved in the development of the District 7 Strategic Plan since the steering committee began meeting in September. "The District 7 Strategic Plan is a comprehensive document that identifies the districts mission, vision, objectives and strategies and will provide the district with focus and direction for the next five years," according to the meeting's agenda. The plan is separated into five main goals and is meant to be a living document that will be used to improve the schools based on the mission, vision and values the board voted to adopt in January. This lays out a process of how we will do it, not what the end goal is," superintendent Patrick Shelton said. According to Shelton, the district will provide ongoing reports regarding the progress of the goals through the monthly superintendent's reports. To my knowledge this has never been a formal document that District 7 has had," board member Jill Bertels said. "Weve had bits and pieces or thoughts, but as far as a formal document, this is one of the first times. If you ask 100 or 500 people whats the most important part of a childs education, youre going to get that many answers." Bertels also acknowledged that adopting the District 7 Strategic Plan is just the first step in several changes to come to District 7. Public educations difficult. Its a challenging field and its ever evolving. I think thats what makes it difficult," board president John McDole said. "Change is difficult. We understand that there are changes that people want made immediately and quickly and for the best that this community can be, but in order to have real meaningful change you have to have a way to get there. And thats what this finally does. During the meeting the board also approved a custodial and maintenance supplies bid for the 2022-2023 school year for $71,783.17 and a printer/fax cartridges bid for the 2022-2023 school year for $36,508.50. The board also approved the school bus diesel fuel bid from Energy Petroleum Company, which will be in effect from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 20203. The district began to purchase diesel fuel for the contracted school buses in 2012 in an effort to reduce cost. The district purchases from Piasa Motor Fuels. The board granted permission to display an amended budget for the 2021-2022 school year. The original budget was adopted Sept 27 2021 but the budget has been amended to reflect changes in revenue and grant allocations from the Illinois State Board of Education and federal sources and to adjust local revenues received during the 2021-2022 school year. The adjustment also reflects the revenues and expenditures associated with the ARP-Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief III funding and adjusts expenditure budgets for changes in grant allocations, increased and decreased costs and minor changes in dollar allocations between budget accounts. There will be two public hearings on the amended budget on June 23, one at 11 a.m. and one at 5 p.m. in the Hadley House Board Room. The board also increased the required Treasurer Bond coverage for the next school year from $13,500,000 to $15,000,000 due to the expected increase of funds from slightly higher funds balances and an increase in 2022-2023 tax revenues. The Illinois School Code required that a Treasurer's Bond be 25% of all bonds, notes, mortgages, money and effects of which the District Treasurer is to have custody, according to the board report. The board also approved the renewal of the auditing services contract with Schowalter & Jabouri, P.C. through June 30 2025. The contract renewal will be priced at $57,750 for 2023, $60,600 for 2024 and $63,650 for 2025. The board adopted several resolutions to extend the districts participation in the Mississippi Valley Intergovernmental Cooperative through June 30 2025. McDole said these cooperatives are several school districts partnering together to get better rates on insurance. It is for the betterment of taxpayers across all the school districts, McDole said. The board approved a revised Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Edwardsville and District 7 to continue the School Resource Officer Program for next year and will reduce one SRO position while creating a new district position of Director of Security. The board also approved of employment's, resignations and one dismissal as well as the board of education regular board meeting schedule for next year. The schedule can be found on the district's BoardDocs page. The coronavirus mutant that is now dominant in the United States is a member of the omicron family but scientists say it spreads faster than its omicron predecessors, is adept at escaping immunity and might possibly cause more serious disease. Why? Because it combines properties of both omicron and delta, the nation's dominant variant in the middle of last year. A genetic trait that harkens back to the pandemic's past, known as a delta mutation," appears to allow the virus "to escape pre-existing immunity from vaccination and prior infection, especially if you were infected in the omicron wave," said Dr. Wesley Long, a pathologist at Houston Methodist in Texas. That's because the original omicron strain that swept the world didnt have the mutation. The omicron subvariant gaining ground in the U.S. known as BA.2.12.1 and responsible for 58% of U.S. COVID-19 cases last week isn't the only one affected by the delta mutation. The genetic change is also present in the omicron relatives that together dominate in South Africa, known as BA.4 and BA.5. Those have exactly the same mutation as delta, while BA.2.12.1 has one that's nearly identical. This genetic change is bad news for people who caught the original omicron and thought that made them unlikely to get COVID-19 again soon. Although most people don't know for sure which variant caused their illness, the original omicron caused a giant wave of cases late last year and early this year. Long said lab data suggests a prior infection with the original omicron is not very protective against reinfection with the new mutants, though the true risk of being reinfected no matter the variant is unique to every person and situation. In a twist, however, those sickened by delta previously may have some extra armor to ward off the new mutants. A study released before it was reviewed by other scientists, by researchers at Ohio State University, found that COVID patients in intensive care with delta infections induced antibodies that were better at neutralizing the new mutants than patients who caught the original omicron. The omicron infection antibody does not appear to protect well against the subvariants compared to delta, said Dr. Shan-Lu Liu, a study author who co-directs the viruses and emerging pathogens program at Ohio State. But Liu said the level of protection a delta infection provides depends partly on how long ago someone was ill. That's because immunity wanes over time. People who got sick with delta shouldnt think of themselves as invulnerable to the new subvariants, especially if theyre unvaccinated, Long said. I wouldnt say anyone is safe." One bright spot? Booster shots can provide strong protection against the new mutants, Liu said. In general, vaccines and prior infection can protect people from the worst outcomes of COVID-19. At this point, scientists say, it's too early to know if the new mutant gaining ground in the U.S. will cause a significant uptick in new cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Scientists are still trying to figure out how virulent these new mutants are. Long said he hasnt seen anything that answers that question for him, but Liu said emerging data points toward more serious illness. Liu said the subvariants have properties suggesting they spread more efficiently cell-to-cell. The virus "just hides in the cell and spreads through cell-to-cell contact, Liu said. That's more scary because the virus does not come out for the antibody to work. Dr. Eric Topol, head of Scripps Research Translational Institute, said the new mutants certainly dont appear less virulent than previous versions of omicron, and whether they are more virulent or not "will become clear in the months ahead. In the meantime, scientists expect the latest powerhouse mutants to spread quickly, since they are more transmissible than their predecessors. Though home testing makes it tough to track all U.S. COVID cases, data from Johns Hopkins University shows that cases are averaging nearly 107,000 a day, up from about 87,000 two weeks ago. And new hospital admissions of patients with COVID-19 have been trending upwards since around mid-April, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Im hopeful that we dont see a similar increase in hospitalizations that weve had in prior waves, Long said. But with COVID, any time you have lots of people being infected, its just a numbers game. Some of those people are going to be severe. Some of those people are going to need hospitalization. Some of them, unfortunately, are going to pass away. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) El Salvadors congress granted a request Wednesday by President Nayib Bukele for a second extension of the countrys anti-gang emergency decree. The vote extends for 30 more days the state of emergency that was originally issued for one month in late March and then extended in April for another month. Bukeles security minister, Gustavo Villatoro, vowed that the governments war on gangs will continue, even though the homicide rate has dropped sharply. This war is going to continue for as long as necessary and to the extent that the public continues to demand it, Villatoro said. We are going to continue to confront this cancer, and we have said it before and we stand by it, this war will continue until the gangs are eradicated from the territory of El Salvador. The measure was approved with 67 votes in the 84-seat congress, where Bukeles party holds a majority. Bukele has used emergency powers to round up about 34,500 suspected gang members following a spate of killings in March. Rights groups have criticized the measures, saying arrests are often arbitrary, based on a persons appearance or where they live. Polls suggest the emergency decree has strong support among Salvadorans tired of killings and extortion. The measure came after a spate of homicides in late March, when gangs were blamed for 62 killings in a single weekend, a level of violence the country of 6.5 million people had not seen in years. But the original justification for the measures the surge in homicides has subsided. Whether there is a legal justification, and obviously there isn't, Articles 29 and 30 of the constitution are very clear about the causes that can trigger a state of emergency, and the causes have disappeared," said Ruth Eleonora Lopez, a lawyer and activist with the civic group Cristosal. The measure restricts the right to gather, to be informed of rights and to have access to a lawyer. It extends to 15 days the time that someone can be held without charges. Bukele has also established a raft of other measures. Among other things, they lengthened sentences and reduced the age of criminal responsibility to 12. El Salvadors congress has authorized prison sentences of 10 to 15 years for news media that reproduce or disseminate messages from the gangs, alarming press freedom groups. Gang members held at Salvadoran prisons have been put on reduced food rations, denied mattresses and frog-marched around. Rights groups have expressed concerns that innocent people are being caught up in sweeps targeting the notorious violent street gangs. But Villatoro seemed unlikely to be swayed by human rights arguments. Calling gangs a cancer that won't be eradicated with chemotherapy," he said, "We need more time to continue eradicating this cancer from all of our country's communities." Gangs control swaths of territory through brutality and fear. They have driven thousands to emigrate to save their own lives or the lives of their children who are forcibly recruited. The gangs power is strongest in El Salvadors poorest neighborhoods, where the state has long been absent. They are a drain on the economy, extorting money from even the lowest earners and forcing businesses that cant or wont pay to close. MADISON, Wis. (AP) Democratic Gov. Tony Evers issued an executive order Tuesday barring price gouging on baby formula. The order declares that a period of abnormal economic disruption exists in Wisconsin and prohibits wholesalers and retailers in the state from charging unreasonably excessive prices, defined in administrative code as prices more than 15% higher than prices over the last two months. The order will be in effect for 90 days. The formula shortage stems mostly from Abbott Nutritions plant in Sturgis, Michigan, which the Food and Drug Administration closed in February due to contamination issues. Abbott, one of a handful of companies that control the vast majority of the market for infant formula, then announced a massive recall of its product on Feb. 17, which led to the nationwide supply shortage. Abbott and the FDA recently reached an agreement to reopen the plant next week. But it will take about two months before product is ready for delivery. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greece has told the head of the United Nations that Turkey is directly challenging its sovereignty over islands in the eastern Aegean Sea, and pursuing a hostile and revisionist policy that is destabilizing the region. The four-page letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, dated May 25 and signed by Greece's permanent U.N. representative, Maria Theofili, was seen by The Associated Press on Thursday. Greece solemnly calls upon Turkey to stop questioning Greeces sovereignty over its Aegean islands, in particular through legally baseless and historically false assertions (and) to abstain from threatening Greece with war, the letter reads. Greece and Turkey have been at odds for decades over sea boundaries, but the disagreement flared in 2020 as oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean intensified. Turkey is demanding that Greece demilitarize its eastern islands, maintaining the action is required under 20th century treaties that ceded sovereignty of the islands to Greece. The Greek government calls the demand a deliberate misinterpretation and has accused Turkey, a fellow NATO member, of stepping up hostile actions in the area. Highly threatening acts by Turkey (include) repeated overflights of Greek territory by fighter jets in contravention to international law, the letter said. The Greek-Turkish dispute largely centers around oil-and-gas drilling rights in the eastern Mediterranean, specifically around Greek islands near Turkeys coastline. A Turkish survey mission two years ago triggered a tense naval stand-off that Western allies had warned ran the risk of escalating into a military conflict. In response to the energy crisis worsened by the war in Ukraine, Greece has pledged to temporarily reverse a coal phase-out and step up hydrocarbon exploration along its western coastline. ___ Follow Gatopoulos on Twitter at https://twitter.com/dgatopoulos WASHINGTON - Hopes for a long-shot deal to pass a new federal law that could keep guns out of the hands of potential mass murderers were left Thursday in the hands of a small bipartisan group of senators who pledged to explore multiple options even as lawmakers left Washington for a Memorial Day recess. The talks, to be led by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., began in earnest less than two days after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school - and just moments after Senate Republicans blocked a bill aimed at addressing a previous U.S. mass shooting, the May 14 killing of 10 people at a Buffalo supermarket. The 47-to-47 vote on that bill, which was aimed at focusing the federal government on combating domestic terrorism and white supremacy, demonstrated the partisan polarization around any measure addressing acts of mass gun violence. Forging a compromise on gun restrictions - which are fiercely opposed by most Republicans, who warn of a slippery slope toward constitutional infringement - will be even more difficult. But Democrats and a handful of Republicans said the shock to the national conscience created by the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, compels them to try again where previous efforts fell short, including those following the 2012 killing of 20 schoolchildren and six adults in Newtown, Conn. "We've got to do something," said Murphy, who represented Newtown as a House member at the time of the shooting. "We've got to do something significant, but I also know that we're not going to be able to do everything at once." Cornyn, who returned to the Capitol on Thursday after visiting Uvalde on Wednesday, said he believed the tragedy there could "provide some impetus" for compromise. But he made clear any potential legislation would have to be modest. Democratic proposals to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines are not on the table, Republicans said. Instead negotiators are eyeing modest expansions of background checks and "red flag" laws that would allow authorities to keep guns away from people found to constitute a potential threat. Washington Post photo by Jabin Botsford. "Restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens is not going to make our communities or our country any safer," Cornyn told reporters. "We need to focus on the specific problem and try to find ways to fix some of them." The negotiations kicked off Thursday afternoon in Murphy's basement office at the Capitol, with eight other senators present: Democrats Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, as well as Republicans Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania. Murphy and Cornyn spoke separately Thursday, the two senators said. Mindful of previous gun talks, which tended to peter out after weeks or months, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Democrats would not allow the new round to drag on indefinitely: "Make no mistake about it, if these negotiations do not bear fruit in a short period of time, the Senate will vote on gun safety legislation." Schumer moved this week to place two House-passed background-check expansion bills on the Senate calendar for a possible vote, but those do not have sufficient GOP support to defeat a filibuster and would fail if put up for a vote. His ultimatum effectively gives the bipartisan group until June 6, when the Senate returns from its recess, to show major progress toward compromise. "Our hope, even amidst our deep skepticism, is that during this week, Democrats and Republicans at long last will come to agree on something meaningful that will reduce gun violence in a real way in America," Schumer added. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., meanwhile, said he was "hopeful" for a bipartisan deal on a bill "directly related to the facts of this awful massacre." But crafting a bill "directly related" to the circumstances of the Uvalde shooting stands to be difficult. For one, those circumstances are still not fully known. Law enforcement officials, for instance, retracted previous statements about the response to the shooting and its timeline at a Thursday news conference. For another, it remains unclear to what degree authorities knew about the threat that gunman Salvador Rolando Ramos, 18, represented to his community or whether a more robust background check law would have prevented him from purchasing the AR-style rifle he used in Tuesday's attack. Still, discussion has focused so far on potentially expanding the categories of gun sales that are subject to a federal background check - the focus of the failed 2013 effort after Newtown - or moving toward "red flag" laws, also known as "extreme risk protection orders," that allow authorities to keep guns away from troubled individuals. Momentum appeared to build Thursday among some Republicans for federal legislation that would encourage states to establish red flag laws - as 19 states and the District of Columbia have already done - and Democrats seemed open to the possibility. But the details have been thorny: Republicans have been insistent on strong due-process guarantees, and gun rights groups have cast many of the state laws as a backdoor attempt at gun confiscation. "We'll see if we can find a way forward," said Graham, who previously negotiated with Democrats on the topic after mass shootings in 2019. Manchin, who led the post-Newtown effort to expand background checks, said a "little bit of everything" was on the table but expressed hope that the possibilities could be quickly narrowed. "This feels different right now," he said. "I can't get my grandchildren out of my mind. It could have been them. And something needs to be done." Any sense of optimism, however, was tempered by Thursday's vote on the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, which moved through the House last week and to the Senate floor this week in response to the Buffalo killings. Most of the victims were Black, shot by a gunman who authorities say espoused white supremacy. Schumer on Wednesday said the bill, which passed the House largely on party lines, constitutes "a necessary and timely step to honor the memories of the dead in Buffalo, and to make sure mass shootings motivated by race don't happen again." But he also said Thursday's procedural vote was an opportunity to start debating the gun-control proposals that have emerged in the aftermath of the Uvalde rampage. "Americans, my colleagues, don't want thoughts and prayers," Schumer said. "They want their elected leaders to respond to their suffering." Republicans, however, not only said it was premature to debate a response to the recent mass shootings but also expressed serious qualms about the content of the domestic terrorism bill itself. They echoed House GOP concerns that its provisions would lead to "targeting" of conservatives by the Justice Department, among other concerns. The bill would require the FBI, Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security to create specific domestic terrorism bureaus and for each agency to jointly report twice yearly, including specific assessments of the "threat posed by White supremacists and neo-Nazis." The bill also directs the agencies to focus on the infiltration by White racist groups of law enforcement and corrections agencies as well as the military, creating an interagency task force to do so. Advancing the bill to a debate required the support of at least 10 Republicans because of the Senate's 60-vote filibuster rule. But the vote failed on straight party lines, with Schumer joining Republicans in voting no for procedural reasons. Cornyn, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said earlier this week that the bill was "redundant" and would detract from the federal government's "ability to flexibly deal with other forms of terrorism." "There's a downside to duplicating authorities and to stovepiping resources," he said. Asked whether white supremacy and neo-Nazism were domestic threats worthy of specific focus by Congress, Cornyn made reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin's baseless "de-Nazification" justification for his invasion of Ukraine. "Mr. Putin is seeing Nazis in Ukraine. I guess our Democratic colleagues are focused on Nazis in America," he said. "I don't know. It just doesn't make any sense to me at all." Another Republican, Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, dismissed the bill as "pure messaging" and "trying to take advantage of people's grief." "I don't see how having an extremism statute makes anybody's death more comforting or any less likely," he said. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard Durbin, D-Ill., noted Wednesday that the FBI has identified a growing domestic terrorism threat, including from white-supremacist groups, and said that it was time for Congress to act. "Time and again, the Senate has failed to take any meaningful steps to prevent violent extremism," he said. "When exactly did stopping mass murder become a partisan issue?" This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BAGHDAD (AP) Iraqi lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill criminalizing normalization of ties and any relations, including business ties, with Israel. The legislation says that violation of the law is punishable with the death sentence or life imprisonment. The law was approved with 275 lawmakers voting in favor of it in the 329-seat assembly. A parliament statement said the legislation is a true reflection of the will of the people. Influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose party won the largest number of seats in Iraqs parliamentary elections last year, called for Iraqis to take to the streets to celebrate this great achievement." Hundreds later gathered in central Baghdad, chanting anti-Israel slogans. It was unclear how the law will be implemented as Iraq has not recognized Israel since the country's formation in 1948; the two nations have no diplomatic relations. The legislation also entails risks for companies working in Iraq and found to be in violation of the bill. The United States said it was deeply disturbed by the Iraqi legislation. In addition to jeopardizing freedom of expression and promoting an environment of antisemitism, this legislation stands in stark contrast to progress Iraqs neighbors have made by building bridges and normalizing relations with Israel, creating new opportunities for people throughout the region, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement. Earlier this year, Iran fired a dozen ballistic missiles towards the northern city of Irbil in the Kurdish-run north, saying it was targeting an Israeli intelligence base. The home of Baz Karim, the CEO of the oil company KAR GROUP, was heavily damaged in the attack. KAR has been accused in the past of quietly selling oil to Israel. A report by the Iraqi parliament's fact-finding committee said it found no evidence to support Iranian accusations of an Israeli spy base in Irbil. Eugene Hoshiko/AP WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Biden administration to use a higher estimate, challenged by Republican-led states, for calculating damages to people and the environment from greenhouse gas emissions. The justices did not comment in refusing to put back in place an order from a federal judge in Louisiana that had blocked the administration from putting greater emphasis on potential damage from greenhouse gas emissions when creating rules for polluting industries. SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) Opponents of a proposed launchpad for commercial rockets on the Georgia coast are asking a court to throw out the project's government license, saying the Federal Aviation Administration failed to correctly assess the risks of firing rockets over homes and a barrier island popular with tourists. Attorneys for the Southern Environmental Law Center filed suit in U.S. District Court seeking to revoke the launch site operator license the FAA granted in December to the planned Spaceport Camden. Officials in coastal Camden County have spent the past decade and more than $10 million seeking to build a spaceport for launching satellites into orbit. The proposed flight path would send rockets over Little Cumberland Island, which has about 40 private homes, and neighboring Cumberland Island, a federally protected wilderness visited by about 60,000 tourists each year. Residents and the National Park Service have said they fear explosive misfires raining fiery debris could spark wildfires near homes and people. The lawsuit filed on behalf of homeowners and conservation groups says the FAA allowed county officials to minimize potential safety risks by basing their license application on a hypothetical rocket that does not exist and is smaller than current commercial rockets. It says the FAA didn't follow its own policies that call for holding such unproven rockets to a higher standard. The FAAs decision to license a site where rockets would launch over people, homes, and Cumberland Island National Seashore ... is contrary to the agencys regulations for licensing launch sites and is unprecedented in the history of the United States commercial space program, said the the lawsuit, filed May 19 in the District of Columbia. The lawsuit also claims that a top FAA official privately told opponents of Spaceport Camden in March 2019 that he doubted the project would be successful. The document says a group of Little Cumberland Island homeowners traveled to Washington to meet with FAA officials including Wayne Monteith, who was then the agency's associate administrator for commercial space transportation. The lawsuit says Monteith told the group "that Spaceport Camden was not a commercially viable launch site and that `some spaceports just want to sell hats and T-shirts.' FAA spokesman Steve Kulm said Thursday that the agency does not comment on pending litigation. Monteith no longer works for the FAA and is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Reached by phone, Monteith's wife said he was traveling Thursday. He did not immediately return a message seeking comment. On several occasions we would ask the FAA, 'Listen, is it worthwhile for us to continue this endeavor?' said John Simpson, a spokesman for the Spaceport Camden project. "No one at the FAA ever told us, `We dont see this as a commercially viable project.' Nor is that the FAAs role. In Camden County, a community of 55,000 people on the Georgia-Florida line, commissioners have long argued that a spaceport would bring economic growth not just from rocket launches, but also by attracting related industries and tourists. Opponents say the plans to build the spaceport on an industrial plot formerly used to manufacture pesticides and munitions poses potential environmental and safety hazards that outweigh any economic benefits. The FAA's final environmental impact report on Spaceport Camden concluded county officials had submitted an adequate and appropriate plan for dealing with fires and other emergencies that might arise from rocket launches. However, the FAA noted when it granted the county's license to operate a spaceport in December that a separate and more comprehensive review would be required before any rockets could be launched. The agency stressed in a letter that no outcome is guaranteed. In March, opponents forced a referendum on the project after gathering more than 3,500 petition signatures from registered voters saying they wanted the spaceport on the ballot. The result was a big defeat for the spaceport. The final tally showed 72% of voters sided with halting the project by overruling commissioners prior decision to buy land for the spaceport. County officials have given no indication that they plan to abandon the spaceport. Just days after the referendum, they voted to move ahead with buying property for the project. Meanwhile, commissioners have a legal case pending in Georgia that seeks to have the referendum declared invalid. Looking for an easy-to-find, affordable California cabernet to pair with your burgers or steaks from the grill? Here's a crowd-pleaser. If your taste runs more European, try this delicious Italian red from Abruzzo. Seafood on the menu? Here's a racy New Zealand sauvignon blanc. And start your patio party with either of these two roses from France's Mediterranean coast. - - - GREAT VALUE Velenosi Prope Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2019 3 stars Abruzzo, Italy, $18 I used to consider montepulciano d'Abruzzo a pleasant, cheaper alternative to chianti. Some I've tasted recently though have impressed with their depth of flavor, a savory texture and an energy that make me want to explore more. This lovely wine should pair well with all sorts of foods, but wild mushrooms come to mind first and foremost. Velenosi also makes an outstanding trebbiano, also called Prope, for white-wine lovers. Alcohol by volume: 14 percent. BW: 415 grams (Light). - - - Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Two and one-half stars North Coast, Calif., $17 Hess Select has long been a line of reliably yummy, affordable cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay, one I always look for on a restaurant list when asked to select wine for a crowd. This cab shows the black currant, blackberry and cherry flavors of the variety, without tasting like it was made following a recipe. ABV: 13.5 percent. Bottle weight: 580 grams (Average). - - - Flannery Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2020 Two and one-half stars Marlborough, New Zealand, $18 Pink grapefruit, orange zest and wildflowers characterize this lively savvie from Marlborough, on the north end of New Zealand's south island. There's just a hint of peppery spice on the mid-palate before it yields to a long, fruity finish. ABV: 13 percent. BW: 425 grams (Light). - - - L'Escarelle June 21st Rose 2021 Two and one-half stars IGP Mediterranee, France, $18 Watermelon, red berries, wild herbs and a whiff of fresh sea air come to mind with each sip of this delightful rose. ABV: 13 percent. BW: 585 grams (Average). - - - Chateau les Valentines Rose 2021 3 stars Cotes de Provence, France, $26 This 50-50 blend of grenache and cinsault, two common red grapes in southern France, yields an expressively aromatic rose, with wildflowers and herbs, followed on the palate by a cornucopia of citrus, melons and berries. Certified organic. ABV: 13.5 percent. BW: 700 grams (Heavy). - - - Availability information is based on distributor records. Prices are approximate. Check wine-searcher.com to verify availability, or ask a favorite wine store to order through a distributor. SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. (AP) A man is accused of throwing a hammer that struck an 8-year-old in the forehead when the childs father stopped to try to help the man near the city of Spokane Valley. Spokane County Sheriffs deputies responded Monday afternoon to a report of a man, later identified as Cole L. Healy, blocking traffic while swinging a hammer around and trying to light his vehicle on fire, according to a sheriffs office release. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LOS ANGELES (AP) To drive, or not to drive? This Memorial Day weekend, with surging gas prices that are redefining pain at the pump, that is the question for many Americans as a new COVID-19 surge also spreads across the country. For Marvin Harper, of Phoenix, his familys weekend travel plans are a double punch to the wallet. His college-age son and daughter each have a soccer tournament in Southern California and Colorado, respectively. He and his daughter will fly to Denver, rather than drive, because of the cost of fuel, while his wife and son will go to California in her SUV. My mother-in-laws going with my wife and son to split that cost because its just too much on our household, said Harper, as he filled up the tank of his truck at a Phoenix QuikTrip. We cant afford both of us to drive. Thats the bottom line ... Gas prices are killing our household. For some, that's exactly what's caused them to rethink their holiday plans, making them opt for a staycation in their backyard to limit the damage to their wallets. Laura Dena and her sons would typically go to Southern California around Memorial Day weekend to escape Arizonas scorching heat. This year, because it takes at least $100 to fill up her truck, theyre staying home. Its really frustrating," said Dena while waiting in line in 90-degree heat for a pump at a Costco in Phoenix. "Its upsetting, but theres not much we can do. We have to pay the price. The average gas price in the U.S. on Thursday was $4.60 per gallon, according to AAA figures. In California, it topped $6. The high price of oil largely because many buyers are refusing to purchase Russian oil because of its invasion of Ukraine is the main cause of the steep gasoline prices. Americans arent the only ones weighing their options as the summer travel season begins. Across the European Unions 27 countries, gasoline has risen 40% from a year ago, to the equivalent of $8.40 a gallon. Rising prices in the U.S. coincide with a COVID-19 surge that has led to case counts that are as high as theyve been since mid-February, and those figures are likely a major undercount because of unreported positive home test results and asymptomatic infections. Still, 2 1/2 years of pandemic life has many people hitting the road or taking to the skies, despite the surge. AAA estimates that 39.2 million people in the U.S. will travel 50 miles (80 kilometers) or more from home during the holiday weekend. Those projections - which include travel by car, plane and other modes of transportation like trains or cruise ships are up 8.3% from 2021 and would bring Memorial Day travel volumes close to 2017 levels. The estimates are still below pre-pandemic 2019 levels, a peak year for travel. About 88% of those 39.2 million travelers a record number are expected to go by car over the long weekend even as gas prices remain high, according to AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross. In California despite being home to the nation's highest gas prices the state's nonprofit tourism agency also predicts a busy summer for the Golden State, beginning this weekend. Ryan Becker, Visit Californias spokesperson, said his agency is seeing a lot of pent-up demand because of the pandemic: I want to get out, I want to travel. Ive had to put my anniversary trip on hold, Ive had to put my 40th birthday trip on hold. Outdoorsy, an online rental marketplace for RVs and camper vans, is noticing that its renters have changed their plans over the course of the pandemic. Early on, people would rent an RV to travel cross-country safely to visit family. Now, they're back to using the RVs as a cost-effective way for a vacation tethered to nature. I think everyone needs a vacation, I really do," Outdoorsy co-founder Jen Young said. Have we ever lived through a more stressful, challenging mentally and physically and spiritually time in our lives? Others shrug off the stress of the added travel costs because it's out of their control. At a Chevron station in the Glassell Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, Ricardo Estrada tried to guess how much the $6.49 a gallon price would run him in total for his Nissan work van. Ill go with between 60 and 70 bucks, the heating and air-conditioning technician speculated, eyeing the display as the price went up and up. Estrada just missing his guess when the pump registered $71.61 for 11 gallons of regular grade has been forced to raise his business fees for customers to overcome the gas prices. He'll be working over the holiday weekend but has a vacation planned in Arizona next month. Hes flying, but only because of convenience, not cost. But with airline tickets prices up, too AAA found that the average lowest airfare for this weekend is 6% higher than last year that's not a sure bet, either. ___ Tang reported from Phoenix. Associated Press video journalist Terry Chea in San Francisco contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate RENO, Nev. (AP) Making a late bid to derail the Nevada Republican whom Donald Trump has endorsed for governor, ex-U.S. Sen. Dean Heller attacked front-runner Joe Lombardo's stands on key conservative issues while characterizing him as best friends with Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak. Lombardo, head of the Las Vegas police department, urged Heller and the other GOP candidates Wednesday night to follow the former president's lead and embrace what he called his imminent nomination in the June 14 primary. For all practical purposes, this primary is over, Lombardo said during a spirited debate before early voting begins on Saturday. There's nothing more to argue about, he said. I'm leading in all the polls. I have the most money associated with a successful campaign. I have the endorsement of President Donald Trump. ... We need to come together." Heller, who had a complicated relationship with Trump as both a friend and foe before he lost his Senate seat in 2018, lit into Lombardo during the hour-long debate in Las Vegas. Do you want a proven conservative, or do you want someone who is best friends with Steve Sisolak?" Heller said. Sheriff Lombardo and Steve Sisolak contribute to each others campaigns. They raise money for each other. They sit on each others transition committees, he said. "We have two people identical Sisolak and Lombardo. Reno attorney Joey Gilbert, North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee and venture capitalist Guy Nohra joined the other two on the debate stage in search of the GOP nomination. All five said they would oppose any new gun restrictions in the wake of the Texas school shooting, although Lombardo said he differed from the others in that he does not advocate a constitutional right to carry a concealed weapon. On other topics, Lombardo and Lee broke from the others in saying they would not send National Guard troops to the U.S. border with Mexico if elected governor. Heller claimed he would be the biggest champion of efforts to roll back abortion rights, and he criticized Lombardo and Gilbert for failing to take a strong enough pro-life stand. Reeves Oyster, a Sisolak campaign spokesperson, said the debate proved that no Republican candidate running for governor has the experience, plan or temperament needed to move Nevada forward." Oyster added: While Republicans tout their `A' ratings from the gun lobby and Nevada Right to Life, Governor Sisolak is lowering costs for all Nevadans, growing our economy and fighting for safer communities." During Wednesday's debate, Lombardo insisted he is pro-life and would consider proposals to restrict abortion rights or repeal existing state law making abortion legal in Nevada through the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. But he declined to commit to any specifics. Gilbert said he too is pro-life but added that, at the end of the day ... Nevada is a pro-choice state and we'd have to respect that. Heller said that effectively means they're both pro-choice. When you say that you are going to support the laws we have in place but I'm pro-life, that makes you pro-choice, Heller said. I'm going to do everything I possibly can to make Nevada a pro-life state, he said. I will introduce legislation. I'll raise the money necessary to overturn the abortion statutes we have here in the state of Nevada. Each of the five Republicans said the school shooting in Texas had more to do with a lack of mental health resources than gun regulations. We have enough gun laws, said Gilbert, who wants to end a ban on concealed weapons at Nevada schools and colleges. These always seem to happen in gun-free zones. Lee said he wants to expedite processing of concealed weapon licenses for those who need them to defend themselves. Heller said he wouldnt support any new restrictions on Nevadans right to carry a gun, concealed or otherwise. I think we have proven in Chicago and New York City that excessive tax or gun laws do not work. I dont want to stand here ... and negotiate away our Second Amendment rights here in the state of Nevada, Heller said. Lombardo, who helped lead the investigation into the 2017 mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip that left 59 dead, said the killings in Texas were a tragic event similar to what occurred locally. ... Ive lived that experience. Im different than the rest of the candidates. I dont support a `constitutional carry.' I believe training should go along with it," Lombardo said. I do support the evaluation of a persons mental capacity and the ability to possess a gun and I also support background checks. Not universal, but regular background checks associated with removing an individual who is prohibited and may or may not need to possess a gun, he said. ___ Eds: This story corrects an earlier version that incorrectly reported the first name of North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee. PRAGUE (AP) The Czech capital stripped a Soviet World War II commander of his honorary Prague citizenship Thursday. The Prague City Council s approved Mayor Zdenek Hribs proposal to revoke the honor bestowed in June 1945 on Soviet Marshal Ivan Stepanovic Konev. Konev led the Red Army forces that liberated large parts of Czechoslovakia from Nazi occupation in 1945 and also contributed to Prague's liberation. He died in 1973. The mayor said the general and his army were welcomed in Prague in 1945 but he based his proposal on Konev's post-war activities. Hrib cited Konevs authorization of a Soviet bombardment of the Czech town of Mlada Boleslav a day after World War ended, an attack which killed some 150 Czech citizens, and his role in crushing the 1956 anti-Soviet uprising in Hungary. Two years ago, a Prague district removed a statue of Konev. The action angered Russia. After communism ended in 1989, Prague authorities stripped honorary citizenship from Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Hristo Rusev/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Hristo Rusev/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) An international rights group said Thursday that Bulgarian authorities are attacking Afghan and other asylum-seekers, using police dogs and other violence to illegally push them back over the border into Turkey. Human Rights Watch said that the migrants reported being beaten, robbed and stripped. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KABUL, Afghanistan - As Abdullah Obeid and his team boarded a bus in central Kabul, female passengers lowered their gaze and hurriedly adjusted headscarves to cover their faces. Obeid, a member of the Taliban's morality police, was leading a patrol to enforce a recent ruling requiring Afghan women to fully cover in public. "These people are fine," he told the driver as he stepped down onto the street. "But if any other woman is not wearing the proper hijab, don't allow her on!" he barked, waving the bus away. Under orders from the Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue, Obeid has increased patrols since the decree earlier this month forcing all Afghan women to cover from head to toe, including their faces. But he described his mandate as much wider than dress code enforcement. "The people of Kabul are full of all kinds of corruption after the last 20 years, so now it is up to us to cleanse everyone," he said. More than nine months into Taliban rule, the Ministry of Vice and Virtue is expanding its reach into all aspects of Afghan society. Women have been the targets of the ministry's new laws, but on patrol, its employees enforce gender segregation, address allegations of bribery and demand that men pray regularly. "At the beginning, we had hope the Taliban would be softer, but now the only safe place for me is my home," said Negina Lali, 22, a university student who was recently barred from attending class because she wasn't dressed entirely in black. Lali has put her colorful scarves away, but even when she follows the Taliban's new dress code, her parents worry about her going out. "My mother remembers the previous Taliban government, so she is very afraid for me. More and more, she tells me stories from that time," she said. When the Taliban controlled Afghanistan in the 1990s, the Ministry of Vice and Virtue was one of its most feared institutions. As a young woman, Lali's mother said she was beaten in the street by the ministry's enforcers because she forgot to wear socks. Another time, she was whipped in front of her young children when the scarf covering her head and face was blown off by a gust of wind. "All this is to erase women," Lali said. "They don't want to see us outside at all. I only expect the situation to get worse." Days after the ruling requiring women to cover in public, the Ministry of Vice and Virtue issued another edict mandating that women on television also cover their faces. Television news outlets in Kabul protested, but during a meeting shortly after the announcement, a team from the ministry ended the debate before it could begin. "The door is closed," the team said, according to Khpolwak Sapai, the director of ToloNews, Afghanistan's largest independent news network, who was at the meeting. Sapai has been in regular contact with the Ministry of Vice and Virtue for months over what he is allowed to broadcast. "At the beginning, it was like we were having normal conversations," Sapai said, referring to the first time he was called in to discuss a ban on female actors in television dramas. "But with each order, they have become more and more strict. We used to see a path forward, but after this last decision, I can't imagine it anymore." Khatera Ahmadi, a news presenter at ToloNews, said she had no choice but to comply with the ruling. On air now, she wears a black scarf covering her head and face below the eyes. "I don't really care about having to cover my face, our voice is what matters most," the 26-year-old said. "My goal is to raise the voices of millions of Afghan women. But what I am worried about is that next they will ban us from coming to work completely." Mohammad Sadiq Akif, the spokesman for the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, insists that the restrictions on the rights and public lives of women are for the common good. "Enforcing hijab is an important part of cleansing a society. When women wear the proper hijab, it prevents bad behavior in others," he said, claiming that the way Afghan women dressed in cities such as Kabul before the Taliban takeover encouraged sexual harassment from men. "This is not a violation of women's rights, it gives women more freedom," he said. Since the ruling on head-to-toe coverings, Akif estimates that two dozen families have been summoned to the ministry after their female relatives violated the dress code. In all cases, he said, male relatives agreed to enforce the ruling. Akif dismissed the international outrage over the Taliban's treatment of women. "No other country should intervene in our domestic affairs," he said. "The world must respect Afghanistan's decision." During another vice and virtue patrol, a team stopped at a bazaar. They moved from store to store and asked shopkeepers whether they break to pray and if they have witnessed corruption, and they warned them against serving women who are not fully covered. "Why are you asking about these things?" asked a man stepping out from the crowd. "The government should be focusing on other issues like fixing the economy and providing jobs," he said, identifying himself as Abdul Ahad, a 24-year-old doctor. The team told him to raise his concerns with the Ministry of Labor or other relevant branches of government. "But you are the only people from the government who I see, no one else comes here," he said as the team walked away. An owner of an amusement park in Kabul made a similar observation about the widening reach of the vice and virtue teams. "They are everywhere. In every part of our lives and every part of the country," he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. Teams visit his park regularly, and he blames them for plummeting attendance, saying gender segregation makes it almost impossible for a family to visit together. "Just watching the news, we hear more about the Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue than any other ministry. It seems they are responsible for everything important," he said. Lali, the university student, has felt her life shrink with each new restriction. "It's not just about clothing, they are taking away our freedom to make our own choices," she said. "It is like they don't accept women as human beings." But the ministry has argued repeatedly that it is simply implementing Islamic law. "The criticism in the media is just propaganda," said Obeid, as his team finished its day with a stop for ice cream. He's been on hundreds of patrols in Kabul, he said, and "no woman ever told me we are taking away their rights." When pressed, he snapped. "We are carrying out the order of God. It doesn't matter what women say they want." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LVIV, Ukraine (AP) For a month now, Russian forces have repeatedly attacked Ukrainian medical facilities, striking at hospitals, ambulances, medics, patients and even newborns with at least 34 assaults independently documented by The Associated Press. With every new attack, the public outcry for war crimes prosecutions against Russian President Vladimir Putin, his generals and top Kremlin advisers grows louder. To convict, prosecutors will need to show that the attacks are not merely accidents or collateral damage. The emerging pattern, tracked day by day by the AP, shows evidence of a consistent and relentless onslaught against the very civilian infrastructure designed to save lives and provide safe haven to Ukraines most vulnerable. AP journalists in Ukraine have seen the deadly results of Russian strikes on civilian targets firsthand: the final moments of children whose tiny bodies were shredded by shrapnel or had limbs blown off; dozens of corpses, including those of children, heaped into mass graves. The pattern of attacks will help prosecutors build the case that these are deliberate attacks, said Ryan Goodman, professor of law at New York University and former special counsel at the U.S. Department of Defense. Prosecutors will draw inferences from how many medical facilities were targeted, how many times individual facilities were repeatedly struck and in what span of time. Deliberate attacks on hospitals will likely be a top priority for war crimes prosecutors. This accounting of attacks on medical facilities is part of a larger effort by the AP and the PBS series Frontline to track evidence of potential war crimes committed during one of the largest conflicts in Europe since the end of World War II. The War Crimes Watch Ukraine project launched by AP and Frontline includes details of apparent targeted attacks as well as indiscriminate destruction of civilian buildings and infrastructure. The AP/Frontline online database will continue to be updated as long as the conflict lasts. The goal is to provide an independent accounting of events, apart from potentially inflated claims by advocates or misinformation spread by state-backed propaganda. ___ This story is part of an ongoing investigation from The Associated Press and Frontline that includes the War Crimes Watch Ukraine interactive experience and an upcoming documentary. ___ The AP's own reports include strong visual evidence such as photos and videos, along with witness accounts of alleged atrocities. AP journalists outside Ukraine have confirmed the details of other attacks by interviewing survivors and independently verifying the authenticity of videos and photos from the war zone posted online by local officials and residents. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights confirms at least 1,035 civilians, including 90 children, have died in the four weeks since the start of the war. An additional 1,650 civilians have been wounded. Those numbers are certainly an undercount since scores of bodies now lie under the rubble of demolished buildings or were hurriedly buried in mass graves, or the deaths occurred in areas now under Russian control. Still, Russian officials have denied hitting civilian targets, deriding the mounting documentation of atrocities as Fake News and claiming without evidence that dead and wounded civilians photographed were crisis actors. Speaking at talks in Turkey about a potential cease-fire, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed concerns about civilian casualties as pathetic shrieks from Russias enemies and denied Ukraine has even been invaded. Military attacks on civilian populations and their property are generally forbidden under international laws governing armed conflicts going back more than a century. Efforts are already underway by the International Criminal Court in the Hague and Ukrainian prosecutors to compile evidence for future criminal indictments. Chief ICC prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan announced last month that his agency had opened an investigation after receiving referrals from 39 nations over potential evidence of war crimes committed in Ukraine. President Joe Biden has said he believes Putin is a war criminal, and the U.S. government has assessed that members of Russias armed forces have committed war crimes. Attacks on medical facilities and staff are considered particularly heinous under international law, which stipulates they must be protected. Still, bombing a hospital is not necessarily a war crime. Prosecutors must show that the destruction is intentional or reckless. But the evidence of such attacks in Ukraine verified by AP and Frontline is both mounting and horrendous, and belies Russian claims that they were staged, self-inflicted or militarily justified. Russia is bombing medical infrastructure on purpose, fighting sick people as if they were military, said Pavlo Kovtoniuk, a former deputy minister of health and WHO consultant who co-founded the Ukrainian Healthcare Center, a think tank based in Kyiv that has been documenting attacks on hospitals. Bombing hospitals is especially cruel because it shows civilian people that there is no safe place for them on earth, he said. Among the most thoroughly documented strikes was the March 9 bombing of a childrens and maternity hospital in Mariupol. Two AP journalists, the last international media to remain in the city after it was encircled by Russian forces, arrived at the hospital minutes after the explosion. They saw a smoldering two-story-deep crater in the interior courtyard, surrounded by the twisted and burned remains of several cars. The force of the explosion tore the facades off three surrounding buildings, blowing out the windows and wrecking rooms inside. The AP journalists took photos and video of stunned survivors coming out of the hospital. A pregnant woman being carried on a stretcher held her belly, blood staining her sweatpants, her face pale. She later died following an emergency cesarean section at another nearby hospital, according to Dr. Timur Marin, one of the surgeons who tried to save her. The woman's baby also did not survive. Another pregnant woman, Mariana Vishegirskaya, her face bloodied, clutched her belongings in a plastic bag and made her way down a set of debris-strewn stairs and out of the ruined hospital. Vishegirskaya was taken to another nearby hospital, Mariupol Regional Intensive Care, where she gave birth the following day to a baby girl she named Veronika. We were lying in wards when glass, frames, windows and walls flew apart, she told AP, lying next to her newborn. Ukrainian authorities say three were killed by the airstrike, including a child, while 17 were wounded. Kremlin officials admitted Russian aircraft had struck the hospital but insisted all patients and staff had been evacuated prior to the bombing. Russian state media claimed without providing any evidence that the hospital was being used as a base for the Azov Battalion, a small far-right nationalist group often used as casus belli by Putin for false claims that the Ukrainian government is rife with Nazis. At a U.N. Security Council meeting the day after the strike, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia claimed the wounded pregnant women documented by AP journalists were crisis actors, playing the part of victims in an elaborate plot to frame Russia. On Twitter, the Russian Embassy in London posted two AP photos side-by-side, one depicting Vishegirskaya and another of the pregnant woman who died. Each was branded in red as FAKE. Twitter removed the tweet for violating its rules against denying violent events. Vishegirskaya is a blogger in Mariupol who before the war posted about skin care, makeup and cosmetics; there is no evidence that she was anything but a patient at the hospital. She posted multiple photos and videos on Instagram documenting her pregnancy in the past few months. The AP journalists also saw no evidence that the facility was being used as anything other than a hospital. They saw no military hardware or vehicles among the burned-out wrecks in the courtyard. Hospital rooms were filled with beds and medical equipment. The contention that the victims were actors and the hospitals were military targets is preposterous, and no court of law would give it any credence, said David Scheffer, who served as U.S. ambassador at large for war crimes issues during the Clinton administration. Imagine them trying to say it in front of a seasoned panel of judges as if it can be credibly believed. Scheffer and Goodman both said prosecutors in any future trial are likely to argue multiple strikes against medical facilities are evidence of an intentional strategy to break the morale of the enemy population. Russian commanders used similar airstrikes during the Syrian war. Physicians for Human Rights, an advocacy group that tracked attacks on medical workers in Syria, documented more than 250 attacks on medical facilities and staff after Russia intervened in the conflict in 2015. The assaults on medical facilities in Ukraine began with at least two attacks on the very first day of the war. On Feb. 24, a local media organization posted a photo on Twitter of City Childrens Hospital No. 1 in Donetsk, struck by an artillery shell that damaged its top floor. AP found that the photo matches the pictures of the hospital from before the war; the building is clearly marked as a medical facility on maps of the area. Another photo posted on Twitter showed a large explosion and fire at Central City Hospital in Vuhledar. AP matched the building in the photo to pre-war images of the hospital in Vuhledar, which is clearly marked as a medical facility on maps. The advocacy group Human Rights Watch obtained additional photos from the hospitals chief doctor, Natalia Sosyura, who provided the names of the four civilians who died in the strike. Ten others were reported to have been wounded. Additional photos published by a Ukrainian media organization showed two burned out vehicles in the hospitals driveway with two bodies covered by blue sheets. Another photo showed the crumpled nose cone of a rocket. Chris Weakley, a former U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal technician and private intelligence analyst, identified the cone as coming from a Russian Tochka ballistic missile, used to carry cluster munitions. As a former Soviet republic, Ukraine also has access to some Russian weapons systems, but there is no evidence Ukraine has been attacking its own hospitals. In a statement issued March 12, a spokesperson for the U.N. high commissioner for human rights in Geneva, Liz Throssell, said the agency had received credible reports of several cases of Russian forces using cluster munitions and specifically cited the attack in Vuhledar. The stockpiling and use of cluster munitions is banned under an international convention signed by 110 countries, but Russia and Ukraine are not among them. However, their use in civilian areas is by definition indiscriminate a violation of international humanitarian law since the munition scatters small grenade-sized bomblets over a wide area. On the second day of the war, three more Ukrainian medical facilities were reported to have been hit, including a childrens hospital and cancer center. Kharkiv Regional Childrens Clinical Hospital No. 1 also was struck by a cluster bomb munition, wounding one staff member. Photos posted on the hospitals social media accounts show numerous impact craters on the hospital campus, including one in a playground. One of the photos shows an unexploded bomblet about the size of a soda bottle on the ground near the front entrance. Weakley identified it as a Russian-made 9N235 cluster submunition. A different video verified by AP shows a series of explosions in a building identified on maps as the oncology department of Melitopol City Hospital No. 1. The building in the video matches pre-war imagery of the hospital, which features a large red cross on the facade. Statistics for the number of Ukrainian medical facilities damaged since Russia invaded vary widely. The Ukrainian Health Ministry says 248 medical facilities have been damaged, with 13 completely destroyed. The World Health Organization, by contrast, said 58 Ukrainian medical facilities have been damaged, some more than once. The AP and Frontline have only counted those they could independently confirm. Russian shelling in Lysychansk caused extensive damage to Luhansk Regional Childrens Clinical Hospital in early March. Sergei Haidai, a local government official, said the hospital was hit by at least 10 shells over a two-day period, wounding a surgeon. AP video from March 11 shows damage to ambulances and buildings at Dergachi Central Hospital, which Mayor Vyacheslav Zadorenko says resulted from a Russian attack on his town. That video also shows expended cluster rocket canisters impaled in the ground. Weakley identified them as Russian-made 9M27K cargo rockets, which carry the same bomblets found at the children's hospital in Kharkiv. Okhmatdyt Childrens Hospital in Kyiv, which houses Ukraines primary pediatric cancer center, has repeatedly been rocked by explosions since the war began. Dr. Serhii Chernyshuk, the hospitals medical director, said the blasts and shrapnel from Russian missiles and rockets landing nearby have blown out windows and doors. To try to keep their patients safe from the ongoing bombardment, Ohmatdyts staff moved them into the basement. An AP journalist who visited the facility on Feb. 28 photographed three young cancer patients, their heads bald from chemotherapy. Two held up sheets of notebook paper with a handwritten message in English: Stop War. Chernyshuk said he and his staff have been largely living at the hospital, working long hours on little sleep. We must support our patients because, in Kyiv and Ukraine, its terrible for everybody, he said. But our patients have a different problem, they cannot help themselves. We must do it. Yulia Ablamskaya was one of 17 employees inside the Mediland Clinic Kyiv when she says a loud "boom rocked the building in the early morning hours of March 16. As the chaos unfolded, she hurried to get the three remaining patients at the center to a safer place. The patients, she said, are all awaiting operations and unable to travel. We felt the walls of the building shivering, Ablamskaya, an administrator at the clinic, recounted. So, we of course jumped up and went to take the patients. Once they were safe, she returned to take photos and videos of the damage, which she provided to AP. They show cracked walls and shattered windows. There's also evidence Russian forces have intentionally targeted ambulances and medics, including multiple photos posted by Ukrainian health officials showing ambulances riddled with bullet holes. Video posted online Feb. 26 shows an ambulance is engulfed in flames on a rural road outside Kherson after Ukrainian officials say it was struck by Russian heavy weapons fire. Medics from a second ambulance work feverishly to save a wounded man wearing a red paramedic's uniform who is on the ground, bleeding from his head. Ukrainian media and government authorities reported the ambulance's driver, Volodymyr Vasyliovych Kovalchuk, and a patient died in the attack, which appears to match a confirmed incident in the WHO database. Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko said in a Facebook post on Wednesday that Russian forces have hit 58 emergency vehicles and killed six medics, forcing the government to outfit emergency medical workers with body armor. David Crane is a former senior inspector general in the Department of Defense who served as chief prosecutor of a United Nations-sponsored war crimes tribunal over atrocities committed during Sierra Leones civil war. What is happening in Ukraine, he said, is worthy of prosecution. The bottom line is this is medieval warfare in the Ukraine, Crane said. Its precisely the sort of warfare that the laws of armed conflict were designed to prevent. ___ For more on the Russian attacks on medical facilities, including information on each attack, go to https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/interactive/ap-russia-war-crimes-ukraine/ Editors Note: The AP and Frontline are gathering information from organizations including the Centre for Information Resilience, Bellingcat, the International Partnership on Human Rights, the Ukrainian Healthcare Center and Physicians for Human Rights to inform the War Crimes Watch Ukraine interactive experience. ___ AP Investigative Reporter Michael Biesecker reported from Washington and News Verification Reporter Beatrice Dupuy from New York. AP reporters Mstyslav Chernov and Evgeny Maloletka in Mariupol, Ukraine, Sarah El Deeb in Beirut, Lebanon; Jason Dearen and Larry Fenn in New York; Juliet Linderman in Baltimore; Joshua Goodman in Miami; Richard Lardner and Helen Wieffering in Washington; Lori Hinnant in Paris; and James LaPorta in Wilmington, North Carolina, contributed. ___ Follow Biesecker at twitter.com/mbieseck, Kinetz at twitter.com/ekinetz and Dupuy at twitter.com/Beatrice_Dupuy ___ Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin's top legislative Republican said Thursday that he is open to the idea of arming teachers following the latest school shooting in Texas, while he dismissed as disingenuous" an offer from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to find common ground. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos told The Associated Press that finding ways to better protect schools, including with additional police, armed security guards and armed teachers, should be on the table. It's not just teachers. Its making sure that people who are inside of school have the ability to defend themselves, Vos said. But the idea that we are going to take a heinous act like this and find some kind of logical way to prevent it 100% of the time, I just dont see that occurring." Evers, when asked about Vos' proposal at a news conference on another topic, said, he didn't think teachers would support it and that it would make schools more dangerous. Evers is a former teacher, school district superintendent and state superintendent. There are better ways, Evers said. Id like to think about finding ways to keep guns away from people who are going to cause these types of problems. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul dismissed the proposal as a really wacky and frankly dangerous idea. We cant be turning our schools into war zones, he said. It's not going to make them safer. In fact, it would make them more dangerous. Democratic state Rep. Deb Andraca, of Whitefish Bay, tweeted her opposition to the idea. I am a licensed teacher and a gun owner with my concealed carry permit, she said. This is a terrible idea. Vos said more people in schools trained to handle violent outbreaks could respond not just to shootings but to a whole array of problems, including sexual assaults and other crimes. Past Republican proposals to arm teachers have not gone anywhere in the GOP-controlled Legislature. And any bill to do that now would certainly be vetoed by Evers, who is up for reelection in November. Republican gubernatorial candidate Kevin Nicholson was also open to the idea. His spokeswoman Courtney Mullen said Nicholson backs having armed and professionally trained professionals guarding schools whenever possible, but allowing some teachers who are trained and licensed to carry in order to protect our students may also be warranted. The other three Republican candidates for governor - Rebecca Kleefisch, Tim Michels and state Rep. Timothy Ramthun did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Earlier this year, Evers vetoed Republican bills that would have allowed holders of concealed carry permits to have firearms in vehicles on school grounds and in churches located on the grounds of a private school. He also vetoed a measure that would have allowed anyone with a concealed carry license from any state to be armed in Wisconsin. Currently, only people with licenses from states that conduct background checks on applicants can carry concealed guns in Wisconsin. Evers and other Democrats called for action this week after an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and their two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Evers called a special session in 2019 for the Legislature to pass bills instituting a universal background check for gun purchases and a red flag law that would give judges the ability to temporarily take away firearms from people determined to be a risk. The Legislature did not take up those bills. Democrats on Wednesday, including Kaul, renewed the call for Republicans to consider the bills. Vos dismissed Kaul's plea as just trying to throw something out there to make himself relevant. Kaul is also up for reelection in November. Kaul said Vos and other Republicans who refuse to take action are deflecting from the main issues to appease the far right ends of their base. And its a choice that they are making to ultimately not take action and instead to allow mass shootings to keep occurring one after the other without taking action. Evers urged lawmakers to look for common ground. But Vos, who has not spoken with Evers in more than a year and a half, said the offer was not a serious effort. Evers, in a disingenuous way, talks about things that are very difficult or impossible to accomplish as opposed to those things that really could be, Vos said. Evers' spokeswoman Britt Cudaback did not immediately return a message. Body-worn camera footage released Tuesday shows a Houston police officer shooting and killing a man carrying a bag as he fled from the end of a pursuit April 27, and a prominent civil rights attorney representing the victim's family is weighing in. Houston police were searching for 29-year-old Jalen Randle, who was wanted on two felony charges, and spotted him get into the passenger seat of an SUV in northeast Houston. Undercover police followed the driver before attempting to pull the pair over, but the driver refused to stop. Officers chased the driver into Houston's Pleasantville neighborhood, where they were able to pin the SUV in the 8700 block of Josie Street. As the SUV came to a stop, Randle jumped out of the passenger side and started running, according to the bodycam video released by the Houston Police Department. He was carrying a zipped bag at the time, police said and the video shows. Note: The bodycam footage, which was edited and trimmed by the Houston Police Department, might be difficult to watch: That's when Houston cop Shane Privette, a passenger in one of the undercover police vehicles involved in the pursuit, jumped out of the police car and pointed his gun at Randle, giving him commands to show his hands. According to the footage, less than a second after giving the command, Privette pulled the trigger and shot Randle in the neck. Immediately after opening fire, Privette shouted, "Oh, sh-t," and sprinted toward the Randle with his gun still up. Randle fell to the ground, dropping the bag. The driver remained in the SUV as police closed in. Officers put Randle in handcuffs and dragged him to the sidewalk, where they waited for paramedics to arrive for help. In the footage, which was edited and compiled by HPD, another officer had to unzip the bag and dig through it for a moment before locating the firearm inside. It did not appear Randle had any way to access the gun when he was shot. Police did not say whether Privette knew there was a gun in the zipped-up bag when he opened fire. Randle, who grew up in Pleasantville, was rushed to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead. "The release of this footage, while heartbreaking for the family of Jalen Randle, gives us a clearer picture of what happened to Jalen in his final moments," said civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who was hired by Randle's family to investigate his death. "The brutality displayed in this video is extremely disturbingfrom the officer firing a deadly shot seemingly as he ordered Jalen to put his hands up to the way they handcuffed and dragged his lifeless body across the ground." Earlier this month, Crump released the results of an independent autopsy that concluded Randle was shot in the back of the neck. Police have only said he was shot in the neck but did not specify where, according to Nicole Hensley in the Houston Chronicle. "We demand full justice for Jalen Randle and his family," Crump said. "This officer needs to be held accountable immediately." Privette remains on paid administrative duty as police continue their investigation. Joe Garcia, husband of fourth-grade teacher Irma Garcia, one of two teachers killed in the Robb Elementary School shooting Tuesday, died Thursday morning of a heart attack caused by grief, according to family members. "EXTREMELY heartbreaking and come with deep sorrow to say that my Tia Irmas husband Joe Garcia has passed away due to grief," Garcia's 21-year-old nephew John Martinez wrote in a post on Thursday. "I truly am at a loss for words for how we are all feeling, PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR FAMILY, God have mercy on us, this isnt easy." Martinez said Irma, 46, and Joe Garcia, 50, were high school sweethearts and have been married for 24 years. They leave behind four children between the ages of 13 and 23. "No child should have to go through this, my heart breaks for them," Martinez wrote. Irma Garcia was in her 23rd year of teaching at Robb Elementary School, according to her biography on the schools website. She loved to barbecue with Joe and the two loved listening to music. In 2019, Irma was named a finalist for the Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching, which honors exceptional teachers in the San Antonio area. Irma reportedly died trying to protect the children in her classroom. Martinez told the New York Times that Garcia was like a "second mom" to him and her students, adding that when officers entered the classroom where the massacre occurred, they had found her body there, embracing children in her arms pretty much until her last breath. On Twitter Wednesday, Martinez called Irma a hero, writing "she passed away with children in her arms trying to protect them, those werent just her students they were her kids as well, she was teacher of the year, and was loved by so many, shes gone but the world will never forget her name." Garcia's co-teacher Eva Mireles was also killed in the attack, along with 19 children. Martinez told The New York Times that Joe went to drop off flowers at Irma's memorial Thursday morning. When he returned, he pretty much just fell over and died of a heart attack, Martinez said. Upon hearing the news, Sen. Ted Cruz offered his prayers on Twitter, writing "Absolutely devastating. Heidi and I are praying for the Garcia family." A GoFundMe has been created to help the family. "Irma was a wife, a mother of 4, a cousin, a sister a daughter, an aunt and a wonderful person," the fundraiser's page stated. "She would literally do anything for anybody......no questions asked." UPDATE: May 27, 3:45 PM CT At a Friday afternoon press conference, Governor Greg Abbott admitted he gave the public inaccurate information Wednesday during an initial presser detailing an incorrect timeline of events and as well as the police response to Tuesday's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. "I was misled about what happened," Abbott said. "I am livid about what happened." Abbott called the inaccuracies "indefensible" and said it was important to have 100-percent correct information for families. Authorities have recanted and amended initial official reports regarding the timing of the police response to the shooting spree at Robb Elementary, which saw suspected gunman Salvador Ramos kill 19 students and two teachers over the course of an hour-long assault in a single classroom, all while police officers waited outside for backup from a tactical unit. "There was nothing about the laws from this past session that had anything to do with this," Abbott said, answering whether recent legislation in the Texas state house could've eased the gunman's access to the weapons he used. Ramos allegedly ran into the school with a bag of loaded AR-15 magazines and fired hundreds of shells before being killed by responding officers. "Let me be clear, the status quo is unacceptable," Abbot said. "This crime is unacceptable. We're going to be looking for the best laws to be passed that make our communities and schools safer. "Everyone wants to seize on a particular strategy. Look what happened in the Santa Fe shooting. Background checks had no effect there. The killer took the gun from his parents...anyone who suggests we should focus on background checks instead of mental health, that's a mistake." Abbott initially refused to answer questions about the day of the shooting during the presser's Q&A portion, emphasizing he would only answer questions about the mental health and auxiliary services the state was providing to victims and the community. He mentioned one father of a student who broke his glasses over the course of Tuesday afternoon. "We can pay for that stuff," Abbott said. UPDATE: May 27, 11:56 AM CT The director of the Texas Department of Public Safety released a damning timeline of the deadly attack on a Uvalde elementary school, showing how law enforcement waited in the school hallway even as a student and teacher each called 911 begging for help. Steve McCraw, director of the department, said Uvalde Consolidated ISD police chief Pete Arredondoacting as the incident commander over the active shooter scene Tuesdaymade the wrong decision in telling officers to wait for backup before engaging the suspected gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos. Arredondo decided the situation amounted to a barricaded subject rather than an active shooter, which prompts a slower and more methodical police response, McCraw said. But even close to an hour after the gunman started shooting, a student and teacher separately called 911 to report there were still children alive inside the rooms with the shooter and begging please send police now, telling 911 operators they could hear the officers in the hall outside the classroom. The shooter fired more than 100 rounds during the first four minutes of the attack once he entered the school, according to McCraw. Two minutes after he entered the school, the first four police officers entered and waited in the hallway. In the following minutes, more officers arrived inside the school and waited even as the shooter continues to fire rounds. A total of 19 officers were waiting in the hallway as the situation unfolded, McCraw said. After an hour of waiting for more tactical teams, officers used a set of janitors keys to open the classroom door and kill the shooter. UPDATE: May 27, 10:32 AM CT A survivor of Tuesday's mass shooting at Robb Elementary says the gunman "blasted music" while shooting students and taunted a teacher before killing her. while shooting students and taunted a teacher before killing her. Governor Greg Abbott has backed out of a scheduled in-person appearance at the NRA conference in Houston on Saturday, one of a number of entities to cancel on the event following Tuesday's shooting. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick followed suit on Friday, opting out of attending the convention. at the NRA conference in Houston on Saturday, one of a number of entities to cancel on the event following Tuesday's shooting. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick followed suit on Friday, opting out of attending the convention. 'They could have been shot': Texas DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez tells CNN that officers were following best practices by opting to wait outside for backup as the shooter rampaged inside Robb Elementary. Eric Thayer/Getty Images UPDATE: 1:50 PM CT At a Thursday press conference DPS Regional Safety Director Victor Escalon Jr. said that the team that entered the school and killed the gunman who murdered 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary on Tuesday didn't arrive on the campus until "approximately an hour" after first responding officers made their way into the school. Escalon said the first officers on the scene entered the building, came under fire and backed to a safe location where they requested backup and ushered staff and students into other rooms. The Border Patrol Tactical team that ultimately killed the shooter arrived an hour after this initial engagement, the director said. "Officers were calling for additional resources. Tactical teams. We needed specialty equipment, we need body armor. We need sharpshooters. We need negotiators," Escalon said. "It's a complex situation." "I wanted to clear up that a school district police officer confronted the suspect," Escalon said. "Thats not accurate. He walked in unobstructed. He was not confronted by anybody." UPDATE: 11:30 AM CT Authorities are investigating the police response to Tuesday's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, in which 19 students and two teachers were killed at Robb Elementary School by suspected gunman Salvador Ramos. The Austin American-Statesman's Tony Plohetski reported Thursday morning that officials are now reviewing police radio traffic at the time of the shooting. "Authorities now confirm they are examining the response of police in Uvalde in the shooting of 19 children amid conflicting witness statements, including what steps they took to stop the gunman," Plohetski wrote. "Part of the review will include a timeline based on radio traffic." Investigators are also examining the timing and points of origin regarding firearm discharges by police at the school. "Officials also are analyzing ballistics to learn who fired and when," Plohetski tweeted. "Sources say these types of reviews are standard after major incidents but are intensified in this case because of discrepancies in statements and gravity of the matter. Uvaldes chief could not be reached." Officials on Wednesday night appeared to retract previous claims that officers engaged Ramos immediately upon his arrival at Robb Elementary, stating they could no longer confirm initial reports of the encounter. "Officials first said a school officer and the gunman exchanged fire," Plohetski tweeted. "On Wednesday night, they said they could no longer confirm that initial report. We will stay with this to fully understand what happened." --- End of Update --- UPDATE: May 26, 7:20 AM CT Concerned and frustrated parents of students at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas urged police to charge into the school and take down the gunman, according to an AP report released Thursday. Instead, the police waited outside for 'roughly an hour' prior to entering the school. During that time the alleged gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, murdered 19 students and two teachers in a single classroom, while injuring an additional 17 people Tuesday, before the shooter was killed by a member of Border Patrol. One woman repeatedly shouted Go in there! Go in there! according to Juan Carranza, 24, a bystander who watched the events unfold from his house across the street from the school. Carranza said he first witnessed the shooter crash his truck, grab his semi-automatic weapon, and fire indiscriminately toward two people standing outside a nearby funeral home who ran away uninjured. The shooter then made his way to the school. Despite this threat, the officers continued to wait outside, Carranza said. After running inside the school, the AP reports that the gunman fired on two Uvalde police who were arriving outside the building, according to Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Travis Considine. Both officers were injured by the spray of bullets. At one point during the attacks, Javier Cazares, whose fourth-grade daughter, Jacklyn Cazares, was killed by the gunman, suggested that he and the other parents take matters into their own hands. While police looked on Cazares said, Lets just rush in because the cops arent doing anything like they are supposed to, he told the AP. More could have been done. Gov. Greg Abbott praised and thanked police officers for their courage at a press conference held in Uvalde Wednesday afternoon. "The reality is, as horrible as what happened is, it couldve been worse," Abbot said. "The reason it wasnt worse is because law enforcement officials did what they do: they showed amazing courage. They ran toward gunfire for the sole purpose of saving lives. They were able to save lives. Unfortunately, not enough." UPDATE: May 25, 4:19 PM CT A New York Times report published Wednesday afternoon outlines new details from Tuesday's mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, including preliminary documents stating the shooter was inside the building for "roughly an hour" before being shot and killed by responding authorities. "The gunman was inside the school for roughly one hour before a tactical unit from the border patrol shot him several times, killing him," the report states, citing documents described by a state police official. The alleged gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was a Uvalde resident. Ramos allegedly shot his grandmother in the face inside her home Tuesday morning before driving to the elementary school and engaging in a shooting spree that left 19 students and two teachers dead inside a single classroom. --- End of Update --- UPDATE: 2:52 PM CT A Wednesday press conference led by Governor Greg Abbott regarding the Robb Elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas turned into a tense affair following an interruption from his political opponent Beto O'Rourke. The governor had finished his initial remarks and was turning over the proceedings to Lt. Governor Dan Patrick when O'Rourke, a former congressman from El Paso, Texas and 2022 Texas gubernatorial candidate, approached the stage and pointed a finger at Abbott. "This is predictable," O'Rourke said. "You're doing nothing...You said this was unpredictable, it's not. It's totally predictable." O'Rourke was shouted down by men on the stage, which included Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Uvalde Mayor Donald McLaughlin, among others. "Sit down," Cruz said to O'Rourke. "Sir, you're out of line," McLaughlin shouted, gesticulating as officers escorted O'Rourke from the building. "You're a sick son of a b-tch to do this to make a political point." Prior to the interruption, Abbott offered condolences to the families of the victims of Tuesday's mass shooting and outlined further details on the events that cut short the lives of 19 elementary school students, two teachers and the gunman himself. The governor began his remarks by lamenting the "intolerable" circumstances of a shooting targeting such young individuals. "For someone to gun down little kids. Its intolerable for us to have in the state of Texas, anyone who would kill little kids in our schools," Abbott said. "Children are a blessing. God teaches that. They are filled with innocence." Abbott spoke about the urgent need for Texans and Americans to come together and thanked police officers, claiming that the situation "could've been worse." "The reality is, as horrible as what happened is, it couldve been worse," Abbot said. "The reason it wasnt worse is because law enforcement officials did what they do: they showed amazing courage. They ran toward gunfire for the sole purpose of saving lives. "They were able to save lives. Unfortunately, not enough." The governor detailed the chronological events of Tuesday's mass shooting, saying it was preceded by the suspected gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, shooting his grandmother in the face at her home and driving her truck to Robb Elementary, where he crashed the vehicle into a ditch before making his way inside the school armed with an assault rifle. Abbott said Ramos' grandmother is alive as of Wednesday and contacted police after being shot. Officers at the school engaged Ramos, according to Abbott, and the suspected gunman fled down a hallway and into a classroom. From there Ramos ran into another classroom through an adjoining door and proceeded to shoot students and teachers in the second room. Responding officers formed a tactical stack, according to the governor, and were eventually able to overwhelm the shooter, who was killed by a Border Patrol agent responding to the scene. Abbott finished his remarks by putting the blame for the shooting on a mental health crisis in the Uvalde community, and promised to provide state resources for counseling to police and citizens in the area. "Everybody in this communitythe victims, the families, the friends, the law enforcement involved, the entire community is in shock by this," the governor said. "The physical wounds sustained by the officers are going to heal in the coming days. The lasting wounds are harder to see, and are going to be around much longer." "I cannot emphasize the importance of law enforcement officers seeking out and obtaining mental health services," Abbott said. The governor is scheduled to attend an NRA meeting in Houston this Saturday. --- End of Update --- UPDATE: May 25, 10:31 AM CT Officials told the Associated Press that the suspected gunman who killed 19 students and two adults at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent working in the area at the time of the shooting. The unnamed agent entered the school without waiting for backup and engaged the suspected shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, shooting and killing him, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity due to ongoing investigations. Ramos, a Uvalde resident, had legally purchased two assault rifle-style weapons the previous week shortly after turning 18, reports indicate. One of these weapons was discovered by investigators near a truck Ramos crashed into a ditch close to the school prior to the attack. The other weapon was on his person following his death, per officials. The responding Border Patrol agent sustained wounds while engaging Ramos but was able to walk out of the school, the anonymous official told AP. --- End of Update --- UPDATE: May 25, 7:36 AM CT Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Christopher Olivarez told CNN on Wednesday morning that all of those murdered in Tuesday's tragic school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas were in the same room, according to an AP report. The victims, according to Olivarez, were gathered in the same fourth-grade classroom when they were killed by alleged shooter Salvador Ramos. The death toll in the shooting rose to 19 students overnight. Two school staff members and the shooter are also among those dead, for a total of 22 fatalities as of Wednesday morning. --- End of Update --- UPDATE: May 25, 6:49 AM CT Authorities are now confirming a 19th child has died as a result of Tuesday's school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, per ABC News. The suspect, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, is deceased, according to Texas Governor Greg Abbott. ABC News reported Tuesday night that Ramos also shot his grandmother before the shooting at Robb Elementary. This shooting occurred at a different location. Ramos' grandmother was initially reported dead by some outlets but was reportedly alive as of 11 p.m. CT Tuesday night, according to ABC News. --- End of Update --- UPDATE: 6:47 PM CT The death toll of Tuesday's mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas has increased to 21 individuals, according to a statement made Tuesday evening by Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez. CNN's Manu Raju reported that Gutierrez appeared on MSNBC and stated that Texas Rangers, in a briefing, confirmed to him that 18 students, two school staff members and the shooter are dead as a result of the attack. --- End of Update --- UPDATE: 3:57 PM CT Multiple people are dead, including 14 children and one teacher, following an active shooter situation at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday, according to Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The governor gave a press conference detailing the aftermath of the deadly attack, stating that the shooter and a teacher are also among those dead. "The shooter was Salvador Ramos, an 18-year-old male that resided in Uvalde," Abbott said. "It is believed that he abandoned his vehicle and entered into the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde with a handgun, and he may have also had a rifle, but that is not yet confirmed." "He shot and killed, horrifically, incomprehensibly, 14 students and killed a teacher," Abbott stated. "Mr. Romas, the shooter, he himself is deceased." Abbott stated that it is believed responding officers shot and killed the shooter at the scene. Uvalde Memorial Hospital confirmed that two individuals from Robb Elementary School arrived at the hospital dead on Tuesday afternoon, and 13 other children were transported to the hospital with injuries. "UMH received 13 children via ambulance or buses for treatment," the hospital wrote in a Facebook post. "Two children have been transferred to San Antonio and one child is pending transfer. Two individuals that arrived at UMH were deceased. No details are available. Please refrain from coming to the hospital at this time." --- End of Update --- A suspect is in custody and a number of students are being treated at Uvalde Memorial Hospital on Tuesday afternoon following an active shooter situation that unfolded at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, about 90 minutes outside San Antonio. According to Uvalde Memorial Hospital, "several" students are being treated in the emergency room following the incident. The hospital posted a status Tuesday afternoon updating followers and asking immediate family of students in their care to meet in the cafeteria. "Information at this time is that the active shooter at Robb Elementary is in custody," the hospital wrote in a Facebook post. "UMH is currently caring for several students in the ER. Immediate family of those students are to report to the cafeteria on the second floor. UMH staff will be in constant communication with the family members. If you are not an immediate family member, we are asking you to refrain from coming to the hospital at this time." Uvalde police confirmed that an active shooter situation did occur at Robb Elementary Tuesday afternoon and noted that a suspect has been taken into custody, according to ABC 8. Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District informed the public at 12:17 p.m. CT that an active shooter was on the campus and that local law enforcement had arrived on the scene. UCISD stated all of its campuses were on lockdown until further notice and asked families of students not to approach the school. "There is an active shooter at Robb Elementary," the district wrote in a Facebook post. "Law enforcement is on site. Your cooperation is needed at this time by not visiting the campus. As soon as more information is gathered it will be shared. The rest of the district is under a Secure Status." UCISD followed this with a message informing parents of a reunification site at Willie DeLeon Civic Center. "Reunification Site for Robb Students: Robb Elementary students are being transported to the Willie DeLeon Civic Center for reunification," the district wrote. "The Civic Center will be under a Secure Status until all students are account for. Parents please do not pick up students at this time. You will be notified to pick up students once all are accounted for." The district has since confirmed parents can pick up their children at the reunification site. "Update: Robb Parents. Robb Elementary students have been transported to the CIVIC CENTER for reunification. Parents are encouraged to pick up their children at this time. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. After interrupting and being thrown out of a Wednesday press conference led by Gov. Greg Abbott to address Tuesday's deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, former El Paso congressman Beto O'Rourke gave impassioned responses to reporters in the street asking Texans to demand change from their leaders "We can do something right now, but if we continue to accept this, then it is on us. It is not just the governor's fault," O'Rourke said. "I'm not going to accept it, so I'm here." The 2022 Democratic candidate challenging Abbott in November was ushered out of the presser by police officers after approaching the governor and telling him the shooting was "predictable" and accusing him of "doing nothing" to stop mass shootings in the state. Speaking outside the press conference, O'Rourke asked "all Texans of good conscience" to push politicians to pass proposed laws that would make it more difficult for mass shootings like the one that occurred Tuesday at Robb Elementary, in which 19 students and two teachers were killed by a lone gunman. "I could care less whether you're a Republican, a Democrat or independent," O'Rourke said. "[I'm asking you] to stand up right now for yourself, for your kids, for our families, and to stop the next shooting just like this one." O'Rourke went on to list four different pieces of gun control legislation he believes would help prevent future school shootings. The proposals include banning the sale of assault rifles, requiring universal background checks, adopting red flag laws and safe storage. "Those are four solutions that have been brought up by the people of Texas," O'Rourke said. "Each one of those has broad bipartisan support right now. We could get that done right now if we had a governor who cared more about the people of Texas than his own political career or his fealty to the NRA." Abbott's challenger noted that the governor has an upcoming appearance at an NRA convention in Houston on Saturday. Abbott did not say when asked on Wednesday if he would attend the NRA event, and the governor himself had words for O'Rourke after his interruption. "Think about the people that are hurt," Abbott told reporters, stating that O'Rourke should "put aside personal agendas and think of somebody other than ourselves." In his outdoor speech, O'Rourke said it is people close to him who drove him to speak out at the press conference. "I've got three kids that are in high school, middle school and elementary school. [Gun control] is what they want," O'Rourke said. "And I face their judgement." Sen. Ted Cruz is doubling down on blaming mental health as the cause for the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas that left 22 people dead, including 19 children and two teachers. The Republican senator stormed out of an interview Wednesday after being asked if gun laws will change following the nation's worst school shooting since Sandy Hook in 2012. The Republican senator joined Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican politicians as well as hundreds of relatives and friends of the victims mourning at a vigil in Uvalde Wednesday. At the vigil, Cruz was approached by British journalist Mark Stone of Sky News. The Republican senator told Stone: "There are 19 sets of parents who are never going to get to kiss their child tonight." Stone then questioned the Republican senator if now was the moment to reform gun laws. In response, Cruz rolled his eyes, and accused Stone of politicizing the tragedy. "You know, it's easy to go to politics," Cruz told Sky News. "Inevitably, when some psychopath murders people... If you want to stop violent crime, the proposals the Democrats have none of them would have stopped this." Stone pressed, pointing to how the 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos was able to "so easily" legally purchase two AR-15 style rifles a week before the shooting, just days after his 18th birthday. He also asked Cruz why school shootings "only happen in America" and why American exceptionalism is "so awful." "You know, I'm sorry you think American exceptionalism is awful," Cruz rebuts. "You know what, you've got your political agenda, God love you," Cruz added, walking away. As Stone followed the Texas senator, repeatedly saying "You can't answer that, can you?" a frustrated Cruz turned and said: "Why is it that people come from all over the world to America? Because it's the freest, most prosperous, safest country on Earth. Stop being a propagandist." Cruz then stormed out of the interview. Sky News posted a clip of the moment on TikTok, which has been viewed more than 1 million times. Commenters sided with Stone, one saying "Thank you Sky News for going where other media companies won't." Another wrote, "See how Cruz dismisses the issue at hand? Kudos to those reporters..." NEW ORLEANS (AP) About $33 million of the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan recently signed into law by President Joe Biden will go toward cleaning up 277 of an estimated 15,000 abandoned oil and gas wells on federal land, the nation's interior secretary said Wednesday. Millions of Americans live within one mile of an abandoned oil or gas well, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said, adding during a news conference that the wells pose a danger to people, particularly in communities of color and rural communities. With tens of thousands of known orphaned wells across the country there is a significant amount of work to be done, so the program will provide many jobs that pay well, Haaland said. There are an estimated 15,000 abandoned wells on federal land and states have indicated that they would need more than $8 billion to clean up 130,000 other orphaned wells, said Laura Daniel-Davis, principal deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals. Those figures could be low the Environmental Protection Agency has estimated the national total at 3.2 million. Daniel-Davis said money to help nail down state inventories is included in $1.1 billion announced in January as available to states under the infrastructure law. This is the first installment of $250 million provided through the infrastructure law for cleaning up orphaned wells and well sites on federal public lands, national parks, national wildlife refuges and national forests, Daniel-Davis said. The next will probably be announced during the fiscal year which starts Oct. 1, she said. Including wells on federal land, the bill will provide $4.7 billion to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells, said Mitch Landrieu, Biden's infrastructure coordinator. States are now finally counting them, he said. Wells covered by Wednesday's announcement are considered high-priority because pollution threatens human health and safety, the climate and wildlife. Several wells, particularly in Pennsylvania and Louisiana, are near disadvantaged groups, Daniel-Davis said. Some 163 wells are in Louisiana, in five wildlife refuges and the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve's Barataria unit. Sixty-eight are in the Darbonne National Wildlife Refuge and 59 in the Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge. There are 24 each in Kentucky, in the Daniel Boone National Forest, and in Oklahoma, in the Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge. Another 20 are in Texas, 18 in the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania and 14 in Bureau of Land Management lands in Utah. In addition, the government will inventory and assess wells in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah. Ten wells are in California, three in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio and one in the Gauley River National Recreation Area in West Virginia. Contractors will measure methane before and after cleanup, Haaland said. Louisiana has about 4,600 orphaned wells, defined in state law as those with owners that have either gone out of business or have ignored state clean-up orders, said Patrick Courreges, spokesman for the state Department of Natural Resources. He said environmentalists often count those which have been plugged for at least five years as abandoned. As of last fall, he said, there were 9,352 such wells, owned by 447 companies. Louisiana has been plugging 120 to 200 abandoned wells a year for the past five or six years, he said. It is our hope to at least double that" with money from the infrastructure bill, said Courreges. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON The calculation behind Republicans steadfast opposition to any new gun regulations even in the face of the kind of unthinkable massacre that occurred Tuesday at an elementary school in Texas is a fairly simple one for Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota. Asked Wednesday what the reaction would be from voters back home if he were to support any significant form of gun control, the first-term Republican had a straightforward answer: Most would probably throw me out of office, he said. His response helps explain why Republicans have resisted proposals such as the one for universal background checks for gun buyers, despite remarkably broad support from the public for such plans support that can reach up to 90% nationwide in some cases. The reality is that that 90% figure probably includes some Republicans who are open to new laws, but would not clamor for them or punish a lawmaker for failing to back them, and the 10% opposed reflect the sentiments of the GOP base, which decides primary contests and is zealous in its devotion to gun rights. Most Republicans in the Senate represent deeply conservative states where gun ownership is treated as a sacred privilege enshrined in the Constitution, a privilege not to be infringed upon no matter how much blood is spilled in classrooms and school hallways around the country. We dont want to take away the rights of law-abiding citizens, said Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the No. 3 Republican, explaining why members of his party have no interest in imposing new regulations on gun purchases, even after the murder of 19 children and two teachers, the latest in a seemingly unending series of shooting massacres in the United States. The politics of gun control have always been fraught, and Democrats dodged the issue for decades following their loss of the House in 1994, which many of them attributed to their passage of an assault weapons ban. The epidemic of mass shootings has prompted Democrats to change course, and now even Democrats from red states, such as Jon Tester of Montana, have embraced background checks. But as Republican voters have become more conservative, Republican lawmakers have dug in deeply against any notion that new strictures on gun purchases are an antidote to mass shootings. They say that such restrictions are unconstitutional, even though adult Americans would continue to have easy access to weapons purchases if they became law. Republicans like Cramer understand that they would receive little political reward for joining the push for laws to limit access to guns, including assault-style weapons. But they know for certain that they would be pounded and most likely left facing a primary opponent who could cost them their job for voting for gun safety laws or even voicing support for them. The political threat from any perceived support for gun restrictions was on display just this week in a hotly contested Senate Republican primary race in Alabama. Mike Durant, an Army helicopter pilot once considered a contender for the Senate nomination, was reproached by his opponents for an 11-year-old speech in which he seemed to suggest that disarming an urban population would be a step toward reducing crime. Mike Durant dangerously wrong on guns, said one attack ad. Durant said his remarks, made at the Army War College, were related to the civil war in Somalia, where he had piloted a helicopter in the famous Black Hawk Down incident, and were being twisted and taken out of context. But the damage was done, and the attack was considered a factor in his finishing third on Tuesday, in a contest whose victor was all but certain to be elected. Such outcomes are not lost on other Republicans. The scene on Wednesday on Capitol Hill had a wrenching familiarity to it, as Republican lawmakers were mobbed by reporters and pressed on whether they could support something anything to curb the ongoing gun violence in the United States. Most who engaged said they were open to discussions, that they were happy to review what was on the table and that maybe, just maybe, some accommodation could be reached. Democrats said they have seen it all before and know how it ends with nothing. They are going to rope-a-dope the issue, hope that Congress adjourns, and 10 days from now the furor will once again die down, said Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass. Other Democrats said they saw nothing from their Republican colleagues that suggested a change in sentiment particularly with crucial midterms looming or that would lead them to expect that progress could be made on gun safety, despite Tuesdays horrendous toll. They are disturbed, they are troubled, but they are not willing to change where they are, said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del. While they are mainly opposed to gun safety legislation, Republicans do not want to appear to be nonresponsive in the wake of the shooting. Many voiced support for new mental health programs or for hardening the nations schools as an alternative to taking action on guns. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., on Wednesday sought to win unanimous Senate agreement to bring up a bill he has written that creates a sort of clearinghouse on best practices for school safety. Theres nothing partisan about this bill whatsoever, said Johnson, a strong proponent of gun rights. Its just a good idea that could save lives. But to Democrats, Johnsons idea was far from an appropriate legislative response to what took place this week in Uvalde, or earlier this month in Buffalo, New York, or in 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut. The Johnson bill is not in any way, shape or form a sufficient solution, said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the majority leader. Though the National Rifle Association has recently been diminished by scandal and financial turmoil, Democrats say that the organization still has a strong hold on Republicans through its financial contributions and support, hardening the partys resistance to any new gun laws. Despite the shooting in the same state, top Republicans are expected to appear this weekend at the groups convention in Houston. It is hard to say no to someone, to groups, who are principal suppliers of campaign funding, and thats where they are trapped, Markey said of Republicans. But Cramer noted that he did not receive the NRA endorsement when he won election in 2019, and argued that most Republicans are representing not the gun-rights group, but the views of constituents who will not tolerate any action that could be seen as clamping down on gun rights. It is a fundamental right for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves with firearms, said the senator, who has an A grade from the NRA. It is fundamental. It is exactly that. It is constitutional. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WESTPORT Spencer Platt is no stranger to covering conflict. As a photojournalist with Getty Images, the Westport native has spent more than 20 years photographing war in Iraq, bombings in Lebanon and struggles in central Africa. It was an image much closer to home though that recently won him the Pulitzer Prize. He was one of five photojournalists on Gettys team to win for breaking news photography for their collection of riveting photos of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Its an honor, it really is, Platt, a Staples grad, said during a program at the Westport Library on Wednesday. The photo is of a man in a red jacket and Trump hat, holding an American flag and looking sideways directly into Platts camera from behind a gas mask. The crowd surrounding him is blurred showing some of the chaos of the day. I didnt think in a million years this would happen, Platt said of the riot. Platt had covered part of Donald Trumps campaign and presidency and had always seen some control to the rallies, never devolving like they did on Jan. 6, 2021. That day he was covering a rally elsewhere in Washington D.C., and ran to the Capitol when it started, getting past scaffolding already set up for the inauguration to get close. Its one of those things where when youre in the heart of it, you dont really know whats happening, he said. It wasnt until he got back to his hotel that night that he learned protestors had gotten inside the Capitol and people had died. Platt was also a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2021 for his team coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. He won the World Press Photo of the Year in 2006 for his image of a group of Lebanese in a red convertible mini cooper in Beirut shortly after a bombing. Its kind of the beauty of chaos, he said of that 2006 image and why it might have won. Platt said war photos can become cliche and he likes to look for the mulitudes of elements that might pique a viewers curiosity and draw them in. In this case, a juxtaposition of wealth and culture with a background of destruction. A good news photo needs to be complicated, he said. Hes no stranger to having his work travel the globe. His image of the World Trade Center engulfed in flames on 9/11 appeared everywhere. He had heard the first plane come in over the radio and his wife Erica Sashin also a Staples grad suggested he go check it out. Platt, admittedly somewhat begrudgingly, grabbed his camera and headed out to the Brooklyn Bridge, forgetting his other camera and wallet at home. He could tell from the atmosphere that it wasnt just a commercial plane that crashed. He had raised his camera to his eye for just a few moments when the second plane hit. He said he didnt see the explosion, just felt the heat. He recalled how he and Tyler Hicks, a fellow Staples grad who won a Pulitzer Prize for his photos in 2014, went down to the scene in the days after and covered the events following the terrorist attack. Platt is based in New York City where he lives with Sashin and their daughter. It means he does a lot of assignments around the city, though hell also hop on his motorcycle to cover other stories. He got his start working for newspapers after graduating from Clark University before joining Getty in 2001. With Getty, hes been able to travel the world, including covering humanitarian aid in Africa a place he really wants to go back to. They kind of get left out the headlines, out of the papers unless some catastrophe happens, Platt said. Platt was also able to cover the Tour de France about seven or eight years ago, spending a month on the back of a motorcycle photographing the cyclists as they raced through the course. He brought his news eye to it, fascinated by the chaos around it like doctors stitching cyclists up as they pedaled, and focusing more on the scenes around the event than just on the athletes themselves. As a cyclist, he considers it a high point in his career. Most recently, he went to Buffalo, N.Y., in the aftermath of a mass shooting at a Tops grocery store where 10 people were killed and three others injured. He then photographed the funeral of Roberta Drury, the youngest of the victims, in Syracuse, N.Y. Its devastating, Platt said. He said there is a large team from Getty in Texas now, not even two weeks later, following the recent school shooting in Uvalde, but he didnt ask to go. I feel like were at the end of our tether with what the media can do, Platt said, adding the shootings are happening with such frequency that he can almost expect another vigil will happen in a week. In his profession, Platt sees a lot of difficult experiences and death. To be in this business, he said you have to be able to turn your emotions off and put a wall up between you and the assignment. You also have to remind yourself why youre there, he said. Youre the eyes, youre the ears for millions of people who cant be there, Platt said. And those long rides on his motorcycle to get to the assignments help, serving as part of the journey. On his way from Buffalo to Syracuse, he traveled through small farm towns and past Little League games where people waved. You have to remind yourself of the goodness, the decency of whats out there, he said. While Platt said its important to cover whats happening overseas, like in Ukraine, he wants to continue to focus his lens on America. Theres so many issues in America right now, whether it be opioids, guns, race, he said. It needs coverage. 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 How to prepare to cross the Canadian border if you have a criminal record. Will Canadian border services officers ask about your criminal record? How to prepare to cross the Canadian border if you have a criminal record. Will Canadian border services officers ask about your criminal record? How to prepare to cross the Canadian border if you have a criminal record. Will Canadian border services officers ask about your criminal record? How to prepare to cross the Canadian border if you have a criminal record. Daniel Levy Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A When you arrive at a Canadian port of entry, you may be asked if you have a criminal record. When asked, you will have to tell the truth. It is a serious crime to make a false statement to a border services officer. If you do, you may not be allowed to enter Canada. Although a criminal record can make you criminally inadmissible to Canada, some people may be able to overcome inadmissibility, even temporarily. Knowing your options before you go can help you have a smooth transition from your border to ours. Here are three ways to overcome criminal inadmissibility. Schedule a Free Legal Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm Temporary Resident Permits A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) is a temporary option for those seeking entry to Canada. TRPs are oftentimes only valid for the length of the applicants visit to Canada. When submitting your TRP application, you need to explain why you intend to come to Canada. The Canadian official reviewing your application will then consider whether the benefits of your visit outweigh the potential risks to Canadian society. Among the things they will consider include the number of offenses you have committed, the nature of the offenses, and the duration of time has elapsed since the offenses. If you are a US citizen or permanent resident, you can submit your TRP application at a Canadian port of entry. Your application will be processed immediately and the Canadian border officer will make a decision on the spot as to whether to allow you into Canada. Criminal Rehabilitation If it has been at least five years since you completed your sentence, you could be eligible to apply for criminal rehabilitation. Upon a successful application, your criminal history will no longer be grounds for inadmissibility into Canada as long as you do not commit another crime. Criminal rehabilitation, unlike a TRP, is a permanent solution. The fees to apply for this option differ depending on the nature of your crime. The Canadian government translates your foreign crime to the Canadian equivalent to determine whether to charge you application fees for non-serious criminality ($200 CAD) or for serious criminality ($1,000 CAD). After 10 years have passed since you completed your sentence, you may be deemed rehabilitated, provided your crime was non-serious. You may be able to benefit from this if you only have a single non-serious conviction on your record. If you have more than one conviction, you must apply for criminal rehabilitation. Otherwise, you can be automatically deemed rehabilitated and not need to apply for rehabilitation, but in this case a legal opinion letter drafted by a lawyer could be of great benefit to you when you are meeting with border officials. Legal Opinion Letter A Legal Opinion Letter from a Canadian immigration lawyer can be combined with any of the above options. These letters can explain to Canadian border officials why you should be allowed to visit Canada. It can also be a beneficial option if you have a pending charge but have not been convicted. It is important to make adequate preparations in advance of your journey to Canada so you do not get turned away at the border due to your previous conviction. Advice from a Canadian immigration lawyer can help. Schedule a Free Legal Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm CIC News All Rights Reserved. Discover your Canadian immigration options at CanadaVisa.com. U.S. cruel treatment of illegal migrants reveals hypocrisy of so-called human rights guardian 09:24, May 26, 2022 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily The U.S. practice of detaining illegal migrants at holding cells with poor and unpleasant conditions has seriously violated the human rights of the individuals and is triggering wide concern from the international society. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. border authorities arrested 210,000 migrants attempting to cross the border with Mexico in March, the highest monthly total since March 2000, and another over 200,000 were apprehended in the following month. The abuse of asylum seekers by American law enforcement officials have led to exacerbating humanitarian crisis at the borders. According to The New York Times, U.S. authorities arrested apprehended 1.7 million illegal migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border in the fiscal year 2021, the biggest amount recorded since at least 1960. Additionally, the violence of U.S. law enforcement officers is upgrading. For instance, U.S. border agents on horseback were seen chasing Haitian migrants back to a river in a footage exposed last September. The detention facilities for illegal migrants in the U.S. were mostly built by private companies. As a result of the terrible living circumstances and lack of oversight, human rights abuses are prevalent. According to official data released by the U.S., 557 deaths of migrants were recorded at the southern border in the fiscal year 2021. The figure was more than double that of a year earlier and the highest since relevant statistics were recorded in 1998. Some media outlets said the true figure might be larger than what had been reported. The violations of illegal migrant childrens human rights by U.S. law enforcement departments were even more astonishing. The last U.S. administration adopted a family separation policy for illegal migrants, which resulted in the separation of vast numbers of children from their parents. As a result, many children are still looking for their parents today. Despite public pressure for the U.S. government to put an end to the policy, the U.S. did not significantly change its treatment of illegal migrant children. USA Today said in an article published last November that after the outbreak of COVID-19, the U.S. government, citing relevant terms in the public health law, attempted to evict all the migrants and refugees seeking to cross the border, which was literally a 2.0 version of the family separation policy. Statistics indicate that among the 266,000 migrant children detained by the U.S., 25,000 have been detained for more than 100 days. The relevant detention facilities operate under chaotic management with frequent abuses, forced labor, and other violations of human rights. The children held in custody are suffering from serious physical and mental trauma. The issue of illegal migrants faced by the U.S., is to a large extent, an outcome of the countrys long-term hegemonic practice. In the nearly 200 years since the Monroe Doctrine was adopted, the U.S. has had over 30 cases of military intervention in Latin American countries, which placed the latter in lasting turbulence and poverty. The U.S. newspaper Liberation said many migrants arriving at the U.S. border are double victims of the U.S. policy. They fled the violence and coups supported by the U.S., but when they arrived in the U.S., they went through violent arrests, imprison, and sex assault. What the newspaper said profoundly reveals the historical and realistic responsibility that the U.S. has to take regarding the migrant issue. The country refuses to tackle the problem at the source and fulfill its promise of supporting the development of regional countries for solving the migrant issue. On the contrary, it is asking Latin American countries to be responsible. Such a negative attitude has triggered criticism from regional countries. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has once expressed his dissatisfaction with the U.S. attitude. The U.S. governments politicizing of migrant policy is also one of the major reasons for the migrant crisis. To pander to the voters, the last U.S. administration adopted harsh migrant policy and built walls along the U.S.-Mexico border. The incumbent administration once promised to roll out an ordered and humane migrant policy, but it broke its promise to end removal orders just 8 months after it came into power. Given the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, the migrant issue will once again become a bargain chip for the Republicans and Democrats. The Journal of Politics of the U.S. noted that the issue of migrants is just a political tool of American politicians. The Republicans and Democrats, placing their political interests above humanitarianism, have made migrants pawns on their political chessboard. The cruel treatment of illegal migrants, who have already been in a very hard position, reveals the hypocrisy of the U.S. that claims to be a human rights guardian. Facing international concerns, the White House should adopt responsible measures, practically protect migrants rights to life and health, as well as other basic human rights, and fulfill its promises made to regional countries, so as to avoid more humanitarian tragedies. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Primeste notificari pe email Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele Only A Pavement Away has urged businesses in the hospitality sector to donate old IT equipment to help raise funds. The charity, which helps people at risk of homelessness, those leaving prison and veterans get jobs in hospitality, has recently partnered with DSA Connect (DSAC), an IT asset disposal company. DSAC was established in 2011 to promote the Disposal Services Authority, a government body founded by the Ministry of Defence. The company collects surplus and obsolete IT equipment such as laptops, printers and hard drives and securely destroys all data contained on these items. As part of its work, DSAC delivers accredited training workshops at several UK prisons including HMP Chelmsford and HMP The Mount. Personnel are trained on non-data bearing IT equipment so that they can help prepare prisoners for employment upon release. Only A Pavement Away said that many businesses and organisations can find themselves with redundant IT equipment after downsizing, periodically refreshing their equipment or relocating or closing their offices. Greg Mangham, founder of Only A Pavement Away, said: Were committed to working with prison leavers to give them the additional support they need to find work on the outside, and helping the hospitality sector to give someone a life chance and potentially, grow new talent. This partnership offers the perfect opportunity for the hospitality sector to safely recycle redundant IT equipment while helping to raise money for Only A Pavement Away and supporting the IT Prison Workshop Initiative. sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Growing up in relative poverty in the UK, with parents working days and nights to give my siblings and I the best they could, and as a brown girl in a white persons world, I can point to so many instances of being looked down on, being othered, and genuinely not knowing if it was my gender, our poverty, or my skin colour that was the reason people treated me differently less than. Last week the organisation I work for, Turn2us, released a race report on one of our grant funds. We make grants to individuals, and this fund is named after our Victorian philanthropic founder, Elizabeth Finn. Its important, and powerful, that Turn2us makes cash grants to people with no spending restrictions. While the practice of our social security system is not to require proof of expenditure of benefits you are entitled to, Turn2us is rare in the grants sector in that we dont demand receipts from people as proof of how they spend their money. In the global humanitarian sector, that I left behind professionally in 2019, there is clear evidence that cash grants can really create the foundations of support for someone who has immediate and urgent financial needs. Grants can give enough breathing space to someone to find the additional support, whether that be benefits or other services to help them recover from the atrocious denial of rights that has meant that they have needed the money in the first place. Making cash grants for people to choose to pay for their most immediate needs and without defining people by a type of poverty they may be experiencing (eg. bed, fuel, food poverty) is critically important. We know at Turn2us, from our own research, the positive impacts of grants. Some 86% of recipients felt that a grant has given them short term financial stability, and more than seven in 10 felt that a grant allowed them time to improve their situation. We know that making grants to meet peoples immediate needs gives people the opportunity to access other services they require without worrying about how to pay their next bill, or how to put food on the table. There is no way to say this next bit without being blunt. The grantmaking sector that I joined in 2019, and the organisation that I joined are...white. I can assume many reasons for this, and one of them is that Victorian philanthropic mindset. The paternalism and the 'othering' of people in poverty is strongly redolent in a sector that still unapologetically uses the word 'benevolent'. All organisations carry society within them, and systemic forces of oppression are impossible to avoid completely. In this context, enough has been written on why having a predominantly white workforce is problematic and some grantmaking organisations are taking steps to address this, along with other signs of systemic problems that could cause harm. Turn2us is one of them. In the two and a half years I have been with the organisation, to coin an overused phrase, we have been on a journey! Our workforce is becoming more diverse, we have a long way to go and some of us, as people of colour, dont feel yet that the culture is our culture, but we are moving in the right direction. We have invested in training, in race equity reports, in target setting, in equity, diversity and inclusion, in challenging some of our practices. Most of us are up for the fight for change. We have started doing impact reports on our work, and on our grants. It turns out that Victorian philanthropy has no place in addressing systemic injustices - who would have thought. And it also turns out that our heritage grantmaking causes harm to black and racially minoritised people. The report tells us clearly that the racial bias in our systems has led to the way we make grants, our criteria for grants, and the intrusive way we assess peoples eligibility for grants to cause real harm to people already experiencing unfair barriers and prejudice. Seeing this in black and white, on paper, in quotes, has affected us deeply. This is our 'heritage'. This grant fund has existed for almost 125 years. Well, its time to stop. Not time to stop making grants. Sadly, peoples rights continue to be denied in the fifth wealthiest economy in the world. Without enough money to live on, people cant make good choices, cant protect and care for those they love, cant pay for the essentials that are their rights - food, water, shelter. So we have to use Turn2uss wealth in a way that increases peoples chances to increase theirs. Without financial security, people cannot thrive and contribute to our society. Cash grants are only a stepping stone. But we know that if we do this badly, our money doesnt reach the people who need it most. Those of us whose rights have been denied because of the social injustices that have forced us into poverty wont be reached. We dont need to read the brilliant writing of Reni Eddo-Lodge, Afua Hirsch and Akala to know that those who are most often denied their rights, considered 'less than', have less opportunities to progress professionally, are overwhelmingly those with black and brown bodies. So, its time to stop. To stop making grants without considering equity. To stop making grants in ways that exacerbate peoples experience of racial injustice. To stop unintentionally, yet systemically, judging people for who they are and the choices they make and the situation they are in. We know there are other ways to make grants, we could be more participatory, we could shift decision making to those who have less opportunities to take control in their lives, we could target better, we could be less intrusive, we could trust people more. We needed to see in black and white that our practices were harmful to be able to take that decision to change, to improve. We needed to listen, and we need to keep listening, we cannot redesign our grants with inherent bias, without understanding the actual life experiences of the people who need cash at the time when they are most vulnerable. We must do better, and in the journey of learning how to do better, we may still miss step or take some wrong turns. But we will no longer be beholden to a history that has been written over. To an outdated philanthropic model. If Elizabeth Finn, the radical philanthropist of 125 years ago was alive today, she would know that radical philanthropy looks different now and that if we dont use our wealth to fight for change, 'benevolence' will still exist in another 125 years and peoples rights still denied. We cannot choose to be part of the problem. Our only choice is to be part of the solution. So, we must, and will, change. Sonya Ruparel is director of programmes and partnerships at Turn2us Civil Society Voices is the place for informed opinion, and debate about the big issues affecting charities today. Were always keen to hear from anyone, working or volunteering at a charity, who has something to say. Find out more about contributing and how to get in touch. is the place for informed opinion, and debate about the big issues affecting charities today. Were always keen to hear from anyone, working or volunteering at a charity, who has something to say. On Monday, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, said that it plans to share more data about political ad targeting on its platform with social scientists and other researchers, as part of what the company calls its Open Research and Transparency project. According to CNN, Meta will provide detailed targeting information for social issue, electoral or political ads on the platform to vetted academic researchers. Jeff King, Metas vice president of business integrity, said in a statement that the information could include the various categories of interestenvironmentalism, say, or travelused to target users. The New York Times reported that, starting in July, the companys publicly available advertising library will include a summary of this targeting information, including general location (e.g., people who live in Pennsylvania). By sharing the data, King said in his statement, Meta hoped to help people better understand the practices used to reach potential voters on our technologies. Mondays announcement suggests that Meta wants to be transparent about its ad targeting and other data-related practices. Researchers who have dealt with the platform in the past, however, tell a different story. Some say they have spent years trying to get Meta to provide even the smallest amount of useful information for research purposes, but even when the company does so, either the data is incompleteMeta admitted last year that it provided researchers with faulty data, omitting about 40 percent of its user baseor the restrictions placed on its usage are too onerous. In either case, researchers say, the resulting research is almost useless. In some cases, Meta has shut down potentially promising research because researchers processes didnt comply with the companys rules. Last August, Meta blocked an NYU research effort called the Ad Observatory, part of the Cybersecurity for Democracy Project, saying that the group was using a browser extension to scrape information from Facebook without the consent of users. In addition to blocking the research group from getting any data, the company shut down the researchers personal accounts. Laura Edelson, a postdoctoral researcher at New York University who worked on the project, and Damon McCoy, an associate professor of computer science and engineering at NYU, wrote in Scientific American that Facebook wants people to see it as transparent, but in reality, it has set up nearly insurmountable roadblocks for researchers seeking shareable, independent sources of data. (Edelson also talked with CJR last September about the shutdown of her research and the implications for social science.) ICYMI: The Times, Haiti, and the treacherous bridge linking history and journalism Critics of the companys legacy data-sharing practices include Nathaniel Persily, a law professor at Stanford who cofounded and cochaired Social Science One, a highly touted data-sharing partnership with Facebook that Persily said he resigned from in frustration. In a discussion on CJRs Galley platform, and in an essay written with a colleague and published by the Brookings Institution in December, Persily described how the process of trying to extract information from Meta through the Social Science One partnership was so frustrating and time-consuming that he eventually became convinced the only way forward was to force Meta to provide data by applying legislative pressure. This led to the creation of the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act, which was put forward in December by senators Chris Coons, Rob Portman, and Amy Klobuchar. Persily explained that the bill would compel Meta and other platforms to share data with researchers, would protect those researchers from liability for the use of the data, and would force companies to make public certain non-private data related to content, advertising, and algorithms. Interest in research about Facebook and its impact on society intensified last October with the release of the Facebook Papers, a cache of internal documents that Frances Haugen, a whistleblower and former Facebook project manager, leaked to the media. Some of the documents suggested that Facebooks researchers knew about the platforms ill effects but that senior management chose not to address them. Susan Benesch, founding director of the Dangerous Speech Project, wrote in The Atlantic that one takeaway from the Facebook Papers was that the company should be compelled to release more data to external researchers. If Facebook employees continue to be the only ones who can monitor Facebook, neither they nor anyone else can make sufficient progress in understanding how toxic content thrives on social media platforms, how it leads to human suffering, and how best to diminish that suffering, Benesch argued. Sign up for CJR 's daily email As Persily explained in his Brookings essay, persuading Facebook or Meta to share data with outsiders was difficult even before 2018, but it became exponentially more so after controversy arose over the practices of Cambridge Analytica, a consulting firm that acquired personal data on millions of Facebook usersdata that originally came from a researcher who had been given access to the platform. The scandal further chilled any platform efforts to make it easy for outside researchers to gain access to individual-level content, Persily wrote. It also resulted in a $5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, in which Facebook promised to exercise better care over the personal information of its users. Meta used this settlement as rationale for shutting down Laura Edelsons NYU research project, saying the data scraping breached the companys commitment to protect data. That justification failed to hold water, however; the FTC responded that the settlement didnt prevent Meta from sharing data with researchers. These days, Cambridge Analytica may be more present in the minds of Meta executives. Also on Monday, Karl Racine, attorney general for the District of Columbia, said he is suing Mark Zuckerberg, Metas CEO, for failing to prevent personal information on Facebook users from being misused by the firm. The lawsuit alleges Zuckerberg oversaw the discussions that led to the data breach; in a statement, Racine said Zuckerberg was personally involved in Facebooks failure to protect the privacy and data of its users leading directly to the Cambridge Analytica incident. He added that the Cambridge Analytica breach led to a multi-year effort to mislead users about the extent of Facebooks wrongful conduct, and that the suit sends a message that corporate leaders, including CEOs, will be held accountable for their actions. Politico noted that the case is similar to one that Racine launched against Meta in 2018, which is ongoing. Heres more on Facebook: France and data : Arcom, Frances media regulator, launched a public consultation on Wednesday to collect the expectations and needs of researchers, associations, journalists, etc., in the design of their research work on online platforms on the topic of researcher access to data from online platforms. Article 31 of the European Unions new Digital Services Actwhich is expected to go into effect next year regulates access by researchers to data from large digital platforms such as Facebook and Google. COVID black box : Shirin Ghaffary, of Recode , wrote last year about how the lack of data from Facebook was making it difficult to determine the impact of covid misinformation, which President Biden said was putting people at risk by confusing them about the efficacy of vaccines. The reality, Ghaffary wrote, is that we simply dont know what the real impact of that misinformation is, because the platform wont provide enough data. Right now, were guessing [on] a lot of stuff, Katherine Ognyanova, an associate professor of communications at Rutgers University who co-leads the Covid States project , told Recode . We can ask people questions. But Facebook truly has the data about what people have seen and how their attention is being devoted on the platform. Transparency : In an op-ed published in the New York Times , Haugen, the whistleblower who leaked internal documents about Facebooks weak efforts at content moderation , wrote that Europe is making social media better without restricting free speech [and] the US should too. The Digital Services Act, which was recently passed by the European Union, is a landmark agreement to make social media less toxic for users, Haugen wrote. The new standards outlined in the bill, she argued, will for the first time pull back the curtain on the algorithms that choose what we see and when we see it in our feeds, in part because of the ethic of transparency on which they are based. Facebooks poorly implemented existing content-moderation strategies, Haugen wrote, leave those most at risk of real world violence unprotected. GDPR fail: The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe in 2018 was expected by some to usher in a new era of penalizing the major platforms for improper use of personal information, but that doesnt seem to have happened, Matt Burgess writes in Wired magazine. One thousand four hundred and fifty-nine days have passed since data rights nonprofit NOYB fired off its first complaints under Europes flagship data regulation, GDPR, he writes. The complaints allege that Google, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram forced people into giving up their data without obtaining proper consent. Four years later, however, the group is still waiting for a final decision to be made in the caseand, says Burgess, its not the only one. Other notable stories: The Financial Times reported that Elon Musk will have to raise more cash in order to finance his proposed $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, after a $6.25 billion loan arrangement that was backed by his shares of electric carmaker Tesla expired. After ditching the margin loan, the amount of equity that Musk must secure to complete the deal now stands at $33.5 billion, the Times reported, based on a regulatory filing Wednesday. I wrote recently for CJR about how Musk said the Twitter deal was on hold until he could confirm that the companys estimate of spam and fake accounts was correctnews that prompted speculation that Musk wanted out of the deal. In other Twitter news, the company agreed to pay $150 million to settle allegations that it misused private information, like phone numbers, to target advertising. For Poynter, Alex Mahadevan interviewed Justin Peden , a twenty-year-old journalism student in Alabama who has been using a Twitter account called The Intel Crab to share open-source intelligence and reporting about violence in Ukraine for the past several years. The account was anonymous until earlier this year, when Peden revealed his identity. The open-source intelligence or OSINT community is the Wild West in many ways, he told Poynter. This is an unfortunate downside to the community, and something more relevant than ever as the war continues. Im no longer anonymous for one simple reason. I want to be held accountable for my work, positively or negatively. A study of journalists in Canada found what researchers called alarming levels of stress, according to a news release from the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma. It found mental health issues among journalists far above the average rate, with 69 percent of those surveyed saying they suffer from anxiety, 46 percent reporting depression, and 15 percent saying they had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. One in ten respondents said they had thought about suicide. The study was based on 1,251 survey responses from freelancers, editors, frontline reporters, video journalists, and news executives. Independent media failed to gain wider public trust in Russia because they did not try to reach those that we dont know, according to Evgeniya Dillendorf , the former UK correspondent for Novaya Gazeta , an independent Russian newspaper that won a Nobel Prize for its reporting but has since been forced to suspend publishing due to new Russian media laws that make it a crime to distribute misinformation about the war in Ukraine. Dillendorf told Press Gazette that while she admired the leadership at Novaya Gazeta , there was sometimes this kind of fashion to be indifferent, to be above the fray, not to interfere [and] I think that was a great mistake. Rick Edmonds, a media business columnist at Poynter, said he was wrong, wrong, wrong when he wrote in 2019 that USA Today would likely kill its print version within two years. Edmonds said he asked Maribel Perez Wadsworth, publisher of USA Today , what the business case is for continuing to put out a print paper. The print edition of USA Today is a profitable product, she said, which we will continue to publish as long as readers want it. Paid printed copies distributed at hotelsnumbers of which, Edmonds says, are down by more than 90 percent since 2019remain a nice billboard for USA Today, Wadsworth said. People think about it, even if they dont take a copy. A new website that published leaked emails from leading proponents of Britains exit from the European Union is tied to Russian hackers, according to a report from Reuters that was based on interviews with a Google cybersecurity official and the former head of UK foreign intelligence. The websitetitled Very English Coop dEtatsays it has published private emails from former British spymaster Richard Dearlove, leading Brexit campaigner Gisela Stuart, pro-Brexit historian Robert Tombs, and other supporters of Britains divorce from the EU, which was finalized in January 2020, Reuters wrote. According to a report from the Globe and Mail , millions of students in forty-nine countries had their personal information sent to advertisers and data brokers after schools made the switch to online learning during the covid -19 pandemic. The Globe says it collaborated with twelve other media organizations to get access to data from Human Rights Watch, which alleges online education platforms actively or passively infringed upon childrens rights by collecting and sharing their personal information, such as their locations and web browsing histories. The Globe said the investigative collaboration was coordinated by the Signals Network, a French-American nonprofit organization that supports whistleblowers. ICYMI: Three months of press threats in Ukraine Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Rescuers dug through debris Tuesday of a building collapse in southwestern Iran that killed at least 14 people, fearful that many more could still be trapped beneath the rubble as authorities arrested the citys mayor in a widening probe of the disaster. The collapse Monday of an under-construction 10-story tower at the Metropol Building exposed its cement blocks and steel beams while also underscoring an ongoing crisis in Iranian construction projects that has seen other disasters in this earthquake-prone nation. Video from the initial collapse Monday showed thick dust rise over Abadan, a crucial oil-producing city in Khuzestan province, near Irans border with Iraq. The Metropol Building included two towers, one already built and the other under construction, though its bottom commercial floors had been finished and already had tenants. On Tuesday, an emergency official interviewed on state television suggested that some 50 people may have been inside of the building at the time of the collapse, including people moving into its basement floors. However, it wasnt clear if that figure included those already pulled from the rubble. At least 39 people were injured, most of them lightly, officials earlier said. Aerial drone footage aired Tuesday showed the floors had pancaked on top of each other, leaving a pile of dusty, gray debris. A construction crane stood still nearby as a single backhoe dug. State TV, quoting Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi late Tuesday night, said at least 14 people had been killed. An angry crowd at the site chased and beat Abadan Mayor Hossein Hamidpour immediately after the collapse, according to the semiofficial ILNA news agency and online videos. Police later arrested Hamidpour and nine others, Iranian media reported Tuesday. Initially, authorities said the buildings owner and its general contractor had been arrested as well, though a later report from the judiciarys Mizan news agency said Tuesday that the two men had been killed in the collapse. The conflicting reports could not be immediately reconciled. Authorities offered no immediate word on whether those detained faced charges and it wasnt immediately clear if lawyers represented them. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi offered his condolences and appealed to the local authorities to get to the bottom of the case. Irans vice president in charge of economic affairs, Mohsen Razaei, and Vahidi visited the site. Lawmakers opened a separate parliament inquiry into the case Tuesday, trying to determine why the building on Amir Kabir Street collapsed during a sandstorm. However, there was no major earthquake recorded Monday near Abadan, some 660 kilometers (410 miles) southwest of Tehran. A local journalist in Abadan had repeatedly raised concerns about the buildings construction, beginning from last year, publishing images that he said showed sagging floors at the first tower. He also alleged corruption in the building permits process. Later Tuesday, the state-run IRNA news agency quoted Faramarz Zoghi, a construction expert and adviser to Irans construction engineers league, as saying that definitely national construction measures were not observed at the site. Authorities also declared a one-day mourning period Wednesday over the disaster. Abadan became the focus of development by the British beginning in 1909 as they built what became the worlds largest oil refinery at the time. Iran later nationalized its oil industry in the decades before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iraqs long war on Iran in the 1980s saw Abadan and the surrounding region destroyed in the fighting. In the years since, fast private and state-linked construction projects rebuilt the area, amid complaints of shoddy construction practices. The collapse reminded many of the 2017 fire and collapse of the iconic Plasco building in Tehran that killed 26 people. Abadan previously has suffered through historic disasters as well. In 1978, an intentionally set fire at Cinema Rex in the city killed hundreds. Anger over the blaze triggered unrest across Irans oil-rich regions and helped lead to the Islamic Revolution that toppled Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. About the photo: People remove debris and try to reach people trapped under a collapsed house after an earthquake hit villages in Baskale town in Van province, Turkey, at the border with Iran, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said numerous people have been killed and several others wounded in Sundays quake.(IHA via AP) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Ditch diggers who accepted work assignments online and used their own spades and shovels to do the work cannot be classified as independent contractors by a company that contracted with Time Warner Cable to install underground lines, a divided Ohio Supreme Court ruled this week. In a 5-2 decision, the high court affirmed a Court of Appeals judgment that Ugicom Enterprises employed the laborers it assigned to bury underground lines and owes the state Bureau of Workers Compensation $346,817.55 for unpaid premiums. The majority said in its unsigned opinion that it isnt drawing a bright line to determine the limits of the gig economy, it is holding only that the bureau had some evidence to support its determination that Ugicom was an employer. Ugicoms take-it-or-leave-it approach to pricing the jobs, which foreclosed an installers ability to submit a bid, was a means of controlling the installers, the opinion says. Whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor is a frequently disputed question for workers compensation and liability insurers. Since there are myriad ways that organizations can assign and pay for work, courts generally look to variety of factors to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. The degree of control an employer exercises over the workers, whether it provides the tools for the job, the degree of skill required and whether the work is part of the regular business of the employer are some of the factors considered. The Supreme said the Bureau of Workers Compensation is the sole fact finder for workers compensation matters. In reviewing the case, the courts function is to determine only whether the BWC abused its discretion by entering an order that is not based on some evidence in the record, the majority opinion says. Ugicom contracted with Time Warner to install underground cable in residential areas. The company used the internet to assign specific jobs. Installers were required to sign independent contractor agreements. They would log into the system each morning to obtain job details and select the projects they wanted, then log back in again at the end of the work day to note repair work that was completed. The installers were allowed to choose their own work hours, provided that they obtained the customers consent to be on their properties. Annual pay averaged from $50,000 to $60,000 per year, but some workers made as much as $90,000, the court said. The BWC audited Ugicom in 2009 to determine whether it had paid the correct amount of workers compensation premiums for the previous five years. An auditor determined that the company had misclassified its ditch diggers as independent contractors and invoiced the company for unpaid premiums. Ugicom challenged the finding through the BWCs administrative process and filed an action with Ohios 10th District Court of Appeals when that failed. The appellate court found that the BWC had used the wrong type of test to determine whether the workers were employees, but allowed the bureau to issue a new order. The BWCs adjudicating committee heard the matter and found once again that the Ugicom workers were employees. The Supreme Court listed eight factors that can be used to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor in 1943 decision. It found some evidence that six of those factors support the BWCs determination that the installers were employees. Ugicoms regular business is to install underground cable, which is exactly the work that it hired the installers to do. Installers wore badges with the name of Ugicom and Time Warner, evidence that they were not independent of Ugicom. Ugicom did not allow installers to negotiate on price; the installers had to take whatever pay was authorized for specific jobs. The installers did not advertise their services to the community, evidence that they had an ongoing relationship with Ugicom. The independent-contractor agreements that the installers signed contained a clause that prohibited them from working for Ugicoms competitors. Minimal skill was required for the work. The installers job was basically to dig ditches to bury cable and to connect the cable to a box on the home. Justices Kennedy and OConnor wrote a dissenting opinion. They said Ugicom is largely a labor-management company that contracted with Time Warner to install underground cable lines. The some-evidence rule presents a playing field that is tilted toward the bureau, but the bureau must still supports its conclusions with relevant and probative evidence, the dissenters said. The majority here has not identified any evidence that supports its conclusion that Ugicom has the right to control the manner or means of the installers work. DETROIT (AP) A class action lawsuit is accusing three automakers and a parts manufacturer of knowingly selling vehicles containing air bag inflators that are at risk of exploding. Two deaths and at least four injuries have been linked to such explosions. The federal lawsuit, filed Tuesday in San Francisco, names ARC Automotive Inc. of Knoxville, Tennessee, which made the inflators and sold them to air bag manufacturers. The air bag makers, in turn, sold them to General Motors, Ford and Volkswagen, which are named in the lawsuit, too. The five plaintiffs are the owners of vehicles with ARC inflators who contend the defective air bag parts were not disclosed when they made their purchases. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has been investigating ARC inflators for nearly seven years without a resolution, estimates that there are 51 million on U.S. roads. Thats somewhere between 10% and 20% of all passenger vehicles. Yet most drivers have no conclusive way to determine whether their vehicle contains an ARC inflator. Even if they were to tear apart the steering wheel assembly, the internal parts might bear the markings only of the automaker or the air bag manufacturer, not the inflator maker. You could have a ticking time bomb in your lap and youve got no way of knowing, said Frank Melton, a Florida lawyer who is among those filing the new lawsuit. One of the deaths was a mother of 10 who was killed in what appeared to be an otherwise minor crash in Michigans Upper Peninsula last summer. Police reports show that a metal inflator fragment hit her neck in a crash involving a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse SUV. In a statement Tuesday, GM said it hadnt had a chance to review the lawsuit. It said it is dedicated to the safety of its products and customers and is cooperating with NHTSA in its investigation. Messages were left seeking comment from ARC and Ford. Volkswagen declined comment. The plaintiffs allege that ARCs inflators use ammonium nitrate as a secondary propellant to inflate the air bags. The propellant is pressed into tablets that can expand and develop microscopic holes if exposed to moisture. Degraded tablets have a larger surface area, causing them to burn too fast and ignite too big of an explosion, according to the lawsuit. The explosion can blow apart a metal canister housing the chemical, sending metal shards into the cabin. Ammonium nitrate, used in fertilizer and as a cheap explosive, is so dangerous that it can burn too fast even without moisture present, the lawsuit says. The plaintiffs allege that ARC inflators have blown apart seven times on U.S. roads and two other times in testing by ARC. There have so far been five limited recalls of the inflators that totaled about 5,000 vehicles, including three recalls by GM. Auto safety advocates say the case seems to mirror the Takata air bag saga that began in the early 2000s, which also involved exploding air bag inflators and resulted in 28 deaths worldwide, hundreds of injuries and the largest automotive recall in U.S. history. So far NHTSA has gathered information but hasnt forced any wider recalls from its investigation that began in July of 2015. Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies Inc., which conducts research for lawyers that sue automakers as well as for other groups, noted that just as in the early stages of the Takata ordeal, many ARC ammonium nitrate inflators remain in use. Its almost like Groundhog Day here, said Kane, who asserts that NHTSA should have acted already. Its not a question of whether it can kill or injure people. It already has. ARC, the lawsuit alleges, knew about the danger of ammonium nitrate in patent applications it filed in 1995 and 1998. In 2019, after several ARC inflators blew apart, ARC acknowledged that its use was not acceptable for automotive air bags, according to the lawsuit. The suit asserts that General Motors, which began recalling Takata ammonium nitrate inflators in 2013, should have known that ARCs inflators were also unstable. GM recalled only a small number of vehicles that contained a particular lot of inflators, despite its knowledge that ARC driver- and passenger-side inflators in various models and model years from 2002 through at least 2015 also had experienced ruptures, the lawsuit said. In its statement Tuesday, GM said it makes recall decisions based on data and facts. It declined to comment further. The lawsuit alleges that ARCs inflators are marred by a systemic problem rather than just a limited manufacturing defect. In 2014, an ARC inflator in a 2004 Kia Optima blew apart in a crash in New Mexico, injuring the driver. Two years later, the driver of a car made by Kias sister automaker Hyundai was killed in Canada when an ARC inflator exploded in a crash. The lawsuit also names Volkswagen and Ford as defendants, alleging that they represented the air bag inflators as safe while knowing they were dangerous. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating ARC inflators in 2015 after an Ohio woman was injured when an inflator exploded in a Chrysler minivan. At the time the agency estimated that there were 490,000 ARC inflators on the nations roads. The review was elevated to an engineering analysis _ a step closer to a product recall _ in 2016 after the death in Canada. Though a seven-year investigation is longer than most NHTSA reviews, inflators are particularly complex, said David Friedman, a former NHTSA acting administrator who is now a vice president at Consumer Reports. Automakers appear to be balking at recalls for cost reasons, Friedman said. And NHTSA, he suggested, needs a slam dunk case before seeking recalls because of threats and lawsuits that automakers have filed in the past. Thats one of the things thats broken in the system, he said. Friedman described NHTSA as a chronically underfunded agency that has had to prioritize safety issues after four years of the Trump administration, which demanded far less federal regulation. The fact that its stretched on seven years, the companies should have blinked, or NHTSA should have made them, or if they truly dont have a case, then say so, Friedman said. A NHTSA official who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to speak freely about an ongoing inquiry, said the investigation has persisted because of the complexity of air bag inflators and because ARCs design is different from Takatas. We want to make sure what we do is thorough. he said. He noted that NHTSAs investigation of ARC has had to examine issues different from the Takata case. Ammonium nitrate in Takatas inflators, for example, would deteriorate when airborne moisture entered the canister. But ARC pressurizes its inflator canisters to keep moisture out. Its not similar to Takata, the official said. Whether the ammonium nitrate tablets can deteriorate without moisture is still being investigated, he said. The agency, he said, has retrieved ARC inflators from vehicles to learn how they work. It also has gathered production and other data from ARC and automakers and issued an order making automakers report any problems with ARC inflators. He noted that several years went by without any incidents, before there were three in the past two years and that each of those cases is informing the investigation. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. CASPER, Wyo. (AP) An overnight fire Wednesday severely damaged a building that was being renovated to house a new abortion clinic in Wyoming, a conservative state where opposition to abortions is widespread. No one was hurt in the blaze in Casper, Wyomings second-biggest city. Police had not released any information Wednesdays morning about what caused the fire. The clinic, which would also provide other health care for women, had been set to open in June. It would become only the second place in the state to offer abortions. Wyoming is one of 13 states that would outlaw abortion if the Roe v Wade decision were overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that will happen soon. The clinic was being launched by Julie Burkhart, a former associate Dr. George Tiller, an abortion provider who was shot and killed in a Wichita, Kansas church in 2009. Police closed off the street where the small building is located as police went in and out conducting their investigation. Most windows and doors were broken out and smoke damage could be seen around one broken window. Protesters had already gathered at the future clinic site this spring to show opposition. Signs opposing abortion filled window in an apartment next door to the building. Burkhart said she suspected arson based on the fact that clinic organizers have been receiving harassing emails and telephone messages. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Obituary: Ilsedore B. Jonas Was an Influential Teacher of German Language and Culture May 26, 2022 Ilsedore (Barkow) Jonas, known as "Doris," professor emeritus of Carnegie Mellon University's Department of Modern Languages, died Oct. 5, 2021, in Munich. She was 101. Jonas taught German studies at CMU from the early 1960s to 1988. In 2020, the Department of Modern Languages established the Ilsedore B. Jonas Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement in German Studies, presented annually to the German studies student with the highest GPA. "Doris's extraordinary personal warmth and her strong professional support were the main reasons my teaching career in German at Carnegie Mellon got off to such a good start," said Christian Hallstein, emeritus teaching professor of German. "The years we were colleagues in German were truly 'golden years' for me. She put her whole self into her teaching, and her students readily and gratefully acknowledged that." Jonas was born Aug. 31, 1920 in Stettin, Germany, now part of Poland. It was here in 1937 that she met her future husband, Klaus W. Jonas, at a dance. After completing her final graduation exams, she went to Heidelberg University where she studied German and Romance languages and culture, as well as art history, receiving a degree in language translation in 1942. Through the war, Jonas continued her studies in Berlin, Munich and Wurzburg. Jonas and her husband married in 1945 and soon emigrated to Switzerland. They arrived in the United States in 1948. The Jonases focused much of their professional attention on the literature of Thomas Mann, the 1929 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. They were invited for tea with Thomas and Katia Mann in New York in 1952, where they established a long professional relationship and friendship with the Mann family. Klaus accepted a position to teach German studies and language at the University of Pittsburgh, much like the position Ilsedore obtained at CMU shortly thereafter. She was among the few female faculty members at the university at that time. Ilsedore also completed a doctorate in German at Pitt in 1967. The Jonases enjoyed attending the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Pittsburgh Opera, and their university schedules allowed them summers in Europe for extensive academic research into the main subject of their professional interest. During this time, Ilsedore worked closely with her husband on the five-volume definitive bibliography of Thomas Mann's works and all secondary works written about him. An English volume was later released under both of their names. Apart from her collaborative work with her husband, Jonas found her own specific direction. Cultivating an ever-deepening appreciation for literature and art, and sharing this with her students, were her life's work. As important to her was an understanding of the cultural context of the writers themselves, and of how their work was related to the music, art and dance of their times. Her dissertation, "Thomas Mann und Italien" (Carl Winter Universitatsverlag, Heidelberg, 1969), exploring the intersections of the writer's work and Italian culture, was later published in English as "Thomas Mann and Italy" (University of Alabama Press, 1979). At CMU, one of her outstanding classes, German Literature of the Romantic Period, wove in the works of contemporary painters and composers with the plays and novels that were the subject of the course to give a fuller, more nuanced, picture of the culture of the time. Jonas maintained an academic acquaintance with Thomas Mann, as well as extended members of the Mann family, and with W. Somerset Maugham, until the writers' deaths. Later she focused her academic interests on the work of Klaus Mann. Her interest in all the arts, in addition to literature, led her to a study of the relationship between the actress Eleonora Duse and the poet and novelist Rainer Maria Rilke, for whom Duse was a muse. Her research was published as "Rilke und die Duse" in 1993 by the prestigious Insel Taschenbuch. Jonas and her husband amassed a significant library of literature, predominantly by and about Thomas Mann, but also including several other early 20th century German and English writers. This extensive library was given to the University of Augsburg and earned the couple a Medal of Honor from the university. In 2002, the Jonases established an endowment (Die Zauberberg-Stiftung zur Forderung der Thomas-Mann-Forschung) to support further academic research on the author, and to underwrite the "Zauberberg-Gesprache," a program of lectures. This support is intended to encourage young people to continue the foundation's work and to make publication of this additional work possible. In 2012, the endowment financed an exhibit in Lubeck called "Personal Memories" of Thomas Mann. At the close of the Munich Olympics in 1972, Ilsedore and her husband bought an apartment in the Olympic Village, and upon their mutual retirements in 1988, moved permanently from Pittsburgh to Munich. In Munich, she was able to take full advantage of the many cultural events the city offered and was a regular attendant at the opera, museum shows and lectures. An active member of the Goethe Society, she attended lectures and meetings, and also traveled with them to visit locations that were significant to the writer. Newspaper articles were published in Munich to commemorate her 100th birthday and one points out that she was undoubtedly the oldest person alive who knew Thomas Mann and the Mann family personally. Intellectually curious and mentally sharp to her last day, she enjoyed a large circle of professional and personal friends, including some students from CMU whom she taught as early as the late 1960s. Jonas is buried in Oldenburg, Germany, next to her husband. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. Offer a personal message of sympathy... By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that below. Otherwise, you can create an account by clicking on the Log in button below, and then register to create your account. 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 Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Congratulations, charlieandmekids.co.nz got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Charlieandmekids.co.nz scored 71 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 3.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 29 Apr 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. charlieandmekids.co.nz is very popular in Facebook. Furthermore its facebook page has 11728 likes. Add a widget like this on your site: click here This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the charlieandmekids homepage on Twitter + the total number of charlieandmekids followers (if charlieandmekids has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the charlieandmekids homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the charlieandmekids homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the charlieandmekids homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if charlieandmekids has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the charlieandmekids homepage on Delicious. Basic Information PAGE TITLE Charlie&me New Zealand - Affordable Kids Clothing DESCRIPTION We're the new kids in the neighbourhood in New Zealand, always dressed in the coolest threads from head-to-toe. Designed for hardwearing with the coolest colours but without having to shell out the big buck KEYWORDS charlie and me, charlie&me, charlieandme, New Zealand, NZ, kids clothing, baby clothing, girl clothing, little girl clothing, boy clothing, clothing sale OTHER KEYWORDS charlieme, years, charlieme gift cards, nb to, charlieme gift, gift cards, cards The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. 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High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK FOUND FACEBOOK PAGE www.facebook.com/CharlieandMeKids DESCRIPTION Get ready for Charlie & Me! Shop 24/7 at www.charlieandmekids.com To speak to someone from our customer care team call 1800 CME CLUB from Australia or 0800 CME CLUB from New Zealand LIKES 11728 PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT 164 PAGE TYPE Company TIMELINE PAGE TIMELINE The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Japan colluding with U.S. in Asia-Pacific region a move to invite disaster 09:27, May 26, 2022 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily A joint statement released after the U.S.-Japan summit on May 23 made negative comments on a series of China-related issues. It grossly interferes in Chinas domestic affairs and maliciously attacks Chinas foreign policy. Such practice of the U.S. and Japan to smear China clearly exposes their sinister intention to contain China and separate the region. As a regional country, Japan should have played a constructive role in maintaining regional peace, stability and prosperity. However, it is cooperating with the U.S. to formulate the so-called Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) which is expected to stir up separation and confrontation. It is a move that invites disaster by letting in invaders, which will seriously threaten regional peace and stability and hurt Japans own interests. Chinas position on issues relating to Taiwan, the Diaoyu Islands and the South China Sea is consistent and clear. The country has a firm resolution and will to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests. Any country or force that plans to contain Chinas development with any means will be met with firm and strong reactions from the Chinese side. The Taiwan question concerns the political foundation of China-Japan ties and the basic credibility between the two countries. It is a major matter of principle. Japan had colonized Taiwan for half a century and committed innumerable crimes, over which it bears grave historical responsibilities to the Chinese people. Stirring up troubles on the Taiwan question, Japan will only put itself on the opposite side of the 1.4 billion Chinese people. No matter what Japan says or does about the issues related to the Diaoyu Islands and the South China Sea, in collusion with the U.S., an extraterritorial country, it will never change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands and its adjacent islets belong to China, nor will it hurt Chinas territorial sovereignty or maritime interests on the South China Sea. Seeking troubles on these issues will only present clearer Japans intentions to escalate regional tensions and beef up its military capabilities. The alliance between Japan and the U.S. shall not be an excuse for Japan to hurt the interests of China. For some time, Japan has worked closely with the U.S. to separate the region, fanning up ideological confrontation and indulging bloc confrontation in the area of security. It has gradually become a troublemaker for regional peace and stability. Facts have proved that the true intention of Japan and the U.S. is to form a clique for geopolitical competition, build an Asia-Pacific version of NATO and wage a new Cold War in the region, though the two countries are always talking about so-called freedom and openness. Some international analysts pointed out that in the new round of U.S.-Japan interaction, the Asian trip of the U.S. leader had a major but hidden target - containing Chinas regional influence, and Japan is more and more like a flag-bearer for the U.S. to promote the latters strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. Such dangerous and irresponsible practice of Japan is obvious to the international society. In history, Japan had long been dreaming of abandoning Asia and aligning itself with the West. It had launched militarism wars to invade its neighboring countries and caused catastrophic disasters for the people in regional countries. Japan should reflect on its history of invasion and learn from history to avoid making new damage to the region. It should follow a path of peaceful development and be cautious in the area of military and security to avoid repeating the mistakes of history. Today, Japan, in a hurry to gain a position on the hegemonic chessboard of the U.S., is attempting to challenge the post-war world order, justify its military expansion and shake off from post-war bondage. Regional countries must stay alert to such shameful practices of Japan to seek private gains at the sacrifice of regional interests. As the world is going through profound changes unseen in a century, especially in a time of the global pandemic, the international society needs solidarity and cooperation more than anything else, and the Asia-Pacific region is looking forward to peace and stability. The Ukraine crisis once again reminded regional countries of the importance of peace and stability. Bloc confrontation will only create endless troubles. To prevent the rising of Cold War mentality in the Asia-Pacific region and stop another similar crisis in the region is a common aspiration of most of the Asia-Pacific countries. Japan, acting as a strategy vassal of the U.S., is fanning up bloc confrontation and pursuing its own security at the sacrifice of other countries security. It is trying to bring back the outdated Cold War script in the Asia-Pacific region, which is totally against the trend of the times. Its a dangerous move for Japan to pull Americas chestnuts out of the fire, and beggar-thy-neighbor approaches will only be a wrong path that leads to failure. Japan should learn a lesson from history, eye on regional peace and stability, act cautiously, and gain trust from other regional countries with concrete actions. China-Japan relations are at a critical crossroads as the two countries are about to mark the 50th anniversary of the normalization of their diplomatic ties. Only by adopting a proper attitude, correcting its strategies, and making concrete actions to build stable relations with China, can Japan avoid further damaging its relations with China and be responsible for the security of regional countries and the Japanese people. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) The TD state president (in picture) named a YSRC activist Annam Sai as being responsible for the violence at Amalapuram. DC Image VISAKHAPATNAM: TD state president K. Atchannaidu on Tuesday accused Jagan Mohan Reddy government and ruling YSRC of orchestrating Konaseema violence to divert attention of public from the Kakinada Dalit murder case. Atchannaidu alleged that rioters and arsonists belonging to the ruling party had burnt down houses of their minister and MLA even as police watched silently. He maintained that the Chief Minister has become unsettled after his party MLC's involvement in the murder of a Dalit murder, particularly in the wake of his government failing on all fronts. On top of it, TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu's Badude Badudu campaign has been getting a rousing response from all sections of the society following increased taxes and skyrocketing prices. At a press conference here on Wednesday, Atchannaidu charged that ruling party had no choice but to orchestrate something for diverting attention of the public. The TD state president named a YSRC activist Annam Sai as being responsible for the violence at Amalapuram. There are photos showing Annam Sai hugging Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy and felicitating minister Pinipe Viswaroop. Yet, the home minister and other ministers have made baseless allegations that Telugu Desam has triggered the tensions, Atchannaidu pointed out. Pointing to flaws, he asked why police had allowed a huge gathering when section 144 had been in force in Konaseema district headquarters town. More so, while the rioters had been going on a rampage, the SP had been moving around without any safety equipment. Further, there is only one police station in Amalapuram. Its CI has been on leave for over two weeks and no in-charge had been appointed, he added. Against the backdrop of horrific reports from Russia's Ukraine invasion, an encouraging story emerged earlier this month when unidentified Ukrainians remotely disabled tractors worth $5 million that Russian soldiers in the occupied city of Melitopol stole from Agrotek-Invest, an authorized John Deere dealer. The soldiers stole 27 pieces of farm machinery and shipped them primarily to Chechnya, 700 miles away, only to discover they had been rendered inoperable due to a "kill switch." The dealership tracked the machinery using the tractors' embedded GPS technology. Although the equipment was reportedly languishing at a farm near Grozny on May 1, one source said the Russians had found consultants who would try to bypass the digital protection that bricked the machines. Some observers fear that malicious actors could exploit the same technology Deere and other manufacturers use to update and monitor farm equipment. If successfully accomplished on a large-enough scale, a cyberattack could disrupt significant portions of what has become critical agricultural infrastructure. Modern tractors are intelligent machines Farm equipment, including machines made by industry titan John Deere, evolved starting in the 1980s from old-fashioned analog tractors, combines, and so forth into digitally connected intelligent devices that produce treasure troves of agricultural data. For example, modern tractors became equipped with "torque sensors on the wheels that measured soil density, humidity sensors on the undercarriages that measured soil moisture, and location sensors on the roof that plotted density and moisture on a centimeter-accurate grid." What enabled the kill switching by the Ukrainian dealership is something that initially began in the auto industry called vehicle identification number locking or VIN-locking. VIN-locking enables only authorized technicians to enter special codes to work on a machine's internal network. Deere's use of VIN-locking became infamous when the tractor maker decided to deny farmers access to the computer software running their machines so they could make repairs. The company argued that farmers had no right to access their proprietary code. Tractors fueled the right to repair movement This refusal gave the "right to repair" movement in the U.S. steam to demand changes to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The idea is to require John Deere and other equipment makers to provide access to "the same agricultural equipment's diagnostic and repair information made available to the manufacturer's dealers." Deere has vigorously opposed this notion. Due to this stalemate, American farmers began purchasing cracked Ukrainian John Deere software, including diagnostic programs, payload files, and electronic data link drivers. (As it turns out, Ukraine has a historical affinity for tractors dating to around 1930. Back then, the machines became "game-changers" that elevated peasant farming to "a steel bastion of the collectivization of agriculture" during Stalin's forced collectivization of agriculture.) In 2015, the U.S. Copyright Office approved an exemption to the DMCA that allows modification to "computer programs that are contained in and control the functioning of a motorized land vehicle such as a personal automobile, commercial motor vehicle, or mechanized agricultural vehicle when circumvention is a necessary step undertaken by the authorized owner of the vehicle to allow the diagnosis, repair, or lawful modification of a vehicle function." However, farming right-to-repair advocates consider this exemption to be too narrow. Hackable tractors are vulnerable to sabotage At least one right-to-repair advocate, Kevin Kenney, argues that equipment makers' remote control over vehicle software makes farmers and the food supply vulnerable to sabotage. In 2016, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a bulletin warning that "the Food and Agriculture (FA) Sector is increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks as farmers become more reliant on digitized data. That warning, however, focused chiefly on ransomware and the prospect of threat actors stealing farm-level data in bulk "to exploit US agriculture resources and market trends." But the warning is consistent with one security researcher's test earlier this year when he could remotely access the data of 25 Teslas simultaneously by exploiting a bug in an open-source logging tool. At least one tractor maker, AGCO, was forced to shut down production earlier this month when a ransomware attack hit it. But stealing data from tractors or even shutting down a tractor manufacturer's plant is a far cry from reaching out to tractors across the nation and shutting them down en masse. Could a malicious actor hack and disable tractors? With the remote bricking of the Ukrainian tractors, the question now arises: Could malicious actors disrupt a nation's farming and the food supply by hacking into many tractors simultaneously and disabling them? Writer and activist Cory Doctorow thinks so, at least to some degree. Given what he contends is Deere's "dismal" infosec, "the tool that Deere used to brick all those stolen tractors in Chechnya is potentially available to even moderately skilled hackers who exploit Deere's reckless decision to build kill-switches into its equipment and its negligent security," he wrote. Farming expert John Fulton, Professor of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Ohio State University, thinks the only way hackers could cause damage to farming in any significant way is to hack the big equipment manufacturers. Even then, the threat actors would have to attack farm-by-farm, a relatively inefficient way of bringing a nation's agriculture down, he tells CSO. "If they're going to attack the farm, they're going to be attacking one of those large companies to get to the farm," he says. On the whole, Fulton thinks the ability to track down and disable stolen farm equipment is a good thing. "If someone stole your vehicle, you would want to have the opportunity and hope to get it back. So, if the GPS and the connectivity allow that to happen because someone was doing evil, then I think that's a positive benefit of the technology," he says. Fulton visited Ukraine 30 years ago to build back their infrastructure and expand their infrastructure for agriculture production following the collapse of the Soviet Union. At that point, the farmers were using "dilapidated and old equipment," he says. It doesn't surprise him that the dealership took the effort to disable the stolen tractors or that Ukrainian farmers value their machines so highly. "They recognize what the value of that is to their operation today versus what they had back in the eighties." NEWTOWN Newtown High School science teacher Trent Harrison tried to find normalcy on Tuesday, spending the day preparing his three oceanography classes for a Wednesday squid dissection. But he said it was difficult on the day after at least 19 children and two teachers were killed in an elementary school in Texas in a tragedy that feels all too familiar to Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting nearly 10 years ago. Once again, our hearts have been pierced with the horrific news of innocent children and dedicated educators being senselessly killed, Harrison wrote in an open letter on behalf of the Newtown Federation of Teachers, the union of which he is president. We unfortunately know the pain and sorrow you are now feeling, and will continue to cope with, for years to come. The first-graders whose 20 classmates were among 26 people killed in Sandy Hook Elementary School are now in 10th grade, while those who were in kindergarten are freshmen, he noted. School districts across the area responded with solidarity, while providing support to staff and students hurting from the trauma. Some local school districts increased police presence. Danbury High School held a moment of silence and told students about available resources, Principal Dan Donovan said. Anytime a tragedy like this occurs it hits close to home, Donovan said in an email. For every school administrator, this is the absolute nightmare we all fear. When we came into school this morning, you could hear students discussing it. Support for students Support staff was ready in local school districts on Wednesday as New Milford Superintendent Alisha DiCorpo described to help students navigate any fear, confusion, anxiety, and questions that may arise. On Wednesday, when consulting with school principals as to students and staff who needed support, DiCorpo said she learned, the numbers are not as elevated as we would have thought the numbers were to be, but were going to keep those same supports in place and then decide by days end if theres a need for additional support. Additionally, she said school psychologists and guidance teams were walking around the school buildings Wednesday and speaking to teachers and giving guidance on how to respond to students who are anxious while maintaining the innocence of others who may not have heard about the incident. In Brookfield, educators are supporting students who may need assistance and providing resources and tools to families to address the tragedy. Each schools administration and mental health staff have been fielding phone calls and emails from concerned parents while working in earnest to support students in need, Superintendent John Barile said in an email. Laura Olson, director of pupil personnel and special services for New Milford schools, said crisis teams are on high alert in all the schools. That would include our psychologists, social workers, and our guidance counselors, as well as our administrators so that they knew that when those children walked through the doors, that they would be available, they would be present, and they would reassure children that theyre safe, she said. Age-appropriate messages Olson said in these situations, its important to consider the developmental level of students. Obviously, theres a different approach for early elementary than there would be for upper middle and high school students, she said, adding, its always about reassuring them that theyre safe and making time to talk. She said teachers should focus on keeping students engaged in their learning but at the same time, she said, being aware they may have questions. If they do have questions or they need time to talk, we have available staff who are skilled and being able to really help them, she said. She added each students needs are different and therefore, each should be reassured individually and handled on an individual basis, depending on the situation, the circumstance and the age. We always want to work with their families, and support them so if anyone does need individual help at school, processing through it, were there to help, she said. For the early elementary-age children, she advised keeping explanations of incidents of this nature short. Keep it brief, keep it simple and balance it with reassurances that the school and the homes are safe and that the adults are there to protect them, she said. Its about reviewing safety procedures, monitoring their emotional state and maintaining normal routines are really important too. A letter sent on Wednesday to Ridgefield elementary school families by its principals said their message to students will be kept simple, as young children need reassurance. They wrote they will say simple statements such as, All of the adults at our school are here to keep you safe. Additionally, they wrote, if the incident comes up in a whole class discussion, you can expect that we will acknowledge when necessary and move the class on. We will follow up with individual students expressing concerns. In the event that we have an individual conversation with your child because they are showing signs of concern, a staff member will reach out and let you know that a conversation occurred. At the high school level, the issue is not something you can ignore, Donovan said. Students have to be heard and know that we are all in this together and feel similar to them, he said. We let them know if someone is feeling a certain way the(y) can go see their school counselor, teacher, or administrator when they want to. The first thing students want to know is the why and how. Why would someone do this? How could someone do this? Both are valid questions, but it is not what we focus on because there is no answer for it. We try to support students as best we can. School security In New Milford, where last month a teen was charged after a ghost gun was found on the high school campus, extra police patrols will be at all schools in the days ahead, DiCorpo said, and an an increased presence will be on campuses for dismissal. Brookfield and Ridgefield also enhanced police presence. DiCorpo said she meets with New Milford police after every incident at the schools. Weve been working together to get feedback on the drills that weve run, on how to improve them regularly, she said. On social media, the local community had strong reaction to the Texas school shooting. New Milford resident Phil Pavman, whose children attended New Milford schools, said hes not in favor of increasing security in schools. He expressed sarcasm in a Facebook post Wednesday when he wrote, Nothing makes a child forget about the constant threat of dying in a school shooting better than to have armed police officers patrolling the halls. Lets not address the underlying causes but put a Band-Aid on the stitch. But, sure... lets do security theater. He told Hearst Connecticut Media he thinks the solution is to take measures to reduce the number of guns in the community and address mental health. Weapons of warfare shouldnt be in the hands of the public and ... there is a mental-health crisis that no one is willing to do anything about, he said. The solution is not theater. New Milford resident Erica Oneill, who has a son in second grade at Northville Elementary School, strongly supports more police presence in schools. On a Facebook post, she wrote she loves there is extra patrol. She said all the schools should have patrol everyday, all day. As a parent of littles, I sure wouldnt mind an armed guard or officer or retired veteran patrolling my kids school and I wouldnt even hesitate nor complain about paying for it, she said. This is the new world and no amount of laws or mental health checks is going to change anything. Mumbai: The Shiv Sena on Wednesday criticised Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin for welcoming Rajiv Gandhis assassination convict A.G. Perarivalan. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party said such acts set a wrong precedent and are not good for the political culture of the country. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, who had praised Mr. Stalins political maturity, said that the Tamil Nadu CM has set a dangerous trend by dignifying a killer of the late former PM. An editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana said that Rajiv Gandhis assassination in May 1991 was shocking but a chief minister embracing the convict of killing the former prime minister is even more shocking. Mr. Stalin had warmly greeted Perarivalan after his release after spending 31 years in jail. Calling it highly improper, the editorial asked, It is another thing that the Congress and DMK are in alliance in Tamil Nadu. But what kind of a political culture is this where a CM hugging and felicitating the killer of a former prime minister? The editorial added, What did Mr Stalin achieve by welcoming Rajiv Gandhis assassin?... These experiments of anything for politics must stop. Dignifying the killer of a former prime minister is a dangerous precedent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should also oppose this. Mr Raut said that in the past terrorists were felicitated and celebrated but it was met with criticism and protest. Many Khalistani leaders were felicitated by leaders then, the killers of Indira Gandhi were also celebrated. But people did not approve of it. Some political parties and leaders tried to portray terrorists from Kashmir as freedom fighters. But that was also opposed by people. Mr Stalin greeting former PMs assassin is mortally incorrect and also does not fit in our political culture, he said. A yearslong campaign to establish nonstop flight service between Hartford and Jamaica has received a boost in the new state budget. The state Department of Economic and Community Development is receiving up to $2 million to support the establishment of direct flights to Jamaica. A spokesman for DECD said the money can be used to incentivize an airline to develop a route between Connecticut and the island but cautioned that its still too early to say how the funding will be spent. The Hartford-based Caribbean Trade Council has long advocated for direct flights between Bradley International Airport and Jamaica citing the large concentration of Jamaican Americans living in Connecticut. Theres great interest, said state Rep. Bobby Gibson, D-Bloomfield, vice chairman of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, who has pushed for the flights. Its desperately needed. Connecticut has the fifth largest population of people from the Jamaican diaspora in the United States. Some have compared the funding for the Jamaica flights to the subsidies the state gave to Aer Lingus to establish flight service between Bradley and Dublin, Ireland. State Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, co-chair of legislative Appropriations Committee, said the intention is for the $2 million to be part of an incentive package to encourage flights to Jamaica Kevin Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, which owns and operates Bradley, said incentives are becoming more common as competition for airline routes intensifies. The airport authority typically offers to waive two years worth of fees and charges to airlines considering operating at Bradley. Federal Aviation Administration rules limit what airports can provide but state agencies and economic development agencies can offer airline companies revenue guarantees. Typically how it works, Dillon said, is an airline determines how much revenue it needs to operate a particular route and the stage agency makes up the difference if the airline doesnt meet that target. Jamaica is a market that we are frequently asked about, Dillon said, and is among the top international destinations the airport authority is actively pursuing. Theres a significant population that we believe would take advantage of a flight to Jamaica as well as the tourism component of it, he said. We think it is a very viable route. Flight data from the Bradley service area, defined as a 60-minute driving radius around the airport, shows that on average 150 passengers per day back and forth between Jamaica and thats before any additional level of stimulation, Dillon said. julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com Tuesdays mass shooting at an Uvalde, Texas elementary school has renewed calls both nationally and locally for laws regulating gun access. At a press conference Wednesday, Gov. Ned Lamont touted Connecticuts gun laws, which are among the strictest in the nation, but lamented that the legislature had failed to act on recent proposals to strengthen those laws further. I was very disappointed that there was no mention of guns [in this years legislative session], Lamont said. Id like to think that we could have done a better job in Connecticut and sent a message far afield. Connecticuts laws are far stricter than in Texas, where an 18-year-old gunman used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle, two of which he was able to legally obtain soon after his birthday, according to officials. In Connecticut, such a purchase would be illegal. Here is what to know about gun laws in Connecticut, including what gun control measures have and havent passed and how the state compares to its peers nationally. What gun control measures has Connecticut passed? In the months after the December 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, the Connecticut general assembly passed a sweeping bill that some advocacy groups described at the time as the nations strongest gun control legislation. As part of that bill, signed by then-Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Connecticut added more than 100 firearms to its list of banned military-style weapons including the AR-15, mandated background checks for all gun purchases and created the nations first dangerous weapon registry. Since then, the state has taken further, more modest steps toward stronger gun laws, including bills in 2019 that restricted weapons that lack a serial number (known as ghost guns), barred gun owners from leaving weapons unattended in motor vehicles, and required safe storage of firearms in homes where children are present. Most recently, Lamont in 2021 signed a bill that made it more difficult for people with protective orders against them to obtain gun permits and ammunition. According to the anti-gun advocacy group Everytown, Connecticut has some of the strongest gun laws in the country and leads the nation with its robust background check and purchase permit requirements. What gun control measures hasnt the state passed? Earlier this year, Lamont introduced a new set of gun-control measures as part of a broader crime bill. If passed, the measure would have expanded Connecticuts assault weapons ban; required existing ghost guns to be registered; mandated that all firearms, not just pistols and revolvers, be sold with a trigger lock; and made it easier for police to request gun permits from someone openly carrying a firearm, among other provisions. Those proposals, however, drew fierce pushback from Republicans, who charged that the policies would violate gun owners constitutional rights. During a lengthy and contentious public hearing, lawmakers and pro-gun advocates criticized the proposed gun-control measures as onerous and knee-jerk. The only people that would end up getting caught in a lot of these measures are the law-abiding citizens of the state of Connecticut, state Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, said. By the time the crime bill passed out of the legislative Judicial Committee it had been pared down dramatically, with nearly all gun control language removed. Meanwhile, Everytown lists a number of measures Connecticut could pass to further strengthen its gun laws, including the requirement that new gun models be childproofed, the ability for officials to deny a firearm purchase if the buyer is believed to pose a danger and the imposition of a mandatory wait time before someone can legally obtain a gun. The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, another prominent advocacy group, says Connecticut could increase funding to community violence intervention programs and strengthen relinquishment laws, which require someone who is no longer permitted to carry a gun to turn over all firearms to authorities. Lamont said Wednesday he doesnt plan to call a special legislative session this year to push additional gun-related measures but that he hasnt ruled out doing so. How does Connecticut compare to other state in terms of gun laws? Though precise rankings vary from one source to the next, Connecticut is widely considered to have some of the strictest gun laws in the nation. Everytown grades Connecticut as having the fifth strongest gun laws of any state (behind California, Hawaii, New York and Massachusetts) based on criteria including foundational laws, gun industry and product safety, keeping guns out of the wrong hands and policing and civil rights. Using a similar methodology, the Giffords Law Center last year gave Connecticut an A- for its gun laws and ranked the state third nationally, behind only California and New Jersey. Analysis from the Giffords Law Center found a significant correlation between states with strong gun laws and those with low rates of gun deaths, with Connecticut recording only the 45th most gun deaths per capita of any state. Lamont on Wednesday hailed Connecticut as an example for other states and the federal government to follow. It doesnt work if were doing this on our own, he said. We can make a difference, but we need the federal government to look up and see whats worked in Connecticut and what can work elsewhere. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. alex.putterman@hearstmediact.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The families of four people including three teens who died in a February plane crash off the North Carolina coast are suing the companies that owned the plane and employed the pilot, who also died. The suit claims the pilot failed to properly fly the single-engine plane in weather conditions with limited visibility, making the firms liable. All eight people aboard the Pilatus PC-12/47 died when it descended into the Atlantic Ocean off the Outer Banks. Four teenagers and two adults on the plane were returning from a hunting trip. The two others were the pilot and his adult son, who was a student pilot, the suit said. The wrongful death suit was filed Tuesday in Carteret County against EDP Management Group LLC and Green Assets, both of Wilmington, and Dillons Aviation of Greenville. The plane took off Feb. 13 in the early afternoon from Hyde County Airport, which is on the mainland near the Pamlico Sound. The plane's destination was southwest across the sound to Beaufort, which is along the southern edge of the Outer Banks in Carteret County. The suit alleges that pilot Ernest "Teen" Rawls failed to maintain control over the plane and improperly flew into weather conditions with limited visibility that required the use of instrumentation. The suit also asserts that Rawls failed to maintain adequate communication with air traffic control and failed to avoid restricted military airspace, leading to an erratic and irregular flight path. The suit alleges that Rawls improperly relied on a co-pilot with inadequate training and experience to fly around the restricted airspace and in those weather conditions. Rawls son, Jeffrey Rawls, reportedly, had 20 hours of flight experience, the suit stated. The suit also claims that Rawls failed to conduct a proper weight and balance evaluation before taking off. The website for Green Assets listed Hunter Parks, one of the people who died in the crash, as its founder and chairman. His family is not among those who sued. A company spokesman released a statement that said it could not comment on the suit. There is not a day that goes by that we do not feel the sadness of this tragedy," the statement said. "Our hearts remain with all families and friends who have been impacted by this incident. And because this is active litigation and that the facts of the incident are still unknown, we are unable to comment on the specifics of the complaint at this time. Email and phone messages seeking comment from Dillons Aviation and EDP Management Group were not immediately returned. In late February, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary accident report that the pilot had made no distress calls and no declarations of an emergency. The airplane had reached 4,700 feet (1,430 meters) and was climbing quickly, the NTSB's report stated. There was no response to calls from an air traffic controller, and radar contact was lost. A final report from the NTSB has not been issued. Andrew Robb, a Kansas City-based aviation attorney who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the four families, said by phone that the plane's lack of distress calls and climbing altitude were hallmarks of a pilot becoming spatially disoriented. If there was a problem with the mechanics or the electronics or something on that airplane that caused this 3,000-foot ascent, you would think that the pilot would have made some kind of communication, Robb said. The lawsuit was filed by the families of passengers Noah Styron, 15; Michael Shepherd, 15; Jacob Taylor, 16; and Stephanie Fulcher, 42. Others who were onboard included Parks, 45, and Jonathan Kole McInnis, 15. Rawls and his son lived in Greenville, authorities said in February. Fulcher, Parks and the four teens lived in Carteret County. The mostly rural county is home to older fishing villages as well as touristy areas that include Emerald Isle and Cape Lookout National Seashore. The four teenagers went to East Carteret High School, which has about 600 students. Charlie Snow, a close friend of the pilot, told The Associated Press in February that Rawls had previously flown for Snows company, Outer Banks Airlines, and was highly trained and extremely capable. If anybody could get out of something, if it was possible to get out of it, he could have done it, Snow said. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) The Biden administration has released the lease terms for offshore wind projects that would place hundreds of turbines in California's coastal waters the first such project off the nation's Pacific coast. The two projects along the state's northern and central coasts are envisioned to generate up to 4.5 gigawatts of wind energy. That's enough to power about 1.5 million homes, the U.S. Department of the Interior said Thursday. Wind turbines could eventually cover up to 583 square miles (1,150 square kilometers) of land off the coast. The federal government will take public comment starting Tuesday for 60 days about the terms of the leases, which include requirements for engaging with tribes, fisheries and other ocean users as well as negotiating labor agreements for construction. Bidders could get extra credit for agreeing to invest in workforce training or supply chain development for offshore wind. Changes could be made before the lease sale officially opens. Even after the leases are awarded, the projects must clear environmental and other reviews and it will likely take years before any turbines are up and running. President Joe Biden has set a goal of generating 30 gigawatts of power from offshore wind by 2030 to help the nation reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and meet climate change goals. Today the country produces about 118 gigawatts of wind power annually, but most comes from turbines in the center of the country, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Offshore wind projects currently exist off the coasts of Rhode Island and Virginia. Today, we are taking another step toward unlocking the immense potential of offshore wind energy (off) our nations west coast to help combat the effects of climate change while creating good-paying jobs," U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a news release. In California, three lease areas have been proposed near Morro Bay on California's central coast, a small city driven by tourism and the fishing industry, which catches tuna and swordfish in the area. Some fishermen are concerned the projects could negatively effect coastal ecosystems. The two other lease areas are located off the coast along northern California's Humboldt Bay. The fishing industry has not been given an opportunity to offer input on where wind turbines can be placed to minimize harm to the seafood industry, said Mike Conroy, executive director of The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Associations. The fishing industry is not opposed to offshore wind projects. What we are opposed to is a process that tells us where these turbines will go," he said in an emailed statement. California has set a goal of producing 100% of its electricity from sources that don't emit greenhouse gases by 2045. The state got about 11% of its electricity from wind power in 2020 through a mix of in-state generation and imports from other states, according to the California Energy Commission. California Gov. Gavin Newsom supports the plan for offshore development in the state's coastal waters. He included $20 million in last year's state budget to support such projects. David Hochschild, chair of the California Energy Commission, said the state looks forward to working with tribal governments and other affected groups to ensure the responsible development of this important clean energy resource." Other proposed offshore wind projects would dot the coastlines off Maine, New York, the Carolinas, Oregon, the Gulf of Mexico and the Central Atlantic. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) An aircraft crashed while attempting to land on a rural Alaska airstrip lined by trees, injuring all four people on board, officials said Wednesday. Three people seriously hurt in Tuesday's crash at Dry Bay airstrip were sent to hospitals in Anchorage. A fourth person with minor injuries was treated in the nearby southeast Alaska community of Yakutat, the Coast Guard said in a statement. The names of those injured weren't immediately released. The crash occurred about 3 p.m. Tuesday as the Yakutat Coastal Airlines charter flight was attempting to land on the airstrip, said Clint Johnson, head of the Alaska division of the National Transportation Safety Board. The flight had originated from Yakutat. The de Havilland DHC-3 fixed-wing single-engine airplane crashed short of the runway in tree-covered terrain, Johnson said. The NTSB will investigate the cause of the crash. The Dry Bay airstrip is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Yakutat. The Coast Guard was informed of the crash by an emergency locator transmitter alert and by calls from the public. A Coast Guard helicopter from Sitka arrived on scene and took two people with critical back issues to Yakutat, the Coast Guard statement said. Another person with breathing issues was taken to Yakutat by that citys police department. The Coast Guard then flew all three to Anchorage for treatment in an HC-130 Hercules airplane from Kodiak. Tanya Hutchins, who described herself as an owner of Yakutat Coastal Airlines, said she was not ready to comment about the crash when reached by telephone Wednesday. (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Christopher Poliquin, University of California, Los Angeles (THE CONVERSATION) Calls for new gun legislation that previously failed to pass Congress are being raised again after the May 24, 2022, mass shooting at an elementary school in the small town of Uvalde, Texas. An 18-year-old shooter killed at least 19 fourth grade students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School, marking the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. in a decade. The U.S. has been here before after shootings in Tucson, Aurora, Newtown, Charleston, Roseburg, San Bernardino, Orlando, Las Vegas, Parkland, El Paso, Boulder, and 10 days earlier at a grocery store in Buffalo, N.Y. Gun production and sales in the U.S. remain high, following a purchasing surge during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the firearms industry sold about six guns for every 100 Americans. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut was among the Democratic politicians who pleaded for action on gun control as horrifying details of the Uvalde school shooting unfolded. What are we doing? Murphy asked other lawmakers, speaking from the Senate floor on the day of the shooting. Why are you here if not to solve a problem as existential as this? Congress has declined to pass significant new gun legislation after dozens of shootings, including those that occurred during periods like this one, with Democrats controlling the House of Representatives, Senate and presidency. This response may seem puzzling given that national opinion polls reveal extensive support for several gun control policies, including expanding background checks and banning assault weapons. In October 2021, 52% of people polled by Gallup said that they thought firearm sales laws should be made more strict. But polls do not determine policy. I am a professor of strategy at UCLA and have researched gun policy. With my co-authors at Harvard University, Ive studied how gun laws change following mass shootings. Our research on this topic finds there is legislative activity following these tragedies, but its at the state level. Restrictions loosened Stricter gun laws at the national level are more popular among Democrats than Republicans, and major new legislation would likely need votes from at least 10 Republican senators. Many of these senators represent constituencies opposed to gun control. Despite national polls showing majority support for an assault weapons ban, not one of the 30 states with a Republican-controlled legislature has such a policy. U.S. Texas Senator Ted Cruz said on May 24 that more gun control laws could not have prevented the Uvalde attack, explaining that doesnt work, its not effective, it doesnt prevent crime. The absence of strict control policies in Republican-controlled states shows that senators crossing party lines to support gun control would be out of step with the views of voters whose support they need to win elections. But a lack of action from Congress doesnt mean gun laws are stagnant after mass shootings. To examine how policy changes, we assembled data on shootings and gun legislation in the 50 states between 1990 and 2014. Overall, we identified more than 20,000 firearm bills and nearly 3,200 enacted laws. Some of these loosened gun restrictions, others tightened them, and still others did neither or both that is, tightened in some dimensions but loosened in others. We then compared gun laws before and after mass shootings in states where mass shootings occurred, relative to all other states. Contrary to the view that nothing changes, state legislatures consider 15% more firearm bills the year after a mass shooting. Deadlier shootings which receive more media attention have larger effects. In fact, mass shootings have a greater influence on lawmakers than other homicides, even though they account for less than 1% of gun deaths in the United States. As impressive as this 15% increase in gun bills may sound, gun legislation can reduce gun violence only if it becomes law. And when it comes to enacting these bills into law, our research found that mass shootings do not regularly cause lawmakers to tighten gun restrictions. In fact, we found the opposite. Republican state legislatures pass significantly more gun laws that loosen restrictions on firearms after mass shootings. In 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a new law that eliminated a requirement for Texans to obtain a license or receive training to carry handguns. This came two years after a 2019 mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso. Thats not to say Democrats never tighten gun laws there are prominent examples of Democratic-controlled states passing new legislation following mass shootings. California, for example, enacted several new gun laws following a 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino. Our research shows, however, that Democrats dont tighten gun laws more than usual following mass shootings. After the Buffalo shooting in early May 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that she would work to increase the age for legal gun purchasing from 18 to 21 at a minimum. Ideology governs response The contrasting response from Democrats and Republicans is indicative of different philosophies regarding the causes of gun violence and the best ways to reduce deaths. While Democrats tend to view social factors as contributing to violence, Republicans are more likely to blame the individual shooters. Cruz, for example, has said that stopping individuals with criminal records from committing violence could help prevent mass shootings. Politicians favoring looser restrictions on guns following mass shootings frequently argue that more people carrying guns would allow law-abiding citizens to stop perpetrators. In fact, gun sales often surge after mass shootings, in part because people fear being victimized. Democrats, in contrast, typically focus more on trying to solve policy and societal problems that contribute to gun violence. For both sides, mass shootings are an opportunity to propose bills consistent with their ideology. Since we wrote our study of gun legislation following mass shootings, which covered the period through 2014, several additional tragedies have energized the gun control movement that emerged following the December 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. These include the May 2022 shooting at the Tops grocery store in Buffalo, as well as the Uvalde school massacre. While President Joe Biden issued executive orders in 2021 with the goal of reducing gun violence, action in Congress remains elusive. States, meanwhile, have been more active on the issue. Student activism following the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, did not result in congressional action but led several states to pass new gun control laws. With more funding and better organization, this new movement is better positioned than prior gun control movements to advocate for stricter gun policies following mass shootings. Public outcry and devastation over the Uvalde shootings will likely provide fuel to this advocacy work. But with states historically more active than Congress on the issue of guns, both advocates and opponents of new restrictions should look beyond Washington for action on gun policy. This is an updated version of an article originally published on March 21, 2021. This article was updated to indicate there were 10 days between the Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas shootings. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/after-mass-shootings-like-uvalde-national-gun-control-fails-but-states-often-loosen-gun-laws-183879. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ANSONIA The past year has been a blur for Edwin Vega. His daughter, Jeilany, 7, is a first grader at Mead Elementary School and was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor last year. The stress has been so much Vega doesnt even remember when he found out. I don't even know what today is... This is tough man. Its taken a toll on the entire family, Vega said. Jeilany Vega has not been in school for months and school officials found out about her condition when her older sister, Gianne, 11, broke down in tears one day, worried about her sister, said James Chester, Mead Elementary School counselor. School officials sprang to action, and organized a car parade Thursday in front of the young girls house, calling it, The Joy for Jeilany Caravan. The participants included city and school staffers, the fire department, Mayor David Cassetti and the cheerleading team from Ansonia High School since Jeilany is fond of cheerleading. Chester said when he called the childs parents to confirm her diagnosis, they all became emotional. There they started crying on the phone with me. And we were all crying on the phone, Chester said. Chester said the plan for the caravan came soon after when he spoke to his wife, Lisa, about it. She suggested a drive by caravan for the young girl and Chester began talking it over with Jeilanys sister. They both spoke about what Jeilany liked, her favorite color and music. But Chester said he realized the parade wasnt just going to make Jeilany happy. It was going to help her sister and her family too. When I talked to Gianne about it, she lights up so its twofold. Its more not just for Jeilany its for her sister too whos really having a tough time, he said. As for Jeilany, her mother, Vivian Rivera, said shes gotten weaker over the last year. Jeilany was only given nine months to live by doctors but has now passed 10 months since her initial diagnosis. Every day that passes, she gets weaker. She cant move one side of her body, she cant understand much now, she looks different, Rivera said. Her father said they are still taking Jeilany out for activities. They took her to Bridgeport to feed the ducks to keep her busy, he said. But, according to Vega, its been difficult to reconcile the happy memories with their child compared to now, when she needs constant care. He compared her situation to just a year ago on her birthday. We got to help her do everything, she cant do nothing on her own (now). We had a birthday party this week down in the yard with a bouncy house and all the kids were in the yard playing around and, its very overwhelming and heartbreaking to know that last year, she had the same party with the bounce house and was all over the place, Vega said. But the family is devoutly Christian and is still waiting on a miracle for Jeilany, her mother said. I know he (God) can perform a miracle at the last minute, thats what gives me strength, Rivera said. Democrats said Wednesday they are hopeful they can reach a bipartisan agreement on at least one gun violence measure as soon as early June, following the Tuesday massacre at a Texas elementary school. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both of Connecticut, said during a press conference that they had been in conversations with Senate Republicans about several measures, including a so-called red flag law, which Blumenthal and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have attempted to negotiate for years. My hope is that well be able to deliver something to the American people that does the job or at least begins doing the job when the Senate reconvenes in a week and a half, Murphy said. With or without an agreement, Murphy and Blumenthal said Democrats, who control the Senate but hold only 50 of the 100 seats, intend to bring votes to the floor. That, Murphy said, would show the American people where their members of the Senate stand so that they can then make educated decisions when they go to the polls. Red flag laws are designed to allow police or family members to apply for a court order temporarily removing firearms from a person who may be a danger to themselves or others. Connecticut was the first state to enact a red flag law in 1999 and it has been used thousands of times. We have a draft now that has won bipartisan support and addresses many of the objections that have been raised to it, said Blumenthal, who conceded he has been optimistic about success in previous years. When asked if such a statute might have prevented the Tuesday massacre of 20 schoolchildren and a teacher at an elementary school in Texas, Blumenthal said it was possible. There are indications that this shooter gave signs of mental distress, maybe derangement, other kinds of health care issues, mental health issues that perhaps were signs that should have been pursued, if there had been a red flag statute, he said. In the wake of the shooting in Texas and the massacre of 10 people at a grocery store in Buffalo earlier this month, senate Democrats are pushing for a variety of gun control legislation. In addition to a red flag law, Democrats are seeking movement on increased background checks and stronger gun storage laws. Murphy said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was intending a vote on the floor of the senate within two weeks, but that there were ongoing bipartisan negotiations. We are going to take the next 10 days and see if there is bipartisan agreement on red flags, bipartisan agreement on background checks, bipartisan agreement on security measures, but were not going to be in negotiations for months, Murphy said. Ive been in touch throughout the day with a half-dozen to a dozen Republicans who want to be part of discussions over the next 10 days. Joining Blumenthal and Murphy in an online press conference late Wednesday were Kristin Song, whose 15-year-old son, Ethan, accidentally shot himself to death with an improperly stored gun in a friends house; also Nicole Hockley and Mark Barden, co-founders of Sandy Hook Promise, who both lost children in the 2012 Newtown shooting. Separately from the Senate talks, a spokesman for Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, confirmed Wednesday that Ethans Law, which passed in Connecticut, is close to having enough votes to pass in the U.S. House. Blumenthal said he and Graham had put literally hours, days, months of work into the various elements of this red flag statute proposal. Though he declined to say if red flags, background checks or safe storage legislation was more likely to pass, Blumenthal said the red flag law proposal was more palatable to Republicans because it contains strong due process provisions. There is a court order that can be challenged, but there is due process involved in that order. There has to be evidence presented by law enforcement, he said. One point that I think is very attractive to my colleagues is that many of these court orders condition return of the firearm on that person going to some kind of counseling or therapy, some kind of mental health care. VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) The family of a Black man killed by deputies has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against Clark County in southwest Washington, alleging that its law enforcement has a policy, custom and established practice of allowing officers to wrongfully wield deadly force. The lawsuit comes after prosecutors declined to charge the Clark County deputies who shot and killed Kevin Peterson Jr. during a drug sting in 2020, KOIN-TV reported. HARTFORD A Naugatuck woman was sentenced Wednesday to serve three years in prison for filing false tax returns for her clients, according to federal prosecutors. In numerous tax returns, United States Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery said Ana Nunez, 51, routinely inflated income or created fictitious income; falsified expenses, including education and child care expenses, and falsified deductions, such as business mileage. Nunez, who is also known as Ana Pagoagoa, pleaded guilty in January 2020 to two counts of aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return. She has been released on bond and is required to report to prison on July 25, according to Avery. Nunez owned and operated a tax return preparation service in Naugatuck called Nunez MultiServices LLC from 2011 to 2016. During that time, she filed about 6,000 returns for about 2,600 different individual taxpayers, Averys office said. A federal judge in Hartford ordered Nunez to pay $501,933 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and $78,829 to the state of Connecticut, according to Averys office. On Dec. 6, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Nunez with multiple counts of filing false tax returns, Averys office said. Nunez subsequently obstructed the prosecution of this matter by creating false invoices to clients, which she provided to the government in an apparent attempt to justify additional monies she took from her clients refunds, and by attempting to intimidate a potential witness, according to Averys office. A federal judge in Hartford ordered Nunez to serve three years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Wednesday, Averys office said. Eduardo Verdugo/AP MEXICO CITY (AP) Investigators said Thursday they will ask a judge to allow the exhumation of the body of a young woman found in a motels water tank in April in an effort to clarify the cause of her death. Debanhi Escobar, 18, was found dead days after getting out of a taxi on a dark highway near the northern city of Monterrey. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TRUMBULL No one would argue that babies need sleep, said Marty Isaac. But when it comes to teenagers, there are far fewer words about how they, too, need adequate rest. Adolescents are living in a state of severe and chronic sleep debt, said Isaac, a Trumbull Board of Finance member, during Tuesday nights Board of Education meeting. No one questions the benefit of sleep for babies and young children but teenagers brains and bodies are changing and growing just as much as they did in their earliest years. Isaac spoke during the public comment part of Tuesdays meeting, at which Assistant Superintendent Susan Iwanicki and Trumbull High School Principal Marc Guarino discussed a report by the Late School Start Committee on the possible benefits of starting school later, particularly for middle and high school students. The committee began meeting in 2019, sent out a survey earlier this year to learn what students, parents and staff thought about delaying start times by either a half hour or an hour. Currently, the towns elementary schools start at 8:35 a.m.; the middle schools start at 7:35 a.m. and Trumbull High School starts at 7:25 a.m. In his comments, Isaac said he thought that school should start no earlier than 8:30 a.m., to allow students to get more sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that middle and high school students start school at 8:30 a.m. or later. During her presentation, Iwanicki said the American Psychological Association also supports a later school start and the science behind it is very strong. She said later start times have a number of possible benefits, including increased attendance rates, a decrease in disciplinary action, a decrease in student-involved car accidents and a decrease in students sleeping during instruction. Iwanicki presented the results of the survey, and, while delaying start times had overwhelming support among students, parents and school staff were mixed on the idea. About 80 percent of the 1,193 students who responded said later start times should be a priority, but only about 42 percent of the 3,058 responding parents and about half of the 449 responding staff members agreed. Roughly 45 percent of parents and 47 percent of teachers also thought there should be no change to school start times, whereas only 9.6 percent of students thought so. Among those who did want a later start time, a half hour delay was more popular than delaying by an hour, with 78 percent of students, 40.2 percent of parents and 37.4 percent of parents choosing that option. However, Iwanicki said there are multiple concerns about delaying school start times, and even the committee members were mixed. She said concerns include those about how an early start time would affect other educational programs in Trumbull, such as Trumbull Agriscience and the Regional Center for Arts. There are also concerns about how the change would affect traffic and about how it would increase transportation costs. The committee found that the earlier start times would require at least two more buses and increase transportation costs by at least $232,000. Iwanicki pointed out that, though a half hour delay was the most popular option, there were concerns that delaying schools by that long would only push start times to 8 a.m., which is still earlier than medical experts recommend. Most of those on the board agreed that the committees report had a lot of unanswered questions. Theres a lot of different factors here, said board Chair Lucinda Timpanelli. I see what youve done, but there arent any definites here we can look at. She said more investigation, including a traffic study and other research, was needed. Both she and Iwanicki thought it would be a good idea to specifically focus on the pros and cons of the half hour delay. I think if we invested our energy on just the 30 minute option, it might benefit us to bring that data back to you for your consideration, Iwanicki said. Photo: Andrew Schwartz/SIPA/Shutterstock Andrew Abdullah, the man charged in the shooting death of Daniel Enriquez, evaded police for 48 hours before he was taken into custody on Tuesday afternoon. The circumstances around his arrest, which reportedly involved a failed negotiation between a Rolls-Royce-driving, media-savvy bishop and his apparent friend the mayor, couldnt be stranger. After the shooting on a northbound Q train on Sunday, Abdullah left the Canal Street station and allegedly abandoned his handgun and took off his sweatshirt. He then walked around Lower Manhattan, avoiding arrest by the transit officers who stopped and questioned him, took down his name, and sent him on his way. At some point, Abdullah also made contact with his family, who reportedly tried to find him help. This is where Lamor Whitehead, bishop of Leaders of Tomorrow International Churches, says he comes in. Whitehead, a Brooklyn pastor who once was convicted in a fraudulent auto-loan scheme, claimed to the New York Post that he had a close relationship with Abdullahs family, whom he says are among his congregants, and that he tried to broker the surrender. According to Whitehead, Abdullahs aunt and mom called him on Tuesday morning and asked him for advice; Whitehead said he told the family that Abdullah needed to turn himself in. The family again, according to Whiteheads account agreed, but first wanted to consult Legal Aids offices in Manhattan. Whitehead says he then called Eric Adams, to whom he has ties, and the mayor said he would support me in whatever had to happen for this young man to surrender. He trusted what I had put in place. Whitehead then went to go meet the family at Legal Aids offices, intending to take Abdullah to the 5th Precinct and hand him over to the mayor. Instead, before he could surrender, Abdullah was arrested outside of Legal Aid by city marshals. Legal Aid told Bloomberg that this was inappropriate and they had been in negotiations with the police over Abdullahs surrender. He was needlessly ambushed out front of our Manhattan Trial Office by law enforcement, denied of his opportunity to first consult with counsel, a Legal Aid spokesperson said. A Legal Aid lawyer also disputed Whiteheads account of events, telling the Post that Whitehead has no affiliation with the family. He has no affiliation with the legal team and the statements he has made claiming on behalf of the family are untrue. One police source who spoke to the New York Daily News suggested that Whitehead was attempting to engineer a high-profile handoff and had been keeping an eye on the media presence waiting for a bigger crowd to arrive. The Daily News reported that Eric Adams was apparently game for a good show. The mayor was in the area and was willing to participate if thats what it took, one police source told the paper. But other NYPD sources were reportedly annoyed at Adams, saying that his participation would set a precedent for future surrender stunts. Why is the mayor getting involved in law enforcement? Hes not in law enforcement anymore, a former detective told the Daily News. For his part, Adams has kept mum about the whole negotiation. This is an active case in front of the DA, and Im not going to say anything thats going to impede the investigation at all, he said in a press conference on Tuesday. The internet can be daunting for people of a certain age, so you can't blame them for sometimes getting things wrong. Social media users from around the world have shared some of the funniest examples of well-intentioned comments from elderly people that just missed the mark, with the best examples shared in a Bored Panda gallery. Among the amusing collection is a comment from a woman who apologised for pressing the laugh emoji on a condolences post. Another outrageous woman joked about 'needing a wheelchair after big night' with her husband. Here, FEMAIL shares some of the funniest comments on the internet. Bored Panda has rounded up a selection of the funniest comments from elderly people from around the world, including Cathie Johnson, from the US, who wasn't aware there was an edit comment button Somebody come pick their mum up! One women, in the UK, didn't hold back with the racy comments under a Sky News article Priorities: Bill Hitchert, from the US, is afraid someone might steal his identity if they know what TV series he's currently binging Public apology: Marilyn felt compelled to say sorry to someone's 'friends and family' after she pressed the laugh emoji at a condolences post Cheers! Australian Facebook user Rae McGowan admitted she had never heard of the music sensation Lizzo but still wanted to pass on her praise I'll show you rude! Sue Levanovic, from Ukraine, threw some shade after one person explained all capital letters comes across as rude Free to a good home! This American man seemed to get confused between Facebook and Facebook Marketplace and shared his sweet family photo as if they were available to buy Duh! Neil Hamilton, from the UK, lost the Twitter argument after he spelt the word stupid wrong Tell it as it is! This British man went viral with his witty comment in response to a LadBible article about a new sex position Makes perfect SCENTs! Frances Gifford, from the US, felt the need to share her advice on when to avoid smelly Tupperware One star review! Garry Calder, from Brisbane, Australia, didn't recommend Cedar & Pine Bar to anyone because it is to far from where he lives Those where the days: Hazel Hodge was sharing happy childhood memories of visiting a New Zealand museum, only the post she commented on makes things look a little more sinister Cute! Jean Stachon, from Wyoming, doesn't understand she can just like the comment with a thumbs up to save time in typing out that she likes the comment NHS staff have been sharing how they often skip meals because canteens are 'too busy' and say they often can't get hot food at the times they want it because privately-run restaurants within hospitals 'don't understand' 24-hour shift patterns. On Twitter, hospital workers shared their experiences of being told they were 'too late for breakfast and too early for lunch' - leaving them with limited, often cold, food choices when they needed to refuel during busy shifts. Earlier this month, one doctor, who campaigns for better food for staff in hospitals, complained about the price of a simple pasta meal - 7.25 - offered to staff at a London NHS hospital. The post sparked some to compare prices with those in the House of Commons Members' Dining Room, where a gourmet roast rump of beef dinner - served with chateau potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and seasonal vegetables - currently costs just 5.67. Podiatrist Neely Mozawala, who founded the No Hungry Staff campaign, highlighted that a portion of macaroni cheese, which is served with a meat topping, at North Middlesex Hospital's The Wellspring Restaurant appeared marked up way beyond the cost of its ingredients. Scroll down for video Neely Mozawala, pictured left, founded the No Hungry Staff campaign, working to improve the price and nutrition of culinary offerings hospital staff can access at work Earlier this month, NHS podiatrist and campaigner for better food for NHS staff, Neely Mozawala, highlighted that a portion of macaroni cheese at The Wellspring Restaurant in North Middlesex Hospital in London cost 7.25 Boris Johnson pictured in the staff restaurant at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading in October 2020 Meanwhile over in Westminster, the current summer menu in the House of Commons' dining room in more competitive, with three gourmet-sounding mains coming in at 6.41 She wrote: 'An NHS Trust in London charging 7.25 for macaroni cheese?' The post sparked a flurry of comparisons to how MPs dine in the House of Commons, with all of the main meals currently on offer to politicians on the spring menu priced at 6.41. Dishes include Korean spiced aubergine with chive polenta, charred green onions, and coconut yoghurt, and deep fried haddock with pale ale batter, thick cut chips, mushy peas, tartar sauce and malt vinegar sea salt. Three desserts on the list, including the dish of vanilla brulee, macerated strawberries and crisp meringue, are priced at 2.37. MailOnline has contacted the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England for comment. A House of Commons spokesperson told Femail that prices for meals in Westminster's restaurants are 'competitive' with nearby restaurants, saying: 'Catering services at Parliament are not subsidised. 'Our food and drink prices are regularly benchmarked with venues outside Parliament, and the catering service continuously seeks to reduce costs.' A spokesperson from North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust said: 'One of our key priorities here at North Mid is looking after our staff and patients their health and wellbeing is always at the forefront of our minds. The food and products offered in our hospitals onsite restaurant (The Wellspring Restaurant) are provided by an external supplier. 'Although we regularly liaise with them with regards to the quality and variety of the food, together we are reviewing the issues raised. Staff purchasing hot food from our restaurant are entitled to a 20% discount and we also offer alternative provisions for food and drink on site.' This week, the latest social media discussion on how NHS staff access food services while at work centres on how canteens are often too busy at peak hours to cater adaquately, yet turning up at off-peak hours can see NHS workers turned away. One hospital worker, @_Doctor_Dom, played out a recent experience, saying he wasn't allowed lunch despite lunch dishes being displayed because it was 'too early', he was told. When he told restaurant staff that he needed to be in theatre at 12, they suggested he had 'a sandwich'. Those responding shared their own experiences of similar inflexibility. @cfraz172 wrote: 'Missed breakfast, got to canteen at 1137 (10 minute return walk out of 30 min break) no hot food. Wouldnt serve as not 1145. Not fit for purpose.' Patients don't fare much better: The NHS wasted 1.1million throwing away more than 6,500 tons of food last year, figures released in December showed @DocFizzabella added: 'Once I had v busy oncall so didn't manage 2 grab lunch. Finally got 2 canteen, asked 4 cheese toastie & right in front of me the guy turned around switched off toastie machine & said have to turn it off @ 7pm - was 6.58!! Nearly cried on spot.' @cywbawdder said hospital restaurants are often oblivious to the round-the-clock care NHS staff provide. He said: 'The problem is most are private franchise and decide to have limited hours of opening. Sadly they don't understand 24 hrs hospital service and a little flexibility?' @DrWJL raged: 'This is how the NHS treats its staff. Yes, it's clearly near to shutting up shop time.. but WHY has no NHS manager realised that this sort of unpredictable thing often happens when you're caring for sick people, and then created a helpful response?' Patients don't fare much better; the NHS wasted 1.1million throwing away more than 6,500 tons of food last year, official figures released in December revealed. And data suggests the total for this financial year could be even higher prompting Bake Off judge Prue Leith, who led a review of hospital food, to warn of a 'mountain to climb'. So far 1,146 tons have been wasted in 38 of 217 NHS trusts, meaning 2021/22 will probably eclipse the 2020/21 figure. Advertisement A couple who met in hospice care after both being diagnosed with Huntington's disease have wed in an intimate ceremony at the facility - as the bride's family revealed how her new husband helped her to overcome the 'horrors' of her condition, which saw her try to kill herself three times. Matt Weeks, 49, and Sara Smouther, 38, from Cloverdale, Indiana, fulfilled their dream of tying the knot in front of their closest family during a small ceremony held at Summerfield Health Care Center on Saturday. The couple both feared that they'd never find love after they were diagnosed with the rare inherited disease - which causes the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain and has left both of them in wheelchairs. Huntington's disease can affect a person's functional abilities, and usually results in movement, thinking, and psychiatric disorders. Most patients survive for 10-25 years after the onset of the illness, Medscape reports. Sara said she first began to worry that she had the disease when started to notice herself twitching and falling a lot. She also developed depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive behavior. Her dad, Stephen, had died from Huntington's at age 48. Her grandmother also passed away from it, and her great-grandmother drowned herself in a family pond after she was diagnosed. Love prevails: A couple, who were both diagnosed with Huntington's disease, has tied the knot while in hospice care Here comes the bride: Matt Weeks, 49, and Sara Smouther, 38, from Cloverdale, fulfilled their dream of tying the knot when they wed at Summerfield Health Care Center on Saturday The couple both feared that they'd never find love after they were diagnosed with the disease - which causes nerve cells in the brain to breakdown and has left both of them in wheelchairs Matt (pictured as a kid) - who was a sound engineer and previously worked with famous faces like Billy Ray Cyrus and Martina McBride - was diagnosed when he was 34 Sara recalled feeling 'pretty scared' when she found out she had the disease at age 30, while her mom added that it was 'a relief' to finally know what was wrong. 'It was devastating,' her mother, Terri Catino, said. 'At the same time, Sara would say it was a relief. "OK I know. I know I do have it. Now, I've really got to figure out my future."' Before meeting the love of her life at the hospice center, Sara - who has two master's degrees in education and literacy and previously worked as a sales rep at Zaner-Bloser, an education publishing company - struggled to come to terms with her illness, and tried to take her life multiple times. Her mom recalled, 'That was the worst time of her life. For all of us.' According to NCBI, 'completed suicide rates in Huntington's disease patients were 5.7 per cent while 27.6 per cent of individuals with Huntington's acknowledged at least one suicide attempt,' making it the neurodegenerative disease with the highest attempted suicide rates. She was married once before, but the relationship ended in divorce, in part, because she didn't want to have kids - since she was most likely not going to live long enough to see them grow up. 'I think secretly, she didn't want to have a child, knowing she was going to die and not be there for that child,' Terri added. As for Matt - who was a sound engineer and previously worked with famous faces like Billy Ray Cyrus, Martina McBride, The Judds, and Michael W. Smith - he was diagnosed when he was 34; his mom, Barbara, also had the disease. Sara (pictured as a teen, before her diagnosis) said she first began to worry that she had the disease when started to notice herself twitching and falling a lot Years before his diagnosis, Matt's family said they knew something was 'out of whack,' after he started to struggle with paying bills and keeping his life organized. He is pictured as a kid Matt decided to quit his job in the music industry to work at Starbucks, and went to live with his dad. He is pictured before the diagnosis Years before his diagnosis, Matt's family said they knew something was 'out of whack,' after he started to struggle with paying bills and keeping his life organized. Before meeting the love of her life at the hospice center, Sara struggled to come to terms with her illness, and tried to take her life multiple times. She is pictured before her diagnosis He decided to quit his job in the music industry to work at Starbucks, and went to live with his dad. 'We knew something was out of whack,' said Mark Weeks, Matt's brother, to Indy Star recently. 'He went to live with our father. He was having trouble just paying the bills and keeping his life organized. 'He had always been funny, quick witted. But also, I would say a thinker in the sense that he could surprise you sometimes with his thoughts on life, politics, philosophical issues.' Matt's previous romance ended for similar reasons, with Tasheena Duncan, the administrator at Summerfield, revealing that he voiced his fears to her that he may never find someone to spend the rest of his life with. 'And then he met Sara and she felt the same way,' Duncan said. 'And Matt knew it was going to be OK.' According to Sara, she was the one who introduced herself to Matt soon after she moved into Summerfield. 'I introduced myself actually. I thought he was really cool and he made me happy,' she gushed. Last year, the couple approached Duncan and said they wanted to get married. Matt then went to Walmart where he picked out a ring. True love: Sara's mom said, 'When they're together, they are always holding hands. They bring each other such comfort. It makes me so happy' 'Matt had withdrawn from life and had become rather secluded,' Matt's brother added. 'To marry Sara is the best thing for him. Shes wonderful, outgoing, feisty, and charming' What is Huntington's disease? Huntington's disease is a rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain It has a wide impact on a person's functional abilities and usually results in movement, thinking (cognitive), and psychiatric disorders Symptoms can develop at any time, but they often first appear when people are in their 30s or 40s Medications are available to help manage the symptoms of Huntington's disease. But treatments can't prevent the physical, mental, and behavioral decline associated with the condition Source: MayoClinic Advertisement He proposed to Sara at Summerfield's prom last fall, and he called her mom to ask for permission first. With the help of staff members, he got out of his wheelchair and down on one knee. Sara, who recalled shaking with excitement, told him, 'I love you. Yes. Thank you, thank you.' 'I was beyond happy. It made me cry,' she remembered. Duncan added of the touching moment, 'He cried. We all cried.' When asked what she loved about Matt, Sara told Indy Star, 'Everything, everything. He makes me so happy.' The two wed in front of 40 friends, family members, nurses, doctors, and staff members at the hospice center over the weekend. With help, Sara was able to walk down the aisle. She donned a stunning, white wedding gown, while Matt wore a purple and black suit for the affair. At the altar, the two sat in their wheelchairs and held hands, while Matt's brother officiated the wedding. 'This is truly a miraculous day, a truly wonderful moment for all of us,' he said. 'To see the triumph of love here played out before us.' Mark called it his 'fondest wish come true' to see his brother get married. 'It was what I had really, really hoped for,' he told Indy Star. 'Matt had withdrawn from much of life and had become rather secluded. 'He had lost touch with most of his friends. I think he had given up hope. To marry Sara is the best thing for him. Shes wonderful, outgoing, feisty. She is just charming.' Touching: Matt proposed to Sara at Summerfield's prom last fall - a moment that left everyone in the room in tears. They are pictured during the proposal The two wed in front of 40 friends, family members, nurses, doctors, and staff members at the hospice center over the weekend. With help, Sara was able to walk down the aisle At the alter, the two sat in their wheelchairs and held hands, while Matt's brother officiated the wedding. He called it his 'fondest wish come true' to see his brother get married You may now kiss the bride: 'This story, its a reminder that despite having a horrendous disease, despite having horrendous luck in life love can come through,' said their doctor Sara's mom added, 'When they're together, they are always holding hands or, when they're out watching TV, Sara lays her head on his shoulder. They bring each other such comfort. It makes me so happy.' 'This story, its a reminder that despite having a horrendous disease, despite having horrendous luck in life love can come through,' said Dr. Christopher James, Sara and Matt's neurologist at IU Health. Duncan added, 'This day is a celebration of love. And when Matt and Sara and I talked, we defined love as being able to overcome the past, the present and being able to love each other without condition.' 'Their love is an inspiration to not only the staff but the residents and everybody that meets them. 'It was so important for Matt to marry Sara because he knows when they get to heaven, they won't have Huntington's anymore. And they can spend eternity together.' Terri concluded that Sara and Matt's romance is a 'happy story for such a sad disease.' 'They just want to feel normal. They just want to be normal,' she said. 'Sara just wants people to know she is living her best life, her and Matt, and you can do that. 'It's such a happy story for such a sad disease. Sara always had a beautiful smile, always willing to help anybody with anything. 'She has always been a very upbeat, positive person and she still is to this day, even after being diagnosed with Huntington's.' Products featured in this Mail Best article are independently selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, DailyMail.com may earn an affiliate commission. Few things in life taste as delicious as a light, crispy based pizza generously topped with fresh tomatoes, melted cheese and homemade toppings for extra texture and spice. And now its cheaper than ever to create sensational Italian-style pizzas at home with 20 percent off all Ooni pizza ovens from now through to May 31. Ooni Pizza Oven Sale Pizza ovens are the only way to make authentic Neapolitan style pizzas at home. And Ooni are the only manufacturer to have been given the seal of approval for domestic use by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, the acclaimed international authority on true Neapolitan pizza. Save 20% on all ovens and accessories from May 26 to May 31. Shop Just in time for summer entertaining and al fresco dining, the Memorial Day weekend sale sees prices of wood-fired and gas-fired pizza ovens slashed to the lowest they've been since Black Friday. Prices now start at $279 for the Ooni Fyra 12" wood pellet pizza oven, which will be the talking point at parties for years to come as well as the tool to whip up family meals fast. You might forget all about the grill when you have an Ooni in your yard as the pizza oven is the perfect centerpiece for parties According to satisfied customers, these ovens make pizza that 'tastes better than takeaways' and so good that 'it feels like eating a slice of Italy.' The pizza ovens enable food to be heated to temperatures of 950 degrees Fahrenheit so that a full pizza cooks in just 60 seconds, which is a far speedier alternative to a BBQ. Not only that, but fast cooking enables the toppings to retain more nutrients and makes the pizza taste fresher. The Karu 16" pizza oven is one of the models included in the 20% off sale, and it cooks up family size portions in 60 seconds 'This pizza oven produces the best pizzas we have ever made!' praised one delighted shopper. 'We use it a lot, sometimes twice a week. We've even used it in the snow.' A pizza oven isn't just for summer as shoppers love the taste of the pizza it creates so much they use it all year round. The coatings are weather-resistant and they come with a three-year warranty If you're likely to have guests over and have a pizza party, a 16" oven like the Ooni Pro multi-fuel oven will allow two small pizzas to cook at a time or one 16" pizza. Reduced to $479, it's more suited for being spontaneous as you can cook on it using wood, charcoal or gas and it takes just 20 minutes to reach 950 degrees Fahrenheit, with each pizza taking a solo minute to cook. For even faster heating, the Karu 16" multi-fuel pizza oven is hot enough to cook in just 15 minutes, which is faster than heating a pizza in your kitchen oven and significantly faster than ordering a takeaway. Delicious pizza fast: the Ooni 16" Karu takes 15 minutes to heat up and 60 seconds to cook an authentic pizza The sale also applies to accessories, meaning that a pizza peel for cooking is just $32. Want to upgrade your cooking kit? Accessories like a pizza peel are included in Ooni's 20% off sale Everything comes with a three-year warranty, so head over to the Ooni website now to make mealtimes and summer parties taste better. This is the emotional moment a woman met her four siblings for the first time on Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace after being abandoned on the steps of a London tower block as a newborn. Niki Weedon, 35, of Chigwell, Essex, was found opposite a police station as a baby in April 1987, and named after the officer on duty that day, who was handed the youngster by a concerned resident who had stumbled upon her. She was adopted and had a happy childhood, but longed to find out her identity, turning to the Long Lost Family team for help - and thanks to DNA testing they discovered she is Scottish and Nigerian. Researchers also found the teaching assistant's late parents and four full siblings - who were shocked to discover they had another sister. Three of the siblings are older than Niki and one is younger. They explained that their mother suffered with depression following the death of two of her children in infancy, as well as many miscarriages. Meanwhile, their father was diagnosed with schizophrenia around the time of Niki's birth. It was suggested that because of these struggles, Niki's birth mother decided to abandon her daughter where she could be found. In emotional scenes that aired last night, the siblings were seen meeting one another for the first time. Niki Weedon (pictured), 35, of Chigwell, Essex, was found opposite a police station as a baby in April 1987, and named after the officer on duty that day, who was handed the youngster by a concerned resident who had stumbled upon her In emotional scenes that aired last night on Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace, Niki was seen meeting her four full siblings for the first time, pictured At the start of the programme, Niki showed the cameras her hospital tag, which read '31-3-87 or 1-4-87' for her date of birth, alongside a question mark. 'Seeing it with the question mark does make me quite sad that they don't know when I was actually born,' she admitted. 'I was found at 7.58am... I need to understand "why did she leave me in the way that she left me".' She added: 'It does affect me, I feel like everybody I love and care for is going to leave me because the first person that should've stayed, left. You think "Did I do something wrong?", it's very hard.' Niki also met with the police officer who was on duty when she was discovered, and who she was named after. The police officer told Niki: 'I do remember you were found... just in view of the police station. I've always thought over the years that you were absolutely meant to be found, sweetie, you really were.' Niki said: 'I just never thought that my birth mother wanted someone to actually find me. I actually feel a bit better that I was so close to the police station, that was really comforting.' Niki was adopted and had a happy childhood, but longed to find out her identity, turning to the Long Lost Family team for help - and thanks to DNA testing they discovered she is Scottish and Nigerian Researchers also found the teaching assistant's late parents and four full siblings - who were shocked to discover they had another sister. Pictured meeting one another for the first time They explained that their mother suffered with depression following the death of two of her children in infancy, as well as many miscarriages. Meanwhile, their father was diagnosed with schizophrenia around the time of Niki's birth Eventually researchers found a match with Niki's DNA and discovered her older brother John. Sadly, Niki's birth mother died in 2008, aged 50, and her birth father passed away aged 35. The Long Lost Family team also learnt that Niki was one of five children, having another two older siblings and one younger sibling. Co-host Nicky Campbell met with the four of them to discover what reasons their mother possibly had for abandoning their sister. One of Niki's brothers, Adam, said: 'At first I just literally didn't believe it. Very unexpected... I was just completely overwhelmed with confusion and questions.' 'I thought "No that can't be true" and I called my little brother and he was gobsmacked,' added John. Sister Tanita said: 'When we've grown up, we've always know Mum to be very protective of her children so that's why I've accepted now, she must've been at her lowest of lowest points to have ever considered that.' It was suggested that because of these struggles, Niki's birth mother decided to abandon her daughter where she could be found One of Niki's brothers, Adam (pictured), said: 'At first I just literally didn't believe it. Very unexpected... I was just completely overwhelmed with confusion and questions.' Sister Tanita (pictured right) said: 'When we've grown up, we've always know Mum to be very protective of her children so that's why I've accepted now, she must've been at her lowest of lowest points to have ever considered that.' Niki's other sister, who for personal reasons decided she didn't want to be on camera, explained that their birth mother could become 'very withdrawn, very quiet, she'd shut herself off in her room. It was pretty hard growing up with that.' Tanita added: 'In our family at the time, we had dad, who wasn't well, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. 'So I guess it must've been way, way too much of everything that was all going on. They tried their best,' she said, while John added: 'We all felt loved... we all had love.' Co-presenter Davina McCall then checked in with Niki, who was told about her parents' passing away from the cameras. 'What's it been like since you got the news?' Davina asked, to which Niki replied: 'Just upset, heartbroken, a little bit of anger, just mixed emotions at the moment.' The presenter also delivered the news to Niki about having three older siblings and one younger sibling, who all grew up with their parents. 'That's very hard to hear because you think, "what was wrong with me?", admitted Niki. 'It's so much to take in, I just don't get why I wasn't kept?' Niki also met with the police officer (pictured) who was on duty when she was discovered, and who she was named after The police officer told an emotional Niki (pictured): 'I do remember you were found... just in view of the police station. I've always thought over the years that you were absolutely meant to be found, sweetie, you really were.' She was then told about her birth mother's battler with depression and her birth father's schizophrenia diagnosis, with Davina saying: 'So they were contending with a lot of issues.' 'I wasn't expecting all this,' admitted Niki as she broke down in tears. The mother-of-two also learnt that her birth father was British and partly Scottish, while her birth mother was half-Nigerian, half-Scottish. 'That brings me some happiness to know,' said Niki. Eventually, Niki travelled to meet her siblings, with the five of them sharing an emotional hug before Tanita said: 'Welcome to the family, girl.' Speaking about the meeting, Niki said: 'As soon as I walked through that door, it was such an amazing feeling. I feel like I've known them a long time, even though I haven't.' She added: [I'm] sad that I missed out on all the laughter that they had, as they sounded that they had fun and happy times and it's quite sad that I wasn't part of that. 'Hearing about my birth mother, brings a little bit of comfort for me to know that she didn't forget about me. My siblings have made me feel very happy, loved and I think the biggest thing is accepted. I feel part of them. It's such an amazing feeling.' It can be very frustrating. You buy your child a nice new outfit only for them to grow out of it, seemingly, within weeks. Well, John Lewis may have a neat solution tailored to fix this age-old problem. The retailer is offering families the option of renting children's clothes under a subscription service starting at 18 a month. The scheme allows parents to rent six or seven items at any one time that can then be swapped for a new design or something bigger. The returned garments will be cleaned and, if necessary, mended so they can be rented again. John Lewis is offering families the option to rent children's clothes under a subscription service starting at 18 a month Clothes will be categorised as 'brand spanking new', 'gently worn' or 'well-loved' based on how much they have previously been hired. And significantly, the rental fee for an item will take its condition into account. There are a series of monthly and quarterly subscription plans available from today, ranging from 18 a month or 50 a quarter for 100 credits; 27 a month or 75 a quarter for 150 credits; and 36 a month or 100 a quarter for 200 credits. Under the plan, a gingham dress which retails for 19.45 would be available for 13 credits, and baby dino joggers which cost 9.50 to buy could be hired for 7 credits. An estimated 183million outgrown baby clothes sit forgotten in British wardrobes, according to environmental charity Hubbub. The scheme allows parents to rent six or seven items at any one time that can be swapped for a new design or something bigger, returned clothes will be cleaned and, if necessary, mended so they can be rented out again to another family Meanwhile, shoppers in the UK are said to buy and throw away more clothes than anyone else in Europe, generating massive waste. Clothing rental is being promoted as a green way of dressing because it replaces the notion that items can be worn a few times and discarded. Last year, M&S teamed up with online rental store Hirestreet, allowing shoppers to rent outfits for four to 30 days for as little as 13. John Lewis will initially offer 51 items in a partnership with clothing rental business Thelittleloop, which was founded by Charlotte Morley, from the Isle of Man. Around 183million outgrown baby clothes are left and forgotten about in British wardrobes, according to environmental charity Hubbub Earlier this year, she appeared on the BBC's Dragons' Den show. The entrepreneur was left in tears after convincing Deborah Meaden and Steven Bartlett to both invest 70,000 for a 12.5 per cent share each in the business. Glynis Williams, in charge of baby and children's clothing at John Lewis, said: 'We're thrilled to be launching a collection of baby and childrenswear clothing with Thelittleloop, giving customers a more sustainable option to rent high-quality John Lewis clothing through a trusted partnership.' Australia's best tasting dairy products have been named at the 'Dairy Oscar Awards' with a low-fat skim milk taking out the top gong. Barambah Organics' 0.1per cent fat skimmed milk was hailed by the Dairy Industry Association of Australia as the nation's best tasting milk and overall dairy product beating out hundreds of brands and full-fat varieties. A panel of experts tasted and judged more than 1000 cheeses, yoghurt, creams, butters, milks and ice creams before naming the organic low-fat milk as the creme de la creme of Australian dairy products. Barambah Organics' 0.1per cent fat skimmed milk was hailed by the Dairy Industry Association of Australia as the nation's best tasting milk Big brand Bega had the top vintage cheddar, Meander Valley's sour cream was the best out of the sour or cultured varieties and The Yoghurt Shop earned the gold medal for natural yoghurt Gold and silver medals were given out over 111 different categories with 1,032 products in the running. Barambah Organics won the overall most outstanding show exhibit for a large scale producer and Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese Riverine Blue was named best of the small-scale producers. Barambah also has the best fetta cheese in show and Fonterra was the top choice for salted butter. Bulla's creamy classic vanilla ice-cream was the best of the bunch and Bendigo-based producer Symons Organic won gold in the halloumi category Fonterra was the top choice for salted butter and Barambah also has the best fetta cheese in show Big brand Bega had the best vintage cheddar while Bendigo-based producer Symons Organic won gold in the halloumi category. Bulla's creamy classic vanilla ice-cream was the best of the bunch and The Yoghurt Shop took top place for natural yoghurt. Meander Valley's sour cream was the best out of the sour or cultured varieties, the Margaret River Dairy Company's brie was given a gold medal and King Island Dairy's Roaring Forties Blue was the top pick of the moulded variety. A heartbroken mum has welcomed an inquest which found a series of hospital failings contributed to the death of her baby son. Jodie Stubbs, 37, from Stoke-on-Trent, named her baby son 'Champion' because of his fighting spirit, after he was born weighing just 740g at Royal Stoke University Hospital in February 2021. He came off life support and gained weight every week, and Jodie was confident he would pull through. On April 8 2021, Iva had laser surgery to prevent him going blind but suffered a rare complication from the procedure. The signs he was deteriorating were not picked up early enough. He passed away the following day following a cardiac arrest. Last week a coroner ruled that Iva-Jaylon Champion Weekes could otherwise have survived and that neglect contributed to his death. Mother-of-seven Jodie said: 'He was a little warrior and that's why I called him Champion. I was so proud of him, I adored him. Jodie Stubbs, 37, from Stoke-on-Trent, has welcomed an inquest which found a series of hospital failings contributed to the death of her baby son She named her baby son 'Champion' because of his fighting spirit. But the little tot died aged two months after neglect by Royal Stoke University Hospital 'After his funeral, I was so distraught that I went back to the grave to dig him up because I couldn't bear the thought of him being in the ground. 'It's a relief to hear the hospital admit their mistakes but it also tears me apart, because I know that my son could and should be alive today.' Jodie had earlier lost a daughter, Naomi, 20 weeks into pregnancy and so was considered high-risk. But her pregnancy with Iva-Jaylon seemed to go well until, at almost 25 weeks, she went into premature labour. Iva-Jaylon Champion was born in February 2021 at Royal Stoke Hospital weighing just 740g and was the size of her hand. Jodie is a mum to seven other children and had previously suffered from another premature birth in 2016 Last week a coroner ruled that Iva-Jaylon Champion Weekes could have survived if he deterioration was spotted sooner Jodie had earlier lost a daughter, Naomi, 20 weeks into pregnancy and she buried Iva with his sister Jodie says: 'He was tiny, but he was a fighter, and he overcame each obstacle. He was doing well. That was why I called him Champion. I took a photo of him every single day of his life. 'He was gaining weight every week of his life and he came off the life support. I felt sure he would pull through and soon be home. 'Then his doctor said he needed eye laser surgery to correct sight problems. 'I didn't want him to have the surgery because he would need life support afterwards. It felt like a step back to me. But the doctors persuaded me that this was the right thing for him, and that he would be OK.' Her pregnancy with Iva-Jaylon seemed to go well until, at almost 25 weeks, she went into premature labour Iva-Jaylon Champion was born in February 2021 at Royal Stoke Hospital weighing just 740g and was the size of her hand Little fighter: Jodie said he was tiny, but he was a fighter, and he overcame every obstacle, that's why they called him Champion On April 8 2021, Iva had laser surgery but suffered a rare complication from the procedure. The signs he was deteriorating were not picked up early enough. He passed away the following day following a cardiac arrest. Jodie says: 'In the space of 24 hours, my world fell apart. 'He was rushed to Birmingham Children's Hospital and I had to follow behind in the car. When I arrived, I had a missed call, and I knew, instinctively, that he was dead. I could feel it. 'I got to ICU and they told me I was too late. I was heartbroken. I had to go home and tell the children their brother was dead. Because of Covid, they had never even met him. 'We gave him a Champion's funeral, in keeping with his name, with a horse and carriage. He was buried with his sister, Naomi, who was born prematurely. However the baby's doctor said he needed eye laser surgery to correct sight problems, saying he would need life support afterwards On April 8 2021, Iva had laser surgery but suffered a rare complication from the procedure and he started deteriorating 'After his funeral, I was so distraught that I went back to the grave to dig him up because I couldn't bear the thought of him being in the ground.' Jodie felt strongly that her son had been failed and made a complaint to Royal Stoke Hospital following his death. And an inquest this month in Stoke heard there was a catalogue of failings, including no documented evidence that blood pressure checks had been carried out for 15 hours. The hearing heard that the little boy had been diagnosed with eye problems, which meant he needed laser therapy to prevent him going blind. He was in a stable condition when staff intubated him and took him for the procedure. Jodie felt strongly that her son had been failed and made a complaint to Royal Stoke Hospital following his death The signs he was deteriorating were not picked up early enough. He passed away the following day following a cardiac arrest Jodie said in the space of 24 hours, her world fell apart when her son had to be rushed to Birmingham Children's Hospital But they failed to spot crucial signs that he was deteriorating until it was too late. North Staffordshire assistant coroner Sarah Murphy ruled his death was due to a very rare complication of laser therapy, contributed to by neglect. It emerged there had been no documented blood pressure checks for a 15-hour period, no immediate review of the baby's condition following the surgery, and an abnormal blood gas result wasn't 'escalated to medics'. By the time staff realised he was critically ill, he needed transferring to a specialist centre for emergency surgery. And an inquest this month in Stoke heard there was a catalogue of failings, including no documented evidence that blood pressure checks had been carried out for 15 hours on the baby The mum thought she would be able to bring Iva home as he started gaining weight and came off life support before the eye procedure Iva died shortly after arriving at Birmingham Children's Hospital in the early hours of April 9. The catalogue of failings included: 'No documented evidence that blood pressure checks were carried out between 6am and 9pm. That meant staff thought his raised heart rate was due to pain from the procedure and didn't see the wider picture. He was given increased morphine and oxygen, yet didn't improve; 'No immediate medical review of his condition was carried out when he returned to intensive care; 'A blood gas reading at 6.30pm was abnormal, with signs of acidosis. Yet concerns were not 'escalated to medics' until a second blood gas result at 9.15pm.' By the time hospital staff realised he was critically ill, he would have died within 30 minutes without urgent treatment. X-rays confirmed he had a bowel perforation and medics snapped into action. The hospital arranged to have him transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, in Liverpool, for life-saving surgery. Jodie's other children posed by the graveside of their brother Iva which was decorated with white and blue flowers But the transfer was delayed because the neonatal transport team was tied up with another patient. Iva was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital instead. He arrived in the early hours of April 9 and died a short while later after a cardiac arrest. His cause of death was due to bowel perforation and peritonitis, with long-term complications of extreme prematurity. Royal Stoke consultant neonatologist Dr Lee Abbott, who wasn't directly involved in Iva's care, told the inquest there had been clear missed opportunities. Asked how often blood pressure measurements should be taken, he said in the case of surgery, he would have recommended every '15 to 30 minutes'. Although Dr Abbott said the transfer delays wouldn't have affected the outcome, he has since worked with the transport team to improve the referral process. They gave him a Champion's funeral, in keeping with his name, with a beautiful white horse and carriage Iva was buried in a small blue coffin which was brought to the grave yard in a horse and carriage Dr Saravanan Jayachandran carried out a review for Royal Stoke following Iva's death. He said: 'The principal finding was there was a failure in recognising the clinical deterioration in the baby early on.' University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is now implementing a 13-point action plan, which includes additional staff training, a new standard operating procedure, and an audit of neonatal cases. Recording a narrative conclusion, Ms Murphy added: 'I do find that the failings identified led to, or contributed to, the death.' Jodie's young son posed with his baby brothers grave stone which had the words 'Our Champ' written across the top Advertisement She was born into one of the world's most powerful dynasties and it appears heiress Olivia de Rothschild is poised to follow in her parents' footsteps. The 19-year-old daughter of the late thrill-seeking banker Benjamin de Rothschild, who died last year aged 57, and his ambitious wife Ariane, is reportedly taking a keen interest in one of the family businesses. The teenager, who is studying at Madrid's IE Business School, has attended a number of meetings at House of Caron, a luxury perfume brand bought by her powerhouse mother in 2018, according to French business publication La Lettre A. Olivia does not have a salary or official job title but has been a constant presence at the company for a number of years, offering her opinion on everything from branding and packaging to the annual financial results. The budding businesswoman is there to 'learn the trade' and is set to launch her own perfume, Musc Oli, inspired by her nickname. She has already designed a bottle for the company's Aimez-Moi Comme Je Suis fragrance. Family business: Olivia de Rothschild, 19, left, the 19-year-old daughter of the late thrill-seeking banker Benjamin de Rothschild and his ambitious wife Ariane, is reportedly taking a keen interest in one of the family-owned companies. Pictured right, Benjamin de Rothschild, who died last year aged 57, in 2013 with his wife Ariane and daughter Noemie On the rise: Olivia, who is studying at Madrid's IE Business School, has attended a number of meetings at House of Caron, a luxury perfume brand bought by her powerhouse mother Ariane. Pictured, Ariane and Benjamin de Rothschild in 2017 European dynasty: The entire Rothschild family descends from Mayer Amschel Rothschild, a powerful 18th century banker from Frankfurt, whose sons brought the family name to London, Paris, Vienna and Naples. Olivia is the daughter of Benjamin and Ariane de Rothschild, pictured on the far lower right of the family tree It appears she is also ready to become a more public figure, joining minor royalty and socialites the Flor de Lis Horse Trials outside Madrid earlier this month. Yet her input has not been enough to improve Caron's fortunes. The business retains the same level of losses as it did when de Rothschild took over four years ago, despite sizeable investment in product development - 12 new perfumes in the last three years - and distribution, as it seeks to tap into the lucrative US market. However Olivia's involvement in the brand means it would be 'out of the question' for Ariane to sell, La Lettre A reports. Olivia is the youngest of four daughters born to Ariane and Benjamin. Noemie, 26, studied at University of Quebec in Montreal and is now a consultant, Alice, 23, is studying Microbiology at New York University, and Eve de Rothschild, 21, is pursuing a career in environmental sciences. The Edmond de Rothschild Group was founded in 1953 by Edmond de Rothschild, Benjamin's influential father. Based in Geneva, the group started out as a financial institution specialising in private banking and asset management and now encompasses the Edmond de Rothschild Foundations, the lifestyle brand Edmond de Rothschild Heritage - including fine wine and cheese, luxury hotels and restaurants - and sponsors the Gitana Team, a professional sailing team. Powerhouse: The driving force behind the Edmond de Rothschild group has long been Benjamin's dynamic, and hugely talented, wife. Pictured: Paris National Opera dance director Benjamin Millepied, his wife actress Natalie Portman, and Ariane Eve has just lent her name to a cuvee of Saint-Emilion Chateau de Malengin, one of the crus of the Edmond de Rothschild Heritage division, which is also losing money. The driving force behind the Edmond de Rothschild group has long been Benjamin's dynamic, and hugely talented, wife. Seemingly the epitome of a city slicker supermum with a clutch of A-list friends, Ariane. who married into the Rothschild banking dynasty when she wed Benjamin in January 1999, has long since ensured the private investment house is a steady - and successful ship, overseeing an ambitious overhaul after the brand faltered in the early noughties and ensuring it could survive the kind of family tragedy that has sadly now ensued. Benjamin, whose battle with heroin addiction was well documented, died of a heart attack at the couple's grandiose home, Chateau de Pregny on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland, in January 2021, at the age of just 57. Dubbed 'the richest Rothschild', he was heir to $2.5billion fortune. Ariane met Benjamin in Manhattan in the nineties and was wooed with a dozen red roses sent to her trader desk. Never content to lavish in the riches that such a fortune can afford, the baroness has instead been heavily involved in the bank since her husband found it in his sole control when he was just 34. Powerful: The Edmond de Rothschild Group was founded in 1953 by Edmond de Rothschild, pictured with his wife Nadine The ex New York banking whizz currently oversees around $194 billion in asset management finance, and unlike her late husband, is partial to a high society party or cutting the ribbon on a five-star ski hotel opening, something he became less and less comfortable with. Far from straying from her first career, Ariane admits she relishes it, and despite taking off several years from work to raise her four daughters, once they reached school age, she said recently that she was more than happy to hand over their education to their respective private schools. In an interview with Tatler shortly before her husband's death she recalled how she was happy to be a hands-off parent when it came to her daughter's schooling, saying: 'I always said to the schools, "If my daughters have acceptable grades, dont call me. Why do you have to keep calling?".' Woman about town: While her late husband shied away from parties, Ariane has embraced the high society shindigs that come with the family's surname (Ariane pictured at the Azzedine Alaia Perfum Launch Party in Paris in 2015) The baroness admits the bank now takes up the majority of her working life, saying: 'Banking is 70 per cent of my time, the rest is the rest. I like to have an elastic brain.' Among the 'rest' is the Parisian perfume brand the House of Caron, which has been creating fragrances for 117 years but was also desperately in need of a revamp when Ariane decided to snap it up two years ago. There's also a kosher wine and vineyards partnership, now 30 years old, with Royal Wine Corp plus multiple inherited vineyards across the globe including in Argentina, France and South Africa. The family tends to promote male heirs over female ones to higher rank of the Rothschild's, and prior to Edmond's death, his cousin David's son Alexander was seen at a likely successor, the FT wrote in 2016. However, the same article noted that Ariane had discussed the issue of with Jacob Rothschild, the British financier who left NM Rothschild [the U.K. merchant bank that became part of the Rothschild Group] after a fall out in 1980. The entire Rothschild family descends from Mayer Amschel Rothschild, a powerful 18th century banker from Frankfurt, whose sons brought the family name to London, Paris, Vienna and Naples. Despite Benjamin being the only son of Edmond de Rothschild, the scion apparently found little pleasure in being involved with the eponymous Swiss banking group. Indeed, as Benjamin stood back, distracted by a passion for fast cars, motorbikes and high-speed yacht races - as well as big game hunting, his glamorous wife stepped up - at her husband's request. In 1997, he was arrested for heroin possession, and had another brush with the police in 2007 following an affray with a laser pointer. A string of failed CEO appointments in the years before had seen profits slump by around 11 per cent, something which quickly transformed once Arine took the helm as Chief Executive and began enacting her plan to restore it to its former glory. Outspoken Ariane, who was born Ariane Langner, enjoyed a global childhood in El Salvador, Bangladesh and Colombia thanks to her father's job as a senior executive at an international pharmaceutical company. Prior to Ariane's rise to the top of the family bank, the couple were heavily involved in philanthropy, overseeing a foundation that supports education in Isreal. They also backed the Adolphe de Rothschild Foundation Hospital in Paris. The baroness is said to be unfazed by the heavy workload that banking brings but understands passing on the investment house to her four daughters isn't the easiest sell and she's had to steel them for the positives and negatives in life that their famous surnames might bring, telling them: 'You are what you do and to rebalance the weight of the name, you need to be very strong.' In a profile on the 'married-in CEO' the Financial Times said Ariane 'had come to wield great, and controversial, authority within the family.' A woman has gone viral on social media after revealing she invited six singletons to a fake birthday party to see which one she liked best. Fanny Blom, 19, who is from Sweden, but currently living in Torrellano, Spain, invited all of her Tinder matches to a pretend twentieth birthday bash for herself to see if any caught her eye in person. The store worker was surprised that six of the suitors attended the event with one even bringing flowers to mark the special occasion. Luckily for Fanny, none of them realised they were there to battle for her affections. Fanny Blom, 19, (pictured), who lives in Torrellano, Spain, has gone viral on TikTok after inviting her Tinder matches to a fake birthday party Fanny said six Tinder matches came to the nightclub, where she had also invited some of her friends. Pictured: Fanny with two of her suitors Fanny explained that she decided to do the unconventional date after seeing the reaction when she joked about having already done it on TikTok, where she boasts almost 70,000 followers. Fanny said: 'I posted a video on TikTok saying I invited my Tinder matches to my birthday and it got a lot of traction but the whole thing was a joke and I never actually did that. 'However, it made me think how funny it would be and that it would be a good way to meet them all at once. 'My birthday was coming up in a couple of weeks so figured I would throw a fake birthday party and invite all my matches. 'The venue was a club and I took some of my mates along. Fanny said the dates showed up at different times, with one even bringing her flowers after arriving late Fanny said it was difficult to remember what each of her suitors looked like because she invited so many of her Tinder matches 'When we got there they started showing up at different times, which was great because they didn't realise that they were all dates. 'We left early but it turns out one of them showed up late and had got flowers on the way which was very sweet.' Fanny, who donned a white mini skirt, pink crop top and a pointy birthday hat for the extravaganza, told The Daily Star the stunt saved her money on a real celebration for her 20th as she was bought drinks throughout the night. She admitted that it was difficult to remember what each of the men looked like because she had invited so many Tinder matches and was generally getting a lot of attention in the club because everyone thought it was her birthday. 'It was easy to get free drinks with the birthday hat too, the salary down here is not so good, so to save money is also why I faked my birthday,' Fanny said. The 19-year-old explained that she was able to move between matches by pretending that she needed to use the bathroom. Fanny said she was able to save money because her Tinder matches bought her drinks throughout the night Fanny said one of the men reached out to her after seeing her viral video and there was 'no hard feelings' She believes none of the suitors noticed what she was doing at the time, however one person did become 'jealous' when she was spending time with her other 'male friends'. Fanny said: 'One Tinder match gave me a tequila shot and also I got two drinks but that was from other people not my Tinder matches. 'I also remember that some of the Tinder matches I invited asked how many Tinder matches were coming to this club but I just answered that I only invited a few of my friends.' Fanny posted a video of the night on social media where one of the matches saw it and discovered he had been duped. She admitted to being unlikely to meet up with any of the men again because despite finding one of them attractive he seemed too clingy. Fanny added: 'One of the guys reached out and told me he was sent the video and we had a laugh about it, there's no hard feelings. 'I'm still in touch with one of the boys. Fanny claims she would pull the stunt again in a different city because it's a 'great' way to meet people and everyone enjoyed it 'I would definitely do it again in a different city as it's a great way to meet people and everyone had an amazing night.' A stream of commenters on TikTok have admitted they would try pulling the stunt for themselves. One person wrote: 'This is an amazing idea omg' Tagging a friend, another said: 'We should do this for my bday lmao' 'Hahaha I love this,' a third commented. A fourth added: 'I did this for my 26th and it ended in two guys fist fighting each other outside the bar.' An ex TMZ reporter's very sassy clapback to Amber Heard's lawyer has gone viral - after she accused him of taking the stand to seek '15 minutes of fame,' only for him to throw it right back in her face. Social media users are vehemently supporting TMZ's former field assignment manager Morgan Tremaine for roasting Heard's attorney Elaine Bredehoft during the actress' $100 defamation trial against ex-husband Johnny Depp, 58 - after the lawyer implied that he was only testifying so he could get attention. The journalist was called by Depp's team to testify in court on Wednesday, in which he discussed a series of photos taken by the gossip site of Heard in 2016. The pictures in question showed Heard leaving court after filing for a restraining order against Depp, with what appeared to be a bruise on her cheek. And according to Tremaine, they were tipped off about the photo op - although he didn't specify who gave them the tip. During her cross examination, Bredehoft accused Tremaine of speaking out about the matter in an attempt to earn 'fame,' but he quickly shut those rumors down, explaining that he was actually making himself a 'target' by taking the stand and stating, 'I gain nothing from this.' An ex TMZ reporter's very sassy clapback to Amber Heard's lawyers has gone viral - after she accused him of taking the stand to seek '15 minutes of fame' People are supporting journalist Morgan Tremaine after he roasted Heard's attorney during her trial against Johnny Depp. Heard and Depp are pictured in court on Wednesday During her cross examination, Elaine Bredehoft (pictured in court on Wednesday) accused Tremaine of testifying in an attempt to earn 'fame,' but he quickly shut those rumors down Tremaine explained that he was actually making himself a 'target' by taking the stand, stating, 'I gain nothing from this.' He is pictured in court on Wednesday People on the internet have now branded the former TMZ employee a 'king' and the 'mother f**king MVP' after he fired back at the lawyer and told her that he could 'say the same thing' about her taking Heard, 35, as a client. 'You know this case is being televised, right?' Bredehoft asked Tremaine during her cross examination. The journalist (pictured) was called by Depp's team to testify in court on Wednesday, in which he discussed a series of photos taken by the gossip site of Heard in 2016, which showed Heard leaving court after filing for a restraining order against Depp, with what appeared to be a bruise on her cheek 'I am aware that there are cameras,' he responded. 'So this gets you your 15 minutes of fame, doesn't it?' she then suggested. Although Depp's lawyer objected to her question, the judge overruled the objection - prompting Tremaine to turn Bredehoft's question back on her. 'I stand to gain nothing from this. I'm actually putting myself in the target of TMZ, a very litigious organization and I'm not seeking any 15 minutes here. But you're welcome to speculate. I can say the same thing - by taking Amber Heard as a client - for you,' he fired back. 'A little argumentative, don't you think?' Bredehoft then asked him, taken aback. Tremaine said, 'Oh hardly, I find that to be purely logical.' Depp's lawyers appeared to be entertained by his response, and they erupted into laughter. Depp let out a small smile as his legal team giggled at the back and forth. A video of the brazen shut down was quickly uploaded to Twitter where it went viral, and the internet couldn't get enough of Tremaine's 'savage burn.' People on the internet have now branded the former TMZ employee a 'king' after he fired back at the lawyer and told her that he could 'say the same thing' about her taking Heard as a client 'You know this case is being televised, right?' Bredehoft asked Tremaine, TMZ's former field assignment manager. 'So this gets you your 15 minutes of fame, doesn't it?' 'I stand to gain nothing from this. I'm putting myself in the target of TMZ, I'm not seeking any 15 minutes,' he fired back. 'I can say the same thing - by taking Amber Heard as a client - for you' Depp's lawyers appeared to be entertained by his response, and they erupted into laughter. Depp let out a small smile as his legal team giggled at the back and forth 'Morgan Tremaine was the mother f**kin' MVP of the day,' wrote one person. Another added, 'Yes! Elaine Bredehoft needs some ointment for that burn.' 'Touche b***h,' read a third tweet, while someone else said, 'I want to get this video tattooed on my forehead.' 'Morgan Tremaine earned his 15 minutes of fame, even though he didn't want it,' joked a different user. 'Savage mode activated,' wrote another. Others called the moment 'absolute gold' and 'iconic,' while one person wrote that he 'f**king slayed.' 'Buy that man a beer or 10... Hero,' gushed someone else. 'That man sat down and said, "Not today, honey." Love it,' wrote a different Twitter user. Another person added, 'Mic drop! Amber is done.' 'This was the best comeback of the trial. Feel sorry for Elaine,' read another tweet. 'That snap back,' wrote one user, alongside a clapping emoji. 'She shot, he dodged, then shot back at her right between the eyes.' A video of the brazen shut down was quickly uploaded to Twitter where it went viral, and the internet couldn't get enough of Tremaine's 'savage burn' Depp and Heard - who tied the knot in 2015, and were married for one year before Heard filed for divorce in 2016 - have been battling it out in court in recent weeks. The trial, which is still underway in Virginia, is attempting to determine if a 2018 Washington Post essay written by Heard, in which she accused the actor of domestic abuse, defamed Depp. During his testimony, Tremaine told the jury that the outlet was tipped off when they photographed Heard going to court in Los Angeles, California, in May 2016 - and that it was assumed she was going to 'display the bruise' that was allegedly caused by her ex. He said: 'The objective was to capture her leaving the courthouse and she was going to stop and turn to the camera and display the bruise.' While Tremaine did not reveal the source of the tip, he said that it came from a news producer, meaning that it would have been verified. Heard has testified that she was shocked to see photographers outside the court after a judge awarded her a restraining order against Depp. The court previously heard claims that Heard's team leaked the video of Depp smashing up his kitchen to TMZ. Depp and Heard have been battling it out in court in an attempt to determine if a 2018 essay written by Heard, in which she accused the actor of domestic abuse, defamed Depp During his testimony, Tremaine told the jury that the outlet was tipped off when they photographed Heard going to court in Los Angeles, California, in May 2016 (pictured) Tremaine said it was assumed Heard was going to 'display the bruise' that was allegedly caused by her ex. Heard is pictured in court on Wednesday While Tremaine did not confirm this, he said that the video sent to TMZ was shorter than the one shown to the jury, meaning it had been edited. In the version TMZ received from its anonymous tip line, the part where Heard was 'sniggering at the camera,' was cut out, Tremaine said. While Tremaine did not reveal the source of the tip, he said that it came from a news producer, meaning that it would have been verified Depp and Heard first met in 2009 on set of The Rum Diary. They started dating in 2012, got engaged in 2014, and married one year later. In 2016, Heard filed for divorce, and it was finalized in 2017. Then, in 2018 Heard made a slew of shocking allegations against Depp while writing about being a survivor of domestic abuse for the Washington Post. Although she never mentioned Depp by name, Depp's lawyer Benjamin Chew said it was clear that Heard was referencing the actor during the trial. Depp was accused of slapping the American actress three times in 2013, after she laughed at his infamous 'Wino Forever' tattoo, and attacking her in a cocaine and alcohol-fueled tirade over accusations that she cheated on him with James Franco. Depp has continuously denied Heard's allegations against him, and he is seeking at least $50 million in compensatory damages and a punitive award of at least $350,000, along with attorneys' fees and court costs. Last month, Depp stated in court that Heard was the one who became violent when their relationship soured. The Pirates of the Caribbean star claimed that the couple had frequent arguments that included 'demeaning name calling' and 'bullying' by Heard. He also stated that his ex threw a bottle of vodka at him during an argument which ensued after he asked her to sign a prenup in 2015, and resulted in his middle finger being cut off. Heard is seeking $100 million in damages, and has alleged that Depp's legal team falsely accused her of fabricating the claims against him. Attorneys for Heard have argued that she told the truth in her piece, and that her opinion was protected as free speech under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. An estate agency has been blasted for listing a derelict property which has been unoccupied for sixty years for 350,000. Posting under the handle 'u/sillyness' on Reddit, an anonymous man shared a link to a four bedroom house in West Sussex that has been advertised for 350,000 despite being completely run down. Sharing several snaps of the former Grade-II listed property, he joked: 'A bit of a doer-upper.' A selection of photos accompanying the advert show the Gate Lodge surrounded by metal railings, while the collapsed roof and lack of photos showing the interior suggested it isn't safe to enter. Redditors have argued a derelict former Grade II listed Gate Lodge (pictured) in West Sussex should be destroyed instead of listed for sale Warning off a potential buyer, one commenter wrote: 'I laughed out loud seeing it listed as "detached". Like, yeah, man, I can tell!' Another said: 'Why are these "listed" - bulldoze this piece of s***. Don't create s**** small properties that can't be insulated well. 'Could build several family houses on the lot. Give families proper modern living accommodation!' The real estate agent explained the derelict property is a former gate lodge at the entrance to Stopham House believed to date back to the 1870s. Posting on Reddit, commenters were divided if the four bedroom houses is a good investment or should be replaced by newly built houses The condition of the building has deteriorated significantly since it was last occupied in 1965. Photographs of the property show large areas of the roof have collapsed, plants growing across the walls, and open frames where doors and windows were once fitted. The estate agent boasted that it offered an 'unique opportunity' to rebuild the original structure of the 'one-off' home, because planning consent has been granted for restoration and extension. The four-bedroom house has three bathrooms including one ensuite, but is located on private grounds, which also require reinstatement. The four bedroom home in West Sussex with three bathrooms including an ensuite, has been unoccupied since 1965 Buildings are listed if they are considered to have special architecture or historic interest of national importance that is worth protecting. Around 92 per cent of listings are Grade II, which means there are extra controls in place to limit the changes that can be done to the building. The advert reads: 'The property is located at the entrance to Stopham House (now divided into private apartments), within the parish of the historic small hamlet of Stopham, which is steeped in history and is mentioned in the Domesday Book that records 'a manor of Stopham or Stopeham'. 'The Barttelot family has held the manor since the Norman Conquest and at the heart of the village is the picturesque Anglo Saxon church of St Mary the Virgin.' Photos of the 'dangerous' to enter house show large areas of the roof have collapsed and plants have started to grow both on the exterior and interior 'Mains water is available for connection at the property. The ingoing purchaser will need to make their own arrangements to connect to the mains gas supply, more information is available from the agents. 'The purchaser will also need to make their own arrangements for the installation of a private drainage system.' The 'dangerous' to enter home is located close to village shops including supermarkets Sainsbury's and Tesco, while Pulborough main line is the closest rail station for accessing London. The agents added that the house has an open plan kitchen, living room and dining area. Born in Sarasota, Florida, and star of MTV's hit reality show 'Siesta Key', Juliette Porter knows a thing or two about swimsuits. 'I always loved swimwear and had been particular about the styles, fabrics and fit of the pieces Id buy,' said Juliette who admits to having more suits in her personal collection than she can count. After launching her own swimwear and apparel brand, JMP The Label, the 24-year-old beach babe talks to DailyMail.com about body-positivity, figure flattering silhouettes and more. Born in Sarasota, Florida, and star of MTV's hit reality show 'Siesta Key', Juliette Porter knows a thing or two about swimsuits The 24-year-old recently launched her own swimwear and apparel brand, JMP The Label. Friends of Juliette's on Siesta Key lend their support by wearing her latest styles As a body-positive lifestyle brand, all women are kept in mind when creating the look, feel and fit of each JMP The Label garment. While the most flattering suit style is subjective to the wearer, Juliette favors skimpy, high-cut bottoms because they make her legs look longer. 'A lot of my friends love the Miami one piece because it sucks you in in all the right places, and has a low back that highlights the smallest part of your waist. 'Our Monaco, Monterey, and Laguna bottoms have all been best sellers because they provide great waist coverage.' 'The most rewarding thing has been creating suits that women feel beautiful and comfortable in' Most women would agree that shopping for a swimsuit can be overwhelming and mentally taxing. To ease the process, Juliette recommends stepping out of your comfort zone. 'When shopping, dont be afraid to try on something new! Try things you may not think will look good because you may be surprised,' she said. 'At JMP, we realize that swimwear is vulnerable clothing. We strive to make suits for every body in a variety of different styles so women can find the perfect suit for them.' The label offers garments in sizes ranging from XS to XXL. While the most flattering suit style is subjective to the wearer, Juliette favors skimpy, high-cut bottoms because they make her legs look longer 'I grew up near the beach and I basically used to collect swimwear before we started JMP the Label,' said Juliette. Creating a business around something she was passionate about was a goal for the young talent but she didnt know where to begin. 'My dream finally came to light when I met my partner Jaymi (Washburn), who has been in the swimwear industry for years and had all the knowledge I needed to make it really happen.' The two got to work on creating a collection that embodied the definition of modern and sexy design while having the styling versatility to take the wearer from a day at the beach to dinner and dancing. Entrepreneur and former operations executive, David Kelleher joined as an additional co-founder. 'A major part of our philosophy is listening to our customers' feedback,' said Juliette 'At JMP, we realize that swimwear is vulnerable clothing. We strive to make suits for every body in a variety of different styles so women can find the perfect suit for them' While the collection consists of a range of chic shapes to suit any body type, Juliette is most excited about their newest unlined underwire top: the Cardiff. 'Our underwires have been doing really well because they offer more support and are still sexy and give a retro 90s look when worn with a high leg bottom.' She also recommends the stretch Sorrento skirt featuring a thigh-high slit. 'You can easily throw it over a suit after the beach or pool.' Swimwear-as-ready-to-wear is a wardrobe must, and Juliette admits to wearing the sexy skirt out to several bars paired with heels. She credits the brand's 'Santorini' or Cheyenne' one-piece as the easiest suit to styles as streetwear. 'Our Santorini or Cheyenne one piece is the easiest to transform into a real outfit,' shares Juliette. 'Its a super supportive halter one-piece that looks perfect with a high waist skirt or pants. The neckline can be changed in a number of ways as well.' The brand is committed to implementing eco-friendly practices, including the use of upcycled and recycled materials. The line is currently made on the beautiful island of Bali at Trend Studio Bali, a female-owned boutique factory led by a 95% female management. Trend Studio Bali's mission is to elevate women everywhere in the world and offer opportunities to women. Similarly, committed to providing safe, respectful and fair working conditions for all of the employees. Members of the Swedish royal family looked glamourous tonight as they arrived at the ABBA Voyage premiere. King Carl XVI Gustaf, 76, and his wife Queen Silvia, 78, walked the red carpet before the event opened at the ABBA arena in London. They were joined at the event by a host of celebrities including Myleene Klass and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, while ABBA themselves also posed on the red carpet. Queen Silvia opted for a patterned blue suit for the occasion which she paired with heels. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, 76, and wife Queen Silvia, 78, walked the red carpet before the event opened at the ABBA arena in London Queen Silvia opted for a blue statement suit for the outing yesterday, which she paired with dangly earrings and a colourful bag She sported dangling earrings and a colourful clutch bag, wearing her dark hair loose around her shoulders. The Queen completed her look with simple glowy makeup and a pop of pink lipstick. Meanwhile, her husband opted for a smart blue suit, black and white tie and smart black shoes. They attended tonight's premiere ahead of ABBA's long-awaited concert tomorrow in London as avatars of their 1970s selves. ABBA themselves also posed on the red carpet at the premiere of their virtual concert. The 'ABBAtars' at the voyage concerts feature their real voices and there will be live musicians but the band will not be on stage The 90-minute concert is to feature the quartet's real voices and live musicians but the band will not be on stage. Those who attend the concerts will see holograms of the Swedish popstars looking as they did at the height of their fame. Ahead of tonight's premiere, Bjorn Ulvaeus, 77, said: 'We put our hearts and souls into these avatars and they will take over now. Concertgoers will see the 'ABBAtars' singing hits from the 1970s and 1980s as well as their most recent comeback album at the 'ABBA Voyage' show in London. The Swedish royals looked the part as they arrived for the premiere of the ABBA Voyage concert together at the ABBA arena in London The reunion was announced in September last year, after the group's singles 'I still have faith in you' and 'Don't shut me down' were released. Two months later they released the 10-track album 'Voyage' two months later and announced plans for the high-tech concert at a specially-built London arena. The show will run seven days a week until early October in the purpose-built theatre ABBA Arena in east London. Bjorn was asked if ABBA would ever perform together again for real in concerts and said: 'ABBA has no plans. It is what it is.' As King Carl walked ahead of his wife on the red carpet before the ABBA Voyage premiere, she smiled behind him It's not the first ABBA-related event that King Carl and Queen Silvia have attended this week after they went to the Polar Music Prize ceremony yesterday at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, founded by the late Stig Anderson, manager of ABBA. They attended the international award with Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel, as well as Prince Carl Philip. The award is often described as the Nobel Prize of music and celebrates two laureates, one contemporary and one classical, for significant achievements in the music industry. This year saw the American musician James Newell Osterberg Jr, otherwise known as Iggy Pop, 75, honoured alongside Ensemble intercontemporain, a leading contemporary music ensemble based in Paris. The 2022 laureates were presented with their prizes by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at the gala prize ceremony. Advertisement The real-life mafia turncoat who was immortalized by late actor Ray Liotta in his breakout role in Goodfellas was a bigamist who repeatedly cheated on his wife while in witness protection, before leaving her and their children to wed a Mormon hairdresser he had known for just seven weeks. Late gangster Henry Hill - who was portrayed by Liotta in Martin Scorcese's hit 1990 movie - was taken into the FBI's witness protection program with his wife Karen and their two children, Gail and Michael, in 1980 after helping to jail members of his infamous mafia gang. Goodfellas, which is seen by many as the movie that shot Liotta to stardom, ends with Hill being taken into witness protection, a seemingly perfect Hollywood ending. But in reality, Hill's involvement in the criminal underworld did not end when the credits began rolling, cementing Liotta's name in the history books - nor did his repeated infidelity. Throughout his time spent working for the infamous Lucchese crime family, Hill, who wed his first wife Karen in 1965, was known to have had multiple mistresses. In fact, it was reported that he even tried to convince the FBI to allow him to take two of his lovers into witness protection with his wife and children, according to writers Matthew Pearl and Greg Nichols of Truly*Adventurous. It is thought that during the first year Hill and his family spent in witness protection, he continued to enjoy several illicit affairs, all the while continuing his criminal dealings - which forced the FBI to repeatedly move them around to different locations. Every time Hill was busted by local authorities, he and his family had to relocate so as to keep them off the mafia radar, and within the first year of their time in the program, the Hills had moved from Omaha, Nebraska, to Independence, Kentucky, then to the sleepy town of Redmond, Washington. In an attempt to keep their true identities hidden from everyone around them, the family changed their names - with Hill becoming Martin Lewis, a name that he borrowed from two of his favorite actors, Hollywood heartthrob Dean Martin and comedian Jerry Lewis. It was under this new assumed identity that the mafia boss met Mormon beautician and single mother-of-one Sherry Anders, who spoke out about their 'magic' love affair in a 2019 interview with Pearl and Nichols, revealing how the love rat lothario won her over with his dynamic personality after they met for the first time in a local Mexican restaurant. Real-life mafia turncoat Henry Hill (seen in his 1980 mugshot) - who was immortalized by late actor Ray Liotta in his breakout Goodfellas role - became a bigamist after going into witness protection, wedding a second wife while still married to his first Hill wed first wife Karen in 1965 (left), however he was known to have had multiple mistresses even before he was arrested in 1980. When the family was taken into FBI witness protection, he met and wed Mormon single mom Sherry Anders (right) Hill was taken into witness protection with long-suffering wife Karen and their two children, Gina and Gregg (pictured), and all four of them were forced to change their names The mob informant's marriage to Karen was also featured in Goodfellas, with actress Lorraine Bracco taking on the role alongside Liotta, who passed away at the age of 67 on May 26 She recounted how, just seven weeks after they met for the first time, Hill suggested that they 'get married today'. Anders said her initial reaction was to say no - insisting that she had to work that day - however her beau of less than two months quickly convinced her otherwise, and they packed up her car and, along with her then-13-year-old son Kris, drove to Virginia City, Nevada, where they tied the knot. All the while, Anders was blissfully unaware that her new husband was leading a double life and had another wife and two children of his own at home. According to Anders' then-roommate Samantha Kellum, who was with her when she met Hill for the first time, their chemistry was 'electric' and clearly evident to all those around them. WHY DID HENRY HILL GO INTO WITNESS PROTECTION? Against his fathers wishes Hill got in with the mafia crowd aged 11 when he started hanging around with the infamous Lucchese family. Hills last major job with his gang was the Lufthansa heist at John F Kennedy airport in New York in December 1978, which netted them a then-record $5.875 million. Following his arrest for the robbery on April 27, 1980, detectives played him wire taps of other mob members threatening to kill him but he refused to talk, at least for a while. Eventually, Hill testified against his former associates to avoid a possible execution by his crew or going to prison for his crimes. The testimony led to 50 convictions and meant that Hill, his wife Karen, and their two children had to be put in the US Marshals Witness Protection Program in 1980. Advertisement 'The electricity during those months was just absolutely volatile, just screaming,' Kellum told Pearl and Nichols. But while their attraction to one another may well have been authentic, it was one of the only aspects of their fiery romance that was. The man who Anders knew as the charming and charismatic Martin was in fact a married mafia informant with a large target on his back, who had a wife and two children living just a few miles from where he and his second spouse met. Anders, however, was entirely unaware of her husband's dark past - and his murky present - and had no idea that his arrival in her hometown came as the result of the multiple crimes he had committed, not only in New York as a gangster, but in the various other locations where he and his family were squirrelled away by law enforcement. In April 1981, months before he arrived in Washington and met Anders, Hill had been arrested for getting into a fight with a woman he was thought to have been having an affair with while living in Kentucky. He was arrested again in July of that same year for passing bad checks. Prior to that, he had become embroiled in underworld gambling at a race track near his temporary home in Kentucky. But when he arrived in Washington, Hill was able to wipe his slate clean - or at the very least overhaul the image he was presenting to the world. In fact, in his 2004 book Gangsters and Goodfellas: The Mob, Witness Protection, and Life on the Run, Hill recounted a conversation he had with a friend about his second marriage - in which he insisted that it didn't count as 'bigamy' because he had tied the knot, not as Henry Hill, but as Martin Lewis. 'No, that's Henry Hill who's married,' he told a confidante when told he had committed a 'major crime' by taking a second wife. 'I'm Marty Lewis, and this is my first wife. So it's cool.' Still, there were those close to Anders who voiced their doubts about her sudden infatuation with Hill, with salon owner Vivian Walsh, who owned the space where Anders rented a chair, warning that there was 'something kind of creepy about him'. 'He kind of slinked in and didn't make good eye contact when I was introduced,' she told Pearl and Nichols. 'I said, "You know, I hope that's not a red flag, but there's something kind of creepy about him."' The mobster, who died at the age of 69 in 2012, assumed varying cover stories during his time in witness protection. He told people he worked for the government, an insurance investigator and an author. It was during his relationship with Anders that Hill began working on his book Wiseguys - which would inspire the 1990 Martin Scorsese crime classic Goodfellas in which he was played by Liotta alongside Robert de Niro and Joe Pesci. Hill teamed up with journalist and writer Nick Pileggi on the tome, which documented the time he had spent working in the mafia underworld in New York City, from the horrific 'whackings' he witnessed to his eventual decision to rat on his fellow gangsters in a desperate attempt to save himself. Eventually, Hill (seen left while in hiding and right a few years before his death) and his family were thrown out of the witness protection program because of his ongoing crimes - including his bigamist marriage Hill formed a friendship with Liotta during production on Goodfellas and the pair are understood to have maintained a close relationship up until the mob informant's death in 2012. They are seen together in 2004 As it turned out, Hill's new married life in Washington would provide him with enough real-life scandal to fill another book, even as he was penning the first about his life as a member of the mafia. His romance with Anders imploded just months after it had begun when his first wife Karen, who was living under the alias Kaylen, learned of their affair and confronted her husband's new spouse. When Anders asked her: 'Do you know Martin Lewis?' Kaylen replied: 'Yeah. He's my husband.' And when Hill turned up later he found his two wives in the home he shared with Karen. Anders would later throw him out of their home, screaming: 'Don't you ever f***ing come back here.' In Gangsters and Goodfellas, Hill conceded that his 'attempt at bigamy' had been 'a complete failure', not least because he kept returning to the home that he also shared with first wife Karen and their children. '[Sherry and I] both knew the marriage wasn't valid when we sobered up,' he recalled. 'But I moved in with her for a short period of time; it didn't last long because I kept going home to Karen and the kids. 'My attempt at bigamy was a complete failure. I don't think it lasted more than a month, and it brought about an ugly breakup. Sherry threw all my clothes out of her second-story bedroom window right into a pile of snow.' One night the two wives are even said to have walked arm in arm into the club Hill was in. Anders said: 'Heres wife Number One and wife Number Two. Isnt that special?' At the same time Hill was being followed by a private investigator called Janet. She had been hired a New York law firm representing former mob boss, Jimmy Burke. They wanted dirt on the prosecution's star witness. When Hill and Anders split Janet approached his second wife for help. Anders told Karen, who decided his second marriage needed to be dissolved immediately. But by this point Anders was pregnant and flatly refused. Twice Karen is said to have attacked Anders, who told Pearl and Nichols: 'I was never so scared in my life.' Finally, through a religious loophole Karen was able to get the marriage annulled. But the family were still taken out of the witness protection program 'based upon continued arrests and breaches of security'. Hill was sent to prison again and his book Wiseguys was released, while Anders lost their baby. Hill (pictured at a favored dumping ground in California a few years before his death) began writing his book, Wiseguys, during his romance with Anders. The book served as the inspiration for Goodfellas Liotta's portrayal of Hill in the Scorcese-directed movie is widely seen by many as the role that shot him to superstardom Hill had already been arrested for getting into a fight with a presumed mistress when they were hidden in Independence, Kentucky. So brazen was Hill that he even wore a 'Witness Protection Program' T-shirt while dating Anders. In recent times however he ventured out in public more opening a restaurant called Wiseguys, launching his own brand of spaghetti sauce and appearing on US TV talking about gangster movies. Ten years after their wedding Hill called Anders, who has now also changed her name from Sherry to Scarlett. They met up and Hill told her: 'I'll love you forever.' As for Karen she divorced Hill in 1990 and it was finalized in 2002. It is not known where she is now. Hill died at a hospital in Los Angeles in June 2012 having suffered a heart attack brought on by years of smoking, a habit he blamed on his nerves. But right to the end, he managed to stay one step ahead of the mafia assassins he long feared. Announcing his death, Hills girlfriend Lisa Casserta said he struggled with alcoholism. She said Hill had recently made his peace with his family, but I dont think he ever got over his demons. Hills death came 34 years after his last major job with his gang: the Lufthansa heist at John F Kennedy airport in New York in December 1978, which netted them a then-record $5.875 million. Born on June 11, 1943, in the tough Brownsville area of New York, Hill was the fifth of seven children and the first son to his Sicilian mother Carmella and his father, also called Henry. Against his fathers wishes Hill got in with the mafia crowd aged 11 when he started hanging around with the infamous Lucchese family. Lured by power and money, Hill gradually became more entrenched with the family and while his half-Sicilian genes his father was Irish meant he could never be a fully-fledged member of the family, he was able to be an associate. His first arrest came when he was 16 years old and he carried out the Lufthansa raid after serving a six-year prison sentence in the Seventies. Following his arrest for the robbery on April 27, 1980, detectives played him wire taps of other mob members threatening to kill him but he refused to talk, at least for a while. Eventually, Hill testified against his former associates to avoid a possible execution by his crew or going to prison for his crimes. In 2006, at the encouragement of Liotta, Hill entered rehabilitation to combat his drug addiction problems. He was arrested on a number of occasions in the years leading up to his death for public drunkenness. Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik looked every bit the loved up couple on Wednesday celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Royal Yacht Dannebrog. The pair were spotted walking towards the Port of Copenhagen to board the ship affectionately speaking with hands outstretched before the mother-of-four grasped her husband's military coat in an embrace for official photographs. The Australian-born royal was wearing a fitted navy dress with white pleats and matching navy heels, her hair pulled back into a low ponytail that showed off her striking makeup look. Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik looked every bit the loved up couple on Wednesday celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Royal Yacht Dannebrog The pair were spotted walking towards the Port of Copenhagen to board the ship affectionately speaking with hands outstretched before the mother-of-four grasped her husband's military coat in an embrace for official photographs Queen Margrethe and Princess Benedikte were also in attendance on Wednesday afternoon, with the former wearing the colours of the Danish royal flag. The Royal Yacht Dannebrog serves as the official and private residence for the Queen and other members of the royal family when they take summer cruises in Danish waters or make official visits to other countries. The Royal Yacht Dannebrog was named by Queen Alexandrine in Copenhagen in 1931 and hoisted its flag for the first time on May 26, 1932. The Australian-born royal was wearing a fitted navy dress with white pleats and matching navy heels, her hair pulled back into a low ponytail that showed off her striking makeup look Mary - born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson - is one of the most respected women on the international scene Mary - born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson - is one of the most respected women on the international scene. Mary famously met her husband Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark by chance at Sydney pub the Slip Inn during the 2000 Olympics. After their encounter, Fred - who was in Australia to support Denmark's Olympic sailing team - asked Mary for her phone number and a romance blossomed. Mary famously met her husband Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark by chance at Sydney pub the Slip Inn during the 2000 Olympics. 'The first time we met we shook hands. I didn't know he was the prince of Denmark. Half an hour later someone came up to me and said, "Do you know who these people are?"' Mary revealed in an interview about meeting the heir to the Danish throne. They maintained a long-distance relationship for a year, with Frederik making secret trips Down Under before Mary moved to Denmark to study Danish language at Copenhagen's Studieskolen in 2001. In early 2003, Frederik's mother Queen Margrethe publicly acknowledged the relationship and the couple announced their engagement at Amalienborg Castle later that year on October 8. Royals: Mary and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark married on May 14, 2004 at Copenhagen Cathedral. L-R: Princess Josephine, Frederik, Princess Isabella, Mary, Prince Vincent and Prince Christian Frederik and Mary married on May 14, 2004 at Copenhagen Cathedral, with the newly minted Crown Princess opting for a beautiful gown by Danish designer Uffer Frank and a veil first used by Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden in 1905. Their first child, Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John, was born October 15, 2005; Princess Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe followed on April 21, 2007. Almost four years later Mary and Frederik welcomed twins, Princess Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda and Prince Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen on January 8, 2011. McDonald's has combined wattleseed with their famous coffee bean blend to create a new signature coffee dubbed the 'Australiano'. The fast food restaurant said the new coffee, which also features a hint of chai in its flavour profile, has taken a year to perfect. 'We are excited to give Aussie coffee lovers a brew they can proudly put their name to,' said Lancy Huynh, Group Brand Manager at McDonald's Australia told FEMAIL. McDonald's has combined wattleseed with their famous coffee bean blend to create a new signature coffe they've dubbed the 'Australiano' 'Our expert baristas looked no further than our own backyard for a defining Aussie ingredient native wattleseed to create a deliciously unique coffee.' The name, Australiano, is a cheeky swipe at Americans who have long called a simple long black an 'Americano'. The Australiano can be served hot or cold, in true Aussie style, according to the McDonald's team. The coffee is available now from McCafe's Australia-wide for a limited time. The McCafe van will also be traveling between Melbourne and Brisbane offerirng lucky coffee-lovers the opportunity to try it for free. 'Despite being a nation of coffee connoisseurs, we don't have a coffee to call our own,' continued Lancy Huynh. 'As a champion for Aussie coffee culture, McCafe wanted to right this wrong and craft a blend that Aussies can proudly put their name to.' The coffee is available across Australia for a limited time only Where can I try an Australiano for FREE? VICTORIA St Kilda Beach Catani Gardens 28 May 7am 1pm Federation Square, Melbourne 10 June 2pm-6:30pm NSW Bondi Beach SLSC 18 & 19 June, 7am-1pm QUEENSLAND King George Square, Brisbane 25 June, 7am-1pm Queen Street Mall, Brisbane 26 June, 8am-2pm Advertisement McDonald's considers McCafe a 'true Aussie success story'. It first launched in the laneways of Melbourne in 1993 now the cafe arm of Maccas serves more than 300 million cups of coffee each year. And according to the fast food retailer one in every four cups of coffee sold in Australia every day is from a McCafe. An Australian radio presenter has warned followers that scammers are 'duplicating' her Facebook page in order to run fake competitions and get their credit card details. Hot 100 co-host Danielle McMurrich, who lives in the Northern Territory, took to her real social media account on May 6 to address the growing hacker problem. 'My Facebook page has been duplicated numerous times the last two weeks and is being used to scam people. Please stay alert,' she said. Hot 100 co-host Danielle McMurrich, who lives in the Northern Territory, took to her real social media account on May 6 to address the growing hacker problem One of the pages was promoting a fake event giving 20 people the chance to win a 'special prize' of $1,000 but it's understood people are being asked to provide their credit card details to enter the draw One of the pages was promoting a fake event giving 20 people the chance to win a 'special prize' of $1,000 but it's understood people are being asked to provide their credit card details to enter the draw. Northern Territory Consumer Affairs Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Davey told Hot 100 listeners that fake profiles appeared to be a new scam trend. 'We have received a number of reports about scams on Facebook [but] not so much through the use of fake profiles,' Ms Davey said. Northern Territory Consumer Affairs Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Davey told Hot 100 listeners that fake profiles appeared to be a new scam trend She said: 'It is a bit of an emerging strategy where scammers are obviously using celebrities or local identities to hook people into thinking something is legitimate and then taking away your money or your personal information' 'It is a bit of an emerging strategy where scammers are obviously using celebrities or local identities to hook people into thinking something is legitimate and then taking away your money or your personal information.' Some of the key ways to identify a scammer is to see if they have spelt Danielle's name slightly differently, and to look for spelling and grammatical errors. Claims that either don't make sense or are too good to be true are other things to be wary of. Claims that either don't make sense or are too good to be true are other things to be wary of 'For example if they're offering a prize, why would you then need to give your credit card details, that just doesn't make sense,' Ms Davey said. 'Huge discounts or exclusive offers, short term time limits to collect your prize. 'Scammers are relying on you to act quickly and not consider things carefully so slow down and take the time to look at things in detail.' Ms Davey argued that reporting a scam is the best way for law enforcement to track down the hackers and bring them to justice. Travellers are flocking to the top end of Australia to relax in remote crystal clear hot springs during the cooler months. The Katherine Hot Springs are natural thermal pools located on the banks of the Katherine River, approximately three hours southeast of Darwin. The bubbling temperature of the picturesque springs averages between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius - making it an ideal travel destination for winter. Aussies are travelling to the Katherine Hot Springs in the Northern Territory to relax in crystal clear naturally heated pools The bubbling temperature of the picturesque springs averages between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius - making it an ideal travel destination for winter Travellers can take a relaxing dip into the hot springs and soak up the natural green scenery surrounding the pools. The popular destination is open from 7am to 7pm daily and the main pool has steel hand rails formed out of rock as well as a wheelchair access ramp. But the hot springs are often restricted during the wet season between September to April dependent on river level. Travellers can take a relaxing dip into the hot springs and soak up the natural green scenery surrounding the pools The popular destination is open from 7am to 7pm daily and the main pool has steel hand rails formed out of rock and a wheelchair access ramp As the springs are naturally heated, it's a great way to let your muscles unwind after a day of hiking or sight seeing. The average time spent at the springs is three hours and the several pools filled with clear water are open to the public. Visitors have shared Instagram-worthy photos with others online, describing the location as 'incredibly beautiful'. One woman said: 'Photos don't do this place justice.' Surrounding the hot springs is an 'epic' 58km Jatbula hiking trail along with southern and western walk in the Nitmiluk National Park. The Katherine Hot Springs are located within the Katherine Township and approximately three hours southeast of Darwin Visitors have shared Instagram-worthy photos with others online, describing the location as 'incredibly beautiful' Only an hour away from Katherine is another popular destination adored by travellers and locals alike. Bitter Springs, which are located approximately two kilometres from Mataranka in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory, are set among palms and tropical woodlands in Elsey National Park. The area features a series of naturally-fed thermal pools that are the perfect place to relax and unwind, while exploring the surrounding beauty of the national park. Only an hour away from Katherine is Bitter Springs, which is another popular travel destination among Aussies (pictured) Bitter Springs, located two kilometres from Mataranka in the Katherine region of Australia's Northern Territory, are set among palms and tropical woodlands in Elsey National Park The area features a series of naturally-fed thermal pools (pictured) that are the perfect place to relax and unwind, while exploring the surrounding beauty of the national park Unlike some other swimming holes in the Northern Territory, Bitter Springs is safe to swim in all year round and free to access. The warm, clear water - which is dappled by light filtered from overhanging palms - is a balmy 30 plus degrees Celsius all year round. Bitter Springs is also situated close to another natural swimming hole, the Mataranka Thermal Pools, also within the national park. There is a short circuit 1.3 kilometre walk at Bitter Springs that circles through the palms and tropical woodlands in Elsey National Park. The warm, clear water - which is dappled by light filtered from overhanging palms - is a balmy 30 plus degrees Celsius all year round Those who have visited Bitter Springs describe the experience as 'breathtaking' and 'magical'. Many compliment the fact that the natural pools have not been landscaped or had concrete edging added. Stairs are the only concession, making it easy to get in and out of the pools. 'We visited Katherine and the Mataranka Springs before visiting Bitter Springs. Mataranka was lovely, but packed and felt very man-made, so we headed to Bitter Springs and had it nearly to ourselves,' one commenter wrote. 'Bitter Springs are much more natural, and drifting around you could marvel at the spiders' creativity, dragonflies buzzing over the water and the waterlilies. It was just beautiful.' Those who have visited Bitter Springs describe the experience as 'breathtaking' and 'magical' (the springs pictured) Bitter Springs are situated close to another natural swimming hole, the Mataranka Thermal Pools, also within the national park Another added: 'This is such a magical place. 'The mineral water is so warm and clear. You start at one end and the current just takes you and you exit out by the foot bridge and off you go again. It's such a beautiful, serene place.' A third wrote: 'What an amazing place. This is like something you see on TV. You don't need to travel out of Australia to enjoy something so magical and beautiful'. Fears about silent spreaders of Covid who suffer no symptoms but can pass the virus to others may have been overblown. A study of nearly 30,000 people has found asymptomatic carriers are about 68 per cent less likely to pass the virus on than those who get sick. No10 used concerns about asymptomatic spread to justify forcing Britons to obey lockdowns and wear masks. They were thought to account for up to a third of all infections and many scientists claimed asymptomatic patients were just as infectious as the sick. But a new global study spanning 42 countries, including the UK and US, found they were only responsible for as little as 14 per cent of cases. They also estimate that their overall risk of passing the virus to someone else 'about two-thirds lower'. Scientists claimed Covid's ability to spread asymptomatically was one of the reasons for harsh social curbs. During one of the national lockdowns in January 2021, the Government said about a third of people with Covid had no symptoms and urged people to 'act like you've got it'. Researchers have found people with asymptomatic infections are two thirds less likely to pass the virus on to others compares to those with symptoms. The idea that someone could carry the virus without knowing it was part of the reason Britons were asked to wear masks at various stages of the pandemic The risk of asymptomatic people spreading Covid was part of Government messaging urging people to obey a lockdown in January 2021 WHAT IS THE FULL LIST OF COVID SYMPTOMS? According to the NHS, symptoms of Covid in adults can include: a high temperature or shivering (chills) a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) a new, continuous cough this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste shortness of breath feeling tired or exhausted an aching body a headache a sore throat a blocked or runny nose loss of appetite diarrhoea feeling sick or being sick Advertisement Experts analysed data from 130 studies from 42 countries. They involved 28,426 people who caught Covid between April 2020 and July 2021. Of these patients, nearly 12,000 had an asymptomatic infection, having tested positive on a PCR but having suffered no symptoms. All of the studies included the results of community screening programmes, contact tracing, and investigations into specific outbreaks like on cruise ships. They found the 'secondary attack rate', how likely people infected with Covid are to pass the virus to others, was 68 per cent lower for asymptomatic cases, compared to those with symptoms. Scientists also estimated between 14-to-50 per cent of the Covid infections were asymptomatic. They said the range was so high due to the differences in the methodologies of the studies they drew the data from. But lead author, Diana Buitrago-Garcia, from the University of Bern in Switzerland, suggested their role in overall Covid transmission was minor. 'If both the proportion and transmissibility of asymptomatic infection are relatively low, people with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection should account for a smaller proportion of overall transmission than presymptomatic individuals,' she said. Co-author, Professor Nicola Low, an expert in social and preventative medicine at Bern, said while it was clear asymptomatic cases were less infectious, the true scale of these cases in the pandemic was difficult to calculate. 'The true proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infection is still not known, and it would be misleading to rely on a single number because the 130 studies that we reviewed were so different,' she said. 'People with truly asymptomatic infection are, however, less infectious than those with symptomatic infection.' At the start of the pandemic, the NHS has only listed three Covid symptoms: a high temperature, a cough and a loss or change to taste or smell. But it quietly expanded its list of all the tell-tale signs of the virus to also include a loss of appetite, feeling or being sick, a headache, shortness of breath, feeling tired, an aching body, a sore throat, a blocked or runny nose and diarrhoea were added to the list in April What's the latest statistics on Covid in the UK? The latest data for the UK shows Covid cases are still collapsing. Office for National Statistics (ONS) analysts estimate just over one million, or one in 55 people, in England had the virus on any day in the week to May 13. This is down 14 per cent on the previous week. Similar falls were recorded in the other UK nations, with just one in 45 people in Scotland, one in 40 in Wales and one in 60 in Northern Ireland thought to be infected. It marks the sixth consecutive week that the ONS's huge testing survey now the best barometre of the outbreak has reported a week-on-week fall in cases, despite no Covid restrictions being in place. The Government is relying on the study, based on swabs of thousands of random people, to track the coronavirus now that free testing has been axed for the vast majority of Britons. Advertisement Another limitation of the study, which is ongoing as more data becomes available, is that it only includes studies up to July 2021. This, as the authors highlight, means it will not include any data on more recent Covid variants like Omicron, which only emerged in November last year and is milder than earlier versions of the virus. It also means the sample size includes data from both before and when vaccines were starting to be rolled out in various countries, which could influence the results. Most of the studies included in the research, which has been published in the journal PLOS Medicine, were from Europe and the Americas, with 45 from each. The authors also highlighted reduced routine testing as countries, like the UK, wind down their routine pandemic testing will also impact future research into asymptomatic cases. Fears about asymptomatic Covid cases unwittingly spreading the virus were part of a Government rationale for urging people at the start of 2021 to take a test twice a week. At the time then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock said regular testing was one the best ways to catch asymptomatic cases and keep people safe. 'Around 1 in 3 people have coronavirus without any symptoms, so getting tested regularly is one of the simplest and easiest ways we can keep ourselves and our loved ones safe,' he said. 'Id encourage everyone to take up the offer and test twice a week.' Covid symptoms themselves have undergone several changes over the course of the pandemic. In the beginning UK health officials only accepted three symptoms: a high temperature, a cough and a loss or change to taste or smell as signs someone had the virus, despite other countries including up to 14. But in April this year the NHS quietly expanded the list to 12, including a loss of appetite, feeling or being sick and a headache, shortness of breath, feeling tired, an aching body, a sore throat, a blocked or runny nose and diarrhoea. A 57-year-old woman from Texas was forced to have her little toe amputated after a 'black spot' under her nail turned out to be skin cancer. Yvonne Basil, an executive assistant in Dallas, ignored the mark which was no bigger than a pencil eraser for months believing it was 'a mole'. But after the patch grew and a pedicurist raised concerns, she decided to use some leftover spending money to visit a clinic. Doctors there diagnosed her with advanced acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) a rare type of skin cancer in the pinky toe on her right foot, and recommended it was removed before the cancer spread to other areas where it could prove fatal. Basil said the diagnosis 'totally took me by surprise' because she believed being black meant the 'sun can't harm' her skin. ALM is a rare type of skin cancer, with about 2,000 cases diagnosed in the U.S. annually, but it is more common among people with dark skin. Its cause is still a mystery to doctors although the cancer differs from other melanomas because there is no link to sun exposure. Yvonne Basil, 57, from Dallas in Texas, had dismissed the mark under her nail which was no bigger than a pencil eraser for months. But after it grew and a pedicurist raised concerns she decided to get it checked out by doctors Doctors diagnosed her with acral lentiginous melanoma (pictured) which they said was at an advanced stage. The little toe was amputated to stop the cancer spreading Basil's feet are pictured above showing four toes on her right foot. If it had not been amputated, the cancer could have spread to other areas and may have been fatal What is acral lentiginous melanoma? Acral lentiginous melanoma is a form of skin cancer that develops on the palms of a person's hand, the soles of their feet or beneath their nail. It usually starts as a flat patch of discolored skin, which can look like a stain, that slowly enlarges over months or years. ALM is a rare form of skin cancer and makes up less than three percent of melanoma cases in fair-skinned people, who are more at risk. Its cause is unclear and not related to sun exposure. It is thought to be triggered by genetic mutations. As the cancer grows, affected lesions can become several centimeters wide, and contain a variety of brown, black, blue-grey and red colors. Initial treatment usually involves cutting the lesion out. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, these are often also removed. Source: DermNet NZ Advertisement Talking about the moment she was diagnosed, Basil told TODAY : 'It just totally took me by surprise. It just didn't register I can't say that enough. 'My mindset was basically that it couldn't happen to me. I just thought my skin is dark enough and the sun can't harm it.' After her toe was amputated Basil had to wear a special boot to help her balance while walking for a few weeks. It then took a few months before she finally felt confident enough to wear a regular shoe again. Warning others to keep an eye out for the cancer, she said: 'I can't stress it enough, especially to people of color, to take this seriously. It's not a joke. 'You think it won't happen to you, which is what I thought too, but it can definitely happen.' ALM usually starts as a flat patch of discolored skin which can look like a stain on the hands, feet or under a fingernail. It will slowly enlarge and grow over time, and could even spread to other parts of the body. Its cause is still unclear but it is not thought to be linked to sunlight exposure, unlike with other skin cancers. Having a family member that was previously diagnosed with it raises the risk, doctors say. Initial treatment usually involves cutting out the affected areas, with others also removed if it has spread. Survival rates for the cancer are about 80 percent at five years after diagnosis, according to a study in JAMA Network. This drops to 67.5 percent at a decade after the cancer being discovered. The lower rate than other skin cancers may be because it is often dismissed for an injury or a illness. For all melanomas, the survival rate is about 90 percent up to five years after diagnosis and 85 percent up to ten years, says Cancer Research UK. Cases that have been missed in the past include patients who thought the streak on their nail was a stain from paint, or an injury due to playing sport. A woman in Northern Virginia has become the ninth case of monkeypox to be detected in the U.S., it was revealed Thursday amid warnings the virus may now be spreading in the country. State health chiefs said the patient recently returned from an African country 'where the disease is known to occur'. She is isolating at home, and has a mild illness. It was not clear whether the latest case was linked to the current outbreak, which is mostly among gay and bisexual men. Dr Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned in a briefing today that 'some community transmission' of the virus may now be happening in the United States. She did not reveal how many cases were linked to international travel, although the CDC said on Monday it was every infection. Experts in Europe where most cases are being detected say the outbreak there may be linked to unsafe sex at two mass gatherings in Spain and Belgium. In the U.S. two cases have so far been confirmed in Florida and Utah, and one each in California, Massachusetts, New York City and Florida. But globally more than 200 infections have been detected across 23 countries including the UK, France, Italy, Israel and Australia. Americans traveling abroad are being told to take 'enhanced precautions' due to the outbreak, including avoiding sick people and animals. Experts including Dr Romulus Breban, a researcher at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France have been warning for years that an outbreak of the virus was bound to happen because so many people no longer have immunity to its closely-related cousin smallpox. Virginia today became the latest state to confirm a case of monkeypox, taking the national tally to nine infections. It is in a woman who recently returned from an African country Monkeypox patients in the UK will be told to keep their distance from family pets in official guidance to be issued later this week. The advice from Britain's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs will warn of a potential risk of human-to-animal transmission. European health officials have already expressed concerns that animals on the Continent could become permanent reservoirs of disease if it is allowed to make the jump. This would increase the odds of it becoming endemic in Europe. Now the UKs Defra is drawing up guidelines in an attempt to limit the risk of monkeypox patients infecting the likes of cats, dogs and rabbits. There are also fears infected patients could contaminate their pets fur and the illness be passed on to others in their household. Advertisement Warning the virus may now be spreading in the U.S., Dr Walensky said: 'We need to presume that there is some community spread. 'But there is active contact tracing that is happening right now to understand whether and how these cases might have been in contact with each other or with others in other countries.' She stressed that everyone was at risk of catching the virus, saying: 'Stigma and discrimination in public health results in decreased access to care, ongoing disease transmission and a blunted response to outbreaks and threats. 'I urge everyone to approach this outbreak without stigma and without discrimination.' In Europe, health chiefs are warning the virus could become endemic if it spills into the wild animal population. But in America Dr Jennifer McQuiston, a virus expert at the CDC who also attended the briefing, said it was a 'little too early to tell' if this was the case. 'We're working hard to contain the cases that are happening so they don't spread onward,' she said. 'So I think it's a little too early to tell.' She mentioned the 2003 outbreak the biggest faced by the U.S. so far where hundreds of animals and 47 people caught the virus, but it never made it into the wild population. 'After that outbreak, we didn't see it become endemic, and we didn't see any animal reservoirs that ended up becoming established. So I think we're hopeful that we'll be able to similarly contain it.' The CDC's travel advisory applies to all international travel outside the U.S. It told those outside the U.S. to avoid sick people and animals, not to eat game meat, and not to use any creams, powders or lotions made from wild animals. Anyone who experiences an unexplained rash a common symptom of the virus was urged to seek immediate medical attention. Monkeypox is a rare viral infection which kills up to one in ten of those infected but does not spread easily between people. The tropical disease is endemic in parts of Africa and is known for its rare and unusual rashes, bumps and lesions (file photo) Monkeypox may have been spreading silently for four years in the UK Monkeypox may have been spreading under the radar for four years, an ex-World Health Organization (WHO) official has claimed. Professor David Heymann, a former former director-general for health security and environment at the WHO, said the current global outbreak may date back to a handful of isolated cases in the UK in 2018. Two Britons were diagnosed with the tropical disease in September 2018 after returning from Nigeria. A third case was found in an NHS worker who treated one of the patients. In December 2019, a fourth person unrelated to the previous three tested positive for the virus after returning from Nigeria. Three further cases with similar travel history arrived in 2021. Professor Heymann suggested the virus may have been seeded in around this time and spread unchecked. All of the cases are believed to have had the milder western African clade of the virus the same one that is spreading now. He told The Guardian: 'It could hypothetically be that the virus transmission amplified from this low level of transmission when by chance it entered the population that is at present amplifying transmission.' But he said this was just one of several theories that needed to be investigated before coming to any conclusions. It comes as Wales and Northern Ireland reported their first cases of monkeypox in the latest outbreak, bringing the UK total to 80. UK health chiefs are understood to be planning an online dashboard that tracks case numbers a method which sparked controversy during the coronavirus pandemic. Advertisement Explaining the decision to activate Level 2, the CDC said: 'None of [the cases] reported having recently been in Central or West African countries where monkeypox usually occurs, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria, among others.' A spokesman for the Salt Lake County Department of Health in Utah yesterday revealed the CDC had confirmed two monkeypox infections in the state. The two adults who have not been named live in the same house and came down with a 'mild illness' after returning from abroad. They have been isolating at home since Wednesday, with local health chiefs saying there is 'no risk' of wider transmission. It was not revealed where the individuals had returned from, except that it was an area 'currently experiencing monkeypox cases'. The CDC is currently carrying out tests to confirm the two cases in Florida, and one each in California, Washington and New York City. A case was confirmed in Massachusetts early in the outbreak. The cases are all in men who have recently returned from travel abroad, the CDC said in a statement Wednesday. At least 200 people are being monitored for possible infection after being exposed to someone who had the virus. But health chiefs advise that the risk of transmission is low because the virus is 'very difficult' to spread. It normally requires sustained skin-to-skin contact with infectious lesions, but can also be spread in droplets expelled by an infected person. Infections begin with a fever and 'flu-like' symptoms up to 21 days after catching the virus. These then progress into a rash that appears on the face before spreading across the rest of the body. Painful skin lesions also appear. Health chiefs say that in the current outbreak these skin lesions are more commonly appearing on the genital area, driving theories it is being spread through sex. Most cases clear up on their own within four weeks, but about one in 100 people who catch the currently circulating strain of the virus die from the infection. People who are exposed to the virus are offered smallpox vaccines which also work against this virus as the two are closely related to bolster their immunity. Patients are also given antibiotics to help curb the illness. It comes after experts warned yesterday that the outbreak was 'inevitable' because so many people now do not have protection against smallpox. Americans were routinely jabbed against this virus until the early 1970s, when the scheme was deemed no longer necessary because the virus had been beaten into submission. Similar programs were wound down globally. Scientists say waning immunity from the mammoth inoculation programs may help explain why monkeypox outbreaks are becoming more common across the world. Dr Romulus Breban, a researcher at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, said the current global outbreak was 'waiting to happen' because of the world's 'almost zero' immunity level. Nineteen countries have detected cases in the past month, which has sparked alarm because infections usually only occur in west and central Africa. Vet who caught monkeypox from prairie dog in 2003 outbreak says he suffered 'flu-like' symptoms and feared he would lose his thumb Dr Kurt Zaeske, who is now retired and living in Wisconsin, said he caught the virus in 2003 A veterinarian who caught monkeypox in America's biggest ever outbreak nearly two decades ago says he suffered 'flu-like' symptoms and feared he'd lose his thumb after lesions erupted all over his body. Dr Kurt Zaeske, who is now retired and living in Wisconsin, caught the virus in 2003 after tending to sick prairie dogs at a breeding farm. The illness initially left him with a fever and feeling dizzy, nauseous and very tired all the time. Within a few days, small lesions erupted across his body, and a 'very painful' blister appeared on his thumb leaving him fearing it could be amputated. Doctors administered Zaeske with antibiotics after a positive test for monkeypox and he was put in self-isolation. The illness cleared up within a few weeks. Zaeske detailed his harrowing experience to NBC, saying that suffering the tropical disease was 'scary' initially, but also 'fascinating' to be part of the outbreak. Monkeypox is now sweeping the western world, with more than 221 cases detected in 24 countries mostly in Europe including up to eight in the United States. But experts warn the outbreak of the disease which is endemic to West Africa was just waiting to happen as the end of smallpox vaccination drives in the 1970s have left people less than 50 years old with no protection against the virus. Advertisement How DO you catch monkeypox and what are the symptoms? EVERYTHING you need to know about tropical virus How do you catch monkeypox? Until this worldwide outbreak, monkeypox was usually caught from infected animals in west and central Africa. The tropical virus is thought to be spread by rodents, including rats, mice and even squirrels. Humans can catch the illness which comes from the same family as smallpox if they're bitten by infected animals, or touch their blood, bodily fluids, or scabs. Consuming contaminated wild game or bush meat can also spread the virus. The orthopoxvirus can enter the body through broken skin even if it's not visible, as well as the eyes, nose and mouth. Despite being mainly spread by wild animals, it was known that monkeypox could be passed on between people. However, health chiefs insist it is very rare. Human-to-human spread can occur if someone touches clothing or bedding used by an infected person, or through direct contact with the virus' tell-tale scabs. The virus can also spread through coughs and sneezes. In the ongoing surge in cases, experts think the virus is passing through skin-to-skin contact during sex even though this exact mechanism has never been seen until now. How deadly is it? Monkeypox is usually mild, with most patients recovering within a few weeks without treatment. Yet, the disease kills up to 10 per cent of cases. But this high rate is thought to be in part due to a historic lack of testing meaning that a tenth of known cases have died rather than a tenth of all infections. However, with milder strains the fatality rate is closer to one in 100 similar to when Covid first hit. The UK cases all had the West African version of the virus, which is mild compared to the Central African strain. It is thought that cases in Portugal and Spain also have the milder version, though tests are underway. How is it tested for? It can be difficult to diagnose monkeypox as it is often confused with other infections such as chickenpox. Monkeypox is confirmed by a clinical assessment by a health professional and a test in the UK's specialist lab - the UKHSA's Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory. The test involves taking samples from skin lesions, such as part of the scab, fluid from the lesions or pieces of dry crusts. What are the symptoms? It can take up to three weeks for monkeypox-infected patients to develop any of its tell-tale symptoms. Early signs of the virus include a fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion meaning it could, theoretically, be mistaken for other common illnesses. But its most unusual feature is a rash that often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body, commonly the hands and feet. The rash changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off. People who are infected with monkeypox often suffer from severe rashes, skin lesions and flu like symptoms. The virus kills around one-in-ten people it infects, though there is belief that the current strain making its way around the world has a mortality rate of one percent How long is someone contagious? An individual is contagious from the point their rash appears until all the scabs have fallen off and there is intact skin underneath. The scabs may also contain infectious virus material. The infectious period is thought to last for three weeks but may vary between individuals. What do I do if I have symptoms? Anyone with an unusual rash or lesions on any part of their body, especially their genitalia, should contact NHS 111 or call a sexual health service. Britons are asked to contact clinics ahead of their visit and avoid close contact with others until they have been seen by a medic. Gay and bisexual men have been asked to be especially alert to the symptoms as most of the cases have been detected in men who have sex with men. What even is monkeypox? Monkeypox was first discovered when an outbreak of a pox-like disease occurred in monkeys kept for research in 1958. The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the infection has been reported in a number of central and western African countries since then. Only a handful of cases have been reported outside of Africa and they were confined to people with travel links to the continent. The UK, US, Israel and Singapore are the only countries which had detected the virus before May 2022. WONDERDOG: HOW THE SCIENCE OF DOGS CHANGED THE SCIENCE OF LIFE by Jules Howard (Bloomsbury Sigma 17.99, 288pp) We dog owners knew it all along, didnt we? Our dogs love us, and I mean really love and adore us of course they do. But until recently, the official theory in the canine-scientists community was that what dogs felt for their humans was attachment: because we were the source of their sustenance and shelter, they latched on to us, using those sweet, doe-eyed facial expressions theyd perfected through millennia to ensure our hearts melted and they would, therefore, be fed, watered and stroked for life. But we knew in our bones, didnt we, that dogs werent as cynical as that? We knew it was love mutual love. And we were right, it seems. The culmination of Wonderdog science writer and broadcaster Jules Howards short and informative homage to dogs and to the scientists who have tried to get to the bottom of dog psychology is a chapter about love. The official theory in the canine-scientists community was that what dogs felt for their humans was attachment. Jules Howard attempts to get to the bottom of dog psychology in his new book When a mother and a baby gaze into each others eyes, both have a spike in their levels of the hormone oxytocin, produced by the brain when humans partake in a pleasurable activity. In 2015, a Japanese animal behaviour scientist called Takefumi Kikusui invited 30 dog-owning friends to his lab. They were all (humans and dogs) asked to urinate into a cup (that must have been quite an operation), and then each dog and human had to sit down in a room together for 30 minutes and gaze into each others eyes. Then it was time for another urine test. And guess what? The dogs saw a 130 per cent rise in their oxytocin levels during their half-hour gazing at their owner. For the humans, it was a 300 per cent rise. So our dogs do love us, and we positively worship them. Howard calculates that at any given moment in this country of 10million dogs, 2million of them are suffering from the trauma of separation anxiety This oxytocin spike doesnt happen with wolves. Dont you always feel a bit sorry for wolves in these dog experiments? They come off as emotionally cold, with their icy lack of eye-contact. There was a moment far back in history when, as Howard puts it, dogs sprinted off down a different evolutionary path one where the friendliest, rather than the fiercest, prospered. And wolves, it was recently discovered, lack a special muscle next to the eye the levator anguli oculi medialis with which dogs raise their inner eyebrows in a deeply expressive way, brilliant for catching our attention. Their unbounded capacity for love singles them out Howard quotes a great many dog scientists, but particularly warms to Clive Wynne, founding director of the Canine Science Collaboratory in Arizona, who used to be one of the attachment-theorists but has recently become a reluctant convert to the love theory. This is partly because of experiments like the oxytocin one, but mainly from simply watching how his dog Xephos behaves and plays. Love, Wynne writes, is dogs secret superpower. It is their unbounded capacity for love, not any distinctive form of intelligence, that singles dogs out. When dogs play with other dogs and humans, they adapt their behaviour to suit whom they are playing with, showing that they do possess that magical psychological trait: the ability to empathise with another being and to imagine what it must be like to be him or her. Gradually, through watching how dogs behave, the alpha-theory has been dismantled Put a dog in a Y-shaped room with food at one extremity of the fork and their human at the other, and they will go towardstheir human. So, yes, they are greedy-gutses, but their love for us is the marginally stronger feeling. Along with this, though, comes the reverse side of that love: their sense of desolation when we leave them on their own. Howard calculates that at any given moment in this country of 10million dogs, 2million of them are suffering from the trauma of separation anxiety. So get back home, now! A warning: this book contains distressing passages in its earlier pages, when Howard takes us through the history of the investigation of dog behaviour, starting in the 19th century when experiments on the animals put them through pain and suffering. Dogs have a joyful lack of ambition He celebrates the early antivivisectionists, who protested and rioted against the evil things done in the name of science. It turns out that the most informative way to examine dog behaviour is not by putting them into ghastly imprisoned situations and giving them electric shocks, but to watch them doing simple, normal things, such as playing in the park. Gradually, through watching how dogs behave, the alpha-theory has been dismantled. It used to be believed that dogs wanted, more than anything in the world, to be top-dog; that they were looking at us from the dinner bowl, waiting for the moment to strike and take over the household. It turns out that they have a joyful lack of ambition. Theyre looking at us for reassurance (for the millionth time) that we love them. And we do. We do! BOOK OF THE WEEK ELIOT AFTER THE WASTE LAND by Robert Crawford (Cape 25, 624pp) He seemed aridly highbrow yet loved the rhythms of jazz and songs from the Music Hall. His published poetry baffled many yet he liked to pen silly, scurrilous verses for friends. He was rigidly High Church yet sympathised with ideas about suffering and peace in Buddhism. Even friends found him austere, yet he enjoyed idiotic puns and practical jokes. Childless and deeply unhappy in his private life, he delighted young and old with Old Possums Book Of Practical Cats. Capable of quiet kindness and always striving towards idealism, he still expressed the repulsive anti-Semitism of his time. T.S. Eliot pictured with his second wife Valerie Fletcher. At 14, Valerie had heard his work read by John Gielgud and allegedly vowed to meet and marry the great poet Success tormented him but love transformed his life. Prim, proper and sexless, as an old man he fell deeply, sensually in love with a much younger woman and wrote one of the most joyous and erotic love poems in the language. This odd, awkward, unhappy mess of contradictions was T.S. Eliot arguably the greatest poet of the 20th century. This second part of Robert Crawfords excellent two-volume biography takes us from his extraordinary, tormented years after publication of the The Waste Land (1922), until his death in 1965. Crawford presents a sympathetic, sensitive portrait of the great man of letters banker, poet, playwright, essayist, critic, public figure which avoids fashionable, pseudo-psychological explanations and easy judgments. His introduction offers a lesson for all biographers: I have tried to stay true to my belief that a human life is too rich and subtle to be explained away through one neat, interpretative matrix. Thomas Stearns Eliot was born in St Louis, Missouri, in 1888. He was raised in a solidly upper-middle-class family. Summers were spent by the sea but the movement of the great Mississippi, flowing through St Louis, was the music of his soul heard throughout his poetry. A university contemporary described him later as rather dreamy, bookish, tousleheaded, and very unobtrusive. This odd, shy, melancholy young man was to move to Britain at the age of 25 and begin the long, painful transformation into a literary superstar who would be pressed by autograph-hunting crowds wherever he went. While still in the States, Eliot (called Tom all through Crawfords book) first met Emily Hale, sent roses, fell in chaste love. This transatlantic relationship would last full of angst for almost four decades. But in England in 1915, fatefully, Eliot met the first woman who was to change his life for the worse. Shy and virginal, he married nervy, vivacious and sexy Vivien Haigh-Wood, dooming them both to misery. T.S. Eliot and Valerie. She was hired by his secretary in 1949, becoming indispensable in every aspect of his life and prompting teasing from other secretaries who observed her devotion By 1922 (when Crawford picks up the story) the couple, both just 34, were completely worn out (Eliots words) by ill-heath, their fundamental incompatibility and Viviens mental instability. Still safely in love with the far-off Emily Hale, Eliot told friends he could not go on and yet had to, since his sense of duty and Christian faith made divorce unthinkable. Acid-tongued yet perceptive, Virginia Woolf described Vivien as mad as a hare. At a dinner, Vivien taunted Woolf as the bloodiest snob Ive ever known. Both women were, of course, correct. Its probably impossible for the modern reader to understand the bombshell effect of Eliots fractured, allusive poetry on the reading public when Prufrock (1917) and The Waste Land challenged both aesthetic and moral values and gave voice to an age of anxiety which segued into the horror of two world wars. Even in 1964, when I studied Eliot for A-level, the poets work (like that of Picasso and Stravinsky) seemed to embody the dislocated, iconoclastic angst of my generation, as well as his own. Famously Eliot, as critic and teacher, was later to claim that poetry can illuminate before it is properly understood. He proved it true. Robert Crawford is scrupulously factual in detailing Eliots racism and anti-Semitism, noting that he disassociated himself from Ezra Pounds fascistic views while still remaining loyal to the man who had been such a support to him. Fellow American Pound, who lived for a time in England and was more famous than Eliot both for his poetry and for his literary criticism, championed, mentored and edited Eliot with enthusiasm and Eliot never forgot it. ELIOT AFTER THE WASTE LAND by Robert Crawford (Cape 25, 624pp) Was Eliot culpable in his devotion to Emily Hale leaving his wife alone to go to America and failing to deal properly with her unhappiness and mental illness, and finally having her committed? Nothing is simple within this hefty, detailed narrative and Crawford remains impeccably fair. Sad, lonely, desperate Vivien died in 1947 and for Eliot the shock was harder to bear than simple grief. The following year he was awarded both the Order of Merit and the Nobel Prize in Literature, and honours would follow in the U.S., France, Germany and Italy. But no amount of renown and no official bauble was to matter to the faintly querulous public figure nearly as much as the late discovery of passion. The great romance was already sitting in his little Dickensian office at Faber & Faber, in the shape of his secretary, a 23-year-old from Yorkshire called Valerie Fletcher. At 14, Valerie had heard his work read by John Gielgud and allegedly vowed to meet and marry the great poet. Determined to get to the author she wrote to him, got a book signed, became more obsessed. Finally her dream came true and she was hired by his secretary in 1949, becoming indispensable in every aspect of his life and prompting teasing from other secretaries who observed her devotion. At last, in 1956 he proposed to her by letter, still addressing her as Miss Fletcher. Once public, the liaison between the grand 68-year-old and his 30-year-old secretary shocked the public and hurt his friends, including the two women (Emily Hale and Mary Hutchinson) who had longed for years to marry him. Mr and Mrs Eliot discovered boundless happiness. Eliots passionate letters about their sex life (nipple to nipple . . . tingling and burning) are almost embarrassing to read. Rejuvenated and delighted, he admitted this was a world he had never known: I was transformed by Valerie. He praises his wife joyfully in the frank love poem, A Dedication To My Wife in which he celebrates lovers whose bodies smell of each other and who babble the same speech without need of meaning. Utterly devoted and physically affectionate, they had nine years before Eliot (a lifelong smoker) died in 1965. Valerie was to become the keeper of his flame and very rich after the success of Cats. One detail in this absorbing biography is quietly moving. After her husbands death, until hers in 2012, Valerie Eliot took delivery of a bouquet of flowers every Monday at her Kensington flat. Her beloved Tom had arranged this with his solicitor, a weekly proof of their undying love. TWO NIGHTS IN LISBON by Chris Pavone (Head of Zeus 16.99, 448pp) TWO NIGHTS IN LISBON by Chris Pavone (Head of Zeus 16.99, 448pp) A New York book editor for 20 years before he turned his hand to writing, Pavone has become one of the most skilled creators of menace and suspense in the world. This, his fifth novel, confirms it. Beautifully engineered as a carriage clock, it yields its nuanced secrets with insidious cunning. The story begins when not-long-married Ariel Price wakes up in Lisbon, where shes gone with her husband on a business trip, to find he has disappeared. Distraught, she turns to hotel security, the police and then the American Embassy to help locate him. No one seems interested. He has only been missing a few hours. But Ariel is not convinced for a moment, and her despair turns to panic when she receives a ransom demand of 3million. She has 48 hours to find the money. How will she raise it? Inexorably a wholly unexpected truth begins to emerge from the dark shadows: it is captivating. BAD ACTORS by Mick Herron (Baskerville 18.99, 352pp) BAD ACTORS by Mick Herron (Baskerville 18.99, 352pp) The belligerent, bellicose Jackson Lamb is without doubt the finest creation of 21stcentury spy fiction, realised in eight novels and now immortalised on television by Gary Oldman in Slow Horses. The title refers to the washed-up group of spooks that Lamb has under his control, all of whom have been sidelined by the service for apparent incompetence. But all of them are determined to show they can still master tradecraft and prove their worth to MI5s ferocious boss, Diana Taverner. Here, a key Downing Street adviser has gone missing and a slow horse is asked to find her. Meanwhile, the Prime Ministers fearsome principal adviser a barely disguised portrait of Dominic Cummings is trying to bring everything secret under his control, for reasons not entirely clear. Written with the gifted Herrons typical wit, and with Lambs personality pervading every page, this is the antithesis of the discreet George Smiley. THE ISLAND by Adrian McKinty (Orion 12.99, 384pp) THE ISLAND by Adrian McKinty (Orion 12.99, 384pp) Heather Baxter has moved to Seattle and married widowed doctor Tom, who has two not-quite-teenage children who are far from certain about their new stepmother. Undeterred, when Tom is asked to address a conference in Australia, the family decide to take a dream holiday there and they are determined to explore every inch of the country. The children are desperate to see koalas in the wild when they stumble across a remote island, which is inhabited by just one family. The parents are warned that it could be a dangerous place to go but they want to see it for themselves, so take the ancient ferry to visit. Tragedy strikes when Tom runs over and kills a woman on a bicycle and then tries to cover it up by hiding the body and fleeing back to the mainland. But the inhabitants have different ideas and want to take revenge. There are echoes of the movie Deliverance in the story, but it never loses its python-like grip as gallant Heather battles to keep her new family safe and together. When a 1990s Rover saloon goes to auction, there's usually little fanfare or much to get excited about. But this is no ordinary executive model from the now-defunct British car brand. This 1993 Rover 800 was originally supplied to Buckingham Palace. And while there is no evidence to say the Queen ever drove it, the car was sold to its next owner from a Royal-approved dealer as 'one lady owner from new'. The timing of the online auction - which starts on Sunday afternoon and lasts for seven days - coincides with the Platinum Jubilee festivities next week. However, it isn't expected to sell for a stellar sum, with a pre-sale estimate of just 8,000. Rover with a Royal connection: This 1993 Rover Sterling 827 was originally supplied to Buckingham Palace and reportedly driven by the Queen. It will go to auction next week The car - a Rover Sterling 827 with a 2.7-litre petrol V6 engine - is rumoured to have been driven around London by Her Majesty, though there is little in terms of hard proof to support this. While the Queen's name isn't on the vehicle's logbook, the supporting documents with the car rubberstamp the fact it was supplied from new to 'Buckingham Palace, London, SW1 1AA'. Car & Classic says this is standard practice for cars used by key members of the Royal Family, only adding fuel to the suggestion that it was used by Her Majesty. As is the case with most royal estate vehicle orders, this would likely have been one of two identical cars delivered, with the second kept in Windsor while this was a motor specifically used in the capital. Built in 1993 and registered as 'L464 BPE', it was then sent to Thomas Day Motors, an approved supplier to the Royal Household. However, its royal duties didn't last long. The timing of the online auction - which starts on Sunday afternoon and lasts for seven days - coincides with the Platinum Jubilee. Experts reckon it will sell for around just 8,000 The car is rumoured to have been driven around the capital by Her Majesty in the early nineties, though there is little in terms of proof to support this While the Queen's name isn't on the vehicle's logbook, the supporting documents with the car rubberstamp the fact it was supplied from new to 'Buckingham Palace, London, SW1 1AA'... Car & Classic says this is standard practice for cars used by key members of the Royal Family, only adding fuel to the suggestion that it was used by Her Majesty Built in 1993 and registered as 'L464 BPE', it was then sent to Thomas Day Motors, an approved supplier to the Royal Household It was back with Thomas Day Motors a year later, with the second owner buying it under the dealer's premise that it had 'one lady owner' from new. They changed the number plate to a private 'H10 MSS' registration, which remains with the car today. It later found its way into the hands of the Rover 800 Owners' Club chairman, Alex Sebbinger, who had managed to track down arguably the most decorated 800 there is. Finished in British Racing Green with a contrasting tan leather interior with lashings of wood trim, it ticks all the right boxes for a period British executive saloon. The floor mats are said to still be extremely plush, having been doubled up likely on Her Majesty's request - one must be seated comfortably at all times, don't you know? The V6 engine has clocked up almost 100,000 miles (94,928 to be exact) in its 29 years, according to the reading on the odometer. The car - which has a 2.7-litre V6 petrol engine - didn't remain in the Royal fleet for long and was sold after just one year Has her Majesty's hands graced this very wheel? Auctioneer Car & Classic said it had approached Sandringham for confirmation but is still none the wiser The V6 engine has clocked up almost 100,000 miles (94,928 to be exact) in its 29 years, according to the reading on the odometer Given its royal connection, it appear all owners have ensured it has been well cared for, with the lot description outlining a rich service history. Extensive paperwork, handbooks, manuals, magazine features and invoices also help build the fabric of the car's background. 'Even if there was no Royal connection at all, the original, excellent overall condition of this Rover would be of interest to the classic car connoisseur,' explains Chris Pollitt from Car & Classic. 'British modern classics of the '90s are, in general, enjoying a deserved renaissance, but this particular 1993 Rover Sterling strikes a special note within the current Jubilee celebrations, and would be the ultimate anniversary gift to one's collection.' Finished in British Racing Green with a contrasting tan leather interior with lashings of wood trim, it ticks all the right boxes for a period British executive saloon Given its royal connection, it appear all owners have ensured it has been well cared for, with the lot description outlining a rich service history The second owner said they bought the car from Royal dealer Thomas Day Motors when it was relieved of its Royal duties. It was sold under the premise that it had 'one lady owner' from new Car & Classic said it had reached out to Sandringham to ask if the car had been driven by the Queens, though - and as you might anticipate - they would neither confirm nor deny. The Rover 800 will go under the virtual hammer from Sunday 29 May, just in time for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee from 2 to 5 June. The auctioneer says it expects it to sell for just 8,000, which would be a steal for a motor once retained in the Royal garage. A few too many glasses of Pimm's and flutes of champers during street party festivities to celebrate Her Majesty's 70-year reign over that weekend could tempt some people into placing a bid. British car production levels fell by 11.3 per cent in April, with just 60,554 vehicles rolling off factory lines, according to fresh figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. In what the SMMT dubbed a 'volatile' month, the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on supply chains, an ongoing global shortage of semi-conductors, model changes and 'broader structural changes' all combined to pile further pressure on the sector, the trade body said. There were 7,752 fewer cars made in April than a year ago and the total was 14.7 per cent below the April 2019 pre-pandemic level. This was itself down 44.5 per cent on April 2018 levels, due to shutdowns rescheduled to mitigate against the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, the SMMT said. Falling: British car production levels fell by 11.3% in April, new SMMT figures show The SMMT said British vehicle manufacturers urgently need 'relief on specific input costs, most notably energy, which have doubled in the last year and are putting UK manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage'. Mike Hawes, SMMT's chief executive, said: 'The UK car industry is exposed to a host of issues that are undermining output and competitiveness. 'Global chip shortages and supply chain disruption are exacerbated by spiralling energy costs, additional trading costs and slowing global markets.' He adds: 'The foundations of the sector are strong and the transition to zero and ultra-low emission vehicles continues apace but we need more policies and measures that support manufacturing and encourage investment into the UK at this most challenging of times.' Chris Knight, automotive partner at KMPG, said consumer demand for new cars remains high despite the cost of living crisis, but added the supply shortages mean that manufacturers still don't have the ability to produce cars at pre-pandemic volumes, and 'wont for some time'. The number of UK-built vehicles being exported also dwindled once again in April. SMMT said the closure of a major UK car plant last year was continuing to have an impact on export figures. Shifts: Exports of British-built vehicles fell in April, the SMMT said The SMMT said car makers urgently need 'relief on specific input costs, most notably energy, which have doubled in the last year' Production output for overseas markets fell by 20.8 per cent in April, driven by a 68 per cent slump in shipments to the US, and a 10.4 per cent drop in exports across Asia. But, three in five cars exported headed to the EU in April, representing a 5 per cent uplift in shipments, while production for the UK grew for the second consecutive, surging 60.1 per cent. This substantial rise was primarily the result of new models coming to market, attracting buyers into showrooms, but is flattered by comparison with April 2021 when the economy was restarting after lockdown with demand subdued, the SMMT said. Around one in four cars made in April was electrified, equivalent to 16,010 units, up 2.1 per cent on the same month a year ago, bolstered by battery electric vehicle output, which was up 38.2 per cent. The SMMT said the data suggested that, despite the sector operating in an 'incredibly tough' economic backdrop, the shift towards battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles was ongoing. Last month, figures from the SMMT revealed that UK car production fell by a third in March, marking the weakest March since the financial crisis in 2009. Just 76,900 cars came off British factory assembly lines in March, compared to 115,498 in the same month in 2021 and 40 per cent down on pre-pandemic outputs. This week, average UK petrol prices reached a new record high of 170.4p a litre, while the average price for diesel was 181.4p a litre on Tuesday, according to data firm Experian Catalist. A year ago today, petrol was 129.0p a litre, with diesel at 131.3p a litre. RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams called the hikes 'another unfortunate landmark'. He added: 'While wholesale prices may have peaked for the time being last week they are still worryingly high which means there's no respite from the record-high pump prices which are so relentlessly contributing to the cost-of-living crisis.' With energy bills rising in Britain, having a smart meter installed in her home has helped Chelmsford mum Sarah to keep tabs on her bills - and save money. Sarah who lives with her two children, aged 16 and six, says: 'With the way things are, I can't afford a quarterly bill: along with the price of everything else, it would be too much. 'So I'm on pay-as-you-go, and the smart meter is really good, because I know exactly what I've used. 'When I'm running low, I know when to top it up. I can see how much I use when I turn on the tumble dryer, it's just there, you can always see what's going on. As the cost of living rises many of us, including Sarah, pictured, are having to juggle finances Sarah, 42, who works in a retirement home near her house, says that she wanted to get a smart meter so she could stop going out to check on the electric meter. She says: 'I wanted to see what I was spending on energy - and I've now got the smart meter in the kitchen, so I see it all the time.' 'I've got the smart meter app on my phone as well, so I know we're not going to go into my emergency credit. 'It's very useful, being able to top up directly in the app. I do it that way all the time now. When it's raining it means that I don't have to walk down to the shops to top up!' Sarah says that as the weather has warmed up, the information from the smart meter has helped her make decisions such as leaving the tumble dryer off, and hanging clothes outside instead. Every household in Britain is being offered a smart meter at no extra cost. 'It saves money as the heating isn't on' On April 1, the energy price cap increased for 22million customers. Some people's bills increased by as much as 693 per year. Research by Smart Energy GB found that three-quarters (73%) of British people have already tried to change the way they use energy - with one in four (28%) saying they no longer feel in control of household budgets. Smart meters can help you keep track of energy use, making you more aware of what you use Having a smart meter installed makes keeping track of energy use easy, with an in-home display showing usage in pounds and pence. For Sarah, the smart meter has changed the way she thinks about her energy use and made her more conscious of how much some appliances cost, particularly the tumble dryer and the heating. Sarah says: 'It helps me to understand how we use electricity over the week - and how that changes at the weekend. 'I think carefully about when I use the washing machine and the tumble dryer, and I make sure that things like the lights in the toilet aren't on. 'At night, I often go upstairs with my little one and we lie in bed with the electric blanket, which means we can switch everything off in the other rooms.' The research found that many Britons (32%) had fallen for myths such as the idea that hand washing dishes is more economical than using a dishwasher (it isn't, it requires more energy and can also use up to nine times as much water). But smart meters offer a clear way to keep track of energy use, Smart Energy GB's research found. More than half (54%) of smart meter users polled in the nationwide survey of 5,000 people believe that having one installed has helped them to understand their energy use better - and 47% feel more in control of their energy use. CountryFile presenter Helen Skelton, who co-authored Smart Energy GB's Super Smart Energy Savers Report said: 'It's worrying to feel that the cost of your energy bill is completely out of your control, but unfortunately the price cap increase means that this is now the case for so many people across the UK. TV presenter Helen Skelton co-authored Smart Energy's report, which revealed how many of us still find understanding energy usage confusing 'People need tangible, long-term solutions. Whilst there are elements of the cost-of-living crisis we can't control, taking steps like getting a smart meter to monitor energy use and being mindful of how long your devices are on for can go some way to helping Brits feel more equipped and in control of their household budgets.' 'My Mum's got one, my cousin's got one' Sarah says she recommends getting a smart meter to everyone in her life - so they can keep tabs on consumption. 'I've got my Mum to get one, my cousin's got one - I've recommended them to everyone,' Sarah says. 'It's just so helpful to be able to see your energy use in pounds and pence. 'My Mum's on monthly bills, but she's found it extremely helpful. Now obviously the prices of everything has gone up, she can really monitor what's going on.' Sarah says she's hopeful that her children will start to take an interest too - although they don't always do so. She says: 'I'll go on and on, 'Turn the lights off, turn the telly off.' Sadly, they don't always listen. 'But sometimes they do get it, and they think: , 'Oh God, Mum's gonna have a go at me again - I'd better turn that off!' Join the energy revolution. Search 'Get a smart meter' Advertisement Britain is not prepared to embark on a mass monkeypox vaccination scheme if the current outbreak continues to spiral, experts fear. Sajid Javid has already ordered health chiefs to stockpile more jabs, as MailOnline revealed last week. But only an extra 20,000 have been bought enough to inoculate around 10,000 Britons, given that it is administered in two doses. The UK only had around 5,000 doses before May, sources say. Close contacts of all 80 people infected in the UK are already being offered the jab, including all NHS workers who treated them. Officials have yet to widen out the vaccination strategy but leading scientists have suggested the next step could involve a targeted rollout to gay and bisexual men, given a 'notable proportion' of cases spotted so far have been among that community. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline the programme will need to broaden if cases are still rising in a fortnight. He claimed the next sensible step was to offer jabs to men who have sex with men, as well as female sex workers and some NHS staff. The move, if signed off by the UK Health Security Agency, may see vaccines given to tens of thousands of people. Liberal Democrat MPs have called for the Government to be 'totally transparent' about its preparations to ensure monkeypox 'does not become a serious threat'. Nineteen countries across the world mainly in Europe have already detected the smallpox-like virus, sparking alarm across the planet. Until now, infections were only detected sporadically outside of west and central Africa, where the virus is endemic in animals. Some scientists have suggested that the virus may have been spreading silently in the UK since 2018, and that the current flare-up may have actually taken off 'by chance' after entering 'the population that is at present amplifying transmission'. It comes as monkeypox spread to all four UK nations, with health chiefs in Northern Ireland and Wales confirming this morning that they had detected cases. The UKHSA is understood to be considering an online dashboard that tracks case numbers a method which sparked controversy during the coronavirus pandemic. Ministers are expected to tell those with an unusual rash a tell-tale sign of monkeypox to stay away from their pets. Experts have raised alarm that spread to cats, dogs and other pets may allow monkeypox to become endemic among animals in Britain as it is in Africa and trigger sporadic outbreaks. UK health chiefs, who yesterday confirmed the number infected Britons had hit 78, are understood to be planning an online dashboard that tracks case numbers a method which sparked controversy during the coronavirus pandemic. The smallpox vaccine, called Imvanex in the UK and Jynneos in the US, can protect against monkeypox because the viruses causing the illnesses are related Has monkeypox been spreading in Britain undetected for FOUR YEARS? Monkeypox may have been spreading under the radar for years, a former World Health Organization official warned as confirmed cases continue to rise worldwide. Professor David Heymann said the tropical virus, which usually only spreads in west and central Africa, may have been imported to the UK as far back as four years ago. The UK logged its first two monkeypox cases in September 2018 among people who recently travelled to Nigeria. One of their contacts, a NHS worker, also became infected. A fourth person infection in England was spotted in December 2019 among a traveller from Nigeria. Professor Heymann, who used to head the WHO's emergencies department, said the virus may have been spreading undetected since these first cases were detected. He said the outbreak may have taken off from a low level when 'by chance it entered the population that is at present amplifying transmission'. It comes as ministers are expected to tell those with an unusual rash a tell-tale sign of monkeypox to stay away from their pets. Experts have raised alarm about the potential of the virus spreading to cats, dogs, rabbits and hamsters. There are fears this could allow monkeypox to become endemic among animals in Britain as it is in Africa and trigger sporadic outbreaks. UK health chiefs, who yesterday confirmed the number infected Britons had hit 78, are understood to be planning an online dashboard that tracks case numbers a method which sparked controversy during the coronavirus pandemic. Advertisement Professor Jonathan Ball, a virologist from the University of Nottingham, told MailOnline that the outbreak is still 'relatively small' and should be containable. But he said it 'makes sense' to secure more jabs as an extra tool to limit the spread of the virus. And Professor David Livermore, a microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline that while the supply currently 'seems adequate' it is 'worth checking how quickly and readily vaccine manufacture could be scaled up'. Britain is currently offering the Imvanex jab to anyone considered to be high-risk contacts of confirmed cases. The strategy, known as ring vaccination, involves inoculating and monitoring close contacts to limit the spread of the disease. EU health chiefs have called on other countries to make plans to implement a similar strategy. Up to 1,000 doses of Imvanex have already been sent to NHS hospitals, as part of the first step of the inoculation plan. And the UK has an extra 3,500 doses on top of this. Meanwhile, the UKHSA last week secured a deal for another 20,000 doses from Bavarian Nordic, Imvanex's Danish manufacturer. Paul Chaplin, chief executive of Bavarian Nordic, told the Wall Street Journal that it had received enquiries from dozens of countries. Stocks are 'currently limited', the paper reported. However, immediate demand can be met with doses kept in 'storage'. Mr Chaplin's comments suggest that the UK will get the extra doses within the next few weeks. But the UKHSA, tasked with procuring the jabs, has declined to comment on when the jabs will arrive. It raises questions about when the UK will actually get the vaccines. Amid the secrecy over the UK's deal, Germany yesterday announced it had bought 40,000 doses. Meanwhile, the US has spent $299million (240million) for 13million doses due to be delivered in 2023 and 2024, suggesting a cost of 18 per dose. American health chiefs said this was part of a standard and ongoing order for virus preparedness, although they admitted some may be used to respond to monkeypox. Only one recent deal following an imported monkeypox case from a Nigerian traveller in 2021 to buy Imvanex is accessible on the UK Government's website. The 'urgent requirement', as it was listed, saw ministers pay just shy of 20,000 for roughly 3,200 doses, equating to around 6 per dose. Professor Hunter told MailOnline the next two weeks are 'crucial' and if monkeypox cases continue to rise then we will not have enough vaccines to jab necessary groups. 'If cases are levelling off then it may be fine, but if it is rising we will likely need to vaccinate more widely, targeting particular groups,' he said, pointing to MSM communities. 'That is likely what people are thinking in the UKHSA,' he said. Daisy Cooper MP told MailOnline: 'It is critical that the Government is totally transparent about what preparations it is making to ensure that monkeypox does not become a serious threat to public health. 'The UK's scientists did a heroic job throughout the Covid pandemic and we should listen to them now. 'The experts are far better placed to know whether we should be planning for a wider vaccination effort than any politician.' She said that if the Government started its inquiry into the Covid pandemic in 2020 then the UK 'could have learnt lessons that would help us now, to prevent any further spread of the monkeypox virus'. Health chiefs have warned monkeypox, a virus endemic in parts of Africa and is known for its rare and unusual rashes, bumps and lesions, could also spread to some pets and become endemic in Europe. Undated handout file image issued by the UK Health Security Agency of the stages of Monkeypox However, some experts said the UK's smallpox vaccine capacity should be sufficient to get the country through the outbreak. Professor Ball told MailOnline: 'It doesn't make financial sense to stockpile vaccines or treatments in the eventuality that you might get an outbreak. 'These things have a limited shelf-life and you would be constantly wasting then replenishing stocks. 'At the moment the outbreak is still relatively small, and this is a virus that should be relatively easy to contain through normal infection control practices identifying those infected and isolating them, then identifying and monitoring their contacts. 'Vaccines give us that extra help to control outbreaks and to reduce likelihood of serious disease. So it makes sense to try to secure more vaccine supplies.' Professor Livermore told MailOnline that the UK's current capacity of around 5,000 doses plus the 20,000 on order 'looks adequate based on current case numbers' and the ring vaccination model being followed. He said: 'There's no evidence that monkeypox will spread rapidly among the general population. Keep away from your pet if you've got monkeypox! Patients are warned that stroking animals could spread disease further Monkeypox patients will be told to keep their distance from family pets in official guidance to be issued later this week. The advice from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will warn of a potential risk of human-to-animal transmission. European health officials have already expressed concerns that animals on the Continent could become permanent reservoirs of disease if it is allowed to make the jump. This would increase the odds of it becoming endemic in Europe. Now the UKs Defra is drawing up guidelines in an attempt to limit the risk of monkeypox patients infecting the likes of cats, dogs and rabbits. There are also fears infected patients could contaminate their pets fur and the illness be passed on to others in their household. Justine Shotton, president of the British Veterinary Association, said she believes the risk of infecting pets is low but was supportive of a cautious approach. It would be a sensible decision to keep your distance from a pet while in quarantine, she said. If I was diagnosed with monkeypox I would do whatever I could to limit contact, such as asking a friend or relative to take care of it. She added: There is currently no evidence of transmission between humans and cats and dogs but we know rabbits and rodents are susceptible. If you have concerns about your pets health - if they have a fever, respiratory issues, poor appetite or lethargy - speak to a vet. The chances are it will be something other than monkeypox but its worth getting it checked. Advertisement 'It hasn't expanded dramatically in West Africa, where it has been established in humans for several years. 'The outbreak would not have received so much attention if it hadn't come so soon after Covid. 'It deserves watching. And it's worth checking how quickly and readily vaccine manufacture could be scaled up. 'But I don't see cause for major current concern on either the virus or the UK's vaccine supply situation.' The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control this week advised countries to review their supply of smallpox vaccines and develop immunisation plans. But it warned nations against jabbing the wider gay and bisexual men communities, due to the limited supply and the risk/benefit ratio of doing so. However, experts told MailOnline this is the next logical step in containing the virus if monkeypox cases continue to rise over the next fortnight. Gay and bisexual men, along with female sex workers and genitourinary health workers who deal with urinary and reproductive issues should be offered the jab at that point, Professor Hunter said. The vaccine, taken as two doses at least 28 days apart, can have a 'significant protective effect' if given within four days of exposure to a monkeypox case. Although not purposefully made for monkeypox, data suggests it's up to 85 per cent effective at preventing an infection because the two viruses are so similar. The vaccines have a shelf life of up to five years if kept in ultra-cold freezers, while they last two years in normal freezers and eight weeks in a fridge after being thawed. Bavarian Nordic last week revealed it had secured a deal with an unnamed country in Europe to supply the jab. Yesterday it announced another deal with another undisclosed nation. It said deliveries will start 'immediately' to ensure a 'rapid response' to the current outbreak. The company, which has seen shares spike from around 19 to 23 in price over the last week, has not announced details of the deals or further orders. Bavarian Nordic claimed it is working to get a 'full overview of the demand' and is in contact with governments who have requested doses. A spokesperson said: 'We cannot share any further details at this point of time other than we are doing our utmost to ensure supply of vaccines to governments both in the short and medium term.' It comes as Wales today logged its first monkeypox infection, after seven more cases were logged in England yesterday. It brings Britain's total to 79 since the first case in the ongoing outbreak was publicised on May 7. Scotland has so far logged one monkeypox case, while no infections have been reported in Northern Ireland. Officials stated a 'notable proportion' have occurred among gay and bisexual men but have not provided an exact breakdown. No gender or age details have been shared, either. Nineteen countries across the world mainly in Europe have now detected the smallpox-like virus over the past three weeks. Three men from western Sydney have been charged after an alleged gang rape of a teenage girl in a Newcastle apartment during a bucks weekend celebration. Andrew David, 28, and Marius Hawell, 20, were arrested in dawn raids on Wednesday after a three month investigation into the alleged February 26 attack. Maurice Hawell, 28, of Bossley Park, had previously been arrested and charged on May 6 over the alleged rape. Police will allege the 19-year-old girl was lured back to an AirBnB apartment in Newcastle West's Parry Street by one of the men before she was attacked. Police will allege the 19 year old girl was lured back to an AirBnB apartment in Newcastle West's Parry Street (pictured) by one of the men before she was attacked Court documents allege the two older men launched the alleged sex attack while the younger man watched, reports the Daily Telegraph. The court documents reveal detective believe more people were in the room at the time of the attack and a second woman may also have been attacked. The two 28-year-olds were charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault in company with other person/s and one count of sexually touch another person without consent. The 20-year-old, from Edensor Park, was charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault in company with other person/s, being that of principal in the second degree. Police have set up Strike Force Bombe to continue the investigations. Three men from western Sydney have been charged after an alleged gang rape of a teenage girl in a Newcastle apartment during a bucks weekend celebration Fairfield Local Court heard Mr David's June 18 wedding guest list was being 'amended' over concerns about its impact on witnesses possibly involved in the case. The lawyer for Mr David, from Horsley Park, told the court his client and his future wife had no plans for a honeymoon. The three accused were granted conditional bail to return to court on July 4. Details of the inner workings of an alleged massive dial-a-dealer drug syndicate have been revealed after police arrested 18 people in early morning raids on Tuesday. Those arrested are alleged to be low to mid-level figures with links to the Alameddine crime network which is involved in a bloody turf war across Sydney. During the raids detectives also seized 36 phones allegedly used to sell drugs including cocaine that would net $250,000 a week in profits - with one phone alone containing 700 alleged customers. Three of those arrested are already back on the streets on bail after appearing in court on Wednesday with court documents providing a glimpse into the operations of the alleged syndicate. 'Hey my fellow patrons we are on delivery and expanded delivery anywhere anytime we have the stuff to make your night and days DYNO as,' one message sent from an alleged dealer on November 17, 2021 to hundreds of alleged customers reads. 'Hello ladies and gentlemen snowy back with the best rockiest bags in town,' another from February 23 this year reads. One of the messages alleged Alameddine drug dealers belonging to the R4W offshoot sent out to hundreds of Sydneysiders (pictured) Wessam El Jajieh (pictured) has been accused of being a low level street dealer and was charged with three offences including supply of less than 1g of cocaine. His barrister denied he is involved with the syndicate Detectives believe street dealers operated under nicknames such as 'Snowy' and 'Chucky' and were part of an offshoot of the Alameddine network known as R4W or Ready for War, court documents seen by The Daily Telegraph show. The raids are the result of a 10-month investigation into the drug syndicate allegedly run by Asaad Alahmad, the brother-in-law of alleged Alameddine kingpin Rafat Alameddine. Detectives on the investigation allege Alahmad discussed with Khaled and Abraham Zreika whether Mohammed Rifai, who uses a wheelchair, could work as dealer. The three allegedly laughed saying he would be 'ideal as he would just sit there'. The three men released on bail on Wednesday are Wessam El Jajieh, Adam Alameddine, and Adam Achrafi with conditions they do not associate with alleged members of the network. An accused member of the Alameddine crime crew was dragged out of his house by police in just a pair of Bonds underwear during raids in Sydney on Tuesday Police said alleged customers on the seized phones could expect a visit from officers (pictured: another of the texts sent to alleged customers) El Jajieh, 22, was charged with three offences including supply of less than 1g of cocaine. His defence barrister Talal Krayem said he was merely an associate of alleged R4W members and denied he had any involvement in the wider syndicate. 'With respect to the allegations made in the antecedents in respect to the Alameddine OCN that is denied,' his barrister told the court. He added his client lives with his parents, is a laborer and is studying building design and management at Western Sydney University. 'I would submit it is a weak crown case, there are a number of holes in the case which I've alluded to and the likelihood of a custodial sentence if he was to be convicted is small,' his barrister said. Achrafi was also released despite the police prosecutor stating detectives will allege he is one of the leaders of R4W. Adam Alemeddine, 25, is charged with supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis. 'Even though this is a very long and colourful fact sheet... involvement is very limited to a few days,' his defence barrister Ahmed Moutasallem said. 'Your Honour, the association with a criminal group is denied.' Magistrate James Viney of Burwood Local Court said he was 'troubled' as to how prosecutors established he was linked to either the Alameddine syndicate or R4W. Those arrested in the police raids on Tuesday are aged between 19 and 28 with the exception of one 39-year-old man also taken into custody who is in hospital. NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said she was confident police had 'cut the head off the snake', shutting down the syndicate altogether Director of State Crime Command Detective Chief Superintendent, Darren Bennett says there will be more 'operational activity planned for this week and this month'. 'So this is essentially the beginning of it,' he told ABC tv on Wednesday. 'This is essentially targeting the root cause of the gangland violence we're all aware of. 'We're going to work hard on these people until they get the message that sort of violence is not acceptable.' Taskforce Erebus was recently formed with the goal of tackling organised crime in NSW following recent shootings. One of those arrested on Tuesday was seen in a gold-plated wheelchair (pictured) One of its roles is to co-ordinate existing operations so police don't get in each other's way. Police began targeting the alleged syndicate last July with the formation of Strike Force Sugarcane. Mr Bennett said the phones seized in the raids provided a treasure trove of information about drug dealers' activities. 'That information will form the basis of a lot of investigations going forward. 'If you've been on those phones you can expect a knock on the door,' he said. Competition over the phones is believed to be a factor in a number of shootings as street dealers fought to steal or keep devices and their lucrative client base. Police are seen speaking with one man arrested in the dawn raids on Tuesday (pictured) A New York City homeless man said he was 'shook' and 'scared' after a murderer handed him a gun he'd just used to kill an innocent subway passenger. The man, who did not want to be identified, 46, told DailyMail.com the suspected shooter Andrew Abdullah gave him the alleged murder weapon and told him 'not to say nothing' moments after Daniel Enriquez, 48, was gunned down at Canal Street Station Sunday. 'Right now, I'm kind of shook, I'm kind of frustrated. I know what I got to do for myself right now. I'm an honest man, a decent man, I ain't bother nobody,' he told DailyMail.com on Wednesday. He said he was 'over by the J and Q' trains near Canal Street on Sunday 'minding my own business' when he saw 'seven [or] eight people downstairs [start] running upstairs, saying: "Oh my God, oh my gosh, somebody just got shot."' 'Then, out of nowhere, a person wearing a blue hoodie, pants, and white sneakers came up to me...and put a gun in my cup. 'Now, I'm not lying to you, I have a jacket on the floor next to the same cup I got right here, put [the gun] inside the jacket, fold the jacket up,' he said. A New York City homeless man, 46, said he was 'shook' and 'scared' after the Q train killer put his 'gun in my cup' Afterward, police instructed him to follow them to a cop car down the street to 'put the jacket inside the cop car' and had him meet with the DA to answer a few questions. They reported 'handcuffed' him, he claimed. The man also said he had his 'mouth closed' and wasn't saying much about the event after the gunman told him not to. 'I haven't said a lot to y'all, the same to [the DA's Office]. I'm just trying to feed myself,' he told DailyMail.com. Abdullah appeared in a Manhattan court on Wednesday after he was accused of pulling a gun and killing Daniel Enriquez, 48, who was traveling to meet his brother for brunch at 11.42am on Sunday. The homeless man, who did not want to be identified, told DailyMail.com the suspected shooter Andrew Abdullah (pictured) gave him the alleged murder weapon and told him 'not to say nothing' Abdullah was is escorted by New York City Police (NYPD) Detectives as he exits arrested from the Police Precinct in New York City on Tuesday Daniel Enriquez was shot in the chest around 11.30am on Sunday as he was on his way to brunch with his brother The alleged killer was seen with his hair up in a bun, wearing an all-white ensemble. His mother also attended the arraignment and was seen leaving the court wearing a black biker jacket, a pink button-down, and black pants. Abdullah was charged with second-degree murder after blinged-up Bishop Lamor Whitehead of the Leaders of Tomorrow International Church negotiated his surrender with the mayor himself. The bishop claimed Abdullah 'doesn't remember anything' about the shooting, but is 'standing in his innocence' and has mental health problems. It remains unclear how Abdullah will plead when he is presented in court. Witnesses said he was pacing up and down the subway car muttering 'no phones' before walking up to Enriquez and shooting him in the chest. Police also revealed on Tuesday afternoon that the suspect was stopped by police 11 minutes after the shooting on Sunday, but that the cops let him go. 'The officers were responding to the shooting, there was a description put out. They observed him walking away from the subway. They stopped him, talked to him, they were satisfied with his answers. He had a different color shirt on and backpack. It was a different description...he had altered his appearance.' Mayor Eric Adams blamed the shooting on the fact that Abdullah was walking the streets when he should have been in jail. He was arrested last month on suspicion of grand larceny for stealing a Lexus, and also committed an armed robbery in February. Adams said that the shooting was also the result of 'America's toxic gun cultures.' Earlier this week, the victim's grief-stricken sister told DailyMail.com in an interview that she hoped her brother's death would bring an end to the violent crime on the subway and finally prompt action from officials. 'I want to make sure that everyone knows Daniel Enriquez was. I don't want anyone else to go through this. His mother was seen leaving court emotional, wearing a black biker jacket, a pink button-down, and black slacks 'The senseless violence has to stop. My brother lost his life. Of all the people on that train, of all the people in New York, they chose him. I don't want him to die in vain,' Griselda Vile said through tears. His sister said she planned to beg the DA not to release Abdullah on bail so that he cannot harm anyone else. 'We have to go back to work every day. I still have to take the train. I take it, my husband takes it, my daughter takes it every day to school. This is one of the things that makes the city great. Bishop Lamor Miller Whitehead in a Fendi suit jacket 'negotiated' on behalf of the subway shooting suspect on Tuesday 'We have no choice, we just went through a pandemic and we have to go back to work. We want our kids to feel safe in New York. 'I mean, we're New Yorkers. We take the train everywhere. I take my students on field trips on the train. I'm going to be speaking to the District Attorney. 'I don't want this person to go back out and do the same thing. This person needs help and prison may not be the answer but my brother will not die in vain. 'New York City does not feel safe and yet we have to go on.' There are grave fears for a young woman who vanished from her home a month ago, with police hoping a public appeal will help them find the missing teen. Merna Kasha, 18, was last seen when a family member dropped her off on Kihilla St in the western Sydney suburb of Fairfield Heights around 8pm on Thursday, April 28. Ms Kasha is described as being of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean appearance, about 160cm tall, slim build, with dark brown, shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. Ms Kasha (pictured) is described as being of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean appearance, about 160cm tall, slim build, with dark brown shoulder-length hair and brown eyes Ms Kasha regularly uses public transport and is known to associate around the Fairfield Heights and Liverpool areas (Pictured: Kihilla Street, Fairfield Heights) She has a tattoo along the middle of her back, and piercings in her lip, nose, and cheek. Ms Kasha regularly uses public transport and is known to associate around the Fairfield Heights and Liverpool areas. The post on the NSW Police Facebook page has received messages of support for the family. One person commented 'very sad news I hope she's found safe and very soon our prayers are with you Feryal...hope God helps you to find your beautiful daughter.' 'WOW that was a while ago now, that would be terrible for her family, it doesn't sound good, praying for a good outcome,' another added. While a third person commented 'missing for a whole month and you are just posting about it now?...I hope she is found safe and well'. Anyone with information about Ms Kasha's whereabouts is urged to contact either Inner West Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A man has been arrested and charged after being allegedly caught infiltrating wedding receptions and taking off with about $16,000 from wishing wells. Footage came to light on Wednesday showing the accused emerging from a back door at one of the eight Melbourne venues he allegedly targeted. Three of the reception events were stolen from, police allege. The 24-year-old Carlton man can be seen walking and running around where a wedding reception was taking place that day. The Carlton man (pictured) was spotted on camera entering a Melbourne wedding reception The man allegedly pretended to be a wedding guest while entering eight venues hosting wedding receptions (pictured is one venue he allegedly went to) in Melbourne Wedding planner Jasmine Arapovic (pictured centre with her partner Nicholas, left and father Tony at the wedding) said her dad had the man in a headlock before police arrived at their family wedding on Sunday. Wedding planner Jasmine Arapovic told Daily Mail Australia she spotted the uninvited guest at a family wedding on Sunday, where her father ended up restraining him in a headlock. '[My partner] took him out into the ballroom area and my father is big in stature, so he made sure he didnt leave the venue,' Ms Arapovic said. They kept the man at the wedding until police arrived. She said she was struck by the audacity of the situation and said the newlyweds felt shocked and violated after hearing about what had happened. Their wishing well had been protected as it was in plain sight at the bridal table, before being locked away later in the night. It was a different story for other couples. Bride Kellee Pace told 9News the man seen at her nuptials had even stopped to write in the wedding guest book. 'It was the best wedding that he apparently had ever attended, and he was feeling awesome and lucky on the night - three-quarters of our wishing well was missing,' Ms Pace said. Police said the accused stole gift cards, jewellery and the cash from eight venues throughout Brunswick, Hawthorn, Fitzroy and Ripponlea between April 2 and May 22 this year. The law caught up with a man on Tuesday where jewelry and gift cards were located at a Carlton property. The accused faces 27 charges, including aggravated burglary, burglary, theft and going equipped to steal. He has been bailed to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on 18 October. Scott Morrison is finally back on the school run days after losing the election to Anthony Albanese and joked he could become an Uber driver for some extra cash, The former Prime Minister dropped his two daughters Abbey and Lily off to school on Thursday morning, saying he's excited to get back to some of his other dad duties. 'I've just dropped the girls off to school this morning and I'm looking forward to being a dad again, it's been a while since I've been able to spend as much time as I would like with the family,' he told 2GB's Ben Fordham. Mr Morrison added he was keen to return to life as a 'quiet Australian in the Shire' in Sydney's south as he and his family move out of Kirribilli House to make way for the new prime minister. The former Prime Minister dropped his two daughters Abbey and Lily off to school on Thursday morning Scott Morrison said he's looking forward to 'being a dad again' to his two daughters Abbey and Lily after losing the election He'd earlier joked to the 2GB host about earning some extra cash through Uber, now that he's been booted out of the top job. 'I was reading an ad for Uber and explaining to people how you can make a bit of extra cash on top of your job and you sent a message through saying maybe that's something for me,' Fordham said. 'I said ''what time's your pick up?'',' Mr Morrison replied. The former PM also revealed he'd received a few surprising phone calls from other current and former state premiers around the country after the election loss. 'It was lovely to hear from former (South Australian) premier Steve Marshall, Dom (Perrottet) here in NSW, I had a chat to Gladys (Berejiklian) the other night and Jeremy (Rockliff) down there in Tassie,' he said. 'I got a lovely message from Dan (Andrews) and I had a good chat with Mark McGowan. 'We all worked through a time as leaders of governments together and it was very difficult ... I can assure you all of us were just trying to do the best we could to try and bring Australia through safely.' Mr Morrison is seen hugging his two daughters after losing the election on Saturday night The former PM is seen driving with his family as they prepare to move out of Kirribilli House Mr Morrison also said he rang Mr Albanese and 'wished him well' after the election. Earlier this year claims were made that Ms Berejiklian, the former NSW premier, described Mr Morrison as a 'horrible, horrible person' who was untrustworthy in leaked text messages. She later said in a statement she had 'no recollection' of the texts. WA premier Mark McGowan had regularly bickered with Mr Morrison about WA's hard border with the eastern states for most of the two-years of the pandemic. For months at a time the border was closed to every other state and territory in Australia and Mr Morrison's protests only hardened their resolve. The former PM even called WA locals 'cave people' for hiding behind the border wall in pursuit of a 'zero-Covid' policy. Mr Morrison stressed he had 'no plans' to leave federal politics and was looking forward to getting back to his role as the member for Cook. He also said he would give his full support to the next Liberal leader, which is tipped to be Peter Dutton. 'You accept the result and you move on and you're thankful for the opportunity that you've had to serve the country,' he said. West Australian Premier Mark McGowan admitted he doesn't know what to do with an under construction $200 million Covid quarantine facility after rejecting the idea it could be used for backpackers. The 500-bed 'purporse-built' Bullsbrook Centre for National Resilience is still under construction near RAAF Base Pearce, an hour's drive north of Perth, and it won't be open until at least late June. Mr McGowan told state parliament that because interstate and international visitors were no longer being quarantined they were faced with a '$64 million question'. WA Premier Mark McGowan is scratching around for ideas as to how to use a quarantine Covid quarantine facility that is being built outside of Perth now travellers are not being quarantined 'Maybe there is some use we can put it to outside of a pandemic or a disaster (but) we haven't quite landed on what that is yet,' Mr McGowan said. 'We're seeking feedback from people as to what it can be used for. 'It's not in the heart of the city. So you know, in terms of backpackers or something, it can't really be used for that.' The facility was announced in August last year to replace the CBD hotels used to quarantine international and interstate travellers at the time. The 500-bed Bullsbrook Centre for National Resilience is still being constructed but already it appears to be surplus to requirements The Commonwealth, which originally was reluctant to back the idea, agreed to pick up the construction tab of $200million, but the WA government will be responsible for final fit-out and operating costs. Mr McGowan said his government would meet that commitment but he didn't want the facility to be a 'long-term, ongoing drain on the budget for something that doesn't have anyone in it'. The premier said his government would employ 'minimum staff for a limited period of time' to make it 'operational'. Mr McGowan speculated that the facility could be used for disaster relief. 'As you know every Christmas we have disasters, we have fires and cyclones. Perhaps there is a use there at some points during the year,' he said. One idea raised but already rejected by Mr McGowan was to use the Bullsbrook facility to house backpackers, which was considered impractical considering its distance from the Perth CBD He also suggested the Commonwealth could use it as detention facility, despite the previous Morrison government rejecting that idea. 'I know all the time they're deporting people with criminal records or people who overstayed visas or what have you, they might want to use it for those purposes,' Mr McGowan said. 'And certainly it would be a much more affordable option than what they do on Christmas Island.' Mr McGowan said he hadn't tried to 'score political points' over the potential white elephant but said he did not make the decision to leave it a year into the pandemic before committing to build it. 'If the pandemic went on for five years everyone would be so grateful. Turns out that the requirement to quarantine has now sort of expired,' he said. Earlier this year, Australian Medical Association WA president Mark-Duncan Smith labelled the facility as 'a little too much, a little too late', saying a smaller facility should have been built in much a shorter timeframe. The Morrison government also funded quarantine facilities for Melbourne and Brisbane as part of a $1.3 billion commitment, but all are threatening to be white elephants. The $580 million, 1000-bed Victorian one, located north of Melbourne, opened in May and had just 10 initial 'guests', who had to pay $1500 for a week's stay. Security was maintained by 30 police officers and 500 CCTV cameras, with 560 staff required to wear trackers at all times. In making its case for the facility in April last year, the Victorian government estimated it would accommodate 2100 arrivals per week but in its first three months of operation it only hosted 200 people. A shot inside Victoria's $580 million Covid quarantine facility, which was initially planned to host 2100 arrivals per week but in its first three months of operation only hosted 200 people The Queensland government independently contracted their own Wellcamp Covid quarantine facility outside Toowomba, in addition to the one still being built by the Commonwealth, which is near Brisbane Airport. Wellcamp also has 1000 beds and opened in February but as of last month had reportedly hosted only 504 travellers. The facility was built by developers Wagner Corporation but despite taxpayer money being used for that, it is only being leased by the Queensland government. Costs have been declared commercial-in-confidence but media has speculated the first year's operation will slug taxpayers $190 million. Advertisement Meghan Markle's estranged sister has begged her to stop 'watching and doing nothing' after their father was rushed for emergency treatment after he suffered a stroke. Samantha Markle, 57, compared her sibling's lack of action to 'elder abuse' after she was accused of failing to contact her since news first broke of Thomas Markle's ailing heath earlier this week. Retired lighting director Mr Markle, 77, who lives in Rosarito, Mexico, was struck down and lost his speech only a week before he had been due to fly to London for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. It is not yet known whether Meghan, 40, who is estranged from him, will go to his bedside at a clinic in Chula Vista, California only a few hours' drive from the home she shares with Prince Harry in Montecito. But speaking to GB News's Dan Wootton Tonight, Samantha Markle became emotional as she spoke of Meghan's 'negligence' and accused her of failing to contact the family following her father's stroke. 'He's been through so much,' she explained. 'Two heart attacks, a pandemic and now a stroke. None of us have heard from Meghan - that's negligence. 'If she can't find it in her heart or have the moral conscience to step forward then shame on her. He doesn't have a lot of time. She's going to have to live with that for the rest of her life'. Ms Markle was contacted for comment. Speaking to GB News's Dan Wootton Tonight, Samantha Markle (right) became emotional as she spoke of Meghan's 'negligence' and accused her of failing to contact the family following her father's stroke Samantha Markle, 57, compared her sibling's lack of action to 'elder abuse' after she was accused of doing nothing when news broke of Thomas Markle's ailing heath earlier this week. They are pictured together above in 2008 Thomas Markle had revealed to MailOnline's Dan Wootton on GB News last month that he wanted to visit Britain for the Jubilee It is not known whether Meghan, who is estranged from her father Thomas Markle (together), is planning to go to his bedside When asked by Dan if she felt Meghan should offer to help with the medical costs moving forward, Samantha said: She sees all of this. Im getting the feeling that I would be spinning my wheels to try and appeal to her heart now. 'She could have contacted him to work things out at any time and she hasnt. How can she watch him suffer like this? Who does that? Mr Markle's blood pressure had been high in the preceding days, it was said. It means that Mr Markle will miss the celebrations in London just as he missed Meghan's wedding to Harry in 2018 after suffering a heart attack. Mr Markle, who lives in Rosarito, Mexico, was taken by ambulance across the border to the US at around 9.30pm on Monday. His son Thomas Jr, 55, was with him and is at the hospital near San Diego, while Samantha was last night said to be flying in from her home in Florida. In the footage posted online, Mr Markle is seen lying on a stretcher wearing an oxygen mask. Two paramedics try to lift him while speaking in Spanish and ask him what his name is. Somebody behind the camera responds that his name is Thomas. Speaking in English, one of the paramedics says: 'I'm going to be your paramedic. You're going to the US.' Mr Markle was due in London next week and was to have been a guest on TV during coverage of the jubilee celebrations. The trip would have fulfilled his 'long-held wish to visit Windsor Castle', MailOnline's Dan Wootton wrote. His health, however, seems certain to have dashed that hope, just as it scuppered Mr Markle's plans to walk Meghan down the aisle in 2018 when he was forced to pull out of the ceremony. He underwent surgery to repair the damage and Prince Charles stood in for him, performing the father of the bride's duties during the wedding service. A young Meghan Markle is pictured with her father Thomas Markle, a retired lighting director who lives in Mexico Meghan Markle and husband Prince Harry after his polo victory at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club on Sunday The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Westminster Abbey in London on March 9, 2020 - before stepping down as senior royals Mr Markle has endured a difficult relationship with Meghan and her husband Prince Harry whom he has previously accused of being 'snotty'. He and his youngest daughter have not spoken since before the wedding, when they were texting while he lay in bed at the hospital, he has claimed. According to Mr Markle, at that point they 'pretty much said goodbye' and Harry told him: 'If you had listened to me, this wouldn't have happened to you.' The Sussexes were said to have been angry at Mr Markle selling photos of himself to a paparazzi agency in the run-up to the wedding. Last month he announced he was flying to the UK for the royal celebrations and said he wanted to meet Harry and Meghan, who will be attending, along with their son Archie, three, and 11-month-old daughter Lilibet. Mr Markle said he also wanted to meet Prince Charles and joked that they had both been 'ghosted by our own children'. Speaking to GB News from his home in Rosarito at the time, Mr Markle said: 'I'm looking forward to it. 'I'm going to show my respect for the Queen and I'm going to make sure that the Queen understands that my entire family respects the Queen and the royals. 'We admire them and we want them to know that's how we feel about them and that's how we feel about England.' He added that he felt he had a right to meet his grandchildren. In her interview with Oprah Winfrey in March last year, Meghan talked about the betrayal she felt when it emerged that her father had been working with a photo agency. She said: 'We called my dad and I asked him [if he talked to the tabloids] and he said 'No, absolutely not' and I said, 'You know the institution has never intervened for anything for us, but they can try to go in and kill this story, but if they do this once we're not going to be able to use that same leverage to protect our own kids one day. I just need you to tell me and if you tell me the truth we can help.' ' According to Meghan, her father 'wasn't able to do that' and she said his refusal to answer was 'so hard for me to reconcile'. A town best known as a haven for marijuana smoking had the biggest double-digit swing backlash against both the Greens and Labor at the federal election. Nimbin, in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, usually votes for the Greens and has a Hemp Embassy shop on its main street. But on Saturday, the Greens suffered a huge 19 per cent swing against it in the Nimbin Central School booth within the safe Nationals electorate of Page, Australian Electoral Commission results showed. This occurred despite an election campaign visit from Greens Senate candidate David Shoebridge, a former NSW state upper house MP who has called for recreational cannabis use to be legalised. Labor's primary vote in Nimbin fell by 10 per cent, even though the ALP won the federal election. The left-wing vote instead went to independent candidate Dr Hanabeth Luke, a senior lecturer at Southern Cross University in Lismore who had help from multimillionaire Simon Holmes a Court's Climate 200 campaign. A town best known as a haven for marijuana smoking had the biggest backlash against both the Greens and Labor at the federal election (pictured is Greens Senate candidate David Shoebridge campaigning in Nimbin on May 2) The environmental science academic and activist won the Nimbin booth with 29.22 per cent of the primary vote, ahead of Greens candidate Kashmir Miller on 28.65 per cent, Labor's Patrick Deegan on 19.48 per cent and sitting Nationals member Kevin Hogan on just 6.91 per cent - suffering only a 0.6 per cent swing against him. Dr Luke said the coal seam gas issue helped her win the Nimbin booth. 'The outcome at this booth was a welcome surprise to myself and my team,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I suspect this strong result related to the fact that people in Nimbin know me for my PhD work on the social and economic impacts of coal seam gas development.' The Climate 200 campaign only ran independents against sitting Liberal and Nationals MPs but not Labor members. This saw 'teal' independents pick up the Liberal seats of Wentworth, North Sydney and Mackellar in Sydney and the Melbourne electorates of Kooyong and Goldstein. The tactics to only target Coalition seats meant the Greens were the big beneficiaries of protest voters in Labor electorates. In the Labor seat of Richmond, on the NSW far north coast, re-elected MP Justine Elliot didn't face a challenge from the Climate 200 campaign. Nimbin, in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, usually votes for the Greens and has a Hemp Embassy shop on its main street The polling booths that backed the Greens BYRON BAY (Richmond seat - Labor): 54 per cent primary vote DOCKLANDS (Melbourne seat - Greens): 47.2 per cent SOUTH BRISBANE (Griffith seat- now Greens): 46 per cent primary vote NEWTOWN (Grayndler seat - Labor): 44.41 per cent primary vote Source: Australian Electoral Commission Advertisement Within her electorate, Greens candidate Mandy Nolan won 54 per cent of the primary vote in the Byron Bay polling booth in an area that overlaps with the Greens state seat of Ballina. The Greens heartland is now a former abattoir and whaling station town with a median house price of $2.8million. Its primary vote in Byron Bay was even higher than Greens leader Adam Bandt's 47.2 per cent primary vote share at the Docklands booth in his Melbourne electorate, which overlaps with a state seat of the same name. Within Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's own Sydney electorate of Grayndler, Greens candidate Rachael Jacobs won 44.41 per cent of the primary vote in the Newtown polling booth - equal to the long-time Labor MP's vote share. The PM's inner-city electorate overlaps with the Greens state seats of Newtown and Balmain. In the Brisbane seat of Griffith, the Greens had 46 per cent of the primary vote, with victorious candidate Max Chandler-Mather easily outpolling defeated Labor frontbencher Terri Butler on 26.86 per cent. This booth also falls within the state Greens seat of South Brisbane, previously held by Labor premiers Anna Bligh and Vince Gair and until 2020, former deputy premier Jackie Trad. Nimbin falls within the state seat of Lismore which Labor won back in 2019 for the first time since 1965 as the coal seam gas issue turned voters off the Nationals. The left-wing vote instead went to independent candidate Dr Hanabeth Luke, a senior lecturer at Southern Cross University in Lismore Dr Luke said her doctorate had focused on the CSG issue, with her thesis helping her win the support of Nimbin environmentalists. 'There is a strong environmental network around Nimbin,' she said. Dr Luke took credit for galvanising voters against CSG. 'In my PhD work 10 years ago I developed the poll and surveys that showed very low levels of support for unconventional gas development across the region,' she said. 'Large yellow signs on the outskirts of Lismore say "87% said no to CSG". That came from my PhD.' Dr Luke had help from multimillionaire Simon Holmes a Court's Climate 200 campaign In 2003 Dr Luke was filmed confronting former UK prime minister Tony Blair about the war in Iraq. In another intriguing development, former prime minister Scott Morrison's government had the highest primary vote in the Lismore booths where two devastating floods have hit the city this year. Mr Hogan, the Nationals MP, had 30.89 per cent of the first-preference vote at the Southern Cross University campus booth. The Greens came third with 19.78 per cent of the vote behind Labor on 20.05 per cent. At her workplace, Dr Luke came fourth with 17.89 per cent. Minted to celebrate the assassination of Julius Caesar, this Roman coin may even have been worn around the neck of one of his murderers. Now the rare gold Eid Mar (Ides of March) coin is being sold and could fetch 1.5million at auction. It is one of only three known to exist and unique in having a hole in it so it could be worn as a pendant. Julius Caesar was killed by Roman senators led by Brutus and Cassius on March 15, 44BC The rare gold Eid Mar (Ides of March) coin is being sold and could fetch 1.5million at auction The coin, celebrating Caesar's assassination were struck two years after the event, documented here in Carry On form It has been on display at the British Museum for the last decade, on long-term loan from a private collector who has now decided to sell it. Caesar was killed by Roman senators led by Brutus and Cassius on the Ides of March March 15 in 44BC. The coin, due to be sold in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, shows a portrait of Brutus on the head. The reverse has two daggers representing Brutus and co-conspirator Cassius, plus a pileus a felt cap worn by freed slaves, alluding to Romes freedom from the tyranny of Caesar. The Eid Mar coins were struck in 42BC by a military mint travelling with Brutus and Cassiuss forces. This rare gold version more were made in silver was likely to have been worn by a high-ranking supporter and, it has been speculated, one of Caesars murderers. Arturo Russo, of specialist ancient coin firm Numismatica Ars Classica, which is selling this one, said it commemorated one of the most important moments in Western history. This rare gold version more were made in silver was likely to have been worn by a high-ranking supporter and, it has been speculated, one of Caesars murderers Arturo Russo, of specialist ancient coin firm Numismatica Ars Classica, which is selling this one, said it commemorated one of the most important moments in Western history A fit and healthy mum's life has been 'turned upside down' after she lost her ability to walk two months ago while sick with Covid-19. Stacey King, 40, from New Zealand, caught Covid in March and at first experienced typical symptoms - a cough, aches and pains. But on the fifth day of her infection, the fully-vaccinated mother's life completely changed when she woke up unable to walk. 'My life has been flipped upside down. I can't do any of the things I used to enjoyed doing,' Ms King told NewsHub. Fit and healthy mother Stacey King, 40, has been unable to walk since catching Covid in March 'It's like walking through mud up to my knees. It takes me seven minutes to get up a flight of stairs.' Ms King bought her own wheelchair and booked in to see a neurologist, but was told there would be a four-month wait. After her health declined, she went to hospital where she was diagnosed during her four-day stay with functional neurological disorder (FND), a condition where signals between the brain and body are disrupted. Doctors told the mother the condition was caused by stress and had nothing to do with her having Covid. The long Covid sufferer believes the two ailments were related and is now calling for greater awareness about the impacts of the virus. 'I was absolutely floored. There seems to be trivialisation and a determination to disconnect from the virus as much as possible,' Ms King said. Ms King bought her own wheelchair which she has been using to get around since losing mobility Ms King (pictured right, with a friend) was left unable to walk after she contracted Covid Ms King, who is based in Wellington, opened up about her battle in a Facebook post in March. The triple-vaccinated mother said she was the healthiest and fittest she 'had ever been' prior to becoming symptomatic and had been exercising regularly and avoiding unhealthy food. WHAT IS LONG COVID? Long Covid is used to refer to coronavirus symptoms which persist for months after the original infection. A person is considered to have long Covid if their symptoms continue longer than four weeks after the initial infection. Sufferers can experience a range of symptoms including extreme tiredness, chest pain, shortness of breath, brain fog, memory loss and changes to taste and smell, among other ailments. Source: Healthdirect.gov.au Advertisement But on the sixth day of her infection, she was rushed to hospital in an ambulance and placed on steroids, antibiotics, and an inhaler after her oxygen levels suddenly dropped. 'I honestly totally underestimated this illness,' she wrote. 'I cannot even walk. I literally shuffle, holding onto the walls or furniture to support myself, from one end of the hallway to the other and then I have to go back to bed. 'At the start of this illness I felt optimistic; Id get through to the other side... now I wonder if I can hop [out] of bed next week and even be able to even walk my son back into his class at school. I wonder how long itll be until I can jump on treadmill and feel fantastic after another run.' Ms King pleaded with others not to underestimate the effects of the potentially deadly virus. 'Im triple-jabbed, healthy, fit, only 40, and this illness has brought me to my knees,' she said. 'The best way to recover from Covid is not to get Covid, but if you do, please REST. You dont know what its going to do to your body and putting undue strain on it while its trying to survive is not safe.' During the pandemic, there have been a number of cases from around the world of Covid patients struggling to move their limbs after catching the virus. Dr Rob Griffiths, the Director of Occupational & Aviation Medicine at the University of Otago, said long Covid was a real condition and sufferers' symptoms needed to be validated. He said that people feel they are not being adequately believed, even gaslighted in some cases, and he, along with other experts in the field, were hoping to provide them with some explanation about the nature of long Covid. Will Smith, 24, (pictured) contracted the virus in March last year when he returned to Victoria after completing his studies at a college in Boston The NZ Ministry of Health's website lists mobility impairment as one of long Covid's most common reported neurological symptoms. In October, Victorian man Will Smith spoke out about his struggle to walk after contracting a mild case of Covid. The talented athlete caught the virus in March 2020 while studying in Boston, in the United States. Speaking at a press conference, the 24-year-old revealed he had been grappling with long Covid for more than 18 months. Mr Smith said he would feel breathless walking around the block and flare-ups of his symptoms would be brought on from simple activities like taking his dog out for a stroll around the block. 'The initial illness was incredibly frightening,' Mr Smith told reporters at the time. 'The feeling of straining against your own body, trying to expand your lungs against this invisible force, struggling to breathe. 'I had such debilitating fatigue that I sometimes couldn't even get out of bed.' In another case, Scottish teenager Sofia was left unable to walk after becoming ill with the virus in October 2020. The infection caused inflammation of her toes, which led to red or purple skin, swelling and chilblain-like blisters, which sparked severe pain in her feet. Barnaby Joyce has been targeted by nasty trolls after sharing a photo of himself surrounded by his staff days after the election loss. The Nationals leader was seen beaming in the photo while wearing his trademark Akubra hat, as his team stood behind him arm-in-arm. 'The saddest part of losing government is having to let go of your staff who have been so loyal and done such a great job,' Mr Joyce captioned the photo. 'Thank you to the hard-working members of my team. You have been so professional and we have achieved so much. I know youll go onto bigger and better things.' But some Australians took the chance to make nasty jokes at Mr Joyce's expense, with one tweeting: 'Can't marry them all, I guess'. Barnaby Joyce has been targetted by nasty trolls after sharing a photo of himself surrounded by his staff days after the election loss The tweet was a reference to Mr Joyce's affair with his former staffer and now fiancee Vikki Campion. The father-of-six was forced to step down from his role as Deputy Prime Minister when the affair was made public. He returned to the role three years later, where he said 'I acknowledge my faults' and 'I hope I come back a better person'. Others criticised the fact Mr Joyce was wearing his Akubra hat while indoors. One troll took the chance to reference Mr Joyce's affair with his former staffer and now fiancee Vikki Campion 'Did no one ever tell you its really bad manners to wear a hat indoors?' one tweeted. 'Barnaby you are from New England we know not to wear hats inside there it's bad manners,' another said. Others offered messages of support to the Nationals leader and his team. 'Wishing all your staff every success for the future, hope the three years goes very quickly so you can get back to govern!' one said. Mr Joyce is now fighting to retain leadership of the Nationals after the Coalition's election bloodbath. The Nationals held all 16 of its seats but failed to pick up the targets of Lingiari in the Northern Territory and Hunter in NSW. Mr Joyce and his allies say he should remain leader because holding all seats is a great achievement during an election loss. He won the leadership by one vote last year - but has lost four allies to retirement or Senate ticket relegation. Potential challengers for leadership include deputy Nationals leader David Littleproud and Gippsland MP Darren Chester. Farmers are 'hoping like hell' they don't get caught up in the war on climate change in the Greens' push for more ambitious emissions targets. The Greens have celebrated its best ever election result with at least three MPs elected and a record 12 representatives in the Senate. The party wants to slash emissions by 75 per cent by 2030 and hit net zero emissions by 2035, 15 years faster than newly-elected Labor's target. Farmers fear their livelihoods could become unviable and threaten food security under bold climate targets and are 'hoping like hell' Labor can obtain the final 76th seat needed to form a majority government. Farmers fear their livelihoods could be at risk if government emissions targets become more ambitions. Pictured is Rhys Turton on his barley farm in WA's Wheatbelt region 'It will simplify things enormously, because if the Labor government is beholden on independents to pass legislation, it makes the job of achieving sensible outcomes much more difficult,' WA Pastoralists and Grazier's Association president Tony Seabrook told The West Australian. 'We need our economy firing, our businesses profitable and we need to remain absolutely export competitive. 'Anything that we do that detracts from those very simple goals will be shooting ourselves in the foot.' WA Farmers grains section president Mic Fels is cautiously optimistic but has concerns about a potential carbon tax. 'All that does is add cost to growers we need to drive tractors and use fertiliser and something like that just makes us less competitive and viable in the global market,' he said. The Greens could have a bigger impact on climate change policies and emissions targets after the party's best ever election result The National Farmers Federation has called for more support for farmers as Australia strives towards a reduced emissions future. President Fiona Simson said the peak national body supported many elements of Labor's climate change policy but hopes it would support farmer by implementing positive sustainability and biodiversity outcomes in the agriculture landscape. 'Among the priority discussion points with the new Government, will be the representation of Australia's food, fibre and forestry interests at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference,' she said. A sensible approach to water management that delivered for communities, farmers and the environment was also a priority for the NFF. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to appoint a new agriculture minister to his new cabinet. Farmers have pleaded for a fair go from the newly elected Labor government and the Greens. Pictured is crop farmer Oscar Pearse near Moree in northern NSW Outgoing minister David Littleproud hoped Labor and the Greens will acknowledge farmers have 'done the heavy lifting already' and would leave them alone, The Greens insist farmers have no reason to fear about their plans for a net zero future. 'If we want to make sure that we have a climate in which farmers can continue to produce the food that we need, then we're going to need to make that transition more quickly than the government is proposing,' Senator Penny Allman-Payne told the ABC. 'We also want to invest $250 million into a centre for research around creating green agricultural Australia as well as increasing transparency around free trade agreements to ensure farmers aren't disadvantaged,' The Greens have assured farmers they have nothing to fear. Pictured is new Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown after claiming the Queensland seat of Ryan Climate and environment policy was the number one issue in several key rural NSW seats at the election, according to the Farmers for Climate Action. In the seats of Gilmore, Page and Eden Monaro, more than 70 per cent of voters said 'effective climate change policies' were important to their vote. Chief executive Fiona Davis said the results proved country voters supported strong climate policy to reduce emissions and protect the farmers. The Archbishop of Canterbury waded into the Partygate row by saying we need to rediscover good standards in public life. Justin Welby said the report shows that culture, behaviour and standards in public life matter. In a statement, the archbishop said we need to be able to trust our national institutions in difficult periods. Sue Grays report shows that culture, behaviour and standards in public life really matter, he said. We need to be able to trust our national institutions, particularly in times of great trouble. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (pictured) has criticised the Government's 'culture, behaviour and standards' following the release of Sue Gray's report Sue Gray (pictured) released her report yesterday, after which Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologised but said he would not quit his role He added: Jesus commands us to serve the most vulnerable and those in need. To help achieve this, we must recover the principles of mutual flourishing and the common good in the way we are governed. Standards in public life are the glue that holds us together we need to rediscover them and abide by them. It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson defied fresh calls to resign following the publication of Ms Gray's report into lockdown law-breaking parties at Downing Street. Last month the archbishop also criticised the Government over its plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said there were "serious ethical questions" about using "deterrence" to stop asylum seekers reaching the UK. He added that that he opposed sending "traumatised" people more than 4,000 miles away without their consent. A shopping centre left abandoned for over a decade is a magnet for urban explorers who film its eerie state of disrepair. The failed 'Brands on Sale' factory outlet centre on busy Queen Street at Campbelltown in Sydney's south-west has sat unused since it went into receivership in 2010. Some locals claim that even when the centre was open, many of the stores inside went unused. The unloved factory outlet has now become a hotspot for young urban explorers to look around in and share footage of on social media. The $65 million shopping centre struggled to attract business before going into receivership in 2010 and being put up for auction in 2013. More than a decade later, it still lies abandoned As each new video emerges from the site it appears increasingly trashed and many have asked what the plan is for the eyesore. 'Its getting more and more smashed up every time someone posts a video of it,' a person commented on the most recent TikTok post of the abandoned site. Some who had visited the property said the site appeared guarded by 'little to no security patrols'. Urban explorers have capitalised on supposedly relaxed security at the site to give outsiders a glimpse into the eerily abandoned building The complex closed over a decade ago after going into receivership in 2010. The four-storey, $65million shopping centre was opened on December 10, 2009 but within 12 months had gone into receivership after it struggled to fill long-term shop leases. Many locals attribute its failure to the establishment of more successful shopping centres nearby. 'It closed early because it couldn't compete with Macarthur Square and Campbelltown Mall,' wrote a local. The $65million centre was opened in December 2009 and went into receivership within 12 months Despite being unused for more than 10 years the centre looks mostly untouched from the outside (pictured in August 2020) 'It was terrible from the day it opened. Half the stores never opened, it was a ghost town even then,' said another. In 2019 plans were released to build six towers on the site of the centre. Subsequent plans in 2021 involved five towers with trees on top of the structures to open up more retail and housing space in Campbelltown. In previous videos some areas of the shopping centre appeared completely untouched by vandals and graffiti artists, but in the latest glance vast areas of the centre appear to be destroyed. Some shops had been wrecked completely with holes in the walls and cabinets littered across the empty shop. A huge pile of debris sat on the foot of the escalator, along with smashed glass, small balls all over the floor and original signage for the unfortunately named 'Thai-tanic' restaurant. Locals fear the state of the shopping centre will continue to decline without a firm plan for its future. Many have called for the centre to be transformed sooner rather than later to provide housing for hundreds in a tight housing market. 'Could be turned into public housing,' a commenter wrote. 'Perfect to be renovated into housing is (sic) they put the extra money into it,' wrote another. The city hopes to capitalise on new planning laws that will allow the Campbelltown city district to be extended. Daily Mail Australia has approached Campbelltown City Council for comment on the site. A care worker claimed he was sexually discriminated against by his female boss who called him '50 per cent of a man' for driving an automatic car, an employment tribunal heard. Michael Fuller said he was harassed, victimised and discriminated against because he was a man in a predominantly female workforce. He alleged his boss, area manager Hazel Roberts, told him he was less of a man for driving an automatic instead of a manual and called him gay for using too much aftershave. Care worker Michael Fuller said he was harassed, victimised and discriminated against because he was a man in a predominantly female workforce (picture posed by models) Mr Fuller claimed he was described as 'half a man' as he drove an automatic car. Pictured here is a 2022 Chevrolet Camero SS with a 6.2-litre V-8 engine mated to a six-speed manual box Despite being heterosexual, Mr Fuller also claimed he was a victim of sexual orientation discrimination by the 'gay' comment. But an employment tribunal dismissed all of his claims, ruling they either did not happen or were not serious enough to be classed as discrimination. It was decided that calling him half a man for not changing gear behind the wheel was simply 'an ill-judged joke about automatic cars' and did not 'violate his dignity'. The tribunal, held in Reading, Berkshire, heard Mr Fuller worked for care providers ACASA from August 2016 as a team leader at a supported housing site for older adults called Place Court in Aldershot, Hampshire. In July 2018, Mr Fuller said his boss Mrs Roberts made a number of comments about him, including calling him gay. Mrs Roberts denied making these comments. He said Mrs Roberts called him '50 per cent of a man' because he drove an automatic car. The tribunal accepted Mrs Roberts had said this, but found it was 'an ill-judged joke by Mrs Roberts about automatic cars... We find that this comment did not have the effect of violating [Mr Fuller's] dignity or of creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for him'. Mr Fuller claimed Mrs Roberts also called him 'gay' for using too much fragrance. The tribunal heard he kept sprays in the office to use after taking a cigarette break and accepted Mrs Roberts complained when he did this. However, the tribunal did not agree that Mrs Roberts called Mr Fuller gay. Employment judge Emma Hawksworth said: 'We find that it was an extrapolation by [Mr Fuller] based on Mrs Roberts' comments about fragrance. 'He did not say that Mrs Roberts had called him gay in his formal or informal grievance. He first raised it in his grievance appeal appeal meeting in October 2019. 'When asked at that meeting 'Did [Mrs Roberts] say you are gay?,' he replied, 'She insinuated'.' At the tribunal, Mr Fuller elaborated on this and claimed Mrs Roberts 'said to me that I was gay because, in her opinion, I wore too much aftershave/perfume'. He later claimed Mrs Roberts said 'You smell like a poof' or 'You must be gay because you spray yourself.' The judge ruled it was 'most likely' that Mr Fuller had 'inferred from Mrs Roberts' comments about his fragrance that she was referencing sexual orientation, but that she did not actually use the word gay or p**f'. The tribunal heard Mr Fuller made a grievance against Mrs Roberts in April 2019, in which he complained about bullying, invasion of privacy, victimisation, breaking confidentiality, defamation of character, demeaning behaviour and harassment, insulting behaviour, malicious intent and discrimination. He also complained that he had not had a pay rise when other carers had received one. When he lost these claims, he appealed and again lost. But at the tribunal, he raised complaints of sexual harassment and discrimination. The judge found he had not made reference to being sexually discriminated against before. She noted: 'The words harassment and discrimination are used, but there is no reference to any protected characteristic. '[Mr Fuller] says 'As a man, being bullied by a lady is horrible' but this is not the same as saying that Mrs Roberts would have treated a female employee any differently. It did not amount to an allegation of direct sex discrimination. '[He] describes himself as a 'vulnerable man' and says 'as a man I should not have to work in these conditions its untenable'. However, there is no reference to being treated differently than women, or treated less favourably because of his sex. '[Mr Fuller] said he felt singled out because he did not get a pay rise, but he did not say he was being singled out because [he was a man]. 'We have found that Mrs Roberts said the claimant was '50 per cent of a man' in about July 2018. This was unwanted conduct, and it expressly referenced him being a man. 'Taking into account the context in which it was made, our finding [was] that it was said as a joke about automatic cars. 'Most of the staff at Place Court were female. We considered whether [Mr Fuller] being a man in that setting impacted either consciously or subconsciously on the way Mrs Roberts treated him, particularly in the light of her comment '50 per cent of a man'. 'We have decided, on the basis of the evidence we heard, that it did not, and that Mrs Roberts would have treated a woman in [his] circumstances in the same way.' Peter Dutton has revealed he's bald because of a medical condition after a Labor frontbencher was slammed for likening him to the Harry Potter villain 'Voldemort' in a brutal insult. The incoming Liberal Party leader on Thursday said he had accepted an apology from Tanya Plibersek, after she made fun of his appearance on Queensland's Radio 4BC on Wednesday. Mr Dutton said: 'I'm not bald by choice, I was diagnosed with a skin condition a couple of years ago, it's all just the reality of getting older. 'You read that sort of stuff online and it's sort of the sewer of Twitter I just don't think you need to be nasty and mean. 'I'm not the prettiest bloke on the block but I'm hopeful I'll be pretty effective.' Taking the controversy in his stride, Mr Dutton added his two teenage sons also regularly tease him about his bald head. He said he reminds them 'that I had more hair than they did at 16 and 17' and that they may also have the same gene. Peter Dutton has revealed he's bald because of a medical condition after a Labor frontbencher was slammed for likening him to the Harry Potter villain 'Voldemort' in a brutal insult Peter Dutton (pictured), who is expected to be the next leader of the Liberal Party, has been compared to Harry Potter's archenemy Voldemort, by senior Labor MP Tanya Plibersek Outspoken radio host Ray Hadley blasted the woman expected to become Australia's next Education Minister, arguing that if a male politician made similar remarks mocking a female MP's looks it would end their career. 'Just imagine this, if a male politician had made reference to a female politician and her looks. It would have been resignation time,' he said on 2GB radio. 'So let's apply the same rule to you Tanya that would apply to any man making an unkind and unnecessary comment about the appearance of a woman. 'Start thinking about that before you make another comment.' In jawdropping comments in the wake of Labor's historic election win, Ms Plibersek said a lot of children who have watched the films will be very 'frightened' of the former Defence Minister when they see him on TV. 'I am saying he looks a bit like Voldemort and we will see whether he can do what he promised he would do when he was last running for leader, which is smile more,' Ms Plibersek told 4BC radio. Ms Plibersek with her boss, now-Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Tanya Plibersek did the right thing by apologising. She apologised. It was a mistake. It shouldn't have been said, we all make mistakes from time to time. What we need to do is to move on from them and it is how we respond to them. Tanya Plibersek responded appropriately - Anthony Albanese Hadley said the comments were probably made out 'over confidence or exuberance' after winning office. 'It's a lot easier to be in opposition than it is to be in government, as Tanya found that out yesterday,' he said. 'When you are in opposition, you may have gotten away with comments like that in the past but now you're in government, likely to be a frontbencher, you can't get away with that sort of stuff.' He added that it's a dangerous precedent to make people's appearance the benchmark in which we discuss politics. 'There are some very ordinary heads on your side of parliament as well,' she said. 'It really tells you a bit about Tanya and where she sits. I'm greatly disappointed in that comment.' However, Anthony Albanese defended Ms Plibersek over the comments on Sunrise, arguing that Scott Morrison teased him about his appearance in the past. Host Natalie Barr on Thursday grilled the new Prime Minister about the brutal insult made against Mr Dutton, pointing out there would be 'hell to pay' if a man mocked a female MP's looks. The morning show asked Mr Albanese about whether he plans to 'pull her into line' over the comments, before he responded: 'she has already apologised'. 'There are a few comments made by the former Prime Minister about my appearance you might recall as part of the election campaign. We should not refer to people's appearance, let's discuss policy differences,' Mr Albanese said. Anthony Albanese (right) has defended Tanya Plibersek on Sunrise (Natalie Barr left beside David Koch) after she likened the incoming Opposition Leader to the bald-headed Harry Potter villain 'Voldemort', arguing that Scott Morrison also teased him about his appearance in the past Peter Dutton's remark about own looks taken from 2001 campaign On Thursday, Peter Dutton said: 'I'm not the prettiest bloke on the block but I'm hopeful I'll be pretty effective' He borrowed from former Queensland Nationals senator Ron Boswell's 2001 campaign slogan: 'He's not pretty but he's pretty effective' Back then, Senator Boswell faced a strong challenge to his Senate spot from One Nation leader Pauline Hanson - who lost and had to wait until 2016 to be elected to Federal Parliament Advertisement Mr Albanese reiterated he's 'dead serious' about changing the way politics operates in this country but also understands that 'people make mistakes'. 'When they make a mistake they should apologise and we move on,' he said. 'That's one of the ways that we can change the way that politics operates and Tanya has done the appropriate thing here. 'Tanya Plibersek did the right thing by apologising. She apologised. It was a mistake. It shouldn't have been said, we all make mistakes from time to time. 'What we need to do is to move on from them and it is how we respond to them. Tanya Plibersek responded appropriately.' Speaking to the ABC during his morning TV blitz, Mr Albanese detailed the remarks the former PM made about him in the lead up to the election. 'Scott Morrison had a whole show that seemed to be devoted into an analysis of my glasses or whether I lost weight or what I look like. We can do better than that,' he said. He also surprised TV hosts by saying he has a good personal relationship with Peter Dutton. 'He has never broken a confidence or his word to me. That is a good place to start,' Mr Albanese said. 'I certainly have an improved relationship with the future leader of the Liberal Party, I think. If that occurs. I wish him well. I want to work across the parliament, wherever possible.' PLA holds 2nd large-scale drills around Taiwan this month after Biden claims to 'defend' island By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan (Global Times) 09:33, May 26, 2022 WZ-10 attack helicopters attached to an army aviation brigade under the PLA 73rd Group Army lift off for a flight training exercise on May 10, 2022. The exercise focused on subjects such as emergency combat sortie, formation flight and firepower escort, aiming to beef up the troops' capability in complex conditions. Photo:China Military The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday announced a second large-scale military exercise around the island of Taiwan this month in a move analysts said is a powerful response to remarks by US President Joe Biden two days ago, in which he claimed the US would intervene militarily if the Chinese mainland were to reunify with Taiwan by force. With geographical weaknesses, the isolated island of Taiwan can never become a US proxy in a protracted war like that in Ukraine, experts said, noting that with more drills, the PLA's combat plans are becoming more mature. The PLA Eastern Theater Command recently organized multiple military services and branches to conduct a joint alert patrol and realistic combat exercises in and above the waters around the island of Taiwan, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesperson of the Eastern Theater Command, said in a press release on Wednesday. This is a stern warning to the recent collusive activities by the US and Taiwan secessionists, Shi said, noting that the US has been saying one thing and doing another over the Taiwan question, and frequently encouraged "Taiwan independence" forces. It is hypocritical and futile, and will only lead the situation to a place where it becomes dangerous, with the US facing serious consequences as well, Shi said. Taiwan is a part of China, and the theater command troops are determined and capable of defeating any secessionist attempts by external or "Taiwan independence" forces, and firmly safeguarding national sovereignty and security as well as peace and stability in the region, Shi said. Shi's remarks came after Biden said on Mondayduring his visit to Japan that the US would intervene militarily if the Chinese mainland were to reunify with the island of Taiwan by force. He walked back this remark on Tuesday, saying there had been no change to the US' Taiwan policy of "strategic ambiguity," media reported. When asked if the PLA drills were related to Biden's remarks, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular press conference on Wednesday that by hollowing out the one-China principle, by either openly or secretly encouraging and supporting "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities, the US will not only bring consequences to China-US ties that would be beyond repair, but also lead to unbearable costs for the US. The drills around Taiwan targeted the collusion between the US and Taiwan secessionists, and were necessary actions taken to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Defense Ministry spokesperson, Senior Colonel Tan Kefei on Wednesday. The PLA is all set to await the order for battle, and will take all necessary measures to resolutely thwart interference by external forces and "Taiwan independence" forces' secession attempts, Tan said. Since the joint maritime and aerial drills featured multiple military services and branches, they were likely participated in by the Navy, the Air Force and the Rocket Force of the PLA, and possibly also the Army if amphibious assaults were part of the exercises, a Chinese mainland military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday. Not only the "Taiwan independence" forces, but also external interference forces like the US and Japan, should realize by now that the PLA has developed to a stage in which neither the armed forces on the island of Taiwan nor other countries' military forces - including the US - can stop the PLA from reunifying the island, as the PLA now has overwhelming military advantages on the doorsteps of China, as shown in the drills, the expert said. The PLA Eastern Theater Command has announced at least two large-scale drills around Taiwan this month, with the other being a joint exercise announced on May 9surrounding the island of Taiwan from its east and southwest with the participation of the Liaoningaircraft carrier group. On Tuesday, China and Russiacarried out a regular joint strategic aerial patrol in the Asia-Pacific region for the fourth consecutive year, sending bombers above the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the West Pacific. The operation was not targeted at a third party or related to current international or regional situations, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, on Wednesday. With more drills being carried out, the PLA is getting more familiar with combat plans in different situations, including those involving external military interference. If the "Taiwan independence" and external interference forces do attempt to separate Taiwan from the motherland, the PLA would be immediately ready to launch a military operation, Song Zhongping, a Chinese mainland military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Wednesday. The US might want to copy the Ukraine model and instigate a proxy war over the Taiwan question, but Taiwan is not qualified to become a proxy because of its geographical location, Zhuo Hua, an international affairs expert at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy of Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times. Since the island is surrounded by the ocean, it can be easily blockaded by the PLA, Zhuo said. This means the island cannot fight a protracted war, and not even military aid from the US or others could reach the island because of the blockade, analysts said. US political figures have been attempting to use the Taiwan question to disrupt the Chinese mainland's decision-making process by making tentative or vague remarks without giving true promises to the island. But this vagueness is becoming contradictory, as the US is talking about risk management while adjusting strategies, tactics and the military to prepare for a major conflict, Zhuo said. "In this situation, the possibility of a direct conflict between China and the US does exist and is rising, even though both sides have no intention to fight," Zhuo warned. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Anthony Albanese made an emotional lonely pilgrimage to his mother's graveside on the 20th anniversary of her death last night as soon as he arrived back from Tokyo. The new Prime Minister made the late night dash to the cemetery on Wednesday the moment his flight back from the Quad summit meeting touched down in Sydney. 'I travelled out to the cemetery to see her and have a chat,' he told Nine's Today show host Karl Stefanovic. 'It was a big deal. 'It was a private moment. I went there by myself.' Mr Albanese, 59, was brought up by his disabled single mother Maryanne in a housing commission home in Camperdown in Sydney's inner west. His mother suffered an aneurysm and collapsed in the laundry of the home on Mothers Day 2002. She died in hospital two weeks later on May 25, 2002. 'Mum always gave me unconditional love,' Mr Albanese said previously. 'Mum had rheumatoid arthritis that crippled her joints and meant she couldnt work. 'She lived on a disability pension. Life wasnt easy, and her health made things even harder but we got through because of her. 'And I feel very privileged to have had that. Mums really are special.' Anthony Albanese made an emotional lonely pilgrimage to his mother's graveside on the 20th anniversary of her death last night as soon as he arrived back from Tokyo Daily Mail Australia has been given an exclusive look behind the door of the humble home where the PM grew up in the 60s, 70s and 80s. As a kid, the new PM may have lain on his bed, staring up at the ceiling and dreaming of the day when he would run the country. Now he does. And while his posters for The Saints, The Cure and Midnight Oil are long gone from its walls, his teenage bedroom would still be instantly recognisable to him. While his posters for The Saints, The Cure and Midnight Oil are long gone from its walls, Anthony Albanese's childhood bedroom would still be instantly recognisable to him His bedroom - one of three on the top floor - led onto a balcony which had been converted into a sunroom/study overlooking the neighbouring backyards. Downstairs there is a front room which looks out onto the pavement of busy Pyrmont Bridge Road, while the sizeable kitchen leads off into generous laundry and accesses the compact concrete-slabbed backyard. The building was part of a development aimed at giving workers access to an affordable rented family home close to the city with a backyard for kids play safely. The honey-bricked set of 20 homes are now heritage listed, but suffered flooding in the recent deluges, leaving the backyard and entrance slimy with mossy algae. The honey-bricked set of 20 homes are now heritage listed, but suffered flooding in the recent deluges, leaving the concrete slabbed backyard and entrance slimy with mossy algae Albo's old home is almost exactly as it was when he lived there between 1963 and 1990 'We lived in council housing, which gave us a sense of security and stability. It was our home,' Mr Albanese admitted last year. 'When they tried to sell our council house, it felt like our home was being taken from us.' However the three-bedroom, two storey home, built in 1927, remained public housing stock, and continues to be so today. Current tenant Roza Yakubova is determined to keep it just as it was to honour his memory, and has tried to keep it as original as possible. She has stripped back the painted floorboards to restore them to the beautiful polished finish Mr Albanese would remember from his days there. Current tenant Roza Yakubova is determined to keep it just as it was to honour his memory, and has tried to keep it as original as possible. She has stripped back the painted floorboards to restore them to the beautiful polished finish Anthony Albanese would remember from his days there Anthony Albanese's upbringing in Camperdown is a far cry from the life of luxury he will now enjoy as PM at Kirribilli House on Sydney's North Shore and The Lodge in Canberra But it's a far cry from the life of luxury Mr Albanese will now enjoy as PM at Kirribilli House on Sydney's North Shore and The Lodge in Canberra. Mr Albanese told Stefanovic: 'I hope that [my story] gives people hope, whether they be single mums or people going through difficulties in life and their children. 'I hope that my journey does give people a bit of an uplift, because it's not about me, No one gets there by themselves. 'You get there because people believe in you. Because people provide you with support. 'The neighbours who cooked me meals when I was there as a school student, looking after me - that sense of community that was there in Camperdown.' Mr Albanese moved out in 1990 when he bought a home in Marrickville - and still lives on that same Marrickville street today - but he has never forgotten his roots. And he says that sense of community was revealed when news of his election victory came through at the weekend and his neighbours came out to celebrate with him. Anthony Albanese (seen here with his dog Toto, girlfriend Jodie Haydon and son Nathan) says his neighbours came out to celebrate with him when news of his election victory came through 'That sense of feeling was there on Saturday night when we came out of the house in Marrickville - it was reasonably late, about 11 o'clock or thereabouts,' he said. 'And it was like the whole neighbourhood were on the street, just cheering the change in direction for this country.' He revealed son Nathan, 21, knocked back beers as they watched the results come in before being thrust into the spotlight on stage alongside his dad at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club as Mr Albanese claimed victory. 'He was a bit nervous on on Saturday night,' admitted the PM. 'He had a couple of beers before we headed off to the RSL. 'The rest of us were were being very responsible in spite of the pressure that was there on Saturday.' Amerie Jo Garza, 10 Amerie Jo Garza (right) Amerie Jo Garza, a fourth grader at Robb Elementary, was one of 19 students confirmed to be killed Tuesday morning by Ramos, who cops say was carrying a handgun and an AR-15 during the attack that also killed two teachers in the classroom. Her grandmother, Berlinda Irene Arreola, said the 10-year-old was killed as she tried to phone 911 while sitting next to her best friend, who ended up 'covered in her blood.' Arreola said Ramos told the students and staffers inside the room, 'You're going to die,' before opening fire - shooting her granddaughter dead as she tried to phone for help. 'So the gunman went in and he told the children, 'You're going to die,' Berlinda told The Daily Beast. 'And [Amerie] had her phone and she called 911. And instead of grabbing it and breaking it or taking it from her, he shot her. She was sitting right next to her best friend. Her best friend was covered in her blood.' Uziyah Garcia Uziyah Garcia, 8 Uziyah Garcia, the youngest victim at age eight, was also killed in the attack. The child's family announced he was killed hours after announcing he was among the many children unaccounted for following the tragedy. The boy's grandfather, Manny Renfro, broke the news early Wednesday after being notified by authorities. '[He was] the sweetest little boy that I've ever known,' Renfro said. 'I'm not just saying that because he was my grandkid.' Renfro recalled how Uziyah last visited him in San Angelo over spring break. 'We started throwing the football together and I was teaching him pass patterns. 'Such a fast little boy and he could catch a ball so good,' the grieving grandad said. 'There were certain plays that I would call that he would remember and he would do it exactly like we practiced.' Makenna Elrod, 10 Makenna Lee Elrod Makenna Elrod, 10, had also been among the missing in the chaos that followed the massacre, with her father, Brandon Elrod telling reporters at the time he feared 'she may not be alive.' Her death was eventually confirmed by a family friend on Wednesday. 'It's pretty sad what this world's coming to,' the girl's father told local outlet KTRK after the shooting. A mother of one of Makenna's friends lamented the loss in a post to Facebook. 'Sweet Makenna Rest in Paradise!! My heart is shattered as my daughter Chloe loved her so much!!' the mom wrote. A relative Wednesday confirmed that the girl had been among the victims. Xavier Lopez, 10 Xavier Lopez Xavier Lopez, 10, was the first student victim to be identified as one of Ramos' victims. The child's mother, Felicha Martinez, told the Washington Post Tuesday that just hours before the massacre, the mom had been at the school to see her son participate an honor roll ceremony. She took a picture showing her son showing off his certificate. In the last exchange she had with the child, the mom heartbreakingly told the boy that she was proud of him and that she loved him, giving him a hug goodbye - not knowing it would be the last time she would see him alive. 'He was funny, never serious and his smile that smile I will never forget,' she recalled after learning of his death from police. 'It would always cheer anyone up.' The boy's cousin, Lisa Garza, 54, of Arlington, said Xavier enjoyed swimming and had been looking forward to the summer. 'He was just a loving 10-year-old little boy, just enjoying life, not knowing that this tragedy was going to happen today,' she said. 'He was very bubbly, loved to dance with his brothers, his mom. This has just taken a toll on all of us.' Amelia Sandoval, Lopez's grandmother, said: 'It's just so hard... you send your kids to school thinking they are going to make it back home but they're not.' Eliahana Torres, 10 Eliahana Cruz Torres Eliahana Cruz Torres, 10, had also been missing for hours until she was confirmed to be among the dead. Adolfo Cruz, her great-grandfather, said she didn't want to attend school the day of the shooting - but was told by her family that she had to attend. He said he remained outside the school gates throughout the night until he leanrned of her fate from local authorities. 'I hope she is alive,' he said at the time. Torres was an avid baseball player and played the sport in a local little league. Ellie Lugo, 10 Ellie Lugo Ellie Lugo was named as a victim of Tuesday's attack by her parents, with Steven Garcia and Jennifer Lugo confirming her death several hours after she was listed among the missing. 'It's hard to issue out a statement on anything right now my mind is going at 1000 miles per hour but I do wanna send our thoughts and prayers to those who also didn't make it home tonight!!! Our Ellie was a doll and was the happiest ever,' Steven Lugo said Wednesday. 'Mom and Dad love you never forget that and please try and stay by our side.' Nevaeh Bravo, 10 Nevaeh Bravo Nevaeh Bravo was confirmed to be among the dead late Tuesday, after her cousin posted on social media following the shooting to ask for helping the girl. Around 9 pm, she broke the news on Twitter. 'Unfortunately my beautiful Nevaeh was one of the many victims from todays tragedy,' she wrote. Sje said the schoolchild was 'flying high' and asked for the family to be kept in people's prayers 'Our Nevaeh has been found. She is flying with the angels above. We love you Navaeh very much princess.' 'Thank you for the support and help,' she wrote. 'Rest in peace my sweet girl, you didn't deserve this.' Bravo's age could not immediately be confirmed. Tess Marie Mata Tess Marie Mata Tess Marie Mata was also among those to perish in the attack, her sister, Faith Mata, revealed in a post to Facebook Wednesday. 'I honestly have no words just sadness, confusion, and anger,' she wrote. 'I'm sad because we will never get to tag team on mom and dad again and tell each other how much we mean to each other, I'm confused because how can something like this happen to my sweet, caring, and beautiful sister, and I'm angry because a coward took you from us.' Photos shared with the post showed Tess smiling in a baby photo, snuggling with a cat, doing gymnastics, flashing a peace sign, and posing in front of a large heart mural. 'Sissy I miss you so much, I just want to hold you and tell you how pretty you are, I want to take you outside and practice softball, I want to go on one last family vacation, I want to hear your contagious laugh, and I want you to hear me tell you how much I love you,' she wrote. Her age could not immediately be confirmed. Rojelio Torres, 10 Rojelio Torres Rojelio Torres, 10, was initially reported missing by his father, but on Wednesday was confirmed dead by his family. A person who said she was the boy's cousin wrote on Twitter: 'It breaks my heart to say my rojelio is now with the angels I'll forever miss you and love you my angel.' The child's father , Federico Torres, told Houston reporters that he was at work when he learned about the shooting and immediately raced to the school. 'They sent us to the hospital, to the civic center, to the hospital and here again, nothing, not even in San Antonio,' he said. 'They don't tell us anything, only a photo, wait, hope that everything is well.' Nearly half a day later, cops broke the news to the boy's family. 'Our entire family waited almost 12 hours since the shooting to find out Rojelio Torres, my 10-year-old nephew, was killed in this tragedy,' Torres' aunt, Precious Perez, told KSAT. 'We are devastated and heartbroken. Rojer was a very intelligent, hard-working and helpful person. He will be missed and never forgotten.' Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10 Jayce Luevanos Jayce Luevanos, 10, died in the shooting along with his ten-year-old cousin, Jailah, the child's mother said Wednesday. In a Facebook post, uncle Unberto Gonzalez shared photos of both kids while offering a touching tribute. 'My babies going to miss them like crazy!!!,' Gonzalez wrote. 'We luv y'all so much!!! I'm just lost right now!!! Fly high my beautiful Angels!!' Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10 Jailah Nicole Silguero Ten-year-old Jailah Nicole Silguero was also killed in the shooting, her mother, Veronica Luevanos, tearfully revealed to Univision Wednesday. She also lost her 10-year-old nephew Jayce to the tragedy. She said Jailah loved to dance and film videos on TikTok. The child reportedly also asked her mom the morning of the shooting if she could stay home from school - a request the now mourning mom rebuffed. 'I took her to school, but she didn't want to go. She told her father, 'Can I stay home?'' Luevanos said, noting that it was not a common occurrence for her daughter to make such a request. 'I think she knew something would happen.' Luevanos' mom confirmed the loss on Facebook Wednesday. 'Fly high my angels. We're going to miss yall so much,' wrote Veronica Luevanos - whose dad had died just a week earlier. 'I'm so heart broken,' she wrote with a photo of her daughter and nephew. 'My baby I love u so much fly high baby girl.' Alithia Ramirez, 10 Alithia Ramirez Fourth grader Alithia Ramirez was confirmed dead early Wednesday by her father, Ryan Ramirez, who shared a post to Facebook showing the 10-year-old with angel's wings. He had used the same photo the previous day as he pleaded for help finding her after the massacre He had heartbreakingly used the same photo the previous day as he desperately pleaded for help finding her after the massacre. 'Trying to find my daughter Alithia. I called all the hospitals and nothing,' he wrote at the time. He also reporters during his frantic search, 'I'm trying to find out where my baby's at.' Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10 Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10, was another killed by Ramos Tuesday - along with her cousin, who has yet to be identified. Annabell's father spent the afternoon after the shooting in frantic search for his daughter. Speaking to KHOU11 Tuesday, he lamented at how he was at a loss as to what do, having little success with the search. 'They're not letting us in at the hospital right now so we don't know where to go.' She has since been declared to be among the dead. Miranda Mathis, 11 Miranda Mathis Miranda Mathis, 11, was also confirmed as another casualty from the mass shooting early Wednesday, in a Facebook post by an older cousin who earlier that day had posted a desperate plea for help in locating the child. 'My sweet baby cousin we loved u dearly,' Deanna Miller wrote alongside a photo of the child with angel wings. 'I'm so sorry this happen to u baby please keep my family in your prayers,' she grieved. Miller's kids had also been at the school at the time of the shooting, but survived the attack. One of her sons told her that they were ushered out of a window by staffers during the attack and subsequently ran to a nearby funeral home after 'he heard the shooter say he was gonna kill all the kids.' Alexandria 'Lexi' Aniyah Rubio, 10 Alexandria Aniyah Rubio Alexandria Aniyah Rubio - who was better known to friends as 'Lexi' - was confirmed dead just before midnight on Tuesday. The ten-year-old was shot dead just hours after posing for a photo with her parents at the school's honor roll ceremony. Kimberly Mata-Rubio, the girl's mother, wrote of the loss: 'My beautiful, smart, Alexandria Aniyah Rubio was recognized today for All-A honor roll. She also received the good citizen award. We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school. We had no idea this was goodbye.' Maite Yuleana Maite Yuleana Maite Yuleana was another student to die in the attack that had attended the honor roll ceremony just hours before. A cousin of the girl's mother, Ana Rodriguez, announced the loss Wednesday. 'It is with a heavy heart I come on here on behalf of my cousin Ana who lost her sweet baby girl in yesterday's senseless shooting. 'We are deeply saddened by the lose [sic] of this sweet smart little girl. God bless and may she R.I.P Maite Rodriguez we love you.' Another relative shared a photo of Maite with her honor roll certificate. Her age could not immediately be confirmed. Jose Flores Jr, 10 Jose Flores Jose Flores, 10, was also killed in the shooting after attending the honor roll ceremony, where he was pictured triumphantly clutching a certificate celebrating the accomplishment. Uncle Christopher Salazar confirmed to the Washington Post Wednesday that his 10-year-old nephew was among the dead, after sharing a tribute to the child on Facebook. 'I love you and I miss you,' Salazar wrote in the post. The boy's father described Jose to CNN as an amazing boy and big brother to his two younger siblings. 'He was always fill of energy,' Jose Flores Sr. said. 'Ready to play till the night.' He said the boy loved playing baseball and video games. Jackie Cazares Jackie Cazares, 10 Jackie Cazares, 10, was another to be killed during the vicious attack at the elementary school. Her father Jacinto confirmed she lost her life inside her fourth-grade classroom. 'My baby girl has been taken away from my family and I,' the grieving father said in an online post. 'We're devastated in ways I hope no one ever goes through. ... It hurts us to our souls.' Cazares said his daughter, who was with her cousin, Annabell Rodriguez, when she died, was 'full of life and love'. Layla Salazar, 10 The 10-year-old student was the last of the slaying victims to be identified. Vincent Salazar told the Philadelphia Inquirer his young daughter was among those killed. He said she was 'a lot of fun' and recalled how they sang along to 'Sweet Child O' Mine' by Guns 'n' Roses whenever he drove her to school. Layla Salazar Irma Garcia, 46 - fourth grade teacher Irma Garcia Irma Garcia, who co-taught with Mireles for the last five year, had been at Robb Elementary for 23 years. Married to Joe for 24 years, she was a mother of four - Cristian, completing Marine boot camp; Jose, attending Texas State university University; Lyliana, a sophomore in high school; and Alysandra, a 7th grader. 'My tia did not make it, she sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom, i beg of you to keep my family including all of her family in y'all's prayers , IRMA GARCIA IS HER NAME and she died a HERO,' tweeted her nephew John. 'She was loved by many and will truly be missed.' She was nominated as teacher of the year for the 2018-19 awards, organized by Trinity University. Eva Mireles, 44 - fourth grade teacher Eva Mireles Eva Mireles, a fourth grade teacher, was identified by her family as being one of the staff members shot dead. She had worked in education for 17 years. Her husband Ruben Ruiz, a veteran detective and SWAT team member currently serving as a police officer with the school district, held regular active shooter drills for the schools - most recently at the end of March. Former MP Dave Sharma is back on Twitter - adding a pitiful self-description to his bio following the loss of his Liberal blue ribbon seat in Saturday's election. Mr Sharma's Twitter bio now simply reads: 'Ex-somebody'. Despite the sad self-descriptor, Mr Sharma also retweeted a image of him on stage this week having a public discussion about international matters with former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. Dave Sharma (right) glams up with wife Rachel but if his Twitter bio is to believed he won't be needing the tux for many more events with the former MP calling himself as an 'ex-somebody' Mr Sharma's Twitter bio now simply reads: 'Ex-somebody' after losing his seat at the election Mr Sharma, who is a former ambassador to Israel, tweeted that he was 'moonlighting in a new role' and that it had been a great pleasure to appear with Hs Haley. Following his loss to 'teal' independent Allegra Spender on Saturday, Mr Sharma deactivated his Twitter account, leaving those trying to find it greeted with the message: 'Something went wrong. Try again'. Mr Sharma's posts leading up to that had yet to concede defeat and as of Sunday, Ms Spender said she was still waiting for a call or message from the ousted MP. However, a media release now posted on Mr Sharma's account concedes defeat and said the 46-year-old phoned Ms Spender to congratulate her. Mr Sharma, who is a former ambassador to Israel, tweeted that he was 'moonlighting in a new role' and that it had been a great pleasure to appear with Hs Haley. Mr Sharma lost the once the blue ribbon Liberal seat of Wentworth to 'teal' independent Allegra Spender and was apparently slow to concede defeat although he has done so now Earlier this week, Mr Sharma did not hold back on blaming his loss of the wealthy seat of Wentworth, covering Sydney's eastern suburbs, on former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who he called a 'drag' on the Liberal vote. Mr Sharma told ABC Radio he had detected an almost 'visceral' dislike of Mr Morrison by voters in his electorate. 'They would say "he's too religious", they didn't like that he carried coal into parliament one time,' Mr Sharma said. 'They didn't believe his sincerity on climate change, they didn't like our handling of Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame - the Brittany Higgins rape allegations and Grace Tame's comments.' Ms Spender, who is the daughter of famed designer Carla Zampatti, was one of a number of high-profile female 'teal' independents who took on and triumphed over male Liberal MPs in inner-city and wealthy electorates. Mr Sharma blamed Scott Morrison for his defeat saying the former prime minister was a 'drag' on the Liberal vote and generated an almost 'visceral' dislike among the voters of Wentworth Mr Sharma said the 'teals', who were financed by climate activist and businessman Simon Holmes a Court, took up moderate or progressive positions that appealed to people who didn't like Mr Morrison's conservatism. 'The teal candidates positioned themselves quite cleverly I think, as a repository for an anti-government protest vote without being a Labor-Greens vote,' Mr Sharma said. However, he said he had not been part of group of moderate Liberals who had tried to encourage former treasurer Josh Fydenberg to challenge for the leadership. Even though he is an 'ex-somebody', Mr Sharma's employment prospects should be boosted by his degrees in law, arts and international relations from Cambridge and Deakin universities. Before entering, parliament he also worked as a director at accountancy firm Kelly + Partners. Three alleged members of the Ready 4 War gang - an offshoot of the notorious Alameddine crime network - have been released back onto the streets within hours of being arrested in sweeping dawn raids. Eighteen men - all believed to be low and mid-level associates of the Alameddine clan - were arrested on Tuesday morning after a 450-strong team of police officers raided 29 properties across Sydney's south-west. The blitz followed a 10-month-long investigation into the organised crime group, with NSW Police commissioner Karen Webb declaring the force had completely dismantled the syndicate and 'cut the head off the snake'. Meanwhile, NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole claimed police had 'closed the net' on one of Sydney's most 'dangerous crime families'. An accused member of the Alameddine crime crew was dragged out of his house by police in just a pair of Bonds underwear during raids in Sydney on Tuesday NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb (pictured) said she was confident police had 'cut the head off the snake', shutting down the syndicate altogether Most of the alleged members of the gang - also known as the 'Merrylands crew' - were marched before the courts on Wednesday after being slapped with more than 50 charges collectively, including drug supply, firearm possession, dealing with the proceeds of crime and direct or participate in a criminal group. But while the majority were refused bail, three men were sent home just hours after being taken into custody. Fifteen other men who fronted courts in Bankstown, Parramatta, and Fairfield on Wednesday, each facing a string of charges, were all remanded in custody. Pictured is one of the men arrested on Tuesday. The blitz follows a ten-month-long investigation into the organised crime group, which NSW Police will allege has been distributing drugs throughout the city A man in a wheelchair was one of the 18 men arrested by police during a coordinated crackdown across Sydney's southwest on Tuesday On Tuesday, police, desperate for a win after 14 fatal shootings on suburban streets in the past 18 months, said the raids had brought down a major player in the NSW drug trade. Dramatic footage showed police ramming down the doors of several homes, before the alleged crooks were taken away in handcuffs. Commissioner Webb said she was confident police had 'cut the head off the snake', shutting down the syndicate altogether. She said those arrested on Tuesday didn't appear to be employed but 'displayed considerable wealth'. Pictured from left to right are alleged Alameddine associates Ali Younes and Masood Zakaria, and Rafat Alameddine and Hamdi Alameddine. None were arrested in Tuesday's raids More arrests are expected to be made in the coming days. Pictured is one man who was arrested on Tuesday morning Police claim mobile phones were seized which allegedly raked in more than $250,000 a week in drug deals. The alleged dial-a-dealer syndicate utilised 36 phones, with one device having more than 700 customers. Assistant Commissioner Mick Fitzgerald alleged the phones had 'contributed to a number of murders' over the past two years, with large amounts of cash and drugs such as cocaine, prescription drugs, MDMA and cannabis found during the raids. Alleged Alameddine member Trent Jeske (pictured) was arrested on Tuesday after properties were raided across Sydney Weapons, luxury watches and jewellery and cars were also found. 'We believe we've had a significant impact on the Alameddine organised crime network - the drug distribution of that network has been dismantled today,' he said. Over the past 18 months, 13 people have been killed in gang violence in Sydney's west and southwest. Three executions have occurred in recent weeks. The latest shooting occurred on May 14 when Rami Iskander, the nephew of slain gangland figure Mahmoud 'Brownie' Ahmad, was shot dead at his western Sydney home. Iskander, 23, was shot in the chest in front of his pregnant wife and two-year-old child at his home on Knox Street at Belmore. The young father was killed just weeks after his uncle Ahmad was sprayed with bullets outside a Greenacre home on April 27 after a $1million bounty was placed on his head. An elderly woman reported missing a day ago has been been killed after wandering onto a major road and being struck by a truck. Sabat Abdul Massih, 85, went missing from Guildford in Sydney's south-west about 7am on Wednesday. Her family and police were immediately concerned as she has dementia and other health conditions. Officers were called to nearby Rookwood Rd near Potts Hill shortly before 7pm the same day when multiple onlookers reported a woman wandering beside traffic. Sadly the woman was hit by a b-double truck before police arrived and died at the scene. The elderly woman was hit by a truck while wandering on Rookwood Rd near Potts Hill (pictured) The 70-year-old driver immediately stopped to render assistance and was taken to Bankstown Hospital for mandatory testing. Police have not formally confirmed the woman's identity but Ms Massih's family have been notified. Officers had previously received information Ms Massih was in the Auburn area about 2pm Wednesday. Inquiries are continuing and anyone with information or dashcam footage is asked to contact Crime Stoppers. A cool, calm and collected Aussie driver has captured the moment an unwelcome visitor popped its head up to say hello. In the video, obtained by Dashcam Owners Australia, the 4WD owner was seen managing to keep the wheel steady after they spotted the snake coming out from underneath their bonnet. The snake can be seen slithering onto one of the front antennas and holding on for a ride, until it is is flung back over the windscreen and behind the moving 4WD. The snake (pictured) can be seen climbing onto one of the front antennas and holding on for a ride, until it is flung back over the windscreen and behind the moving 4WD The video, which highlights one of the issues you may face while living in Australia, received a number of sympathetic comments - with everyone hoping the snake was OK. One person said the driver was 'an absolute ass**** for not pulling over and getting the snake off with care.' 'I don't know why they couldn't just pull over and let the poor snake off,' another added. One person said it 'shows an absolute ass**** for not pulling over and getting the snake (pictured) of with care' While a third person said 'I had to watch that twice to work out what was going on...And then all I could think was 'oh, that poor young snake.' 'Snake hanging onto aerial on bull-bar was great, I've had that a few times too,' a fourth person commented. The incident isn't the first time an Aussie has discovered a snake on their car with serpents regularly hiding in cars to stay warm or catch a ride. In November last year, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, a huge snake was pulled from the engine of a car after the reptile climbed inside when the vehicle stopped at traffic lights. In November last year, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, a huge snake (pictured) was pulled from the engine of a car after the reptile climbed inside when the vehicle stopped at traffic lights Snake catchers Jess Schmidt and Stuart Mackenzie were called out to extract the reptile. After finding the vehicle stopped in the middle of the road - hazard lights flashing and the bonnet popped - the pair tried to find where the snake had gone. 'Oh I can see some scales, I've got him here,' Ms Schmidt said. But Mr Mackenzie jolted backwards: 'Oh s**t he's up here, he's just gone straight past my face.' Ms Schmidt then reached in and grabbed what appeared to be a large python by the head and pulled it from the engine. 'This is the most Australian thing ever, even the faded Rivers sign in the background,' one viewer commented (Pictured: Large python being removed from a vehicle in Queensland) 'This is the most Australian thing ever, even the faded Rivers sign in the background,' one viewer commented. 'Another episode of why I'm not going to Australia,' a second wrote. A doctor burned to death in his crashed Tesla because the vehicle's electronic door handles didn't pop out, meaning rescuers couldn't save him from the flames, a lawsuit claims. Dr. Omar Awan, 48, died in February 2019 after crashing his Model S on South Flamingo Road in Broward County, Florida. He survived the initial impact. And his family have now sued Elon Musk's car company claiming the father-of-five's death burning and smoke inhalation death could have been avoided were it not for the Tesla's door handles. The car firm's vehicles have special door handles which sit flush to the car's body. They retract into the vehicle while it is moving, but can pop out when it stops to let people get inside. After the crash, the initial rescuers on the scene were confused by the car's door handles, which hadn't popped out, and were unable to gain entry, NBC6 reported. First responders then arrived on the scene, and were also left stumped. Teslas are meant to have two back-up safety mechanisms. The first sees the door handles pop out automatically in the event of an accident, unless it happens very abruptly. A second option can allow first responders to break the car's window, and manually pop the doors out using a special mechanism inside. But neither happened, and Awan's family insist it is because his 2016 model car was faulty. According to the police report, Awan was speeding at the time of the crash, with his car going around 79mph. He was also found to be over the drink-drive limit. Tesla has denied the claims made in the lawsuit, says the car was functioning perfectly, and alleges that Awan was to blame for his own death. But his family are standing firm, and insisting he could have been saved were it not for the car's door handles, which they insist did not function properly. Dr. Omar Awan, 48, died in February 2019 after crashing his Model S on South Flamingo Road in Broward County, Florida Firefighters were unable to reach the doctor because the retractable door hands didn't pop out. Tesla claims it should have unless the power to the car was 'abruptly' cut off After the crash, first responders claimed they were unable to open the door to the burning car because the couldn't find a door handle. The luxury, futuristic car company said the handles should have automatically popped out, unless power was 'abruptly' cut off from the vehicle, NBC South Florida reported. Tesla also said that there is 'mechanical back-up in place that can only be accessed from the inside of the vehicle.' First responders are reportedly trained to 'break the window and open the vehicle from the inside,' Tesla said. 'They couldnt find a door knob to try to go in that way and unfortunately were not able to extract the driver,' a police spokesperson told NBC South Florida at the time. 'They attempted to break the window in order to get the subject out, but were not successful. The flames were too strong, too big at that point.' The door handles retract into the car while the vehicle is moving to make it more aerodynamic, but when Awan crashed, they didn't retract out. There is reportedly a manual option inside the car. First responders said they tried to break the window to reach Awan, but here unable to because of the fire The family is now saying that Awan 'could have been saved' if the Model S' design wasn't 'defective.' Beside the 'failed' door handles, the family is claiming the luxury car has an 'unreasonably dangerous fire risk,' the lawsuit said. 'Listen, these futuristic cars have benefits, but they also have high, high risks, and yes, death is one of them,' his wife Lilliana told NBC South Florida. 'Forget the technicalities of this, that, whateverThe bottom line is that he was alive. 'He could have been saved. He could have been here. He could have been with us, with his children,' she continued. 'He was only 48. We have little kidsthis was the prime of his life.' 'He was always smiling, cracking jokes with me,' his son Saf - who tracked his father's phone to the crash in 2019 - told NBC South Florida. After his father didn't return home from running errands, he looked up his location and saw he was in the middle of South Flamingo Road and thought it was an error. He said: 'I looked at it and it was kind of weird because the location was in the middle of South Flamingo Road. I just thought it was like an error, like a buffering error.' But it wasn't an error. Cell phone footage at the time shows the car surrounded by large, hot flames that took firefighters a long time to put out. Even after being towed away, the car reignited three times. Tesla cars are known to burst into incontrollable fires after serious accidents and take 40 times more water to put out than a normal car. The cars reignite mostly because of its electric battery, which can put out extreme amounts of heat even after the fire is extinguished. Awan's wife Lilliana (left) and son Saf (right) are suing the company for his death, stating the Model S is 'defective' and the retractable door handles caused his death, as the medical examiner's report said he died from inhaling toxic fumes and burns. Tesla, however, alleges he was the drunk or high as the toxicology report said his blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit Know as the 'backbone' of the Awan family, his wife said it took her three years to get over the loss of her husband. 'I said: "God, why him? Why him? Why my husband?" I thought I was living in a dream...that he would show up at the door. That he would come any day and joke around with the children. 'He was a very gentle soul. He was very, very supportive.' Her son agreed the lose was hard: 'You feel down. You feel the worst you have ever been, you know, losing dad.' The car company is also being investigated for autopilot failures, among other things. One woman in Indiana was killed amid a series of smashes involving Teslas being driven in self-driving, autopilot mode. The smashes are all linked to the presence of emergency vehicles at the time, with an ongoing federal investigation now looking into whether those vehicles' emergency lights confused the Teslas' self-driving sensors. DailyMail.com has contacted Tesla for comment about the death crash lawsuit. A woman is fighting for life in hospital after allegedly being struck by a reversing car in the Melbourne CBD. She was crossing Flinders Street shortly before 10am on Thursday when she was hit by a dark coloured Mazda. The male driver, 33 was arrested at the scene and was taken to Melbourne West police station where he's being questioned by detectives. The pedestrian suffered life threatening injuries and was rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition. Police believe the driver reversed 25-30metres before hitting the woman. A woman is flighting for life after she was hit by a reversing car in Melbourne's CBD 'The driver of a Mazda CX-5 was reversing down Flinders Street and struck a pedestrian crossing the road,' Detective Sergeant Peter Romanis told reporters at the scene. 'As to the reason why he was reversing, it is currently unknown. We haven't been able to ascertain the reason why. We are hoping he might be able to shed some light on that.' The driver has undergone drug and alcohol testing. A crime scene was set up with Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives launching an investigation. The collision sparked traffic chaos in the CBD with Flinders Street closed eastbound between King and William streets. Tram services were also disrupted with commuters warned to expect delays as services resumed ahead of the afternoon peak. Flinders Street remains closed eastbound between King and William streets after a horror collision on Thursday morning Police renewed warnings for all road users to be vigilant. Victoria's pedestrian road death toll for 2022 currently stands at 17, more than double at the same time last year. 'The trend is heading up and we don't want to see that trend continue,' Det Sgt Romanis said. 'We urge all road users to be aware, and particularly for motorists to be paying attention to vulnerable road users as they navigate their way around the city.' Any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of Thursday's incident is urged to contact police. Advertisement A class photo of the fourth grade at Robb Elementary School has emerged, showing the scale of the tragedy that befell the small Texan community. The youngsters were filmed smiling and full of hope in a group photo taken at the school in Uvalde, Texas, earlier this academic year. So far, DailyMail.com has been able to identify 11 of the 17 children featured in the image as victims of the tragedy. They are Eliahana Cruz Torres, 10; Lexi Rubio, 10; Annabelle Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10; Maite Yuleana; Xavier Lopez, 10; Rojelio Torres, 10, Uziyah Garcia, 8; Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10; Jacklyn Cazares, 10; Layla Salazar, 10 and Jose Flores, 10. The male teacher they are pictured standing with was not killed. Nineteen children were murdered on Tuesday and two of their teachers by an 18-year-old gunman, Salvador Ramos. He had bought the rifle legally a week before. The shooting is the worst school massacre since Sandy Hook, in 2012. Twenty children and six teachers were murdered in the Connecticut shooting. The faces of 11 confirmed victims from Tuesday's shooting. Nineteen children in the fourth grade were shot and killed on Tuesday. Top row, from left - Eliahana 'Eliajha' Cruz Torres, 10; Lexi Rubio; Annabelle Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10; Maite Yuleana Middle row, from left - Xavier Lopez, 10; Rojelio Torres, 10; Uziyah Garcia, 8. Front row, from left - Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10; Jacklyn Cazares, 10; Layla Salazar, 10; Jose Flores Jr., 10 One fourth grader who survived the mass shooting recalled the harrowing moment the gunman stormed into his classroom and told the children 'it's time to die'. 'He came in and he crouched a little bit and he said, he said: 'It's time to die,'' the unnamed Robb Elementary School student told KENS 5 on Wednesday. 'When I heard the shooting through the door, I told my friend to hide under something so he won't find us,' the boy said. 'I was hiding hard. And I was telling my friend to not talk because he is going to hear us.' The little boy and four others hid under a cloth-covered table while Ramos opened fire into the classroom, killing 19 students and two teachers. Seventeen others were injured. Authorities say it is unclear why the teen targeted the school. He had no criminal history or known mental illnesses, but was described by friends, family and co-workers as a loner and high school dropout, who was bullied and aggressive. He had got in a fight with his grandmother about who would pay the phone bill before he went on his killing spree, law enforcement officials disclosed to CBS News. However, they note that information is preliminary and are not sure if the fight was the trigger for the massacre. A fourth grader (pictured) who survived the mass shooting at his Texas elementary school recalled the harrowing moment teenage gunman Salvador Ramos stormed into his classroom and issued a chilling warning to students The fourth grader claims Ramos stormed into their classroom after shooting at another door in the school. 'He shot the next person's door. We have a door in the middle. He opened it,' the boy said, adding that Ramos then told the students they would die. The unnamed student claims Salvador Ramos (pictured) stormed into the classroom and said: 'It's time to die' He and four others took cover under a table, which some experts argue shielded them from Ramos' view and saved their lives. 'When the cops came, the cop said: 'Yell if you need help!' And one of the persons in my class said 'help.' The guy overheard and he came in and shot her,' the boy said. 'The cop barged into that classroom. The guy shot at the cop. And the cops started shooting.' The boy said they remained hidden until the gunfire ceased. 'I just opened the curtain. And I just put my hand out,' he said. 'I got out with my friend. I knew it was police. I saw the armor and the shield.' He also alleged his teachers, Irma Garcia, 46, and Eva Mireles, 44, sacrificed themselves to protect their students. 'They were nice teachers,' he said. 'They went in front of my classmates to help. To save them.' The little boy also issued a warning to other American families, saying: 'I would like to say to every kid and parent to be safe.' Ramos used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle in the bloodbath Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. He had legally bought two such rifles just days before the attack, soon after his 18th birthday, authorities said. One of the guns was purchased at a federally licensed dealer in the Uvalde area on May 17, according to state Sen. John Whitmire, who was briefed by investigators. Ramos bought 375 rounds of ammunition the next day, then purchased the second rifle last Friday. On Tuesday morning, Ramos shot and wounded his grandmother at her home, then left. Neighbors called police when she staggered outside and they saw she had been shot in the face, Department of Public Safety spokesperson Travis Considine said. Ramos then crashed his truck through a railing on the grounds at Robb Elementary School and an Uvalde school district officer exchanged fire with him and was wounded. The teen went inside and exchanged more gunfire with two arriving Uvalde police officers, who were still outside, Considine said. Those officers were also wounded. Irma Garcia (left) and Eva Mireles (right), who co-taught fourth grade, were both shot and killed at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday. The little boy claims they sacrificed themselves to protect their students The little boy and four others hid under a cloth-covered table while Ramos, 18, opened fire into the classroom, killing 19 students and two teachers. Seventeen others were injured. The school is pictured on Wednesday surrounded by investigators and crime scene tape Meanwhile, frustrated onlookers were urging police to enter the building as Ramos went on his killing spree. One woman was yelling at the police outside the school, recalled Juan Carranza, 24, who lives opposite the building. He told ABC News she was screaming: 'Go in there! Go in there!' But noted, the officers did not enter the building. Jacinto Cazares, whose 10-year-old daughter Jacklyn was among the 21 killed, has demanded to know why Ramos was able to rampage through the school for 90 minutes until he was shot dead. The first 911 call was received 90 minutes earlier, at 11:30am, saying a man had emerged from a crashed vehicle with a long rifle and a backpack. 'There was at least 40 lawmen armed to the teeth but didn't do a darn thing until it was far too late,' Cazares he told the news outlet. 'The situation could've been over quick if they had better tactical training, and we as a community witnessed it firsthand.' Cazares said he wanted answers from local authorities as to why the shooter was not stopped before or during the attack. 'I'm a gun owner and I do not blame the weapons used in this tragedy,' he said. 'I'm angry how easy it is to get one and young you can be to purchase one.' Jacinto Cazares, whose 10-year-old daughter Jacklyn was killed in the Uvalde school shooting on Tuesday, is pictured on Wednesday outside the school Jacklyn, 10, was one of 19 children and two teachers murdered by Ramos on Tuesday Guns are the leading cause of death for US kids, data shows Gun violence is now the leading killer of America's children, surpassing accidents, disease and even drug overdose, a report published last month found. Researchers at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, write that over 4,300 children aged one to 19 years old died of a firearm related injury during the pandemic's first year - a 30 percent jump from the previous year. 2020 was the first year that gun violence overtook vehicle crashes as a leading killer. Gun violence is now the leading killer off American youth, a research report finds, surpassing motor vehicle crashes (file photo) The researchers, who published their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine on in April, found that there was a record 45,222 firearm deaths in 2020. Overall there was a 13.5 percent jump in firearm deaths, including a 33 percent jump in gun-related homicides year-to-year. Suicides carried out by using firearms also increased one percent, remaining around even year-to-year. The data also showed that just around six out of every 100,000 U.S. children died a fire alarm related death in 2020, surpassing a the five of every 100,000 children that died from the motor vehicle accident. Advertisement A teacher, whose students were watching a Disney movie as part of their end-of-year celebration when Ramos stormed the building, shared how her class took cover under their desks after they were alerted of his presence. The teacher, who spoke to NBC News on the condition of anonymity, recalled how her students did 'exactly as they were told'. 'They've been practicing for this day for years,' she said, referencing active shooter drills that have become standard in American schools. 'They knew this wasn't a drill. We knew we had to be quiet or else we were going to give ourselves away.' The educator, detailing what was the 'longest 35 minutes of my life,' said her students tried to stay quiet as their wounded schoolmates screamed from a classroom down the hall. Sitting on the floor in the middle of the room, the teacher said she tried to be strong. Several students started crying and she motioned for them to come sit by her and, in a whisper, told the class to pray silently. She said she was trying to convey a message of 'you're ok, we're going to be ok' without speaking. After the shooting, when police approached the classroom and broke the windows, she called for her students to assemble in a line. She held their hands as they climbed out the window and into the safety of authorities. 'After the last kid, I turned around to ensure everyone was out,' the teacher said. 'I knew I had to go quickly, but I wasn't leaving until I knew for sure.' Afterwards, she reportedly received messages from parents thanking her for protecting their children. 'Thank you for keeping my baby safe,' one message read. 'But it's not just their baby,' the teacher told NBC News through her tears. 'That's my baby, too. They are not my students. They are my children.' Before concluding the interview, which she had been reluctant to give, the educator reportedly said: 'I want you to say this in your article. Our children did not deserve this. They were loved. Not only by their families, but their family at school.' Dillon Silva, whose nephew was in a nearby classroom, said students were watching the Disney movie 'Moana' when they heard several loud pops and a bullet shattered a window. Moments later, their teacher saw the attacker stride past. 'Oh, my God, he has a gun!' the teacher shouted twice, according to Silva. 'The teacher didn't even have time to lock the door,' he said. The killing spree ceased after a tactical team forced its way into the classroom where the attacker was holed up. The team was met with gunfire from Ramos but shot and killed him. The massacre came as the school was counting down to the last days of the school year with a series of themed days. Tuesday was to be 'Footloose and Fancy,' with students wearing nice outfits. Salvador Ramos legally purchased two AR-15 style rifles (right) including the one he used in Tuesday's attack after his 18th birthday last week. The gunman also bought more than 300 rounds of ammunition Ramos bought two AR-15 assault rifles, bragged about them on social media and suggested he would commit an atrocity before the deadly attack. He spent an estimated $4,000 on the weapons, ammunition and a tactical-style vest Texas, which has some of the most gun-friendly laws in the nation, has been the site of some of the deadliest shootings in the U.S. over the past five years. In 2018, a gunman killed 10 people at Santa Fe High School in the Houston area. A year before that, a gunman shot more than two dozen people to death during a Sunday service in the small town of Sutherland Springs. In 2019, a gunman at a Walmart in El Paso killed 23 people in a racist attack targeting Hispanics. The shooting came days before the National Rifle Association annual convention was set to begin in Houston. The governor and both of Texas' U.S. senators, all of whom are Republicans, were among the scheduled speakers at a forum Friday. The victims of the Texas gun massacre so far confirmed to have died are: Amerie Jo Garza, 10 Amerie Jo Garza, a fourth grader at Robb Elementary, was one of 19 students confirmed to be killed Tuesday morning by Ramos, who cops say was carrying a handgun and an AR-15 during the attack that also killed two teachers in the classroom. Her grandmother, Berlinda Irene Arreola, said the 10-year-od was killed as she tried to phone 911 while sitting next to her best friend, who ended up 'covered in her blood.' Arreola said Ramos told the students and staffers inside the room, 'You're going to die,' before opening fire - shooting her granddaughter dead as she tried to phone for help. 'So the gunman went in and he told the children, 'You're going to die,' Berlinda told The Daily Beast. 'And [Amerie] had her phone and she called 911. And instead of grabbing it and breaking it or taking it from her, he shot her. She was sitting right next to her best friend. Her best friend was covered in her blood.' Uziyah Garcia, the youngest victim to be identified so far at age 8, was also killed in the attack Uziyah Garcia, 8 Uziyah Garcia, the youngest victim to be identified so far at age 8, was also killed in the attack. The child's family announced he was killed hours after announcing he was among the many children unaccounted for following the tragedy. The boy's grandfather, Manny Renfro, broke the news early Wednesday after being notified by authorities. '[He was] the sweetest little boy that I've ever known,' Renfro said. 'I'm not just saying that because he was my grandkid.' Renfro recalled how Uziyah last visited him in San Angelo over spring break. 'We started throwing the football together and I was teaching him pass patterns. 'Such a fast little boy and he could catch a ball so good,' the grieving grandad said. 'There were certain plays that I would call that he would remember and he would do it exactly like we practiced.' Makenna Elrod, 10 A relative of Makenna Lee Elrod posted that she was among the victims - after Makenna's father said his daughter was missing Makenna Elrod, 10, had also been among the missing in the chaos that followed the massacre, with her father, Brandon Elrod telling reporters at the time he feared 'she may not be alive.' Her death was eventually confirmed by a family friend on Wednesday. 'It's pretty sad what this world's coming to,' the girl's father told local outlet KTRK after the shooting. A mother of one of Makenna's friends lamented the loss in a post to Facebook. 'Sweet Makenna Rest in Paradise!! My heart is shattered as my daughter Chloe loved her so much!!' the mom wrote. A relative Wednesday confirmed that the girl had been among the victims. Xavier Lopez, 10 Xavier Lopez, 10, was the first student victim to be identified as one of Ramos' victims. The child's mother said that just hours before the massacre, the mom had been at the school to see her son participate an honor roll ceremony (pictured) Xavier Lopez, 10, was the first student victim to be identified as one of Ramos' victims. The child's mother, Felicha Martinez, told the Washington Post Tuesday that just hours before the massacre, the mom had been at the school to see her son participate an honor roll ceremony. She took a picture showing her son showing off his certificate. In the last exchange she had with the child, the mom heartbreakingly told the boy that she was proud of him and that she loved him, giving him a hug goodbye - not knowing it would be the last time she would see him alive. 'He was funny, never serious and his smile that smile I will never forget,' she recalled after learning of his death from police. 'It would always cheer anyone up.' The boy's cousin, Lisa Garza, 54, of Arlington, said Xavier enjoyed swimming and had been looking forward to the summer. 'He was just a loving 10-year-old little boy, just enjoying life, not knowing that this tragedy was going to happen today,' she said. 'He was very bubbly, loved to dance with his brothers, his mom. This has just taken a toll on all of us.' Amelia Sandoval, Lopez's grandmother, said: 'It's just so hard... you send your kids to school thinking they are going to make it back home but they're not.' Eliahana Torres, 10 Eliahana Cruz Torres, 10, had also been missing for hours until she was confirmed to be among the dead Eliahana Cruz Torres, 10, had also been missing for hours until she was confirmed to be among the dead. Adolfo Cruz, her great-grandfather, said she didn't want to attend school the day of the shooting - but was told by her family that she had to attend. He said he remained outside the school gates throughout the night until he leanrned of her fate from local authorities. 'I hope she is alive,' he said at the time. Torres was an avid baseball player and played the sport in a local little league. Ellie Lugo, 10 Ellie Lugo was named as a victim of Tuesday's attack by her parents, who confirmed her death several hours after she was listed among the missing Ellie Lugo was named as a victim of Tuesday's attack by her parents, with Steven Garcia and Jennifer Lugo confirming her death several hours after she was listed among the missing. 'It's hard to issue out a statement on anything right now my mind is going at 1000 miles per hour but I do wanna send our thoughts and prayers to those who also didn't make it home tonight!!! Our Ellie was a doll and was the happiest ever,' Steven Lugo said Wednesday. 'Mom and Dad love you never forget that and please try and stay by our side.' Nevaeh Bravo Nevaeh Bravo, a student at Robb Elementary School, was also confirmed dead after Tuesday's shooting. Nevaeh Bravo was confirmed to be among the dead late Tuesday, after her cousin posted on social media following the shooting to ask for helping the girl. Around 9 pm, she broke the news on Twitter. 'Unfortunately my beautiful Nevaeh was one of the many victims from todays tragedy,' she wrote. Sje said the schoolchild was 'flying high' and asked for the family to be kept in people's prayers 'Our Nevaeh has been found. She is flying with the angels above. We love you Navaeh very much princess.' 'Thank you for the support and help,' she wrote. 'Rest in peace my sweet girl, you didn't deserve this.' Bravo's age could not immediately be confirmed. Tess Marie Mata Fourth-grader Tess Marie Mata was named by her sister, who described her younger sibling as a 'precious angel' Tess Marie Mata was also among those to perish in the attack, her sister, Faith Mata, revealed in a post to Facebook Wednesday. 'I honestly have no words just sadness, confusion, and anger,' she wrote. 'I'm sad because we will never get to tag team on mom and dad again and tell each other how much we mean to each other, I'm confused because how can something like this happen to my sweet, caring, and beautiful sister, and I'm angry because a coward took you from us.' Photos shared with the post showed Tess smiling in a baby photo, snuggling with a cat, doing gymnastics, flashing a peace sign, and posing in front of a large heart mural. 'Sissy I miss you so much, I just want to hold you and tell you how pretty you are, I want to take you outside and practice softball, I want to go on one last family vacation, I want to hear your contagious laugh, and I want you to hear me tell you how much I love you,' she wrote. Her age could not immediately be confirmed. Rojelio Torres, 10 Rojelio Torres, 10, was initially reported missing by his father, but on Wednesday was confirmed dead by his family Rojelio Torres, 10, was initially reported missing by his father, but on Wednesday was confirmed dead by his family. A person who said she was the boy's cousin wrote on Twitter: 'It breaks my heart to say my rojelio is now with the angels I'll forever miss you and love you my angel.' The child's father , Federico Torres, told Houston reporters that he was at work when he learned about the shooting and immediately raced to the school. 'They sent us to the hospital, to the civic center, to the hospital and here again, nothing, not even in San Antonio,' he said. 'They don't tell us anything, only a photo, wait, hope that everything is well.' Nearly half a day later, cops broke the news to the boy's family. 'Our entire family waited almost 12 hours since the shooting to find out Rojelio Torres, my 10-year-old nephew, was killed in this tragedy,' Torres' aunt, Precious Perez, told KSAT. 'We are devastated and heartbroken. Rojer was a very intelligent, hard-working and helpful person. He will be missed and never forgotten.' Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10 Jayce Luevanos, 10, died in the shooting along with his ten-year-old cousin, Jailah, the boy's mother said Wednesday Jayce Luevanos, 10, died in the shooting along with his ten-year-old cousin, Jailah, the child's mother said Wednesday. In a Facebook post, uncle Unberto Gonzalez shared photos of both kids while offering a touching tribute. 'My babies going to miss them like crazy!!!,' Gonzalez wrote. 'We luv y'all so much!!! I'm just lost right now!!! Fly high my beautiful Angels!!' Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10 Ten-year-old Jailah Nicole Silguero was also killed in the shooting, her mother tearfully revealed Wednesday Ten-year-old Jailah Nicole Silguero was also killed in the shooting, her mother, Veronica Luevanos, tearfully revealed to Univision Wednesday. She also lost her 10-year-old nephew Jayce to the tragedy. She said Jailah loved to dance and film videos on TikTok. The child reportedly also asked her mom the morning of the shooting if she could stay home from school - a request the now mourning mom rebuffed. 'I took her to school, but she didn't want to go. She told her father, 'Can I stay home?'' Luevanos said, noting that it was not a common occurrence for her daughter to make such a request. 'I think she knew something would happen.' Luevanos' mom confirmed the loss on Facebook Wednesday. 'Fly high my angels. We're going to miss yall so much,' wrote Veronica Luevanos - whose dad had died just a week earlier. 'I'm so heart broken,' she wrote with a photo of her daughter and nephew. 'My baby I love u so much fly high baby girl.' Alithia Ramirez, 10 Fourth grader Alithia Ramirez was confirmed dead Wednesday by her father, Ryan Ramirez, who shared a post to Facebook showing the 10-year-old with angel's wings. He had used the same photo the previous day as he pleaded for help finding her after the massacre Fourth grader Alithia Ramirez was confirmed dead early Wednesday by her father, Ryan Ramirez, who shared a post to Facebook showing the 10-year-old with angel's wings. He had used the same photo the previous day as he pleaded for help finding her after the massacre He had heartbreakingly used the same photo the previous day as he desperately pleaded for help finding her after the massacre. 'Trying to find my daughter Alithia. I called all the hospitals and nothing,' he wrote at the time. He also reporters during his frantic search, 'I'm trying to find out where my baby's at.' Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10 Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10, was another killed by Ramos Tuesday - along with her cousin, who has yet to be identified Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10, was another killed by Ramos Tuesday - along with her cousin, who has yet to be identified. Annabell's father spent the afternoon after the shooting in frantic search for his daughter. Speaking to KHOU11 Tuesday, he lamented at how he was at a loss as to what do, having little success with the search. 'They're not letting us in at the hospital right now so we don't know where to go.' She has since been declared to be among the dead. Miranda Mathis, 11 Miranda Mathis, 11, was also confirmed as another casualty from the mass shooting early Wednesday, in a Facebook post by an older cousin who earlier that day had posted a desperate plea for help in locating the child Miranda Mathis, 11, was also confirmed as another casualty from the mass shooting early Wednesday, in a Facebook post by an older cousin who earlier that day had posted a desperate plea for help in locating the child. 'My sweet baby cousin we loved u dearly,' Deanna Miller wrote alongside a photo of the child with angel wings. 'I'm so sorry this happen to u baby please keep my family in your prayers,' she grieved. Miller's kids had also been at the school at the time of the shooting, but survived the attack. One of her sons told her that they were ushered out of a window by staffers during the attack and subsequently ran to a nearby funeral home after 'he heard the shooter say he was gonna kill all the kids.' Alexandria 'Lexi' Aniyah Rubio, 10 Alexandria Aniyah Rubio - who was better known to friends as 'Lexi' - was confirmed dead just before midnight on Tuesday Alexandria Aniyah Rubio - who was better known to friends as 'Lexi' - was confirmed dead just before midnight on Tuesday. The ten-year-old was shot dead just hours after posing for a photo with her parents at the school's honor roll ceremony. Kimberly Mata-Rubio, the girl's mother, wrote of the loss: 'My beautiful, smart, Alexandria Aniyah Rubio was recognized today for All-A honor roll. She also received the good citizen award. We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school. We had no idea this was goodbye.' Maite Yuleana Maite was another student to die in the attack that had attended the honor roll ceremony just hours before. Maite was another student to die in the attack that had attended the honor roll ceremony just hours before. A cousin of the girl's mother, Ana Rodriguez, announced the loss Wednesday. 'It is with a heavy heart I come on here on behalf of my cousin Ana who lost her sweet baby girl in yesterday's senseless shooting. 'We are deeply saddened by the lose [sic] of this sweet smart little girl. God bless and may she R.I.P Maite Rodriguez we love you.' Another relative shared a photo of Maite with her honor roll certificate. Her age could not immediately be confirmed. Jose Flores Jr, 10 Jose Flores, 10, was also killed in the shooting after attending the honor roll ceremony, where he was pictured triumphantly clutching a certificate celebrating the accomplishment Jose Flores, 10, was also killed in the shooting after attending the honor roll ceremony, where he was pictured triumphantly clutching a certificate celebrating the accomplishment. Uncle Christopher Salazar confirmed to the Washington Post Wednesday that his 10-year-old nephew was among the dead, after sharing a tribute to the child on Facebook. 'I love you and I miss you,' Salazar wrote in the post. The boy's father described Jose to CNN as an amazing boy and big brother to his two younger siblings. 'He was always fill of energy,' Jose Flores Sr. said. 'Ready to play till the night.' He said the boy loved playing baseball and video games. Irma Garcia, 46 - fourth grade teacher Garcia, who co-taught with Mireles for the last five year, had been at Robb Elementary for 23 years. She and Mierles were both in the classroom when Ramos began his attack Garcia, who co-taught with Mireles for the last five year, had been at Robb Elementary for 23 years. Married to Joe for 24 years, she was a mother of four - Cristian, completing Marine boot camp; Jose, attending Texas State university University; Lyliana, a sophomore in high school; and Alysandra, a 7th grader. 'My tia did not make it, she sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom, i beg of you to keep my family including all of her family in y'all's prayers , IRMA GARCIA IS HER NAME and she died a HERO,' tweeted her nephew John. 'She was loved by many and will truly be missed.' She was nominated as teacher of the year for the 2018-19 awards, organized by Trinity University. Eva Mireles, 44 - fourth grade teacher Eva Mireles, a fourth grade teacher, was one of two adult staffers shot and killed at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday Mireles, a fourth grade teacher, was identified by her family as being one of the staff members shot dead. She had worked in education for 17 years. er husband Ruben Ruiz, a veteran detective and SWAT team member currently serving as a police officer with the school district, held regular active shooter drills for the schools - most recently at the end of March. Shocking footage shows the moment a man exits his Uber driver's car before turning around and smashing in his windows with a hammer that he bought during the trip. In footage posted to social media, the barefoot passenger is seen in Lawla Street at Blackburn North in Melbourne's eastern suburbs beating the car with the hammer shortly after 7:30am on Thursday. It's believed the man was unhappy with the cost of the ride. It's understood the man retrieved the hammer from the Uber driver's boot before he started hitting and smashing glass windows as he made his way around the car. The man appeared to be under the influence of a substance at the time of the incident. The assailant allegedly bought the hammer during the trip, with the driver telling police he had stopped at a hardware store so the passenger could buy the tool. Another man, believed to be the rideshare driver, can be seen filming the incident. Apparently unhappy with the cost of his trip, the man went to the boot and retrieved the hammer he had bought during the ride to smash up the driver's car The hammer-wielding passenger is seen at Blackburn North on Thursday evening Victoria police said the passenger had been riding from Carlton in inner-Melbourne headed for Surrey Hills, 11 kilometres east of Melbourne's CBD. Despite the property damage the Uber driver was uninjured. Uber's guidelines mean the rider will likely have to foot the bill when the repairs are made to the car, in what could become a very costly conclusion to the payment dispute. Police say the man is wanted for further enquiries into the incident. The man, of large build and believed to be from Queensland, left the scene before the police arrived and is yet to be found. Police have called for anyone with further information to contact Crimestoppers. In comments on the video, people were horrified by the man's behaviour. 'WTF is wrong with people- this guy needs to be locked up - this isnt in a fit of rage, this is calm and collected show of violence,' wrote one person. 'OMG! what the hell did I just watch?! How is this behaviour becoming more and more common!' said another. An outback Australian town cheered as it celebrated its first baby in 15 years, with the farmer dad just making his son's birth after an epic trip across Queensland. Young mum Jessie Harvey gave birth to Darby in Richmond hospital in outback Queensland just after her partner Sam Mcgrath battled flooded dirt roads to drive in from a remote mustering camp. 'I did make the hospital in time, [Darby] waited for me,' Mr Mcgrath, who manages a 600,000 acre remote cattle station at East Creek, Woodstock, told Daily Mail Australia. Young mum Jessie Harvey gave birth to Darby in outback Queensland just after her partner Sam Mcgrath battled flooded dirt roads to drive in from a remote mustering camp An outback Australian town cheered as it celebrated its first baby in 15 years, with the farmer dad just making his son's birth after an epic trip across Queensland With her partner away and going into labour at 3am, Ms Harvey, just 22, was in tears. 'I called my mum and just cried; this wasnt how I planned it,' she said. The return trip to the nearest hospital for Ms Harvey to have regular check-ups is 1,460km at Townsville. Their only option was tiny Richmond hospital, which had no midwives and doesn't do births. Ms Mcgrath said his son Darby is 'kicking goals' after his dramatic birth Sam Mcgrath (left) said hospital staff were cheering when their baby (Darby) was born as it was the first child delivered there in 15 years. Mum Jessie Harvey and Darby are pictured with Sam Hospital staff held their collective breaths until little Darby first cried. 'It was honestly amazing everyone was so stoked, so happy to see a child being born [at Richmond],' Mr Mcgrath, 27, said. 'It was pretty well a cheering vibe, everyone was quite ecstatic.' Richmond has a population of 648 people and because the hospital had no midwives on duty, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) had to fly in a team to deliver Darby. 'Jess was an absolute trooper, Sam was there to support and cut the cord, our flight nurse Leanne Ashbacher was incredible, and even our pilot got involved,' said RFDS doctor Shima Ghedia. The RFDS then flew the family to Townsville for further care. Mr Mcgrath said he 'just sat down for breakfast' while mustering when he got the call that his partner was going into labour. 'I had just taken a sip out of my coffee when I got the call. I grabbed my bag and chucked it on the ute then had to high-tail it into town. Ms Harvey said she cried when she went into labour at 3am without her partner Sam there Richmond has a population of 648 people and because the hospital had no midwives on duty, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) had to fly in a team to deliver Darby 'Jess had woken up at 3am with pains and told the cook. They said she was 8cm dilated and they could feel the head but from there I had 280km to go, including over 100km of dirt road. 'I don't want to say how fast I had to go to get there in time because I might get in trouble but I made it.' On the way home from the hospital heavy rain and flooding meant the young parents couldn't get home. Instead they were forced to shelter for the night at a friend's property. Mr Mcgrath said little Darby is doing well and 'kicking all the goals he needs to'. A Catholic girls school in Queensland has become a transmission site for the potentially deadly meningococcal disease, putting two people in hospital. Two students and a teacher from the senior school at St Mary's Catholic College in Cairns contracted the disease, with the school saying that the pair in hospital were in a stable condition and not in the ICU. School Principal Wayne Wood said that the school, which has 1000 pupils, acted quickly following the discovery of a single case on Monday, followed by two more on Wednesday. St Mary's Catholic College in Cairns has two students and a teacher contract the rare but potentially deadly meningococcal disease, which has put two of the patients in hospital 'Immediately it was about notifying the families that we had three cases, which is unusual for a school and to be on one site,' Mr Wood told The Cairns Post. 'It was a very big response, we chose to have a zoom meeting rather than have parents on site. That allowed parents who were at work to access it.' Mr Wood said that following medical advice and guidelines, the school would not close. There would also be no quarantine measures but antibiotics woul be handed out to the whole school community. Meningococcal disease can cause rash along with a raft of other symptoms such as red-purple spots or bruises, vomiting, fever, headache, confusion, stiff neck and joint pain Director of Tropical Public Health Services Dr Richard Gair said health authorities were working closely with the school to deal with the apparent outbreak. Contract tracing had been conducted and authorities were to hold a forum with parents on Thursday. Staff and students have been told to closely monitor for meningococcal symptoms, which include sudden onset of rash, red-purple spots or bruises, vomiting, fever, headache, confusion, neck stiffness and joint pain. Director of Tropical Public Health Services Dr Richard Gair said health authorities were working with the school to make sure the outbreak is contained and give out antibiotics 'If concerned, people should seek immediate medical attention as early treatment with antibiotics can be life-saving,' Dr Gair said. Household contacts of the three cases have already received antibiotics. Outbreaks of more than one case of meningococcus disease are rare but can occur where there is close prolonged contact of people, such as in schools or childcare centres. The disease can cause rapid deterioration and death but in most cases it is effectively treated with the early use of antibiotics. Winter and spring are the highest risk times with young children and teens in late adolescence considered those at highest risk. The disease is caused by a bacteria, which is carried harmlessly by up to 10 per cent of people and is passed by droplets from the nose or throat. Scientists don't know why the germ is generally harmless but can turn deadly. There is a vaccine against meningococcus but it is not effective against all strains. A clean-cut lawyer is one of three men accused of the alleged gang rape of a teenage girl in a luxury Airbnb apartment during a bucks weekend away. Maurice Hawell, 28, was arrested earlier this month after a three month investigation into the alleged attack at the warehouse-style unit in Newcastle West, NSW. The western Sydney solicitor is a former private Catholic school boy at the private Patrician Brothers' College in Fairfield and works at a firm in Sydney's CBD. Police allege he and groom-to-be Andrew David, 28, sexually assaulted a 19-year-old girl around 11pm on February 26 after she was allegedly lured back to the Airbnb where a bucks party was being held. Maurice Hawell, 28, was arrested earlier this month after a three month investigation into the alleged attack at the warehouse-style unit in Newcastle West, NSW (pictured) Clean-cut lawyer Maurice Hawell is one of three men accused of the alleged gang rape of a teenage girl in a luxury Airbnb apartment during a bucks weekend away The attack is alleged to have taken place at the $555-a-night three-bedroom converted industrial-style flat in Parry Street, close to the city's party zone. The listing for the apartment says it can cater for up to six guests and boasts of its two king-size beds and one queen-sized. Photographs from inside the unit reveal a plush leather lounge suite and giant TV, with an open plan kitchen and upmarket walk-in shower and wet room bathroom. One reviewer praised its 'good location and nice space for larger groups' while another commented on its 'very nice bed'. Hawell also left a rating and review for the unit in the wake of the weekend, although the review is now blank, but he was thanked for it by the letting agent. A third man Marius Hawell, 20, is also alleged to have been part of the attack. He and David were arrested in dawn raids in Edensor Park and Horsely Park on Wednesday. Police allege the rape was carried out in one of the unit's bedrooms by the two older men while the younger man watched on. Maurice Hawell also left a rating and review for the unit in the wake of the weekend, although the review is now blank, but he was thanked for it by the letting agent The listing for the apartment says it can cater for up to six guests and boasts of its two king-size beds and one queen-sized David's wedding arrangements on June 18 have now been 'amended' over issues between the guest list and possible witnesses, Fairfield Local Court was told on Wednesday. The groom and his wife-to-be now have no plans for a honeymoon, the court heard. The two 28-year-olds were charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault in company with other person/s and one count of sexually touch another person without consent. The attack is alleged to have taken place at the $555-a-night three-bedroom converted industrial-style flat in Parry Street, close to the city's party zone The 20-year-old, from Edensor Park, was charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault in company with other person/s, being that of principal in the second degree. All three have been granted bail to return to court on July 4, with police investigations continuing. Maurice Hawell has been granted bail. He was unavailable at his office on Thursday. Colleagues said he was on personal leave and 'taking some time off'. A woman has had her jail term slashed for forging medical letters saying her partner had terminal brain cancer, which led to a judge granting bail. The letters included a claim the partner 'requires specialist treatment and management for this terminal condition in order to sustain her quality of life' which otherwise 'would be very bleak'. Kelly Edmonds pleaded guilty in Campbelltown District Court to two counts of doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice. Kelly Edmonds' partner Hayley Karaitiana (pictured) was sentenced to 12 years after she handed an angry drug dealer a sawn-off shotgun outside the home of a rival family from her child's school The then 40-year-old was jailed in November 2020 for four years and six months, with a non-parole period of three years and four months. But on Wednesday the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal re-sentenced her to three years with a non-parole period of two years. She was originally eligible for release on parole in October 2024 but her new term means she was eligible last month. The three judges upheld her appeal on the grounds she was denied procedural fairness in respect of the sentencing judge's findings regarding her subjective case. They also found the judge erred in assessing the offences as being above the mid-range of seriousness. Edmonds helped her partner (pictured) get bail by faking a series of doctor's letters saying her partner had terminal brain cancer. Edmond's partner, Hayley Karaitiana, applied for bail in the NSW Supreme Court in October 2017. She was charged with firing at a house with disregard for the safety of persons inside and possessing a shortened firearm, and sentenced to 12 years jail in November 2020. The defence case included two letters purported to have been signed by Doctor Anna Sellbach of St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital in Queensland. One referred to Karaitiana having had cervical cancer, lung cancer and more recent testing revealed multiple metastatic lesions on the brain. The pair (pictured) had previously lived in Masterton, New Zealand Edmonds will be eligible for parole in just a month after her most recent resentencing in Campbelltown district court (pictured) while her partner will remain in jail The second said it would be extremely beneficial for her to commence radiation therapy and chemotherapy at her earliest convenience. 'I have been informed of the difficulty this presents to Miss Karaitiana being currently incarcerated,' the letter said. 'It is imperative that this treatment be commenced as soon as practicable and for the patient to be reviewed in 3-6 months to assess her response to treatment in the hopes of her being suitable for surgery.' The letters were also used by Karaitiana in applying to have her firearm matters permanently stayed. Dr Sellbach later told police the letters were not written or signed by her, before Edmonds admitted forging them so her partner could get a lesser sentence. The sentencing judge had not accepted the history contained in a psychological report on Edmonds. It had included referring to her having a dysfunctional upbringing in New Zealand, later life traumatic experiences and an adjustment disorder. 'She was both a witness to and victim of domestic violence perpetrated by her father, who had gang affiliations, and she reported being exposed to drug use and antisocial influences from a young age.' The appeal court found the judge effectively foreclosed her barrister from making submissions as to why the psychologist should be accepted or reconsidering his decision not to call her to give evidence. In re-sentencing, Justice Hament Dhanji said undoubtedly the offences were serious, striking at the heart of the integrity of the administration of criminal justice. But he was satisfied her dysfunctional background was such as to impact upon her decision-making in the context of her desire to maintain her family unit. Outgoing PM Scott Morrison is finally letting go of one of his official residences, calling in removalists to help his family move their belongings out of The Lodge so Anthony Albanese can move in. A massive, bright orange removalist truck was filmed driving through the gates of the Canberra residence on Thursday afternoon, five days after Mr Morrison lost the federal election. The bright orange truck was seen arriving at The Lodge on Thursday afternoon The Lodge, in the Canberra suburb of Deakin, is the official residence for the prime minister of Australia, with new PM Anthony Albanese now free to move in after he arrived back from the Quad summit in Japan on Wednesday night. The second official residence of the prime minister of Australia is Kirribilli House, the harbourside heritage-listed mansion in Sydney that Mr Morrison's family spent most of their time in during his almost four years as PM. It's likely Mr Albanese will make Kirribilli House his first home, with the new PM hailing from Sydney's inner west, less than half an hour from the residence. It's understood Mr Morrison, his wife Jenny and their two daughters will return to their former home in the Sutherland Shire, in Sydney's south, by tomorrow, clearing the way for Mr Albanese to move in. Removalists have started packing up The Lodge, five days after Mr Morrison lost the election In an interview with 2GB radio host Ben Fordham on Thursday morning, Mr Morrison said he was looking forward to 'being a dad' again, telling the broadcaster he was already back on school drop-off duty. 'I've just dropped the girls off to school this morning and I'm looking forward to being a dad again, it's been a while since I've been able to spend as much time as I would like with the family,' he said. Mr Morrison also said he was keen to return to life as a 'quiet Australian in the Shire'. In February, former pool cleaner Nikki Durant and her two adult sons moved in to the Morrison's Sutherland Shire house after her home in the Northern Rivers town of Woodburn flooded. But the Durants moved out on Monday, so the Morrisons could move back in. Tony Abbott moved out of Kirribilli House within 72 hours of being ousted by Malcolm Turnbull on September 15, 2015. Kevin Rudd, however, took five days to leave The Lodge in Canberra, where he was primarily based, after losing a party room vote to Julia Gillard in June 2010. But Mr Rudd was also very accommodating to John Howard's family after defeating him in a landslide in 2007, saying 'they should take as long as they need' to move. Peter Dutton's resurfaced tweets have come back to haunt him as he looks set to become the next Liberal leader. The former defence minister is favoured to succeed Scott Morrison after other possible candidates either lost their seats in the election, or pulled out of the race. He formally launched his bid for the Liberal Party leadership on Wednesday, promising to show a softer, more caring side to his personality if he becomes the next Liberal leader. However, in a Twitter post from 2011, Mr Dutton warned then Labor prime minister Julia Gillard that her deputy Wayne Swan was after her job by pushing his 'softer side'. 'Some friendly advice Julia - beware a D/PM selling his 'softer side' at a time your party is looking for l'ship,' Mr Dutton wrote. The former defence minister has also made headlines after Labor's Tanya Plibersek was lambasted for attacking his appearance. But Mr Dutton has been known to target people's appearance as well. Peter Dutton (left), who is expected to be the next leader of the Liberal Party, is pictured with his wife, Kirilly Pictured is a tweet from Peter Dutton warning then Labor prime minister Julia Gillard that her deputy Wayne Swan was after her job On Wednesday, Ms Plibersek, who is expected to be the next education minister, launched an extraordinary personal attack on Mr Dutton, comparing him to Voldemort, Harry Potter's bald archenemy. 'Well I think there will be a lot of children who have watched a lot of Harry Potter films who will be very frightened of what they will see at night, that's for sure,' she said about Mr Dutton. The tough-talking Queenslander later said the remarks were 'unfortunate' and compared them to abuse he gets on social media. Ms Plibersek apologised to him, but old tweets, which resurfaced on Thursday, show Mr Dutton is not afraid of personalised attacks on people's looks himself. However, in August 2013, Mr Dutton tweeted an insult the then Labor PM Kevin Rudd. Labor's Tanya Plibersek (pictured) launched an extraordinary personal attack on Peter Dutton, comparing him to Voldemort, Harry Potter's bald archenemy Pictured is Peter Dutton's tweet from 2013 insulting then prime minister Kevin Rudd's hair, just before that year's federal election 'KRudds fringe looks like its been welded on this morn. More hair spray than Dame Edna,' he said. In 2010, Mr Dutton told then Labor health minister Nicola Roxon to 'get on your broomstick' in fiery exchange in parliament. Though he was forced to withdraw the comment, he showed no remorse, later tweeting that 'telling nicola to get on her broomstick is hardly 'grossly unparliamentary' as joolia claimed.' Former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard (pictured) is just one of the many people Peter Dutton insulted over the years A tweet (pictured) from Peter Dutton in 2010, in which he showed he was not actually sorry for what he said about Labor's Nicola Roxon Despite being free and easy with the personal insults himself in the past, Mr Dutton showed on Thursday that he is a little sensitive about his own hair, or lack of it. 'I'm not bald by choice, I was diagnosed with a skin condition a couple of years ago, it's all just the reality of getting older,' he said. 'You read that sort of stuff online and it's sort of the sewer of Twitter I just don't think you need to be nasty and mean. 'I'm not the prettiest bloke on the block but I'm hopeful I'll be pretty effective.' Peter Dutton (pictured), who is expected to be the next leader of the Liberal Party, has been compared to Harry Potter's archenemy Voldemort, by senior Labor MP Tanya Plibersek Peter Dutton (right) is pictured with his wife Kirilly Dutton at the National Press Club in Canberra New Prime Minster Anthony Albanese rebuked Ms Plibersek for her comment on Mr Dutton's looks, saying it was a 'mistake' and 'shouldn't have been said'. 'Tanya Plibersek did the right thing by apologising. I do want to change the way that politics functions in this country. People do have conflict fatigue,' he told ABC TV. Mr Albanese denied that insulting the probable next Liberal leader might lead to Ms Plibersek being denied a key role in the Labor government. 'Tanya Plibersek will certainly be on my frontbench. There is no question about that. She apologised. It was a mistake. It shouldn't have been said. We all make mistakes from time to time,' he said. 'What we need to do is to move on from them and it is how we respond to them. Tanya Plibersek responded appropriately.' Speaking on Channel Seven's Sunrise, Mr Albanese said 'We should not refer to people's appearance. Let's discuss policy differences.' Advertisement A chained-up dog has been rescued from a butchers in China by animal activists just moments before its slaughter. Lucky was due to be killed that evening when rescuers stormed the dog and cat meat shop in Yulin and persuaded the chained-up animal to be freed, just weeks before the city's annual dog meat festival. The Akita was the final animal of the day due to be slaughtered and it showed signs of having previously been someone's pet, suggesting it had been stolen. A dog has been rescued from a butchers in China by animal activists just hours before its slaughter for an annual dog meat festival During its rescue, dog and cat carcasses are seen hanging nearby showing Lucky's likely fate if the activists did not intervene Lucky was taken into a veterinary shelter supported by Humane Society International who take in dogs rescued from the Chinese meat trade During its rescue, dog and cat carcasses are seen hanging nearby showing Lucky's likely fate if the activists did not intervene. Lucky was taken into a veterinary shelter supported by Humane Society International who take in dogs rescued from the Chinese meat trade. In Yulin, a summer solstice dog meat festival is held every year despite protests from animal activists. Launched in 2010 by dog meat traders to boost sales, the event starts on June 21 attracts thousands of visitors from across the province who gather to eat dog meat stew and crispy dog meat at the city's restaurants and stalls. Activists are appealing to local authorities to stop the mass public gathering from going ahead, to protect public health and animal welfare. Footage taken by the charity also shows the horrific inhumane conditions where dogs are caged prior to being slaughtered Lucky was seen smiling after it was taken to an animal shelter following the rescue from the dog market In Yulin, a summer solstice dog meat festival is held every year despite protests from animal activists Footage taken by the charity also shows the horrific inhumane conditions where dogs are caged prior to being slaughtered. The animals are forced to stay in squalid rooms behind bars before they are routinely killed for the meat trade. Liang Jia, a Guangxi activist, said: 'The streets of Yulin are relatively quiet right now, and although you can see a few dog meat shops, stalls and dog slaughterhouses like normal, it's nothing compared to how it will look in mid-June. 'While elsewhere in China, cities are in COVID-19 lockdown, it makes no sense for Yulin dog meat traders to be allowed to encourage visitors to travel across the province and into the city. 'As well as the appalling animal cruelty that will take place with thousands of dogs and cats bludgeoned to death, it's an obvious public health risk. Lucky was found chained up at the butchers in Yulin province before it was raided by rescuers The animals are forced to stay in squalid rooms behind bars before they are routinely killed for the meat trade Liang Jia, a Guangxi activist, said the Yulin dog meat festival should be cancelled not only for the dogs' welfare but also for Covid concerns 'The Yulin authorities should be taking this seriously because it would be hugely embarrassing for the Yulin dog meat festival to become a super-spreader event.' Most people in China don't eat dogs, and even in Yulin, polls show most citizens don't regularly eat dog despite efforts by dog meat traders to promote it. Opposition to the dog trade is growing in China, and in 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs made an official statement that dogs are companion animals and not 'livestock' for eating. That same year, two major cities in mainland China Shenzhen and Zhuhai banned the consumption of dog and cat meat, a decision polling showed was supported by nearly 75 per cent of Chinese citizens. Most people in China don't eat dogs, and even in Yulin, polls show most citizens don't regularly eat dog despite efforts by dog meat traders to promote it Opposition to the dog trade is growing in China despite regular festivals to promote the meat The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs made an official statement that dogs are companion animals and not 'livestock' for eating Two major cities in mainland China Shenzhen and Zhuhai banned the consumption of dog and cat meat Nearly 75 per cent of Chinese citizens supported banning the eating of dog meat in Shenzhen and Zhuhai Dr Peter Li, China policy specialist for Humane Society International which supports the care of dogs rescued from China's meat trade, said: 'Lucky had a narrow escape because only one blowtorched dog carcass was left on sale at the shop, meaning he would have been next. 'But Lucky is just one of millions of dogs who suffer at the hands of dog traders across China, and one of thousands who end up in Yulin for the summer solstice event. 'His rescuers say he was super friendly, used to walking on a leash and happily jumped into the back of the activists' car without hesitation, so it seems clear that he was once someone's pet, and indeed many of the dogs killed for meat are pets stolen from back yards, outside shops and even from cars. 'COVID-19 precautions add another compelling reason to crack down on dog trade gatherings like this, in addition to the brutal cruelty and criminal activity.' Anthony Albanese's beloved dog Toto has been ruthlessly bullied by trolls just days after the pooch made his debut on Twitter. The curly-haired canine, dubbed 'Australia's First Dog', initially received a warm welcome on the platform and gained 20,000 followers in just 24 hours. However, just days later the dark side of Toto's new-found fame became evident as fed-up fans complained the account's tweets were too 'cringe'. 'It's so cringe I can't handle it! Got all excited about the cute account but some of the tweets are just OTT (over the top),' one user said. Anthony Albanese's beloved dog Toto has been ruthlessly bullied by trolls just days after the pooch made his debut on Twitter (pictured, the pair on Election Day, March 21) The curly-haired canine, dubbed 'Australia's First Dog', initially received a warm welcome on the platform, gaining 20,000 followers in just 24 hours (pictured, Toto's first tweet) 'Toto listen to me very carefully. If you do one more post I'll tell your dad you went to go live on a farm,' another tweeted. 'I'm a Labor voter, but please delete this page,' a third added. 'Every time this account says 'hooman' I will kick (1) dog,' a fourth said. However, others defended the account, which was created by a 20-year-old university student in Brisbane who explained they just loved the PM's dog. 'My grandchildren love it... get a grip,' one wrote. 'Hey Toto.... great to follow you on Twitter. Let your Dad know that I am proud to have him as my Prime Minister,' another said. The dark side of Toto's new-found fame became evident as fed-up fans complained the tweets were too 'cringe' (pictured, Mr Albanese and his pooch on the day after the election, May 22) In his latest tweet, Toto said his 'dad' had promised to take him into Parliament if he got more followers than Scott Morrison. 'Dad brought me along to a furry busy playdate over the weekend! It was great to make some new doggy and hooman pals!' the account captioned a photo of a beaming Mr Albanese and Toto with a Labor bandanda. In another tweet, the pooch told his followers to have a 'pawfect day'. Meanwhile, Mr Albanese has hit the ground running since storming to victory in Saturday's election. On Monday he was sworn in as Prime Minister before jetting off to the Quad leaders' summit in Tokyo. The regional security partnership includes Australia, the US, Japan and India and is aimed at countering Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific. Mr Albanese has hit the ground running since storming to victory in Saturday's election (pictured with Toto on Election Day, March 21) US President Joe Biden praised Mr Albanese's stamina on his first day in the job. 'You got sworn in, got on a plane and if you fall asleep while you're here, it's OK because I don't know how you're doing it,' he said. 'Congratulations on your election. When you won and I called you, we greatly appreciate your commitment on being here so soon after taking office.' Upon his return to Australia the Prime Minister called the whirlwind trip a great success but admitted he's still getting used to his title. 'It really hit home when people start to call you Prime Minister and you realise that you are not looking around for someone else, it's actually you,' he told Sunrise. Advertisement This is the moment Texas senator Ted Cruz stormed out of an interview after being asked why school mass shootings 'only happen in America' during a vigil for victims of the Robb Elementary School massacre. Republican senator Cruz had joined Texas Governor Greg Abbott to be with hundreds of tearful relatives and friends mourning loved ones killed in the shooting, which is the worst school massacre since Sandy Hook in 2012. Nineteen children from the same class and two of their teachers at Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas, were murdered on Tuesday by 18-year-old Salvador Ramos using two AR-15-style rifles. Ramos had bought the guns and 375 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition legally a week before, just days after his 18th birthday. British journalist Mark Stone cornered Cruz at the vigil and asked him whether it was time for gun reform laws in America. When asked why American exceptionalism is 'so awful', Cruz said: 'You know, I'm sorry you think American exceptionalism is awful. You've got your political agenda. God love you.' After repeatedly being told 'You can't answer that' by Stone, Cruz turned and said: 'Why is it that people come from all over the world to America? Because it's the freest, most prosperous, safest country on Earth. Stop being a propagandist.' 'You know, it's easy to go to politics,' Cruz told Sky News. 'Inevitably, when some violent psychopath murders people, if you want to stop violent crime, the proposals the Democrats have none of them would have stopped this.' He added: 'There are 19 sets of parents who are never going to get to kiss their child tonight.' The Texas senator then stormed out of the interview at the vigil being held by relatives and friends of those killed in the massacre on Tuesday. Texas senator Cruz stormed out of an interview after a British journalist asked why school mass shootings 'only happen in America' He was asked the question while he was attending a vigil for victims of the Robb Elementary School massacre Cruz had joined Texas Governor Greg Abbott to be with hundreds of tearful relatives and friends mourning loved ones killed in the shooting Nineteen children and two of their teachers at Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas, were murdered on Tuesday by 18-year-old Salvador Ramos using two AR-15-style rifles Mourners gathered on the bleachers and on the dirt of a fairground arena in the small town of Uvalde A woman cries as she hugs a child, during a community gathering at the Uvalde County Fairplex, following the school mass shooting The tight-knit Latino community of Uvalde was wracked with grief Wednesday after a teen in body armor marched into the school and killed 19 children and two teachers Around 15,000 people live in the town of Uvalde, which is 50 miles from the international border with Mexico Timeline of a massacre: How events unfolded in Uvalde, Texas 11:32am Gunman arrives at the school after shooting his grandmother. She survived and called 911, telling them he had fled. At the school the gunman encounters a school resource officer. It's unclear if he tried to shoot him but the gunman was able to make his way inside and barricades himself into a fourth grade classroom 11:43am: Robb Elementary School posts to Facebook that the campus has gone under lockdown due to gunshots in the area. Parents rush to the scene 12.17pm: The school posts on Facebook that there is an 'active shooter' on campus 1.06pm:The Uvalde Police Department reports the suspect is 'in police custody' after police broke into the classroom. By then, 150 cops had descended onto the scene but it took 90 minutes for them to get to the shooter and stop him Advertisement Cruz told CNN after the shooting, 'inevitably when there's a murderer of this kind, you see politicians try to politicise it, you see Democrats and a lot of folks in the media whose immediate solution is to try to restrict the constitutional rights of law abiding citizens.' His post on Twitter expressing condolences for the massacre was reposted by progressive Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who called out his upcoming NRA appearance. 'Aren't you slated to headline a speaking gig for the NRA in three days - in Houston, no less? You can do more than pray. Faith without works is dead,' Ocasio-Cortez wrote. Meanwhile, fellow Republican senator Marco Rubio said: 'Any firearm is potentially dangerous in the arms of a deranged lunatic.' Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the state's junior GOP Senator Ted Cruz have came under scrutiny for being slated to speak at the National Rifle Association (NRA) pro-gun annual meeting in Houston on Friday. The NRA, which has for decades fiercely opposed gun control of all kinds, endorsed Abbott in his re-election bid this November against Democrat Beto O'Rourke. NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre once hailed Abbott as 'a tireless defender of the right to keep and bear arms.' However, Abbott faced backlash on Twitter for his planned speech at the NRA's convention on Friday in Houston, less than 300 miles from the shooting in Uvalde. His Democratic rival Beto O'Rourke called for him to 'immediately withdraw', while Reed Galen, a political strategist who served the Republican George W Bush administration, called Abbott a 'butcher'. President Joe Biden delivered a brief but powerful address in response to the shooting on Tuesday night, where he grieved for the victims and their families but also tore into gun manufacturers and lobbyists like the NRA for their opposition to 'common sense gun laws.' In this aerial view, law enforcement works on scene at Robb Elementary School where at least 21 people were killed on Tuesday Salvador Ramos, 18, shot his grandmother before going on a killing spree at Robb Elementary School, murdering 19 children and two teachers before he was shot dead by a Customs and Border Protection agent 'I had hoped, when I became president, I would not have to do this. Again. Another massacre,' Biden said. Speaking from the White House Roosevelt Room with First Lady Jill Biden clad in black by his side, the president said: 'Uvalde, Texas. An elementary school. Beautiful innocent, second, third, fourth graders. And how many scores of little children who witnessed what happen - see their friends die as if they're on a battlefield, for God's sake?' 'As a nation, we have to ask, when in God's name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? When in God's name will we do what we all know in our gut needs to be done?' he questioned. Biden recalled the numerous mass shootings over the last decade, including visiting Sandy Hook Elementary School, where a gunman killed 26 people including 20 children while he was vice president. He also remarked on the this month's mass shooting that killed 10 people in Buffalo, New York. Celebrities also came out online against gun laws in the US following the school mass shooting. LA Dodgers baseball player Mookie Betts called for a change to gun laws while Gary Lineker called the laws 'bizarre'. Meanwhile, Matthew McConaughey, who is from Uvalde, said 'action must be taken'. On Thursday tech multi-billionaire Elon Musk said assault rifles should require a 'special permit'. NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre will likely attend the conference in Houston on Friday, where a marquee of national GOP stars are expected to speak Trump posted on his app Truth Social, 'So hard to think or report about anything else after watching the Texas school "massacre" which took place yesterday' Trump commended law enforcement and mourned the 'incredible souls' lost in the message on his social media platform The NRA tweeted this on Monday night, before the shooting, about Trump's Friday appearance at the annual convention Texas Governor Greg Abbott attends a vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 25 Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks at the annual National Rifle Association (NRA) convention in Dallas, Texas, in 2018 'I am sick and tired of it. We have to act. And don't tell me we can't have an impact on this carnage. I spent my career as a senator and vice president working to pass common sense gun laws,' he said. Biden claimed the ability for a teenage gunman to be able to 'walk into a gun store and buy two assault weapons is just wrong.' Who is Ted Cruz? Ted Cruz, 51, is a Republican senator for Texas. Born in Canada, his family moved to Houston, Texas, when he was four years old. Cruz joined George W Bush's presidential campaign and was later appointed the solicitor general of Texas. He was elected to Congress in 2013 and became a leading figure in the conservative movement. In 2016 he joined the US Presidential race on the back of steadfast conservative politics. He tried to prevent access to abortions and has been vehemently pro-gun. In 2021 he said gun laws were not the answer to mass shootings. Instead he called for the government to 'target the bad guys' and prevent violent criminals and people with serious mental illness from buying guns. Cruz has received more money from gun rights groups than other member of Congress with lifetime contributions of $442,000 (350,000). He is one of 98 Republican members of Congress in the top 100 for money received from gun rights groups. Advertisement 'What in God's name do you need an assault weapon for except to kill someone?' Biden questioned. He then accused gun makers of spending 'two decades aggressively marketing assault weapons, which make them the most and largest profit.' 'For God's sake, we have to have the courage to stand up to the industry,' the president said. Donald Trump announced on Wednesday he still intends to speak at the annual meeting, which comes in Texas just three days after the school mass shooting in Uvalde. 'America needs real solutions and real leadership in this moment, not politicians and partisanship,' Trump said on his app Truth Social. 'That's why I will keep my longtime commitment to speak in Texas at the NRA Convention and deliver an important address to America. In the meantime, we all continue to pray for the victims, their families, and for our entire nation - we are all in this together!' Trump said earlier in the morning the elementary school shooting is a 'moment in time that will never be forgotten' and extended his 'grief and sorrow' for the victims of the mass slaughter. As mourners embraced and wept, relatives and friends of those murdered gathered at a fairground arena in the small town of Uvalde for a vigil on Wednesday. Throughout the day, mourners made their way to a municipal centre, where they could receive psychological support. Around 15,000 people live in the town, which is 50 miles from the border with Mexico. Ryan Ramirez fought back tears as he spoke of his 'lovable' 10-year-old daughter Alithia, an aspiring artist who was among the 19 schoolchildren killed in a cold-blooded shooting that has devastated the tight-knit community. Some held portraits of the dead, others squeezed stuffed animals and drawings, each struggling to comprehend the tragedy of the previous day. 'I'm just heartbroken right now,' Ramirez said as Alithia's mother hugged their other daughter. Abbott faced backlash on Twitter for his planned speech at the NRA's convention on Friday in Houston, less than 300 miles from the shooting in Uvalde. His Democratic rival Beto O'Rourke called for him to 'immediately withdraw', while Reed Galen, a political strategist who served the Republican George W Bush administration, called Abbott a 'butcher' Meanwhile, President Biden said: 'Common sense gun laws can't and won't prevent every tragedy. But we know they work and have a positive impact' Celebrities came out online against gun laws in the US following the school mass shooting. LA Dodgers baseball player Mookie Betts called for a change to gun laws while Gary Lineker called them 'bizarre'. Meanwhile, Matthew McConaughey, who is from Uvalde, said 'action must be taken' and Elon Musk said assault rifles should require a 'special permit' Mourners held portraits of the dead, others squeezed stuffed animals and drawings, each struggling to comprehend the tragedy of the previous day Flowers are placed on a makeshift memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 25 Balloons adorned the elementary school's welcome sign while small white crosses were placed on the grass by the pavement to remember the children and teachers who were killed on Tuesday Community members prayed together during a vigil on Wednesday, May 25, for the 21 victims of the shooting Hundreds of people attended a vigil on Wednesday after the worst school mass shooting since Sandy Hook in 2012 Mourners gathered to grieve together after the horrific tragedy at the Texas elementary school in which 19 children and two teachers were killed Religious figures offered prayers at the bilingual vigil, where Governor Greg Abbott gripped Uvalde's Mayor Ruben Nolasco in a long hug (pictured) Ryan Ramirez fought back tears as he spoke of his 'lovable' 10-year-old daughter Alithia (pictured), an aspiring artist who was among the 19 schoolchildren killed in a cold-blooded shooting that has devastated the tight-knit community A grieving Esmeralda Bravo holding a photograph of her granddaughter Nevaeh, one of the children who was murdered Angie Garcia consoles her son as he cries for his cousin who died in the mass shooting Jacinto Cazares, whose 10-year-old daughter Jacklyn was killed in the Uvalde school shooting on Tuesday, is pictured on Wednesday outside the school 'She was a real good artist' and aspired to greatness, he added, flipping through a portfolio of his daughters colorful paintings as well as birthday cards she drew for her mother. 'My daughter would want everybody that was involved to be strong and keep it together. That's what we're trying to do.' What gun laws are there in the US and how many people own a gun? Americans have a constitutional right to bear arms under the Second Amendment. Roughly one in every three American adults own a gun and two in five live in a household with a gun. While there are federal laws governing who can obtain a gun licence, each state has its own laws on ownership. It is incredibly difficult to pass gun laws at federal level as the minority party (currently the Republicans) can debate laws indefinitely, effectively blocking them. It has been estimated there are 390 million guns in circulation in the US. It accounts for a ratio of 120.5 firearms per 100 residents. In 2020, the last year wit a full dataset, 45,222 people died from gun-related injuries in America, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 50 people are killed by guns in the US every day and most murders are carried out with firearms. Advertisement Young Alithia faced similar tragedy last September when she lost a close classmate, Nico, in a car crash in Dallas, her father said. She processed the grief in one of the few ways that made sense: through art. Ramirez showed a detailed drawing his daughter had made of Nico up in heaven, looking down at the friend he left behind. Religious figures offered prayers at the bilingual vigil, where Governor Greg Abbott gripped Uvalde's Mayor Ruben Nolasco in a long hug. A grieving Esmeralda Bravo held a photograph of her granddaughter Nevaeh, one of those who was murdered. 'This has no explanation, my granddaughter did not deserve this,' Bravo said quietly. 'She was a good little girl, very shy and very pretty,' she said. 'It means so much to me to have this support from the community but I would rather have my granddaughter here with me.' Hours earlier and blocks away, Aida Hernandez shed bitter tears as she left mass at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic church. Hernandez, who is in her sixties, taught at Robb Elementary until she retired two years ago. In the small house of worship off Uvalde's main street, the largely Hispanic congregation prayed for the victims of America's worst school shooting in a decade. It is the worst school shooting since Sandy Hook in 2012, when year-old lone gunman Adam Lanza shot dead 20 children and six teachers at the Connecticut elementary school. After the mass for Tuesday's massacre, Hernandez said: 'My experience was of horror and pain. I knew the victims. I'm still in shock.' 'When you teach and you're in the classroom, that's your job to protect them. They did more beyond what they were supposed to do.' Salvador Ramos legally purchased two AR-15 style rifles (right) including the one he used in yesterday's attack after his 18th birthday last week. The gunman also bought more than 300 rounds of ammunition Ramos bought two AR-15 assault rifles, bragged about them on social media and suggested he would commit an atrocity before the deadly attack. He spent an estimated $4,000 on the weapons, ammunition and a tactical-style vest The faces of 11 confirmed victims from Tuesday's shooting. Nineteen children in the fourth grade were shot and killed on Tuesday. Top row, from left - Eliahana 'Eliajha' Cruz Torres, 10; Lexi Rubio; Annabelle Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10; Maite Yuleana Middle row, from left - Xavier Lopez, 10; Rojelio Torres, 10; Uziyah Garcia, 8. Front row, from left - Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10; Jacklyn Cazares, 10; Layla Salazar, 10; Jose Flores Jr., 10 Irma Garcia (left) and Eva Mireles (right), who co-taught fourth grade, were both shot and killed at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday. A little boy claimed they sacrificed themselves to protect their students Jacklyn, 10, was one of 19 children and two teachers murdered by Ramos on Tuesday Rosie Buantel, in her fifties, was equally grief-stricken but outraged as well. The massacre at Robb Elementary has reignited debate over gun laws. Buantel said: 'I'm sad and I'm angry at our government for not doing more about gun control. 'We've gone through this one too many times. And still there's nothing done. They're still debating.' There were 288 school shootings in the US between 2009 and 2018, the highest number in the world. Mexico was second with eight school shootings in the same time. The National Rifle Association said: 'Our deepest sympathies are with the families and victims involved in this horrific and evil. Shooter's mother claims her son was NOT violent The mother of the sick school shooter who shot dead 19 children and two teachers in Texas has claimed he 'wasn't a violent person'. Adriana Reyes said she was 'surprised' Salvador Ramos opened fire in a horrific killing spree at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde yesterday. She admitted her son was a loner who 'kept to himself and didn't have many friends' but shot down reports she had a toxic relationship with him. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com she did not address claims she was a drug addict who saw the boy ditch her and go to live with his grandmother Celia Gonzalez. Reyes was speaking from the bedside of Gonzalez, 66, as she recovers from being blasted in the face by her vile grandson before he went on a rampage and shot dead 19 children and two teachers. He had bought two AR-15 assault rifles, bragged about them on social media and suggested he would commit an atrocity before the deadly attack. But earlier today Ramos' grandfather revealed the family had no idea he legally purchased the two weapons last week. Rolando Reyes, 74, Gonzalez's husband, also claimed his grandson had been a quiet teenager who spent most of his time alone in his room. Speaking to DailyMail.com from San Antonio, Reyes said: 'My son wasn't a violent person. I'm surprised by what he did. 'I pray for those families. I'm praying for all of those innocent children, yes I am. They [the children] had no part in this.' Advertisement 'On behalf of our members, we salute the courage of school officials, first responders and others who offered their support and services. 'Although an investigation is underway and the facts are still emerging, we recognize this was the act of a lone, deranged criminal.' It ended its statement with a confirmation its marquee Houston event will move forward despite the recent tragedy. 'As we gather in Houston, we will reflect on these events, pray for the victims, recognise our patriotic members and pledge to redouble our commitment to making our schools secure.' On the day of the shooting, many relatives and friends of the victims faced hours of anguished waiting to find out what happened to their loved ones. Volunteer psychologist Iveth Pacheco traveled from San Antonio to provide support to those in need. 'It's one of those situations where you just have to be present,' she said. 'We have to be ready for the child whatever questions they have and it's the same thing with the adults right now.' Democrats and some Republicans in the US Senate discussed tightening reviews of gun buyers following the deadliest school shooting in nearly a decade, although members of both parties acknowledged action was unlikely. There is a wide gap between the two parties with Republicans arguing that new limits on legal gun purchases will do nothing to deter crime, despite impassioned pleas by Democratic President Joe Biden and some of his Senate colleagues to act. Republicans assert a right to bear arms protected by the Second Amendment of the US Constitution. The political stalemate angers Democrats. 'It's f***ing nuts to do nothing about this!' fumed Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, whose wife - former Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords - suffered a severe brain injury during an assassination attempt in 2011. Senate Majority Leader and Democrat Chuck Schumer said: 'My Republican colleagues can work with us now. I know this is a slim prospect, very slim, all too slim.' Schumer's Republican counterpart, Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, on Wednesday condemned the murderous actions of a 'deranged' gunman and a 'maniac' without addressing prospects for legislation. Democrats control razor-thin majorities in Congress but Senate rules mean they need at least 10 Republicans to pass major legislation, which may be difficult with less than six months until November elections, when Republicans aim to retake the majority. Similar debates have erupted following the many mass shootings that have occurred in the United States over the past decades with little to no action by Congress. David Hogg, a survivor of the 2018 Parkland, Florida, high school shooting and a gun-control activist, urged lawmakers to act. 'I want anything. We gotta save lives now. Kids are dying right now,' Hogg said in an interview. 'Even if it just saves one life, because it's an updated background checks bill, or an expansion of extreme risk protection orders, or anything like that.' Murphy, of Connecticut, where a gunman killed 26 children and educators at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, had implored his colleagues in a Senate speech on Tuesday to act. 'The thing that would have the best chance would be the thing that's gotten Republican support before, which is expanding background checks,' said Toomey, who told reporters he has been in contact with Murphy. Collins said the details of the Texas shooting suggested a role for 'red flag' legislation that would employ the courts and medical profession to deny firearms to people deemed mentally ill. Tuesday's violence began when Ramos shot and critically wounded his grandmother at her home (above) in Uvalde. The grandmother survived and Ramos then drove the short distance to Robb Elementary and opened fire Veering wildly off the road, Ramos crashed a Ford F-150 pickup truck into a culvert behind the elementary school Tuesday's violence began when Ramos shot and critically wounded his grandmother at her home in Uvalde, where he had reportedly been living for several months after domestic problems in his mother's home across town. The grandmother was airlifted to a hospital and was still clinging to life on Wednesday. After shooting his grandmother, Ramos drove in a black Ford F-150 pickup truck the short distance to Robb Elementary, just half a mile away. Veering wildly off the road, Ramos crashed the truck into a culvert behind the elementary school, according to officials and photos from the scene. At 11.32am, the first 911 call came in reporting the vehicle crash, and saying a man with a gun was exiting the truck. Ramos, wearing body armor, apparently left one of the rifles in the truck, and carried the other with him towards the school, along with a backpack full of ammunition. Investigators say Ramos dropped the backpack near an entrance to the school, and that it contained seven 30-round magazines. It's unclear whether the magazines held live ammunition. Police told news station KENS 5 Ramos exchanged gunfire with police as he stormed into the school, but ultimately cops were unable to prevent him from gaining entry. Texas DPS Director said a school resource officer 'confronted', but did not 'engage' the gunman as he entered the school. Ramos crashed his truck into a ditch before entering the school. Cops found one of his AR-15 guns inside the vehicle, and he had also dumped a bag (circled) nearby. At the entrance of the school, they found his backpack which contained ammunition One video at the scene appears to show Ramos approach the school while what sounds like gunfire is going off in the background. Police exchanged gunfire with Ramos but were unable to stop him from storming the school 'The suspect made entry into the school and as soon as he made entry into the school he started shooting children, teachers, whoever's in his way,' Department of Public Safety Lt. Christopher Olivarez told the station. Frustrated parents considered storming school themselves Frantic parents of the children murdered in their Texas school screamed at law enforcement officers to enter the school and discussed storming the building to rescue their kids, as it emerged that the gunman was only stopped when authorities obtained a key to open the classroom door. The first 911 call was received at 11:32am on Tuesday, and the gunman was killed at 1pm - after a Border Patrol agent was given a key to the door, behind which the gunman was barricaded with the fourth grade class. Javier Cazares, whose fourth grade daughter, Jacklyn Cazares, was killed in the attack, said he raced to the school when he heard about the shooting, arriving while police were still gathered outside the building. Upset that police were not moving in, he raised the idea of charging into the school with several other bystanders. 'Let's just rush in because the cops aren't doing anything like they are supposed to,' he said. 'More could have been done. They were unprepared.' He added: 'There was at least 40 lawmen armed to the teeth but didn't do a darn thing until it was far too late. 'The situation could've been over quick if they had better tactical training, and we as a community witnessed it firsthand.' Advertisement 'He was shooting everybody,' the state official said. Olivarez told CNN that the shooter barricaded himself inside of a single classroom, and that it is inside that classroom where most or all of the 19 children and two teachers were killed. The children killed were believed to be third and fourth grade students. Robb Elementary serves grades two through four, officials said. Police and state troopers arrived in time to hear gunshots inside a classroom where the man barricaded himself and began shooting children and teachers. Olivarez said some of the officers were shot by the gunman, so others began breaking windows around the school trying to evacuate children and teachers. Meanwhile, a nearby Customs and Border Protection tactical unit responded to provide backup. Olivarez said 'tactical law enforcement' forced their way into the classroom, where 'they were met with gunfire as well but they were able to shoot and kill that suspect.' The unnamed agent who shot and killed Ramos is believed to be from the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), which has specialized agents dispersed throughout the United States. The BORTAC agent, whose identity has not yet been revealed, rushed into the school without waiting for backup. Ramos was behind a barricade, returning fire, but the border patrol agent managed to shoot and kill the gunman before he could claim more victims. 'They came in from opposite sides. The BORTAC agent ended up exchanging gunfire with the shooter, killed the shooter, and I am told that the agent was injured in his leg,' reported Fox News. 'They are trying to figure out if he was shot in the leg or hit by shrapnel.' More than a dozen children were also hurt in the attack, including a ten-year-old girl taken to hospital in the nearby city of San Antonio in critical condition. A 66-year-old woman - believed to be Ramos's grandmother who he shot at the start of his killing spree - was in the same hospital, also in critical. A second hospital within Uvalde itself said 13 children had been brought to them, without saying what condition they are in. Police warned late Tuesday that the death toll is expected to rise. The agent who ended Tuesday's school massacre by shooting and killing the Robb Elementary school gunman is reported to be part of an 'elite' Customs and Border Protection (CBP) tactical unit. Law enforcement personnel are pictured at the scene of the shooting Law enforcement work the scene after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. The gunman, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was killed by law enforcement The unnamed agent who shot and killed Ramos is believed to be from the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), which has specialized agents dispersed throughout the United States Police work the scene after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School where 19 children and two adults were killed Ministers have launched a probe into French telecom tycoon Patrick Drahi's increased stake in BT amid national security fears. Mr Drahi's investment vehicle Altice UK expanded its stake in the former state-run telecoms giant 12.1% to 18% in December last year making Sotheby's billionaire owner BT's biggest shareholder. Since the early 2000s, the French businessman has been buying into European and US telecoms companies. However, his growing interest and investment in BT has fuelled speculation of an attempted takeover, and sparked national security concerns in Whitehall. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has now told BT that the Government will investigate Mr Drahi's increased stake using 'call-in powers' under the new National Security and Investment Act. Patrick Drahi at the Ecole Polytechnique, in Palaiseau near Paris, on April 19, 2016 Undated handout photo issued by BT of their logo Mr Kwarteng will have the power to either clear the move or impose certain conditions on the investment or block it completely. The Department for Business declined to comment on why the probe had been launched, when asked by MailOnline. A Government spokesperson said: 'The Government has powers under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 to scrutinise and if necessary intervene in qualifying acquisitions on national security grounds. 'The Business Secretary has decided to call in the acquisition of 6% shares by Altice of BT for a full national security assessment.' BT is the biggest owner of the UK's internet infrastructure through Openreach and EE, and also runs connectivity and service contracts across government and business. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng appearing on the BBC One current affairs programme, Sunday Morning, hosted by Sophie Raworth. Sunday May 15, 2022 In 2020, BT found itself at the centre of a national security row about Chinese tech giant Huawei's role in building Britain's 5G network. The company was banned from the network by Boris Johnson's Government, and all its existing 5G technology has to be stripped out by 2027, after China hawks accused it of spying on behalf of Beijing. In a statement, BT said: 'BT Group plc has received notification from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy that he has considered the increase by Altice UK of its shareholding in BT Group from 12.1% to 18% and is exercising his call-in power under section 1 of the National Security and Investment Act 2021. 'BT Group will fully cooperate with this review'. MailOnline has contacted Altice for comment. Israel has told the United States it was responsible for the assassination of an Iranian Revolutionary Guards colonel last week, according to reports. Colonel Sayyad Khodai was shot dead on Sunday by a gunman on the back of a motorcycle as he sat in a car outside his home in Tehran. Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has vowed to avenge the killing and the Revolutionary Guards blamed it on 'elements of global arrogance' - a reference to the United States and its allies, including Israel. Israel has told the United States it was responsible for the assassination of an Iranian Revolutionary Guards colonel last week, according to reports On Wednesday, the The New York Times reported that 'according to an intelligence official briefed on the communications, Israel has informed American officials that it was behind the killing.' The source, who spoke to the newspaper on condition of anonymity, said Israel told US officials the killing was meant as a warning to Iran to halt the operations of a covert group within the Quds Force - the foreign operations arm of the Revolutionary Guards, Iran's ideological army. Iran's state broadcaster has described Khodai as a member of the Quds Force. It had previously reported that the colonel was 'known' in Syria, where Iran has backed the government during an 11-year civil war and where it acknowledges deploying 'military advisers'. Colonel Sayyad Khodai (pictured) was shot dead on Sunday by a gunman on the back of a motorcycle as he sat in a car outside his home in Tehran Thousands attended Khodai's funeral on Tuesday in central Tehran Funeral prayers were led by the capital's top imam and Khodai's coffin was draped in the Iranian flag. Posters hailed him as a 'martyr' Thousands attended Khodai's funeral on Tuesday in central Tehran. Funeral prayers were led by the capital's top imam and Khodai's coffin was draped in the Iranian flag. Posters hailed him as a 'martyr'. Khodai's killing comes as negotiations between Iran and world powers to restore a frayed 2015 nuclear deal stalled since March. One of the main sticking points is Tehran's demand to remove the Guards from a US terrorism list - a request rejected by Washington. Dr David Heymann, who used to head the WHO's emergencies department, Monkeypox may have been spreading under the radar for four years, an ex-World Health Organization (WHO) official has claimed. Professor David Heymann, a former former director-general for health security and environment at the WHO, said the current global outbreak may date back to a handful of isolated cases in the UK in 2018. Two Britons were diagnosed with the tropical disease in September 2018 after returning from Nigeria. A third case was found in an NHS worker who treated one of the patients. In December 2019, a fourth person unrelated to the previous three tested positive for the virus after returning from Nigeria. Three further cases with similar travel history arrived in 2021. Professor Heymann suggested the virus may have been seeded in around this time and spread unchecked. All of the cases are believed to have had the milder western African clade of the virus the same one that is spreading now. He told The Guardian: 'It could hypothetically be that the virus transmission amplified from this low level of transmission when by chance it entered the population that is at present amplifying transmission.' But he said this was just one of several theories that needed to be investigated before coming to any conclusions. It comes as Wales and Northern Ireland reported their first cases of monkeypox in the latest outbreak, bringing the UK total to 80. UK health chiefs are understood to be planning an online dashboard that tracks case numbers a method which sparked controversy during the coronavirus pandemic. Timeline of monkeypox 1958: Monkeypox was first discovered when an outbreak of a pox-like disease occurred in monkeys kept for research. 1970: The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the infection has been reported in a number of central and western African countries since then. 2003: A Monkeypox outbreak occurred in the US after rodents were imported from Africa. Cases were reported in both humans and pet prairie dogs. All the human infections followed contact with an infected pet and all patients recovered. SEPTEMBER 8, 2018: Monkeypox appeared in the UK for the first time in a Nigerian naval officer who was visiting Cornwall for training. They were treated at the Royal Free Hospital in London. SEPTEMBER 11, 2018: A second UK monkeypox case is confirmed in Blackpool. There is no link with the first case in Cornwall. Instead, the patient is though to have picked up the infection when travelling in Nigeria. They were treated at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and Royal Liverpool University Hospital. SEPTEMBER 26, 2018: A third person is diagnosed with monkeypox. The individual worked at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and treated the second Monkeypox case. They received treatment at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. DECEMBER 3, 2019: A patient was diagnosed with monkeypox in England, marking the fourth ever case. MAY 25, 2021: Two cases of monkeypox were identified in north Wales. Both patients had travel links to Nigeria. A third person living with one of the cases was diagnosed and admitted to hospital, bringing the total number ever to seven. MAY 7, 2022: A person was diagnosed with Monkeypox in England after recently travelling to Nigeria. The person received care at the expert infectious disease unit at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London. MAY 14, 2022: Two more cases were confirmed in London. The infected pair lived in the same household but had not been in contact with the case announced one week earlier. One of these individuals received care at the expert infectious disease unit at St Mary's Hospital in London. The other isolated at home and did not need hospital treatment. MAY 16, 2022: Four more cases were announced, bringing the UK total to seven. Three of these cases are in London, while one of their contacts is infected in the north east of England. The spate of cases was described as 'unusual' and 'surprising' as experts warn gay and bisexual men to look out for new rashes. MAY 19, 2022: Two more cases were revealed, with no travel links or connections to other cases. The cases were based in the South East and London. Fears began to grow that infections are going undetected. MAY 20, 2022: Eleven more cases are announced, meaning Britain's monkeypox outbreak have doubled to 20. Minsters discuss the possibility of a public health campaign to warn gay men the disease may be more prevalent for them MAY 23, 2022: Scotland logs its first ever monkeypox case and 36 more infectioned announced in England. It brings the UK total to 57. MAY 24, 2022: England logs another 14 cases, bringing the UK total to 71. MAY 25, 2022: Another seven infections are spotted in England, meaning 78 cases have been detected in the UK. MAY 26, 2022: Wales detects its first monkeypox case in the recent outbreak, bringing the UK total to 79. Advertisement Scientists are currently studying the virus's genome its genetic material, gathered from swabs taken from infected people which allows them to track mutations. Analysis so far suggests the virus is closely related to the one detected in the UK, Israel and Singapore in 2018 and 2019. Professor Marc Van Ranst, a virologist at the University of Leuven in Belgium, suggested the virus may have mutated to become more infectious, which would explain the sudden rise in infections. He told the Guardian: 'This may be a virus that's been circulating undetected for quite a while. 'They all have a common ancestor and that common ancestor probably dates back to 2019, though it's too early to date with any kind of accuracy. 'We know that chronic infection is not a plausible scenario, and that means there has been a chain of transmission events that apparently went unnoticed.' Professor Van Ranst said it was 'entirely possible' that the virus may have been continued to be transmitted in the UK if GPs and sexual health clinics were not on high alert after being informed of the first case. A team of scientists in Portugal, who are tracing the virus's evolution, said that while the virus is very similar to one that cropped up in Britain four years ago, it has collated an extra 50 mutations. The researchers, from the country's National Institute of Health in Lisbon, wrote that this was 'far more than one would expect considering the estimated substitution rate for orthopoxviruses'. They also warned that an 'evolutionary jump' like with the Covid Omicron strain may have created a 'hyper-mutated virus'. Professor Oyewale Tomori, a virologist and adviser to the Nigerian government, agreed that monkeypox may have been 'spreading silently' until now. He told the Guardian: 'Between 2019 and 2020 if anybody came up with a rash in any part of Europe, you're not going to think of monkeypox, your thought would be other diseases that cause a rash. 'And if the system misses that one case, then of course that's an opportunity for it to spread from one person to another. I think the amplification came where you have a lot of people gathering with very close contact.' Experts this week said the virus may have been sparked by sex at two raves in Belgium and Spain. Professor Heymann said: 'We know monkeypox can spread when there is close contact with the lesions of someone who is infected, and it looks like sexual contact has now amplified that transmission. 'It's very possible there was somebody who got infected, developed lesions on the genitals, hands or somewhere else, and then spread it to others when there was sexual or close physical contact. 'And then there were these international events that seeded the outbreak around the world, into the US and other European countries.' Despite not naming either festival, health chiefs tasked with containing the virus have already begun tracing cases back to the Gran Canarian gay pride festival attended by up to 80,000 people between May 5-15. Meanwhile, three cases in Belgium have been linked with Darklands a large-scale fetish festival in Antwerp, held from May 5-8. Organisers have since said there is 'reason to assume' someone at the event was infected. Spanish health chiefs have also linked many cases to a single 'sauna' in Madrid. At least 262 cases have been spotted worldwide. It comes as the UK's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will this week warn of a potential risk of human to animal transmission. Its guidelines will warn infected people to limit the risk of spreading the virus to cats, dogs, rabbits and rats. There are also fears infected patients could contaminate their pet's fur and allow it to be passed on to others in their household when petting. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) this week warned monkeypox may become endemic to the continent, if transmission continues and it spreads to pets or wildlife. Justine Shotton, president of the British Veterinary Association, said the association was monitoring the situation closely. She believes the risk of infecting pets remains low but is 'supportive of a cautious approach' while officials seek to learn more about the virus. Health chiefs have warned monkeypox, a virus endemic in parts of Africa and is known for its rare and unusual rashes, bumps and lesions, could also spread to some pets and become endemic in Europe. Undated handout file image issued by the UK Health Security Agency of the stages of Monkeypox The smallpox vaccine, called Imvanex in the UK and Jynneos in the US, can protect against monkeypox because the viruses causing the illnesses are related Ms Shotton said: 'It would be a sensible decision to keep your distance from a pet while in quarantine. 'If I was diagnosed with monkeypox I would do whatever I could to limit contact, such as asking a friend or relative to take care of it.' She added: 'There is currently no evidence of transmission between humans and cats and dogs but we know rabbits and rodents are susceptible. 'If you have concerns about your pets health if they have a fever, respiratory issues, poor appetite or lethargy speak to a vet. 'The chances are it will be something other than monkeypox but it's worth getting it checked.' Uk health teams are contacting high-risk contacts of confirmed cases and advising them to self-isolate at home for three weeks and avoid contact with children. They are also being offered the smallpox Imvanex vaccine which is around 85 per cent effective against monkeypox because the viruses are so similar to form a buffer of immune people around a confirmed case to limit the spread of the disease. The strategy, known as ring vaccination, has been used in previous monkeypox outbreaks and is also being carried out in some EU countries. The Government has around 5,000 doses of the monkeypox vaccine has ordered 20,000 more doses. Officials are confident the virus will not grow exponentially like Covid, although they are understood to be planning an online dashboard that tracks case numbers, which sparked controversy during the coronavirus pandemic. People with unusual rashes or lesions, particularly if they have had a new sexual partner, have been urged to contact NHS 111 or their local sexual health clinic. But health officials stressed people should phone ahead before attending in person. Despite the rise in cases, the UKHSA said that the risk to the UK population 'remains low'. The health body said that a 'notable proportion of the cases' identified have been among people who are gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men. These people in particularly have been urged to be aware of symptoms, particularly if they have recently had a new sexual partner. It was the last parade of the Royal Navy as the world's largest and most prestigious, held to celebrate the coming to the throne of King George VI. The pomp and pageantry of the 1937 Coronation Review of the Fleet saw 300 warships from Britain and other nations gathering at Spithead in Portsmouth before the King and Queen, as searchlights bathed the sky and floodlights lit up the vessels. But the review is not remembered for the incredible tribute to the new King. Instead it was the drunken radio broadcast of BBC commentator Thomas Woodrooffe that Britons who tuned in around the country on the evening of May 20 were treated to. The infamous moment saw Lieutenant-Commander Woodrooffe drunkenly ramble for nearly four minutes before he was faded out by BBC colleagues. Lieutenant-Commander Woodrooffe, who had been set to spend 15 minutes commentating on the scene as the King inspected the Navy, instead told listeners: 'We have forgotten the Royal Review, we have forgotten the Royal Review, the whole thing is lit up by fairy lamps.' He went on to repeat several times that the fleet was 'lit up', before adding: 'We had a hundred, two hundred warships around us a second ago, and now they've gone, at a signal by the Morse code, at a signal by the fleet flagship which I'm in now, they've gone, they've disappeared.' Lieutenant-Commander Woodrooffe later denied that he had been drunk and instead claimed to have had 'a kind of nervous blackout'. It was the last parade of the Royal Navy as the world's largest and most prestigious, held to celebrate the coming to the throne of King George VI. Above: the 1937 Fleet Review at Spithead, Portsmouth The pomp and pageantry of the 1937 Coronation Review of the Fleet saw 300 warships from Britain and other nations gathering at Spithead in Portsmouth before the King and Queen, as searchlights bathed the sky and floodlights lit up the vessels Lieutenant-Commander Woodrooffe, a First World War Navy veteran, had earlier made other broadcasts without fault but then spent hours drinking with sailors on board his former vessel HMS Nelson before he made his final broadcast from the ship at 10.45pm. Although he was suspended for a week, Lieutenant-Commander Woodrooffe's broadcasting career did recover. The Daily Mail reported on Lieutenant-Commander Woodrooffe's embarrassing moment, telling readers of a 'B.B.C sensation'. A spokesman told the Daily Mail at the time: 'The BBC regrets that the commentary was unsatisfactory and for that reason it was curtailed. But the review is not remembered for the incredible tribute to the new King. Instead it was the drunken radio broadcast of BBC commentator Thomas Woodrooffe (above) that Britons who tuned in around the country on the evening of May 20 were treated to King George VI is seen inspecting soldiers on board HMS Dunedin during the Review at Spithead The Daily Mail reported on Lieutenant-Commander Woodrooffe's embarrassing moment, telling readers of a 'B.B.C sensation' Just days before, Lieutenant-Commander Woodrooffe had made a 'refreshing' broadcast on the day of the King's Coronation. He also commentated at the Berlin Olympics the previous year. Along with 160 craft from the Royal Navy, ships from 17 foreign nations, including Nazi Germany, took part in the Spithead ceremony. Also among the total of 300 vessels were fishing boats and yachts. The BBC's broadcast began with an announcer introducing Lieutenant-Commander Woodrooffe. The former sailor then opened: 'We have forgotten the Royal Review, we have forgotten the Royal Review, the whole thing is lit up by fairy lamps. 'It is fantastic... the whole thing is a fairy lamp. Now if you will follow me through, if you don't mind, the next few moments, you'll find the fleeting odd things.' Though parts of his rambling commentary are hard to make out, the moment that he apologised after listeners were treated to a pause of a few seconds is clearly audible. Along with 160 craft from the Royal Navy, ships from 17 foreign nations, including Nazi Germany, took part in the Spithead ceremony. Also among the total of 300 vessels were fishing boats and yachts Crews are seen lining the death of the deck of a Navy vessel as the Royal Yacht passes by during the Coronation Fleet Review in 1937 Sailors on board HMS Nelson are seen greeting King George VI during the Coronation Fleet Review in 1937 He said: 'I'm sorry I was telling people to shut up talking.' The broadcaster then went on: 'What I mean is this. The whole fleet is lit up in fairy lamps. And each ship is outlined. 'As far as I can see, I suppose I can see it down about five or six miles, ships are all lit up. 'They are outlined. The whole lot, even destroyers are outlined. In the old days destroyers used to be outlined by kind of... lights and nowadays destroyers are lit up by the outline themselves. 'In a second or two we are going to fire a rocket... I will try and tell you what they look like as they go off. 'But at the moment there is a whole huge fleet here. the thing we saw this afternoon. This colossal fleet lit up by lights. And the whole thing is in fairy land.' However, apparently confused when the lights then went out, Lieutenant-Commander Woodrooffe then said the fleet had 'gone'. 'I was talking to you in this middle of this... and what has happened is the fleet has gone. Disappeared and gone,' he said. Before being finally cut off, he added: 'There's nothing between us and heaven.' Keen to avoid similar incidents, the BBC developed a system that allowed the announcer in the studio to take control if something went wrong. It became the standard for future radio broadcasts. A shocked mother has told how her daughter was left 'vomiting' and 'traumatised' after finding maggots writhing across her favourite snack Rachel Stone and her husband John Stone say their seven-year-old daughter Poppie discovered the creepy critters while tucking into a Dairylea Ham and Cheese Lunchables. Rachel, 39, and John, 44, had purchased the packaged snack from their local Iceland branch on Easter weekend and had given it to Poppy as they enjoyed a barbeque. But they became immediately concerned when they heard her scream that she had 'worms' in her food. After rushing over the pair, from Rhuddlan, north Wales, were horrified to find maggots in the container and crawling over the remaining slices of ham. The holiday-let manager complained to Iceland and product manufacturer Mondelez International, but claims both parties refused to accept responsibility for the issue. Despite this, Mondelez International have issued the customer with a 10 gift voucher but Rachel vows never to give her daughter their products again. Rachel said: 'She was crying and just so frightened that she just didn't even want to eat or drink anything after that. Rachel Stone and her husband John Stone say their seven-year-old daughter Poppie discovered the creepy critters while tucking into a Dairylea ham and cheese Lunchables Rachel, 39, and John, 44, had purchased the packaged snack (pictured) from their local Iceland branch on Easter weekend and had given it to Poppy as they enjoyed a barbeque The holiday let manager (pictured here with daughter Poppy) complained to Iceland and product manufacturer Mondelez International but claims both parties refused to accept responsibility for the issue 'My husband actually slept downstairs with her that night just in case she was sick again or we needed to take her to hospital. 'The first thing I did was Google what happens if you consume them to see if it could cause any real damage or if I needed to take her up to hospital. 'It just advised us to give her plenty of water and keep an eye on her so we did that.' Rachel and John bought the popular kids snack from Clywed Retail Park, near Rhyl, on April 15 and say their daughter tucked into it the following day. Despite it being well within its used-by date - April 30 - and appearing sealed, the slices of ham were crawling with maggots, leaving Poppie distraught. Her parents were also worried about their little girl becoming ill as a result, as she vomited numerous times after finding the bugs. Rachel and John (pictured here with Poppy and the family's dog Frankie) bought the popular kids snack from Clywed Retail Park, near Rhyl, on April 15 and say their daughter tucked into it the following day Explaining how the incident started, Rachel said: 'We were having a barbecue but my daughter decided that rather than having food from the grill she just wanted to have a snack of Lunchables. 'We were sat eating and the next minute we just heard this frightful scream and I heard her shouting "I've got worms in my food". 'So we ran over and she was literally spitting everything out and heaving. 'When we had a look she had obviously eaten the majority of it and it wasn't until she got to the bottom of it that she realised what was there. 'I think it was just two slices of ham stuck together that was left right at the bottom. 'There were maggots on the meat and in the bottom of the actual tub. It's disgusting. 'I was nearly sick myself but I was more concerned about her because she was in hysterics so I was trying to calm her down. 'She couldn't stop herself, she was sick on the spot. She was being sick a couple of times.' Rachel complained to both the supermarket and product manufacturer, demanding answers on how this lapse in food standards was allowed to happen. She claims both parties refused to accept liability and essentially pointed the finger at the other, with Iceland reportedly telling her that as a branded product 'the responsibility lies solely with the manufacturer'. Meanwhile Mondelez International stated that after carrying out a full investigation of their factory they found no pest issue and were confident the 'damage did not occur at any of their sites'. Rachel complained to both the supermarket and product manufacturer, demanding answers on how this lapse in food standards was allowed to happen. Pictured: The maggots in the container They also argued that the size of the larvae 'suggests a development period of about four days', at which point they suggest their product would have already left their facility for the Iceland store. Rachel said: 'I've had a letter from the people who actually make it and they've just fobbed us off with a 10 voucher to use on more of their products. Have you had a similar experience? Contact me with your story: james.robinson@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement 'But there's no way I'm buying that product again or giving her anything else from that make - it just isn't good enough. 'Poppie's totally put off them as well. She won't even eat ham sandwiches any more. 'The manufacturer hasn't taken responsibility for it basically. They've said once it leaves their factory it's got nothing to do with them. 'They've said because of the size of the maggots and how long it takes to hatch eggs that it's Iceland's fault basically and that something's happened there. 'But Iceland are also not taking responsibility so I'm stuck in a rut with it at the minute.' Rachel has now vowed never to buy products from the brand again or even to shop at that Iceland branch. She is warning other parents to check their children's food and not blindly trust the use-by dates. Rachel said: 'It's bad enough if that happened to an adult but especially to a child, it's not great on their behalf. Mondelez International stated that after carrying out a full investigation of their factory they found no pest issue and were confident the 'damage did not occur at any of their sites'. They have offered her a 10 voucher (pictured) 'People should be more aware that just because it's got a sell-by date on it and appears sealed doesn't mean it can't happen. 'You shouldn't have to check in all your packets of food to make sure there's nothing there but I would advise parents to as I certainly am now.' A spokesperson for Mondelez International said: 'We are very sorry to hear about Ms Stone's unpleasant experience. 'We investigated the matter thoroughly, as we do with all complaints, and our extensive investigations have found no evidence that this has happened within our facilities, nor have we received any other complaints of this nature for this product. 'While we happily provided Ms Stone with a voucher as a goodwill gesture, we are confident that this damage did not occur at any of our sites.' Iceland declined to comment. The owner of a strip club where an exotic dancer lay dead for more than a day is defending his business practises in a bid to retain his liquor licence. Stacey Tierney, 29, was working at Dreams Gentlemen's Club just days before Christmas 2016 when she died from a cocktail of drugs - including ecstacy, cocaine and heroin - in a private lounge. A Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission inquiry was told there was a culture of staff drinking at the club on their days off. 'We did not have a rule about upper management not being able to come in on their night off,' club owner Salvatore Aparo said, also telling the inquiry he let managers run it while he concentrated on another business. He said he was a 'hands-off' manager at the time, but that he is now a hands-on owner, running the club in Elizabeth St, Melbourne with his fiance. British backpacker, Stacey Tierney (pictured), died from a cocktail of drugs in a private manager's lounge at the strip club where she worked as a dancer After Ms Tierney, who was a British backpacker, went into the room, more than 30 hours passed until her body was taken from the premises by ambulance officers. The private manager's room was the only one not monitored by cameras, but police said the room had been cleaned up. Mr Aparo told a hearing into his suitability to hold a liquor licence that until Ms Tierney's death he had been 'hands-off' and trusted others to manage the club. He was running a construction business and delegated the running of Dreams Gentlemen's Club to others, while he visited a few times a week. Mr Aparo said Ms Tierney's death, which he called a 'very emotional rollercoaster', had damaged the business' reputation. Though he said he accepted a 'lot of responsibility', it could only go so far, the Herald Sun reported. 'We all learn by our mistakes,' Mr Aparo said when asked if he put his trust in the wrong people. He denied the club operated after hours and outside its licensing hours, adding that he ran 'a very respectable business'. Mr Aparo was questioned about the manager's lounge where Ms Tierney was found dead. Stacey Tierney (pictured) was found dead inside Dreams Gentlemen's Club in Melbourne just before Christmas 2016 He said it was his private room when he attended the club. The hearing heard that managers had access to it and 24-hour access to the club. Mr Aparo said the club was now better run after he put in new systems. The Gambling and Casino Control Commission will do an onsite inspection at the club next week and deliver its finding on the liquor license in June. At an inquest into her death, held in Stockport in the UK in 2018, Ms Tierney's family accused people who were in the club when she died of being 'inhumane'. A 10-year-old girl shot dead in America's latest mass school shooting had begged her mother to stay home the morning of the massacre, her family has revealed. Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10, was among 19 children killed in a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday morning when 18-year-old Salvador Ramos burst into her classroom with a legally-purchased AR-15 rifle and opened fire. Just hours earlier, Jailah had begged mother Veronica not to make her go to school that day but was told she had to attend - something relatives say Veronica is now punishing herself over. Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10, was among 19 children killed in the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, by a gunman armed with a legally-purchased rifle Linda Gonzales, Jailah's grandmother, told the Daily Beast: 'Jailah didn't want to go to school [on Tuesday]. 'That's what her momma was really upset about last night: 'If only I had let her stay home.' She wanted to stay home with momma.' Jailah died in the shooting alongside cousin Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, just a week after the family held a memorial for Veronica's father who passed away in Mexico. 'I told Veronica last night: "Just look at it as your daddy taking your baby with him,"' Gonzales added. Veronica's relatives described an hours-long wait Tuesday to get news of Jailah and Jayce's, shuttling back and forth between the school and a nearby civic center - hoping desperately the pair would emerge as one of the lucky ones who escaped. Just hours before the massacre, Jailah had asked mother Veronica Luevanos (pictured) whether she could stay home At one point, they were asked to provide DNA swabs to help identify them as relatives of students at the school. Then, late into the night, came the news they had feared: Both children had been killed in the massacre. Grief spilled into confrontation Wednesday, as angry questions mounted over gun control - and whether this latest tragedy could have been prevented. The tight-knit Latino community of Uvalde on Tuesday became the site of America's worst school shooting in a decade, committed by a disturbed 18-year-old armed with a legally bought assault rifle. Wrenching details have been steadily emerging since the tragedy, which also claimed the lives of two teachers. Briefing reporters, Governor Greg Abbott revealed that the killed also shot his 66-year-old grandmother in the face before heading to Robb Elementary School. Ramos went on social media to share his plan to attack his grandmother - who, though gravely injured, was able to alert police. He then messaged again to say his next target was a school, where he headed clad in body armor and wielding an AR-15 rifle. Pressed on how the teen was able to obtain the murder weapon, the Texas governor repeatedly brushed aside suggestions that tougher gun laws were needed in his state - where attachment to the right to bear arms runs deep. Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, Jailah's cousin, also died in the same shooting - which happened just two days before the summer break Robb Elementary will now be added to the list of American schools to have witnessed mass shootings, amid an epidemic of gun violence across the nation 'I consider this person to have been pure evil,' Abbott said, articulating a position commonly held among US Republicans - that unfettered access to weapons is not to blame for the country's gun violence epidemic. Abbott's stance was echoed by the powerful National Rifle Association gun lobby, which issued a statement labeling the shooter as 'a lone, deranged criminal.' But the governor was called out by a rival Democrat, who loudly interrupted the briefing to accuse him of deadly inaction. 'This is on you,' heckled Beto O'Rourke, a fervent gun control advocate who is challenging Abbott for his job come November. 'You are doing nothing!' he charged. 'This is totally predictable when you choose not to do anything.' O'Rourke's interruption came a day after President Joe Biden, in an emotional address, called on lawmakers to take on America's powerful gun lobby and enact tougher laws. Biden announced Wednesday that he would soon visit Uvalde, as he renewed his plea for 'common sense gun reforms.' 'I think we all must be there for them. Everyone. And we must ask when in God's name will we do what needs to be done to, if not completely stop, fundamentally change the amount of the carnage that goes on in this country.' 'I am sick and tired of what's going on and continues to go on,' Biden said. Another major Australian building company has collapsed, leaving an uncertain future for 280 homes. Surfers Paradise builder Pivotal Homes, one of Queensland's biggest home builders, went into liquidation on Thursday night. The company, which was a category three builder, licensed for low-rise jobs up to $30m, has 16 full-time employees. Pivotal Homes completed 211 jobs totalling $56.7m in 2020-21, and had completed 105 jobs worth $30.5m so far this financial year, records held by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission show. Many clients face an anxious wait over what will happen to their homes after the collapse of a building company. Pictured is a female tradie Thousands of Australian tradies have gone broke in recent times as building firms collapse - with the entire industry on the brink of a huge crisis amid skyrocketing commodities prices. In a statement, Pivotal Homes said it had 103 houses under construction, in various stages from slab pours to turnkey, and 177 homes waiting on building approval from councils. The company, which is a former sponsor of the Gold Coast Titans, said increased labour and construction costs meant the business was no longer viable. 'In my 30 years' experience I have never seen a set of circumstances like this and obviously we are not alone in these unfortunate conditions facing the industry,' said managing director Michael Irwin. 'We are absolutely devastated for our 16 Pivotal Homes employees and assure all creditors, contractors and subcontractors have been paid in full.' Mr Irwin said those buying homes from Pivotal 'are in a net gain position'. 'The work they have paid for has been completed. In fact, they have had more work completed on their homes than they have paid for,' he said. Supply chain issues and lack of stock from national and international sources has led to a spike in demand and prices for materials. Thousands of Australian tradies have gone broke in recent times as building firms collapse. Pictured is a house being constructed Costs of metal ores, plastics and timber have been consistently rising for years, but particularly through the pandemic as factories were forced to shut down for extended periods. Last month, two Perth construction firms went under just days apart. The formal appointment of liquidators for Home Innovation Builders was lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, just after New Sensation Homes was placed in the hands of WA Insolvency Solutions. Gold Coast firm Condev, Brisbane-based Probuild and Hobart's Hotondo Homes are among the other companies to collapse in 2022. Brisbane-based Probuild is one of the building companies to collapse in Australia in 2022. Pictured is a Probuild site at Darling Harbour in Sydney The country's largest home builder, Metricon Homes, has also repeatedly denied it was facing collapse after the sudden death of the company's founder and CEO Mario Biasin. Derek Cronin of Cronin Miller Litigation, acting on behalf of Pivotal Homes, said liquidation was the only option. 'The decision for Pivotal Homes to go into liquidation has been based on forward projections dictated by the increasingly challenging market conditions, including the exponential rise in material costs,' he said. 'It is an unfortunate set of circumstances that is impacting on the industry across Australia.' A young female maintenance engineer is pictured testing voltage with a digital multimeter Chris Cook and James Robba of Worrells have been appointed as liquidators for Pivotal Homes. The trickle-down effect of surging costs mean Australian tradies are forced to cover the difference, with the country on the verge of a major crisis. 'I don't think a lot of companies are taking the cost increases seriously. It's a perfect storm,' Matthew Mackey, executive director of engineering company Arcadis, told Daily Mail Australia. 'Smaller businesses don't have the cash flow, they don't have the same safety net. They're going to feel the pain a lot sooner and a lot more harshly.' Advertisement Chaos at Gatwick Airport is continuing as furious passengers slam staff shortages at check in desks and border control - hours after a WizzAir pilot lost his temper over 'seven-hour' runway delay. The lengthy delay came as passengers were today stuck in 'apocalyptic queues' across the UK as British Airways cancelled 114 flights at Heathrow and EasyJet grounded nine planes at Gatwick, while holidaymakers had to wait 20 hours to board a TUI flight at Exeter due to technical issues. Holidaymakers were also met with queues stretching into the car park at Manchester Airport, where passengers are being advised to arrive three hours before their scheduled departures. But scenes at Gatwick were today described as a 'total shambles' and 'embarrassment' as pictures emerged showing crowded departure halls today. It comes after one family was forced to sleep on the floor on Monday night when at least 23 flights to and from the airport were cancelled at the last minute. Gatwick has attributed the delays to 'IT systems issues', warning that all flights between 1pm and 3pm today will be affected. Jamie West travelled from Stratford-upon-Avon to Gatwick today for an EasyJet flight to Bologna for the Mugello MotoGP, but arrived at the airport to find his flight had been cancelled without reason. Weeks earlier, he had also booked a flight to the same destination with British Airways, but this was also cancelled without explanation. He described the 'chaotic' scenes at the airport today. He told MailOnline: 'I left for Gatwick at 1am and parked up at around 3.30am. I got all my bags out and got the bus to the north terminal - then I realised I had an email at 2am saying my flight had been cancelled. 'I continued up to the terminal to see if there was anything that could be done, but it was just chaos. I was told there are a lot of people in the same situation as me. 'I had hired a car in Bologna to take me to Mugello, so I have had to cancel that. The tickets cost around 140 for the weekend and I'll struggle to get that back. I also paid 79 for parking plus the petrol to get to Gatwick and back - that was a full tank. 'You walk in there [Gatwick] and it is just chaos. I dread to think how many people were there. If they don't have the staff, then why are they selling tickets for the flights?' Frustrated holidaymakers also waited more than 40 hours to board a TUI flight from Cardiff Airport to the Greek island of Zakynthos. Passengers said there were angry scenes caused by a lack of information and claims that people, including children and the elderly, had been left with little or no food. The flight was due to leave Cardiff at 2pm on Tuesday, but passengers were still waiting to fly out on Thursday morning. Britons are already facing fears of a summer of cancelled holidays with Passport Office staff battling a backlog of half a million applications and airports struggling to cope with crippling staff shortages. Airports laid off thousands of staff as demand for travel and revenue plummeted during the pandemic. But as Covid restrictions were lifted earlier this year, demand has surged and airports have been left frantically trying to recruit new staff. A passenger on a WizzAir flight to Cyprus recorded the moment the pilot lost his cool and started ranting over the tannoy during a 'seven-hour-delay' at Gatwick Airport Passengers at Gatwick Airport wait for information on their flights this morning in a crowded departures hall - amid staffinmg shortages at security and check-in desks Passengers pictured in lengthy queues attempting to gain entry to Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport amid staffing shortages after it laid off 2,000 staff during the pandemic A frustrated passenger naps across three seats at Cardiff Airport after holidaymakers travelling to the Greek island of Zakynthos waited more than 40 hours to board the TUI flight Passengers at Cardiff Airport (pictured) say there have been angry scenes caused by a lack of information and claim that people, including children and the elderly, have been left with little or no food Crowded scenes in a departure hall at Cardiff Airport today as holidaymakers were left waiting more than 40 hours for a TUI flight Frustrated passengers at Exeter Airport had to wait nearly 20 hours to board a TUI flight to Crete yesterday due to 'technical and operational issues' Passengers at Manchester Airport today (pictured) also complained of huge queues and took to social media to vent their fury Pictures from inside Manchester Airport today showed crowded departure halls as passengers waited for information on their flights Industry chiefs have warned that airlines 'are simply unable to cope with that demand due to a lack of resources' and warned that the 'nightmare' disruption - of the sort seen over Easter, where hundreds of flights were cancelled by airlines including British Airways and easyJet - could last all year. But the frustration has not been limited to passengers. One holidaymaker caught the moment a frustrated WizzAir pilot ranted over the tannoy, while they were stationary on the runway of Gatwick Airport during a reported seven-hour-delay. 'I don't need this!' He told the exhausted holidaymakers, who were stuck in their seats waiting to set off to their destination of Larnaca, Cyprus. Passenger Hannah Mace filmed the moment in disbelief and uploaded the video to TikTok. 'You know, I don't need this, the crew doesn't need this. We are doing what we can to get you out of here. It's out of my control. Completely out of my control. 'We're doing everything we can. If you want to get off, I'll let you off, no problem.' On Tuesday morning travellers complained of up to four hour delays, with one Twitter user describing their experience as 'horrible' and 'grim'. A spokesman for Gatwick Airport tweeted in response: 'Hi, we're really sorry for any delay. We are operating a moving queue system and staff are working hard to process passengers as quickly as possible through Security Search.' And in response to today's delays, a statement said: 'Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing IT systems issues which means that flights due to depart between 1pm and 3pm today may be impacted. 'Our team of IT specialists is working to restore the systems as soon as possible. We advise customers due to travel with us today to continue to check Flight Tracker to check the status of their flight before making their way to the airport. 'We apologise for the inconvenience caused and would like to thank customers for their patience as we work to resolve this as soon as possible.' Airport delays have plagued holidaymakers since Covid restrictions were lifted earlier this year. Passenger numbers dropped by as much as 75 per cent between 2019 and 2020, from 297million to just 74million in 2020. This, along with Covid absences, has been behind long queues at check-in and security at airports across the UK - including Heathrow, Birmingham and Manchester British Airways cancelled 118 short and medium-haul flights from Heathrow yesterday, with a further 114 called off today. The airline has said the cancellations were planned, with customers informed well in advance, but its staff have been fighting against IT issues for weeks and crew from partners Finnair have been brought in to complete scheduled flights. Yesterday, queues at Heathrow were described as 'an absolute shambles' as passengers voiced their fury on social media amid a lack of airport staff and Border Force personnel. One holidaymaker said: 'Total shambles at Heathrow this morning. Gates are failing on about 50% of people and one operative on the seek assistance queue. Sort this nonsense! Absolutely ridiculous.' Another added: 'British Airways terrible flights and customer service during our honeymoon. A crowded hall at Manchester Airport on Wednesday as holidaymakers faces queues stretching out the building from 4am Delayed passengers at Heathrow and Gatwick have taken to social media to complain about 'absolutely ridiculous' queues 'Two hours delayed outbound, damaged suitcase and now a missed connection causing a five hour delay in Heathrow on our return to top it off!' A third said: 'Im normally full of praise for your airport. But today was simply shambolic, Im sorry to say.' Such are the delays, the airport is currently advising passengers to arrive for their flights three hours in advance. Elsewhere, EasyJet today cancelled nine flights to European destinations at short notice - two days after families were said to have been left sleeping on the floor when it grounded 23 flights on Tuesday. Bosses at Gatwick also had to apologise after holidaymakers were left waiting for four hours to collect their bags on Tuesday - as passengers described queues as 'hell on earth'. The airport said these queues were temporary and dissipated relatively quickly. And furious passengers at Exeter Airport were forced to wait nearly 20 hours to board two TUI flights to Crete and Rhodes due to 'technical and operational issues'. The flights had been due to leave at 3.10pm on Tuesday, but passengers were taken to a hotel overnight and ferried back to the airport at 3am the following day - before the plane finally left the ground at 1.45am. The issues stem from unprecedented airline staff shortages caused by Covid self-isolation and mass layoffs during the pandemic. Manchester Airport is among those particularly suffering, with passengers regularly facing lengthy queues as it frantically tries to hire hundreds of new employees to combat delays. It comes after passenger numbers plummeted during lockdown, leading to financial issues resulting in more than 2,000 redundancies at the airport. Photos taken at Gatwick Airport on Monday, May 23, showing travellers stuck in long security queues amid staffing shortages The airport admitted earlier this month that it is 'unfortunately some way short of where we need to be' as passengers were advised to arrive three hours before their flights over the May Day bank holiday. A statement earlier this week added: 'All parts of the aviation sector are experiencing challenges linked to the rapid recovery from the pandemic and we are working hard with all our partners, including handling agents, airlines and others, to deliver the best possible service we can in the circumstances.' But Ministers have been accused of overseeing 'cripplingly slow' security checks for new staff - delaying the process of hiring new employees to meet travel demand. It is a similar situation at Birmingham, too, with pictures regularly showing frustrated passengers in lengthy queues within crowded halls. Problems at airports are compounded by delays over passport applications. Passport Office staff have privately complained their systems are not fit for purpose as the beleaguered Government agency battles a backlog of half a million applications. Thousands of summer holidays could be cancelled over the delays, with workers warning the current crisis is just the beginning of a very lengthy scenario, according to a cache of 263 internal messages obtained by The Times. Staff have hit out at their creaking IT systems and accused Teleperformance which handles the passport advice line of giving customers poor, misleading advice and exacerbating public anger. Experts have warned that passport delays could cost Britons up to 1 billion in cancelled holidays over the summer, with only half of all applications estimated to be processed on time. The UK's equality watchdog has launched a formal probe into Pontins amid claims of racial discrimination against gypsies and travellers. Pontins was accused of banning customers with 40 common Irish surnames including Boyle, Doherty and Gallagher using a secret blacklist titled 'undesirable guests' to stop suspected traveller families booking holidays at its parks. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission last year signed a 12-month legally-binding agreement with Pontins' parent company Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited to prevent racial discrimination. But the watchdog cancelled the agreement in February amid suspicions that Pontins has not taken 'required steps' to quash discrimination. It has today launched a formal investigation into the holiday park firm to consider whether Pontins broke the Equality Act 2010. The probe is expected to last for months, the watchdog said. Investigators will explore whether Pontins has committed race discrimination against gypsy and traveller guests, prospective guests or their associates in how it provides its services. File image of a soldier at Pontins in Southport during the pandemic The alleged secret blacklist of 40 common Irish names used by Pontins Full list of surnames 'blacklisted by Pontins' Boylan Boyle Carney Carr Cash Connors Corcoran Delaney Doherty Dorran Gallagher Horan Keefe Kell Leahy Lee Maclaughlin McAlwick McCully McDonagh McGinley McGinn McGuiness McHarg McLaughan McMahon Millighan Mongans Murphy Nolan O'Brien O'Connell O'Donnell O'Donoghue O'Mahoney O'Reilly Sheriadan Stokes Walch Ward Advertisement They will also investigate whether Pontins' booking policies directly or indirectly discriminate on the basis of race, including a requirement that guests, or prospective guests, are on the electoral register. And the watchdog will probe whether Pontins' intelligence, information and record-keeping systems are operating in a way that discriminates directly or indirectly on the basis of race. A spokesman for the EHRC declined to provide further information when asked by MailOnline. Marcial Boo, CEO of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: 'We are concerned that Pontins may have illegally denied Gypsy and Traveller families the simple pleasure of a holiday. 'Any business that refuses to provide services to guests due to their race or ethnic group is likely to be breaking equality law. 'We signed a legally binding agreement with Pontins last year, which we expected to address our concerns about discriminatory behaviour. 'The company's failure to comply has left us with no choice but to use stronger enforcement powers to investigate further. 'The EHRC will continue to use all legal powers at its disposal to ensure that no one experiences racism, whether at a holiday park or elsewhere, simply because of their name, ethnicity or the community they belong to.' MailOnline has contacted Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited for comment. An unnamed Pontins employee blew the whistle last year, prompting an EHRC investigation. A message printed alongside the blacklist, first revealed by i News, told staff: 'Please be aware that several guests are unwelcome at Pontins, however some of these will still try and book especially during school holidays. 'We have been informed by our Operations Director that we do not want these guests on our parks.' By declining to provide its services to guests of a certain race or ethnic group, Pontins was directly discriminating on the basis of race and breached the Equality Act 2010, the commission found. Discriminatory practices included the 'undesirable guests' list, published on its intranet page, monitoring calls within its contact centre and refusing or cancelling any bookings that were made by people with an Irish accent or surname, and using its Commercial Vehicles policy to exclude gypsies and travellers from its holiday parks. Pontins' agreement with the watchdog required it to conduct an investigation into the 'undesirable guest' list to ensure appropriate action was taken within the organisation and that lessons were learned. A file photo of Pontins, which is accused of racial discrimination against Travellers It also had to commission a review of its current intelligence system, booking policies and commercial vehicle policy to ensure they were not operating in a discriminatory way, and consider any recommendations, provide enhanced training on equality law for staff in its Human Resources team and members of Senior Management and provide training on equality and diversity for all customer facing staff on an annual basis. The company was also advised to appoint Equality, Diversity and Inclusion champions across the organisation. Boris Johnson's spokesman said at the time: 'No one in the UK should be discriminated against because of their race or ethnicity. 'It's right that the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and Pontins investigate and address this.' A spokesperson from Britannia Jinky Jersey said last year: 'Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited has agreed to work together with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to further enhance its staff training and procedures in order to further promote equality throughout its business.' A Met Police officer who left a man paralysed from the waist down after shooting him with a Taser has denied inflicting grievous bodily harm. PC Imran Mahmood, part of a group of officers deployed to combat terrorism and public order, denied the single charge of GBH today when he appeared for a 12-minute plea hearing in London. His alleged victim, Jordan Walker-Brown, 25, was left with life-changing injuries after he was Tasered and fell from a wall in Haringey May 4 2020. At the time of the incident, he was being pursued by police including Mahmood. The 35-year-old Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group officer had sought anonymity due to the now-wheelchair-bound victim's alleged links to criminal gangs. But the officer was named last month after submissions were made by a number of media organisations. Wearing a black suit with a light grey tie, Mahmood denied inflicting grievous bodily harm when he appeared at Southwark Crown Court. Imran Mahmood (pictured outside the court), a member of the Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group, denied grievous bodily harm when he appeared for a 12-minute plea hearing at Southwark Crown Court Jordan Walker-Brown (pictured), 25, is paralysed from the waist down after being struck with a Taser in 2020 The alleged victim, Jordan Walker-Brown (pictured outside the court in a wheelchair), 25, was left with life-changing injuries while being pursued by police officers including Mahmood PC Mahmood, of Newham, east London, denies inflicting grievous bodily harm. Mr Walker Brown who also attended the hearing, has been told by doctors he will never walk again. The 25-year-old watched proceedings from the back of court sat in a wheelchair with his arms crossed over his chest. Earlier, describing the alleged assault with the Taser, prosecutor Ben Fitzgerald said: 'It struck the complainant with the result that he fell from some height and suffered life changing injuries, paralysis to the lower part of his back which are permanent.' The officer was previously known only as IM or BX140 but a judge refused to grant him anonymity at Westminster Magistrates' Court last month. The decision to charge PC Mahmood followed an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). 'The charge relates to an incident on 4 May 2020 in Burgoyne Road, N4, during which a man in his 20s fell over a wall after being Tasered,' the Met had said in a statement. 'The man suffered life changing injuries,' it added. Police said any potential misconduct matters would be considered pending the outcome of the court proceedings. Judge Phillip Bartle, QC, granted the officer unconditional bail ahead of his trial next year on February 20 2023, which is expected to last for up to a week. PC Mahmood, of Newham, east London, denies inflicting grievous bodily harm. Russia's new Sarmat ICBM has hypersonic speed, and a wild trajectory successfully launched, demonstrating it can level all its targets. It is a demonstration of Moscow's power via muted warnings to adversaries opposing the Russian army will be turned into nuclear craters. Russian Hypersonic Weapon Increased tensions as Russia faces NATO using Ukraine in the current conflict as a proxy; according to the Strategic Missile Force Commander Col. Gen. Sergei Karakev. He alleged in an announcement that the Satan 2 or Sarmat Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) is capable of flying over the North and South Pole in a particular flight path, reported The EurAsian Times. Remarked that further upgrades of the Satan 2 will make it hard to stop; due to its unique characteristics. Capable of past Mach 3+ speeds that are the fastest weapon designed; equipped with lightweight solid rocket motors and is a liquid-propellant rocket. Gen. Karakaev said that the new Russian hyperfast ICBM would be paired with several Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV). The development of HGV, remarked the Commander, marking the start of the age of hypersonic weapons systems. Traveling at a faster speed than supersonic, Sarmat ICBM enters space zooming up; when at the right altitude, it dives back to earth utilizing a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle with hypersonic speed and wild trajectory, noted Scientific American. Read Also: Vladimir Putin's 'Girlfriend': 5 Things To Know About Alina Kabaeva A killer combo of a hyper-fast weapon paired with an ICBM capable of great velocity that generates enough heat when re-entering earth is immune to all of US missile defense, assuring a hit in a faster time. Russia's Threat to NATO, West Warned NATO not to expand eastward into Europe, which is considered a threat to Russia; repeatedly warned over the past month. Russian state television had given a warning that Moscow would use its new Satan 2 ICBM to destroy the UK, citing the Washington Post. A threat was issued to the Western alliance, Russian state television made a simulation of a nuclear attack against three capital cities in Europe, Paris, Berlin, and London, targeted by the new weapon armed with a nuclear-tipped warhead that can ash the targets in only 200 seconds. The head of Russia's space agency has advised that the country has about 50 missiles capable of turning all foes into a nuclear crater, remarked the Daily Mail. Claims from the Strategic Missile Force stated the Satan 2 super-fast ICBM would stay around for fifty years, a subtle warning to the US and its allies. Russian hypersonic trump card is worrisome to NATO Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Russia's state-run space agency Roscosmos said the new ICBM is under testing through 2022 and will be ready by the fall of this year, noted Republic World. Satan 2 can hit multiple ranges and trajectories that cannot be stopped. It gives an ace to Russia's strategic nuclear forces' fighting capabilities. The Pentagon claims that Russia has used a dozen of them, with 15 nuclear bombs that are not very agile in flight, but the HGV makes up for that. Sarmat ICBM with hypersonic speed and wild trajectory to attack targets, gives the Kremlin an ace that NATO cannot ignore. Related Article: Vladimir Putin Has Hypersonic Missiles Storage To Use If the Provocative Western Alliance Does Not Thwart Full Blown Conflict @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A pregnant HR worker has won 9,000 after she was refused a pay rise because she was due to go on maternity leave. Laura Musguin felt as if she was 'not worthy of a pay rise simply because she was growing a human' after she was denied the 'low' 2,000 salary increase. 'Angry and upset' Ms Musguin, who had just returned from maternity leave with her first child, was told a pay rise was 'not feasible' as she was going on leave again with her second child in four months. The experienced HR adviser had been left feeling 'undervalued' and asked for the increase as she discovered a junior HR worker was brought in for cover on just 3,000 less than her 30,000 salary. Now, Ms Musguin has sued construction firm Breyer Group and won 9,000 after an employment tribunal ruled it was an 'act of overt discrimination' and 'tainted' her pregnancy. The East London tribunal was told Ms Musguin joined Breyer, based in Romford, London, in July 2017 and went on maternity leave with her first child from June 2019 to August 2020. While she was off, a junior HR coordinator was hired to provide cover and was offered a 27,000 salary. When Ms Musguin came back from maternity leave in August 2020, she learned of the assistant's salary. Laura Musguin was told she couldn't have a pay rise because of upcoming maternity leave 'Ms Musguin was very unhappy that there was only a 3,000 difference between her salary as an HR Assistant compared to the more junior HR Coordinator role', a tribunal report said. 'She believed it to be deeply unfair and to undervalue her work and her experience.' Just days later, Ms Musguin - now pregnant with her second child - made an argument to HR manager Hardeep Rayat that she should get a pay rise. However, he later informed her that directors Tim Breyer and Neil Fisher rejected his request for her pay rise. The report said: 'Ms Musguin's evidence is that Mr Rayat went into the meeting and that when he met her afterwards he told her that he had made the request for a pay rise but that this had been refused by Mr Fisher because she was due to commence a period of maternity leave at Christmas. 'Mr Rayat told her that Mr Fisher had said that as she would only be in the business for four months, a pay rise was not feasible.' Ms Musguin felt 'disillusioned', the tribunal heard. In messages to a friend at the time, she said: 'I am so upset and angry, it is not even about the pay increase, it is the fact that I am worth so little... that they think six pence is enough difference'. Ms Musguin joined construction firm Breyer (pictured), based in Romford, London, in 2017 'They said they wouldn't increase it seeing I am only back for four months. '[Mr Rayat] told them I was pregnant and going off at Christmas before he asked for my pay increase. 'I am not sure I can go in tomorrow. I am so angry and upset, and even if Hardeep gets Tim to change his mind, I really know that he does not think I am worth it. 'I am not worth 2k because I am pregnant and leaving again. What is the point of even trying.' Following the meeting, a revised 'business proposal' was produced which stated the 2,000 pay rise would be granted if Ms Musguin 'assumed additional responsibilities'. She went on sick leave until her maternity leave, suffering sleep issues, the tribunal heard, and has since left the company. Judge Alison Russell said: 'The tribunal accepts her evidence that on August 24, 2020, she developed a migraine and had a sleepless night, was distressed, angry and upset because of the conversation she had with Mr Rayat about the refusal of the pay rise and the reason given for it. 'Her evidence was that, as she told Mr Rayat, the damage was done: she was not worthy of a pay rise simply because she was growing a human. 'The refusal of a pay rise is unfavourable treatment. Even if she was not entitled to a pay rise, the refusal to exercise discretion in favour of giving a pay rise because of impending maternity leave is clearly unfavourable. 'This was an act of overt discrimination. 'The actual upset caused was exacerbated by the fact that she felt undervalued because of her pregnancy. 'Instead of seeing her pregnancy and impending maternity leave as a happy time to be enjoyed, it was tainted with mixed feelings as it was the stated cause of the reason she was initially refused the pay rise.' A hairdresser has been scarred for life and 'left with PTSD' after her nose was torn off by a pitbull in one of her client's homes. The 31-year-old dog lover Ashley Unger from Illinois had been playfully rolling around with the mutt that belonged to her customer's roommate in between touching up her hair on March 17th before it suddenly attacked. The pitbull, who had been playing with her at her client's house, sank its teeth into her as she tried to leave. The traumatized stylist was rushed to hospital while holding her face together with the bone exposed where doctors stitched together her flesh. Horrifying photos show Ashley's bloodied face, severed septum and blown out cartilage after her nose was left 'literally hanging off'. Stunned doctors stitched her face together but now her sister Melissa Schmidt has launched a GoFundMe page to raise $20,000 for reconstructive surgery. Ashley said: 'It was the first time I'd met the dog, I'm a dog person so I was playing with him. The 31-year-old dog lover Ashley Unger (pictured) had been playfully rolling around with the mutt that belonged to her customer's roommate in between touching up her hair on March 17th before it suddenly attacked Unger is pictured in happier times before the dog attack. The second photo shows her recovering with the scars left when the pitbull suddenly attacked Ashley was there for about five hours on the day, with the dog laying on her chest. She was cuddling him for an hour before he attacked. 'I'm very grateful he didn't bite me when I was lying down because it would be a lot worse,' she said. When Ashley was about to leave through the front door, the dog started running from the kitchen so she crouched to stop him from going outside. 'I didn't touch him, he was about a foot away from me, I heard the nastiest growl of my entire life,' said Ashley. 'The next thing I know, my nose is hanging off and I was holding my face together. It was the worst pain I'd ever been in.' The client said she'll never get the scream out of her mind as the pitbull savaged her hairdresser's face. File photo: When Ashley was about to leave through the front door, the dog started running from the kitchen so she crouched to stop him from going outside 'I screamed like my life depended on it, he got off me and next thing I know he's in the corner on the other side of the room,' Ashley said. 'The client is telling me not to look but of course I did, all I saw was bone. 'I was in so much shock. I have PTSD, sometimes I get flashbacks.' Ashley was left with a severed septum and cartilage and now can't breathe through her nose. Her horrified boyfriend James Stack, 30, was left in tears at the sight of her. Doctors have said Ashley will need multiple reconstructive surgeries and that she will be scarred for life. Ashley said: 'I'm going to be scarred for life. The doctor at the hospital said I was messed up, he said it's one of the worst dog bite cases he's seen and he works in ER so he's seen some stuff. 'A specialist told him on the phone to make sure my skin is covered so there are no infections. 'I've had 36 stitches across my nose, five across my eye and two across my upper lip. 'My septum is severed and there's cartilage blown out. 'I have good days and bad days but I look in the mirror and I don't like what I see, I miss my face. Ashley can only breathe out of her mouth, with the worst case scenario being that the surgery doesn't improve her nasal airways. She says she's had to learn a lot of patience during the process of recovery. 'I FaceTimed my mum. I was so upset, which hurt her, she knew how much pain I was in,' she went on. 'She wanted to take it away but I wouldn't wish it on anybody. Nobody knew what to do.' Horrifying photos show Ashley's bloodied face, severed septum and blown out cartilage after her nose was left 'literally hanging off'. Ashley can only breathe out of her mouth, and it is not clear if surgery will change her condition The traumatic incident has left Ashley terrified of dogs and now she's only happy to be around her own dog, five-year-old bullmastiff, Lucy. Ashley said: 'If I don't know a dog, I can't be around it and I'm worried about going into clients' homes. 'Through my personal experience, [I would advise] do not crouch down or get on the same level with a dog you do not know, even if they seem friendly. 'Even if you do feel comfortable around the dog they can still be unpredictable. Keep your guard up, always.' You can donate to Ashley's page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-ashley-recover-from-severe-dog-attack Queensland MP Melissa McMahon has divulged a harrowing childhood of sexual abuse as she takes a leave of absence from parliament. The Labor member for Macalister in Logan, south of Brisbane, on Thursday told parliament she would take time out to rebalance her life and family. Ms McMahon revealed she was first sexually abused at age five, when she was raped. 'I still vividly remember the first, the second time this occurred to me, but mercifully after that it is a blur,' Ms McMahon said. Queensland MP Melissa McMahon has divulged a harrowing childhood of sexual abuse as she takes a leave of absence from parliament (pictured, the MP in 2020) 'Most afternoons I was shopped around the neighbourhood to other teenagers and often exchanged for a can of soft drink. 'I could not tell you how many perpetrators were involved. I could not even quantify how long it lasted.' Memories of her horrific childhood began to resurface in 2021 as the MP struggled to cope with debilitating bouts of panic and anxiety. 'I felt like my skin was inside out ... I was highly agitated. My ability to keep something under lock and key for 40 years was over.' Ms McMahon revealed she was first sexually abused at age five, when she was raped She lost her marriage and her family before hitting rock bottom. 'Rock bottom for me looks like walking out of the PA Hospital barefoot with what is left of my prescription medication,' she said. 'My children had found me unresponsive. Paramedics and police were called to my home. 'I was resuscitated, I was transported. For the unbearable stress that this placed on my family late that night, I am truly sorry. 'For my son who had to call for help, I am also so very sorry that I put you in that position.' Memories of her horrific childhood began to resurface in 2021 as the MP (pictured with Annastacia Palaszczuk in 2014) struggled to cope with bouts of panic attacks and anxiety Ms McMahon said at the age of nine she looked at 'the face of pure evil' when placed in the care of a convicted child sex offender through her church. 'My hours after school became a personal hell, but I had been through this before and my survival skills kicked in - don't cry, don't move, don't say a word.' Ms McMahon survived her years of vile abuse before enlisting in the army at age 18 and joining the police service at 21. The mother of three was elected to Queensland parliament in 2017 before the facade began to crack. Ms McMahon told parliament that to be able to become her best self she must face her past - truthfully, and fully. Ms McMahon (pictured survived her years of vile abuse before enlisting in the army at age 18 and joining the police service at 21 The MP refuses to be defined by her childhood trauma and hopes to inspire others by light on an uncomfortable truth. 'I will recover loudly so others don't die quietly - because we feel powerless when those we love become victims of sexual assault,' she said. 'But I know I need to take time to rebalance and spend with my family at this time.' Ms McMahon was lauded for her bravery by MPs from both sides as she sought a leave of absence and asked for privacy for herself and her family. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Advertisement This is the moment Texas senator Ted Cruz stormed out of an interview after being asked why school mass shootings 'only happen in America' during a vigil for victims of the Robb Elementary School massacre. Cruz had joined Texas Governor Greg Abbott to be with hundreds of tearful relatives and friends mourning 19 children and two teachers killed in Tuesday's shooting - the worst ever in the state and the deadliest in a US school since the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012. Salvador Ramos used an AR-15 rifle that he bought legally on his 18th birthday just months before the attack to shoot his 66-year-old grandmother in the face then drive to the nearby school, where he barricaded himself inside a fourth-grade classroom and butchered the students inside. Mark Stone, a British journalist working for Sky News, had cornered Cruz - who has strong ties with the NRA and is due to speak at their convention in Texas on Friday alongside Abbott - at the vigil and asked him whether it is time for gun reform laws in America. Stone pressed Cruz over what he called an 'awful aspect of American exceptionalism', saying that those watching tragedies such as Abbott Elementary from overseas 'cannot fathom' why action is not being taken, and that the families of victims are calling for tighter restrictions on weapons. Cruz initially sought to deflect, at first turning the spotlight on Ramos - who he called a 'violent psychopath' - before pivoting to 'Democrats and the media' who he blamed for trying to push a political agenda, insisting that 'Democrat plans would not have stopped this.' He then tried to walk out of the interview, pursued by Stone and an American colleague who asked him repeatedly why such mass shootings 'only happen in America'. Accusing the pair of being 'propagandists', Cruz added: 'Why is it that people come from all over the world to America? Because it's the freest, most prosperous, safest country on Earth.' Texas senator Cruz stormed out of an interview after a British journalist asked why school mass shootings 'only happen in America' He was asked the question while he was attending a vigil for victims of the Robb Elementary School massacre Cruz had joined Texas Governor Greg Abbott to be with hundreds of tearful relatives and friends mourning loved ones killed in the shooting Nineteen children and two of their teachers at Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas, were murdered on Tuesday by 18-year-old Salvador Ramos using two AR-15-style rifles Mourners gathered on the bleachers and on the dirt of a fairground arena in the small town of Uvalde A woman cries as she hugs a child, during a community gathering at the Uvalde County Fairplex, following the school mass shooting The tight-knit Latino community of Uvalde was wracked with grief Wednesday after a teen in body armor marched into the school and killed 19 children and two teachers Around 15,000 people live in the town of Uvalde, which is 50 miles from the international border with Mexico Joe Biden kicked off the gun control debate in a speech delivered from the White House late Tuesday, just hours after the shooting, saying it is time to 'turn pain into action' and asking voters: 'When in God's name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?' Cruz has been at the forefront of the pushback, repeating well-worn arguments that targeting the fugitives and the felons and the bad guys' rather than the constitutional right to bear arms is the key to reducing violence. 'But, as sure as night follows day, you can bet there [are] going to be Democrat politicians looking to advance their own pollical agenda rather than to work to stop this kind of horrific violence and to keep everyone safe,' he said on Tuesday night. However, his stance has drawn fierce criticism - including from House Democrat Ruben Gallego who tweeted 'f*** you Ted Cruz, you f***ing baby killer.' In a later tweet, he added: 'Get your a** to Cancun. You are useless,' recalling a holiday that Cruz took to Mexico amid a fatal cold snap Texas suffered in February 2021. Cruz is one of 50 Republican senators who are working to block the progress of two pieces of gun control legislation that were passed by House Democrats in 2021. The first would strengthen background checks on those seeking to buy guns, and the second would expand the period to review gun purchases to 10 days. Democrats can call a debate on the legislation any time, but know they have to find 10 Republicans to vote with them to avoid it being filibustered - something Cruz is famous for. So far, there is no indication of GOP members being willing to cross the aisle, despite polls showing support for the measures. A 2014 survey found 92 per cent of Americans approve of universal background checks. A survey taken last week found 59 per cent believe it is 'very' or 'somewhat' important that Congress pass new safety laws. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat Senator for Rhode Island, called the situation 'astonishingly frustrating' - telling The Hill: 'These are things that most gun owners want and yet this rabid God-damned NRA wont let the Republicans move. Texas has some of the loosest gun laws in America, permitting the open carry of weapons and allowing those aged over 18 to buy rifles - something that other states limit to those aged over 21. It also has the highest total number of deaths per year from guns - 4,164 in the year 2020, according to CDC data. Governor Abbott has in recent years has trumpeted his efforts to relax gun laws in the state, including a bill signed into law last year that allowed for the permitless open carry of handguns in the state. Abbot has faced similar criticism to Cruz following the Robb Elementary shooting, including from Democrat Beto O'Rourke who stormed into a vigil event for victims late Wednesday and heckled him from the crowd - accusing him of 'doing nothing' to prevent mass shootings. Both Cruz and Abbott are set to appear alongside former President Donald Trump at the NRA's national conference which is due to take place in Texas on Friday. The lobby group insists the event will still go ahead despite the school shooting, though Daniel Defense - the company which makes the AR-style rifle used to carry out Tuesday's massacre - will no longer attend. Mourners held portraits of the dead, others squeezed stuffed animals and drawings, each struggling to comprehend the tragedy of the previous day Flowers are placed on a makeshift memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 25 Balloons adorned the elementary school's welcome sign while small white crosses were placed on the grass by the sidewalk to remember the children and teachers who were killed on Tuesday Community members prayed together during a vigil on Wednesday, May 25, for the 21 victims of the shooting Hundreds of people attended a vigil on Wednesday after the worst school mass shooting since Sandy Hook in 2012 Mourners gathered to grieve together after the horrific tragedy at the Texas elementary school in which 19 children and two teachers were killed Religious figures offered prayers at the bilingual vigil, where Governor Greg Abbott gripped Uvalde's Mayor Ruben Nolasco in a long hug (pictured) As mourners embraced and wept, relatives and friends of those murdered gathered on the bleachers and on the dirt of a fairground arena in the small town of Uvalde. Throughout the day, mourners made their way to a municipal center, where they could receive psychological support. Around 15,000 people live in the town, which is 50 miles from the border with Mexico. Ryan Ramirez fought back tears as he spoke of his 'lovable' 10-year-old daughter Alithia, an aspiring artist who was among the 19 schoolchildren killed in a cold-blooded shooting that has devastated the tight-knit community. Some held portraits of the dead, others squeezed stuffed animals and drawings, each struggling to comprehend the tragedy of the previous day. 'I'm just heartbroken right now,' Ramirez said as Alithia's mother hugged their other daughter. 'She was a real good artist' and aspired to greatness, he added, flipping through a portfolio of his daughters colorful paintings as well as birthday cards she drew for her mother. 'My daughter would want everybody that was involved to be strong and keep it together. That's what we're trying to do.' Young Alithia faced similar tragedy last September when she lost a close classmate, Nico, in a car crash in Dallas, her father said. She processed the grief in one of the few ways that made sense: through art. Ramirez showed a detailed drawing his daughter had made of Nico up in heaven, looking down at the friend he left behind. Religious figures offered prayers at the bilingual vigil, where Governor Greg Abbott gripped Uvalde's Mayor Ruben Nolasco in a long hug. A grieving Esmeralda Bravo held a photograph of her granddaughter Nevaeh, one of those who was murdered. Ryan Ramirez fought back tears as he spoke of his 'lovable' 10-year-old daughter Alithia (pictured), an aspiring artist who was among the 19 schoolchildren killed in a cold-blooded shooting that has devastated the tight-knit community A grieving Esmeralda Bravo holding a photograph of her granddaughter Nevaeh, one of the children who was murdered Angie Garcia consoles her son as he cries for his cousin who died in the mass shooting Jacinto Cazares, whose 10-year-old daughter Jacklyn was killed in the Uvalde school shooting on Tuesday, is pictured on Wednesday outside the school 'This has no explanation, my granddaughter did not deserve this,' Bravo said quietly. 'She was a good little girl, very shy and very pretty,' she said. 'It means so much to me to have this support from the community but I would rather have my granddaughter here with me.' Hours earlier and blocks away, Aida Hernandez shed bitter tears as she left mass at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic church. Hernandez, who is in her sixties, taught at Robb Elementary until she retired two years ago. In the small house of worship off Uvalde's main street, the largely Hispanic congregation prayed for the victims of America's worst school shooting in a decade. It is the worst school shooting since Sandy Hook in 2012, when year-old lone gunman Adam Lanza shot dead 20 children and six teachers at the Connecticut elementary school. After the mass for Tuesday's massacre, Hernandez said: 'My experience was of horror and pain. I knew the victims. I'm still in shock.' 'When you teach and you're in the classroom, that's your job to protect them. They did more beyond what they were supposed to do.' In this aerial view, law enforcement works on scene at Robb Elementary School where at least 21 people were killed on Tuesday Salvador Ramos, 18, shot his grandmother before going on a killing spree at Robb Elementary School, murdering 19 children and two teachers before he was shot dead by a Customs and Border Protection agent Salvador Ramos legally purchased two AR-15 style rifles (right) including the one he used in yesterday's attack after his 18th birthday last week. The gunman also bought more than 300 rounds of ammunition Ramos bought two AR-15 assault rifles, bragged about them on social media and suggested he would commit an atrocity before the deadly attack. He spent an estimated $4,000 on the weapons, ammunition and a tactical-style vest The faces of 11 confirmed victims from Tuesday's shooting. Nineteen children in the fourth grade were shot and killed on Tuesday. Top row, from left - Eliahana 'Eliajha' Cruz Torres, 10; Lexi Rubio; Annabelle Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10; Maite Yuleana Middle row, from left - Xavier Lopez, 10; Rojelio Torres, 10; Uziyah Garcia, 8. Front row, from left - Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10; Jacklyn Cazares, 10; Layla Salazar, 10; Jose Flores Jr., 10 Irma Garcia (left) and Eva Mireles (right), who co-taught fourth grade, were both shot and killed at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday. A little boy claimed they sacrificed themselves to protect their students Jacklyn, 10, was one of 19 children and two teachers murdered by Ramos on Tuesday Rosie Buantel, in her fifties, was equally grief-stricken but outraged as well. The massacre at Robb Elementary has reignited debate over gun laws. Buantel said: 'I'm sad and I'm angry at our government for not doing more about gun control. 'We've gone through this one too many times. And still there's nothing done. They're still debating.' Shooter's mother claims her son was NOT violent The mother of the sick school shooter who shot dead 19 children and two teachers in Texas has claimed he 'wasn't a violent person'. Adriana Reyes said she was 'surprised' Salvador Ramos opened fire in a horrific killing spree at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde yesterday. She admitted her son was a loner who 'kept to himself and didn't have many friends' but shot down reports she had a toxic relationship with him. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com she did not address claims she was a drug addict who saw the boy ditch her and go to live with his grandmother Celia Gonzalez. Reyes was speaking from the bedside of Gonzalez, 66, as she recovers from being blasted in the face by her vile grandson before he went on a rampage and shot dead 19 children and two teachers. He had bought two AR-15 assault rifles, bragged about them on social media and suggested he would commit an atrocity before the deadly attack. But earlier today Ramos' grandfather revealed the family had no idea he legally purchased the two weapons last week. Rolando Reyes, 74, Gonzalez's husband, also claimed his grandson had been a quiet teenager who spent most of his time alone in his room. Speaking to DailyMail.com from San Antonio, Reyes said: 'My son wasn't a violent person. I'm surprised by what he did. 'I pray for those families. I'm praying for all of those innocent children, yes I am. They [the children] had no part in this.' Advertisement There were 288 school shootings in the US between 2009 and 2018, the highest number in the world. Mexico was second with eight school shootings in the same time. However, school mass shootings haven't only happened in the US. Two of the worst school shootings in the last decade happened outside of America. In 2014 six terrorists opened fire at a school in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing 149 people including 132 schoolchildren, and injuring 114 others. Just a year later militant gunmen from Al-Qaeda offshoot Al-Shabaab shot dead 142 students, three soldiers and three police officers. The five gunmen also took more than 700 hostages. Russia has also seen a high number of school mass shootings. In May 2021 seven eighth-grade schoolchildren and two teachers were murdered by a 19-year-old former student in Kazan, western Russia. Just last month two small children and their teacher were shot dead with a double-barreled shotgun in a kindergarten in Veshkayma, western Russia, by a mentally ill 26-year-old man. The National Rifle Association said: 'Our deepest sympathies are with the families and victims involved in this horrific and evil. 'On behalf of our members, we salute the courage of school officials, first responders and others who offered their support and services. 'Although an investigation is underway and the facts are still emerging, we recognize this was the act of a lone, deranged criminal.' It ended its statement with a confirmation its marquee Houston event will move forward despite the recent tragedy. 'As we gather in Houston, we will reflect on these events, pray for the victims, recognize our patriotic members and pledge to redouble our commitment to making our schools secure.' On the day of the shooting, many relatives and friends of the victims faced hours of anguished waiting to find out what happened to their loved ones. Volunteer psychologist Iveth Pacheco traveled from San Antonio to provide support to those in need. 'It's one of those situations where you just have to be present,' she said. 'We have to be ready for the child whatever questions they have and it's the same thing with the adults right now.' Tuesday's violence began when Ramos shot and critically wounded his grandmother at her home in Uvalde, where he had reportedly been living for several months after domestic problems in his mother's home across town. The grandmother was airlifted to a hospital and was still clinging to life on Wednesday. After shooting his grandmother, Ramos drove in a black Ford F-150 pickup truck the short distance to Robb Elementary, just half a mile away. Veering wildly off the road, Ramos crashed the truck into a culvert behind the elementary school, according to officials and photos from the scene. At 11.32am, the first 911 call came in reporting the vehicle crash, and saying a man with a gun was exiting the truck. Ramos, wearing body armor, apparently left one of the rifles in the truck, and carried the other with him towards the school, along with a backpack full of ammunition. Investigators say that Ramos dropped the backpack near an entrance to the school, and that it contained seven 30-round magazines. It's unclear whether the magazines held live ammunition. Police told news station KENS 5 that Ramos exchanged gunfire with police as he stormed into the school, but ultimately cops were unable to prevent him from gaining entry. Texas DPS Director said a school resource officer 'confronted', but did not 'engage' the gunman as he entered the school. Tuesday's violence began when Ramos shot and critically wounded his grandmother at her home (above) in Uvalde. The grandmother survived and Ramos then drove the short distance to Robb Elementary and opened fire Veering wildly off the road, Ramos crashed a Ford F-150 pickup truck into a culvert behind the elementary school Ramos crashed his truck into a ditch before entering the school. Cops found one of his AR-15 guns inside the vehicle, and he had also dumped a bag (circled) nearby. At the entrance of the school, they found his backpack which contained ammunition One video at the scene appears to show Ramos approach the school while what sounds like gunfire is going off in the background. Police exchanged gunfire with Ramos but were unable to stop him from storming the school 'The suspect made entry into the school and as soon as he made entry into the school he started shooting children, teachers, whoever's in his way,' Department of Public Safety Lt. Christopher Olivarez told the station. Frustrated parents considered storming school themselves Frantic parents of the children murdered in their Texas school screamed at law enforcement officers to enter the school and discussed storming the building to rescue their kids, as it emerged that the gunman was only stopped when authorities obtained a key to open the classroom door. The first 911 call was received at 11:32am on Tuesday, and the gunman was killed at 1pm - after a Border Patrol agent was given a key to the door, behind which the gunman was barricaded with the fourth grade class. Javier Cazares, whose fourth grade daughter, Jacklyn Cazares, was killed in the attack, said he raced to the school when he heard about the shooting, arriving while police were still gathered outside the building. Upset that police were not moving in, he raised the idea of charging into the school with several other bystanders. 'Let's just rush in because the cops aren't doing anything like they are supposed to,' he said. 'More could have been done. They were unprepared.' He added: 'There was at least 40 lawmen armed to the teeth but didn't do a darn thing until it was far too late. 'The situation could've been over quick if they had better tactical training, and we as a community witnessed it firsthand.' Advertisement 'He was shooting everybody,' the state official said. Olivarez told CNN that the shooter barricade himself inside of a single classroom, and that it is inside that classroom where most or all of the 19 children and two teachers were killed. The children killed were believed to be third and fourth grade students. Robb Elementary serves grades two through four, officials said. Police and state troopers arrived in time to hear gunshots inside a classroom where the man barricaded himself and began shooting children and teachers. Olivarez said some of the officers were shot by the gunman, so others began breaking windows around the school trying to evacuate children and teachers. Meanwhile, a nearby Customs and Border Protection tactical unit responded to provide backup. Olivarez said 'tactical law enforcement' forced their way into the classroom, where 'they were met with gunfire as well but they were able to shoot and kill that suspect.' The unnamed agent who shot and killed Ramos is believed to be from the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), which has specialized agents dispersed throughout the United States. The BORTAC agent, whose identity has not yet been revealed, rushed into the school without waiting for backup. Ramos was behind a barricade, returning fire, but the border patrol agent managed to shoot and kill the gunman before he could claim more victims. 'They came in from opposite sides. The BORTAC agent ended up exchanging gunfire with the shooter, killed the shooter, and I am told that the agent was injured in his leg,' reported Fox News. 'They are trying to figure out if he was shot in the leg or hit by shrapnel.' More than a dozen children were also hurt in the attack, including a ten-year-old girl taken to hospital in the nearby city of San Antonio in critical condition. A 66-year-old woman - believed to be Ramos's grandmother who he shot at the start of his killing spree - was in the same hospital, also in critical. A second hospital within Uvalde itself said 13 children had been brought to them, without saying what condition they are in. Police warned late Tuesday that the death toll is expected to rise. The agent who ended Tuesday's school massacre by shooting and killing the Robb Elementary school gunman is reported to be part of an 'elite' Customs and Border Protection (CBP) tactical unit. Law enforcement personnel are pictured at the scene of the shooting Law enforcement work the scene after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. The gunman, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was killed by law enforcement The unnamed agent who shot and killed Ramos is believed to be from the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), which has specialized agents dispersed throughout the United States Police work the scene after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School where 19 children and two adults were killed A star of Greece's Big Brother has been accused of raping a 21-year-old British tourist. Steve Milatos, 30, was arrested on Tuesday after he allegedly attacked the girl in a field in Rhodes after asking her to join him in a nightclub. Milatos, who was on Greece's version of the reality show last year, denies the allegations. A star of Big Brother in Greece has been accused of raping a 21-year-old British tourist in a field in Rhodes His lawyer said the sex was consensual. The alleged victim is being examined by medics and a psychiatrist, according to Proto Thema. The reality star, who has more than 110,000 Instagram followers, is expected to testify before a prosecutor today. He has previously worked with major fashion houses including Diesel and has walks on the runway for Givenchy and Jean Paul Gaultier, reports say. Big Brother has come under fire before after a female contestant on the Spanish version was forced to watch back distressing footage of her alleged sexual assault in the diary room. Carlota Prado, a contestant on the 2017 series of the show, was called to the diary room where she was informed of the alleged sexual assault by fellow contender and boyfriend Jose Maria Lopez, with whom she had began a relationship with while in the house. Steve Milatos, 30, was arrested on Tuesday after he allegedly attacked the girl in a field in Rhodes after asking her to join him in a nightclub Ms Prado, who had no idea of the events that had unfolded in bed the night before, was shown a video of Mr Lopez having sex with her while she was passed out in bed. She found the video footage played out on the diary room screen distressing and asked: 'Please, Super, stop now, please.' The scene was recorded by production company Zeppelin and was never aired on TV. Programme bosses called in Civil Guard officers after expelling Mr Lopez from the show. According to digital newspaper El Confidencial, after being shown the footage, Ms Prado was not allowed to go and tell her fellow contestants what had happened but was instead asked to immediately leave the show temporarily. Carlota Prado, a contestant on the 2017 Spanish series, was called to the diary room where she was informed that she had been sexually assaulted by co-star Jose Maria Lopez (pictured together) Ms Prado decided not to ratify the complaint, and returned to the Big Brother house five days later. The paper reported that footage of the alleged assault shows Ms Prado, who was inebriated with alcohol which had been supplied to the contestants for a party, rejecting her partner's advances, telling him: 'No I can't.' Despite this, he got into bed with her and allegedly proceeded to have sex with her for several minutes while she was unconscious. In 2015, a contestant was also removed from the South African version after he was accused of sexually assaulting a fellow housemate. Siyanda Ngwenya allegedly assaulted a woman while she was asleep in the Big Brother house. The pair had been seen kissing and cuddling in bed before the cameras cut away. He told housemates the following day they had sex but she was apparently shocked and said she had not consented. A British Army corporal has been found guilty of grinding into a young female soldier's bottom and pestering her for naked photos. Cpl Phillip Marshall-Nicols pushed his groin into the Private's bottom while she was in a tea room speaking to a colleague at an Army barracks in Colchester, Essex. The soldier, whose partner was pregnant at the time, also persistently asked the woman for photos of herself in the shower after she had done physical training (PT) sessions. A military tribunal heard he branded her a 'spoilsport' when she said no, but the corporal - nicknamed 'two dads' due to his double-barrel surname - told the hearing camera emojis he sent the female Private were merely 'banter'. He suggested his messages to the female soldier were instead innocent requests for photos of 'resin' models she had been making. Corporal Phillip Marshall-Nichols grinded into the bottom of a young female solider while she speaking to a colleague Cpl Marshall-Nichols had denied two counts of sexual assault. He was convicted of the tea room assault but cleared of grabbing the female Private's breasts after she had asked him for help finding information on a computer system. Bulford Military Court heard Cpl Marshall-Nichols, of 16 Medical Regiment, was stationed with the woman at an Army barracks in Colchester, Essex. They had a purely professional relationship, the court heard, and had known each other for at least a year before the grinding incident. The victim told the court she had been talking to a male soldier when Cpl Marshall-Nichols paused behind her and 'grinded' his penis into her bottom as he left the room. The woman said: 'I was in the break room with [another private]. 'Cpl Marshall-Nichols was making a brew. At one point he moved to leave the room, and as he passed me he stopped and grinded his d**k into my a**e, left to right. 'He didn't say anything and it didn't go on for long, but I could feel his penis.' The other soldier in the room at the time told the court he saw a look of shock cross his friend's face as Cpl Marshall-Nichols stopped behind her. The former private, who has since left the military, said: 'He pushed himself up against [the female soldier]. 'It looked like a joke at first but you could tell by her facial expression that she was scared. 'It just happened out of the blue and went on for a couple of seconds.' The female soldier reported the incident to another corporal and received private messages on Snapchat from Cpl Marshall-Nichols after returning from Christmas leave. 'It was after PT, which we had three times a week, when I was going to take a shower,' she said. 'He was there when we did PT. 'He was asking for pictures while I was in the shower. I just said, 'No'.' Cross-examining Cpl Marshall-Nichols, prosecutor Commander Peter Barker said: 'You sent two emojis - a camera with flash and one without... that is a request for photos. 'Her response is: 'No'. A flat refusal. You respond immediately, saying: 'Spoilsport lol' and the crying laughter emoji. 'You are pestering one of your subordinates for a picture in the shower. Cpl Marshall-Nichols denied assaulting her, and claimed the request for photos from the woman was just 'banter' 'You are calling her a spoilsport. You are disappointed and upset that she's not sending a photo, aren't you?' Cpl Marshall-Nichols responded saying: 'No - it's banter, sir. We were having a laugh. 'With all due respect, and I didn't mean to upset anyone... but that is why I sent a laughing face - as a joke.' When questioned by judge advocate Jane England on what his messages of the camera emojis on WhatsApp referred to, Cpl Marshall-Nichols replied: 'At the time [the female soldier] was into resin. 'She had told me about them and showed me her figures. 'At the time [of the messages], I could have been requesting to see what she was doing with them. 'It could have been about that... but I can't remember. 'She showed me pictures of her figures. It got me interested enough that I try and do it myself.' During an Easter break the court heard the female Private went into work to update her 'objectives' on a computer system before an upcoming exercise, and asked for assistance from Cpl Marshall-Nichols. The soldier told the court: 'He came over and I got off the swivel chair... I moved behind the chair. A tribunal at Bulford Military Court Centre (pictured) found him guilty of one count of sexual assault 'Then he turned around and touched my boobs. He touched both my boobs with both his hands. '[A captain] walked in shortly after and he found my objectives.' Defending, Simon Perkins argued the alleged victim had 'made up' both claims of sexual assault. Mr Perkins said: 'The first time you mentioned [these allegations] was at a social gathering [when you were drunk]. 'These two alleged sexual assaults never happened. The sexual assault in the tea room never happened and for some reason you are making this up to get Cpl Marshall-Nichols in trouble.' Cpl Marshall-Nichols was convicted of the tea room sexual assault, but cleared of grabbing the female soldier's breasts after the military board deliberated for three hours before returning their verdicts. He will be sentenced on July 1. The child actress who was sexually abused by Hey Dad! star turned paedophile Robert Hughes has opened up about the torment she suffered at the hands of the disgraced actor, but says she wants him released so she can move on with her life. Actress Sarah Monahan, 45, was just six when she was cast to play Jenny in the Aussie hit comedy Hey Dad!, which was a top rating show through the late 80s and early 90s. During her time on the show she was preyed upon by her on-screen father. 'He would do it in front of a live audience,' Ms Monahan told A Current Affair. 'A lot of it was in plain sight.' Scroll down for video Hey Dad! actress Sarah Monahan (above) has shared her thought on her former TV dad and co-star Robert Hughes' release after he was jailed in 2014 for sexually assaulting her as a child Ms Monahan (bottom right) was abused as a child by her former co-star Hughes (top left) while on the set of the hit late 80s to early 90s TV series 'Hey Dad!' She recalled a time he once exposed himself in between scenes. 'I was out the back of the set and I was drawing and he walked up and he pulled down his pants and, like, waggled it in the mirror at me,' she said. 'I immediately ran out, went to make up and I'm like ''Robert just showed me his d***''.' A polaroid taken on set shows Ms Monahan sitting on Hughes' lap with the rest of the cast beside them. Hughes hands can clearly be seen down the young girl's pants. Ms Monahan said by that stage, when the picture was taken, everyone on set knew about Hughes' behaviour but nothing was done for about 20 years. Ms Monahan courageously helped put her paedophile on-screen father behind bars after speaking out publicly in 2010. A polaroid photo taken on the set of Hey Dad! (above) shows Hughes with his hands down Ms Monahan's pants while surrounded by crew and cast In 2014 Hughes (bottom left) was sentenced to 10 years and nine months imprisonment for sexually abusing Ms Monahan (bottom centre) and three other victims The disgraced star was found guilty and convicted on 10 of 11 child sex charges in 2014. He was sentenced to 10 years and nine-months behind bars, his non-parole period expired in 2020. His previous parole attempts have been denied as he's failed to admit his guilt or participate in any rehabilitation programs. On Friday he will face the NSW State Parole Authority in a bid for freedom once again. Ms Monahan flew from her home in the US last week to face her abuser, hopefully for the final time. Ms Monahan said she felt the need to face him as she belives this time he will be released. Hughes (above) was jailed in 2014 for 10 child sex charges against four victims with his non-parole period expiring in 2020 Ms Monahan (above) said Hughes' release could provide her some relief so she is no longer forced to relive her trauma and can visit Australia knowing her former abuser is in the UK Hughes (above) has not fulfilled his rehabilitation program requirements and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing Ms Monhan, who has long been the public face for the women Hughes abused, said each time he applies for parole she is forced relive her trauma. But this time she's more confident and will use Hughes' parole hearing to 'stare him down'. 'I'm at that point where I'm confident seeing Robert and I think it's important that he knows that none of us are scared of him anymore,' she told A Current Affair. And while she wants him to see out his full sentence, at the same time she said she will be relieved if he gets parole. If Hughes is released he will be deported to the UK as he renounced his Australian citizenship while behind bars. 'At least if they release him we don't have to go through this another two times ... he'll be sent away and I can feel safe coming back to Australia knowing he's not here,' she said. Ms Monahan (left) said Hughes' (right) abuse was so prevalent that he was assault her 'in front of a live audience' but believes he is too 'set in his ways' to ever admit guilt Ms Monahan has moved to the US (pictured at her American home) and said Hughes' deportation would mean she could visit Australia knowing her abuser is far away Ms Monahan (pictured with her husband Matt) said she is afraid Hughes will 'hurt more kids' if left unsupervised in the UK and said other victims are afraid he will 'try and retaliate' once freed Hughes' possible deportation presents a unique obstacle for law enforcement who now also have to consider the possibility that Hughes could be living overseas unsupervised. Ms Monahan said her greatest fear is that Hughes would reoffend and 'hurt more kids'. Other victims have also told Ms Monahan they're afraid the paedophile will 'try and retaliate'. Ms Monahan will be supported at the hearing on Friday by Hughes' other victims. She said that while her abuser can't be imprisoned forever, the world should know the truth about him. 'He knows exactly what he's doing he's just a bad person and I don't feel bad for him. I think he's a narcissist who just does not care and all he cares about is that he's a victim,' Ms Monahan said. If released on parole on Friday he will have served eight years behind bars. Russia's parliament on Wednesday passed a law scrapping an upper age limit for people signing up to join the army. It is a sign Moscow may be looking to recruit more troops to bolster its military campaign in Ukraine. Under current legislation, only Russians aged 18 to 40 and foreign nationals aged 18 to 30 have the right to sign their first military service contract. The lower and upper houses of parliament backed the bill in all the necessary readings, after which Russian President Vladimir Putin must sign it into law. This comes as Russia has announced over 1,000 troop deaths in its military operation in Ukraine, launched on February 24, and has vowed to continue fighting for as long as it takes. Russia's parliament on Wednesday passed a law scrapping an upper age limit for people signing up to join the army. Pictured: President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting of the State Council in the Kremlin in Moscow 'We need to strengthen our armed forces, to help the defence ministry. Our supreme commander-in-chief (Putin) is doing everything to make the army win and increase its effectiveness,' speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said, as quoted on the State Duma lower house website. The law refers to people voluntarily joining the armed forces, not young men doing compulsory national service. 'Highly professional specialists are needed to use high-precision weapons and operate weapons and military equipment' and such specialists may be aged 40 to 45, said a note accompanying the draft bill. The note said the amendment would also help attract those in civilian professions to join the army, including medics, engineers and communications experts. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that Moscow 'will continue the special military operation until all the objectives have been achieved,' referring to military action in Ukraine. It comes as hundreds of thousands of new Russian conscripts are being drafted into the army with many facing the prospect of fighting in Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of new Russian conscripts are being drafted into the army with many facing the prospect of fighting in Ukraine New pictures show nervous draftees - many aged just 18 - reporting for duty in four regions of the country. Some are seen in farewell hugs to their mothers or girlfriends New pictures show nervous draftees - many aged just 18 - reporting for duty in four regions of the country. Some are seen in farewell hugs to their mothers or girlfriends. A total of 134,500 conscripts are being called up nationwide in the spring draft, all aged 18 to 27. The latest conscription campaign follows a decree from Putin, who yesterday for the first time visited wounded soldiers from the Ukraine war in a Moscow military hospital. Critics noted that the war injuries of the servicemen were not visible - and they stood to attention to greet the president. The latest conscription campaign follows a decree from Putin, who yesterday for the first time visited wounded soldiers from the Ukraine war in a Moscow military hospital There have been a total of 16 reported Molotov cocktail attacks on enlistment offices where Russian recruits are registered, seen as a sign of protest about the war. Pictures show conscripts reporting for duty in regions including Leningrad, Rostov, and Irkutsk, as well as the Republic of Buryatia. Some 1,300 new conscripts will be sent from Buryatia, seen as the worst hit in Russia with 130 known deaths. Controversy surrounds the way conscripts are allegedly being forced to sign contracts as full-time soldiers only weeks or months after being drafted and following only cursory military training. Once they have signed, their pay improves, but they are also liable to be sent to the bloody conflict. Other conscripts - for example on the sunk cruiser Moskva - had not even signed contracts but were still sent into the firing line, against Russian rules. Some raw recruits were seen being blessed by an Orthodox priest In Buryatia, deputy prime minister Pyotr Mordovskoy told anxious parents: 'They will be all right. 'If they sign a contract, they will be sent to perform in the special [military] operation. 'If they dont sign it, I think they will be limited to the period of military service and return home.' Some raw recruits were seen being blessed by an Orthodox priest. A former Western diplomat in Moscow said: 'It is nonsense to assume that these new army conscripts will avoid the war. 'Many draftees from last years enlistments have already gone home in body bags, and sadly some of these will not avoid the same fate.' One of the wounded soldiers Putin met alongside Shoigu was identified as Airat Rakhmatullin, 27, who said he had been wounded more than one month ago. One of the wounded soldiers Putin met alongside Shoigu was identified as Airat Rakhmatullin (above), 27, who said he had been wounded more than one month ago Originally from Amur region in the extreme east of Russia, he had been sent to self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic Ukraine from Russias base in Tajikistan. White-coated Putin told one wounded soldier from Kabardino-Balkariya that he would be sent back to the war. Asked by the president if he really wanted to return, he said: 'Of course I do.' Putin told him: 'You definitely will.' The Russian president said: 'These are people who are risking their health and lives for the sake of the people and children of Donbas, for the sake of Russia. 'They are all heroes.' Chilling footage has emerged of the moment a convicted killer broke down as she lead detectives through the home where she stabbed her own mother. Isabela Carolina Camelo-Gomez appeared pale and shaken in footage of a crime scene 'walk-through' at her mother's Lansvale home in November 2001. The now 47-year-old had evaded justice for over two decades but on Wednesday was found guilty of stabbing her mother Irene Jones, 67, to death. 'I don't understand, I didn't do it,' a shell-shocked Ms Camelo-Gomez was heard saying to her legal council in the NSW Supreme Court. In the video Camelo-Gomez, then known as Megan Jones, (pictured) holds the hand of an unidentified woman as she stands outside her mother's home in Sydney's southwest She hadn't been charged until 2019 when the case was re-investigated by the Unsolved Homicide Unit, where it was determined she had staged a break-in. In the video Camelo-Gomez, then known as Megan Jones, holds the hand of an unidentified woman as she stands outside the home in Sydney's southwest. Wearing blue jeans, a striped jumper, and her long raven tresses loose on her back, she shuffles through the house in an almost catatonic state. 'For mum,' she repeats to the woman, who agrees Megan is doing the walk-through with detectives in the best interests of her dead mother. As she enters the bathroom she breaks down in tears. The other woman is forced to hold Megan upright as she sinks to her knees, while a detective warns the bathroom floor is wet and tries and calm her down. 'He was here,' she says quietly, just seconds before the wind blows a creaky door open and causes her to panic. 'That's just the wind,' a man tells her. 'There's no one here, except us.' Wearing blue jeans, a striped jumper, and her long raven tresses loose on her back, Megan Jones shuffles through the house in an almost catatonic state The now-47-year-old had evaded justice for over two decades but on Wednesday was found guilty of stabbing her mother Irene Jones, 67, (pictured) to death The next clip shows a slightly more presentable Megan seated on a lounge. 'I just remember him standing on my mattress with his hands like this. Half hidden,' she says while pushing her own hands down by her sides. 'And that's the only image I keep seeing.' Police concluded the 47-year-old had lied about the intruder and instead fatally stabbed her elderly mother, staged the break-in and fled the scene. In two triple-zero calls she asks first responders to hurry as her mother is trapped inside the home and she is unsure if an intruder is inside. She told neighbours she had exited the shower to be met with a man with a stocking over his face, who tried to strangle her. 'He got me by the throat and I couldn't breathe,' Camelo-Gomez said in her November 4, 2001 interview. Isabela Carolina Camelo-Gomez (pictured leaving the Supreme Court of NSW) found guilty of murdering her mother two decades ago has wiped away tears as she continued to deny strangling and stabbing the older woman to death Following a week of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty. The jury had been told the woman killed her mother because of her infatuation and obsession with a man named Carlos Camelo-Gomez. She believed her mother was an obstacle to the relationship because she didn't approve of Carlos and believed he was using her daughter for money. On the evening of November 2, 2001 the pair drove home together after a belated birthday dinner for Ms Jones. Camelo-Gomez then strangled her mother with a ligature and stabbed her in the neck before scattering various items around the house to make it look like the work of a random intruder. That night the distraught woman was found wearing blood-stained clothing, and semen of Carlos Camelo-Gomez, who she claimed she was not in a sexual relationship with at the time. Later she was heard saying 'sorry mum, I didn't mean for it to go this far' while standing near the coffin at the funeral. Camelo-Gomez had a 'sham marriage' with Carlos' brother Cesar in Colombia to secure his residency in Australia. Later she was heard saying 'sorry mum, I didn't mean for it to go this far' while standing near the coffin at the funeral (Ms Camelo-Gomez is above) This was an attempt to please Carlos, who she also wanted to continue financially supporting after inheriting her mother's house. The Crown said that by mid-2000 she was in love with him, telling a friend 'she wanted to marry him and had never met anyone like him'. She visited a bridal shop and paid a deposit and made payments on a wedding dress. Sergeant John Purcell told the jury Ms Jones was found in the kitchen in a pool of her own blood with her throat sliced open. Camelo-Gomez was taken into custody following the verdict and will return to court in August ahead of her final sentencing. Advertisement The first Covid lockdowns saved 10,000 lives in Europe and US and had 'little or no effect' on the virus death rate, updated analysis suggests. A review by an international team of economists found draconian shutdowns only reduced Covid mortality by 3 per cent in the UK, US and Europe in 2020. The experts, from Johns Hopkins University in the US, Lund University in Sweden and the Danish think-tank the Center for Political Studies, said that equates to 6,000 fewer deaths in Europe and 4,000 fewer in the US. This marks a revision from the group's first report last year, which found lockdowns cut Covid deaths by just 0.2 per cent. The team said the updated figure is down to changes in their calculations and new studies. But they still conclude: 'Stricter lockdowns are not an effective way of reducing mortality rates during a pandemic, at least not during the first wave of the Covid pandemic.' MailOnline was one of only three major British media outlets to cover the initial findings when they were released back in January. Experts at the time claimed it was unsurprising that some left-wing publications avoided the story because they wanted to 'maintain fear around the pandemic'. Their 3.2 per cent figure is the average effect of all lockdown measures combined. When looking at stay-at-home orders specifically, the team estimate this had even less of an impact, reducing the death toll by just 2 per cent. Their report does not look at the effect of lockdowns excess deaths, which includes people who died from other causes because hospitals were shut, for example. It did find mask wearing to be the most effective intervention, leading to a 18.7 per cent drop in virus fatalities however this result was based on just three studies. The report said draconian restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the virus in 2020 reduced virus mortality rates by just 3.2 per cent equating to 6,000 fewer deaths in Europe and 4,000 fewer in the US. The researchers hit out at modelling from researchers at Imperial College London, led by Professor Neil Ferguson - dubbed Professor Lockdown for his gloomy forecasts that are credited with spurring the UK into lockdown. When Imperial's model is applied to the US, it suggests that 1.72million to 2.17million deaths were avoided in the US due to lockdowns Around 6.2million Covid deaths have been logged since the start of the pandemic. But earlier this month the World Health Organization estimated the true toll to be 15million. The WHO considered limited testing and difficulties attributing the cause of death to the virus in its analysis WHERE HAVE THE MOST CONFIRMED COVID DEATHS BEEN LOGGED? HIGHEST DEATH TOLL US: 996,704 Brazil: 663,994 India: 523,975 Russia: 368,840 Mexico: 324,334 Peru: 212,891 UK: 175,717 Italy: 164,041 Indonesia: 156,321 France: 146,445 HIGHEST DEATH TOLL RELATIVE TO POPULATION (per million people) Peru: 6,381.74 Bulgaria: 5,358.1 Bosnia and Herzegovina: 4,831.68 Hungary: 4,802.29 North Macedonia: 4,457.28 Montenegro: 4,324.49 Georgia: 4,224.11 Croatia: 3,884.7 Czechia: 3,747.85 Slovakia: 3,659.76 Source: Our World in Data Advertisement Around 6.2million Covid deaths have been logged since the start of the pandemic. The US has recorded the most (1million), followed by Brazil (666,000), India (520,000) and Russia (370,000). The true virus death toll is many times higher than the reported figures due to limited testing and difficulties attributing the cause of death to the virus, as many fatalities will involve other underlying conditions. Earlier this month the World Health Organization estimated the true toll to be 15million. The latest report, which has still not been peer-reviewed, identified 19,646 global studies into Covid restrictions, published between January 2020 and February 2022. The previous paper only used studies published up to 2021, and looked at 18,590. But they claimed just 22 fit the criteria for their new analysis, based on how the rules impacted virus deaths, down from 24 in the last report. The researchers noted their figures are different from their earlier review because they excluded some studies they 'now believe to be ineligible'. The team only included studies that had examined a link between Covid restrictions and virus deaths, those that used real-world data on fatalities rather than modelled deaths and those that specified the timing of the deaths in relation to lockdowns. Eleven of the eligible studies examined the effectiveness of lockdowns, which the researchers defined as at least one compulsory Covid restriction. The results show that lockdowns of any severity cut deaths by just 3.2 per cent on average, compared to no rules. The team also looked at results from seven studies that looked at stay-at-home orders, the most severe type of lockdown. This restriction was 'ineffective' and cut deaths by just two per cent - equating to 4,000 fewer Covid deaths in Europe and 3,000 fewer deaths in the US - the researchers said. They said some studies hinted that measures may have even driven up Covid deaths. This may be because an infected person isolating at home may pass on a higher viral load of Covid to their family members, who then suffer more severe illness, the team said. The researchers also found that Covid non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as pupils working from home, business closures and mandated face masks, cut Covid deaths by 10.8 per cent overall. Mask-wearing appeared to have the biggest impact, pushing down deaths by 18.7 per cent. However, the team noted this figure is based on just three studies that had different definitions of mask wearing. The Our World in Data graphs show the countries which have recorded the highest number of confirmed Covid deaths. The US has logged the most (1million), followed by Brazil (666,261), India (524,525) and Russia (370,972). The UK recorded the seventh highest number of deaths (178,489). However, experts warn it is difficult to compare figures between countries because of differences in how nations record deaths Only 6.2million official Covid deaths have been confirmed worldwide, according to Oxford University-based platform Our World in Data World's true Covid death toll is nearly 15MILLION triple the official tally Covid's actual death toll stands nearly three times higher than the official count, according to the World Health Organization. In the most comprehensive look into the pandemic's fatality count yet, the WHO estimated that almost 15million deaths were logged from the start of 2020 to the end of 2021. The UN agency's tally, which misses off the entirety of 2022, includes people who directly died from Covid or the virus's impact on overwhelmed health systems. For comparison, the current official virus death toll is 6.2million, with a third of those logged in the US, Brazil and India. The WHO said 20 countries, including the UK and the US, accounted for more than 80 per cent of the estimated 'excess deaths' over the first two years of the pandemic. Peru has logged the most excess deaths in relation to its population, with an extra 437 fatalities for every 100,000 people than expected. The US had the 40th highest excess death rate (140 per 100,000), while the UK came 56th (109 per 100,000). WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the 'sobering' figures should prompt nations to invest in more resilient health systems to quell future crises. WHO scientists estimated the global Covid death toll between January 2020 and January 2022 by calculating the difference between the number of deaths that have occurred and the number of deaths that were expected, based on data from previous years. They estimated there were 14.9million deaths that could be attributed to Covid, but the figure could be as high as 16.6 million. And more than 80 per cent of Covid deaths were logged in just 20 countries, including the UK and US, as well as Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Germany and India. Advertisement They also noted that wearing a mask 'may function as a tax on socialising' so may encompass the effects of other Covid measures on top of just wearing a face covering. Closing non-essential businesses cut virus fatalities by 7.5 per cent, which the researchers said may be predominantly due to the closure of bars. Schools were linked to a 5.9 per cent drop, while travel restrictions reduced them by 3.4 per cent. Other NPIs, such as cancelling public events, closing transport and tiered restrictions had 'close-to-zero' effect on Covid mortality. And they found limiting gatherings were 'counterproductive' and actually increased virus deaths by 5.9 per cent. The review did not examine why this is the case. But they said stopping people from accessing more Covid-safe outdoor places, such as beaches, parks and zoos, may have pushed people to meet in 'less safe indoor places' where the virus spread more easily. Overall, the confidence margins suggest 6,000 to 23,000 avoidable deaths were prevented in Europe and 4,000 to 16,000 deaths did not occur in the US because of the restrictions in 2020 - at huge economic cost. The researchers wrote: 'In comparison, there are approximately 72,000 flu deaths in Europe and 38,000 flu deaths in the United States each year.' They added: 'Overall, our meta-analysis supports the conclusion that lockdowns at least in the spring of 2020 had little to no effect on Covid mortality.' Instead, voluntary changes in behaviour, such as social distancing, 'did play an important role in mitigating the pandemic', they said. The researchers hit out at modelling by researchers from Imperial College London that was credited with triggering the first UK-wide lockdown. The team at Imperial - led by Professor Neil Ferguson, dubbed Professor Lockdown for his gloomy forecasts - warned there could be 500,000 deaths without a lockdown in Britain in March 2020. When Imperial's model is applied to the US, it suggests that 1.72million to 2.17million deaths were avoided in the US due to lockdowns, which the authors of the new report said was far too high. The economists admitted that they did not look at 'why' lockdowns did not have the effect promised by Imperial College London. 'But it is evident that modelers around the globe failed to accurately forecast the development of the pandemic,' they said. Critics of the report previously accused it of being biased. The meta-analysis was led by Steve Hanke, a founder of the Johns Hopkins School of Applied Economics, who has been an outspoken critic of economically-damaging restrictions throughout the pandemic. He previously described jab mandates as 'fascist'. One of its other authors Professor Lars Jonung, from Lund hails from Sweden, the only major country in Europe to go with a voluntary lockdown rather than a legally-binding one. There are also questions about the methods used in the paper. Only 22 studies were included in the review and some were discarded for seemingly trivial reasons, which led to accusations the authors 'cherry-picked' studies. The Dutch PM Mark Rutte explained that Kyiv and its chances for EU membership are almost nil due to several factors. One condition for joining the bloc is that there are no objections, and the immediate membership demanded by Volodymyr Zelensky is impossible. No Immediate Membership for Ukraine Rutte stated reasons why Ukraine cannot be an EU member even after a long time, reported RT News. One serious implication is that they don't want to grant Ukraine instant membership. Including those other countries in the Western Balkans who are not asking for instant membership like the Ukrainian leader, others are willing to wait to be admitted as a prospective candidate, cited Euractiv. He spoke in parliament last Monday; remarked that Ukraine might have a shot to get a slight chance at candidate status. However, several steps and reforms are needed to become a viable contender for membership, which is the same procedure Bosnia will undergo. The PM said a move would ensure that the Ukrainian authorities are not discouraged, though he said the state is not at that stage to receive a candidate membership as Moldova has. However, it was emphasized that countries on the European continent have the right to join the EU in the end if they meet the requirements, noted Press United. Opposition in the Dutch Parliament According to the Dutch PM, several Dutch parties in the lower house of parliament have previously insisted that Kyiv be accepted as a candidate member via fast track. Read Also: Vladimir Putin: 3 Facts You Didn't Know About Russia's President - From His Judo Records to His KGB Pseudonym The coalition party and two opposition parties want the fast track, but Rutte's ruling VVD party is hesitant to grant such a status. For the record, Zelensky was given false hope by other Bloc leaders who weren't objective and too emotional to welcome Ukraine to the bloc, not based on legalities, making the Ukraine leader think his nation would be accepted immediately. Another EU member echoes Rutte's views on Sunday, France's European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune said that Ukraine's affiliation in the bloc would take decades. Furthermore, if Ukraine joins the EU in only six months, one year, or two years then it's a big lie. It would take 15 to 20 years which is a very long time, remarked Beaune on Paris-based Radio J. However, Ukraine should continue to be part of EU politics, and a membership alternative must be established for the country, reiterating a point raised by French President Emmanuel Macron previously this year. On May 9, French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the European Parliament, recommending the creation of a European political community for Ukraine and non-bloc countries. Allowing democratic European nations to have a space in the EU for political cooperation, security, energy cooperation, transportation cooperation, investment, infrastructure, and people movement. Zelensky demanded full membership and rejected a substitute for it; the Ukrainian leader was pushy to EU leaders charging the bloc's slow acceptance because of pressure from Moscow. He added that compromises were unacceptable between his country and the bloc, saying another compromise would follow between Europe and the Russian Federation. Ukraine got the losing hand by believing promises by the west and getting shattered by leaving neutrality. Dutch PM Rutte stressed Kyiv has a long way to go, and the behavior of Zelensky does not help his country get close to that goal. Related Article: Josep Borell Reveals That EU's Weapon Stockpile Has Depleted Due To Supplying of Arms to Kiev @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The number of migrants to cross the Channel by boat was three times higher in the first three months of 2022 than during the same time last year, with 4,540 people arriving in the UK. A report by the Home Office published today said in January to March this year there was an average of 32 people on each boat, compared to 18 people per boat in the same months last year. The number of boats making the journey has also almost doubled from 74 to 141 during the same time period, with crossings taking place on 30 out of 90 days. And these numbers show no sign of falling, with the Ministry of Defence saying more than 2,600 migrants in 87 boats have crossed the Channel in May alone. That's despite bad weather out at sea forcing a temporary break in crossings between May 9 and May 14, something that will become more uncommon as waters get calmer in Summer. It comes after it was reported that some migrants are being forced onto rafts made of multiple dinghies taped together as people smugglers use dangerous new tactics to boost the numbers they're sending across the Channel. Desperate families making their way from France to the UK are being put in increasingly dangerous situations as human traffickers tell them it was their 'last chance' to get to the UK before the Rwanda scheme. A group of people thought to be migrants arrive in Dover on Monday, May 23. Official figures have revealed 4,540 people arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel this way in the first three months of this year. The number of boats making the journey has also almost doubled from 74 to 141 in January, February and March compared to the same time period last year. Pictured: A group of people thought to be migrants arrive in Dover on Monday, May 23. According to the MoD, 9,439 people have arrived in the UK in 291 small boats this year. In 2021, 28,526 people crossed the Channel - significantly higher than the 8,410 who arrived in 2020 Channel migrants are 'asking to be returned home and not to African centres' as they fear being sent to Rwanda... proving Priti Patel's asylum plan IS working Asylum seekers are abandoning their attempts to stay in the UK because they are afraid they might be sent to Rwanda , The Mail on Sunday has learned. Up to ten migrants have already asked to be returned home rather than risk having their claims for refugee status assessed in the central African nation. They had begun the asylum process here but withdrew their applications after the Government announced the controversial new policy last month. The news is a boost to Home Secretary Priti Patel as it offers the first sign that her plan aimed at deterring migrants from making the perilous journey across the Channel is beginning to work. This newspaper can also reveal that almost 100 migrants have now been given notices that they will be transported to Rwanda. Home Office officials hope the number abandoning their claims will increase rapidly once the first flights to Rwanda begin possibly as early as next month. Its a positive start, said a Government source. We always said we need to get the flights going before it becomes a deterrent, but this shows the direction were heading and why we introduced the policy. Advertisement But those who do attempt the journey are being lied to by the money-grubbing gangs, as no matter when they arrived they could still be sent to Rwanda Some marine experts say those going onto the water are even being given 'lifejackets' filled with foam which makes it more likely for them to drown as it becomes waterlogged. There is evidence to show the controversial scheme is working, with the Mail on Sunday reporting some migrants are already abandoning their plans to make the crossing in the face of being sent to Africa. According to Home Office data 89 per cent of people who made the crossing in the first three months of this year are male, the same as the average between 2018 and 2021. Aside from the 3,448 men who made the journey in January, February and March, data shows 342 women and 743 children made it to the UK. Of the children 594 were recorded as being boys, 142 as girls and seven as unknown. Nearly a quarter of those arriving are Afghan nationals, while Iranians and Iraqis also made up a high proportion of those on the boats. The Home Office says 24 per cent (1,094) of people were from Afghanistan, with 16 per cent (742) from Iran and 15 per cent (681) from Iraq. Information on age, gender and nationality was not available for some arrivals. According to an analysis of Government data by PA news agency, 99,330 migrants have crossed the busy shipping lanes of the Channel since the start of the year. A total of 28,526 people made the crossing in 2021, compared with 8,466 in 2020, 1,843 in 2019 and 299 in 2018, according to official figures. Minister for Justice and Tackling Illegal Migration Tom Pursglove said: The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable. Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws but they also impact on the UK taxpayer, risk lives and our ability to help refugees come to the UK via safe and legal routes. Rightly, the British public has had enough. Through our Nationality and Borders Bill, were cracking down on people smugglers and fixing the broken system by making it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK illegally and introducing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for those who facilitate illegal entry into our country. The Border Force says it has seen smugglers increasing the number of people they can take onto the water with dangerous new techniques, The Times reports. In order to do this traffickers have been seen cutting up rigid inflatable boats (known as RIBs), pushing them together and sticking to each other with duct tape. Pictured: Unsafe boats found last year being held together with boards of wood and masking tape. Smugglers are taping these together to form larger rafts that can carry more people Hundreds of crossings have been attempted in recent months by migrants packed into unsafe boats, like this one pictured in December last year These boats tend to carry between 30-40 people, but some Border Force officers have found them carrying as many as 84. By being able to carry more people on their boats, people smugglers have been able to drop their prices, with one official telling the Times that it can now cost as little as 300 per person for a place on one of the boats. Richard Lerdale, a senior Border Force officer, told the Times: 'These are operating crime groups and once they have that individual at that beach it isn't an option of 'I don't particularly want to actually depart on that vessel'. 'Once they're there there's good evidence to suggest at that point they are forced or threatened onto that vessel. Their choice has now been taken away from them.' A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel. Monday May 23, 2022 A group of people thought to be migrants are boarded onto a bus after bring brought in to Dover, Kent. Monday May 23, 2022 Meanwhile, Carol Heginbottom, deputy director of Clandestine Channel Threat Command (CCTC) at the Home Office, said those on the boats are being given potentially lethal lifejackets filled with foam. She said: 'A lot of them hinder their safety because once soaked up it's going to just drag you down and they become waterlogged within seconds. They are effectively putting on a sponge.' She said this would keep someone alive for 'a few minutes' and the gangs responsible are 'effectively sending these people to their deaths'. Christopher Tilley, chief of staff at the CCTC said the gangs are 'ruthless and cut-throat' gangs are 'pushing people across to maximise the profits'. The retired New Zealand police reformer in the running to replace Cressida Dick as Scotland Yard's new chief has a drink-driving conviction. Mike Bush, now in his 60s, was off-duty in 1983 when he drank with friends and was then caught driving over the legal limit in Auckland. The then detective constable pleaded guilty, was fined NZ$250 and was disqualified from driving for six months. At the time he was able to keep his job, but eight years later the rules were changed to make it more likely officers would be fired in the event of such a transgression. The conviction sparked controversy in 2017, three years into his term as New Zealand Commissioner of Police. Mr Bush wrote in a blog at the time: 'It was extremely poor judgment by me 34 years ago, for which I am sorry. I make no excuses.' As New Zealand's most senior officer between 2014 and 2020, Mr Bush carried out sweeping reforms and transformed the force. Under his watch, crime fell by 20% and public satisfaction rose five points to 84%. However, it is unclear whether the conviction almost 40 years ago could stop him from becoming the head of Britain's biggest police force. Mike Bush speaks to media during a press conference at Parliament on April 2, 2020 Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick during an inspection of new police recruits during her last Passing Out parade at Hendon, London, ahead of her last day as chief of the Met on April 10. Picture date: Friday April 8, 2022 Runners and riders for next Met commissioner Matt Jukes - Matt Jukes joined South Yorkshire police in 1995 three years after graduating with a degree in mathematics from Oxford. He worked as a detective and rose through the ranks to represent UK police forces at G8 meetings and lead on national anti-terror strategy. Mr Jukes is best known for tackling Rotherham grooming gangs while borough commander in the Yorkshire town from 2006 to 2010. He's currently serving as an Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations Sir Mark Rowley - A familiar figure after leading the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism operations for four years. Although he resigned from the police in 2018, Sir Mark is still only 58 and sources believe he could be tempted back by the biggest job in British policing. Served as chief constable of Surrey for three years to 2011, when he joined the Met as an assistant commissioner. Lucy D'Orsi - Previously served as deputy assistant commissioner at the Met before moving to lead the British Transport Police in 2020, where she has impressed colleagues. Ian Livingstone - The non-nonsense head of Police Scotland for four years who impressed Boris Johnson with his effective policing operation at COP26 in Glasgow. Shaun Sawyer - The chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police announced this weekend that he would stand down from his current role. He served in the Met for more than 20 years and is considered highly likely to apply. Advertisement Police sources told The Times newspaper that a mistake made in youth might be difficult to forgive when Scotland Yard needs to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any officer who breaches standards. Both the Home Office and City Hall have said that Dame Cressida's replacement would need to bring drastic improvements to the Met. Mr Bush told The Times that he expected to address the drink-driving conviction with the decision-making panel but declined to comment further. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The process to recruit a new Commissioner will conclude as quickly as possible, however the priority will be to select the very best person to lead the country's largest police force and make London an even safer place to live and work. 'We have launched the public advertisement and the selection process will follow fair and open principles.' MailOnline has approached City Hall for comment. Mr Bush is one of six applicants whose credentials will be reviewed over the next two weeks before interviews. His rivals include Sir Mark Rowley, the former counterterrorism chief who also ran Surrey police, Shaun Sawyer, the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall, and Jon Boutcher, who is leading the inquiry into unsolved murders in Northern Ireland. Dame Cressida was ousted as Met Police Commissioner in February after confidence in the force collapsed in the wake of a slew of sexism, racism and misconduct scandals. Last year, relations between the public and police deteriorated further after serving Met cop Wayne Couzens' brutal abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard during the Covid lockdown. On her final patrol in Essex, Dame Cressida directly accused the Mayor of London of forcing her out and confirmed the events at City Hall before and after her exit would be fully investigated. Speaking to journalists in Chingford she discussed the circumstances surrounding her departure and said: 'The Mayor of London is a democratically elected person. He has a job to do, he has certain responsibilities in relation to the Metropolitan Police Service. 'He caused me to say that I would step aside, I did not voluntarily resign. What happened in the run-up to that and subsequently in the last few weeks perhaps, I don't know, will be looked at by Sir Tom Winsor.' Dame Cressida did not apologise for any of the Met's failings, adding: 'We hear the criticism, know not everyone has confidence in us to provide a good service when they need us, and have seen among us those whose horrific actions have let you all, and us, down so terribly. 'Each one drives us to get better, to root out those who don't uphold our standards and don't deserve to wear our uniform. To improve our response so all our communities feel protected by us'. Touching on the Met's culture and claims of sexism and racism, she said: 'The Met is far more diverse and inclusive than it has ever been. It is a wonderful place to work and we need women and men of all backgrounds to join us and continue to make a difference'. Officers and staff saying goodbye to Commissioner Cressida Dick at New Scotland Yard Sir Mark Rowley is a familiar figure after leading the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism operations for four years, while Lucy D'Orsi has been praised for her work at the British Transport Police Dame Cressida previously apologised publicly following the conclusions into the cases involving Ms Henry, Ms Smallman and Ms Everard, said she was 'seething angry' about the racist, sexist and homophobic messages from officers at Charing Cross station and defended how the force dealt with partygate. Two inquiries are currently under way looking at the culture within the Met. Dame Cressida said the culture in the force 'has been changing' following the death of Ms Everard and the publication of the WhatsApp messages. She added: 'I believe during my commissionership you have seen a real opening up of the Met. We are much more transparent, we are much closer to our public, and we have been seeking to root out the people who have let London down or may let London down, those people who can't live up to the professional standards that London would expect of its police service. 'We've had some horrible things done in the last year by people who were wearing and shaming the uniform of the Metropolitan Police. (It was an) awful, awful event with Sarah Everard being killed, a terrible thing, unimaginably bad for everyone. Since then, some other things have shocked the Me. But we haven't stood by - we were already changing very fast.' She then listed work being undertaken by the force to improve it, such as investing in professionalism, updating its unit which deals with officers who commit domestic abuse and sexual offences and involving the public to 'help improve its professionalism'. Shooting of unarmed Brazilian, Sarah Everard's murder, XR protests, Operation Midland and a culture of racism, sexism and bullying: The charge sheet of failure and incompetence that finally saw Teflon Dame Cressida Dick come unstuck In the end, it is a wonder she survived in the job so long. Only last year, her force was officially branded 'institutionally corrupt'. Incredibly, despite such a devastating finding, she did not resign. Instead 'Teflon' Dame Cressida Dick has made a habit of trotting out humiliating apologies, for both recent and historical blunders, including admitting that the Sarah Everard debacle had brought 'shame' on the Metropolitan Police. The daughter of two Oxford academics, Dame Cressida, 61, joined the Metropolitan Police in 1983 after graduating from Oxford University with a degree in agriculture and forest sciences. Apart from a six-year spell at Thames Valley Police, she has spent her entire policing career at Scotland Yard. Her first arrest, which came in her very first beat patrol in London's Soho in 1983, was of a man using a screwdriver to jemmy open the coin box in a telephone kiosk. Later, at Bramshill Police College in 1995, she was the only woman out of ten officers chosen for fast-track promotion training, but she has been determined that her sex would not define her. Dame Cressida Dick's shock resignation marks the end of a controversial chapter in the history of the Metropolitan Police Sir Steve House: Who is the Met's new top cop? Dame Cressida Dick will be succeeded as interim by Deputy Commissioner Sir Stephen House, who is expected to take over the Partygate probe into events in Westminster during lockdown. Sir Stephen, Police Scotland's former Chief Constable, had his own career mired in controversy after it was claimed he was effectively kicked out of the force after a botched investigation into a car crash saw a woman left inside her vehicle for three days before being found alive. Sir Stephen House Lamara Bell and John Yuill lay in their car for three days despite a member of the public calling Police Scotland's non-emergency line to report a damaged vehicle. Miss Bell was still alive when emergency services finally arrived, but later died in hospital. Police Scotland was eventually fined 100,000 for health and safety failures over the fatal crash last September. He stood down and retired in 2015 following the incident, but it was later claimed he was effectively sacked by Nicola Sturgeon over the incident, her former aide Noel Dolan wrote in a bombshell book last year. Sir Stephen has also faced criticism from Lib Dem MP and former police officer Wendy Chamberlain, who told the Evening Standard he was a 'completely unsuitable' candidate to lead the Met. 'After so many scandals, the Met desperately needs strong new leadership to rebuild public trust. 'Putting it in the hands of someone who left his own trail of scandals in Police Scotland is not the way to do that.' Advertisement The police chief was one of the first female undergraduates at Oxford's Balliol College in 1979. She always played cricket, football and rowed with 'the boys', saying it never bothered her. Later on, Dame Cressida was given time out to study for a qualification in criminology at Cambridge. At the Metropolitan Police, she was given responsibility for Operation Trident which investigated gun and gang crimes counterterrorism, the 2012 London Olympics, and ended up as the country's principal hostage negotiator. But since rising from an impressive rookie cop in the 1980s to the very top of British policing at the country's largest force, Dame Cressida has been embroiled in at least seven career-defining disasters. The wonder is that the first of them didn't spell the end. Tube death blunder In July 2005, Dame Cressida was in charge of the operation which saw blameless electrician Jean Charles de Menezes shot dead on a Tube train at Stockwell station in south London after he was mistaken for a terrorist who was under surveillance. It almost finished her career, and she says she thinks about it 'very often'. The armed officers believed him to be a fugitive suicide bomber who had escaped after failed attacks in London two weeks after the carnage of the 7/7 bombings. Dame Cressida was the 'gold commander' on the botched operation, and immediate lethal force a shot to the head was supposedly required because any other action risked setting off the suicide jacket. No officer, including Dame Cressida, faced any charges, and no one was reprimanded. The Met was found guilty of breaching health and safety laws and putting the public at risk, and was fined 175,000 and ordered to pay 385,000 costs from taxpayer funds. The Met chief was personally exonerated, but the shame of it lingered. Operation Midland In 2014, Dame Cressida sanctioned the creation of Operation Midland, a disastrous investigation into spurious VIP child sex abuse allegations that saw completely innocent men pursued by the force. Five years later, when the embarrassing operation began seriously unravelling, she refused to allow an inquiry into the conduct of officers involved. This was despite former High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques revealing how officers had used false evidence to obtain a search warrant for the raids. Dame Cressida said that an inquiry would be 'completely improper'. Dame Cressida was also slammed by the families of victims of VIP paedophile ring fantasist Carl Beech, whose spurious allegations were investigated by police - ruining the lives and reputations of those he accused While some of her calamities pre-dated her stint as Commissioner, this one sat squarely within her reign. A report in 2020 found the Metropolitan Police was more interested in covering up mistakes than learning from them. The Hampshire home of the Queen's confidant, Lord Bramall who was also former head of the Armed Forces had been invaded by police with search warrants in the early hours on the basis of spurious allegations of abuse by paedophile Carl Beech, a palpable fantasist. After the Daily Mail exposed him, Beech was jailed. Before he died, D-Day hero Lord Bramall told his son Nick that 'he had never been so mortally wounded, even in battle'. Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, who received a substantial payout after his life was ruined by the disastrous paedophile inquiry, last night expressed his delight at Dame Cressida's downfall. He was among seven high-profile victims of the Met including Baroness Lawrence, whose son Stephen's 1993 murder investigation was botched by racist officers who last year came together in a Mail interview to accuse Dame Cressida of having 'presided over a culture of incompetence'. XR protests In 2019, Dame Cressida's force was widely condemned for its 'light-touch' policing of Extinction Rebellion protests, which blocked several key areas of London. Under her watch, career eco-activists from XR and its off-shoot Insulate Britain were given free rein to cause mayhem. Ambulances were stopped from getting through, while businesses and workers were forced to halt their activities. A low point came when police were filmed asking road-blocking protesters if they needed anything rather than just arresting them. In 2019, Dame Cressida's force was widely condemned for its 'light-touch' policing of Extinction Rebellion protests, which blocked several key areas of London Daniel Morgan Perhaps the most jaw-dropping condemnation of Dame Cressida came in June of last year when an official report described her force as 'institutionally corrupt'. And far from blaming the fiasco on a predecessor, it concluded that she had personally placed 'hurdles' in the way of a search for the truth about the death of Daniel Morgan a private investigator who was brutally murdered in a south London pub car park in 1987. Daniel Morgan was investigating claims of corruption within the Metropolitan Police when he was murdered in 1987 - and the force failed him and his family ever since. His brother Alastair told the media that Cressida Dick should resign Dame Cressida was accused of 'obfuscation' for thwarting the Morgan inquiry team's attempts to access sensitive documents, leading to delays that cost the taxpayer millions. The report by Baroness O'Loan found that Scotland Yard was 'institutionally corrupt'. The Met has never found Mr Morgan's murderer, but there were long-standing allegations of police corruption over the killing and the aftermath. Mr Morgan's brother Alastair also joined Baroness Lawrence, Harvey Proctor and Lord Bramall in a devastating and unprecedented joint interview with the Daily Mail. They all signed a letter to the PM demanding Dame Cressida's resignation. Instead she clung on. Sarah Everard The brutally horrific murder of Sarah Everard in March last year by serving Met firearms officer Wayne Couzens went from disastrous to worse for Dame Cressida. She faced a clamour to quit after he was exposed as the killer. It then emerged Couzens had not been vetted properly and Met officers had failed to investigate after he was reported flashing women days before the murder. But perhaps the worst moment for the Commissioner was her officers' heavy-handed policing of a vigil for the murdered woman at Clapham Common in South London. The news comes a week after Mr Khan said he was 'not satisfied' with the Met's Commissioner's response to calls for change following a series of scandals including the murder of Sarah Everard by serving officer Wayne Couzens The Metropolitan Police commissioner faced calls for her resignation earlier this year after women were arrested at a vigil that was held in memory of Miss Everard Photographs of protesting women being pinned down by arresting officers who cited Covid restrictions on gatherings were published around the world, sparking condemnation. When Couzens was convicted, it was dubbed Scotland Yard's 'darkest day'. Dame Cressida stood outside the Old Bailey and humbly admitted the murder had corroded trust in the police and brought 'shame' on her force. Murder photos In December last year, two Scotland Yard officers who took photos of the bodies of two murder victims were jailed. The sisters who died Nicole Smallman, 27, and 46-year-old Bibaa Henry, were black and there were accusations of racism. 2021 was also the force's worst ever year for teenage killings, with 30 deaths. Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, who were stabbed to death in Wembley last year Further mock-ups of messages sent by a male officer during another shocking conversation on WhatsApp Charing Cross Earlier this month, details emerged of horrific messages exchanged by officers at Charing Cross police station, by an official watchdog report. Some 14 officers were investigated as a result, with two found to have a case to answer for gross misconduct. One was sacked and another resigned before he would have been dismissed. Another two had already left, while in some of the other cases the Independent Office of Police Conduct found 'no further action should be taken'. Incredibly, nine officers kept their jobs and two were promoted but their sickening WhatsApp messages exposed an ongoing culture of racism, sexism and bullying. It appears this sickening episode was the straw which finally broke the back. For, by the end, it was clear that confidence in the police chief had gone. Advertisement Shamed MP Claudia Webbe was urged to quit her 84,000-a-year taxpayer-funded post today after losing an appeal against her conviction for harassing a love rival she called a 's**g' while threatening to leak her nude photos - even as a judge reduced her sentence so she will now have to pay just 50 in compensation. Webbe, 57, was handed a ten-week suspended jail sentence last year after being convicted of harassing Michelle Merritt, 59, with abusive phone calls after the executive assistant began a relationship with her boyfriend, Crossrail consultant and former Chelsea FC coach Lester Thomas. But today a judge today reduced her sentence to a 'low level community order' which will require Webbe to complete 80 hours of unpaid work, as she slashed her 1,000 compensation bill. The 950 already paid will be returned to Webbe. Due to her original suspended sentence, the MP had faced the prospect of a recall petition which could have resulted in a by-election in her constituency. But her reduced sentence means this threat has now been removed - meaning she could cling on until the next election. Webbe was expelled from Labour after being found guilty, and today the party called on her to quit. A spokesman said: 'The Labour Party rightly expects elected representatives to maintain the very highest standards at all times. Ms Webbe should now resign so the people of Leicester East can get the representation they deserve.' Sat at the back of court in a black blazer and skirt, Webbe, a former adviser to the National Police Chiefs' Council on firearms, showed no emotion today upon hearing her appeal had failed. The judge said the evidence differed 'considerably' from that heard in the magistrates' court. Southwark Crown Court heard yesterday that the MP's suspicions she was being cheated on were warranted, after Ms Merritt admitted that she had been having 'friends with benefits' sex with Mr Thomas for years. Webbe sat stony-faced in court as it emerged that Mr Thomas had exchanged sexual messages with Ms Merritt, given her a 120 sex toy and frequently sent her pornography. Webbe's lawyer accused Ms Merritt of 'lying' by failing to reveal the affair during the first trial. The judge continued: 'We take into account you were under considerable stress at the time of these events, there were a number of election campaigns you were running at the time,' she said. She said Webbe's boyfriend's affair caused her 'great distress', which was 'exacerbated by lockdown' and that 'the new evidence sheds new light on the nature and extent of your offending'. Claudia Webbe was handed a ten-week suspended jail sentence last year after being convicted of harassing Michelle Merritt with abusive phone calls, accusing her of 's******g around with my boyfriend'. She is pictured today arriving at Southwark Crown Court After today's hearing, Webbe said in a statement: 'I am deeply shocked by today's outcome. 'As I said in court and repeat now, I have never threatened violence nor would I.' Webbe claimed she was 'facing domestic abuse' at the time she was recorded on April 25, 2020 telling Ms Merritt nine times to 'get out of my relationship' and threatening to show naked pictures of her to her family. 'I was deeply frustrated that my partner and Michelle Merritt had been socialising in the middle of the covid pandemic, contrary to the rules and all health advice,' she said. 'I was frightened and frustrated by his behaviour. 'But that fear and frustration could not and should not have been interpreted as harassment.' Webbe added: 'She wanted to get rid of me from the moment she was aware of me, and far from being fearful or frightened of me was actively planning and plotting my downfall and humiliation.' Today, the court heard that Webbe's campaign of harassment began with silent phone calls in September 2018, and then 'escalated' on March 31, Mother's Day, the following year when Webbe questioned why Ms Merritt was in touch with her boyfriend. Ms Merritt said Webbe told her: 'Friends don't send friends pictures of their t**s and p***y. You're a s**g and should be acid.' The court heard that Ms Merritt called police to report 'I have been threatened by a public figure with acid', but received 17 more phone calls lasting 14 seconds or less from Webbe after the MP was warned to stop contacting her. In one phone call made and recorded by Ms Merritt on April 25, 2020, Webbe is heard telling her rival to 'get out of my relationship' some nine times. 'I have seen all of your naked pictures,' she says. 'Get out of my relationship otherwise I will tell your whole family and show them all of your pictures.' Referring to the 'you should be acid comment', Judge Taylor said: 'This is a peculiar construction..... in our view indicative of a misunderstanding. Despite this, she said that a string of silent phone calls and threats to reveal naked pictures of her had been 'a course of conduct which amounted to harassment'. Giving evidence from behind a screen, Ms Merritt admitted having sex with Mr Thomas - who she described as a 'narcissist who likes attention' - between March 2017 and July 2020. Webbe said: 'I had no idea about the relationship between Michelle Merritt and Lester Thomas, that this relationship had been going on throughout the entire time of my relationship with Lester. 'Therefore, I was shocked and could not deal with that.' The MP's barrister, Helen Law, suggested Ms Merritt had 'lied' or 'misled' the magistrates' court when she said she and Mr Thomas were just 'good friends'. But prosecutor Susannah Stevens said: 'What was going on between Michelle Merritt and Lester Thomas is actually unhelpful to the appellant's case because Claudia Webbe's suspicions as to all of that provide her not with a defence but with a motivation.'. Of Ms Merritt's new evidence, Ms Stevens said: 'All of that...is relevant solely as to credibility because actually it could be said that what was going on between Michelle Merritt and Lester Thomas is actually unhelpful to the appellant's case. 'Because Claudia Webbe's suspicions as to all of that provide her not with a defence but with a motivation.' Webbe told the court yesterday that she had 'suspicions' about them but did not know they were having sex. 'At the time of the lockdown I may have started to begin to think that something was not right but apart from that I had no idea that they were anything more than friends,' she said. Southwark Crown Court heard yesterday that the MP's suspicions were warranted, after Ms Merritt admitted that she had been having sex with Chelsea FC scout Lester Thomas for years (who Webbe is pictured with outside court in November) Ms Stevens said people are not always 'completely forthcoming' with information about a sexual relationship. 'It doesn't automatically follow that if you haven't been forthcoming of sexual relations... that means that you have been untruthful and have lied about the acts of harassment.' The court was reminded of the recorded phone conversation between Webbe and Ms Merritt in April 2020 in which the politician yelled nine times down the phone: 'Get out of my relationship.' In the call, played to the court on the first day of appeal, Webbe also said: 'I have seen all of your posts, I have seen all of your naked pictures. I have seen all of your relationship with Lester.' 'Get out of my relationship, otherwise I will tell your whole family and show them all of your pictures.' Ms Stevens said this was a significant piece of 'corroborative and supporting evidence' which can make the panel 'sure' that Webbe harassed Ms Merritt on 25 April, 2020. The barrister added that the call made clear Webbe's 'animus and ill feeling' towards Ms Merritt. Webbe earlier told the court that the threats to expose intimate images was directed at her then-boyfriend, Mr Thomas, who she was arguing with simultaneously. Ms Stevens said the recording lends 'particular support' to the allegation that there was a similar incidence of harassment via a phone call made to Ms Merritt on Mothers' Day 2019, 31 March. It is alleged that, during this conversation, Webbe called Ms Merritt a 's**g', threatened to send naked images of her to her family and threatened to throw acid on her. Ms Merritt reported the call to the police the same day. Yesterday, Webbe denied ever making such a call or delivering such threats. Today, Helen Law, for Webbe, called Ms Merritt 'a good actress' who lied to make Webbe seem 'unhinged' to aggravate the case against her. 'There were five occasions before she gave evidence to this court when Michelle Merritt, as a minimum, had the opportunity to record in her account that she was having sex with Mr Thomas,' she said. Webbe, a former adviser to the National Police Chiefs Council on firearms, said she split up with Mr Thomas in March this year after learning of messages he had exchanged with Ms Merritt. Pictured, the former couple leaving Westminster Magistrates Court on November 4, 2021 Ms Law said that the confession was made after the police downloaded and disclosed the contents of Ms Merritt's phone to Webbe's defence team. This meant that Ms Merritt 'knew she would have to admit' her sexual relationship with the MP's then-boyfriend, the court heard. 'Her accounts on every occasion prior to that were lies.' Ms Merritt had told the court, both during the trial and the appeal, that she was a woman 'in fear' of Webbe's behaviour. Webbe's barrister disputed this. Today, the panel said Ms Merritt was an 'unsatisfactory witness' who had 'told lies' about her relationship with Mr Thomas but accepted parts of her evidence. Reading from the victim impact statement Ms Merritt delivered at Webbe's sentencing in November 2021, Ms Law said: 'This whole incident has caused me to stop my relationship with Lester Thomas. 'He was a close friend of mine and Claudia has caused me to stop my friendship.' The court heard today that months before the sentencing, Ms Merritt went to the police station to sign the statement in which those assertions were made. Ms Law said that before she headed off to the police station to do so, Ms Merritt texted Mr Thomas: 'Is that it? You really have been whipped?' 'She is the one trying to reignite that relationship,' Ms Law said. 'She is not in fear. And within days they are where they were before, having sex, sex chats, meeting up. 'The only reason it ends is not because Michelle Merritt is in fear but because of the escalation of the police investigation in the middle of July.' Ms Law added that Ms Merritt's lies were 'intended to aggravate' allegations against Webbe. She urged the panel to be 'careful' in relying on anything Ms Merritt has said. But they rejected Webbe's appeal and reconfirmed her conviction. Britain's competition watchdog has launched an investigation into whether Google has broken the law by restricting competition in the advertising technology market. The Competition and Markets Authority will assess whether the firm had distorted competition and made it more difficult for rival advertising services to compete. The regulator said its investigation into the Alphabet-owned search giant would focus on advertising technology intermediation, also known as the 'ad tech stack'. This is a set of services which facilitate the sale of online advertising space between sellers and buyers, and is said to be worth 1.8billion a year based on 2019 data. The CMA said Google has a strong position at various levels of this space - providing a wide range of services including platforms where advertisers can buy online advertising space; technology that automates the sale of advertising space; and those for managing ad inventories for publishers, which decide which ads to show. Google's headquarters at Mountain View in California are pictured (file image). The range of services Google offers means it deals with and charges fees to both ad sellers and buyers The range of services offered by California-based Google means it deals with and charges fees to both ad sellers and buyers. The CMA said it wanted to assess whether Google was distorting competition in the sector by limiting the interoperability of some services and contractually tying some of its services together - making it more difficult for others to compete. The 'ad tech stack' and the watchdog's probe Advertising technology intermediation is also known as the 'ad tech stack'. This is a complex set of services which facilitate the sale of online advertising space between sellers (publishers, such as MailOnline and other content providers) and buyers (advertisers). In 2019, UK advertisers spent around 1.8billion on this kind of online advertising - and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said Google has strong positions at various levels of the ad tech stack, charging fees to both publishers and advertisers. Now the CMA is examining three key parts of the chain, saying that in each of them Google owns the largest service provider. The areas are: Demand-side platforms (DSPs) which allow advertisers and media agencies to buy publishers' ad inventory (i.e. the space they have for advertising) from many sources. Ad exchanges provide technology to automate the sale of publishers' inventory. They allow real-time auctions by connecting to multiple DSPs, collecting bids from them. Publisher ad servers manage the publisher's inventory and decide which ad to show, based on the bids received from different exchanges and/or direct deals between publishers and advertisers. Advertisement The competition regulator said it also had concerns that Google may have used its platform to illegally favour its own ad services while taking steps to exclude those offered by others. 'We're worried that Google may be using its position in ad tech to favour its own services to the detriment of its rivals, of its customers and ultimately of consumers,' CMA chief executive Andrea Coscelli said. 'This would be bad for the millions of people who enjoy access to a wealth of free information online every day. 'Weakening competition in this area could reduce the ad revenues of publishers, who may be forced to compromise the quality of their content to cut costs or put their content behind paywalls. 'It may also be raising costs for advertisers which are passed on through higher prices for advertised goods and services. 'It's vital that we continue to scrutinise the behaviour of the tech firms which loom large over our lives and ensure the best outcomes for people and businesses throughout the UK.' In response, a Google spokesman said: 'Advertising tools from Google and many competitors help websites and apps fund their content, and help businesses of all sizes effectively reach their customers. 'Google's tools alone have supported an estimated 55billion in economic activity for over 700,000 businesses in the UK and when publishers choose to use our advertising services, they keep the majority of revenue. 'We will continue to work with the CMA to answer their questions and share the details on how our systems work.' There are also thousands of other players in the same market, including the likes of Amazon, Abode, Oracle, Microsoft, Facebook, Criteo, Trade Desk - many of whom have their own ad tech platforms. The probe by the CMA, which is based in London's Canary Wharf, follows its investigation into Google and Facebook owner Meta's 'Jedi Blue' agreement earlier this year. Competition and Markets Authority chief executive Andrea Coscelli said it is 'vital' that the CMA continues to 'scrutinise the behaviour of the tech firms which loom large over our lives' The Competition and Markets Authority are based in this building in London's Canary Wharf Governments around the world are strengthening the regulation of US tech giants that have become even more powerful during the pandemic. There are multiple investigations globally into their market positions, including in the US and the EU. Britain imposed a new competition regime last year to prevent Google and Facebook using their dominance to push out smaller firms and disadvantage customers. The move created a dedicated Digital Markets Unit within the CMA which could be given powers to suspend, block and reverse decisions made by technology firms and to impose financial penalties for non-compliance. Companies were told they needed to be more transparent about how they used consumer data and that advertising practices needed to adapt to changing expectations around how data was collected and used. Pervert health worker Marc Manning A pervert health worker who sexually assaulted nine men while carrying out fake hernia examinations and spied on his victims as they used the toilet has been jailed for more than four years. Ex-police community support officer Marc Manning, 36, carried out fake 'examinations' on patients while working for a private company that carried out health checks across the north west of England. He 'sexually touched' his victims as well secretly filming men as they used a toilet in a gym, Carlisle Crown Court heard. Manning was sentenced to four and a half years after he pleaded guilty to sexual assault and voyeurism charges. Judge Archer said Manning abused his position of trust in a way that undermined the willingness of men generally to seek medical help from professionals. He said: 'The extent to which your offending represents a gross breach of trust cannot be overstated.' The court that the assaults happened at various locations across the Cumbria. Prosecutor Harriet Lavin said that suspicions were raised in 2018 when workers revealed that Manning had been conducting so-called 'hernia checks' on certain men. She said: 'He was conducting checks which were not legitimate or required. Yet, using those checks as a pretext, Manning sexually touched the victims. 'Hernia checks were not part of the standard health screening process, which ordinarily looked at issues such as blood pressure, eye sight, and weight. Urine samples were sometimes needed.' Manning was sentenced to four and a half years at Carlisle Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to sexual assault and voyeurism charges Some of the men spoke of feeling deeply uncomfortable at what had happened while others described Manning's behaviour as strange. On one occasion, Manning told a worker that the chemicals he used could transfer to his genitals, which was an excuse to make an intimate examination, the court heard. On another occasion, when the room in which the examination was being conducted was hot, Manning suggested the worker take off his top. The court heard that some workers reported seeing a mobile phone propped up in the room and this raised suspicions that Manning was also filming the assaults. No video footage was ever found to confirm this, but Judge Richard Archer said he had concluded that was Manning's intention. Anthony Parkinson, defending, said Manning had shown genuine remorse for his offences and had already taken steps to address his offending behaviour. Normally, the previous good character of a defendant is regarded as a mitigating factor. But in Manning's case, said the judge, it was an aggravating factor because this had allowed Manning to take a job which was a position of trust. Along with his prison sentence, Manning was put on the sex offender's register indefinitely, and when released, he will be subjected to a sexual harm prevention order. This will mean he is barred from owning any camera and any digital device he owns will have to be subjected to strict monitoring and control. Six of his victims were in court to see him sentenced, as were the defendant's parents. After the case, Detective Constable Charlotte Jones, from North Cumbria's Crime and Safeguarding Team, said: 'All of the victims in this case have had health checks conducted on them which they presumed to be part of what Manning's work should entail, but it in fact was not. 'Manning completely abused his position of trust subjecting his victims to sexual assaults for his own fulfilment. I would like to thank the victims in this case for coming forward and for their courage in reporting such a crime. 'We will not stop in our drive to bring offenders to justice and hopefully this outcome will help to encourage victims of sexual offences to have the confidence to come forward and report it.' Departing EU nationals drove a decrease in net migration into Britain last year as the country was gripped by the fallout from Brexit and the Covid pandemic, new figures revealed today. Preliminary data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that 12,000 more citizens of the bloc left the UK last year than arrived in the year to June 2021. That was against a net increase of 24,000 in the previous year, which included six months of movement before Brexit took place and nine before Covid travel restrictions came into effect in March 2020. Overall migration to the UK fell from 260,000 to 239,000, spurred by an increase in immigration from outside the EU. However, the ONS cautioned that Covid meant it had to change its methods of obtaining data. Jay Lindop, director of its Centre for International Migration, said: 'The 12 months to June 2021 was a period when migration behaviour was impacted by the restrictions imposed to manage the coronavirus pandemic as well as ongoing changes in migration policy following Brexit. Preliminary data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that 12,000 more citizens of the bloc left the UK last year than arrived in the year to June 2021. Overall migration to the UK fell from 260,000 to 239,000, spurred by an increase in immigration from outside the EU. Previous data, collected differently, has also shown a fall in EU migration in the second quarter of 2019 and 2020. But prior to that the last time it was a negative figure was 1991, when the EU was much smaller. 'Bringing together the best sources of data we have available, our latest estimates of net migration suggest that around 239,000 more people came to the UK than left, driven by non-EU immigration. 'Due to the data collection challenges posed by the pandemic, we've used new, experimental, methods to produce today's numbers and these will be finessed over the coming months as more data becomes available, including census numbers. 'While the figures give a snapshot of migration during the pandemic, they should not be compared with historic trends and are subject to change.' Previous data, collected differently, has also shown a fall in EU migration in the second quarter of 2019 and 2020. But prior to that the last time it was a negative figure was 1991, when the EU was much smaller. Before Brexit, the strong demand in Britain's labour market - where wages rose by an annual 7 per centin the first quarter - would encourage more people into work and bring in EU workers where needed. But over the past two years the number of EU nationals working in Britain has fallen by 211,000 while the number of non-EU nationals rose by 182,000. And hiring from abroad has become tougher as almost all foreign workers now require a visa and filling vacancies quickly with those with the right skills became more challenging. Michael Saunders, a BoE policymaker, said Brexit could be 'limiting the extent to which domestic capacity strains and specific skill shortages can be eased through imports and inward migration'. It was also revealed today that the number of asylum claims made in the UK has climbed to its highest in nearly two decades, while the backlog of cases waiting to be determined continues to soar. There were 55,146 asylum applications in the UK in the year to March 2022 - the highest number for any 12-month period since the year to September 2003, when the total stood at 61,343. The number of applications from lone migrant children is also at its highest level for any 12-month period since records began in 2006. Some 4,081 applications from unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) were made in the year to March 2022. The increase in applications was 'likely linked in part to the easing of global travel restrictions that were in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and to a sharp increase in small boat arrivals to the UK', the Home Office report said. At the end of March 2022, there were 109,735 people awaiting an initial decision on their case, 66 per cent higher than the previous year when 66,185 people were waiting. This is more than double the number in March 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic began (51,906) and is a new all-time high since current records began in June 2010. The figures come as the Home Office announced it was setting up an action group to look at how to speed up the processing of asylum claims in a bid to increase the number of decisions made on cases on a weekly basis. A total of 15,451 people were granted protection in the year to March 2022, up 79% on the previous year (8,635) but below the 20,295 in 2019. Three-quarters (75 per cent) of all initial decisions in the year ending March 2022 were grants, which is 'substantially higher than previous years', and the highest rate in more than 30 years, since 82 per cent in 1990, according to the Home Office. Meanwhile, 2,761 people were deported from the UK in 2021 - 62 per cent fewer than in 2019 before the pandemic. The vast majority of enforced returns were for foreign criminals, most of which were EU nationals. A Home Office spokeswoman said the department had 'helped thousands of people through our generous safe and legal routes including those fleeing Putin's war in Ukraine, refugees from Afghanistan and our BN(O) Hong Kong route. 'And as we bring the Nationality and Borders Act into practice, we are working urgently to speed up processing of claims, including via a new asylum action group.' Barnaby Joyce's leadership of the National Party came under severe threat late on Thursday night after Darren Chester announced he is challenging him. Victorian Mr Chester, the outgoing Minister for Veterans' Affairs, said it is 'time for a change' in the Nationals. It could be a crowded contest when the party meets to vote in Canberra on Monday, with David Littleproud and former leader Michael McCormack also hinting at a run. Mr Joyce has come under fire since the Coalition lost last weekend's federal election, with many saying he is at least partly to blame. National Party leader Barnaby Joyce is pictured with his partner Vikki Campion (both pictured with their two children) at the Brisbane Convention Centre on Sunday, May 15, 2022 The former deputy prime minister rejected that, though, saying the Nationals held all 16 of its lower house seats and he was not responsible for the Liberals losing seats to teal independents, Labor and the Greens in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. 'I'm not in the Liberal Party. I'm in the Nationals,' he said. 'I'm not going to talk on behalf of the Liberal Party because that is for them, and I'm going to give them the space and dignity and the respect for them to have their own discussions.' But Mr Chester sees things very differently, saying 'We need to be honest with each other in the party room and take some responsibility for the Liberal losses in the city.' 'How we develop our policies, deliver our message, and work with our Coalition partners in the future will determine whether we can return to government and deliver for regional communities,' he told Nine newspapers. Though he has not yet announced his candidacy, the Nationals' current deputy leader, Mr Littleproud, could be an even stronger challenger to Mr Joyce. Colleagues have been encouraging Mr Littleproud and he reportedly has the support of almost half the the party's MPs and senators. Another to put his hand up to run could be former party leader Mr McCormack, who said earlier this week that the Nationals were in a 'despairing' position now the Coalition is out of government. The former veterans' affairs minister Darren Chester (pictured with his wife Julie), is challenging Barnaby Joyce for the leadership of the National Party Barnaby Joyce (left) is pictured on the floor of the House of Representatives with Darren Chester (right). Mr Chester is now challenging Mr Joyce for the leadership of the National Party Mr McCormack, who lost the party leadership after being challenged by Mr Joyce last year, reportedly feels Mr Joyce turns off moderate voters. Despite the election loss, Mr Joyce still has strong support in the party room, with former resources minister Keith Pitt publicly backing him to remain as leader. Mr Joyce told the ABC he is not bothered about being challenged for the leadership and is 'completely at ease with the democratic process'. He also said that the Nationals' agreement with the Liberals no longer exists. 'The Nationals are out own party... there's a Coalition agreement (but) there is no Coalition party. It always finishes at the end of any term,' he said. Amerie Jo Garza (right) Amerie Jo Garza, 10 Amerie Jo Garza, a fourth grader at Robb Elementary, was one of 19 students confirmed to be killed Tuesday morning by Ramos, who cops say was carrying a handgun and an AR-15 during the attack that also killed two teachers in the classroom. Her grandmother, Berlinda Irene Arreola, said the 10-year-old was killed as she tried to phone 911 while sitting next to her best friend, who ended up 'covered in her blood.' Arreola said Ramos told the students and staffers inside the room, 'You're going to die,' before opening fire - shooting her granddaughter dead as she tried to phone for help. 'So the gunman went in and he told the children, 'You're going to die,' Berlinda told The Daily Beast. 'And [Amerie] had her phone and she called 911. And instead of grabbing it and breaking it or taking it from her, he shot her. She was sitting right next to her best friend. Her best friend was covered in her blood.' Uziyah Garcia Uziyah Garcia, 8 Uziyah Garcia, the youngest victim at age eight, was also killed in the attack. The child's family announced he was killed hours after announcing he was among the many children unaccounted for following the tragedy. The boy's grandfather, Manny Renfro, broke the news early Wednesday after being notified by authorities. '[He was] the sweetest little boy that I've ever known,' Renfro said. 'I'm not just saying that because he was my grandkid.' Renfro recalled how Uziyah last visited him in San Angelo over spring break. 'We started throwing the football together and I was teaching him pass patterns. 'Such a fast little boy and he could catch a ball so good,' the grieving grandad said. 'There were certain plays that I would call that he would remember and he would do it exactly like we practiced.' Makenna Elrod, 10 Makenna Lee Elrod Makenna Elrod, 10, had also been among the missing in the chaos that followed the massacre, with her father, Brandon Elrod telling reporters at the time he feared 'she may not be alive.' Her death was eventually confirmed by a family friend on Wednesday. 'It's pretty sad what this world's coming to,' the girl's father told local outlet KTRK after the shooting. A mother of one of Makenna's friends lamented the loss in a post to Facebook. 'Sweet Makenna Rest in Paradise!! My heart is shattered as my daughter Chloe loved her so much!!' the mom wrote. A relative Wednesday confirmed that the girl had been among the victims. Xavier Lopez, 10 Xavier Lopez Xavier Lopez, 10, was the first student victim to be identified as one of Ramos' victims. The child's mother, Felicha Martinez, told the Washington Post Tuesday that just hours before the massacre, the mom had been at the school to see her son participate an honor roll ceremony. She took a picture showing her son showing off his certificate. In the last exchange she had with the child, the mom heartbreakingly told the boy that she was proud of him and that she loved him, giving him a hug goodbye - not knowing it would be the last time she would see him alive. 'He was funny, never serious and his smile that smile I will never forget,' she recalled after learning of his death from police. 'It would always cheer anyone up.' The boy's cousin, Lisa Garza, 54, of Arlington, said Xavier enjoyed swimming and had been looking forward to the summer. 'He was just a loving 10-year-old little boy, just enjoying life, not knowing that this tragedy was going to happen today,' she said. 'He was very bubbly, loved to dance with his brothers, his mom. This has just taken a toll on all of us.' Amelia Sandoval, Lopez's grandmother, said: 'It's just so hard... you send your kids to school thinking they are going to make it back home but they're not.' Eliahana Torres, 10 Eliahana Cruz Torres Eliahana Cruz Torres, 10, had also been missing for hours until she was confirmed to be among the dead. Adolfo Cruz, her great-grandfather, said she didn't want to attend school the day of the shooting - but was told by her family that she had to attend. He said he remained outside the school gates throughout the night until he leanrned of her fate from local authorities. 'I hope she is alive,' he said at the time. Torres was an avid baseball player and played the sport in a local little league. Ellie Lugo, 10 Ellie Lugo Ellie Lugo was named as a victim of Tuesday's attack by her parents, with Steven Garcia and Jennifer Lugo confirming her death several hours after she was listed among the missing. 'It's hard to issue out a statement on anything right now my mind is going at 1000 miles per hour but I do wanna send our thoughts and prayers to those who also didn't make it home tonight!!! Our Ellie was a doll and was the happiest ever,' Steven Lugo said Wednesday. 'Mom and Dad love you never forget that and please try and stay by our side.' Nevaeh Bravo, 10 Nevaeh Bravo Nevaeh Bravo was confirmed to be among the dead late Tuesday, after her cousin posted on social media following the shooting to ask for helping the girl. Around 9 pm, she broke the news on Twitter. 'Unfortunately my beautiful Nevaeh was one of the many victims from todays tragedy,' she wrote. Sje said the schoolchild was 'flying high' and asked for the family to be kept in people's prayers 'Our Nevaeh has been found. She is flying with the angels above. We love you Navaeh very much princess.' 'Thank you for the support and help,' she wrote. 'Rest in peace my sweet girl, you didn't deserve this.' Bravo's age could not immediately be confirmed. Tess Marie Mata Tess Marie Mata Tess Marie Mata was also among those to perish in the attack, her sister, Faith Mata, revealed in a post to Facebook Wednesday. 'I honestly have no words just sadness, confusion, and anger,' she wrote. 'I'm sad because we will never get to tag team on mom and dad again and tell each other how much we mean to each other, I'm confused because how can something like this happen to my sweet, caring, and beautiful sister, and I'm angry because a coward took you from us.' Photos shared with the post showed Tess smiling in a baby photo, snuggling with a cat, doing gymnastics, flashing a peace sign, and posing in front of a large heart mural. 'Sissy I miss you so much, I just want to hold you and tell you how pretty you are, I want to take you outside and practice softball, I want to go on one last family vacation, I want to hear your contagious laugh, and I want you to hear me tell you how much I love you,' she wrote. Her age could not immediately be confirmed. Rojelio Torres, 10 Rojelio Torres Rojelio Torres, 10, was initially reported missing by his father, but on Wednesday was confirmed dead by his family. A person who said she was the boy's cousin wrote on Twitter: 'It breaks my heart to say my rojelio is now with the angels I'll forever miss you and love you my angel.' The child's father , Federico Torres, told Houston reporters that he was at work when he learned about the shooting and immediately raced to the school. 'They sent us to the hospital, to the civic center, to the hospital and here again, nothing, not even in San Antonio,' he said. 'They don't tell us anything, only a photo, wait, hope that everything is well.' Nearly half a day later, cops broke the news to the boy's family. 'Our entire family waited almost 12 hours since the shooting to find out Rojelio Torres, my 10-year-old nephew, was killed in this tragedy,' Torres' aunt, Precious Perez, told KSAT. 'We are devastated and heartbroken. Rojer was a very intelligent, hard-working and helpful person. He will be missed and never forgotten.' Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10 Jayce Luevanos Jayce Luevanos, 10, died in the shooting along with his ten-year-old cousin, Jailah, the child's mother said Wednesday. In a Facebook post, uncle Unberto Gonzalez shared photos of both kids while offering a touching tribute. 'My babies going to miss them like crazy!!!,' Gonzalez wrote. 'We luv y'all so much!!! I'm just lost right now!!! Fly high my beautiful Angels!!' Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10 Jailah Nicole Silguero Ten-year-old Jailah Nicole Silguero was also killed in the shooting, her mother, Veronica Luevanos, tearfully revealed to Univision Wednesday. She also lost her 10-year-old nephew Jayce to the tragedy. She said Jailah loved to dance and film videos on TikTok. The child reportedly also asked her mom the morning of the shooting if she could stay home from school - a request the now mourning mom rebuffed. 'I took her to school, but she didn't want to go. She told her father, 'Can I stay home?'' Luevanos said, noting that it was not a common occurrence for her daughter to make such a request. 'I think she knew something would happen.' Luevanos' mom confirmed the loss on Facebook Wednesday. 'Fly high my angels. We're going to miss yall so much,' wrote Veronica Luevanos - whose dad had died just a week earlier. 'I'm so heart broken,' she wrote with a photo of her daughter and nephew. 'My baby I love u so much fly high baby girl.' Alithia Ramirez, 10 Alithia Ramirez Fourth grader Alithia Ramirez was confirmed dead early Wednesday by her father, Ryan Ramirez, who shared a post to Facebook showing the 10-year-old with angel's wings. He had used the same photo the previous day as he pleaded for help finding her after the massacre He had heartbreakingly used the same photo the previous day as he desperately pleaded for help finding her after the massacre. 'Trying to find my daughter Alithia. I called all the hospitals and nothing,' he wrote at the time. He also reporters during his frantic search, 'I'm trying to find out where my baby's at.' Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10 Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10, was another killed by Ramos Tuesday - along with her cousin, who has yet to be identified. Annabell's father spent the afternoon after the shooting in frantic search for his daughter. Speaking to KHOU11 Tuesday, he lamented at how he was at a loss as to what do, having little success with the search. 'They're not letting us in at the hospital right now so we don't know where to go.' She has since been declared to be among the dead. Miranda Mathis, 11 Miranda Mathis Miranda Mathis, 11, was also confirmed as another casualty from the mass shooting early Wednesday, in a Facebook post by an older cousin who earlier that day had posted a desperate plea for help in locating the child. 'My sweet baby cousin we loved u dearly,' Deanna Miller wrote alongside a photo of the child with angel wings. 'I'm so sorry this happen to u baby please keep my family in your prayers,' she grieved. Miller's kids had also been at the school at the time of the shooting, but survived the attack. One of her sons told her that they were ushered out of a window by staffers during the attack and subsequently ran to a nearby funeral home after 'he heard the shooter say he was gonna kill all the kids.' Alexandria 'Lexi' Aniyah Rubio, 10 Alexandria Aniyah Rubio Alexandria Aniyah Rubio - who was better known to friends as 'Lexi' - was confirmed dead just before midnight on Tuesday. The ten-year-old was shot dead just hours after posing for a photo with her parents at the school's honor roll ceremony. Kimberly Mata-Rubio, the girl's mother, wrote of the loss: 'My beautiful, smart, Alexandria Aniyah Rubio was recognized today for All-A honor roll. She also received the good citizen award. We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school. We had no idea this was goodbye.' Maite Yuleana Maite Yuleana Maite Yuleana was another student to die in the attack that had attended the honor roll ceremony just hours before. A cousin of the girl's mother, Ana Rodriguez, announced the loss Wednesday. 'It is with a heavy heart I come on here on behalf of my cousin Ana who lost her sweet baby girl in yesterday's senseless shooting. 'We are deeply saddened by the lose [sic] of this sweet smart little girl. God bless and may she R.I.P Maite Rodriguez we love you.' Another relative shared a photo of Maite with her honor roll certificate. Her age could not immediately be confirmed. Jose Flores Jr, 10 Jose Flores Jose Flores, 10, was also killed in the shooting after attending the honor roll ceremony, where he was pictured triumphantly clutching a certificate celebrating the accomplishment. Uncle Christopher Salazar confirmed to the Washington Post Wednesday that his 10-year-old nephew was among the dead, after sharing a tribute to the child on Facebook. 'I love you and I miss you,' Salazar wrote in the post. The boy's father described Jose to CNN as an amazing boy and big brother to his two younger siblings. 'He was always fill of energy,' Jose Flores Sr. said. 'Ready to play till the night.' He said the boy loved playing baseball and video games. Jackie Cazares Jackie Cazares, 10 Jackie Cazares, 10, was another to be killed during the vicious attack at the elementary school. Her father Jacinto confirmed she lost her life inside her fourth-grade classroom. 'My baby girl has been taken away from my family and I,' the grieving father said in an online post. 'We're devastated in ways I hope no one ever goes through. ... It hurts us to our souls.' Cazares said his daughter, who was with her cousin, Annabell Rodriguez, when she died, was 'full of life and love'. Layla Salazar, 10 The 10-year-old student was the last of the slaying victims to be identified. Vincent Salazar told the Philadelphia Inquirer his young daughter was among those killed. He said she was 'a lot of fun' and recalled how they sang along to 'Sweet Child O' Mine' by Guns 'n' Roses whenever he drove her to school. Layla Salazar Irma Garcia, 46 - fourth grade teacher Irma Garcia Irma Garcia, who co-taught with Mireles for the last five year, had been at Robb Elementary for 23 years. Married to Joe for 24 years, she was a mother of four - Cristian, completing Marine boot camp; Jose, attending Texas State university University; Lyliana, a sophomore in high school; and Alysandra, a 7th grader. 'My tia did not make it, she sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom, i beg of you to keep my family including all of her family in y'all's prayers , IRMA GARCIA IS HER NAME and she died a HERO,' tweeted her nephew John. 'She was loved by many and will truly be missed.' She was nominated as teacher of the year for the 2018-19 awards, organized by Trinity University. Eva Mireles, 44 - fourth grade teacher Eva Mireles Eva Mireles, a fourth grade teacher, was identified by her family as being one of the staff members shot dead. She had worked in education for 17 years. Her husband Ruben Ruiz, a veteran detective and SWAT team member currently serving as a police officer with the school district, held regular active shooter drills for the schools - most recently at the end of March. Advertisement Hundreds of mourners lined a city streets today to pay their last respects to murdered teenager Bobbi-Anne McLeod. Well-wishers gathered in Plymouth, Devon, to say farewell to the 18-year-old as her coffin was carried by horse and carriage to the church where her funeral was being held. Many of the mourners were teenagers who answered a plea from Bobbi-Anne's family to dress in black jeans with T-shirts of their favourite bands as she often did. Bobbi-Anne was abducted by Ted Bundy-obsessed killer Cody Ackland as she waited to catch a bus near her home. She died after being hit multiple times with a claw hammer in November 2021. Musician Ackland, 24, was last week jailed for a minimum of 31 years after he admitted her murder. Plymouth Crown Court heard he had became 'obsessed' by US serial killer Ted Bundy among others and prosecutors said the similarity in his attack was stark. During today's funeral procession, Bobbi's body passed the scene in Leigham in Plymouth where she was abducted. The funeral procession left Bobbi-Anne's home in Plymouth, Devon, at 11.20am today and headed to the Windmill Pub where members of the public were welcomed to line the streets. Hundreds of mourners lined city streets today to pay their last respects to murdered teenager Bobbi-Anne McLeod Teenager Bobbi-Anne McLeod (pictured above) was abducted by Ted Bundy-obsessed killer Cody Ackland, 24, as she waited to catch a bus near her home in Plymouth. She died after being hit multiple times with a claw hammer in November 2021 The funeral procession carrying the coffin of Bobbi-Anne McLeod arrives at The Minster Church of St Andrew The funeral procession carrying the coffin of Bobbi-Anne McLeod arrives at The Minster Church of St Andrew Bobbi-Anne McLeod was 18 years old when she went missing from a bus stop near her home in Leigham in November Mourners attend the funeral of Bobbi-Anne McLeod wearing band T-shirts at the request of the teenager's family Mourners were asked by the family to wear band T-shirts or an item of blue clothing in tribute to the murdered teenager Mourners dressed in band T-shirts, including Eminem, are seen attending the funeral of murdered teen Bobbi-Anne McLeod Friends and family gather at the funeral of murdered teenager Bobbi-Anne McLeod at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth Pictured: St Andrew's Church in Plymouth, Devon, where mourners were attending the funeral of Bobbi-Anne McLeod From there a horse and carriage took Bobbi-Anne to St Andrews Church for the service at 12.30pm. Watching her pale blue coffin marked with her name pass by, local mourners stood in near silence as police bikes escorted the carriage down the road. There was a brief moment of applause at one point by observers, with many wearing band t-shirts or the colour blue as requested by the family. The post read: 'Bobbi will be leaving her home address at 11.20am and heading to the Windmill and will then be take by horse and carriage to the church. 'If you would like to line the street in Leigham you are more than welcome. Dress code is band t-shirts such as Pink Floyd, Nirvana, ACDC, Green Day, Guns and Roses, Queen, Eminem and Oasis. 'If you cannot get one just an ordinary blue t-shirt will be fine but please try for the band t-shirts as she loved wearing these with black trousers or black jeans, no rips please.' The funeral procession left Bobbi-Anne's home in Plymouth, Devon, at 11.20am today and headed to the Windmill Pub where members of the public were welcomed to line the streets. Pictured: Members of the public line streets in Leigham, Plymouth A horse and cart arrived at the St Andrew's Church in Plymouth, Devon, carrying Bobbi-Anne McLeod's coffin Pictured: A horse and cart dressed in Bobbi-Anne's favourite colour arrived at the St Andrew's Church in Plymouth MP Johnny Mercer attends the funeral of Bobbi-Anne McLeod at the Minster Church of St Andrew in Plymouth A mourner wearing a Nirvana t-shirt attends the funeral of Bobbi-Anne McLeod at the Minster Church of St Andrew in Plymouth Hundreds of mourners lined the streets of Plymouth in a bid to say farewell to murdered teenager Bobbi-Anne Mcleod A horse and cart arrived at the St Andrew's Church in Plymouth, Devon, carrying Bobbi-Anne McLeod's blue glittery coffin A horse and cart arrived at the St Andrew's Church in Plymouth, Devon, carrying Bobbi-Anne McLeod's coffin Mourners attend the funeral of Bobbi-Anne McLeod wearing band T-shirts at the request of the teenager's family Pictured: The coffin carrying Bobbi-Anne McLeod leaves The Minster Church of St Andrew, on May 26, 2022 in Plymouth The family asked mourners to be respectful and added: 'We all stand together with Bobbi's family at this really sad time.' Numerous local celebrities and public figures paid tribute to Bobbi, with MP Luke Pollard calling it an 'important day for Plymouth' and a chance to say celebrate her life. Spokespeople for Citybus, the Devon & Cornwall Police & Crime Commissioner and Together For Childhood Plymouth also posted messages of condolence on Twitter. The funeral was attended by local Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, along with Plymouth's police commander Chief Supt Matt Longman. Hundreds of mourners gathered around the church prior to the ceremony to pay their respects, while Plymouth City Council tweeted: 'May her light shine on. We will never forget her.' During the sentencing of Ackland last week, Bobbi-Anne's mother Donna said: 'Bobbi was a beautiful girl who lit up our lives and the lives of everyone she ever met. She was kind, funny, and loyal. Police said at the time there was 'no known link between the suspect and the victim', who was 4'11' tall and of slight build Murderer and his innocent victim: Cody Ackland, 24, snatched Bobbi-Anne McLeod, 18, off the street before killing her 'She was the best daughter, the best sister, and the best friend to so many people. Everybody who knew Bobbi loved her. We have been robbed of our beautiful girl in the worst possible way and our lives will never be the same without her. In chilling echoes of the method used by Bundy, Plymouth Crown Court heard Ackland struck Bobbi-Anne on the head with a claw hammer after seeing her waiting alone for a bus near her home. He then abducted her and drove her to the Bellever Forest car park on Dartmoor when he continued his prolonged attack with the hammer that ended her life. Ackland then took Bobbi-Anne's body to Bovisand, where he stripped her and dumped her body in the woods. The court heard what while her body lay undiscovered, Ackland continued to party with his friends and bandmates and was described as 'happier than ever.' But during the sentencing, Plymouth Crown Court heard the lead guitarist in local indie band Rakuda lived a chilling double life and had a morbid interest in a significant number of serial killers from around the world. The court heard he particularly admired US killer Bundy whose kidnap and murder of young women bore similarities to Ackland's crime. Images of Bundy and the weapons he used were also among thousands of 'disturbing' pictures found on his phone. Prosecutor Richard Posner said during the hearing: 'His interest in the macabre presents as deep-rooted; a fascination with death, murder and murderers and the means to commit murder. 'There are numerous images of the American serial killer Ted Bundy in his telephone and images of weapons he used to kill his victims. 'Bundy approached his victims in public places and knocked them unconscious before killing them. It is not a coincidence that Bobbi-Anne McLeod met her fate the same way.' Three days after the murder, Ackland turned himself in to police and revealed where he had disposed of Bobbi-Anne's body. Ackland, of Plymouth, pleaded guilty to murder at a hearing last month and was jailed for life with a minimum of 31 years. A school district in southern Texas has shut down until next week as police investigate a shooting plot that allegedly involved an AK-47 and a list of targeted students. Officials in Donna, a small community in the Rio Grande Valley, issued the shutdown order late on Wednesday, a day after a gunman slaughtered 19 kids and two teachers at an elementary in Uvalde, about 300 miles north. 'We've received a credible threat of violence that is currently under investigation,' the Donna Independent School District said in a statement. 'In light of the recent events and in an abundance of caution, we will be cancelling school district-wide and staff will work from home.' The district said that classes would be cancelled on Thursday and Friday, and resume next Tuesday following the Memorial Day holiday. Officials in Donna, Texas, a small community in the Rio Grande Valley, shut down school after a 'credible threat' of a shooting plot Officials in Donna, a small community in the Rio Grande Valley, issued the shutdown order late on Wednesday Donna ISD Superintendent Angela Dominguez is seen above The alleged plot in Donna involved a conspiracy between two or three people who planned to shoot up a school in the district, a source familiar with the matter told The Monitor. Cops found an AK-47 and a list of targeted students in the home of one of the suspects, the person said. While the AK-47 gained fame as a Soviet-era machine gun, there are semi-automatic versions of the rifle that are legal for private ownership in the US. The cancelled school days will impact a number of end-of-year awards ceremonies and advancement celebrations in Donna's elementary school, according to the school calendar. The district's high school graduation is scheduled for June 3. In a social media post, officials said that the senior class prom, which had been scheduled for Friday with the theme of 'Enchanted Forest' after two years of pandemic disruptions, would be postponed, but not cancelled. Donna ISD administrative offices are seen above. The alleged plot in Donna involved a conspiracy between two or three people who planned to shoot up a school in the district Officials with Donna ISD and the Donna Police Department did not immediately respond to inquiries from DailyMail.com on Thursday. The disturbing investigation in Donna came just one day after the deadliest school shooting in the US since the Sandy Hook massacre nearly a decade ago. On Tuesday, a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, after shooting his grandmother in the face in a dispute over his phone bill. The shooter, identified as Salvador Rolando Ramos, 18, was killed by police after barricading himself inside a classroom and slaughtering the fourth graders inside. Ramos was trading text messages with a girl in Germany and sent the chilling final message 'Ima go shoot up a elementary school' minutes before the attack. The gunman shot his 66-year-old grandmother in the face at their Uvalde home, then fled in her pickup truck as she summoned help, officials said. The threat in Donna came just a day after a shooter killed 19 kids and two teachers at Robb Elementary, seen above on Thursday morning A short distance away, Ramos crashed the truck outside the school, got out with a rifle and approached a back door, officials said. They said an officer assigned to the school "engaged" Ramos, but the gunman got into the building and down a hallway to a fourth-grade classroom. After locking the classroom door, he opened fire around 11.30am with an AR-15-style rifle, carrying multiple magazines. A team including local officers and Border Patrol agents ultimately forced the door open and shot Ramos to death after he fired at them, police said. Beijing, China's COVID-infected capital city, further intensified its efforts to control the spread of the virus by penalizing firms that break laws or evade pandemic containment policies. Since late April, the city with more than 22 million residents has struggled with hundreds of new cases every day, per Reuters. While most have been identified in quarantine regions, a few have been detected in the general public, demonstrating the difficulty of managing the highly-transmissible Omicron variant. A senior Beijing health official, Zhong Dongbo, told a news conference on Wednesday that the capital's COVID fight was at a crucial stage. He noted, though, that Beijing "cannot quieten down entirely" and must keep its economy afloat. Beijing has increased quarantine measures and tightened workplace attendance regulations this week, with more districts issuing work-from-home rules or guidelines. It has also retaliated against people who violate its directives. After a series of cases involving a private logistics company within its authority, some employees at the state-run Beijing postal service were either fired or given a stern warning, according to the local anti-corruption watchdog. The regulator claimed the company neglected to perform COVID tests for its personnel and failed to adhere to rigorous vaccination guidelines. In a separate incident, a few employees at a Beijing branch of the state railway corporation falsified their trip records, according to a separate statement from the watchdog. They have been placed under police investigation. Meanwhile, the municipality's housing development agency announced Wednesday that certain functions at a large real estate firm in Beijing had been suspended after one employee violated a district-wide mandate to work from home. How Zero COVID Strategy Impacts Xi Jinping Leadership As the rest of the world reopens, China's zero COVID policy is encountering waves of opposition. Shanghai residents have fought against food shortages and the government's quarantine of all cases and close contacts. Students at Beijing's premier Peking University criticized pandemic prevention initiatives on campus earlier this month. Read Also: China Sends Strong Warning to Joe Biden Over Controversial Taiwan Remarks: "Follow the One China Principle" This turmoil occurs during a crucial political year in which Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the ruling Communist Party to preserve calm as he seeks to win a historic third term in government. Instead, the zero COVID scheme is wreaking havoc on the economy, leading to speculation that his government is divided, per a report from Bloomberg. According to Chen Shih-Min, an associate political science professor at National Taiwan University, "the discontent could spread and lead to doubts about Xi's leadership at a sensitive time" if the Chinese government fails to manage the crisis. "Party cadres including Shanghai chief Li Qiang are probably aware and trying to tame the practice. But as with all policies, there are bound to slip in execution, " he added. Shanghai Set To Reopen in June Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported Shanghai had announced plans to gradually reopen after spending over six weeks under lockdown. According to state media, the opening will be implemented in phases, with local officials stating that "normal life" in the city will return on June 1. Deputy Mayor Zong Ming stated Shanghai's ultimate goal is to resume industrial output and manufacturing, followed by commercial enterprises. Related Article: Kim Jong Un Orders To Shoot Intruders Dead as North Korea's COVID-19 Outbreak Intensifies; Dictator Spotted Not Wearing Mask at State Funeral @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Bernie Ecclestone was arrested in Brazil late on Wednesday for illegally carrying a gun while boarding a private plane to Switzerland. Brazilian police found an undocumented LW Seecamp .32 gun in the former Formula One supremo's luggage during an X-ray screening at 9.30pm, police said in a statement on Thursday. They added that he was then arrested and taken to a facility at Viracopos airport in Campinas. Ecclestone, 91, acknowledged owning the gun, but said he was unaware it was in his luggage at the time, police said. The Briton paid bail and was freed to travel to Switzerland. The crime of illegal possession of a weapon in Brazil carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison, but Ecclestone was released due to his background and factors including the 'notable personal status of the defendant's fortune' and the nature of the offense. Bernie Ecclestone was arrested in Brazil late on Wednesday for illegally carrying a gun while boarding a private plane to Switzerland, local police said on Thursday. Pictured with Brazilian wife Fabiana Flosi The Brazilian police found an undocumented LW Seecamp .32 gun in the former Formula One supremo's luggage during an X-ray screening, police said in a statement (picture of a LW Seecamp .32 for illustrative purposes only) According to Globo, the gun was in a shirt pocket and did not have the magazine or ammunition. Ecclestone allegedly bought the weapon five years ago from an F1 mechanic and had kept it at a rural property in Sao Paulo. The newspaper also reported that a bond of R$6,060 (999) was set and paid by Ecclestone. Ecclestone did not want to call his lawyer and his wife acted as an interpreter. He is married to Brazilian-born Fabiana Ecclestone, an FIA vice-president and member of the World Motor Sport Council. They attended several events in the South American country in May, including a local Stock Car race in the countryside near Sao Paulo and a meeting with triple world champion Nelson Piquet in Brasilia. Police added that he was then arrested and taken to a facility at Viracopos airport (pictured) in Campinas In 2016, Ecclestone's helicopter pilot was arrested on suspicion of being the mastermind of a plot to kidnap his mother-in-law. Aparecida Schunk, the mother of Ecclestone's wife Fabiana Flosi, was snatched from her home in Sao Paulo by armed robbers who posed as delivery men. A police kidnap squad in Brazil stormed the building where she was being held and found her tied up - and released her into the arms of her family. Jorge Eurico da Silva Faria, was the president of the Brazilian Helicopter Pilots Association until April 2015 and overlooked all the F1 helicopter operations in Sao Paulo until 2014. He was arrested in a house in a luxury condo in the Granja Viana district of Sao Paulo's Cotia region, close to where the victim was being held. In 2016, Ecclestone's helicopter pilot (above) was arrested on suspicion of being the mastermind of a plot to kidnap his mother-in-law Aparecida Schunk (pictured), the mother of Ecclestone's wife Fabiana Flosi, was snatched from her home in Sao Paulo by armed robbers who posed as delivery men Ecclestone spoke of his relief after Schunk was freed from her captors. He told MailOnline: 'I'm very happy. The last few days haven't been very good. This isn't a good thing to happen to you and your family. Advertisement Johnny Depp's defamation trial was shown a photo of the actor with a mark below his eye the day before he claimed Amber Heard punched him on his 2015 honeymoon. Depp was cross examined by Heard's lawyer Benjamin Rottenborn Wednesday who asked him about his claims regarding being punched on his honeymoon. The court was shown photos posted on social media the day before Depp and Heard got on the Orient Express in July 2015. They showed Depp with a mark below his left eye, the same eye that he says Heard hit him on during the trip, Rottenborn said. Rottenborn said that the dark mark was the same. But Depp protested that a 'side light' would create such an effect. Rottenborn pointed out the photos - showing Depp holding a baby - were not taken from the side. Depp claims: 'Light on the side will cause (eye) bone to appear sunken.' Rottenborn said: 'Whatever mark it is, sunburn, shadow, you had that same mark before you got on the train.' Depp shot back: 'It's pretty difficult to get a sunburn on the train.' Johnny Depp was cross examined by Amber Heard's lawyer Benjamin Rottenborn Wednesday who asked him about his claims regarding being punched on his honeymoon The court was shown photos posted on social media the day before Depp and Heard got on the Orient Express in July 2015 The jury were shown a photo of Depp and Heard posing with the staff of the Orient Express. Depp said that it showed his eye 'a little bit bugged out' Depp protested that a 'side light' would create such an effect. Rottenborn pointed out the photos - showing Depp holding a baby - were not taken from the side. Depp claims: 'Light on the side will cause (eye) bone to appear sunken' Heard has claimed that Depp became violent during their honeymoon on the Orient Express in August 2015 and punched her repeatedly in their car The court was shown another copy of the photo of Depp on board the Orient Express posted on Facebook. Depp claims: 'That looks like the eyes have been photoshopped.' Heard has claimed that Depp became violent during their honeymoon on the Orient Express in August 2015 and punched her repeatedly in their car. Depp said that they did take the train from Bangkok, Thailand, to Singapore but his account was very different. Depp said: 'There were times when it was very agreeable, very nice and then there were times when something had become dissatisfactory for her and she would start then rant, the blooming of a fight would be on deck there. 'At one point - I don't remember it lasting long - I took a pretty good shot to the face, to the eye, to somewhere up here. I had a bit of a shiner but it all went, ended and everything got fine again and we'd go to dinner and it was all fine'.' The jury were shown a photo of Depp and Heard posing with the staff of the Orient Express. Depp said that it showed his eye 'a little bit bugged out.' He said: 'These things could happen very quickly. If you disagreed. I don't look like myself much but it certainly looks like me with a black eye.' Depp was asked if the image had been Photoshopped as Heard claimed. He said: 'It would be difficult to start getting into digital processing with a number of people on the shot.' The jury were shown a photo of Depp and Heard posing with the manager of the Raffles Hotel in Singapore at the end of their trip. Depp said you could see his left eye is 'swollen and a bit of a shiner there'. Dr. Richard Gilbert, a surgeon and expert in the field of orthopedic surgery, said that Depp's fingertip could have been sliced off in Australia when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him The court was shown X-rays of Depp's finger showing the tip had several breaks in it. Dr. Gilbert said that 'I do believe' that Depp's explanation could be the reason for the injury Dr. Richard Gilbert, a surgeon and expert in the field of orthopedic surgery, said that Depp's fingertip could have been sliced off in Australia when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him. Heard has claimed that Depp smashed it against a wall while bashing a phone in a drink and drug-fueled rage. Dr. Gilbert said that Depp had a comminuted fracture which meant it was broken in multiple pieces and was caused by 'some type of blunt force'. Depp also sustained loss of the tissue towards the little finger. Dr. Gilbert said: 'This appeared based upon my review of the pictures to be some type of sharp laceration, it represented a clean edge of the wound'. The court was shown X-rays of Depp's finger showing the tip had several breaks in it. Dr. Gilbert said that 'I do believe' that Depp's explanation could be the reason for the injury. He said: 'A vodka bottle which is a hard object would have crushed the tip of the finger resulting comminuted fracture 'As the vodka bottle broke it would have lacerated the finger resulting in this injury'. According to Dr. Gilbert, Heard's account of the injury was 'highly unlikely'. He said: 'When an injury is caused by punching against a wall or hard object it's extremely rare to see an injury to the tips of the fingers'. Instead you had injuries to the knuckles which he said were known as 'boxer fractures.' Dr Gilbert disagreed with an analysis by Heard's finger surgery expert, Dr. Richard Moore, who has told the court that a vodka bottle wouldn't have enough force to cause the injury. He said: 'I believe a vodka bottle that was thrown from a distance was more than sufficient force to result in this fracture and soft tissue loss.' President Biden will welcome K-pop sensations BTS to the White House on Wednesday for an event on anti-Asian hate crime, it was announced on Thursday. The band that has a massive global fan base will appear in person alongside Biden, who has previously confessed he is a fan. The group are the latest celebrities the White House has turned to on their agenda after Jill Biden welcomed Selena Gomez to talk about mental health and the president had the Jonas Brothers appear in a video on vaccines. The White House announced the event next week, even though they have still not finalized when Biden and first lady Jill will visit Uvalde following the school massacre. In May 2021, in a meeting with the South Korean President Moon Jae-In at the White House, he said 'K-pop fans are universal.' 'I can tell those who laugh know what I'm talking about. Anyway I'll get back to that later.' Biden has finalized plans to host BTS before he's gotten a trip to Uvalde, Texas on the books, where a gunman shot and killed 19 school children and two teachers. The president has said he would travel to Uvalde 'in the coming days.' President Biden will welcome K-pop sensations BTS to the White House on Wednesday for an event on anti-Asian hate crime, it was announced on Thursday BTS is pictured above performing their hit song 'Butter' at the Grammy Awards last month in Las Vegas Last week, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris condemned attacks against minority communities at a White House event on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. 'Hate can have no safe harbor in America. And every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,' Biden said. BTS have turned to social issues such as violence by partnering with UNICEF on the Love Myself campaign. They have also performed at the United Nations General Assembly. 'On Tuesday, May 31st, global K-pop phenomenon and Grammy-nominated musical group from the Republic of Korea BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan or 'Beyond the Scene') will join President Biden to discuss Asian inclusion and representation, and to address anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination which have become more prominent issues in recent years, the White House said in the statement 'President Biden has previously spoken about his commitment to combating the surge of anti-Asian hate crimes and signed into law the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act in May 2021 to provide law enforcement with resources to identify, investigate, and report hate crimes and ensure that hate crimes information is more accessible to AA and NHPI communities. 'President Biden and BTS will also discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion and BTS' platform as youth ambassadors who spread a message of hope and positivity across the world.' The band that has a massive global fan base will appear in person alongside Biden, who has previously confessed he is a fan Asian hate crimes have been on the rise in recent years. A shooting at a Taiwanese southern California church that killed one and injured five earlier this month is now being investigated as a hate crime, as is a shooting at a Dallas salon this month that wounded three women of Asian descent. Hate crimes against Asian American communities rose 339 percent in 2021 compared to 2020, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism. Asian Americans are the fastest growing demographic in the U.S., and in March 2020 the FBI predicted a spike in hate crimes against them due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which originated in China. In an effort to connect with his younger voter base, Biden has brought a whole host of TikTok stars and celebrities into the White House orbit. In October Biden famously invited teen sensation Olivia Rodrigo, best known for her hit song 'Driver's License,' to the White House to talk about vaccines with him and Dr. Anthony Fauci. Rodrigo made a surprise appearance in the briefing room with then-press secretary Jen Psaki. Comedian James Corden took part in a skit with Psaki and Biden that was played at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. In March, the White House invited a cadre of TikTok influencers to the White House to feed them information on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They held a Zoom briefing for about 30 popular internet figures, who promptly took to their social media accounts to talk about what they learned, posting video explainers on topics like 'Why is gas so expensive?' Health officials have warned thousands of city workers could have been exposed to a Legionnaires disease as five people are hospitalised. Those who have spent time in Sydney's CBD in the last ten days have been urged to monitor for symptoms of Legionnaires disease. Symptoms can include fever, chills, shortness of breath, cough and muscle aches, and if left untreated can result in chest infections like pneumonia. Five people exposed to the legionella bacteria have been hospitalised after spending time in heavily populated parts of the city over the the last three weeks. Health officials have warned thousands of city workers could have been exposed to a serious disease as five people are hospitalised (stock image) Those who have spent time in Sydney's CBD in the last ten days have been urged to monitor for symptoms of Legionnaires disease (pictured, commuters in Martin Place in 2021) Two women and three men ranging in age from their forties to their seventies have tested positive after spending time in the city. Health officials believe the patients were infected in hotspots like Martin Place, Museum Station, York Street and Park Street. Legionnaires cannot spread from person to person but instead infects through breathing in contaminated particles usually spread by air-conditioning units. Adults over the age of 50, those with chronic lung disease or heavy smokers are believed to be at most risk of the disease. The severe type of pneumonia is curable and usually treated with antibiotics. Environmental health workers are working with the City of Sydney to oversee maintenance records of all cooling towers in the CBD. Health officials will also ramp-up testing efforts in lieu of the new infections. Two women and three men ranging in age from their forties to their seventies have tested positive after spending time in the city (pictured, commuters in Parramatta in February) Health officials believe the patients were infected in hotspots like Martin Place, Museum Station, York Street and Park Street (pictured, commuters at Parramatta Station in February) 'Public Health Units across NSW follow up every case of Legionnaires' disease and work closely with local councils in the management of cooling towers,' the NSW Health department said in a statement. 'Routine testing of cooling towers helps identify contamination early and allows for prompt cleaning and corrective actions.' It follows the detection of an outbreak of meningococcal disease at a Catholic girls school in Queensland, which has since been deemed a transmission site. Staff and students have been told to closely monitor for meningococcal symptoms, which include sudden onset of rash, red-purple spots or bruises, vomiting, fever, headache, confusion, neck stiffness and joint pain. Adults over the age of 50, those with chronic lung disease or heavy smokers are believed to be at most risk of legionnaires disease (pictured, city workers in Sydney in April) Two students and a teacher from the senior school at St Mary's Catholic College in Cairns contracted the disease, with the school saying that the pair in hospital were in a stable condition and not in the ICU. One case was detected on Monday, with a further two discovered on Wednesday. The disease is caused by a bacteria, which is carried harmlessly by up to 10 per cent of people and is passed by droplets from the nose or throat. Meningococcal can cause rapid deterioration and death but in most cases it is effectively treated with the early use of antibiotics. There is a vaccine against meningococcus but it is not effective against all strains. A man accused of murdering a mother and three children during a sleepover at their home has today appeared in court. Damien Bendall allegedly murdered 11-year-old Lacey Bennett, her brother John Paul Bennett, 13, their mother Terri Harris, 35, at a house near Sheffield, South Yorkshire in September last year. The 32-year-old is also accused of killing Laceys friend Connie Gent, 11, who was at the familys home for a sleepover. Bendall, of Killamarsh, South Yorkshire, is also charged with the rape of Lacey. Damien Bendall allegedly murdered 11-year-old Lacey Bennett, her brother John Paul Bennett, 13, their mother Terri Harris, 35, at a house near Sheffield, South Yorkshire in September last year. Pictured: Lacey Bennett with her brother John Paul Bennett and their mother Terri Harris The 32-year-old is also accused of killing Laceys friend Connie Gent, 11, who was at the familys home for a sleepover Bendall (pictured), of Killamarsh, South Yorkshire, is also charged with the rape of Lacey It comes after the four bodies were discovered at a house in Killamarsh, near Sheffield, on September 19 last year. He appeared in court via video-link from HMP Wakefield wearing a grey prison tracksuit speaking only to confirm his name during the brief administrative hearing. Mr Justice Sweeney remanded Bendall in custody ahead of his trial which is currently fixed for October 4 at Derby Crown Court. Following the killings Jason Bennett had posted a tribute to his son and daughter, John and Lacey, online and went to the site of the tragedy to lay flowers. Connie Gent was on a sleepover with her friend Lacey on the night of the attack Pictured: Jason Bennett with John Paul and Lacey who were both killed Pictured: Floral tributes left near to the scene in Chandos Crescent, Killamarsh, last year In a statement, he added: 'I've been left broken. I'm devastated. John and Lacey came into our lives and brought so much love and happiness and were adored by myself and their big sisters, forever loved and remembered. 'We would also like to thank everyone for their loving support and our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the tragic loss of four precious lives.' Ms Harris's parents, Angela Smith and Lawrence Harris, described Terri as 'an amazing mum' who 'put herself out not just for her family and friends but anyone who needed her help'. They added: 'She absolutely loved her work as a care worker and would go above and beyond for the people she cared for. 'She will be missed more than any words can ever express, not only by her family but by anyone who had the privilege to have been in her life.' Connie's father Charles Gent said: 'The pain is indescribable. I wake up every morning hoping this has all been a terrible nightmare, but it's not. It's the unbearable reality that my little girl has gone. 'Connie was an absolute superstar in every way. She had a gift - if someone was down she could instantly make them feel okay. 'She lit up every room she went in and meant something to everyone she came across, even in hard times. Connie had the ability to keep everyone smiling. 'Fly safe my angel. They came for you and left me behind. I could never say goodbye, so I'll see you soon. I love you more than you can possibly imagine forever and always.' Jen Psaki last night questioned whether she was safe to send her daughter to kindergarten after the Texas school shooting. In a damning indictment of Joe Biden's America, the ex-White House press secretary - who this week signed a bombshell deal with MSNBC - told Jimmy Fallon she now feels forced to check what security is on the gates. She claimed these were the thoughts those in power were mulling over too, as they try to 'help heal' and 'help bring some calm' after Tuesday's massacre - the deadliest school shooting in more than a decade. The appearance also saw Psaki praise her old boss Biden for his speech in the wake of the vile massacre, despite it being panned by many for politicizing the tragedy. It comes after a demented murdered shot up an elementary school in Uvalde, killing 19 children and two teachers. The shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, stormed into the building and blasted bullets indiscriminately before being shot dead by cops. He earlier used the AR-15 he used during the attack to gun down his own grandmother, who is now fighting for her life in a hospital after being struck in the head. The incident has since spawned new debate on the issue of gun reform, as Ramos - who friends and police said was suffering from deteriorating mental health - purchased the assault weapon days before the attack, immediately after turning 18. Scroll down for video: Jen Psaki last night questioned whether she was safe to send her daughter to kindergarten after the Texas school shooting In a damning indictment of Joe Biden's America, the ex-White House press secretary - who just revealed she's signed a bombshell deal with MSNBC - told Jimmy Fallon Wednesday she now feels forced to check what security is on the gates Speaking to Psaki Wednesday night - in what was the former Biden speaker's first television appearance since leaving the White House earlier this month to spend more time with her two kids - Fallon asked for her take on the tragedy. 'I wanted to get your perspective on the catastrophic mass school shooting that happened yesterday,' Fallon, 47, asked. 'Obviously we're all shaken by this, but how does the White House handle events of this type?' Psaki, 43, responded: 'Yeah, I was - I have two little kids. I know you have kids I think that are a little older than my kids.' The former White House aide - who earlier in the interview gleefully touted her ability to 'explain difficult things to the public' and gushed about starting her new job at NBC's cable news affiliate this September - proceeded to offer her thoughts, which echoed those seen from progressives calling for increased gun control laws. 'The first reaction I had when I saw the news was shock, of course, and I'm sure this is what they were feeling in the White House too. And sadness. You know, that kind of sadness that you get when your throat feels like it's - if you talk you're gonna cry, that kind of sadness.' She went on: 'And then you feel fear. 'And I think like so many parents across the country, I was thinking about sending my daughter to kindergarten today and is she safe, is she okay there, what kind of security do they have, should they have security. 'I was thinking about sending my daughter to kindergarten today. And is she safe? Is she okay there? What kind of security do they have? Should they have security?' Psaki said. 'Those are the kind of thoughts that are going through your head when you're in the White House, too, because you're thinking about what the country is experiencing, what communities are experiencing, and what you can do to help, help heal, help bring some calm, if you can, in that moment.' It comes after a demented murdered shot up an elementary school in Uvalde, killing 19 children and two teachers The shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, stormed into the building and blasted bullets indiscriminately before being shot dead by cops New video from the chaotic scene shows police arriving to the scene with their guns in hand. The incident has spawned new charged debate on the concept of gun reform A police vehicle is seen parked near of a truck believed to belong to the suspect behind a shooting at Robb Elementary School Law enforcement are seen at the scene of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday State troopers are seen near Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday A mobile morgue is seen on Tuesday afternoon being brought to the site of the shooting An Uvalde officer is pictured bringing flowers to the school, where 19 children and two staffers were slain Fallon then asked if the former press secretary had seen President Biden's speech Tuesday night, where he criticized state laws that let the teen purchase the assault weapons just days after turning 18. 'Yes, I did,' Psaki said. 'And I think what people saw who watched or saw clips later on was somebody who knows what it's like to lose a child and knows what it's like to have part of your soul and part of your heart ripped out, and that's what he talked about a little bit last night.' The former White House staffer then offered a bizarre recollection of the address, where she described the emotion and 'crinkles' in the eyes of the president - who lost his adult son Beau in 2015 to a brain tumor - in what she saw as an impassioned plea to the public. 'Watching it, I was thinking - I was looking at his face and watching kind of the crinkles in his eyes and the emotions, and I was looking at Dr. Biden behind him, and thinking these are people who know that pain,' Psaki said. She added: 'It doesn't make it heal it for other people, but they understand what it is and it impacts how they live their lives and how they govern.' Fallon went on to ask if she believes that new gun laws are on the horizon after the tragedy, and if she had any advice on how normal citizens could help. 'This is a common question that people ask me, and I think the most important thing for people to know is nobody's powerless in this moment,' Psaki said. 'Everybody has a voice. Everybody can use that voice in many ways. Yes, you can vote. You can also get involved in a lot of organizations, she said, asserting that 'nobody is powerless' amid heated debates over state and federal gun laws. 'What I would also say that I learned from working in the White House and working in government is that you have to always have hope.' She went on: 'You have to always think that change is possible and that maybe it's not gonna happen next month or next year, I don't know, but what happens when you have tragedies like the one in Texas, is it jerks people awake in a lot of ways.' 'I mean, guns are the biggest -- they kill more kids every year than anything else.' 'That's a fact. There are more guns in this country than there are people in this country, and those type of details jerk people awake, and that's sometimes when change happens.' NSW households could soon see their power bills spike by around 130 per cent, but the state government is helping out with up to $1,600 per eligible household. As temperatures plunge and the increasing cost of living takes a toll, turning on a heater doesn't have to be a luxury for families struggling to pay the bills, with the NSW government stepping in to provide some financial relief. Households experiencing difficulty paying their energy bills will be able to access up to $1,600 a year in support payments from next week, NSW Treasurer and Energy Minister Matt Kean said on Thursday. NSW households experiencing difficulty paying their energy bills will be able to access up to $1,600 a year in support payments from next week. Pictures is a woman on a couch with a blanket wrapped around her Consumers have received 'frightening' letters from their power companies in recent days warning usage costs will jump in some cases as much as $1,200 a year for an average three-to-four person household 'With cost-of-living pressures increasing, colder weather arriving and days shortening, we want to make sure households in NSW not only keep the lights on but keep their families safe, warm and comfortable,' he said. The power cost hikes are the latest blow to households struggling to cope with the cost of living after first petrol prices, and then grocery bills began to surge. It comes as the first week of winter steadily approaches in just a few days time, causing temperatures to plummet and energy bills to skyrocket. Eligible customers can receive assistance of up to $400 per application for electricity and up to $400 per application for gas bills twice a year. The much-needed financial shot in the arm, with a package worth $330million a year, comes as the Australian Energy Regulator said NSW energy customers would face price increases from July. The government noted the price hikes were driven primarily by external factors, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has affected supply and led to global price pressures on coal and gas. The slew of natural disasters in recent years, including the floods in northern NSW and Queensland this year, have also affected the grid, driving prices up. Consumer advocates have warned householders they should keep an eye out for letters from their power companies until mid-June. NSW Treasurer and Energy Minister Matt Kean (pictured) announced up to $1,600 a year in support payments to help eligible households with energy bills The companies warned the price for consumers would rise between 58 per cent and 100 per cent - up to $1,200 for average three-to-four person households in Queensland, South Australia and NSW. Joel Gibson of One Big Switch called the expected rises 'a frightening start to the price rise season' and urged residents to do their research. 'Over the next three weeks, I'd expect every household to get a letter from retailer saying what they're doing with their prices,' he said. A real estate company has come under fire for recreating a gate sign which furious protestors say looks like it has come from Auschwitz death camp. Protesters say the wrought iron gate with the name of the development written across the top in the city of Wroclaw, Poland, is similar to the notorious 'Arbeit Macht Frei' sign meaning 'Work sets you free'. The German phrase was first used at the entrance to the concentration camp where over one million people died during WWII. The Nowe Miasto Rozanka housing estate have been criticised for their insensitivity Posting a photo of the gate on social media, Twitter user Dominik Gawron wrote: 'I must admit that the architects in Wrocaw rose to the occasion.' The photo has now gone viral with thousands criticising the developers of the Nowe Miasto Rozanka housing estate of insensitivity. Built by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland in 1940, the Auschwitz death camp was first used to imprison Poles, but later became the symbol of the Holocaust. The infamous 'Arbeit Macht Frei' sign was used in Nazi concentration camps which imprisoned thousands of Polish when the Nazis occupied Poland Originally the title of a an 1873 novel about fraudsters and gamblers finding virtue through labour, it was infamously adopted by Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Hoss. He was executed in 1947 for overseeing one of the most horrendous the mass murders in history Some 1.1 million people, most of them Jews, lost their lives in the camp, which remained active until January 1945. Developers and investors of the estate at the former mill have now rushed to defend themselves. Marek Thorz from ATAL, one of the investors in the estate, told local new portal Tu Wroclaw: 'The facility has been preserved and restored as a historical artefact, and its revitalisation was approved and supervised by the conservator of monuments.' 'The gate is a testimony to the history of this place and is also valuable for the testimony of Polish craftsmanship.' Polish residents have been protesting against the sign and taken to social media to show their distaste for the gate sign He added that earlier this year a petition was set up to call for the developers to 'renovate the historic Rozanka gate'. Describing the real estate development on its website as 'a place where extraordinary history meets modernity', the Atal company says: 'Live in a place rich in history in one of the revitalised buildings.' 'The Granary, Villa 'Rosa' and Myn Rozanka have retained their original, post-industrial atmosphere, which gives the building unique character.' Used to make processed cereals before the war, the complex went through various ownership before falling into disrepair. Beleaguered Boris Johnson has paid tribute to the Queen ahead of her Platinum Jubilee, calling her 'a rock' and insisting 'For me, she is already Elizabeth The Great'. The Partygate scandal-hit PM, 57, said no monarch had ever served the country 'so long' and 'so well' as Queen Elizabeth II. Mr Johnson made the comments in Parliament ahead of the four-day celebrations next week. He said: 'Today we pay tribute to a Head of State whose length of service and dedication to duty are simply without parallel. 'The only monarch most of us in this country have ever known and the rock to which our nation and our people have been anchored throughout all that the past 70 years have thrown at us. 'No monarch, by her efforts and dedication and achievement, better deserves the attribute of greatness. And for me, she is already Elizabeth The Great. 'Since the Palace of Westminster was founded more than 1,000 years ago, it has seen war and peace, plague and plenty, the rise and fall of empires and all kinds of revolutions: scientific, industrial, political, ecumenical, stylistic. 'And almost 50 monarchs - in trying to rank the achievements of those monarchs it must be admitted that not all of them set exemplary standards of personal behaviour and quite a few were removed violently and prematurely from office. Queen Elizabeth II attends the Elizabeth line's official opening at Paddington Station in 2022 'But in our history, no monarch has ever served this country so long as this one with the first Platinum Jubilee ever but far more importantly, no monarch has ever served it so well.' Boris Johnson joked that the Queen parachuted out of a helicopter in a pink dress only in one ceremony. The Prime Minister told the Commons: 'In her 25,677 days as Queen, Her Majesty has undertaken more than 21,000 official engagements in well over 100 countries. 'She has granted royal assent to some 4,000 pieces of legislation sent to her by this House, hosted 112 state visits and been served by 14 British prime ministers... so far. Boris Johnson speaking as he pays tribute to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, ahead of her forthcoming Platinum Jubilee 'Across all her realms, she has offered counsel and wisdom to more than 170 heads of government, including two generations of Trudeau... so far. She's the holder of at least seven world records, including the most summer Olympiads opened by one person. 'Although, only one such ceremony did she parachute out of a helicopter in a pink dress. And of course, there was one Olympic medal ceremony where she could claim to have bred both the rider, the Princess Royal, and the horse.' He added: 'It is not so much what she has done as the way she has done it. Getting the best out of people, inspiring them to serve others and to serve their communities, helping to create that invisible thread of pride and allegiance that tugs on all our hearts and makes us happy to serve or at least to do something for our country in the way that she serves this country.' Boris Johnson said his audiences with the Queen are 'always immensely comforting'. He said: 'I know prime ministers are not supposed to relay their conversations with the Queen. And I will not, except to say that her knowledge and understanding of politics and world affairs is profound.' The Prime Minister added: 'There have been times when I've been scrambling to remember a historical date or the name of some African capital and she has got there first, and when it comes to some subjects, anything equestrian I am certainly nowhere. 'And can I speak for every prime minister who has ever had an audience with Her Majesty when I say that our conversations are always immensely comforting, because she has seen the sweep of it. And she has seen the cycle from gloom to elation and every time her country under her has gone forward from strength to strength.' Sec. of State Antony Blinken issued a stark warning Thursday morning that the threat of China will 'test U.S. diplomacy like nothing we've ever seen before' - but insisted America does not want another Cold War and does not support Taiwan independence. He also said in the speech at George Washington University that China's cooperation with Vladimir Putin after his invasion of Ukraine 'raises alarm bells', Beijing under Xi Jinping has 'more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad' and accused the communist party of trying to undermine global order. Blinken laid out the Biden administration's policy towards China after the president raised eyebrows by saying the U.S. would get involved 'militarily' if there was an invasion of Taiwan. It marked what seemed to be a more aggressive stance towards defending Taiwan and the 'One China' that the U.S. has recognized since the Cold War. The Secretary of State said U.S. approach to Taiwan has not changed to decades and does not support independence. Sec. of State Antony Blinken issued a stark warning Thursday morning that the threat of China will 'test U.S. diplomacy like nothing we've ever seen before' - but insisted America does not want another Cold War and does not support Taiwan independence However he did say that he opposes any chances to the 'unilateral status quo' and said China is engaged in 'increasingly provocative' rhetoric and activity' related to Taiwan. 'On Taiwan: Our approach has been consistent across decades and administrations. As the President has said, our policy has not changed, he said. 'The United States remains committed to our One China Policy ... we do not support Taiwan independence.' 'China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it,' Blinken said in a speech at George Washington University outlining U.S.-China policy. 'Beijing's vision would move us away from the universal values that have sustained so much of the world's progress over the past 75 years,' Blinken added. 'But we will defend and strengthen the international law, agreements, principles, and institutions that maintain peace and security, protect the rights of individuals and ... nations, and make it possible for all countries..to coexist.' 'We must defend and reform rules-based international order,' Blinken said. 'The foundations of the international order are under serious and sustained challenge.' 'Under President Xi, China has become more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad.' The secretary underscored that the U.S. was focused on international order, and not sparking up a new Cold War. 'We aren't looking for conflict or a new Cold War. To the contrary, we're determined to avoid both,' he said. But, he added, 'We cannot rely on Beijing to change its trajectory.' 'China is also integral to global economy. Put simply, the United States and China have to deal with each other for the foreseeable future.' He also said in the speech at George Washington University that China's cooperation with Vladimir Putin after his invasion of Ukraine 'raises alarm bells', Beijing under Xi Jinping has 'more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad' and accused the communist party of trying to undermine global order Blinken also brought up the detention camps in the Xinjiang region, and accused Tibet and Hong Kong of violating the UN charter and human rights declaration by their actions in Tibet and Hong Kong. 'The U.S. stands with countries and people around the world against the genocide and crimes against humanity happening in the Xinjiang region, where more than a million people have been placed in detention camps because of their ethnic and religious identity,' he said. He also said China is 'taking advantage of the openness of our economies to spy to hack to steal technology and know how to advance its military innovation and entrench its surveillance state.' Tensions have soared between Beijing and Taiwan, and last week as Biden traveled to Asia to bolster Indo-Pacific alliances China conducted military drills in the disputed South China Sea as a show of force. China also flew a pair of long-range nuclear-capable H-6 bombers through the area on Wednesday, Chinese media reports said. Biden's visit to the Asian came amid escalated tensions with both China and North Korea. In addition to meeting with world leaders, Biden met with executives at a microchip facility. Both China and Taiwan have dominance over the microchip market. If China were to invade Taiwan, it could cut off U.S. supply to the chips that are used in electric vehicles, TVs, and other every day electronics. Taiwan has come under increasing risk of a Chinese invasion as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is thought to be taking notes from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 'Beijing's defense of President Putin's war to erase Ukraine's sovereignty and secure a sphere of influence in Europe should raise alarm bells for all of us who call the Indo-Pacific region home,' Blinken said on Thursday. 'This is a charged moment for the world.' In an alarming move earlier last month, China's regulators held an emergency meeting on April 22 between officials from China's central bank, the finance ministry, domestic banks operating within China, and international lenders such as HSBC. The West's harsh economic sanctions on Russia prompted the emergency meeting, with the Ministry of Finance stating that President Xi's administration had been put on alert by the surprise dollar freeze. Last week in Japan Biden affirmed he would be willing to get involved militarily if China invaded Taiwan drawing parallels between that threat and Russia's invasion of Ukraine during a press conference Monday in Tokyo. 'Yes,' Biden said. 'That's a commitment we made,' Biden responded when asked about the hot button diplomatic issue. Biden reiterated that the United States agrees to the so-called 'One China' policy - that only the People's Republic of China is 'China,' thus the U.S.'s diplomatic relationship with Taiwan is unofficial. 'But the idea that it can be taken by force, just taken by force, is just not appropriate,' Biden said. 'It will dislocate the entire region and be another action similar to what happened in Ukraine.' Additionally, Biden said: 'My expectation is it will not happen, it will not be attempted.' But he condemned military exercises China was conducting. 'They're already flirting with danger right now by flying so close and all the maneuvers that are undertaken,' the president said. A White House official asked to clarify the comment homed in on Biden's 'One China' policy remark. 'As the President said, our policy has not changed. He reiterated our One China Policy and our commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He also reiterated our commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the military means to defend itself.' Blinken condemned military exercises China was conducting. 'They're already flirting with danger right now by flying so close and all the maneuvers that are undertaken,' the president said'. A Chinese guided-missile destroyer takes part in exercises in the South China Sea in October 2021 Biden was asked at the very end of a press conference, held at Tokyo's Akasaka Palace: 'You didn't want to get involved in the Ukraine conflict militarily for obvious reasons. Are you willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan, if it comes to that?' - to which the president answered in the affirmative. In response, China's foreign ministry told Reuters that the U.S. should not defend Taiwan's independence. China blasted Biden's comments, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin expressing 'strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition.' 'China has no room for compromise or concessions on issues involving Chinas core interests such as sovereignty and territorial integrity,' he said. The U.S. is providing billions worth of weapons and aid to Ukraine, but Biden has steadfastly refused to get Americans involved in the fighting. The U.S. already provides fighter jets and Patriot missiles to Taiwan, but official policy is deliberately ambiguous in keeping with the 'one China' policy Biden referenced. 'Our policy toward Taiwan has not changed at all. We remain committed to supporting the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and ensuring that there is no unilateral change in the status quo,' Biden said minutes before. Earlier this month the State Department dramatically shifted its language toward Taiwan in a summary on its webpage, again prompting Chinese ire. The new summary touts the U.S.'s 'robust unofficial relationship' with Taiwan, while striking the previously included line: 'The U.S. does not support Taiwan independence.' The White House had to clean up Biden comments last year that also stated a 'commitment' to come to Taiwan's aid. Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in October following the comment: 'There has been no shift. The president was not announcing any change in our policy, nor has he made a decision to change our policy. There is no change in our policy.' Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, has raised concerns about Italy, South Korea, and Hong Kong amid the threat of population collapse. The billionaire entrepreneur's remarks come as he steps up his commenting and acting on matters of global concern. For the past few weeks, Musk has been warning international leaders about the continued decline of populations in several wealthy countries due to their collapsing birth rates. The Threat of Falling Birth Rate In a statement on Twitter, Musk said, "At risk of stating the obvious, unless something changes to cause the birth rate to exceed the death rate, Japan will eventually cease to exist." He called the situation a "great loss" for the world. The comments come as the headquarters country of Sony (SNE), and Toyota (TM) recently said that the population in the country in 2021 declined by 644,000 compared to a year earlier. The total number of people went down to 125.5 million, making 2021 the 11th consecutive year of declining population, as per The Street. Musk said that declining populations are among the biggest threats to humanity's long-term survival and noted that Italy has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. The billionaire CEO expanded on his point in response to a Twitter comment from cybersecurity researcher Andrew Stroppa. Italy will have no people if these trends continue Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 24, 2022 Read Also: President Joe Biden Addresses the Nation After Deadly Texas Shooting That Kills 14 Students; VP, Officials Condemn the 'Horrific' Incident Stroppa tweeted a chart from the Italian National Institute of Statistics that showed birth rates in the nation have steadily been falling since the 1960s. Musk said that Italy would have no people left if the trends continued. According to the New York Post, the tech CEO also shared a Wall Street Journal chart that showed a "fertility slump" within the United States. It allegedly revealed data that showed the nation has remained below a "replacement level" by total fertility rate since the 1970s. Elon Musk's Comments In a Twitter post, Musk said that the U.S. birth rate has been below the minimum sustainable levels for the last five decades. He added that contrary to what many people think, the richer a person is, the fewer kids they have. He said he himself was a rare exception because others he knew had zero or only one child. The Tesla CEO sounded his alarms as recently as March when an interviewer asked him to reveal his "biggest fear," where he said that the falling birth rate was one that has troubled him for many years. Musk said he spent a lot of time talking about the issue with Axel Springer CEO Mathia Dopfner. The situation comes as the billionaire entrepreneur has also urged for "tight" background checks for all gun purchases while expressing his support for firearm ownership as a "safeguard" against political tyranny. Musk's comments came a day after a lone gunman killed at least 19 children and two adults at an elementary school in south Texas. Musk blamed the media for giving murderers the attention that he believes is the thing they crave that motivates them to conduct mass shootings. He said that the shooters were obviously doing the crimes to generate the most amount of attention possible, CNBC reported. Related Article: Beijing Further Tightens COVID-19 Restrictions, Violating Workers Face Dismissal @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Two missing British teenage girls have been rescued after spending the night lost in the snake-infested Thai jungle. Eliza Keeping and Matilda Cox, both 19 from Buckinghamshire, were staying at a resort in Surat Thani province in the south of the country when they went for a walk yesterday afternoon. Worried staff at the Coco Hostel Khao Sok, a set of floating bamboo raft rooms, called the police when the two girls had not returned by 9pm. Two missing British teenage girls have been rescued after spending the night lost in the snake-infested Thai jungle (pictured after they were found this morning) Eliza Rose Keeping, 19, from Brill, Buckinghamshire, and Matilda Rose Adelaide Cox, 19, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, were staying at a resort in Surat Thani province The British pair went for a walk yesterday afternoon but did not return to their hotel last night Rescue teams were immediately notified of the missing youngsters amid fears they could have been injured in the sprawling woodland or fell into the lake. Neither of the girls could be contacted on their mobile phones. Frantic park rangers and local volunteers launched a search for the girls throughout the night in the vast Khao Sok National Park. They were found soaking wet, exhausted and covered in mud the next morning at around 9am. Frantic park rangers and local volunteers launched a search for the girls throughout the night in the vast Khao Sok National Park They both thanked the rescue team for finding them and said they were 'scared' when they could not find their way back after dark. Terdthai Kwantong, head of the Khao Sok National Park, said: 'I led a team of officers to search the area all night until 7am the next morning. There was still no missing person found. 'Officials planned to search back along the same route again but fortunately, the resort operator called and said they had brought the tourists back to their accommodation. The Khao Sok National Park is a sprawling 285 square mile area of evergreen rain forests older than the Amazon 'Both of the girls were in a state of exhaustion but they were healthy. They were relieved to be safe.' The Khao Sok National Park is a sprawling 285 square mile area of evergreen rain forests older than the Amazon. There are huge limestone mountains, deep valleys, lakes, caves and wild animals - including snakes, lizards and bats. Donald Trump denied that his former adviser Kellyanne Conway told him that he lost the 2020 election and told her to 'go back to her crazy husband' in a new post on his Truth Social app on Thursday. The former president is responding to claims Conway made while promoting her new book 'Here's The Deal,' where she recounts her time with Trump starting with being the first woman to manage a winning presidential campaign in 2016. 'Kellyanne Conway never told me that she thought we lost the election,' Trump said. 'If she had I wouldn't have deal with her any longer - she would have been wrong - could go back to her crazy husband.' Conway's husband George is a prominent GOP lawyer who rose to internet fame after becoming one of Trump's most persistent and vocal critics on Twitter, despite his own wife working at the White House at the time. Trump added that 'writing books can make people say some very strange things - I wonder why?' It was likely in a nod to the myriad of former Trump officials who have since cast themselves as the reasonable operative speaking truth to power in their own White House memoirs. 'Got 12 million more votes than we did the first time, the most votes, by far, of any sitting President,' he went on. Donald Trump responded to claims Kellyanne Conway made in an interview promoting her new memoir, Here's The Deal Conway was Trump's senior White House counselor and 2016 campaign manager while her husband, George Conway, is a prominent critic of the former president's While it's true that Trump drew more than 10 million more votes in 2020 than he did in 2016, his roughly 74 million ballots fell short of President Joe Biden's 81 million - as well as losing in the electoral college. Trump wrapped up his message with a well-worn grievance about the coronavirus pandemic forcing at least a temporary expansion to absentee and mail-in voting. 'The election was RIGGED. They used Covid to cheat and steal, and the evidence is massive and indisputable,' he said. Conway, who served as counselor to the President after being Trump's campaign manager, insisted that telling her former boss he lost the election 'broke' her heart - while maintaining she 'never' told him otherwise. She resigned from the White House to spend more time with her family in late August 2020. Speaking to ABC's The View while promoting her memoir, Conway said: 'It's pretty obvious that Joe Biden is the president. I cant believe were still talking about this, respectfully.' 'I'm the closest person to Donald Trump to tell him the earliest that he came up short. It broke my heart, I wanted him to get reelected,' the former presidential adviser said. Trump lashed out at Conway and said 'writing books can make people say some very strange things' likely in a nod to the numerous other former Trump officials who published their accounts of the administration She added that Trump 'would like to run in 2024' and said Biden was 'not doing a great job.' Conway's book, which was released on May 24, occasionally paints a very different picture of Trump to the brash, over-confident candidate and president he showed to the media. For instance, she claimed that he considered dropping out of the 2016 presidential race amid fallout from the infamous leaked Access Hollywood tape where he boasted about grabbing women 'by the p***y.' 'Should I get out [of the race]?' Conway recalled Trump asking her on October 8, 2016, a day after the decade-old tape was released. The ex-adviser told him that he 'actually can't' drop out 'unless you want to forfeit and throw the whole damn thing to Hillary.' Conway also claims her husband 'abandoned me for Twitter' and that she told Trump his Access Hollywood tape was 'disgusting' in her new book Trump wound up losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton but swept the race with an Electoral College victory. 'What do you mean, I can't?' Trump is described as 'firing back' at Conway. She reportedly reasoned that it was too late to quit because early voting had already begun. 'I know you don't like to lose...but I also know you don't like to quit,' Conway recalled telling Trump in the Sunday excerpt. She said he asked: 'Will I lose? Will we lose? Can we still win?' Conway's account claimed she tore into Trump himself over the October 2016 Access Hollywood tape, calling his comments 'disgusting' and 'reprehensible' despite defending them on television at the time. The meeting reportedly took place in Trump Tower - not in the former real estate executive's office, but rather 'around the corner from the elevator landing on the 24th floor,' according to the Beast. And Trump's reported uncertainty about his ultimately successful presidential bid is a stark contrast to his public comments that same day. He posted to his now-suspended Twitter account at the time: 'The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly - I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN!' In her memoir, Conway also accused her husband of having 'abandoned me for Twitter.' Discussing coming home after work, an excerpt in ABC News read, Conway said: 'While I was minding dishes, dogs, laundry, managing adolescent dramas and traumas, George would be just steps away from me, tucked away in his home office, plotting against my boss and me.' Trump would frequently return fire at George Conway, mocking him as 'Mr. Kellyanne' and 'the husband from hell.' Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi's role as the head of ISIS meant he carried an American bounty of $10 million - yet at other times in his complicated life, the man nicknamed 'The Professor' had also been a U.S. informant. During his rise to the top of the terrorist group he was known as cruel but popular figure among the ISIS rank and file. He replaced Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi after his predecessor blew himself up with a suicide vest during a U.S. raid in 2019. His real name was Amir Mohammed Saeed Abdul-Rahman al-Mawla. But on being elevated to the top job he took the nom de guerre of al-Qurayshi - a name that signifies links to the tribe of the Prophe Muhammad. In his two years at the top, he kept himself hidden away. There are almost no public photos of him in existence and he did not take part in ISIS propaganda videos. Earlier in his career he is believed to have been an officer in Saddam Hussein's military who forged an alliance with al-Baghdadi in prison before becoming his enforcer and chief policymaker. Al-Qurayshi was once known to U.S. officials as a cooperative informant, who divulged details to American forces on the Islamic State in Iraq. He was captured in 2007 or 2008, and spent months in an American detention camp in Iraq. Defense Department documents described an at-times 'cooperative' informant who under interrogation revealed details on the group that he would go on to lead. According to a statement by Amaq, ISIS's press agency, Baghdadi appointed Al-Qurayshi to run the group's day-to-day operations in August 2019, making him the heir-apparent before his former boss killed himself during the raid by US forces in Syria. In 2020, the U.S. doubled the bounty on the new ISIS leader's head to $10 million, as they released this photo of him In 2020, the U.S. doubled the bounty on the new ISIS leader's head to $10 million. But al-Qurayshi maintained a low profile - he did not appear in public, and rarely released any audio recordings. His influence and day-to-day involvement in the groups operations is not known, and he has no known successor. Al-Qurayshi - also known as Hajji Abdullah al-Afari - was born in Tal Afar, a Sunni-majority town in Iraq, in 1976 - before joining the military while Saddam Hussein ruled the country. Following the invasion of Iraq by the US in 2003 and President Bush's move to disband the country's military, he found himself locked in jail accused of having links to al-Qaeda. Languishing in a cell at Camp Bucca, al-Qurayshi formed a close bond with Baghdadi, who was then fomenting the extremist religious code that would provide the ideological grounding for the death cult that became ISIS. After his release al-Qurayshi served as a religious commissar and a general sharia judge for al-Qaeda, according to researchers at the S. Rajartnam School of International Studies in Singapore. Al-Qurayshi was tasked with establishing an institute for training judges and clergymen in the campus of al-Imam al-Adham College in Mosul, likely in part where 'The Professor' nickname came from. When ISIS emerged as a splinter group from Al Qaeda's Syrian branch he changed allegiances, where he became Baghdadi's enforcer. Working close to Baghdadi,he was responsible for eliminating anyone who disagreed with his style of leadership, which is where he earned his other nickname, 'The Destroyer'. From there he became the group's chief policymaker and legislator, known for enforcing its strict brand of Islam and Sharia Law punishments. Caliphate leader: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi detonated his own suicide vest during the targeted raid on his lair in Syria's Idlib province and killed three of his children in the blast. He is shown in a still from a video released in April, having not been seen since he spoke at the Grand Mosque in Mosul in 2014 He is thought to have personally welcomed Baghdadi into Mosul in 2014 after ISIS took the city - announcing their presence as the world's foremost terror group. It was from the minaret of the Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul that Baghdadi gave a speech announcing the formation of ISIS's so-called Caliphate. In capturing Mosul, ISIS had killed thousands of Yazidi residents, and enslaved Yazidi women under the guise of enforcing Sharia law. There were disagreements among ISIS leadership about enslaving the Yazidi women, but it was al-Qurayshi led the organization's more extremist leaders in insisting on it, according to News Lines Magazine. President Joe Biden said al-Qurayshi was directly responsible for the prison strike, as well as the mass killings of the Yazidi people in Iraq in 2014. 'He was responsible for the recent brutal attack on a prison in northeast Syria ... He was the driving force behind the genocide of the Yazidi people,' Biden said Thursday. 'We all remember the gut-wrenching stories, mass slaughters that wiped out entire villages, thousands of women and young girls sold into slavery, rape used as a weapon of war.' On August 7, 2019 Amaq announced that al-Qurayshi had taken over day-to-day running of the terror group, while Baghdadi concentrated on drumming up religious fervour in the group's aims. The selection of al-Qurayshi drummed up debate within ISIS, even reaching its members in prison, over whether he was of Turkmen or Arab origin. The 'caliph' of ISIS must be a descendant of the prophet Mohammed, therefore an Arab. A Syrian man takes a picture of a blood soaked kitchen at the scene of a US anti-terror raid in Atmeh, Idlib Al-Qurayshi was keen to prove his Arab origin. Until 2020, U.S. and Iraqi officials believed the head of ISIS was a Turkman, which they weaponized to undermine his claim to leadership. Late reports confirmed his Arab descent. Al-Qurayshi spent his last days in Idlib province, an area held by insurgent groups hostile to IS. More Republican senators say they are open to red flag laws on guns in the wake of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School that resulted in the deaths of at least 19 children and two adults. A federal red flag law would allow authorities to temporarily take guns away from people considered to be a threat to themselves or others. Several states have similar laws on the books. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, whose state has a red flag law, said it's a good bipartisan path forward. 'I believe that we should look at enacting a red flag law based on the one we have in Maine, which has due process rights and involves a medical professional in the decision,' she said Tuesday. 'I don't know the details of the shooter, but it's hard to believe he wasn't mentally ill.' Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas said he would talk with Democratic Senator Chris Murphy about red flag legislation Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut has taken the lead on gun legislation negotiations for Democrats Collins, along with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, negotiated a red flag bill after two 2019 mass shootings in San Antonio and Dayton, Ohio - but it failed to garner the necessary GOP votes to move foward. Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas also signaled an openess on the matter. 'There's a whole list of things that we can consider but, I think, particularly, mental health, access to mental health treatment, is high on that list,' he said. He said he will speak to Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut on red flag laws. Murphy has taken the lead on negotiations for Democrats. 'I'm hopeful there is there's growing momentum. But I have had failed plenty of times before,' Murphy said on Thursday. And Republican Senator Pat Toomey said Thursday that he hopes to talk to Cornyn and Murphy about expanding background checks to all commercial gun sales. He conceded he doesn't have 60 votes on the issue but told reporters on Capitol Hill he thinks he can get there. Many lawmakers think a red flag law has a better chance of becoming law than expanded background checks or address loopholes on waiting periods. Bills on those matters is being discussed but appears less likely to garner the 10 Republicans votes that Democrats need to move legislation forward in the Senate. Nineteen states currently have red flag laws, including in GOP-controlled states such as Florida and Indiana. Republican support will be necessary as Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have both said they won't support removing the filibuster on this issue to advance any legislation. Both of them said hey would work with Republicans on a bipartisan measure. 'I'm going to start having conversations again with colleagues on both sides of the aisle,' said Sinema. 'If there is a chance for us to do something to help make it safer for kids in this country, we owe it to the country to do it for real, not just talking points.' Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, whose state has a red flag law, said it's a good bipartisan path forward Republican Senator Pat Toomey said that he hopes to talk to Cornyn and Murphy about expanding background checks to all commercial gun sales But many Democrats are pessimistic they can garner they Republican votes they need. 'I do not think on this issue there are 10 Republicans that are serious about doing the things that will make us safer,' said Democratic Senator Cory Booker. He described lawmakers' reaction to mass shootings a 'perverse version of Groundhog Day, where we are literally seeing this over and over and over again with nothing changing.' Americans seem to agree. They have little hope in Congress' ability to solve the problem, with a Reuters/Ipsos poll on Tuesday showing that just 35% believe lawmakers will act. Discussions are expected to take place throughout the Capitol on Thursday - the last day senators are in town ahead of their two-week Memorial Day recess. President Joe Biden challenged lawmakers to tighten nation's gun laws in a speech at the White House on Wednesday. He asked 'where's the backbone' and 'where's the courage to stand up to a very powerful lobby,' which is a reference to the gun industry. 'The idea that an 18 year old can walk into a store, and buy weapons of war, designed and marketed to kill, is I think just wrong. It just violates common sense. Even the manufacturer, the inventor of that weapon thought that as well. You know, where is the backbone? Where is the courage? To stand up to a very powerful lobby?,' he said. Biden has been pushing for Congress to reup the expired assault weapons ban. The federal assault weapons ban, which was in effect from 1994 to 2004, likely would have included the AR-style rifle the shooter at Robb Elementary school used. A serving Metropolitan Police officer has denied sexually assaulting a male colleague ahead of a trial next year. PC Joseph Demir is accused of committing the assault at Hendon Training School in North London on March 10, 2020. The defendant is accused of inappropriately touching his colleague's groin over his clothing, and appeared at Harrow Crown Court today. The 24-year-old pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and will go on trial next May. PC Joseph Demir, pictured arriving at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a previous hearing last month, denies one charge of sexually assaulting a colleague The officer, who is attached to the North West Basic Command Unit, has been placed on restricted duties and has been released on bail. Among his bail conditions are terms that he does not contact his alleged victim directly or indirectly. The alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, reported the offence on July 1, 2020. PC Demir appeared at Harrow Crown Court, pictured, today where he was told he will go on trial next May During an 18-minute plea hearing at court today Demir, wearing a dark blue suit, a light shirt and a blue tie, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth, and to enter his not guilty plea. The 24-year-old pleaded not guilty to sexual assault at Harrow Crown Court today, and will go on trial next May. He is due to stand trial at Harrow Crown Court on May 8, 2023. Demir will face misconduct proceedings at a tribunal if found guilty. As a clearer picture emerges of Tuesday's horrific school shooting in Texas, there are growing questions over why it took so long for police and school resource officers to get to the killer. Salvador Ramos, 18, managed to bypass a school resource officer and two cops on his way into Robb Elementary School at 11.30am. It wasn't until 1.06pm that police in Uvalde finally announced that he had been shot dead. What is unclear is why it took police so long to kill him, what exactly happened in the classroom in the hour between then, and what police plan to do now to make sure it never happens again. The Texas Department of Safety has now opened an investigation into police response to the shooting. Crosses with the names of the 21 victims from Tuesday's shooting on Thursday. Pastor Daniel Myers is shown praying in front of them 1) Why didn't school resource officer stop Ramos at school entrance when he first arrived? A school resource officer whose job it is to stop shooters was unable to stop Ramos from strolling into the school with an AR-15. The gunman instead bypassed him 'unimpeded', according to sources, to make his way inside. That resource officer has not yet been identified. There are at least two at Uvalde Elementary School. 2) Who were the two cops who encountered him first and why weren't they able to stop him either? Within seconds of arriving at the school and before he got into the classroom, two other law enforcement officers were there. They followed the shooter to the classroom, according to law enforcement sources cited by The New York Times, but he shot at them and then barricaded himself. They then retreated, and a tactical SWAT team who were nearby raiding stash houses arrived at the scene and took over. 3) How was the shooter able to barricade himself inside classroom with kids? Once he got to the classroom, Ramos barricaded himself inside. It took at least another hour before police announced that they had killed him. In that time, one law enforcement source says SWAT teams were struggling to breach the door that he'd locked. By then, he had murdered 19 children and two teachers. It remains unclear what kind of doors were in the classroom and if they were self-locking and designed to keep shooters out in an active situation. 4) What took so long to get into the classroom here he was barricaded? SWAT teams arrived at the school at around the same time he was inside shooting kids. They rushed to the classroom but they couldnt get inside. Instead, they had to wait for a staff member to produce a key that would open the door and finally give them access. 5) Did cops call out telling kids to yell for help if they needed it? One survivor told how he and the other kids were hiding in the classroom when the shooter emerged. He says that cops then told them to yell if they need help. One girl did but was then found by the shooter, he said. Its unclear if cops did instruct the kids to yell out for help, and where exactly they were at the time. 6) What were the 150 police officers at the scene doing other than holding back parents? Over the course of the hour, while SWAT teams struggled to get into the classroom where the shooter barricaded himself, frantic parents were gathering outside trying to get to their kids. It had already been announced that there was an active shooter at the scene. Parents tried desperately to get into the school when they arrived to see police officers standing outside with guns. They demanded to know why those officers weren't also trying to get inside to find the shooter - as they wanted to. Video shows some of those cops holding down parents in the school yard instead and yelling 'we're taking care of it.' A teenage girl from Germany says twisted Texas gunman Salvador Ramos warned her he was going to shoot up an elementary school 15 minutes before he opened fire killing 19 students and two teachers. The 15-year-old, known only as Cece, and 18-year-old Ramos had been messaging over Instagram and FaceTime for weeks after meeting online. Screenshots of the pair's correspondence, provided by the girl to CNN, reveal they were exchanging messages just after 11:01am CT - less than half hour before Ramos stormed Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The 18-year-old gunman had earlier told the Cece how he had shot his grandmother in the face and was planning to attack an elementary school. 'I just shot my grandma in her head,' he wrote at 11:21am. 'Ima go shoot up a[n] elementary school rn [right now],' he wrote seconds later. The deranged shooter killed 19 kids and two teachers and wounded dozens more less than half hour later. The girls says she now regrets not reporting the chilling texts to cops until after the massacre. Salvador Ramos legally purchased two AR-15 style rifles, including the one he used in Tuesday's mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas attack after his 18th birthday last week Screenshots of the pair's correspondence, provided by the girl to CNN , reveal they were exchanging messages just after 11:01am CT - less than half hour before Ramos stormed Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Pictured is mockup of the exchange One video at the scene appears to show Ramos, 18 approach the school while what sounds like gunfire is going off in the background. Minutes before, the teen had aired his murderous urges to a 15-year-old girl from Germany that he had been talking to for weeks before the attack 'Maybe I couldve changed the outcome,' Cece told The New York Times Wednesday. 'I just could never guess that hed actually do this.' The girl told the outlet she read the messages as soon as he sent them but was 'curious' as to whether he was serious. After the shooting appeared on the news the next day, she said she contacted US authorities. The girl, who lives in Frankfurt, said she began chatting with Ramos on May 9. Ramos reportedly sent the girl selfie videos and spoke of plans to eventually visit her in Europe, videos and text messages viewed by CNN reveal. The gunman reportedly sent a screenshot of a Google flight itinerary from San Antonio, 80 miles from where the teen lived with his grandmother. 'Im coming over soon,' he reportedly wrote. Ramos turned 18 a week later on May 16. Cece said it was about this time that she received a video call from the shooter from a gun store, where he told her he was purchasing an AR-15 rifle. In the days that followed, Cece says Ramos' remarks grew more concerning, and began to revolve more around firearms. Ramos excitedly texted the girl on Monday, the night before the shooting, bosting about receiving a box containing ammunition for the rifle, CNN reported. The teen reportedly bragged about how the ammo was particularly deadly, citing how it expanded on impact. Cece said Ramos also showed her over FaceTime a black bag containing several magazines of ammunition and at least one gun. At some point, the girl asked what Ramos planned to do with the weapons haul. He told her it was a surprise and to 'just wait for it,' she said. Ramos and the girl spoke again on a video call at 10am on the day of the shooting during which he showed off the all-black outfit he would eventually don during the massacre. He told the girl he could not let her in on his plans until his grandfather left the house. Ramos texted her again 11:06am, saying that he was 'waiting for' his grandmother, who he said was 'on the phone with AT&T' about his cell phone. He used a vulgar expletive when referring to the woman. 'Ima do something to her rn,' he reportedly wrote. The screenshots do not show Cece replying, according to CNN. Ramos' last known address, his grandmother's residence, was taped off by police Tuesday after the shooting. Before heading to the school, Ramos shot his grandma at the domicile. At 11:06 am, Ramos reportedly wrote to the girl, 'I just shot my grandma in her head.' He then told her was planning 'to shoot up a[sic] elementary school' Ramos grew up in Hood Street before moving to his grandmother's house some months ago, neighbors claimed. The girl who spoke to Ramos, named only as Cece and from Frankfurt, says she regrets not telling US authorities of the declarations Ramos made in their correspondence He sent a message at 11:21am revealing that he had shot his 66-year-old grandmother Cecilia Gonzalez, and that he was going to 'shoot up a[sic] school.' Ramos crashed a stolen car into the school at 11:30am before storming a classroom and launching into his sickening attack. A school resource officer was at the scene but he failed to stop him from making his way inside. Ramos barricaded himself inside the classroom until a SWAT team breached the door and shot him around an hour later. Sources say police were struggling to get into the classroom and needed a key to open the door. A border patrol agent was eventually able to get inside and take out the gunman who was declared dead at 1.06pm. The Uvalde shooting was the deadliest since 20 elementary-age children and six staff were killed at the Sandy Hook school in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012. Questions remain over why it took police so long to get into the classroom where the kids were trapped with the gunman. Frustrated parents were standing outside the school begging cops to go inside when the shooting was unfolding. Advertisement EasyJet has left thousands of passengers stranded after cancelling 200 flights, while a WizzAir pilot lost his temper over a runway delay and families have been forced to sleep on airport floors amid staffing chaos. The cancellations came as holidaymakers were today stuck in 'apocalyptic queues' across the UK as British Airways cancelled 114 flights at Heathrow, customers at Cardiff had to wait nearly 40 hours for a flight and queues stretched into the car park at Manchester. But scenes at Gatwick were today described as a 'total shambles' and 'embarrassment' as pictures emerged showing crowded departure halls today. EasyJet grounded around 200 planes, including 30 at its biggest base Gatwick alone, due to 'IT systems issues' affecting flights between 1pm and 3pm - though the issues may cause a knock-on effect into the evening. A further dozen flights were grounded at Manchester, while Luton is also understood to have been affected by the chaos. Destinations include Rhodes, Santorini and Mykonos in Greece and Antalya in Turkey, The Independent reports. Jamie West travelled from Stratford-upon-Avon to Gatwick today for an EasyJet flight to Bologna for the Mugello MotoGP, but arrived at the airport to find his flight had been cancelled without reason. He told MailOnline: 'I left for Gatwick at 1am and parked up at around 3.30am. I got all my bags out and got the bus to the north terminal - then I realised I had an email at 2am saying my flight had been cancelled. 'I continued up to the terminal to see if there was anything that could be done, but it was just chaos. I was told there are a lot of people in the same situation as me. 'I had hired a car in Bologna to take me to Mugello, so I have had to cancel that. The tickets cost around 140 for the weekend and I'll struggle to get that back. I also paid 79 for parking plus the petrol to get to Gatwick and back - that was a full tank. 'You walk in there [Gatwick] and it is just chaos. I dread to think how many people were there. If they don't have the staff, then why are they selling tickets for the flights?' It comes after one family was forced to sleep on the floor on Monday night when at least 23 flights to and from the airport were cancelled at the last minute. Around 200 flights were cancelled by EasyJet today, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at Gatwick, Manchester and Luton (stock picture) Passengers took to social media to blast the delays, with one holidaymaker warning other passengers to 'not even bother coming to the airport' In response to today's delays, a statement said: 'easyJet can confirm that the earlier IT systems issues have now been rectified. 'Unfortunately, they resulted in some cancellations earlier today and while we expect to operate most of our remaining flying programme some may still be subject to some disruption in the coming hours. 'We advise customers due to travel with us to continue to check Flight Tracker for the status of their flight before making their way to the airport. 'We apologise for the inconvenience caused and customers can apply for compensation in line with regulations.' Elsewhere, frustrated holidaymakers also waited more than 40 hours to board a TUI flight from Cardiff Airport to the Greek island of Zakynthos. Passengers said there were angry scenes caused by a lack of information and claims that people, including children and the elderly, had been left with little or no food. The flight was due to leave Cardiff at 2pm on Tuesday, but passengers were still waiting to fly out on Thursday morning. Britons are already facing fears of a summer of cancelled holidays with Passport Office staff battling a backlog of half a million applications and airports struggling to cope with crippling staff shortages. Airports laid off thousands of staff as demand for travel and revenue plummeted during the pandemic. But as Covid restrictions were lifted earlier this year, demand has surged and airports have been left frantically trying to recruit new staff. Industry chiefs have warned that airlines 'are simply unable to cope with that demand due to a lack of resources' and warned that the 'nightmare' disruption - of the sort seen over Easter, where hundreds of flights were cancelled by airlines including British Airways and easyJet - could last all year. But the frustration has not been limited to passengers. One holidaymaker caught the moment a frustrated WizzAir pilot ranted over the tannoy, while they were stationary on the runway of Gatwick Airport during a reported seven-hour-delay. 'I don't need this!' He told the exhausted holidaymakers, who were stuck in their seats waiting to set off to their destination of Larnaca, Cyprus. A passenger on a WizzAir flight to Cyprus recorded the moment the pilot lost his cool and started ranting over the tannoy during a 'seven-hour-delay' at Gatwick Airport Passengers at Gatwick Airport wait for information on their flights this morning in a crowded departures hall - amid staffinmg shortages at security and check-in desks Passengers pictured in lengthy queues attempting to gain entry to Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport amid staffing shortages after it laid off 2,000 staff during the pandemic A frustrated passenger naps across three seats at Cardiff Airport after holidaymakers travelling to the Greek island of Zakynthos waited more than 40 hours to board the TUI flight Passengers at Cardiff Airport (pictured) say there have been angry scenes caused by a lack of information and claim that people, including children and the elderly, have been left with little or no food Crowded scenes in a departure hall at Cardiff Airport today as holidaymakers were left waiting more than 40 hours for a TUI flight Frustrated passengers at Exeter Airport had to wait nearly 20 hours to board a TUI flight to Crete yesterday due to 'technical and operational issues' Passengers at Manchester Airport today (pictured) also complained of huge queues and took to social media to vent their fury Pictures from inside Manchester Airport today showed crowded departure halls as passengers waited for information on their flights Passenger Hannah Mace filmed the moment in disbelief and uploaded the video to TikTok. 'You know, I don't need this, the crew doesn't need this. We are doing what we can to get you out of here. It's out of my control. Completely out of my control. 'We're doing everything we can. If you want to get off, I'll let you off, no problem.' On Tuesday morning travellers complained of up to four hour delays, with one Twitter user describing their experience as 'horrible' and 'grim'. A spokesman for Gatwick Airport tweeted in response: 'Hi, we're really sorry for any delay. We are operating a moving queue system and staff are working hard to process passengers as quickly as possible through Security Search.' And in response to today's delays, a statement said: 'Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing IT systems issues which means that flights due to depart between 1pm and 3pm today may be impacted. 'Our team of IT specialists is working to restore the systems as soon as possible. We advise customers due to travel with us today to continue to check Flight Tracker to check the status of their flight before making their way to the airport. 'We apologise for the inconvenience caused and would like to thank customers for their patience as we work to resolve this as soon as possible.' Airport delays have plagued holidaymakers since Covid restrictions were lifted earlier this year. Passenger numbers dropped by as much as 75 per cent between 2019 and 2020, from 297million to just 74million in 2020. This, along with Covid absences, has been behind long queues at check-in and security at airports across the UK - including Heathrow, Birmingham and Manchester British Airways cancelled 118 short and medium-haul flights from Heathrow yesterday, with a further 114 called off today. The airline has said the cancellations were planned, with customers informed well in advance, but its staff have been fighting against IT issues for weeks and crew from partners Finnair have been brought in to complete scheduled flights. Yesterday, queues at Heathrow were described as 'an absolute shambles' as passengers voiced their fury on social media amid a lack of airport staff and Border Force personnel. One holidaymaker said: 'Total shambles at Heathrow this morning. Gates are failing on about 50% of people and one operative on the seek assistance queue. Sort this nonsense! Absolutely ridiculous.' Another added: 'British Airways terrible flights and customer service during our honeymoon. A crowded hall at Manchester Airport on Wednesday as holidaymakers faces queues stretching out the building from 4am Delayed passengers at Heathrow and Gatwick have taken to social media to complain about 'absolutely ridiculous' queues 'Two hours delayed outbound, damaged suitcase and now a missed connection causing a five hour delay in Heathrow on our return to top it off!' A third said: 'Im normally full of praise for your airport. But today was simply shambolic, Im sorry to say.' Such are the delays, the airport is currently advising passengers to arrive for their flights three hours in advance. Elsewhere, EasyJet today cancelled nine flights to European destinations at short notice - two days after families were said to have been left sleeping on the floor when it grounded 23 flights on Tuesday. Bosses at Gatwick also had to apologise after holidaymakers were left waiting for four hours to collect their bags on Tuesday - as passengers described queues as 'hell on earth'. The airport said these queues were temporary and dissipated relatively quickly. And furious passengers at Exeter Airport were forced to wait nearly 20 hours to board two TUI flights to Crete and Rhodes due to 'technical and operational issues'. The flights had been due to leave at 3.10pm on Tuesday, but passengers were taken to a hotel overnight and ferried back to the airport at 3am the following day - before the plane finally left the ground at 1.45am. The issues stem from unprecedented airline staff shortages caused by Covid self-isolation and mass layoffs during the pandemic. Manchester Airport is among those particularly suffering, with passengers regularly facing lengthy queues as it frantically tries to hire hundreds of new employees to combat delays. It comes after passenger numbers plummeted during lockdown, leading to financial issues resulting in more than 2,000 redundancies at the airport. Photos taken at Gatwick Airport on Monday, May 23, showing travellers stuck in long security queues amid staffing shortages The airport admitted earlier this month that it is 'unfortunately some way short of where we need to be' as passengers were advised to arrive three hours before their flights over the May Day bank holiday. A statement earlier this week added: 'All parts of the aviation sector are experiencing challenges linked to the rapid recovery from the pandemic and we are working hard with all our partners, including handling agents, airlines and others, to deliver the best possible service we can in the circumstances.' But Ministers have been accused of overseeing 'cripplingly slow' security checks for new staff - delaying the process of hiring new employees to meet travel demand. It is a similar situation at Birmingham, too, with pictures regularly showing frustrated passengers in lengthy queues within crowded halls. Problems at airports are compounded by delays over passport applications. Passport Office staff have privately complained their systems are not fit for purpose as the beleaguered Government agency battles a backlog of half a million applications. Thousands of summer holidays could be cancelled over the delays, with workers warning the current crisis is just the beginning of a very lengthy scenario, according to a cache of 263 internal messages obtained by The Times. Staff have hit out at their creaking IT systems and accused Teleperformance which handles the passport advice line of giving customers poor, misleading advice and exacerbating public anger. Experts have warned that passport delays could cost Britons up to 1 billion in cancelled holidays over the summer, with only half of all applications estimated to be processed on time. Advertisement Amber Heard broke down on the stand as she told the courtroom how Johnny Depp's 'smear campaign' against her has upended her life. Asked by her own attorney how she has suffered as a result of Depp's statement, Heard said, 'I am harassed, humiliated, threatened every single day. 'Even just walking into this courtroom, sitting here in front of the world, having the worst parts of my life used to humiliate me. People want to kill me and they tell me so every day. 'People want to put my baby in the microwave and they tell me that. Johnny threatened, promised me that if I ever left him he'd make me think of him every single day I lived.' Heard has a one-year-old daughter, Oonagh Paige Heard, who she welcomed via surrogate. Heard has not publicly revealed who the father is. Taking a jab at Depp, who has been seen laughing, smirking and making jokes throughout the trial, Heard said, 'I'm not sitting in this courtroom snickering. I'm not sitting in this courtroom laughing and making snide jokes. This is horrible, this painful and this is humiliating for any human being to go through. Perhaps it's easy to go forget that, I'm a human being.' 'I don't deserve this. The attacks on me the campaign that Johnny has elicited millions of people to do on his behalf, torture me,' she added. Amber Heard tearfully told the court how the claims from Johnny Depp have upended her life 'People want to put my baby in the microwave and they tell me that. Johnny threatened, promised me that if I ever left him he'd make me think of him every single day I lived,' she said. Heard has a one-year-old daughter, Oonagh Paige Heard, who she welcomed via surrogate Asked by her own attorney how she has suffered as a result of Depp's statement, Heard said, 'I am harassed, humiliated, threatened every single day' Heard was asked how Depp's statements and threats have continued to manifest today. 'In the harassment the humiliation, the campaign against me that's echoed every single day on social media nad now in cameras in this room. Every single day I live this trauma. 'My hands shake, I wake up screamingmy friends have to live with a set of unspoken rules about how not to scare me, how to not touch me, not surprise me. Intimate partners have rules about how they can touch me. 'I have rules about medical professionals.gynecologists I see - for me not to have a panic attack or triggering event, where I relive the trauma, even if I'm training for a movie, Aquaman 2. A trigger happens and I have a meltdown, I have to deal with that because of the damage I have.' Heard said she is 'high functioning' because she has 'found a solution to the pain,' which Heard said is charitable work. 'I woke up every day with panic attacks until I realized I could do something about it. I'm not a saint, I'm not trying to present myself as one but I selfishly found relief in using what I live through to give a voice to people who don't have a voice. 'I would not wish this situation on my worst enemy. As I stand here today I can't have a career, I can't have people associate with me and I can't do charity work.' Heard said she has received 'hundreds' of death threats regularly and 'thousands' since the trial began. 'People mocking my testimony about being assaulted. Making fun ofit's been agonizing, painful and was humiliating thing I've ever had to go through. I hope no one has to go through something like this. 'I just want Johnny to leave me alone. I've said that for years now and I thought he would.' 'Johnny has taken enough of my voice. I have the right to tell my story, my voice and my name. He took it long enough. I have a right as an American to talk about what happened to me, to own my story and my truth. I have that right. I hope to get my voice back and I've said that from day one.' Heard was asked how Depp's statements and threats have continued to manifest today. 'In the harassment the humiliation, the campaign against me that's echoed every single day on social media nad now in cameras in this room. Every single day I live this trauma' Dr. Richard Gilbert, a surgeon and expert in the field of orthopedic surgery, said that Depp's fingertip could have been sliced off in Australia when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him. Heard has claimed that Depp smashed it against a wall while bashing a phone in a drink and drug-fueled rage. Dr. Gilbert said that Depp had a comminuted fracture which meant it was broken in multiple pieces and was caused by 'some type of blunt force'. Depp also sustained loss of the tissue towards the little finger. Dr. Gilbert said: 'This appeared based upon my review of the pictures to be some type of sharp laceration, it represented a clean edge of the wound'. The court was shown X-rays of Depp's finger showing the tip had several breaks in it. Dr. Gilbert said that 'I do believe' that Depp's explanation could be the reason for the injury. He said: 'A vodka bottle which is a hard object would have crushed the tip of the finger resulting comminuted fracture 'As the vodka bottle broke it would have lacerated the finger resulting in this injury'. According to Dr. Gilbert, Heard's account of the injury was 'highly unlikely'. He said: 'When an injury is caused by punching against a wall or hard object it's extremely rare to see an injury to the tips of the fingers'. Instead you had injuries to the knuckles which he said were known as 'boxer fractures.' Dr Gilbert disagreed with an analysis by Heard's finger surgery expert, Dr. Richard Moore, who has told the court that a vodka bottle wouldn't have enough force to cause the injury. He said: 'I believe a vodka bottle that was thrown from a distance was more than sufficient force to result in this fracture and soft tissue loss.' Dr. Richard Gilbert, a surgeon and expert in the field of orthopedic surgery, said that Depp's fingertip could have been sliced off in Australia when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him The court was shown X-rays of Depp's finger showing the tip had several breaks in it. Dr. Gilbert said that 'I do believe' that Depp's explanation could be the reason for the injury The defamation trial was shown a photo of the actor with a mark below his eye the day before he claimed Amber Heard punched him on his 2015 honeymoon. Depp was cross examined by Heard's lawyer Benjamin Rottenborn Wednesday who asked him about his claims regarding being punched on his honeymoon. The court was shown photos posted on social media the day before Depp and Heard got on the Orient Express in July 2015. They showed Depp with a mark below his left eye, the same eye that he says Heard hit him on during the trip, Rottenborn said. Rottenborn said that the dark mark was the same. But Depp protested that a 'side light' would create such an effect. Rottenborn pointed out the photos - showing Depp holding a baby - were not taken from the side. Depp claims: 'Light on the side will cause (eye) bone to appear sunken.' Rottenborn said: 'Whatever mark it is, sunburn, shadow, you had that same mark before you got on the train.' Depp shot back: 'It's pretty difficult to get a sunburn on the train.' Johnny Depp was cross examined by Amber Heard's lawyer Benjamin Rottenborn Wednesday who asked him about his claims regarding being punched on his honeymoon The court was shown photos posted on social media the day before Depp and Heard got on the Orient Express in July 2015 The jury were shown a photo of Depp and Heard posing with the staff of the Orient Express. Depp said that it showed his eye 'a little bit bugged out' Depp protested that a 'side light' would create such an effect. Rottenborn pointed out the photos - showing Depp holding a baby - were not taken from the side. Depp claims: 'Light on the side will cause (eye) bone to appear sunken' Heard has claimed that Depp became violent during their honeymoon on the Orient Express in August 2015 and punched her repeatedly in their car The court was shown another copy of the photo of Depp on board the Orient Express posted on Facebook. Depp claims: 'That looks like the eyes have been photoshopped.' Heard has claimed that Depp became violent during their honeymoon on the Orient Express in August 2015 and punched her repeatedly in their car. Depp said that they did take the train from Bangkok, Thailand, to Singapore but his account was very different. Depp said: 'There were times when it was very agreeable, very nice and then there were times when something had become dissatisfactory for her and she would start then rant, the blooming of a fight would be on deck there. 'At one point - I don't remember it lasting long - I took a pretty good shot to the face, to the eye, to somewhere up here. I had a bit of a shiner but it all went, ended and everything got fine again and we'd go to dinner and it was all fine'.' The jury were shown a photo of Depp and Heard posing with the staff of the Orient Express. Depp said that it showed his eye 'a little bit bugged out.' He said: 'These things could happen very quickly. If you disagreed. I don't look like myself much but it certainly looks like me with a black eye.' Depp was asked if the image had been Photoshopped as Heard claimed. He said: 'It would be difficult to start getting into digital processing with a number of people on the shot.' The jury were shown a photo of Depp and Heard posing with the manager of the Raffles Hotel in Singapore at the end of their trip. Depp said you could see his left eye is 'swollen and a bit of a shiner there'. Amerie Jo Garza, 10 Amerie Jo Garza, a fourth grader at Robb Elementary, was one of 19 students confirmed to be killed Tuesday morning by Ramos, who cops say was carrying a handgun and an AR-15 during the attack that also killed two teachers in the classroom. Her grandmother, Berlinda Irene Arreola, said the 10-year-old was killed as she tried to phone 911 while sitting next to her best friend, who ended up 'covered in her blood.' Uziyah Garcia, 8 Uziyah Garcia, the youngest victim at age eight, was also killed in the attack. The child's family announced he was killed hours after announcing he was among the many children unaccounted for following the tragedy. The boy's grandfather, Manny Renfro, broke the news early Wednesday after being notified by authorities. '[He was] the sweetest little boy that I've ever known,' Renfro said. 'I'm not just saying that because he was my grandkid.' Makenna Elrod, 10 Makenna Elrod, 10, had also been among the missing in the chaos that followed the massacre, with her father, Brandon Elrod telling reporters at the time he feared 'she may not be alive.' Her death was eventually confirmed by a family friend on Wednesday. 'It's pretty sad what this world's coming to,' the girl's father told local outlet KTRK after the shooting. A mother of one of Makenna's friends lamented the loss in a post to Facebook. 'Sweet Makenna Rest in Paradise!! My heart is shattered as my daughter Chloe loved her so much!!' the mom wrote. A relative Wednesday confirmed that the girl had been among the victims. Xavier Lopez, 10 Xavier Lopez, 10, was the first student victim to be identified as one of Ramos' victims. The child's mother, Felicha Martinez, told the Washington Post Tuesday that just hours before the massacre, the mom had been at the school to see her son participate an honor roll ceremony. She took a picture showing her son showing off his certificate. In the last exchange she had with the child, the mom heartbreakingly told the boy that she was proud of him and that she loved him, giving him a hug goodbye - not knowing it would be the last time she would see him alive. 'He was funny, never serious and his smile that smile I will never forget,' she recalled after learning of his death from police. 'It would always cheer anyone up.' Eliahana Torres, 10 Eliahana Cruz Torres, 10, had also been missing for hours until she was confirmed to be among the dead. Adolfo Cruz, her great-grandfather, said she didn't want to attend school the day of the shooting - but was told by her family that she had to attend. He said he remained outside the school gates throughout the night until he leanrned of her fate from local authorities. 'I hope she is alive,' he said at the time. Torres was an avid baseball player and played the sport in a local little league. Ellie Lugo, 10 Ellie Lugo was named as a victim of Tuesday's attack by her parents, with Steven Garcia and Jennifer Lugo confirming her death several hours after she was listed among the missing. 'It's hard to issue out a statement on anything right now my mind is going at 1000 miles per hour but I do wanna send our thoughts and prayers to those who also didn't make it home tonight!!! Our Ellie was a doll and was the happiest ever,' Steven Lugo said Wednesday. 'Mom and Dad love you never forget that and please try and stay by our side.' Nevaeh Bravo Nevaeh Bravo was confirmed to be among the dead late Tuesday, after her cousin posted on social media following the shooting to ask for helping the girl. Around 9 pm, she broke the news on Twitter. 'Unfortunately my beautiful Nevaeh was one of the many victims from todays tragedy,' she wrote. Sje said the schoolchild was 'flying high' and asked for the family to be kept in people's prayers 'Our Nevaeh has been found. She is flying with the angels above. We love you Navaeh very much princess.' 'Thank you for the support and help,' she wrote. 'Rest in peace my sweet girl, you didn't deserve this.' Bravo's age could not immediately be confirmed. Tess Marie Mata Tess Marie Mata was also among those to perish in the attack, her sister, Faith Mata, revealed in a post to Facebook Wednesday. 'I honestly have no words just sadness, confusion, and anger,' she wrote. 'I'm sad because we will never get to tag team on mom and dad again and tell each other how much we mean to each other, I'm confused because how can something like this happen to my sweet, caring, and beautiful sister, and I'm angry because a coward took you from us.' Rojelio Torres, 10 Rojelio Torres, 10, was initially reported missing by his father, but on Wednesday was confirmed dead by his family. A person who said she was the boy's cousin wrote on Twitter: 'It breaks my heart to say my rojelio is now with the angels I'll forever miss you and love you my angel.' The child's father , Federico Torres, told Houston reporters that he was at work when he learned about the shooting and immediately raced to the school. 'They sent us to the hospital, to the civic center, to the hospital and here again, nothing, not even in San Antonio,' he said. 'They don't tell us anything, only a photo, wait, hope that everything is well.' Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10 Jayce Luevanos, 10, died in the shooting along with his ten-year-old cousin, Jailah, the child's mother said Wednesday. In a Facebook post, uncle Unberto Gonzalez shared photos of both kids while offering a touching tribute. 'My babies going to miss them like crazy!!!,' Gonzalez wrote. 'We luv y'all so much!!! I'm just lost right now!!! Fly high my beautiful Angels!!' Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10 Ten-year-old Jailah Nicole Silguero was also killed in the shooting, her mother, Veronica Luevanos, tearfully revealed to Univision Wednesday. She also lost her 10-year-old nephew Jayce to the tragedy. She said Jailah loved to dance and film videos on TikTok. The child reportedly also asked her mom the morning of the shooting if she could stay home from school - a request the now mourning mom rebuffed. 'I took her to school, but she didn't want to go. She told her father, 'Can I stay home?'' Luevanos said, noting that it was not a common occurrence for her daughter to make such a request. 'I think she knew something would happen.' Alithia Ramirez, 10 Fourth grader Alithia Ramirez was confirmed dead early Wednesday by her father, Ryan Ramirez, who shared a post to Facebook showing the 10-year-old with angel's wings. He had used the same photo the previous day as he pleaded for help finding her after the massacre He had heartbreakingly used the same photo the previous day as he desperately pleaded for help finding her after the massacre. 'Trying to find my daughter Alithia. I called all the hospitals and nothing,' he wrote at the time. He also reporters during his frantic search, 'I'm trying to find out where my baby's at.' Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10 Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10, was another killed by Ramos Tuesday - along with her cousin, who has yet to be identified. Annabell's father spent the afternoon after the shooting in frantic search for his daughter. Speaking to KHOU11 Tuesday, he lamented at how he was at a loss as to what do, having little success with the search. 'They're not letting us in at the hospital right now so we don't know where to go.' She has since been declared to be among the dead. Miranda Mathis, 11 Miranda Mathis, 11, was also confirmed as another casualty from the mass shooting early Wednesday, in a Facebook post by an older cousin who earlier that day had posted a desperate plea for help in locating the child. 'My sweet baby cousin we loved u dearly,' Deanna Miller wrote alongside a photo of the child with angel wings. 'I'm so sorry this happen to u baby please keep my family in your prayers,' she grieved. Miller's kids had also been at the school at the time of the shooting, but survived the attack. One of her sons told her that they were ushered out of a window by staffers during the attack and subsequently ran to a nearby funeral home after 'he heard the shooter say he was gonna kill all the kids.' Alexandria 'Lexi' Aniyah Rubio, 10 Alexandria Aniyah Rubio - who was better known to friends as 'Lexi' - was confirmed dead just before midnight on Tuesday. The ten-year-old was shot dead just hours after posing for a photo with her parents at the school's honor roll ceremony. Kimberly Mata-Rubio, the girl's mother, wrote of the loss: 'My beautiful, smart, Alexandria Aniyah Rubio was recognized today for All-A honor roll. She also received the good citizen award. We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school. We had no idea this was goodbye.' Maite Yuleana Maite Yuleana was another student to die in the attack that had attended the honor roll ceremony just hours before. A cousin of the girl's mother, Ana Rodriguez, announced the loss Wednesday. 'It is with a heavy heart I come on here on behalf of my cousin Ana who lost her sweet baby girl in yesterday's senseless shooting. 'We are deeply saddened by the lose [sic] of this sweet smart little girl. God bless and may she R.I.P Maite Rodriguez we love you.' Jose Flores Jr, 10 Jose Flores, 10, was also killed in the shooting after attending the honor roll ceremony, where he was pictured triumphantly clutching a certificate celebrating the accomplishment. Uncle Christopher Salazar confirmed to the Washington Post Wednesday that his 10-year-old nephew was among the dead, after sharing a tribute to the child on Facebook. 'I love you and I miss you,' Salazar wrote in the post. The boy's father described Jose to CNN as an amazing boy and big brother to his two younger siblings. 'He was always fill of energy,' Jose Flores Sr. said. 'Ready to play till the night.' He said the boy loved playing baseball and video games. Jackie Cazares, 10 Jackie Cazares, 10, was another to be killed during the vicious attack at the elementary school. Her father Jacinto confirmed she lost her life inside her fourth-grade classroom. 'My baby girl has been taken away from my family and I,' the grieving father said in an online post. 'We're devastated in ways I hope no one ever goes through. ... It hurts us to our souls.' Cazares said his daughter, who was with her cousin, Annabell Rodriguez, when she died, was 'full of life and love'. Layla Salazar, 10 The 10-year-old student was the last of the slaying victims to be identified. Vincent Salazar told the Philadelphia Inquirer his young daughter was among those killed. He said she was 'a lot of fun' and recalled how they sang along to 'Sweet Child O' Mine' by Guns 'n' Roses whenever he drove her to school. Irma Garcia, 46 - fourth grade teacher Irma Garcia, who co-taught with Mireles for the last five year, had been at Robb Elementary for 23 years. Married to Joe for 24 years, she was a mother of four - Cristian, completing Marine boot camp; Jose, attending Texas State university University; Lyliana, a sophomore in high school; and Alysandra, a 7th grader. 'My tia did not make it, she sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom, i beg of you to keep my family including all of her family in y'all's prayers , IRMA GARCIA IS HER NAME and she died a HERO,' tweeted her nephew John. 'She was loved by many and will truly be missed.' She was nominated as teacher of the year for the 2018-19 awards, organized by Trinity University. Eva Mireles, 44 - fourth grade teacher Eva Mireles, a fourth grade teacher, was identified by her family as being one of the staff members shot dead. She had worked in education for 17 years. Her husband Ruben Ruiz, a veteran detective and SWAT team member currently serving as a police officer with the school district, held regular active shooter drills for the schools - most recently at the end of March. The Robb Elementary School gunman got into an argument with his grandmother about a phone bill only seconds before shooting her and killing 21 people. On Tuesday morning, suspected gunman Salvador Ramos, 18, wrecked his car near an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, before rushing into a fourth-grade classroom and starting a fire. Texas Elementary Shooting Suspect's Mom, Grandfather Speak Out The mother of the sick school gunman who killed 19 children and two instructors in Texas claims her son was not aggressive. Adriana Reyes claimed she was astonished when Salvador Ramos opened fire on Robb Elementary School in Uvalde yesterday. She acknowledged that her son was a loner who kept to himself and didn't have many friends, but she denied having a poisonous connection with him. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, she refused to address allegations that she was a drug addict who caused the youngster to abandon her and move in with his grandma, Celia Gonzalez. Reyes spoke from Gonzalez's bedside as she heals after being wounded in the face by her evil grandson before he went on a rampage and killed 19 students and two instructors. Before the tragic incident, he had purchased two AR-15 assault weapons, boasted about them on social media, and threatened to conduct an atrocity. However, Salvador Ramos' grandpa said earlier today that the family had no knowledge he lawfully acquired the two firearms last week. Gonzalez's husband, Rolando Reyes, 74, also stated his grandson was a quiet adolescent who spent much of his time alone in his room. The shooter's granddad reportedly said that he was quiet and would occasionally accompany him to work, according to Daily Mail. Read Also: George Bush Assassination Attempt: FBI Arrests Ohio Man for Murder Plot Targeting Ex-POTUS Suspect Posted on Socmed Right Before the Incident The suspect's grandma, who he wounded in the forehead, is undergoing surgery on Wednesday and is expected to live. According to the site, the 74-year-old had no knowledge the suspect had acquired the guns or that they were in his home. Rolando Reyes, who has a prior criminal history, is not allowed to keep weapons in his home and claims he would have turned in his grandson if he had known. Officials disclosed on Wednesday that Salvador Ramos purchased two firearms used in the attack on his 18th birthday. Governor Abbott stated during a news conference on Wednesday that Salvador Ramos had three scary Facebook postings warning of his murderous scheme only minutes before the school shooting. According to the Republican governor, Salvador Ramos wrote 30 minutes before the school massacre, "I'm going to shoot my grandmother." Salvador Ramos wrote less than 15 minutes later: "I'm going to shoot an elementary school," the governor stated during the news conference. According to Meta Communications Director Andy Stone, the conversations Abbott mentioned were private one-on-one text exchanges uncovered after the incident, The Sun reported. Authorities reported at least 19 students and two instructors were murdered at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, some 90 minutes west of San Antonio. Salvador Ramos, a Uvalde High School student, has also died. When the attacker entered a classroom, he allegedly barricaded himself and began fire, killing 18 pupils, mostly third and fourth graders, as well as one teacher, according to reports. Officers from the Uvalde Police Department and Customs and Border Protection officers entered the classroom and immediately opened fire on the gunman before shooting and killing him. Investigators are examining the ballistics to establish who fired the deadly shot. They're also investigating how and when he put together his armament, which included the rifle, body armor, and multiple magazines seized at the site, according to sources. Kids at Uvalde High School told ABC News that Salvador Ramos was notorious for fighting and intimidating other students. According to other classmates, the defendant rarely attended school and, when he did, terrified pupils. Investigators are also combing through the gunman's social media accounts, where he allegedly shared videos and photographs of firearms, as well as images of animal torture, to other users. An Instagram account linked to the shooter sent a photo of a pistol resting on a bed to another user as recently as Tuesday morning. Law enforcement also examined pictures of messages the defendant allegedly made to another Instagram user, tagging them in the image of a gun. Related Article: New York Subway Shooting Suspect Surrenders After Apparently Unprovoked Fatal Attack @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An ex-lover of a Birmingham MP wants her job back working with him in a 'tiny room' despite her claims of abuse of harassment, a tribunal has heard. Elaina Cohen, 62, the former parliamentary aide of Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr Khalid Mahmood, 60, alleges she was unfairly dismissed by her old boss as she made serious criminal claims about a female colleague, which she says 'were ignored by the MP'. The London Central Tribunal Courts previously heard how Ms Cohen branded him a 'womaniser' and 'Catfish Khalid' because he 'stalked' women online. She previously claimed he ended their relationship when she refused to become his second wife. Mr Mahmood accused Ms Cohen of 'making life difficult' for any women working for him out of jealousy or because she saw them as a threat. He has denied any wrongdoing as Ms Cohen claims unfair dismissal against him and alleges racial and religious discrimination, harassment and victimisation. At the tribunal, she said he offered her a job in 2003 and they began a relationship in 2004 which ended in 2005 - she continued to work for him for 15 years until she was sacked in 2020. She claims the relationship ended after she refused to become Mr Mahmood's second wife with an Islamic marriage ceremony. Mr Mahmood claimed the nicknames she gave him was part of persistent abuse from his former lover which he 'tolerated' for over 16 years before she was sacked over a string of incidents. He previously told the hearing how he was mentally worn down by 'bullying and harassment' and ended up needing counselling as a result. Ms Cohen claims she was sacked after making 'protected disclosures' about a female colleague, named as Saraya Hussain, who had previously been the operations director at a city based charity, the Amirah Foundation. In a series of protected disclosures in 2019 and 2020 made under whistleblowing regulations, Ms Cohen told Mr Mahmood about serious claims that she wanted the MP to investigate. Elaina Cohen, 62, the ex-lover of Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood (pictured together) wants her job back working with him in a 'tiny room' despite her claims of abuse of harassment, a tribunal has heard These included a claim that Ms Hussain had allegedly fraudulently used House of Commons headed notepaper in a submission to the DVLA. Ms Cohen also claimed in the disclosures that Ms Hussain had allegedly exploited and abused vulnerable women while working for the charity. No criminal investigation or charges were ever brought against her. Ms Cohen also claims the MP failed to investigate these allegations. Instead she claims he ostracised her and allegedly ignored her after lockdown began, a hearing heard. The tribunal was told Ms Cohen's behaviour allegedly became erratic as time went on, with her frustrations growing as she felt her serious disclosures were being ignored. Ms Cohen faces counter claims she allegedly 'bullied and harassed' Mr Mahmood to the point he ended up needing counselling, the tribunal was told. There were 'contradictions' in Ms Cohen's evidence, the MP's barrister Tom Perry suggested, as she had allegedly 'asked to be reinstated' two weeks after asking the police to arrest him amid the claims. 'She wants to be back in a tiny room working with the respondent,' Mr Perry told the court. 'At almost exactly the same time she considered her abuse so serious she went to the police station and asked for the respondent to be arrested. 'This case is all about control; Ms Cohen's need to control the respondent.' She has, he said, a history of 'inappropriate abuse' towards the MP. The vast majority of which, he argued, formed 'intensely personal accusations'. Ms Cohen claims she was sacked after making 'protected disclosures' about a female colleague, named as Saraya Hussain (pictured), who had previously been the operations director at a city based charity, the Amirah Foundation Ms Cohen also claimed in the disclosures that Ms Hussain had allegedly exploited and abused vulnerable women while working for the charity. No criminal investigation or charges were ever brought against her. Mr Mahmood's former parliamentary aide Ms Cohen claims the MP failed to investigate these allegations. Instead she claims he ostracised her and allegedly ignored her after lockdown began, a hearing heard. In today's closing submissions, Martina Murphy, barrister for Ms Cohen, told the court: 'Ms Cohen's case is relatively simple. Her primary case is she was automatically unfairly dismissed. If she was wrong on that, we say that it was an act of harassment related to her protected disclosures, characterised in relation to race or religion. 'This case has got an extremely full and acrimonious background but I would ask the tribunal to strip away all of that noise - which admittedly there is.' Ms Murphy added that Mr Mahmood has not, at any time, conducted a preliminary investigation into protected disclosures either. His explanation for this, her barrister claimed, was 'simply not credible.' Serious accusations against Ms Cohen, including claims she 'made life difficult' for other women as she was jealous, are 'irrelevant' as Mr Mahmood brought no oral witnesses, Ms Murphy said, telling the final hearing that Mr Mahmood failed to launch an investigation into the allegations against Ms Cohen at the time. Ms Cohen faces counter claims she allegedly 'bullied and harassed' Mr Mahmood (pictured with Jeremy Corbyn in May 2016) to the point he ended up needing counselling, the tribunal was told Ms Murphy also added that emails have suggested Mr Mahmood did agree he would get an independent HR investigation launched into the serious allegations against Ms Hussain. But there was an 'absence' thereafter of any findings, she claimed. Bringing the tribunal to a conclusion today, employment judge Timothy Adkin said the decision could be over a month away as he was anxious to ensure it 'communicates exactly what we want it to'. He described the hearing as a 'complicated case' as he set a provisional date for a potential remedy hearing, if required, on September 29. Judge Adkin told the court they would hear from him in due course. The closing submissions by Tom Perry were made at London Central Tribunal Courts on Wednesday, May 25, as the hearing came to a conclusion. A decision is to be expected within the next couple of months. Second home owners are set to save 400 on their energy bills for every property under Rishi Sunak's bailout. The Treasury has confirmed there is no restriction on how many times individuals can benefit from the universal handouts unveiled by the Chancellor today. Instead the sum will be automatically deducted from their bills, meaning they could rack up much larger savings. Mr Sunak himself will personally benefit from the Government's policy. Although he does not directly pay utility bills at his grace-and-favour residences - in Downing Street and Dorneywood, Buckinghamshire - Mr Sunak owns other propoerties. It is understood Mr Sunak is planning to donate the savings he makes to charities in his Yorkshire constituency. According to his register of interests as an MP, the Chancellor owns a flat in London. The Kensington residence is said to be worth 1million, while Mr Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, are also believed to own a nearby mews house worth 7million and a 2million mansion in the Chancellor's Yorkshire constituency. The 400 discount on energy bills, announced by Rishi Sunak today, will apply to all households from October Mr Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, are believed to own a 1m Kensington flat, a nearby mews house worth 7m and a 2m mansion in Yorkshire The 400 discount on energy bills will apply to all households from October. It is a doubling of Mr Sunak's previous offer of a 200 discount, which he made in Febraury. And the Chancellor has also scrapped a requirement for households to have to pay back the discount at a later date, which had effectively made it a loan. The Treasury has priced the measure at a 6billion cost. Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, today questioned the universal nature of some of the cost-of-living help being provided by the Chancellor. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Whether its needed for all households, I think, is more of a difficult point. '100 off for each household in the country costs, each 100, costs something like 3bn and a lot of that money, frankly, will go to households who dont desperately need it. 'Im sure theyll appreciate it, but wont necessarily need it.' He added: 'It really will mean a lot of people who don't need this help will get it - people who are on quite high incomes and, indeed, the very, very large numbers of households who saved a great deal over the Covid period.' Advertisement Goodfellas star Ray Liotta has died in his sleep at a hotel in the Dominican Republic at the age of 67 where he had been filming a new movie - as co-star Robert De Niro led tributes. The legendary gangster actor passed away in bed at Casas del XVI in Zona Colonial on Thursday just weeks after filming started on Dangerous Waters. An emergency service team had rushed to the building but he could not be saved, with his body transferred to the forensic institute of Santo Domingo. There is understood to be no suspicion of foul play. People linked to the upcoming movie were spotted leaving the hotel with suitcases and props on Thursday afternoon after news of his death spread. Liotta leaves behind his fiancee Jacy Nittolo, 46, as well as his daughter Karsen, 23, who he had with ex-wife Michelle Grace. The actor had been spotted out and about in LA in March where onlookers said he appeared 'noticeably pale' and 'needed help from the valet putting on his jacket'. The source added he was 'slow and steady on his feet' and Nittolo had to help him by carrying his bags from the car to the hotel. But he looked healthier in pictures taken at the start of this month as he strolled through Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles with his fiancee. Liotta had been a smoker but started appearing in adverts for Chantix - a brand run by vaccine guru's Pfizer - in 2018, with one saying: 'I tried to quit smoking for years on my own. I couldn't do it. I needed help.' The cause of his death remains unclear and there is no suggestion the Hollywood superstar died of a smoking-related illness. Meanwhile tributes flooded in for the beloved film star - who also featured in Field of Dreams - with fellow actors and other celebrities paying their respects to him on Thursday afternoon: Robert De Niro said: 'I was very saddened to learn of Ray's passing. He is way too way young to have left us' David Chase said: 'This is a massive, unexpected shock. I was glad he worked on The Many Saints of Newark' On-screen wife in Goodfellas Lorraine Bracco said: 'I'm utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about Ray' Josh Brolin said: 'My buddy. My friend. How so soon? Why? I'll miss you. I will think about seeing you at Gold's' Seth Rogan said: 'I can't believe Ray Liotta passed away. He was such a lovely, talented and hilarious person' Jamie Lee Curtis added: 'His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human being. A gentle man. So sad' Goodfellas star Ray Liotta (left, earlier this month and right, in March) has died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic aged 67 where he was filming Dangerous Waters The legendary gangster actor (pictured in LA at the end of March) passed away on the Caribbean island halfway through recording Dangerous Waters, about a sailing holiday spiraling out of control Goodfellas star Ray Liotta has died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic at the age of 67 - where he had been filming a new movie. Pictured: The actor in LA at the end of March People linked to the filming leave the hotel where Liotta died at the age of 67, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, today Facade of the hotel where Liotta passed away overnight in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. People were seen leaving the hotel today Those said to be linked to the upcoming moving Dangerous Waters are bundled into a car outside the hotel the actor died in today Hotel staff are pictured mingling outside an entrance after the legendary gangster actor passed away overnight on Thursday In a statement, Robert De Niro (pictured last night during the Cannes Gala 2022 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc) said of Liotta: 'I was very saddened to learn of Ray's passing. He is way too way young to have left us' Ray Liotta is pictured with his daughter Karsen at the World Premiere of 'Muppets Most Wanted' on March 11, 2014, in Los Angeles It is not yet clear what he died of or when but he has left behind his fiance Jacy Nittolo (pictured) as well as his daughter Karsen Left: Liotta is pictured with his then wife and producer Michelle Grace. Right: The actor is seen with her in New York in 2002 He was perhaps best known for his incredible performance in Martin Scorsese's 1990 classic Goodfellas, where he played Henry Hill while Robert De Niro took on the role of Jimmy Conway The actor appeared to shy away from his fame in the 1990s and kept a low profile but a resurgence in more recent years. Pictured: Goodfellas Abandoned baby who rose to fame as Henry Hill in Goodfellas... who was Ray Liotta? Liotta was born in New Jersey in 1954 but was abandoned by his mother at an orphanage before being adopted six months later. He was the adopted son of a town clerk and auto-parts shop owner, who insisted he never contemplated acting while growing up in Newark. After graduating he moved to New York City and worked as a barman until he was cast in soap opera Another World in 1980. Liotta found fame playing ex-con Ray Sinclair in 1986 black comedy Something Wild, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. He went on to star as Shoeless Joe Jackson in the 1989 film Field Of Dreams and is best known for his portrayal of Henry Hill in Goodfellas opposite Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci and directed by Martin Scorsese. Yet the actor appeared to shy away from his fame in the 1990s and kept a low profile but made a resurgence in more recent years. In 2021 Liotta starred in the Sopranos prequel movie The Many Saints Of Newark, after turning down a role in the original film. He recently finished filming Cocaine Bear, a film directed by Elizabeth Banks which is scheduled to be released in February next year. The New Jersey-born actor was also reportedly due to star in The Substance alongside Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. In addition to his acting roles, Liotta was also the narrator of documentary series The Making Of The Mob, and starred in a number of music videos including for David Guetta's song Lovers On The Sun. Liotta leaves behind his daughter Karsen, whom he shares with his ex-wife Michelle Grace, and his fiancee Nittolo. Advertisement His sudden death shocked fans as he was embarking on a huge resurgence in his career recent years, with him staring alongside Taron Egerton in Black Bird later this year. He also featured in The Many Saints of Newark, Marriage Story and No Sudden Move in more recent years as his acting took off again. But he was best known for his incredible performance in Martin Scorsese's 1990 gangster classic Goodfellas, where he played Henry Hill while De Niro, 78, took on the role of Jimmy Conway. Deadline reported the star passed away in his sleep and TMZ claimed there was no foul play suspected. His publicist Jennifer Allen, from Viewpoint, said the actor died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was filming Dangerous Waters. Nittolo was on location at the time of his death. A spokesman for the Dominican Republic's General Direction of Cinema said: 'We understand that he was accompanied by his wife and that the wife asks that you please respect her grief.' He is believed to have passed away at the five-star Casas del VXI on the island, which boasts on its website for being 'a unique collection of houses representing a new concept in fine travel lodging and the only one of its kind in hotels in Santo Domingo'. It continues: 'In the beautiful Colonial City, individual houses, some dating from the 16th century, combine into a single - and singular - hotel environment, which makes it suitable to provide privacy and safety to our discerned guests. 'The meticulously restored Casas retain authentic elements of their past combined with modern comfort and distinguished hospitality that includes all the safety and health measures and protocols required in this day and age. 'Come and experience timeless hospitality and elegance amid modern luxurious accommodations in this exclusive hotel, proud member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World #StaySmallStaySafe. 'Casas del XVI will renew the spirit and move the soul long after your stay has ended.' The hotel costs from $297 for a one-bed executive room per night and comes with housekeeping, butler and concierge service and a kitchen for the chef's use. The luxury doubles are 375 sq ft and are 'the perfect fit for solo travelers or couples seeking a peaceful and lovely hotel', the website says. A source who saw the actor in March told DailyMail.com how he looked frail and moved carefully. They said: 'Ray looked slow and unsteady on his feet. He was noticeably pale and needed help from the valet putting on his jacket. His fiancee was carrying all the bags to help him out.' The actor most recently spoke on social media in an Instagram post three weeks ago where he plugged his new movie Cocaine Bear. He wrote: 'Cocaine Bear follows an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converging in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound apex predator has ingested a staggering amount of the white powder and goes on a coke-fueled rampage seeking more blow and blood.' Liotta had been a smoker up until around 2018 where he started appearing in Pfizer's Chantix adverts, which he said helped him pack in the cigarrettes. In one he says: 'In the movies, a lot of times I tend to play the tough guy. But I wasn't tough enough to quit on my own not until I tried Chantix.' A spokesman for the firm previously said the actor had 'wanted to share his story to help others' so joined its cast for the commercials. It is not yet clear what he died of or when but there is understood to be no suspicion of foul play. He leaves behind his fiance Jacy Nittolo, 46, as well as his daughter Karsen, 23, who he had with ex-wife Michelle Grace Liotta had been spotted out and about in LA in March where onlookers said he appeared 'noticeably pale' and 'needed help from the valet putting on his jacket' The source added he was 'slow and steady on his feet' and Nittolo had to help him by carrying all his bags from the car to the hotel A source who saw the actor in March told DailyMail.com: 'Ray looked slow and unsteady on his feet. He was noticeably pale and needed help from the valet putting on his jacket. His fiancee was carrying all the bags to help him out' The actor most recently spoke on social media in an Instagram post three weeks ago where he plugged his new movie Cocaine Bear Liotta was born in New Jersey in 1954 but was abandoned by his mother at an orphanage before being adopted six months later. He is pictured with Nittolo in March Liotta's 23-year-old daughter Karsen is pictured in shots she shared on her Instagram page recently. She has not yet commented on her father's death He is believed to have passed away at the five-star Casas del VXI on the island, which boasts on its website for being 'a unique collection of houses representing a new concept in fine travel lodging and the only one of its kind in hotels in Santo Domingo'. Pictured: One of the bedrooms The hotel (pictured on its Facebook page) costs from $297 for a one-bed executive room per night and comes with housekeeping, butler and concierge service and a kitchen for the chef's use The luxury doubles are 375 sq ft and are 'the perfect fit for solo travelers or couples seeking a peaceful and lovely hotel', the website says. Pictured: One of the rooms The stunning facilities also offers pools under the glorious weather with reclined seats just feet away and a table for dinner nearby Ray Liotta's last film: Goodfella's star was shooting thriller Dangerous Waters with Eric Dane Ray Liotta, 67, died in his sleep this week while filming on location in the Dominican Republic for an upcoming thriller, Dangerous Waters. The feature film co-starred Euphoria and Grey's Anatomy actor Eric Dane, alongside Odeya Rush and Saffron Burrows. Their casting was announced just a few weeks back, at the beginning of May. Dangerous Waters, from Signature Films, which is directed by John Barr and written by Mark Jackson, was in the midst of shooting when the actor passed away unexpectedly. The film centers on an out of control sailing vacation that goes off the rails when a teenage girl discovers 'the dark past of her mother's new boyfriend,' according to the synopsis. Producers were said to have been pitching the project at this month's Cannes Film Festival to potential buyers, Deadline reported. Dangerous Waters was just one of many projects currently on the docket for Liotta at the time of his shocking death. The actor can be seen in the upcoming television drama Black Bird and recently completed two films, Cocaine Bear and El Tonto. In addition to Dangerous Waters, Ray had two other films in production: April 29, 1992 and The Substance. Advertisement Liotta was born in New Jersey in 1954 but was abandoned by his mother at an orphanage before being adopted six months later. He went to live with a town clerk and auto-parts shop owner, who insisted he never contemplated acting while growing up in Newark. After graduating he moved to New York City and worked as a barman until he was cast in soap opera Another World in 1980. Liotta found fame playing ex-con Ray Sinclair in 1986 black comedy Something Wild, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. He went on to star as Shoeless Joe Jackson in the 1989 film Field Of Dreams and is best known for his portrayal of Henry Hill in Goodfellas opposite Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci and directed by Martin Scorsese. Asked why he never worked with Scorsese - a director renown for working with the same cast - again, he said: 'I don't know, you'd have to ask him. But I'd love to.' While making Goodfellas, tragedy struck when his adoptive mother died of cancer in his arms. The actor got the news she had taken a turn for the worse in the middle of filming, but he still made sure to finish the scene. 'My mom was sick with cancer during the filming of Goodfellas, and she passed away in the middle of it... It put things in perspective in a really deep way,' he told the Today show last year, while discussing the highly-acclaimed film. 'I was doing a scene Friday. They told me [she was dying]. My knees buckled, but you realize you've got to go back and finish the scene. And I did.' After wrapping up for the day, he rushed to the hospital and made it just in time to say goodbye. 'I went back [to the hospital] that night, and luckily I was there when she passed, literally in my arms. I've never really talked about that,' he continued. The actor appeared to shy away from his fame in the 1990s and kept a low profile but made a resurgence in more recent years. Tributes flooded in for the beloved star on Friday afternoon, with Devon Sawa saying: 'I try not to do the RIPs but Ray Liotta was truly one of my favorites to watch. 'He just has this magnetic draw to his performances, which is part of the reason Goddfellas remains tied with Aliens as my favorite film(s) ever made. This one stung more than usual.' Former costars: Jennifer Love Hewitt, who worked with Liotta on the 2001 film Heartbreakers, shared a sweet tribute as she said, 'I'm heart broken. I loved the time we spent and memories we made. You will be so missed.' The actress shared a broken heart emoji and a photo of a dove with an olive branch Ray Liotta's Goodfellas co-star Lorraine Bracco pays tribute Lorraine Bracco has revealed she is 'utterly shattered' following the shock death of her Goodfellas co-star Ray Liotta on Thursday. The actor - who was best known for the Martin Scorsese movie - died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was shooting the film Dangerous Waters, his reps confirmed. Deadline was the first to report the news. Soon after news broke, tributes rolled in for the New Jersey native. Bracco, who played his wife in the hit 1990 mobster movie, said: 'I am utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray. 'I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas. 'Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the sameRay Liotta.' And another Goodfellas co-star, Robert De Niro, also paid his respects in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter: 'I was very saddened to learn of Ray's passing. He is way too way young to have left us. May he Rest in Peace.' Jennifer Lopez, who cast Ray in her cop TV series Shades Of Blue that she starred in and produced, tweeted, 'Ray was my partner in crime on Shades of Blue the first thing that comes to mind is he so was kind to my children. 'Ray was the epitome of a tough guy who was all mushy on the inside I guess that's what made him such a compelling actor to watch. The original Goodfella.' Jennifer Love Hewitt, who acted with Liotta on the 2001 film Heartbreakers, shared a sweet tribute as she said, 'I'm heart broken. 'I loved the time we spent and memories we made. You will be so missed.' The actress shared a broken heart emoji and a photo of a dove with an olive branch. Advertisement De Niro said: 'I was very saddened to learn of Ray's passing. He is way too young to have left us. May he Rest in Peace.' Chase, who worked with him on The Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark said: 'This is a massive, unexpected shock. 'I have been an admirer of Ray's work since I saw him in 'Something Wild,' a movie he wrenched by the tail. I was so glad he worked on The Many Saints of Newark. 'I believed strongly in my heart that he could play that double role. He created two distinctly separate characters and each performance was phenomenal. 'Ray was also a very warm and humorous person. A really superior actor. We all felt we lucked out having him on that movie.' Goodfellas costar Lorraine Bracco, who was his wife in the movie, said: 'I am utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray. 'I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas. Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the sameRay Liotta.' Josh Brolin said: 'My buddy. My friend. How so soon? Why? I'll miss you. I will think about seeing you at Gold's often, talking about what to do next, how to find something together. 'I always looked up to you the work was always so good, but the man you were always stood out among the rest of them. Yes, I will miss you, pal. Until we meet again, wherever they say that is.' Helena Christensen wrote: 'Oh man what an immense actor he was .' Joe Pantoliano said: 'WHAT!!!! No! Omg! I was watering the lawn this morning and I was thinking about Ray he popped into my head. Oh No! RIP RAY RAY' Viola Davis said: 'RIP Ray Liotta. Loved your work.' Jamie Lee Curtis posted: 'His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human being. A gentle man. So sad to hear.' Rosanna Arquette wrote: 'I'm really sad to hear that Ray Liotta has passed away. He was an friend back in the day and it's very sad. We had a lot of laughs Rest In Peace My friend.' Jeffrey Wright said: 'Ray Liotta. Man. Just met dude for the first time last year. GREAT actor. Nice to have had a chance to say that to him. RIP.' Mangold put: 'Shocked and saddened to hear of Ray Liotta's passing. Beyond the tough guy exterior and the tightly wound emotions of his signature characters, he was a sweet, playful and passionate collaborator and brilliant actor.' Her tribute: His Goodfellas costar Lorraine Bracco, who played his wife in the hit 1990 movie, said: 'I am utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray. I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas. Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the sameRay Liotta'; seen left in Goodfellas and right in 2012 Robert De Niro sports Hawaiian shirt in Greece ... before the death of Ray Liotta Robert De Niro looked casual cool as he was spotted on the set of his latest movie in Thessaloniki, Greece, on Tuesday. The cinema icon, 78, sported a laid-back look as he exited his trailer, wearing a Hawaiian shirt and blue slides, as well as a pair of tan cargo pants. The Goodfellas star looked relaxed, before learning the news that his legendary co-star in the famous mafia movie, Ray Liotta, has passed away at the age of 67. Robert De Niro looked casual in Thessaloniki, Greece, Tuesday Advertisement The actor, who starred in more than 80 films, revealed more about his life in an interview with Esquire magazine in 2016. He said: 'I'm adopted so I don't really know what I am. Who I consider my mother and father are Italian and Scottish. 'I did find my birth mother and she said she was a mix of something, and when I asked about what my Dad was she wouldn't even talk about it. It was like it never even happened.' He added: 'If I hadn't have become an actor I'd have gone into construction. I always thought I would be doing construction. 'Those were jobs I had during the summer. My Dad also had a chain of automotive stores. 'I didn't know until after I graduated college that he wanted me to take over the business. 'When he saw that I was interested in something else, he said 'well, I'm sick of doing this' and moved in politics. 'But I never knew that he wanted me to take over. It was in his mind, but I hated it. To this day I hate the smell of rubber.' Liotta died in his sleep while filming on location in the Dominican Republic for an upcoming thriller called Dangerous Waters. The feature film co-starred Euphoria and Grey's Anatomy actor Eric Dane, alongside Odeya Rush and Saffron Burrows. Their casting was announced just a few weeks back, at the beginning of May. The film centers on an out of control sailing vacation that goes off the rails when a teenage girl discovers 'the dark past of her mother's new boyfriend,' according to the synopsis. Producers were said to have been pitching the project at this month's Cannes Film Festival to potential buyers, Deadline reported. Dangerous Waters was just one of many projects currently on the docket for Liotta at the time of his shocking death. The actor can be seen in the upcoming television drama Black Bird and recently completed two films, Cocaine Bear and El Tonto. In addition to Dangerous Waters, Ray had two other films in production: April 29, 1992 and The Substance. It is unclear if his role in Dangerous Waters will be recast or if his portion of filming had been completed. Tragic: Jacy Nittolo, a mother of four who Ray got engaged to in December 2020, was said to be with the film star while Dangerous Waters was being recorded The real Henry Hill and Liotta are pictured at the Matteo's Italian Restaurant in Los Angeles, California, when they met up in 1990 Liotta (pictured in December with his acting teacher) also featured in The Many Saints of Newark, Marriage Story and No Sudden Move in more recent years Liotta (pictured with Frankie Avalon in February) rocketed to stardom and became a household name across the globe for Goodfellas, in which he played a crook called Henry Hill who got in with the Italian-American mafia Liotta (pictured in October) was born in New Jersey in 1954 but was abandoned by his mother at an orphanage before being adopted six months later Ray Liotta won an Emmy for his 2005 guest spot on ER (pictured). The actor is pictured in the hospital with tubes in his nose during the part TV: And he worked from 2016 until 2018 on the NYPD cop show Shades Of Blue with Drea de Matteo (pictured) and Jennifer Lopez A TV star as well: He worked from 2016 until 2018 on the NYPD cop show Shades Of Blue with Jennifer Lopez, Right, seen in an embrace in 2016 Ray Liotta starred in more than 80 movies in his five-decade career including: 1983 The Lonely Lady Joe Heron 1986 Something Wild Ray Sinclair 1987 Arena Brains 1988 Dominick and Eugene 1989 Field of Dreams 1990 Goodfellas 1992 Article 99 1994 No Escape 1995 Operation Dumbo Drop 1996 Unforgettable 1997 Turbulence 1998 Phoenix Detective 1999 Muppets from Space Gate Guard, Forever Mine 2000 Pilgrim Jack, A Rumor of Angels 2001 Hannibal, Heartbreakers, Blow 2002 Narc, John Q, Ticker 2003 Identity 2004 The Last Shot, Control 2005 Revolver, Slow Burn 2006 Even Money, Smokin' Aces 2007 Wild Hogs, Battle in Seattle, Bee Movie 2008 Hero Wanted, Powder Blue 2009 Crossing Over, Observe and Report, La Linea, Youth in Revolt 2010 Crazy on the Outside, Date Night, Snowmen, Chasing 3000, Charlie St. Cloud 2011 The Details, Field of Dreams 2: Lockout 2012 Wanderlust, Killing Them Softly, Breathless 2013 The Devil's in the Details 2014 Better Living Through Chemistry, Muppets Most Wanted 2015 Blackway, Campus Code 2016 Sticky Notes, Flock of Dudes 2019 Marriage Story 2020 Hubie Halloween 2021 No Sudden Move, The Many Saints of Newark 2022 Broken Soldier Advertisement In 2016 he told of his regrets he had in the way he handled his career, including turning down the chance to audition for Tim Burton's Batman movie. 'I wish I'd handled my career differently but, you know, hindsight' he said at the time. 'When I did my first movie, Tim Burton was getting ready to do Batman and he was interested in me because he wanted it to be edgy and real. 'I thought, 'Batman? That's a stupid idea', even though he had just done one of my favourite movies of all time, Beetlejuice. So yes, I regret not auditioning for that.' He enjoyed a varied career, also appearing as Frank Sinatra in the 1998 TV movie The Rat Pack. In 2004, Liotta made his Broadway debut in dramatic comedy Match and appeared on the big screen in comedies such as 2010's Date Night and two Muppets movies, and dramas including 2012's The Iceman and 2014's Sin City: A Dame To Kill For. Despite his immensely varied career, Henry Hill is still a character audiences continued to associate him with. But it was an association the actor did not mind, saying: 'People ask if I'm bothered by that but no, Goodfellas will be a top 10 movie for years and years, it seems. 'I have kids coming up to me like the movie's just come out that week That and Field Of Dreams. I get a lot of Field Of Dreams lovers too.' In recent years Liotta appeared in Marriage Story and No Sudden Move and starred alongside Taron Egerton in the upcoming Apple TV series Black Bird. He also starred in Sky's Shades Of Blue, a crime drama set in New York which starred Jennifer Lopez as a detective and single mother of a teenage daughter who faces a difficult predicament when the FBI catches her in an incriminating position. In 2021 Liotta starred in the Sopranos prequel movie The Many Saints Of Newark, after turning down a role in the original film. He recently finished filming Cocaine Bear, a film directed by Elizabeth Banks which is scheduled to be released in February next year. The actor was also reportedly due to star in The Substance alongside Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. In addition to his acting roles, Liotta was also the narrator of documentary series The Making Of The Mob, and starred in a number of music videos including for David Guetta's song Lovers On The Sun. Liotta leaves behind his daughter Karsen, whom he shares with his ex-wife Michelle Grace, and his fiancee Nittolo. The Goodfellas, the bad, and the ugly: Inside wild life of Ray Liotta, who was abandoned at birth, saw his adoptive mom die in his arms while filming gangster film that shot him to stardom - and the scandals and arrests that dimmed his decades-long career by Lillian Gissen for DailyMail.com The news of Goodfellas star Ray Liotta's sudden death today sent shockwaves through Hollywood - prompting an outpouring of tributes from stars around the world, including several of his surviving co-stars from the gangster movie that shot him to stardom. But while Liotta, who passed away in his sleep in a hotel in the Dominican Republic, is best remembered for his work on the big screen and his dominance of the mob movie genre, behind the scenes, his life was as dramatic and, at times, tragic, as many of the characters he portrayed. The legendary actor - who is best known for playing mob leader Henry Hill in Goodfellas - passed away in bed on Thursday on the Caribbean island of Zona Colonial. He was in the midst of filmign the upcoming flick Dangerous Waters, which is being directed by John Barr and is also set to star Eric Dane, Odeya Rush, and Saffron Burrows. An emergency service team reportedly rushed to the building, but he could not be saved; his body was transferred to the forensic institute of Santo Domingo and there is no suspicion of foul play. In the wake of his sudden passing, FEMAIL has taken a look back at his impressive career - including how he overcame tragedy to become a global superstar. The legendary actor - who is most known for playing mob leader Henry Hill in Goodfellas - has tragically died in his sleep at a hotel in the Dominican Republic at age 67 - where he was filming a new movie. He is pictured in Goodfellas In the wake of his sudden passing, FEMAIL has taken a look back at his impressive career - including how he overcame tragedy to become a global superstar. He is pictured in October Liotta, who has a grand list of more than 120 acting credits, was left at an orphanage by his mother when he was a baby. He was adopted at age six by a New Jersey couple, and for decades he struggled to come to terms with the fact that his biological mother had given him up. Decades later, with the help of his ex-wife, Michelle Grace, the star was able to find and reunite with his birth mom, however, he later called their meet up 'disappointing,' adding, 'Thank God I was adopted.' Liotta faced heartbreak once again while making the 1990 gangster movie Goodfellas - when his adoptive mother died of cancer while he was holding her. However, despite being plagued with tribulation in his family life, the star flourished in his career - landing a huge array of roles throughout his decades-long profession as an actor. He was also able to find love late in life, falling for a former hairstylist named Jacy Nittolo, 46, during the pandemic, whom he was gearing up to marry before his tragic death. A spokesman for the Dominican Republic's General Direction of Cinema confirmed the news, stating: 'We understand that he was accompanied by his [fiancee] and that the [fiancee] asks that you please respect her grief.' The actor had been spotted out and about in Los Angeles back in March, where onlookers told DailyMail.com exclusively that he appeared 'noticeably pale' and 'needed help from the valet putting on his jacket.' The source added that he was 'slow and steady on his feet,' and that Nittolo had to help him by carrying all his bags from the car to the hotel. But the acclaimed movie star looked healthier in pictures taken at the start of this month, as he strolled through Pacific Palisades with his fiancee. From how having a crush on a cute girl inspired him to get into acting to how he prevailed despite being abandoned by his birth mom as a baby and his adoptive mother dying in his arms - FEMAIL has recapped Liotta's extraordinary life. Ray Liotta's childhood: How being abandoned by his mom as a baby plagued him for years to come Liotta was born in New Jersey, on December 18, 1954. His mother left him at an orphanage as a baby, and he was adopted at the age of six by couple named Mary and Alfred Liotta. He is pictured with his adoptive father and sister Liotta was born in Newark, New Jersey, on December 18, 1954. His mother left him at an orphanage as a baby, and he was adopted at the age of six by a Scottish township clerk and an Italian auto-parts store owner named Mary and Alfred Liotta. His sister, Linda, was also adopted. Throughout his childhood, both of Liotta's parents ran for local office but neither of them won. He previously told NJ.com that he spent most of his time as a kid playing sports - including basketball, baseball, and football - and 'pretend games' like 'army.' Decades later, with the help of his ex-wife, Michelle Grace, the star was able to find and reunite with his birth mom, however, he later called their meet up 'disappointing,' adding, 'Thank God I was adopted.' He is pictured in 2012 He was brought up as Catholic but later said he didn't consider himself religious, since he remembered church as being a 'scary place.' 'We did go to church, we were not raised in a strict home. We went to church every Sunday but we had a horrible priest,' he told the Christian Post in 2014. 'I was brought up Catholic and [the priest] was just scary, [church] was just so heavy and scary. [He] gave me this huge fear of death I'd definitely say I'm much more spiritual than religious.' In a separate 2014 interview, however, he admitted that he 'still prays.' 'To this day, I still pray. Some days, you'll listen to a bunch of scientists on some television show, and say, 'There's no way someone just said boom here it is.' But yet, I still believe there's gotta be something. I don't know, did we really just crawl out of the sea?' he once told MovieGuide.org. His adoptive father, who passed away in 2015, had a long lasting effect on him, with Liotta explaining to Esquire in 2016 that he taught him from a young age to not 'sweat the small stuff.' 'He had an expression, my old man - 'What it mean to me?'' Liotta explained. 'One of his stores was broken into a lot. It was happening like once or twice a month - calls in the middle of the night. 'I went with him once and I said, 'Dad, doesn't this get you upset? Aren't you tired of this?' He said, 'What it mean to me? What am I going to do? This is where my store is, I like the store being here. Things happen.' He meant: 'Don't sweat the small stuff.' I try not to.' Although he played many tough mobsters throughout his career, Liotta once admitted that he wasn't much of a fighter in real life and that his only physical altercation was in seventh grade. 'It was me and this kid, and for some reason he wanted to challenge me that the food in his grammar school was better than the food in my grammar school,' he told the Today show of the fight. 'We sort of just beat each other, like a couple girls.' He graduated from Union High School in 1973, and went on to attend the University of Miami, where he studied acting and received a BFA in 1978. Liotta (pictured in 1980) explained in 2014 interview with Larry King that at first, he resented his mother for giving him up. But after finding her and hearing her reasons for leaving him at the orphanage, he understood why she did it As for his biological father, he didn't know much about him. He told Esquire, 'When I asked about what [nationality] my dad was, she wouldn't even talk about it. It was like it never even happened.' Liotta is pictured in 1990 During his time in college, he performed in musicals like Cabaret, Dames at Sea, Oklahoma, and Sound of Music. As an adult, Liotta tracked down his biological mother with the help of his ex-wife Grace, who became inspired after she watched an episode of Oprah that featured someone who's job it was to locate lost family members. The locator, named Troy, was able to find his mother within a day. Liotta later told the Christian Post, 'At the end of [the] show ... there was this guy named Troy who was a locator and [my ex] called him without me knowing it and within a day he found out who my birth mother was. 'The biggest thing that I got out of [our reunion] was, 'Thank God I was adopted.'' He also told the Guardian that he was 'disappointed' when he finally met his mother, reiterating, 'I was really grateful that I was adopted.' In the process, he also found out he had a sister, as well as a half brother and five half-sisters. Liotta explained in 2014 interview with Larry King that at first, he resented his mother for giving him up. But after finding her and hearing her reasons for leaving him at the orphanage, he understood why she did it. 'I used to wear being adopted on my sleeve, 'How could you give up a kid,' that sort of thing, but realized when I met her that she had really valid reasons,' he said. 'I then realized that almost 99 per cent of kids that are put up for adoption, it's for the betterment of the kid... The household, the situation, the age just dictate that's the best thing to do for the child.' Throughout his life, Liotta believed he was half Irish and half Italian, but he was stunned when he reconnected with his mom and found out he was actually of Scottish descent. As for his biological father, he didn't know much about him. He told Esquire, 'When I asked about what [nationality] my dad was, she wouldn't even talk about it. It was like it never even happened.' Getting his start: How a crush inspired him to become an actor, despite him admitting he had no interest in the profession He may have gone on to become a huge actor, but at first, Liotta (pictured in 2016) had no interest in becoming an actor. It wasn't until he met a 'really cute girl' in college that he decided to become a drama major for a chance to hit on her He may have gone on to become one of the biggest movie stars of all time, but at first, Liotta had no interest in becoming an actor. He was more into sports, and it wasn't until his drama teacher asked him to be in a school play that he decided to give it a try. According to the star, if he hadn't gone into acting, he would have been a construction worker. Liotta (pictured in 1989) explained to Esquire in 2016 that his dad wanted him to take over his automobile business He told NJ.com, 'I never wanted to be an actor. Basically I just played sports all the time. Basketball, baseball, football, you know, whatever the season was. 'But I remember senior year, basketball had stopped and the drama teacher asked me if I wanted to be in the play. So, alright, I'm not doing anything, I'm used to hanging around anyway, sure, I'll be in the play.' And even after appearing in the play, he still wasn't drawn to the profession. But when he met a 'really cute girl' during college, who was in line to register for the drama department, he said he was inspired to switch majors. 'I didn't like [acting] at all. I didn't like anything about it,' he continued. 'What happened afterward was, I went off to the University of Miami... I thought I'd stay a year, do liberal arts. 'But I looked at the requirements, and it sounded really hard. And then I looked over and right next to the liberal-arts department was the drama department. And there was this really cute girl in line to register...' According to the star, if he hadn't gone into acting, he would have been a construction worker. He explained to Esquire in 2016 that his dad wanted him to take over his automobile business, but he 'hated' that idea. 'If I hadn't have become an actor I'd have gone into construction. I always thought I would be doing construction. Those were jobs I had during the summer,' he said. 'My Dad also had a chain of automotive stores. I didn't know until after I graduated college that he wanted me to take over the business. 'When he saw that I was interested in something else, he said, 'Well, I'm sick of doing this,' and moved in politics. But I never knew that he wanted me to take over. It was in his mind, but I hated it. To this day I hate the smell of rubber.' Mob movie supremo: How Ray Liotta found stardom by playing gangsters, and why he turned down major roles One of his earliest roles was as Joey Perrini in the soap opera Another World, which he starred in from 1978 to 1981. He then moved to Los Angeles, California, so he could pursue his acting career even further. He is pictured in Goodfellas He also starred in sports fantasy movie Field of Dreams in 1989, before he landed the role as mobster Henry in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas in 1990 (pictured) He later opened up about playing the gangster to NJ.com, admitting that it was difficult for him to portray such a 'violent person.' He said, 'It can get to you. I'm not a violent person and to play someone like that, you try to put yourself in their head' After finishing college, Liotta moved to New York City where he got a job as a bartender at the Shubert Organization; and within six months of working there, he landed an agent. One of his earliest roles was as Joey Perrini in the soap opera Another World, which he starred in from 1978 to 1981. He then moved to Los Angeles, California, so he could pursue his acting career even further. He made his film debut in 1983 in the flick The Lonely Lad, however, what was considered his first major movie role came in 1986 in Something Wild, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also starred in sports fantasy movie Field of Dreams in 1989, before he landed the role as mobster Henry in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas in 1990. Goodfellas also starred Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, and Paul Sorvino, and went on to become one of the most popular movies of its time. It grossed $47 million in the box office, and was nominated for six Academy awards, with Pesci winning for Best Supporting Actor. He later opened up about playing the gangster to NJ.com, admitting that it was difficult for him to portray such a 'violent person.' 'When you're doing it, you try and stay in it, and in that mood as much as possible,' he said. 'It can get to you. 'I'm not a violent person and to play someone like that, and try to put yourself in their head - I've done movies where at the end of the shoot, I'm definitely exhausted.' After Goodfellas, he starred in a slew of big movies and TV shows including psychological thriller Unlawful Entry, sci-fi flick No Escape, 1997's Cop Land, crime movie Phoenix, The Rat Pack (in which he played Frank Sinatra), TV drama ER (which earned him an Emmy), Hannibal (alongside Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore), horror movie Identity, Wild Hogs (opposite John Travolta), 2009 crime drama Crossing Over, The Son of No One (with Channing Tatum), Date Night (which also starred Steve Carell), Killing Them Softly in 2012, western miniseries Texas Rising, and Shades of Blue (alongside Jennifer Lopez), among others. Despite appearing in more than 120 titles throughout his career, he admitted that he still didn't feel like he fit in with his fellow actors. He said in 2007, 'I don't feel like I'm one of the guys. My personality is more mellow.' He is pictured in Goodfellas After Goodfellas, he starred in a slew of big movies and TV shows including The Rat Pack (left) - in which he played Frank Sinatra - and Copland (right) - which also starred Michael Rapaport and Harvey Keitel Some of his other roles included Unlawful Entry, No Escape, Phoenix, The Rat Pack, ER, Hannibal, Identity, Crossing Over, Date Night, Killing Them Softly (pictured), Rising, and Shades of Blue He also provided his voice for the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in 2002, acted in the Broadway play Match in 2004, and narrated the AMC docu-series The Making of the Mob. Despite his major success, Liotta once spoke out about the struggles of being an actor, especially when he didn't land a role that he auditioned for. 'The business is rough, no matter where you're at in your career,' he told NJ.com. 'There's always some reason for them to say no to you - that part of it is horrible 'But the job itself - making people believe that what they're seeing is really happening - that's still a challenge, putting that puzzle together. You know, what can I say, I still like playing pretend. And it's sure a fun way to make a living.' He also addressed the public reception of his movies, calling it 'really disappointing' when something he starred in got a negative review. 'It's really disappointing because our business is not a meritocracy,' he told the Guardian. 'It doesn't matter how well you do; it's how well the movie does. That predicts what's going to happen with your jobs. The better the movie does, the more offers you get. So I was burned a couple of times, and disappointed. 'Back in 1991 I was picky about what I would do. But you can't just sit around and wait for the perfect ones to turn up. You try to make the best choices that you can.' Despite appearing in more than 120 titles throughout his career, he admitted that he still didn't feel like he fit in with his fellow actors. He shared, 'I don't feel like I'm one of the guys. Even when I'm with these guys [his Hannibal costars] I feel I'm more quiet and let them take center stage. My personality is more mellow. I don't need to be the center of attention. I don't know if that's being an outsider or not.' While speaking to the Guardian in a separate interview last year, he admitted that he often turned down roles throughout his career, in the fear of playing similar characters back-to-back. It turns out, he said no to portraying Ralphie in The Sopranos because he felt it was too much like his part in Goodfellas. 'I didn't want to do another mafia thing, and I was shooting Hannibal. It just didn't feel right at the time,' he said. However, as time went on, he became more willing to play whatever roles appealed to him. 'If I played a bad guy, then I want to play a good guy, and then after a while, you just say 'Whatever's the best part, you do two bad guys in a row, so be it,' he told the Digital FX in September. He also told the Guardian, 'Back in 1991. I was picky about what I would do. But you can't just sit around and wait for the perfect ones to turn up. You try to make the best choices that you can, but I was turning down lots of things.' Aside from The Sopranos, Liotta also turned down the role as Batman in 1989, after director Tim Burton considered casting him in the flick. Jack Nicholson ended up snagging the part. 'I thought, 'Batman? That's a stupid idea,' even though he'd had just done one of my favorite movies of all time, Beetlejuice. So yes, I regret not auditioning for that,' he later told Irish News. He added to Los Angeles Times, 'I think Tim Burton is such a great, great director, and I've always regretted not going to meet him. Just to meet him, just to talk - whether I agreed with playing it - because I couldn't wrap my head around and understand.' Losing his adoptive mother: How Ray Liotta made one of the biggest movies of all time while dealing with the tragic loss Liotta faced heartbreak while making the 1990 gangster movie Goodfellas - when his adoptive mother died of cancer while he was holding her in his arms. He is pictured in the movie While making the movie Goodfellas, tragedy struck for Liotta when his adoptive mother died of cancer in his arms. It turns out, the actor got the news that she had taken a turn for the worse in the middle of filming, but he still made sure to finish the scene. 'My mom was sick with cancer during the filming of Goodfellas, and she passed away in the middle of it... It put things in perspective in a really deep way,' he told the Today show last year, while discussing the highly-acclaimed film. 'I was doing a scene Friday. They told me [she was dying]. My knees buckled, but you realize you've got to go back and finish the scene. And I did.' After wrapping up for the day, he rushed to the hospital and made it just in time to say goodbye. 'I went back [to the hospital] that night, and luckily I was there when she passed, literally in my arms. I've never really talked about that,' he continued. It turns out, the actor got the news that she had taken a turn for the worse in the middle of filming, but he still made sure to finish the scene, before rushing to the hospital to say goodbye. He is pictured in the movie While talking to NJ.com, he called making the movie a 'weird experience' after suffering from the loss of his mom. 'It was a weird experience for me, because my mom was really sick, so that was going on, and really tempered what I was feeling at the time,' he recalled. 'But that movie, it's amazing, it definitely has a life of its own, and it's only grown over time. People watch it over and over, and still respond to it, and different ages come up, even today, teenagers come up to me and they really emotionally connect to it.' After his adoptive parents passed away, Liotta admitted that he wasn't sure how they felt about his impressive acting career. He explained that despite them often watching his appearances, they never told him they were proud of his achievements. He said in 2016: 'You know, my parents never really said one way or the other if he was pleased I became successful. My mother passed away right in the middle of Goodfellas. 'I knew they were proud because they taped the shows I was on and they would watch them at night, but they never really said anything about it or how they thought I was doing. 'My dad just passed away over Christmas at the age of 98. Like anything, you find out from other people. 'You're Dad talks about you so much.' Really? He does?' Inside Ray Liotta's family and love life: How he found love in the years before his death Liotta and his ex-wife were married from 1999 to 2004. They welcomed one daughter together, named Karsen Liotta - who is now an actress herself. Liotta and Karsen are pictured in 2004 Liotta couldn't stop gushing over his daughter while chatting to the Guardian in 2007. He said, 'My whole life is about her. Being a dad. She'll come up and visit me on set. I don't like to go too long without seeing her.' They are pictured in 2008 Liotta met his ex-wife Grace in February 1997 when they both attended a baseball game, where her former husband Mark Grace was playing for the Chicago Cubs. Grace, now 53, is a producer and actress who was behind flicks like Baseball Wives and Knights of the South Bronx. They married in 1999 and were together until 2004, when they got divorced. They welcomed one daughter together, named Karsen Liotta - who is now an actress herself. Karsen, now 23, has modeled for brands like Brandy Melville, and has starred in A Rumor of Angels, Mississippi Requiem, Shades of Blue, Teenage Bada**, and Hubie Halloween. According to the budding star, she fell in love with acting after visiting her father's set as a kid. 'I always go with him whenever I have a break,' she told Teen Vogue in 2015. 'I enjoy hanging out on location and meeting people.' As for the lessons her dad taught her, she explained, 'He taught me to do my homework, to always practice. That's how you get where you want to be.' Liotta couldn't stop gushing over his daughter while chatting to the Guardian in 2007. He said, 'My whole life is about her. Being a dad. She'll come up and visit me on set. I don't like to go too long without seeing her. 'Maybe a couple of weeks. I just had a period of four months at home because I decided not to do a movie so I could spend more time with her. It was all about taking her to dance classes, playing with her.' According to the budding star, she fell in love with acting after visiting her father's set as a kid. 'I always go with him whenever I have a break,' she told Teen Vogue in 2015. 'I enjoy hanging out on location and meeting people' The actor explained at the time of the interview - which took place three years after his divorce - that he was still friends with Grace and that they were focused on co-parenting their daughter. 'It just didn't work out,' he said of the romance. 'I would love to be in a relationship with the right person. That's the key - the right person. 'She's a great woman, and thank God we're still friends. She still stays over at the house, so Karsen can see us together. You want to give her as much semblance of a family unit as you can when you're separated or divorced.' Before his romance with Grace, Liotta dated a woman named Heidi - a former stunt woman who was a quadriplegic. According to the outlet, they met through actress Melanie Griffith, but their romance fizzled out after Liotta realized he needed to focus more on his career. 'We went to the movies, did everything like a regular girlfriend-boyfriend relationship - physically, sexually, everything,' he told the outlet. 'She just happened to be a quad. After a year it starts wearing on you. At first I hoped she'd get better. It was an intense relationship. It took so much out of me I was compromising the work part. I realized that to succeed in the dream I had to break away.' After he and Grace split, he had a brief relationship - which he kept hidden from the media - but he said it didn't work out because he was still feeling 'vulnerable' from the divorce. 'I had a relationship after I got divorced and it didn't feel as equal as I would have liked,' he admitted. 'I was more vulnerable based on the experience I'd just been through. Everybody brings the dynamics of the previous relationships they were in.' At the time, Liotta said he wasn't dating anyone, but was still hoping to find the love of his life. 'Dating, I haven't really gotten into that at all. I've only had one or two dates in the past couple of years. It's either going to happen, or not. I'm hoping that it is,' he said, adding that he was looking for someone who was 'not as career-oriented' and who was 'more about the relationship.' Throughout his decades-long career, Liotta had a few controversies and scandals. In 2016, the actor appeared on U.K. talk show Good Morning Britain and seemed disoriented and confused, sparking speculation that he was drunk during the appearance (pictured) 'You kind of want someone who is not at your beck and call but loves the idea of being in a relationship and what that entails. Being there for you,' he continued. Before his death, Liotta found love again with former hairstylist Jacy Nittolo, 47. The two started dating during the pandemic after his daughter set them up. It turns out, she met Nittolo at a party thrown by her son Chazz, and she decided to play matchmaker. 'She said, 'I want you to go out with my dad, I think you'd be perfect for my dad,'' Liotta recalled during a September 2021 appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan, adding that Nittolo initially wanted 'nothing' to do with a famous actor, but she eventually came around. Before meeting Liotta, Nittolo was previously married to a man named Joey Nittolo, and the pair share sons, Dax, Chazz, and Joey, and daughter, Jade. She and Liotta made their red carpet debut at the Film Independent Spirit Awards in February of 2020, and announced their engagement in December of that year. 'Christmas wishes do come true. I asked the love of my life to marry me, and thank God she said yes!' he wrote on Instagram at the time. He opened up about their romance to People back in November, explaining: 'Luckily, I had met somebody [during the pandemic], and it brought us really, really close, to the point now where I'm engaged. 'So I like to think that was the reason. I've heard that there's a lot of people whose relationship didn't work out because they were with each other so much. But she's just great.' Throughout his decades-long career, Liotta had several controversies and scandals. In 2007, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he crashed his car into two parked vehicles in Pacific Palisades, California. He was taken into custody and booked on a misdemeanor DUI charge, said Los Angeles Police spokesman Mike Lopez, according to Berkshire Eagle. He was released after posting $15,000 bail and later pled no contest. In 2016, the actor appeared on U.K. talk show Good Morning Britain and seemed disoriented and confused, sparking speculation that he was drunk during the appearance. 'Liotta's face was pale and bloated. He stumbled over his words and acted way out of character,' NY Daily News reported at the time. The ultimate badfella! Real-life mafia turncoat Henry Hill - who was immortalized by Ray Liotta in breakout Goodfellas role - was a BIGAMIST who cheated on his wife while in witness protection, before marrying Mormon single mom he'd known for seven weeks by Charlie Lankston for DailyMail.com The real-life mafia turncoat who was immortalized by late actor Ray Liotta in his breakout role in Goodfellas was a bigamist who repeatedly cheated on his wife while in witness protection, before leaving her and their children to wed a Mormon hairdresser he had known for just seven weeks. Late gangster Henry Hill - who was portrayed by Liotta in Martin Scorcese's hit 1990 movie - was taken into the FBI's witness protection program with his wife Karen and their two children, Gail and Michael, in 1980 after helping to jail members of his infamous mafia gang. Goodfellas, which is seen by many as the movie that shot Liotta to stardom, ends with Hill being taken into witness protection, a seemingly perfect Hollywood ending. But in reality, Hill's involvement in the criminal underworld did not end when the credits began rolling, cementing Liotta's name in the history books - nor did his repeated infidelity. Throughout his time spent working for the infamous Lucchese crime family, Hill, who wed his first wife Karen in 1965, was known to have had multiple mistresses. In fact, it was reported that he even tried to convince the FBI to allow him to take two of his lovers into witness protection with his wife and children, according to writers Matthew Pearl and Greg Nichols of Truly*Adventurous. It is thought that during the first year Hill and his family spent in witness protection, he continued to enjoy several illicit affairs, all the while continuing his criminal dealings - which forced the FBI to repeatedly move them around to different locations. Every time Hill was busted by local authorities, he and his family had to relocate so as to keep them off the mafia radar, and within the first year of their time in the program, the Hills had moved from Omaha, Nebraska, to Independence, Kentucky, then to the sleepy town of Redmond, Washington. It was here that the mafia boss met Mormon beautician and single mother-of-one Sherry Anders, who spoke out about their 'magic' love affair in a 2019 interview with Pearl and Nichols, revealing how the love rat lothario won her over with his dynamic personality after they met for the first time in a local Mexican restaurant. Real-life mafia turncoat Henry Hill (seen in his 1980 mugshot) - who was immortalized by late actor Ray Liotta in his breakout Goodfellas role - became a bigamist after going into witness protection, wedding a second wife while still married to his first Hill wed first wife Karen in 1965 (left), however he was known to have had multiple mistresses even before he was arrested in 1980. When the family was taken into FBI witness protection, he met and wed Mormon single mom Sherry Anders (right) Hill was taken into witness protection with long-suffering wife Karen and their two children, Gina and Gregg (pictured), and all four of them were forced to change their names The mob informant's marriage to Karen was also featured in Goodfellas, with actress Lorraine Bracco taking on the role alongside Liotta, who passed away at the age of 67 on May 26 WHY DID HENRY HILL GO INTO WITNESS PROTECTION? Against his father's wishes Hill got in with the mafia crowd aged 11 when he started hanging around with the infamous Lucchese family. Hill's last major job with his gang was the Lufthansa heist at John F Kennedy airport in New York in December 1978, which netted them a then-record $5.875 million. Following his arrest for the robbery on April 27, 1980, detectives played him wire taps of other mob members threatening to kill him but he refused to talk, at least for a while. Eventually, Hill testified against his former associates to avoid a possible execution by his crew or going to prison for his crimes. The testimony led to 50 convictions and meant that Hill, his wife Karen, and their two children had to be put in the US Marshals' Witness Protection Program in 1980. Advertisement For Sherry, who was raised in a rural town in Washington as a Mormon, this was 'magic'. The two had met in a restaurant after 'Martin' overheard her talking about horses. He popped the question under two months later. 'It was magic,' according to Sherry, who is backed up by her roommate, Samantha Kellum, who said: 'The electricity during those months was just absolutely volatile, just screaming.' But Vivian Walsh, who owned the salon where Sherry, rented a chair, said: 'He kind of slinked in and didn't make good eye contact when I was introduced. I said, 'You know, I hope that's not a red flag, but there's something kind of creepy about him'.' The mobster, who died at the age of 69 in 2012, assumed varying cover stories during his time in witness protection. He told people he worked for the government, an insurance investigator and an author. When Hill met up with writer Nick Pileggi single mom Sherry did not know the book Wiseguys, which would inspire the 1990 Martin Scorsese crime classic Goodfellas in which he was played by Liotta alongside Robert de Niro and Joe Pesci, was being written in front of her. But their romance would be short lived after his first wife Karen, now known as Kaylen, discovered his affair and confronted Sherry. When Sherry asked her: 'Do you know Martin Lewis?' Kaylen replied: 'Yeah. He's my husband.' And when 'Martin' turned up later he found his two wives in the home he shared with Karen. Sherry would later throw him out of their home, screaming: 'Don't you ever f***ing come back here.' One night the two wives are even said to have walked arm in arm into the club Hill was in. Sherry said: 'Here's wife Number One and wife Number Two. Isn't that special?' At the same time Hill was being followed by a private investigator called Janet. She had been hired a New York law firm representing former mob boss, Jimmy Burke. They wanted dirt on the prosecution's star witness. When Hill and Sherry split Janet approached his second wife for help. Sherry told 'Kaylen', who decided his second marriage needed to be dissolved immediately. But Sherry who was now pregnant, refused. Henry Hill pictured in hiding in 1980s during which time he got married to his second wife Twice Kaylan is said to have attacked Sherry, who said: 'I was never so scared in my life.' Finally, through a religious loophole Kaylan was able to get the marriage annulled. But the family were still taken out of the witness protection program 'based upon continued arrests and breaches of security'. Martin was sent to prison again and his book Wiseguys was released. Sherry lost their baby. Hill had already been arrested for getting into a fight with a presumed mistress when they were hidden in Independence, Kentucky. So brazen was Hill that he even wore a 'Witness Protection Program' t-shirt while dating Sherry. In recent times however he ventured out in public more opening a restaurant called Wiseguys, launching his own brand of spaghetti sauce and appearing on US TV talking about gangster movies. Ten years after their wedding Hill called Sherry, who has now also changed her name to Scarlett. They met up and Hill told her: 'I'll love you forever.' As for Karen she divorced Hill in 1990 and it was finalized in 2002. It is not known where she is now. Hill died at a hospital in Los Angeles in June 2012 having suffered a heart attack brought on by years of smoking, a habit he blamed on his nerves. Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tore into Gov. Greg Abbott as an 'absolute fraud' for planning to go to the National Rifle Association's (NRA) leadership summit days after a gunman shot up a Texas elementary school, killing 19 children and two teachers. 'After Beto O'Rourke confronted Texas Governor Abbott's press conference the MAGA governor gave some empty platitudes about healing and hope. He asked people to put their agendas aside and think about someone other than themselves. Oh, my God. How dare he? What an absolute fraud the governor of Texas is. And this is the same Governor Abbott who tomorrow will go speak at the NRA convention.' Abbott will speak at the NRA event in Houston, Texas over the weekend, as will former President Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. O'Rourke was escorted out of Abbott's press briefing on the Uvalde shooting by police for causing a disturbance. 'This is on you!' he yelled at Abbott, who he's challenging for governor. Republicans at the briefing immediately shout down O'Rourke's interruption, accusing him of politicizing the tragedy. Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tore into Gov. Greg Abbott as an 'absolute fraud' for planning to go to the National Rifle Association's (NRA) leadership summit days after a gunman shot up a Texas elementary school 'Governor Abbott, will you ask your MAGA buddies and your NRA pals to put aside their agendas, and think of someone other than themselves like you ask the families to do?' Schumer said with haughty disdain. 'Will you ask the gun manufacturing reps who swarm over the NRA convention to put aside their agendas and think about someone other than themselves? Of course not. Governor Abbott is more likely to outline some new plan to further loosen gun restriction.' 'No amount of bloodshed seems to be enough for MAGA Republicans.' Mass shootings in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas left a total of 31 dead this month. Abbott has signed nearly two dozen laws to ease gun access. After mass shootings in Santa Fe in 2018 and El Paso and Midland-Odessa in 2019, the governor asked the legislature to consider a 'red flag' law that would allow law enforcement to remove firearms from people whom the court had determined to be a danger, and also floated the idea of adding new background checks for some gun sales. Instead, Texas state lawmakers put before him a 'constitutional carry' bill, which he signed, that allowed those 18 and older who were legally allowed to own a gun to carry it in public without a permit. Though Schumer was visibly frustrated at a lack of action, legislation to address the shooting epidemic is moving none too fast in Congress. Schumer said Thursday that he told colleagues to be ready for a vote on gun control legislation after the Memorial Day week-long recess. He said he was not scheduling a vote this week on two House-passed bills to give Democratic negotiators, namely Sen. Chris Murphy, more time to work with Republicans on what they could support as part of background check and red flag legislation. The Democratic leader expressed little hope in the negotiations, but vowed to hold a vote even if it was doomed to fail. 'If these negotiations do not bear any fruit, the Senate will vote on gun safety legislation when we return. But our hope, even amidst our deep skepticism, is that during this week Democrats and Republicans at long last will come to agree on something meaningful that will reduce gun violence in a real way in America,' Schumer said. Republicans, reticent to new gun restrictions, have focused on the nation's mental illness problems and the need for more armed officers in schools. 'We as a state, we as a society, need to do a better job with mental health. Anybody who shoots somebody else has a mental health challenge. Period,' Abbott said in his press briefing Wednesday. 'We as a government need to find a way to...do something about it.' Meanwhile Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., asked Thursday for the Luke and Alex School Safety Act to be passed by unanimous consent, a proposal which Schumer shot down. The bill, named after victims of the Parkland, Florida shooting, would require the Department of Homeland Security to establish a standard of best practices for preventing and quickly shutting down violent events. Abbott will speak at the NRA event in Houston, Texas over the weekend, as will former President Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Pictured above: a woman grieves after placing flowers in front of the crosses representing each of the children who were killed in Tuesday's mass shooting 19 children and 2 adults were killed at Robb Elementary School by an 18-year-old who had just made his first two legal gun purchases The so-called 'Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety Best Practices' is already available at SchoolSafety.gov, but the bill would codify it, and make sure the clearinghouse publishes materials for training both education workers and law enforcement on incident mitigation and response. Schumer quashed the bill because he claimed it could lead to 'more guns in schools.' 'GOP Sen. Johnson just tried for a bill that could see more guns in schoolsI blocked it. The truth: There were officers at the school in Texas. The shooter got past them. We need real solutionsWe will vote on gun legislation starting with the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act,' he tweeted. The Senate last had a lengthy debate on gun legislation in 2013, after the Sandy Hook shooting that left 20 children dead. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., negotiated a background checks bill, but it only garnered four GOP votes, failing to break a filibuster. The Senate again debated red flag laws in 2019, but momentum fizzled with the start of the first impeachment proceedings of then-President Trump. Murphy said this week he's reached out to Toomey and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Me., who also voted for the 2013 bill, but according to Schumer, success is a 'slim prospect.' He swatted at Republicans who want to focus on mental illness. 'Spare me the bulls*** about mental illness. We don't have any more mental illness than any other country in the world,' Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said after giving a speech on the Senate floor. A university arts director has been fined 90 after he threw eggs at a statue of Baroness Margaret Thatcher shortly after it was unveiled. Jeremy Webster, 59, a deputy director at the University of Leicester's Attenborough Arts Centre, was captured throwing eggs in Lincolnshire on May 15. He showed up just over an hour after the monument was placed and threw four eggs, one of which hit the statue and then left the scene. Leicester University said it 'does not condone defacement' and takes any act of defacement extremely seriously as they would address the matter in line with its procedures. Jeremy Webster was photographed and filmed throwing eggs at the statue of the late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher moments after it was unveiled this month Plastic sheeting covers the plinth of the newly installed statue of Baroness Margaret Thatcher which is now guarded by two CCTV cameras and a metal fence Three eggs were thrown at the monument and then a cry of 'oi' heard after one of them hit the 300,000 statue of the late Prime Minister. Mr Webster was seen holding an egg carton and preparing to throw an egg not long after the statue was installated in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Pieces of yolk and egg shell could be seen on the bottom half of the statue as police turned up at the scene minutes after of the incident. Lincolnshire Police said they issued Mr Webster with a fixed penalty notice under Section 5 of the Public Order Act. The contents of a thrown egg drip down the newly installed statue of Baroness Margaret Thatcher in her home town of Grantham, Lincolnshire Protections were put in place by the council in order to protect the controversial monument In a statement, the force said: 'We have spoken with a 59-year-old man in relation to an incident involving eggs being thrown at a statue of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher on May 15. 'He has been given a 90 fixed penalty notice under Section 5 of the Public Order Act. 'The statue continues to be monitored by CCTV.' When the statue was placed in the town it was booed by motorists and had multiple threats of 'egg throwing'. Jeremy Webster and his wife Dee Barnes with Grayson Perry Dee Barnes Designs is at University of Leicester earlier this month A tweet from Jeremy Webster on his plan to visit the newly unveiled statue, he wrote: 'Grantham unveils Thatcher statue, so guess where we are going?' Arts director Jeremy Webster worked with Grayson Perry in 2006 on an exhibition he curated called 'The charms of Lincolnshire ' and they have remained connected ever since, according to his wife Dee Barnes. Artist Grayson Perry is a patron of the University of Leicester and the pair was pictured together this month. According to his LinkedIn, Mr Webster spent nearly nine years as Deputy Director at the Attenborough Arts Centre at the University of Leicester, and he was previously Head of Exhibitions at The National Centre for Craft and Design based in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. In February 2019 a planning committee unanimously voted to house the 300,000 statue, which was meant to be displayed in Parliament Square, Westminster originally. Two council CCTV cameras now guard the statue of Baroness Thatcher in her home town of Grantham The local council said that two CCTV cameras as well as a large metal fence around the memorial to combat any future acts of vandalism, South Kesteven District Council have reports that show the statue was moved to the area over fears of a 'motivated far-left movement... who may be committed to public activism'. After the council approved a large-scale 100,000 unveiling ceremony in 2020, a Facebook group proposed an 'egg-throwing contest' at the statue which attracted interest from over 13,000 people. Before the statue had planning permission, Baroness Thatcher was remembered solely by a plaque on the corner of North Parade and Broad Street to show where she was born in the town. Advertisement Amber Heard was subjected to brutal cross examination by Depp's lawyer Camille Vasquez, whose previous interrogation of the actress turned the attorney into a legal star. Vasquez asked Heard Thursday: 'Your lies have been exposed to the world multiple times?' Heard responded: 'I haven't lied about anything.' Vasquez asked: 'When you told this jury you punched Mr. Depp because you thought of Mr. Depp pushing Kate Moss down the stairs, you didn't expect Miss Moss to testify that never happened?' Heard replied, 'Incorrect, I knew how many people will come out of the woodwork to support Johnny. 'Everybody who was around in the 90s and early aughts knew that rumor. I had heard that rumor from multiple people. Of course that's what flashed through my head when my violent husband not only swung for me but all of a sudden swung for my sister. Of course I thought of that. I did not expect her to show up or expect her to show up, it did not matter, it did not change what I thought on the stairs when I thought he was going to kill my sister.' Heard was pressed about why so many other people came out and testified for Depp. She said: 'I know how many people will come out and say whatever for him. That's his power. That's why I wrote that op-ed. He is a very powerful man and people love currying favor with powerful men.' Johnny Depp's lawyer Camille Vasquez delivered aggressive cross-examination of Amber Heard. Vasquez asked Heard Thursday: 'Your lies have been exposed to the world multiple times?' Heard responded: 'I haven't lied about anything.' Vasquez turned to the question of whether Heard or her legal team tipped off TMZ about her appearing at court in May 2016 to get a restraining order against Depp Heard was pressed about why so many other people came out and testified for Depp. She said: 'I know how many people will come out and say whatever for him. That's his power. That's why I wrote that op-ed. He is a very powerful man and people love currying favor with powerful men' Kate Moss told Johnny Depp 's $100million defamation trial that he never pushed her down the stairs. Vasquez asked: 'When you told this jury you punched Mr. Depp because you thought of Mr. Depp pushing Kate Moss down the stairs, you didn't expect Miss Moss to testify that never happened?' Vasquez turned to the question of whether Heard or her legal team tipped off TMZ about her appearing at court in May 2016 to get a restraining order against Depp. Heard said she had 'nothing to do' with the press being there and had 'no idea' they would be outside. Asked if she was 'not shocked at all' to see photographers outside court, Heard said that 'incorrect'. Vasquez said: 'You alerted TMZ you'd be filing?' and Heard said: 'No I did not.' She denied that the tip came from her legal team and said: 'What survivor of domestic violence wants that?' Vasquez accused Heard of editing out a part of the video when she was 'snickering' before sending it to TMZ. Vasquez said: 'You testified you haven't been smirking - you were smirking on that video.' Heard said: 'Everyone can watch that video and determine whether you think it's funny to me.' As the testimony went on, Vasquez became short with Heard. At one point Vasquez said: 'There is no question pending so I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't make an argument to the jury.' Heard protested: 'I thought you asked me about it.' Vasquez responded: 'I didn't ask you anything.' Vasquez pulled up this photo of Amber Heard with a friend the day after she filed for a restraining order and appeared with a bruise on her face. She questioned why the bruise is not visible As the temperature rose , Judge Penney Azcarate had to issue a warning to the public gallery after an objection from one of Heard's lawyers Vasquez turned to the events of the trailer park in Hicksville, California, where Heard claimed that Depp performed a 'cavity search' on her after flying into a jealous rage. The lawyer asked the witness if it was correct that her friend Rocky Pennington didn't see Depp grab the wrist of a woman who was cuddling up to Heard. In response, Heard said that she was 'not sure what part of the night she saw'. In her testimony Heard claimed that Depp trashed their trailer but Vasquez said that the manager of the site, Morgan Night, contradicted that and only found $62 of damage to a light fixture. Speaking of Night, Heard said: 'I'm not sure who that guy was. I know a lot of people have come out of the woodwork.' She added: 'I've heard a lot of people say a lot of things to be involved in the Johnny Depp show.' Vasquez asked: 'In Hicksville you were the only one jealous of Mr. Depp?' Heard replied: 'Not correct.' Asked if Heard got jealous because Depp was 'not giving you attention', Heard said: 'Incorrect again.' As the temperature rose , Judge Penney Azcarate had to issue a warning to the public gallery after an objection from one of Heard's lawyers. The judge said: 'I would ask there be no words or sounds coming from you. If I hear one more sound I will clear the public gallery'. Heard was asked about her comments in an audio recording that Depp should go to the 'judge and jury' and claim he was a victim of domestic abuse. She said: 'I find it hard to believe knowing that he himself beat me up for five years'. According to Heard, Depp only made that claim 'very recently' and when they signed their divorce he made no mention of it. Amber Heard tearfully told the court how the claims from Johnny Depp have upended her life 'People want to put my baby in the microwave and they tell me that. Johnny threatened, promised me that if I ever left him he'd make me think of him every single day I lived,' she said. Heard has a one-year-old daughter, Oonagh Paige Heard, who she welcomed via surrogate Asked by one of her own lawyers to describe the effect of Depp, she became emotional. Heard said: 'Johnny promised me, promised me he would ruin me, that'd he ruin my career, he'd take my life from me, death was the only way out and if I got out, this is what he'd do to me. He promised me global humiliation, that you see in this courtroom is an echo of the violence and the abuse of what I suffered in our relationship, the campaigns to have me fired trying to ruin my career, the threats he's made to humiliate me globally are being lived out in real time in front of you ladies and gentleman for the past six weeks and for the whole world given there are cameras here.' Heard broke down on the stand as she told the courtroom how Johnny Depp's 'smear campaign' against her has upended her life. Asked by her own attorney how she has suffered as a result of Depp's statement, Heard said, 'I am harassed, humiliated, threatened every single day. 'Even just walking into this courtroom, sitting here in front of the world, having the worst parts of my life used to humiliate me. People want to kill me and they tell me so every day. 'People want to put my baby in the microwave and they tell me that. Johnny threatened, promised me that if I ever left him he'd make me think of him every single day I lived.' Heard has a one-year-old daughter, Oonagh Paige Heard, who she welcomed via surrogate. Heard has not publicly revealed who the father is. Taking a jab at Depp, who has been seen laughing, smirking and making jokes throughout the trial, Heard said, 'I'm not sitting in this courtroom snickering. I'm not sitting in this courtroom laughing and making snide jokes. This is horrible, this painful and this is humiliating for any human being to go through. Perhaps it's easy to go forget that, I'm a human being.' 'I don't deserve this. The attacks on me the campaign that Johnny has elicited millions of people to do on his behalf, torture me,' she added. Asked by her own attorney how she has suffered as a result of Depp's statement, Heard said, 'I am harassed, humiliated, threatened every single day' Heard was asked how Depp's statements and threats have continued to manifest today. 'In the harassment the humiliation, the campaign against me that's echoed every single day on social media nad now in cameras in this room. Every single day I live this trauma. 'My hands shake, I wake up screamingmy friends have to live with a set of unspoken rules about how not to scare me, how to not touch me, not surprise me. Intimate partners have rules about how they can touch me. 'I have rules about medical professionals.gynecologists I see - for me not to have a panic attack or triggering event, where I relive the trauma, even if I'm training for a movie, Aquaman 2. A trigger happens and I have a meltdown, I have to deal with that because of the damage I have.' Heard said she is 'high functioning' because she has 'found a solution to the pain,' which Heard said is charitable work. 'I woke up every day with panic attacks until I realized I could do something about it. I'm not a saint, I'm not trying to present myself as one but I selfishly found relief in using what I live through to give a voice to people who don't have a voice. 'I would not wish this situation on my worst enemy. As I stand here today I can't have a career, I can't have people associate with me and I can't do charity work.' Heard said she has received 'hundreds' of death threats regularly and 'thousands' since the trial began. 'People mocking my testimony about being assaulted. Making fun ofit's been agonizing, painful and was humiliating thing I've ever had to go through. I hope no one has to go through something like this. 'I just want Johnny to leave me alone. I've said that for years now and I thought he would.' 'Johnny has taken enough of my voice. I have the right to tell my story, my voice and my name. He took it long enough. I have a right as an American to talk about what happened to me, to own my story and my truth. I have that right. I hope to get my voice back and I've said that from day one.' Heard was asked how Depp's statements and threats have continued to manifest today. 'In the harassment the humiliation, the campaign against me that's echoed every single day on social media nad now in cameras in this room. Every single day I live this trauma' Dr. Richard Gilbert, a surgeon and expert in the field of orthopedic surgery, said that Depp's fingertip could have been sliced off in Australia when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him. Heard has claimed that Depp smashed it against a wall while bashing a phone in a drink and drug-fueled rage. Dr. Gilbert said that Depp had a comminuted fracture which meant it was broken in multiple pieces and was caused by 'some type of blunt force'. Depp also sustained loss of the tissue towards the little finger. Dr. Gilbert said: 'This appeared based upon my review of the pictures to be some type of sharp laceration, it represented a clean edge of the wound'. The court was shown X-rays of Depp's finger showing the tip had several breaks in it. Dr. Gilbert said that 'I do believe' that Depp's explanation could be the reason for the injury. He said: 'A vodka bottle which is a hard object would have crushed the tip of the finger resulting comminuted fracture 'As the vodka bottle broke it would have lacerated the finger resulting in this injury'. According to Dr. Gilbert, Heard's account of the injury was 'highly unlikely'. He said: 'When an injury is caused by punching against a wall or hard object it's extremely rare to see an injury to the tips of the fingers'. Instead you had injuries to the knuckles which he said were known as 'boxer fractures.' Dr Gilbert disagreed with an analysis by Heard's finger surgery expert, Dr. Richard Moore, who has told the court that a vodka bottle wouldn't have enough force to cause the injury. He said: 'I believe a vodka bottle that was thrown from a distance was more than sufficient force to result in this fracture and soft tissue loss.' Dr. Richard Gilbert, a surgeon and expert in the field of orthopedic surgery, said that Depp's fingertip could have been sliced off in Australia when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him The court was shown X-rays of Depp's finger showing the tip had several breaks in it. Dr. Gilbert said that 'I do believe' that Depp's explanation could be the reason for the injury The defamation trial was shown a photo of the actor with a mark below his eye the day before he claimed Amber Heard punched him on his 2015 honeymoon. Depp was cross examined by Heard's lawyer Benjamin Rottenborn Wednesday who asked him about his claims regarding being punched on his honeymoon. The court was shown photos posted on social media the day before Depp and Heard got on the Orient Express in July 2015. They showed Depp with a mark below his left eye, the same eye that he says Heard hit him on during the trip, Rottenborn said. Rottenborn said that the dark mark was the same. But Depp protested that a 'side light' would create such an effect. Rottenborn pointed out the photos - showing Depp holding a baby - were not taken from the side. Depp claims: 'Light on the side will cause (eye) bone to appear sunken.' Rottenborn said: 'Whatever mark it is, sunburn, shadow, you had that same mark before you got on the train.' Depp shot back: 'It's pretty difficult to get a sunburn on the train.' Johnny Depp was cross examined by Amber Heard's lawyer Benjamin Rottenborn Wednesday who asked him about his claims regarding being punched on his honeymoon The court was shown photos posted on social media the day before Depp and Heard got on the Orient Express in July 2015 The jury were shown a photo of Depp and Heard posing with the staff of the Orient Express. Depp said that it showed his eye 'a little bit bugged out' Depp protested that a 'side light' would create such an effect. Rottenborn pointed out the photos - showing Depp holding a baby - were not taken from the side. Depp claims: 'Light on the side will cause (eye) bone to appear sunken' Heard has claimed that Depp became violent during their honeymoon on the Orient Express in August 2015 and punched her repeatedly in their car The court was shown another copy of the photo of Depp on board the Orient Express posted on Facebook. Depp claims: 'That looks like the eyes have been photoshopped.' Heard has claimed that Depp became violent during their honeymoon on the Orient Express in August 2015 and punched her repeatedly in their car. Depp said that they did take the train from Bangkok, Thailand, to Singapore but his account was very different. Depp said: 'There were times when it was very agreeable, very nice and then there were times when something had become dissatisfactory for her and she would start then rant, the blooming of a fight would be on deck there. 'At one point - I don't remember it lasting long - I took a pretty good shot to the face, to the eye, to somewhere up here. I had a bit of a shiner but it all went, ended and everything got fine again and we'd go to dinner and it was all fine'.' The jury were shown a photo of Depp and Heard posing with the staff of the Orient Express. Depp said that it showed his eye 'a little bit bugged out.' He said: 'These things could happen very quickly. If you disagreed. I don't look like myself much but it certainly looks like me with a black eye.' Depp was asked if the image had been Photoshopped as Heard claimed. He said: 'It would be difficult to start getting into digital processing with a number of people on the shot.' The jury were shown a photo of Depp and Heard posing with the manager of the Raffles Hotel in Singapore at the end of their trip. Depp said you could see his left eye is 'swollen and a bit of a shiner there'. A man who performed 'DIY surgery' on a gaping wound on his dog's leg with a staple gun he bought online has been banned from owning canines for seven years. Aftab Karim, 40 ignored the advice of a vet to seek proper treatment for his black and tan Belgian Malinois, called Luna, after she suffered a 'substantial' cut to her leg. He claimed he couldn't afford the vet fees he had been quoted and resorted to using a non-medical staple gun he bought online to close the wound on the dog's right hind leg. Karim admitted a charge of causing unnecessary suffering after an RSPCA prosecution and was given a seven-year ban from keeping dogs by Kirklees Magistrates' Court. Aftab Karim, 40 ignored the advice of a vet to seek proper treatment for his black and tan Belgian Malinois, called Luna, after she suffered a 'substantial' cut to her leg Magistrates also ordered that he complete 200 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community sentence. Karim's, of Huddersfield, West Yorks., took Luna to a veterinary surgery in September last year where she was given pain relief, an anti-inflammatory and antibiotics. A vet advised the dog needed the wound stitched up as soon as possible, but Karim failed to attend a follow up appointment the next day at another branch. RSPCA Inspector Demi Hodby visited Karim's house and examined Luna, who was lying on the floor growling, and found multiple staples had been inserted into her leg. She took Luna to an RSPCA animal hospital where a veterinary surgeon said she was in a suffering state and carried out emergency surgery to remove the staples and suture the wound. The vet said 26 staples had been applied to the wound across Luna's thigh, from which blood and discharges were seeping. RSPCA Inspector Demi Hodby visited Karim's house and examined Luna, who was lying on the floor growling, and found multiple staples had been inserted into her leg She had also suffered bruising from the insertion of the staples. She said: 'He advised that the dog was injured and that this injury was caused by the other dog living at the address. 'He said after the incident he took the dog to the vets and was told the dog needed surgery which he couldn't afford as this was going to cost around 700 to 1,200. 'So he brought the dog home and did it himself as he could only afford to pay around 300.' Veterinary surgeon James Adams said: 'For a wound as large as the one suffered the dog would have required a full general anaesthetic. 'The owner stapled the wound with non-sterile equipment without the knowledge or skills of how to reconstruct a wound. 'Therefore, the animal had to undergo another procedure at the hospital.' The vet said 26 staples had been applied to the wound across Luna's thigh, from which blood and discharges were seeping A deprivation order was made in relation to Luna and a seizure order made on another dog under his ownership, giving the defendant 21 days to rehome that pet In mitigation, John Goodwin told the court that Karim accepted his actions towards Luna had amounted to a 'ludicrous act'. The solicitor said the conviction would have a 'devastating effect' on the defendant and his family as they are under significant financial pressure. As well as the unpaid work, Karim was told to undertake 10 rehabilitation activity days and pay a victim surcharge of 95 and court costs of 350. A deprivation order was made in relation to Luna and a seizure order made on another dog under his ownership, giving the defendant 21 days to rehome that pet. Magistrates told him: 'We consider this to be a very serious crime. 'You caused significant suffering to Luna by your calculated decision to put your own finances above her needs. 'You then compounded your culpability by attempting to deceive the vets.' Magistrates also asked for their concerns about the sale of the type of staple gun used in the offence could be passed on to the website where he purchased it from. Speaking after the court case, Inspector Hodby said: 'Pet-owners have a legal responsibility to ensure their animals do not suffer, but sadly he failed in this duty towards his pet. 'It is completely unacceptable to leave any animal to suffer in this way and we will always look into reports of animal cruelty and, where necessary, seek justice for that animal.' Progressive rock titans Yes have announced the death of drummer Alan White at the age of 72. The star, who was born in 1949 in Pelton, County Durham, died peacefully at his home near Seattle in the U.S. today following a brief illness. 'The news has shocked and stunned the entire Yes family,' the band said. They said White had been 'looking forward' to the forthcoming UK tour and to celebrating his 50th anniversary with Yes, who he joined in 1972 for their Close to the Edge tour. Prior to joining Yes, White was the drummer of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Plastic Ono Band from 1969 onwards. He maintained his working relationship with John Lennon for over 10 years until the latter's death in 1980, recording on eights tracks of his 1971 album Imagine including the title song as well as another hit song, Instant Karma. Besides his work with Lennon and Yes, White worked on over 50 albums with the leading artists of his day including George Harrison, Ginger Baker's Air Force, Terry Reid and Joe Cocker and the Ventures. Several health setbacks since 2016 had limited White's appearances on recent tours, when he joined the group on stage towards the end of each set 'to great applause', Yes said. Progressive rock titans Yes have announced the death of drummer Alan White at the age of 72 Drummer Alan White, of English progressive rock group Yes, 19th September 1974 Alan White pictures as Yes were in concert at the Hard Rock Events Center, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Florida, USA - 13 Jul 2019 Musician Alan White of Yes appears at the Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp at AMP Rehearsal Studios on November 6, 2015 in North Hollywood, California White's bandmates said they will dedicate their Close to the Edge UK tour in June to their 'much-loved drummer' Alan White's family revealed his passing on his Twitter account today White's bandmates said they will dedicate their Close to the Edge UK tour in June to their 'much-loved drummer'. Yes was founded by former frontman Jon Anderson and bassist Chris Squire in 1968 in London, alongside guitarist Peter Banks, keyboardist Tony Kaye and drummer Bill Bruford. The famous progressive rock band went through numerous line-up changes featuring stars such as White and Rick Wakeman, exploring many musical styles. Their hits include Owner Of A Lonely Heart, Roundabout and Long Distance Runaround. Yes were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, alongside Joan Baez, Electric Light Orchestra and Journey. White was married to his wife Gigi for over 40 years and they raised two children Jesse and Cassi. The family lived in Newcastle, Washington, near Seattle, where White died today following a brief illness. Around 100 4x4 vehicles are said to have had their tyres let down overnight in Edinburgh as part of a targeted campaign. The Tyre Extinguishers group said the attacks in parts of Edinburgh were its largest night of action in the city so far. The group believes there is no need for four-wheel-drive vehicles in urban areas, and campaigners deflated tyres of SUVs in places including the Grange, Portobello and the New Town. Similar incidents have taken place in countries including Sweden, New Zealand, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. A spokesperson for the Edinburgh Tyre Extinguishers said: 'Politicians talk, we act. We will defend ourselves from air pollution, climate change and unsafe roads, and we urge others to join us. 'Edinburgh is a small city with good public transport. Nobody living in the centre of town needs to own one of these death machines.' In a separate incident, CCTV has been released showing eco-vigilantes letting the air out of tyres from SUVs in East Sussex before casually strolling off. Two men travelled to a town on the south coast to carry out the vanadlism and were caught on CCTV, which has since been released by police. The duo were dressed in black can be seen crouching down next to an SUV and letting the tyres down, before fleeing the scene. Sussex Police has now launched a manhunt for the pair. The Tyre Extinguishers have let rip on cities and towns across the UK after deflating nearly 2,000 SUVs recently arrived in East Sussex to carry out their operation CCTV has been released showing eco zealots letting the air out of tyres from SUVs before casually strolling off Do YOU know the pair, or have your tyres been deflated? Do you have more information? Email our news reporter Charlotte at: Charlotte.McLaughlin@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement The group of vigilantes thought to be behind the latest spate of attacks in Brighton and Hove see the large vehicles as a 'climate disaster', 'dangerous' and 'unnecessary'. Tyre Extinguishers - which has hit electric vehicles and stopped people from getting to hospital appointments - have previously bragged they will not be caught. A spokeswoman for the group claimed last month that unless the police guard SUVs 24/7 they 'don't expect anyone to be apprehended'. Sussex Police released the footage of the two people after a dozens vehicles had their tyres deflated in Brighton and Hove. At around 11.45pm on Monday, May 9, the two people in this footage were captured on CCTV in Glynde Road, Brighton. The BBC has been accused of using the licence fee to 'protect environmental extremists' after its climate editor tried to offer anonymity to a gang deflating tyres. The Corporation found itself in hot water when Justin Rowlatt asked members of Tyre Extinguishers to star in a clip in which he would hide their identities. The 'trusted' journalist allegedly told the eco-thugs he would blur their faces and disguise their voices in the video for the Beeb. The move was branded 'outrageous' and raised 'ethical questions' over supporting 'unlawful radical activism that disrupts people's lives during this cost of living crisis'. The gang has sparked outrage by deflating tyres on SUVs across the country as they tried to disguise their vandalism as protests. As of last week Tyre Extinguishers bragged it had deflated the wheels of nearly 2,000 cars in just a month despite public fury. Meanwhile questions were raised over 55-year-old Rowlatt's suitability as climate editor after it emerged his sister was an active member of Insulate Britain and XR. Is deflating someone's tyre a crime in the UK? Legal experts say that although prosecution is unlikely, the activists could actually be committing a criminal offence. Laura Baumanis, a criminal defence solicitor at legal defence firm Olliers, told MailOnline: 'Whilst it is extremely rare for someone to be prosecuted for letting the air out of a tyre, technically, it could be classed as criminal damage. 'For this offence to be satisfied, any damage caused does not have to be permanent, but is made out by virtue of the fact that steps need to be taken, ordinarily at expense to the owner, for the item to be in a working condition again.' Matthew Nash, tutor at The University of Law, said if the driver failed to notice the flat tyre and drove away, more serious charges could be brought it they crashed. He said: 'Letting out air from someone's tyres is clear criminal damage. Although technically the tyre is not 'damaged', if you do something to someone else's property and they need to do something to restore it, that is Criminal Damage within the meaning of the Criminal Damage Act. 'It is possible that if they let the air out of someone's types so as to cause an accident, there could be more serious charges depending on the resulting damage or injury. 'It is also possible that there could be other offences if this were done to many cars at the same time.' Three police forces have confirmed they are investigating multiple reports of criminal damage in Brighton, Liverpool and Cambridge. Advertisement SUVs feature elements of standard cars but are larger and have off-road capabilities such as high ground clearance. Petrol and diesel-powered models are generally less fuel efficient than cars. The Tyre Extinguishers describes itself as 'leaderless' and encourages people to take action by reading instructions on how to deflate tyres on its website. The group, which first took action on March 7, said in a statement: 'So far, the Tyre Extinguishers have disarmed nearly 2,000 SUVs in the UK, in Brighton, London, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Bristol and Edinburgh, in repeated actions. 'Plans are being made to launch the Tyre Extinguishers leaflet in four other languages as interest grows internationally.' Marion Walker, a spokeswoman for the Tyre Extinguishers, said: 'Unless a bobby is posted beside every SUV in the country 24 hours a day, we don't expect anyone to be apprehended. 'Better to break the law than allow these killer vehicles to continue to be used on our streets.' Activists are urged to avoid SUVs 'clearly used' by people with disabilities or by tradespersons. However, they have hit people with disabilities like Kate Basker, 33, who was alerted by a neighbour to a flat tyre on her Jaguar F-Pace. On Tuesday, March 8, a leaflet was left under the windscreen wipers made it clear it was not an accidental puncture. 'On bad days I certainly can't walk the ten minutes to a bus stop then wait the 30 minutes for a bus that may or may not come because Bristol transport is terrible,' Mrs Basker said. 'I'm all in favour of action to combat climate change. But skulking around at night and damaging people's property is not the way to raise awareness. 'I feel we've been subjected to bullying, intimidating behaviour. It's shocking to find out that someone has decided we're fair game just because of the car we drive, not knowing anything about us.' Police would like to identify these two people in connection with a series of vehicles having their tyres deflated in Brighton and Hove. Officers are investigating dozens of incidents of SUV-type vehicles having the air let out of their tyres since the beginning of March, believed to be linked to a group calling themselves 'Tyre Extinguishers' A new eco mob calling themselves Tyre Extinguishers claim they targeted almost 2,000 SUVs across the UK in the last month, and let air out of the tyres in a bid to have them banned from roads As a multiple sclerosis sufferer, Kate Basker never quite knows when or how the condition will affect her. 'It's shocking to find out that someone has decided we're fair game just because of the car we drive, not knowing anything about us,' the 33-year-old from Bristol said 'They even targeted our hybrid car!' Iren Brown and her husband Nick woke up to find all four tyres on the family's part-electric Toyota Rav 4 had been deflated by activists. Mr Brown, 64, from Brighton, had to cancel a hospital appointment. Mrs Brown, 43, said: 'The Toyota is a hybrid electric car which we bought because we were being mindful of the environmental impact our previous diesel car was having. 'But these activists have not taken that into consideration. 'I'm so angry because everyone is behind their cause but their tactics are indiscriminate and scattershot.' The mother-of-two, a kitchen designer, added: 'Nick is quite a serious diabetic and we may have need to access a vehicle in an emergency. 'Their actions could have been dangerous.' Advertisement Some of the SUVs that have had their tyres let down also included electric and hybrids. Iren Brown from Brighton, had to cancel a hospital appointment after her and her husband Nick woke up to find all four tyres on the family's part-electric Toyota Rav 4 had been deflated by activists. Mrs Brown, 43, said: 'The Toyota is a hybrid electric car which we bought because we were being mindful of the environmental impact our previous diesel car was having. 'But these activists have not taken that into consideration. 'I'm so angry because everyone is behind their cause but their tactics are indiscriminate and scattershot.' The mother-of-two, a kitchen designer, added: 'Nick is quite a serious diabetic and we may have need to access a vehicle in an emergency. 'Their actions could have been dangerous.' Legal experts say that although prosecution is unlikely, the activists could actually be committing a criminal offence. Laura Baumanis, a criminal defence solicitor at legal defence firm Olliers, told MailOnline: 'Whilst it is extremely rare for someone to be prosecuted for letting the air out of a tyre, technically, it could be classed as criminal damage. 'For this offence to be satisfied, any damage caused does not have to be permanent, but is made out by virtue of the fact that steps need to be taken, ordinarily at expense to the owner, for the item to be in a working condition again.' The embattled presenter looked touched as fans stationed outside the steakhouse greeted her as she exited, showing their support amid her ongoing legal battle Advertisement Embattled talk show host Wendy Williams was spotted leaving a trendy Manhattan eatery Wednesday night - days after it was revealed she was put under financial guardianship by her bank. Williams, who has been at war with Wells Fargo for months over access to her accounts after members of her team raised concerns she was of her 'unsound mind,' was seen smiling outside Brooklyn Chop House in the Financial District Wednesday after finishing dinner at the posh restaurant. The Five-time Daytime Emmy nominee, who stepped back from hosting her eponymous daytime show in July due to what she called health concerns over her Graves' disease and lymphedema, was photographed smiling as she was escorted by an employee out of the eatery, which serves as a popular hangout for celebrities. The embattled presenter looked touched as fans stationed outside the steakhouse greeted her as she exited, showing their support amid her ongoing and well-documented legal battle. Embattled talk show host Wendy Williams was spotted leaving trendy Manhattan eatery The Brooklyn Chophouse late Wednesday night - days after it was revealed she was put under financial guardianship by her bank The Five-time Daytime Emmy nominee, who stepped back from hosting her eponymous daytime show in July amid health concerns brought on by her Graves' disease and lymphedema, was photographed smiling as she was escorted by an employee out of the eatery, which serves as a popular hangout for celebrities Williams, who has been at war with Wells Fargo for months over access to her accounts after since-nixed members of her team raised concerns she was of her 'unsound mind,' was seen smiling outside the Financial District restaurant after finishing dinner After fawning over her fans and joking with onlookers and staff, Williams, 57, entered a black SUV that had been awaiting her arrival, and was quickly carted off. The appearance was as the first time the star was photographed in public in nearly a month, when she attended the Met Gala on May 2, and came days after it was revealed that her finances would be controlled by a court-appointed guardian due to mental health concerns raised by several of the presenter's former staff. Williams, who has been a fixture in the Big Apple for decades but has been seen less and less in recent months, has been at war with Wells Fargo since January, after staffers raised concerns that she was of 'unsound mind.' In January, Williams' former financial adviser Lori Schiller, accused the star of being of unsound mind. The accusation spurred the bank to block Williams - who has a reported net worth of $20million - from accessing her accounts in mid-January as they assessed the situation. The action led Williams to fire Schiller, as well as longtime manager Bernie Young and crisis manager Howard Bragman - both of whom have since spoken out about the presenters' inability to manage her finances. 'Bernie and Howard are out,' a source close to Williams told The Sun at the time. 'They dont even have a way to get in contact with her.' The insider further revealed that 'no one has no way to get in contact with Wendy,' and that she doesnt even have her own phone anymore' - hinting at the star's mental state. The embattled presenter looked touched as fans stationed outside the steakhouse greeted her as she exited, showing their support for the five-time Daytime Emmy nominee, amid her ongoing and well-documented legal battle to regain control of her finances The appearance was the first time the star was photographed in public in nearly a month, when she attended the Met Gala on May 2, and came days after it was revealed that her finances would be controlled by a court-appointed guardian Lawyers for Williams responded by filing a motion that month demanding the bank unfreeze her accounts. In March, Young, a well known New York producer who's worked on shows such as The Rose ODonnell Show and The Martha Stewart Show, filed documents to become Williams' legal guardian in a bid to gain control over her finances, saying he had the hosts 'best interests' at heart. Young, meanwhile, filed the petition in New York court arguing he should have access to Wendys millions because she 'suffers serious health problems.' The bank however, ruled the hold be upgraded to a temporary guardianship, further denying Williams access to her assets and statements - as well as her millions of dollars. At the time, Wells Fargo said the media personality was facing 'undue influence and financial exploitation,' citing accounts from former adviser Schiller. The bank 'has strong reason to believe' Williams is 'the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation,' it claimed at the time. 'I want my money, this is not fair': Wells Fargo fire froze Wendy's account temporarily back in March after her ex-manager Bernie Young reportedly raised concerns over her mental health. It was revealed over the weekend that a New York judge has since made that ruling permanent at least until July, when Williams' situation will be reportedly reassessed Legal filings subsequently revealed that Schiller had alleged to the bank that Williams was 'of unsound mind' and claimed that she 'witnessed signs of exploitation, including Wendy Williams' own expressed apprehension' about her close acquaintances and team. Later that month, in three-and-a-half-minute video shared to Instagram, Williams aired her grievances against Wells Fargo, Schiller, Young and the New York court system, accusing them all of unjust treatment. Williams lawyer LaShawn Thomas says they disagree with the ruling, and that Williams will not accept a longterm guardianship. 'My thing is that Ive been asking questions about my money and suddenly Lori Schiller has got no response regarding my money,' Williams said in an impassioned plea. 'I want my money. Its not fair, and Wells Fargo has no questions and answers with regarding my money. This is not fair, and Lori Schiller and Wells Fargo have this guardianship petition about keeping me away from my money. This is not right!' The video saw Williams further fire at former manager Young, noting that he was 'no good,' and that the entire ordeal was 'not fair at all.' Then, this weekend, it was revealed that the financial guardianship had been made permanent, with the order stating that a New York judge would appoint someone to look over the talking head's finances at least until July, when the order will be reassessed. Williams, meanwhile, maintains she is capable of hiring her own financial advisors. She alleges the claims were put forth in an attempt to lessen the public outcry and regulatory scrutiny mounting around Wells Fargo due to their actions - which she calls overly aggressive and wrong. Williams lawyer LaShawn Thomas says they disagree with the ruling, and that Williams will not accept a longterm guardianship. 'Wendy doesnt agree with a financial guardian being appointed,' Thomas explained in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. 'If its the courts intention to have one appointed over her affairs for the long haul, she definitely isnt going to accept that.' Thomas said the recent ruling concerning the guardianship stemmed from a request Williams made to check her bank statements. The bank didn't let her, the attorney said, citing that the host was an 'incapacitated person.' The guardianship will be reassessed in July. Officials from Finland and Sweden have met with their Turkish counterparts to hold talks regarding the two Nordic countries' bids to apply for NATO membership, which the latter has expressed its disagreement with. Last week, the Finland and Sweden officials submitted their written applications to join the Western military alliance. The situation represents one of the biggest geopolitical ramifications of Russia's three-month-old war in Ukraine and could potentially rewrite Europe's security map. Finland, Sweden's NATO Applications Turkey has expressed opposition to the two countries' membership in the alliance due to grievances with Sweden's, and to a lesser extent, Finland's perceived support of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and other entities that Turkey views as security threats. The PKK, which is listed as a "terror organization" by several of Turkey's allies, has waged a decades-long fight against the nation, a conflict that has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people. Furthermore, the Turkish government accuses Finland and Sweden of imposing arms export restrictions on it and refusing to extradite suspected "terrorists." The country's objections have dampened Helsinki's and Stockholm's hopes for joining the NATO alliance quickly amid Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, as per Aljazeera. On Wednesday, the Finnish and Swedish delegations met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, and deputy foreign minister Sedat Onal. The Swedish delegation was led by state secretary Oscar Stenstrom while foreign minister undersecretary Jukka Salovaara headed the Finnish delegation. Read Also: Finland's President Announces Application for NATO Membership Amid Putin's 'Calm' Response to the Situation This week, Turkey listed five "concrete assurances" that it was demanding from Sweden in exchange for the latter's membership with NATO. The list includes what it said was the "termination of political support for terrorism," "elimination of the source of terrorism financing," and the "cessation of arms support" to the banned PKK and a Syrian Kurdish armed group affiliated with it. According to the Associated Press, after the talks in Ankara that lasted about five hours, Kalin said in a news conference that Turkey had made it very clear that it had security concerns regarding Finland and Sweden's NATO membership applications. He argued that if the concrete steps in a certain time frame were not met, the process would not progress. Turkey's Demands for Concrete Steps Kalin said Turkey's proposal to lift arms export limits was met with a "positive attitude" by the Finnish and Swedish delegations. The official added that talks would continue once the Nordic governments had responded to Turkey's other demands. Furthermore, Turkey expects the extradition of 28 "terrorism" suspects from Sweden and 12 from Finland. Kalin added that there was no "legal or judicial basis" not to extradite the suspected individuals. In the following meeting with European Council President Charles Michel in Stockholm, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said that her country wanted to "clarify" claims that have been floating around during the discussions with Turkey. She said that they do not send money or weapons to terrorist organizations. During a Wednesday news conference with the Estonian prime minister, Andersson said, "In these times, it is important to strengthen our security." The official added that Sweden has a "constructive dialogue" with Turkey and noted that Stockholm was "eager to sort out issues and misunderstandings and questions," ABC News reported. Related Article: Biden Shows Support for Finland, Sweden Joining NATO Amid Turkey's Sudden Opposition @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. There are certain politicians in America who exist in a vacuum on Twitter. They continually lose elections, have no actual power to speak of in their home state or Washington D.C., and survive off clicks, retweets and attention mongering. Beto O'Rourke is Exhibit A. Yesterday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott was holding a news conference in Uvalde, Texas when Beto decided to interrupt the event that included local leaders, law enforcement and representatives of the community-at-large. As we all are tragically aware, there was a horrific shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde that left 19 children and two adults dead and countless more injured and traumatized. It is hard to fathom, even after so many shootings in this country, the horror that is the massacre of children. But despite all that Beto stood up and approached the stage and told Abbott, 'This is on you. You said this was not predictable. This is totally predictable when you choose not to do anything.' You can watch the spectacle on YouTube and see the absolute circus scene that Beto caused. You can also hear officials on stage calling O'Rourke an 'a**hole' and a 'sick son of a bitch.' You can watch the spectacle on YouTube and see the absolute circus scene that Beto O'Rourke (above) caused. He is not, however, justified in making a news conference about a community, which has just experienced one of the worst school slaughters in our history about him. Now I believe that Beto, who is running a gubernatorial campaign against Governor Abbott, is entitled to his opinion in the appropriate time and space. He is not, however, justified in making a news conference about a community, which has just experienced one of the worst school slaughters in our history about him. This is not a partisan or political moment. This is not about showboating for the cameras, getting follows on Twitter and shares on Instagram, which was clearly Beto's intention. This is about the families who lost children and how they will be impacted the rest of their lives. This is about one of the greatest of American tragedies. I know there are many people on social media applauding Beto, but remember, as Dave Chapelle once said 'Twitter is not a real place.' I found the entire stunt to be a cheap political ploy, disrespectful to the victims and their families, the community of Uvalde and completely missing the point of the moment. People need to grieve, heal and yes, look for solutions. They don't need two-bit, washed-up politicians creating a circus in their hometown. This particular species of political animal exists on both sides on the political spectrum and they have become a sort of side show phenomenon of modern politics. Many times their egos are stroked by the attention and their sense of value is pumped-up, and often they are too obtuse in their thinking to understand that 'Twitter is not a real place.' I pray -- yes, I still believe in the power of prayer no matter how much Twitter wants to shame you for it -- for the victims and their families. (Above) Two family members of one of the victims killed in Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School comfort each other during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022 People need to grieve, heal and yes, look for solutions. They don't need two-bit, washed-up politicians creating a circus in their hometown. (Above) Mourners express their grief at a memorial site for the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting on Thursday, May 26, 2022 Twitter accolades, cable news attention mean next to nothing. What matters are voters, constituents, and local issues. Outgoing one-term, flame-out Congressman Madison Cawthorn learned this lesson the hard way last week, when he lost his primary race. Former House Majority leader Eric Cantor learned this before him. And if Stacey Abrams hasn't realized it yet because the sycophants in the national media are too afraid to tell her -- she hasn't been elected to anything. Beto has lost a Senate election, a presidential election and is well on his way to losing his gubernatorial election in Texas. He was at best a forgettable congressman when he served and at worst a wasted opportunity. No matter what social media tells you, Beto is not a successful, inspirational, or powerful politician. He is a Twitter star, a cable news commodity and fantastic at getting press attention. All things that would make him a good television host, which is probably the vocation that he should have pursued as opposed to spending giant sums of money on campaigns destined to fail. Remember, this is the man whose picture was splashed across the cover of Vanity Fair with the line 'I'm just born to be in it' as if he was predestined for power. Now all of this is pretty on par when it comes to political and media figures with over-inflated egos. But what I cannot understand is why Beto thought it would be tonally appropriate during a time of national crisis and mourning to pull a cheap, bombastic, political stunt. All of our hearts are collectively broken and I am truly hoping this will be a breaking point when it comes to legislation concerning how we address mental health in schools in this country, background checks when it comes to purchasing guns and a true awakening on Capitol Hill that we cannot live in a country where this happens at all, let alone so frequently. Remember, this is the man whose picture was splashed across the cover of Vanity Fair (above) with the line 'I'm just born to be in it' as if he was predestined for power. These are our darkest of times. I pray -- yes, I still believe in the power of prayer no matter how much Twitter wants to shame you for it -- for the victims and their families. I pray for the community of Uvalde and I pray for America. We are failing the children of America and it is an absolute disgrace. Now more than ever before it is time for us to come together in a bipartisan fashion to find solutions. But Beto couldn't put his ego aside and instead made it all about him and his campaign. The people of Texas deserve much better. This was intended to create attention and not solutions. According to the latest University of Texas at Tyler poll, Beto O'Rourke is getting 39% of the vote and Governor Greg Abbott is at 46%. Governor Abbott will easily be re-elected, this is not a close race. All I can hope is that after what will be another spectacular defeat in November, Beto finally gets a job as a CNN or MSNBC contributor where he belongs and leaves the governing to those who take the job seriously. The owner of an Australian strip club where a British dancer lay dead for more than a day has told an inquiry that her mysterious death 'damaged his business' as he fights to keep his liquor licence. Stacey Tierney, 29, from Withington, Manchester, was working as a stripper at Dreams Gentleman's Club on Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, when she was found dead in a private manager's lounge on 18 December 2016 A post-mortem revealed a cocktail of drugs in her system including ecstacy, cocaine and heroin. The UK inquest into her death at Stockport Coroner's Court heard that her boss found her body 30 hours after she was last seen working. And Salvatore Aparo, the owner of Dreams Gentleman's Club in Melbourne, has argued to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission inquiry why he is suitable to retain his liquor licence in light of the tragic death. He told the hearing that he was a 'hands-off' operator, and trusted other members of staff to manage the venue since he was also running a construction business where he mostly delegated jobs at Dreams to his trusted managers, instead just dropping in a few times a week and having weekly phone calls. He added that he is now a 'hands-on' owner, running the club in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, with his fiancee. When asked if he put his trust in the wrong people, Mr Aparo said: 'We all learn by our mistakes.' The owner of an Australian strip club where British dancer Stacey Tierney, 29 (pictured), dead for more than a day has told an inquiry that her death 'damaged his business' as he fights to keep liquor licence He described the death of Ms Tierney, a former fitness instructor, as an 'emotional rollercoaster', and it had 'damaged the business' reputation'. Though he said he accepted a 'lot of responsibility', it could 'only go so far', the Herald Sun reported. The inquiry was also told there was a culture of staff drinking at the club on their days off. Mr Aparo was questioned about the manager's lounge where Ms Tierney was found dead, which police discovered had been 'cleaned up' before officers arrived. An earlier inquest into Ms Tierney's death heard that her boss found her body 30 hours after she was last seen working, however, two men Joseph Berhe and Tomas Mesfun, were in the room with her throughout that time, including when she passed out and later died. As paramedics attended the scene on December 19, 2016, one of the men was overheard telling another man: 'I think we're alright here.' The inquest heard that a fellow reveller had sent text messages saying: 'This chick has passed out and I can't leave her; it's scaring me.' One of the men in the room had claimed to be asleep for much of the duration of the party, but phone records revealed that he had been active on the device. The inquest was told a pathologist had given an estimated time of death of 5.30am on December 18, but police were not alerted until about 12pm on December 19. Ms Tierney, from Withington, Manchester (pictured), was working as a stripper at Dreams Gentleman's Club when she was found dead on 18 December 2016 in a private manager's lounge. A post-mortem revealed a cocktail of drugs in her system including ecstacy, cocaine and heroin Det Matheson added: 'Just shortly after 5.30am one of the main suspects messages the manager at 5.34am and says: 'I don't know what to do, she's unresponsive.' Stacey's mother Michelle Frost, of Withington, Manchester, wept as she said: 'I don't think we will ever get the answers we want as I don't think they are telling the truth. 'Nobody tried to help her, The didn't pick up the phone for an ambulance and I don't know why.' Two men Joseph Berhe and Tomas Mesfun, were in the room with her throughout that time, including when she passed out and later died. They were quizzed by police over the death but were released without charge. Mr Aparo said it was his private room when he attended the club. The hearing heard that managers had access to it and 24-hour access to the club. He denied the club operated after hours and outside its licensing hours: 'I don't know why people are implying there are parties - there were no parties, I run a very respectable business. 'We did not have a rule about upper management not being able to come in on their night off. 'The tragedy is very heartfelt across the board. This is something I would not wish upon anyone. This is a very, very tragic situation.' Mr Aparo said the club was now running better after he put in new systems. At an inquest into her death, held in Stockport in the UK in 2018, Ms Tierney's family accused people who were in the club when she died of being 'inhumane'. Stacey's mother Michelle Frost, of Withington, Manchester, wept as she said: 'I don't think we will ever get the answers we want as I don't think they are telling the truth. 'Nobody tried to help her, The didn't pick up the phone for an ambulance and I don't know why. 'To watch somebody die like that. They have got reasons but what are these reasons? Salvatore Aparo, the owner of Dreams Gentleman's Club in Melbourne (pictured), has argued to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission inquiry why he is suitable to retain his liquor licence in light of the tragic death. He told the hearing that he was a 'hands-off' operator, and trusted other members of staff to manage the venue 'That's what I feel; it stinks, it's lies, how can a human being not do something to help somebody else. 'The was a good person and I feel there's been an injustice somewhere but I don't think I will ever find the truth.' The 2018 inquest in Stockport was told Miss Tierney had moved to Victoria in Australia after her boyfriend got an engineering job. Her study visa was accepted in November 2016 and she started working at Dreams Gentleman's Club. A hearing heard that she had told friends she 'didn't like' working at the club but she was trying to save up to fund her studies and 'the money was good'. She arrived at the club at 8.20pm on December 17 and worked into the early hours of the morning. The inquiry was also told there was a culture of staff drinking at Dreams Gentleman's Club (pictured) on their days off. Mr Aparo was questioned about the manager's lounge where Ms Tierney was found dead, which police discovered had been 'cleaned up' before officers arrived After all the customers had left the premises at about 4am, staff held at after-party in the manager's office. Det Supt Estelle Matheson, from Greater Manchester Police, said: 'It's almost impossible to ascertain what happened in that room. 'That room was the one place where there was no CCTV footage. Once she disappears into that room she is not seen alive again. 'The accounts that were given were inconsistent, some aspects were similar, but there were many inconsistencies with the accounts given.' The Gambling and Casino Control Commission will do an onsite inspection at the club next week and deliver its finding on the liquor license in June. Kevin Spacey was spotted at Manhattan Federal Court on Thursday moments after he was charged in a separate case of sexual assault against three men in the UK. The 62-year-old was in court in New York testifying in a different case involving Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp. Spacey's decorated career came to an abrupt end in 2017 when Rapp accused the star of assaulting him at a party in the 1980s, when Rapp was a teenager - which Spacey denies. The Oscar winner on Thursday testified in the civil lawsuit filed by Rapp but did not respond to reporters as he left the courthouse. Dressed in a grey suit and dark tie while wearing a face mask, he talked on his mobile phone as he left the building. The new criminal charges were mentioned briefly by Rapp's lawyers during the court hearing. Spacey's lawyers were asked about it by reporters during a break in testimony but they declined to comment. Kevin Spacey was spotted at Manhattan Federal Court on Thursday moments before he was charged with sexual assault against three men in the UK The 62-year-old was in court in New York testifying in a different case involving actor Anthony Rapp who accused the star of assaulting him at a party in the 1980s The Oscar winner on Thursday testified in the civil lawsuit filed by Rapp but did not respond to reporters as he left the courthouse. Spacey's new charges come after a probe was launched by the Met Police in 2017. He faces four counts of sexual assault against three men between 2005 and 2013 in London and Gloucestershire. Spacey is also accused of 'causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent' on one of the same three men. The Crown Prosecution Service today revealed one man, now in his 40s, claims he was sexually assaulted twice in March 2005. A second man, now in his 30s, claims that in August 2008 he was sexually assaulted and then forced to engage in a sex act against his will. Finally the third complainant, now in his 30s, said he was sexually assaulted in April 2013 in Gloucestershire. No court date has been set. The CPS said this afternoon they could not confirm if Spacey, who has homes in Britain and the US, will need to be extradited to the UK. Thursday's court session in New York City dealt with a technical issue in the civil lawsuit, as lawyers argued whether it was better handled in a federal or state court. Spacey was called to testify about where he lived, not about the truthfulness of the allegations against him. Spacey's new charges come after a probe was launched by the the UK's Met Police in 2017 The actor faces four counts of sexual assault against three men between 2005 and 2013 in London and Gloucestershire Spacey is also accused of 'causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent' The House of Cards star told the Manhattan Federal Court he now lives in Baltimore where he moved to film the hit Netflix show Spacey testified that his main residence and domicile is in Baltimore, where he moved for the filming of 'House of Cards.' He said he was 'beguiled by its charm, its beauty.' But he also testified about his time living in London as the artistic director of the Old Vic. 'It was extremely important to me that I endear myself to the British public, that Im not running away,' he said, noting that his start there was troubled by a 'disastrous production' in 2005 of Arthur Millers last play. Spacey said nevertheless: 'I'm an American citizen. Once the job was done, I came back to America.' He said he made a trip to London in February 2020 for a possible film, but then the pandemic hit. His U.S. doctor recommended that he stay there, where he resided until the following September, when his visa expired and he flew to Los Angeles for an arbitration proceeding. Spacey said he has not been back to the UK since. Spacey (right) won the best actor Oscar at the 72nd Academy Awards for his role in American Beauty along side Michael Caine (left) who won best supporting actor Spacey starred in the micro-budgeted film Peter Five Eight in which he plays the villain and is due out this year (pictured filming in Italy last June) Kevin Spacey is charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men The Hollywood star is charged with four offences: Sexual assault (Count 1) on a man, who is now in his 40s, in March 2005 in London; Sexual assault (Count 2) on a man, who is in now in his 40s [the same complainant as Count 1] in March 2005 in London; Sexual assault (Count 3) on a man, who is now in his 30s, in August 2008 in London; Sexual assault (Count 4) on another man, who is now in his 30s, in April 2013 in Gloucestershire. He is also accused of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent - in August 2008 in London [the same complainant as Count 3]. Advertisement Another criminal case brought against Spacey, an indecent assault and battery charge stemming from the alleged groping of an 18-year-old man at a Nantucket resort, was dismissed by Massachusetts prosecutors in 2019. The actor has kept a low profile in recent years. He was spotted on set in Dunsmuir, California, smoking a cigarette in July last year. Spacey won a best supporting actor Academy Award for the 1995 film 'The Usual Suspects' and a lead actor Oscar for the 1999 movie 'American Beauty.' In American Beauty he played Lester Burnham, an advertising executive who has a midlife crisis and becomes infatuated with his teenage daughter's best friend. Spacey came out as gay in 2017. He did not attend the Cannes Film Festival last week but is one of the stars of a micro-budgeted film called Peter Five Eight in which Spacey plays a villain. Spacey plays Peter, a 'charismatic man in a black sedan who shows up in a small mountainside community'. He co-stars with actress Rebecca De Mornay, whom Peter targets for information at the urging of his 'shadowy' boss Lock. The film is based on a Biblical passage which runs: 'Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.' Spacey has denied all allegations of sexual harassment and assault. Donald Trump's former chief of staff reportedly burned documents in his office after meeting with a Republican lawmaker who was trying to overturn the 2020 election, the Capitol riot committee learned on Wednesday. The meeting between then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania took place in the immediate weeks following the presidential race in November 2020, according to a Thursday Politico report. Meadows' aide at the time, Cassidy Hutchinson, was reportedly grilled by lawmakers on the House Select Committee Investigating the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol for more than 90 minutes about the sole act of burning the documents. Hutchinson told lawmakers that she personally saw Meadows light the pages on fire following the meeting with Perry in his office, the report claims. However it does not go into detail about what those documents were or if any were classified. Perry, a retired Brigadier General who chairs the House Freedom Caucus, was subpoenaed along with four other sitting members of Congress earlier this month. The committee is interested in hearing from him, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, Rep. Andy Biggs, Rep. Mo Brooks and Rep. Jim Jordan based on prior witness testimony and evidence that shows they had significant contact with Trump and his allies in the lead-up to and aftermath of the Capitol attack. Perry and Biggs were meant to sit for depositions on Thursday but formally objected to the matter, CNN reported. Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, chair of the pro-Trump House Freedom Caucus, was the first sitting lawmaker who the House Capitol riot committee reached out to for his voluntary testimony He reportedly exchanged multiple text messages with Mark Meadows both before and after the election, including ones seeming to promote baseless theories the 2020 election was rigged The Pennsylvania lawmaker is also the first member of Congress that the bipartisan panel reached out to. Witnesses have described his key role in helping Trump put his effort to overturn the election into motion. He's reportedly the first person to introduce the then-president to Jeffrey Clark, a lower-level Justice Department employee who fervently believed in Trump's plot to stay in power. Clark is accused of authoring a letter meant for the governor and legislative leaders of Georgia - which narrowly went to Biden in 2020 - that would have asked them to send in a brand-new slate of electors citing 'irregularities' in the vote count. Similar letters were reportedly meant for other battleground states with GOP legislatures. Trump had reportedly considered replacing his acting Attorney General with Clark, who would then send the letter, but was stopped by the threat of mass resignations by his officials including those in the White House counsel's office and DOJ leadership. Perry was also found to have actively communicated with Meadows about the election and supposed fraud theories in text messages released by CNN last month. The committee also sent subpoenas to five sitting lawmakers with close ties to Donald Trump, including Perry and House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy Meadows sent Perry on November 21, 'Can you send me the number for the speaker and the leader of PA Legislature. POTUS wants to chat with them.' Pennsylvania, Perry's home, is another battleground state that was critical to Biden's 2020 victory. Another text from Perry to Meadows was dated December 26 and appears to show the lawmaker pushing Meadows on an issue ahead of Biden's inauguration and January 6, when Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol. 'Mark, just checking in as time continues to count down. 11 days to 1/6 and 25 days to inauguration. We gotta get going!' Perry wrote. Five different messages flagged in the April report show Perry asking Mark about messaging via encrypted chat app Signal. The platform does not store chat data, which means it's harder for investigators or law enforcement to retrieve communications from it. Perry reportedly sent Meadows on January 5: 'Please check your signal.' The House committee investigating the January 6 attack, which is led by Democrats but has two Republican members, is set to hold its first in a series of eight public hearings beginning on June 9. Sen. Ed Markey called for packing the Supreme Court on Thursday as a stalwart against the 'illegitimate far-right' and claiming the court could thwart any efforts to pass gun control. 'We have to take very seriously the threat which an illegitimate, far-right Supreme Court poses to gun safety in our country,' the Massachusetts Democrat said during a press conference with 'Every Town for Gun Safety' outside the Capitol. He then claimed that Trump and Republicans 'stole' two Supreme Court seats by confirming Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. 'We have to expand the Supreme Court to get back the two stolen seats that the Republicans and Donald Trump took from the American people.' And on Twitter, Markey called for the Senate to abolish the filibuster, the 60-vote hurdle that holds up quashes most legislation. 'Congress has a moral responsibility to address gun violence, but Republicans refuse to act. I am standing with activists and advocates from @EveryTown to demand that we abolish the filibuster and pass comprehensive gun safety legislation now.' Sen. Ed Markey called for packing the Supreme Court on Thursday as a stalwart against the 'illegitimate far-right' and claiming the court could thwart any efforts to pass gun control 'We have to take very seriously the threat which an illegitimate, far-right Supreme Court poses to gun safety in our country,' the Connecticut Democrat said Markey also took aim at the National Rifle Association, which is hosting a summit this weekend that will be attended by conservative heavyweights like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Sen. Ted Cruz and former President Trump. He claimed that the NRA had a 'vice-like grip' on the GOP, quipping that NRA stands for 'Not Relevant Anymore.' The Supreme Court has in recent years largely stayed away from gun issues, to the frustration of gun rights advocates, and even some justices. Justice Clarence Thomas declared in 2018: 'Second Amendment is a disfavored right in this court.' But currently the court is weighing opinions on a challenge to a New York state gun restriction that requires residents to obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon and demonstrate 'proper cause' to obtain the permit. Such proper cause must include a 'special or unique danger to their life.' In 2008 the high court held for the first time that the Second Amendment allows Americans to keep and bear arms simply to defend their home. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., is working with his Republican counterparts to court votes on gun legislation 'Nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings,' then-Justice Antonin Scalia added in the majority opinion. While Markey set his sights on the high court, it is Congress that has failed to pass a major gun control bill in more than a decade. It allowed the 1994 assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazine ban to 'sunset' in 2004, failing to renew it. The last time the Senate gave a meaningful effort at passing gun reform was in 2013, when Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., garnered only four Republican votes for their background checks bill, the filibuster dooming it in the Senate. In 2018 and again in 2021 bipartisan groups of senators have brought forth 'red flag' laws that would allow law enforcement to take away weapons from a person that a court deemed to be a danger, though neither bills made their way through. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that he told colleagues to be ready for a vote on gun control legislation after the Memorial Day week-long recess. He said he was not scheduling a vote this week on two House-passed bills to give Democratic negotiators, namely Sen. Chris Murphy, more time to work with Republicans on what they could support as part of background check and red flag legislation. The Democratic leader expressed little hope in the negotiations, but vowed to hold a vote even if it was doomed to fail. 'If these negotiations do not bear any fruit, the Senate will vote on gun safety legislation when we return. But our hope, even amidst our deep skepticism, is that during this week Democrats and Republicans at long last will come to agree on something meaningful that will reduce gun violence in a real way in America,' Schumer said. Murphy, D-Conn., said this week he's reached out to Toomey and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Me., who also voted for the 2013 bill, but according to Schumer, success is a 'slim prospect.' Uvalde police are facing new criticism over first-hand accounts and videos showing them handcuffing and restraining frantic parents, who were urging them to storm the Robb Elementary school building amid the massacre. 'The police were doing nothing,' Angeli Rose Gomez told the Wall Street Journal. 'They were just standing outside the fence. They weren't going in there or running anywhere.' Gomez has two children in second and third grade and she reportedly drove 40 miles to the school after hearing of the attack. She was one of the desperate parents who encouraged police with increasing urgency to enter the school. Eventually, federal marshals put Gomez in handcuffs and told her she was under arrest for intervening in an active investigation, the Wall Street Journal reported. Angeli Gomez (above) jumped the school fence and ran inside the school where she rescued her children herself The girl explained she wasn't hurt and the blood was from her best friend 'Amerie.' It was then that Angel Garza (above) realized the blood he was looking at came from his own daughter Gomez said she was able to convince a Uvalde officer whom she knew to have the marshal free her and she took the opportunity to move away from the crowd, jump the school fence, and ran inside the school where she rescued her children herself. She said that other parents also trying to get to their kids were tackled and even pepper-sprayed by police. Angel Garza, whose daughter was killed, was handcuffed after trying to run into the school when he heard that a 'girl called Amerie' had been shot. Garza later told his heartbreaking story to Anderson Cooper. He explained that when he arrived on the scene he tried to help a young girl covered in blood, because he is a trained medic. The girl explained she wasn't hurt and the blood was from her best friend 'Amerie.' It was then that Angel realized the blood he was looking at came from his own daughter. He later found out that she was among those who died. Gomez (above) has two children in second and third grade and she reportedly drove 40 miles to the school after hearing of the attack. Video shows Texas cops holding down a parent outside Robb Elementary School on Tuesday while a shooting unfolded inside Javier Cazares' fourth grade daughter Jacklyn Cazares was also killed in the attack. Cazares told the Associated Press that he raced to the school when he heard about the shooting, arriving while police were still gathered outside the building. Upset that police were not moving in, he raised the idea of charging into the school with several other bystanders. 'Let's just rush in because the cops aren't doing anything like they are supposed to,' he said. 'More could have been done.' 'They were unprepared,' he added. One shocking video shows officers holding some parents back as they tried to get inside. The footage shows a parent being pinned to the ground by an officer, while another carrying a taser stands guard nearby. Other footages shows parents begging the cops: 'What are you doing!? Get inside the building!' Another woman could be heard to say 'They're trapped inside' as howls of pained anguish rang out in the background. It was unclear at what time the footage was shot. Desperate parents gathered outside Robb Elementary School urging heavily armed officers to charge into the school and stop the gunman During a press conference on Thursday, Victor Escalon of the Texas Department of Public Safety, addressed the parents' claims that they were restrained from helping their children. 'I have heard that information, but we have not verified that,' Escalon said, adding that there were officers from all over at the scene and that he would interview them to find out what happened. Cazares, whose daughter Jacklyn Cazares (above) was killed, told the Associated Press that police were gathered outside the building. Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw told reporters that 40 minutes to an hour elapsed from when Ramos opened fire on the school security officer to when the tactical team shot him, though a department spokesman said later that they could not give a solid estimate of how long the gunman was in the school or when he was killed. 'The bottom line is law enforcement was there,' McCraw said. 'They did engage immediately. They did contain (Ramos) in the classroom.' Meanwhile, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation said the Border Patrol agents had trouble breaching the classroom door and had to get a staff member to open the room with a key. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation. Carranza said the officers should have entered the school sooner. 'There were more of them. There was just one of him,' he said. The footage shows a police officer with a taser standing guard nearby as parents urged Uvalde police to enter elementary school Questions remain over why it took police so long to get into the classroom where the kids were trapped with the gunman. Derek Sotelo, 26, who works in a tire shop nearby, said parents were begging to be let into the school. 'They were just angry, especially the dads. We were wondering, 'What the heck is going on? Are they going in?' 'The dads were saying, 'Give me the vest, I'll go in there!' Juan Carranza, whose house is located across the street from the school, said he witnessed nearby women shouting at officers: 'Go in there! Go in there!' soon after the attack began. Carranza said the officers never did end up going inside. Gun sales have rocketed and firearm firms have seen a spike in share prices after the deadly Texas mass shooting. Sturm, Ruger & Company, the largest publicly traded gunmaker in the US by market cap, soared 5.47 per cent to $67.27 as of 5pm ET. Smith & Wesson saw a eight per cent leap to $15.02 a share and ammunition maker Vista Outdoor surged 9 per cent to $38.24. Meanwhile American Outdoor Brands hit $11.12 after a 6 per cent rise and Ammo Inc. climbed to about 5 per cent. It comes just days after President Joe Biden blasted the Second Amendment, said it was 'not sacred' and called for Americans to 'stand up to the gun lobby'. The President reacted furiously after sick 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos shot dead 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Smith & Wesson Brands, the second largest gunmaker rose nearly seven percent, in the aftermath of Tuesday's deadly mass elementary shooting that claimed the lives of 21 people, including 19 children, in the deadliest school shooting since Sandy Hook Gun owners are bracing for what is to come on Capitol Hill amid fears of gun control measures that may include enhanced background checks that would make it more difficult to purchase firearms President Joe Biden looking solemn as he addresses nation from the White House on Tuesday night hours after the elementary school massacre. 'Gun manufacturers have spent two decades aggressively marketing assault weapons which make them the most and largest profit.' Biden said. 'For God's sake, we have to have the courage to stand up to the industry' The stock market showed spiking interest in gun ownership in the days after the deadly shooting. It is believed buyers are keen to arm themselves for self defense purposes and amid fears of a crackdown on buying weapons. The same was seen in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012 and San Bernardino shooting in 2015. Gun sales - such as Sturm and Smith - also spiked after both tragedies, according to reports. President Biden called for stricter gun laws following the Tuesday massacre: 'Gun manufacturers have spent two decades aggressively marketing assault weapons which make them the most and largest profit.' 'For God's sake, we have to have the courage to stand up to the industry.' The 18-year-old shooter, Salvador Ramos, had legally purchased two semi-automatic rifles from a local outdoor and hunting store, according to officials and multiple news reports. A Sturm Ruger firearm is pictured here. Ruger & Company, the largest publicly traded gunmaker in the U.S. by market cap, rose 5.47% to $67.12 as of 12:45 a.m. ET. The scene outside of Robb Elementary school after Tuesday's deadly school massacre Police and emergency personnel responding to Tuesday's deadly massacre It was the deadliest such incident since 14 high school students and three adult staff were killed in Parkland, Florida in 2018, and the worst at an elementary school since the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut, in which 20 children and six staff were killed. 'The idea that an 18-year-old kid can walk into a gun store and buy two assault weapons is just wrong,' said Biden. 'As a nation, we have to ask: When in God's name will we stand up to the gun lobby?' He added: 'Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep on letting this happen? Where in God's name is our backbone?' More than two million handguns and rifles were sold since the beginning of the pandemic. Nearly one in five U.S. households purchased a gun since March 2020, according to a survey by the University of Chicago. Over the last two decades, one in 20 adults in the U.S. purchased a gun for the first time, bringing the percentage of U.S. adults now living in a household with a gun to nearly 50 percent, the survey shows. . Thomas Markle may need a year of therapy to recover his speech after being struck down by a suspected stroke this week, his daughter Samantha said. His family had been worried about his high blood pressure for some time before he fell ill, resulting in him losing even the ability to tell paramedics what was wrong with him. Mr Markle, 77, had to write down his symptoms on a piece of paper. It comes a week before he had been due to fly to London for the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Samantha, half-sister to the Duchess of Sussex, said Mondays ordeal could have been fatal but her father was on the mend in a California hospital. She told GB News: I dont think he saw it coming but hes doing better hes in good spirits. Its going to take several maybe six months, maybe a year, to get his speech back. He can work with a speech therapist and its good, the attack he had in the speech producing part of the brain wasnt so big that he cant recover. She added: But you know when youre almost 80 years old, theres less plasticity and things are more difficult. So he has the memory of the words and the associations, the stroke was on the right side of the brain, so the damage was on the left and hes left handed. But it also impaired his speech and his ability to swallow. A Brooklyn man viewing an apartment near the United Nations complex in New York City leapt to his death from the 32nd floor after asking the realtor to see the balcony. The 43-year-old man was touring the two-bedroom unit 100 of the United Nations Plaza in the Turtle Bay neighborhood when he jumped at 1:15 p.m., according to police. The man 'suddenly jumped' a source told the New York Post after the broker lead him onto the balcony. His body hit a third-floor patio during his fall, said police. An unidentified 43-year-old man died after jumping from the 32nd floor of 100 United Nations Plaza The man was looking at a $2.9 million apartment when he asked to see the balcony and leaped to his death He was pronounced dead when police arrived. A two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom apartment on the 32nd floor is advertised for sale for $2.9 million. The broker declined to comment when contacted by the DailyMail.com. Corcoran, the real estate agency handling the sale, advertises the 1,985 square-foot unit as an 'expansive home' with two private balconies. The apartment also boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, solid brass detailing, marble flooring and a separate formal dining room. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet, a bathroom with a jacuzzi and the entrance of a second private balcony. The death recalls another suicide last year when a 22-year-old woman fell to her death from the 16th floor after a fight with her boyfriend on January 29, 2012. Nearby: The United Nations (pictured) is directly south of the building where the man jumped Diplomatic corridor: 100 United Nations Plaza, a 52-story luxury building where the suicide occurred, is a common spot for diplomats to live Samantha Kwek, a Columbia University student, had apparently wanted to break up with her boyfriend on the night she jumped. She had sent several text messages to her boyfriend Benjamin Small before she died, according to the New York Post. 'I really dont know why [she jumped]. She was really, really sad, I guess... Im mortified,' he told the paper. She landed on East 48th Street in front of 100 United Nations Plaza, a 52-storey building across the street from the Algerian Embassy. A pocketbook was lying a few feet from her body, which was draped with a white sheet as police investigated. Bernie Ecclestone has spoken for the first time since his arrest for possessing a gun at an airport and described how the firearm had been packed my mistake after he had been 'larking around' with it. The billionaire former Formula One supremo was held by police in Brazil last night after an undocumented LW Seecamp .32 gun was found in his luggage at Viracopus International Airport. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline this evening, Ecclestone, 91, said the tiny revolver had been packed by mistake after he had been walking around his house with it, jumping out on people. He had tucked it into a pocket of his shirt, which was then put into his bag. The firearm was discovered as the luggage went through X-ray screening. He stumped up 6,000 Real in bail - about a 1000 - and was later freed to travel aboard a private jet to Cascais in Portugal, where he is staying briefly before flying on to Switzerland next week. Bernie Ecclestone (pictured with his wife Fabiana Flosi in 2017) was held by police in Brazil last night after an undocumented LW Seecamp .32 gun was found in his luggage at Viracopus International Airport The miniature gun was tucked inside Ecclestone's shirt pocket, he said, after he had been 'larking around with it'. The shirt was later packed in a bag with the gun still inside The crime of illegal possession of a weapon in Brazil carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison, but Ecclestone was released due to his background and factors including the 'notable personal status of the defendant's fortune' and the nature of the offense. He said he bought the gun after his mother-in-law, Aparecida Schunck, 67, was abducted from her Sao Paulo home in July 2016. She was found by police a few days later and released unharmed. Ecclestone told MailOnline: 'I'd bought the gun from a friend about five years ago. He told me: "You've been living in Brazil for quite some time now and it's a bloody dangerous country. Pull this out and frighten someone if they try anything." 'My mother-in-law was kidnapped a year or so before, so I was perhaps a little more vigilant. 'But to be honest, it's such a small gun it wouldn't do any damage to anyone who wanted to do me any harm or kidnap me. It's the sort of gun a woman would keep in her handbag. 'I've only ever used it to play jokes on people and that is what I was doing with it a few days ago, walking around the house with it, jumping out on people and larking around. Ecclestone told MailOnline: 'I'd bought the gun from a friend about five years ago. He told me: "You've been living in Brazil for quite some time now and it's a bloody dangerous country. Pull this out and frighten someone if they try anything." 'I tucked the gun away in my shirt pocket and forgot about it. Somehow that shirt got packed up and was in my luggage without me realising it. 'We got to the airport about 8pm yesterday and as we were going through the security about an an hour or so later, the scanner picked the gun up and I was pulled aside. 'The gun wasn't loaded. There's never been any bullets bought for it. It was just to put people off if they were posing a threat. 'I was told that I needed a licence for such a firearm and I don't have one. 'The security and police were very, very understanding. They knew there was no threat and it was an honest mix-up. 'I wasn't put in handcuffs or anything like that, I was just taken into a private office and asked to make a statement and fill out a load of forms, which I did. 'The police told me they would have to report the matter and that in order for me to continue my onward journey I'd need to pay for bail, which came to about 6000 Real, which is no more than 1000. Ecclestone is understood to have been detained at Viracopos Airport (pictured) in Brazil last night after they seized the miniature gun from his luggage 'I've not been charged with any crime yet but the officer said they'd be in touch with me to let me know if I do need to attend a police station or go to court in the future.' Ecclestone had been travelling with wife, Fabiana Flosi, and their 21-month-old son Ace, as well as members of their household staff. He added: 'I tried to get them a hotel for the night but I wasn't able to. 'We had to stay at the airport until 5am this morning when the airport opened again and we could fly out first thing. 'It was one of those silly things to happen but it at least shows that the airport security is working.' The Royal Family has reunited in waxwork form for the Queen's Jubilee at Madame Tussauds. For a limited time, the waxwork figures of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have joined the other royals in the London attraction's Royal Throne Room. Waxwork Figures of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Join Royal Family After they stood down as working royals, Madame Tussauds relocated their figures to the Awards Party area, where they could be spotted with celebrities such as Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Dua Lipa. To commemorate the golden jubilee, the Royal Family figurines standing with the Queen have also been given a black-tie makeover. Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, is presently wearing an emerald Jenny Packham gown, which she wore on two royal occasions. On the eve of lockdown, Meghan wore a crimson, caped Safiyaa gown to one of her final royal engagements at the Royal Albert Hall. Meanwhile, the Duke of Sussex, Prince Charles, and William, Duke of Cambridge have all donned tuxedos. The Queen's figure is clad in a reproduction of the official Diamond Jubilee picture photography's white and silver lace gown, which is coated in 53,000 Swarovski components, according to Standard. Read Also: Dwayne Haskins' Death Report Reveals Steelers QB Was Drunk Before Tragic Death, Hit Twice in Florida Highway Duke, Duchess of Sussex To Attend Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced that they would attend Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee festivities this month, together with their two children. The 96-year-old queen will meet the couple's 11-month-old daughter, Lilibet Diana, on their June visit to the UK, which comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex paid a secret visit to the Queen in April before traveling to the Hague, Netherlands for the Invictus Games. The visit, however, begs the question of where the couple would lodge during their stay in the UK. According to the Sun, the duke and duchess, their daughter, and their three-year-old son, Archie Harrison, will remain at their former home, Frogmore Cottage, during their visit to the UK, since increased security measures are already in place in anticipation of the Sussexes' arrival The couple lived in Windsor until they stepped down from their duties in the royal family and relocating to the United States in April 2020. However, it was rumored at the time that the duke and duchess, who conducted a $3 million refurbishment of the cottage, would maintain the house to have a home in the UK, Independent reported. As the Duke of Sussex was spotted on a bike ride in the California heat with his new right-hand man, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle allegedly recruited Michael Jackson's former bodyguard as the head of their security squad. Alberto Alvarez, 45, who testified at Michael Jackson's death trial in 2011 and phoned 911 on the night the pop icon died in 2009, was spotted riding right behind Harry earlier this week, according to newly published photos. Alvarez has 15 years of expertise in personal protection and event security and has previously worked for the boyband One Direction. Prince Harry's presence comes only days before he and Meghan Markle will be reunited with their families for the first time in a year when they fly to the UK for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee next weekend. It comes after an expert warned that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's attendance may destabilize the monarchy. When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle come to the UK with their children Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, for the Platinum Jubilee weekend, they will be the center of attention. However, Palace staff will do everything possible to keep a Sussex sideshow from overshadowing the Queen, 96, and the formal celebrations. The attention paid to the Sussexes may engender anger among family members like Sophie Wessex and Princess Anne, who labor "day in and day out" yet are often disregarded by the press and public, as per Daily Mail. Related Article: Meghan Markle's Estranged Father Thomas Suffers from Major Stroke; Will Prince Harry, Duchess of Sussex Let Children Meet Their Grandfather? @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. One of the funniest lines in Ricky Gervais's SuperNature show comes about three quarters of the way in when, in the middle of a particularly politically incorrect monologue (about Aids, as I recall), he pauses, does that wolfish grin of his and says: 'Don't worry, Netflix have already bought this.' Ha. I imagine there may well be a few squeaky bums over at the streaming giant when it surveys the avalanche of predictable outrage that his show has provoked. Who knows, it might even be in receipt of a stiff memo from the Duke and Duchess of Virtue Signalling, who won't be happy to find themselves associated with such a full-throated, incisive and gloriously uninhibited take-down of woke culture. His jokes in 'SuperNature' were described as 'dangerous' material by an American LGBT rights group, while Stonewall accused him of 'making fun of trans people' The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Ricky Gervais this month Meghan will certainly have some explaining to do at her Montecito mother-and-baby yoga class about that Netflix documentary she and Harry are making. In case you haven't seen it, a quick recap. SuperNature is the latest stand-up show from Gervais, just over an hour of often wicked, invariably irreverent and occasionally savage observations on modern life no holds barred. Ricky Gervais' gags which kickstarted a Twitter row Mocking up a debate over gendered toilets, Gervais starts the joke: 'They are ladies, look at their pronouns. What about this person isn't a lady? 'Well, his penis.' 'Her penis you f****** bigot'. 'What is he rapes me?' 'What if SHE rapes you?' Turning his sights onto a new branch of 'woke comedy', in which he says comics are required to sign a waiver before their sets promising not to say anything contentious, he jokes he would rather watch American stand-up comedian Louis CK masturbate. 'Can't mention him anymore. He's cancelled', he adds. Gervais later tells his audience: 'You can't predict what will be offensive in the future. You don't know who the dominant mob will be. 'Like, the worst thing you can say today, get you cancelled on Twitter, death threats, the worst thing you can say today is, 'Women don't have penises', right? 'Now, no one saw that coming. You won't find a ten-year-old tweet saying 'Women don't have penises.' You know why? We didn't think we f***ing had to!' Discussing the minorities and the demographics of Britain, Gervais points out: 'We're 5 per cent black, 5 per cent Asian. 5 per cent LGBQT. 'I'm a white, heterosexual multi-millionaire. There's less than one percent of us. 'Do I whine? No. I don't mind'. In another joke towards the end of the show in which he addresses self identity, Gervais says he supports trans rights - a remark met by cheers by a few members of the audience. He adds: 'Full disclosure. In real life, of course I support trans rights. I support all human rights and trans rights are human rights. 'Live your best life, use your preferred pronouns, be the gender that you feel that you are. But meet me halfway ladies, lose the c**k, that's all I'm saying.' Advertisement Every conceivable boundary you could ever imagine, as well as many you probably can't, is pushed to the absolute limit, Gervais observing with unalloyed amusement the shock and delight of the audience. Swearing After decades on the small screen, most recently in the brilliant After Life (Netflix's most watched British comedy series), it's easy to forget that Gervais can command a live audience like few others. And if they don't like it, they can 'F-off'. The swearing is epic, I should warn you, but that's not what makes this show so controversial. It is Gervais's total and utter disregard for the feelings or sensibilities of anyone he sets his sights on (which, it must be said includes pretty much everyone, including himself) and especially his response to the idiocy, intractability and general absurdity of the runaway train that is modern woke culture. In particular, his jokes about trans culture which, needless to say, has got some knickers in an awful twist. 'Gervais's laziest special yet'; 'cheap shocks'; 'humiliating'. Twitter is apoplectic with rage. Robbie de Santos, of Stonewall, has accused him of 'using his global platform to make fun of trans people'. All of which, of course, is grist to Gervais's mill. For his part, he has defended himself by saying he's not attacking 'trans folk but trans-activist ideology' and that his job is to push boundaries and to tackle subjects that are often taboo and complex. But, really, you can tell he's loving every second of the mayhem he's caused. The thing is, of course, his critics are right. This show IS offensive very offensive. But the idea that this is some sort of targeted attack on the trans community is wrong. Everyone gets it in the neck, from people who believe in ghosts to religious fanatics and people with Aids. He is just spectacularly rude about everyone. But he's also brilliantly clever. For example, he starts off with some old trope about women being a bit touchy about the presence of babies at funerals (his take in itself is pretty risque). You think, wow, that's a bit strong, isn't it? Then he drops the real punchline. 'Old fashioned women,' he says, all matter-of-fact. 'You know, the ones with WOMBS. 'But I love the new women,' he goes on. 'The ones with beards and c**ks.' It's funny, of course, because it's true. We women with wombs are the old-fashioned ones; so much cooler and trendier to be of the other variety. Except no one ever dares say that. And that's where the real comedy lies, in the subversiveness. If anyone thinks Gervais is an insensitive oaf, though, they could not be more wrong. You just have to watch After Life to understand that. It's a bitter-sweet comedy about a man coming to terms with his wife's death and Gervais plays the central character with a subtlety that can move you to tears. Comedian Ricky Gervais has hit back at critics after Twitter's 'woke brigade' turned on the comic for mocking cancel culture with jokes about transgender people, Adolf Hitler and AIDS in his new 'SuperNature' Netflix special Extreme Poignant, funny, beautifully observed and shocking in equal measure, it shows an incredible understanding of and insight into grief and loss. So much so that bereavement counsellors now use it to help people cope with the loss of a loved one. And, however blunt and outrageous the gags in his new show, Gervais's powers of observation and understanding are actually on full display again. He's seen how the subjects he's tackling are ones that concern people everywhere. He's observed our bewilderment and anger that in these censorious days, we're not allowed even to discuss them. He understands how ridiculous our politicians look when, because of trans activist ideology, they tie themselves in knots trying to define what a woman is. Fans tweeted in support of the Reading comics new special Some however were more critical as the reception was split We live in a world where, like Alice in Wonderland, we are being asked to believe six impossible things before breakfast and where if we even dare to question the obvious contradictions staring us in the face, it's off with our heads. Outraged Most people are too scared to point that out. But Gervais doesn't care. Partly, of course, because he's a 'white multi-millionaire', as he puts it. But partly because he never has. He goes on. 'What about this person isn't a lady?' he asks, imagining a conversation with someone outraged at the suggestion that a trans woman might not be considered a real woman. 'His d**k?' he ventures. 'HER d**k, you bigot,' he retorts. It's just too good. To my mind, there's no question. The man can be a grade-A you-know-what. He's a curmudgeon but an equal-opportunities curmudgeon. And there's a place for people like him in this humourless, tedious new world of ours. The comic, 60, starts the show by describing comedy to the audience as 'basically a bloke talking', before purposely failing to recall any 'funny female comedians' He has taken on one of the most complex, most divisive, most demoralising issues of the modern age the imposition of the extreme views of a small minority on a bewildered majority and the characterisation of any woman who objects to having her rights eroded as a bigot and a TERF [trans exclusionary radical feminist] and reduced it down to size with a flick of his razor-sharp wit. Forget cancelling him; he deserves a knighthood. A top Microsoft executive has been accused of watching virtual reality pillow fight porn in front of his stunned colleagues and fondling female coworkers. Alex Kipman, 44, of Seattle, has been described as one of Microsoft's 'golden boys' - but CEO Satya Nadella has vowed to end the firm's tolerance for 'talented jerks', and new allegations about Brazilian-born Kipman suggest his days could be numbered. Microsoft has refused to confirm or deny the sordid allegations. Several former and current employees have allegedly accused the innovation executive of getting away with inappropriate behavior, which reportedly includes inappropriately touching female coworkers and watching a 'VR porn' pillow fight in front of employees. The sexual display was mirrored on nearby TV monitors for all the late-night employees to see. The VR video reported featured women dressed in skimpy outfits who were participating in a sexualized pillow fight, according to Insider. 'It was in the office, in front of women. Incredibly uncomfortable,' a source told Insider. Virtual reality porn allows viewers to feel as if they're in a sex scene by donning special goggles. Several employees filed a complaint against Kipman for dozens of occasions of inappropriate behavior last year, but the executive - who lives in a $7million Seattle home - has yet to punished for it. Alex Kipman, 44, of Seattle, has been described as one of Microsoft's 'golden boys' and allegedly has dozens of complaints of sexual harassments against him, including a time where he reportedly watched VR porn' of skimpily-dress women pillow fighting The Seattle-based employee has reportedly gone undisciplined for his actions Sources told Insider Business that the video was just one of many instances that Microsoft employees had to deal with verbal abuse and sexual harassment. Nadella vowed in 2014 to extinguish the golden boys' unlimited access to bad behavior, but current and former employees have said that changes have not been made. 'The gilding on the reputation of the culture change has worn off,' a woman, who works closely with Nadella, told Insider. 'It's actually quite tarnished.' Women only make up roughly 25 percent of Microsoft's executives and dozens of women at the company have banned together in an email chain to discuss the gender discrimination and harassment they face, according to Insider. According to a 2015 lawsuit, women were allegedly paid less than men, were promoted less frequently and retaliated against by male managers when they complained, all due to Microsoft's 'lack of proper accountability to ensure fairness.' 'Right now, women are all paid equally until the women who aren't prove it,' one of the emails reportedly read. The first plaintiff was Katherine Moussouris, a computer security researcher who worked at the company from 2007 to 2014. She was later joined by two other Microsoft employees, Holly Muenchow and Dana Piermarini. CEO Satya Nadella (pictured) vowed when he took the role in 2014 to extinguish the 'golden boy' culture that has reportedly been around since Bill Gates. However, employees say they haven't seen much change Gates himself even had an affair with one of his female employees and fed into the culture that 'talented jerks' were untouchable Moussouris told DailyMail.com in May: 'It was a culture of testing women poorly with impunity and I think these revelations (about Gates) have shown that to the world. 'Not only did he choose his wife from his employees, he chose to target several other women to fulfill himself with no consequences. 'It felt like this culture flowed from the top and it was a culture of paying lip service to diversity and inclusion and not really supporting women in sexual assault claims or their career progression'. Moussouris said she dropped the lawsuit after Microsoft tried to settle with her but she refused as she would have to sign a gagging order stopping her from speaking about it. The 2015 lawsuit also alleged that Microsoft was described as a company where women were 'ignored, abused, or degraded' and male bosses ran a 'good ol' boy culture' that 'accepts and tolerates abuse and toxic behavior, especially towards females.' Employees code-named a project 'Wrecking Ball' in honor of Miley Cyrus' raunchy music video and wrote an email called 'Working Backwards' filled with stereotypes about women,' the case claimed. A 2015 lawsuit exposed female employees complaints that they were treated unfairly Employees were called 'p****' and c***' and former chief executive Steve Ballmer was referred to as 'our limp d*** CEO,' the suit claims. One woman complained about being asked by a male co-worker why she was 'dressed like a wh**e' while another man bombarded a woman with messages offering to 'spank' her. Among the litany of incidents was a man who groped four women in a single night at a work function yet an internal investigation found he didn't breach anti-harassment rules, writing it off as 'poor interpersonal awareness.' The lawsuit claimed: 'The flagrant and repeated incidents of sexual misconduct toward women at Microsoft reflects the corporate culture in which women are undervalued and underpaid.' The allegations in the case, which was dismissed only last November, will add to the discomfort of Microsoft executives who are reeling after the claims that Gates had a years-long affair with a Microsoft employee starting in 2000. Reports this week have said that during his time at Microsoft, Gates 'pursued' several female employees even though he was married to his estranged wife Melinda French Gates. Gates also allegedly had 'men's club' style meetings with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and would vent to him about his 'toxic' marriage to French Gates, who filed for divorce earlier this month. The lawsuit against Microsoft was filed in 2015 alleging a 'policy, pattern and practice of sex discrimination against female employees' However, Nadella has apparently created an entire HR team dedicated to gender-related claims since become CEO in 2014, but female employees say the investigations can take months or years before being resolved. In addition, Nadella - who has worked for the company since 1992 - did bring in a performance review program which rewards collaboration, hired a chief diversity officer, and handed out bonuses that connected to progress on diversity and inclusion. He also vowed that the 'Microsoft of 2021 is very different from the Microsoft of 2000 to me and to everyone at Microsoft.' Kipman lives in a $7million home in Washington (pictured) that features four bedrooms and lots of greenery The space features a lot of countertops and amble space to entertain It has an open concept layout, including a wide front door and several seating areas However, employees said the golden boy immunity goes back to the times of founder Bill Gates - who had an affair with an employee - and successor Steve Ballmer. 'When they are golden, nothing can be done against them. The person believes they are untouchable and can do anything they want. You might as well swallow the abuse,' a former executive told Insider. In November, shareholders demanded the company be more transparent and to stop concealing sexual misconduct within its ranks. In an overwhelming vote, shareholders said the company needed to publish the results of investigations into top executives and report on the effectiveness of their harassment policies. However, in January, Microsoft purchased Activision Blizzard - a game developer that is being sued by the state of California for 'frat boy' culture that allowed female employees to be sexually harassed and discriminated against. Employees were angered by the decision, with one telling Insider: We can't even take care of our own house, and now we just bought one in worse condition.' DailyMail.com has reached out to Kipman for comment. Harriet Harman is set to lead an inquiry that holds Boris Johnsons fate in its hands. The parliamentary committee of privileges, chaired by the Labour grandee, will decide whether the PM knowingly misled the Commons over lockdown-busting gatherings. But Conservatives last night voiced concerns about how long the Partygate saga would be left hanging over Mr Johnson. Miss Harman, a former acting Labour leader, is being lined up as a replacement to lead the privileges committee investigation. Fellow Labour MP Chris Bryant, who normally chairs the committee, has recused himself because of critical remarks he has made about Mr Johnson. Labour grandee Harriet Harman, pictured will chair an investigation into whether Boris Johnson lied to parliament over Partygate If it finds him in contempt of Parliament, it could recommend he is forced to apologise, suspended from the Commons, or even be expelled. Any sanction would need to be approved in a vote of all MPs If it finds him in contempt of Parliament, it could recommend he is forced to apologise, suspended from the Commons, or even be expelled. Any sanction would need to be approved in a vote of all MPs. The privileges committee is made up of seven MPs two Labour, one SNP and four Conservatives. Under Commons rules, its chairman must be a member of the official opposition. Mr Bryant said he believed the investigation into Mr Johnson could last four months. He said the committee could summon the PM to give evidence in person or in writing, interview cleaners and security guards abused by No 10 staff, and demand emails. But Mark Jenkinson, the Tory MP for Workington, said: The last thing the country needs is navel-gazing. People want to know that politicians are on their side and are dealing with their big issues. Tory Blackpool South MP Scott Benton said four months would be incredibly excessive. Four Tories have called on Mr Johnson to resign following the publication of Sue Grays Partygate report. Stephen Hammond and fellow MPs David Simmonds and John Baron spoke out yesterday after Julian Sturdy called for the PM to quit on Wednesday. Peter Dutton has elaborated on the medical condition that's left him bald after Tanya Plibersek compared his appearance to Voldemort. Ms Plibersek likened Mr Dutton to the Harry Potter villain, during a brutal sledge on Queensland's 4BC Radio on Wednesday before issuing an apology. Mr Dutton revealed on Thursday he was 'not bald by choice' and was suffering from a medical condition before clarifying on Friday he was living with a form of alopecia. 'I have dodgy genes I'm not bald by choice, but a couple of years ago I got diagnosed through a regular skin checkup,' he told Today. Peter Dutton has elaborated on the medical condition causing his baldness after Tanya Plibersek compared his appearance to Voldemort Ms Plibersek likened Mr Dutton to the Harry Potter villain during a brutal sledge on Queensland's 4BC Radio on Wednesday before issuing an apology 'He diagnosed a form of alopecia where the skin follicles die off effectively. Not only bad genes... it's not painful or anything else, just there in the background.' Mr Dutton made light of his condition by playing up the wonderful head of hair on Labor deputy leader Richard Marles - who was also a guest on the breakfast show. 'Richard's got it all going for him,' he said. 'He's smart, he's got hair, he's sarcastic, he's basically not got a clue' Host Karl Stefanovic added: 'He's got great hair.' Mr Dutton said he accepted the apology made by Ms Plibersek, before saying it was time to 'behave like adults'. 'She made a mistake, she apologised for it, I appreciate her apology,' he said. 'I just think we need to frankly behave like adults and get on with the issues that are important to our country. 'Tanya's now become a minister in a government, she has a big job. Casting aspersions about people's appearance is something I'd be surprised she has time for. She has a big job and things are going to be tougher under Labor no question.' Mr Dutton is likely to become the new Liberal leader after he confirmed his candidacy for the vacant role. Former prime minister Scott Morrison announced he would be stepping down as party leader following his election upset on Saturday. Mr Dutton said he accepted the apology made by Ms Plibersek before saying it was time to 'behave like adults' Mr Dutton explained how he would be a different leader to Mr Morrison, saying he had grown up in the suburbs and 'never forgotten my roots'. He played up his political experience, including roles as home affairs and defence minister as well as assistant treasurer to Peter Costello. Mr Dutton also said he would aim to help families struggling with the rising cost of living, amid warnings that power bills could more than double. Power companies have written to customers warning usage costs could skyrocket as the cost of coal and gas continues to spiral upwards. Energy retailer Discover Energy warned its supply charges could increase by at least 130 per cent as the cool weather takes hold across New South Wales. Consumers have received 'frightening' letters from their power companies in recent days warning usage costs will jump in some cases as much as $1,200 a year for an average three-to-four person household The power cost hikes are the latest blow to households struggling to cope with the cost of living after petrol prices and then grocery bills began to surge. The first week of winter is just a few days away, causing temperatures to plummet and energy bills to skyrocket. Power companies have warned that the price of power for consumers would rise between 58 per cent and 100 per cent - up to $1200 for an average three-to-four person household in Queensland, South Australia and NSW. Joel Gibson of One Big Switch called the expected rises 'a frightening start to the price rise season' and urged residents to do their research. Anthony Albanese has stepped out in his pyjamas and a pair of Ugg boots on Friday morning to collect his daily newspapers. The Prime Minister donned his favourite Peter Alexander pants with cute cartoon rabbits on them and a retro Newtown Jets jersey as he fetched his papers at 6.03am. He didn't spend too long outside in the foggy and chilly morning air, before walking back inside his Marrickville home in Sydney's inner west. Anthony Albanese stepped out in his pyjamas and a pair of Ugg boots to collect the daily newspaper on Friday morning The prime minister donned the same pair of Peter Alexander pyjama pants and his Newtown Jets jersey as he did when fetching the paper on Thursday His pyjama pants have pictures of cartoon rabbits printed on them The new PM is yet to move into Kirribilli House, on Sydney Harbour, because Scott Morrison and his family remain at the residence six days after the election loss. However, with Mr Morrison, his wife Jenny and their two daughters set to return to their home in the Sutherland Shire, in Sydney's south, on Friday, the weekend is likely to be moving day for Mr Albanese. Moving vans were seen at The Lodge in Canberra on Thursday. The 59-year-old's neighbours, who love having 'Albo' in the street, have previously told Daily Mail Australia they hope he moves half-an-hour away to Kirribilli to keep their smart street out of the headlines. 'Fingers crossed,' said retired neighbour Jon. 'It'd be impossible for him to stay here with all the security that's needed as PM - but we'd be sad to see him go.' Another neighbour said he even takes her bins out for her when the family goes on holiday, and buys her children Christmas presents each year. 'He's a lovely neighbour and he is very chatty,' said mother-of-two, Jane. 'He's gorgeous with the children. He's always got time for them - I find that amazing.' Mr Albanese lives in a modest home in Marrickville and owns several other investment properties - some on the same street as his house, and has a real estate portfolio worth about $5million. Mr Albanese is seen heading back inside his Marrickville home The new PM is yet to move into Kirribilli House, six days after winning the election Mr Albanese lives in a modest home in Marrickville and owns several other investment properties - some on the same street as his house Mr Albanese is seen with his partner Jodie Haydon (above) Mr Albanese, who grew up in a nearby Camperdown housing commission flat, is a life member of the South Sydney Rabbitohs but also attends Newtown Jets home games at Marrickville's Henson Park. 'Where I grew up people went to church on Sunday, they voted Labor every three years, and they went to the footy on Saturday - either Souths, Newtown or Balmain,' he told Daily Mail Australia during the election campaign. 'One of the things I still do is go to Henson Park to watch Newtown play and we sit on the hill - 8,972 of us - it's a cracker.' The crowd at all of Newtown's fixtures at Henson Park is announced as being 8,972 the number of fans at the club's last game before it was kicked out of the first grade competition at the end of the 1983 season. Newtown now plays in the second-tier NSW Cup. Just days after becoming the country's new leader, Mr Albanese has already had to deal with controversy in his own party, after Tanya Plibersek likened Peter Dutton to bald-headed Harry Potter villain 'Voldemort'. Ms Plibersek, who is expected become the nation's next education minister following Labor's historic election win, said children who had watched the films would be very 'frightened' of the former defence minister when they see him on TV. 'I am saying he looks a bit like Voldemort and we will see whether he can do what he promised he would do when he was last running for leader, which is smile more,' Ms Plibersek told 4BC radio. Sunrise host Natalie Barr on Thursday grilled Mr Albanese about the brutal insult made against Mr Dutton, pointing out there would be 'hell to pay' if a man mocked a female MP's looks. Mr Albanese is seen with Foreign Minister Penny Wong after arriving in Japan for the QUAD Leaders' meeting Tanya Plibersek (right) is pictured with her husband Michael Coutts-Trotter (left). Ms Plibersek is under fire for a comment she made about Peter Dutton's looks The new PM replied: 'She has already apologised'. 'There are a few comments made by the former prime minister about my appearance you might recall as part of the election campaign,' he said. 'We should not refer to people's appearance, let's discuss policy differences.' Former prime minister Scott Morrison ordered an urgent asylum seeker boat alert on election day in a 'desperate' last bid to hurt Labor. When the Coalition came to office in September 2013, Mr Morrison as a new immigration minister ordered that unauthorised maritime arrivals would no longer be publicly announced. But on Saturday, that protocol he introduced was politically abandoned as Mr Morrison unsuccessfully tried to win a fourth, consecutive term for the Liberal Party. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed his predecessor contacted him on election day with news of the boat arrival off Christmas Island containing Sri Lankan asylum seekers. 'There was nothing normal about the protocols that were not observed here,' he told ABC Radio AM presenter Sabra Lane. Scroll down for video Former prime minister Scott Morrison ordered an urgent asylum seeker boat alert on election day in a 'desperate' last bid to hurt Labor (he is pictured conceding defeat on Saturday hours later) An unsolicited text message was sent to residents urging them to vote Liberal 'We had a circumstance whereby the prime minister's office contacted my office in the middle of Saturday, and we indicated it would be entirely inappropriate for this event to be politicised. 'It's a clear breach of the caretaker conventions.' Text messages were also sent out to voters in marginal seats on election day implying that only the Coalition could be trusted on border security. 'Aust Border Force has intercepted an illegal boat trying to reach Aus. Keep our borders secure by voting Liberal today,' it said. Mr Albanese described those tactics as 'desperate'. 'This was a decision made by Scott Morrison in a desperate attempt to run a last minute scare campaign,' he said. 'It was extraordinary that this statement was made to enable those text messages to be sent to people.' The Prime Minister on Friday announced an inquiry would be held into the breaking of caretaker conventions, accusing his predecessor of an 'entire abuse of proper processes'. 'A disgraceful act from a government which was prepared to politicise everything but solve nothing,' Mr Albanese said. When Labor took office on Monday Richard Marles, as Acting Prime Minister, ordered Australian Border Force to turn back that asylum seeker boat intercepted on election day. When the Coalition came to office in September 2013, Mr Morrison as a new immigration minister ordered that unauthorised maritime arrivals would no longer be publicly announced (pictured are Rohingya Muslims trying to reach Indonesia) 'They have been returned to Sri Lanka, and that has happened in a very ordinary and routine way,' Mr Marles told Sky News. 'And people-smugglers out there should know that very clearly; there will be no change under this government, and Australia retains its strong border stance.' The Greens described that policy as 'shameful', after the hard-left party won former Labor PM Kevin Rudd's old inner-Brisbane seat of Griffith, defeating frontbencher Terri Butler. As that turnback occurred, Mr Albanese was in Tokyo meeting US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida as part of the Quad dialogue. During the election campaign on April 14, Mr Albanese declared offshore detention was unnecessary, even though that is Labor Party policy. 'We'll turn boats back. Turning boats back means that you don't need offshore detention,' he told reporters at Cessnock. His election campaign media conference position against offshore processing contradicted Labor's 2021 national platform. 'To support Australia's strong border security regime, Labor will maintain an architecture of excised offshore places,' it said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured with cavoodle Toto) confirmed his predecessor contacted him on election day with news of the boat arrival off Christmas Island containing Sri Lankan asylum seekers In July 2015, Mr Albanese from the party's Left faction told the ABC's Insiders program he didn't personally support the idea of turning back asylum seek boats following a debate at Labor's National Conference. 'Different people took different positions and that was the issue of turnbacks,' he said. 'For me, that was something that I couldn't support but in the context of the policy, I said earlier on in the week that you could be tough on people smugglers without being weak on humanity.' In December 2010, at least 50 people died when an asylum seeker boat sunk off the coast of Christmas Island. At the time Mr Morrison, who was the Opposition spokesman on immigration, questioned why taxpayers needed to fund asylum seekers travelling to the funerals of their loved ones in other parts of Australia. The deceased were among the 1,200 asylum seekers who drowned between December 2007 and September 2013, when Labor was last in power. Mr Albanese was deputy prime minister in 2013 under Mr Rudd when he established an offshore detention centre at Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. During his first stint as prime minister, Mr Rudd in 2008 dismantled his Liberal predecessor John Howard's Pacific Solution where the Navy intercepted unauthorised asylum seeker boats and took them to offshore centres in Nauru and Manus Island. Under Labor's watch when it was last in government, 50,000 asylum seekers arrived on 800 boats between late 2007 and 2013. This slowed to a trickle when the Coalition came to power. Mr Morrison stopped the former department of immigration and border protection from publishing media alerts every time an illegal boat arrived in Australian waters. A bloody cap found at a gruesome murder scene was branded with the words 'Fear the Reaper'. Glen Cassidy had knocked on the door Michael Caposiena, 32, armed with a revolver - a section of which was found next to the bloody cap. Cassidy had allegedly gone to the home to kill Mr Caposiena on the orders of his wife, Biannca Edmunds. The 35-year old mother of three has pleaded not guilty to organising the hit on Mr Caposiena, who was her former partner and the father of one of her children. Mr Caposiena, 32, was shot through the head by Cassidy, who died from injuries inflicted upon him by his victim in the seconds before he ended his life. A hat branded 'Fear The Reaper' was found at the scene of the crime Biannca Edmunds (right) is accused of ordering a brutal hit against her former partner in an effort to keep him out of their child's life Michael Caposiena died after he was shot in the head in March 2016 Edmunds is accused of manipulating Cassidy to do her alleged bidding by using a deadly mix of scathing abuse and kinky sex. 'If you were a real man and you had any f**king balls, you'd go and deal with this bloke,' Edmunds allegedly told Cassidy. 'You're a spineless coward. You're not a real man at all.' A Supreme Court of Victoria jury heard on Tuesday Edmunds had been determined to have her ex-partner killed to avoid him having access to their young son. She also had plans to profit from his demise by making a legal challenge on his estate on behalf of their child, the jury heard. A court later ticked-off on half of the value of Mr Capasiena's $600,000 estate despite his current partner, Silvana Silva, still being alive. The jury heard Edmunds allegedly told multiple people, including her own family members, that she had wanted Mr Capasiena killed. 'I want Michael out of the way, I want him gone, I wish he'd just leave us alone and not try for (their son),' she allegedly said. The court heard Edmunds had routinely mocked Cassidy about his reluctance to do her bidding and had allegedly once asked an outlaw bikie to carry out the hit. Ms Silva had been fortunate not to have been killed that night when Cassidy stormed their Westmeadows home, in Melbourne's north. The jury heard Edmunds' plan had been for Cassidy to kill her too, but he bled to death from stab wounds inflicted upon him by Mr Capasiena before he was shot. Bloody chaos: Glen Cassidy had been stabbed multiple times when he tried to kill Silvana Silva on the front porch of her boyfriend's home (pictured) Michael Caposiena used this knife to stab Glen Cassidy moments before he was shot through the head Biannca Edmunds has been accused of directing her husband Glen Cassidy (both pictured) to kill Michael Caposiena Cassidy had pointed the gun at Ms Silva's head and fired, but he had already used the one and only bullet he brought for the assassination on her partner. He broke the pistol into pieces smashing Ms Silva's head in before neighbours' intervened. Before he dropped dead on the front lawn, the cold blooded killer claimed it had been her who stabbed him. His dying words saw baffled police arrest and detain Ms Silva before detectives finally worked out Cassidy had been the triggerman. A map found in Cassidy's car was allegedly found to have Edmunds' fingerprint on it. DNA found on the gun also allegedly contained traces of her DNA. The jury heard Edmunds had bragged about the bumbling police investigation after they interviewed her nine months after the killing. 'Thank God they didn't find Glen's laptop out in the garage. They've taken the wrong one,' Edmunds told her sister. Pieces of the revolver Cassidy used to shoot Michael Caposiena were found scattered after he used it to assault Silvana Silva Another piece of Cassidy's mangled weapon The bloody knife used by Mr Capasiena, who lays directly beside it Biannca Edmunds has pleaded not guilty to murder Police had also failed to extract a series of recorded conversations off Cassidy's phone, but when they returned to retrieve it a year later armed with new technology, Edmunds still had it in her possession. The jury heard Edmunds had been confident cops would swallow an alibi that placed her in Shepparton - in Victoria's north - at the time of the murder. Cassidy had supposedly sent her a well worded text message taking full responsibility for what he was about to do. Crown prosecutor Neill Hutton told the jury Edmunds had also made admissions to her new boyfriend, who she hooked-up with not long after Cassidy was killed. 'She had it planned all perfectly. He knew where to get away. He shouldn't have even known he was coming,' Edmunds allegedly told her lover. 'She talked about a map and described it ... then she started saying: "the police accused my of typing a text message for Glen", and she said she had to type it because "Glen couldn't spell for sh*t.' Edmunds' barrister John Kelly, SC told the jury his client denied all of the allegations against her and claimed he could explain how her fingerprint and DNA was allegedly found on incriminating items. The trial continues. Pet goldfish released into the wild are wreaking havoc on native species because of their insatiable appetites and thuggish behaviour, new research suggests. Once let loose in open waters they outcompete rivals and threaten biodiversity by gorging on insects and tadpoles. It is for this reason that scientists warn that taking the 'humane option' of trying to save a goldfish may lead to catastrophic consequences for the planet. The study's lead author Dr James Dickey, of Queen's University Belfast, said: 'Our research suggests goldfish pose a triple threat. Pet goldfish released into the wild are wreaking havoc on native species because of their insatiable appetites and thuggish behaviour, new research suggests (stock image) 'Not only are they readily available, but they combine insatiable appetites with bold behaviour. 'While northern European climates are often a barrier to non-native species surviving in the wild, goldfish are known to be tolerant to such conditions. 'They could pose a real threat to native biodiversity in rivers and lakes, eating up the resources that other species depend on.' The goldfish also contribute to poor water quality by mucking up the bottom sediments and uprooting plants, researchers added. Invasive species are one of the leading causes of global loss and the pet trade is responsible for a third of all aquatic invasive species. Owners releasing unwanted animals into the wild is a major problem. The goldfish was first domesticated over a thousand years ago and has since established non-native populations around the world. The research team compared the pet to the white cloud mountain minnow a species with a limited invasion history to date. Once let loose in open waters goldfish outcompete rivals and threaten biodiversity by gorging on insects and tadpoles (stock image) They assessed the ecological impacts and risks of potential pet trade invaders based on availability, feeding rates and behaviour. Goldfish were found to be voracious consuming much more than the white cloud mountain minnow or native species. In terms of behaviour patterns goldfish were also found to be much braver, which is a trait linked with invasive spread. Dr Dickey said: 'Our research highlights that goldfish are high risk, but we hope the methods developed here can be used to assess others in the pet trade across Ireland and further afield. 'Readily available species are most likely to be released, so limiting the availability of potentially impactful ones, alongside better education of pet owners, is a solution to preventing damaging invaders establishing in the future.' The findings follow appeals to aquarium owners in Minnesota to stop releasing pets into waterways after several huge goldfish were pulled from a local lake. Officials in Burnsville, about 15 miles south of Minneapolis, said they can grow to several times their normal size. As many as 50,000 goldfish were removed from local waters in nearby Carver County. Goldfish, which belong to the carp family, can easily reproduce and survive through low levels of oxygen during winter. The findings follow appeals to aquarium owners in Minnesota to stop releasing pets into waterways after several huge goldfish were pulled from a local lake. Officials in Burnsville, about 15 miles south of Minneapolis, said they can grow to several times their normal size Ecological destruction caused by aquarium pets is a growing phenomenon. Carnivorous lionfish, native to the Indo-Pacific, were released by Florida pet owners after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. They killed off dozens of Caribbean species allowing seaweed to overtake the reefs. Goldfish have received less attention than other invasive species but warnings have also been issued in Virginia and Washington state, as well as Australia and Canada. In 2013, Scientific American reported that researchers trawling Lake Tahoe netted a goldfish that was nearly 1.5ft (46cm)long and weighed 4.2lb. It is estimated that as many as 200 million goldfish are bred each year, with most ending up on domestic display. The research has been published in the journal NeoBiota. Most of us would love to sit down in a relaxing massage chair after a long day but would you buy a vibrating bed for your dog? A student has designed a dog bed that will gently shake your pooch to sleep, aiming to sooth pets suffering from separation anxiety after lockdown. Claudine Khalil, 21, placed a vibrating box inside a comfy memory foam mattress. Along with the vibration therapy, the bed comes with a removable reflective foil layer that can be added to keep your pet warm during winter, or swapped with a self-cooling gel layer for the summer. Ms Khalil is also working on a companion smartphone app, that will allow the owner to activate the vibrations remotely from work. Recent research published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science revealed that our pets have experienced a period of hyperattachment during the lockdown period of the pandemic, and as such are at much greater risk of separation anxiety. Student Claudine was inspired to design a vibrating dog bed after her own dog, Toffee, experienced separation anxiety when she returned to university after lockdown Research has shown that our pets have experienced a period of hyperattachment during the lockdown period of the pandemic, and as such are at much greater risk of separation anxiety. Signs of separation anxiety include howling and whining when left alone, pacing back and forth and destructive behaviour such as chewing or scratching WHAT IS SEPARATION ANXIETY? Separation anxiety is triggered when dogs become upset because of separation from their guardians, the people theyre attached to. Escape attempts by dogs with separation anxiety are often extreme and can result in self-injury and household destruction, especially around exit points like windows and doors. Veterinary specialist Dr Joanna Woodnutt MRCVS explains: 'Separation anxiety is the feeling of panic when an animal is separated from an important "resource" usually a family member. 'It was an evolutionary advantage to stick together in a pack or group, so the feeling of fear when alone was useful to the canine ancestor. 'The problem is, in modern-day living we need our dogs to be relaxed when left alone for short periods. 'This often isn't the case, and signs of separation anxiety include howling and whining when left alone, or panicking when you go to leave the house. 'Bad cases will see your dog pacing back and forth, and destructive behaviour such as chewing.' Advertisement Claudine found that when her family went back to work, and she returned to Nottingham Trent University, her family dog, Toffee, was very distressed. The Cavachon started barking and howling constantly, and even tore apart her furniture. The Product Design student said: 'I found it so upsetting seeing how much separation anxiety affected my dog after it became so used to us being home all the time during lockdown. 'This experience inspired me to try and design something that would be able to reduce tension and stress in dogs when they struggle with solitude as a result of their owners being away from the home.' A survey by Forthglade revealed 29 per cent of owners have seen their dog become more needy since the start of the Covid outbreak, with 22 per cent reporting an increase in barking. The RSPCA told Claudine that they were experiencing increased numbers of calls from owners whose dogs were exhibiting separation anxiety and very undesirable behaviour. As part of her research, the student spoke to a dog behavioural specialist and ran a focus group with dog owners whose pets were experiencing separation anxiety post-lockdown. The vibration technology in the bed utilises a sensory stimulation approach to de-stress and promote a calming effect in dogs. The prototype cost her about 450 to make and is powered by a rechargeable Lithium battery. Claudine, from Westminster, London, said: 'I wanted to create a product which would not only help address separation anxiety experienced by dogs but also a way for owners to feel more connected to their dogs despite being away from the home. 'Having a dog who suffers from separation anxiety, I know exactly how distressing it can be for dogs but also, their owners. 'I hope that my product can help dogs associate solitude with a time of relaxation and a safe space when they experience distress.' In the future, Claudine hopes to integrate a phone app with the product that can notify the owners of when the dog is in bed by utilising pressure sensors The prototype cost Claudine about 450 to make and is powered by a rechargeable battery PANDEMIC PUPS MAY HAVE GREATER SEPARATION ANXIETY Dogs purchased as puppies since March 2020 - when the Covid lockdown started in the UK - have only ever known what it's like to have their family around them at all times. The sudden change as owners to commute to the office again could trigger separation anxiety. 'This could come as a shock and lead to more stressed out pets and behaviour issues if the signs aren't spotted early and handled correctly,' said Claire Haynes, animal behaviourist at Blue Cross. 'In the most serious cases, stress could lead to unwanted behaviours, such as aggression and health problems.' Advertisement In the future, Claudine hopes to integrate a phone app with the product that can notify the owners of when the dog is in bed by utilising pressure sensors. The owner will also be able to use the app wherever they are to select from a range of vibration modes to soothe and relax their dog. Product Design Senior Lecturer Dr Joseph Stewart said: 'Claudine has shown how good research can inform good design. 'Through speaking with real dog owners and specialists she identified a need for a product that can help keep dogs more calm at home and her dog bed seeks to do exactly that.' While it may seem tempting to buy a second dog to keep your pet company now they are spending more time alone, a recent study suggested that this could actually do more harm than good. Researchers at the Academy for Animal Naturopathy in Durnten, Switzerland, fitted dog-owning homes with cameras to monitor canine behaviour when their owners were away. They found that barking an indicator of separation anxiety was more common in multi-dog households compared to single-dog households. Physical activity another potential indicator that can lead to destructive behaviour was also higher in multi-dog households, primarily in the first hour of separation. A study has found that dogs get worse separation anxiety when left alone with another animal 'Many dogs are left alone at home by their owners for several hours on a daily basis,' the researchers said. 'This practice is known to be a possible source of complication in dog keeping. 'Behaviourists and veterinarians are frequently consulted due to excessive vocalisations, destructive behaviour and house-soiling of dogs left alone by their owners. 'These observations are thought to be symptoms of a disorder which most authors refer to as separation anxiety or separation related behaviour. 'Since dogs under single-dog conditions show more resting and less vocalisations, we could not support the view that familiar conspecifics could facilitate coping with separation stress.' In most classrooms across the UK, it's likely you'll find rude graffiti scrawled on the desks. Now, a new discovery at Hadrian's Wall suggests these types of cheeky scribblings date back thousands of years. Researchers have discovered a large phallus and an inscription which brands a Roman soldier called Secundinus a 's***ter' at the historic site, dating back 1,700 years. 'Its author clearly had a big problem with Secundinus and was confident enough to announce their thoughts publicly on a stone,' said Dr Andrew Birley, Director of Excavations and CEO of the Vindolanda Trust. 'I have no doubt that Secundinus would have been less than amused to see this when he was wandering around the site over 1,700 years ago.' Researchers have discovered a large phallus and an inscription which brands a Roman soldier called Secundinus a 's***ter' at the historic site, dating back 1,700 years The phallus: An image of strength and virility Phallic emblems are found on a wide range of Roman objects, from amulets to frescoes to mosaics to lamps. They were symbols intended to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. As the ancient author Pliny attests, even babies and soldiers wore such charms to invite divine protection. Source: Met Museum Advertisement The graffiti was uncovered at Vindolanda, a picturesque fort and settlement in the Northumberland countryside, which is part of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site. 'It comes from a secure context below a 4th century cavalry barracks, discarded into a long trench filled with rubble,' a spokesperson said. This isn't the first time quirky scribbling have been found at Vindolanda previously, archaeologists found a handwritten birthday invitation where one woman invited her 'dearest sister' to join her. The latest discovery was made by Dylan Herbert, a retired biochemist from South Wales, who was volunteering with the Vindolanda Trust. 'I'd been removing a lot of rubble all week and to be honest this stone had been getting in my way, I was glad when I was told I could take it out of the trench,' Mr Herbert said. 'It looked from the back like all the others, a very ordinary stone, but when I turned it over, I was startled to see some clear letters. 'Only after we removed the mud did I realise the full extent of what I'd uncovered, and I was absolutely delighted.' The stone features a phallus measuring 15.7 x 6 inches, along with the words SECVNDINVS CACOR The latest discovery was made by Dylan Herbert (pictured with his discovery), a retired biochemist from South Wales, who was volunteering with the Vindolanda Trust The stone features a carving of a phallus measuring 15.7 x 6 inches, along with the words SECVNDINVS CACOR. Dr Alexander Meyer, Dr Alex Mullen and Dr Roger Tomlin, specialists in Roman epigraphy, recognised these words as a mangled version of 'Secundinus cacator'. This translates to 'Secundinus, the s***ter', according to the experts. 'The recovery of an inscription, a direct message from the past, is always a great event on a Roman excavation, but this one really raised our eyebrows when we deciphered the message on the stone,' Dr Birley said. Dr Alexander Meyer, Dr Alex Mullen and Dr Roger Tomlin, specialists in Roman epigraphy, recognised these words as a mangled version of 'Secundinus cacator'. This translates to 'Secundinus, the s***ter', according to the experts Engraving of phalluses are not uncommon on Hadrian's Wall, with a total of 13 now found at the historic site Engraving of phalluses are not uncommon on Hadrian's Wall, with a total of 13 now found at the historic site. While the symbol is usually seen as an image of strength and virility, that's likely not the case with this new finding. In this case, the author has 'cleverly taken its meaning and subverted it to their own aims,' according to the researchers. 'This fabulous bit of social commentary from the ancient past will amuse visitors for many years to come,' they said in a release. 'It reminds us that while the Roman army could be extremely brutal, especially to the native population, they were not immune to hurling insults at each other.' WWF calls for urgent action to secure nature-positive, net-zero emissions world Xinhua) 10:06, May 26, 2022 DAVOS, Switzerland, May 25 (Xinhua) -- World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International on Wednesday called for urgent action to secure a nature-positive and net-zero emissions world at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2022 here, while agriculture giant Syngenta Group emphasized that science, technology and regenerative agriculture could help tackle some of the challenges. As nearly 2,500 global leaders from business, politics, civil society and the media are meeting in the Swiss mountain town this week, WWF called on them to accelerate their action to tackle climate and nature crises. Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International, issued a stark warning in a press release. "While it is important to recognize the progress that has been made on key environmental issues in the last year, the world remains on course for environmental catastrophe unless it takes urgent and unprecedented action to address the climate and nature crises." "In the face of growing political and economic instability, leaders meeting at Davos must balance short-term responses with the long-term actions needed to increase resilience and secure a liveable planet for future generations," he said. "This means urgently increasing the ambition of their climate targets, transitioning to sustainable food systems, and stepping up efforts to conserve the ecosystems and biodiversity left on the planet, while restoring what's possible. This year, world leaders have an unmissable chance to embrace a 'Paris-style' agreement to tackle our escalating nature crisis and make a fairer, nature-positive and food-secure world a reality." WWF warned that global greenhouse emissions are returning to sky-high levels last seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, while deforestation remains alarmingly high, and the global extinction crisis continues unabated. The WEF in Davos takes place ahead of Stockholm+50, an international meeting convened by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to be held in Stockholm, Sweden, on June 2-3. It aims to commemorate the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment and celebrate 50 years of global environmental action. According to a UN report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), more than one million species are now threatened with extinction. Joao Campari, leader of WWF's Global Food Practice, said: "On top of the nature and climate crises, we are facing an escalating food security crisis. As leaders grapple with shocks and stresses, and justifiably focus on securing food supplies, we must ensure building sustainable and resilient food systems remains a long-term priority. If not, we will face even more frequent and more damaging crises." "The way we produce and consume food is both the biggest driver of nature loss and a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Adopting nature-positive food production practices is a win-win for people and the planet and should be a priority for forward-looking countries and businesses," Campari added. According to the WWF's "The Living Planet Report 2020," food systems are responsible for 80 percent of deforestation and generate around 30 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. In the press statement, WWF wrote that natural disasters caused by climate change and human ecosystem disruption cost more than 300 billion U.S. dollars per year. "Climate-smart growth could deliver at least 26 trillion U.S. dollars in economic benefits through to 2030, and a move to more sustainable agriculture, combined with forest protection, could deliver over 2 trillion U.S. dollars per year," it said. Erik Fyrwald, chief executive officer (CEO) of Syngenta Group, one of the world's leading agricultural innovation and technology companies, said: "When it comes to food, humanity faces an epochal challenge. With globally stagnating arable land, it is of utmost importance to safely supply a rapidly growing global population with high-quality food while protecting biodiversity and the climate." The Swiss company, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is owned by the Chinese chemical company ChemChina. "Our vision is regenerative agriculture with higher land productivity which means more food produced on less land so more land is returned to nature and we stop deforestation," Fyrwald said. "We are contributing to a reduction of agriculture greenhouse gas emissions, aspiring to go from 12 percent of total global emissions today to net-zero or even net-positive." (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) On the second anniversary of George Floyd's killing, President Joe Biden will release a comprehensive executive order to overhaul federal and local policing, according to top administration officials. According to officials, the order will direct all federal agencies to revise their use-of-force policies, create a national registry of federal and local officers fired for misconduct, and use grants to encourage state and local police to prohibit chokeholds and neck restraints unless deadly force is required. Biden's New Order Enables To Publicize Police Misconduct Records It limits the use of no-knock admissions to specific situations, such as when an announced entry would represent an urgent threat of physical harm. The directive affects around 100,000 federal law enforcement personnel, but the White House aims to broaden it to include more than 700,000 state and local officers. As president, Biden committed to advocating for police reform, but talks in Congress on a measure fell in September. According to authorities, the presidential order would call for the development of national criteria for the certification of police agencies and will aim to attach sections of future grant money to achieving accreditation. The White House has worked hard to get the backing of the civil rights sector while avoiding upsetting law enforcement officers, Reuters reported. The order, which the White House and Justice Department have been working on since last year, will have less weight than Biden had hoped after discussions on police reform in Congress broke down when Democrat and Republican negotiators concluded the difference was too large. On Monday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) changed its use-of-force policy for the first time in 18 years, instructing federal agents to intervene if they see police officers using excessive force. The four-page letter was issued to the chiefs of the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Marshals Service. The Bureau of Prisons and the Marshals Service The letter also states that cops must seek medical attention if they encounter someone in need. The letter also reiterates previous instructions that cops should not fire their firearms at someone who is fleeing and should not shoot at cars to halt them. The document goes on to say that deadly force should not be used against people whose activities represent a threat only to themselves or property unless the subject poses an imminent danger of death or significant physical damage to the officer or others in close vicinity. The use-of-force policy, which was last modified in 2004, stated that police may use lethal force only when required, that is, when the officer has a reasonable belief that the subject of such force poses an imminent threat of death or significant physical damage to the officer or another person, according to Daily Mail. Read Also: Conspiracy Theory Supporter Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Wins Georgia GOP Primary George Floyd 2nd Death Anniversary: Where Is Derek Chauvin? The killing of the father of five became a watershed event in the global Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality and systemic racism, which will keep his legacy alive in perpetuity. Derek Chauvin has just turned 46, the same age as the man he murdered, and has spent his birthday in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder. In the summer of 2021, he was condemned. He was charged with three charges of a criminal offense: unintended second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. Following his conviction, the court granted the prosecution's plea to prevent Chauvin from being released on bail, and he was remanded to police custody. When his bond was revoked, he was brought to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office for processing before being sent to the Minnesota Department of Corrections. He was sent to Oak Park Heights Prison, where he had been imprisoned since his arrest in 2020, and where he has stayed ever since. Oak Park is Minnesota's sole Level 5 maximum-security prison, located approximately 25 miles outside of the state capital, Minneapolis, as per Mirror. Related Aricle: EU State Calls Members To Escort Ukrainian Grain Ships Locked in Ports by Russian Naval Blockade @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gene-edited foods such as vitamin D-fortified tomatoes and mushrooms that never go brown could soon be hitting our shelves. The government announced plans this week to allow the 'Frankenfoods' to be sold unlabelled in British supermarkets, prompting an outcry from some consumers who claim they 'should be given a choice'. Ministers have introduced the new Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill to Parliament, which will create a new category for gene-edited (GE) organisms, so that they can be regulated separately from genetically-modified (GM) organisms. The legislation will speed up the development and commercialisation of DNA-altered crops and livestock, although the government says it is taking a step-by-step approach by creating rules for plants first. GE foods are produced using the gene-editing tool CRISPR, which makes precise edits the existing DNA of a plant or animal. Unlike genetically modified food, gene-edited food contains no 'foreign' DNA from other species. Scientists use a specialised protein to make tiny changes to the organism's DNA that could occur naturally or through selective breeding. Edits can be made to food for the benefit of the consumer, for example by bolstering the amount of vitamins and nutrients in a fruit. They can also be made to make the farming process easier, such as making crops or livestock immune to a fatal disease. Environment Secretary George Eustice insisted that GE products would not need to be advertised as such because they are 'fundamentally natural'. However, Scotland and Wales both vowed to reject the move, and Britain's biggest supermarkets have so far refused to confirm if they will stock the foods. With the new legislation on the way, MailOnline takes a closer a look at some of the GE foods that could be on shelves in the UK as early as next year. The government announced plans yesterday to allow gene-edited 'Frankenfoods' to be sold unlabelled in British supermarkets Tomatoes have been genetically engineered to produce more vitamin D that can help reduce vitamin deficiency (stock image) Laser imaging showed that the increases in provitamin D3 (7-DHC) were distributed in both the flesh and peel of genetically edited tomato What's the difference between genetically modified and gene-edited foods? Gene editing promises to produce 'super' crops or livestock by altering or cutting out naturally-occurring genes. Unlike genetically modified (GM) food, gene-edited (GE) food contains no 'foreign' DNA from other species. GE foods are produced using CRISPR, a tool for making precise edits in DNA. Scientists use a specialised protein to make tiny changes to the organism's DNA that could occur naturally or through selective breeding. In contrast, GM crops or animals have had foreign genes added to their DNA - a process that usually cannot happen naturally. The US, Brazil, Canada and Argentina have indicated they will exempt GE food that do not contain foreign DNA from GM regulations. Advertisement Vitamin D-boosted tomatoes Tomatoes have been genetically engineered to produce more vitamin D, to help reduce deficiency around the world. Researchers from the John Innes Centre in Norwich used CRISPR to edit the gene involved in converting provitamin D3 into cholesterol. They claim that the vitamin D you can get from eating one of these genetically modified tomatoes is equivalent to two eggs or 28 grams of tuna. The 'super' fruits could therefore help satisfy child and adult daily requirements for vitamin D3, reducing the risk of developing diseases such as cancer, Parkinsons disease and dementia. Mushrooms that don't go brown A variety of white button mushroom that has been genetically edited so that it doesn't go brown when sliced has already been approved by regulators in the US. Dr. Yinong Yang from Penn State University used CRISPR to to remove a small piece of one gene that causes mushroom browning in Agaricus bisporus. The resulting fungus can stay on supermarket shelves for longer and doesn't needed to be handled as delicately as the regular strain, reducing food waste. Dr. Yang is currently working to improve the mushroom, and hopes to commercialise new varieties in the future. A variety of white button mushroom that has been genetically edited so that it doesn't go brown when sliced has already been approved by regulators in the US Bread that reduces cancer risk from burnt toast British scientists have edited the genome of wheat to reduce its production of the cancer-causing chemical that is formed when burnt. Acrylamide is a carcinogen that is created when bread is baked or toasted, and is more prevalent as toast gets darker. Researchers from Rothamsted Research and the University of Bristol successfully halted the function of a gene involved in the production of asparagine in wheat, that converts into acrylamide when heated. In August last year, the group got the green light from DEFRA to run a series of field trials that will end in 2026, with the first crop currently in the ground. Scientists in Hertfordshire are working to bring new gene edited wheat to supermarket shelves Russian scientists hope to edit the genes of a cow so that it produces lactose-free milk Why are people concerned about gene-edited 'Frankenfoods'? 'Frankenstein foods' are crops or meat that has been produced through genetic engineering. Plants and farm animals have genes removed to make them more resistant to certain diseases and pests, or to grow unnaturally large. Scientists use a specialised protein to make tiny changes to the organism's DNA that could occur naturally or through selective breeding. A number of people feel the long-term effects of genetically edited foods on human health are not yet adequately understood. There are also concerns about government plans to allow gene-edited foods to be sold unlabelled in British supermarkets. Angry shoppers demanded to be 'given a choice' on whether or not to buy produce from crops and livestock with altered DNA. Campaigners say consumers shouldn't be 'tricked' and that there should be clear labels so people know what they are buying and eating. Advertisement Hypoallergenic milk Russian scientists hope to edit the genes of a cow so that it produces lactose-free milk. The researchers from Moscow's Skoltech Institute successfully cloned a cow and then spliced her genes to remove the proteins responsible for beta-lactoglobulin, which cause lactose intolerance. The unnamed calf was born in April 2020 and developed healthily with a normal reproductive cycle. The team next wish to impregnate a herd with embryos of the edited genes to create a generation of naturally lactose-free milk producers. Nutritionally-charged lettuce A scientist in Israel is developing a lettuce to produce nutrients in higher qualities than normal using the CRISPR gene editing technique. Yarin Livneh, a PhD student at the Hebrew University, is editing the genes in lettuce plants that regulate the production of vitamin C, beta-carotene and thiamine. She told FoodNavigator that by doing this she hopes to 'trick' the lettuce plants into producing more of these nutrients. Consumers will be able to get the recommend daily allowance of 80 mg of vitamin C by eating about five ounces (140g) of edited leafy greens. Chickens resistant to bird flu Scientists have been using gene-editing techniques to grow chicken cells that are unable to replicate the bird flu virus in a lab. Global health experts are concerned of a 'human flu' pandemic as a result of an avian flu strain that jumps from birds to humans, and mutates into a deadly form. In 2019, researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Edinburghs Roslin Institute edited a section of chicken DNA with hope of making it resistant to the virus. After exposing the cells to the flu virus, they found that it did not take hold in the cells and thus was not able to replicate. A scientist in Israel is developing a lettuce to produce nutrients in higher qualities than normal using the CRISPR gene editing technique (stock image) Researchers at University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute worked with genetics firm Genus to create pigs that are resistant to a respiratory disease (stock image) Disease-resistant pigs Researchers at University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute worked with genetics firm Genus to create pigs that are resistant to a respiratory disease. Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is the most costly animal disease in the world, resulting in around $2.5 billion (1.8 billion) revenue lost each year in the US. It causes breathing problems and deaths in young animals and can result in pregnant sows losing their litters, with vaccines mostly failing to stop the spread. The team removed a small section of the gene that codes for the CD163 receptor, which the PRRS virus uses to infect the pigs. They hope meat from these pigs will receive regulators approval before the end of 2023. Low-gluten wheat Scientists have created a new strain of wheat that almost eliminates a form of gluten, which is suitable for coeliacs. Coeliac disease is a disorder that affects around one in 100 people, and causes a severe autoimmune reaction to certain strains of gluten, known as gliadins. Researchers from the Institute for Sustainable Agriculture in Cordoba, Spain, managed to remove some of the genes that code for gliadin proteins in wheat using the CRISPR technique. The new strain contains only 15 per cent of the gliadins in normal wheat. Scientists have created a new strain of wheat that almost eliminates a form of gluten, which is suitable for coeliacs. Reduced fat soybean oil A biotechnology company has used gene editing to create a soybean oil with no trans-fats and up to 20 per cent less saturated fat than its naturally available counterpart. Calyxt, based in the US, used special enzymes called Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN) to cut specific sequences of the soybean DNA. The enzymes were used to disrupt the genes that create the cholesterol-raising polyunsaturated fatty acids. This was the first commercially-available gene-edited plant product in the US in 2019. Non-browning potato Again from Calyxt, a non-browning potato has been developed to help combat food waste. The TALEN enzymes eliminated the gene responsible for producing the enzyme polyphenol oxidase, or PPO, which causes browning and bruises. The spud was cleared by the United States Department of Agriculture in 2016. WHAT IS CRISPR-CAS9? Crispr-Cas9 is a tool for making precise edits in DNA, discovered in bacteria. The acronym stands for 'Clustered Regularly Inter-Spaced Palindromic Repeats'. The technique involves a DNA cutting enzyme and a small tag which tells the enzyme where to cut. The CRISPR/Cas9 technique uses tags which identify the location of the mutation, and an enzyme, which acts as tiny scissors, to cut DNA in a precise place, allowing small portions of a gene to be removed By editing this tag, scientists are able to target the enzyme to specific regions of DNA and make precise cuts, wherever they like. It has been used to 'silence' genes - effectively switching them off. When cellular machinery repairs the DNA break, it removes a small snip of DNA. In this way, researchers can precisely turn off specific genes in the genome. The approach has been used previously to edit the HBB gene responsible for a condition called -thalassaemia. Advertisement Zlatan Ibrahimovic's future is in doubt after he had knee surgery that could keep him out for the rest of the year. The 40-year-old, fresh from winning the Serie A title with AC Milan, had a planned procedure on his left knee to repair damage and instability caused by a previous anterior cruciate ligament injury and is expected to be out for up to eight months. Ibrahimovic's current deal at the San Siro expires this summer and he is not expected to be fit until midway through the 2022-23 campaign. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to be ruled out for the remainder of the year after having knee surgery The 40-year-old's future is in doubt now with AC Milan contract expiring at the end of June A Milan statement on their official website read: 'AC Milan announces that Zlatan Ibrahimovic underwent an operation on his left knee carried out by Dr Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet, with the club's medical director Stefano Mazzoni in attendance, at the Hopital Jean Mermoz in Lyon. 'The arthroscopy had been planned for a while to definitively resolve the joint's instability through the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, with lateral reinforcement and meniscus reparation. 'The operation was a complete success and the prognosis is estimated between seven and eight months.' The veteran striker scored eight goals for AC Milan this season as they won the Scudetto for the first time in 11 years. Jamie Carragher has urged new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag to get rid of Cristiano Ronaldo. Big changes are expected at Old Trafford this summer under Ten Hag, following the end of a disastrous campaign in which they finished sixth. Ronaldo scored 24 goals in all competition, but former Liverpool defender Carragher insists Ronaldo was 'not a good signing' and should be let go as an early statement at Old Trafford. Jamie Carragher believes that Erik ten Hag should look to sell Cristiano Ronaldo this summer He doesn't believe Ronaldo was a 'good signing' despite scoring 24 goals in all competitions He told Gary Neville on YouTube channel the Overlap: '(Jurgen) Klopp comes into Liverpool straight away, theyd bought players under Brendan Rodgers that summer. 'I think (Christian) Benteke cost them about 35/40million it was a few quid, he was a big signing, centre forward, and he was like 'Youre not for me, out!' And making that big bold decision straight away, it makes everyone sit up and think 'Oh this fella takes this job seriously!' 'Im convinced hes (Ten Hag) got to do that with Ronaldo, whether hes allowed to or not, and Ive said this consistently throughout this season, that was not a good signing. 'Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time, and Im seen as criticising him Ronaldo is a million times better than I could ever be, I couldnt lace his boots, obviously, but Im not saying that to be disrespectful to him, hes amazing. 'But Ronaldo has never played in a team this bad, hes played in some of the best teams and has the attitude of wanting to be the main man, trying to get the goals, driving people on, and when youre in a great team, thats something Im seeing as a positive. 'When youre not playing in a great team it can be something that is seen as a negative, and I think it has been a negative this season. 'Manchester United cant go into next season with a centre forward who is going to be 38, even if he does score goals thats not right for Man United. 'United need to buy a striker, but who do you buy? Do you buy one whos going to play, or one whos going to sit on the bench? What do you do? If you buy a really good one then he has to play, and Ronaldo has to go on the bench. He believes Ronaldo will be a 'massive problem' for Ten Hag if he doesn't play every week 'Ronaldo would be a massive problem for Manchester United next season if he wasnt playing every week, weve seen it this season, even when hes coming off and there were times where the manager was right to take him off or put him on the bench, but hes kicked up a fuss. 'This is the most powerful he will ever be, the managers the most powerful the first day in the job, because hes there and he should be able to make big decisions on the basis of that and Id make that big decision as the other top managers have done that make everyone sit up and take notice.' Ten Hag though recently said that he can't wait to work with Ronaldo, describing him as a 'true winner and magnificent player'. One player who unlike Ronaldo struggled for goals this season was England international Marcus Rashford. The 24-year-old scored just five goals in 32 games across all competitions. Overlap host Gary Neville said that Ten Hag will view Rashford as a 'project' who he can work with and help improve. It will be hoped that Ten Hag can help turn around the fortunes of Marcus Rashford Gary Neville said Ten Hag will see Rashford as a 'project' following the forward's tough season though Carragher insisted that the England international is 'not good enough' for Man United He also added that Rashford's downturn in the form is due to the 'disease in the United dressing room' which has affected the confidence of players and their performances. Carragher though dismissed Rashford and said that he's 'not good enough' for the Red Devils. He said: 'Hes just not good enough for Man United, Marcus Rashford, thats all it is. 'Hes just not quite good enough for Manchester United. He wont win you the Champions League, the other two up front with him would have to be mega stars.' The Overlap is a YouTube channel from Gary Neville in partnership with Sky Bet. Dani Carvajal has issued a firm response to Mohamed Salah regarding his 'revenge' comments on the Champions League final. The Liverpool star limped off injured in the 2018 showpiece against Real - which the Spanish side won 3-1 - after a poor tackle from Sergio Ramos, and has openly spoken about his desire to set the record straight when the sides meet again on Saturday. But Carvajal told ABC he hoped the Reds losing another final against them would not be too much of a 'burden' for Salah. Dani Carvajal has issued a firm response to Mohamed Salah regarding his 'revenge' comments Liverpool star Salah limped off in the 2018 Champions League final vs Real - which the Spanish side won 3-1 - and admitted his desire to gain revenge when the sides meet again on Saturday He said: 'I don't know if Salah or Liverpool are in the mood for revenge. It is true that when you lose a Champions League final you always want to have a second chance against that same team in order to beat them. 'Let's hope it's not an important burden for Salah to lose a second Champions League final against Real Madrid.' The Egyptian's words appear to have disgruntled the Real players, with Casemiro, Federico Valverde and now Carvajal speaking out against his comments. Los Blancos and Carvajal will be hoping to achieve the same result in this weekend's final And the 27-cap Spain international, 30, revealed his thoughts on PSG star Kylian Mbappe's shock move to turn down Real and remain at the Parc des Princes. He added: 'You have to be in his head. He is French and from Paris. He is playing for PSG, he is the best player for his country and it must be very difficult to get out of that comfort zone. 'But I insist, there are trains that only pass once and Madrid is above any player.' Advertisement 'The biggest mistake people make about Sunny Beach is to think that its only for teenagers. Thats what Bulgarian travel agent Tanko Kovalev tells me. Later, stretched out on a poolside recliner, idly speculating about the ages of my fellow guests, I think he might be right. I can see a good spread of pensioners. The chap snoozing under a tree, sporting a white walrus moustache, looks like a time traveller from the 19th century. Affordable: Thomas W. Hodgkinson checks into Riu Helios Paradise in Sunny Beach (pictured) Thomas writes: 'For a decade or so, the middle part of Sunny Beach - a pristine sweep of sand on Bulgarias Black Sea coast (above) - has heaved with sunburnt teenagers getting drunk on 2 pints of beer. But stay at the bottom, or at the top, and you can avoid the wet T-shirt competitions and punch-ups' The Riu Helios Paradise is 'a 597-room, four-star behemoth in terracotta', writes Thomas. A hotel that 'slightly resembles the Harrods Furniture Depository on the Thames' Thomas walks along the beach to Funny Pub (above)... 'where the action is'. He says it's 'Brit-central'. He adds: 'Nearby, I spot a lurid-looking restaurant. "We never close", the sign outside declares' For a decade or so, the middle part of Sunny Beach a pristine sweep of sand on Bulgarias Black Sea coast has heaved with sunburnt teenagers getting drunk on 2 pints of beer. But stay at the bottom, or at the top, and you can avoid the wet T-shirt competitions and punch-ups. The number-one appeal is how cheap it is. Sunny Beach is said to be one of the cheapest beach destinations in all of Europe. Bearing this in mind, Im impressed by the appearance of the Riu Helios Paradise, where Im berthed. A 597-room, four-star behemoth in terracotta, it slightly resembles the Harrods Furniture Depository on the Thames. Im paying 40 a night, all inclusive (alcohol, too). It has five restaurants. There are also four swimming pools. And if youre feeling more adventurous, the Black Sea is on the doorstep. Its water is oddly unsalty, so you feel more like youre swimming in a lake. Nor is it black, by the way. The name is owing to its violent winter storms, which are bad news for sailors. My fellow guests include German and French people, but they are mainly Britons. John from Stoke Newington tells me he bought a house near here in 2005 for 12,000. Since then, he has done nothing with it. He just comes out every few years to look at it. I get talking to two women from Bristol, who are on their honeymoon. They are having a nice time but are finding it quiet in early May. Thomas's fellow guests at the Riu Helios Paradise (above) 'include German and French people, but they are mainly Britons' Thomas reveals that one of his fellows guests 'had her handbag stolen off the back of her wheelchair' TUI is offering all-inclusive, one-week packages, staying at the Riu Helios Paradise (above), starting at 520pp including flights One of them, Shelley, had her handbag stolen off the back of her wheelchair. This was disappointing, she says. In the evening, they recommend Funny Pub, which is where the action is. A half-hour walk along the beach, its Brit-central. Nearby, I spot a lurid-looking restaurant. We never close, the sign outside declares. At the bar, enjoying my 2 pint of local Kamenitza beer, I strike up a conversation with a man named Russell from Swansea. As a poetry fan, I ask him if he likes Dylan Thomas. More for the drinking than the writing, comes the reply. Russell, too, has bought a small house, an hours walk inland in the village of Tankovo. Every evening, he strides down to the beach to drink the cheap beer. 'Bounce' and Viking are two of the most popular Sunny Beach (above) nightclubs. When Thomas checks them out online he finds 'photos of writhing, blissed-out adolescents: images of heaven or hell, depending on your definition' A dip in the Black Sea (above, at Sunny Beach) is like swimming in a lake, Thomas reveals, as its water is 'oddly unsalty' Thomas visited the ancient town of Nessebar (pictured), which is twenty minutes away from the hotel. 'Its easy to explore and is home to incredible Byzantine churches,' he says TRAVEL FACTS TUI is offering all-inclusive, one-week packages, staying at the Riu Helios Paradise in Sunny Beach, starting at 520pp including flights (tui.co.uk). Advertisement Funny Pub is loud. The live band blasts out renditions of Cant Help Falling In Love, Losing My Religion and Wish You Were Here. I ask the barman to recommend some clubs and he shouts back: Bounce! and Viking! Looking online, I find photos of writhing, blissed-out adolescents: images of heaven or hell, depending on your definition. If youre in the mood for culture, Sunny Beach offers that, too. Twenty minutes away, on a little peninsula sticking out into the Black Sea, sits the ancient town of Nessebar. Its easy to explore and is home to incredible Byzantine churches. The icons and murals are beautiful to behold. Tucking into my kebab at Nessebars Hemingway restaurant (goodness, that guy got around), I reflect that I made the right choice in coming to Sunny Beach. Nessebar has been a discovery. But the highlight is spending one whole day beside the many pools of the Helios Paradise reading, daydreaming and, at one point, helping myself to a banana ice cream. Jeff Bridges almost died when he came down with COVID in January 2021. The Big Lebowski star, 72, had no resistance as he was getting chemo for his non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The Hollywood icon added that he did not really have the will to fight the virus as he felt he was 'dancing with mortality,' he told People. The star has been in remission from lymphoma since September 2021 and is now promoting his new FX show The Old Man. Close call: Jeff Bridges has shared that he almost died when he came down with COVID in early 2021. He was pictured in LA in 2019 A rare recent photo of Bridges: Here he is seen in November 2020. He has not been seen much since 2019 'I was pretty close to dying. The doctors kept telling me, "Jeff, youve got to fight. Youre not fighting." I was in surrender mode. I was ready to go. I was dancing with my mortality,' said the father of three who has been married to wife Susan Geston since 1977. He was weak from battling cancer - which he revealed in early 2020 he had - and he was not vaccinated as there was no vaccine yet. 'I had no defense. Thats what chemo does it strips you of all your immune system. I had nothing to fight it,' Bridges told the site. Bridges also said the affects of COVID were far worse than the cancer. 'COVID made my cancer look like nothing,' said the Los Angeles resident who added he was in the hospital for five months where he suffered intense pain and was on oxygen. Close to the edge: The Big Lebowski star, 72, had no resistance as he was getting chemo for his lymphoma and he added that he did not really have the will to fight the virus as he felt he was 'dancing with mortality,' he told People. Seen in 2019 The TRON: Legacy actor got better when he was given convalescent plasma treatment. That involves using blood from people who have already recovered from COVID. And then he had to do physical therapy to get his strength back. His recovery was not fast as he started taking 'baby steps,' Jeff said. But there was a silver lining. Being so sick made him unable to work which kept him close to home with his family. On death's door: 'I was pretty close to dying. The doctors kept telling me, "Jeff, youve got to fight. Youre not fighting." I was in surrender mode. I was ready to go. I was dancing with my mortality,' said Jeff. He was snapped in LA in October of 2019 He has three children with Susan: Isabelle, 40, Jessica, 38, and Haley, 36. And several of his kids have children as well making him a grandfather. WHAT IS CONVALESCENT PLASMA TREATMENT? Convalescent plasma therapy uses blood from people who have recovered from an illness to help others recover, according to the Mayo Clinic. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given emergency authorization for convalescent plasma therapy with high antibody levels to treat COVID-19, the site also shared. 'It may be used for some hospitalized people ill with COVID-19 who are either early in their illness or who have weakened immune systems,' it says on the Mayo Clinic site. Blood donated by people who've recovered from COVID-19 has antibodies to the virus that causes it. The donated blood is processed to remove blood cells, leaving behind liquid (plasma) and antibodies. These can be given to people with COVID-19 to boost their ability to fight the virus. Information courtesy the Mayo Clinic Advertisement And the Hollywood icon is also close to his brother Beau Bridges. 'Who would say, "Id love some cancer and give me a dose of COVID"? But my ability to receive all the love and give it was just heightened,' he said. 'Everything was turned up in the most beautiful way.' Working on his new show was challenging as there were a lot of stops and starts. Production had to stop for 15 months amid his health battle. 'I went through a year-and-a-half of this bizarre dream and then came back,' the Oscar winner said, according to Deadline in March. 'It was great to be back with the gang.' The Hollywood veteran, who has starred in Crazy Heart, The Last Picture Show and True Grit, appeared in the virtual news conference alongside his co-stars Amy Brenneman, 57, and John Lithgow, 76. Bridges said he adapted to the series role remembering advice from his late father, actor Lloyd Bridges, who he said filmed six series in his career. 'Hes my teacher,' Bridges said of his late father, who died in 1998. 'I resist everything. Each assignment has a unique quality. This one was going to have a lot of physicality.' The Old Man production has started and stopped twice, once due to the coronavirus pandemic and once to Bridges' health battle. The actor on Tuesday credited his collaborators for their consideration and support amid the tough time. 'As far as Im concerned, FX and all of the team were so considerate and gave me all of the time I needed to heal and all the support I needed,' Bridges said, according to The Wrap. 'The protocols - we were still in COVID - made me feel very safe and eager to get down to business and play.' His longtime wife: He is the father of three who has been married to wife Susan Geston since 1977; seen in 2019 The kids: Together they have Isabelle, 40, Jessica, 38, and Haley, 36. And several of his kids have children as well making him a grandfather. Seen in 2008 Brenneman credited Bridges for 'always [being] available,' as well as his upbeat candor amid the health crisis. She said when she asked him about his recovery, he would say, 'It was weird but it was interesting - it was cool!' Lithgow opened up about how Bridges was helpful to his older brother David, who 'was diagnosed with something very, very similar to what Jeff suffered from. His new show: Here Jeff is seen bloodied in his new FX series The Old Man 'And as soon as I told him about my brother, he immediately got in touch with him, sent him information, he never met the man. Jeff is the most big-hearted person. Its not like you are working with an actor at all. Its like you are working with a friend.' The Old Man, which is based on Thomas Perry's novel, casts Bridges as a former CIA operative named Dan Chase who finds himself hunted by a hitman, played by Gbenga Akinnagbe. The show also features Alia Shawkat, Bill Heck, Seem Lubany and EJ Bonilla. It is slated to debut on FX June 16. John Mulaney matched outfits with his girlfriend Olivia Munn when they stepped out in Los Angeles this week. The 39-year-old comedian and the 41-year-old actress were spotted Wednesday, the day after their baby son Malcolm turned six months old. Olivia and John both modeled blue tops and kept their black face masks on as they enjoyed a sunlit stroll in Beverly Hills. On the go: John Mulaney matched outfits with his girlfriend Olivia Munn when they stepped out in Los Angeles this week One day earlier Olivia had posted a heartwarming snap of her with her baby boy, announcing to the world he had just turned six months old. '[Six] months ago today Malcolm made me his mama. Its so much fun getting to know him,' the proud mother gushed in her caption. 'He loves meeting people, he loves his best friend Penny and thinks shes hysterical, hes tried peanut butter (thank you @mmcnearney + @jimmykimmel ), he sleeps through the night 12 hours straight (thank you @mindykaling for sharing your invaluable, trusted and vetted resources), he wakes up from every nap with a huge smile and giggle, he LOVES when we read him books, he lets out a squeal and kicks his legs whenever his daddy comes home, I cant stress enough how much he loves bathtime and he loves being outside and looking at the trees and the sky.' Olivia concluded: 'I love you so much Malcolm Hiep. Happy 6 months being earthside with us. You lit up our whole world.' Out and about: Olivia and John both modeled blue tops and kept their black face masks on as they enjoyed a sunlit stroll in Beverly Hills John recently faced down a brief controversy when he surprised the audience at his stand-up show by having Dave Chappelle open for him. Dave, who lives in Ohio, made an unannounced appearance at John's show at Value City Arena in the state capital Columbus. In recent years Dave has been lambasted by woke critics over his trans jokes, which in other quarters have led to his being elevated as a beacon of free speech. John announced Olivia was pregnant in September amid a romance that went public on the heels of his split from his wife Anna Marie Tendler. 'You lit up our whole world': One day earlier Olivia had posted a heartwarming snap of her with her baby boy, announcing to the world he had just turned six months old Olivia and John welcomed their baby the day before Thanksgiving, after a whirlwind year in which John went to rehab and filed for divorce. John went public with the pregnancy on Late Night With Seth Meyers, whose host had been part of his intervention in 2020. He gushed about their 'incredible' new relationship, saying: 'Olivia and this baby have helped save me from myself in this early journey out of recovery.' John entered a 60-day stint at a treatment facility for cocaine addiction and alcoholism in December 2020, Page Six revealed. In the headlines: John recently faced down a brief controversy when he surprised the audience at his stand-up show by having Dave Chappelle open for him His separation from his estranged wife went public in mid-May 2021 and he finally filed for divorce that July in New York. When news broke of his marriage breakup last May, Page Six insiders said that John requested a divorce from Anna Marie as early as that February. 'I am heartbroken that John has decided to end our marriage,' she said when the split was announced. 'I wish him support and success as he continues his recovery.' A few days after their separation was announced last May a People source claimed that John had become romantically involved with Olivia. As seen at five months old: Olivia and John welcomed their baby the day before Thanksgiving, after a whirlwind year in which John went to rehab and filed for divorce AJ Benza alleged on his podcast Fame Is A B**** that Anna Marie was at rehab at Silver Hill in Connecticut around the same time John was in treatment. Shortly thereafter a Page Six source claimed that emotional problems and 'eating disorders' had caused Anna Marie to go to Silver Hill. The insider claimed Anna Marie declined to discuss any marital problems she may have been having but insisted it was 'clear she suffered during their marriage.' The way they were: John proposed to Anna Marie, a makeup artist, in 2013 and they tied the knot in July 2014; they are pictured at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar party MailOnline contacted Anna Marie's representatives for comment. Meanwhile when John entered rehab at the end of last year Olivia was one of the many celebrities who sent him well wishes. 'Sending SO MUCH love and support to John Mulaney,' the Love Wedding Repeat actress wrote on Twitter. 'You got this.' She has a passion for fashion after years of working as a beauty editor. And Zoe Foster Blake revealed her latest high-end designer purchase on Wednesday. The multimillionaire beauty entrepreneur showed off her bizarre $1,650 designer stilettos as she hosted a 'Masterclass' for her Go-To skincare line. That's different! Zoe Foster Blake flaunted her new $1,650 designer stilettos as she hosted a 'Masterclass' for her Go-To skincare line on Wednesday Nailed it! The 41-year-old wore a pair of white Loewe Nail Polish sandals, which feature nail polish bottles for heels The 41-year-old wore a pair of white Loewe Nail Polish sandals, which feature nail polish bottles for heels. The mother-of-two let her shoes do the talking by pairing the fancy footwear with a lime green knitted dress. She also accessorised with some gold Tiffany & Co. earrings and bracelets. The brunette beauty later changed into a white Sir The Label two-piece ensemble which included a wraparound cream top and matching trousers. Going green! The mother-of-two let her shoes do the talking by pairing the fancy footwear with a lime green knitted dress In August last year, it was revealed that Zoe had sold off a controlling stake in her Go-To skincare company for $89million. The beauty mogul sold a 50.1 per cent share to ASX-listed company BWX. The skincare company was established by the former magazine journalist in 2014, and generated $36.8million in revenue in 2020 alone. Quick change! The brunette beauty later changed into a white Sir The Label two-piece ensemble which included a wraparound cream top and matching trousers According to a report by the Financial Review in November 2020, Zoe's net worth was estimated to be at $36million at the time. They may be Australia's golden couple. Meanwhile, Zoe and her husband Hamish Blake have reportedly set their sights set on starting a new life in Los Angeles. 'Hamish and Zoe have always loved visiting Los Angeles and could see themselves buying a family bolthole in Hollywood, but the time has never been right,' an insider told Woman's Day on Monday. 'There's never been a better time': Meanwhile, Zoe and her husband Hamish Blake have reportedly set their sights set on starting a new life in Los Angeles However, Hamish and Zoe, who were recently named Tourism Australia ambassadors, now believe the stars have aligned. 'Zoe's beauty brand Go-To blowing up in the US, and Hamish being not as a busy as he usually is, there's never been a better time to really make a go of it,' the source said. The insider also claimed that Hamish's managers believe he could be Hollywood's next breakout star, and will be 'pitching him for everything over there'. Tinseltown bound? 'Hamish and Zoe have always loved visiting Los Angeles and could see themselves buying a family bolthole in Hollywood, but the time has never been right,' an insider told Woman's Day on Monday It comes a year after the couple relocated from their home in Melbourne to Sydney. The couple sold their Richmond house for a whopping $7.435m in March last year, before purchasing a $8.925m family home in Sydney's eastern suburbs. 'For a long time I have known that stealing my wife from Sydney would mean one day we'd venture there to live for a while,' Hamish wrote on Instagram at the time. 'The loose plan is for a few years, but however long it's for, we're excited for this adventure with our little family.' Hamish and Zoe married in 2012, and are parents to two children, son Sonny, seven, and daughter Rudy, four. In August last year, it was revealed that Zoe had sold off a controlling stake in her Go-To skincare company for $89million. The beauty mogul sold a 50.1 per cent share to ASX-listed company BWX. The skincare company was established by the former magazine journalist in 2014, and generated $36.8million in revenue in 2020 alone. According to a report by the Financial Review in November 2020, Zoe's net worth was estimated to be at $36million at the time. Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth are busy this week promoting her new Netflix action film Interceptor, for which he served as an executive producer. And the Hollywood power couple, who live in a sprawling $30million mansion near Byron Bay, are staying at the Park Hyatt hotel while in the city. On Wednesday, before the pair attended the premiere of Interceptor, Chris, 38, was seen checking out the harbour view from the balcony. While the hotel is a five-star establishment, it did look a little run-down and in need of a fresh coat of paint as the Thor star enjoyed the fresh air. Inside Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky's whirlwind trip to Sydney: The Thor star, 38, soaked up the view of the harbour from the couple's luxury hotel on Wednesday Rooms typically start from $1,141 per night, and suites boast views of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The likes of Kim Kardashian, Jason Momoa and Kylie Minogue have all previously stayed at the Park Hyatt, which was built in 1990. The hotel renovated over a period of 10 months back in 2012, with new rooftop suites added and guest rooms upgraded. Promo campaign: The Hollywood power couple (pictured at the Interceptor premiere on Wednesday) are staying at the Park Hyatt hotel while in the city Pricey: Rooms typically start from $1,141 per night. Despite being a five-star establishment, it did look a little run-down and in need of a fresh coat of paint as Chris enjoyed the fresh air Iconic: The likes of Kim Kardashian, Jason Momoa and Kylie Minogue have all previously stayed at the Park Hyatt, which was built in 1990 Chris kept things casual in a black T-shirt and jeans. Earlier on Wednesday, he was seen touching down in Sydney via private jet with Elsa's mother Cristina Pataky Medianu and a glamorous brunette. Elsa, 45, was already in town promoting Interceptor and has done a number of TV appearances this week. That night, she looked glamorous as she stepped out at the Interceptor premiere in a backless black dress with a suited-up Chris by her side. Hollywood life: Earlier on Wednesday, Chris was seen touching down in Sydney via private jet with Elsa's mother Cristina Pataky Medianu and a glamorous brunette Leading lady Elsa wore an incredible $474,000 worth of Bulgari gold and diamond jewels as she hit the red carpet. She wore designs from the Italian designer's Serpenti collection. Her role sees her playing no-nonsense army lieutenant JJ Collins in Interceptor, who must save the world when 16 nuclear missiles are launched in the United States. Glamorous: On Wednesday night, Elsa looked glamorous as she stepped out at the Interceptor premiere in a backless black dress with $474,000 worth of Bulgari jewels Speaking on The Project on Tuesday, Elsa said her action hero husband, 38, didn't spare her feelings when it came to giving advice on her fight scenes. 'He was so bossy!' Elsa said of Chris, who was the executive producer of Interceptor. 'He was just telling me, like, "This is the right angle when you punch". He was just showing me how to do it, what is the right position you have to have,' she added. New film: Elsa's role in Interceptor, out June 3, sees her playing no-nonsense army lieutenant JJ Collins, who must save the world when 16 nuclear missiles are launched in the United States 'He has been doing it for a long time. It was great having him. He was supporting me from the beginning, from when he first read the script. 'He said, "You have to do this, it's going to be fun, you will enjoy it, I know how much you like this kind of movie."' Elsa was then asked how the couple dealt with professional disagreements on set. 'It's like your marriage, in a way, you work things out,' she replied. 'It's different when he's an executive producer: he gives you advice, he supports you. It's easier than when we are married every day.' Jordan Barrett is fitter than ever. The catwalk king showcased his ripped physique as he took a refreshing dip at the ritzy Hotel Eden Roc on the French Riviera. The 25-year-old Aussie supermodel looked to be in the best shape of his life as he donned a pair of black shorts before getting in the water with a pal. Fit: Model Jordan Barrett, 25, (pictured) flaunted his ripped physique as he went for a refreshing dip at the Hotel Eden Roc on Wednesday alongside a pal The fashion star kept his his bling on for the swim, sporting gold jewellery including a necklace, bracelet and chunky rings. Jordan sat chatting with his pal while lapping up the sunshine at the popular celeb hotspot. The Cannes Film Festival runs from May 17 to May 28. Shape: Jordan looked to be in the best shape of his life as he donned a pair of black shorts before getting in the water with a pal Shredded: Jordan flaunted his muscular arms and torso during the swim at the celebrity hot spot. Jordan is in Cannes for the film festival The male model has been flying around the world all year and was recently spotted in New York and London. In an interview with GQ Australia in April last year, Jordan spoke about his whirlwind modelling career, which saw him skyrocket to fame after being discovered as a teen. 'From being 17, and being extremely successful overseas in what I was doing, but not even really knowing what it was I was doing' he reflected. Relaxation: Jordan sat chatting with an unnamed mystery pal while lapping-up the sunshine at the idyllic celeb-filled location Professional life: Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald in May 2020, Jordan said his modelling career had brought him endless 'opportunities' 'When I was scouted, I didn't even understand what it meant to be a model. I didn't know what was going on in my mind. I didn't even know what a panic attack was until now.' Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald in May 2020, Jordan said his modelling career had brought him endless 'opportunities'. '[Modelling] has opened so many doors and opportunities in life. It's not like: let's go to a shoot and let's go home,' he said. 'It just opens so many doors to everything that I'm doing. It lets you do whatever you want, and be wherever you want... And I have access to do whatever I want.' The National Rifle Association (NRA) is expected to continue with its annual convention over the weekend in Houston despite the horrifying Texas mass shooting that left at least 21 people dead, including students and teachers. Several Republicans, including former United States President Donald Trump, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, are expected to speak at the convention. However, one key difference between this year's event compared to others is that audience members will not be able to carry guns. Trump To Speak at NRA Convention In a statement, the NRA said that although an investigation was underway and facts were still emerging regarding the Texas incident, the group said that it recognized it was the act of a lone, deranged criminal. The association said that it will reflect on these events, pray for the victims, recognize its patriotic members, and pledge to redouble its commitment to making schools more secure. Former President Trump is scheduled to speak at the convention on Friday and the Secret Service will take control of the hall during the Republican businessman's speech. They will not be permitting firearms, firearm accessories, or knives, among other items, as per USA Today. On Wednesday, Trump said that he will deliver an important address to America during the NRA's annual convention. The Republican businessman said that the United States needs real solutions and real leadership in this moment of hardship and not politicians and partisanship. The NRA annual convention this year is scheduled to include Abbott, Cruz, Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, and South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem. Abbott was previously interrupted while speaking at a press conference where Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke. Read Also: Attorney Suggests Going After Buffalo Shooting Suspect's 'Accomplices' as FBI Interviews Gunman's Parents Abbott declined to confirm whether he was going to attend or speak at the convention and said that as far as future plans were concerned, he was living moment to moment. He said that his heart, head, and body were with Uvalde right now. According to Aljazeera, the three-day convention is a major event for the U.S. gun lobby and is set to showcase "the latest guns and gear." The start of the annual convention this year is set three days after an 18-year-old gunman, identified as Salvador Ramos, opened fire at a Texas elementary school. Banning of Firearms The incident was the deadliest U.S. school shooting in the last decade and has reignited the fierce debate about gun laws in the country. The horrifying tragedy also came as the nation reeled from a mass shooting earlier this month when an avowed white supremacist shot 13 people at a supermarket in a mostly Black neighborhood of Buffalo. The banning of guns in this year's annual convention during Trump's address is not the first time as in 2018, a similar prohibition was put in place during a speech by then-Vice President Mike Pence. In a statement, the Secret Service said that at the time, the agency has the "authority to preclude firearms from entering sites visited by our protectees, including those located in open-carry states." After the mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999 that left 13 dead, the NRA considered canceling its annual convention scheduled for a few days later in Denver. However, they ultimately decided to go ahead with the event, NPR reported. Related Article: President Joe Biden Addresses the Nation After Deadly Texas Shooting That Kills 14 Students; VP, Officials Condemn the 'Horrific' Incident @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. He's been dubbed Australia's King of Radio, so it's no surprise Kyle Sandilands is preparing to raise his unborn son like a prince. On Wednesday, removalists were seen carrying newly-purchased baby items from Kyle, 50, and his pregnant fiancee Tegan Kynaston's mansion in Sydney's affluent Edgecliff as the couple prepare to move homes. Tegan, 36, watched on from the street as the men lugged expensive baby furniture and accessories from the front door to a removal truck parked outside. Only the best for Prince Sandilands! Kyle's pregnant fiancee Tegan Kynaston, 36, (pictured) watched as removalists carried expensive baby items from the couple's home in Sydney's affluent Edgecliff on Wednesday - ahead of welcoming their first child Among the items was a Versace baby stroller, which retails for a whopping $4,200. Two tradies were also seen lugging a huge gold baroque-style side table. Also spotted among the furniture was a rose gold baby cot by Incy Interiors worth $1,000, as well as several extravagant, Louis 14th inspired pieces including a chest of drawers and hallway table. Well, he is the son of a king! Tegan watched on from the street as the men lugged expensive baby furniture and accessories from the front door to a removal truck parked outside Bourgeoisie baby! Among the items was a Versace baby stroller, which retails for a whopping $4,200 Gilded: Also spotted among the furniture was a rose gold baby cot by Incy Interiors worth $1,000 Fancy: The men also carried several extravagant, Louis 14th inspired pieces including a chest of drawers and hallway table White leather chairs and a beige Chesterfield couch added to the couple's homeware collection. One removalist was seen carrying a bag full of custom-designed baby pillows emblazoned with the name 'Sandilands'. As the men worked up a sweat, Tegan gathered her two dogs. The royal treatment: Two tradies were seen lugging a huge gold crown-shaped bed canopy holder, which presumably will be placed above the infant's cot Expensive taste: One striking set of drawers featured intricate Baroque flourishes throughout Details: A corridor table boasted intricate 18th century swirls similar to the other furniture White leather chairs and a beige Chesterfield couch added to the couple's homeware collection The blonde showcased her blossoming bump in a pair of black high-waisted leggings, while covering up from the autumnal chill in a cropped P.E. Nation hoodie. As usual, the glamorous marketing director was decked out in designer gear for the off-duty occasion, including a pair of Gucci sneakers worth $1370 and a brown Fendi backpack worth $3,300. An assistant was also seen carrying her belongings in a $4,000 Louis Vuitton suitcase. Last month Kyle revealed her had purchased an old mansion in Western Sydney. 'I have just bought some big old mansion on acreage out west. We are going to turn it into a Hamptons style home,' he said. Elegant: White, black and gold seemed to be the colour theme for Kyle and Tegan's interior stylings Two-man job: Two tradies were seen carefully transporting what looked to be the base of a wooden table Bespoke: One tradie was seen carrying a bag full of custom-designed baby pillows emblazoned with the name 'Sandilands' Cute! The embroidery featured blue, pink and gold swirls as well as the image of a baby lion 'I haven't quite managed to get Tegan out of the eastern suburbs yet and away from the synagogue,' he added. He explained how he previously 'didn't want to lock down anywhere' because he wanted to travel but is now ready to build his 'dream home'. Kyle and Tegan announced they were expecting their first child together back in February, with the baby due in August. 'We're having a baby! We are having a friggin' baby. I couldn't be happier,' he said on KIIS FM's The Kyle & Jackie O Show. Speaking on the radio show, Tegan said that Kyle had been 'very emotional' since finding out he was going to be a first-time father. She's glowing! As the men worked up a sweat, Tegan gathered her two adorable dogs Bumping along nicely! The blonde showcased her blossoming bump in a pair of black high-waisted leggings, while covering up from the autumnal chill in a cropped P.E. Nation hoodie No Kmart here! As usual, the glamorous marketing director was decked out in designer gear for the off-duty occasion Ritzy: Her look included a pair of Gucci sneakers worth $1370 and a brown Fendi backpack worth $3,300 Branded baggage: An assistant was also seen carrying her belongings in a $4,000 Louis Vuitton suitcase The expectant couple later found out the sex of their baby with an elaborate gender reveal party held on a superyacht on Sydney Harbour that same month. 'The best surprise we could have asked for. This was the most incredibly special, emotional and happy day for Kyle and I,' Tegan later wrote on Instagram. Kyle and Tegan got engaged in Port Douglas over the Christmas holidays, just two months before they announced their baby news. Opulence: One tradie was seen carrying an expensive-looking Persian carpet over his shoulder Cheers! A stylish gold bar cart was also among the items being carefully loaded into the truck Not long to go now! Kyle and Tegan announced they were expecting their first child together back in February, with the baby due in August Before dating Tegan, Kyle was with ex-girlfriend Imogen Anthony for eight years until they called it quits in 2019. Earlier this month, the couple surprised Kyle's longtime radio co-host and friend Jackie 'O' Henderson by asking her to be the godmother of his child. The lovebirds asked Jackie live on-air, with Jackie immediately accepting the role. Not on site: Kyle wasn't present for the removal process on Wednesday, presumably because he was busy presenting his daily breakfast radio show on KIIS FM Loaded up: A glimpse inside the truck shows Kyle and Tegan's boxed possessions ready to be transported to their new home As she stepped into the studio, Tegan pointed to a screen, which read: 'Will you be my godmother?' A stunned Jackie, 47, covered her mouth with her hands, and began to say, 'Oh my God!' before turning and embracing Kyle. 'Oh, thank you! Oh, thank you!' the emotional radio host said as she took turns hugging both Kyle and Tegan. Congratulations! The expectant couple later found out the sex of their baby boy with an elaborate gender reveal party held on a superyacht on Sydney Harbour in February Of course she will! Earlier this month, the couple surprised Kyle's longtime radio co-host and friend Jackie 'O' Henderson by asking her to be the godmother of his child Amid his ongoing custody battle with ex-wife Christina Hall, Ant Anstead said the 'last thing' he wants is to take their son Hudson away from her. It came in response to a fan who commented on his most recent Instagram post. The follower offered unsolicited advice, writing: 'Don't take away Hudson from his Mum you will never forgive yourself Ant.' Declaration: Ant Anstead said the 'last thing' he wants is to take son Hudson away from ex-wife Christina Hall The exchange happened under a post the Wheelers Dealers host, 43, shared with his two older children. The image featured daughter Amelie, 18, and son Archie, 15, from his previous marriage to Louise Storey. In the caption Ant wrote, 'These two thats all thats the post,' with two heart emojis. Responding to the comment, he said, 'huh? who told you that? That's the LAST thing I want!' Social media exchange: Ant's declaration came in response to a fan who commented on his most recent Instagram post He then added, '(Don't believe the click bait press) x.' The photo showed the TV personality standing behind Amelie, who opened her eyes wide and stuck her tongue out. His son stood closely behind his older sister with tousles of his brown curly hair falling over his face. Anstead looked like a proud dad as he beamed next to Archie with a smirk on his face. Father-of-three: The exchange happened under a post the Wheelers Dealers host, 43, shared with his two older children The social media back-and-forth comes weeks after the father-of-three filed court documents vying for full custody of their two-year-old son. The two exes have gone head to head for nearly a month over Hall's mothering skills, which Anstead claims are not up to par. Anstead accused her of being an unfit mother and claimed she had been negligent when it came to both his and their son Hudson's medical safety. In his late April filing Ant also accused the HGTV star of being an absentee parent, only spending a few days a month with their son. One specific complaint Ant had was that Christina uses their son for paid Instagram content. Former couple: Ant and Christina were married less than two years when they decided to divorce in late 2020 Hall (nee Haack) wed realtor Josh Hall in California sometime between October 2021 -and April 2022 after just a few months of dating in Tennessee. The Anaheim-born star also has two older children - daughter Taylor, 11; and son Brayden, 6 - from her seven-year marriage to former Flip or Flop co-host Tarek El Moussa, which ended in 2018. Anstead and Hall began seeing each other in October 2017, wed in December 2018, were separated by September 2020. Onward: Ant has begun a romantic relationship with Renee Zellweger Anstead filed to modify the couple's shared custody agreement in April, but the same day a judge denied his bid. The former couple has reportedly been ordered to attend mediation in the midst of their custody war. They must meet with a mediator on June 15, according to documents obtained by Us Weekly. Hana Cross showcased her incredible figure in a multicoloured halterneck gown as she attended the Elvis premiere at the 75th Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday. The model, 24, looked sensational in the figure hugging shimmering blue, pink and green ensemble which featured thin straps around her neck. She posed up a storm turning to the side revealing her peachy behind in the backless eye catching number. Stunning: Hana Cross showcased her incredible figure in a halter neck multicoloured gown as she attended the Elvis premiere at the 75th Cannes film festival on Wednesday Hana turned up the heat as she slicked her dark tresses back in a chic bun from a center parting. She looked radiant in a glamorous palette of makeup including a glittering eyeshadow, fluttering lashes and a subtle pink lipstick. The beauty completed her red carpet look by accessorising with several dazzling pieces of silver jewelry including a pair of drop earrings and a bracelet. Incredible: The model, 24, looked sensational in the figure hugging shimmering blue, pink and green ensemble which featured thin straps around her neck Looking good: She posed outside the Hotel Martinez before heading to the star studded premiere The former girlfriend of Brooklyn Beckham drew attention as she hit a number of poses on the red carpet at the star studded event. The film stars Austin and Tom Hanks, who plays his infamous manager Colonel Tom Parker. There's a lot of excitement around the Elvis Presley biopic from Australia's Baz Luhrmann, who is hoping to recreate the buzz he generated when he brought the can-can to Cannes with Moulin Rouge! 20 years ago. Glam: Hana turned up the heat as she slicked her dark tresses back in a chic bun from a center parting Sensational: She looked radiant in a glamorous palette of makeup including a glittering eyeshadow, fluttering lashes and a subtle pink lipstick The film chronicles the life and career of Elvis from his early days as a child growing up in Mississippi to his ascent as a rock and roll icon and movie star, along with his complex relationship with his manager. Luhrmann served as the film's director and co-screenwriter, along with Sam Bromell, Craig Pearce and Jeremy Donner, from a story he conceived with Donner. Elvis - who sold over 1B records - received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018 and he's been inducted into multiple music halls of fame. Wow: The beauty completed her red carpet look by accessorising with several dazzling pieces of silver jewelry including a pair of drop earrings and a bracelet. Radiant: The former girlfriend of Brooklyn Beckham drew attention as she hit a number of poses on the red carpet at the star studded event Elvis died, age 42, in 1977 from cardiac arrhythmia due to a toxic reaction to codeine. Austin recently noted that he 'lost touch' with his own personality while playing the eponymous character. He told GQ Magazine: 'You can lose touch with who you actually are, and I definitely had that when I finished Elvis not knowing who I was.' As well as the mental impact of playing Elvis, Austin also revealed he was bedridden for a week after falling unwell one day after wrapping up the filming in March 2021. Austin said he was diagnosed with a virus that simulates appendicitis and said it was like his body shut down straight after filming. He said: 'I woke up at four in the morning with excruciating pain, and I was rushed to hospital.' Kanye West's ex Julia Fox put her world-famous curves on display when she stepped out in Santa Barbara this week. The 32-year-old, who became an It Girl in New York after starring in the Adam Sandler vehicle Uncut Gems, flashed the flesh while enjoying a hike with pals. She slipped into a tiny black denim skirt that was cut high enough to hint daringly at her derriere as she strutted her stuff. Busty bombshell: Kanye West's ex Julia Fox put her world-famous curves on display when she stepped out in Santa Barbara this week A place in the sun: The 32-year-old, who became an It Girl in New York after starring in the Adam Sandler vehicle Uncut Gems, flashed the flesh while enjoying a hike with pals Julia clashed her dark skirt elegantly against her white crop top, which plunged to allow a glimpse of cleavage. Her blouse also flashed a bit of bra and allowed her to showcase her musical back tattoos, which resemble the f-holes on string instruments like violins and cellos. The brunette bombshell, who was born in Milan, wore her luxurious locks down for her latest outing with her friends. Warding off the California rays with a pair of dark sunglasses, she slung a bulging black back over one shoulder. When you got it: Julia clashed her dark skirt elegantly against her white crop top, which plunged to allow a glimpse of cleavage Legging it: The brunette bombshell, who was born in Milan, wore her luxurious locks down for her latest outing with her friends Julia brought along a sweater in case of a potential drop in temperatures and rounded off her look with a pair of black flats. The sizzling sensation was well-stocked with refreshments as well, munching on strawberries as she strolled with her friends. Her group had selected a hiking trail in Montecito, a town that has achieved notoriety for its glut of top-flight celebrities. Names ranging from Ellen DeGeneres to Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Oprah Winfrey all keep estates in Montecito. Off they go: Julia brought along a sweater in case of a potential drop in temperatures and rounded off her look with a pair of black flats Yum: The sizzling sensation was well-stocked with refreshments as well, munching on strawberries as she strolled with her friends Place to be: Names ranging from Ellen DeGeneres to Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Oprah Winfrey all keep estates in Montecito Julia found herself back in the headlines after she began running around with Kanye on New Year's Eve, a night they spent partying together in Miami. Kanye was in the process of divorcing Kim Kardashian, and around that time began carrying on an increasingly lively feud with her and her beau Pete Davidson. After just two dates Kanye and Julia posed up for a raunchy Interview magazine photo-shoot that inspired widespread mockery online. 'I met Ye in Miami on New Years Eve and it was an instant connection. His energy is so fun to be around,' she spilled. By the way: Julia found herself back in the headlines after she began running around with Kanye on New Year's Eve, a night they spent partying together in Miami Remember when: After just two dates Kanye and Julia posed up for a raunchy Interview magazine photo-shoot that inspired widespread mockery online She gushed that he surprised her with a hotel suite full of clothes, which was 'every girl's dream come true' and 'felt like a real Cinderella moment.' While she was public with Kanye, she alluded to all the rich men she previously dated in order to deflect rumors that she was only with the rap icon for clout. 'Honey, I've dated billionaires my entire adult life, let's keep it real,' she bragged during an episode of her Forbidden Fruits podcast. Their relationship became a whirlwind public spectacle and lasted through her birthday on February 2 but fizzled out shortly thereafter. Pampered: She gushed that he surprised her with a hotel suite full of clothes, which was 'every girl's dream come true' and 'felt like a real Cinderella moment' Joe Alwyn was looking smart and sharp as he posed with his co-star Margaret Qualley at a screening of Stars At Noon at Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday. The actor, 31, hit a fashion high note in his understated yet stylish cream and black blazer from Celine Homme. The dashing boyfriend of Taylor Swift smoldered as he posed confidently in the spotlight. Looking good: Joe Alwyn was looking smart and sharp as he attended a screening of Stars At Noon at Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday Joe rocked a head full of artfully tousled hair and a bit of facial hair which complemented his handsome complexion. He finished off the look with black trousers, a black shirt and- a pair of glossy leather shoes. He was joined by his co-star Margaret, 27, who looked stunning in a black gown adorned with diamonds down the front. Her chocolate locks were swept back in an elegant ponytail and decorated with a big black bow. Incredible: He was joined by his co-star Margaret Qualley who looked stunning in a black gown adorned with diamonds down the front Fashion forward: The actor, 31, hit a fashion high note in his understated yet stylish cream and black blazer from Celine Homme Stunning: Margaret's chocolate locks were swept back in an elegant ponytail and decorated with a big black bow All smiles: Margaret and Joe were joined by Claire Denis on the red carpet as they clapped while their film's screening She completed her look with a pair of diamond earrings and a swipe of berry coloured lipstick. Adapted from the novel The Stars at Noon by the writer and poet Denis Johnson, the romantic thriller tells the story a passionate, unexpected love affair between an American journalist and a British businessman in the middle of a civil war: the Nicaraguan Sandanista revolution of 1984. The reporter only discovers later on that there is a hidden side to the man who turned up just when she needed help. Co-stars: The cast gathered together in Cannes for a screening of their film Stars At Noon Starring role: Adapted from the novel The Stars at Noon by the writer and poet Denis Johnson, the romantic thriller tells the story a passionate, unexpected love affair between an American journalist and a British businessman in the middle of a civil war: the Nicaraguan Sandanista revolution of 1984 (film pictured) It comes after Conversations with Friends premiered on May 15 and viewers were left hot under the collar after watching Joe's steamy love scenes in the BBC series. The actor stars alongside Jemima as married couple Nick and Melissa who become involved with a pair of students who were once also an item, in an adaptation of Sally Rooney's debut novel. Joe is involved in a number of sex scenes with his co-star Alison, who plays Irish university student Frances. It's getting hot in here! Conversations with Friends premiered on May 15 and viewers were left hot under the collar after watching Joe's steamy love scenes in the BBC series After watching the steamy scenes, several viewers took to social media to proclaim they understand why Taylor is in love with Joe. One viewer wrote: 'Every song Taylor Swift wrote about Joe Alwyn makes sense.' Another said: 'Ok I get the Joe Alwyn thing now. Good for him and Taylor,' while one added: 'Taylor, girl I get it.' Some fans didn't hold back with their opinions of the show, with one writing: 'Is it just me or is Conversations With Friends just a soft core porno between Joe and Alison?' Entangled: The actor stars alongside Jemima as married couple Nick and Melissa who become involved with a pair of students who were once also an item, in an adaptation of Sally Rooney's debut novel Another added: 'After staring into Joe Alwyn's eyes for over 6 hours I now understand Taylor Swift's obsession with the colour blue'. While some viewers were left swooning, others said Joe's casting as Nick Conway in Conversations With Friends left them confused. After the series was released for streaming by the BBC and on Hulu this weekend, viewers questioned whether Joe was right for the role, with the book's character being older. Referring to a quote from a review by Variety, one person tweeted: 'This is pretty on point. A point I forgot to make, Nick doesnt come off as an older man at all so it made that whole storyline not work. 'V miscast #ConversationswithFriends. But he just doesnt read as old enough to sell how many years are ostensibly between Nick and Frances."' Someone else posted: '15 mins into #ConversationswithFriends and Ive got only one question: With all due respect, what were they thinking when they cast Joe Alwyn?' While referring to actor Paul Mescal who played Connell Waldron in Normal People, another viewer wrote: 'Im just gonna say it; Joe Alwyn is no Paul Mescal and thats the first thing thats wrong with #ConversationswithFriends Im away to rewatch Normal People.' Priscilla Presley dazzled in an elegant black sequined suit at the Elvis after-party at Stephanie Beach during the 75th annual Cannes film festival. For the star-studded event on Wednesday, the ex-wife of the late King of Rock 'n' Roll, 77, looked exceptional as she posed for photos on the red carpet with one hand on her hip. The mother-of-two wore her fiery red tresses in a sleek side ponytail and minimal accessorizes apart from a black leather shoulder bag. Stunning: Priscilla Presley dazzled in an elegant black sequined suit at the Elvis after-party at Stephanie Beach during the 75th annual Cannes film festival Priscilla was Elvis' first wife, whose marriage lasted from 1967 to 1973 and produced their daughter Lisa Marie Presley, now 54. Earlier in the day, she attended the premiere of the film at Cannes Film Festival in a brown silk dress adorned with intricate beading, and black high heels. Previously, Austin compared Priscilla to 'an angel' when he met her in preparation for the role at Graceland. Glamarous: For the star-studded event on Wednesday, the ex-wife of the late King of Rock 'n' Roll, 77, looked exceptional as she posed for photos on the red carpet with one hand on her hip On seeing the actress for the first time, he said: 'She looked like an angel. I walked down the hall with Baz afterwards with tears in my eyes.' The film chronicles the life and career of Elvis from his early days as a child growing up in Mississippi to his ascent as a rock and roll icon and movie star, along with his complex relationship with his manager. Baz Luhrmann served as the film's director and co-screenwriter, along with Sam Bromell, Craig Pearce and Jeremy Donner, from a story he conceived with Donner. Formerly married to an icon: To the premiere of the film at Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, she wore a brown silk dress adorned with intricate beading, and black high heels King of rock and roll: Austin Butler showed that he certainly has the look of Elvis as he posed up a storm with Priscilla Presley on Wednesday at the premiere at Cannes Film Festival Elvis - who sold over 1B records - received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018 and he's been inducted into multiple music halls of fame. Elvis died, age 42, in 1977 from cardiac arrhythmia due to a toxic reaction to codeine. Austin recently noted that he 'lost touch' with his own personality while playing the eponymous character. Dashing: He added an extra touch of class with a black bow tie, and a little blue and white flower in his lapel Star-studded event: Tom Hanks and Olivia DeJonge were pictured with Presley and Butler at the screening He told GQ Magazine: 'You can lose touch with who you actually are, and I definitely had that when I finished Elvis not knowing who I was.' As well as the mental impact of playing Elvis, Austin also revealed he was bedridden for a week after falling unwell one day after wrapping up the filming in March 2021. Austin said he was diagnosed with a virus that simulates appendicitis and said it was like his body shut down straight after filming. He said: 'I woke up at four in the morning with excruciating pain, and I was rushed to hospital.' Much-anticipated: On Monday, Warner Bros. Pictures unveiled the second trailer for Elvis - which will hit theatres on June 24 The actor also revealed he 'got chills' when he found out that Elvis lost his mom at the same age he did. He said: 'His mother passed away when he was 23, and my mom passed away when I was 23, so when I learned that, it was one of those things where I got chills, and I just thought, Okay, I can connect to that.' To get into character, Austin thought about the animals that Elvis reminded him of, saying: 'He has catlike things, sort of like when a lion looks out at the prairie. 'Theres this quality of an alligator, when it comes up from underneath the water.' All eyes were on Kiwi supermodel Georgia Fowler at Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday. The 29-year-old dared to bare, going braless in a very sheer powder blue gown as she attended the premiere of Baz Lurhmann's Elvis. The ruffles down the front of the dress just managed to protect her modesty as she posed and preened on the red carpet. Risque on the Riviera! Georgia Fowler went braless in a completely see-through gown at the premiere of Elvis at Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday Georgia's taut abs and long slender legs were also on display in the floor-length see-through frock, and the colour complemented her golden tan. The brunette beauty accessorised with elegant diamond cluster earrings, a diamond tennis bracelet and matching ring. She wore her hair up in a chic chignon and her makeup was flawless. Turning heads: All eyes were on Kiwi supermodel as she sauntered down the red carpet Sheer daring: The ruffles down the front of the dress just managed to protect her modesty as she posed and preened for photographers Elvis stars Austin Butler as the king himself Elvis Presley and Tom Hanks, who plays his infamous manager Colonel Tom Parker. There's a lot of excitement around the biopic from Baz Luhrmann, who is hoping to recreate the buzz he generated when he brought the can-can to Cannes with Moulin Rouge! 20 years ago. The film chronicles the life and career of Elvis from his early days as a child growing up in Mississippi to his ascent as a rock and roll icon and movie star, along with his complex relationship with his manager. Stunning: Georgia's taut abs and long slender legs were also on display in the floor-length see-through frock, and the colour complemented her golden tan Diamonds are forever! The brunette beauty accessorised with elegant diamond cluster earrings, a diamond tennis bracelet and matching ring Luhrmann served as the film's director and co-screenwriter, along with Sam Bromell, Craig Pearce and Jeremy Donner, from a story he conceived with Donner. Elvis - who sold over 1B records - received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018 and he's been inducted into multiple music halls of fame. Elvis died, age 42, in 1977 from cardiac arrhythmia due to a toxic reaction to codeine. Strut: Georgia strutted outside the Palais des Festivals in a pair of sky-high silver strappy heels Flawless: She wore her hair up in a chic chignon and her makeup was flawless Meanwhile, it was another dazzling red carpet display from Georgia, who turned heads in a very low-cut black velvet designer gown the day before at a screening of The Innocent. The frock featured an off-the-shoulder neckline that showcased her ample cleavage and delicate decolletage. Buzz: There's a lot of excitement around the biopic from Baz Luhrmann, who is hoping to recreate the buzz he generated when he brought the can-can to Cannes with Moulin Rouge! 20 years ago. He is pictured far right at the premiere on Thursday with Tom Hanks and Austin Butler who plays Elvis Presley Star-studded affair: Georgia was lucky to score an invite to the celebration screening of The Innocent during 75th Anniversary Celebration of Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday evening Designer: Georgia accessorised the black dress with matching black stilettos and diamond jewellery Spot the supermodel! Georgia showed off her best angles on the red carpet as she posed and preened for the camera Beauty: She pinned her old-Hollywood style curls to the side and she was made up with winged tipped eyeliner and a nude lip She pinned her old-Hollywood style curls to the side and she was made up with winged-tipped eyeliner and a nude lip. The New Zealand native recently shared her delight at becoming a mother, saying it was 'much easier' than she'd envisioned. 'It has been easier than I thought. She's a real angel so it'll be fine,' she told Daily Mail Australia at the Moet & Chandon Effervescence in December. Drama: The detachable train of the dress added some extra drama 'It's been really nice to be able to hang out with Dylan and have a great baby.' Georgia welcomed her daughter Dylan Aman with her businessman boyfriend Nathan Dalah, the co-founder of restaurant chain Fishbowl, on September 17 last year. 'Dylan Aman Dalah. 17.9.21. Welcome to the world. We love you so much,' she wrote, sharing a series of photos of the adorable newborn. Georgia announced she was expecting her first child with the FISHBOWL co-founder back in April last year. At the time, she shared the news by writing: 'We can't wait to meet you, little one.' He stepped back from the public eye in 2017, when he cancelled a huge 14-month stand-up tour due to 'unforeseen family circumstances'. But Peter Kay has reportedly 'lined up huge venues across the country' as he prepares to make his return to the stage. According to The Sun, the comedian, 48, is set to announce his plans for his 2023 comeback later this year, in what will be his first shows since 2011. Thumbs up: Peter Kay, 48, has 'lined up huge venues across the country' as he is set to return to the stage... six years after cancelling (Pictured in November 2017) A source said: 'He has lined up huge venues across the country including in Manchester, London and Birmingham and is hoping to announce it in September. 'Peter has not performed a live stand-up set on a big stage in well over a decade now but he could not be more ready to get back out there.' Fans have been waiting years for Peter's return to the stage, after he stepped away from the spotlight in 2017 due to 'unforeseen family circumstances.' Big return! The comedian, is reportedly set to announce his plans for his 2023 comeback later this year, in what will be his first shows since 2011 (Pictured in July 2006) The performer said on December 13, 2017: 'Due to unforeseen family circumstances, I deeply regret that I am having to cancel all of my upcoming work projects. 'This unfortunately includes my upcoming standup tour, Dance for Life shows and any outstanding live work commitments. 'My sincerest apologies. This decision has not been taken lightly and I'm sure you'll understand my family must always come first.' Back again? The news comes just weeks after Jason Manford said that Peter could be back with a new tour coming soon (pictured December 2011) He had previously been due to make a comeback with the series of Dance For Life shows to raise money for Cancer Research UK in April and May 2020. But the events had to be postponed in March last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The news comes just weeks after Jason Manford said that Peter could be back with a new tour coming soon. The comedians have been good friends for over two decades, after meeting at comedy venue The Buzz Club in Chorlton, Greater Manchester. Dropping hints: Jason, 40, (pictured) has now hinted that the comic, 48, could be returning to the stage, telling fans to 'keep your eye out' (pictured November 2021) Jason, 40, has now hinted that the comic could be returning to the stage, telling fans to 'keep your eye out'. Speaking on Dublin radio station FM104's Strawberry Alarm Clock show, Jason said: 'He's great, Pete. We've known each other a long time, it must be 25 years. It's been a hell of a ride. 'He's just an absolute legend isn't he? What a treasure. Hopefully back himself soon, doing stand-up, so keep your eye out for his tour. Not that he needs you to buy a ticket as much as I do.' The wait is finally over. After teasing the big reveal for weeks, Married At First Sight star Olivia Frazer has taken the plunge and joined adult website OnlyFans. The former teaching assistant, 28, has started with softcore content but plans to get her boyfriend Jackson Lonie in on the action eventually. EXCLUSIVE: After teasing the big reveal for weeks, Married At First Sight star Olivia Frazer (pictured at Fashion Week) has finally taken the plunge and joined adult website OnlyFans 'I'll start with lingerie photos and videos and then some couple photos with Jackson because he wants to make his OnlyFans debut!' she told Daily Mail Australia. When asked if she'll share more explicit content in the future, Olivia teased she 'will see how it goes' before taking things to the next level. Olivia is charging subscribers $14.99 per month, which is on the pricey side for OnlyFans. The former reality TV villain also isn't offering any free previews, instead telling curious fans to 'come find out' by opening their wallets. Tease! Olivia is charging subscribers $14.99 per month, which is on the pricey side. She also isn't offering free previews, instead telling fans to 'come find out' by opening their wallets Olivia's account has so far attracted 72 'likes' but the number of subscribers is unknown. It comes days after her MAFS rival Domenica Calarco reactivated her own OnlyFans account with a monthly subscription fee of $10.99. Fans will remember the two brides clashed over OnlyFans during filming last year. Racy: The former teaching assistant, 28, has started with softcore content but plans to get her boyfriend Jackson Lonie (left) in on the action eventually Domenica was outed as an OnlyFans model at the couples' retreat after Olivia's friends found one of her raunchy photos doing the rounds on Twitter. While the distribution of the image remains the subject of a police investigation, Olivia addressed a few rumours about the scandal in an Instagram Q&A last week. She made four main points: firstly, she insisted she never 'slut-shamed' Domenica by sharing her nude photo among the cast. What a coincidence! It comes days after her MAFS rival Domenica Calarco (pictured) reactivated her own OnlyFans account with a monthly subscription fee of $10.99 Secondly, she alleged she didn't send the image to anyone electronically, and simply showed her co-stars the picture on her phone. Thirdly, she claimed the photo at the centre of the scandal was not from behind an OnlyFans paywall and had actually been posted by Domenica on her public Twitter account. And lastly, she speculated that producers were aware of Domenica's OnlyFans and related social media profiles and wanted the other participants to discover them. Olivia also admitted the whole saga was ultimately a drunken mistake. Suicide Squad heartthrob Joel Kinnaman playfully touched tongues with his model fiancee Kelly Gale on her Insta Stories this week. The 42-year-old dreamboat, who hails from Stockholm, has been vacationing with his bride-to-be at a breathtaking seaside destination. He went shirtless in the saucy Insta Story with Kelly, showing off his sprawl of tattoos and hinting at his musclebound arms. Look of love: Suicide Squad heartthrob Joel Kinnaman playfully touched tongues with his model fiancee Kelly Gale on her Insta Stories this week Kelly, 27, made sure to flaunt her supermodel bikini body on her Insta Stories, baring her sculpted midriff in a hot pink two-piece. She showcased her amply endowed cleavage for a mirror selfie Boomerang in which she accessorized the swimsuit with a slouched hat and a pair of dark shades. Pulling a classic Instagram-ready pout, she wore her luxurious locks down and added a splash of dazzle with a gleaming gold watch. Kelly glowed with romantic bliss in a heartwarming selfie she posted where Joel sat behind her, treating her more than million and a half followers to his dashing smile. When you got it: Kelly, 27, made sure to flaunt her supermodel bikini body on her Insta Stories, baring her sculpted midriff in a hot pink two-piece Swanking about: She showcased her amply endowed cleavage for a mirror selfie Boomerang in which she accessorized the swimsuit with a slouched hat and a pair of dark shades She also let her fans catch a glimpse of her and Joel sitting at what appeared to be patio table, enjoying a few liquid refreshments and soaking up the sun. Kelly celebrated her 27th birthday this month in New York and used Instagram to show off what may have been one of her gifts, a $6964 purple quilted Chanel purse. Joel announced his engagement to Kelly on Instagram in January 2021 after the duo went public with their relationship in 2019. He posted a heartwarming snap of himself proposing to her at sunset and quipped in his caption: 'She said no. Jus kiddin...' Hot couple: Kelly glowed with romantic bliss in a heartwarming selfie she posted where Joel sat behind her, treating her more than million and a half followers to his dashing smile Such fun: She also let her fans catch a glimpse of her and Joel sitting at what appeared to be patio table, enjoying a few liquid refreshments and soaking up the sun Picturesque: The 42-year-old dreamboat, who hails from Stockholm, has been vacationing with his bride-to-be at a breathtaking seaside destination A year ago Kelly revealed on an Instagram Q&A that she and Joel 'went on a spontaneous trip to Bali together after only three dates.' While dishing to her fans she explained: 'On our trip to Bali he got up at 1am to go on a night/early hike with me... I was like "ok he's my guy." The sizzling superstar's dating history includes Olivia Munn and he was once married to tattoo artist Cleo Wattenstrom. Joel and Cleo began dating in 2014, he announced their marriage in 2016 and then in 2018 they broke up but managed to remain amicable. Only the best: Kelly celebrated her 27th birthday this month in New York and used Instagram to show off what may have been one of her gifts, a $6964 purple quilted Chanel purse On Wednesday, lawmakers questioned FDA officials about what they regarded as a lack of urgency in the agency's reaction to allegations about probable infant formula contamination at a now-closed Abbott Laboratories factory, which resulted in significant statewide shortages. After Abbott recalled several goods and halted its manufacturing unit in Sturgis, Michigan, FDA officials testified before a congressional subcommittee to address concerns about the problem. FDA Acknowledges Slow Response That Led to Baby Formula Shortage The Democrat noted a four-month delay in returning to investigate the Sturgis plant, as well as a delay in contacting a former Abbott employee whistleblower. According to FDA officials, senior authorities such as then-acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock and Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas first learned of the complaint in February due to pandemic-related mail routing concerns. In late October, the FDA examined the factory in response to allegations of bacterial illnesses in newborns possibly connected to Abbott's formula, as well as a whistleblower complaint. The inspection was postponed until January 31 due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the factory. A second baby's death, perhaps related to the facility, was recorded shortly after the factory was closed in February, Reuters via MSN reported. Copies of the complaint addressed by mail to Judith McMeekin, the associate commissioner for regulatory affairs, and Janet Woodcock, the acting FDA commissioner at the time, have yet to be discovered. During a House subcommittee hearing, the current FDA commissioner, Robert Califf, described the blunder as a technical issue in the mailroom that is now being resolved. When asked if it was a lack of coordination or a breakdown in leadership at the FDA, Califf acknowledged that it was coordination. The sequence of events leading up to the Abbott Nutrition plant's closure in February is crucial to understanding the Biden administration's response to the problem. Parents looking for infant formula to feed their children have discovered rows of empty shop shelves, prompting bipartisan political indignation over why the Biden administration failed to anticipate issues. Last week, the Biden administration used the Defense Production Act to get US infant formula manufacturers to access to the materials they require, and it started "Operation Fly Formula" to import formula from Europe. Read Also: Beijing Further Tightens COVID-19 Restrictions, Violating Workers Face Dismissal Abbott Says Baby Formula Won't Hit Shelves Until Mid-July The first cargo came on Sunday, while the second arrived on Wednesday in Washington, DC. When the infant formula cargo came, First Lady Jill Biden and US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy greeted it. Abbott's North American president of nutrition, Christopher Calamari, said Wednesday that the Michigan factory will open in the first week of June, but that formula would not be available for many weeks, as per the New York Post. The corporation issued recalls of various goods manufactured at the factory around the time it was shut down, and it admits that such measures contributed significantly to the infant formula shortage. Abbott is the country's leading maker of baby formula, accounting for 40% of the market. Before its closure, the Sturgis factory generated 40% of Abbott's total formula. During the shutdown, Abbott agreed to make many improvements to the plant in compliance with the FDA's recommendations but has maintained that the available data indicates no proof that its formula is connected to the childhood illnesses. Abbott claims that since the Michigan factory's shutdown, it has increased production at other locations and sent millions of cans of formula from its FDA-approved plant in Foothill, Ireland. Calamari told legislators that he expects the firm to supply more goods in June than we did in January before the recall by the end of next month. Meanwhile, the out-of-stock rate on formula continues to rise, reaching 45 percent countrywide for the week ending May 15, according to Fox Business. Related Article: Baby Formula Shortage: Federal Investigation Launched Into Manufacturers Amid Nationwide Crisis @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. She recently flew to Australia to film the new season of Channel Seven cooking show My Kitchen Rules. And British chef Nigella Lawson looked right at home as she went out for dinner with a friend in Potts Point, Sydney, last Tuesday. The glamorous food writer, 62, couldn't wipe the smile off her face as the pair arrived at swanky Italian restaurant Fratelli Paradiso. Night on the town! British chef Nigella Lawson (left) went out for dinner with a friend (right) in Potts Point, Sydney, last Tuesday. She is in Australia to film the new season of My Kitchen Rules The brunette looked effortlessly chic in a blue and white polka-dot midi dress with puff sleeves and buttons down the front. She styled her brunette hair loosely and accessorised with a cross-body phone holder and white sneakers. For makeup, Nigella enhanced her age-defying complexion with peach-hued blush, bold liquid eyeliner and rosy lipstick. La dolce vita! The glamorous food writer, 62, couldn't wipe the smile off her face as the pair arrived at swanky Italian restaurant Fratelli Paradiso She's a dish! The brunette looked effortlessly chic in a blue and white polka-dot midi dress with puff sleeves and buttons down the front Her companion wrapped up warm in a puffer jacket, black T-shirt and grey jeans. Sporting a distinctive moustache, the dark-haired gentleman completed his look with white sneakers and a silver wristwatch. The pair shared a friendly conversation as they strolled towards the restaurant. Buon appetito! Once inside, they were seen chatting over fine food and wine at a small table Casually clad: Her companion wrapped up warm in a puffer jacket, black T-shirt and grey jeans Once inside, they were seen chatting over fine food and wine at a small table. The sighting came days before Nigella was pictured filming scenes for the upcoming season of My Kitchen Rules at the Sydney Opera House. Nigella has replaced disgraced chef Pete Evans as co-host of the popular show alongside returning judge Manu Feildel. Lively: Nigella clutched a wine glass as she chatted animatedly to the man across the table New gig: Nigella has replaced disgraced chef Pete Evans as host of Seven's My Kitchen Rules 'Going to restaurants can be a treat, but for me, the true story of food is told through the cooking we do at home,' Nigella said in a statement. 'So, to have the chance to champion home cooks and be given the intimate privilege of being invited into people's homes to eat their food fills me with gratitude and excitement in equal measure!' She added: 'I'm so looking forward to working with Manu too. Although he's a chef and I'm a home cook, the fact is we both just want to eat good food. I feel I've got a lot to learn from him, but just know we'll have a lot of fun in the process. I can't wait!' Television vet Dr Chris Brown has been told he can't bring his girlfriend to the Logies. The I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! host, 43, will be attending the TV industry's night of nights solo because only Gold Logie nominees are allowed a plus-one. He made the admission while trying to dodge questions about his personal life on Nova FM's Fitzy and Wippa on Thursday morning. Awkward: Television vet Dr Chris Brown (pictured in May 2018) has been told he can't bring his girlfriend to the Logies because only Gold Logie nominees are allowed a plus-one Dr Chris, who is notoriously private when it comes to matters of the heart, was caught off guard when radio hosts Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli tried to steer the conversation to his romantic life. The duo offered to set him up with someone 'single and ready to mingle', even though he is believed to be dating model Brooke Meredith. But he turned down the offer, saying he couldn't bring a date to the ceremony, which takes place on the Gold Coast next month, even if he wanted to. Private: 'Because I'm not a Gold Logie nominee, I can't invite someone, so [it's] single ticket for me,' the I'm a Celebrity host told Fitzy & Wippa. (Pictured: Dr Chris' girlfriend Brooke Meredith) 'Because I'm not a Gold Logie nominee, I can't invite someone, so [it's a] single ticket for me,' Dr Chris said. 'Can we find you a date?' Wippa then asked, to which the Bondi Vet star replied awkwardly: 'No. single ticket.' Chris, who also hosts Channel 10 lifestyle show The Living Room, was last seen in public with girlfriend Brooke, 29, in February. Low-key couple: Chris, who also hosts Channel 10 lifestyle show The Living Room, was last seen in public with girlfriend Brooke, 29, in February The pair were first romantically linked in May 2020. At the time, Woman's Day reported they'd been spotted buying cleaning supplies at Bunnings Warehouse in Randwick, Sydney, a month earlier. 'They looked very much like a couple,' an onlooker told the publication. Iso buddies: Chris and Brooke, who reportedly met through mutual friends, are said to have spent Covid lockdowns together at his home in Clovelly The couple, who reportedly met through mutual friends, are said to have spent Covid lockdowns together at his home in Clovelly. In addition to her modelling career, Brooke is the founder of health and wellness magazine A Conscious Collection, and also boasts celebrity pals including Elyse Knowles, Nadia Bartel, Shanina Shaik and Rachael Finch. Dr Chris was previously in a relationship with former Channel Ten host Liv Phyland. Samantha Armytage has landed herself in hot water over some of her on-air comments in the past. But the former Sunrise co-host has now revealed she would probably find herself 'cancelled' if she made those same remarks in the current political climate. 'I learned a few hard lessons,' she told fellow breakfast TV presenter Karl Stefanovic on her Something to Talk About podcast this week. Cancel culture: Sam Armytage (pictured) has landed herself in hot water over some of her on-air comments in the past. The former Sunrise co-host has now revealed she would probably find herself 'cancelled' if she made those same remarks in the current political climate 'There were some things I said on air that I probably would be cancelled for now that I got away with.' She continued: 'I shouldn't say "got away with" because they weren't outrageous. They were perhaps just not popular or conservative, so they would be shouted down now.' In March 2015, Armytage courted controversy after seemingly congratulating a woman for looking whiter than her twin during an interview. The veteran journalist denied accusations of racism at the time but did apologise 'to anyone who I might have offended'. Bullet dodged: 'I learned a few hard lessons,' she told fellow breakfast TV presenter Karl Stefanovic on her podcast Something to Talk About this week. 'There were some things I said on air that I probably would be cancelled for now that I got away with' Then in 2018, during a Sunrise segment about rules governing the adoption of Indigenous children, Armytage incorrectly stated that Indigenous children could only be placed in care with other Indigenous families. 'Post-Stolen Generation, there's been a huge move to leave Aboriginal children where they are, even if they're being neglected in their own families,' she said on air. Protesters subsequently gathered outside Sunrise's Martin Place studios to demonstrate against these and other remarks made by the panel. A new start: Armytage left Sunrise last year and was replaced by Natalie Barr (left, with co-host David 'Kochie' Koch) Elsewhere during the interview with Stefanovic, Armytage admitted she had previously hosted Sunrise while intoxicated. 'I mean, hello, we've all been on air drunk!' laughed the TV personality. Stefanovic, 47, was infamously still drunk when he hosted Nine's Today show the morning after a long, boozy night at the 2009 Logie Awards. Boozy bombshell: Armytage also admitted she's been 'on air drunk' while hosting Sunrise However, Armytage said her inebriation wasn't so obvious, admitting: 'I was sneaky. I didn't get written up in the papers. Nobody knew.' 'Thank you, finally an admission!' replied Stefanovic, her former breakfast TV rival, before joking that her anecdote would probably lead to a flurry of headlines. 'Karl gets awful admission out of Sam: 'I was drunk too! Nobody noticed,'' he laughed. Tipsy: The former co-anchor of Seven's top-rating breakfast show made the admission while talking to Stefanovic on her Something to Talk About podcast. (Pictured with Kylie Gillies) Moving on: Armytage quit Sunrise in March last year, saying she wanted to spend more time in the country with her new husband Armytage quit Sunrise in March last year, saying she wanted to spend more time in the country with her new husband Richard Lavender. She said last month she couldn't be happier since swapping busy Sydney life for a quieter existence in Bowral, NSW. 'I met a divine and decent man, sweeter than the sweetest rose,' she told New Idea of her marriage to Lavender, an equestrian businessman. 'I found the love of my life at 42. How lucky am I? And I realised you do not find the happy life, you make it.' 'I met a divine man': Armytage said last month she couldn't be happier since swapping busy Sydney life for a quieter existence in Bowral with her husband Richard Lavender (left) During the same interview, Armytage described her role at Sunrise as a 'highly scrutinised, high-adrenaline, high-pressure job'. On her final day at Sunrise, Armytage fired off a parting shot at the 'bullying' media. Things took a serious turn at the end of the broadcast when she broke down in tears and accused 'some aspects of the media' of treating her unfairly. 'I do want to say that I never fully understood some of the scrutiny and the snarkiness and the bullying from some aspects of the media,' she said. Tough gig: During the same interview, Armytage described her role at Sunrise as a 'highly scrutinised, high-adrenaline, high-pressure job'. (Pictured on her last day) 'But today we move on from that, because there is a new chapter starting and it has been overwhelmingly a good experience in my life.' She continued: 'Most of all, I thank all of our viewers. You are just wonderful people. There are so many lovely people. So many more lovely ones than the nasty ones.' Since quitting Sunrise, Armytage has filmed a guest role on Farmer Wants a Wife and has also been recording a podcast for Stellar magazine. Regina Hall was the picture of elegance on Wednesday, while attending the Reel Works ChangeMakers Gala in New York. The Nine Perfect Strangers star, 51, looked incredible in a stylish long-sleeve black coat dress, which she paired with chic black sandal heels. At the ceremony she was honored with the second annual Voice of Inspiration Award from Variety. Also being honored was MACRO founder and CEO Charles D. King. Elegant: Regina Hall was the picture of elegance on Wednesday, while attending the Reel Works ChangeMakers Gala in New York Reel Works provides more than 1,600 New York City youth with free filmmaking programs each year, as well as various other programs for high school and middle school students. Regina wore her long brunette tresses parted in the middle and cascading down her shoulders and back in loose curls. The Washington, D.C. native sported picture perfect makeup, wearing voluminous lashes, black eyeliner, and nude lipstick for the occasion. Chic: The Nine Perfect Strangers star, 51, donned a long-sleeve stylish black coat dress, which she paired with chic black sandal heels Honorees: She was honored with the second annual Voice of Inspiration Award from Variety. Also being honored was MACRO founder and CEO Charles D. King; Pictured with King The longtime entertainer further accessorized her monochrome look with gold rings and a pair of stylish gold earrings. The Scary Movie 2 star was seen posing with King, who was being honored with the Reel Works ChangeMaker Award. The producer looked dapper in a navy suit worn over a striped shirt, as well as black leather loafers. Silk look: Hall and King were also spotted with actor Bryan Terrell Clark, who wore a silk white suit and opted to go without a shirt for the occasion In another photo she was snapped with author Francesca Momplaisir and journalist Pamela Newkirk. Francesca looked incredible in a figure-hugging black and gold dress, while Pamela donned chic wide-leg black pants and a frilly white top. Hall was also spotted with actor Bryan Terrell Clark, who wore a silk white suit and opted to go without a shirt for the occasion. Stylish ladies: In another photo she was snapped with author Francesca Momplaisir and journalist Pamela Newkirk Also in attendance was actress Alysia Reiner, 51, who looked sensational in a colorful floral dress and open-toe gold heels. The Orange Is the New Black star wore her brunette tresses swept back into a bun, and sported a lovely shade of cherry lipgloss on her pout. Ahead of the ceremony, Varietys senior VP, global executive editor Steven Gaydos, spoke about Hall, calling her 'one of Americas most vital actresses.' Floral: Also in attendance was actress Alysia Reiner, 51, who looked sensational in a colorful floral dress and open-toe gold heels 'Hall has pushed beyond early acclaim as a character actress of great comedic gifts, to one of Americas most vital actresses and advocates for opportunities, inclusion and change,' he said. The actress has had a busy year, recently starring as Gail Bishop in Mariama Diallo's Master, a thriller that follows three Black women at a predominantly white college. She's also starred as Trinitie Childs in a mockumentary about a Southern Baptist megachurch, titled Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. And in March, she was one of the first hosts for the Oscars since 2018, as she co-hosted the event with Wanda Sykes, 58, and Amy Schumer, 40. April Love Geary took to Instagram Stories Wednesday in an emotional clip in which she explained her fear as a parent sending her kids to school, a day after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school. The 27-year-old model, who shares three daughters with fiance Robin Thicke, 45 - Mia, four, Lola, three, Luca, one - fought through tears as she filmed the emotional clip in her vehicle. 'Today I just dropped the kids off at school; and as I'm driving away, I realized that I forgot to say bye to Lola,' Geary said. 'And I shouldn't be scared or sad to say bye to my three-year-old but with all the news that's happening today, it's like, you don't know. The latest: April Love Geary, 27, took to Instagram Stories Wednesday in an emotional clip in which she explained her fear as a parent sending her kids to school, a day after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school. She was snapped shopping with one of her daughters in Malibu The Huntington Beach, California native called for gun control as she cited the ineffective cycle of behaviors in the wake of mass shootings. 'I'm sick of these f***ing school shootings, and no one's changing any laws, we're just having moments of silences and just pray and just post s*** on Instagram but nothing changes - something needs to change, kids shouldn't be dying in schools,' she said. Geary said 'it's so devastating for these parents who lose their children to gun violence ... things have to change.' Geary was later seen walking with her daughter while shopping in Malibu at M.Fredric clothing store. She donned a long black v-neck dress with white shoes and had her brown locks down and parted. The model donned a long black v-neck dress with white shoes and had her brown locks down and parted The model fought through tears as she filmed the emotional clip in her vehicle The Huntington Beach, California native called for gun control as she cited the ineffective cycle of behaviors in the wake of mass shootings Geary said 'it's so devastating for these parents who lose their children to gun violence ... things have to change' She accessorized with a purse around her shoulder while carrying a shopping bag and a blanket for her child. Geary also reposted a shot in which Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was tagged into a post responding to his tweet about the incident, and another citing his prominence atop a list of politicians who have received the most donations from the gun lobby. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said that in Tuesday's incident, the gunman, identified as Uvalde resident Salvador Ramos, 18, began his rampage in entering Robb Elementary School armed with an AR-15. The model later took to the site donning a Skims bodysuit She shared a selfie in which she donned a black and white dress with wavy patterns Geary also reposted a shot in which Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was tagged into a post responding to his tweet about the incident, and another citing his prominence atop a list of politicians who have received the most donations from the gun lobby Cruz was seen with Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco at a community event on Wednesday Mourners gathered for a mass on Wednesday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde Tuesday's massacre marked the deadliest mass shooting at an American grade school in the history of the state, and nationally since the December 14, 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in which 20 kids and six adults were murdered. Texas has been the location for multiple mass shootings in recent years, as 26 people were killed in a November 2017 mass shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs in Sutherland Springs, Texas. In May of 2018, 10 people were murdered at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas. In August of 2019, 23 people were murdered at an El Paso, Texas Walmart in a racially-charged attack. A self-described 'Human Barbie doll' who transformed herself by spending $200,000 on cosmetic procedures - including five breast augmentations and six nose jobs, has landed herself in court. Australian nurse Tara Jayne McConachy, 33, fronted the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Thursday via videolink after becoming embroiled in a fracas with authorities over a series of unpaid fines. Dressed tastefully in a long sleeved, figure hugging black, zipped-up top, Tara Jayne appeared to be seated in a glitzy apartment for her brief online hearing. Tara Jayne McConachy has been hit with a series of traffic infringements she is contesting in courtt Tara Jayne McConachy has millions of followers on Instagram 'Good morning. Tara McConachy present, looks like I am number one on appearances list,' she wrote wishfully to the court clerk upon appearing in the online court room. Sadly, the Instagram influencer, who found fame last year after appearing on E! reality show Botched, was made to wait patiently as several other cases were called before hers. The exact details of Tara Jayne's alleged offending remain somewhat of a mystery, with magistrate Roslyn Porter refusing to release court documents to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. Details appearing on the court's online system indicate the fines issued against Tara Jayne came from Victoria Police's Traffic Camera Office. The court heard the botoxed Barbie wannabe had requested an extension of time from the court in order to sort out the mess that had led to her being issued with a series of fines. 'I think if there are issues about these matters being improperly issued against you at this stage it would be premature for there to be a media application, so I'm not going to grant it,' Ms Porter said. Tara Jayne McConachy appeared dressed in nothing like this during her court appearance in Melbourne on Thursday Tara Jayne appeared on Todd Sampson's headline-making documentary series Mirror Mirrorn Tara Jayne made headlines in March when she was spotted with her mother as they arrived at Crown Melbourne's upmarket Nobu restaurant for lunch. Turning heads as she strolled down the footpath, Tara left little to the imagination in a sheer plunging bodysuit and hot pink sandals. In August, Tara Jayne appeared on Todd Sampson's headline-making documentary series Mirror Mirror, which followed a group of Australians obsessed with going under the knife. In the show, she described herself as an 'upgraded limited-edition Barbie doll', while also bemoaning the inadequacy of her E-cup breasts. 'I think I want to get my boobs bigger,' she said. She had previously tried to convince Drs Paul Nassif and Terry Dubrow to give her bigger implants while appearing on Botched. 'Everything is tiny on me except for my tatas... I'm on a quest for a bigger chest!' she told producers. 'I currently have 540 CCs [of breast implant silicone], and I'm just not happy with them at all,' she said. Tara Jayne said she'd noticed a 'rippling effect' on the skin on her breasts and hoped 'filling out the space more' would fix the issue. But she was left disappointed when the doctors said her weight was 'dangerously low' at 45kg, making her far too slim to carry larger implants. 'I'm really concerned about Tara's overall wellbeing', Dr Nassif said. 'Not just as it relates to surgery, but she really needs to get both physically and mentally healthy.' Doctors on the show Botched assess Tara Jayne McConachy Tara Jayne McConachy as she looked before her transformation into a human Barbie doll Tara Jayne McConachy before plastic surgery consumed her life Tara Jayne McConachy before her life in the spotlight Tara Jayne said she'd stop at nothing to maintain and even enhance her 'knockout' 37-inch bust, 17-inch waist and 29-inch hips'. 'There is no limit for me when it comes to plastic surgery. It is incredibly addictive and I already want bigger breasts,' she added. 'As soon as travel is permitted, I have plans to go back overseas to visit my surgeon and get my breast size increased to 1500cc [from their current 1050ccc].' 'I think in this day and age, it's very important for a woman to be able to express the way they feel and just express everything about beauty,' she told The Morning Show last year. 'Plastic surgery is how I do that and that's what makes me happy. It gives me the confidence to be the best version of myself.' Tara Jayne recently joined adult subscription website OnlyFans to help fund her lifestyle and future cosmetic work during the Covid pandemic. She charges $25 for a monthly subscription, and previously boasted of making $10,000 in her first three days on the platform. Kristen Stewart dished at the current Cannes Film Festival about the movie she has been planning to direct since 2018. The 32-year-old rose to a new level of professional pedigree this year when she landed a shock Oscar nomination for playing Princess Diana in Spencer. Now she has expressed hopes that her feature directorial debut is in the near future, telling IndieWire: 'If I don't make this movie before the end of the year, I'll die.' Walking the red carpet: Kristen Stewart dished at the current Cannes Film Festival about the movie she has been planning to direct since 2018; she is pictured at Cannes this Tuesday Kristen has been giving interviews over the past four years about the prospect of her directing a movie of Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir The Chronology Of Water. Published in 2017, the autobiography details Lidia's attraction to both men and women, as well as her struggles with addiction. Kristen, who has herself dated both men and women, wants a skeleton crew of just five members and to shoot at the seaside in Oregon on a flexible timetable. Her preferences have apparently contributed to a touch of difficulty in securing full financing, potentially complicating Kristen's plan to make the film this year. Festival circuit: She has expressed hopes that her feature directorial debut is in the near future, telling IndieWire : 'If I don't make this movie before the end of the year, I'll die' Two months ago, Kristen revealed that she had already cast the leading lady of her project, 'which is monumentally relieving.' During an Actors On Actors chat with Nicole Kidman for Variety, she spilled: 'I've been alone with this, in this vacuum, and it's so nice to give something to someone, a friend and a partner, and say: 'Help me.' She's the one who's going to have to do it, and it's really hard, so I'm over the moon.' Where financing was concerned, Kristen said: 'I talked to someone with a lot of money two days ago, and she seemed excited about the prospect, but I want it to be small. I think the best version of it really is.' She said of her lead: 'The freezing water that I'm going to throw this girl into, I already feel terrible. It's such a huge ask to invite someone onto this particular thing. I think you would love it. The writing is so physical and so fiercely, ragingly female.' By the way: Kristen, seen wearing Olive Peoples shades, is at Cannes this year in support of her new film Crimes Of The Future, a body horror movie from genre legend David Cronenberg While attending Cannes in 2018, she told the festival organization that Lidia was 'in my blood' and declared: 'I'm going to write the best f***ing female role. I'm going to write a role that I want so badly but that I'm not going to play.' Kristen is at Cannes this year in support of her new film Crimes Of The Future, a body horror movie from genre legend David Cronenberg. The movie stars her alongside Viggo Mortensen, who achieved global fame in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, and French actress Lea Seydoux. Crimes Of The Future premiered on Monday and was apparently so gruesome that IGN reported some viewers left the theater during the first five minutes of the film. Making a splash: The 32-year-old rose to a new level of professional pedigree this year when she landed a shock Oscar nomination for playing Princess Diana in Spencer (pictured) A month ago it emerged Kristen was cast as the girlfriend of a female bodybuilder in a romantic thriller called Love Lies Bleeding. The movie will take place in the bodybuilding milieu with Kristen as one of the leads, according to the Hollywood Reporter. As far as her personal life is concerned Kristen has a fiancee named Dylan Meyer, a screenwriter who has worked on such projects as the show Miss 2059. Happy couple: As far as her personal life is concerned Kristen has a fiancee named Dylan Meyer, a screenwriter who has worked on such projects as the show Miss 2059 Kristen announced her engagement in November on The Howard Stern Show where she informed the radio icon: 'We're marrying, we're totally gonna do it.' She spilled: 'I wanted to be proposed to, so I think I very distinctly carved out what I wanted and she nailed it. We're marrying, it's happening.' During an appearance on the Today show later in November she dished that Dylan had in fact proposed to her 'months ago.' He may be one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, but Chris Hemsworth is just as humble and down-to-earth as ever. The Thor actor, 38, happily signed autographs for fans as he left the Park Hyatt hotel in Sydney on Thursday, accompanied by his father Craig. The Hemsworth family is in Sydney for the premiere of Interceptor, the new Netflix action film starring Chris' wife Elsa Pataky. Gracious: Chris Hemsworth happily signed autographs for fans as he left the Park Hyatt hotel in Sydney on Thursday, accompanied by his father Craig Chris kept things casual in a white T-shirt, black shirt, dark jeans and sneakers. He kept his accessories to a minimum, opting for a silver necklace and sunglasses. Craig patently waited as his superstar son greeted fans outside the hotel, and was clearly used to seeing Chris get this sort of attention. Here we go again! Craig patently waited as his superstar son greeted fans outside the hotel, and was clearly used to seeing Chris get this sort of attention Promotional trail: The Hemsworth family is in Sydney for the premiere of Interceptor, the new Netflix action film starring Chris' wife Elsa Pataky Chris famously paid off his parents' mortgage after making it big in Hollywood. His younger brother Liam, also an actor, previously told The Independent: '[My father] called my brother Chris back and said, "I don't know how to feel. Since I left home, I have had debts and I thought I'd be paying them off until I died and have this weight hanging over me, and now to have them completely cleared."' Liam said he hoped to follow Chris' lead by helping out his parents in other ways. 'They are so happy now and able to spend more time with us. I would love to be able to do something for my parents like that,' he revealed. Giving back: Chris famously paid off his parents' mortgage after making it big in Hollywood Chris and Elsa are in Sydney to promote the release of her new film Interceptor, for which he serves as an executive producer. On Wednesday, the Marvel actor was seen touching down in Sydney via private jet with Elsa's mother Cristina Pataky Medianu. Elsa, 45, was already in town promoting Interceptor and has done a number of TV appearances this week. On the campaign trail: Chris and Elsa (left, on Wednesday night) are in Sydney to promote the release of her new film Interceptor, for which he serves as an executive producer Later that night, she looked glamorous at the Interceptor premiere in a backless black dress with a suited-up Chris by her side. The leading lady wore $474,000 worth of Bulgari jewels as she hit the red carpet. In Interceptor, she plays no-nonsense army lieutenant JJ Collins, who must save the world when 16 nuclear missiles are launched in the United States. Everyone loves Stranger Things. And now diehard fans can treat themselves to Grill'd 'Demogorgon Burger' ahead of season four of the hit Netflix series. The show is partnering-up with the burger chain to do a takeover of the Galeries restaurant in Sydney on Friday from 11am, transforming the location into the Upside Down. Ready to eat Stranger Things? Burger chain Grill'd is releasing the 'Demogorgon burger' ahead of season four of the hit Netflix series and taking over Sydney's Galeries store on Friday The burger features a grass-fed Australian beef patty, roasted peppers, dill pickles, and cos lettuce, smothered in backyard burger sauce and sour cream. It also has a delicious buffalo dipping sauce. Inside the Galeries store, fans will be able to step into an immersive world complete with vines, floating spores and interactive experiences. Delicious: The burger features a grass-fed Australian beef patty, roasted peppers, dill pickles, and cos lettuce, smothered in backyard burger sauce and sour cream Stranger Things is coming back for season four on Netflix. A sneak peek of the trailer begins with what appears to be a glimpse of the hellish Upside Down and Jim Hopper (David Harbour), who looks to still be imprisoned in Russia. He is handed a spear and the doors open to a courtyard, where armed men await. Taking over: Inside the Galeries store in Sydney, fans will be able to step into an immersive world complete with vines, floating spores and interactive experiences In between flashes of explosions and action-packed fight scenes, it also shows glimpse of their lives as ordinary teenagers. The show has received much critical acclaim including four Golden Globe nominations and three Grammy Awards nods. Stranger Things originally premiered on July 15, 2016 and will add one more season, season 5, before coming to a close. Back for more! The final trailer for season four of Stranger Things teases high-stakes drama and even more trouble for the whole Hawkins crew The Wall Street Journal reported that the upcoming season of the critically-acclaimed science fiction show cost $30 million per episode to make. It will consist of nine episodes making the approximate budget $270 million for the full season. Stranger Things is available to watch on Netflix. According to speculations, Vladimir Putin may be removed due to growing dissatisfaction with the way the Ukrainian war has played out. Following the catastrophic invasion of Ukraine, a coup is now a viable option. According to the Latvian news site Meduza, Kremlin insiders allege that among government officials and Russian elites, there are hardly any individuals who are content with Putin. Vladimir Putin's Health Scare It did, however, add that negotiation over who would succeed Russian President Vladimir Putin - whose health has been the topic of speculation - are still ongoing, citing anonymous sources, The Sun reported. According to several reports, Putin has had surgery for his health problems. Putin has cancer and is having chemotherapy as well as steroid treatment. Other accounts indicate the warmonger has Parkinson's disease or early-stage dementia, although several experts believe he began cancer treatment or had surgery before the conflict began. Former British intelligence operative Christopher Steele stated that the Russian leader was unable to attend a meeting of his security council because he needed medical care. Professor Valery Solovei, a Russian physicist, and historian said that Putin had emergency surgery in February. The Moscow Times reported in April 2022 that journalist Alexei Venediktov asked Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov if it was true that Putin did not have cancer, to which Peskov replied: "correct" However, multiple instances of Putin's missed commitments, as well as his absence during a state television broadcast, have fueled concern about his health. The Kremlin leader appeared to be ill in many televised programs. An interview with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko published on May 23, 2022, showed the Russian autocrat slumped over and twitching. Not only was his presence disturbing, but many speculated that the meeting had been pre-recorded to compensate for Putin's purported absence. General SVR, a Telegram account purportedly managed by a former Russian Foreign Intelligence Service employee, has also aired several Putin health claims. According to the Russian Telegram Channel General SVR, Putin underwent surgery in the middle of the night between May 16 and 17. The narrative did not specify what operation was performed, although other speculations said it was for stomach cancer. The identity of the Telegram account is still unknown, but it has been linked to several persons ranging from Ukrainian intelligence agencies to a notable former Kremlin insider, and Vladislav Surkov, whom Putin charged with leading Russian operations in the Donbas in 2014, according to Mirror. Read Also: Kim Jong Un Orders To Shoot Intruders Dead as North Korea's COVID-19 Outbreak Intensifies; Dictator Spotted Not Wearing Mask at State Funeral Ukraine Intelligence: Putin Has Few More Years Left Meanwhile, a Ukrainian intelligence official claims that Vladimir Putin is suffering from several terrible ailments, including cancer, but that he will not die tomorrow. Kyrylo Budanov, the commander of Kyiv's military intelligence, believes Putin has a few more years in him. According to the major-general, Putin was the target of an assassination attempt immediately after commencing his invasion. He stated that the failed proposal was made by Caucasus representatives, but provided no other specifics. Budanov, 36, stated that the Ukrainians believe Putin has cancer in an interview with Ukrayinska Pravda, but did not add to an advance snippet from the interview that disclosed an apparent assassination effort on him. Whispers regarding Putin's health began at least two years ago, when he was reported to be suffering from both Parkinson's and cancer, but have resurfaced in the aftermath of his invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has not responded to the newest reports about Putin's illness but has always denied that he is unwell. It comes as the conflict in Ukraine escalates against Russia, which had prepared a days-long special operation to decapitate the government and restore the nation to Moscow's so-called sphere of influence, as per Daily Mail. Related Article: Russia's Sarmat ICBM Could Reduce Adversaries to Dust With Hypersonic Speed, Unpredictable Trajectory @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. They've been married for over a decade, but the romance is still burning bright for Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky. On Thursday, the couple stepped out looking more loved-up than ever as they visited a trendy seafood restaurant in Sydney's Bondi Beach. Joined by a group of friends, the amorous duo were seen holding hands as they strolled towards the seaside eatery. Romance isn't dead! Chris Hemsworth, 38, (right) was seen holding hands with his wife Elsa Pataky, 45, (left) as they joined pals including Lauren Phillips for lunch at Bondi Beach on Thursday They were followed by members of their posse, including TV and radio presenter Lauren Phillips. Actress Elsa, 45, looked typically stylish for the occasion, sporting a cream blazer, taupe singlet top and flared corduroy trousers. Pulling her hair back into a no-fuss chignon, the Interceptor star completed her look with white sneakers and a pair of aviator sunglasses. Flare for fashion! Actress Elsa, 45, looked typically stylish for the occasion, sporting a cream blazer, taupe singlet top and flared corduroy trousers Effortlessly stylish: Pulling her hair back into a no-fuss chignon, the Interceptor star completed her look with white sneakers and a pair of aviator sunglasses Pal: They were followed by members of their posse, including TV and radio presenter Lauren Phillips (centre) Thor star Chris, 38, meanwhile opted for a monochrome look including a black shirt worn unbuttoned over a white T-shirt. He wore a pair of black straight-leg jeans and topped off the look with black-and-white sneakers, a long necklace and sunglasses. At one stage Chris was seen greeting a male pal outside the restaurant as Elsa made her way inside. Trendy: Thor star Chris, 38, meanwhile opted for a monochrome look including a black shirt worn unbuttoned over a white T-shirt Catching up: At one stage Chris was seen greeting a male pal outside the restaurant as Elsa made her way inside Black out: Lauren was later seen entering the restaurant wearing a stylish all-black outfit. The KIIS FM presenter dressed to impress in a blazer, bootleg trousers and heeled boots, accessorised with a a $6,800 Louis Vuitton handbag Byron Bay socialites: Lauren and her aviation tycoon boyfriend Pau Paul O'Brien are members of Byron Bay's celebrity set, and count themselves as close pals of the Hemsworths Lauren was later seen entering the restaurant wearing a stylish all-black outfit. The KIIS FM presenter dressed to impress in a blazer, bootleg trousers and heeled boots, and accessorised with a a $6,800 Louis Vuitton handbag. Lauren and her aviation tycoon boyfriend Pau Paul O'Brien are members of Byron Bay's celebrity set, and count themselves as close pals of the Hemsworths. Cute! The couple held hands all the way to the restaurant On the promotions trail: The sighting came hours after Chris joined Elsa for the Sydney red carpet premiere of her new Netflix action film Interceptor on Wednesday night The sighting came hours after Chris joined Elsa for the Sydney red carpet premiere of her new Netflix action film Interceptor on Wednesday night. The flick, released on June 3, sees Elsa taking the role of no-nonsense army lieutenant JJ Collins, who must save the world when 16 nuclear missiles are launched in the United States. Her husband Chris serves as executive producer on the film. Leading role: The flick, released on June 3, sees Elsa taking the role of no-nonsense army lieutenant JJ Collins, who must save the world when 16 nuclear missiles are launched in the United States Power couple: The Fate of the Furious star and her Black Hat actor husband have been married since 2010 The Fate of the Furious star and her Black Hat actor husband have been married since 2010. The power couple have three children, daughter India, nine, and twin sons Sasha and Tristan, both eight. They reside in a $30million mansion in Broken Head, near the celebrity enclave of Byron Bay. Mum and dad: The power couple have three children, daughter India, nine, and twin sons Sasha and Tristan, both eight Laurina Fleure is expecting her first child with partner James Black. The Bachelor star, 38, and the landscape construction businessman, 32, made the announcement via an Instagram post on Thursday. Showing the couple sitting side-by-side, Laurina captioned the post, 'The mum & the dad... 3.5 months...' Parents to be! Laurina Fleure is expecting her first child with partner James Black. The couple pictured this week The reality TV star told the Herald Sun she had started to believe having a baby wasn't 'in my cards.' 'I was with James when I was going to freeze my eggs and I didn't react well to the hormones so I gave up and thought I'd struggle to have a baby,' she said. She also revealed that the pair are planning to tie the knot soon. The exciting news comes after the Instagram model revealed she was focussing on her 'mind and body' during last year's lockdown by building her very own wellness sanctuary. Blessed: The reality TV star told the Herald Sun she had started to believe having a baby wasn't 'in my cards' 'I invested in a tiny sauna and I have set it up in the garage,' she told the publication. 'Whenever I need time out I go in there, turn the lights off, play a really loud mediation and rub my crystals all over my face in an upwards lifting motion,' she explained. The influencer added that performing these rituals really 'soothes her soul'. 'I invested in a tiny sauna': Speaking to The Herald Sun last year, the Instagram model revealed that she's been focussing on her 'mind and body' during lockdown by building her very own wellness sanctuary Back to nature: 'Whenever I need time out I go in there, turn the lights off, play a really loud mediation and rub my crystals all over my face in an upwards lifting motion,' she explained Elsewhere in her interview, Laurina extended her condolences to embattled footy WAG Nadia Bartel amid her snorting scandal. Like Nadia, Laurina was left humiliated in March after video surfaced online of the reality star snorting white powder at a party in Melbourne. Laurina shot to fame on Blake Garvey's season of The Bachelor back in 2014, before later appearing on the first season of Bachelor in Paradise. Empathy: Elsewhere in her interview, Laurina (left) extended her condolences to embattled footy WAG Nadia Bartel (right) amid her snorting scandal She went viral after complaining that Blake had taken her out for a 'dirty street pie' at a food truck instead of enjoying a glamorous date like the other women received. In 2018, Laurina made a brief return to screens on the first season of Bachelor In Paradise. She entered the Fiji-based reality show in episode two, but decided to quit five episodes later after failing to spark romance with any of the contestants. Remember this? Laurina was the breakout star of Blake Garvey's season of The Bachelor Niecy Nash on Wednesday opened up the pain of her brother's death in a school shooting 29 years ago, a day after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school. 'I'm so sad .... my brother was killed on his high school campus,' Nash, 52, said in a text post atop a selfie. 'It hits different cuz school is a place you should feel safe. I don't wish it on anyone.' The Palmdale, California native's brother Michael Ensley was fatally shot at 17 on campus at Reseda High School in Reseda, California on February 22, 1993. The latest: Niecy Nash, 52, on Wednesday opened up the pain of her brother's death in a school shooting 29 years ago, a day after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school The Reno 911! actress previously opened up about her brother's death just more than a week after the February 14, 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida in which 14 students and three staffers were murdered. The Claws actress tweeted: '25 yrs ago today, my only brother, Michael Ensley was killed on his high school campus by kid with a gun. Its 2018 and the death toll is rising while our spirits are still breaking. 'You dont hear the pain. You hear the sound of NRA [money] being exchanged,' adding an emoji of a broken heart and the hashtag, #NeverAgain. The Never Have I Ever personality wrote on Instagram that day, 'It shakes you to your core when a child doesnt come home from the one place they should be safe.... Ive been praying.... now Im working. If we can change the narrative in America in one weekend by getting folks to #Wakanda surely, collectively we can get assault weapons out of the hands of children. Watch me work.....' The Claws actress posed in a selfie on her Instagram Stories page on Wednesday The Reno 911! actress previously opened up about her brother's death just more than a week after the February 14, 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida in which 14 students and three staffers were murdered Niecy previously spoke out on gun control following the Parkland shooting four years ago The man who killed Nash's brother, Robert Lee Heard Jr., was 15-years-old at the time he killed Ensley, charged as a juvenile in the death and held in a youth facility in 2002. Heard moved to Louisiana in 2003, and was convicted of attempted murder in a separate incident, which kept him imprisoned through July of 2011, when he was let out on parole. The man who killed Nash's brother, Robert Lee Heard Jr., was subsequently convicted in the 2012 murder of his wife Just more than a year later, in September of 2012, Heard was accused of first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing and burning of his wife Demetra L. Doyle. 'No family should have to endure the loss of a loved one at the hands of a previously convicted violent criminal,' Nash told E! News at the time of his 2012 arrest. 'I am deeply saddened to hear that the man who murdered my brother, Michael Ensley, has been charged with murder again. 'I grieve for every family who has been victimized by this heinous individual. My prayers and love go out to the family of Demetra Doyle Heard during this trying time.' Heard was convicted of Doyle's murder in 2017, but was tried again based on a Supreme Court decision after the original jury found him guilty by a vote of 10-2. Heard last month was convicted of second-degree murder last month in Doyle's killing in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, KATC reported. The conviction has a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment with no possibility of parole, probation or suspension of sentence. Jurors voted unanimously to convict him in the second trial. Nash posted a composite image of the victims in Tuesday's tragedy in Texas A mourner was seen Wednesday at Robb Elementary School, the site of the massacre Mourners gathered for a mass on Wednesday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said that in Tuesday's incident, the gunman, identified as Uvalde resident Salvador Ramos, 18, began his rampage in entering Robb Elementary School armed with an AR-15. Tuesday's massacre marked the deadliest mass shooting at an American grade school in the history of the state, and nationally since the December 14, 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in which 20 kids and six adults were murdered. Texas has been the location for multiple mass shootings in recent years, as 26 people were killed in a November 2017 mass shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs in Sutherland Springs, Texas. In May of 2018, 10 people were murdered at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas. In August of 2019, 23 people were murdered at an El Paso, Texas Walmart in a racially-charged attack. Streaming giant Stan is set to premiere a chilling new feature documentary that uncovers fresh details about the notorious Frankston Serial Killer, Paul Denyer. Revealed: No Mercy, No Remorse from filmmaker Terry Carlyon will take a deep dive into the horror case involving the murders of three women in 1993. Denyer, 50, who now identifies as a woman, was sentenced to thirty years for the crimes, which were committed in Frankston, 41kms from Melbourne CBD. No guilt: No Mercy, No Remorse will premiere June 23 on Stan. Pictured: Frankston Serial Killer, Paul Denyer The convicted murderer will be eligible for parole in June, 2023, and one expert, interviewed for the new film say Denyer, 'will never not be a risk to the community'. A gripping trailer has been released that gives viewers a preview of what they can expect from the film, which explores the mind of a serial killer. In the film, Age crime reporter John Silvester leads a detailed forensic examination of the case, which rocked the community and shocked the nation. 'The pressure on detectives tracking a serial killer is immense, for they know the offender will continue to strike until caught,' Silvester said in a statement. Victims: Denyer murdered three women in Frankston over a seven week period in 1993 The preview shows disturbing police footage of Denyer boldly brandishing a weapon during questioning. Other scenes feature excerpts from police interrogations with Denyer. At one point, Denyer laughs when a detective asks, 'Were you responsible for the deaths of these women?' Mind of a killer: The film explores the chilling case in forensic detail Criminal experts quoted in the trailer say that most psychopaths show no remorse and what killers love most of all is attention. Denyer, who was 21 at the time of the murders, was convicted of killing 18-year-old Elizabeth Stevens, 22-year-old Deborah Fream and 17-year-old Natalie Russell - crimes he committed over a seven week period. According to reports, it took more than 1500 questions for lead investigator, Detective Senior Sergeant Rod Wilson to break the killer's story. The Stan Original Documentary Revealed: No Mercy, No Remorse will premiere on the streaming giant on June 23 Advertisement The stars came to party in Cannes on Wednesday night as the likes of Winnie Harlow and Natasha Poly celebrated the world premiere of Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic. The 75th Cannes Film Festival hosted the red carpet premiere on Wednesday before the stars continued the fun at an afterparty hosted by Campari at Palais Stephanie Beach. Top model Winnie dazzled in a strapless scarlet dress, matching Russian supermodel Natasha, who turned heads in her very daring red dress which showed off almost every inch of her incredible figure. Red carpet beauties: The stars came to party in Cannes on Wednesday night as the likes of Winnie Harlow and Natasha Poly celebrated the world premiere of Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic Winnie flaunted her trim figure in her draped red number, teaming the frock with statement black glittering heels and stunning jewels. Natasha meanwhile also got the red dress memo, strutting into the glitzy bash, which featured a DJ set from Amazonica and a performance from Eurovision's Maneskin, in her daring sequined dress. The barely-there frock was cut away at the sides, showing off Natasha's long legs and a cheeky hint of her derriere as she turned for the cameras. The runway queen teamed the dress with patent black heels and draped her blazer over her arm to show off the showstopper of a outfit. Cheers! Top model Winnie dazzled in a strapless scarlet dress at an afterparty hosted by Campari at Palais Stephanie Beach following the Wednesday night premiere Simply stunning: Winnie flaunted her trim figure in her draped red number, teaming the frock with statement black glittering heels and stunning jewels The movie's director Baz Luhrmann also hit the party, with fellow Aussie icon Kylie Minogue by his side. Kylie looked gorgeous in a black corset detailed gown, that had a sheer bodice to show off her toned midriff and ample assets. Priscilla Presley dazzled in an elegant black sequined suit for the star-studded event on Wednesday. Sparkles: Natasha meanwhile also got the red dress memo, strutting into the glitzy bash in her daring sequined dress Cheeky! The barely-there frock was cut away at the sides, showing off Natasha's long legs and a cheeky hint of her derriere as she turned for the cameras The ex-wife of the late King of Rock 'n' Roll, 77, looked exceptional as she posed for photos on the red carpet with one hand on her hip. The mother-of-two wore her fiery red tresses in a sleek side ponytail and minimal accessorizes apart from a black leather shoulder bag. Luhrmann's film stars Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, who plays his infamous manager Colonel Tom Parker. In good company: The movie's director Baz Luhrmann also hit the party, with fellow Aussie icon Kylie Minogue by his side Dressed to party: Kylie looked gorgeous in a black corset detailed gown, that had a sheer bodice to show off her toned midriff and ample assets Here she comes: Priscilla Presley dazzled in an elegant black sequined suit for the star-studded event on Wednesday There's a lot of excitement around the Elvis Presley biopic, who is hoping to recreate the buzz he generated when he brought the can-can to Cannes with Moulin Rouge! 20 years ago. The film chronicles the life and career of Elvis from his early days as a child growing up in Mississippi to his ascent as a rock and roll icon and movie star, along with his complex relationship with his manager. Luhrmann served as the film's director and co-screenwriter, along with Sam Bromell, Craig Pearce and Jeremy Donner, from a story he conceived with Donner. Fun night: Kylie was later seen sharing a laugh with a giddy Connor McGregor who chose a bling-adorned jacket for the party Having the time of his life: Conor was seen happily posing for selfies with fellow guests at the glitzy event Elvis - who sold over 1B records - received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018 and he's been inducted into multiple music halls of fame. Elvis died, age 42, in 1977 from cardiac arrhythmia due to a toxic reaction to codeine. Austin recently noted that he 'lost touch' with his own personality while playing the eponymous character. He told GQ Magazine: 'You can lose touch with who you actually are, and I definitely had that when I finished Elvis not knowing who I was.' As well as the mental impact of playing Elvis, Austin also revealed he was bedridden for a week after falling unwell one day after wrapping up the filming in March 2021. Fashion forward: Diplo was another guest who chose a quirky twist on the suit with his white embroidered number Putting on a show: Eurovision favourites Maneskin performed at the afterparty at Stepanie Beach Providing the tunes: Amazonica, who looked incredible in a pink feathered dress and boots, DJed at the star-studded event The event of the night: Meanwhile outside, drones made images of the King in the sky over Cannes harbour Austin said he was diagnosed with a virus that simulates appendicitis and said it was like his body shut down straight after filming. He said: 'I woke up at four in the morning with excruciating pain, and I was rushed to hospital.' The actor also revealed he 'got chills' when he found out that Elvis lost his mom at the same age he did. He said: 'His mother passed away when he was 23, and my mom passed away when I was 23, so when I learned that, it was one of those things where I got chills, and I just thought, Okay, I can connect to that.' The King: Austin Butler (left) stars in the Elvis biopic which chronicles the life and career of the star from his early days as a child growing up in Mississippi to his ascent as a rock and roll icon and movie icon Star: Watching from the wings is Colonel Tom Parker - played by Tom Hanks - whom Elvis signed a contract with in January 1955 and he went on to manage him for over two decades To get into character, Austin thought about the animals that Elvis reminded him of, saying: 'He has catlike things, sort of like when a lion looks out at the prairie. 'Theres this quality of an alligator, when it comes up from underneath the water.' Austin compared Priscilla Presley - Elvis' first wife, whose marriage lasted from 1967 to 1973 and produced their daughter Lisa Marie Presley, now 54 - to 'an angel' when he met her in preparation for the role at Graceland. On seeing the 77-year-old actress for the first time, he said: 'She looked like an angel. I walked down the hall with Baz afterwards with tears in my eyes.' Rebecca Judd has weighed in on gun control in the US after the nation was rocked by a mass shooting. Nineteen children and two teachers are dead after a teenage gunman opened fire at a primary school in Ulvade, Texas, on Tuesday. The 39-year-old AFL WAG shared a post to Instagram, urging gun control laws to be changed following the tragedy. Weighing in: Rebecca Judd (pictured) has weighed in on gun control in the US after horrific school shooting left 19 children and two teachers dead 'Let's take a moment to honour the sacrifice of our brace school children who lay down their lives to protect our right to bear arms,' the post read. 'This,' Bec simply captioned the image. The mother-of-four also shared a video of the children's family members crying at the scene and added a broken heart emoji. Post: The 39-year-old AFL WAG shared a post to Instagram, urging gun control laws to be changed following the tragedy Nineteen pupils aged between seven and 11 years old have been shot dead along with two of their teachers by an 18-year-old gunman who has also been killed in the school mass shooting. Salvador Ramos, 18, shot his grandmother then went to Robb Elementary school to carry out the mass murder before he was shot dead on the campus by a heroic Border Patrol agent. Many Australians have now called on America to adopt gun control laws like those implemented Down Under. 'I did not expect to have a conversation with my kids this morning about whether it's morally worse to kill 35 adults or 14 children but here we are,' Malaysian-Australian television presenter Adam Liaw tweeted. 'But at least I could say that after Port Arthur Australia did something about it.' Tragic: Nineteen pupils aged between seven and 11 years old have been shot dead along with two of their teachers by an 18-year-old gunman who has also been killed in the school mass shooting Another man said: 'The Australian government responded [to Port Arthur] with a massive, mandatory gun buy-back, and restricted future gun purchases. And it never happened again. This is preventable.' 'It's totally f***ing crazy America still doesn't have gun control and has a completely lax attitude to guns,' someone else wrote. 'Guns are a problem and they're in denial. Here we are in Australia with no mass shootings since gun control in 1996.' Prime minister John Howard ushered in gun restrictions following the Port Arthur Massacre in Tasmania, 26 years ago. In April 1996, Martin Bryant went on a shooting spree at the historic site - killing 35 people and injuring 23 others, prompting Mr Howard to tighten laws, confiscating more than 650,000 weapons in the world's largest mandatory gun buy-back scheme. Horrified parents and students gathered after the shooting at the Ssgt Willie de Leon Civic Center Georgia May Jagger showed off her incredibly toned abs in a midriff-baring strappy leather top at The Viper Room in West Hollywood on Wednesday. The model, 30 - who co-founded Bleach London - showed off her dip-dyed pink tips as she attended the brand's event. She paired her edgy statement piece with pin-striped cigarette trousers and black stiletto heels. Paint it, Pink: Georgia May Jagger, 30 - who co-founded Bleach London - showed off her dip-dyed pink tips as she attended the brand's event in West Hollywood on Wednesday The star showed off a dramatic red manicure as she posed around, rocking a soft glam make-up look with a peachy smoked out eye and glossy pink lip. The daughter of rock 'n' roll icon Mick Jagger appeared in high spirits while smiling in front of a step and repeat backdrop. The kitschy event - held at the nightclub on the Sunset Strip, once owned by Johnny Depp - was also attended by Georgia' s longtime pal Suki Waterhouse and her boyfriend Robert Pattinson. Chic: Georgia showed off her incredibly toned abs in a midriff-baring strappy leather top at The Viper Room Business casual: She paired her edgy statement piece with pin-striped cigarette trousers and black stiletto heels Good times: The daughter of rock 'n' roll icon Mick Jagger appeared in high spirits while smiling in front of a step and repeat backdrop Leaving: Georgia looked sensational in a stylish black crop top as she left the Viper Room in West Hollywood The pair have been firm friends since meeting at Ibstock Place School, the mixed Roehampton private that also counts Emily Blunt, Nigella Lawson, Iris Murdoch as alumni. It comes as Georgia recently posted snaps documenting her having fun as she worked on the haircare brand. Two weeks ago she shared candid pics, including mirror selfies and a set of other photos and clips of her and other staff having fun while on the job. Day at the office: It comes as Georgia recently posted snaps documenting her having fun as she worked on the haircare brand Hair for it: Two weeks ago she shared candid pics, including mirror selfies and a set of other photos and clips of her and other staff having fun while on the job Hard at work: Other behind-the-scenes snips showed vids of the model and her team preparing for a shoot and featured more glam selfies from Georgia A second image in the set featured Georgia posing in the mirror and showing off her toned stomach while a figure - that is entirely dyed hair - sits in the corner. Other behind-the-scenes snips showed vids of the model and her team preparing for a shoot and featured more glam selfies from Georgia. In a post to 1.1 million Instagram followers she said: 'I swear I did some work on the @bleachlondon shoot the other day and didnt just take selfies in the toilet with the hairy monster.' Ricky Gervais created an awkward moment on BBC's The One Show on Tuesday as he spoke about his own mortality. The 60-year-old English comedian left hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas speechless as he told them he was 'fat and old' and insisting he's 'going to die soon.' The After Life creator appeared on the latest installment of the show to discuss his new Netflix special SuperNature. Uh-oh: Ricky Gervais created an awkward moment on BBC's The One Show on Tuesday as he spoke about his own mortality Alex and Jermaine questioned Ricky on the nature of his comedy and his willingness to address 'taboo' topics after his new Netflix special was branded anti-trans. The chat took a dark turn when the actor said: 'I'm fat and old and I'm going to die soon.' Alex quickly corrected him by saying 'no you're not' but Ricky insisted 'I am,' before adding: 'I've brought it down haven't I?' Jermaine jokingly said 'lift it back up' but Ricky refused to let it go and openly said: 'Every day I'm closer to death.' Dark: The 60-year-old English comedian left hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas speechless as he told them he was 'fat and old' and insisting he's 'going to die soon.' Alex jumped in and stated: 'Well we're all a bit closer to death. Every day is a bigger percentage of the rest of your life and we don't know what percentage that will be. If I die tomorrow today was 50 per cent.' Jermaine admitted: 'I didn't see this coming. This is not a part of the show I thought was going to happen,' before Alex finally changed the subject. The Office star then told viewers what his new Netflix show is about: 'I debunk the supernatural and conclude nature is super enough. We don't need unicorns, we've got the octopus. It's nature, humanity, warts and all. The best and worst things about being alive.' Speaking out: Alex and Jermaine questioned Ricky on the nature of his comedy and his willingness to address 'taboo' topics after his new Netflix special was branded anti-trans Ricky has insisted his jokes are 'irony' after his new Netflix special was branded anti-trans. The comic defended himself after his show 'SuperNature' on the streamer was branded 'dangerous' by a LGBT rights group. Later on The One Show he revealed: 'I think that's what comedy is for, really to get us through stuff, and I deal in taboo subjects because I want to take the audience to a place it hasn't been before, even for a split second. 'Most offence comes from when people mistake the subject of a joke with the actual target.' Dark humour: The After Life creator appeared on the latest installment of the show to discuss his new Netflix special SuperNature He jokes 'old-fashioned women... the ones with wombs' are now 'f****** dinosaurs' compared with trans people 'who have beards and c****'. Gervais adds on the newly released show: 'The worst thing you can say today is, 'Women don't have penises'.' There is also a section where Gervais pretends to have transitioned to being a woman and seduces a lesbian. Criticism came from LGBT rights groups including America-based Glaad, which claimed the show was 'full of graphic, defending dangerous, anti-trans rants masquerading as jokes'. Robbie de Santos, of UK group Stonewall, added Gervais had chosen to use 'his global platform to make fun of trans people'. Outraged: Criticism came from LGBT rights groups including America-based Glaad, which claimed the show was 'full of graphic, defending dangerous, anti-trans rants masquerading as jokes' 'SuperNature', rated 18, comes with a content warning for 'language, crude humour, discrimination'. In October, Netflix staff staged walkouts after US comedian Dave Chappelle, 48, made remarks about transgender people on the streaming giant. Netflix said the show did 'not translate into real-world harm'. 'After Life' and 'The Office' creator Gervais, who lives in London with his long-term writer partner Jane Fallon, 61, has said: 'In real life, of course I support trans rights. I support all human rights and trans rights are human rights. 'Live your best life, use your preferred pronouns, be the gender that you feel that you are. 'It's mad to think that joking about something means you're anti-it'. The row comes as more than one in 10 young women in the UK now identify as lesbian, bisexual or 'other', according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Dragons' Den stars Sara Davies, Peter Jones and Steven Bartlett headed out for dinner together on Wednesday night at Dishoom in Manchester. Former Strictly contestant Sara, 38, looked stylish in a leopard print maxi dress that had a v-neckline and was cinched in at the waist. She completed her chic look with comfortable white trainers and toted a brown handbag over her shoulders. Pals: Dragons' Den stars Sara Davies, Peter Jones and Steven Bartlett headed out for dinner together on Wednesday night at Dishoom in Manchester Sara wore her short blonde tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a naturally pretty makeup look. Meanwhile businessman Steven, 29, looked casual in tight black jeans and a baggy T-shirt for the group outing. Peter Jones, 56, opted for light blue denim jeans and completed his look with Gucci trainers and a light blue shirt and navy cardigan. Chic: Former Strictly contestant Sara, 38, looked stylish in a leopard print maxi dress that had a v-neckline and was cinched in at the waist. It comes after earlier this month Sara revealed that she won't leave her enormous 35million fortune to her sons if they're 'banking on it'. The star, who is mum to boys Oliver, six, and Charlie, three, with husband Simon, detailed the importance of giving her kids a 'normal' childhood. The Crafter's Companion business owner explained her wishes to keep her family 'humble' to teach them the same values that her parents taught her. Out and about: Meanwhile businessman Steven, 29, (left) looked casual in tight black jeans and a baggy T-shirt for the group outing Speaking in an interview with The Sun she detailed: 'I think one of the things that has made me the successful person that I am today is the humble roots that I come from.' Sara explained how her parents gave her 'values more valuable than money' and how she did not expect any inheritance from her mum and dad. She continued: 'If my kids had a different attitude where they were banking on that inheritance, then I would be inclined to not want to give it.' Dinner: Peter Jones, 56, opted for light blue denim jeans and completed his look with Gucci trainers and a light blue shirt and navy cardigan Regarding her attitude towards lavish holidays, she added that she didn't want her children to think that fiver-star hotels and first class flights were normal. Sara said: 'I just want them to be the same as everybody else. That's why I do a lot of camping and caravanning holidays with the kids.' It comes as Sara was seen letting her hair down at the 2022 British Academy Television Awards after party at London's Royal Festival Hall last month. Treated to bottles of 44 pink champagne, celebrities took full advantage of the treats on offer with Sara enjoying a brownie decorated with the iconic mask prize and Janette Manrara dancing the night away with her drink in hand. It was an evening of success for prison series Time and pandemic drama Help who both scooped prizes, while notable snubs included the critically-acclaimed drama It's A Sin, which went home empty-handed. In a video posted to her Instagram Stories, Janette could be seen dancing around the room in her dramatic pink frilled gown with a glass of champagne in hand. The dancer appeared in a slew of beaming selfies with Dragon's Den and Strictly star Sara, who tucked into a brownie which had been decorated with a tiny edible version of the iconic mask. Vogue Williams looked stunning as she headed to London's Global studios on Thursday just five weeks after welcoming her third child with Spencer Matthews. The Irish model, 36, showed off her incredible post-baby body as she sported a black crop top and wide leg trousers, which she teamed with a smart blazer. She added a touch of colour to her stylish ensemble with a pair of pointed leopard print shoes embellished with silver studs and an animal print handbag. Wow! Vogue Williams looked stunning as she headed to London's Global studios on Thursday just weeks after welcoming her third child with Spencer Matthews She accessorised her chic look with a seashell necklace and an array of gold dangling earrings, while she shielded her eyes with black sunglasses. The mother-of-three wore her golden locks in a straight fashion loosely across her shoulders and opted for a light dusting of make-up. Vogue was heading to Global studios to record her podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me, which she hosts with Joanne McNally. Her outing comes after she shared her plans to have a fourth child just weeks after welcoming her third child Otto with her husband Spencer, 33. Looking good: The Irish model, 36, showed off her incredible post-baby body as she sported a black crop top and wide leg trousers, which she teamed with a smart blazer Stylish: She added a touch of colour to her stylish ensemble with a pair of pointed leopard print shoes embellished with silver studs and an animal print handbag She revealed she wants to have another baby but insisted her fourth child would be her last as she gushed about her newborn son Otto. Vogue - who also shares son Theodore, three, and daughter Gigi, 21 months, with Spencer - said she doesn't want to 'die alone' as she shared her parenthood plans. Speaking to her pal Luisa Zissman on her podcast Spencer & Vogue, she admitted: 'He's [Otto] only a month old but honestly, I think I'll have four. I love it. I love the newborn stage.' She went on to say that although she likes the idea of having a big family, she wouldn't have more than four children because she thinks it 'looks weird'. Motherhood: Her outing comes after she shared her plans to have a fourth child just weeks after welcoming her third child Otto with her husband Spencer, 33 The TV personality - who married Made in Chelsea's Spencer, 33, in 2018 - said she believes that if she has four children, one will always 'be around' for her. 'I don't want to die alone though either. At least I know that unless something goes really wrong and we end up killing each other and not speaking to each other, like I will always have someone around,' she said. 'If I got four kids, one of them will be around.' Vogue also gave an insight into her life since welcoming her third child Otto James on April 18, admitting that she 'loves' newborn babies. Family: Vogue - who also shares son Theodore, three, and daughter Gigi, 21 months, with Spencer - said she doesn't want to 'die alone' as she shared her parenthood plans She explained: 'I say to people, "if you want to hold him you'll have to ask me because I won't willing put him down or give him up". I love it so much. 'I'd have him on the bed with me if I could, but I'm too scared I'd roll on him or something.' But Vogue did admit that being a mother-of-three has come with its challenges as she said she feels 'wrecked' all the time as she is up every night with Otto. Speaking to Joanne on their podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me, she said: 'This has been so difficult with the three of them. I've bitten off more than I can chew. 'I love it': The Irish model, 36, revealed she wants to have another baby but insisted her fourth child would be her last as she gushed about her newborn son Otto 'I'm wrecked. I cried today when I was trying to film something because Otto wouldn't stop crying. It's very difficult.' She admitted it has been made harder by her husband Spencer currently being away, as she said she feels like she has 'taken on too much'. Her latest comments come weeks after the happy couple welcomed their son Otto, with his middle name James being in honour of Spencer's older brother James, 46. Speaking of naming their son earlier this month, Vogue told Hello! Magazine: 'I heard somebody else's child called Otto a couple of years ago and the name always stuck. I just loved it. I think Otto James together sounds really cool.' Proud parents: But Vogue did admit that being a mother-of-three does come with its challenges as she admitted to feeling 'wrecked' all the time The pair also told the publication about Otto's straightforward birth on April 18 and noted how he is the 'spitting image' of his dad Spencer. 'I mean, there's none of me in there,' Vogue said. 'If I had been shown this baby and had to choose which one was mine, I would never know because he's just the spitting image of Spencer.' The couple announced the birth of their son on April 20, taking to Instagram to share the happy news, posting a photo of their older children meeting their new sibling. In an Instagram post, Vogue gushed: 'We are so happy to announce that our beautiful boy arrived safely on Monday evening. Congratulations! The happy couple took to Instagram on April 20 to share their baby news, posting a photo of their older children meeting their new sibling Otto 'Bursting with love he is the perfect addition to our family.' Spencer and Vogue announced they were expecting their third child in October, and then later confirmed the sex in December. Speaking to HELLO! magazine, Vogue said: 'Baby number three on the way!!! This has been a lot harder to hide third time around, I feel like I've had a bump since the first month.' Before their third bout of baby joy, Spencer told MailOnline: 'Both Vogue and I love children. We can't wait. We consider ourselves very lucky to have grown our family as quickly as we have. Joy: Spencer and Vogue announced they were expecting their third child in October, and then later confirmed the sex in December 'It was always the plan for us to move quite quickly in that regard. We're full of joy and excitement. The couple chose the name Otto early on, with Spencer telling Martin King and Una Healy on The Six O'Clock Show in January: 'It happened quite early, pretty much as soon as she was pregnant we haven't really thrown anymore into the mix, as far as I'm concerned we've had the chat.' The reality star kept tight-lipped on the moniker of choice, but did say: 'It is not an Irish name. No disrespect to the Irish!' Eldest child Theodore is said to be thrilled to have a little brother, with Vogue telling Hello!: 'My sister asked Theodore if he wants to have a brother or sister and he replied: 'A brother! I don't want a sister, I already have a sister.' So he's delighted.' Funny: Earlier this month, Vogue revealed her relief that her husband Spencer wasn't allowed to propose live on stage at end of Lion King show in front of the crowd Spencer and Vogue got engaged in January 2018, before tying the knot in a romantic ceremony at a Scottish mansion owned by Spencer's family just five months later. Earlier this month, Vogue revealed her relief that her husband Spencer wasn't allowed to propose live on stage at end of Lion King show in front of the crowd. The presenter told how staff weren't happy for him to crash the end of the performance and so he had to do it backstage afterwards instead. Speaking on the new Disney Podcast Journey to the Magic with Giovanni Fletcher Vogue said: 'He proposed to me at the show. But it's Spencer's all-time favourite Disney film and it is the only thing he's ever cried at, and he loves it. 'So, it was kind of like he did his best proposal for himself. He could have taken me to Beauty and the Beast! He asked them, 'can I go on stage and propose to her at the end'? That is my worst nightmare. 'And they were like, 'well, no, it's a West End show and other people are watching it'. 'In the end it happened backstage, and we met the cast and stuff, and it was really nice because it's a really cool stage and you've got all the pride rock background and all that kind of stuff which was really cool. 'He doesn't really have any regrets, no he thinks it was great, it was quite nice. He had a great time.' America continues to grieve for the young lives lost due to a recent mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in the small city of Uvalde, Texas. Some of the victims' parents share their heartbreaking stories of the tragic incident. Among them was Angel Garza. He was interviewed by broadcast journalist Anderson Cooper live on CNN late Wednesday while standing outside the scene of Texas Elementary School Shooting , weeping and holding her daughter Amerie's portrait. Angel said Amerie had just celebrated her 10th birthday and had received a new cell phone, which she used to try to call the police as Salvador Ramos, 18, burst into the school equipped with a legally bought AR-15 rifle, which he used to shoot fourth-grade students and their teachers. Garza said that his daughter was just trying to call authorities during the incident-- a heroic deed despite her young age. "I just want people to know that she died trying to save her classmates. She just wanted to save everyone," Garza noted. Loner Gunman Warned on Facebook Minutes before the horror, the gunman warned about the shooting on Facebook, per ABC News. A spokesperson for Meta said on Wednesday Ramos sent "private one-to-one" messages, which were discovered following the tragedy. According to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, the gunman sent three messages on the social media platform 30 minutes before the shooting saying: "I'm going to shoot my grandmother," "I shot my grandmother" and "I'm going to shoot an elementary school." The suspect, according to Abbott, was a high school dropout. Officials have not yet determined the suspect's criminal past, but Abbott speculated that he may have had a juvenile record, which has yet to be verified. Read Also: New York Subway Shooting Suspect Surrenders After Apparently Unprovoked Fatal Attack According to Abbott, the Texas school shooter had no known mental health issues. The ATF disclosed Ramos bought his guns on May 17 and May 20. The suspect's mother Adriana Reyes was "surprised" to learn that her son committed such a horrific killing spree, as per a report from Daily Mail. She admitted that Ramos was a loner who kept things to himself and "didn't have many friends". However, she denied allegations that they had a toxic relationship. Ramos' grandfather, Rolando Reyes, said he was clueless that Ramos had purchased firearms. "My son wasn't a violent person. I'm surprised by what he did," the 74-year-old said. He offered prayers for the bereaved families. 'I pray for those families. I'm praying for all of those innocent children, yes I am. They [the children] had no part in this." Principals With Gun Violence Experience Offer Help Meanwhile, a network of educational leaders who experienced gun violence offered help to the victims at Robb Elementary School. According to CNN, around 29 members of the Principal Recovery Network have been involved in shootings in their community, including Frank DeAngelis, who was the principal of Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999 when two gunmen killed 13 people on campus. "So, we reach out and we have guides just to help them wherever we can. And it's not a one-time phone call," DeAngelis said of their organization, which "assists schools during recovery and advocate for national school safety enhancements and violence prevention programs" according to its website. Related Article: President Joe Biden Addresses the Nation After Deadly Texas Shooting That Kills 14 Students; VP, Officials Condemn the 'Horrific' Incident @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. She's recently been soaking up the sun on a Mexican get away. And former Love Island star Georgia Harrison looked sensational on Wednesday as she flaunted her incredible figure in a skimpy zebra print bikini. The 27-year-old reality star enjoyed a dip in the sea off the coastal city of Tulum, before later gushing to her 1.1million Instagram followers that her holiday had been a 'trip of a lifetime' Gorgeous: Georgia Harrison, 27, flaunted her incredible figure in a skimpy zebra print bikini as she frolics on the beach during a girls trip to Mexico in Wednesday The busty star wore the skimpy ensemble which extenuated her hourglass figure as well as perfectly toned abs. The stylish two piece fashioned a cross strap top as well as high cut bottoms, which clung to Georgia's newly tanned thighs. Georgia later emerged from the ocean for a stroll along the sandy shore as she gave a glimpse of a her peachy bottom. Saucy: The busty star wore the skimpy ensemble which extenuated her hourglass figure as well as perfectly toned abs Stylish: The stylish two piece fashioned a cross strap top as well as high cut bottoms, which clung to Georgia's newly tanned thighs The reality star wore her blonde locks loose in a relaxed style as she accessorised the saucy look with a pair of silver hoop earrings and sparkling gold watch. Opting for a bronzed complexion, a smiling Georgia frolicked in the water posing with her hands behind her head. Later in the day the television personality changed into an equally skimpy mocha bikini as she posed a fun video to her Instagram stories. Wow: The reality star wore her blonde locks loose in a relaxed style as she accessorised the saucy look with a pair of silver hoop earrings and a sparkling gold watch Beach babe: Georgia looked sensational as she strolled along the beach In the video Georgia donned a white cowboy hat with a matching wrap tied around her waist as she danced along to music with a pal. Wearing a splash of gold jewellery the beaming star captioned the clip: 'Honestly had the best trip of a lifetime here @mattielynnbreaux #tulum'. The trip comes after the television personality said she is 'never dating again' as she continues to struggle with 'trust issues' from her previous relationships. Loving life: Georgia was a vision of beauty as she soaked up the sunshine Revealing that she has sought counselling to help her overcome her problems surrounding dating. She admitted she's been on the celebrity dating app Raya for over a year now but remains single while working on herself. In an exclusive interview, Georgia told MailOnline: 'I'm never dating again. I don't date. I genuinely think I've got a lot of issues. Trust issues potentially, and I've started counselling for it.' Fun filled day: Later in the day the television personality changed into an equally skimpy mocha bikini as she posed a fun video to her Instagram stories 'I don't date people enough, and it's not normal at my age. I'm 27, and at my age I should be dating and connecting with people. 'I find it very hard to date people but I'm trying to work through it. It's been around a year since I was on a date' 'I'd like to go to counselling more often, but it's really expensive. I go about once a month and it's really broken the bank. It's 70 [a session] it's not that expensive, but it feels like it is.' No more: The trip comes after the television personality said she is 'never dating again' as she continues to struggle with 'trust issues' from her previous relationships Honest: In an exclusive interview, Georgia told MailOnline: 'I'm never dating again. I don't date. I genuinely think I've got a lot of issues. Trust issues potentially, and I've started counselling for it.' Georgia admits counselling has been a useful resource while getting over her dating fears, and reflects on her previous negative relationships. She said: 'I find it really good. I always thought it would be really negative having to bring up past things, but it made me think things about myself, like small patterns that I didn't notice. 'I've learnt why I go for men that won't perhaps treat me the way that I deserve. It's basically an underlying thing, and there's ways of dealing with it. So I feel like I've learnt a bit.' Production for the new Bridgerton prequel continued on Wednesday as Michelle Fairley became the latest star spotted on the set. It was announced last year that a spin-off series charting the younger years of the flamboyant and gossip-hungry monarch would be in the works, with the show written and produced by Bridgerton creator Shonda Rhimes. Filming this week took the cast to Bath, with Games Of Thrones star Michelle, 58, who plays strong-willed Princess Augusta, pictured making a phone call during a lunch break. Exciting: Michelle Fairley was the latest star of the new Bridgerton prequel to be spotted on set in Bath - as she transformed into strong-willed Princess Augusta The Northern Irish actress was clad in a black robe, which she teamed with comfortable attire whilst the cameras weren't rolling. She sported pale pink tights and New Balance trainers - a striking contrast from the glamour of her accessories, a gold tiara and dazzling ring. Pictures from the latest bout of filming show cast members wearing protective clothing over their costumes to ensure they were not damaged during a well-earned break. Extras: It was announced last year that a spin-off series charting the younger years of the flamboyant and gossip-hungry monarch would be in the works Downtime: Filming this week took the cast to Bath, with Games Of Thrones star Michelle, 58, who plays strong-willed Princess Augusta, pictured making a phone call during a lunch break Effort: Pictures from the latest bout of filming show cast members wearing protective clothing over their costumes Plot: The prequel spin-off series will have Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) at the helm and focus on how the young Queen's marriage to King George sparked both a great love story and a societal shift (Golda pictured in Bridgerton) The prequel spin-off series will have Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) at the helm and focus on how the young Queen's marriage to King George sparked both a great love story and a societal shift. Set in the mid 18th Century, the prequel examines the young life of Charlotte, the daughter of German royalty who wed British Monarch George III, played in the Netflix drama by Corey Mylchreest, in 1761, when she was 17. Meanwhile Michelle's character Princess Augusta is determined to maintain her family's power and go to any length to secure her son's place as monarch. Not present in scenes was actress, India Ria Amarteifio, who is set to play the young Queen. Lunch break: The series will also include the origins of other characters featured in Bridgerton, namely Violet Bridgerton and Lady Danbury On set: The spin-off prequel to the Netflix drama is reportedly being spiced up to keep viewing figures high In the making: Cast members stocked up on caffeine The marriage lasted 57 years and produced 15 children. Miss Amarteifio, 21, who played DCI Roz Huntleys daughter Sophie in the fourth season of BBC drama Line Of Duty, has also starred in Dr Who and ITVs Unforgotten. It will also include the origins of other characters featured in Bridgerton, namely Violet Bridgerton and Lady Danbury. Meanwhile, following rumbles that the second series of Bridgerton didnt live up to the raunchy heights of the first, it looks as if the producers have taken note, with the spin-off prequel to the Netflix drama, Queen Charlotte, being spiced up to keep viewing figures high. Era: The prequel is set in the mid 18th Century For one scene, a source says, a wall was reinforced. In another scene viewers will see banging headboards. According to a source, there were fears that one energetic love-making scene featuring the young monarch, played by India Ria Amarteifio, might be so energetic that it could literally bring the house down. There is a young cast for the prequel and the sex scenes feature them, said the insider. It is definitely going to satisfy those Bridgerton fans who are complaining that there are no sex scenes in the second series. Outfit: From underneath the protective clothing, there was a peek at impressive gowns and distinctive jewellery Orders: Crew members were on hand to direct the actors and actresses In one storyline there will be a headboard banging hard against a wall. It will be more racy than anything from the first series. The show's writers are also keen to address criticism that Bridgerton avoided same-sex relationships and has a gay problem. One scene will see Brimsley, one of Charlottes aides and played by Sam Clemmett, having sex with another male character, called Reynolds. The series will be inclusive of homosexual people and not frightened of exploring gay relationships, the source added. It is something that is important to Netflix too, to make sure that viewers can recognise themselves on their programmes. Hopefully it will solve what has become known as the gay problem. Jeff Goldblum and his wife appeared in good spirits as the pair held hands and arrived at Global Radio in London on Thursday. The actor, 69, and Emilie Livingston, 39, made for a loved-up pair, and seemed to be in deep conversation. They matched each other's casual vibes, both teaming trousers with a simple top as the couple dressed for the city's mild weather. Loved up: Jeff Goldblum, 69, and his wife, 39, appeared in good spirits as the pair held hands and arrived at Global Radio in London on Thursday Canadian native Emilie threw on a classic cardigan, featuring gold buttons, and added a hip flair to her look with teal pendant earrings. She also sported a skinny choker, and further accessorised with bracelets and a golden band. The actress carried her belongings in a black fuzzy handbag, wearing her curly chestnut locks down. Talking up a storm: The actor and Emilie made for a loved-up pair, and seemed to be in deep conversation Keep it casual: They matched each other's casual vibes, both teaming trousers with a simple top as the couple dressed for the city's mild weather The star opted for see-through ballet flats as her and Jeff - looking dapper in a simple black button-up walked around. Emilie is Jeff's third wife, following marriages to Patricia Gaul (1980-1985) and Geena Davis (1987-1991). Emilie, an Olympic gymnast who was a three-time Canadian national champion in rhythmic gymnastics, got engaged to The Fly star in mid-2014 and they tied the knot in November 2014. A touch of chic: Canadian native Emilie threw on a classic cardigan, featuring gold buttons, and added a hip flair to her look with teal pendant earrings They share six-year-old son Charlie and five-year-old son River together, and she would go on to star in Kroll Show and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Jeff has already appeared in episodes of Search Party and Dark Dice this year, with a number of other projects happening. He returns as the iconic Ian Malcolm in the highly-anticipated Jurassic World: Dominion, in theaters June 10. He also has director Wes Anderson's Asteroid City in post-production, expected later this year, along with The Liar with Charles Dance and Rupert Everett. Kourtney Kardashian's ex partner Scott Disick - with whom she has three young children - turned 39-years-old on Thursday. And her family was quick to wish the Talentless designer a good one on social media. Kourtney's younger sister Kim Kardashian commemorated his big day by sharing a series of photos with the star to her Instagram Story. The 41-year-old also added a text graphic to her first image that read: 'Happy Birthday @letthelordbewithyou I love you so much I can't wait to celebrate w you ! ! !' Special occasion: Kim Kardashian commemorated Scott Disick's 39th birthday by sharing a series of shots to her Instagram Story on Thursday morning In her first shot, Kardashian and Disick were seen posing for a photo while spending time together in an outdoor patio. The Skims founder's second photos was a selfie that had been taken after the pair went out for ice cream. The model's third and fourth pictures showed her working out with her family friend in what appeared to be a private gym. Disick shared a video to his Instagram account on Thursday to commemorate his special day. Sweet treats: The Skims founder's second photos was a selfie that had been taken after the pair went out for ice cream Quality time: The model's third and fourth pictures showed her working out with her family friend in what appeared to be a private gym In the clip, the media personality was seen spending a bit of quality time with his sons Mason and Reign, aged 12 and seven, as well as his daughter Penelope, aged nine. The entrepreneur yelled loudly as his children piled on top of him, much to his delight. The influencer also wrote a message in his post's caption that read: 'Happy birthday 2 me! Biggest blessing of my life right here!' Happy dad: In the clip, the media personality was seen spending a bit of quality time with his sons Mason and Reign, aged 12 and seven, as well as his daughter Penelope, aged nine Making it clear: The influencer also wrote a message in his post's caption that read: 'Happy birthday 2 me! Biggest blessing of my life right here!' Kris Jenner made a point of sending her best wishes to Disick, as she wrote a comment that read: 'Happy Birthday!!!!!!!! Love you!' She went on to share an assortment of photos that she had taken with him to her Instagram Story. The influencer previously shared a shot of Mason to his Instagram account on Wednesday. The social media personality's youngest son was seen flashing a smile while spending time with his dad in New York City. Sending her love: Kris Jenner made a point of sending her best wishes to Disick, as she wrote a comment that read: 'Happy Birthday!!!!!!!! Love you!' Looking back: She went on to share an assortment of photos that she had taken with him to her Instagram Story Disick shares his children with Kourtney Kardashian, 43, with whom he was previously in a long-term relationship. The pair was initially linked in the mid-2000s, and they remained together until 2015. He was subsequently connected to figures such as Amelia Gray Hamlin and Sofia Richie. The media personality has since received much media attention for the age differences in his relationships. Former couple: Disick shares his children with Kourtney Kardashian, 43, with whom he was previously in a long-term relationship Disick has also made a point for publicly showing his love for his children through various Instagram posts. However, the media personality was not present with his kids during their mother's wedding ceremony, which took place this past Sunday. The influencer tied the knot with Travis Barker during a lavish affair that was set in Portofino, Italy. She was seen spending time with her children during the ceremony, while their father did not receive an invitation to the event. Letting everyone see: Disick has also made a point for publicly showing his love for his children through various Instagram posts Disick instead chose to spend the weekend traveling with a group of his friends before reuniting with his children. A source spoke to People to express that the media figure was not particularly pleased with the snub from the Kardashian family. The insider stated: 'He's spending time with friends...to keep his mind off of it. It's been hard for him to process and digest even though he knew it was coming.' They added: 'He was always accepted by the family, even at his absolute lows, and now he can't even come to one of the biggest events of the family.' Countless stars from Married At First Sight have raked in the big bucks by stripping down on OnlyFans. But now one star from the franchise is ready to get their gear off for charity. Chris Jensen, who appeared on season eight last year, will show 'full frontal nudity' in the Manscapes calendar to raise money for mental health. Shock! A Married At First Sight star will show 'full frontal' nudity in an upcoming calendar to raise money for charity. (Pictured: Mitch Eynaud and Ella Ding) The father-of-two already posed for the calendar last year, but he kept his underwear on to protect his modesty. However, Chris will bare all in the next shoot, leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. 'Stepping outside my comfort zone definitely made it a hard decision, but the fact the proceeds will go to a great charity has swayed my decision,' he wrote. 'What kind of man would I be if I didn't step up and rise to action to help charity when called for!' he added. Not shy! Chris Jensen, who appeared on season eight last year, will show 'full frontal nudity' in the Manscapes calendar to raise money for mental health Photographer Jon Bortolin wrote: 'Chris will be returning in the 2023 Manscapes Calendar. 'Chris was a little shy in the 2022 Calendar but he's agreed to bare it all for Charity for 2023. Yes Chris will be modelling naked, including full frontal nudity,' he continued. 'That's a calendar worth waiting for. Watch this space.' Chris was an intruder on season eight of Married At First Sight, where he was paired with Jaimie Gardner. However, their relationship was a disaster, and they split after just a few episodes. Flashback: Chris was an intruder on season eight of Married At First Sight, where he was paired with Jaimie Gardner A number of Married At First Sight stars have joined OnlyFans in the last few years, including Alana Lister, Jessika Power, Ines Basic, and Mishel Karen. More recently, Olivia Frazer from the latest season of the series also signed up for an account. 'I'll start with lingerie photos and videos and then some couple photos with Jackson because he wants to make his OnlyFans debut!' Olivia told Daily Mail Australia. Cashing in! Countless Married At First Sight stars have made lucrative careers as social media influencer or OnlyFans models When asked if she'll share more explicit content in the future, Olivia teased she 'will see how it goes' before taking things to the next level. Olivia is charging subscribers $14.99 per month, which is on the pricey side for OnlyFans. The former reality TV villain also isn't offering any free previews, instead telling curious fans to 'come find out' by opening their wallets. It comes days after her MAFS rival Domenica Calarco reactivated her own OnlyFans account with a monthly subscription fee of $10.99. Caroline Manzo said she wants to set the record straight and put Teresa Giudice 'in her place.' In a episode titled Caroline Manzo, Out For Blood on her son's Dear Albie podcast, the 60-year-old replied to a fan question as to whether she would ever come back to The Real Housewives Of New Jersey to 'straighten out Teresa once and for all.' Her answer was 'yes,' explaining, 'Sometimes, you gotta smack the bully,' she claimed, adding, 'I am more than happy to go smack the bully.' And she even went as far as to say, 'I would get great pleasure to go in and just knock the sh*t out of her verbally and just put her in her place.' Return?: Caroline Manzo, 60, said she would be willing to return to The Real Housewives of New Jersey to put Teresa Guidice, 50, 'in her place.' Pictured in New York in 2019 The reality star wants to set the record straight on whether she had anything to do with the fraud investigation into Teresa and her ex Joe. Caroline was accused of contributing to the federal investigation that led to the entrepreneur, 50, and her ex-husband, Joe, 50, going to prison. Teresa spent nearly a year behind bars after she and her ex were convicted of mail, wire, and bankruptcy fraud. Joe was locked up for three years and then deported to his native Italy when he was released in March 2019. Former friends: Caroline and Teresa were good friends until Teresa accused Caroline of contributing the the federal investigation that resulted in the entrepreneur and her ex, Joe, going to prison for fraud. Pictured in New York in 2013 The Manzo'd With Children star has denied having anything to do with the investigation into her former friend and has indicated she would relish an on-air takedown. 'I'm just gonna put it out there 'cause I just don't give a f**k, alright? You know what? I would get great pleasure, fans, community, to go in and just knock the sh*t out of [Teresa] verbally and just put her in her place,' she added. 'I am tired. I am tired of certain things,' she continued. 'I am tired of her opening her very uneducated mouth and using me as a weapon to say that I was the one that spearheaded her IRS claim and stuff like that. We are not those people.' Behind bars: Teresa spent almost a year behind bars in 2015. Joe served a three year sentence and was deported to Italy. Pictured NY May 2022 None of that will happen, unless Bravo, the network that produces RHONJ, ponies up the money. 'Bravo doesn't wanna pay me,' she claimed. 'Guess what, Bravo? You don't get this for free. 'You don't get the dame for free, Bravo. They are paying Teresa, I'm sure, an exorbitant amount of money.' Manzo left the show in 2013. Kimberley Garner has putting on a sensational fashion parade during her week at the Cannes Film Festival. And on Thursday the former Made In Chelsea star, 31, pulled another chic look out of her holiday wardrobe as she departed her hotel with a handsome mystery man. The swimwear designer showed off her physique in a plunging crop top as she loaded up her car with the help of her male pal. Chic: Kimberley Garner has putting on a fashion parade at the Cannes Film Festival and on Thursday she wowed in another winning look as she departed her hotel with a mystery man Kimberley flaunted her abs in the tiny top which was knotted underneath her bust. She added a high-waisted boho skirt to her ensemble, embracing the sunshine in the South of France. A pair of loafers and a covetable Chanel tote bag completed the beauty's chic daytime ensemble. Her friend was also looking smart in a blue shirt and white trousers as he helped the blonde with her luggage. Gorgeous: The swimwear designer showed off her physique in a plunging crop top as she loaded up her car with the help of her male pal Stunning: Kimberley flaunted her abs in the tiny top which was knotted underneath her bust Fashion parade: A pair of loafers and a covetable Chanel tote bag completed the beauty's chic daytime ensemble It's been a whirlwind week of parties and premieres for Cannes regular Kimberley, who on Wednesday night looked sensational as she graced the red carpet for the premiere of Elvis. The star made sure to bring the glamour in her incredible gown with a plunging sweetheart neckline. The structured bodice nipped in at her tiny waist before fanning out in to voluminous skirt with a dramatic train. Helping hand: Her friend was also looking smart in a blue shirt and white trousers as he helped the blonde with her luggage Kimberley kept her accessories to a minimum, opting for a bejewelled statement necklace with a yellow diamond pendant. There's a lot of excitement around the Elvis Presley biopic from Australia's Baz Luhrmann, who is hoping to recreate the buzz he generated when he brought the can-can to Cannes with Moulin Rouge! 20 years ago. The film chronicles the life and career of Elvis from his early days as a child growing up in Mississippi to his ascent as a rock and roll icon and movie star, along with his complex relationship with his manager. Baz served as the film's director and co-screenwriter, along with Sam Bromell, Craig Pearce and Jeremy Donner, from a story he conceived with Jeremy. Michael B Jordan was seen heading to the Los Angeles set of his new film Creed III on Thursday afternoon. The actor is making his directorial debut with the feature, which he also stars in as Adonis Creed opposite Tessa Thompson as Bianca. The 35-year-old performer cut a stylish figure while wearing a dark gray hoodie jacket and sweatpants from Scott Disick's brand Talentless. The ensemble costs almost $300. Doing his thing: Michael B Jordan was seen working on the Los Angeles set of Creed III on Thursday afternoon Jordan wore a reflective dark gray half-zip hoodie and a matching pair of pants during his outing. The Black Panther cast member also rocked a high-top pair of dual-tone sneakers as he made his way around set. The Primetime Emmy-nominated performer accessorized with a set of round-framed sunglasses and kept a black bag slung over his left shoulder. The first Creed film premiered in 2015, and was met with much critical praise upon its release. Standing out: Jordan wore a reflective dark gray half-zip hoodie and a matching pair of pants from Scott Disick's brand Talentless during his outing In the past: The first Creed film premiered in 2015, and was met with much critical praise upon its release Sylvester Stallone, who portrayed Rocky Balboa in the movie, received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work on the feature. The second Creed movie debuted in 2018, and it was also met with widespread critical acclaim. Development on Creed III began in the late 2010s, and the project was officially confirmed in 2019. It was announced that the movie's star would make his directorial debut with the film the following year. Double duty: It was announced that the movie's star would make his directorial debut with the film the following year However, Stallone revealed that he would not return to portray Balboa for the third installment in the franchise last April. Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad and Florian Munteanu are all set to reprise their roles as Bianca Taylor, Mary Anne Creed and Viktor Drago, respectively. Jonathan Majors has also been cast as Adonis Creed's new rival, Anderson Dame. Physical production on the movie began this past January, with filming taking place in both Atlanta and Los Angeles. Sitting out: However, Stallone revealed that he would not return to portray Balboa for the third installment in the franchise last April Jordan spoke about Stallone's absence from the cast of the upcoming movie during an interview with IGN, where he noted that the performer's 'essence and...spirit' will still be present. He then noted that, despite the actor's decision to sit out of the movie's production, he was confident in the abilities of Creed III's cast and crew. 'We really want to push and navigate Adonis forward and the family that he created. So, hopefully you guys will love what I'm thinking what we're cooking up,' he stated. Creed III is currently scheduled to be made available to the public on November 23. He used to be the king of partying. Yet Mick Jagger's highlights from his time in Holland proved the music legend has slowed down his wild ways as he shared wholesome snaps during a break from The Rolling Stones' European tour. The frontman, 78, took to Instagram on Thursday with a photo album from the last two weeks, where - when not rehearsing for the forthcoming gigs - he spent time soaking up the scenery. Wholesome: Mick Jagger shared some highlights from his time in Holland on Thursday, as The Rolling Stones prepare to go on their European tour. Two of the six snaps captured the rock star in front of a windmill, something his 23-year-old son Lucas teased him over, while other images captured the picturesque setting and glimpses from rehearsals. Mick's girlfriend, former ballerina Melanie Hamrick, 35, referred to one particular highlight in his album - a photograph of a bridge which she herself posed on only three days prior. 'Nice bridge ;) [sic]' she commented underneath the post. Lucas, whose mother is Luciana Gimenez, wrote: 'You told me you were collecting pictures of windmills. There are only 2 here dad'. Culture: The frontman, 78, took to Instagram on Thursday with a photo album from the last two weeks, where - when not rehearsing for the forthcoming gigs - he spent time soaking up the scenery Beautiful: Other images captured the picturesque setting and glimpses from rehearsals Snap: Mick's girlfriend, former ballerina Melanie Hamrick, 35, referred to one particular highlight in his album - a photograph of a bridge which she herself posed on only three days prior Humour: Mick's son Lucas, whose mother is Luciana Gimenez, wrote: 'You told me you were collecting pictures of windmills. There are only 2 here dad' Relax: Mick also shared a video amongst the string of snaps, where he looked the epitome of chilled out as he took a little boat trip Mick also shared a video amongst the string of snaps, where he looked the epitome of chilled out as he took a little boat trip. 'Loved rehearsing in Holland the last couple of weeks, next stop Madrid - see you there!' the Brown Sugar hitmaker captioned the post. The Stones' Sixty Tour was announced in March and is kicking off next Wednesday in Spain's capital. Working hard: The Stones' Sixty Tour was announced in March and is kicking off next Wednesday in Spain's capital Rest in peace: It is the first European tour without drummer Charlie Watts following his death in August 2021 (pictured August 2019) It will conclude almost two months later in Stockholm, Sweden, with UK fans set to fill out Hyde Park on June 25 and July 3. It is the first European tour without drummer Charlie Watts following his death in August 2021. Rolling Stones guitarist and backing vocalist Keith Richards also shared some content from the Netherlands on Wednesday, sharing a photo from the country's capital: 'When in Amsterdam! Tour begins in Madrid June 1st!' he wrote. Daisy May Cooper is believed to have split from her boyfriend Ryan Weymouth after getting his name tattooed on her wedding finger during their five-month romance. The actress, 35, started dating the chef in December after she split from her husband Will Weston in July 2021 after two years of marriage. During their whirlwind romance, Daisy got Ryan's name tattooed on her finger and the pair sparked engagement rumours in March when she wore a ring on her wedding finger. It's over! Daisy May Cooper is believed to have split from her beau Ryan Weymouth (both pictured making red carpet debut in March) after their five-month romance But Daisy has reportedly 'dumped' Ryan because she wants to enjoy being single, with Ryan said to be 'gutted' at their romance ending. Her friend told The Sun: 'Daisy dumped Ryan because she decided she didn't want to be tied down again, she loves the single life. 'Ryan is really gutted it's all over already - it was a whirlwind which he truly thought could end in marriage.' It is understood that the pair have unfollowed each other on Instagram and Daisy has removed all traces of their romance from her social media page. Committed: During their whirlwind romance, Daisy got Ryan's name tattooed on her ring finger Split: Daisy has reportedly 'dumped' Ryan (both pictured in March) because she wants to enjoy the single life, with Ryan said to be 'gutted' at their romance ending MailOnline has contacted Daisy's representatives for comment. Daisy and Ryan sparked engagement speculation in March when she wore a ring on her wedding finger on the set of her BBC series Rain Dogs in Bristol. During their five-month romance, Daisy also tattooed Ryan's name on her ring finger, sharing a photograph of the inking to her social media. The couple went Instagram official in December, when Ryan posted a snap of them cuddled up on a sofa. Relationship: Daisy and Ryan sparked engagement speculation in March when she wore a ring on her wedding finger while they arrived on the set of her BBC series Rain Dogs in Bristol Instagram official: Daisy and Ryan went Instagram official in December, when he posted a snap of them cuddled up on a sofa They then made their red carpet debut in March as they stepped out publicly together for the first time at London's O2 Academy Brixton. They started a relationship after it was reported that Daisy had ended her marriage to Will Weston after two years. In July, an insider told The Sun: 'Daisy said she had grown increasingly tired of married life and was struggling in her relationship with Will. 'They ended things for good earlier this year. She has taken off her wedding ring and has been telling her friends their marriage is over. Exes: The actress, 35, started dating the chef after she split from her husband Will Weston (pictured with Daisy in October 2018) in July 2021 after just two years of marriage 'She has also removed Will as a director on her media business. It's been a tough 17 months for everyone and Daisy and Will were no exception.' A representative for Daisy May Cooper declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline at the time. The Cirencester-born star rose to prominence when she created the comedy series This Country alongside her brother Charlie. The show follows the daily exploits of best friends Kerry and Kurtan in rural England. Daisy's latest project, Rain Dogs, is written by Cash Carraway and sees Daisy star as a young single mum, living with her ten year-old daughter in the brutal lonely landscape of austerity Britain. Pfizer's CEO downplayed the risk of the monkeypox virus amid the increasing concern about its spread in Europe and in recent weeks. In an interview with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said he "wouldn't worry much" about the transmission of the rare virus, which is usually spread by wild animals in West Africa and suddenly started emerging in several countries. As of Wednesday, 71 cases of monkeypox had been reported in the United Kingdom. On May 18, the first case in the United States was detected in Massachusetts, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to evaluate 200 more persons for the infection. "I don't have all the information ahead of me. With everything I know, I wouldn't worry much," Bourla said. However, he said that the public should still be careful and vigilant about monkeypox though it is "not that transmissible" like COVID-19 and other viruses. "That doesn't mean that we should relax. I think we should monitor where the situation goes." In a separate interview with Sky News, Bourla noted that monkeypox is "very difficult to become a pandemic" due to the availability of "medicines and vaccines that can work." White House Claims US Is Ready For Monkeypox Albert Bourla's remarks come only days after United States President Joe Biden stated the spread of monkeypox is "to be concerned about." During a visit to South Korea on Sunday, Biden was asked what his health advisers have told him about the disease, which seldom spreads outside of Africa, as per a report from the New York Post. Before boarding Air Force One for a flight to Japan, Biden disclosed to reporters at Osan Air Base that his health advisers have informed him that the disease "is something that everybody should be concerned about." Read Also: Finnish, Swedish Officials Meet With Turkish Counterparts Over NATO Membership Amid Latter's Demand of 'Concrete Steps' "We're working on it hard to figure out what we do and what vaccine, if any, may be available for but it is a concern in the sense that if it were to spread, it's consequential," President Biden added. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan assured the public that the US is ready for monkeypox, saying that the government has enough supply of "vaccine that is relevant to treating monkeypox." Experts Says Monkeypox Spreads Through Sex According to World Health Organization officials, a monkeypox virus outbreak in North America and Europe is predominantly spreading through intercourse among men, with roughly 200 confirmed and suspected cases in at least a dozen countries, CNBC reports. Though monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease, it is spread by semen and vaginal fluids, according to WHO officials, the most recent rise in cases appears to have been transmitted among men who have sex with other men. Andy Seale, a WHO adviser on HIV, hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted infections said several diseases can be transmitted via sexual contact. "You could get a cough or a cold through sexual contact, but it doesn't mean that it's a sexually transmitted disease," he clarified. Monkeypox virus is spread through close contact with infected people, animals, or materials. Broken skin, the respiratory tract, the eyes, nose, and mouth are all spots where it enters the body. Though respiratory droplets are thought to transmit disease from person to person, the CDC states that this approach requires prolonged face-to-face contact because the droplets can only reach a few feet. Related Article: Elon Musk Doubles Down on Warning About 'Biggest Threat to Civilization' @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. It took a little while for Shanna Moakler to get on board with team Kravis but the ex-wife of Travis Barker has now given his union with Kourtney Kardashian her blessing. Moakler wished 'the happy couple a lovely marriage' and called their lavish wedding in Portofino, Italy last weekend 'a gorgeous affair,' in an interview with Us Weekly. The 47-year-old former beauty queen also gushed over the newlyweds inclusion of her three children, daughter Atiana De La Hoya, 23, and Alabama Barker, 16, and son Landon Barker, 18 in the nuptials. Good vibes: Shanna Moakler wished 'the happy couple a lovely marriage' and called their lavish wedding in Portofino, Italy last weekend 'a gorgeous affair,' in an interview with Us Weekly Shanna said: 'I wish the happy couple a lovely marriage. I will continue to only want the best for my children. It was a beautiful gesture to include my children in such a gorgeous affair.' The star added that she was 'happy' her children were included as part of the wedding party adding that the trio 'looked happy and got to see Italy.' Alabama and Atiana both served as bridesmaids in the wedding for their new stepmom alongside new stepsister Penelope Disick as flower girl. The trio wore custom coordinated Dolce & Gabbana gowns. Shanna's comments are a start contrast to her initial attitude about her ex husband getting romantic with the eldest Kardashian. A month after the couple went public with their relationship in 2021, Shanna made some thinly veiled digs at the smitten pair. 'Stop complaining about your life,' she shared on Instagram stories at the time. 'There are people out there dating your ex.' Moakler also included a winking emoji and the crying laughing emoji alongside the quote which was originally posted by f***ologyofficial. Blended family: The 47-year-old former beauty queen also gushed over the newlyweds inclusion of her three children, daughter Atiana De La Hoya, 23, and Alabama Barker, 16, and son Landon Barker, 18 in the nuptials (bridesmaids Penelope Disick and Alabama Barker pictured) So close! Alabama snapped a sweet kiss face selfie with her new mom at the wedding She also liked and then deleted a comment on one of her posts that read: 'Shhhhiiiii that broad don't got nothin' on you. Travis downgraded big time.' Barker and Shanna were married for four years before divorcing in 2008. Kourtney married Travis in dramatic fashion in Portofino, Italy last weekend rocking a a white mini dress and long embroidered veil from Dolce & Gabbana. The two then headed out on their Mediterranean honeymoon on the coast with the Keeping Up With The Kardashians sharing images from a resort by the sea to her social media accounts. Before: Barker and Shanna were married for four years before divorcing in 2008 (seen together in 2005) Kardashian changed her name to Kourtney Kardashian Barker, following her wedding to Travis. The couple tied the knot at a lavish ceremony in Portofino, Italy on Sunday, and she has now updated her Instagram bio to add the Blink-182 drummer's surname. Her bio now reads: ' Kourtney Kardashian Barker [heart].' But her Instagram handle, kourtneykardash, has remained unchanged, and her name on Twitter is still Kourtney Kardashian. It's not yet been confirmed whether the TV star has changed her name legally, or whether she will in the future. The couple wed for a third time in the Italian ceremony after exchanging vows in a 'practice' ceremony in March before making their union official in a Santa Barbara courthouse earlier this month. This is the third marriage for 46-year-old Travis, who was briefly married to first wife Melissa Kennedy between 2001 and 2002, before he went on to tie the knot with the mother of his children, Playboy model Shanna Moakler. It is Kourtney's first marriage. Advertisement Lorraine Bracco has revealed she is 'utterly shattered' following the shock death of her Goodfellas co-star Ray Liotta on Thursday. The actor - who was best known for the Martin Scorsese movie - died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was shooting the film Dangerous Waters, his reps confirmed. Deadline was the first to report the news. Soon after news broke, tributes rolled in for the New Jersey native. Bracco, who played his wife in the hit 1990 mobster movie, said: 'I am utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray. 'I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas. Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the sameRay Liotta.' And another Goodfellas co-star, Robert De Niro, also paid his respects in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter: 'I was very saddened to learn of Rays passing. He is way too way young to have left us. May he Rest in Peace.' Sad loss: Hollywood icon Ray Liotta has reportedly passed away at the age of 67. And soon after tributes from stars flooded into social media. Seen in 2021 Her tribute: His Goodfellas costar Lorraine Bracco, who played his wife in the hit 1990 movie, said: 'I am utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray. I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas. Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the sameRay Liotta'; seen left in Goodfellas and right in 2012 A sad farewell on social media: Bracco also shared an image with the actor at a Hollywood event in 2012 Jennifer Lopez, who cast Ray in her cop TV series Shades Of Blue that she starred in and produced, tweeted, 'Ray was my partner in crime on Shades of Blue the first thing that comes to mind is he so was kind to my children. 'Ray was the epitome of a tough guy who was all mushy on the inside I guess thats what made him such a compelling actor to watch. The original Goodfella.' Jennifer Love Hewitt, who acted with Liotta on the 2001 film Heartbreakers, shared a sweet tribute as she said, 'I'm heart broken. I loved the time we spent and memories we made. You will be so missed.' The actress shared a broken heart emoji and a photo of a dove with an olive branch. They made movie history together: And another Goodfellas co-star, Robert De Niro, also paid his respects: 'I was very saddened to learn of Rays passing. He is way too way young to have left us. May he Rest in Peace.' Alessandra Nivola - who recently worked with Liotta on The Many Saints Of Newark (Liotta played two roles: Hollywood Dick Moltisanti, and his brother Salvatore Moltisanti) - wrote: 'RIP Ray Liotta. I feel so lucky to have squared off against this legend in one of his final roles. The scenes we did together were among the all time highlights of my acting career. 'He was dangerous, unpredictable, hilarious, and generous with his praise for other actors. Too soon.' David Chase, who was the writer on The Many Saints Of Newark, added in a statement to Deadline, 'This is a massive, unexpected shock. I have been an admirer of Rays work since I saw him in Something Wild, a movie he wrenched by the tail. A TV star as well: He worked from 2016 until 2018 on the NYPD cop show Shades Of Blue with Jennifer Lopez, Right, seen in an embrace in 2016. She tweeted, 'Ray was my partner in crime on Shades of Blue the first thing that comes to mind is he so was kind to my children. Ray was the epitome of a tough guy who was all mushy on the inside' 'I was so glad he worked on The Many Saints Of Newark. 'I believed strongly in my heart that he could play that double role. He created two distinctly separate characters and each performance was phenomenal. Ray was also a very warm and humorous person. A really superior actor. We all felt we lucked out having him on that movie.' Jamie Lee Curtis, who worked with Ray on 1988's Dominick And Eugene, said, 'His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human being. A gentle man. So sad to hear.' And Viola Davis shared, 'RIP Ray Liotta!! Loved your work (heart emoji).' Former costars: Jennifer Love Hewitt, who worked with Liotta on the 2001 film Heartbreakers, shared a sweet tribute as she said, 'I'm heart broken. I loved the time we spent and memories we made. You will be so missed.' The actress shared a broken heart emoji and a photo of a dove with an olive branch They worked together: Alessandra Nivola wrote: 'RIP Ray Liotta. I feel so lucky to have squared off against this legend in one of his final roles. The scenes we did together were among the all time highlights of my acting career'; seen in The Many Saints Of Newark Josh Brolin shared a black and white photo of the star as he wrote: 'My buddy. My friend. How so soon? Why? Ill miss you. 'I will think about seeing you at Golds often, talking about what to do next, how to find something together. I always looked up to you the work was always so good, but the man you were always stood out among the rest of them. Yes, I will miss you, pal. Until we meet again, wherever they say that is. ' Helena Christensen wrote in the comments section: 'Oh man what an immense actor he was .' And actor Joe Pantoliano said: 'WHAT!!!! No! Omg! I was watering the lawn this morning and I was thinking about Ray he popped into my head. Oh No! RIP RAY RAY' Hard to hear about: Jamie Lee Curtis said, 'His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human being. A gentle man. So sad to hear'; they worked together on Dominick And Eugene in 1988 Too soon: Josh Brolin shared a black and white photo of the star as he wrote: 'My buddy. My friend. How so soon? Why? Ill miss you' Seth's words: Seth Rogen also took to social media to pay his respects. 'I can't believe Ray Liotta has passed away. He was such a lovely, talented and hilarious person. Working with him was one of the great joys of my career and we made some of my favorite scenes I ever got to be in. A true legend of immense skill and grace.' Seth and Ray co-starred in the 2009 movie Observe And Report Kristin Chenoweth tweeted: 'RIP GOODFELLA Ray Liotta. I adored you. I love knowing you all those years ago.' Jesse Tyler Ferguson worked with Liotta when the actor guest-starred in a 2016 episode of Modern Family. 'He was one of the greatest actors of our generation,' Ferguson told Deadline. 'The day he was on Modern Family was such a special day. We were really lucky to get a lot of great guest stars, and every once in a while there would be one of his stature that would come in a play with us for the day, and it made us feel so special that they wanted to take the time to come and be with us. 'He was a movie star, a huge movie star, and Im just so grateful that he left behind such a beautiful body of work, because that is all we can hope to do with our time on this earth leave behind something for people to remember us by. And he certainly left a wealth of beautiful performances for us to remember him by.' Seth Rogen also took to social media to pay his respects. 'I can't believe Ray Liotta has passed away. He was such a lovely, talented and hilarious person. Working with him was one of the great joys of my career and we made some of my favorite scenes I ever got to be in. A true legend of immense skill and grace.' He took time for this: Recluse Rob Kardashian of Keeping Up With The Kardashians shared a post for Liotta Seth and Ray co-starred in the 2009 movie Observe And Report. Charlie Day, who worked with Liotta on his untitled directorial debut, told The Hollywood Reporter, 'Im devastated to hear of Rays passing. He was fantastic to work with and gave a great performance that I am sorry he never got to see. I was a long time fan and getting to work with him was everything I hoped it would be. My thoughts go out to his family.' Taron Egerton, who stars in the upcoming Apple TV series In With The Devil alongside Liotta, wrote on Instagram: 'I have never felt such an easy, warm connection with another performer. He was so generous. If I went one way he followed me. Always dancing. Always listening. Never self-generated.' Devon Sawa added, 'I try not to do the RIPs but Ray Liotta was truly one of my favorites to watch. 'He just has this magnetic draw to his performances, which is part of the reason Goddfellas remains tied with Aliens as my favorite film(s) ever made. 'This one stung more than usual.' Rosanna Arquette shared: 'Im really sad to hear that Ray Liotta has passed away. He was an friend back in the day and its very sad. We had a lot of laughs Rest In Peace My friend.' They go way back: Kristin Chenoweth tweeted: 'RIP GOODFELLA Ray Liotta. I adored you. I love knowing you all those years ago' He was loved: And Viola Davis shared, 'RIP Ray Liotta!! Loved your work (heart emoji)' Peace: Rosanna Arquette shared: 'Im really sad to hear that Ray Liotta has passed away. He was an friend back in the day and its very sad. We had a lot of laughs Rest In Peace My friend' Melissa Gilbert posted a note from her husband Timothy Busfield who shared a behind-the-scenes story from their 1989 film Field Of Dreams. 'In the iconic moment in Field of Dreams when Ray Liottas character says to Kevin Costners, is this heaven? And Kevins response is, no its Iowa., a fog had settled into the outfield, which was perfect for that moment, but Ray had been wrapped for the day. 'John Lindley and Director Phil Robinson decided to shoot that scene then, against that majestic and mysterious fog bank. It was before cell phones. So they sent production assistants to scour the bars of Debuque to bring him back. 'They found him and he didnt say no, Im off work. He drove the 45 minutes back to Dyersville, changed back into his uniform, and played the scene. Perfectly. He had great great game. In all his movies. He was a sweet man. RIP my brother. Youll be missed.' It stings: Devon Sawa added, 'I try not to do the RIPs but Ray Liotta was truly one of my favorites to watch' Jeffrey Wright posted: 'Ray Liotta. Man. Just met dude for the first time last year. GREAT actor. Nice to have had a chance to say that to him. RIP.' Cary Elwes noted: 'Very sad to hear the news this morning about the passing of #RayLiotta. An extraordinary talent whose remarkable performances left an indelible mark on the screen. Our deepest condolences to his family. RIP Ray.' Lou Diamond Phillips tweeted, 'Absolutely stunned at the passing of Ray Liotta. I never had the privilege of working with him but his reputation as one of the good guys was well known. A tragic loss. #RIPRayLiotta.' Producer Gale Anne Hurd tweeted, '#RIP #RayLiotta We collaborated on #MartinCampbells #NoEscape, which is worth checking out for his terrific performance as a thoroughly engaging action star. Hes gone way too soon.' He leaves behind his fiance Jacy Nittolo as well as his daughter Karsen, 23, with ex-wife Michelle Grace. Liotta's sudden death shocked fans as he embarked on a huge resurgence in recent years, staring alongside up and coming thespians such as Taron Egerton. Prayers for Ray: Cary Elwes noted: 'Very sad to hear the news this morning about the passing of #RayLiotta. An extraordinary talent whose remarkable performances left an indelible mark on the screen. Our deepest condolences to his family. RIP Ray' Hard to take: Jeffrey Wright posted: 'Ray Liotta. Man. Just met dude for the first time last year. GREAT actor. Nice to have had a chance to say that to him. RIP' They were pals: James Mangold said that he was saddened by the bad news But he was perhaps best known for his incredible performance in Scorsese's 1990 classic Goodfellas, where he played Henry Hill while Robert De Niro took on the role of Jimmy Conway. His other roles include Shoeless Joe Jackson in 1989s Field of Dreams, Ray Sinclair in Something Wild (1986). And he was in Unlawful Entry (1992), Cop Land (1997), Hannibal (2001), Blow (2001), John Q (2002), Identity (2003), Observe and Report (2009), Killing Them Softly (2012), and The Place Beyond the Pines (2012). And he worked from 2016 until 2018 on the NYPD cop show Shades Of Blue with Drea de Matteo and Jennifer Lopez. A note from London: TV personality Piers Morgan called Ray a 'brilliant' actor and shared an image from Goodfellas Hit maker: The star was best known for the Martin Scorsese movie Goodfellas In recent years his career heated up again. He was in The Many Saints of Newark, Marriage Story and No Sudden Move back to back. The star told People he felt the change: 'It's weird how this business works, because I've definitely had a career that's up and down. For some reason, I've been busier this year than I have in all the years that I've been doing this. And I still feel I'm not there yet. I just think there's a lot more.' Ray - who was was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1954 - was abandoned at an orphanage before he was adopted at six-months-old by Marty and Alfred Liotta. Liotta was filming on location in the Dominican Republic for an upcoming thriller, Dangerous Waters. The feature film co-starred Euphoria and Grey's Anatomy actor Eric Dane, alongside Odeya Rush and Saffron Burrows. Their casting was announced just a few weeks back, at the beginning of May. His widow: He leaves behind his fiance Jacy Nittolo (pictured) as well as his daughter Karsen Dangerous Waters, from Signature Films, which is directed by John Barr and written by Mark Jackson, was in the midst of shooting when the actor passed away unexpectedly. The film centers on an out of control sailing vacation that goes off the rails when a teenage girl discovers 'the dark past of her mother's new boyfriend,' according to the synopsis. Producers were said to have been pitching the project at this month's Cannes Film Festival to potential buyers, Deadline reported. The producers of Dangerous Waters told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement, 'We were deeply saddened to learn of Rays passing, its a tremendous loss and our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, fiance Jacy and daughter Karsen.' Dangerous Waters was just one of many projects currently on the docket for Liotta at the time of his shocking death. The actor can be seen in the upcoming television drama Black Bird and recently completed two films, Cocaine Bear and El Tonto. In addition to Dangerous Waters, Ray had two other films in production: April 29, 1992 and The Substance. Ray Liotta, 67, died in his sleep this week while filming on location in the Dominican Republic for an upcoming thriller, Dangerous Waters. The feature film co-starred Euphoria and Grey's Anatomy actor Eric Dane, alongside Odeya Rush and Saffron Burrows. Their casting was announced just a few weeks back, at the beginning of May. RIP: Ray Liotta, 67, died in his sleep this week while filming on location in the Dominican Republic for an upcoming thriller, Dangerous Waters Dangerous Waters, from Signature Films, which is directed by John Barr and written by Mark Jackson, was in the midst of shooting when the actor passed away unexpectedly. The film centers on an out of control sailing vacation that goes off the rails when a teenage girl discovers 'the dark past of her mother's new boyfriend,' according to the synopsis. Producers were said to have been pitching the project at this month's Cannes Film Festival to potential buyers, Deadline reported. Dangerous Waters was just one of many projects currently on the docket for Liotta at the time of his shocking death. On location: The feature film co-starred Euphoria and Grey's Anatomy actor Eric Dane, alongside Odeya Rush and Saffron Burrows (Eric Dane pictured in January) The actor can be seen in the upcoming television drama Black Bird and recently completed two films, Cocaine Bear and El Tonto. In addition to Dangerous Waters, Ray had two other films in production: April 29, 1992 and The Substance. It is unclear if his role in Dangerous Waters will be recast or if his portion of filming had been completed. At the time his casting was announced earlier this month, shooting had already begun. Details: The film centers on an out of control sailing vacation that goes off the rails when a teenage girl discovers 'the dark past of her mother's new boyfriend,' according to the synopsis It is not yet clear what Liotta died of or when but there is understood to be no suspicion of foul play. He leaves behind his fiancee Jacy Nittolo as well as his daughter Karsen. Nittolo, a mother of four who he got engaged to in December 2020, was said to be with the film star while Dangerous Waters was being recorded. Tributes flooded in for the beloved film star, with fellow actors, celebrities and politicians all paying their respects to him on Thursday afternoon. Liotta's sudden death shocked fans as he embarked on a huge resurgence in recent years, staring alongside up and coming thespians such as Taron Egerton. But he was perhaps best known for his incredible performance in Martin Scorsese's 1990 classic Goodfellas, where he played Henry Hill while Robert De Niro took on the role of Jimmy Conway. He also featured in The Many Saints of Newark, Marriage Story and No Sudden Move in more recent years. The actor most recently spoke on social media in an Instagram post three weeks ago where he plugged his new movie Cocaine Bear. He wrote: 'Cocaine Bear follows an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converging in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound apex predator has ingested a staggering amount of the white powder and goes on a coke-fueled rampage seeking more blow and blood.' Iconic: he was perhaps best known for his incredible performance in Martin Scorsese's 1990 classic Goodfellas, where he played Henry Hill while Robert De Niro took on the role of Jimmy Conway Liotta was born in New Jersey in 1954 but was abandoned by his mother at an orphanage before being adopted six months later. He stayed in the state but later moved to New York and then Los Angeles as he followed his dream of acting when he hit adulthood. The rising star first appeared in The Lonely Lady in 1983 but became better known through the movie Something Wild three years later. Such was his success in the role he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor prize at the Golden Globes that year. But Liotta rocketed to stardom and became a household name across the globe for Goodfellas, in which he played a crook called Henry Hill who got in with the Italian-American mafia. Yet the actor appeared to shy away from his fame in the 1990s and kept a low profile but a resurgence in more recent years. Georgia Kousoulou has spoken out after feeling emotional around her son Brody's first birthday and how she struggled with postnatal depression. The Georgia & Tommy: Baby Steps star, 30, welcomed Brody with fiance Tommy Mallet, 29, last year, with the couple celebrating his first birthday earlier this month. But former TOWIE cast member Georgia is 'sad' that she now feels like she has 'lost my baby' after she dealt with the baby blues after giving birth. Opening up: Georgia Kousoulou has spoken out after feeling emotional around her son Brody's first birthday Georgia exclusively told MailOnline: 'I can't believe Brody is one. It is so sad. It is sad. People don't say it is sad but it is sad. No one tells you how sad it is.' The television personality continued: 'When you look through the photos and do a video montage of your child you are like: "I have lost my baby." 'I looked at Brody today and I was like: "what have you done with my baby, you've eaten him."' Cute: The Georgia & Tommy: Baby Steps star, 30, welcomed Brody with fiance Tommy Mallet, 29, last year, with the couple celebrating his first birthday earlier this month Georgia went on to explain how her little boy has become more of a 'mate' now since he is bigger but at the time 'could only see darkness'. She added: 'I love him and his personality, he is like my mate now.' Reflecting on when she first welcomed Brody into the world, the TV star admitted she 'hated' having a newborn and wished the time away. She added: 'When I look through the photos I thought newborn was so bad and I hated it but I look back and I think "ahhh was it that bad?" Growing up: But former TOWIE cast member Georgia is 'sad' that she now feels like she has 'lost my baby' following battling postnatal depression 'You always forget it though. You always remember the good stuff. I was wishing for this stage, I was wishing it away and now I am at this stage I am like eeeek.' Georgia has not found 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'. She admitted she was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and shame for not feeling an emotional bond with her newborn son immediately after his birth. 'All I could see at the time was darkness. I thought it doesn't feel like a phase. 'I am thankful for myself. Really thankful. I am. I thank myself and go, "you have done an amazing job." 'I feel like I am really happy that Brody is one but I am also quite sad.' Happier times: Georgia went on to explain how her little boy has become more of a 'mate' now since he is bigger but at the time 'could only see darkness' 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. She said the procedure made it harder for her to bond with Brody once he was born and she attempted to hide her feelings from partner Tommy but he sensed something was wrong and staged an intervention. She 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. 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 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. 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.' Erika Jayne has been accused of trying to slow down a $5 million fraud lawsuit brought against her by refusing to file her company's taxes. The law firms of Philip R. Sheldon and Robert P. Finn, which are suing Jayne, 50, claim she is trying to 'gain an unfair advantage in the litigation,' according to court filings obtained by Page Six. The declaration, which was filed Thursday in the California Superior Court, accuses the reality star of being aware that her company EJ Global was suspended by the California Franchise Tax Board, which they allege has delayed the lawsuit's discovery process. Going slow: Erika Jayne, 50, was accused of trying to delay a $5 million fraud lawsuit against her in court filings obtained by the Page Six on Thursday; seen in May in NYC The filing also claims that Jayne has been aware of the suspension since at least February 5 of this year. 'Yet, 110 days later, EJ Global has done nothing to get the LLC out of suspended status,' wrote the attorney Ronald Richards, who represents the law firms. According to Richards, his clients aren't able to properly access EJ Global's documents via discovery because of the suspension, and the delay might help Jayne's position. 'Plaintiffs cannot wait any longer as now Erika Girardi is using the suspension to gain an unfair advantage in the litigation,' he added. The law firms have filed suit against Jayne and Girardi, accusing them of fraud and breach of contract. They claim they went unpaid after they should have received a portion of lawsuit settlements managed by Girardi's law firm Girardi & Keese. Taking her time: Attorney Ronald Richards accused Jayne of not moving to get her LLC EJ Global out of a suspension by the California Franchise Tax Board; seen with Tom Girardi in 2016 They claim that the missing money was transferred to EJ Global, where it allegedly helped pay for Jayne's luxurious purchases. Girardi allegedly gave her $25 million over the course of 12 years, but Richards claims his clients deserve $5 million of that sum. The clock is ticking, as a hearing is scheduled for July 21, 2022. In his filing, the attorney urged the court to order Jayne to file EJ Global's tax returns, which would be necessary to get it out of the suspension, within 10 days starting on Thursday. But Evan C. Borges, who represents Jayne in the ongoing lawsuit, tried to shift the blame for the suspension to her estranged husband Tom Girardi, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease and has been staying at a senior living community that specializes in memory care. 'The EJ Global LLC suspension is part of the mess that Tom Girardi [TG], Girardi &Keese [GK], and their outside accountants dumped on Erika and left her to sort out with no access to records,' Borges claimed in a statement to Page Six from Thursday. He alleged that Girardi, along with Girardi & Keese and its accounts, had 'always managed the finances of EJ Global LLC, not Erika.' No rush: Richards alleges that Jayne knew the LLC was suspended since February, and she would have to file its taxes to end the suspension, which she has not yet done; still from RHOBH That would suggest that the financial records needed to properly file the LLC's taxes were held by the accountants who previously worked for the company. Jayne's lawyer added that she was the 'interest holder' of the LLC, but he claimed it was 'virtually impossible' for her to 'figure out how to file tax returns without any financial records.' 'We have not given up trying, but without any of the records, it is an extremely difficult task. The Sheldon plaintiffs and their Twitter attorneys have no case,' he claimed in the statement. 'Their entire case is based on unethical fee splitting agreements with GK, which are unenforceable,' he added. The outlet also reported that Borges previously filed a motion on May 17 requesting that Jayne's financial records be kept private. He claimed in the filing that 'information in the Confidential Documents has no bearing on or relevance whatsoever to any of the claims or defenses in this action.' Shifting blame: Jayne's lawyer disputed the allegations and said that Girardi, his law firm and its accounts were responsible for tax filings for Jayne's LLC In a response, Richards accused Borges' motion of being 'meritless,' and he said his clients were 'hamstrung from using the identity [of EJ Globals funding source] to explain why Plaintiffs are investigating where their money went or why they are asking about certain individuals.' Asked about his request to keep Jayne's financial details confidential, Borges told Page Six that his motion 'speaks for itself.' He accused the plaintiffs in the lawsuit of trying to 'publicize' how his client 'obtained funds from another citizen to help her pay her bills.' Borges also suggested in his statement that the fact that she received help means she couldn't be hiding a large amount of funds from the plaintiffs. 'The fact that Erika has needed assistance from others to pay her bills shows that there is no hidden treasure she ever took for herself that really belongs to the bankruptcy estates of Girardi or Girardi & Keese.' Turning the tables: Jayne's attorney claimed that the plaintiffs in the suit acted with her ex Girardi to 'violate ethical rules'; still from RHOBH Borges' statement accused the plaintiffs of seemingly wanting to embarrass Jayne, as he claimed the Girardi & Keese trustee had previously received the information due to the plaintiffs' 'threat of pay me money "or else" I go public.' He concluded by claiming that his client wanted to 'protect EJ Global LLC,' but she wouldn't 'pay its taxes and as a matter of law, cannot shield her LLC from this case while it is suspended.' The lawyer also suggested it was ridiculous that his client, 'as a non-lawyer with a separate career an entertainer, somehow ran the finances of the law firm and somehow participated in the decisions made by TG and GK not to pay an illegal fee-split to the Sheldon plaintiffs.' Legal woes: Jayne was hit with a $2.1 million lawsuit in February 2021 and a $50 million racketeering lawsuit just last month; seen in December in Santa Monica This is just the latest legal trouble for Jayne, who was previously named in a $2.1 million lawsuit in February of last year for allegedly aiding her estranged husband's embezzlement scheme. Her situation got even more dire in April of this year, when she was targeted with a $50 million racketeering lawsuit. Her ex has been accused of embezzling settlement funds intended for the families of victims of Lion Air Flight 610, which crashed into the Java Sea in 2018, killing all 189 passengers and crew aboard it. You never know who you'll run into in New York. Claire Danes, 43, was jogging in Central Park when the Homeland star happened to run into Carey Mulligan, 36, and a friend, who were also taking a run Thursday. The Essex Serpent star looked toned in a pair of black leggings and a long sleeve white t-shirt. She trod the trail in black sneakers, a white hat, a bum bag and earbuds. Chance meeting: Claire Danes, 43, and Carey Mulligan, 36, enjoy a chat after a chance meeting in New York's Central Park Thursday Carey looked sleek in a pair of blue leggings, a black sleeveless shirt that exposed her trim arms, and black hat. All the women appeared makeup free and chatted for a while before heading in different directions. Claire, and her husband, Law and Order star Hugh Dancy, 46, live in New York with their two children, Cyrus, nine, and Rowan, three. Toned: The Essex Serpent star looked toned in a pair of black leggings and a long sleeve white t-shirt. She wore sneakers black sneakers, a white hat and a bum bag and earbuds The Emmy award winner has been recently filming the limited-series drama Fleishman Is in Trouble with Jesse Eisenberg, 38, about a Manhattan couple going through a bitter divorce. The FX show is based on the best selling book by the same name. Carey is currently in New York to film Maestro, which is being directed by Bradley Cooper. Trim: The Promising Young Woman actress looked sleek in a pair of blue leggings, a black sleeveless shirt that exposed her trim arms, and black hat The British actress will play Leonard Bernstein's wife, Felicia Montealegre, in the film which examines their complex relationship. Bradley will star as the world famous composer. The A Star is Born director also co-wrote the script. Carey shares her two kids, Evelyn, 6, and Wilfred, 4, with her husband, Marcus Mumford, 35, of the band Mumford and Sons. Advertisement Pregnant Shanina Shaik led the model glamour alongside fellow catwalk veterans Izabel Goulart, Swanepoel and Jourdan Dunn on Thursday as they hit the red carpet at the amfAR charity gala during the Cannes film festival. The Australian model Shanina, who revealed her pregnancy earlier this month on Mother's Day, looked incredible as she showed off her blossoming baby bump in a figure hugging black silk gown. The 31-year-old, who announced she's expecting her first child with boyfriend Matthew Adesuyan, cradled her bump with her hands as she opted for a pair of towering heels with the plunging number. Mama to be! Pregnant Shanina Shaik led the model glamour alongside fellow catwalk veterans Izabel Goulart, Swanepoel and Jourdan Dunn on Thursday as they hit the red carpet at the amfAR charity gala during the Cannes film festival She styled her dark tresses in pulled back out of her face from a center parting and opted for a radiant palette of makeup showcasing her beauty. Shanina simply completed the ensemble with a pair of dazzling earrings and several diamond rings. The model posed alongside former Victoria Secret Angel Sara Sampaio, 30, who shimmered in a black sequin high neck dress which showcased her toned legs through a large split. Mum-to-be: The 31-year-old, who recently announced she's expecting her first child with boyfriend Matthew Adesuyan, cradled her bump with her hands as she opted for a pair of towering heels with the plunging number Wow! The pregnant model posed alongside former Victoria Secret angle Sara Sampaio, 30, who shimmered in a black sequin high neck dress which showcased her toned legs through a large split She turned up the heat wearing a radiant palette of makeup including a bold red lipstick and slicked her dark tresses up in a chic up-do. Elsewhere, fellow Victoria Secret model Izabel Goulart, 37, wowed in an eye catching gold glittering cut out gown which had a stunning plunging neckline. The beauty looked sensational in the embellished gown which showcased her toned physique as she added some height to her frame in a pair of gold heels. Dazzling: Another Victoria Secret model Izabel Goulart, 37, wowed in an eye catching gold glittering cut out gown which had a stunning plunging neckline Glam: The beauty looked sensational in the embellished gown which showcased her toned physique as she added some height to her frame in a pair of gold heels Radiant: She showed off her beauty by slicking her long dark tresses up in a chic high ponytail and opted for a dazzling pair of earrings to match the ensemble Izabel seemed in high spirits as she beamed while posing up a storm on the red carpet in a glamorous palette of makeup including a smoky brown eyeshadow and glossy pink lipstick. She showed off her beauty by slicking her long dark tresses up in a chic high ponytail and opted for a dazzling pair of earrings to match the ensemble. Meanwhile Candice commanded attention in a bold cut out red gown which flashed her toned legs through a thigh high leg split. Lady in red: Meanwhile Candice commanded attention in a bold cut out red gown which flashed her toned legs through a thigh high leg split Looking good: The 33-year-old put her Victoria Secret modelling skills on show as she revealed a towering pair of strappy red heels which elevated her 5ft 7 figure Stylish: She completed her look with a glam face of makeup including a bold matching red lipstick and swept her blonde tresses back in a stylish up-do as she posed alongside New Zealand model Stella Maxwell who looked chic in a black suit (pictured left to right Stella and Candice) The 33-year-old put her Victoria Secret modelling skills on show as she revealed a towering pair of strappy red heels which elevated her 5ft 7 figure. She completed her look with a glam face of makeup including a bold matching red lipstick and swept her blonde tresses back in a stylish up-do. Candice posed alongside New Zealand model Stella Maxwell who looked chic in a black blazer and matching wide leg trousers. Friends: The duo were also joined by Brazilian model friend Valentina Sampaio who put on a stylish figure in a white plunging suit and slicked her dark tresses up from a side parting (pictured left to right - Stella Maxwell, Candice Swanepoel, Valentina Sampaio) Amazing: Next in line was Jourdan who looked breathtaking in a shimmering backless gold gown which featured a halter neck line and small train The 32-year-old added some height to her frame in a pair of boots as she completed the suit ensemble by leaving her blonde tresses down in loose curls. The duo were also joined by Brazilian model friend Valentina Sampaio who put on a stylish figure in a white plunging suit and slicked her dark tresses up from a side parting. Next in line was Jourdan who looked breathtaking in a shimmering backless gold gown which featured a halter neck line and small train. Stylish: The 31-year-old dressed to impress adding a pair of gold dazzling earrings to the number and swept her dark locks up in a messy bun The 31-year-old dressed to impress adding a pair of gold dazzling earrings to the number and swept her dark locks up in a messy bun. She posed up a storm on the carpet for the event in a smoky eye shadow, fluttering lashes and a nude lip gloss. Jourdann was joined by Iris Mittenaere who wowed in a beige extreme cut out gown which featured two large thigh high splits. The French model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe 2016 opted for a platform pair of gold heels to match the eye catching number. amfAR is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to the support of aids research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of AIDS-related public policy. The event which takes place Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc featured live performances by Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin and Charli XCX, with legendary actor, director and producer Robert De Niro serving as the evenings honored guest. Since 1985, amfAR has invested nearly $617 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide. amfAR Gala Cannes has raised a cumulative total of more than $245 million for amfARs lifesaving AIDS research. This extraordinary success has enabled the Foundation to make critical research investments that have brought us within reach of a cure for HIV. Lily Collins was spotted while taking her dog Redford for a walk in West Hollywood on Wednesday afternoon. The 33-year-old performer cut a casual figure while taking her pooch out for a bit of exercise and enjoying the pleasant California springtime weather. Collins tucked a dark gray t-shirt into a pair of stark white pants during her dog-walk. Stepping out: Lily Collins, 33, was spotted while taking her dog Redford for a walk in West Hollywood on Wednesday afternoon The Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile actress paired her look with a set of dark beige shoes. She accessorized with several articles of jewelry and kept a small bag slung over her left shoulder. The Golden Globe-nominated performer's luscious brunette hair cascaded onto her backside as she strolled along the city's streets. Comfortable clothes: Collins tucked a dark gray t-shirt into a pair of stark white pants during her dog-walk Stepping in style: The Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile actress paired her look with a set of dark beige shoes Collins' most recent appearance in a major motion picture was in the thriller feature Windfall, which was released on Netflix on March 18. The movie centers on a married couple who are held hostage by a squatter taking refuge in their vacation home. The film also stars Jesse Plemons and Jason Segel, and it was directed by the actress' husband, Charlie McDowell. Windfall's principal stars and its director all served as the project's producers, and the Forgetting Sarah Marshall actor also received a story credit. On screen: Collins' most recent appearance in a major motion picture was in the thriller feature Windfall, which was released on Netflix on March 18 Filming on the feature took place over much of early 2021 at a residence in Ojai, California. The movie has since received mixed to positive reviews, and it currently holds a 59% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Collins spoke about her character, simply credited as the 'wife,' during an interview with Netflix's Tudum, where she noted that she identified with the role on a deeper level. 'I can understand so much of her wanting to step outside of that, wanting to find her voice, wanting to break free of the role that she's found herself now in and the condition that she found herself in,' she said. Getting deep: Collins spoke about her character, Wife, during an interview with Netflix's Tudum , where she noted that she identified with the role on a deeper level; still from Windfall The performer also expressed that she initially did not expect to be involved in her husband's project during its development stage. 'I felt quite attached to her and the trajectory and the story very early on but did not know that I'd end up being involved in it in this way,' she said. Collins then remarked that working on the feature was 'such a rare experience, and it was one that I did not think was a given that I'd get to be a part of in that way.' Kanye West's lawyer Samantha Spector has filed paperwork to withdraw from the rapper's divorce case from ex-wife Kim Kardashian. Spector cited an irreconcilable breakdown with the 44-year-old rapper, The Blast reported, citing court docs. An attorney from Pennsylvania (who is not a divorce lawyer) will represent the Grammy-winning artist in his split from Kardashian, 41, the outlet reported. Spector, who has previously represented celebs such as Amber Heard and Dr. Dres ex-wife Nicole Young, was hired by West earlier this year amid his acrimonious split with the reality star. The latest: Kanye West's lawyer Samantha Spector has filed paperwork to withdraw from the rapper's divorce case from ex-wife Kim Kardashian West brought Spector on his legal team in the wake of his public complaints that Kardashian had prevented him from seeing their children (North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three). Kardashian in February took to social media to explain her frustration with West's behavior in the wake of their split, after he publicly complained that their eldest child North had a TikTok account. 'As the parent who is the main provider and caregiver for our children, I am doing my best to protect our daughter while also allowing her to express her creativity in the medium that she wishes with adult supervision - because it brings her happiness,' she said. 'Divorce is difficult enough on our children and Kanye's obsession with trying to control and manipulate our situation so negatively and publicly is only causing further pain for all. 'From the beginning I have wanted nothing but a healthy relationship because it is what is best for our children and it saddens me that Kanye continues to make it impossible every step of the way.' West was seen in NYC earlier this week signing autographs as he arrived to a Balenciaga show Kardashian and West publicly clashed earlier this year amid their ongoing divorce battle Counting Spector (pictured in 2019 in LA), West has been through four attorneys in the case West fired back in an Instagram post responding to Kardashian's statement, saying, 'What do you mean by the main provider? 'America saw you try to kidnap my daughter on her birthday by not providing the address. You put security on me inside of the house to play with my son then accused me of stealing I had to take a drug test after Chicagos party cause you accused me of being on drugs.' Counting Spector, West has been through four attorneys in the case, Page Six reported. Prior to Spector, West relieved attorney Chris Melcher of his duties in the case, TMZ reported in March. Insiders told the outlet at the time that West had been indecisive in his dealings with Melcher, at some times looking to settle and other times looking to battle her in court. Prior to Spector, West relieved attorney Chris Melcher of his duties in the case in March Kardashian has spoken about her troubled split with West on the family's new Hulu series The Kardashians At the time West switched representation from Melcher to Spector, Kardashian's lawyer Laura Wasser said that West had been 'strategically' switching lawyers in an effort to slow down the legal process in the split, Mirror reported. Kardashian has spoken about her troubled split with West on the family's new Hulu series The Kardashians, saying she was sorry to her relatives amid West's headline-making outbursts against her and her family. 'All I can do is control how I react to something,' Kardashian said on the show. 'I can't control how he treats me or, you know, how he's always treated you guys.' In a confessional segment, Kardashian said that she understood the 'impact' the split with West 'has had on [her] family' and that she wanted to tell them, 'I'm sorry, guys.' She added: 'I said I will never let that happen to you guys again and, like, I feel for once in my life, I feel strong. I'm not going to let anyone treat you guys that way or myself.' Kardashian filed to divorce West in February of 2021 after more than six years of marriage. She has been dating comedian Pete Davidson, 28, since last fall. He was the last of the Chelsea Set of outrageous toffs who scandalised late 1950s London with their gambling and hard-partying. But perhaps the most surprising revelation about Mark Sykes, who has died suddenly aged 84, is that he was reconciled with his family. 'I actually spoke to him on the day he died,' his eldest son, Tom, tells me. 'A great consolation.' Sykes is said to have died in the street behind Westminster Abbey while on his way to a lunch. A gambling pal of Lord Lucan, the aristocratic charmer was extradited to Australia, convicted of blackmail at the Old Bailey and cold-shouldered by all six of his children, including his second daughter, best-selling author 'Plum' Sykes. His reconciliation with them seemed inconceivable for decades following Sykes's desertion of his second wife, former model Valerie Goad, whom he left near-destitute and caring for Tom and his siblings. So deep were the wounds that when Plum held the London launch party for her hit debut novel, Bergdorf Blondes, at Annabel's nightclub in Mayfair, she pointedly did not invite her father. Mark Sykes (pictured with his second wife Valerie Goad, a dress designer at a ball at the Dorchester Hotel), who has died suddenly aged 84, was the last of the Chelsea Set of outrageous toffs who scandalised late 1950s London with their gambling and hard-partying Indeed, by then it was accepted that Plum who'd been lured to New York to work on American Vogue by its editor, the formidable Anna Wintour had 'airbrushed him out of her personal history'. Relationships with the wider family were scarcely better including those with his cousin, dandy baronet Sir Tatton Sykes, who inherited the family seat, the magnificent Sledmere House in Yorkshire. Good looking, engaging and 'no fool', as one acquaintance puts it, Oxford-educated Sykes was engaged to Viscount Portman's niece, Suna Portman, and was briefly wed to Australian model Helen Homewood, who posed for celebrated photo-grapher Helmut Newton. After his divorce from Goad, he married Alexandra 'Sandy' Sotomayor, a spirited Ecuadorian who died two years ago from Covid. Sykes, who was banned from driving and acquitted of causing grievous bodily harm to a London cab driver, got away with an insurance fraud in 1960 involving a Rubens, a Renoir and other significant artworks. His co-conspirators were Peter Scaramanga, an Old Harrovian, and Eton-educated pornographer and novelist Robin Cook, who confessed decades later: 'It was a scam.' The paintings were never recovered. Even when, in 1979, finally convicted of attempting to blackmail an Iranian out of 250,000 (1 million today) Sykes received only a 12-month suspended sentence. His funeral was held in the Catholic Church in Farm Street, Mayfair. 'It was a beautiful service,' Tom tells me. Mark Sykes pictured with former debutante and politician's daughter, Synove Portman, aka Suna Portman TV presenter Anthea Turner is taking unusual steps to keep in shape ahead of her wedding to socialite Mark Armstrong in Italy. 'I wear weights around the house,' the former Blue Peter star, 62, tells me at the Chelsea Flower Show. 'I've 2kg weights around my ankles and a 5kg vest to make myself work harder.' Keep the red wine flag flying It has a vintage Soviet Union flag in its student bar, but King's College, Cambridge, which rejoices in its Lefty reputation, doesn't stint on its cellar, which contains 50,000 bottles a few cases of which are going under the hammer at Christie's. The upper estimate for the sale is a distinctly capitalist 1.2 million, which may ease the pain felt by King's Wine Steward, Peter de Bolla. 'One is always sad to see great wines leave the cellar,' reflects de Bolla, who is also Professor of Cultural History and Aesthetics. If you fancy a dozen bottles of the Henri Jayer for Georges Jayer, Echezeaux 1999, be prepared to fork out 80,000. Up the workers! She's probably our most celebrated actress, with an Oscar and a damehood to her name, but Judi Dench is already overshadowed by her grandson, Sam, according to her partner, David Mills. Sam, 24, has become a hit on teenagers' favourite video-sharing app TikTok after posting videos of himself, often with his distinguished granny, 87. And he attracted interest because of his likeness to pop superstar Ed Sheeran. 'Sammy came with us to LA for the Oscars and people wanted to talk to him rather than Judi, because they think he is the TikTok king,' conservationist Mills, 78, tells me at the Chelsea Flower Show. 'It's amazing.' When Dame Joan's slip was almost showing... She once presented an ITV makeover show, Joan Does Glamour, in which she tried to make dowdy women look chic. But Dame Joan Collins suffered an embarrassing sartorial crisis of her own at a party at Langan's Brasserie in Mayfair. 'A major wardrobe malfunction,' the Dynasty star, 89, admits. 'While laughing at [TV presenter] Richard Arnold's joke, my zipper burst.' What's her secret? Dame Joan Collins with husband Percy Gibson Luckily, husband Percy Gibson, 57, offered to return to Belgravia. 'Hubby to the rescue,' she says, explaining he 'dashed home and found another white dress'. A carefully placed feather boa happily kept her secret safe. Bridgerton star was rubbed up wrong way Bridgerton heart-throb Jonathan Bailey can't help taking his work home with him even after shooting the Netflix costume drama's steamy sex scenes. 'I went to a pub for a pint with my mates,' says Bailey, 34, who plays Anthony Bridgerton. 'When I got up to get another round, I felt 'I'm chafing a bit'. And realised I still had on my modesty thong. Because I was so traumatised and I ran so quickly from the set, I hadn't even taken off my little pouch.' Bailey shudders at the memory of the bathtub scene he shared with love interest Kate Sharma [Simone Ashley] that went viral. 'There was a camera in the water between my legs,' he wails. Millions of Americans might lose health coverage when the US federal government's emergency declaration expires in July, which may have potentially devastating consequences, a non-profit group warns. If the COVID-19 public health emergency is not renewed, an estimated 5.3 million to 14.2 million people could lose Medicaid coverage, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis reported by The Guardian. The wide range is due to doubts about how states will respond to the end of ongoing enrollment and how many individuals may lose coverage as a result, according to the experts. By the end of the fiscal year 2022, Medicaid membership is predicted to exceed 110.2 million people, with enrollment expected to drop sharply once continuous enrollment ceases. Many Americans can now get avail free COVID-19 testing, medical treatment, and immunizations thanks to the public health emergency declaration. Depending on whether they are supported by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance, patients may face out-of-pocket expenditures if it ceases. Immunizations would, however, remain free for people covered by Medicare and private insurance, while state Medicaid programs would decide whether or not to continue funding vaccinations for their enrollees. In addition, Medicare has eased the restrictions governing telehealth services, allowing far more beneficiaries to use them during the declaration. Telehealth services are no longer confined to individuals who live in rural areas, and subscribers can conduct visits at residence rather than traveling to a health care center. They can also obtain a broader range of services. After the emergency ends, most recipients will lose their options. Biden Administration Extends COVID-19 Health Emergency Declaration Since coronavirus cases again rise across the US, the Biden administration extends the Covid-19 public health emergency declaration beyond July 15, according to two administration officials, as per a report from CNN. The declaration most likely is extended for another 90 days. Read Also: Pfizer CEO Downplays Monkeypox, Says Disease 'Very Difficult' To Become Pandemic The administration sustains the public health emergency while lobbying Congress for additional funds for treatments and vaccines. In early April, the Senate negotiated a tentative bipartisan agreement to award an additional $10 billion in COVID-19 funding, amounting to less than half of the White House request. The measure would enable the Biden administration to buy more vaccines and medicines while maintaining testing and research resources. However, it does not include $5 billion in financing for global COVID-19 assistance, nor does it renew the program that pays for the tests, treatment, and vaccination of uninsured people. Medical Groups Plead To Sustain Emergency Declaration Until Pandemic Recedes The announcement comes after the American Medical Association and 15 other major healthcare organizations urged federal officials to keep the public health emergency in place as COVID-19 cases climbed. Per WebMD, the groups appealed that the emergency declaration is sustained so patients can get vaccines, tests, treatments, flexible care, and inexpensive healthcare. The groups asked the Biden administration to "maintain the public health emergency until it is clear that the global pandemic has receded" and the capacities authorized by the declaration are no longer needed. "This will help prevent any future surges from threatening the health and safety of patients and the ability of health care professionals to care for them," they added. Related Article: Baby Formula Shortage: Federal Investigation Launched Into Manufacturers Amid Nationwide Crisis @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Dyson now places its big bet on the future of robots. Dyson has been a very well-known brand when it comes to producing quality appliances backed by technological and engineering advancements. Now, the company announces its newest endeavor in developing robots that will help users alleviate their household chores. Dyson believes they will be able to release these robots in 2030. Dyson Building Robots Dyson shared this announcement during the International Conference on Robotics and Automation that was held in Philadelphia. Dyson has demonstrated a number of prototypes of robots that it is currently working on and has announced plans to recruit hundreds of engineers over the course of the next five years in order to develop robots that are capable of performing household chores. The photos shared in the presentation are intended to demonstrate the fine motor skills of the Dyson robots, with arms that are capable of doing things like lifting plates out of a drying rack, vacuuming a sofa, or picking up a toy for a child. Even though robots are often used in controlled settings like factory assembly lines, they haven't made much of an impact on the home market yet, with the exception of the niche but quickly growing market for robotic vacuum cleaners. An example of this is Tesla, a manufacturing brand implementing the use of robots in their line of assembly. The company will definitely pave the way for using both AI and technology side by side in daily activities. These Dyson robots can become a successful addition to their hot-selling line of robotic vacuums on the market. According to The Verge, the company's chief engineer, Jake Dyson, stated: "This is a 'big bet' on future robotic technology that will drive research across the whole of Dyson, in areas including mechanical engineering, vision systems, machine learning, and energy storage." In 2021, as reported by The Guardian, Dyson was able to profit a surmountable amount of revenue, valuing it at 1.5 billion. Along with their increasing profit, the company has stated that it would spend 2.75 billion from 2020 to 2025, including 600 million this year, to launch new products and research technologies, such as robotics and batteries. Read Also: Japan Looks To Boost Space Program - But Needs US Help To Do So Dyson's Recruitment Drive Dyson also highlighted its most extensive engineering recruitment drive in the company's history to help their vision come to life. Dyson is ramping up its efforts to become a leader in the robotics industry. According to Dyson, this year, the technology company has welcomed 2,000 new employees, of which engineers, scientists, and coders make up fifty percent of the total. The company has already hired 250 robotics engineers to work in a variety of fields, such as computer vision, machine learning, sensors, and mechatronics. Furthermore, over the next five years, Dyson plans to hire 700 more people to work in the robotics industry. The newly employed workers will both work at Dyson's robotics lab at Imperial College London and Dyson's global headquarters in Singapore. The overarching objective is to turn their Hullavington Airfield headquarters into the most technologically advanced and largest robotics center in the United Kingdom, with the goal of eventually bringing the technology into people's homes. The most recent transformation of Dyson's robotics division is the next step in the company's plan to invest 2.75 billion in new technologies, products, and facilities. In addition to that, the company plans to spend a total of 600 million this year. Related Article: The Dyson Zone: Headphones With a Built-In Air Purifier Members of security personnel stand guard along a sealed area in Srinagar on May 25, 2022, after the sentencing hearing of Yasin Malik. (Photo by AFP) SRINAGAR: The security forces authorities have sounded alert across Jammu and Kashmir especially the Kashmir Valley following separatist leader Muhammad Yasin Malik being sentenced to life in prison by a special Delhi court in a case of terror funding and other charges. Senior officers of the J&K police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), paramilitary forces and the Army closeted here on Wednesday evening to review the overall security situation and the law-and-order issues emerging of the sentencing of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leader by the NIA court. The meeting chaired by Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range), Vijay Kumar, and attended, besides by senior J&K police officers and regional chiefs, the IGP of the CRPF and DIGs of the Border Security Force (BSF), the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and senior officers of the Army also took a detailed review of the security arrangement being put in place for the upcoming Amarnath yatra, the official sources said. Earlier Wednesday, larger parts of Srinagar witnessed a spontaneous shut down by traders to show solidarity with Malik. However, the public and private transport plied as usual in and outside the summer capital. Soon a crowd assembled outside the residence of the separatist leader in Citys Maisuma area to chant pro-azadi slogans and to praise him for his valour. When a strong contingent of J&K police and the CRPF moved in the congested locality, irate youth hurled rocks and other missiles at them, the witnesses said adding that the police fired a few teargas canisters to quell the mob. Though the situation was brought under control immediately, tensions persisted. The authorities have decided to impose curbs on the movement of people in and around Maisuma, the sources said. Also, police and CAPF reinforcements have been fanned out to prevent a law-and-order situation arising in any part of the Valley. The internet services in the Maisuma neighbourhood were suspended on Wednesday afternoon as a precautionary measure, the officials said terming the clash in the area earlier as an isolated occurrence. Meanwhile, People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), a conglomerate of J&Ks opposition regional parties and their allies from the national Left parties, has said that life imprisonment given to Malik is unfortunate and a setback to the efforts for peace. We are afraid that this will further compound the uncertainties in the region and will only fuel more alienation and separatist feelings, PAGD chief spokesman and CPIM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said. He added, The NIA Court has delivered its verdict but not justice. The triumphalism being displayed by the BJP and the corporate media is bound to prove counterproductive. The spokesman also said that Malik should avail all legal opportunities to contest this verdict. Separatist Hurriyat Conference alliance faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq strongly condemned the conviction and the sentence of life imprisonment for Malik and said that the JKLF had since 1994 pursued peaceful and democratic means of conflict resolution. As a strong votary of dialogue and negotiations between the concerned parties to the Kashmir conflict-the people of J&K, India and Pakistan, he has been relentlessly and selflessly seeking its resolution. Malik actively participated in all negotiations held on Kashmir after 2000 under various regimes in New Delhi and Islamabad. Yet he was arrested, shifted to Tihar and has now been convicted in invented cases under draconian laws, when he is actually being punished for his political beliefs on the J&K dispute and for representing the sentiments of its people, it said in a statement here. The alliance faction asked the Government of India to release all political prisoners languishing in jails across India and under house arrest and resolve the lingering Kashmir conflict peacefully through deliberations among the parties to the dispute keeping in view the will of the people of J&K. It added, Imprisonment and incarceration cannot change that reality. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the verdict even if it does not meet the expectation of the people especially those wronged by Malik. Party leaders Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta in their identical statements said that the people particularly those whose kin were murdered by the JKLF and its leader in the hey day of militancy in Kashmir had expected the court to give him capital punishment. If you ask me, the people had expected the court to give this terrorist the severest of the severe punishment for killing innocent people himself or through other terrorists of his organisation. They are disappointed but the sentences awarded to him today would be welcomed by the people of J&K and beyond, said Mr. Gupta. He pointed out that Malik is facing trial also in two other cases pertaining to the killing of four Indian Air Force personnel in Srinagar on January 25, 1990 and the kidnapping of Rubia Sayeed, the daughter of the then Home Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and that hopefully he would be awarded death penalty in one of these cases. Directing the listing of the matter on July 27, the court directed the Union of India to file its response to the recommendations made by the panel within a period of six weeks from Thursday. (Representational Image/ PTI) New Delhi: In a socially and historically pathbreaking order, the Supreme Court has recognised prostitution as a profession, holding all those engaged in it and their children are entitled to the same human decency and dignity as is available to others, and the opportunities to grow and advance in their lives guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution -- right to life. Needless to say, this basic protection of human decency and dignity extends to sex workers and their children, who, bearing the brunt of social stigma attached to their work, are removed to societys fringes, deprived of their right to live with dignity and opportunities to provide the same to their children, said a three-judge bench comprising Justices L. Nageswara Rao, B.R. Gavai and A.S. Bopanna. The directions issued are essentially police-centric, for protecting the rights of sex workers and their children, the court told the police across the country to refrain from being brutal and violent towards the sex workers and not to abuse them, both verbally and physically, subject them to violence or coerce them into any sexual activity. Noting that the attitude of the police towards the sex workers is often brutal and violent as if they are a class whose rights are not recognised, the court in its recent order pronounced on May 19, 2022 has directed that the police and other law enforcement agencies must be sensitised to the rights of sex workers, who also enjoy all basic human rights and other rights guaranteed in the Constitution to all citizens. The court said this as it issued 10 recommendations of a panel set up way back in July 19, 2011 as its direction in exercise of its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution. Noting that the Central government has been dragging its feet on enacting a law, owing to reservations in respect of the certain recommendations, the court said its directions will hold till a law is enacted by the Union of India. The court clarified that the directions being issued by it only relate to the rehabilitation measures for sex workers and other connected issues. Having noted the indignities and discrimination suffered by sex workers, the order passed said: Notwithstanding the profession, every individual in this country has the right to a dignified life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The constitutional protection that is given to all individuals in this country shall be kept in mind by the authorities who have a duty under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956. Insisting that sex workers are entitled to equal protection of the law, the court said: When it is clear that the sex worker is an adult and is participating with consent, the police must refrain from interfering or taking any criminal action. The court said there is concern that the police see sex workers differently from others and when a sex worker makes a complaint of criminal/sexual/any other type of offence, the police must take it seriously and act in accordance with the law. It further said that any sex worker who is a victim of sexual assault should be provided with all facilities available to a survivor of sexual assault, including immediate medical assistance, in accordance with Section 357C of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, read with the March 2014 health ministry Guidelines and Protocols: Medico-legal care for survivor/victims of sexual violence. Underlining that voluntary sex work is not illegal, and only running the brothel is unlawful, the court in one of the recommendations issued as directions said: Whenever there is a raid on any brothel the sex workers concerned should not be arrested or penalised or harassed or victimised. In another significant direction on the children of sex workers, the court said that no child of a sex worker should be separated from the mother merely on the ground that she is in the sex trade, and if a minor is found living in a brothel or with sex workers, it should not be presumed that he/she has been trafficked. In case the sex worker claims he/she is her son/daughter, tests can be done to determine if the claim is correct, and if so, the minor should not be forcibly separated. Protecting the identities of sex workers from media exposure, the court has asked the Press Council of India to issue appropriate guidelines for the media to take utmost care not to reveal the identities of sex workers, during arrest, raid and rescue operations, whether as victims or accused, and not to publish or telecast any photos that would result in disclosure of such identities. Directing the listing of the matter on July 27, the court directed the Union of India to file its response to the recommendations made by the panel within a period of six weeks from Thursday. The Register reported that two security researchers have discovered five related techniques for preemptively hijacking internet accounts. In a paper titled "Pre-hijacked accounts: An Empirical Study of Security Failures in User Account Creation on the Web," Avinash Sudhodanan, an independent security researcher, and Andrew Paverd, a senior researcher at Microsoft, discuss their findings. Because online services commonly fail to verify that the person signing in owns the supplied identification before authorizing usage of the account, the paper investigates how to exploit the interaction between federated identity services and traditional password-based account creation. 5 Types of Pre-Hijacking Attacks The two researchers also wrote a blog post about their findings, describing five different types of pre-hijacking attacks. 1. Classic-Federated Merge Attack: This takes advantage of a flaw in the interaction between the conventional and federated account creation processes. 2. Unexpired Session Identifier Attack: This exploits a weakness in which authenticated users are not automatically signed out of an account when they reset their password. 3. Trojan Identifier Attack: This leverages the attacker's ability to link an additional identifier to an account created through the standard username and password method. 4. Unexpired Email Change Attack: This takes use of a potential flaw in which the service fails to invalidate email-change capability URLs after a user changes their password. 5. Non-Verifying IdP Attack: This is the mirror image of the Classic-Federated Merge Attack. When creating a federated identity, the attacker uses an IdP that does not validate ownership of an email address. The blog noted that all of these methods require the attacker to identify services where the victim does not currently have an account but is likely to create one in the future. Read More: Cybercriminals Are Weaponizing Ransomware - How Lethal Is It? Almost Half of 75 Tested Popular Services Could Be Exploited via Pre-Hijacking Attacks According to The Register, because none of these are guaranteed to work, they may appear speculative. However, they proved to be functional enough to test on a range of popular internet services. When the researchers assessed 75 popular services from the Alexa top 150 websites to see if they could be exploited via pre-hijacking attacks, they discovered that at least 35 of them could be exploited using one or more of these methods. The Unexpired Email Change Attack, for example, has been discovered to be vulnerable to Dropbox. The Trojan Identifier Attack has been discovered to be susceptible on Instagram. The Unexpired Session Attack, as well as a variant of the Trojan Identifier Attack, were both possible targets for Microsoft's LinkedIn. Two of these attacks were discovered to be vulnerable in both WordPress and Zoom. Sudhodanan and Paverd claim to have responsibly exposed all 56 vulnerabilities they discovered for 35 services, with 19 of them being reported through third-party bug services such as HackerOne, Bugcrowd, and Federacy. They also claimed to have contacted 11 more companies using their security reporting email addresses. The companies that received these reports should, in theory, have addressed them by now. Related Article: A US College To Shut Down for Good Following a Ransomware Attack VIJAYAWADA: Minister for Roads and Bridges, Dadisetti Raja, has alleged that there was a conspiracy by Chandrababu Naidu behind the Amalapuram incident. Naidu was responsible for the Tuni incident in the past and now he is responsible for the Amalapuram incident. The name of Konaseema district was changed as per the wishes of the people and with the consent of all political parties including the Telugu Desam, he told the media here on Wednesday. Raja alleged that Chandrababu Naidu behind the Amalapuram incident. The conspiracy he hatched was to set fire to a minister's house, he said. Chandrababu is doing such things as he is unable to digest the support coming to the YSRCs Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabuthavam, the minister said. He said the protesters chanted slogans like Jai Jana Sena and Jai Pawan Kalyan. In fact, Chandrababu and Pawan were leading the agitators from behind, he said and warned them that the YSRC government will punish the culprits. Minister Raja recalled that Naidu and Pawan had demanded giving the name of BR Ambedkar to Konaseema district. Intellectuals, public associations and the people as a whole unanimously supported the naming of Konaseema-Ambedkar district. However, when the government decided to go ahead with that, the TD and the Jana Sena raised a hue and cry. He alleged that the TD and the Jana Sena conspired in a coordinated manner, speaking one way in front of the people and in another way behind the people. In the process, they sought to disturb peace in Konaseema. Such a conspiracy in politics should be condemned by all people and such parties should be punished in future elections, he said. Minister Raja said Naidu is the only villain in the state. Chandrababu was villain to NTR, YSR, KCR, Vangaveeti Mohan Ranga, Jagan, to everyone, he said. He recalled that it was Naidu who first went to Konaseema district and later Pawan; and they hatched a conspiracy to disturb law and order if only to defame the Jagan-led government and to divide the people on caste lines. TD president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu greets party activists before going to Ongole Mahanadu on Thursday. (C. Narayana Rao/DC) Vijayawada: The Telugu Desams annual Mahanadu-2022, to be held in Ongole this year from May 27, has a special edge this year. The birth centenary celebrations of thespian and party founder N.T. Rama Rao will begin on May 28. TD president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated a roadshow in Vijayawada to call on TD activists and followers to make the event a success. Since the YSRC government has tried all means to prevent the roadshow, we started this yatra on a bullock cart. I urge the party workers to come to the venue no matter what the transport facilities are, including on foot, Naidu said while flagging off the bullock cart and bike rally. Naidu addressed a public meeting at Chilakaluripeta en route to the Mahanadu venue and alleged that YSRC MLC Anantha Udaya Bhaskar had abducted and murdered Dalit car driver Veedhi Subrahmanyam. The government had tried to portray it as an accidental death but the TDs pressure ultimately forced it to concede. Chanting slogans like 'Quit Jagan' and 'Save AP', Naidu said that the YSRC had played a double game on the Konaseema incident. Its own minister and MLA in Amalapuram had set fire to their houses. Jagan can no longer rule the state so the incompetent Chief Minister is planning for byelections, he added. Naidu said the police could not control the crowds coming for his Baadude Baadudu tours in the districts. The police were begging the people not to leave the venue of Jagan Mohan Reddy meetings, he said. Mahanadu cannot be stopped by the CM and his ministers, Naidu said. The first Mahanadu was held under the late N.T. Rama Rao after the TD came to power in 1983. The Mahanadu has been an annual event since 1988. Former MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao from Vizag said that NTR birth centenary celebrations will be held on May 28. Most Indians would have forgotten, forgivably, the powerful anti-corruption and cleansing politics plank that brought Prime Minister Narendra Modi to power in 2014 elections. The slogan, na khaunga, na khane doonga (I wont take bribes, wont let anyone else take them) was a powerful reiteration of an older party with a difference theme, but got personified as part of Mr Modis unimpeachable integrity and persona. Rahul Gandhi faced its power when he raised the issue of possible corruption in defence deals, especially over the acquisition of Rafale fighter jets, when the Chowkidar chor hain boomeranged on the Congress Party before 2019 elections. In todays political narrative, family-run political parties, be it the Congress or the regional parties, are synonymous with corruption. If nepotism itself is a form of corruption that Mr Modi and the BJP are fighting, is it any surprise that the Congress and the regional parties have hardly ever tried to even raise the issue of corruption against the BJP? This has given it an uncontested and unchallenged halo of honesty. But it could change for the 2024 elections with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which shares several traits of the BJP being subaltern in its DNA, its leaders coming from humble ranks, honesty and zero tolerance to corruption being part of its standard offerings to the electorate upping its ante. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has just scored over Prime Minister Modi and even Delhi chief minister and party boss Arvind Kejriwal. A sting operation was done on his own cabinet colleague and health minister Dr Vijay Singla, who was immediately dismissed, and subsequently arrested. In publicly demonstrating that Singla was dismissed for demanding a commission of one per cent (as a joke, most corrupt folks wont even laugh about the number), Mr Mann has proven that he is honest beyond peers, and his intolerance to even one rupee worth of corruption is above suspicion. Mr Mann has set a new benchmark and the BJP will have to worry about it because unlike the Congress or regional parties, the AAP can effectively weaponise charges of corruption. It has earned the rights. And Caesar might smile at the creative ways his wife is being cast in the Indian political theatre. Southeast Asia and Latin America are strong growth regions for Mastercard after its withdrawal from Russia in March and India's 2021 ban on it from issuing new cards, the company's co-president for international markets said. "Southeast Asia is exciting (due to) the right demographics, the adoption of technology and digitisation, and governments' focus on financial inclusion," Ling Hai told the Reuters Global Markets Forum, adding that countries in the region would also benefit as supply chains shift away from China. India's central bank banned Mastercard after declaring it "non-compliant" with the country's 2018 rules that required foreign card networks to store Indian payments data locally for "unfettered supervisory access". "Our sense is we are getting really close to a resolution," Hai said on the India ban, adding that the company was working "very constructively" with the Indian government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Hai said Mastercard was ready to comply with India's local data-storage rules. "The goal is to be 100% compliant. Anything we need to localise in India, we are taking tangible steps to get there." Mastercard suspended operations in Russia - a market that accounted for roughly 4% its net revenue in 2021 - in March, over its invasion of Ukraine. In Russia, if an opportunity arose to improve rules and regulations in areas such as financial inclusion, sustainability and data privacy, Mastercard will "work towards changing them together with other stakeholders in the ecosystem, including the government themselves", Hai said. Hai also said that Europe was an exciting market for the company due to its post-Covid economic recovery and the scope of innovation that the continent offers. Besides geography, the payment network company is also focusing on high-growth parts of the business, such as business-to-business payments flows, telecommunications and retail. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested the main accused in the April 22 Sunjwan terror attack case from south Kashmirs Pulwama district on May 25. A spokesperson of the NIA on Thursday identified the accused as Abid Ahmad Mir son of Mushtaq Ahmad Mir of Putrigam, Rajpora in Pulwama, who was wanted in the case RC-03/2022/NIA/JMU. Investigation has revealed that accused Abid is an overground worker of Jaish-e-Mohammad and was a close associate of arrested accused Bilal Ahmed Wagay. He was also in touch with Pakistan-based handlers of the JeM. He knowingly and voluntarily had extended support to the other co-accused persons in the commission of the instant crime, the spokesperson said. Two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jammu on April 24, the police and security forces killed two suspected Pakistani terrorists wearing suicide vests during a nearly five-hour encounter near the Sunjwan military station in the Jammu region. This was the first official visit of the prime minister to Jammu and Kashmir since the state was split into two Union territories in August 2019. The encounter led to the killing of an assistant sub-inspector of the CISF, identified as S P Patel, as the terrorists fired at a bus carrying security personnel. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed over the case to the NIA on April 26. The case was initially registered in PS Bahu Fort, Jammu as FIR No. 115/2022 dated April 22 and re-registered by NIA on April 26. Accused of hate speeches and calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi the worst PM, Kerala politician P C George, has now turned a hero for the Bharatiya Janata Party after the leader's fiery speeches targeting the Muslim community. The former MLA had, less than two years ago, targeted PM Modi by calling him one of the worst prime ministers of India. As police arrested George in connection with hate speeches in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, the BJP and other Sangh Parivar outfits offered receptions to him and party leaders, including union minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan, even turned up to greet him in police custody. George was remanded to judicial custody by a court in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, while a bail plea filed at the Kerala High Court would be considered only on Friday. A former leader of the regional party Kerala Congress and an MLA in Kerala for 30 years, George had joined the BJP-led NDA in Kerala in 2019 after floating his own party Janapaksham. But his association with the NDA lasted only a few months. It was while announcing his decision to quit the NDA in December 2019 that George, who is known for his loose tongue, commented that Narendra Modi was a bad prime minister. He also alleged that Modi was looting the Reserve Bank of India. BJP sources pointed out that the same George had earlier praised Modi. In 2013, while being part of the Congress-led United Democratic Front he even inaugurated a Run for Unity campaign by displaying a t-shirt with Modis picture. The BJP seems to be backing George with the intention of getting close to Kerala's Christian vote banks, especially since the Assembly bypoll at Thrikkakkara is on May 31. The BJP has been backing Christian bishops in Kerala who had raised matters of love jihad and narcotic jihad. Countering the BJPs move, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said at a bypoll campaign meeting on Thursday that the BJP was supporting George with the intention of making the Christian community in Kerala feel that the party was protecting them. But the attack on the Christian community in other parts of the country exposes the real attitude of BJP and other Sangh Parivar outfits, he said. George, who hails from Poonjar in Kottayam district, is a seven-time MLA from Poonjar, mostly representing the regional Kerala Congress. In 2016, he contested as an independent MLA and even won but lost in the 2021 Assembly election. His present moves are being looked at as a desperate attempt to grab attention. Students of Mangalore University College staged a protest in the campus against wearing the Hijab in classrooms. They accused the Principal of failing to prevent over 40 Muslim girls from removing the Hijab before entering the college. The students also condemned the college's failure in not implementing the Karnataka High Court's order on wearing of Hijab within educational institutions. Karnataka | Students of University College, Mangalore protest against the college administration for not implementing the Hijab rule. pic.twitter.com/kPSCM6gfqP ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2022 A meeting of departmental heads in the college has been convened to discuss the issue and on the college's next course of action. The hijab crisis started earlier this year as a protest by six students of the Udupi Government Pre University Girl's College, which later escalated into a massive row. The students filed a petition at Karnataka High Court seeking permission to wear Hijab in classrooms. Taking note of the situation and sensitivity of the matter, the High Court constituted a special bench and heard the petition immediately. The special bench headed by Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi dismissed the petition filed by students and observed that wearing of hijab is not an essential practice in Islam. The government of Karnataka had issued guidelines for schools and pre-university colleges making uniform compulsory for students without giving any room for wearing of Hijab in classrooms. (With inputs from PTI) A consultant working on behalf of Causeway Coast and Glens Council has met with representatives from the Dungiven area, including the committee of Glenshane Development Ltd, local Sinn Fein councillor Kathleen McGurk and other leading community members to discuss the upcoming Growth Deal funding opportunity. Cllr McGurk, who has been working with the consultant undertaking the business case for the Dungiven Regeneration project, welcomed the progress. "The council is currently in line to receive 72million of funding as part of a Growth Deal package like the city deals seen in Belfast and Derry," she said. "A regeneration project for Dungiven has been identified as one of the shortlisted projects, with an initial budget of over 3 million being earmarked, and the council is now trying to identify what works could be undertaken as part of a wider regeneration project. "The meeting which took place last Thursday night was an initial discussion with the community about the scope of the funding, listing key projects and identifying lead partners for any proposed projects. "Works currently being considered include a streetscape project to improve the appearance of the town, a digital hub to help facilitate technical jobs in the new remote working environment, and a flagship visitor destination project to help grow tourism within the area. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of Dungiven, particularly as we emerge from the pandemic where work environments have changed. "Dungiven is entering a new era with the bypass nearly at the finish line and we need to ensure that we plan ahead to develop Dungivens economy to meet the challenges that come with this and improve the amenities for local residents. "I welcome the work the council has done on this to date, and I will work with all parties to ensure we put forward the best case for Dungiven to be successful in availing of this funding opportunity. Sinn Fein Foyle MLA, Padraig Delargy, has said the strong trend of increased all-island trade must be built upon to create jobs and prosperity across the island. Mr Delargy's comments came following the publication of the latest trade figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in the Republic of Ireland that show the trend of strong and increased all-island trade continuing into 2022. CSO data stated that the value of goods moving from the north of Ireland to the south increased by 34 per cent in the first quarter of 2022 (250m), on the same three months last year to close to 986million. Goods moving to the North from the South moved upwards at a higher rate of 49 per cent in the first quarter. An increase of 312million took the first quarter total to 953million. Mr Delargy said: Over the course of 2021 north to south trade in goods increased by 1.3 billion (65 per cent) and south to north trade over the same period up by 1.1 billion (54 per cent). In the first three months of 2022 that trend has continued strongly, with north to south trade up by a further 34 per cent compared to January-March 2021 and south to north trade by 49 per cent over the same period. This highlights the benefits and importance of the protections of the protocol and the opportunities that exist which need to be built upon. Three successive DUP economy ministers have ignored the potential of the north's unique status under the protocol of access to the EU single market as well as the British market. It is past time for playing politics and threats of unwarranted unilateral action from the British government which benefits no one and will in fact damage businesses and our economy. People want to see negotiated solutions on the implementation of the protocol. The DUP should end its boycott of the Assembly, the Executive and the north-south bodies so we can put money into the pockets of workers and families struggling with the cost of living, put an additional 1billion into the health service and maximise the potential of the protocol to create jobs and prosperity. Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry (the CBI), Tony Danker, has said the British Government needed to build up trust with the European Union as the NI Protocol could give the North of Ireland an economic advantage. Speaking to the BBC, he said: For a large number of businesses it is working great. If you're a manufacturer you have access to dual markets. That is a very big deal in the context of the overall Brexit fall out. He also warned that the current situation regarding an Executive not yet being formed at Stormont had the potential to damage the economic advantage that the Protocol could deliver. He added: There are some areas in which a functioning executive is a precondition to strong levels of investment. Anything where public regulation or public subsidy is relevant, for example in infrastructure and energy markets. If we want prosperity to take hold in Northern Ireland we need a functioning executive. The pollen forecast for Derry this weekend could give hay fever sufferers more than a runny nose, as the pollen count begins to climb, with a moderate to high warning over the next three days for tree and grass pollen. Hay fever sufferers who are vulnerable to oak and birch pollen might be especially affected although oak pollen is considered to be mildly allergic compared to other tree pollens, it tends to stay in the air longer, which can cause a severe reaction. The recent increase in pollen levels has led to a warning from one of the countrys leading car insurance comparison websites, concerned that most motorists are unaware of the fact that driving under the influence could result in hefty fines and points on their licence. Some hay fever medications could see drivers committing this type of motoring offence without even realising it. Price comparison website, CompareNI.com, says the government legislation that bans driving while under the influence, does not distinguish between illicit drugs, prescription medication and over-the-counter medications. This means any type of drug that affects a motorists driving abilities could potentially result in a drug-driving conviction, even if its something as simple as hay fever medication that causes drowsiness. One in four people in the UK has hay fever, thats approximately 16 million people. Grass pollen is arguably the biggest cause of seasonal allergies, affecting approximately 90 percent of hay fever sufferers, with peak season from mid-May until July. The regions hay fever sufferers could consider the following advice before getting behind the wheel: Check medication - antihistamines and hay fever medications can differ in strength, check with the doctor if in any doubt about possible side effects and always read the label the warning, do not operate heavy machinery is commonly found and applies to cars, forklifts and any other heavy machinery. Plan journeys check the forecast for pollen warnings or download a weather app, which gives a 5-day forecast for high pollen counts. Keep the car as pollen-free as possible - clean the car regularly to get rid of dust that could trigger symptoms before setting out, regularly change pollen filters in the cars ventilation system and keep car windows closed during journeys. Get stocked up keep the car stocked with fresh tissues, hay fever medicine, a bottle of water, eye drops, anything used to ease the symptoms, should they strike unexpectedly. Drive safely better to err on the side of caution, giving lots of space to fellow road users and taking breaks if hay fever symptoms start. If drivers dont feel well or the pollen count is high, play it safe and dont make non-urgent journeys. Greg Wilson, Founder of Northern Irelands largest car insurance comparison site, CompareNI.com, said: A lot of people arent sure exactly when the hay fever season starts, it actually runs for seven months of the year - March to September - depending on the type of pollen people are allergic to, so it can catch drivers off guard. Most people assume that the term drug-driving refers to driving while under the influence of illicit narcotics, but the truth is that driving after taking any type of drug, could result in a motoring conviction if the motorists driving abilities are impaired. While some hay fever medications are non-drowsy, some types do cause drowsiness, and some prescription hay fever tablets in particular carry a do not operate heavy machinery warning. "If a driver fails to obey this warning and gets behind the wheel, they could risk a hefty fine of up to 5,000, points on their licence and endanger themselves and other road users. Smart homes have had a wide integration in the past few years. Smart home appliances have become more widely available, accessible, and affordable, with companies releasing products in different price ranges. Smart homes have given families and single individuals living alone a more convenient and easy way of living and doing simple chores. From televisions, door bells, speakers, refrigerators, ovens, and many more, having smart devices that interconnect provides ease. However, having a home with too many smart devices also poses threats to security. The majority of people who use smart homes aren't getting hacked, which means that even though hearing stories about hacks and privacy breaches can be unsettling, they are still relatively uncommon. Nevertheless, it is essential to exercise caution when using any device that is connected to the Internet. There is no reason to completely forego the advantages that come with having smart home devices. The key is to be aware of potential dangers and make effective use of the protections that are at your disposal. Here are some of the steps that you can take to protect your smart home from hackers. How to Protect Your Smart Home from Hackers Protect Your Wi-Fi Network First, it is highly recommended for users to protect their wireless network. Most households, when they receive their Wi-Fi network, do not bother to change the default password to a stronger password. Using the default password that came with your modem allows you to expose your data in the wild. This also exposes all the devices connected to one another. As recommended by Wirecutter, you can add another layer of protection to your smart home by using a guest network, which is a common option found in many popular routers, to separate your smart home devices from your personal computers and smartphones. Enable Two-Factor Authentication Strong passwords are a good start, but you can take things even further. You can take security one step further by enabling two-factor authentication on the software services that support it. The accounts that you use to sign up to your chosen network will require a password, and you can assure security by having two-factor authentication. Aside from accessing your account through the use of only a password, a unique set of codes or numbers will be sent to you through email or through your phone for an added layer of security. So in order to access your account, you will need to enter your correct password and the code sent to you by two-factor authentication. Use Distinctive Passwords Even if you have a unique password for your network, it is possible that this will not be enough to keep your devices secure. You should give some thought to assigning unique passwords to each of your devices, each of which should be different and should be unique to that particular product. It is highly encouraged that when setting up a password, you not use letters and numbers that are significant to your birthday or any of your personal information. In addition, it is also highly recommended for you to change these passwords on a regular basis, at the very least several times a year. Read Also: Did You Know That the First US Television Sitcom Aired in 1947 - What is It? Purchase from Reliable Brands Another piece of advice in protecting your smart home is to start from the very beginning step, which is to purchase your smart home devices. It is wisest to purchase smart devices manufactured by well-known brands. These businesses have a reputation to uphold and the resources necessary to back it up. This will help you safeguard your home from default errors, wiring accidents, or malicious actors. Having a well-trusted brand that caters to its consumers will also save you a headache in the long run. In addition, it goes without saying that prior to making any kind of purchase, it would be helpful to read some reviews from reputable sources. Firmware Updating According to PCMag, "Firmware is the low-level software that powers your router and other Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets." Nowadays, numerous hacking incidents have been all over the internet. Malicious threat actors are everywhere, always looking for a vulnerability to exploit in the systems of large tech companies. With that, when an update is released, it is highly recommended for you to update your firmware with the latest security patches and new features as they become available. There are apps and software out there that automatically update themselves with the latest firmware. However, there are still a lot of devices out there that require you to actively tap or click the "update" button or download the update in order to get the most recent features and security patches. Do not disregard these updates; instead, either configure your device to update itself automatically or set a reminder on your device to check for updates on a regular basis. As PC Mag stated, running an older version of the firmware could make your device susceptible to attack from hackers who are looking to take advantage of vulnerabilities that have not been patched. Related Article: Adulting Tip [2022] This Is How You Can Test the Speed of Your WiFi John Devlin's postcard to Mary-Ellen Kavanagh An Inishowen man is on a quest to find out if the man who wrote to his aunt following a dance in Buncrana 100 years ago, has any family still living in Derry. At the beginning of May, the Inish Times carried a poignant interview with Pa Deeney from the seaside town, whose maternal aunt, Mary-Ellen Kavanagh (19) was one of the first casualties of the Civil War in Donegal, along with Esther Fletcher (10). Mary-Ellen and Esther died in the Infirmary in Derry on May 4, 1922. They were shot during the gun battle which followed a robbery at the then Belfast Bank, now the AIB, in Buncrana, earlier in the day. During the interview, Pa kindly shared a photograph of a postcard, which Mary-Ellen had received in the week before her death. It was sent by a Mr John Devlin, who had met Mary-Ellen at a dance in the town the previous week. John's address was 34, Lecky Road, Derry. In the postcard, John wrote: Dear Mary-Ellen, Just a card as promised. Arrived home alright on Friday night, enjoyed the dance alright, as I hope you done the same. I expect to be down that way soon so I will give you a call. What do you think of the other side, some colours? Please reply, yours sincerely, John Devlin. Speaking to Inish Times, Pa said he would love to know if John had any relations still living, in Derry or beyond. He said: I sometimes wonder if he heard about Mary-Ellen's death? Did he ever visit Buncrana again? Did he realise why she never replied to his postcard, why he never heard from her? I would love to know if John Devlin stayed in Derry and what became of him. I would love to put a face and a story to the name on a postcard, the postcard which arrived in Buncrana in such a tragic and momentous week. If anyone has any information which might help Pa, please get in touch at: catherine.mcginty@iconicnews.ie or through out Facebook page: Inish Times / Inish Live. A number of beaches and marinas in County Derry have been presented with environmental awards in the annual Beach and Marina Awards. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council won ten Blue Flag Awards and two Seaside Awards at the recent ceremony celebrating excellent management of local coasts and waterways. Local beaches to receive the prestigious accolade were Benone Strand, Castlerock Beach and Downhill Strand. The Marina in Coleraine also received recognition. Meanwhile, in Mid Ulster, Ballyronan Marina landed a Blue Flag Award for the Councils work in meeting stringent international standards around water quality, education, safety and accessibility. The Deputy Mayor for Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Ashleen Schenning said: This endorsement is hugely encouraging as we prepare for another busy summer season across our beautiful coastline. "We now have four marinas demonstrating the highest level of good practice which is a very welcome achievement. Ballycastle Marina has been a long-time holder of a Blue Flag, and we are very pleased that it is now joined by three of our other facilities, creating a valuable network for our customers which adhere to the highest environmental standards. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our harbour users and boat owners for their co-operation and contribution to our Blue Flag success. Mid Ulster District Council's Deputy Chair, Cllr Christine McFlynn, added: In securing its Blue Flag status once again, Ballyronan Marina continues to be an asset in our district. "As well as recognising the quality of the natural resource on the shores of Lough Neagh, this award also acknowledges the continuing care of Council employees, community groups based on site, boat owners and residents of Ballyronan who together strive to keep our Marina clean, tidy and welcoming for visitors. Extensive development of the site carried out by Council in the past 18 months has enhanced the visitor experience. The new on-water glamping pods, viewing platform, development of the existing play area to include an all-inclusive play, upgrades to the existing trails through Ballyronan Wood, and the addition of a Changing Places facility, in addition to the Blue Flag award, make this an integrated, engaging, clean and accessible place for local families and visitors to enjoy. Rachel Vaughan, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful s Local Environmental Quality Manager praised the local councils for their efforts. Our aquatic areas are vital resources for supporting marine life, human mental and physical wellbeing and a source of great pride for many. We thank and congratulate the teams at Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid Ulster who put in the hard work and dedication to ensure that they remain of a world-class calibre, she said. The Blue Flag Award is operated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a worldwide environmental organisation that also oversees the Eco-Schools, Learning About Forests and Young Reporters for the Environment programmes. FEE celebrates 35 years of the Blue Flag Award in 2022, and has so far issued 4,831 Blue Flags in 50 countries this year. Two Derry IRA men killed in controversial circumstances in the city will be remembered this weekend on the 41st anniversaries of their deaths. George McBrearty (23) and Charles 'Pop' Maguire (21) were shot dead by undercover British soldiers on May 28 1981. A third man, Eamonn (Peggy) McCourt was arrested after he was shot and seriously wounded, while a fourth escaped uninjured. They had been 'on patrol' in Creggan when they noticed a car acting suspiciously. After chasing the vehicle, they were ambushed by the SAS at the Southway - Lone Moor Road junction. Reports at the time said gunfire was exchanged between the IRA men and the SAS soldiers before the car containing wounded IRA men drove back into the Creggan area where it was later found burned out. The commemoration will take place at George McBrearty's grave in the City Cemetery at 1.00pm this Saturday. Wounded... Eamonn (Peggy) McCourt The commemoration, in recent years, has been held at the end house of his niece at junction Rathkeele Way and Rathlin Drive in Creggan, which features a mural on its gable wall. It is understood that both the mural and Crann na Poblachta' - the tree of the Republic - will be moved to another Creggan location in the coming weeks. The RUC at the scene of the fatal shooting The tree - a native silver birch - is embedded beneath the George McBrearty mural. His brother Pat, who died exactly 10 years later, will also be remembered. Eamonn McCourt, who served a lengthy jail sentence, died in January last year after contracting Covid aged 62. Sean Anderson, one of the men charged with the murder of Karol Kelly in Derry on March 4 2018, told the jury he could not believe it when he was told 'that boy's dead.' Brothers Gary Anderson (25) and Sean Anderson (23) both of Grafton Street and Michael Dunlop (21) of Fern Park in Derry are all charged with the murder of Karol Kelly on March 4, 2018. Dunlop is further charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent on Mr Kelly and doing an act with intent to pervert the course of justice on the same date by attempting to conceal knives on the same date. At the opening of the defence case at Derry Crown Court sitting in Coleraine the defendant Sean Anderson took to the witness stand. He told the court he was drinking in his own house with a few friends when two men burst into the house. The defendant said he 'I thought it was a joke then I got punched in the face.' Murder victim Karol Kelly. He told the jury of 8 men and 4 women that as he was being attacked his brother was also being attacked. The court heard that as the assailants left Sean Anderson was 'dizzy in shock and panic.' He said he went to the kitchen and saw a knife and grabbed it and went to the street 'to scare them away.' Anderson said that after the attack he 'lost it'. When asked by his counsel Brian McCartney QC did he remember going to the kitchen and Sean Anderson answered 'vaguely'. The jury was told that Mr Kelly and the other man were on the opposite side of the street when Sean Anderson emerged from the house and the other man said 'he has a knife' and ran. Sean Anderson said that Karol Kelly 'came back towards me' and the accused said he was waving the knife about. He said that Mr Kelly charged at him and he said 'I could have nicked his face.' After this Sean Anderson said Mr Kelly tried to get hold of Michael Dunlop. The jury was told Mr Kelly 'got me and pulled me down by the back of the neck' and there was 'a wee bit of scuffling and he fell to the floor.' Police at Grafton Street following the murder of Karol Kelly. Sean Anderson said he realised Mr Kelly may have been 'hit with the knife' and he dropped it. He was asked how he felt when all this was going on he said 'shock - I couldn't believe what had just happened.' The court heard that a crowd gathered outside and remarks were shouted that he was 'dead man' and that he was 'not going to last a day in jail.' The defendant said as he was being taken out of the house someone told him Karol Kelly was dead and he said 'I couldn't believe it.' The trial continues. A County Derry teaching assistant has this afternoon been named as one of the recipients of a UK-wide teaching award. Margaret Mullan, teaching assistand at St Mary's Gramar School, Magherafelt, is among 80 award-winners as part of the Pearson National Teaching Awards. Margaret, who joined the school in 2017, has been honoured with a Silver Award for Teaching Assistant of the Year due to her outstanding commitment to changing children's lives. Prior to taking up her current role, she had worked as a Special Educational Needs Advisor within the Education Authority and as a peripatetic tutor for children with visual impairment. Margaret works daily with a student who, through a rare genetic disorder, lost their sight, without warning, over a very short space of time at the beginning of their GCSE journey. She continues to support this pupil and has been successful in helping him to reintegrate into his friendship group, developing his confidence within the school environment and returning him to his planned career pathway of completing GCSEs, A Levels and University. As a Silver Award winner, Margaret has now been shortlisted to win one of just 16 Gold Awards later in the year, in a programme to be broadcast on the BBC. Recognition of this once in a lifetime achievement will be broadcast on the BBCs The One Show as part of a week-long celebration of teaching. The school held a celebratory event this morning in Magherafelt. The Pearson National Teaching Awards is an annual celebration of excellence in education, founded in 1998 by Lord Puttnam to recognise the life-changing impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people they work with. St Mary's this morning held a celebratory breakfast in Margaret's honour, with the school posting on social media to congratulate her on her achievement. Margaret has shown great determination, commitment, loyalty and passion in support of the student with whom she has been working over the past 5 years, they said. With Margarets help, this student who was registered blind in 2019, has made huge strides both academically and personally. Their journey has been truly remarkable and it is fitting that Margaret is the top prize winner out of hundreds of applications from all across the UK. We wish to pass on our gratitude and congratulations to Margaret on this fantastic achievement, and look forward to photos from the Awards ceremony later this year. Sharon Hague, Managing Director of Schools at Pearson UK, congratulated all the winners announced this afternoon. Congratulations to todays Silver Award winners on their incredible achievement, they should all feel very proud of themselves, she said. And thank you to all the incredible educators and support staff across this country who really do make our schools and colleges so special. I am delighted that we can take this opportunity to say how much we appreciate all that you do for the young people in your care. A County Derry secondary school has picked up a prestigious national award for the standard of its teaching. Limavady High School was today named as one of 80 Pearson National Teaching Silver Award winners across the UK. The school has been honoured with in the category of Making a Difference - Secondary School of the Year for their outstanding commitment to changing the lives of the children they work with every day. As a Silver Award winner, the controlled, 11-18 co-educational school -which has a current enrolment of 811 pupils - has now been shortlisted to win one of just 16 Gold Awards later in the year. Recognition of this once in a lifetime achievement will be broadcast on the BBCs The One Show as part of a week-long celebration of teaching, which sees famous faces honour award winners every night in the run up to the ceremony. This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the exceptional school staff who have worked wonders to bring together their local communities despite the challenges of the past few years. The Silver Award winners are being honoured as part of wider celebrations for Thank a Teacher Day, bringing people together to celebrate schools and colleges at the heart of their communities. The Pearson National Teaching Awards is an annual celebration of excellence in education, founded in 1998 by Lord Puttnam. Staff at Limavady High School celebrating the award. It recognises the life-changing impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people they work with, and is now in its 23rd year. Limavady High School principal, Darren Mornin, said the school was proud of what they had achieved. It's a great accolade for the staff in the school, the pupils and the whole entire community in Limavady High School and the area, he told Derry Now. To be recognised as one of the leading secondary schools, not only in Ireland, but throughout the UK, is something to be really proud of. Everything is hot and heavy, and stressful at this time of year, so this will give all the staff a wee push going into the final weeks leading up to the summer break. Sharon Hague, Managing Director of Schools at Pearson UK, said all the Silver Award winners should feel 'very proud of themselves. Congratulations to todays Silver Award winners on their incredible achievement, she said. And thank you to all the incredible educators and support staff across this country who really do make our schools and colleges so special. I am delighted that we can take this opportunity to say how much we appreciate all that you do for the young people in your care. Along with the Chair of Governors and his Vice Principals, Mr Mornin will attend an awards dinner in London in June, with the Gold winners being announced on the One Show in November. A visit by a US delegation led by Congressman Richard Neal has been termed the most undiplomatic to these shores by the DUP leader. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson slated the language used as unhelpful, adding it displays an alarming ignorance of the concerns of unionism, with reference to Mr Neals comment about the dispute over the Northern Ireland Protocol being a manufactured issue. However, Sir Jeffrey said he heard a more realistic approach during his partys meeting with the delegation at Stormont on Thursday. Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said he feels the delegation now understand the issues at hand. I think they get it now but we will know if they get it if they come out and say, We now understand, because we made that point quite heavily to them, he said. The senior US Congressmen led his delegation in meetings with all Stormont parties on Thursday. Sinn Feins Stormont leader Michelle ONeill said the attention was to be welcomed. We have had a very good meeting with them in terms of our shared objective, which is to have this Executive and Assembly up and running, supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis, addressing our health service needs, she said. Very much welcome their commitment and we share their objective in terms of their support for the Good Friday Agreement. There is work to be done but I think the attention from this delegation is something that is very much to be welcomed. Meanwhile, Sir Jeffrey revealed his party confronted Mr Neal about his use of the term planter to refer to unionists in Northern Ireland. He said his party colleague Jonathan Buckley told Mr Neal he is also a planter and that comparisons were made between Northern Ireland today and one of the most seismic events in US history, the Boston Tea Party. Sir Jeffrey said that when tea chests were pushed into the harbour in Boston in 1773, the mantra was no taxation without representation. And I reminded Congressman Neal and his colleagues that this too is our mantra: that today Northern Ireland is subjected to laws and taxes into which it has no say, that not a single member elected to this Assembly can influence many of the laws that now oversee how we conduct trade in our country because they are imposed by the European Union, and there is no democratic accountability to this institution or any democratic institution in this country, he said. So I reminded Congressman Neal that the principle of no taxation without representation applies to Northern Ireland and we need to sort that out and until we sort it out and see the solution being put in place we cannot make the progress that we want to see. Earlier, as he arrived at Parliament Buildings, Mr Neal said Northern Ireland has endured far more grim moments than the current dispute over post-Brexit trade. Power-sharing is on ice in the region after the DUP refused to re-establish a devolved executive following the recent election in protest at arrangements that have created economic barriers on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Unionist politicians have reacted angrily to remarks by Mr Neal in Dublin on Tuesday when he claimed the protocol dispute was a manufactured issue. Standing in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, Mr Neal told reporters: I have been in this hall many times, through far more grim moments than the one were currently witnessing, and I think that the role that weve (the US) offered, the dimension that we brought to bear, is overwhelmingly over all of these years been very helpful. So, looking forward to what all the parties have to say. Mr Neal also spoke of the need to duly honour the 25th anniversary of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement next year. Its an extraordinary success story, he added. Stormont is the latest stop on the US politicians ongoing visit to the island of Ireland. The delegation has also held meetings in London and Brussels during its protocol fact-finding mission. Many unionists and loyalists are vehemently opposed to the protocol, claiming its requirement for checks on goods moving across the Irish Sea has undermined Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdom. One of the architects of the Good Friday Agreement has urged the British and Irish governments to meet to resolve ongoing issues around the peace accord. Tim OConnor, a former senior diplomat who was part of the Irish government delegation in the talks that led to the Agreement in 1998, said it has been a missed opportunity that Dublin and London have not yet met. Mr OConnor told an Oireachtas committee that the two governments played a central role in forming the accord, which underpins peace in Northern Ireland. It was the first session of the architects of the Good Friday Agreement committee. I think that when problems arise as they are right now, it has to be the two governments back together again and I regret that thats not the case at the moment, Mr OConnor said. When the difficulties arise of the nature we have now, it can only be resolved with the starting point of the two governments. Fine Gael TD Fergus ODowd agreed it is up to the two governments to get together. He said: If Boris Johnson wants to go down in history, he could embrace a new relationship with the Irish Government and the North. I think thats the way. The Good Friday Agreement has been of much focus in recent times due to the fallout over the Northern Ireland Protocol. The British Government has claimed the peace agreement is under strain because of the protocol. However, others, including the Irish Government, said the protocol helps protect the Agreement. Mr OConnor went on to challenge those who said they are unhappy with the peace agreement, and called on them to outline an alternative to deal with the flaws of the accord. But your alternative cant just be about you delivering on your own absolute position, he added. It has to pass the test of Good Friday, which is this was something that everybody can sign up to. So can you come up with an alternative that actually is going to get agreement by everybody? Do you know where you want to end up after trying other alternatives? You will end up back here. So, yes, there are issues around it and of course, there is a review clause in it. The answer is going to lie in agreement. We have to find agreement. We have to find a whatever that is going to be. He also detailed the difficulties in the lead up to the signing of the Agreement. We came very close to not having an agreement, he said. But the difference between having an agreement and not having one is night and day. It bothers me we sometimes forget what we did, but its like human health if you ignore its recovery and wellbeing you will pay a price. It has given an honourable pathway forward for everybody, but we live in the real world. The difficulties are clearly still there and there are many issue that are a work in progress. Conflict is the disease and the deal is surgical intervention and surgery to deal with the disease. There is long process of rehabilitation and there are set-backs. After five, 10 or 15 years, surgeons have to intervene again. This is what a real living peace process looks like in all its complexities. Malawian service provider Nyasa Mobile Limited (NML) is said, according to a number of reports, to be partnering the vast Vodafone Group in a deal that will lead to the rollout of the countrys third operator. However, Vodafone has clarified that its role is mainly a consulting one. A Vodafone spokesperson told Developing Telecoms: Vodafones Partner Markets team has been supplying services to Nyasa Mobile to aid its launch in Malawi. These services include market assessment, operational support and network planning. This is purely a consultancy arrangement and Vodafone has no equity in Nyasa Mobile. The Nation newspaper says that a team from Vodafone reportedly visited Malawi recently to meet government officials and assess the business environment. NML chairperson Konrad Buckle has been widely quoted as suggesting that the new operators planned rollout will take place in phases towards the end of the year, though its not clear when it will be complete. Buckle has also claimed the involvement of some major direct foreign investors along with the consultancy arrangement with Vodafone. The upshot, in theory, should be mobile telephony services at competitive prices, which, Buckle has said, has not been possible in the past 20 years. He added that the new operator hopes in the next five years to create 400 direct jobs and over 1,000 indirectly. NML describes itself as a disruptive third mobile network operator in Malawi committed to delivering financial inclusion and social economic growth, and driving internet penetration to deliver a backbone for economic growth. Assuming the new network fulfils its aims of offering competition and cheaper services it wont be too soon for most Malawians. According to TeleGeography's CommsUpdate, the market is characterised by high tariffs and poor service quality. Mobile penetration was under 60% at the end of March this year. MTN Group has formed a strategic alliance with BT Group that will see the UK-based firm offer business services to MTNs African enterprise customers. The first service offered by the partners will be a security operations centre (SOC) service, which features a cloud-based platform for security incident and event management (SIEM), allowing enterprises greater insight into their security offerings. The cooperation between the firms is significant given that MTN chief Rob Shuter was appointed CEO of BT Enterprise last year following a three-year stint at South African group. The partnership will afford MTNs customers access to consultancy, connectivity, voice and UCC services. BT provides services to Africa and the Middle East from its hubs in Dubai, Istanbul and Johannesburg. BRICS ministers urge inclusiveness, mutual learning in cultural partnership Xinhua) 10:14, May 26, 2022 BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- BRICS culture ministers met virtually on Tuesday, calling for deepened cooperation on cultural digitalization, cultural-relic protection and the construction of cultural-exchange platforms. During the meeting, an action plan was signed to implement an agreement on cultural cooperation within the emerging-market bloc, which groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Hu Heping, China's minister of culture and tourism, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech, saying cultural exchange is the "third pillar" of BRICS cooperation. Hu made five initiatives to promote cultural cooperation, concerning inclusiveness and mutual learning, pragmatism, innovation, obligation sharing and exchanges among young people. The ministers expressed hope that the BRICS countries would become good examples of exchange and mutual learning between civilizations, and would contribute to the progress of human civilization and world peace and prosperity. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) A PlayStation Plus pricing error charged players with an additional subscription fee, seemingly an upgrade tax to the revamped service of Sony. However, the renowned maker of PlayStation, Sony, admitted that the upgrade tax was a mistake all along. PlayStation Plus Pricing Error? The new PlayStation Plus service has already started rolling out to numerous players in various parts of the world, as per a news story by Kotaku. The launch of the revamped subscription program unraveled a few issues from wonky frame rates and now pricing errors. Some PlayStation players were baffled when they attempted to upgrade to the new existing service of Sony. According to the latest story by The Verge, users upgrading with a discount were asked to pay back what was supposed to amount that they could have saved in the first place. On top of that, it also asked players to pay an additional upgrade fee. Ergo, PlayStation Plus players got weirded out by this. First, Sony took back the discount, which is already strange by itself. Then, they still need to pay an additional upgrade price. There were other instances where players were required to upgrade for the same duration as their older PS Plus plan, preventing them from getting the revamped version for only a month or a year. It comes as some users of the older service previously grabbed years worth of subscriptions when they got it for dramatically cheap prices. Thus, the error required some players to subscribe to the new service for 10 years, asking for hefty fees. The whole pricing issue frustrated numerous users. A number of them ended up storming social media platforms, which The Verge dubs as the court of public opinion, to air out their disappointment. Read Also: Sony's PlayStation Plus Games Will Soon Have 2 Hours of Free Trial Sony Says Upgrade Tax a Mistake After several users panicked with the surprising pricing details of the new PlayStation Plus, Sony officially addressed it on Twitter. The Japanese tech giant blamed the pricing mess, which some users thought was official, on a technical error. The official Twitter of Ask PlayStation said that PS Plus "membership at a discount have been incorrectly charged for their upgrade pricing." Sony goes on to assure its players that it has gotten rid of the upgrade issues, saying, "this error has been fixed." PS Plus Pricing Error Refund However, the explanation and fix would not be enough for players who have already paid for the upgrade tax. Sony further added that all affected subscribers are getting a refund or a credit from the tech giant. Related Article: PlayStation Plus Tier Upgrades Could Be Done 'Easily' Anytime, Sony Tells Current Users How Its been a few days since the Peruvian telecommunications regulator Programa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (Pronatel) sprung a surprise by calling a halt to a tender to take over the operation and maintenance of the national backbone network Red Dorsal Nacional de Fibra Optica (RDNFO). But two questions still remain to be answered. Firstly how did the three bidders Viettel, Dorsal Peru and Fibra Optica del Peru fail to comply with the tender process's terms of reference? And secondly, what happens now? The RDNFO, which links 22 regional capitals and 180 provincial capitals with 13,600km of fibre optics, has already had something of a chequered history. As we reported in January, the network has been a vast drain on government resources, possibly due to the fact that the system was underutilised and required regular funding. This may also have had something to do with an inflexible pricing structure for capacity on the network. After some disagreements on how to remedy this, the previous operator Azteca Comunicaciones saw the cancellation of its licence in early 2022, although as early as 2020 Azteca had suggested terminating its concession by mutual agreement. But RDNFO is still evidently seen as a big prize in some quarters. Viettel is a major name in Vietnam, operating mobile telephone networks in Peru under the Bitel brand. Its not entirely clear which companies are behind the two other bids, but press reports suggest Dorsal Peru involves Israeli satcoms giant Gilat Networks and Peruvian telecommunications company Optical Networks. Fibra Optica del Peru may be linked to Satelital Telecomunicaciones, which aims to bring fibre connectivity to Iquitos, the Amazonian capital of Peru. The question of where RDNFO goes from here isnt easily answered. Rumours of interference with the bidding process havent helped and underuse of the RDNFO network (just over 3% according to a story in Total Telecom) still needs to be addressed. However, for the moment, Pronatel itself is operating the network. Embassy Ljubljana supports premiere of the film Belfast and was joined by Professor McGarry News With the support of Embassy Ljubljana, the Slovenian premiere of the film Belfast took place on 18 May at the Kinodvar cinema. Following the film, Professor Fearghal McGarry of Queens University Belfast shared his reflections on the film, as well as the context of the film and Dr. Kaja Sirok spoke about the evolving experiences of the communities straddling the border between Slovenia and Italy. A Q & A exchange then took place with members of the audience. Previous Item | Subscriber content preview INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Eli Lilly and Company plans to invest $2.1 billion in two new Indiana manufacturing sites, a move that's expected to create hundreds of new jobs in the Hoosier state, the company announced Wednesday. The new facilities will expand the Indianapolis-based company's manufacturing network for active ingredients and new therapeutic drugs, including those used to treat diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's and cancer, Lily officials said during a news conference at the governor's residence. . . . Subscriber content preview By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer It's become a common sight: jubilant Starbucks workers celebrating after successful votes to unionize at dozens of U.S. stores. But when the celebrations die down, a daunting hurdle remains: To win the changes they seek like better pay and more reliable schedules unionized stores must sit down with Starbucks and negotiate a contract. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE (AP) State officials say a large black bear that evaded capture in the area for more than two years was trapped and killed near Issaquah last week. The Seattle Times reported the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife said the 5-year-old bear was captured in the Squak Mountain area, where he was spotted in garbage containers, bird feeders and fruit trees dozens of times. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE An apartment building at 301 E. Roy St. sold for over $14.2 million, according to King County records. The seller was Cameron Velo LLC, which under a different name acquired the property in 2007 for $8.1 million. . . . The company did not say how many people were laid off in total. Lacework had previously stated that as of March, it employed over 1,000 people. The Software Firm Has Laid Off Employees Lacework is the latest software company to announce a large round of layoffs amid concerns about a broader economic slowdown. According to Protocol, the company confirmed that it laid off 20% of its workforce as part of a "decision to restructure our business." In a blog post published on May 25, the cloud security vendor said that it has "taken every effort to provide those impacted with severance encompassing compensation, healthcare coverage, and access to outplacement support." Lacework went on to say that employees seeking opportunities outside of the company will be assisted by them in any possible way it can. Lacework Has One of the Biggest Valuations for Privately Held Security Companies The company announced a $525 million funding in January 2021, followed by a $1.3 billion funding in November 2021, with a $8.3 billion valuation. Lacework ranks third among privately held security firms in terms of valuation, according to CB Insights. According to Protocol, the cloud security company went on a recruiting binge after its customer base increased by 3.5x in 2021. Lacework's employees jumped from 200 people in January 2021 to over 1,000 by March, thanks to the significant funding and rapid expansion of the firm. Read More: Infamous Better.com CEO Vishal Garg Set To Lay Off 4,000 More Employees Very Soon So now we only have one big question. What is the reason for the latest lay off? According to the company's post, "Over the past several weeks and months, a seismic shift has occurred in both the public and private markets. While we do not have control of the environment around us, we do have a responsibility to control how we operate our business and make changes as needed to best position the company for continued and long-term success." Another Tech Company Just Recently Laid Off 700 Employees As previously reported, Klarna, a Swedish tech company that specializes in "buy now, pay later" (BNPL), announced on Monday that 10% of its workforce would be laid off. Interest in pay-later items has declined as customers' finances have tightened, and advocates in the U.S. began studying the deferred payment schemes in 2021. Citing the Tech Crunch report, the company employs around 7,000 people currently. As a result of the 10% labor cut, some 700 people would lose their jobs at the fintech firm. In the next few days, certain European employees will be asked to leave the company in exchange for severance pay. Outside of Europe, some employees will be forced to quit the company, but the process will vary depending on where they work. The tech company did not go into detail about the layoffs. Instead, CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski of Klarna points to a multitude of economic and geopolitical factors that have influenced the firm's difficult decision. Klarna presently has 400,000 merchants in its network. Related Article: Swedish Tech Company Klarna Lays Off 700 Employees Through Prerecorded Video ReNew Power to invest Rs50,000 cr in renewable energy projects in Karnataka Renewable energy company ReNew Power on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka government to invest Rs50,000 crore in the state over the next seven years. The MoU was signed in the presence of chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meet in Davos. CM Bommai held a series of meetings with industry captains from various countries, on the second day of his visit to the WEF meet in the Swiss ski resort town. ReNew Power plans to invest in production units for renewable energy, battery storage and green hydrogen with potential to create employment opportunities for 30,000 people, according to a statement issued by the chief minister's office. ReNew Power, established in 2011, is one of Indias leading renewable energy companies in terms of total energy generation capacity. Since commencing operations with a 25.2 MW wind project in Jasdan, Gujarat, the company has grown exponentially, and has a current renewable asset base of over 12 GW, including projects under development and in the pipeline. In October 2019, ReNew Power became the 1st RE company in India (and 10th globally) to cross 5 GW of installed capacity. In 10 years of its operation, ReNew projects have generated many jobs, directly and indirectly. In 2019-20 ReNew Power contributed nearly 1 per cent of the total electricity generated in India and helped mitigate 0.5 per cent of the carbon emitted in a year. With 3.78 GW of commissioned and committed wind energy assets, ReNew Power has one of the largest portfolios of wind energy projects in the country. During the day, Bommai also met chairman and CEO of Bharti Enterprises Sunil Bharti Mittal. Mittal has expressed keen interest to set up a 'Mega Data Centre' in the state, for which the chief minister has assured all support from the state government, the release said. Bommai also discussed investment opportunities in Karnataka with Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani. Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani, IT, BT Minister CN Ashwath Narayan, Additional Chief Secretary in the Department of Industries E V Ramana Reddy, CM's Principal Secretary N Manjunath and Commissioner in the department of Industries Gunjan Krishna were present at these meetings. "The Adani Group had recently expressed interest to invest nearly Rs 50,000 crore in Karnataka which will boost the economy and create jobs," industries minister Murugesh Nirani, later tweeted expressing happiness about the meeting with Adani. He also shared information about the meeting with Volvo. "Volvo is known for their quality and precision engineering globally, among many other positive attributes. It was wonderful to dine with the CEO of Volvo, Martin Lundsedt today and understand how their drive for quality and precision has made them one of the most revered companies," he said in a tweet. Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) CEO Bang Moon-kyu, center, poses with President Yoon Suk-yeol, left, after the bank got a presidential commendation at the convention for SMEs held at the presidential office complex in Yongsan District, Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Eximbank By Yoon Ja-young The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) got a presidential commendation for supporting the country's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their exports. According to Eximbank, it was awarded the presidential commendation at the annual convention for SMEs organized by the Korea Federation of SMEs at the presidential office complex in Yongsan District, Seoul, Wednesday. It is the biggest event for SMEs, awarding not only business leaders who have contributed to the national economy and job creation but also those who have helped SMEs to grow and develop. Eximbank was the only financial institution to get a presidential commendation for its contributions to SMEs. The bank has been steeply increasing funding for SMEs during the past decade. It supported them with a record high of 30 trillion won in funding last year, which compares with around 20 trillion won in 2012. The funding for the first half of this year is expected to total 16.6 trillion won, breaking the record again. Last year, loans it offered for SMEs took up 50.2 percent of the total, which is a record high in itself and more than the amount offered for large businesses. The portion of loans to SMEs is estimated to reach 53 percent as of the end of June. The expansion of support by Eximbank helped SMEs with exports. Despite the disruption in logistics and the problem in securing resources, exports by the country's SMEs totaled $228.4 billion in 2021, which is a record high and up from $190 billion the previous year. The bank has been making efforts to expand support for SMEs in their exports, including launching a team in charge and strengthening cooperation with other organizations. As a result, the number of SMEs benefiting from the Eximbank program increased by 41 percent to 6,105 in 2021, from 4,316 in 2018. It has, in particular, focused on SMEs that lack experience in exports, or those whose annual exports do not exceed $5 million, so that they can grow into small but strong players in the global market. The bank also started the Hidden Champion program, which nurtures 250 SMEs equipped with advanced technologies so that their potential in exports comes true. It has signed MOUs with diverse organizations, such as the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency and the Korea Technology Finance Corporation, to expand access to SMEs with technologies and increase support. As 97 percent of the loans offered by Eximbank are credit loans, SMEs that are equipped with technology while lacking collateral are evaluating the Eximbank program especially highly. A small automobile component manufacturer, for instance, had trouble finding funding from other banks due to its bankruptcy record. Eximbank, however, offered funding, taking into account its technology and sales network, and the firm made a successful comeback, recording an annual sales increase of 27 percent. "Our efforts to nurture SMEs were recognized as Eximbank received the presidential commendation. We will continue our support so that local SMEs equipped with technology can grow into small but strong players in the global market," Eximbank CEO Bang Moon-kyu said. Sophie Maguire of OFiaich College in Dundalk has been announced as one of the prizewinners for her innovative build entry in the 2022 Generation Apprenticeship competition. The National Apprenticeship Office have announced the winners of an exciting youth-led competition, which highlights creativity, sustainability and innovation as part of a Generation Apprenticeship secondary schools competition. Organised by the National Apprenticeship Office, and supported by Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris TD, this years contest invited learners to explore the opportunities that exist through apprenticeship and how they can combine future careers with their commitment to green values and sustainable futures. Sophie Maguire of OFiaich College, was selected by a panel of industry experts to receive a 500 runner up cash prize in the coveted build category. Her work will feature in an outdoor poster and advertising campaign later this year promoting 65 apprenticeship opportunities now available. Sophie Maguire, recipient of the runner-up prize said: I am delighted to secure runner-up in a national competition. The core message I wanted to communicate is tackling climate change and promoting gender equality. To create my letter A I used materials destined for landfill which I retrieved from a building site near my school. I also found waste material in many of my classrooms. "I hope Generation Apprenticeship will help more girls like me achieve success in what is still seen by many as jobs for the boys! I included ladders on my sculpture to show that progress is being made and to promote the gender bursary which employers can avail of. I hope to see more women Breaking the Glass ceiling in carpentry, the career I wish to pursue. Dr Mary-Liz Trant, Director National Apprenticeship Office said: Huge congratulations and thanks to all the teams who entered the competition and to the judges for their invaluable support. The commitment of students, teachers and tutors provides optimism and a sense of a brighter future. Together they bring fresh ideas, creativity, passion and an exceptional understanding of the role played by apprenticeship industries in Ireland. Apprenticeship is expanding and we are creating a single, deeply integrated, and collaborative apprenticeship system that fits businesses of all sizes and careers of all types. Paul Cremmins, Competition Judge and Director in Suir Engineering, said: Through this competition we see learners discovering the opportunities that exist through apprenticeship and how they can combine future careers with their commitment to green values and sustainable futures. Many congratulations to the winners. Their ideas can shape and lead new thinking as we move forward and continue to create positive impacts on the environment, society and the economy. Morgan Sheehy, Director in Roadbridge Construction and Competition Judge said: Well done to the winners. They showcase a wonderful mix of creativity and innovation. Apprenticeships provide opportunities for everyone and they are now on the radar of all 21st century industries. Young people are responding because they understand that apprenticeship enriches peoples lives and has an important role in tackling the causes and effects of climate change. Ciaran Gormley, Planning and Design Director in Bennett Construction Ltd and a judge in this years competition said: I want to congratulate all of the winners. They have pursued their goals, experimented and turned waste materials into new ways of promoting the progress and possibilities of apprenticeship in Ireland. And most importantly, their ideas are a positive sounding board for industry and wider society. The Generation Apprenticeship secondary schools competition is part of a broader, ongoing range of developments in the Apprenticeship space in 2022 including the recent launch of a Gender Bursary grant to drive equality in the workplace, and the recent launch of new consortia-led apprenticeship programmes in careers as diverse as healthcare assistant, and bar manager. Carlingford Lough Cruises, operated by the cross border ferry service Carlingford Lough Ferry is once again taking to the water during the warm summer evenings to host a number of cruises from a local gin tasting cruises to Ceili on the Lough! The car ferry service is now operating its full time daily service between Greenore, Co. Louth - Greencastle, Co. Down and the team are gearing up for a busy season on the lough between its day time car ferry service and its evening passenger cruises. The new summer cruise schedule starts with the Summer Gin Tasting cruise on Friday June 3rd and will operate every weekend up to Saturday September 10th. The Sunset cuise and Lough & Lighthouse cruise are back due to popular demand as is Meet the Maker gin tasting cruises which will feature exciting new collaborations with renowned local distilleries Woodlab Distillery, Co. Down Bohann Distillery in Co Meath and Killowen Distillery, Co. Down. A total of 40 cruises are available to book on a new website dedicated to the cruises www.carlingfordloghcruises.com . Commenting on the new summer cruise schedule Irene Hamilton said We are thrilled to be back on the water both with our daily car ferry service and our evening passenger cruises. To see people jiving or dancing to the walls of Limerick last year was so joyful. Not a car or tractor to be seen on the cruises just people out to enjoy themselves and appreciate the spectacular scenery of Carlingford Lough and its surroundings. This is the 3rd year of Carlingford Lough Ferry hosting these summer cruises, Irene continues We are collaborating with local businesses to highlight local produce and brands that we believe are world class AND we know that our guests love to dance so we have an exciting line up of live bands to play on the ferry from trad to jazz. With the backdrop of the Cooley peninsula and the majestic Mourne mountains this summer is the perfect time to explore this very special part of Ireland. And perhaps spot one of the Loughs most famous residents the grey seals! Full details of the Carlingford Lough Car Ferry sailing schedule https://carlingfordferry.com/ For full details of the Carlingford Lough Cruises schedule www.carlingfordcruises.com Medical scientists have accepted a recommendation from the Labour Court to return to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The announcement yesterday (Wednesday May 25) evening means that three consecutive days of industrial action planned for next week are suspended pending the talks. On Tuesday evening, the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA) announced that they had postponed Wednesdays industrial action pending talks at the Labour Court with the Department of Health and the HSE. The Labour Court requested that both parties engage further at the WRC for at least three weeks from Wednesday. The MLSA has organised two strike days in the past two weeks to highlight issues over retention and pay parity in the sector. The organisation claims that 20% of medical scientist roles in public hospitals are unfilled, partly due to burnout after the Covid pandemic, and that the problem was getting worse. Another issue that has been highlighted is pay parity. Medical laboratory scientists who work in a biochemistry laboratory say they get paid less starting out than the biochemists, despite doing the same work. They also claim to have less favourable terms to try to further their career than their biochemist colleagues. Thousands of hospital appointments were cancelled as a result of the MLSA industrial action on Tuesday, as routine laboratory services such as blood and urine analysis, scans and biopsies were made unavailable due to the industrial action. Medical scientists were also involved in the rollout and the increase of capacity of Irelands Covid testing system during the pandemic from the capacity to do 600 tests a week before the pandemic to 300,000 Covid-19 tests. Dunamu CEO Lee Sirgoo, right, drinks water while participating in an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures against the recent scandal surrounding the collapse of the controversial Terra and Luna coins, at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps-Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung Cryptocurrency exchanges are crying foul over the government's move to shift the responsibility on them for the recent crash of the Terra stablecoin and its sister token, Luna. With more than 160,000 retail investors in Korea alone suffering losses from the Luna scandal, the National Assembly and the government held an emergency meeting recently with the heads of major crypto exchanges here. The meeting was aimed at finding measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, but the National Assembly and financial authorities appeared to support the imposition of tougher regulations on exchanges, which industry officials claimed are "unfair." "Exchanges should be given legal sanctions in case they violate regulations and they have to be subject to thorough supervision by watchdogs so they can play a proper role," Rep. Sung Il-jong of the ruling People Power Party said during the meeting with exchange leaders. But officials in the industry expressed frustration over the overall mood of the latest meeting, as crypto exchanges have caught a lot of flak at a time when the most blame should be directed at Terraform Labs, the developer of the controversial cryptocurrencies. "We understand the purpose of the meeting, but the most urgent step is to summon Do Kwon, co-founder of the company, as quickly as authorities can," an official from one of the exchanges here said. "Exchanges can easily become a target of criticism at this period of time when no specific regulatory guideline has been introduced." The Assembly is also set to hold a hearing session on the Luna incident in the near future. But it appears unlikely that Kwon will be willing to attend the hearing, since his whereabouts remain unknown. Lawmakers also stepped up criticism on the exchanges, citing their belated handling of the latest fiasco. With Luna's prices starting to plunge in mid-May, exchanges did not remain swift in making a decision on delisting the cryptocurrency, in what some critics said was the exchanges' intention to reap more commissions from the incident. Rep. Yoon Chang-hyun of the ruling party took issue with the exchanges' ambiguous listing and delisting standards. "The exchanges do not have any unified listing standard, nor do they hold any negotiations over the issue," he said. But Lee Sirgoo, the CEO of Dunamu, which operates the nation's top exchange, Upbit, opposed the idea of applying the same regulatory standard in Korea, because crypto investors can use multiple exchanges here and abroad while trading cryptocurrencies. "Crypto assets can be sent to overseas exchanges, and many crypto investors are already using non-Korea-headquartered exchanges," Lee said. This situation is why introducing a uniform standard on local exchanges does not make any sense, he stressed. U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price speaks during a media briefing at the department in Washington, Aug. 16, 2021. U.S. called on the international community Wednesday to condemn North Korea's latest missile launches and to implement all U.N. Security Council sanctions on the recalcitrant state. AP-Yonhap The United States called on the international community Wednesday to condemn North Korea's latest missile launches and to implement all U.N. Security Council sanctions on the recalcitrant state. State Department spokesperson Ned Price made the call in a briefing, calling the North Korean missile launches a threat to the region and to the entire world. "We know that the DPRK's ongoing provocations pose a threat to the region, pose a threat to all of us," the spokesperson said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "And it's incumbent on the international community to join us in condemning the DPRK's flagrant and repeated violations of these multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions and to uphold their obligations under all relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions," he added. Meanwhile, the U.S. reportedly plans to call for a U.N. Security Council vote on imposing tougher sanctions on the North for its provocations. This photo shows a general view of Ryomyong Street in Pyongyang, North Korea, May 16. On Thursday, North Korea reported more than 105,500 new fever cases. AP-Yonhap By Jung Min-ho Delta and Omicron the SARS-CoV-2 variants that have perpetuated the global pandemic were first detected in places where vaccination rates were low and new cases were surging. This is what makes the COVID-19 situation in North Korea especially concerning for everyone within and outside its borders according to medical experts, Thursday. "The environments where the Delta and Omicron variants emerged in India and South Africa, respectively, show that unvaccinated populations could fuel the formation of new variants," Kim Sin-gon, a professor at Korea University College of Medicine, said at a seminar in Seoul on North Korea's COVID-19 situation. "This is why South Korea and the world should pay more attention to North Korea's struggle with COVID-19 Its zero vaccine rate is deeply concerning." His concern is in line with that of the World Health Organization, which warned on May 17 that a combination of unvaccinated people and "unchecked transmission" in the North may give rise to yet another deadly variant. The same day, North Korea confirmed more than 105,500 new fever cases, with "no deaths" over the past 24 hours as of 6 p.m. Wednesday. Since reporting its first official case on May 12, the total caseload has surpassed 3.17 million. With the assumption that almost all fever patients are infected with Omicron from which, in the case of South Korea, only 30 percent of the patients, excluding the ones showing no symptoms, are feverish Kim believes the real case numbers could be more than 10 million. This means nearly 40 percent of its population, of some 25 million, have already been infected. "The timing of the outbreak is also concerning, given that they plant their rice between May and June. If it is disrupted by lockdowns or other measures, the country may face a serious food crisis later this year," he said. "With its border with China closed and no international relief organizations there to help, North Korea is in a tough situation." In its battle against COVID-19, North Korea has been copying China's zero-tolerance policy which involves draconian lockdowns, urging the public to remain vigilant. Experts worry that such strict measures will worsen the North's already faltering economy. However, the Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party, showed confidence in "defeating" the virus, saying that Omicron would soon become endemic. Kim Si-gon, a professor at Korea University College of Medicine, speaks during his presentation on North Korea's COVID-19 situation at a Korea University seminar in the Federation of Korean Industries building in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Jung Min-ho As North Korea continues to promote its "autonomous" fight against COVID-19, citing the state ideology "Juche" which can be translated to "self-reliance," it is unlikely that it will accept medical help from South Korea or the United States, according to Nam Sang-wook, a professor of North Korea studies at Korea University. "So, one thing that the Yoon Suk-yeol administration could consider providing is food, which the North will need and may accept," he said. Following the reports about COVID-19 cases in North Korea, the South and the United States offered support, including a supply of vaccines. But Pyongyang, instead of responding to it, fired three ballistic missiles toward the East Sea Wednesday. "When faced with major economic or social crises, the North accepted help from the South and international organizations For three years from 2010 after the floods, the North received support from our government and civic groups. If the Yoon administration offers a large amount of food, it may respond positively," he said. Given that it may be too late to offer vaccines, another good option could be providing Paxlovid, an effective but expensive oral antiviral pill for COVID-19, Kim added. "Data shows the medicine reduces the risk of hospitalization or death by nearly 90 percent. The drug can save many lives, and it is something Russia or China would not consider giving to the North," he said. EBRD co-finances acquisition of Albanian miner AlbChrome with US$ 28 million loan Turkeys Yildirim Holding to bring new foreign direct investment to Albania Albchrome will provide skills training to local workers The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a US$ 28 million loan to Yildirim Holding AS, a Turkish conglomerate and longstanding Bank client, for the acquisition of AlbChrome, a metal mining company in Albania. Raiffeisen Bank International AG and Credit Europe Bank will co-finance the purchase with loans of US$ 25 million and US$ 14 million, respectively. Charlotte Ruhe, EBRD Managing Director for Central and South-Eastern Europe, said: The EBRD is supporting Yildirims expansion into a new market, which will not only bring new foreign direct investment to Albania, but a focus to the sustainable development of AlbChrome. The company will be the first entity in the country to develop a roadmap for effective climate action. AlbChrome will promote access to new skills and employment for local workers across its mines and plants, which are located in less developed regions of Albania. Skills, digitalisation and economic inclusion are at the top of the Banks agenda in Albania. Moreover, sustainable mining is important to the Albanian economy. Serdar Ates, Structured Finance Manager of Yildirim Holding AS, said: Throughout the years, Yildirim has increased its asset portfolio through numerous mergers and acquisitions. At the same time, we continue to invest in our organic growth initiatives. We have partnered with the EBRD in a number of projects and wish to increase our collaboration in all regions where the EBRD operates. EBRD financing will be provided through two facilities: up to US$ 8.4 million to refinance AlbChromes existing debt and up to US$ 19.6 million to Yildirim Albanian Mining Investments, a subsidiary of the Turkish conglomerate, to partially fund the acquisition. Yildirim Holding is one of the largest exporters of ferrochrome globally. The mineral is crucial to the production of stainless steel and other metal alloys. Chromium, a component of ferrochrome, is also used in many other industries, including the production of electric cars. To date, the EBRD has committed almost 1.8 billion to projects in Albania. In 2021, EBRD investment in the country exceeded 200 million. Aradei Capital is a type of real estate investment trust (REIT) platform stemming from a real estate spin-off of LabelVie Group (LBV), the exclusive Carrefour franchisee in Morocco and the second largest food retailer in the country . It was formerly known as Vecteur LV. Aradei is independently managed by REIM Partners and focuses on acquiring, developing and managing modern commercial real estate across Morocco to generate long-term rental income. Back in early 2016 the EBRD invested 45 million in newly issued shares of Vecteur LV. At that time, Vecteur LV was a growing company with limited property portfolio diversification and a captive shareholder base. It gradually increased the share of assets in its portfolio that were being developed/leased to other tenants, including offices, industrial buildings, bank retail branches and other commercial real estate. This was in addition to food retail property assets tenanted by LBV. The shareholders vision was to transform Aradei into a leading commercial real estate company in Morocco and deliver a stable return and capital appreciation from a diversified portfolio of real estate assets. And this vision has been realised. Today, Aradei holds a diversified portfolio of 30 commercial real estate assets with a gross leasable area (GLA) of 380,000 square metres across 22 cities in Morocco. The assets include shopping malls, multi-tenanted retail parks anchored by supermarkets and hypermarkets, an industrial facility, greenfield land plots of 190,000 square metres earmarked for future mixed-use developments, alongside 103 bank branches acquired in a lease-back transaction with BMCI (BNP Paribas in Morocco). Seizing the opportunity for growth The retail sector represents a significant part of the Moroccan economy, contributing 8 per cent to the countrys GDP and providing 1.6 million jobs. However, modern facilities account for less than 20 per cent of the total retail market. Over the medium term, higher GDP per capita and favourable social trends, such as urbanisation and a growing middle class, mean that spending in sectors such as food and non-food retail will rise, with consumers gradually opting for better-quality products. This is expected to spur the demand for modern retail facilities. The growth in other property segments (such as offices, logistics and so on) is also closely linked to GDP growth whereas the penetration rate for such assets in Morocco is much lower than international benchmarks. Creating value at the pre-investment stage IThrough policy dialogue, the EBRD helped the Moroccan authorities develop a regulatory framework for OPCI/REITs as a new asset class to deepen capital market liquidity. An OPCI Organisme de Placements Collectifs Immobiliers is the Moroccan equivalent of a REIT. Technical cooperation was provided to the company to: (i) improve its sustainability strategy by refining materiality of sustainability issues and developing an action plan with E&S commitments; and (ii) develop a formal environmental sustainability and climate change management framework including performance targets, data management and benchmarking systems, and implementation plans. Taking action for long-term growth Aradei achieved the critical size and profitability required to strengthen and diversify its shareholder base at pre-IPO stage to include large foreign and local institutional investors. As a precondition, this required setting up a REIT-type corporate governance structure, including an independent asset management team to maximise value for all shareholders. Environmental, social and governance performance was improved by developing a formal environmental sustainability/climate change management framework, including performance targets. Aradeis IPO in December 2020 marked a milestone in the companys history. The fundraising operation (600 million dirhams) helped support its growth. The IPO was popular, being oversubscribed 4.3 times. In 2020 the EBRD secured two partial exits generating attractive returns. The first was at pre-IPO in May, when the EBRD sold a stake of 20 million to GEPF, the largest South African pension fund managed by PIC (Public Investment Corporation). The second was in December when the Bank sold a stake of 13 million at the IPO on the Casablanca Stock Exchange. Our impact/value added By investing in an innovative financing structure, and so acting as a model for other investments, the EBRD contributed to the development of a legal and regulatory framework for the introduction of OPCI/REITs, thus deepening the capital market liquidity. The Banks equity investment helped to further develop the local real estate market through the expansion of modern, sustainable and energy-efficient commercial real estate infrastructure, strengthening the countrys growth and creating new jobs. Sustainability measures implemented across the portfolio significantly enhanced its value, and the EBRDs involvement as an early anchor investor supported the institutionalisation of Aradei and enabled it to upgrade its corporate governance towards best international standards. These changes increased Aradeis marketability and ability to attract financing from local capital markets, through bonds, an IPO and international investors. The EBRDs involvement provided institutional credibility and enhanced the probability of a successful IPO of the company as the first sizeable REIT-like platform on the Casablanca Stock Exchange. Contact the EBRD Equity team to find out more Ilhomjon Hakimov lives in the picturesque Rudaki region of Tajikistan, named after the great poet considered the founder of classical Persian literature. His beautiful, blooming five-hectare orchard would certainly have provided fruitful inspiration for Rudaki. My family received land during the Soviet era and we raised cotton, as did the majority of people in the Rudaki region. Later I planted my first apple and cherry trees. Nowadays, I cultivate grapes, plums, nectarines and cherries along with almost all types of vegetables, and last year I planted more than 4,000 blackberry, strawberry and raspberry seedlings which require special care and irrigation. Green investment for delicious organic berries Ilhomjon supports innovation with green technologies and tries to incorporate them into his farm. Last year he decided to approach one of the EBRD partner banks in Tajikistan for a Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF Tajikistan is co-funded by the Green Climate Fund and supported by the Republic of Korea) loan. The European Union supplemented GEFF loan with an investment incentive through the Enhanced Competitiveness of Tajik Agribusinesses Project (ECTAP). The investment went on installing three cold storage units, a sprinkler irrigation system and water storage for his orchard. The sprinkler irrigation and freezing of berries in a timely and proper manner helps to prevent diseases and preserves the crops nutrients while retaining a marketable appearance. Using the new sprinkler irrigation will also allow Ilhomjon to save up to 30 per cent of water annually, while the energy efficient cold storage units will save him around 30-40 per cent of energy compared to traditional methods. Setting up a sustainable future I have visited many countries and am trying to adopt all my new skills and knowledge. For instance, in South Korea, I learned how to produce organic fertiliser and now I prefer to make it from overripe fruit. Good farming methods will help us ensure food security and therefore I am trying to involve my four sons in the farms routine work, as they will inherit it in the future. I nurture everything with love and passion, says Ilhomjon. He is planning to create his own brand and find new opportunities for marketing it, and this year he will produce frozen berries using the new cold storage system and sell them in Tajik supermarkets. EBRD opens new regional office in Cluj-Napoca, Romanias second largest city Bank reconfirms commitment to Romanias economic development Supporting SMEs will be an important aspect of the EBRDs work in Cluj-Napoca The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is expanding its presence in Romania by opening a new office in Cluj-Napoca, the countrys second largest city. The EBRD is the first international financial institution to open a regional office there, recognising the significant potential of its location. Situated in the heart of historical Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca is a gateway to three strategic regions of Romania: the north-west (where it is located), the centre and the west. The city has demonstrated its ability to promote high-tech business sectors and is known for its strong information technology (IT) industry and excellent academic sector. The Cluj-Napoca office will mainly support local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region with expert advice, training and access to finance. Through the EBRDs Advice for Small Businesses (ASB) programme, funded in Romania by the European Union and the EBRDs Small Business Impact Fund, the Bank has already provided advisory support to more than 900 Romanian SMEs, including regional business leaders such as Arobs, Ciserom and Unilact. The new EBRD office was officially opened today by Charlotte Ruhe, EBRD Managing Director, Central and South Eastern Europe, Mark Davis, EBRD Regional Head Romania and Bulgaria, and Nadia Petkova, EBRD Director, Regional Network, SME Finance and Development. Charlotte Ruhe said: The opening of our new office in Cluj-Napoca confirms our commitment to Romania. We have supported hundreds of companies across the country through direct and indirect investment, as well as advisory projects, and we now want to increase our support for businesses in Transylvania. In Romania, the EBRD focuses on financing sustainable infrastructure, boosting private-sector productivity by helping private companies to expand and improve their workforce skills, and developing the financial sector and capital markets. To date, the Bank has invested almost 9.7 billion in the countrys economy through 488 projects. EBRD President to visit Bulgaria on 30 May 2022 Odile Renaud-Basso to meet the Prime Minister, senior officials and the business community Discussions to focus on reforms, energy security, infrastructure, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, and the impact of the war on Ukraine on the Bulgarian economy The President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Odile Renaud-Basso, will visit Bulgaria on 30 May 2022. This is Ms Renaud-Bassos first visit to the country since becoming EBRD President in late 2020, when travel was restricted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The EBRD President will meet Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds and Minister of Finance Assen Vassilev, and representatives from the business community and financial sector. The President will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Minister of Finance on EBRD project implementation support and the co-financing of projects funded with European Union (EU) funds, including under the countrys Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), which amounts to 6.3 billion of EU financial support for investments and reforms. She will also visit Sofia airport, one of the EBRDs key infrastructural investments in Bulgaria. The President will engage with local civil society organisations in a virtual meeting on 6 June. I am looking forward to my first visit to Bulgaria and to continuing our support for the country, particularly for its infrastructure, energy and small business sectors, President Renaud-Basso said ahead of the visit. I am delighted that I will be able to sign an MoU with Minister Vassilev, which sets out the basis for our support for projects benefiting from EU funding. This visit will also allow me to discuss the impact of the war on Ukraine on the national and regional economy, as well as our support for countries affected by the war. To date, the EBRD has committed more than 4.3 billion to 277 projects in Bulgaria. In 2021, EBRD investment in the country exceeded 245 million. Uzbekistan joins Global Methane Pledge EBRD to help the country develop national methane emissions programme Domestic action to focus on energy, solid waste and agribusiness sectors Uzbekistan is contributing to international efforts to combat global warming by participating in the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) aimed at the reduction of methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. It has become only the second country in Central Asia, a region known for high-intensity greenhouse gas emissions, to join the agreement. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction of Uzbekistan have agreed to develop a national methane emissions programme. It will become a key planning tool for achieving the GMPs ambitious objectives. Jamshid Kuchkarov, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, who conveyed the political commitment of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev recognising the dangers to the climate from methane, called for a comprehensive domestic action focusing on the energy, solid waste and agribusiness sectors. The latter will require the introduction of new technologies and closer work with the countrys farming community. EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said: Targeting methane abatement in Uzbekistan has a dual effect. It is an important step towards alignment with the Paris Agreement and an opportunity for bringing economic as well as environmental returns. It is a low-hanging fruit for Uzbekistan to cut its greenhouse gas emissions and meet its Nationally Determined Contributions target. Therefore, our support, both technical and financial, should help Uzbekistan with rapid reduction in its emissions by 2030. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and also contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, a hazardous air pollutant and itself a greenhouse gas. Its sources include landfill, oil and natural gas systems, agricultural activities, coal mining, stationary and mobile combustion, wastewater treatment and some industrial processes. It has accounted for around 30 per cent of global warming since the pre-industrial era and is proliferating faster than at any other time since records began in the 1980s, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. The EBRD has been at the forefront of efforts to reduce methane gas emissions. It combines investments with policy engagement and technical assistance, leading, for instance, on multi-year methane emission reduction programmes in the gas sectors of economies in which it invests, such as Kazakhstan and Ukraine. The EBRD is also working with international partners including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to promote best agriculture and farming practices. The EBRD invested 31.5 million in a joint venture (JV) with Dimand, a leading Greek real estate developer and construction services provider with a 15-year record of successfully delivering brownfield regeneration projects. The JV invests in sustainable commercial real estate and hospitality projects in Greece, specialising in offices, mixed-use projects, student accommodation and city hotels. Focusing on brownfield redevelopment, deep refurbishment and regeneration projects, this investment addresses Greece's need to reposition and carry out a deep-retrofit of its existing building stock in compliance with the country's climate commitments. Seizing the opportunity for growth The commercial real estate market in Greece has stabilised but remains depressed, with rents and property valuations down by approximately 30 per cent on pre-financial crisis levels. Given that the property sector in Greece may be at the bottom of the cycle , such entry valuations appear prima facie attractive. Since the 207-08 financial crisis there has been very limited construction activity in Athens and other regional markets and so there is a limited supply of Class-A office and other modern high-grade real estate. Many existing office buildings remain underinvested and may no longer meet the Class-A specifications. Against this background, the prime office market is expected to exhibit strong occupier demand, growing rents and, potentially, yield compression. Other areas of growth include mixed-use commercial real estate, logistics centres and, in selected cases, hotels. The supply of assets that are underperforming and/or are in need of redevelopment is also significant. Given the limited availability of capital, such properties can be acquired at attractive prices. The EBRD saw an opportunity to partner with Dimand, a best-in-class local developer with a solid development and investment record. The JV benefits from Dimands extensive market knowledge and deal sourcing network, resulting in a strong project pipeline targeting less risky brownfield, mid-sized redevelopment opportunities, typically de-risked through forward sale contracts with strong investors. Our impact/value added In collaboration with the EBRD's Legal Transition Team, the JV and Dimand strengthened Dimands corporate governance structure in line with best practices. As a JV shareholder and through its representation on the JVs board, the EBRD will contribute to greater compliance with international corporate governance and integrity standards, as well as promoting sustainability and environmental matters. In addition, by integrating sustainability and resource efficiency into the investment concept, the underlying assets will become more attractive to prospective tenants and buyers, thus enhancing financial returns. With Dimand, the EBRD is now promoting a higher level of sustainability reporting and risk management by helping the company to introduce Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB ) reporting . This will enable Dimand to better manage sustainability risks and gain insight into how best to capitalise on sustainability-related opportunities, such as lowering operating costs, meeting regulatory requirements and satisfying the developing preferences of corporate tenants. GRESB will also allow Dimand to get a clearer picture in terms of ESG performance, benchmark against other investors in the region and communicate sustainability performance to relevant stakeholders. The EBRD is working with the JV to incorporate sustainability, climate resilience and resource efficiency as core elements of its business strategy, complying with the highest standards. All assets to be developed are expected to achieve a certification of gold or above in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED ), or very good in the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM ), sshowing that integrating advanced materials and state-of-the-art technologies achieves higher energy, water and material performance on a par with the greenest buildings in the European Union. The EBRDs successful partnership with Dimand places sustainability and resource efficiency at the heart of the JVs business strategy, adhering to the best international standards while delivering stellar returns on invested capital. Contact the EBRD Equity team to find out more As per section 1.4.2 (iii) of the Directive on Access to Information: "For Projects approved by Bank management where the Board of Directors has delegated the approval authority, the PSD shall be disclosed at the start of the relevant no-objection notification period to a member country of the Bank in accordance with Article 13 (iii) of the Agreement Establishing the EBRD." Project Description Provision of a long-term senior unsecured loan to 3 Banka Serbia ("3B" or the "Company") up to RSD 1.2bn (c. EUR 10.2m) under the Financial Intermediaries Framework ("FIF") for on lending to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Project Objectives The project will contribute to the expansion of lending to private businesses through working capital lines and investment loans to farmers, enterpreneurs and MSMEs, including those operating in economically less-developed regions of the country. Furthermore, the transaction supports 3B's growth strategy and provides a source of medium term local currency funding. Transition Impact ETI score: 60 The project contributes to the objectives of the Financial Intermediary Framework, supporting the Competitive and Resilient transition qualities. The project improves the availability of medium-term funding for MSMEs, which are the main source of employment in the private sector and a major contributor to the economy. The project focuses on regional outreach and attraction of new MSME clients. As a new client under the FIF programme with nationwide branch network, 3Bank is a potential strong partner to reach MSMEs in Serbia especially in rural areas. The focus will also be on lending in the regions outside the capital, attracting new SME clients and maintaining adequate portfolio quality. Client Information 3 BANKA AD 3B is bank from Novi Sad focusing almost exclusively on micro lending to agro households (farmers), entrepreneurs and retail clients in rural regions. As at YE21, the Bank had total assets of EUR 185m and loan book of EUR 143m. 3B is ranked 19 out of 24 banks in the sector with a 0.4% market shares by assets. The bank serves more than 66 thousand loan clients through a countrywide network of 4 branches (located in largest cities and which collect deposits) and 30 credit offices (in rural areas). The Bank had 503 staff at YE21. EBRD Finance Summary RSD 1,200,000,000.00 Total Project Cost RSD 1,200,000,000.00 Additionality EBRD provides 3B with both local currency and medium term funding. Euroisation of the Serbian banking sector is high with EUR loans making up ca 60% of the banking sector gross loan portfolio and EUR deposits at YE 2021. This will support the strengthening of the bank's balance sheet, via decreased maturity mismatch and will ensure availability of local currency to MSME clients. Moreover, 50% of 3B's deposits are short-term. The banks in Serbia are largely funded by short-term deposits (c. 70% of total liabilities). 3B will be following and enforcing clearly defined eligibility criteria for sub-borrowers, EBRD environmental and social standards, thus contributing to the competitiveness and resilience of the financial sector as intended under the FIF Framework. Environmental and Social Summary Categorised FI (2019 ESP): 3B will be required to comply with PRs 2, 4 & 9 and EBRD's Environmental and Social Procedures for Corporate Loans, SME and Micro Loans, and will be required to submit annual environmental and social reports to the Bank. ESD's review of the completed E&S due diligence questionnaire showed that 3B has an E&S policy in line with SDGs in place. The client will be required to align existing procedures with EBRD E&S requirements and to nominate a person from senior management to have overall responsibility for implementing them. 3B will provide ESD with the names of relevant credit risk appraisal staff who will be provided with access to the EBRD's E&S risk management training programme on-line and who will the adopt the EBRD's E&S Exclusion List. These requirements will be covenanted in the loan agreement. 3B has been provided with E&S risk management tools and guidance documents to assist in managing the E&S risks of its loans. It is expected that 3B will achieve compliance with PR9 over time by adopting the E&S requirements satisfactory to the Bank and which will be continually monitored by the EBRD as per existing procedures. Company Contact Information Zorica Sedlar zsedlar@3bank.rs +381213405070 www.3bank.rs Bulevar Oslobodjenja 2a, Novi Sad PSD last updated 25 May 2022 Understanding Transition Further information regarding the EBRDs approach to measuring transition impact is available here. Business opportunities For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company. For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact: Tel: +44 20 7338 7168 Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement: Tel: +44 20 7338 6794 Email: procurement@ebrd.com General enquiries Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form. Environmental and Social Policy (ESP) The ESP and the associated Performance Requirements (PRs) set out the ways in which the EBRD implements its commitment to promoting environmentally sound and sustainable development. The ESP and the PRs include specific provisions for clients to comply with the applicable requirements of national laws on public information and consultation as well as to establish a grievance mechanism to receive and facilitate resolution of stakeholders concerns and grievances, in particular, about environmental and social performance of the client and the project. Proportionate to the nature and scale of a projects environmental and social risks and impacts, the EBRD additionally requires its clients to disclose information, as appropriate, about the risks and impacts arising from projects or to undertake meaningful consultation with stakeholders and consider and respond to their feedback. More information on the EBRDs practices in this regard is set out in the ESP. Integrity and Compliance The EBRD's Office of the Chief Compliance Officer (OCCO) promotes good governance and ensures that the highest standards of integrity are applied to all activities of the Bank in accordance with international best practice. Integrity due diligence is conducted on all Bank clients to ensure that projects do not present unacceptable integrity or reputational risks to the Bank. The Bank believes that identifying and resolving issues at the project assessment approval stages is the most effective means of ensuring the integrity of Bank transactions. OCCO plays a key role in these protective efforts, and also helps to monitor integrity risks in projects post-investment. OCCO is also responsible for investigating allegations of fraud, corruption and misconduct in EBRD-financed projects. Anyone, both within or outside the Bank, who suspects fraud or corruption should submit a written report to the Chief Compliance Officer by email to compliance@ebrd.com. All matters reported will be handled by OCCO for follow-up. All reports, including anonymous ones, will be reviewed. Reports can be made in any language of the Bank or of the Bank's countries of operation. The information provided must be made in good faith. Access to Information Policy (AIP) The AIP sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders so as to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations following its entry into force on 1 January 2020. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website. Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form. Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM) If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (e.g. through the Clients Project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRDs Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM). IPAM independently reviews Project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the Mechanism is: to support dialogue between Project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or Project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank. Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate; how to submit a Request for review; or contact IPAM via email ipam@ebrd.com to get guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request. A BUS driver in Blarney was video-recorded by youths and punched in the ear when they insisted on being given child rather than adult fares. Bus Eireann driver Donal Forbes said one youth got on and paid his adult fare but two of his friends then go on and wanted child fares. They were messing over paying, Mr Forbes testified at Cork District Court. They were aggressive and abusive. They took out a phone to video-record me. The phone was put in front of my face. I took my hood up to cover my face. They continued to try and record me. I contacted Capwell bus depot for assistance at this point. They [the youths] realised the guards were going to call. I got a dig in my left ear. I got more abuse and they were aggressive and they left the bus. He said Garda Catherine Byrne and Garda Sean Duggan arrived to deal with the matter. The two men who left the bus were later seen at Willison Park in the Blarney area. They were talking to me together with the gardai. Their behaviour towards the gardai was not nice, Mr Forbes said. Solicitor Michael Quinlan said that when one of the youths approached during the initial disputed incident, the driver allegedly asked: Am I going to have trouble with you? Mr Forbes replied: I dont remember making a comment like that. Judge Marian OLeary asked the driver: Did you say that? Mr Forbes replied: No. Shane OShea, aged 19, of 35 Riverview Estate, Blarney, Co Cork, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Forbes. He said he went to get on the bus at 10.40pm on May 14, 2021. He was 18 at the time. OShea testified: I asked him for a ticket. He would not give me a ticket. I said, Can you please give us a ticket? He said, If you dont get off the bus I will call the guards. He would not give us a ticket. I decided to record it. I was recording it for my sake. He said that when he was recording the driver with his phone, the driver hit his hand. I felt myself being hit. I reacted by hitting back. He hit my hand away when I put my phone in, OShea said. Cross-examined by Inspector Anne Marie Guiney, the teenager said he never asked for a childs ticket. Do you think it is acceptable to record the driver? Insp Guiney asked. OShea replied with a question: Why was I being refused on public transport? The inspector said: You were antagonising the driver with a camera. Do you think that is acceptable? The defendant replied: No I dont. Judge OLeary said: On Shane OSheas own admission he did hit him. I find him guilty. Noting that OShea had no previous convictions, she said she would not proceed to conviction but would strike the matter out if he did three hours a week of voluntary work for 10 weeks and paid 300 to the court poor box. If that is done I will strike it out. If that is not done there will be a conviction and fine of 400, Judge OLeary said. AS if life wasnt hellish enough for Ukrainians, its sickening to consider that women and girls from the war-torn country are at risk from sex traffickers and sex buyers. War is a magnet for sexual exploitation and seems to bring out humanitys most base instincts, victimising females. Irelands largest escort website, Escorts Ireland, is offering men the opportunity to live out their war-inspired fantasies with Ukrainian women. The website reported a 250% increase in interest for Ukrainian women in recent times. In Sweden, recently, out of 38 buyers of sex who were arrested in an operation, 30 were attempting to access Ukrainian women specifically. These and other disturbing facts emerged at a webinar last week, entitled Beyond Exploitation: Trafficking, Prostitution, Sexual Exploitation & the War in Ukraine. One of the speakers at the webinar, Valiant Richey, a former prosecutor in Seattle and an OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe) special representative and co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Vienna, said the situation in Ukraine is merely an example. The demand for exploitative sex is a long term challenge on a huge scale that is far beyond the time frame of this conflict. Targeting demand, said Richey, is a crucial tool to address the under-lying root cause of the crime. Trafficking is a financially-motivated crime and the demand for sexual services motivates it. Traffickers respond to the money paid by men for sexual services, by trafficking victims. Buyers cause harm to trafficking victims in all sorts of ways. They motivate traffickers in the first place, incentivising them to cause harm to victims. By definition, the victims do not enter the transaction voluntarily. Rather, they become caught up in the exchange through force, coercion and deceit. If the sex is non-consensual, its tantamount to rape. Richey went on to say that 95% of trafficking victims experience some form of violence, the majority of which is caused by buyers. Sex trafficking is a highly gendered crime. It disproportionately affects women and girls who account for 90% of identified victims. (And it predominantly targets women and girls of colour.) How can sex trafficking be wiped out? Too often, said Richey, efforts are focused only on victim identification or prosecution of traffickers. But in order to prosecute a trafficker or a protect a victim, the crime has to already have happened. We need to find ways to prevent this from happening in the first place and that means targeting its root cause. "If we dont address demand, the problem will never stop. Ireland, Richey acknowledged, has adopted laws to punish sex-buying. Its a strong first step but the focus needs to be on implementing that measure. He favours a targeted public awareness campaign, aimed at the educational sector, business, technology companies and healthcare providers. Social media sites such as Tik Tok and Instagram are increasingly being used to advertise sexual services to young people, so to discourage them, its necessary to communicate with them on these same platforms. Research shows that the majority of sex buyers first buy sex under the age of 25. To counter developing a sex-buying habit, its vital to educate young men and boys about the harmful aspects of masculinity, particularly in schools and on college campuses. In trying to combat the sexual exploitation of Ukrainian women and girls, theres a need to take into consideration certain cultural differences. There is, said lawyer, Olena Zaitseva, from the Centre for Democracy in Kviy, Ukraine, a low level of trust among Ukrainians in law enforcers. So, when a person gets trafficked or finds themselves in a dangerous situation, theres a good chance the person wont go to the police. Also, there is a very high level of victim blaming, not only in the population but also in state agencies. If a sex crime is committed against a woman, she will be asked what she was wearing. And witnesses will rarely help the victim or address the police themselves. Information materials about the law and support organisations in the countries refugees find themselves in are needed. Diane Martin CBE, vice chair of the International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council, also spoke at the Webinar. Depressingly, she said the fact that traffickers and sex buyers are targeting Ukrainian women fleeing war is not shocking to me. Before this war, Ukrainian women had been targeted and exploited by traffickers. Just trying to navigate a dangerous journey from Ukraine to a new country is traumatising enough without women having to be on the alert for traffickers. We must try and put ourselves in the shoes of those for whom these horrors are a reality, said Martin. We have eyes and ears to witness what is happening. Lets not ignore Ukrainian refugees plight. We must meet evil intentions head on, said Diane Martin. Medical workers assist evacuated and wounded people that arrived by special train from Bakhmut and Slovyansk for treatment in Lviv, Ukraine, April 10, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Reuters-Yonhap Korea plans to send another batch of non-lethal aid to Ukraine in what will be its third shipment of such material support for the war-torn nation, Seoul's defense ministry said Thursday. The latest package consists of gas masks and mask canisters, the ministry said. The package, worth around 1.5 billion won ($1.18 million), is expected to arrive in Ukraine next month, according to an informed source. "We will consult with the related country to ensure that our aid can be delivered there at an early date," Col. Moon Hong-sik, the ministry's deputy spokesperson, told a regular press briefing. Moon described the latest package as equipment needed for "chemical, biological, radiological" protection. The package has been arranged following South Korea's shipments of non-lethal military goods, such as bulletproof vests, helmets and medical supplies, to the war-torn nation in March and last month. Seoul officials still remain cautious about the provision of lethal arms to Ukraine, stressing the need for a "cautious review." Ukraine has been requesting humanitarian and military support from several other countries as it struggles to fight off Russia's invasion. (Yonhap) The number of UK butterflies threatened by extinction has risen by more than a quarter. The charity Butterfly Conservation announced its new Red List of UK butterfly species Wednesday, and found that 41 species were now threatened and nine percent were Near Threatened. Shockingly, half of Britains remaining butterfly species are listed as threatened or Near Threatened on the new Red List, Head of Science for Butterfly Conservation Dr. Richard Fox said in a press release. Even prior to this new assessment, British butterflies were among the most threatened in Europe, and now the number of threatened species in Britain has increased by five, an increase of more than one-quarter. Today marks the publication of our 'Butterfly Red List' which assesses all the butterfly species that have bred regularly in Great Britain against the rigorous criteria set out by @IUCNRedList. Details in this thread, or you can read here https://t.co/UJlqhal7RJ#RedList pic.twitter.com/PVJfxILDYN Butterfly Conservation (@savebutterflies) May 25, 2022 The new Red List was published in the journal Insect Conservation and Diversity. The study authors used the same criteria to assess risk as the International Union for Conservation of Nature and based their findings on population data from citizen scientists and from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. The assessment looked at 62 species of butterfly and found that: Four were Regionally Extinct. 24, or 41 percent, were threatened, with eight Endangered and 16 Vulnerable. Five, or nine percent, were Near Threatened. 29, or 50 percent, were considered Least Concern. The situation for UK butterflies has also worsened since the last Red List was assembled in 2011, The Independent reported, with the number of threatened species increasing by 26 percent. The species lost to the UK are the Black-veined White, the Large Tortoiseshell, the Large Copper and the Mazarine Blue, according to the press release. Of the 62 species assessed, four are extinct in Britain (Black-veined White, Large Tortoiseshell, Large Copper, and Mazarine Blue) with 24 (41% of the remaining species) classed as threatened (8 Endangered, 16 Vulnerable) and a further five (9%) as Near Threatened.#RedList pic.twitter.com/N9BJpkmghc Butterfly Conservation (@savebutterflies) May 25, 2022 Land use change remains the leading cause of butterfly decline, but the assessment also reveals the impact of the climate crisis: All four British butterflies that prefer cooler climates in the north of the country are now threatened or Near Threatened. These are the Large Heath, the Scotch Argus, the Northern Brown Argus) and the Mountain Ringlet. These are Large Heath, Scotch Argus, Northern Brown Argus or Near Threatened (Mountain Ringlet).#RedList pic.twitter.com/8QKA763XqZ Butterfly Conservation (@savebutterflies) May 25, 2022 However, there was a silver lining to the data. Two at-risk species that were targeted by conservation efforts have reduced their risk status. The Large Blue was considered extinct in 1979, but reintroduction efforts mean it has now moved from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened. The High Brown Fritillary went from Critically Endangered to just plain Endangered and the Duke of Burgundy and Pearl-bordered Fritillary both moved from Endangered to Vulnerable. Given that the overall picture is one of increasing risk, the fact that highly threatened species that have been the focus of conservation effort have become less threatened is a real positive, Fox said, as The Guardian reported. With significant effort and resources we can at the very least hold these species and in some cases turn them around. The High Brown Fritillary, also formerly listed as Critically Endangered, has moved to Endangered; likely to be the result of intense conservation work from Butterfly Conservation alongside other organisations. Info on conservation workhttps://t.co/roJvrKAvPZ#RedList pic.twitter.com/2La2x7SfMo Butterfly Conservation (@savebutterflies) May 25, 2022 The study comes as scientists worldwide have been sounding the alarm about insect declines. Another recent study focused on the UK specifically found that the number of flying bugs landing on car license plates had fallen by nearly 60 percent in 17 years. We need to be making space for nature in our farming systems, our urban systems, our forestry systems, the places that people inhabit and make a living, we need to have space for nature nature, butterflies, birds and mammals, Fox said, as The Independent reported. In addition to rewilding efforts, Fox also said that governments should act to combat the climate crisis and nitrogen pollution, which harms butterflies by impacting the plants they feed on. Malaysian poultry breeders association says businesses will be badly affected by chicken export ban Lau Ka Leng, the Johor Poultry Breeders (Small and Medium) Association secretary, said Malaysian poultry farmers' businesses will be badly affected by chicken export ban as Singapore will be looking at other countries to replace chicken from Malaysia, The Star reported. Lau recalled a similar approach by Malaysia, when the country imposed a temporary ban on egg exports during the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated there was a lack of eggs on the local market at the time, so the government decided to stop egg exports to accommodate local demand. Lau said before the ban, Malaysia shipped about four million eggs to Singapore monthly. After the ban was lifted, Singapore lowered its Malaysian egg imports by half, resulting in a surplus of eggs in Malaysia. Lau is concerned that after the domestic chicken supply has stabilised, Singapore may cut its imports of chicken from Malaysia, resulting in losses for local poultry farmers. From June 1, Malaysia will halt exporting 3.6 million whole chickens per month until production and prices stabilise. To boost the country's chicken supply, more international abattoirs will be recognised, and poultry import permits would be eliminated. The measures come as the country suffers a chicken supply shortage and rising costs. According to figures from Malaysia's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries' Department of Veterinary Services, Malaysia exported more than 49 million live chickens and 42.3 tonnes of chicken and duck meat in 2020. In 2021, Singapore bought about 73,000 tonnes of chicken from Malaysia, accounting for more than a third of its total chicken supply. Data from the Singapore Food Agency showed chicken is the most frequently consumed meat in Singapore, with a per capita consumption of 36 kg in 2020. - The Star Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong holds a phone conversation with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, May 19. South Korea, the United States and Japan condemned North Korea's latest ballistic missile launches in high-level consultations Thursday and agreed to step up trilateral cooperation in dealing with the matter. Yonhap South Korea, the United States and Japan condemned North Korea's latest ballistic missile launches in high-level consultations Thursday and agreed to step up trilateral cooperation in dealing with the matter, the foreign ministry said. First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong and his American and Japanese counterparts, Wendy Sherman and Takeo Mori, held the phone talks a day after the North launched three missiles, including an apparent intercontinental ballistic missile, shortly after President Joe Biden wrapped up his alliance-boosting trip to Seoul and Tokyo. They noted the North's provocation, its 17th show of force this year, was a clear violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions and agreed to bolster cooperation among on follow-up measures, according to the ministry. They expressed concerns about the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 in North Korea, while Cho and Sherman reiterated their governments were ready to support international efforts to support Pyongyang in its antivirus fight, it added. Sherman reaffirmed Washington's "ironclad commitment" to ensure the security of its Asian allies, while leaving the door open to engage Pyongyang in "sustained and sincere dialogue," the State Department said in a separate statement. (Yonhap) Residents of Maryland can now add their drivers license or state ID to Apple Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch . Users there will be able to verify their identity digitally, though there are limited use cases for the Maryland Mobile ID program for now. At present, IDs in Wallet are only really useful at certain Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at some US airports. When asked for ID by a TSA agent, you'll be able to review the requested information then tap your phone or smartwatch against a reader. Apple says it designed the feature with a focus on security and privacy, in part because you won't need to present the physical version of your ID. You'll need to use Face ID or Touch ID to authorize a verification and your device will only share the necessary information from your stored identification. As things stand, law enforcement won't accept driver's licenses or other ID presented in Wallet, as MacRumors notes. The state's Motor Vehicle Administration also said residents can't rely solely on Maryland Mobile ID they'll still need to carry their physical license or ID card. Eventually, the agency noted, any business, government entity or law enforcement agency in Maryland will be able to verify someone's identity with IDs stored in Wallet . Maryland is only the second state thus far to enable the feature. Arizona became the first in March. Other states and territories have pledged to support the technology, including Georgia, Colorado, Hawaii, Mississippi, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Connecticut and Utah. The earliest devices that support digital IDs in Wallet are iPhone 8 and Apple Watch Series 4, which need to be running at least iOS 15.4 or watchOS 8.4. If you're eligible, you can add an ID by tapping the plus sign in the Wallet app and following the prompts. Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres on Disney+ tomorrow, but Lucasfilm is already offering peeks at other Star Wars shows that are on the way to the streaming service. One of those is Andor, in which Diego Luna reprises his role as Cassian Andor. The series takes place five years before the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Based on the trailer Lucasfilm released today, it looks like Andor leans into the grittier side of the Star Wars universe, given the tone and muted color palette. The show will debut on August 31st with two episodes. Lucasfilm also released the first trailer for Andor, which takes place five years before the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. It looks like the series leans into the grittier side of the Star Wars universe, given the tone and muted color palette. Andor is described as a "tense nail-biting spy thriller," which isn't a huge shock given the connection to Rogue One and the fact it was created by Tony Gilroy, the writer of the Bourne movies he was a co-writer on Rogue One too. Forest Whitaker and Genevieve OReilly, who featured in the movie alongside Luna. will return as well. The first season of Andor will have 12 episodes more than the previous live-action Star Wars Disney+ shows. A second season will start filming in November. Lucasfilm also confirmed at Star Wars Celebration that The Mandalorian will return for its third season next February. Ahsoka , which features the return of Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano, will arrive in 2023 too. There's yet another live-action Star Wars series coming to Disney+ next year, this time starring Jude Law. It's called Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and it's from Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts and writer Christopher Ford. Skeleton Crew is set around the same time as The Mandalorian. It centers around a group of kids who are about ten years old who get lost in the Star Wars universe, according to Watts, who stressed that its not a kids show." It has been announced that Goodfellas actor Ray Liotta has sadly passed away. The famed actor died in his sleep while shooting the film Dangerous Waters in the Dominican Republic at the age of 67, as first reported by Deadline today. He is survived by his fiancee Jacy Nittolo and daughter Karsen. Liotta rose to notoriety when he starred as Henry Hill in the 1990 true-life mobster film Goodfellas directed by Martin Scorsese. His portrayal of Hill showed an abundant range of acting as he would turn from a calm, collected family man to a manic drug-addled mobster at the drop of a hat. Working alongside the seasoned Robert De Niro and the ever-engaging Joe Pesci, Liotta's theatrical prowess shined throughout. With his A-List abilities and piercing glance, Liotta also starred in several other notable films such as playing baseball great Shoeless Joe Jackson in the Kevin Costner hit Field of Dreams and Gary Figgis in Cop Land. Recently, Liotta appeared in The Many Saints of Newark and Marriage Story. He had several projects in post-production, including the Elizabeth Banks-helmed Cocaine Bear. Not only known for playing heavies, his ability to take his tough-guy persona for a walk also made Ray Liotta even more formidable in several comedic roles, where he provided his gruffly soothing voice to The Simpsons, Family Guy, and even played a caricature of himself in Jerry Seinfeld's Bee Movie. Other than just animated work, he also appeared in two Muppet films, and several sitcoms, including Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Ray Liotta's passing is a true tragedy, though his legacy will live on through his bevy of amazing roles and memorable characters. New EPA Radon maps show more homes and workplaces at risk from cancer-causing gas. The EPA has published new radon maps for Ireland that update the radon risk assessment for the country. 170,000 homes in the country are now predicted to be at risk from radon. This is an increase of 45,000 homes from the previous estimate in 2002. Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas, and every year in Ireland 350 new lung cancer cases are linked to exposure to radon. You can check if your home is at risk/the level of risk of your home through the new Eircode map search on the EPA website. The EPA urges all householders and businesses, especially those in high radon areas, to test for radon. Testing for radon is simple and fixing a radon problem will reduce the risk to your health from this radioactive gas. May 26th 2022: New radon maps, launched by the Environmental Protection Agency today at the National Radon Forum, show an increased risk from radon in Ireland, with 170,000 homes now predicted to be at risk of radon exposure above the national reference level. This is an increase of 45,000 homes, from the previous estimate in 2002. The new maps update the radon risk assessment for the country and show that large parts of the country - particularly in Munster and Connaught - have been found to be at increased risk from radon. The map is based on work completed by Trinity College Dublin, Geological Survey of Ireland and the Economic and Social Research Institute alongside the EPA. Micheal Lehane, EPA Director, speaking at todays National Radon Forum said: Radon is a serious public health hazard. The new maps combine thousands of radon measurements, with detailed geological information, and are a significant revision of the previous map from 2002. More importantly, the new maps make it easy for everyone to find out the radon risk in their local area using the eircode search on the EPA website. We urge people to test for radon as this is the only way of protecting you and your family from this cancer-causing gas. Employers too have a responsibility to ensure that their employees are protected from exposure to this radioactive gas. Yvonne Mullooly, Assistant Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), welcomed publication of the new radon maps saying: Employers in high radon areas are obliged to test their workplaces for radon. The new maps enable them to clearly identify where they are legally obliged to test, so allows for targeting of resources in the areas where the risk from radon is highest. The HSA will continue to support employers by providing information, and through our on-line risk assessment BeSMART tool www.BeSMART.ie. Radon testing is simple and inexpensive and, where necessary, reducing high radon levels in a building is also straightforward. The maps are now available on the EPAs website and are searchable by Eircode and by address. Further information: Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office 053-9170770 (24 hours) or media@epa.ie Notes to Editor: Radon: Radon is a radioactive gas that originates from the decay of uranium in rocks and soils. Exposure to radon is linked in up to 350 cases of lung cancer in Ireland each year. It has no smell, colour or taste and can only be detected using special detectors. Outdoors, radon quickly dilutes to very low concentrations, but when it enters an enclosed space, such as a house, workplace or other building, it can accumulate to unacceptably high concentrations. High Radon Area Some parts of the country are more at risk from radon than others. These areas are called high radon areas. This is an area where the EPA predicts that more than 10 per cent of dwellings will have radon concentrations above the national reference level. Testing for radon Radon measurement is simple and inexpensive and, if high radon levels are found, fixing radon problems is straightforward. The EPA provides a list of registered radon measurement services. The EPA also publishes a list of registered contractors who offer a radon remediation service if high levels are found. The EPA radon team are also available to answer your queries at radon@epa.ie or 1800 300 600. National Radon Control Strategy (NRCS): The NRCS is a cross-Government strategy led by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and comprises representatives from other key Departments and Agencies. The main goal of the NRCS is to reduce the number of radon related lung cancers in Ireland. The new maps were developed under the Governments National Radon Control Strategy. A key priority identified by the Strategy was to update the 2002 maps to allow for the knowledge of local geology to the better targeting of resources to those areas most at risk from radon. National Radon Forum: Todays National Radon Forum is the 16th in a series of annual forums. The forums provide an opportunity for those with a role to play in reducing the risk from radon in Ireland to review progress and to consider new strategies based on best international practice. The National Radon Forum brings together a broad range of stakeholders focused on addressing the radon problem in Ireland. At todays Forum, attendees will hear from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Health and Safety Authority, the Economic and Social Research Institute and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, on the actions must now be taken to reduce the risk from radon. Kim Kyou-hyun, nominee for National Intelligence Service director, looks out during his National Assembly Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing on Wednesday. Yonhap By Kang Hyun-kyung Kim Kyou-hyun, the nominee for National Intelligence Service (NIS) director, said he would cooperate with the Five Eyes, an intelligence-sharing alliance among five English-speaking countries, namely the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Speaking at his National Assembly Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Kim said that if the alliance were to accept South Korea's proposal, the spy agency would actively cooperate on sharing intelligence with the five countries. "It is of course necessary for South Korea to join the Five Eyes, if allowed, because there are many things that one country alone cannot respond to, such as climate change, terrorism and cybersecurity, as well as military threats to security in the international community," he said during his National Assembly Intelligence Committee personnel hearing held the same day. Rep. Cho Tae-yong of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) welcomed Kim's remarks on the Five Eyes, saying cooperation with the intelligence-sharing alliance will help the NIS strengthen its capabilities. "I strongly encourage you to go ahead with your plan," the lawmaker said. Regarding the need for the establishment of a tripartite intelligence-sharing body among South Korea, the United States and Japan, the NIS nominee said he would pursue it, revealing his view that North Korea appears unwilling to denuclearize on its own and thus that South Korea should use a two-track approach of dialogue and sanctions towards the country. His remarks came months after the U.S. House Armed Services Committee members reportedly mulled the expansion of the Five Eyes members to include South Korea, India, Japan and Germany. Ruben Allego, a member of the committee, was quoted by news website Defense One that "Five Eyes intelligence-sharing pact is a World War II relic that needs updating to better keep tabs on China." Kim stressed that the NIS has already severed its links with domestic politics. "President Yoon told me the other day that if I become the head of the NIS, I should never ever think of being involved in domestic politics," he said. "The NIS is not supposed to collect information on domestic politics and is strictly complying with this order. It will focus on maintaining neutrality and will not yield to political demands." In a closed-door meeting held Thursday, members of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee agreed to give President Yoon Suk-yeol the green light to appoint his pick for the NIS director. Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the PPP told reporters that he believes President Yoon will appoint Kim to lead the spy agency as soon as he can, considering the grave security threats posed by North Korea. Commentary From Crisis Management Expert Edward Segal, Bestselling Author of the Award- Winning Book "Crisis Ahead: 101 Ways to Prepare for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies" (Nicholas Brealey) The Department of Homeland Security, which recently established a Disinformation Governance Board to study the best practices for fighting the harmful effects of disinformation, found itself embroiled in a disinformation crisis of its own. The Washington Post reported that the work of the new board has been put on hold after its head, Nina Jankowicz, was the victim of online attacks, the organization was criticized and the Biden administration struggled to respond. "The Board's purpose has been grossly mischaracterized; it will not police speech," the DHS?DHS? spokesperson said. "Quite the opposite, its focus is to ensure that freedom of speech is protected.'' Jankowicz "has been subjected to unjustified and vile personal attacks and physical threats," a DHS spokesperson told The Post in a statement. "In congressional hearings and in media interviews, the Secretary has repeatedly defended her as eminently qualified and underscored the importance of the Department's disinformation work, and he will continue to do so." Critics took issue with the board's name, comparing it to the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell's 1984, while others attacked or sought to distort its mission. Jankowicz Resigns Jankowicz resigned after the Washington Post published its story, according to CNN. "With the Board's work paused and its future uncertain ... I have decided to leave DHS to return to my work in the public sphere," she said in a statement. "It is deeply disappointing that mischaracterizations of the Board became a distraction from the Department's vital work, and indeed, along with recent events globally and nationally, embodies why it is necessary. I maintain my commitment to building awareness of disinformation's threats and trust the Department will do the same," Jankowicz said. 'Set Up To Fail' According to the Washington Post, "Those familiar with the board's inner workings, including DHS employees and Capitol Hill staffers, along with experts on disinformation, say Jankowicz was set up to fail by an administration that was unsure of its messaging and unprepared to counteract a coordinated online campaign against her." Gabrielle DePietro is a public relations lead at Next PR, specializing in crisis communications and media training. She observed that "DHS handled some aspects of the crisis correctly by making the formal decision to take immediate and necessary action and pause the board. [But] they are still lacking a media statement summarizing the 'why' behind it or even an acknowledgment that it has taken place. There is still much more they can be doing to mitigate the issue." Advice For Business Leaders Don't Stay Quiet "The biggest lesson business leaders can take from this situation is the impact staying silent can have on the narrative," DePietro said. "Misinformation can run rampant if a company doesn't offer to tell their side of the story as soon as possible." Control The Narrative "While traditional media practices will encourage the use of 'no comment,' or silence, social media has caused us to change our philosophy," she added. "No matter good, bad, or ugly, business leaders should always provide a statement so that they can better take control of the messaging and not leave room for misinformation, rumor mills and speculative theories," DePietro concluded. ### Jasper, IndianaKevin Schewe's Bad Love Tigers won the BEST SCI-FI SCRIPT at the Gold Star Movie Awards in New Jersey. The Bad Love Tigers Screenplay was just released to the international screenplay circuit at the end of February 2022 and has already won 35 International Awards. It is a feel good, action-adventure, sci-fi blend of Stand by Me meets Raiders of the Lost Ark or Back to the Future meets Goonies. The strong international interest and accolades that it is generating shows its blockbuster potential to attract a global audience of all ages to the big screen. "The Gold Star Movie Awards from Newark, New Jersey, promote world cinema and quality scripts to a wide range of audience both locally and internationally. The Bad Love Gang and I are very honored by this award and excited to go dance and celebrate with the Jersey Boys! Thank you GSMA," said Kevin Schewe. See and Hear Kevin Schewe's Instagram Post at https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cc1IEsYOoIz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kevin L. Schewe, MD (@realkevinschewe) Bad Love Tigers has now won 35 awards including BEST SCI-FI SCREENPLAY AWARD at the BRNO Film Festival in the Czech Republic, BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY at Filmmaker Life Awards in Hollywood, BEST STORY SCREENPLAY AWARD at The Madrid Art Film Festival, Best Feature Screenplay at the White Unicorn International Film Festival FEATURE SCRIPT AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD from the Black Swan International Film Festival, BEST SCRIPT from the New York Independent Cinema Awards, BEST THRILLER SCREENPLAY from the Adbhooture Film Festival in West Bengal, India, FEATURE SCRIPT OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD from the Royal Society of Television and Motion Picture, OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FEATURE SCRIPT award at Druk International Film Festival (DIFF) in Bhutan, BEST FEATURE SCRIPT award at Hollywood on the Tiber Film Awards in Rome, Italy, BEST SCRIPT OF THE MONTH at the Watch Out International Film Festival in Philadelphia, OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT award at the Tagore International Film Festival (TIFF) in West Bengal, India, BEST SCRIPT at the New Wave Short Film Festival in Munich, Germany, Best Screenwriter in a Feature Film at Onyko Film Awards in Ukraine, two screenplay awards at the Golden Wings International Film Awards, BEST THRILLER FEATURE SCREENPLAY and BEST SCREENPLAY OF THE MONTH, Best Feature Screenplay at the Sea of Art International Film Festival in Plock, Poland, Best Feature Screenwriting at the NYCinternational Film Festival, Best Feature Screenwriting at the Medusa Film Festival, Special Achievement Award at World Film Carnival-Singapore, Best Sci-Fi Screenplay at the Open Window International Film Challenge in India, Best Plot Award at the Beyond Earth Film Festival, Best Sci-Fi Feature Screenplay at the Karukrit International Film Festival in India, Best Script for Feature Film at the San Antonio Independent Film Festival in Ecuador, South America, Best Feature Film Screenplay at the Five Continents International Film Festival, Best Original Screenplay at the Naples Film Awards, Best Feature Script at the Cineville Calcutta Global Cinefest in India, Best Feature Screenplay at the Mumbai International Film Festival, Best Feature Screenplay and Best-Sci-Fi Screenplay at the Oniros Film Awards in New York City, Best Sci-Fi Screenplay at the New York International Film Awards, Best Feature Screenplay in London at the BIFF International Film Festival, Best Original Screenplay at the Rome International Movie Awards and Best Feature Screenplay Honorable Mention at the Florence Film Awards. Bad Love Tigers, book two of twelve planned in the best-selling Bad Love Book Series, is about a dynamic group of young adventurers, known as the Bad Love Gang, who use a time machine to travel back to the World War II era, meet with President Roosevelt and embark on a perilous secret mission to protect an alien spaceship and defeat the Japanese in combat. Keeping America's deepest secret safe at Area-51 hinges on the success of their quest. Schewe's screenplay adapted from the first book, Bad Love Strikes, has won 14 International Awards at prestigious film festivals all over the world. In Bad Love Strikes, the Gang of teens from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, accidently discovers The White Hole Project, a WWII era time machine created by Albert Einstein at the request of President Franklin Roosevelt in case the atomic bomb Manhattan Project failed. They learn how to use the White Hole Project and then design a time-travel mission back to WWII, Nazi-controlled Poland to save a group of Holocaust victims from certain death. The accurate history and edge-of-your-seat action has you rooting for this unlikely gang of misfit teenagers turned heroes! Bad Love Strikes screenplay awards: Best Sci-Fi Screenplay at the Los Angeles Film Awards; Hollywood Weekly Magazine Film Festival Best Screenplay; Best Script at the Rotterdam Independent Film Festival; Best Script in a Feature Film at the Hollywood International Golden Age Film Festival; New York Tri-State Film Festival Best Sci-Fi Screenplay; Florida Shorts Film Festival Best Unproduced Script; Tokyo's Genre Celebration Festival Best Feature Screenplay; Madrid Arthouse Film Festival Best Unproduced Feature Script; Madrid International Short Film Festival Best Script; the Seoul International Short Film Festival in Korea Best Script; and in Munich, Germany at the New Wave Short Film Festival, where it was chosen as a Special Jury Screenplay Selection. It also garnered a Prix Royal Paris Silver Screenplay Award; the South Florida International Film Festival for Best Original Screenplay for Young Adults, and a Gold Script Writing Award for Sci-Fi Adventure from the Depth of Field International Film Festival. Bad Love Strikes screenplay has also finished as a Finalist and Semi-Finalist at 23 other international film festivals. Watch the book trailer for Bad Love Tigers at https://bit.ly/BadLoveTigers_Trailer Each of the Bad Love series audio books are narrated by Alan Carlson, an award-winning narrator with credits in non-fiction, academic, romance fiction and many other categories. You can purchase the audio book at Amazon's Audible. The entire four book set is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Love-Collection-Sci-Fi-Adventure-ebook/dp/B09LPPDBMM/ or www.jancarolpublishing.com. "If history was taught this way in school, everyone would be a scholar and educating ourselves not only about our accomplishments but the horrors of the past that should awaken and give insight to the path of a better future. A rare gem!" David Holladay, MD, 5-Stars Watch the book trailer from Bad Love Strikes at https://bit.ly/BadLoveStrikes-Trailer South Carolina businessman Jimmy Martin received a certificate of occupancy from the city of San Antonio for an eight-liner gaming parlor on the Northeast Side in February 2020. The next month, San Antonio police raided the business known as Silver Bell at 4133 Naco Perrin Blvd. after deeming it an illegal gambling establishment. It was raided a second time a year later and again this January before Martin was forced to close for economic reasons. It had 61 eight-liner amusement machines basically slot machines. He and his businesses responded last week by suing the city, the San Antonio Police Department and two of its vice detectives, and the state of Texas. The case highlights a gray area in Texas law, which has drawn a distinction between illegal gambling and legal amusement operations. The difference comes down to how the players are rewarded. Martins suit isnt just about the Silver Bell. He also owns about 175 machines that had been deployed in four other eight-liner parlors run by other operators around San Antonio and one in Universal City. All four of the San Antonio locations were raided a total of seven times, resulting in them either shutting down or losing their leases. Police confiscated some machines and damaged or destroyed others, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, he alleges. Martin also faces criminal charges for gambling promotion and possession of gambling paraphernalia. Both are Class A misdemeanors, with jail time of up to one year and a maximum fine of $4,000 on each count. Gambling? In his suit, Martin disputes the eight-liner game rooms are illegal gambling establishments. He wants a state District Court in San Antonio to prevent further harassment and injury from the defendants. As far as we can tell, Mr. Martin follows every state law and city ordinance to make sure his eight-liner amusement machines are not illegal gambling devices, said one of his San Antonio lawyers, Joseph L. Korbel. But still locations with his eight liners are being repeatedly raided by the San Antonio Police Department. Mr. Martins lawsuit seeks to put a stop to these raids. City Attorney Andrew Segovia said the city had not been served with the lawsuit but defended the city and SAPD. The citys Development Services Department issues a certificate of occupancy based on the condition of the building at the time; the certificate does not regulate future operations, he said. In short, Mr. Martins certificate of occupancy is not a license to run a gambling operation, Segovia said in an emailed statement. SAPD investigated the site and the operations after complaints were received about a potential illegal gambling operation. Martins lawsuit comes two months after the 2nd Court of Appeals in Fort Worth ruled eight-liner machines are lotteries and thus are unconstitutional machines. The Texas Civil Justice League, which promotes tort and civil justice reform, wrote last month on its website that if the Texas Supreme Court upholds the ruling, voters will have to approve a constitutional amendment to authorize eight liners, as they have for the state lottery and charitable raffles and bingo. Prospects of doing that any time soon appear to be dim at best, the organization said. Other operators In his lawsuit, Martin says criminal charges were dismissed against two other San Antonio eight-liner parlor operators. One of the charges was dropped as recently as last month because of a missing witness, the courts website shows. Martin is represented by the same criminal defense lawyer as the other two operators. The lawyer didnt respond to a request for comment. S.A. VOTES Voter Guide: What to know for the Texas runoff election A breakdown of key state and local races and candidates in the May 24 primary runoff. To date, SAPD has seized and destroyed plaintiffs property through 10 raids, Martin says in his lawsuit. But each subsequent raid is based on the same set of circumstances as what led to the dismissal of prior prosecutions involving the plaintiffs amusement machines. The first raid occurred in 2016 and the 10th happened in January, Martins suit says. He accuses the police of first disabling surveillance cameras in the parlors and then unlawfully yanking out and slicing off electrical connections and removing parts to disable the machines. Police also used a Jaws of Life on ATMs so they could pry open the cash containers with a crowbar, Martin alleges. They did so despite employees with keys offering to open the ATMs, he says. Martin has estimated it will cost more than $300,000 to repair the eight liners. Texas Penal Code restricts what may be awarded to players by amusement machines. Players can receive non-cash prizes, toys or novelties, or a representation of value redeemable for those items. In his suit, Martin says his machines never reward players in cash, gift cards, future free plays or any other form of reward that could be considered currency. Players are awarded bulk silver or silver trinkets, with the wholesale value no more than $5 to comply with the state code, he says. Martins claims in his suit are for interference with a contract and the taking of private property. pdanner@express-news.net In the hours after at least 19 children and two teachers were killed at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, in the deadliest mass shooting at an American school in nearly a decade, Republicans in Congress joined the world in mourning the latest gun massacre. But as some offered their thoughts and prayers to the families of the victims, critics have been quick to point out the millions of dollars that GOP lawmakers have taken from the National Rifle Association in contributions over the years. Nineteen current or recent Republican senators, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio and Joni Ernst of Iowa, have taken at least $1 million each in campaign contributions from the NRA over their careers, according to data compiled by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in 2019. Among the others is Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who expressed how "grief overwhelms the soul" in an attack like the one in Texas, and acknowledged on Twitter that his offer of prayers and condolences were "grossly inadequate" and that answers were needed. It didn't take long for critics and liberals to slam Romney - who was the 2012 Republican presidential nominee and who spoke at the NRA's annual convention that year - for taking more than $13 million in NRA contributions, according to Brady. "Grief does not overwhelm the soul nearly as much as $13M from the NRA overwhelms your bank account," wrote Jemele Hill, a contributing writer for the Atlantic. "The answer you seek is the money you continue to take." Hours after the mass shooting in Uvalde, President Joe Biden urged Congress to end the "carnage" of gun violence, pleading with lawmakers to "stand up to the gun lobby" and pass "common-sense" gun laws. "What in God's name do you need an assault weapon for except to kill someone?" he asked in a Tuesday address to the nation. Biden, who was tapped by President Barack Obama to be his point person on guns after the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Conn., noted that he just returned from Asia, where mass shootings do not occur with the same frequency. "Why are we willing to live with this carnage?" he said. "Why do we keep letting this happen? Where in God's name is our backbone?" Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., moved Tuesday evening to put two House-passed gun-control bills on the chamber's calendar. Spokespeople for McConnell, Portman and Ernst did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday. Romney spokesperson Brianna Manzelli told The Washington Post that the online criticism toward the senator was off-base. Federal Election Commission records show that almost all of the $13 million contributed by the NRA in their efforts to oust Obama went toward political advertising during the 2012 presidential campaign. Records also show Romney did not take campaign contributions from the NRA during his 2018 Senate campaign, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. "No one owns Senator Romney's vote, as evidenced by his record of independence in the Senate," Manzelli said in a statement. The mass shooting at the elementary school, and Biden's plea for lawmakers to push back on the gun lobby, have magnified attention on the NRA, which is holding its annual meeting over Memorial Day weekend in Houston, a few hundred miles away from Uvalde. The event is the largest gun lobby gathering this year and comes after cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will feature talks from a group that includes former president Donald Trump, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Abbott is expected to be in Uvalde on Wednesday before his talk at the NRA convention in Houston. The NRA, which boasts more than 5 million members, is fighting a lawsuit by the New York attorney general accusing the group's executives of misspending millions of dollars. Many critics went on social media to list how much money the Republican lawmakers have reportedly taken from the NRA, but comedy writer Bess Kalb took it one step further and quote-tweeted all of the responses from GOP senators with how much they have received in campaign contributions from the gun lobby. After McConnell tweeted how he was "horrified and heartbroken" by the shooting in Uvalde and how the country was praying for those affected, Kalb, the executive producer of Amazon Prime's "Yearly Departed," used the Brady data for her one-sentence reply: "$1,267,139 from the NRA." Kalb continued to respond to Republicans offering their thoughts and prayers - Ernst, Portman, Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee - with the million-dollar figures in NRA contributions they have received. Others soon followed the online trend. In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday evening, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said that "there are not adequate words to express the horror" of what happened in Texas. He echoed Romney in acknowledging condolences weren't adequate, while also suggesting that more could be done. "Obviously, my sincere condolences, but that's not adequate. This is depressing. Something this horrific, children being slaughtered in their school, it doesn't get worse than this," he said. "Again, my sincere condolences to those families." Nina Turner, a progressive leader who lost a Democratic primary in Ohio earlier this month, highlighted Johnson's remark about how "it doesn't get worse than this" and reminded people that he's taken more than $1.2 million in campaign contributions from the NRA. "It does, actually," she wrote on Wednesday. "The adults with power (you) don't do anything because the NRA paid you $1,269,486 to do nothing. You sacrificed those children's lives for $1.2 million." After Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, whose district includes Uvalde, asked for constituents to "pray for our families" and quoted a Bible verse, critics resurfaced a 2021 tweet in which the congressman proudly said he had "voted NO on two gun control measures in the House." "Pro-tip: Jesus would want you to use your power as a lawmaker to act to stop gun violence in Uvalde instead of quoting Bible versus while taking money from the NRA," said Shannon Watts, founder of the gun violence prevention nonprofit Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Others took aim at those GOP lawmakers who expressed their anger at the shooting days before speaking at the NRA convention in Houston. When Cruz tweeted that he and his wife, Heidi, were "fervently lifting up in prayer the children and families in the horrific shooting in Uvalde," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., wondered why the Texas senator - who has accepted at least $176,000 in NRA contributions - was still slated to speak at the convention. "You can do more than pray," she tweeted. "Faith without works is dead." - - - The Washington Post's Adela Suliman and Isaac Arnsdorf contributed to this report. Students at a Michigan school in which four students were killed in a shooting last year participated in a walkout Thursday to show support for students and families in Uvalde. Hundreds of students at Oxford High School, located in Oxford, Michigan, formed a "U" on the schools football field, according to the Associated Press. Uvalde was the scene of the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history when Salvador Ramos, 18, killed 21 people at Robb Elementary School, including 19 children and two teachers, while wounding 17 others, authorities said. Last November, four students were killed at Oxford High School when 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley allegedly shot them with a semiautomatic handgun, while injuring several others, according to Newsweek. Crumbley surrendered to authorities and was charged as an adult with terrorism and first-degree murder. We went through the same thing, Oxford High sophomore Andrew Sholtz told The Detroit News. I lost a lot of friends. I thought it would be respectful to help other people through it. An Oxford Community Schools spokesperson said school officials were made aware of the walkout and worked to ensure the students were safe, according to the Associated Press. School spokeswoman Danielle Stublensky said the walkout was part of a national effort by Students Demand Action, a group calling for changes in gun laws. "As a community, our hearts are with Uvalde and we understand why some of our students chose to participate in the national walk out, Stublensky said. Oxford Community Schools worked with our students, staff, and local law enforcement, as well as our district security personnel, to ensure the safety of our students participating in this peaceful event. DDeKunder@express-news.net Norma Gonzalez didnt plan to be in Houston this weekend. The immigration advocate was going to be in Corpus Christi for a conference with other professionals in her field, to strategize about how they could best work together to serve their community. Instead, Gonzalez, 26, will be at Discovery Green on Friday protesting the National Rifle Associations upcoming convention. Headlining the event are former President Donald Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott, Sen. Ted Cruz and other high-ranking Texas Republicans who plan to speak in support of gun owners rights just three days after a gunman armed with an AR-15 killed 19 children and two adults in Uvalde. EXPLAINER: What to know about the NRA convention in Houston, days after the Uvalde school shooting Shell be thinking of her cousins who are teachers in San Antonio and Harlingen, and her nieces and nephews who go to school every day unsure of what theyll face. Its really important that I stand with my city because every time this happens its closer and closer to home, and you never know when itll be somebody you know, Gonzalez said, after tweeting out a list of protests scheduled in hopes she could encourage others to join her. Fridays protest at noon on Discovery Green across from the George R. Brown Convention Center where the NRA Convention will be held is being organized by Black Lives Matter Houston, Indivisible Houston, Moms Demand Action and the Harris County Democratic Party. Ashton Woods, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Houston, said that the organizers will make space for survivors of gun violence to speak to the supporters and convention attendees. He said elected officials will likely make remarks as well. He also hopes to turn the event into a mass voter registration event. Theres some audacity to be having that convention in the City of Houston, and its a slap in the face to Texans not just because of what happened (Monday) but because once upon a time, Harris County was deeply conservative, and thats not the case anymore, Woods said. FIEL Houston, an immigrant advocacy group, will join the protest and is planning an action for 1 p.m. directly in front of the convention center, at 1001 Avenida De Las Americas. Previous demonstrations, however, such as the Indigenous protest against the World Petrol Congress, have been moved to fenced off areas on the sidewalk between Discovery Green and the George R. Brown Convention Center. Cesar Espinosa, executive director of FIEL, said he has informed the Houston Police Department of the planned protest. He said the mobilization is critical because of the groups solidarity with the majority population of Uvalde. NRA CONVENTION: Guns are banned at Houston NRA conference where Trump is speaking but it's not because of Uvalde We want to do a direct action right in front of the convention center. We want to be seen, said Espinosa. This was a highly Latino community, and we want to make sure their voices are heard and our community gets to express that frustration that weve felt for so long. Houston police said they are aware of the planned protests and will make zones available to protest in, and referred questions about protests to the Discovery Green Conservancy. Woods, of Black Lives Matter Houston, said that he is coordinating with the Conservancy for Fridays protest, which the Conservancy confirmed, and does not anticipate any issues. Were not there to incite anything, were just there to make the (NRA) uncomfortable and run them out of Houston, Woods said. The League of United Latin American Citizens is also hosting a protest outside the convention centers main entrance at 10 a.m., and a Houston interfaith group is planning to gather for prayer and a march at 1 p.m. On Thursday, a protest led by the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest group is planned for 3:30 p.m. at City Hall to demand that Mayor Sylvester Turner cancel the NRA Convention. If the city can determine that protests are illegal gatherings and disperse them, then why cant it declare an NRA convention with Trump and Cruz a center of insurrection and domestic terrorism? said Neil Aquino, an organizer of the protest. I dont understand how domestic terrorists and insurrectionists preaching replacement theory get use of the convention center in the most diverse city in America, Aquino said. A petition to cancel the convention, organized by the Cornyn protest group had garnered over 6,300 signatures by Wednesday afternoon. Over 1,600 people signed a similar petition created by a local physicians group. Turner pushed back on those requests at a City Council meeting on Wednesday, arguing that the event had been booked for over two years and that the city was contractually obligated to move forward with it or face lawsuits. Trump, Abbott and Cruz were still booked to speak at the convention as of Tuesday evening. And the NRA was holding its ground. Our deepest sympathies are with the families and victims involved in this horrific and evil crime, the NRA said in a statement. As we gather in Houston, we will reflect on these events, pray for the victims, recognize our patriotic members and pledge to redouble our commitment to making our schools secure. sam.kelly@chron.com WASHINGTON As negotiations on possible gun reform got underway in the U.S. Senate on Thursday, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blasted Gov. Greg Abbott as an absolute fraud. Schumer accused Abbott of offering nothing but empty platitudes about healing and hope after he was confronted by Beto ORourke during a press conference in Uvalde on Wednesday. He asked the people to put their agendas aside and think about someone other than themselves, Schumer said. How dare he. What an absolute fraud the governor of Texas is. This is the same Gov. Abbott who tomorrow tomorrow will go speak at the NRA convention in Houston, Schumer said. Gov. Abbott, will you ask your MAGA buddies and your NRA pals to put aside their agendas and think of someone other than themselves like you asked the families to do? Will you ask the gun manufacturing reps who will swarm over the NRA convention to put aside their agendas and think about someone other than themselves? Of course not. Gov. Abbott is more likely to outline some new plan to further loosen gun restrictions. TEXAS GUN POLITICS: ORourkes standoff with Abbott over Uvalde mass shooting marks the new era in Texas politics Abbotts office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The governor called for unity after the confrontation with ORourke on Wednesday. We need to think of something other than ourselves, think of the people who have been hurt. And help those who have been hurt, Abbott said. Schumer has vowed the Senate will vote on gun laws, though he has said he believes Republicans are ossified against any new reforms. Still, key Democrats are negotiating with Republicans on a possible bipartisan bill that could pass in the coming weeks. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said Thursday that he plans to meet with the Democrat leading those negotiations to see if we can find some common ground. The Texas Republican authored the last major gun legislation to pass the Senate, the so-called Fix NICS Act, which tightened requirements for states and federal agencies to report criminal history data to the FBIs National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Cornyn said he had texted U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat with whom Cornyn has previously worked on gun legislation, and the two could meet as soon as Thursday. He and I have been talking about this issue for a long time, Cornyn said. Well see if we can find some common ground and maybe this will provide some impetus for that. The Texas Republican said red flag laws could be on the table. They were not included in a proposal Cornyn rolled out in 2019 after a gunman killed 23 people in an El Paso Walmart. That proposal was aimed at cracking down on people selling guns illegally and expanding mental health programs. I think we ought to talk about it, but its no panacea, he said of red flag laws. Im not taking anything off the table except for denying people their constitutional rights, who are law-abiding citizens. TEXAS TAKE: Get the latest news on Texas politics sent directly to your inbox every weekday Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told CNN that he met with Cornyn, as well, and encouraged him to negotiate with Democrats on the issue. I am hopeful that we could come up with a bipartisan solution that's directly related to the facts of this awful massacre, McConnell said. Cornyn and Murphy have tried to reach a deal on possible gun reform legislation in the past. Negotiations fell apart last year on a bill aimed at closing the loopholes allowing some gun buyers to bypass background checks. Murphy blamed Cornyn at the time, saying the Texas Republican wouldnt go far enough in sharpening the definition of commercial sellers. Under current federal law, background checks are not required by unlicensed vendors who make sales at gun shows or online. Cornyn negotiated in good faith, Murphy said last June. Where we ended up just was not better than current law. Murphy said at a rally at the Capitol on Thursday that Democrats were extending a hand of partnership to Republicans and hoped they would be facilitated in finding that common ground by a popular uprising of citizens, who are going to make clear that if you dont do the right thing here, you arent coming back here. We are going to work our tails off to try to get that compromise, but we are not going away, Murphy said. If we dont succeed, were having votes. Were putting people on the record. One way or the other, we are going to have a debate here. We are going to force people to tell America which side they are on. ben.wermund@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The rawness of a new era of Texas politics was on full display on Wednesday in Uvalde as Gov. Greg Abbott and Beto ORourke were eye-to-eye in a high school auditorium in the aftermath of one of the states worst gun violence tragedies. After Abbott struggled, his voice cracking, to recall the children gunned down in their elementary school on Tuesday saying we urge all Texans to come together ORourke lurched out of his chair in the front row toward the stage, pointing his finger and shouting at Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The time for you two to stop this was after the Santa Fe ... ORourke said. Abbott was looking down, arranging papers on the table in front of him. Youre out of line, and an embarrassment, said Patrick, seated at Abbotts right. This is on you until you choose to do something about it, ORourke shouted as police began herding him toward the exit. Somebody needs to stand up for the children of this state or they will continue to be killed. UVALDE SCHOOL SHOOTING: Teen gunman bought AR-15 style rifle day after he turned 18 It got even more heated as Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, standing onstage behind Abbott, shouted at ORourke, Sir, youre out of line, later calling him a sick son of a (expletive). It was yet another public display of the hostility that has been brewing in Texas politics for the past six years, as Democrats make gains in the Texas Legislature and battles for statewide office, while the Republicans in power push further and more aggressively right on guns, abortion and gay rights. Just in the last two years, Republicans in the Legislature have changed rules in the Texas Senate to squelch out already outnumbered Democratic resistance and wielded redistricting as a partisan tool to end careers of Democratic lawmakers. Rice University political science professor Mark P. Jones has studied the Legislatures shift to the right since it began, seeing it as key to Republicans satisfying their GOP base and staying in power. With the majority of elections in Texas still decided in primaries, Jones said Republicans have no reason to ease up. That dynamic was on display in the heated governors race long before Uvalde. ORourke has for months been far more intense in his campaign against Abbott than in his 2018 campaign against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. In that race against Cruz, Democrats worried ORourke wasnt tough enough. Thats not the case this time. ORourke hammered Abbott earlier this year for the failures of the power grid during the 2021 winter storms that killed more than 700 people and left millions without electricity. ORourke went so far as to accuse Abbott of essentially accepting bribes from oil and gas company executives to assure he wouldnt regulate them. Now one of Abbotts biggest donors is suing ORourke for libel and defamation. Kelcy Warren, chairman of the board at the gas pipeline company Energy Transfer Partners, filed suit against ORourke in San Saba County seeking more than $1 million in damages in a case filed in March. ORourke amped that up on Wednesday by challenging Abbott during the middle of a press conference in Uvalde where Abbott was trying to preach a message of unity. Julian Castro applauds ORourke Republicans immediately blasted ORourke for disrupting the event at such a somber moment. What kind of a complete scumbag lowlife piece of garbage does this? One of the worst things Ive ever seen in politics, said Texas Republican Party chairman Matt Rinaldi. But gun control advocates cheered ORourke for seeing through an event calculated to hit on all the same themes of past mass shootings in Texas, with Abbott making clear he didnt see tougher gun laws as the solution. He said California, New York and Illinois all have tougher gun laws, but mass shootings are still happening in those places. We need to realize that people who think that, well maybe if we just implement tougher gun laws, its going to solve this Chicago, LA and New York disprove that thesis, Abbott said. ORourke told reporters he grew frustrated listening to Abbott talk about the need to improve mental health services and harden schools just like he did after other major shootings. When a 17-year-old gunman killed eight students and two teachers at Santa Fe High School in May 2018, Abbott asked the Republicans in Austin to consider a red flag law that would empower judges to take guns away from people they deem to be a threat to themselves or others. Patrick quickly ruled it out, and the other lawmakers followed. Now is the time to stop the next shooting, ORourke told the governor as he confronted him. Right after Santa Fe High School was the time to stop the next shooting. Right after El Paso was the time to stop the next shooting. Good for him, said former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. Castro said Democrats need more people to make sure Republicans dont get away with NRA blueprint response featured at the inevitable press conferences after mass shootings. ORourke wasnt planning to even be at Uvalde High School on Wednesday morning, according to his advisers. He had driven there to help like he tried to do during past tragedies. But when he met with families of victims, some pushed him to go, they said. ORourke hadnt told his staff about making any speeches or confrontation with Abbott, they said. But then suddenly there he was, jumping up from his seat shouting and pointing fingers. jeremy.wallace@chron.com President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden toast each other during the official banquet following their summit at the National Museum of Korea, Saturday. Yonhap Korea can still play role at Quad working groups: experts By Kang Seung-woo Despite the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's desire to formally join the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), the United States has not been enthusiastic about adding Korea to the four-way strategic forum, aimed at purportedly containing China's assertiveness. The Quad is comprised of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. The U.S. stance contrasts sharply with Washington's warm welcome to Seoul's decision to participate in the Indo-Pacific Framework (IPEF), a recently launched economic initiative that also seeks to counter Beijing's growing influence in the region. Diplomatic observers believe that the unexpected U.S. response may have to do with its desire not to alienate China further, which could respond strongly to Korea's participation in the Quad, while Washington may also have considered potential Japanese resistance due to its frayed bilateral ties with Korea that could detract from the overall goals of the four-way forum. During his election campaign, Yoon pledged to take part in the Quad's various working groups like those on climate change and technologies in order to gradually join the network. A senior U.S. official said it was not considering adding Korea to the security forum, according to media reports, Sunday, one day after U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed Yoon's interest in the Quad in a joint statement following their summit in Seoul. In addition, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki also said, May 3, that the U.S. had no plan to invite Korea to the Quad, saying that it will continue to engage Korea through a range of mechanisms. "The Biden administration seems worried that adding Korea could further antagonize China when U.S.-Sino relations are in terrible shape. Team Biden likely thinks that while such a move won't make relations better, it won't make them worse," said Harry Kazianis, the president of the think tank Rogue States Project. Kazianis, however, said the U.S. decision would be a mistake as it needs as many allies as possible to deter Chinese aggression. "Korea would be a major addition to the group, perhaps a game changer. President Yoon is taking a great risk in showing interest in joining the group Biden should embrace that," he added. Bruce Klingner, a former CIA deputy division chief of Korea and current senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said there were challenges to Korea's membership, including overcoming domestic public opposition fearful of Chinese retribution and potential Japanese resistance due to strained bilateral relations. "There are also concerns that bilateral Korea-Japanese disputes would detract from overall Quad goals. If Yoon's announced intent to improve relations with Tokyo bears fruit, then formally joining the organization would be more beneficial," Klingner said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, from left, U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave to the media prior to the Quad meeting in Japan, Tuesday. AFP-Yonhap Events were held Wednesday night in Uvalde and in San Antonio to honor the 19 children and two teachers who were killed Tuesday at Robb Elementary School. Hundreds of people turned out to pay respects to: More people moved to San Antonio than anywhere else in the country between 2020 and 2021, according to new U.S. Census data. The Alamo City topped the nations list of numeric gains as 13,626 people relocated here far outpacing Austins relatively small growth of just 1,056 newcomers. Phoenix closely followed San Antonio, with the Arizona city gaining 13,224 new residents. The Census Bureau only ranked cities with populations of 50,000 or more. San Antonio also maintained its status as the seventh-largest city in the country with around 1.5 million people. Phoenix is still home to a larger group of 1.6 million residents within city limits, the fifth largest in the country. Several of those new to the Alamo City said they came for work opportunities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Others listed family as the reason for relocating. Natalie Koock, 36, was a single mom when she moved from California in March 2021 and soon met her now-husband, Travis. They have a home on the Northwest side of town near Helotes. Koock, who has three teenagers, said closures and other challenges brought on by the pandemic dramatically changed the community she was living in and made it difficult for her to run the residential pool service company she had built. A friend recommended San Antonio, and before Koock knew it, she had made so many close connections that feel like family that she doesnt see herself leaving any time soon. And there were just so many opportunities and doors open for me once I did look into San Antonio, Koock said. When I came from a shutdown city, this was still a thriving city. On ExpressNews.com: California and beyond: Mapping where new San Antonio residents are moving from San Antonio did not make the list of top 15 fastest growing cities by percentage growth from July 2020 to July 2021, a list separate from numeric gains. However, suburban cities in the Austin and San Antonio metropolitan areas did. The fastest-growing cities primarily had populations around or below 100,000. Up the I-35 corridor, New Braunfels ranked fifth across the nation with 8.3 percent growth in that time. The suburb gained 7,538 new residents putting it at a new total population of 98,857. Georgetown, just north of Austin, came in at number one. Its population increased by 10.5 percent from July 2020 to July 2021, with 7,193 new residents. At that rate of growth, the citys population would double in less than seven years, according to the Census Bureau. Leander, also north of Austin, wasnt far behind Georgetown with its 10.1 percent population growth. Leander is about 12 miles away from Georgetown and saw 6,159 people move there. Two cities in Arizona, Queen Creek Town and Buckeye, came in third and fourth place on the fastest-growing cities list, respectively. Both are suburbs of Phoenix. The nations fastest-growing large cities are overwhelmingly located in the West and the South. On ExpressNews.com: At a crossroads: New Braunfels residents grapple with growth, rising housing costs Moving closer to family was a major part of what brought Jose Borquez, 62, and his wife to San Antonio from Portland in July two of their five kids live in town. Borquez also said the warmer weather is beneficial for his wifes health; even so, the pair plans to travel to cooler destinations during the hottest times of the year. Borquez said he has been happy with how many kind people he has met since moving to the area. Sam Owens, Staff Photographer / San Antonio Express-News But, as was the case with Koock, jobs were a major part of what has drawn people to the city in recent years. Crystal Longoria, 35, moved to San Antonio with her husband and their 5-year-old-daughter in June 2020. Longorias husband who now works in carpentry at a cabinet shop had been in construction in California, but he struggled to find work close enough to housing they could afford. Longoria said she is glad to now live in a city where her husband can get to work easily and she can take their daughter to fun attractions like the zoo with a shorter drive. Raphael Finn, an electrical engineer for the air force, has moved around the country several times for work. He moved from Denver to San Antonios West Side about a year ago for his job and because his girlfriend lives in town. Finn, 65, said he lived in Florida on and off for about 30 years. He said he will probably move again soon, but San Antonio may end up being where he returns after retirement. Tim Webb, 37, moved to San Antonio near Converse a year ago. The electrician said there were more opportunities for work in the area than he found in New Mexico, and family he has in town also attracted him to San Antonio. Overall, Webb said he likes the state, the city and everything it offers but is thinking of moving to a city on the outskirts of town next year to get farther from things like traffic. Its more of a fast pace, Webb said as he reflected on moving from New Mexico to San Antonio. Everything is here. Anything youd want to do is in Texas, to be honest more outdoor adventures. On ExpressNews.com: California and beyond: Mapping where new San Antonio residents are moving from Texas fared well in terms of largest numeric growth, with a handful of other cities ranking in the top 15. Fort Worth came in third with 12,916 new residents. Frisco, a Dallas area suburb, saw 7,933 people move there, ranking it eighth on the list. New Braunfels, Georgetown, Leander, Denton and McKinney also all placed in the top 15 for numeric gains. Three Texas cities also joined the list of places with populations of 50,000 or more in 2021. Kyle, in fast-growing Hays County, reached 51,789 residents. Burleson, south of Fort Worth, is now home to 51,618 people. Little Elm, also in the Dallas-Forth Worth area, has 51,042 residents. While San Antonio grew, more than half of the nations 15 largest cities lost or continued to lose population between 2020 and 2021. That includes Houston, the countrys fourth-largest city, which saw a decrease of 11,777 residents. Dallas, the ninth-largest city in the country, lost 14,777 residents. Koock started in San Antonio working at the water park in Six Flags but has since switched to being a realtor after the long-lasting effects of contracting COVID-19 made the high level of physical activity required by her first job a challenge. Soon after moving to town, Koock helped her mother find a home in the area, too, so they could live near each other. Koocks three kids are currently in California with their father but will be in town this summer when the school year ends. We love our neighbors, Koock said. We have grown to really love the community that were in, and Im really grateful for that. I love the people here. Theres so much hospitality here. megan.stringer@express-news.net megan.rodriguez@express-news.net The Texas Commission for Environmental Quality has declared Thursday as an ozone action day for the San Antonio area. It is the third day this year with possibly harmful levels of ozone pollution. Kin Man Hui, Staff / San Antonio Express-News The elderly, young children and others who have respiratory issues, such as bronchitis, emphysema or asthma, are more vulnerable to the pollutions effects. People with such conditions are advised to stay indoors or limit outside activity if possible. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The gun store where the Uvalde mass shooter picked up an assault-style rifle he may have used to massacre 21 children and teachers at an elementary school was at the center of an ammunition smuggling case several years ago. Oasis Outback sold more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition in one day to an Eagle Pass businessman who gave them to Mexican cartel operatives, court records show. Thats very significant, and its close to the border so you know where its going, said Davy Aguilera, a retired agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms who previously led the ATF office in San Antonio. Its obviously going to a bad guy to sell, transport or to use it. The general public is not going to buy that much. LIVE UPDATES: Follow along for the latest news and analysis on the Uvalde school shooting Oasis Outback wasnt accused of violating any laws governing the sale of ammunition. In fact, there are few laws restricting the ammo trade. In most states, there is nothing illegal about buying or selling large quantities of civilian-use ammunition to just about any adult. Bullets are a commodity almost as unregulated as milk or bread, with no record keeping requirement, limit on volume per individual or disqualifying criminal history for buyers unlike some rules governing gun sales. Also unlike guns, bullets dont have serial numbers that can later be traced to a store or person. In all but a half dozen states, ammunition can be bought online or in person with no oversight. About six states have implemented point-of-sale checks, while Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts and New Jersey require licenses or permits to purchase or possess bullets. Ammunition background checks, minimum age laws, and other commonsense policies regulating the sale and transfer of ammunition are important ways to keep deadly power away from those who threaten the safety of others, the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence in San Francisco says on its website. On its website, the National Rifle Associations Institute for Legislative Action opposes rules on ammunition sales, arguing that law-abiding citizens would be unfairly affected. Recent calls for federal regulations and restrictions on ammunition sales ignore the failure of such laws in the past, NRA officials said. They also ignore the impracticality of imposing and enforcing similar controls in today's huge ammunition market. Aguilera said police generally depend on store operators to report people who make large ammo purchases. That doesnt happen unless you have a good rapport with the owner or seller, Aguilera said. Following Tuesdays mass shooting, investigators confirmed Oasis served as a transfer store for an AR-15-stlye rifle that Salvador Ramos, 18, bought online from firearms dealer in Georgia. For online sales, a local licensed dealer must take information from the buyer for a background check to complete the sale. The rifle was one of two authorities recovered after Ramos barricaded himself in a Robb Elementary School classroom for an hour and gunned down 19 children and two teachers. Ramos used .223 caliber bullets, according to investigators. Investigators are trying to determine whether he also bought the ammunition at Oasis. The general manager of the store told the San Antonio Express-News on Wednesday that his shop is cooperating with police, but declined further comment. He and other store employees declined to speak with a reporter on Thursday about the ammo case. Smuggling case The ammunition case involved Fred Farhat, who owned a boots and jeans store in Eagle Pass. In 2011, he was sentenced to five years in federal prison for conspiring with a man and woman to smuggle the ammunition into Mexico. The case stemmed from arms-smuggling investigations by Homeland Security Investigations and the ATF in 2009. The agencies partnered to curb the flow of guns from Texas to Mexico, engineered by cartel operatives looking to exploit the states thirst for guns and ammo. In March 2009, agents found that, during three separate transactions within a three-hour period, Farhat paid almost $6,000 cash for more than 10,000 rounds of .223 and 5.56 x 45 mm ammunition at Oasis Outback. Thats a lot of money, Aguilera said. The store is making a lot of money. Farhat transported the ammunition to his business, and repackaged it. He and another man Ivan Ramos-Gonzalez then loaded the ammo into Ramos-Gonzalez vehicle, in which Noemi Ramos-Gonzalez, Ivans wife, was a passenger, according to court records. At the Eagle Pass international bridge crossing, the vehicles driver tried to flee from federal agents and crashed into other cars. The occupants abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot into Mexico. Mexican authorities responding to the scene of the accident recovered all of the ammunition, as well as gun magazines and pistol clips from the couples vehicle. Noemi Ramos-Gonzalez was later caught. She was sentenced to 30 months in prison for her guilty plea to the conspiracy. Records show her husband remains a fugitive. guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UVALDE In the days before Salvador Ramos stormed an elementary school here armed with an assault-style rifle killing 19 students and two teachers and injuring 17 others he narrated the imminent massacre on social media. On Instagram, he posted a photo of two assault-style rifles and tagged an underage girl in the post, telling her in a message, Im about to. In another message on Instagram, he posted a receipt for an assault-style rifle that cost $2,024.28. Then Ramos, 18, chronicled the carnage itself. Around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Ramos sent a private message on Facebook, saying he was going to shoot his grandmother, officials said. The high-school dropout was living with her in a home about two blocks from Robb Elementary School. Ramos followed through, shooting his 66-year-old grandmother, Sally Gonzalez, in the face. Bleeding, she ran across the street to a neighbors house and called police. She was airlifted to University Hospital and remained in critical condition on Wednesday. Ramos sent an update on Facebook: He had shot his grandmother. Then he sent a final message. Less than 15 minutes before arriving at the site of the massacre, Ramos wrote on Facebook that he was going to shoot up an elementary school. It was just two days before the schools 600 students would go on summer break. Wearing a tactical vest, Ramos got into his grandmothers pickup and fled about two miles toward the school, crashing through a chain-link fence and landing in a culvert. He got out with a backpack and an assault-style rifle. A school district officer approached Ramos as he entered the school, but no gunfire was exchanged, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said. The officer had little time to react before Ramos entered the school through a back door, Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said. Ramos was already over the fence and onto the campus when the officer saw him, McLaughlin said. Before the officer started to react, he was already through the door. Walking down two short hallways, turning right, then left, the gunman entered a classroom with an adjoining door to another classroom. The rooms were filled with school-age children: 8-, 9-and 10-year-olds. He locked the door behind him. That made our job more difficult, said DPS Sgt. Erick Estrada. We had to call in a special team to be able to make entry into the room. We dont know at what time he started shooting, but we know he shot from inside this classroom, and he also shot through a window in that room. Most of the casualties in the massacre were killed inside the classrooms, Estrada said. The two teachers were identified as Eva Mireles and Irma Garcia. Arriving at the school, McLaughlin said he saw students running and officers running alongside them, acting as shields between them and the building. Meanwhile, Uvalde police and school district officers kept Ramos pinned inside the classroom. Had (the officers) not done what they had done, this could have been even more horrific, McLaughlin said. About an hour passed before a special tactical team of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, known as BORTAC, forced its way into the classroom. A BORTAC agent shot and killed Ramos. Three officers were injured in the shootout but were in good condition on Wednesday, officials said. On May 17 a day after his 18th birthday when he became eligible to legally buy a rifle Ramos had purchased an assault-style rifle. The next day, he bought 375 rounds of ammunition. On May 20, Ramos bought a second assault-style rifle, officials said. An Instagram account linked to the gunman, which was removed or banned after the mass shooting, showed a photo of two assault-style rifles. Investigators were trying to confirm whether one of those was the one used in the massacre. Ramos tagged an underage girl in the post, which was seen by the San Antonio Express-News. The girl later posted undated screenshots that said Ramos had contacted her before 11 a.m. on an unspecified date and said, Im about to. The girl asked what he was about to do, saying she was sick and would probably fall asleep. Ima air out, Ramos responded. The girls account has been made private. Ramos also reportedly sent messages to another person he followed on Instagram, including a receipt for a gun he bought online, according to other undated screen shots reviewed by the Express-News. The receipt shows Ramos appears to have bought an AR-15 rifle from Daniel Defense, an online vendor in Georgia. The receipt said the gun cost $1,870. With tax, it came out to $2,024.28. Were aware of his Instagram posts, said one law enforcement source familiar with the investigation. Were looking into them. To receive the firearm, Ramos had to go to a local gun shop to request a transfer and get a criminal background check. The Express-News confirmed that he went to Outback Oasis in Uvalde for at least that one rifle. William Luther The source said investigators, including agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, visited Oasis Outback to inquire about that purchase and whether he bought anything else. The shops owner said Wednesday that his business is cooperating with the police, but he declined to provide further details, saying he would only provide information to the investigators. A sign at the store, which also sells sporting goods and has a restaurant, said the shop charges $30 to transfer one gun from an online vendor and $10 for each additional firearm, with a maximum of five guns per transfer. The phone at Daniel Defense ran unanswered Thursday. No one responded to a message sent electronically. On Wednesday, Texas DPS Capt. Jason Reyes declined to elaborate on the posts, or to say what other things investigators learned from their visit to Oasis Outback. It remains unclear if that was the same gun used in the massacre. Again, all thats under investigation, Reyes said. Uvalde Memorial Hospital treated 15 patients, the hospital CEO Thomas Nordwick said. All of them have been discharged or transferred to other hospitals for higher levels of care. Four children and one adult were sent to San Antonio hospitals. Our hearts are broken for these families, McLaughlin said. Tragedies like this should never happen. Reporters Annie Blanks, Jacob Beltran and Emily Foxhall contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UVALDE Religious leaders gathered with their faithful Wednesday night, a little more than 31 hours after the deadly massacre at Robb Elementary School, to console them. Tony Gruben, pastor of Uvaldes Baptist Temple Church, led the ecumenical service of Lutherans, Presbyterians and other demoninations. Church leaders prayed over hundreds of community members who filled half the arena at the Uvalde County Fairplex. Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz were at the center of the crowd. They took turns being a should to cry on for Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco. Gruben said he had spent hours with grieving families Tuesday at the Willie De Leon Civic Center. Family members of several shooting victims were on hand, including Ryan Ramirez, father of 10-year-old Alithia Ramirez. He was shared memories of his daughter. My daughter would want everyone that was involved to be strong, he said. Together, thats what were trying to do be strong for everybody. Ramirez said his family, including Alithias siblings, is still searching for answers. This is beyond traumatic, Gruben said. I cant even imagine what parents are going through, and the survivors. Gruben said he was thankful that grief counselors and people trained to help children were at the scene. The pastor from a Lutheran Church in Knippa played Amazing Grace, moving many in the crowd to tears. A group of pastors huddled in prayer as one clenched a leather-bound bible. Parents and their children stood in silence on the dirt floor of the stadium, which plays host to bull-riding and stock shows. Emma Trimble, lead pastor of Crossroads Community Church at Uvalde and a Uvalde native, said the crowd of families and community members was indicative of the city at large, a place that embraces religion. We are a very thought-conscious and God living community, said Trimble, who had consoled a mother whod lost her child in Tuesdays mass shooting. Zach Young, lead worshiper at Crossroads Community Church in San Antonio, said hed also prayed with families at the Civic Center, though adding, We dont know what to pray. Young said. Many of their prayers were silent and mournful. We dont have to have the answers just because were pastors, Young said. I think sometimes we stick our foot in our mouth when we try to act like we have all the answers. The truth is we dont, he said. We just know were hurting, and our God hurts with us. jbeltran@express-news.net Today, only 72 hours after 19 children and two teachers were slaughtered by a gunman in an Uvalde elementary school, the National Rifle Association will meet as planned in Houston, just 275 miles away. They will hear from former President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and others owned and controlled by the NRA. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn was scheduled to be there, too, but now says his schedule doesnt permit it. LIVE UPDATES: Follow along for the latest news and analysis on the Uvalde school shooting Also in attendance will be gun manufacturing leaders and lobbyists, a cohort that has successfully ensured Republicans and some Democrats in Congress do absolutely nothing to address mass shootings or any kind of gun control. The Gun Violence Archives, an independent data collection and research group, lists Tuesdays Uvalde massacre as the nations latest, but it wont remain in that spot for long. More than 200 mass shootings have been entered into the database since Jan. 1. Today is only the 147th day in 2022. For his birthday, a young gunman in Uvalde bought two assault-style rifles and 375 rounds of 5.56-caliber ammunition, according to news reports. The power and speed of each round left his victims unrecognizable, requiring their parents DNA to identify them. Sometimes I think such gruesome images need to go public in order to force lawmakers to act and ordinary people to demand change and propel NRA-loving politicians out of office. The Republican Legislature and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott have created a home for mass shooters to continue unabated. So far, Washington has been inept, especially the U.S. Senate, where two pieces of gun-control legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives have not been brought to a vote. Both expand background checks. It seems to make no matter that a Suffolk University/USA Today poll found 90 percent of registered voters support background checks. Other polls have found similar support among Democrats and Republicans. The NRA convention this weekend will celebrate the Senates idleness, the deadly status quo, firearm manufacturers and their lobbyists. Together theyve made gun owners paranoid about a perceived threat to the Second Amendments guarantee of gun ownership. Its a myth that has lined the gun industrys pockets. Theyre all willing to live with the consequences of inaction the mounting deaths of innocents in classrooms, houses of worship, shopping centers and nightclubs, wherever people gather, even at home. A few news reports have said the NRA wont allow conventioneers to carry guns, but thats not exactly true. They wont be allowed to carry firearms into the leadership forum at which Trump will speak. For the former presidents safety, the Secret Service also has banned firearm accessories or knives, among other items, USA Today reported. Thats where Abbott is scheduled to speak, too, though he sounded undecided about attending the event when asked at a Wednesday news conference in Uvalde. The same news conference where Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke became the focal point by confronting Abbott about the school massacre. This is on you, ORourke told Abbott. The NRA event will be safer than any classroom in Uvalde, any grocery store in Buffalo, any Walmart in El Paso. At the top of its website, the NRA offered condolences to Uvalde and praised school officials and first responders. In the next breath, it celebrated its convention offerings, including over 14 acres of the latest guns and gear from the most popular companies in the industry. NRA members and their immediate families, including spouses and children under 18, will be admitted free, the website says. Theyll revel in a Second Amendment they believe is absolute. It isnt, as President Joe Biden said this week, meaning its not free of any restrictions. The First Amendment doesnt guarantee all speech either. You cant shout fire in a crowded theater. You cant reverse the trend of U.S. mass shootings by passing one law or getting more support for mental health services. It will require a multitude of laws and resources that begin with intensive background checks and cautious permitting before gun sales. It will require training, buy-back programs, age restrictions, a registry and other means to limit and control access, especially to young people and unstable people. And especially to people in a hurry to buy them. The Uvalde investigation has just begun and already questions have been raised about the police timeline, their actions and inaction. Funerals arent yet set for grief that will last lifetimes. There are some certainties. Nothing will change if a gun-loving nation fails to stop giving shooters the means to carry out their plans by easily acquiring guns, especially assault-style guns. The other certainty: 19 more precious children will be added to a growing statistic in the United States of America, where guns are the leading cause of death among children. eayala@express-news.net Another mass shooting, this time at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. It was predictable and perhaps preventable. Texans want safe schools and reasonable improvements to gun control and mental health policies, but state policymakers have failed to enact commonsense policies that would save lives. The trauma endured in the Uvalde community was predictable because Texas already has witnessed too many mass shootings in schools, churches and retail stores without any meaningful policy changes. The Uvalde school shooting was the 27th school shooting this year. Four other mass shootings stand out and should have brought about significant policy changes. In 2019, a 21-year-old racist from the Dallas area drove to El Paso and killed 23 people. A few weeks later, another mass shooting killed seven people in Midland-Odessa. In 2018, 10 adults and students were killed and 13 were injured by a 17-year-old student at Santa Fe High School in the Houston area. In 2017, 26 people were killed at a Sutherland Springs church the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history. RELATED: Commentary: After Uvalde, support children, then take action In the wake of the El Paso shooting, Gov. Greg Abbott said, Our goal is to make sure we do everything we can to make sure a crime like this doesnt happen again. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said on Fox News he was willing to take an arrow from the National Rifle Association for strengthening background checks. Unfortunately, the Texas Legislature went in the opposite direction in 2021 and made it legal for individuals to carry handguns without a license or training. Days after the Santa Fe shooting, Abbott presented a 40-page list of recommendations to improve school safety, including providing mental health evaluations that identify students at risk of harming others. Yet many of these recommendations were never implemented, and the events in Uvalde suggest that many schools are not safer. Mass shootings keep happening amid broken political promises. And most Texans report a desire for reform. Overall, almost 60 percent of Texans oppose unlicensed carry, and almost half of Texas voters would make gun laws stricter if they could. Only 18 percent of Texans oppose criminal and mental health background checks. The failure to listen to the public consensus on gun control is also made worse by a broken school finance system. A recent analysis revealed that Texas was among the bottom three states nationally (with Alabama and Mississippi) for funding adequacy at the district level. Consequently, many Texas schools lack a full-time school counselor who can conduct mental health assessments, work with teachers to implement a mental health program for the school, and provide counseling to students and families in need. These policy failures are unacceptable. As education researchers, we have been in hundreds of schools across the state, and interviewed and worked with teachers, principals, superintendents and school counselors. They care deeply about their students, and they need help. We hope the horrific events at Robb Elementary School compel state policymakers to enact commonsense reforms. They can start by reviewing state policies that allow teenagers to access weapons. MORE LIKE THIS: Editorial: Uvalde suffers, yet the political charade goes on Policymakers should also address the lack of mental health support within schools. In rural contexts such as Uvalde, schools can be an important community hub for health care and mental health support. Additional investments can be made to ensure every school has a school counselor and student caseloads do not exceed 250 students. In addition, the state can provide additional funding for training school counselors, providing additional professional development for all school personnel on mental health, and assisting schools and community organizations in implementing research-informed community and school violence prevention programs. We all want a safer Texas where children and adults do not need to live in fear of the next mass shooting. Gun violence is complicated and each case is unique, but we need state policymakers to support our schools and enact commonsense gun control policies to prevent the next mass shooting. David DeMatthews is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Texas at Austin. Carleton Brown is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Services at the University of Texas at El Paso. Oliver Contreras, For The Washington Post / For The Washington Post President Joe Biden plans to visit Texas in the wake of the Uvalde elementary school massacre that left 21 dead, including 19 children. Jill and I will be traveling to Texas in the coming days to meet with the families and let them know we have a sense of their pain, and hopefully bring some little comfort to a community in shock, in grief and in trauma, Biden said at an unrelated press conference Wednesday. Less than 24 hours after Attorney General Ken Paxton clinched the Republican nomination for his re-election, the Texas State Bar sued him Wednesday over his dishonest attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The short, four-page lawsuit, filed in district court in Paxtons hometown of Collin County, contains identical claims to those in litigation filed earlier this month against Paxtons top deputy, First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster. Paxton violated the bars rules of professional conduct by including false and misleading statements, according to the association. His allegations were not supported by any charge, indictment, judicial finding, and/or credible or admissible evidence, and failed to disclose to the Court that some of his representations and allegations had already been adjudicated and/or dismissed in a court of law, the suit reads, referring to a number of voter fraud claims that had already been debunked at the time Paxton filed his petition. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Texas Bar seeks to discipline both AG Paxton and a top aide over attempt to overturn 2020 election The four battleground states that Texas sued Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin were then forced to spend time, money and other resources responding to these claims, the suit said. Texas 2020 suit before the U.S. Supreme Court was almost immediately tossed for lack of standing, and former President Donald Trumps own Justice Department found no evidence of fraud that could have changed the elections outcome. The suit against Paxton does not specify what type of punishment the bar recommends for him, but possible sanctions range in severity from a warning to disbarment. Wednesdays legal action came as a result of five complaints filed by private citizens, including Gary Ratner, a Maryland attorney and co-founder of the group Lawyers Defending American Democracy, and Kevin Moran, a Democratic Party activist in Galveston. Its a very strong complaint by the bar, said Jim Harrington, a Texas lawyer who co-signed Ratners complaint and who founded the Texas Civil Rights Project, a nonprofit that advocates for voting rights. I think they hit the nail on the head, and hopefully well see justice as a result of that. Neither the attorney generals office or his campaign staff i mmediately responded to requests for comment. Paxton has from the beginning framed the bar inquiry as a partisan witch hunt. I stand by this lawsuit completely, Paxton said on Twitter earlier this month, referring to the election results challenge. I am certain that the bar will not only lose, but be fully exposed for what they are: a liberal activist group masquerading as a neutral professional association. Texas bar: Ill see you and the leftists that control you in court, he added. Ill never let you bully me, my staff, or the Texans I represent into backing down or going soft on defending the Rule of Law something for which you have little knowledge. RELATED: AG Ken Paxton's attempt to influence judges draws a Texas Bar complaint from an Austin attorney Under the state bars rules, disciplinary suits are filed in the county in which the attorney primarily practices. If theres more than one, the bar files in the county where the attorney lives Paxton indicated Collin County. Similarly, the suit against Webster was filed in his hometown of Williamson County. That determination is up to the subject of the suit, according to the rules. Also per the bars rules, these suits are heard by an appointed judge from another district. In Paxtons case, it will be Judge Casey Blair of Kaufman County, a Republican elected in 2014. Websters case will be heard by Judge John Youngblood of Milam County, also a Republican who was first appointed by Gov. Rick Perry in 2011 and first elected in 2012. taylor.goldenstein@chron.com Russia says U.S. recruiting terrorists to fight in Ukraine Xinhua) 10:18, May 26, 2022 MOSCOW, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The United States is actively recruiting members of international terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State (ISIS), as mercenaries to fight in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has said. In April this year, about 60 ISIS militants aged 20-25 were released from prisons controlled by the Syrian Kurds with the participation of American intelligence services, the SVR said in a recent statement. They were "transferred to the U.S. military base Al-Tanf, located in Syria near the border with Jordan and Iraq, for combat training with a view to subsequent delivery to Ukraine," according to the statement. According to the SVR, the Al-Tanf base and its environs have turned into "a kind of terrorist hub," where up to 500 ISIS members loyal to Washington and other jihadists are being retrained at the same time. "The above facts once again confirm that the United States is ready to use any means to achieve its geopolitical goals, not excluding sponsoring international terrorist groups," it said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Seoul Central District Court / Korea Times file By Lee Hae-rin An undocumented resident of Russian nationality who sent 8.2 million won ($6,500) in cash to a Syria-based terrorist group was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison, along with a court order to pay back the same amount as a fine. The Seoul Central District Court ruled against the undocumented person on May 18 based on the law prohibiting the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The individual, whose name was not disclosed, has lived in Korea since 2018 and funded the U.N.-designated terrorist organization, Tavhid va Jihod (JTJ), through a group member whom the person met in Korea. The group was founded after the civil war in Syria in March 2011 and its members mainly consist of Central Asians. Beginning in November 2020, the person made a total of 18 overseas transfers totaling 8.2 million won. The financial transactions were made to a foreign account provided by a member of the group who had been collecting funds through social media. According to the head judge in charge of the case, the individual has no criminal history in Korea and financially supports family members in Kyrgyzstan. The person, whose gender is unknown, said that the gravity of the crime is serious in that they were aware of what kind of group they were supporting and sending money to, as the group was responsible for suicide bombings and other attacks that killed people in the country. Despite the serious nature of the crimes, the person confessed to their criminal deeds and said they regretted what they did. "It is believed that the individual was trying to help Muslims who live in poverty and miserable living conditions and that this played a part behind their motives to send money to the group," the judge said. The person had no previous criminal record and has family members living in Kyrgyzstan. The judge said that the court had considered all these things concerning the individual when it made the ruling against them. Foreign-educated nurses are an integral component of our nations health care delivery system, often adding a much-needed layer of support to hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities, many of which have faced ongoing nursing shortages for nearly 40 years. These staffing challenges were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic as the number of patients surged, and nearly 1 in 5 health care workers left their jobs often citing physical, mental, or emotional stress. During this unprecedented time, nurses were on the front lines providing critical care to patients across the United States. And as the pandemic rolled through different regions of the country, the flexibility provided by foreign-educated nurses helped alleviate shortages in communities from coast to coast. Specific to filling those shortages were health care staffing firms that often stood in the gap by providing well-trained care professionals where there was the most acute need. For example, Cincinnati-based Health Carousel, one of the largest certified ethical recruitment and staffing firms, worked during the pandemic to provide hospital administrators with easier, faster access to a nationwide network of qualified health care workers. Many of the foreign-educated nurses in the U.S. largely come from the Philippines, Europe, India, and Africa. This is a mutually beneficial relationship as many of these nurses come to the U.S. with their immediate families to experience and gain the benefits of living in the U.S., while also earning enough money to send to relatives back in their home country. In places like the Philippines, these remittances can account for nearly 9 percent of the nations GDP, with revenue sent from the U.S. making up more than 40 percent of that amount. Some critics of foreign-educated nurses argue that the U.S. shouldnt poach the talent of poorer countries. But many of these nurses dedicated years of service to their countries, and eventually decided it was time to do what was best for them and their families. Thats why one nurse from the Philippines told PBS that it was a thirteen-year dream for her to work in the U.S., where foreign-educated nurses are often provided with incentive packages including compensation for relocation, good pay, and benefits. Nurse staffing agencies give health care facilities access to more qualified nurses, often with specialties not readily available in their community. Foreign-educated nurses are able to help in some of the most challenging assignments, giving relief to staff nurses. In addition, foreign-educated nurses help reduce overtime costs, allowing staff nurses to achieve a work-life balance and experience a supportive workplace culture, while also helping to moderate health care costs. Now with, what we hope, is the worst of the pandemic behind us, there are still staffing needs due to nurses who left the profession because of pandemic burnout, seasonal changes, and sudden increases in hospital activity. In states like Florida, Mississippi, and New Hampshire with the largest demand, foreign-educated nurses have been able to fill the void when hospitals experience staffing shortages. And as the baby boomer generation comes of retirement age, the need for nursing specialists will continue to rise. Foreign-educated nurses provide important access to quality care at a reasonable cost to communities and individuals that otherwise go lacking. Policymakers and the health care industry should continue to support the nursing profession and provide opportunities and support to nurses and health care specialists who sacrifice so much to provide the care that patients across the country need. Rear Admiral Kenneth Moritsugu, M.D., was the Deputy Surgeon General of the United States and has served as Acting Surgeon General. A new simplified licence for vaccinating badgers has been rolled out today as part of the government's plans to eradicate bovine TB in England. The new licence to trap badgers for vaccination enables those trained to undertake this activity to register as an authorised person. This means applicants will no longer need to apply for an individual licence and wait up to 30 working days for a decision by the government. If successful, they will be able to start vaccinating badgers on land where they have the landowners permission. They can report their activity in real-time through a new smartphone app, developed by the Worldwide Veterinary Service. Farmers, landowners and vaccination groups who have successfully registered can use this licence from today (26 May), Defra explained. The announcement forms part of the governments strategy to eradicate bovine TB in England by 2038, which outlined plans to bring in badger and cattle vaccination alongside other measures. In 2021, 1,575 badgers were vaccinated across England, and it is hoped that the new licence will encourage more farmers to get involved in these projects. This includes a five-year programme in East Sussex, which was awarded over 2m last year to support vaccine deployment over an area of 250 square kilometres. Defra said this new process would boost vaccination efforts by making it administratively simpler for those wishing to undertake vaccination projects. Biosecurity Minister Lord Benyon said: Bovine TB is one of the most difficult and intractable animal health challenges that the UK faces today, causing considerable trauma for farmers and costing taxpayers over 100m every year. The widespread vaccination of badgers is a key cornerstone of our strategy to eradicate TB by 2038, with our new and simplified licence allowing more farmers and vaccination groups to join the fight against this insidious disease. The licence has been published online and farmers, landowners and vaccination groups who are interested can register now on the Gov.UK website. They will need to provide information about their training experience, and a decision would be made within 48 hours, Defra explained. Farmers are being told to take advantage of upcoming grants designed to help them improve slurry management as regulation grows ever tighter to prevent pollution. Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) rules now apply across most of the UK, and the loss of phosphate into water has rapidly become a major concern. Livestock producers are expecting rules to require six months slurry storage, and for many, that will require significant capital investment. Defra has already offered support for investment in improved slurry management ahead of a major grant scheme later this year. This is specifically for covered stores with six months capacity. Elsewhere, Scotland is also offering support for covering slurry stores. Flossy Freeman-Inglis, of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV), said farmers might as well take advantage of the grants to help pay for the law change. Although full details are yet to be unveiled, the money is expected to be for new or substantially enlarged or reconstructed stores with an impermeable fixed, flexible or floating cover," she said. Clay lined or earth bank lagoons might also qualify, providing they have leak protection, the CAAV explains. Planning permission where its not a fundamental obstacle - is a delay, and the CAAV is urging government to give supporting permitted development rights to assist the improvements it is seeking. Other schemes expect claimants to have five years use of the store, so some tenant farmers may need to extend their term to qualify. The grant scheme is unlikely to cover the full cost of works, leading to questions about what happens if the landlord or tenant cannot fund the remainder. In those cases, its worth examining whether the present livestock business is likely to last, according to Jeremy Moody, secretary of the CAAV. That may prompt discussion about change in the business or even retirement and succession planning," he said. "And if thats the case, then look at whether that is best done while the Lump Sum Scheme is available. Under the scheme, tenants can take their future Basic Payments as a single sum, providing they retire and give up their tenancy by 2024. It can lubricate negotiations, but the deadline is 30 September 2022, so you need to think about change now," he added. "Dont leave it until the Slurry Investment Grant opens as by then it may be too late. Only one in five of the UK public are confident that they can spot the symptoms of melanoma, a skin cancer which is more likely to affect outdoor workers such as farmers. New survey data by the charity Melanoma Focus shows that knowledge of signs is particularly low in males, with only 58% knowing that a change in an existing mole or lesion could be a symptom. Young people were shown to be less concerned about skin cancer, with only 68% saying they would see their GP if they noticed the red-flag symptom. Female respondents were much more likely to correctly identify all melanoma skin cancer symptoms and more likely to know that SPF30 or above is generally advised as the most appropriate level of sunscreen protection. Cases of melanoma are increasing in the UK and it is now the fifth most common cancer. There are around 2,300 melanoma skin cancer deaths in the UK every year - more than 6 every day - and the number of cases is expected to rise. Outdoor workers, such as those in the agricultural sector, are at greater risk of the cancer due to their exposure to the sun's UV rays, which can cause skin damage and sunburn. Susanna Daniels, CEO of Melanoma Focus, said farmers in particular need to be more aware of their skin and moles, and to look out for any changes. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. However, if detected early, most cases can be cured by surgical removal," she explained. Everyone should be aware of their skin and moles, looking out for any changes. This is especially important for people who spend a lot of time outdoors or work in construction, farming or other outdoor jobs. Its crucial that you contact your GP if you notice new or changing moles or lesions. Matt Heywood from Buxton, Derbyshire was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer last year. He noticed a mole on his back had changed shape, but he didn't go to his GP because he didn't think it was serious to start with. "I was fit and felt healthy and only 37 so I didn't consider I might have cancer," Matt said. "I also didn't know what melanoma was, despite having the risk factors of red hair, blue eyes and pale skin. "Eventually the mole got bigger and darker and my fiance persuaded me to go to the doctor. It was a huge shock to be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer and a much bigger shock to find out it had spread to my lymph nodes." He added: "I ended up having four lots of surgery, I continue with my immunotherapy and I have lost some feeling and function in my arm. "I have two young children who need me and my advice to everyone out there who may be putting off seeing a doctor about a changing mole is to prioritise your health. "You need to take care of yourself so you can be there for those who need you. Don't wait to get checked." The UK and Vietnam have held their first trade meeting in three years in a bid to increase cooperation across several sectors, including agriculture. Both countries held a Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) meeting on Wednesday (25 May) as trade increased by 11% in the past year. The UK government, which is looking to deepen trade relationships in the Indo-Pacific region, said the meeting looked at resolving market access barriers into each others economies. It comes after the UK and Vietnam agreed to sign a free trade agreement last year, eliminating 99% of all tariffs. Vietnam is a member of CPTPP - a free trade area with a GDP of 9 trillion - which the UK is in the process of joining. The South East Asian country is among the fastest growing economies in the region, and is expected to become one of the worlds major economies by 2050. It is a major exporter of agri produce, such as fresh tropical fruits and processed dairy, pork and poultry products. Minister of State for Trade Policy Penny Mordaunt said the JETCO meeting looked to increase cooperation across several sectors, including agriculture and technology. "They are a vital CPTPP member, and an important trading partner for the UK that demonstrates our Indo-Pacific tilt in action," she said. "Our talks today strengthen ties between our nations, including resolving market access barriers into each others economies." Warrenton, VA (20186) Today Thunderstorms, some strong early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 61F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms, some strong early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 61F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. President Yoon Suk-yeol named new nominees for education and welfare ministers Thursday both women after earlier nominees withdrew following allegations of irregularities and ethical lapses. Park Soon-ae, a former lawmaker, was named education minister while Kim Seung-hee, a professor of the Graduate School of Public Administration at Seoul National University, was named welfare minister. Earlier in the day, a senior presidential official said Yoon had planned to pick women as his new nominees, as part of his efforts to encourage the professional advancement of women. (Yonhap) Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category There is no doubt that the power couple Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan are Bollywood royalty. The couple got married in 2012, and after being together for a decade their relationship is as rock-solid as ever. They recently walked the red carpet at Karan Johars 50th birthday bash and looked stunning together. Today we narrow down on why Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan have always given us couple goals. . When Saif Ali Khan proposed to Kareena Kapoor in Paris Saif Ali Khan proposed marriage to Kareena Kapoor just like how they do it in the most heart-warming rom-coms: in Paris, the city of love. Commenting on their proposal, Kareena Kapoor Khan said, "He proposed to me a couple of times in Paris. Even his father had proposed to his mother in Paris when she was shooting for An Evening In Paris. We were at the Ritz Hotel at the bar, I think I said no and then there was one more time, in the same trip, and when we were at the Notre Dame Church. I was just like lets not talk about it. Because I was into my career and I was like, Let me think about it but two days later I was like 'Yeah'!" Saif Ali Khan had the most adorable reaction when he found out Kareena was pregnant Kareena Kapoor Khan once revealed Saif Ali Khans reaction when she was pregnant with her first-born son Taimur. The actress told a leading publication, "I think he was very excited. I think the best compliment is that every day when he sees me, hes like, 'I love you more when youre pregnant. And I think you should just continuously be pregnant' and I was like, 'Oh God, no!'." Saif Ali Khan comments on why Kareena is his perfect match In an interview, Saif Ali Khan once said, "I think timing is everything. I met Kareena at a point in my life when I was ready to consolidate and build in every area of my life. She brought a great sense of stability; I felt like we were able to create a solid foundation on which I could build emotionally, financially, and professionally." The innumerable romantic get-aways Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan were always inclined towards vacationing together. Their vacation pictures have been in the limelight ever since they posed together in Morocco in 2009. Ever since their two sons Taimur and Jeh were born, they look picture-perfect, travelling as a family. They are the most fashionable couple in town Kareena and Saif made a jaw-dropping appearance at Karan Johars 50th birthday bash. While Saif looked suave dressed in an off-white formal look, Kareena made heads turn in a metallic silver dress. They proved yet again that they have no peers when it comes to fashion. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was a well-known face as a model in the 1990s before becoming a true blue Bollywood star. Three decades later, a copy of her modeling invoice has surfaced on the internet, and fans have a lot to say about it. According to the contract, which was signed on May 23, 1992, the actress was paid Rs 1,500 for a magazine shoot. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who was "about 18" at the time, agreed to work as a model for a magazine catalogue shoot for a company called Krupa Kreations. The single-page contract, signed in Mumbai, bears the actress signature. A user shared the contract along with the caption, Aishwarya Rai got paid Rs 1,500 for one day's work in 1992. I wasn't even born then! One Redditor acknowledged that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was always a star, saying, In 1992 my father's income was Rs 8,000 per month which was sufficient to run our house of 5. This is massive money for a day's work for an 18-year-old. Another user mentioned, One day? My father was working for a month for this. After the contract went viral, photographer Vimal Upadhayay shared images from a vintage photoshoot featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on social media. Sonali Bendre, Niki Aneja, and Tejaswini Kolhapure also appear in the photographs. Along with a series of photos taken for a magazine catalogue featuring salwar kameez looks, Upadhayay wrote on Tuesday, Hello, yesterday I celebrated the 30th anniversary of the fashion catalogue published by me. Aishwarya Rai, Sonali Bendre, Niki Aneja, and Tejaswini Kolhapure were few of the models posed for this catalogue. After walking the red carpet at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, Aishwarya returned to Mumbai with Abhishek Bachchan and their daughter Aaradhya Bachchan. This year marked the actress's 20th appearance at Cannes. In addition to her stunning appearances at the festival, the diva made headlines for her family outings. Hello, Yesterday I celebrated the 30th Anniversay of the Fashion Catalogue published by me. Aishwarya Rai, Sonali Bendre, Niki Aneja, Tejaswini Kolhapure were few of the models posed for this Catalogue. pic.twitter.com/AQBuQakv2K SGBSR Maharashtra (@Vimalnupadhyaya) May 24, 2022 Hello, Yesterday I celebrated the30th Anniversay of the Fashion Catalogue published by me. Aishwarya Rai, Sonali Bendre, Niki Aneja, Tejaswini Kolhapure were few of the models posed for this Catalogue. pic.twitter.com/jo07S2zpRp SGBSR Maharashtra (@Vimalnupadhyaya) May 24, 2022 Hello, Today I am celebrating the 30th Anniversay of the Fashion Catalogue published by me. Aishwarya Rai, Sonali Bendre, Niki Aneja, Tejaswini Kolhapure were few of the models posed for this Catalogue. (Collage 4) pic.twitter.com/WPVe0YYfoE SGBSR Maharashtra (@Vimalnupadhyaya) May 23, 2022 MONACO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oceanco is extending its collaboration to CasperLabs, Dgallery and Megalodon to release its upcoming Superyacht NFTs collection on the Ethereum Blockchain and Casper Blockchain. Oceanco announced today that it will be launching part of its Superyacht NFTs collection on the Casper Blockchain, to be sold via Dgallery and superyachtnfts.com. The official signing ceremony took place during the Blockchain Hub Davos 2022 event, where Paris Baloumis, Group Marketing Director of Oceanco, was joined by signatories from CasperLabs, Dgallery, Megalodon and Bozca Limitless Design. A world-class builder of large custom superyachts, Oceanco is renowned for its ground-breaking vessels that set industry standards. Reinforcing its reputation as an industry pioneer, Oceanco is also the first superyacht builder to launch into the digital world with a series of NFTs. Designed by Timur Bozca of Bozca Limitless Design, the collection of Superyacht NFTs blends real design and top names in yachting with utilities for NFT holders. The collection has been created with the philosophy that yachting is about fun and experiences. To further boost the experiential side of its utilities, Superyacht NFTs has selected travel and yachting expert Pelorus as one of its key utility partners. "It has always been important to Oceanco that we push the boundaries of yachting in a positive direction. Which is why launching into a new digital realm with NFTs felt like a natural progression, and we are happy to be working with such excellent trusted partners on this journey," commented Oceanco Chairman Dr. Barwani. Together with CasperLabs, Dgallery, Megalodon and Bozca Limitless Design - Oceanco is offering a limited-edition collection on the Casper Blockchain, allowing Superyacht NFTs holders minting on Casper to be part of their own Superyacht NFTs while giving them access to virtual and real-life experiences (via e.g. airdrops). "With our Superyacht NFTs collection, it has always been a priority to offer utilities that benefit holders of the NFTs. We have an inclusive outlook and are granting our community from around the world access to unique experiences, such as taking part in the design of your very own digital yacht NFT on the Casper Blockchain, which is a world first," added Oceanco CEO Marcel Onkenhout. "Casper provides the most secure, highly reliable and public infrastructure for minting, selling and trading NFTs," said Cliff Sarkin, COO at CasperLabs. "Oceanco's innovative approach with its NFT collection is a strong example of how companies are unlocking new value with blockchain technology." No Offer, Solicitation, Investment Advice or Recommendations This release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy, or a recommendation for any security, nor does it constitute an offer to provide investment advisory or other services by Dgallery or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors or employees. No reference to any specific security constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold that security or any other security. Nothing in this release shall be considered a solicitation or offer to buy or sell any security, future, option or other financial instrument or to offer or provide any investment advice or service to any person in any jurisdiction. Nothing contained in this release constitutes investment advice or offers any opinion with respect to the suitability of any security, and the views expressed in this release should not be taken as advice to buy, sell or hold any security. In preparing the information contained in this release, we have not taken into account the investment needs, objectives, and financial circumstances of any particular investor. This information has no regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation, and particular needs of any specific recipient of this information and investments discussed may not be suitable for all investors. Any views expressed in this release by us were prepared based upon the information available to us at the time such views were written. Changed or additional information could cause such views to change. All information is subject to possible corrections. Information may quickly become unreliable for various reasons, including changes in market conditions or economic circumstances. Dgallery is not a registered broker-dealer, funding portal, underwriter, investment bank, investment adviser or investment manager, and is not providing brokerage, investment banking or underwriting services, recommendations or investment advice to any person, and does not provide any brokerage services. Dgallery takes no part in the negotiation or execution of secondary market transactions for the purchase or sale of securities and, at no time, has possession of investor funds or securities in connection with such transactions. About Oceanco Oceanco is a world-class builder of custom superyachts up to 160m, with construction premises in The Netherlands and a Sales and Design office in Monaco. The company is renowned for its ground-breaking vessels. Amongst the notable yachts built by Oceanco include Black Pearl, DreAMBoat, Bravo Eugenia, DAR, Kaos (ex-Jubilee), Alfa Nero, Barbara and AQuiJo. For more information, visit www.builtbyoceanco.com About Bozca Limitless Design Bozca Limitless Design is an award-winning transportation design company. The studio is focused towards creating new trends in architecture, yacht, aviation and automotive design. The vision is to create solutions through design by considering human factors, technology and aesthetics. The company believes in creating a bespoke product for tomorrow, but also for the day after. For more information, visit www.timurbozca.com About Pelorus Pelorus is the ultimate experiential travel and yachting company. It designs tailor-made travel, yacht charters and experiences in extraordinary places across the globe that seek to transform our perspective. The company endeavours to meet clients' wildest aspirations using its global network of contacts, exclusive access, innovative team and extensive research. In a time when genuine escape is hard to find, Pelorus takes a new approach to the travel and yachting sectors, delivering boundary-pushing ideas for the new era of discovery. For more information, visit www.pelorusx.com About Dgallery Dgallery falls under the Dgallery brand and is a digital NFT shop offering technical capabilities to launch NFTs through its platform. Casper Blockchain offers Dgallery a trusted blockchain for enterprise grade requirements and upgradeable infrastructure that powers Dgallery's innovation. Dgallery will list and mint NFTs on the Casper Blockchain, integrate wallets and create experiences that are a marketeer's dream. For more information, visit: https://dgallery.io/ About CasperLabs CasperLabs, a leading blockchain company for the enterprise market, is re-imagining blockchain for enterprise with a futureproof solution. The company also provides support for organizations building on the Casper Blockhain. Guided by open-source principles, CasperLabs is committed to supporting the next wave of blockchain adoption among businesses and providing developers with a reliable and secure framework to build private, public and hybrid blockchain applications. Its team possesses deep enterprise technology experience, hailing from organizations including Google, Adobe, AWS, Dropbox and Microsoft. To learn more, visit https://casperlabs.io/ About Megalodon Megalodon is a boutique management consultancy firm. The firm is specialized in consultancy services focusing on fintech, including payment systems, digital assets, NFTs, (digital) securities. For more information, visit: https://megalodon.ae/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826187/SuperyachtNFTs__1.jpg INDIANAPOLIS (dpa-AFX) - Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY) said that it plans to invest $2.1 billion in two new manufacturing sites at Indiana's LEAP Lebanon Innovation and Research District in Boone County. The new facilities will expand its manufacturing network for active ingredients and new therapeutic modalities, such as genetic medicines. The proposed project is expected to create up to 500 new Lilly roles with an additional four indirect jobs for every Lilly position created, based on industry data. An estimated 1,500 construction jobs will be required while the facilities are being built. The investment in Boone County is contingent upon local zoning and annexation approvals. Lilly is partnering with several organizations throughout the project, including the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Press Release Nokia and Taiwan Mobile strengthen partnership with energy-efficient 5G coverage expansion deal New deal will see delivery of enhanced country-wide 5G coverage; Nokia's energy-efficient AirScale portfolio will support TWM's sustainability commitments Expansion of 5G Standalone Core includes slicing and low-latency edge cloud for enterprise, and Voice over New Radio (VoNR) 26 May 2022 Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced that it has been selected by Taiwan Mobile (TWM) in an expansion deal to enhance the operator's 5G coverage across the country. Under the deal, Nokia will provide its latest energy-efficient AirScale portfolio supporting TWM's commitments to RE100 and reaching 100 percent renewable energy by 2040. It will also provide a smooth network evolution path following the completion of the proposed merger with Taiwan Star. Nokia will provide equipment from its AirScale portfolio, including base stations and massive MIMO antennas to boost network performance and capacity. The deal also covers the introduction of 4G/5G dynamic spectrum sharing to maximize the advantages of TWM's spectrum assets, which include 700MHz and 2100MHz bands. Nokia will help the operator modernize its LTE infrastructure, as well as consolidate the network management and optimization under a centralized tool for a superior 4G/5G RAN network performance. Nokia has partnered with TWM for more than 20 years and has previously provided 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile networks covering RAN, packet core, and voice core. In particular, Nokia has made several key contributions to TWM's 5G development including projects on smart stadiums, smart transportation, and smart logistics. Today, TWM has over one million 5G subscribers. Nokia will also expand its existing 5G Standalone Core at Taiwan Mobile to enable the operator to provide advanced 5G applications, such as network slicing for enterprises and businesses and Edge Cloud deployments for low-latency services. The deployment will include Nokia AirFrame server hardware with Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) capabilities, IMS Voice Core capacity expansion, and Voice over New Radio (VoNR). Jamie Lin, President at Taiwan Mobile, said: "Nokia has been our go-to partner for more than two decades and their performance during the 5G era so far has been nothing but brilliant. By doubling down on their cutting-edge technologies with this newly awarded order, we aim to upgrade and expand our 5G network to deliver resilient connectivity and expanded coverage to our subscribers and enterprises alike while at the same time accelerate our sustainability agenda and contribute to a greener earth. By working hand in hand with Nokia, I have full confidence we can get the best of both worlds." Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, said: "This new extended coverage deal is a testament to the great progress we've made in the deployment of 5G services in Taiwan with our long-term partner, Taiwan Mobile as its sole supplier. I am also encouraged to see how our AirScale portfolio is helping to reduce energy consumption and pave the way for a sustainable future." Resources: Nokia AirScale Nokia 5G Core webpage (https://www.nokia.com/networks/portfolio/5g-core/) (https://www.nokia.com/networks/portfolio/5g-core/) Nokia Voice over New Radio webpage (https://www.nokia.com/networks/solutions/voice-over-5g-vo5g-core/) About Nokia At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a trusted partner for critical networks, we are committed to innovation and technology leadership across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. We create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities needed for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world. Media Inquiries: Nokia Communications First lady Kim Keon-hee / Yonhap First lady Kim Keon-hee plans to pay a visit to the wife of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun at her home in the southeastern village of Bongha, officials close to her said Thursday. "First lady Kim is planning to visit Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, to meet with Kwon," said an official close to Kim, referring to Roh's wife, Kwon Yang-sook, adding that an exact date for the meeting has yet to be set. Roh, who ran the country from 2003-2008, committed suicide amid a sprawling corruption probe in 2009. But he is considered an iconic figure in the nation's liberal bloc as he pushed for far-reaching reform measures and endeavored to eliminate authoritarianism and regionalism from politics. Another official close to Kim said the first lady "has long wanted to meet Kwon in person." President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Bongha Village, some 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in November last year when he was a presidential candidate and paid his respects at Roh's grave. At that time, Yoon praised the late president for his ability to relate to the common people and fight injustice. An official at the Roh Moo Hyun Foundation dedicated to remembering the late president's works also confirmed that the presidential office conveyed Kim's wish for a meeting with Kwon and the two sides have discussed arranging the meeting. Meanwhile, Kim is expected to resign from her art event-planning company, Covana Contents, as early as this week. The company has already closed its website, a company official said. The company will not engage in for-profit businesses while retaining its office and other assets, the company official said. (Yonhap) NICOSIA, CYPRUS / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / Atalaya Mining Plc (AIM:ATYM)(TSX:AYM) ("Atalaya" or "the Company") announces that it will host its 2022 Annual General Meeting ("AGM") on Wednesday, 22 June 2022 at 11:00 a.m. BST at the offices of Fieldfisher LLP, located at Riverbank House, 2 Swan Lane, London EC4R 3TT. A circular, incorporating the Notice of AGM for 2022, together with forms of proxy and forms of instruction, the 2021 Consolidated Financial Statements and other relevant documents are available on the Company's website at www.atalayamining.com and under the Company's corporate profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Shareholders on register on 18 May 2022 are eligible to attend the meeting and vote at the AGM and should refer to the voting instructions set out in the Notice of AGM. AGM Webcast Details To ensure that shareholders can follow the proceedings of the AGM, the Company will provide access online through the Investor Meet Company platform. However, shareholders should note that online participation will not constitute attendance at the AGM and therefore cannot vote online. Consequently, shareholders are urged to submit their votes via proxy. Shareholders who wish to attend the AGM online should register by visiting the following link: https://www.investormeetcompany.com/atalaya-mining-plc/register-investor Immediately after the formal business of the meeting, the Company will give a corporate update presentation, which will be made available on the Company's website at www.atalayamining.com and shareholders will have the opportunity to ask questions. Questions can be submitted pre-event via the Investor Meet Company dashboard up until 9:00 a.m. the day before the meeting or at any time during the AGM. Contacts: SEC Newgate UK Elisabeth Cowell / Axaule Shukanayeva / Max Richardson + 44 20 3757 6882 4C Communications Carina Corbett +44 20 3170 7973 Canaccord Genuity (NOMAD and Joint Broker) Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor / James Asensio +44 20 7523 8000 BMO Capital Markets (Joint Broker) Tom Rider / Andrew Cameron +44 20 7236 1010 Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker) Ross Allister / David McKeown +44 20 7418 8900 About Atalaya Mining Plc Atalaya is an AIM and TSX-listed mining and development group which produces copper concentrates and silver by-product at its wholly owned Proyecto Riotinto site in southwest Spain. Atalaya's current operations include the Cerro Colorado open pit mine and a modern 15 Mtpa processing plant, which has the potential to become a centralised processing hub for ore sourced from its wholly owned regional projects around Riotinto that include Proyecto Masa Valverde and Proyecto Riotinto East. In addition, the Group has a phased, earn-in agreement for up to 80% ownership of Proyecto Touro, a brownfield copper project in the northwest of Spain. For further information, visit www.atalayamining.com This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Atalaya Mining PLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/702772/Atalaya-Mining-PLC-Announces-Notice-of-Annual-General-Meeting Exploration Update Additional Drill Rigs Mobilised to Site Visible Spodumene Observed in New Drilling Ewoyaa Lithium Project Ghana, West Africa SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / Atlantic Lithium Limited (AIM:ALL)(OTCQX:ALLIF) ("Atlantic Lithium" or the "Company"), the funded, African- focussed lithium exploration and development company on track to bring West Africa's first lithium mine into production, is pleased to announce the mobilisation of an additional 3 drill rigs, the expansion of the drilling programme and new drilling observations at the Ewoyaa Lithium Project ("Ewoyaa" or the "Project") in Ghana, West Africa where it has defined a JORC (2012) compliant Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") of 30.1Mt @1.26% Li2O. Figures and tables referred to in this release can be viewed in the PDF version available via this link: http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8518M_1-2022-5-26.pdf HIGHLIGHTS: Approximately 9,166m of reverse circulation ("RC") drilling for 52 holes completed to date with assays pending. Multiple and significant visual spodumene pegmatite drill intercepts observed up to 80m long in RC drill chips; assays pending. Second and third RC drill rigs arrived on site and commenced drilling; a diamond core drilling rig ("DD") is due to arrive on site next week, increasing the total number of drilling rigs on site to four. Original planned drilling programme increased from approximately 19,000m to approximately 37,000m of exploration, resource extension, resource infill and geotechnical drilling. Airborne geophysical survey and 100m x 100m grid soil geochemical survey for 9,145 samples completed over the Cape Coast license; results pending. Exploration RC drilling designed to test new targets defined in auger drilling within the Ewoyaa pegmatite corridor, to the north and south of the current MRE. Resource extension and infill RC and DD drilling designed to test depth and strike extensions of known mineralisation, convert Inferred to Indicated Resources and define Measured Resources for the first 1.5 years of mine production. Geotechnical DD drilling designed to test proposed mine pit wall ground conditions for detailed engineering design. Regional exploration auger drilling ongoing over Mankessim and Saltpond licenses. The Company's intention to deliver a Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") during Q3 2022 remains unchanged despite delays in receiving assay results from labs experiencing heightened demand. Commenting on the Company's latest progress, Len Kolff, Interim CEO of Atlantic Lithium, said: "We are pleased to be increasing the number of drill rigs active on the ground, with four rigs planned to be drilling within the next two weeks. "We have drilled over 9,000m to date with multiple new spodumene pegmatite intervals observed over the Grasscutter North prospect, with assays pending. "Resource expansion drilling below the Ewoyaa Main deposit has returned significant widths of spodumene pegmatite observed in RC drill chips with up to 80m intervals downhole in multiple drill holes and an apparent widening of the pegmatite at depth with assays pending and drilling ongoing. This bodes well for future resource upgrades. "We have increased the planned meterage from approximately 19,000m to 37,000m with a significant increase in resource expansion and infill drilling planned over the Ewoyaa deposit, including infill for conversion to Measured Resources for the first 1.5 years of mine life. "We are currently experiencing significant delays in assay turnaround time due to the lithium boom and stretched labs, with over one month delays, however our timeline for the delivery of the PFS study during Q3 2022 is unchanged. "To date, only a small area of approximately 28km2 has been auger tested, with an even smaller 13km2 area drill tested within our broader 560km2 lithium portfolio in Ghana. "The airborne geophysical survey for radiometrics, magnetics and radar topography has been completed, as has the 100m x 100m grid soil geochemistry survey over the Cape Coast license area with results pending. "The exploration potential is clear, and we see significant opportunity for resource growth. Not only do we believe that Project metrics will improve significantly beyond the current defined mine life, but we also see the potential for further economic improvement due to the recent increases in spodumene concentrate pricing which have far exceeded our initial SC6 price modelling parameters. "These fundamentals continue to demonstrate Ewoyaa as an industry-leading asset; with the Company ideally positioned to benefit from the growing lithium demand." Additional Rigs Mobilised and Expanded Programme The drilling fleet has been enhanced with the arrival of an EDM 2000 RC rig and a UDR 300 RC rig on site and a further diamond drill rig arriving over the coming week, bringing the total number of drill rigs to four. To date, a total of 9,166m of drilling in 52 holes has been completed with assays pending. Figure 1: EDM 2000 multipurpose RC drill rig arriving on site. The original planned programme of approximately 19,000m of drilling has been increased to approximately 37,000m of drilling including exploration, resource extension, resource infill for Indicated and Measured Resources and geotechnical DD drilling. The 37,000m of drilling planned includes the 9,166m of drilling completed to date. The current programme consists of approximately 13,000m in 124 collars of exploration drilling, 18,000m in 100 collars of resource expansion and inferred to indicated infill drilling, 5,000m in 60 collars of Indicated to Measured infill drilling for the first 1.5 years of mine life and 1,000m in 6 collars of geotechnical drilling. To date, approximately 28km2 has been auger drill tested with 160m, 80m and 40m line spacing and 20m to 10m collar spacing, with only 13km2 drill tested within our broader 560km2 portfolio in Ghana. Significant Observed Spodumene Pegmatite Drill Intervals; Assays Pending Drilling observations to date for the 9,166m completed over the Grasscutter North target and Ewoyaa Main depth extension target within the current MRE has returned multiple visible spodumene pegmatite intervals with assays pending. Multiple steeply stacked pegmatite dykes with true widths between 4m to 17m have been observed at Grasscutter North with assays pending. Resource extension drilling at the Ewoyaa Main deposit has intersected significant pegmatite intervals in excess of 100m and up to 150m down hole with spodumene intervals observed over 80m down hole in multiple holes such as GRC0669 and GRC0670 with assays pending. Drilling was completed below previously reported high-grade intervals in holes GRC0425: 75m @ 1.17% Li2O from 68m, GRC0426: 64m @ 1.28% Li2O from 74m and GRC0428: 66m @ 1.26% Li2O from 41m (refer to RNS of 15 December 2021). Newly completed holes are part of the resource expansion programme and indicate a thickening of the pegmatite at depth in this particular area with drilling ongoing and potential to add significant resource tonnes (refer Figure 2 and Figure 3). Figure 2: New pegmatite drill intersections in four RC holes outside of the current MRE with up to 80m of observed spodumene in RC drill chips within broader pegmatite intercepts with assays pending; significant potential for resource growth. Figure 3: Visible spodumene zone observed in RC drill chips in hole GRC0670 from 107m to 187m with assays pending. Regional auger drilling will continue in parallel with the RC drilling programme to test exploration targets within the Saltpond license and continue to define targets within the immediate MRE area in the Mankessim license. Cape Coast License Regional Exploration Datasets The Company had previously engaged NRG South Africa for the regional airborne geophysical survey over the recently granted Cape Coast license and field teams had commenced a 100m x 100m grid soil geochemistry survey to complement the regional data sets over the adjacent licenses for future drill targeting (refer RNS of 17 March 2022). Both surveys have now been completed with a total of 3,762 line kilometres completed for the geophysical survey and 9,145 soil samples collected with results pending and potential target areas to be defined for ongoing exploration and targeting (refer Figure 4). Competent Persons Information in this report relating to the exploration results is based on data reviewed by Mr Lennard Kolff (MEcon. Geol., BSc. Hons ARSM), Chief Geologist of the Company. Mr Kolff is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists who has in excess of 20 years' experience in mineral exploration and is a Qualified Person under the AIM Rules. Mr Kolff consents to the inclusion of the information in the form and context in which it appears. Information in this report relating to Mineral Resources was compiled by Shaun Searle, a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Searle has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves' (JORC Code). Mr Searle is a director of Ashmore. Ashmore and the Competent Person are independent of the Company and other than being paid fees for services in compiling this report, neither has any financial interest (direct or contingent) in the Company. This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("MAR"), and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR. For any further information, please contact: Atlantic Lithium Limited Lennard Kolff (Interim CEO) Amanda Harsas (Finance Director & Company Secretary) www.atlanticlithium.com.au Tel: +61 2 8072 0640 atlantic@yellowjerseypr.com SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP Nominated Adviser Jeff Keating Charlie Bouverat Tel: +44 (0)20 3470 0470 Canaccord Genuity Limited Joint Company Broker Raj Khatri James Asensio Harry Rees Tel: +44 (0) 20 7523 4500 Liberum Capital Limited Joint Company Broker Scott Mathieson Edward Thomas Kane Collings Tel: +44 (0) 20 3100 2000 SI Capital Limited Joint Company Broker Nick Emerson Jon Levinson Tel: +44 (0) 1483 413 500 Tel: +44 (0) 207 871 4038 Yellow Jersey PR Limited Henry Wilkinson Dominic Barretto James Lingfield Tel: +44 (0)20 3004 9512 Notes to Editors: About Atlantic Lithium www.atlanticlithium.com.au Atlantic Lithium (formerly "IronRidge Resources") is an AIM-listed lithium company advancing a portfolio of projects in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire through to production. The Company's flagship project, the Ewoyaa Project in Ghana, is a significant lithium pegmatite discovery on track to become West Africa's first lithium producing mine. The project is fully funded to production under an agreement with Piedmont Lithium for US$102m, based on the updated Scoping Study dated 7 December 2021, indicating Life of Mine revenues exceeding US$3.4bn and set to produce a premium lithium product. Atlantic Lithium holds a 560km2 & 774km2 tenure across Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire respectively, comprising significantly under-explored, highly prospective licenses. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Atlantic Lithium Limited View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/702783/Atlantic-Lithium-Limited-Announces-Expanded-Drilling-Programme-at-Ewoyaa-Ghana In the pivotal clinical study CARTITUDE-1, 98 percent of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma responded to a one-time treatment with ciltacabtagene autoleucel and 80 percent of patients who responded experienced a stringent complete response1 The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson Johnson announced today that the European Commission (EC) granted conditional marketing authorisation of CARVYKTI(ciltacabtagene autoleucel; cilta-cel) for the treatment of adults with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least three prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD), a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an anti-CD38 antibody, and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. In December 2017, Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen) entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Legend Biotech USA, Inc. to develop and commercialise cilta-cel.2 "Patients who have relapsed, or for whom treatment regimens have stopped working after experiencing the three major drug classes, typically face poor survival. Despite recent innovation, new therapeutic approaches are still needed," said Maria-Victoria Mateos, M.D., Ph.D., Consultant Physician in Haematology, University Hospital of Salamanca.* "The CARTITUDE-1 data, on which the EC approval is based, show that a single infusion of cilta-cel resulted in durable responses in a heavily pre-treated patient population. These results support the potential of cilta-cel in offering patients and physicians a valuable new treatment option." Cilta-cel is a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy featuring two B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting single domain antibodies.3 CAR-T therapy is specifically developed for each individual patient, and it is administered as a single infusion.3,4 "At Janssen, we are building on nearly 20 years of commitment towards changing what a multiple myeloma diagnosis means for patients and are intent on addressing the high unmet needs that still remain," said Edmond Chan, MBChB M.D. (Res), EMEA Therapeutic Area Lead Haematology, Janssen-Cilag Limited. "With today's approval of cilta-cel in Europe, we are pleased to be delivering a new approach to the way in which healthcare professionals can tackle, and hopefully one day overcome, this complex disease." Conditional marketing authorisation (CMA) is the approval of a medicine that addresses unmet medical needs of patients based on less comprehensive data than normally required, where the benefit of immediate availability of the medicine outweighs the risk, and the applicant is able to provide comprehensive clinical data in the future.5 This CMA was supported by the pivotal CARTITUDE-1 study, including patients who had received a median of six prior treatment regimens (range, 3-18), and had previously received an IMiD, PI, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.1 Findings presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2021 Annual Meeting showed that at a median duration of 18 months follow-up (range, 1.5-30.5), a one-time treatment with cilta-cel resulted in deep and durable responses, with 98 percent (95 percent Confidence Interval [CI], 92.7-99.7) of patients with RRMM responding to therapy (98 percent overall response rate [ORR] (n=97)).1,6 Notably, 80 percent of patients achieved a stringent complete response (sCR), a measure in which a physician is unable to observe any signs or symptoms of disease via imaging or other tests after treatment.1 The safety of cilta-cel was evaluated in 179 adult patients across two open-label clinical trials (MMY2001 and MMY2003). The most common adverse reactions (=20 percent) were neutropenia (91 percent), cytokine release syndrome (CRS) (88 percent), pyrexia (88 percent), thrombocytopenia (73 percent), anaemia (72 percent), leukopenia (54 percent), lymphopenia (45 percent), musculoskeletal pain (43 percent), hypotension (41 percent), fatigue (40 percent), transaminase elevation (37 percent), upper respiratory tract infection (32 percent), diarrhoea (28 percent), hypocalcaemia (27 percent), hypophosphataemia (26 percent), nausea (26 percent), headache (25 percent), cough (25 percent), tachycardia (23 percent), chills (23 percent), encephalopathy (22 percent), decreased appetite (22 percent), oedema (22 percent), and hypokalaemia (20 percent).6 "The approval of Janssen's first cell therapy is testament to our ongoing commitment to advance science and transform outcomes for those living with multiple myeloma," said Sen Zhuang, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President, Oncology Clinical Research, Janssen Research Development, LLC. "We are deeply thankful to the patients, their families, the nurses, and the teams of researchers and study centres who have participated in the clinical study of cilta-cel and made today's approval possible." The longer-term efficacy and safety profile of cilta-cel is being assessed in the ongoing CARTITUDE-1 study. Two-year follow-up results presented most recently at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2021 Annual Meeting showed that 98 percent of patients treated with cilta-cel for RRMM responded to therapy (98 percent ORR [n=97]), and the majority of patients achieved sustained depth of response, with 83 percent achieving a sCR at the 22-month follow-up.3 As a highly personalised medicine, where a patient's own T-cells are reprogrammed to target and kill cancer cells,4 administration of CAR-T therapy requires extensive training, preparation, and certification to ensure the highest quality product and experience for patients. Through a phased approach, Janssen will work diligently to activate a limited network of certified treatment centres and will aim to increase availability of cilta-cel across Europe, in an effort to provide oncologists and patients with treatment in a reliable manner. ENDS# About Ciltacabtagene Autoleucel (cilta-cel) Cilta-cel is a BCMA-directed, genetically modified autologous T-cell immunotherapy, which involves reprogramming a patient's own T-cells with a transgene encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that identifies and eliminates cells that express BCMA.1,3 BCMA is primarily expressed on the surface of malignant multiple myeloma B-lineage cells, as well as late-stage B-cells and plasma cells.7,8 The cilta-cel CAR protein features two BCMA-targeting single domain antibodies designed to confer high avidity against human BCMA.1 Upon binding to BCMA-expressing cells, the CAR promotes T-cell activation, expansion, and elimination of target cells.9 In December 2017, Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen) entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Legend Biotech USA, Inc. to develop and commercialise cilta-cel.2 In addition to United States (U.S.) Breakthrough Therapy Designation granted in December 2019,10 cilta-cel received a PRIority MEdicines (PRiME) designation from the EC in April 2019,11 and a Breakthrough Therapy Designation in China in August 2020.12 Janssen also received Orphan Drug Designation for cilta-cel from the EC in February 2020 and from the Pharmaceuticals and Medicinal Devices Agency (PMDA) in Japan in June 2020.13 In May 2022, the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products recommended by consensus that the orphan designation for cilta-cel be maintained, on the basis of clinical data demonstrating improved and sustained complete response rates following treatment.14 Cilta-cel received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in February 2022.15 About CARTITUDE-1 CARTITUDE-1 (NCT03548207)16 is an ongoing Phase 1b/2, open-label, multi-centre study evaluating cilta-cel for the treatment of patients with RRMM, who have previously received a PI, an IMiD, and an anti-CD38 antibody, and who demonstrated disease progression on or after the last regimen. All patients in the study had received a median of six prior treatment regimens (range, 3-18).1 Of the 97 patients enrolled in the trial, 99 percent were refractory to the last line of treatment and 88 percent were triple-class refractory, meaning their cancer did not respond, or no longer responds, to an IMiD, a PI and an anti-CD38 antibody.1 About Multiple Myeloma Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called plasma cells, which are found in the bone marrow.17 In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells change and grow out of control.7 In Europe, more than 50,900 people were diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2020, and more than 32,500 patients died.18 While some patients with multiple myeloma initially have no symptoms, most patients are diagnosed due to symptoms, which can include bone fracture or pain, low red blood cell counts, tiredness, high calcium levels or kidney failure.19 About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson Johnson At Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular, Metabolism Retina; Immunology; Infectious Diseases Vaccines; Neuroscience; Oncology; and Pulmonary Hypertension. Learn more at www.janssen.com/emea. Follow us at www.twitter.com/janssenEMEA for our latest news. Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Janssen-Cilag Limited and Janssen Research Development, LLC are part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson Johnson. *Maria-Victoria Mateos, MD, PhD, has been a paid consultant to Janssen; she has not been paid for contributing to this press release. Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel). The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialise, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Janssen-Cilag Limited and Janssen Research Development, LLC, and any of the other Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, and/or Johnson Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behaviour and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in Johnson Johnson's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments. References 1 Usmani, S. Ciltacabtagene autoleucel, a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM): Updated results from CARTITUDE-1. Abstract #8005 [Oral]. Presented at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. 2 JnJ.com Janssen Enters Worldwide Collaboration and License Agreement with Chinese Company Legend Biotech to Develop Investigational CAR-T Anti-Cancer Therapy. Available at: https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/janssen-enters-worldwide-collaboration-and-license-agreement-with-chinese-company-legend-biotech-to-develop-investigational-car-t-anti-cancer-therapy. Last accessed: May 2022. 3 Martin, T. Updated Results From CARTITUDE-1: Phase 1b/2 Study of Ciltacabtagene Autoleucel, a B-cell Maturation Antigen-Directed Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy, in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma. Abstract #549 [Oral]. Presented at the 2021 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting Exposition Annual Meeting. 4 NHS. CAR-T Therapy. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/cancer/cdf/car-t-therapy/. Last accessed: May 2022. 5 Conditional marketing authorisation. The European Medicines Agency. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory/marketing-authorisation/conditional-marketing-authorisation. Last accessed: May 2022. 6 European Medicines Agency. CARVYKTI (Ciltacabtagene Autoleucel) Summary of Product Characteristics. May 2022. 7 Frerichs KA, et al. Preclinical Activity of JNJ-7957, a Novel BCMACD3 Bispecific Antibody for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma, Is Potentiated by Daratumumab. Clin Cancer Res. 2020 May 1;26(9):2203-2215. 8 Cho SF, et al. Targeting B Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) in Multiple Myeloma: Potential Uses of BCMA-Based Immunotherapy. Front Immunol. 2018 Aug 10;9:1821. 9 Tai YT, Anderson KC. Targeting B-cell maturation antigen in multiple myeloma. Immunotherapy. 2015;7(11):1187-1199. 10 JnJ.com Janssen Announces BCMA CAR-T Therapy JNJ-4528 Granted U.S. FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma Available at: https://www.jnj.com/janssen-announces-bcma-car-t-therapy-jnj-4528-granted-u-s-fda-breakthrough-therapy-designation-for-the-treatment-of-relapsed-or-refractory-multiple-myeloma Last accessed: May 2022. 11 JnJ.com Janssen Announces Investigational CAR-T Therapy JNJ-68284528 Granted PRIME Designation by the European Medicines Agency Available at: https://www.jnj.com/janssen-announces-investigational-car-t-therapy-jnj-68284528-granted-prime-designation-by-the-european-medicines-agency Last accessed: May 2022. 12 Legend Biotech Business Wire. The China Center for Drug Evaluation, National Medical Products Administration Has Recommended Breakthrough Therapy Designation for ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel, LCAR-B38M CAR-T Cells), an Investigational BCMA CAR-T Cell Therapy. Available at: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200805006079/en/The-China-Center-for-Drug-Evaluation-National-Medical-Products-Administration-Has-Recommended-Breakthrough-Therapy-Designation-for-ciltacabtagene-autoleucel-cilta-cel-LCAR-B38M-CAR-T-Cells-an-Investigational-BCMA-CAR-T-Cell-Therapy. Last accessed: May 2022. 13 European Medicines Agency. Public summary of opinion on orphan designation. Autologous human T cells genetically modified ex-vivo with a lentiviral vector encoding a chimeric antigen receptor for B-cell maturation antigen for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/orphan-designation/eu/3/20/2252-public-summary-positive-opinion-orphan-designation-autologous-human-t-cells-genetically_en.pdf. Last accessed: May 2022. 14 European Commission. Community Register of Orphan Medicinal Products. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/html/o2252.htm. Last accessed: May 2022. 15 JnJ.com U.S. FDA Approves CARVYKTI (ciltacabtagene autoleucel), Janssen's First Cell Therapy, a BCMA-Directed CAR-T Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma. Available at: https://www.jnj.com/u-s-fda-approves-carvykti-ciltacabtagene-autoleucel-janssens-first-cell-therapy-a-bcma-directed-car-t-immunotherapy-for-the-treatment-of-patients-with-relapsed-or-refractory-multiple-myeloma. Last accessed: May 2022. 16 ClinicalTrials.gov. A Study of JNJ-68284528, a Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell (CAR-T) Therapy Directed Against B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) in Participants With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma (CARTITUDE-1). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03548207. Last accessed May 2021. 17 American Society of Clinical Oncology. Multiple myeloma: introduction. Available at: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/multiple-myeloma/introduction. Last accessed: May 2022. 18 GLOBOCAN 2020. Cancer Today Population Factsheets: Europe Region. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/908-europe-fact-sheets.pdf. Last accessed: May 2022. 19 American Cancer Society. Multiple myeloma: early detection, diagnosis and staging. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8740.00.pdf. Last accessed: May 2022. CP-317378 May 2022 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220523005714/en/ Contacts: Media Enquiries: Jenni Mildon Mobile: +44 7920 418 552 Email: jmildon@its.jnj.com Investor Relations: Raychel Kruper Mobile: +1 732 524 6164 Email: rkruper@its.jnj.com Conflux Technology and GKN Additive join forces in the development, design and production of 3D printed heat exchanger solutions for European customers. BONN, Germany, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Conflux and GKN Additive announced today that they will cooperate in the development, design and production of 3D printed heat exchanger solutions in Europe. 3D printed heat exchangers have been shown to improve cooling of critical components in the electronics, automotive, aerospace and packaged goods industries by utilizing the design freedom made possible by 3D printing. Conflux brings expertise in the design and development of advanced thermal management solutions and GKN Additive brings extensive experience in high volume production and additive manufacturing in the automotive, aerospace, and industrial industries. "We're excited to be able to offer our customers access to GKN Additive's manufacturing services. Its capability to manufacture large volume orders in Europe is a perfect fit for our EU customers looking for serial production near point of use. Being able to provide our technology to their vast array of top tier and technologically advanced customers is already proving fruitful" said Michael Fuller, CEO, and Founder of Conflux Technology. "We are delighted to be partnering with Conflux Technology. Heat exchangers and thermal management are key areas where 3D printing can deliver high value solutions. Combining forces with industry application experts such as Conflux enables us to provide best-in-class solutions to our customers.", says John Dulchinos, President GKN Additive. This press release is available at: www.gknpm.com/en/news-and-media/news-releases To learn more about GKN Additive please visit: www.gknadditive.com Follow us on LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/company/gknadditive/ and www.linkedin.com/company/forecast3d/ GKN Additive is a global leader in digital manufacturing offering a range of additive manufacturing solutions across the entire product life cycle serving the automotive, industrial, aerospace, electronics and consumer industries. GKN Additive is backed by GKN Powder Metallurgy, a global leader in metal powder development, digital metal processing, with an engineering network of more than 6,600 people in 29 locations around the world. Conflux Technology is a world-leading additive manufacturing (AM) company pioneering thermal and fluid applications through expert engineering and production. Conflux began in the world of F1 engineering, where founder & CEO Michael Fuller, transformed heat exchanger designs and performance outcomes. Today, Conflux is a well-established, senior-by-design team leading the advancement of AM applications. Its revolutionary heat exchange technology has transformed product and system performance across aerospace, automotive, motorsports, micro-electronics, industrial and energy industries. With vertically integrated, advanced manufacturing operations, Conflux encompass all aspects of the engineering process - from design and CFD analysis through to in-house AM serial production, post-processing and independent validation. Conflux consistently pushes AM technology to the cutting edge, deriving ground-breaking outcomes for its customers. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1825990/GKN_Powder_Metallurgy.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1825991/GKN_Powder_Metallurgy_Logo.jpg Media Contacts GKN Additive Alexandra Rohe, Global Director Marketing & Communications E-Mail: alexandra.rohe@gknpm.com Phone: +49 (228) 9335 396 Conflux Technology Georgina Gascoigne, Marketing Manager E-Mail: georgina.gascoigne@confluxtechnology.com 'Building a Brighter Future Together' is the company's new claim and strategic drive Bright Pixel Capital has 300M to invest over the coming years, in industry-changing companies on a global scale The company maintains its strategic focus on DNA industries: Retail Technologies, Digital Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, and Emerging Technologies MAIA, Portugal, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonae IM, a leading corporate venture capital company from the Sonae Group and a prominent European investor in Retail Technologies, Digital Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, and Emerging Technologies, is changing its brand to Bright Pixel Capital ( www.brpx.com ). The rebranding comes with a new tagline - 'Building a Brighter Future Together' - and the ambition to continue identifying unique and industry-changing opportunities. Bright Pixel Capital's new identity conveys modernity and agility while emphasizing its values of financial drive, and growth orientation. "The industries of Retail Technologies, Digital Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, and Emerging Technologies are experiencing significant changes, and we are proud of the portfolio of distinctive, global companies we have built over the past five years. The new brand reflects the ambition to consolidate our company as one of the main investors and drivers of these industries. We are surethis will help us project our brand and unique values to disrupting companies from around the world," explains Eduardo Piedade, managing partner and CEO of Bright Pixel Capital. "We are excited about this new chapter and very enthusiastic about what the future will bring us as Bright Pixel Capital," he adds. Bright Pixel Capital distinguishes itself by creating deep and meaningful relationships with founders, co-investors, and other stakeholders, functioning as an active partner that brings specialized know-how, a global footprint, and a wealth of experience in helping companies from early stage to IPO. Its current portfolio includes companies such as Arctic Wolf, Outsystems, Feedzai and Ometria. Founded in 2016, Bright Pixel Capital has invested over 250M in more than 50 direct investments, encompassing stakes in companies on a global scale, and intends to invest an additional 300M in the coming years. The core investment areas, global reach, in-depth knowledge, and team experience in each vertical will continue to set the tone for the new Bright Pixel Capital. About Bright Pixel Capital Bright Pixel Capital, former Sonae IM, is the technology investment arm of the multinational Sonae Group. With 50 direct investments and growing, it encompasses stakes in companies on a global scale, from early to growth stages, and in strategic business areas such as cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and retail technology. For more information, visit www.brpx.com. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826547/Bright_Pixel_Capital_Logo.jpg LONDON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Furthering its dedication to supporting communities across the world, the Nick Maughan Foundation is proud to be funding the construction of a new maternity centre, health centre and secondary school in Eastern Uganda. The projects, developed with the Nick Maughan Foundation's operating partners at Harpenden Spotlight on Africa and PEAS, will provide the community in the Namatala region of the Mbale District with essential healthcare and educational facilities. The generous donation from the Nick Maughan Foundation will directly support the lives of local people, many of whom are internally displaced having fled conflict or civil unrest in neighbouring Sudan or Northern Uganda. The NMF Riverside School, operated by PEAS, is expected to provide education for over 1250 students in the Namatala region, which is home to the second largest slum in Uganda. The area currently has few education opportunities, so construction of the school will provide young people with the chance to gain an education that they would otherwise miss out on. The secondary school will also provide attendees with essential skills for the future, with practical science and maths on the curriculum, alongside IT and software engineering that will be taught in the state-of-the-art computer lab on site, also funded by the Nick Maughan Foundation. The NMF Maternity Centre, which is set to open within the next few months, expects to safely deliver over 1,500 babies each year. Tragically, Uganda has some of the highest rates of neo-natal and maternal deaths in the world. However, this new facility plans to dramatically improve the safety of childbirth by providing dedicated pre, post and neo-natal healthcare to mothers and babies in the area. Along with the NMF MedicalCentre, these facilities will provide healthcare for a region that is desperately in need. Currently, the only health centre in the Namatala slum is overwhelmed with patients. Providing another designated health centre in the region will help to ease the high pressure for healthcare services and have a transformative impact on the lives of local residents. Nick Maughan, Founder of the Nick Maughan Foundation, commented on his return from Uganda to visit the projects: "I was amazed by the real impact these projects are having on those in desperate need in East Africa. I am delighted that the Nick Maughan Foundation could help make a meaningful difference to the lives of people in Namatala, and we greatly look forward to working closely with the NMF Centre, the NMF Health Centre and the forthcoming NMF Riverside School." Hefin Rees QC, Chairman of Harpenden Spotlight on Africa has commented: "I would like to particularly thank Nick Maughan for coming out to Uganda. We are very excited by what we can achieve through these fantastic donations." Bim Afolami, MP for Hitchin & Harpenden, added: "The generous funding from the Nick Maughan Foundation will have a huge impact on the health and education of people in Namatala, and will greatly improve the quality of life of those who live there." The Nick Maughan Foundation was established in 2020 to further a range of philanthropic initiatives in the spheres of education, the environment, and community. The Foundation supports community projects both in the United Kingdom and worldwide. https://nmf.org . Harpenden Spotlight on Africa is committed to creating links between communities in the UK and Africa through charitable projects relating to education, health, clean water, and economic development. The organisation works closely with an experienced team in Uganda to deliver lasting change to the lives of people in desperate need, many of whom have been displaced by generations of conflict. www.hsoa.org.uk PEAS (Promoting Equality in African Schools) supports children across Africa access quality secondary education. Working in some of the most underserved areas of Uganda and Tanzania, PEAS builds and operates non-selective and proactively inclusive schools to offer millions of young people a safe and happy learning environment. https://www.peas.org.uk/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826618/NMF_Maternity_Centre_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826619/NMF_Maternity_Centre_2.jpg MOVIN will transform Indian B2B logistics NEW DELHI, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS (NYSE: UPS), the global leader in logistics and InterGlobe Enterprises, India's trusted travel and hospitality conglomerate, today announced a joint venture to launch MOVIN, a new logistics brand to serve the needs and demands of the fast-paced Indian market. The name MOVIN is a combination of Movement and India (MOVEMENT+INDIA). MOVIN will offer a range of extensive express and premium service coverage across India with a strong portfolio of B2B domestic services including a day-definite, as well as express, time-definite solutions, which will give businesses better predictability and greater competitiveness to swiftly integrate into the global value chain. India's rapidly developing economy and the demand of the business community for robust logistics solutions presents a significant opportunity and MOVIN is well positioned to provide efficiencies, stronger distribution channels, advanced technology, and apply global best practices. "India's growth towards a $5 trillion economy will be largely supported by the growth of local businesses and logistics which are key contributors to India's economy. I am confident that InterGlobe's deep understanding of the Indian market, combined with UPS's 114 years of logistics expertise will make this venture a success," said JB Singh, Director InterGlobe Enterprises who will oversee the new brand. "We are certain that our foray into logistics with MOVIN will contribute significantly to the rapid development and growth of businesses in India. We look forward to enabling and facilitating trade, commerce and employment through this venture." "The powerful simplicity of MOVIN's service experience is based on the brand's people-centric and performance-driven approach that will empower us to deliver outstanding customer experiences to businesses across India." Leveraging UPS's global logistics expertise combined with InterGlobe's deep understanding of the Indian market, MOVIN will build technology-backed solutions that will link companies across the country to international businesses with speed, reliability and enhanced digital customer experience. Creating corridors of opportunity, innovation and excellence, MOVIN will offer seamless integration across air and ground networks, to B2B customers, enabling an uninterrupted flow of goods that is backed by consistent, predictable and responsive operations. "UPS is excited to launch this new venture with InterGlobe Enterprises. Together we will empower local businesses to grow and connect them to trade opportunities around the world," said Ufku Akaltan, UPS President Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Africa. "With a strategy of customer first, people led, innovation driven, UPS further expands its global network, including healthcare solutions, through a unique partnership that creates a suite of services to serve B2B customers' need to grow." Headquartered in Gurugram, MOVIN is launching operations today in a phased manner and will ramp up in July of 2022 starting with Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Bengaluru - with more expansions to other metros and cities across the nation to follow. About MOVIN UPS and InterGlobe Enterprises formed a joint venture, IRIS Transportation Services Pvt Ltd. in order to create MOVIN, a new logistics brand in India. The name MOVIN is the combination of Movement and India About UPS UPS about.ups.com and www.investors.ups.com . About InterGlobe Enterprises InterGlobe Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. is a large Indian conglomerate holding leadership positions in Aviation, Hospitality and Travel related services. InterGlobe through its various businesses employs more than 27,000 professionals across 115+ cities globally. Since 1989, the Group has building businesses and representing global brands that delivery quality and value. It has been bridging the gap between people and markets through innovation and service leadership and the unswerving commitment to this purpose has allowed it to establish a strong foothold in businesses such as Aviation TAIPEI, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Taiwan Cement Corp. (TCC) held its 2022 annual general meeting, in which Chairman Nelson Chang delivered a speech, and TCC shared its 1Q22 results as below: Chairman Nelson Chang's Speech In the past half a year or so, it seems foreboding dark clouds are surrounding the world, such as the fast-spreading COVID-19 variants in Asia, and the interruption of worldwide commodity supply chains. These have all led up to uncertainty, pessimism, and anxiety about the future. It is also the most difficult year for Taiwan Cement for the past ten years. Granted all is true, we remain positive that every cloud has a silver lining if we position ourselves in just the right direction. A beam of light always comes out from behind the clouds. However tiny it may be, it gives us hope that we shall remain undaunted so as to embrace a promising future. Living in the 21st century, we are unsure of where to go from here and what can be made sure in this world. The risks are no less great than those of the Age of Exploration in the 15th century, notwithstanding the greater knowledge we have gained about the world today. The totally inexcusable war has caused the ensuing scarcity in both resources and energy. The worldwide break-out of a virus has caused millions of unexpected deaths as well as increased wastes, especially of plastics to an alarming ubiquity. The sudden shortage of energy has also worsened the emissions of carbon-dioxide to make the Earth even warmer. All these issues are posing grave threats to the future existence of Humankind. In fact, the reason Humankind has strayed today lies entirely in ourselves. Only when self-examination is in place to allow a fundamental conceptual change in conduct can we afford to claim that we are underway to explore a real answer. The sense of co-existence in our age should be awakened and evoked on a full scale of the Planet Earth. We must be upfront with the pandemic, weather change and a more idealistic society. Each of us will require a cognitive restructuring in our thinking. It can no longer be "I," but "WE." To familiarize ourselves with the capitalized "WE" is an indispensable step to a sustainable future of mankind. But unfortunately, at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos this year, it seems to be going backwards and moving towards a regional economy, an economic model where every country comes first. We cannot continue to contemplate living a life solely for our time and selfishness. Most wars took place for individual rights or self-interests of politicians per se. Only a minimum of warfare was fought genuinely for such lofty causes as freedom and human life. The Great Leap of the next generation will beyond doubt be motivated by continuous revolutions. It will no longer be technology-driven cognitive change but a restructured mental framework for sustainability. Dante wrote, "The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a period of moral crisis, maintain their neutrality." Lastly but not least, may I remind you ladies and gentlemen, "Today is the beginning of eternity." TCC: Silver Lining In 1Q22, TCC saw cement revenue in Mainland China decreased by 7.8% year-on-year. Sales volume for the same period also decreased by 24.1% year-on-year. Despite the cement price increase by 18%, it could not catch up with the price hike of coal, especially in 1Q22, when international coal price grew by 195% year-on-year. This price increase in coal caused TCC to see a drop both in gross margin and net profits. Nevertheless, TCC's 1Q22 consolidated revenue was NT$22.97 billion, representing a 4% increase compared to NT$22.03 billion in 1Q21. This growth was mainly attributed to the new energy businesses. Cement revenues in 1Q22 dropped by 3% year-on-year, but new subsidiaries in the energy segment such as, NHOA, E-One Moli, and TCC Energy Storage contributed positively to TCC's consolidated revenue. TCC has transitioned into a circular economy company. As cement markets begin to shrink from their peak, waste treatment has become the focus of business operation. This transition not only helps solve society's waste problem but also increases profits. In the future, TCC's target is to become one of the growth tech stocks. For growth tech stocks around the world, cash dividend payout ratio has not been the main reason for market capitalization growth. In the past two years, TCC has been redeploying two-thirds of its profits into ESG-related projects, such as building waste treatment facilities in Taiwan and Mainland China, investing in green energy projects, and buying the majority stake in the Italy-based energy storage company NHOA. These steps are part of a comprehensive strategy to help TCC Group to achieve carbon neutrality. For example, TCC's total renewable energy generated by 2025 is actually sufficient for the Company to achieve RE100 but, TCC's renewable energy are still provided mainly to meet the demand of Taiwan's companies that focus on exporting products. As a circular economy company, its waste treatment capacity has been increasing, together with alternative material and fuel usage. Using cement kilns' high temperature to co-process wastes can help the society solve its waste problem. It can also generate alternative material and fuel to help increase cement production once stricter energy and coal controls, such as the situation in Mainland China in 4Q21. Moreover, it can help reduce carbon emissions, generate carbon rights, and reduce cost and reliance on coal. Currently, the cost of alternative fuel is only 1/3 to 1/2 of the cost of coal. By 2030, the total waste treatment volume by TCC may rise up to 10 million tons while alternative fuel usage can exceed 1.3 million tons. This is equivalent to reducing carbon emissions by more than 10 million tons. CIMPOR and OYAK, TCC overseas-invested cement companies, have also been using large amounts of alternative fuel. As energy business is concerned, TCC foresees a possible supply shortage of industrial green energy in Taiwan. The green energy installations scheduled by the government for 2025 and 2030 are 27Gw and 45GW, respectively. To have green energy used at full capacity and efficiency, TCC believes that there must be at least 20% of energy storage complementary to green energy. This means that at least 5GW and 9GW of energy storage are needed in 2025 and 2030. TCC's total green energy installation is estimated to exceed 500MW by 2025 and is also building, scheduling, and planning many energy storage projects. TCC's global energy storage installation is expected to exceed 400MWh by the end of 2022. By 2024, the figure is estimated to exceed 2,900MWh. NHOA, the Italy-based TCC subsidiary, has been rapidly expanding global energy storage presence with projects completed or under planning, spanning across a total of 26 countries. Free2Move eSolutions, an business line of NHOA, has also built the world's largest vehicle-to-grid (V2G) site with a capacity of 30MW and, when the grid needs electricity, the site can have up to 600 EVs connected to provide electricity back to the grid. NHOA's other business line, Atlante Co., has been swiftly expanding businesses in Southern Europe with the aim to become the largest virtual independent power producer (IPP). Energy storage requires batteries and that is why TCC believes the key to the future of energy is batteries. Molie Quantum Energy, a TCC subsidiary, has been building a 1.8GWh super battery factory in Xiaogang, Taiwan since October 25, 2021, and it is scheduled to begin production in 1Q23. Combining the current 1.6GWh battery capacity of E-One Moli, by 2024, TCC's total battery capacity will reach 3.3GWh, around 216 million units per year. The price of batteries is also expected to increase to US$5 per unit in 2024. In addition to maintaining existing business and expanding to new energy businesses, TCC also has a responsibility to its current and future shareholders. The Company has been taking initiatives to revitalize its land assets, namely the properties in Taiwan and Mainland China. In Taiwan, the Zhudong property is aimed at becoming a lifestyle theme park while the property at Keelung Road, Taipei is aimed to be an "Urban Green Eco-Valley". In Mainland China, an iconic building is under construction in the name of "TCC Gong Liang Building in Hangzhou", which is scheduled to be completed in 2024 and will be TCC's headquarters in Mainland China. TCC firmly believes that an enterprise should be responsible for its current and future shareholders, but cannot solely focus on current profits. The most important responsibility lies in its positive contribution to the society and the Earth. We have inherited this planet from our ancestors. Therefore, we need to prove to the future generations that the decisions we are making right now is the correct one. For the next decade, low-carbon cement, resource circulation and green energy are the three pillars for TCC's sustainable growth. H.I.G. Capital, LLC ("H.I.G."), a leading global alternative investment firm with over $49 billion of capital under management, is pleased to announce that Oliver Slade has joined the firm's Capital Formation Group, as a Managing Director, based in Dubai. Oliver will be responsible for capital raising and investor relations activities in the Middle East. He has been based in the region since 2008 and has over 17 years of experience in alternative assets. Oliver joins H.I.G. from Partners Group, where he was the Head of Middle East and Africa, responsible for the development and capital raising activities across private markets funds and solutions in the region. Prior to Partners Group, Oliver held a similar role at GAM investments. Jordan Peer Griffin, Executive Managing Director and Global Head of Capital Formation, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Oliver to H.I.G. Given his experiences in the region, Oliver is a key addition to establish a local presence in the Middle East, where H.I.G. has a deep and long-tenured group of investors. Oliver will be integral to further expanding our investor base at a time when the firm's investment activities are at an all-time high across our global platform in private equity, credit, and real assets strategies." About H.I.G. Capital H.I.G. is a leading global alternative assets investment firm with over $49 billion of equity capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/ value-added approach: H.I.G.'s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses. H.I.G.'s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. is also a leading CLO manager, through its WhiteHorse family of vehicles, and manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance. H.I.G.'s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices. H.I.G. Infrastructure focuses on making value-add and core plus investments in the infrastructure sector. Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 300 companies worldwide. The firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $30 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at www.higcapital.com. Based on total capital commitments managed by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005096/en/ Contacts: Jordan Peer Griffin Executive Managing Director jpeer@higcapital.com Unique synergy between R&D and manufacturing capabilities SHENZHEN, China, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global technology brand HONOR today revealed the proprietary technology behind the manufacturing of HONOR Magic4 Pro, the brand's latest flagship smartphone made exclusively in HONOR Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park. Demonstrating manufacturing excellence, the flagship smartphone exemplifies the brand's commitment to delivering cutting-edge innovation and is a testament to HONOR's capability to manufacture high-quality premium products at scale. The HONOR Magic4 Pro is set to arrive in select international markets starting this month. "The opening of the HONOR Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park last year was a significant milestone of our success in integrating our R&D capabilities into our manufacturing processes. The consolidation allows us to better harness our expertise across both fields," said George Zhao, CEO of HONOR Device Co, Ltd. "In addition to bolstering our manufacturing capacities, the smart manufacturing facility houses world-class production, testing and quality control equipment that ensures our premium products live up to our customers' high expectations." Seamless Integration between R&D and Manufacturing Operational since September 2021, the HONOR Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park is the brand's first self-funded factory. Equipped with cutting-edge manufacturing and testing facilities to support every aspect of smartphone manufacturing, the Park is integral to assuring the quality of the brand's premium offerings. With 20 percent of the staff working in the Park being R&D personnel, HONOR weaves its R&D resources into the Park's core capabilities, maximizing the synergy between the two and enabling manufacturing technology to keep pace with innovation. Custom Production Line for HONOR Magic4 Pro Innovations Arriving to select international markets beginning this month, HONOR Magic4 Pro debuts with AI Privacy Call, a pain point killer feature that massively minimizes sound leakage during voice calls; Ultra-Fusion Computational Photography, a camera solution that enables users to take full advantage of the smartphone's multiple rear cameras; and the Quad-Curved LTPO Display, a stunning display that provides immersive viewing experiences. Each of these features poses a set of unique manufacturing challenges, the solutions to which are only made possible by HONOR's R&D and manufacturing synergy. With each generation of smartphones, smartphone makers have been continuously shifting the receiver towards the top bezel in attempt to achieve an increased display area. However, the closer the receiver is placed near the edge, the more pronounced the sound leakage during voice calls, leading to privacy concerns. To address this user pain point, HONOR identified and solved over 100 technological challenges and created AI Privacy Call. This innovative feature leverages the industry-first Intelligent Dual Sound-Emitting Unit, which includes a bone conduction component using piezoelectric ceramics that is mounted directly to the display. Due to the nature of glass, the assembly process requires extreme precision - even minor manufacturing deviations will permanently damage the panel. Working hand in hand, the R&D and manufacturing teams were able to overcome the challenge in three months' time. The concerted efforts resulted in the creation of the automated high-precision mounting equipment, which leverages computer vision and optimized algorithms to achieve an accuracy of 0.01mm and a yield of 99.99 percent, contributing to HONOR's ability to meet consumer demands for the HONOR Magic4 Pro. The HONOR Magic4 Pro is also equipped with a powerful Triple Camera combination supporting Ultra-Fusion Computational Photography. The complexity of the solution in the new flagship smartphone necessitated double the camera calibration equipment compared to what was required for its predecessor. Benefitting from improved calibration and testing procedures, the Triple Camera system, combined with AI algorithms, delivers more detailed images with more authentic colors across the full supported focal range. Advanced assembly processes are also adopted for the Quad-Curved LTPO Display on HONOR Magic4 Pro. Leveraging a cutting-edge setup of six-axis robotic arms, high-precision cameras and HONOR-developed computer vision algorithms, the mounting equipment operates with an accuracy range of 0.075mm and outputs products with a low manufacturing tolerance of just 0.1mm, further demonstrating HONOR's superior manufacturing capabilities. The Park is also equipped with industry-leading laboratories, including a reliability laboratory, regulatory laboratory and environmental protection laboratory, with which HONOR conducts over 200 reliability tests on the HONOR Magic4 Pro to ensure its premium quality. For instance, the HONOR Magic4 Pro is tested to have a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value - which measures smartphone radiation emission - that is 56 percent below the limit of the most stringent industry standard. Three Pillars of Manufacturing Excellence Automation, digitalization and intelligent technology serve as the cornerstones underpinning the Park's core manufacturing capabilities. The Park operates with 75 percent of its production line automated, minimizing the risk of human error. Additionally, more than 40 percent of the automated production equipment is developed in-house, which serves as further evidence of the tight integration between R&D and manufacturing capabilities at the Park. All key equipment in the production facility supports digital control systems, allowing HONOR to better manage the entire production line and reap better efficiency as well as improve product quality. Manufactured exclusively in the Park, the HONOR Magic4 Pro represents the best of HONOR's manufacturing capabilities, which international consumers will soon be able to experience firsthand when the flagship smartphone arrives in select markets starting this month. About HONOR HONOR is a leading global provider of smart devices. It is dedicated to becoming a global iconic technology brand and creating a new intelligent world for everyone through its powerful products and services. With an unwavering focus on R&D, it is committed to developing technology that empowers people around the globe to go beyond, giving them the freedom to achieve and do more. Offering a range of high-quality smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables to suit every budget, HONOR's portfolio of innovative, premium and reliable products enable people to become a better version of themselves. For more information, please visit HONOR online at www.hihonor.com or email newsroom@hihonor.com http://community.hihonor.com/ https://www.facebook.com/honorglobal/ https://twitter.com/Honorglobal https://www.instagram.com/honorglobal/ http://www.youtube.com/c/HonorOfficial Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826541/image_5003200_11364213.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826542/image_5003200_11364322.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826543/1.jpg Democratic Party of Korea co-interim leader Park Ji-hyun, left, touches her forehead during a meeting with party leadership at the National Assembly, Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps By Nam Hyun-woo Park Ji-hyun, the co-interim leader of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), is seeking to bring change in the giant main opposition party by proposing that senior lawmakers members of the "586 Generation" step aside to make room for the young generation, but her attempt has sparked discord as she has faced resistance from within. Korea's 586 Generation refers to those who are currently in their 50s, entered university in the 1980s and were born in the 1960s. "The 586 Generation succeeded in leading the democratization of Korea. The goal of Korean politics in 2022 is to overcome the gaps, discrimination and inequality that the 586 Generation could not have even imagined. The 586 Generation's remaining role is to pave the way for the young people in their 20s and 30s to address these issues and create a young Democratic Party of Korea," Park said during a radio interview with broadcaster YTN, Thursday. During a meeting with the party leadership, Wednesday, Park said that the mission of the politicians of the 586 Generation had been to restore democracy and make it take root in Korea, but now that this role has been almost fulfilled, they should prepare for a "beautiful exit" from politics to help the party regain public trust ahead of the June 1 local elections. A day before the remarks, she had held a press conference and apologized to the public on behalf of the DPK and announced a reform plan, but it had been held without the full agreement of the other members of the party leadership. Park, 26, rose to the party's leadership after it lost the March 9 presidential election, in a bid to give a breath of fresh air to the party ahead of the June 1 local elections. However, recent surveys show that odds are leaning towards the ruling People Power Party, while Park's call for the 586 Generation to step back and leave space for those in their 20s and 30s is facing resistance from some party members. Democratic Party of Korea co-interim leader Rep. Yun Ho-jung wipes off sweat during a canvassing event for the party's mayoral candidate for Uijeongbu, Tuesday. Yonhap Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - LEUCROTTA EXPLORATION INC. (TSXV: LXE) ("Leucrotta" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2022. All dollar figures are Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. HIGHLIGHTS Completed gas processing and battery funding agreements with NorthRiver Midstream Inc. Increased production 63% from 2,695 boe/d in Q1 2021 to 4,384 boe/d in Q1 2022. Increased adjusted funds flow (1) by 194% from $3.8 million in Q1 2021 to $11.2 million in Q1 2022. March 31, 2022 adjusted working capital (1) balance of $33.2 million. FINANCIAL RESULTS Three Months Ended March 31 ($000s, except per share amounts) 2022 2021 % Change Oil and natural gas sales 20,751 10,474 98 Cash flow from operating activities 12,141 4,919 147 Per share - basic and diluted (1) 0.05 0.02 150 Adjusted funds flow (1) 11,152 3,790 194 Per share - basic and diluted 0.04 0.02 100 Net earnings 6,600 1,167 466 Per share - basic and diluted 0.03 0.01 200 Capital expenditures (1) 9,205 489 1,782 Adjusted working capital (1) 33,223 58,028 (43 ) Common shares outstanding (000s) Weighted average - basic 247,879 201,028 23 Weighted average - diluted 263,015 201,062 31 End of period - basic 248,965 245,731 1 End of period - fully diluted 289,792 285,746 1 (1) See "Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures" section. OPERATING RESULTS (1) Three Months Ended March 31 2022 2021 % Change Daily production (2) Oil and condensate (bbls/d) 1,032 478 116 Other NGLs (bbls/d) 24 41 (41 ) Oil and NGLs (bbls/d) 1,056 519 103 Natural gas (mcf/d) 19,967 13,053 53 Oil equivalent (boe/d) 4,384 2,695 63 Oil and natural gas sales Oil and NGLs ($/bbl) 111.38 65.53 70 Other NGLs ($/bbl) 46.23 31.86 45 Oil and NGLs ($/bbl) 109.88 62.85 75 Natural gas ($/mcf) 5.73 6.42 (11 ) Oil equivalent ($/boe) 52.59 43.19 22 Royalties Oil and NGLs ($/bbl) 22.69 11.62 95 Natural gas ($/mcf) 0.57 0.53 8 Oil equivalent ($/boe) 8.06 4.81 68 Net operating expenses (3) Oil and NGLs ($/bbl) 13.84 9.39 47 Natural gas ($/mcf) 1.02 0.88 16 Oil equivalent ($/boe) 7.99 6.07 32 Transportation and marketing expenses Oil and NGLs ($/bbl) 0.66 0.68 (3 ) Natural gas ($/mcf) 0.82 1.35 (39 ) Oil equivalent ($/boe) 3.91 6.66 (41 ) Operating netback (3) Oil and NGLs ($/bbl) 72.69 41.16 77 Natural gas ($/mcf) 3.32 3.66 (9 ) Oil equivalent ($/boe) 32.63 25.65 27 Depletion and depreciation ($/boe) (8.82 ) (8.52 ) 4 General and administrative expenses ($/boe) (3.55 ) (6.31 ) (44 ) Share based compensation ($/boe) (1.70 ) (1.56 ) 9 Finance expense ($/boe) (0.30 ) (0.70 ) (57 ) Finance income ($/boe) 0.07 - 100 Other income ($/boe) 0.11 - 100 Realized loss on risk management contracts ($/boe) (1.08 ) (1.17 ) (8 ) Unrealized loss on risk management contracts ($/boe) (0.64 ) (2.58 ) (75 ) Net earnings ($/boe) 16.72 4.81 248 (1) See "Oil and Gas Terms" section. (2) See "Product Types" section. (3) See "Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures" section. Selected financial and operational information outlined in this news release should be read in conjunction with Leucrotta's unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for three months ended March 31, 2022, which are available for review under the Company's profile on The System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com . UPDATE Q1 2022 Summary During Q1 2022, Leucrotta made significant strides to further its business including the following: On March 17, 2022, the Company entered into a 10-year gas processing agreement with NorthRiver Midstream Inc. ("NRM") to provide 50 mmcf/d of firm processing capacity at NRM's West Doe gas processing facility. Leucrotta will also hold certain rights to additional firm processing capacity that, along with Leucrotta's owned 25 mmcf/d processing facility at Doe, will allow Leucrotta to reach 25,000 boe/d in the Mica area. Concurrent with this agreement, NRM has agreed to provide up to $55 million of capital funding that Leucrotta will use to construct a battery facility at Mica (the "Mica Battery"). The Mica Battery will consist of facilities for in-field processing of oil, gas and water and will deliver gas to NRM's West Doe gas processing facility. The Mica Battery will have an initial capacity of 60 mmcf/d expandable to 90 mmcf/d with added compression. Completed a previously drilled Lower Montney well in Alberta that was completed with only 52 fracs but had a test rate of 600 boe/d at the end of the 18-day test. (1) Brought on production from the previously completed A13-07 Basal Montney well that had only 41 fracs and produced an average of 850 boe/d (67% light oil) for its first 10 days. Set up its first Alberta Pad (6 wells) that commenced drilling in early April and will be drilled with lateral lengths of 3000 metres. Achieved production of 4,384 boe/d with an operating netback of $32.63/boe that yielded operating cash flow of over $12 million for the quarter. Exited Q1 2022 with $33.2 million of cash and working capital and no debt. Proposed Corporate Transaction On March 28, 2022, the Company announced that it had entered into an arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement") whereby Vermilion Energy Inc. ("Vermilion") would acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Leucrotta ("Leucrotta Shares") in exchange for $1.73 cash per Leucrotta Share, 1.0 common share of a new Montney-focused exploration and production company ("Coelacanth"), and 0.1917 of an Coelacanth common share purchase warrant (one whole warrant being an "Coelacanth Arrangement Warrant"). Each Coelacanth Arrangement Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one Coelacanth common share at an exercise price of $0.27 per share at any time on or before 30 days following the closing of the Arrangement. The Arrangement is expected to close on May 31, 2022. Coelacanth Update Coelacanth was formed as part of Arrangement described above. Under the terms of the Arrangement, Coelacanth will receive approximately $43.5 million cash, net of transaction costs, and certain oil and gas properties in the Two Rivers, BC area. In addition, Coelacanth plans to raise net proceeds of up to $36.9 million through the exercise of the Coelacanth Arrangement Warrants ($15.0 million), the Vermilion private placement ($14.4 million), and a fully subscribed management private placement ($7.5 million). The proceeds of the financings will be used to fund future capital projects. On completion of the Arrangement and all the proposed financings, Coelacanth will have approximately $80 million of cash (no debt), 150 sections of Montney land, the Two Rivers battery, production of approximately 355 boe/d (Q1 2022 average of 362 boe/d) and 426 million basic shares outstanding. Pursuant to the Arrangement, the oil and gas assets will be conveyed to Coelacanth at closing using the lower of the implied trading value of Coelacanth within Leucrotta (adjusted for estimated cash) and $85 million. Coelacanth looks forward to providing more information on its business plan in the upcoming weeks. (1) Test Results and Initial Production Rates The Alberta Lower Montney well was production tested for 5.8 days after the original cleanup and produced at an average rate of 522 boe/d (73% natural gas, 27% light oil and condensate) over that period, excluding load fluid and energizing fluid. At the end of the test, flowing wellhead pressure and production rates were stable. A pressure transient analysis or well-test interpretation has not been carried out and thus certain of the test results provided herein should be considered to be preliminary until such analysis or interpretation has been completed. Test results and initial production rates disclosed herein, particularly those short in duration, may not necessarily be indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery. OIL AND GAS TERMS The Company uses the following frequently recurring oil and gas industry terms in the news release: Liquids bbls Barrels Bbl/d Barrels per day NGLs Natural gas liquids (includes condensate, pentane, butane, propane, and ethane) Condensate Pentane and heavier hydrocarbons Natural Gas Mcf Thousands of cubic feet Mcf/d Thousands of cubic feet per day MMbtu Million of British thermal units MMbtu/d MMbtu/d Million of British thermal units per day Oil Equivalent Boe Barrels of oil equivalent Boe/d Barrels of oil equivalent per day Disclosure provided herein in respect of a boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil equivalent has been used for the calculation of boe amounts in the news release. This boe conversion rate is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. NON-GAAP AND OTHER FINANCIAL MEASURES This news release refers to certain measures that are not determined in accordance with IFRS (or "GAAP"). These non-GAAP and other financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities. The non-GAAP and other financial measures should not be considered alternatives to, or more meaningful than, financial measures that are determined in accordance with IFRS as indicators of the Company's performance. Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP and other financial measures provides useful information to shareholders and investors in understanding and evaluating the Company's ongoing operating performance, and the measures provide increased transparency to better analyze the Company's performance against prior periods on a comparable basis. Adjusted funds flow Management uses adjusted funds flow to analyze performance and considers it a key measure as it demonstrates the Company's ability to generate the cash necessary to fund future capital investments and abandonment obligations and to repay debt, if any. Adjusted funds flow is a non-GAAP financial measure and has been defined by the Company as cash flow from operating activities excluding the change in non-cash working capital related to operating activities, expenditures on decommissioning obligations, and transaction costs on property disposition. Management believes the timing of collection, payment or incurrence of these items involves a high degree of discretion and as such may not be useful for evaluating the Company's cash flows. Adjusted funds flow is reconciled from cash flow from operating activities as follows: Three Months Ended March 31 ($000s) 2022 2021 Cash flow from operating activities 12,141 4,919 Add (deduct): Decommissioning expenditures 160 12 Change in non-cash working capital (1,149 ) (1,141 ) Adjusted funds flow (non-GAAP) 11,152 3,790 Net operating expenses Net operating expenses is a non-GAAP financial measure, determined by deducting processing revenues primarily generated by processing third party volumes at processing facilities where the Company has an ownership interest. It is common in the industry to earn third party processing revenue on facilities where the entity has a working interest in the infrastructure asset. Where the Company has excess capacity at one of its facilities, it will look to process third party volumes as a means to reduce the cost of operating/owning the facility. As such, third party processing revenue is netted against operating expenses in the news release. Net operating expenses is calculated as follows: NET OPERATING EXPENSES Three Months Ended March 31 ($000s) 2022 2021 Oil and NGLs 1,316 438 Natural gas 1,919 1,404 Operating expenses 3,235 1,842 Less: processing revenue (82 ) (371 ) Net operating expenses (non-GAAP) 3,153 1,471 Operating netback Management considers operating netback an important measure as it demonstrates its profitability relative to current commodity prices. Operating netback is calculated as oil and natural gas sales less royalties, net operating expenses, and transportation and marketing expenses and is calculated as follows: Three Months Ended March 31 2022 2021 Oil and natural gas sales 20,751 10,474 Royalties (3,178 ) (1,167 ) Net operating expenses (3,153 ) (1,471 ) Transportation and marketing expenses (1,542 ) (1,616 ) Operating netback (non-GAAP) 12,878 6,220 Capital expenditures Leucrotta utilizes capital expenditures as a measure of capital investment on property, plant, and equipment, exploration and evaluation assets and property acquisitions compared to its annual budgeted capital expenditures. Capital expenditures are calculated as follows: Three Months Ended March 31 2022 2021 Capital expenditures - property, plant, and equipment 7,705 195 Capital expenditures - exploration and evaluation assets 1,500 294 Capital expenditures (non-GAAP) 9,205 489 Capital Management Measures Adjusted working capital Management uses adjusted working capital as a measure to assess the Company's financial position. Adjusted working capital includes current assets less current liabilities excluding the effects of any current portion of risk management contracts. Adjusted working capital is reconciled to working capital in note 15 "Capital management" of the Company's condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Non-GAAP Financial Ratios Adjusted Funds Flow per Share Adjusted funds flow per share is a non-GAAP financial ratio, calculated using adjusted funds flow and the same weighted average basic and diluted shares used in calculating net earnings per share. Net operating expenses per boe The Company utilizes net operating expenses per boe to assess its operating efficiency of its petroleum and natural gas assets on a per unit of production basis. Net operating expense per boe is calculated as net operating expenses divided by total production for the applicable period. Operating netback per boe The Company utilizes operating netback per boe to assess the operating performance of its petroleum and natural gas assets on a per unit of production basis. Operating netback per boe is calculated as operating netback divided by total production for the applicable period. Supplementary Financial Measures The supplementary financial measures used in this news release (primarily average sales price per product type, and certain per boe and per share figures) are either a per unit disclosure of a corresponding GAAP measure, or a component of a corresponding GAAP measure, presented in the financial statements. Supplementary financial measures that are disclosed on a per unit basis are calculated by dividing the aggregate GAAP measure (or component thereof) by the applicable unit for the period. Supplementary financial measures that are disclosed on a component basis of a corresponding GAAP measure are a granular representation of a financial statement line item and are determined in accordance with GAAP. PRODUCT TYPES The Company uses the following references to sales volumes in the news release: Natural gas refers to shale gas Oil and condensate refers to condensate, light and medium crude oil, and tight oil combined Other NGLs refers to butane, propane and ethane combined Oil and NGLs refers to light and medium crude oil, tight oil, and NGLs combined Oil equivalent refers to the total oil equivalent of shale gas, light and medium crude oil, tight oil, and NGLs combined, using the conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet of shale gas to one barrel of oil equivalent as described above. The following is a complete breakdown of sales volumes for applicable periods by specific product types of shale gas, tight oil, and NGLs: Three Months Ended March 31 Sales Volumes by Product Type 2022 2021 Condensate (bbls/d) 148 124 Other NGLs (bbls/d) 24 41 NGLs (bbls/d) 172 165 Tight oil (bbls/d) 884 354 Condensate (bbls/d) 148 124 Oil and condensate (bbls/d) 1,032 478 Other NGLs (bbls/d) 24 41 Oil and NGLs (bbls/d) 1,056 519 Shale gas (mcf/d) 19,967 13,053 Natural gas (mcf/d) 19,967 13,053 Oil equivalent (boe/d) 4,384 2,695 FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This document contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "believe", "intends", "forecast", "plans", "guidance" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to the Company's risk management program, oil and condensate, other NGLs, and natural gas production, operating expenses, capital programs, and adjusted working capital. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company, including expectations and assumptions relating to prevailing commodity prices and exchange rates, applicable royalty rates and tax laws, future well production rates, the performance of existing wells, the success of drilling new wells, the availability of capital to undertake planned activities, and the availability and cost of labour and services. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general such as operational risks in development, exploration and production, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures, the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production rates, costs, and expenses, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, marketing and transportation, environmental risks, competition, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources and changes in tax, royalty, and environmental legislation. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this document are made as of the date hereof for the purpose of providing the readers with the Company's expectations for the coming year. The forward-looking statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities law. Leucrotta is an oil and natural gas company, actively engaged in the acquisition, development, exploration, and production of oil and natural gas reserves in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. Further Information For additional information, please contact: Leucrotta Exploration Inc. Suite 2110, 530 - 8th Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 3S8 Phone: (403) 705-4525 www.leucrotta.ca Mr. Robert J. Zakresky President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Nolan Chicoine Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125329 VIENNA, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei held its annual Global Internet Service Industry Summit in Vienna. To align with Europe's all-optical network strategy of eco-friendliness, intelligence, and digital transformation, Huawei launched new products and solutions including NetEngine 8000 M4, OTN P2MP private line, and Fiber to The Room (FTTR). The summit, joined by global business leaders, partners, and think tanks, also featured discussions on Europe's all-optical trend and transformation of managed services, creating new value together. Green, fully optical, and intelligent connections have become a key area of growth for the Internet Service Industry (ISI). Speaking at the opening ceremony, Huang Dachuan, CTO of Huawei's Enterprise Business Group, said that the ISI industry has three trends: Internet connection technologies are evolving to all-optical, Internet connection architecture is developing to software-defined and more intelligent, and Internet services are becoming more intelligent and diversified. He reaffirmed Huawei's mission to provide all-optical, intelligent Internet solutions and services to foster the smooth evolution of the ICT architecture, as well as business success of Internet Service Provider (ISP) customers. The summits also presented the latest trends in optical technologies from Huawei. Dr. Maxim Kuschnerov, Director of Huawei Optical and Quantum Communications Laboratory in Munich envisaged the evolution of optical technologies from five dimensions: Congestion Free, Always-On, Scalable, Simplified, and Intelligent. He also shared the evolution trend and prediction of 50G PON, the latest-generation transport access technology. Other keynote speakers include Arturs Alksnis, Public Affairs Director FTTH Council Europe, Richard Miller, Business Development Director of Huawei, and Jonas Emilsson, Co-founder of Glecom from Sweden. Following the summit, Huawei also shared its vision during the FTTH Conference 2022, one of the world's largest fiber summits, on May 25. In his speech, Kevin Liu, Huawei's Senior VP of Sales and Channel, pointed out that ISPs can achieve sustainable business growth by seizing the three strategic broadband opportunities to come. First: connection broadband, optical network construction is accelerating; second, the evolution from outdoor FTTH to indoor FTTR provides a high-quality, ubiquitous Wi-Fi network experience; third, a premium FTTR home broadband is the base for smart homes and miscellaneous applications. For this opportunity, Huawei presents Green Intelligent OptiX Network, which consists of green architecture, green site, and green operation. "With this target network solution, we can drive the ICT industry to achieve 'more bits, less watts' and low carbon goals," says Kevin Liu, Huawei's Senior VP of Sales and Channel, during the panel speech. To know more about Huawei Global Internet Service Industry Summit, please visit: https://e.huawei.com/at/special_topic/event/2022q2/isp-summit-eu WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Richmond, Utah-based Casper's Ice Cream is recalling its 56 ounce tubs of 'Red Button Vintage Creamery Canadian Vanilla Ice Cream' due to undeclared allergen, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. According to the agency, a limited number of the product were mispackaged with Burnt Almond Fudge Ice Cream containing undeclared almonds. The product comes in a 56 ounce, paperboard tub packaging marked with lot # 344-21-946 and an expiration date of 12/10/24. The UPC for the product is 077865010017. The recalled Red Button Canadian Vanilla ice cream were distributed throughout the mountain west states in Associated Foods retail stores. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the Burnt Almond Fudge-containing product was distributed in packaging of Canadian Vanilla. Following the investigation, it was found that the issue was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company's production and packaging processes. People who have allergies to almonds may get serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. However, the company has not received any reports of illnesses related to the recalled product to date. Consumers are urged to return the affected product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. New Certification Makes Empower's Testing Solutions Even More Convenient for its Customers VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / EMPOWER CLINICS INC (CSE:CBDT)(Frankfurt:8EC)(OTCQB:EPWCF) ("Empower" or the "Company") an integrated healthcare company - serving patients through medical centers, telemedicine platforms, a medical device company, and a high complexity medical diagnostics laboratory - announced today that it has received accreditation for mobile services for its COVID-19 testing solutions through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC Diagnostic Accreditation Program (DAP) for Laboratory Medicine. The mobile services accreditation allows Empower to offer high quality, concierge testing solutions at any location a client desires. Customers, especially those catering to large groups, may prefer concierge mobile service at a hotel, cruise ship, workplace, or conference venue. The quality and integrity of this mobile service is fully supported by Empower's existing COVID-19 testing sites - located at the Port of Vancouver, Canada Place and Fairmont Waterfront Hotel - and is held to the same high fidelity standards set in place by the College of Physicians and Surgeons when successfully obtaining DAP certification on April 8, 2022. "With this newly certified mobile service, Empower Clinics is clearly the leader in offering the most convienient and fully certified COVID-19 testing solutions in and around the Port of Vancouver," stated Steven McAuley, Chairman and CEO of Empower Clinics. "Our significant effort and investment to achieve all the necessary accreditation is a reflection of our commitment to the highest possible quality and integrity on behalf of the travel industry. Cruise lines, tour companies and their guests should not be burdened with the liability of using unaccredited services." The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia is a regulatory college which regulates the practice of medicine in British Columbia. All COVID-19 testing in British Columbia requires accreditation by the College's Diagnostic Accreditation Program (DAP). The Public Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, clarified on March 16, 2021, that any site, laboratory, or company that charges for point of care (POC) testing for COVID-19 is required to receive full independent accreditation through the DAP. As per the College Bylaws, a registrant may not utilize or practice in a diagnostic facility in BC unless that facility is accredited. Passengers can visit https://www.empowerclinics.com/covid-19-testing/ to book COVID-19 testing solutions that include Rapid Antigen and Rapid PCR (RT-Lamp) tests offered at Empower's clinic located in the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel - adjacent to the port terminal at Canada Place or virtually via telehealth. This press release is available on the Empower Clinics Verified Forum on AGORACOM for shareholder discussion, questions and engagement with management https://agoracom.com/ir/EmpowerClinics ABOUT EMPOWER: Empower is an integrated healthcare company that provides body and mind wellness for patients through its clinics, with digital and telemedicine care, a medical device company and world-class medical diagnostics laboratories. Supported by an experienced leadership team, Empower is aggressively growing its clinical and digital presence across North America. Our Health & Wellness and Diagnostics & Technology business units are positioned to positively impact the integrated health of our patients, while simultaneously providing long term value for our shareholders. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Steven McAuley Chief Executive Officer CONTACTS: Media: Steven McAuley CEO s.mcauley@empowerclinics.com 604-227-0865 Investors: Tamara Mason Business Development & Communications t.mason@empowerclinics.com 604-359-9058 DISCLAIMER FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements can frequently be identified by words such as "plans", "continues", "expects", "projects", "intends", "believes", "anticipates", "estimates", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions known to management at this time, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including: that the Company may be unable to enter into definitive agreements, or close transactions with respect to, proposed future clinic openings; that due diligence with respect to anticipated clinic openings and acquisitions may not be satisfactory to the Company; risks related to delays in permitting or construction; risks related to supply chains and access to labour; that legislative changes may have an adverse effect on the Company's business and product development; that the Company may not be able to obtain adequate financing to pursue its business plan; that the Company will be able to commence and/or complete build-outs and tenants improvements for new clinics; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and other factors beyond the Company's control. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur on the terms or in the time expected, or at all, or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this release, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE: Empower Clinics Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/702809/Empower-Clinics-Granted-Accreditation-For-Mobile-Covid-19-Testing-Solutions-Throughout-British-Columbia After the unveiling of the new vehicle by brand ambassador Neymar Jr. in Berlin , e.GO celebrates the launch of the e.wave X with many suppliers, partners and employees in Aachen, Germany . , e.GO celebrates the launch of the e.wave X with many suppliers, partners and employees in Aachen, . The e.wave X had a real kick-start with nearly 2,000 reservations in only two and a half weeks Nationwide roadshow is planned in the coming months AACHEN, Germany, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Around 600 suppliers and partners, employees and media representatives had the opportunity to celebrate together with Next.e.GO Mobile SE the launch of the new vehicle - the e.wave X - at the Aachen Micro Factory. The strong interest in the new model, with 2,000 reservations in the days since the official unveiling by Neymar Jr., has been a great response to the e.GO Mobiles team's efforts to bring this new line-up to the market, especially at the time where the energy transition makes urban electro mobility all the more economically desirable. The vehicles will be produced in the Aachen Micro Factory, Germany, which has been designed with energy and environmental footprint at its core. "We are delighted with the progress we have made and the strong uptick in demand - thanks to our valued customers. We will work tirelessly to deliver to their trust and more importantly to our joint commitment of sustainable urban mobility" said Ali Vezvaei Chairman of Next.e.GO Mobile SE. The modern, practical and innovative four-seater was developed with sustainability and everyday usability in mind. The driving pleasure, ease of charging and smart controls of the e.wave X offer a seamless user experience. The e.wave X is available from 24,990 euros* before subsidies and can be reserved through our website - https://e-go-mobile.com/ A nationwide roadshow has been planned over the coming months, where the vehicle will be presented at around 50 events throughout Germany until the end of November, including more than 10 SportScheck RUNs, and the Green World Tour. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826089/Next_eGO_Mobile_1.jpg TORONTO, May 26, 2022 EV Technology Group's sustainability platform begins with its commitments to the environment - notably to reimagine existing internal combustion engine ("ICE") vehicles as EVs, thereby contributing to de-carbonization. EV uptake, to date, has largely been amongst early adopters who are excited to be at the vanguard of change. For lovers of automotive experiences, for whom driving is about much more than getting from point A to B, the homogeneity of many EV designs is a barrier to adoption. By helping to bring iconic brands such as the MOKE to the electric age, EV Technology Group's products speed overall EV adoption by bringing the next wave of consumers from ICE to electric. Going forward, EV Technology Group's environmental ambitions are not restricted to de-carbonization, as the Company seeks to implement sustainable procurement and supply chain practices, and explore use of NFTs to safeguard environmental standards. "With transport accounting for more than 20% of total CO2 emissions, and road transport more than 70% of that, the importance of shifting away from internal combustion engines cannot be overstated," said Wouter Witvoet, Founder and CEO of EV Technology Group. "We believe car lovers will only convert to electric vehicles when they promise the character, unique style and visceral driving pleasure historically delivered by iconic classic car brands. In this sense, as an EV pioneer, EV Technology Group has sustainability at its very core. We are also determined to maintain the highest standards in terms of both our societal impact and corporate governance." EV Technology Group's sustainability platform also has a clear focus on social and governance commitments. Through its investments, the Company will sustain communities and the skills and expertise that will help them thrive into the future. As a company listed publicly on the NEO and Frankfurt Exchanges, EV Technology Group transparently adheres to all governance reporting standards required by these exchanges and is committed to implement data protection and privacy clauses for its customers. Beyond de-carbonization: EV Technology Group also supports high-quality employment in local communities and corporate governance best practices EV Technology Group's sustainability platform sets the stage to articulate an ESG vision - particularly for the growing pool of investors who prioritize contributing capital to companies that contribute to a lower-carbon future. The platform also discloses the future ambitions of the Company to continue improving its ESG credentials over time. Through this plan, EVT Group positions itself as a leader in supporting greener transportation and a carbon-neutral world, and is supporting these global efforts by creating EVs that people want to drive. EV Technology Group EV Technology Group was founded in 2021 with a vision of electrifying iconic brands - and a mission of redefining the joy of motoring for the electric age. By acquiring iconic brands and bringing beloved motoring experiences to the electric age, EVT Group is driving the EV revolution forward. Backed by a diversified team of passionate entrepreneurs, engineers and driving enthusiasts, EVT Group creates value for its customers by owning the total customer experience - acquiring and partnering with iconic brands with significant growth potential in unique markets, and controlling end-to-end capabilities. To learn more visit: https://evtgroup.com/ Media Rachael D'Amore rachael@talkshopmedia.com +1519-564-9850 Investor Relations Dave Gentry dave@redchip.com +14074914498 EV Technology Group Wouter Witvoet CEO and Chairman of the Board wouter@evtgroup.com Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, EV Technology Group's ESG platform; future investments in EV brands; EV Technology Group operations, expectations, and future actions. Often, but not always, these Forward-looking Statements can be identified by the use of words such as "estimated", "potential", "open", "future", "assumed", "projected", "used", "detailed", "has been", "gain", "planned", "reflecting", "will", "containing", "remaining", "to be", or statements that events, "could" or "should" occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-looking Statements, including those factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the filing statement of the Company. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-looking Statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except where required by law. There can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. THE NEO STOCK EXCHANGE DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3705b433-48ff-47f9-873a-67505006c8d9 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / Goodbody Health Inc. (CSE:GDBY) (OTCQB:GDBYF) ("Goodbody Health" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, it has launched its core UK Health check which offers a comprehensive summary of a person's health. Keenly priced at 99, this new test includes innovative in-clinic diabetes and cholesterol tests, with results finalised in minutes. These tests determine a person's risk for developing cardiac health problems or diabetes over the next 10 years. Consistent with our value of 'Know More - Live Better", knowing more about one's current wellness empowers the individual to take better control of their health. Goodbody products and services are focussed on prevention and will help alleviate the pressures on the NHS in line with the NHS long term plan. We are launching to coincide with Type 2 Diabetes prevention week, highlighting 1 in 15 people in the UK has diabetes according to Diabetes UK https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics and 1 million people who have type 2 diabetes that have not yet been diagnosed. This health check, alongside our other diagnostic tests, will start as a trial in a number of chosen pharmacies and our own stores based in Bath and Bristol before rapidly being rolled out nationally. It will be provided within Goodbody's nationwide distribution network of community pharmacies and supported with marketing materials and activities to drive traffic and increase footfall into pharmacies. The UK population is 67 million and an estimated 95% will visit a pharmacy at least once a year meaning a potential 63.7 million customers. https://www.rsph.org.uk/resourceLibrary/reducing-premature-mortality-the-role-of-community-pharmacies-.html Geremy Thomas, Executive Chairman, said: "We are very excited about the launch of this core health care product. The recent pandemic has made us all realise that our health is our most important asset, there has never been a better time to take control of your current health. With a number of clinics already on board and the testing available using new, innovative technology, our developing network will soon be able to offer the health check as an additional product within their pharmacy". The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Marc Howells Chief Executive Officer Goodbody Health Inc. +44 (0) 20 7971 1255 enquiries@goodbodyhealth.com www.goodbodyhealth.com Anne Tew Chief Financial Officer Goodbody Health Inc. +44 (0) 20 7971 1255 enquiries@goodbodyhealth.com www.goodbodyhealth.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Goodbody Health's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes" "plan is" or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur", "will be achieved" or "shortly". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to: there is no guarantee that the price of 99 is a keen price; the test will be rapidly rolled out nationally; marketing materials and activities will drive traffic and increase footfall into pharmacies; the developing network will soon be able to offer the health check as an additional product within their pharmacy. Although Goodbody Health believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. In particular, Goodbody products and services will help alleviate the pressures on the NHS in line with the NHS long term plan; that there has never been a better time to take control of your current health. Goodbody Health does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE: Goodbody Health Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/702654/Goodbody-Health-Announces-the-Launch-of-Its-Core-Health-Diagnostic-Check Next Generation SmartGATE Units Began Shipping in Q2 F2022 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / Legend Power Systems Inc. (TSXV:LPS) (OTCQB:LPSIF) ("Legend Power" or the "Company"), a global leader in commercial electrical system solutions, reports its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2022 ("Q2 F2022"). The Company has also scheduled a conference call to provide a business update to discuss its Q2 F2022 financial results for Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 11:00 AM ET (8:00 AM PT) (details below). The call will be hosted by Randy Buchamer, President & Chief Executive Officer. A complete set of Financial Statements and Management's Discussion & Analysis has been filed at www.sedar.com. All dollar figures are quoted in Canadian dollars. Q2 F2022 Financial Highlights Revenue of $343 thousand versus $482 thousand in Q2 F2021 Adjusted EBITDA loss of $1.32 million versus a $708 thousand loss in Q2 F2021 Net loss of $1.48 million versus a $983 thousand loss in Q2 F2021 Cash of $6.03 million, no debt, and $7.63 million in working capital at March 31, 2022 Subsequent Events Launched new partner program page, new partner portal, and new true cost of power estimator Completed shipments of 20 Next Generation SmartGATE Platforms and secured inventory for 50 additional units First Next Generation SmartGATE platform installed and performing above initial expectations Reduced operating expenses and based on our budget have a twelve-month runway with existing cash and working capital "We've worked diligently with new and existing suppliers to secure delivery commitments for long lead-time and critical inventory components," said Legend Power Systems CEO Randy Buchamer. "We're managing Legend's transition to fulfilling customer orders for the new SmartGATE Platform to balance forecasted customer demand with the amount of working capital committed to investing in inventory. While supply chains around the world are still a concern for many companies, Legend has significantly reduced its risk and will continue to work to secure supply to be able to deliver on anticipated growing demand." Overview of Q2 F2022 Financials During Q2 F2022 the Company continued to invest in its sales team and inventory while expanding production and field operations capacity in readiness for ramping Gen3 SmartGATE demand. These investments were highlighted in the Company's June 10, 2021 prospectus as primary use of proceeds in connection with the $10 million bought deal financing. The Company's channel sales team now consists of 3 individuals experienced in growing reseller and ESCO relationships who can sell the value propositions that Insights and SmartGATE solutions bring to commercial real estate. Target markets and reseller channels continue to respond positively to Legend's solutions. The Company continues to secure partnering opportunities with channels, particularly ESCOs. During Q2 F2022, SmartGATE Insights was chosen by a global property owner, and the Company subsequently completed initial installations at a large building complex in Puerto Rico. The channel sales team also continued development of partner support tools for the partner portal, including marketing support, sales support, technical support, and deal registration. The partner portal was launched in May 2022. During Q2 F2022 the Company continued to work through component inventory supply chain challenges and secured additional stock to complete the assembly of 20 plus Gen3 SmartGATE units to fill backlog sales orders. However, due to the delivery timing of components, revenue recognized during the quarter was lower than anticipated, as some units were delivered shortly after the quarter. With the Gen3 SmartGATE system reaching commercial production, during Q2 F2022 the engineering team continues to focus on remote commands functionality. This functionality allows the Company to communicate remotely with Gen3 SmartGATE field units and is the foundation of a "remote upgrade" feature. In addition, the engineering department worked on cost reduction strategies including identifying alternative suppliers and design refinements. Financial summary for the three and six months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 Three months ended March 31, Six months ended March 31, (Cdn$, unless noted otherwise) 2022 2021 Change 2022 2021 Change Revenue 343,573 482,144 (29 )% 512,793 1,248,370 (59 )% Cost of sales 286,012 393,624 (27 )% 417,984 957,804 (56 )% Gross margin1 57,561 88,520 (35 )% 94,809 290,566 (67 )% Gross margin %1 17 % 18 % (9 )% 18 % 23 % (21 )% Operating expenses 1,536,477 1,068,146 44 % 2,855,953 2,145,538 33 % Adjusted EBITDA2 (1,317,640 ) (708,025 ) 86 % (2,323,414 ) (1,385,632 ) 68 % Net loss (1,479,789 ) (982,829 ) 51 % (2,761,144 ) (1,854,972 ) 49 % 1 Gross margin is based on a blend of both equipment and installation revenue. 2 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure. See EBDITA Reconciliation for details. Revenue for the second quarter of 2022 was $343,573 compared with $482,144 in the second quarter of fiscal 2021. The lower revenue during Q2 of fiscal 2022 was primarily due to customer preference install scheduling and delayed product deliveries to customers, as a result of inventory shortages caused by supply chain challenges and, to a lesser extent, the production ramp up required for the Gen3 version of SmartGATE. Gross margin in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 was 17% versus 18% in second quarter of fiscal 2021. The comparative decrease in Q2 2022 gross margin was due primarily to higher cost of goods sold driven by widespread supply chain challenges, COVID-19 supplier surcharges, and component cost increases. The Company's operating expenses for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 were $1,536,477, up from $1,068,146 in the second quarter of fiscal 2021. The primary cause for the increase was higher salaries and consulting costs as the Company recently expanded its channel sales team and the fact that internal cost cutting measures and COVID-19 government subsidies were still in place during Q2 of fiscal 2021. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 was negative $1,317,640, compared with negative $708,025 in second quarter of fiscal 2021. Net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 was $1,479,789, compared with a net loss of $982,829 in the second quarter of fiscal 2021. Lower gross margins and increased operating costs in Q2 of fiscal 2022 compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2021 resulted in a higher net loss. Cash at the end of the quarter was $6.03 million. The Company has no debt and had working capital of $7.63 million. Given the challenges in supply chain and shipping that companies are experiencing around the world, management is focused on continuing to take costs out of the business while taking advantage of the large growth opportunity as our customers and potential strategic partners look to deploy our solutions throughout buildings across North America. CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS: DATE: Thursday, May 26, 2022 TIME: 11:00 AM ET (8:00 AM PT) DIAL-IN NUMBERS: North America Toll Free Dial-in Number (888) 396-8049 ONLINE LISTENING https://app.webinar.net/M1O9DZP02xE CONFERENCE ID: 48955762 REPLAY: Available at: www.legendpower.com About Legend Power Systems Inc. Legend Power Systems Inc. (www.legendpower.com) provides an intelligent energy management platform that analyzes and improves building energy challenges, significantly impacting asset management and corporate performance. Legend Power's proven solutions support proactive executive decision-making in a complex and volatile business and energy environment. The proprietary and patented system reduces total energy consumption and power costs, while also maximizing the life of electrical equipment. Legend Power's unique solution is also a key contributor to both corporate sustainability efforts and the meeting of utility energy efficiency targets. For further information, please contact: Sean Peasgood, Investor Relations + 1 647 503 1054 sean@sophiccapital.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This Press Release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities or performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Such risks, uncertainties and factors are described in the periodic filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including the Company's quarterly and annual Management's Discussion & Analysis, which may be viewed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results to not be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements other than as may be required by applicable law. SOURCE: Legend Power Systems Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/702769/Legend-PowerR-Reports-Q2-F2022-Financial-Results MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / Quebec Precious Metals Corporation ("QPM" or the "Company") (TSXV:QPM)(OTCQB:CJCFF)(FSE:YXEP) is pleased to announce drill hole assay results from drill hole 189 and the six (6) drill holes from the 2022 winter program (7 holes, totalling 2,982 m). The results demonstrate the depth and strike extension of higher gold mineralization for an additional 200 m at the La Pointe Extension gold deposit, on the Company's 100% owned Sakami project in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory of Quebec. Highlights ( Table 1, Figures 1, 2 and 3 ) All seven (7) holes have intersected extensive mineralization over wide intervals. The three most significant drill intersections are: Hole PT-21-190: 1.61 g/t Au over 19.5 m including 4.91 g/t Au over 1.5 m Hole PT-21-191: 0.84 g/t Au over 63.0 m including 1.25 g/t Au over 18.0 m Hole PT-21-194: 0.94 g/t Au over 26.9 m including 1.77 g/t Au over 9.0 m These holes confirm the continuity of the sub-vertically dipping higher-grade core of the deposit (500 m strike length, a depth of 600 m with an estimated average true thickness of 40 m, up to 75 m in the central part of the deposit, and plunging about 45 degrees to the northeast) which could be amenable to open pit mining. Normand Champigny, QPM's Chief Executive Officer, stated: "These results show that the La Pointe Extension deposit keeps expanding at depth and remains open in all directions. The drill results will add an important mineralized volume. In addition, we have numerous undrilled targets in interpreted large intrusive bodies near the deposit and over a strike length of 2.5 km to the south of the deposit. Additional drilling will be required to better define the mineralized zones and to optimize open pit geometries." The 2021 fall and 2022 winter drilling aimed to expand the La Pointe Extension deposit that could be amenable to open pit mining. To date, a total of 47 holes (14,535 m) have intersected the La Pointe Extension deposit. The La Pointe Extension deposit and the La Pointe deposit are part of the Sakami project located along a 23-kilometre-long favourable geological contact that hosts gold mineralization. Both deposits are of similar geological character and a sub-vertically dipping higher-grade portion. They show a generally good spatial correlation between the gold mineralization and the abundance of disseminated arsenopyrite, pyrite and pyrrhotite hosted in a silicified paragneiss that is observed in drill holes. At the La Pointe deposit, the mineralized zone has a strike length 950 m, a depth of 450 m with an estimated average true thickness of 35 m, up to 63 m in the central part of the deposit. Complete assay results and calculated composite grades released to date are available on QPM's website (https://www.qpmcorp.ca/en/projects/sakami-technical-information/). For previously disclosed results in connection with the La Pointe and La Pointe Extension deposits, see press releases of June 9, 2021 , November 2, 2021 , February 24, 2022 and March 10, 2022 . Quality Assurance/Quality Control The drilling contract was awarded to Orbit Garant Drilling Inc., based in Val-d'Or, Quebec. The hole diameter is NQ. Quality assurance and quality control procedures have been implemented to ensure best practices in sampling and analysis of the core samples. The drill core was logged and then split, with one-half sent for assay and the other retained in the core box as a witness sample. Duplicates, standards and blanks were regularly inserted into the sample stream. The samples were delivered, in secure tagged bags, directly to the ALS Minerals laboratory facility in Val-d'Or, Quebec. The samples are weighed and identified prior to sample preparation. All samples are analyzed by fire assay with AA finish on a 30 g sample (0.005-10 ppm Au), with a gravimetric finish for assays over 10 ppm Au. The Sakami Project The Sakami Project provides the Company with a controlling position over a 23-km long segment of a favourable geological contact and comprises 281 claims (142 km2). It is located 570 km north of Val d'Or, Quebec, 120 km east of the municipality of Wemindji, 90 km from the Eleonore gold mine and 47 km northeast of the paved James Bay Road. Good infrastructure, including major access roads, a hydro-powered electric grid and airports, are present in the region. Drilling can be carried out throughout the year. Qualified Persons Normand Champigny, Eng., Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Qualified Person under NI 43-101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects, has prepared and reviewed the content of this press release. Francois Gagnon, P. Geo., Senior Exploration Geologist with Consul-Teck Exploration Miniere Inc. has also reviewed the content of this release. About Quebec Precious Metals Corporation QPM is a gold explorer with a large land position in the highly prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec, near Newmont Corporation's Eleonore gold mine. QPM's flagship project is the Sakami project with significant grades and well-defined drill-ready targets. QPM's goal is to rapidly explore the Sakami project and advance to the mineral resource estimate stage. For more information, please contact: Normand Champigny Chief Executive Officer Tel.: 514 979-4746 Email: nchampigny@qpmcorp.ca Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This release includes forward looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "continue", and "guidance", or other similar words and may include, without limitation statements regarding plans, strategies and objectives of management, anticipated production or construction commencement dates and expected costs or production output. Forward-looking statements inherently involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements. Relevant factors may include, but are not limited to, changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and general economic conditions, increased costs and demand for production inputs, the speculative nature of exploration and project development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licences and permits and diminishing quantities or grades of resources or reserves, political and social risks, changes to the regulatory framework within which the entity operates or may in the future operate, environmental conditions including extreme weather conditions, recruitment and retention of personnel, industrial relations issues and litigation. Forward-looking statements are based on the entity and its management's good faith assumptions relating to the financial, market, regulatory and other relevant environments that will exist and affect business and operations in the future. There are no assurances that the assumptions on which forward-looking statements are based will prove to be correct, or that the business or operations will not be affected in any material manner by these or other factors not foreseen or foreseeable by the entity or management or beyond the entity's control. Although there have been attempts to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that could cause actual results, performance, achievements or events not to be anticipated, estimated or intended, and many events are beyond the reasonable control of the entity. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release are given as at the date of issue only. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law or any relevant stock exchange listing rules, in providing this information the entity does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward-looking statements or to advise of any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Table 1: Summary of significant drill hole assay results from the winter 2022 program, Sakami project - Press release of May 26, 2022 Notes: All widths are drill-indicated core length. Drill holes are generally planned to intersect mineralization as close to perpendicular to strike as possible. All gold values presented are not capped. La Pointe Extension deposit Hole # UTM E UTM N Length (m) Azimuth () Dip () Number of samples From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) PT-21-189 374117 5893902 369 125 -65 303 205.50 223.00 17.50 0.52 258.50 261.50 3.00 0.83 270.00 274.00 4.00 0.51 PT-21-190 374117 5893902 501 125 -79.7 427 327.00 342.00 15.00 0.77 Including 330.00 331.50 1.50 1.94 390.00 409.50 19.50 1.61 including 402.00 403.50 1.50 4.91 PT-22-191 374117 5893902 693 150 -85 557 496.70 507.00 10.30 0.59 520.50 583.50 63.00 0.84 including 535.50 553.50 18.00 1.25 PT-22-192 374117 5893902 303 139.55 -62.3 249 198.00 207.00 9.00 0.96 including 199.10 202.90 3.80 1.56 241.50 273.00 31.50 0.77 including 244.50 259.50 15.00 1.16 PT-22-193 374117 5893902 375 155 -60 311 196.50 207.00 10.50 1.72 including 202.50 205.50 3.00 4.99 264.00 271.50 7.50 0.81 PT-22-194 374012 5893887 441 145 -60 359 267.00 293.90 26.90 0.94 including 271.50 280.50 9.00 1.77 PT-22-195 373873 5893541 300 145 -70 238 144.00 160.20 16.20 0.94 including 150.00 156.00 6.00 1.47 Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 SOURCE: Quebec Precious Metals Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/702801/Quebec-Precious-Metals-drills-La-Pointe-Extension-084-gt-Au-Over-63-m-Downhole-Higher-Grade-Core-Extended-200-m-at-Depth-Open-in-All-Directions Ruling People Power Party's Daegu mayoral candidate Hong Joon-pyo, center, speaks to vendors at Gwanmoon Traditional Market in Daegu's Nam District while canvassing for the June 1 local elections, May 23. Newsis Ruling party candidates for local elections lead comfortably in stronghold region By Ko Dong-hwan On Wednesday at around 4 p.m., the ruling People Power Party's (PPP) candidate for the Daegu mayoral election, Hong Joon-pyo, showed up at a street market in the city's Paldal District to canvass for support, greeting crowds of people who were rooting for him. After three hours, he then moved to the city's Buk District where he held a Q&A session on the streets with members of the public for an hour which he dubbed "political busking." He then wrapped up his schedule for the day with less than a week remaining until the June 1 local elections. His daily meetings with the public continued the following day when he canvassed at Hwawon traditional market at 4 p.m. and then joined a TV debate with three other city mayoral candidates hosted by Daegu MBC at 11 p.m. On Friday, after canvassing at Seonam traditional market at 2 p.m. and hosting another Q&A street busking session in Dalseong District at 7 p.m., Hong finally called it a day. Whether being overconfident about winning the gubernatorial election or being simply sluggish, Hong, the former presidential candidate of the conservative party, has never had more than two public outings a day since the official election campaigning began on May 19. That's much less than almost any other candidate running for the post, who usually make every hour count in their busy canvassing schedules. The main opposition liberal Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) candidate Seo Jae-heon, running against Hong in the election, didn't rest on his laurels on Wednesday. In fact, he showed up at 7 a.m. to say hello to morning commuters and was still working hard at 9 p.m., visiting a local church. Hong's breezy schedule, however, is somewhat understandable when his public support ratings in the country's strongest conservative stronghold tower over his rivals by over 70 percent. In a survey conducted by Hangil Research on May 23-24, just 17 percent of respondents supported Seo and 1 percent supported each of the two minor party candidates such as the Justice Party and Basic Income Party. The figures encourage observers to anticipate Hong will win this election easily. "There are now many civic groups wanting to meet Hong, from war veterans to local residents' community groups and the local daycare centers' association," an official at Hong's election camp reportedly said. "So, the candidate has been meeting them in the morning and the afternoon, listening to their requests and discussing what he can do for them. Isn't it much more effective than delivering speeches early in the morning when no one really listens?" On left, People Power Party's North Gyeongsang provincial governor candidate Lee Chul-woo speaks to crowds at a beach in Pohang, May 22. Center, People Power Party's Busan mayoral candidate Park Hyeong-jun, left, and party chairman Lee Jun-seok speak to members of the public at Gupo traditional market in Busan's Buk District, May 23. On right, People Power Party's South Gyeongsang provincial governor candidate Park Wan-soo meets vendors at Gohyun traditional market in Geoje, May 20. Newsis Initiation of early works activities at Tocantinzinho in preparation for full construction Deployment of "Self-Perform" execution model initiated with additions of key personnel Advancing procurement and commitments for long lead items, forecast to total $47 million by June Labor agreement with local union agreed to in principle Expanded Tapajos land package by 45% totaling 996km 2 , providing additional exploration potential Preparing for construction decision in H2-22 BROSSARD, QC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / G Mining Ventures Corp. ("GMIN" or the "Corporation") is pleased to provide an update on key developments on its 100% owned Tocantinzinho Gold Project ("TZ" or the "Project"). Additionally, GMIN is pleased to announce the appointment of key staff members as the Corporation looks to execute on its objective of advancing the Project towards a construction decision in H2-22. Louis-Pierre Gignac, President & Chief Executive Officer, commented: "GMIN is advancing the TZ project with a comprehensive early works program, including commencement of detailed engineering, the start of early-stage construction activities including upgrades to the camp and to the surrounding infrastructure, procurement of long lead items, establishment of a logistics base, and planning for access road improvements. We are very pleased to add a number of talented and experienced staff to the GMIN team, many of the individuals being familiar faces from past projects. We have assembled an exceptional team to continue the advancement of TZ into one of the biggest primary gold mines in Brazil, with commercial production targeted to commence in the second half of 2024." Tocantinzinho Development Update Since the release of the TZ Feasibility Study (as detailed in the press release dated February 9, 2022) the Corporation has advanced development of the TZ project on several fronts. Health & Safety Year to date, a total of 71,060 hours has been worked without any lost time incident. The health and safety of employees, contractors and other stakeholders is at the forefront of the Corporation's values and objectives. Labor Agreement GMIN has agreed in-principle to a new collective bargaining agreement with the local mining union, Sindicato dos Trabalhadores nas Industrias de Extracao e Beneficiamento de Minerios Ferrosos e nao Ferrosos dos Estados do Amapa e Para. The agreement will take effect on August 1st, has a term of two years, and is intended to cover the construction phase as well as the initial phase of operation. The agreement will enable the implementation of a 2 week-on / 2 week-off roster schedule for the Project, and establishes the details of the benefits packages. Human Resources and Employee Training The team has grown and expanded with the increased level of activity on site. At the time of the TZ acquisition, the Project team had 15 employees, which has now grown to 42, with the additional hirings focused on Supply Chain, Human Resources, Environment, and Health & Safety. Job fairs were held in our neighboring communities of Itaituba, Moraes Almeida and Novo Progresso that resulted in exceptional turnouts, with over 500 resumes collected, and hundreds of first interviews conducted. Training programs have been initiated in collaboration with the National Industrial Training Service ("SENAI"), the largest institution of professional and technological education in Latin America. SENAI is a network of not-for-profit secondary level professional schools established and maintained by the Brazilian Confederation of Industry (a patronal syndicate), making SENAI one of the most important institutions in the country providing formal training for specialized workers. The first set of classes is geared toward construction personnel. Additionally, a mine equipment simulator was purchased and mobilized to start training and help with the recruitment process for mobile equipment operators. Execution Strategy - The "Self-Perform" Approach Project execution will be through the G Mining Services ("GMS") "Self-Perform" approach, an integrated team strategy that provides an overall lower risk approach, and allows for better site coordination, initiative on potential cost and schedule efficiencies and, ultimately, better project delivery and transition to operations. GMIN will not seek a fixed price Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management contract (commonly referred to as "EPCM") for the Project's mill and major facilities. Whereas EPCM providers may outsource and manage multiple sub-contractors, GMIN will execute the project in-house. By fully controlling logistics, directly purchasing equipment, and directly hiring labor, the approach will help keep project teams focused and overhead costs minimal, particularly through the elimination of costly "scope changes". Aspect Self-Perform Approach EPCM Approach Project Team / Responsibility Project owner hires GMS, brings key personnel on the payroll, and integrates the personnel with their internal project team, effectively combining to create an in-house team Project owner remains the project manager as GMS personnel become internal employees Project owner hires external engineering firm to be the project manager Project owner establishes internal project team to manage and oversee the EPCM firm Engineering GMS completes engineering and assumes coordination in-house by adding the required GMS personnel to the in-house team as needed QA/QC performed by third parties EPCM firm performs engineering or outsources to third party engineering firms Procurement Direct purchase of equipment and materials on a global scale Central management of supply chain with management of logistics to site Some procurement management by EPCM firm Procurement is also done by contractors, depending on EPCM package Construction GMS (acting as the project owner) executes construction of all aspects of project with exception of certain scope items awarded to local contractors Direct hiring of expatriate and local work force reduces mark-ups, GMS transfers key employees to construction team for duration of project Construction performed by contractors as per engineering approved drawings Each contractor has predefined scope where each contractor has its supervision and overheads Management Project team manages personnel, schedule and costs Project team manages services such as construction camp and employee transportation External engineering firm establishes a small project team to manage external contractors Management of scope changes and extras Power Supply Agreement Brazil's national grid operator, Operador Nacional do Sistema Eletrico ("ONS"), has confirmed the availability of 22.9 megawatts ("MW") of power supply requested by GMIN. ONS is the government agency responsible for the coordination and monitoring of electric power generation and transmission facilities connected to Brazil's national grid, where 84% of installed capacity is from renewable resources, mainly hydropower. Negotiations on final pricing are progressing with three shortlisted contractors for the construction of the 191km power transmission line. When the construction decision for the transmission line is made, the strategy will be to execute on multiple fronts, potentially with up to two contractors. The construction of the transmission line is the main scope of the Project that will be outsourced and thus not executed using the Self-Performed approach. Project Expenditures Procurement activities are currently focused on long lead items, with firm prices being finalized with selected suppliers. Several major mechanical and electrical packages are under final review and in line with the budgetary quotes from Q4-21 used in the DFS. Total project commitments and expenditures are expected to total $47 million by the end of June. Expenditures and commitments include: 1200-person permanent camp facility sourced from local Brazilian suppliers; Grinding mills (SAG & ball) from Metso Outotec; Partial purchase of the primary mining fleet from Grupo Sotreq, the local Brazilian Caterpillar dealer; Drilling equipment from Sandvik Group; Support equipment such as pickup trucks and service trucks; and Concrete batch plant. Construction - Early Works Activities Expansion of the exploration camp, which will support initial construction activities, is in progress and includes additional sleepers, a kitchen expansion, an additional water well, as well as sewage and power generation. The expanded exploration camp will have capacity for 350 individuals, and is to be completed by the end of July. Access road improvements to drainage and road surfacing is being initiated at this time as well. A freight forwarder logistics base is being established in Moraes Almeida, which will provide storage and consolidation area for equipment and materials moving to site especially during the early stages of the project. Figure 1 - Expansion of exploration camp - sleepers Figure 2 - Freight forwarder base in Moraes Almeida. Regional Exploration Upside Agencia Nacional de Mineracao (known as "ANM"), the Brazilian federal mining agency, has granted the renewal of several exploration licenses, some outside of the immediate project area, resulting in an expansion of the existing 688km2 land package to 996km2, a 45% increase (+308km2). This increased land package provides additional exploration potential in the Tapajos region for a total of 996km2. Figure 3 - GMIN land package in the Tapajos region. Key Project and Corporate Appointments GMIN has made some key management appointments to advance both the TZ project development and corporate activities, including: Etienne Bernier, Mine Manager Mr. Bernier is a seasoned mining professional with over 15 years' comprehensive experience in maintenance, engineering, and operations, leading on time and on budget project delivery and providing on-site support, including as lead or chief engineer for two major mining operations - Fruta Del Norte, a Lundin Gold underground gold mine in Ecuador and Koniambo, an open pit nickel mine in New Caledonia. Nicholas Hamel, Construction Manager Mr. Hamel has more than 15 years of experience in the management of major projects for the mining and energy industries. His responsibilities include construction planning, execution, commissioning, and cost control. He specializes in the implementation of large projects in complex environments. Recent mining projects include Merian I and II, a Newmont open pit mine in Suriname. Fausto Caser, Supply Chain Manager Mr. Caser has more than 20 years of experience providing supply chain leadership in the EPCM and mining industry. His expertise includes supply chain services for open pit and underground projects and operations. He holds a Bachelor in Business Administration and MBA with specialization in Logistics from Fundacao Dom Cabral in Brazil. Mr. Caser was formerly Global Director of Supply Chain for Rio Tinto, Kinross Gold and Lundin Gold, on projects including Paracatu, an open pit gold mine in Brazil and Fruta del Norte. Leandro Pires, Environmental Coordinator Mr. Pires has 17 years of experience in the areas of environment/sustainability management, ESG, work/process safety and occupational health. He has lead in strategic planning, policy development, goal setting and indicators and implementation of HSE and Sustainability programs and processes for companies such as Vale Inc., Samarco, Hindalco Industries ltd. Mr. Pires is currently completing his Master's degree in Sustainability and Environmental Technology from the Federal Institute of Science and Technology in Brazil. Jessie Liu-Ernsting, Director of Investor Relations and Communications Ms. Liu-Ernsting is an accomplished executive and professional engineer with over 15 years' experience spanning engineering, corporate lending, private equity and corporate strategy in the mining industry. Ms. Liu-Ernsting has held roles with progressive responsibility at Golder Associates (now WSP), Hatch, CIBC, Resource Capital Funds, and Canada Nickel Company. Timetable and Next Steps Over the next 6 months, the Corporation will be focused on the following activities: Project financing secured by mid-2022; Completion and results of 10,000-meter exploration and drilling program in Q3-2022; Completion of detailed engineering through 2022; Start of Project construction by Q3-2022; and Expected first gold production in Q3-2024 with first year of full production in 2025. Feasibility Study 3D VRIFY Presentation To view a 3D VRIFY presentation of the Study please click on the following link: Feasibility Study 3D VRIFY Presentation, or visit the Corporation's website at www.gminingventures.com. About G Mining Ventures Corp. G Mining Ventures Corp. (TSXV:GMIN) (OTCQB:GMINF) is a mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of precious metal projects, to capitalize on the value uplift from successful mine development. GMIN is well-positioned to grow into the next mid-tier precious metals producer by leveraging strong access to capital and proven development expertise. GMIN is currently anchored by its flagship Tocantinzinho Project in mining friendly and prospective Para State, Brazil. Additional Information For further information on GMIN, please visit the website at www.gminingventures.com or contact: Jessie Liu-Ernsting Director, Investor Relations and Communications 647.728.4176 info@gminingventures.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of certain securities laws and are based on expectations and projections as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, those related to (i) the human resources' outlook ensuing from the recruitment process and training program, (ii) the determination of final pricing for the power transmission line and the completion thereof, (iii) the finalization of firm prices for long lead items, (iv) the expansion of the exploration camp as well as the establishment of a logistics base, (v) the additional exploration potential, and, more generally, the President & Chief Executive Officer's comments hereinabove as well as the contents of the above section entitled "About G Mining Ventures Corp.". Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Such assumptions include, without limitation, those underlying the items listed on the above section entitled "About G Mining Ventures Corp.". Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that, notably but without limitation, the Corporation will (i) close its project financing process, (ii) make a positive construction decision regarding its TZ Project, (iii) bring the TZ Project into commercial production or (iv) advance the TZ Project into one of the largest operating gold mines in Brazil, as future events could differ materially from what is currently anticipated by the Corporation. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors and future events could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in the Corporation's other filings with the securities regulators of Canada including, but not limited to, the cautionary statements made in the relevant section of the Corporation's Management Discussion & Analysis. The Corporation cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive, and new, unforeseeable risks may arise from time to time. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. SOURCE: G Mining Ventures Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/702730/G-Mining-Ventures-Provides-Tocantinzinho-Project-Development-Update-and-Announces-Appointment-of-Key-Senior-Personnel CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen appreciated against its major counterparts in the European session on Thursday, on persistent concerns about an economic slowdown and as the minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting indicated more aggressive rate hikes at the next couple of meetings. The Fed minutes said that all members reiterated their strong commitment and determination to take the measures necessary to restore price stability. Investors fear that the Fed's commitment to tackle price pressures by raising rates aggressively will derail economic growth. A warning from Chinese Premier Li Keqiang that some indicators are performing worse than in 2020 also dampened risk sentiment. The yen edged up to 135.23 against the euro and 159.02 against the pound, up from its prior 2-day lows of 136.55 and 160.83, respectively. The yen is seen finding resistance around 133.00 against the euro and 155.00 against the pound. The yen touched a 2-day high of 126.55 against the greenback, from a 2-day low of 127.58 seen at 9 pm ET. Next key resistance for the yen is likely seen around the 119.00 level. The yen reversed from nearly a 3-week low of 132.68 against the franc and gained to 131.79. If the yen rises further, 128.00 is likely seen as its next resistance level. The yen rose to 98.70 against the loonie and 89.65 against the aussie, after falling to 2-day lows of 99.60 and 90.66, respectively in early deals. The yen is likely to test resistance around 95.00 against the loonie and 86.00 against the aussie. Bouncing off from a fresh 2-week low of 82.86 hit at 9 pm ET, the yen advanced to 81.88 against the kiwi. On the upside, 79.00 is possibly seen as the next resistance level. Looking ahead, Canada retail sales for March, U.S. GDP data for the first quarter, weekly jobless claims for the week ended May 21 and pending home sales for April will be released in the New York session. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de TORONTO, ON and RICHMOND, VA / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / StageZero Life Sciences, Ltd. (TSX:SZLS) (OTCQB:SZLSF) ("StageZero" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated healthcare company devoted to improving the early detection and management of cancer and other chronic diseases through leading-edge molecular diagnostics and clinical interventions, today announced that Matthew Pietras has resigned as CFO and COO. Mr. Pietras will support the Company during the transition to a new CFO. "We thank Matt for his hard work and dedication these last 9 months during which we incorporated Care Oncology and transitioned into a vertically integrated healthcare company" said James Howard-Tripp, Chairman and CEO of StageZero Life Sciences. "We wish him well in his next endeavors." About StageZero Life Sciences, Ltd. StageZero Life Sciences, Ltd. is a vertically integrated healthcare company dedicated to improving the early detection and management of cancer and other chronic diseases through next-generation diagnostics and unique telehealth programs that provide clinical interventions to assist patients who currently have cancer (COC Protocol) as well as help patients reduce the risk of developing late-stage disease (AVRT). The Company's next generation test, Aristotle, is the first ever mRNA multi-cancer panel for simultaneously screening for multiple cancers from a single sample of blood with high sensitivity and specificity for each cancer. Aristotle uses mRNA technology to identify the molecular signatures of multiple cancer types and is built on the Company's patented technology platform, the Sentinel Principle. This underlying technology has been validated in more than 9,000 patients and used by more than 100,000 patients in North America. The Care Oncology Clinic offers a supervised treatment regimen (the COC Protocol) for people diagnosed with cancer of any type or stage. Developed by scientists and oncologists, the COC Protocol is intended for adjunctive administration alongside standard-of-care cancer therapy. It is an individualized therapeutic approach which seeks to simultaneously target multiple metabolic cancer pathways. The aim is to restrict cancer cell energy supply and use, which may make it more difficult overall for cancer cells to survive, grow and adapt to changing conditions in the body. As a result, such cells can potentially become more vulnerable to attack from cell-killing therapies such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Its patented COC Protocol incorporates a multifaceted approach, supported by peer-reviewed scientific studies, which highlight the potential of certain treatments to target the specific energy requirements of cancer cells, impacting their ability to grow and multiply. AVRT is a Physician-Led, telehealth program for identifying and managing the early warning signs of cancer and chronic disease. Our program includes: a comprehensive online health evaluation; blood tests to measure markers of inflammation and metabolism; an in-depth initial physician consultation; regular physician follow-up appointments and interval screening. Aristotle, as well as additional cancer diagnostics (ColonSentry, and the Prostate Health Index) are processed at the Company's clinical laboratory, StageZero Life Sciences, Inc., a CAP accredited and CLIA certified high-complexity reference laboratory in Richmond, Virginia. In addition, the Company is also leveraging its specialty in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to provide COVID-19 PCR testing (swab and saliva) and Antibody Testing (blood analysis). StageZero Life Sciences trades on the Toronto Stock exchange under the symbol SZLS and on the OTCQB under the symbol SZLSF. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements identified by words such as "expects", "will" and similar expressions, which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual events to differ materially from those projected herein. Investors should consult the Company's ongoing quarterly filings and annual reports for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. For further information please contact: Investor Relations Rebecca Greco 1-855-420-7140 ext. 1838 rgreco@stagezerols.com SOURCE: StageZero Life Sciences Ltd View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/702814/StageZero-Life-Sciences-Announces-Resignation-of-CFO JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 2022 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) event, the Government of Indonesia offered the world the concept of sustainable resilience as a solution to address the challenges of systemic disaster risk. Indonesian President Joko Widodo highlighted this concept at the opening ceremony of the 2022 GPDRR in Nusa Dua, here, on Wednesday. The sustainable resilience concept is considered to be a solution to tackle all forms of disasters, including facing a pandemic and concurrently supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Jokowi remarked. He highlighted the need to apply several measures to build sustainable resilience. "First, we should strengthen an anticipatory, responsive, and adaptive disaster preparedness culture as well as institutions in dealing with disasters," President Jokowi stated. According to the president, disaster mitigation education and government institutions that are synergistic and responsive to disasters must become a shared priority. Jokowi explained that the second measure deemed necessary is for every country to invest in science, innovation, and technology, including in ensuring access to finance and technology transfer. "Access to funding is an important issue that we must take seriously. Indonesia has developed a strategy for funding and disaster insurance by establishing a pooling fund and using development funds at local levels to support disaster mitigation and preparedness," he stated. The third measure is by building infrastructure that is resilient to disasters and climate change. "(This is) in addition to mitigating (the impacts on) physical infrastructure, such as dams, breakwaters, reservoirs, and embankments; green infrastructure, such as mangrove forests, shrimp seedlings on the coast; ... as well as the development of open spaces to be part of the realization of infrastructure development," Jokowi pointed out. "The protection of vulnerable groups living in high disaster risk areas must also get special attention," he stressed. Lastly, the Indonesian president invited all countries to commit to implementing global agreements at the national and local levels. "The Sendai Framework, the Paris Agreement, and the SDGs are important international agreements in the efforts to reduce disaster risk and climate change. I invite all countries to be committed and serious about implementing it," Jokowi stated. He affirmed that disaster risk reduction is an effective investment to prevent future losses. "To that end, we affirm Indonesia's commitment to implementing the Sendai Framework as well as other international commitments," he stressed. The head of state also expressed Indonesia's readiness to share experiences and knowledge in disaster mitigation. "As a disaster-prone country, Indonesia has accumulated knowledge and experience that can be an important lesson for the world, but Indonesia is also eager to learn from international experience," Jokowo emphasized. "Let's work together to mitigate (impacts and manage risks with regard to) the rise in disasters for a better life today and tomorrow," he concluded. Appreciation On the occasion, several United Nations (UN) officials -- President of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly Abdulla Shahid, UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed, and Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori -- lauded Indonesia for being successful in controlling COVID-19, so that the 2022 GPDRR forum could be held in-person in Nusa Dua, Bali. "I would like to convey the appreciation of the UN to the president of Indonesia and the people for hosting the 2022 GPDRR," Mohammed stated at the opening ceremony. "I would like to congratulate and appreciate Indonesia for the measures that have been taken to address COVID (as a) response that had allowed us to meet in this conference here in-person," she stated. According to the UN deputy secretary general, Indonesia's efforts to vaccinate its population of 217 million people is a major achievement. "We applaud the leader of Indonesia for its vaccine program for keeping everyone safe and reacting and responding to the COVID pandemic," she stated. She also affirmed that Indonesia is a critical partner that has taught the world a lot about disaster risk reduction. "Your willingness to host this important gathering is a testament to theleading role that you (Indonesia) play in sustaining development and climate action," she remarked. Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Director Ricardo Mena lauded Indonesia as a country that is leading in the global efforts for disaster risk reduction. "This is a very important (effort), and I think this is where we think that Indonesia is leading in terms of the global efforts to reduce disaster risks," Ricardo Mena stated in a special interview with ANTARA here on Monday (May 23). Mena remarked that Indonesia has put forth a strong message about the importance of disaster risk reduction efforts by hosting the 2022 GPDRR. "We believe that Indonesia is giving a very strong message through the engagement and hosting of the GPDRR here in Bali. We are very thankful to the Indonesian Government for that," he remarked. The UNDRR director also highlighted Indonesia's leadership in adopting the long-term disaster risk reduction plan. "I think what I would like to highlight is that Indonesia is one of the few countries in the world that has adopted a very long term plan to reduce disaster risks," he remarked. "This is very important because if you want to really address the root causes, and you cannot do it in two, three, or five years. It is impossible, and we look and welcome very much the fact that Indonesia has a plan to reduce disaster risks that goes even beyond 2040," he added. To that end, Mena also encouraged other countries to follow Indonesia's steps in adopting long-term plans for disaster risk reduction. Indonesia hosts a series of meetings of the 7th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2022) in Bali on May 23-28, 2022. Image Attachments Links: Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=422164 Caption: President Joko Widodo (center), UN deputy secretary-general Amina Mohammed (fourth left), vice president of Zambia W.K. Mutale Nalumango (fourth right) take a picture with the head of National Agency for Disaster Management Suharyanto (left), special representative of the secretary-general for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori (second left), coordinating minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy (third left), president of the United Nations General Assembly Abdulla Shahida (third right), foreign affairs minister Retno Marsudi (second right), Bali governor Wayan Koster (right), and several delegations ahead of the opening ceremony of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2022 in Nusa Dua, Bali, Wednesday (May 25, 2022). The GPDRR is held in Bali, raising the theme of "From Risk to Resilience: Towards Sustainable Development for All in a COVID-19 Transformed World". ANTARA FOTO/Akbar Nugroho Gumay/foc. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826692/antarafoto_pembukaan_gpddr_250522_ak_1__2.jpg Leading global credit asset manager has deployed to date over $1.1B in structured, asset backed loans to FinTech companies disrupting traditional financial markets TEL AVIV, Israel, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Viola Credit , a global alternative credit asset manager providing customized credit solutions to technology companies and FinTech lenders, announced the final closing of the Viola Credit Alternative Lending Income Fund II (ALF II) with $700 million of investable capital including its flag ship fund and related managed accounts. ALF II will follow the strategy of its prior vintage and will provide minimally dilutive asset-based lending capital solutions to emerging and established global FinTech, PropTech, and InsurTech companies that are disrupting traditional financial markets. The FinTech sector gained significant momentum in 2021 with global FinTech funding reaching a record $132B and the global FinTech unicorn count hitting 235, up 108% from 2020. Financial markets are undergoing digital transformation giving rise to non-bank and alternative lending companies and in 2021 alone, FinTech Lenders originated in excess of $120 billion in loans. ALF II will continue to enjoy its robust network and deep long-standing relationships with the technology ecosystem to provide asset backed lending transactions for FinTech platforms to scale their origination business. The fund will partner with FinTech platforms across the US, Western Europe, UK, Australia, and New Zealand that disrupt traditional lending sectors. As of the final close, the fund has already called more than 40% of its capital commitments and plans to partner with 13-15 additional Fintech platforms. "We're excited to launch an additional Alternative Lending Income Fund," said RuthiFurman, Founder and General Partner at Viola Credit. "We've deployed over $1.1B to date under this strategy and have partnered with over 15 promising platforms. We're excited to launch an additional Alternative Lending Income Fund to continue supporting this growing FinTech ecosystem globally." Viola Credit is a long-term credit partner that can support the capital requirements of companies of all types and stages, from operational capital needs in supporting growth to asset-based lending needs to finance FinTech lenders. With deep banking, financial, and technology investment experience, the Viola Credit team has become the lender of choice to many promising companies globally. "Financial services are undergoing transformational shifts", said Ido Vigdor, General Partner at Viola Credit. "This fintech revolution, driven by acceleration of digital adoption and emergence of new business models, enables new forms of banking experience and consumer financial services, which requires securing of lending capital solutions to support growth. We pride ourselves on partnering with innovative FinTech platforms to nurture them as a company, help them build their products, and be an essential part of their go-to-market strategy." About Viola Credit Viola Credit, is a global credit investment manager focused on supporting the growth of the innovation economy. It's part of the Viola Group, Israel's largest technology investment house with over $4B in assets under management. Viola Credit provides customized credit solutions to global technology companies, including best-in-class FinTech, PropTech, and InsurTech companies that are disrupting traditional financial markets. Viola Credit's data-driven investment and risk management operations are key to providing unique solutions to its portfolio companies. For more information please visit: https://www.viola-group.com/fund/violacredit/ Media Contact Merav Meluban Viola meravm@viola-group.com +972 54 466 6365 JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of a market assessment report on the " Global AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market (Type (Monoclonal Antibodies, Vaccines, Recombinant Proteins), Application (Research And Discovery, Clinical Development, Manufacturing & Supply Chain And Other Subsegments), End-user (Biopharmaceutical manufacturers, Contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) or contract research organizations (CROs), Academic & government research institutes))- Trends, Industry Competition Analysis, Revenue and Forecast To 2030." According to the latest research by InsightAce Analytic, the Global AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market is valued at US$ 452.33 Million in 2021, and it is expected to reach US$ 16441.32 Million by 2030, with a CAGR of 49.3% during the forecast period of 2022-2030. Request for Sample Pages:https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/request-sample/1227 Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as the frontier technology most likely to have a breakthrough impact on the biopharmaceutical sector. Reasoning, knowledge representation, solution search, and machine learning are AI approach domains (ML) examples. It can aid in rational drug development, decision-making, choosing the optimum treatment for a patient, tailoring medicines, and maintaining clinical data for future drug development. AI can distinguish between hit and lead compounds in drug discovery, allowing speedier therapeutic target confirmation and structural design optimization. The FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) has issued recommendations and launched many efforts to encourage the use of AI in the drug discovery and development process. Artificial intelligence is becoming more popular in the biopharmaceutical industry, leading to market expansion. Additionally, rising drug research costs and increased knowledge of AI's ability to work are key factors driving market growth in the coming years. The market's growth is also being driven by a low failure rate of trials, and an abundance of software developers for drug discovery, and high demand for the software among big pharma & biotech companies and research institutes. Adopting AI solutions in the clinical trial process eliminates potential obstacles, reduces clinical trial cycle time, and improves productivity and accuracy. The higher cost of AI-based equipment, its applications, & software is the most notable challenges in this AI-based biopharmaceutical development market. Apart from this, a lack of data sets in drug discovery, the unavailability of skilled employees and the absence of regulations and ethics for using artificial intelligence in healthcare are market restraints for the forecasting period. Because of the growing software and services industries and funding for their development, Asia Pacific is anticipated to gain prominence in the forecasting period 2022-2030. Enquire Before Buying:https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/report/global-ai-in-biopharmaceutical-development-market-/1227 Prominent market players in the AI in the Biopharmaceutical development market are IBM Watson Health, Google (Alphabet Inc.), Concreto HealthAI, Nvidia Corporation, PathAI, Atomwise, Inc., Deep Genomics, Cloud Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ai-biopharma S.A.S., and Microsoft Corporation, among others, are some key players operating in the AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market. Key Developments in the market In Apr 2021 , Microsoft focused on healthcare AI with a $19.7B Nuance acquisition Microsoft will shell out $19.7 billion cash for Nuance. With Nuance's speech recognition and conversational AI software under its umbrella, Microsoft will expand its push to bring cloud-based AI tools to the healthcare industry on a broader scale. Microsoft focused on healthcare AI with a Nuance acquisition Microsoft will shell out cash for Nuance. With Nuance's speech recognition and conversational AI software under its umbrella, Microsoft will expand its push to bring cloud-based AI tools to the healthcare industry on a broader scale. In Apr 2021 , Nvidia collaborated with AstraZeneca, the University of Florida , on AI-driven drug discovery. This collaboration will build a model trained using Nvidia DGX SuperPOD, an AI supercomputer, that will allow researchers to evaluate billions of molecules for potential drug candidates faster. Nvidia collaborated with AstraZeneca, the , on AI-driven drug discovery. This collaboration will build a model trained using Nvidia DGX SuperPOD, an AI supercomputer, that will allow researchers to evaluate billions of molecules for potential drug candidates faster. In Jan 2020 , Concerto HealthAI announced an expansion of their existing Precision Oncology collaboration with Pfizer Oncology. The partnership is to advance Concerto HealthAI's use-case engineered Real-World Data (RWD) for various clinical development initiatives across breast, lung, prostate and renal cell carcinoma cancers, which will drive innovative new study designs non-interventional studies. , Concerto HealthAI announced an expansion of their existing Precision Oncology collaboration with Pfizer Oncology. The partnership is to advance Concerto HealthAI's use-case engineered Real-World Data (RWD) for various clinical development initiatives across breast, lung, prostate and renal cell carcinoma cancers, which will drive innovative new study designs non-interventional studies. In Oct 2019 , Novartis and Microsoft announced a collaboration to transform medicine with artificial intelligence. Novartis to establish an AI innovation lab to empower its associates to use AI across the business. Joint research activities will include co-working environments on Novartis Campus in Switzerland , Novartis Global Service Center in Dublin , and Microsoft Research Lab, tackling personalized therapies for macular degeneration, cell & gene therapy, and drug design. Market Segments Global AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market , by Type, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) Monoclonal Antibodies Vaccines Recombinant Proteins Global AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market , by Application, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) Research And Discovery Clinical Development Manufacturing & Supply Chain And Other Subsegments Global AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market , by End-user, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) Biopharmaceutical manufacturers Contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) or contract research organizations (CROs) Academic & government research institutes Global AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market , by Region, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa North America AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market , by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) U.S. Canada Europe AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market , by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) Germany France Italy Spain Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market , by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) India China Japan South Korea Australia & New Zealand Latin America AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market , by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market , by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) GCC Countries South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa For Customization @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/customisation/1227 Other Related Reports Published by InsightAce Analytic: Global Cloud-based Solutions for Drug Discovery, Development and Manufacturing Market Global Clinical Trials Software Market Global Oncology Informatics Market Why should one buy this report: To receive a comprehensive analysis of the prospects for the Global AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market To receive an industry overview and future trends of the AI in Biopharmaceutical Development market To analyze the AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market drivers and challenges To get information on the AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market size (Value US$ Mn) forecast to 2030 Significant investments, mergers & acquisitions in the AI in Biopharmaceutical Development Market industry About Us: InsightAce Analytic is a market research and consulting firm that enables clients to make strategic decisions. Our qualitative and quantitative market intelligence solutions inform the need for market and competitive intelligence to expand businesses. We help clients gain a competitive advantage by identifying untapped markets, exploring new and competing technologies, segmenting potential markets, and repositioning products. Our expertise is in providing syndicated and custom market intelligence reports with an in-depth analysis with key market insights in a timely and cost-effective manner. Contact Us: Priyanka Tilekar InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. Visit: www.insightaceanalytic.com Tel: +1 551 226 6109 Asia: +91 79 72967118 Email: info@insightaceanalytic.com Follow Us on LinkedIn @ bit.ly/2tBXsgS Follow Us On Facebook @ bit.ly/2H9jnDZ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1729637/InsightAce_Analytic_Logo.jpg WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Broadcom Inc. (AVGO), a developer of semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions, announced Thursday its agreement to acquire VMware, Inc. (VMW), an innovator in enterprise software, in around $61 billion cash-and-stock deal. In addition, Broadcom will assume $8 billion of VMware net debt. Under the deal terms, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, VMware shareholders will elect to receive either $142.50 in cash or 0.2520 shares of Broadcom common stock for each VMware share. The shareholder election will be subject to proration, resulting in around 50 percent of VMware's shares being exchanged for cash consideration and 50 percent for Broadcom stock. The transaction is expected to be completed in Broadcom's fiscal year 2023, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The deal is expected to add approximately $8.5 billion of pro forma EBITDA from the acquisition within three years post-closing. Based on the closing price of Broadcom common stock on May 25, the total $138.23 per-share consideration represents a 44 percent premium to the closing price of VMware common stock on May 20, the last trading day prior to media speculation regarding a potential transaction. Following the deal, the current Broadcom shareholders will own around 88 percent of the combined company on a fully diluted basis, and current VMware shareholders will own approximately 12 percent. In connection with the deal, Broadcom obtained commitments from a consortium of banks for $32 billion in new, fully committed debt financing. Following the deal closure, the Broadcom Software Group will rebrand and operate as VMware, incorporating Broadcom's existing infrastructure and security software solutions as part of an expanded VMware portfolio. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX BROADCOM-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - Galleon Gold Corp. (TSXV: GGO) (the "Company" or "Galleon Gold") is pleased to report the 2022 exploration drill program at its 100% owned West Cache Gold Project ("West Cache" or the "Project") in Timmins, Ontario has commenced with set up for the first drill hole underway. The initial 5,000-meter drill program will focus on high-priority drill targets identified during the Company's drill program in 2020-2021. Figure 1 shows the target areas in the sediment dominant stratigraphy near Zone #9 and the South Area, while Figure 2 provides a closer look at some of the significant Zone #9 and South Zone intercepts as they relate to this phase of drilling. R. David Russell, President and CEO of Galleon Gold, commented, "Two years ago when Galleon Gold acquired the West Cache Project, we had two main objectives: 1) to infill drill the known mineralization to confirm the geological continuity of the deposit and 2) to update the mineral resource and complete a PEA. I am very proud of the team for delivering on those goals, while also making the Zone #9 and South Zone discoveries. As we enter the next stage of development for West Cache, we have set equally ambitious targets. Based on the strength of the Project's initial PEA we will continue to aggressively advance our permitting initiatives, and pending approval, start the ramp for test mining in 2023. In concert with the important work on permits, we will continue to explore in and around known gold zones, while attempting to locate new mineralized areas and trends over the next few months." Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1014/125356_0eb1216cb4d0a94c_001full.jpg Figure 2 To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1014/125356_0eb1216cb4d0a94c_002full.jpg About the West Cache Gold Property In February 2022, the Company released an updated mineral resource estimate and a preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report (PEA). The Underground Mineral Resource at a 1.6 g/t Au cut off grade reported an Indicated Mineral Resource of 472,000 ounces (4,051 kt at an average grade of 3.63 g/t Au) and Inferred Mineral Resource of 1,088,000 ounces (11,788 kt at an average grade of 2.87 g/t Au). The Company's maiden PEA provided the first economic valuation for West Cache. The results demonstrate that the project could support a profitable underground mining operation; including Pre-Tax Net Present Value at a 5% discount rate ("NPV5%") of $378 million with Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 33.7%; 3.0 year payback at US$1,700/oz gold price. Importantly, the project is highly leveraged to the gold price as outlined in the Table 1 below. Table 1: Economic Sensitivity to Gold Prices (0.76 US$/C$). Pre-Tax After-Tax Price (US$/oz) NPV5% (C$ million) IRR (%) NPV5% (C$ million) IRR (%) 1,500 224.5 23.3 128.6 17.2 1,600 301.4 28.6 184.3 22.0 1,700 378.3 33.7 240.1 26.7 1,800 455.5 38.7 291.8 30.8 1,900 532.6 43.6 343.6 34.8 2,000 609.8 48.4 395.3 38.7 The Property is situated in the Western Porcupine Gold Camp along the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone ("DPFZ") within the Abitibi greenstone belt. The Property is predominantly underlain by Archean rocks of the Tisdale and Deloro Assemblages (metavolcanics), Porcupine Assemblage (metasediments) and quartz feldspar porphyry of the Porcupine Intrusive Suite. Paleoproterozoic diabase dikes trend north-south to northwest-southeast across the Property. The main break of the DPFZ trends east-west through the eastern part of the Property and is offset to the south in the western portion of the Property by the Mattagami River Fault. Gold mineralization is characterized by roughly east-west trending "shear" zones, dipping 60 to 80 to the north, and is associated with pyrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite. To-date, the quartz feldspar porphyry unit and associated contacts with the metasedimentary units have been the focus of exploration activities. In addition, large areas of Tisdale and Deloro metavolcanics have yet to be explored, including the Rusk contact zone, which is associated with gold mineralization at the Timmins West Complex, approximately 7 km southwest of the Property. Technical Content and Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by West Cache Gold Project Manager Leah Page, P. Geo. (APGNS #217) a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Galleon Gold PDAC Invitation Galleon Gold will be exhibiting at PDAC 2022 and the Company invites investors and shareholders to visit booth #2904 at the Investor Exchange in the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Center from June 13 to 15, 2022. The Company will also be exhibiting at the CME Mining show in Timmins, Ontario from June 8 to 9, 2022 at the McIntyre Community Complex, Arena 1, booth R2-12. About Galleon Gold Galleon Gold is an exploration and development company focused on advancing the West Cache Gold Project in Timmins, Ontario. The project is situated approximately 7 km northeast of Pan American Silver's Timmins West Mine and 14 km southwest of Newmont's Hollinger Mine. Since acquiring the project the Company has demonstrated significant resource growth while providing a strong valuation in its maiden Preliminary Economic Assessment. Permitting and baseline studies in support of a bulk sample are currently underway. Eric Sprott holds approximately 21% of the Company's outstanding common shares. For further information: Galleon Gold R. David Russell Chairman and CEO T. (416) 644-0066 info@galleongold.com www.galleongold.com Investor Relations Harbor Access Graham Farrell T. (416) 842-9003 Graham.Farrell@harbor-access.com Forward-Looking Statements This document contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of Galleon Gold with respect to its long-term strategy, proposed work, plans and other reports including the PEA for its projects. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the markets in which Galleon Gold operates. Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and resources, exploration results, expectations, plans, and objectives of Galleon Gold are forward-looking statements that involve various risks. The following are important factors that could cause Galleon Gold's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of mineral commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration, risks associated with development, construction and mining operations, risks related to infectious diseases, including Covid-19 and the uncertainty of future exploration activities and cash flows, and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Galleon Gold undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125356 Highlights include the launch of Spectronaut 16, which has undergone one of its most transformative upgrades to date, and innovations to Biognosys' proprietary TrueTarget and TrueDiscovery platforms for drug and biomarker discovery. Biognosys, a leading inventor and developer of mass spectrometry-based proteomics solutions, today announced the company is attending the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) Annual Conference from June 5 to June 9in Minneapolis (Minnesota, USA) where the company will launch Spectronaut 16 and present major scientific and technological advances of its proprietary proteomics research services. Biognosys will host 2 breakfast seminars introducing Spectronaut 16, 2 oral talks, 1 workshop panel, 5 scientific posters, and 1 poster collaboration. In addition, their team of scientific experts will be present at booth #306 to answer questions and demo software. Collectively, this presence demonstrates Biognosys' significant contributions to transforming life science and clinical research with next-generation proteomics, particularly for proteomics data analysis and drug and biomarker discovery. "Our major contribution to the ASMS scientific program once again highlights our relentless commitment to innovation in mass spectrometry-based proteomics," said Lukas Reiter, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer of Biognosys. "With our Spectronaut 16 release, we continue to drive progress in DIA proteomics, and our TrueDiscovery and TrueTarget presentations demonstrate the utility of our research platforms for drug discovery and clinical trials." Spectronaut 16 provides the deepest proteome coverage available At this year's ASMS conference, Biognosys will commemorate the 10th anniversary of its flagship software, Spectronaut, with the launch of Spectronaut 16 in two breakfast seminars. The first seminar, "Spectronaut 16: Reaching New Depths in DIA Proteomics with AI", takes place on June 6 with presentations from Oliver Bernhardt (Biognosys) and guest speaker Birgit Schilling (The Buck Institute). The second seminar, "Spectronaut: The Best Ally for Your Visionary Projects," on June 8 features guest speakers Jesper V. Olsen (University of Copenhagen) and Yansheng Liu (Yale University School of Medicine). Further, Biognosys will present three posters, demonstrating the significant improvements in Spectronaut 16 for direct searches on complex DIA data with reduced analysis time, deep-learning-based scoring in a dia-PASEF analysis pipeline, and score identifications with minimal computation time through the neural network DeepXIC that uses ion chromatograms to score for identifications. Biofluid biomarker discovery in neurodegenerative and chronic autoimmune diseases with TrueDiscovery Biofluids can often be collected less invasively and more frequently than tissue samples to provide an overview of what is happening in the organism. At ASMS, Biognosys will highlight the clinical utility of its proprietary proteomics platform TrueDiscovery for unbiased biomarker discovery in biofluids in two oral presentations on June 6. The first oral presentation explores proteomics data collected from CSF and plasma samples in a clinical study in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, aimed at detecting actionable biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study identified several proteomic biomarkers for healthy and pathological individuals, some of which were shared in both sample types. The second talk will show data from a clinical study in collaboration with Takeda on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Novel as well as previously reported biomarkers have been identified in plasma and could be used to stratify the disease state. Moreover, disease-specific biomarkers could be described to differentiate patients with renal involvement. Drug target identification in oncology with TrueTarget In a collaboration between Biognosys, AstraZeneca, and Pelago Bioscience, proteomics was used to identify and characterize the protein targets of a kinase inhibitor compound across the CDK family. At ASMS, Biognosys will present data demonstrating the performance of its proprietary TrueTarget platform to reveal the target and binding affinity of the drug and highlight complementarities with two other proteomics-based techniques. The presentation builds further on earlier data from this study, published in ACS Chemical Biology. Visit biognosys.com/asms2022 for a complete overview of Biognosys' presence at ASMS. About Spectronaut Spectronaut is Biognosys' flagship data analysis software for data-independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry (MS) based proteomics. The software employs advanced Search, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to translate data into actionable insights for life science research. Spectronaut enables reproducible and precise quantification of thousands of proteins in a single experiment and provides multidimensional insights into protein expression, function, and structure across all major biological species and sample types. For more information, visit spectronaut.com. About TrueDiscovery The Biognosys TrueDiscovery platform offers integrated proteomics solutions across the entire drug development pipeline. TrueDiscovery is powered by Hyper Reaction Monitoring (HRM) mass spectrometry, an advanced patented Data Independent Acquisition (DIA)-based protein quantification technology co-invented by tech pioneers at Biognosys. TrueDiscovery is the only platform that searches the complete proteome to quantify thousands of the most relevant proteins, including an unlimited number of proteoforms. The platform enables the deepest unbiased profiling of tissue and biofluids proteomes with unbeatable specificity on a large scale. The generated data are highly reproducible and easily transferrable to clinical assays. Studies can be performed in a GLP certified and GCP compliant environment. For more information, visit truediscovery.bio. About TrueTarget The Biognosys TrueTarget proteomics platform uniquely addresses the most pressing challenges in early drug discovery by identifying on- and off-targets to accelerate and de-risk drug development throughout the pipeline. TrueTarget is powered by Limited Proteolysis Mass Spectrometry (LiP-MS), a proprietary, patented chemoproteomics technology co-developed by Biognosys. TrueTarget is the only tool to probe structural changes across the complete proteome with peptide-level resolution, providing unique insights into compound binding and target identification. The platform enables elucidating mechanisms of action and revealing unanticipated toxicities. For more information, visit truetarget.bio. About Biognosys At Biognosys, we believe that deep proteome insights hold the key to breakthrough discoveries that can dramatically improve human health. We enable life science researchers and drug hunters to look at the proteome from every angle with our versatile portfolio of proprietary next-generation proteomics services, software, and kits, including the TrueDiscovery, TrueTarget, and TrueSignature platforms and flagship software Spectronaut. These solutions provide a multi-dimensional view of protein expression, function, and structure in all biological species and sample types. Biognosys' unique, patented technologies utilize high-resolution mass spectrometry to quantify thousands of proteins across thousands of samples with industry-leading precision, depth, and throughput. Through advanced data analytics, Biognosys translates data into actionable insights for R&D and clinical research. For more information, visit biognosys.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005037/en/ Contacts: Yves Serroen Head of Marketing and Communications Phone +41 (0) 79 571 09 21 yves.serroen@biognosys.com From left are Education Minister nominee Park Soon-ae, Health Minister nominee Kim Seung-hee and Drug Safety Minister nominee Oh Yu-kyoung. / Courtesy of presidential office By Nam Hyun-woo President Yoon Suk-yeol nominated two women as the education and health ministers, amid criticisms that his Cabinet is male-dominated. The presidential office announced Thursday that Yoon has named Park Soon-ae as the deputy prime minister and minister of education and Kim Seung-hee as the minister of health and welfare. Yoon also nominated Oh Yu-kyoung as the minister of food and drug safety, which, though it has the title of "minister," is at the deputy minister level. The designations came after Yoon's earlier nominations of the education and health ministers each withdrew their candidacies from consideration after facing allegations that that they abused their power to advance their children's academic careers. Education Minister nominee Park earned her doctoral degree in public administration at the University of Michigan, and is now a professor at Seoul National University. She was a member of Yoon's presidential transition committee, where she played a role in setting administrative initiatives. "Park understands the policy principles of the Yoon administration as she served on the presidential transition committee," the presidential office said in a statement. "The office believes she is the right figure to improve the inefficiencies of the education system and spearhead key educational policy goals of the government." Health Minister nominee Kim is a former lawmaker with expertise in medical, healthcare and drug policies. She earned her doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame in the U.S., and spent most of her career at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, becoming its minister in 2015 and 2016 during the Park Geun-hye administration. She was a lawmaker in the National Assembly from 2016 to 2020. "Kim is a medical and healthcare expert who led the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation and the Ministry of Food and Drug," the presidential office said. "In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, she have been offering various health and welfare policy options, and her experience and expertise will assist the government to achieve its healthcare and medical policy goals." Drug Safety Minister nominee Oh is the dean of Seoul National University's College of Pharmacy. She earned her Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences at the University at Buffalo. The nominations came after Yoon faced criticisms that his Cabinet is dominated by men. During a dinner with lawmakers, Tuesday, President Yoon said, "I was enlightened by the criticisms" and "will provide bold opportunities for women in government jobs." So far, he has appointed 16 ministers, three of which are women Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hyun-sook, Startups Minister Lee Young and Environment Minister Han Wha-jin or 19 percent of his Cabinet. When the education and health minister nominees are appointed after their confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, the number will increase to five, or 28 percent of Yoon's Cabinet. The drug safety ministry and its head are each called a "ministry" and "minister" in their official English titles, but the ministry is headed by a vice-minister-level figure. Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - Mayo Lake Minerals Inc. (CSE: MLKM) ('Mayo' or the 'Company') is pleased to report results received on March 18, 2022 for a soil sampling project completed between September 30 and October 5, 2022 on Mayo's Anderson-Davidson property (Figure 1). A total of 381 samples were collected from 376 separate sites. Two significant gold anomalies were well defined; herein termed the Norman Anomalies. One anomaly yielded soils up to 55ppb Au trending parallel to the Anderson Gold Trend (AGT) for a distance of 160m+; the anomaly is open to the southwest at the edge of the sampling grid. A second 600m long soil anomaly was marked by samples ranging from 13 to 49 ppb Au. Dr. Vern Rampton, President and CEO of Mayo, commented, "Following the receipt of the soil results, we completed a review of all the geophysical, geochemical and RC drilling completed by Mayo within the Anderson Gold Trend and immediate surrounding area, including the most recent soil survey at the Norman Anomalies location and an IP-Resistivity survey near the Owl-Anderson gold occurrence completed in July, 2021. We were able to conclude that the four anomalies are bona fide diamond drill targets (Figure 2). The Company has planned further prospecting and IP-Resistivity surveys this summer to maximize the diamond drilling efficiency at each prospect and some soil sampling to further extend and identify more anomalies within the Anderson Gold Trend and adjacent areas." He concluded "We are excited about the potential of these prospects within the 35 + square kilometre Anderson Gold Trend. We will also begin evaluating a comprehensive diamond drill program on the Anderson Gold Trend and adjacent terrain." About 2/3 of the soil samples (C-horizon) at Norman were collected on a grid with 90m spacing and 1/3 with 120m spacings. They were forwarded to the Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd (BMV) laboratory where 15g of each sample was analyzed by Aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS analysis (BMV AQ201) for 36 elements (Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Zn). BMV inserted appropriate duplicates, standards and blanks in each analytical run. Mayo has independently inserted sample duplicates at a rate of one per thirty-three collected samples. Figure 1. Norman Gold Anomalies (I) and gold anomaly and linear break in soils gold content (II) parallel to AGT primary structural trend. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5471/125336_793470be04ed3bcb_002full.jpg Figure 2. Significant drilling targets within the Anderson Gold Trend and adjacent area. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5471/125336_793470be04ed3bcb_004full.jpg Qualified Person (QP) Statement: Field work was directed by Tyrell Sutherland, M.Sc., P. Geo. This press release has been prepared by Vern Rampton, Ph.D., P. Eng. and Tyrell Sutherland in their capacities as QPs under the guidelines of N.I. 43-101. - END OF PRESS RELEASE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES For additional information contact: Vern Rampton, President & CEO; 613-836-2594; vrampton@mayolakeminerals.com Tyrell Sutherland, M.Sc., P. Geo., VP Exploration; 613-884-8332; tsutherland@mayolakeminerals.com Darrell Munro, BB.A, LL.B Corporate Administrator; (613) 836-2594; dmunro@mayolakeminerals.com About the Anderson Gold Trend (AGT): The AGT covers the eastern most part of Mayo's Anderson-Davidson property. It runs parallel to the Nelson Arm of Mayo Lake, trending to the northwest (~ 310 AZ). Towards Mayo Lake, its trend bends to a more westerly direction (~ 290 AZ). Although soil sampling has only covered a part of the ALB and adjacent terrain, four significant Au in soil anomalies have been found along the Trend. Scout RC drilling at the Elm-Anderson gold suggest that the gold veins are of orogenic mesothermal/epithermal origin and are oriented along numerous fractures and veins related to the Tombstone thrusting and related tectonism. The AGB lies within the Tombstone Plutonic Belt that is characterized by a highly tectonized and overthickened metasediment sequence leading to magma and fluid generation in the Mayo Lake area. About Mayo Lake Minerals Inc.: Mayo is actively engaged in the exploration and development of five precious metal projects in the Tombstone Plutonic Belt of the Tintina Gold Province. The properties cover 232 square kilometres in the Yukon's Mayo Mining District and lie within the traditional territory of the Na-Cho Nyak Dun First Nation. The Company has a history of eleven years of exploration in the Mayo area and is fully funded for its 2022 planned exploration campaign. The Company is presently focusing on its flagship Carlin-Roop silver project lying within the Keno Hill Silver District. The eastern sector of the Silver District has recently been the site of numerous silver discoveries by Metallic Minerals and the Mayo. Two active mines; Victoria Gold's Eagle Gold Mine and Alexco Resources' Keno Silver mines also lie near-by Mayo's properties in the Mayo Mining district. Cautionary statement: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which 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. There can be no guarantee that Mayo Lake will be able to obtain a public listing as scheduled in this document. Mayo Lake 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125336 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 27, 2022) - Daniel J. Russell announces today that on May 25, 2022 he acquired ownership of 2,000 common shares (the "Purchased Shares") in the capital of Synex Renewable Energy Corporation (TSX: SXI) (formerly, Synex International Inc.) (the "Issuer"), representing approximately 0.05% of the issued and outstanding common shares (the "Common Shares") in the capital of the Issuer (the "Acquisition"). The Purchased Shares were acquired through normal course purchases through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange for C$2.98 per Purchased Share in cash, for an aggregate amount equal to C$5,960. Prior to the Acquisition, Mr. Russell owned, or had control or direction over, 2,233,379 Common Shares and 24,000 options to purchase Common Shares ("Options"), representing approximately 55.94% of issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis. After the Acquisition, Russell owns, or has control of direction over, 2,235,379 Common Shares and 24,000 Options, representing approximately 55.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis. Mr. Russell acquired the Shares for investment purposes. Mr. Russell may from time to time acquire additional securities, dispose of some or all of the existing or additional securities or may continue to hold the securities of the Issuer. This press release is being issued pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues which requires a report to be filed under the Issuer's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) containing additional information respecting the foregoing matters. The Issuer's head office is located at 4248 Broughton Ave., Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 0A4. For inquiries or a copy of the related early warning report required under Canadian provincial securities legislation, a copy of which has also been filed on www.sedar.com, please contact: Daniel J. Russell 524 Locust Street Burlington, Ontario L7S 1V2 Telephone: 905-646-7545 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125659 Denver, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - CBD of Denver, Inc. (OTC Pink: CBDD), a cannabis roll-up company and owner of multi-brand cannabis eCommerce and marketing company mellow, is pleased to announce that mellow has signed an agreement with UK luxury CBD consumer brand OTO to act as their distribution partner in Asia. OTO, headquartered in London, is a premium positioned consumer CBD wellness brand, specialising in offering sophisticated products at the luxury end of the industry price spectrum. It has an extremely experienced management team, who place great value in the brand's messaging, positioning and product strategy. Mellow aims to provide the OTO brand experience through its mellow Asia division, which is operated out of the Hong Kong market, and which already operates a multi-brand CBD and Heath & Wellness eCommerce site, as well as a network of physical retail stores under the mellow banner. This agreement was signed in Q2 2022. "We are extremely excited to welcome the OTO brand to the mellow portfolio of brands in Hong Kong. This agreement will combine retail and technology/e-commerce distribution to enable mellow to continue the great work that the OTO team have achieved in other markets, and in doing so, will position OTO as the leading luxury CBD and wellness brand in the Asian markets. There is no other company present in the industry in Hong Kong with offering close to that of OTO. We are very pleased to be able to make this announcement, and we have much more in store ahead," said Paul Gurney, CEO of CBD of Denver. Tom Lorimer, Co-Founder and Global New Business Director of OTO, added, "We have very strong plans for the development of our brand in Asia and we are pleased to be able to partner with mellow to deliver on these plans. Hong Kong is often used as a springboard into the rest of Asia and is also a very strong luxury consumer market. This agreement cements our commitment to the brand and its growth potential in what is a nascent but very exciting consumer wellness environment." About mellow Mellow group operates as a multi-brand eCommerce Marketplace, a full-service digital & performance marketing agency, as well as a market expansion service into the Asian markets. Recently acquired by CBD of Denver, mellow is playing a key role in expanding the CBDD business revenue streams, as well as diversifying the brand portfolio, as part of a commercial roll-up strategy. About OTO OTO is a luxury lifestyle brand spanning CBD beverages, beauty, spa and wellbeing. OTO is a leader in the global premium CBD space with listings in luxury retailers, such as Harrods, Liberty and Selfridges, as well as five-star hotel groups, including Mandarin Oriental, Marriot, Ennismore and Langham. In using only pure CBD isolate, OTO is also able to easily, confidently and transparently navigate Hong Kong laws in relation to CBD and the zero THC policies that are enforced. About CBD of Denver, Inc. CBD of Denver, Inc. (OTC Pink: CBDD) a full-line Distributor of CBD and Cannabis flower and a producer of a full line of CBD oil and unique products sold in Switzerland and throughout Europe. CBD of Denver, Inc. is focused on using equity to acquire profitable assets at attractive valuations to create value for all our shareholders and is driven by a passion to improve lives and strengthen communities by unleashing the full potential of cannabis. Through our Rockflowr brands we have built a very strong European customer base by focusing on top quality products and meaningful customer relationships. Follow CBDD on Instagram: @SwissCBDTrading @Rockflowr @CBDofDenver_Inc @SwissGreenGrow @RockflowrRetail @ mello _talk Visit Mellow: www.mellow.store www.mellowasia.store CBD of Denver, Inc. and Rockflowr GmbH are now also on LinkedIn. Information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or future financial performance, involving known and unknown risks and you should not place undue reliance on these statements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events. We assume no obligation publicly about update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason. Investor Contact Todd McKnight RedChip Companies 1-800-733-2447 CBDD@redchip.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125408 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / Metallic Minerals (TSX.V:MMG)(OTCQB:MMNGF) ("Metallic Minerals", or the "Company") is pleased to report the final set of assay results from its 2021 drilling completed at the Company's 100%-owned, 166-square-kilometer Keno Silver Project located within the historic, high-grade Keno Hill silver district in Canada's Yukon Territory. These drill tests were targeted at extending high-grade silver-gold-lead-zinc mineralization at the Formo deposit in the West Keno target area, one of several advanced stage targets moving toward an initial NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate for the Keno Silver project. Highlights Drilling in 2021 and 2020 by Metallic Minerals at the Formo deposit intercepted both high-grade Keno-style Ag-Au-Pb-Zn veins and broader zones of potentially bulk mineable mineralization. FOR21-05 returned three intervals at over 1,000 g/t silver equivalent ("Ag Eq") from 92.7 m to 115.5 m for a total of 22.8 m grading 219.5 g/t Ag Eq including 0.5 m of 1,657.8 g/t Ag Eq with up to 17 g/t Au, 0.7 m of 1,408.8 g/t Ag Eq and 0.5 m of 1,649.9 g/t Ag Eq . returned three intervals at over from 92.7 m to 115.5 m for a total of including . FOR21-06 intercepted multiple zones of mineralization with 4.6 m of 938.3 g/t Ag Eq including 3,229.9 g/t Ag Eq over 1.0 m within a broader zone of 11.4 m grading 413.7 g/t Ag Eq. The Formo target area hosts multiple parallel vein structures and mineralized zones within a broader structural envelope that remains open to expansion and shows excellent opportunities for resource delineation. Results from 2021 drilling intercepted extremely high grades, including FOR21-05 returning three intervals over 1,000 g/t silver Ag Eq and FOR21-06 with 3,229.9 g/t Ag Eq over 1.0 m within an interval of 4.6 m of 938.3 g/t Ag Eq (see Table 1 below). Both zones were encountered at shallow depths of less than 150 m down hole and these intersections extend high-grade silver mineralization below the 2020 drilling and the historically productive Formo mine. Geophysical and geochemical surveys, enhanced by the 2021 fieldwork, demonstrate significant resource potential opportunities in the Formo target area. The Formo vein structure lies at the intersection of a north-easterly extension of the Bermingham-Calumet and the Elsa vein system, which are hosts to the some of the largest historic producing mines and current resources and reserves in the Keno Hill silver district (see Figure 1). The Formo Target remains open for expansion along trend and down dip and has several untested surface targets. Metallic Minerals President, Scott Petsel, stated, "These exciting results from this most recent follow-up drilling program at the Formo target area in the western Keno Hill District, combined with the exceptional 2020 drill results, demonstrate the potential to delineate significant, high-grade resources at the Keno Silver project. Our team has done remarkable work to build on our understanding of the geology and the important controls to mineralization in the highly productive Keno Hill silver district." "As we prepare to embark on our upcoming exploration campaign, we recognize the importance of moving toward the definition of an inaugural resource estimates at Keno Silver, with Formo and Caribou being the two most advanced in that regard. We are also very focused on and enthusiastic about conducting robust follow-up work on our recent discoveries of both high-grade silver veins and bulk mineable mineralization in the East Keno area. We expect to provide updates with respect to planned programs at both Keno Silver and the La Plata project in Colorado over the coming weeks and look forward to meeting with investors during the upcoming Prospectors and Developers Conference in Toronto in mid-June." Upcoming Events PDAC 2022 - Metallic will join fellow Metallic Group members at PDAC in Toronto, May 13-15 (Booth IE2851). Yukon Property Tours & Conference - Metallic will be in Dawson City June 20-24 for the 2022 Yukon Property Tours Figure 1. Keno Silver Project West Keno Exploration Program and Formo Target The Western Keno Hill district is host to the largest historic production and current resources in the prolific Keno Hill silver district. The Formo target is located at the intersection of a north-easterly structural zone extending from the Hector-Calumet mine, which was the largest producer in the district producing nearly 100 million ounces of silver and the Elsa structural trend, which was the second largest silver producer in the district (see Figure 2). The historic Formo mine produced silver at various times since the 1930s from high-grade vein structures that graded an average of over 5,000 g/t silver1. The majority of this historic production came from an open pit located alongside of the Silver Trail highway between the Elsa townsite and Keno City. Metallic Minerals' exploration efforts at the Formo target area have integrated recent drilling with surface and underground sampling into a 3D geologic model, along with multi-spectral studies and geophysical surveys covering the area (see Figure 3). In addition to the mineralization at the known Formo deposit, two new surface targets have been identified through surface soil and rock sampling along the same structural corridors that show potential to host high-grade and bulk tonnage Keno-style Ag-Au-Pb-Zn. The opportunity to significantly expand the known mineralization defined from underground sampling and surface drilling, as well as the potential to define new high-grade deposits along the main mineralized structural corridor, positions Formo as a top priority target for near-term resource definition at the Keno Silver project. Table 1 - Significant Drill Results from 2020-2021 at the Formo Target Area DDH Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) Ag Eq (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%) FOR21-05 92.7 115.5 22.8 219.5 69 0.4 0.30 2.07 94.6 95.1 0.5 1,657.8 25 17.0 0.01 0.44 98.8 108 9.2 430.5 164 0.1 0.69 4.85 102.4 103.1 0.7 1,408.8 361 0.0 2.17 20.09 107 107.5 0.5 1,649.9 421 0.1 1.53 24.20 FOR21-06 96 97 1.0 221.8 155 0.0 0.45 1.03 111.6 123 11.4 413.7 234 0.0 1.97 2.07 114.4 119 4.6 938.3 528 0.1 4.48 4.82 116 117 1.0 3,229.9 1,978 0.4 13.09 14.97 121.2 123 1.8 202.8 128 0.0 1.00 0.76 FOR-20-001 50.9 57 6.1 284.5 218 0.0 0.3 1.14 including 50.9 53.95 3.05 447.5 369 0.0 0.11 1.52 FOR-20-002 49.45 52.3 2.85 48 22 0.0 0.18 0.39 FOR-20-003 96 100.1 4.1 2,536.0 1,165 0.0 21.74 11.32 including 96 99 3.0 3,425.9 1,568 0.0 29.45 15.35 FOR-20-004 89.8 95.9 6.1 367.6 225 0.0 2.04 1.35 including 91.8 93.7 1.9 698.4 454 0.0 3.48 2.32 including 93.2 93.7 0.5 1,083.6 601 0.0 7.33 4.25 FOR-20-005 104.76 105.45 0.69 365.0 146 0.0 1.32 3.52 152.17 152.67 0.5 85.5 6 0.4 0.01 0.76 FOR-20-006 137.63 139.78 2.15 740.6 332 0.0 3.06 6.04 including 139.13 139.78 0.65 2,255.9 1,001 0.1 8.92 18.92 FOR-20-007 98.1 98.65 0.55 77 12 0.0 0.12 1.2 107.65 108.15 0.5 86.1 46 0.2 0.24 0.34 125.55 126.05 0.5 75.5 1 0.2 0 1.23 FOR-20-008 116.45 116.95 0.5 289.2 178 0.1 2.2 0.42 including 168.6 169.6 1.0 79.2 57 0.0 0.25 0.25 FOR-20-009 69.7 70.14 0.44 67.4 15 0.0 0.21 0.91 113.2 113.7 0.5 211.6 26 0.4 0.06 3 FOR-20-011 55.3 59.7 4.4 75.6 3 0.0 0.05 0.04 including 57.7 58.6 0.9 307.7 195 0.0 2.79 0.1 Silver equivalent (Ag Eq) values assume Ag $19/oz, Pb $1.05/lb, Zn $1.30/lb, Au $1,800/oz and 100% metallurgical recovery. Sample intervals are based on measured drill intersect lengths and are believed to be representative of true widths. Figure 2 - West Keno Plan Map Figure 3 - Formo Vein Long Section (Looking NW) About Metallic Minerals Metallic Minerals Corp. is a growth-stage exploration company, focused on high-grade silver and gold projects in underexplored, brownfields mining districts of North America. Our objective is to create shareholder value through a systematic, entrepreneurial approach to exploration in the Keno Hill silver district, La Plata silver-gold-copper district, and Klondike gold district through new discoveries and advancing resources to development. Metallic Minerals has consolidated the second-largest land position in the historic Keno Hill silver district of Canada's Yukon Territory, directly adjacent to Alexco Resource Corp's operations, with nearly 300 million ounces of high-grade silver in past production and current M&I resources. In addition, exploration at the recently acquired La Plata silver-gold-copper project in southwestern Colorado is targeting a silver and gold-enriched copper porphyry and adjacent high-grade silver and gold epithermal systems. The Company also continues to add new production royalty leases on its holdings in the Klondike gold district in the Yukon. All three districts have seen significant mineral production and have existing infrastructure, including power and road access. Metallic Minerals is led by a team with a track record of discovery and exploration success on several major precious and base metal deposits, as well as having large-scale development, permitting and project financing expertise. About the Metallic Group of Companies The Metallic Group is a collaboration of leading precious and base metals exploration and development companies, with a portfolio of large, brownfields assets in established mining districts adjacent to some of the industry's highest-grade producers of silver and gold, platinum and palladium, and copper. Member companies include Metallic Minerals in the Yukon's high-grade Keno Hill silver district and La Plata silver-gold-copper district of Colorado, Granite Creek Copper in the Yukon's Minto copper district, and Group Ten Metals in the Stillwater PGM-nickel-copper district of Montana and Kluane district in the Yukon. The founders and team members of the Metallic Group include highly successful explorationists formerly with some of the industry's leading explorer/developers and major producers. With this expertise, the companies are undertaking a systematic approach to exploration and development using new models and technologies to facilitate discoveries in these proven, but under-explored, mining districts. Members of the Metallic Group have been recognized as recipients of awards for excellence in environmental stewardship demonstrating commitment to responsible resource development and appropriate ESG practices. The Metallic Group is headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and its member companies are listed on the Toronto Venture, US OTCQB and Frankfurt stock exchanges. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Website: mmgsilver.com Email: cackerman@mmgsilver.com Phone: 604-629-7800 Toll Free: 1-888-570-4420 Qualified Person The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding exploration projects on Metallic Minerals' mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Scott Petsel, P.Geo., President, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Quality Assurance / Quality Control All samples were assayed by 36 Element Aqua Regia Digestion ICP-MS methods at Bureau Veritas labs in Vancouver. with sample preparation in Whitehorse, Yukon and geochemical analysis in Vancouver, British Columbia. Samples with over limit silver and gold were re-analyzed using a 30-gram fire assay fusion with a gravimetric finish. Over-limit lead and zinc samples were analyzed by multi-acid digestion and atomic absorption spectrometry. All results have passed the QAQC screening by the lab and the company utilized a quality control and quality assurance protocol for the project, including blank, duplicate, and standard reference samples. Forward-Looking Statements Forward Looking Statements: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, and future plans and objectives of the company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Metallic Minerals 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. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Metallic Minerals and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedar.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Metallic Minerals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/702799/Metallic-Minerals-Drills-46-Meters-of-983-gt-Silver-Equivalent-at-the-Keno-Silver-Project-in-Yukon-Canada VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / Huntsman Exploration Inc. (TSXV:HMAN)(OTC PINK:BBBMF) (the "Company" or "Huntsman") is pleased to provide an update on the 5,000 m drilling program at Company's wholly owned Canegrass Nickel Project in Western Australia. 2022 Drill Program Update RC drill program of approximately 1,500m is complete with visually encouraging results received to date and all holes are pending assays which are due in the coming weeks RC drill targets include Bonecrusher, Saintly, Tulloch, Tobin Bronze and Sunline which span across an approximate strike length of 2.5 km (Figure 2) The Bonecrusher targets intersected an 18 m wide zone of pyroxenite/gabbro with disseminated/stringer sulphides predominately pyrrhotite throughout . The zone is proximal to a DHEM target modelled from drill hole BBRC010 The Saintly target has yielded numerous magnetite-rich horizons with sulphides The Tulloch target has displayed the same geology encountered in previous exploration programs, while testing the northern extent of the mineralization The Tobin Bronze target has intersected a shear zone that may be the source of the EM anomaly The Sunline target has also encountered similar geology that provided positive results in previous exploration programs and is designed to test the zones at depth Diamond Drilling program of approximately 3,500 m is complete with the initial targets at the EM Platform hole, which will be utilized after drilling for further geophysical downhole surveys The EM Platform hole has been highly encouraging to date with recent drilling intercepting several continuous broad zones of interpreted host nickel mineralization from 120 m to 270 m depth, demonstrating excellent initial continuity Challenging market conditions for assay turn around time (TAT) continues to persist with a current 9-12-week TAT, as Huntsman awaits all its diamond drill assays currently Scott Patrizi, President and CEO for Huntsman commented, "The work across the Canegrass Project proceeded as planned with few issues or delays. Visual results to date have been encouraging and I look forward to providing further updates upon receipt of assays." Previous Drill Program Highlights: Notable 2018 Drill Intercepts (Figures 1 & 2): (Tulloch BBDD002) 4.9 m @ 1.33% Ni, 1.26% Cu and 0.10 % Co. (Winx BBRC001) 14.0 m @ 1.17% Ni, 0.88% Cu and 0.05 Co from 65.0 m, including 1.0 m of 2.70% Ni, 0.23% Cu and 0.12% Co. (Sunline BBDD001) 0.57 m @ 3.07% Ni, 0.62% Cu and 0.24% Co from 144.1 m Drill Intercepts (Figures 1 & 2): Notable 2021 Drill Intercepts include drillhole BBDD009 results that identified 41.1 m of favourable host rock with two distinct mineralized horizons The first intercept started at 278.9 m and included higher-grade intervals of 1.0 m @ 2.8% Ni, 0.1% Cu, 0.15% Co 0.11 g/t Pt and 0.21 g/t Pd, 0.7 m @ 2.3 % Cu, 0.5% Ni, 0.04% Co, 0.33 g/t Pt and 0.04 g/t Pd 2.0 m @ 1.8% Ni, 0.5% Cu, 0.11% Co, 0.22 g/t Pt and 0.17 g/t Pd. The second mineralized horizon occurs at 307.5 m downhole and intersected two higher grade intersections of 3.1 m @ 2.2% Ni, 0.2% Cu, 0.15% C, 0.15 g/t Pt and 0.21 g/t Pd, and 1.1 m @ 0.9%Ni, 5.7% Cu, .07% Co, 0.11 g/t Pt and 0.05 g/t Pd (Figure 3) Drill Intercepts include drillhole BBDD009 results that identified Additional 2021 RC results from the Tulloch zone include: BBRC0013 returned: 3.0 m @ 0.88% Ni, 0.4% Cu and 0.07% Co from 91.0 m downhole BBRC014 returned: 3.0 m @ 1.0% Ni, 0.58% Cu and 0.09% Co from 139.0 m downhole 2022 Exploration Strategy The Canegrass Project is situated in the Windimurra Intrusive Complex within a favourable geological setting and multiple mineralized horizons in favourable host rocks. The Project is not presently geologically constrained and offers exceptional exploration potential. The project has only been explored approximately 20% out of the total 7 km strike length of the mineralized shear zone. The potential for the current zones to be connected along strike and at depth is strong, and Huntsman plans to exploit the gaps in the 2022 and upcoming exploration programs. The current 2022 exploration program is designed to take aggressive step outs on it already existing mineralized zones delineated by the 2018 and 2021 drill programs. The Canegrass project has over 7 km of strike along a proven mineralized zone with 5 high priority targets contributing to 2.5 km in the northern part of the project, which are Bonecrusher, Saintly, Tulloch, Tobin Bronze, and Sunline (Figure 2). Building on the existing findings Huntsman believes the zones have strong continuity along strike and at depth. These targets will be exploited with both RC and Diamond drilling drillholes to better define and understand the large-scale system. Utilizing the holes from our 2022 drill program will allow for additional downhole geophysical surveys that have helped in the past discover new mineralized lenses at Canegrass. Figure 1: Modelled EM Conductor and highlights from previous drilling campaigns Figure 2: Key Targets at the Canegrass project Figure 3. Core sample of high-grade copper and nickel from BBDD009 at the Tulloch zone - assayed returned 1.1 m @ 0.9% Ni, 5.7% Cu, 0.07% Co, 0.11 g/t Pt and 0.05 g/t Pd Qualified Person The technical content of this news release with respect to Canegrass has been reviewed and approved by Nathan Tribble, P.Geo., a director of the Company and a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101. The qualified person has not yet visited the Canegrass Project and therefore has not yet verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the information or opinions contained in the written disclosure. About Huntsman Exploration Inc. Huntsman is a mineral exploration company focused on the exploration and development of the Canegrass Nickel Sulphide Project and Western Yilgarn Projects in Western Australia under the Company's Huntsman Nickel division, and the exploration and development of the Company's gold projects under the Huntsman Gold division, specifically the Baxter Spring historical gold discovery in Nevada and the Flint property in Idaho. On Behalf of the Board of Huntsman Exploration Inc. Scott Patrizi President and Chief Executive Officer For more information, please contact 1-855-584-0160 or info@huntsmanx.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange nor their Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements: Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainness and other factors that may cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements SOURCE: Huntsman Exploration Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/702742/Canegrass-Drilling-Update-at-its-Ni-Cu-Co-PGE-Project-in-Western-Australia NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Massive Multiple-Input, Multiple Output (mMIMO) is the key technology of 5G, and network operators are actively deploying 5G to provide superior experience to both consumers and the enterprise. 5G revenue is dominated by massive MIMO and Asia Pacific generates 60% of the total revenue in the world market. According to global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, by 2027, there will be 41 million mMIMO deployments worldwide, reaching revenue of US$43 billion, representing 35% of the total revenue in outdoor infrastructure. Furthermore, deployment will be led by Asia Pacific due to the large adoption in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. "Network operators around the world are actively deploying mMIMO and there is regional difference in mMIMO deployments. 5G in China initially started with dense urban areas so they were mainly deploying mMIMO in 64T64R configuration. Since the 2021 move toward the suburbs, the 32T32R mMIMO configuration became preferred. The semiconductor shortage may be another contributing factor. Europe mainly deploys mMIMO in 32T32R configuration as they prioritize simple site migration and the high-power consumption associated with 64T64R," explains Fei Liu, 5G & Mobile Network Infrastructure Industry Analyst at ABI Research. "Due to space and weight constraints, South Korea and Japan favor 32T32R mMIMO. The U.S. operators are aggressively deploying 64T64R mMIMO as 5G in the United States still focuses on dense urban areas. 64T64R is the primary use in the Middle East region and this configuration is expected to the adopted in Latin America as well." The fast-growing power consumption of 5G is burdening network operators with high energy costs and they are demanding equipment that is more energy efficient. "PAs (Power Amplifiers) represent up to 60% of the mMIMO power consumption with high traffic load," Liu says. "Therefore, vendors switch from LDMOSs (Laterally Diffused Metal-oxide Semiconductors) to GaN (Gallium Nitride) for PAs to meet the requirement of high-output power and lower energy consumption for 5G massive MIMO. The evolution of the amplifiers could promise a 5% improvement in energy efficiency every year." These findings are from ABI Research's Indoor, Outdoor and IoT Network Infrastructure market data report. This report is part of the company's 5G & Mobile Network Infrastructure research service, which includes research, data, and analyst insights. Market Data spreadsheets are composed of deep data, market share analysis, and highly segmented, service-specific forecasts to provide detailed insight where opportunities lie. About ABI Research ABI Research is a global technology intelligence firm delivering actionable research and strategic guidance to technology leaders, innovators, and decision makers around the world. Our research focuses on the transformative technologies that are dramatically reshaping industries, economies, and workforces today. ABI Research?????????????,?????????????? ?1990???,????????????????,????,?????????????????????????? ???????????????? For more information about ABI Research's services, contact us at +1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific or visit www.abiresearch.com. Contact Info: Global Deborah Petrara Tel: +1.516.624.2558 pr@abiresearch.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1471031/ABI_Research_Logo.jpg Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. (TSXV: PEMC) (OTCQB: PEMSF) ("Pacific Empire", "PEMC" or the "Company"), a British Columbia copper explorer, is pleased to provide an exploration update and to report that it has retained Atlas Drilling Ltd. of Kamloops British Columbia for diamond drilling at its Jean Marie property this summer. In addition, the Company is pleased to announce that it has finalized drill targets at its flagship Jean Marie copper porphyry project, located in north-central British Columbia. During 2021, PEMC completed a comprehensive exploration program at Jean Marie that was designed to incorporate all existing historical data on the property with data collected during the 2020 and 2021 exploration programs. As a result, PEMC has delineated 2 high priority drill targets for diamond drilling during the 2022 exploration season. Brad Peters, President and CEO of Pacific Empire commented, "The Jean Marie project has drill-proven potential to host a significant copper discovery. Our initial objective is to test below shallow historic drilling at Target 1 where new geophysics suggests this zone extends at depth, dipping to the east. Our interpretation is that there is a copper porphyry centre at depth and that intervals encountered in shallow drilling bodes well for high grades at depth. One of the most intriguing targets is Target 2 which is the location of the most significant geochemical anomaly on the property. Our work during 2021 suggests this anomaly is till transported therefore, rather than focusing on the centre, our priority target is the northern margin of the geochemical anomaly. It will be exciting to drill-test this sizeable anomaly and we look forward to cost-effectively advancing Jean Marie and appreciate the project's location, ease of access and nearby infrastructure." Target 1 Target 1 is located in the area of the historical A and B Zones. Although previous drilling at both of these zones encountered widespread copper mineralization, drilling was shallow and the area between was only tested with three shallow holes. Of particular importance in this area is the presence of a mineralized hydrothermal breccia that was encountered in drill hole J97-11 and occurred within an interval that graded 1.19% copper, and 5.74 g/t silver over 27 metres. Drilled to a depth of only 276 metres, J97-11 is one of the deepest holes on the property and the presence of a mineralized brecciated intrusion suggests that there is the potential for a mineralized hydrothermal system at depth in this area. Cross Section Target 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5412/125369_d1bfbec9542a3bd4_001full.jpg Plan View of Target Areas 1 & 2 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5412/125369_d1bfbec9542a3bd4_003full.jpg Target 2 The area of Target 2 is immediately to the northwest of the most significant copper/molybdenum soil anomaly on the property. This geochemical anomaly is characterized by a large number of samples greater than 1000 ppm copper and 100 ppm molybdenum in till over 3 km length. The center of this soil geochemical anomaly was drilled in the 1970's, only one hole returned significant copper mineralization (JPH74-15) averaging 0.2% copper over the entire length of the hole. This hole is the closest hole drilled to PEMC's interpreted bedrock source of copper mineralization. The LiDAR survey and surficial mapping completed by PEMC during 2021 clearly demonstrate that the till was transported with the ice flowing from west to east, pointing to a bedrock source of mineralization at the head of the geochemical anomaly. This area has never been drill tested. Plan View of Target 2 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5412/125369_d1bfbec9542a3bd4_004full.jpg Summary of Work Completed During 2021 2021 saw the first high-resolution, magnetic gradient, radiometric, and VLF-EM airborne geophysical survey completed at Jean Marie. This was followed up with a LiDAR survey and acquisition of high-resolution satellite imagery. Using the LiDAR data and high-resolution imagery, a surficial mapping program was completed by Quaternary Geology expert, Derek Turner. Results from this work provided detailed ice flow direction indicators which were then incorporated into PEMC's surface geochemical analysis. A detailed review of historical drill core was completed, in addition to the collection of over 600 soil geochemical samples. The land position at Jean Marie was expanded from 7,357 hectares to over 12,600 hectares. About Jean Marie The Jean Marie property is a copper-molybdenum-silver-gold porphyry prospect located 50 km south of Northwest Copper's Kwanika Copper-Gold deposit and 50 km west of Centerra Gold's Mt. Milligan Copper-Gold Mine in central BC. The property covers over 12,000 hectares and has multiple mineralized zones which are open for expansion with drilling. Drill results demonstrate kilometer-scale base and precious metal mineralization over a large, under-explored property with multiple untested diamond-drill targets. Drilling in the 1990's returned near surface intercepts of up to 244m of 0.28% copper, 0.007% molybdenum and 1.1 g/t silver, in a broad area located close to the pluton, volcanic contact. Two of the holes intercepted a distinct quartz breccia which returned up to 27 metres of 1.19% copper, and 5.74 g/t silver. Drilling was limited to a maximum depth of 288 metres below surface and mineralization remains unbounded at depth and along strike to the NW and SE. Of the 96 holes drilled on the property since the 1970's 76 are less than 130 metres in depth with numerous short holes that were mineralized over the entire length. Jean Marie Project Location To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5412/125369_d1bfbec9542a3bd4_005full.jpg About Atlas Drilling Ltd. Atlas Drilling Ltd is a large and well-respected drill contractor located in Kamloops, BC, Canada. Atlas Drilling Ltd. has been servicing drill projects in British Columbia for over twenty five years. It is full service drill company with a large amount of support equipment including bulldozers, skidders, excavators, water trucks and truck-trailer for transporting equipment. Atlas Drilling has a helicopter to transport their crew in and out of job sites that are not accessible by trucks. Qualified Person Thomas Hawkins, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration for the Company, serves as a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed the scientific and technical information in this news release, approving the disclosure herein. About Pacific Empire Pacific Empire is a copper exploration company based in Vancouver, British Columbia and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PEMC. The Company's strong portfolio of gold-enriched copper projects in British Columbia, is the culmination of perseverance through one of the longest bear markets in the resource industry. British Columbia is a "Green" copper jurisdiction with abundant hydroelectric power, access and infrastructure in close proximity to the end market. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, "Brad Peters" President and Chief Executive Officer Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. Tel: +1-604-356-6246 brad@pemcorp.ca www.pemcorp.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers, directors or promoters with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume and the additional risks identified the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125369 26 May 2022 VOLTA FINANCE LIMITED (VTA / VTAS) Notification of Transactions of Directors/Persons Discharging Managerial Responsibility and Connected Persons On 24 May 2022, Mr Paul Meader, Director and Chairman of the Board of the Company, transferred 3,130 shares in the Company to his wife, Sarah Kingwell. Following this transaction the total interests in the Company of Mr Meader (and his Closely Associated Persons) remain unchanged at 48,175 shares, representing 0.13% of the issued shares in the Company. The below notification, made in accordance with the requirements of article 19.3 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation, gives further details: 1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a) Name 1) Paul Meader 2) Sarah Kingwell 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status 1) Director and Chairman 2) PCA b) Initial notification /Amendment Initial Notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name Volta Finance Limited b) LEI 2138004N6QDNAZ2V3W80 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Identification code Ordinary Shares ISIN: GB00B1GHHH78 b) Nature of the transaction Transfer from Paul Meader to Sarah Kingwell, spouse c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s) Nil 3,130 d) Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price 3,130 Nil e) Date of the transaction 24 May 2022 f) Place of the transaction London CONTACTS For the Investment Manager AXA Investment Managers Paris Serge Demay serge.demay@axa-im.com +33 (0) 1 44 45 84 47 Company Secretary and Administrator BNP Paribas Securities Services S.C.A, Guernsey Branch guernsey.bp2s.volta.cosec@bnpparibas.com +44 (0) 1481 750 853 Corporate Broker Cenkos Securities plc Andrew Worne Daniel Balabanoff +44 (0) 20 7397 8900 ***** ABOUT VOLTA FINANCE LIMITED Volta Finance Limited is incorporated in Guernsey under The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities. Volta's home member state for the purposes of the EU Transparency Directive is the Netherlands. As such, Volta is subject to regulation and supervision by the AFM, being the regulator for financial markets in the Netherlands. Volta's investment objectives are to preserve capital across the credit cycle and to provide a stable stream of income to its shareholders through dividends. Volta seeks to attain its investment objectives predominantly through diversified investments in structured finance assets. The assets that the Company may invest in either directly or indirectly include, but are not limited to: corporate credits; sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt; residential mortgage loans; and, automobile loans. The Company's approach to investment is through vehicles and arrangements that essentially provide leveraged exposure to portfolios of such underlying assets. The Company has appointed AXA Investment Managers Paris an investment management company with a division specialised in structured credit, for the investment management of all its assets. ***** ABOUT AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a multi-expert asset management company within the AXA Group, a global leader in financial protection and wealth management. AXA IM is one of the largest European-based asset managers with 2,460 professionals and 887 billion in assets under management as of the end of December 2021. ***** This press release is published by AXA Investment Managers Paris ("AXA IM"), in its capacity as alternative investment fund manager (within the meaning of Directive 2011/61/EU, the "AIFM Directive") of Volta Finance Limited (the "Volta Finance") whose portfolio is managed by AXA IM. This press release is for information only and does not constitute an invitation or inducement to acquire shares in Volta Finance. Its circulation may be prohibited in certain jurisdictions and no recipient may circulate copies of this document in breach of such limitations or restrictions. This document is not an offer for sale of the securities referred to herein in the United States or to persons who are "U.S. persons" for purposes of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or otherwise in circumstances where such offer would be restricted by applicable law. Such securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration from the Securities Act. Volta Finance does not intend to register any portion of the offer of such securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of such securities in the United States. ***** This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The securities referred to herein are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance. ***** This press release contains statements that are, or may deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "anticipated", "expects", "intends", "is/are expected", "may", "will" or "should". They include the statements regarding the level of the dividend, the current market context and its impact on the long-term return of Volta Finance's investments. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Volta Finance's actual results, portfolio composition and performance may differ materially from the impression created by the forward-looking statements. AXA IM does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements. Any target information is based on certain assumptions as to future events which may not prove to be realised. Due to the uncertainty surrounding these future events, the targets are not intended to be and should not be regarded as profits or earnings or any other type of forecasts. There can be no assurance that any of these targets will be achieved. In addition, no assurance can be given that the investment objective will be achieved. The figures provided that relate to past months or years and past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance or construed as a reliable indicator as to future performance. Throughout this review, the citation of specific trades or strategies is intended to illustrate some of the investment methodologies and philosophies of Volta Finance, as implemented by AXA IM. The historical success or AXA IM's belief in the future success, of any of these trades or strategies is not indicative of, and has no bearing on, future results. The valuation of financial assets can vary significantly from the prices that the AXA IM could obtain if it sought to liquidate the positions on behalf of the Volta Finance due to market conditions and general economic environment. Such valuations do not constitute a fairness or similar opinion and should not be regarded as such. Editor: AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS PARIS, a company incorporated under the laws of France, having its registered office located at Tour Majunga, 6, Place de la Pyramide - 92800 Puteaux. AXA IMP is authorized by the Autorite des Marches Financiers under registration number GP92008 as an alternative investment fund manager within the meaning of the AIFM Directive. ***** The OPEN Foundation invites you to the Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research this September, featuring the world's best experts on psychedelic science and therapy. AMSTERDAM, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The OPEN Foundation (https://open-foundation.org?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ICPRMayPressRelease), a European non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing psychedelic research and the responsible integration of psychedelics into science, healthcare, and society since 2007, is proud to announce the 5th edition of its pioneering and sought-after Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research ( ICPR (https://icpr-conference.com?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ICPRMayPressRelease)), taking place on September 22-24, 2022 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. ICPR 2022 will showcase the latest findings in psychedelic science, novel approaches in psychedelic therapy, and feature developments in policy, consciousness research, neuroscience, philosophy, and much more. Research participant perspectives are featured prominently, and experts will discuss issues around ethics, investment, and the hype surrounding psychedelics. "Psychedelics have never been hotter," said Joost Breeksema, the executive director of OPEN Foundation and the organiser of ICPR 2022. "Studies are published in high-ranking journals like Nature and Science, investors are throwing millions at psychedelic start-ups, and new companies pop up like mushrooms," Breeksema explains. "And it's in their interest to make psychedelics look like miracle cures. They are not magic bullets but are promising. So we need to discuss openly and critically how we can remain balanced and ensure the potential of psychedelics can be optimised without compromising safety." ICPR 2022 will feature over a hundred experts from psychiatry, healthcare policy, neuroscience, the humanities, and pharmacology. Besides engaging lectures, there will be interactive panel discussions, experiential workshops, symposia, film screenings, social gatherings, and much more. ICPR 2022 will facilitate opportunities to meet and connect with world-renowned experts like Paul Stamets, Katrin Preller, David Nutt, Amanda Feilding, Roland Griffiths, Kim Kuypers, Rick Doblin, Janis Phelps, David Nichols, Monnica Williams, Peter Gasser, Mendel Kaelen, Erika Dyck, Matthias Liechti, Bernardo Kastrup, and many more speakers. "Since 2007 our focus has been on high-quality science", said Breeksema. "But we are talking about vulnerable people receiving very powerful and potentially destabilising experiences. We need to talk about challenges and risks transparently. How do we deal with therapist transgressions? And how do we make sure treatments are safe, accessible, and inclusive? To discuss these crucial topics together is why we organise this conference". ICPR 2022 is the perfect opportunity to learn and connect with academics, therapists, researchers, clinicians, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and members of the public interested in advancing psychedelic research and therapies. Tickets are now on sale here (https://icpr-conference.com/tickets?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ICPRMayPressRelease) and you can save 100 by using the special code: PRESS100 Learn more about ICPR 2022 by connecting on social media using the ICPR2022 hashtag. LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/open-foundation/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/OPEN_fndn) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/OPEN.fndn) Instagram (https://instagram.com/OPEN_fndn/) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/OPENFoundationICPR) About ICPR: The Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research (ICPR) is Europe's pioneering and one of the largest conferences dedicated to advancing psychedelic research and therapies organised by the OPEN Foundation since 2010. ICPR is a biennial conference with a focus on science, therapy, and critical perspectives for academics, therapists, researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and members of the public. About the OPEN Foundation: Founded in 2007, the OPEN Foundation is the leading non-profit organisation in the Netherlands and Europe dedicated to advancing the knowledge and understanding of psychedelics through research. We aim to optimise the potential of psychedelics in a therapeutic context and to help integrate psychedelics into society in a way that's both sustainable and responsible. We fulfil our mission by bringing together and educating professionals, policymakers, and the public through conferences, training, membership programmes, and by facilitating and promoting rigorous, interdisciplinary research. For more information contact: Joost Breeksema Summer Grilling Season Begins with Copper River Sockeye CORDOVA, AK / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / The Copper River sockeye salmon season, which opened on May 16, is well under way. Renowned for its pristine freshness, deep red color and luscious flavor profile, these wild Alaska salmon are being carefully handled and rapidly expedited to retailers throughout the country. Harvested by independent commercial fishermen, Copper River sockeye is available fresh between May and August each year and lends itself to grilling, baking, sauteing and even curing. A six-ounce portion cooks in well under ten minutes and is rich in both Omega three fatty acids and immune boosting Vitamin D. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game carefully regulates the fishery as mandated by Alaska State Constitution and as of May 25, there have been two commercial fishing openers resulting in an overall harvest of 24,500 Copper River sockeye salmon. Consumer demand for Copper River sockeye has remained strong for decades as the small Copper River fleet has a longstanding commitment to quality, carefully handling each fish as it is caught. According to Executive Director, Christa Hoover, "Our fleet puts a high priority on quality, soft handling, bleeding and chilling each fish right after catch which ensures that the fish's inherent characteristics are honored and preserved for the consumer." This attention to detail pays off at the seafood counter where Copper River sockeye sits on flaked ice and holds center stage during the summer months. David Levy, Seafood Category Manager for Town and Country Markets based in Poulsbo, Washington says, "We always look forward to the opening of Copper River sockeye season as it's the beginning of the fresh salmon season and it signifies the start of summer grilling. When I cook it on the grill, I like to keep things simple as I love the flavor. A little seasoning salt and a bit of garlic for me. That's it. The most important thing we tell folks is to not overcook it. Pull it off the heat just before it's almost done!" For additional recipes and cooking information check out the Copper River Prince William Sound Marketing Association's Recipe Page. To find Copper River Salmon in your region, search for it on the Association's Fish Finder. For updates and inspiration, follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. About The Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association: The Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association (CR/PWS MA), a fishermen funded non-profit, regional seafood development association, works on behalf of the 500 plus commercial salmon fishermen of Coastal South-Central Alaska. The association works to build brand awareness and consumer preference for wild Copper River king, sockeye and coho as well as Prince William Sound sockeye, keta, and pink salmon. For additional information contact: Christa Hoover, Executive Director info@copperrivermarketing.org http://www.copperriversalmon.org Copper River/PWS Marketing Association Box 199, Cordova, Alaska 99574 t: 907-424-3459 SOURCE: Copper River Prince William Sound Marketing Association View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/702758/Alaskas-Copper-River-Sockeye-Salmon-Available-at-Domestic-Retailers This piece is the ninth in the "Letters to President Yoon" series The Korea Times has organized to convey policy recommendations in open letters from politicians, scholars and experts to President Yoon Suk-yeol following his May 10 inauguration. ED. By Jang Daul Dear Mr. President, Please kindly accept my congratulations on your victory to become the nation's new president. As you stressed in your inaugural address, we are faced with multiple crises. Without a doubt, the global climate crisis is the single "biggest threat modern humans have ever faced," as naturalist, broadcaster, biologist and natural historian David Attenborough told the U.N. Security Council. If you are not fully convinced that climate change is the No. 1 priority on your table, then I strongly encourage you to read two recent reports. The first insight report is the Global Risks Report by the World Economic Forum. It shows global risk perceptions among nearly 1,000 risk experts and world leaders in business, government and civil society. In the latest 2022 version, even in the middle of the global pandemic, world leaders and experts chose "climate action failure" as the most severe risk on the global scale over the next decade followed by "extreme weather" as the second most. It might be surprising for you to see such a result. Yet, please recall that we had the worst heat wave in 2018, the longest monsoon in 2020 and we just had the longest wildfire ever in history in 2022. Furthermore, without a notable extreme event, the year 2021 was recorded as the second warmest year in our history. Clearly, we are living in a climate crisis. Another report is the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It is a neglect of duty for the president of Korea's 52 million people if you don't clearly understand the scientific analyses and warnings of this report. To make the long but important findings of the report short, it says that if we want to limit the global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius in order to avoid the disastrous consequences of global climate change, it is now or never, for us to make "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes" in all aspects of society, according to the IPCC. However, I do not see that your administration has put the utmost priority on climate action with the urgency scientifically required. Carbon neutrality has been downgraded from the level of "national vision" to the level of "promises" in your administration's plan. You should not fail to enforce, enact and invest in effective and timely climate change mitigation measures. We already do have solutions and the benchmarks required to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Regulating and pricing the carbon emissions, replacing the use of fossil fuels with renewable energies mainly in industry, power generation, buildings and transport, increasing energy savings and efficiency, and developing energy storage and flexible resources in the power system are the key and priority policies to implement. A rapid and ambitious transformation to a carbon neutral economy is good for keeping our climate livable and good for our economy. As U.S. President Biden remarked after Hyundai Motor Group's announcement that it will invest more than $10 billion in the U.S. up to 2025, "Electric vehicles are good for our climate goals, but they're also good for jobs, and they're good for business". He also emphasized that investing aggressively in electric vehicles and battery production must happen now, not tomorrow. Moving away from fossil fuels and increasing the use of renewables in power production and battery electric vehicles in transport is even more important now, when the prices of global fossil fuels has skyrocketed due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In order not to be led, but to lead in this changing global market, you need to actively accelerate the transformation from a fossil-fuel based to renewable energy-based economy. Without a radical increase of renewable energies in the coming years, our industry and corporations will lose their competitiveness and we will also fail to attract foreign investment. Out of many, there are two things you can do first for our climate and economy. The first one is to set an ambitious renewable energy expansion goal together with a concrete roadmap. Your plan of 20 percent of renewable energy in power production by 2030 is simply not enough at all to avoid a forthcoming climate disaster and to provide enough renewable electricity for Korean companies to compete globally. The second one is to keep your election pledge to give a clear signal to the industry and society that there will be no new sales of internal combustion engine vehicles allowed from 2035 onwards. It needs to be followed by an audacious plan to support the transition of the auto industry as justly and inclusively as possible. Lastly, as emphasized in the recent open letter from the international executive director of Greenpeace to you, I would like again to urge you strongly to reevaluate whether nuclear energy could be safe, fast and affordable enough to achieve the goal of keeping the temperature rise below 1.5 degrees. The world nuclear industry is clearly declining. In the coming decade, it is expected that more reactors are shut down than those that are newly connected to the grid. Therefore, it is difficult for nuclear even to keep the current share, 10 percent, of global power production. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are still far from reality. It is very unlikely that SMRs would contribute to substantial decarbonization of the global power sector in the next decade. Again, it's now for you to place the utmost priority on climate action. If you fail in your term, we will never have a chance again. We look forward to your climate leadership. Yours sincerely, Jang Daul The writer (daul.jang@greenpeace.org) is a government relations and advocacy specialist at Greenpeace East Asia Seoul Office. Salinas, California--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - Vibe Growth Corporation (CSE: VIBE) (OTCQX: VIBEF) (FSE: A061) (the "Company" or "Vibe"), a vertically integrated California cannabis enterprise, is pleased to announce that its greenhouse development site located in Monterey County has been approved for a commercial cannabis cultivation license by the State of California's Department of Cannabis Control ("DCC"). Vibe's Monterey greenhouses will serve as the Company's flagship cultivation facilities in California. The Company has commenced its 70,000 square-foot Phase 1, with the potential to develop 188,000 additional square feet in future Phases 2 and 3. The Company has a strong balance sheet and will complete the Phase 1 buildout without debt, and notably, significantly under budget. "This is an important milestone as we continue to expand our operations to meet the growing demand for high-quality, cannabis products in California," said Mark Waldron, CEO of Vibe Growth Corporation. "Vibe continues to deploy capital prudently in the highest growth and margin areas of the California cannabis market. Our strategy in California has been focused on vertical integration, cultivation, and retail sales. The Monterey greenhouse allows us to scale and grow our cultivation and production, meet the demand for our branded products, and grow margins significantly. We are exceptionally proud of the team's efforts and look forward to accelerating our growth as the new facility is expected to come online and ramp to full capacity in the second half of 2022." The Monterey greenhouses will utilize low iron glass, allowing full-spectrum ultraviolet light transmittance located on the Company-owned 10-acre property in Monterey County, California. Greenhouse materials ordered from Europe in 2021 will be delivered on-site starting in June 2022. Phase 1 development involves the construction of approximately 70,000 square feet of greenhouses for high-quality cannabis cultivation. Included in the Phase 1 construction plan are the conversion of existing wood greenhouses, one of which will be used to develop a genetic stock and propagation program to feed the new glass greenhouses, and the others used for flowering. The construction plan also includes a processing facility and a separate distribution center to support the cultivation operations. Mark Waldron added, "Our investment in the Monterey County greenhouse facility buildout is grounded in our strategic vision of establishing a vertically integrated operation that controls cultivation, production, and direct-to-consumer sales via our California-focused dispensary network. Operating in California offers many opportunities as long as production remains low-cost and high-quality, which essentially defines our Monterey cultivation facilities." Vibe Retail Expansion Strategy The Vibe management team continues to actively explore expansion opportunities as it looks to add new dispensaries to its portfolio to meet the growing demand for its Vibe By California and Hype Cannabis Co. products. Vibe is positioned to further execute on its growth strategy of rapidly expanding its retail dispensary portfolio and adding to its existing seven dispensary locations: Sacramento, Stockton, Redding, Palm Springs, Ukiah, Salinas, and Portland (Oregon). About Vibe Growth Corporation Vibe Growth Corporation and its cannabis retail brand, Vibe By California, is a trusted, vertically integrated California cannabis enterprise with retail dispensaries; cannabis greenhouse cultivation; premium indoor cultivation; commercial cannabis distribution; brand sales and marketing; e-commerce platform; home delivery; and Hype Cannabis Co. marijuana and Vibe CBD products. In California, Vibe is focused on maximizing shareholder value through accelerating organic growth, opportunistic acquisitions, distressed workouts, and new license applications. The Company operates retail and e-commerce under its iconic Vibe By California brand. To learn more about Vibe, please visit: www.vibebycalifornia.com Company Contact Bill Mitoulas Phone: +1 416.479.9547 Email: ir@vibebycalifornia.com Website: www.vibebycalifornia.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Product & Forward-Looking Information Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performances. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the parties' current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events, and maybe impacted as a result of general economic conditions or the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the Company's expectations of revenue, EBITDA profitability and adjusted funds flow, higher sales volumes, and the company's retail operations. Actual future results may differ materially. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the parties are not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Risk factors related to the Company are described in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any State securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. securities laws. Unlike in Canada which has Federal legislation uniformly governing the cultivation, distribution, sale, and possession of medical cannabis under the Cannabis Act (Federal), readers are cautioned that in the U.S., cannabis is largely regulated at the State level. To the knowledge of Vibe Growth Corporation, there are to date a total of 33 states, plus the District of Columbia, that have legalized cannabis in some form. Notwithstanding the permissive regulatory environment of medical cannabis at the State level, cannabis continues to be categorized as a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act in the U.S. and as such, cannabis related practices or activities, including without limitation, the manufacture, importation, possession, use or distribution of cannabis are illegal under U.S. federal law. Strict compliance with state laws concerning cannabis will neither absolve Vibe of liability under the U.S. Federal law nor will it provide a defense to any Federal proceeding, which may be brought against Vibe Growth Corporation. Any such proceedings brought against Vibe may adversely affect its operations and financial performance. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125429 LONDON (dpa-AFX) - UK car production declined in April largely due to the shortage of semi-conductors, the impact of the war in Ukraine on supply chains, model changes and structural changes in industry, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, or SMMT, said on Thursday. Car production decreased 11.3 percent from the last year to 60,554 units in April. The closure of a major UK car plant in 2021 continued to impact export figures, particularly to the US. Production for overseas markets fell 20.8 percent, driven by a -68.0 percent decline in shipments to the US, and a -10.4 percent drop in those to Asia. At the same time, six-in-10 cars exported headed to the EU, representing 5.0 percent uplift in shipments. Production for the domestic market grew for the second month in a row, up a massive 60.1 percent. Data showed that despite the incredibly tough economic backdrop, UK car makers continue to shift focus towards the latest battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles, technologies that are essential to both cleaner air and net-zero ambitions. Global chip shortages and supply chain disruption are exacerbated by spiralling energy costs, additional trading costs and slowing global markets, Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said. The lobby urged the government to provide relief on specific input costs, most notably energy, which have doubled in the last year and are putting UK manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. BEDFORD, NS / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / Silver Spruce Resources Inc. (TSXV:SSE)(FRA:S6Q1) ("Silver Spruce" or the "Company") announces that the Company has signed contracts with Constructora Trax ("TRAX") and Minera Drilling, both from Hermosillo, Mexico, respectively, for the preparation of access trails and pads, and drilling 2,000 metres of reverse circulation drill holes on the principal drilling target areas of the Diamante 1 and 2 concessions, specifically on the first-priority targets at Pillado (see Figures 1 and 2), La Prieta and Calton with Aguaje, El Chon-El Chon Oeste and Mezquite Raizudo next in line. The drill-ready Diamante gold-silver (Au-Ag) property ("Diamante" or the Property") is located 5 km northwest of the town of Tepoca, and 165 km southeast of the capital city of Hermosillo, eastern Sonora, Mexico. Figure 1. Intense wallrock alteration and primary sulphide to secondary oxide mineralization exposed at the entry to workings at the Pillado drill target. "We are pleased to sign operating contracts with both TRAX and Minera Drilling for the Phase 1 drilling program on highly prospective areas of Diamante. Importantly, despite the number and quality of known mineralization targets, there is no recorded historical drilling on Diamante to date," stated Greg Davison, Silver Spruce Vice-President Exploration and Director. "TRAX provided excellent heavy equipment services for the 2021 El Mezquite drill program and we look forward to working once again with their experienced operators on Diamante. Minera Drilling recently completed successful programs with our partner, Colibri Resource Corp. ("Colibri"), in northern Sonora and we anticipate high quality and timely drilling results from their experienced operating and management teams." Mr. Davison added, "TRAX equipment and personnel are starting mobilization to Diamante with our exploration team to optimize access routes to the drill pads. The Minera Drilling program is scheduled for mobilization next week and is anticipated to continue for four to five weeks through June 2022. Sample shipments to ALS Global in Hermosillo will be delivered on a weekly basis." Figure 2. Orthophoto view of the Pillado drill target. Adit (from Figure 1) located on north-facing exposure at center intersected by proposed trace projection from DDH pad 42. Both N- and NE-trending vein targets exhibit polymetallic Cu-Pb-Zn mineralization with intense alteration. Anomalous Au-Ag-Cu-Pb-Zn geochemical values shown in graduated symbols. 1:1,000 scale. Our recent geological mapping programs conducted over multiple targets reported Au values to 51.5 g/t from silicified breccias in the Calton target (see Press Release of April 27, 2022), the highest Au grade yet reported from Diamante, and Ag values >1,000 g/t were recorded from base metal sulphide-bearing veins at Pillado, El Chon and El Cumbro accompanied by high-grade primary and supergene Pb+Zn+Cu up to a combined grade of 50.9 wt.% from grab and channel sampling at surface and within historical trenches and artisanal workings. Specifically, geochemical results from surface and underground sampling of eight target areas reported precious metals (Au to 51.5 g/t, Ag to 2,270 g/t), base metals (Pb to 42.3 wt.%, Zn to 22.9 wt.% and Cu to 3.2 wt.%) and pathfinders each exhibited weak to highly anomalous values commonly with high Ag;Au and low to high Pb:Zn. Elevated Cu, Cd, Sb, Hg, As and Bi are linked commonly to Pb and/or Zn. The current assays are consistent with historical surface and U/G channel samples reported up to 39.8 g/t Au, 3,460 g/t Ag, 18.2% Pb, 33.5% Zn and 1.47% Cu (see Press Releases of April 12, 2021, and January 24, 2022). Most drill targets are polymetallic vein style with precious metal-dominant targets also identified at Calton, El Chon and Aguaje. Metal zoning or pulses of mineralization may be indicated at each of these three locations. Project Geology The Property is located within the west-central portion of the Sierra Madre Occidental Volcanic Complex within the northwest-trending "Sonora Gold Belt" of northern Mexico. Diamante offers strong precious metal tenor with a polymetallic endowment, multiple quality targets, styles of mineralization, of particular significance for our exploration moving forward, no records of drilling. Historical exploration and artisanal activities are indicated by surface trenches and subsurface workings parallel to and cutting the vein mineralization were measured up to 100 metres in length, with the latter showing shafts and short lateral drifts. Geological features of epithermal Au, low to intermediate sulphidation Ag-Au (Pb-Zn), high sulphidation Au-Cu, and potential porphyry style Au-Cu occur as disseminated, stockwork and vein styles. Silicification with sericitic, argillic and propylitic alteration were accompanied by drusy to vuggy quartz, black tourmaline, multiple disseminated to vein sulphides with incipient to pervasive oxidation to carbonates, sulphates such as jarosite, hematite and iron hydroxide. Recent exploration verified pathfinder elements including As, Sb, Hg, Cd and Bi. Mineralization is reported visually as pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, argentiferous galena, argentite, hematite and probable metal oxides, carbonates and sulphates, including copper carbonate (malachite), copper sulphates and plumbojarosite. Structural lineaments show intersecting and splaying vein patterns with steep to moderately dipping northwest, northeast and north-striking orientations were confirmed and spatially coincident with parallel to oblique faults and shears which control and locally offset the mineralization. Project Background Silver Spruce can acquire up to 50% interest in four Diamante concessions with a cumulative land position of 1,057 hectares (see Press Release of April 29, 2021). The Property is well situated in terms of logistics for exploration and is easily accessible from Mexican Highway #16 which transects Diamante 1 and along several trails and dry river beds southward to Diamante 2. Mining and exploration in the surrounding area is very active with adjacent and nearby properties held by Alamos Gold, Argonaut, Agnico Eagle, Evrim, Newmont, Garibaldi, Kootenay Silver and Penoles among others. Geochemical Analysis, Quality Assurance and Quality Control Drilling samples will be delivered by the Project Geologist from the Property to the ALS sample preparation facility in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. ALS Global in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is a facility certified as ISO 9001:2008 and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 from the Standards Council of Canada. Local chain of custody will be monitored and maintained by the Project Geologist under the direction of the QP. The samples will be crushed to 70% passing 2mm (PREP-31) and a split of up to 250 grams pulverized to 85% passing 75 micrometres (-200 mesh). The sample pulps and crushed splits will be transferred internally to ALS Global's North Vancouver, Canada or Lima, Peru analytical facility for gold and multi-element analysis. Pulps (50gram split) will be submitted for Au analysis by Fire Assay with Atomic Absorption finish (Au-AA24). The retained pulps also will be analysed by Four Acid Digestion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) multi-element analyses (ME-ICP61m) with Hg by Aqua Regia and ICP-MS (Hg-MS42). Over-limit Au and Ag samples will be analyzed by Fire Assay with Gravimetric Finish Ore Grade (Au-GRA21 or Au-GRA22, Ag-GRA21). Overlimit base metals will analyzed by Four Acid Digestion followed by Ore Grade Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) for Cu, Pb and Zn (Cu-OG62, Pb-OG62, Zn-OG62). High grade samples above the range of the Ore Grade OG62 analysis will be digested, as above, and analyzed using Titration (e.g., Pb-Vol70). In-house quality control samples will be inserted into the sample set by the Project Geologist. ALS Global conducts its own internal QA/QC program of blanks, standards and duplicates, and the results are provided with the Company sample certificates. The results of the internal and ALS control samples will be reviewed by the Company's QP and evaluated for acceptable tolerances prior to disclosure. All sample and pulp rejects will be stored at ALS Global pending full review of the analytical data, and future selection of pulps for independent third-party check analyses, as requisite. All metal values disclosed herein by Silver Spruce are reported from grab and channel samples which may not be representative of the metal grades. The Company's Qualified Person believes that the sampling documentation, analytical protocols and quantitative data will withstand scrutiny for inclusion. About Minera Drilling Minera Drilling, offering reverse circulation and diamond drilling, has its drilling equipment and technical team based in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. About Constructora Trax TRAX offers a comprehensive, high-level response for civil engineering, construction and development in the states of Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Zacatecas, Guerrero among others. TRAX has extensive project experience since 1990 specializing in earthworks, demolition, explosives, drilling and blasting, mineral exploitation in both underground and open pit mines, feasibility analysis of mining projects and a wide range of infrastructure projects. Qualified Person Greg Davison, PGeo, Silver Spruce VP Exploration and Director, is the Company's internal Qualified Person for the Diamante Project and is responsible for approval of the technical content of this press release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), under TSX guidelines. About Silver Spruce Resources Inc. Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior exploration company which has signed Definitive Agreements to acquire 100% of the Melchett Lake Zn-Au-Ag project in northern Ontario, and with Colibri Resource Corp. in Sonora, Mexico, to acquire 50% interest in Yaque Minerales S.A de C.V. holding the El Mezquite Au project, and up to 50% interest in each of Colibri's Jackie Au and Diamante Au-Ag projects. Silver Spruce has signed Definitive Agreements to acquire 100% interest in the Mystery Au project in the Exploits Subzone Gold Belt, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Pino de Plata Ag project in western Chihuahua, Mexico. Silver Spruce Resources Inc. continues to investigate opportunities that Management has identified or that have been presented to the Company for consideration. Contact: Silver Spruce Resources Inc. Greg Davison, PGeo, Vice-President Exploration and Director (250) 521-0444 gdavison@silverspruceresources.com Michael Kinley, CEO (902) 402-0388 mkinley@silverspruceresources.com info@silverspruceresources.com www.silverspruceresources.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements," Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, statements regarding the private placement. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. SOURCE: Silver Spruce Resources Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/702790/Silver-Spruce-Signs-Pad-Preparation-and-Drilling-Contracts-Engages-On-Site-Logistics-for-2000-Metre-RC-Drill-Program-at-Diamante-Au-Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu-Project-Sonora-Mexico To Predict, You Pursue: Swiss company PRODAFT is creating a solution to predict and prevent cybercrime before it happens Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - PRODAFT (Proactive Defense Against Future Threats), is a company headquartered in Yverdon-Les-Bains, Switzerland. Founded in 2012, their PRODAFT solution provides a cyber threat intelligence platform that protects clients from major cyber-attacks through timely and verified intelligence. Businesses are adopting the latest cybersecurity applications to protect their operations, and avoid reputational or financial damage. They use next-generation firewalls, cloud access security brokers (CASBs), and new AI-based security among other tools to avoid phishing, malware and ransomware attacks. But, these only protect against identifiable threats or patterns. PRODAFT's solution innovates by digging deeper into the dark net and the code behind criminal attacks to predict adversaries' next moves. The growth of state-sponsored attacks Businesses face a growing threat from cybercrime and criminal gangs focused on creating professional-level crime tools. To prevent a possible major incident, it is vital to monitor hackers' activities in the dark web and the internet. However, that is not enough to identify the most skilled hackers. PRODAFT gained kudos and popularity in recent years by revealing the internal details of several major cybercrime groups. The published reports demonstrate the sophistication of these highly-technical cybercrime groups and their sponsors. They also demonstrate the knowledge, skill and technological superiority of the PRODAFT team in focusing on how these hackers work and not just on the tools they use. The success of PRODAFT's solution Managing director Mr.Alptekin explains PRODAFT's underlying technology in simple terms, with the objective of understanding the complexity of hackers' infrastructure. "We process terabytes of data per second that are carefully extracted from all cybercriminal communication channels. Even if they use VPNs or private networks, that does not stop us from identifying their next targets among the flow of messages." The company successfully prevented more than thousands ransomware incidents, alerting businesses before hackers could encrypt the victims' data. The company collaborates with the relevant authorities to inform victims, and in most cases, an attack is prevented before any reputational or financial loss. PRODAFT hopes it does not have to get in touch with your business, but with the dramatic growth and scale of cybercrime, the odds on your company being attacked are growing. Media Contact Company Name: PRODAFT Contact Person: Beyza Keskin Email: media@prodaft.com Phone: +41225481923 Country: Switzerland Website: https://www.prodaft.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/PRODAFT To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125092 A shortage of suitable sites is prompting companies to buy up land before deciding on the specifics of project construction, as a junior minister stated more solar is likely to be waved through by 2025.The rise of solar in Bangladesh has prompted some entrepreneurs to start buying up land before attending to the specifics of project development. Imran Chowdhury, country manager for the Singaporean development unit of Chinese inverter maker Sungrow, told pv magazine land shortages in Bangladesh mean the company is addressing site concerns before plant development. "Sungrow Renewables have plans ... 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. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - After reporting first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits at their highest level in almost four months in the previous week, the Labor Department released a report on Thursday showing initial jobless claims pulled back by more than expected in the week ended May 21st. The report showed initial jobless claims dipped to 210,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 218,000. Economists had expected jobless claims to edge down to 215,000. The bigger than expected pullback came after the increase seen in the previous week lifted jobless claims to their highest level since the week ended January 22nd. 'The shortfall in labor supply will likely prevent widespread layoffs, though there may be some pockets of weakness in sectors that hired at an aggressive pace during the pandemic,' said Mahir Rasheed, U.S. Economist at Oxford Economics. 'We expect claims to remain low in the near term.' Meanwhile, the Labor Department said the less volatile four-week moving average rose to 206,750, an increase of 7,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 199,500. The report showed continuing claims, a reading on the number of people receiving ongoing unemployment assistance, also increased by 31,000 to 1.346 million in the week ended May 14th. In the previous week, continuing claims dropped to their lowest level since hitting 1.304 million in the week ended December 27, 1969. The four-week moving average of continuing claims still fell to a new 52-year low of 1,347,500, a decrease of 14,250 from the previous week's revised average of 1,361,750. 'We expect continued claims to hover near these historically low levels as the economy continues to add jobs and labor supply progresses further in the months ahead,' said Rasheed. Next Friday, the Labor Department is scheduled to release its more closely watched report on the employment situation in the month of May. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Hungary's unemployment rate declined further in the February to April period, while it remained stable for the month of April, data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office showed on Thursday. The jobless rate fell to 3.5 percent in February to April period from 3.7 percent during January-March. The number of unemployed persons decreased to 170,300 during the February-April period from 181,100 in the previous three months. The youth unemployment rate, which applies to the 15 to 24 age group, came in at 10.0 percent in the three months ended April versus 7.5 percent in the preceding three months. The employment rate rose marginally to 63.8 percent in February-April period from 63.7 percent in January to March period. Date also showed that the unemployment rate for the month of April was 3.6 percent, the same as in March, which was the lowest rate since March 2020. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Foundation to develop semiconductor job training in Michigan under SEMI Career and Apprenticeship Network (SCAN) program MILPITAS, Calif., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SEMI and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation that the SEMI Foundation has been awarded $1.5 million in funding to design and develop the SEMI Career and Apprenticeship Network (SCAN) in Michigan. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and CARES Act funding will support semiconductor industry job training in Michigan. "As global demand for semiconductors continues to grow, Michigan is poised to be a solution provider for semiconductor shortages and puts companies in the heart of semiconductor and battery R&D efforts nationwide," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "Michigan is one of only three states that will be launching planning work to define curricula to support employers in the semiconductor industry. With this new apprenticeship program, along with our global manufacturing and automotive R&D leadership, we are leading the charge in addressing the universal industry demand for semiconductors while creating good jobs for Michigan workers." Long a key semiconductor industry market, Michigan is home to nearly one-fifth of U.S. auto production - more than any other state in the nation - and headquarters or technology centers of 26 original equipment manufacturers (OEMS), the greatest concentration in the country. "SCAN will provide critical job training to Michigan residents while helping the U.S. microelectronics industry address its talent shortage," said Shari Liss, Executive Director of the SEMI Foundation. "We are thrilled to work in partnership with Michigan's workforce development agencies and ecosystem to offer registered apprenticeships, a proven pathway to better jobs and greater economic mobility and opportunity." The SEMI Foundation will drive the SCAN program planning and development in Michigan in two phases: In phase one, the SEMI Foundation will engage key microelectronics employers, players in the automotive and manufacturing industries, and educational and workforce development providers. In phase two, the SEMI Foundation will conduct focus groups and work with employers to identify jobs in the greatest demand as well as the skills and competencies needed for a skilled, diverse workforce. The funding comes three months after Liss testified before the Science Research and Technology Subcommittee, one of five subcommittees of the United States House on Science, Space, and Technology, as it discussed the U.S. semiconductor industry's workforce needs. Liss stressed the need for increased industry visibility, more investment in K-12 STEM education and a stronger focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry. Liss also pointed to the importance of programs like SCAN in re-skilling and up-skilling workers, particularly historically underrepresented wage earners in the industry and those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as earn-and-learn programs such as apprenticeships. About SEMI Foundation The SEMI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2001 to support economic opportunity for workers and the sustained growth of the microelectronics industry. The Foundation accomplishes this through creating pathways and opportunities for job seekers, and tools and systems for semiconductor companies to attract, develop, and retain a diverse, innovative, and skilled workforce. Visit semifoundation.org to learn more, and connect with the Foundation on LinkedIn. SEMI is the Foundation's parent organization. About SEMI SEMI connects more than 2,500 member companies and 1.3 million professionals worldwide to advance the technology and business of electronics design and manufacturing. SEMI members are responsible for the innovations in materials, design, equipment, software, devices, and services that enable smarter, faster, more powerful, and more affordable electronic products. Electronic System Design Alliance (ESD Alliance), FlexTech, the Fab Owners Alliance (FOA), the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group (MSIG) and SOI Consortium are SEMI Strategic Technology Communities. Visit www.semi.org to learn more, contact one of our worldwide offices, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and Twitter. About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state's marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan's economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. SEMI Contact Samer Bahou/SEMI Phone: 1.408.943.7870 Email: sbahou@semi.org Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/469944/Semi_Logo.jpg The pharmaceutical group, present in 140 countries in the world, aims to raise standard of patient healthcare across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region with innovative products and breakthrough research DUBAI, UAE, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Menarini, the leading Italian pharmaceutical group founded in 1886, today opened its regional headquarters in Dubai Science Park as part of its goal to expand its presence to the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. Specializing in pharmaceutical research and production, consumer healthcare, oncology, and diagnostics, the Group is basing its new regional office, Menarini Middle East and Africa, in Dubai as it acts as an ideal hub location to elevate patient health and wellbeing in the region and to form pivotal connections with key industry stakeholders. The inauguration drew the participation of influential healthcare dignitaries, most notably H.E. Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary of Public Health Policy and Licensing at the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention; H.E. Nicola Lener, Ambassador of Italy to the UAE, as well as high-level executives from Menarini's global team, as Dr Luca Lastrucci ,Group General Manager, Dr Ugur Bingol META President and Dr Basel Thaher Middle East Regional Head and MEA General Manager. Elcin Barker Ergun, CEO Menarini Group and Member of the Board of Directors, said: "Today marks a historical moment for us as we open our regional offices in Dubai, a key inflection point, to significantly grow our presence and portfolio in the Middle East. As a 135 years old family owned company, we are looking forward to serve many more patients in the Middle East in the coming years with our unwavering commitment to Quality." Luca Lastrucci, Group General Manager at Menarini, commented: "Today's inauguration of our MEA headquarters in Dubai is a significant milestone for our company as we expand our investments in the MEA region. Our presence in a leading pharmaceutical hub like Dubai will strengthen Menarini's capabilities and improve market access in delivering breakthrough products in the areas of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and inflammatory diseases." Lastrucci added: "The UAE government has shown unwavering support for pharmaco-economic investments through its solid commercial infrastructure and impressive facilities. We see this as a vital step in the right direction for Menarini and will continue to work side-by-side with the UAE government to raise healthcare standards and support the wellbeing of communities across the UAE and beyond." Commenting on Menarini's new regional launch being perfectly aligned with the Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030, Dr. Ali Al Sayed, Director of Pharmaceutical Services Department at the Dubai Health Authority,said: "A defining objective of Dubai's 2030 strategy is to be a global hub for knowledge-based, sustainable and innovation focused businesses. As Menarini is a company with longstanding roots based in medical research, it will be a strong contributor to this visionary strategy. Together, we share Dubai's overarching healthcare vision of positioning Dubai as the leading destination for healthcare knowledge, education and training." Present in 140 countries with over 17,000 employees, the new Menarini regional headquarters in Dubai will be guided by Menarini's deeply rooted values of being patient-focused, people centered, and being committed to quality, integrity, and responsibility. This important milestone serves as a testament to Menarini's ongoing mission of curing diseases on a global scale and prioritizing patient health above all else. About Menarini The Menarini Group is a leading international pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, with a turnover of more than $4 billion and over 17,000 employees. Menarini is focused on therapeutic areas with high unmet needs with products for cardiology, oncology, pneumology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, diabetology, inflammation and analgesia. With 18 production sites and 9 Research and Development centers, Menarini's products are available in 140 countries worldwide. For further information, please visit www.menarini.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826819/Menarini_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826820/Menarini_2.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/652491/MENARINI_Group_Logo.jpg Integration with nShift's Checkout enables Pikkuvihrea to move 10x faster and process 10,000 more orders LONDON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pikkuvihrea, a Finnish family company specializing in waterless toilet solutions, wastewater purifiers, and composting, has implemented nShift's Checkout platform to offer a reliable and efficient way to transport complex orders. Pikkuvihrea offers a wide selection of products for use in private residences and public spaces such as parks and camping sites. When it came to delivery, however, the diversity of the product range previously posed something of a challenge. Eemeli Palo, ecommerce manager for Pikkuvihrea, explains: "Our smallest products fit in an envelope, while our biggest products, such as outhouses, require a pallet. Previously, when customers bought both, which they often do, our old system would struggle to find a sensible transport solution. As a result, we were missing out on fifty to a hundred big orders a year." Implementing nShift Checkout has enabled Pikkuvihrea to solve its long-term delivery challenges, and identify the optimum transportation solution for every order, however complex. "nShift's software was easily integrated with our ecommerce platform, WooCommerce. It allows me to code simple rule sets on how and which delivery methods are triggered for each customer or shopping cart," says Palo. "This has saved us several shipments we would have missed out on in the past. When you consider that the most complex shipments are often the most profitable, it's made a big difference to our bottom line. We're talking tens of thousands of euros." Using nShift Checkout has also dramatically reduced the amount of time Pikkuvihrea needs to spend processing each order. "Thanks to nShift, we can process ten times more package tickets and shipping books in the same amount of time as before," explains Palo. "Where it previously took about sixty seconds to create a shipping label for a customer order, it now takes less than ten." The nShift Checkout solution also provides Pikkuvihrea's customers with genuine choice over their delivery method, something Lars Pedersen, CEO of nShift, argues is essential in ecommerce today: "Customers expect to be able to select a suitable pick-up point or chose the delivery method that's most convenient to them," he says. "Since introducing nShift Checkout, Pikkuvihrea has been able to offer its customers this level of choice with no issue. Not only has it delivered revenue and efficiency benefits, it's also significantly improved the customer experience." For more information on how nShift Checkout can help online retailers improve efficiency and increase sales or to arrange a demonstration, visit https://nshift.com/products/delivery-checkout About nShift nShift is the global leading provider of cloud delivery management solutions enabling frictionless shipment and return of almost one billion shipments across 190 countries. nShift's software is used globally by e-commerce, retail, manufacturing and 3PL shippers. The company is headquartered in London and Oslo. It has over 500 employees across offices in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Romania. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1782566/nShift_Logo.jpg By Kim Jong-nam Many corporations are interested in growing "change agents," employees tasked with the role of helping change an organization's culture. These people are not experts but regular employees who are chosen to represent employees generally. They have typically been selected because of a high level of awareness of organizational issues and colleagues' opinions. During the many projects I have worked on aimed at educating change agents and providing counsel to organizations on their culture change endeavors, I have noticed that corporations seem to be blindly employing this strategy without giving enough thought to it. Continuing to push agents to effect change that they are not capable of will not lead to the results organizations expect and may even backfire. 1. Change agents should have time to create familiarity with each other. They are chosen from different departments and hold their roles only for a certain period of time. If they don't have a shared purpose or values or perspective about their roles and responsibilities, they will not contribute to changing the whole culture of a company. Instead, they will only focus on their own worksite goals rather than the whole picture. In order to prevent this, they need time to get to know each other and understand the collective purpose of their task. 2. Every time change agents meet, there should be enough time given for them to get a full understanding of why they're gathering, what issues are at hand and what outcomes they are expected to reach. Change agents are usually from different departments, worksites and work situations. Due to these reasons, diverse interpretations, approaches and strategies will be used by different agents. As stated above, when there is a collective purpose and sense of background, a bigger impact can be created. 3. In order for agents to be effective, they must recognize the importance of listening to their colleagues, either through conversation or through surveys. This listening also includes availing themselves of resources that are already there, such as records of previous surveys or meetings. If they do not, the purpose of their role will be foiled: they are supposed to represent the employees. They must play an expert's role even though they are non-experts. If they don't listen to their fellow employees, they will not be able to understand specific on-site issues and problems. That is why they need to make use of all information in order to see wider and deeper. They must pay meticulous attention not only to their colleagues' opinions but also to their specific desires and preferred directions. 4. Corporations should also make efforts to show change agents a roadmap for the entirety of their tenure. If not, change agents will not know what they need to do in terms of the bigger picture and will become confused. If change agents can know the overall structure under which they will be engaged in specific activities, they will be more careful about their expected behaviors and roles and take on a shared sense of responsibility. 5. Change agents must also be helped in creating a safe environment where ideas can be exchanged freely. They don't know each other very well, which might make them reluctant to disagree with each other in order to avoid conflict, and they know that their roles as change agents are temporary, making it seem less worth it to do something difficult. However, this reluctance goes against the very idea of the program. They were chosen precisely because they had different and unique opinions due to not being experts. If they remain silent, organizations lose the opportunity to get opinions from their employees and to tap into this resource for new and creative solutions. Ground rules must be created so that each change agent can voice their opinions freely and listen to others without any misunderstandings. Creating a positive atmosphere in which change agents can support and encourage each other is essential to this program. Change agents represent other employees. They must be able to voice their opinions. 6. If there is an internal manager who leads the change agents, they should be scrupulous when designing their meetings because there is a high probability that they won't be an expert either. Organizational culture manifests itself as broad and varied phenomena in a corporation. This diversity makes it difficult to discern whether they're dealing with subjects comprehensively. 7. Many corporations forget the importance of small things, such as how to set up a meeting room, how to seat participants, how to record what transpired during the meeting, and how to decide on what has been resolved and what hasn't. Everything the change agents do should be recorded and shared with all participants. If the change agents can't create a common understanding, it will be very difficult for them to start from where they left off next time. The continuity of their projects will thus weaken and their effectiveness will deteriorate. Corporations must realize that without strong and thorough support on their part, many change agents will be embarrassed and confused about what to do. Bottom-up change is usually three or four times harder than top-down change, but it is worth it. Kim Jong-nam is the founding CEO of META (www.imeta.co.kr) and a global organizational development consultant who specializes in organizational culture and leadership. The remarkable results of what is already being called a 'historic' 2022 federal election have put Australia "back on the map" in the eyes of big low-carbon investors.In November 2021, the co-founder of renewable energy investor Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners (QIP), David Scaysbrook, was skeptical of large scale investment in Australia due to federal policy inertia. Back then Scaysbrook described the United States as "the most opportunity-rich market in the energy transition," with the UK running a very close second, whereas Australia was "really a bit of a non-event in terms of the scale ... 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. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - Bear Creek Mining Corporation (TSXV: BCM) (OTCQX: BCEKF) (BVL: BCM) ("Bear Creek" or the "Company") announces that as a result of a review by the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC") the Company today has been placed on the Reporting Issuers in Default List (the "Default List"). Bear Creek understands that it has been placed on the Default List as a result of the BCSC's concerns regarding the credentials of certain independent third party consultants to act as qualified persons under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") in respect of certain chapters of the technical report dated April 22, 2022 and entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Mercedes Gold-Silver Mine, Sonora, Mexico" (the "2022 Mercedes Report"). The 2022 Mercedes Report was filed on April 22, 2022 following the Company's acquisition of the Mercedes mine. The Company has undertaken to provide alternative qualified persons to take responsibility for the chapters of the technical report co-authored by the consultants in question and to prepare and file an amended technical report on the Mercedes mine (the "Amended Mercedes Report"). Bear Creek estimates that the Amended Mercedes Report will be filed within approximately 30 days. Pending the filing of the Amended Mercedes Report, the estimates of mineral reserves and resources set out in the Company's press release dated April 22, 2022 and the disclosure related to the Mercedes mine contained in the Company's Annual Information Form dated April 26, 2022 are not supported by a compliant technical report, contrary to NI 43-101. Although the Mercedes mine continues to produce according to the mine plan, the estimates and disclosure contained in the Company's April 22, 2022 press release and April 26, 2022 Annual Information Form in respect of the Mercedes mine should not be relied on until they have been verified and supported by an amended technical report. NI 43-101 Disclosure Bear Creek's operations at the Mercedes mine are overseen by, and pertinent disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this press release has been reviewed, verified and approved by, Andrew Swarthout, a director of the Company and a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101. About Bear Creek Mining Bear Creek Mining is a precious metals producer with a world-class development asset. Our Corani silver-lead-zinc deposit in Puno, Peru is one of the largest fully permitted silver deposits in the world and is highlighted by its substantial reserves and resources, overwhelming community support, 15-year mine life and low All-In-Sustaining Costs. Our Mercedes gold-silver mine in Sonora, Mexico, acquired in April 2022, is a cash flow generating gold mine with a strong track record of reserve replacement and exciting blue sky exploration potential. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Anthony Hawkshaw President and CEO For further information contact: Barbara Henderson - VP Corporate Communications Direct: 604-628-1111 E-mail: barb@bearcreekmining.com www.bearcreekmining.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding: preparation and filing of the Amended Mercedes Report and the timeframe thereof; continued production at the Mercedes mine in accordance with the mine plan; and other statements regarding future plans, expectations, exploration potential, guidance, projections, objectives, estimates and forecasts as well as the Company's expectations with respect to such matters. These forward-looking statements are provided as of the date of this news release, or the effective date of the documents referred to in this news release, as applicable, and reflect predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events based on the Company's beliefs at the time the statements were made, as well as various assumptions made by and information currently available to them. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to: the estimated time frame for preparation and filing of the Amended Mercedes Report; the availability of independent alternative qualified persons to prepare the Amended Mercedes Report and undertake a site visit of the Mercedes mine; that the BCSC will accept the Amended Mercedes Report; that the Company will be removed from the Default List and the timeframe thereof; and that production at the Mercedes mine will continue in accordance with the mine plan. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions on which they are based do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the expectations expressed in them. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions expressed above do not occur, but specifically include, without limitation, risks relating to general market conditions and the additional risks described in the Company's latest Annual Information Form, and other disclosure documents filed by the Company on SEDAR. The foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on behalf of the Company, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125441 DGAP-News: Cryptology Asset Group PLC / Key word(s): Statement/Cryptocurrency / Blockchain Cryptology's estimated NAV per share as of 25/05/2022 is 6.55 26.05.2022 / 17:29 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Corporate News Cryptology Asset Group p.l.c. ("Cryptology") Malta, 26.05.2022 Cryptology's estimated NAV per share as of 25/05/2022 is 6.55 Malta, 26.05.2022. Cryptology Asset Group (ISIN: MT0001770107; Ticker: CAP:GR), a leading European holding company for crypto assets and blockchain-related business models, announced its most recent weekly estimated Net Asset Value ("NAV") per share of 6.55. Crypto is down significantly over the past weeks after $UST, an algorithmic stablecoin issued on the Terra (LUNA) network, lost its peg to the US Dollar. This sent UST and LUNA into freefall as markets were spooked by the lack of backing in the stablecoin. As a result, most crypto is down double-digits in the past week in one of the most volatile periods in crypto's history. Cryptology's updated estimated NAV figures come on the heels of Hauck & Aufhauser issuing an updated report on Cryptology's shares with a "BUY" rating and a price target of 13.00. Shares opened this morning around 4.90, meaning Hauck & Aufhauser is projecting well over a 50% price increase from current levels. Cryptology shares currently trade on several German exchanges including Borse Dusseldorf, Gettex and Tradegate. In order to increase trading liquidity and open up to new shareholder groups, Cryptology is currently exploring an international listing. About Cryptology Asset Group p.l.c. Cryptology Asset Group (ISIN: MT0001770107; Ticker: CAP:GR) is a leading European holding company for crypto assets and blockchain-based business models. Founded by Christian Angermayer's family office, Apeiron Investment Group, and crypto-legend Mike Novogratz, Cryptology is the largest publicly traded holding company for blockchain- and crypto-based business models in Europe. Noteworthy portfolio companies include crypto-giant and EOSIO software publisher B1, leading HPC provider Northern Data, commission-free online neobroker nextmarkets, and crypto asset management group Iconic Holding. Media Contact: Cryptology Asset Group p.l.c. Jefim Gewiet (COO) 66/67, Beatrice, Amery Street, Sliema SLM 1707 Malta E-mail: info@cryptology-ag.com 26.05.2022 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust plc (LEI: 54930040ALEAVPMMDC31) Results of General Meeting BlackRock Energy and resources Income Trust plc announces that, at the General Meeting held today, the following resolutions were duly passed on a poll. The full text of each of the resolutions can be found in the Shareholder Circular, which has previously been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and is available for inspection at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism. The result of the poll was as follows: Votes for & Discretionary (%) Votes against (%) Votes Total % of Available voting rights* Abstain Resolution 1: 6,618,073 94.36 395,271 5.64 7,013,344 5.41 43,625 Resolution 2: 6,509,959 92.87 499,626 7.13 7,009,585 5.41 47,384 Resolution 3: 6,570,257 94.16 407,869 5.84 6,978,126 5.39 78,843 Resolution 4: 6,502,036 92.80 504,765 7.20 7,006,801 5.41 50,168 *Available Voting Rights equals 129,540,391 The full results of the poll conducted at today's meeting will also shortly be available on the Company's website: www.blackrock.com/uk/beri. 26 May 2022 Enquiries: Sarah Beynsberger BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, Secretary Telephone: 020 7743 2639 BALTIMORE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / Young people in our country have real mental health issues today, and it was a serious problem before the pandemic, virtual school, and recent world conflicts. "Mental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real and widespread," said Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. "Even before the pandemic, an alarming number of young people struggled with feelings of helplessness, depression, and thoughts of suicide-and rates have increased over the past decade." NUMBERS TELL A STARK STORY: In 2019, mental health challenges were the leading cause of disability and poor life outcomes in young people, with 1 in 5 children ages 3 to 17 in the U.S. having a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder. From 2009 to 2019, high school students who reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness increased by 40%, to more than 1 in 3 students. Suicidal behaviors among high school students increased during the last decade, with 19% seriously considering attempting suicide, a 36% increase from 2009 to 2019, and about 16% having made a suicide plan in the prior year, a 44% increase from 2009 to 2019. Between 2007 and 2018, suicide rates among ages 10-24 increased by 57%. (Source: US Department of Health & Human Services) It bears repeating-this was before recent events. In fall 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children's Hospital Association joined to declare a National State of Emergency in Children's Mental Health. But how do you go about meeting the problems and working toward solutions? The Surgeon General's Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health outlines a series of recommendations and they rely heavily on empowering youth and families, ensuring access to mental health care, supporting education, community and childcare settings, and expanding the early childhood and education workforce. ON THE FRONT LINES WITH KIDS "We are completely in support of the Surgeon General's goals, as they align with our priorities, as well," said The Children's Guild President and CEO Jenny Livelli. It's critical to have services available to meet kids where they are, whether a clinic- or school-based program. The Children's Guild operates seven schools in Maryland and the District of Columbia that all provide free mental health services to students. An Outpatient Mental Health Clinic serves more than 80 additional public schools across Maryland. Clinicians specialize in working with children and families and are trained in trauma-informed treatment. "By being right in the school for kids, we are reducing barriers to access," says Jillian Szczepaniak-Gillece, Children's Guild Director of Behavioral Health Services. "We want to help each young person and their family learn skills to address interpersonal, social, emotional, and academic challenges. We work with caregivers, families, school staff, and other involved agencies to provide individualized treatment that is strength-based, trauma-informed, and evidence-based." MEETING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES One key to improving mental health is making support accessible. So, The Children's Guild services include psychiatric services, counseling, and school-based behavioral health. More than 1,400 children are positively impacted by their programs and services today. Mental health conditions can be shaped by many factors. Genes and brain chemistry play a role. So does environment, such as life experiences and neighborhood conditions. Relationships with family and friends are important. There are also many social forces. Young people see messages daily through social media and popular culture that erode their feelings of self-worth. To face these challenges and others, The Children's Guild offers a continuum of care founded in Transformation Education. A PIONEERING FORCE IN EDUCATION Transformation Education engages every student, fosters achievement, growth, and independence to the greatest extent possible, and gives experiences that meet the needs of every learner and help them thrive. The 8 Pillars of The Children's Guild Transformation Education philosophy include: Value-Infused Culture - blending specific values throughout all aspects of our people, systems, environment, and curriculum. Focus on Well-Being - mindfulness exercise, positive relationships with adults, and the development of self-regulation strategies. Enriched Environments & Experiences - using physical environments to stimulate the intellect, excite the senses, and touch the emotions. Brain Literacy - teaching students how the brain learns. Behavioral Motivation Continuum - individualized, meaningful learning experiences before, during, and after behavioral incidents to help kids develop self-regulation. Arts Enhancement - opportunities to experience performing arts, visual arts, and music. Community Influence - introducing kids to community projects and advocacy so they can contribute their voice. Ownership Mindset - skills to approach problems, recognize contributions, take responsibility, and implement solutions. ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE CHILDREN'S GUILD ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER Emerging from April's School Counseling Month-as well as the past two years of COVID-it's apparent the national focus on mental health is even more critical. "We need to build the foundation for healthier, more fulfilled, and more resilient youth, and The Children's Guild is making that happen in the greater metro area around the Nation's Capital," said Livelli. "We touch families and lives in meaningful, often highly impactful ways. That commitment has become even more critical in our complex world." The Children's Guild also seeks partnerships and growth opportunities of all kinds. Should you want to learn more or see the work they do in area schools, please contact them anytime at 410.444.3800. For further information, contact: Amy Riemer, Media Relations Representative 978-475-4441 (office) or 978-502-4895 (cell) amy@riemercommunications.com SOURCE: The Children's Guild View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/702851/Mental-Well-Being-Starts-Young Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - NetCents Technology Inc. (CSE: NC) (FSE: 26N) (OTC: NTTCF) ("NetCents" or the "Company"), a cryptocurrency payments company, announces that Ms. Sholeh Atash has resigned as Chief Operating Officer ("COO") of the Company, effective immediately. Ms. Atash was appointed COO in January of this year. We are currently in the process of searching for well-qualified candidates to assume the role of COO. Canada will remain as the Company's tech hub, however, it will continue to focus its executive leadership and business development teams throughout Europe and the United Arab Emirates, where the Company has seen the most success. About Us NetCents Technology Inc., the transactional hub for all cryptocurrency payments, equips forward- thinking businesses with the technology to seamlessly integrate cryptocurrency processing into their payment model without taking on the risk or volatility of the crypto market. NetCents Technology is registered as a Money Services Business (MSB) with FINTRAC. For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.net-cents.com or contact Investor Relations: investor@net-cents.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of NetCents Technology Inc. Clayton Moore Chief Executive Officer, Founder and Director NetCents Technology Inc. 350 - 375 Water Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 5C6 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125450 30 abstracts highlighting key data encompassing the Company's broad oncology clinical portfolio to be presented Not intended for US-, Canada- or UK-based media Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced the latest research representing the Company's innovative oncology portfolio has been accepted for presentation at this year's American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, June 3-7, 2022. Data encompass Company-sponsored, investigator-sponsored, and external collaboration studies. Abstracts to be shared at the meeting include data for the Company's licensed medicines BAVENCIO (avelumab), TEPMETKO (tepotinib) and ERBITUX (cetuximab), and its oncology pipeline. The presentations span key tumor types including advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC), advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), and head and neck cancer (SCCHN). "We look forward to coming together with the scientific community at ASCO 2022, where we will share the latest data from our portfolio, which demonstrate our determination to make a real difference in the lives of patients with some of the most challenging cancers," said Victoria Zazulina, Head of Development Unit, Oncology, for the Healthcare business of Merck. Select presentations include: BAVENCIO (avelumab): New analyses of long-term data from the Phase III JAVELIN Bladder 100 study of BAVENCIO as first-line maintenance treatment in advanced UC, including data from subgroups defined by best response to first-line chemotherapy and in patients who did or did not receive second-line treatment after BAVENCIO maintenance. New analyses of long-term data from the Phase III JAVELIN Bladder 100 study of BAVENCIO as first-line maintenance treatment in advanced UC, including data from subgroups defined by best response to first-line chemotherapy and in patients who did or did not receive second-line treatment after BAVENCIO maintenance. TEPMETKO (tepotinib): Data for the oral MET inhibitor TEPMETKO include two poster presentations from the VISION trial reporting efficacy, safety and quality-of-life results of TEPMETKO in Asian patients with MET ex14 skipping NSCLC, and updated efficacy and safety results of TEPMETKO and exploratory biomarker analyses in patients with NSCLC with high-level MET amplification enrolled into Cohort B of the VISION trial based on liquid biopsy. Data for the oral MET inhibitor TEPMETKO include two poster presentations from the VISION trial reporting efficacy, safety and quality-of-life results of TEPMETKO in Asian patients with ex14 skipping NSCLC, and updated efficacy and safety results of TEPMETKO and exploratory biomarker analyses in patients with NSCLC with high-level amplification enrolled into Cohort B of the VISION trial based on liquid biopsy. ERBITUX (cetuximab): Abstracts from key investigator-sponsored studies (ISS) exploring ERBITUX-based combinations, including the Phase III FIRE-4 study of early switch-maintenance from ERBITUX/FOLFIRI to bevacizumab/5-FU and rechallenge in later lines for RAS wild-type mCRC patients, and the Phase II AVETUXIRI study evaluating BAVENCIO combined with ERBITUX and irinotecan for refractory microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer. Abstracts from key investigator-sponsored studies (ISS) exploring ERBITUX-based combinations, including the Phase III FIRE-4 study of early switch-maintenance from ERBITUX/FOLFIRI to bevacizumab/5-FU and rechallenge in later lines for wild-type mCRC patients, and the Phase II AVETUXIRI study evaluating BAVENCIO combined with ERBITUX and irinotecan for refractory microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer. Berzosertib: Results from research collaborations assessing the intravenous ataxia telangiectasia-mutated and Rad3-related protein kinase (ATR) inhibitor berzosertib, including the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program 9938 Phase I study of berzosertib plus irinotecan in patients with advanced solid tumors and NCI single-arm Phase II data of berzosertib plus topotecan in patients with relapsed extra-pulmonary small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas. Below is a selection of key Merck-related abstracts accepted for presentation at ASCO 2022: Title Lead Author Abstract/# Session Title/Date/Time BAVENCIO (avelumab) Avelumab first-line (1L) maintenance for advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC): long-term outcomes from JAVELIN Bladder 100 in subgroups defined by response to 1L chemotherapy BP Valderrama 4559 Genitourinary Cancer-Kidney and Bladder Saturday, June 4, 2022 1:15 PM-4:15 PM CDT Long-term outcomes in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) who received avelumab first-line (1L) maintenance with or without second-line (2L) treatment: exploratory analyses from JAVELIN Bladder 100 J Bellmunt 4560 Genitourinary Cancer-Kidney and Bladder Saturday, June 4, 2022 1:15 PM-4:15 PM CDT TEPTMETKO (tepotinib) Tepotinib in Asian patients with advanced NSCLC with MET exon 14 (METex14) skipping T Kato 9120 Lung Cancer-Non-Small Cell Metastatic Monday, June 6, 2022 8:00 AM-11:00 AM CDT Clinical response to tepotinib according to circulating tumor (ct) DNA biomarkers in patients with advanced NSCLC with high-level MET amplification (METamp) detected by liquid biopsy (LBx) X Le 9121 Lung Cancer-Non-Small Cell Metastatic Monday, June 6, 2022 8:00 AM-11:00 AM CDT ERBITUX (cetuximab) Randomized study to investigate a switch maintenance concept with 5-FU plus Bevacizumab after FOLFIRI plus Cetuximab induction treatment versus continued treatment with FOLFIRI plus cetuximab: report of a secondary endpoint of the phase-III FIRE-4 study (AIO KRK-0114) S Stintzing 3519 Gastrointestinal Cancer-Colorectal and Anal Saturday, June 4, 2022 8:00 AM 11:00 AM CDT Pipeline Berzosertib (M6620)* Targeting genomic instability in extrapulmonary small cell neuroendocrine cancers: a phase II study with ATR inhibitor berzosertib and topotecan N Takahashi 8518 Lung Cancer-Non-Small Cell Local-Regional/Small Cell/Other Thoracic Cancers Monday, June 6, 2022 Live discussion: 12:26 PM CDT NCI 9938: Phase I clinical trial of ATR inhibitor berzosertib (M6620, VX-970) in combination with irinotecan in patients with advanced solid tumors LC Villaruz 3012 Developmental Therapeutics-Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology Sunday, June 5, 2022 Live Discussion: 4:42 PM CDT These studies are sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, under its Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Merck for M6620. All Merck press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service. Commitment to Cancer Merck is a science-led organization dedicated to delivering transformative medicines with the goal of making a meaningful difference in the lives of people affected by cancer. Our oncology research efforts aim to leverage our synergistic portfolio in oncogenic pathways, immuno-oncology, and DNA Damage Response (DDR) to tackle challenging tumor types in gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and thoracic cancers. Our curiosity drives our pursuit of treatments for even the most complex cancers, as we work to illuminate a path to scientific breakthroughs that transform patient outcomes. Learn more at www.merckgrouponcology.com. About BAVENCIO(avelumab) BAVENCIO is a human anti-programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) antibody. BAVENCIO has been shown in preclinical models to engage both the adaptive and innate immune functions. By blocking the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 receptors, BAVENCIO has been shown to release the suppression of the T cell-mediated antitumor immune response in preclinical models.7-9 In November 2014, Merck and Pfizer announced a strategic alliance to co-develop and co-commercialize BAVENCIO. BAVENCIO Approved Indications The European Commission (EC) has authorized the use of BAVENCIO as monotherapy for the first-line maintenance treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) who are progression-free following platinum-based chemotherapy. BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). BAVENCIO is also authorized by the EC for use as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). In the US, BAVENCIO is indicated for the maintenance treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) that has not progressed with first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy. BAVENCIO is also indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic UC who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib is indicated in the US for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced RCC. Additionally, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for BAVENCIO for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with metastatic MCC. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. BAVENCIO is currently approved for at least one indication for patients in more than 50 countries. BAVENCIO Safety Profile from the EU Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) The special warnings and precautions for use for BAVENCIO monotherapy include infusion-related reactions, as well as immune-related adverse reactions that include pneumonitis and hepatitis (including fatal cases), colitis, pancreatitis (including fatal cases), myocarditis (including fatal cases), endocrinopathies, nephritis and renal dysfunction, and other immune-related adverse reactions. The special warnings and precautions for use for BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib include hepatotoxicity. The SmPC list of the most common adverse reactions with BAVENCIO monotherapy in patients with solid tumors includes fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, constipation, infusion-related reactions, weight decreased and vomiting. The list of most common adverse reactions with BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib includes diarrhea, hypertension, fatigue, nausea, dysphonia, decreased appetite, hypothyroidism, cough, headache, dyspnea, and arthralgia. About TEPMETKO (tepotinib) TEPMETKO is a once-daily oral MET inhibitor that inhibits the oncogenic MET receptor signaling caused by MET (gene) alterations. Discovered and developed in-house at Merck, TEPMETKO has a highly selective mechanism of action, with the potential to improve outcomes in aggressive tumors that have a poor prognosis and harbor these specific alterations. TEPMETKO was the first oral MET inhibitor to receive a regulatory approval anywhere in the world for the treatment of advanced NSCLC harboring MET gene alterations, with its approval in Japan in March 2020. In February 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to TEPMETKO, making it the first and only once-daily oral MET inhibitor approved for patients in the U.S. with metastatic NSCLC with METex14 skipping alterations. Tepotinib is available in a number of countries, and under review by various other regulatory authorities globally. To meet an urgent clinical need, tepotinib is also available in a pilot zone of China in line with the government policy to drive early access for innovative medicines approved outside of China. Merck is also investigating the potential role of tepotinib in treating patients with NSCLC and acquired resistance due to MET amplification in the Phase II INSIGHT 2 study of tepotinib in combination with osimertinib in MET amplified, advanced or metastatic NSCLC harboring activating EGFR mutations that has progressed following first-line treatment with osimertinib. TEPMETKOSafety Profile from the EU Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) The special warnings and precautions for use for TEPMETKO monotherapy include Interstitial lung disease (ILD) or ILD-like adverse reactions including pneumonitis, increase of Liver enzymes (ALT and AST), QTc prolongation, and embryo-foetal toxicity. The most common adverse reactions in 20% of exposed to tepotinib at the recommended dose in the target indication are oedema, mainly peripheral oedema, nausea, hypoalbuminaemia, diarrhoea and increase in creatinine. The most common serious adverse reactions in 1% of patients are peripheral oedema, generalised oedema and ILD. About Berzosertib (M6620) Berzosertib is an investigational, intravenous, potent and selective inhibitor of the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) protein that blocks ATR activity in cells. Berzosertib is the first ATR inhibitor evaluated in a randomized clinical trial in any tumor type, and it is the lead candidate in Merck's DNA Damage Response (DDR) inhibitor portfolio. It is currently being investigated in a number of internal and external studies with early phase I/II data in small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and various solid tumors. Berzosertib, formerly known as VX-970, was licensed from Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2017. Berzosertib is not approved for any use anywhere in the world. About ERBITUX (cetuximab) ERBITUX is an IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). As a monoclonal antibody, the mode of action of ERBITUX is distinct from standard non-selective chemotherapy treatments in that it specifically targets and binds to the EGFR. This binding inhibits the activation of the receptor and the subsequent signal-transduction pathway, which results in reducing both the invasion of normal tissues by tumor cells and the spread of tumors to new sites. It is also believed to inhibit the ability of tumor cells to repair the damage caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy and to inhibit the formation of new blood vessels inside tumors, which appears to lead to an overall suppression of tumor growth. Based on in vitro evidence, ERBITUX also targets cytotoxic immune effector cells towards EGFR-expressing tumor cells (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity [ADCC]). ERBITUX has already obtained market authorization in over 100 countries worldwide for the treatment of RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer and for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Merck licensed the right to market ERBITUX, a registered trademark of ImClone LLC, outside the U.S. and Canada from ImClone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, in 1998. About Merck Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. Around 61,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices the company is everywhere. In 2021, Merck generated sales of 19.7 billion in 66 countries. Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220525005719/en/ Contacts: Noelle Piscitelli Noelle.Piscitelli@emdserono.com Phone: +1 781 427-4351 Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares For immediate release 26 May 2022 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announces that it has today purchased 125,000 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 781.11p per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company. The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 9 February 2022. Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 3,075,340; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 221,915,963. The figure of 221,915,963 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. For and on behalf of Frostrow Capital LLP Company Secretary For further information, please contact: Victoria Hale Frostrow Capital LLP Tel: 020 3 170 8732 57% of CFOs report their organisation has been hit by a ransomware attack, but only 12% are actively involved in determining the risk and protecting their organisation from cyber threats. An average of 3 million was paid per attack to ransomware groups, four times the sum expected by those who have not been hit. 56% of CFOs say their organisation paid a ransom for the return of data. One-third admit that the business didn't receive their data in return. 69% of CFOs think that the board doesn't take cyber and associated risks seriously enough. LONDON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Deep Instinct , the first company to apply end-to-end deep learning to cybersecurity, today revealed new research highlighting the role executive leadership teams play in their organisations' cyber defenses. The independent survey was conducted by Sapio Research and engaged over 200 CEOs, senior financial, and IT security decision-makers working at mid to large enterprises in the UK. The findings laid bare the disconnect in how senior management teams collaborate and determine the risks and impact on their operations when hit by a cyber-attack. CFOs are struggling to play their part in the risk assessment of cyber-attacks on the financial health of their organisations with only 12% of CFOs actively involved in the process. This exclusion has caused confidence to plummet amongst financial leaders, with only 14% of CFOs stating that their business is well-prepared and could withstand a cyber-attack. This implies a significant perception disconnect compared with the 63% of CEOs who feel they are well-prepared. Additionally, there is a large gap between CFO's estimates of ransomware demands and the reality of ransomware payments. Despite respondents saying they would only pay, on average, a ransom of around 760,000, the reality is that those survey respondents that did pay ransoms paid more than 3 million, four times higher than predicted. Moreover, for those that paid ransom demands, only 32% were able to recover their data - showing that positive outcomes are far from certain even when cooperating with bad actors. The research also revealed that studious financial planning is essential to gain a clear picture of the monetary risks that come from cyber-attacks. Only 38% of respondents cited that they are confident in placing a monetary value on the data within their organisation, as well as calculating the potential impact of its loss. Worse, 48% gave answers that reveal a lack of accurate assessments, or no assessments at all. According to Heather Bellini, Chief Financial Officer at Deep Instinct, "Cyber criminals and organisations usually have a common goal - financial reward - and each day a new ransomware attack hits the headlines one of the first questions amongst executives is, 'how much is it going to cost to get back the data?' It is vital for organisations to take the task of quantifying the financial risk of cyber-attacks seriously and ensure it is accurate, otherwise they can fall into the trap of having a false sense of security and being blase when it comes to the true cost." She continues, "This is why it is so important that all senior and strategic roles within the business have an active and equal responsibility in ensuring their business is resilient and well prepared. We talk in the industry about breaking down siloes and cybersecurity no longer being the sole remit of the IT team, but this isn't translating into meaningful action. Until this changes, organisations will continue to be counting the costs of breaches and lining the pockets of cyber criminals." It should come as no surprise that ransomware attacks have a significant impact on business continuity. Nearly two-thirds (61%) of all respondents admitted their business has been hit by a ransomware attack, with 56% paying the ransom. In 29% of the cases where a ransom was paid, the CEO made the decision while the CFO made the decision in just 14% of situations. Says Guy Caspi, CEO of Deep Instinct, "While it may be shocking to see how prevalent and successful ransomware attacks are, I believe we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. With nearly two-thirds of organisations admitting to being hit by ransomware, you can't help but wonder how many have stayed under the radar, especially when it continues to be so profitable for attackers." "From a corporate governance perspective, much more needs to be done to ensure that all stakeholders are truly cognizant of not only the risks to their business, but also in the full potential of financial and other business impacts that come from being successfully attacked. It is not enough to assume that your stack of security solutions checks a box and your responsibility is done. Having confidence in your organisations' ability to block attacks should come from knowing that malicious malware is stopped before it can encrypt, protecting your environment, your customers, your brand, and your bottom line." To get your copy of Dangerous Disconnects: The Pitfalls of CFO and CISO Cyber Risk Misalignment, please click here. Research Methodology The quantitative survey was conducted among 201 senior financial and senior IT security decision makers in companies with more than 250 employees in the UK. Results are accurate to 6.9% at 95% confidence limits assuming a result of 50%. The interviews were conducted online by Sapio Research in April and May, 2022 using an email invitation and an online survey. The qualitative research was conducted through eight in-depth interviews (IDIs) with CFOs, CROs, and senior risk and financial roles. The interviews lasted up to 45 minutes. About Deep Instinct Deep instinct takes a prevention-first approach to stopping ransomware and other malware using the world's first and only purpose-built, deep learning cybersecurity framework. We predict and prevent known, unknown, and zero-day threats in <20 milliseconds, 750X faster than the fastest ransomware can encrypt. Deep Instinct has >99% zero-day accuracy and promises a <0.1% false positive rate. The Deep Instinct Prevention Platform is an essential addition to every security stack-providing complete, multi-layered protection against threats across hybrid environments. For more, visit www.deepinstinct.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826994/Deep_Instinct_Logo.jpg Keith Krach and former Estonian president Kersti Kaljulaid will lead nonpartisan commission of international leaders to develop global tech security strategy to counter techno-authoritarianism The Atlantic Council and Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue announce the launch of the nonpartisan Global Tech Security Commission to safeguard freedom from technological authoritarianism. The Commission is co-chaired by Keith Krach, chairman and co-founder of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue and former US Under Secretary of State; and Kersti Kaljulaid, former president of Estonia. It will develop a global tech security strategy designed to rally and unify like-minded countries, leverage the innovation and resources of the private sector, and build a global network to develop, protect, and adopt trusted technologies. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005646/en/ Keith Krach, Chairman, Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue (left), Kersti Kaljulaid, Former President of Estonia, and Alan Estevez, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security (Photo: Business Wire) The Global Tech Security Commission unites an international network of multi-sector stakeholders and has the support of lawmakers and private-sector leaders. It comes at a time when the United States is working to unite its Transatlantic and Indo-Pacific allies and partners across a range of critical technology issues in the face of rising authoritarianism around the world. "The key to securing freedom for the next generation is securing technology. Tomorrow's tech must be trusted tech developed and protected by a Global Trust Network of like-minded countries, companies, and individuals who respect the rule of law, human rights, labor practices, national sovereignty, and the environment," said Keith Krach. The former US Under Secretary of State and CEO of DocuSign and Ariba continued, "I am honored to be joined in this critical mission by Kersti Kaljulaid, a widely respected transformational leader, and a distinguished group of multinational, multi-sector visionaries." "We will win," Kaljulaid said at the Commission's May 25 announcement event, "But for us to safely mine the technology pool created by the great minds of our private sector companies, we have to have standards, agreements." She concluded, "Nobody must be able to blow up what we trust in technology, and for that indeed we need the Global Tech Security Commission." Three factors make the Commission's scope uniquely strategic for countering techno-authoritarian threats. First, the Commissionwillfocus on in-depth strategies in 17 critical tech sectors and integrate them into an overarching Global Tech Security Strategy. Second, the scope will be global and private-sector-led, with commissioners from international companies and institutions representing more than a dozen countries as part of democracies' common effort to compete in emerging technologies. Third, while previous commissions have primarily focused on analysis of problems with recommendations limited to defensive policies, the Global Tech Security Commission will integrate offensive and defense strategies while beginning to build the Global Tech Trust Network, define overarching Tech Trust Standards, and accelerate the adoption of trusted technology. "The Atlantic Council has for six decades rallied democratic allies and partners around the world, and our new era of technological threats and opportunities calls for innovative approaches," said Frederick Kempe, President and CEO of the Atlantic Council. "The Krach Institute's new model of transformational tech diplomacy based on the 'Trust Principle' makes it the ideal partner for the Atlantic Council and the Global Tech Security Commission." The coordinator for the effort will be David Shullman, Atlantic Council Global China Hub senior director and former Deputy National Intelligence Officer for East Asia. The Global Tech Security Commission was formally announced at a public event on May 25-featuring a headline fireside chat between Keith Krach and U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce Alan Estevez and a special appearance from President Kaljulaid. Shullman, along with Bonnie Glick, Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue director and former deputy administrator and chief operating officer of the US Agency for International Development, offered remarks. To keep up with the Commission's latest developments, subscribe to the Global China Hub and Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue, and visit GTSCommission.org. About Atlantic Council Driven by our mission of "shaping the global future together," the Atlantic Council is a nonpartisan organization that galvanizes US leadership and engagement in the world, in partnership with allies and partners, to shape solutions to global challenges. The Atlantic Council's Global China Hub researches and devises allied solutions to three of the greatest challenges posed by China's rise: 1) China's growing influence on countries, global institutions, and democratic values; 2) the global ramifications of political and economic change in Xi Jinping's China; and 3) China's drive to dominate emerging technologies and consequences for individual rights and privacy. About the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue: The nonpartisan Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue is the world's preeminent institution focused on Tech Statecraft, a new model of diplomacy that bridges the high-tech sector with the foreign policy and national security sectors to ensure trusted technology is used to advance freedom.? The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy is a 501(c)(3) that leverages Purdue's strength in innovation, deep expertise in technology, and global prowess in educating transformational leaders. It focuses on rallying our allies, leveraging the innovation of the private sector, and amplifying democratic values based on trust. For more information, go to techdiplomacy.org. Follow the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue on Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Please contact press@atlanticcouncil.org and techdiplomacy@prf.org for media inquiries about the Global Tech Security Commission. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005646/en/ Contacts: Alex Kisling press@atlanticcouncil.org James Nash techdiplomacy@prf.org By Troy Stangarone In the lead up to Joe Biden's recent trip to South Korea, Washington and Seoul agreed to establish a dialogue channel on economic security. For much of the last few years, the United States has largely focused on how to improve its own economic security. But for the new initiative to succeed it will need to work both ways. Economic security is a concept that stresses that economic issues are also national security issues. Trump's trade war with China was partially driven by the idea that the United States needed to restore its manufacturing base and prevent China from gaining dominance in critical technologies for national security reasons. The underpinnings of economic security have also been reinforced by the supply chain disruptions during the pandemic. As the United States struggled to gain access to face masks and test kits early in the pandemic, first the Trump administration and now the Biden administration have sought to bring supply chains closer to the United States or more deeply enmesh them with allies to better insulate the U.S. economy against future economic disruptions or health crises. Since the Biden administration completed its economic security driven initial supply chain review, South Korea has been viewed as an important partner to shore up U.S. production capacity in electric vehicle batteries and semiconductors. The United States lacks the manufacturing capacity to produce the volume of semiconductors it needs. The same is true for the number of batteries necessary to meet the Biden administration's goal for half of all new passenger vehicles sold in the United States to be electric vehicles by 2030. When South Korean firms like Samsung agree to invest in the development of new production facilities in the United States, such as its $17 billion plant in Taylor, Texas, it increases production capacity in the United States, shortening supply chains. The same is true for electric vehicle batteries. South Korean firms in joint ventures or on their own are constructing 11 of the 13 high-capacity battery plants being built in the United States between now and 2025. While the U.S. benefits, South Korean firms do as well. After facing restrictions in China, for example, partnering with the United States provides a robust market for South Korean electric vehicle batteries and supports efforts by South Korea to becoming a major player in a rapidly shifting industry. However, efforts to enhance economic security that largely focus on the United States are less likely to be successful than a true two-way collaboration. Semiconductors and electric vehicle batteries may be important components in U.S. products, but they also have supply chains that need to be secured. Take semiconductors as an example. Semiconductors have been in short supply during the pandemic. That has slowed the production of products ranging from consumer electronics to automobiles. This is largely due to an increase in global demand for products that utilize semiconductors and an inability to quickly scale up production. Building new capacity takes time, but securing access to the machinery, chemicals, and other inputs needed to produce semiconductors will be critical, and the challenge will not always be supply chains through countries less friendly to the United States. In 2019, Japan put in place new export restrictions for fluorine polyimide, hydrogen fluoride, and photoresists chemicals critical to the production of semiconductors. In the end, Japan did not cut off South Korea's access to these key chemicals, but the pandemic has previewed the production disruptions that could have occurred if Tokyo had. South Korea has taken steps to address this vulnerability in its supply chain, including investment from the U.S. chemical firm DuPont, but it still imports significant quantities of these chemicals from Japan. These concerns may decrease if relations between South Korea and Japan improve, but it is incumbent upon the United States to do more than it did in 2019 to make sure key inputs continue to flow should tensions rise again. Supply chains for electric vehicle batteries are similarly challenging. South Korea imports more than 60 percent of its cobalt oxide a key input for battery cathodes from China which dominates both the mining and refining of cobalt. China plays a similar global role in many other key minerals. In time the United States and South Korea may be able to develop alternative mining and processing facilities to meet a significant portion of materials they will need, but Japan's own experience in this field suggests it could take a decade or more. After South Korea's experience with China over THAAD, the United States will need to be more prepared to assist with Chinese economic coercion as well. For the United States to enhance its own economic security, it needs to work closely with South Korea to enhance Seoul's. At times, this may mean making it clear to other allies that certain actions are not in the interest of any of the parties, while in others it will require the United States to work with South Korea to develop alternative supply chains that reduce the dependence of both countries on a single supplier. Working together, the United States and South Korea can help to improve both countries' economic security, but only if they work to improve both countries supply chains. Troy Stangarone (ts@keia.org) is the senior director of congressional affairs and trade at the Korea Economic Institute. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - This report details the most recent portfolio holdings for Precious Metal Managed Funds and summarizes changes in portfolio holdings. A Copy of the Full Report is Available to Read by Following the Link Below: https://MineralFunds.com/portfolio-holdings-update-may-2022 Gold & Precious Metal Funds included in this report: Domicile Fund Name Fund Fees Funds Reporting Monthly USA Fidelity Select Gold Fund Summary USA Sprott Gold Equity Fund Summary USA VanEck International Investors Gold Fund Summary USA USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund Summary USA Franklin Gold & Precious Metals Fund Summary USA VanEck VIP Global Gold Fund Summary Funds Reporting Annually / Semi Annually USA Allspring Precious Metals Fund Summary Luxembourg BAKERSTEEL Precious Metals Fund Summary Luxembourg Konwave Gold Equity Fund Summary Luxembourg CPR Invest - Global Gold Mines Summary Luxembourg Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund (Lux) Summary Luxembourg Deutsche Invest I Gold & Precious Metals Equities Summary Luxembourg Schroder International Selection Fund Global Gold Summary Luxembourg STABILITAS Pacific Gold+Metals Summary Luxembourg DJE Gold & Ressourcen Summary Luxembourg iW Precious Metal Mining Equities Summary Luxembourg Landolt Investment (Lux) SICAV - Gold Summary Luxembourg STABILITAS Gold+Ressourcen Special Situations Summary Luxembourg NESTOR Gold Fund Summary Luxembourg Crossinvest Metals and Mining Equity Summary Luxembourg Konwave Sustainable Gold Equity Fund Summary UK ES Baker Steel Gold and Precious Metals Fund Summary UK Junior Gold and Silver Miners Fund Summary France Tocqueville Gold Fund Summary ATTRIBUTION ANALYSIS: A portfolio holding ' attribution analysis ' is undertaken on the portfolios of every gold fund that reports full asset allocations monthly, and on any fund that reports with assets in excess of USD $1billion. The analysis includes a list of any companies which are new to a portfolio, and also a list of companies which have been completely sold from or 'dropped' from a portfolio. The summary below outlines which companies have been added, and are new, to a given portfolio and which companies have been sold from, and are no longer held by, a given portfolio. FUNDS REPORTING MONTHLY Fidelity Select Gold Fund 31.Mar.2022 Sprott Gold Equity Fund 31.Mar.2022 Added Dropped Added Dropped Freeport-McMoran Inc. Evolution Mining Corvus Gold Inc. Kinross Gold Corp. Victoria Gold Corp. Hochschild Mining WestGold Resources Pretium Resources Inc. (Acquired) Largest Position: Largest Position: Newmont Corp. (NYSE: NEM) 15.86% Gold Bullion 11.18% VanEck International Investors Gold Fund 30. Apr.2022 USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund 31.Mar.2022 Added Dropped Added Dropped Shandong Gold Mining Co Novagold Resources Inc. Newcrest Mining Ltd. Golden Star Resources Ltd. Kirkland Lake Gold Largest Position: Largest Position: Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (TSX: AEM) 9.41% Newmont Corp. (NYSE: NEM) 14.59% Franklin Gold & Precious Metals Fund (USA) 30. Apr.2022 VanEck VIP Global Gold Fund 30. Apr.2022 Added Dropped Added Dropped Aston Minerals Ltd. Monarch Mining Corp. Solstice Minerals Ltd. TDG Gold Corp. Largest Position: Largest Position: Endeavour Mining PLC (TSX: EDVM) 5.10% Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (TSX: AEM) 9.31% ATTRIBUTION ANALYSIS FUNDS REPORTING MONTHLY Fidelity Select Gold Fund largest holding, Newmont Corp. (NYSE: NEM), increased significantly over the month from $264.8 M USD to 317.8M USD (an increase of $53.4M USD) representing 15.8% of the Fund's total holdings on 31 March 2022 up from 15.1% on 28 February 2022. This is perceived to be defensive positioning in advance of medium-term gold mining share capital market contractions. During the same month, the Fidelity Select Gold Fund completely sold its position in Kinross Gold Corp. (TSX: K), a holding which on 28 February 2022 had been valued at $24.9M USD. The Fund liquidated its entire Kinross holding before the April-May selloff took shares from above $8.00 in early April 2022 to below $5.25 in early May 2022. During the month of March 2022, the Fidelity Select Gold Fund increased the relative size of its holdings in: Lundin Gold, Inc. (TSX: LUG) from $24.2M USD (1.38%) to $33.4M USD (1.67%), Skeena Resources Ltd. (TSX: SKE) from $20.8M USD (1.19%) to $27.8M USD (1.39%) and i-80 Gold Corp. (TSX: IAU) from $21.7M USD (1.24%) to $27.5M USD (1.38%). The Fund also purchased an entirely new position in Artemis Gold, Inc. (TSXV: ARTG) valued at $19.9M USD and representing (.99%) of the total portfolio at month end on 31 March 2022. Artemis Gold, Inc. is beginning pre-construction work on the 'Blackwater' project in Central British Columbia and is expected to receive the BC Mines Act Permit by early Fall of 2022. VanEck International Investors Gold Fund reduced holdings for 14 of 43 positions in the portfolio to address portfolio redemptions and a reduction in Fund size. 28 of 43 portfolio holdings remained unchanged and only one portfolio holding increased in size over the month. On 31 March 2022, the portfolio held 9,185,099 shares of Benchmark Metals, Inc. (TSXV: BNCH) representing 0.8% of the portfolio. On 30 April 2022, this position had increased to 10,463,099 shares representing 0.86% of the portfolio. This position increase did not come from warrant exercise as the portfolio continues to hold unexercised warrants. Benchmark Metals Inc. (TSXV: BNCH) has completed 18,000 meters of drilling and is expecting to release a new PEA study for the company's 'Lawyer's Gold & Silver Project' by July of this year. USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund largest holding, Newmont Corp. (NYSE: NEM), remained unchanged at 1,267,934 shares valued at $100,737,356 USD representing 14.6% of the portfolio on 31 March 2022. The Fund significantly increased its holding of Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (TSX: AEM) from 431,673 shares to 915,857 shares valued at $56,050,448 USD and representing 8.1% of the portfolio on 31 March 2022. The Fund's shares of Pretium Resources Inc. (TSX: PVG) valued at $7,867,504 USD on 31 Dec 2021 were converted to Newcrest Mining Ltd (TSX: NCM) pursuant to acquisition and the position size was reduced to 3,786,833 USD representing 0.55% of the portfolio on 31 March 2022. Russia Exposure for: USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund On 24 February 2022 (date of Russia's invasion of Ukraine) USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund held 62,088 shares of PJSC Polyus (MCX: PLZL), Russia's biggest gold mining company, a position which had been valued at $10,832,283 USD on 31 December 2021. On 31 March 2022 the Fund continued to hold 62,088 shares of PJSC Polyus which had been revalued down to $350,332 USD (a write down of $10.48M USD for the quarter). On 31 December 2021 USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund held 613,760 shares of Polymetal International PLC (LON: POLY) (MCX: POLY) valued at $10,893,403 USD. Polymetal International PLC is listed in London and Moscow and holds a portfolio of gold and silver mines in Russia, Kazakhstan and Russian controlled Armenia. During Q.1 of 2022 the Fund increased its holdings of Polymetal International PLC (LON: POLY) (MCX: POLY) to 757,840 shares, but this position had a decrease in value to $3,058,712 USD on 31 March 2022 (a write down of $7,834,691 USD for the quarter). USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund wrote down a combined $18.3M USD (~3% of portfolio NAV) on two Russian gold mining company investments in Q.1 of 2022. FUNDS REPORTING WITH AUM > 1B USD BAKERSTEEL Precious Metals Fund 31.Dec.2021 Added Dropped Northern Star Resources Ltd. First Majestic Silver Corp. Pretium Resources Inc. (Acquired) Largest Position: Kinross Gold Corp. (TSX: K) 5.07% ATTRIBUTION ANALYSIS FUNDS REPORTING WITH AUM > $1B USD BAKERSTEEL Precious Metals Fund assets exceeded $1B USD for the first time as reported on 31 December 2021 and so the Fund is now included in Attribution Analysis Funds Reporting with AUM > $1B USD . Between June and December 2021, a substantial portfolio sector re-allocation was directed towards Australia. Assets invested in Australia increased from 13.5% of the Fund on 30 June 2021 to 21% on 31 December 2021. Increases were made to all Australian holdings with a substantial new position valued at 34.02 M EUR (3.95% of the portfolio) initiated in Northern Star Resources Ltd. (ASX: NST) which has operations in West Australia and Alaska. The Fund's largest holding on 31 December 2021 was Kinross Gold Corporation (TSX: K) a position which was valued at 43.7 M EUR (5.07% of the portfolio). On 30 Jun 2021 the Fund's largest position had been Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. (TSX: KL) which subsequently completed a merger with Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (TSX: AEM). During the period the Fund reduced exposure to silver mining selling out completely from its holding of First Majestic Silver Corp. (TSX: FR) which supported a position valued at 8.79 M EUR on 31 June 2021 and reducing its holding of Mag Silver Corp. (TSX: MAG) from 566,000 shares (valued at 9.6 M EUR) to 283,000 shares (valued at 3.8 M EUR). Russia Exposure for: BAKERSTEEL Precious Metals Fund On 30 June 2021 the Fund held 213,700 shares of PJSC Polyus (MCX: PLZL), Russia's biggest gold mining company, a position valued at 17.2 M EUR. On 31 December 2021 the Fund continued to hold 213,700 shares valued at 16.3 M EUR. On 30 June 2021 the Fund held 1,431,000 shares of Polymetal International PLC (LON: POLY) (MCX: POLY) valued at 26.0 M EUR. On 31 December 2021 the Fund had significantly reduced this holding to 693,000 shares valued at 10.6 M EUR The Fund had a combined exposure of 26.9 M EUR (~3% of portfolio NAV) to two Russian gold mining company investments on 31 December 2021. A complete list of Precious Metal Managed Funds and their respective portfolio holdings can be found at: https://mineralfunds.com/gold-funds/ About MineralFunds.com MineralFunds.com provides prices, performance and trade information for all the world's metal ETFs including Precious Metals, Battery Metals, Platinum Group Metals and Base Metals and comprehensive fund information, including asset allocations, for Gold & Precious Metals Managed Funds from all international investment jurisdictions. For further information please contact: (416) 525 - 6869 manager@mineralprices.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125446 VICTOR, N.Y., May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B), a leading beverage alcohol company, announced today that Garth Hankinson, chief financial officer, will present at the 2022 RBC Capital Markets Global Consumer and Retail Conference on Thursday, June 2, 2022 in Boston, MA. The presentation is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. ET and is expected to cover the company's strategic business initiatives, financial metrics, and operating performance, as well as outlook for the future. A live, listen-only webcast of the presentation will be available on the company's website at ir.cbrands.comunder the News & Eventssection. When the presentation begins, financial information discussed in the presentation, and a reconciliation of reportedsection. For anyone unable to participate in the webcast, a replay will be available on the company's website through the close of business on July 1, 2022. ABOUT CONSTELLATION BRANDS At Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B), our mission is to build brands that people love because we believe sharing a toast, unwinding after a day, celebrating milestones, and helping people connect, are Worth Reaching For. It's worth our dedication, hard work, and the bold calculated risks we take to deliver more for our consumers, trade partners, shareholders, and communities in which we live and work. It's what has made us one of the fastest-growing large CPG companies in the U.S. at retail, and it drives our pursuit to deliver what's next. Today, we are a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. Every day, people reach for our high-end, iconic imported beer brands such as Corona Extra, Corona Light, Corona Premier, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, and Pacifico, our fine wine and craft spirits brands, including The Prisoner Wine Company, Robert Mondavi Winery, Casa Noble Tequila, and High West Whiskey, and our premium wine brands such as Meiomi, and Kim Crawford. But we won't stop here. Our visionary leadership team and passionate employees from barrel room to boardroom are reaching for the next level, to explore the boundaries of the beverage alcohol industry and beyond. Join us in discovering what's Worth Reaching For. To learn more, follow us on Twitter @cbrandsand visit www.cbrands.com. 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/817afb35-6df1-4d15-913f-bbceeeaff2db LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / Gabriel Resources Ltd. (TSXV:GBU) ("Gabriel" or the "Company") announces the publication of its First Quarter Financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis Report for the period ended March 31, 2022. Summary Gabriel and its wholly-owned indirect subsidiary, Gabriel Resources (Jersey) Ltd. (together " Claimants ") remain focused on concluding their arbitration case against the Romanian State (" Respondent ") under the rules of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (" ICSID "), part of the World Bank (" ICSID Arbitration "). The ICSID Arbitration case is well advanced. In December 2021, the President of the arbitral tribunal (" Tribunal ") stated that the Tribunal was deliberating and would render an arbitral award (" Award ") in 2022. In January 2022, the Tribunal confirmed that, in due course, it would revert to the Claimants and Respondent (together " Parties ") about the possibility and timing of any further questions for the Parties to respond to and/or any requirement for an additional oral hearing in the case. In April 2022, the Tribunal issued a limited list of further questions to the Parties, with the purpose of having a complete record when it concludes its deliberations on the case as a whole and prepares the Award. The Claimants and Respondent submissions responding to the Tribunal's questions are to be filed by June 14 and August 15, 2022, respectively. Notwithstanding the Tribunal's statement that it would render an Award in 2022, there is no specified timeframe in the ICSID Rules applicable to this case in which an Award is to be made by the Tribunal. ") remain focused on concluding their arbitration case against the Romanian State (" ") under the rules of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (" "), part of the World Bank (" "). The ICSID Arbitration case is well advanced. In November 2021, an agreement was concluded for the sale of the remaining mining equipment owned by the Gabriel group (" Group ") for US$1.75 million (approx. $2.2 million) and initial payments of US$0.625 million in aggregate were received prior to the 2021-year end. Further instalments totaling US$0.375 million were received in the first quarter of 2022, with additional monthly instalments due until September 2022. ") for US$1.75 million (approx. $2.2 million) and initial payments of US$0.625 million in aggregate were received prior to the 2021-year end. Further instalments totaling US$0.375 million were received in the first quarter of 2022, with additional monthly instalments due until September 2022. In February 2022, an agreement was concluded for the sale of certain land and buildings owned by the Group in Alba Iulia, Romania for EUR 1 million (approx. $1.45 million), of which EUR 750,000 was received prior to March 31, 2022 and the balance was received on April 19, 2022. The net loss for the first quarter of 2022 was $0.9 million (Q4 2021 $2.2 million). As at March 31, 2022, the Company held $2.3 million of cash and cash equivalents (Q4 2021 $3.3 million). On May 24, 2022, the Company announced a non-brokered private placement (the " 2022 Private Placement ") of up to 33,105,117 common shares of the Company (" Common Shares ") at a price of $0.215 each for gross proceeds of up to US$5.6 million (approximately $7.1 million). ") of up to 33,105,117 common shares of the Company (" ") at a price of $0.215 each for gross proceeds of up to US$5.6 million (approximately $7.1 million). On the basis that the 2022 Private Placement completes, the Company believes that it has sufficient funding necessary to cover its planned activities through to March 2023 and will need to raise additional financing thereafter to fund ICSID Arbitration costs and working capital requirements. Dragos Tanase, Gabriel's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: "We are focused on addressing the questions of the Tribunal in the hope that this will be the last substantive written submission to be made in the case and an Award can be issued within 2022, as indicated by the Tribunal in December 2021. Our immediate goal is to complete the announced private placement to finance the continued operations of Gabriel for the short term and then to assess the strategic direction of the business post Award." Further information and commentary on the results in the first quarter of 2022 is given below. The Company has filed its Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for Q1 2022 and related Management's Discussion & Analysis on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and each is available for review on the Company's website at www.gabrielresources.com. For information on this press release, please contact: Dragos Tanase President & CEO Phone: +40 730 399 019 dt@gabrielresources.com Richard Brown Chief Financial Officer Mobile: +44 7748 760276 richard.brown@gabrielresources.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Further Information Status of the ICSID Arbitration The ICSID Arbitration seeks compensation for all of the loss and damage suffered by the Claimants resulting from the Respondent's wrongful conduct and its breaches of the protections afforded by certain treaties for the promotion and protection of foreign investment to which Romania is a party, including against expropriation, unfair and inequitable treatment, discrimination and other unlawful treatment in respect of the Ro?ia Montana gold and silver project, together with the gold, silver and porphyry copper deposits defined in the Bucium concession area (" Projects ") and related licenses. ") and related licenses. Subsequent to the filing of written pleadings in April 2021 (" Post-Hearing Briefs "), the Claimants and Respondent filed their submissions on October 29, 2021 and December 6, 2021 respectively in relation to: (i) the July 27, 2021 inscription of the Rosia Montana mining landscape on the UNESCO World Heritage List and List of World Heritage in Danger (" Inscription "); and (ii) the decision of Romania's Buzau Tribunal dated December 10, 2020 rejecting a legal challenge to the second archaeological discharge certificate issued for the Carnic massif. "), the Claimants and Respondent filed their submissions on October 29, 2021 and December 6, 2021 respectively in relation to: (i) the July 27, 2021 inscription of the Rosia Montana mining landscape on the UNESCO World Heritage List and List of World Heritage in Danger (" "); and (ii) the decision of Romania's Buzau Tribunal dated December 10, 2020 rejecting a legal challenge to the second archaeological discharge certificate issued for the Carnic massif. In late December 2021, the President of the Tribunal stated that the Tribunal was currently deliberating and would render an Award in 2022. In January 2022, the Tribunal further confirmed to the Parties that the Tribunal had been thoroughly reviewing the case file and deliberating over the past months, and would continue to do so and, in due course, would revert to the Parties about the possibility and timing of any further questions for the Parties to respond to and/or any additional oral hearing. In April 2022, the Tribunal informed the Parties that, since the filing of the Post-Hearing Briefs, it had held numerous deliberations in order to reach a decision on the claims and defenses in the matter and had concluded that there were certain aspects of the case for which it needs further information. Therefore, the Tribunal issued a limited list of further questions to the Parties, with the purpose of having a complete record when it concludes its deliberations on the case as a whole and prepares the Award. The Parties have been invited to file their submissions responding to the questions by June 14, 2022 for Claimants and by August 15, 2022 for the Respondent (or on a schedule to be agreed upon by the Parties). The Tribunal also reserved the possibility of an additional round of submissions by the parties on the questions if it considered the same to be necessary following its review of the first round of pleadings. Notwithstanding the Tribunal's statement that it would render an Award in 2022, there is no specified timeframe in the ICSID Rules applicable to this case in which an Award is to be made by the Tribunal. Furthermore, an additional procedural step may be required by the Tribunal prior to the issuance of an Award and any Award may be subject to a request for annulment (albeit such annulment application can only be made on very limited grounds under the ICSID Rules). UNESCO World Heritage The Inscription is fundamentally incompatible with the rights the Group acquired to develop the Project and the continued existence of an exploitation mining license for the Project area and materially undermines the possibility of an amicable resolution of the dispute with Romania that would allow for the development of the Project. Romania's application to UNESCO and the subsequent Inscription are fundamentally at odds with Romania's obligations under its investment treaties in relation to Gabriel's investments and these acts, together with other measures taken by Romania, further evidence Romania's political repudiation of the Project and its joint venture with Gabriel. Liquidity Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2022 were $2.3 million. The Company's average monthly cash usage during Q1 2022 was $0.3 million (Q4 2021: $0.5 million), the decrease primarily reflecting the consistent level of ongoing operational cost and limited ICSID Arbitration activity quarter on quarter, offset by cash receipts from the sale of land at Recea and long lead-time equipment noted below. At March 31, 2022, accruals for costs in respect of the ICSID Arbitration amounted to $3.7 million (Q4 2021: $3.7 million), reflecting the continuation of a fee agreement in respect of the deferred payment of certain ICSID Arbitration costs until an Award is issued. Sale of Long Lead Time Equipment ("LLTE") As previously announced, on November 1, 2021 Ro?ia Montana Gold Corporation S.A. ("RMGC"), Gabriel's 80.69%-owned Romanian subsidiary, concluded an agreement with a buyer for an instalment-based purchase of the remaining LLTE for aggregate gross proceeds of US$1.75 million (approx. $2.2 million). Aggregate payments of US$1 million (approx.$1.25 million) were received prior to March 31, 2022. Further instalments have been paid in Q2 2022 and remain due in the period to September 2022. The carrying amount of the LLTE was written down to its fair value less costs of sale as at December 31, 2021 and the LLTE will remain on the balance sheet of the Company until the final payment is made, when ownership and title to the assets will pass to the purchaser. Sale of Land at Recea On February 25, 2022, RMGC concluded a definitive sale and purchase agreement for the sale of 93 plots of land covering a total area of 68,229 sqm and a small number of buildings owned by RMGC as part of the housing construction undertaken in the Recea resettlement neighborhood of Alba Iulia (" Recea Land "). Following the impairment of all Project related assets held as "mineral properties" in the consolidated statement of financial position as at December 2015, the Recea Land is held at nil book value on the balance sheet of the Company. "). Following the impairment of all Project related assets held as "mineral properties" in the consolidated statement of financial position as at December 2015, the Recea Land is held at nil book value on the balance sheet of the Company. The agreed sale price is EUR 1,000,000 (approx. $1.45 million), to be received by RMGC in RON. A deposit of EUR 200,000 was received by RMGC on February 7, 2022 and EUR 550,000 was received in March 2022. The final instalment of EUR 250,000 was received on April 19, 2022. Capital Resources Private Placement On May 24, 2022, the Company announced the 2022 Private Placement of up to 33,105,117 Common Shares at a price of $0.215 each for gross proceeds of up to US$ 5.6 million (approximately $ 7.1 million). The closing of the 2022 Private placement is subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and the receipt of all other applicable approvals and is expected to complete on or about June 20, 2022. The Company will use the proceeds from the 2022 Private Placement to finance the ongoing costs of the ICSID Arbitration and for general working capital requirements. Future Financing Requirements The Company believes that, assuming completion of the 2022 Private Placement and taking into account the fee agreement in respect of the deferral of payment of certain ICSID Arbitration costs, the final instalment received from the sale of the Recea Land and the proceeds receivable from the sale of the LLTE, it has sufficient cash to enable the Group to fund general working capital requirements together with the material estimated costs associated with the Company advancing the ICSID Arbitration through to March 2023. At that time Gabriel may still await an Award from the Tribunal, as there can be no assurances that the ICSID Arbitration will advance in a customary or predictable manner or be completed or settled within any specific or reasonable period of time and further procedural steps may be required to be completed prior to the issuance of an Award. Accordingly, post March 2023 the Group will require further funding in order to pursue the long-term activities required to see the ICSID Arbitration through to its conclusion (which may include, as appropriate, costs of any potential annulment proceedings and/or costs of enforcement of any Award) and for general working capital purposes, including to preserve its remaining assets, including the exploitation license for the Rosia Montana Project (" License ") and associated rights and permits. ") and associated rights and permits. Notwithstanding the Company's recent and historic funding, there is a risk that sufficient additional financing may not be available to the Company on acceptable terms, or at all. There is no assurance that the Company will be successful in completing the 2022 Private Placement, in which case the Company believes that it has sufficient cash to enable the Group to fund general working capital requirements together with the material estimated costs associated with the Company advancing the ICSID Arbitration through to mid-July 2022 and will seek alternative sources of additional financing. Financial Performance Operating loss for the first quarter of 2022 was $2.4 million, some $3.6 million lower than the corresponding period in 2021 primarily arising from (i) $2.6 million lower costs related to the ongoing ICSID Arbitration, reflecting the more limited activities in the Q1 2022, whereas comparable costs in 2021 reflect certain costs related to the preparation of Post-Hearing Briefs; (ii) $0.1m lower payroll costs (iii) $0.5 million lower costs related to corporate, general and administration; and (iv) a $0.4m reduction in share-based compensation. The net loss for the first quarter of 2022 was $0.9 million, $1.4 million lower than the operating loss in that period, reflecting a gain of $1.4 million recognized on the disposal of the Recea Land in February 2022. The Q1 2022 net loss is a decrease of $7.9 million from a loss of $8.6 million in the corresponding period in 2021, primarily reflecting the $3.7 million reduction in operating loss and $1.4m gain on disposal noted above together with $2.6 million of finance costs incurred in respect of the convertible notes in 2021 not repeated following their repayment in June 2021. Impact of Coronavirus With respect to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Gabriel continues to consider carefully its impact, noting the continuing disruption to normal activities and the uncertainty over the duration of this disruption. The highest priority of the Board of Directors and Management is the health, safety and welfare of the Group's employees and contractors. Gabriel recognizes that the situation is extremely fluid and is monitoring the relevant recommendations and restrictions on work practices and travel. At this time, these recommendations and restrictions do not significantly impact Gabriel's ability to continue the ICSID Arbitration process or conduct the limited operations in Romania, nor has there been a significant impact on the Group's results or operations through 2022 to date. The Group will require further new investment and the market and timing may be adversely affected by the effects of COVID-19. As a result, Gabriel will react to circumstances as they arise and will make the necessary adjustments to the work processes required. Should any material disruption from COVID-19 affect the Group for an extended duration, Gabriel will review certain planned activities in Romania and take remedial actions if it is determined to be necessary or prudent to do so. Russia-Ukraine Conflict Given, amongst other things, the geographical proximity of Romania to Ukraine, Gabriel is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine with concern for all those who are impacted by the unfolding conflict and humanitarian crisis. At this time, Gabriel has not experienced any material disruption to its operations, including its limited activities in Romania, as a consequence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Group will continue to operate its business in accordance with the circumstances that arise, which currently remain highly uncertain. About Gabriel Gabriel is a Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's principal business had been the exploration and development of the Ro?ia Montana gold and silver project in Romania. The Rosia Montana Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Europe, is situated in the South Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania, an historic and prolific mining district that since pre-Roman times has been mined intermittently for over 2,000 years. The exploitation license for the Rosia Montana Project is held by Ro?ia Montana Gold Corporation S.A., a Romanian company in which Gabriel owns an 80.69% equity interest, with the 19.31% balance held by Minvest Ro?ia Montana S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining company. Upon obtaining the License in June 1999, the Group focused substantially all of their management and financial resources on the exploration, feasibility and subsequent development of the Rosia Montana Project. Despite the Company's fulfilment of its legal obligations and its development of the Rosia Montana Project as a high-quality, sustainable and environmentally-responsible mining project, using best available techniques, Romania has unlawfully blocked and prevented implementation of the Rosia Montana Project without due process and without compensation. Accordingly, the Company's current core focus is the ICSID Arbitration. For more information please visit the Company's website at www.gabrielresources.com. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" (also referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. In this press release, forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Company's actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the uncertainties associated with: the ICSID Arbitration, actions by the Romanian Government, conditions or events impacting the Company's ability to fund its operations (including but not limited to the completion of further funding noted above) or service its debt, exploration, development and operation of mining properties and the overall impact of misjudgments made in good faith in the course of preparing forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors including those set out below, that may never materialize, prove incorrect or materialize other than as currently contemplated which could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "is of the view", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential", "possible" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of fact and may be forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation: the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) may affect the Company's operations and/or the anticipated timeline for the ICSID Arbitration; the geo-political situation and the resulting economic developments arising from the unfolding conflict and humanitarian crisis as a consequence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict; the duration, costs, process and outcome of the ICSID Arbitration; Romania's actions following the inscription of the "Rosia Montana Mining Landscape" as a UNESCO World Heritage site; changes in the liquidity and capital resources of Gabriel, and/or the group of companies of which it is directly or indirectly parent; access to funding to support the Group's continued ICSID Arbitration and/or operating activities in the future; equity dilution resulting from the conversion or exercise of new or existing securities in part or in whole to Common Shares; the ability of the Company to maintain a continued listing on the TSX Venture Exchange or any regulated public market for trading securities; the impact on business strategy and its implementation in Romania of: any allegations of historic acts of corruption, uncertain fiscal investigations; uncertain legal enforcement both for and against the Group and political and social instability; regulatory, political and economic risks associated with operating in a foreign jurisdiction including changes in laws, governments and legal regimes and interpretation of existing and future fiscal and other legislation; global economic and financial market conditions; volatility of currency exchange rates; and the availability and continued participation in operational or other matters pertaining to the Group of certain key employees and consultants. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and investors should not infer that there has been no change in the Company's affairs since the date of this press release that would warrant any modification of any forward-looking statement made in this document, other documents periodically filed with or furnished to the relevant securities regulators or documents presented on the Company's website. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to the Company's disclosure obligations under applicable Canadian securities regulations. Investors are urged to read the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulatory agencies which can be viewed online at www.sedar.com. SOURCE: Gabriel Resources Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/702943/Gabriel-Resources-Ltd-2022-First-Quarter-Results Full top-line results from dose escalation of NOX-A12 Phase 1/2 GLORIA trial in brain cancer to be presented at ASCO 2022 on June 5, 2022 Key Opinion Leader (KOL) webinar with lead investigator of the GLORIA trial Dr. Frank A. Giordano to discuss study data in more detail on June 10, 2022 Regulatory News: NOXXON Pharma N.V. (Paris:ALNOX) (Euronext Growth Paris: ALNOX), a biotechnology company focused on improving cancer treatments by targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME), announces publication of the abstract of its poster presentation at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting which will take place in Chicago, Illinois, US, from June 3 to June 7, 2022. The poster presentation entitled "Radiotherapy and olaptesed pegol (NOX-A12) in partially resected or biopsy-only MGMT-unmethylated glioblastoma: Interim data from the German multicenter phase 1/2 GLORIA trial" will be presented by Dr. Frank A. Giordano and will exhibit the top-line results of the Phase 1/2 GLORIA trial in brain cancer (glioblastoma). Specifically, the abstract highlights that: 40% of patients achieved partial response (PR defined as tumor size reduction over 50%), a considerable increase over the 22% previously disclosed and as reported in March 2022 In 3 out of 10 patients, one or more non-target lesions (smaller secondary lesions) completely disappeared The combination of radiotherapy and NOX-A12 was safe and well-tolerated, with no dose limiting toxicities and no treatment-related deaths. Only 4% of the adverse events of Grade 2 or more were deemed solely NOX-A12-related. The abstract can be accessed here and more information about the GLORIA study (NCT04121455) can be found at ClinicalTrials.gov. Details of the poster presentation are as follows Title: Radiotherapy and olaptesed pegol (NOX-A12) in partially resected or biopsy-only MGMT-unmethylated glioblastoma: Interim data from the German multicenter phase 1/2 GLORIA trial (poster #2050) Abstract: download Session Title: Central Nervous System Tumors Session Date: Sunday, June 5, 2022 Presentation Time: 08:00-11:00 a.m. CDT (03:00-06:00 p.m. CEST) Presenter: Dr. Frank Giordano, Director and Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University Hospital Bonn, Germany Registration: To register to the event, please click here. The NOXXON team will attend the conference in person. A copy of the poster presentation including a video describing the poster will be made available on the NOXXON website at the time of Dr. Giordano's presentation. Following the ASCO 2022 conference, NOXXON will host a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) webinar with Dr. Giordano who will take the audience through the ASCO poster presentation and discuss the results of the GLORIA Phase 1/2 trial in more detail. Details of the Key Opinion Leader webinar are as follows: Title: KOL Webinar on GLORIA Top-Line Results of NOX-A12 Radiotherapy Combination in First-Line Glioblastoma Presented at ASCO 2022 Presenter: Dr. Frank A. Giordano, Director and Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany Webinar time and date: June 10, 2022, at 02:00 p.m. CEST (08:00 a.m. EDT) Registration: To register for the event, please click here About NOXXON NOXXON's oncology-focused pipeline acts on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the cancer immunity cycle by breaking the tumor protection barrier and blocking tumor repair. By neutralizing chemokines in the TME, NOXXON's approach works in combination with other forms of treatment to weaken tumor defenses against the immune system and enable greater therapeutic impact. NOXXON's lead program NOX-A12 has delivered final top-line data from a Keytruda combination trial in metastatic colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients published at the ESMO conference in September 2020 and in July 2021 the company announced its Phase 2 study, OPTIMUS, to further evaluate safety and efficacy of NOX-A12 in combination with Merck's Keytruda and two different chemotherapy regimens as second-line therapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. NOXXON is also studying NOX-A12 in brain cancer in combination with radiotherapy which has been granted orphan drug status in the US and EU for the treatment of certain brain cancers. GLORIA, a trial of NOX-A12 in combination with radiotherapy in newly diagnosed brain cancer patients who will not benefit clinically from standard chemotherapy has delivered top-line data from all three dose-escalation cohorts showing consistent tumor reductions and objective tumor responses. Additionally, GLORIA has been expanded to assess the benefit of NOX-A12 with other treatment combinations, radiotherapy bevacizumab and radiotherapy pembrolizumab. The company's second clinical-stage asset NOX-E36 is a Phase 2 TME asset targeting the innate immune system. NOXXON plans to test NOX-E36 in patients with solid tumors. Further information can be found at: www.noxxon.com. Keytruda is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp Dohme Corp. Visit NOXXON on LinkedIn and Twitter. About the GLORIA Study GLORIA (NCT04121455) is NOXXON's dose-escalation, phase 1/2 study of NOX-A12 in combination with irradiation in first-line partially resected or unresected glioblastoma (brain cancer) patients with unmethylated MGMT promoter (resistant to standard chemotherapy). GLORIA further evaluates safety and efficacy of NOX-A12 three additional arms combining NOX-A12 with: A. radiotherapy in patients with complete tumor resection; B. radiotherapy and bevacizumab in patients with incomplete tumor resection; and C. radiotherapy and pembrolizumab in patients with incomplete tumor resection. About the OPTIMUS Study OPTIMUS (NCT04901741) is NOXXON's open-label two-arm phase 2 study of NOX-A12 combined with pembrolizumab and nanoliposomal irinotecan/5-FU/leucovorin or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in microsatellite-stable metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. Disclaimer Translations of any press release into languages other than English are intended solely as a convenience to the non-English-reading audience. The company has attempted to provide an accurate translation of the original text in English, but due to the nuances in translating into another language, slight differences may exist. Certain statements in this communication contain formulations or terms referring to the future or future developments, as well as negations of such formulations or terms, or similar terminology. These are described as forward-looking statements. In addition, all information in this communication regarding planned or future results of business segments, financial indicators, developments of the financial situation or other financial or statistical data contains such forward-looking statements. The company cautions prospective investors not to rely on such forward-looking statements as certain prognoses of actual future events and developments. The company is neither responsible nor liable for updating such information, which only represents the state of affairs on the day of publication. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005049/en/ Contacts: For more information, please contact: NOXXON Pharma N.V. Aram Mangasarian, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer Tel. +49 (0) 30 726247 0 amangasarian@noxxon.com Investor and Media Relations: LifeSci Advisors Guillaume van Renterghem Tel. +41 (0) 76 735 01 31 gvanrenterghem@lifesciadvisors.com NewCap Arthur Rouille Tel. +33 (0) 1 44 71 00 15 arouille@newcap.fr Data demonstrate that SOT101 monotherapy and SOT101 in combination with pembrolizumab have a favorable safety profile Encouraging efficacy signals were observed for both SOT101 monotherapy and SOT101 in combination with pembrolizumab, even in patients with checkpoint-inhibitor relapsed and refractory tumors 15 out of 19 patients receiving SOT101 in combination with pembrolizumab had observed clinical benefit across all dose-levels Updated results will be presented as an oral presentation at this year's ASCO meeting by Dr. Elena Garralda from the Vall D'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain AURELIO-04, a global Phase 2 study trial of SOT101 in combination with pembrolizumab in six distinct tumor types is expected to start in the coming weeks BASEL, Switzerland, May 26, 2022, a clinical stage immuno-oncology company owned by PPF Group, announces updated interim safety and efficacy data from its Phase 1/1b AURELIO-03 dose escalation study of theIL-2/IL-15 receptor ? superagonist, SOT101, as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors. Data from the study show that SOT101 has a favorable safety profile. The recommended Phase 2 dose was defined at 12g/kg SOT101. The AURELIO-03 study is an open label, single arm Phase 1/1b dose escalation study to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose and to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of SOT101 in patients with advanced solid tumors either as a monotherapy or in combination with pembrolizumab. SOT101 is administered subcutaneously on days 1, 2, 8, and 9 of every three-week cycle. 30 patients were treated on monotherapy dose levels 0.25 to 15 g/kg and twenty-one patients on combination therapy dose levels 1.5 to 12 g/kg. Interim results of SOT101 as a monotherapy demonstrated four patients pretreated with checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) with confirmed stable disease. A partial response was confirmed in one patient with skin squamous cell carcinoma whose tumor was CPI-refractory. The preliminary efficacy is currently being further evaluated in an ongoing monotherapy extension in skin squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and renal cell cancer. In 19 patients with at least one post-baseline tumor assessment across all dose levels who were treated with SOT101 in combination with pembrolizumab, one complete response in a patient with mesothelioma, four partial responses and 10 confirmed stable diseases have been reported. The adverse event profile of SOT101 in combination with pembrolizumab was in line with the adverse event profile of either compound as monotherapy. No additive toxicity was seen when combining SOT101 with pembrolizumab. For both monotherapy and combination treatment, the recommended Phase 2 dose of SOT101 was established at 12 g/kg. This data will be presented by principal investigator Dr. Elena Garralda from the Vall D'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois on Saturday, June 4, 2022. "Despite decades of progress in clinical oncology, the difficulty of treating solid tumors has remained a significant challenge for physicians," said Radek Spisek, M.D., Ph.D., chief executive officer of SOTIO. "Given the promising results from our first-in-human study of SOT101, we are greatly encouraged to have observed excellent preliminary safety and efficacy data both as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab. We look forward to initiating a basket study of SOT101 in combination with KEYTRUDA to evaluate efficacy and safety in patients with selected advanced or refractory solid tumors. This large Phase 2 AURELIO-04 trial in collaboration with MSD will be initiated in the coming weeks." Dr. Garralda added: "The patients in this study are some of the hardest to treat, some with up to nine prior lines of therapy, so the clinical benefit observed in the AURELIO-03 study is especially encouraging. These data highlight the potential impact of SOT101 on the treatment landscape for solid tumors." The presentation from ASCO will be made available on the SOTIO Biotechwebsite after the time of presentation. About SOT101: SOT101 (SO-C101) is a subcutaneously administered IL-15R superagonist that is fused to the sushi+ domain of the IL-15 receptor a chain. SOT101 has demonstrated strong preclinical in vivo efficacy in various tumor models showing increased long-term survival and tumor regression, as well as a favorable toxicology profile. SOT101 has been shown in pre-clinical models to synergize with checkpoint inhibitors and antibody therapies exerting ADCC. Company contact: Media contact: Richard Kapsa Michael Tattory Head of Communication LifeSci Communications T: (+420) 224 174 448 T: (+1) 609-802-6265 M: (+420) 603 280 971 mtattory@lifescicomms.com kapsa@sotio.com About SOTIO Biotech SOTIO Biotech is shaping the future of cancer immunotherapies by translating compelling science into patient benefit. The robust SOTIO clinical pipeline includes a differentiated superagonist of the attractive immuno-oncology target IL-15, SOT101, currently being tested in phase II clinical trials. SOT102, a next generation Claudin18.2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate. SOTIO is a registered trademark of SOTIO Biotech a.s. in selected countries. - Robust 34% overall response rate and 9.1 months median duration of response across multiple NRG1+ tumor types - Zenocutuzumab observed to be well-tolerated - Oral presentation with additional patient data at ASCO on June 5, 2022, 9:45 -11:15 a.m. CT - Investor call to discuss clinical results on Sunday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. CT UTRECHT, The Netherlands and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 26, 2022. The abstract includes data as of a January 12, 2022 data cutoff date. As of that time, 99 patients with NRG1+ cancer had been treated and efficacy was assessed in 73 patients with the opportunity to have = 6 month follow-up, and that met the criteria for the primary efficacy population. The oral presentation will include updated interim data and will be presented by the Principal Investigator of the eNRGy trial, Dr. Alison Schram of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 5, 2022, 9:45-11:15 a.m. CT. "We are excited to provide a more mature, interim clinical dataset from the Zeno program and are thrilled that Zeno continues to demonstrate activity across different tumor types," said Dr. Andrew Joe, Chief Medical Officer at Merus. "We continue to be encouraged by the potential of Zeno to help patients with NRG1+ cancer." The reported data are from the phase 1/2 eNRGy trial and EAP which are assessing the safety and anti-tumor activity of Zeno monotherapy in NRG1+ cancer. Key findings of the abstract include: As of January 12, 2022, 99 patients were treated with Zeno. 73 pts who were treated as of July 12, 2021 were evaluable for response and had the opportunity for = 6 months follow-up and met the criteria for the primary efficacy population The investigator-assessed overall responses rate (ORR) by RECIST 1.1. criteria was 34% (90%CI, 25;44) The median duration of response (DOR) was 9.1 months (95% CI, 5.2-12.0) and Kaplan-Meier estimate of DOR rate at 6 month was 70%. Responses were observed in patients with multiple types of NRG1+ cancer Zeno continues to be well-tolerated Oral Presentation Details: Title: Efficacy and safety of zenocutuzumab, a HER2 x HER3 bispecific antibody, in advanced NRG1 fusion-positive (NRG1+) cancers Lead Author: Alison Schram, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY Abstract #: 105 Session Title: Clinical Science Symposium/ Bispecifics: Are Two Better Than One? Session Date and Time: June 5, 2022, 9:45-11:15 a.m. CT Company Conference Call and Webcast Information Merus will hold a conference call and webcast for investors on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. CT to discuss the Zeno clinical data and provide a program update. A replay will be available after the completion of the call in the Investors and Mediasection of our website for a limited time. Date: Sunday, June 5, 6:00 p.m. CT Webcast link:available on our website Dial-in: Toll-free: 18772601463/ International: 17066435907 Conference ID: 7194538 About the eNRGy Clinical Trial Merus is currently enrolling patients in the phase 1/2 eNRGy trial to assess the safety and anti-tumor activity of Zeno monotherapy in NRG1+ cancer. The eNRGy trial consists of three cohorts: NRG1+ pancreatic cancer; NRG1+ non-small cell lung cancer; and NRG1+ other solid tumors. Further details, including current trial sites, can be found at www.ClinicalTrials.gov and Merus' trial website at www.nrg1.com or by calling 1-833-NRG-1234. About Zeno Zeno is an antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)-enhanced Biclonics that utilizes the Merus Dock & Block mechanism to inhibit the neuregulin/HER3 tumor-signaling pathway in solid tumors with NRG1 gene fusions (NRG1+ cancer). Through its unique mechanism of binding to HER2 and potently blocking the interaction of HER3 with its ligand NRG1 or NRG1-fusion proteins, Zeno has the potential to be particularly effective against NRG1+ cancer. In preclinical studies, Zeno also potently inhibits HER2/HER3 heterodimer formation and tumor growth in models harboring NRG1 fusions. About Merus N.V. Merus is a clinical-stage oncology company developing innovative full-length human bispecific and trispecific antibody therapeutics, referred to as Multiclonics. Multiclonics are manufactured using industry standard processes and have been observed in preclinical and clinical studies to have several of the same features of conventional human monoclonal antibodies, such as long half-life and low immunogenicity. For additional information, please visit Merus' website, http://www.merus.nl and https://twitter.com/MerusNV . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding the clinical development of Zeno, future clinical trial results, clinical activity and safety profile of Zeno in the on-going eNRGy trial and EAP, and potential of Zeno to help patients with NRG1+ cancer. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: our need for additional funding, which may not be available and which may require us to restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our technologies or Biclonics, Triclonics and multispecific antibody candidates; potential delays in regulatory approval, which would impact our ability to commercialize our product candidates and affect our ability to generate revenue; the lengthy and expensive process of clinical drug development, which has an uncertain outcome; the unpredictable nature of our clinical development efforts for marketable drugs; potential delays in enrollment of patients, and our reliance on third parties to conduct our clinical trials, manufacturing and accompanying activities for clinical drug development and potential approval and the potential for those third parties to not perform satisfactorily, which could affect the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals; impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; we may not identify suitable Biclonics or bispecific antibody candidates under our collaborations or our collaborators may fail to perform adequately under our collaborations; our reliance on third parties to manufacture an support development of our product candidates, which may delay, prevent or impair our development and commercialization efforts; protection of our proprietary technology; our patents may be found invalid, unenforceable, circumvented by competitors and our patent applications may be found not to comply with the rules and regulations of patentability; we may fail to prevail in potential lawsuits for infringement of third-party intellectual property; and our registered or unregistered trademarks or trade names may be challenged, infringed, circumvented or declared generic or determined to be infringing on other marks; and risks related to our ceasing to qualify as an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company after December 31, 2021. These and other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2022 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on May 9, 2022, and our other reports filed with the SEC, could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change, except as required under applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Multiclonics, Biclonics and Triclonics are registered trademarks of Merus N.V. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - Dexterra Group Inc. (TSX: DXT) ("Dexterra Group" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Litchfield as President, Workforce Accommodations, Forestry, and Energy Services ("WAFES"). Jeff has been with the company for 9 years in the WAFES business unit most recently in the role of Divisional VP Workforce Accommodations working closely with Mark Becker. Jeff will continue to report to Mark Becker, Chief Operating Officer, and will be a member of Dexterra Group's Senior Leadership Team. "We are very excited about Jeff moving into this senior leadership role in a key business unit," says John MacCuish, Chief Executive Officer. "He has played a pivotal role in the success and growth of WAFES over several years and has earned the respect of our customers and employees." Dexterra Group also announces that Dawn Nigro, President of NRB Modular Solutions has departed the company to pursue other opportunities. We sincerely thank Dawn for her dedication and contributions to the business and wish her the best in her future endeavours. Mark Becker will lead the modular business unit as President on an interim basis. A search process for a new President, NRB Modular Solutions is underway. About Dexterra Group Dexterra Group employs more than 8,000 people, delivering a range of support services for the creation, management, and operation of infrastructure across Canada. Powered by people, Dexterra Group brings best-in-class regional expertise to every challenge and delivers innovative solutions, giving clients confidence in their day-to-day operations. Activities include a comprehensive range of integrated facilities management services, industry leading workforce accommodation solutions, innovative modular building capabilities, and other support services for diverse clients in the public and private sectors. For further information contact: Drew Knight, CFO Head office: Airway Centre, 5915 Airport Rd., 4th Floor Mississauga, Ontario L4V 1T1 Telephone: (416) 767-1148 You can also visit our website at dexterra.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125463 LONDON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Binance, the world's leading blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider has announced that London-based, Nigerian musician-artist, NISSI OGULU, will be launching 'Jigsaw Tribe.' The exclusive NFT For Good collection will be available on the Binance NFT marketplace in collaboration with Binance Charity on May 30, 2022. The digital art series features a collection of unique pieces exploring the music heritage of Africa through ancient yet animated instruments, 'Jigsaw Tribe'. It explores the different facets of life and music, each represented as a puzzle piece. "What excites me is the fact that African music and culture are finally getting the renown and success they so richly deserve as being integral to global music and creativity. So, the collection is my artistic take on bringing the continent's vibrant music tradition and all-round creative brilliance to the world, this time in an animated way,"says Nissi. This NFT collection comprises various rarity levels and pricing, added value utilities include invitations to live events and art exhibitions to concessions on signed & printed digital art pieces and white listing privileges to future NFT drops. This is the latest collaboration for Binance Charity's NFT For Good Campaign, an initiative that enables world renowned creators to convert their art and creativity into meaningful global action targeting social and humanitarian issues. As part of this, a percentage of proceeds will go to The Reach, an Ogulu family initiative which provides 6000 meals a month for underprivileged people in Nigeria along with other ad hoc community initiatives. "Binance Charity's NFT for Good initiative connects creators, their art and their cause. Jigsaw Tribe is yet another exciting example of this and it's beautiful to see the series merging tradition and technology. Having spent many years working in Africa, the region, the people and their culture holds a special place in my heart. I'm thrilled we're able to collaborate with Nissi in a homage to her heritage," said Helen Hai, Executive VP of Binance and Head of Binance Charity. Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, into a highly creative family, Nissi's older brother is Burna Boy (dubbed 'the African Giant') and her grandfather is Benson Idonije who was an Afrobeat legend and Fela Kuti's manager. As an artist, Nissi has worked with a variety of mediums but found her niche in the world of fine art with her unconventional, contemporarily driven style of paintings and artistic innovative design. She has further expanded her deep involvement in the digital realm with her founding of Creele Animation Studios, which creates black and African content with storytelling through animation, music, the metaverse and games. To participate in this charitable auction in support of the Binance Charity, traders need to open a cryptocurrency account on binance.com and bid for the artwork on https://www.binance.com/en/nft between 30 May 2022 (12:00pm CAT) and end on 20 June 2022 (12:00pm CAT). Logo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1773650/Binance_Logo_Yellow_4x_Logo.jpg Bold Metrics Inc., a San Francisco, CA-based AI-first SaaS solution allowing companies to surface body data, raised $8 million in Series A financing. The new round, led by Bessemer Venture Partners with participation from Lytical Ventures, ValueStream Ventures, and Nanban Ventures, brings the companys total funding to $12.3 million. The company will use the funds to accelerate its expansion into new growth markets while also scaling research and development to deepen its core capabilities. Led by Daina Burnes, CEO, Bold Metrics provides apparel brands and retailers with AI Body Modeling technology to unlock body data enabling data-led product design. This in turn reduces returns, boosts conversion and quantifiably improves sustainability efforts while making shopping for clothing convenient and personal for consumers. Its AI solutions connect customers to clothes that fit according to their body measurements, shape and personal preference data in seconds. Bold Metrics powers sizing intelligence solutions for ready-to-wear, on-demand and custom apparel both in-store and online so that consumers can efficiently connect their body data to products. The company already works with a number of brands including Canada Goose, Tailored Brands (Mens Wearhouse, Jos A Bank), SuitShop, Blue Delta Denim, UpWest and SIMMS, amongst others. In addition to its core capabilities, Bold Metrics launched Body Data NFT technology, allowing it to work with Web3 native Ethereum wallets like Coinbase and Metamask to provide a streamlined experience for shoppers buying clothes online, in-store, or in the Metaverse, while readying apparel brands for Web3. FinSMEs 26/05/2022 how.fm, a Cologne, Germany-based SaaS training platform enabling warehouse operators to onboard, upskill, and support their operators every day, raised $5.4m in seed funding. The round was led by Join Capital, with previous investors Kindred Capital and Capnamic Ventures also participating. Other investors in the round include ex-Amazon UK CEO, Christopher North; CEO of Berlin-based logistics service, Forto, Michael Wax; as well as angel investments from Allegro CEO Francois Nuyts and business angel Andrej Henkler. As part of the fundraise, Join Capital Partner, Jan Borgstadt will also join the how.fm board. The company will use the funding to recruit across the business, grow its commercial teams in Cologne and London, and further, expand into the manufacturing, retail and food industries. Launched in 2019 by serial entrepreneurs Andreas Kwiatkowski and Farhoud Cheraghi, how.fm provides a SaaS based training software platform that covers pre-onboarding, orientation, health & safety, job-related skills and work instructions. Its solution generates company-specific sites, which enables businesses to put training on autopilot, while also increasing safety and quality in their operations. Current clients include logistics professionals like Kuhne + Nagel and Ingram Micro. Further, brand names such as Bloom & Wild, Fressnapf as well as many more across Europe use how.fm to generate policies and process training and train their workers in over 30 different languages. FinSMEs 26/05/2022 Government should reciprocate with bold deregulation On Tuesday, four of Korea's major conglomerates announced massive business investment plans totaling nearly 600 trillion won ($472 billion). For starters, Samsung Group will spend 490 trillion won over the next five years to develop new growth engines such as semiconductors, biopharmaceuticals and artificial intelligence. Hyundai Motor Group's three flagship units also plan to invest 63 trillion won in the next three years. In addition, Lotte Group will spend 37 trillion won over the next five years, and Hanwha Group announced similar plans. Samsung and Hyundai unveiled their U.S. gift packages during President Joe Biden's visit to Korea last week. They then released domestic investment plans of an almost unprecedented scale in what appeared to be favorable responses to the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's private-led growth policy. However, the greater impetus might have reflected a sense of urgency that now is the time to invest, considering the rapidly changing global industrial environment. The government should actively keep in step with the business community's efforts. Deregulation should not end in lip service but be backed by concrete action plans. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo recently instructed all related ministries to form taskforces for regulatory reform, calling it "the President's will." Unless these words and moves turn out to be mere showmanship, the government should show action with bold deregulation. One of corporate Korea's long-cherished dreams is turning the current positive regulation system into a negative one, in which bureaucrats list some unallowable things and permit all others, as is the case in most advanced countries. The government also needs to overhaul related laws and institutions. A case in point is the introduction of the Special Act for Regulatory Reform, discussed but suspended in the past. Currently, the world is bombarded with new technologies, but various regulations in individual laws are obstructing them in Korea. For instance, more than 10 laws apply to flying drones. Out of some 1,300 Korean laws, more than 800 contain one regulation or another. The enactment of the special law is expected to remove regulations on various agencies and laws in a lump sum. Pemo, a Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based fintech startup empowering businesses across the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (MENAP), raised $12m in seed funding. The round was co-led by dedicated seed fund Cherry Ventures and Shorooq Partners, with participation from FinTech Collective, Speedinvest, BY Venture Partners and Antler, as well as business angels, including unicorn founders of companies such as Nium, Payhawk, Qonto, Billie. The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand operations and its business reach. Co-founded by serial entrepreneurs, and Rocket Internet and Google alumni, Ayham Gorani, Valerie Konde, Alessandro Duri, and Saed Ghorani, Pemo has launched its all-in-one spend management platform which offers simplified invoice payment and expense management solutions, as well as smart corporate cards, for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region. Currently available features include digitized invoices, automated approval flows, one-click invoice payments and real-time cash flow monitoring. Users can soon avail physical and virtual prepaid cards that can be distributed to employees. Through integration into the app, the prepaid card will automatically categorize employee expenses, capture receipts for each transaction, and offer business owners and management teams full visibility on corporate spending. Following its UAE launch, the company is looking to establish operations in Saudi Arabia by the end of 2022. Pemo later plans to extend its geographical footprint into Egypt and Pakistan. FinSMEs 26/05/2022 Flagler College's Study Abroad Trips Gives Students Life-Changing Experiences Flagler College offers a wide selection of study abroad programs that let students develop a global perspective while gaining real-world skills. During the spring 2022 semester, three different faculty-led trips gave students an opportunity of a lifetime to better understand the world around them by traveling to Ghana, Poland, and Panama. Lisa Fiala, an Adjunct Instructor, led the two-week Ghana FlagSHIP trip in January. The students and Fiala explored the cities of Accra, Cape Coast, and Kumasi, where they studied international development within the Ghana context and submerged themselves in the local culture. During their trip, students met with local NGOs such as Trashy Bags, which makes bags out of recycled fabrics/water sachets, and the Soronko Academy, which teaches girls how to code. Additionally, they toured the Peace Corps' Ghana office and met with local University Ghana students. They even visited Cape Coast Castle to learn how several Ghanaians were imprisoned before being forced to leave their home country as enslaved people. Students participated in many cultural activities such as Ghanian cooking, Twi language & drumming classes, visiting a Kente weaving village, and walking one of the highest canopy walks in the world at Kakum. "Working with this group of students was one of the best experiences of my life," Fiala stated. "They showed a tremendous amount of comradery, incredible flexibility, adaptability and should be congratulated for their ever-joyful spirits and support for each other." Panama Study Abroad Trip Flagler Students posing with schoolchildren in Panama Dr. Charoni, Associate Professor of Romance Languages, led the study abroad trip to Panama during spring break. Students learned about modern Panama history, including the Canal, U.S. Invasion, current social norms, education, and economy. In addition, they immersed themselves in the culture by staying with families in Panama City, where they experienced daily life in a Latin American City. While in Panama City, the students explored the Museo de Biodiversidad, the Panama Canal, Casco Viejo, La Vieja, Amador Causeway, Museo Mala and local markets. They traveled to three comarcas (administrative regions) of the indigenous territories of Embera Drua, Embera Maje, and Kuna Yala. They also discussed each indigenous group's history, culture, and challenges. For example, in Kuna Yala, they visited a school where the Intercultural Bilingual Education Project (EBI) is applied, spent a night on Aroma Island in San Blas Archipelago, experienced traditional dances, and enjoyed the local cuisine. "It was an amazing experience for the students; they have been exposed to a diverse cultural context they wouldn't have seen if it wasn't for this trip," Dr. Charoni stated. "My recommendation for every student is to go abroad before graduating. It's a life-changing experience, rich in knowledge and memories that opens up new avenues to the future." Poland Study Abroad Trip Dr. Brenda Kauffman, Associate Professor of Social Sciences, and Dr. John Young, Associate Professor of History, led the Poland trip during spring break. The students who went as part of Dr. John Young and Dr. Arthur Vanden Houten's genocide learning community were eager to study the region's history. Each student and faculty member traveled to Prague, Czechia, Krakow, and Warsaw, Poland, gaining first-hand knowledge of the historical and contemporary Jewish culture. In addition, the group visited the memorial sites of Terezin and Auschwitz, which gave students a chance to take a closer look at life in the Ghetto and the concentration camps. For more information on Flagler College's study abroad trips, click here or view the list below of trips happening during Maymester and Summer 2022 terms: Chris Balaschak Germany (Berlin Art | Public Memory) Barbara Blonder & Terri Seron Bermuda (Bermuda's Coral Reefs & Shipwrecks) Mike Butler Ireland (Irish Independence: The Easter Rising and its Consequences) Eugenia Charoni France (Southern France: Montpelier Culture & History) Tracey Eaton Jordan (Strategic Communication for Water Sustainability) Lisa Fiala Bulgaria (International Relations: Cultural Immersion in Bulgaria) Jessica Howell Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia (The Balkans: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly) Tim Johnson Germany (Monuments & Memories: America and Germany in Dialogue) Brenda Kauffman & Lori Lee - Trinidad Nic Miller Portugal (Portugal: History & Culture) Deborah Teague Italy (Immersion in Venice: Travel Writing about the Culture, People, & Future of the Sinking City) Jessica Veenstra Jordan (Water Scarcity, Science, & Sustainability) Tagged As Nanjing Massacre survivor passes away, only 56 still alive Xinhua) 10:46, May 26, 2022 NANJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Wu Jiying, a Nanjing Massacre survivor, passed away on Wednesday morning at the age of 98. Her death reduced the total number of registered survivors to 56, according to the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. The Nanjing Massacre occurred when Japanese troops captured the east China city on Dec. 13, 1937. Over six weeks, they killed about 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most savage episodes of World War II. When she was only ten years old, Wu was sold to a family in Nanjing to be a maid by her debt-ridden father. She was stabbed by two Japanese soldiers in her right leg during the massacre. She eventually survived by feigning death among corpses in a house. Wu was found by her father later and they returned to their hometown about 50 km away from Nanjing, where she got married and became a mother of six children. In 2014, China's top legislature designated Dec. 13 as the national memorial day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre. The Chinese government has preserved the survivors' testimonies, recorded in written documents and video footage. These records of the massacre were listed by UNESCO in the Memory of the World Register in 2015. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The Seoul Metro union holds a rally in front of the Government Complex Seoul calling for the abolishment of the peak wage system in this 2019 file photo. Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk Business lobby groups expressed concerns, Thursday, about potential side effects from the Supreme Court's ruling against the peak wage system, which has been implemented by many domestic companies to gradually reduce the salaries of older workers before retirement. The lobby groups claimed that nullifying the system will weigh further on employers, causing job instability. Earlier that day, Korea's Supreme Court ruled in favor of a former research institute worker, who had filed a lawsuit to demand reimbursement for wages lost before his retirement. The top court judged the peak wage system to be illegal, saying that workers and people who want to work should not be discriminated against on the basis of age without a reasonable cause. The Act on Prohibition of Age Discrimination in Employment and Aged Employment Promotion prohibits discrimination against workers on the basis of age. "It is difficult to say that there was a difference in the level of goals given to the plaintiff or the content of the work before and after the introduction of the peak wage system," it said. The Supreme Court building in Seoul / Korea Times file SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, from left, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, GS Group Chairman Huh Tae-soo and POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jeong-woo SK to invest W247 tril. over next five years in battery, bio, chip sectors By Baek Byung-yeul Following Samsung Group and Hyundai Motor Group's massive investment plans, other Korean conglomerates, including SK, LG, GS, POSCO and Hyundai Heavy Industries unveiled large-scale investment plans Thursday in a move to find future growth opportunities and respond to President Yoon Suk-yeol's pledge to create a business-friendly environment. Their investment plans are focused on creating more jobs and fostering promising businesses such as semiconductors, bio, electric car batteries, eco-friendly energy and artificial intelligence, which they expect will revitalize the economy seeking new momentum in the post-COVID-19 era. SK Group said it will invest a total of 247 trillion won ($194.8 billion) until 2026 to strengthen its capabilities in core business items such as semiconductors, batteries and bio. The conglomerate also plans to recruit 50,000 workers here to develop these three fields. "The investment and recruitment should be supported in order to secure opportunities for growth and innovation at a time when uncertainties in the global business environment and geopolitical risks exist," the group said. Among the various industries, SK saw the chip business as the key to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and decided to invest 142 trillion won, which is more than half of its total amount of investments. Also, out of the total of 247 trillion won, domestic investments alone will stand at 179 trillion won, which is expected to contribute to revitalizing the country's economy, SK added. In order to achieve carbon neutrality of its businesses, SK Group will invest 67 trillion won in eco-friendly businesses such as electric vehicle (EV) batteries, battery materials, hydrogen, wind power and renewable energy. 24.9 trillion won will be used in network, content development and digital transformation businesses and 12.7 trillion won for new drug development, vaccine manufacturing facilities and contract-based drug manufacturing businesses. LG Group also announced it will invest 106 trillion won solely in Korea until 2026. Among the total investment amount, 43 trillion won will be invested in emerging areas such as batteries, battery materials, next-generation displays and AI. Along with the investment plan, the group decided to hire a total of 50,000 employees or 10,000 people annually starting this year. An LG spokesman said, "We will prepare for a sustainable future through innovating customer value and actively pursue the company's responsibility, which is creating quality jobs." GS Group, which operates oil, construction and distribution businesses, also announced it will invest 21 trillion won until 2026 to beef up the capability of its core businesses and secure future growth items. During that period, the group will recruit 22,000 employees. In detail, the group will invest 14 trillion won in energy, including GS Caltex's business expansion into petrochemical materials; GS Energy's eco-friendly technology development and investments in overseas resource development; and GS EPS and GS E&R's new renewable power generation investment. GS Retail will invest 3 trillion won to strengthen its distribution and service sector and the remaining 4 trillion won will be used to secure new business opportunities for GS E&C and GS Global. POSCO Group announced it will also invest 53 trillion won, including 33 trillion won in Korea, until 2026 and recruit 25,000 workers. With the investment plan, the group aims to focus on the competitiveness of core businesses, such as eco-friendly steel, battery materials, hydrogen, eco-friendly infrastructure and future technology. Hyundai Heavy Industries Group will invest 21 trillion won over the next five years to foster eco-friendly businesses and achieve a digital transformation. The group will use 12 trillion won to establish a smart shipbuilding yard, automation of construction and to develop unmanned technologies. It also plans to hire 10,000 employees, including 5,000 people for R&D, over the next five years. The Albany City Council unanimously voted to issue a proclamation declaring June as LGBTQ Pride Month. I encourage all residents to accept, celebrate and recognize the efforts and ongoing contributions of the LGBTQ communities within Albany and to work together to end discrimination against these members of our community, Mayor Alex Johnson II said. The move follows an opposite move out Lebanon. Earlier this spring, Mayor Paul Aziz rejected a similar proclamation for his city. The Lebanon City Council also rejected the proclamation during its meeting May 11. During the Wednesday, May 25 meeting, Albany Councilor Stacey Bartholomew expressed gratitude for the proclamation. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I appreciate that, and I appreciate Albany supporting that for many years, and particularly the mayor showing up to activities, she said. "I wish that all communities would be as similarly supportive." The city has issued some sort of LGBTQ Pride proclamation since 2017, according to a city spokesperson. In a brief interview during a meeting break, Johnson said the proclamation was the right thing to do. Albany has embraced its LGBTQ community. Theyre valuable members of our community. Theyre part of our family, Johnson said. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. The proclamation comes on the heels of the Linn County Board of Commissioners issuing a proclamation declaring June Pride Month on May 17. Linn County Commissioner Will Tucker said that this may have been the first time the Linn County board had been asked to sign a Pride Month proclamation. Lebanon High School students, Lebanon Community Schools Superintendent and Lebanon City Council member Gamael Nassar spoke in favor of the proclamation before the commissioners. Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall uprising of 1969 in New York City. On June 28 that year, a police raid at the Stonewall Inn sparked riots and protests by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The Stonewall uprising is seen as the formative moment in the Pride movement, and led to the first Pride parade in New York City on June 28, 1970. This year's Albany's Pride event, which includes resources, a rally, community march, and performers and music, is scheduled for Saturday, June 25 starting at 10 a.m. at the Linn County Courthouse. Editor's note: This article was edited to clarify the events happening at Albany Pride this year. Kyle Odegard can be contacted at 541-812-6077 or Kyle.Odegard@lee.net Follow him on Twitter via @KyleOdegard. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 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. Norway's Equinor ASA plans to make a final investment decision on what would be its first offshore wind farm in South Korea in 2024, and is considering a third project near the holiday island of Jeju, the head of its South Korean unit said. "We are looking to build a portfolio of four to six gigawatts in Korea and that's going to support Equinor's ambition ... in energy transition," Jacques-Etienne Michel, president of Equinor South Korea, told Reuters on the sidelines of the 2022 World Gas Conference in Daegu, South Korea. The first project called "Firefly", a planned semi-submersible wind farm spanning 150 square kilometres (58 sq. miles) off the coast of the city of Ulsan, is undergoing environmental impact assessment and a final investment decision will be made in 2024, Michel said. The 800-megawatt project, expected to cost several billion dollars and start commissioning in 2028, is wholly owned by Equinor but the company is looking for partners, he said. Equinor is also in talks with local firms to produce from scratch wind turbines and cables for the project. "It's a chance for Korea to be a prime mover and to build a new industry," Michel said. Equinor has a second 200-MW wind farm project offshore Ulsan, in partnership with state-run Korea National Oil Corp and local power generator Korea East-West Power. The company is also exploring a third project, a 1.5-GW wind farm project near Jeju Island, Michel said. Besides South Korea, Equinor is also looking into similar wind farm projects in Japan and in Vietnam, he said. (Reuters) Jeez man, we know work can be tough at times but give it a rest, and definitely don't turn it on for the cameras. The passenger understandably snitched on the steward, telling the captain about his crew members drunken antics. This reportedly made the captain furious, so he called the police who arrested the steward when they landed. William Hearl, CEO of Immunomic Therapeutics / Courtesy of HLB By Baek Byung-yeul William Hearl, CEO of Immunomic Therapeutics, the U.S. subsidiary of the Korean biotech company, HLB, said that the company expects meaningful test results from its Phase 2 clinical trials of a drug for glioblastoma by August of this year at the latest. Glioblastoma, known by the acronym, GBM, is a malignant brain tumor. Immunomic Therapeutics is undergoing Phase 2 clinical trials with its GBM drug candidate, ITI-1000, made by applying the UNITE platform, an immunotherapy platform technology, the development of which Hearl led. "Patients in Phase I clinical studies showed remarkable survival benefits with a median survival rate of 40 months compared with 16 months using standard care controls. Phase II is ongoing and is nearing completion. It is looking to confirm the observations of overall survival benefits in a blind and placebo-controlled study of 120 subjects. We expect to learn the results of this study in 2022," Hearl said in a written interview with The Korea Times on May 23. "The UNITE platform is intended to provide broad activation of the immune system activating both helper T-cells and cytotoxic T-cells. The process also generates Interferon-gamma cytokines and antibodies," Hearl, who recently visited Korea, said. If the company gets the data it wants in the Phase II clinical trials, Immunomic Therapeutics will be able to announce its clinical trial results at this year's annual conference of the Society for Neruo-Oncology in the U.S. in November. The company will also try to win a breakthrough designation granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the FDA, the breakthrough designation is a process designed to expedite the development and review of drugs that are intended to treat a serious condition, and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate a substantial improvement over available therapy in terms of clinically significant endpoints. The CEO said he hopes the drug his company is developing will be of great help to patients suffering from GBM. "Our vision for ITI-1000 is for this therapy to become the accepted standard of care for all GBM patients who are eligible to be treated by this process," he said. "For patients who have difficulty generating the cells necessary to be treated by the ITI-1000 protocol, we hope that the related product, ITI-1001, will be available to those individuals." The U.S. company is also strengthening its cooperation with HLB. "Over the last two years, HLB, under the vision of Chairman Jin Yang-gon, has added a number of strategic partnerships to the HLB pharma, life sciences and biotech group. It is an impressive group of companies that cover everything from drugs on the market to R&D companies to manufacturing and support businesses. I see many opportunities to collaborate in the future, so coming to Korea was the best way to meet with all of the people leading these companies," the CEO said. PHOENIX, April 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Rare Earths Limited (ASX: ARR, OTCQB: ARRNF, FSE: 1BHA) (ARR or 'the Company') is exploring a potentially massive, rare earths minerals deposit in Albany County, Wyoming. The Company staked 181 additional mining claims covering an area of approximately 2,944 acres. The Company has announced results from surface sampling that revealed an expanded area of elevated Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO). The results could indicate a larger mineral deposit than initially anticipated. See the technical report, full announcement and legal disclaimers here. Highlights: Potentially massive Rare Earths mineral discovery in Wyoming has been expanded Results from 118 surface samples led the Company to increase the project area 181 mining claims covering 2,944 acres were added to the project Drilling results due June 2022 from the Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project The growth brings the Project to over 6,000 acres in Albany and Platte Counties combined. The company has additional projects in Arizona and Nevada. Totaling over 13 thousand acres under exploration, the Company's holdings are believed to have the potential to be one of the largest suites of Rare Earths projects in the United States. Table 1: Autumn/Fall 2021 TREO Sample Summary for Halleck Creek Average REO values (ppm) Study Area Rock Unit No. Samples Total REO Light REO Heavy REO Magnetic REO NdPr Overton Mountain Red Mountain Pluton (RMP) 94 3,187 2,850 257 744 700 Red Mountain RMP/QAL 24 664 539 79 156 140 Grand Total 118 3851 3389 336 900 840 Managing Director and CEO of American Rare Earths Limited Chris Gibbs commented: "We are delighted with the results of this fieldwork. The Rare Earth Elements (REE) mineralization occurs consistently over wide areas at the Halleck Creek Rare Earth Project. By staking the additional claims, American Rare Earths Limited can fully evaluate the region. Our core drilling is progressing very well, and we are enthusiastically awaiting the results of that work, expected June 2022." In late 2021, the Company conducted geologic mapping and geochemical sampling at the Halleck Creek Rare Earths project. Before staking the additional claims, the Company controlled 68 federal mining claims covering 1,265 acres and four Wyoming State mining leases covering 1,844 acres at the Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project area. Table 2: Summary of Halleck Creek Mineral Control Type Acres Hectares Number Existing Federal Claims 1,265 512 68 New Federal Claims (Staked Mar/22) 2,944 1,191 181 Total Federal Claims 4,209 1,703 249 State Licenses 1,844 746 4 Grand Total 6,053 2,449 253 Currently, the Company is drilling nine exploration core holes. Six holes have been completed with a total core length of 2,254 feet, with exceptional core recovery exceeding 95%. The final drill holes are scheduled for completion later this month, then the areas of ground disturbance will be rehabilitated. The Company plans additional detailed geological mapping and geochemical sampling over the Halleck Creek project area. This work is scheduled for May 2022. As the U.S. forges a clean energy future and secure defense industry supply chain, a robust domestic supply of rare earth elements could become more urgent. Global demand is projected to accelerate 400 to 600% over the coming decades, according to a 2021 International Energy Agency report. About American Rare Earths Limited American Rare Earths Limited (ASX: ARR, OTCQB: ARRNF, FSE: 1BHA) is an Australian company with assets in the growing rare earth metals sector of the United States of America, The Company's mission is to supply Critical Materials for Renewable Energy, Green Tech, Electric Vehicles, National Security, and a Carbon-Reduced Future. Mineral exploration projects include the La Paz Rare Earth Project in Arizona, the Searchlight Rare Earths Project in Nevada and the Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project in Wyoming. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements that are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of the words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "will," "target," or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's plans for exploration, development, production and/or processing of materials, including the timing and associated costs and expenses. Such statements are all subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that could significantly affect the Company's future financial results and business. Accordingly, the Company cautions that the forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by such statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the ability of the Company to successfully permit, plan, develop and/or construct a facility to mine, process and/or refine critical minerals, which may be delayed, and related costs and expenses, which may be increased beyond our current estimates; changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions, which may or may not occur; the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, on any of the foregoing risks; and those factors discussed in the Company's JORC 2012 compliant technical reports as submitted to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). The Company does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statements except as required by law. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur. MEDIA CONTACT: Susan Assadi e: susan@gapr.biz p: 347 977 7125 Related Images Image 1: Morning moon over Red Mountain Ranch (Photo by Sara Stotter) This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment NEW YORK, May 05, 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 it will an exhibitor at the upcoming SMR & Advanced Reactor 2022 conference, organized by Reuters Events is part of Reuters News & Media Ltd, which will take place on May 24th & 25th in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Additionally, NANO Nuclear will be a sponsor, exhibitor and also present at the Reset Connect London 2022, the UKs largest and leading sustainability ecosystem and net-zero event for business, investors and innovators. The green investment gathering will be taking place during London Climate Action Week at ExCeL London, United Kingdom on June 28th & 29th, featuring speaking engagements for Founder & Chairman Jay Jiang Yu as well as Chief Executive Officer James Walker. Bringing together market-leading changemakers from the nuclear industry to discuss the short and long-term future of nuclear energy, SMR & Advanced Reactor 2022 will share the latest technological, regulatory and investment moves, discussing SMRs and advanced reactors as the answer to nuclear energy replacing fossil fuels in baseload power generation. Featuring innovative thought leaders such as NuScale Power Chief Technology Officer Dr. Jose Reyes, Roll Royce SMR Chief Executive Officer Tom Samson and GE Hitachi Executive Vice President Jon Ball, SMR & Advanced Reactor 2022 will examine the future of energy distribution and maintaining talent in the marketplace. Additionally, speakers such as U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Christopher T. Hanson and International Atomic Energy Agency Deputy Director General Lydie Evrard will facilitate discussions regarding regulatory adjustments needed to secure a future for nuclear energy. Reset Connect London 2022 is the flagship event (expo & conference) of London Climate Action Week 2022, drilling into the sustainability and climate tech space with a focus on existing, new & innovative technologies/solutions and the green/ESG investment community. The event will take place at ExCeL London on June 28th & 29th and will act to continue the momentum built up by the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). Featuring speakers such as Head of Sustainability, Rolls-Royce Rachael Everard and Labour Member of the House of Lords and Chair of the Centre, Accelerating Social Technology Lord Jim Knight of Weymouth, Reset Connect London 2022 will bring together business (SMEs through to corporate), industry and government with solution providers, policy makers, innovators and the finance community that can enable & fund change. As a sponsor and exhibitor of the event, NANO Nuclear will also be an active participant in the free exchange of ideas, with Founder and Chairman Jay Jiang Yu to contribute to panel discussions around fund/investment raising and scaling up start up and CEO James Walker to contribute to the Art of the Possible-Cutting Edge Technology with the Potential to Drive Change Now. I am incredibly excited to have received an opportunity to share my perspective on launching a purpose-led startup in the ESG and green energy sector and why I believe there is a nuclear tech revolution starting. I look forward to meeting with fellow attendees at the RESET CONNECT gathering, said Jay Jiang Yu, Founder, Chairman and President of NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. The discussion will put NANO Nuclear in good stead, helping to introduce international green energy innovators and investors to our Company. Furthermore, I believe James contribution to the discussion about the Art of the Possible-Cutting Edge Technology with the Potential to Drive Change Now, will be very informative for those in attendance. 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 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d4d26174-788f-408e-945e-b51a0cf62efe https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/95443428-35bf-460a-9c7c-58d9b03cc680 Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses LOS ANGELES, May 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises International Business Machines Corporation ("IBM" or the "Company") (NYSE: IBM) investors that a class action filed on behalf of investors that lost money on their IBM stock. IBM investors are encouraged to contact the firm to discuss their legal rights. Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 844-767-8529 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case via www.portnoylaw.com. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses. On October 20, 2021, after the close of the market, IBM disclosed that it was going to suffer a revenue shortfall, with its Cognitive & Cloud Computing segment the main culprit. Unbeknownst to the investing public, the Company had stopped and/or curtailed its improper conduct described below, which caused Company results to suffer. On this news, IBM's common stock fell from its close on October 20, 2021, of $133.87 per share to close at $121.07 per share on October 21, 2022, a loss of almost $13.00 per share, thereby injuring investors. The complaint filed in this class action alleges that prior to and throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants overstated IBM's revenues from its strategic side of the business, by misclassifying and/or shifting revenues from its non-strategic mainframe part of the business, to appease market expectations about the Company's future prospects and boost incentive compensation for its executives. This misconduct began prior to the start of the Class Period and continued throughout. The defendants in the case are IBM, Virginia M. Rometty, Martin J. Schroeter, James J. Kavanaugh and Arvind Krishna. The Complaint alleges that the conduct of Defendants violates Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act of 1934. Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information. The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq. Admitted CA and NY Bar lesley@portnoylaw.com 310-692-8883 www.portnoylaw.com Attorney Advertising Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses LOS ANGELES, May 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Enservco Corporation ("Enservco" or the "Company") (NYSE: ENSV) investors that a class action filed on behalf of investors. Enservco investors that lost money on their investment are encouraged to contact Lesley Portnoy, Esq. Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 844-767-8529 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case via www.portnoylaw.com. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses. The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Enservco had defective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting; (ii) as a result, there were errors in Enservco's financial statements relating to, inter alia, its transactions with Cross River Partners and accounting for ERCs; (iii) accordingly, the Company would need to restate certain of its financial statements and delay the filing of its 2021 annual report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"); (iv) the Company downplayed the true scope and severity of its financial reporting issues; (v) accordingly, the Company could not file its delayed 2021 annual report with the SEC within its initially represented timeline; and (vi) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information. The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq. Admitted CA and NY Bar lesley@portnoylaw.com 310-692-8883 www.portnoylaw.com Attorney Advertising Vast Resources plc / Ticker: VAST / Index: AIM / Sector: Mining 26 May 2022 Vast Resources plc (Vast or the Company) Correction of admission date Vast Resources plc, the AIM-listed mining company, announces that due to an administrative oversight outside of the Companys control, the application for the 19,400,315 new ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each in the Company in respect of the announcement on 7 April 2022 was not processed and accordingly application to Admission to AIM has now been made with admission expected in respect of such shares to occur on 9 June 2022. There is no correction to the most recently announced number of total voting rights. **ENDS** For further information, visit www.vastplc.com or please contact: Vast Resources plc Andrew Prelea (CEO) Andrew Hall (CCO) www.vastplc.com +44 (0) 20 7846 0974 Beaumont Cornish Financial & Nominated Advisor Roland Cornish James Biddle www.beaumontcornish.com +44 (0) 20 7628 3396 Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited Joint Broker Toby Gibbs / James Thomas (Corporate Advisory) www.shorecapmarkets.co.uk +44 (0) 20 7408 4050 Axis Capital Markets Limited Joint Broker Kamran Hussain www.axcap247.com +44 (0) 20 3206 0320 St Brides Partners Limited Susie Geliher Charlotte Page www.stbridespartners.co.uk +44 (0) 20 7236 1177 ABOUT VAST RESOURCES PLC Vast Resources plc is a United Kingdom AIM listed mining company with mines and projects in Romania and Zimbabwe. In Romania, the Company is focused on the rapid advancement of high-quality projects by recommencing production at previously producing mines. The Company's Romanian portfolio includes 100% interest in the producing Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine, located in the Apuseni Mountains, Transylvania, an area which hosts Romania's largest polymetallic mines. The mine has a JORC compliant Reserve & Resource Report which underpins the initial mine production life of approximately 3-4 years with an in-situ total mineral resource of 15,695 tonnes copper equivalent with a further 1.8M-3M tonnes exploration target. The Company is now working on confirming an enlarged exploration target of up to 5.8M tonnes. The Company also owns the Manaila Polymetallic Mine in Romania, which was commissioned in 2015, currently on care and maintenance. The Company has been granted the Manaila Carlibaba Extended Exploitation Licence that will allow the Company to re-examine the exploitation of the mineral resources within the larger Manaila Carlibaba licence area. The Company has also acquired an interest in a joint venture company which provides exposure to a near term revenue opportunity from the Takob Mine processing facility in Tajikistan. The Takob Mine opportunity, which is 100% financed, will provide Vast with a 12.25 percent royalty over all sales of non-ferrous concentrate and any other metals produced. Processing of stockpiled ore on site is expected to commence in Q2 2022. In Zimbabwe, the Company is focused on the commencement of the joint venture mining agreement on the Community Diamond Concession, Chiadzwa, in the Marange Diamond Fields. New York, USA, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Drug Device Combination Market Overview According to a Comprehensive Research Report by Market Research Future (MRFR), Drug Device Combination Market Information by Product, Application, End User and Region - Forecast till 2030", the market is expected to reach USD 251.90 Billion by 2030 at 7.2% CAGR. Market Synopsis Drug device combination devices are widely used to treat disorders such as cardiovascular diseases. The global burden of cardiovascular disease, urological disease, and others has increased in recent years. Medical devices that comprise a device and active pharmaceutical components that are chemically or physically combined as a "single-entity" are known as drug-device combination products. Due to precise medication delivery, local administration, and personalized treatment, these solutions result in safer, more effective management and treatment of various illnesses. The most common are drug-eluting stents, transdermal delivery systems, infusion pumps, inhalers, prefilled syringes, and other drug-device combo items. These cutting-edge products are being used to control and treat many chronic illnesses, including cancer, respiratory problems, cardiovascular problems, wound repair, and diabetes. Get Free Sample PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/6946 Report Scope: Report Attribute Details Market Size USD 251.90 Billion CAGR 7.2% Base Year 2021 Forecast Period 2022-2030 Historical Data 2020 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Product, Application, End user Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Market Drivers Growing healthcare expenditure and rising awareness for the disease Increasing R&D expenses by the key players Drug Device Combination Market Competitive Landscape: The central contenders in the drug device combination market are C.R. BARD, Inc. Cook Critical Care, Inc. 3M Stryker Corporation Wright Medical Group, Inc. Zimmer Holding, Inc Abbott Laboratories AlloSource Biomet Orthopedics, Inc. Biometrix Medical Biotronik Boston Scientific Corporation Covidien Ltd, Smith & Nephew Plc St. Jude Medical Inc Drug Device Combination Market USP Covered: Market Drivers The global medication device combination market is driven by rising healthcare spending, increased disease awareness, and increased R&D expenditures by crucial companies. Players in the global drug-device combination products market are projected to benefit from the development of cloud-based data management software in combination products. The rise in occurrence of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and breathing issues, as well as an increase in casualties due to accidents and trauma, a rise in the aged population, growth in the home-based healthcare market, and technical advances such as the development of prefilled syringes, are driving the global drug-device combination products market. The accompanying benefits of lower pain intensity, better patient results, shorter hospital stays, and total healthcare cost-efficiency have all contributed to the increased acceptance of these devices. Synergistic effects that facilitate multi-target treatment, reduced tolerance levels, dose regimen simplicity, and enhanced symptomatic and pharmacokinetics are among the other benefits. These advantages are projected to drive the need for these devices and provide several potential prospects for the industry. Drug Device Combination Market Restraints: Conversely, the market is likely to benefit from increased healthcare infrastructure and significant market potential in underdeveloped emerging economies. Infection risk is increased by drug-device combo products, which is predicted to slow market growth. Stent infection is uncommon; however, it is associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate. Rising product recalls are likely to limit the worldwide drug-device combination products market's growth during the forecast period. Due to their antiproliferative actions, drug-eluting stents (DES) have a higher chance of infection than bare-metal stents (BMS). However, the market expansion is limited by high product prices, negative impacts, and the existence of low-income countries in emerging economies. Drug Device Combination Market COVID 19 Analysis The COVID-19 epidemic has had a significant impact on the private healthcare industry. During the forecast period, the worldwide drug-device combination products market is hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 epidemic and subsequent lockdowns in numerous countries around the world have impacted enterprises of all types. Furthermore, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, participants in the worldwide drug-device combination products market are experiencing severe challenges on multiple fronts. The supply of raw materials for producing medication formulations is complex because of transportation facility inconsistencies. Also, goods distributors are encountering erratic demand from retailers due to an expanding patient population dealing with COVID-19 and other life-threatening conditions. Browse In-depth Market Research Report (90 Pages) on Drug Device Combination: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/drug-device-combination-market-6946 Drug Device Combination Market Segmentation Based On Product The catheter segment is estimated to gain traction in the forecast period. Based On Application The coronary angioplasty segment will gain significant momentum in the upcoming period. Based On End User In the projected term, the hospitals & clinics sector is expected to capture the largest share of the entire market. Clinics are also projected to dominate the worldwide drug-device combination market because they can detect disease and provide effective extended treatment with the help of doctors in underdeveloped countries. Buy Now: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=6946 Drug Device Combination Market Regional Insights Due to the sheer rising number of cardiovascular disorders and key market players in the region, the Americas controlled the drug device combination market. Furthermore, favorable reimbursement rules, large healthcare expenditures, and a developed healthcare industry in the United States and Canada contribute to the market's growth. Due to well-established healthcare infrastructure, increased awareness of devices within the region, and advanced economies, Europe was expected to rank second in the global medication device combination throughout the forecast period. Furthermore, the drug device combination market benefits from a vast patient pool. Share your Queries @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/6946 The Asia-Pacific area was predicted to be the quickest expanding. This is attributable to increased market penetration by regional market participants, a developing healthcare sector, and increased government backing for international investments. The Middle East and Africa, on the other hand, had the smallest share of the global drug device combination market due to underdeveloped economies and low per capita income, particularly in Africa. The Middle Eastern region is expected to be a significant market for the Middle East and Africa. Discover more research Reports on Healthcare Industry , by Market Research Future: Breast Implants Market Trends, Growth and Size Analysis By Product (Silicone implants, Saline implants, Smooth Breast implants, Round implants), Shape (Anatomical, Round), Application (Breast Reconstruction, Breast Augmentation), End-User (Clinics) -Forecast Till 2027 Cardiac Monitoring and Cardiac Rhythm Management Device Market , by Cardiac Device (Pacemaker and Others), by Cardiac Monitoring (Electrocardiogram), by CRM (Defibrillators and Others), by End-User (Hospitals and Others)Global Forecast Till 2027 Cerebral Palsy Market Research Report: By Type (Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy, Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy, Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, Other), by Diagnosis (Imaging Tests, Others), by Treatment (Therapy, Medication, Other)- Forecast Till 2027 About Market Research Future: Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis with regard to diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions. Newark, NJ, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the report published by Fior Markets, The global passive fire protection materials market is expected to grow from USD 18.1 billion in 2019 to USD 34.51 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 8.4% during the forecast period 2020-2027. North America is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. The prevalence of high safety standards for fire safety across all applications, including building and construction, and oil and gas is expected to drive the market growth. High disposable incomes of people is giving rise to the demand for passive fire protection in houses. The increasing extraction of shale gas in the US will also contribute to the market growth. Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period. The significant growth in the industrial and construction sectors of the developing economies of China and India are expected to drive the market growth. The rising awareness and need for the building of safe infrastructures will fuel the market growth. Get Free Sample Copy: https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/418551/request-sample Some of the leading players of the market include 3M, Sherwin-Williams, Hempel, Lloyd Insulations Ltd., PPG Industries, Nullifire, HILTI, Kansai Paint, Teknos Group, Akzo Nobel, Rudolf Hensel GmbH, Carboline, Jotun, Promat International, and Sharpfibre. The market is characterised by high fragmentation and low product differentiation. The players are focusing on research and development activities for technological advancements and product innovation. Other strategies include strategic partnerships and integration across the value chain. This study delivers a comprehensive analysis of type, application, industry, and regions. On the basis of type, the market can be divided into sealants, foams and boards, and intumescent materials. Intumescent materials are expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period. The growth can be attributed to its widespread use in the industrial sector for the protection of structural steel applications. Its ability to withstand extreme weather conditions has increased its use in the oil and gas industry. On the basis of application, the market can be divided into compartmentation, structural, opening protection, and fire stopping materials. The structural application is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Structural fire protection is used for the prevention of fire in the building structures in the construction industry. A rise in the number of infrastructural development projects and increasing demand for residential and commercial buildings in the urban centres is expected to drive the market growth. Also, the governmental regulatory requirements need to be complied. On the basis of industry, the market can be divided into oil & gas, building & construction, and transportation. Building and construction industry is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. A rise in strict regulatory requirements for fire safety is expected to drive the market growth. An increase in the growth of construction and buildings sector along with mandatory installation and use of passive fire protection materials is expected to fuel the market growth. The rise in large-scale infrastructural projects and an increase in the oil exploration activities will further contribute to the market growth. A slowdown in the global economy and fluctuating prices of raw materials may hinder the market growth. Read Complete Report with TOC: https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/passive-fire-protection-materials-market-by-type-sealants-418551.html About the report: The global passive fire protection materials market is analysed on the basis of value (USD Billion). All the segments have been analyzed on global, regional and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each segment. The report offers in-depth analysis of driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining the key insight of the market. The study includes porters five forces model, attractiveness analysis, raw material analysis, supply, demand analysis, competitor position grid analysis, distribution and marketing channels analysis. For Instant Purchase: https://www.fiormarkets.com/checkout.html?reportid=418551&type=single Customization of the Report: The report can be customized as per client requirements. For further queries, you can contact us on sales@fiormarkets.com or +1-201-465-4211. Our executives will be pleased to understand your requirements and offer you the best-suited reports. About Fior Markets Fior Markets is a futuristic market intelligence company, helping customers flourish their business strategies and make better decisions using actionable intelligence. With transparent information pool, we meet clients objectives, commitments on high standard and targeting possible prospects for SWOT analysis and market research reports. Fior Markets deploys a wide range of regional and global market intelligence research reports including industries like technology, pharmaceutical, consumer goods, food and beverages, chemicals, media, materials and many others. Contact Us Avinash D Head of Business Development Phone: +1-201-465-4211 Email: sales@fiormarkets.com Web: www.fiormarkets.com To Read Top Industries Reports, Visit our Affiliated Website: https://www.marketsandresearch.biz Related Reports Perfluoropolyether Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/perfluoropolyether-market-by-product-pfpe-k-pfpe-m-pfpe-z-pfpe-y-419690.html Butylated Hydroxytoluene Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/butylated-hydroxytoluene-market-by-grade-food-grade-technical-419705.html Alcohol Ethoxylates Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/alcohol-ethoxylates-market-by-product-fatty-alcohol-ethoxylates-419727.html Fatty Acid Ester Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/fatty-acid-ester-market-by-type-fatty-acid-419731.html Chinese Premier Li Keqiang shows the way to Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, left, as they attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct. 9, 2019. AP-Yonhap China has put forward plans to dramatically expand security and economic cooperation with South Pacific nations, in what one regional leader called a thinly veiled effort to lock them into "Beijing's orbit." The wide-ranging draft agreement and a five-year plan, both obtained by AFP, will be the subject of discussion during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's tour of Pacific nations, which began Thursday. The package would offer 10 small island states millions of dollars in Chinese assistance, the prospect of a China-Pacific Islands Free Trade Agreement and access to China's lucrative market of 1.4 billion people. It would also offer China the chance to train local police, become involved in local cybersecurity, expand political ties, conduct sensitive marine mapping and gain greater access to natural resources. The "comprehensive development vision" is believed to be up for approval when Wang meets regional foreign ministers May 30 in Fiji. The South Pacific is increasingly a theatre for competition between China and the United States which has been the primary power in the region for the last century. Beijing has sought to develop a greater military, political and economic foothold, but until now has made only limited and uneven progress. 'Shadowy' "This is China seeking to increase its influence in the region of the world where Australia has been the security partner of choice since the Second World War," new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned Thursday. Australia "needs to respond", he said in an interview, outlining plans for a "step-up" in Pacific engagement, with about Aus$500 million (US$350 million) in aid for defense training, maritime security and infrastructure to combat the effects of climate change. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong was on a flight to Fiji to consult the government about Canberra's plans, he said. U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price warned the countries in question to be wary of "shadowy" agreements with China. "We are concerned that these reported agreements may be negotiated in a rushed, non-transparent process," Price told reporters Wednesday, adding that Pacific nations would make their own sovereign choices. The Chinese plan, if approved, would represent a significant change, facilitating everything from the deployment of Chinese police to visits by Chinese "art troupes." Flights between China and the Pacific Islands would increase. Beijing would appoint a regional envoy, supply training for young Pacific diplomats and provide 2,500 government "scholarships." But it is also raising alarm bells in regional capitals. 'Control of our region' In a stark letter to fellow Pacific leaders, Federated States of Micronesia President David Panuelo warned the agreement seems "attractive" at first glance, but would allow China to "acquire access and control of our region." Calling the proposals "disingenuous," Panuelo said they would deliver Chinese influence over government and industries, and allow "mass surveillance" of calls and email. "The result," he said, would be "the fracturing of regional peace, security and stability." Micronesia has a compact of free association with the United States, making it one of the region's closest U.S. allies. But other Pacific leaders may see the Chinese proposal as possibly lucrative or beneficial. Policymakers in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan are still reeling from revelations in April that the Solomon Islands secretly negotiated a security agreement with Beijing. A leaked draft of the agreement contained a provision allowing Chinese naval deployments to the island nation, which lies less than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from Australia. The Solomon Islands has said it will not host Chinese bases, but it is also prohibited from speaking publicly about the deal without China's permission. Beijing's latest proposal would effectively extend key elements of the Solomon Islands agreement to nine other small Pacific nations. Regional fears For Washington and its allies, the presence of Chinese forces in the South Pacific would spell an end to decades of efforts to contain China inside the "first island chain." It could also require a dramatic repositioning of U.S. forces. For Beijing, a base or even port access would challenge U.S. hegemony in the region and ease what it sees as encirclement by the West. Wang touched down in the Solomon Islands' capital Honiara on Thursday, kicking off a lengthy, eight-nation regional tour. He is scheduled to sign draft agreements, details of which have not been made public, as well as meet with the country's prime minister and foreign minister. Travelling until June 4, Wang will also stop in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Kiribati and Samoa, as well as hold video calls with Micronesia and the Cook Islands a self-governing part of New Zealand. (AFP) SEOUL, South Korea, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the recent appointment of their new President, the excitement and development around the crypto space in South Korea have continued to grow. One of the blockchain-based digital assets reaching new heights is Nagaya (NGY), which recently achieved a new milestone by being honored with the Grand Prize in the field of Nickel Industry (IT Digital Asset) at the 25th Jang Young-sil International Science and Culture Award, held on 22 April 2022. The Jang Young-sil International Science and Culture Awards ceremony was first held in March 1999 to honor Jang Young-sil, one of the greatest inventors in South Korean history. The award was established to stimulate research and innovation and also to honor those innovators whose product or process made an outstanding advancement and provide value to the general public. This award is anticipated by the general public due to its significance on innovation and research in the country and was also attended by the Ministry Board of South Korea, including the Former Prime Minister of South Korea Dr. Lee Soo Sung. Some of the past recipients include prominent figures such as Dato Lee Yee Cheong from Malaysia and Professor Kang Sung Mo from South Korea. Nickel, also known as the new gold, is available only in a few countries but it is becoming an essential resource in our daily lives. High entry barriers to nickel mining have limited the number of corporations to be operating them. However, Nagaya has utilized business in nickel resource development as a supplement to support its Blockchain-based Hybrid Digital Asset Concept. With this, Nagaya is paving the path for the transition from a first-generation industry to a fourth-generation industry. The award was received by Nagaya Technologies Chief Business Development Officer Mr. Jung Heechul, who accepted the award on behalf of the CEO, Mr. Yorath Yohannes Tjandra who was unable to attend the event. It was a great honor to get this award, and this definitely represents a significant step in the development of Nagaya going forward. Aside from receiving this award, Nagaya will be having few utilities planned in South Korea. Nagaya has signed an MOU with Sesung Co. Ltd, in which Nagaya (NGY) has been chosen to be the official payment method in P4 Lala Square, a new shopping center currently being built in the ad hoc new administrative capital of South Korea, Sejong City. Nagaya has also planned to roll out its new blockchain-based payment platform called Nagaya Pay Partner, whereby Nagaya (NGY) will be accepted as a blockchain-based payment method by participating merchants under the Korean Micro Enterprise Association. It is a wonderful accomplishment, but we still need to work hard, said the CEO, Mr. Tjandra when interviewed after the event. This is the first time that a blockchain-based Digital Asset Company is to receive such an award. Nagaya Technologies Pte Ltd, huihui_koh@nagaya.tech A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6450a428-30b9-469b-aff8-5feaaa7ef2c2 NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Preql , a no-code data transformation solution, announced that it has raised $7 million in seed funding, led by Bessemer Venture Partners with participation from Felicis , and top founders in the analytics ecosystem including Taylor Brown from Fivetran, Keenan Rice from Looker, Tristan Handy from Dbt Labs, Eldad Fakash from Firebolt, and Benn Stancil from Mode. Preqls platform allows business users to structure data for reporting without having to write SQL or rely on specialized data talent. Preql builds upon the innovation of tools like Snowflake and Fivetran, which have made aspects of the analytics workflow accessible to organizations without data engineering resources. The next evolutionary step in the modern data stack is to allow business users to manage their own logic for reporting something thats not possible today without advanced SQL and data transformation expertise. Preqls Co-Founders and Co-CEOs, Gabi Steele and Leah Weiss, met while leading data teams at WeWork and went on to found a successful data engineering and visualization consultancy. During their time at WeWork, they experienced a disconnect between business users who need data for decision making and the data teams who structure and prepare data for analysis. Business users have to pass along definitions to data modeling specialists, who maintain logic in code but lack sufficient business context. Even with exceptional data talent, the result of this handoff is often lack of trust in data, frustrated data teams, and costly data investments without a clear path to ROI. Preqls funding comes at a moment where companies of all sizes are now investing in data cloud data storage and ingestion tools. The cloud storage market is growing 22.3% each year. Despite these investments in modern infrastructure, few companies have the internal resources required to shape their data for analysis. Theres a misconception that simply storing data will help your organization become data driven. Data storage is necessary, but the hard part is agreeing on what you want to measure, how you want to measure it, and then translating that business logic into code, said Leah Weiss, Co-Founder. Preql gives business users the ability to contextualize their data and customize definitions, but then abstracts away the complex work of data transformation. Preqls technology sits on top of the data warehouse, predicts the data model required for your business, and then lets business users customize metric definitions. It compiles all of that logic and delivers reporting ready datasets back in your warehouse, something that previously took months of manual effort from highly skilled data teams. Weve seen first hand the pain business users and data teams experience while building out a central source of truth for reporting, said Gabi Steele, Co-Founder. We are deeply committed to delivering a design forward and intuitive solution that business users will love and understand, and that more mature data teams are grateful for because it saves them so much back and forth. Were excited to partner with Preql to make data capabilities more accessible to organizations and verticals that are currently underserved, said Amit Karp, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. We were really impressed with the unique insight the founders bring to this problem and the clarity of their vision. Viviana Faga, General Partner at Felicis adds, we couldnt be more thrilled to partner with Gabi and Leah, who are on a mission to change the way data is transformed and accessed, better serving the needs of business users at every company. About Preql Preql is building automated data transformation for business users. Its technology empowers business users to access analysis-ready data in minutes without having to learn SQL or rely on a data team. Preql is backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, Felicis, and several angel investors. Learn more at preql.com . About Bessemer Venture Partners Bessemer Venture Partners helps entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to build and forge long standing companies. With more than 135 IPOs and 200 portfolio companies in the enterprise, consumer and healthcare spaces, Bessemer supports founders and CEOs from their early days through every stage of growth. Bessemers global portfolio includes Pinterest, Shopify, Twilio, Yelp, LinkedIn, PagerDuty, DocuSign, Wix, Fiverr and Toast and has $9 billion of capital under management. Bessemer has teams of investors and partners located in Tel Aviv, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, New York, London, Boston, Beijing and Bangalore. Born from innovations in steel more than a century ago, Bessemers storied history has afforded its partners the opportunity to celebrate and scrutinize its best investment decisions (see Memos) and also learn from its mistakes (see Anti-Portfolio). About Felicis Founded in 2006, Felicis is a venture capital firm investing in companies reinventing core markets, as well as those creating frontier technologies. Felicis focuses on early stage investments and currently manages over $2.1B in capital across 8 funds. The firm is an early backer of more than 41 companies valued at $1B+. More than 91 of its portfolio companies have been acquired or gone public, including Adyen (IPO), Credit Karma (acq by Intuit), Cruise (acq by General Motors), Fitbit (IPO), Guardant Health (IPO), Meraki (acq by Cisco), Ring (acq by Amazon), and Shopify (IPO). The firm is based in Menlo Park, CA. Learn more at www.felicis.com . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/98753d0b-a231-4884-a213-3f20c212a9bf New York, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Companion Animal Veterinary Vaccines Global Market Report 2022" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06281030/?utm_source=GNW The global companion animal veterinary vaccines market is expected to grow from $3.05 billion in 2021 to $3.25 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. The market is expected to grow to $4.19 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%. The companion animal veterinary vaccines market consists of sales of companion animal vaccines by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that manufacture companion animal vaccines.Companion animal vaccines are substances that are used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases in pets such as dogs, birds, and cats. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included. The main products of companion animal veterinary vaccines are inactivated, live attenuated, recombinant, and other products.A recombinant vaccine is one that was created using recombinant DNA technology. This entails inserting DNA encoding an antigen (such as a bacterial surface protein) that triggers an immunological response into bacterial or mammalian cells, expressing the antigen in these cells, and then purifying it from them. The products are administered through oral, parenteral, and other routes of administration and are distributed through veterinary hospitals, veterinary clinics, pharmacies and drug stores, and other distribution channels. North America was the largest region in the companion animal veterinary vaccines market in 2021.Asia-Pacific was the second-largest region in the companion animal veterinary vaccines market. The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa. Increased pet ownership by Gen X and Gen Y adults contributed to the growth of the companion animal veterinary vaccines market during the historic period.According to the APPA, millennials, or Gen Y represents the largest segment of pet owners for all types of pets. More than 80% of Gen Y and Gen Z own a dog and 50% or less own a cat as a pet.Multiple pet ownership is also on the rise in some parts of the world. According to the 2019-2020 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, 67% of US households own pets, which is equal to 84.9 million homes. Pet owners are well aware of advanced facilities and are willing to spend a large amount of money on the health of their pets. Therefore, the rise in pet ownership aids in the growth of the companion animal veterinary vaccines market. The high cost of veterinary vaccines is expected to restrain the growth of the market.According to data from Harris Interactive, in the USA, households with pets spent about $1,000 in pet care. There are around 70% of households in the USA who own a pet and only 39% have enough in their savings to cover high spending related to pet care. According to a report by PET IQ in 2019, in the USA, nearly 28% of households experienced barriers to veterinary care in the past two years. 80% of pet owners are unable to obtain preventative care due to financial constraints. There are several instances when it happens that the pet owners cannot afford expensive animal treatment and this factor restrained the growth of the companion animal veterinary vaccines market. Usually, the average cost of the rabies vaccine varies typically from about $1,200 to $6,500. Thus, the high costs for companion animal veterinary vaccines will restrain the growth of the market over the forecast period. Companies in the companion animal veterinary vaccine industry are increasingly collaborating and partnering with other players to drive product innovations.To succeed in the increasingly competitive veterinary market, companion animal veterinary vaccines companies are entering into new geographies and developing innovative products through sharing skills and expertise with other players. For instance, Merck & Co.s subsidiary MSD Animal Health announced a strategic partnership with Vinovo B.V., a division of Viscon Hatchery Automation, the leading hatchery automation company, to provide a new standard in safe and effective Vinovo vaccination to improve bird welfare and reduce vaccine reactions. In June 2019, Zoetis collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of public and private partners spanning animal and human health. In April 2019, Merck Animal Health, a US-based company that is involved in manufacturing, fabricating, or processing of drugs for human or veterinary use, acquired Antelliq Corporation for about $2.4 billion. Through this acquisition, Merck Animal Health aims to implement animal health digital tracking, traceability, and monitoring technology and complement the existing portfolio of vaccines and pharmaceuticals. Antelliq Corporation is an animal intelligence group that provides devices for animal identification, monitoring, and traceability. The countries covered in the companion animal veterinary vaccines market are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, and USA. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06281030/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Dublin, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Blood Plasma Derivatives Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global blood plasma derivatives market reached a value of US$ 40.5 billion in 2021. Looking forward, the market is projected to reach a value of US$ 59.8 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.40% during 2022-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, the analyst is continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic on different End-use sectors. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor. Blood plasma derivatives are concentrates of specific proteins prepared from plasma that are obtained through fractionation process. Factor VIII, immunoglobulin, albumin, hyperimmune globulin, factor IX and fresh frozen are some of the common blood plasma derivatives. They are rich in proteins, minerals, salts, hormones, vitamins and protease inhibitors, due to which they are widely used to kill viruses that cause hepatitis B, hemophilia A, bleeding disorders, immunodeficiency, hepatitis C, hypogammaglobulinemia, hemophilia B and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Apart from this, blood plasma derivatives assist in enhancing nutrition, controlling body temperature and coagulation of blood, maintaining osmotic pressure, enhancing respiration and excretion, and regulating acid-base balance. Blood plasma derivatives are commonly stored at hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers and blood transfusion centers. Blood Plasma Derivatives Market Trends The increasing geriatric population that are more susceptible to developing infectious diseases are creating a positive outlook for the market. Blood plasma contains immunoglobulins that play an important role in the development of immunity and maintain the osmotic pressure in blood vessels, which further prevents the onset immunodeficiency disorders and hemophilia. Moreover, the widespread product adoption to treat coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients by convalescent plasma treatment is favoring the market growth. Additionally, various technological innovations in the fractionation process that aids in separating protein concentrates and various components of blood plasma for clinical purposes are providing a considerable boost to the market growth. In line with this, the development of advanced preservation methods, along with the significant improvements in encased procedures for developing targeted therapeutic products are further augmenting the market growth. Other factors, including significant growth in the healthcare industry, increasing awareness regarding blood and plasma donation and the implementation of various government initiatives to promote blood donation camps, are anticipated to drive the market further toward growth. Key Questions Answered in This Report How has the global blood plasma derivatives market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global blood plasma derivatives market? What are the key regional markets? What is the breakup of the market based on the type? What is the breakup of the market based on the application? What is the breakup of the market based on the End-user? What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry? What is the structure of the global blood plasma derivatives market and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the industry? Competitive Landscape The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Baxter International Inc. Bayer AG CSL Limited Fusion Health Care Pvt. Ltd. Grifols S.A. Kedrion S.p.A. LFB S.A. Octapharma AG Sanofi S.A. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited Key Market Segmentation Breakup by Type: Albumin Factor VIII Factor IX Immunoglobulin Hyperimmune Globulin Others Breakup by Application: Hemophilia Hypogammaglobulinemia Immunodeficiency Diseases Von Willebrand's Disease Others Breakup by End-user: Hospitals Clinics Others Breakup by Region: North America United States Canada Asia-Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Indonesia Others Europe Germany France United Kingdom Italy Spain Russia Others Latin America Brazil Mexico Others Middle East and Africa Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 5 Global Blood Plasma Derivatives Market 6 Market Breakup by Type 7 Market Breakup by Application 8 Market Breakup by End User 9 Market Breakup by Region 10 SWOT Analysis 11 Value Chain Analysis 12 Porters Five Forces Analysis 13 Price Analysis 14 Competitive Landscape For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/d4owjx Attachment Dublin, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Adhesives Market (2022 Edition): Analysis By Product, Technology, Application, By Region, By Country: Market Insights and Forecast with Impact of COVID-19 (2022-2027)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global Adhesives market was valued at USD 45.32 billion in the year 2021 with Asia Pacific region leading the regional market share. The report presents the analysis of the Global Adhesives Market for the historical period 2017-2021 and forecast period of 2022-2027. The market for adhesives is dominated by the paper, board, and packaging segment. End-user sectors such as food and drinks, cosmetics, consumer products, stationery, and other end-user industries have been driving demand for packaging. Online retail shopping is increasing at a higher rate with the rising internet technologies and web applications, which has largely supported the growth of the packaging industry. The COVID-19 epidemic continued to have a substantial impact on the worldwide adhesive business, resulting in roughly double-digit declines in the quarterly financials of practically all of the world's leading adhesive manufacturers. The worldwide adhesives business was hit by a double whammy due to a demand decline from both construction and industrial activities, as well as an unusual slowdown in the automotive industry and the shutdown of several other consuming industries. Over the next eight years, changes in material consumption patterns, with materials such as aluminium, metal, and paper being replaced by more durable materials, are expected to have a favourable impact on adhesives product demand in packaging applications. The report tracks competitive developments, strategies, mergers and acquisitions, and new product development. The companies analysed in the report include Henkel AG & Co., H.B. Fuller, Sika AG, 3M, Arkema, Avery Dennison, Dow Chemical Company, Illinois Tool Works Inc., DuPont, and Huntsman Corporation. Key Topics Covered: 1. Report Scope & Methodology 1.1 Scope of the Report 1.2 Research Methodology 1.3 Executive Summary 2. Strategic Recommendations 3. Adhesives Market: Product Overview 4. Global Adhesives Market: An Analysis 4.1 Market Size, By Value, Year 2017-2027 4.3 Impact of COVID-19 on Global Adhesives Market 4.4 Global Adhesives Market 5. Global Adhesives Market Segmentation, By Product (Value) 5.1 Global Adhesives Market: Segment Analysis 5.2 Competitive Scenario of Global Adhesives Market: By Product (2021 & 2027) 5.3 By Acrylic- Market Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 5.4 By Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)- Market Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 5.5 By Polyurethanes- Market Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 5.6 By Styrenic Block- Market Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 5.7 By Others- Market Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 6. Global Adhesives Market Segmentation, By Technology (Value) 6.1 Global Adhesives Market: Segment Analysis 6.2 Competitive Scenario of Global Adhesives Market: By technology (2021 & 2027) 6.3 By Water Based- Market Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 6.4 By Solvent Based- Market Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 6.5 By Hot Melt- Market Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 6.6 By Reactive and Others- Market Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 7. Global Adhesives Market Segmentation, By Application (Value) 7.1 Global Adhesives Market: Segment Analysis 7.2 Competitive Scenario of Global Adhesives Market: By Application (2021 & 2027) 7.3 By Paper, board, and related products- Market Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 7.4 By Building & construction)- Market Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 7.5 By Product Assembly- Market Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 7.6 By Woodworking and joinery- Market Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 7.7 By Others- Market Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 8. Global Adhesives Market: Regional Analysis 8.1 Competitive Scenario of Global Adhesives Market: By Region (2021 & 2027) 9. North America Adhesives Market: An Analysis (2017-2027) 9.1 North America Adhesives Market by value: Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 9.2 North America Adhesives Market: Prominent Companies 9.3 Market Segmentation By Product (Acrylic, Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), Polyurethanes, Styrenic Block, Others.) 9.4 Market Segmentation By Technology (Water Based, Solvent Based, Hot Melt, Reactive & Others.) 9.5 Market Segmentation By Application (Paper, board, and related products, Building and construction, Product Assembly, Woodworking and joinery, Others.) 9.6 North America Adhesives Market: Country Analysis 9.7 Market Opportunity Chart of North America Adhesives Market - By Country, By Value (Year-2027) 9.8 Competitive Scenario of North America Adhesives Market- By Country (2021 & 2027) 9.9 United States Adhesives Market: Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 9.10 United States Adhesives Market Segmentation By Product, By Technology, By Application (2017-2027) 9.11 Canada Adhesives Market: Size and Forecast (2017-2027) 9.12 Canada Adhesives Market Segmentation By Product, By Technology, By Application (2017-2027) 10. Europe Adhesives Market: An Analysis (2017-2027) 11. Asia Pacific Adhesives Market: An Analysis (2017-2027) 12. Global Adhesives Market Dynamics 12.1 Global Adhesives Market Drivers 12.2 Global Adhesives Market Restraints 12.3 Global Adhesives Market Trends 13. Market Attractiveness 13.1 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Adhesives Market - By Product (Year 2027) 13.2 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Adhesives Market - By Technology (Year 2027) 13.3 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Adhesives Market - By Application (Year 2027) 13.4 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Adhesives Market - By Region (Year 2027) 14. Competitive Landscape 14.1 Market Share of global leading companies 14.2 SWOT Analysis- Global Adhesives Market 14.3 Porter Five Force Analysis- Global Adhesives Market 15. Global Adhesives Market: Recent Developments 16. Company Profiles (Business Description, Financial Analysis, Business Strategy) Henkel AG & Co. H.B. Fuller Sika AG Arkema Dow Chemical Company 3M Avery Dennison Illinois Tool Works Inc. DuPont Huntsman Corporation For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/42n7x5 Attachment Dublin, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "In-Vitro Diagnostics/IVD Market by Product and Service (Instrument, Kits), Technology (Immunoassay, MDx, Hematology, Urinalysis), Application (Diabetes, Oncology, Cardiology, Nephrology, Infectious Diseases) End User (Hospitals) - Global Forecast to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global IVD market is projected to reach USD 113.1 billion by 2026 from USD 98.2 billion in 2021, at a CAGR of 2.9% during the forecast period. The growth of the IVD market is mainly driven by the rising geriatric population and the subsequent growth in the prevalence of chronic and infectious diseases, increasing adoption of fully automated and POC instruments in developed regions, growing awareness regarding diseases diagnosis in developing regions, and growing R&D investments by industry players to launch new IVD products. Also, the development of disease-specific markers and tests is expected to offer potential growth opportunities to market players in the coming years. However, the unfavorable reimbursement scenario is expected to restrain the growth of this market during the forecast period. Reagents & kits segment accounted for the largest share in the IVD market Based on product and service, the IVD market is segmented into reagents & kits, instruments, services, and data management software. The reagents & kits segment accounted for the largest share of 68.1% of the IVD market in 2020. Accessibility to a wide range of reagents and the need for reliable, specific, and faster detection of chronic diseases and genetic disorders in the early stages are expected to drive the growth of this segment. Oncology segment is expected to witness the fastest growth in the forecast period Based on application, the IVD market is segmented into infectious diseases, diabetes, Oncology, cardiology, drug testing/ pharmacogenomics, HIV/AIDS, autoimmune diseases, nephrology and other applications. In 2020, infectious diseases accounted for 34.1% of the IVD market. The large share of this segment can be attributed to the rising prevalence of infectious diseases and multi-drug-resistant infectious diseases and the growing need for effective diagnostic tools for these diseases. However, the oncology segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period. The increasing number of cancer cases across the globe, the growing demand for personalized medicine, and the availability of funding for cancer research are the major factors driving the market growth. Immunoassay/immunochemistry account for the largest share in the IVD market Based on technology, the IVD market is segmented into immunoassay/immunochemistry, clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, hematology, microbiology, coagulation and hemostasis, urinalysis and other technologies. The immunoassay/immunochemistry segment accounted for 31% of the IVD technologies market in 2020. The growing preference for these technologies in clinical diagnostics over conventional methods and the ability of immunoassay/immunochemistry technologies to offer faster results with high sensitivity and accuracy are contributing to the growth of this market segment. Hospital laboratories accounted for the largest share of IVD market in 2020 Based on the end user, the IVD market is segmented into hospital laboratories, clinical laboratories, academic institutes, POC (point-of-care) testing centers, patients, and other end users. In 2020, hospital laboratories accounted for the largest share of 47% of the IVD market, followed by clinical laboratories (23.8%) and POC testing centers (13%). Many diagnostic tests are carried out in hospitals. The acquisition of smaller physician practices and groups by hospitals is becoming a noticeable trend in the US healthcare industry; the continuation of this trend will support the IVD market for hospital laboratories. North America accounted for the largest share of the IVD market in 2020 The IVD market is divided into five major regions - North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2020, North America accounted for the largest share of 39.8% of the IVD market, followed by Europe (28%), Asia Pacific (22.9%), Latin America (6.5%), and the Middle East & Africa (2.9%). The IVD market in North America is well established, with the US being the major market in this region. Growth in the North American market is mainly driven by the increasing per capita healthcare expenditure and technologically advanced healthcare infrastructure in the region. Initiatives taken by different government associations are also anticipated to boost the market growth in the coming years. Market Dynamics Drivers Rising Geriatric Population and Subsequent Growth in the Prevalence of Chronic and Infectious Diseases Shift from Centralized to Point-Of-Care Testing Growing Awareness and Initiatives to Increase Healthcare Accessibility in Developing Countries Changing Technological Landscape Restraints Unfavorable Reimbursement Scenario Opportunities Development of Disease-Specific Biomarkers and Tests Growing Significance of Companion Diagnostics Growth Opportunities in Emerging Countries Challenges Changing Regulatory Landscape in the EU$ Companies Mentioned Roche Diagnostics Danaher Corporation Abbott Laboratories, Inc. Siemens Healthineers Sysmex Corporation Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Becton, Dickinson and Company Biomerieux Sa Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Johnson & Johnson Agilent Technologies, Inc. Qiagen N.V. Quidel Corporation Diasorin S.P.A. Illumina, Inc. Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Holdings plc Perkinelmer Inc. Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. Hologic, Inc. Surmodics, Inc. Speedx Pty. Ltd. Genspeed Biotech GmbH Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. Merck KGaA Caris Life Sciences, Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/z5c3z Attachment Pune, India, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global myasthenia gravis treatment market size is anticipated to reach USD 2.03 billion by 2028 and exhibit a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period. Fortune Business InsightsTM has presented this information in its report titled, Myasthenia Gravis Treatment, 2021-2028. The market size stood at USD 1.15 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 1.22 billion in 2021. Additionally, the rising geriatric population is expected to be a significant market growth driver. Myasthenia Gravis Treatment Industry Developments- March 2021 - Efgartigimod for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis was approved by the FDA, according to Argenx. March 2021 - Viela Bio, Inc. was bought by Horizon Therapeutics plc to bolster the company's portfolio, pipeline, and therapeutic emphasis on rare illness medicines. Get Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/sample/myasthenia-gravis-treatment-market-106405 Myasthenia Gravis Treatment Market Drivers & Restraints- Rising Prevalence of the Condition to Drive Market Owing to Increased Awareness in Individuals Over the last few decades, the prevalence of myasthenia gravis treatment has risen dramatically worldwide. This rise is attributable to increased public knowledge and diagnosis of the disease in both developing and developed countries. The industry is also growing as payment policies in countries for medical conditions improve. Furthermore, the demand for innovative therapeutics is increasing with the rising diagnosis rate and favorable reimbursement schemes for the situation. As a result, leading market players are stepping up their efforts to develop and secure approval for new medications to treat the disease. However, limited reimbursement policies and the high cost of the treatment may hinder the myasthenia gravis treatment market growth. COVID-19 Impact- Considerable Decline in Hospital Tourism during the Pandemic to Hamper Market Growth The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative influence on the myasthenia gravis treatment market. Immunosuppressive drugs are commonly used, which weaken the immune system. As a result, these people are vulnerable to infections, such as COVID-19. As a result, during the pandemic in 2020, patient footfall at hospitals and clinics decreased significantly. Key manufacturers faced supply chain challenges and drug trial roadblocks. Furthermore, prominent companies expected considerable revenue from the novel medicines but saw a drop due to a disturbance in the treatment of myasthenia gravis patients. To get to know more about the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this market, please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/myasthenia-gravis-treatment-market-106405 Segmentation- On the basis of drug class, the myasthenia gravis treatment industry is fragmented into immunosuppressants, cholinesterase, inhibitors, corticosteroids, IVIg, and monoclonal antibodies. On the basis of distribution channels, the market is divided into retail pharmacies, online pharmacies, and hospital pharmacies. Geographically, the market is classified into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and the Rest of the World. Myasthenia Gravis Treatment Market Report Coverage- The report covers a detailed analysis of the myasthenia gravis treatment market. It concentrates on crucial elements, including medicine classes, leading & growing companies, and distribution channels. Furthermore, it provides market information and covers significant industry developments. In addition to these aspects, the report delves into several other variables contributing to the market's recent expansion, including the COVID-19 impact. Myasthenia Gravis Treatment Market Regional Insights- Rising Geriatric Population in North America to Augment Market Growth In 2020, the global myasthenia gravis treatment market share in North America was estimated to be worth USD 0.56 billion. The rising prevalence of the condition and the region's growing geriatric population are two factors driving the market's expansion during the forecast period. Furthermore, in both emerging and developed countries, the region's robust healthcare infrastructure and favorable reimbursement policies boost the diagnosis rate and treatment of the ailment. During the projected period, these factors are expected to drive the market. Europe has the second-largest market share in the world. This is due to increased financing and the creation of several healthcare organizations to diagnose and treat rare diseases such as myasthenia gravis. The European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases was founded, according to a 2019 article in a national publication in Europe, to discover viable medicines and enhance diagnosis for rare diseases in connected EU member states. Speak To Our Analyst: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/myasthenia-gravis-treatment-market-106405 Asia Pacific market is predicted to grow at the fastest rate during the projection period. The rising frequency of the disease in the region, combined with better payment policies for treatment, is increasing both the diagnosis rate and the number of individuals receiving treatment. According to a 2020 article published in the Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, myasthenia gravis accounted for roughly 8.1% of the top ten indications for IVIg in Australia. These factors are expected to boost the region's market growth. Lastly, the Rest of the World is predicted to increase slowly throughout the projection due to developing healthcare infrastructure and a lack of favorable reimbursement regulations for myasthenia gravis treatment. However, increased awareness of the ailment and demand for treatment in Latin America and the Middle East will likely fuel market growth between 2021 and 2028. Myasthenia Gravis Treatment Market Competitive Landscape- Key Players to Work on the Introduction of Innovative Drug Therapies To strengthen their product portfolios, significant firms are constantly working on introducing innovative drug therapies and smart acquisitions of other domestic players. Furthermore, prominent players are concentrating on increasing the use of their existing medications to treat myasthenia gravis. Prograf, an immunosuppressant medicine developed by Astellas Pharmaceuticals to prevent organ transplant rejection, is being studied as a treatment for this condition. Similarly, Cytokinetics' Tirasemtiv, which is being designed for muscle weakness, is also being evaluated for this issue. List of Key Market Players: AstraZeneca (Cambridge, U.K.) Astellas Pharma Inc. (Tokyo, Japan) F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Basel, Switzerland) Novartis AG (Basel, Switzerland) Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Horsholm, Denmark) Bausch Health Companies Inc. (Laval, Canada) Quick Buy - Myasthenia Gravis Treatment Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/106405 Table Of Contents : Myasthenia Gravis Treatment Market Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Myasthenia Gravis Treatment Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Recent Industry Developments Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships New Product Launches, by Key Players Impact of COVID-19 on the Market Global Myasthenia Gravis Treatment Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2017-2028 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Drug Class Cholinesterase Inhibitors Corticosteroids Immunosuppressant IVIg Monoclonal Antibodies Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Distribution Channel Hospital Pharmacies Online Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Geography North America Europe Asia Pacific Rest of World North America Myasthenia Gravis Treatment Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2017-2028 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Drug Class Cholinesterase Inhibitors Corticosteroids Immunosuppressant IVIg Monoclonal Antibodies Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Distribution Channel Hospital Pharmacies Online Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies Myasthenia Gravis Treatment Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Country U.S. By Drug Class Canada By Drug Class Toc Continue.. Ask for Customization of this Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/myasthenia-gravis-treatment-market-106405 About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. US :+1 424 253 0390 UK : +44 2071 939123 APAC : +91 744 740 1245 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Almadex Minerals Ltd. ("Almadex" or the "Company") (TSX-V: DEX) is pleased to announce it has acquired 100% ownership of the Logan Zinc, Silver project (Logan, or the Project) located in the Yukon, Canada. As fully outlined below, a Company predecessor discovered the Logan Project in 1979. The project was then joint ventured, leaving Almadexs predecessor a retained 40% interest carried to Positive Production Decision. The majority interest subsequently changed ownership, but the property was never the focus for the various operators. Almadex has been able to acquire 100% of the Logan project legally through a bankruptcy receivership, finally allowing for the project to be advanced. Key take aways for the Logan Project include: Located 38 km north of the Alaska Highway, accessed historically by 52 km long winter road; Historic inferred resource prepared in 2012 for the Logan Main Zone reporting 42.7 Mt with average grades of 2.76% zinc and 12.89 ppm silver at a 1% zinc cut-off grade (see below for details and disclosure); Deposit remains open along strike and down dip. Duane Poliquin, Chairman of Almadex, stated, We have long been pushing to advance the Logan project but have been constrained by the joint venture agreement and the unresponsive nature of the prior majority owners. With this transaction we are now finally able to start the work necessary to surface the tremendous potential which exists at this project. We look forward to meeting and consulting with all rightsholders including the Ross River Dena Council and Liard First Nation to discuss exploration and development approaches that can meet the expectations of local people, the Indigenous owners, the Yukon government and other Company stakeholders. Logan Project Details and Historic Mineral Resource Estimate The Logan Project is located 108 km northwest of Watson Lake in south central Yukon. The Project consists of 156 contiguous quartz mining claims located in the Watson Lake Mining District, covering over 3,200 hectares. The Project is located on the traditional territory of the Ross River Dena Council and Liard First Nation, 38 km north of the Alaska Highway. Access for past major work programs was facilitated with a 52 km long winter road from the Alaska Highway. In 1987, a 700 m long by 20 m wide gravel airstrip was established on the Property; future use of the airstrip would require surface re-levelling, but small, short runway aircraft may be able to land at this time. The winter road permit was not renewed past 2009 and re-opening the road would require further permitting. Currently, the Project can be accessed via helicopter. According to historic reports, Logan contains a zinc-silver deposit consisting of fracture and vein hosted zinc-silver mineralization within a granitic intrusion. The Main Zone occurs along an 8,000m long NE-trending fault-related structure. The Main Zone is tabular, dips 70 degrees to the NW, extends for 1,100m along strike, varies from 50m to 150m in width, and has been traced to depths of 275m and remains open. The mineralization is up to 90 metres thick in relatively gentle terrain and minimal overburden, making it attractive for open pit mining. In March, 2004, in its public filings prior to bankruptcy, Yukon Zinc Corp. noted that exploration defined low grade zinc mineralization in the East and West Zones of the deposit that require more drilling to better define resources, that historic drilling in the deeper parts of the Main Zone includes important intersections, such as 9 metres grading 10.07% zinc and 65.2 g/t silver, that could be amenable to underground mining, and that the deposit remains open at depth and along strike. Logan has been explored by means of sequential programs of mapping, soil sampling, geophysics, and diamond drilling since the 1980s. The work conducted by or on behalf of Cordilleran Engineering, Getty Resources Ltd., Fairfield Minerals, Total Energold Minerals Inc., Expatriate Resources, and Yukon Zinc Corp. (Yukon Zinc) is briefly summarised as follows: 1979: Staking of Logan 1 to 36 quartz mining claims to cover new zinc-silver-tin-copper gossan. Geological mapping, soil and stream sediment geochemistry, hand trenching, and test IP, EM and magnetometer geophysical surveys. 1980-1985: Additional soil geochemistry, claim staking, hand trenching, and geophysical surveys were completed. 1986-1989: Exploration drilling of 103 holes totalling 16,438 metres. Fifteen trenches totalling 2,412 metres and ongoing soil geochemistry and geophysical surveys. Metallurgical testwork at Lakefield Research Laboratories under supervision of Strathcona Mineral Services Limited. Flotation of both high- and low-grade zinc samples indicated that recoveries of 93-95% zinc and 85-90% silver could be projected to a zinc concentrate. 2003: Additional staking and completion of a baseline environmental survey was conducted in and around the Logan property. 2006: Yukon Zinc Corp. retained Bell Geospace to conduct an Air Full Tensor Gravity (Air-FTG) survey. 2012: Wardrop, a Tetra Tech Company (Tetra Tech) was retained by Yukon Zinc to prepare a Technical Report, including an historical mineral resource estimate, on the Logan Property in 2012. The 2012 Tetra Tech Technical Report is treated as a historical mineral resource. A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource and Almadex is not treating this historical estimate as current mineral resources. The 2012 Logan historical mineral resource estimate is considered to be relevant and reliable. The Tetra Tech historical estimate for the Logan Main Zone deposit, used sample assay data from 56 drillholes which intersect the deposit containing 4,314 zinc and silver assays. Samples were composited to 2 m lengths and no assay values were capped. The Logan Main Zone deposit was modeled as a single mineralized geological wireframe bounded by two faults (the hanging wall and footwall faults) striking southwest and dipping moderately northwest. Where the position of the upper and lower faults bounds is uncertain a grade cut-off of 0.5% zinc was used to constrain the model. Bulk density values of 2.95 and 2.7 were assigned to mineralization and waste rock based on 53 separate SG determinations from drill core pulp composite samples representing 556 m of diamond drill core. Interpolation was done using Ordinary Kriging on blocks 10 m x 10 m x 10 m in size. Only zinc and silver were consistently assayed throughout the three years of drilling, and therefore these were the only metals estimated. At a 1% zinc cut-off grade, the Logan Main Zone was estimated to contain 42.7 Mt at an average grade of 2.76% zinc and 12.89 ppm silver1. The 2012 Tetra Tech historical estimate, reported at a % zinc cut-off grade, is summarized in Table 1. The entire resource was classified as an inferred historical resource, based on a lack of QA/QC and specific gravity (SG) data, a lack of original assay certificates to validate the data, and an inability to confirm the locations of any drillholes. The Logan Main Zone historical estimate was classified using the definitions set out in CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (2010), which was superseded by CIM (2014). Similarly, the Main Zone estimate predates CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines (2019). To verify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource a Qualified Person would need to prepare an updated mineral resource estimate and NI 43-101 technical report with respect to the Logan Property. Subject to permitting and stakeholder engagement, Almadex plans to commence an Independent QP review of the previous work towards the preparation of a new Technical Report and a QP site visit in the summer of 2022 after snow melt. Data review to date indicates that there is potential to enlarge the mineralised envelope of the historic resource as the deposit was generally drilled to 120-240m down dip (only one hole was drilled to 400m down dip), and the deposit remains open, particularly on the northeast side. Table 1: Logan Main Zone Deposit Historical Inferred Resource Estimate (Tetra Tech 2012) Zn Cut-off Volume (m3) > Cut-off Tonnes > Cut-off Grade > Cut-off Zn Grade (%) Ag Grade (pm) 0.5 19,369,095 57,138,829 2.25 10.6 1 14,462,266 42,663,685 2.76 12.89 2 7,830,622 23,100,336 3.88 17.45 3 4,832,848 14,256,903 4.77 20.82 4 2,882,300 8,502,785 5.65 23.76 5 1,575,225 4,646,915 6.64 25.7 7 457,511 1,349,657 8.74 31.52 Table 1 above illustrates the sensitivity of the historical mineral resource estimate to different cut-off grades for a potential open-pit operation scenario with reasonable outlook for economic extraction. The reader is cautioned that the figures provided in the above table, other than those relating to the 1.0% base case cut-off, should not be interpreted as a statement of historical or current mineral resources. Quantities and estimated grades for different cut-off grades are presented for the sole purpose of demonstrating the sensitivity of the historical resource model to the choice of a specific cut-off grade. Transaction Logan has been explored by multiple parties over the past forty years. Almaden Minerals Ltd. (Almaden) assumed ownership of a 40% joint venture interest in the Project through a joint venture agreement when it amalgamated with Fairfield Minerals in 2002. Under the joint venture agreement, Almaden was carried to a production decision, and both parties had certain rights and restrictions regarding ownership transfer. In its spinout by way of Plan of Arrangement in 2015, Almaden was not able to secure the necessary waivers of rights or restrictions from the majority joint venture owner to transfer the minority Logan interest to Azucar Minerals Ltd. (Azucar), but undertook to Azucar to do so once these were attained. Likewise, when Azucar completed its spinout by way of Plan of Arrangement in 2018 to create Almadex (the spinouts of 2015 and 2018 are collectively referred to as the Spinout Arrangements below), Azucar undertook to complete the spinout of the Logan interest to Almadex once Azucar was in a position to do so. In 2003, Expatriate Resources Limited acquired the majority 60% interest in the Logan joint venture agreement from Total Energold. At the time, Expatriate was investigating the Project as part of a broader evaluation of the combined resources of Logan and the Wolverine property, located approximately 100 kilometers to the north. In 2004, Expatriate re-organized its business and changed its name to Yukon Zinc Corp. (YZC), focused on the development of the Wolverine project. In 2008, YZC was acquired by Jinduicheng Canada Resources Corporation Limited (JCR), which is majority-owned by Jinduicheng Molybdenum Group, which in turn is wholly owned by Shaanxi Non-ferrous Metals Holding Group Co., Ltd. YZC went on to construct and develop the Wolverine mine, which reached commercial production in 2012, but was put on care and maintenance in 2015. In 2019, PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. was appointed Receiver over YZC. Almaden, acting on behalf of the Company under the terms of the Joint Venture Agreement and consistent with the Spinout Arrangements, was able to acquire the remaining 60% joint venture interest in the Project, dissolve the joint venture agreement, and transfer Logan to the Company for CAD$121,100 in cash, with the Company assuming all costs and obligations, including an indemnification to Almaden, related thereto. Next Steps Almadex is now focused on stakeholder mapping and data review. As noted above, Almadex recognizes and respects the Ross River Dena Council and Liard First Nation as traditional owners of the area within which the Project is located and hopes to have the opportunity to meet with them in the near term to understand their view of the Project and hopes for the area and to consult with them prior to any work programs. It is anticipated that future work programs would initially consist of a QP site visit which would direct a possible updated resource estimate and filing of a NI 43-101 Technical Report. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC) Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, AB, and an independent Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Raffle verified the data disclosed which includes a review of the analytical and test data underlying the information and opinions contained therein. About Almadex Almadex Minerals Ltd. is an exploration company that holds a large mineral portfolio consisting of exploration projects and NSR royalties in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. This portfolio is the direct result of many years of prospecting and deal-making by Almadex's management team. The Company remains focussed on grassroots exploration, acquisition and drilling mineral projects, on its own and in partnership with others, with the goal of creating new mineral resources and royalty holdings. The Company owns several portable diamond drill rigs, enabling it to conduct cost effective first pass exploration drilling in house. On behalf of the Board of Directors, J. Duane Poliquin J. Duane Poliquin, Chairman Almadex Minerals Ltd. 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 news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within it, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Forward-looking statements in this news release relating to the Company include, among other things, the planned data review, stakeholder mapping and stakeholder development. Although the Company 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 forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, permitting, continued availability of capital and financing, equipment availability, relationships with third-party clientele and their willingness or ability to continue to use the Companys drills for exploration, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, other than as required pursuant to applicable securities laws. Contact Information: Almadex Minerals Ltd. Tel. 604.689.7644 Email: info@almadexminerals.com http://www.almadexminerals.com/ 1 Harder, M. P.Geo. and OBrien, M. Msc., Pr.Sci.Nat., FGSSA, FAusIMM, MSAIMM (2012) NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Logan Property, Yukon prepared for Yukon Zinc Corp., Effective Date May 30, 2012, Wardrop, Tetra Tech, pp. 95 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/732fe571-4f88-477a-8ea4-46c5377cb78d Dublin, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "European Building Renovation Market: Analysis By Building Type (Residential & Non-Residential) By Segment (Energy & Non-Energy Renovation) Size and Trends with Impact of COVID-19 and forecast up to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The EuropeanBuilding Renovation market recorded a market value of US$956.88 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach up to US$1012.47 billion in 2026, registering a CAGR of 0.67% over the forecast period of 2022-2026. Building renovation provides their services by offering energy & non-energy renovation solutions to homeowners. The significance for building renovation is increasing as buildings are responsible for generating 36% of greenhouse gas emissions in EU. The report includes: An in-depth analysis of Europe Building Renovation market by value, by building type, by segment, etc. A detailed analysis of Europe building renovation market by regional renovation plans building floor area, and deep renovation spending. Comprehensive information about Europe market. This report analyses the market as per energy renovation rate in building stock (both residential & non-residential) Provides an analysis of the COVID-19 impact on Europe building renovation market. Assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall Europe building renovation market has also been forecasted for the period 2022-2026, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers, and the current and future trends. Evaluation of the potential role of building renovation in Europe to tackle climate change and its significance in achieving the targets set for 2030 and 2050 by EU. Identification of the existing building stock (residential & non-residential) by energy class and spending is done on deep renovation as % of total renovation spending & energy-related spending. In-depth profiling of the key players, including the assessment of the business overview, market strategies, regional and business segments of the leading players in the market. The recent developments, mergers, and acquisitions related to mentioned key players are provided in the market report. The in-depth analysis provides an insight into the market, underlining the growth rate, opportunities and regional policies for building renovation (both forced and planned) has been provided in the report. Building Renovation is serving as a potential way to tackle climate change while simultaneously creating employment opportunities for the people. In building renovation, focus would be on increasing the rate of deep renovation, as it has the potential of saving energy up to or more than 60%. State governments are implementing regulatory measures like minimum energy performance standards and energy performance certificates. For instance, France is planning to introduce a minimum standard base for the reduction of energy consumption (in KWh/m2/yr) compared to consumption in a reference year (40% in 2030, 50% in 2040, and 60% in 2050). Market Segmentation Analysis: By Building Type: The report involves the bifurcation of building types into two types; Residential & Non-Residential. Residential buildings segment accounted for the highest share in building renovation market by holding 52.93% share. Focus on building renovation will not only tackle climate change (since they are capable of reducing energy consumption by 5-6%), but it can also solve the problem of energy poverty in EU. As per EC estimates that 34 million Europeans are unable to keep their homes adequately warm and with it hoping to solve the problem of energy poverty. By Segment: The report further involves the bifurcation of segments in the renovation market; Energy & Non-Energy. Energy renovation segment presents the most promising as EC aims to double the annual energy renovation rate of residential and non-residential buildings by 2030 and to foster deep energy renovation. Because at present only 11% of the EU existing building stock is renovated each year, and it has also been observed that these renovations rarely addresses the energy performance. Since, energy renovation rate is low at 1% and deep renovation only recording 0.2% per year. And given the fact that EC has revised its target from 44% GHG emission to 55% GHG emissions. Given EC targets and estimates, it is safe to say that energy renovation might be performing well in the market in coming years. Europe Building Renovation Dynamics: Growth Drivers: The installation of insulation for building renovation would help the market to register growth in coming years. As of now, there are 50 active incentive schemes, and 60% of them either focus on insulation or specifically mentioned it. The focus on insulation is happening because insulation provides the biggest saving on energy bills, putting initial investment, roofing and wall insulation into consideration the investment can generate 7% ROI, which is expected to be the reason behind being the key beneficiary of the building renovation agenda. However, significant factors such as quality upgradation of housing stock through EPC, government initiatives, urbanization, and lower than expected rate in green house gas emission reduction would provide the market required impetus it demands. Challenges: The market also has to deal with some the challenges such as problems with financing and little progress made in the market. These challenges are somewhat hampering market growth in the coming years. Renovation of a house demands higher upfront cost with respect to its long-term return on investment. Since most of the building stock being devoted to the residential sector which put most of the pressure onto the private owners. This put the government in a difficult position since they haven't been able to find a suitable solution for it. Trends: European building renovation market growth would be receiving significant push from green deal, as it is expected that green deal can provide 20-25% upside to the market if its funds were able to bridge the investment gap. Other significant factors, Regulatory Instruments to invigorate building energy renovation is also capable of generating required impetus in the market. As under this, state government and EC are exploring the possibilities of EPC and building renovation passport. These regulatory measure are expected to encourage private owners for energy renovation, thus helping the market to grow. Impact Analysis of COVID-19 and Way Forward: Europe building renovation market has also absorbed a slowdown due to a halt in operations of the construction industry. The pandemic also provided a way for the government to revamp the economy by creating employment opportunities for a skilled workforce by making significant investments in the segment. The pandemic also brought forth the problem of energy poverty and presented itself as a reliable solution. In post-COVID world, it is expected that government would be more focused towards regional renovation than national as some of the developed regions are in a better position of promoting the structural policies, as they are the direct beneficiary of structural funds. The concern regarding construction materials will be visible as still many of the materials ain't green and this would defeat the purpose of building renovation in a broader picture perspective. Competitive Landscape: Europe building renovation market is moderately fragmented, with many players operating in the market. The key players of Europe building renovation market are: Effiage, S.A. Sika AG RockWool International A/S Kingspan Group PlC Skanska AB Legrand Schneider Electric SE Saint-Gobain ENGESA Guildmore Ltd. Sika AG focuses on the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protecting in the building sector. The company strongly focuses on energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness helped the company in maintaining a strong customer base. RockWool International A/S and Saint-Gobain are better placed in the market in order to reap the benefits from Green Deal upside in the market. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qgnif3 Dublin, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "New Zealand Telecoms Industry Report - 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The publisher forecasts that mobile subscriptions will continue to grow in the 2022-27 period and fixed broadband subscribers will also continue to grow and increase its household penetration over the same period. The ratio of the telecommunications sector revenue to GDP is declining from a peak in 2005, sliding down every year since then. The publisher forecasts that 5G mobile subscribers will represent nearly 64% of all subscriptions by 2027, 4G will represent about 34% of all connections while 2G and 3G will account for the remainder, if not switched off earlier. Mobile subscribers numbers and revenue are growing strongly and the back of population growth and the market shift to postpaid. The publisher expects the overall telecoms market to grow through to 2027 after a marked slow down in 2019 and 2020 due to legacy voice revenue pressure partially offset by mobile data growth and COVID travel restrictions. Capex Investments The Capex to GDP ratio remained relatively stable between 2015 and 2019, its now decreasing and is expected to remain at the same level through to 2027. The publisher estimates that the ratio will settle back by 2023 peaking in 2019. Chorus is still investing heavily in fibre infrastructure until 2022 while Spark and Vodafone have more conservative investment profiles. Mobile Subscribers and Revenue Over the last five years, the market shifted to postpaid as subscribers move to Pay Monthly offerings (SIM-only plans) with increased data allowances. Overall, the number of prepaid subscribers continued to decrease slightly. Mobile network operators are facing competitive pressure with the market shifting to unlimited voice and text and data allowance increasingly becoming the sole offering differentiator. According to our benchmark study of mobile data pricing, India has the lowest rate per GB at just a few cents per GB, while Australia and China had the biggest cost reduction per GB mostly due to increased data allowance in plans while Singapore remains expensive. New Zealand has the highest pricing per GB and Kiwis downloaded the least amount of data over their mobile phones. Broadband Subscribers - FTTH Push and Fixed Wireless The Ultra-Fast Broadband Initiative is a New Zealand Government program of building fibre-to-the-home networks covering 87% of the population by the end of 2022, FTTP will be deployed to 1.8 million households and businesses in 412 cities and towns. It is a public-private partnership of the government with four companies with a total government investment of NZ$1.7 billion. The broadband market is now experiencing low growth mostly driven by new premises construction in greenfield developments or urban redevelopments. The UFB government project reached over 1.7m premises and connected 63% of them or 1.1m premises. Household growth and a reduction of the number of underserved premises, previously not able to connect now served by UFB2, will drive up the fixed-broadband subscribers. Thematics-Telecoms Infrastructure / 5G / M&A / Infrastructure Infrastructure funds, pension funds and government funds are assigning high valuation multiples to telecommunications infrastructure assets such as mobile towers, data centres, submarine cable and fibre infrastructure. In 2019, Morrisson & Co (Infratil) and Brookfield, both infrastructure funds, bought Vodafone NZ for NZ$3.4 billion (EV/EBITDA of .c7). Globally, many infrastructure funds are investing in mobile towers, FTTH, data centres, submarine cables while that trend is likely to continue over time with more proactive transactions. In 2022, 2Degrees and Orcon (Vocus NZ) announced their merger to form the thrid largest telecommunications provider. All three operators are exploring mobile towers monetisation within the next 12 to 18 months taking the opportunity to realise cash from existing assets and focus on the core business of attracting and maintaining subscribers as well as potentially reducing overheads and depreciation charges. For infrastructure investors, the NZ towers would be a new investment opportunity based on long-term income streams and value creation. Vodafone new owners (Infratil and Brookfield) which are both infrastructure funds are likely to explore a separation of its infrastructure and retail business in the mid-term once its reset of strategy is starting to pay off. In 2022, both Spark and Vodafone outlined plans to divest their repsective passive telecommunications tower infrastructure assets following global trends. The publisher predicts the next wave of transactions is likely to continue being about "scale" among small ISPs and largely about infrastructure for Spark, Vodafone and 2degrees. The arrival of 4G moved the Internet off our desktops into our palms and pockets, 5G could transform the network from something we carry around to something taking us around either virtually (augmented reality or virtual reality) or in reality (autonomous vehicles), the 5G outcome and benefits beyond fast connectivity remain largely unknown in terms of business models, investments required and timeline. The report provides analyses of revenue and market forecasts as well as statistics of the New Zealand telecoms industry including market sizing, 5-year forecasts, market insights, key telecom trends and also features the following: Overall Telecommunications Market by Major Operators Telco Operators Profile, Revenue and EBITDA Mix Mobile Subscribers & Revenue Market Overview and Forecasts Spectrum Holdings IoT Market Overview Broadband Subscribers & Revenue Market Overview and Forecasts Digital Infrastructure (Fibre, Telecom Towers, Data Centres, Submarine Cables) National Broadband Network Detailed Market Overview and Forecasts Telecom Tower Market Analysis and Forecast Thematics / Opportunities relating to 5G, M&A and e-Commerce Telco M&A Transaction Database Key Topics Covered: 1 Key Statistics 1.1 New Zealand's Population 1.2 New Zealand's Economy 1.3 New Zealand's GDP 2 COVID-19 Impact 3 Overall Telecommunications Market, 2015-2027 3.1 Market Overview 3.2 Historical Telecommunications Market Revenue, 2015-2021 3.3 Overall Telecommunications Market Forecast, 2020-2027 3.4 Telecommunications Market Capital Expenditure, 2015-2027 3.4.1 Historical Telecommunications Capex Spend, 2015-2021 3.4.2 Capex to Revenue Benchmark 3.4.3 Capex to GDP Benchmark 3.4.4 Telecommunications Capex Spend Forecast, 2020-2027 4 Telecommunications Operators Profile 4.1 Spark New Zealand Profile 4.1.1 Spark Revenue EBITDA and Capex Mix 4.2 Vodafone New Zealand Profile 4.2.1 Vodafone New Zealand Revenue EBITDA and Capex Mix 4.3 2Degrees 4.3.1 2degrees Revenue EBITDA and Capex Mix 4.4 Chorus Profile 4.4.1 Chorus Revenue, EBITDA & Capex Mix 4.5 Other Players Profile 4.5.1 Vocus New Zealand 4.5.2 Trustpower (now Mercury) 5 Mobile Market 5.1 NEW Zealand Mobile Subscribers Historical and Forecast, 2015-2027 5.1.1 New Zealand Mobile Subscribers Historical, 2015-2021 5.1.2 New Zealand Mobile Subscribers Market Share, 2015-2021 5.1.3 New Zealand Smartphone Share, 2021 5.1.4 New Zealand Mobile Subscribers Forecast, 2020-2027 5.1.5 New Zealand Mobile Subscribers by Generation (2G, 3G, 4G & 5G) Forecast, 2020-2027 5.2 New Zealand Mobile Revenue Historical and Forecast, 2015-2027 5.2.1 Historical Mobile Revenue, 2015-2021 5.2.1 New Zealand Mobile Revenue Market Share, 2015-2021 5.2.2 Mobile Subscribers ARPU, 2015-2021 5.2.3 New Zealand Mobile Revenue Forecast, 2020-2027 5.3 Mobile Coverage 5.4 Spectrum Holdings 5.4.1 Historical of Spectrum Auctions and Costs 5.4.2 Upcoming 5G Auctions in 2022 5.4.3 Mobile Frequencies Portfolios Analysis 5.4.1 Spectrum Depth Benchmark by Country 5.5 Mobile Download Data and Pricing Trends 5.6 Mobile Speed Tests 5.7 Internet of Things (IoT) 6 Broadband Market 6.1 New Zealand Fixed Broadband Subscribers Historical, 2015-2021 6.2 New Zealand Fixed Broadband Subscribers Forecast, 2020-2027 7 Fixed Telecommunications Infrastructure Investments 7.1 Fixed Digital Infrastructure 7.1.1 The Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) 7.1.2 Submarine Cables 8 New Zealand Telecom Towers Infrastructure Landscape 8.1 Small Tightly Held Tower Market 8.1.1 New Zealand Telecom Towers Background 8.2 New Zealand Telecom Towers Market Forecast 8.2.1 New Zealand Telecom Towers Forecast, 2020-2027 8.2.2 Regulatory Considerations 8.3 Spark TowerCo 8.3.1 Spark TowerCo Towers Key Performance Indicators 8.4 Vodafone TowerCo 8.4.1 Vodafone TowerCo Towers Key Performance Indicators 8.5 Tower Density Benchmark 8.6 Telco Infrastructure Comparative 9 Thematics / Opportunities 9.1 Consolidation Opportunities 9.2 Going for Scope 9.3 New Telecoms Operating Model 9.3.1 The Attraction of Infrastructure Multiples 9.4 5G Developments 9.4.1 5G Overview 9.4.2 5G - Relative Capex Investments and Frequency Range 9.4.3 5G OpenRAN 9.4.4 Beyond 5G and Towards 6G 10 Telco Transaction Database For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/55yz2y New York, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Commercial Electric Vehicles Global Market Report 2022" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06280936/?utm_source=GNW 43 billion in 2021 to $101.44 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 48.2%. The market is expected to grow to $303.15 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.5%. The commercial electric vehicles market consists of sales of commercial electric vehicles. The commercial electric vehicles manufactured include Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV), Hybrid Electric Vehicles, and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV). The main technologies in commercial electric vehicles are battery electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.Battery electric vehicles operate only on stored electricity, and their main components consist of a high-voltage battery, one or more electric motors (either alternating current [AC] or direct current [DC]), and a controller for managing the power electronics. The vehicle types involved are bus, truck, pick-up truck, van. The charging infrastructure involved is pantograph, plug-in, inductive. Government subsidies to consumers and manufacturers help in the adoption of electric vehicles.The adoption of electric vehicles has been identified as an effective method to reduce carbon emissions and dependency on fossil fuels. So the governments of many countries are providing direct subsidies to both the buyers and manufacturers to increase the adoption rate of electric vehicles.For example. In March 2019, the Indian government under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) scheme announced an outlay for 1434.45 million USD (10,000 crores) to promote the use of electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. The scheme had 213.6 million USD (1,500 crores) outlay in 2019-20; 716.7 million USD (5,000 crores) in 2020-21 and 501.69 USD (3,500 crores) in 2021-22 and will cover buses with Electric Vehicle (EV) technology; electric, plug-in hybrid and strong hybrid four-wheelers; electric three-wheelers including e-rickshaws and electric two-wheelers. The difference in vehicle performance acts as a restraint to the growth of the commercial electric vehicle market.Electric vehicles provide excellent torque at low speed but at higher speeds the performance drops. The range of current battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is typically between 50 to 100 miles.For example, the Nissan LEAF electric vehicle has high torque, 236 lb-ft, but relatively low power at 147 HP. On the other hand, the conventional fuel car Honda S2000 has a decent power of 256 who. Technological advances to improve charging speed and enhance battery design make the latest trend in the commercial electric vehicles market.Manufacturers are looking at solid-state batteries which use graphene as the potential solution and are expected to increase both range and the charging speed of the batteries of the electric vehicle. Apart from the improvements in battery design and charging speed, there will be a significant shift toward diversifying the sources of power for EVs.Solar panels have already become much more efficient at capturing the suns energy. With the recent development of three-phase charges, the most modern electric vehicle can charge up to 80% in just 30 minutes.For instance, Earthday, a Catalan startup, introduced fast-charging graphene-based batteries that weigh only 55 Kgs and use a paste-like electrolyte based on graphene. Earthday claims that the graphene-based battery charges up to 1350 times faster than normal batteries based on lithium technologies. In Europe, the parliament mandates the installation of appropriate vehicle alerting systems in electric vehicles.Electric cars and plug-in hybrid cars such as the all-electric BMWi3 or the Toyota Prius currently emit very little sound when running on electric power only. Campaigners say this is dangerous for partially sighted and blind people. Keeping this in mind, liberal democrat MEPs introduced an amendment that makes it mandatory to install a vehicle alerting system in electric vehicles. In June 2021, Ashok Leyland, a company manufacturing automotive-based in India acquired Switch Mobility Automotive for an undisclosed amount.With this acquisition, Ashok Leyland expands its portfolio in commercial electric vehicles and the investment and acquired the entire shares of the switch mobility automotive company. Switch Mobility Automotive, is a company operating in commercial electric vehicles based in the UK. The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa. The countries covered in the commercial electric vehicles market report are Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Russia, UK, USA and Australia. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06280936/?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. __________________________ Dublin, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Military Rugged Display Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Product, Display Size, Screen Type, Resolution, and Users" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The military rugged display market is expected to grow from US$ 1,699.42 million in 2021 to US$ 2,680.85 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.0% from 2021 to 2028. The higher military budget allocation by the governments enables military forces to engage themselves in the development of robust indigenous technologies, rugged devices, and various other technologies from international manufacturers. The soldier and military vehicle modernization practices are peaking among most of the military forces to keep the personnel and vehicles ready for a mission. The defense ministries across the world are investing substantial amounts in advanced technologies, including rugged devices, to modernize soldiers and vehicles, which is boosting the growth of the military rugged display market. Based on product, the vehicle mounted computer segment led the military rugged display market in 2021. The military sector is procuring modern vehicle-mounted ruggedized displays and tracking software that are built to help soldiers access combat-related data from vehicles and in dismounted operations. Vehicle mounted computer is a part of an accelerated fielding of a next-gen force tracking software, namely, Joint Battle Command - Platform (JBC-P). The armed force is exploring computers that can be equipped in vehicles and swiftly dismounted when soldiers need to patrol without the vehicle. These factors are catalyzing the growth of military rugged display market during the forecast period from 2021-2028 The recent COVID-19 pandemic crisis is adversely affecting the world and is continuing to shatter several countries. Until the outbreak, the defense industry was experiencing substantial growth in terms of production and services; however, the crisis is disrupting the supply chain and manufacturing of defense products equipment. The defense manufacturing industry is heavily dependent on manual labor, and it is experiencing a lack of labors in respective manufacturing facilities due to the lockdown regulations in many countries across the world. Further, the emergence of COVID-19 virus across the globe led to lockdown scenarios has led the industry experts to analyze that the industry would face 4 weeks to 12 weeks of lag in military electronic part supply chain. This disruption created tremors through 2020. These factors had restricted the production of various defense equipment, thereby hindering the growth of military rugged display market. Advanced Embedded Solutions Ltd; Assured Systems Ltd; Aydin Displays; Crystal Group, Inc.; General Digital Corporation; Hatteland Technology AS; Neuro Logic Systems, Inc.; Winmate Inc.; ZMicro, Inc.; and CP Technologies LLC are a few players operating in the military rugged display market. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 1.1 Study Scope 1.2 Research Report Guidance 1.3 Market Segmentation 2. Key Takeaways 3. Research Methodology 3.1 Coverage 3.2 Secondary Research 3.3 Primary Research 4. Military Rugged Display Market Landscape 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 4.3 Ecosystem Analysis 4.4 Premium Insights 4.4.1 Military Rugged Display - Contracts 5. Military Rugged Display Market - Key Market Dynamics 5.1 Key Market Driver 5.1.1 Accentuating Demand for Situational Awareness 5.1.2 Increasing Military Expenditure to Support Various Modernization Programs 5.2 Key Market Restraint 5.2.1 Vulnerable to Damages Caused by Sharp Objects and Less Sensitivity of Resistive Touchscreen Displays 5.3 Key Market Opportunity 5.3.1 Stimulating Demand for Rugged Avionics Display 5.4 Future Trends 5.4.1 Emphasis on Miniaturized and Compact Rugged Devices 5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints 6. Military Rugged Display Market- Global Market Analysis 6.1 Global Military Rugged Display Market Overview 6.2 Military Rugged Display Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 6.3 Market Positioning - Global Market Players Ranking 7. Military Rugged Display Market Analysis - By Product 7.1 Overview 7.2 Military Rugged Display Market, by Product (2020 and 2028) 7.3 Smartphone and Handheld Computer 7.3.1 Overview 7.3.2 Smartphone and Handheld Computer: Military Rugged Display Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 7.4 Laptop and Notebook 7.5 Avionics Display 7.6 Vehicle-Mounted Computer 7.7 Panel PC and Mission-Critical Display 8. Military Rugged Display Market - By Display Size 8.1 Overview 8.2 Military Rugged Display Market, by Display Size (2020 and 2028) 8.3 Less Than 10 Inches 8.3.1 Overview 8.3.2 Less Than 10 Inches: Military Rugged Display Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 8.4-15 Inches 8.5 More Than 15 Inches 9. Military Rugged Display Market Analysis - By Screen Type 9.1 Overview 9.2 Military Rugged Display Market, by Screen Type (2020 and 2028) 9.3 Touchscreen 9.3.1 Overview 9.3.2 Touchscreen: Military Rugged Display Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 9.3.3 Resistive 9.3.4 Capacitive 9.4 Non-Touchscreen 10. Military Rugged Display Market Analysis - By Resolution 10.1 Overview 10.2 Military Rugged Display Market, by Resolution (2020 and 2028) 10.3 High Definition (HD) 10.3.1 Overview 10.3.2 High Definition (HD): Military Rugged Display Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 10.4 Full High Definition (FHD) 11. Military Rugged Display Market Analysis - By User 11.1 Overview 11.2 Military Rugged Display Market, By User (2020 and 2028) 11.3 Air Force 11.3.1 Overview 11.3.2 Air Force: Military Rugged Display Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 11.4 Naval Force 11.5 Land Force 12. Military Rugged Display Market - Geographic Analysis 13. Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak 13.1 Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Military Rugged Display Market 14. Industry Landscape 14.1 Overview 14.2 Market Initiative 14.3 New Product Development 14.4 Merger and Acquisition 15. Company Profiles 15.1 Key Facts 15.2 Business Description 15.3 Products and Services 15.4 Financial Overview 15.5 SWOT Analysis 15.6 Key Developments Advanced Embedded Solutions Ltd Assured Systems Ltd Aydin Displays Crystal Group, Inc. General Digital Corporation Hatteland Technology AS Neuro Logic Systems, Inc. Winmate Inc. ZMicro, Inc. CP Technologies LLC For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8uodlq Attachment Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Optima is the ultimate cryptocurrency trading script, and it has the same business logic and an alternative as Binance or Coinbase. 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Further information can be acquired through their main website: https://optima.exchange Dublin, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Biopharmaceuticals Contract Manufacturing Market Size, Share, & Trend Analysis Report by Source, by Service (Upstream, Downstream, Fill/Finish), by Product (Biologics), by Region and Segment Forecasts, 2022-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global biopharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market size is expected to reach USD 27.3 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2022 to 2030 Growing biopharmaceutical pipeline and lack of adequate manufacturing capabilities are two key factors that are driving partnership between large molecule manufacturers and Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs). Contract manufacturers are engaged in broadening their service portfolio to meet the companies' demands with respect to regulatory standards and new services. The pandemic has, however, also had some negative knock-on effects as budgets and resources are diverted to "COVID products" at the expense of other biologics projects in development for other therapeutic areas. The reliance of companies on CMOs for the production of biologics and biosimilars is expected to rise during the forecast period as a consequence of changes adopted by the CMOs. This is evident through growing investment in collaborations of companies with CMOs as well as continuous efforts taken up for expanding the service portfolio. The supply chain of biopharmaceuticals remained robust and was largely unaffected worldwide during the coronavirus outburst. Also, biopharmaceutical contract manufacturers are observing increased demand related to COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutics. Thus, the future holds numerous opportunities for the market. For instance, in 2020, AstraZeneca and Oxford Biomedica signed a one-year clinical and commercial supply agreement for the manufacturing of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine candidate, AZD1222. The future growth of the market is highly dependent on the promising opportunities offered by the biopharmaceutical industry, bioprocessing industry, and contract service industry. Expansion of fill-and-finish services and increasing robustness of venture capital investments for the life science sector are two important opportunities that are anticipated to drive the market. For instance, in 2019, Shanghai HaiHe Biopharma Co. Ltd. raised USD 146.6 million as venture capital for its large cancer drug portfolio, which it shall utilize along with its outsourcing partner Zhejiang Jiuzhou Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Biopharmaceuticals Contract Manufacturing Market Report Highlights Mammalian-based biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing captured the largest market share about 58% in 2021 owing to the high penetration of mammalian expression systems for biologics development. Out of all the services offered in this market, process development contributed to the largest share of 33% in 2021, owing to high capital investment, especially in downstream process. Biologics contract manufacturing dominated its counterpart segment owing to higher demand for biologics production. However, the biosimilar segment is growing with a lucrative CAGR of 8.3% due to cost-saving advantages associated with biosimilars development. The presence of an effective regulatory framework for biologics development in the U.S. has resulted in a large share of the North America market of 34.0% in 2021. However, Asia Pacific is expected to emerge as the fastest-growing regional market with a CAGR of 5.8% from 2022 to 2030, owing to developing economies such as India and China incorporating developments to sustain the competition. Market Variables, Trends& Scope Market driver analysis Rise in investment by CMOs for capacity expansion Commercial success of biopharmaceuticals and consequent increase in demand for biopharmaceuticals Notable growth of biologics Robust biopharmaceuticals pipeline Cost and time-saving benefits offered by contract services Market restraint analysis Limited outsourcing amongst well-established biopharmaceutical manufacturers Opportunity analysis Expansion of fill-and-finish CMOs Emergence of single-use bioprocessing equipment & solutions Funding & investments Trend Analysis Merger & acquisitions in CMO industry Trading of CMOs at strong EV/EBITDA multiples Current trends in the biopharmaceutical industry Pipeline Analysis Distribution of products & projects in the development stage by clinical phase Key finding of the analysis Pipeline analysis for biosimilar drugs, as of February 2018 Total global biopharmaceutical R&D spending Number of drugs in a clinical development phase, 2015 Pricing Analysis for Process Development Cell line/expression system pricing Bioreactor cost Operating and construction cost advantage due to single-use bioprocessing equipment Bioprocessing operating cost items and ranges Bioprocessing pricing analysis based on product type Downstream bioprocessing pricing analysis Cost analyses for buffer purchasing Customer Relationship Management in Contract Manufacturing Selection process of CMO Operations and quality oversight of CMOs Competitive Landscape Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH Lonza Inno Biologics Sdn Bhd Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH Jrs Pharma Celonic AG Agc Biologics Biomeva GmbH Cmc Biologics Financial Performance of Agc Probiogen Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies U.S.A. Inc. Toyobo Co. Ltd. Samsung Biologics Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Binex Co. Ltd. Wuxi Biologics Abbvie, Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9h0lga Attachment New York, US, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Photovoltaic Market Overview: The photovoltaic market is projected to garner significant traction during the next few years. Market Research Future (MRFR) asserts that the Photovoltaic Market Research Report Information by Type, Component, Application and Region- Forecast till 2030 to escalate USD 124.2 Billion by 2030, steadily growing at an 8.5% CAGR during the forecast period (2020-2030). Photovoltaic Market Scope: The rising focus on transforming everything into energy-generating elements is a key driving force. Increasing numbers of implementations of high power-generation solar photovoltaic (PV) parks and new capacity additions to existing solar farms worldwide are key driving forces creating vast market demand. Government initiatives to install solar PV capacity to accelerate clean energy generation, including those under development, favor market dynamics. Report Metric Details Market Size USD 124.2 Billion CAGR 8.5% Base Year 2019 Forecast Period 2020-2030 Historical Data 2018 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Type, Component, Application Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Vendors Risen Energy Co. Ltd (China), Shunfeng International Clean Energy Limited (China), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan), GCL System Integration (Hong Kong), JA Solar Holdings (China), Kaneka Corporation (Japan), Sharp Corporation (Japan), Suntech Power Co., Trina Solar Limited (China), Canadian Solar Inc. (Canada), Jinko Solar Holding Co., Ltd. (China), Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd. (South Korea) Key Market Opportunities Governmental authorities are concentrating on solar energy-powered systems and investing more to produce energy through solar panels. Key Market Drivers The increasing requirement for alternative energy sources. Rising concerns regarding climate change. Get Free Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1061 Photovoltaic (PV) Market Segments The PV market is segmented into types, components, and regions. The type segment comprises organic PVs and inorganic PVs. The component segment comprises modules, cells, optics, and others. The application segment comprises residential applications and non-residential applications. The region segment is sub-segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and rest-of-the-world. Industry Trends Rooftop PV is becoming the norm to maintain greenhouses with absolutely no carbon footprints in all weather conditions. Solar rooftops are deployed on newly built houses, public buildings, and supermarkets, whereas industrial areas should be required through EU legislation. There is a great opportunity to implement photovoltaics into bus shelters, highway sound barriers, and even military applications. The photovoltaic market value kept growing steadily throughout 2020. In 2021, many manufacturers returned to the solar scene, becoming serious PV players once again. Manufacturers are seen investments increasingly to upgrade PV module bases and module capacity. They are investing in advancing technologies Passivated emitter rear cell (PERC), heterojunction (HJT), and TOPCon (tunnel oxide passivated contact) technologies to support increased solar cell operations. The photovoltaic market outlook appears promising mainly due to the continually growing energy demand worldwide. Governments worldwide are rapidly taking initiatives to spread awareness of installation benefits and invest substantially in deploying photovoltaics. On the other hand, prohibitive investments required for solar power installation, alongside some technical & regulatory challenges, restrict the photovoltaic market growth. Also, high costs associated with the production, installation, and maintenance of photovoltaics are major barriers to their broader adoption. Nevertheless, this scenario is expected to change as more people realize that the potential of photovoltaics and the costs are coming down. Also, the continuous rise in electricity prices and the cost-competency of technologies worldwide would support the market growth throughout the assessment period. Browse In-depth Market Research Report: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/photovoltaic-market-1061 Photovoltaic (PV) Market Regional Analysis The Asia Pacific region dominates the global photovoltaic market. The major photovoltaic market trend is the availability of ample renewable/ natural resources and raw materials required for production. Besides, large investments in solar energy due to the rising focus on renewable energy sources, especially in India, China, and a few South Asian countries, boost the region's photovoltaic markets share. India and China are major solar energy and panels markets, witnessing extensive government support to promote renewable energy development. Also, increasing investments in renewable energy to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels substantiate the photovoltaic market growth. Europe demonstrates its dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and its energy dependency on Russia. In light of the changed geopolitical situation led by Russia's invasion of Ukraine has heightened initiatives of the European Union (EU) to speed up renewables deployment across the region. Solar's accelerated rollout can immediately reduce Europe's energy dependence on Russia. Talk to Expert: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/ask_for_schedule_call/1061 Recent Developments: Every photovoltaic panel will also reduce exposure to high energy prices and greenhouse gas emissions while creating local jobs. Therefore, photovoltaics are increasingly deployed to increase these objectives and to unlock solar energy's potential as a major renewable energy source on roofs or facades of buildings. Higher solar PV deployment targets are set to speed up the energy generation to phase out its dependency on Russia for energy transition as soon as possible. In March, the European Commission (EC) unveiled the REPowerEU strategy to simplify renewable, which will permit the EU to reduce the Russian gas demand by two-thirds before the end of 2022. EU member states that the region is on track to exceed the solar deployment targets, including National Energy and Climate Plans. The signatories to EU Solar Act within the EC's expected REPowerEU have confirmed that they are including a dedicated support mechanism aimed at scaling up solar manufacturing capacities in the European region as they urged the EC to set a goal that over 75% of deployed PV capacities to be produced within the EU by 2030. In Germany, the coalition government escalated the country's 2030 solar install target to 215GW, up from 200GW. At the same time, the energy ministers of Belgium, Austria, Lithuania, Spain, and Luxembourg have proposed a target of increasing the solar capacity by 1TW by 2030. For instance, on May 05, 2022, Matrix Renewables announced securing a financial deal for a 129-MW solar project in Spain. The project worth USD-89-million was closed with French lender Natixis and certified as a green loan. Matrix plans to add energy storage shortly after commissioning. The renewable energy company estimates to have the plants up and running in the first quarter of 2023, during the construction phase. Buy Report: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1061 Dominant Key Players in Photovoltaic Market Covered are: Shunfeng International Clean Energy Limited (China) Risen Energy Co. Ltd (China) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan) JA Solar Holdings (China) GCL System Integration (Hong Kong) Kaneka Corporation (Japan) Suntech Power Co. Sharp Corporation (Japan) Canadian Solar Inc. (Canada) Trina Solar Limited (China) Jinko Solar Holding Co. Ltd. (China) Hanwha Q CELLS Co. Ltd. (South Korea) Other Related Reports: Photovoltaic Materials Market: Information by Type, Material, End-Use and Region - Forecast till 2030 Photovoltaic Coating Market Information Report by Application, by Coating Type and by Region - Forecast to 2030 Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) Market Information by Type, By Application by Region - Forecast to 2030 Building Integrated Photovoltaics Market Research Report: Information by Product, Application, Technology and Region - Forecast till 2030 About Market Research Future: Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis regarding diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions. Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Montreal, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Flighthub Group is proud to introduce its Ukraine Aid program, offering free flights, booking assistance, and donations to provide relief to those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. In partnership with 4Ukraine.ca, FlightHub is providing Ukrainian refugees with free flights from Europe to Canada. FlightHub has made an initial commitment of CA$100,000, corresponding to roughly 100 long-haul flights, with more potentially to come. Since entering into the partnership on May 20, FlightHub and 4Ukraine.ca have already vetted and flown two families to Vancouver and Calgary respectively. FlightHub is founded on the idea that travel keeps us connected and has the power to change lives,said Chris Cave, CEO, FlightHub Group. With our Ukraine Aid program, we are using our knowledge and global reach in the industry to provide direct and meaningful assistance to those who need it most. "We are delighted to partner with FlightHub to assist Ukrainians in relocating to Canada, said 4Ukraine.ca co-founder and director, Anna Chif. The urgency to help displaced Ukrainians come to Canada is undeniable, and the partnership with FlightHub allows Ukrainians to travel as soon as they are ready to move" Through a rigorous vetting process that includes video interviews, travel document review, host family background checks, and job prospecting, 4Ukraine.ca ensures the well-being and preparedness of Ukrainians participating in the program. Our goal is for participants to have a safe place to stay and means of supporting themselves once they land in Canada, added Anna Chif. FlightHub Group announced additional measures in support of humanitarian efforts in Ukraine in April 2022 and anyone who needs to participate or wants to donate is encouraged to visit https://flighthubgroup.com/ukraine-aid. To support 4Ukraine.ca families and contribute to airfare, you can also donate directly on the 4Ukraine.ca website. If you are an employer looking to hire Ukrainians as part of the 4Ukraine.ca initiative, please visit: https://www.4ukraine.ca/hire About FlightHub Group Inc. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, FlightHub Group owns and operates FlightHub and sister company JustFly two of North Americas leading flight-centric online travel agencies. From its founding in 2012, FlightHub Group has put choice and control back in customers hands. Its industry-leading online booking platforms revolutionized the ticketing experience, making it possible for customers to explore and optimize itineraries, destinations and prices best suited to their needs. For more information visit flighthubgroup.com About 4Ukraine.ca 4Ukraine.ca is a federally registered not-for-profit organization, on a mission to help 5,000+ displaced Ukrainians settle in Canada. 4Ukraine.ca operates through the highly popular online community CANADA - Host Ukrainians of 75,000+ people, helping with job placement, airfare costs and background checks on host families. Contact information: Victoria Cheng, FlightHub: media@flighthub.com & 514-604-2238 | 4Ukraine.ca: media@4ukraine.ca Attachments Westford, USA, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telemedicine allows patients to communicate with doctors over the internet and also helps to save healthcare costs. Attributing these benefits, physicians and hospitals are eager to incorporate digital health technologies into their practices. This has prompted the government to adopt telehealth-related rules and reimbursement standards. Telemedicine advancements have made healthcare more affordable and accessible to everyone. Growth in e-visits and expansion in radiology, cardiology, behavioral health, and other fields has resulted in the creation of new business and healthcare models centered on telehealth. With the debut of multiple platforms and the entry of new firms with significant finance, the global telemedicine industry is rapidly becoming more competitive. Further, the outbreak of COVID-19 positively influenced the growth of the global telemedicine market. With the norms of social distancing, the demand for teleconsultations and digital health services increased significantly. In the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has emerged as a potent tool. The bulk of virtual visit service providers reported a significant increase in user and subscriber numbers. In 2020, from January to March, Teladoc Health Inc. recorded a 60% growth in virtual consultations, reaching 2 million, compared to 2019Q4. Read market research report, " Global Telemedicine Market By Type (Products and Services), By Modality (Store-and-forward (Asynchronous), Real-time (Synchronous), and Others), By Application (Teleradiology, Telepathology, Tele dermatology, Telecardiology, Telepsychiatry, and Others), By End-User (Healthcare Facilities and Homecare) & By Region - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2028 by SkyQuest Get sample copy of this report: https://skyquestt.com/sample-request/telemedicine-market Furthermore, the introduction of AI-based clinics is likely to create multiple opportunities for the Global Telemedicine Market growth. AI-powered medication booths have emerged significantly in recent years. In the booth, a smart medicine cabinet is included, which can dispense over 100 medications. For an instance, Ping An Good Doctor provides a tiny unstaffed clinic that is based on AI. Patients who seek immediate consultations can sit in the three-square-meter booth and speak with an AI-assisted doctor. The AI computer gathers medical information and generates a diagnosis approach, which is then sent along to a clinical expert. These mini-clinics are named "One-Minute Clinics". Patients are then connected to a clinician on 'Ping An Good Doctor's' in-house medical team through these clinics and then medications are prescribed. The prominent market players are constantly adopting various innovation and growth strategies to capture more market share. The key market players are Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands), Medtronic (Ireland), GE Healthcare (US), Cerner Corporation (US), Siemens Healthineers (Germany), Cisco Systems (US), Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan), Teladoc Health (US), American Well (US), and AMC Health (US) among others. The report published by SkyQuest Technology Consulting provides in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about Telemedicine Market Revenue. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. Report Findings Drivers- Technological advancements along with the integration of AI in Telemedicine is the prominent factor driving the global telemedicine industry growth. Technological advancements along with the integration of AI in Telemedicine is the prominent factor driving the global telemedicine industry growth. Restraint- Poor infrastructure and technological barriers in the low and middle-income countries are likely to limit the adoption of telemedicine which is a key impediment to the Telemedicine market growth. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://skyquestt.com/report/telemedicine-market What does this Report Deliver? Market Estimation for 20+ Countries Telemedicine Market demand by Region, Sub-Region, and Country Customization on Segments, Regions, and Company Profiles 100+ tables, 150+ Figures Global, Regional, and Country specific Telemedicine Market Trends Comprehensive Mapping of Telemedicine Industry Parameters Attractive Investment Proposition in the Global Telemedicine Industry Competitive Strategies Adopted by Telemedicine Market Key Players Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, Challenges, and the impact on the Telemedicine Market Size Market growth rate till 2028 Regulatory scenario, regional dynamics, and Telemedicine market insights of leading countries in each region In-depth Market insights by Region and Country Market Segmentation Trend Analysis, Opportunities, and Growth Porters five force analysis to know the markets condition Pricing Analysis and Telemedicine Market Sales Parent market analysis Product portfolio benchmarking SkyQuest has segmented the Global Telemedicine Market based on Type, Modality, Application, End-User, and Region: Global Telemedicine Market by Type (Revenue, USD Billion, 2021 - 2028) Products Services Global Telemedicine Market by Modality (Revenue, USD Billion, 2021 - 2028) Store-and-forward (Asynchronous) Real-time (Synchronous) Others Global Telemedicine Market by Application (Revenue, USD Billion, 2021 - 2028) Teleradiology Telepathology Tele dermatology Telecardiology Telepsychiatry Others Global Telemedicine Market by End-User (Revenue, USD Billion, 2021 - 2028) Healthcare Facilities Homecare Global Telemedicine Market By Region (Revenue, USD Billion, 2021 - 2028) North America US Canada Europe Germany France UK Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China India Japan Rest of Asia Pacific Central & South America Brazil Rest of CSA Middle East & Africa GCC Countries South Africa Rest of MEA Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/telemedicine-market Key Players in the Global Telemedicine Market Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands) Medtronic (Ireland) GE Healthcare (US) Cerner Corporation (US) Siemens Healthineers (Germany) Cisco Systems (US) Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan) Teladoc Health (US) American Well (US) AMC Health (US) Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Healthcare Tele-Consultation Services Market Global Digital Health Market Global Healthcare IT Integration Market Global 5G Infrastructure in Healthcare Market Global Precision Medicine Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Petrified Forest National Park Diana Boudreau, Fossil Preparator Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona PETRIFIED FOREST, Ariz., May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Along Interstate 40, situated between the New Mexico border and Winslow, Arizona, sits the Painted Desert Visitors Center (PDVC) at the north end of Petrified Forest National Park. Its location draws in hundreds of thousands of travelers every year driving across the country in everything from tiny cars to giant U-Haul trucks. The PDVC provides a respite from the open road and a break from travels. But once visitors pass through the central courtyard, following the signs to the Museum Demonstration Lab, they embark on a different journey that takes them back in time. The Museum Demonstration Lab (Demo Lab) is a space specifically designed to bring the paleontological discoveries and museum collections of Petrified Forest into public view. Paleontologists at Petrified Forest actively work with academic partners to reconstruct a detailed history of life during the Late Triassic, and exciting new research has resulted in the publication of multiple scientific manuscripts in just the last few years (e.g., Marsh et al. 2020; Kligman et al. 2021; Parker et al. 2021a, 2021b). The Demo Lab has been THE primary place for park staff to share these scientific discoveries with the public, often showcasing the fossils themselves before they even go on exhibit or into collections. Although commonly found Late Triassic fossils, such as phytosaurs and metoposaurs, can be seen on the bench in the Demo Lab, it is more likely that new and significant specimens are being prepared, housed, or exhibited for the public. Collection of notable fossil projects worked on in the Museum Demonstration Lab. Clockwise from top left: Azendohsaur dentary (PEFO 38606); Revueltosaurus field jacket (PEFO 42442); Skybalonyx skapter claw (PEFO 43703); Kataigidodon venetus dentary (PEFO 43755); and the most complete (right, PEFO 47877) and worlds largest (left, PEFO 50050) Anaschisma browni skulls. NPS photos. Some of the notable discoveries that have recently been on the bench in the Demo Lab include: Field jackets containing skull elements, vertebrae, limb bones, and other bones from the first azendohsaur (an extinct Triassic reptile distantly related to crocodiles) found in North America a manuscript is currently being reviewed for publication in the Journal of Paleontology (Marsh et al. in review) New species of reptiles, lizards, fish, amphibians, freshwater sharks, and other animals from the Thunderstorm Ridge microvertebrate locality , which reveals a previously unknown diversity of taxa from the Chinle Formation and Late Triassic worldwide (i.e., Stocker et al. 2019; Jenkins et al. 2020; Kligman et al. 2020a; Kligman et al. 2020b) , which reveals a previously unknown diversity of taxa from the Chinle Formation and Late Triassic worldwide (i.e., Stocker et al. 2019; Jenkins et al. 2020; Kligman et al. 2020a; Kligman et al. 2020b) A well preserved, partial skeleton of the aetosaur (herbivorous crocodile relative) Calyptosuchus wellesi nicknamed Gloria including osteoderms (bony scutes), pelvis, and vertebrae Revueltosaurus callenderi material including a field jacket with a partial articulated skeleton, skull, and numerous other disarticulated elements (Parker et al. 2021a) Skulls of the metoposaur (extinct amphibian) Anaschisma browni, including the worlds largest, as well as the most complete skull from the park with 100+ teeth still rooted in the sockets of the upper jaw The diversity and exceptionality of fossils on view in the Demo Lab and direct interaction with paleontologists is what makes it a must-see for visitors coming to Petrified Forest. In the past two years, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, staff turnover, and ongoing PDVC construction projects have spurred the Demo Lab staff to adapt in order to continue providing this invaluable service for visitors. Pre-COVID 19 Operations A few years ago, staff realized a need for a public-facing preparation space where park paleontology could be shared with visitors while simultaneously completing important projects. Utilizing a vacant room in the old school building near the museum offices, the small room contains two large south-facing windows and built-in shelving. To convert the space into a preparation lab, two work benches, each with its own microscope station, were added in addition to a flammable storage cabinet with glues, adhesives, and solvents. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors were invited to enter the Demo Lab through an exterior doorway and chat directly with staff members who were working on fossil projects from the park. A small monitor on the table displayed a live-feed microscope view which provided visitors with a better view of the preparation work. In March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced park and Demo Lab closures and provided staff an opportunity to restructure Demo Lab operations. Lab set-up and operation pre-COVID 19 allowed visitors to enter the Demo Lab and see fossils up close. NPS photo. Re-establishing Visitor Communication Since COVID-19 safety practices prevented visitors from entering the Demo Lab, direct verbal communication between staff and visitors was no longer possible. To re-establish that communication, a few methods were implemented. For context, the PDVC complex was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017, which meant any adjustments or alterations to the Demo Lab could not adversely affect the historic integrity of the structure. The initial solution for this problem was to use a two-way baby monitor with the baby unit placed outside for visitors and the parent unit used for staff. While reliable, the parent unit was not hands-free. After many trials and errors, an intercom system with a wireless microphone was installed which allowed visitors and staff to communicate hands-free. This improvement occurred simultaneously with the installation of an outdoor TV monitor connected to the microscope camera. This new set-up allows staff to safely use both hands to prepare or work on fossil material underneath the microscope and explain to visitors what they are seeing on the screen in real time. Visitors stay longer at the Demo Lab and have more meaningful interactions, all while following COVID-19 safety practices. View from outside the Demo Lab. Note the TV monitor located to the left of the door (left). NPS photo. Refining Wayfinding and Lab Aesthetics The Demo Lab is located towards the back of the PDVC complex and can be difficult for visitors to find. Therefore, effective wayfinding to the Demo Lab has been a top priority. New sandwich board directional signs were designed to assist with wayfinding. These signs were also updated to accommodate the temporary relocation of the main PDVC lobby during a construction project at the end of 2021. Overall aesthetics of the lab were also improved by designing and installing custom curtains to hide the materials stored on the built-in shelves. The second window shade in the room was also opened, although only one staff member was present in the Demo Lab per day. The second work bench was utilized to display larger showy items, such as phytosaur skulls and large field jackets. Many changes have been made to the Demo Lab set up between March 2020 (left) and February 2022 (right). Many of these updates have improved the aesthetics and overall functionality of the lab during a global pandemic, staffing changes, and visitor center construction projects. NPS photos. Improving Project Versatility and Staff Comfort Over the past few years, many additions to the Demo Lab have improved staff comfort and project versatility. One of the most pressing issues was temperature regulation. The south-facing windows turned the small room into a greenhouse, particularly since the doors were no longer open to provide air flow. Small standing fans and a swamp cooler were tested out, but eventually a small standing AC unit was installed and the vent was routed through an existing window to avoid damage or alteration to the historic structure. To increase the capacity for varied tool use and ability to work on more diverse projects, a new air compressor system, for puffer pin vices and other pneumatic tools, was installed in addition to a small dust collector system. Additional microscope parts, such as ergonomic accessories and a variety of lenses, allow individual preparators to tailor the station to their specific needs. Visitation Trends Average daily visitation at the Demo Lab the first three years of operation (2017-2019) increased from 31 visitors in 2017 to nearly 50 in 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of 2020, visitation dropped significantly with only 15 average visitors per day. The lull in visitation allowed staff to develop and test out new ways to communicate park paleontology to visitors, including regular social media posts using the #fossilfriday hashtag as well as filming, editing, and publishing a seven-part YouTube mini-series for National Fossil Day in October 2020 and 2021. In 2021, the Demo Lab was open 5 days each week and daily visitation returned to pre-COVID levels with nearly 50 visitors on average. This increasing trend is hoped to continue into 2022. As of February 2022, daily visitation for the year is averaging 22 visitors. Winter is a slower season at the park and visitation is anticipated to increase beginning mid-March with spring break and continuing into the summer and fall season. Visitors peek through the main windows in the Demo Lab to see paleontologists working on fossils. NPS photo. Looking to the Future While the Demo Lab has already seen many changes in the past few years, staff continue to find ways to improve the Demo Labs functionality. Some of the issues that we hope to address in the future include: Reduce glare and reflections on the south-facing windows, which continue to be issues for staff comfort inside as well as impairing visibility for visitors looking into the windows Continue to increase capacity for varied tool use to facilitate diverse projects Continue to improve wayfinding to the Demo Lab, especially with PDVC construction Continue effective communication with Interpretation Division in regard to Demo Lab schedule Incorporate a 3D scanning/printing station With all of the new updates to the Demo Lab and continuous influx of fossils from the field, paleontologists at Petrified Forest National Park are working on important preparation projects and sharing new discoveries with visitors 5 days a week. While some visitors may have seen fossils at a museum, many say their visit to Petrified Forest was the first time they had seen someone physically working with and handling fossils, let alone a completely new species of fossil! These impactful interactions stay with visitors of all ages long after they leave the park and is what makes the Demo Lab small, but MIGHTY. Keep up with what new projects or changes are happening in the Museum Demonstration Lab by following us on social media References Jenkins, X.A., Pritchard, A.C., Marsh, A.D., Kligman, B.T., Sidor, C.A., & Reed, K.E. 2020. Using manual ungual morphology to predict substrate use in the Drepanosauromorpha and the description of a new species. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 40(5). Kligman, B.T., McClure, W.C., Korbitz, M., & Schumacher, B.A. 2021. New sphenodontian (Reptilia: Lepidosauria) from a novel Late Triassic paleobiota in western North America sheds light on the earliest radiation of herbivorous lepidosaurs. Journal of Paleontology 95(4): 827-844. Kligman, B.T., Marsh, A.D., Seus, H.D., & Sidor, C.A. 2020a. A new non-mammalian eucynodont from the Chinle Formation (Triassic: Norian), and implications for the early Mesozoic equatorial cynodont record. Biology Letters 16: 20200631. Kligman, B.T., Marsh, A.D., Nesbitt, S.J., Parker, W.G., & Stocker, M.R. 2020b. New trilophosaurid species demonstrates a decline in allokotosaur diversity across the Adamanian - Revueltian boundary in the Late Triassic of western North America. Paleodiversity 13(1): 25-37. Marsh, A.D., Smith, M.E., Parker, W.G., Irmis, R.B., & Kligman, B.T. 2020. Skeletal anatomy of Acaenasuchus geoffreyi Long and Murry, 1995 (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia) and its implications for the origin of the aetosaurian carapace. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 40(4). Parker, W.G., Nesbitt, S.J., Irmis, R.B., Martz, J.W., Marsh, A.D., Brown, M.A., Stocker, M.R., & Werning, S. 2021. Osteology and relationships of Revueltosaurus callenderi (Archosauria: Suchia) from the Upper Triassic (Norian) Chinle Formation of Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, United States. The Anatomical Record 1-62. Parker, W.G., Nesbitt, S.J., Marsh, A.D., Kligman, B.T, & Bader, K. 2021. First occurrence of Doswellia cf. D. kaltenbachi (archosauriformes) from the Late Triassic (middle Norian) Chinle Formation of Arizona and its implications on proposed biostratigraphic correlations across North America during the Late Triassic. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 41(3). Related Links Contact(s): Phone number: Email: Date: Release code: Sarah Herve (928) 524-6228 x245 sarah_herve@nps.gov May 26, 2022 NPS Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c64efb69-3234-4f23-88e0-357f7dcfc513 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7aaa11b7-81b6-40e4-8cee-cc11168c4a15 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/642d7983-9c90-42ab-b2fd-3146bea08bce https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ccf96cd8-0588-4d74-ac10-504193e56ad1 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a940b6e-944e-4997-ae0c-bdc5af56e8f2 The photos are also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress. THE ROLL CALL OF HEROES WILL PAY TRIBUTE TO 6.5 MILLION FIRST RESPONDERS ACROSS THE NATION JAMES M. FOOTE, PRESIDENT & CEO OF CSX, WILL RECEIVE THE 2022 CORPORATE HERO AWARD NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Responders Children's Foundation, the national nonprofit founded in the aftermath of 9/11 when over 800 children lost a first responder parent, will host "A Celebration of First Responder Heroes" on June 2, 2022, at Gotham Hall in New York City. The event will recognize James M. Foote, President & CEO of CSX, as the 2022 Corporate Hero Award honoree for CSXs longstanding commitment to and generous support of first responder families. The gala dinner will pay tribute to 6.5 million first responders across the nation through "The Roll Call of Heroes" during which a representative from each category of first responder will be honored on behalf of all first responders in their category: public safety officers, firefighters, EMTs / paramedics, nurses, 911 dispatchers, and 9/11 survivors. The individual representing each category of first responder will be celebrated for their personal heroism and receive an award on behalf of all first responders in their respective field. First Responders Children's Foundation has selected six first responder heroes for the 2022 Roll Call of Heroes each of whom went above and beyond the call of duty and some of whom risked their lives to rescue others in their communities. The award recipients include: On behalf of all Public Safety Officers Captain Will Davis of the Joplin, MO Police Department who displayed unusual selflessness and courage when he stopped an assailant on a murderous rampage. During the altercation, two of Daviss fellow officers were fatally shot and their patrol vehicle was stolen by the assailants flee attempt. Shots were fired at officers in pursuit, until the patrol car was wrecked in the process. As the assailant continued to fire at the officers, Davis pulled up to the scene, drew fire from the suspect, and ultimately returned fire, mortally wounding the assailant and ending the rampage. of the Joplin, MO Police Department who displayed unusual selflessness and courage when he stopped an assailant on a murderous rampage. During the altercation, two of Daviss fellow officers were fatally shot and their patrol vehicle was stolen by the assailants flee attempt. Shots were fired at officers in pursuit, until the patrol car was wrecked in the process. As the assailant continued to fire at the officers, Davis pulled up to the scene, drew fire from the suspect, and ultimately returned fire, mortally wounding the assailant and ending the rampage. On behalf of all Firefighters Corey Wilcox of the FDNY, under punishing conditions and at personal risk, rescued an unconscious woman trapped in a house fire on Thanksgiving night. Through heavy smoke and fire, with zero visibility, high heat and rapidly deteriorating conditions, Firefighter Wilcox carried her out of the burning house to the street and provided emergency care. Firefighter Corey Wilcox's quick actions under extreme conditions were directly responsible for the womans survival. of the FDNY, under punishing conditions and at personal risk, rescued an unconscious woman trapped in a house fire on Thanksgiving night. Through heavy smoke and fire, with zero visibility, high heat and rapidly deteriorating conditions, Firefighter Wilcox carried her out of the burning house to the street and provided emergency care. Firefighter Corey Wilcox's quick actions under extreme conditions were directly responsible for the womans survival. On behalf of all Nurses Jody Nixon , RN of Brooklyn, NY is a Head Nurse in the hectic and crowded Emergency Room at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, where she works non-stop saving countless lives every day. Nixon cared for the first COVID patient in NYC and always finds a way to fit more stretchers in to care for everyone. She is usually the first person in the room that responds to a cardiac arrest and trauma. She shows no fear be it COVID or bedbugs, working nonstop, with rarely any breaks. She also takes the work of head nurse home with her in heavy totes full of checklists and staffing schedules. She brings back soaps and clothing in those bags in case someone from the street needs a shower and a change of clothes. Nixon is fast on her feet and regularly triages five patients at the same time. On the toughest patients, she will find their vein to get blood samples, and even wipes away their tears. , RN of Brooklyn, NY is a Head Nurse in the hectic and crowded Emergency Room at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, where she works non-stop saving countless lives every day. Nixon cared for the first COVID patient in NYC and always finds a way to fit more stretchers in to care for everyone. She is usually the first person in the room that responds to a cardiac arrest and trauma. She shows no fear be it COVID or bedbugs, working nonstop, with rarely any breaks. She also takes the work of head nurse home with her in heavy totes full of checklists and staffing schedules. She brings back soaps and clothing in those bags in case someone from the street needs a shower and a change of clothes. Nixon is fast on her feet and regularly triages five patients at the same time. On the toughest patients, she will find their vein to get blood samples, and even wipes away their tears. On behalf of all Paramedics / EMTs Alanna Badgley of Yonkers, NY responds to 911 calls as a paramedic and puts her life on the line every day fighting COVID-19, often without enough PPE and wearing the same N-95 mask for weeks on end. On the daily Badgley rescues patients in distress from their homes, who are then transported to the hospital, many of whom are sick, injured, terrified and dying. She never fails to provide expert pre-hospital medical care with empathy and humanity. Badgley also serves as Union President of the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics Local 20, working to raise awareness for the low pay and hardships endured by EMS workers nationwide. of Yonkers, NY responds to 911 calls as a paramedic and puts her life on the line every day fighting COVID-19, often without enough PPE and wearing the same N-95 mask for weeks on end. On the daily Badgley rescues patients in distress from their homes, who are then transported to the hospital, many of whom are sick, injured, terrified and dying. She never fails to provide expert pre-hospital medical care with empathy and humanity. Badgley also serves as Union President of the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics Local 20, working to raise awareness for the low pay and hardships endured by EMS workers nationwide. On behalf of all 911 Dispatchers Jonathan Ortiz of the NYPD who on January 21 st answered the call of a distressed mother in Brooklyn, worried that her son was unstable. Since there was no mention a weapon, Ortiz dispatched NYPD officers to the apartment building, who were caught off guard upon arrival when they were fired upon in a surprise attack by the womans son. A third officer ended the violence by mortally wounding the gunman. Ortiz then got a call reporting two officers down, dispatched two ambulances to rush to the officers rescue, and cleared the route of traffic so the ambulances carrying police officers Mora and Rivera could race to the hospital in record time. Ortiz played a critical role in getting officers Mora and Rivera the best possible chance for immediate medical care in a short amount of time. of the NYPD who on January 21 answered the call of a distressed mother in Brooklyn, worried that her son was unstable. Since there was no mention a weapon, Ortiz dispatched NYPD officers to the apartment building, who were caught off guard upon arrival when they were fired upon in a surprise attack by the womans son. A third officer ended the violence by mortally wounding the gunman. Ortiz then got a call reporting two officers down, dispatched two ambulances to rush to the officers rescue, and cleared the route of traffic so the ambulances carrying police officers Mora and Rivera could race to the hospital in record time. Ortiz played a critical role in getting officers Mora and Rivera the best possible chance for immediate medical care in a short amount of time. On behalf of all 9/11 Survivors Sal Turturici of Morganville, NJ is a 20-year career veteran of the FDNY, who served as an EMT in the Hazardous Materials Division of the FDNY EMS. Turturici responded to the 9/11 rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site, where he was tragically exposed to toxic dust that now causes him to battle terminal cancer. Despite this illness, Turturici continues to advocate for first responders. First Responders Children's Foundation is proud to honor distinguished individuals and corporate partners for their efforts and passion in supporting our nation's first responders and their families. Past honorees of the Corporate Hero Award include Cisco, Kroll, Mattel, and SERVPRO. The 2022 Corporate Hero Award honoree is James M. Foote, President & CEO of CSX, a premier transportation company that provides rail, intermodal, and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural and consumer products. For four years, CSX Pride in Service has partnered with First Responders Children's Foundation to provide grants to law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs and their families, as well as scholarships for children to pursue their dreams of higher education. CSX is also a founding member of the First Responder Children's Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. On behalf of First Responders Childrens Foundation, we are humbled by the dedication and bravery of all the first responders being honored in our Roll Of Heroes, said Jillian Crane, President and CEO of First Responders Childrens Foundation. They are true heroes who represent the service and sacrifice of all in their profession. We are also delighted to honor Mr. James M. Foote on behalf of CSX Pride in Service for the companys dedication to first responders and their families. Our partnership began in 2018, and with their support, we have helped hundreds of children with scholarships. During the COVID-19 pandemic CSX was the first to show up and help us launch our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, and for this and so much more, we are grateful. It is with great honor that I accept this award on behalf of CSX and our Pride in Service community investment initiative, said James M. Foote, President and Chief Executive Officer of CSX. Safety and service are in our DNA, and we work closely with first responders in the local communities where we operate every single day. Partnering with First Responders Childrens Foundation allows us to give back to the families of some of these brave heroes. The gala evening will include recognition of the Foundation's college scholarship recipients including Mabel Jesse, Florida State College of Jacksonville class of 2023 and Annette-Rene Rule, Texas State University class of 2025. Proceeds from the Gala will support Foundation programs including college scholarships, direct financial assistance, bereavement assistance, and toys during the holidays. Proceeds will also support mental health services for children of first responder families through the newly introduced First Responders Children's Foundation Resiliency Program. The gala dinner and awards ceremony will take place on June 2, 2022, at Gotham Hall in New York City. Tickets and sponsorships are available at 1stRCF.org. About First Responders Children's Foundation First Responders Childrens Foundation provides financial support to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty as well as families enduring significant financial hardship due to tragic circumstances. First Responders Childrens Foundation also supports, promotes, and facilitates educational activities and programs created and operated by first responder organizations whose purpose is to benefit children or the community at large. More information about First Responders Childrens Foundation is available at www.1stRCF.org. Follow First Responders Children's Foundation on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram @1stRCF About CSX CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural and consumer products. For nearly 200 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nations economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nations population resides. It also links more than 230 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com. Like us on Facebook (http://facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX). Press Contact: For First Responders Childrens Foundation: Joanna Black +1 (646) 912-2681 Joanna@1stRCF.org PHILADELPHIA and TIRANA, Albania, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hill International (NYSE:HIL), delivering the infrastructure of change, announced today it was awarded, as leader of an international consortium, a contract from the Albanian Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy to provide Project Management services for the construction of the Llogara Tunnel. Located in the southwestern part of the Albanian coast in the Vlora region, the 155-million-euro project will provide a roadway under the Llogara pass, reducing the driving time from Vlora to Saranda by approximately 40 minutes as well as improving driver safety. Scheduled for completion in early 2025, the project will also support increased tourism in the region. The tunnel and adjacent route total 7,42 km. The tunnel length is 6 km, and the roadway includes two bridges with a 110-meter-long main bridge. The tunnel will be composed of the main tube, which will support bi-directional traffic (one lane per direction) and a parallel emergency escape tunnel (also approximately 6 km long). In the main traffic tube, there will be lay-by niches every 500 meters with cross passages. The tunnel will have a maximum overburden of approximately 900 meters. The main tube, niches, laybys, connecting facilities, and the parallel emergency escape tunnel will be constructed by the conventional New Austrian Tunneling Method. Hill Country Manager Yannis Kirkinezis, who will oversee the Hill teams efforts for the tunnel, explained, This is a transformative, long anticipated project in Albania, and were eager to help realize the Ministrys vision for the region. Manolis Sigalas, Hill First Vice President & Managing Director Southern Europe, stated on the award: We are delighted to be selected for this significant project that will improve connectivity and road safety, and that will also support the countrys efforts to grow its tourism sector. Hill International CEO Raouf Ghali added, Our teams in Eastern Europe excel at delivering transformative infrastructure projects like the Llogara Tunnel, and I know Manolis, Yannis, and their PM experts will make certain this project enjoys the success our clients expect. About Hill International Hill International, with more than 3,000 professionals in over 100 offices worldwide, provides program management, project management, construction management, project management oversight, claims and dispute resolution, advisory, facilities management, and other consulting services to clients in a variety of market sectors. Engineering News-Record magazine recently ranked Hill as one of the largest construction management firms in the United States. For more information on Hill, please visit our website at www.hillintl.com. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is our intent that any such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Except for historical information, the matters set forth herein including, but not limited to, any statements of belief or intent, any statements concerning our plans, strategies, and objectives for future operations are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that the expectations, estimates, and assumptions reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements are set forth in the Risk Factors section and elsewhere in the reports we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including that unfavorable global economic conditions may adversely impact our business, our backlog may not be fully realized as revenue, and our expenses may be higher than anticipated. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement. Hill International, Inc. Elizabeth J. Zipf, LEED AP BD+C Senior Vice President (215) 309-7707 elizabethzipf@hillintl.com The Equity Group, Inc. Devin Sullivan Senior Vice President (212) 836-9608 dsullivan@equityny.com Washington, D.C., May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Released today, The Root Cause Coalitions latest research underscores gaps in understanding about maternal health as well as experiences with and attitudes about this critical issue. While one-third report being entirely unfamiliar with the term Maternal Health, this percentage is even greater among whites, those over 65 years of age, non-college educated and non-parents. In fact, more than half (54%) of those over 65 say that they are unfamiliar with this term. When provided with the World Health Organizations definition of Maternal Health, fewer than one-third of Americans believe access to quality maternal health care is adequate; one-in-five believe it is inadequate. This is especially true for arguably the most important demographic: one-quarter (24%) of females surveyed in the U.S. believe access to quality maternal care is inadequate. And among those who believe its only sometimes or entirely inadequate, one-third (32%) say that the biggest reason is because its unaffordable. One-quarter of Blacks (24%) say it depends on your race/ethnicity a significantly higher percentage compared to whites (11%) and Hispanics (7%). This research underscores not only a need for increased education and awareness on maternal health issues and their impact on all of us, but moreover increased, meaningful action by all who are in a position of authority and influence to help bring about improved access, complete equity and better health outcomes for all women in our nation, says Barbara Petee, President of The Root Cause Coalition. Maternal mortality rates are rising in the U.S., leaving behind families and children who will grow up never knowing their moms, said Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14). The evidence-based solutions are multi-faceted and require an all-of-government approach. Thats why its critical we invest in comprehensive solutions across health care, nutrition, and more, including those in my Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, to save lives and advance birth equity across the country. Americans, however, are mixed on whose responsibility it is to improve access to quality maternal care. Responses ranged from the President (15% ranked this as top responsibility), state and local governments (14%), Congress (12%) and hospitals (11%). Significantly more parents (20%) than non-parents (12%) believe the President has the most responsibility for addressing this issue. Government-led assistance programs are largely supported, too. Eighty-five percent of individuals say theyre at least somewhat supportive of federal government programs that provide food and nutrition assistance to lower income individuals and families. More than half (51%) say theyre very supportive and this is especially true for lower income individuals earning less than $40,000/year (57%) as well as urban residents (59%). Familiarity with specific programs is mixed, however. More than 20% are unfamiliar with the Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC); 39% are very familiar and 40% report being only somewhat familiar. WIC familiarity is highest among Blacks and parents, with roughly six in 10 stating that theyre very familiar with the program. It is not surprising, then, that more than six in 10 Blacks and nearly seven in 10 parents know someone who participates or has participated in WIC; this compares to just less than half of the general population. When provided with an overview of what WIC does, more than half of Americans (51%) report being extremely supportive. A mere 3% report being not at all supportive. Finally, when mothers were asked about what society should prioritize for new mothers, more than one in five report access to nutritious, affordable food not far behind is affordable childcare and paid maternity leave. Methodology 1,000 interviews among adults age 18+ were conducted from April 8-12, 2022 using an online survey. The results were weighted to ensure proportional responses. The Bayesian confidence interval for 1,000 interviews is 3.5, which is roughly equivalent to a margin of error of 3.1 at the 95% confidence level. The Root Cause Coalition Co-founded by AARP Foundation and ProMedica in 2015, The Root Cause Coalition is a non-profit member-driven organization comprised of more than 90 leading health systems, hospital associations, foundations, businesses, national and community nonprofits, health insurers, academic institutions, local governments, and policy centers. Our common goal is to achieve health equity for every American. Please click here to view the full report. MONSEY, N.Y., May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Wohl & Fruchter LLP is investigating whether the directors of VMware, Inc. (ticker: VMW) (VMware) acted in the best interests of VMware shareholders in approving the sale of VMware to Broadcom Inc. (Broadcom) for $61 billion in cash and stock, resulting in total consideration of approximately $138.23 per VMware share based on the closing price of Broadcom stock on May 25, 2022. If you remain a VMware shareholder and have questions about your legal rights, you may contact our firm at the following link to discuss your options at no charge: https://wohlfruchter.com/cases/vmware/ Alternatively, you may contact us by phone at 866-833-6245, or via email at alerts@wohlfruchter.com. Why is there an investigation? On May 26, 2022, VMware announced an agreement under which Broadcom will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of VMware for $61 billion in cash and stock. Under the terms of the deal, VMware stockholders can elect to receive $142.50 in cash or 0.2520 share of Broadcom common stock for each VMware share they own. The shareholder election will be subject to proration, resulting in approximately 50% of VMwares shares being exchanged for cash and 50% being exchanged for Broadcom common stock. Based on the closing price of Broadcom common stock on May 25, 2022, the total consideration is approximately $138.23 per VMware share. The deal was approved by the VMware board (Board). Our investigation concerns whether the members of the VMware Board acted in the best interests of VMware shareholders in approving the sale to Broadcom, including whether the price being paid adequately compensates VMware shareholders, and whether all material information regarding the transaction has been fully disclosed. In particular, according to an analysis of Wall Street VMW price targets in the last 90 days published on Seeking Alpha, VMware has a high price target of $175.00 per share, and an average price target of $140.22 per share, both which are above the total consideration per share that Broadcom has agreed to pay. About Wohl & Fruchter Wohl & Fruchter LLP, with offices in New York City and Monsey, has for over a decade been representing investors in litigation arising from fraud and other corporate misconduct, and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for investors. Please visit our website, www.wohlfruchter.com, to learn more about our Firm, or contact one of our partners. Contact: Wohl & Fruchter LLP Joshua E. Fruchter Toll Free 866.833.6245 alerts@wohlfruchter.com www.wohlfruchter.com NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greystone, a leading national commercial real estate finance company, has provided $20,000,000 in HUD-insured financing for a 216-unit affordable housing property in Hialeah, Florida. The FHA financing was originated by Eric Rosenstock, Managing Director in Greystones New York office, on behalf of Lewis Swezy of Centennial Management. Constructed in 2002, Country Club Villas I in Miami-Dade County consists of 10 mid-rise buildings with one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The $20 million FHA 223(f) loan carries a 35-year term and a low, fixed rate. The property also qualifies for a lower annual MIP (Mortgage Insurance Premium) because it is rent-restricted. In addition to refinancing, loan proceeds enable the borrower to continue with ongoing property maintenance and monetize a portion of their equity. My team has had the privilege to finance many projects for Lewis Swezy over the years and we greatly appreciate the relationship, said Mr. Rosenstock. We work tirelessly to deliver the right products and solutions for our clients so they can maximize the potential of every property in their portfolio. Our teams attention to detail throughout the transaction reinforced to us that there is no one better suited than Eric Rosenstock and his team at Greystone to help us achieve our affordable housing strategy in Miami, said Mr. Lewis Swezy, CEO of Centennial Management. Greystones deep experience in this market meant that our transaction closed quickly and seamlessly they are truly best-in-class when it comes to multifamily finance, particularly HUD. About Greystone Greystone is a private national commercial real estate finance company with an established reputation as a leader in multifamily and healthcare finance, having ranked as a top FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac lender in these sectors. Loans are offered through Greystone Servicing Company LLC, Greystone Funding Company LLC and/or other Greystone affiliates. For more information, visit www.greystone.com. PRESS CONTACT: Karen Marotta Greystone 212-896-9149 Karen.Marotta@greyco.com New York, United States, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A ventricular assist device is also known as an electromechanical device that assists cardiac circulation to partially or completely reduce cardiac failure. It helps to pump the blood from the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) to the rest of the body. The major factors propelling the growth of the Global Ventricular Assist Devices Market are the increase in rapid technological developments, continuous rising cases of cardiovascular diseases, & a surge in the geriatric population. In terms of Product, the Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) segment held the maximum market share in 2020 of approximately 81.03 % & based on region, North America dominated the market with an overall share of nearly 55.12%. However, the Asia-Pacific region held the fastest growth rate with a robust CAGR value of around 19.62%. To get a first-hand overview of the report, Request a Sample at https://www.strategicmarketresearch.com/request-sample/ventricular-assist-devices-market The report announced by Strategic Market Research on Ventricular Assist Devices Market is fragmented based on: Product Suitable ventricular assist devices (VADs) Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) Biventricular assist devices (BiVADs) Design Implantable ventricular assist devices Transcutaneous ventricular assist devices Application Destination Therapy Bridge to transplant therapy (BTT) Bridge to candidacy therapy (BTC) Bridge to recovery therapy (BTR) Regions: North America USA Mexico Canada Rest of North America Europe Germany France Russia Switzerland U.K Finland Turkey Netherlands Belgium Spain Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China India Indonesia Thailand Japan South Korea Singapore Malaysia Philippines Australia New Zealand Rest of APAC LAMEA Brazil Saudi Arabia Uruguay Argentina Rest of LAMEA Make a Direct Purchase of the latest Ventricular Assist Devices Market Report published in the month of April 2022. Click the below link to initiate the purchase: https://www.strategicmarketresearch.com/buy-now/ventricular-assist-devices-market Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2021-2028 Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 CAGR 7.13% 2028 Value Projection USD 2.59 billion Base Year 2020 Market Size in 2020 USD 1.3 billion Historical Data for 2017-2019 No. of Pages 135 Companies Abbott Laboratories, Abiomed, Medtronic, Teleflex Incorporated, SynCardia Systems, Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, Getinge, CardiacAssist Inc., Berlin Heart, Jarvik Heart Inc., SENKO MEDICAL INSTRUMENT Mfg. CO., LTD., CardioDyme, World Heart Corporation Leading Segment Left ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) Leading Region North America Segments covered Application, Design, Product, and Region Growth Drivers Prevalent Cases of Cardiovascular Diseases Prevalent Cases of Organ Failure and Challenges in Organ Transplantation Vital factors fuelling the Market Growth: The continuous surge in demand for a heart transplant due to the increased cardiovascular diseases & paucity of cardiac assist devices is augmenting the market growth. However, this is accompanied by the shortage of decent hearts for transplantation to fulfill the worldwide demand. The American Heart Association has announced that there were more than 523.2 million cases of CVDs (cardiovascular diseases) in 2019, which was an increase of nearly 26.6% as compared to 2010. Analysts predict that the global burden of cardiovascular disease is poised to grow exponentially over the upcoming years. Apart from the rise of the CVDs, the rapid technological developments in mechanical circulatory support and the rise in the cases of LVADs have increased the demand for these devices immensely in heart patients. As per Michigan Health Lab, there are approximately 250,000 LVAD patients in the United States. Furthermore, the rising demand for the different ventricular assist devices such as ventricular assist device impella, ventricular assist device ACLS, ventricular assist device icd10, ventricular assist device anticoagulation, etc., are also fuelling the market growth extensively across the globe. In terms of Product, the Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) segment dominated the market. In terms of Product, the market is classified into Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), Suitable ventricular assist devices, & (BiVAD) Biventricular assist devices. The Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) segment dominated the market comprehensively, with a total share of almost 81.03% in 2020. This is due to rapid technological advancements, a rise in the number of cardiac failures, & the scarcity of organ donors. As a result, the LVAD market share was valued at USD 357 million in 2020. Based On Design, the Implantable Ventricular Assist Devices segment held the maximum share of the market in 2020 In terms of design, the market has been segmented into Transcutaneous Ventricular Assist Devices & Implantable Ventricular Assist Devices. The 'Implantable ventricular assist devices ' segment dominated the market with a share of around 72.17% due to the innovative product development by the leading market players & the increasing need for a revolutionary solution to manage heart failure. The European Journal of Heart Failure announced that around 64.3 million people are living with heart failure across the globe. In developed countries, the prevalence of cardiac failure is generally estimated at (1 to 2) % of the general adult population. By Applications, the Bridge to transplant (BTT) segment held the maximum proportion of the market share in 2020 In terms of Applications, the market has been ramified into Bridge to transplant therapy (BTT), Destination Therapy, Bridge to recovery therapy (BTR), & Bridge to candidacy therapy (BTC). The 'Bridge to transplant therapy (BTT)' segment held the largest market share in 2020. The increasing awareness about heart transplantation, along with the availability of VADs for BTT (Bridge to transplantation) are driving the segment growth widely throughout the estimated time frame of 2020-2030. Globally, around 3,500 heart transplants are performed each year. The vast majority of these transplantations are performed in the United States itself (2,0002,300 per year). North America continued to be the leading region in the Ventricular Assist Devices Market:- Based on Region, North America continued its sheer dominance with a share of almost 51.22% throughout the anticipated frame of time. The availability of regulated reimbursement policies & coverage rise of awareness regarding VADs like destination therapies, bridge-to-recovery, & bridge-to-transplant is expected to drive the market of this region in the forthcoming years. The U.S. population accounts for the highest number of obese citizens, thus making them highly susceptible to cardiovascular diseases. As per Healthline, more than one-third of adults (around 36.5 percent) have obesity. Around 32.5 % of American adults are overweight. So, overall, more than two-thirds of adults in the USA are overweight or have obesity. On the other hand, the APAC (Asia Pacific) region showed the fastest growth rate with a CAGR of 19.62 %, owing to the rapid advancement of the healthcare facilities & favourable government strategies such as the Make in India movement for enhancing the private and public partnerships in India. Before initiating a purchase, make a Pre-order enquiry and get a detailed overview of the content of the report. https://www.strategicmarketresearch.com/pre-order-enquiry/ventricular-assist-devices-market List of key players that are driving the growth rate of in the Ventricular Assist Devices Market worldwide: Abbott LaboratoriesMedtronic Abiomed Teleflex Incorporated SynCardia Systems Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA CardiacAssist Inc. Berlin Heart Jarvik Heart Inc. Getinge SENKO MEDICAL INSTRUMENT Mfg. CO., LTD. CardioDyme World Heart Corporation Kindly go through and get access to our comprehensive coverage of myriad number of healthcare reports published in the last three months: https://www.strategicmarketresearch.com/reports/healthcare Recent Developments: On June 3rd 2021, Abbott announced that it would provide all the financial support for the expanded usage of HeartMate 3 Heart Pump. Abbott worked collaboratively with other healthcare organisations' physicians and health systems to ensure the supply of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Besides that, Abbott also provided a proper level of training to its physicians to use the Abbott's HeartMate 3 devices on their patients adequately. On June 5th 2020, FDA successfully approved Abiomeds First-in-Human Trial of Impella ECP, the smallest heart pump in the world. A unique design feature of the ventricular assist device, Impella ECP, is placed across the valve with a soft atraumatic polyurethane cannula that opens only during the pump flowing. If the pump stops working, this cannula shuts all the valve leaflets around it, thus maintaining the valve competency. Related Reports: Automated External Defibrillator Market SMRs Automated External Defibrillator Market Report with Insights & Forecast 2030 delivers an exact idea regarding the detailed market insights such as the driving factors, restraints, opportunities, etc. With a total market size of around USD 650.07 Mn in 2020, the Global Automated External Defibrillator Market Size will make up to USD 1596.38 Mn by 2030 with a burgeoning CAGR of nearly 9.4 %. Key factors that are propelling the market growth continuously are the continuous rise in the diseased population and the advent of rapid technological advancements. 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Also, the key players that are associated with this market are Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD Interventional), Koninklijke Philips N.V., Avinger, Inc., etc. Digital Therapeutics Market SMRs Digital Therapeutics Market Report Insights & Forecast 2030 delineates a clean idea about the crucial insights of the market, like opportunities, drivers, restraints, etc. In 2020, the overall share value of the Global Digital Therapeutics Market was nearly USD 2.3 billion and is poised to reach up to USD 35.78 billion by 2030, representing a CAGR of 31.4 %. The crucial factors that are augmenting the market growth are the continuous increase in the chronic diseases, & increase in focus on preventive health care measurements. Apart from that, the key players associated with this market are Medtronic Plc.,Akili Interactive Labs, Inc.,Click Therapeutics, Inc.,Fitbit, Happify, Inc., Kaia Health, Livongo Health, Omada Health, Pear Therapeutics, Inc., Proteus Digital Health, Inc., Resmed, etc. About Us: Strategic Market Research facilitates the organizations globally in taking pivotal business decisions by furnishing the Syndicated and Customized Research Reports, which are highly precise in terms of market numbers. We believe that every firm, whether it is a startup which is in the Introduction stage of the Product Life cycle or an established one which is at the growth stage, requires market research services in order to streamline its key business blueprint. It may be related to Product Launch, Go to Market strategies, Competitive Analysis or new geographical penetration and expansion. Contact Us: Strategic Market Research LLP. Sunil Kumar US: +1-8317045538 UK: +441256636046 India: +91-8260836500 Email: info@strategicmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.strategicmarketresearch.com Blog: https://www.strategicmarketresearch.com/blog Press Release: https://www.strategicmarketresearch.com/press-releases Connect Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategic-market-research/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/smrstrategic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StrategicMarketResearch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategicmarketresearchsmr/ SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zeto, Inc., announced today that the company is now offering its customers a remote electroencephalography (EEG) reading service. This was made possible through a partnership with a physician-led organization dedicated to providing expert, high-quality telehealth-assisted EEG interpretation to hospitals and outpatient settings, regardless of geographic location. There is a growing need for EEGs to be read in a timely manner, especially in healthcare settings when a neurologist is not on call. "Telehealth-driven technologies, such as Zeto's EEG cloud platform, are great modern tools that allow EEGs to be interpreted quickly and seamlessly. We are delighted to partner with a board-certified EEG reader group, to cover long-term, acute ("stat") and routine studies, and help improve patient care. The physician readers use innovative technologies, evidence-based protocols, and medical expertise to help hospitals and clinics start, expand, or improve seizure-related care. We are pleased to offer this service to our customers," said Florian Strelzyk, Chief Sales Officer at Zeto. As part of the Zeto Reading Service, a team of remote, certified, and specially trained adult and pediatric epileptologists provide real-time or retrospective EEG interpretation in outpatient settings across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Current and new customers can request this service by contacting their Zeto account representative. Via this feature, the user can mark a study for interpretation and the platform notifies the customer-approved reader group to safely and securely read that study. Based on urgency and recording length, users are billed a flat professional reader fee and can receive their results within 24 hours. About Zeto Zeto, Inc. is an award-winning, privately held medical technology company located in Santa Clara, CA, that is focused on transforming the way electroencephalography (EEG) is performed at hospitals and clinics. Zeto's revolutionary FDA-cleared EEG headset and cloud platform bring the traditional EEG procedure to the 21st century. The company plans to leverage its hardware and software technology to improve noninvasive monitoring of the brain's electrical activity and achieve better outcomes for neurological conditions such as epilepsy, sleep disorders, autism, stroke and concussion. To learn more about Zeto's products including the reading service, please visit: www.zetoinc.com or email us at info@zetoinc.com Related Images Image 1: Zeto EEG Reading Service Zeto Introduces a Remote EEG Reading Service to Its Customers This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Milledgeville, Georgia, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As technology changes, so does business educationand Georgia Colleges J. Whitney Bunting College of Business is changing with it. The school is becoming the J. Whitney College of Business and Technology. The new name acknowledges the rapidly advancing role of technology in the business environment. In the future, nine out of 10 jobs will require digital skills, according to the World Economic Forum. I am excited to announce the renaming of our business college, Georgia College President Cathy Cox said. The J. Whitney Bunting College of Business and Technology more aptly describes our approach in fusing state-of-the art technology with the foundational business education it has always provided. Technology drives so many changes we witness around usin business, society and in our personal lives, she said. Georgia College understands the immense importance of these changes and is committed to offering a curriculum that completely embraces technology. Cox pointed to the universitys public liberal arts mission as a dynamic and career-focused approach to provide students with cutting-edge skills and adaptability. A liberal arts education equips students with the critical thinking necessary to navigate the complexities of life and become 21st-century leaders, she said. Other changes in the business college include: A new name for Georgia Colleges Accounting Department, now called the department of accounting and business law. The department already housed faculty who teach business law and ethics, a core requirement for a business degree. The new name reflects that. The introduction of a new Bachelor of Science degree in data science. Employers say they want workers who can interpret and understand data, do quantitative analysis and use predictive modeling. A new Bachelor of Science degree in finance that provides an optional concentration in financial technology. This will include courses in financial management and programming, financial forecasting and payment processing. The launching of a Center for Innovation in the fall. This initiative will provide students, faculty and community members with opportunities to collaborate and advance regional economic development. The labor market is always fluctuating. Advances in technology are accelerating at a speed that require our students to be competent in digital and quantitative methods but to also become critical thinkers who can adapt to evolving conditions and lead creatively, said Dr. Costas Spirou, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. These traits are essential for individual success, he said, but also for Georgia College to continue meeting workforce needs and address the state of labor shortages in Georgia. The colleges new name ensures that students will be provided with relevant skills in technology along with a strong foundation in business education. In todays rapidly changing society, it is more important than ever to ensure that the liberal arts curriculum at Georgia College will continue to evolve in order to meet employer needs, said Dr. Micheal Stratton, dean of the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business and Technology. Technology is embedded into the fabric of all our teaching and learning experiences, he said. These experiences will differentiate our students in the marketplace and help them stand out to employers. Attachments MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA) members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action against its employer Candu Energy Inc., an SNC-Lavalin subsidiary. Candu Energy has taken fractious approach to labour negotiations that has forced SPEA to take this action, said Mark Chudak, President of SPEA. We have issued the mandatory 72-hour strike notice to SNC-Lavalin for strike action to commence May 29th. SPEAs contract with Candu Energy expired at the end of 2021. It is incredibly frustrating that after months of bargaining and government-mediated conciliation efforts, there has been virtually no progress, said Chudak. Candu Energy has returned to the anti-union approach it took in the past, marked by a 12+ week strike shortly after SNC-Lavalin took over AECLs nuclear reactor business in 2011. After 2014, SNC-Lavalin changed course, renewing its board and its senior executives. This included taking a more collaborative approach to labour relations, said Denise Coombs, SPEA Staff Representative. In the early stages of collective bargaining negotiations, the company unilaterally cut off members ability to email their legal bargaining representatives, blocking all communications involving members work addresses at a time when electronic communications are essential. Employees have been prohibited from sharing information with their union, under threat of termination. Coombs further pointed out, These tactics deprive our members and future members of proper representation and protection from their union. For example, during a surge in the pandemic, an employee forwarded to SPEA a management email directing staff to begin attending client sites in person. SPEA raised these concerns with management. In response, employees were told that sharing any internal directives with their union is prohibited even those concerning health and safety during a pandemic. Candu Energy requires highly specialized scientific and engineering staff. We need to make sure we can keep and attract the top-tier talent we need to deliver critical refurbishment and maintenance work for Ontarios nuclear fleet, said Chudak. We are determined to do whatever it takes to reach fair, competitive agreements, and swiftly. But we need Candu Energy to bring the same focus to the bargaining table. About SPEA The Society of Professional Engineers and Associates is an independent union representing engineers, scientists, technical and administrative staff, who work for Candu Energy Inc- Nuclear division of SNC-Lavalin (formerly Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) Candu division) in Mississauga, Ontario and abroad (excluding AECL Chalk River Laboratories). Formed in 1974, SPEA is one of the oldest professional unions in Canada. For further information contact: Michelle Duncan, Staff Representative Phone: 416-427-3525 Email: michelle.duncan@spea.ca Carson City, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carson City, Nevada - Las Vegas, Nevada-based insurance company Talisman Casualty Insurance Company LLC is reaching out to the local community to share information about the range of claims services that they offer. Talisman Casualty Insurance Company has made a name for itself by offering alternative risk transfer options for liability and property insurance. Talisman Casualty Insurance Company explains that when it is time to put in a claim, most people are apprehensive because of past experiences. With Talisman claims, the company provides best-in-class services to ensure an unparalleled insurance experience for all its clients. Talisman Casualty Insurance Company utilizes a variety of claims management service providers to deliver efficient claims processing for each of their cell programs. They also guarantee that delegated claims authority is only given to those service providers that have a wide range of experience in claims management, are the best in terms of integrity and ethics, and are well-versed with the local markets where the claims are based. Through this arrangement, the efficiencies of the claims technology can be streamlined within each protected cell, thus providing participants a high level of service. As the company explains, claims management of captive cells relies on state-of-the-art claims technology giving immediate feedback on the overall impact of claims, and the time needed to make adjustments can be decreased due to the simple aggregation of data within a cell captive. Since claims account for the majority of a captives expenses, best practice claims management is one area where captives can distinguish themselves from most traditional insurers. The company uses local adjusters who meet high ethical and competent criteria and gives participants the best claims experience. Talisman explains that they can integrate proprietary claims software into a cell captive program without the hefty cost associated with licensed software (which tends to have large commercial insurers as the target users). Talisman Casualty Insurance Company states, As an insurance company, our priority is on maintaining a high degree of professionalism in everything that we do. From the carefully crafted policies we have to the high quality and high standard claims process, we can proudly say that we are one of the most trusted captive insurance companies in the marine market and more. If you are looking for a trustworthy and legitimate insurance provider that does not cut corners, Talisman Casualty is your best option. Our team is composed of industry veterans who have worked in insurance for decades, and their expertise can be seen in each step of the process, from the initial consultation to the claims process and beyond. The company adds, When it is time to settle in and find a world-class risk management team, you can be assured that there is no one better than us. Since our inception, we have worked hard to become the leading insurance claims company among individuals wanting something refined, sophisticated, and in line with modern standards. We are able to provide that and cater to each unique situation our clients face with our captive insurance set up. Talisman Casualty Insurance Company prides itself on the personalized attention they offer to all its clients. Starting from the initial consultation, and all the way through the setting up of the captive insurance system and more, the company assures that each of their clients can expect to work directly with a representative of Talisman Casualty who will guide them through the whole process. The company boasts that each step is taken to make sure the customer service is tailor-made for the individual and works as intended when deployed. With experts who have many years of experience in the insurance industry, Talisman Casualty has put together a team that is committed to delivering excellent results. Each client can pick and choose what works for their situation and remain in control of the process due to having access to a qualified representative at all times. Those who want to learn more about Talisman Casualty Insurance Company and the various services they provide can find more information on the companys website. The company can be reached via the contact form on their website, or alternatively by email or phone. In addition to their website, Talisman Casualty Insurance Company maintains a presence on Facebook where they frequently post updates, share blog posts, and communicate with their clients. More information about the company can also be found at the following link: Talisman Licensing. ### For more information about Talisman Casualty Insurance Company, contact the company here: Talisman Casualty Insurance Company 800-318-5317 info@talismancasualty.com 7881 W. Charleston Blvd, Suite 210 Las Vegas, NV 89117 Carson City, Nevada, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Talisman Casualty Insurance Company, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, is reaching out to discuss who owns Talisman Casualty and what they do in an article on the company website. Talisman Casualty Insurance Company is a protected cell captive insurance expert that provides services in the specialty insurance sector by offering protected cells to underwriters. All coverages provided by the company are commercial and are only available to businesses that participate in an underwriting cell. Talisman Casualty Insurance Company was founded by a group of insurance professionals with many years of extensive expertise in the world of insurance. Since there was a clear and unanswered demand for captive insurance policies with the backing of a seasoned group, the founders felt it was time to launch this company right away. One of the companys recognized services is the Talisman Surety Program. A surety bond is a promise made by a guarantor to pay the obligee a certain amount if the principal fails to meet a certain obligation, such as fulfilling the terms of a contract. The surety bond protects the obligee against losses that result from the principals failure to meet the obligation. There are many different types of surety bonds, and a surety is not considered insurance, even if it is provided by insurance companies. The risk is usually underwritten with no expected losses. The relationship between the principal and surety is also often much closer than other forms of insurance. Payment and Performance is one type of bond. Payment and Performance bonds are often used in the construction industry as a form of protection for an owner that their contractor will complete the job according to the contract and he will pay all of his subs and suppliers, says a representative from Talisman. The construction industry uses these bonds frequently in order to give an owner protection so he or she can be sure that their contractor is going to finish a job per the terms of the negotiated contract, including paying all suppliers and subcontractors. Compliance and Licensing is another type of bond, and they are often used to maintain a professional license or to secure permits. There are usually statutory requirements for such bonds. The third type of bond is a Court and Legal bond, which covers a wide range of court actions, including bail, the release of lien, adverse cost judgment, and more. The Las Vegas insurance provider provides all three types of bonds, along with many other services. Bonds get underwritten in much the same way used for underwriting general credit. The review process for this usually involves both a skill or qualification evaluation and a thorough financial analysis when performance is the aspect being bonded. A surety is rather like a cosigner that is lending credit. In such cases premiums are often far lower than the rates charged by a commercial lender. Learn more here: Talisman Insurance. One of Talisman Casualty Insurance Companys distinct features is that it focuses on protected cell captive insurance. Their services are primarily targeted at the specialty insurance sector and are often the perfect solution for businesses that are launching a new product or expanding capacity in more restricted markets. Talismans claims administration is as efficient and responsive as possible, and the underwriting is done in ways that build relationships, thanks to personal attention. A lot of clients and consumers look at the modern insurance world and start wondering where all the great services went, but that is not so with Talisman. The team at Talisman Casualty tries to keep the old traditions of service alive and well, and the team has tremendous experience in connecting with many different insured parties. That means that the company has spent a lot of time already not just learning about various businesses, but also learning how to understand a business as well. Talisman takes great pride in being able to provide their clients personalized services based on their individual needs. The company knows that innovative ideas offer unconventional options for cutting-edge companies and professionals who take advantage of the opportunities of a constantly changing economy, while also trying to protect themselves in a competitive world laden with risk where anything can happen. The services provided by the company adapt to the constantly changing socio-economic needs, ensuring that their clients are always in good hands. To learn more about Talisman Casualty Insurance Company, clients may visit the companys official website. Their team can be reached via email, phone or social media as well. ### For more information about Talisman Casualty Insurance Company, contact the company here: Talisman Casualty Insurance Company 800-318-5317 info@talismancasualty.com 7881 W. Charleston Blvd, Suite 210 Las Vegas, NV 89117 Independence, Ohio, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ohio-based owner and developer of single-story apartment homes, Redwood Living, Inc., will welcome residents to its first neighborhood in Illinois this summer. Construction is underway for Redwood Lockport, a brand-new neighborhood that will feature 112 single-story apartment homes ranging in size from 1,294-1,620 square feet. Redwood will begin pre-leasing for the new neighborhood in June, and the first residents are expected to move in by August. Monthly rent will start around $2,100. We could not ask for a better place to welcome our first Chicagoland Redwood Neighborhood, said Steve Kimmelman, CEO and executive chairman of Redwood. Lockport is a city with a rich history but also a strategic vision for the future. We are thrilled to offer residents a new take on apartment living coupled with our unmatched ability to exceed expectations at every stage of the rental process. Redwoods signature design offers the feel of a single-family home, thanks to its single-story, open floor plans, attached garages and private entrances with dedicated street addresses. Each of the six different floor plans available at Redwood Lockport will include two bedrooms and two bathrooms along with a two-car attached garage. Residents can also expect: Flexible lease terms In-person, virtual and self-guided touring options Spacious, eat-in kitchens with large pantries and extra storage space Open floor plans Large closets Washer and dryer hookups Full-size appliances Vaulted ceilings Upgraded finishes and features Pet-friendly accommodations Green-centric neighborhood setting Bonus space that can utilized based on lifestyle needs, such as a home office or personal gym Redwood Lockport is located at 17215 Juniper Drive. The neighborhood is ideally situated with nearby retail and recreation options along with convenient highway access. Interested prospective residents can get all leasing information, contact the team and pre-lease on the Redwood Lockport website. Redwood in Illinois Looking ahead, Redwood is eyeing major expansion across the region. We have the potential to add as many as 3,000 apartment homes across Chicagoland over the next five years, said Kevin Kwiatkowski, Chief Acquisitions Officer. Construction will commence on our neighborhoods in Oswego and Volo next, and we look forward to sharing details about those locations and more in the coming months. #### About Redwood Living, Inc. Redwood Living, Inc. (Redwood) is an innovative development and property management company with neighborhoods in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Illinois, with more under construction in Nebraska. The company believes that the growth of the rental population demands the response that Redwood provides. The success of this approach continues to be validated in new markets. Redwood is a company that believes in its mission, product and amazing people. It creates a simplified, relaxed lifestyle for residents, and offers a rewarding atmosphere for its employees. For more information, visit www.byredwood.com. Attachments Kenmare Resources plc (Kenmare or the Company) 26 May 2022 AGM Results and Board Update At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Kenmare Resources plc ((LSE:KMR, ISE:KMR) held today at The Shelbourne Hotel, 27 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, all resolutions were duly passed on a poll. The full text of each resolution was included in the Notice of the Meeting to shareholders, dated 21 April 2022. In accordance with the Listing Rules, copies of the resolutions passed at the AGM (not relating to ordinary business) have been forwarded to the National Storage Mechanism and Euronext Dublin where they will shortly be available for viewing at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism and https://direct.euronext.com/#/oamfiling The full voting results are set out below: Resolution Votes For % Votes Against % Votes Withheld * % Total Votes % of issued share capital voted To consider the Report of the Directors and Accounts 74,058,420 100.00 168 0.00 34,819 0.05 74,058,588 78.02 To consider the Directors Remuneration Report 73,221,015 98.87 837,362 1.13 35,030 0.05 74,058,377 78.02 To declare a final dividend of USc25.42 per share 74,093,080 100.00 29 0.00 298 0.00 74,093,109 78.06 To re-elect Michael Carvill 74,091,107 100.00 2,002 0.00 298 0.00 74,093,109 78.06 To re-elect Elaine Dorward-King 73,654,553 99.45 404,035 0.55 34,819 0.05 74,058,588 78.02 To re-elect Clever Fonseca 74,091,100 100.00 2,009 0.00 298 0.00 74,093,109 78.06 To re-elect Graham Martin 73,826,260 99.64 266,849 0.36 298 0.00 74,093,109 78.06 To re-elect Tony McCluskey 73,924,742 99.77 168,367 0.23 298 0.00 74,093,109 78.06 To re-elect Sameer Oundhakar 68,834,082 100.00 163 0.00 5,259,162 7.64 68,834,245 72.52 To re-elect Deirdre Somers 71,231,095 96.14 2,862,014 3.86 298 0.00 74,093,109 78.06 To elect Mette Dobel 74,092,622 100.00 476 0.00 309 0.00 74,093,098 78.06 To elect Andrew Webb 74,092,994 100.00 104 0.00 309 0.00 74,093,098 78.06 To authorise Directors to fix auditors remuneration 74,092,983 100.00 374 0.00 50 0.0 74,093,357 78.06 To renew the authority to convene an EGM by 14 days notice. 74,018,751 99.90 74,650 0.10 6 0.00 74,093,401 78.06 To authorise the directors to allot relevant securities 73,551,297 99.27 542,099 0.73 11 0.00 74,093,396 78.06 To disapply statutory pre-emption rights 73,575,244 99.30 516,044 0.70 2,119 0.00 74,091,288 78.05 To authorise market purchases 74,045,365 99.94 48,036 0.06 6 0.00 74,093,401 78.06 To authorise re-issue of treasury shares. 73,556,740 99.28 536,605 0.72 62 0.00 74,093,345 78.06 To amend the articles of association for proposed Odd-lot Offer 73,558,416 99.28 534,682 0.72 309 0.00 74,093,098 78.06 To authorise the making of an Odd-lot Offer 73,556,704 99.28 536,692 0.72 11 0.00 74,093,396 78.06 To authorise the making of an off-market purchase of shares** 73,452,324 99.28 535,253 0.72 11 0.00 74,093,396 77.38 *A vote withheld is not a vote in law and is not counted in the calculation of the proportion of votes for or against a resolution. ** In accordance with section 105(5) of the Companies Act 2014, votes cast in respect of shares held by or on behalf of Odd-lot Holders (as defined in the Circular dated 21 April 2022) on 21 April 2022 were required to be excluded when determining whether resolution 13 was passed. For technical reasons, in order to effect this, the aggregate number of shares held by or on behalf of Odd-lot Holders on 21 April 2022 was deducted from the votes cast in favour of the resolution. Board update As announced on 3 December 2021, Steven McTiernan retired at the Annual General Meeting and Andrew Webb, having been elected as a Director, has succeeded him as Chair of the Board of Directors of Kenmare. For further information, please contact: Kenmare Resources plc Jeremy Dibb / Katharine Sutton Investor Relations ir@kenmareresources.com Tel: +353 1 671 0411 Mob: +353 87 943 0367 / +353 87 663 0875 Murray (PR advisor) Doug Keatinge dkeatinge@murraygroup.ie Tel: +353 1 498 0300 Mob: +353 86 037 4163 About Kenmare Resources Kenmare Resources plc is one of the worlds largest producers of mineral sands products. Listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Euronext Dublin, Kenmare operates the Moma Titanium Minerals Mine in Mozambique. Momas production accounts for approximately 8% of global titanium feedstocks and the Group supplies to customers in more than 15 countries. Kenmare produces raw materials that are ultimately consumed in everyday quality-of life items such as paints, plastics and ceramic tiles. Atlanta, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InvestigateTV, the award-winning investigative unit owned by Gray Television, Inc. (Gray) (NYSE: GTN), announced the addition of Investigative Reporter Joce Sterman and Consumer Investigative Reporter Caresse Jackman to its award-winning team. Joce Sterman Caresse Jackman Joce Sterman is a National Headliner, Murrow, and Emmy award-winning investigative journalist with more than 20 years of experience in television and radio news. Prior to joining InvestigateTV, she was the lead National Investigative Correspondent for Spotlight on America, a segment airing on TV stations in more than eighty cities. Stermans career has taken her through newsrooms across the mid-Atlantic region including WHAG in Hagerstown, Pennsylvania, WPMT in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, WMAR in Baltimore, Maryland and WJLA in Washington, DC. From accountability reporting on the failures of government agencies at every level to exposing product flaws, her work has resulted in congressional investigations and federal legislation. Caresse Jackman has been a Consumer Investigative Reporter at WSMV4, Grays Nashville affiliate, since 2019. Prior to that, she worked at WWL, where her work on a four-part series documenting a New Orleans neighborhood that never fully recovered after Hurricane Katrina contributed to a regional Edward R. Murrow Award in the overall excellence category and earned Jackman a Proclamation from the New Orleans City Council. She also worked in Flint, Michigan, as a general assignment reporter during the Flint Water Crisis. She started her broadcast career in Mississippi, working as a reporter at WCBI in Columbus and a news producer at WJTV in Jackson. We are excited to expand our team and bring aboard 2 more journalists with expertise in community-focused investigative reporting that generates results, Vice President of Investigations for InvestigateTV Lee Zurik said. InvestigateTV launched in 2018 and provides innovative, original journalism from a dedicated investigative team and partners, including ProPublica, News21 at Arizona State University's Cronkite School of Journalism, and NerdWallet. It is available on Roku, Amazon Fire, at InvestigateTV.com and across Gray broadcast and digital media properties. About Gray: Gray Television, Inc. is a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We are the nations largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets in the United States that serve 113 television markets reaching approximately 36 percent of US television households. This portfolio includes 80 markets with the top-rated television station and 100 markets with the first and/or second highest rated television station. We also own video program companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Honey, and PowerNation Studios, as well as Third Rail Studios. Gray Contact: Website: w w w. g r a y .t v . # # # TORONTO, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via CannabisNewsWire -- Lift&Co. Expo, Canadas no. 1 cannabis conference and trade show, hosted its latest event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, May 12-15, 2022. Throughout the Lift Cannabis Business Conference (May 12) and Lift&Co. Expo in the Centres North Hall (May 13-15), leading-edge content and exhibitors from across North America showcased the information and innovations that will power the future of the cannabis industry. Lift&Co. Expo by the Numbers Canadas 1st Cannabis Trade Show est. 2016 est. 2016 10 Events to Date 9,700+ Participant Admissions representing the Americas, Europe & Asia representing the Americas, Europe & Asia 140+ Exhibitors 130+ Speakers 40 Industry & Media Partners The Lift Cannabis Business Conference (LCBC) kicked off the event with a packed house and a packed full-day agenda. Sessions included Next Gen Cannabis Innovations, New Big Product Categories and Cannabis Market Trends & Predictions. Thereafter, Industry Stage sessions throughout the three-day expo featured additional forward-thinking programming across both the cannabis and psychedelics sectors. The fascinating topics covered included Athletes & Cannabis, Cannabis Crystal Ball, New Psychedelics Data and The Future of Edibles. Speakers included Niel Marotta, President and CEO of Indiva; Elias Theodorou, MMA Fighter and Ambassador for Athletes for CARE; Tamara Lilien, Head of Education at CannSell Ontario; Antuanette Gomez, CEO of Peak Pharm Labs; and George Smitherman, CEO of the Cannabis Council of Canada. All this, plus the uniquely irresistible experience that makes Lift&Co. Expo a cant-miss event for the cannabis community. Live music to open the show and a live DJ throughout set a festival-like tone, as leading names in the industry hosted welcoming, interactive booths. A sleek lounge from JMCC, Greenline POSs tablet-enabled demos, Dutchies signature hotel and a psychedelic set-up by Mood Ring, just to name a few, all buzzed with conversations. "The team at Lift&Co. Expo has been fantastic with helping us put our booth together and providing us great channels for getting our message out there, says Calvin Ho, Co-founder and COO of Greenline POS. We have been exhibiting at Lift&Co Expo since 2018 and will continue to do so in the future." "Lift&Co. Expo is the time to create and nurture meaningful relationships, and reconnect with friends in the Canadian cannabis industry, says Andrew Nunez-Alvarez, founder of The Trap Market. The event never fails to generate a sense of community that brings like-minded, passionate professionals together under one roof." The events signature surprises and a-ha! moments could be found around every corner, including the life-size Colour Your World wall, hourly prize giveaways, and 420 receptions. Not to be outdone, a rainbow Rolls Royce pulled right onto the show floor, courtesy of PINNRZ. The fun carried through to the official Lift&Co. Expo After Party, featuring Weedmaps, which packed Steam Whistle Brewing with a celebration to remember set against the Toronto skyline. We are continually inspired by Lift&Co. Expo, but this year was especially significant, says Shawn Pierce, President of MCI Events. As the cannabis landscape defines its new normal in the pandemic era, were proud to cultivate a welcoming space for creating connections and reinvigorating the industry. Upcoming Events Lift&Co. Expo Vancouver January 12-14, 2023 January 12-14, 2023 Lift&Co. Expo Toronto June 1-4, 2023 Event photos: Flickr link for images from the event. About Lift&Co. Expo Launched in 2016, Lift&Co. Expo is the original large-scale cannabis trade show in Canada, serving the cannabis community as both a meeting place and a destination for discovery. Each Lift&Co. Expo showcases leading-edge content and premiere exhibitors in a festival-like setting for thousands of cannabis industry retailers, producers, growers, investors and decision-makers. Lift&Co. Expo is proudly produced by MCI Events. Visit liftexpo.ca for more information. Wire Service Contact CannabisNewsWire (CNW) Denver, Colorado www.CannabisNewsWire.com 303.498.7722 Office Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com Seattle, Washington, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avenue5 Residential, a multifamily property management services firm, has welcomed Tazia Moore as its new senior vice president of Southern California operations. In her new role, Moore will support a regional leadership team of vice presidents, associate vice presidents, and regional managers overseeing performance for more than 30 multifamily assets and 7,000 units throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and the Inland Empire. Additionally, she will partner with Avenue5 clients on opportunities for revenue growth as well as portfolio expansion and diversification in the region. Tazias extraordinary track record of operational performance will be an asset to the ongoing success of our clients with interests in the expansive Southern California market, confirmed Lesa LaRocca, division president at Avenue5. We are confident that her local market knowledge and strategic insights will help unlock even greater future revenue potential for the multifamily owners we are proud to serve in the region. Moore began her multifamily career in 2000, and has overseen performance for lease-up, stabilized, luxury, value-add, market-rate, and affordable assets. She has experience crafting comprehensive annual operating plans, conducting financial analysis and reporting initiatives, researching market and submarket conditions and trends, leading strategies to maximize asset NOI, and overseeing capital projects as well as multi-million dollar asset renovations. Additionally, Moore has a track record of ensuring property compliance with all applicable regulatory programs, spearheading due diligence processes, and retaining and mentoring talent. Prior to joining Avenue5, Moore served in property and portfolio leadership roles at Stratus Real Estate, Holland Residential, JH Real Estate, Sage Apartment Communities, FPI Management, and Cushman & Wakefield. She holds tax credit specialist as well as certified occupancy specialist designations. Southern Californias major multifamily markets have reached a pivotal moment for growth, stated Steve Davis, chief operating officer at Avenue5. We are confident that Tazias broad-based operational leadership expertise will strengthen our clients financial positions and further enhance the opportunities available to them across all asset types, strategies, and locations. Moore, who is based in Orange County, will report to LaRocca. About Avenue5 Residential Avenue5, a multifamily property management services firm, oversees more than 480 properties and 88,000 units in 19 states and Washington, DC. The company is headquartered in Seattle, and has offices in Orange County, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, Spokane, and greater Washington, DC. In addition, Avenue5s local experts are based in key markets including Northern California, Los Angeles, San Diego, Reno, Las Vegas, Colorado Springs, Denver, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Atlanta, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Charlotte, and Charleston. www.avenue5.com Beijing, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BitCoke Exchange on May 12 revealed that it has successfully raised $20 million at a strategic private round in early 2022. The funds will be primarily used by the centralised exchange to design and develop key features connecting Cex with Dex, or decentralised exchange. According to BitCoke's official blog, the financing deal was reached with a group of investors led by Huobi Exchange, which also includes other notable institutions, and communities and KOLs, such as RedLine DAO, Krypital, LD Capital, AKG, VRM, Mint, WeBlock, 7 Clock, HTR, NFTGO, LTP, Scorpio, Eureka, Hotbit, JL Capital, Pento. Pietro Riccio, CEO of BitCoke Exchange, said that the strategic financing highlighted BitCoke's growth potential as a professional trading platform. "As BitCoke continues to adapt to the paradigm shift in crypto trading, this institutional investment will accelerate the development of the exchange and the promotion of BitCoke native token, as well as help us explore the merging between Cex and Dex exchanges." Charles, head of Huobi investment arm, stated, "BitCoke is a dedicated exchange that focuses on derivatives market, and known for its professional products and friendly user experience. Huobi believes BitCoke is a trusted reliable partner for collaboration." BitCoke is regarded as the world's first Quanto swap crypto exchange, with trader-centric features, i.e. fair matching, fast execution and low fees. Its original products, like Quanto swap, proprietar chart, fund management system, make the exchange popular among traders, funds, and asset management firms. BitCoke has long ranked in the top 10 by volume at the CoinMarketCap derivative marketplace. Website: https://www.bitcoke.com/ HOUSTON, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amplify Energy Corp. (Amplify or the Company) (NYSE: AMPY) announced today that the Company will be participating in the 2022 Louisiana Energy Conference on Thursday, June 2nd at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New Orleans, LA. Amplifys President and Chief Executive Officer, Martyn Willsher, will be participating in a panel discussion regarding the topic of U.S. Onshore E&P. In addition, Mr. Willsher will be available to meet with investors during the conference. About Amplify Energy Amplify Energy Corp. is an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, development, exploitation and production of oil and natural gas properties. Amplifys operations are focused in Oklahoma, the Rockies, federal waters offshore Southern California, East Texas / North Louisiana, and the Eagle Ford. For more information, visit www.amplifyenergy.com. Investor Relations Contacts Jason McGlynn Chief Financial Officer (832) 219-9055 jason.mcglynn@amplifyenergy.com CALGARY, Alberta, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acceleware Ltd. (Acceleware or the Company) (TSX-V: AXE), a leading developer of technologies targeting low-cost and clean extraction of heavy oil and bitumen, today announced its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2022 (all figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted). Accelewares quarter end results reflect contributions from the Companys two business units, comprised of radio frequency heating technology (RF Heating), which supports a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) for the extraction of heavy oil and bitumen through its proprietary RF XL heating technology, along with high-performance scientific computing applications (HPC). This news release should be read in conjunction with the Companys unaudited interim condensed financial statements and the accompanying notes for the three months ended March 31, 2022, and managements discussion and analysis (MD&A) thereto, together with the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021, notes and MD&A thereto, all of which are available on Accelewares website at www.acceleware.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. HIGHLIGHTS The commercial-scale RF XL pilot project at Marwayne, Alberta (the RF XL Pilot) is a final step before commercialization of the RF XL enhanced oil recovery technology. RF XL is the first application of the Companys patent-protected Clean Tech Inverter (CTI), a novel electrification engine for industrial heating. Acceleware believes the CTI can economically decarbonize many industry verticals through electrification with immediate application in the clean energy transition. Functionality of the CTI has already been proved through scaled field tests conducted in 2019 and 2020, and when combined with existing heating systems and an immediate appetite within industry to adopt a clean technology, can facilitate an economic decarbonization strategy for many organizations. The drilling and completions program for the RF XL Pilot was finished during Q4 2021 and facilities installation followed and was complete in the first quarter of 2022. In March 2022 heating commenced, and as such the RF XL Pilot entered the final phase. As of May 25, 2022, the Company has successfully injected power into the RF XL system for over 60 days, a significant milestone. During this time, the Company has monitored the performance of the CTI and related components, including control systems, cooling system, temperature monitoring in the heating lines and in the CTI, and power and efficiency measurements. As anticipated, this phase has included trouble shooting and operational changes that have led to multiple insights which will further refine CTI design, performance, and economics and optimize RF XL technology and operations. Another significant milestone was reached early April 2022 with first oil production from the RF XL Pilot. Oil shipments commenced in May 2022. As of April 5, 2022, the Company had closed two non-brokered private placements of 10% unsecured convertible debentures due 2026 for total gross proceeds of $2,215,000. Each debenture matures four years after the issue date and is convertible into units of the Company at a conversion price of $0.80. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share, at an exercise price equal to 200% of the conversion price of the debentures for a 24-month period following the distribution of the debentures. Net proceeds from the offering will be used to fund the further development and testing of the Companys RF heating technology and for general corporate purposes. Acceleware estimates the net cost to construct and operate the RF XL Pilot for six months to be in the range of $21 million to $22 million. Estimated gross costs of $23 million to $25 million are net of an estimated $2 million to $3 million proceeds from the sale of produced oil. There is uncertainty in estimated proceeds from the sale of produced oil due to fluctuating oil prices and simulated production volumes. Operating cost estimates remain subject to fluctuating commodity prices, in particular electricity and unforeseen mechanical or electrical engineering costs due to uncertainty inherent in a commercial scale pilot program of this nature. As of March 31, 2022, total direct funding committed to the RF XL Pilot included $5 million from Alberta Innovates, $5.5 million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), $5 million from Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), and up to $6 million from three consortium members. FINANCIAL SUMMARY R&D spending in Q1 2022 declined significantly compared to the last two quarters, as the drilling program was completed in Q4 2021, surface facility installation was completed early in Q1 2022 and operations began in early March 2022. Cumulative RF XL Pilot expenses as at March 31, 2022 were approximately $23.0 million (December 31, 2021 - $20.4 million). The remaining cash committed but not yet received from SDTC, ERA and Alberta Innovates, including holdbacks receivable was $2.4 million as at March 31, 2022 (December 31, 2021 $2.9 million) and amounts committed but not yet received from three major oil-sands producers were $2.4 million as at March 31, 2022 (December 31, 2021 $2.8 million). QUARTER IN REVIEW Revenue of $0.1 million was generated in Q1 2022 compared to $0.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021 (Q1 2021). Revenue of $0.1 million was generated in the previous quarter ended December 31, 2021 (Q4 2021). Revenue in Q1 2022 was generated from software sales and maintenance with the largest amount attributable to maintenance. Higher revenue in Q1 2021 compared with Q1 2022 and Q4 2021 is attributable to sales of RF software within the RF Heating segment and a higher level of seismic maintenance activity. Revenue in Q1 2022 is similar to Q4 2021, with a comparable mix between software and maintenance. Acceleware also received non-refundable milestone cash payments of $0.5 million in Q1 2022 compared to $0.3 million in Q1 2021 which was recorded in deferred revenue. Data revenue equal to the amount recorded in deferred revenue will be recognized as revenue at the end of the RF XL Pilot or when the data contracts are terminated, whichever is earlier. Total deferred revenue recorded on the statement of financial position as at March 31, 2022 is $3.45 million (December 31, 2021 $3.05 million). Total comprehensive loss for Q1 2022 was $1.9 million compared to a comprehensive loss of $.5 million for Q1 2021 and a comprehensive loss of $1.8 million for Q4 2021. The higher comprehensive loss in Q1 2022 compared to Q4 2021 and Q3 2021 is due to a lower ratio of government assistance recognized in Q1 2022 as the RF XL Pilot nears completion. Gross R&D expenses incurred in Q1 2022 was $2.6 million compared to gross R&D expenses in Q1 2021 of $1.6 million and $5.2 million in Q4 2021. The higher level of spending in Q1 2022 and Q4 2021 over Q1 2021 is due to significant investment in the RF XL Pilot activities beginning in August of 2021. During Q1 2022, facility installation was completed and in Q4 2021 a significant portion of the drilling activity was completed. A lower level of federal and provincial government assistance of $1.1 million was recognized in Q1 2022 compared to $1.3 million recognized in Q1 2021 and $3.9 million recognized in Q4 2021, offsetting gross research and development costs. General and administrative (G&A) expenses incurred in Q1 2022 was $0.5 million compared to $0.4 million in Q1 2021 and $0.5 million in Q4 2021. The Company continues to prioritize cost control given uncertain economic conditions. As at March 31, 2022, Acceleware had negative working capital of $0.4 million (December 31, 2021 negative working capital of $0.9 million) including cash and cash equivalents of $2.4 million (December 31, 2021 $1.9 million). The increase in working capital is attributable to the timing of receipt and recognition of government and partner funding and receipt of proceeds from the convertible debentures. Increasing the deficit is deferred revenue of $3,450,000 as at March 31, 2022 (December 31, 2021 $3,050,000). Despite receiving non-refundable cash payments for these amounts, the milestone payments have not met all requirements for revenue recognition under IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers. These amounts will be recognized as revenue and increase shareholders equity when RF XL Pilot heating is complete or the data revenue contracts are terminated, whichever is earlier. In the interests of matching cash requirements with a combination of cash generated from operations, external funding, and capital raising activities, the Company actively manages its cash flow and investments in new products. Acceleware intends to maximize cash generated from operations through several initiatives which include continuing to focus on higher gross margin software products that are marketed through a combination of direct and reseller models; minimizing operating expenses where possible; and limiting capital expenditures. As the Company continues to develop its RF Heating technology, new R&D investments will be financed through a combination of internal cash flow from the HPC business, project funding agreements, government assistance and external financing, when available. RF HEATING BUSINESS SEGMENT SUMMARY RF XL is Accelewares patented and patent-pending RF heating technology, designed to improve the extraction of heavy oil and bitumen, with a cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative to SAGD. When applied, RF XL has the potential to reduce both capital and operating costs, while offering significant environmental benefits, including: immediate GHG emission reductions; a substantial decrease in land use; the elimination of external water use; no requirement for solvents; and substantial elimination of water treatment facilities and no need for tailings ponds. The Company believes that its RF XL heating technology, as an electrically-driven process, can provide a clear pathway to zero-GHG production of heavy oil and oil sands and provide optimal alignment with industry and government goals to recognize innovation as a meaningful solution in the oil and gas industrys overall emission reduction plans. RF Heating Results Summary RF Heating revenue was $nil in Q1 2022 compared to $85,000 in Q1 2021 and $11,250 in Q4 2021 due to sales of RF simulation software and simulation services, a relatively new revenue stream attributable to customers interest in applying RF XL to specific reservoirs and operations. Since 2018, the Company has been successful selling data revenue agreements to major oil sands producers which provide the customer with the right to access and use data obtained from the RF XL Pilot. Under IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, these contracts do not meet all requirements for revenue recognition over-time, therefore revenue recognition defaults to the end of the contract. As at December 31, 2021, deferred revenue of $3,050,000 (December 31, 2020 $750,000) has been recorded under these contracts for amounts that have been received in cash, and will be recognized as revenue once heating is complete or the contracts are terminated, whichever is earlier. RF Heating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022, were $1,869,687 or 202% higher than in Q1 2021 and 8% higher than in Q4 2021. R&D expenses were higher compared to both Q1 2021 and Q4 2021 due to lower government assistance recognized in Q1 2022. Additionally, gross RF XL Pilot expenses were significantly higher for contractor and materials costs in Q1 2022 and Q4 2021 compared to Q1 2021 due to higher activity for the RF XL Pilot. G&A expenses were higher compared to Q1 2021 and lower compared to Q4 2021 due to fluctuations in payroll and payroll related costs. HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING BUSINESS SEGMENT SUMMARY Acceleware's HPC business segment helps customers meet their oil and gas exploration needs with seismic imaging software that provides the most accurate and advanced imaging available for oil exploration in complex geological zones and formations. While the Company is focusing on energy markets, it continues to develop and sell its electro-magnetic (EM) simulation software FDTD (or finite difference time domain) solution, AxFDTD, to end users primarily through independent software vendors that have integrated Accelewares solution into their software architecture. HPC Results Summary HPC revenue decreased to $82,407 in Q1 2022 compared to $186,106 in Q1 2021 but slightly increased to $75,780 in Q4 2021. Higher revenue in Q1 2021 was due to higher maintenance revenue for a large seismic contract. The Companys software revenue model results in relatively few overall sales transactions with higher overall revenue per transaction, which could potentially lead to increased volatility in quarterly revenue. HPC expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 were $116,093 or 19% lower than in Q1 2021 and 5% higher than in Q4 2021. G&A expenses were lower compared to Q1 2021 and higher compared to Q4 2021 due to fluctuations in share-based compensation expenses driven by the timing of grants. R&D expenses were $nil in all periods as the Company focuses on the RF XL Pilot. ABOUT ACCELEWARE: Acceleware (www.acceleware.com) is an innovator of clean-tech oil and gas technologies comprised of two business units: Radio Frequency (RF) Enhanced Oil Recovery and Seismic Imaging Software. Acceleware is developing RF XL, its patented, low-cost, low-carbon production technology for heavy oil and oil sands that is materially different from any heavy oil recovery technique used today. Acceleware's vision is that electrification of heavy oil and oil sands production can be made possible through RF XL, supporting a transition to much cleaner energy production that can quickly bend the emissions curve downward. Further, Accelewares RF XL technology could be a key component of an end-to-end integrated carbon management system that can eliminate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with heavy oil and oil sands production, whether for fossil fuels, or for future clean bitumen by-products such as petrochemicals, carbon fibre, and blue or green hydrogen production. RF XL uses no water, requires no solvent, has a small physical footprint, can be redeployed from site to site, and can be applied to a multitude of reservoir types. In shallow oil sands implementations, no tailings ponds will be required. Acceleware has partnered with Saa Dene Group (co-founded by Jim Boucher) to create Acceleware | Kisastwew to raise the profile, adoption, and value of Acceleware technologies. The shared vision of the partnership is to improve the environmental and economic performance of the energy sector by supporting ideals that are important to Indigenous peoples, including respect for land, water, and clean air. The Companys seismic imaging software solutions are state-of-the-art for high fidelity imaging, providing the most accurate and advanced imaging available for oil exploration in complex geologies. Acceleware is a public company listed on Canadas TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol AXE. NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND OTHER ADVISORIES This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally means information about an issuers business, capital, or operations that are prospective in nature, and includes disclosure about the issuers prospective financial performance or financial position. The forward-looking information in this press release can be identified by terms such as believes, estimates, plans, potential, and will, and includes information about the expected cost of the RF XL Pilot, the amount of, and realized price for the oil produced at the RF XL Pilot, the timing of the execution of the RF XL Pilot, and the anticipated economic and societal benefits of the RF XL technology. Acceleware assumes that current cost estimates are accurate, simulations of oil production at the RF XL Pilot are accurate, the price realized for oil produced at the pilot remain at or near current levels, current timelines will not be delayed by either internal or external causes, that research and development effort including the commercial-scale test plans will result in commercial-ready products, and that future capital raising efforts will be successful. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this press release due to certain material risk factors. These risk factors are described in detail in Accelewares continuous disclosure documents, which are filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Acceleware assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this press release, unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this release in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. DISCLAIMER Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For more information: Geoff Clark Tel: +1 (403) 249-9099 geoff.clark@acceleware.com Acceleware Ltd. 435 10th Avenue SE Calgary, AB, T2G 0W3 Canada Tel: +1 (403) 249-9099 www.acceleware.com South Africa: Cabinet welcomes Germany visit to SA Cabinet has welcomed the successful official visit by Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, to South Africa on Tuesday. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday hosted Scholz on an official visit at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Chancellor Scholzs official visit was at the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is leading the government crusade to foster good regional and international relations as well as attracting much-needed investments. The two leaders discussed, among others, ways to enhance cooperation in areas such as energy and climate change, trade and investment and responses to COVID-19 and vaccine demand. They also reflected on developments on the African continent and internationally, including the conflict in Ukraine and its impact on the international economy and food and energy security. Germany is not only South Africas second-largest trading partner, but it is also the third-largest source of overseas tourists, a major investor and a development partner, said Minister in The Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, during a post Cabinet media briefing on Thursday. The visit is of great importance due to the strategic nature of South Africas relationship with Germany. Germany is South Africas second largest trading partner and in tourism, the third largest single source of overseas arrivals. Germany is also a major investment source and development partner, the Presidency said in a statement. President Ramaphosa and Chancellor Scholz exchanged views on a number of issues of bilateral and international concern, including ways to enhance cooperation in areas such as energy and climate change, trade and investment and responses to COVID-19 and vaccine demand. The Presidency added that Trade and Investment are major components of bilateral relations. South Africas total trade with Germany is R266 billion and its exports, a big percentage of which consist of value-added products, account for R155 billion a year. About 600 German companies are represented in South Africa and are a source of investment, employment and skills development. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-05-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. PLA patrol necessary against Taiwan-U.S. collusion: spokesperson Xinhua) 10:47, May 26, 2022 BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The recent patrol and training exercises by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) around the Taiwan Island were necessary actions against the collusion between Taiwan and the United States, a Chinese defense spokesperson said Wednesday. Tan Kefei, the spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said that the PLA Eastern Theater Command had recently organized joint war-preparedness alert patrol and combat training exercises involving troops of multiple services and arms in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island. "These are necessary actions taken targeting the collusion between Taiwan and the United States, and conforming to the need of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Tan said. Seeking "Taiwan independence" is doomed to fail, and so is supporting such actions, Tan said, adding that by playing the "Taiwan card" to contain China, the United States is putting the situation in jeopardy. The PLA is on high alert and ready to take all necessary measures to resolutely thwart any external forces' interference and secessionist attempts for "Taiwan independence," he added. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) ZF has joined forces with Mercedes-Benz Trucks to equip its electric trucks with eWorX, ZFs electrified Power Take-Off (PTO) system. The eWorX all-in-one solution offers vehicle body manufacturers a known mechanical interface to drive work equipment. ZFs eWorX system features a control unit, power electronics and electric motor with optional hydraulic pump. The two companies are also closely collaborating with Palfinger, a leading producer of crane and lifting solutions, to equip a Mercedes-Benz eActros demonstration truck with a skip loader. Additionally, ZF has applied eWorX to an eActros equipped with a hook loader from Meiller, a global leader in tipping trailers, hook lifts and skip handlers. Both demonstration vehicles will be unveiled at Munichs IFAT 2022 global trade fair on 30 May. ZF eWorX is a modular, standardized and intelligent system that combines all the functions required for the electrification of on-board equipment in a single compact unit. A step in the electric transformation of commercial vehicles, ZFs eWorX delivers zero local emissions and significantly reduces noise levels which facilitates easier operation in cities and residential areas. The eWorX system installed in the demonstration vehicles features an electric motor with nominal power of 50 kW, an inverter and a control unit with application-specific software as well as a cooling system and a hydraulic pump. eWorX acts as a gateway between the vehicle and its on-board equipment, with seamless communication via a connection to the vehicles CAN bus. The system operates independently from the driving system and so can be used with electric axle drives and central drives. The traction battery of the eActros provides electrical energy to the ZF eWorX system. With this, the eWorX electric motor in turn drives the hydraulic pump for the tipper. A mechanical connection to the traction motor is therefore not required. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KINSHASA, Congo (AP) Congos army defended a major military camp in the countrys east on Thursday after days of fighting with M23 rebels making advances in the region. Clashes continued at the Rumangabo base in the Rutshuru area of North Kivu province about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the provincial capital, Goma. There is no truce. The fighting is still continuing this morning on the same fronts as yesterday, deputy army spokesman Gen. Sylvain Ekenge said. Gunfire exchanges have been heard there since early in the morning, said Manouvo Nguka, who lives in Rumangabo where the base is located. The army seeks to regain full control of Rumangabo, he told The Associated Press. The situation has been critical since Wednesday night, he added. There was more than an hour of exchange of fire between the loyalist army and the M23 rebels, he said. The army earlier confirmed the rebels also attacked its positions in the Nyragongo and Rutshuru areas. More than 20 shells were fired by the rebels on Tuesday and Wednesday on Rumangabo, Natale, near the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature, and the surrounding area, according to a statement from military spokesman Lt. Gen. Constant Ndima. The M23 is largely an ethnic Tutsi group opposed to the Congo government that started in 2012 and seized control of Goma, a city of more than 1 million for nearly a month. U.N. forces and Congos army dislodged the M23 from Goma and many of rebels fled to Rwanda and Uganda before a 2013 peace agreement. Rwanda and Uganda deny claims that they support M23. The group has recently resurfaced with increasing attacks in eastern Congo. It accuses the Congo government of not respecting the commitments it made to integrate rebel fighters into the national army. Knowing the position of the Congolese government on the process of demobilization and disarmament, it is clear that they act in this way because the Congolese head of state has been clear: There is no question of reintegrating the rebels into the army, said Congo political analyst Christian Ntumba. The population is paying the price ... Our brothers and sisters in the east are tired of living this situation over and over, Ntumba said, encouraging Congos government to boost diplomacy to get the international community to take the fighting in eastern Congo more seriously. Thousands have been displaced by this recent fighting and the east is home to myriad armed groups vying for control of the mineral-rich region. He said that Congo must also put more pressure on neighboring Rwanda, whom he said is backing the rebels. The government has accused Rwanda of complicity with M23 rebels. Suspicions are crystallizing on support that would have been received by M23 from Rwanda, said Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya. In the capital of Equatorial Guinea, Malabo, where African foreign ministers are meeting as a prelude to two African Union summits scheduled to take place this weekend, Congo's Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula directly blamed Rwanda. Rwanda, I say it without hesitation, attacked the Rumangabo camp, an important military base of the Congolese armed forces, he said. Rwanda has described allegations of supporting rebels in Congo as baseless. Earlier this week, Rwandas military accused neighboring Congolese forces of injuring several civilians in cross-border shelling and asked regional monitors to investigate. Gen. Benoit Chavanat, Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations mission in Congo, said its forces are backing the Congolese army against M23. He told U.N.-backed Radio Okapi the joint forces are stabilizing the situation in the Tchanzu, Runyonyi and Bunagana areas. Pope Francis is expected to visit Congo at the beginning of July, including a trip to Goma to celebrate Mass and meet with war victims, according to Congolese authorities. However, the Vatican did not immediately respond when asked Thursday whether the current fighting would bring the pope to alter his plans. ___ AP writer Carley Petesch in Dakar, Senegal and Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed. SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) A former northern Indiana attorney who pleaded guilty to scamming elderly investors as part of a Ponzi scheme has been sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison. Sven Eric Marshall was sentenced Tuesday to 121 months by a federal judge in South Bend who also ordered him to pay nearly $2 million in restitution, and also to forfeit $1.75 million, the South Bend Tribune reported. JOLIET, Ill. (AP) A judge has thrown out statements that a 77-year-old Minnesota man charged in the stabbing death of a 15-year-old suburban Chicago girl nearly half a century ago made to police and to his wife. Will County Judge David Carlson on Wednesday granted two defense motions tossing out statements that Barry Whelpley of Mounds View, Minnesota, made to police when they searched his home and a conversation between Whelpley and his wife that police recorded. Police arrested Whelpley in June last year. Its significant to the defense. And its a significant loss to the prosecution, Whelpleys defense attorney, Terry Ekl, told the Arlington Heights Daily Herald. Whelpley is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated criminal sexual assault for the 1972 death of Julie Ann Hanson. The 15-year-old Naperville girl disappeared on July 7, 1972, while riding her bicycle. Her body was discovered a day later in a field. She had been stabbed 36 times, coroners said. In his motions, Ekl argued that Whelpley was not advised of his Miranda rights during the search of his Minnesota home and that, as a result, police were not allowed to interrogate him during the search. Prosecutors argued that Whelpley was not in custody during the search and that police were allowed to talk to him. Carlson ruled videos of the search showed seven or eight armed police officers and that the questions asked were directly related to the 1972 murder. The judge also banned the use of statements made at the police station after Whelpleys second request for an attorney. Ekls motions did not go into detail about what Whelpley said to police or his wife, and he declined to elaborate after Wednesdays ruling. The Will County states attorneys office declined to comment on Carlsons ruling. The girl's murder remained unsolved for decades. The breakthrough in the case came through technological advancements in DNA and genetic genealogy analysis, police said. From that came the scientific evidence that pointed to Whelpley, a 1964 graduate of Naperville High School who lived about a mile from the girls house when she was killed. Whelpley remains in the Will County jail on $10 million bond. CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (AP) A former Virginia Tech football player took the stand in his own defense at his murder trial Thursday, testifying that he felt "violated when he discovered that a Tinder match he believed was a woman was actually a man. Isimemen Etute, 19, is charged with second-degree murder in the 2021 fatal beating of Jerry Smith, 40, of Blacksburg. Prosecutors have told the jury that Etute, then 18, became enraged and fatally beat Smith when he discovered that Smith was a man. On the witness stand Thursday, Etute testified that he had two sexual encounters with a person who used the name Angie Renee," The Roanoke Times reported. He said he discovered during the second encounter that Smith was a man. I felt violated, Etute said. I was just in shock, in disbelief that someone tricked me and lied to me. Etute also said Smith reached for what Etute thought was a gun. They swung at me and immediately went to reach, Etute said, demonstrating the move for the jury. I thought he was reaching for a gun. Thats just what I know. Smith did not own a gun, but police found a knife between his mattress and box spring Etute said he punched Smith five times and kicked him to give him time to escape the apartment. The prosecution rested its case Thursday after playing a videotaped police interrogation of Etute for the jury. During the interrogation, Etute said that after an initial encounter with Smith in April, he decided to return to Smiths apartment on May 31 after his friends teased him and told him he might have hooked up with a man. Etute denied going there with the intent of harming Smith. He said his only intent was to determine whether Smith was a man or a woman. The Roanoke Times reports that one of the more explosive moments of the trial came Thursday when Turk asked Blacksburg police Detective Ryan Hite if Smiths conduct during his encounters with Etute constituted sexual battery, which is defined under Virginia law as sexual abuse committed against another persons will, through the use of force, threats, intimidation or ruse. The prosecution quickly objected. Judge Mike Fleenor allowed Turk to ask Hite if he would have presented the commonwealth with details of Smiths conduct if he had known about them as sexual battery. If we knew those facts, yes we would have consulted the commonwealths (attorneys) office, Hite said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BUTTE, Mont. (AP) When Republican Ryan Zinke first ran for Congress, the former Navy SEAL faced false accusations amplified by Democrats that his military career had ended in disgrace. After winning in 2014 and two years later getting picked as President Donald Trump's interior secretary, Zinke is seeking a return to Congress and facing a near-identical smear campaign this time from the right wing of his own party. A website allied with one of his opponents accuses Zinke of exaggerating his military service failing to mention two Bronze Stars that Zinke earned in Iraq and of being demoted, which his service records refute. Its part of a broad campaign by some Republicans leading up to the state's June 7 primary to thwart Zinke's bid for a political comeback and advance a more conservative candidate for the general election. The political dynamics reflect the sharp right turn the GOP has taken since Trump barnstormed across Montana's electoral scene with repeated visits during the 2018 election in a failed attempt to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. Zinkes status as a former Trump Cabinet member is simply not enough anymore for some in his party. They say hes too liberal and too soft on guns and didnt do enough to build Trumps envisioned wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Zinke has also been dogged by problems of his own making, including recent revelations that he lied to a federal ethics official before his 2018 resignation from the Department of Interior. This month came a disclosure from Politico that Zinkes wife, Lolita, designated her family's California home as her primary residence. That boosted long-standing suspicions that Zinke spends most of his time outside Montana. His opponents see a chance to make inroads with Trump voters, who seemed a lock for Zinke when he entered the race last year and quickly secured the former presidents endorsement. He quit Montana, said former state Sen. Albert Olszewski, one of Zinkes four primary opponents. He quit Trump. Zinke is still acting as the front-runner, referring to himself as the battleship and other candidates as canoes while speaking to a reporter on the sidelines of a dinner last week hosted by Butte-Silver Bow County Republicans. Everybody wants to shoot at the battleship. Nobody shoots at the canoes, he said. Zinke denies lying. But he doesn't deny that his wife is a California resident, and he acknowledges holding fundraisers there. He said he spends a couple days a quarter in Santa Barbara. The Montana House district that's at stake was created last year to account for the state's growing population and covers half the state from Yellowstone National Park, north along the spine of the Rocky Mountains, to the Canadian border. The district had been eliminated in 1993. Montana Democrats lost the state's only other House seat a few years later, and over the last several election cycles, Republicans took control of every statewide office in Montana except Testers. Trump won Montana in 2020 with a 16-point advantage. The notion that Zinke quit him could prove hard to sell after Trump held a recent telerally with Zinke supporters reiterating his support. Trump spoke less than four minutes and spent most of the time touting his own accomplishments. Montana Democrats spent the past six years painting Zinke as extreme, and he suggested the attacks on him in the GOP primary for being too liberal could help if he advances to the November election. It offers a contrast, he said, so moderate voters know he's not crazy." Still, he's got much in common with his fellow GOP candidates. He's refused to acknowledge that President Joe Biden was legitimately elected and has called for harsher immigration policies. He's also backed by the National Rifle Association. Democrats and his Republican detractors alike have highlighted the numerous investigations Zinke came under while at the Interior Department and the large paychecks he received when he later worked in the private sector. The questions surrounding Zinkes conduct havent put a dent in his fundraising success. Through March 31, Zinke had raised $2.5 million, almost as much as all other candidates from both parties combined. About 80% of Zinkes campaign contributions came from out-of-state donors, Federal Election Commission data shows. For Republican voter Jennifer Howell, Zinkes outside support speaks of corruption. That means he's bought by outside interests. Money talks, she said before the Republican dinner in Butte, as Zinke spoke with other local members of the party just a few feet away. To me, that's rude in your face, like saying, 'I don't need your money, Montana. I'll get my money elsewhere.'" Later, as the dinner drew to a close, 70-year-old Barbara Jones passed a donation envelope to Zinke and thanked him for hosting her at his table. Despite the attacks on him, Jones said Zinke had behaved like an honorable man. She also praised him for returning to Montana after linking up with a Washington lobbying firm when he first left the Cabinet. But Jones hasnt decided whom to support in the primary. She first wanted to learn more about Olszewski and Republican candidate Mary Todd, a pastor from Kalispell who contends her son was killed after refusing to help a Chinese-backed firm steal U.S. technology. Also on the Republican ballot are contractor Mitch Heuer, of Whitefish, and Missoula teacher Matt Jette. The $50 for Zinke, Jones said, was because "he paid for my dinner, so I wanted to pay him back. ___ Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ap_politics. ___ Follow Matthew Brown on Twitter: @MatthewBrownAP. During Google I/O this year, Google left out any mention of the foldable Pixel smartphone that has been rumored for many months now. This is the same foldable that may be called the Pixel Notepad and was believed to cost around $1,400 at launch. According to a new report from The Elec, Pixels new foldable device is being postponed yet again. The report says that people familiar with the project claimed the postponement likely comes down to the product not being as complete as Google wishes. This is not, however, the first time we heard this. Plus, the sources say that Google was in talks with Samsung Display regarding the Notepad. A report back in November of last year showed that Google wouldnt launch the foldable until possibly the second half of 2022 as shown by Googles cancellation of parts intended for its foldable device. That report by DSCC also cited sources that Google didnt think the product was competitive enough. The Pixel Notepad was expected to use panels provided by Samsung Display with a 7.57-inch main internal display and a 5.78-inch external secondary display, both using Samsungs UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) construction. Pixel Fold mock-up (credit: MacRumors) Samsung was previously reported to have a target number of 15 million foldable units it wants to have shipped globally by the end of this year, accounting only for the new foldables it plans to release later this year. It was reported that Samsung had already begun mass production of components for its new foldable devices: the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Z Flip4. In the end, Google never confirmed whether a Pixel foldable was coming, nor did it ever confirm a time frame previously expected launch windows were all based on rumors and speculation. Based on recent reports, it seems like Google is willing to wait for its offering to be up to par to compete with other foldables from major OEMs. Source Jurors in Johnny Depps libel lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard heard a snippet of testimony contradicting one of Heards key witnesses, but much of the context was stripped away In Defence of Marxism is committed to safeguarding your privacy. At all times we aim to respect any personal data you share with us, or that we receive from other organisations, and keep it safe. This Privacy Policy (Policy) sets out our data collection and processing practices and your options regarding the ways in which your personal information is used. This Policy contains important information about your personal rights to privacy. 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Please let us know if you have any queries or concerns whatsoever about the way in which your data is being processed by emailing the Data Protection Manager at webmaster@marxist.com Eddie Addy will have to wait for about a month before he is sentenced for using an airsoft gun to rob a Tamuning store of $500 and cigarettes. After Addys attorney asked for an additional day to prepare for his clients sentencing on Wednesday, he came into the Superior Court of Guam on Thursday morning to ask for even more time. Addys attorney, Sam Teker, cited his busy schedule with court-appointed cases as being the reason for another delay. To have the sentence pushed back several weeks, Addy needed to waive his right to speedy sentencing, which he previously asserted in addition to a speedy trial. Judge Vernon Perez explained speedy sentencing means Addy was to have ben sentenced within 21 days of his conviction. Addy is now scheduled to be sentenced June 21. Convicted Addy was found guilty on May 11 of the following: Four counts of second-degree robbery as a third-degree felony. Two counts of third-degree robbery. Terrorizing. Theft as a third-degree felony. Theft as a misdemeanor. A special allegation for possession or use of deadly weapon also was attached to each charge. The convictions stem from an incident in March. Addy pointed a pistol, later determined to be an airsoft gun, and demanded money from the cashier at Number 1 Market in Tamuning. Addy faces 16 to 70 years at the Department of Corrections. The prosecution asked that Addy be given 25 years, according to a sentencing memorandum. Former speaker and longtime Democrat senator Judi Won Pat officially threw her hat into the race for Guams delegate seat Thursday afternoon. With this campaign, I am committed to working for our families, our economy, our environment, she said at a press conference at Asiga after filing her candidate packet with the Guam Election Commission in Tamuning. Today, we see our families suffering impacted by poverty, drug addiction, violence, and the lack of access to health care. We are losing our lands. Families cant afford to rent, let alone buy their homes. Our economy is suffering on multiple points, and our environment is under siege for the sake of progress. The people of Guam are hard working, and were fierce in a way to defend whats ours: our families, our homes, our way of life, Won Pat said. She stressed that family, economy and environment were interconnected. You cant have a thriving economy if our people are suffering, if theyre sick, they dont have access to health care. And if you dont take care of our environment, the same thing, you would get sick, she said. Won Pat has 25 years of experience as an educator and served nine terms as a senator. She was the first woman to serve as speaker of the Guam Legislature, a role she filled for 10 years. After coming in 20th in a field of 30 candidates during the 2016 election, she took a break from elected office. Ive seen our people suffer, and I cant sit back anymore, she said of her decision to return to politics. Won Pat stopped short of promising any specific legislation, which she said couldnt happen overnight, but asserted that she was a workaholic. There are 435 members in the House and then 100 in the Senate. So what needs to happen, first of all, is to make sure that we educate members of Congress and the federal departments and agencies about who we are, where we are, what our needs are, she said. That includes grants and subsidies that werent always available to the territories. More recognition was needed for Guams value as a bridge for American and Asian communications, travel and commerce, Won Pat said. She invoked the memory of her father, the late Antonio B. Won Pat, Guams first delegate to Congress. Like my father, I grew up the smallest of the group and had to fight to be seen and heard, fight for whats right, fight for whats fair. Won Pat will face off in a Democratic primary with Sen. Telena Nelson, who also announced a run for the delegate seat. Across the aisle, Republican Sen. Jim Moylan is vying for the delegate seat with the backing of the Republican Party of Guam. Financial leaders from the government of Guam gave lawmakers the OK on Thursday for the second bill introduced this year to slash taxes on ever more costly gasoline. A public hearing was held for Sen. Joe San Agustins Gas Tax Relief Act, which would put a roughly six-month pause on the excise tax, automotive surcharge and mass transit automotive surcharge on liquid fuel. That would be a tax reduction of 23 cents per gallon of regular gas. At least two local gas companies testified earlier this year that a cut on taxes would reduce the price at the pump. Fuel taxes go to the Guam Highway Fund to pay for road repair through the Department of Public Works. The Gas Tax Relief Act would offset the estimated $4.6 million reductions in revenue with a $5 million appropriation from the General Fund. According to Bureau of Budget and Management Research Director Lester Carlson, the $87 million in excess revenue that the General Fund is expected to collect this year could absorb the cost. Speaker Therese Terlaje asked if the cost could be absorbed if the tax pause was extended out to a year. That would be accurate, Carlson said. During the hearing, Terlaje hinted at possibly amending gas tax cut legislation she has already introduced, Bill 261, to be time limited. Terlajes legislation proposed eliminating fuel taxes altogether. It did not identify a specific funding source to offset the reduction in revenue, but Terlaje has promised to find one. Bill 261 would translate to the same tax reduction on regular-grade gasoline as the Gas Tax Relief Act, but is already a potential item on the Legislatures agenda and could be passed into law quicker. Sen. Joanne Brown expressed doubt about whether cutting taxes would translate into savings for residents. The gas company said that theyre going to do it. Im sure theyll do it. But is this long term going to show a direct correlation to reducing the costs for our consumers? I think thats highly questionable. She asked DPW Director Vince Arriola what he would do if the Legislature decided to eliminate fuel taxes. Thats not really thats not my lane, Arriola said. I have to imagine unless theres a change of mind to have the agency either exist or not exist, a funding source will be will be found. A man charged with having three quarters of a pound of meth told officers he found the drugs in the jungle, according to a magistrates complaint filed in the Superior Court of Guam. On Tuesday night, the Guam Police Department launched a surveillance operation in Tumon after receiving a Crime Stoppers tip of possible drug activity, acting spokesman Sgt. Paul Tapao said in a news release. Special Investigation Section agents assigned to GPDs Criminal Investigation Division saw a man carrying a bag enter the passenger side of a car that had expired license plates. Agents pulled the car over in the Kmart parking lot and were given consent by the driver to search the vehicle, Tapao said. Joluo Soiken, 26, was identified as the passenger and found to be in possession of a digital scale and baggies containing what Soiken said was ice, according to the complaint. A search of the vehicle revealed more baggies of different sizes containing methamphetamine, a blue beveled straw with a white powdery residue, a blue glass pipe with white frosty residue and $360 cash. A video of Soiken possessing and packaging suspected meth at a residence also was recovered, the complaint stated. In total, 341 grams of methamphetamine were seized, according to the release. Soiken told officers he found the drugs hanging from a coconut tree in the jungle the day before he was pulled over. He said he attempted to sell the meth for $50 and four marijuana cigarettes, but the person he tried to sell to didnt have any money, according to the complaint. Soiken also admitted to smoking methamphetamine the day before, the complaint stated. Soiken was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver as a first-degree felony and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance as a third-degree felony. Sahuma Minagahet Bevacqua: Use the UN as a venue to speak to the rest of the world about decolonizing Guam Haiti - FLASH : 800 Haitian boat people who were going to the USA arrested in Cuba A group of more than 800 Haitian boat people seeking to reach the United States by sea ended their illegal journey in a town in central Cuba, in the group were 70 children and 97 women, two of whom were pregnant. The arrival took place on Tuesday at a point called Villa Blanca, near the town of Caibarien, some 300 kilometers east of Havana, in the province of Villa Clara. Although it is not uncommon for Haitian migrants seeking to reach the United States to end up in Cuba due to winds and ocean currents, there has never been such a large group. The migrants intended to reach the United States by irregular means, adverse navigation conditions diverted them to Cuba where they requested help from border guard troops. The migrants received appropriate care from rescuers before being taken to a temporary reception centre. They should be returned to Haiti under existing agreements between that country and Havana. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Health : Up to 4 border hospitals could be built in Haiti Dr. Amado Alejandro Baez, emergency and critical medicine specialist and Public Health Advisor to the Executive Branch, said he has had meetings over the past week with members of the United States Congress and NGOs who operate in Haiti and that together they have been working for a year on solutions for the construction of 2 to 4 hospitals in Haiti on the border area that can benefit both countries. Amado Alejandro Baez, clarified that these hospitals will not be built with Dominican resources or from the Dominican side in order to have a positive impact for both countries "We must understand that it is not us who deliver resources or Dominican talents in Haiti. There is a desire from the international community to bring economic solutions to Haiti, and the Dominican Republic is in the best possible position to work on solutions that will have a positive impact on the health of Haitians. He added that they have mapped, among other things, points at border crossings, such as north of Ouanaminthe and south of Fond Parisien for construction. He highlighted an important element of this project "[...] in the Dominican Republic, there are hundreds of Haitians who are studying medicine or who are doctors. What they are not Haitians who cross illegally into Dominican territory, they are highly educated citizens [...] This project that we want to work on at the border has a human challenge, and we are strongly studying the possibilities of integrating the Haitian diaspora educated in the project to work on solutions in their country." HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - OIM : 2,923 Haitians repatriated excluding DR (April 2022) In April 2022, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Haiti provided reception and post-arrival assistance to 2,923 migrant adults and children repatriated to Haiti by air and sea in Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien. This is in addition to nearly 20,000 migrants returned and assisted in 2021. As in 2021 and the previous March 2022, the vast majority of migrants returned in April 2022 were returned by air from the United States, while more small proportions were returned from other countries and territories in the region. A small number of migrants have been returned after being intercepted at sea by the US Coast Guard. Most returning migrants assisted by IOM previously resided in Chile or Brazil, where several returnee children were born and returned by the United States after traveling north. Smaller proportions of returnees have migrated more recently, particularly through the Caribbean sea routes. Those who left Haiti more recently report leaving due to a combination of factors, including lack of income and employment opportunities, insufficient access to basic services, the impact of natural disasters (including the earthquake of August 14, 2021, which strongly affected the southern departments of Haiti), violence and insecurity, political instability and others... STATISTICS: Total number of migrants returned in 2022: April 2022: 2,923 including 2,637 by air and 286 by sea Since January 2022: 11,620 including 10,674 by air and 964 by sea Profile of returned migrants: April 2022: Men, 53%, women 25%, boys 11%, girls 11% Since January 2021: Men 57%, women 25%, boys 9%, girls 9% Migrant returns and assistance per month: January 2021: 207; January 2022 4,523 February 2021: 909; February 2022, 1,613 March 2021: 601; March 2022: 2,561 April 2021: 803; April 2022: 2,923 May 2021: 150; June 2021: 286; July 2021: 86; August 2021: 130; September 2021: 6.980; October 2021: 4.730; November 2021: 1.128; December 2021: 3,618. Total: 2021: 19,629 (in 12 months) average 1,635/month 2022: 11,620 (in 4 months) average 2,905/month Returns by country year 2022: (excluding the Dominican Republic) United States: April: 1,919 (66%) Since January: 8,844 (74%) Cuba: April: 413 (14%) Since January: 1.057 (9%) Bahamas: April: 358 (12%) Since January 1.505 (13%) Turks and Caicos Islands: April: 198 (7%) Since January: 468 (4%) A total of 21,380 Haitians were deported from the United States between September 19, 2021 and April 2022. Resources and number of repatriations in April 2022: Total number by air 28 Total number by sea 3 donated 2 in April 2022 by US Coast Guard. Average number of migrants per repatriation: 94 IOM assistance consisted of: Food and beverages during the registration process; 75 US dollars cash per boat returnee (unconditional); 100 - 120 US dollars cash per air repatriate (unconditional); One hygiene kit per person, including dignity items and baby items; Telephones available to contact relatives on arrival; First aid and referral for medical assistance; Psychological support and counseling services; Family reunification of unaccompanied minors in collaboration with the Institute of Social Welfare and Research (IBESR); Possibility to consult a legal intern. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35718-haiti-politic-4-041-haitians-repatriated-by-5-countries-in-25-days.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35547-haiti-politic-14-127-haitians-repatriated-by-5-countries-in-3-months.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34970-haiti-flash-1-069-haitians-including-169-children-repatriated-from-cuba-and-the-usa-in-24-hours.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34878-haiti-flash-more-than-1000-haitians-could-be-repatriated-every-day.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34824-haiti-politic-1-239-haitians-expelled-from-the-usa-in-4-days.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-36438-icihaiti-dr-towards-the-improvement-of-the-reception-of-repatriated-haitians-at-the-dominican-border.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Paediatrician Benetty Augustin released 20 days after being kidnapped, pediatrician Benetty Augustin regained her freedom on the night of Tuesday, May 24, 2022. According to information, it would be a release against ransom, the amount of which has not been made public. St Damien and St Luc Hospitals welcome the safe release of Dr Benetty Augustin and announce the resumption of their activities from May 26, 2022, remember that they had been closed since May 7 in protest against the kidnapping from the pediatrician. The PNH recovers a vehicle after exchanges of fire Tuesday, May 24, the National Police of Haiti (PNH) recovered the vehicle belonging to the Food Import Company on board which was the driver who was kidnapped the same morning, in Marassa. Members of the "400 Mawozo" gang, who were driving this vehicle in the town of Croix-des-Bouquets near Carrefour New York, abandoned it to flee following the exchange of fire with police officers from the Intervention Corps and Maintenance of Order (CIMO). Insecurity : reopening of 2 schools The National School of Application of Martissant 1 (closed for 8 months) and the National School of the Republic of Peru in Martissant 3 (dysfunctional for 11 months) due to insecurity, have reopened their doors. Clerk strike lifted The strike observed by the clerks in the 18 jurisdictions of the country is lifted. The announcement was made this Wednesday during a press conference organized by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) in conjunction with the National Association of Haitian Clerks (ANAGH). This decision follows the commitments made by the holder of the MJSP concerning the granting, from next June, of debit cards to clerks and standing magistrates. 153 boat people Air and surface crews from the U.S. Coast Guard and CBP Air and Marine Operations stopped an overloaded and dangerous Haitian sailing freighter about 72 km southeast of Isla Morada on Tuesday. There were 146 people on board, 116 men, 30 women, including children. 212 year of the May Revolution in Argentina, words of the PM "On this May 25, marking 212 years of the May Revolution in Argentina, I send my wishes for progress and prosperity to the Argentine people. Thus, I wish long life to our relations of friendship and to our cooperation," said said PM Ariel Henry on Wednesday. HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2022/05/26 | Source Korean movies opening today 2022/05/26 in Korea: "Hommage", "Night Watch", "An Uncomfortable Relationship", "Hot Blooded" (Director's Cut release) and "Apres Girl" Advertisement "Hommage" (2021) Directed by Shin Su-won With Lee Jung-eun, Kwon Hae-hyo, Tang Jun-sang, Lee Joo-sil, Kim Ho-jung,... Synopsis "Hommage" which means respect in French is a movie about a middle-aged woman who struggled with her dreams and her daily life as a film director as she unfolds her journey of restoring a film of a female director from the 60s. It is a movie that raises the question of what a film is. "Night Watch" (2022) Directed by Ryu Deok-hwan With Lee Suk-hyeong,... Thu 16:00 Part of "All Viewers+: Short Buster" (+: ) series Synopsis The story of private "Dae-soo" who is on night watch the day before his first vacation, and of a mysterious man who appeared in front of him, making it difficult to take a vacation. "An Uncomfortable Relationship" (2022) Directed by Lee Jung-sub-II With Kim Ji-young, Cho Eun-sook, Jung Young-sook, Jung Ui-kap, Yang Jae-won, Son Soo-ah,... Synopsis A movie about two daughters-in-law who are on a journey to take their mother-in-law with dementia to a nursing home. "Hot Blooded" (2021, Director's Cut release) Directed by Cheon Myeong-gwan With Jung Woo, Kim Kap-soo, Choi Moo-sung, Ji Seung-hyun, Kim Hae-gon, Yoon Ji-hye,... Started filming: 2019/03/28 Wrapped up filming: 2019/07/22 Original release date: 2022/03/23 Director's Cut: "Hot Blooded: The Original" ( : , ddeu-geo-un pi: di o-ri-ji-neol) Synopsis In writer Cheon Myeong-gwan's directorial debut, a man born and raised in the outskirts of Busan gets involved in a gangster war for survival. It is based on the original novel by Kim Un-su, the 22nd Han Moo-sook Literature prize winner. Kuam is a shabby port town in the shadow of stunning port city of Busan. Hee-soo is a third-rate gangster who has been acting like a hotel manager under Don Son for 20 years. Seemingly out of nowhere, Yong-kang, who fled the country as a murder suspect, returns home and begins causing trouble all over town, which only adds pressure to Hee-soo. "Drugs? Port? What's going on?" When he finally comes to, he's in the middle of this turmoil. What decisions can he make to save his pitiful soul? "Apres Girl" (2022) Directed by Kim Kwang-bo With Lee So-yeon-III, Kim Ji-sook-I, Kim Mi-jin-I, Kim Su-in-I, Lee Kwang-bok, Cho Yoo-ah,... Synopsis The performance depicts Park Nam-ok's rough journey of making the movie "The Widow" while carrying a child on her back. It intersects Park Nam-ok's subjective and turbulent life where she did not lose her dream even in an environment where women's social activities were not easy, and the narrative of the only movie she left behind, shows the life and anguish of a human being ahead of her time in a three-dimensional world. Korean Drama | 2013 Drama Directed by Kim Jeong-hyeon-I () Sin Woo-cheol () Written by Kang Eun-kyeong () TV Channel/Plateform: MBC (MBC) Airing dates: 2013/04/08~2013/06/25 Links 24 episodes - Mon, Tue 21:05 Also known as "Kang Chi, the Beginning" Formerly known as "Medical Novel" on HanCinema Synopsis Born half-animal and half-human, Choi Kang-chi gets into all kinds of awkward and perilous situations in his personal mission to turn into a full human in this spectacular action-packed period drama! Despite not being a human, Choi Kang-chi tries to become a humanistic individual with a big heart in this wild adventure! Starring Choii Kang-chi (Actor Lee Seung-gi) His father is Koo Weol-ryeong (), a guardian spirit of Mt. Jiri and his mother is Seo-hwa, making him a half-human and half-animal. Unbeknownst that he was born half-human and half-animal, he is abandoned by his mother who left him floating in a basket in a river. He is found by merchant Park Mu-sol who runs the Baeknyeongaekgwan. Kang-chi is impulsive, reactionary, and uses physical force before thinking twice. He starts life anew after encountering Dam Yeo-wul and Yi Sun-shin. Dam Yeo-wul (Actress "Suzy", member of MISS A) She joins her father who was tasked with the job of investigating a series of murders by Yi Sun-shin. She crosses paths with Gang-chi who is falsely accused of committing murder. While Kang-chi always caused trouble, Yeo-wul discovers his innermost secret. This makes her feel sympathy for him. Even after knowing the truth that Kang-chi is half-human and half-animal, she trusts that he will not harm people and stands by his side. She is the only person who can calm down Kang-chi when he goes on a rampage. Yi Sun-shin (Actor Yoo Dong-geun) After being appointed as governor of Jeolla Province by Yoo Seong-ryong, he was the first official to detect the presence of Japanese spies in the Joseon kingdom. After learning that Won Gyun controls the royal palace and all the key royal administrations, he asks Dam Pyeong-jun, who oversaw a secret army of men, to spy on Japanese spies. One day, he encounters a strange boy called Kang-chi. Although Kang-chi appears to be a human, Yi Sun-shin discovers that there is another power that lies within him. So he puts Kang-chi under the charge of Dam Pyeong-jun, asking him to lead the boy towards a right path. Whenever Kang-chi is in a perilous situation, Lee Sun-shin will appear to show him a meaningful lesson to learn from the situation. He is Kang-chis eternal mentor and hero. Source 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 N.C. Senate leaders announce support for Medicaid expansion State Sen. Ralph Hise speaks about a broad health care bill that would expand Medicaid to 600,000 North Carolinians and reduce some health care regulations. In an about-face on an issue that has caused conflict with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, Republican leaders in the state Senate announced a health care proposal on Wednesday that includes Medicaid expansion under the federal entitlement program, the Affordable Care Act. House Bill 149 contains work requirements for Medicaid expansion enrollees and measures the senators say would cut regulations on the health care industry that limit the number of providers and facilities. State Medicaid expansion could put more than 600,000 able-bodied, working-age adults onto the taxpayer-funded health care program. If, as a result of giving half-a-million people that card, you end up creating longer lines for folks who already have insurance coverage, we really havent helped in terms of access, said Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, in a press conference at the state Legislative Building in Raleigh. It is our belief that partnering the increased coverage with measures designed to increase the number of providers and the number of facilities people can go to is the right balance to achieve an overall improvement in access and quality. Waivers to allow states to put work/volunteer requirements or a small co-pay into expansion plans were a carrot put in by the Obama administration to encourage states to expand the program. Under the Trump administration, states that expanded Medicaid had the waivers approved, but the Biden administration has put a hard stop to them. The bill as drafted has a work requirement. That is what we would like to see, Berger said. We will get it passed, and then we will deal with how to convince the Biden administration and the courts. According to the bill language, the new enrollees would continue to be eligible for Medicaid, even while the work requirement was being litigated. Republicans have done a complete about-face, and its a massive risk to take the work requirements to court, said Donald Bryson, president of the John Locke Foundation, a free-market organization that oversees the Carolina Journal. If they lose, then its just Medicaid expansion as Obama wanted it. In Wednesdays press conference, Berger was joined by members of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and N.C. Health Choice, which studied the idea of expansion and heard testimony over six meetings. Part of the deal to get Gov. Roy Coopers signature on the latest state budget was for the legislature to study expansion. The committees recommendations have not been released, but Berger says they are likely to resemble this bill. Long opposed by Republican lawmakers and state economists, Medicaid expansion has held up nearly every state budget since Cooper has been in office, as he vetoed any that did not fund it. State Republican leadership filed a bill in 2019 that would have instituted work or volunteer requirements into any expansion plan. They now say that COVID changed the calculus, because so many people were added to Medicaid with federal rescue plan money, and hospitals took on a lot of extra expense. The environment has clearly changed in North Carolina, said Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell. As we continue through this pandemic, we have reached a situation where the federal government has prohibited removing anyone from the Medicaid rolls, and we are estimating that around 300,000 ineligible people are on the Medicaid rolls in North Carolina, and would have to be removed within a year. The federal government would cover 90% of the bill for Medicaid expansion, with the 10% fiscal gap paid covered by an assessment levied on hospitals, which will in turn draw that money from the federal government. The offer lawmakers would not refuse was a sweetener put on the table by the Biden administration. In expanding the program, 10% of the expansion cost falls to the state, which means North Carolina could face a funding gap between $119 million and $171 milliom . The Biden administration is offering one-time American Rescue Plan money to the 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid; for North Carolina that would mean $1.2 billion. While the bill increases the demand side of the health care equation, lawmakers say they are including some cleanup measures in regulations on the supply side. Among those issues, the partial repeal of certificate-of-need laws. This bill repeals CON for some areas of health care, but not all, and reduces the number of medical specialties for which the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is allowed to dictate market need. Its absolutely crucial that the General Assembly work to increase health care supply in our state, said Jordan Roberts, director of government affairs for the John Locke Foundation. Across North Carolina, numerous counties suffer from a lack of critical care. In many cases, restrictive state laws cause this shortage. Health care demand is there; we need to ensure our state can serve all the patients in need. The bill also contains the SAVE Act, which allows nurses to practice at the top of their training without a doctor present. Its a measure that doctors groups have opposed but is targeted to rural areas where staffing shortages have reduced access to health care. The bill further directs insurance companies to cover telehealth services and requires some medical billing transparency. Patients would have to be notified 72 hours ahead of a procedure or visit if they may have an out-of-network provider. Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R Forsyth, has been working to stop surprise billing in health care and found a spot for it in this bill. She also co-chaired the Medicaid and health choice committee, working with hospitals who wanted expansion and coverage for telehealth, among other items. I think the bill is a rescue plan for our hospitals, especially our rural hospitals who have had some tough times this last couple of years through the pandemic, she said. If the bill passes out of the Senate as Berger expects, there will likely be a full-court press on House members from the Senate and the governors office to agree. So far, Speaker Tim Moore has said that there is little appetite for Medicaid expansion in the House. I would like to see us pass it in the Senate and get it over to the House and continue the process of educating our colleagues on why we have changed our mind, said Berger. Berger told reporters Wednesday that he would welcome the opportunity to explain why he changed his mind on Medicaid expansion. I still believe that there are better ways to address some of these issues, but reality has to play a part in the solutions that we offer, said Berger. We are talking about helping people and ensuring that when the Biden recession hits us, the states budget will be in good shape. SONNING Common Primary School has introduced standing desks for pupils permanently. The portable desks, which can be placed on top of an existing desk, were trialled at the school and the response from both students and teachers was positive. Deputy headteacher Rachel Salmons said: The response has been brilliant, especially from pupils with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other neurodiverse conditions, who have really benefited from being given the option to move. The desks support them to feel more comfortable in the classroom and that has benefits for the teacher and the whole class. Many neurotypical children have asked to try them too and almost every single one has reported that they enjoyed the chance to stand up to work. We havent had a single incidence of children using the standing up as an excuse to be silly or distract others. Weve even had some pupils asking to bring their parents in to show off the desks as they loved using them so much. The desks were designed and provided by a business in Lancashire called I Want A Standing Desk. Founder Nick White said: Introducing more movement into the school day is something that can benefit all pupils, including individuals with ADHD and other neurodiverse conditions. What we consistently hear from teachers is that concentration levels have improved, disruption has reduced and, importantly, the children very much enjoy using the standing desks. Not to mention the health benefits gained from increasing their physical activity levels. We are creating a generation of habitual sitters and I believe classroom standing desks can help with that. Studies in the UK and US have shown a tremendous benefit in schools where they are used. The desks are easy to assemble and the children are encouraged to do this themselves. Mrs Salmons said: What has been particularly great to see is the impact on the childrens independence. They are self-regulating when they use the desks, standing some of the time and sitting at others, and thats a really important step. More than 600 primary schools across Britain are currently using the standing desks and view them as a key part of their active learning strategies. PEOPLE in Henley and South Oxfordshire will be celebrating the Queens platinum jubilee next week with street parties, picnics and beacon lightings, writes Marianna Casal. Scores of events will be taking place across the area over the special four-day bank holiday from Thursday to Sunday. Six beacons will be lit simultaneously on Thursday evening to mark the Queens 70 years on the throne. The celebrations will have an extra significance following the coronavirus pandemic, which put paid to many public gatherings over the last two years. Children at Henleys four state primary schools and St Marys and Rupert House Schools will receive a commemorative coin or a tree. Mayor Michelle Thomas, who was visiting the schools today (Friday) to deliver the gifts from the town council, said: This is a really special occasion and an unprecedented time for the history of the UK. The Queen has given an exceptional service to this country and whether you are a royalist or not, this is one of those moments that deserves to be marked. My diary is packed with events and Im looking forward to meeting everyone there. In Henley, events will begin on Thursday when traders at the charter market in Market Place dress their stalls with bunting and flags. Next Friday, there will be a shop window competition run by Duke Street jeweller David Rodger-Sharp in which at least 24 independent businesses are due to take part, including barber shops and cafes. Mr Roger-Sharp said: We want to make the whole town red, white and blue and invite more people in the community to take part. It brings the whole town together after a very difficult couple of years for retailers. Most people in Henley are looking forward to the celebrations and this definitely adds to it. He said the competition would also be in memory of Henley businesswoman and charity fundraiser Carolyn Molyneux, who died on Sunday. She had organised the towns annual window display competitions for many years. Eva Rickett, who runs Henley Scan in Reading Road with her husband Graham, will be taking part in the competition. She said: Its a huge thing that our Queen has reached 70 years. Im excited about getting my window looking really good and maybe people will come from outside Henley just to see the windows, which will be great for businesses. Lorraine Hillier, a town councillor and owner of the Hot Gossip coffee house in Reading Road, said everyone should celebrate the phenomenal occasion. She said: Im very patriotic and I think a lot of people in Henley are fond of the Queen. Its just exceptional that its the Queens 70th anniversary and well only have it once in our lifetime, so it is definitely worth celebrating. Also, with the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, we need something to lift our spirits and celebrate together. We will be decorating the cafe and making some sort of special offer. Its very exciting. Maggie Atkinson, of Queen Street, where there will be a street party, said: The Henley community traditionally comes together for celebrations and there will be a really great atmosphere. After the tough two years weve had, its a time for everyone to be grateful to the community and to their neighbours and to just enjoy each others company. THE Henley Festival has appointed an honorary life president. Joe Hemani, who has served on the board of the event for a number of years, received the honour on the unanimous vote of the trustees. Mr Hemani is chairman of IT company Westcoast, a major sponsor of the festival, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Lord Carter, chairman of trustees, said: Joe Hemani, as well as being one of the countrys most successful entrepreneurs, has been a long-time friend, trustee, patron, sponsor and advisor to the Henley Festival. The board was unanimous in proposing him as lifetime honorary president. We congratulate him on his appointment and thank him for all that he has done. Jo Bausor, chief executive of the festival, thanked Mr Hemani for his invaluable counsel. She added: With less than six weeks to go, the countdown is on to this years 40th anniversary edition and we cant wait to share our unmissable celebrations with the Henley Festival audience. Mr Hemani said he was proud to accept the honour. Facts about Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russia says U.S. recruiting terrorists to fight in Ukraine Xinhua) 10:53, May 26, 2022 BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine: The United States is actively recruiting members of international terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State (ISIS), as mercenaries to fight in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has said. In April this year, about 60 ISIS militants aged 20-25 were released from prisons controlled by the Syrian Kurds with the participation of American intelligence services, the SVR said in a recent statement. They were "transferred to the U.S. military base Al-Tanf, located in Syria near the border with Jordan and Iraq, for combat training with a view to subsequent delivery to Ukraine," according to the statement. - - - - Russia will continue its special military operation in Ukraine despite the sanctions and increased Western assistance to Kiev, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday. "We will continue the special military operation until all objectives are accomplished, despite the large-scale Western assistance to Kiev, and the sanctions pressure on Russia," local media reported, citing Shoigu during a meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Shoigu added that Russia was intentionally slowing its offensive in Ukraine "to avoid civilian casualties." - - - - Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Wednesday to simplify the procedure for residents in the Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions in southern Ukraine to apply for Russian citizenship. Putin signed the document to amend an April 2019 decree, expanding the favorable terms from serving Donetsk and Lugansk residents to covering people of the current four places. - - - - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that the end of the conflict in Ukraine depends on the West's position on aid to Kiev and Russia's desire to sit down at the negotiating table, the government-run Ukrinform news agency reported. "As for when this war may end, I think it depends on some things, specific things. First of all, on the desire of different parties," Zelensky said while speaking via video link with the "Ukrainian breakfast" event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. There will be a peace process in any case after the military part of the conflict is over, Zelensky said, adding he supports holding peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin without any mediators. - - - - Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared a state of emergency immediately after his new government was sworn in on Tuesday. The special legal order takes effect at 12 midnight on May 24. Orban said that the state of emergency will allow the government to use "all tools of the state" and "react immediately" to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. "The world is on the brink of an economic crisis," he said, reiterating that Hungary must stay out of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the government must protect the financial security of families. - - - - Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand announced Tuesday that Canada will donate more military aid for Ukraine. In a news release, the minister said over 20,000 artillery rounds of 155 mm NATO standard ammunition, including fuses and charge bags, will be sent to further support Ukraine's military. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Dear Editor: I am not driving on Highway 92 or Highway 1 that often but the past few weeks h Weakened traveler confidence, combined with strict COVID-19 measures, saw Polands outbound tourism numbers shrink to a fraction of what they were in 2019, says GlobalData. Figures from the leading data and analytics company reveal that outbound tourism from Poland declined by 62.7% year-on-year (YoY) from 2019 to 2020, to just 6.8 million international departures. However, international visits are projected to grow in 2022 and beyond as restrictions are eased across the globe. GlobalDatas latest report, Poland Source Tourism Insight, 2022 Update, reveals that outbound travel from Poland is projected to recover to pre-pandemic levels by 2024, with international departures forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9% from 13.2 million projected international departures in 2022, to 18 million by 2025. Megan Cross, Associate Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: Poland is a source market that is growing in importance due to its uptake of budget-friendly options, such as low-cost carriers (LCCs). GlobalDatas survey found that *65% of Polish respondents identified affordability as a main factor in deciding where to go on holiday. Additionally, digitalized services and products are now of the utmost importance when attracting the Polish market. Over a quarter (**26%) of Polish respondents stated that they typically use online travel agents when booking a trip, which was the most popular booking method. Polish tourists are also showing a strong preference for sun and beach destinations, with *60% of respondents saying they typically take holidays of this type. In comparison, just *20% of respondents in the survey said they went on city break holidays in 2021, a small number, especially when compared to the rest of Europe, which averages *39%. This could be due to concerns regarding the pandemic remaining among travelers, with only **4% of Polish travelers responding that they are not concerned about the spread of the virus. Cross adds: Demand for city break holidays is likely to be altered in the short term due to lingering COVID-19 fears of infection, which may drive desires to visit more rural areas. Croatia beat Italy as the number one outbound destination for Polish tourists, with easy, direct travel routes between the two countries, and many rural destinations, such as Rastoke for travelers looking for appealing active outdoor holidays." Polish tourists are displaying distinct preferences which travel industry players such as destination management organizations, tourism boards and hotels would be remiss not to recognize considering the impact of the pandemic on the tourism industry. *GlobalDatas Q3 2021 Consumer Survey **GlobalDatas Q4 2021 consumer survey Quotes provided by Megan Cross, Associate Travel and Tourism Analyst Analyst at GlobalData Information based on GlobalDatas report: Poland Source Tourism Insight Report including International Departures, Domestic Trips, Key Destinations, Trends, Tourist Profiles, Analysis of Consumer Survey Responses, Spend Analysis, Risks and Future Opportunities, 2022 Update This report is part of GlobalData's Source Market Insights Series. It provides an in-depth analysis of traveler flows, spending patterns, main destination markets, as well as current and future opportunities for tourism businesses seeking to tap into the Polish outbound travel market. This press release was written using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis conducted by GlobalDatas team of industry experts About GlobalData 4,000 of the world's largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData's unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData's mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors. GlobalData | LinkedIn | Twitter GlobalData Press Office +44 207 832 4399 GlobalData Plc Manchester, UK The Alan Hotel in Manchester, UK, born of partnerships between artists, chefs, designers and forward-thinkers, has brought Uniguests Volara solution into its eclectic ecosystem with a Google Nest Hub in every guest room. The design-led and tech-forward hotel is one of only four in the UK to offer Google Nest smart concierge in all its rooms, making guest comfort and convenience more seamless than ever. Guests can enjoy this convenience amongst a host of others including locally roasted coffee from Ancoats Coffee Co (an acclaimed coffee roaster situated in nearby Ancoats, a neighbourhood recently named as one of the top 20 coolest in the world), specially selected tea by Bohea Teas, magazines by Yuck! and Aesthetica, rainfall showers with 100% organic Haeckels natural skin care products and bathrobes and slippers on request. Guests can access the information, local recommendations, and hotel services they need for a pleasurable and convenient stay just by speaking or tapping on the Google Nest Hub device on their bedside table. Volaras content rich solution provides guests simple access to their favorite music and videos centered around their unique interests. David OConnor, Head of Sales, Marketing and Community at The Alan, commented, The Alan is always striving to bring our guests whats next in hospitality. There is no question that the Volara solution is at the forefront of a technology revolution in hospitality. As hotels like The Alan aim to differentiate the experience they offer to, more efficiently serve, and better understand their guests, Volara is the obvious choice. From contract through implementation, the process was smooth, the experience seamless, and the technology simply awesome. David Berger, CEO of Volara and EVP of Voice at Uniguest, added, Uniguest is proud and excited to bring Volara to The Alans unique brand, adding a new interactive medium in the guest room. Our teams worked closely together to extend the ethos that is The Alan to a voice, tap, and visual experience. That said, particularly as hotel staff have been so stretched over the past two years, I am most proud that weve been able to lighten the demands on those staff reducing call volume and fully automating responses to most common guest questions. Today, the hotel team is able to focus its time on providing guests with an elite level of hospitality that only the best professional staff can provide, rather than answering questions about WiFi access, checkout time, and the many other mostly predictable questions that guests require be answered during their stay. About The Alan The Alan is a design-led hotel, bar and restaurant on Manchesters vibrant Princess Street. The unique 6-storey hotel features 137 rooms, an open-plan kitchen, bar and pop-up event space. Created with an emphasis on championing local makers, the space celebrates the spirit of Manchester throughout its design, produce and culture. Art and design play a leading role at The Alan taking residence within an impressive Grade II listed building in the heart of the city centre, the industrial-chic interiors pay homage to the buildings rich heritage and have been carefully curated to uncover the hidden beauty of the buildings past. The Alan 18 Princess St, Manchester M1 4LG . www.thealanhotel.com @thealanmcr About Volara Founded in 2016 in New York, NY, Volara provides customizable voice-based engagement software across hospitality, senior living, stadiums, banking, retail, and other industries. The software is hardware agnostic and used with devices such as the Google Nest Hub and Amazon Echo. The highly secure conversation management software is user friendly and deploys at scale. Volaras software now manages more than 20,000 voice assistant solutions that have been used by over 10 million people in nearly 400 hotels and senior living communities around the world. Volara is a Uniguest technology and part of its Voice Technology division. For additional information, please visit volara.io for more information. James Keen VP, Marketing View source Gas prices are rising at an alarming amount. And, our industry is noticing the booking window getting shorter and shorter due to travelers last-minute decision to get in the car and travel. Capturing last-minute demand aka walk-ins is still relevant. In fact, it may be more relevant now than it was pre-pandemic. I know we adore our highway signage from the local department of transportation and advertising billboards, but for a hotel that is struggling to ramp back up post-covid, why not put a little funding into something that is with the times? Lets talk about Map Ads. What Are Map Ads? Map Ads are designed to help businesses, aka your hotel, be more visible when people are traveling to your area. These ads are best when used on a mobile device. Advertisers, like us, can set up a geofence around your hotel of 5, 10, 15 miles and your ad will pop up. This allows anyone looking for a hotel to see that your hotel is nearby without the dreaded hotels near me search. Activating map ads allows you to get in front of your competitor by being seen first. Its that simple! Why Do I Need Map Ads? Map apps such as Waze, with 140 million monthly active users, and Google Maps, with 154.4 million monthly users*, offer the opportunity to advertise your business on their apps. As mentioned above, map ads allow you to be relevant with the times by advertising on a mobile platform, something everyone owns, while a user is navigating through your city searching for a place to stay. Rather than hoping they are on the highway you put your advertisement with a picture of a stack of pancakes on, your stack of pancakes can show up on their mobile device from a few miles away on the backroads they took to get to your city. What Map Apps Allow Ads? Google Maps, which is pre-installed on all Android Smartphones. Waze must be downloaded by the user. Apple Maps does not offer ads at this time. Tell Me More About Google Map Ads There are a couple different ad options for Google Maps. First is the local search ads. These will appear within the Google Maps app on mobile, desktop, and tablet sites as well as Google.com Expanded Maps results. Coming soon, Google will release promoted pins (something Waze already has). These are pins that help your business stand out to users that are nearby with a different color pin on the map as well as ad copy that you come up with. For Example, if you want someone to know you offer Free Breakfast, you can use that in your ad copy when building the ad. Setting up Google Maps Ads does require knowledge of Google AdWords, work with your PPC manager to get these set up. Tell Me More About Waze Ads Waze Ads will appear on the Waze map. Waze is a real-time driving app that gives user generated live traffic updates and road conditions. They offer 4 ad formats: Pin Ad, Search Ad, Takeover Ad, and Arrow Ad. When building a Waze Pin ad, you can include within your creatives call to actions, 75 characters of text about your hotel and a thumbnail image of your hotel or logo. Waze ads allow you to create a call to action (CTA) for each ad, but only one CTA per ad. If you want more than one CTA, you must create multiple ads. Your options are Drive there and Save Offer. When building a Waze ad, you have the opportunity to create an ad in different types of locations as well. You can build your ad around your hotel that will navigate immediately to your hotel when clicked on or you can build a region ad that pop up in a region you want to target, but the navigation is removed from these types of ads. So if you want to advertise that your hotel in Las Vegas is amazing and you want users in Los Angeles to see it before they leave the city, you can choose the LA zip code to advertise in. How much do these types of Ads Cost? The really exciting thing about both Google and Waze Ads is that you can choose your budget. You can choose as little as $60/month and see how well they produce in your market. If you want more impressions and clicks, raise your budget based only your results. Reporting Options: Waze Ads allows you to view how many impressions and clicks your ads have as well as day of the week performance, audience (android vs iOS), how many Wazers see your ad on average on a daily basis and how many unique Wazers have seen your ad. Unfortunately, since there is no book now button there is no way to report on conversions for branded hotels. Google Ads allows you to input a budget, view how many impressions, interactions, interaction rate, average cost per interaction, and cost of the ad. Within Google Ads, you can set up what you want your conversions to look like. For the sake of last-minute attention, we suggest setting up conversion rates to be similar to your interactions. Both platforms are easy to set up and allow you to put in the most important information about your hotel you want users to know. Let those last-minute searchers know you offer free breakfast, free parking and have cozy renovated guestrooms waiting for them using the technology in their hands rather than hoping they take the highway you put your billboard and roadside sign-on. Educate Yourself Google Maps Statistics Quote https://hostingtribunal.com/blog/google-maps-statistics/#gref Waze Statistics: https://expandedramblings.com/index.php/waze-statistics-facts/ Stephanie Smith Founder and Digital Matriarch +1 540 239 1052 Cogwheel Marketing View source Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer WASHINGTON - Environmental groups launched a social media campaign Thursday urging the Biden administration to block the transportation of liquefied natural gas by cargo rail. Directed at Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the groups urged the administration to, "ban the transportation of explosive liquefied natural gas by rail to protect our communities and the climate!." WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Biden administration could continue to a "social cost of carbon" calculation in regulating polluting industries. A group of ten Republican states including Texas petitioned the Supreme Court to restrain the Biden administration from using the metric while their legal challenge was moving through the court system. The court denied that request in a one-line order, but did not rule of the legality of the metric itself. RELATED: SCOTUS set to hear climate change case that may significantly alter Texas' oil and gas industry A "social cost of carbon" calculation takes into account the impact of emissions on society, from increased deaths caused by heat waves to coastline lost to rising seas. When Biden came into office he instructed federal agencies to consider the cost of carbon emissions at $51 per ton - far higher than had been set under the Trump administration - impacting everything from federal pollution standards to oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters. Republican states have challenged that decision as a "power grab designed to manipulate Americas entire federal regulatory apparatus," and in February a federal judge in Louisiana ruled the "social cost of carbon" calculation violated federal law, preventing the Biden administration from using it. But that decision was put on hold by a federal appellate court in March, a decision that was confirmed by the Supreme Court Thursday. These costs must be taken into account in creating climate policy," said Maya Golden-Krasner, deputy director of the Center for Biological Diversitys Climate Law Institute. "Now the Biden administration must get serious about fighting climate change by ending federal oil and gas leasing and stopping approvals for new fossil fuel infrastructure. The back and forth over whether federal agencies should consider the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions has thrown the federal government into turmoil. Earlier this month the Department of Interior cancelled lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico, saying their work had been delayed by, "factors including conflicting court rulings that impacted work on these proposed lease sales." Hillwood Communities / Hillwood Communities Dallas-based Hillwood Communities has acquired 540 acres in League City for the development of its third master-planned community in the Houston area. The community is planned for 1,250 single-family lots, according to Hillwood, and will offer homes from $400,000 to $700,000. The community has not yet been named and builders have not been selected. Gaia Real Estate, a New York apartment investment firm, has exited the Sunbelt markets with the sale of its last remaining properties in Houston. The company said it has sold its interest in the Copperfield Portfolio, a five-property multifamily portfolio totaling 1,376 units, located primarily in the Copperfield community of northwest Houston. The buyer was not disclosed, but Dallas-based real estate firm Sentinel Peak Capital Partners now lists four of the properties on its website and an entity tied to Sentinel is listed on the deed records. Gaia purchased the properties, consisting of 8255 Sunbury Lane, 8630 Easton Commons, 8550 Easton Commons, 8440 Easton Commons and 14222 Wunderlich Drive, in 2015. The portfolio was updated with improvements to the clubhouses, fitness centers, pools, laundry facilities and other amenities, according to Gaia. Select units were upgraded with new appliances, flooring and countertops. One of the properties, Cashel Springs Apartments on Wunderlich, was sold separately in 2019 to Richmond, Va.-based 37th Parallel Properties. It's about 10 miles from the other properties. RELATED: Real estate transactions: City Place lands new office tenants We are pleased to have successfully executed our business plan for the Copperfield Portfolio and proud to have delivered significant value to our investors, Gaia CEO Danny Fishman said in an announcement. With this sale we have completed our strategy to exit most of what we think are overpriced Sunbelt markets and plan to redeploy capital into New York City metro properties and elsewhere where we can realize higher returns. The sale comes amid strong investor demand and rising prices for apartments. Investors spent $63 billion on multifamily properties in the U.S. in the first quarter, a 56 percent increase over the first quarter of 2021, according to Real Capital Analytics, a division of New York-based global investment data firm MCSI. The RCA CPPI, a price index for apartment properties, rose by 22.4 percent over the year in the first quarter. Houston apartments rents, meanwhile, rose by 11.7 percent over the year to an average of $1,220 a month in May, according to ApartmentData.com, a market research firm based in Houston. With the sale of the Copperfield Portfolio, Gaia has sold all 50 of its Sunbelt properties totaling 14,729 units for more than $1.5 billion, according to the company. Twenty of the properties, totaling 5,969 units, were in Houston, a market for Gaia since 2012. Founded in 2009, Gaia is a full-service real estate investment company with in-house asset management and property management capabilities. A San Diego investor has scooped up 1,500 apartment units in Houston for more than $150 million in yet another sign that the citys robust apartment sector continues to attract out-of-state investors. Houston real estate firm Nitya Capital sold five of its vintage apartment properties in mid-May for a total of more than $150 million, the company said this week. The buyer was an entity tied to San Diego investor Donald J. Dougher II, according to Harris County deed records. The deal amounts to roughly $100,000 per unit. The transaction comes as investors flock to Texas and other Sun Belt markets where strong apartment demand has lifted leasing activity and rents throughout the pandemic. Out-of-state investors accounted for more than 70 percent of buyer volume in the Houston multifamily market in the past four quarters, according to commercial real estate data firm CoStar. On HoustonChronicle.com: New York investor sells 1,300-unit Houston apartment portfolio Houston ranked fifth among cities for multifamily investment activity over the past four quarters, according to commercial real estate firm CBRE. Total investment hit $17.14 billion in Houston in the 12-month period ending in March a 392 percent increase from the year earlier, according to CBRE. Houston accounted for nearly 5 percent of multifamily investment nationally during that time period, ranking behind Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and the top market for investment, Dallas-Fort Worth. Houston also has some of the highest tenant demand for apartments, ranking second for net absorption, or the difference between tenant move-outs and move-ins, according to CBRE. Rents are expected to continue rising in Houston as job growth, high oil prices and strong migration persist. Youre seeing hundreds of thousands of people moving to Texas, including Dallas, Houston and Austin, and a lot of major institutional investors have taken notice, said Swapnil Agarwal, CEO and founder of Nitya Capital. Although Houstons rent growth isnt as high as other markets in Nityas portfolio, Agarwal said Houston is still seeing huge jumps in rents across the board. On HoustonChronicle.com: Profits pop for Houston-based Camden Property Trust as apartment demand soars Even though high oil prices might not lead to the same levels of job growth in Houston as they did in the past, $100-a-barrel oil is still creating a lot of positive momentum for Houston, Agarwal said. Recently the city crossed the critical milestone of recovering all the jobs its lost in the recession spurred by the pandemic, according to Texas Workforce Commission. Built in the 1970s and 1980s, all of the Houston properties Nitya just sold are almost completely occupied with tenants paying average asking rents between about $800-$1,200, according to CoStar. That is roughly on par with the average asking rents of about $1,220 in Houston, according to ApartmentData.com, a Houston market research firm. Houstons average asking rents rose by about 11.7 percent in May, according to ApartmentData.com. Properties in Nityas deal with the San Diego investor included: Buena Vista Apartments: 266 units located at 2402 Bammelwood Drive Casa del Mar Apartments: 254 units located at 2431 FM 1960 Road Sedona Pointe Apartments: 352 units located at 311 Highland Cross Drive The Diamond Hill Apartments: 304 units located at 9407 Westheimer Road The Providence at Memorial: 326 units located at 1370 Afton St. Nitya also sold three other apartment properties in Houston in April, including Bayou Park Apartments, Quail Creek Apartments and Quail Creek II Apartments, the company said. The real estate firm now has more than 4,000 apartment units in Houston, a spokesperson said, along with about $3 billion in assets in its national portfolio of apartments, student housing units and commercial properties, according to its website. marissa.luck@chron.com twitter.com/marissaluck7 CITIZENS Coalition for Change (CCC)s rural mobilisation drive is reportedly giving Zanu PF sleepless nights, with the ruling partys provincial co-ordinating committees (PCCs) now tasked to counter the opposition partys strategy. Rural areas have traditionally been Zanu PF strongholds, but after a strong showing in the March by-elections, the opposition is seeking to establish a foothold in a bid to turn the scales. Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa acknowledged that the oppositions rural mobilisation programme has rattled the ruling party. We cannot continue to sit on our laurels anymore. It is time to work hard because CCC is now everywhere. They are campaigning door-to-door in rural areas. They are coming to our strongholds and we cannot leave them to do what they please. We need strategies to counter them, Mavhenyengwa said in an interview. Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe, who is also Mashonaland Central provincial chairperson, also held a meeting with Zanu PF structures in Mushumbi Pools, Mbire, where he reportedly fretted over CCCs inroads into rural areas. He encouraged party supporters not to entertain and listen to CCC activists. He encouraged village heads to make sure that people are registered to vote for Zanu PF. He also said people, who are warming up to the opposition, were sell-outs, a source said. Kazembe was not available for comment yesterday. CCC interim secretary for rural mobilisation, Happymore Chidziva told NewsDay that the partys rural mobilisation exercise, code-named Mugwazo, would be a game-changer as the country heads for the 2023 elections. We have launched a massive recruitment and mobilisation exercise called Mugwazo. We are meeting ordinary citizens in rural areas. This is a nationwide programme in which we are mobilising people to register to vote and recruiting them to the CCC party, Chidziva said. But Zanu PF director for information Tafadzwa Mugwadi played down assertions that the ruling party was fretting over CCCs rural mobilisation exercise. We are not going to lose sleep over what MDC or CCC does. We are the governing party. Our focus is on winning the elections in 2023. Our focus is to fulfil the promises we made to our people. Our focus is to improve the lives of ordinary people in Zimbabwe, Mugwadi said. Zanu PF is targeting to woo five million voters, while the CCC speaks of reaching out to six million voters in its on-going voter mobilisation drive to ensure a resounding victory in the 2023 polls. Newsday This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Bonnie & Clyde, an immersive dance theater production co-presented by Open Dance Project and Moody Center for the Arts, is difficult to watch. Annie Arnoult came up with the piece in January 2020. Shed worked as a guest artist at Bellaire High School around the time a teen accidentally shot his friend while showing off a gun. We were reeling. I conceived this show in response to that reeling, she says. Following this weeks deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, which claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, those feelings came rushing back. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, the real-life couple who went on a robbery spree during the Great Depression, were shot to death in Louisiana after murdering at least nine police officers and four civilians. Bonnie and Clyde, as portrayed by Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty in the 1967 film, glamorized their criminal romance. Arnoults Bonnie & Clyde is no love story. Hers provides commentary on gun violence and the need for prison reform and of the crimes people commit when they feel left with no other choice. Bonnie & Clyde When: Through June 4 Where: Moody Center for the Arts, 6100 Main Details: $35; 713-348-2787, moody.rice.edu/events/ bonnie-clyde See More Collapse Arnoults Bonnie married at age 15 and was promptly abandoned by her young husband, who was in and out of jail. Arnoults 21-year old Clyde committed his first murder in prison the victim was a guard who repeatedly raped him. The real-life Parker and Barrow reportedly knew their lives would meet a tragic and violent end. Audiences sense it, too. Patrons of Bonnie & Clyde experience the impending doom firsthand. A maximum of 40 ticket holders are admitted to each performance at the Moody Center on Rice Universitys campus. Masks are required for viewers. Performers are bare-faced. The set truly is interactive. Youre encouraged to touch props, get a closer look at old-timey newspaper clippings or take a seat in one of the wooden chairs scattered about. The dancers will let you know if they need you to move, Arnoult explains. One alcove resembles a diner; another forms a makeshift prison cell. Theres a gambling vignette with suitcases full of play money, poker cards and dice. The largest scene depicts sand, cut from carpet, with an oil well. A grainy black-and-white photo of Parker and Barrow projects above a replica of a Model T Ford. And bodies are strewn everywhere. First position for the Open Dance Project cast members is to lay on top of bars, on the floor or piled on each other like rag dolls. Spoiler alert: The show ends like that, too. Arnoult says she pulled no punches and made zero changes in light of the Uvalde shooting. The performers sing, dance and chant through nine chapters: Portrait of Bonnie and Clyde, January 5, 1930: A Love Story, In the Jailhouse Now: Eastham Prison Farm, Waltz for Bonnie, Murder on the Outside, Red Beans and Rice for Dinner, The Joplin Massacre, End of Days and Sleep, Baby, Sleep. The programs runs roughly 60 minutes. Madelyn Manlove plays a vulnerable Bonnie. Shes fragile and delicate in some moments, frightening and forceful in others. Her classical dance training shines through when you need light reprieve most theres not a lot of humor or hope in this show. Cameo Renee is a memorable orator. Shes given some of the productions most powerful lines, and her voice booms often throughout the space. Most of the cast are on double duty, though the men tackle shape-shifting particularly well. Their roles are intentionally intermingled and confused to blur the lines between victim and perpetrator. Are criminals born or created? One graphic prison sequence begs the question with startling, repetitive choreography. It drags on uncomfortably, daring the audience not to look away. The toughest scene to watch is a slow-motion shootout. Manloves hand quivers as she waves a wooden pistol. Atticus Griffin slithers across the floor in search of a safe hiding place he never finds. For a few heartbreaking seconds, the entire casts bodies are heaped together in a motionless pile. Its impossible not to think of the young lives recently lost at school to gun violence. Near the finale, performers pull onlookers into the play. Its an emotional exchange as most audience members try to comfort the pretend criminals who sense their demise is near. After the stage goes black and the actors exit, theres a lot of hugging between family members and guests. I need to process, one tells Arnoult. Bonnie & Clyde is an old story and a true story that still hits home nearly 100 years after its namesakes became urban legend. Perhaps its because their desperation in response socioeconomic disparity still strikes a nerve. Perhaps its because incarceration reform has barely evolved over the past century. Or perhaps its because gun violence is much harder to watch than to read about it. Bonnie & Clyde is a timely, poignant and problematic production, which is exactly why its worth seeing. amber.elliott@chron.com CONCORD, N.H. (AP) Prosecutors wrapped up their case and the defense called no witnesses Wednesday in the trial of a man accused of killing his wifes coworker after he discovered they were texting, and then forcing her to behead him. The judge also denied a defense request to dismiss the case against Armando Barron. His lawyer cited insufficient evidence for the case to go to the jury and conflicting testimony; the prosecution disagreed. Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday in the Keene, New Hampshire, courtroom. Prosecutors allege Barron assaulted his wife, Britany Barron, the night he discovered she had been texting with her coworker, Jonathan Amerault, then used her cellphone to lure him to a park just north of the Massachusetts state line in September 2020. They allege he beat and kicked Amerault, forced him into his own car and shot him three times. Armando Barron pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, kidnapping and other charges. His lawyers argue that his wife shot Amerault, which she denies. Britany Barron had testified last week that after Amerault was shot, she was then forced to drive the car 200 miles (322 kilometers) north to a remote campsite. There, she said, she was forced to behead Amerault and dispose of his body. Testimony on Wednesday focused mostly on cellphone tower records. They showed Amerault's device moving from his home in Keene at about 11:15 p.m. to a park in Rindge the night of Sept. 19, 2020, and then staying put for a little over an hour, intelligence analyst Tracey Flaherty testified. Eventually, Amerault's phone and Britany Barron's phone were making connections to a tower near the park at the same time, at about 11:40 p.m., Flaherty testified. She said that Amerault and Britany Barron's phones both started moving from the park at about 12:50 a.m. on Sept. 20, 2020, and eventually connected with a cell tower near the Barrons' home in Jaffrey a few miles away. At about 1:13 a.m., a text was sent from Britany Barron's phone to Amerault's, saying Hey, just woke up what did you need," while both devices were still connected to that same tower, Flaherty testified. Amerault's phone stopped communicating with cell towers at 1:53 a.m. on Sept. 20, Flaherty testified. Britany Barron's phone, meanwhile, and a cellphone used by another family member in the Barron household were shown moving north starting at about 3:30 a.m. and connecting with the same cell towers, eventually stopping about 200 miles north in Errol at about 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 20. Records also show that numerous calls were made from the family member's phone to Britany Barron's phone during that time period, Flaherty testified. When questioned by the defense, Flaherty testified that cellphones are designed to connect to towers that have the best signal, not necessarily to towers that are the closest. She also said she was not provided with a phone number indicating that it belonged to Armando Barron. Britany Barron pleaded guilty last year to three counts of falsifying evidence and was released from jail on parole last month. The Associated Press had not been naming the couple in order not to identify Britany Barron, who said she suffered extreme abuse. Through her lawyer, she recently agreed to the use of her name. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) A judge ruled Thursday that South Dakota is violating federal laws by failing to make it easier to vote. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol of South Dakota sided with two American Indian tribes, the Rosebud Sioux and the Oglala Sioux. The tribes argued in a 2020 complaint that the South Dakota secretary of state's office was not adhering to the National Voter Registration Act. The law requires state agencies to help residents register to vote when they interact with government agencies for other services. Piersoll wrote in his opinion that secretary of states office had not provided adequate information to county auditors and the other state agencies that would help them comply with federal law. The secretary of state, as the chief elections officer responsible for implementation of National Voting Registration Act, "contributed to these failings through inadequate training and oversight, Piersol wrote. Secretary of State Steve Barnett did not immediately respond to an email from the Sioux Falls Argus Leader seeking reaction to the ruling. Licensing and public benefits are managed by the state department of public safety and the state department of social services. Piersol said the secretary of state's office was not providing enough oversight to ensure those offices were fulfilling those duties. Piersol also found that while the department of public safety was responsible for transmitting voter registrations to the county auditor, numerous errors were stopping that process from happening. He added that the department of social services was not complying with the act because it was not changing voter registration addresses when those who receive food stamps or other aid change their addresses over the phone. In addition, the judge found that state employees have mistakenly declined to provide registration services to convicted felons who are eligible to vote. KENSINGTON, N.H. (AP) A former EMT in New Hampshire has been charged with drugging and sexually abusing three children under the age of 13. Todd Burnim, 54, of Kensington, was indicted this month by a grand jury in Rockingham County on a dozen counts of felonious sexual assault and aggravated felonious sexual assault related to the abuse which allegedly took place between 2012 and 2019. It was unclear how Burnim knew his alleged victims. WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) A North Carolina man is jailed under bond of more than $10 million after a drug bust in which sheriff's deputies seized more than 1,000 pills laced with fentanyl. The New Hanover County Sheriffs Office said its vice and narcotic unit recently concluded a three-month investigation into the sale and distribution of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl and being sold as pharmaceutical grade, news outlets reported. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) A Missouri man will be laid to rest on Saturday, more than 80 years after he died in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. Navy returned the remains of Seaman 1st Class Wilbur Francis Newton to Kansas City International Airport on Tuesday. BELFAST, Maine (AP) A Maine man on trial in the killings of three people delivered his own opening statement Wednesday, calling the victims drug addicts" and describing the deaths as accidents and self defense. A prosecutor described a calculated plan in which Thomas Bonfanti, 65, of Northfield, allegedly went home to home, killing the victims in February 2020. Under pressure to cancel the National Rifle Associations convention this weekend in Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner said Thursday he will likely join protests against the gun group following a school massacre in Uvalde. Protests are set to begin Friday morning at Discovery Green across from the George R. Brown Convention Center where the NRA Convention will be held. Multiple civic and social justice groups have said they will be mobilizing. LIVE UPDATES: Follow along for the latest news and analysis on the Uvalde school massacre "There is a strong possibility I will be out there as well," Turner said Thursday morning. It was not the outcome protesters were hoping for in the wake of the deadliest school shooting in Texas history that killed 19 children and two teachers. The mayor has previously shown a willingness to respond to public pressure, as when he canceled the Texas Republican Partys in-person state convention in 2020. Turner at the time blamed the cancelation on health dangers during the COVID-19 pandemic, after initially insisting that he was unable to cancel it. In that instance, Houston First, the public nonprofit that operates the city-owned convention center, sent a letter to the partys executive committee notifying it that the convention had been canceled. On HoustonChronicle.com: City cancels state GOP convention in Houston The letter triggered a part of the contract called a force majeure clause, which allowed one side to cancel for an occurrence out of its control. The definition included epidemics in the City of Houston, according to the Houston First letter. No one wanted to step in and be the heavy and say no, and then run the risk of being accused of being political, Turner said at the time. But if after all of that, if you still refuse to recognize the public health danger to everyone involved, then I am still the mayor. GOP officials sued the city, but a Harris County judge later sided with Turner and denied the party's request to block the city from restricting the convention. GOP Cancellation: Judge throws out GOP lawsuit, sides with city It was unclear Thursday whether such a clause could be applied now. Houston First and the mayor have said they cannot bar the NRA convention for contractual reasons. "We cannot simply cancel contractual agreements of clients scheduled to utilize city-owned venues under our care," Houston First spokesperson Jennie BuiMcCoy said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. The mayor on Thursday implored protesters to express themselves "peacefully and civilly." Turner did not specify which protest he intends to attend. Black Lives Matter Houston announced plans to organize a mass voter registration event" on Discovery Green. The League of United Latin American Citizens is also hosting a protest outside the convention center Friday, while a Houston interfaith group is planning to gather for prayer and a march at 1 p.m. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Many Houston-area schools on Wednesday responded to anxieties following a school shooting that killed at least 19 elementary students and two teachers in a South Texas elementary school with increased security. The massacre at Robb Elementary School, now the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, shook communities across the state and nation, as many districts were in the final days of the school year and wrapping up classes with celebrations or graduation ceremonies. Teachers, parents and students in the region wrestled with fears in deciding whether to take their kids to school. While attendance numbers were not yet available in most districts, officials said they expected many parents would opt to keep their kids home. LIVE UPDATES: Follow along for the latest news and analysis on the Uvalde school massacre Ashley Edwards, mother of three children who attend Conroe ISDs Suchma Elementary School, said she asked her kids if they wanted to go to class. My second-grader was excited about the hot dog party today, she said. It made me think of how the children at Robb mustve felt that morning it was their (end-of-year) awards day. Edwards made the decision to drop her children off at school, despite her hesitations. I stood at the gate of the school watching my entire life walk inside, she said. What if I dont see them again? It shouldnt ever be this way. Im sending my kids to school, not a battlefield. It feels like school shootings are getting closer and closer to home. Conroe ISD, which has the third largest law enforcement agency in Montgomery County, recruited officers from the Conroe Police Department and deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office to be on campuses through the final day of the school year on Thursday. Many other districts did the same, including Aldine, Spring, Splendora and KatyISDs. Police at Houston ISD, the states largest school system, were evaluating safety measures on our campuses and will adjust accordingly, Superintendent Millard House II said Tuesday. At a Wednesday press conference, House said he discussed adding officers to patrol neighborhoods around schools with Mayor Sylvester Turner. NRA PROTESTS: Turner won't bow to pressure on NRA like he did with GOP. But he'll join convention protests outside Thats in the planning stages now, said House. Were open to having these conversations with all law enforcement wherever we have schools and children to support. One district in the Houston region, Clear Creek ISD, locked down a school Wednesday. A Clear Brook High School student was arrested around 9:10 a.m. Wednesday after reports the teen brought an unloaded gun to the campus, according to Clear Creek ISD officials. The school was briefly put on lockdown as a precaution and no students were harmed. Police searched the campus for ammunition and found nothing. The rest of the school day continued after the lockdown was lifted. The district asked parents who chose to pull their children out of class after the incident for patience. In addition to more officers and security measures in school systems, districts offered resources to families to help students cope with the news. In Alief and Aldine ISDs, more counseling services were made available to students. House addressed student emotional needs Wednesday. On HoustonChronicle.com: Beto ORourke confronts Abbott during news conference on Uvalde mass shooting: This is on you Its extremely important to remember that children look up to their parents to make them feel safe, he said. Talking to your children about their worries or concerns is the first step to help them feel safe and to cope with the events that are occuring. House said it is essential children know their parents are listening to them and allow them to express their feelings. Nearly every district that made a statement about the deadly attack reiterated that law enforcement relies on tips to assess and prevent school threats. We must work together to report concerns to appropriate authorities, said Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Christie Whitbeck in a statement. Your active role and involvement are critical in this endeavor. Fort Bend ISD, along with many other districts, experienced a high volume of reported potential threats of violence that were later found to be unsubstantiated this school year, Whitbeck said in a December interview. UVALDE AFTERMATH: 'How can such a small piece of metal cause so much pain?': Uvalde parishioners grapple with school shooting According to law enforcement, the accused teen gunman in Uvalde posted that he was going to shoot an elementary school 15 minutes before the rampage began. House and school leaders across the region said student safety is their No. 1 priority. The emotion many parents have on a daily basis dropping their kids off is the same emotion we have as administrators and board members, said House. We want and expect our babies, our children to be safe on a daily basis. We will go above and beyond to make sure this doesnt happen at one of our campuses. hannah.dellinger@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The gunman who killed 21 people at a small south Texas school and wounded 17 others used a pricey assault-style rifle manufactured by the Georgia-based arms manufacturer. The Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 rifle, which retails for $1,870, can be sold in Texas gun shops to anyone who is 18 or older and passes a background check. The Houston Chronicle previously reported that the Uvalde gunman, Salvador Ramos, purchased two weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in the days immediately after his 18th birthday, which was on May 16. One weapon was the Daniel Defense rifle; the other was a Smith & Wesson MP 15, which retails for about $1,300. On its website, Daniel Defense touts the DDM4 V7s 16-inch barrel, an improved flash suppressor, and an ambidextrous charging handle, among many other features. The gunman sent a screenshot of his purchase receipt to an Instagram user showing hed purchased the weapon. Authorities said the gunmans trail of violence began when he shot his grandmother. She survived, and called police. He then drove to Robb Elementary School, crashed into a railing, and then made his way inside, where he barricaded himself in a 4th grade classroom and began shooting students. According to law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation, the shooter left the Smith & Wesson in his car, but headed to the school with the Daniel Defense rifle and at least seven 30-round magazines. By the end of it all, hed killed 19 children and two adults and wounded 17 others, police said. The purchase The rifle produced by the Georgia-based is one of a slew of assault style rifles modeled after the ArmaLite AR-15, which was manufactured in the United States between 1959 and 1964. It weighs about 6 pounds. Many details surrounding this week's massacre remain unclear: among them, how an 18-year-old high school dropout working at a Wendy's was able to afford more than $3,000 of weaponry. To receive the firearm, the teen gunman had to go to a local gun shop to request a transfer and get a criminal background check. Hearst reporters confirmed that he went to Outback Oasis in Uvalde for the rifle. Investigators including agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives visited Oasis Outback to inquire about that purchase and whether he bought anything else. The shops owner said Wednesday that his business is cooperating with the police, but he declined to provide further details, saying he would only provide information to investigators. A sign at the store, which also sells sporting goods and has a restaurant, said the shop charges $30 to transfer one gun from an online vendor and $10 for each additional firearm, with a maximum of five guns per transfer. The phone at Daniel Defense ran unanswered Thursday, and no one responded to an electronic message. But the incident has undoubtedly brought negative attention to the Georgia-based arms manufacturing company that has grown into a firearms manufacturing powerhouse with sales of nearly $100 million, according to Forbes. The company was founded by Marty Daniel in 2001; a year later, he landed a $20 million contract parts for M4 rifles the military counterpart of AR-style civilian rifles to be used by U.S. Special Forces operators in combat. Daniel told Forbes that calls for gun control after the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012 led to a spike in sales. That was a horrible event and we dont use those kinds of terrible things to drive sales, he told the magazine in 2017, but when people see politicians start talking about gun control, they have this fear and they go out and buy guns. The American rifle AR-style rifles have exploded in popularity over the past few decades. Much of the initial interest came from U.S. military veterans, who had come to appreciate the M4 during their time in the armed forces, said Michael Cargill, a US Army veteran who owns the Austin-based Texas Central Gun Works. A lot of people who have been in the military the US Army, the (US) Marine Corps, the Air Force, they all used M4s, he said. That's why its popular. Its almost like the American rifle. The weapons are excellent for hunting targets at long range, he said, noting many hunters enjoy using the weapons while going after hogs, deer or similar prey. And they travel further and do far more damage than what you might see from a handgun, he said, likening it to the difference in damage one might see when a Toyota Prius got into a crash vs. a tractor trailer. The 18 wheeler is going to go further, he said. Its more powerful, designed to go further, and going to take a longer time to stop. Rifle-fired slugs also do far more damage when they hit a human body than many handgun caliber bullets, said one pediatric surgeon who spoke to the Chronicle. There's a really really wide blast effect, said Dr. Bindi Naik-Mathuriat, a pediatric surgeon and firearms violence researcher at the Baylor College of Medicine. The injury is a much wider zone , and the hole is just the tip of the iceberg. In movies, bullets might only leave a small hole, she explained. But a bullet fired from a rifle was likely to leave far more damage; tearing through organs, leaving a cavity in its wake of shredded organs or veins, leading to profuse bleeding and far lower survivability rates. They are much more dangerous, she said. Its much harder for a surgeon to save someone shot with one of those than a handgun. That is why medical staffers took swabs of victims family members Tuesday night. Victims of such weapons are often unrecognizable. This story has been updated to reflect the product descriptions of one of the features on the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 rifle. THE High Court has ordered a defiant local pastor to leave church premises he has been occupying. Pastor Albert Chabvuta of the Cossam Chiangwa-led church has been refusing to leave Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe, Tynwald South Assembly, in defiance of a Supreme Court judgment. The order was made in favour of AFM in Zimbabwe, led by Reverend Amon Madawo, in May 2021. Pastor Chabvuta clashed with church members, on a number of occasions, forcing some to meet for prayers outside the church premises. He denied them access to the church truck, offices and a PA system. Last week, Pastor Chabvuta skipped court and a default judgment was issued against him. The respondent is hereby evicted from Stand number 5625 Stortford Road, Harare. The respondent is hereby interdicted from engaging in his religious activities, or any activities, at Stand number 5625 Stortford Road, Tynwald Plots, Harare. The respondent pays holding over damages to the applicant in the sum of US$200 per month from the date of service of the application to the date of vacation from the property. The respondent shall pay costs of suit. H Metro An inmate at the Harris County Jail has died after taking his own life Tuesday in his cell the second reported death in the facility in May, according to authorities. The inmate, Robert Fore Jr., 40, jailed last Friday on two felony and three misdemeanor charges, was found hanging in his cell during a security check around 8 p.m., Harris County Sheriffs Office officials said. Detention officers tried saving Fore with CPR ahead of transferring him to St. Josephs Hospital. Within the hour, doctors pronounced him deceased. The Texas Rangers is investigating. Fore was arrested May 20 after prosecutors signed off on charges of burglary of a habitation and violation of a protective order in April for an earlier incident stemming from a break-in at his ex-wifes home in Katy. Police accused Fore of forcing his way inside while she had a protective order against him, according to court documents. The defendant started throwing things around the house and was being verbally aggressive towards her and the kids, a deputy wrote in charging documents, adding that Fore told her that he would stab any law enforcement that tried arresting him. The Houston Police Department is investigating a second death at the jail that happened three days earlier. Detention officers found Benjamin Pierce, 39, unresponsive Saturday in his cell with no apparent signs of foul play or trauma, officials said. Pierce was arrested the day prior for allegedly stabbing his wife, Leslie Pierce, to death at the house in the 3200 block of Painted Meadow Circle, near Fry Road, in Katy. Pierce called 911 and told dispatchers he had stabbed her. He was charged with murder. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences has deemed Fores death a suicide by hanging but the manner of death for Pierce is pending, according to medical examiner records. The criminal cases against both men have been dismissed, with prosecutors citing their death as the reason. At least two others have died in jail custody this year. According to a sheriffs office news release, Paul Douglass, 40, died of apparent self-inflicted injuries in a single-person cell at the joint processing center in February. Billie Davis, 35, a Harris County inmate who was transferred to the LaSalle Correctional Center in Louisiana that same month, was found unresponsive after exhibiting disruptive behavior. The LaSalle Parish Sheriffs Office is investigating that death. nicole.hensley@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Boeings spacecraft and its sole occupant a mannequin named Rosie the Rocketeer returned to Earth Wednesday, clearing the way for a crewed launch. The CST-100 Starliner landed at 5:49 p.m. CDT in the U.S. Armys White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Parachutes slowed its descent and then six airbags inflated to cushion the desert landing. The capsules safe return marked an important milestone for Boeing, which has spent years collaborating with NASA to develop a commercially owned and operated spacecraft that could ferry astronauts to the International Space Station. MORE ON THE MISSION: Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to make a crucial third attempt to reach space station This uncrewed test flight proves its systems work. The companys next launch should have passengers onboard, and then Starliner can be certified for more frequent trips to low-Earth orbit. Putting the vehicle through its paces on this flight is really the only way to prepare us for a crewed flight test, Steve Stich, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, said during a news conference. The systems performed great on the vehicle and, you know, once we work through all the data we'll be ready to fly the crew. Starliner returned after nearly six days in space. The reusable capsule launched from Florida on May 19 atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. It reached the International Space Station the following day. There were some hiccups along the way, but officials had expected to learn new things about the spacecraft. Thats why Boeing flew Rosie and a surprise hitchhiker, Jebediah Kerman from the Kerbal Space Program game where players create and manage a space program for the alien race known as the Kerbals to the space station before launching astronauts. One issue arose after Starliner separated from the Atlas V rocket. Two of the 12 spacecraft thrusters used for big engine burns in orbit failed. The first thruster fired for a second and then shut down. The flight control system turned on a second thruster, which fired for about 25 seconds before shutting down. A third thruster worked part of Starliners built-in redundancy that performed as intended. Boeing determined this was caused by a chamber drop in pressure, and it will further investigate these and other malfunctioning thrusters. Another issue occurred as Starliner approached the International Space Station. It sat outside the station, waiting to complete its approach, for longer than expected. This was partly caused by flight controllers noticing a communications issue on backup hardware used for the NASA Docking System. They rebooted the system and Starliner was able to autonomously connect to the space station. Seeing that beautiful spacecraft sitting right out of reach of ISS was pretty tough, Kathy Lueders, associate administrator for NASAs Space Operations, said after Starliner docked. But as we've talked about over the last few days, this was a really critical demonstration mission. Starliner arrived to the International Space Station with food and other cargo. It also returned home with freight, including reusable Nitrogen Oxygen Recharge System tanks that provide breathable air to space station crew members. The tanks will be refurbished on Earth and sent back to station on a future flight. Boeing conducted this mission as part of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, where companies (not NASA) own and operate the capsules entrusted to carry astronauts to the space station. NASA has provided funding and expertise, and it buys seats as a customer, but the companies designed the spacecraft. SpaceX is also part of this program, and it likewise experienced issues that had to be addressed between its uncrewed test flight that launched March 2, 2019, and its crewed test flight that launched May 30, 2020. Since the 2020 test flight, SpaceX has launched four crewed NASA missions and one private astronaut mission to the space station. Boeings first crewed launch has been delayed by various technical issues. Boeing first launched an uncrewed capsule in December 2019, but a software error prevented Starliner from reaching the International Space Station. Boeing decided to redo this uncrewed test so it could assess its systems for rendezvous and docking. It prepared to launch in August 2021, but that was called off when corroded valves would not open. Despite these setbacks, NASA has remained adamant that it wants two spacecraft capable of carrying crew to the International Space Station. This provides flexibility in case one of the companies is grounded by a technical issue. Stich, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, was pleased to see both Starliner and the SpaceX Crew Dragon docked to the space station. Crew Dragon launched NASAs current ISS astronauts on April 27. Our goal was to have two redundant crew transportation systems, he said. That goal became true when Starliner docked. This docking on May 20 also happened to be his 57th birthday. Ultimately, NASA hopes to fly one crewed Starliner and one crewed Dragon each year. RECENT SPACEX MISSION: SpaceX launches Crew-4 mission just 39 hours after bringing private astronauts home And Greg Autry, a clinical professor of space leadership, policy and business at Arizona State University, doesnt expect Boeings delay in launching crew will be an issue in the long run. Thats nothing really in the life of an industry, Autry said. Plus, Starliner offers some advantages by landing in the desert rather than the ocean. He said weather off the coast of Florida where SpaceX lands can be more variable than weather in the desert, and this can delay spacecraft returns (which was recently seen with the Axiom Space private astronaut mission). Moving forward, NASA will review data from this mission and make spacecraft adjustments ahead of its first crewed mission later this year or, depending on space station traffic, early next year. It will also select the astronauts who get to take this inaugural journey. Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager for Boeings Commercial Crew Program, was pleased with the mission and how it positions Boeing for its crewed test flight. This was incredible. We we wanted to learn and we did, he said. The teams reacted to everything that was thrown at them perfectly. The vehicle reacted to changes like it was supposed to. The flight software worked in an excellent manner. We couldn't have asked for a better mission. It really puts us in a great position to fly (crew). andrea.leinfelder@chron.com twitter.com/a_leinfelder This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UVALDE, Texas (AP) Law enforcement authorities faced mounting questions and criticism Thursday over how much time elapsed before they stormed a Texas elementary school classroom and put a stop to the rampage by a gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers. Investigators were also unable to say with any certainty whether an armed school district security officer outside Robb Elementary in the town of Uvalde exchanged fire with the attacker, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, when Ramos first arrived on Tuesday. The motive for the massacre the nation's deadliest school shooting since Newtown, Connecticut, a decade ago remained under investigation, with authorities saying Ramos had no known criminal or mental health history. LIVE UPDATES: Follow along for the latest news and analysis on Uvalde massacre During the siege, which ended when a U.S. Border Patrol team burst in and shot the gunman to death, frustrated onlookers urged police officers to charge into the school, according to witnesses. Go in there! Go in there! women shouted at the officers soon after the attack began, said Juan Carranza, 24, who watched the scene from outside a house across the street. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said Wednesday that 40 minutes to an hour elapsed from when Ramos opened fire on the school security officer to when the tactical team shot him. The bottom line is law enforcement was there, McCraw said. They did engage immediately. They did contain (Ramos) in the classroom. Now Playing: Residents of Uvalde, Texas, attended a prayer vigil Wednesday evening for the victims of a school shooting the day before. Leaders of the service said prayers and read Bible verses and people in the stands bowed their heads and wiped away tears. (May 25) Video: Associated Press But a department spokesman said Thursday that authorities were still working to clarify the timeline of the attack, uncertain whether that period of 40 minutes to an hour began when the gunman reached the school, or earlier, when he shot his grandmother at home. Right now we do not have an accurate or confident timeline to provide to say the gunman was in the school for this period, Lt. Christopher Olivarez told CNN. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz did not give a timeline but said repeatedly that the tactical officers from his agency who arrived at the school did not hesitate. He said they moved rapidly to enter the building, lining up in a stack" behind an agent holding up a shield. What we wanted to make sure is to act quickly, act swiftly, and that's exactly what those agents did, Ortiz told Fox News. But a law enforcement official said that once in the building, the Border Patrol agents had trouble breaching the classroom door and had to get a staff member to open the room with a key. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the investigation. Olivarez said investigators were trying to establish whether the classroom was, in fact, locked or barricaded in some way. Javier Cazares, whose fourth grade daughter, Jacklyn Cazares, was killed in the attack, said he raced to the school when he heard about the shooting, arriving while police were still gathered outside. Upset that police were not moving in, he raised the idea of charging into the school with several other bystanders. Lets just rush in because the cops arent doing anything like they are supposed to, he said. More could have been done. They were unprepared, he added. Now Playing: Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke blames Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for inaction on gun control. He confronted Abbott during a news conference, was escorted out and said Abbott 'wants to distract us' from the gun problem. (May 26) Video: Associated Press Carranza had watched as Ramos crashed his truck into a ditch outside the school, grabbed his AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle and shot at two people outside a funeral home, who ran away uninjured. Olivarez told CNN that the school security officer outside was armed and that initial reports said he and Ramos exchanged gunfire, but right now were trying to corroborate that information. As Ramos entered the school, two Uvalde police officers exchanged fire with him, and were wounded, according to Olivarez. Ramos went into a classroom and began to kill. Carranza said the officers should have entered the school sooner. There were more of them. There was just one of him, he said. On Wednesday night, hundreds packed the bleachers at the towns fairgrounds for a vigil. Some cried. Some closed their eyes tight, mouthing silent prayers. Parents wrapped their arms around their children as the speakers led prayers for healing. Before attacking the school, Ramos shot and wounded his grandmother at the home they shared. Neighbor Gilbert Gallegos, 82, who lives across the street and has known the family for decades, said he was puttering in his yard when he heard the shots. Ramos ran out the front door and across the yard to a truck parked in front of the house and raced away: He spun out, I mean fast, spraying gravel in the air, Gallegos said. Ramos' grandmother emerged covered in blood: She says, Berto, this is what he did. He shot me. She was hospitalized. Gallegos said he had heard no arguments before or after the shots, and knew of no history of bullying or abuse of Ramos, whom he rarely saw. Lorena Auguste was substitute teaching at Uvalde High School when she heard about the shooting and began frantically texting her niece, a fourth grader at Robb Elementary. Eventually she found out the girl was OK. But that night, her niece had a question. Why did they do this to us? the girl asked. Were good kids. We didnt do anything wrong. Bleiberg reported from Dallas. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A year after a gunman killed 10 people at Santa Fe High School in 2018, state lawmakers convened in Austin and passed the most comprehensive school safety package in modern Texas history. The bills extended mental health initiatives in schools, established threat assessment teams to identify possibly dangerous students and expanded the number of school employees who could carry guns on campus. Schools were newly required to train students to use bleeding control stations during emergencies. None of the changes restricted firearm access. And none of them helped save lives in Uvalde, where a gunman killed at least 21 people, including 19 children, at an elementary school on Tuesday. It was the third deadliest school shooting in American history. The shooter had no history of mental health issues and no other indicators of potential violence, Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday, though friends and relatives said otherwise. And the gunman was unimpeded by law enforcement as he stormed into Robb Elementary School, armed with an AR-15-style rifle, authorities said. We consider what we did in 2019 to be one of the most profound legislative sessions, not just in Texas, but weve seen in any state, in addressing school shootings, Abbott said. That said to be clear we all understand our work is not done. But at the same time, Abbott summarily rejected tighter gun laws as an option, instead continuing to tout the measures passed in 2019 and doubling down on those remedies. Abbott focused heavily on the profound mental health challenges in rural Texas, a sentiment echoed by House Speaker Dade Phelan. IN-DEPTH: How much did the NRA donate to Abbott, Cruz and Cornyn before Uvalde? Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, meanwhile, advocated for more armed teachers and administrators, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick repeated previous calls to strengthen school security. As proof that gun control is not a real solution to mass shootings, Abbott argued that strict gun policies have failed to stave off gun violence in large, Democrat-run cities. Republicans have made similar arguments after other mass shootings in recent years, though publicly available data and expert studies paint a more complicated picture. I hate to say this, but there are more people who are shot every weekend in Chicago than there are in schools in Texas, Abbott said. And we need to realize that people who think that, well, maybe if we can just implement tougher gun laws, its going to solve it Chicago, LA and New York disprove that thesis. Public policy experts note that many of the guns used in Chicago-based shootings, particularly those involving gangs, were bought in neighboring states such as Indiana, where gun laws are far more lax. In 2020, Texas and Illinois had nearly identical firearm mortality rates, with about 14 deaths per 100,000 residents, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New York and California had the fifth- and seventh-lowest firearm mortality rates that year among the 50 states, according to the agency. Phelans office declined to offer additional comment on potential legislative action, including those that involved guns. Representatives for Abbott and Patrick did not respond to a request for comment. No: red flag laws. Yes: constitutional carry The Uvalde shooting came just days after the four-year anniversary of the shooting at Santa Fe High School, where a 17-year-old student killed eight peers and two teachers and injured 13 others on May 18, 2018. Abbotts response to the act of evil was swift. Within days, hed organized a series of roundtables with school and law enforcement officials, state lawmakers and survivors of mass shootings. By the end of the month, hed presented a 43-page plan to fortify school and firearm safety plans. The fundamental right to gun ownership was enshrined by our Founding Fathers in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the plan read, then listing some of Abbotts efforts as attorney general to protect gun rights. However, the Supreme Court of the United States, the Texas Supreme Court, as well as federal and Texas law, have long recognized that there is a legal basis for limited regulations of firearms to ensure they are not used for criminal purposes. The policies included closing background check loopholes, instituting a mandatory reporting program for lost and stolen guns, increasing mental health services across K-12 schools, bolstering law enforcement presence outside the classroom and training more school employees to carry guns. Abbotts most high-profile proposal, though, suggested that Texas lawmakers explore a red flag law that would allow a court to temporarily remove firearms from potentially dangerous people. Nineteen states and Washington, D.C. have passed such laws the majority of them after the 2018 mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school. Abbott referenced that massacre in the document. But after the state Legislature dedicated hours of hearings to the subject, Patrick shut down the idea, saying that he had never supported these policies, nor has the majority of the Texas Senate. A fraction of Abbotts proposals made it past the finish line, and by the time he signed the school safety bills into law on June 6, Abbott said the red flag law wasnt necessary in Texas right now. He hasnt revisited it since. State Sen. John Whitmire, a Houston Democrat, introduced a red flag bill last session but couldnt even get a hearing on it, he said. Flo Rice, a substitute teacher who was shot in Santa Fe in 2018, said she and her husband, Scot, felt betrayed as they watched Abbotts response to the Uvalde massacre. The governor met with them four years ago, promising financial assistance and a major investigation into the shooting and its causes. They never materialized. I feel like we were deceived that it was a media stunt, she said. Its the same thing now, her husband added. Thoughts and prayers fill up coffins. Actions save lives. Patrick, too, has previously supported some firearm regulations, advocating for background checks on private gun sales after a pair of mass shootings the summer of 2019. He infamously quarreled with the National Rifle Association over the issue, asserting that he was willing to take an arrow and close the loophole that allowed Texas buyers to avoid background checks if they bought a gun from a stranger. The NRA immediately pushed back, saying the policy change would amount to trampling the freedom of law-abiding Americans. Patricks calls faded in the months following, and he did not pursue them in the 2021 legislative session. Instead, the Legislature greatly expanded gun laws with the passage of a so-called constitutional carry law, allowing almost all Texans 21 and up to carry a handgun in public without a license. The legislation put an end to mandatory training classes for anyone looking to carry a handgun, either concealed or openly. The new law comes as an increasing number of young Americans are buying guns. According to the most recent Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) report, firearms traced back to 18-21 year olds increased from 11 percent in 2015 to nearly 16 percent in 2020. For those 17 and under, that number has almost doubled since 2015. We made weapons much more accessible, Whitmire said. That's the only way I know how to describe it. I think the constitutional carry really says it all. We will fight more fiercely than ever Whitmire doubts much will change in the GOP-dominated Legislature, where the NRA has tremendous influence and has vehemently opposed any efforts to regulate firearms. Timing is part of the issue, too, as the Legislature only meets every two years leaving another eight months before lawmakers will consider legislation on the subject. Perhaps the body could pass substantive change if Abbott called a special session immediately after a mass shooting, Whitmire said. Some Democrats have rallied behind the idea, but its unlikely to happen. Since yesterday, I have already been asked numerous times what I or other lawmakers are going to do to end or even slow, gun-related deaths and violence, state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, said in a Wednesday statement. A good start would be made by all of us as elected officials getting on the same page in admitting to a problem that is so obvious that it is blinding. A spokeswoman for the Texas State Rifle Association, the local affiliate of the National Rifle Association, declined comment, citing a lack of full details about the shooting thus far. The organization took part in Abbotts round table talks in 2018. Nicole Golden, executive director of the gun legislation reform nonprofit Texas Gun Sense, said the Legislature has failed us through their unwillingness to enact meaningful change to prevent senseless shootings. Her group has pushed for red flag laws, expanded background checks and funding for public campaigns encouraging safe firearm storage. But make no mistake: our movement is strong, the data is on our side, and we won't give up, Golden said in a statement. We will fight more fiercely than ever to be a voice for the policy change and culture change that our children and communities deserve. Staff writer St. John Barned-Smith contributed reporting. cayla.harris@express-news.net jasper.scherer@chron.com We are reading every letter of heartbreak, anger and dismay, and every urgent call for action after the shooting in Uvalde. You are not alone. The selection of letters below only a small part of the total represents the range of what readers have expressed. If you have something to add, we do want to hear from you. Submit letters at houstonchronicle.com/opinion/submit/ or email them to viewpoints@chron.com. Pro-life politics? Regarding 'My heart is broken': At least 19 students, 2 adults killed in elementary school shooting in Uvalde, (May 24): I am a Texan, I am a woman, and I am pro-life. Many Texas politicians claim to be pro-life, but dont be fooled. To be pro-life is to respect the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death. For a politician, this means that if they are willing to do anything to protect a child within the womb, they must also be willing to do whatever they can to protect a child outside of it. The horror that occurred Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde is the latest in a string of unconscionable examples of our politicians hypocritical failure to uphold the pro-life pledge. These politicians with A+ ratings from the NRA are happy to do nothing, are happy to be complicit, and are happy to keep cashing the campaign checks that the NRA sends them. I am Catholic. I am a mother. Each morning when I drop my children off at school, I drive away with a lump in my throat. I say a prayer to their guardian angels, turning to the faith that is so important to me, the faith that informs my ardent pro-life standing, to protect my 7-year-old and my 2-year-old, because the threat that they might be gunned down in their classrooms is very real. It doesnt have to be. If those who claim to be pro-life and were in a position to do something about it through sensible gun reform legislation would act, the threat to my children, the threat to your children and grandchildren, would be mitigated. J. Richardson, Magnolia This kind of hurt never goes away; the loss of these bright lights is avoidable. My goodness these politicians are shameless. This was preventable. Gov. Greg Abbott will never be able to explain this one after signing a law allowing more guns on the streets without a license, even after a church shooting, and Walmart shooting, and the school shooting in Santa Fe all in Texas. Ronald Joubert, Houston I was ironing and watching a movie when the news about the elementary school students in Uvalde popped up on my iPad. What in Gods holy name is Texas coming to? Is there not one person in state government with common sense and decency to stand up and to bring in some laws that could prevent this slaughter of the innocent? Im absolutely disgusted with the government in Austin and all the officials, from Gov. Abbott down to the lowliest official. That wonderful expression What goes around, comes around is most appropriate in the state of Texas. But, Im so fed up with saying it to myself, because currently, its The same old, same old. Cecily M. Ryan, Kingwood It appears that America has not yet reached its horror saturation point yet. Ten innocents were murdered while shopping in Buffalo, and now another school bloodbath in Uvalde. In America, we have freedom of guns, but no freedom from guns. In Texas, it is a sign of true citizenship to own and use all forms of weaponry and proclaim Second Amendment prowess. Texas even strengthened its killing base by allowing open carry and wearing swords. Gov. Abbott touts the right to life, with the exception of those already living. I guess the next level of horror is shooting up a newborn nursery. That may shake a few trees of wakefulness, but its doubtful. America loves its guns much more than its citizens. Bill Klimko, Spring When I was inducted into the Marine Corps, I was issued two dog tags that would identify me if I was killed or severely wounded in battle. Must we now issue dog tags to all school children? What instead are we going to do? When? Walter Ulrich, Pearland Bring back discipline, dont ban guns Regarding Editorial: Abbott says 'never again' after Uvalde school massacre. Dont fall for it, Texans. (May 24): Another day in America made sad beyond words with yet another mass shooting. And again with mostly children as the victims. No doubt the socialists will use it as an excuse to start clamoring for more gun control, including making the sale or possession of weapons of mass destruction illegal. Lets hope they don't find out that in Australia if you want to buy a gun you have to give a good reason as to why you need it. And that's a gun, not an arsenal of guns. Richard W. King, Pasadena Immediately from the president down it is the weapon. Yes, weapons were used as in all these uncalled for killings of innocent victims, be they young children or adults. There is no way to remove the many weapons in the hands of honest, loyal American citizens; weapons used for self protection, hunting and collecting. This 18 year old, it is reported, was on scene for 30 minutes. Yes, police were there early but were not able to take him out before this carnage. Lets wake up and address the real issue, we have a society problem, we no longer have discipline in homes, schools, business or streets. So many children belong to single mothers, no father involved. Religion no longer plays a major roll. And our elected officials rather play politics instead of address this issue with the language they use. This weekend the National Rifle Association will meet in Houston. Many legal, honest gun owners will attend peacefully. They purchase weapons, learn gun safety and exchange ideas. A right they have to bear arms under the Second Amendment. But be aware that there will be peaceful protesters and the angry trouble-making mobs. There could be violence on the street. Be careful when and where you go. James E. Muecke, Houston Many parents are not teaching children to be disciplined in behavior and values, or the value of life, morals, thoughtfulness. It is not the guns, it is the people that dont have any sense of morality or the value of life and know they are unlikely to be adequately punished. The criminal has a great advantage over law enforcement mainly because he knows what he is going to do. Everybody else is just guessing. Charles Burkett, Cypress It is amazing to me how, following a horrific event like the Uvalde shooting, politicians stick their face in front of a camera and use the event to promote their political agenda. Apparently it is true that they follow the policy of Never let a crisis go to waste. Sincere condolences to those personally affected by the shootings, and a big shame on you to those using the event for personal gain. Bob Fowler, Point Blank NRA in Houston Regarding Houstonians plan multiple protests at NRA convention in wake of Uvalde shooting, (May 25): Growing up in Houston during the l940s and 50s, I was safe. Going to Texas colleges and starting a teaching career in the Spring Branch ISD, in the 60s, I was safe. My students and I were safe in the 70s and 80s in Dallas. Now, at age 80 and retired after 40 years of teaching, my former students and I can be in harms way anywhere we live, any place we go. My country is saturated with weapons of war, and massacres are happening regularly. So, welcome to my former hometown, NRA. I notice that weapons will not be allowed at your gathering. Your hypocrisy and lack of accountability for the deaths you have facilitated in our country have reached pathological levels. You were founded to promote gun safety; now, your entire mission is to buy lawmakers and enrich yourself and the gun manufacturers. Our children are our future. Teachers shape their futures. You are a deadly threat to our countrys future. Bonnie Beardsworth Hardaway, Tyler Only background checks prior to all sales, raising the age to 21 to purchase a weapon, and banning sales of guns and rifles with large magazines will serve to slow down this difficult Texas and American problem. The large majority of people support these changes and our state and federal officials need to follow their lead! Now is the time for Gov. Abbott, Sen. Cruz and Sen. Cornyn to take the lead with a plan that is more than thoughts and prayers and express that view before the NRA meeting in Houston this weekend. John Martinez, Houston In the recent mass shootings in both Buffalo and Uvalde, the shooters were engaged by a law enforcement officer. Former Buffalo Police officer Aaron Salter fired shots, but the shooter was wearing body armor. In Uvalde, the shooter crashed his vehicle and was engaged by law enforcement. So much for the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Its time for the NRA to retire this trope. After each mass shooting, pundits endlessly repeat that, Congress does nothing. That's incorrect. One party is Congress does nothing. In state legislatures controlled by this party, they have been weakening gun laws for decades. Mass shootings in El Paso and Odessa got us ... permitless carry. One party refuses to do anything. Voters should punish this party in November. Julie Marinucci, Houston To the estimated 55,000 members of the NRA who are convening in Houston this weekend: what are you going to do to keep our schools safe? On Tuesday, 19 children and two adults kissed their loved ones goodbye and left for school in Uvalde with no inkling they would not return home. The usual our thoughts and prayers are with you is cold comfort to the devastated families they leave behind. And to Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz, both poster children of the NRA, what are you doing to protect our kids, teachers and staff? The operative word here is do. Judy Dybell, Houston The NRA meeting should be held at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The blood should be on the floors. Pictures of the carnage should be on the walls. The parents of the dead children should be honored guests. Maybe then they will get it. As a member of the League of Women Voters, I have recently completed a two-year study on gun violence. This has to stop. K.M. Dubb, Tucson, Ariz. Public health We have a serious and growing public health problem and it needs to be approached from a public health model. This model has proven useful in prevention and amelioration of diseases, accidental deaths and injuries. Gov. Abbott needs to appoint a nonpartisan committee of experts to study and make recommendations to address this problem. Lets start with input from one of the top schools of public health at the University of Texas, right here in the Texas Medical Center in Houston. Kind words are not enough. We need action. Betty Cody, Houston Regarding Bombshell 400-page report finds Southern Baptist leaders routinely silenced sexual abuse survivors, (May 22): It was difficult to read the Chronicles coverage of the Southern Baptist sexual abuse report, but even more heartbreaking to read the report itself. Abusers were treated like victims and rationalizations were passed around like the Sunday collection plate. A sense of invincibility pervaded the leadership, fed by lawyers who should be reported to the ethics commission and disbarred. While the report makes some good recommendations, they dont go far enough. An Offender Information System alert to communities is a start, however, this OIS must not just be voluntarily available to churches. It has to be updated and pushed to every church, on a regular basis, to avoid the recirculation of criminals. And nondisclosure agreements should only be an option for a survivor, never for the church, its leadership or the criminals involved. Jesus weeps. Patricia Garris, Spring With all the news about the Southern Baptist sexual assault and sexual harassment scandal, people might note that the Southern Baptists split from the original Baptist church in 1845 so they wouldnt have to hear that slavery was un-Christian. Frank Ohrt, Houston First Amendment Regarding Does Texas believe in free speech? (May 23): While I agree with Mr. Taylor about the importance and protection of the First Amendment, most social media platforms influence the public. Does that make a difference? When an entity becomes so large that it shapes the social and financial lives of a societys citizens, has it not crossed into needing government oversight? Just putting it out there. Chris Greene, Houston Bicycle license plates Regarding Opinion: Houston should require a bicycle license, (May 23): A reader suggests that perhaps the bicyclists who dont obey traffic laws would be more aware of safety issues if they were licensed. He may be right. Who knows? Requiring and issuing license plates (not riders licenses based on education, training and testing) for all the bicycles in Houston may be the answer. But I offer two thoughts for consideration. First, when bicyclists who dont obey traffic laws outnumber drivers of automobiles, trucks and motorcycles who dont obey traffic laws, then lets talk. And, second, his suggestion is based on the assumption that vehicle drivers are more aware of safety issues because they have been issued a license plate (metal or paper). My experience fails to back up that assumption. Gene Fisseler, Houston Electric grid Regarding Record heat is giving Texas' power grid a challenge like never before. Can it survive the summer?, (May 20): The Texas electric power system resembles that of developing nations. Before Texas, I lived in northern Illinois. I dont recall the last power failure I had there. It was more than a decade before I moved to Texas. The problem is obvious: ERCOT. Abbott and the GOP dont want to fix it, or they are incompetent, or they are bought and owned. It doesnt matter. Theyve failed. Its time to replace those in state government who have failed. We need to elect fresh faces in November to get reliable electricity. Reliable electricity is not asking too much. Its pretty basic. Steven Givot, Spring Regarding Texas power grid is still broken, and officials would rather promote fossil fuels than fix it, (May 18): Thank you to Mr. Tomlinson for not letting ERCOT and our dysfunctional politicians get away with distorting the facts of the Texas electric grid system. This article reminds me of an early lesson and still one of the best I ever learned about how the market (doesnt) work, from the movie, Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. In this post-apocalyptic world the only provider of electricity comes from pig manure , and not surprisingly the pig farm owner will do whatever it takes to not let more efficient energy technologies threaten his monopoly. Highly recommended viewing. I am so glad we have Mr. Tomlinsons voice of reason, insight and telling of the unvarnished truth with us during these volatile times. Michael Waldau, Houston This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Many Americans are blaming the National Rifle Association for thwarting stronger gun laws that might have prevented the two recent tragedies in Buffalo and Uvalde, and many others. And despite the proximity in time and location to the Texas shooting, the NRA is proceeding with its plans to hold its annual convention in Houston on May 27-29. The featured speakers include former President Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican. After spending decades researching and writing about how and why the NRA came to hold such sway over national gun policies, Ive seen this narrative take unexpected turns in the last few years that raise new questions about the organizations reputation for invincibility. Three phases The NRAs more than 150-year history spans three distinct eras. At first the group was mainly concerned with marksmanship. It later played a relatively constructive role regarding safety-minded gun ownership restrictions before turning into a rigid politicized force. The NRA was formed in 1871 by two Civil War veterans from Northern states who had witnessed the typical soldiers inability to handle guns. The organization initially leaned on government support, which included subsidies for shooting matches and surplus weaponry. These freebies, which lasted until the 1970s, gave gun enthusiasts a powerful incentive to join the NRA. The NRA played a role in fledgling political efforts to formulate state and national gun policy in the 1920s and 1930s after Prohibition-era liquor trafficking stoked gang warfare. It backed measures such as requiring a permit to carry a gun and even a gun purchase waiting period. And the NRA helped shape the National Firearms Act of 1934, with two of its leaders testifying before Congress at length regarding this landmark legislation. They supported, if grudgingly, its main provisions, such as restricting gangster weapons, which included a national registry for machine guns and sawed-off shotguns and taxing them heavily. But they opposed handgun registration, which was stripped out of the nations first significant national gun law. Decades later, in the legislative battle held in the aftermath of President John F. Kennedys assassination and amid rising concerns about crime, the NRA opposed another national registry provision that would have applied to all firearms. Congress ultimately stripped it from the Gun Control Act of 1968. Throughout this period, however, the NRA remained primarily focused on marksmanship, hunting and other recreational activities, although it did continue to voice opposition to new gun laws, especially to its membership. A sharp right turn By the mid-1970s, a dissident group within the NRA believed that the organization was losing the national debate over guns by being too defensive and not political enough. The dispute erupted at the NRAs 1977 annual convention, where the dissidents deposed the old guard. From this point forward, the NRA became ever more political and strident in its defense of so-called gun rights, which it increasingly defined as nearly absolute under the Second Amendment. One sign of how much the NRA had changed: The Second Amendment right to bear arms never came up in the 166 pages of congressional testimony regarding the 1934 gun law. Today, the organization treats those words as its mantra, constantly citing them. And until the mid-1970s, the NRA supported waiting periods for handgun purchases. Since then, however, it has opposed them. It fought vehemently against the ultimately successful enactment of a five-business-day waiting period and background checks for handgun purchases in 1993. The NRAs influence hit a zenith during George W. Bushs gun-friendly presidency, which embraced the groups positions. Among other things, his administration let the ban on assault weapons expire, and it supported the NRAs top legislative priority: enactment in 2005 of special liability protections for the gun industry, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. White House ally isnt everything Despite past successes, the NRA has suffered from a series of mostly self-inflicted blows that have precipitated an existential crisis for the organization. Most significantly, an investigation by the New York attorney general, filed in 2020, has revealed extensive allegations of rampant cronyism, corruption, sweetheart deals and fraud. Partly as a result of these revelations, NRA membership has apparently declined to roughly 4.5 million, down from a high of about 5 million. Despite this trend, however, the grassroots gun community is no less committed to its agenda of opposition to new gun laws. Indeed, the Pew Research Centers findings in 2017 suggested that about 14 million people identify with the group. By any measure, thats a small minority out of nearly 260 million U.S. voters. But support for gun rights has become a litmus test for Republican conservativism and is baked into a major political partys agenda. This laserlike focus on gun issues continues to enhance the NRAs influence even when the organization faces turmoil. This means that the protection and advancement of gun rights are propelled by the broader conservative movement, so that the NRA no longer needs to carry the ball by itself. Like Bush, Donald Trump maintained a cozy relationship with the NRA. It was among his 2016 presidential bids most enthusiastic backers, contributing $31 million to his campaign. When Trump directed the Justice Department to draft a rule banning bump stocks, and indicated his belated support for improving background checks for gun purchases after the Parkland shooting, he was sticking with NRA-approved positions. He also supported arming teachers, another NRA proposal. Only one sliver of light emerged between the Trump administration and the NRA: his apparent willingness to consider raising the minimum age to buy assault weapons from 18 to 21 which has not happened. In 2022, a year after Trump left office, 18-year-olds, including the gunmen allegedly responsible for the mass shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo, were able to legally purchase firearms. In politics, victory usually belongs to whoever shows up. And by showing up, the NRA has managed to strangle every federal effort to restrict guns since the Newtown shooting. Nevertheless, the NRA does not always win. At least 25 states had enacted their own new gun regulations within five years of that tragedy. Supreme Court ruling These latest mass shootings may stir gun safety supporters to mobilize public outrage and turn out voters favoring stricter firearm regulations during the 2022 midterm elections. But there is a wild card: The Supreme Court will soon rule on New York State Rifle & Pistol Club v. Bruen, the most significant case regarding gun rights it has considered in years. Its likely that the court will strike down a long-standing New York pistol permit law, broadening the right to carry guns in public across the United States. Such a decision could galvanize gun safety supporters while also emboldening gun rights activists making the debate about guns in America even more tumultuous. Spitzer is a professor emeritus of the Political Science Department at the State University of New York College at Cortland. This is an updated version of an article originally published by the Conversation on Feb. 23, 2018. I am shaking as I write this. I am thinking of them. I am thinking of her. I am grieving for their parents. I am grieving again for hers. I am a mother of two trying to make sense of the elementary school shooting that occurred in Uvalde, Texas, not far from where I grew up. I am 13 again and walking past my classmates casket after she was gunned down at a birthday party in San Antonio. The trauma from Tuesdays shooting, in which a gunman killed at least 19 students and two teachers, wont just be far reaching and long lasting. It will reach further and last longer than anyone will be able to see. I know that not because of any studies or expert opinions. I know that because I lost a classmate to a mass shooting in Texas three decades ago. My eighth-grade classmate Blanca Garcia was shot and killed at a birthday party that was attended by half my classmates. Several of them and their parents were also shot when gang members, who had the wrong house, barged in and started firing with handguns and shotguns. In the coming days, prayers for the Uvalde community will increasingly be replaced by political posturing, and people who prioritize saving guns over protecting children will characterize school shootings as rare. The problem with doing that, beyond the insensitivity of it, is it offers a skewed measurement. It counts events, not damage. It does not take into account how many people are actually affected when bullets fly at children and how long they carry that trauma with them. Even before the Uvalde shooting occurred, I was thinking about my middle school classmate because of an email I received weeks ago. The subject line contained only two words: Blanca Garcia. I wondered who, after all this time, could be writing to me about her. I clicked it open. A friend just mentioned the band Birthday Massacre, it read. Took me back to one of my worst nights as a TV News Photographer. The man who wrote the email explained that on the night of the shooting he was working the overnight shift for a local news station. We heard the call over the radio, he wrote. We were close by and made it to the house even before the ambulances arrived. It was f-ing terrible. . . . It was the first time I cried at a scene. When shootings happen, we tend to focus on where those bullets land. We count the dead and we note the number of injured. But we are fooling ourselves if we think that captures the totality of the damage. Gun violence takes people from us, but it also takes from people who are connected to the dead, the injured and the scene. It takes from relatives, friends, classmates, teachers, people who live in the neighborhood, first responders and, yes, even hardened journalists. Since the shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, more than 311,000 students have experienced gun violence at school, according to a count by The Washington Post. Thats a huge number, and it only takes into account students and school-based incidents. Consider how that count grows when you start looking at other shootings involving children and the full scope of people affected by them. The phrase ripple effect is commonly used to describe how trauma spreads outward from random shootings, but its not quite the right analogy. When ripples end, calm resumes. The way trauma spreads from shootings seems closer in nature to how stains form when a black marker presses against a white napkin. The ink seeps, and even though it gets less noticeable the further it travels from the center, every part of the napkin it touches remains forever altered. That email I received about Blanca provided a powerful reminder of that. Three decades have passed since she was killed, and that news photographer still carries her shooting with him. He explained in his email that he was searching online for information about the incident when he found a column I wrote several years ago about Blanca. In it, I shared how it wasnt until I was an adult that I learned the shooting affected more than our middle school. It fueled federal legislation and led to the creation of special law enforcement units. Im not even sure why Im writing you, read the photographers email, which he gave me permission to share with you. I think reading this helps me by putting some kind of ending to this story. The overnight crew never had anyone to talk to about the things we experienced except each other so of course we didnt. As more and more photos of those children lost in the Uvalde shooting emerge, you might feel tempted to turn away. Please look at them. Mourn them. And then honor them by doing whatever it takes to make sure this doesnt happen again. And again. And again. On Wednesday, I spoke to one of my former middle school classmates, Henry Hernandez Jr., who became a lifelong educator in San Antonio. I recalled him as a kind, caring kid, but he told me Blancas death changed him. He said it turned his empathy into numbness. It went away when we came to school on Monday morning and saw her empty desk, he said. Thats when the innocence of my childhood left. Lawmakers held the power 30 years ago to do something substantial about the countrys gun problem, and they hold the power now. Everything were experiencing right now, he said, these are traumatic events that could have been avoided. In the hours after the Uvalde shooting, before the names of the lost started to emerge, he posted on his Facebook page that he had relatives among the victims. Keep my family in your prayers folks, he wrote. Two passed away. One in critical condition. Two missing. My heart hurts. . . . Everyone, tell people you love them. Theresa Vargas is a local columnist for the Washington Post. WASHINGTON As negotiations on possible gun reform got underway in the U.S. Senate on Thursday, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blasted Gov. Greg Abbott as an absolute fraud. Schumer accused Abbott of offering nothing but empty platitudes about healing and hope after he was confronted by Beto ORourke during a press conference in Uvalde on Wednesday. He asked the people to put their agendas aside and think about someone other than themselves, Schumer said. How dare he. What an absolute fraud the governor of Texas is. This is the same Gov. Abbott who tomorrow tomorrow will go speak at the NRA convention in Houston, Schumer said. Gov. Abbott, will you ask your MAGA buddies and your NRA pals to put aside their agendas and think of someone other than themselves like you asked the families to do? Will you ask the gun manufacturing reps who will swarm over the NRA convention to put aside their agendas and think about someone other than themselves? Of course not. Gov. Abbott is more likely to outline some new plan to further loosen gun restrictions. TEXAS GUN POLITICS: ORourkes standoff with Abbott over Uvalde mass shooting marks the new era in Texas politics Abbotts office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The governor called for unity after the confrontation with ORourke on Wednesday. We need to think of something other than ourselves, think of the people who have been hurt. And help those who have been hurt, Abbott said. Schumer has vowed the Senate will vote on gun laws, though he has said he believes Republicans are ossified against any new reforms. Still, key Democrats are negotiating with Republicans on a possible bipartisan bill that could pass in the coming weeks. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said Thursday that he plans to meet with the Democrat leading those negotiations to see if we can find some common ground. The Texas Republican authored the last major gun legislation to pass the Senate, the so-called Fix NICS Act, which tightened requirements for states and federal agencies to report criminal history data to the FBIs National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Cornyn said he had texted U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat with whom Cornyn has previously worked on gun legislation, and the two could meet as soon as Thursday. He and I have been talking about this issue for a long time, Cornyn said. Well see if we can find some common ground and maybe this will provide some impetus for that. The Texas Republican said red flag laws could be on the table. They were not included in a proposal Cornyn rolled out in 2019 after a gunman killed 23 people in an El Paso Walmart. That proposal was aimed at cracking down on people selling guns illegally and expanding mental health programs. I think we ought to talk about it, but its no panacea, he said of red flag laws. Im not taking anything off the table except for denying people their constitutional rights, who are law-abiding citizens. TEXAS TAKE: Get the latest news on Texas politics sent directly to your inbox every weekday The two senators have tried to reach a deal on possible gun reform legislation in the past. Negotiations fell apart last year on a bill aimed at closing the loopholes allowing some gun buyers to bypass background checks. Murphy blamed Cornyn at the time, saying the Texas Republican wouldnt go far enough in sharpening the definition of commercial sellers. Under current federal law, background checks are not required by unlicensed vendors who make sales at gun shows or online. Cornyn negotiated in good faith, Murphy said last June. Where we ended up just was not better than current law. Murphy said at a rally at the Capitol on Thursday that Democrats were extending a hand of partnership to Republicans and hoped they would be facilitated in finding that common ground by a popular uprising of citizens, who are going to make clear that if you dont do the right thing here, you arent coming back here. We are going to work our tails off to try to get that compromise, but we are not going away, Murphy said. If we dont succeed, were having votes. Were putting people on the record. One way or the other, we are going to have a debate here. We are going to force people to tell America which side they are on. ben.wermund@chron.com LAWYERS yesterday reacted differently to the Constitutional Courts Tuesday ruling that raised the age of consent for sexual relations from 16 to 18, to meet the minimum age of marriage as set in the countrys supreme law. Some applauded the top court while others were worried about compliance, especially by youngsters in their late teens. The ruling comes after an application by two women, Loveness Mudzuru and Ruvimbo Tsopodzi, challenging the Customary Marriages Act when they were 19 and 18. Through their lawyer, Mr Tendai Biti, the two submitted that setting the age of consent at 16 years violated section 78 of the Constitution. And the Constitutional Court agreed. Lawyer Mr Oliver Marwa was worried about the practicalities and described the ruling as a populist decision made by adults without consulting the children they intended to protect. This ruling is a mixed thing. People who are putting the age of consent at 18 years are adults doing so without consulting those below 18. This is a populist ruling and we are over-sensationalising this issue as a nation. We have a population that is mainly rural in terms of distribution and what research was conducted to arrive at that ruling? If the court has intervened on paper, is that intervention the same with what is happening on the ground? Raising the age of consent does not mean we are addressing problems on the ground because the same age groups are the ones who are more sexually hyperactive than adults. The practicalities of this Constitutional Court ruling will shake foundations of our society, said Mr Marwa. Mr Marwa also highlighted that while the courts ruling sought to bring gender equality in the context of protecting under-age girls, it was over-doing it. He also queried how the law will protect boys using the same law in instances where older women seduce boys below the age of 18. But legal opinion is far from unanimous. Mr James Makiya and Mr Dumisani Mthombeni applauded the court for the intervention saying children needed protection granted by their parents, guardians and the courts. Mr Makiya said the court made the ruling in the best interest of the minor children who do not have a sober mind when below 18. When children are below the age of 18, the anticipation is that they should be in school and under the care and guardianship of someone. From 18 years on, the brain development and its capacity will be sober. Basing on this ruling in the context of human rights and the girl child, children below the age of 18 should be protected by the courts especially the vulnerable girl child, he said. Mr Makiya also said there should be equal protection given to all children when it comes to consent, saying some young men are being lured into sexual intercourse without consenting to it, but because of economic hardships. The problem with our society is most developments are interpreted in a patriarchal sense. When young men below 18 years are lured into sex some people would say that is being a man, but that is not it. Children are vulnerable and should be protected, added Mr Makiya. Mr Mthombeni said Zimbabwe should lead in as far as issues of jurisprudence are concerned and should not emulate international practices that are against the nations ethos. Young children must be protected by the law, as is the case with this judgment. They should not be allowed to engage in sexual immorality at a young age, said Mr Mthombeni. Mr Mthombeni would like to see further advances in criminalising adultery and fornication, although these sort of moral issues are not protected in the Constitution or in the general law which allows divorce and it would be difficult to get such laws through Parliament or have the courts declare them valid in view of privacy rights. Ms Marvelous Kabinda said the adjustment of the law of consent was good for society since girls under the age of 16 are not old enough to consent to sex. So its a good move because at 18 one will at least be capable of making their own decisions. However, the decision has a negative effect to our youth because you would find that some, at the age of 16, would have matured and capable of making own decisions. But on the whole, I think the new age limit is good for society and it goes well with what we believe in and it will go a long way in protecting our children. Mr Hassan Jemali said: The age of consent in France is 15 years. I wonder what the difference is between the French people and us Zimbabweans. People are mature these days from the age of 15 because they have been exposed to a lot of things. So I think what they did was good but there is this element of lagging behind because of culture. If you look at it closely you can see that at 15, someone can make important decisions on their own so I wonder what the difference is between other aspects of life and this sexual part of life. Herald Barrington Stage Company Celebrates 10th Anniversary PITTSFIELD, Mass. Barrington Stage Company (BSC) celebrates its 10th anniversary and re-opening of the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center with Broadway's Joshua Henry in an encore concert, "Joshua Henry Up Close," on Sunday, May 29 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $60, by calling 413-236-8888 or online at barringtonstageco.org The concert will honor long-time supporters of Barrington Stage since its early years, Sydelle and Lee Blatt, who were instrumental in BSC's move from Sheffield to Pittsfield in 2005. The Blatts were honored in 2011's annual Gala for their support. Sydelle has been a member of the BSC Board of Trustees since 2003. In 2012, The Blatts gifted the VFW building in Pittsfield to Barrington Stage, now the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, which houses a newly renovated 136-seat St. Germain Stage and Mr. Finn's Cabaret, a 99-seat cabaret. This gift enabled Barrington Stage to have a permanent home for new works. In 2020, the Blatts inaugurated the Sydelle Blatt New Works Commissioning Program with a $1 million dollar gift, which will commission new work as well as support the development and production of new work. When asked what the Blatts favorite shows they've seen at their Performing Arts Center, Sydelle and Lee replied, "Anything written by Mark St.Germain (Freud's Last Session; Dr. Ruth, All the Way), directed by Julianne Boyd (Dr. Ruth, All the Way; Broadway Bounty Hunter), and plays that feature Associate Artist Mark H. Dold (Freud's Last Session)." Built in 1972 as Lt. John L Truden Local V.F.W. Post 448, the 50-year-old building, which BSC leased as Stage 2 from 2008-2011, was renamed the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center and dedicated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 26, 2012. The 12,602 square-foot air-conditioned building has two levels. The upper level houses a cafe and the 136-seat St. Germain Stage named after BSC Associate Artist and Berkshire's playwright Mark St. Germain, author of "Freud's Last Session" and "The Best of Enemies." The lower level houses rehearsal space, offices and a 99-seat cabaret space named Mr. Finn's Cabaret after Tony Winner William Finn, Artistic Producer of BSC's Musical Theatre Lab. In 2014, a major renovation took place with the addition of an enlarged backstage space with dressing rooms and a green room for the acting company. This season, programming at the St. Germain Stage at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center will include three world premieres: "Andy Warhol in Iran" by Brent Askari; "ABCD" by May Treuhaft-Ali; "The Supadupa Kid" by Sukari Jones and Joel Waggoner, based on Ty Allan Jackson's book; and "Waiting for Godot" by Samuel Beckett. Pittsfield Council Mulls Mental-Health Responder Solutions PITTSFIELD, Mass. Mental health supports were a reoccurring topic at the City Council meeting on Tuesday. The panel took up three new petitions that strive to answer the community's ask for improved responders for residents who are in crisis. The city's deficiency of mental health responders was brought to light after Miguel Estrella died at the hands of Pittsfield Police in late March. During open microphone, residents also said the city's nearly $12 million police budget, which was passed last week, needs to reflect such efforts. "I was quite shocked, actually, after four years of being on the council and going through the budget process to read in the paper that the police budget had been passed on the first night of budget debates," former Ward 1 Councilor Helen Moon said. "It's never, in my experience, been so upfront in the schedule and so I know that there are many people in the community that were really disappointed to not be a part of that conversation, to join you in this council chamber to discuss that." Estrella's sister Elina Estrella also stated that she wished there was a follow-up communication from the council so that they could discuss the police budget. A petition from President Peter Marchetti, at-Large Councilor Pete White, Ward 3 Councilor Kevin Sherman, and resident Tonya Frazier requests that the state and federal delegation assist with finding additional funding and resources to improve the Mental Health services in Pittsfield was approved. "In this community, we hear loud and clear, and many of us feel loud and clear from people that we know, that the mental health services that we have in Pittsfield are not adequate, we need more funding and we need more resources," White said. "And when we say funding, it's not a resources issue necessarily that the city could solve, we need to make sure that when agencies are hiring their staff, their staff is being paid at a level that will keep them here that will attract new staff, and that we can have consistency in the mental health care that is provided here, and then with more funding and more resources from our state and federal delegation, more alternatives can be enacted beyond the Brien Center's crisis team, we need more services at the hospital." He added that the city needs more than what it can provide through the budget and that the state needs to provide such resources "first and foremost." Sherman said mental illness touches most people's lives in some way and highlighted the importance of addressing it. "This is a huge issue in the city that crosses all boundaries it's not exclusive to one area, one demographic, all of us have been touched by it, perhaps more than COVID, cancer any other disease there is, we've all been touched our families ourselves by the mental health crisis that's going on throughout," he explained. "And we talk a lot about funding, funding what can the city do? We're trying to put our money where our mouth is, our last budget meeting in regards to responders, in regards to mental health professionals within the city walls," "The state, however, controls much of what happens in regards to the mental health services throughout the state, throughout our city, and we need the help of our delegation, they're great partners, we need to reach out to them." Sherman said this is a step and will not solve anything but will begin conversations with actions that follow. A petition from Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren requesting $75,000 be appropriated for the purpose of evaluating the creation of an Alternative for Community Emergency Services was referred to Mayor Linda Tyer and the committee of the whole. A preliminary investigation by the Pittsfield Police Department has found the responding officers to have been in compliance with established guidelines for use of force. The incident is also under a separate investigation by the State Police. Earlier this month, the city voted to endorse body cameras on Pittsfield Police Officers. The Police Advisory and Review Board is also reviewing the situation and brainstorming solutions. KUDAKWASHE Mahachi has returned to Zimbabwe but has gone into hiding as he is terrified over the possibility of reprisals from people who are convinced that he scalded his four-year-old son with boiling water resulting in him suffering third-degree burns. Mahachi denies the allegations and has engaged a law firm, Tanaka Law Chambers to clear his name. He says the minor was harmed after he left his custody. According to a reliable source, Mahachi has been in Zimbabwe for close to a week now, but does not want people to know of his whereabouts as he is convinced that mob justice could be meted on him. Zimbabweans, on various social media platforms, made clear their agitation at Mahachi and his wife, Rose Tatenda Mahachi, who they blame for severe burns that have seen the minor admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital for a month now. Attempts to interview Mahachi were abortive as he was not answering his phone. He also did not respond to WhatsApp texts. Mahachis lawyer, Nkosiyabo Sibanda of Tanaka Law Chambers, could neither confirm nor deny that his client had returned home. Mahachis lawyer, Nkosiyabo Sibanda of Tanaka Law Chambers I cannot confirm or deny that. I choose not to respond to that question for security reasons. What I can tell you is that Mahachi is safe and awaits his day in court. I will not say more, said Sibanda. Mahachi, the source reveals, reluctantly returned home at the behest of his club SuperSport United, who suspended him and advised him to attend to his family and the allegations against him. He was not going to return home if his club had not cleared him. He was going to leave all matters to his lawyers. But now he has no choice, in order to save his career, he had to come home and face the music. But he is very upbeat and believes that he will win the case in court, said the source. B Metro CHP Names Two New Dentists to Practices in North Adams, Pittsfield Dr. Anubhav Jain and Dr. Ankineedu Babu Dasari PITTSFIELD, Mass. Two dentists have joined Community Health Programs' (CHP) dental practices in Pittsfield and North Adams, where they provide care to adults and children. Dr. Ankineedu Babu Dasari has joined CHP North Adams Family Dental. A graduate of Sibar Institute of Dental Sciences in Takkellapadu, India, he earned an MBA in healthcare administration from the University of Findlay, in Findlay, OH. He completed his Advanced Education in General Dentistry Fellowship at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Anubhav Jain is a dentist at CHP Neighborhood Health Center in Pittsfield. He is a graduate of Jiwaji University in Madhya Pradesh, India, and went on to earn a master's in public health, specializing in epidemiology, from Temple University in Philadelphia, Penn. He also earned a graduate certificate in dental public health from the Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, also in Philadelphia. CHP is gradually expanding its dental care operations, in order to improve access to dental care for residents in Berkshire County, particularly for patients who rely on MassHealth for their dental care coverage. iciHaiti - Security : South Korea alongside the PNH Frantz Elbe the Acting Director General of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) accompanied by his Chief of Staff Jackson Hilaire, Inspectors General Joany Caneus, Central Director of the Administrative Police (DCPA) and Wency Bien-Aime, Central Director of the Administrative Police and General Services (DCASG) held a meeting by videoconference with Lee In-Ho, Ambassador of South Korea to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The South Korean Diplomat, Lee In-Ho was accompanied by Park Joon-Sung, KOICA Director, Yoon Jae-Ho and Park Min-Su, respectively first and second secretary. While commending the work of the PNH, Lee In-Ho, Ambassador of South Korea said that the government he represents intends to support the PNH, in terms of strengthening operational capacities by granting equipment and personal protective equipment, and through training. In his speech, Frantz Elbe insisted on the reinforcement of the operational capacity of the police institution, by prioritizing the axis of training for the benefit of the police and administrative personnel. The Commander-in-Chief of the PNH said he appreciated the offer of the government of South Korea to the National Police of Haiti, while wishing to strengthen this cooperation. IH/ iciHaiti iciHaiti - School canteens : Donation of 88.75 tons of rice and 5.5 tons of beans from France The Communication Office of the "National School Canteens Program" (PNCS) informs that the institution recently received from the Cooperation and Cultural Action Service of the French Embassy a donation of 88.75 tons of rice and 5.5 tons of beans intended for the school canteen of the departments of the Centre, Artibonite, North, North-East and North-West. The Communication Office also informs that these supply operations began this month in the departments concerned. The PNCS also wishes to notify that these foodstuffs are intended solely for the school canteen and must under no circumstances be sold. The Office strongly encourages the population to identify the bag containing these products, to be vigilant and invites them to alert the PNCS Communication Department at the following number : +50931143234 in the event that these food products are put on sale on the market. IH/ iciHaiti LOCAL government minister July Moyo and Geogenix BV frontman Delish Nguwaya have defended the controversial Pomona dumpsite deal, which they admit did not follow tender procedures. The Harare City Council deal with Netherlands-based Geogenix BV has courted controversy after it emerged that the local authority has to fork out US$22 000 per day or US$8 million annually to dump waste at its Pomona dumpsite. In his opposing affidavit filed at the High Court in a case Harare North legislator Allan Markham (Citizens Coalition for Change) is seeking a review of the deal, Moyo, however, admitted that the project did not go through tender. Markham has cited the council, Moyo, Harare deputy mayor Stewart Mutizwa, suspended Harare mayor Jacob Mafume, acting town clerk Phakamile Moyo and Geogenix BV as respondents. In this instant case, an unsolicited bid was made to first respondent (Harare City Council) by the Geogenix BV, and the first respondent submitted it to Zida (Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency) as is required by the law, Moyo said. Nguwaya said due diligence was done before the company was given the contract. First respondents officials, particularly engineers together with officials from the second respondent visited Italy and Tirana in Albania as part of the due diligence exercise. The officials managed to see other projects carried out by the sixth respondent similar to the one proposed at Pomona dumpsite, Nguwaya submitted. Post this visit through the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency, engagements continued resulting in parties coming up with a draft joint venture. The draft agreement was negotiated with City of Harare officials, the Attorney-General of the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the Ministry of Local Government. Government and Public Works officials and the Geogenix BV and the process was transparently done. Cabinet rendered an oversight role as the project was of national interest, Nguwaya added. Moyo insists the project would benefit residents. It will also reduce the amount of pollution which is being experienced by residents in Harare, especially those who stay in and around the area of Pomona, taking into consideration the hazardous incidents which have occurred there in the previous years, Moyo said. Meanwhile, Econet Groups Clean City has suspended waste management and waste disposal operations in Harare effective May 25. The recent changes in terms of trade at the Pomona waste facilities have left the household and corporate clients that we serve unable to afford the service. In turn, this has impacted the viability of our waste disposal business, Clean City said in a notice. Newsday Hong Kong journalist, Eric Wu Ka-Fai, was sentenced to 1 month in prison for disorderly behaviour at West Kowloon Magistrates Court on May 23. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the conviction and calls on Hong Kongs authorities to cease the arbitrary jailing of journalists. Journalist, Eric Wu Ka-Fai, was tried at West Kowloon Magistrates Court on May 23. Credit: Kelly Ho/HKFP. Eric Wu Ka-Fai was detained by police on September 29, 2021 and released on bail the following day on three charges including willfully obstructing an on-duty police officer, refusing or willfully neglecting to obey an officers order, and behaving in a disorderly manner in a public space. Magistrate Andy Cheng found Wu guilty of disorderly behaviour under the citys public order ordinance. He was acquitted of the other two charges. A reporter for independent news site HK Golden, Wus conviction arose from his coverage of police officers at a pro-democracy student event on April 15, 2021. During a HK Golden livestream, Wu attempted to film police officers interactions with students at the Student Politicism booth, a pro-democracy student group that disbanded last year after several members were charged under the National Security Law. In a video of the livestream, Wu is seen asking an officer if he intends to hit the students when the officer pulls a stick from a bag (later identified as a selfie stick). The officer says that police dont hit people. Wu responded by listing several examples of Hong Kong police misconduct and brutality including former police officer Frankly Chu King Wais assault of a bystander during the 2014 pro-democracy protests. Chu was sentenced to three months in prison after attacking a pedestrian with a baton. Wu also cited the seven officers convicted of assaulting activist, Ken Tsang, and the allegations of police theft and sexual misconduct. Magistrate Cheng said that Wus conduct was loud, and disruptive to the public order adding that Wus recount of alleged police misconduct could incite hatred and violence towards the police officers present. Wus sentencing is the latest example of the legal restrictions imposed on media in Hong Kong. The IFJs report, Lights Out: Is this the End of Press Freedom in Hong Kong? , found that Hong Kongs free media has rapidly deteriorated since the 2020 enactment of the National Security Law. News outlets have been increasingly forced to close or move offshore and news websites are routinely blocked. The IFJ said: The media plays a crucial role in demanding accountability from governments and authorities and journalists must be able to safely question police and other officials without fear of legal repercussions. The IFJ calls for the immediate release of Eric Wu Ka-Fai and the dropping of all charges against him. Journalist Maung Maung Myo has been arrested and charged by Myanmars military junta under the nations Counter-Terrorism Law. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the arbitrary arrest and calls on Myanmar authorities to revoke the terrorism charges. Mekong News Agency journalist, Maung Maung Myo, was arrested and charged by Myanmar's military junta for reporting on anti-coup protests. Credit: The Irrawaddy / Twitter Maung Maung Myo, also known as Myo Myint Oo, a freelance reporter for Mekong News Agency, was arrested by ruling military junta officials at the Salween River Bridge checkpoint near Hpa-an, Karen state on May 10. Officials detained Maung Maung Myo after searching his phone and found that the journalist reported on anti-coup protests and shared Mekong News Agency posts to his personal Facebook page. The media outlet was reportedly raided by junta authorities and banned after Myanmars military coup in February 2021. Maung Maung Myo was charged under Section 52(a) of Myanmars Counter Terrorism Law, which carries a prison sentence of up to seven years. He is currently in custody at Hpa-an prison. The journalist has reported for Mekong News Agency since 2020, covering local issues including the Covid-19 pandemic, anti-coup protests, and clashes between the military and resistance movements. He was travelling on a train between the cities of Mandalay and Myawaddy to report on violent clashes in the Lay Kay Kaw town between military authorities and anti-junta militia groups, the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Peoples Defence Force. Lay Kay Kaw, in the southeastern Karen state, was built in 2015 as part of a ceasefire with the military and KNU. Following the 2021 military coup, the town has been a hotspot for anti-junta resistance. Since the military coup, media freedoms and protections for journalists have rapidly declined. Myanmar is considered the worlds second-worst jailer of journalists behind China. The junta have revoked media licences, imposed internet restrictions and arbitrarily arrested media workers. According to Reporting ASEAN, as of March 31, 122 journalists and media staff have been arrested, 48 currently detained, and 22 have been convicted. The IFJ said: The junta continue to use terrorism charges to arbitrarily censor, detain and charge journalists and media workers. The IFJ calls for the immediate release of Maung Maung Myo and urges the Myanmar military authorities to drop all charges against him. China to implement fishing moratorium on high seas Xinhua) 10:55, May 26, 2022 BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- China will carry out voluntary fishing moratoriums in certain parts of high seas this year, said a circular released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. It said a fishing moratorium will be launched in certain parts of international waters of north Indian Ocean on a trial basis for the first time. Fishing bans in the high seas of the southwest Atlantic and north Indian Ocean will take place between July 1 and September 30, while the fishing moratorium in east Pacific open sea will run from September 1 to November 30. During the fishing moratorium, all Chinese distant-water fishing vessels, including squid boats and trawlers, will stop fishing in related waters, said the ministry. Since 2020, China has implemented voluntary fishing bans on key high seas fishing grounds in the southwest Atlantic and east Pacific for two consecutive years, according to the ministry. The fishing ban in the past two years has involved 70 Chinese distant-water fishing firms and around 1,500 squid boats and trawlers, and no illegal fishing activities were found, the ministry noted. According to monitoring and analysis from relevant scientific research institutions, growth of squid has improved and the average squid catch per vessel has increased in the parts of high seas where the country's fishing moratorium was implemented, said an official with the ministry. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) On May 24, a woman in Uvalde, Texas, cries and hugs a young girl while on the phone outside the Willie de Leon Civic Center where grief counseling will be offered. Photo: Getty Images Small businesses are nothing without their communities. And when tragedy strikes close to home, many entrepreneurs feel a responsibility to act--fast. That's exactly what happened after a gunman entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, May 24, killing 19 children and 2 adults. Local business owners, including those in the closest metropolitan area, San Antonio, have quickly rallied to support the families of the victims. "My heart tore up and broke when I heard the news," says Charles Moreno, the founder of ChazzMo's Barbecue, a Central Texas-style barbecue pop-up in Castroville, a town on the western outskirts of San Antonio. Moreno, who lived and worked in the Uvalde area for eight years and still has many friends and family members nearby, started his barbecue business in the early days of the pandemic, grilling out of his backyard. After launching his business on social media, he was floored by his community's support and invested in a professional smoker and truck to grow his business. Now, he's giving back, especially since he has personal connections to the tragedy: He has several friends who are related to the victims of the shooting, including the husband of one of the teachers killed. He is currently running a brisket plate fundraiser and donating all proceeds to the victims' families through a fund set up by the First State Bank of Uvalde. "It's the least I can do when these poor, innocent, little lives were lost," he says. Daniel Harris, a San Antonio veteran and serial entrepreneur who opened the second location of his bar, the Rusty Nail, just two weeks ago, also quickly started a fundraiser. All this week, he is donating 50 percent of all food sales to the families of victims, in addition to providing free meals to first responders who visit the establishment in uniform, teachers, and anyone grieving the loss of a loved one. After the Uvalde shooting, the Rusty Nail's recently hired manager, Brian Davis, called Harris and suggested they do something to help the community. "I got goosebumps," Harris says. "We're on the highway to San Antonio, so if any family members are going to the hospital there, they can stop and get some free food--we want to do whatever we can do." Over the next two days, the San Antonio-based coffee and chai shop Amaretti Coffee will donate 100 percent of profits to victims' families. "When it hits close to home, you just want to help out as much as possible," says founder Nirav Amarnath, who has been running the business for a little over six months. He hopes that other local businesses find ways to show their support in the wake of the tragedy. "No matter the amount of money you donate, it's still something that can help families going through a tough time," he says. "As a business owner, you can spread a lot of inspiration [through your actions]." Although the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce could not be reached for comment at this time, more local businesses have expressed their support on social media. Two local funeral service providers, Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary and Hillcrest Memorial, shared statements on Facebook saying that they would provide services for the families of the victims at no charge. "For over 60 years, we have supported Uvalde and beyond," wrote a spokesperson for Rushing-Estes-Knowles on Facebook. "Today, our resolve is stronger than ever." This year's Uvalde Honey Festival, which was set for June 10th and 11th and included street vendors, a silent auction, live music, and more, has been canceled. "Our hearts are broken. Our town is devastated. In our grief, and our brokenness, and our sorrow, we will come together to support and love our community," an organizer wrote on Facebook. The importance of community, especially in a dark time, cannot be overstated. It's one of the reasons why Harris--a self-proclaimed people-person--became an entrepreneur after finishing his military service. Harris and Moreno both stress that their fundraising efforts are made not with the goal of promoting their businesses or attracting new customers--but to sincerely give back to the families impacted by Tuesday's tragedy. We track the list of changes and new rules impacting collection of income tax in India and tax compliance for FY 2022-23. This article will be periodically updated as new circulars or clarifications are issued by tax authorities. Expatriates are advised to check their residency status to assess exposure to tax liabilities in India and accordingly manage reporting compliances. As the new financial year (FY) 2022-23 begins from April 1, several income tax and financial changes will come into effect. We provide a list of such changes applicable from April 1, 2022. To prevent confusion regarding key tax compliances and reporting requirements, businesses are welcome to reach out to our tax advisors at india@dezshira.com. Higher TDS from April 1 if ITR for FY 2020-21 not filed As per the announcement made in the Union Budget 2022, if ITR for one year is not filed, then higher TDS, TCS will be applicable in the next financial year. It must be noted that this higher TDS will not be applicable if the source of income is salary or provident fund. However, higher TDS will be deducted from interest income, dividend income, etc. as specified under the Income-tax Act. Update On May 17, 2022, the CBDT released a circular informing that non-ITR filers would be subject to higher tax deduction at source (TDS) from the ongoing financial year, FY23. The circular (see here) explained the criteria determining the non-filer or specified person who would be subject to the higher TDS for FY 2022-23. Higher rate was twice the prescribed rate or 5%, whichever is higher. Specified person meant a person who satisfies both the following conditions: He has not filed the returns of income for both of the two assessment years relevant to the two previous years immediately before the previous year in which tax is required to be deducted/collected. Two previous years to be counted are required to be those whose return filing date under sub-section (I) of section 139 has expired. Aggregate of tax deducted at source and tax collected at source is INR 50,000 or more in each of these two previous years. Thus, banks will be required to check if the individual has met both conditions to attract a higher TDS. Once the individual files a valid ITR for AY 2021-22 during the current financial year, they will be removed from the list of specified persons attracting higher withholding tax. Specified persons do not include non-residents who do not have a permanent establishment in India. Tax on cryptocurrency and other virtual digital assets A new section 115BBH has been inserted into the Income-tax Act, 1961 for taxation of virtual digital assets. Effective from FY 2022-23, gains from various virtual digital assets, such as bitcoin, dogecoin, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), etc. will be taxed at a rate of 30 percent, plus cess and surcharges. Cryptocurrency transactions for the ongoing year (FY 2021-22 period) will also be taxed. It must be noted that no deduction towards any expenditure (except cost of acquisition) will be permissible. Further, loss from the transfer of virtual digital assets cannot be set off against any other income. Recently, the government also clarified that the gains from one virtual digital asset will not be allowed to be set off against losses from other virtual digital assets. Additionally, it also proposed to provide for deduction of tax on payment for the transfer of virtual digital assets to a resident at the rate of one percent of such consideration above a monetary threshold, which is INR 50,000 in the case of specified persons and INR 10,000 in case of non-specified persons. Tax on provident fund (PF) account Effective April 1, the tax will be imposed on interest earned on the contribution to Employees Provident Fund (EPF) if the amount is in excess of the threshold limit of INR 250,000 every year. This new rule is governed under section 9D of the Income-Tax Act. For the purpose of calculation, the contribution to the PF accounts up to INR 250,000 is tax-free. But, if an employee contributes in excess of the above-mentioned limit, the tax will be imposed on the interest portion earned on the excess contribution. To calculate the interest that will be taxable in the hands of an employee, a new EPF account will be created, if the EPF contributions in FY 2021-22 exceeds INR 250,000. This rule has been introduced for targeting high-earning taxpayers, to prevent them from taking advantage of the government-backed scheme. For individuals not having employers contribution to their EPF accounts, such as government employees, the threshold is INR 500,000. Filing of updated income tax return (ITR) A new provision has been introduced that allows filing updated tax returns within a period of two years from the end of the relevant assessment year. Earlier, the taxpayer only had a window of five months from the due date of filing returns, to revise the tax returns. However, it must be noted that the updated return cannot be filed to report additional loss or decrease in the tax liability. This provision is introduced to provide an opportunity to include missed or undisclosed income or any other error leading to less filing of tax in the original tax return. When reporting such additional income, the taxpayer would also be required to pay additional tax at the rate of 25 percent if the updated return is filed in the first year or 50 percent on the additional tax if the updated return is filed in the second year, that is 13-24 months after the end of the relevant assessment year. The tax is required to be paid before the filing of the updated tax return and proof to that extent is required to be attached while filing the updated return. Tax relief on COVID-19 treatment expenses and compensation As per the Press Release on June 2021, tax exemption has been provided to persons who have received money for COVID medical treatment. Similarly, money received by family members on the death of a person due to COVID will be exempt up to INR 1 million for family members if such payment is received within 12 months from the date of death. This amendment will be effective retrospectively from April 1, 2020. Tax relief to persons with disability Union Budget 2022 has relaxed certain provisions under section 80DD, offering a tax break for the care of disabled persons. As per the new provision, if an individual buys a life insurance policy for a disabled person, then an individual can claim a tax deduction even if policy benefits (such as annuity payments) start during the lifetime of such individual, who has purchased the insurance cover. Earlier, deduction under section 80DD was allowed when the annuity from the life insurance policy was received by the disabled person after the death of the individual. The new law will be applicable for life insurance policies bought from FY 2022-23 onwards. Deduction on such policies will be claimed in the next years ITR fling. Withdrawal of tax benefit to new homebuyers The tax incentive for homebuyers, announced in FY 2019-20 and extended till FY 2021-22, has not been extended to this fiscal. This implies that from FY 2022-23, homebuyers will have to pay more tax. Earlier, the government had announced an additional INR 150,000 income tax benefit on home loans to those buying a house up to INR 4.5 million. New TDS rules on sale of immovable property As per the new TDS rules on sale and purchase of immovable property, which will come into effect from April 1, 2022, the buyer of immovable property will deduct tax at the rate of one percent on the sum paid to the seller or stamp duty value of the property, whichever is higher. TDS on sale of immovable property is applicable if the sale value of immovable property/ stamp duty of the property exceeds INR 5 million. Earlier, tax was deducted on the money paid by the buyer to the seller. Senior citizens aged 75 years and above exempted from fling ITR Effective from April 1, 2022, senior citizens aged 75 years and above are exempted from fling ITR. However, this exemption is available provided certain conditions are fulfilled by the senior citizens. Further, a declaration has to be given by the senior citizen to the bank. State government employees to claim deduction for NPS contribution The deductions can be claimed by the employees of the state government under the Section 80CCD(2) for NPS contribution by the employer up to 14 percent of their basic salary and dearness allowance, which is in line with the deduction available to the central government employees under the said section. Other financial changes Linking of savings account with different post office schemes From April 1, 2022, the interest money on Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS), Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS), and Term Deposit Accounts will be available in the savings account only and the taxpayer must ensure that these schemes are linked with their savings account. The taxpayer cannot withdraw interest money in cash by going to the post office. Instead, post linking of these schemes, the interest money will be transferred electronically. The government has made it mandatory to use savings account for depositing monthly, quarterly, annual interest in case of SCSS, Time Deposit accounts. Further, if the savings account or post office is not linked, then the interest will be credited to the sundry office accounts. The outstanding interest in the future will be payable either through credit in post office savings account or via check. The practice of extracting blood from pregnant mares in Iceland has been around for roughly 40 years, but the industry has grown vastly in the last decade. Iceland, Argentina and Uruguay are the only countries in the world that have blood farms where farmers extract blood from pregnant mares. The hormone - Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG) obtained from the extracted blood is used to increase reproduction in other farm animals across the UK and Europe. Photo: world-today-news.com Following the public disclosure of the blood farm crisis seven years ago, several pharmaceutical companies ceased buying PMSG from Uruguay and Argentina and now source it from Iceland. Isteka, a pharmaceutical company in Iceland acquires five litres of blood every week for eight consecutive weeks. PMSG is extracted and converted into powder to be shipped for use. The horses become anaemic or suffer from deficiency disorders as a result of the huge and repetitive blood extractions. And, since blood is drawn during early stages of pregnancy, sometimes the foals are aborted so that the mares can be impregnated twice a year. Photo: Animal Welfare Foundation Tierschutzbund Zurich The European Commission has expressed its distress and the European parliament has called for a ban on the import of PMSG. An international coalition of 17 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have also filed a complaint against Iceland with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Surveillance Authority (ESA), which oversees compliance with EEA standards in Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. A documentary released by the NGO Animal Welfare Foundation on these blood farms and cruel treatment of horses has attracted great attention. Within weeks of its release a bill was introduced in the Icelandic Parliament calling for a ban on blood collection from pregnant mares. Photo: World Animals Voice This practice has been prevalent in Iceland for roughly forty years, but some of the Icelanders interviewed by the Guardian said they were unaware of them until the Animal Welfare Foundation's undercover video was broadcast on television last November. Another survey denoted a large population of Icelanders against the practice of blood farming despite 119 active blood farms in the country.. Simultaneously with the bill, a working committee appointed by the ministry of agriculture is investigating the legal foundation and economic impact of the activity, with results and recommendations due in June 2022. References Blood Farms. (n.d.). Animal Welfare Foundation. Iceland's Blood-Mares Video Emerges, Probe Ordered. (2021, November 23). NDTV.com. Production of PMSG in Iceland. (n.d.). Animal Welfare Foundation. Young, A. (2022, May 16). Iceland urged to ban 'blood farms' that extract hormone from pregnant horses. The Guardian. Big Image Courtesy: grapevine.is A 6-year-old child died after falling into an open borewell. Ritik was playing with her sister when dogs started chasing him. He was the youngest among 5 siblings. His parents were farm labourers in Hoshiarpur, Punjab. The state government announced an ex gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh to his family. The first such incident was reported from Kurukshetra in 2006 when a six-year-old Prince fell into an open borewell. He was rescued by the rescue team. ANI/Representational image Why do such accidents continue to take place and if there are no rules and regulations to tackle the issue? What is a borewell? A deep, narrow hole is drilled into the ground to pull out water using a pipe and a pump is called a borewell. They are usually small in diameter (4.5 inches to 12 inches). First introduced in 1970, the borewell technology taps into aquifers, water-bearing soil or rock layers. India has over 27 million borewells India has over 27 million borewells, of which several are dried up and no longer in use. In such a situation, usually, the pipe and the iron cast are removed, leaving behind an open hole. They are removed to show that the well is no longer useful. According to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), since 2009, over 40 children have died after falling into borewells and over 70 % of rescue operations failed. As water is a state subject, there is a dearth of national-level data on open borewells. Is there any guideline to tackle the issue? When a plethora of incidents of children falling into borewells was reported, the Supreme Court of India intervened and laid down certain safety measures to be followed by the state governments in 2010. Representational image The guidelines include the concerned government officials are required of borewell construction to be informed at least 15 days in advance by any landowner. The drilling agencies should mandatorily register with the district administration. It is necessary to install barbed wire fencing or any other barriers at the site. What needs to be done? Significantly, the safety measures also include the filling up of abandoned borewells with clay, sand, etc. to the ground level. The best way to prevent borewell deaths is to seal borewells after they are declared dead and the NDRF suggests doing this with mud, pebbles and clay. The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) data suggests that a lack of warning signs and the flimsy covering of borewells are among several reasons causing such accidents. However, the lack of penalty aspect is making drilling agencies and the public ignorant and careless. Students developed a robotic instrument to rescue children Youtube/Representational image A group of three students from APS Polytechnic developed a robotic instrument to rescue children who fall into open borewells. The robotic instrument uses a pneumatic cylinder and a compressor to create a vertical movement. The instrument is equipped with robotic arms to help in lifting the ked from the borewell. It is also equipped with a high-definition camera and oxygen meter. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. A Florida-based space company has blasted off the cremated remains of 47 individuals into space this week, according to a report by WKMG. SpaceX Also Read: Elon Musk Believes SpaceX Flight To Mars Possible Within 10 Years The private space startup, Celestis, blasted off a SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket from Floridas Space Coast. The ashes are attached to a telecommunications satellite and will be orbiting our planet for another whole decade. The loved ones will be provided with the exact GPS locations of the ashes to see where they are. The ashes will eventually make their journey back to Earth after a decade -- after the satellite is decommissioned and gets burned up in Earths atmosphere during re-entry. The space company was set up by Charles Chafer in the 1990s. He said in a statement, Id like to say that there arent any other funerals or memorial services that have as much cheering and high fiving as we do when that rocket lifts off. On Monday, around 160 people from across the world arrived in Brevard County to be a part of the three-day memorial for their loved ones, all leading up to the launch on Wednesday. One of the individuals who signed up their loved ones to be cremated in space was Michael Dufton. His mother trained with NASA around 60 years ago as part of the first all-female Mercury Mission crew. The mission was eventually scrapped due to concerns over women in space. Celestis Also read: Elon Musk's Year In Review: Becoming World's Richest Person To Conquering Space In a conversation with WKMG, he said, She was invited to participate in that, and that was one of her greatest regrets in life that she never got to go to outer space. At the end of 10 years, it will eventually return to the atmosphere as a shooting star along with all those on board. One Melissa Casey is sending the remains of her son, Travis to space, aboard the Celestis rocket. Coming from Ohio, he passed away a year ago and according to Casey it was his sons dream to be cremated and sent to space. He is going to be so proud to be up there, hanging out with all these other families and watching over all of us, she said in a conversation with WKMG. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com. A tour of the Taj Mahal left a bitter aftertaste for four tourists. The tourists were arrested on Thursday for offering 'namaz' at the mosque on the Taj Mahal premises, the police said. The four men were spotted offering namaz at the Shahi mosque around 5 pm on Wednesday. Unsplash According to Agra Superintendent of Police (SP) Vikas Kumar, three accused hailed from Hyderabad, while the other was from Azamgarh. They have all been booked under section 153 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Uttar Pradesh | Four people were arrested for offering namaz at the mosque in Taj Mahal premises. Three of them are from Hyderabad and one is from Azamgarh. They have been booked under section 153 of IPC. They have been presented in the court: Vikas Kumar, SP City Agra pic.twitter.com/WTU30EjzcY ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 26, 2022 The plea was filed by Rajneesh Singh, a BJP youth media in charge, before the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court, which sought 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. Unsplash "Namaz has been offered at the mosque of the Taj Mahal regularly. But some days ago, the ASI cited a Supreme Court order barring the offering of the namaz on the mosque premises except on Friday," said Ibrahim Zaidi, the head of the Intezamia Committee at Taj Mahal. Zaidi said the committee has asked the ASI to put the prohibition in writing with proof and display a board announcing the ban on the tourists. Vinod Dixit, a tourist guide from Lucknow, who was with the tourists, added that they didn't know about any such rule, nor was anything mentioned on a notice board. Unsplash Dixit was quoted as saying, "They had no idea that they could not offer namaz. They did it by mistake. There was no notice board saying that it is prohibited. " According to a PTI report said they were accosted by officials from the ASI and CISF and handed over to the local police. Agencies According to a Supreme Court order, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) said that offering the namaz inside the premises of the UNESCO-protected world heritage site is prohibited on all days except Friday. The superintending archaeologist of the ASI, Agra Circle, Raj Kumar Patel, said even on Fridays, only residents of the Tajganj localitywhere the mausoleum is locatedare allowed to pray between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., according to a Supreme Court order. File Image Earlier in the month, the Taj Mahal made headlines after the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court rejected a plea seeking to open 22 closed rooms in the Taj Mahal to ascertain the presence of the idols of Hindu deities. (For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.) If you're tired of the city life where you hear the cars honking more than the birds chirping, then there is a peaceful life awaiting you. The Scottish government is offering 50,000 (Rs 48,47,597) to families and young people willing to move to the Scottish islands. This is a bid to reduce depopulation on the likes of Orkney and the Isle of Skye. The 50,000 will be offered to 100 people until 2026 with a number of applications already received from as far away as South America. Google Maps This is part of the National Islands Plan. It aims to boost resident numbers on the islands which are regularly voted the most beautiful in the world. Alasdair Allan, the SNP MSP for the Western Isles, told The Times: Depopulation is one of the biggest threats to our island communities. Anything we can do to reverse depopulation trends should be encouraged. These bonds will support people to buy homes, start businesses and otherwise make their lives here for the long-term. Introducing the 5 million Islands Bond fund, it read: The Scottish Government committed to developing a 5 million Islands Bond fund, providing up to 50,000 each for up to 100 households by 2026, by providing financial support for island residents to remain in their community, or to encourage people to move there. Unsplash/ Representative Image We launched the Islands Bond consultation on 2 August 2021, providing an opportunity for our island residents in particular to identify the key challenges that a bond may be able to respond to. However, many are not happy with this plan. Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur urged the government to use the cash on measures that would benefit the communities as a whole. He told the news outlet: The proposed islands bond is set to benefit only a small minority. It also has the potential to open up divisions rather than tackle the root causes of depopulation in island communities. Poor transport connections, non-existent broadband and unaffordable housing are just some of the factors holding back economic prosperity. Unsplash This may not be something that localities like, but who wouldn't want to live in the most beautiful parts of the world and also get paid to do that. Sign us up before the Scottish government changes their mind. H/T: The Times Follow us on telegram. Horse racing was quite a popular sport in England back in the '90s. However, being a jockey wasn't everyone's cup of tea. It was so difficult sometimes that you had to pay with your life to win a race. A jockey named Frank Hayes won a horse racing competition despite suffering a fatal heart attack near the end of a two-mile contest at Belmont Part in New York, US. The man's limp and lifeless body however was still lying intact in the saddle as the horses kept racing on the tracks, jumping fences in a rush to the winning post. No one could match the 20-1 outsider Sweet Kiss who was a surprise winner at the race. 103FM But when the horse won the race, people were left in shock when they saw Hayes's body dropping off the saddle. Reports said track doctor John Voorhees ran over to examine Hayes but pronounced him dead 'immediately'. According to the doctor, the jockey whose age was categorised between 23 and 35 suffered a mid-race heart attack. The incident occurred back in 1923. However, what exactly caused the heart attack is still quite a mystery. One theory was that it may have been brought on by his extreme weight cut before the race. Unsplash A report from the time said he had lost just under a stone in the days leading up to the contest. Another report said the weight loss was only a contributory factor and that his excitement of riding in the pack ultimately led to his demise. Poor Hayes technically never got to celebrate his first and only win because he was dead by the time he won the race. According to a report by CNN, the horse Hayes was riding, Sweet Kiss never ran again. The horse eve acquired the pet name - Sweet Kiss Of Death. Unsplash/ Representational Pic Hayes' achievement landed him a place in the Guinness Book of Records for being the 'only jockey to ride to victory after his own death'. "Despite his sudden death, Hayes somehow remained in the saddle long enough for the 20-1 long shot to jump the final fence and cross the finish line in the first place," it says. A week after his death, Hayes was buried in the same riding silks he wore during his first win. H/T: CNN Follow us on telegram. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! NEWPORT, R.I. Three firefighters were injured battling a major fire at a recently renovated hotel in Newport, Rhode Island, fire officials said. The fire at the Wayfinder Hotel was reported at about 8 p.m. Monday and crews remained on the scene on Tuesday morning. Nearly 100 firefighters from multiple municipalities responded to the blaze and all guests made it out safely, fire Chief Harp Donnelly IV told The Newport Daily News. The Red Cross responded to assist displaced guests find new accommodations. The cause remains under investigation. The four-story hotel has nearly 200 guest rooms, according to its website. The injured firefighters are expected to recover, Deputy Chief Mark Riding said at the scene Tuesday. We had one firefighter go through the floor. He was rescued by the crew that was with him. We dont know if it was from the heat or the water weight that was causing collapses, he said. As soon as the firefighter went through the floor all companies were pulled out. Hotel ownership in a statement said they were deeply grateful for the efforts of firefighters. With the support of all the first responders and our local community members, we can confirm that all employees and guests were safely evacuated, said Phil Hospod, CEO and founder of Dovetail+Co, which owns the Wayfinder. At this time, we are solely focused on the wellbeing of our guests and employees. The hotel reopened in the summer of 2020 after a $16 million renovation project. Elsewhere in New England, the Beach Cove Waterfront Inn in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, was destroyed by a fire on Monday night. The state fire marshals office is investigating. The fire chief said no one was hurt. The owners were at the inn, which was scheduled to open on Memorial Day weekend. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Adult sexual assault survivors who missed legal deadlines to sue their abusers would get a second chance to file lawsuits under a bill that received final approval Monday from New Yorks Legislature. Once it becomes law, the Adult Survivors Act would set give victims of sexual abuse a one-year window in which the states usual statute of limitations for civil lawsuits would be set aside. The bill is modeled after New Yorks now-expired Child Victims Act, which gave people a similar second chance to sue over sexual abuse they suffered as children. That window was initially scheduled to last for a year but was twice extended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. By the time that widow closed, more than 9,000 lawsuits had been filed, many against institutions like churches, schools, camps and scout groups. Advocates for abuse survivors had pushed for a similar lookback window for people abused when they were 18 or older. Sexual assault steals a piece of ones soul whether one is 6, 16 or 60, said the bills lead sponsor in the Assembly, Linda Rosenthal, a Manhattan Democrat. All survivors of sexual abuse deserve justice and to have their day in court, said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, also a Democrat. The state Assembly approved the bill by a 140 to 3 vote Monday after it passed the state Senate last month. It is now headed to Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has said she intends to sign it. The lookback window for lawsuits will begin six months after Hochul signs the bill into law. It is unclear whether the law would have as big an impact as the Child Victims Act, which created a wave of litigation that could take years to resolve. Several Roman Catholic dioceses in the state declared bankruptcy amid the torrent of lawsuits over abusive clergy. Similar laws involving children in other states prompted lawsuits elsewhere, too, a factor in the 2020 bankruptcy of the Boy Scouts of America. That law, though, only applied to people who were under age 18 when they were abused, based on a theory that at a young age, they couldnt be expected to tell a court what had happened to them. Many lawmakers were initially reluctant to open a similar window for people sexually assaulted as adults, reasoning that they were more capable of fighting for themselves in a court of law. Ordinarily, states impose deadlines on how long someone can wait to sue in civil court because it becomes more difficult to hold a fair trail as witnesses memories fade and evidence is lost. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits New York New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Delaware Gov. John Carney on Tuesday vetoed a bill to legalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by adults for recreational use, drawing the wrath of fellow Democrats who have fought for years to make weed legal. In vetoing the measure, Carney reiterated his previously expressed concerns about legalizing recreational pot concerns that did not dissuade fellow Democrats from pushing the legislation through the General Assembly. I recognize the positive effect marijuana can have for people with certain health conditions, and for that reason, I continue to support the medical marijuana industry in Delaware, Carney said in returning the bill to the state House. I supported decriminalization of marijuana because I agree that individuals should not be imprisoned solely for the possession and private use of a small amount of marijuana and today, thanks to Delawares decriminalization law, they are not. That said, I do not believe that promoting or expanding the use of recreational marijuana is in the best interests of the state of Delaware, especially our young people. Questions about the long-term health and economic impacts of recreational marijuana use, as well as serious law enforcement concerns, remain unresolved. Carneys veto comes just days after legislation to establish a state-run marijuana industry in Delaware failed to clear the state House for a second time. The Democrat-controlled chamber voted 23-15 on Thursday to approve the bill, which fell two votes short of the required supermajority. The proposal requires a three-fifths majority in both the House and Senate because it creates a new tax, consisting of a 15% levy on retail marijuana sales. Last weeks vote came two months after a similar measure failed in the House on a 23-14 vote, and just hours after Carneys office received the companion legalization bill. Without legalization, the creation of a state-run pot industry is a moot issue. Veto Override? Its unclear whether Democratic lawmakers will try to override Carneys veto, which would be a rare occurrence. The last time Delaware lawmakers held a vote to override a veto was in 1990. The last time they succeeded was in 1977, when the House and the Senate voted to override then-Gov. Pete du Ponts veto of the states budget bill. Rep. Ed Osienski, a Newark Democrat and chief sponsor of both bills, said in a statement that he was deeply disappointed by Carneys decision and would review his options. Senate Democrats echoed Osienskis assertion that Carney had chosen to ignore the will of Delawareans. The members of the Delaware General Assembly have been fighting for years to end the failed war on marijuana and we will not be stopped by this latest setback, read a statement from chief Senate sponsor Trey Paradee and Senate president Dave Sokola. Betsy Maron, chairwoman of the Delaware Democratic Party, said she was confident that lawmakers could trump Carneys veto and make legalization a reality. Last year, we went as far as to include it in our party platform, which passed unanimously at the 2021 state convention, Maron said in a statement. Delawares voters have further solidified their voice on the matter by electing Democratic candidates to the legislature that support legalization. We are confident those legislators will override the veto knowing they have the support of Delawares Democrats. Osienski carved the legalization and industry-creation proposals into two separate bills in late March after the House rejected broader legislation that sought to do both. That cleared the way for passage of the legalization bill, which did not include any tax provision and thus required only a simple majority. The legalization bill cleared the Democrat-controlled Senate with no Republican support. Sen. Bruce Ennis of Smyrna was the only Democrat joining GOP lawmakers in opposition. Two Democrats, including Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, voted against the legalization bill in the House, along with 12 of the 15 GOP representatives. Ennis and Schwartzkopf are both retired state troopers. Supporters of a state-run marijuana industry argue that it would create jobs, boost state coffers and shrink the illegal black market. Opponents contend that legalization and a state-licensed cultivation and sales would lead to increased marijuana use among teens and young adults, expose business owners to liability, and result in more traffic deaths and injuries. They also say establishing a state-run market with a 15% tax on retail sales would do little to eliminate illegal sales. The Associated Press reported earlier this year that legalization had done little to discourage black market sales in California, and that some licensees there are simultaneously participating in the black market in order to make a profit. Californias governor has now proposed a temporary tax cut for the marijuana industry to help struggling businesses. Currently, recreational marijuana use is permitted in 18 states and the District of Columbia. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Cannabis Delaware A logistically risky and costly transfer of crude between tankers at sea highlights the steps at least one Chinese buyer is willing to take to ensure the smooth flow of oil from eastern Russia to Asia. Buyers are using creative ways to maintain flows as more shipowners shun Russian oil due to the potential fallout from financial sanctions, according to shipbrokers. Small vessels are being used to shuttle between Russias Kozmino port and the waters off Yeosu in South Korea, where cargoes undergo ship-to-ship transfer to supertankers for the next leg of the journey to China. This process is unusual for ESPO crude, a type of Russian oil thats typically loaded onto smaller tankers for a direct, five-day journey to China. While it adds to overall sailing time and costs, brokers said the practice is becoming more common as shipowners and buyers prioritize a ready supply of small vessels to ferry oil out of Kozmino in short runs. Insurance (or Lack of It) Is Russian Oils Achilles Heel Willing buyers of Russian crude are set to benefit from steep discounts relative to global benchmark prices as others avoid deals with Moscow due to its war in Ukraine. Cheap oil has made it attractive for top consumers such as China and India to keep importing from the OPEC+ producer, despite facing international condemnation and mounting logistical and financial hurdles. China is set to take almost all of the ESPO loadings this month, a grade that often flows to other countries such as South Korea and Japan due to the close proximity and simple logistics. Cargoes are typically transported directly from loading to receiving ports on aframax and Long Range-2 tankers. Shrinking Fleet The number of shipowners and insurers willing to handle loadings from eastern and western Russia is dwindling, said shipbrokers. This has created a logistical challenge for producers and buyers as they work with fewer tankers and need to consider how best to deploy the types of ships available. Yang Li Hu and Yang Mei Hu both LR-2 tankers loaded ESPO between May 16 and May 18, before traveling toward Yeosu to transfer oil to supertanker Yuan Qiu Hu, according to ship-tracking data. The very-large crude carrier was only three-quarters full when it headed for China. The vessels are owned by Chinas Cosco Shipping Holdings Co., according to shipbrokers, while Unipec chartered the tankers. Nobody answered calls to the spokesmans office at Cosco, while an email wasnt immediately responded to. A Beijing-based official with the press office at China Petrochemical Corp. Unipecs parent declined to comment. A COVID-19 resurgence in China sapped some demand and crimped its long-haul crude imports, leading to an ample supply of VLCCs. The abundance of bigger ships means that the rare ESPO ship-to-ship transfer could be replicated more often as the smaller vessels make shorter trips. Shipbrokers said smaller tankers which are suited to shuttle cargoes out of Kozmino efficiently are now in high demand. Since the recent transfer, Yang Li Hu picked up another ESPO cargo on May 23 and is en route to Yeosu, while Yang Mei Hu is scheduled to reach Kozmino for its next loading on May 26. While ship-to-ship transfers from small to large tankers are common for long-haul shipments of crude such as Russias Urals, which is increasingly flowing from the Baltic Sea to Asia, its almost unheard of for ESPO. Thats due to the short voyage required to deliver cargoes to major customers in Asia. Shipowners such as Cosco Shipping and Russias Sovcomflot are handling a sizable amount of Russian crude from ports such as Kozmino and Ust Luga in the Baltic Sea. In recent weeks, others such as Maersk wound up their Russian dealings, while more companies are taking a wait-and-see approach on concerns of harsher rules and a potential oil ban by the European Union. With assistance from Sharon Cho and Sarah Chen. Photograph: A crew member walks on the deck of an oil tanker anchored in the Pacific Ocean in this aerial photograph taken above Long Beach, California, U.S., on Friday, May 1, 2020. Photo credit: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Russia Energy Oil Gas China TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Rescuers dug through debris Tuesday of a building collapse in southwestern Iran that killed at least 14 people, fearful that many more could still be trapped beneath the rubble as authorities arrested the citys mayor in a widening probe of the disaster. The collapse Monday of an under-construction 10-story tower at the Metropol Building exposed its cement blocks and steel beams while also underscoring an ongoing crisis in Iranian construction projects that has seen other disasters in this earthquake-prone nation. Video from the initial collapse Monday showed thick dust rise over Abadan, a crucial oil-producing city in Khuzestan province, near Irans border with Iraq. The Metropol Building included two towers, one already built and the other under construction, though its bottom commercial floors had been finished and already had tenants. On Tuesday, an emergency official interviewed on state television suggested that some 50 people may have been inside of the building at the time of the collapse, including people moving into its basement floors. However, it wasnt clear if that figure included those already pulled from the rubble. At least 39 people were injured, most of them lightly, officials earlier said. Aerial drone footage aired Tuesday showed the floors had pancaked on top of each other, leaving a pile of dusty, gray debris. A construction crane stood still nearby as a single backhoe dug. State TV, quoting Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi late Tuesday night, said at least 14 people had been killed. An angry crowd at the site chased and beat Abadan Mayor Hossein Hamidpour immediately after the collapse, according to the semiofficial ILNA news agency and online videos. Police later arrested Hamidpour and nine others, Iranian media reported Tuesday. Initially, authorities said the buildings owner and its general contractor had been arrested as well, though a later report from the judiciarys Mizan news agency said Tuesday that the two men had been killed in the collapse. The conflicting reports could not be immediately reconciled. Authorities offered no immediate word on whether those detained faced charges and it wasnt immediately clear if lawyers represented them. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi offered his condolences and appealed to the local authorities to get to the bottom of the case. Irans vice president in charge of economic affairs, Mohsen Razaei, and Vahidi visited the site. Lawmakers opened a separate parliament inquiry into the case Tuesday, trying to determine why the building on Amir Kabir Street collapsed during a sandstorm. However, there was no major earthquake recorded Monday near Abadan, some 660 kilometers (410 miles) southwest of Tehran. A local journalist in Abadan had repeatedly raised concerns about the buildings construction, beginning from last year, publishing images that he said showed sagging floors at the first tower. He also alleged corruption in the building permits process. Later Tuesday, the state-run IRNA news agency quoted Faramarz Zoghi, a construction expert and adviser to Irans construction engineers league, as saying that definitely national construction measures were not observed at the site. Authorities also declared a one-day mourning period Wednesday over the disaster. Abadan became the focus of development by the British beginning in 1909 as they built what became the worlds largest oil refinery at the time. Iran later nationalized its oil industry in the decades before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iraqs long war on Iran in the 1980s saw Abadan and the surrounding region destroyed in the fighting. In the years since, fast private and state-linked construction projects rebuilt the area, amid complaints of shoddy construction practices. The collapse reminded many of the 2017 fire and collapse of the iconic Plasco building in Tehran that killed 26 people. Abadan previously has suffered through historic disasters as well. In 1978, an intentionally set fire at Cinema Rex in the city killed hundreds. Anger over the blaze triggered unrest across Irans oil-rich regions and helped lead to the Islamic Revolution that toppled Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. Photograph: In this photo provided by Fars News Agency, a 10-story commercial building under construction collapsed in the southwestern city of Abadan, Iran, Monday, May 23, 2022. There are fears the casualty toll could be much higher as more than 80 people were still believed to be trapped under the rubble after the Metropol building toppled, burying shops and even some cars in the surrounding streets, state TV reported. Photo credit: Mohammad Amin Ansari, Fars News Agency via AP. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Mexico will go to local and international courts if there is no agreement with U.S. firm Vulcan Materials over its mining activity in the eastern state of Quintana Roo, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Wednesday. The Mexican government shut down operations of the company earlier this month, citing concerns over the impact of the companys underwater limestone extraction on the local environment and water table. The presidents comments were the latest chapter in a long-running dispute between Mexicos government and the Alabama-based company. At a regular new conference, Lopez Obrador said the companys methods to extract limestone amounted to ecological catastrophe and said that discussions were being held with the company to find another use for the site. What is very clear is that were not permitting any more extraction of the material, the president said, adding that operations would remain suspended until an agreement was reached on the sites future use. Lopez Obrador has previously complained about the areas destruction as a result of Vulcans mine. In February, Mexicos government said it was negotiating the settlement of a $1.1 billion lawsuit by Vulcan over a previous closure of the quarry. In April, Interior Minister Adan Augusto Lopez said Vulcan had accepted a proposal to turn the quarry into a tourist attraction. U.S.-based Vulcan, a leading producer of gravel, sand and crushed stone, operates in Mexico through its Calica unit, which has several concessions in the southeastern state of Quintana Roo, where it mines crushed limestone that is later shipped to the United States, where it is used in construction. In an email on Wednesday, Vulcan spokesperson Janet F. Kavinoky said the company was seeking to restart suspended operations. As we have indicated in the past, Vulcan has the necessary permits to operate and intends to vigorously pursue all lawful avenues available to it in order to protect its rights and resume normal operations, Kavinoky said. Earlier this month, a group of 10 U.S. Republican senators sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden asking him to take a stronger stance against Lopez Obradors aggression toward U.S. companies in Mexico, citing the Vulcan case. (Reporting by Valentine Hilaire and Brendan OBoyle; editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Sandra Maler) Topics Lawsuits Catastrophe USA Mexico Mining Oneglobal Appoints IRBs Oka as CEO Reinsurance Brazil Oneglobal Broking announced the appointment of Adriano Oka as CEO Reinsurance Brazil. Oka will report to Nery Silva, CEO Mercosul, Oneglobal Brazil. The appointment is effective immediately. Oka will have responsibility for all reinsurance operations within Brazil and will be looking to build out the team. Oka is a highly experienced insurance and reinsurance professional with more than 20 years experience in the market. Prior to joining Oneglobal, he worked as underwriting director P&C International and Oil & Gas for IRB Brazil Re. Prior to this he was CEO of Carpenter Marsh Brazil following the integration of MMC Group with JLT Group. During his time at JLT Re, Oka held several leadership roles including leading the Energy division of JLT Re Brazil and was latterly promoted to chief strategy officer (CSO) of JLT Brazil Holdings. *** Chubb Names 3 Senior Leaders for Financial Lines in UK, Ireland, S. Africa, Global Markets Chubb has announced three senior appointments to its Financial Lines teams in the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa (UKISA) and Chubb Global Markets (CGM), the companys London Market wholesale and specialty business that includes its Lloyds platform. Nadia Bagijn has been appointed Financial Institutions manager UKISA and CGM, Leon Adeyemi becomes cyber manager for UKISA and CGM, and Mary McGovern has been promoted to Management Liability Manager for UKISA. In her new role, Bagijn will be responsible for the leadership of the Financial Institutions business within UKISA and CGM, including setting and driving the growth strategy for both. Bagijn has worked in the insurance industry for 19 years. Prior to joining Chubb, she held financial institutions underwriting leadership roles at several major carriers in the UK, U.S. and Australia. Adeyemi, who was previously cyber senior underwriter CGM, will now be responsible for the leadership of the cyber team within UKISA and CGM. His role will include implementing cyber strategy for Chubbs major accounts and mid-market clients in UKISA and CGM. McGovern joined Chubb in 2008 and most recently led its London Management Liability business. In her new role, she will be responsible for leading and growing Chubbs management liability portfolio across UKISA. All three will be based in London and will report to Janet Edey, financial lines manager UKISA. Bagijn and Adeyemi will also report to Robert Wilson, chief underwriting officer for CGM. The appointments are effective immediately. Topics Reinsurance Leadership Chubb New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Hackers compromised some online accounts of General Motors Co. customers in April, potentially accessing addresses, phone numbers and other personal information, according to a data breach notice filed with California regulators. In a letter to affected customers, GM said it identified suspicious login attempts to an unspecified number of accounts between April 11 and April 29. The intrusions allowed hackers in some cases to redeem gift cards using reward points. It was unclear how many accounts were affected, although the California Attorney Generals Office reported that nearly 5,000 breach letters were sent to state residents. Social Security numbers and drivers license details werent compromised, the company said. GM told customers that hackers didnt obtain passwords from GMs systems but rather pilfered them from other websites where customers might reuse their login credentials. The company recommended its customers reset their passwords and use unique credentials for each website. A GM spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a request for comment from Bloomberg News. The breach was previously reported by cybernews.com. Photographer: Jeff Kowalsky/Bloomberg Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Cyber New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A class action lawsuit is accusing three automakers and a parts manufacturer of knowingly selling vehicles containing air bag inflators that are at risk of exploding. Two deaths and at least four injuries have been linked to such explosions. The federal lawsuit, filed Tuesday in San Francisco, names ARC Automotive Inc. of Knoxville, Tennessee, which made the inflators and sold them to air bag manufacturers. The air bag makers, in turn, sold them to General Motors, Ford and Volkswagen, which are named in the lawsuit, too. The five plaintiffs are the owners of vehicles with ARC inflators who contend the defective air bag parts were not disclosed when they made their purchases. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has been investigating ARC inflators for nearly seven years without a resolution, estimates that there are 51 million on U.S. roads. Thats somewhere between 10% and 20% of all passenger vehicles. Yet most drivers have no conclusive way to determine whether their vehicle contains an ARC inflator. Even if they were to tear apart the steering wheel assembly, the internal parts might bear the markings only of the automaker or the air bag manufacturer, not the inflator maker. You could have a ticking time bomb in your lap and youve got no way of knowing, said Frank Melton, a Florida lawyer who is among those filing the new lawsuit. One of the deaths was a mother of 10 who was killed in what appeared to be an otherwise minor crash in Michigans Upper Peninsula last summer. Police reports show that a metal inflator fragment hit her neck in a crash involving a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse SUV. In a statement Tuesday, GM said it hadnt had a chance to review the lawsuit. It said it is dedicated to the safety of its products and customers and is cooperating with NHTSA in its investigation. Messages were left seeking comment from ARC and Ford. Volkswagen declined comment. Degraded Tablets The plaintiffs allege that ARCs inflators use ammonium nitrate as a secondary propellant to inflate the air bags. The propellant is pressed into tablets that can expand and develop microscopic holes if exposed to moisture. Degraded tablets have a larger surface area, causing them to burn too fast and ignite too big of an explosion, according to the lawsuit. The explosion can blow apart a metal canister housing the chemical, sending metal shards into the cabin. Ammonium nitrate, used in fertilizer and as a cheap explosive, is so dangerous that it can burn too fast even without moisture present, the lawsuit says. The plaintiffs allege that ARC inflators have blown apart seven times on U.S. roads and two other times in testing by ARC. There have so far been five limited recalls of the inflators that totaled about 5,000 vehicles, including three recalls by GM. Auto safety advocates say the case seems to mirror the Takata air bag saga that began in the early 2000s, which also involved exploding air bag inflators and resulted in 28 deaths worldwide, hundreds of injuries and the largest automotive recall in U.S. history. So far NHTSA has gathered information but hasnt forced any wider recalls from its investigation that began in July of 2015. Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies Inc., which conducts research for lawyers that sue automakers as well as for other groups, noted that just as in the early stages of the Takata ordeal, many ARC ammonium nitrate inflators remain in use. Its almost like Groundhog Day here, said Kane, who asserts that NHTSA should have acted already. Its not a question of whether it can kill or injure people. It already has. ARC, the lawsuit alleges, knew about the danger of ammonium nitrate in patent applications it filed in 1995 and 1998. In 2019, after several ARC inflators blew apart, ARC acknowledged that its use was not acceptable for automotive air bags, according to the lawsuit. The suit asserts that General Motors, which began recalling Takata ammonium nitrate inflators in 2013, should have known that ARCs inflators were also unstable. GM recalled only a small number of vehicles that contained a particular lot of inflators, despite its knowledge that ARC driver- and passenger-side inflators in various models and model years from 2002 through at least 2015 also had experienced ruptures, the lawsuit said. In its statement Tuesday, GM said it makes recall decisions based on data and facts. It declined to comment further. Systemic Problem The lawsuit alleges that ARCs inflators are marred by a systemic problem rather than just a limited manufacturing defect. In 2014, an ARC inflator in a 2004 Kia Optima blew apart in a crash in New Mexico, injuring the driver. Two years later, the driver of a car made by Kias sister automaker Hyundai was killed in Canada when an ARC inflator exploded in a crash. The lawsuit also names Volkswagen and Ford as defendants, alleging that they represented the air bag inflators as safe while knowing they were dangerous. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating ARC inflators in 2015 after an Ohio woman was injured when an inflator exploded in a Chrysler minivan. At the time the agency estimated that there were 490,000 ARC inflators on the nations roads. The review was elevated to an engineering analysis a step closer to a product recall in 2016 after the death in Canada. Though a seven-year investigation is longer than most NHTSA reviews, inflators are particularly complex, said David Friedman, a former NHTSA acting administrator who is now a vice president at Consumer Reports. Automakers appear to be balking at recalls for cost reasons, Friedman said. And NHTSA, he suggested, needs a slam dunk case before seeking recalls because of threats and lawsuits that automakers have filed in the past. Thats one of the things thats broken in the system, he said. Friedman described NHTSA as a chronically underfunded agency that has had to prioritize safety issues after four years of the Trump administration, which demanded far less federal regulation. The fact that its stretched on seven years, the companies should have blinked, or NHTSA should have made them, or if they truly dont have a case, then say so, Friedman said. A NHTSA official who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to speak freely about an ongoing inquiry, said the investigation has persisted because of the complexity of air bag inflators and because ARCs design is different from Takatas. We want to make sure what we do is thorough. he said. He noted that NHTSAs investigation of ARC has had to examine issues different from the Takata case. Ammonium nitrate in Takatas inflators, for example, would deteriorate when airborne moisture entered the canister. But ARC pressurizes its inflator canisters to keep moisture out. Its not similar to Takata, the official said. Whether the ammonium nitrate tablets can deteriorate without moisture is still being investigated, he said. The agency, he said, has retrieved ARC inflators from vehicles to learn how they work. It also has gathered production and other data from ARC and automakers and issued an order making automakers report any problems with ARC inflators. He noted that several years went by without any incidents, before there were three in the past two years and that each of those cases is informing the investigation. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Climate change could hit the U.S. Corn Belt especially hard, a study from Emory University finds. Without major technological advances in agricultural practices, the U.S. Corn Belt will be unsuitable for cultivating corn by 2100, moderate projections show. The study focused on the six major U.S. crops (alfalfa, corn, cotton, hay, soy and wheat) that cover 80% of the nations cultivated land. Emily Burchfield, author of the study and assistant professor in Emorys Department of Environmental Sciences, used historical models to project biophysically driven shifts in cultivation out to the year 2100 under low-, moderate- and high-emission scenarios. She found that even under moderate-emission scenarios, cultivation geographies of corn, soy, alfalfa and wheat will shift strongly north, with the Corn Belt of the upper Midwest becoming unsuitable to the cultivation of corn by 2100. The author acknowledged that the projections dont account for the ways technology may help farmers adapt. But relying on technology alone is a really risky way to approach the problem, Burchfield stated. If we continue to push against biophysical realities, we will eventually reach ecological collapse. Massachusetts and ExxonMobil The Massachusetts high court rejected ExxonMobils efforts to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the state accusing it of misleading the public about the role its fossil fuels play in climate change. The 2019 lawsuit by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey alleges that Exxon launched an effort, reminiscent of the tobacco industrys long denial campaign about the dangerous effects of cigarettes, to deceive consumers and investors about climate change, the Seattle Times reported this week. The Massachusetts Supreme Court upheld a ruling from a lower court rejecting ExxonMobils argument that state law shielded it from the suit. Exxon has denied spreading misleading information about fossil fuels and global warming. The Massachusetts lawsuit accuses Exxon of engaging in a sophisticated, multi-million dollar campaign to sow doubt in climate science and downplay the link between fossil fuels and climate change, and it claims Exxon also undertook greenwashing campaigns in an effort to portray itself as environmentally responsible, according to the Seattle Times article. Rather than honestly disclose and mitigate climate change risks, ExxonMobils misrepresentations about and failures to disclose those risks have delayed the needed transition to clean energy around the world and make these existential climate-driven threats to the global economy more likely to occur, the lawsuit states. First Order Climate Risks Financial institutions that do not manage climate risks as a first-order issue may face a 10-15% hit to annual profits and higher capital requirements, the Bank of England said on Tuesday. The BoE said action now would lower future costs in its first comprehensive stress test of how Britains financial system will cope with climate change and the shift to a net zero-carbon economy by 2050, Reuters reported in an Insurance Journal article this week. The first key lesson from this exercise is that over time climate risks will become a persistent drag on banks and insurers profitability particularly if they dont manage them effectively, BoE Deputy Governor Sam Woods stated in a speech.While they vary across firms and scenarios, overall loss rates are equivalent to an average drag on annual profits of around 10-15%. Reuters reported that the Bank of France was first among central banks to undertake a climate stress test of banks and insurers, however, Fitch said the BoE test was the toughest by a central bank so far. The European Central Bank has planned a test for this year, while the U.S. Federal Reserve has not begun such an exercise, according to Reuters. More on Exxon Climate activists are taking aim at Liberty Mutual over its climate conflicts after it was announced that board member Joseph Hooley officially became the ExxonMobil boards new lead director this week. In a briefing report detailing the apparent links between Liberty Mutuals Board and fossil fuel interests, LittleSis and Rainforest Action Network charge that ExxonMobil is one of the largest fossil fuel companies in the world is responsible for driving the global climate crisis. The activists note that Hooley joined ExxonMobils board of directors in early 2020, and now as the boards lead director, he will oversee the governance of one of Big Oils top multinational powerhouses. In this new role, Hooley will be responsible for ensuring that ExxonMobil continues to rake in profits from its core business of oil and gas extraction and production for decades to come, the briefing states. Liberty Mutual media relations has been reached out to for comment. According to the groups, Hooley owns 13,000 shares of ExxonMobil, worth an estimated $1 million. Past columns: Topics USA Climate Change United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced on May 25, 2022 that Doniesha Gibson (Gibson) age 31, of New Orleans, Louisiana and Erica Lee Thompson (Erica Lee), age 47, of Harvey, Louisiana, were sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of staged automobile collisions with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans, known as Operation Sideswipe. According to documents filed in federal court, Gibson and Erica Lee,along with their co-conspirators and others, beginning in approximately as early as 2015 and continuing through the present, conspired to commit wire fraud in connection with staged accidents, including two that occurred on October 15, 2015, and September 6, 2017. Thus far, the total number of defendants convicted in Operation Sideswipe is thirty-seven (37). Gibson admitted to being a passenger in a staged accident on October 15, 2015. On that day, her former co-defendant intentionally drove a 2014 Dodge Avenger owned by Gibson into a Hotard bus while traveling on the I-10 near the flyover of the I-510. Gibson retained an attorney and thereafter made a claim for damages. The total settlement for the Hotard bus accident was approximately $677,500.00. Erica Lee admitted that on September 6, 2017, on the I-10 near the Almonaster exit, she was a passenger in a 2015 RAV4 being driven by their former co-defendant, when he intentionally crashedinto a tractor-trailer owned by Averitt Express. Erica Lee retained counsel and made a claim for damages. The total settlement for the Averitt accident was $30,000. In total, the victim trucking, bus, and insurance companies paid out approximately $707,500.00 for these two fraudulent claims orchestrated by the defendants and others. United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced Gibson to seventeen (17) months incarceration, followed by a three(3) year term of supervised release, restitution in the amount of $677,500.00, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. Thompsonwas sentenced to three (3) years probation, restitution in the amount of $121,076.75, 100 hours of community service, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. Source: U.S. Department of Justice Topics Louisiana Numbers New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! By Wednesday morning, it was all over except for the speeches. The five-day special session on the insurance crisis turned into just three days, and without seeing adoption of a single significant modification to two bills that had been carefully crafted to help some property insurers with reinsurance costs and help everyone else with litigation and roof claims. Both chambers passed SB 2D and SB 4D with overwhelming support, a testament to the lock-step relationship between Floridas governor and Senate and House leadership. The fact that the passage of the bills seemed a foregone conclusion early on in the session did not stop several lawmakers, though, from blasting colleagues for failing to do more to help homeowners who have seen soaring premiums in the last two years. This is called corporate welfare, market manipulation, trickle-down economics, said Rep. Michael Grieco, D-Miami Beach. He was referring to the $2 billion Reinsurance to Assist Policyholders, or RAP fund, authorized by SB 2D. It gives insurers a one-year layer of reinsurance below what the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund provides, saving some companies millions on additional reinsurance from private reinsurers. Instead of paying premiums into the RAP fund, participating carriers will have to provide premium reductions to policyholders within a month. Still, Grieco called it a slush fund for insurance companies. A former deputy Florida insurance commissioner, Lisa Miller, now a lobbyist and consultant, said in a conference call Thursday that Griecos labels were offensive. The RAP fund is more of a bailout for consumers and will result in some savings, she said. Other lawmakers and industry representatives agreed the legislation didnt go far enough to solve all of Floridas insurance woes. But many said it was a good first step. I give it a grade of C, said Donald Brown, a former legislator who now is a registered lobbyist for the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers, the Florida Insurance Council and Associated Industries of Florida. Rep. Ralph Massullo praised the bill and said it was filled with great initiatives that address major cost drivers. The Senate vote was 30-9 in favor of SB 2D. The House approved it 95-14. Some 27 amendments were offered, including a freeze on insurance rates and a ban on insurers cancelling policies while a claim or litigation is pending. But all amendments were handily voted down. A second bill, SB 4D, ended up being two measures rolled into one. One part modifies the state building code, which until now has required that entire roofs be replaced if just 25% of the surface is damaged. The bill opens the door to less-costly repairs, as long as the rest of the roof surface meets code requirements. A second part of SB 4D is the condominium reform bill. Gov. Ron DeSantis added that to the agenda at the last minute after the regular session did not address the issue. It, too, passed. The measure met with plenty of emotional speeches but no nay votes. The roof/condo bill, adopted almost 11 months to the day after the deadly condo collapse in Surfside, Florida, now requires high-rise condominiums to be inspected more often. Inspection reports must be provided to unit owners and prospective buyers, and condo association can no longer defer maintenance and funding for repairs. The condo section of the bill makes the trip to Tallahassee worth it, Grieco said on the House floor. Insurers will appreciate the bill, once it is signed into law, because it will provide needed information on the condition of buildings, supporters said. The both bills will take effect upon the governors signature. It wasnt clear when the governor will sign the legislation, but the ink is expected to flow this week. Several lawmakers and insurance representatives said the industry wont have to wait long to know if the legislation has helped smooth the turbulent waters of the Florida market. Many reinsurance programs must be renewed by June 1, and insiders predicted that as many as four carriers wont complete their programs and will face insolvency or rehabilitation in coming weeks, despite the RAP fund in SB 2D. Were not done, said Rep. Matt Willhite, D-Wellington, suggesting that more legislation may be needed later this year or at the 2023 regular session of the Legislature. Beyond the bills that were passed, the special session has put state regulators under the microscope. A number of lawmakers, on both sides of the aisle, charged that OIR has fallen short in monitoring for potential insolvencies, limiting rate increases, providing information on the industry, and other areas. Some argued that the entire structure of insurance regulation, with some duties split between OIR and the Department of Financial Services, was partly to blame for Floridas recent troubles. I find the Office of Insurance Regulation to be incredibly flawed, said Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando. When you have a position that is not elected, but is appointed by a position that is well-funded by insurance companies, you have a serious situation of the fox guarding the hen house. Topics Florida Condominium New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Georgias incumbent insurance commissioner easily survived a Republican primary challenge from a candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The Democratic candidate will be decided by a runoff. Commissioner John King was appointed to the role in 2019 by Gov. Brian Kemp after the previous commissioner was indicted and later convicted of fraud charges. But Trump, who split with Kemp over Kemps refusal to go along with Trumps claims that the 2020 election was rigged, had backed Patrick Witt for the insurance commissioner post. Witt, who briefly worked as Trumps chief of staff at the federal Office of Personnel Management, won just 17% of the vote Tuesday. King sewed up more than 70% of the primary ballots cast, or 776,459, according to the Georgia Secretary of States election results. King, a former police chief, has said he will continue to restore Georgians confidence in the office, after the scandals that hit two former commissioners. In the November general election, King, the first Hispanic statewide official in Georgia, will face one of two people trying to become the first black insurance commissioner in the state. Janice Laws Robinson, who came within a few percentage points of victory in 2018, faces Raphael Baker in the runoff. Robinson won 48.7% of the Democratic vote in the Tuesday primary, about 323,278 votes, and Baker won 33%. State Rep. Matthew Wilson came in third with 18% of the vote. While the Republican field had been criticized by some for having little experience in the insurance business, both Robinson and Baker have said they have years in the industry. Robinson has managed her own brokerage and insurance agency since 2014. Baker said he has been in the business for almost two decades, owned an agency for six years, and is now in a sales and leadership spot with a national carrier. Topics Georgia New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Teva Pharmaceutical Industries TEVA and AbbVies Allergan unit reached a settlement worth $161.5 million to resolve claims the companies fueled an opioid epidemic in West Virginia, state attorney general Patrick Morrisey said on Wednesday. The agreement is the largest state-negotiated settlement in West Virginia history, and consists of $134 million in cash plus the contribution of drugs used to treat opioid overdoses, Morrisey said at a news conference. West Virginia had accused Teva and Allergan of deceiving prescribers about the risks of opioids when marketing their drugs for the treatment for chronic pain. The misleading marketing led to an increase in substance abuse and overdose deaths, according to West Virginias complaint. The settlement ended a trial that had been proceeding for two months in Kanawha County Circuit Court. The companies did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement. The states decision to press forward at trial helped it secure more money, Morrisey said. We took lot of risk to do the right thing, and it has paid off big for West Virginia, he added. Teva said it will pay $83 million in cash and provide a 10-year supply of Narcan, a drug used to stop opioid overdoses, which the state valued at $27 million. Allergan said it will pay $51.2 million. West Virginia has been hit particularly hard by opioid abuse and overdoses, with more than three times the national rate of overdose deaths in 2020, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. West Virginia previously reached a $99 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson and a $26 million settlement with Endo International. Endo settled before the trial began and J&J settled two weeks into the trial. Israel-based Teva has been attempting to reach a nationwide settlement to resolve opioid lawsuits against the company, and has said it expects a deal by the end of the year. The West Virginia settlement guarantees the state an additional payout if Teva and Allergan reach larger-than-expected settlements of their nationwide opioid liability, Morrisey said. That agreement would trigger if Teva and Allergan reach a nationwide deal worth more than $7.2 billion, he said. More than 3,300 lawsuits have been filed against drug makers, distributors and pharmacies over the U.S. public health crisis. J&J and the three largest U.S. drug distributors AmerisourceBergen Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., and McKesson Corp., previously reached final settlements worth $26 billion over their roles in the nationwide epidemic. Topics Virginia New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Miami-Dade County has agreed to pay a record $4 million for the care of a girl whose spinal cord was severed in a crash with a police cruiser that was speeding into an intersection with non-working stoplights as a hurricane approached nearly six years ago. The additional $3.8 million settlement is the largest claim the county has ever paid, and far exceeds an initial $200,000 the county already paid in damages for Yeilyn Quiroz Otero, the Miami Herald reported. But its far short of what shell need. Most of the award will satisfy her past medical and legal bills, leaving less than $1.5 million for future medical bills. Her lawyers estimated that shell need more than $11 million for lifetime care, and deserves another $10 million for pain and suffering. But a special master found that her mother and the driver of their car were also at fault, lowering the countys share of the blame. The claim bill was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last Friday. The 13-month-old child was sitting on her mothers lap while the family went to Walmart on Oct. 6, 2016 to pick up baby supplies as Hurricane Matthew approached Florida, the newspaper reported. At the same time, a Miami-Dade police officer was speeding at 75 mph in a 40 mph zone, pursuing a suspect who had jumped out of a stolen car and was running through a neighborhood. The two vehicles collided in an intersection where the stoplights werent working due to a power failure caused by approaching Hurricane Matthew. The familys lawsuit against the county and police department was settled three years later. Without admitting fault, the county agreed to pay the statutory cap of $200,000 and agreed not to contest a $3.8 million claim bill, Assistant County Attorney Richard Schevis told a hearing before a special master for the Florida Legislature. The legislative claim bill allows compensation beyond the immunity cap. This will make a real difference for our client, said attorney Frank Maderal. With these funds we hope she will be able to avoid being placed in a public nursing home when she turns 18 and will instead continue to receive in-home nursing so she can keep living with her family who loves her. We never gave up, Maderal told the newspaper. It was equal parts lawyering, politicking, and pleading for our client. In the end we set a record. This case and this client will always have a special place for me. Senate Special Master Eva M. Davis found the county and Officer Daniel Escarra at fault for exceeding the allowable speed under police policy as he headed to a crime scene, and failing to stop at an intersection with non-working lights. But she also found that the driver of the Audi and the girls mother partly responsible for the girls injury. Hector Meraz-Funez did not have a valid drivers license, was not wearing a seat belt, allowed eight people to ride without seatbelts in his compact sedan, and should have yielded to the lights and siren of a speeding police vehicle, she found. Fany Otero is to blame for not securing her daughter into a car seat, she found. Meraz-Funez has been in a vegetative state since the crash, unable to move or communicate, Davis noted. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Law Enforcement Former Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn has accepted an undisclosed financial settlement to end his federal defamation lawsuit against a well-known attorney who represented a dancer who she said accused Wynn of sexual harassment and retaliation. Los Angeles attorney Lisa Bloom retracted and withdrew claims she made in a news release in March 2018 announcing she represented a woman making claims of inappropriate behavior against Wynn, according to a statement included in a settlement document provided Tuesday to The Associated Press by Wynns lawyers. The amount of the settlement was blacked out in the document, which was signed by Wynn and Bloom and submitted to U.S. District Judge James Mahan in Las Vegas. The judge approved the agreement and dismissed the case Monday. Blooms 2018 news release said she was representing a dancer who accused Wynn of leering at female performers who were instructed to strip down to bras and panties when he attended and watched physically revealing segments of rehearsals for Showstoppers at the Wynn Las Vegas resort. The settlement statement said Bloom wanted to correct the record and state that there has been no evidence obtained that Steve Wynn made inappropriate instructions to dancers, nor that he knew about any inappropriate instructions. Bloom and attorneys who represented her in the federal case in Nevada did not immediately respond to telephone and email messages seeking comment. Bloom is the daughter of nationally known womens rights and discrimination attorney Gloria Allred. Wynn, 80, offered a statement saying he was pleased with the agreement and declaring the matter fully settled, including with a retraction. Wynn attorney Todd Bice in Las Vegas told AP the settlement amount would remain confidential. He declined additional comment. Wynn had sought a jury trial and damages of at least $75,000 less than two months after the Wall Street Journal reported that he had harassed or assaulted several women. Wynn has consistently denied sexual misconduct allegations. He resigned as chairman and CEO of his namesake company, Wynn Resorts, in February 2018, and sold his company shares. He now lives in Florida. Wynns lawsuit against Bloom was filed in April 2018. Mahan denied Blooms bid to have the case dismissed and she appealed. But the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco referred it back to Mahan in March 2021. A reasonable jury could find Bloom acted with actual malice in publishing the release, a three-judge appellate panel said. Allegations of wrongdoing against Wynn have spawned other lawsuits and sanctions. The Nevada Supreme Court ruled last month that state casino regulators could still impose a $500,000 fine and discipline Wynn over allegations of workplace sexual misconduct. Wynns lawyers argue he no longer has casino industry ties and the state Gaming Commission lacks authority to punish him. The commission separately fined Wynn Resorts $20 million in 2019 for failing to investigate claims of sexual misconduct made against Wynn before he resigned. Regulators in Massachusetts fined the company $35 million more and the companys top executive $500,000 for failing to disclose sexual misconduct allegations against Wynn when it applied for a license for a Boston-area casino. Wynn Resorts in November 2019 accepted $20 million in damages from Wynn and $21 million more from insurance carriers to settle shareholder lawsuits accusing company directors of failing to disclose misconduct allegations. Steve Wynn also has a pending defamation lawsuit against The Associated Press and an AP reporter based on a story about accounts made to Las Vegas police from two women who alleged sexual misconduct by Wynn. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The competition watchdog and Bank of Ireland have moved to provide unredacted reassurance KBC Bank customers won't lose their competitive mortgage rates when the Belgian-owned lender closes its doors. Bank of Ireland had struck a deal to acquire 9bn in performing mortgage loans from KBC and the transaction was approved by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on Tuesday. Googles Chrome web browser is only preventing users from visiting around a quarter of suspicious sites that are likely to be part of phishing scams, Which? has claimed. The consumer group said a study searching the web addresses of 800 newly discovered phishing sites in a web browser saw Chrome block only 28% when used on Windows and 25% on an Apple Mac computer. Which? said it performed the same test across a number of other web browsers, with Mozillas Firefox performing the best by blocking access to 85% of sites when used on Windows and 78% on Mac the best result on both platforms. Phishing scams are those where criminals create messages that look genuine in order to trick consumers into clicking a link to a bogus website where viruses could be installed on their device, or having them hand over personal information which can be used to gain access to financial information or online bank accounts. In response to the findings, a Google spokesman said: This studys methodology and findings demand scrutiny. For more than 10 years, Google has helped set the anti-phishing standard and freely provided the underlying technology for other browsers. Google and Mozilla often partner to improve the security of the web, and Firefox relies primarily on Googles Safe Browsing API to block phishing but the researchers indicated that Firefox provided significantly more phishing protection than Chrome. Its highly unlikely that browsers using the same technology for phishing detection would differ meaningfully in the level of protection they offer, so we remain sceptical of this reports findings. Phishing scams can come in the form of emails, text messages and direct messages on social media. To help counter such scams, the UKs National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) advises people to consider carefully before clicking any link they are sent, unsolicited, by an organisation. It also encourages people to look for tell-tale signs including poor spelling or grammar, or a sense of urgency in the messaging to try to encourage a rash decision. Security experts also warn that if an offer sounds too good to be true, it often is. Its incredibly alarming to see that a huge company like Google is allowing the security of its users to be exposed in this way a gift to fraudsters who are constantly trying to use phishing attacks as a launchpad for scams that can have a devastating impact on victims, Which? computing editor Lisa Barber said. If you are worried about your safety online, remaining vigilant when clicking a link, installing a top-quality free or paid antivirus package, keeping your browser up to date and signing up to our free scams alerts email will all massively increase your protection from malicious websites. Cliffs of Moher How long to drive? The Cliffs of Moher are always a huge tourist spot during the summer months. According to Google Maps, The Clare attraction is a two hour and 35-minute drive from Cork city centre. How to get there on public transport? If using public transport, the best option appears to be the bus. The journey takes just over four hours. This involves getting the Galway bus as far as Ennis Bus Station, and then hopping on another bus toward the Cliffs. A return adult ticket to Ennis is 29, and it is a further 16 from Ennis to the Cliffs. This makes it a 45 round trip. Kilkenny Castle How long to drive? According to Google Maps, it takes between one hour and 40 minutes to two hours and 20 minutes, depending on traffic. How to get there on public transport? On public transport, it takes two hours and 47 minutes. This is by bus and departs from St Patricks Quay. Its a direct bus and costs 30 return for an adult. Tayto Park How long to drive? Tayto Park is two hour and 40 minutes by car from Cork city centre. How to get there on public transport? The quickest route on public transport takes four hours and 36 minutes and includes four different stops. You have to get the train from Cork Kent to Heuston Station in Dublin. From there, you take the Luas to Connolly and catch a bus to Tayto Park, which includes a switch over half way through. This will cost an estimated 65.82, the Luas is approximately 3.80 return on top of that. This is not including the regional bus price. The Rock of Cashel How long to drive? The Rock of Cashel is an hour to an hour and a half drive from Cork city. How to get there on public transport? It takes two hours and 58 minutes to get to the Tipperary historic site by public transport. You will take the train to Thurles from Cork Kent. From there, you take a bus to Cashel and its a seven minute walk. A return train ticket to Cashel will set you back 33.98, and you will have to factor in the price of the regional bus too. Dingle Peninsula How long to drive? From Cork to Dingle it will take around two hours and 10 minutes drive, if traffic allows. How to get there on public transport? It takes three hours and 45 minutes by public transport. You take the bus from Cork Bus Station and head towards Tralee. At Tralee, you will get the bus to Dingle. It costs 21 to get to Tralee, and 19.50 from Tralee to Dingle. Before the woman from the Department of Education speaks, I admire the shade of her lipstick. Its bright pink, brave for a Thursday morning conference. Were a small group, brainstorming change in our system. Her pink mouth opens. I mean, how much money are we spending on special education? Wheres the proof that any of it is working? She looks pinched. Her lips narrow. The man between us, a senior employee of a national university replies: I believe its more than the entire budget for further education at this point. It takes me a moment to register and respond, to ask how success in our support of children with specific needs might be measured. Well, I dont know but other countries do it, she offers, looking uncomfortable, even more strained than before, like a character in a Roald Dahl Story like Aunt Spiker in James and the Giant Peach. Another woman, in primary school education, the type who gracefully keeps everything and everyone on track, asks how it is measured in other countries. The Department woman cant answer, we move on. Sadly, this exchange is a fair representation of our Department of Education. I say this because theres little evidence to suggest otherwise. Its also a fair representation of our national interpretation of success. Success is getting 600 points. Success is studying medicine or finance. Children with disabilities presumably skew the spreadsheets. The Prime Time episode that shocked the nation last week shouldnt have surprised anyone. Gillian and Darren Milne, and their twin sons, Ryan and Kyle, left without a school place until the episode aired, represent many. Google quickly and youll see. In a Westmeath newspaper, Claire Earley in Athlone describes having to home-school or drive 45km to provide her autistic child with education. On RTE radio, Aisling Beagley describes the possibility of every child in her busy estate leaving for school at the start of September while her daughter stares out the window of their Dublin 15 home. Ireland is not looking after its most vulnerable. Our shock is inexcusable because deep down, we know it. Our Department of Education certainly does. Josepha Madigan, Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, was quick to respond to the Prime Time episode. She announced, as if affronted by new information, that there was no other option but to take substantive action, to be certain that every child gets the supports they need. This means issuing section 37a notices to schools to force them to open special classrooms, an addition to the Education Act in place since 2018. Why then, is Madigan only bringing it to the headlines now? And as Gareth Noble, childrens rights lawyer points out, this is not necessarily the answer. We also need trained personnel. We need adequate resources. Primary schools are doing far better than secondary schools in providing special classes, but report being overwhelmed and under-resourced. Secondary schools are potentially afraid to follow. Or perhaps some prefer to remain academic, to look successful on league tables. The fact that most special classes in Cork and Dublin are in less affluent areas is bone-chilling. But these stories, these struggles, are everywhere. They have nothing to do with money or socio-economic background. Graham Manning, a tireless campaigner, recently spoke to this paper about the very real damage done to children who must travel beyond their own communities to access appropriate services. They make friends in primary school and have great difficulty maintaining that because they are spending their days in secondary school far away and friendships they make at the secondary school are difficult because they are living anything up to 50km away from their schoolmates. These stories are not new. They are overwhelming. Anyone in education knows them. Meanwhile, I find myself in a circle of educational enthusiasts and more than one is complaining about money wasted on children with additional needs. Thankfully, I find comfort in my own school, where the principal, staff, and SENCO fight tirelessly to support individual students. This week, our first group of sixth years, leave us. Well miss them. Ive no idea what success will look like for any of them. In truth, Im not sure how successful Ive been as their teacher. But, if were smiling on their graduation night this Wednesday, sharing photos and videos of our time together, Ill be inclined to think were coming pretty close. Four people have been arrested for firearms offences as part of a garda investigation into an ongoing feud in north Dublin. On Wednesday morning, a man in his 20s was arrested under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, at a house in Finglas West. He was arrested in connection to an incident that occurred in January of this year in which a firearm was discharged at a house. A young man taunted gardai during a volatile public order situation, urging them to summons him for his behaviour so he could use the summons as toilet paper. Inspector Anne Marie Guiney outlined the background to the incident at Cork District Court. Gardai were dealing with a public order disturbance in the Togher area on November 14, 2021. Aaron Austin, 20, of Araglen Court, Togher, Cork, shouted at a garda, calling him a f***ing knacker. Insp Guiney said the young man was warned by gardai to desist in his behaviour where there was a large crowd gathered and the situation was volatile. However,, Aaron Austin shouted at gardai: Send me a summons I will wipe my f***ing ass with it. Gardai then proceeded to arrest the young man, but he resisted arrest and pepper-spray had to be applied to subdue him. Judge Marian OLeary said: What gives him a right to speak to gardai like that and call them names like that? Defence solicitor Eddie Burke, said: He was with a group of people. He took it on himself to mouth off. More often than not the guard, who is now a sergeant, would have a good relationship with him. For offences including threatening and obstructive behaviour, the judge imposed a sentence of two months, suspended for a period of two years provided he keeps the peace and is of good behaviour for the next two years. Judge OLeary also imposed a number of fines on the defendant for other other public order offences arising out of the same incident last November. Insp Guiney told Judge OLeary of previous public order convictions against the same young man. If Eamon Ryan hadn't got himself so bogged down in turf, his party could have taken advantage of a unique opportunity. As Europe turns its back on dirty Russian oil and gas, Ireland has the potential to become a leader in the production of green energy, but it appears that level of will or ambition simply isn't there. Having seen a gap in the energy market, the Greens could have seized the moment to create hundreds of jobs, bring in more money for the exchequer, drastically reduce household costs, and on the environmental side of things fast-track Europe's move away from fossil fuels. Yes, this country is moving to significantly ramp up renewable energy to meet the 80% target by 2030, but this was a goal that was set before the invasion of Ukraine and before the potential for a massive new energy market opened up to us. Ireland has the potential to produce enough renewable electricity to power 64.4m homes across the EU if the Government developed the offshore energy sector in a strategic manner, Independent TD Denis Naughten recently told the Dail. 'Politically lazy' But leading experts say the Government remains "politically lazy" when it comes to the potential of renewable energy such as offshore wind which could reinvigorate regional economies. Despite the abundance of opportunity and willingness of businesses and communities to engage, DCU assistant professor of sustainable energy Dr James Carton said for many years there was "nothing happening". Dr Carton said: "The problem isnt that someone doesnt have the money, the problem is that the risk for investing in Ireland today is too high, and they prefer to go to Scotland. The example in Scotland is that they opened up an auction with 5GW of offshore wind, and 25GW, five times more, actually won the auction. "Ireland is effectively aiming for 5GW on the east coast, and potentially 1Gw on the west coast by 2030," he said. I would suggest with Ukraine, with energy security, with opportunity, investment banks, pensions from all over the world would flood into the west coast of Ireland to put in 10s of GW." Ireland has one of the largest maritime areas in the EU, seven times larger than our land mass, this asset has up to now remained largely untapped. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has stressed our reliance on fossil fuels must end. Picture: Conor Healy But the problem with climate change is it just seems like a headache for tomorrow, the level of action required always appears more akin to the attention you might give a leaky tap rather than a collapsed roof with water spilling in. Asked about it last week, Mr Ryan stressed our reliance on fossil fuels must end. "We are spending money out of the country to import fossil fuels when we have our own energy supplies here," he said. "We will be at the centre of a new offshore energy revolution because we have a huge resource capability there, in the next-two-and-a-half years, the lifetime of this Government, we will launch the first auction of those offshore projects. We will get them through planning and into contract and starting to be built and that's a dramatic acceleration of ambition," he said. Delivery of projects is still spoken about in years rather than months. If the country could temporarily take over private hospitals, close pubs, schools and shops overnight, why can't it act with the same urgency when it comes to our environment? Call for emergency climate response team For some time now, Wind Energy Ireland has been calling for an Nphet-style emergency climate response team. "There is an absolute lack of coordination, and I don't think the same level of energy and drive to decarbonise the energy system is there," Justin Moran, director of external affairs with Wind Energy Ireland said. I think climate change has now become an issue like, you know, like housing or education, it's a serious issue, people take it seriously, but it still hasn't crossed into that crisis mode." He said climate activists were hesitant of calling for an increase in the targets as they know there are still significant roadblocks preventing this. "Until we fix the planning system achieving that target is very, very difficult," he said, adding it can take three or four years to get planning permission for an individual wind farm. 'If we're struggling now today to process planning applications for onshore wind farms, how are we going to deal with offshore wind farms which are much, much bigger, much more technically complicated projects?' "An Bord Pleanala is supposed to make a decision on a planning application for an onshore wind farm in 18 weeks, but our research shows that since the start of 2020 they haven't hit that target for any wind farm and in fact, their average is between 50 and 60 weeks and some of them are over 100 weeks. "So, if we're struggling now today to process planning applications for onshore wind farms, how are we going to deal with offshore wind farms which are much, much bigger, much more technically complicated projects?" The job creation and economic element to developing green energy has been somewhat downplayed, as Mr Moran pointed out every off-shore wind farm will employ between 70 and 90 people at on-shore maintenance bases. With global warming predicted to exceed 1.5C within the coming decades, experts are now calling for a more radical approach. Pascal Lamy, president of the Paris Peace Forum and former director-general of the World Trade Organization, last week wrote that in order to reduce global CO2 levels, we must now go as far as examining sunlight reflection methods, an intervention designed to reflect a small portion of incoming solar radiation back into space. The days of a cautious approach to climate change are behind us and we cannot now put a limit on our ambitions. If the Greens could only be a little less green (in the other sense of the word) and more politically astute, they might see that renewable energy could be easily framed as being about cold hard cash, job creation and economics. Saving the planet in the process would be a mere positive side-effect. Did you know? Article 8 of the Irish Constitution states the Irish language, as the national language, is the first official language. English is recognised as a second official language. However, the 2016 census found 73,803 people speak Irish daily. This equates to 1.7% of the population. Just over 1.7m people, representing 39.8% of the population, said they could speak Irish. Galway county had the highest percentage of Irish speakers, with 49% of the population indicating they could speak Irish. The week in years gone by 1921 May 25: The Custom House in Dublin was set on fire. The Cork Examiner reported that "very sensational events occurred" when "armed men entered the precinct of the Custom House between 1pm and 2pm, and held up officials". They then sprinkled petrol through sections of the building before setting it alight. 1964 May 29: President Eamon de Valera addressed a joint session of the US Senate and House of Representatives stating he looked forward to the day when he could announce a United Ireland. The Cork Examiner reported: "His address was punctuated by outbursts of applause and, at one point his voice became choked with emotion when he referred to the occasion as 'my outstanding day'." 1981 May 30: Under the headline 'Charlie who?' it was reported that a journalist had been mistaken for then taoiseach Charles Haughey during an election campaign event in Belturbet, Co Cavan. "It happened when the Bell Jet Ranger helicopter carrying pressmen touched down in the local GAA pitch. A woman ran forward and when the pressmen stepped out she grabbed one by the hand and asked: 'Are you the Taoiseach?'." 1993 May 27: President Mary Robinson signalled a new era in Anglo-Irish relations when she became the first Irish head of state to meet with a British monarch. The mechanics of the historic meeting with Queen Elizabeth in Buckingham Palace were well planned, with the president and her husband Nick arriving at 4.55pm sharp before leaving again at 5.29pm. 2018 May 28: A special edition of the Irish Examiner marked the historic vote which repealed the Eighth Amendment, paving the way for the provision of abortion services in this country. What to look out for this week Tuesday The political week begins with Cabinet, before the Taoiseach takes Leaders' Questions in the Dail at 2pm. The Government business slot will see statements on the 'Role of Journalists in Conflicts across the World', before the Dail debates a Sinn Fein bill which would crack down on estate agents and platforms such as Airbnb if they advertise short-term rentals which don't have the necessary planning permission. In the evening, Justice Minister Helen McEntee will answer questions. Congressman Richard Neal will address the Seanad on Tuesday. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire In the Seanad at 4.45pm, Richard Neal, a member of the US House of Representatives, chairman of it ways and means committee, and co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Ireland will address the chamber, after an invitation by Cathaoirleach Mark Daly, who said Mr Neal "is the embodiment of the strong links between Ireland and the United States of America". A busy committee slate will see Higher Education Minister Simon Harris discuss the future of funding in his sector with the Joint Committee on Education and his Justice colleague Helen McEntee in front of the Justice Committee to discuss the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, while the Housing Committee will launch a report on urban regeneration. The Joint Committee on Children will have two sessions discussing the General Scheme of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payments Scheme Bill. Wednesday Wednesday in the Dail will kick off with Topical Issues before People Before Profit-Solidarity put down a motion regarding strike action by the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association. Leaders' Questions will follow at midday before statements on the Northern Protocol and discussion of four pieces of legislation the Civil Law Act 2021, Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022, Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022 and the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2022. The Seanad will meanwhile debate a Labour bill aimed at ensuring interns are entitled to the minimum wage. Ukrainian ambassador Larysa Gerasko will appear at the Joint EU Affairs Committee. Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos Ukrainian ambassador Larysa Gerasko will appear at the Joint EU Affairs Committee, while publican representative bodies will discuss skills shortages with the Joint Committee on Tourism. Thursday Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and his Agriculture colleague Charlie McConalogue will answer oral questions in the Dail early on Thursday before the third Leaders' Questions of the week. In the afternoon, there will be statements on an issue vexing most TDs passports. The Seanad will resume discussion of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill and the Public Petitions Committee will discuss a petition calling for a ban on herbicides in public areas. On Tuesday, an 18-year-old shot his grandmother and then drove to Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. He crashed his truck outside the school, went inside, and killed nineteen children and two adults. There have been twenty-seven school shootings in 21 weeks in America. Earlier this month, another gunman killed ten people in a racist attack in a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. The day after this latest massacre, emotions ran high across Texas, and across the country, as they should. The prominent Democrat Beto O'Rourke crashed a press conference about the shooting where he challenged Texas Governor Greg Abbott from the floor, shouting, "The time to stop the next shooting is right now, and you are doing nothing." As an immigrant to the US, gun violence is the most painful and difficult phenomenon to understand. We all live with this awful drumbeat of horror that accompanies our day-to-day lives, softer or louder, depending on what state we live in and its gun laws. President Biden pointed out that this is the only country where these mass shootings happen regularly, asking, "When in God's name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? When in God's name are we going to do what has to be done? Why are we willing to live with this carnage?" So, what are our politicians doing about gun violence? Beto O'Rourke is set to run against Abbott in November's midterm elections, but he is incorrect when he accuses the Governor of "doing nothing" about gun violence. In Texas, Republican leaders like Governor Abbott have been very busy these past few years as gun violence and mass shooters mushroom out of the darkness. These lawmakers have been expanding gun rights, with The Guardian US reporting that Abbott has signed nearly two dozen laws providing more access to guns, quoting him as saying the measure "instilled freedom in the Lone Star State." These Republicans are paying lip service to the tragedy, calling it intolerable, but the words are empty when their actions are simply business as usual. Along with Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Governor Abbott is due to speak at the National Rifle Association's meeting in Houston this coming weekend. So is Donald Trump. Read More Parents and bystanders urged police to charge into Texas school Pressured to leave the press conference by security guards amidst competing shouts from the gathered Republicans, O'Rourke continued to speak to the media outside the building. "I could care less whether you're a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent to stand up right now for yourself, for your kids, for our families, and to stop the next shooting." The worst idea I've heard about how to stop the next shooting came from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on the far-right network Newsmax on Tuesday evening. In a familiar Republican refrain, he suggested that arming teachers and school employees would be good. So to deal with the terror of gun violence in school, he called for more guns in school. This is where I start to drift, far away. I cannot make any sense of this unhinged argument that Paxton and many others make again and again, seemingly in good faith. He went on to say that there is no point in making any changes to gun control laws. "People that are shooting people, that are killing kids, they're not following murder laws. They're not going to follow gun laws," Paxton told the network. The New York Times reports that "The evidence is overwhelming that overall more guns and more relaxed gun laws lead to more violent deaths and injuries. "One study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that a gun in the house was associated with an increased risk of a gun death, particularly by suicide but also apparently by homicide." When the Attorney General says something as monumentally incorrect and easy to disprove, it is clear what motivates him. In Washington DC, Democratic senators are literally pleading with their Republican colleagues to break the decades-long deadlock and make changes in federal legislation like universal background checks, background checks, and safe storage laws. Iliana Calles cries at the Governor's Mansion, in Austin, Texas, during a protest organised by Moms Demand Action on Wednesday. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Instead, in a routine so infuriating it feels like they are trolling, Republican lawmakers offer prayers for the victims and their families, then trot off to speak to an arena full of gun lobbyists. During an NPR radio interview on Wednesday, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut recalled his experience during the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school shootings. In one of the deadliest school shootings ever, 20-year-old Adam Lanza fatally shot twenty children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School before killing himself. That was almost ten years ago, but Murphy still sounded shaken when describing the "gristly" scene in his home state. He said he hoped that Americans did not have to see what an AR-15 does to a child's body to be moved to action. He did not sound optimistic. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul called on her state's lawmakers to ban the sale of AR-15-style rifles to people under age 21. In Uvalde and Buffalo, both gunmen were just 18 years old, and both used AR-15-style firearms which they had purchased legally. Hochul said at a press conference, "How does an 18-year-old purchase an AR-15 in the State of New York, State of Texas? That person's not old enough to buy a legal drink. I want to work with the legislature to change that. I want it to be 21. I think that's just common sense." That is what the politicians are doing. In the meantime, regular people are doing what they can to fit their lives around the threat of violence. Mass shootings are statistically just one small part of gun violence in America. A school shooting is unlikely to happen to someone living here but more likely than in other countries, and children are prepared for it. At eighteen, it's probable that the gunman who shot the children and teachers in Uvalde on Tuesday had practised active shooter drills himself as a child. These drills have become a regular part of school life in a way that people living in other countries find horrifying. Two family members of one of the victims killed in Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School comfort each other during a prayer vigil. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) In 2018, Shaina Feinberg, a filmmaker in Brooklyn, made a short documentary called Soft Lockdown. The film features an interview with a five-year-old girl named Prudence who is just home from school where she had taken part in her first active shooter drill. In the film, Prudence stands outside her building, a slight child in a blue dress and a red headband. She explains the drill in that adorable run-on way five years old have; All the girls have to go into the cubbies area, and all the boys have to go to the bathroom, and we all have to be very quiet. "We all have to hide because people are going to come in, and if the lights are on, they'll be able to see us. But we turn off the lights." Feinberg then asks Prudence. "What did you look like when you were hiding?" The child crouches down and covers her head with her arms, looking tiny now. The sound of birdsong and the music from the passing ice cream truck goes quiet, then the picture fades to black. A network of ultra-Christian, anti-abortion, and far-right organisations is building momentum in its quest to influence abortion policy in Europe as the US supreme court considers striking down Roe v Wade, the 1973 ruling that legalised the procedure in America. Elements of the network originally came together under the name Agenda Europe, holding yearly summits across the continent between 2013 until at least 2018, by which time it had grown to comprise 300 participants, including politicians and Vatican diplomats. Eroding rights The aim of the group was to restore the natural order by devising ways to gradually erode abortion rights, gay rights, and policies on combating violence against women, as well as to reduce access to contraceptives. Organisers behind Agenda Europe summits included Terrence McKeegan, a former legal adviser to the Holy Sees mission to the UN in New York; and Gudrun Kugler, a Catholic theologian, member of the Austrian parliament, and human rights spokesperson for the Austrian Peoples party. It is a rather loose network that brought together all the different groups mostly from around Europe that identify themselves as pro-life or pro-family, so anti-abortion or anti-LGBT rights, said Neil Datta, secretary of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, which conducted an inquiry into the network and shared documents detailing the groups aims, meeting programmes, and participants. You can see they started out trying to find their relevance and by the third meeting they were actually coming up with proactive ideas about how to roll back human rights in sexuality and reproduction Today, people connected to Agenda Europe are linked to the Political Network of Values (PNfV), a global platform with strikingly similar values that sprung up as the formers visibility appeared to diminish. Transatlantic summit PNfV is hosting its fourth transatlantic summit which includes Kugler and other Agenda Europe personalities among the speakers in Budapest on Thursday and Friday. When it comes to abortion rights, the network is allegedly seeking to replicate recent anti-choice efforts in the US, where right-wing activists have gradually manoeuvred people who share the same views into the judicial and political systems. Theyll be really pumped up by the potential reversal of the Roe v Wade, Datta added. Firstly, because it provides them with a model of one of the most advanced countries taking a position that conforms to their own thinking. The US court is not responding to changes in society "This is the result of a 20-to-30-year strategy by the US Christian right to influence the whole American judicial system by training and placing its own people in the system. Making headway The network is believed to have already made headway in Europe, including heavily influencing Polands near-total ban on abortion as well as the outcome of same-sex marriage referendums in countries including Croatia, Romania, and Slovenia. Although abortion is legal in Hungary, the procedure has become more difficult to access under Viktor Orbans right-wing populist government. In Italy, the network is believed to have gained a foothold in 2019 when the country hosted a conference of the controversial World Congress of Families (WCF), a US Christian-right supported global coalition, in Verona. Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League, a key component of the Italian government, spoke at the event, as did his far-right counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, who leads Brothers of Italy, the party leading in opinion polls. Restriction measures Measures to restrict abortion such as banning health clinics from providing the abortion pill or allowing anti-abortion activists to infiltrate hospitals to pressure women not to end their pregnancy have been introduced in Italian regions led by a coalition of the two parties and Silvio Berlusconis Forza Italia, including Marche, Lombardy, Piedmont, Umbria, and Veneto. Even though abortion was legalised in Italy via a referendum in 1978, it has become increasingly difficult for women to access a safe procedure due to the high number of gynaecologists seven out of 10 who are moral objectors An influential politician with the League is Simone Pillon. Until his election as senator in March 2018, he was an adviser on the board of Novae Terrae, an anti-abortion organisation headed by his close friend, Luca Volante, a politician with the now-defunct Union of the Centre Party and former chairman of the parliamentary group of the European Peoples party. Demonstration Pillon has a 20-year history of close relationships with Italian anti-abortion groups and attended a large anti-abortion demonstration in Rome on Saturday. I am from the pro-life world and then I entered into politics to bring forward the voice of the pro-life associations, he said. Pillon said he was envious of the situation regarding Roe v Wade in US, adding that a similar outcome would arrive in Europe sooner or later. A regional governor in eastern Ukraine says at least six civilians have been killed by the latest Russian shelling. Luhansk region official Serhiy Haidai said another eight people were wounded in the shelling of the town of Sievierodonetsk over the previous 24 hours. Sievierodonetsk is at the epicentre of fighting in Ukraines eastern industrial heartland of Donbas, where the Russian forces have been pressing their offensive despite stiff Ukrainian resistance. Tombs of people who died after the Russia invasion in Bucha cemetery, on the outskirts of Kyiv (AP) Mr Haidai accused the Russians of deliberately targeting shelters where civilians were hiding. People living in towns and villages near the front lines in Ukraine have been forced to hide in basements from constant shelling, struggling to survive with no electricity or gas and often no running water. But even in regions out of the range of the heavy guns, frequent air raid sirens wail as a constant reminder that a Russian missile can strike at any time even for those walking their dogs, riding their bicycles and taking their children to parks in cities like Kyiv, Odesa and Lviv. Curfews, checkpoints and fortifications are commonplace. So are fresh cemeteries, uprooted villagers and war-scarred landscapes, as Moscow intensifies its attacks in eastern and southern Ukraine. Residents live in a subway station still used as temporary shelter in Kharkiv (AP) City residents are trying to return to regular life, but with every step, they stumble upon either a crater or a ruined house or a grave in the yard, said 37-year-old engineer Andriy Pustovoi, speaking by phone to The Associated Press from the northern city of Chernihiv. No one is cooking food over a bonfire or drinking water from a river any more, but theres a long way to go to a normal life. Chernihiv was in the way of Russian forces as they advanced toward Kyiv early in the war. It was heavily bombarded, and mayor Vladyslav Atroshenko said about half of its buildings were damaged or destroyed. A boy plays in front of houses ruined by shelling in Borodyanka (AP) At least 700 residents were killed, and part of a city park now holds a cemetery, where some of them are buried. Its streets are mostly empty now, half of the shops have not reopened and public transportation is not working properly, said Mr Pustovoi. Rail service to Kyiv was only restored this month, but people who fled are in no rush to return. The scariest thing is that neighbouring Russia and Belarus are not going away from Chernihiv, which means that some of the residents that left when the war started may not come back, Mr Atroshenko said. German chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed hopes for global co-operation on climate change, hunger and war, while dozens of climate activists demonstrated in the Swiss town of Davos as the meeting of global elites ended. The German leader ratcheted up his criticism of Moscows military onslaught in Ukraine during a speech on the last day of the World Economic Forums annual meeting. He said Russian president Vladimir Putin wants to return to a world order in which the strongest dictate what is right, in which freedom, sovereignty and self-determination are not. Putin's war is not the sole reason for a global watershed. In this multipolar world, very different countries with growing influence are demanding a greater political participation. This is not a threat. We will open up new ways of cooperation. #wef22 2/3 Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) May 26, 2022 Voicing hopes for countries to work together on shared crises, Mr Scholz said todays world was no longer bipolar as it was during the Cold War era when the United States and the Soviet Union dominated geopolitics. If some want to take us back to the past of nationalism, imperialism and war, our answer is not with us. We stand for the future, he said in the final major address of the week in Davos. When we realise that our world is becoming multipolar, then that must spur us on to even more multilateralism, to even more international co-operation. As he spoke, scores of young people protested across town behind banners that read Cut the (BS)! and There is no Planet B adding a coda of condemnation to the gathering of elites in Davos that is often derided for being more about talk, business and relationship-building than action. Mr Scholz, centre, said Mr Putin wanted to return to a world order in which the strongest dictate what is right (Markus Schreiber/AP) Forum organisers reject such claims, insisting they want to improve the state of the world by drawing in decision-makers. The yearly gathering in the Swiss Alps twice suspended over the Covid-19 pandemic has been overshadowed this year by the war in Ukraine, rising food and fuel prices, and signs that governments are not doing enough to fight global warming. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba and an array of lawmakers, local officials and business leaders who made the journey or joined by video link captured the spotlight to drum up support for their countrys gruelling and uncertain campaign to oust Russian forces. Mr Putins campaign has drawn international scorn and unsettled his allies, and as a result, Russian envoys from business and government who have been staples at Davos since the end of the Soviet Union were not invited this year. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky speaking during the World Economic Forum (Markus Schreiber/AP) Mr Kuleba voiced little hope that the war could come to a negotiated end, or even a pause, anytime soon. The moment Russia will agree to a ceasefire will be the moment it will be one step away from losing the war, he told reporters. They (the Russians) will agree to a ceasefire with only one purpose: to save themselves from losing the war. Until then, this war will continue. The upshot of Ukraines efforts is to rally countries around a budding democracy with ambitions to join the European Union the free-world and free-market club in the face of an onslaught by a Russian regime that clamps down on dissent and centralises power in one man: Mr Putin. Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba voiced little hope that the war with Russia could come to a negotiated end (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP) Meanwhile, a deadly school shooting in Texas in the US on Tuesday was on many minds in Davos. More broadly, battles against global warming, a food crisis, and cyberattacks by hackers from Russia and beyond have exposed how progressive leaders from civil society, corporations and government have struggled to cope in a world facing simultaneous crises. Many touched on the need to find solutions to the blockade of Ukrainian ports, preventing its critical stocks of wheat, barley and sunflower oil from getting to the world and threatening food insecurity in countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The European Union and United States have accused Russia of using food supplies as a weapon and say there have been talks of opening secure shipping corridors. Russian officials are blaming western sanctions or Ukrainian mines in the sea. World Trade Organisation director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said on Wednesday: This food crisis is real, and we must find solutions. Actor Kevin Spacey has been charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the 62-year-old has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The alleged incidents took place in London between March 2005 and August 2008, and in Gloucestershire in April 2013. It follows a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its previous investigation into the actor. Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: The CPS has authorised criminal charges against Kevin Spacey, 62, for four counts of sexual assault against three men. He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Spacey are active and that he has the right to a fair trial. Spacey is a two-time Oscar winner and known for starring roles in American Beauty, The Usual Suspects and House Of Cards. He was previously artistic director of The Old Vic theatre in London. More to follow . . . Interview NUG Plans More Weapons and Funds for Revolution Against Myanmar Junta People's Defense Force members in Taungoo district, Bago Region mark the one year anniversary of their founding on May 6. / NUG U Naing Htoo Aung, permanent secretary of the National Unity Governments (NUG) Ministry of Defense, talked recently to The Irrawaddy about Myanmars armed struggle against the military regime, what the NUG has been doing to step up the attack against the junta, about the availability of funds and the distribution of weapons to resistance groups, and defections from Myanmars military. You have said that the NUG will step up the revolution this year. Whats your current assessment of the revolution? We have increasingly engaged in all the means helpful to topple the military dictatorship. It is fair to say that we started from zero. We chose armed struggle not because we like it, but because we were forced to do so. Compared to the previous year, there has been a lot of progress. More than one year on from the coup, the regime still lacks legitimacy and is utterly rejected by the people. In terms of military confrontation, the regime has been suffering a lot. This is something that the military had never expected in its history. The armed struggle is one of our means of revolution and it has achieved certain progress. Other means are equally as important as the armed struggle. You said the NUG will accelerate the armed struggle this year. What is the NUGs strategy? The peoples militia is the key strategy, which we will continue to implement in our armed struggle. We are fighting them [the junta] not because we have superior weapons or larger battalions, but because this is a defensive war being fought with the support of the people, and we will therefore continue to pursue the peoples militia strategy. We focused on building and learning in the first year. Now we have a certain amount of experience and stronger organizational skills. Although there are still a lot of requirements in terms of weapons, we have been armed to a certain extent. So this year there will be more attacks designed to cause heavier damage to the regime. Previously, we only waged guerilla warfare, but very soon there will be more all-out attacks carried out in a professional manner. What will be the major differences in the war between last year and this year? As everyone knows, we have been able to fight guerilla warfare in wider areas. In the near future, besides guerilla warfare, we will launch assaults in a professional manner. There will be an upgrade to the tactics and weaponry we use in the fighting. Resistance forces will be able to use better weapons and more weapons. The regime has increasingly used air and artillery strikes to crush the resistance, as well as torching villages. The Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) have said they are outgunned. What will the NUG do to help them? We have been able to raise more funds lately. You can see that resistance forces are using better weapons now. It takes a few months to turn those funds into weapons and get them into the hands of resistance fighters. People have started to see the fruits of the increased funds, and they will see more fruits in the months to come. You said that the NUG has provided more arms to PDFs compared to last year. Can you give us a figure? In some cases, supply has yet to reach the target destinations because of logistical hurdles and communication obstacles. We always try our best to reach out to resistance groups. We have supplied arms to Bo Ngar [a prominent resistance leader from Sagaing Region who has complained of a shortage of weapons]. But it is possible that we could not provide as many as they want. We are trying to deliver the arms we have promised. But there are delays due to logistical hurdles, financial constraints, and other factors. We request understanding from the people and resistance forces. There are also delays because we are trying to systematize the supply chains. As I said earlier, resistance forces cant get arms overnight after we get the money. The regime has frozen bank accounts used to accept donations from the people, and also arrested account holders. We have to collect donations from numerous sources, and I hope people can understand the extent of the difficulties we are facing. The difference between last year and this year will be that we have spent huge sums on [military] training and research [on weapons production]. We dont have to spend much on training and research this year, and the extra money will be used to arm the resistance forces. The NUG said it has spent US$30 million on weapons. Has the NUG received more funds since that money was spent? There are two parts regarding the use of those funds. Some items directly reach users immediately after we buy them. But for other items, we cant give them directly and they are still on their way to users. We have used up the US$30 million. But not all the items bought with that US$30 million have been supplied to people yet. What I can say is that the supply and production of weapons will increase greatly compared to last year. But to tell you the figures.I say it depends on the availability of funds. It costs at least US$1 million to arm a battalion. And were doing everything we can to raise more funds. To arm all the existing battalions, it will cost over US$100 million. While we cant arm all the resistance forces, we are trying to make the most out of the resources we have. So can we expect more direct attacks against the regime this year? Yes. You said the NUG cant afford to supply all the resistance groups at the same time. But some people have criticized the NUG for only supplying arms to groups it is close to. What is your response? Resources are limited anywhere and there are always management problems with the sharing of resources. So it is natural that there are complaints in managing scarce resources. We welcome those complaints. But we have to look at the overall picture. For some operations, using large resources on a single unit can guarantee better results than distributing smaller resources to several groups. Basically, we have to fulfill the basic requirements of all the groups to protect the people. And we are trying to make sure of that. How is the NUG supplying urban guerilla groups, including those taking part in Operation Nan Htike Aung in Yangon? Many urban guerilla groups are operating under the command of the NUG. We are supplying them based on their planned operations. We are aware that urban guerillas are facing a tougher time now. We are reviewing our supply and making plans for improvement. We have done certain things, but much remains to be done. What can people expect from the NUGs attacks for control of cities? NUG statements have said it is expanding its territory and that some cities are under siege. When we design missions, we have to weigh the benefits against the costs. We have to weigh what we can achieve from the operation and what we and people can lose in the fighting. We know fighting can cause serious damage to human and other resources but, as I have said earlier, we were forced to choose the armed struggle. We aim to build a developed federal democracy in the future. We have to make use of resources in the nation-building. The lives of people and resources are priceless. So we have to think very carefully about how we can achieve our ambitions with minimum losses. We can seize a town now and make people happy. But we have to use many resources to maintain control of it. This will seriously affect our efforts to liberate the whole country. We may seize cities when the time is appropriate. But we have to take many things into consideration. A wrong decision can cost the lives of many young people. Because we need their strength in rebuilding our country. What is the NUG doing to help produce weapons for the PDFs? Our defence ministry has a separate unit for weapons production. The unit provides financial, material and technical assistance for groups that produce weapons. We have achieved significant improvements after numerous failures. We have been able to spend a sizable proportion of our budget on weapons production. We have started to see the benefits of the money we spent on research and development over the last year. We attach great importance to weapons production. But I cant disclose details of our production line as it is sensitive information. We have spent millions of dollars on weapons production and we will disclose details when the time is appropriate. Last month, citing the example of Ukraine, the NUG foreign affairs minister called on the international community to provide arms for PDFs in Myanmar. Has the NUG received any weapons from foreign countries? I dont know much about foreign relations. But as far as I know no country has yet supplied us. Bur whether we receive help or not we have to keep going on the path we have chosen. We will fight until the end and if the international community give a hand, it will help reduce the damage to the Myanmar people and help restore regional stability more quickly. But if they do nothing, there will be more civilian casualties. It is shameful that the international community just stands by and does nothing when other people face injustice. They should ask themselves the question, let injustice happen or fight it? How much more money does the NUG need to step up attacks against the regime and can it raise that cash? As I have said earlier, we need over US$100 million. Suppose we have 100,000 resistance fighters and if we are only to equip them with a basic weapon like a rifle, we need hundreds of millions of dollars. We will have more funds this year than last year. But it will be difficult to meet our financial target. The funds we have acquired so far can only arm some ten per cent of resistance forces. It is quite a small amount compared to the billions of dollars that the Myanmar military gets annually from its defense budget. We need more funds. We have to try to increase funding. It is not impossible if we can work together with greater understanding and unity. The NUG has formed a logistical army [which requires people to register with the NUGs defense ministry to provide monthly contributions starting from US$20] which is part of the fund-raising program. How many people have joined the logistical army? Well, more and more people are gradually joining. But we dont earn millions of dollars monthly as we expected. We will reveal a detailed list soon. People are speculating about possible morale problems in the military. What does the NUG know about the current situation inside the military? For now, Min Aung Hlaing is struggling to convince his troops to continue fighting. For an army to fight and risk their lives, they must have faith in something, for example a cause or to protect the people. But, now, all the people in the Myanmar military have to sacrifice their lives for the betterment of a handful of people. They know if they are protecting the people or persecuting them. They cant lie to themselves. They might have relatives in villages where they have killed people and torched houses. And the regime is also using the pretext of protecting Buddhism and Burmese people. I think many military personnel are now aware that it is ridiculous. On the other hand, the PDFs know exactly what they are fighting for. They are fighting to end military dictatorship and establish federal democracy in Myanmar, for the stability and prosperity of Myanmar. They are fighting with the faith that they are building a country that guarantees equal opportunities for all citizens, and that is not ruled through the barrel of a gun. But junta troops do not have such faith. No army can survive long without strong faith. Their morale will decline over time. Those who remain in the military because of the benefits associated with being military personnel will not risk their lives. There are already many unhappy soldiers because of exploitation and bullying in the military. We know that many want to leave the military for the embrace of people, but the regime has taken a number of measures to discourage them from doing so. People say the Myanmar military has over 400,000 soldiers. Does the NUG know the exact size of the military? We dont think the military is as big as they [the junta] say. There have been defections, but troops who defect remain on the paylist. Everyone knows why they are still on the paylist [because commanders embezzle their salaries without reporting their defections to their superiors]. Battalions are short of their standard size. Some say that there are only a few thousand junta troops. That is not true either. Not all the troops are combat troops. And we have seen that the regime has been forced to use non-combat troops in military operations. We learned that the regime has had to use female soldiers in fighting lately. Although we dont underestimate the strength of the military, its size is much smaller than it claims. In April, the NUG offered incentives for military personnel to defect. What else can the NUG do to encourage defections? Soldiers might have concerns about defecting because of the uncertainties they are likely to face after defection. More soldiers have defected as we have guaranteed their lives. So we provide support for defectors to secure livelihoods. We also reward them when they defect with arms. There were difficulties initially, but we can manage more systematically now. We also plan to spend more funds for defectors. Some people have criticized us for spending money on defectors and not on the procurement of weapons. But an enemy soldier that stops fighting for the enemy or defects to us is a military achievement. We are not fighting out of a grudge. We are fighting for a political goal. We are rebelling out of love [for people]. And we keep the door open for those who have not committed serious crimes and who have chosen the people over the regime. This is also important for the revolution. The NUG has offered US$500,000 to anyone who defects with a military plane or vessel. Has anyone done that yet? Military personnel have contacted us [about defecting]. It is possible that they will defect [along with a plane or vessel]. We will issue a press release when the time is right. Profile Myanmar Journalist-Turned-Resistance Fighter Swapped His Camera for a Gun Ko Jack takes part in military training in a jungle in Karen State. It has been more than a year since Ko Jack left behind the career he loved and joined the armed struggle to defend the people from the juntas atrocities. For about 10 years, he followed his passion for photography, working as a photojournalist for news organizations in Yangon. As he had a special interest in covering armed conflicts, Ko Jack traveled to several ethnic states where armed groups have long fought the military for greater rights and autonomy, telling their stories through his camera lens. Today, he finds himself among them not as a journalist, but fighting back against the military that overthrew the elected civilian government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup in February last year. Now a member of the Peoples Defense Force in Karen State, the 29-year-old has taken part in five heavy battles alongside ethnic Karen forces fighting junta troops. In those clashes, more than 100 junta forces were killed and around a dozen captured. From lens to gun Ko Jack recalled his first battle experience in a recent interview with The Irrawaddy. He shared that despite having undergone months of military training, the first time he experienced front-line combat his old instincts returned and he immediately began mentally framing photographs of what he saw. Using a gun and taking pictures have something in common: you keep your index finger in a ready position. But you cant do both [take photos and fire a gun] at the same time, he said. If I started taking pictures, the gun I carry would be useless and it wouldnt help my comrades either, he added. Since then, Ko Jacks camera has been put aside and his rifle has become his top priority. And just as he relied on his strong sense of timing and focusing skills to take good photographs, he has proven to be a good shot on the battlefield. He was even offered a promotion to section commander but turned it down, feeling he wasnt ready for the post yet. On the front line he has become a good soldier, coordinating well with his comrades and obedient to his commander, while back at the base, he is a respected trainer among new members, sharing what he has learned with them. The day that changed his life For more than a month after the coup, Ko Jack put aside his personal anger at the military takeover in order to focus on his job, heading to the streets with his camera to document the anti-coup protests and the juntas crackdown on its opponents. With his fellow journalists, he kept the world informed of the events that were unfolding in the coup-hit country and presented evidence of the violence used by the juntas forces. However, one day in March, witnessing the aftermath of a bloodbath committed by the junta in a suburb of Yangon convinced him that he had to take up arms. Following the coup, numerous street protests broke out in Yangon and other cities, and junta forces responded to the peaceful protesters with lethal crackdowns and deadly shootings. Ko Jack was in Hlaing Tharyar Township one day after the military engaged in one of its worst mass killings of civilians there on March 14. He recalls that so many bodies were taken to the cemetery that the crematorium had to work non-stop, leaving families unable to grieve properly as the funerals had to be rushed. He spent the whole day there. Some bodies were disfigured to the point of being unrecognizable with pierced heads, shattered faces or missing limbs. The victims were protesters, bystanders and those helping the wounded, gunned down in a cold-blooded crackdown on an anti-coup demonstration in the township. During the crackdown, junta soldiers armed with assault rifles and snipers trapped protesters and shot to kill any living thing in their view. In total, the juntas forces killed around 80 people on that day. I have never been able to just stand there and watch injustice unfold in front of my eyes. With the coup, and after seeing what happened on that day, I couldnt stand and watch anymore, he said. A few days later he left his home in Yangon, joining thousands of young people across the country heading to rebel training camps and vowing to topple the junta, which has continued to terrorize the population with killings, arbitrary arrests, arson and bombing attacks. His new home is a tent. He lives in a forest without any relatives nearby. More than a year on, he misses his home sometimes, especially when he is sick. He recently caught malaria while staying at a jungle camp; his biggest wish at that time was to be able to enjoy his favorite breakfastspicy noodle salad with rice. Same mission But the determined revolutionary fighter said he wont turn back until the revolution succeedsa conviction he shares with his comrades. A majority of the fighters in the group are aged between 20 and 30; they come from different regions and states and diverse backgrounds: workers, journalists, medics, artists, civil servants and even some striking police and soldiers. Besides graduates like Ko Jack, who completed a degree in geology, undergrads under 20 who are boycotting the juntas education system have also joined the group. Like Ko Jack, none of them chose to be soldiers; all felt compelled to take up arms due to the juntas oppression of the entire population. They are among about 80,000 to 100,000 Peoples Defense Force members nationwide who have taken up arms to fight back against the junta. They all have one missionto root out the military, which has oppressed the country for more than 60 years, and to terminate once and for all the system of dictatorship that is despised by all Myanmar people. Some of Ko Jacks comrades have given their lives for this mission. During one battle Ko Jack lost two fellow fighters, both of whom were much younger than him. Their deaths could easily have left him heartbroken and demoralised; instead, they have driven him to become a stronger fighter, even more determined to achieve victory on their behalf, he said. Like Ko Jack, all revolutionary fighters believe that their future will be bright only when the current military under Min Aung Hlaing is defeated. Ko Jack said that while he personally loved detained State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the countrys leader, the fight is not for her sake alone, but for his and his comrades future, and he believes other youths who have taken up arms feel the same way. We, the youth, are fighting to end military rule for our future and because we are the next generation, he said. Referring to the juntas recent invitation of ethnic armed organizations to peace talks, Ko Jack continued that the young resistance fighters have no trust in any negotiations offered by the junta. We have seen their lies and dont believe them. For us, we will continue to fight till the end, till the junta surrenders, and till they [the military] give up their place in politics, he said. Ko Jack and his comrades are confident of victory over the junta troops, who are dispirited and disunited. Even now, facing shortages of arms and ammunition, the resistance groups, which comprise determined fighters across the country, pose a serious threat to the juntas forcesonce viewed as an all-powerful militaryusing guerrilla warfare tactics to seize junta posts. Ko Jack said he has noticed that several junta troops who were killed or arrested by ethnic forces in their area used drugs, adding that on the front lines they are no longer obedient to their commanders. But the inadequate arms and ammunition are holding back the resistances operations. For now, only half of the members of the group are armed. With the PDFs still not fully armed, Ko Jack bought a used AK-47 rifle on his own and has raised funds to buy bullets for himself as well as for his colleagues. Other PDF members across the country have also had to raise money themselves to buy the required weapons and food. Ko Jack said that if the resistance forces had adequate supplies of arms and ammunition, victory wouldnt take long. We could also take the cities, as the people expect, in three to six months if we had full supplies of arms and ammunition. We dont need tanks or jet fighters to win the battle, only supplies of arms and ammunition, he said. And the day they prevail will be the day they return home and reclaim their rights. When this is over, I want to return home in my uniform, Ko Jack said. I want to meet my parents in the battle uniform that I wore while taking part in the revolution and show them that their son did something they can be proud of. And yes, he will return to his camera and once again hit the shutter button instead of pulling the trigger. Ko Jack is a pseudonym. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Expands its Intelligence Operation Military Junta Administrators Quit After Armed Groups Death Threats Cambodia Forced to Put Off ASEAN Meeting as Foreign Ministers Pull Out Burma 10 Myanmar Villagers Seized as Hostages by Junta Troops, Locals Say Kan Taw Village in Myinmu Township, Sagaing Region after a junta raid in late April / Myinmu Civil Revolution Force The fate of at least 10 civilians, including a 5-year-old child, arrested by junta troops during a raid in Sagaings Myinmu Township on Tuesday was still unknown Thursday. The civilians from Inn Ma and Gone Nyin Sait villages were arrested while hiding in a nearby forest. Around 40 soldiers advanced to Inn Ma Village and destroyed the houses there before moving into the forest after being attacked by local resistance forces using land mines. They seized the civilians who were hiding in the forest. My little niece, hiding with her parents, was taken by the soldiers, said an Inn Ma resident who is a relative of the child. Locals couldnt verify the exact number of hostages taken by the military but said almost all of the arrested civilians are from Inn Ma and most are men. As the soldiers searched the forest, they engaged in clashes with members of the Myinmu Peoples Defense Force (PDF), who were trying to protect the civilians. Two members of the force were killed in the clashes. The childs uncle said, We heard the arrested villagers are at Myinmu Police Station. But we dont know for sure and do not dare to contact them. We are afraid of the soldiers. During the raid on Inn Ma, regime soldiers used vehicles to take away bags of rice, bottles of oil, other foodstuffs and shoes from the village grocery store. Ko Eagle, the head of the Myinmu PDF, said the military troops took the civilians hostage to use as human shields during clashes. The group said in a statement that it conducted three mine attacks against junta forces on Tuesday, killing at least 10 soldiers. First, they attacked military vehicles by detonating a land mine on the entrance road into Kan Phyar Village early in the morning, damaging a car. The vehicles were on the way to support the troops raiding Inn Ma. In the afternoon, two soldiers were killed during a clash between local resistance forces and junta troops between Gone Nyin Sait and Kan Phyar villages. Some 15 minutes after the attack, the Myinmu PDF said, around nine soldiers were killed during a mine ambush near Kan Phyar. The soldiers were walking back through our minefield. Nine soldiers were taken to hospital and locals told us on Wednesday that the soldiers died at the hospital, Ko Eagle said. Inn Ma and Gone Nyin Sait villages have nearly 400 houses each and are located about 3.2 km, or 2 miles, apart. Residents of these and other nearby villages fled their homes. Myinmu Township, a stronghold of resistance activity in Sagaing Region, borders Chaung-U, Monywa and Ayadaw townships. You may also like these stories: Military Junta Administrators Quit After Armed Groups Death Threats Cambodia Forced to Put Off ASEAN Meeting as Foreign Ministers Pull Out Regime Airstrike Destroys Hospital in Lower Myanmar Burma Ethnic Karen Fighters Take Control of Lower Myanmar Townships Karen National Liberation Army fighters. / The Karen National Union (KNU) is consolidating its control of Kyaukkyi and Mone townships in eastern Bago Region. The secretaries of KNU bodies in the two townships released notices on May 21 requiring residents to seek their approval for a variety of administrative functions ranging from education, health and business to regional development works. Brigade 3 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the KNU, is active in Kyaukkyi and Mone townships, both of which form part of the KNUs Nyaunglebin District. Before the 2021 coup, the KNU and Myanmar military vied for control of the townships. The KNU notices also ban drug use and gambling in the two townships and ask people to follow the KNUs health and relief departments advice regarding the prevention of COVID-19. Residents are also required to register their farmland and machinery for formal ownership, said the KNU. People who fail to follow the KNUs instructions face potential legal action, added the KNU. A source close to KNU officials in Kyaukkyi and Mone townships said that residents no longer need to follow the junta administration in those areas. The source said: We wont allow junta administration in those townships anymore. People no longer need to engage with the junta administration. We dont want our people victimized by their actions. With the military regime being kept busy by resistance forces, the KNU is trying to expand its authority in long-contested areas of Kyaukkyi and Mone. A resident of Kyaukkyi who asked for anonymity said: Previously, we could operate resources from our region such as fishing lakes and farming pastures alternately. But after the military seized power, the resources were monopolized by elites and the rich. The KNU will now manage those resources and allow locals to operate as before. So there is no problem. An ethnic affairs analyst based in Myanmar said that the regime has previously spread its troops thinly to assert greater control in contested areas, but is now re-concentrating those troops as they are at a greater risk of being attacked. With junta troops leaving, ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) have filled the vacuum left by the regime. Once the military retreats, EAOs can establish their authority. That has been the case for the KNU, as well as the Kachin Independence Army [in Kachin State] and the Arakan Army [in Rakhine State], and PDFs in Yaw [which comprises Saw, Hteelin and Gangaw townships in Magwe Region]. Once the regime withdraws military outposts and small police stations, EAOs and PDFs establish their authority, said the analyst. It will be difficult for the Myanmar military to re-establish its authority in such places because public support for it has seriously declined, and it has been seriously depleted by defections and casualties, said a political observer. As far as I know, the juntas administration is not operational without soldiers and police, he added. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Expands its Intelligence Operation Military Junta Administrators Quit After Armed Groups Death Threats Cambodia Forced to Put Off ASEAN Meeting as Foreign Ministers Pull Out Burma Fighting with Myanmars Junta Continues in Southern Shan State Resistance fighters in Kayah State. / Karenni Nationalities Defense Force Fighting between Myanmars junta and resistance forces in Kayah and Shan states has continued in southern Shan State for more than two weeks, causing tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes. Fighting broke out in Pekon one day after resistance fighters attacked a junta outpost at Hti Yi village in Nyaung Shwe Township on May 12. The junta deployed two detachments of around 100 troops each. The Pekhon People Defense Forces (PDFs), Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, Loikaw PDF, Moebye PDF, Inle PDF, 1,005 and 1,008 Battalions of Infantry Southern Shan have been battling the junta. Junta artillery and airstrikes have been heavily used and about six resistance troops and less than 25 regime soldiers have been killed, according to Pekon PDF. Four soldiers, including a major, were killed on May 15. There have been about 20,000 refugees from 35 villages in the township fleeing the fighting, according to the Karenni Refugee Supporting Network. There are about 5,000 displaced civilians in west Pekon and most could not carry anything. We need waterproof sheets, food and clothes, the group said. Fighting spilled into Shan State from the resistance stronghold of Kayah State in April when resistance groups attacked a military outpost at Pin Pon village in Pinlaung Township. On May 1, the resistance attacked the security forces at Laneli bridge in Pinlaung Township about a two-hour drive from Naypyitaw. The junta began clearance operations in Kayah State last year. The fighting prompted about 200,000 Kayah villagers to flee their homes by the end of April, according to the Karenni Human Rights Group. Burma Nearly 10,000 Civilians Flee Myanmar Junta Raids in Sagaing Civilians fleeing junta attacks in Yinmabin Township, Sagaing Region, on Wednesday. / Yinmabin Information Group Nearly 10,000 civilians from 19 villages in Salingyi and Yinmabin townships, Sagaing Region, have reportedly fled their homes since Wednesday amid raids by Myanmars regime. On Thursday morning, more than 80 regime soldiers from Yinmabin advanced on Salingyi and torched War Tan village. On Wednesday, they raided Aung Chan Thar, Mya Yeik and Htan Taw Gyi villages in Yinmarbin and torched civilian houses. The affected villages in both townships have at least 1,000 inhabitants each. Two civilians were detained to be used as guides and then killed by the soldiers near Kan Kone cemetery, according to a resident. The victims, in their 30s, were from Done Taw and Yoar Tha villages. Monsoon rains have caused fleeing villagers more trouble. A Yinmabin Information Group video shows villagers moving their belongings on motorbikes on muddy roads in the rain. The whole villages had to flee. Some elderly people suffered from severe health problems, said Ko Zee Kwat of Salingyi. Some civilians took stayed with relatives or in monasteries while others shelter from the rain under tarpaulins. The regime cut phone lines on Wednesday, according to residents. Troops burned houses in Moe Kaung and Ta Yaw Kyin villages in Yinmabin earlier this week. Nearly 50 Ta Yaw Kyin houses were burned down. Ko Khant, the head of North Yamar Peoples Defence Force, which is active in Yinmarbin, said the group did not know the exact numbers of destroyed houses and that this was the second wave of arson attacks. Ta Pyay Aye, Chin Pone and Aung Chan Thar villages in Yinmarbin were abandoned in February. A Tha Pyay Aye villager said: We live in the forest under tarpaulins. As the rainy season sets in, it will become harder for us. Sagaing, a resistance stronghold, faces heavy junta attacks with Yinmabin, Salingyi, Kani, Chaung-U, Ye-U, Khin-U, Myinmu and Depeyin townships being raided this month and tens of thousands displaced. The deal will see HashiCorp work with all of the cloud businesses within Mantel Groups house of brands, including CMD Solutions on AWS Cloud, Kasna on Google Cloud, and Azenix on Microsoft Azure. It is exciting to partner with HashiCorp in Australia given their strong knowledge across all cloud providers. Although new in the market, our specialisation in Azure allows Azenix to work closely with Hashicorp to improve operating models for our clients and bring a customised offering based on their needs. If the client is taking a multi-cloud approach, we have the ability to work directly with our sister brands CMD Solutions and Kasna to bring their workflows to life, said Azenix CTO Andrew Freeman. As part of the shift to the cloud, organisations of all sizes, from well-known brands to ambitious start-ups, rely on HashiCorps products to provision, secure, connect, and run their business-critical applications in the cloud. With three specialised cloud brands, there is a significant opportunity for Mantel Group to partner with HashiCorp across many major projects and leverage the knowledge of certified team members across Hashicorp products including Terraform and Vault. In HashiCorps recent 2021 State of Cloud Strategy Survey, 57% of respondents claimed to be experiencing a multi-cloud skills shortage. HashiCorp APJ senior director of partners Rhody Hill said this partnership would help customer organisations to better address those challenges. We are thrilled to be expanding our work with System Integration partners like Mantel Group. Our combined knowledge and technical offerings are critical to joint customer success and helping organisations from every industry to innovate in the cloud while navigating a tough skills environment, Hill said. Mantel Group CEO Con Mouzouris said We are excited to be working with a partner that, like us, is principle led, remote oriented, and people focussed. With our knowledge of the local market, we believe that our like-minded teams will work well together to deliver the best outcomes for our clients. Finnish telecommunications vendor Nokia expands its private wireless capabilities and portfolio of industrial user equipment, adding wearable devices and digital twinning to give manufacturers, mining, public safety agencies, and other organisations more ways to connect people and machines and support use cases. In collaboration with communications solutions provider Savox, Nokia unveils its range of accessories: hand-held remote speaker microphones, headsets, helmet compatible headsets. These devices will provide workers more ways to connect and enhance their safety, Nokia claims. First responders, mining engineers and others working in harsh environments will be able to communicate without having to remove protective equipment and hear in noisy locations. Nokia is also launching its industrial 5G video camera that supports low light performance and image quality. It can be wirelessly connected to a private wireless network to provide real-time video analysis, face recognition, object detection (surveillance), defect detection (industrial and obstacles), road sign detection and drive record (for automotive). Nokia digital twin for private wireless allows organisations to view its network real time and assess its performance. This will enhance planning capabilities as future scenarios can be tested without impacting its current environment. Such capability will be important for use cases. With Nokia we can now offer our wearable devices to even more users, help improve their safety and enhance team communication with durable and robust communications solutions, says Savox strategic sales head Vaitteri Seraste. We are pleased to introduce our new digital twin capabilities for private wireless and work with Savox to deliver solutions that meet the needs across industries, adds Nokia cloud and network services head of devices and spectrum enterprise solutions Shkumbin Hamiti. Nokia will be exhibiting at Hannover Messe 30.5-2.6.2022 in Hall 5, Booth E48. Company executives will be on-hand to discuss Industry 4.0 transformation with industrial grade wireless connectivity solutions built for factory operations. Industry solution experts will also be available to demonstrate the Nokia Industrial device portfolio with the new products and Nokia network digital twin. Nokia offers a private wireless portfolio to allow industries to advance their digital transformation. This includes the Nokia Digital Automated Cloud (DAC) end-to-end industry-grade application platform, Modular Private Wireless (MPW), MX Industrial Edge, the Nokia Industrial portfolio of ruggedised 4G and 5G devices, as well as applications for data management. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 25 May 2022. COMPANY NEWS: Committed to driving customer value and growth by combining world-class IT and OT expertise from Hitachi Energy and Hitachi Vantara within an expanded Lumada portfolio. Hitachi, Ltd. announced the launch of Lumada Inspection Insights, its end-to-end portfolio of digital solutions for the inspection, monitoring, and optimisation of critical assets. Pioneered by Hitachi Energy and Hitachi Vantara, Lumada Inspection Insights enables customers to automate asset inspection, support sustainability goals, improve physical security, and reduce risks and impacts related to storms or fires by using powerful artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse photographs and video, including LiDAR, thermal and satellite imagery. The launch of the new portfolio is fully aligned with Hitachis Mid-term Management Plan 2024 announced last month by Keiji Kojima, President & CEO, Hitachi, Ltd. In the Plan, Hitachi has set out its growth strategy and commitment to strengthening its digital and green portfolio, which is centred on the Lumada ecosystem. Central to Hitachis commitment to social innovation, the Lumada ecosystem is accelerating the journey towards a sustainable society through the data-driven cycle of value co-creation with customers. The company is also focused on growing its IT/OT/Products business through constant portfolio transformation. The new Lumada Inspection Insights portfolio addresses various root causes of failures and forced shutdowns by deploying AI and machine learning (ML) to analyse a wide spectrum of image types, assets and risks. Predictive analytics assesses the risks to operations or the environment, and organisations can streamline remediation before outages occur. Available as a comprehensive solution or standalone, the portfolios four core applications are Hitachi Image-Based Inspections, Hitachi Intelligent Infrastructure Monitoring, Hitachi Vegetation Manager, and Hitachi Map. These represent the companys latest advancements in its growing Data Operations (DataOps) and Industrial IoT offerings. More information on each solution is below. Massimo Danieli, Managing Director of Hitachi Energys Grid Automation business, said, The energy transition is one of the most urgent issues of our times and together with customers, we are co-creating pioneering digital solutions to enable the carbon-neutral future. He added, In collaboration with Hitachi Vantara, we are delighted to launch the Lumada Inspection Insights portfolio, which gives industrial organisations the tools they need to get the right information to the right teams when they need it most. The result is improved reliability, safety, and sustainability. Frank Antonysamy, Chief Digital Solutions Officer, Hitachi Vantara, said, Becoming data driven is essential to accelerating digitalisation and sustainability. This collaboration across Hitachi creates better outcomes for businesses, broader society and our environment by harnessing data and AI to solve multiple operational and business challenges. Together, we can improve industrial asset reliability, prevent wildfires and accelerate global sustainability efforts. Lumada Inspection Insights features comprehensive, microservices-based capabilities that allow visibility of assets and factors such as current state, asset health, and encroachment, in a single pane of glass actionable view, from a variety of sources. With these unified insights, organisations can improve safety, reliability, and agility. The use of high-resolution, autonomous, and accurate wide-area surveillance ensures that truck rolls and workforce deployments are optimised, reducing waste and furthering a sustainable approach to operations and maintenance. Utilities around the world are dealing with unprecedented climate-related challenges. In 2021, global wildfires generated an estimated total of 6,450 megatons of CO2 equivalent approximately 148% more than the EUs total fossil fuel emissions in 2020.*1 These wildfires and other extreme weather events also take a significant toll on transmission lines and other utility assets, threatening worker safety and grid reliability. Inspection, planning and monitoring are among the most critical tasks utilities undertake to maintain grid reliability and resiliency, said John Villali, Research Director, IDC Energy Insights. He added, Lumada Inspection Insights combines a variety of visual asset data types with advanced analytics and AI. This empowers utilities to improve decision making, optimise operations and as a result, achieve their reliability, safety, and sustainability goals. *1 Source: https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/wildfires-wreaked-havoc-2021-cams-tracked-their-impact The Forrester New Tech report states that, "DAPs have evolved from point solutions for app-based engagement into product suites focused on improving user experiences on enterprise applications." As such, venture capital investments in the DAP category grew from US$76 million ($108 million) in 2020 to US$470 million ($667 million) in 2021, nearly sixfold, according to the report. The report lists 17 vendors according to maturity, which was determined by financial strength, tenure, and size. WalkMe was included in the late stage vendor maturity segment and in the pure-play and product insight platform functionality segment. Founded in 2011, WalkMe created the digital adoption platform category, and a decade later went public. Today, with users in more than 160 countries, WalkMe is trusted by around 2,000 customers, including 80% of the Fortune 10. WalkMe holds 10 distinct technology patents with another six pending, and has achieved more than 40 industry awards, including two recent accolades: Infoworld Technology of the Year 2022 and Business Intelligence Group's Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award 2022. "Forrester's report on DAP coupled with the clear momentum in the digital adoption space feels like an arrival moment for WalkMe," said WalkMe co-founder and president Rafael Sweary. "While 2022 is certainly looking like a watershed year for the DAP category WalkMe created, the momentum has been building for over a decade. What got its start as a 'nice to have' evolved to a 'need to have,' thanks to the continued investment in digital transformation projects and the ROI derived from increased digital adoption. April 2022 marked the tenth anniversary of when WalkMe introduced the industry's first digital adoption platform. And now we continue to celebrate our incredible journey with this latest industry recognition by Forrester." Forrester New Tech: Digital Adoption Platforms can be downloaded here. Additional Resources Visit the WalkMe website. Read the WalkMe blog. About WalkMe WalkMe's cloud-based digital adoption platform enables organisations to measure, drive and act to ultimately accelerate their digital transformations and better realise the value of their software investments. Our code-free platform leverages our proprietary technology to provide visibility to an organisations chief information officer and business leaders, while improving user experience, productivity and efficiency for employees and customers. Alongside walkthroughs and third-party integration capabilities, our platform can be customised to fit an organisation's needs. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is visiting Sarajevo to reaffirm the U.K.s commitment to peace and stability in Bosnia amid growing fears of malign influence from Russia in the ethnically-divided Balkan country This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. Johnson City, TN (37604) Today Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 63F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 63F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Interview: U.S.-led IPEF aims to contain China, not develop region, says commentator Xinhua) 11:23, May 26, 2022 SINGAPORE, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The fundamental objective of the so-called Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) by the United States is to besiege and contain China under the pretense of promoting regional economic development, said Ang Teck Sin, a political commentator in Singapore. The IPEF, to some extent, is a substitute for the U.S.-framed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in terms of containing China's development and growth, Ang told Xinhua on Monday. The TPP was signed in early 2016 as a massive trade agreement led by the United States. However, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw from it shortly after taking office. The remaining TPP members have forged ahead with a new version of the pact, known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The U.S. move to initiate the TPP aimed to cut the economic links between China and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, which is also the primary purpose of the Joe Biden administration in launching the IPEF, said Ang. Ang said the Biden administration has no intention of joining the CPTPP but has been attempting to continue to fulfill the TPP's goal of containing China with the new IPEF. To enable the IPEF to corner China, the United States needs more member states to join the framework, said Ang, pointing to U.S. attempts to draw the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries over to its side. The United States still leads the world with its powerful military technology and economic strength. But that isn't enough to persuade smaller countries to join U.S.-led blocs if it means harming their own interests. The American oligarchy has been formed. The National Rifle Association has hijacked its domestic policy while the arms industry holds outsized influence in international policy, said Ang, adding that this is a problem that both parties in the United States face. Ang added that the situation would not change until a third party emerges to eliminate these overly influential interest groups. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) After five months of silence, the Gambian authorities yesterday published a position paper expressing intent to implement the recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), notably the prosecution of ex-President Yahya Jammeh, for a myriad of crimes committed between 1994 and 2017 and of several other top officials for murdering dozens of citizens during his 22-year rule. Jammeh, living in exile in Equatorial Guinea since January 2017, ruled the small West African country with an iron fist, using a paramilitary hit-squad called the Junglers which disappeared at least 103 people, according the report of the Truth Commission, released last year on Christmas Eve. At least 232 people were found to have been murdered by state agents from July 1994 to December 2016 the precise period that falls under its mandate. The government accepts all the recommendations by the TRRC with regard to prosecution, notably the prosecution of ex-President, states the government position paper. According to this document, Jammehs crimes include at least 19 incidents of illegal executions by Junglers: execution of 12 soldiers; unlawful killing of former Finance Minister Ousman Koro Ceesay; killing of at least 17 road users; killing of 15 students; murder of journalist Deyda Hydara; murder of 67 West African migrants; random execution of 27 other people; 41 deaths caused by the Presidential Alternative Treatment Programme for AIDS; and 41 deaths caused by witch-hunting. Several torture charges were also approved to be brought against Jammeh. In addition, he faces at least two rape cases. The crimes of which Yahya Jammeh has been accused, including widespread murder, torture, rape and arbitrary detention, clearly constitute crimes against humanity, said Reed Brody of International Commission of Jurists. Brody, instrumental in bringing ex-Chadian dictator Hussein Habre to justice, has been working with Jammehs victims to help them mobilise support to bring him to justice. Special prosecutors office The 178-page government white paper fell short of detailing how, when and where these prosecutions were to happen. The government intends to create a special judicial framework within our domestic court system for the prosecution of perpetrators of human rights abuses and violations, said the governments position paper. The [special] court shall be located within the Gambia with the option of holding sittings in other countries based on the exigencies of each case. Based on this model, Jammeh can be prosecuted in Ghana, Senegal or Nigeria over murder of their citizens in 2005. The prosecutorial task will be handled by a special prosecutor under the Ministry of Justice. The special prosecutors office shall be aided by a special investigations unit under the Ministry of Justice, said the government. The office will have local and international experts to guide and conduct its investigations and prosecutions, it also said. And the government promised several legislative amendments including the enactment of the torture laws. Already, the Jammeh-era crimes have been tested before the courts. Yankuba Touray was convicted in the country for the murder in June 1995 of former Finance Minister Ousman Koro Ceesay. Bai Lowe a former Jungler is currently facing charges in Germany of crimes against humanity for involvement in the murder of journalist Deyda Hydara in December 2004. Seven top heads of the National Intelligence Agency are standing trial in Gambia for the April 2016 murder of Ebrima Solo Sandeng. Abroad, prospective cases hang over Ousman Sonko, Jammehs longest serving interior minister, in Switzerland, and Michael Sang, a Jungler currently detained in the United States. Three recommended for amnesties The Truth Commission made 265 recommendations, of which the government formally rejected only two. One was a request to amnesty Sanna Sabally, the former vice chairman of the military junta. The government also rejected the TRRCs qualification of judges who helped Jammeh as mercenary judges. The government accepted three amnesty recommendations from the TRRC: for two junior soldiers implicated in November 11, 1994 executions, Baboucarr Mboob and Zakaria Darboe; and for a soldier involved in the 1995 torture of political detainees, Major Bubacarr Bah. The government also accepted to grant Alagie Kanyi immunity on the basis of the willingness he expressed to testify on the murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay and the November 11 execution of soldiers. He was involved in both executions as a junior soldier and was a star witness for the state in the murder trial of Yankuba Touray. The governments decisions are not without controversy. It refused to penalize the current head of the National Intelligence Agency for tampering with evidence. Justice Minister Jallow argued that the evidence tampering charge against Ousman Sowe came in May 2017, falling outside the timeframe the Commission is mandated to investigate. However, critics contend that his conduct violates the TRRC Act. The second controversial position was the refusal of the government to penalize Yankuba Sonko, who was until recently Interior Minister, for his involvement in the cover-up of the killings of the West African migrants. Sonko was recommended to be banned from public office for 10 years but the government declined. Meanwhile, the position paper said there is also a possibility of granting amnesty to some Junglers, depending on how useful they are to the states prosecutorial plans. For instance, the Commission recommended for a denial of Malick Jattas application for amnesty on the basis that although he gave full disclosure, showed remorse and helped the Commission in its investigation, his acts form crimes against humanity. But the Commission further recommended that the State could grant him immunity should it wish to use him as a witness. On his specific case, the government said that it will evaluate Lieutenant Malick Jattas utility as a witness in line with its prosecution strategy. The same immunity deal is being evaluated for Junglers Omar Jallow and Pa Ousman Sanneh. Jammeh deserves a day in dock According to the governments commitments, Jammeh will not be the only person to have his days in the dock. All his accomplices in the military and former top officials connected to rights violations, including former vice president Isatou Njie Saidy, are to be prosecuted for past rights violations. Fatou Barrow is a 22-year old daughter of Omar Barrow, a Gambian Red Cross volunteer who was shot dead on April 10, 2000. Fatou was 5 months old when he was murdered. I have heard stories about how he was a good man and ambitious I have heard he was always ready to help people, said Fatou. You can imagine the pain in my mothers heart when she was just 22 years old and widowed with a 5-month old baby. That is not easy. Jammeh and others should face justice. The when, how and where is still sketchy. But yesterday, Fatou was pleased to learn that the Gambian government had undertaken to bring to justice Jammeh, ex-vice president Isatou Njie Saidy, ex-interior minister Ousman Badgie, and ex chief of defence staff Babucarr Jatta. Now, the former leader lives under the protection another dictator, in Equatorial Guinea. No international warrant has been issued, and no extradition request made. It has not even been decided whether Jammeh will be prosecuted in the country or elsewhere in the region. The government could make it very difficult for Equatorial Guinea to resist a demand for Jammehs extradition by lining up the support of ECOWAS and the entire region, in particular countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote dIvoire whose migrants were allegedly murdered under Jammehs orders, said Brody. A request coming from an ECOWAS or even an AU-backed court would be very difficult to refuse, but the impetus, the initiative, has to come from the Gambian government. The death toll from four bombs that ripped through minibuses and a mosque in Afghanistan has risen to at least 16, officials said Thursday, with some of the attacks claimed by the Islamic State group. A top UN expert called on Taliban authorities to investigate Wednesdays attacks, as well as a series of previous deadly blasts that targeted members of the minority Shiite and Sufi communities. While the number of bombings has dropped across the country since the Taliban seized power in August, several fatal attacks rocked the country last month during Ramadan. On Wednesday, at least 10 people were killed when three bombs placed on separate minibuses exploded in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, a health official and police said. Najibullah Tawana, head of the Balkh health department, said three women were among the 10 killed in the blasts. Hours after the explosions the Islamic State group (IS) said on Telegram that its soldiers were responsible. Late on Wednesday one other bomb exploded inside a mosque in the capital Kabul, killing six and wounding 18, according to police spokesman Khalid Zadran. The interior ministry said the bomb was placed inside a fan in the mosque. It was unclear whether Wednesdays bombings targeted any specific community, and no group has so far claimed responsibility for the Kabul attack. Crimes against humanity Dozens of civilians were killed in Kabul and other cities in primarily sectarian attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, which ended on April 30 in Afghanistan, with some claimed by IS. Many of those attacks targeted the Shiite Hazaras and Sufi communities. UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett told reporters such attacks reflect elements of an organisational policy and so bear the hallmarks of crimes against humanity. Bennett called for an investigation as he wrapped up his visit to Afghanistan, where he met several Taliban officials and visited some of the sites targeted by recent attacks. On April 29, at least 10 people were killed in a Sunni mosque in Kabul in an attack that appeared to target members of the minority Sufi community performing rituals. A week earlier, a bomb at a Shiite mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif killed at least 12 worshippers and wounded scores more. The deadliest attack during Ramadan came in the northern city of Kunduz, where another bomb targeting Sufi worshippers tore through a mosque on April 22. At least 33 people were killed in that blast and scores more were wounded. The regional branch of IS in Sunni-majority Afghanistan has repeatedly targeted Shiites and minorities such as Sufis, who follow a mystical branch of Islam. IS is a Sunni Islamist group, like the Taliban, but the two are bitter rivals. The Taliban have pursued an Afghanistan free from foreign forces, whereas IS wants an Islamic caliphate stretching from Turkey to Pakistan and beyond. Taliban officials insist their forces have defeated IS, but analysts say the jihadist group remains a key security challenge. Soldiers captured in wartime are protected by international agreements, but Russia has said it will treat fighters from Ukraines Azov regiment an ultra-nationalist unit the Kremlin calls neo-Nazi as terrorists and try them for war crimes. Several NGOs have condemned Ukraine, meanwhile, for violating the rights of Russian prisoners of war after videos emerged of humbled Russian servicemen regretting their actions. AFP looks at the key questions surrounding the fate of prisoners of war in the Ukraine conflict. How many are there? As in all conflicts, information from the ground is often fragmentary and difficult to verify independently, and prisoner of war figures are no exception. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said 3,826 Ukrainian prisoners were taken in the port city of Mariupol, including 2,439 during the surrender of the Azovstal steelworks, with 1,387 marines captured beforehand. The International Committee of the Red Cross has said it recorded hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Azovstal. Moscows envoy to the separatist region of Lugansk gave a figure Thursday of 8,000 Ukrainian prisoners for eastern Ukraines two breakaway regions of Lugansk and Donetsk, according to the TASS news agency. Hundreds more join them every day, Rodion Miroshnik was quoted as saying. Ukraine has provided no prisoner of war figures despite repeated requests from AFP. What is their status? Regular army soldiers who fall into enemy hands are considered prisoners of war as defined by the Third Geneva Convention of 1949, which also applies when war has not been officially declared. The POW status applies to the members of the armed forces or to militiamen that are part of the armed forces, who are captured during a war, said William Schabas, a professor of international law at Londons Middlesex University. These prisoners have rights and should be protected against insults, public displays and all acts of violence or intimidation, he said. But NGOs claim that some of these rights have been flouted since the beginning of the conflict. In March, Human Rights Watch (HRW) asked Ukraine to stop parading repentant Russian prisoners of war for the media, an action also criticised by the Red Cross. HRW has also called on the Ukrainian authorities to investigate potential war crimes against Russian prisoners, after footage emerged of Ukrainian soldiers appearing to shoot some of them in the legs. Amnesty International has condemned the treatment meted out to Ukrainian prisoners from Azovstal, presented in Russian media in a dehumanising way as neo-Nazis. Julia Grignon, a researcher at Frances Institute for Strategic Research at the Ecole Militaire war college (IRSEM), said tracking by the Red Cross would play a key role because perpetrators can be held accountable at a later date. What about prisoner exchanges? Now a common practice, prisoner exchanges are not governed by international law and take the form of negotiated agreements. Several exchanges of soldiers and civilians between Ukraine and Russia have taken place since the start of the invasion, without being systematically confirmed by the two sides. Kyivs request to exchange an oligarch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Viktor Medvedchuk, for Ukrainian prisoners remains under consideration by Moscow, Russias negotiator Leonid Slutsky said Sunday. There might be exchanges proportionate to the importance given to certain people. Gilad Shalit, an Israeli prisoner, was so symbolic that the Israelis freed 1,027 Palestinians to obtain his release in 2011, Grignon said. Can they be tried? Prisoners of war cannot be put on trial simply for having taken part in the fighting, but soldiers accused of crimes can be prosecuted, Grignon said. The first Russian soldier to face trial for war crimes in Ukraine since Moscows invasion was sentenced to life imprisonment in Kyiv on Monday for murdering a civilian. Russian authorities, meanwhile, have indicated they will put Azov regiment fighters on trial as Nazi criminals. Grignon said such a procedure would be incompatible with humanitarian law. You cannot label them Nazis or terrorists, you have to prosecute them for acts they are suspected of having committed, she said. It is clear to everyone that the Azov fighters are members of the Ukrainian armed forces, it seems that they have militiamen who are associated with the armed forces, then they should be treated as prisoners of war as well, added Schabas. Members of the private Russian security company Wagner, with which Moscow denies any links, can be deemed prisoners of war if they are captured while fighting alongside Russias army. If they are not, they can be treated as civilians taking part in hostilities and are not entitled to the prisoner of war status. At least two minors were killed Thursday when projectiles hit orchards in northern Iraqs autonomous Kurdish region, a local official said, in fire local authorities blamed on the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The PKK which has been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, a conflict that has killed 40,000 people, many of them civilians, denied responsibility. It has training camps and bases in autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan. Artillery fire targeted Bamarni sector, killing two civilians minors and injuring two other civilians, Warchine Suleimane, head of a local district, told AFP. Relatives said that two children aged between 10 and 13 were killed by the fire. They spoke to AFP at a mosque in the town of Dohuk, where the bodies were taken for funeral preparations. In a statement, Kurdish counter-terror forces accused the PKK of firing two rockets on the village of Ardana in Bamarni sector, and they put the toll at two dead and two injured. The PKK said in response that we categorically deny the allegation that its forces were responsible for firing the projectiles. It accused Iraqi Kurdish authorities of attempting to whitewash Turkeys war crimes in northern Iraq. Ankara has launched a series of operations against PKK fighters in Iraq and Syria, the latest one in northern Iraq beginning in April. The orchards hit by the projectiles are located close to a Turkish military base. Ankara and its Western allies brand the PKK a terrorist organisation. Iraqi Kurdistan has complicated relations with the PKK because its presence in the region hampers vital trade relations with neighbouring Turkey. Ankaras defence ministry said Thursday that a Turkish soldier was killed in an operation against the PKK, taking Turkish military fatalities in northern Iraq since Tuesday to six. Last week, at least six people, including three civilians, were killed in northern Iraq by drone strikes that local officials said were carried out by Turkey. An Al Jazeera journalist shot dead in the occupied West Bank earlier this month was murdered in a war crime by an Israeli soldier, an official Palestinian investigation concluded Thursday. The Palestinian Authority (PA) and Al Jazeera have accused Israeli forces of killing Shireen Abu Akleh on May 11 when she was covering an Israeli operation in the West Bank city of Jenin. The television network said Thursday it would submit a case to the International Criminal Court. Israeli authorities have countered that Abu Akleh could have been killed by stray fire from a Palestinian gunman or mistakenly by an Israeli soldier. All proven facts constitute the elements of the crime of murder according to national laws, they are a war crime and a violation of international laws, said PA attorney general Akram Al-Khateeb, who presented the investigation findings. The Palestinian-American journalist, who was wearing a vest marked Press and a helmet, was hit by a bullet just below her helmet. The report said Abu Akleh was killed with a 5.56 millimetre armour piercing round fired from a Ruger Mini-14 rifle. It added that bullet holes on a nearby tree indicated the targeting of the upper parts of the body with the aim of killing. All of these facts: the type of projectile, the weapon, the distance, the fact that there were no obstructions to vision and that she was wearing a press jacket lead us to conclude that Abu Akleh was the target of a murder, Khateeb concluded. The only source of fire was the Israeli occupation forces, he said. Senior PA official Hussein al-Sheikh said a copy of the report had been sent to US authorities, and copies would be given to Abu Aklehs family and Al Jazeera. The Qatar-based network announced soon after that its legal team and international experts were preparing a case to put the ICC prosecutor in The Hague. It said the case would also include the destruction of Al Jazeeras office in Gaza in May 2021 in an Israeli raid, as well as other attacks on its journalists in the Palestinian territories. Article eight of the ICC charter makes it a war crime to target a journalist in a war zone. The ICC last year launched an investigation into war crimes in the Palestinian territories but Israel is not an ICC member and disputes its jurisdiction. A CNN report published this week, disputed by Israel, also pointed to a deliberate killing, citing the impacts on the tree. Israeli authorities were quick to decry the Palestinian reports conclusions, with Defence Minister Benny Gantz saying the Israeli army would never target journalists. Any claim that the IDF intentionally harms journalists or uninvolved civilians, is a blatant lie, he said in a statement, referring to the Israeli Defence Forces. Despite the Israeli side reaching out repeatedly, the Palestinians refuse to cooperate, which raises the question (of) if they really want to reach the truth, he said. Palestinian authorities refuse to hand the bullet over to Israeli authorities for investigation, citing a lack of trust. Attempts to charge IDF soldiers with war crimes while promoting false assessments such as the one published by CNN, undermine the ability to achieve peace and stability in the region, while ultimately boosting terrorism, said Gantz. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday accused Russia of carrying out an obvious policy of genocide in his countrys eastern Donbas region. Moscows offensive in Donbas could end up leaving the region uninhabited, he said, accusing the Russians of wanting to reduce its cities to ashes. All this, including the deportation of our people and the mass killings of civilians, is an obvious policy of genocide pursued by Russia, he said in his daily televised address. Russian President Vladimir Putin in late February sent troops into Ukraine, saying the campaign aimed to stop the genocide of Russian speakers in the pro-Western country. In April, Ukraines parliament backed a resolution recognising the actions of the Russian military in the country as genocide. US President Joe Biden used the same expression, saying Putin appeared intent on trying to wipe out the idea of even being able to be a Ukrainian. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed the claim. Rookie actress Kim Si Eun dishes out the most challenging part of filming Bae Doona's new movie "Next Sohee." The actress, alongside award-winning director July Jung, is in France to attend the Cannes Film Festival 2022. "Next Sohee" was among the Korean movies invited to participate in the prestigious ceremony. Apart from the mystery-drama film, which stars Bae Doona and Kim Si Eun, Lee Jung Jae and Jung Woo Sung's "Hunt" and "Decision to Leave" is also part of the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival. Interestingly, Bae Doona's second movie, "Broker," alongside IU, Song Kang Ho, Kang Dong Won, and Lee Joo Young, is also part of the annual ceremony. As for "Next Sohee," the film is invited as the closing movie of the festival's parallel sidebar, the Critics' Week program. During the interview, Kim Si Eun and director July Jung shared thoughts and experiences about the movie. Kim Si Eun Reveals the Hardest Part Filming 'Next Sohee' Bae Doona's new movie "Next Sohee" is based on a true story that took place in a call center in Jeonju, South Korea, in 2016. The story centers around a high school student named Sohee, played by Kim Si Eun. She works as a trainee for a subcontracted position at a call center; however, an unfortunate incident transpired at a workplace after getting involved in a mysterious incident that leads to her death. With this, Detective Oh Eugene, played by Bae Doona, starts to investigate Sohee's death. READ MORE: Bae Doona No Show at Cannes Film Festival 2022 For THIS Reason In an interview as noted by Yonhap News, Kim Si Eun shared that the most challenging part of filming the movie was being sexually harassed by a customer over the phone. Thankfully, director July Jung was there to give her a pep talk, adding, "When I was having a hard time, director July Jung told me, 'You don't have to be Sohee in places other than the filming site.'" Moreover, the rookie actress revealed that she "talked a lot with the director to find the right direction to express" the character as real as possible. "Next Sohee" is Kim Si Eun's first-ever lead role in the movie, and it is also her third time appearing on the big screen following her debut in 2017. Kim Si Eun Shares Unforgettable Moment at Cannes Film Festival 2022 With her first-ever movie, Kim Si Eun is thrilled that "Next Sohee" was invited to the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival. As obtained by News 1 Korea, the rookie actress says that attending the festival was surreal, especially when the movie premiered. For the actress, the standing ovation by the crowd was an "unforgettable moment." She says that "many people applauded for a longer time than expected," and Kim Si Eun considers it a moment she "never experienced" in her life. "I thought I should cherish this moment and remember it forever," she said. Meanwhile, the "Next Sohee" director shares that she wanted this more than just a movie. July Jung, whose debut film "The Girl at My Door" was also invited to the 67th Cannes Film Festival, said that she wanted the film to expand into a documentary rather than a "story style movie." The renowned filmmaker shared that there's a hope that a person like Eugene exists. KDramastars owns this article Written by Geca Wills This March 2022 photo provided by Manny Renfro shows his grandson, Uziyah Garcia, while on spring break in San Angelo, Texas. The 8-year-old was among those killed in Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24 in Uvalde, Texas. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Gateway Technical College has announced plans for a series of public online listening sessions as part of the search for a new college president. Gateway Technical College President and CEO Bryan Albrecht, who has overseen the college during a time of major changes, announced Jan. 20 that he will retire this fall. Gateway serves more than 21,000 students and offers more than 70 career programs at campuses and centers in Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties. As part of the search for Albrechts successor, the public listening sessions will be held today, Friday, June 7 and June 8. The Gateway Technical College Board of Trustees and members of the presidential search consulting firm of Greenwood/Asher & Associates are interested in learning the views about the challenges and opportunities at the college as well as the characteristics they should seek in a new president. Input gained at the listening sessions will be used to develop the position specifications document that is used by the consultants with prospective candidates, to design interview questions and to help consultants learn more about Gateway. Meetings for the public will be held 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. today; 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Friday; 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on June 7; as well as 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on June 8. All sessions will be held via Zoom. Those wishing to participate can find details on how to join a Zoom session and participate at www.gtc.edu/presidential-search. Members of the public unable to attend a listening session may provide feedback online at www.gtc.edu/presidential-search. Meetings will also be held with faculty, staff and students. Albrechts pending retirement will cap a 38-year career in education, including the last 18 in southeast Wisconsin. Albrecht came to Gateway in 2003 and began in his current role in 2006. He joined Gateway as associate vice president for advanced technology in 2003, when he led corporate partnerships and advanced technology strategies. In 2005, he was promoted to chief academic and operating officer, and the following year, he took over as president and CEO. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 TWIN LAKES Numerous state and local leaders, including U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, were present at the swearing-in ceremony for County Executive Samantha Kerkman in Twin Lakes on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate her new role. Kerkman was officially inaugurated as county executive in April, but Wednesdays event, held indoors at the Twin Lakes Village Hall due to rain, was open to the public. State Sen. Van Wanggaard and State Reps. Tip McGuire and Tod Ohnstad were also in attendance. Steil, speaking at the event, pointed out the historical precedent Kerkman was setting as the first female county executive for Kenosha. In the history of the state of Wisconsin, prior to Samantha Kerkman, there was a total of five female county executives, Steil said. We have the opportunity to have a female county executive who listens and wants to help. Kerkman expressed gratitude to those who had helped her along the way and spoke about the rich history of women being elected within the county, beginning in 1925 with County Clerk Iva Russell. It is truly an honor, Kerkman said. I take this seriously. I will live every day trying to meet your expectations. During her speech, Kerkman said she planned on working across the aisle and finding compromises across ideologies and areas, whether it be conservative or liberal, or western and eastern Kenosha County. As county executive, its a non-partisan position, Kerkman said. She admitted that, as a Republican, she has many Republican friends and allies. But she pointed to her positive relationships with several Democratic leaders. Im hoping to keep those relationships strong, Kerkman said. Ohnstad and McGuire shared Kerkmans attitude and said they looked forward to working with her to help the county grow. Theres a lot of cooperation between the county and Madison, Ohnstad said. Its important to keep the momentum of Kenosha County going. Having a good relationship with Samantha Kerkman is something I look forward to, McGuire said. Collaboration is key. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 67 Shares Share It is too early to hear the narratives from the families of the 19 children slain this week at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, near San Antonio, Texas. But narratives from the 1993 Long Island Rail Road shooting, the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, and 16 other deadly gun violence events have just been published by Red Penguin books. From Bullet to Bullhorn is the second book published by Lois A. Schaffer, whose first book, The Unthinkable: Life, Loss, and a Mothers Mission to Ban Illegal Guns, chronicled the loss of her daughter to gun violence in 2008. When it comes to gun massacres in the U.S., the public often anticipates and wants a tipping point in which bloodshed would be so shocking and intolerable that anti-gun violence laws would be enacted. At the top of the list for most gun safety advocates would be better background checks and banning military-style weapons such as assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. But if the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre in which 26 were killed, 20 children, the 2016 Orlando nightclub killing in which 49 people were killed, and the 2017 Las Vegas massacre in which 60 were killed and 411 were wounded werent tipping points, what are? Many thought when a member of Congress itself, Gabby Giffords, an Arizona representative, was shot in 2011, Congress would realize gun violence had come home to roost in their own nest, but nothing happened. Despite the years and even decades-long efforts of anti-gun violence advocates, some writing in From Bullet to Bullhorn, massacres like that at Robb Elementary School are quickly forgotten, and no gun safety laws are passed. Several family members of gun violence victims in From Bullet to Bullhorn note that when other countries have a gun massacre, preventive laws are swiftly enacted and the bloodshed happens never again. They indict the NRA, whose outsized influence exceeds its actual membership, for the inability to get traction for anti-gun violence laws. Specifically, lawmakers have been afraid to support gun safety laws out of fear the mob-like black hand of the gun lobby would defeat their re-election efforts. Corporations have also refused to take a stand against gun violence because, as one unnamed CEO told me in 2018, we dont get involved in politics. But that was then! Corporations are no longer afraid of taking political stands in the last few years. They are boycotting bigoted states, relieving their backward executives of their command, and taking stands unheard of a few years ago. From the boardroom on down, corporations are refusing to tolerate racial injustice, racially motivated violence, anti-LGBT sentiments and are speaking out about the urgent need for climate change actions. Corporations can exert economic leverage. They can pull their offices and satellites, if not headquarters, from states that refuse to pass the most rudimentary gun laws and cancel conventions economically maroon them. Let the lawmakers explain to their constituents why they lost their jobs. Hopefully, the lawmakers will permit kicking and screaming gun safety laws to pass, if not because they support them, at least for their states economic wellbeing. The NRA membership is reportedly 5.5 million compared with over 50 million children in U.S. public schools and likely 100 million of their parents. Why should this be a contest? Why should lawmakers and corporations be held hostage by the small number of gun lobbyists responsible for killing their children? Are you listening, woke corporations? Martha Rosenberg is a health reporter and the author of Born With a Junk Food Deficiency. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Borris Vocational School recently hosted a showcase of the Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) ethos. Also in attendance on the day were management representatives from each of the sixteen KCETB schools. TAP 'NEXT' ABOVE FOR NEXT PIC The day started with a lively musical performance by Borris Vocational School Grupa Ceol followed by an opening address from Ms. Eileen Curtis, Chief Executive, Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board. Mr. Seamus Conboy, Director of Schools, Education and Training Board, Ireland then addressed attendees before each of the schools then presented their hard and diligent work conducted during the 2021/2022 academic year. The ceremony was closed by Dr. Pauline Egan, Director of Schools, Kilkenny and Carlow Educational Training Board prior to the unveiling of the new ETB Ireland ethos plaque. After the ceremony, the new Educational Training Board ethos plaque was unveiled at the school. The ethos of ETBI schools encapsulates five core values including: excellence in teaching and learning, care, equality, community and respect. Six schools in total presented what this ethos meant to their students on a daily basis in their schools. The broad range of fantastic presentations included song, poetry, artist representations, displays, and stories each celebrating one or all of the five core values of ETB schools. Missouri leaders took to social media to share their reactions to the deadly school shooting Tuesday. Mark Lambert, deputy assistant secretary of state for Japan and South Korea / Yonhap The United States continues to support providing COVID-19 vaccines to North Korea despite the country's recent missile provocations, a senior U.S. diplomat said Wednesday. Mark Lambert, deputy assistant secretary of state for Japan and South Korea, also reiterated that the U.S. remains open to dialogue with the North to discuss any issue. "The U.S. position remains unchanged even in light of these most recent escalatory actions. We continue to support humanitarian assistance and the provision of COVID-19 related assistance," he said in a virtual press briefing, organized by the Washington Foreign Press Center. "We have always viewed humanitarian assistance as a separate issue from making progress and achieving complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he added. By Tom Plate It's just possible that a favorable diplomatic wind is forming that could alter the trajectory of the storm of war raging over Ukraine, the second-largest country in Europe. Pushing this war out to sea might help clear the gathering clouds of world economic collapse. It could energize the humanitarian obligation to get Ukraine back on its feet and its exiled millions repatriated. And it could affirm not just within Kremlin circles but among the elite everywhere that military aggression is always an exceedingly poor choice especially when someone, somewhere might prove desperate enough to consider nuclear war. A plea for "peace now" would appear directed mainly at Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is reasonable, but it does not go nearly far enough if we are to secure a stable peace, not just a performative one. The Biden administration, along with the U.K. and Australia, are playing a dangerous game of proxy warfare, despite the angelic posturing; desperate Ukraine has no choice but to be the proxy, embellished by the public-relations savvy of its president. Of all involved players, the one most capable of further fueling the war is Washington. Like a moth to an old-fashioned light bulb, the U.S. is prone to pull failure from the jaws of victory by the time-honored, self-destructive process of "mission creep." Even candid U.S. military studies now admit to a long pattern of overreach, whether in Iraq, Libya or Vietnam. In retrospect, even the Korean War makes the mission-creep list: the original mission was to save South Korea from communism but, no, that was not enough; the brave U.S. military had to stomp north into Chinese territory to unite all Korea. Fortunately, the thinking portions of the U.S. intelligence and military network are fully aware of the American propensity for "mission creep." They now accept that if you cannot build back an Iraq or an Afghanistan, what chances would you have of piecing back together the largest country in Europe? Try to destroy Russia now that it looks to be on its heels? Try to occupy it and risk triggering nuclear war? Trying to chop up Mother Russia would be an even bigger blunder than staying in Iraq and concocting play-as-you-go missions on the fly. Those looking to go down that route prove that Putin isn't the only one losing his mind. I admit to having had hopes that Beijing would play a quietly proactive peace role. Yes, having "wolf diplomacy" as your calling card hardly suggests peaceful intent; still, switching to a posture of peace on the premise of protecting the sovereign integrity of Ukraine could have yielded much, diplomatically. Alas, the virtues of Chinese diplomacy rarely include the ability to make a quick pivot under real-time pressure. Worse yet, amid barbed Sino-U.S. relations, Beijing's international diplomatic space was squeezed by the Biden administration to make it clear Beijing should butt out. So Chinese weaponry would not be sent to Russia and President Xi Jinping would simply say that European security issues had to be solved by Europeans. Still, there was a deft dose of Machiavellian common sense in Beijing's friendliness with Russia that is perhaps lost on simple-minded Western media and governments. For starters, consider that the historically prickly geographical border between the two nations is even longer than that between Mexico and the U.S. Xi's government certainly needs no reminder that, to Putin, borders are little more than annoying certifications of the average map's lack of imagination or flexibility. In February, a kind of concordat (5,000 words, no less) between them vowed that "friendship between the two states has no limits" surely a comfort to Putin, then surmising that even after what he was about to do to Ukraine, he would not be totally isolated. But it was a bonus for Xi as well. The proverb, "a friend in need is a friend indeed" suggests that China may have gained more from the concordat than Moscow: Isn't a "true friend" someone who hangs with you when others are holding their noses up in disdain? And so the Xi government may have slipped into a role that almost no one else can play at the moment: it can wolf-talk to Moscow. This offers international value. Success is often the necessary precursor to failure. America still has the best military but tends to field bad strategies that morph over time into political disasters. I worry less about Beijing's Moscow connection interfering in the favorable wind of diplomacy than Washington's mission-creep hubris and arrogance. If diplomacy fails now, the winds of war are sure to whip up new levels of ferocity. This geopolitical and humanitarian nightmare must be settled now without hubristic inflexibility from any quarter. Staying involved in Ukraine to the bloody bitter end, years from now, would prove the biggest blunder since the U.S. invasion and attempted occupation of Iraq in 2003. Tom Plate (platecolumn@gmail.com), a distinguished scholar of Asian and Pacific affairs at Loyola Marymount University, is vice president of the nonprofit Pacific Century Institute. The views expressed in the above article are those of the author's and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times. By Donald Kirk U.S. President Joe Biden projected a superficial image of firmness in defense of America's Northeast Asian allies during his five-day mission to Korea and Japan while trying not to inflame regional tensions. His assurances delighted South Korea's newly inaugurated President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Always soft spoken, Biden pleased both of them with comments that might have appeared tough but maybe were not. While playing up "strategic deterrence" in Seoul and Tokyo, he stopped carefully short of seriously deepening the chasm between America's friends and enemies. His goal was not to inflame tensions but to brace up alliances that Donald Trump during his presidency had compromised. The most important takeaway from Biden's visit to Seoul was the affirmation made jointly with Yoon that the U.S. and South Korea would talk about resuming joint military exercises. In other words, fulfilling the promises made during Yoon's campaign for the presidency, military planners from both the U.S. and South Korea should map out the war game that commanders believe are essential to the alliance. They say games played on computers are fine, but there's no substitute for troops in real-live action. If that understanding seems like an escalation, however, it's really not. South Korean and American forces were operating together, on the ground, in the air and at sea, for years before Trump, in one of the dumbest moves of his presidency, arbitrarily canceled them hours after meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore nearly four years ago. I have watched the closing days of several of these exercises, an impressive display on training grounds not far below the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas. Assuming Biden and Yoon were serious about resuming the war games, I can imagine seeing them again in a reversion a few years ago when both the U.S. and South Korea looked realistically at standing up to North Korean threats. In that context, it's important to remember that the joint statement signed by Trump and Kim in Singapore was a vacuous whiff of fluff that promised only to work toward "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." Yoon's predecessor, Moon Jae-in, never got anywhere in three summits with Kim. Demanding an end to sanctions imposed after his nuclear and missile tests, Kim refused even to see Moon after the failure of his summit with Trump in Hanoi in February 2019. Ultimately, all the hard work that Moon had invested in bringing about reconciliation resolved nothing. His dream of an end-of-war declaration to be signed by all sides in the Korean War is now on the shelf along with so many other futile efforts to bring about South-North rapprochement. The goodwill engendered by Biden's meetings with Yoon was not necessarily the highlight of his Northeast Asian odyssey, at least to judge from the publicity over Biden's affirmation in Japan of the U.S. "commitment" to defend Taiwan. The rulers in Beijing have never stopped declaring China's sovereignty over the island province, to which Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist forces fled as Mao Zedong's Red Army was taking over the mainland in 1949. Biden recognized there's only "one China," as the U.S. has been doing ever since it transferred diplomatic recognition of China from Taiwan to Beijing in 1978 when Jimmy Carter was president. How then would U.S. forces fight for Taiwan? A Chinese attack on Taiwan would not be "appropriate," said Biden. It would be "similar to what happened in Ukraine," he said, but he did not say whether the U.S. would respond with air and naval power or troops on the ground. The name of the U.S. game is "strategic ambiguity." Still, Biden's remarks on Taiwan were what Kishida wanted to hear. The Chinese have been alarming everyone by sending warplanes over Taiwan's air defense zone. They seem to want to keep their adversaries on edge. It's hard to believe, however, they would be so stupid as to invade Taiwan, 100 miles across the Taiwan Straits. Considering China's stupendous balance of trade with the U.S., the Chinese would risk killing the golden goose from which they've been profiting immensely for decades. Until Biden dropped his remarks on Taiwan, the most important aspect of his visit to Japan was the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), a successor to the Trans-Pacific Partnership from which Trump withdrew the U.S. in one of the first misguided moves of his presidency in 2017. The framework, binding the U.S. and a dozen other nations, is short on specifics. What counts is how or even if they strive for the framework's goals of fair and resilient trade, supply chain resilience, infrastructure and clean energy, tax reform, and the impossible dream of cleaning up corruption. In Seoul, visiting the Samsung Electronics plant near Osan Air Base, Biden stressed the need for resiliency in the smooth flow of semiconductors to manufacturers in the U.S. and elsewhere. In practical terms, the economic goals of Biden's mission are as important as the military. No one quite imagines war breaking out right away whereas trade never stops. The bottom line is that Biden, firming up America's role in visits to Seoul and Tokyo, asserted America's support for both these crucial allies while undoing much of the damage done by Trump. Donald Kirk (www.donaldkirk.com) has been covering the confrontation of forces in the region for decades. Colleen McNabb Everage, left, president of Angola Main Street, and Janelle Slone of Relic Emporium, show a clay flower. The flower is an example of the flowers that will be included in the mosaic-style mural. The driver of the Ford Fusion at the left suffered a broken arm in a head-on crash that occurred just before 6 p.m. Wednesday in the 700 block of C.R. 28 near Corunna. HyunA shocked the audience at a university music festival after removing her shirt on stage. Keep on reading for all the details. HyunA Causes Visual Shock By Removing Shirt During Performance On May 24, Kyunghee Universit Global Campus in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, held a university music festival. The music festival will be held until May 26, with May 24 being the first day of the three-day-long event. One of the major artists' in the line-up is HyunA. ALSO READ: DAWN Has Perfect Response to Fan Proposing to His Fiancee HyunA The guest artists perform at the campus' open-air theater. Out of all the artists performing that night, HyunA was the most anticipated, as well as her fiance DAWN. HyunA sang several of her hit songs and showed off her iconic dance moves. During her performance, HyunA also showed off her daring side. It was a scene that no one in the audience expected! ALSO READ: PSY Reveals Which P NATION Artist He Fights Most With During the performance for "Lip & Hip," HyunA took off her top and walked around the stage wearing only her bra. Then, she performed the song's iconic "chest touch" choreography, tapping her chest with her left hand and lightly bouncing it. At the time, Kyunghee University students who were watching HyunA cheered with surprise. DAWN Surprises Audience With Shirtless Visuals During the event, HyunA's fiance DAWN also surprised fans by performing passionately without his shirt. During their performance, DAWN and HyunA showed off their affection for one another by kissing each other on the cheek. The two were also seen kissing on stage, which caused cheers to erupt from the audience. Check out a full-performance fancam of HyunA's (which also features DAWN) performance here: What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below! HyunA Recent Activities HyunA's last musical release was with her then-boyfriend, now-fiance, DAWN. On September 9, 2021, the couple released their first duet extended play, "1+1=1." The idol's last solo release was on January 28, 2021. HyunA released her seventh extended play, "I'm Not Cool," which contains a lead single of the same name. The song debuted at number 73 on the Gaon Digital Chart before peaking at number nine, making it HyunA's first top ten entry since 2016 ("How's That?"). In the United States, "I'm Not Cool" peaked at number 19 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart before peaking at number eight. For more K-Pop news, follow and subscribe to KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Alexa Lewis Commentary: Quad's ulterior motives threaten peaceful development in Asia 11:27, May 26, 2022 By Ye Shan, Hua Yi ( Xinhua TOKYO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Behind the sanctimonious statement of advocating "openness" and safeguarding "peace and stability" in the Asia-Pacific region, U.S. ulterior motives in staging the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) summit are sowing the seeds of confrontation and threaten peaceful development in Asia. The summit, attended on Tuesday by Japan, the United States, Australia and India in the Japanese capital, is actually a closed and exclusive "clique" targeting China. Their claims that Quad would create a "free and open Indo-Pacific" are nothing more than an attempt to create division and incite confrontation in China's neighborhood. Washington has been obsessed with countering China's rising influence in Asia and the rest of the world, self-indulging in the illusion that if China, which it regards as its main competitor, falls, the sole superpower can continue its worldwide hegemony. Thus it held one summit after another, trying to peddle more of its anti-China strategies. Quad is doomed to fail if it continues to ignore the interests of regional countries. Earlier this month, the United States attempted to pull the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) into its anti-China camp. It also pressured member countries to take sides in the Ukraine-Russia conflict but encountered plenty of opposition. How bold is it for Washington to preach itself like a peace promoter after bringing so much turmoil to Middle Eastern countries like Iraq and Syria, not to mention the bombing of the former Yugoslavia. Moreover, it continues to deliver weapons to Ukraine, prolonging the worst European crisis in decades. Asian countries will never allow such chaos and tragedy to happen to their own people. "Asia is now facing great opportunities for development. As long as the peaceful environment and cooperation system are strengthened, it will achieve even greater development," said Kazuteru Saionji, a visiting professor at Higashi Nippon International University. "The U.S.-led 'Quadrilateral mechanism' and the 'Indo-Pacific Economic Framework' are the Cold War mentality that undermines such development opportunities." Saionji's voice has been echoed by many Japanese who openly protested U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to Japan, worrying that the United States and Japan would lead Asia into war. Actively cooperating with Washington in weaving a network to besiege China, the Japanese government seems to forget the havoc its predecessor brought to neighboring countries in World War II. When asked to comment on U.S.-Japan talks on the East China Sea, South China Sea and Taiwan, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that China firmly opposes attempts by the United States and Japan to hype up issues to damage China's reputation and interfere in China's internal affairs. "Japan bears historical responsibilities to the Chinese people on the Taiwan question. It should speak and act with extra prudence, earnestly learn lessons from history and avoid repeating past mistakes," Wang said. No matter the disguise, Quad goes against the trend of world peace and development, raising the alarm to all peace-loving countries and peoples in Asia. "Quad, its hidden agenda, as far as the United States is concerned, is to create an Asian NATO, which is dangerous for Asia, and dangerous for the world," said Sudheendra Kulkarni, former chairman of Mumbai-based think tank Observer Research Foundation. China has repeatedly stated that it welcomes any regional cooperation framework that truly promotes openness and free trade and contributes to the world's economic recovery, but opposes Washington's attempts to derail regional integration. The Asia-Pacific should become the pacesetter of peace and development. Given Washington's horrendous record of violating international law, the world should be on guard. For the sake of peaceful development, Quad's attempt to destabilize the Asia-Pacific region should be resolutely opposed. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The sounds of New Orleans-style jazz filled the air of the Lake Geneva area this past weekend. Lake Geneva Jazz Fest: Bash on the Bayou was held May 20 through May 22 at the Lake Geneva House of Music, N3241 County Road H in the Town of Geneva. The event, which was hosted by the Wisconsin Valley Media Group, the parent company of the Lake Geneva Regional News, featured live jazz music, food and non-food vendors and childrens activities. Music fans from throughout the area attended Lake Geneva Jazz Fest to take in the sounds of New Orleans-style jazz and to enjoy the festivities. Kelly Wells, marketing and events manager for the Wisconsin Valley Media Group, said she is pleased with the quality of music that was presented during Lake Geneva Jazz Fest. I thought it was a great first year for an event that is brand new to the area, Wells said. There was a lot of talent from Badger High School to Charlie Wooton and ZydeFunk who came all the way from New Orleans and from everywhere in between. It showed off a lot of great talent in all spectrums of jazz music. Jason Gerber of Kenosha attended the event, May 20, with his wife, Christina Gerber, and son, Avery Gerber. I really didnt know what to expect, but it got more of a crowd than I anticipated, so far, so good, Jason Gerber said. Its something new on a Friday night. Jason Gerber said he decided to attend the festival to introduce his son to jazz music. Its something different, Jason Gerber said. We figured we would expose the boy to it. Iris Bloede of Lake Geneva and her friend, Ian Huddleston of Lake Geneva, enjoyed the event while watching members of the Extra Crispy Brass Band perform, May 20. I love it, Bloede said. The music is really good. Leanne Pontarelli of Lake Geneva attended, May 20, with her daughter, Anne Pontarelli. Leanne Pontarelli said she is excited about a jazz-themed festival being held in the Lake Geneva area. I love jazz music, Leanne Pontarelli said. This is wonderful that we can have it here. Ive been to Jazz Fest in New Orleans, and Im ready for it here. Jazz Fest also received rave reviews from the participating vendors. Jack Toy of Exterior Pros LLC said his company participated in the event to inform people about the products and services that his company offers. He said, besides having the opportunity to meet with potential clients, Jazz Fest also allowed him to listen to some quality jazz music. Were excited to be here. The music is great, Toy said. Its good food. Its a good atmosphere. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. Jordan Bradford, co-owner of Salt & Kai in Lake Geneva, attended to present his business to potential summertime costumers. Bradford said, as part of the business, he and his wife, Kelsey Bradford, deliver popsicles and other frozen treats on a boat to the piers on Geneva Lake. He said, besides meeting potential customers, he also enjoyed the festivities that Lake Geneva Jazz Fest had to offer. So far, so good, Jordan Bradford said. Theres great food, good music and good beer. 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 day after a gunman killed 21 people at a Texas elementary school, Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul called on Wisconsins Republican-controlled Legislature to ban untraceable, homemade guns and require universal background checks for gun buyers. Separately, Sen. Melissa Agard, D-Madison, circulated a petition calling on the Legislature to approve universal background checks and allow judges to take guns away from owners they deem risky. In 2019, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers called his first special session encouraging legislators to pass those measures, but Republican leaders called the bills an infringement on Second Amendment rights and ended the special session just seconds after it began. Along with banning untraceable ghost guns and background checks, Kaul called for keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, which spokesperson Gillian Drummond said was in response to last weeks Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that allows certain domestic abusers to receive a concealed carry permit. These are steps that have broad public support, he said. What we lack is legislative will. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, as well as several Republican legislators did not respond to requests for comment. In 2019, Vos reiterated Republican concerns that red-flag laws, under which people deemed to be threats by a court must surrender their firearms, would infringe upon due process. We already have had these debates, we already know where people stand, Vos said. I dont necessarily want to spend a bunch of time playing politics with this. Evers slammed the Legislatures inaction at the time. This year, Evers vetoed AB 597, which would have allowed concealed carry licensees to bring guns to places of worship located on school grounds, and AB 495, which would have allowed concealed carry licensees to bring guns in their vehicles on school grounds. Politicians, and Republican politicians in particular, need to be more concerned about parents than they are about the NRA, Kaul said Wednesday. They need to be more worried about about keeping kids safe than they are about keeping their political futures safe. In Washington, D.C., Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson refused to answer whether he would support background checks for people who want to buy guns. Calling Tuesdays shooting heartbreaking in an interview with radio host James T. Harris, Johnson blamed the shooting on many Americans secularization and called for stronger communities and renewed faith. Speaking on the U.S. Senate floor Wednesday, Johnson also called for passage of a measure he authored that would codify the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety into law. That measure calls for the clearinghouse to include information about threat prevention, preparedness, protection, mitigation, incident response and recovery. Its a good idea, Johnson said. It could save lives. It is an action, when people are calling for action following this tragedy. The legislation does not call for background checks for gun buyers. Neither chamber in Congress has voted on the measure. Democratic U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blocked action on the bill Wednesday, saying he would focus instead on a measure that would authorize federal agencies to monitor, analyze, investigate and prosecute domestic terrorists. Democrats arent interested in solutions. They are interested in maintaining wedge issues that they believe give them a political advantage, Johnson spokesperson Alexa Henning said in a statement. Asked whether Johnson would support the domestic terrorism measure, Henning said, Wont speak to hypotheticals since Sen. Schumer today, after he blocked Sen. Johnsons commonsense school safety legislation, said there would be numerous proposals added to this bill and we have yet to see that. U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said he opposes new gun laws and blamed wokeness and critical race theory for school shootings days after a gunman in Texas killed 21 people, almost all of whom were elementary school students. This is a society-wide problem, a society-wide sickness that is not going to be solved by some gun law, additional gun laws here in Washington, D.C., the Oshkosh Republican told Fox Business host Neil Cavuto. Asked whether stiffer background checks could curb future school shootings, Johnson said people will always fall through the cracks. He added he believed some people shouldnt have guns but questioned how that determination might be made. The solution lies in stronger families, more supportive communities, I would argue renewed faith, he said. Weve lost that. We stopped teaching values in so many of our schools. Now were teaching wokeness. Were indoctrinating our children with things like CRT, telling, you know, some children theyre not equal to others and theyre the cause of other peoples problems. CRT refers to critical race theory, a decades-old academic framework used in graduate courses to understand how laws and institutions perpetuate racism. It is not taught in elementary schools, though conservatives have often conflated it with lessons focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. The concept has become a campaign talking point among conservatives trying to galvanize their base. Cavuto pushed back, saying school shootings have been going on long before wokeness and critical race theory. I think CRT has been going on under the radar for quite some time as well, Johnson said. Wokeness has been, liberal indoctrination has been. This is a much larger issue than what a simple new gun laws going to, its not going to solve it, its not going to solve it. Johnson spokesperson Alexa Henning did not respond to a request for comment. Ron Johnson is bearing false witness when he refuses to name the cause of these mass tragedies, which is our nations lunatic access to weapons of mass destruction of the type used to slaughter these children in Uvalde, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Nelson said in a statement, calling for an assault rifle ban. Doing nothing has resulted in one thing: more dead children, and the people of Wisconsin are tired of having a do-nothing Senator in Washington, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alex Lasry said. We need to ban assault weapons, expand background checks, and make our communities safer. The only way to change the deadly status quo in this country is to get Ron Johnson out of the Senate. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski called for comprehensive background checks, red flag laws and a ban on high-capacity magazines, saying most Americans support those measures. She slammed Republicans in Washington, D.C., bought and paid for by the gun lobby, who filibuster any meaningful change to our lax gun laws forcing the rest of us to accept mass shooting deaths as a normal feature of American life. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes said Johnson wants to distract from the $1.2 million he has taken from the gun lobby. He questioned how Wisconsinites could trust anything that comes out of the mouth of a self-serving politician whose loyalty can be bought. Ron Johnson and his gun lobby-funded colleagues are the reason we havent been able to pass commonsense gun reform, he said. If he wont step up to protect our kids, I will. Johnsons comments came a day after Democrats blocked his effort to codify the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety into law. That measure calls for the clearinghouse to include information about threat prevention, preparedness, protection, mitigation, incident response and recovery. Its a good idea, Johnson said. It could save lives. It is an action, when people are calling for action following this tragedy. Democratic U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blocked action on the bill Wednesday, saying he would focus instead on a measure that would authorize federal agencies to monitor, analyze, investigate and prosecute domestic terrorists. Republicans blocked that bill Thursday. Vendors cannot sell baby formula at unreasonably excessive prices for the next 90 days under an executive order Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed Thursday to address shortages affecting Wisconsinites and people across the nation. Evers order comes just over a week after President Joe Biden invoked a Korean War-era law to increase formula production and deploy Department of Defense planes to hasten baby formula shipments into the United States from other countries. Evers 90-day executive order comes in response to shortages that have led some Wisconsinites to travel across state lines to find formula. Under Evers executive order, sellers cannot label baby formula at prices more than 15% above the highest price they sold the product for in the 60 days before Evers signed the measure. Those found in violation of the order can receive anywhere from a warning to a $10,000 fine. As families continue to feel the squeeze of rising costs and folks face difficulty getting supplies and resources quickly, this order makes it clear that retailers looking to take advantage of vulnerable families during this formula shortage will not be tolerated, Evers said in a statement. File a complaint Consumers can file a complaint against potential price gougers by visiting datcp.wi.gov or by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128. As people struggle with shortages, they shouldnt water down formula to make it last longer or make it themselves from recipes found online, said Morgan Finke, spokesperson for Public Health Madison and Dane County. The state Department of Health Services also recommends people avoid giving cows milk, goats milk or plant-based milk to babies younger than 1 year old. The department also suggests people check smaller stores and drug stores for the product, though many smaller Madison pharmacies and grocers say they dont carry formula at all. The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection also recommends people search online for potential scams before buying formula from online retailers theyre unfamiliar with. The baby formula shortage and its impact on retailers dates back to when Abbott Nutrition, the nations largest manufacturer of the product, closed its Michigan plant amid a recall citing contamination concerns a few months ago. Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 26 (ANI): Indian Army personnel on Thursday shot dead three terrorists in an encounter in forwarding areas of the Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir, foiling an infiltration bid, officials said. "Indian Army foiled an infiltration attempt in forward areas of the Keran sector, culminating in the killing of 3 terrorists and recovery of 3 AK rifles, 1 pistol, 6 grenades and a large quantity of ammunition and stores related to IED," a defence spokesperson said. Also Read | British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis Calls Bhagwant Mann Youngest Ever Punjab CM, Later Corrects Himself. "This is a clear indication of an intent to disrupt the peace and prosperity of locals, and the impending Amarnath Yatra," the defence spokesperson said.(ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kargil (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 26 (ANI): Around 7-8 people are feared to have died after a vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge at Zojila pass early Thursday morning. "Seven to 8 people are feared to have died, when after a Tavera vehicle, on way from Kargil to Srinagar, reportedly skid-off the road and fell around 400-500 feet down, in the deep gorge at Zojila pass," Disaster Management Authority of the Jammu and Kashmir government informed today. Also Read | Cars, Bikes To Get Costlier As Third-Party Vehicle Premium Rates Hiked From June 1. The police are ascertaining the cause of the incident. Further probe into the matter is underway. (ANI) Also Read | Jack Dorsey Steps Down From Twitter's Board of Directors. (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 26 (PTI) Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday met UAE Climate Envoy and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr Sultan Al Jaber and the two discussed issues relating to climate change, hosting of COP 28 and other related matters. Prior to the bilateral meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on climate action was also signed by the two ministers to establish a framework to facilitate and enhance bilateral cooperation on climate action, and also contribute towards implementing the Paris Agreement, a statement said. Also Read | Food to Be Labelled as Veg or Non-Veg Irrespective of Amount of Ingredient Used: Delhi High Court Told. In the bilateral meeting, Yadav took note of the UAE's bid to host COP 28 in 2023, and said that "we need to prioritise the concerns of developing countries, particularly in areas of implementation support including finance and technology". The minister stressed that the issues of climate finance, adaptation, loss and damage, therefore, need more focus in the road beyond COP26. Also Read | British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis Calls Bhagwant Mann Youngest Ever Punjab CM, Later Corrects Himself. He also requested the UAE to consider joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure (CDRI) and Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT). Both sides also acknowledged that with the signing of the MoU on climate change, they may explore on how to strengthen bilateral cooperation on climate action mutually, especially in the areas and activities identified in the agreement. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, May 26 (PTI) The West Bengal cabinet's nod for introducing a bill in the Assembly that would seek to make Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee the chancellor of state universities, replacing the governor, has evoked mixed response from educationists. Some academicians have described the move as an infringement on the autonomy of the educational institutions, while there are others who said it would help foster better coordination between varsity heads and the government. Also Read | Civilian Killings Belie Claims of Normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, Says Mehbooba Mufti. Amal Mukhopadhyay, the former principal of Presidency College (before it became a university) said the decision was "uncalled for" and would only "result in erosion of the autonomous status of a higher educational institution". "Effort to make her the chancellor is nothing but a political step. This may only vitiate the academic atmosphere in the institutions," Mukhopadhyay said. Also Read | West Bengal Police Recruitment 2022: Apply for 1600 Vacancies of Constable Posts; Check Details Here. Educationist Pabitra Sarkar said the governor had been shouldering the chancellor's responsibilities in this state for ages, and "now the West Bengal cabinet has taken a decision to reverse that. "We don't know the reason behind such move. Will it help in improving the academic atmosphere?" he wondered. Noted historian and indologist Nrisinga Prasad Bhaduri, however, welcomed the decision. "Everyone knows that the chief minister is concerned about the academic development in West Bengal. It will be in the fitness of things to have someone who has a grasp on day-to-day matters on the campuses," he added. A VC of a state-run university, who did not wish to be identified, said that "this move will avert possibilities of rift between varsity authorities and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar". Education minister Bratya Basu said on Thursday, following a cabinet meeting, that a bill will "soon be introduced in the West Bengal Assembly to make the CM the chancellor of the state-run universities", in place of the governor. (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 26 (PTI) The Haryana Police on Thursday said it has busted a gang involved in demanding extortion of Rs 50 crore from a trader in Bawal industrial town in Rewari district with the arrest of five people. A Haryana Police spokesperson said the accused have been identified as Anil alias Mulia, Sandeep, Sonu, all residents of village Khera Murar, Sumit of Gurjar Majri and Ravindra alias Golu of Banipur village. Also Read | Government of India is Fully Committed to Further Popularising the Tamil Language and Latest Tweet by ANI. A motorcycle used in the crime and a country-made pistol were also recovered from them, the spokesperson said. Rahul Batra, a sanitary and tiles trader, in his complaint had alleged that on May 24 afternoon, three youths on a motorcycle had reached his shop and threatened him to pay Rs 50 crore as extortion. Also Read | TRS Banners with 17 Questions Greet PM Narendra Modi in Hyderabad. They also opened fire at Batra when he resisted, but he narrowly escaped the attack, the spokesperson said. After he lodged the complaint, police arrested the accused with the help of CCTV cameras, the spokesperson added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ahmedabad, May 26 (PTI) The Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday apprehended two Pakistani fishermen and seized four fishing boats from the creek area located near the Indo-Pak border in Gujarat's Kutch district, an official said. Also Read | TRS Banners with 17 Questions Greet PM Narendra Modi in Hyderabad. A patrolling team of the BSF first detected some movement in the "horizontal channel of Harami Nala" creek and rushed to the spot where it nabbed two Pakistani fishermen with four fishing boats, the BSF said in a statement. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Launches 75 KM Long Madurai-Theni Railway Gauge Conversion Project in Tamil Nadu. Nothing suspicious was recovered from the boats except some fish, fishing nets and equipment, it added. The BSF had launched an intensive search of the creek area following the seizure of an abandoned fishing boat in Harami Nala on Wednesday morning, it said. While Indian fishermen are barred from entering the creek due to security reasons, fishermen from Pakistan are frequently apprehended in this marshy area after entering the Indian waters, mostly in search of better catch. In February this year, the BSF had launched a massive combing operation in the Harami Nala area against intruders and caught six Pak nationals while seizing 11 fishing boats. On May 4, the BSF had seized a boat abandoned by Pakistani fishermen in the same area. (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 26 (PTI) In the wake of the Texas school massacre, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday noted that American laws are too lenient on gun control and said India too needs to review and tighten laws relating to acquisition and possession of firearms. In one of the worst school shootings in the US, an 18-year-old gunman in body armour massacred at least 21 people, including 19 children and two adults, inside a classroom at a Texas elementary school, prompting President Joe Biden to issue an emotional appeal to lawmakers to "turn this pain into action" to enact tougher gun laws to curb such recurring tragedies. Also Read | Vegetables Become Costlier Amid Supply Shortage, Tomato Price Hits Century. "There are no words to condemn the horrific killing of 19 4th standard children in a school in Texas. The whole world is in mourning with the American people and the bereaved families," Chidambaram said. "As hate speech and hate killings thrive, we must use all avenues to stop this madness from overwhelming the whole world," the former home minister said in a series of tweets. Also Read | WEF 2022: India Was Never Traditional Supplier of Wheat to World, Says Union Minister Piyush Goyal. One way is to impose severe gun controls and severely restrict who can buy or own a weapon, he said. American laws are too loose and too lenient in this regard, Chidambaram noted. "India too needs to review and tighten laws relating to acquisition and possession of fire-arms," he said. The gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde town, Texas, 134 km from San Antonio, on Tuesday morning before he was killed by law enforcement officers. All fatalities and injuries took place inside one classroom in Uvalde, according to Lt. Chris Olivarez, spokesperson for the Texas Department for Public Safety. The shooter barricaded himself in one room, killing two teachers and 19 children, he told CNN. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 26 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir police neutralised three Pakistani Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists after they made an attempt to infiltrate in village Jumagund near the LoC area of Kupwara on Thursday, said a press release. The police recovered incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including three AK series rifles, 12 AK magazines, one pistol, two pistol magazines and three mobile phones from their possession, added the statement. Also Read | Monsoon Onset Over Kerala Can Happen Anytime Till June 1, Says IMD. Police have registered a case in this regard and further investigation has been initiated. "In the ensuing encounter, all the three infiltrated terrorists were killed. Based on the source report and per the documents recovered from them, the killed terrorists have been identified as Pakistani LeT terrorists, said the statement. Also Read | GST Return: Govt Waives Late Fee Till June for Delayed Filing of GST Returns Under Composition Scheme. "Based on a specific input developed by Kupwara Police regarding infiltration attempt of terrorists in village Jumagund near LoC area of Kupwara, an ambush was put in place by Police and Army in the said area," said the statement. "As the infiltrating terrorists were intercepted by the joint party of Police & Army, they have challenged who in return fired indiscriminately upon the joint party which was retaliated by the joint party leading to an encounter," 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 26 (ANI): Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, who arrived at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Headquarters in the national capital in connection with the alleged Chinese visa scam case on Thursday said that he has not facilitated a single Chinese national in getting a visa. "I have not facilitated a single Chinese national in getting a visa," said Chidambaram. Also Read | Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Offers Prayers at Sharda Ghat in the Tanakpur Area of Latest Tweet by ANI UP/Uttarakhand. Earlier on May 17, the CBI had arrested Karti's close associate S Bhaskar Raman in the case. The sources had earlier informed, "as per the court's orders of Karti's bail, he has to appear before CBI within 16 hours of reaching India". Also Read | WEF 2022: India Was Never Traditional Supplier of Wheat to World, Says Union Minister Piyush Goyal. "We haven't summoned him since the court has already directed him to join the investigation within 16 hours of his arrival in India. If he fails to appear, then we might issue summon order to him for joining the investigation," said a CBI officer. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had also filed a money laundering case in the alleged Chinese visa scam case involving Congress MP. It is alleged that Karti Chidambaram received Rs 50 lakh to illegally facilitate visas for 263 Chinese nationals to complete a power project in Punjab. Karti's father and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram was home minister in 2011 but P Chidambaram has not been named as an accused in the FIR. Besides the MP, the CBI has booked four other people including Karti Chidambaram's chartered accountant S. Bhaskararaman, Vikas Makharia, representative of Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd, a Mansa-based private company, and Bell Tools, Mumbai along with 'unknown public servants and private individuals. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], May 26 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Thursday alleged that separatist leader Yasin Malik, who was convicted in a terror funding case, was nurtured by the Congress party. Mishra put forth his stance and targeted the party leaders for not reacting over life sentence to Yasin Malik. Also Read | Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma Sizzle at Karan Johars Birthday Party Read @ANI Story | Latest Tweet by ANI Digital. "Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Digvijay Singh's tweet on Yasin Malik did not come. Congress nurtured Yasin Malik has been convicted by the court, he himself has accepted the murder on TV," he said. Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment twice (one for waging war against the nation and one in UAPA sec 17 raising fund for terror act). Also Read | Kerala Tourism Bounces Back, Registers an Impressive Growth of 72.48% in the First Quarter of 2022. Addressing the media in a press conference, the MP home minister also lauded the completion of eight years of the NDA government at the Centre and said that mistakes done in 60 years have been rectified by PM Narendra Modi. "Development, removal of Article 370, construction of Ram mandir marks government's eight years. Spreading and acknowledging Indian values across the world mark PM Modi's tenure," he concluded. (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 26 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside the Delhi High Court order granting interim relief and staying the investigation into nine companies related to the Sahara Group. Allowing the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) plea challenging a Delhi High Court order staying the investigation into nine companies related to the Sahara Group, a bench of justices DY Chandrachud and Bela M Trivedi directed the Delhi High Court to decide the petition expeditiously after re-opening after summer vacations. Also Read | People of Telangana Chants Modi, Modi; PM @narendramodi Gets a Warm Welcome in Latest Tweet by DD News. "High Court was not correct in staying the investigation at the interim stage. We allow the appeals and set aside the High Court order on stay," the Court said adding that its decision will not impact the merits of the petitions. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was representing SFIO in the matter. He told the court that this is the Sahara Company matter which runs into one lakh crore. Also Read | Moto E32s With Triple Rear Cameras Launched in Europe. The Supreme Court last week agreed to hear a plea challenging the Delhi High Court order which granted relief to Sahara Group. SFIO has challenged the Delhi High Court order staying the investigation into nine companies related to the Sahara Group. The Delhi High Court on December 13, 2021, granted interim relief to respondents Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Limited and others by staying the operation, implementation and execution of the investigation orders dated October 31, 2018, and October 27, 2020, passed by the Central Government and also stayed all subsequent actions and proceedings initiated pursuant thereof including coercive proceedings and lookout notices issued against the respondents. The petitioner SFIO has filed the petition against the order of the High Court of Delhi and said that the ground of urgency is that all action and proceedings undertaken under the orders dated October 31, 2018, and October 27, 2020, passed by the Central Government have stayed which seriously prejudice the ongoing investigations and proceedings which necessitated urgent listing of the captioned petitions. Therefore, petitioner SFIO sought a stay of the Delhi HC order dated December 13, 2021. (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 26 (ANI): The bail application filed on behalf of Sharjeel Imam, accused in a sedition case, has been withdrawn after the prosecution raised the issue of maintainability of the application. The Delhi High Court asked Sharjeel's lawyer to withdraw the application and granted liberty to move the trial court for bail in view of the recent judgement passed by the Supreme Court on sedition law. Also Read | Diversified Conglomerate #RelianceIndustries Has Contributed Rs 1,184.93 Crore Towards Latest Tweet by IANS India. The Supreme Court had recently directed to keep all pending appeals and proceedings with the respect to the charge framed under section 124A (Sedition) of the Indian Penal Code in abeyance. An application for bail in a sedition case registered against Sharjeel Imam for alleged speeches against the CAA and NRC was moved at the Delhi High Court. Also Read | Kerala Tourism Bounces Back, Registers an Impressive Growth of 72.48% in the First Quarter of 2022. The Bench of Justice Mukta Gupta and Justice Mini Pushkarna passed the order after recording the objection of Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad. The SPP submitted that in terms of the order of the Supreme Court of 2014 any such bail application would first go to the trial court and only if the relief is not granted, the accused can move to the High Court as the case is triable by a Special Court only. The Bench after recording the submission of the SPP granted leave to withdraw the application and to approach the lower court to Advocate Tanvir Ahmed Mir who appeared for Sharjeel Imam. The High Court has listed the main appeal against the framing of sedition charges for hearing on August 26, 2022. The bail application moved by Imam through Advocate Talib Mustafa, Ahmad Ibrahim and Kartik Venu had stated that his bail application was dismissed by the trial court because it found that a prima facie offence under section 124 A was made out against him. It was stated in an application that in view of the Supreme Court's direction, the hindrance raised by the Special Court in the impugned order stands obviated, and observations surrounding the offence under section 124A IPC cannot be taken into consideration in the proceedings against the appellant pending the final outcome of the Constitutional challenges to the section. (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 26 (PTI) Groups representing sex workers on Thursday praised the apex court direction to treat the community with dignity and not to abuse them, verbally or physically, saying it has upheld the fundamental rights of sex workers to be treated as equal citizens. Observing that human decency and dignity extend to sex workers and their children, the Supreme Court recently directed police forces in all states and Union territories to treat sex workers with dignity. Also Read | Monsoon Onset Over Kerala Can Happen Anytime Till June 1, Says IMD. It also said that the constitutional protection given to all individuals in this country shall be kept in mind by the authorities who have a duty under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA), 1956. Bharti Dey, ex-secretary of Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC), the oldest network of sex workers in the country, called the verdict a "historic win after a 12-year long battle". Also Read | GST Return: Govt Waives Late Fee Till June for Delayed Filing of GST Returns Under Composition Scheme. "The court allowed the sex workers to live with dignity as equal citizens of the country, " she added. Putul Singh, president, All India Network of Sex Workers said at many places, police arrest "our sex worker sisters on the basis of possession of condoms in their bags". Now the court has ordered that possession of condoms is not an offence and cannot be seen as evidence of offences under ITPA, such as soliciting or brothel-keeping. This reaffirms the protection accorded by section 22 of the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control)Act, 2017, Singh said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 26 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lauded the proposed outlay of Rs 400 crores for the development of General Bipin Rawat Defence and Industrial Corridor in Bundelkhand after the Finance Minister Suresh Khanna presented the state's budget for 2022-2023 on Thursday in the state Assembly. "We have proposed Rs 400 cr for the development of General Bipin Rawat Defence and Industrial Corridor in Bundelkhand. We also propose to set up anti-corruption organisation units in eight divisions of the state," said the Chief Minister. Also Read | Kerala Tourism Bounces Back, Registers an Impressive Growth of 72.48% in the First Quarter of 2022. Stressing over the plans to boost 'one district, one product' scheme in the state, he said,"We propose over Rs 200 crores to promote the scheme in the state. A provision of Rs 300 crores is proposed for projects on optical fiber cable network." Earlier, Finance Minister had said that the state's budget for 2022-2023 would focus on infrastructure, employment generation, youth and women. (ANI) Also Read | Reliance Contributes Rs 1,185 Crore As CSR in FY22 To Serve Nation. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar, May 26 (PTI) Setting another milestone in the health care sector, Odisha has registered a 39-point decline in infant mortality rate (IMR) in a span of 15 years, which is the "highest in the country", the chief minister's office said on Thursday. Odisha's IMR now stands at 36 per 1000 live births, the CMO stated. Also Read | Chandrakant Patil, Maharashtra BJP Chief Tells Supriya Sule Go Home and Cook Instead of Being in Politics. With effective implementation of quality healthcare services & focus on safe institutional delivery of women, #Odisha has registered highest point decline of 39 in Infant Mortality Rate in the country from 2005 to 2020. Odisha's IMR stands at 36/1000 live births#OdishaLeads (sic)," the CMO said on Twitter. Odisha was followed by Rajasthan, which recorded a 36-point decline in IMR between 2005 and 2022. Also Read | BMW i4 Electric Sedan Launched in India at Rs 69.90 Lakh. Patnaik congratulated the departments concerned for the achievement, according to a release issued by the government. He also held a meeting during the day to review the implementation of Mo Sarkar' (my government), a programme launched in the state in 2019 to seek feedback from common people on the government's style of functioning. "During interactions with people, I have found out that they are happy that the initiative has prompted behavioural changes in government department officials. It is good to know that government employees are rendering services honestly and sincerely," he maintained. (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 26 (ANI): Former Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey has stepped down from the Twitter board of directors. The announcement came on Wednesday --the same day that Twitter held its annual shareholder meeting, TechCrunch reported. Also Read | Google Reportedly Delays Its Pixel Notepad Foldable Phone to 2023. Dorsey's exit from the Twitter board marks his full exit from the microblogging site. The plan for Dorsey to leave the board has been in place since he stepped down as CEO in November 201 and handed over the role to India's Parag Agrawal. At that time, the company noted that Dorsey would stay on the board "until his term expires at the 2022 meeting of stockholders." Also Read | IPL 2022 Betting Racket Busted: 5 Arrested From Kolkata's Eden Gardens for Betting During LSG vs RCB Eliminator. News of Dorsey's leaving the Twitter board comes at a time when Tesla CEO Elon Musk is planning to front USD 33.5 billion in his bid to take over Twitter. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Beijing [China], May 26 (ANI): With its real estate sector slowing down, China is cutting back on costs and issued directives to the administration of its local counties and cities to slash spending, in a bid to avoid an impending economic crisis. Real estate is a key revenue source for China's local governments, which have grown reliant on sales of land-use rights for state-owned plots, which came to the equivalent of around 50 per cent of total tax revenue in 2021, according to Nikkei Asia. Also Read | BTS To Discuss Anti-Asian Hate Crimes and Celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month With US President Joe Biden. With the top leadership doubling down on real estate financing in an attempt to deflate a housing bubble, revenue from such transactions fell drastically for the first four months of this year. Added to the cuts in tax revenue in response to economic stimulus measures taken by Beijing following the US-China trade war and the latest surge of COVID-19 cases in the country, several provincial governments are now resorting to cutting back on expenses as much as possible, according to Nikkei Asia. Also Read | Kevin Spacey Charged With Sexual Offences Against Three Men in the UK. While some government agencies have stopped all purchases of computers, desks and other supplies, others are no longer distributing notebooks and pencils to civil servants at government and Communist Party meetings. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had painted a grim picture of the job market in the world's most populous nation due to widespread COVID-19 lockdowns. The No 2 in the hierarchy of China's ruling Communist Party -- called the employment situation "complex and grave," CNN had reported. In an earlier statement, he instructed all levels of government to prioritize measures to boost jobs and maintain stability. These measures include helping small businesses survive, supporting the internet economy, providing incentives to encourage people to start their own businesses, and giving unemployment benefits to laid-off workers, reported CNN. "Stabilizing employment is critical to people's livelihood, and is the key support for the economy to run within a reasonable range," Li said. His remarks come at a time when the jobless rate in the country has climbed to the highest rate in almost two years, according to data from the government. Each year, China needs to add millions of new jobs to keep the economy humming. The government has set a target of creating at least 11 million jobs in towns and cities in 2022. But Li said in March that he hopes the economy can generate over 13 million this year, citing the need to accommodate college graduates and rural migrant workers, reported CNN. Li, who looks after economic management in China, has made repeated calls to stabilize employment in recent weeks, and his comments this weekend are a stark reminder of the cost of China's Covid restrictions. As the highly transmissible Omicron variant spreads quickly in China, the country is battling its worst outbreak in more than two years. So far, at least 31 Chinese cities are under full or partial lockdown, which could be impacting up to 214 million residents across the country, according to CNN's latest calculation. Meanwhile, President Ji Xinping is doubling down on his stringent zero-Covid policy even as the rest of the world tries to learn to live with the virus. It involves mandatory mass testing and strict lockdowns, reported CNN. The lockdowns have brought the world's second-biggest economy "near breaking point," according to a recent report by Societe Generale analysts. (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 York, May 26 (AP) Democrat Antonio Delgado was sworn in as New York's lieutenant governor Wednesday, becoming the state's first person of Latino heritage to serve in statewide office. Delgado, who identifies as Afro-Latino, is taking on the largely ceremonial role in the administration of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who selected him for the job. It was previously held by Brian Benjamin, who resigned following his arrest in April for federal corruption charges, which he has denied. Also Read | Imran Khans Caravan Enters Punjab as Pakistan SC Directs Govt to Allow Protest Rally in Islamabad. Delgado, 45, will also be Hochul's running mate in this year's gubernatorial election. Hochul, speaking at a ceremony in New York City before Delgado was sworn into office, said he shares her views of what it means to be a public servant. Also Read | WEF 2022: India Committed to Support Africa in COVID-19 Vaccination, Says Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. It means being a good listener, but not just listening to people's concerns passively, but translating those concerns into real action. That's when public service manifests itself and achieves its full potential, she said. Delgado, who was joined by his wife and twin 8-year-old sons at the ceremony, gave a short speech in which he said his path to politics was not meticulously plotted out. He is a Rhodes Scholar who, after earning a Harvard law degree, pursued a rap career before becoming a litigator at a New York City law firm. I heard some chuckles out there, he said as he recounted his foray into hip hop. I followed my heart. Like I'm doing now. He said that though he spanned two different careers, in two very different environments, a diversity of experience will help him bridge divides. As leaders we need to listen and work hard and find common ground and be effective. That's my commitment," he said. He spoke about the shooting at an elementary school in Texas on Tuesday and said nothing was being done on the national level to protect children like his from gun violence, and he said America was at a moment where too many lives and the foundation of democracy were at stake. The very fabric of our nation is on the line," he said. The two-term congressman represented the Hudson Valley and the Catskills and was the first person of color representing upstate New York in Congress. He had campaigned for the U.S. House on universal access to Medicare, creating good jobs and eliminating tax loopholes for the rich. Delgado's move to leave Congress and join Hochul's administration comes in an election year in which the state's congressional maps were redrawn as part of the decennial redistricting process. The timing sets up a dual-track process to replace Delgado, in which a special election would be held for his sprawling House seat, New York's 19th Congressional District, on Aug. 23, with the winner holding office for the rest of the year. But that same day, the state will hold primary elections for Congress under the new political maps, which shifted boundaries and political matchups throughout the state. That has left some quirks in campaigning, like Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan, a Democrat, who announced he will seek to win the Aug. 23 special election for the 19th District, but on the same day, compete in a Democratic primary for the 18th District. Delgado grew up in Schenectady and lives in Rhinebeck. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colombo, May 26 (PTI) The Sri Lankan police have questioned former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and recorded a 3-hour-long statement over the violent clashes between his supporters and anti-government protesters in the crisis-hit country that killed at least 10 people and injured over 200 others, according to a media report on Thursday. On May 9, violence erupted in Sri Lanka after supporters of the 76-year-old former premier attacked peaceful anti-government protesters demanding his ouster over the country's worst economic crisis that led to acute shortages of staple food, fuel and power. Also Read | Imran Khans Caravan Enters Punjab as Pakistan SC Directs Govt to Allow Protest Rally in Islamabad. Over 200 people have also been injured in the violence in Colombo and other cities. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has recorded a statement from Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday over May 9 incidents at Kollupitiya and Galle Face Green, the official residence of the Sri Lankan prime minister, the Daily Mirror website reported. Also Read | WEF 2022: India Committed to Support Africa in COVID-19 Vaccination, Says Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Police said the CID recorded a nearly three-hour-long statement from the former Prime Minister last evening at his residence in Colombo, the report added. On May 23, a top bureaucrat of Sri Lanka's Ministry of Security who is in charge of the police department resigned over his failure to curb the violent clashes. Last week, Sri Lanka's CID also quizzed three members of the ruling SLPP parliamentary group over their alleged involvement in the clashes. Two of their colleagues who were arrested previously have been remanded in custody till May 25. On Friday, Namal Rajapaksa, a former minister and the son of Mahinda Rajapaksa also summoned and his statement was recorded. Members of the ruling coalition government blamed Opposition party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna for instigating the violence on May 9, which was vehemently denied by the Marxist party. The mob destroyed several tents and other structures erected at Galle Face and also attacked some of the demonstrators. The violence saw arson attacks on the homes of several politicians, including the ancestral home of the Rajapaksas in Hambantota. The properties of some 78 government parliamentarians faced arson in the ensuing attacks. Sri Lanka has been witnessing large-scale protests against the government's handling of the debt-ridden economy -- the worst-ever economic crisis in the country's history. The country of 22 million is grappling with 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. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Davos, May 26 (PTI) Citing an example of his engagements with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday made a strong pitch for diversifying engagements with all democracies of the world so that a multipolar world also becomes multilateral in nature. Addressing the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, he said, "We are realising what it means to live in a multipolar world. The bipolarity of the cold war is just as much part of the past, as is the relatively brief phase when the US was the sole remaining global power, even though the US will remain a dominant global power factor in the world". Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War Could Cause Global Recession, Says World Bank Chief David Malpass. "Incidentally, I do not give any credence to the reports of a new bipolarity between the US and China either. Of course, China is a global player. But just as it should not mean that we should isolate China, neither does it give rise to claims of Chinese hegemony in Asia and beyond." He also said we cannot look away when we see human rights being violated anywhere in the world, including in the case of Xinxiang. Also Read | Cryptocurrency: Governments, Companies Own 8% of All Bitcoin Worth $46 Billion in the World. Citing a research report of PwC, he said that seven largest economies of the world in 2050, would include countries that are still described as emerging economies and that includes China, that includes India, Indonesia, Brazil and Mexico. He said what needs to be done is that a multipolar world also becomes a multilateral world. Everyone against everyone has a very high level of risks for everyone and therefore it must be ensured that a multipolar world is not a world without rules. "That kind of international order would not be possible without international solidarity. That is why we are investing in multiple partnerships. The buzzword is diversification. We need to engage with democracies of the world. "That is the reason I have made a conscious effort to invite leaders of various countries including India to the G7 summit. Germany is also focussing on engaging with countries from the Indo-Pacific region and therefore I invited my friend and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Berlin earlier this month," he added. Talking about the war in Ukraine, Scholz said Germany is planning to end its dependence on Russian oil and gas. "The energy crisis indeed poses significant challenges to an industrialised nation like Germany and therefore we plan to transform our economy and there is now even a bigger reason to move away from fossil fuels. We aim to remain an industrialised economy while becoming carbon neutral," he said. "One thing is clear that we cannot allow Putin to win his war and I am sure he will not," he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Naveen Kapoor New Delhi [India], May 26 (ANI): Having gained momentum with the first virtual meeting of its leaders in March last year, the Quad Summit held in Tokyo on Tuesday was the fourth interaction of the leaders and their second in-person meeting in over a year. Also Read | Kevin Spacey Charged With Sexual Offences Against Three Men in the UK. Quad is not a security grouping or alliance and its leaders maintain that it is not directed against any other country. However, many see it as a group to check growing Chinese activities which impinge on the freedom of navigation, sovereignty and territorial integrity in the region. Several announcements were made during the summit meeting between the Quad leaders in Tokyo which are apparently aimed at the moves of Beijing. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War Could Cause Global Recession, Says World Bank Chief David Malpass. Among various strategic announcements, the Indo-Pacific partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, is seen as a big takeaway of the Quad meeting by strategic affairs watchers here in New Delhi. They said the move will keep a check on illegal fishing in the Indo-Pacific and may use real-time high technologies including satellites to track illegal movement. This may not suit Beijing, said an observer of geopolitics in the region. China is accused as the biggest offender of illegal fishing in the zone and its huge fishing boats often violate economic zones and do irreparable damage to the environment. Illegal activities by Chinese trawlers have been hurting livelihoods and food security in the region. Small nations are the biggest victims of this illegal fishing. Quad's new Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative will help countries bolster their capacities to respond to HADR incidents and combat illegal fishing. The joint statement released by Quad said: "We will endeavour to share space-based civil earth observation data, along with providing a 'Quad Satellite Data Portal.'" Prime Minister Narendra Modi, new Australian Prime Minister Albanese, US President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida exchanged views about developments in the Indo-Pacific region and contemporary global issues of mutual interest at the summit held on May 24 in Tokyo. The leaders agreed to provide countries in the region resources on earth observation data through a Quad satellite data portal to help track climate events, disaster preparedness and sustainable use of marine resources. This can prove a game-changer in the region. India is expected to play a proactive role in this effort given its longstanding capabilities in using space-based data and technologies for inclusive development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to build trusted global supply chains also resonated at the Quad meeting in Tokyo. Quad has mapped its capacity and vulnerabilities in global semiconductor supply chains and has decided to better leverage its complementary strengths to realize a diverse and competitive market for semiconductors. "The Common Statement of Principles on Critical Technology Supply Chains, launched on the occasion of this Summit, advances our cooperation on semiconductors and other critical technologies, providing a cooperative foundation for enhancing our resilience against various risks to the region," the Quad joint statement said. Prime Minister Modi has time and again asked global vaccine makers to Make in India. The grouping has welcomed the expansion of J&J vaccine production at the Biological E facility in India under the Quad Vaccine Partnership. Quad's announcement of USD 50 billion for building infrastructure is also seen as a significant tangible move by the grouping. At the meet, leaders also expressed commitment for use of 5G and beyond 5G technologies. Ahead of the Quad meet, the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) initiative was launched in Tokyo. Apart from US, India, Australia, Japan, nine other countries are "initial partners" that signed up for IPEF and emphasised commitment to a free, open, fair, inclusive, interconnected, resilient, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region that has the potential to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth. The IPEF is structured around four pillars including trade and supply chains. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], May 26 (ANI): Former Pakistan Prime Minister and PTI chief Imran Khan on Wednesday warned his supporters would not vacate D-Chowk in Islamabad until a date for fresh polls was announced by the Shehbaz Sharif government, a move that will lead to a rise in political tensions in the country. Tension gripped the country as clashes took place between police and PTI workers after authorities tried to block them from moving toward the federal capital. Also Read | Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate Struggled to Agree on Any Path Forward for Latest Tweet by Reuters. Imran Khan, who was ousted from power by a no-trust vote, has asked "all Pakistanis" to take to the streets in their respective cities and appealed to women and children to come out of their homes for "real independence", the Dawn newspaper reported. Analysts say that Imran Khan seems to be using the same tactics of "dharna" as he employed in 2013 before coming to power in Islamabad. Also Read | Imran Khans Caravan Enters Punjab as Pakistan SC Directs Govt to Allow Protest Rally in Islamabad. In past, PTI had rejected the results of the 2013 elections and sat on dharna for around 126 days in 2014 without any result, according to the Pakistan vernacular media. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed deep concern at the highhandedness of law enforcement agencies in disrupting the PTI's march to Islamabad. "We believe that all citizens and all political parties have every right to assemble and protest peacefully," the HRCP tweeted. "The state's overreaction has triggered, more than it has prevented, violence on the streets. The onus is on the government and opposition leaders to adopt a mature, democratic response and immediately begin a dialogue to end the impasse," the group added. Pakistan media reports say that Pakistan seems to be heading towards political confrontation following the Shehbaz Sharif government's decision to ban the PTI march. According to Dawn, crackdowns on the opposition leaders and the sealing of the capital have created a highly volatile situation. Pakistan Supreme Court on Wednesday restrained the present government from arresting Imran Khan and allowed PTI to hold a sit-in protest at the H-9 ground area of Islamabad. The court order came after PTI assured to hold a peaceful protest and that there would not be any damage to public and private properties. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], May 26 (ANI): Rejecting Imran Khan's "utterly fanciful" claim of "outside interference", UK Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey said that Pakistan's political upheaval was a result of domestic factors rather than some foreign plot. "What is happening in Pakistan at the moment politically is entirely the consequence of Pakistan's domestic politics. And any suggestion that there is somehow some sort of outside interference is utterly fanciful," the British minister said during his visit to Islamabad, according to Dawn newspaper. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War Could Cause Global Recession, Says World Bank Chief David Malpass. Heappey's comments came as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s long march was under way in the capital on Wednesday. PTI chairman Imran Khan believes that the US conspired with local elements to dislodge his government because of his visit to Moscow to strengthen bilateral relations with Russia. Washington has already denied the allegation. Heappey said the UK was "disappointed" with Imran Khan's visit to Moscow and had then communicated the same to the then government. Also Read | Cryptocurrency: Governments, Companies Own 8% of All Bitcoin Worth $46 Billion in the World. Meanwhile, Pakistan petroleum official debunks Imran Khan's claim about Russia's cheap fuel offer. The official said that there is no documentary evidence that Moscow offers cheap liquefied natural gas, crude oil and petroleum, oil, and lubricants products to Islamabad. Syed Zakria Ali Shah, Joint Secretary of Development and a spokesman for the Petroleum Division made these remarks while addressing reporters, according to The News International newspaper. Earlier there were reports stating that Imran Khan said Russia offered oil stocks at a 30 per cent lesser price. (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 26 (ANI): Pakistan's systemic use of religion to establish legitimacy for state power was a key talking point at The Democracy Forum's on Wednesday's virtual seminar, 'Making sense of Pakistan's Islamophobia syndrome', at which a panel of experts gathered to discuss, among other ideas, the concept and definition of Islamophobia, and how it manifests both within and outside Pakistan. Introducing the event, TDF President Lord Bruce said the webinar had been convened to consider the contradictory attitudes to Islamophobia that have come to define the Pakistani state. Also Read | Imran Khans Caravan Enters Punjab as Pakistan SC Directs Govt to Allow Protest Rally in Islamabad. In reference to the sanctity for religious tolerance in Pakistan claimed by former PM Imran Khan and the country's founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Lord Bruce argued that the founding principles of theological tolerance and religious pluralism expressed by Jinnah have, unfortunately, 'never been given a chance to take root in Pakistan', and that 'intolerance has been pursued by the state in a deliberately divisive political strategy, with the intention of undermining the security of sub-state and minority groups'. He also highlighted how intolerance and persecution of minority Muslim groups has continued unabated for almost as long as Pakistan has existed, and spoke of how the sectarian conflict between different Muslim sects has been instrumentalized by the Pakistan state, thus exacerbating Shia-Sunni differences. Also Read | WEF 2022: India Committed to Support Africa in COVID-19 Vaccination, Says Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Furthermore, sub-state nationalism has continued to plague relations between the Pakistan government and its peripheral regions of Baluchistan and NWFP, while the strategic imperative of retaining a territorial interest in Jammu and Kashmir condemns India and Pakistan never to find a solution to this conflict. The creation of a 'fundamental dichotomy' at the base of Pakistan's statehood, concluded Lord Bruce, sustains its political instability, justifies the dominance of its military interests and consequently stifles the growth of its democratic institutions. It is important to separate Islamophobia from Muslim-phobia, insisted nuclear physicist and activist Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy. Discrimination against or mistreatment of Muslims will not raise resentment to the level that criticism of Islam will invoke, as Islam is said to be perfect, whereas Muslims, as people, can be imperfect. Protests against critiques of Islam do happen in other Muslim nations such as Iran and Indonesia, said Hoodbhoy, but not to the same extent as in Pakistan, where rioting has taken place in reaction to provocations such as the Charlie Hebdo case. This, he believed, is because in Pakistan there has been a systemic use of religion to achieve legitimacy for political power and individual acceptance into society. A consequence has been a seepage of religious indoctrination into the entire education system, which has led to a charged populace that will react very readily to the slogan that Islam has been insulted. This, said Hoodbhoy, is qualitatively different from elsewhere in the world, and the use of religion in Pakistan has become elevated to a point where it has become virtually impossible to act against forces that claim to be Islamic forces. The kind of teaching that happens in Pakistani schools, he added, reflects what is taught in madrassas, which has led to the elevation of religion as a major force in Pakistani politics. Concluding with a warning that Imran Khan, in seeking to return to power, is using symbols of religion, as well as western conspiracy, Hoodbhoy said the future of Pakistan is 'in the clouds', with unprecedented levels of tension, as even the army is split into pro- and anti- Khan camp. Arguing that the term 'Islamophobia' is itself problematic was Kunwar Khuldune Shahid, a correspondent for The Diplomat, who said this was because it placed the focus on Islam, not Muslims. The vast majority of the Muslim world seems to be more interested in shielding Islam from critique than in protecting Muslims from persecution, he said, with Pakistan, for example, remaining silent about what is happening in China to the Uyghur Muslims. Indeed, the term 'Islamophobia' is used more frequently about France's satirical Charlie Hebdo publication than about the Communist Party of China, which is incarcerating Uyghur Muslims in concentration camps. Shahid considered how the global 'Islamophobia' narrative has failed to discuss this, and how it has been co-opted by progressives, to leave dissenters at the mercy of Islamists in the Muslim world, more specifically Pakistan. In highlighting Pakistan's draconian blasphemy laws, which have been 'weaponised', Shahid said these make it perfectly rational to fear Islam, as there is no other country in the world where you can be put to death or imprisoned for critiquing Islam. And no Muslim country treats its Muslims as Pakistan treats its Ahmadis - only China, in its treatment of the Uyghurs, comes close. How, then, asked Shahid, can Pakistan take any kind of moral high ground about religious discrimination when it behaves as it does, and is a microcosm of the ailment affecting the Muslim world? Jocelyne Cesari, J. Dermot Dunphy Visiting Professor of' Religion, Violence, and Peacebuilding at Harvard Divinity School, and Professor of Religion and Politics at the University of Birmingham outlined Pakistan's legislative trajectory from a state aimed at being a shelter for Muslims into an Islamic state and reflected on the root causes of the country's homegrown Islamophobia. Speaking of 'hegemonic Islam', she examined the nationalization of Islamic institutions, and the Islamicisation of both the law - whereby the State 'brings the existing laws into conformity with the injunctions of Islam as set out in the Qu'ran and Sunnah', with no law contradictory to such injunctions to be enacted - and the national narrative. She considered the state of the public education system, with low literacy rates, and the growing influence, since the 1980s, of Saudi-funded madrassas, where Wahabi and Deobandi teachings merge. For Fareed Ahmad, National Secretary for External Affairs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, problems faced by Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan show how calls to tackle Islamophobia (Pakistan was a key actor in the adoption of the UN resolution in March this year) are undermined by the country's own worsening track record, which damages it in many ways. While Ahmad welcomed Pakistan's call for less hatred and greater social harmony, he stressed that the country needs to lean towards greater self-reflection and to lead by example. One cannot, after all, ignore internal persecution while calling for an end to international religious hatred. He pointed to the suffering of Pakistan's minority religious communities as a stark case in point, none more so than the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which faces institutional discrimination 'from cradle to grave'. When federal laws target a religious community to deny them their religious and civic rights, Ahmad argued, it undermines the very cause Pakistan is seeking to champion overseas. Far better to build cohesion at home and show in practice how Islam means and brings peace. That in itself, he concluded, will be the best tool to challenge Islamophobia and all forms of religious hatred around the world. Summing up was TDF Chair Barry Gardiner MP, who touched on the distinction between the personal and institutional spheres and the problems of pluralism, saying that Pakistan, like many nations, has not been able to find a way of allowing society to both sign up to an 'absolute, ultimate truth', and yet still be tolerant of others who don't share it. This is a question, he concluded, that goes to the heart of how we form society and how the nation-state operates as it seeks to unite people with very different views of what the ultimate truth is. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kabul [Afghanistan], May 26 (ANI): The Taliban have signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates on operating airports in Afghanistan, the group's transportation and civil aviation minister said on Tuesday, after months of talks with the UAE, Turkey and Qatar. Taliban's deputy minister of transport and civil aviation Ghulam Jailani Wafa signed a deal on Tuesday with a GAAC corporation representative in the presence of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, first deputy prime minister. Also Read | Imran Khans Caravan Enters Punjab as Pakistan SC Directs Govt to Allow Protest Rally in Islamabad. Speaking at the contract signing event, Mullah Baradar stated that the country's security is strong and that the Islamic Emirate is willing to work with foreign investors. Baradar stated that with the signing of this deal, all foreign airlines would begin flying to Afghanistan safely and dependably. Also Read | WEF 2022: India Committed to Support Africa in COVID-19 Vaccination, Says Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. "When we were in a severe and emergency position, the UAE assisted us with technical assistance and free terminal repairs," said Ghulam Jailani Wafa, Minister of Transportation and Civil Aviation. "The GAAC Corporation is a multinational firm that offers aviation services in the United Arab Emirates." The Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, which led to the collapse of the previous government. In December 2021, Turkish and Qatari companies signed a memorandum to operate the Kabul airport, and airports in the provinces of Balkh, Herat, Kandahar and Khost, which are currently struggling to operate due to severe economic conditions in Afghanistan. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dar es Salaam [Tanzania], May 26 (ANI/Xinhua): Tanzanian health authorities late Wednesday issued an alert over the reported outbreak of monkeypox in some countries in Europe. Godwin Mollel, the Deputy Minister for Health, said in a statement that the public needs to take precautions against the monkeypox and other infectious diseases. Also Read | The U.S. Financials Sector Has Tracked the Decline in the Wider Market This Year. Winthrop Latest Tweet by Reuters. "There are no reported monkeypox patients in Tanzania at the moment," said Mollel, cautioning members of the public to avoid touching or eating sick animals or carcasses, as well as avoiding touching anything that has been used by a sick animal. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday it is expecting more infectious cases of the viral zoonotic disease as 20 countries across the world reported monkeypox cases. Also Read | BTS To Discuss Anti-Asian Hate Crimes and Celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month With US President Joe Biden. Initial symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headaches, swelling, back pain, aching muscles and fatigue. People with a more serious illness may develop rashes and lesions on the face and hands, which then spread to other parts of the body. (ANI/Xinhua) (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 26 (ANI): US special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West on Thursday commended India for bringing "enormous" capability in helping the people of Afghanistan with humanitarian assistance. West praised India for working towards protecting the Afghan people with aid to the country. The special representative expressed his will to stand with India and other nations who are striving towards this shared goal of supporting the Afghan people. Also Read | Imran Khans Caravan Enters Punjab as Pakistan SC Directs Govt to Allow Protest Rally in Islamabad. He also thanked Joint Secretary J.P. Singh for hosting the ambassador and his team for detailed discussions on Afghanistan policy in New Delhi on Wednesday. Taking to Twitter, West wrote, "Many thanks to @MEAIndia Joint Secretary J.P. Singh for hosting me and my team for detailed discussions on Afghanistan policy yesterday in New Delhi." Also Read | WEF 2022: India Committed to Support Africa in COVID-19 Vaccination, Says Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. "India is providing critical humanitarian aid, has interests to protect, and brings enormous capability and experience to support the Afghan people. We'll continue to partner with India and others in the region to advance shared goals," the US special envoy added in his Twitter post. Notably, India has remained steadfast in providing the necessary humanitarian aid to its neighbouring country in these times of dire need. Earlier, India announced that it will send 50,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat to Afghanistan overland through Pakistan. The first consignment of humanitarian aid of 2,500 tonnes of wheat from India reached Afghanistan's Jalalabad through Pakistan on February 26. The second convoy of India's humanitarian assistance carrying 2,000 MTs of wheat left Attari, Amritsar on March 3 for Jalalabad, Afghanistan, the MEA had said. Moreover, India sent the third consignment of 2,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan in 40 trucks via the Attari-Wagah border on March 8. The fourth consignment of 2,000 metric tonnes of wheat was dispatched for Afghanistan via the Attari-Wagah border on March 15. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Beijing [China], May 26 (ANI): Under the watchful eye of the United States, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay an official visit to South Pacific island countries starting Thursday to ramp up ties with tiny but strategically located island nations. Wang Yi's schedule includes visits to the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor from May 26 to June 4. Also Read | A Shocked Texas Town Struggles to Make Sense of School Massacre Latest Tweet by Reuters. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Tuesday said that Wang will meet with Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of the Cook Islands and Niue via video, and chair the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Fiji. Wang's trip will cover cooperation and deals in many fields including economy, infrastructure, climate change, public health, policing and security. Also Read | Imran Khans Caravan Enters Punjab as Pakistan SC Directs Govt to Allow Protest Rally in Islamabad. "The reason why China's presence has been welcomed by the regional countries is that China could promote the livelihood of the locals and activate the economic potentials of those islands, experts said. However, some Western media have focused only on the cooperation about security, and tried to exaggerate that the cooperation could spark a new Cold War' between China and the West in the region," state media outlet Global Times said in a report. During a press conference on Wednesday, Wang Wenbin said this visit by Wang Yi to the South Pacific aims to deepen the friendly and cooperative relationship between China and relevant countries, and contributes to peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific. "I fully disagree with the sensational remarks by some people. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some facts about China-PICs cooperation," he added. The United States, who earlier raised concern about the security pact between China and Solomon Islands, warned South Pacific nations to be wary of "shadowy" agreements with China, which has put forth a package to expand cooperation dramatically. "We are concerned that these reported agreements may be negotiated in a rushed, non-transparent process," State Department spokesperson Ned Price. He added that China has a pattern of offering shadowy, vague deals with little transparency. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) The show's host struggled to compose himself, and he teared up when he spoke of "the little boys and girls whose lives have been ended and whose families have been destroyed." Kimmel also spoke about most Americans supporting "keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and children," citing polls that support "common-sense gun laws." At least nine people were killed and 15 others were injured in three separate blasts, yesterday in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital city of Balkh province: Afghanistan's TOLO News quoting a local official. ANI (@ANI) May 26, 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.) On Thursday, Germany approved the Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine. Bharat Biotech said that the entrants will no longer need proof of vaccination as the Federal Cabinet relaxes restrictions. Check tweet: Germany has approved Covaxin COVID19 vaccine. The entrants will no longer need proof of vaccination as the Federal Cabinet relaxes restrictions: Bharat Biotech ANI (@ANI) May 26, 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.) Ottawa, May 26: The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has confirmed 16 cases of monkeypox in the country. All the cases have been reported in the province of Quebec, PHAC said in a statement, adding that samples are being received for confirmatory testing from multiple jurisdictions, reports Xinhua news agency. According to the statement, cases of monkeypox are being identified and treated by local health clinics. Monkeypox Outbreak: US CDC Issues New Warning As More Potential Cases Found There is ongoing planning with provinces and territories to provide access to approved vaccines in Canada that, if required, can be used in managing monkeypox in their jurisdiction. As a preparedness step, PHAC provided Quebec with a small shipment of Imvamune vaccine from Canada's National Emergency Strategic Stockpile to support their targeted response. Similarly, as warehousing and cold chain operations are confirmed, other jurisdictions will begin receiving limited pre-positioning supply shipments, PHAC said. Monkeypox is a sylvatic zoonosis that may cause infections in humans and the disease usually occurs in forested parts of Central and West Africa. It is caused by the monkeypox virus which belongs to the orthopoxvirus family, according to the World Health Organization. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 26, 2022 01:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The Duggars are done on TLC. The cable network owned by Discovery Communications announced Thursday that it will cancel 19 Kids and Counting, the long-running reality series that centers on Arkansas couple Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 19 children. The series has been off the air since May, when it was reported that the couples eldest son, Josh, inappropriately touched five underage girls four of them his sisters, the other a baby sitter when he was a minor. Josh Duggar, now 27, was never arrested or charged. We spent the past month and a half in thoughtful consideration about the best way forward here, said Marjorie Kaplan, group president of TLC, Animal Planet and Velocity networks, in a statement given to the Associated Press. TLC also announced it would air a documentary in late August that deals with child abuse and that two of Joshs reported victims his sisters Jill and Jessa - would be included in the special. The network has teamed with two organizations that deal with raising the awareness of sexual violence and child abuse. The Duggars were TLCs top attraction, averaging more than 3 million viewers per episode. The series had aired on the network since 2008, but when the show was pulled after the reports about Josh Duggar, advertisers distanced themselves immediately, putting its future in jeopardy. Advertisement While Discovery executives huddled to find a way to come up with a Duggars spinoff, the family name has been too tarnished by the coverage of their scandal for advertisers to have a comfortable association with it. Josh Duggar apologized for his actions in a statement on his Facebook page and resigned from his position at the Family Research Council, a conservative lobbying group. A UC Irvine professor who set a series of fires after his sons suicide was sentenced Thursday to 14 years and four months in state prison. Rainer Klaus Reinscheid, 49, of Irvine pleaded guilty in July to one felony count of arson of anothers property, three felony counts of arson of forest land, two felony counts of arson of a structure, three felony counts of attempted arson and one misdemeanor count of resisting or obstructing an officer. Reinscheid, who taught in UC Irvines department of pharmaceutical science and is on unpaid leave from the university, also faced sentencing enhancements for using an accelerant to set the fires. Prosecutors said Reinscheid was upset at University High School in Irvine for how it handled his sons suicide in March 2012. Claas Stubbe, 14, hanged himself at Mason Park Preserve after being disciplined for a minor theft from a student store. That July, Reinscheid committed six arsons and three attempted arsons by setting fire to newspapers, brush and a plastic porch chair, among other items. The fires occurred at University High School, at Mason Park Preserve and outside an assistant principals home. Advertisement Officers with the Irvine Police Department who were patrolling Mason Park Preserve in the wake of the arsons saw Reinscheid attempt to start a fire using a newspaper and lighter fluid. He ignored their orders to stop, and resisted arrest. Reinscheid was released after posting bail, then arrested again after investigators discovered email drafts threatening to kill the assistant principal of University High School, shoot hundreds of students and burn the school to the ground in a firestorm that destroys every single building. He is scheduled for a restitution hearing Nov. 15. ALSO: Porn filming halted after actress positive HIV test Hannah Anderson texted kidnapper DiMaggio, didnt call, she says D.A. alleges coverup in sheriffs deputys alleged beating of inmate adolfo.flores@latimes.com Follow Adolfo Flores on Twitter. SNAP benefits 2022 in Texas are eyeing to release the payment in June through the Texas Lone Star Cards as managed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Go Banking Rates also reported that Texas has a program for households in which all members are either older adults or people with disabilities, which is called Texas Simplified Application Project. The TSAP expedites the SNAP application process and it provides three years of benefits instead of six months. SNAP benefits are deposited onto Lone Star Cards over 15 days, starting on the 1st of the month. The date recipients receive their Texas SNAP benefits depends on the last digit of their Eligibility Determination Group number. Recipients' EDG numbers can be found on the TF0001 form the HHSC sent to recipients, saying that they are eligible for SNAP benefits. People can also find it by calling 800-777-7328. READ NEXT: SNAP Benefits 2022: Texas, California, Florida, Other States Payment Updates SNAP Benefits 2022 Texas For those with an EDG number ending in 0, they are set to get their SNAP benefits on June 1, while those with 1 as the ending of their EDG number is scheduled to receive their benefits on June 3rd. The schedule of the SNAP release goes on until June 15th. In May, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the state is providing more than $317.9 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits for the month of May. It will be managed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, according to a press release by the governor's office. Abbott said that the extension of emergency SNAP benefits for May will help ensure that families can put "nutritious food on their tables." The state government has also expressed gratitude to HHSC and USDA for the continued effort to provide support for families across the state of Texas. Texas HHS Access and Eligibility Services Deputy Executive Commissioner Wayne Salter said that he is proud that HHSC is able to give a helping hand to Texas families in need. The emergency allotments in May are in addition to the more than $6.7 billion in benefits previously given to Texas since April 2020. SNAP Benefits June 2022 SNAP deposit schedules vary by state with payments usually distributed according to the last numbers of the recipient's identification number for their state's program. Go Banking Rates noted that some states may distribute benefits on a particular date each month. States also have different rules when it comes to payment days that fall on weekends or holidays. Recipients can visit their state's SNAP program website to find the specific payment day for their SNAP benefits. Payments are deposited monthly into SNAP accounts, which are linked to EBT cards. Some states have their version of EBT cards. It can be swiped at the point of sale terminals in grocery stores, major retailers, and participating farmers' markets. Benefits can be used to procure eligible food items, except for food that is hot when sold or ready-to-eat meals. READ MORE: SNAP Benefits 2022 Update: $66 Million Extra Food Payments Confirmed in Oregon This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: COMPLETE Schedule of Food Stamps, SNAP & EBT Benefits 2022/2023 - from Credit Viral Super Model Kate Moss, Johnny Depp's ex, took the stand on Wednesday and clarified if she was pushed down the stairs by the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor. This issue was mentioned by Amber Heard during her testimony. In the footage of the trial acquired by BBC, Moss was speaking through a video. The Guardian noted that Kate Moss' questioning only lasted for at least three minutes. During the questioning, Moss was asked if she went to Jamaica when she still has a relationship with Johnny Depp. The supermodel then confirmed that she went to the country, specifically to the Golden Eye Resort. She then explained that she slid down the stairs and hurt her back when she left the room after Johnny Depp. The supermodel added that there was a rainstorm during that time. Moss went on to say that she screamed at that moment because she did not know what happened and because her back was hurt. She then emphasized that Johnny Depp came running to her and carried her to her room. Moss then noted that Depp got her medical attention. When asked if she was pushed down the stairs in any course of their relationship the supermodel said "no" confidently. "He never pushed me, kicked me, or threw me down any stairs, no," Moss underscored. READ NEXT: Johnny Depp Lawsuit: DC Chief Hits Amber Heard With Harsh Reality of Poor Chemistry With Jason Momoa in 'Aquaman' Kate Moss' Stairs Issue Mentioned in Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard Trial Kate Moss's appearance on her ex's defamation case came after Amber Heard mentioned the stairs rumor while discussing an alleged altercation between her sister and Johnny Depp. During the trial, Heard mention that there was a moment when her sister, Whitney Henriquez, had her back to the staircase and the actor swung at her. "I don't hesitate, I don't wait - I just, in my head, instantly think of Kate Moss and stairs," Heard underscored. The actress then pointed out that Johnny Depp did not push her sister down the stairs, but Henriquez claimed that the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor once hit her and then struck repeatedly. Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard: 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Actor Took the Stand Again Actor Johnny Depp once again testified on Wednesday in Fairfax, Virginia courthouse to refute the testimonies from previous witnesses, including Amber Heard. Depp reiterated that he never committed sexual battery and physical abuse in his life, according to CNN. Depp also called the claims against him as "outlandish and outrageos stories" that he has been waiting to bring the truth out. Heard previously testified that Depp hit her and mentioned her perspective of several alleged violent incidents with her ex-husband. Johnny Depp is suing Amber Heard over a 2018 op-ed the "Aquaman" actress penned, painting herself as a domestic violence survivor. The actor is seeking $50 million, contending that the article made him lose work in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Amber Heard countersued for $100 million for defamation over statements made by Depp's attorney who called her claims of violence a "hoax." READ NEXT: Vanessa Guillen Murder Case: Fort Hood Soldier Killed by Fellow Soldier After She Saw Photo of His Married Lover on His Phone's Lock Screen This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Kate Moss Testifies in Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Trial - extratv The Texas school shooter has written a Facebook message 15 minutes before proceeding with his plans on the Robb Elementary School shooting, which killed 19 children and two teachers. NBC News reported that the suspect barricaded himself inside a classroom and fired indiscriminately, according to officials. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said at a news conference that the suspect did not have "meaningful forewarning" of the violence he intended to unleash except for the Facebook message. There were two other Facebook messages before announcing that he will be shooting an elementary school. One stated that he will be shooting his grandmother, while the other confirmed the completion of his act to shoot his grandmother. A spokesperson for Facebook's parent company Meta. Andy Stone, said that the warnings were sent in private one-to-one text messages that were found after the shooting. Stone said in a tweet that Facebook is currently cooperating with law enforcement. READ NEXT: Florida Condo Collapse: Architect Suspended Over Toppling of Other Structures in Miami Texas School Shooter The Texas school shooter has been identified as 18-year-old Salvador Rolando Ramos. Associated Press News reported that Ramos had used an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Ramos had bought the rifle and a second one like it last week, just after his birthday on May 16, according to authorities. The state governor noted that Ramos had no known criminal or mental health history. The suspected shooter was also a resident of the small town about 85 miles west of San Antonio. Investigators had not released any motive for the attack. The shooting has also left at least 17 people wounded. The Republican governor had repeatedly talked about mental health struggles among Texas young people, arguing that stricter gun laws in Chicago, New York, and California are ineffective. Abbott made the statement amid calls around the U.S. for higher restrictions on firearms. Democrat Beto O'Rourke, who is running against Abbott, said that this is on the Republican governor until he chooses to do something different. Texas Elementary School Shooting U.S. President Biden said that he would travel to Uvalde in the coming days to try to comfort the residents. However, Biden did not call on Congress to take up gun safety legislation. The president instead said that the "Second Amendment is not absolute" and the earlier gun safety laws did not violate its constitutional protections, according to a New York Times report. Abbott has been hesitant to touch on the topic of enforcing stricter gun laws, citing that Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York show that tougher gun laws are not going to solve mass shootings. Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois replied by saying that the majority of guns used in the Chicago shootings come from states with "lax gun laws." Meanwhile, Ramos had been reportedly messaging his plans with a 15-year-old girl in Germany, whom he had recently met online. The girl said that Ramos has video-called her in the days around his birthday from a gun store, with Ramos showing her a black bag that seemed to hold many magazines of ammunition and at least one gun. READ MORE: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Ignores U.S. Pres. Joe Biden's Request for National Guard Troops at State of the Union This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Texas shooting: video appears to show gunman on school grounds - from The Telegraph A boat with at least 842 migrants from Haiti arrived on the coast of Cuba instead of the United States, which is their target location. Associated Press noted that the group of migrants aboard the boat arrived on the coast of Villa Blanca in Cuba on Tuesday. The said area is located 300 kilometers or 180 miles east of the country's capital, Havana. The boat was swept to the coast of Cuba instead of the United States due to several days of stormy weather and thunderstorms, Reuters reported. Furthermore, reports noted that it is not unusual for currents and winds to bring Haitians to Cuba. The country is known to border most of the seas surrounding Haiti and the United States. State broadcaster Telecubanacan released images of the said migrant boat revealing a gray ship crowded with Haitians, lining the decks from bow to stern. Haitians were also seen on the rooftop part of the boat as it swayed in rough, windswept seas. According to reports, the 842 migrants of Haiti included at least 70 children, and 97 women with two of them reportedly pregnant. Red Cross officials from the province of Villa Clara told local news outlet Granma that the migrants from Haiti were given medical attention and were being housed at a tourist campground. "Cuban authorities are in contact with the government of Haiti to ensure the safe and voluntary return of these people to their country, in accordance with the international agreements on migration," the state-run media underscored. READ NEXT: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Vows to Implement New Border Security Strategies Despite Title 42 Remaining Active Other Instances Where Haiti Migrants Flee to the U.S. The. U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday said that it stopped a sail freighter carrying at least 153 migrants from Haiti. The said vehicle was stopped by the authorities near the Florida Keys. Earlier this month, the Coast Guard also rescued 36 migrants from Haiti and found another 11 dead - all of them women - after a boat capsized in the waters northwest of Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard also spotted more than 130 Haitians aboard a boat near the Bahamas in April. According to reports, the U.S. Coastguard has come across at least 4,500 migrants from Haiti since October last year. Many of these Haitians were reportedly trying to enter the U.S. through the coast of Florida Keys. Why Haitians Migrate Reports claimed that Haiti's crumbling economy and the heightening of gang violence in the country have prompted thousands of Haitians to flee from their home country in the past year. According to ABC News, gangs in Haiti are fighting each other over the control of territories, such as in the capital Port-au-Prince. The city reportedly recorded a new intensity of brutality among the gangs. Gangs in the country have reportedly forced schools, businesses, and hospitals to close as the violent groups raid new neighborhoods and take control of the main roads connecting the capital to the rest of the country. U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that at least 92 civilians and 96 suspected gang members were killed between April 24 and May 16. Injuries from the same time frame accounted for 133, while 12 were reported missing and 49 were kidnapped for ransom. READ NEXT: Amber Heard Trial: Kate Moss Reveals Truth About Rumor That Johnny Depp Pushed Her Down the Stairs This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Boat With Hundreds Of Haitian Migrants Grounds Off Key Largo - From CBS Miami The mom of the suspect in the Texas school shooting that killed at least 21 individuals, cannot believe that her son shot his grandmother. Adriana Reyes, the mother of the shooter identified as Salvador Ramos, was reportedly in disbelief that her son was capable of the violence on Tuesday. The reaction of Reyes was revealed by the mother of Reyes' boyfriend, Maria Alvarez, to Fox News. According to Alvarez, Reyes' father told her that Ramos shot his grandmother, but the mom did not believe her father. "She said, 'I don't believe that my son would do that. He loved my mom," Reyes reportedly said according to Alvarez. The Daily Mail noted that Ramos shot his grandmother in the face before he went on a rampage at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Alvarez added that Reyes and her wounded mother immediately went to San Antonio following the shooting. However, the duo went back to Alvarez's home in Uvalde looking for her boyfriend, looking shocked after what happened. "I came back because I have to find my son. I don't know where he's at," Reyes allegedly said according to Alvarez. Alvarez further noted that she never met the Texas school shooter. However, Reyes would frequently share with her the issues she is having with her son. Alvarez noted that the fights between Reyes and the Texas school shooter revolved around school because Ramos was supposed to graduate from high school this year. READ NEXT: Texas School Shooter Sends Warning on Facebook Before Horrific Act: "I'm Going To Shoot An Elementary School" Mom of Texas School Shooter Says Her Son Is Not a 'Violent Person' The mom of the Texas school shooter claimed that Ramos was not a "violent person." Reyes made her statement in an interview, pointing out that she was surprised that her son opened fire in Robb Elementary School. Reyes was speaking at the hospital where her mother was being treated. The mom also shared that the last time she talked with Ramos was during his birthday when she said that she has a card and a Snoopy stuffed animal to give to him. Reyes then slammed the reports that she had a toxic relationship with her son, which allegedly caused him to have a "twisted" personality. "I had a good relationship with him. He kept to himself; he didn't have many friends," Reyes underscored. The mom of the Texas school shooter then extended her thoughts to the affected Texas school shooting. "I pray for those families. I'm praying for all of those innocent children, yes I am. They [the children] had no part in this," Reyes said. Meanwhile, the shooter's grandfather, Rolando Reyes, told ABC News earlier today that the family was kept in the dark about the lethal firearms that he bought. He added that if he knew that his grandson had weapons, he would have reported it to the authorities. Texas School Shooting Ramos was among the dead after he opened fire at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The death toll of the tragedy rose to 19 students and two adults. A former classmate of Ramos revealed that the Texas school shooter texted him photos of a firearm he had and a bag full of ammunition days before the attack. The friend also added that others taunted Ramos in his class for the clothes he wore and his family's financial situation. Authorities also revealed on Wednesday that a series of messages the morning of the Texas school shooting revealed that Ramos sent "I'm going to shoot my grandmother," "I've shot my grandmother," and then: "I'm going to shoot an elementary school." READ NEXT: Amber Heard Trial: Kate Moss Reveals Truth About Rumor That Johnny Depp Pushed Her Down the Stairs This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Texas School Shooting Leaves a Community Heartbroken - From ABC News Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced Wednesday that his country will no longer participate in the Summit of the Americas in June after the U.S. failed to extend a proper invitation. According to Los Angeles Times, Diaz-Canel tweeted that "under no circumstance" would he attend. Some countries earlier expressed that Cuba should also be invited to the summit. In the tweet, Cuba's president further noted that the U.S. "conceived early on the Summit of Americas" that it would not be inclusive and lamented the U.S. position for failing to be "inclusive." "Its intention was to exclude several countries, #Cuba among them, despite the strong regional claims for ceasing exclusions," Diaz-Canel said. It is known that the United States had conceived early on that the Summit of the Americas would not be inclusive. Its intention was to exclude several countries, #Cuba among them, despite the strong regional claims for ceasing exclusions. (1/4) Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez (@DiazCanelB) May 25, 2022 The president then announced his country's decision not to attend the Summit of the Americas next month. "I can assure you that, under no circumstances, will I attend. As it has happened often times in the past, the voice of #Cuba will be heard at the Ninth Summit of the Americas," Diaz-Canel said. I can assure you that, under no circumstances, will I attend. As it has happened often times in the past, the voice of #Cuba will be heard at the Ninth Summit of the Americas. (4/4) Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez (@DiazCanelB) May 25, 2022 Diaz-Canel thanked other countries and their representatives who argued that Cuba should be included in this year's Summit of the Americas. "We appreciate the courageous and dignified standing adopted by the countries that have raised their voices against exclusions. We share the position adopted by the leaders of the region, who have firmly stated that all countries should be invited on an equal footing," the president said. READ NEXT: Boat With Over 800 Migrants From Haiti Arrives in Cuba Instead of the U.S. U.S. Tried to Look for Ways to Include Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua in the Summit of the Americas The announcement of President Miguel Diaz-Canel came after the U.S. said it tried to look for ways to include Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela in the upcoming summit following threats to boycott over their governments' exclusion, Voice of America reported. An administration official said Monday that they were still evaluating options on "how to best incorporate" the voices of the people of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua into the summit process. Brian Nichols, the top U.S. official for Latin America, earlier said he did not expect invitations for officials from Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela as the three countries do not respect the 2001 Inter-American Democratic Charter. Cuba and Two Other Nations Are Being Snubbed on the Summit of the Americas Leaders from several countries have expressed their distraught about Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua not being invited to the summit that is being held every three or four years. Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) said earlier this month that he will not attend the summit if the U.S. refused to invite the three countries. "If they exclude, if not all are invited, a representative of the Mexican government is going to go, but I would not," AMLO noted. Argentina also appealed to avoid excluding any government from the Summit of the Americas. In a statement, the country called the summit an excellent opportunity to build space for encounters in which all countries of the hemisphere will participate. According to reports, the U.S. has the privilege to choose the leaders who will be invited to the Summit of the Americas, as it is the event's host country. This year's Summit of the Americas will be held in Los Angeles from June 6 to 10. President Joe Biden earlier said the goal of this year's event was for countries from across the Americas to sign a regional declaration of migration and protection. READ MORE: Texas School Shooting Update: Mom of Shooter Can't Believe Her Son Shot His Grandmother This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: World Leaders Consider Boycotting Summit of the Americas - From NBC News Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera has complained about being mistreated in a Colorado prison he's currently being held in. In a seven-page letter, El Chapo, 65, said the treatment he received in the maximum-security prison in Florence, Colorado was "cruel and unfair," and it was taking a toll on his health. According to The Mirror, El Chapo wrote in English that due to the treatment at the ADX Florence "supermax" prison, he now suffers from "headaches, memory loss, muscle cramps, stress, and depression." He added that the treatment he received was also causing him to suffer from psychological problems. "I pray that this court intervenes," El Chapo noted. READ NEXT: El Chapo Trial: Sinaloa Cartel Boss to Ask Supreme Court to Review His Case to Overturn Drug Trafficking Conviction Sinaloa Cartel Boss El Chapo Suffers From Foot Fungus Infection El Chapo noted that the constant check-ups and lack of medical care had caused him "extreme stress and even a foot infection" from sharing the nail clippers with other prisoners. The Sinaloa Cartel boss cited an occasion when the guards did not give him the necessary items he needed for a foot fungus infection, which stemmed from nail clippers shared with other inmates and not previously disinfected. El Chapo noted that it was too late by the time he received the treatment as he had already lost one of his nails. According to Borderland Beat, the Sinaloa Cartel boss demanded that he be allowed to communicate with other inmates and that the conditions in his cell be improved since he feels uncomfortable. "I am ruled out of having any verbal contact or communication with other prisoners... I have no human contact other than when the guards put on and take off my shackles," El Chapo said. He noted that since he arrived in the United States, he has not been allowed "to speak to my wife." El Chapo's wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro," is also currently in jail, serving a three-year sentence, for helping her husband run his multibillion-dollar drug empire. "I have suffered a lot being in solitary confinement... My blood pressure has risen, leading to headaches and anxiety. Sometimes I forget things," El Chapo said. The Sinaloa Cartel boss added that "they serve me little food, and I often stay hungry." Borderland Beat reported that El Chapo's cell measures seven by 12 feet and has a small window through which his food is delivered. It is located in the so-called "Unit H," where the most dangerous prisoners are found, among them, several terrorists. The Sinaloa Cartel founder also lamented the "extremely hot" air from the ventilation system that comes out four to five times nightly, waking him up. "Every night, this causes my heart to start beating rapidly, raising my blood pressure... I have raised this issue with staff, but no one has done anything," El Chapo noted. Even though he doesn't share a cell and is in his cell 24 hours a day, the Sinaloa Cartel boss added that prison officials enter his cell "several times a week to do routine searches, when they move and touch all my belongings." The Case of Sinaloa Cartel Founder El Chapo The Sinaloa Cartel is considered one of the world's most powerful drug-trafficking syndicates. The Mexican drug cartel has been known for carrying out assassinations, murders, and torture to protect its turf. The group was founded in the late 1980s and headed by El Chapo. The Mexican drug kingpin was arrested and sentenced to more than 20 years in prison in 1993. El Chapo escaped from prison in 2001 and was apprehended again in 2014 in Sinaloa, Mexico. The Sinaloa Cartel boss again escaped from prison through a tunnel the following year. In January 2016, Mexican officials announced that El Chapo has been captured again. He was extradited to the U.S. the following year. El Chapo was sentenced to spend the rest of his days in the ADX Florence, the most secure federal prison in the U.S. He is serving a life sentence in prison after being found guilty in 2019 of all 10 federal charges he faced. El Chapo was accused of illegally importing millions of kilos of cocaine from Mexico to the U.S., along with significant quantities of heroin and marijuana. According to prosecutors, the Sinaloa Cartel founder allegedly used murder, torture, kidnapping, bribing officials, and "other illegal methods to control territory throughout Mexico and to subdue opposition." In January, a federal appeals court in New York has upheld the life sentence of El Chapo after his request for a new trial was dismissed. In their decision, the three judges rejected some of El Chapo's arguments, including jury bias, "deplorable" jail conditions, and the U.S. government selectively targeting him for prosecution. Last month, one of the lawyers of the Sinaloa Cartel boss said they would ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review his case as they believed that El Chapo was really being treated unfairly. "They don't take him out into the open air. They don't take him out for a single day. We have a lot of problems because they don't treat him medically if he gets sick," lawyer Mariel Colon Miro told Milenio. "Requests were ignored. He can't have two 15-minute calls a month... The government claims that they need to have him under those restrictions because he can pass some message," she added. Colon Miro further noted that some basic rights, like access to water and toothache treatment, were also violated inside the prison. READ MORE: El Chapo Son's Turf Is Being Invaded by El Mayo's Hitmen as They Battle for Control of Sinaloa Cartel This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Here's What's (Really) Inside El Chapo's Prison Cell - From The Fugitive The author of the "How to Murder Your Husband" essay, Nancy Crampton Brophy, was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder for shooting dead her husband. According to People, the 71-year-old author was on trial for fatally shooting her husband, Dan Brophy, in June 2018. Nancy was found guilty on Wednesday. After the verdict, the victim's mother, Karen Brophy, said she was very thankful that everything turned out the way it has, adding that "it's been a long three and a half years." In the seven-week proceedings, prosecutors argued that Nancy could have possibly gained a generous amount of Dan's insurance money upon his death. Prosecutors had called witnesses who claimed that the couple was suffering financial hardships when Dan was killed in the Oregon Culinary Institute, where he served as a chef and teacher. READ NEXT: Paraguay Anti-drug Prosecutor Marcelo Pecci Killed in Colombia During Honeymoon 'How To Murder Your Husband' Author Nancy Brophy Killed Husband Police said Dan Brophy was shot twice and was found dead by his students, according to Daily Mail. Shawn Overstreet, a deputy district attorney, claimed in closing arguments last week that Nancy Brophy had the plan in place. Overstreet said Nancy was the only one with the motive and had the opportunity to carry out this murder. Prosecutors claimed the author killed her husband to collect his $1.4 million life insurance policy. They further noted that Nancy's van was also spotted near the institute on traffic cameras on the day of the murder, adding that the author lied about where she was on this fateful morning. As for the weapon used, prosecutors noted that Nancy purchased a Glock 17 handgun at a gun expo in Portland after looking up and buying a "ghost gun" kit online. They also said the author later bought a separate slide and barrel that could fit the firearm. However, Nancy's lawyers noted that the gun pieces were for a novel she was writing, which is about a woman who slowly bought gun parts to complete a weapon and turned the tables on an abusive husband. They added that Nancy would never kill her husband because of their endless love for each another. Lisa Maxfield, one of Nancy's attorneys, said the defense team plans to file an appeal. Dan was shot two times to the heart on June 2, 2018 in a teaching kitchen at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland, where he had worked since 2006. Nancy Brophy was reportedly caught on camera driving to the institute about half an hour before his death. She was seen driving away 20 minutes later and went home to Beavertown. Nancy Brophy In a 2011 blog post, Nancy Brophy noted that a wife who plans to kill her spouse must be "organized, ruthless and very clever" as she was likely to become a prime suspect. According to New York Times, the author said she pondered different methods of murder, adding that knives were too personal, poison was traceable, and hitmen were untrustworthy. Brophy then noted that guns were messy and required skills. The romance novelist earlier testified that her handgun was for protection, bought with her husband's support, and the other gun component was for writing research. Nancy Brophy now faces life in prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 13. READ MORE: Paraguay President Sacks Three Ministers Over COVID-19 Handling This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Jury Reaches Verdict in Murder Trial of Nancy Brophy - From KOIN 6 A man defended himself with a childs hurl in Lyster Square, Portlaoise District Court heard last week. Hugh Nevin, 46, with an address at 122 Hillview Drive, Portlaoise was charged with production of a hurley at Lyster Square, Portlaoise on August 26, 2020 and affray on the same date and location. Sgt JJ Kirby told the court that on August 26, 2020 at 1.50pm there was a fight involving three people at Lyster Square. There were weapons and articles. Two off duty gardai intervened. A hurl was seized from Hugh Nevin at the scene. Appearing for Mr Nevin, solicitor Philip Meagher said that it was between Hugh Nevin and other men. Hugh Nevin had been taking a child to a toy store on the day. He bought a childs hurl and sliotar. They were walking from a car to the bank when they met two other men. They pushed and hit Mr Nevin. Hugh Nevin took the hurl from his son in an effort to try and defend himself. There was an affray type incident. In hindsight he should have fled. There was a background of a feud at the time, Mr Meagher told the court. Mr Nevin had got the Travellers Mediation Group involved. He was raising his family by himself, and had nine children. He had a lot of stress and anxiety in his life. He had moved to the UK with some of his children to start afresh and was doing well there with a better support network. He was anxious to deal with this matter. It was a flash in the pan type incident. He would say the other men were the instigators of it, Mr Meagher said. Judge Patricia Cronin said it was a serious public order incident at 1.50pm in the afternoon. She noted his plea and the facts and imposed a two month prison sentence suspended for 12 months. A man with a Laois address has been charged with aggravated burglary at a Thai massage parlour. The alleged burglary was in Tralee, County Kerry last week. The man has been remanded in custody to appear before Tralee District Court on June 15 to allow time for the book of evidence to be served. Appearing before the court on Wednesday, in custody via video link from Cork Prison, Gavin Swayne (21) is alleged to have had a shard of glass in his possession after entering Jaam-Paa Spa Thai Massage, 15 Ashe Street, Tralee in the early hours of Friday, May 20. He also faces two drug possession charges after allegedly being caught with both cocaine and zopiclone on the same date and the same place. Swayne, with an address at 63 Hillview Drive, Knockmay, Portlaoise, had previously appeared before a special sitting of Killarney District Court last Friday, in custody, and was refused bail by District Court judge David Waters. He ordered Swayne to appear again before the District Court in Tralee on Wednesday. At Tralee District Court on Wednesday, solicitor for Mr Swayne Brendan Ahern said his client no longer wished to apply for bail in the High Court. Judge Waters adjourned the case until the June 15 sitting of Tralee District Court and ordered Swayne to appear before the court via video link. The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee has announced the appointment of Mr Mark Kelly as the new Inspector of Prisons. The Depart of Justice says Mr Kelly is an international human rights lawyer with international experience as well as practical experience in the areas of monitoring prisons, police custody and administrative detention. In 2014, he was elected to the Committee for the Prevention of Torture of the Council of Europe, of which he was Vice-President from 2017-2021 Prior to this in 2013, he was appointed as a Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and a member of the Board of the Equality Authority, pending the creation of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, to which the President of Ireland appointed him as a Commissioner on 31 October 2014. Mr Kelly was also a member of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture of the Council of Europe secretariat from 1991 2000 and a former Executive Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. Mr Kelly, who will commence his position on 15 August 2022, commented on his appointment. Im really looking forward to joining the Inspectorate team and to building on the work of my predecessors to establish truly independent inspection of places of detention. Looking to the future, I especially welcome the plans to expand the role of the Office to include independent monitoring of detention across the criminal justice sector in Ireland, in line with the requirements of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), he said. The Department of Justice says the Inspector of Prisons is a statutory officer appointed by the Minister for Justice under the Prisons Act 2007. The Inspector of Prisons is independent in carrying out this work. The Department explained that the key role of the Inspector of Prisons is to carry out regular inspections of all prisons in Ireland and to present a report on each institution inspected to the Minister for Justice. It added that in addition, under Part 5 of the Prisons Act 2007, the Inspector of Prisons is required to carry out investigations into any matter relating to the operation and management of a prison as requested by the Minister for Justice. A statement said that the Inspector of Prisons may also, of their own volition decide to investigate any matter they consider to be of concern. Further, since April 2012 all deaths in custody are subject to an independent investigation by the Inspector of Prisons. Minister McEntee spoke about the appointment. The role of the Inspector of Prisons is an absolutely essential element of the oversight and evaluation structures within our penal system. The Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service constantly strive to develop and evolve in how we manage our prisons and the Inspector of Prisons plays a vital role in ensuring this work is carried out to the highest human rights standards and international good practice. "I am extremely pleased that Mark will be taking up this important role. I am sure his human rights experience both in Ireland and abroad will be of great benefit to the work of the Office. He joins an excellent team in the Office of the Inspector of Prisons which under his leadership and guidance will only go from strength to strength, she said. This appointment is made following the completion of a Top Level Appointment Competition held by the Public Appointment Service, which was launched on 29 October 2021. Meanwhile, Mr Mark Toland served in the role of interim Inspector of Prisons while the Top Level Appointment Competition was being completed. Minister McEntee thanked him for his work as interim Inspector of Prisons. During this time, Mr Toland also continued to serve in his position as Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate and the Minister has also announced today his reappointment to that position, having received Government approval of the reappointment. The Minister thanked Mr Toland for taking on the role while the Top Level Appointment Competition was being completed. "His appointment ensured the important work of the Inspector of Prisons, so essential in safeguarding the safety and security of prisoners, was able to continue uninterrupted. I would particularly like to thank him for his commitment and dedication to the work of the Office of the Inspector of Prisons and making sure this work continued to be carried out to the highest standards during his tenure," she said. The Department notes that the law underpinning the role of Inspector of Prisons is set out in Part 5, Sections 30 to 32 of the Prisons Act 2007. It says Section 30 provides for the appointment of the Inspector, Section 31 sets out the functions of the Inspector and Section 32 specifies the requirement to submit an Annual Report to the Minister for Justice, by 31 March in any year. Under Section 31 of the Act, it says the Inspector of Prisons is obliged to carry out regular inspections of prisons and for this purpose may at any time enter any prison or any part of a prison, request and obtain from the Governor a copy of any books, records, other documents or extracts from such documents, and, in the course of an inspection or arising out of an inspection bring any issues of concern to the notice of the governor of the prison concerned, the Director General of the Irish Prison Service or the Minister as the Inspector considers appropriate. The Inspector may, and must if she receives a request from the Minister, investigate any matter arising out of the management or operation of a prison and shall submit to the Minister a report on any such investigation. Governors, prison officers, other persons employed in prisons and prisoners, must as far as reasonably practicable, comply with any request for information that the Inspector may make in the performance of his or her functions. A call is being issued to the people of Ballyroan to gather together to discuss to future of the growing village near Portlaoise and Abbeyleix. The Ballyroan Community Development Association invites the Community of Ballyroan, including representatives of local community groups, to a pubic meeting in June to discuss the future. The association outlined what it hopes can be achieved. "The purpose of the meeting is to provide an opportunity for all in the community to become involved in plans for the future of Ballyroan. It will also be an opportunity to gather opinions about projects to enhance the village and its surrounds for the benefit of the people of Ballyroan, and to develop a committee of local volunteers whose sole function is to facilitate growth and improve quality of life within the community. "All members of the community are invited to this meeting and we look forward to seeing everyone on the night. Representatives of Laois PPN (Public Participation Network) and Laois Partnership will also be in attendance," said the public notice. The public meeting takes place on Tuesday, June 14 at 8pm in Ballyroan Community Hall. Fine Gael Kildare South TD and Minister Martin Heydon has said that 6.6m in Health Capital Funding for Kildare projects in 2022 is welcome and needed to move on key infrastructural projects in the County. Minister Heydon said, The total funding which only relates to 2022 allocations and not the entire project costs includes movement on key projects for Naas Hospital and St Vincents in Athy." The Minister went onto explain the plans for the allocation of the 6.6m in Health Capital Funding. Naas Hospital "3.55m will be spent on a 12 bed modular unit for the isolation of suspected Covid cases and other infectious illnesses at Naas Hospital. In addition 300k is allocated towards the progression of the long awaited new endoscopy unit and Day care centre while 400k will be used to progress plans for a new Mental Health unit to replace Lakeview which is a key priority for Kildare," Minister Heydon explained. St Vincents, Athy At St Vincents in Athy 800k will be spent to progress plans for a 95 bed community Nursing Unit to replace existing capacity at St Vincents with an additional 100k earmarked towards plans for the renovation of an existing vacant nightingale ward and conversion to a Day Care Centre." Kildare town 100k will be used for a 10 bed High Support Community Residence in Kildare town while 50k will go towards the renovation and conversion of the vacant Kilmeague Health Centre for use as Community Daycare / Meals on Wheels to be operated by St. Vincent de Paul. Facilities would include dayroom, dining facility, toilet and showering facilities, office, treatment room and kitchenette for use by approximately 20 clients." Monasterevin 1.09m is allocated towards the renovation of the existing dispensary building to provide accommodation for an Older Person Day Services Unit and PCC Services at Drogheda Street, Monasterevin." These projects are all much needed and long anticipated in their local communities and I have been pushing the HSE for progress on them. The confirmation of these funds under the 2022 Capital Plan provides further impetus to see them progress this year which is good news, concluded Minister Heydon. Back when the college commute consumed a good chunk of my time, there was a lady who got the bus with her guide dog every day. Tucked in under her feet as she took her seat, the dog would pop up as soon as the ladys stop approached. It was amazing how the dog knew when to alert her owner to alight from the bus. She never missed her stop, whether there were traffic delays or road work stoppages. There is no doubting the intelligence of dogs, but these attributes are finely tuned by the top class training the dogs receive from the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind (IGDB) at its Cork headquarters. One of the crucial elements of the training is the puppy raising stage which occurs when the puppies are aged eight weeks to 12/14 months. One such volunteer is Mags Armour from Newbridge. Her love of dogs prompted her to get involved with the organisation who supplies guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired, as well as assistance dogs to support families of children with autism. We had moved back from Scotland in 2014 and I wanted a dog. My friend was involved in puppy raising and thats how I became interested, she said. It is a huge commitment but there is a system in place. There is huge support and guidance for people. Youre not left on your own, you get training. Mags got further involved in the charity when she took up a job with the IGDB. During this time, a dog called Ida had been selected and identified as a potential breeder. Her genetics, manner, and blood line all lead her to being suitable to give birth to potential guide and assistance dogs. Covid-19 hit and Mags volunteered to take Ida. Brood stock holders were mainly based in Munster but Newbridge, with its excellent transport links and distance from Cork, was deemed a suitable location. Newbridge was as accessible, or as far as some areas in Cork and Kerry from Cork city, explained Mags. Now there are broods placed in Dublin and Donegal. Idas last litter was fathered by an American stud dog. His sperm was frozen and transported over to guide dog reproductive specialists, Dr Sarah Mitchell in Clonmel. A procedure called Trans-cervical Insemination (TCI) was carried out on Ida. This is a method to deliver sperm directly into the uterus, by bypassing the cervix. Mags pointed out the process is carried out in an ethically and financially viable way. When the puppies are born, there is a very structured programme. We start by gently exposing them, from three days old, to different sounds, very subtle tiny stresses such as rubbing a cotton bud over their paw or holding them in different positions and then returning them to their mother so they then recover and are nurtured. They also learn to walk on unstable ground by putting down a temporary board and getting them to walk over it. In that way they learn to adapt to stress and it makes them a bit more robust, she said. The puppies cannot circulate widely until they are fully vaccinated. The aim of puppy raising is also to build up their social skills. Anyone who wants to volunteer as a puppy raiser, needs to be over 18, and there should be no children under 5 in the house as the puppy will require a great deal of committment. They also need access to an outdoor enclosed area for exercise, access to transport and public transport. The nice thing about raising a puppy is that you can bring them anywhere you go the restaurant, the cinema, on holidays, a staycation. The puppy can go everywhere as long as it is appropriate, even shopping to Tesco or any other supermarket. It really is a lovely experience. They say it takes a village to raise a child and thats true for guide dogs too. We also need volunteers to cover holidays for the puppy raisers. That is also vital. There are currently 70 puppies being raised in the Dublin, Kildare and Meath region at present. Mags said the experience brings great joy to the family. When my girls were younger and they were sad about saying goodbye to the puppy, I used to tell them there was someone else who couldnt go anywhere and they were sad, and the puppy would help them. Its such an amazing experience and in a way it also gives you perspective, and you get so much from it. It has opened up our whole world, added Mags. The family are also in touch with other puppy raisers and have built up a great support network. Guide Dog Day takes place tomorrow, Friday, May 27. If you would like to find out more, log on to www.guidedogs.ie and then click on ways to help, volunteering, and then puppy raising. A man found driving with no insurance or driving licence received custody terms at Naas District Court on May 11. Patrick ODonoghue, 31, whose address was given as 10 Cherryfield Way, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, was found driving without wither on November 3 last at the M7 Ladytown, Newbridge. Sgt Jim Kelly stated that the defendant was stopped on the date. He also said that he had been previously disqualified for eight years and was also previously disqualified for six years and he was disqualified from driving at the time. The court also heard that he has 59 previous convictions, including six for not having insurance and one for dangerous driving. Read more Kildare news Most of the convictions related to road traffic related offences. The defendant, who appeared by videolink, is serving a six months term. Defending solicitor David Powderly said the defendant is apart from his wife and family and this is a source of stress for him because his wife has cancer and was diagnosed recently. His record is atrocious and he is paying for it now, added the solicitor. He asked that the defendants stay in prison not be prolonged. Judge Desmond Zaidan imposed consecutive custody terms of six month and for months as well as an eight year driving ban. A war of words erupted over the Government's housing policy in the Dail with Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty asking the housing minister Darragh O'Brien what planet he is living on. However, Minister O'Brien hit back, saying Deputy Doherty and Sinn Fein "opposes everything". In the Dail earlier today, Deputy Doherty raised the Governments new housing initiative, known as Croi Conaithe, which sets out to support the building of apartments for sale to owner-occupier households in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. The planned scheme aims to bridge the current viability gap where the cost of building apartments in these cities is higher than the market sale price. The scheme plans to deliver up to 5,000 apartments by 2026. The new State subsidy will see developers secure up to 144,000 in funding for each apartment they build outside the Dublin area. The Government claims that increasing the supply of owner-occupier apartments frees up housing in the rental sector and can reduce pressure on the rental market, in turn alleviates pressure on our social housing waiting lists. However, Deputy Doherty said three recent reports had outlined the failures of Government policy on housing. He said "extortionate rents continue to soar" as the number of rental properties available decrease. He said the minister was "failing spectacularly". He said the Govt has a "bonkers scheme" which will give 450 million of tax payers money to developers to build apartments. Deputy Doherty said only those earning the highest salaries will be able to afford these apartments. "The question needs to be asked again Minister, what type of planet are you living on with this type of scheme?" Deputy Doherty said. Minister O'Brien said the Government had a 'Housing For All Plan, which is funded to the tune of 4bn a year, "which is working" and is "very serious" about increasing supply and delivering affordable homes. The minister said the proof that the Government's was delivering could be found in the fact that this year would have the highest number of commencements since 2007. He described the Government's scheme Croi Conaithe as a "targeted measure" which ensures that people can get to own their apartments. "People can actually own apartments in our five major cities across this country," Minister O'Brien said. "Your narrative on every issue is to oppose, oppose, oppose," Minister O'Brien said to Deputy Doherty. He said they are delivering more social housing this year than had ever been delivered in the history of the State. A LIMERICK charity has donated 50 hospital care bags to childhood cancer patients. Let's Fund It have donated the bags to cancer charity Hand in Hand which will now be distributed to children receiving treatment in hospital. Each bag contains essential items that will support the children through treatment as well as specialist toys that will provide comfort through play therapy and creativity. The contents of each hospital care bag will be varied depending on the childs age and circumstances and will include things like a handheld fan, travel pillow, toothbrush holder, mini-torch, ear plugs, colouring book and pencils. The hospital care bags also received very special support from Labhaoise Fitzgerald who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 10 in 2014. She sadly passed away on the 5th of January 2021, two weeks after her 17th birthday. Labhaoises mother Louise, donated approximately 100 books belonging to her beloved daughters collection to Hand in Hand. These books will be given to children receiving support from Hand in Hand and will be included in the hospital care bags donated by Lets Fund It. It was Labhaoises wish that other children would get to read them and share in the joy and happiness that the books brought to her. Stephen Ryan-Doyle, Chairperson of Let's Fund It said: " The hospital care bags will hopefully support each child going through treatment in hospital. This is our way of helping them and showing our support for them through this difficult time". "Wed like to thank Hand in Hand for their support throughout the process of organising these hospital care bags. "Wed also like to extend our thanks to the parents of Labhaoise Fitzgerald and the businesses that contributed to this donation. When we work together we can make better donations together". CASTLECONNELL NS principal Richie Ryan said Nikita Chebrukov, who enrolled at the end of March, was in school as normal on Friday afternoon, May 13. On the following Monday morning there was no sign of Nicky, as the 10-year-old is affectionately known. Mr Ryan began to make phone calls and found out a group of Ukrainians staying in the Castle Oaks House Hotel had gone. As revealed, last week, by Limerick Live Nikita and mum Tatiana were two of 17 Ukrainians moved on Saturday, May 14, at 24 hours notice. They were taken to accommodation in Temple Bar. The Ukrainian refugees had been staying in the Castle Oaks since March and had settled in well. Limerick Live understands the Castle Oaks was happy for the Ukrainians to stay as long as required. Four were working locally, two had jobs pending and children were enrolled in local schools. Mr Ryan said all in Castleconnell NS were absolutely devastated We hadnt got to say goodbye to Nicky or his mother. He was really starting to settle and really enjoy his time here you could see the smile on his face every day and he made friends. Just like that he was gone. For three days we knew nothing and then on Thursday he walked in the door and there he was sitting in his classroom. We are absolutely delighted. All the children had made great efforts to get to know him. We had put English language support in place for him and he was embracing it all, said Mr Ryan. The Ukrainians had to return to Castleconnell that Thursday to collect their entitlements from the post office. They issued a collective statement in which they emphasised how thankful they are for all that has been done for them. The vast majority wish to return to Castleconnell as they do not feel safe in Temple Bar. One woman was robbed and they cant sleep with singing, shouting, breaking glass, and noise late at night. The reason Nikita has returned to school is because local resident Agata Lynch, originally from Poland, has taken in Nikita and Tatiana after they struck up a friendship. She is such a genuine person. All the Ukrainians here were genuinely thankfully of everything that has been done for them. They really appreciated being welcomed here. The village is boiling over how they have been treated. Somebody in authority should have come to talk to them and establish their situation on an individual basis. They were treated like one big cohort of people. Some had jobs like Tatiana and Nikita was enrolled in school. He was missing from school in a country where you can go to jail if your children dont go to school. I thought in Ireland there would be more dignity and respect, said Agata, who believes something has to be put in place so that this does not happen again. Cllr Sean Hartigan said people of Castleconnell are very upset at the treatment of the Ukrainians. They were taken in to the community, they were appreciated, they took jobs in local shops and business. Everybody in Castleconnell liked having them here. They were very disappointed to see them leave in the manner they did, said Cllr Hartigan. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, responsible for providing accommodation, said it does not comment on individual cases. THE Mid West National Road Design Office, which operates within Limerick City and County Council, has recently received Continuing Professional Development (CPD) re-accreditation from Engineers Ireland. The office, which is based in Dooradoyle, underwent an audit in March and was successful in being re-accredited for the maximum period of three years. The audit assessed the office under seven criteria including its training systems, staff mentoring, staff competencies, training and development. The Mid West National Road Design Office is a shared service between Limerick City and County Council, Tipperary County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Among its current projects are the N/M 20 Cork to Limerick project; the Road Schemes on the N21 for Abbeyfeale and Newcastle West and N24 Cahir to Limerick Junction scheme. Congratulating the staff members, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Daniel Butler said: Achieving CPD re-accreditation for the maximum three year period demonstrates the offices achievements in developing best-practice, smart ways of working and also its commitment to staff training and professional development. Tim Fitzgerald, Senior Engineer, Mid-West National Road Design Office added: CPD Accreditation with Engineers Ireland supports and guides our office and staff to continuously improve and develop best practices in the workplace to achieve our targets. In addition to the CPD accreditation, the Mid West National Road Design Office holds ISO 9001 Quality Assurance accreditation with the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has said he will move to commission abortion services in the region within weeks if Stormont does not. Mr Lewis said he has both a moral and legal duty to act if there continues to be no movement. It comes after the UK Government took further legislative action last week in a bid to ensure the full delivery of abortion services in Northern Ireland. Abortion laws in the region were liberalised in 2019 following laws passed by Westminster at a time when the powersharing government at Stormont had collapsed. However, while individual health trusts in Northern Ireland currently offer services on an ad-hoc basis, the Department of Health has yet to centrally commission the services due to a political impasse on the issue. The DUP, which is opposed to abortion, has refused to agree to the issue being tabled on the agenda of the ministerial executive. The regulations laid at Parliament remove the need for the Department of Health to seek the approval of the Stormont Executive to commission the services. That means Stormont Ulster Unionist Health Minister Robin Swann, who remains in post in a shadow capacity despite the powersharing crisis, can now move to roll out the policy. Mr Swann said he is seeking legal advice. Yesterday (Wednesday May 25), Mr Lewis met with volunteers in Belfast who support women through termination services. Mr Lewis said if he does not see positive steps in the very, very near future, referring to a timeframe of weeks, government will take the action. The Department of Health can act and I expect to see them take action because we have taken away the hurdle that the Department of Health said was there, he said. If they dont take action, there is a secondary point in what we did last week, which is that we have now taken a power so that the Secretary of State, I, can act, I have got the legal basis to act and commission services directly in Northern Ireland. I have said all along this should be done by the devolved administration, but if its clear that the devolved administration wont do it, I have a moral duty to act because I do think women should have access to proper healthcare the same as they do in the rest of the UK, but I also have a legal duty on me from the 2019 act that Parliament passed. Well see what happens with the Department of Health but were not going to leave this very long. If they havent shown positive steps in the very, very near future, then well take the action to commission services. He is also putting together a team of experts within the Northern Ireland Office for commissioning the services. Lets see where the Department of Health gets to in the next couple of weeks but I think after the amount of time they have had, and the lack of services available to people who need it, I think were talking weeks rather than anything further, he said. Mr Lewis met people who provide support and advice, as well as people who have used abortion services. There are some really harrowing stories about what people have to go through, he said. Although they are all very strong ladies and individuals, in one particular case telling me about their own experience, no one should have go through the time things took, and because they are clearly a very strong individual, they were able to work through, effectively combating a system to get the support, the service that they needed. It shouldnt be like that. It can be quite shocking actually, what people are having to go through to access services. Mr Lewis also paid tribute to the volunteers who support women through terminations, describing it as very powerful how they come together. They really care about making sure that people have got some support and that bond and that strength of character but it shouldnt have to be like that, relying on volunteers because there isnt a commissioned service, he added. Mr Lewis said he has also met with pro-life campaigners. I respect if some people are very pro-life, freedom of speech works both ways, but that doesnt mean we shouldnt be providing the service and making sure we do in a safe environment for people, he said. I have to say I have been disappointed and surprised at just how reluctant the system in Northern Ireland has been and the Department of Health have been. The Department of Health is there to support health and yet it has been reluctant to do that in this area, which I do think is disappointing. Among those Mr Lewis met were Alliance for Choice volunteer Claire Hackett, 39, from Dungannon, and Katie Boyd, 40, from Belfast, who went through the experience of a termination. Ms Hackett said it was good to hear a firm commitment from Mr Lewis about a timeline for taking action. Ms Boyd said: I wanted a space to tell my story and let him know where I felt that the service failed me and therefore if it failed me, potentially, where it is failing other women. Ms Boyd said she had found the service in an underground capacity much more compassionate and kinder, whereas she said it became less straightforward after abortion was decriminalised. It was brutal, it was really traumatic, she said, describing how she desperately sought information about services and heard nothing for a month. I was stuck and thats when I got in touch with Alliance for Choice. There were then complications after that, I got a call from the clinic a month after I first reached out which would have taken me over my gestational limit, so had I not been able to access the pills in that interim period, I would have had to travel for a surgical abortion. A spokesperson for Mr Swann said: The Secretary of States written statement and new regulations are being given careful consideration by my department. I am in the process of seeking further legal advice, including with regard to a Northern Ireland Minister of Healths legal responsibilities under the Northern Ireland Ministerial Code. Dolans Presents are reporting a huge demand for this years Live at the Docklands concert series which returns to Limerick this June Bank Holiday weekend. US chart-toppers The National have sold-out their Limerick date. Jenny Greene and the RTE Concert Orchestra and Limericks own Hermitage Green complete the line-up for the concert series with limited tickets still available. Developed by Dolans Presents, Live at the Docklands will be hosted on Limerick Docks. The events will be hosted in a specially erected Marquee with a capacity for up to 4,000 people. First developed in 2019, the eagerly awaited Live at the Docklands event was put on hold due to Covid-19 but is once again set to firmly become one of the key annual dates in Limericks event calendar. Speaking this morning, Mick Dolan said: Dolans Presents have always strived to be more ambitious when it comes to the planning of large-scale events that put the city on the map. The introduction of Live at the Docklands in 2019 was warmly welcomed and supported by Limerick audiences. Covid-19 put a hold on plans for the past two years but we are now ready to present the next phase of this series. We have invested heavily in our programming and are determined to continue to develop our off-site production spaces under the brand of Dolans Presents. Working closely with Shannon Foynes Port Company, Dolans Presents have once again identified the area of Limerick Docks located just off Atlas Avenue as a location for the Live at the Docklands series. 2FM's Jenny Greene and the RTE Concert Orchestra play Live at the Docklands in Limerick on June 3 along with some very special guests. The collaboration has gained a reputation for giving fans an unparalleled live experience. They debuted on the Rankin's Wood stage at Electric Picnic in 2016, with the DJ and the 48-piece orchestra featuring live performances of 90s club classics. The event was one of the highlights of the 2019 Live at the Docklands series playing to a sell-out Limerick audience. Hermitage Green, one of the most successful bands to emerge out of Limerick in recent years complete the Live at the Docklands series playing one of their biggest capacity venues on June 4. We believe Live at the Docklands has the potential to grow substantially in the coming years, Mick Dolan added. With good planning, programming and marketing we are determined to develop the Live at the Docklands concept into one that becomes an annual event that attracts significant audiences to Limerick from across the country are further afield, Mick Dolan added. Limited tickets for Jenny Greene and the RTE Concert Orchestra on June 3 ,and Hermitage Green on June 4 are still available and can be purchased now from www.dolans.ie Early booking is advised to avoid disappointment. *Sponsored Content While most entrants are trading under water, Adani Wilmar Ltd. has nearly tripled since its debut. The firm's shares, which are a joint venture between Gautam Adani's company and Singapore's Wilmar International Ltd., have outpaced 121 Asian initial public offerings worth more than $100 million in 2022. As a result of rising interest rates and the conflict in Ukraine, nearly two-thirds of new listings in the region are in the red. Fortune brand cooking oils, wheat flour, rice, pulses, sugar, and other food goods are produced by Adani Wilmar. Part of the $486 million investment will be used to expand facilities, repay loans, and make strategic acquisitions, according to the company. Other Adani-related stocks have also performed strongly. The S&P BSE 500 index's top performer in 2022 is Adani Power Ltd., which is up more than 200 percent. Adani Green Energy Ltd. is the fifth best performer year-to-date, despite the fact that it has no analyst coverage. The company is expected to continue to gain market share on account of strong distribution network, diversified product portfolio, market leadership in key categories, focus on rural market, new product launches and strong parentage," Vikrant Kashyap, an analyst at KR Choksey, told Bloomberg. Gautam Adani, the world's sixth richest man, has increased his fortune by about $30 billion in 2022, more than any other billionaire. His net worth of $106 billion is less than half that of Tesla Inc. co-founder Elon Musk, but it is $10 billion higher than that of Ambani. While both would prefer markets to compensate them for writing India's renewable energy future, what's ticking for them right now is all the polluting stuff that's in short supply: coal, palm oil, gasoline, and construction materials. Investors prefer Adani simply because he is the more daring of the two. According to Bloomberg News, Adani has spent $17 billion on 32 acquisitions in the last year and shows no signs of slowing down, despite the fact that his listed companies' combined net debt is nearly $20 billion, or more than four times annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA). In a tightening global interest-rate cycle, that's a lot of leverage to carry. The strong performance bodes well for Adani, one of Asias busiest dealmakers, whos expanding his reach after years of focusing on coal and infrastructure-related plays. The tycoons move to diversify into new areas like data centres and digital services has paid off, after he capped a run of some 32 acquisitions in the past year. The JV, which paid off debt with funds from the IPO, gets significant benefit" from its parents, Kashyap wrote in a note this month, which recommended the stock to accumulate. Expected acquisitions will lead to a gain in market share, he added. The firm recently announced the purchase of several brands, including the Kohinoor cooking brand for the India region. Meanwhile, Adani Wilmar's stock has plummeted because the Central government decided to remove yearly imports of crude soybean and sunflower oil from customs duty and agri cess until March 2024. On May 26, the Adani Wilmar share price opened down and went on to set an intraday low of 631.65 per share, marking the third session in a row that it has closed lower. Stock market specialists believe that growing input costs and lower edible oil prices in the domestic market will continue to influence edible oil maker stocks, and that new holdings should be avoided at the counter. (With agency inputs) Chinese leader Xi Jinpings first trip outside of mainland China in almost 2 years is likely to be shorter than expected, and may not go ahead at all if Covid-19 outbreaks flare up again, according to people familiar with the preparations. For months, Mr. Xi has been expected to travel to Hong Kong to mark the 25th anniversary of the former British colonys return to Chinese rule. Officials in Hong Kong have started looking at ways to condense his itinerary into a day trip on July 1, the anniversary date, instead of the customary multiday affair, the people said. The Chinese leader hasnt confirmed his trip and his office has been worried that the risk of coronavirus exposure may be too great, given that Hong Kong had recently endured a major Omicron outbreak, according to the people. Some mainland Chinese officials in Hong Kong have nonetheless started to prepare for the potential visit, limiting their interactions with visitors so as to avoid getting infected with Covid-19, they said. Hong Kong officials and dignitaries due to meet Mr. Xi are likely to have to isolate themselves for seven days before he arrives, one of the people said. The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Chinas State Council didnt respond to a request for comment. Chinas representative office in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong government didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. If the visit does happen, Mr. Xi is expected to inaugurate Hong Kongs next government and deliver a major speech, inspect Peoples Liberation Army troops stationed in the city, and meet local dignitaries, some of the people said. He would likely return to the mainland later on the same day, they said. Mr. Xi hasnt traveled beyond the borders of mainland China since a state visit to Myanmar in January 2020, which took place days before Beijing acknowledged the severity of the Covid-19 outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. Since then, Mr. Xi has spurned a meeting with other leaders from the Group of 20 nations in Europe last year, and missed global climate talks in Glasgow. He hasnt met President Biden in person since the American leader took office and has been selective in meeting foreign visitors in Beijing. On Wednesday, Mr. Xi held a video call with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, who is in China for a six-day visit ending Saturday that includes stops in the southern city of Guangzhou and the northwestern region of Xinjiang, but not Beijing. Such wariness underscores Mr. Xis cautious approach toward Covid-19, which has increasingly left China out of step with the rest of the world. China is the only major economy that is still adopting strict measures to suppress the spread of Covid and eradicate the virus as much as possible, a strategy that officials describe as dynamic zero Covid." Mainland officials have imposed a suite of costly containment measures in response to Mr. Xis repeated calls to double down on zero-Covid, as the Communist Party prepares for a congress later this year where Mr. Xi is expected to claim another five years as paramount leader. Harsher lockdowns in some major cities including Beijing and Shanghai have been imposed to keep infections from spreading, stifling economic activity and threatening jobs. Hong Kong was hit by a major Omicron wave earlier this year that overwhelmed local hospitals and at one point saddled the city with the worlds worst Covid-19 death rate per capita. The outbreak alarmed Beijing, which sent mainland personnel to help the city fight the contagion and ordered Hong Kong officials to get the situation under control ahead of Mr. Xis planned visit in July. Mr. Xi last traveled to Hong Kong in 2017 on the 20th anniversary of the citys handover. That trip spanned three days, as did the equivalent visits that his predecessor, Hu Jintao, made to mark the 10th and 15th anniversaries. A visit this year would be Mr. Xis first to Hong Kong since massive antigovernment protests rocked the city in 2019. Beijing has since moved decisively to quash dissent there, imposing a sweeping security law on the territory in June 2020. Hundreds of people have been arrested under the law, recently including 90-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen, the former Roman Catholic bishop of Hong Kong. The July 1 anniversary is a public holiday in Hong Kong, and in the past, the occasion has been marked by large protests against Beijings growing influence over the city. Such unrest has grown muted over the past two years since the security law took effect. Click here to read the full article. President Joe Biden will welcome superstar South Korean group BTS to the White House on Tuesday to discuss Asian inclusion and representation and to address anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination, according to an announcement from the White House released Thursday. Biden and the group will also discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion and BTS platform as youth ambassadors who spread a message of hope and positivity across the world, the statement continues. The visit by BTS will take place on May 31, the final day of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. As noted by Politico, the president has been active during the month. He issued a presidential proclamation on April 29 about AANHPI Heritage Month, and he and Vice President Kamala Harris who is half Filipino hosted a White House reception earlier in the month that included U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. Two days later, the White House lauded the passage of legislation to establish a commission to study the possible creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. In recent months the president has welcomed several performers, including Olivia Rodrigo and the Jonas Brothers, to the White House, most often as part of vaccination efforts. I am beyond honored and humbled to be here today to help spread the message about the importance of youth vaccination, Rodrigo said in a press conference. Im in awe of the work President Biden and Dr. Fauci have done and was happy to help lend my support to this important initiative. Rodrigo continued, Its important to have conversations with friends and family members, encouraging all communities to get vaccinated and actually get to a vaccination site, which you can do more easily than ever before given how many sites we have and how easy it is to find them at vaccines.gov. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Italys Valerio Ferrara was named the winner of the 25th edition La Cinef for his warm take on a hapless barber who believes in conspiracy theories in A Conspiracy Man (Il Barbiere Complottista). Laughing stock of his family, nobody takes him seriously. Until he is arrested by the police. Personally, I have a special affection for the cinema of this country, said Canadian actor Monia Chokri, praising the directors sense of humor. The film hails from Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia. Comedy, as a genre, is undervalued at festivals. And yet, from making comedies myself, I know its the most difficult one. Its a cutthroat genre: you either laugh or you dont. We all laughed spontaneously, she added. You are crazy! All of you! Oh, my God, exclaimed the filmmaker at the prize ceremony on Thursday evening. Comedy is always viewed as something thats not serious. But the first thing I said to my team, all of whom are here, was that it really is. In Italy, we have a long tradition of serious comedies. Its just such an honor to win, and to win with a comedy. The short films and La Cinef jury presided by Egyptian director Yousry Nasrallah and featuring Chokri, Playground helmer Laura Wandel, actor and director Felix Moati and French journalist Jean-Claude Raspiengeas, awarded three other prizes. I am very angry because there were no porn films [in the selection], said Nasrallah, kickstarting a light-hearted celebration. Li Jihaes Somewhere (Di Er, from Chinas Hebei University of Science and Technology School of Film and Television) received the second trophy of the evening. We want to award a filmmaker who believes in spectators, in cinema, in the landscape and the characters he is filming, said the jury, while the happy director promised the audience to learn English following his win. Third prize went to two films: Humans Are Dumber When Crammed Up Together (Les Humains sont cons quand ils sempilent) by Laurene Fernandez (La CineFabrique) and Masha Novikovas Glorious Revolution. In her delightful stop-motion animation, Fernandez takes on various neighborhood struggles with mischief and amused cruelty, said the jury. I am very proud to be called mischievous, the filmmaker noted, thanking her crew and her protagonists. Novikovas Glorious Revolution returns to the Ukrainian revolution of 2014. A mother loses her son, killed during the protests, but her attempt to bury him as a hero soon clashes with a corrupt bureaucratic system. The jury admitted to being very impressed by the movie and by this mother, revolting against injustice and the ruling powers, said Jean-Claude Raspiengeas. You killed me, replied the visibly touched Ukrainian director, falling to the floor and struggling to find the words. The film, developed at the London Film School, wasnt the only one hailing from the U.K., as Mai Vu combined family issues and traditional Vietnamese cooking in Spring Roll Dream (NFTS). This year, La Cinef has selected 13 live-action and three animated shorts from among the 1,528 titles submitted by film schools from all over the world. Four of them represent schools taking part for the first time. As observed by the organizers, the shorts, made by six men and ten women coming from four continents, reflect the diversity of filmmaking education in the world. Dimitra Karya, artistic director of La Cinef selection, told Variety that she was delighted with a large number of female directors this year. NYU was represented by The Pass, directed by Pepi Ginsberg, establishing a sense of threat as an innocent-looking summer encounter in a beautiful place goes sour, leaving its protagonist, Ben, afraid to get out of the water. There is a stranger waiting for him, saying he likes to watch. In Denmarks humorous yet heartbreaking Thats Amore (100% Flaet Krlighed), director Malthe Saver set out to explore every couples worst nightmare: What if one day, or even during a romantic getaway, you suddenly just fall out of love? The film, coming from Den Danske Filmskole, was inspired by the claim that love consists of 20% feelings and 80% willpower. Bianka Szelesteys Craze (Hajszalrepedes) Eotvos Lorand University Department of Film Studies also dealt with a darker side of relationship, as a woman finds out her partner wants to break up with her right before dinner. Olga Kyszewicz brought her animation We Are Not There Tomorrow (Jutro nas tam nie ma) to Cannes. The film was made in The Polish National Film School in odz. In Orin Kadooris Kinship (Sheherut, The Steve Tisch School of Film & Television Tel Aviv), a young girl explores new boundaries in a relationship with her widowed father. Li Yingtong turns on a teenage loner working in a convenience store in The Silent Whistle (Feng Zheng, Emerson College). In Mum Life, Australian director Ruby Challenger (AFTRS) decided to focus on early motherhood. Family issues were also explored in Alica Bednarikovas Liquid Bread (Chlieb nas kazdodenny, from TF VSMU-Film and Television Faculty), where a family of three generations meets under one roof, but an unexpected visit disrupts their peaceful routine. In Mistida, Falcao Nhaga (ESTC) focuses on an immigrant mother, hurting from a backache, calling for her son to help carry her groceries. All of This Belongs to You (Tout ceci vous reviendra) by Lilian Fanara (La Femis) was also featured, as well as Whistling Woods Internationals Nahua by Pratham Khurana. Cannes Film Festival allocates a 15,000 ($16,050) grant for the first prize, 11,250 ($12,038) for the second and 7,500 ($8,025) for the third. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Jodie Foster is set for one of the lead roles in True Detective Season 4 at HBO, Variety has learned. The new season of the anthology crime series was first reported as being in development in March 2022, though no official plot details were confirmed at that time. Now it is known that in the fourth season, when the long winter night falls in Ennis, Alaska, the six men that operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station vanish without a trace. To solve the case, Detectives Liz Danvers (Foster) and Evangeline Navarro will have to confront the darkness they carry in themselves, and dig into the haunted truths that lie buried under the eternal ice. Foster is a two-time Academy Award winner and a four-time nominee. She won the award for best actress for her roles in both The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs. She was first nominated in the best supporting actress category for her breakout role in Martin Scorseses Taxi Driver. She was last nominated in 1995 for her starring role in Nell. She held a number of television roles early in her career but has primarily been known for her film work since. She was, however, nominated for the Emmy for directing a comedy series for her work on Orange Is the New Black Foster is repped by CAA, Matthew Saver Law Offices, and Viewpoint. Issa Lopez is attached to serve as writer and executive producer on the new season in addition to directing. Alan Page Arriaga will also write and executive produce. Foster will executive produce in addition to starring. Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski, and Mark Ceryak of Pastel will also executive produce. Pastel is currently under a first-look deal at HBO and HBO Max. Anonymous Content, which has produced past seasons of the show, will also executive produce along with series creator Nic Pizzolatto and Season 1s Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, and Cary Joji Fukunaga. Season 3 of the show, starring Mahershala Ali and Stephen Dorff, aired in 2019. Season 2 aired in 2015, with Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Vince Vaughn, and Taylor Kitsch leading the cast. The initial season, starring Harrelson and McConaughey, ran in 2014. Across its three seasons to date, True Detective has been nominated for 23 Emmy Awards with five wins, all of which were for the first season. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. In the first leg of what it hopes is an industry revolution, Zurich-based A Film Company has raised north of $2 million in crowd investment from 560 people across 19 counties to co-finance Mad Heidi, an action-adventure horror comedy reimagining of the Swiss icon. The OTT re-set includes portraying the Swiss icon Hedi as shes never been seen before with smocked dress, puffed sleeves, apron and pigtails, yes, but as a badass, kick-ass rebel with the brute strength to slice an opponent in two, top to toe, with a battle axe, for example. In industrial terms, however, the change goes even further as Mad Heidi departs from traditional film models not only in financing but also distribution. Starring Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers) and David Schofield (Gladiator, Pirates of the Carribbean), the English-language movie, with a total $3.5 million budget, is now readying for the second and most radical part of the experiment: Exclusive global release day and date on madheidi.com, a dedicated website created by A Film Company, during a three-month exclusive window. The film will then be made available on other platforms as well, followed by Bluray and DVD releases and TV. Mad Heidi has also sold $300,000 of merchandise different T-shirts, coffee mugs, posters in 46 countries. The movies huge success in crowd investment is inspired by the same factor that has prompted self distribution: the IPs fan base. Crowd Investment Before its screenplay was written, it employed a long tail promotion strategy, said Valentin Greutert, Mad Heidi producer and A Film company founder, explained to Variety the Cannes Festival. Five years ago A Film Company released a teaser poster which captures the glee of how A Film Company would go to work on a global IP. Instead of a placid child breathing in fresh high Alpine pastures, Heidis now a butch late teen grimacing with fury, her head plastered by blood splat. We saw that it got traction. So we decided to make a teaser for a film that didnt exist, Greutert recalled at Cannes. The teaser raised $50,00-$60,000 in crowd-funding within two months. Enough to fund development. But I very quickly realized that I couldnt raise $2 million with people donating money, said Greutert. Nor could A Film Company handle 500 investors from an administrative point of view. So it cut a deal with London-based FilmChain that allowed crowd investors to participate in the revenue of the film not just its profit through a collection management account. Meanwhile, A Film Company launched an investor drive. Blaxploitation, Mexploitation, Sexploitation, Nunsploitation, Naziploitation. Now its about time for the first Swissploitation film! the investment pitch runs, also detailing major plot beats: In a dystopian Switzerland that has fallen under the fascist rule of a cheese magnate, Heidi lives as a simple young woman in the mountains, the synopsis runs. Soon, however, her longing for personal freedom will spark a revolution. The naive mountain girl turns into a fierce fighter who has to put an end to the cheese fascists. An OTT promo teaser pictured Switzerland under the facist rule of a sardonically sneering chase magnate. Led by Hedi (Alice Lucy), the Alps rebel, Braveheart style. They are put down brutally, though comically. One rebel is tortured by boiling fondue poured over his head, another stabbed to death through his mouth by a Swiss hard chocolate dagger. Fighting back, Heidi works her way through a swathe of Nazi storm troopers via martial art moves and deft work with a Swiss army knife, then a battle axe. The pitch describes the movies as a persiflage of the 1950s Heimatfilm genre with a twist into the exploitation genre of the 1970s and 1980s. Anyone who liked Mad Max, Kill Bill or Iron Sky will also love Mad Heidi. Mad Heidi needs you to make the production happen, a trailer voiceover runs, encouraging readers to become a Mad Investor. Minimum investment was tabbed at $500. Some investors have sunk more than $100,000. Theyre just very, very passionate people, passionate about film. They love it, Greutert explained. All received information. Some 150 visited the set. Some came from the U.K. and as far way as Finland. Direct Distribution We call it fan powered content creation, Greutert said of the investment model. But its that very fan base which explains the new distribution model, he added. The distribution system that runs the world is selling a film territory-by-territory. And if we have a film where we have a worldwide fanbase and we go with that system, we will be pirated massively after day one and wont do business anymore. The release will be accompanied by a forceful marketing campaign, Greutert promised. Our bet is simple: If people want to watch Mad Heidi, they will make the effort and watch it on our website. We wont be able to prevent piracy. But making the film available for everybody who wants to pay will at least reduce it. Will it work? People say Im crazy. But it hasnt been tried so many times. We have the fan base. Thats the trick. We have the marketing money. We have a clear target audience, said Greutert. Casper Van Dien has a huge fan community. Klara, Heidis wealthy invalid friend, is played by Japans Almar G. Sato. Mad Heidi will be ready for delivery by early September. Greutert hopes it can ptake the royal route for genre movies of Toronto, Austins Fantastic Fest and Sitges. In a second way, also, Mad Heidis also marks a push-back against traditional film industry models. For independent producers film funding means one to two years to finance a film and 10 to 15 to 20 different financing sources which come with restrictions, Greutert argued. Theres also a massive brain drain towards the streamers which can finance a movie with the snap of their fingers, he added. A recent report by Swedens Film I Vast argues that public funding needs to take far more risks, come in with half a budget, not 10%-20%, and be much faster, Greutert noted. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Just before the Cannes Film Festival midnight-show premiere of the David Bowie documentary Moonage Daydream, the films writer, director, and editor, Brett Morgen, didnt simply stroll down the red carpet. As Bowies Lets Dance blared from the promenade speakers, Morgen danced and pranced and pogo-ed, and flashed a cheeky madman grin, and by the time he entered the theater, the crowd, taking all this in on a giant video screen, gave him an even more rapturous than usual Cannes ovation. Morgen had the right look for these antics. He started off his career as a documentary geek, but around the time of Montage of Heck, his 2015 film about Kurt Cobain, he began to style his hair in a fashionably disheveled wet-look mane. Tall and aggressive, he entered the Lumiere like a would-be rock star. The reason I bring this up is that I think its relevant to the aesthetics of Moonage Daydream, which is Morgens third pop-music documentary but, more than Montage of Heck or the 2012 Rolling Stones film Crossfire Hurricane, its a decidedly unconventional one. When it opens this fall, Moonage Daydream will play in IMAX theaters, and that feels right, because this is a movie to give yourself over to. Its no mere epic music video, though at times it feels like one, as it rides the pulse of Bowies music like a psychedelic locomotive. Weve seen trippy documentaries before, but Morgen seems to have created this movie to be rock n roll. Thats part of its colliding-image irreverence. Watching Moonage Daydream, there are essential facts you wont hear, and many touchstones that get skipped over (in the entire movie, youll never even see an album cover). But you get closer than you expect to the chilly sexy enigma of who David Bowie really was. One reason Morgen may have chosen not to make a standard chronological biographical portrait though the film unfurls Bowies life more or less in order is that there have been two very fine Bowie documentaries in the last decade: David Bowie: Five Years (2013), which covered his crucial blast-off phase as the androgynous demon chameleon of the early 70s, and its companion piece, David Bowie: The Last Five Years (2017), made after Bowies death in 2016, which scrupulously covered his late period of relative experimental quietude, his marriage to Iman, and the haunting creation of Blackstar (the album and performance piece) when he knew he was dying of cancer. These were terrific films, and there was no need for Morgen to go back over that terrain. Instead, he became the first filmmaker to work in full cooperation with the Bowie estate, which gave him unprecedented access to its archives: a trove of unseen performances, as well as rare paintings, drawings, recordings, photographs, films, and journals a total of 5 million items in all. This amounted to the biggest David Bowie candy store an adventurous filmmaker could wish for, and Morgen has used it to tell Bowies story in a hurtling multimedia fashion that dissolves a lot of the usual categories of our thinking about Bowie (Look, hes the Thin White Duke now! Look at all the doors Ziggy Stardust opened! Thats when he got off the drugs). The film lets those phases melt into each other, so that we register not just the ch-ch-changes but the underlying continuity. For all that, Moonage Dream is no hippie-dippy daydream. Bowie narrates the film, with Morgen splicing together interview clips so that Bowie is basically ruminating on who and where he was at any given moment. Hes a magician whos willing to reveal his tricks, and also a happy doomsday philosopher; describing the cultural fragmentation that set in during the 70s, he says he embraced the idea that Everything is rubbish, and all rubbish is wonderful. That meshes nicely with Morgens filmmaking, which is a form of apocalyptic montage. Its the school of pop-drenched free association that, yes, we think of as music video, but Morgen evokes the most dangerous and visionary landmarks of the form, like Natural Born Killers and Godards The Image Book and the 28-minute film that started it all Kenneth Angers Scorpio Rising, one of the 10 greatest movies ever made. Morgen quotes from it several times, as well as from other Anger films (and also from Metropolis and Ivan the Terrible and Triumph of the Will and Nosferatu and 2001: A Space Odyssey). He uses these totems of 20th century image-making to tap the life force the surge they represent. Life is change, and movies (shot by shot) are change, and David Bowie celebrated the violence and freedom of that. The movie starts, as any David Bowie documentary must, with the detonation of reality that was Ziggy Stardust. Morgen uses amazing concert scenes so much better than the disappointingly lackluster footage we saw in D.A. Pennebakers 1983 documentary to show us what an enraptured outlaw Bowie was when he first landed. The alien rooster hair, the burning harlequin eyes, the killer legs, the smirk of lust its not just that he straddled genders but that he infused the straddling with a rock stars desire, and with music that was both melodic and volcanic. Morgen has mixed the soundtrack himself, and the concert scenes have a sonic power were not used to. Sure, we dont just go to a documentary to experience the transcendence of All the Young Dudes. But thats certainly why we go to a concert movie, and Moonage Daydream is a kind of hybrid a hallucinatory jukebox doc with killer subtext. Theres a paradox to Bowie. In the gender-bender years, he turned the status quo upside down with every look and gesture, yet part of him was just having fun and knew it. Theres a clip of him on a British talk show, in full glam regalia (and with yellow teeth worthy of a vampire), and he looks even freakier than he did on stage with the Spiders from Mars, yet hes as sincere and polite as can be a lamb in wolfs cross-dressing. He wasnt telling anyone how to be. But by parading his inner self, he was saying: Who any of us is inside is weirder than most of us would care to admit. If you were asked how many distinct looks David Bowie sported over his career, you might say 20 or 30 or 40. But apart from his iconic phases, he was such a chameleonic fashion plate, and appeared in so many different mediums, that in Moonage Daydream we probably see him in a couple of hundred different guises. Some come out of nowhere: In 1976, when he went to Berlin to record Low with Brian Eno, that was his stripped-down, post-spaceman era, but in the movie we see an extraordinary concert clip of him performing Heroes in the late 70s, and he looks like a clean-cut Aryan android in a collarless shirt, which only adds to the songs spooky allure. There is footage of him too much of it from a 1984 documentary in which we see him wandering up and down escalators and through Bangkok during his Serious Moonlight Tour, looking like the platinum-blond version of a film-noir hero. And theres footage of him in assorted states of drag, and also military duds, which only Bowie could turn into another form of drag. Its telling that the Berlin years are the one time Morgen slows the film down and gets semi-conventional. Its when Bowie famously got off the train, and Morgen obviously regards Eno as the apex of cool. But given that, it would have been nice if hed shone a comparable spotlight on Nile Rogers, the genius of Chic who resuscitated Bowies career during the Lets Dance era. Still, its fascinating to hear Bowie, during this period, acknowledge that he had become a mainstream entertainer in a not-that-theres-anything-wrong-with-that way. Heres one reason Im glad that Moonage Daydream is as non-traditional as it is: Morgen doesnt have to pretend as so much of the music-critic establishment does that Bowies albums remained vital after the mid-80s. With apologies to Tin Machine groupies, the film says, implicitly, that the essential phases of his career took place from 1969, when Space Oddity was released, through the Glass Spider Tour in 1987. A personal note: I wish Morgen had found some space for Station to Station (1976), which I think is Bowies greatest album, even though (or maybe because) he recorded it while strung out on cocaine. But Morgen does at least use one of its most incandescent tracks, Word on a Wing, to counterpoint Bowies romance with Iman; the movie sees their marriage as a work of art as surely as any of Bowies albums was. Theres a section where Bowie speaks, with touching insecurity, about his paintings, talking about how he was offered several chances to show them that he wound up turning down. Then Morgen shows us the paintings. Theyre incredible. If Moonage Daydream has a theme, its that David Bowie kept evolving in order to stay himself. And that the evolution he was talking about wasnt, as we tend to think of it, the expression of a modern (or mod) sensibility. Sure, we live at a time when people can change almost anything about themselves. More than ever, our identities seem liquid, and David Bowie was the avatar of that. Yet in Moonage Daydream, the more you listen to and look at Bowie in all those different guises, the more you see just one man: not a chameleon but a searcher. The changes he went through as if he were surfing them are the changes that life puts all of us through. Life, says Moonage Daydream, is a lot like rock n roll. It exists in the moment, and that moment will soon be destroyed. But its beautiful while it lasts. Reviewed at Cannes Film Festival (Midnight Screenings), May 23, 2022. MPAA Rating: Not rated. Running time: 140 MIN. Production A Neon, HBO release of a BMG, Live Nation Productions, Public Road Productions production. Producer: Brett Morgen. Archival producer: Jessica Berman-Bogdan. Crew Director, screenplay: Brett Morgen. Editor: Brett Morgen. Music: David Bowie. With David Bowie. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Production has wrapped in both Singapore and Japan on Nicole Midori Woodfords supernatural art house drama Last Shadow at First Light. It stars Nagase Masatoshi, Tsutsui Mariko (Harmonium, A Girl Missing), Peter Yu (A Land Imagined) and newcomer Shirata Mihaya. The story examines the intangible nature of trauma and the ripples of its aftermath through 16-year-old Ami (Shirata) who is haunted by visions. This is a film borne out of darkness and loss, of a familys frailties, set in both Singapore and Japan. Shooting between two countries, I hope to capture the diverse mise-en-scene from the urban cities to the vast transformed landscapes my characters are lost within. It has been incredible to work with my actors amidst such poignant terrain. A large part of the filming took place in and around the city of Rikuzentakata in Japan, an area significantly affected by the tsunami and nuclear disaster of 2011. Upon the discovery of old recordings of her long dead mother (Tsutsui), Ami confronts her father (Yu) who is in denial about what happened. Determined to follow the path in her visions, she leaves Singapore for Japan to connect with the only person who knows her mothers last known whereabouts a cynical taxi-driving uncle (Nagase) who has moved to Tokyo. Together they embark on a road trip to the family hometown in the north-eastern coastal region of Japan to unravel the mystery of her mothers disappearance. It is on this journey that the woman hopes to reunite her family separated by grief. Moreover, she begins to find meaning in her recurring dreams. The cinematography was provided by Woodfords regular collaborator, Hideho Urata, who shot Golden Leopard winner A Land Imagined and Plan 75, currently playing in the Cannes Film Festivals Un Certain Regard section. The film is executive produced by Jeremy Chuas Potocol (Singapore), Shozo Ichiyamas Fourier Films (Japan), and Bostjan Vircs Studio Virc (Slovenia) in association with Purple Tree Content, 108 Media, cogitoworks, Nocturne Films, Hello Group, Prism Pictures, White Light Bangkok, VS Service, and True Colour Media. At project stage, the film was winner of the SEAFIC Labs SEA Open Fund and TorinoFilmLab Feature Labs TFL Coproduction Award. The project was also mentored at the Singapore International Film Festivals SEA Lab and Talents Tokyo. Production was supported by the Singapore Film Commission, Slovenian Film Centre, Purin Pictures, and Talents Tokyo Next Masters Support Program. At Cannes 108 Media is handling world sales and post-production financing. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Sony Music Group (SMG) chairman Rob Stringer touted a strong fiscal year (for the period between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022) and revealed plans to expand the companys Legacy Unrecouped Balance Program in a briefing to the companys senior executives and investors delivered on May 25. Speaking from New York, Stringer hailed what he described as all-time high financial results, resulting in record numbers in revenue, profits and margins, going on five consecutive years. During that time, SMGs global roster from its frontline labels namely Columbia, RCA and Epic increased by over 30% and its creative staff by more than 85%. The investment in talent, on both the artist and executive side, has yielded tangible results in the form of global successes like the Kid Laroi, Maneskin, Doja Cat and Lil Nas X, who got mentioned during the presentation. Also noted were Stringers own signings while head of Columbia: Harry Styles, who is poised for the biggest selling global no.1 chart entry of the year with the just-released Harrys House, and Adele, whose 30 was the top-selling album of 2021 globally. On the publishing front, Sony Music Publishing retained its No. 1 position, which its held worldwide since 2012. SMP writers averaged 33% of the weekly share of Spotifys global top 100, up from 27% in 2020. Chief among them: Olivia Rodrigo , whose album Sour was an unstoppable mover in 2021 (the projects primary producer, Daniel Nigro, is also signed to SMP). Using Spotify as a barometer, Sonys weekly share of the platforms worldwide top 100 tracks ticked up only slightly to 36.1%, but its part of Spotifys worldwide top ten jumped nearly 10% to 48.5%, up from 39% the previous fiscal year. Recapping the companys acquisitions and strategic investments, Stringer listed its majority stake in hip-hop label Alamo, home to Lil Durk; SMGs purchase of dance music label Ultra which has been very profitable for us over the years, he noted; the recent final regulatory approval for artist services concern AWAL, which specializes in independent artists and DIY distribution; and Brazils top label Som Livre. The catalog purchases of Bruce Springsteen (for recorded music rights and publishing) and of Bob Dylan (recorded music) also factored into SMGs big spends. Other noteworthy details included the $500 million in revenue SMG credits to new business categories like social, gaming and fitness, and the rise in revenue from ad supported audio and video services to the tune of 31.4% year over year. But perhaps most significant are Sonys plans going forward in its promise to be a creator-friendly company searching for the most principled ways to represent talent. That includes its bold step to pay through go-forward earnings for artists, songwriters and qualifying participants who have been signed to Sony Music for more than 20 years and havent received an advance in over 20 years. The first recipients of the broadened Legacy Unrecouped Balance Program will be qualifying artists and songwriters signed prior to 2001 and will continue on a rolling basis. In its effort to do right by its artists and songwriters, Sonys Artists and Songwriters Forward and Artist and Songwriter Assistance programs will continue to offer transparency and mental health services. We believe in the wellbeing of our artists and songwriters, said Stringer. We want to lead by example. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Any number of directors could have shot Andrea Seigels straightforwardly moving screenplay for The Silent Twins and turned out a straightforwardly moving film in the process. Its hard to imagine any of those movies looking, sounding or feeling quite like the one Agnieszka Smoczynska has made, however. Based on the desperately sad true story of two intensely connected Black twin sisters failed by Britains educational, legal and mental health services in the 70s and 80s, this brazen, tear-your-heart-out drama gets the full benefit of the Polish filmmakers singular imagination. Layering one wild formal flourish over another from macabre stop-motion animation to elaborately choreographed musical fantasies to channel the inner lives of two young women who communicated only with each other, keeping the rest of the world outside their circle, its a swing for the fences that sometimes, almost by design, spins out of control. Whenever that happens, though, an extraordinary pair of performances one might even call it one paired performance by Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrance brings The Silent Twins down to hard, cold earth. June and Jennifer Gibbons were identical twins; Wright and Lawrance, needless to say, are not, though the actors mutually intuitive body language and shared, synchronized verbal code-switching makes you believe otherwise, overriding any other aspects of this U.K.-Polish co-production that ring less than entirely true. Black Panther star Wrights top billing, in particular, will drive distributor interest toward a film thatll inevitably split opinion following its Cannes premiere in Un Certain Regard, but ought to connect with a devoted, Kleenex-carrying audience in arthouses. The film opens directly in the mutual headspace of the twins, beautifully played as children by Leah Mondesir-Simmonds and Eva-Arianna Baxter, as they host an imaginary radio show together. Gliding wittily between topics and punchlines, June and Jennifer speak in their heads with the casual, fluent patter they wish they could bring to the outside world. Cut to reality, as DP Jakub Kijowskis palette shifts from floaty golds to damp, chilly blues, and they speak to each other in strained, effortful whispers, and only when theyre alone; should someone else be in the room, they cannot or will not speak at all. Their Barbadian immigrant parents (Nadine Marshall and Treva Etienne) are at a loss to explain the silence; they talked cheerfully as babies, their mother says, and then less and less. In the small Welsh town of Haverfordwest, June and Jennifer are routinely subjected to playground bullying and racist abuse. After they switch to a school for children with learning difficulties, kindly therapist Tim Thomas (Michael Smiley) can still do nothing to draw the girls out of their psychological bubble; splitting them up, furthermore, proves detrimental to their mental health. Cut to early adulthood, and June (Wright) and Jennifer (Lawrance) have been effectively rejected by formal education, but have nonetheless retreated into highly creative isolation: In the cramped twin bedroom where they spend almost all their time, they concoct elaborately fantastical stories, playing them out with handmade puppets, or putting them to paper on a single shared typewriter. Together, they dream of being published authors tellingly, a way of communicating with others that requires no speech though after a run of publishers rejections, they conclude that their writing is too insular, and resolve to make contact with the outside world. The impulse combines with their shared desire for Wayne (Jack Bandeira), a cruel, jockish former classmate; as they both lose their virginity to him, blossom-filled fantasies of rosy romantic ecstasy give way bluntly to rough, unnurturing sex in a cold garage, not the first or last time that editor Agnieszka Glinska cuts devastatingly between the twins inner and outer lives. Their coming of age has some positive effects with Wayne, they can finally converse, albeit haltingly, with a third person but more drastically destabilizing ones. A joint run of petty criminal activity sees them sentenced to an indefinite spell in Britains notorious Broadmoor Hospital, a harsh, high-security psychiatric facility where the twins emotional and intellectual development atrophies as months turn into years. (Its altogether a far cry from the airbrushed, Busby Berkeley-style synchronized-swimming number that the young women envision when Broadmoor is first pitched to them as a kind of luxury spa.) Eventually, Sunday Times journalist Marjorie Wallace (Jodhi May), from whose bestselling book the script is adapted, latches onto their story and campaigns for their liberation, but even then, the story and filmmaking alike resist any glib inspirational arc. For Smoczynska, the film represents a comparatively mainstream crossover for an aesthetic that first popped in her kooky, kinky, Sundance-premiered adult mermaid tale The Lure, before acquiring an exquisite level of refinement in her haunting sophomore feature Fugue, which played in Cannes Critics Week four years ago, but never got the attention it merited. Less disciplined than the latter but more narratively grounded than the former, her third feature proves a fitting vehicle for her brand of sly, lo-fi surrealism, detailing as it does a relationship that found expression, but also escape, in freely eccentric fictions and craftsy flights of fancy. The director will rarely choose a generically maudlin montage or magic-hour dream sequence when a gnarled claymation vision of a canine heart transplant will do: A closing credit informs us that the Gibbons own writing and artwork informs much of the onscreen imagery and poetry here. Yet some of the films most ambitious set pieces teeter over into outright kitsch, not least via a couple of original songs that articulate the twins emotions all too literally. Thats hardly necessary when Wright and Lawrance (building on an impressive breakthrough turn in last years indie horror Kindred) have them written so intricately into their performances, whether physically twisting and straining with pent-up expression or exploding into sudden, frightening bouts of violence against each other, brutalizing each others bodies as if theyre theirs to wound. In Smoczynskas curious, careering, unshakeable wallop of a film, no touch is lightly felt, no hard-fought word taken for granted. Reviewed at Cannes Film Festival (Un Certain Regard), May 24, 2022. Running time: 112 MIN. Running Time: Running time: 112 MIN. Production (U.K.-Poland) A Focus Features presentation of a 42, Madants, Kindred Spirit production in association with 30West, Grupa Moderator, Canal+. (World sales: Focus Features, Los Angeles.) Producers: Ben Pugh, Ewa Puszczynska, Anita Gou, Alicia Van Couvering, Letitia Wright. Executive producers: Katie Anderson, Jake Carter, Trevor Groth, Beata Rzezniczek, Charlie Morrison, Tamara Lawrance, Andrea Seigel, Marjorie Wallace, Michael Reuter, Sebastian Barker. Co-producer: Adam Gudell. Crew Director: Agnieszka Smoczynska. Screenplay: Andrea Seigel, based on the book by Marjorie Wallace. Camera: Jakub Kijowski. Editor: Agnieszka Glinska. Music: Marcin Macuk, Zuzanna Wronska. With Letitia Wright, Tamara Lawrance, Leah Mondesir-Simmonds, Eva-Arianna Baxter, Nadine Marshall, Treva Etienne, Michael Smiley, Jodhi May, Jack Bandeira. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. I dont think you ever have to be fearful when youre writing a film, says Moroccan filmmaker Maryam Touzani ahead of the premiere of her second feature The Blue Caftan in Un Certain Regard. Following the relationship between husband and wife Halim and Mina who have kept Halims homosexuality a secret for many years, the film takes an important stand against the homophobia of Morocco and its anti-LGTBQ laws. In Morocco, homosexuality is illegal and I dont have words to describe how it makes me feel. As a human being, thats something I cannot accept, Touzani says. She adds: I dont know what the reactions are going to be to the film and it could be very complicated, but in any case I think when there is a real belief in the stories youre telling the rest doesnt matter. The idea for the film began during the making of Touzanis first feature, Adam, which also had its premiere in Un Certain Regard in 2019. While I was scouting for that film, I met a man who triggered a lot of emotions in me because I felt that there were a lot of things in his life that he was keeping to himself. I think he reminded me of a lot of men I had heard about when I was younger, couples that my parents knew, where certain things werent really said, the director explains. Feeling a need to dig deeper into the lives of those who cant be who they want to be, love who they want to love, lead the life they want to live, Touzani built a story that navigates what love can mean in fraught circumstances. As Minas health deteriorates, she focuses on supporting Halim in embracing his true self and accepting his love for the apprentice hired to work in their tailoring business. All she cares about is leaving behind a man who loves himself, Touzani says. In trying to protect Halim from himself and the society for so long, she has, in a sense, made him more fragile because hes always been hiding. Now she wants him to assume who he is and love who he is. Making such a film in Morocco was not an easy task and Touzani is unsure about whether the film will be well-received, if screened at all in the country. Im very curious to see what will happen there because we did get help from the Moroccan Cinematographic Centre to fund this film on the basis of the script. I think there is a big desire to move forward in our society and talk about certain things but there are different forces at play. Thats why I believe that as a filmmaker its important to be able to make a statement like this one, because its going to be able to contribute to opening a debate at least, she says. Before then, in Cannes, the filmmaker is thrilled to be returning to the same strand that welcomed her first feature. Cannes is for me the most beautiful place for a film to begin its life, she says. To be here again with my second feature feels very special. In Un Certain Regard, with the kind of cinema that the section tries to encourage and the different perspectives from around the world, theres this inter-cultural dialogue that takes place here through cinema and I think its so beautiful to be part of this cinematographic experience and community. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. China prosecutes 60,553 for crimes against minors Xinhua) 11:33, May 26, 2022 BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- In 2021, procuratorial organs across China prosecuted 60,553 people for crimes against minors, up 5.69 percent year on year, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said Wednesday. In the meantime, 160 million yuan (about 24 million U.S. dollars), three times the amount in 2018, was provided in 11,000 judicial assistance cases of minor victims. Regarding juvenile suspects, procuratorial organs approved the arrest of 27,208 underage suspects and prosecuted 35,228 last year, said the SPP. Procuratorial organs also conducted the procedure to review the necessity of detention for 20,045 minor suspects. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Courtesy/U.S. Border Patrol Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Courtesy/U.S. Border Patrol Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Courtesy/U.S. Border Patrol Show More Show Less 5 of 5 Local and federal authorities shut down a stash house with 63 migrants, according to the U.S. Border Patrol. The incident occurred on May 22, when Laredo South Station agents acted on a request for assistance from Laredo police officers regarding a suspected stash house on Market Street. A man has been sentenced to prison for having sex with a teenager, according to court documents. Roy Edgar Arce Jr., 29, pleaded guilty on May 20 to prohibited sexual contact and sexual assault of a child. 49th District Court Joe Lopez sentenced Arce to 10 years in prison per count. The sentences are to run concurrently. Arce is to register as a sex offender during the sentence, court records state. The case unfolded when Laredo Police Department officers responded to a prohibited sexual conduct report at about 2:11 a.m. Jan. 4, 2021, in the 1700 block of Tiara Trail Lane. A woman stated that she observed Arce performing a sexual act on her 17-year-old daughter. The woman stated she had been in bed when she heard that the television was possibly left on in the bedroom that Arce shares with the teen . The mother then walked into Arce performing a sexual act on the teen in his bed, according to court documents. On Jan. 7, 2021, the daughter underwent a forensic interview at the Webb County Childrens Advocacy Center. The teen stated that at about 1:30 a.m. Jan. 4, 2021, she was asleep in her mothers room when Arce messaged her on her cellphone asking her to come to the bedroom they share. She went in and sat on the edge of Arces bed. Arce then began sexually assaulting her until her mother walked into the room, states the arrest affidavit. During the forensic interview, the teen stated that Arce had been sexually abusing her from September 2020 to November 2020, when she was 16 years old. She provided in high detail that Arce sexually assaulted her up to four times a month during that period, according to court documents Investigators and met Arce on Jan. 7, 2021, at LPD headquarters for an interview. He invoked his right to an attorney and made no statements regarding the allegations. Investigators then presented their findings to the Webb County District Attorneys Office and obtained warrants to arrest Arce. Just one day after the tragedy in Uvalde at the hands of a domestic terrorist, UISD has been mired by threats and pranks that included a Thursday morning threat at a UISD middle school. UISD indicated that two arrests would be made in two separate cases. According to the district, the UISD Police Department and the district were made aware of a social media threat made by a George Washington Middle School student Thursday morning. The UISD PD investigated the case and announced that the county attorney permitted the arrest of the male student who posted the threat. This followed two threats made on Wednesday. In regard to one Wednesday case, a student was found to have made a list of possible predictions of harmful outcomes for students and teachers, akin to a popular anime series. It listed 13 students and two adults; when asked about it, she said that she was pretending to be the anime series character. UISD Police Chief Ray Garner said that an arrest was unlikely against the student. He said that the female United High School student was playing a dangerous game amid the heightened alert level of law enforcement officers, but evidence and the county attorney did not point to a credible threat. That same day, a male student at United South Middle School said that he would bring a gun to school. When campus administrators were made aware of the situation, they and UISD PD investigated the matter, determined there was no imminent threat to the campus, arrested the student and transported him to the Webb County Juvenile Detention Center. Also, while not a threat, the district informed the media about a cruel prank on a teacher who did not speak English and is being investigated by administrative staff. The situation took place at Lamar Bruni Vergara, where students told the teacher to hold a sign for a sick student as they took a picture of her to send it to them. The sign read I love you (Uvalde shooter) with her unaware of what she was holding. Again, students dont realize the danger of what they are placing themselves in and we need to be the parents need to help out, Garner said. Garner repeatedly emphasized the importance of parents' involvement in their childrens lives and their remarks on social media. He said that students need to understand that threats, and arrests will affect their future meaning that scholarships and grant opportunities would be absent if convicted. Depending on ages, parents would also see their child being arrested and taken to the juvenile center or the Webb County Jail. Regardless, he made sure to outline the safety precautions and measures the district has taken to keep students safe. From locked entrances only accessible with key card access and magnetic strips to lock and unlock doors and a monitoring station providing surveillance at all campuses, Gardner said that there are multiple measures taking place year-round. Furthermore, cooperation between UISD PD and the different law enforcement agencies in the county allow for rapid response to emergency situations, as well as yearly training for officers, specifically in mock intruder scenarios. If we do have something, I pray to God we dont, but if we do have something happen at the school, any school, we can have over 500 officers there within minutes. My team will be there on the campus and will engage whatever threat is in there, Garner said. Ive said this several times: parents need to be responsible with their children. They are responsible for their children, but they need to check those social media websites, they need to sit down and talk to their children. As social media has played a role in a number of cases involving threats in schools, Garner warned that when a student or adult sends threats through social media, even if they are not the original author, they can be criminally charged with dissemination of the threat. In the event of a student, parent or adult seeing a threat online, they must call Laredo Police Department, UISD PD or the Webb County Sheriff's Office and not share the threat online, as they would be an author of the threat. This is no joke, he said. As the school year comes to a close, Garner said that there will be an increased police presence at the campuses and during the high school graduations. The arena will also be checking bags and enforcing their clear bag policy during the ceremony to layer safety measures. He added that UISD is one of the only districts to have police officers at elementary campuses and explained that high schools have three to four officers, ninth-grade campuses have one, middle schools have two and elementary have one all with the additional support of the security staff. Amid the press conference, Garner was asked if he believed, in his expertise and leadership role, if arming teachers would help the safety of students. We have armed officers at every school, Garner said. I dont need armed teachers because if something is going on, I have officers from different schools, I have Laredo PD, Webb County deputies, Border Patrol and DPS. They are going to be going into that school and they wont know the teacher. Beyond that, he acknowledged that he is a proponent and protector of the second amendment but acknowledged that there needs to be changes. Just like the fourth amendment, referencing to privacy; a lot of amendments have had a lot of additions to them, Garner said. I think we need to have real strict enforcement of the background, and I dont think an 18 year old should be allowed to purchase a rifle assault weapon wait until they're 21. But yeah, we need to do something about the second amendment. Ive got guns at my house and got them stored. I am not a gun fan, but I have to carry one because Im a police officer, but theres got to be some changes. UISD Director of Discipline Anette Perez said that administrative action is also taken to students in conjunction to the criminal justice process. This could include sending students to alternative schools among other options such as expulsion, regardless of if they are arrested or not. Soon after the district became aware of the threats made, they sent out letters to USMS and UHS parents. It warned of disciplinary action for students found to be making threats and reiterated Garners call to parents. It is important that you take the time to talk to your child about such actions and encourage them to report any safety concerns to you, a trusted adult, campus administration or United ISD Police Department, she wrote. Additionally, encourage your child to avoid posting such content on social media. If you or your child do not feel comfortable talking to a campus administrator or police, reports of threats, bullying or safety concerns can be made anonymously through the Districts website at www.uisd.net/keepuisdsafe or by calling 956-727-TIPS (8477). Once again, the safety of all of our students is of the utmost importance. Lastly, according to the district, the press conference made way for the first look at the UISD PD surveillance center that showed the eye-in-the-sky perspective they have on all campuses. Law enforcement staff were seen monitoring all the schools and UISD facilities on dozens of live feeds and screens on the wall. Furthermore, Garner said that staff has contact with local law enforcement officers at a flip of a switch while they also review and monitor news outlets throughout the city and state to keep up to date. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) Irans foreign minister sat before an audience of Western business executives and policymakers at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, fielding questions about why Iran has yet to condemn Russia for its invasion in Ukraine and why efforts to revive its nuclear deal have stalled. It was a rare opportunity for many in the audience to hear directly from Hossein Amirabdollahian, who was interviewed Thursday by CNN's Fareed Zakaria. When pressed on why Iran has not condemned its ally Russia for the war in Ukraine, he said Iran has, just as it had wars against Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Palestine." In Ukraine, however, he says the U.S. and NATO were involved in actions that provoked Moscow. On stalled nuclear talks, he says some people in Iran and the U.S. are against reviving the accord for their own reasons, including members of Irans elected parliament. Amirabdollahian says he thought U.S. President Joe Biden is facing some kind of inaction. I hope that the American side will act and behave realistically. He added that Iran is keeping the window of diplomacy open and that the Trump administrations sanctions must be lifted. He dodged questions on whether removing Iran's Revolutionary Guard from a list of terrorist organizations was on obstacle to a deal. He hinted that the issue isn't essential as long as Iran is guaranteed economic benefits. ___ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated his conviction that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not win the war in Ukraine. In a speech Thursday at the end of the World Economic Forums annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Scholz said of Putin: He has already failed to achieve all his strategic goals. The chancellor said that a capture of all of Ukraine by Russia seems further away today than it did at the beginning of the war. More than ever, Ukraine is emphasizing its European future. In addition, Scholz said the brutality of the Russian war has prompted two states to move closer to NATO: With Sweden and Finland, two close friends and partners want to join the North Atlantic alliance. They are most welcome! The chancellor added that Putin underestimated the unity and strength with which the Group of Seven major industrialized nations, NATO and the European Union had responded to his aggression. ___ The mayor of Kyiv says he's grateful to receive calls from the leaders of other cities around the world pledging their support for rebuilding the Ukrainian capital. Speaking Thursday at the World Economic Forum's meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Vitali Klitschko says the support is important but first of all, right now, we have to stop the war. And after that, we have to rebuild all infrastructure which destroyed (by) aggressors." He says 300 hundred buildings in Kyiv have been destroyed, including 220 apartment towers. Klitschko says the main priority right now until the winter season is to rebuild, to make a reconstruction for these buildings and give these services to these people who is right now homeless. For that, he says around 80 million euros ($85.6 million) is needed. ___ Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Germany must pursue its climate goals even more resolutely because of Russias war in Ukraine. In a speech Thursday on the last day of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Scholz said Germanys plan to become carbon-neutral by 2045 has become even more important as a result of the war. He added that while the conflict is not the sole trigger of the turning point, it increases the pressure to act. If the Paris climate targets were not met, he says the world would be heading for a catastrophe. The German chancellor also mentioned how new, emerging powers in Asia, Africa and Latin America are taking advantage of the opportunities offered by globalization. He says that for too long, we have practically equated democracy with the West in the classical sense. To broaden multilateral cooperation, Scholz says he invited South Africa, Senegal, India, Indonesia and Argentina to the summit of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations in Elmau, Bavaria, next month. Scholz says, they represent countries and regions whose cooperation the world needs to move forward on global challenges in the future. He added that a new partnership also means showing solidarity in the face of looming hunger, commodity and inflation crises. ___ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply condemned Russias war on Ukraine and called for global cooperation to overcome life-threatening challenges such as climate change, hunger and dependency on fossil fuels. Speaking Thursday at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Scholz said the invasion of Ukraine does not mark the outbreak of any conflict anywhere in Europe. Here, a nuclear-armed superpower claims to redraw borders. Scholz said Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to return to a world order in which the strongest dictate what is right, in which freedom, sovereignty and self-determination are not. The German chancellor described Putins war politics as imperialism, which is trying to bomb us back to a time when war was a common means of politics, when our continent and the world lacked a stable peace order. He says the world is no longer bipolar like during the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union. Instead of using the power politics of past centuries, the chancellor said its important all powers work together to solve threats like hunger, climate change or dependence on fossil fuels. Scholz said: If some want to take us back to the past of nationalism, imperialism and war, our answer is not with us. We stand for the future. ___ Journalists, press freedom advocates and human rights activists debated how governments and the private sector can safeguard a free press. Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said Thursday at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos that while hundreds of journalists have been imprisoned in repressive regimes, there are also invisible prisons, invisible bullets journalism itself, beyond journalists, is under attack by digital platforms and social networks. Also speaking on a press freedom panel, Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth said that social media has become a way for autocrats and others to evade that kind of journalistic accountability provided by traditional news organizations. Roth said powerful governments can set up fake sites and trolls and pump out misinformation. ___ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is wrapping up the World Economic Forums annual meeting with a speech in Davos. His address Thursday comes after days of discussions about Russias war in Ukraine, a global food crisis, climate change and other hot-button issues. The yearly gathering of elites that was suspended twice over the COVID-19 pandemic has been overshadowed by the war in Ukraine. It's doused moods among policymakers but not stopping advocacy groups and business leaders from trying to improve fortunes and as forum organizers hope the state of the world. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and an array of lawmakers, local officials and business leaders captured the spotlight in-person and virtually to drum up support for their countrys fight. Attention is turning to Scholzs near-finale address, mostly to see if he might try to answer two of Ukraines key appeals: for stronger sanctions against Russia and better weapons to help their forces fight. TOKYO (AP) Japanese and U.S. forces have conducted a joint fighter jet flight over the Sea of Japan, Japans military said Thursday, in an apparent response to a Russia-China joint bomber flight while U.S. President Joe Biden was in Tokyo. The Japan-U.S. joint flight on Wednesday involved eight warplanes based in Japan, including four U.S. F-16 fighters and four Japanese F-15s, the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces said. The joint flight was meant to confirm the combined capabilities of the two militaries and further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, it said in a statement. The flight occurred hours after North Korea fired three missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile, toward the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, amid concerns about another nuclear test by the North. The missiles fell in waters outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone. Chinese and Russian strategic bombers conducted joint flights near Japan on Tuesday, Japans Defense Ministry said. Biden was meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and their counterparts from India and Australia for the Quad, an Indo-Pacific security and economic coalition meant as a counterweight to Chinas growing influence in the region. Chinese H-6 bombers joined Russian TU-95s over the Sea of Japan and flew to areas over the East China Sea, but did not violate Japanese airspace, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said. Separately, a Russian IL-20 reconnaissance plane was spotted flying off the northern Japanese coast. The Chinese-Russian joint flight represented an increased level of provocation and a threat to the Quad, Kishi said. China said the flights were over the the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the western Pacific. Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said it was a routine joint strategic air patrol that has been carried out four times since 2019. This operation is not aimed at a third party and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation, he said in a video statement posted Wednesday on the Defense Ministry website. ___ Associated Press writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UVALDE, Texas (AP) Jacklyn Cazares hadnt yet reached her 10th birthday, but she was already a tough-minded firecracker always looking to help people in need, her father said. Jacklyn and her second cousin, Annabelle Rodriguez, were especially tight with three other classmates at Robb Elementary School. They are all gone now, Javier Cazares said. "All her little best friends were killed too. The girls were among 19 students killed Tuesday when an 18-year-old gunman barricaded himself in a fourth-grade classroom at the school in the southwestern Texas town of Uvalde and began to kill. Their families can only cling to memories, and each other. Jacklyn would have turned 10 on June 10. Despite her young age, she was equal parts tough-minded and compassionate. She had a voice, her father said. She didnt like bullies, she didnt like kids being picked on. All in all, full of love. She had a big heart." She was a character a little firecracker. Cazares drove his daughter to school Tuesday she had an awards ceremony that morning. About 90 minutes later, the family got a call: An active shooter was in the school. I drove like a bat out of hell," he said. "My baby was in trouble. There was more than 100 people out there waiting, it was chaotic, he said of the scene at the school. He grew impatient with how the police were responding and even raised the idea of rushing into the school with several other bystanders. Cazares said his niece followed an ambulance to the hospital and saw Jacklyn taken inside. The entire family soon joined and pressed hospital officials for information for nearly three hours. They begged, cried and showed them photos of their daughter. Finally, a pastor, police officer and a doctor met with them. My wife asked the question, Is she alive or is she passed? Cazares said. They were like, No, shes gone. Cazares fought back tears as he pondered how long his daughter was in the classroom with the gunman before she was killed. He finds some solace in believing that in her final moments, Jacklyn was doing what came naturally to her helping her fellow students. It kind of comforts our hearts that she would be one of the ones that was brave and tried to help as much as she could, he said. Ryan Ramirez also rushed to Robb Elementary when he heard about the shooting, hoping to find his daughter, Alithia, and take her home, KTRK-TV reported. But Alithia, too, was among the victims. Ramirezs Facebook page includes a photo, now shown around the world, of the little girl wearing the multi-colored T-shirt that announced she was out of single digits after turning 10 years old. The same photo was posted again Wednesday with no words, but with Alithia wearing angel wings. Maite Rodriguez, 10, got straight Fs when classes went on Zoom during the pandemic, having gotten straight As before. The day she died was supposed to be a day of triumph. Maite made the honor roll for straight As and Bs this year and was publicly recognized at an assembly on Tuesday, said Ana Rodriguez, her mother. She worked hard, I only encouraged her, Rodriguez said in an interview Thursday at her dining room table, which displayed a bouquet of red roses, the honor roll certificate and photos of Maite. Maite especially liked physical education. After she died, her teacher texted her mother that she was highly competitive at kickball and ran faster than all the boys. Maite was focused, competitive, smart, bright, beautiful, happy, her mother said. As a kindergartner, Maite said she wanted to be a marine biologist and held firmly to that goal. She researched a program at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi and told her mother she was set on studying there. She was just so driven. She was definitely special. She was going to be something, she was going to be something very, very special. Rodriguez hosted a steady stream of visitors and said she hasnt started to grieve. She was deeply touched by one of her brothers friends who recently graduated from Texas A&M and gave her the red cardboard cylinder that held the diploma. Rodriguez didnt want to relive Tuesdays events but was upset by reports that police waited outside the school as shots were fired. She said she advocates stricter gun laws. The grief only grew Thursday with confirmation that the brokenhearted husband of one of the slain teachers, 48-year-old Irma Garcia, had died on Thursday. Joe Garcia, 50, had dropped off flowers at his wifes memorial on Thursday morning, The New York Times reported. He pretty much just fell over after returning home and died of a heart attack, his nephew John Martinez told the newspaper. The Archdiocese of San Antonio and the Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary confirmed Joe Garcias death to The Associated Press. AP was unable to independently reach members of the Garcia family on Thursday. Married for 24 years, the couple shared four children. In a post on the schools website at the start of the school year introducing herself to her class, Irma Garcia wrote of her love of barbecue, listening to music and taking country cruises to the nearby town of Concan. The school year, scheduled to end Thursday, was Irmas 23rd year of teaching all of it at Robb Elementary School. She had been previously named the schools teacher of the year and was a 2019 recipient of the Trinity Prize for Excellence in Education from Trinity University. For five years, Irma had co-taught with Eva Mireles, who also was killed. Mireles also posted on the site as the school year began, noting she had been teaching 17 years. She cited her supportive, fun, and loving family. Welcome to the 4th grade! We have a wonderful year ahead of us! she wrote. Two of the victims had hoped to skip school that day. Carmelo Quiroz's grandson, Jayce Luevanos, 10, had begged to go along with his grandmother on Tuesday as she accompanied her great-granddaughters kindergarten class to the San Antonio Zoo. But, he said, the family told Jayce it didnt make sense to skip school so close to the end of the year. Besides, Jayce liked school. Thats why my wife is hurting so much, because he wanted to go to San Antonio, Quiroz told USA Today. He was so sad he couldnt go. Maybe if he would have gone, hed be here. Jayce's cousin, 10-year-old Jailah Nicole Silguero, also wanted to miss school that day. Jailah's mother, Veronica Luevanos, tearfully told Univision that Jailah seemed to sense something bad was going to happen. Jailahs friend, Nevaeh Alyssa Bravo, also was killed and her aunt noted Naveahs first name is heaven spelled backward. In a Facebook posting, Yvonne White described Nevaeh and Jailah as Our Angels. Two men who responded to the shooting discovered their own children among the victims. Uvalde County Sheriffs Deputy Felix Rubio and his wife had been at the school Tuesday morning to celebrate with their daughter, 10-year-old Alexandria Lexi Aniyah, since the fourth-grader had made honor roll with all A's and received a good citizen award. In a Facebook post, Kimberly Rubio wrote, We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school. We had no idea this was goodbye. Medical assistant Angel Garza also hurried to the school and immediately found a girl covered in blood among the terrified children streaming out of the building. Im not hurt. He shot my best friend, the girl told Garza when he offered help. Shes not breathing. She was just trying to call the cops. Her friend was Amerie Jo Garza Angel Garzas stepdaughter. Amerie was a happy child who made the honor roll and loved to paint, draw and work in clay. She was very creative, said her grandmother Dora Mendoza. She was my baby. Whenever she saw flowers she would draw them. Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home, which is across the street from Robb Elementary, began posting brief obituaries of some of the victims. It was assisting families of the shooting victims with no cost for funerals. GoFundMe pages were set up for many of the victims, including one on behalf of all victims that has raised more than $3 million. ___ Groves reported from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Associated Press writer Stefanie Dazio contributed to this report from Los Angeles. ___ Find more of the AP's coverage of the Uvalde school shooting at https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UVALDE, Texas (AP) It was 11:28 a.m. when the Ford pickup slammed into a ditch behind the low-slung Texas school and the driver jumped out carrying an AR-15-style rifle. Twelve minutes after that, authorities say, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos was in the hallways of Robb Elementary School. Soon he entered a fourth-grade classroom. And there, he killed 19 schoolchildren and two teachers in a still-unexplained spasm of violence. At 12:58 p.m., law enforcement radio chatter said Ramos had been killed and the siege was over. What happened in those 90 minutes, in a working-class neighborhood near the edge of the little town of Uvalde, has fueled mounting public anger and scrutiny over law enforcement's response to Tuesday's rampage. "They say they rushed in," said Javier Cazares, whose fourth-grade daughter, Jacklyn Cazares, was killed in the attack, and who raced to the school as the massacre unfolded. We didnt see that. On Thursday, authorities largely ignored questions about why officers had not been able to stop the shooter sooner, with Victor Escalon, regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety, telling reporters he had taken all those questions into consideration and would offer updates later. The media briefing, called by Texas safety officials to clarify the timeline of the attack, provided bits of previously unknown information. But by the time it ended, it had added to the troubling questions surrounding the attack, including about the time it took police to reach the scene and confront the gunman, and the apparent failure to lock a school door he entered. After two days of providing often conflicting information, investigators said that a school district police officer was not inside the school when Ramos arrived, and, contrary to their previous reports, the officer had not confronted Ramos outside the building. Instead, they sketched out a timeline notable for unexplained delays by law enforcement. After crashing his truck, Ramos fired on two people coming out of a nearby funeral home, Escalon said. He then entered the school unobstructed through an apparently unlocked door at about 11:40 a.m. But the first police officers did not arrive on the scene until 12 minutes after the crash and did not enter the school to pursue the shooter until four minutes after that. Inside, they were driven back by gunfire from Ramos and took cover, Escalon said. The crisis came to an end after a group of Border Patrol tactical officers entered the school roughly an hour later, at 12:45 p.m., said Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Travis Considine. They engaged in a shootout with the gunman, who was holed up in the fourth-grade classroom. Moments before 1 p.m., he was dead. Escalon said that during that time, the officers called for backup, negotiators and tactical teams, while evacuating students and teachers. Ken Trump, president of the consulting firm National School Safety and Security Services, said the length of the timeline raised questions. Based on best practices, its very difficult to understand why there were any types of delays, particularly when you get into reports of 40 minutes and up of going in to neutralize that shooter, he said. Many other details of the case and the response remained murky. The motive for the massacre the nation's deadliest school shooting since Newtown, Connecticut, almost a decade ago remained under investigation, with authorities saying Ramos had no known criminal or mental health history. During the siege, frustrated onlookers urged police officers to charge into the school, according to witnesses. Go in there! Go in there! women shouted at the officers soon after the attack began, said Juan Carranza, 24, who watched the scene from outside a house across the street. Carranza said the officers should have entered the school sooner: There were more of them. There was just one of him." Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz did not give a timeline but said repeatedly that the tactical officers from his agency who arrived at the school did not hesitate. He said they moved rapidly to enter the building, lining up in a stack" behind an agent holding up a shield. What we wanted to make sure is to act quickly, act swiftly, and that's exactly what those agents did, Ortiz told Fox News. But a law enforcement official said that once in the building, the agents had trouble breaching the classroom door and had to get a staff member to open the room with a key. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the investigation. Department of Public Safety spokesman Lt. Christopher Olivarez told CNN that investigators were trying to establish whether the classroom was, in fact, locked or barricaded in some way. Cazares said that when he arrived, he saw two officers outside the school and about five others escorting students out of the building. But 15 or 20 minutes passed before the arrival of officers with shields, equipped to confront the gunman, he said. As more parents flocked to the school, he and others pressed police to act, Cazares said. He heard about four gunshots before he and the others were ordered back to a parking lot. A lot of us were arguing with the police, You all need to go in there. You all need to do your jobs. Their response was, We cant do our jobs because you guys are interfering, Cazares said. As for the armed school officer, he was driving nearby but was not on campus when Ramos crashed his truck, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the case and spoke of condition of anonymity. Investigators have concluded that school officer was not positioned between the school and Ramos, leaving him unable to confront the shooter before he entered the building, the law enforcement official said. Michael Dorn, executive director of Safe Havens International, which works to make schools safer, cautioned that its hard to get a clear understanding of the facts soon after a shooting. The information we have a couple of weeks after an event is usually quite different than what we get in the first day or two. And even that is usually quite inaccurate, Dorn said. For catastrophic events, youre usually eight to 12 months out before you really have a decent picture. ___ Bleiberg reported from Dallas. ___ More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Sri Lankas new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as finance minister as this Indian Ocean island nation confronts its worst economic crisis in memory. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa named Wickremesinghe minister of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policies in an apparent bid to regain Sri Lankas credibility as the government negotiates a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund. Sri Lankans have been enduring shortages of food and fuel, power outages and other privations. The country lacks the financial wherewithal to buy imported necessities and pay its debts, and the economic crisis has fueled political turmoil, with protesters demanding Rajapaksas resignation. Wickremesinghe's appointment followed a government announcement that Sri Lanka was hiring firms to restructure its $51 billion external debt. Lazard of France will provide financial advice and Clifford Chance LLP will assist with legal help in restructuring Sri Lanka's debts to international creditors. A five-time former prime minister, Wickremesinghe was appointed to the post two weeks ago after his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa who is the presidents elder brother resigned following violent attacks by his supporters on peaceful anti-government protesters. Sri Lankans for months have been forced to stand in long lines to buy scarce essentials, with many returning home empty-handed. There is a severe shortage of many goods, from food, cooking gas, medicine and fuel to toilet paper and matchsticks. The economy has suffered under the pandemic, which has kept tourists away, and surging costs for most imports. Nearly bankrupt, the country has suspended repayments of $7 billion in foreign loans due this year. The IMF has said any short or long-term assistance will hinge on talks with creditors on restructuring loans. Sri Lanka must repay about $25 billion in foreign loans by 2026. The finance ministry said earlier this month that the countrys usable foreign reserves had plummeted to $25 million. Wickremesinghe, 73, has been in Parliament for 45 years. His political party split in 2020 amid a leadership crisis and its most senior members left to form a new party, which is currently the countrys main opposition. He said last week that petrol stocks had dwindled to a single day, but shipments of gasoline paid for by an Indian credit line started arriving over the weekend. Protesters have been occupying the entrance to the presidents office for more than 40 days demanding Rajapaksas resignation. Attacks on peaceful protesters by government supporters triggered countrywide riots in which nine people died including a lawmaker and 200 were hurt. Homes and properties of government ministers and their supporters were burned down. The violence has nearly dismantled the Rajapaksa dynasty after Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as prime minister. Apart from being tasked with reviving the economy, Wickremesinghe is working on a constitutional amendment to dilute presidential powers and better empower the Parliament. CONCORD, N.H. (AP) The New Hampshire Supreme Court will redraw the states congressional map after the Legislature's latest, last-ditch effort failed Thursday to win over Republican Gov. Chris Sununu. New Hampshire is one few states yet to finalize new U.S. House districts as required every 10 years to reflect population changes. Democrats currently hold both seats, and while Republicans control the Legislature, they have struggled to pass what Sununu has referred to a fairness smell test. Both the House and Senate passed a plan in March that would have given the GOP a strong advantage in the 1st District, but Sununu promised to veto it. A House-passed plan that would have clumped together communities along the I-93 corridor later failed in the Senate, leading to a third plan that was approved Thursday in both chambers. I believe it is the compromise New Hampshire needs going forward for the next 10 years, said Sen. James Gray, R-Rochester. Sununu quickly said he will veto the bill, however, in part because it puts both U.S. Reps. Chris Pappas and Annie Kuster into the 2nd District. The citizens of New Hampshire will not accept this map, he said. Our races have to be fair, which is why I will veto this map. Under the latest plan, the 1st District would have covered the southeast corner of the state and be tilted slightly toward Republicans, while the 2nd District would have covered the western half of the state and the north country and become slightly more Democratic. More than two dozen towns and cities comprising nearly a third of the states population would have switched districts, including Manchester. Instead, the state Supreme Court will step in. In a ruling this month, the court said it will use the existing districts as a benchmark and employ a least change approach. That could mean adopting a map favored by Democrats that would move a single town Hampstead from the 1st District to the 2nd. Senate Minority Leader Donna Soucy, D-Manchester, called the GOP plan one of the majoritys most blatant examples of extremism. Once again, theyre out of step with their own governor, out of step with the people of New Hampshire, she said at a news conference ahead of the votes. Its probably one of the best reflections of their tin ear to the folks theyve been elected to serve. The plan passed the House by only five votes. By the same slim margin, the House on Thursday also killed another bill Sununu had promised to veto. That bill, modeled after legislation filed in multiple states, would have given parents greater oversight over their childs curriculum, participation in clubs and conversations with staff. The bill had passed the Senate 14-10 along party lines. Sen. Jay Kahn, D-Keene, argued against it, saying teachers already are looking over their shoulders thanks to a new law regulating classroom discussion of race and other topics. Now, were going to impose another requirement that questions whether educators can have a discussion with a student without reporting on it to parents, he said. It is one more ice cube being added to the chilling effect of our actions on New Hampshire educators. Rep. Melissa Blasek, R-Merrimack, pushed back against criticism that the bill would force teachers to out LGBTQ students to potentially abusive parents and said she equates parental rights to gun rights. There are criminals, yes. And one of the primary purposes of government is to punish wrongdoing, she said. But restricting rights from law-abiding parents and gun owners does not prevent criminals from participating in criminal activities. As for guns, the House also rejected an effort to reintroduce failed legislation would have required criminal background checks prior to commercial firearms sales. Rep. Debra Altschiller, D-Stratham, said there have been dozens of mass shootings nationwide since the bill was defeated in March, including the recent shootings at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, a church in Southern California and a school in Uvalde, Texas. It is imperative that we act, and act now to curb the flow of blood running toward us, she said. We can do hard things. We can make a change so we dont have to live like this. Her remarks were met with booing from some of her colleagues. The jeering turned to applause for Rep. Terry Roy, a Deerfield Republican who argued that voters dont want further gun control. We should not ever, ever use tragedy to push legislation, he said. UISD officials held a press conference Wednesday morning to discuss the recent school shooting in Uvalde which left at least 21 dead, 19 of which were elementary school children, while it had to deal with a threat of its own later in the day. Leaders first offered condolences to the Uvalde community but also discussed safety in the district as well as called on state and national leaders to take action. Superintendent David H. Gonzalez, Board of Trustees member Javier Montemayor Jr., UISD Chief of Police Ray Garner, School Psychologist Linda Garza and Deputy Superintendent for Safety Gloria Rendon spoke to district leaders as well as media present. The tragedy that occurred in our neighboring district Uvalde Consolidated School District has once again shaken our sense of security, Gonzalez said. That said, our campuses will remain at high alert. As a district we have extended all of our available resources to the Superintendent at Uvalde, district staff and community. Gonzalez urged the community to report any suspicious activity to the UISD Police Department. Within a day of the shooting at the Uvalde Elementary School, a school in San Antonio Sul Ross Middle School received a threat against it. Additionally, a student at a high school in Houston was taken into custody after taking an unloaded gun onto campus Wednesday morning. No such threats have been reported by any district in Laredo. Its extremely sad to be here this morning and to have this press conference what happened in Uvalde has touched all across the nation, all across the state including our district and its just somber, Montemayor said. It hits home because it makes us think about our children, our kids, in our classrooms. I was at an awards ceremony yesterday and everyone was just so joyful, graduations yesterday, everybodys in such a joyful mood, but this, still, part of me wants to cry when talking about this. These are innocent children, and when parents drop their kids off in the mornings, they expect to pick their children up in the afternoon. Today theres 18, 19 sets of parents who do not have their children with them. I lost sleep last night, and Ive lost sleep in the past thinking of the safety and security of our district. I know we have a plan in place that has been developed over the years. I know Chief Garner has trained his staff, his officers, very well in how to respond to these things, (but) I dont want to get to that point ever. United ISD was one of the first districts in the state of Texas to have its own police department. UISD police has been operating since 1994. Officers are trained to deal with active shooter situations, and Garner assured the community his department is constantly reviewing what they do in those potential situations to assure a safe environment for the students of Laredo. We feel like were actually ahead of a lot of different districts, he said. Were the first district to ever put a police officer and a security (guard) in the elementaries, and we continue to do that. He also encouraged parents to call him if they see something that concerns them. He said the department needs help from families. If you see something, say something, he said. However, he gave a solemn statement about his job soon after. My heart goes out to the Uvalde community, he said. The Chief of Police over there is a friend of ours, he was a captain here and took a lot of our ideas up to Uvalde, but we need to do more. Chief (Pete) Arredondo is up there dealing with this, and I dont want to deal with anything like this but the community needs to give us the signals that theyre seeing out there. Deputy Superintendent for Safety Gloria Rendon urged legislators across the nation to do more to prevent anything like this from happening again. It is heartbreaking to be here addressing this situation once again, she said. All of us here have a responsibility. We are educators, and I think we need to start at the legislative level with our state representatives, our state officials and then we go to the nation. And those things, some things, just need to change. Not only at the local level and our state level, but at the national level, and I think that is where we have a strong voice, where we unite together. Then in the afternoon, UISD released a statement surrounding an incident at the United High School ninth-grade campus. A United High School student was disciplined Wednesday following showing a list of possible predictions of harmful outcomes for specific students, UISD announced in a press release. UISD communications released a letter from United High School Principal Jessica C. Salazar detailing the incident Wednesday evening. Today, campus administrators were made aware of a student showing a list of possible predictions of harmful outcomes for specific students, the letter reads. Administrators and campus police took action and began to investigate immediately. According to the letter, the student included the names of 13 students and two adults. When questioned about the list, she claimed she was pretending to be a character from an anime series. The students on the list were contacted by UISD. Please know that appropriate disciplinary consequences will be administered and the district will pursue immediate legal action to the fullest extent of the law against anyone who makes threats, including students, and to anyone who provokes or attempt to continue the dissemination of threats, the letter reads. Posts began to circulate over social media following the incident. Salazar reiterated that its important to speak up if there are any concerns parents or students may discover. It is important that you take the time to talk to your child about such actions and encourage them to report any safety concerns to you, a trusted adult, campus administration or United ISD Police Department, she wrote. Additionally, encourage your child to avoid posting such content on social media. If you or your child do not feel comfortable talking to a campus administrator or police, reports of threats, bullying or safety concerns can be made anonymously through the Districts website at www.uisd.net/keepuisdsafe or by calling 956-727-TIPS (8477). Once again, the safety of all of our students is of the utmost importance. thomas.lott@lmtonline.com WASHINGTON (AP) Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said Thursday he is ashamed the United States is "becoming desensitized to the murder of children and that action is needed now to prevent more lives from being lost in school shootings like the one in Uvalde, Texas. Cardona spoke at a House Education and Labor Committee hearing two days after a gunman armed with an AR-15-style rifle stormed into an elementary school and killed 19 children and two teachers. The massacre, which followed the fatal of shootings of 10 people this month at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store, has revived the debate over gun control. On Thursday, the committee chairman, Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., opened the hearing by holding a moment of silence in memory of those who had died in Texas. While the hearing was on the Education Department's budget and priorities, Cardona started his testimony by addressing the shooting. After Columbine, after Sandy Hook, after Parkland, after each of these and other massacres, we as educators did our best to look parents in their eyes and assure them that we'll do everything to protect their babies, Cardona said, referencing school shootings in Colorado, Connecticut and Florida. But he said all the actions taken in response to those earlier school shootings including active shooter drills, online early detection tools and more secure building entrances and perimeters are no match for what we're up against. Providing no specifics, he said, we need action now to protect America's children. Let's not normalize this, he said. Let's use every ounce of influence that we have to get something done to help prevent this from happening again. Cardona told lawmakers that he would be "failing you as secretary of education if I didnt tell you I was ashamed, I am, that we as a country are becoming desensitized to the murder of children. Id be failing you as secretary of education if I didnt use this platform to say that students and teachers and school leaders are scared. The Cabinet member did not go as far as his boss, President Joe Biden, who in an emotional address said Tuesday, When in Gods name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? Biden previously had called for a ban on assault-style weapons, tougher federal background check requirements and laws aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of people with mental health problems. The fight over guns has been split largely on party lines. Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a domestic terrorism bill that would have opened debate on gun safety. Rather than regulate guns, some Republicans have proposed arming teachers to deter school shootings. Cardona rejected that. And the solution of arming teachers, in my opinion, is further disrespect to a profession thats already beleaguered and not feeling the support of so many folks, he said. Scott, in his opening remarks, called school shootings too common of an occurrence in America. We could have prevented a lot of these if elected leaders valued children and families more than guns," he said. Instead, time and time again, Congress has failed to enact any sensible or widely supported proposals to respond to these tragedies and prevent another one from happening. But Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, the top Republican on the committee, cautioned against a quick rush to action. We must be thoughtful about how we discuss and handle school safety and mental health issues, Foxx said. Federal changes should not be made in haste. ___ Associated Press writer Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo, New York, contributed to this report. ___ More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings Walmart Walmart is expanding its drone delivery service through DroneUp to reach four million U.S. households, including some in Texas, according to a press release from the company. Walmart, which has been testing the service for about a year, will expand drone delivery to 34 sites in Texas and five other states by the end of the year, including Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Utah and Virginia. Walmart first started testing drone delivery with four stores in Arkansas in November 2021, according to reporting from The Verge. The gun manufacturer that produced the AR-15-style assault rifle the Uvalde, Texas elementary school shooter used to kill 19 children and two teachers has shut down its social media accounts after being linked to the massacre. It has also reportedly dropped out of the National Rifle Association's annual convention set to be held starting Friday in Houston. On Tuesday, alleged shooter 18-year-old Salvador Ramos entered a fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School, killing 21 people in the deadliest school shooting in Texas history. The firearm Ramos used is reportedly made by Georgia-based gun manufacturer Daniel Defense, authorities and the company each confirmed. LIVE UPDATES: The latest news on the Uvalde school massacre. The arms manufacturer states on its site, "At Daniel Defense, we celebrate the liberty of our country, the enthusiasm of our customers and employees, and the quality and accuracy of our products." On Wednesday, one of the company's social media posts resurfaced from a week ago on May 16, the day Ramos turned 18. That week, he legally purchased two AR-15-style assault rifles, including the Daniel Defense DDM V7 rifle, according to the Washington Post. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it," the post said, in reference to a Biblical proverb, followed by a prayer emoji. The post included a photo of a toddler sitting with an AR-15-style assault rifle on its lap. Daniel Defense also reportedly posted the same image and text on Instagram that day, which included the hashtag #childrenarethefuture. Both posts have since been deleted after the gun company faced an onslaught of backlash from social media users. Daniel Defense has limited comments on its Instagram posts and also went private on Twitter in the aftermath. However, screenshots of the posts are still being circulated online. Screenshot/Twitter Daniel Defense had planned to hold an exhibitor's booth at the NRA's annual convention, being held this Friday through Sunday in Houston, and had stated it was "proud to reunite with thousands of patriots." However, those plans appear to have been scrapped as the NRA's list of vendors no longer includes the gunmaker, per the Washington Post. Daniel Defense issued a statement following the Uvalde shooting: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic events in Texas this week. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and community devastated by this evil act." British royal family member Meghan Markle traveled to Texas on Thursday and laid flowers at a makeshift memorial site by the Uvalde County Courthouse, where family community members have gathered this week to honor the victims of Tuesday's school shooting that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers. The Duchess of Sussex was photographed laying a bouquet of white roses at a cross bearing the name of Rojelio Torres, a 10-year-old student who was among those massacred in a single room at Robb Elementary School by suspected shooter Salvador Ramos, an 18-year-old Uvalde resident killed by authorities after he barricaded himself inside a classroom, shooting and killing its occupants. DALLAS (AP) The State Bar of Texas sued Wednesday to punish state Attorney General Ken Paxton for his failed efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election based on bogus claims of fraud, raising a new legal danger for the Republican the day after he secured his party's nomination for a third term. The state bar asked a Dallas-area court to impose unspecified discipline on the state's top lawyer, alleging that Paxton's petitioning of the U.S. Supreme Court to block President Joe Bidens victory was dishonest. The formal accusation of professional misconduct makes Paxton one of the highest-profile attorneys to face a potential threat to their law license for a role in former President Donald Trumps effort to delegitimize his defeat. The petition to a Collin County court came the day after Paxton defeated Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush in a Republican runoff election. That victory sets him up for a general election contest with Rochelle Garza, a South Texas Democrat and civil rights lawyer, as Paxton is also facing a trial over long-delayed state fraud charges and a separate FBI investigation prompted by criminal allegations from the attorney general's own staff. One of Paxton's lawyers, Philip Hilder, declined to comment. The bar has been investigating complaints over Paxtons election suit since last summer and opened a similar disciplinary proceeding against his top deputy earlier in May. Paxton forecast this month that the bar would seek to discipline him, decrying it as a liberal activist group" and saying he stood behind his challenge to the unconstitutional 2020 presidential election. A spokesman for the bar, which is a branch of the Texas Supreme Court, declined to comment. The group previously said that partisan political considerations play no role in its actions. In bringing a court action against an attorney, the bar can seek punishment ranging from a written admonition to a suspension or disbarment. The disciplinary process resembles a trial and could include both sides eliciting testimony and obtaining records through discovery. The bar complaint against Paxton alleges that he misrepresented facts to the Supreme Court in a suit seeking to overturn Bidens victor. The suit was backed by Trump. The high court threw out the lawsuit that and the Justice Department under Trump found no evidence of fraud that could have changed the elections outcome. Before winning the nomination on Tuesday, Paxton drew an unusual number of primary challenges after eight of his top deputies told the FBI in 2020 that the attorney general had been using his office to benefit a wealthy donor. The eight, who eventually quit or were fired, accused him of bribery, abuse of office and other crimes prompting an ongoing federal investigation. Paxton has denied wrongdoing and separately pleaded not guilty in a state securities fraud case that has languished since 2015. Horrifying details have emerged regarding the moments inside a Robb Elementary classroom on Tuesday when it was targeted by suspected mass shooter Salvador Ramos, an 18-year-old gunman who was killed after allegedly going on a shooting spree that took the lives of 19 students and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. An unidentified fourth-grader who survived Tuesday's massacre told KENS 5 San Antonio that the shooter fired a shot before entering the classroom through an adjoining door, and then told the students they were going to die. "He shot the next person's door. We have a door in the middle. He opened it. He came in and he crouched a little bit and he said, he said, 'It's time to die,'" the boy told KENS 5. The child and four of his classmates were likely saved by their decision to hide under a table with an overhanging table cloth, obscuring them from the shooter's sight, according to the report. The boy said the shooter retaliated against one of his classmates after police officers outside the room urged them to yell if they needed help. One of his classmates responded, inspiring the gunman the shoot her. "When the cops came, the cop said: 'Yell if you need help!' And one of the persons in my class said 'Help!' The [shooter] overheard and he came in and shot her," the child told KENS 5. The Washington Post published a timeline reconstruction of Tuesday's deadly events, which included an interview with Miguel Cerrillo, a Uvalde father whose 11-year-old daughter Miah survived the attack at Robb Elementary by playing dead. Cerrillo said he spoke with his daughter through the window of a bus after an officer carried her out of the school with bullet fragments in her side. The father said he rushed toward the bus as it boarded victims bound for the hospital but was prevented by officers from retrieving his daughter, who told him through a window what she'd witnessed before she was taken away for treatment. "I panicked," Cerrillo told the Washington Post, saying his daughter detailed how she had watched as her teacher, Eva Mireles, was shot by the gunman while attempting to phone the police. His daughter Miah told Cerrillo she quickly grabbed the phone and called 911, and then hid from the shooter by lying down on top of one of her classmates, who had been shot and was bleeding on the ground. Her classmate was breathing but expired before help arrived, according to Cerrillo's account. "We figured Uvalde was safe," Cerrillo told the Washington Post. "Now we know it's not safe." If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. 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. Funding of 3.1 million has been allocated to County Longford under the HSE Capital Plan. 3 million has been ringfenced for the refurbishment of 68 beds at St Joseph's Care Centre in Longford town and 100,000 has also been allocated to Ashford House towards the development of a 9 bed Mental Health residential unit. In September 2017, then Minister for Health Simon Harris, while on a visit to Longford, announced a multi million euro refurbishment for St Josephs Care Centre. Two years later, in April 2019, the Minister reaffirmed that funding would be forthcoming. Longford councillor laments not being present for St Joseph's Care Centre announcement The Minister for Health Simon Harris has announced a multi million Euro investment in St Josephs Care Centre in Longford town. Senator Micheal Carrigy has welcomed this morning funding which was approved by Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, as part of the Health Service Executives 1.02bn Capital Plan for 2022, an increase of 4% on 2021, which outlines the strategic priorities for the Health Investment Programme. Senator Carrigy added, "the St Joseph's Care Centre project was announced by former Minister for Health Simon Harris when he visited Longford three years ago and guarantees the future of the Care Centre in Longford." Minister Donnelly said: "I am delighted to approve the HSE Capital Plan 2022. This is a plan that demonstrates the governments commitment to investing in Irelands healthcare infrastructure and to and support the move towards universal healthcare. "The health investment programme is focused on the delivery of a quality health and social care service across the country within the context of climate action. This plan continues to progress the construction of new builds, the replacement and upgrade of aging infrastructure and continuing to focus on providing healthcare in the community." In February 2021, Longford County Council planners have given the green light for the development of multi million euro 43 bed unit at St Joseph's Care Centre, Dublin Road, Longford town. The Health Service Executive formally lodged their plans for the extension with the local authority on July 30, 2020 and planning permission has been granted with twelve conditions attached. The new development inclued the construction of a new single storey extension to provide a new 43 bed residential unit on the west side of the campus. This will incorporate en-suite bedrooms, day rooms, dining rooms, activity and therapy rooms, staff support rooms, a new vehicular and pedestrian entrance to the Care Centre. Music, Movies & Entertainment, Local News, Seasonal & Current Events By Chris Boyle Published: May 26 2022 The three advanced Navy aircraft are scheduled to arrive at AAM late Friday afternoon and will remain on display until late Monday afternoon on AAMs ramp. American Airpower Museum (AAM) is proud to announce that three Boeing EA-18G Growlers, a specialized carrier-based electronic warfare adaption of the two-seater F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter aircraft, will visit the Museum over Memorial Day Weekend at Hangar 3, Republic Airport, from Friday, May 27th through Monday, May 30th. The three advanced Navy aircraft are scheduled to arrive at AAM late Friday afternoon and will remain on display until late Monday afternoon on AAMs ramp. Cant get to Jones Beach Air Show during Memorial Day Weekend? Dont want to watch aircraft wiz by from a distance, anyway? The solution? Visit AAM and get up close and personal with these Growlers, ask questions of their crews, grab photo ops with pilots, etc. Please be advised these Growlers are exclusive to AAM and are not performing at the Jones Beach Air Show. In addition to the Growlers, AAM is also flying its own iconic bombers and fighters at the air show this year! Long Islands aviation enthusiasts will be happy to know that AAM once again is fielding its fabled Arsenal of Democracy Warbirds squadron as part of the Jones Beach Air Show. But, if they cant make it to Jones Beach, they can come to AAM Friday, May 27th and watch our Warbirds perform practice flybys at Republic Airport all day long. Then on Saturday and Sunday, fans can hang with us at Hangar 3 to watch our aircraft take off, one after the other, and head south to perform over Jones Beach. They will thrill as our Warbirds return, touch down and taxi back to Hangar 3. You can even applaud as pilots and crew disembark from their steeds! AAM Warbirds flying in the air show on Saturday and Sunday are: a B-25 Mitchell Bomber; Douglas C-47 Skytrain troop transport; Grumman TBM Avenger Torpedo Bomber; P-51D Mustang Fighter; Curtiss P-40 Warhawk Fighter; and two AT-6 Texan trainers. Flight experiences also available each day on one of AAMs AT-6 Texans and Waco Biplane! Cockpit USA, the official supplier to the USAF of the A-2 leather jacket and sponsor of the American Airpower Museum, will host a group of Cockpit USA Pilot Brand Ambassadors wearing their Cockpit USA jackets throughout the Memorial Day weekend: Annie Vogel (@pilotannie), Tory Crosby (@torpilot), Mark Brown @worldofmark and Bruno (@flywithbruno). In addition, California Tom Cruise, the celebrated Tom Cruise impersonator, will spend Sunday, May 29th at the museum to meet and greet fans for photo ops two days after the long-awaited TOP GUN Maverick movie launch. Every paying museum guest (18 and over) throughout the weekend will be entered to win the NEW Cockpit USA Movie Hero Top Gun CWU, replica of the jacket Tom Cruise wears in the movie. Just to give you a taste of the visual impact these Growlers will have for military aviation fans, included below are two hyper-links from last years AAM programming during the 2021 Jones Beach Air Show. Last year we had two EA-18G Growlers visiting the Museums ramp for the shows duration. The presence of these two supersonic electronic warfare aircraft drew hundreds of fans to the Museum. We hope that hundreds of our fans join us in the late afternoon of May 27th, to bear witness as these incredible jets zoom in from the west, bank over Republic Airport and descend to park on our ramp! (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Thursday and not separately reported by Alliance News: ---------- PetroTal Corp - Houston, Texas-based oil and gas company - In the first quarter of 2022, achieves record quarterly production of 11,746 barrels of oil per day and record quarterly sales of 15,518 barrels of oil per day, up 60% and 80% respectively against the previous year. Says this was achieved despite production being constrained or completely shut down during six weeks of the quarter due to social protests. Average production was 15,778 barrels of oil per day, based on 67 production days in the quarter. Quarterly income surges to USD64.5 million from USD30.8 million. ---------- Edinburgh Investment Trust PLC - invests primarily in UK securities - Net asset value per share at March 31 stands at 686.69 pence, up 9.3% from 628.29p at the same time a year ego. NAV total return stands at 14.1% in the year ended March 31, up against the FTSE All-Share Index return of 13.0%. Says return was boosted by the effect of its borrowing and buybacks. Revenue return per share rises 38% to 22.41p at March 31 from 16.21p at the same time the year prior. Biggest contributors to performance were Anglo American PLC and BAE Systems PLC. Largest negative contributor was Mondi PLC. ---------- Watchstone Group PLC - cash shell with remaining assets comprising litigation assets, contingent liabilities and cash - Swings to a pretax loss of GBP3.6 million in 2021 from a profit of GBP7.7 million in 2020. Net assets per share at December 31 falls to 29 pence from 37p year-on-year. Says all trading businesses have been disposed. Trial relating to its claim against PwC expected to begin in January 2023. Claim is for damages or equitable compensation of GBP63 million. Its claim against former auditor KPMG regarding its 2013 audit is not expected to go to trial before 2024. ---------- RA International Group PLC - Africa and Middle East-focused construction and support services provider - In 2021, swings sharply to a pretax loss of USD32.2 million from a profit of GBP6.6 million the previous year. Cites non-underlying charges relating to its Mozambique project for the drop in earnings. Explains the area was subject to an insurgency attack in March and says the local situation has yet stabilised enough to restart commercial activity. Revenue falls 15% to USD54.6 million from USD64.4 million, in line with guidance in its most recent trading statement. Order book at the end of year stands at USD100 million, with USD40 million in new contracts. Company does not recommend a dividend for the year. Chief Executive Soraya Narfeldt says: "Looking ahead, it remains difficult to forecast with real authority how the current year will play out but we are continuing to stabilise the business post the pandemic and its effects, and see the scope for a return to accelerated contract awards as and when a more normalised operating environment returns." ---------- BMO Private Equity Trust PLC - investor in unlisted companies and specialist private equity funds - Swings to a pretax profit of GBP2.0 million in the first quarter of 2022 from a loss of GBP1.1 million the year prior. Net asset value per share at March 31 surges to 637.78 pence from 480.67p at the same time a year ago. NAV total return for the three months stands at 0.4%. Says five new commitments to funds were made during the quarter. ---------- Pembridge Resources PLC - London-based copper-focused mining company - In the three months ended March 31, reports record copper sales of 9.1 million pounds. This is up 71% against the 5.3 million pounds achieved in first quarter of 2021. Revenue more than doubles to USD53.3 million from USD25.5 million year-on-year. Quarterly mill feed improved 12% to 237,239 dry metric tonnes from 212,329 dry metric tonnes. ---------- Shires Income PLC - investment trust - Net asset value per share at March 31 rises to 278.29 pence from 262.41p at the same time a year prior. Produces a total NAV return of 11.4% in the year ended March 31. This lags the return of 13.0% from its benchmark FTSE All-Share Index. The company's revenue return for the year was 14.21p per share, compared to 12.33p per share for the previous year, representing an increase of 15%. Proposes a final dividend of 4.20p, bringing the total payout for the year to 13.80p. The previous year Shires Income's dividend for the year totalled 13.20p. ---------- Egdon Resources PLC - UK-focused oil & gas exploration and production company - In the three months from February to April, revenue totals GBP2.2 million, up from GBP310,000 in the same period the previous year. Company explains the revenue was primarily from the Wressle and Ceres field, with average oil prices during the period at USD106.67 per barrel of oil. Average gas prices stood at 217 pence per therm. Managing Director Mark Abbott says: "I am pleased to report that continuing strong production from Wressle and Ceres coupled with high oil and gas prices have translated into a robust year to date financial performance for Egdon." ---------- Facilities by ADF PLC - Bridgend, Wales-based provider of production and support vehicles for the TV and film industry - Swings to a pretax profit of GBP2.8 million in 2021 from a loss of GBP500,000 the previous year. Revenue soars to GBP27.8 million from GBP8.0 million in 2020. Notes significant revenue growth across Main Packages sales and Additional Sales in particular following the pandemic. Chief Executive Marsden Proctor says: "We are delighted to report on a strong year of trading, delivered in the lead up to our IPO on AIM, in which we experienced increasing demand for our offering." Company says it has a "robust" pipeline for 2022 and is confident its positive momentum will continue. ---------- Nostra Terra Oil & Gas Co PLC - London-based oil and gas company with operations focused in the US - Revenue in the first quarter of 2022 increases to USD810,699 from USD767,000 the previous quarter. Average net daily production falls 14% to 102 barrels of oil per day from 118 barrels of oil per day in the final quarter of 2021. Oil prices per barrel in the quarter rise to USD88.16 from USD70.46 the previous quarter. Company says current production is 140 barrels of oil per day. ---------- Triad Group PLC - Godalming, England-based software company - For the year ended March 31, pretax profit surges 69% to GBP1.2 million from GBP644,000 the year prior while revenue drops 4.5% to GBP17.0 million from GBP17.8 million. Revenue decline due to the reduction of lower-margin contractor assignment, company explains. Consulting revenue grows 70% against the previous year. Proposes a final dividend of 4 pence per share, bringing the total payout for the year to 6p. The previous year, the full-year dividend stood at 2p. ---------- Beowulf Mining PLC - natural resource developer and explorer focused on the Nordic region - Widens pretax loss to GBP1.5 million in 2021 from GBP1.3 million the year before. Total assets drop to GBP14.9 million at December 31 from GBP17.4 million at the same time a year prior. Company says it maintained momentum in the year despite the impact of Covid-19 restrictions. Finishes the year with "strong prospects" across its three business areas, it says. Company currently holds six exploration permits in Sweden and one exploitation concession. ---------- Picton Property Income Ltd - London-based real estate investment trust - Net assets at March 31 rises 24% to GBP657 million from GBP528 million at the same time the previous year. This translates into a net asset value per share of 120 pence, up from 97p year-on-year. Total return for the year stands at 24.3%, up from 6.6% the previous year. Total property return stands at 24.3%, outperforming the MSCI UK Quarterly Property Index return of 19.6%. Increases occupancy to 93% in the year from 91% the previous year. Property valuation surges to GBP849 million from GBP682 million. Chair Lena Wilson says: "We are delighted to announce a record set of results, which are reflective of the work and dedication of the team during a period which was still impacted by disruption caused during lockdown. We have restored the dividend to pre-pandemic levels and our recent acquisitions will further help to improve our earnings." Payout totals 3.4p per share in the year, up from 2.8p the previous year. ---------- Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust PLC - invests in frontier markets such as Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Kenya and Philippines- Net asset value per share at March 31 rises to 128.50 pence from 122.50p at September 30. Net assets increase to GBP271,270 from GBP261,627 in the same time period. In US dollars, NAV per share rises to 169.19 cents from 165.18 cents. In the six months to March 31, company achieves a NAV total return of 3.6% in US dollars, underperforming its benchmark index which returned 10.7%. Total income in the half drops to USD5.7 million from USD6 million. ---------- By Heather Rydings; heatherrydings@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. May 26 (Reuters) - DP Eurasia, which runs the Domino's Pizza brand in Turkey and Russia, said on Thursday its like-for-like sales jumped 36.1% in the first four months of the year, driven by "excellent" demand in Turkey. Sales at the group's own stores and franchise outlets rose to 1.04 billion Turkish lira ($63.40 million) in the January-April period, with growth of 47.6% on like-for-like basis in Turkey, while Russia saw a decline of 1.5% due to weak rouble. ($1 = 16.4050 liras) (Reporting by Diana Mandia and Federica Mileo; editing by Milla Nissi) LONDON, May 26 (Reuters) - A British judge on Thursday granted Qatar Airways a relatively quick trial against Airbus in a row over jetliner safety but dismissed several procedural claims including a bid by the airline to split the high-profile case into two parts. The companies have been locked in a dispute for months over the airworthiness of Europe's newest long-haul jet after damage to its protective outer skin shattered one of aviation's closest commercial relationships. The judge's decision means Airbus is free to attempt to keep delivering A350s to Qatar Airways, triggering payment clauses, or to try to sell rejected planes to carriers like Air India which industry sources say could step in as a buyer. Qatar Airways asked Britain's High Court to split the trial and order Airbus to perform a deeper analysis of issues affecting a system for protecting the planes against lightning, which on average hits commercial jets once a year. It also sought to prevent Airbus attempting to deliver more of its A350 jets to the emirate or re-selling any undelivered aircraft to other airlines while the dispute drags on. The judge rejected both those demands, but agreed to Qatar's request for a speedy trial on the main safety and contractual dispute, adding an indicative window from June next year in what could be a three-month summer trial. "I am in absolutely no doubt that this case should be tried as soon as is practically possible," Judge David Waksman said, adding it was in the public interest. Speaking to a courtroom packed with representatives of top law firms, the judge deplored the legal circus surrounding the falling-out between two of aviation's most powerful players. "The costs for both sides are way over the top in my judgment. There is far too much time that is being spent here," Waksman said, as the two sides argued about who should pick up the tab. Qatar has grounded more than 20 A350s after erosion to the painted surface exposed damage or gaps in an anti-lightning mesh sandwiched between the carbon fuselage and painted exterior. The Gulf carrier says this raises questions over the safety of the affected jets and is refusing to take more deliveries pending more analysis, while seeking $1 billion in compensation. Airbus acknowledges quality issues but insists the airplanes are safe and has continued to attempt to force the airline to take delivery of more planes as they are built. Other airlines continue to fly the A350 without grounding them after European regulators said the paint problem did not affect their airworthiness. Privately, senior airline industry officials have told Reuters both sides must find a settlement. The dispute widened in January when Airbus revoked a separate contract with Qatar for smaller A321neo jets. The same judge last month rejected a bid by the airline to reverse this. Airbus claimed partial victory over the preliminary rulings but people close to the airline said the key focus is the trial which could provoke debate on decisions during A350 development. (Alliance News) - AJ Bell PLC shares rose on Thursday after the company reported higher interim revenue, increased assets, and lifted its interim payout. Shares were up 5.4% at 268.98 pence each on Thursday midday in London. The Manchester-based provider of investment services and platforms reported a 17% fall in pretax profit to GBP26.1 million in the six months ended March 31, from GBP31.6 million in the same period a year before. The company blamed this on administrative expenses that jumped 17% to GBP49.0 million from GBP41.9 million, largely due to higher distribution costs. "We expect the rate of increase in distribution costs to moderate over the course of the full year as planned, following the higher activity undertaken in the first half in the lead-up to the tax year end," AJ Bell said. Meanwhile, revenue climbed 2.2% year-on-year to GBP75.5 million from GBP73.9 million. The company attributed this to organic growth in customers and assets under administration. Assets under administration closed at GBP74.1 billion at March 31, up 1.8% from GBP72.8 billion at September 30. AJ declared an interim dividend of 2.78 pence, reflecting a 13% increase from 2.46p. Looking ahead, it expects higher revenue and profit margins in the second half of the year and financial 2023. Further, it expects its full-year pretax profit to be "at least" in line with consensus market expectations. "The long-term structural drivers of growth in the UK investment platform market remain strong with around two-thirds of our estimated GBP3 trillion target market not yet on a platform. We continue to see customers moving onto investment platforms to benefit from increased flexibility and lower costs and we are well positioned to attract an increasing market share with our leading propositions and established brand in both the advised and direct-to-consumer segments," Chief Executive Andy Bell said. By Abby Amoakuh; abbyamoakuh@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's hopes of drawing a line under the partygate row suffered a blow after a string of Tory MPs called for him to quit in the wake of Sue Gray's report. Four Tories have gone public since the publication of the damning report which laid bare the extent of raucous behaviour in No 10 at a time when millions were forced to cut off contact with loved ones during coronavirus lockdowns. Former minister Stephen Hammond and fellow MPs David Simmonds and John Baron spoke out on Thursday, following Julian Sturdy who demanded Johnson's exit on Wednesday. Hammond said he "cannot and will not defend the indefensible" and indicated he had sent a letter of no confidence to the Tory backbench 1922 Committee. "All I can do as a backbencher is speak out and submit a letter," he said. Gray's report detailed events at which officials sang karaoke, drank so much they were sick, became involved in altercations and abused security and cleaning staff. Under Conservative Party rules, there must be a vote on the prime minister's future if 54 MPs write to the chair of the backbench 1922 Committee, Graham Brady, saying they have lost confidence in their leader. A total of 20 Tory MPs have so far publicly called for his resignation, with many critics of Johnson holding back due to the war in Ukraine. Brady keeps the number of letters he has received a closely guarded secret, so it could be higher than the public declarations of discontent. Simmonds, the MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner his constituency is next to Johnson's said: "It is clear that while the government and our policies enjoy the confidence of the public, the prime minister does not. "Accordingly, it is time for him to step down so that new leadership can take forward the important work of the government in ensuring that our people and country prosper." Baron accused Johnson of misleading Parliament, and said he "no longer enjoys my support." "Given the scale of rule-breaking in No 10, I can not accept that the prime minister was unaware," he said. "Therefore, his repeated assurances in Parliament that there was no rule-breaking is simply not credible. "Having always said I would consider all the available evidence before deciding, I'm afraid the prime minister no longer enjoys my support I can no longer give him the benefit of the doubt." His comments echoed Sturdy, who said in the hours following the Gray report's publication on Wednesday: "I am now unable to give the prime minister the benefit of the doubt and feel it is in the public interest for him to resign." The publication of Gray's report followed the conclusion of the Metropolitan Police's Operation Hillman investigation into parties in No 10 and Whitehall. The force handed out 126 fines for rule breaches in No 10 and Whitehall, with the prime minister receiving a single fixed-penalty notice for his birthday party in June 2020. Acting Met Police chief Stephen House defended the way the inquiry was conducted following criticism of the way Johnson avoided further penalties for parties he attended particularly after photos were released showing him raising a toast with a glass of wine at a leaving do for aide Lee Cain. House told the London Assembly: "I accept that many of the photographs we are seeing look bad and Sue Gray's report has dealt with that. "We deal with the law, not what looks bad. And just because there is alcohol present, can I just remind people that the Covid regulations are about breaching Covid regulations, they're not about whether there's drink there or not." He insisted Scotland Yard had "not shied away from issuing a fixed-penalty notice where we thought it was deserved". Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said Johnson had "set the bar so low as Prime Minister". She told Loose Women on ITV: "I think one of the problems now is that he's been proven to be a liar and somebody who is incompetent in office, certainly at a time when we had the pandemic. "I think it does create a problem when you've set the bar so low as the prime minister of a country that you can literally break the law in office, and then it's like, 'oh, well, sorry, I didn't know about it. Everybody else is to blame'." source: PA Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Spain will buy monkeypox vaccine, the health minister said, as the number of cases in the country reached 55. Health Minister Carolina Darias said the government would purchase Imvanex vaccine, which is made by the Danish company Bavarian Nordic, but she did not specify the number of doses. "We are going to distribute the vaccine proportionally among the (17 Spanish regions)," Darias told a news conference in Madrid. Of Spain's total of cases, 51 have been reported in the region of Madrid, most of them traced to an adult sauna that was shuttered last week, with the other four cases in the Canary Islands. A few cases in both regions were linked to a 10-day Gay Pride festival in Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, where 80,000 people gathered at the beginning of May, regional authorities in Madrid and Gran Canaria said. In neighbouring Portugal, the DGS health authority confirmed 10 new cases of monkeypox in the country on Wednesday, bringing its total to 49. The two Iberian countries have been among the main hotspots of the recent outbreak of the usually mild viral disease outside its endemic areas in parts of west and central Africa. DGS said all confirmed cases had been found in men, most under age 40. No one has been hospitalised. Madrid has also identified several private residences where transmission of the monkeypox virus occurred, and some of them had been visited by people from Britain, said a spokesperson for the regional administration. British authorities were the first to report monkeypox cases in the recent outbreak on May 7. Most of the infections detected globally so far in the outbreak have not been severe. Many, but not all, have been reported in men who have sex with men. Symptoms include fever and a distinctive bumpy rash. On Wednesday, a Virginia judge ruled against TMZ, allowing its former employee to testify in Johnny Depp's shocking defamation case against Amber Heard. During a lunch break in the Fairfax trial, Judge Penney Azcarate denied the gossip site's emergency motion to prevent Depp from calling former field assignment manager Morgan Tremaine as a rebuttal witness. TMZ had argued that Tremaine should not be forced to reveal information about a source who provided him with a video of Depp yelling at Heard and slamming cabinet doors, which ran on the site in 2016, according to court documents. "We are requesting intervention to protect the relationship and their sources," TMZ attorney Charles Tobin told the judge. Elaine Bredehoft, Heard's lawyer, also objected to Tremaine's testimony, claiming he should have been identified as a witness earlier in the case. However, Depp's lawyer, Ben Chew, pointed out that Tremaine had not been subpoenaed and would be testifying of his own free will. Former TMZ staffer responds when being accused of wanting his '15 minutes of fame" Elaine Bredehoft, Amber Heard's lawyer, asked former TMZ staffer Morgan Tremaine on cross-examination if he reached out to help with the case for publicity. "So this gets you your 15 minutes of fame?"Bredehoft inquired. "I have nothing to gain from this. "I'm actually putting myself in the crosshairs of TMZ, which is a very litigious organization," Tremaine responded. "I'd say the same thing if you took Amber Heard on as a client." The courtroom exploded into laughter after that rebuttal. New York, US (PANA) - Conflict continues to inflict widespread civilian death and injury, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Wednesday, outlining the grim reality for those caught up in the crossfire of war Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba, says preparations for parliamentary elections will start from June, suggesting that elections will take place at the end of this year Flying Tigers veterans urge U.S.-China cooperation to address present-day challenges Xinhua) 11:33, May 26, 2022 WASHINGTON, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. veterans who fought air campaigns in the 1940s to help the Chinese defeat Japanese aggression called for the wartime spirit of friendship and cooperation between the two countries to address the present-day challenges facing all humankind. Robert Moore and Harry Moyer were pilots of the Flying Tigers -- a volunteer air unit organized by the U.S. government to fight alongside the Chinese army and people against the Japanese invasion during World War II. They recently sent letters to Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang, less than two months after Qin and the two veterans attended an event in Washington marking the 80th anniversary of the Flying Tigers' air defense of China. "The term 'Flying Tigers' means so much more than just those two words. It was coined at a terrible time in Chinese history," Moyer wrote in his letter. "China and America were allies then, great friends, and together drove the invaders from the land and sky." "I understand the soul of the Tiger does not die as other animals do but lives on. So too should we look at that relationship as an example of how our two countries worked together to overcome great challenges," he said. Moore said that the dangers of today's world, from environmental degradation to the spread of contagious diseases, are affecting every human on earth. "That is why we must work together, cooperatively and in the spirit of friendship. Our lives may depend on it." "Too many nations are still acting like schoolboys arguing over marbles on the playground," Moore said. "I believe that China and the United States, two countries with a history of cooperation can be an example for the rest of the world. Real changes must come from those in positions of authority who are willing to lead and have the desire for a better world," he said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) 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 Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Thank you for subscribing! By signing up to this free newsletter you agree to receive occasional emails from us informing you about our products and services. You can opt out of these emails at any time. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate VILLA CLARA, Cuba (AP) A vessel carrying more than 800 Haitians trying to reach the United States wound up instead on the coast of central Cuba, in what appeared to be the largest group seen yet in a swelling exodus from crisis-stricken Haiti. Red Cross officials in the province of Villa Clara said Wednesday that the 842 Haitians were being housed at a tourist campground. The group arrived Tuesday at Villa Blanca, about 300 kilometers (180 miles) east of Havana, and reportedly included 70 children and 97 women. The Haitians said they called for help with light signals after being abandoned and cast adrift by their captain. We were on Tortuga Island for two months waiting for the trip until last Saturday, when at five in the morning they took us to the boat, 19-year-old Joyce Paul, who arrived on the boat, told The Associated Press. In the following days, 15 people threw themselves into the sea because they couldnt stand hunger," Paul said. "There was a herring for (each) 15 people and they gave us water. Paul was traveling with an uncle, his wife and a baby at a cost of $4,000 per person. The family said the captain abandoned them early Tuesday on a separate small boat after taking their cellphones. The ship was listing. With a flashlight, they managed to draw the attention of people on Cuba's coast. While the number of migrants on this single vessel seemed unprecedented, the U.S. Coast Guard and other nations have reported intercepting several boats carrying well over 100 Haitians in recent months. It is not unusual for currents and winds to carry Haitians to Cuba, which borders most of the sea path between Haiti and the U.S. Cuba returns most of the arriving migrants to Haiti. A crumbling economy and a spike in gang-related violence and kidnappings in Haiti has prompted thousands of Haitians to flee their country in the past year. Human rights activists in Haiti say those fleeing believe they are safer taking the risk on an overcrowded boat than staying in their country. U.S. authorities say the number of Haitian migrants detained in and around U.S. jurisdictions in the Caribbean has doubled. On Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard said it stopped a sail freighter carrying 153 Haitian migrants near the Florida Keys. Earlier this month, the Coast Guard rescued 36 Haitian migrants and found 11 others dead all women after a boat capsized northwest of Puerto Rico. The rescue came just days after 68 migrants were rescued in treacherous waters between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. In April, the U.S. Coast Guard spotted more than 130 Haitian migrants aboard a boat near the Bahamas. A month prior, 140 migrants landed in the Florida Keys. U.S. Coast Guard crews have interdicted about 4,500 Haitians since October. Many were trying to come ashore in the Florida Keys in overloaded vessels. More than 3,000 of those migrants have been found since mid-March, signaling the pace has been picking up in the spring. Meanwhile, Cuba's government reported a group of 292 Haitians had reached the province of Ciego de Avila in February. Maximo Luz, a journalist with Telecubanacan broadcaster, said that adverse navigation conditions brought the latest group of Haitians to Cuba, where they sought the help of border guard troops. The national news site Cubadebate showed images of a gray vessel packed with people and of rescue workers carrying some of the Haitians for treatment. Miguel Angel Fernandez, head of the Red Cross in Villa Clara province, said the 842 Haitians had received medical attention and first aid. They are in quarantine, Fernandez told AP, indicating that they would remain there for three to five days. Arletys Ramos, a municipal epidemiology director, said Haitians are monitored in relation to diseases such as COVID-19, malaria and cholera, although no one among the group was seriously ill. ___ Associated Press writer Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed to this report. A Freer man is accusing the federal government of potentially using eminent domain to take his land for "pennies on the dollar" after negotiations to buy the land fell through. Jacob Cantu, the owner of J.A. Cantu Ranch, told Laredo Morning Times the government is potentially planning to force the sale of 30 acres of his land for around $67,500 after he refused to sell it to them for $750,000 due to their insistence on building an open-field gun range. He says this would impact not only his hunting business on the remaining portions of his land but also introduce a safety risk to his family. "I worked very hard to acquire this property," Cantu said. "I saved my money for years and managed to buy this land, and I feel like it's just being ruined now." Eminent domain refers to the power of the government to take private property and convert it into public use. The Fifth Amendment provides that the government may only exercise this power if they give just compensation to the property owners. Cantu claims the move by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency will eventually place a helipad and an open-field gun range on his property, which sits in Duval County on the outskirts of Freer. In addition to the concerns over his business and family's safety, he says this would also devalue his land. According to Cantu, the ordeal began two years ago when he was contacted by a representative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who asked if he would be willing to sell his property for the building of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection station. Cantu said he would be interested in selling approximately 30 acres for $25,000 per acre, or $750,000. He said access to water made it prime commercial property, and he would consider selling under the condition the station would not include a gun range. After declaring he would be interested in selling, a right of entry for survey and site assessment was delivered and signed by Cantu which allowed government staff to enter. The document said it was irrevocable for 24 months starting from June 4, 2020 and would allow government employees and contractors the right to enter the property giving Cantu notification prior to entry to conduct environmental assessments and property surveys. This included the right to temporarily store, move and remove necessary equipment and supplies, survey, stake out, appraise, bore, and take soil and water samples. "They didnt talk about eminent domain, Cantu said. "And when I received the offer thats when it finally says, Oh by the way, if you dont take our offer, we are going to take your property for condemnation.'" The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the CBP could not be reached for comment in regards to this story. The initial offer was dated April 19, 2021 and stated it represented a market derived determination of value. In compliance with federal law and the implementing regulations, we have determined this amount to be $67,500. This amount is based on such factors as the lands location, highest value use and any improvement(s) that have been made to the property, wrote a CBP Real Estate, Environmental and Leasing Management Office representative. The April letter does not indicate any language regarding eminent domain or condemnation. The first mention of eminent domain came in a letter sent in October. On Oct. 6, 2021, Cantu received a letter from the CBP stating the 30 acres were identified as a necessary site for a successful operation "related to CBP construction of tactical infrastructure projects." It states that after negotiations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stalled, the government sent the letter as a final communication for an agreeable purchase. Cantu was given until Oct. 20 to respond and negotiate, or the matter would be referred to the Department of Justice to file a condemnation action a formal act by the authority with eminent domain power to transfer title from a private property owner to the condemning party, according to Dawson and Sodd PLLLC in federal court to acquire the property interests. The letter came after Cantu told the U.S. Army Corps in an email he was not interested in selling his property on June 3, 2021, a year after the ordeal began. Cantu referenced a 2018 LMT report, stating that in spite of the $33 million investment for upgrades to a CBP Freer station, he was only offered $67,500 for his land. The report stated CBP's plans for Freer are to replace the existing facility with a new, 27,000-square-foot LEED-certified space. The building would support 250 Border Patrol agents, parking for 120 vehicles and a 12-vehicle impound lot, a secure entryway, kennels, a fueling island, a car wash, facility maintenance space, an all-terrain vehicle shed facility for 10 ATVs, and a vehicle maintenance facility. There was no mention of a gun range or helipad. Meanwhile, Cantu provided conversations between himself and the Army Corps representative, saying the representative was aware of the interest to sell dissolving after the lengthy process and the lower offering price. The June 2021 correspondence sees Cantu emailing the Army Corps representative saying he would no longer be interested in selling his property to the Border Patrol and asking for a letter guaranteeing they would not go through with the sale. Cantu wrote that government staff would not be needed to fix any damages, only to end the deal. The Army Corps of Engineer representative wrote back, I am sorry sir for the inconvenience. I will be sharing this, someone should be in contact with you soon about restoring your property back to its normal state. I am very sorry. This was followed by a subsequent email June 7 reiterating Cantus position. This came at approximately the one-year mark since the right of entry was signed. An email dating March 7, 2022 by Cantu to the Army Corps representative showcased Cantu's frustration. It can be read below: "I received a letter from USBP. It says if I have any questions to reach out to you. I called you a few days ago and you have not returned my call. The phone number on the letter is a number that will not go through as well. How are you going to condemn my land if you won't even return a call? "I don't understand how you can condemn my property when you told me in the beginning that I could get out of this at any time ... is this how the government operates? "You also told me that your bosses were willing to pay more than what you offered? We talked about 50-100k per acre, and you said they were OK with that number, so that is why I moved forward. "Please explain how you can tell me you will give me what I want per acre and then send me a letter offering considerably less, and now you plan on condemning my property because I won't accept the offer, when you told me at the beginning, I could get out of this at any time. I even have text messages where I said, 'I may not want to sell' and you replied, 'Yes sir. Once you get the letter just reply however you would like. making a counteroffer to see where we can get would be best, but IT IS YOUR CHOICE.' "It sounds like you play games and tell people what they want to hear and then steal the property for nothing. My property was not even the first choice." When the United States military calls on its members to serve, people will answer no matter how many times they've already served. Stephen Young, the director of Huron County Veterans Affairs, has been called to active military duty with the Michigan Army National Guard. Young anticipates that he will be activated on or around July 1, and stay on active duty until approximately September 2023. He was informed of this late last year. Its just a normal Department of Defense rotation, Young described it. Young has been part of the Michigan Army National Guard since 1992 and has been called to service on three previous instances. The first was right after 9/11 and he was deployed to the Detroit Airport for six months, the second was from 2008-09 when he was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait, and the third was from 2011-12 when he was deployed to Afghanistan. While Young did not exactly say where he will be deployed to, he will be part of Operation Inherent Resolve, which is the U.S. militarys name for its operation against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Syria and Iraq. For National Guard units that get activated to go on rotation, there are one to two months of training and evaluation to make sure they are good to go, approximately nine months doing their mission, then about a month where the soldiers return to the states to go through the demobilization process. Its normally a 12-month rotation, nine with boots on the ground and three months for pre-mobilizing and post-mobilizing, Young said. Young has been part of the Veterans Affairs office since he was hired as a casual employee in 2007, becoming director in 2009. We do anything and everything, Young said. So when veterans come in, we talk to them and determine what kind of benefits they are eligible for. Some services the Veterans Affairs office takes care of include: Helping file disability claims. Helping with non-service connected pensions. Making sure surviving spouses and dependents receive benefits they are eligible for. Administering Huron County burial funds. Being the local agent for the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund. In Youngs place, the Huron County Veterans Council voted that Aaron LaPonsie, another department employee, will serve as acting director of the Huron County Veteran Affairs. Even with me deployed, the office will still be running as normal, Young said. Upon completion of his service, Young will return to the director position. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The father of a child killed by a shooting rampage at a Texas elementary school says police were slow to move in and were unprepared. Javier Cazares is the father of fourth-grader Jacklyn Cazares, one of 19 youngsters who died along with two teachers in a classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Cazares says he raced to school when he heard about the shooting and arrived while police were still massed outside the building. Cazares says he was upset that police weren't charging and raised to idea of going inside himself with several others. However, authorities say the shooter, Salvador Ramos, had fired at a school security officer outside and once in the school he shot at two arriving police officers, who were injured. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw says law enforcement did immediately engage" Ramos and contained him inside the locked classroom. The standoff ended when the 18-year-old shooter was killed by a Border Patrol team. ____ KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TEXAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING: Governor: Texas gunman said he was going to shoot up school Beto ORourke disrupts news conference on shooting Stories are emerging about the lives of the children and teachers killed Many questions remain to be answered ___ IN OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: UVALDE, Texas The rifle used in the Texas elementary school shooting is known as a DDM4 Rifle. Its modeled after the M4 carbine, the U.S. militarys go-to rifle, according to a blog post by the guns maker, Daniel Defense. The Daniel Defense rifle can be classified as an AR-15 type. A key difference between the Daniel Defense rifle and the M4 carbine is that the militarys version can switch to fully automatic or fire a three-round burst depending on the model. AR-15-type rifles can be purchased for as little as $400, but the Daniel Defense rifle is on the high-end of around $2,000 or more. These rifles can also be financed, with customers paying less than $100 a month. The Daniel Defense rifle is not sold with sights. According to pictures of the shooters guns posted on Instagram, he appears to have purchased a battery-powered holographic sight that typically sells for around $725. A snipers scope uses magnification to aid in hitting targets from a great distance. Holographic sights are designed to speed up the process of short-range shooting by helping to fix on targets more quickly. ___ WASHINGTON President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the Second Amendment is not absolute as he called for new limitations on guns in the wake of this weeks massacre at a Texas elementary school. When the amendment was approved, he said, You couldnt own a cannon. You couldnt own certain kinds of weapons. Theres always been limitations. Biden was speaking at the White House before signing an executive order on policing on the second anniversary of George Floyds death. He that he would visit Texas with first lady Jill Biden in the coming days to hopefully bring some little comfort to the community. As a nation, I think we must all be there for them, he said. And we must ask, when it Gods name will we do whats needed to be done." ___ WASHINGTON The State Department says the school shooting in Texas and other mass casualty incidents are hurting Americas standing abroad and giving comfort to U.S. rivals and adversaries. Spokesman Ned Price said Wednesday incidents like these not only cause damage to the U.S. global reputation but also upset and confuse friends and allies who dont understand how they can continue to happen. The fact is that what happens in this country is magnified on the world stage, Price told reporters a day after a gunman killed 19 children and two adults in the Texas school shooting. And countries around the world, people around the world, are going to fixate on what transpires here oftentimes out of envy, but again thats when were at our best. Price said the shootings will have implications for our standing and the U.S. diplomats posted around the world are very mindful of that. He said that despite the State Departments foreign policy focus, the shootings hit American diplomats as a real punch to the gut. ___ A Facebook spokesman says messages posted by the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school were private. Andy Stone says the messages were private one-to-one text messages that were discovered after the terrible tragedy. He says Facebook is cooperating with investigators. Gov. Greg Abbott described the messages at a news conference where he said the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, used an AR-15 in the attack Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. About 30 minutes before the shooting, Ramos sent three social media messages. According to the governor, Ramos posted that he was going to shoot his grandmother, then that he had shot the woman, and finally that he was going to shoot an elementary school. ___ UVALDE, Texas Beto ORourke interrupted a press conference Wednesday about the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, calling the shooting totally predictable when you choose not to do anything. ORourke was escorted out while members of the crowd yelled at him, with one man shouting profanities at ORourke. The Democrat is challenging against Gov. Greg Abbott in this years election. Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said to ORourke: Youre out of line and an embarrassment. ORourke, as he was being escorted out, turned around, faced the stage, pointed his finger and said: This is on you until you choose to do something different. This will continue to happen. Somebody needs to stand up for the children of this state or they will continue to be killed just like they were killed in Uvalde yesterday. Abbott says the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school warned on social media minutes before the attack that he was going to shoot up a school. He says the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, used an AR-15 in the attack Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The news conference was attended by several elected Republican officials. ___ UVALDE, Texas The governor of Texas says the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school warned on social media minutes before the attack that he was going to shoot up a school. Gov. Greg Abbott says the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, used an AR-15 in the attack Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. About 30 minutes before the shooting, Ramos made three social media posts. According to the governor, Ramos posted that he was going to shoot his grandmother, then that he had shot the woman, and finally that he was going to shoot an elementary school. Seventeen people were also injured in the attack. Abbott says Ramos had no known criminal or mental health history. Evil swept across Uvalde yesterday, the Republican governor said at a news conference attended by other Republican political officials. ___ Former President Donald Trump says hell deliver an important address to America at the National Rifle Associations annual convention in Texas on Friday. The Republican leader posted on his social media network Wednesday that America needs real solutions and real leadership in this moment, not politicians and partisanship. Houstons Democratic mayor, Sylvester Turner, says some people want the city to cancel the NRA meeting, but he says they cant break the contract. The greater question, he says, is why politicians still plan to speak there after the shooting in Uvalde. Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz are among other Republicans scheduled to address a leadership forum sponsored by the NRAs lobbying arm. Its about elected officials at the highest level in our state going and speaking and endorsing those policies and thats wrong," Turner said. "And you cant pray and send condolences on one day and then be going and championing guns on the next. ___ BERLIN German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser sharply condemned the Texas school massacre, saying shes shocked by the terrible bloodshed. It is horrific that so many children and a teacher were killed. And it is terrible how powerful the gun lobby still is in the USA despite so many terrible crimes, Faeser tweeted on Wednesday. Germany has a strict weapons law, and its authorities must enforce it decisively, she said. Above all, we must disarm extremists very consistently. Where necessary, we will further tighten gun laws, Faeser said. However, Germany is not immune from school attacks. Last week, a school employee was seriously wounded in a crossbow attack at a high school in Bremerhaven and a suspect was detained. Earlier this month, a 16-year-old was detained for allegedly plotting an attack on a secondary school in Essen after police seized weapons and bomb-making materials from his apartment, authorities said. ___ HARTFORD, Conn. Schools around the country increased security as a precaution after the killings of 19 children and two teachers in Texas. In Connecticut, where the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting killed 20 first graders and six educators, state police said they were sending extra troopers to schools Wednesday, although no specific threats had been received. This assault on the most innocent of our citizens is deeply disturbing and heartbreaking, Connecticut state police Col. Stavros Mellekas said in a statement. At this time, our focus will be on protecting all school populations here in our state. Schools in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Virginia, Maryland and Florida also were among those increasing security and offering counseling. ___ WASHINGTON Majority Leader Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor Wednesday in the aftermath of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting to call out the Republicans decadeslong opposition to gun control legislation. Maybe the thought of putting yourself in the shoes of these parents instead of in the arms of the NRA might let you wriggle free from the vise-like grip of the NRA to act on even a simple measure, the New York Democrat said. For the sake of these children, these 9-year-olds, these 10-year-olds, these 11-year-olds, these beautiful children, please, damn it. The Democrats pleas to Republican colleagues reflect a long history of congressional inaction on gun control since a gunman killed 20 schoolchildren in Newtown, Connecticut, nearly a decade ago. Democratic lawmakers have introduced countless proposals that would have required a background check of the gunman in Texas. All failed to pass, mostly due to the filibuster. Schumer pledged Wednesday to move forward with or without Republican lawmakers. ___ Instagram has confirmed it's working with law enforcement to review an account that appears to belong to the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers in Texas. A series of posts appeared on Instagram and TikTok in the days leading up to Tuesdays shooting. One selfie appears to show the shooter in front of a mirror. Another photo shows a gun magazine in hand. And on Friday, the same day law enforcement officials believe Salvador Ramos bought a second rifle, a picture of two AR-style semi-automatic rifles appeared. Another Instagram user with many more followers was tagged in that post. That user has since removed her profile, but first she shared parts of what appears to be a chilling exchange with Ramos, asking her to share his gun pictures with her more than 10,000 followers. I barely know you and u tag me in a picture with some guns, she responded, adding, Its just scary. A response sent from Ramoss account on Tuesday morning just said: Im about to. Witnesses said the shooting began around 11:30 a.m. ___ UVALDE, Texas The man who killed 19 children and two teachers in Texas bought his guns legally days before the attack and soon after his 18th birthday, a law enforcement briefing said. He bought one AR-style rifle from a federally-licensed gun dealer in the Uvalde area on May 17, according to a state police briefing given to Sen. John Whitmire. The next day, he bought 375 rounds of ammunition, and bought a second rifle on May 20. Officers recovered one of the rifles from Ramos truck and the other was found in the school, according to the briefing. It says Ramos dropped a backpack with several magazines full of ammunition near the school entrance, and that he was wearing a body-armor style vest but that it had no hardened plates inside. ___ Actor Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers on Tuesday. He called on Americans to act now to control an epidemic of mass shootings. Once again, we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us, McConaughey posted on his Instagram account. We cannot exhale once again, make excuses, and accept these tragic realities as the status quo. The actor doesnt describe any specific laws or policies he wants adopted. He doesnt mention gun control. As Americans, Texans, mothers and fathers, its time we re-evaluate, he wrote. We have to rearrange our values and find a common ground. This is an epidemic we can control, and whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better. ___ UVALDE, Texas Uvalde community members arrived early Wednesday at a civic center where families learned the fate of their loved ones the night before. Volunteers arrived with Bibles and therapy dogs. A minister says he prayed with families of victims in a hospital waiting room after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers inside an elementary school classroom in Texas. Uvalde Memorial Hospital said 13 children were taken there. Another hospital reported a 66-year-old woman was in critical condition. Pastor Doug Swimmer of the nondenominational Potters House Church told ABCs Good Morning America on Wednesday that Uvalde is a tight-knit community where people know their neighbors and see them every day. Asked what he said to people whose faith may have been shaken by the mass shooting, Swimmer said I know that one thing that we as Texans understand is that God is still God ... he is able to bring comfort in times of distress. ___ VATICAN CITY Pope Francis has said he's heartbroken about the massacre at an elementary school in Texas. Francis spoke Wednesday during his general audience. He said he was praying for the children and adults killed and their families after a gunman opened fire at an elementary school in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde, Texas, killing at least 19 children and two adults before an officer shot and killed the gunman. ___ UKRAINE Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that he was deeply saddened by the news of the murder of innocent children in Texas. Zelenskyy, in a tweet, sent his condolences to the families of the victims, the people of the U.S. and President Joe Biden after a gunman opened fire Tuesday at an elementary school in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde, Texas, killing at least 19 children and two adults before an officer shot and killed the gunman. zhaojiankang/Getty Images/iStockphoto Memorial Day weekend marks the start of summer travel throughout the country and Michigan is no exception. And whether you're traveling within the state or coming from another, some areas of construction may slow you down on your way to your destination, but other areas may also halt their work for the holiday weekend to make things smoother for motorists. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday the Biden administration aims to lead the international bloc opposed to Russias invasion of Ukraine into a broader coalition to counter what it sees as a more serious, long-term threat to global order from China. In a speech outlining the administrations China policy, Blinken laid out a three-pillar approach to competing with Beijing in a race to define the 21st centurys economic and military balance. While the U.S. sees Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine as the most acute and immediate threat to international stability, Blinken said the administration believes China poses a greater danger. Even as President Putins war continues, we will remain focused on the most serious long-term challenge to the international order and that is the one posed by the Peoples Republic of China, Blinken said. China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it," he said. Beijings vision would move us away from the universal values that have sustained so much of the worlds progress over the past 75 years. Thus, Blinken laid out principles for the administration to marshal its resources, friends and allies to push back on increasing Chinese assertiveness around the world. Although he made clear that the U.S. does not seek to change China's political system, rather it wants to offer a tested alternative. "This is not about forcing countries to choose, its about giving them a choice," he said. However, he also acknowledged that the U.S. has limited ability to directly influence China's intentions and ambitions and will instead focus on shaping the strategic environment around China. We cant rely on Beijing to change its trajectory, Blinken said in the speech, delivered at George Washington University. So we will shape the strategic environment around Beijing to advance our vision for an open and inclusive international system. Blinken's address was delivered overnight in China, and there was no immediate reaction to the speech from the Chinese embassy in Washington. The speech followed President Joe Bidens just-concluded visits to South Korea and Japan, where China loomed large in discussions. Biden raised eyebrows during that trip when he said that the United States would act militarily to help Taiwan defend itself in the event of an invasion by China, which regards the island as a renegade province. The administration scrambled to insist that Biden was not changing American policy, and Blinken restated that the U.S. has not changed its position. Blinken said Washington still holds to its One China policy, which recognizes Beijing but allows for unofficial links with and arms sales to Taipei. Our approach has been consistent across decades and administrations. The United States remains committed to our One China policy. We oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side," he said, adding that we do not support Taiwan independence. Blinken said that while U.S. policy on Taiwan has remained consistent, China's had become increasingly belligerent. He made the case that the global response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine can serve as a template for dealing with China's efforts to mold a new and unpredictable world order to replace the rules and institutions that have guided relations between states since the end of World War II. China, Blinken said, has benefited greatly from that international order but is now trying to subvert it under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party. Rather than using its power to reinforce and revitalize the laws, agreements, principles, and institutions that enabled its success, so other countries can benefit from them, too, Beijing is undermining it, Blinken said. Under President Xi, the ruling Chinese Communist Party has become more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad. Yet, Blinken also decried the rise in anti-Chinese and anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States, saying Chinese Americans and other Asian Americans have the same claim to the U.S. as any other immigrants or their descendants. Investment in domestic U.S. infrastructure and technology along with stepping up diplomatic outreach to potentially vulnerable countries are other elements of the policy and are key to the U.S. approach, Blinken said. In the latest manifestation of Chinas push to expand its reach that has drawn concern from the U.S. and other democracies, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday began an eight-nation tour of Pacific islands during which Beijing hopes to strike a sweeping agreement that covers everything from security to fisheries. Wang opened his tour in the Solomon Islands, which last month signed a security cooperation pact with China that some fear could lead to a Chinese military presence there. The agreement was finalized shortly after the Biden administration announced it would open a U.S. embassy in the Solomons as part of its efforts to engage in the greater Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration has largely kept in place confrontational policies toward China adopted by its predecessor in response to Chinese actions in its western Xinjiang region, Hong Kong, Tibet and the South China Sea. And, while the administration sees areas for working with Beijing, such as combatting climate change, it will not trade cooperation for compromising on its principles regarding human rights and rule of law, Blinken said. MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin's Republican Assembly leader, who will appoint a key member of the state's bipartisan elections commission, said Thursday he was not ruling anybody in or out as he looks to quickly fill a vacancy in the battleground state before the next chair of the panel is chosen. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, in an interview with The Associated Press, also refused to rule out the possibility of appointing the embattled investigator he hired to look into the 2020 election. Im not ruling anybody in or out, Vos said. I would like somebody who has a long track record of experience and somebody who, frankly, hasnt bought into hook, line and sinker the decertification argument that is absolutely impossible to achieve. Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who Vos hired to investigate the election, encouraged lawmakers to look into the possibility of decertifying President Joe Biden's victory but in a closed-door meeting with leadership reported on by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel later conceded that wasn't possible. Gableman did not return a message seeking comment. Vos said intended to appoint someone before the commission's June 10 meeting where a new chair will be selected. The commission delayed a vote Wednesday after Vos's current appointee, Dean Knudson, abruptly announced he was resigning under pressure from Republicans who are angry because he believes Donald Trump lost to Biden fair and square. The next chair will hold the position heading into the November election with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson on the ballot. They will also be chair in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. The chair by state law approves the vote canvass following elections and certifies results. The chair also sets the agenda for the commission and can exert influence over how questions are framed, an important power on the board that is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. Vos told the AP that he had no litmus test for who he selects, and didnt have anyone in mind, but he was leaning toward naming an experienced attorney. Im looking for somebody to be a very well-qualified choice that people will look at and say, Thats a good decision, Vos said. He said he hopes whoever he names would oppose dissolving the commission, something that every Republican running for governor says they support. Vos said he has been approached by people who are interested in serving, but he declined to name them. State Sen. Kathy Bernier, who is chairman of the Senate elections committee, a former county elections clerk and is retiring this year, said she called Vos to express her interest. He has not returned my call, Bernier said. She has been an outspoken critic of Gableman's investigation and Republicans who believe the election was stolen from Trump. Bernier said no one is more qualified than her, but she doubts Vos would select her. I know that the Trumpian people will go crazy, but then again they're a minority among Republicans, Bernier said. Vos was booed at last week's Wisconsin Republican Party convention when he said that Bidens victory in Wisconsin could not be decertified. About a third of convention attendees later voted to approve a resolution calling for Vos to resign or be removed from office. Vos has felt pressure from Trump and the right wing of his party over how he reacted to Biden's win in Wisconsin. State law requires the next chair to one of two Republican members either Vos's yet-to-be-named appointee or Bob Spindell. He wants the post, but no Democrat is likely to support him. At least one Democratic vote is needed to elect the chair. Spindell has taken many positions on the commission that have angered Democrats He was also one of 10 Republicans who cast Electoral College votes for Trump in Wisconsin, even though Trump lost. He and the other fake GOP electors were sued last week. Knudson said at Wednesday's meeting he was pressured from top Republicans to not run for chair because he wasn't conservative enough. Knudson said Thursday it wasn't Vos who pressured him. When asked if it was Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, Knudson said: I think it's always best for you to ask him directly to speak for himself. Johnson's spokeswoman Alexa Henning said that Johnson told Vos that Dean Knudson had lost the confidence of the grassroots Republicans in representing their interests on the Wisconsin Elections Commission. She said Johnson never suggested he resign. Despite the findings that the 2020 election was free of widespread fraud, the commission has come under intense criticism from Republicans for a host of decisions it made leading up to the contest. Connecticut drivers are reminded to be on alert this long holiday weekend because Memorial Day tends to be not only one of the busiest weekends in terms of travel but also deadly. Between 2011 and 2020, 44 people were killed in crashes in Connecticut during the Memorial Day weekend, which runs from Thursday evening through early Monday, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nationwide, more than 5,600 people were killed in Memorial Day weekend accidents in the last decade, according to the NHTSA. Memorial Day weekend is considered one of the busiest travel times in Connecticut, state Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti said. Vehicle crashes are rising to unprecedented levels, and people continue traveling way too fast. I urge motorists to put down the cellphone, buckle up, slow down and always drive sober. The most fatal car accidents in the state occur from May through August, peaking with 192 car deaths in August since 2015, according to the DOT crash emphasis area dashboard. May is the fourth deadliest month for car crashes, according to the data. Since 2015, there have been 177 car fatalities in Connecticut in May. Connecticut State Police are also gearing up for the holiday weekend, heightening their search for people driving under the influence as the start of summer is often associated with drinking, according to a State Police statement. Traditionally, Memorial Day weekend is the start to activities related to beaches, backyards and barbecues. State troopers are standing by to ensure that highways are free of hazardous drivers as residents drive to their destinations, the statement said. Troopers from each of the agencys 11 troops will be conducting extra roving DUI patrols from the evening of May 26 through the evening of May 30. Its a great time to spend be with friends and family, so troopers ask you to utilize lawful driving skills and plan for traffic delays as more drivers venture out, the statement said. The number of accidents over Memorial Day weekend has varied widely in recent years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, state police investigated 341 accidents, 52 of which included injuries and one of which was fatal, according to the statement. Troopers responded to 7,540 calls for service and issued 2,242 violations, 607 for speeding and 448 seatbelt violations, according to the statement. The remaining violations include texting and driving, following too closely and unsafe lane change, among other violations. And 20 driving under the influence arrests were made, according to state police. In 2020, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the months prior, the amount of traffic and the number of accidents dropped significantly. State police investigated 175 accidents in 2020, none of which were fatal, according to the statement. However, more calls for service were received and more DUI arrests were made, police said. In 2020, police received 7,963 calls for service, issued 2,017 violations and made 33 DUI arrests, according to the statement. Speeding violations were also up in 2020, with nearly 1,000 tickets administered, police said. Last year, Memorial Day weekend accidents rose again to 377, with 56 injuries and one fatality, according to the statement. Calls for service dipped to 5,636, and DUI arrests went down to 30. Troopers at Troop D in Danielson, will be conducting a DUI/sobriety checkpoint on Friday evening on Route 44 in the vicinity of Route 21 in Putnam. The Troop D troopers will work in conjunction with troopers from the Traffic Services Unit to conduct this checkpoint to ensure the highest possible degree of safety for motorists during the holiday period. Holiday traffic is expected to return near pre-COVID levels this weekend, according to AAA. Road travel is expected to increase by nearly 5 percent compared to last year, which represents approximately 93 percent of prepandemic vehicle travel, a DOT statement said. To help with the flow of traffic, no DOT maintenance or construction will be conducted from Friday through Tuesday morning on the states limited-access highways, according to the statement. Every year, hundreds of Americans hit the road on Memorial Day weekend but dont make it home to their families after a traffic crash, said Alec Slatky, AAAs director of public health and government affairs for the Northeast. A car is a multi-ton weapon when operated recklessly, and drivers must be sober, avoid distractions, and travel at a safe speed so they dont endanger themselves and others. Even small changes in speed can make a big difference in crash severity, he said. abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com CROMWELL This week, Republicans from Cromwell and Portland unanimously endorsed state Rep. Christie Carpino, D-Cromwell, whose responsibility also includes Portland. Delegates gathered at the Portland Library and asked Carpino to continue her work serving Cromwell and Portland in Hartford, according to a press release. I believe in public service, and the privilege of representing my neighbors at the state level is one that will never be lost on me, said Carpino, who is caucus chairwoman of the minority party in the Connecticut House of Representatives Public health and safety, protections for our children and the most vulnerable citizens among us, and an affordable state with solid paying jobs are what matters most to residents. These are the issues that will remain my top priorities. I truly believe that we can find bipartisan solutions to improve Connecticut, Carpino added. Ryan Curley, First Selectman of Portland, nominated the lawmaker. Steve Fortenbach, deputy mayor of Cromwell, seconded her nomination and praised her common-sense approach, the statement said. The 32nd District has a state representative that understands the heartbeat of our community. Christie is very involved in our towns, and her voting record reflects that involvement, Jen Donohue said in the news release. Donohue is a delegate to the convention and Town Council member in Cromwell. Carpino can be reached at info@carpino2022.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MIDDLETOWN Xavier High School class of 2022 valedictorian Aidan Higgins of Rockfall and salutatorian Matthew OConnor of Cromwell, whose grades place them at the top of their class, were honored during commencement May 21. Higgins has an overall 4.32 GPA, with more A-pluses on his transcript than any other senior, according to a press release. Among his many honors and distinctions, he is a National Merit Scholarship finalist, a member of six honor societies, and was enrolled in six Advanced Placement classes this year. He still found time to participate in the Philosophy Club, Ryken Service Society and serve as editor-in-chief of The Kestrel, the school newspaper, the news release said. He founded Keep-Up News, a website he runs. Higgins also started Xaviers chapter of the Surfrider Club, a national organization that fights for coastal preservation, clean water, and plastic-free marine environments. In the past two years, Higgins has coordinated numerous Shoreline pickups that have led to hundreds of pounds of trash being removed, the school said. Higgins will attend Harvard and major in English Literature. Aidan has been something of an everyman during his time at Xavier, Principal Brendan Donohue said in a prepared statement. Outstanding intellect is just one of his many gifts. Our school newspaper has been blessed with his writing and editing ability, and he leaves Xavier a lasting legacy of the Surfrider Club, which he was instrumental in starting. I know he will impact Harvard University in many positive ways for the next four years, Donohue added. OConnor is a member of six honor societies, including president of the National Honor Society as well as the Math Honor Society. He is a National Commended Student and Distinguished Scholar. Outside of the classroom, OConnor participated in the Empower Leadership Program, Math Team and Robotics Team. He was captain of robotics, a club that now has more than 50 members, multiple teams competing, and 10 adult mentors, the statement said. OConnor will attend the University of Connecticut and study actuarial science. He has also earned a STEM Presidential Scholarship. Matt has humbly gone about his Xavier career, amassing an impressive list of stellar accomplishments, Donohue said. His academic success is only part of the story. I am grateful for the many gifts he has shared with the community over the years, most especially to our Robotics Team, which he helped lead to statewide recognition. He will find great success at the University of Connecticut, the principal added. TORRINGTON State Rep. Michelle L. Cook, D-Torrington, has raised enough money to qualify for the Connecticut Citizens Election Program as she seeks an eighth term in the 65th District, she said. This program, administered by the State Elections Enforcement Commission, offers public campaign financing to candidates who meet certain fundraising qualifications. Thank you to all the Torrington residents who donated to help ensure the people of the 65th House Districts voices are heard in Hartford, said Cook. I cant do this job alone, and it is incredibly meaningful to have my communitys support as I seek re-election. Over the past several years, weve been able to accomplish so much for Torrington and Connecticut. During her tenure in the state House of Representatives, Cook has advocated for issues concerning access to health care, lowering prescription drug costs, nursing home staffing and issues affecting senior citizens. In the 2021 legislative session, Cook introduced and led the passage of legislation allowing dependents to remain on their parent or guardians dental and vision insurance policy through the age of 26, according to a statement, as well as legislation prohibiting health insurers from removing prescription medications from their list of covered drugs, or moving a drug to a higher cost sharing tier during a plan year. Cook also championed legislation to prevent insurers from implementing costly copay accumulator programs, according to the statement. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cook introduced legislation to establish a bill of rights for nursing home residents. Her legislation allows residents in Connecticuts nursing homes and assisted living facilities to treat their quarters as their homes and use technology for virtual visits with loved ones. Cook said she consistently has been an ally to Torrington schools, parents and students, working to increase state education funding for local schools including Oliver Wolcott Technical High School. Cook was one of the architects of legislation to create the state Office of Dyslexia to create new learning resources for students with dyslexia, according to the statement. In recognition of her work in the General Assembly, Cook has been named Legislator of the Year by Healthcare at Home, the Northwest Regional Mental Health Board, the Substance Abuse Action Council, and the Connecticut Oral Health Initiative, among others. Cook has served as a member of Friendly Hands Food Bank, YMCA, and NWCT Learning Center Board of Directors, as well as being a Prime Time House Advisory Board member and a member of the Litchfield County Opiate Task Force, her statement said. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told students at the Air Force Academy graduation Wednesday to serve their community and be honorable, a message that comes as the service academy deals with the aftermath of a widespread cheating scandal and vaccine refusals among cadets. During his speech in Colorado Springs, Austin said the country will expect a lot of the new airmen and Guardians. "We're here to defend America's security and win America's wars," Austin said. "But we're also here to safeguard America's values. So that means a love of service to your classmates, to your community and to your country. It means that you will never lie, cheat or steal." Read Next: 22 Cadets Leave, Hundreds Put on Probation After 2020 Air Force Academy Cheating Scandal Austin's advice to not "lie, cheat or steal" comes after it was revealed last month that 22 students were expelled or chose to resign from the academy after widespread cheating in 2020, when the school transitioned to remote learning during the pandemic. In total, 245 students were suspected of cheating, and 231 of them admitted they had violated the school's honor code. Of those, 210 cadets were put on six-month probation and could not represent the academy at any sporting events or competitions nor participate in any school clubs. They also were required to undergo additional ethics training and instruction. Every student who was placed on probation has since completed it. Austin also mentioned how the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on the world, as well as the aspiring military officers at the academy. "Graduating from this academy is hard enough without a global pandemic," he said. "And graduating after years of being clouded by COVID shows serious courage and character, and I know it's been a time of challenge and loss for many of you. ... What counts is how you respond to hard times." Late last week, the Air Force Academy announced that three cadets who had refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19 would be allowed to graduate from the service academy but would not join the ranks. "While they will receive a degree, they will not be commissioned into the United States Air Force as long as they remain unvaccinated," a press release from the academy said. A four-year education at the Air Force Academy is valued at $416,000, according to the school's website. In the past, the academy has had cadets repay their tuition if they leave by their junior or senior year or under some disciplinary circumstances. It's not yet clear whether the three cadets who are refusing to get vaccinated will have to reimburse the academy. "A decision to reimburse the United States for education costs in lieu of service will be made by the Secretary of the Air Force," the Air Force Academy said in a press release last week. On Wednesday, 957 cadets graduated from the service academy -- 863 were commissioned into the Air Force, and 94 were commissioned into the Space Force. "You have answered our country's call, with courage and commitment, with tenacity and teamwork, with strength and sacrifice," Austin said. "With outstanding leaders like the class of 2022, the future of our country is bright." -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: Air Force Will End Program That Allowed Some Airmen to Choose Their Next Duty Station The Navy's top uniformed leader told Congress that the U.S. government should consider selling ships from its troubled littoral combat fleet it plans to decommission to countries in South America. The Navy has faced sharp criticism for its latest plan to decommission all of its Freedom-class littoral combat ships. The youngest ship, USS St. Louis (LCS-19), was commissioned less than two years ago in August 2020. "We should consider offering these ships to other countries that would be able to use them effectively," Adm. Michael Gilday said when asked by Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., about the Navy's plan to decommission nine of the ships in its upcoming budget proposal at a Senate committee hearing Thursday. Read Next: Senator Wants DoD Climate Change Goals Locked into Law "There are countries in South America, as an example ... that would be able to use these ships that have small crews," Gilday added while speaking to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. The Freedom-class variant was found to have a major flaw with its combining gear -- a piece of equipment that transfers power from the ship's engines to its water jets -- early last year, leading to the decision to decommission the ships. "The Navy owes a public apology to American taxpayers for wasting tens of billions of dollars on ships they now say serve no purpose," Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., wrote in a tweet posted in March when the plans were announced. Gilday acknowledged the equipment flaw, but said the Navy had other reasons for getting rid of the ships. "While the mechanical issues were a factor, a bigger factor was the lack of sufficient warfighting capability against a peer competitor in China," he explained Thursday, echoing other Navy officials going back several months. One key factor that Gilday and other Navy leaders have pointed to as dooming the ships was that the anti-submarine warfare package that was developed for the ships didn't work. Despite the issues the Freedom class has faced, one area they have seen success is in southern waters conducting counter-narcotics missions. In October 2021, the Navy announced the USS Sioux City seized almost 500 kilograms of suspected cocaine, which the service noted "has an estimated street value of over $20.7 million." "So, instead of just considering scrapping as the single option, I think there are others that we can look at," Gilday said. Moran appeared open to the idea of re-selling the decommissioned ships, telling Gilday that "if your team would be interested in having a conversation with my team about the suggestion that you made, please pursue." The Navy currently has six more Freedom-class littoral combat ships in various stages of construction. USNI News, citing Navy officials, reported in late March that the service will still take delivery and plans to use them in South America and the Middle East. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Navy Names the Ships It Wants Scrapped as Congressional Protests Grow A new commander for U.S. military and NATO forces in Europe is cruising toward an easy confirmation by the Senate amid U.S. efforts to support Ukraine's war against Russian invaders. At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday to consider Gen. Christopher Cavoli's nomination to be the next head of U.S. European Command and NATO's supreme allied commander, senators from both parties lined up to praise his record as exactly what's needed during Europe's largest ground war since World War II. "I would say you are [Russian President] Vladimir Putin's worst nightmare and couldn't be more qualified than probably any other member of the military," Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said after asking Cavoli to "brag a little bit" about his record on Russia. Read Next: Senator Wants DoD Climate Change Goals Locked into Law "I think you've demonstrated quite clearly why you should be confirmed," added committee Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., as he wrapped up the hearing. Cavoli right now serves as the commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, a position he's held since October 2020. His resume also includes focusing on Russia in the foreign area officer program, serving as Russia director on the Joint Staff and getting a master's degree from Yale University in Russian and Eastern European studies. If confirmed, Cavoli would succeed Gen. Tod Wolters, who has been at the helm of U.S. European Command since May 2019. Cavoli would take control of U.S. forces in Europe at a time when their number has swelled to more than 100,000 in response to Russia's three-month-old invasion of Ukraine. In his dual hat as supreme allied commander, Cavoli would also lead NATO forces at a time when the alliance is managing ripple effects from the war in Ukraine. In particular, Sweden and Finland recently formally applied to join the alliance, spurred by fears they could be Russia's next target. Cavoli told senators that Sweden and Finland's militaries would both bring "quite a bit of capability and capacity" to the alliance. Further, he said, with those two countries in the alliance, all but a few kilometers of Baltic Sea coastline would be NATO territory. "Finland has a large army, well-equipped, very well-trained, very quickly expansible, exercised very frequently, and absolutely expert in defending the borderline that it's had with Russia," he said, also highlighting Finland's recent decision to buy F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. "Sweden's the same thing. A smaller army, but a very capable army and an army that's growing. ... Critically, they bring a navy in the Baltic Sea, which will be of enormous military significance to the alliance." Fears have also grown of global famine as Russia blocks grain exports from leaving Ukraine's Black Sea ports. Cavoli told senators that he's already seeing effects of the grain shortage in Africa in his current role. "I was recently in Kenya, and there was a significant impact there already. We know that in other countries such as Tunisia, the prices have skyrocketed for basic foodstuffs," he said. "It's of great concern. In many cases, these are countries that don't need an additional challenge, and those additional challenges, we will have to help them with at some point." He did not get into specifics on what U.S. forces could do to counter Russia's Black Sea presence, but said, "Clearly, the current events in the Black Sea region are going to require us to go back and make sure that we adjust everything for the result of this conflict." Beyond the current crisis of the war in Ukraine, Cavoli would also have to manage the long-standing difficulties getting NATO countries to meet the goal of spending 2% of their gross domestic product on defense, a goal set in 2014 that eight of 30 countries were meeting as of 2021. Several countries have announced plans to spend more on defense following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but some Republican U.S. lawmakers, following former President Donald Trump's "America First" platform, continue to complain that Europe is not doing enough to defend itself. Asked whether NATO's defense spending goal should be higher than 2% of GDP, Cavoli said he agrees that number should be a "floor, not a ceiling." "I know all of the land forces chiefs in NATO. Each one of them has a list of requirements. The requirements would all take more than 2% of GDP," Cavoli said. "So I am an advocate of spending more than 2%." -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: US, Allies 'Intensifying' Effort to Arm Ukraine with New Types of Weapons, Austin Says As the military services roll out their climate change plans, a key senator is pushing to ensure the goals are met by enshrining them in law. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and an Army National Guard veteran, is introducing a bill Thursday that would set renewable energy goals for the Defense Department that match targets the military services have announced in recent months. It's important to codify the goals, Duckworth said, "so that it isn't dependent on who happens to be secretary of defense." Read Next: Cuts to Cost-of-Living Allowances 'Make It Hard Just to Exist,' Military Families in Germany Say "We don't want a project to get underway and then for it to wane," Duckworth added in a phone interview with Military.com. "One of the things that needs to happen in order for the pivot away from fossil fuels to be effective is a long-term investment." Under the Biden administration, which has made countering climate change a top priority, the military services have been setting energy goals, including the Navy on Wednesday releasing a climate plan that targets reducing emissions by 65% by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Net-zero means that any greenhouse gasses produced are offset by removing carbon from the atmosphere. The Army in February also released a plan to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050. The plans follow President Joe Biden signing, mere days into his first term, an executive order requiring federal agencies to craft climate change plans. Complying with the order, the Pentagon in October released its "Climate Adaptation Plan" that called for making military bases energy self-sufficient and for service members to improve their "climate literacy." Duckworth's bill would broadly line up with the services' stated goals. Under the bill, the Defense Department would need to target using at least 40% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2024 and 100% by 2030. The bill would also codify goals to reduce emissions from Defense Department operations by at least 65% by 2030 and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050; from installations procurement by 20% by 2024 and net-zero emissions by 2050; and from buildings on installations by 50% by 2032 and net-zero by 2045. It would also set a goal of buying only zero-emission non-tactical vehicles by 2035, including zero-emission light-duty vehicles by 2027, and to work toward buying only zero-emission tactical vehicles by 2045. The targets in Duckworth's bill would replace the one set in a 2006 law for the Defense Department to use no less than 25% of its energy from renewable sources by 2025. The department is due to report to Congress later this year on whether its on track to meet that goal. Electrifying vehicles, in particular, is a goal the Pentagon and military services have focused on. The Navy's plan, for example, pushes increased vehicle fuel efficiency while staying mostly silent on the bigger polluters of ships and planes. In November, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks also touted plans for non-tactical vehicles to go all electric and for tactical vehicles to be hybrids before transitioning to fully electric. Republicans have accused the Biden administration of focusing on "woke" ideologies and imposing the Green New Deal -- a sweeping climate change proposal advocated for by some congressional progressives -- at the expense of warfighting capabilities. But military officials for years have identified climate change as a national security threat because issues caused by a changing climate such as food scarcity can lead to military conflict and because extreme weather can and has severely damaged military bases. The Marine Corps, for example, is considering moving its storied Parris Island Training Depot because the location is susceptible to dangerous hurricanes, flooding and heat that have grown worse and more frequent due to climate change. Duckworth also pointed to fuel convoys leaving troops vulnerable; thousands of the U.S. casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan were from attacks on fuel convoys. "It wasn't out of going out and kicking down doors trying to find insurgents," said Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran. "I keep thinking about all of those chow halls that we had for 20 years where if we just had invested money in the biofuels field, we could have actually been powering all of those thousands of generators in all of those bases with biofuels that we had actually produced from the food scraps from all of those chow halls and kept some of my troops off of the roads and not driving HEMTT [Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck] tanker trucks with with 5,000 gallons of fuel behind them." In addition to setting renewable energy and emissions goals, Duckworth said the bill would provide the Pentagon with the "flexibility and authorities" to achieve them. The bill would make it easier for the Pentagon to hire people "who possess skills and experience the secretary determines are necessary to support the sustainability efforts," according to the bill text. It would also require the director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation to review investments in alternative fuel vehicles; authorize some new investments in and development of sustainable technologies, such as charging stations for vehicles; and require an independent study of emissions from certain Defense Department activities. Duckworth is working on gathering cosponsors for the bill. A House companion is also being introduced by Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., a spokesperson for Duckworth said. While Duckworth said she'd be "thrilled" if her bill was attached to the annual defense policy bill, which the Senate Armed Services Committee will begin debating next month, she also expressed confidence it could pass as a stand-alone bill because "DoD wants this." -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: Troops to Get 'Climate Literacy' Education Under Pentagon's New Climate Change Plan An investigation into a deadly T-38 Talon jet crash at Laughlin Air Force Base in West Texas that left two pilots injured and another dead last year was released Wednesday, revealing that miscommunication and instructor error were to blame for the incident. An Air Force spokeswoman said that the service is changing its policy on formation landings as a result of the incident and investigation. The new findings from the Air Force's Accident Investigation Board analyzed what led up to the Nov. 19, 2021, death of 2nd Lt. Anthony D. Wentz, 23, a student pilot in the 47th Flying Training Wing from Falcon, Colorado. Read Next: Cuts to Cost-of-Living Allowances 'Make It Hard Just to Exist,' Military Families in Germany Say Wentz and instructor pilots were attempting to do a formation approach, where two jets fly side-by-side before one of the aircraft touches down on the tarmac. Wentz's nose landing gear hit the other plane's left horizontal stabilizer, and "both aircraft were rendered uncontrollable and subsequently destroyed." Wentz and an instructor in his plane experienced an interrupted ejection sequence due to the aircraft being upside down, causing multiple life-threatening injuries for the teacher and fatal injuries for the student pilot, according to the report. The pilot in the other aircraft received minor injuries. In response to the crash in Texas, Capt. Lauren Woods, a spokeswoman for the Air Education and Training Command, said in an emailed statement that policies regarding formation landings are being changed once again, following earlier changes after another formation landing crash in Oklahoma in 2019. Under the changes, one aircraft will be able to land while another performs a low approach. The Air Force also raised the minimum altitude for the maneuver, standardized radio procedures and emphasized deconfliction practices "to reduce the possibility of confusion about which aircraft will land," Woods said. In the 2019 incident, Lt. Col. John "Matt" Kincade and 2nd Lt. Travis B. Wilkie died when their T-38s crashed during a formation landing at Vance Air Force Base. Shortly after the incident in Oklahoma, Air Education and Training Command banned formation landings. But pilots were still able to practice the formation as long as one of the two aircraft didn't land as they came toward the runway. The T-38 has been in the military's fleet since the 1960s. The twin-engine supersonic jet has been used to train pilots in the armed forces, as well as NASA. In the November crash, Wentz was flying his fourth formation approach with a teacher in the backseat when they were coming in for a landing. Another instructor flew the other jet alone, according to the Air Force's report. The pilots "failed to communicate" and "failed to verify" which jet would land; the teacher also "failed to recognize a precarious situation developing," the report stated. Additionally, that morning, the instructor who flew with Wentz "missed the pre-briefing and discussion" regarding who would land first, according to the report. It was later discussed with the teacher again during the formal flight briefing. Fellow student pilots told investigators that Wentz "was highly thought of and respected," as well as a "hard worker who inspired other students to work hard and better themselves," the report detailed. Since the 1960s, there have been 86 pilot deaths caused by mishaps, according to Air Force Safety Center data. Editor's Note: The following story has been updated to clarify that during the Texas mishap, the pilots were conducting a formation approach, and during the Oklahoma incident, the pilots were attempting a formation landing. Additionally, the story has added the detail that an instructor who missed the pre-briefing about a training exercise did hear about it during the formal briefing. -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: Air Force: 1 Pilot Killed, 2 Injured in Crash Involving 2 Jet Trainers From Laughlin AFB WASHINGTON Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday the Biden administration aims to lead the international bloc opposed to Russias invasion of Ukraine into a broader coalition to counter what it sees as a more serious, long-term threat to global order from China. In a speech outlining the administrations China policy, Blinken laid out a three-pillar approach to competing with Beijing in a race to define the 21st centurys economic and military balance. While the U.S. sees Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine as the most acute and immediate threat to international stability, Blinken said the administration believes China poses a greater danger. Even as President Putins war continues, we will remain focused on the most serious long-term challenge to the international order and that is the one posed by the Peoples Republic of China, Blinken said. China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it," he said. Beijings vision would move us away from the universal values that have sustained so much of the worlds progress over the past 75 years. Thus, Blinken laid out principles for the administration to marshal its resources, friends and allies to push back on increasing Chinese assertiveness around the world. Although he made clear that the U.S. does not seek to change China's political system, rather it wants to offer a tested alternative. "This is not about forcing countries to choose, its about giving them a choice," he said. However, he also acknowledged that the U.S. has limited ability to directly influence China's intentions and ambitions and will instead focus on shaping the strategic environment around China. We cant rely on Beijing to change its trajectory, Blinken said in the speech, delivered at George Washington University. So we will shape the strategic environment around Beijing to advance our vision for an open and inclusive international system. The speech followed President Joe Bidens just-concluded visits to South Korea and Japan, where China loomed large in discussions. Biden raised eyebrows during that trip when he said that the United States would act militarily to help Taiwan defend itself in the event of an invasion by China, which regards the island as a renegade province. The administration scrambled to insist that Biden was not changing American policy, and Blinken restated that the U.S. has not changed its position. Blinken said Washington still holds to its One China policy, which recognizes Beijing but allows for unofficial links with and arms sales to Taipei. Our approach has been consistent across decades and administrations. The United States remains committed to our One China policy. We oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side," he said, adding that we do not support Taiwan independence. Blinken said that while U.S. policy on Taiwan has remained consistent, China's had become increasingly belligerent. He made the case that the global response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine can serve as a template for dealing with China's efforts to mold a new and unpredictable world order to replace the rules and institutions that have guided relations between states since the end of World War II. China, Blinken said, has benefited greatly from that international order but is now trying to subvert it under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party. Rather than using its power to reinforce and revitalize the laws, agreements, principles, and institutions that enabled its success, so other countries can benefit from them, too, Beijing is undermining it, Blinken said. Under President Xi, the ruling Chinese Communist Party has become more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad. Yet, Blinken also decried the rise in anti-Chinese and anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States, saying Chinese Americans and other Asian Americans have the same claim to the U.S. as any other immigrants or their descendants. Investment in domestic U.S. infrastructure and technology along with stepping up diplomatic outreach to potentially vulnerable countries are other elements of the policy and are key to the U.S. approach, Blinken said. In the latest manifestation of Chinas push to expand its reach that has drawn concern from the U.S. and other democracies, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday began an eight-nation tour of Pacific islands during which Beijing hopes to strike a sweeping agreement that covers everything from security to fisheries. Wang opened his tour in the Solomon Islands, which last month signed a security cooperation pact with China that some fear could lead to a Chinese military presence there. The agreement was finalized shortly after the Biden administration announced it would open a U.S. embassy in the Solomons as part of its efforts to engage in the greater Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration has largely kept in place confrontational policies toward China adopted by its predecessor in response to Chinese actions in its western Xinjiang region, Hong Kong, Tibet and the South China Sea. And, while the administration sees areas for working with Beijing, such as combatting climate change, it will not trade cooperation for compromising on its principles regarding human rights and rule of law, Blinken said. Lt. Gen. Lewis "Chesty" Puller was (and still is) the Marine whose career all Marines have since tried to emulate -- or at least live up to. He was the only Marine to receive five Navy Crosses, he fought in some of the Corps' most legendary battles and was a walking badass quote machine. After serving in Haiti, Nicaragua, World War II and Korea, he retired to his home at 732 Gloucester Rd. in Saluda, Virginia. His legendary status was cemented by years of service, distinguished awards and the undying love of hundreds of thousands of Marines, many who were yet unborn. Now you can own a little piece of Marine Corps history by purchasing Chesty's old house. It was listed on Realtor.com on May 23, 2022, for the (relatively) low, low price of $415,000. (Chesty Puller House via Facebook) The "Marine's Marine" was born in 1898 in nearby West Point, Virginia, less than 20 miles from his retirement home. He initially wanted to join the Army to fight in the Mexican border wars, but he was too young. By the time he was old enough, he was enrolled in the Virginia Military Institute. Too eager to get into the fighting of World War I, he dropped out and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1918. He never got to see the trenches of Europe, but he distinguished himself in Haiti and returned to the United States to begin his career as an officer. He deployed again to Nicaragua where he led countless successful raids and patrols. Puller was then assigned to China, served aboard ships in the Pacific Ocean and trained Marines stateside. Then, the Japanese fleet attacked Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entered World War II. For many Marines with 23 years in service, it might have marked the end of a career, but Chesty Puller always wanted to "go where the guns are." Already a highly decorated Marine, he began the war as commander of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines at what is today Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Within six months of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Chesty was leading Marines into combat in Samoa. Puller fought in some of the war's bloodiest island-hopping battles, including Guadalcanal and Peleliu. At Guadalcanal, he commanded Marines at the Battle for Henderson Field. A week later he was seriously wounded in his arms and legs. Since he required surgery, he was relieved of his command, but was back in the field just 10 days later. The Korean War was no different for Puller. He landed with the 1st Marine Regiment at Incheon, receiving a Silver Star and his second Legion of Merit for his leadership under fire there. Even the Army awarded Puller the Distinguished Service Cross -- and this was all before the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. At Chosin, he said one of his most famous lines, one indicative of his personality: "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." Shortly after that immortal phrase, he pinned on the star of a brigadier general. He returned to the U.S. in 1951, overseeing the training of Marines until a stroke ended his Marine Corps career in 1955. He retired to his Saluda, Virginia, home, 93 miles from Washington, with the rank of lieutenant general. He died in 1971, and is interred at the Christ Church Parish Cemetery in Saluda, still the most decorated Marine to serve in the Corps. With a whole lot of effort and time, this still could not be you. But you'll need to buy the house to even come close. (U.S. Marine Corps) In 2015, the last time the house went on sale, Marines gathered to try to purchase it as a nonprofit organization. They wanted to give Marines past and present a place to gather and feel the camaraderie of service. It ultimately went to a private buyer. Today, very little has changed about the home since Chesty lived there, save for new stainless steel appliances. Its owners understood its history and kept it looking as it did when its famous occupant owned the home. Since 2015, it received a new roof, gutters and a refurbished crawl space.The hardwood floors have been refinished, and a new coat of gleaming white paint has been applied to the exterior. If it was good for Chesty Puller, it's good enough for you. -- 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. Two weeks ago, the Rangers placed catcher Mitch Garver on the 10-day injured list with a flexor sprain in his throwing forearm. That proved a minimal stay, as he was back on the roster in short order, but hes not likely to return behind the dish any time soon. Garver has worked exclusively as a designated hitter in the six games since returning from the IL, and he tells Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News hes expecting to remain in the bat-only role for the time being. The organization doesnt have plans for Garver to begin an imminent throwing program, and Grant suggests its possible the 31-year-old could be limited to DH or first base for the entire season. Thats not definitive, but in any event, it seems unlikely well see Garver donning the tools of ignorance anytime soon. Texas manager Chris Woodward has nevertheless penciled him into the lineup for all six games since his return from the IL. Thats a testament to his offensive productivity, particularly from a power perspective. Garver is only hitting .220 with a .298 on-base percentage, but hes popped six home runs and a trio of doubles to post a .430 slugging percentage thats well north of the .382 league mark. Hes shown no ill effects of the injury offensively, hitting three homers within the last week. When the Rangers acquired Garver from the Twins for shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa over the offseason, they no doubt envisioned him as their primary catcher. That hes only managed 14 starts behind the plate and wont be able to get back imminently is a bit disappointing, but the blow has been softened by excellent starts from their other backstops. Jonah Heim, acquired from the As last February in the Khris Davis Elvis Andrus swap, has made a team-leading 23 starts at catcher. The 26-year-old is sporting an excellent .270/.356/.494 line, collecting five homers of his own. More importantly, Heim has more than doubled his walk rate relative to last season while slicing his strikeouts by more than five percentage points. After hitting .196/.239/.358 last season, the 26-year-old looks to have made strides from a plate discipline and power perspective. He probably wont keep hitting at this pace, but hes earned the opportunity to continue playing regularly. Meanwhile, 24-year-old Sam Huff is up as Heims backup after hitting .260/.349/.575 in 19 games with Triple-A Round Rock. Huff only has 18 games of MLB experience under his belt, but hes been regarded as one of the better prospects in the system for a while. Evaluators have long raved about his right-handed power potential, although hes faced some questions about his receiving ability and lofty strikeout totals in the minor leagues. While a Heim Huff pairing isnt the most proven group, theres obvious upside with both players. Despite an active offseason, Texas is still using 2022 as primarily an evaluative season with an eye towards more earnest contention next year and beyond. Theyll welcome the opportunity to get younger players like Heim and Huff into the lineup so long as both are performing well, but Garvers (at least immediate) move down the defensive spectrum will necessarily come at the expense of a few others. As Grant covers in a second piece, that could mean fewer starts for Nathaniel Lowe and Andy Ibanez, in particular. Lowe has been the teams primary first baseman after a solid .264/.357/.415 showing last season. Hes not off to a good start, though, with just two homers and a .245/.300/.317 line through 150 trips to the plate. The left-handed hitting Lowe has made virtually zero impact from a power perspective, and hes seen his walk rate fall as hes gotten more aggressive. Huff got the start at first base against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers last night, and Grant suggests he could see more time there particularly against southpaws. I still believe Nate Lowe is an everyday talent, Woodward told reporters yesterday. He just hasnt performed the way weve [expected]. Ive been really honest with all of our guys about that. I think its really important to set a standard there. When you arent performing and somebody else is, I have a responsibility to the team. With Garver commanding everyday reps at DH, Lowes only real path to playing time is at first base. Ibanezs ability to play third base and the corner outfield could afford him a bit more run, but hes off to an even worse start at the plate. Through 107 plate appearances, Ibanez is hitting just .180/.234/.230. Among 244 hitters with at least 100 plate appearances, only four have been less productive offensively by measure of wRC+. Woodward also expressed faith in Ibanezs ability to turn things around, but hell no doubt need to start performing better if hes to hang onto his near-regular role. 25.05.2022 LISTEN South Africa, Johannesburg, 24 May 2022 - The Miss Heritage Global is amongst many pageants that are held in the world focusing on educating, enhancing intelligence, leadership, and independence in women across the world. Zainab Abdulai is one of the confirmed contestants that will participate at the Miss Heritage Global where she will also use the platform to empower young girls by being a symbol for a traditional african heritage. As the world has adapted and is progressing toward recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, The Miss Heritage Global is the first international beauty pageant that focuses on the promotion of the diverse heritage in the world and the only internationally recognized international pageant that is hosted and is based in Africa. The Miss Heritage Global was postponed in 2021 because of the pandemic, it is set to be hosted in Limpopo, South Africa during the Heritage month that is celebrated annually in September, allowing citizens to celebrate their heritage and recognise different aspects of our diverse South African cultures. The pageant will be focused on culture and heritage as a tool to educate, celebrate and unite people from different parts of the world. The pageant will be casting 60 contestants from countries such as Japan, France, the USA, the UK, Canada, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and several other African countries that are set to take part in the pageantry. Zainab Abdulai, currently a student at the University of Ghana, is one of the confirmed contestants to participate and represent the Ghanaians heritage on a global pageant that is set to be held in South Africa. Ghana is known for its lush forests, diverse animal life, and miles of sandy beaches along a picturesque coast, it is also celebrated for its rich history and as a fascinating repository of cultural heritage which will be showcased at the Miss Heritage Global stage. The pageant month will be filled with glamour, and intellectual life, and the finalists will also be physically and mentally groomed and trained. They will spread awareness through advocacy, and be challenged with cultural fashion photoshoots, and speeches on women empowerment. The contestants will display cultural diversity and themselves at the crowning ceremony of the Miss Heritage Global 2022 pageant that will be held at the Kalahari Waterfront Nandoni, Limpopo in South Africa on the 24th of September 2022. Throughout the years' Miss Heritage Global titleholders have successfully made a positive change in their communities around the world, if you are one of the young women between the age of 18-28 who are willing to instill change in their communities when it comes to promoting your culture indifferences and embracing our diversity you can apply on the Global heritage website applications will be closed on the 31st of May 2022. Paediatric Society of Ghana's (PSG) experts say mothers must seek immediate medical attention when they notice any abnormal change in the skin, eye, and stool colours of their babies. They indicated that neonatal (newborn) jaundice was a serious medical condition that occurs when the colour of the skin and eyes of the newborn baby begins to turn yellowish in the first 28 days (about 4 weeks) of life, and it was important that mothers closely monitored their babies under bright lights (preferably sunlight), and quickly report to health facilities for prompt treatment. The Society, therefore, warned that newborns were at risk of suffering brain damage from neonatal jaundice without swift interventions, saying cases were often reported too late to health facilities when the disease had already travelled into the baby's brain causing irreparable damage. Existing medical literature on the illness shows that it is increasing in Ghana, and quite common in preterm babies often due to an immature liver, however, some infections, medication or blood disorders may cause much serious cases. For instance, the use of Camphor to preserve the clothing of babies with the blood condition is known as G6PD deficiency and poor feeding could lead to such an infection. Dr Isabella Sagoe-Moses, the Deputy Director of Reproductive and Child Health, Ghana Health Service (GHS), at round table stakeholders meeting in Accra, commended the PSG for setting aside the month of May annually as Yellow Month,'' for increased public education and to also garner support for improved care. She said the year's theme: Survive and Thrive: From Yellow to Hero, was a call to all stakeholders and health partners for holistic support to improve access and quality care through enhanced infrastructure (equipment) and human resource capacity, to save these babies from the needless suffering and deaths. Dr Sagoe-Moses noted that although neonatal jaundice was one of the serious illnesses contributing to high morbidity and mortality in children, very little was known about the disease and its devastating impact on the lives of individuals, families and the country. There are still so many misconceptions about neonatal jaundice, not only among the public but also among health workers, hence the need to ensure continuous and sustained dissemination of vital information, she said. She urged hospital managers to provide training for health workers, with emphasis on midwives and traditional birth attendants who were the first point of call, and pleaded with District Assemblies and private sector partners, to make neonatal jaundice a budget priority for the procurement of diagnostic and phototherapy equipment for optimal care. The Director suggested a multidisciplinary approach where healthcare managers, community leaders and groups, children and adolescents were engaged as focal persons and advocates within their various spaces for education. Dr Sagoe-Moses said concrete strategies must be developed for effective resource mobilisation (both human and equipment), to ensure equitable distribution and management of newborn jaundice. Considering the debilitating and deadly effect of the disease, every effort must be made to arrest this public health gap, she said. During a panel discussion, the issue of myths about the causes and treatment of neonatal jaundice came up strongly, where societal beliefs such as the consumption of certain foods like groundnuts and eggs or some fruits, had been blamed on pregnant women for the plights of their children. Other misconceptions included the use of breastmilk to clear the yellowish colour of the eyes of babies. The panellists admitted that although antenatal and post-natal clinics were very important interventions for mothers and their babies as they offered key opportunities for acquiring knowledge and assessing the health and wellbeing of both persons, the use of the Maternal and Child Health Record book as a holistic tool for information sharing and data gathering had not been maximized. They urged the PSG to invest in advocacy tools by developing uniform material for effective education throughout the country while engaging the private sector and faith-based organisations as partners to achieve a solution where everyone benefits. Other suggestions included improving data for effective monitoring and policy interventions. Naa Korkor Aadzeoyi, the Queen mother of Adabraka, a community in Accra, welcomed the positive engagement initiated by the PSG with the traditional leadership of communities in Ghana, saying their involvement would help 'water' down the education at the grassroots, communicating in the right or appropriate languages for better understanding and appreciation of the issues. Dr Hilda Mantebea Boye, the General Secretary of the PSG, thanked all the participants for their active participation in the event and for supporting the efforts of the Society. GNA The ruling New Patriotic Partys (NPP) executives in the Ekumfi Constituency of the Central Region say they will not accept the outcome of this weekends regional elections if they are not given the green light to hold their constituency elections. Constituency elections in Ekumfi have been put on hold for over a month. The executives have also threatened to resort to the law court if their demands are not met. The party leaders in Ekumfi believe their right to participate in the constituency elections which have been held across the country is gradually being taken away from them since the elections have been suspended. According to them, since their vetting on April 13, 2022, Regional and National executives of the party have put the election on hold, citing issues of disrespect on the part of some constituency executives towards the Regional chairman, Robert Kutin Jnr. and his executives. We want to set the records straight in Ekumfi because the happenings here are not good. As aspirants, we have gone for vetting and have been cleared to vote but one of the aspiring candidates for the position of constituency chairman in Ekumfi Stephan Donkoh was not vetted. He was asked to go to the Appeals Committee in the region, where Prof. Dominic Fobie cleared him, but till now the election has not been held. We have written letters to the Regional and National Executives to give us a date for the elections, but all to no avail. We got to know that the Regional Chairman of the party Robert Kutin has issues with the aspiring constituency chairman Stephen Donkoh regarding issues of school feeding, for which reason the election has been put on hold and this is not fair, aspiring Youth Organiser, Kuntu Takyi told Citi News. The party in Ekumfi does not belong to Regional Chairman Robert Kutin and his executives, and we want them to know that if they refuse to give us a date to hold our own elections to elect our executives we will not recognize the new regional executives going to be elected over the weekend and will not give them a space when they come to Ekumfi to campaign, the angry aspiring Youth Organiser warned. We have about 60,000 votes in Ekumfi and every vote counts in 2024. We will not allow our members to vote in the 2024 elections if we are not allowed to have our own elections. Interestingly, the national executives of the party are aware of these issues, and we are sending a word of caution to intervene or face our wrath, Kuntu Takyi said. For the party members, their worry is that the break the 8 agenda by the party may not be achieved if a pertinent issue such as this is not addressed. We are tired of chasing the Regional and National Executives of the party to allow us hold our own elections because the Regional chairman Robert Kutin Jnr. has issues with one candidate, Barnabas Sam, aspiring Assistant Secretary for the party in Ekumfi added. ---citinewsroom Strong Patriots Of Ashanti (SPA), a political group in the Ashanti Region has accused the incumbent Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako of vote buying ahead of the Regional Delegates Conference on Friday. According to them, information picked by 'insiders' reveals that one contestant in the person of Chairman Wontumi who claims to be the wealthiest man in Africa has planned to camp about 450 delegates in a hotel till the day of the election. It is also alleged that Chairman Wontumi agreed to pay each delegate Ghc10,000 ready to top up if any contestant comes up close to what he has planned to pay. Group leader, Alexander Addai speaking to press men in Kumasi said they believe in the cherish delegates as people of great conscience and will never sell their integrity for someone to insult them as people of low esteem. They however advised delegates to collect the money and vote massively against him (Wontumi). "In view of these, we are pleading on behalf of Almighty God that delegates should vote for someone who can unify the party, have the part at heart, dedicated to the work of the party, and think about the warfare of the people especially grass root and the Region in genera," he stated. He added, "We have done great ground work and have realized that Hon. Kwabena Owusu Aduomi fits all the above-mentioned status and we are pleading that our great delegates who are representing us will vote for him." On his part, Mr. Akwasi Duodu, the CEO of Odike Mining Company said Chairman Bernard Antwi Bosiako a.k.a Wontumi is not a leader to help the party 'break the 8.' He said Chairman Wontumi abysmal performance and the deep cracks within the party cannot help the party to win the next crucial elections. "When he assumed office as chairman of NPP in Ashanti Region, he organized a durbar at Dadiesoaba in Kumasi to raise funds to build party office at the end of the programme he said he has received a sum of about Five Hundred Thousand Ghana cedis (500,000) including cement donations. "Chairman Bernard Antwi Bosiako is now building his own palace at his fifteen acres of land, but the party office which he organized funds for is now in the middle of a thick forest at the same place. The party in Ashanti region has thick divisions and cracks under his watch than ever before. "All the party structures have collapsed and he is using the party as his sole business entity to amass worth for himself alone. During the 2020 elections, he promised agenda 47/47 and vowed with his life to resign if he fails to achieve it, But the end results was disastrous yet he could not walk his talk, how can this man be trusted? "Chairman Wontumi has caused hatred for himself and the party in the region and people are angry and even do not want to hear the name of the party they loved because he has failed even in roads he won contracts to work on the party communication is on the very of collapsing. "Please do not vote for Wontumi to bring back the glory of the party to gain its first love," he emphasised. Read full statement here: PRESS CONFERENCE ON 25TH MAY 2022 PRESS CONFERENCE BY STRONG PATRIOTS OF ASHANTI The strong patriots of Ashanti wishes all delegates and contestants well and pray for peaceful elections ahead of us in the coming days. The strong patriots want to make this emphatic statement to clear the conscience of all delegates who are going to vote in the coming election. We hear that chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah is telling delegates that he is for hon.Alan kyerematen and have full support of the Hon MINISTRY of trade and industry, we wish to state that if the assertion is true from chairman COKA then he is not telling delegates the truth, we want to state that his words are palpable and well-orchestrated lies. Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah was the right hand man of Chairman Bernard Antwi Bosiako a.k.a Wontumi. The question is what went wrong for him to make a U-turn to challenge him with full hatred. We entreat chairman Odeneho to come out and tell the public why they are now at each others throat with bitter accusations voting for Odeneho is same as voting for Wontumi. 2. Chairman Bernard Antwi Bosiako a.k.a Chairman Wontumi is now touting himself as the man to brake the eight (8) for NPP in 2024 general elections but we bet to differ, he cannot do it. We want to deliberate on his works as chairman for Ashanti Region for the past eight (8) years. When he assumed office as chairman of NPP in Ashanti Region, he organized a durbar at Dadiesoaba in Kumasi to raise funds to build party office at the end of the programme he said he has received a sum of cash of about Five Hundred Thousand Ghana cedis (500,000) including cement donations. Chairman Bernard Antwi Bosiako is now building his own palace at his fifteen acres of land, but the party office which he organized funds for, is now in the middle of a thick forest at the same place. The party in Ashanti region has thick divisions and cracks under his watch than ever before. All the party structures has collapsed and he is using the party as his sole business entity to amass worth for himself alone. During the election he promised agenda 47/47 and vowed with his life to resign if he fails to achieve it, But the end results was disastrous yet he could not walk his talk, how can this man be trusted? Chairman Wontumi has caused hatred for himself and the party in the region and people are angry and even do not want to hear the name of the party they loved because he has failed even in roads he won contracts to work on the party communication is on the very of collapsing. Please do not vote for Wontumi to bring back the glory of the party to gain its first love. We have received information by our agents that one contestant who claims to be the wealthiest man in Africa has planned to camp about 450 delegates in hotel till the day of the election and said he will pay ghc 10,000 each and is ready to pay more if any contestant come up close to what he plans to pay. We believe in our cherished delegates that they are people of great conscience and will never ever sell their integrity for someone to think they are people of low esteem, we advise you to collect the money and vote massively against him, please do not accept to curse yourself while receiving the money because it is your reward for all your deeds you have done for the party. In view of these we are pleading on behalf of Almighty God that delegate should vote for someone who can unify the party, have the part at heart, dedicated to the work of the party, think about the warfare of the people especially grass root and the Region in general. We have done a great grounds work and have realised that hon. kwabena Owusu Aduomi fit to all the above mentioned status and we are pleading that our great delegates who are representing us will vote for him. Long live Ashanti Long live NPP Long live Ghana THANK YOU Police officers inspect the scene of a bombed explosion in Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo in December 2021. On May 18, 2022, the head of the National Intelligence Agency detained three journalists and ordered his officers to strip and beat them. (AP Photo/Al-hadji Kudra Maliro) 25.05.2022 LISTEN Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo must hold to account those responsible for stripping and beating journalists Cedar Sabiti, Samuel Matela, and Junior Batu Ngole while they were detained, and ensure that the press can report and comment on matters of public interest freely and without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Sabiti and Matela told CPJ by phone that on May 18, Freddy Sombo, the head of the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) in the northwestern province of Tshuapa, summoned Sabiti, a reporter for the privately owned Radio Tshuapa for Development, Matela, a reporter for privately owned Radio Liberal FM, and Ngole, a reporter for privately owned Radio Boende, for questioning at ANRs provincial headquarters in the capital, Boende. When the journalists arrived, Sombo yelled at them and accused them of tarnishing ANRs image during a May 17 radio program hosted by Matela called Lets Talk About Education, Sabiti told CPJ. During the program, Sabiti and Ngole were critical of alleged irregularities during last years final examinations, which determine if students can go to college, and the prohibitive costs of those exams, Sabiti told CPJ. The three journalists denounced the alleged practice of some Boende schools in bribing teachers, invigilators, police, and intelligence officers to ignore cheating, and opined that the issues would be repeated this year. Ngole told CPJ that Sombo then ordered his agents to strip the journalists and lock them in the ANR jail cells, where six officers beat the journalists with truncheons and deprived them of food for the rest of the day. Sombo did not answer CPJs calls for comment. It is intolerable that radio journalists Cedar Sabiti, Samuel Matela, and Junior Batu Ngole were detained and subjected to cruel and degrading punishment by intelligence officers, who acted violently and unlawfully because their boss felt aggrieved about the journalists commentary on a matter of enormous public interest, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in New York. The Congolese government must act swiftly to stop the abuse of power by the countrys intelligence agents, who appear to have become a law unto themselves. They should begin by disciplining and prosecuting these officers as a deterrent to others. After a night in custody, the journalists were taken to the Boende High Court on May 19, where prosecutor Norbert Mampalanga interviewed them without a lawyer, said Sabiti. The prosecutor then ordered their unconditional release, as they had not committed an offense, according to Sabiti. Matela was admitted to a local health clinic on May 19 and was treated for three days because of the beatings he endured in custody, according to Sabiti, who added that Tshuapa Governor Pancrace Boongo visited the clinic on May 21 to inquire about Matelas health. Boongo did not answer CPJs calls for comment. CPJ could not confirm the details of Matelas injuries. Gaby Kuba, national president of the National Press Union of the Congo, tweeted his condemnation of the assault on the journalists. Tharcisse Kasongo Mwema, spokesperson for Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, told CPJ by phone that he was out of the country and that the president was unaware of the journalists alleged mistreatment by ANR agents. CPJs repeated calls to Mampalanga and Matrick Muyaya, a spokesperson for the Minister of Communication and Media, were not answered. As part of its activities, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) marked the 30th Anniversary of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana with a series of activities. This year, one such activity is the engagement with the Security Services in the regional capitals under the theme: After Three Decades of Democratic Rule Under the 1992 Constitution: Revisiting the Agenda for Constitutional Reforms. The Volta Regional Director of the NCCE, Mr. Kenneth Kponor, encouraged the staff of the Security Service to join in the discourse on the need or otherwise of revisiting the constitutional review process that was abandoned over a decade ago. Mr. Kponor retreated that one of the cardinal points upholding the 1992 Constitution is Citizens' Participation or Popular Participation. He added that no democracy could really thrive without citizens participation and the 92.6% approval in the 1992 Referendum was a clear indication that the 1992 Constitution is The Peoples Constitution. 30 years down the line, the indications are flawless to reconsider the path of Constitutional Reforms necessary to place Ghana on a higher pedestal as a beacon of democracy and development in Africa, he remarked. Mr. Kenneth Kponor points out that the Constitution has made provisions to amend both the entrenched and non-entrenched clauses as contained in Chapter 25 of the Constitution. He said political will is paramount when it comes to Constitutional Amendment, and the commitment of political leadership is vital to have an effective and efficient Constitutional Amendment. The leadership of the Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Prison Service, Ghana Immigration Service, and Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, to mention a few, were pleased to participate in this year's engagement in the Volta Region. The NCCE started the Annual Constitution Week Celebration in 2001, and the celebration is marked from the weeks preceding the 28th of April to commemorate the Referendum that gave birth to the 1992 Constitution. 26.05.2022 LISTEN The Ghana Institute of Planners has urged government to provide comprehensive plan on how to deal with perennial flooding more permanently. The comments come after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo instructed Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies in the Greater Accra Region to demolish all structures in waterways in a bid to end flooding. In an interview with Citi News, the President of the Institute, Mohammed Alhassan Damba, said the modalities of the directive ought to be made public. Clearing buildings on waterways will significantly reduce the incidence of floods. What we are unsure of, however, is the modalities for this. There are standards for reservations on waterways that are contained in our plan. They can go with that and clear the structures. We also have flood cycles that come about every 5 to 20 years. We have to be clear about what module we are going with. If we are going with a higher flood return period of say 10 years flood cycle, we may find ourselves demolishing too many structures. The onset of the rainy season has seen many parts of Accra inundated, with several homes counting their losses after floodwaters destroyed a number of properties. Heavy rains, which started late Monday evening through Tuesday morning, submerged parts of the capital city. This came after most parts of Accra got flooded after close to a 10-hour downpour last Saturday. Residents in hard-hit areas had to abandon their homes to seek shelter elsewhere because the floodwaters entered their rooms. By Citi Newsroom Family of the slain Albert Donkor in Nkoranza has welcomed the Inspector General of Polices (IGP) visit to the town following the death of their relative. The family says, the IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare has assured that ongoing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of Albert Donkor will not be compromised. The IGP and some police management board members visited Nkoranza to interact with identifiable groups following the violent clashes between the police and the youth of the community. Speaking to Citi News after their meeting with the IGP, uncle of the late Albert, Reverend Father Mathias Sarkodie, said the family will cooperate with the Police to get justice. We were happy to have the IGP and his able men and according to him, he is visiting to find a solution to the problem. They are investigating the matter, and he has entreated the family to cooperate with the police service over the death as the family seeks justice for Albert. He promised the family that he will do whatever he can in his capacity for the family to get justice. So the family has assured of cooperating with the police because we know the IGP wont fail this litmus test, he said on Eyewitness News. Residents of Nkoranza are outraged by the death of Albert Donkor, who was picked up by the police, following a robbery incident on the Nkoranza-Kintampo road. They believe Albert may have been targeted after chancing on a robbery scene involving some police officers. Meanwhile, Albert's family has filed a case at the Accra High Court seeking justice for their relative . They are hopeful that the court's intervention will allow for thorough investigations into his death. citinewsroom 26.05.2022 LISTEN Societies generate their own economies of tolerable cruelties and injustices. Poverty, for instance, will be allowed, as long a sufficient number of individuals are profiting. To an extent, crime and violence can be allowed to thrive. In the United States, the economy of tolerable massacres, executed by military-grade weapons, is considerable and seemingly resilient. Its participants all partake in administering it, playing their bleak roles under the sacred banner of constitutional freedom and psychobabble. Just as prison reform tends to keep pace with the expansion of the bloated system, the gun argument in the US keeps pace, barely, with each massacre. With each round of killings, a script is activated: initial horror, hot tears of indignation of never again, and then, the stalemate on reform till the next round of killings can be duly accommodated. It isnt enough to reiterate the plain truth that the assault weapons used in mass shootings must be banned and confiscated, observes Benjamin Kunkel. Instead, every fresh atrocity must be recruited into everyones preferred single-factor sociological narrative. In Uvalde, Texas, a teenage gunman (they do get younger) made his way into an elementary school and delivered an unforgettable May 24 lesson. When he had finished at Robb Elementary School, 19 children and 2 adults had perished. But even this effort, in the premier league ranking of school killings, failed to top the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut in December 2012. On that occasion, 26 lost their lives. The horror and indignant tears were duly cued. President of the United States, Joe Biden: Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen? he rhetorically intoned at a press conference. For every parent, for every citizen in this country, we have to make it clear to every elected official in this country: its time to act. This would involve the passing of common-sense gun laws and combating the gun lobby. The next day, Vice President Kamala Harris reiterated the formula. We must work together to create an America where everyone feels safe in their community, where children feel safe in their schools. The politicians are duly accompanied by the talking heads, such as Ron Avi Astor, described by NPR as a mass shooting expert. With this unsavoury appellation, we are told that this UCLA professor is puzzled as to why negligible changes to gun laws have taken place since Sandy Hook. In coping with such puzzlement, he suggests an old academic trick: reframe the problem to lessen its gravity. With some gusto, Astor proceeds to say that schools in the US have been doing fabulously well in coping with violence as long as you take the long view. If you look over the last 20 years, really since Columbine, theres been a massive, massive, massive decrease in victimization and violence in schools. Diving into the silver lining in his own massive way, he finds reductions in violence in the order of 50 to 70 percent. It never takes long for the economy of tolerable massacres to generate the next round of scrappy arguments, with the corpses barely cold. The common one is that of shooting frequency. Was this a good year relative to the last? This year, the United States has suffered 27. Since 2018, Education Week, showing how school deaths should very much feature in planning curricula, has taken a grim interest in the whole matter. Reading its compiled figures heartbreaking, but important work, the journal claims is much like dipping into stock market returns with the requisite amount of sensitivity. In 2021, there were 34 school shootings, a real bumper year. In 2020, it was poor on that front: a modest 10. Both 2019 and 2018 saw higher returns: 24 each. If you wish to be entertained by the ghoulish nature of it all, Education Week also gives us some infotainment with a graphic on Where the Shootings Happened. Dots feature on a map of the country. The size of the dots correlates to the number of people killed or injured. Click on each dot for more information. Where would we be but for such valuable services? To give credence to the seemingly immutable nature of this economy on shootings, platoons of commentators, equipped with various skills, argue about responses, most showing that common sense, in this field, is a noble dream. The conservative National Review takes the view that tougher background checks would hardly have worked for the Uvalde shooter. There was no paper trail flagging him as a threat, nothing to suggest that he should have been prevented as a legal adult from purchasing a firearm. The implicit suggestion here: only nutters kill. The business of guns is the business of a particular American sensibility. With the school shooting still fresh, various members of the GOP and Donald Trump affirmed their interest in appearing at a Memorial Day weekend event hosted by the National Rifle Association. In a statement on the shootings, the NRA expressed its deepest sympathies for the families and victims of this horrific and evil crime but preferred to describe the killings as the responsibility of a lone, deranged criminal. Leave gun regulation alone; focus on school security instead. With that brief formality discharged, the NRA expressed its delight at its forthcoming Annual Meetings and Exhibits event to take place at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston between May 27 and May 29. The Exhibit Hall is open all three days and will showcase over 14 acres of the latest guns and gear from the most popular companies in the Industry. It promises to be fun for the whole family. Then comes the thorny matter of definitions, a sure way to kill off any sensible action. From boffin to reactionary, no one can quite accept what a school shooting is. Non-profit outfits such as the New York-based Everytown for Gun Safety include any discharge of a firearm at school as part of the definition. In 2022, the organisation claims, there were at least 77 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, resulting in 14 deaths and 45 injuries nationally. Everytown for Gun Safety is keen to paint a picture of annual murderous rampage: 3,500 children and teens being shot and killed; 15,000 shot and injured. Some 3 million children in the US are exposed to shootings each year. The tone underlying such a message is much at odds with the rest easy approach taken by Astor what Australians would call the shell be right, mate caste of mind. It is certainly Panglossian in nature, aligning with the views of cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker, optimist extraordinaire on the human condition. Taken holistically, he keeps insisting, we live in far better, less violent times than our forebears. Such massacres as those at Sandy Hook should not be taken to mean that schools have become less safe. People always think that violence has increased because they reason from memorable examples rather than global data. For Pinker, the 2013 joint survey by the Departments of Justice and Education on such statistics as rates of victimisation since 1992 to non-fatal victimisations was sufficient rebuke against the pessimists and moaners. The Uvalde massacre will, in time, be absorbed by this economy of tolerable violence. The anger will dissipate; collective amnesia, if not simple indifference, will exert its dulling sleep. The dead, except for the personally affected, will go the way of others, buried in the confetti and scrapings of statistics. Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He currently lectures at RMIT University. Email: [email protected] Passion for Difference (PFD), a non-for-profit organisation based in Bergen, Norway has held its maiden public seminar in Kristiansand, Agder, for immigrant parents, youth and children living in the southern part of the country. This is to empower multicultural parents in Norway to better their lots to excel in effective parenting and childcare and also to help immigrant youth & children to integrate into the Norwegian society. The seminar was attended by immigrants and international students who currently live in Norway but are coming from different cultural backgrounds namely, Armenia, Cameron, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nepal, Pakistan and Zambia. Delegation from PFD Headquarters, Gifty Ohenewaa Nordb (Founder) and Eric Amankwa (Board Vice Chairman) also attended the seminar to spice up the occasion. The seminar was on the theme: Impact of COVID-19 on parenting and childcare & reopening of society - with focus on immigrant parents, youth and children as participants also enjoyed the pride of place to share their experiences on integration and diversity. Collaborations The PFD Project Leader for Kristiansand Office, Mr Kyei Boateng said the seminar was the first project of the organisation which also needed some collaborations from different organisations to succeed. He said COVID-19 as global pandemic had been a closer enemy in recent years and that as a menace, it had impacted on parenting and child care and that PFD was concerned to get some information from immigrant parents, children and possibly use the information to help them in future after evaluation. However, for collaboration purposes he mentioned Edru Livsstil DNT, and the Ghana Union of Norway, Agder as the major collaborators ably assisted by the Kristiansand Kommune and Batteriet Sr. While Daniel Haraldsson Nilsen who represented Edru Livsstil entreated participants at the seminar to live a sober lifestyle, especially alcohol free life; Stephen Zamore (PhD) as the immediate-past President of the Ghana Union in Agder pledged support to PFD saying, the union had members as parents and will-be-parents who needed a lot of information to properly understand parenting and childcare in the Norwegian context. Kim Henrik Gronert as the Advisor for Intercultural Dialogue at the Kristiansand Kommune entreated the participants to culturally prioritise the study of Norwegian language (Norsk) as they integrate into the Norwegian society, stressing that: If you really want to live and remain in Norway for a long time, then learning Norsk is a MUST and respect the rights of the minorities, especially the LGBTQ+ community. He added that immigrants in Kristiansand represented about 160 countries with Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan leading the number of immigrants from Africa. Experiences on Integration, COVID-19 Participants from Armenia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nepal shared their life experience on how they were able to integrate into the Norwegian Society comparing integration levels during COVID-19 restriction era and now that society reopens from corona restrictions as youth and as parents. Founder of PFD, Mrs Ohenewaa Nordb shared her personal experience recalling what stimulated the formation of the organisation and explained the three communication models of the PFD as relevant pillars to the PFD. She noted that Norway as a multicultural society has a lot of good opportunities that immigrants could grasp to better their lives, advising the participants that as they come from diverse cultural backgrounds, they need to fully understand the Norwegian context to be able to fully enjoy their living. By Joseph Kyei-Boateng, Kristiansand, Norway President of Institute for Security, Disaster and Emergency Studies, Dr. Ishmael Norman has recommended that government increase its ability of espionage on its population due to the threats of terrorism. He said government must also be extra careful and vigilant in monitoring especially the markets in the northern part of Ghana. Some unknown armed men stormed the Atuba Market in the Binduri District of the Upper East Region on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. The men wielding weapons fired into the air and burnt goods of visiting market women from Bawku, reports say. A similar raid was reported at the Binnaba market in Zebilla in the Bawku West District barely 24 hours after Tuesday's incident. The Upper East Regional Police Command has confirmed the two incidents. The National Security Ministry has launched a citizen awareness campaign dubbed 'See Something, Say Something' campaign as part of efforts to prevent terror attack. The initiative is a national campaign that raises public awareness of the indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime. Reacting to this, Dr Norman said It is a good idea to have a 'See Something, Say Something' risk communication strategy assuming that the terrorists are already in the country and may be preparing themselves for a big blow out. But when it comes to the tactical approaches the terrorists used in places like Niger, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso, as in they coming in and quickly getting out, then 'See Something and Say Something' may not be adequate. Dr Norman added that, it is a very difficult situation for any government since some terrorists may not do anything to draw attention to themselves. The problem with the logistical handling of the see something, say something report is that if the information start flooding in to the call center 999, it will be difficult to use manpower to analyse the data that the public will be supplying We are a bit weak in terms of technology in sieving out the information that we should be paying attention to. The whole approach is dicey but we should give the national security the benefit of doubt he said Government should preposition military, immigration and police officers to basically monitor; inspect Identity Cards when they suspect that somebody does not fit well into the ecosystem. 3news.com An inaugural ceremony of Nabdam for Christ has been held in Pelungu-Nangodi in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region. Nabdam for Christ is an association of native and non-native Pastors in the ministry of God in Nabdam. The inaugural ceremony brought together all men of God's Traditional Authorities and the Christian fraternity. The association which is a non-denominational was formed in 2019 mainly for prayer and to dedicate the land of Nabdam and its people for Christ based as the scripture says two are better than one. It is the belief that as they are united, they can foster peace, unity and development for the land of Nabdam District and the Upper East Region at large. Since its formation, they have been praying against social vices and for the youth to be Christ centred with the fear of God in them for it is only then will God grant prosperity to the land. In his welcome address, the Chief Servant of God Rev. Martin Lamisi Sebire stated that, the inaugural ceremonial marks a milestone of the new Nobrick quoting Isaiah 43:19 as saying Behold, I m doing a new thing, now it springs forth, so you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Rev. Sebire entreats the people of Nobrick to have faith for their set time has come. The Chief of Nangodi, Nangodnaab Pariyong Kosom Yelzoya Asaga II said scripture has it that, the kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of the Lords. Therefore, he and his people have decided to dedicate the land of Nabdam to the Lord in preparation for the set season and prosperity will surely locate the land of Nobrick. Naab Asaga II stated that the occasion will not be a nine-day wonder and prayed that, it will be replicated in almost all the other districts for total peace to reign in the Upper East Region. The Gambian government says it is ready to prosecute former President Yahya Jammeh for what it called the myriad of crimes he committed during his regime. It was responding to a report by the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, which investigated abuses that took place during his 22 years in power. The former leader has been accused of corruption and serious human rights violations, including killings, disappearances and imprisonments, targeting opponents, journalists and gay men. Mr Jammeh came to power in a military coup in 1994, and ruled until 2017 when he went into exile after a shock electoral defeat. The 57-year-old now lives in Equatorial Guinea, which, according to the AFP news agency, has no extradition treaty with The Gambia. Source: BBC 26.05.2022 LISTEN The Ghana Police Service has issued a statement to clarify that persons together with the late Albert Donkor captured in a picture and alleged to be officers not true. In the last few days, a picture of the deceased young man in Nkoranza has gone viral where he is seen eating with some five men. The picture widely circulated with the caption Albert Donkor with some of his police friends hanging out has become a subject of discussion. With the attention of the Police drawn to the viral picture, it has issued a statement, stressing that the men in the picture are not officers. The Police Administration's attention has been drawn to a picture circulating on social media among others showing six people with the caption "Albert Donkor (In red) eating and drinking with Nkoranza South policemen. The Police Administration wishes to state categorically that those men seen in the picture are not Police officers from Nkroranza South Municipality or any part of the country, parts of a Police statement have said. The Police explained that its investigations have revealed that this is a picture of Albert Donkor and his five friends, none of whom is a Police officer, which was taken at a funeral at Boana in the Nkoranza North District, approximately 20 kilometres away from Nkoranza. The Police say it considers the circulation of the picture with the wrong caption as a calculated attempt by people with mischief to drag the name of the Ghana Police Service into disrepute. The general public is urged to treat such an act with the contempt that it deserves. Some 11 newborn babies have been killed in a fire in a hospital in the western Senegalese city of Tivaouane, the country's president said late on Wednesday. President Macky Sall said he had learned with pain and dismay about the deaths of 11 newborn babies in the fire that occurred in the neonatal department of Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital in Tivaouane. To their mothers and their families, I express my deepest sympathy, Mr Sall said on Twitter. Tivaouane is around 120km (75 miles) east of the capital, Dakar. The fire was caused by a short circuit, local politician Diop Sy was quoted as saying. The hospital is said to have been newly inaugurated. Source: BBC Eleven newborn babies have perished in a hospital fire blamed on an electrical short circuit in the western Senegalese city of Tivaouane, authorities said Thursday. In the latest in a series of hospital deaths that have exposed the weaknesses of the nation's healthcare system, President Macky Sall announced the tragedy on Twitter just before midnight (0000 GMT). "I have just learned with pain and dismay about the deaths of 11 newborn babies in the fire at the neonatal department of the public hospital," Sall wrote. "To their mothers and their families, I express my deepest sympathy," he tweeted. "Where is Mohamed?," asked one of the distraught mothers outside Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital in the transport hub of Tivaouane. Her baby son was taken to the hospital ten days ago and was baptised on Monday, Mohamed's 54-year-old father Alioune Diouf said. The city's mayor Demba Diop said the fire had been caused by "a short circuit and spread very quickly". Local media quoted witnesses saying gas bottles exploded preventing any rescue attempts. Health Minister Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr was quoted in media reports also blaming an electrical fault. 'Beyond heartbroken' The maternity unit was equipped to take care of 13 babies. "At the time of the fire, there were 11, whom nurses were unable to save," the minister said. Mayor Demba Diop said "three babies were saved". Distraught families gathered outside the hospital. By SEYLLOU (AFP) World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted that he was "beyond heartbroken with this tragic news. "I'm sending my deepest condolences to the parents and families of the babies who lost their lives." Health Minister Sarr, who had been in Geneva attending a meeting with the World Health Organization, said "an investigation is under way to see what happened". The tragedy in Tivaouane comes after several other public health incidents in Senegal, which suffers from a great disparity between urban and rural areas in healthcare services. In the northern town of Linguere in late April, a fire broke out at a hospital and four newborn babies were killed. The town's mayor cited an electrical malfunction in an air conditioning unit in the maternity ward. 'This is unacceptable' Map of Senegal locating the city of Tivaouane, where 11 newborn babies died in a hospital fire on Wednesday.. By Tupac POINTU (AFP) Wednesday's accident came over a month after the nation mourned the death of a pregnant woman who waited in vain for a caesarean section. The woman, Astou Sokhna, arrived at a hospital in the northern city of Louga in pain. The staff refused to accommodate her request for a C-section, saying it was not scheduled. She died on April 1, 20 hours after arrival. Sokhna's death caused a wave of outrage across the country over the dire state of the health system. Minister Sarr acknowledged two weeks later that the death could have been avoided. Three midwives on duty the night Sokhna died were given a six-month suspended prison sentence on May 11 by the High Court of Louga for "failure to assist a person in danger" in connection with her case. Amnesty International's Senegal director Seydi Gassama said his organisation had called for an inspection and upgrade for neonatology services in hospitals across Senegal after the "atrocious" death of the four babies in Linguere. With the new tragedy, Amnesty "urges the government to set up an independent commission of inquiry to determine responsibility and punish the culprits, no matter the level they are at in the state apparatus", he tweeted. Opposition lawmaker Mamadou Lamine Diallo also responded with outrage to the Tivaouane blaze. "More babies burned in a public hospital... this is unacceptable @MackySall," he tweeted. "We suffer with the families to whom we offer our condolences. Enough is enough." Tunisia will hold a constitutional referendum for a "new republic" on July 25, President Kais Saied has announced, in defiance of critics who warn he wants to establish an autocracy. The vote will come exactly a year after Saied sacked the government and suspended parliament, moves his rivals called a coup, but which he argues were necessary to resolve a crippling political deadlock. Saied has since held a widely boycotted public consultation on a new constitution. He has also appointed a body to suggest how responses from the consultation may be fed into the replacement for the constitution adopted after Tunisia's 2011 revolution, the birthplace of the Arab Spring. The draft is to be ready by June 30. Late Wednesday, Tunisia's official journal set the date for a vote on the question: "Do you support the new draft constitution for the Tunisian republic?" Saied had in December laid out a roadmap for the July plebiscite and parliamentary elections later in the year, after he dissolved the previous legislature dominated by his arch-enemy, Islamist-inspired Ennahdha. The former law professor has long called for a presidential system to replace the hybrid structure outlined in a 2014 constitution, which allowed for repeated conflicts between the executive and legislative branches. He has also called for a "national dialogue" but excluded political parties from the process. The powerful UGTT trade union confederation has said it will not take part, as the dialogue excludes key political actors and aims to "impose faits accomplis by force". Many Tunisians, tired of a deepening economic crisis, have welcomed Saied's moves against an unpopular political system they say delivered little. But rights groups, political parties and foreign governments have warned of a slide back to dictatorship, a decade after the revolt that overthrew strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The President of the Institute for Security, Disaster and Emergency Studies, Dr. Ishmael Norman fears the latest See Something Say Something campaign approach may not be enough to address terrorism issues in the country. The Ministry in charge of National Security taking a cue from attacks by terrorist groups in neigbouring countries believe Ghana could be a target. As a result, an alert has been issued for the citizenry to be keen and report any suspicious persons or activities. In line with measures being taken, a campaign dubbed See Something Say Something has been launched. Although security expert Dr. Ishmael Norman believes it is a good idea, he has raised a concern, insisting that it may not be enough. It is a good idea to have a See Something, Say Something risk communication strategy assuming that the terrorists are already in the country and maybe preparing themselves for a big blowout. But when it comes to the tactical approaches the terrorists used in places like Niger, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso, as in they coming in and quickly getting out, then See Something and Say Something may not be adequate, the President of the Institute for Security, Disaster and Emergency Studies told TV3 in an interview. Dr. Ishmael Norman proposes that the government should focus on prepositioning the military, the immigration, and the police to carry out inspections that will fish out potential terrorists. We are a bit weak in terms of technology in sieving out the information that we should be paying attention to. The whole approach is dicey but we should give the national security the benefit of doubt. Government should preposition military, immigration, and police officers to basically monitor; inspect Identity Cards when they suspect that somebody does not fit well into the ecosystem, Dr. Ishmael Norman added. Prank calls to the two main call centres of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) increases when students are on vacations, The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has said. The GNFS added that the rate drop when school reopen. The Director of Public Affairs at the GNFS, Timothy Osafo-Affum, who made these revelations in an interview with 3FM's Sunrise hosted by Alfred Ocansey on Thursday, explained that pranks calls are seasonal. He said on average, the two centres receive 22,000 to 24,000 prank calls a daily basis in Accra and Kumasi. Prank calls to our centres are seasonal. It rises when students are on holiday but it subside when they are in school. ACFO I Osafo-Affum blamed parents over these rampant prank calls which he believes is impeding the work of the services. Because we the parents are teaching them [students and pupils]. They are also learning what we do. ACFO I Osafo-Affum explained that they are wasting resources. They are preventing those who need the services. Call centres The Public Affairs Director noted that the entire GNFS has just two call centres in Accra and Kumasi with limited consoles to pick calls. We have five consoles which can pick five calls at a time. We have three in Accra and two in Kumasi. National security installed these consoles for us which is not adequate. Asked on why they should not install more consoles to be able to pick more calls at a time, ACFO I Osafo-Affum explained that they wanted to give us 15 consoles but due to lack of space, we could not take them. So we are able to accommodate only three in Accra but nationwide, we have a total of five because of availability of space. If we have space, the National Security will add more. --- 3news.com The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea is advocating for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to settle on Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Mr. Alan Kyerematen as flagbearer and running mates respectively for the 2024 general elections. According to the former works and housing minister, presenting the two leading members of the ruling party will give them a very good chance to break the eight when President Akufo-Addo ends his second term. I hold some strong views that my very good brother Alan Kyerematen is very competent, he can do this job. I am looking at this party from a perspective of a national party in which you will say that the driver should pick a competent mate, the one who will assist him to make sure the passengers are seated. I dont believe in permanent mates, I believe that a mate can also graduate in becoming a driver. And I also believe that we have been tagged terribly as an Akan-dominated party, so we could change the face of our party, Samuel Atta Akyea told Asaase Radio in an interview. He stressed that to him, the Bawumia-Alan ticket makes a lot of sense and is one that the whole party should consider in the run-up to the next general elections. "Bawumia has been the vice president for two terms, but he has been the mate for16 years. I believe that if these two people can look at it well, the strength of Alan Kyerematen can aid the vice-president and the twin can do a good job for this party and our country. It is a conversation we shouldn't stop and if we see the light in that, we wouldn't have trouble. So that arrangement of getting Alan to partner Bawumia, we should look at it very wellits eminently sensible, Atta Akyea added. Both Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Alan Kyerematen are reportedly harbouring dreams to become President. The two look set to go face to face in the race for the NPP flagbearer position. Potential Marine Claims And Coverage Issues 26.05.2022 LISTEN Marine insurance losses from the war in Ukraine are currently limited, although the conflict is likely to create uncertainty and legal questions for affected hull and cargo policies. Certain claims have to be denied under sanctions and war clauses. The insurance industry is likely to see a number of claims under war policies from vessels damaged or lost to sea mines, rocket attacks and bombings in the conflict zone in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. Insurers may also face claims under marine war policies from vessels and cargo blocked or trapped in Ukrainian ports and coastal waters by the Russian blockade. More uncertain is the potential for non-war claims in hull and cargo insurance from vessels caught up in the conflict, explains Justus Heinrich, Global Product Leader Marine Hull at Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty (AGCS). We can predict the various scenarios under war cover, but it is much harder to predict how non-war losses could develop for vessels trapped in Ukrainian ports and the Black Sea. There are potential issues around safe navigation, crew, maintenance and salvage for these ships if they are unable to leave. Marine insurance policies typically exclude the seizure of ships or physical damage caused by war or hostile actions, such as damage from sea mines or attacks on vessels. However, most prudent ship owners will purchase additional war insurance, which will cover such losses for an additional premium, and for a limited period of time, typically seven days. Insurers are also not able to pay claims that are covered by sanctions. Cover for non-war related damage or machinery breakdown may still be available where insurers are not able to cancel hull and cargo policies for affected ships. Shipping trapped or blocked in the Black Sea is a particular challenge. Even if safe passage is afforded out of the conflict zone, vessels may not feel confident in using maritime safe corridors or running the risk of sea mines. However, the longer vessels are trapped, maintenance and crew welfare will be harder to sustain. Some crews have reportedly abandoned their ships in Ukraine due to security worries. Given the legal and reputational risks, many companies (including insurers) have pulled back from trade with Russia. However, insurers will be required to honour valid contracts until renewal, but certain claims have to be denied under sanctions and war clauses, says Heinrich. Cargo in storage or in transit may be damaged or abandoned due to the conflict or if a vessel is trapped in port. Trapped vessels or ships affected by sanctions may suffer machinery breakdown or damage by fire, collision or grounding. Claims that arise under hull and cargo policies that are not directly related to the war could be difficult to resolve, involving complex legal questions and policy interpretation, explains Heinrich. For example, sanctions may prohibit a portion, but not all of an insurance claim. Claims involving trapped vessels could fall under hull insurance or war insurance, depending on the circumstance. Renewals could also prove complicated for vessels affected by the conflict. For example, vessels trapped in the Black Sea may need to continue to pay an additional premium to war insurers to maintain cover, which could become uneconomical if the conflict is prolonged. Trapped vessels may also need to renew their hull insurance to maintain cover. We have identified vessels that are affected by the conflict and are keeping an eye on the status of these ships, says Heinrich. Conflict May Exacerbate Crew Shortage The Ukraine invasion also has ramifications for the global maritime workforce, which is already facing shortages as it comes out of the pandemic. Around 2,000 seafarers were thought to be stuck on vessels in Ukrainian ports following the outbreak of the Ukraine invasion. Trapped crews face the constant threat of attack, with little access to food or medical supplies. Tragically, a number of crew have already been killed in attacks. A significant proportion of the world's 1.89 million seafarers originate from Russia and Ukraine: according to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Russian seafarers account for just over 10% of the shipping's total workforce, while a further 4% are from Ukraine. With many direct flights to Russia suspended, and with fewer vessels calling at Russian and Ukrainian ports, seafarers from these countries may struggle to return home at the end of the current contracts. Seafarers in the Black Sea are in a perilous situation, stuck on board vessels or in ports with dwindling supplies and under fire. This is yet another blow for the industry and global supply chains. Crew levels have not yet returned to normal levels, and now many Russian and Ukrainian seafarers may be unable to return home or rejoin ships, says Captain Rahul Khanna, Global Head of Marine Risk Consulting at AGCS. Regular crew changes are required across the world to ensure the flow of seafarers is maintained. Last year, the ICS and shipping trade association, Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), warned there could be a serious shortage of officers within five years if action is not taken to increase training and recruitment levels. The report predicted that there will be a need for an additional 89,510 officers by 2026, yet there was a shortfall of 26,240 certified officers in 2021. Evolving Sanctions Regime Increases Compliance Burden The range of sanctions against Russian interests presents a sizable compliance challenge. Western countries have introduced a raft of sanctions against Russian companies, banks and individuals, since the invasion of Ukraine. To varying degrees, the US, EU and Australia have banned imports of Russian oil, gas and coal, while the EU also placed sanctions on Russian iron, steel, coal, cement, timber and luxury goods. In Asia, Japan stopped exports of luxury cars and other items to Russia, while Singapore implemented export controls on technology and military exports to Russia. The reputational risk and threat of further sanctions has led many companies and shipping groups to review their appetite for trade with Russia. However, supply chains in a number of industries, including automotive, electronics and agriculture, are reliant on raw materials and components from Ukraine and Russia, while some sanction regimes exempt certain products. Many companies have entered into contracts with Russian companies that they are unable to cancel. Violating sanctions can result in severe enforcement action, yet compliance is complex and evolving. It can be difficult to establish the ultimate owner of a vessel, cargo, or counterparty. Sanctions also apply to various parts of the transport supply chain, including banking and insurance, as well as maritime support services, which makes compliance even more complex. The UK and EU, for example, banned insurers and reinsurers from underwriting the Russian aviation and space industry. The sanctions regime poses a high compliance risk for shipping companies and insurers. This is a dynamic and complex situation, and we have to take each contract on a case-by-case basis. While some Russian entities are sanctioned, there are exemptions, and there may be multiple sanctioned parties within the supply chain. There are also challenges around how to manage exposures and services claims in Russia, says Justus Heinrich. Email: [email protected] BY Lesiba Sethoga Drink offering or libation has been a spiritual exercise that has been performed by those who know it's spiritual essence before the advent of religion as a mass controlling tool which is supposed to help the people find God. The art of pouring libation or drink offering has been associated with Traditional African Religion and very uncommon within modern Christian fraternity. Indeed, most Christians see pouring libation or drink offering as fetish practice and as such evil. Drink offering is a form of prayer where an individual pours any liquid (spirits, wines, water, milk etc) to evoke the energies of a God or deity. The type of drink poured or offered during the prayer depends on the type of spiritual entity one is dealing with. The drink serves as a conduit to link the individual offering the prayer to the spiritual entity and that draws one closer to the spirits than without. In our local setting, most of our traditional priest, chiefs, linguist often offer varied drinks as offering to spirits depending on what is acceptable to their deity or God they are evoking their energies or praying to. While some pour 'apketeshie' (local strong drink) others pour palm wine, honey, milk, dry gin, 'pitoo' (locally brewed drink) etc. To situate drink offering within the Christian religious context, Frederick Mensah, leader of the Way Networks posited that, "Drink offering isn't anti the Christian faith and there are lot of quotations within the Bible to support same. Christianity now lacks spirituality and what is thought in churches is theology and not spirituality". To ascertain whether what Mr. Mensah is saying makes sense or no, the Bible is the basic book for Christians and that could be used as a reference to crosscheck his views. In Numbers 28:1 and 8 "The Lord said to Moses" and the verse seven states "The accompanying drink offering is to be a quarter of a hin of fermented drink with each lamb. Pour out the drink offering to the Lord at the sanctuary." In the view of Frederick Mensah, "The Lord gave Moses instruction to pour libation and even added the quantity of the drink that should be offered to Him." If that is the case, then, the pouring of libation isn't wrong but a potent spiritual exercise which is more effective than just an audible prayer. Drink offering (libation) isn't the problem but to what intent and which spirit associated with the drink offering prayer is what makes the difference (Mensah, 2022). From this view point of The Way Networks Leader, it appears the hidden secrets within the Christian faith that can aid one's progress and development aren't thought. 1Corinthians 2:6-7 spiritual wisdom is a secret and "No one teaches spirituality in church, all that is thought is theology and theology isn't what people need to solve their problems and develop spiritually. Rather theology makes Christians dogmatic and indoctrinated than being spiritual (Mensah, 2022)". Again from the bible at Genesis 35:13-15 "Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him. Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel." Jacob is an important personality within the Biblical history, he offered a drink offering after his encounter with God and called the place where he poured the libation Bethel (a spot where God is worshiped, marked by a pillar or a holy place). If Jacob, a Hebrew patriarch who was the grandson of Abraham, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the traditional ancestor of the people of Israel, performed drink offering at a place he encountered God and named that very spot a holy place. What is the problem with contemporary Christians and drink offering? In Hosea 29:40 "With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering." Numbers 15:5 "With each lamb for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering." Again, Numbers 29:6 "These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are food offerings presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma." With the plethora of Bible verses that support drink Offerings to God, how come the Christian faith has blatantly refused to inculcate such spiritual practice and teachings within the church? Is it lack of understanding or there is something about religion that detaches people from their original spiritual source? One may say we are no more under the law but under grace. This is the greatest misconception and misunderstanding of Apostle Pauls teachings on grace. In Matthew 5:17-19 Jesus teaches that He came to establish the laws and the prophets and not to destroy them. So where does this doctrine of lawlessness came from. Luke 2:22-23 also confirms that Jesus, the mother Mary and father Joseph also practiced and obeyed the laws of Moses so please we should not pretend we know better than the Messiah and his family. In conclusion, I shall provide further verses for the open minded Christian spiritual seekers to averr their minds to what the bible says about drink offerings: Joel 2:134, Numbers 29:11, Numbers 29:30, 32-34, Leviticus 23:13-14 and Ezra 7:17. This write up isn't against the Christian faith but rather to unearth a hidden practice, an aspect missing in the modern day Christian spiritual journey. This is to hence our walk and contact with the Divine Creator through the spiritual Christ that dwell within us. The former head of Paris's Louvre Museum, Jean-Luc Martinez, has been charged with conspiring to hide the origin of Egyptian archeological treasures that police suspect were smuggled out of the country during the Arab Spring uprisings. Judicial sources said Martinez was charged on Wednesday after being taken in for questioning by the French office against art trafficking (OCBC), along with two prominent French Egyptologists. The two specialists the head of the Egyptian department of the Louvre, Vincent Rondot, and renowned Egyptologist Olivier Perdu have been released without charge. The case was opened in July 2018, two years after the Louvre's branch in Abu Dhabi bought a rare pink granite stele depicting the pharaoh Tutankhamun and four other historic works for eight million euros. Martinez, who ran the Paris Louvre from 2013 to 2021, is accused of turning a blind eye to fake certificates of origin for the pieces a fraud thought to involve several other art experts, according to the satirical Canard Enchaine investigative weekly. He has been charged with complicity in fraud and "concealing the origin of criminally obtained works by false endorsement", the judicial source said. Hundreds of pieces The move comes after Roben Dib, the German-Lebanese gallery owner who brokered the sale, was arrested in Hamburg in March and extradited to Paris for questioning in the case. French investigators suspect that hundreds of artefacts were pillaged during the Arab Spring protests that engulfed several Middle Eastern countries in the early 2010s, and then sold to galleries and museums that did not ask too many questions about previous ownership. The Canard Enchaine reported that some of the same French experts who certified the Tutankhamun stele also certified another prized Egyptian work, the gilded coffin of the priest Nedjemankh, that was purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2017. Following an inquiry by New York prosecutors, the Met said it had been a victim of false statements and fake documentation, and said the coffin would be returned to Egypt. (with AFP) The Democratic Republic of Congo has accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group, as clashes between the army and the militia continued in the east of the country on Thursday. Fighting with the rebel group erupted on several fronts this week in North Kivu, a conflict-torn province in the vast central African nation, which borders Rwanda. "Suspicions are crystallising that the M23 has received support from Rwanda," DR Congo's government spokesman Patrick Muyaya stated on Wednesday evening, after a crisis meeting with the prime minister. Primarily a Congolese Tutsi group, M23 is one of more than 120 armed groups that roam eastern DR Congo. It briefly captured the provincial capital Goma in late 2012, before the army quelled the rebellion the following year. But M23 resumed fighting this year, accusing the Congolese government of failing to respect a 2009 agreement under which its fighters were to be incorporated into the army. DR Congo soldiers head towards the front lines after a clash with M23 rebels. By Aubin Mukoni (AFP) Foreign Affairs Minister Christophe Lutundula also accused Rwanda of backing the M23 and said the militia had attacked Rumangabo army camp, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Goma. "This is the height of brazenness, we cannot remain indifferent, we cannot say nothing," he told delegates at an African Union meeting in Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday. Clashes between the army and M23 continued near the Rumangabo camp on Thursday, according to several local officials who asked to remain anonymous. 'Avoid genocide' DR Congo and Rwanda have had a strained relationship since the mass arrival in the republic of Rwandan Hutus accused of slaughtering Tutsis during the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Kinshasa has regularly accused Rwanda of carrying out incursions into its territory and of backing armed groups there. Relations had begun to thaw after DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi took office in 2019, but the recent resurgence of M23 violence has reignited tensions. Clashes between the army and militia forces have continued in eastern DR Congo. By Aubin Mukoni (AFP) Tensions have also risen in Goma, an ethnic melting pot with a population of about one million, on fears of escalating violence. General Francois-Xavier Aba van Ang, a high-ranking police officer in North Kivu, on Wednesday told city residents to prepare to defend themselves with machetes, according to a video posted on social media. DR Congo's government spokesman Patrick Muyaya criticised the remarks as "dangerous," however. "Appealing to the use of machetes, hate speech, stigmatisation is extremely dangerous and should be banned," he tweeted on Thursday. M23 on Thursday also stated that it was concerned by calls to violence. "MONUSCO and the DRC government should stop this very dangerous slippage to avoid the genocide," it said, using an acronym to refer to the UN peacekeeping mission in the DR Congo. Investigation calls The army launched an offensive against M23 last week, after the militia apparently attacked soldiers as well as UN peacekeepers. Fighting with the rebel group erupted on several fronts this week in North Kivu. By Aubin Mukoni (AFP) On Monday, Rwanda urged an investigation into an alleged rocket attack on its territory by Congolese armed forces. Fighting between M23 and DR Congo's army erupted again on Tuesday north of Goma, and by Wednesday had spread to other areas of North Kivu, including the Rumangabo camp. DR Congo on Wednesday announced it had also requested an investigation through a regional body that monitors security incidents in Africa's volatile Great Lakes region. It did not mention Rwanda by name, but said in a statement that shells had been fired into its territory "from the east to the west". The Minister in charge of Finance in Ghana, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta on Monday, May 23, 2022, had the honour to chair the 31st Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) in Accra. The main objective of the meeting held at the International Conference Center in Ghanas capital Accra is to seek broad policy and strategic direction for the Foundation as well as discuss sustainability issues. Delivering an address, Ken Ofori-Atta underscored the significance of the meeting, insisting that this is the time to be aggressive and innovative in repositioning Africa Unions agency for capacity-building development. He said ACBF must through its work enable countries to take full advantage of the new prospects presented by the fourth industrial revolution driven by the transition to knowledge-based economies. To do this we must be aggressive in sustaining ongoing efforts at improving processes and systems. We must be innovative in seeking out new partnerships and finances that will bolster the achievements of the agreed agenda for socio-economic transformation of the continents. We must entrench the relevance of the conversation to ensure that Africa builds better forward, the ACBF chair of the Board of Governors shared. In his speech, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta said ACBF after becoming the specialised Capacity Building Institution for the Africa Union must double efforts to promote inclusive growth. He said it is important that women and young people are empowered so they reach their potential to help the progress and growth of the African continent. Together as a foundation we must continue to prioritise inclusive growth, we must continue to empower African women and youth to realise their demographic dividends in the light of AFCFTA to strengthen Africas capacity to trade must become the foremost priority of our foundation, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta said at the meeting attended by high ACBF officials from various member countries. The ACBF chair of the Board of Governors further stressed, We must align our priorities with efforts to boost Africas income by some 450 billion dollars by 2036. At the meeting, representatives of partners including the African Development Bank, UNDP, and the World Bank had similar goodwill messages. All representatives of the partners applauded the Africa Capacity Building Foundation for the work done in the past. They assured of the continuous commitment to support the ACBF to remain in business to inspire the growth and development of the African continent through capacity-building programmes. At the 31st Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of ACBF, the Board of Governors received an update on the activities of the Secretariat and the 2021 Financial Statements from the Executive Board. With 2022 being the last year of the current strategy (2017-2022), the meeting saw top officials of ACBF discussing what is on the horizon as they considered the roadmap to develop the next strategy. The Board of Governors of ACBF took advantage of the meeting to deepen the partnership with member countries and strategic institutions such as multilateral and regional partners. A stay of proceedings application filed by embattle Assin North MP James Gyakye Quayson at the Court of Appeal has been dismissed by a three-member bench presided over by Justice Henry Anthony Kwoffie. The court was of the view that the applicant could not demonstrate any exceptional circumstances to warrant a stay of the proceedings into his dual-nationality case. The opposition legislator, who is facing five criminal charges, has Mr Tsatsu Tsikata as his lead counsel and had prayed the Court of Appeal to stay the criminal proceedings against him at the High Court. The MP has been charged with deceit of public officer in contravention of section 251(b) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). According to the Attorney General, the MP, on or about the 29th of July 2019 at the Passport Office, Accra, with intent to facilitate the obtaining of a Ghanaian passport, deceived the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by making a false statement that he did not have a dual citizenship, a statement which he did not have a good reason to believe to be true at the time of making it. He has also been charged with forgery of passport or travel certificate in contravention of section 15(1) (b) of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155). The State asserts that Mr Quayson, on or about 26 July 2019, at the Passport Office, in Accra, made a false statement that he did not have dual citizenship for the purpose of procuring a passport a statement the state says the MP knew to be untrue at the time of making it. Additionally, Mr Quayson has been charged with knowingly making a false statutory declaration, in contravention of section 5 of the Statutory Declarations Act, 1971 (Act 389). The AG explained that the MP, at Assin Fosu, on or about 6 October 2020, made a statutory declaration indicating that he owed no country allegiance except Ghana, a statement which the MP knew was false in a material, particularly at the time of making it. Further, the MP has been charged with perjury, in contravention of section 210(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and false declaration for office, in contravention of section 248 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). However, Mr Tsikata raised constitutional issues with three of the five criminal charges: Knowingly making a false statutory declaration (Count 3), perjury (Count 4) and false declaration for office (Count 5), which, in his view, required interpretation from the Supreme Court. According to Mr Tsikata, due process in a criminal charge requires an accused to be aware of the elements of the charge that has been brought against him and that is why the issues of Article 94 (2)(a) is key in the matter. However, Mr Richard Gyembiby, a Principal State Attorney argued against the application saying the applicant did not meet the threshold to merit such a concession. ---Classfmonline.com Government has been urged to legalise routes along Ghana's borders, described as unapproved, and post some security personnel there to protect the country from external attacks and spillage of extremism. Naba Azaare Anyenaba, the Chief of Feo, a border community in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region, said if such routes were approved and security personnel stationed with the necessary logistics, it would ensure vigilance and effective monitoring to prevent illegal entry to the country. The political instability and activities of terrorists and extremists in the Sahel Region, including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, posed risks to Ghana, hence government must accept those unapproved routes and take steps to legalise them to ensure vigilance, he said. As a country, we must accept the reality and approve of where people are passing. But we say it is unapproved yet people pass through these routes every day and some people are collecting monies into their pockets, he said. Naba Anyenaba said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of a training programme on preventing violent extremism for border communities, organised by the National Peace Council (NPC), with funding support from the Danish International Development Agency. Apart from the Namoo border, which is under the supervision of the Paga border, all other routes linking Ghana to Burkina Faso in the Bongo District are deemed unapproved. Naba Anyenaba said due to the huge market in Burkina Faso (Yelwongo Market) economic activities involving the movement of goods and services between the two countries went beyond the approved routes. We the people of Feo have appealed for the routes to be approved because it is liberal, Namoo and Feo can have different borders so that we can all help to curb the movement of people, he added. That would also help to improve the revenue mobilisation drive of the District Assembly for sustainable development, he said. I think we should wake up and look at our geographical situation very well and straighten things to bring in income, we should not just allow people to come and extort money from our communities. Mr Ali Anankpieng, the Upper East Regional Executive Secretary, NPC, said the training, which brought together traditional and religious leaders, women and youth groups and persons with disability, among others, sought to build the resilience of border communities to assist in combating terrorism and extremism. It was also to equip the participants with skills to be able to identify early signals of extremists' activities and collaborate with the security agencies to address them. He admonished Ghanaians to take their personal security seriously and report any suspicious characters within their communities to the relevant authorities. GNA The management of the Tafo Government Hospital in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region has stressed that reports of a student nurse turning into a crocodile at the hospital hold no water. This is contained in a press release from the hospital seeking to clarify ongoing speculations. In the past week, several reports had alleged that a pregnant staff has been hospitalised after she was stunned seeing a student nurse turn into a crocodile. From the speculation, the student nurse was sent on an errand to buy beans and gari for the pregnant staff. The student nurse is said to have faulted and did not buy the food exactly as she was sent. The pregnant nurse got angry and rained insults on the student nurse, reportedly making her also angry. She is said to have entered the Nurses room where she turned into a crocodile in waiting for the pregnant nurse. When the pregnant nurse got there, she was shocked and is said to have collapsed amid screaming. Reacting to the sensational story, the management of the Tafo Government Hospital says the story is false. We wish to inform the general public that the publication is false and no such incident has happened in the hospital, a release signed by Dr. Kwame Agyeman who is Medical Superintendent at the facility has said. The release from the Tafo government hospital is urging the general public to treat all publications of this speculation with contempt. Madam Vicky Ford, the United Kingdom Minister for Africa, has announced a successful deal between the UK and Ghana that will see some 70 armoured Husky vehicles deployed to Northern Ghana to ensure the safety of vulnerable communities. A statement issued by the UK High Commission in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency said Madam Ford had arrived in Accra following the success of the first UK-Ghana Business Council (UKGBC) held in-person since 2019. It said the Council was held in the UK Government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in the heart of London with the senior Government of Ghana delegation led by Mr Alan Kyerematen, Ghana's Minister for Trade and Industry. It said arriving in Ghana for the second time in 2022, Madam Ford's visit signals the importance the UK places on the deep and broad bilateral partnership. It said with almost a billion dollars' worth of trade between Ghana and the UK, the British Government was committed to growing this by the end of 2024. Following her arrival at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Madam Ford said: It is fantastic to be back in Ghana, to continue the conversations, decisions and opportunities discussed both at UK-Ghana Business Council and during my visit in February." "It's also been fantastic to meet colleagues from the African Development Bank in-person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. "I am proud to use my visit to announce a successful deal between our nations that will see 70 armoured Husky vehicles deployed to Northern Ghana to ensure the safety of vulnerable communities. The statement noted that the UK Minister for Africa would attend the African Development Bank's meeting of Governors where she was expected to sign a climate finance deal worth up to $2 billion. It said announced at COP26, at least half of the 'Room to Run' guarantee would unlock support for countries across the Continent to manage the impacts of climate change. It said the signing honours the global commitments made at COP26 by leaders from around the world including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Welcoming Madam Ford to Accra for the second time in 2022, Madam Harriet Thompson, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, said: Ghana is a beacon of security, stability and democracy in a troubled region." "Its role in ECOWAS and membership of the UN Security Council means that Ghana has a vital role in safeguarding democratic principles and defending freedoms across West Africa and beyond. "We strongly support Ghana's leadership in this. Our partnership in recent times includes the fight against the impact of climate change and, of course, global health security. She said Madam Ford's return to Ghana would reinforce this partnership through the signing of a climate finance deal, to ensure the safety of vulnerable communities. The statement said Madam Ford would pay tribute to the enduring UK-Ghana security and defence partnership, announcing the completion of a deal between the nations that would see 70 armoured Husky vehicles arrive in Ghana. It said the vehicles would be used to bolster security along the country's Northern border, protecting communities from the threat of extremists inciting violence across the border. It said linked to the deal, worth more than $10 million, the UK armed forces would provide training for Ghanaian troops, including training of Ghanaian instructors to teach the operation and daily maintenance of the vehicles. The statement recalled that Madam Ford last visited Ghana in February 2022 as Russia unlawfully invaded Ukraine. It said during this visit the Minister met with Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and held meetings with like-minded partners in Accra including ambassadors from the American Embassy, the French Embassy, and Kenya High Commissioner to Ghana, Eliphas Barine and Mr Kwabena Osei-Danquah, former United Nations General Assembly Chef de Cabinet. It said during her previous trip, the Minister also visited the West Africa Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), based at the University of Ghana. It said now, with vital UK-backing, the centre was supporting the country and the region on COVID-19 genome sequencing. The statement said Madam Ford also met the scientists working on antimalarial drug resistance and new malaria vaccines in partnership with UK research institutions including Edinburgh University, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Francis Crick Institute. GNA Residents at Ada in the Greater Accra Region, have called on stakeholders to help support effort at ending human trafficking. They said traditional and religious leaders and community members should help with sensitisation and education of the citizenry towards finding effective ways to solve that problem. The residents said leaders could lead the fight through community engagement, outrages, church activities, and public education among others. The residents spoke to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Ada during a community engagement after four children who had been trafficked to operate around Volta Lake were reunited with their families. The children were rescued through the timely intervention of the Ghana Police Service, the Department of Social Welfare in collaboration with the International Justice Mission. Mr. Charles Nateh Abayateye, an Opinion Leader at Anyamam near Sege, said the leaders of the various authorities in the Ada area had a major role to play in ending human trafficking by using their various offices effectively, efficiently, and strategically. He noted that the responsibility of leaders remained indispensable in the fight against the menace and urged them to intensify public education on the effects of the menace as well as its implications on victims as they were usually beaten and maltreated in diverse ways. Answering questions on Ada as a typical source of trafficking children onto the Volta Lake to engage in fishing activities, Mr. Amos Mantey, a fisherman at Agblabanya, a predominantly fishing community, said there was an urgent need for stakeholders at the community level to sensitize residents on human trafficking and its negative consequences. He said the situation could not be curbed individually or by a single organization and called for collaboration and wider consultation towards its eradication. The four children told the GNA that some of them were under the age of 10 years when they were separated from their families and trafficked into forced fishing labour on Lake Volta, Ghana's largest man-made lake. Beyond the fear and abuse they encountered, the risk of drowning according to them was constant as they were forced to dive deep into dark waters to untangle fishing nets. "We worked long hours at night and early in the morning," they said. They noted that some of them were currently experiencing ear defects due to numerous drownings and ulcers as a result of starvation and hunger. The four children were trafficked to Yeji, in the Pru East District of the Bono East Region located adjacent to Lake Volta and Morekorpe, and Bejemesu in the Oti region. GNA 26.05.2022 LISTEN Former President, John Dramani Mahama has extended his heartiest congratulations to the Queen of the United Kingdom, Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her platinum jubilee. In a post on his Facebook page, the Ghanaian politician applauds the United Kingdom Queen for her constant inspiration as leader of the Commonwealth in the face of monumental global changes over the decades that she has been at the helm of affairs. Heartiest congratulations to HRM Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth, on the joyous occasion of her platinum jubilee, part of the post on the Facebook page of John Dramani Mahama reads. The former Ghana President concludes, As the people of the United Kingdom and members of the Commonwealth mark the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of her ascension to the throne, my wife Lordina and I join the people of Ghana and well-wishers across the globe to offer Her Majesty our warmest congratulations and best wishes for her continued good health. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. All is set for the maiden John Evans Atta Mills' Memorial Lecture in Northern Ghana which has been slated for Saturday, May 28, 2022. The event which is on the theme "The man John Evans Atta Mills-Ten years on" is expected to bring together people from academia, students, family and the political arena. The event is being organised by the local organising team in conjunction with the Governing Board of the John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage. It will be chaired by the paramount chief of the Pishigu traditional area, Naa Alhaji Dr Alhassan Andani. The lecture is scheduled to take place at the multi-purpose auditorium at the University for Development Studies(UDS) at 2PM. Key speakers of the lecture include Professor Stephen Kendie of UCC, Dr Charles Abugri of IDEAS INT, Dr Vida Yakong of UDS, Dr Malik Zakaria, a traditional ruler and Dr Samuel Nkumbaan of the University of Ghana (UG). Chairman of the Local Organising Team, Mr Osmond Amuah in an interview with the media said the local organising committee was fully prepared for the event. According to him, preparations were about 90 per cent complete ahead of the event as invitation letters have been sent to those who matter. He added that decoration of the hall, as well as radio and television announcements, have been catered for awaiting the day. He also said many of the dignitaries who have been invited to attend the lecture have assured the organisers of their pledge to honour the invitation. Touching on the legacies of the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Mr Osmond said, he lived an enviable life and was noted for his positive actions in strengthening democratic values and human advancement in and outside Ghana. He added further that the Asomdwehene as JEA was called, had the zeal for creating a better Ghana for all, excellence and integrity as well as accountability, hence the need for the nation to celebrate him even in his absence. "The John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage is a Heritage that was instituted basically to promote the legacies of the late Professor John Atta Mills, his key attributes that we seek to sell, that is the attributes of a humble person, a humble servant, a father and someone who rose above pettiness and lived his life in such a way that he wanted to include everybody. He promoted the ideals of inclusiveness that led to the rapid transformation of the nation," Mr Osmond said. Other members of the local organising team include: Dr Elias Kuusaana, Dr Elijah Yendaw, Dr Benson Konlan, Dr Mohammed Ali, Dr Iddrisu Sulemana, DR Kilu Rufai, Mr Joseph Anamooo: Haruna Musah Kalamuhi, Dr Malik D. Zakaria, Prof Dominic Dery Alimbe and Dr Damian Tom-Dery. The John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage The John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage was established with a vision that seeks to inspire humanity for a better society The mission of the heritage is to promote the JEA Mills' unique view of society to cause positive actions in strengthening democratic values and human advancement. The heritage has many objectives some of which are: To continue to deepen President JEA Mills legacy of excellence in law, taxation and sports, Build and project the President JEA Mills brand as a model servant leader who invested in people, Engage in charity work among others. It has the values of Passion, Excellence and Integrity, Accountability, as well as Commitment. The John Evans Atta Mills Memorial Heritage is a Company Limited by Guarantee under the Ghana Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992). Governing Board members of the heritage include Hon. Alex Segbefia (Board Chairman), Madam Sherry Ayitey (member), Hon. Samuel Atta Mills (member), Mr Emmanuel Siisi Quainoo(member), and Nana Oye Bampoe Addo (Board Secretary). It has Mr Kwame Pianim, Mr James Bebaako Mensah, Mr John Henry Martey Newman, Prof. Agnes Attia Apusigah, Dr Esther Offei Aboagye, Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, Alhaji Dr Ahmed Vanderpuye, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Dr Cadman Atta Mills, Naa Alhassan Andani and HE. Ken Kanda as Advisory Council. 27.05.2022 LISTEN The Ellembelle Constituency New Patriotic Party Organizer, Mr. Stephen Donkor has accused the incumbent Ellembelle District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Kwasi Bonzoh of succeeding in working against him to become the DCE of Ellembelle District in the Western Region. Mr. Stephen Donkor who is the current Senior Manager of Ghana National Gas Company was nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2017 to be Ellembelle DCE but was totally rejected by the then Assembly Members of Ellembelle District Assembly. Out of the 52 Assembly Members, Mr. Stephen Donkor managed to get 11 votes and was subsequently replaced by Mr. Kwasi Bonzoh who managed to get the majority of the votes to become Ellembelle DCE. Mr. Stephen Donkor who has been declining to speak publicly on his defeat, has for the first time broken silence on his defeat. According to him, he lost in 2017 as the DCE nominee all because of Kwasi Bonzoh who was his 2016 Ellembelle NPP Parliamentary Candidate. He claimed that the current Ellembelle DCE and his associates painted him black before the Assembly Members and eventually led to his rejection. He added that since then, Kwasi Bonzoh has been attacking him without any reason. "I am conscious of the fact that such vicious attacks on my person did not start today. The people of Ellembelle will recall that when I was nominated as a prospective DCE of the District in 2017, the same Mr. Kwasi Bonzoh and his cohorts tagged me with all sorts of vituperations which eventually led to my rejection by the Assembly Members", he claimed. Mr. Stephen Donkor made the claims in a press statement issued on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. He also revealed in his statement that Kwasi Bonzoh has accused him of his failure to become MP for Ellembelle Constituency in 2020. "As if that was not enough, after 2020 general elections Mr Bonzoh and his surrogates accused me of inciting party members against the three(3) NPP parliamentary candidates in Jomoro, Ellembelle and Evalue Ajomoro Gwira to lose the elections. As a result, BNI officers commissioned by a committee were at my office to take my statement in their investigation", he disclosed. He stated that Kwasi Bonzoh was working hard for him to be kicked out from the Ghana National Gas Company as the company's Senior Manager. "I am over convinced that one of the topmost priority of Hon DCE, Bonzoh is to hunt me out of Ghana Gas, hence his constant attacks on me and my associates", he said. He therefore, emphasized that, "I want to assure Hon. Kwasi Bonzoh, that I am not perturbed by such antics but rather resolved in contributing my quota to the betterment of Ghana Gas and assist my CEO to create more opportunities for the good people of Ellembelle, Nzema and the nation at large". He took the opportunity to debunk an allegation being circulated on social media and in Ellembelle that he (Kwasi Bonzoh) recommended him to be employed by Dr. Ben Asante as the Senior Manager of Ghana National Gas Company. He said he was employed by the company after going through rigorous interview and not through any recommendation from Kwasi Bonzoh. "It has been reported to me (Stephen Donkor) on several occasions that Mr Kwasi Bonzo has been touting at very little opportunity that he recommended me to be engaged by Ghana Gas and that without his recommendation there was not going be the slightest opportunity for me to be engaged by the company. "I find this assertion strange and mind boggling to say the least, the question is, in what capacity did he (Hon. Bonzoh) recommend me for the appointment? as a failed parliamentary candidate or as what?, that he was clothed with the powers to recommend people for appointment", he stated. He emphasized, "It will interest you to know that I went through rigorous interview and was issued an appointment letter as any other person in Ghana Gas, hence my position as Senior Manager is not by an appointment of a so called recommendation from Hon Bonzoh". He, therefore urged, "I (Stephen Donkor) will therefore urge the people of Ellembelle and Ghanaians in general to take it with a pinch of salt, if Hon Bonzo claims to be the architect of my engagement with Ghana Gas". He continued, "My gratitude rather goes to Hon. Freddie Blay and Dr. Ben Asante for the confidence reposed in me and their continuous guidance to me." A multi-billionaire, who also doubles as the traditional priest for Bosore community in the Kwabre East District of the Ashanti Region, Nana Kwadwo Boateng a.k.a Dumgya Komfour has refurbished the entire roofing of five classrooms of the Bosore M/A Primary School. Before the renovation, academic works were severely hindered due to the bad state of the roof to the extent that the school kids were asked to run home whenever it threatens to rain. An amount worth GHs30,000 was injected into the project solely by him for academic activities to continue especially during the rainy season. Briefing the media, headmistress for the school, Madam Gloria Pomaa, pointed out that, the support exhibited by the priest has relieved students and authorities from one of the many challenges affecting academic works. She recalled in the interview that, whenever there was a rainfall, the roof of some of the classrooms leaked and as a way of swerving the situation, authorities had no option than to merge students of class 4 with those of class 2 and class 5 with students of another classroom. such condition on several occasions halted academic works for a whole day, she disclosed. The headmistress brought to light that when the School Management Committee (SMC) reported the then state of affairs to the priest, he didnt hesitate. He offered us all the needed assistance. He contracted carpenters right away and renovation works commenced the following Friday after we called on him. The project came to a completion the next Tuesday and academic work started on Wednesday. In fact, we are so much grateful for his kindness. Assemblyman for the area, Hon Bruce Yeboah, noted that the Chief Priest singlehandedly bought 20 packets of Aluzinc roofing sheets and paid all other items and expenses on the project. He, therefore, pleaded on other individuals who are well to do to support the school so as to alleviate the challenges students and teachers face. Traditional Priest Nana Kwadwo, exclusively said he was saddened after he received report on the then state of the roof of the school. Premised on the foregoing, he said he saw the urgent need to offer support than to wait till government addresses the situation. He told this medium that, in matters of development, government cannot shoulder all responsibilities. if you notice a challenge in your community, dont wait for support from governing authorities when you have the means to address it. We cant rely on government always. Doing that will delay the progress of our community, he stated. Ghanaian gospel music gem Empress Gifty has been selected as one of the Brand Ambassadors by the Ministry of National Security to champion terrorism awareness in Ghana. The new campaign is dubbed, "If You See Something, Say Something is to prevent terrorism from festering. This means any person who notices anything unusual regarding security in a locality should inform the various agencies by dialing 999 (toll free) or use any of the security agencies' phone numbers and social media handles. According to Empress Gifty, she is honoured to be selected as one of the Ambassadors to champion the terrorism awareness campaign in Ghana. She noted that 'See something Say something is every Ghanaian responsibility to safeguard the security of ones community. The 'Eye Woa' hitmaker called on all sundry to actively partake in the campaign and help rid the country of unscrupulous individuals. The campaign is in line with the whole-of-society approach that underpins the National Security Strategy, which is aimed at encouraging citizens to report suspicious persons or activities to enable the State respond effectively to the threat of terrorism and violent extremism. The Ministry of National Security has assured the general public of its continued collaboration with all relevant agencies and stakeholders to safeguard the peace and security of Ghana. In further fulfilment of Governments pledge to address the logistical and other needs of the education sector and expand access to education, Vice President Bawumia has once again handed over dozens of vehicles to a number of Senior High Schools from across the country. At a brief but colourful ceremony at the Accra High Senior High School on Thursday, 26 May 2022 Dr Bawumia handed over the keys for 75 buses and 5 Pickup trucks to elated head tutors of the schools. The beneficiary institutions include Lambussie Community Day SHS, St James Seminary, Begoro Presby SHS, Techimantia SHS, Odupong SHS, Asankragua SHS, Wa SHS, and Koforidua SHTS. Others are: STEM SHS Kpasenkpe, Accra Academy SHS, Anum Boso SHS, Tepa SHS, Northern School of Business, Osino Presby SHS, Oti Boateng SHS, Tarkwa SHS, Asare Bediako SHS, Assin North SHTS and Bosomtwe Girls STEM SHS. This is the fourth time the Vice President has handed over vehicles to schools and institutions in the education sector in the last two years, after earlier occasions in March 2020 (365 Isuzu Double Cabin Pickup trucks out of 840 procured by the Government: distributed to all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Directorates of Education as well as selected agencies under the Ministry of Education, together with 493 motorbikes out of 2000 procured to aid the work of Circuit Supervisors); and July 2020 (100 out of 350 buses procured). Dr Bawumia also handed over, in January 2022, 100 Pickups and 50 buses to more schools. Todays handover, he emphasized, is further concrete evidence of Governments commitment not only to increase access but also to ensure that we provide the complementary resources to make sure that we deliver quality education for our nation. In handing over these buses and pickups, I want to encourage the various schools receiving these buses and pickups to ensure a maintenance culture to harness the potential in these students for our transformational agenda. The Vice President reiterated the holistic nature of governments interventions in the education sector saying, To complement our investment in transportation, Senior High Schools have also seen a massive investment in infrastructure including classrooms, dormitories, administration blocks, libraries and canteens. In the last 5 years, our government has committed to increasing access to quality education and providing vehicles to Secondary Schools to support the transportation of our growing population in these schools. This government, since 2017, resulting from the Presidents Free Senior High School policy, has increased secondary school enrolment to an excess of 1.2 million students. Indeed, the introduction of Free SHS has increased the senior high enrolment in Ghana by 50% and this is massive. Ladies and gentlemen, the handover of buses today is part of efforts to increase access to quality education anchored on a robust education system that trains a critical mass of students to be empowered to be active participants in our countrys transformation, he underscored. Dr Bawumia commended the Minister of Education, Hon Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum and the leadership of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for their hard work which has ensured the procurement and delivery of the vehicles. Please continue with this hard work so that we can see more vehicles for our students, he urged. Childrens eyes which may appear to be looking in different directions are a defect that needs urgent medical attention, Dr. Alfred Gardemor, a Principal Optometrist and Head of the Optometric Center at the Nsawam Government Hospital has stated. He explained that the problem known medically as retinoblastoma is an eye cancer that begins in the retina the sensitive lining on the inside of your eye, stressing that it commonly affects young children, but can rarely occur in adults. Your retina is made up of nerve tissue that senses light as it comes through the front of your eye, although relatively uncommon, it can have devastating consequences for the children affected by it. If treated too late, it can lead to the loss of the eye, invasion of the brain, and death, Dr Gardemor who is also the Public Relations Officer for Ghana Optometric Association (GOA) stated at the fifth Ghana News Agency-Tema Regional Office and the Ghana Optometric Association fortnightly public sensitization initiative GNA-GOA: My Eye! My Vision! The fortnight initiative is a collaborative public education advocacy campaign to promote the need for people to access eye care and also to draw attention to vision health and was monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema. The GNA-GOA: My Eyes! My Vision! The initiative also seeks to challenge the public and policymakers to focus on vision as a health issue, which forms a critical component of mankinds wellbeing but is often neglected. Speaking on the topic; Childrens Vision and Eye Health, Dr. Gardemor explained retinoblastoma may occur in one or both eyes, stressing that retinoblastoma has few, if any, symptoms at first. It may be noticed if a pupil appears white when light is shone into the eye, sometimes with flash photography. Treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, and laser therapy, Dr Gardemor noted. Dr. Gadermor explained that a child with heritable retinoblastoma has an increased risk of a pineal tumor in the brain. When retinoblastoma and a brain tumor occur at the same time, it is called trilateral retinoblastoma. The brain tumor is usually diagnosed between 20 and 36 months of age, he said. He added that the safest way to save a babys life when diagnosed with retinoblastoma was to take out the affected eye to prevent the spread. He advised pregnant women to be cautious of what they eat during pregnancy since it was a stage where a lot of changes occurred in the human body and the baby. Deputy Superintendent of Police and an Optometrist at the Police Hospital in Accra, Dr. Remi Ninkpe, who spoke on the topic: Proper administration of eye drops, explained that the administration of eye medication must be systematic to promote good vision. He charged patients to follow the optometrists prescription religiously to ensure that, the process does not incur additional health issues related to the eye. Dr. Ninkpe who is also the President of the Ghana Optometric Association said it was very important to wash hands with soap and water and clean with dry neat towels to remove every impurity before administering the drugs. He said that it was also important to check the tip of the eye drop after removing the dropper cap to make sure it had not cracked or damaged adding that the tip must not be touched. He mentioned that one or two fingers could be placed on the face about an inch below the eye to gently pull down to create a pocket between your lower eyelid and your eyeball. DSP Ninkpe advised that a clean tissue must be used to absorb and wipe away any drops that spill out of your eye and onto the eyelids as well as your face and hands must be washed with soap to clean stray eye drops. Some residents of the Oninku and Homowo electoral areas in Tema Manhean have called on the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and other relevant authorities to sit with the management of the Volta Aluminum Company (VALCO) and ALUWORKS to ensure that they clear all the waterways to the Chemu Lagoon which they have blocked to help save lives and properties during the raining season. The residents blamed the massive flooding they experienced after the Tuesday early morning rains on some ongoing industrial construction works in the area. Mr. Godfred Tetteh Abbey, the former Assembly Member for the Oninku electoral area, explained that a drain in the area was dredged to contain the storm drain three times in the past four years to take care of the floods adding however that parts of the drain had been blocked by the construction of the oil refinery. The residents who looked depressed and were yet to overcome their floodwater experience explained that they were not experiencing such massive flooding until construction works started on a supposed oil refinery and two other companies blocking and diverting the tributaries of the Chemu Lagoon. According to them, a small channel was created for the floodwater upstream to pass through into the Chemu and subsequently into the sea, this they said was not the solution to the problem as the flooding of their residents and shops was evidence of its ineffectiveness. During a tour of some of the communities, 48 hours after the rains the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) noticed that most of the residents were still wading through the dirty floodwaters which have entered their rooms at Zinginshore, Water land, and Manhean Down, among others, with some taking shelter at the premises of Nag School Complex. A nursing mother said apart from losing all her properties including her wedding items in the flood, she had to throw her three-month-old baby across the flood to a neighbour to be taken to safer grounds as the child was lying in the floodwater that entered their rooms. It would be recalled that in February, this year, the TMA led by the Metropolitan Chief Executive Mr. Yohane Amarh Ashitey, said the Assembly had initiated a series of engagements with managements of companies developing structures along tributaries of the Chemu Lagoon to find proper ways to channel water into the sea. Mr. Frank Asante, TMA Public Relations Officer who spoke on behalf of the MCE affirmed that the development of structures by the companies around the south-western part of the Tema Metropolis had been identified as the contributory factor to the perennial flooding of the communities along the tributaries. In view of that Mr. Asante said the meeting was to bring together the companies and other stakeholders such as the Hydrological Services Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency to come up with a solution ahead of the rainy season. But three months after the meetings with the management of the various companies, still the residents are struggling with the continuous flooding anytime it rains. Mr. Charles Nateh Abayateye, an Opinion Leader at Anyamam near Sege has said the leaders of the various authorities in the Ada area have a major role to play in ending human trafficking by using their various offices effectively, efficiently, and strategically. Mr Abayateye stated that the responsibility of leaders remained indispensable in the fight against the menace, and charged identifiable leaders in the communities to intensify public education on the effects of the menace as well as its implications on victims as they are usually beaten and maltreated in diverse ways. The Ada Opinion Leader stated during a community forum to reunite four children who were trafficked to Yeji, in the Pru East District of the Bono East Region located adjacent to Lake Volta and Morekorpe, and Bejemesu in the Oti region with their families as monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Ada. The children were rescued through the intervention of the Ghana Police Service, and the Department of Social Welfare in collaboration with the International Justice Mission. Answering Questions on Ada as a crucial source area where children are normally trafficked and sent unto the Volta Lake to engage in fishing activities, Mr. Amos Mantey, a fisherman at Agblabanya, a predominantly fishing community also near Sege said there was an urgent need for stakeholders at the community level to sensitize residents on human trafficking and its negative consequences. Some of the residents also used the opportunity to call on the traditional, community, and religious leaders to help through education among other effective ways toward ending human trafficking. The residents urged their leaders to lead a fight through community engagement, outrages, church activities, and public education among others. According to the residents the situation could not be curbed individually or by a single organization and called for collaboration and wider consultation towards its eradication. The four children under the age of ten years when they were separated from their families and trafficked into forced fishing labour on Lake Volta, Ghanas largest man-made lake. As part of their duties, they had to dive into the deep lake to untangle fishing nets, and worked long hours at night and early in the morning, which affected their health. They noted that some of them were currently experiencing ear defects due to numerous drownings and ulcers as a result of starvation and hunger. 26.05.2022 LISTEN Mr. Tonyi Senayah, Chief Executive Officer of Horseman Shoes has revealed that governments employment and entrepreneur initiatives do not yield the needed result because they only provide monies to some Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Start-Ups, which is not effective. The focus of these interventions seems to be on the number of beneficiaries rather than the quality of outcomes. This is because what some of the previous interventions sought to do, was to simply throw money at businesses and Start-Ups, but from experience, small businesses need more than money to become sustainable, he said. Mr. Senayah said this when he presented a paper on Youth Entrepreneurship: A Catalyst for Curbing Unemployment at the Ishmael Yamson and Associates Roundtable Discussions which was monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult). He said small businesses need more than money to become sustainable, and this is why managers of these programmes can produce long excel sheets of programme beneficiaries, but not so much of the desired impact. He noted that small businesses needed hand-holding in areas of technical support, access to market, and human capital support among others adding that the Ghana Enterprise Agency must ensure these things happen for business sustainability. Mr. Senayah said one major challenge within the ecosystem of such governmental interventions was the disconnect between the implementing agencies and called for strategic alliances between government pro-youth agencies. It was for this reason that, some institutional arrangements to extend support to small-to-medium sized businesses, and to build capacity for young people, such as the Ministry of Youth and Sport, National Youth Authority, Ghana Enterprise Agency (formerly NBSSI), and MASLOC among others were established. He added that it was with the same aim that governments established Youth Enterprise Support (YES), which was renamed National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program (NEIP) in 2017 in addition to direct job placement interventions such as GYEEDA, now (YEA), and NABCO with its multiple modules. He described as a worrying trend the lack of concrete results from the interventions, questioning what the monumental results could be pointed at after ten years of the implementation of such brilliant programmes and policies. The National Entrepreneurship Innovation Programme reports on its website that 9,350+ businesses have received funding. But we often dont see documented results post-funding. And for learning purposes, I think it is equally important we document failure stories, he stated. Real or not, these interventions have also been over-politicized. Yes, it is difficult to de-link politics from a programme implemented by a partisan government; the perception or perhaps the reality is that to benefit from a policy or to get support from a government agency, one must be an affiliate of a party or know someone in government, does not permit real businesses in need of support to participate in some of these interventions, he said. This, he said inhibited people with genuine businesses from reaching out for assistance, saying one way of solving this problem was for Ghana to resolve to appoint technocrats rather than partisan appointees to head such agencies. Mr. Senayah also called for a legislative framework for long-term and sustainable programmes and policies to promote accountability and ensure continuity regardless of any change in government. According to him the question of whether Ghana had had enough governmental interventions, was definite yes adding that such policies had been poorly implemented. Nonetheless, the argument is not to discourage new interventions like the YOU START programme, but to promote learning from previous ones to facilitate better implementation for desired outcomes, he said. He said it was fair to acknowledge that all governments, post-independence, have recognized the role start-ups, small and medium-sized businesses especially those owned and managed by young people, played in driving immediate economic growth and good future out-turn for jobs, incomes, and taxes. Strengthening S. Korea-U.S.-Japan alliance to undermine regional peace, says expert Xinhua) 11:34, May 26, 2022 Protesters hold placards outside the South Korean presidential office in Seoul's central district of Yongsan, South Korea, May 21, 2022. (Photo by James Lee/Xinhua) "The United States calls it (the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework) an economic framework that is inclusive and flexible. If it is inclusive, why does it exclude a certain country? Even though China is the biggest country in the Indo-Pacific region, why is China excluded? How could it be called inclusive and flexible by excluding China?" said South Korean expert Woo Su-keun. SEOUL, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A strengthened alliance between South Korea, the United States and Japan will undermine peace and stability in Northeast Asia and usher in a new Cold War, a South Korean expert has said. U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday wrapped up his first Asia trip since he took office last year. "In international relations, an alliance necessarily requires a common enemy country... The United States sees China as its biggest rival and enemy," Woo Su-keun, director at the Institute of East Asian Studies of Korea, told Xinhua. Woo said the strengthened South Korea-U.S.-Japan alliance will "undermine peace and stability in Northeast Asia," saying the move harked back to the Cold War, leading to a "history retrogression." The expert noted that it isn't in South Korea's national interest to antagonize China, given the importance the latter holds for its economic security. "With the end of the ideological era and the advent of the global society, no enemy country exists anymore in the international community," said Woo. However, some countries continue to antagonize China in order to create opportunities for conflict and confrontation, Woo noted. "China is not an enemy but a friendly country of (South) Korea. China is a country to which (South Korea) inevitably has to draw closer," he said. Protesters gather at Shiba Park in Tokyo, Japan, May 22, 2022. About 750 protesters took to the streets here against the planned U.S.-Japan summit and the summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad). (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) Regarding the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which Seoul decided to join, Woo said it is an "undesirable" framework escalating confrontation and tensions given its exclusive nature. "The United States calls it an economic framework that is inclusive and flexible. If it is inclusive, why does it exclude a certain country? Even though China is the biggest country in the Indo-Pacific region, why is China excluded? How could it be called inclusive and flexible by excluding China?" he said. Woo noted that South Korea should persuade the United States that the framework is "unrealistic" if it excludes the economic powerhouse in the region from the onset. The expert recommended South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was sworn in on May 10, take a more harmonious approach to foreign policy as a "global pivotal state." He advised the Yoon government to hire more diverse staff on foreign affairs and security by recruiting experts on China, Japan, Russia and the United States. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Ulf Wittrock / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm The Amarillo Police Department Special Victims Unit arrested a man for nine counts of possession of child pornography on May 25, according to a press release from the department. The 19-year-old man was arrested on the scene Wednesday morning after the department executed a search warrant, the release said. While executing the search warrant, the release said officers also found evidence of a possible cock fighting operation. The department said another search warrant was drafted and the officers found over $1,200 in funds relating to cock fighting and 21 roosters and hens. The department also seized multiple boxes of equipment used for cock fighting and containers of antibiotics, medications and drugs typically used for cock fighting, the release said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Moscow pressed the West on Thursday to lift sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, seeking to shift the blame for a growing food crisis that has been worsened by Kyivs inability to ship millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products while under attack. Britain immediately accused Russia of trying to hold the world to ransom, insisting there would be no sanctions relief, and a top U.S. diplomat blasted the "sheer barbarity, sadistic cruelty and lawlessness of the invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin told Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi that Moscow is ready to make a significant contribution to overcoming the food crisis through the export of grain and fertilizer on the condition that politically motivated restrictions imposed by the West are lifted," according to a Kremlin readout of the call. Ukraine is one of the worlds largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but the war and a Russian blockade of its ports have halted much of that flow, endangering world food supplies. Many of those ports are now also heavily mined. Russia also is a significant grain exporter, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said the West must cancel the unlawful decisions that hamper chartering ships and exporting grain. His comments appeared to be an effort to lump the blockade of Ukrainian exports with what Russia says are its difficulties in moving its own goods. Western officials have dismissed those claims. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted last week that food, fertilizer and seeds are exempt from sanctions imposed by the U.S. and many others and that Washington is working to ensure countries know the flow of those goods should not be affected. With the war grinding into its fourth month, world leaders have ramped up calls for solutions. World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said about 25 million tons of Ukrainian grain is in storage and another 25 million tons could be harvested next month. European countries have tried to ease the crisis by moving grain out of the country by rail but trains can carry only a small fraction of what Ukraine produces, and ships are needed for the bulk of the exports. At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry proposed corridors to allow foreign ships to leave ports along the Black Sea, as well as Mariupol on the Sea of Azov. Mikhail Mizintsev, who heads Russias National Defense Control Center, said 70 foreign vessels from 16 countries were in six ports on the Black Sea, including Odesa, Kherson and Mykolaiv. He did not specify how many might be ready to carry food. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said his country was ready to agree on safe corridors in principle, but it was not sure it could trust Russia to allow safe passage and not send its military vessels sneaking into the harbor to attack Odesa. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Putin was trying to hold the world to ransom by demanding some sanctions be lifted before allowing Ukrainian grain shipments to resume. Hes essentially weaponized hunger and lack of food among the poorest people around the world, Truss said on a visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. "What we cannot have is any lifting of sanctions, any appeasement, which will simply make Putin stronger in the longer term. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for imposing even tougher sanctions on Russia, including for the European Union to ban Russian oil and gas. Pressuring Russia is literally a matter of saving lives, he said in his nightly video address. And every day of delay, weakness, various disputes or proposals to appease the aggressor at the expense of the victim is new Ukrainians killed. And these are new threats to everyone on our continent. Putin said its impossible, utterly unrealistic in the modern world to isolate Russia. Speaking via video to members of the Eurasian Economic Forum, which is comprised of several ex-Soviet nations, he said those who try would primarily hurt themselves, citing broken food supply chains. Michael Carpenter, the U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, urged its members to provide Ukraine with what it needs to defend itself against Putins revanchist delusions. If Russia achieved success in Ukraine, there would be more horrific reports from filtration camps, more forcibly displaced people, more summary executions, more torture, more rape, and more looting, Carpenter said in Vienna. On the battlefield, Russian forces pressed their offensive in several parts of the eastern Donbas region, Ukraine's military said. That industrial heartland of coal mines and factories is now the focus of fighting after Russia suffered a series of setbacks and shifted to more limited goals. The enemy is storming the position of our troops simultaneously in several directions, said Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar. We have an extremely difficult and long stage of fighting ahead of us. Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, also came under renewed shelling on Thursday. Zelenskyy said at least nine people were killed and 19 wounded. Among those killed were a five-month-old baby and its father, and the mother was in serious condition. Military officials said Russian forces continued to try to gain a foothold in the area of Sievierodonetsk, the only part of the Luhansk region in the Donbas under Ukrainian government control. A senior U.S. defense official said Russia is making incremental progress in the Donbas, with fighting centered on towns and villages as Russian and Ukrainian forces trade control over scraps of land. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the U.S. military assessment, said those smaller artillery duels could be prolonged. Russia has 110 battalion tactical groups, each with 800 to 1,000 troops, committed to Ukraine, amounting to 80% of Moscow's total force, the official said, adding that it has lost 1,000 tanks and three dozen fighter jets and other fixed-wing aircraft. Zelenskyy pleaded with the West to send multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine as soon as possible to give it a fighting chance against the Russian offensive in the Donbas. In other developments: In the northwestern town of Kotelva, two Russian soldiers accused of war crimes pleaded guilty to shelling civilian infrastructure with a multiple rocket launcher. Alexander Ivanov and Alexander Bobykin could face up to 12 years in prison; the defense asked for eight, saying they were following orders. Bobykin said, "I regret the actions our troops committed. In the ravaged port city of Mariupol, Russia began broadcasting state television news, about a week after the Russian military declared it had completely liberated the city. A leader of Russia-backed separatists suggested there might be more Ukrainian fighters hiding in Mariupol's sprawling Azovstal steelworks, which for weeks stood as the city's last bastion of resistance. The Russian military says 2,439 fighters surrendered from the plant last week. The separatist leader, Denis Pushilin, said more may have been hiding or lost or lagged behind, adding there are already those that have been found and captured. Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Russian ally Belarus, said he was sending troops to the border with Ukraine, raising the possibility that he may agree to wider participation in the war. Belarus allowed Russian troops to invade Ukraine from its soil but has not taken part in ground operations. The Pentagon said one American military officer has gone back to Ukraine as the U.S. reopens its embassy in Kyiv. But Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the colonel is there for diplomatic work, and no other U.S. troops are going into Ukraine at this point. ___ Becatoros reported from Kramatorsk, Ukraine. Associated Press writers Andre Rosa in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine A gunman shot and killed close to two dozen people at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on the afternoon of May 24. Uvalde is a town of about 16,000 people about 85 miles West of San Antonio. Here are five things to know about the mass shooting. 19 children and two adults are dead As of Wednesday morning, 19 children and two teachers are dead as a result of the shooting, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The elementary school is home to about 600 second through fourth graders. Multiple survivors are being treated at local and regional hospitals, although the exact number of victims has not yet been released. Each of the 19 students and two teachers were from the same fourth-grade classroom, according to reporting from NPR. The suspected shooter is also dead The suspected shooter, an 18-year-old male who attended Uvalde High School, was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent, according to NPR. During a press conference, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the shooter abandoned his vehicle and entered the school with a weapon. Abbott also said the shooter allegedly shot his grandmother before going to the school. The suspect is believed to have acted alone The suspected shooter acted alone, according to law enforcement. The suspect bought at least two assault rifles shortly after his 18th birthday, State Sen. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez told CNN Tuesday evening, following a briefing from Texas Rangers. This is one of many recent mass shootings in Texas The Uvalde shooting is one of eight mass shootings to take place in Texas over the last 13 years. The recent string of mass shootings in the state began in 2009 with the Fort Hood Army base shooting where a psychiatrist killed 13 and injured 31 during the attack. Other recent shootings include the Texas First Baptist Church shooting in Sutherland Springs, which left 26 killed and 20 injured in 2017, the Santa Fe High School shooting in 2018, where 10 were killed and 13 injured, and the 2019 El Paso Walmart shooting that resulted in 23 victims killed and 25 injured. Texas politicians reacted to the news Politicians across the state of Texas responded to the news of the shooting, expressing sympathy and calling for action. Abbott posted a statement on Twitter saying he and his wife Cecilia mourn the horrific loss and urging Texans to come together to show our unwavering support to all who are suffering. Texans across the state are grieving for the victims of this senseless crime and for the community of Uvalde, Abbott wrote in the tweet. U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzalez, whose district represents Uvalde and Robb Elementary School, tweeted that his heart breaks for the city of Uvalde. He accompanied his tweet with a verse from the Bible stating, Children are a gift from the Lord. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke posted a series of tweets on Tuesday afternoon about the shooting. Our broken hearts are with Uvalde, ORourke first tweeted. The candidate then posted multiple tweets discussing gun policies in Texas and urged the governor to withdraw from the National Rifle Associations convention being held in Houston on May 27-29. A Texas school district will shut down all campuses Thursday, May 26, and Friday, May 27, after a mass shooting threat was reported to the police. Donna Independent School District announced on its Facebook page that it has decided to close all schools in light of recent events and out of an abundance of caution. The district, which is in the Rio Grande Valley area near McAllen, stated the safety of its staff and students are its main priority. According to The Monitor, an AK-47 and a list of targeted students were found by law enforcement officers in the home of one of the suspects. Midland County Public Library: Wild Kratts Wild Kratts: Ocean Adventure!, an interactive exhibit based on the popular PBS Kids series, Wild Kratts, will open at Midland County Centennial Library on May 31. Created by Minnesota Childrens Museum in collaboration with Kratt Brothers Company, this exhibit invites participants to explore four animal habitats and the creatures within them. Midland County Public Libraries is excited to host the free traveling exhibit during its summer reading program, themed Oceans of Possibilities. Library visitors are encouraged to sign up for the program and take part in various activities to earn points and win prizes. This exhibit is open to the public during MCPLs operating hours through Sept. 2. With a focus on cultivating STEM skills in children ages 3 to 9, this adventurous exhibit engages the visitor in the exploration of global animal habitats, the discovery of incredible creature powers, and invites the visitor on a mission to foil the villains nefarious plans. Visitors will explore animal habitats that include the seashore, the shallow seas, and the deep sea. Ocean Adventure! is sponsored locally by the FMH Foundation, Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust, Rea Charitable Trust, the Midland County Public Library Foundation and the MCPLF Carnegie Circle. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 19 on National Poppy Day Honor Americas fallen warriors and contribute to the continuing needs of veterans on National Poppy Day Friday from noon to 8 p.m. -- when members of American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Unit 19 distribute bright red poppies in exchange for a donation. The Flanders Fields poppy has become an internationally known and recognized symbol of the lives sacrificed in war and the hope that none died in vain. The American Legion Family called upon Congress to proclaim the Friday before Memorial Day as National Poppy Day, which was officially designated as such in 2017. When The American Legion Family adopted the poppy as its memorial flower in the early 1920s, the blood-red icon became an enduring symbol of honor for the sacrifices of our veterans from the battlefields of France in World War I to todays global war on terror. The American Legion Auxiliary raises about $4 million each year distributing poppies throughout the nation, with 100 percent of the funds raised going directly to help veterans, military, and their families. Meeting Hospital Board 11:45 a.m. Thursday Midland Shared Spaces 3500 N. A St. Events STEAM Sprouts Mini Camp: Treehouse Challenge (for ages 4-5), Thursday, Permian Basin Petroleum Museum Broadway in the Basin presents Waitress, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center. Wade Bowen, Friday, Dos Amigos, Odessa Conjuncto Rienda Real, Los Elegantes Indentidad y Contragolpe, Friday, La Hacienda Dance Connection presents The Great Dance Recital, 7 p.m. Sunday, Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center. STEAM Sprouts Mini Camp: Lego Maker (for ages 4-5), June 1-2, Permian Basin Petroleum Museum. Absolute Dance presents School Days, June 2-4, Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center MCTs Summer Mummers, June 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, Yucca Theatre. Flatland Country, 7:30 p.m. June 3. Horseshoe Amphitheater. Weatherstone, June 5, Museum of the Southwest Trolls Live!, June 7-8, Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center Black Gold Bash, 7 p.m. June 8, Horseshoe Amphitheater. Michael Martin Murphey, June 8, The Ector, Odessa Curtis Grimes, June 9, Rockin Rodeo Mex-Tex Family Fiesta, June 11, Centennial Park. March for Meals, June 11, Midland College Small Town Cover Story, June 12, Museum of the Southwest American Cancer Society presents, Midland Roundup: A Cattle Barons Ball, June 18, Horseshoe complex Midlandaires, June 19, Museum of the Southwest -- To put your event on the Community Calendar, send the information to sdoreen@hearstnp.com A new global weather station-based dataset developed at Michigan Technological University enables long-term, large-scale monitoring of the dust cycle. As wind shapes the surface of the Earth, it pulls dust from dry, exposed land surfaces into the atmosphere. Xin Xi, an assistant professor in the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences at Michigan Tech, uses observations and models to study the sources, transformation and transport of dust to assess its impact on climate and air quality. Airborne dust aerosols impact the Earth in a myriad of ways, he explained. Mineral dust interacts with the global energy budget, ocean biogeochemistry, air quality and agriculture. Dust aerosol is not all bad, noted Xi. Dust outflow from continental sources is considered a primary source of mineral micronutrients for the open ocean, where biological productivity is limited by the availability of iron. On the other hand, he added, dust deposited on the surface of snow can decrease its ability to reflect sunlight, impacting Earths surface energy balance and hydrology. And there are impacts on human health. For human settlements located downwind, dust aerosol is a major safety and health hazard, with elevated concentrations of particulate matter and dust-borne pathogens, said Xi. About the Researcher Xin Xi Research Interests Process-based modeling of the sources, transformation, transport, and sinks of atmospheric particulate matter and gases, and their impact on climate and air quality Interactions between changes in land-cover/land-use and atmospheric compositions Remote sensing science and applications in environmental mapping, modeling, and monitoring Synergy between physically-based modeling and machine learning in climate and air quality research How much dust is there? According to scientific estimates, global annual dust emissions can range from 1 to 5 billion tons, shifting each year according to climate. Climate controls the supply of erodible materials, the erosive force of surface winds and the transport route and residence time of dust particles in the air, said Xi. The dust cycle is highly sensitive to climate, he added. Understanding dust variability and its response to climate is key to reducing the uncertainty of future climate projections. To do that, we need more fundamental knowledge to quantify the multifaceted impact of dust. That includes dust source locations and properties, dust variability and trends at different timescales and all the governing factors and processes. Satellite remote sensing, a major source of information to study global dust variability, lacked the specifics Xi needed. Spaceborne sensors offer an unprecedented view of large-scale aerosol transport events on a daily basis, he said. But they generally have a low sampling frequency, usually once per day. They also lack the data record length required to study variability over multiple decades in response to long-term climate change. Xi decided to revisit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Integrated Surface Database. Before satellite remote sensing became available, surface weather observations specifically the dust weather visual report and horizontal visibility were a primary source of information for monitoring wind erosion and dust activity around the world, he said. "I believe the visibility record has not yet been used to its full potential, so I took on the effort to develop a homogenized dust-climate record." Xin Xi, Assistant Professor of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences Using NOAA ISD records, Xi set out to create a new dataset for evaluating global dust, which he named duISD. Xi homogenized the NOAA records to remove nonclimatic factors, and plans to perform data fusion, combining multiple sources of information into consistent spatial and temporal scales. The dust-climate connection exists on multiple temporal scales, from seasonal to interannual, multidecadal or even glacial-interglacial scales, he explained. Xi used the dataset to characterize dust variability and climate connections around the world. The results of his study are featured in an article in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. His hard work revealed contrasting behaviors at regional dust sources in response to recent decades climate drivers: North Africa experienced increased dust activity in the last decade (2010-19), due to reduced soil moisture and enhanced wind speed following the transition of the North Atlantic Oscillation from strong negative to recurring positive phases in 2011. Dust production has declined significantly in the Middle East since 2015, following the amelioration of a decade-long drought in the Tigris-Euphrates basin as the climate shifts to more El Nino-like conditions and positive and weak negative Pacific Decadal Oscillation phases. East Asian dust variability is primarily driven by wind, which explains the negative trend from 1986 to 1997 and the absence of significant trends during the past two decades. Xis open-source dataset, duISD, can be accessed online. Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, the University offers more than 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure. At a grocery store in Medford Massachusetts on May 17, 2022, shelves for baby and toddler formula are partially empty as the quantity a shopper can buy is limited amid continuing U.S. shortages. High school winner Aleia Hofschneider Santos and middle school winner Mikaehla Paige Reyes Mendoza with U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan who presented the winners with Congressional Commendations and prints of their essays as published in the Congressional Record. Mike Graham of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services makes his presentation via video conference during a meeting of the Society for Human Resource Management- CNMI Chapter on Thursday in the Hyatt Regency Saipan Ballroom. Editor Zaldy Dandan is the recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His four books are available on amazon.com By SA Commercial Prop News The Feira de Internacional de Maputo (Facim), which takes place in September, attracts investors from South Africa, Portugal, Brazil, India and as far as China. South African companies have until the end of the week to secure space at Mozambique's biggest trade fair. "Companies can still apply to take part in the fair. The closing date for applications is June 29," said Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (Mega) Foreign Trade and Investment division manager, Andrew Bulter, on Monday. In 2011, Mozambique was South Africa's largest export market in Africa. South Africa exported R17.18 billion worth of goods to Mozambique, compared to R13.85 billion in 2010 and R12.99 billion in 2009. For the past eight years, Mega has promoted Mpumalanga businesses at the fair. This year, the Mozambican authorities have given South Africa a national pavilion at the fair. The Department of Trade and Industry (dti), along with Mega, are looking for businesses to promote their products as part of the pavilion. Bulter said dti will cover most of the costs for businesses exhibiting at the fair. Only businesses registered for tax will be considered. "Thus far, about 20 companies have requested the application form to get space and they are from all different kinds of sectors. Some are from the agricultural sector while other companies want to export building materials to Mozambique," said Bulter. In the past, businesses in the mining, construction, consumer goods, industrial goods, agriculture, tourism and the service industry exhibited at the fair. "It is the perfect occasion for large companies as well as small companies to explore the Mozambican market and to exchange information and contacts," said Bulter. "We are working hard to ensure black owned small businesses are also going to be part of the fair." About 25 percent of the 20 companies who have applied so far are black owned. Wolfgang Filser/EyeEm via Getty Images BEARDSTOWN The Cass County Health Department is encouraging people to practice self-care with an event that promotes relaxation and healthy habits. The department is holding a "Self-Care Saturday" from 9 a.m. to noon June 25 at the Beardstown Cass County Health Clinic, 8590 St. Luke's Drive. WARSAW, Poland (AP) Polish lawmakers on Thursday approved removing a controversial disciplinary body within Poland's top court that the right-wing government has used to sanction outspoken judges and which has drawn condemnation from the European Union. Poland's government expects the removal of the divisive Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court to end its drawn-out spat with the EU, paving the way for an agreement that will result in Brussels' disbursing billions of euros of frozen recovery funds for Poland. The vote in the lower house was 231-208 with 13 abstentions. The ruling coalition was for the move while the opposition was against it, saying the changes are largely cosmetic. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in parliament before the vote that EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is expected to sign the agreement in Warsaw on June 2, to approve the key points or milestones in the government's aligning of the judiciary rules with EU standards. Warsaw's relations with Brussels have grown tense under the current government, largely due to the control it has taken of the judiciary, placing loyalists at top bodies and punishing judges who protested those moves. The moves - which were met with massive street protests - were initiated by the justice minister, whose small party within the ruling coalition secures it a narrow majority in parliament. Ties with Brussels have warmed up as Poland has taken an active role in supporting Ukraine in its struggle against Russia's invasion. Poland has taken in some 3.6 million refugees from Ukraine, and the government has been pushing for EU funds to accommodate and integrate them. The new regulations approved by the lower house, or Sejm, amend the law on Poland's Supreme Court to remove its Disciplinary Chamber. The European Court of Justice last year found the chamber to be in violation of the EU's rule of law principles, urged Poland to remove it and fined Poland 1 million euros per day as long as the body continues. Critics say the change is superficial and misleading, because the controversial body is to be replaced with a professional responsibility chamber at the Supreme Court whose members will be chosen by the president. Also, the recent appointment of a government loyalist to a top regulatory body, the National council for the Judiciary, suggests the ruling team wants to maintain its control, critics say. The new judicial regulations still need approval from the Senate, where the opposition has a narrow edge, and from President Andrzej Duda, who is their chief author. It was not clear if these approvals would be granted before June 2. Jacobs Stock Photography ASHLAND The Prairie Skies Public Library District is turning its summer reading program into an event for the entire family this year. The library will have "Family Camp" on Mondays in Pleasant Plains and Wednesdays in Ashland from 10 a.m. to noon. WASHINGTON (AP) Twitter will pay a $150 million penalty and put in new safeguards to settle federal regulators allegations that the social platform failed to protect the privacy of users data over a six-year span. The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission announced the settlement with Twitter on Wednesday. The regulators allege Twitter violated a 2011 FTC order by deceiving users about how well it maintained and protected the privacy and security of their nonpublic contact information. From May 2013 to September 2019, Twitter told users that it was collecting their phone numbers and email addresses for purposes of account security. But it failed to disclose that it also would use the information to enable companies to send targeted online ads to users on the platform, the government alleged. The regulators also alleged, in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday, that Twitter falsely claimed that it complied with U.S. privacy agreements with the European Union and Switzerland, which prohibit companies from processing user information in ways that are at odds with purposes authorized by users. Twitter obtained data from users on the pretext of harnessing it for security purposes but then ended up also using the data to target users with ads, FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a statement. This practice affected more than 140 million Twitter users, while boosting Twitters primary source of revenue. The San Francisco-based company has more than 229 million users around the world. The $150 million penalty and the required new compliance measures under the settlement must be approved by a federal court in California. The FTC's 2011 order had alleged serious lapses in Twitter's data security that allowed hackers to gain unauthorized administrative control of Twitter, including access to nonpublic user information. Keeping data secure and respecting privacy is something we take extremely seriously, and we have cooperated with the FTC every step of the way, Twitters chief privacy officer, Damien Kieran, said in a blog post Wednesday. He said the company has taken steps in accord with the FTC on updating operations and making other improvements to ensure that peoples personal data remains secure and their privacy protected. Twitter announced in November the formation of a new data governance committee within the company. Word of the settlement came on the day of Twitters annual shareholders meeting. The drama of Tesla billionaire Elon Musks proposed $44 billion purchase of Twitter has swirled around the company for weeks. Musk, who is one of Twitters largest shareholders, on Wednesday revised the financing plan for his proposed takeover, raising investor hopes that he still intends to pull off the deal. Twitter yields unrivaled influence on news, politics, and society thanks to its public nature, simple interface and of-the-moment immediacy. Some experts fear that Musk would relax content-moderation rules that offer some protection against white supremacy, hate speech and threats of violence. The platform famously banned former President Donald Trump following the assault on the U.S. Capitol in January 2021. DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) The head of the U.N. refugee agency urged the international community on Wednesday not to forget more than 1 million Rohingya refugees who are living in sprawling camps in Bangladesh after fleeing from neighboring Myanmar. Filippo Grandi, the United Nations high commissioner for refugees, said he visited the camps near the border with Myanmar and a remote island where 28,000 refugees have been relocated to ensure that their plight is not forgotten amid the crises in Ukraine and Afghanistan. Grandi is finishing a five-day visit to Bangladesh during which he met refugees, government officials, diplomats and donors. The UNHCR says only 13% of the $881 million needed to support the refugees for the year has been realized as of this month. This is why I am here, to try to shine a spotlight on Bangladesh, its people, and the Rohingya refugees it has been hosting for decades, and to remind the international community of the importance of their support, he told reporters in Dhaka. Grandi said the long-term solution for the Rohingya remains in Myanmar. The Rohingya refugees I met reiterated their desire to return home when conditions allow. The world must work to address the root causes of their flight and to translate those dreams into reality, Grandi said. More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled from Buddhist-majority Myanmar to refugee camps in Bangladesh after August 2017, when the Myanmar military launched a clearance operation in response to attacks by a rebel group. Myanmar security forces have been accused of mass rapes, killings and the burning of thousands of homes. The Rohingya are not recognized as citizens in Myanmar, rendering them stateless, and face other forms of state-sanctioned discrimination and violence. Bangladesh has tried at least twice to begin sending refugees back to Myanmar, but they have refused to go, citing continuing danger. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says Myanmar must take the refugees back but that her government will not force them to return. Farmers Market: 7 a.m.-noon, Pathway Plaza, 1905 W. Morton Ave. Prices vary. | Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through Oct. 31. Link card accepted. Produce and Bakery Giveaway: 9 a.m.-noon, Jacksonville Food Center, 316 E. State St. Free | For Morgan County residents. JACIL KIP Cafe: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Jacksonville Area Center for Independent Living, 15 Permac Road. | Featured speaker Heidi Estabrook, outreach librarian, will discuss what the Jacksonville Public Library has to offer. Lunch at 11:30 a.m. Presentation begins at 12:15 p.m., followed by Q&A. Reservations required by calling Julie at 217-245-8371. Free Noon Meal: 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., The Salvation Army, 331 W. Douglas Ave. | Meals in to-go containers can be picked up at side door. Walking for Wellness: 12:30-3 p.m., First Christian Church, 2106 S. Main St. Free | Indoor walking program offered year-round Monday-Thursday. For more information, call 217-243-6445. Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen: 3:30-4 p.m., Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen, 105 E. Dunlap St. Free | Serving meals to go for anyone in need. Climate Change Through the Ages: 6:30-7:30 p.m., Illinois State Museum virtual event. Free with registration. | Guest speaker is Lincoln Land Community College geology professor Samantha Rief. Registration required at bit.ly/ISMClimateTalk. For more information, go to illinoisstatemuseum.org. Grafton Music in the Park: 7-9 p.m., The Grove Memorial Park, corner of Market and Main Street, Grafton. Free | Live music by Scott and Karl. Bring lawn chair or blanket. Concert series every Thursday through Aug. 11. For summer schedule, go to riversandroutes.com. Friday Produce and Bakery Giveaway: 9 a.m.-noon, Jacksonville Food Center, 316 E. State St. Free | For Morgan County residents. Free Noon Meal: 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., The Salvation Army, 331 W. Douglas Ave. | Meals in to-go containers can be picked up at side door. Produce and Bakery Giveaway: 12:30-1 p.m., The Salvation Army, 331 W. Douglas Ave. Free. Scott and Karl: 6-10 p.m., The Loading Dock, 401 E. Front St., Grafton. | Live music. Disney's Descendants The Musical: 7 p.m., Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., Springfield. $16 | Presented by Hoogland Performing Arts Education. Musical comedy featuring hit songs and characters from Disney films. Go to hcfta.org for tickets or more information. The Laramie Project: 8 p.m., Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., Springfield. $20 | Presented by MASS Media. The story of Matthew Shepard and his death in Laramie, Wyoming. Go to hcfta.org for tickets or more information. Wade Trent: 8 p.m., The Bloody Bucket, 201 E. Main St., Grafton. | Live music. Were living in gray times, bobbing in a sea of information where there is no longer much black or white. We have access to more content than ever plus raging uncertainty about how much is fact or fiction. Some folks are convinced they cant trust politicians or news reporters or even medical experts, and it often seems that no amount of Googling gets us to the truth of many matters. Which brings me to Hollywood and its current crop of films and quasi-documentaries. Example: Paramount+ is running a 10-part series called The Offer, about the making of 1972s mob epic The Godfather. It's riveting and made all the more compelling by the implication that this is the real backstory of Francis Ford Coppolas classic. Turns out screenwriter Michael Tolkin got rather carried away in inventing plot lines. Hes been quoted as saying he prefers to forget whats real and whats not and just write. Consider the recent Netflix multi-parter Inventing Anna, about the con artist who called herself Anna Delvey. The series is based on a well-reported piece in New York magazine, but by the time it was massaged by Hollywood and padded to fill nine installments it required the snarky on-screen disclaimer: This whole story is completely true, except for all that parts that are totally made up. Maybe Hollywood needs some parameters, like the kind used for peanut butter and jelly. Federal law says a product must have 90% peanuts to be called peanut butter, while jelly requires at least 45% actual fruit. So what about movies especially the supposedly fact-based kind that are popular these days on streaming services? What percentage of facts should a film have to be considered true? Hollywood has a long history of altering details to fit the screen. But todays streaming services have expanded the market for content loosely based on real people or real events. It comes at a time when Americans are already struggling to separate truth from lies in cable-TV news coverage. And it plays into the muddle of semi-truths on social media. HBO recently wrapped up a multi-part series about the Los Angeles Lakers called Winning Time, but complaints about accuracy of the production are far from over. The real-life Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jerry West have all complained bitterly about how they were depicted. Abdul-Jabbar wrote last month that the series was "deliberately dishonest," adding that the show replaced "solid facts" with "flimsy cardboard fictions." This is an era some observers are calling Peak TV, but one that might also be termed Bloated TV. Stories that might have made tidy two-hour films are being stretched into multiple installments to accommodate marketing needs of streaming services. Also concerning is the rise of what are loosely called documentaries a genre that once implied journalistic accountability but includes a wide range of fictionalized and romanticized treatments. Showtimes 10-part drama The First Lady examines the historically-significant lives of Michelle Obama, Betty Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt. The producer, Cathy Schulman, described the creative task as "imagining the kind of conversations and arguments that must have happened inside those White House walls between these events we all know. Aaron Sorkin squeezed several years' worth of occurrences in the lives of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz into a single dramatic week in Amazons Being the Ricardos. In one pivotal scene, FBI boss J. Edgar Hoover is heard on the telephone declaring that Lucy is 100% cleared of being a Communist a call that never actually happened. Sorkins film provides a good example of the struggle viewers face nowadays in seeking out the truth. A few months after its release, Amazon presented a documentary called Lucy and Desi, directed by Amy Poehler, which takes a more fact-based look at the showbiz couple. Watching both productions is almost like switching between Tucker Carlson and Anderson Cooper in search of accurate news. If its true that art imitates life, then producers are inadvertently doing a bang-up job of mimicking whats so confusing these days in news and politics. Hollywood needs to cut back on what Trump aide Kellyanne Conway famously called alternative facts. The Food and Drug Administration has reached an agreement with Abbott Laboratories to resume production at the companys Sturgis, Michigan, facility. The announcement gives hope of relief for the three-fourths of American parents who rely on infant formula, and have struggled to find the product in recent weeks. But the incidents leading up to the shortage have raised serious doubts about Americas food regulators. To avoid the next crisis, policymakers should take bold steps now to make food safety a priority within FDA, or more ideally, apart from it. The Sturgis plant closure, following Abbotts Feb. 17 voluntary recall, represents the proximate cause of the infant formula shortage. Sturgis is the companys main production facility, and Abbott is one of just four companies along with Mead Johnson, Nestle and Perrigo Nutritionals that provides virtually all the formula sold in the United States. Abbott issued its recall following reports that four infants who had consumed formula from the Sturgis plant were infected with Cronobacter sakazakii. The first of these illnesses was reported to FDA in September. Cronobacter is found in the environment and can contaminate formula if it is improperly handled, but samples from a routine FDA inspection of the Sturgis plant in September 2019 had turned up Cronobacter, so there were grounds for suspecting the problem originated with Abbott. Following the infant deaths, and a whistleblower report alleging that the company had concealed other positive Cronobacter test results, FDA visited the Sturgis plant again in January, took samples that once again were positive for Cronobacter, and persuaded the company to issue a recall and shut down production. In its communications, Abbott has challenged the notion that contaminated product from its plant was actually responsible for the illness, arguing that the Cronobacter bacterial isolates from the infants did not definitively match the bacteria found in the Sturgis plant. According to Abbott, there is no conclusive evidence to link Abbotts formulas to these infant illnesses. But this is more an indictment of our public health surveillance system than an exoneration of Abbott. As food safety advocates have pointed out, Chronobacter infection is not among the list of reportable conditions that state and local health departments are advised to report to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. This means that Cronobacter infections are underreported. As a result, public health officials have fewer cases to go on when attempting to determine the root cause of an illness cluster. Were testing and reporting of Cronobacter cases more prevalent currently Minnesota is the only state that requires reporting of the bacteria there might well be microbiological evidence linking infant deaths and the contamination at Abbotts Sturgis facility. Even without a smoking gun, the facts present a damning case against Abbott. According to the Department of Justices complaint against the company, Abbott detected Cronobacter in finished product made on two processing lines, in August 2019 and June 2020, as well as in multiple environmental samples. The FDAs most recent inspection documented 310 water events including water leaks, moisture and condensation in dry powdered infant formula production areas. And the whistleblowers report, shared with the FDA in October, alleges that the company falsified product safety records, released untested product, failed to fix labeling equipment that hampered traceback, and hid information from FDA auditors. As more ugly details come to light, congressional leaders are asking why FDA failed to act sooner to protect consumers, and rightly so. The agencys reluctance to take action against Abbott points to the need for fundamental reform that makes food safety a priority. Congress should pass legislation to create a single, independent food safety agency. This would be the ideal solution to fixing our fragmented food regulatory system, which dictates that a pepperoni processor gets a visit from a USDA inspector every day, while FDA can take two years to conduct a follow-up inspection of a baby formula plant with glaring equipment defects and positive microbiological samples. More immediately, Commissioner Robert Califf should restore the deputy food commissioner position that was eliminated during the Trump administration. Doing so would unify FDAs food program under one leader, with accountability to the commissioner and authority over the various food-related components of FDA. Whatever the case, Congress should hold FDA accountable, and refuse to return to the status quo. Eupera troglobia is the first fully described cave-dwelling clam species discovered in the Americas, and possibly the second in the world. Eupera is a genus of bivalve mollusks in the family Sphaeriidae relatively widespread throughout South America. These mollusks are normally found in the roots of water hyacinth, an aquatic plant that floats in calm freshwater environments. A total of 11 scientifically recognized Eupera species occur in South America east of the Andes, all of which have characteristic shell pigmentation with dark brown spots in a beige ground color. The typical troglobitic (cave-dwelling) mollusk usually exhibits the following characteristics: (i) absent or reduced pigmentation, (ii) absent or reduced eyes, (ii) some reduction in shell size, said Dr. Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira from the Federal University of Lavras and Dr. Luiz Ricardo Simone from the Museum of Zoology of the University of Sao Paulo. Bivalves have eyes in only a few lineages, the Sphaeriidae are not among them, so the absence of eyes in Eupera cannot be considered. However, small bivalves from Casa de Pedra Cave in the central region of Brazil have the other characteristics to be classified as a troglobite: absence of pigment, fragile shell, and small size. The first records of Eupera troglobia appeared in a 2006 technical report of Brazils National Center for Cave Exploration and Conservation. In that report, a faunal survey of Casa de Pedra Cave was presented, focusing on invertebrates. Although the author presented some photographs of the clam, little attention was paid to it, which was thought to have been carried into the cave by the water. In 2010, Dr. Lopes Ferreira accessed the report and considered the possibility that clam might be a cave-dwelling species due to its depigmentation. He searched for sampled specimens but was unable to find any in the collection where the remaining specimens were deposited, suggesting that specimens were not collected on this occasion. In 2021, Dr. Lopes Ferreira and Dr. Ricardo Simone visited Casa de Pedra Cave specifically to search for such shells. Although the cave was partially flooded, the researchers were able to find specimens and described them in a paper in the journal Subterranean Biology. All known South American species of Eupera have well-defined dark spots in the central region of the valves, contrasting with the light brown background, they said. Eupera troglobia is the only species that lacks these dark spots and has a shell of uniform pale yellow color, slightly distinguishing the new species from its relatives. Our discovery is the latest reminder about how important the conservation of the fragile subterranean habitats is, given the treasure troves in their holdings, they concluded. Meanwhile, recently amended laws in Brazil put caves at considerably higher risk. _____ L.R.L. Simone & R.L. Ferreira. 2022. Eupera troglobia sp. nov.: the first troglobitic bivalve from the Americas (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Sphaeriidae). Subterranean Biology 42: 165-184; doi: 10.3897/subtbiol.42.78074 Our GMP medicine prescription sales in the Australian market are going from strength to strength. We commenced distribution of our GFI Pharma branded medicinal cannabis oil tinctures with Australian partner Cannvalate in November 2021. Since then, we have been enjoying an average new patient increase of 42% month on month with an average return patient rate of 27% month on month. This year to date we have had over 500 patients prescribed our medicines, of these numbers 144 have returned one or more times. We have seen a significant uplift in the month of May with our GFI Pharma CBD100 medicine becoming available with 158 new patients in the month of May alone. This adds to our already available Balanced Plus 12.5:12.5CBD/THC and our THC25 medicines. With new products currently in manufacturing we look to seeing the growing patient base into the 2nd quarter of this year. We will look to bring these products, which are full spectrum (meaning they have trace elements of other cannabinoids in the formulation) to the New Zealand market pending MedSafe approval in the future. The Australia legal cannabis market size is expected to reach USD 375.7 million by 2028 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 32.7% from 2021 to 2028. Clinical Trials update Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) statistics recently released show that patients being prescribed medicinal cannabis are getting younger with 1844-year-olds making up 59% of the market. Interestingly prescriptions for anxiety have trebled in its market share from 10% in early 2020 to 31% in 2022. Perhaps a sign of the current times but also reinforcing our clinic trials pathway for over-the-counter CBD perusing an anxiety indication. Our clinical trial protocols are currently in the writing phase and a successful outcome will lead to a share of what is destined to be an AUD$250 million market at maturity. With the deidentified patient data sets that we acquire as part of the prescriber process, we are gathering valuable indication data that will position us well for directions of future clinical trial pathways. About Greenfern Greenfern Industries Limited is an entrepreneurial led licensed medicinal cannabis, research and biotechnology company that also has operations spanning into the industrial hemp and hemp food space. They operate primarily from their medicinal cannabis research facility in Normanby, South Taranaki which is powered by their own onsite hydropower station. They also have operations and revenue generating streams within the Australian medicinal cannabis sector. With an arm in the clinical research space Greenfern is currently writing clinical trial protocols to pursue over the counter low dose CBD registered medicines in Australia through the Therapeutic Goods Association. Having a pillar of commitment to environmental sustainability, Greenfern is both a Toitu carbon net zero certified organisation and B-corp certified. Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: BLT - 2022 Annual Shareholder Meeting and Director Nominations IFT - Bond Firm Offer Closed & Interest Rate Set NZL - Market Update 2nd June 2022 Morning Report IFT - Appointment of Andrew Clark as a Director of Infratil AIA - Auckland Airport strengthens leadership team 1st June 2022 Morning Report Synlait forecast milk price update PaySauce FY2022 Full Year Result and Annual Report 31st May 2022 Morning Report UK minister: Russian meddling must be stopped in Bosnia View Photo SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss visited Bosnias capital Thursday to reaffirm the U.K.s commitment to the ethnically divided Balkan country amid growing fears of what she described as malign influence from Russia. Truss was meeting with top officials in Sarajevo to announce a deepened security and economic partnership between Bosnia and the U.K. She unveiled a U.K.-backed Western Balkans investment package aimed at providing $100 million for infrastructure and energy projects in the region by 2025. Truss said the signs of Russian meddling here today threatened to take the Balkans back those darks days of the 1990s when interethnic conflicts following the breakup of Yugoslavia killed thousands of people. This must be stopped, Truss said after meeting Bosnian Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic. The way we go about this is not by offering compromise and appeasement to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. As Russia meddles here, Putins troops are committing atrocities just 700 miles away in Ukraine, she added. This countrys tragic history is a reminder of what happens when we fail to stand up to aggression. Bosnia has been divided along ethnic lines since a 1992-95 war between its Bosniak, Croat and Serb ethnic communities. The war started when Bosnian Serbs, with the help of the Yugoslav army, tried to create ethnically pure territories with the aim of joining neighboring Serbia. Bosnian Serb militias conquered 60% of Bosnias territory in less than two months, committing horrendous atrocities against their Bosniak and Croat compatriots. More than 100,000 people were killed and 2 million more than a half of the countrys population were left homeless from the war. In 1995, the U.S.-brokered Dayton peace agreement put an end to the bloodshed in Bosnia by dividing the country into two semi-autonomous parts one run by the Serbs and the other shared by Bosniaks and Croats. The two are linked by weak multiethnic institutions. The postwar power-sharing system perpetuates a polarized and venomous political climate, and entrenched nationalist leaders continuously stoke ethnic animosities for political gain. Fears of destabilization have mounted in recent months as the staunchly pro-Russia Bosnian Serb leader, Milorad Dodik, increased his divisive rhetoric. Dodik has threatened to dismantle the multiethnic institutions, block Bosnias long-stated goal of joining NATO and to advocate for the secession of majority Serb areas. Bosnia condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations but failed to agree on imposing sanctions because of opposition from Dodik and other Serb officials. Russias ambassador has repeatedly praised to Dodiks anti-Western stance, stating in March that if Bosnia succeeded in gaining NATO membership, Moscow will have to react to this hostile act. Turkovic, Bosnias foreign minister, said that with the broader risks posed by the Ukraine war she hoped her countrys Western partners realize that supporting its EU and NATO membership aspirations was of vital importance not just for us, but for many of them as well. ____ Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Russia slams sanctions, seeks to blame West for food crisis View Photo KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Moscow pressed the West on Thursday to lift sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, seeking to shift the blame for a growing food crisis that has been worsened by Kyivs inability to ship millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products while under attack. Britain immediately accused Russia of trying to hold the world to ransom, insisting there would be no sanctions relief, and a top U.S. diplomat blasted the sheer barbarity, sadistic cruelty and lawlessness of the invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin told Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi that Moscow is ready to make a significant contribution to overcoming the food crisis through the export of grain and fertilizer on the condition that politically motivated restrictions imposed by the West are lifted, according to a Kremlin readout of the call. Ukraine is one of the worlds largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but the war and a Russian blockade of its ports have halted much of that flow, endangering world food supplies. Many of those ports are now also heavily mined. Russia also is a significant grain exporter, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said the West must cancel the unlawful decisions that hamper chartering ships and exporting grain. His comments appeared to be an effort to lump the blockade of Ukrainian exports with what Russia says are its difficulties in moving its own goods. Western officials have dismissed those claims. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted last week that food, fertilizer and seeds are exempt from sanctions imposed by the U.S. and many others and that Washington is working to ensure countries know the flow of those goods should not be affected. With the war grinding into its fourth month, world leaders have ramped up calls for solutions. World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said about 25 million tons of Ukrainian grain is in storage and another 25 million tons could be harvested next month. European countries have tried to ease the crisis by moving grain out of the country by rail but trains can carry only a small fraction of what Ukraine produces, and ships are needed for the bulk of the exports. At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry proposed corridors to allow foreign ships to leave ports along the Black Sea, as well as Mariupol on the Sea of Azov. Mikhail Mizintsev, who heads Russias National Defense Control Center, said 70 foreign vessels from 16 countries were in six ports on the Black Sea, including Odesa, Kherson and Mykolaiv. He did not specify how many might be ready to carry food. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said his country was ready to agree on safe corridors in principle, but it was not sure it could trust Russia to allow safe passage and not send its military vessels sneaking into the harbor to attack Odesa. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Putin was trying to hold the world to ransom by demanding some sanctions be lifted before allowing Ukrainian grain shipments to resume. Hes essentially weaponized hunger and lack of food among the poorest people around the world, Truss said on a visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. What we cannot have is any lifting of sanctions, any appeasement, which will simply make Putin stronger in the longer term. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for imposing even tougher sanctions on Russia, including for the European Union to ban Russian oil and gas. Pressuring Russia is literally a matter of saving lives, he said in his nightly video address. And every day of delay, weakness, various disputes or proposals to appease the aggressor at the expense of the victim is new Ukrainians killed. And these are new threats to everyone on our continent. Putin said its impossible, utterly unrealistic in the modern world to isolate Russia. Speaking via video to members of the Eurasian Economic Forum, which is comprised of several ex-Soviet nations, he said those who try would primarily hurt themselves, citing broken food supply chains. Michael Carpenter, the U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, urged its members to provide Ukraine with what it needs to defend itself against Putins revanchist delusions. If Russia achieved success in Ukraine, there would be more horrific reports from filtration camps, more forcibly displaced people, more summary executions, more torture, more rape, and more looting, Carpenter said in Vienna. On the battlefield, Russian forces pressed their offensive in several parts of the eastern Donbas region, Ukraines military said. That industrial heartland of coal mines and factories is now the focus of fighting after Russia suffered a series of setbacks and shifted to more limited goals. The enemy is storming the position of our troops simultaneously in several directions, said Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar. We have an extremely difficult and long stage of fighting ahead of us. Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, also came under renewed shelling on Thursday. Zelenskyy said at least nine people were killed and 19 wounded. Among those killed were a five-month-old baby and its father, and the mother was in serious condition. Military officials said Russian forces continued to try to gain a foothold in the area of Sievierodonetsk, the only part of the Luhansk region in the Donbas under Ukrainian government control. A senior U.S. defense official said Russia is making incremental progress in the Donbas, with fighting centered on towns and villages as Russian and Ukrainian forces trade control over scraps of land. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the U.S. military assessment, said those smaller artillery duels could be prolonged. Russia has 110 battalion tactical groups, each with 800 to 1,000 troops, committed to Ukraine, amounting to 80% of Moscows total force, the official said, adding that it has lost 1,000 tanks and three dozen fighter jets and other fixed-wing aircraft. Zelenskyy pleaded with the West to send multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine as soon as possible to give it a fighting chance against the Russian offensive in the Donbas. In other developments: In the northwestern town of Kotelva, two Russian soldiers accused of war crimes pleaded guilty to shelling civilian infrastructure with a multiple rocket launcher. Alexander Ivanov and Alexander Bobykin could face up to 12 years in prison; the defense asked for eight, saying they were following orders. Bobykin said, I regret the actions our troops committed. In the ravaged port city of Mariupol, Russia began broadcasting state television news, about a week after the Russian military declared it had completely liberated the city. A leader of Russia-backed separatists suggested there might be more Ukrainian fighters hiding in Mariupols sprawling Azovstal steelworks, which for weeks stood as the citys last bastion of resistance. The Russian military says 2,439 fighters surrendered from the plant last week. The separatist leader, Denis Pushilin, said more may have been hiding or lost or lagged behind, adding there are already those that have been found and captured. Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Russian ally Belarus, said he was sending troops to the border with Ukraine, raising the possibility that he may agree to wider participation in the war. Belarus allowed Russian troops to invade Ukraine from its soil but has not taken part in ground operations. The Pentagon said one American military officer has gone back to Ukraine as the U.S. reopens its embassy in Kyiv. But Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the colonel is there for diplomatic work, and no other U.S. troops are going into Ukraine at this point. ___ Becatoros reported from Kramatorsk, Ukraine. Associated Press writers Andre Rosa in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine By RICARDO MAZALAN and ELENA BECATOROS Associated Press WARSAW, Poland (AP) Polish lawmakers on Thursday approved removing a controversial disciplinary body within Polands top court that the right-wing government has used to sanction outspoken judges and which has drawn condemnation from the European Union. Polands government expects the removal of the divisive Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court to end its drawn-out spat with the EU, paving the way for an agreement that will result in Brussels disbursing billions of euros of frozen recovery funds for Poland. The vote in the lower house was 231-208 with 13 abstentions. The ruling coalition was for the move while the opposition was against it, saying the changes are largely cosmetic. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in parliament before the vote that EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is expected to sign the agreement in Warsaw on June 2, to approve the key points or milestones in the governments aligning of the judiciary rules with EU standards. Warsaws relations with Brussels have grown tense under the current government, largely due to the control it has taken of the judiciary, placing loyalists at top bodies and punishing judges who protested those moves. The moves which were met with massive street protests were initiated by the justice minister, whose small party within the ruling coalition secures it a narrow majority in parliament. Ties with Brussels have warmed up as Poland has taken an active role in supporting Ukraine in its struggle against Russias invasion. Poland has taken in some 3.6 million refugees from Ukraine, and the government has been pushing for EU funds to accommodate and integrate them. The new regulations approved by the lower house, or Sejm, amend the law on Polands Supreme Court to remove its Disciplinary Chamber. The European Court of Justice last year found the chamber to be in violation of the EUs rule of law principles, urged Poland to remove it and fined Poland 1 million euros per day as long as the body continues. Critics say the change is superficial and misleading, because the controversial body is to be replaced with a professional responsibility chamber at the Supreme Court whose members will be chosen by the president. Also, the recent appointment of a government loyalist to a top regulatory body, the National council for the Judiciary, suggests the ruling team wants to maintain its control, critics say. The new judicial regulations still need approval from the Senate, where the opposition has a narrow edge, and from President Andrzej Duda, who is their chief author. It was not clear if these approvals would be granted before June 2. By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA Associated Press Governor Gavin Newsom View Photo SACRAMENTO Following a mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas that left at least 19 children and two adults dead Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) announced California will expedite commonsense gun safety laws that will protect people from gun violence. Newsom was Thursdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. California will not stand by as kids across the country are gunned down, Governor Newsom said. Guns are now the leading cause of death for kids in America. While the U.S. Senate stands idly by and activist federal judges strike down commonsense gun laws across our nation, California will act with the urgency this crisis demands. The Second Amendment is not a suicide pact. We will not let one more day go by without taking action to save lives. We have gotten to a point where we cant live our lives without the very real fear that every time we say goodbye to our children, spouses, and friends, it could be the last, said Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego). These dreadful, devastating tragedies have to stop. Every politician, judge, or Supreme Court Justice who has opted to put more guns on our streets needs to resign today and hang their heads in deep shame. We have to do everything in our power to get guns out of our classrooms and grocery stores and away from people who should never have them. That includes our work this week to move expeditiously on more than a dozen bills that make our communities safer, and Ill be continuing to work alongside Speaker Rendon and Governor Newsom to ensure that these bills move swiftly through the legislative process so that they can start to make positive change in our communities. In the face of repeated tragedies in our state and elsewhere, California remains committed to doing everything we can to stem the violence, said Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. As a society, we must do better. There have been more mass shootings in the U.S. in 2022 than days in the year, said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. In California, we refuse to accept the current norm. We will continue to call on our federal leaders and neighboring states to do more, because our nations current standard for preventing gun violence is unacceptable. Our children should not suffer this burden. Active shooter drills, metal detectors, and schools that look like prisons are not the answer we need commonsense gun safety laws. We are sick and tired of seeing young and promising lives cut short due to gun violence. We at the California Department of Justice and leaders throughout California know that addressing gun violence is critical to public safety. As your Attorney General, I vow to do much more than send thoughts and prayers I will use the full force of the law and my office to end gun violence. An initial package of bills the Governor has committed to signing include: AB 2571 (Bauer-Kahan) Restricts advertising of firearms to minors AB 1621 (Gipson) Restricts ghost guns and the parts and kits used to build them SB 1327 (Hertzberg) Creates private right of action to limit spread of illegal assault weapons and ghost guns AB 1594 (Ting) Allows governments and victims of gun violence to sue manufacturers and sellers of firearms Governor Newsom and legislative leaders will continue working together to expedite additional bills pending before the legislature aimed at curbing gun violence and increasing safety in California communities. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. HIGHLIGHTS: Annual operating revenue increased 49% to $11.4 million, while total revenue increased 33% to $13.9 million Total laboratory throughput (TLT) of Cxbladder tests increased 46% to 23,086 tests, while commercial tests (CT) increased 48% to 19,196 tests COVID-19 healthcare restrictions constrained growth. The easing of those restrictions and new hires drove increases in TLT and clinician engagement in the final months of the financial year Net losses after tax increase to $19.8 million from $14.2 million, reflecting a 37% increase in operating expenses to $33.7 million as the company invested to drive growth Initiatives of the Investment Program to drive customer retention, growth, and clinical evidence generation relevant to guideline inclusion announced The initiatives of the Investment Program in FY23 will be phased in proportion to business milestones to responsibly manage burn rate Pacific Edge is well funded with cash and cash equivalents and short-term deposits at $105.4 million at the end of the financial year, following the successful $103.5 million capital raise and dual listing on the ASX in 2021 DUNEDIN, New Zealand Cancer diagnostics company Pacific Edge (NZX, ASX: PEB) today announces financial and operational results for the year to 31 March 2022 showing strong growth in the adoption of its advanced genomic biomarker Cxbladder tests and early results suggesting initial traction can be translated into faster growth. It also announces new initiatives to drive the adoption of Cxbladder around the world. These include increased investment in sales, marketing, innovation, and clinical evidence generation to advance the case for the incorporation Cxbladder into globally relevant standards of care. TEST VOLUMES Total laboratory throughput (TLT) of Cxbladder for the year to 31 March 2022 rose 46% to 23,086 tests from 15,814 tests in the prior financial year. Commercial test volumes increased 48% to 19,196, with the increase reflecting the growing adoption of Cxbladder by physicians and healthcare organizations. These results follow from the important milestones of obtain Medicare coverage and reimbursement from Kaiser Permanente in 2020. Pacific Edge Chief Executive Dr Peter Meintjes said: In spite of the pandemic, the strong year-on-year growth in Cxbladder test volumes demonstrates the value of Cxbladder to safely intensify or de-intensify clinical workup for patients presenting with hematuria, resolve diagnostic dilemmas during hematuria evaluation and monitor for the recurrence of urothelial cancer in post-treatment patients. Still, the last six months have been challenging. Restrictions in the healthcare sector have been more severe and longer lasting than those imposed on the community at large, and this has limited engagement with physicians ordering the tests and the organizations paying for them. It has also prevented patients from engaging with their clinicians. With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the virus becoming endemic in our target markets, and recent sales and marketing recruits beginning to hit their stride, we are seeing volumes begin to accelerate. Average weekly test throughput in the US from the start of April to last week were 455 tests per week, a figure 25% higher than the average of the last year. These objective indicators, and the subjective positive feedback from those regularly using Cxbladder, demonstrate that clinicians are gaining increasing confidence in the use of Cxbladder earlier in the patient care pathway. They also show that Pacific Edge has an excellent opportunity to capitalize on existing traction in a very large target market. The challenge before us is one of focus and execution to convert this enthusiasm and momentum to greater recurring use of Cxbladder. FINANCIAL RESULTS Total operating revenue - the income generated from Cxbladder test sales - increased 49% to $11.4 million from $7.7 million over the same period last year. Total Income of $13.9m, an increase of 33% included higher levels of research incentives and interest revenue, offset by a reduction of Covid-19 support of $1.1 million. Net loss after tax increased to $19.8 million from $14.2 million over the same period a year ago as Pacific Edge accelerated its investment to drive the adoption of tests. Net operating expenses increased to $33.7 million from $24.7 million in the prior year. Net operating cash outflow increased to $17.5 million from $13.6 million in the same period a year ago. Pacific Edge remains well funded following the successful $103.5 million capital raising in 2021. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits stood at $105.4 million up from $23.1 million at the same time last year. REGIONAL PERFORMANCE The US business is making steady progress, despite COVID creating barriers for in-person selling opportunities a key activity for growth and retention. Total Lab Throughput (TLT) for the year was up 59% to 18,864, while commercial tests increased 62% to 15,752. Pacific Edge is working closely with Kaiser Permanente, the largest integrated healthcare provider in the US with an estimated 12.5 million members covered by the Kaiser Health Plan, to roll Cxbladder out across more sites and to educate more clinicians at each site in the use of Cxbladder. Kaiser Permanente urologists familiar with Cxbladder through the evaluation continue to advocate for broader adoption internally through an EMR integration with our support. In parallel with the EMR integration efforts, we continue to focus our adoption efforts in Southern California adding new sites and ordering clinicians from those involved in the initial evaluation. The adoption of Cxbladder Triage (CxbT) at Kaiser Permanente enhances the case for its subsequent reimbursement by CMS. Meanwhile we are working with the US Veterans Affairs (VA), the second largest integrated healthcare provider in the US, to move from evaluation of our tests to widespread use across the more than nine million veterans it covers. The completion of our DRIVE clinical study, which is examining the clinical utility of Cxbladder in risk stratifying patients presenting with hematuria, is an important step towards this goal. INITIATIVES OF THE INVESTMENT PROGRAM Since joining the company in January, my thoughts have coalesced around initiatives in three major areas of the business that have the capacity to drive increases in long-term shareholder value, Dr Meintjes said. Firstly, we must continue to invest in technology and product innovation to maintain our leadership position in urothelial cancer diagnostics. This means improving the performance characteristics of existing products and expanding the context of use for Cxbladder to other segments of the patient care pathway. Secondly, we must augment that evidence through real world, real time clinical studies to establish Cxbladder as a standard of care with clinicians, healthcare providers and funders ahead of inclusion of the tests in globally relevant guidelines. And finally, having secured the support of these urological key opinion leaders, we must continue to build awareness of the Cxbladder brand, taking our story to the wider clinician community and the patient community. Today we are announcing initiatives that deliver on these priorities, Dr Meintjes said. Research and innovation We continue to evaluate new product concepts and cutting-edge technologies to determine if they can be applied to the market and address an unmet clinical need. As we develop this technology, we will continue to build a patent portfolio that we can subsequently develop into validated products for commercialization. This may include other cancers, prognostics, or other non-cancer diseases where there is strong biomarker signal in the urine an existing core competency at Pacific Edge. The program will be staged and linked to the achievement of growth milestones. While we expect many of these investments to quickly begin contributing to Pacific Edges business, we expect the aggregate of these changes to drive long-term value creation and have greater contribution to revenue in the 2024 financial year and beyond, Dr Meintjes said. Evidence coverage and guidelines Pacific Edge is accelerating its clinical evidence generation program to drive the inclusion of Cxbladder in the American Urological Association (AUA), European Association of Urologists (EAU), and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. Simultaneously, Pacific Edge continues to drive adoption in the absence of guidelines by demonstrating the utility of Cxbladder to urologists and uro-oncologists through product evaluations, clinical studies partnerships, and the strength of our existing clinical evidence. Specifically, we are targeting evidence that demonstrates the value of Cxbladder in diagnosing asymptomatic hematuria, in resolving diagnostic dilemmas (most commonly equivocal cystoscopy and atypical cytology), detecting tumors in the upper tract, and reducing the patient burden of unnecessary surveillance cystoscopies. We want to ensure that Cxbladder is embedded from the earliest possible point and across the breadth of the patient care pathway. The advancement of the LOBSTER study, which targets evidence to support the inclusion of the test in the AUA standard of care announced to the NZX and ASX earlier this month, is evidence of the program in action. To support our evidence generation program, we have recently hired a VP of Medical Affairs, Dr Tamer Aboushwareb, who will lead a team of 3-5 Medical Science Liaisons that will be technology and/or urology specialists with a medical background. The expanded team will increase our capacity to engage key opinion leaders on clinical studies; facilitate faster and greater patient enrolment in studies; communicate our increasing body of clinical evidence to drive the early adoption of Cxbladder and build momentum towards guideline inclusion. The team will also work alongside our sales and marketing teams to assist with the adoption of Cxbladder by strategic accounts; and work with the Clinical Science team to drive the generation of clinical utility evidence. Adoption, retention, and revenue generation We have a multi-pronged strategy for executing effectively in the market. We are increasing the size of our sales team by up to 10 full time equivalents (FTE) to a planned total of 40 in FY24, as we know this direct sales model works and a controlled expansion will be a good use of capital. Additionally, we have already deployed a Virtual Sales team to focus on rural clinicians and patients and support the prospecting and onboarding for new accounts. The final number is dependent on milestones during the course of the year. We are working with tenured Account Executives to lift performance in established territories. We are supporting market execution with investments in ancillary services, including the integration of test ordering and resulting with healthcare providers electronic medical records (EMR) systems, driving the adoption of patient in home sampling systems (PIHSS) and greater marketing investment and new Managed Care initiatives. Managed Care is an important element of customer care related to billing, explanation of benefits and claims processing in the USA it speaks strongly to the experience patients have when they engage with Pacific Edge. We want to drive towards seamless daily operations for healthcare providers, clinicians, and patients as they order tests or collection kits, dispatch samples to our lab, and receive results, Dr Meintjes said. Finally, we also plan to hire two FTE Strategic Account Sales people, who will work with the Virtual Sales teams on service delivery at the largest healthcare providers and seek to onboard Cxbladder with new providers. Pacific Edge is investing to build the Cxbladder brand through partnerships with patient advocacy groups such as the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network in the US and New Zealands Cancer Society. Pacific Edge intends these efforts to educate patients on their options, empower patients to request non-invasive alternatives to cystoscopy and ultimately contribute to revenue. We are continuing to develop our plans in Australia and in Asian markets. The advancement of clinical study collaborations in Singapore and the impending publication of data on a Singaporean cohort represent an important step towards this latter goal. OUTLOOK Chairman Chris Gallaher said the Board was pleased with the progress Pacific Edge has made, especially when the results are considered against the backdrop of the difficult selling environment the company has faced for much of the financial year. With the easing of COVID restrictions, the Board is pleased to see the investments the company has made to accelerate its growth are beginning to deliver results. The support we are seeing for CxBladder has reinforced our confidence in the investment program made possible by last years capital raising, Mr Gallaher said. We are also delighted to have been able to attract back to New Zealand our new Chief Executive Dr Peter Meintjes, who over the last few months has quickly begun to build on the strong legacy left by his predecessor David Darling. Peter has brought to the company a deep understanding of the diagnostics market, a clear vision of what is required to drive success and great enthusiasm for the role. He has quickly established himself within the business and is bringing the team along with him. On behalf of shareholders, we thank all of the Pacific Edge team for their efforts in what has been an extremely challenging period. Finally, Mr Gallaher thanked Pacific Edges Directors for their commitment to the company over the last year. With the appointment of the respected healthcare leader Tony Barclay to the Board in March, Pacific Edge now has the full complement of skills and experience to provide the necessary oversight and guidance as the company moves into its next phase of growth. It is an exciting time for the company, Mr Gallaher said. Dr Meintjes said Pacific Edge expects its investment in innovation, evidence, people, and brand to drive growth in test volumes and revenue, but it will also lift operating costs in the business. Based on the activities in R&D, clinical studies, and market execution, I am excited about the prospect for the company. Pacific Edge continues to realize the opportunities I observed when I was evaluating the opportunity to lead the company, Dr Meintjes said. The company is focused on long-term shareholder value and is well positioned to deliver that over the coming years. The steps we have announced today represent a significant focus of resources to deliver on our potential. We look forward to further updating shareholders at our annual meeting in late July. Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: BLT - 2022 Annual Shareholder Meeting and Director Nominations IFT - Bond Firm Offer Closed & Interest Rate Set NZL - Market Update 2nd June 2022 Morning Report IFT - Appointment of Andrew Clark as a Director of Infratil AIA - Auckland Airport strengthens leadership team 1st June 2022 Morning Report Synlait forecast milk price update PaySauce FY2022 Full Year Result and Annual Report 31st May 2022 Morning Report Mark Meuser Visits Sonora View Photo Sonora, CA The Republican endorsed candidate running for Californias US Senate seat made a brief stop in Sonora this week for a meet and greet with some party faithful in downtown. In doing so, Mark Meuser announced that he has now reached a campaign milestone of visiting all 58 counties ahead of the June 6 primary election. Meuser, an attorney and entrepreneur, is trying to unseat Democratic incumbent Alex Padilla. Meuser says, I am delighted to have achieved this milestone in my race for US Senate. Its extremely important for a candidate to reach out to as many voters as possible when seeking public office, as the needs of the people in so many areas of this state are often overlooked by candidates who often only seek the larger population centers to get elected. Meuser joined the Dhillon Law Group in 2017 and has been involved in filing various lawsuits against Governor Gavin Newsom over the past couple of years. They have ranged from the governors Executive Actions taken during COVID 19 to California trying to remove President Donald Trumps name from the 2020 primary ballot following the passage of a tax transparency law. On the campaign trail, Meuser has recently been speaking out against the Biden Administrations energy policies and rising gas prices. Two dozen candidates are on the ballot for Californias US Senate seat, and Padilla has been endorsed by the Democratic Party, and Meuser by the Republicans. The top-two vote-getters, regardless of party, will move on to the November General Election. Indian, Pakistani killed in UAE gas blast that injured 120 View Photo DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) A gas cylinder explosion in Abu Dhabi earlier this week that injured 120 people killed an Indian and a Pakistani national, authorities in those two countries said Thursday. Indias External Affairs Ministry said one Indian died and around 100 were injured in the blast Monday in Abu Dhabis Khalidiya neighborhood, just a few blocks from the Emirati capitals beachfront corniche. Pakistans Foreign Ministry said the explosion killed one Pakistani and wounded others. Pakistani diplomats also visited a police station in the capital and said Emirati authorities promised to share more on their investigation. The United Arab Emirates, a federation of seven desert sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, faces seasonal fires brought on by the intense heat that bakes this nation each summer. Temperatures hit 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday. In February, authorities say a similar gas cylinder explosion struck the capital at the height of concerns over attacks by Yemens Houthi rebels. Indians and Pakistani make up much of the foreign workforce that powers the Emirates. Rival Libya leader says he has no plans to rule from Tripoli View Photo SIRTE, Libya (AP) One of Libyas rival prime ministers told The Associated Press that he has no immediate plans to rule from the capital of Tripoli, after his attempted move there last week sparked clashes and fears of a return to widespread civil strife. In an interview late Wednesday, Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha said that his government will work from its headquarters in Sirte, a city on the Mediterranean coast about halfway between the countrys east and west. Rival administrations from each end of Libya claim to be its legitimate rulers until elections are held. Describing last weeks events, Bashagha said he had entered Tripoli in a civilian car and that those escorting him were unarmed. A young man was killed during the incident. Bashagha identified him as Ahmed Alashabab, calling him a supporter who was defending him from militiamen. We do not blame ourselves for having entered the city, he said. I had said that I would not enter the capital unless conditions were 100% favorable. Oil-rich Libya has been wracked by conflict since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. It has been split between rival administrations in the east and west, each supported by different militias and foreign governments. The establishment of Bashaghas government in Sirte is likely to further cement the political divide. Bashagha, a former interior minister and air force pilot, was named prime minister by the countrys east-based parliament in February. But his rival, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, based in Tripoli in the countrys west, has refused to step down, insisting he will hand over power only to an elected government. Last weeks fighting in Tripoli was the most serious there since 2020, when east-based commander Khalifa Hifter and his forces waged a yearlong campaign to try to take the city with backing from Russian mercenaries. They eventually failed to do so, after Tripoli forces were bolstered by Turkish military help. Since then, U.N. mediators have tried to get the country on a path towards elections. Dbeibahs appointment last year, as part of the U.N.-led process, was clouded by allegations of corruption and bribery. As an interim prime minister, Dbeibah was to have led the country through elections in December, but the vote never took place. Both Dbeibah and Bashagha hail from the western city of Misrata, a base of influential militias. Lawmakers have argued that Dbeibahs mandate expired after Libya failed to hold presidential elections on schedule. The failure was a major blow to international efforts to end a decade of chaos in Libya. The country reverted to its long-running political impasse, with rival governments claiming power. Dbeibah has repeatedly promised to hold elections soon. Bashagha said he doubts his rival can unite the country and organize orderly voting, claiming Dbeibah does not command enough loyalty outside of the capital. He will only be able to hold them in Tripoli, he said, adding that his own government is looking at holding nationwide elections within 14 months. The impasse worsened over the past two months, resulting in the closure of oil facilities including Libyas largest oil field in areas controlled by Hifters forces. Bashagha said he was not behind the stoppage of oil production, but that local tribes had decided to take matters into their own hands, not wanting to fund Dbeibahs government. Bashagha said Abdel-Ghani al-Kikli, a Tripoli militia leader, was part of the effort to attack him after he entered Tripoli. Al-Kikli was previously implicated in war crimes by global rights groups, but has headed a nebulous body called the Stability Support Authority that reports to the Tripoli government since 2021. Bashagha also addressed criticism that in areas under his control when he was interior minister under a previous Tripoli-based government, the situation remained abysmal for migrants setting out from Libya on Mediterranean crossings to Europe. After being intercepted, many are kept in squalid detention centers where they face torture, assault, and deprivation. Bashagha said he couldnt be held responsible, claiming he didnt have enough funding or staff to improve the situation. In a message to the countrys war-torn Central Bank, Bashagha called on it to pay out his governments budget that was passed by the east-based lawmakers. The bank is the repository for billions of dollars annually in oil revenue as well as foreign reserves. In 2014, it splintered along the countrys broader political fault lines. By RAMI MUSA Associated Press Gunmans final 90 minutes fuel questions about police delays View Photo UVALDE, Texas (AP) It was 11:28 a.m. when the Ford pickup slammed into a ditch behind the low-slung Texas school and the driver jumped out carrying an AR-15-style rifle. Twelve minutes after that, authorities say, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos was in the hallways of Robb Elementary School. Soon he entered a fourth-grade classroom. And there, he killed 19 schoolchildren and two teachers in a still-unexplained spasm of violence. At 12:58 p.m., law enforcement radio chatter said Ramos had been killed and the siege was over. What happened in those 90 minutes, in a working-class neighborhood near the edge of the little town of Uvalde, has fueled mounting public anger and scrutiny over law enforcements response to Tuesdays rampage. They say they rushed in, said Javier Cazares, whose fourth-grade daughter, Jacklyn Cazares, was killed in the attack, and who raced to the school as the massacre unfolded. We didnt see that. On Thursday, authorities largely ignored questions about why officers had not been able to stop the shooter sooner, with Victor Escalon, regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety, telling reporters he had taken all those questions into consideration and would offer updates later. The media briefing, called by Texas safety officials to clarify the timeline of the attack, provided bits of previously unknown information. But by the time it ended, it had added to the troubling questions surrounding the attack, including about the time it took police to reach the scene and confront the gunman, and the apparent failure to lock a school door he entered. After two days of providing often conflicting information, investigators said that a school district police officer was not inside the school when Ramos arrived, and, contrary to their previous reports, the officer had not confronted Ramos outside the building. Instead, they sketched out a timeline notable for unexplained delays by law enforcement. After crashing his truck, Ramos fired on two people coming out of a nearby funeral home, Escalon said. He then entered the school unobstructed through an apparently unlocked door at about 11:40 a.m. But the first police officers did not arrive on the scene until 12 minutes after the crash and did not enter the school to pursue the shooter until four minutes after that. Inside, they were driven back by gunfire from Ramos and took cover, Escalon said. The crisis came to an end after a group of Border Patrol tactical officers entered the school roughly an hour later, at 12:45 p.m., said Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Travis Considine. They engaged in a shootout with the gunman, who was holed up in the fourth-grade classroom. Moments before 1 p.m., he was dead. Escalon said that during that time, the officers called for backup, negotiators and tactical teams, while evacuating students and teachers. Ken Trump, president of the consulting firm National School Safety and Security Services, said the length of the timeline raised questions. Based on best practices, its very difficult to understand why there were any types of delays, particularly when you get into reports of 40 minutes and up of going in to neutralize that shooter, he said. Many other details of the case and the response remained murky. The motive for the massacre the nations deadliest school shooting since Newtown, Connecticut, almost a decade ago remained under investigation, with authorities saying Ramos had no known criminal or mental health history. During the siege, frustrated onlookers urged police officers to charge into the school, according to witnesses. Go in there! Go in there! women shouted at the officers soon after the attack began, said Juan Carranza, 24, who watched the scene from outside a house across the street. Carranza said the officers should have entered the school sooner: There were more of them. There was just one of him. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz did not give a timeline but said repeatedly that the tactical officers from his agency who arrived at the school did not hesitate. He said they moved rapidly to enter the building, lining up in a stack behind an agent holding up a shield. What we wanted to make sure is to act quickly, act swiftly, and thats exactly what those agents did, Ortiz told Fox News. But a law enforcement official said that once in the building, the agents had trouble breaching the classroom door and had to get a staff member to open the room with a key. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the investigation. Department of Public Safety spokesman Lt. Christopher Olivarez told CNN that investigators were trying to establish whether the classroom was, in fact, locked or barricaded in some way. Cazares said that when he arrived, he saw two officers outside the school and about five others escorting students out of the building. But 15 or 20 minutes passed before the arrival of officers with shields, equipped to confront the gunman, he said. As more parents flocked to the school, he and others pressed police to act, Cazares said. He heard about four gunshots before he and the others were ordered back to a parking lot. A lot of us were arguing with the police, You all need to go in there. You all need to do your jobs. Their response was, We cant do our jobs because you guys are interfering, Cazares said. As for the armed school officer, he was driving nearby but was not on campus when Ramos crashed his truck, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the case and spoke of condition of anonymity. Investigators have concluded that school officer was not positioned between the school and Ramos, leaving him unable to confront the shooter before he entered the building, the law enforcement official said. Michael Dorn, executive director of Safe Havens International, which works to make schools safer, cautioned that its hard to get a clear understanding of the facts soon after a shooting. The information we have a couple of weeks after an event is usually quite different than what we get in the first day or two. And even that is usually quite inaccurate, Dorn said. For catastrophic events, youre usually eight to 12 months out before you really have a decent picture. ___ Bleiberg reported from Dallas. ___ More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings By JAKE BLEIBERG, JIM VERTUNO and ELLIOT SPAGAT Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) North Carolina Senate Republicans are strongly considering legislation that would expand Medicaid coverage to hundreds of thousands of additional low-income adults. Such legislation would mark a key step in an extraordinary turnabout by GOP members in the chamber set against expansion for a decade. A draft bill yet to be formally filed also would include several other medical, health care coverage and insurance reforms, according to a summary of the bill obtained by The Associated Press. Many of these proposals, including expansion, have been discussed in a House-Senate health care study committee that's met several times since February. "Senate Republicans continue to have discussions about how to address the rising costs of health care and how to increase access in the state, Lauren Horsch, a spokesperson for Senate leader Phil Berger, said Monday. Horsch confirmed the summary's authenticity but could not say if and when legislation would be filed during the General Assembly's annual work session, which began last week and likely will end around July 1. The measure's showpiece would be Medicaid expansion, which Republicans were cool to or outright against for several years after the 2010 federal Affordable Care Act authorized the coverage for people earning too much money for traditional Medicaid coverage. North Carolina is one of a dozen states that have not expanded Medicaid. But Berger said last fall he was now open to expansion, in part because he was now convinced the federal government's 90% share of expenses for expansion enrollees would not soon be eliminated. More Republicans also are intrigued by the idea because the 2021 federal COVID-19 relief law would give North Carolina $1.5 billion over two years to treat traditional Medicaid patients if it accepts expansion. Horsch said Berger has seen the omnibus proposal described in the summary but declined to say whether he supports it. The bill summary says the expansion proposal, called NC Health Works, would cover adults with income of up to 138% of federal poverty guidelines, likely covering at least 600,000 people. Right now, about 2.7 million North Carolina residents are enrolled in Medicaid. Some current enrollees who have remained on the rolls during the pandemic would ultimately be covered by expansion. The summary says the state's 10% share of expansion expenses would be paid through a new assessment on hospitals. Expansion would end if Congress increased the state's share. The program also would include a work requirement for expansion recipients a mandate that in other states has been struck down by federal courts and blocked elsewhere by President Joe Bidens administration. It's unclear whether the absence of a work mandate would be a deal-breaker for House Republicans, which had pushed an expansion bill in 2019 containing such a requirement. House Speaker Tim Moore said last year that at the time, he did not see support within the House Republican Caucus for expansion. Talking to reporters last week, Moore said he would be surprised if a Medicaid expansion agreement could be reached with the Senate before the work session ended. A House co-chairman of the health care study committee has said he did not expect any action on panel recommendations until the fall, so a Senate proposal would certainty attempt to accelerate the process. Any bill would have to pass both chambers before heading to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has sought expansion repeatedly since taking office in early 2017. His budget-adjustment proposal released earlier this month contains it again. I believe that were getting closer than ever to an agreement, Cooper said May 11. I do appreciate that Republican leaders are taking this seriously. A 2019 budget stalemate between the governor and GOP leaders centered around expansion. According to the summary, first reported by Axios, the bill also would streamline and narrow certificate of need laws that require health regulators to sign off on expansion plans by hospitals and other medical providers before moving forward. The measure also would permit nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and nurses with other advanced specialties to practice without a physician's formal supervision. The legislation also would require health insurers in the state to cover telehealth services, and in-network health facilities would have to alert consumers when out-of-network providers are scheduled to provide care. VILLA CLARA, Cuba (AP) Some of the more than 840 Haitians who tried to reach the United States in a boat but ended up in Cuba said Thursday that they fled violence in their country and were charged thousands of dollars by smugglers who ushered them onto a dilapidated boat and later abandoned them at sea. It is the largest single arrival of people from Haiti on the Cuban coast amid an increasing exodus caused by gang violence and other problems there. They deceived us. In my case (a trafficker) told me that the boat was going to have 200 or 300 people, and on a big boat it is normal. But when youre on board, you dont know how many people are going to appear, said Maximaud Cherizard, a 34-year-old engineer who traveled with a 7-year-old son, his wife and his sister. We were ashamed when we arrived in Cuba, Cherizard said. The boat was so packed that some people were on the vessel's roof, he said. The 842 people were rescued Tuesday by the Cuban coast guard and other government services in the vicinity of Caibarien in Villa Clara province, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) east of the capital, Havana. They were taken to a temporary center in a former summer camp and were in isolation as a health precaution. According to the account of at least three migrants with whom the AP spoke, the group left Tortuga Island in northern Haiti after waiting there for almost two months for the trip. News of the supposed opportunity to go to Florida had spread spread by word of mouth and some people said they paid $4,000 each for a spot on the boat. They were taken in a small boat to the larger one early Saturday morning and their phones were taken away by smugglers, who alleged the signal would make them detectable by the U.S. Coast Guard, according to the migrants. Cherizard said he had been shown a picture of a cruise liner that was going to take the migrants, a promise that he realized was false when he saw the dilapidated boat. He and other migrants said they did not see a name on the vessel. Cherizard said he and his family were placed in a cabin with others with little access to the rest of the vessel. When the captain abandoned ship at sea early Tuesday morning, they learned that some migrants had tried to take control of the boat in an attempt to reach their destination. Another migrant, 19-year-old Joyce Paul, said the captain had left in a smaller vessel and the one the migrants were on began to lean. The Haitians signaled with flashlights towards the Cuban coast to be rescued. In the days at sea, 15 people threw themselves into the water as conditions grew more desperate, according to Paul. There were 70 children, including infants, among the migrants, Cuban authorities reported. In Haiti, there is no future for babies, said Loverie Horat, the 30-year-old mother of a 24-day-old infant. She told The Associated Press that she and her husband boarded the boat after leaving Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. Her comments in Creole were translated into Spanish by Cherizard. Migrants said that insecurity and poverty in Haiti forced them to flee. Paul, the 19-year-old, said that gang members had killed his two sisters. You cant go out on the street because of the violence, Cherizard said. Due to sea currents and winds, some smugglers vessels aiming to reach the United States end up on Cuban coasts. Not all arrivals are officially reported, although in recent months authorities in Havana have acknowledged an increase in arrivals. Migrants are usually returned to their home countries in accordance with binational agreements. The Haitians arrived in Cuba at a time when the island itself is suffering from a severe economic crisis with food, medicine and fuel shortages and high emigration to the United States. Humanitarian aid has been a real challenge, said Andy Borges, a member of the Civil Protection office of the municipality of Corralillo, where the Haitian camp is based. U.S. Coast Guard crews have intercepted some 4,500 Haitian migrants since October last year. Many tried to land on the Florida coast in overloaded boats. More than 3,000 of those migrants have been intercepted since mid-March, indicating the pace has quickened this spring. We dont want to go back to Haiti, said 30-year-old Leverie Horat one of the Haitian migrants who hoped to reach the United States but ended up in Cuba. ___ Rodriguez reported from Havana. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram One person is dead and another is injured following a two-vehicle crash in Hale County. The crash was reported at 9:19 p.m. on Wednesday at FM 54 east of County Road BB. Click here to read the full article. Morton Janklow, one of the nations most powerful literary agents who elevated the power of the profession in advocating for authors, died Wednesday morning of heart failure at his home in Water Mill, N.Y.. He was 91 years old. Janklows clients included the likes of Sidney Poitier, Sidney Sheldon, Danielle Steel, Jackie Collins, Nancy Reagan and Ted Turner. His death was confirmed by publicist Paul Bogards to The New York Times. Janklow began his career as a literary agent in 1972 when his client and friend William Safire asked him to help with a book he was writing about President Richard Nixon. The corporate attorney educated himself on the publishing industry and successfully negotiated a contract for Safires book. After the Watergate scandal broke, the books publisher attempted to back out of the $250,000 contract. Janklow sued the publisher for arbitration, ushering in a new age for the publishing industry. He recaptured the rights to the book and struck a deal with another publisher. Notably, Janklow helped break publishing precedent by recovering about one-third of Safires advance. Before this, authors usually had to return all the money once a publisher dropped their book. Safires book, Before the Fall: An Inside View of the Pre-Watergate White House became a bestseller. From then on, Janklow became known for advocating for authors. By the1980s, he was routinely securing multimillion-dollar contracts for writers, including several deals that exceeded $25 million. Due in large part to Janklow, agents became the first to see the work of unknown authors. It was an agents judgments, often based on sales potential and not public interest, that largely determined what publishers bought and presented to the public. We took the publisher out of the captains seat and put the author in it, he writes on his firms website. The publisher is replaceable; the author is not. In 1977, Janklow established his own literary agency where he would later work with numerous acclaimed authors, including winners of the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize. His clients included Pope John Paul II, Barbara Walters, John Glenn, Al Gore, Thomas Harris, Judith Krantz, John Erhlichman, David McCullough, Ronald Reagan, Michael Moore, Pat Riley and Carl Sagan. He co-founded the New York-based Janklow & Nesbit Associates with Lynn Nesbit in 1989, where he served as chairman until his death. Janklow was born in New York City in 1930 and raised in Queens. The son of a lawyer, Janklow graduated from Syracuse University in 1950 and Columbia Law School in 1953. At Syracuse University, he founded the Janklow Arts Leadership Program and served on the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors. He also founded the Morton L. Janklow Program for Advocacy in the Arts and endowed the Morton L. Janklow Chair in Literary and Artistic Property Law at Columbia University. Janklow also taught in the program. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The Federal Trade Commission levied a $150 million fine on , alleging that the social network let advertisers use private data to target specific users without informing users of the practice. According to the agency, Twitter violated a 2011 FTC order that explicitly prohibited the company from misrepresenting its privacy and security practices. In addition to the $150 million fine, Twitter is banned from profiting from its deceptively collected data, the FTC said. In August 2020, Twitter disclosed that it expected to face an FTC fine of $150 million to $250 million related to the allegations. In a blog post, Twitter chief privacy officer Damien Kieran wrote, Keeping data secure and respecting privacy is something we take extremely seriously, and we have cooperated with the FTC every step of the way. In reaching this settlement, we have paid a $150M USD penalty, and we have aligned with the agency on operational updates and program enhancements to ensure that peoples personal data remains secure and their privacy protected. The fine comes as Twitter is in the midst of a $44 billion takeover bid by billionaire Elon Musk. On Wednesday, Musk disclosed in an SEC filing that he will no longer use loans secured against his Tesla stock to fund the proposed Twitter acquisition. Instead, according to Musks filing, he has committed to providing an additional $6.25 billion in equity financing for the deal, to bring his total equity commitment to $33.5 billion. Earlier this month, the mega-billionaire tweeted that the Twitter deal was temporarily on hold, citing the need to conduct due diligence on Twitters claim that fake and spam accounts represent less than 5% of its active user base even though thats a stat Twitter has disclosed for nearly a decade. Meanwhile, Twitter shareholders on Wednesday voted to remove Egon Durban, co-CEO of private equity firm Silver Lake, from the board of directors. Durban was seen as a Musk ally. In addition, Jack Dorsey, the Twitter co-founder who stepped down as CEO last fall, is officially gone from the companys board after his term expired with the 2022 meeting of stockholders. In a statement about the FTCs fine against Twitter, FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a statement, Twitter obtained data from users on the pretext of harnessing it for security purposes but then ended up also using the data to target users with ads. This practice affected more than 140 million Twitter users, while boosting Twitters primary source of revenue. According to a complaint filed by the Department of Justice on behalf of the FTC, Twitter in 2013 began asking users to provide either a phone number or email address to enable two-factor authentication, an enhanced form of security (beyond just a password). From 2014 to 2019, more than 140 million Twitter users provided their phone numbers or email addresses after the company asked for the info, according to the complaint. Twitter, however, failed to mention that it also would be used for targeted advertising, allowing marketers to target specific ads to users by matching the information with data they already possessed or obtained from third-party data brokers, the FTC alleged. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Commentary Mainfreight is pleased to confirm our full-year financial results to 31 March 2022; another record result and a more than satisfactory improvement on the prior year. These results should not come as a surprise to our shareholders and the market following our regular updates as a consequence of a highly disrupted year in the world of logistics. Revenue $5.22 billion Up $1.67 billion or 47.2% Profit before tax $489.4 million Up $227.0 million or 86.5% Net profit $355.4 million Up $167.3 million or 88.9% Adjusted for foreign exchange impact, Group revenue is up 50.8%, and profit before tax is up 90.5%. There are no abnormal items in the current year. Costs associated with the closure of our Russian business have been included in the result. A final dividend of 87.0 cents per share has been authorised by the Board of Directors, payable on 22 July 2022. We are pleased with this result, particularly in light of ongoing supply chain disruptions and pandemic-enforced lockdowns. While the result includes a significant increase in contribution from our Air & Ocean division across the world, we have also seen increased contributions to profitability and growth in domestic Warehousing and Transport across our global network. All five regions saw increased sales growth and profitability. Net profit after tax from our businesses outside of New Zealand now exceeds 72% of the Group total. This financial performance reflects: the extraordinary economic conditions in all five regions where we are located, with consumer spending markedly increased, particularly across the key customer verticals where we excel; supply chain congestion with inflated shipping and air freight costs, which are reflected in our revenues; the number of new customers attracted to Mainfreight as a consequence of our attitude to the delivery of high-quality logistic services; and, not least the wonderful efforts of our people, whose hard work and entrepreneurial spirit found solutions for our customers in the face of unprecedented disruption. Group Operating Cash Flows Operating cash flows were $503.8 million, up from $376.3 million in the prior year, reflecting increased profitability and satisfactory cash collection across all regions. Current debt facilities total $494.3 million, of which $318.7 million remains undrawn. Net debt at 31 March 2022, was a cheeky $1.1 million, down from $102.2 million at 31 March 2021. Gearing ratios continued to improve, at 0.1% compared to 8.4% at 31 March 2021. During the year, net capital expenditure totalled $189.1 million, with expenditure for land and buildings accounting for $109.4 million, warehousing racking and fit-out costs of $35.3 million, plant and equipment of $27.4 million, and information technology of $17.0 million. Our expected capital expenditure across the next two years is $540 million, of which property will be $450 million. In conjunction with this, a further 54 leased opportunities will be completed in this period. These are dominated by warehouses in New Zealand and Australia, and Warehousing and Transport facilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Dividend The Directors have approved a final dividend of 87.0 cents per share fully imputed at the 28% company tax rate. With the record date on 15 July 2022, payment will be made on 22 July 2022. This brings the full dividend for the year to 142.0 cents per share, an increase of 89.3% over the prior year, and is a reflection of improved trading results and our confidence in ongoing trading resilience. Discretionary Bonus Sharing our profits with those who have earned them is part of who we are. In line with the profit improvement achieved, our discretionary profit bonus has increased to $94.2 million, up 114.7% from $43.9 million for the year prior. Our people have achieved much in the past year for our customers, shareholders, and for themselves. We are proud to share our profits with them. Divisional Performance (figures in local currencies) New Zealand (NZ$) Revenue NZ$1.13 billion Up NZ$284.6 million or 33.7% Profit Before Tax NZ$136.5 million Up NZ$38.7 million or 39.5% Our New Zealand business has performed well and we continue to find opportunities for more growth. Our domestic Transport network handled record volumes, and at the height of New Zealands pandemic response, delivered more freight direct into homes across the motu than ever before. These volume increases, and a shortage of road and rail equipment, impacted service levels through the later part of the 2021 calendar year. Pleasingly, our quality measures have now returned to their usual levels. Likewise, increased stock holding requirements of our customers squeezed our Warehousing business to over-utilisation, reinforcing the decisions taken to invest in larger facilities going forward. For our Air & Ocean operations, a lack of international shipping and air capacity, has proved frustrating to say the least, when trying to secure service and space for our export and import customers. Regardless of external issues, we remain confident the New Zealand business will see improvements domestically, and we expect international trade capacity to improve as the year progresses. Expansion across our Transport and Warehousing networks continues to cater for the increased freight tonnage. Planned capital investment in New Zealand for land and buildings currently exceeds $195 million over the next two years. An order for a further ten electric pickup and delivery vehicles has also been made. Trading post year-end has been satisfactory. Australia (AU$) Revenue AU$1.18 billion Up AU$297.9 million or 34.0% Profit Before Tax AU$107.5 million Up AU$36.0 million or 50.3% Our growth, development and investment in Australia continues. We continue to gain market share and see improved volume growth across all three core products. Four new branches have been opened, with another six planned for 2023 ranging from Mackay in the north to Tasmania in the south. It is our expectation, in the short- to medium-term, that Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will have up to three Transport facilities each, alongside multiple Warehousing sites. Our South Dandenong, Melbourne Transport and Warehousing site will be completed by year-end 2022, and construction of our largest leased warehouse at Moorebank, Sydney has already begun with completion due April 2023. This is half the building time of an equivalent site in New Zealand. The new (and larger) Adelaide and Perth facilities remain under construction for completion in late 2022 and early 2023. Air & Ocean customer volumes have been managed well under current capacity constraints. More space availability is required across both ocean and air categories to support our growing customer base. Negotiations to secure this growth continue with air and sea freight carriers. New airfreight facilities for dry and perishable cargo in Queensland are under construction and will be completed in 2023. Trading post year-end continues to provide improvements on the year prior. Europe (Euro ) Revenue 567.9 million Up 140.4 million or 32.8% Profit Before Tax 31.7 million Up 9.3 million or 41.7% We are now located across ten countries in Europe; with a total of 47 branches and 3,138 people. As we intensify our network throughout these countries, we are developing opportunities for further growth in Transport, Warehousing and Air & Ocean categories. Financial performance in our Transport division, while improving, has been impacted by a number of team members having to isolate during the peak of the pandemic. Warehousing volumes and utilisation have continued to improve with additional warehouse space now being sought, particularly across the Netherlands. Our UK warehouse has increased in capacity, with transport pickup and delivery services now being added as a consequence of this growth. The Russia/Ukraine crisis has seen the closure of our Russian operations. An amount of EU1.5 million has been allocated to the P&L to facilitate this. Our Ukraine operation is being managed remotely. We remain pleased with our progress in Europe, particularly post year-end, and expect further growth opportunities in the short- to medium-term. Asia (US$) Revenue US$231.0 million Up US$126.7 million or 121.5% Profit Before Tax US$28.9 million Up US$21.8 million or 309.4% Our best-ever performance across the Asia region was assisted by strong volumes of export cargo from most Asian countries into the USA, closely followed by Trans-Atlantic movements. This was despite congestion and shortages of both shipping and air space, and container equipment. We are now well established across Asia and all nine countries are contributing significantly to our overall financial performance in the region. We will extend the network into Indonesia, opening in Jakarta mid-2022. As borders re open, we will look for further opportunities to expand to other countries. Warehousing operations have commenced in a number of countries, albeit small in comparison to the balance of our global network. Developing imports remains key to increasing our Warehousing footprint. The city-wide closure of Shanghai due to the pandemic is affecting both air and sea freight volumes post year-end, however we remain confident these will return in the near future. The Americas (US$) Revenue US$1.09 billion Up US$512.5 million or 88.8% Profit Before Tax US$100.8 million Up US$74.9 million or 289.0% The performance from our Air & Ocean division has driven a significant lift in overall profitability and performance. The volume surge and opportunities presented, particularly in sea freight from Asia, has enabled our team to develop a significant presence in this market segment. The flow-on into Transport and Warehousing has been pleasing. Warehousing has extended its footprint, opening three new warehouses in Pennsylvania, Texas, and Illinois. Our Transport division is firmly focused on the LTL (less than truck load) freight market across the USA/Canada and from Mexico. Growth has been satisfactory with 80% of our volumes now handled within our own line-haul network. Purpose-built Transport cross-dock facilities in the USA will be constructed and leased over the next two years to deliver further efficiencies. CaroTrans has improved its performance in the wholesale sea freight market, experiencing larger LCL (less than container load) import volumes during the year. Outlook This result is our best ever. It was achieved in a difficult environment by our people who have continued to exhibit passion and energy to deliver on behalf of our customers. Much has been said about the artificial impact on our revenues of inflated air and sea freight rates, and we accept this is a contributing factor. However the performance from our Air & Ocean division also reflects growth achieved in our customer base, with our ability to secure tightly-contested space allocations. Our Transport and Warehousing divisions across all five regions have also improved their financial performance. Supply Chain Congestion It is our view that we will continue to see supply chain congestion across the world for the immediate future. Ongoing lockdowns in Shanghai are restricting the movement of freight to and from ports and airports, resulting in limited manufacturing capability. The Russia/Ukraine crisis has resulted in restricted airfreight capability and the loss of production from the region. These product shortages will have an impact on supply for some time to come. Shipping lines continue to manage space allocations tightly, container equipment shortages remain, along with port congestion (particularly in the USA). Ocean freight rates, while reducing from their peaks mid-2021, are expected to remain elevated in the near future; similarly for air freight rates. Irrespective of external factors, opportunities continue to present themselves for Mainfreight as we invest in more infrastructure, our people, technology, and network. We certainly believe that having our own global network is assisting our customers. Trading in the seven weeks since the financial year-end has continued this trend of improvement. However, we do not expect the quantum of profit improvement of this past year to reoccur in the short term; rather we anticipate we will revert to our normal levels of revenue and profit growth. Mainfreight will release its financial results for the first half of the 2023 financial year to the market on 10 November 2022. Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. 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Related News: BLT - 2022 Annual Shareholder Meeting and Director Nominations IFT - Bond Firm Offer Closed & Interest Rate Set NZL - Market Update 2nd June 2022 Morning Report IFT - Appointment of Andrew Clark as a Director of Infratil AIA - Auckland Airport strengthens leadership team 1st June 2022 Morning Report Synlait forecast milk price update PaySauce FY2022 Full Year Result and Annual Report 31st May 2022 Morning Report Recently, Diego Galicia and Rico Torres, co-chefs and co-owners of San Antonio's vaunted progressive Mexican restaurant Mixtli, received an email from the organizers of a food festival that was slim on logistics. "Hey, we've got 8,000 people coming. They're all super hungry. We're gonna give you a tent and a table," Galicia paraphrases, declining to name the festival. "Some festivals, the asks are so ridiculous, man." Not so for Hot Luck, the Austin food and music festival co-founded by Aaron Franklin in 2017, and which returns this weekend for the first time since 2019. When the Franklin Barbecue owner extended their yearly invite to cook in an open field during Al Fuego, the fest's main event on Saturday, May 28, the pair didn't hesitate to say yes. They know that they'll get taken care of and in turn, the throngs of hungry festival-goers will, too. "Chef Aaron and all the people behind them, they understand restaurants, they understand the demands and the needs that we have," Torres says. "And what it takes to for us to leave the restaurant for a couple of days." Billy Calzada /Staff file photo Between finding chefs ample space and making sure they especially the traveling ones, like Galicia and Torres have the equipment they need to cook the way they know how, the Mixtli folks say that Franklin goes above and beyond. The first year they cooked at Al Fuego, they wanted to roast a whole pig at a Saturday night post-Al Fuego Hawaii-Texas event. Franklin built out a special Caja China for them himself. "He made that for us," Torres says. "Now we're working together for our next one. Aaron's already behind the scenes looking for stuff at the junkyard, the metal yard." The chefs' lips are sealed on exactly what that means, but they promise that it'll be a sight to see, taste and, perhaps touch in the big, flame-filled fields at Wild Onion Ranch. Torres says that the item is something off-menu, but that it'll have those classic Mixtli flavors. Its a secret, Galicia says. Its a little bit of a surprise, Torres chimes in, before elaborating. It'll also have, "a little bit of ... interaction," he says, slyly. "So there'll be a little bit more involvement from the crowd in the stuff that we're doing. And a big show, big picture opportunities." Mike Sutter/Staff The Mixtli chefs relish cooking Al Fuego style, in which Hot Luck attendees bounce from booth to booth to watch chefs cook live, sample their fare, and get to meet the folks behind the flames. Since it's what they do at the restaurant on a regular basis, they don't feel performance anxiety in advance of Saturday's big bash. "We're always in front of people, we're always trying to put on a show, and now it's going to be relaxing because we're among our some of our best friends and some of the best people that really like to eat really good food," Galicia says. "There's no pressure, just excitement." Torres says that Hot Luck is more casual than their normal day-to-day, and that attending as a guest chef actually takes the pressure off the normal restaurant grind. It's also an opportunity for the two chefs, who have been cooking together for almost a decade, to just have fun with one another amid a fun, festive atmosphere. "It's a great chance to enjoy my bond with Rico," Galicia says. "The fact that I get to see friends, I get to spend time with my partner, and I get to see some really excited people that I get to feed. To me, that's the trifecta, man. I couldn't ask for anything else." Mixtli is one of two San Antonio restaurants with chefs heading to Austin this weekend, the other being Jerk Shack's Nicola Blaque. "Our chefs are just as capable as any other chef in any other major city," Blaque told MySA, and the Mixtli owners agree. "I carry the same flag of San Antonio, of speaking about the city and the food we make here, whether it's Austin or Nigeria, Montreal or Portland," Galicia says. "The message travels well it's a very easy to understand message that San Antonio is a pretty serious city when it comes to food." Torres says Hot Luck is an opportunity to spread the gospel of San Antonio cuisine, to show folks in nearby Austin that even if they haven't been down to San Antonio recently, it's waiting for the rest of the world to realize that there is world-class food in the Alamo City. "I think there's always room for a little bit more shouting," he says, "for that message to be said a little louder." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a 20-strong delegation arrived in the Solomon Islands Thursday at the start of an eight-nation tour that comes amid growing concerns about Beijings military and financial ambitions in the South Pacific region. China says the trip builds on a long history of friendly relations between Beijing and the island nations. But Australia scrambled to counter the move by sending its own Foreign Minister Penny Wong to Fiji to shore up support in the Pacific. Wong had been on the job just five days following an Australian election and had just arrived back Wednesday night from a meeting in Tokyo. In Fiji, Wong said it was up to each island nation to decide what partnerships they formed and what agreements they signed, but urged them to consider the benefits of sticking with Australia. Australia will be a partner that doesnt come with strings attached nor imposing unsustainable financial burdens," Wong said. We are a partner that wont erode Pacific priorities or Pacific institutions. Meanwhile, the Media Association of Solomon Islands called on its members to boycott a news conference in the capital, Honiara, held by Wang and his counterpart from the Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele, following a meeting between the pair. That's because only selected media were invited to the event, and the schedule allowed for just a single question to be asked of Wang by China's state-owned broadcaster CCTV. Its a tough call to make regarding the media boycott for the press event on Thursday, wrote association president Georgina Kekea on Twitter. Our protest is for our govt to see our disappointment. They have failed us & they failed to protect #democracy. According to an official Chinese summary of the meeting, Wang told his counterpart that China would firmly support the Solomon Islands in its efforts to maintain national security and territorial integrity, while Manele described the visit as historic and a milestone in the relations between the two countries. China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands last month in a move that sent shock waves around the world. That pact has raised fears that China could send troops to the island nation or even establish a military base there, not far from Australia. The Solomon Islands and China say there are no plans for a base. In another move by China, a draft document obtained by The Associated Press shows that Wang is hoping to strike a deal with 10 small Pacific nations during his visit. The sweeping agreement covers everything from security to fisheries and is seen by at least one Pacific leader as an attempt by Beijing to wrest control of the region. Wang is hoping the countries will endorse the pre-written agreement as part of a joint communique after a May 30 meeting in Fiji with the other foreign ministers. During his 10-day visit, Wang is also planning to make stops in Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor. Earlier, Australia's new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he'd sent Wong to Fiji because Australia needed to step up" its efforts in the Pacific. We need to respond to this because this is China seeking to increase its influence in the region of the world where Australia has been the security partner of choice since the Second World War, he told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that in recent years, exchanges and cooperation between Beijing and the island nations had been expanding in a development that was welcomed by the Pacific countries. Rumors about the gunman and what had taken place spread widely online often with easily debunked evidence or none at all almost immediately after the first official reports about the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Here are three of the most prominent rumors that have spread on online platforms such as Twitter, Gab, 4chan and Reddit. 1. No, the shooting was not a staged false flag operation. Hours after the attack Tuesday, far-right figures spread misinformation claiming that the shooting was a false flag attack. Among their unfounded claims were that the shooting had been orchestrated to draw local law enforcement away from the border, allowing criminals and drugs to cross into the United States, and that gun-control advocates had organized the tragedy to stoke public outrage. Other social media posts alleged that parents shown in news clips awaiting news of their children appeared to be insufficiently emotional and were crisis actors being paid to play a role. The two teachers who were killed were also accused of being crisis actors. Claims of crisis actors and false flags in school shootings are not new: Conspiracy theorist and broadcaster Alex Jones of Infowars has lied for years that the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut, was staged by the federal government, with people pretending to be survivors and victims parents. Last year, Jones lost four defamation lawsuits filed by victims families, many of whom have been harassed by his believers. 2. No, there is no evidence that the gunman was transgender. Hours after the attack, a post on the fringe online message board 4chan circulated claiming that the gunman was transgender. Numerous photographs falsely claiming to show the gunman wearing womens clothing were attached. Authorities have said the gunman was male. The unfounded claims made their way to Telegram channels of far-right militia groups such as the Proud Boys, where people falsely claimed that the shooting was a result of hormone therapy undertaken by the gunman. By Wednesday, the claims that the gunman was transgender had been amplified by high-profile people such as Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., who was censured last year by the House after he posted a video that depicted him killing a Democratic lawmaker. Gosars Twitter post on the matter has been deleted. Photos of dark-haired transgender women circulated alongside images of the gunmans face, accompanied with false accusations that they were the same person. There is an overwhelming number of individuals who are posting images of this person, who was the shooter, and information about the nature of them being transgender, Stacy Washington, host of the SiriusXM show Stacy on the Right, said Tuesday night. She added: We dont have definitive proof, but Id say, this many pictures? My goodness. Theres something going on here. On Tuesday, a transgender artist said on Reddit that people online just took my photos and used it to spread misinformation. After the artist posted other photos as proof, an account on Twitter that discusses gun rights deleted a post that had included the artists photo and apologized. A 22-year-old transgender student living in New York also reported that photos of her were falsely linked to the gunman. She posted photos of herself on Twitter to prove her identity and asked people to stop saying the photos of her were of the gunman. Im very close to crying, she posted at one point. The Trans Safety Network, a research group that monitors threats against the transgender community, said in a statement Wednesday that it had identified photos of three transgender people wrongly linked to the gunman and confirmed that all three were alive. Gosar and Washington did not respond to requests for comment. 3. No, the gunman was not an undocumented immigrant. False claims that the gunman was born outside the U.S. began to circulate within hours of the shooting. Spread largely on white nationalist Telegram channels and Gab accounts, the claims alleged that he was an immigrant in the U.S. illegally, even after authorities including Roland Gutierrez, a Texas state senator, confirmed that the gunman was born in North Dakota. Two Telegram groups with ties to white supremacist figures claimed Wednesday that the gunman had illegally penetrated the country from the Mexican border. The groups, which each have thousands of followers, went on to falsely claim that the gunman was undocumented in the U.S. Did he cross the border illegally? Code of Vets, a veterans organization, posted on Twitter. Our nation has a serious national security crisis evolving. Later, the group added a post noting that the shooter has been confirmed to be a citizen while stating: Mental health must be addressed. Our border must be secured. Gosar also said the gunman had been in the country illegally. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has tested positive for COVID-19, his office said Wednesday, the same day state health officials urged people to wear face mask indoors as case counts steadily rise. At a news conference the state's public health leaders said they weren't issuing mandates but strongly recommending masks be worn indoors in crowded or confined places. This is the time to remind ourselves that this pandemic is not over, said Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah. In a statement, Inslee's office said the Democratic governor tested positive on a rapid antigen test and is experiencing mild symptoms, including a cough. Inslee is working from home and setting up antiviral treatments. Inslee, who aggressively pushed for mitigation measures like indoor masking and restrictions on public gatherings early in the pandemic, is fully vaccinated, including two booster shots. I hope others consider getting their booster because its very effective in preventing serious illness," Inslee said in a statement. The Seattle Times reports as of early May, the state recorded a seven-day infection rate of about 245.3 cases per 100,000 people, or about 2,600 new infections per day. In mid-March, Washingtons infection rate was about 40.4 cases per 100,000. Hospitalizations recently surpassed about six COVID hospital admissions per 100,000, or about 67 new hospitalizations per day up from fewer than two hospitalizations per 100,000 in early April. The states COVID death rate hasnt seen significant changes in recent months, and has consistently been on the decline since late January, according to Department of Health data. Also Wednesday Lt. Gov. Denny Heck announced he tested positive for COVID-19 and was experiencing mild but unpleasant symptoms, similar to a bad head cold. Heck said he, too, was vaccinated and double-boosted. A Jefferson County judge has significantly increased the bond for a teen accused of bringing a gun to school late last year in Southeast Texas. Desmond Baltazar on Wednesday sat before a judge for the first time since his arrest -- just one day after the deadly shooting at a south Texas elementary school that left 21 people dead and others hospitalized. Jefferson County Criminal District Court Judge John B. Stevens Jr. increased Baltazar's bond to $100,000 with conditions for home confinement and a GPS device. "You don't think it is serious apparently but everyone else on the planet does," Stevens said. "You're going to have to get your mind straight. This game you are playing with firearms is irresponsible behavior. Do you understand what I am saying? You will be dealt with severely, seriously. You've got to stop playing with firearms as though they are toys." Stevens said Baltazar was indicted for the unlawfully carrying a weapon in a prohibited place after he was caught carrying a gun at a high school last October. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. "You can imagine how serious that is, especially today after what happened yesterday," Stevens said. Related: Uvalde school shooting: Teen gunman bought AR-15 style rifle day after he turned 18 After Baltazar was released on the first charge, in March he was indicted for a second firearm-related incident -- theft of a firearm. Beaumont police received a report for the theft on Jan. 25. Baltazar originally was being held on a combined $15,000 bond. "You really think this was wise?" Stevens said. "This is serious and we are going to treat it serious. You've been arrested twice now within a short period of time for different firearms -- one, bringing one on a school. You think we are just going to treat that lightly. It's not $5,000. That was an error. And you will be confined at home. You won't leave the house." Related: Port Arthur looks to enforce new juvenile curfew Baltazar's defense attorney asked the judge to reconsider. She said Baltazar's mother made sure he was in court and, keeping the two additional conditions of at-home confinement and the GPS, asked Stevens not to increase the bond past some $20,000. "Your honor I am worried about the safety of the community so we think $100,000 is appropriate," the state's prosecutor responded when prompted by Stevens. The judge said the bond decision was "done" and he continued to have a discussion with the teen about the next steps in the case. "We will take care of the safety of this community from people like you," Stevens said. meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/megzmagpie BRUSSELS (AP) The horrific images and stories tumbling out of Ukrainian towns like Bucha in the wake of the withdrawal of Russian troops bear witness to depravity on a scale recalling the barbarities of Cambodia, the Balkans, World War II. The question now: What to do with this suffering? With disclosures by Ukrainian officials that more than 400 civilian corpses had been discovered, a chorus has resounded at the highest levels of Western political power, calling for accountability, prosecution and punishment. On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the killings as genocide and war crimes, and U.S. President Joe Biden said Vladimir Putin was a war criminal who should be brought to trial. But the path to holding the Russian president and other top leaders criminally responsible is long and complex, international lawyers caution. Certainly, the discovery of bodies which bear signs of executions -- such as gunshot wounds to the head -- presents strong evidence of war crimes, said Clint Williamson, who served as U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues from 2006 to 2009. When victims are found with their hands bound, with blindfolds and bearing signs of torture or sexual assault, an even more compelling case is made. There are no circumstances under which these actions are permitted, whether the victims are civilians or military personnel who had been taken prisoner. ___ This story is part of an ongoing investigation from The Associated Press and Frontline that includes the War Crimes Watch Ukraine interactive experience and an upcoming documentary. ___ There is no reason to believe the Russians will own up to war crimes. Russias Defense Ministry said Sunday that not a single civilian has faced any violent action by the Russian military, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has described the scenes outside Kyiv as a stage-managed anti-Russian provocation. The Associated Press and the PBS series Frontline are tracking evidence of potential war crimes committed during one of the largest conflicts in Europe since the end of World War II. As of Tuesday AP and Frontline journalists have verified 90 incidents that appear to violate international humanitarian law. The War Crimes Watch Ukraine project includes details of apparent targeted attacks as well as indiscriminate destruction of civilian buildings and infrastructure. The AP/Frontline online database will continue to be updated as long as the conflict lasts. The goal is to provide an independent accounting of events, apart from potentially inflated claims by advocates or misinformation spread by state-backed propaganda. The International Criminal Court, which typically prosecutes only a handful of high-level perpetrators, has opened an investigation into atrocities in Ukraine. Ukrainian prosecutors have launched thousands of criminal investigations, while prosecutors in Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, France, Slovakia, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland have opened investigations of their own. And there have been growing calls to set up a special tribunal to try Russia for the crime of aggression in Ukraine. To build a case for war crimes, prosecutors must gather forensic and ballistic evidence, as they would in any murder case, to establish the cause and circumstances of the victims deaths. They also need to show that the crime occurred in the context of an ongoing armed conflict, which is clearly the case of Ukraine. To build a case for crimes against humanity, prosecutors must additionally establish that the crimes were part of widespread, systematic attacks on civilians by, for example, showing patterns of behavior in how people were killed in Bucha, Motyzhyn, Irpin and other towns. Then comes the more difficult task of establishing who is responsible by building a chain of evidence to link the crime scene with top civilian or military leaders. The first link in that chain is often understanding which forces were present when the atrocities occurred and whose command they were under. If you want to look into chains of command and perpetrators, its important to analyze and gather information about which unit is where, said Andreas Schuller, program director for International Crimes and Accountability at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights in Berlin. You need linkage evidence from the entire military apparatus. Documents could be leaked, or witnesses could speak up and disclose internal planning operations. Building a case all the way to the top -- to hold Putin and other leaders individually accountable for war crimes or crimes against humanity -- will be tough, legal experts say. Youve got to prove that they knew or they could have known or should have known, said Philippe Sands, a prominent British lawyer and professor at University College London. Theres a real risk you end up with trials of mid-level people in three years and the main people responsible for this horror -- Putin, Lavrov, the Minister of Defense, the intelligence folks, the military folks and the financiers who are supporting it -- will get off the hook. It would be easier to nab Putin for the crime of aggression -- that is, the act of waging a ruthless, unprovoked war against another country. But the International Criminal Court doesnt have jurisdiction over Russia for the crime of aggression because Russia, like the United States, is not a signatory. In March, dozens of prominent lawyers and politicians, including Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, launched a campaign to create a special tribunal to plug this legal hole and try Russia for the crime of aggression in Ukraine. Negotiations are ongoing over how to actually set up such a tribunal so that it has broad legitimacy, either through an international body like the United Nations or under the auspices of a collection of individual states. The Nuremberg tribunal was established by the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and France to hold Nazi leaders to account after World War II. Sands, who also supports the initiative, said that whatever their legal weight, the images pouring out of Ukraine strengthen the political will needed to hold Russia accountable. You feel something is stirring. And I think I think thats the way the law works. The law does not lead. The law follows, and it follows realities and images and stories, and thats what causes things to happen, he said. The worse the horrors on the ground, the more calls I get about a crime of aggression tribunal, he added. Governments feel intense pressure to do something. But it may take an even bigger political shift to convict Putin in a meaningful way. Trials in absentia are not permitted at the International Criminal Court, and even if a special tribunal were set up that could try Putin in absentia, a trial without a perpetrator present might ring hollow. Im really struggling to see how there is any plausible defense to the evidence we are witnessing, said Alex Batesmith, who served as a United Nations prosecutor in Kosovo and Cambodia and is now a lecturer at the University of Leeds law school. But theres no way on earth Putin will surrender to the ICC or be arrested and brought to the ICC without major cross-continental conflict or internal political shifts in Russia which dont seem plausible. - Editors Note: The AP and Frontline are gathering information from organizations including the Centre for Information Resilience,Bellingcat, the International Partnership on Human Rights, the Ukrainian Healthcare Center and Physicians for Human Rights to inform the War Crimes Watch Ukraine interactive experience. Contact APs investigations team at investigative@ap.org. Larry D. Moore The Georgetown Police Department is investigating two "reported threat situations" at Georgetown High School on Thursday, May 26. "The first involves the report of a firearm on a school bus," the Georgetown PD report reads. Georgetown Police have the water gun and the student possessing it. The second report involves what the department is calling a "hit type list" that was possibly created by two students. That incident is still under investigation and both students are being questioned. UPDATE: Jessica Cisneros said at a press conference Thursday afternoon, May 26, that a final count of "hundreds" of mail-in and provisional ballots won't come in until sometime next week because of Memorial Day weekend. Webb County Elections Office, which is in the 28th Congressional District, confirmed that timeline matches. Wilson County Elections Administrator Olga Marrero also confirmed the timeline and said that all election offices have until next Tuesday, May 31, to procure provisional ballots. It should be noted that Wilson County is no longer in TX-28 after last year's redistricting. Cisneros said it is still too early to tell if a recount is the next step and referred to the 2004 recount called by Rep. Henry Cuellar that led to him turning the lead and beating Ciro Rodriguez. She added that if anyone calls for a recount in this runoff, it could be Cuellar. Cuellar took to Twitter Tuesday night to claim victory but Cisneros said that he hasn't reached out to her or her campaign team personally. "And I think, honestly, it's very irresponsible and kind of insulting for him to disregard the hundreds of votes that are still out there, because those are constituents making their voices heard," Cisneros said. Original story follows below. Jessica Cisneros, the Democratic candidate running for Rep. Henry Cuellar's District 28 seat, says she is still holding out on conceding the race until "every vote is counted." Cisneros tweeted a video saying that her campaign and those that voted for her are "not backing down" because every single vote should count. As of Wednesday night, May 25, runoff election results put Cuellar in the lead with 22,694 votes with Cisneros trailing closely behind with 22,517 votes. Cuellar claimed victory Tuesday night, May 24, in a statement posted to Twitter, saying "all the votes have been tallied." He congratulated Cisneros on her campaign and thanked his supporters. Those supporters came in Webb, Zapata, Starr, and Duval counties, which highly favored Cuellar and carried him to his narrow lead Tuesday night. Cisneros, the young progressive candidate who was endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, says there are still mail-in ballots coming in and provisional ballots that need to be cured. A provisional ballot is provided in Texas when a voter can't present an acceptable form of ID. After filling out a Notice of Provisional Voter, that person must present proper ID to the elections office within six days. "Henry Cuellar is the only one calling this race for himself. No one else has because this race is super close," Cisneros says. Billy Calzada, Staff / Staff photographer She is encouraging those whose mail-in ballots were postmarked on May 24 to track their whereabouts on the state's elections website. If mail-in ballots have been rejected Cisneros says to call her campaign's voter protection hotline at 956-413-7752. Cisneros has made no mention of a recount. Cuellar took the lead being backed by establishment Democrats like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Jim Clyburn. But the 17-year U.S. representative has been under criticism amid the election for anti-abortion stance and an ongoing FBI investigation. MySA reached out to Cuellar's office for comment. San Antonio joined for a vigil of solidarity, silence, and prayer for the victims, families, and community in Uvalde on Wednesday, May 25, outside Main Plaza. After an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary on Tuesday, May 24, city leaders called for unity behind the community 80 miles west of San Antonio. The vigil was held on the same evening with gatherings across Central Texas including Austin and Uvalde. President Joe Biden is expected to visit the area in the coming days. Zeke MacCormack /Staff A Texas school district will shut down all campuses Thursday, May 26, and Friday, May 27, after a mass shooting threat was reported to the police. Donna Independent School District announced on its Facebook page that it has decided to close all schools in light of recent events and out of an abundance of caution. The district, which is in the Rio Grande Valley area near McAllen, stated the safety of its staff and students are its main priority. According to The Monitor, an AK-47 and a list of targeted students were found by law enforcement officers in the home of one of the suspects. Radler goes on to speak about Hitler, and now adds that the disease is not just pluralism and humanism, but also feminism and that Hitler was absolutely right by Jonathan Ofir Yesterday, Israeli Channel 13 aired video recordings by rabbi educators at the state-sponsored military prep-academy Bnei David in the West Bank settlement of Eli. The rabbis hail Hitlers Nazi racist ideology as 100% correct, only criticizing it for not being applied to the right people that is, the Jews should be the master-race, and non-Jews the untermenschen. The statements are jaw-droppers. The full coverage with subtitles can be seen in a video prepared by journalist David Sheen. ___ David Sheen has subtitled the Israeli Channel 13 coverage concerning the rabbis at the Eli military-preparatory college, who endorse Hitler and the Nazi ideology (only they think it should be applied in Jewish favour against non-Jews). It is important to emphasize, as is also noted in the coverage: this is not a fringe, these things have been repeated for years, these people are now connected to the future government, to the education ministry no less. ___ These educators send young men to the army and have been advocating these ideas for years. They have close ties to lawmakers, specifically to Rabbi Rafi Peretz, now head of the Union of Right-Wing Parties, the notorious merger with the Kahanist party Jewish Power, who is now the leading candidate for Minister of Education. The academy is also tied to a Yeshiva, to which many students come after their military service. Slavery should return It starts out with Rabbi Eliezer Kashtiel, who bemoans that slavery has been abolished: Abolishing legal slavery has created deficiencies. No one is responsible for that property. With Gods help it will return. The goyim(non-Jews) will want to be our slaves. Being a slave of the Jews is the best. They must be slaves, they want to be slaves. Instead of just wandering the streets, being foolish and harming each other, now hes a slave, now his life is beginning to come into order. The goyim in this context is to be understood as Palestinians. He says its because they have genetic problems, and posits that they want to be under occupation: There are around us people with genetic problems. Ask any average Arab where he wants to be. He wants to be under occupation. Why? Because they have genetic problems, they dont know how to run a country, they dont know how to do anything look at the state of them. Yes, we are racists Of course there is racism, Kashtiel continues. Are we unaware that there are different races? Is it a secret? Is it untrue? What can you do? Its true. Yes, we are racists, we believe in racism. Kashtiel suggests that because Jews are a superior race, they can help the inferior ones: Correct, there are races in the world, nations have genetic characteristics, so we [the Jews] must consider how to help them. Racial differences are real, and thats precisely a reason to offer help. A student asks the rabbi: Who put you to decide who is who? Kashtiel: I can see that my accomplishments are much more impressive than his. The Holocaust is humanism and pluralism Another rabbi, Giora Radler, says that the Holocaust is not what you think, its not about killing Jews. It is humanism and pluralism that is killing us for real: The Holocaust for real is not about the killing of Jews thats not the Holocaust. All of these excuses claiming that it was based on ideology or that it was systematic, this is ridiculous. Because it was based on ideology, to a certain extent, makes it more moral than if people murdered people for no reason. Humanism, all the secular culture about us believing in the human, thats the Holocaust. The Holocaust, for real, is being pluralist, believing in I believe in the human. Thats whats called a Holocaust. The Lord (blessed be his name) is already shouting for many years that the [Jewish] exile is over, but people dont listen to him, and that is their disease, a disease which needs to be cured by the Holocaust. In other words, the Holocaust was there to teach Jews a lesson drop pluralism, isolate yourself in the Jewish State and let go of the diaspora illness. These remarks were made in a lesson titled relating to the Holocaust. The Nazi logic was right Radler: The Nazi logic was right unto themselves. Hitler says that a certain group in society is the seed of all calamity for all humanity, that because of it all of mankind will go to oblivion, that they harm humanity, and therefore must be exterminated. Radler asks a student: Does this ideology sound illogical to you? Very bad? Student answers: It doesnt sound moral. Radler: Was Moses as bad as Hitler? Student: No. Radler: Why not? There is one thing in the world that is truly evil and that is to be a hypocrite. Does it make a difference to you if they killed you now with a knife the way they did to Agag [the Amalekite king whom the prophet Samuel hacked in pieces] or if they kill you in a gas chamber? Hitler was right, 100% correct Radler goes on to speak about Hitler, and now adds that the disease is not just pluralism and humanism, but also feminism and that Hitler was absolutely right: Lets start with the question whether Hitler was right or not. Student: Not. Radler: [Hitler] is the most righteous person. Of course he is right in every word he utters. In his ideology he is right. There is a male world which fights, which deals with honor and the brotherhood of soldiers. And there is the soft, ethical feminine world [which speaks of] turning the other cheek. And we [Nazis] believe that the Jews carry on this heritage, trying, in our words, to spoil the whole of humanity, and thats why they are the real enemy. Now, he [Hitler] is 100% correct, aside from the fact that he was on the wrong side. So here, Radler was emulating Hitler, mouthing Nazi arguments approvingly. The only fault of the Nazis, per Radler, was that they didnt know who the real master race was, and who the real untermenschen were. The Nazis couldnt be right, because only Jews could be the superior ones. But if Jews now apply this race theory and ideology currently that is, essentially upon Palestinians, then they would really be 100% correct maybe even 101%, because they got it even more right than Hitler. Responses This is a big mouthful. Real Judeo-Nazism. The rabbis were contacted for response and tried to whitewash the whole thing as a misunderstanding. Rabbi Kashtiel said that he was sorry and at pain that a class on human rights got the opposite exposure to what it means, a modern-socialist understanding of slavery. Rabbi Radler said that his words were taken out of context and that the lesson about the Holocaust seeks to explain the sick logic of Hitler as well as the reasons and motives for the Holocaust. Israeli-Palestinian lawmaker Ahmad Tibi responded to the airing: In German it would have sounded more authentic. Of course, Zionist Israeli politicians were also alarmed. Centrist lawmaker Yair Lapid wrote on Twitter: This is not Judaism. These are not values. People who speak like this are not worthy of educating youths. Lapid called for halting the state financing of the Yeshiva until the racist rabbis are expelled. But theres a problem here, because Lapids own ideology is about maximum Jews on maximum land with maximum security and with minimum Palestinians, and although Lapid points out now that secular people established Israel, really, his religion is the ultra-nationalist Zionism, and he is just a slightly prettier face of that Judeo-Nazism we see emanating from Bnei David. Leftist Meretz leader Tamar Zandberg: The Eli academy should have been closed long ago, and whoever let the chauvinism, homophobia and all the rest of the hate which comes out of there to continue the madness, should not be surprised by the horrible expressions which came out of there today. Zandberg said she applied to the education ministry to stop funding the academy. But the Eli Yeshiva and academy are now closely tied with the government. It was the Yeshiva head rabbi Eli Sadan, who campaigned for Rafi Peretz to become head of the Union of Right Wing Parties, now the top candidate for Minister of Education. Peretz was allowed to speak to the students there before the elections, even as Naftali Bennett (who until now has been Minister of Education) and Prime Minister Netanyahu were refused. In other words, there is a whole political reality that is even more radical than both Netanyahu and even Bennett, who was considered extreme-right, one that really does speak of Jewish power, in an overtly fascist, literally Nazi, vein. And this ideology is poised to gain a central place in the Israeli government. Not a slip of the tongue As the Channel 13 coverage also notes, what we have heard here is no slip of the tongue: These statements have been repeated again for years at Bnei David. Not a slip of the tongue, but a set agenda. And Bnei David is not an isolated island. A similar story of a genocidal educator of security forces is rabbi Dov Lior from the settlement Kiryat Arba, who endorsed the book Torat Hamelech (Kings Torah) of 2009, which advocates the killing of non-Jewish babies since it is clear they will grow to harm us. Lior has been teaching police forces in a special program for religious recruits called Believers in the Police. The authors of the book, by the way, are from the Od Yosef Chai Yesiva in the settlement of Yitzhar, a Yeshiva that received funds from Jared Kushners familys foundation until 2011. Views of the Holocaust as a divine punishment for sinners have been expressed by the former chief Sephardic rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who also believed that the purpose of non-Jews is to serve Jews, and he likened non-Jews to donkeys. It is possible that the above mentioned airing of shocking views may cause a certain temporary and local stir, but this ideology is deeply embedded, and now an integral part of a central Israeli political reality. It is clear that the rabbis treat this attention as a nuisance by liberals who have no understanding, and it is likely that they will regard this as an unfortunate Azarya like the soldier medic who was filmed murdering an incapacitated Palestinian at point blank range three years ago and had to spend some months in prison. The problem for Azaryas supporters wasnt the murder but the video. And so these people may find ways to crawl out of this debacle, but they will continue believing in the righteousness of their Jewish supremacy. Jonathan Ofir: Israeli musician, conductor and blogger /writer based in Denmark. ALLISON DINNER/AFP via Getty Images After 19 children and at least two adults were killed in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on Tuesday, May 24, one local funeral home has announced they will be providing services free of charge to victims and their families. Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home located in Uvalde, about 80 miles west of San Antonio, announced the news in a post on their Facebook page on Tuesday evening. "We have fought together as a community and we will pull together as one now in our time of need. Hillcrest will be assisting families with NO COST for funerals for all involved in todays horrific events. Prayer for our small amazing town. #UvaldeStrong," the family-run business wrote. During a press conference on Wednesday, May 25, Gov. Greg Abbott and other state officials called for a focus on access to mental health care in small towns like Uvalde, where an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school, while wounding 17 others. Abbott said that the shooter had no known mental health history." Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke interrupted the press conference to lay the blame on Abbott because of inaction, saying Texas ranked No. 50 in the nation when it comes to mental health in an apparent reference to a report that came out in 2020. An updated report currently puts Texas at No. 33 for adults with mental illness and access to health care, according to that now updated report. However, Texas ranks lower at No. 41 when it comes to youth with mental illness. When it comes to overall access to mental health care, Texas ranks dead last at No. 51 (the District of Columbia is included with the 50 states in the rankings). For the 2022 fiscal year, Texas' reduced its general revenue fund contributions to adult, children, and crisis Community Mental Health Services provided through Health and Human Services by $237,163. However, Community Mental Health Grant programs saw increased funding of $2,910,409. For the same budget period, federal funding increased by $41,103,876. The Texas House voted down a proposal last April that would have used billions in federal funding to expand Medicaid to some of Texas estimated 5 million uninsured residents and conceivably improved access to mental health care. Only 9.7% of adults with mental illness reported having access to Medicaid in 2018 and 2019, compared to 21.6% of adults nationwide, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Medicaid covers most mental health treatments. There were 3.3 million adults who reported having a mental illness in Texas, and 59.6%, or 1,960,000, of that figure did not receive treatment, according to a 2021 Mental Health America ranking. From 2018 through 2019, 69.8% (1,268,000) of adults with mild mental illness in Texas did not receive care, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. For adults with serious mental illness in the same time period, 44.7% (375,000) of those adults in Texas did not receive care. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News Breaking down barriers Uvalde residents have access to mental health services through Community Health Development Inc., which also serves Real, Edwards, and Zavala counties. CEO Mayela Castanon says that CHDI receives Health Resources & Services Administration grants from the state, as well as funding from the city and Uvalde County for indigent health care. Real, Edwards, and Zavala counties do not contribute to the organization, she says, and there is only a single psychiatrist and one licensed clinical social worker for the four counties a total population of 38,527 according to 2021 Census estimates. The city of Uvalde has contributed $65,000 to CHDI annually for the past five fiscal years, according to its recent budget. Uvalde County budgeted $2.7 million to indigent health services in the 2021 fiscal year, but it was not immediately clear how much of that went to the organization. CHDI posted to Facebook on Wednesday to announce plans to provide grief counseling for families impacted by the shooting. Castanon says other mental health professionals are coming in from surrounding areas to lend their services. Over the next two months mental health services will be accessible to everyone in the community, with no immediate plans to charge for services for the grieving community, she says. "I just want to make sure that we break down all barriers and make it available to whoever needs it," Castanon says. "Regardless of income, insurance, anything all we want to do is provide the services to the community." CHDI offers mental health services, including counseling, clinical assessments, therapy, medication management, and on-site pharmacy services, as well as in-person and virtual visits. All of these services are offered with a "Sliding Fee Discount" available to families earning less than 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines, which is based on family sizes ranging from 1-8 and with incomes ranging from $13,590-$46,630. In Uvalde, the 2020 median household income was $45,936, while median income for individuals was $21,036, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. July 2021 census data estimates Uvalde is 72.7% Hispanic or Latino. Patients needing services must provide a drivers license or official ID card and either: their last four payroll check stubs; their most current tax return if self-employed; proof of residence such as a utility bill; insurance card or proof of Medicare or Medicaid if available. The typical minimum fee is $20 for mental health services, according to Castanon. For immigrants or residents without an ID, access to that discount or other mental health services could prove difficult. Castanon says for those without ID or proof of income, they have a self-certification process where those in need can claim their income and identity. Castanon says CHDI is unaware of whether or not any of their patients are living in the country without legal permission because the organization doesn't specifically request that information. Yves here. Khannas proposal for the left to challenge the rights appropriation of the word freedom is overdue. Sadly, the fact that this is taking place only now reflects the conviction that the sort of New Deal values that were once dead in the center of American politics were so obviously correct and sound that they didnt need defending. Even as the resurgent right went from strength to strength in the Reagan era, many mainstream Dems, seeing young technocrats as the future and labor as sclerotic, were happy to ride in their slipstream. And unions acted like victimized spouses, unable to stop the abuse, yet unwilling to leave. By Ro Khanna. Originally published at openDemocracy Ro Khanna represents Silicon Valley in the US House of Representatives. He is the deputy whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and was formerly the co-chair of Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign. What follows is an excerpt from Chapter 5 of Khannas new book Dignity in a Digital Age, where he outlines a vision for distributing the gains of the digital economy across the US. Khanna is also featured in the openDemocracy documentary series US Progressives on a Knife Edge. The grand promise of the digital age is the possibility of aligning the aims of political justice with economic growth. Our nation has created unprecedented wealth in recent decades, and now can invest in the development of substantive freedoms for every American to foster even greater prosperity over the long term. Amartya Sen coined this phrase, substantive freedom, to mean our capability to lead a life we have reason to value. Different people will have different life missions and will value things differently. Sens philosophy acknowledges that, and his key point is that each of us should have the freedom to pursue the life we envision. To that end, even if we may have different conceptions of the good life, Sen argues there are some basic capabilities that everyone needs to develop to be able to pursue their ends. Ensuring that someone can develop those basic capabilities is to ensure that they have substantive freedoms. Sens thinking echoes Franklin Roosevelts famous expansion of the American conception of freedom. As FDR put it, true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. FDRs Economic Bill of Rights called for the right to medical care, education, adequate food, and a job, and it is a vision for the type of social development necessary to increase the freedom of ordinary Americans. The frame of enhancing freedom is important. It is mind-boggling to me that progressives have allowed conservatives to appropriate freedom as their constant theme. Conservatives claim to stand up for the freedoms of Americans, but their vision is, by their own admission, limited to restricting state action. Its freedom from excessive government regulations and interference but it is silent about the most pressing economic and social constraints that Americans face every day. And these too are questions of freedom. Think of the contract worker whose schedule is non-negotiable and changed at a whim, who has no bargaining power, no health care, no paid time off. Is this freedom? Progressives have the opportunity to reclaim a more developed concept of freedom, one that reflects the full texture of American life in the digital age. We are for freedom, not just from state overreach, but also freedom to live up to ones potential. At present, we often defend our policies by appealing to fairness. While a fundamental principle, it needs to be married to the rallying cry of freedom. We often rail against billionaires becoming exponentially richer while the working class falls behind. Some start to believe we are for redistribution for redistributions sake. But that is not true. The animating spirit behind many progressive policies is the aim of nurturing the freedom of every American to succeed. We want people to have health care so they can be free to pursue their dreams. We want them to have a quality education so they can be free to explore interesting jobs. We want them to be well nourished so they can be free to study and work hard. Grounding our policies as supporting, instead of curtailing, American freedom is not just true to our goals and beliefs, it will help us win over skeptics to our cause. Our policies are also pro-growth. They will lead to an increase in national economic output. Amartya Sen, who rejects GDP as our north star, observes that public investments in health care and education create a more productive workforce and lead to long-term prosperity. Similarly, Gary Becker, a champion of free markets, observes that in the technology era, a nations economic success depends on how extensively and effectively people invest in themselves. He said that the fuel for modern economic growth are investments in schooling, on-the-job training, health, information, and research and development. In fact, Becker argued that human capital, which is the knowledge, information, ideas, skills, and health of individuals, is over 70% of the total capital in the United States. Sometimes, people wonder how I graduated with an economics degree from the University of Chicago and taught economics at Stanford, yet advocate for bold, progressive policies. They dont mean it as a compliment. If Im looking for a jab, I provoke them further by pointing out that Bernie Sanders is a product of the University of Chicago! But my substantive answer to critics is that they have not carefully studied the work of economists and scholars like Gary Becker, one of the pioneers of Chicagos school of economics. This is not to imply that Becker, whom I interacted with as an undergraduate, would endorse any of my proposals. But he would certainly recognize nations that cultivate more educated and healthier populations grow faster in the digital age. This book, thus far, has focused on extending high-technology ecosystems with good jobs to communities left behind to foster dignity and economic growth. I devoted outsized attention to the jobs problem because it is one of the most visible causes of contemporary alienation and despair. Sen himself holds that the lack of a good job is an infringement on a persons substantive freedom. He argues that jobless people face social exclusion and do not have choices about how to make a contribution to their family or community. Unemployment, moreover, hurts economic growth because of a wastage of productive power, since a part of the national output is not realized. Sens focus on employment is echoed by philosopher Martha Nussbaum, who sees being able to work as a human being as necessary for a meaningful life. It would be a mistake, however, to think that good jobs policy is sufficient to overcome the stark barriers to opportunity in our society. Even if we make jobs programs available in places like Jefferson, Iowa, and Clarksdale, Mississippi, we still need an educated and healthy population to take advantage of those opportunities. Sen suggests that every society should deliberate through the democratic process to craft a list of capabilities what is needed to achieve our life goals. Nussbaum argues that societies can debate the amount of resources to provide for cultivating each capability, but they should guarantee, as essential to promoting dignity, health care, education, nourishment, and a means of generating income. Influenced by Sens and Nussbaums work, my argument is that advancing substantive freedoms requires foundational investments. The central aspiration of progressive capitalism is to cultivate the potential of every American. One part of that entails a widely distributed, well- paying job market that allows them to make use of their talents. An equally important part entails developing the capabilities that will allow Americans to do those jobs and pursue their larger life goals. All Americans should have the opportunity to flourish through their participation in our economy, if they seek that, instead of being confined to look for fulfillment outside of it. Yves here. The $1 trillion estimate for ending EU dependence on Russian energy, which admittedly is to be spent over a period of years, nevertheless indicates that if the EU goes full steam ahead, its not going to have a lot left over for things like maintaining social safety nets, let alone also militarizing. Of course they may be expecting the US to pay for that. But even the New York Times editorial board has said there are limits to how much Ukraine can expect from us. And thats before getting to the question of operational capacity. Who exactly is driving this bus? And how many EU member states have a good track record with large scale infrastructure project. I understand France has a good contracting regime. Is its performance typical? By Rystad Energy, an independent oil and gas consulting services and business intelligence data firm offering global databases, strategy consulting and research products. Originally published at OilPrice The EUs ambitious plan to reduce its dependency on Russian fossil fuels is going to require at least 1 trillion in investment. In order to achieve the goals they have set out, the EU will require wartime levels of investment, construction, and production. The EU is already working to speed up the permitting process to ensure that new solar and wind projects can be brought online in time. The European Unions REPowerEU seeks to reduce the European Unions dependency on Russian fossil fuels and accelerate the transition away from carbon-intensive energy sources. The European Commissions cost estimate, however, may fall short as Rystad Energy analysis suggests the plan will require at least 1 trillion in investment to meet the core objective of increasing renewable generation from 40% to 45% of total energy supply by 2030. Additional investment will be required to meet targets, including grid and battery storage developments to ensure a stable supply of energy as the whole European power system will need to be restructured. While the plan defines different angles to tackle the current crisis, the most detailed section outlines the roadmap for solar PV. The strategy aims to bring 320 gigawatts (GW) of solar PV online by 2025 and almost 600 GW by 2030, aiming to displace 9 billion cubic meters (Bcm) of gas demand. Europe currently has around 189 GW of installed solar PV capacity, meaning 131 GW need to be installed by the middle of the decade, or an equivalent of 44 GW per year. This would mean almost doubling the installation rate, which was 24 GW in 2021 and is expected to be 29 GW this year. To reach the targeted 600 GW by 2030, around 56 GW of new solar PV capacity would need to be installed during the following five years. Assuming an average cost for solar PV of 1.1 million per megawatt (MW) of installed capacity, installing 411 GW between now and 2030 would represent an investment of 452 billion. Reaching 45% renewable energy supply by 2030 additionally requires significant investments in wind capacity for which the plan does not have a lot of detail. Rystad Energys estimates suggest another 450-490 GW of wind capacity would need to be installed by 2030 to reach the target of 45% renewable energy supply, requiring an additional 820 billion in investments. Such a transition will require huge investments but thus far the European Commission has been unclear about the total amounts allocated to achieve its goals. Recent announcements and communications mention that 225 billion is already available in loans and that an additional investment of 300 billion could be needed by 2030. Regardless of the total amount being assigned to new renewable energy developments, the figures seem to fall considerably below the required additional investment needed in power transmission, storage, gas infrastructure, and hydrogen production. Furthermore, such a large demand for new capacity will put additional pressure on the supply chain for solar panel and wind turbine manufacturing and could lead to a further increase in costs for these technologies. The ambition of the REPowerEU plan is huge. Power companies and energy markets will be looking for details on investments and infrastructure. While the targets are achievable, it will require wartime-like planning, levels of investment, construction, and production to meet goals by 2030, says Carlos Torres Diaz, head of power research at Rystad Energy. Targets Breakdown The EU has identified six key areas to reach REPowerEU targets: Smart investment Tackle slow and complex permitting for major renewable projects Saving energy Increase binding energy efficiency targets from 9% to 13% Cut gas and oil demand by 5% through behavioral changes Diversifying fossil fuels supplies Develop a joint purchasing mechanism to negotiate gas purchases Develop major hydrogen corridors in the Mediterranean and the North Sea Accelerating the rollout of renewable energy Increase the target for renewables from 40% to 45% of total energy supply by 2030 Double solar PV capacity by 2025 and reach 600 GW of installed capacity by 2030 Double the rate of heat pump deployment Eliminate red tape for renewable energy project permitting Produce 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen and import an additional 10 million tonnes by 2030 Reducing fossil fuel consumption in industry and transport Reduce natural gas consumption from the industrial sector by an additional 35 Bcm by 2030 by using renewable hydrogen, biogas, and biomethane Reducing Red Tape REPowerEU acknowledged the need to address the bottlenecks in the permitting process. Currently, a wind energy permit could take up to nine years. To address this issue, the Commission put forward a new legislative proposal on renewables permitting based on three things: It will declare that renewables are presumed to be in overriding public interest. That would ensure renewable energy projects are prioritized, especially in the current scenario and until climate neutrality is reached. The proposal also urges nations to create so-called, go-to areas. These areas are to be set following an environment assessment (declaring that renewables projects are not a direct threat to the environment). Projects in these areas would need to be permitted within one year. The Commission also plans to keep existing permitting deadlines (i.e., two years) for the normal new projects and one year for repowered projects. Speeding up the permitting process is crucial for the European Union to be able to meet its ambitious targets. Yves here. Tom Neuberger is correct to point out that the current level of Team Us versus Team Them is manufactured but he is oddly loath to use the word propaganda. The go-to book on this topic, which is regularly cited by those who have read it as better than Walter Lippmanns Public Opinion, is Alex Careys Taking the Risk Out of Democracy. Carey explains how Americans are particularly susceptible to propaganda due to our undue respect for wealth and commercial success compared to other civic and personal virtues. The earliest and for decades most effective propagandist in the US was the National Association of Manufacturers. Among other things, NAM identified free enterprise with Americas values, and presented corporate efficiency and profits as consistent with the general good, as opposed to benefiting the rich. Another factor that has greatly contributed to polarization is the long-term campaign, turbocharged in the late 1960s-early 1970s, to move Americas value to the right. A centerpiece was to attack government as inefficient and untrustworthy, and individuals as the only sensible locus of power and decision-making. Of course, atomized individuals, excerpt for the very wealthy ones, are powerless. Media fragmentation, the rise of what in its early days was called narrowcasting and big tech and media firms greatly improving their ability to improve engagement, stir emotions, and hone messaging, have also helped fracture society and politics. By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at Gods Spies No established democracy in recent history has been as deeply polarized as the U.S. Yascha Mounk Its almost a commonplace to say that Americans are politically polarized. At each others throats would be more accurate. A recent study from the Carnegie Endowment has no surprise found as much. (See What Happens When Democracies Become Perniciously Polarized?) From their report: The rise of an us versus them mindset and political identity in American sociopolitical life is evident in everything from the rise of highly partisan media to the decline in Americans willingness to marry someone from the opposing political party. Even more concerningly, these dynamics are contributing directly to a steep rise in political violence. Again, no surprise. The articles scary conclusion: Placing the United States struggles with pernicious polarization in a broader context yields a deeply troubling picture. Reducing the threat of pernicious polarization to democracy requires deliberate, urgent action. Or, as this research suggests, American democracy itself may cease to be. This observation is both very troubling and, as I said, a commonplace. We live indeed at a time when everything new is old again, a time thats tucked between the start of a world-historical collapse and stories about it that sound too old to be new. Writers in the serious world are taking note, of course, even if others arent. Witness this piece by Yascha Mounk in The Atlantic, which leads him to conclude, No established democracy in recent history has been as deeply polarized as the U.S. Once more, no surprise to anyone living here, or indeed, to anyone living in range of competent news. The Cause of Our Current State The cause of our fall to this state, however, is harder to discern, at least according to the mainstreamers at Carnegie or The Atlantic. Mounk, for example, handles the causes this way: But if many citizens come to believe that letting the other side rule poses a threat to their well-being, even their lives, they may no longer be willing to accept the outcome of an election they lose. Apparently, citizens just come to believe that Republicans or Democrats are existential threats to life, or democracy, or both. Many politicians, indeed, are threats to both life and democracy, but our fellow citizens too? Are they also to be hated and feared? Apparently so, according to this far-right pastor: Weve also been exposed to similar invectives on the left, from people who have said both publicly and privately that Trump voters are Putin lovers, or that anti-maskers and -vaxxers deserve what they get. As an example of the former, consider this from a recent Newsweek: While a significant majority of Americans agree that Russias invasion of Ukraine was not justified, Republicans are more likely to hold an unfavorable view of President Joe Biden than they are of Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a new poll. Im not arguing the yes or no of that statement; Im pointing out that Newsweek, a liberal establishment publication, decided to print it. The implication is clear Republican voters love Putin. As an example of the latter, the anti-vaxxer animus, Howard Stern has been as clear as anyone, and echoes the sentiments of many who say the same thing less publicly: Howard Stern said on the Jan. 19 [2022] episode of his Sirius XM radio show The Howard Stern Show that hospitals across the U.S. should not admit patients who are unvaccinated against COVID (via Uproxx). Stern has often used his radio show to speak out against anti-vaxxers, but he was more blunt than ever when he told listeners this week, If it was up to me, anyone unvaccinated would not be admitted to a hospital. At this point, they have been given plenty of opportunity to get the vaccine. Its time for you to get it [the vaccine]. Now, if you dont get it, in my America, all hospitals would be closed to you. Youre going to go home and die. That is what you should get. Absolutely. Again, hes not talking about the well-bought leaders of the Republican Party. Hes talking about their voters all of them. Howard Stern is not paid to say this (though Newsweek may be in a much more subtle way), any more than the preacher linked to above is paid to speak his anti-Democrat wisdom with such force. So where does these invectives come from? Are they just in the air? Johnny Mack Brown and the Great American Mob In fact, these ideas are just in the air, if by the air we mean the air we listen to. Consider the old-time Westerns, the ones with Tex Ritter, Hopalong Cassidy and Johnny Mack Brown. Johnny Mack Brown in Rogue of the Range (1936) In many of these shows theres a scene where a mob of angry townspeople gather outside the jail calling for the hanging death of some usually innocent prisoner caged inside. The mob is always large and exceptionally mean. Their anger is palpable and universal. Then the sheriff, the movies hero or someone allied with him, would go outside to deal with the threat. Would he accuse them all of wickedness and threaten to take their own lives if they attack? Sometimes. But mostly he picks the mob apart. Sara, hed say to one woman. You came to this valley poor, and now you and Jim her husband, standing beside her are good and decent folk. Do you really want to go outside the law, the law that keeps this valley safe for you and your kids? Sara (and Jim) would look down, ashamed, and back away from the others. One by one, the sheriff would isolate members of the mob, peel its parts away, until only a few, the mobs true leaders and its angry core, remained. Not enough people to actually storm the jail, not with the deputy inside, the one with the shotgun. The mob was beaten and the threat is gone. Most mobs are like this a few instigators, people who will never let go of the cause, surrounded by many who are far less committed than they, but momentarily caught up, swollen by the atmospheric anger of the rest. Remove that atmosphere and most people will return to normal exactly the right word, since normalize to groups is what human beings do best. Its why, in fact, we survived as long as we have. Rugged individuals die alone. Groups, united by a common culture and mind, breed and live on, however strange that mind may appear to a neighboring tribe caught up in its own group thought. The Evil That Men Do This leads to two ideas. The first is that we all the lefties and the right should treat the opposite mob as teachable, not intractable; as fixable, not fixed. Farmer Sara in the example above was screaming for violent death, a hanging death, until she wasnt, until she normalized to a different group the towns mind, not the mobs. Or, to say it differently, she came to her senses. In 2016 there are many stories of angry, change-seeking voters not sure whether to cast a Trump ballot or a Sanders one in states with open primaries. Not all Trumpists are, at their core, like the worst; just as not all Democrats (or liberals) are, at their core, like the ones satirized in the Phil Ochs song: Each of us lives on a line that contains our worst and best selves. And most of us move along it, from better to bad and back, embarrassingly often. Almost no one is cemented permanently to her worst presentation. For the left, this means that treating the 47% of the country that voted for Trump as racist lost-cause fools is not only wrong, its also itself a self-fulfilling lost-cause prophecy. Manufactured Anger But the second idea that leads from our mob analogy is even more important, since it answers the question, How did we get this way? The fact is, were as divided as we are because the division is funded and manufactured. Liberal voters are told from dawn to dusk by their well-paid, in-house media that the other side is, in a word, evil, though the accusation, as befits that crowd, is much more cleverly put. (See the Newsweek article above for a small example; watch MSNBC at any hour of the day for a larger one.) Similar examples from the right or worse ones yet are endlessly available: In fact, the American Right has financed a decades-long project has been doing so, in fact, for almost 50 years to make sure that Farmer Sara and her husband not only stay with the mob, but are emotionally rewarded daily for doing so. Put simply, our mobs are manufactured, especially the ones on the Right (though liberals are catching up), and the output of that manufacturing is, as noted above, the reason the country will fail. As things stands today, the country is becoming ungovernable, except in the rich rule us all sense that oligarchies always share. Its certainly ungovernable by the people, and has been for a while. Our participation in these manufactured mobs ensures that the blame for this falls, not on the manufacturers where it truly belongs, but on the mobs themselves, gathered precisely to scream distracted in each others face. As long as those mobs exist, and as long the rich that swell the ranks of each are allowed to inflame us all against us all, for just that long will democracy fail in America, and we will be the cause. To escape the rich, we must escape their mobs, and encourage others to escape them with us. My Nashville Post role has evolved since 2000 when I joined the now-defunct The City Paper. TCP became a Post sister publication in 2008 (when I began doing some Post work) and folded in 2013. I have been managing editor of the Post since late 2011. Follow William Williams 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 year the state legislature took aim at vaccine mandates, pandemic restrictions and doctors who prescribe the abortion pill while giving an inch on cannabis and a mile to ivermectin. People can more easily obtain ivermectin,a drug typically used to treat parasites in animals, which has not been FDA approved to treat COVID-19, thanks to SB 2188. This legislation authorizes pharmacists to provide ivermectin to a patient and prevents disciplinary action for pharmacists or prescribers who distribute the drug. Many places cannot require proof of vaccination, due to new laws. One law stops governmental entities from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter their offices. Another prohibits the governor or any state agency from issuing an order requiring a person to be vaccinated against COVID-19. That bill also adds COVID-19 to the list of immunizations that schoolchildren and college students can be exempt from with a written statement indicating that it conflicts with their religious beliefs. Similarly, HB 1403 adds preschools, child care facilities and the like to the list of places that must accept religious exemptions in lieu of vaccinations. That said, even with the new restrictions on vaccination requirements, now dentists can administer a COVID-19 vaccination if they receive appropriate training. Acquired immunity was equated with vaccinated immunity in SB1982, which allows those who have been sick with COVID-19 to get out of a vaccine mandate with a note from a doctor or an antibody test. Another bill makes it so churches and religious organizations worship services cant be stopped by local or state governments during a state of emergency or natural disaster. Legislators have also curbed the reach of pandemic restrictions, limiting the powers of local governments. SB 9013 grants the governor exclusive jurisdiction on issuing orders to county health departments during a pandemic, and local governments cant contradict or refuse to comply. It also transfers authority to mayors rather than county health officers to order regulations to protect health and safety. Abortion entered the conversation, though not much changed. HB 2416 adds consequences for doctors who prescribe abortion pills via telemedicine, which was already illegal. It also adds additional requirements for the abortion process and the threat of a felony charge for physicians if they are not followed correctly. Those with quadriplegia can now obtain cannabis with a THC content of 0.9 percent or lower from other states, due to the passage of SB 1877. The condition is added to a list of other conditions permitting cannabis usage, including Alzheimers disease, certain types of cancer and Parkinsons disease. (Natural News) Although the mainstream media and Big Pharma have been working hard to keep medical professionals and injured patients from talking about the negative effects of Covid vaccines, we are starting to hear more and more about these cases as their numbers grow too big to ignore. As many feared when these jabs were rushed to the market largely untested, it is only as time passes that some of the effects become more obvious. One example is the case of a 12-year-old girl who participated in Pfizers pre-release safety study. In a presentation of families who have been injured by Covid vaccines by Senator Ron Johnson, Maddie de Garays mother said she is now confined to a wheelchair as a result of getting the jab. In addition to suffering from permanent brain damage and requiring tube feeding, she has been experiencing recurrent seizures. To add insult to injury, on Maddies safety evaluation that was submitted to the FDA, the only side effect that Pfizer listed was a stomach ache. The senators presentation included several other people who had similar stories. A Japanese Freedom of Information Act lawsuit forcing Pfizer to release its biodistribution study exposed another lie. The report, which Pfizer clearly wanted to keep quiet, showed that the companys claims that the vaccines contents remained at the site of the injection were false and that their own study indicated they spread quickly throughout the body via the bloodstream. Vaccine makers own studies show they collect in many of the bodys organs Moreover, the study showed that potentially deadly nanolipid carriers collect within several organs in very high concentrations, particularly male and female reproductive organs, as well as the heart, liver, brain, spleen and bone marrow. One doctor who has been brave enough to talk about vaccine effects is Idaho pathologist Dr. Ryan Cole, who has noted a dramatic spike in very aggressive cancers among people who have received the vaccine that was not reported by the mainstream media. Some of the types of cancer he has seen include uterine cancer and highly invasive melanomas among younger people. In addition, there have been reports of previously controlled cancers being activated again in vaccinated patients. Another concern is the high concentration of spike proteins in the ovaries found in the biodistribution study. This means the vaccine could potentially alter young womens menstruation, compromise their fertility and even raise their risk of ovarian cancer. Another concern raised by an expert in maternal-fetal medicine, Dr. James Thorpe, was a 50-fold higher incidence of miscarriage linked to Covid-19 vaccines given during pregnancy than with all other vaccines combined. Nevertheless, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, which just so happens to receive significant funding from Pfizer, endorsed the safety of the jabs for women in all stages of pregnancy and breastfeeding. The fact that the vaccines materials collect in bone marrow is even more bad news, putting everyone at risk of leukemia and lymphoma a particularly upsetting prospect now that the vaccines are being given to kids as young as 5 and potentially even younger moving forward. Of course, there havent been any long-term studies looking into the link between these vaccines and cancer, and cancer patients are still being pushed to get jabbed. In fact, there havent been studies yet into the vaccine and a long list of many common and potentially fatal medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases and autoimmune disorders. However, we do know from past experience with flu vaccines that safety studies carried out by doctors and researchers tied to pharmaceutical firms were designed to cover up negative effects and reach positive conclusions. Unfortunately, the system has long been corrupt, and humans everywhere are paying the price with their health and, in increasing numbers, with their lives. Sources for this article include: Expose-News.com RonJohnson.Senate.gov China's top legislator holds talks with Jordan's Senate president Xinhua) 13:26, May 26, 2022 Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Jordan's Senate President Faisal Fayez via video link in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu on Wednesday held talks with Jordan's Senate President Faisal Fayez via video link. Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that China and Jordan have supported each other in the fight against COVID-19, and the traditional friendship has been further deepened. China appreciates Jordan's adherence to the one-China principle and firmly supports Jordan in exploring a development path and governance model suited to its national conditions, Li said. Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Jordan, Li said China is ready to join hands with Jordan to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, enrich the China-Jordan strategic partnership, and bring more benefits to both countries and peoples. Li pointed out that Jordan is an important cooperation partner of the Belt and Road Initiative. The two sides can further tap the potential, dovetail development strategies, and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in trade and infrastructure construction. He said that Jordan is welcome to join the China-proposed Global Security Initiative, which is open to the world. China always supports Middle East countries including Jordan in solving regional security issues with unity and coordination, and advocates that the international community should fully respect the wishes of Middle East countries and contribute to promoting peace and development of those countries. China is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with Jordan, jointly defend the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, and jointly safeguard the important principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations, Li said. The NPC is ready to maintain closer friendly exchanges with Jordan's parliament at different levels, Li added. Fayez said that the friendship between Jordan and China is based on mutual respect. Jordan firmly adheres to the one-China policy and opposes interference in China's internal affairs. Jordan appreciates China's firm support in promoting economic and social development and safeguarding international fairness and justice. The Jordanian Senate is willing to strengthen exchanges with the NPC, jointly promote bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, investment, culture and other fields, and push the strategic partnership to go deeper, Fayez said. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Jordan's Senate President Faisal Fayez via video link in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Summer edition of Global Radio Guide now available The newest version of the Global Radio Guide is out. In this 18th edition, author Gayle Van Horn discusses familiar players and familiar places as the radio industry responds to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Just like these events have brought up once buried feelings, it has also brought what many thought to be old technology back to the forefront, he said. While internet access is one of the first targets of invading regimes intent on controlling the narrative, the vast reach of shortwave radio transcends borders and other forms of connectivity. It is deja vu with a front row view. The guide includes articles about the international broadcasters on the front lines as well as detailed information about the monitoring of utilities on the shortwave bands, including military communications. The 18th edition also includes its usual 24-hour station/frequency guide with schedules for selected AM band, longwave, and shortwave radio stations. Plus, listings of DX radio programs and Internet website addresses for many of the stations included. Whether you monitor shortwave radio broadcasts, mediumwave, amateur radio operators, or aeronautical, maritime, government, or military communications in the HF radio spectrum, this book has the information you need to help you to hear it all. The current edition of the Global Radio Guide is available on the Teak Publishing website and via Amazon. (Natural News) Leaders of the student government at the Flint branch of the University of Michigan is partnering with the Satanic Temple to defend the murder of children. (Article by Shane Trejo republished from BigLeaguePolitics.com) University of Michigan-Flint student government president Timothy Brooks, vice president Shbeib Dabaja and chief of staff Lina Azeim authored the letter and listed groups for resources such as the Satanic Temple, the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, and the Church of Prismatic Life, an LGBT cult whose holy sacrament is sodomy. Political pundits and those who continue to bring forth facts that have been obfuscated by political extremists will diminish this issue by using crude reductionist concepts of pro-choice or pro-life. But the harsh reality remains that this decision, if enacted, would deliver a crushing blow to the foundation of the constitutional freedoms enumerated by the 14th amendment to the Constitution and the process of judicial review, sadly confirming the misguided partisanship of all factions of public policy in the United States, the letter read. This is not simply an abortion issue. It calls into question the role in which our government plays in upholding the rights guaranteed to us as citizens of a free republic. Each turn of a generation is encountered with distinct challenges that shape the path of future generations to come. This generation will be encumbered by a fight for the right to privacy. In a nation that was conceived by the will of the free, nothing can be more fundamental to our future than the right to choose what one does with their own body, and on a grander scale, the right to their privacy. While labeled as a partisan issue, it is the right and responsibility to take a stand, to speak out against violations of the civil liberties of millions of Americans. Indeed, it is the only thing that will spark change for the better, it continued. The letter can be seen here: Big League Politics has reported on how the Satanic Temple is arguing in court that the murder of babies is a religious ritual to serve their dark lord with human sacrifice: The Satanic Temple (TST) is challenging abortion restrictions at the state level by claiming that murdering and dismembering babies is part of their religious practice. They are actually making the argument that states rising up to protect life infringes upon their religious liberty to perform ritualistic abortions. TST bases its assertions of abortion mandate exemptions on the protections provided by State Religious Freedom Restoration Acts or RFRA, which generally prohibits the government from substantially interfering with a persons free exercise of religion, TST wrote in a press release. The TST is hoping the courts nullify anti-abortion laws enacted at the state level to protect their right to commit holy child sacrifices for their dark lord. They wrote that religious abortions during the first trimester are exempt from state regulations that hinder access to pregnancy termination services and serve no medical purpose. Many states have laws that interfere with our members ability to practice their religious beliefs. No Christian would accept a mandatory waiting period before they can partake in Communion, said Jane Essex, who works as the reproductive rights spokeswoman for the TST. No Christian would tolerate a law that insists state counseling is necessary before someone can be baptized. Our members are justly entitled to religious liberty in order to practice our rituals as well, she added. Abortion has become a modern sacrament for the godless and wicked youth of America. Christians must defeat this agenda of organized evil decisively, or the U.S. will go the way of Sodom and Gomorrah. Read more at: BigLeaguePolitics.com (Natural News) Dr. Hans Kluge, the World Health Organizations (WHO) regional director for Europe, warned that the continent should brace itself for a wave of monkeypox cases in the coming months. As we enter the summer season in the European region, with mass gatherings, festivals and parties, I am concerned that transmission could accelerate, as the cases currently being detected are among those engaging in sexual activity, and the symptoms are unfamiliar to many, Kluge said in a statement released on Friday, May 20. As of writing, at least eight countries in the WHO European Region have reported recent cases of monkeypox: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Outside of countries where monkeypox is known to be endemic, recent and similar cases have also been reported in Australia, Canada and the United States. Kluge explained that these recent cases are atypical for several reasons: All but one of the recent cases have no relevant travel history to areas where monkeypox is endemic, like West Africa or Central Africa. Most of the initial cases found were detected through sexual health services and were among men who have sex with other men. Due to the geographically dispersed nature of the cases across Europe and beyond, its possible that transmission may have been ongoing for some time. The WHO is working closely with the countries concerned to investigate these cases further, determine the likely source of infection, how the virus is spreading and how to limit further transmission, added Kluge. The regional director added that the organization will continue to provide guidance and support for surveillance, testing, infection prevention and control and clinical management. The WHO will also assist with community engagement and information sharing across countries and health networks. Kluges concerns were shared by Susan Hopkins, the U.K. Health Security Agencys chief medical adviser. She expects the increase in cases to continue in the coming days. Hopkins warned that more cases might be identified in the wider community. As of May 20, Britain had registered 20 monkeypox infections. She also mentioned that a notable proportion of the cases were recorded among gay and bisexual men. She urged people in those groups to be cautious and remain on the lookout for symptoms. What is monkeypox? Monkeypox is a rare viral infection caused by the monkeypox virus. It can be spread from person to person. In most cases, monkeypox is a self-limiting illness. The majority of infected people will recover within several weeks without treatment. But the disease can be more severe in certain people like young children, pregnant women and those who are immunocompromised. If you are concerned about an unusual rash, consult your doctor or healthcare provider immediately. Those with suspected monkeypox should be investigated and isolated the minute they first experience symptoms. Monkeypox doesnt normally spread easily between humans since it requires close contact. The virus enters the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract, eyes, nose and mouth and via bodily fluids. The main way monkeypox can spread is through close physical contact, including sexual contact, with someone who is infected with monkeypox. In humans, the symptoms of monkeypox are similar to, but milder than, smallpox symptoms. Monkeypox begins with symptoms like exhaustion, fever and headache. The main difference between the symptoms of smallpox and monkeypox is that the latter causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) while smallpox does not. The incubation period or time from infection to symptoms for monkeypox is usually seven to 14 days, but it can range from five to 21 days. The illness begins with: Chills Backache Exhaustion Fever Headache Muscle aches Swollen lymph nodes Within one to three days or longer after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a rash that will begin on the face and then spread to other parts of the body. Hand and respiratory hygiene, along with the use of personal protective equipment and adequate isolation of suspected and confirmed cases are key to minimizing transmission in healthcare settings. Tracing monkeypox According to French, Belgian and German health authorities, their first infections were reported on Friday. In Belgium, the three confirmed cases of monkeypox were linked to a fetish festival in the city of Antwerp. (Related: WHO: Monkeypox outbreak traced to homosexual men who attended rave events in Europe.) Organizers of the fetish festival warned attendees of possible exposure to monkeypox after public health officials linked three cases to the recently concluded event. The Darklands Festival posted the notice on its website on May 20, the same day Belgian public health officials confirmed monkeypox cases. The announcement comes amid growing concern from experts about the spread of monkeypox, which is commonly found in tropical rainforests in Central and West Africa. Darklands is a four-day event catered toward gay men. It includes a daytime festival and several nighttime parties, along with education and shopping for fetish retailers at the gear market. The Darklands Festival concluded on May 9. Theres reason to assume that the virus has been brought in by visitors from abroad to the festival after recent cases in other countries, said the festival organizers. Monkeypox was also found in Israel on May 10, in a man who returned from the hotspot in Western Europe. Visit Outbreak.news for the latest news on monkeypox cases. Watch the video below for proof that the monkeypox outbreak was planned. This video is from the Kris Zane channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: New engineered pandemic: US buys millions of vaccines as monkeypox outbreak hits Europe and North America. Monkeypox outbreak in Spain being spread through homosexual encounters among men. Monkeypox just the latest engineered distraction as controlled demolition of human civilization accelerates. Sources include: RT.com Euro.who.int CDC.gov Newsweek.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Well-known epidemiologist and cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough told the public to remain calm amid reports of another viral outbreak, this time courtesy of the monkeypox virus. I have to tell you, we have such a lead time on this illness, McCullough said during a recent episode of The Alex Jones Show. There should be absolutely no panic. Its almost analogous to chickenpox and someone having lots of pustular vesicular lesions is readily identified. We can manage this. The treatment is actually very well tolerated. TPOXX drug taken twice a day is perfectly fine. The Dallas-based internist added that the American people dont need 13 million doses of monkeypox vaccine, alluding to the number of vaccines ordered by the federal government against the disease after just one confirmed case on U.S. soil. McCullough said people have never had so much news regarding microbial threats to the human population and a person can only surmise that so much of it is contrived. Host Alex Jones, who was also joined in the episode by author John Leake, agreed. He said there is a lot of hype and PR sales campaign about the monkeypox outbreak. (Related: New engineered pandemic: US buys millions of vaccines as monkeypox outbreak hits Europe and North America) Leake called it an operation warp spend that seeks to trigger a flood of money purportedly to deal with an emergency. The Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has apparently provided government officials of the perfect blueprint to make money from health crises. Jones, the Infowars founder, noted that trillions of dollars had been issued worldwide by different governments for the COVID-19 pandemic. Leake, co-author of the book Courage to Face COVID-19 along with McCullough, said the CARES Act of March 2020 created overnight 10 percent of the United States gross domestic product for the people who had worked and planned the pandemic. He added that the usual suspects are at it again with the monkeypox outbreak. Thats why McCullough thinks its imperative for the public to know that theres no need to panic over monkeypox. He explained that monkeypox is in the same family as smallpox and it causes a pustular type of illness or skin-based illness. It has very little respiratory component and it is transmitted from animals to humans. The cardiologist added that there have only been 700 reported cases of monkeypox over the last half-century, and that almost all of the cases have come out of the Congo region in Africa. McCullough recalled that an outbreak happened in the U.S. in 2003, with 70 reported cases. He said a group of animals from Africa spread the monkeypox virus to humans that time. Purchase of millions of vaccine doses is a hyperbolic response McCullough called the purchase of millions of vaccine doses for monkeypox a hyperbolic response. He added that he cant imagine a company that hasnt had any sales on their monkeypox vaccine getting an infusion of millions of dollars of cash. An oral medication stockpile of two million doses is also available, McCullough said, making the purchase of millions of vaccines even more puzzling. McCullough added that monkeypox is easily treated with available drugs and that it is mainly a cutaneous skin lesion. He also said that the only mortality that occurs is in regions where there is no general medical care support for patients who get ill, dehydrated, among others. The doctor and book author, who has been a leader in the medical response to the COVID-19 disaster, noted that there is already a charged fear that the pox viruses are going to be specifically used for bioterrorism. Jones then played a video clip of Bill Gates talking about the next pandemic that is going to happen. In the clip, Gates mentioned that a World Health Organization-level Global Pandemic Task Force is doing surveillance and germ games to prepare for a possible bioterrorist attack. Jones pointed out that the Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist was already telling people about the next big thing in November last year. Leake said people should really examine this outbreak very closely with Gates suddenly talking about monkeypox. He also mentioned that during the 2003 monkeypox outbreak there were guinea pigs housed with Ghana pouch rats that were brought in from Africa and eventually spread it to 70 people in America. The author said there was no hysteria and talk about needing to buy millions of doses of vaccines during that time. Follow Outbreak.news for more news about the current monkeypox outbreak. Watch the video below to know more about the monkeypox outbreak. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: US developing lethal, new genetically engineered viruses, including MOUSEPOX and MONKEYPOX will these be used to demand MORE JABS in the name of public safety? Dr. Peter McCullough: Early treatment key to preventing COVID-19 deaths. Here we go again: MONKEYPOX is the next scariant being unleashed on the world to demand vaccine compliance. First case of rare monkeypox virus reported in Singapore heres what you need to know. Sources include: Brighteon.com AmericaOutLoud.com CDC.gov (Natural News) Evan Hafer, Chairman and CEO of Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC), is being accused of fraud by the companys own stakeholders. (Article by Shane Trejo republished from BigLeaguePolitics.com) 1791 Management LLC issued a public letter addressed to Hafer on May 17, claiming that Hafer may be one of the most dangerous CEOs in America for the harm caused to shareholders and military veterans by his actions. 1791 Management LLC represents shareholders of the BRCC. Please do not confuse our stake as a vote of confidence in the Companys Leadership, they stated. We have conducted a thorough review of your Company, including actions by management, and reviews of your SEC filings. Combining this with our numerous conversations with Black Rifle lawyers and executives, we have uncovered what we believe to be the most harrowing strategy to line your pockets at the expense of others, 1791 Management added. They are blowing the whistle about Hafers profiteering behavior and shameless exploitation of military veterans to line his pockets. Furthermore, we believe your actions as CEO reveals a pattern of gross negligence and dereliction of duty that can expose the Company to a tsunami of litigation, which we believe your public shareholders deserve to be made aware of, they stated. We believe your plan was designed to artificially inflate your stock price by keeping the availability of Black Rifles stock off the market, 1791 Management wrote in the letter before laying out the fraud blueprint they believe Hafer followed. Just in case you hadnt noticed Mr. Hafer, Black Rifle lost $4.8 billion in value (from $7.3 billion down to $2.5 billion) over the three-month period that you made tens of millions off your own stock. I find it hard to believe you were looking out for your shareholders as you were raking in the money. My heart sincerely goes out to each of those that were not so fortunate, they added. Big League Politics reported on how the BRCC threw 2nd Amendment hero and free as f*ck exonerated patriot Kyle Rittenhouse under the bus when he was being crucified for exercising his right to self-defense against left-wing terrorists in Kenosha, Wisc.: Black Rifle Coffee, a coffee company based in Salt Lake City, is not defending 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse. The company said that it was against a tweet that Blaze Media reporter, Elijah Schaeffer, posted that featured Rittenhouse wearing a Black Rifle Coffee Company shirt captioned Kyle Rittenhouse drinks the best coffee in America. Rittenhouse was released on November 20, 2020 after supporters were able to raise $2 million for his bail. In the tweet, Schaeffer posted a discount code for the coffee. Sara Tabin of The Salt Lake Tribune noted that online Twitter users questioned whether the coffee company had a sponsorship deal with Rittenhouse and accused it of supporting murder and hate. This prompted Black Rifle Coffee, the sponsor of the Slightly Offens*ve podcast, to release a statement on November 21 declaring that it is not sponsoring or supporting Rittenhouse. Initially, there was a misunderstanding about the company withdrawing its sponsorship of Slightly Offens*ve. However, a spokesperson for the company told the Salt Lake Tribune on November 21 that We are not fluctuating our ad spend. The coffee spokesperson added We did have a conversation with Schaffer, and he understands that the post was a mistake. She stressed, We dont traffic in national tragedy and to us, thats what this is. We are not legal experts or members of law enforcement. We fully support all law enforcement officials and believe in the integrity of the legal system. Hafer appears to believe he can grift conservatives out of their money while laughing at their heroes and their ideals. However, if the allegations from 1791 Management are legitimate, it seems his shyster overpriced coffee operation may be coming to an end. Read more at: BigLeaguePolitics.com (Natural News) The World Health Organization (WHO) seems to be preparing for the monkeypox virus to become the next global plandemic, which only makes sense since it conspired with Bill Gates and the pharmaceutical industry last year to launch it at this very time. On Friday, the WHO held an emergency meeting about an alleged monkeypox outbreak that started at an LGBT festival in Europe. A couple dozen cases are said to exist, and the next step appears to be another round of global medical fascism. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation met with the WHO and numerous Big Pharma executives in 2021 to conduct a monkeypox pandemic simulation. The supposedly hypothetical timeframe for this simulation was mid-May 2022, which is almost exactly when it was first announced by the media as being real. The event took place in March 2021, and it was similar in format to the Event 201 gathering that Gates held in the fall of 2019 just a few months before the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) magically appeared. Just like the March 2021 simulation of monkeypox, the 2019 Event 201 meeting involved a coronavirus pandemic simulation. Both gatherings successfully predicted the diseases that would emerge not long after, almost as if they were planned to occur right on schedule. Now, it looks like another global plandemic of monkeypox is on the docket, possibly resulting in more lockdowns, mask mandates and eventually, vaccine mandates. Bill Gates wants more money spent on international preparedness for pandemics Spearheaded by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) in conjunction with the Munich Security Conference, the March 2021 event involved a tabletop exercise on reducing high-consequence biological threats. Described as a fictional exercise scenario, the disease threat in the simulation was explained to participants as a deadly, global pandemic involving an unusual strain of monkeypox virus that first emerged in the fictional nation of Brinia and spread globally over 18 months. According to the NTI, the exercise was [d]eveloped in consultation with technical and policy experts. It brought together 19 senior leaders and experts from across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe with decades of combined experience in public health, biotechnology industry, international security, and philanthropy. In November 2021, a report entitled Strengthening Global Systems to Prevent and Respond to High-Consequence Biological Threats: Results from the 2021 Tabletop Exercise Conducted in Partnership with the Munich Security Conference was published that included actionable recommendations for the international community. The hypothetical scenario contained within it pointed to a terrorist attack that resulted in a deadly monkeypox pathogen that was engineered in a laboratory with inadequate biosafety and biosecurity provisions and weak oversight being captured and released upon the world. The result over time was more than three billion cases of monkeypox and 270 million fatalities worldwide. And the solution was outlined as a more robust, transparent detection, evaluation, and early warning system that can rapidly communicate actionable information about pandemic risks. Those who led the exercise say they want more national-level preparedness because of gaps that limit a full-scale government response. They also want to create a new coherent system of triggers that prompt anticipatory action, despite uncertainty and near-term costs that will allow the government to meet todays security requirements. Money is, of course, also listed as a need in order to make the essential national investments in pandemic preparedness. Currently, Gates et al. insist, there is insufficient financing of international preparedness for pandemics. Participants generally did not endorse travel restrictions such as border closures, but travel health screening measures [i.e., vaccine passports] were viewed as valuable, the report states about what they have planned next. The latest news about monkeypox can be found at Infections.news. Sources for this article include: Newspunch.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Hillary Clinton is GUILTY of manipulating the 2016 US Presidential Election. No one believed Donald Trump when he said that the Russian collusion narrative was fake news. Top Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook testified under oath in federal court and confirmed that Hillary Clinton devised the Russia/Alfa Bank rumors. She encouraged her people to promote the hoax to the press in a failed attempt to beat Donald Trump. (Article by Martin Armstrong republished from ArmstrongEconomics.com) Clinton campaign attorney Michael Sussmann first faced trial for the Clintons crime. The judge, Christopher Cooper, was an Obama appointee and was given an order to spare the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee [of] potential embarrassment. The truth still came to light. On July 28, 2016, former CIA Director John Brennan briefed former President Obama on the plan to lie to the public as a means of distracting the public from her use of a private email server. The sitting president was fully aware of the plan to smear Donald Trumps name, and agreed to go along with a proposal from one of her foreign policy advisers to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by the Russian security service. Hillary went as far as to involve the FBI in her grand lie. No one could connect Trump to Russia or Alfa Bank, but Clinton and her campaign continued to promote the story. Computer scientists have apparently uncovered a covert server linking the Trump Organization to a Russian-based bank, Hillary tweeted shortly after leaking the rumor. On October 31, 2016 (one week before the election), Campaign adviser Jake Sullivan stated: Computer scientists have uncovered a covert server linking the Trump Organization to a Russian-based bank. Sullivan added that he could only assume federal authorities will now explore this direct connection between Trump and Russia as part of their existing probe into Russias meddling in our elections. Scapegoat Sussman is now under investigation for lying to the FBI, but what about the ring leader of this circus? Mook admitted that Hillary gave her stamp of approval for her minions to release the story to mislead voters deliberately. Hillary Clinton lied to the American people for her own self-interest and still lost the election. She did not want the public to investigate her email scandal and involved top intelligence agencies in her intricate rumor that has taken years to debunk. Voters should be outraged that the Democrats, Obama included, supported a narrative they knew was an outright lie. Read more at: ArmstrongEconomics.com (Natural News) Two weeks after a top Justice Department official advised the U.S. Supreme Court there was no sound reason for the high court to review a loss by Monsanto owner Bayer AG in nationwide Roundup cancer litigation, a coalition of large agricultural groups is demanding that President Joe Biden withdraw the opinion. (Article by Carey Gillam republished from ChildrensHealthDefense.org) Bayer, which bought Monsanto in 2018, has looked to the high court as its last, and best, hope for putting an end to the ongoing litigation. Bayer has asked the justices to take up the case, which centers on allegations that Monsantos glyphosate-based herbicides such as Roundup cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). But Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar advised the court in a May 10 brief that Bayers arguments for seeking Supreme Court review were misconceived, and said there was no valid dispute for the high court to consider. The agricultural groups responded Monday with a blistering letter to Biden, alleging Prelogars brief established a new policy that poses great risks to our science-based regulatory system and global food systems. Prelogars office did not respond to a request for comment. The letter urges Biden to withdraw Prelogars brief and consult with the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding the implications of this decision for food production, environmental sustainability, and science-based regulation. Many of the organizations signing on to the letter have received financial support from Monsanto and/or Bayer for many years. Read more at: ChildrensHealthDefense.org (Natural News) Investigative journalist Jefferey Jaxen and Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN) founder and CEO Del Bigtree discussed on The HighWire how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has lost its way. On May 17, the FDA expanded the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) this time as a booster for children between five and 11 years of age. It followed the Jan. 3, 2022 approval of the Pfizer booster dose for teenagers aged 12 to 15. The FDA did not hold a meeting of its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) as the agency previously convened [it] for extensive discussions regarding the use of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines. After [a] review of Pfizers EUA request, the FDA concluded that the request did not raise questions that would benefit from additional discussion by [VRBPAC] members, an FDA press release stated. Jaxen commented: Whats interesting about this press release is [that the FDA] slapped every one of those [committee] members in the face. I hope you members [realize] if youre watching this or if you read the press release you have just been disrespected by the agency that youre supposedly advising. All of your [titles] in front of your name doctor, immunologist that means nothing. You can add nothing to this discussion, they said to you. The ICAN founder and CEO also put in his two cents. They rushed this vaccine out without a long-term safety trial, [with] no idea of the long-term safety effects. Can you imagine if we keep doing this with every product that the pharmaceutical industry makes? If the vaccine or the drug [is not the one] that kills us, this approach toward medicine will be, Bigtree said. They just cut off [the other VRBPAC members] completely. Now, its just like Were just [going to] make decisions without any scientific debate, and if theres debate, were [going to] skip it. Such a dangerous precedent [with] what were watching here. (Related: JAB EM YOUNG: FDA approves Pfizers booster vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 without consulting vaccine advisory panel.) FDA advisor Kurilla warns: Shots for kids arent lifelong Jaxen then played a recording of infectious disease expert and VRBPAC member Dr. Michael Kurilla back in October 2021. The committee had been deliberating about the primary two-dose regimen for children during that time, which he opposed. In fact, Kurilla was the only committee member who abstained whereas the rest of the VRBPAC voted to authorize the two-shot COVID-19 vaccine. Kurilla asked: While the benefit here is assumed to be prevention of severe disease, my one concern is particularly for children [that have] undergone previous COVID-19 infection. The questions, really, become: Does this vaccine offer any benefits to them at all? Are they actually very well protected? He also questioned the idea of injecting children with a vaccine against an earlier strain to protect them against a new variant: Does that actually help or hurt their current immune system with regard to ongoing variants? Kurilla ended with a warning: These children are going to be expected to have a booster in another six months. Were going to see vaccine breakthroughs in this population and its going to cause all the same problems that COVID-19 does, whether or not theyre vaccinated. Bigtree echoed the FDA advisors warning about the COVID-19 vaccines for children. The days of this idea that your kids [going to] get a [COVID-19] vaccine and then theyll be protected for life are over. This protection is lasting months meaning somewhere down the road, you are increasing the risk of your child being infected, he said. Forget about this argument: That youre vaccinated in order to protect those that cant vaccinate to create this cocoon. It is dead, it is gone. Your infected child is going to be more infected because you gave them the vaccine. Watch the full conversation between Jefferey Jaxen and Del Bigtree below. This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Fourth COVID jab on the way? Despite plummeting cases, FDA pushes for another booster as potential annual shot. Federal agencies approve MEDICAL CHILD ABUSE: Hospitals start injecting kids aged 5 to 11 with COVID vaccines. FDA advisory committee does not recommend giving COVID-19 booster shots to general population. Pfizer wants to give children aged 5 to 11 COVID-19 vaccine booster. FDA staffers undecided on Covid booster shots due to lack of data. Sources include: Brighteon.com FDA.gov (Natural News) It has come to our attention that as the baby formula crisis was reaching a crescendo last fall with babies everywhere getting sick, Abbott Nutrition, the culprit, was enriching its shareholders with a massive $5 billion stock buyback. Financial documents and whistleblower testimony unearthed by The Guardian (UK) show that Abbott used massive windfall profits it accumulated between 2019 and 2021 to buy back shares and pump up its dividend disbursement. All the while, the companys infant formula was sickening little ones with bacterial contamination. Abbott detected bacteria eight times as its net profits soared by 94% between 2019 and 2021, the Guardians Tom Perkins wrote in an expose on the revelation. And just as its tainted formula allegedly began sickening a number of babies, with two deaths reported, the company increased dividends to shareholders by over 25% while announcing a stock buyback program worth $5 billion. According to Rakeen Mabud, chief economist at the Groundwork Collaborative, Abbott prioritized shareholders over making productive investments in its factories and production methods. Its important that we have high standards for something as vital as baby formula, Mabud told the Guardian. (Related: Learn how to make your own healthy baby formula at home.) Abbott left Sturgis plant failing and in need of repair, claims whistleblower complaint It was late February of this year when Abbott recalled a bulk of its Similac PM 60/40 powdered formula, which was manufactured at a plant in Sturgis, Mich., after two infants who consumed the product died of a cronobacter infection. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says at least four infants also got sick after consuming product from the same factory, which remains closed pending an investigation into possible solutions to the problem. The Department of Justice (DoJ) also filed a complaint against Abbott, which claims that there is no conclusive evidence to link Abbotts formulas to these infant illnesses. A whistleblower filing dated Oct. 19, 2021, however, contradicts this claim by Abbott. That filing states that the bacteria outbreak at the Sturgis plant is because the plant is failing and in need of repair. A number of product flow pipes were pitting and leaving pinholes, the complaint adds. This allowed bacteria to enter the system and, at times, led to bacteria not being adequately cleaned out in clean-in-place (CIP) washes. This, in turn, caused product flowing through the pipes to pick up the bacteria that was trapped in the defective areas of the pipe. Perhaps the most disturbing part of this saga is that Abbott knew about the Sturgis plants failing equipment for anywhere from five to seven years, even as it was doing the share buyback to the tune of billions of dollars. Abbotts Sturgis plant, by the way, is the largest baby formula plant in the United States. Abbott is also one of only a few baby formula manufacturers that even exists due to extreme regulations that have created a type of monopoly in this product sector. Abbott produces 43% of all baby formula in the U.S., and four companies including Abbott control roughly 90% of the nations formula market, reports The Defender. The concentrated industry has lobbied aggressively to weaken bacteria testing standards. In a tweet, the group More Perfect Union wrote that the real story behind the baby formula shortage is corporate greed. [Abbotts] factory was shut down because it gamed safety tests & skipped repairs to cut costs, the group further wrote. Instead, it spent ~$10 billion on dividends for wealthy shareholders since 2019. Earlier this week, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, launched an investigation into Abbotts tax practices. To keep up with the latest news about the infant formula crisis, be sure to visit Scarcity.news. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org NaturalNews.com (Natural News) An effort by mad scientists to turn hamsters into more peaceful and docile creatures through gene editing went awry when the rodents ended up transforming into hyper-aggressive bullies instead. A statement from Georgia State University (GSU) where the strange experiment was conducted explain that researchers were really surprised to see the opposite outcome of what they expected. GSU scientists applied CRISPR-Cas9 technology, which makes it possible to turn on or off genes inside cells, to Syrian hamsters. They turned off a receptor inside the rodents for vasopressin, a hormone associated with enhanced aggression. The idea was to turn off vasopressin and make the hamsters calmer, but this is not what happened. Instead, their behavior went dramatically in the other direction, causing them to lash out against the other hamsters in rage (Related: Experiments conducted on hamsters given a new miracle anti-covid drug from Merck had a similarly negative outcome, causing them to develop cancerous mutations rather than heal). We were really surprised at the results, said GSU professor H. Elliott Albers, the studys lead author, in a statement. We anticipated that if we eliminated vasopressin activity, we would reduce both aggression and social communication, but the opposite happened. Is science trying to make humans more docile so they cant fight back against encroaching tyranny? Even with their vasopressin receptors blocked, the test hamsters displayed high levels of aggression towards hamsters of the same sex compared to their counterparts with the receptors still intact. This suggests a startling conclusion, Albers added in his statement. Even though we know that vasopressin increases social behaviors by acting within a number of brain regions, it is possible that the more global effects of the Avpr1a receptor are inhibitory. Albers further admitted that science, for all it thinks it knows about such things, was wrong about this hypothesis. These counterintuitive findings, he says, show once again that scientists dont understand this system as well as we thought we did. Why scientists are trying to gene-edit hamsters at all remains a mystery, though it is obvious that the intended application probably involves humans. The presumed goal of such research is to make humans more docile and less willing or able to fight back against tyranny. Whatever the case may be, the quest to turn off aggression genes is not going so well or as Albers puts it, the process is not easy. He added that scientists are at least gaining a better understanding about the fact that they do not know as much as they think they know about the role of vasopressin in social behavior. The more they probe this issue, the closer they get to achieving their stated goal of creating new treatments for humans with psychiatric disorders ranging from autism to depression. It sounds a lot like the fluoride conspiracy in that artificial fluoride chemicals are being added to public water supplies not to prevent tooth decay as claimed, but rather to weaken the aggression or fight in people so that they accept tyranny rather than fight back against it. This latest experiment on hamsters just goes to show that science will not stop until it has completely neutralized humanity to the point that the average person just accepts whatever tyrannical and fascist governments throws his or her way. One way to fight back against the damaging effects of fluoride, by the way, is to consume turmeric, though this may not work against whatever gene-editing Frankendrugs they are trying to whip up with their little hamster experiments. The latest news about mad science can be found at ScienceFraud.news. Sources for this article include: BusinessInsider.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com Boujdour (Western Sahara), May 24, 2022 (SPS) A US delegation of women with the "Just Visit Western Sahara initiative" are being detained in Western Sahara today by the Moroccan authorities at Laayoune Airport. The US delegation was invited by the Khaya sisters who have been subject to a brutal long-term siege. The US delegation of three US women includes Adrienne Kinne, former President of Veterans for Peace, Wynd Kaufmyn, a community college professor, and Laksana Peters, a retired teacher. Moroccan authorities cited vague national security concerns but were not able to provide any legal justification for denying entry to these US visitors. Although the US government has recognized the illegal Moroccan annexation of Western Sahara, the State Department has expressed repeated concerns about human rights in Morocco and Western Sahara including the treatment of the nonviolent Khaya Sisters. The US delegation is scheduled to meet with Tim Pluta and Ruth McDonough, a team of US citizens who have been staying with the Khaya sisters since March 15. Despite their presence, Moroccan occupation forces have continued harsh torture, beatings, sexual assaults, arrests, enforced isolation of the family, and threats to community members who visit the Khaya home or seek to provide food and support. Last week, a large truck smashed into their house 3 times in an attempt to either kill the residents or damage the home in such a way that it would need to be condemned, providing an excuse for the occupying forces to forcibly remove the occupants. The Khaya sisters are human rights defenders in Western Sahara who advocate against violence towards women and for self-determination of the indigenous Saharawi people. They have been subjected to a continuous and brutally violent siege for more than 18 months. Wynd Kaufmyn expressed dismay at the repressive nature of the Moroccan government to visitors and wondered how a tourist industry could ever succeed with such mistrust and mistreatment of Americans. If we can be treated this way, can you imagine how the local Saharawi women are treated? I have spent a lot of money on these tickets and to just be turned around with no explanation is outrageous. All the Americans involved are part of a US coalition called Just "Visit Western Sahara" . It is a network of groups and individuals committed to peace and justice, which have been denied to the Saharawi people, protection of human rights, respect for international law, and encouraging Americans and international travelers to witness the beauty and appeal of Western Sahara, and to see the reality of the Moroccan occupation for themselves. 090/110 SPS (Natural News) Just as human papillomavirus (HPV) is a rare sexually transmitted disease caused by a virus that children and teens have no business getting vaccinated for, monkeypox is a rare sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a virus for which the world needs not be vaccinated against. Still, the scare of a pandemic itself makes pharma goons billions of dollars, so the press is running wild with talk of monkeypox vaccines, and millions of deadly injections have already been bought and sold to prepare for the war against monkeypox. Have you or a loved one had sex with a monkey from Europe or Africa lately? Do you attend and participate in orgies with people who have? Well then, you need not worry about monkeypox, or getting the smallpox vaccine, which is very dangerous to your health, but comes highly recommended by the CDC for supposedly treating the disease people catch when they have intimate relationships with infected monkeys. Smallpox vaccines, that cause a clinical syndrome of serious side effects, to be administered worldwide for rare STD monkeypox Yes, smallpox is done and gone. Eradicated decades ago. No vaccine necessary. Still, the CDC and WHO claim theres somehow an 85 percent efficacy rate for the smallpox vaccine preventing monkeypox, though ZERO clinical trials have been run that prove this. Remember, the science of vaccines is just a religion, where you have to believe in them, because there is no proof of safety or efficacy. In fact, the opposite of safe and effective is what weve witnessed with HPV, flu shots and COVID-19 jabs, and now, looking back at a 2005 CDC study on smallpox inoculations, we see where researchers described an array of serious combined symptoms from the jab as a clinical syndrome. Is that because the smallpox vaccine contains two percent human serum albumin? Call it the cannibal jab. Blood cells from human abortions are injected into humans and the CDC cant figure out why those jabbed develop clinical syndrome from it. Go figure. Laboratory and public health workers who got smallpox shots reported SEVERAL horrific side effects, including breathing difficulty and serious heart problems. Sound familiar? This is not a few whistleblowers reporting to VAERS, this is the CDCs very own study, and the findings will blow your mind. Still, they want to push the smallpox vaccine on everyone to treat or prevent bad cases of monkeypox, that people get from having crazy, perverted sex parties with people who have had intimate contact with infected monkeys. We should all be so concerned. Thats about as absurd as giving nine year old girls HPV injections to prevent genital warts that people get from having frequent, promiscuous sex with intravenous drug users. Wild claims of 85% efficacy for smallpox vaccines preventing bad cases of monkeypox, just like the Wuhan coronavirus vaccine LIES purported Oh yes, the highly corrupt CDC and globalist-run WHO will highly recommend off-label prescriptions and vaccinations for anything under the sun, even smallpox jabs for an STD you get from having anal sex with infected monkeys from Europe and Africa. Yet, nobody is allowed to ever use ivermectin, or NAC, or monoclonal antibodies to treat and beat COVID, because theyre off-label treatments and might cause minor side effects. Pay no attention to EVERY commercial for every prescription drug ever licensed for any sickness, where the side effects are so horrendous you forget what youre even being treated for in the first place. Meanwhile, the CDCs Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Network and the Department of Defense have documented (from the 2005 study), systemic reactions to smallpox vaccination as part of a clinical trial that was primarily a cardiac study looking at systemic markers of inflammation, which included myocarditis. Sounds a lot like all the heart attacks and atrial fibrillations experienced by perfectly healthy athletes, pilots and military members after getting the deadly COVID-19 jabs. Get smart. Avoid all vaccinations because theyre not safe and not effective, and this all according to the CDCs very own research and clinical trials. Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental vaccines that have no business on the market, especially for worsening lab-concocted viruses and rare STDs from gay dudes screwing monkeys in Europe. Sources for this article include: CDC.gov/vaccines Cidrap.umn.edu NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Dr. Robert Malone slammed Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for amplifying fear of the monkeypox outbreak. My assessment is that this is absolutely another case of the media and the government cooperating to spin up fear that is absolutely unfounded, he told host Steve Bannon during the May 23 edition of War Room: Pandemic. The mRNA inventor read an article from Gavi to drive home his point. Similar to viruses like Ebola, transmission only happens in close proximity or contact with lesions or bodily fluids. Although symptoms often ease within a month, one case in 10 can be fatal, the scientist read. However, elsewhere in the article, the World Health Organization said the aggregate case fatality rate is 3.7 percent. So, how Gavi goes from 3.7 percent, which is a worst-case scenario, to one in every ten can be fatal boggles my mind, Malone commented. Malone told Bannon that monkeypox is related to smallpox. So is cowpox, which is used to vaccinate against smallpox, he added. There are a number of these poxviruses that are absolutely not lethal in humans. The mortality rate in humans is less than one percent and this is only spread by close contact. According to Malone, monkeypox has been endemic in Central Africa for probably the history of humankind because it resides in a number of animal species. He also noted that all the cases so far have been men who had sex with other men. (Related: Monkeypox outbreak in Spain being spread through homosexual encounters among men.) Millions spent on vaccines after a single monkeypox case Bannon said the government bought 13 million vaccines that they can put away on dry ice or something. Malone added that, as a matter of fact, authorities already have stockpiled vaccines for smallpox. The name of the product is Jynneos and this has, as one of the leading serious adverse events, cardiotoxicity myocarditis, Malone said and advised the public to look for the package insert as well. He said the government has just spent million of dollars of taxpayers money to mitigate a threat by buying a product that it already has in the stockpile. Malone noted that the threat can be easily mitigated through contact tracing and standard public health measures. This is a gross overreaction, he said. After confirming one case in the U.S., the government has ordered millions of doses of the smallpox vaccine, which is supposedly around 85 percent effective against monkeypox. Its a live virus, said Jay Hooper of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. It can cause a deadly infection in people with severely compromised immune systems. Bavarian Nordic, the Danish biotech company that produces Jynnneos, announced that it won the hefty 119-million-dollar deal. This contract includes an option to buy $180 million worth of more vaccines. While the full circumstances around the current monkeypox cases in Europe remain to be elucidated, the speed at which these have evolved, combined with the potential for infections, beyond the initial case going undetected, calls for a rapid and coordinated approach by the health authorities, and we are pleased to assist in this emergency situation, said Bavarian Nordic President and CEO Paul Chaplin in a statement. The current monkeypox outbreak began in the United Kingdom in early May and slowly spread from there to other Western European nations and then to Canada. Watch the full May 23 episode of War Room: Pandemic below. The video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.TV. More related stories: Monkeypox just the latest engineered distraction as controlled demolition of human civilization accelerates. Why did the government buy 13 million monkeypox vaccines from a biotech company backed by Fauci? Here we go again: MONKEYPOX is the next scariant being unleashed on the world to demand vaccine compliance. Sources include: Brighteon.com Gavi.org FDA.gov NPR.org Fortune.com (Natural News) Jeffrey IntheMatrixxx Pedersen and Shannon ShadyGrooove Townsend broke down the testimony of Robby Mook, the campaign manager for Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential run, on the May 23 episode of The Matrixxx Grooove Show on Brighteon.TV. As reported by Breitbart, Mook testified before a federal court in Washington, D.C. on May 20. While on the witness stand, the Clinton campaign manager revealed that the former first lady and secretary of state explicitly approved efforts to leak former President Donald Trumps purported ties to the Moscow-based Alfa Bank. [I told her:] We have this and we want to share it. She agreed to that. We decided to give it to a reporter so the reporter could run it down, said Mook. Our hope was they [the mainstream media] were going to run it down; that it would be substantive and accurate. The Matrixxx Grooove hosts played footage of a Fox News report about Mooks May 20 testimony. The campaign manager served as a witness during the trial of former Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann. Special Counsel John Durham charged Sussman with lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) by claiming evidence of a secret communications back-channel to prove the Trump-Alfa Bank connection. Durham added that the former Clinton campaign lawyer claimed he was giving the information to the agency as a concerned citizen which was false. Attorneys from both sides of the aisle the government [prosecutors] and the defense [team] of Sussmann looked a little surprised when Mook just basically blurted it out casually. Clinton herself was in favor of releasing this information to the media [and] giving it to [them] when it wasnt fully vetted, Fox News anchor David Spunt recounted. (Related: Former top campaign aide to Hillary Clinton admits she approved leak of hoax Trump-Russia claim to media.) Mook told jurors he would never have authorized Sussman to go the FBI with that information. He says it was up to the media to essentially vet this information. Trumps ties to Alfa Bank were later debunked as false, alongside the larger Russian collusion conspiracy theory. The Russia hoax is finally dead; the collusion delusion is over, the former president commented on the disproved allegations. Jeff and Shady weigh in on Mooks testimony Pedersen said: Mook was on the stand and, apparently, he decided to tell the truth because he was possibly the frontman for Clinton. Maybe he feels like Hey, I just got to tell the truth, because [I] just took an oath [prior to taking the witness stand].' Townsend said in agreement: I think he had to come clean; he really didnt have a choice but to come clean. I honestly think that hes already more than likely in deposition. [Mook] has already exposed this initially. It came out in court and really set the weekend on fire. ShadyGrooove also pointed out the involvement of Mook, Sussmann and others in the Clinton campaign in the effort to discredit Trump through the Russiagate issue. Its very interesting because youre talking about the beginning of this Alfa Bank story going out there. They had the Alfa Bank story, they had the Steele dossier. This is one of the tools that they were utilizing to impugn the [former] president, or to maybe have an October surprise before the [November] 2016 election. True enough, the former first lady and secretary of state tweeted days before the 2016 presidential election about Trumps supposed links to Alfa Bank. She cited computer scientists who uncovered the server in her tweet about the Trump-Russia connection. However, Durham subsequently pointed out that the aforementioned server was merely an email server used to send out marketing emails. Speaking of Mook, we reported that [he] fled to Spain right after his testimony. Im out, see you, Im going to Spain. I mean, thats interesting, said Pedersen. I dont know if [thats] a great vacation destination necessarily, replied Townsend, citing the mysterious June 2021 death of tech bigwig John McAfee while in a Spanish prison. Pedersens co-host insinuated the possibility of Mook being killed in the same manner as other Clinton associates. Watch the full May 23 episode of The Matrixxx Grooove Show below. Tune in to The Matrixxx Grooove Show from Monday to Friday at 12-1 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. This video is from the BrighteonTV channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: More emails surface proving that Hillary Clinton was singularly responsible for the Trump-Russia collusion hoax. REVEALED: Clinton campaign spread Alfa Bank ruse throughout Obama admin to press Trump-Russia probe. Clinton campaign paid tech firm to link Trump to Russia as per court documents. Connecting the dots between Russiagate and Hillary. Sources include: Brighteon.com Breitbart.com (Natural News) High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrel wrote in his May 22 blog that the blocs depleted stockpile of weapons resulted from the military support they provided to Ukraine. The events in Ukraine have resulted in a tectonic shift of the European security landscape, he said. The diplomat explained that combined defense spending across the bloc has increased by only 20 percent from 1999 to 2021, compared to 66 percent for the U.S., 292 percent for Russia and 592 percent for China. The EU needs to take more responsibility for its security and compensate for the shortfalls that have been underlined by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Borell warned. To take charge of its own security, he said, EU would need to create modern and interoperable European armed forces looking at the higher-end of the spectrum and also striving to scale up capabilities and forces. (Related: Russia holds war games with simulated nuclear strikes against the EU.) Borell said they need to include working on the combat readiness of their forces and stockpile replenishment. They also need to modernize air defenses, cyber and space-based capabilities. They would also have to jointly develop future key capabilities, such as main battle tanks. These lines of action should eradicate the current gaps in their defense system. The time to push forward European defense is now. We need to strengthen the European defense industrial base and to be operational with the needed military capacities. To be able to increase our military capacity to defend ourselves, to make NATO stronger and to support better our partners whenever needed, Borrell said. US drags Europe into a risky economic position Apart from running out of ammunition, European countries are now in a risky economic situation by joining the United States in its war against Russia. Moscow denounced EUs involvement in the Ukrainian conflict and for assisting Ukraine in its militarization. The bloc is turning from a constructive economic platform that it was originally meant to be to being an aggressive militant player that has ambitions stretching far beyond the European continent, Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier this month. Besides sanctioning Russia, EU also allocated two billion euros ($2.13 billion) in military aid to Kiev and promised not to let Ukraine run out of military equipment. Analysts observed that the sanctions being imposed on Russia are mainly for political reasons and the U.S. government is supporting the bloc on this. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Europe would be committing economic suicide by putting sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine war. This economic auto-da-fe, this suicide, is the internal affairs of European countries. We must act pragmatically and with our economic interests in mind, Putin said at a meeting dedicated to the oil sector. This could have irreversible consequences for a significant portion of European industrial production. After the Kremlin sent its troops to Ukraine in February, the West introduced unprecedented sanctions against Russia, showing close coordination in their announcements regarding penalties. However, they have not moved at the same pace when it came to Russian oil and gas. Putin hopes to redirect their supplies to friendly countries. He stressed that Europes drastic moves are not only damaging its own economy, but will also lead to an increase in Russias revenues from oil and gas as changes in the oil market are tectonic in nature. Visit WWIII.news for more stories related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Watch the video below showing Russias Ambassador to the EU saying that the Russia-Ukraine conflict could escalate into a wider European war. This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Will the Russia-Ukraine conflict end with the collapse of Western civilization? Ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict pushing global economy closer to collapse. Financial pressures rise worldwide as governments witness the unfolding of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. ANALYST: Russia has a moral imperative to neutralize Ukraines weapons systems that allowed NATO to threaten Russia with bioweapons. Sources include: RT.com EEAS.Europa.eu BlacklistedNews.com Aljazeera.com OE-Mag.co.uk Brighteon.com (Natural News) More than 17,000 doctors and medical experts, including former Pfizer Vice President Dr. Michael Yeadon, are calling for every pharmaceutical company that makes Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines to be immediately indicted for fraud. Thousands of people have died and many thousands more have become injured, in many cases permanently, from the injections, and Yeadon and his colleagues want to see justice served. Speaking at the recent Global COVID Summit, Yeadon made the case for swift prosecution against the likes of Pfizer, BioNTech, Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), AstraZeneca, and their enablers. He also issued a corresponding press statement with the same claims. For the last two years, Yeadon has been warning about the lies coming from Big Pharma and the government concerning Fauci Flu shots. In Principle #9 of a 10-part list of principles issued at the gathering, the following was said: We declare that Pfizer, Moderna, BioNTech, Janssen, AstraZeneca, and their enablers, withheld and willfully omitted safety and effectiveness information from patients and physicians, and should be immediately indicted for fraud. In his own words, Yeadon said the following about the death toll from the shots: We know that shortly after administration of these products thousands of people have died. And although correlation isnt causation, reasonable criteria have been applied to examine the relationship between injections and the events and it is absolutely clear cut that these [shots] are the cause of death. Covid vaccines are medical fraud Not only did the jabs turn out to be dangerous, but Yeadon provided evidence showing that all of the jab manufacturers knew full well that this was the case before they were all unleashed by Donald Trump under Operation Warp Speed. The design of these products was knowingly deficient in a number of ways, Yeadon explained, pointing to the fact that they trigger the production of toxic virus spike protein throughout the body. The world was promised that these toxic virus spike proteins would remain at the injection site, but the reality is that they distribute throughout the body, Yeadon warned. There was no built-in limit to the amounts of toxic spike proteins that can be made, or for how long it is made, and thats the cause of the toxicity, he further stated. With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, Yeadon is no shlock when it comes to these issues. He pointed to reports from last November showing that the clinical trials run by the likes of Pfizer involved questionable practices all around that point to serious fraud. For example, several of the studies were clearly unblinded while they were ongoing, contrary to best practice, he explained. And also, in a number of cases, subjects were removed from the database prior to statistical analysis in a way that is suggestive of fraud. We were given blanket assurances time and again by all of the companies about the benign safety profile of their products, he added. Even as products rolled out in the earliest weeks, they must have known this was not true. To add insult to injury, it appears that these products provide little or no protection from the virus they sought to protect us from. An expert in toxicology, Yeadon further delineated that these experimental gene-based covid injections were tested using methods that were unsafe and unsound. In most cases, proper safety standards were thrown out the window entirely in order to rush the products to market at warp speed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also complicit as it knew about the problems associated with the injections but granted them emergency use authorization (EUA) regardless. The latest news coverage about Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines can be found at ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: LifeSiteNews.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) To manage food shortages due to years of conflict and the effects of climate change, the young people in the landlocked country of South Sudan are being urged to focus on farming instead of oil extraction. About 8.3 million people are at risk of hunger in this Central Africa country. Experts say 80 percent of food items in South Sudan are imported from neighboring countries like Uganda and Kenya. Joy Ladu, the managing director of Ubuntu Farms, has urged the youth to work hard to reduce the countrys dependence on food imports. When the borders were shut down last year due to a strike by truck drivers who used to bring food items from Kenya, food prices skyrocketed in the country. Many families were struggling to get food. That is what made me set up my farm to produce food here in South Sudan, and that will help our people not suffer or wait for imported food, she said. Tiop Paul, managing director of Green Farms, said his attempts to grow crops have helped improve food availability in the oil-rich Upper Nile region. He added that in 2019, the farm produced 6,000 tons of food, which they supplied to the local community. South Sudan Trade and Industry Minister Kuol Athian Mawien stressed that restoring peace and security is also critical to encouraging food production in the country. We have a problem of food insecurity in South Sudan. We have to blame ourselves for the shortage of food in South Sudan while we have many resources. The first thing we have to put in place is security. The second thing is a good road network, but there is no road network in South Sudan to link up the rural areas to marketplaces, he said. Ayii Duang Ayii, the head of the South Sudan Business Community, said a focus on agriculture was necessary to foster economic development. He said people had forgotten agriculture and all focus shifted to the extraction of oil. The country has vast irrigated areas that can be used for farming. However, experts say the Sudanese government shifted its focus to drilling for oil when agricultural production began to fall in 1999. As per the World Bank, the average annual growth rate of the agricultural sector between 2000 and 2008 was only 3.6 percent, which was less than half of the 10.8 percent growth rate in the previous decade. A land survey via satellite by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization revealed that only 4.5 percent of available land was under cultivation when South Sudan became independent in 2011. The countrys dependence on food imports, which comes with high transportation expenses, has contributed to massive food shortages in South Sudan. (Related: Global food scarcity to cause 20+ million refugees from Africa to flee to Europe mass migration.) Looming food crisis planned by globalists since 2015 The looming global famine may be attributed to wars, conflicts, climate change and economic downfall, but theres evidence that the globalists have been planning the global food crisis as early as 2015. Edward Szall, an investigative reporter revealed that a crisis simulation was conducted back in November 2015. This simulation was called the Food Chain Reaction: A Global Food Security Game and was conducted over the course of two days in Washington, D.C. Present in the simulation was an international group of policymakers, academics and business leaders, including representatives from the countries that produce the largest amount of food like Brazil, China and Ukraine. Szall revealed this when he guested in The Stew Peters Show in April. Also present in the simulation were representatives from the World Wildlife Foundation, the Center for American Progress and the Center for Naval Analyses, a federally funded research and development center for the Navy and the Marine Corps. The model mimicked what takes place between 2020 and 2030, including two major food crises that would bring prices surging by about 400 percent. The crisis simulation also predicted extreme weather events supposedly caused by climate change, several famines and refugee crises in Bangladesh, Chad, Myanmar and Sudan, and the toppling of the governments of Pakistan and Ukraine. The predictions are slowly becoming real. The Russia-Ukraine war is starting to cause food scarcity, as Ukraine is the leading exporter of agricultural commodities and Russia has blocked the ports for grain exports. Furthermore, South Sudan is on the brink of food crisis because they highly depend on food imports from neighboring African countries. South Sudan forms part of a ring of fire encircling the globe where climate shocks, conflict, Wuhan coronavirus pandemic and rising costs are driving millions closer to starvation. Visit Famine.news for more news related to food shortages. Watch the below video that talks about how to use food scarcity to awaken millions. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Global food prices surge to record highs; FAO warns of possible famine all over the world. Great reset: Famine threatens to wipe out 300 million. Agricultural Economy Barometer flashes warning signs over global crop crisis (and looming famine.) Sources include: Albawaba.com WFP.org Knoema.com UnitedBitco.com Brighteon.com 1 Cargill.com News.UN.org Brighteon.com 2 (Natural News) Reports have emerged to suggest that police officers in Uvalde, Tex., where 18-year-old Salvador Ramos is said to have shot up an elementary school, stood around outside and did nothing to try to stop him while parents and witnesses urged the officers to go inside and take action. One woman could be heard screaming Go in there! Go in there! at officers while they stood stationary outside Robb Elementary School, allowing the tragedy to take place without any attempt at intervention, according to the Associated Press (AP). The gunman, who reportedly lived with his drug-addicted mother and had numerous encounters with police, barricaded himself in a classroom for 40 minutes, we are told, before murdering 19 students and two teachers. One father who says he lost a daughter in all the carnage considered charging inside the facility himself, without weapons, since police officers who did have weapons refused to do so. Lets just rush in because the cops arent doing anything like they are supposed to, Javier Cazares said. More could have been done. When Cazares rushed to the school upon hearing the news, he was shocked to see officers standing idly by instead of doing their job. His daughter Jacklyn was reported as one of the victims who was killed inside the school. They were unprepared, Cazares told the media. Listen in below to the Situation Update from Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks about how society is becoming more violent as the world economy comes unhinged: Since police officers could not contain Ramos in the classroom, they apparently just gave up trying? At the time when the shooter first approached the school, he is said to have encountered a school district security officer. Two Uvalde police officers did try to go in after him opening fire, though they were left wounded as a result. It wasnt until 40 minutes to an hour after the shooting began that a tactical team shot and killed him on the scene, reports The Post Millennial. In defense of law enforcements refusal to intervene, Department of Public Safety director Steve McCraw alleges that officers were working to contain (the shooter) in the classroom. The bottom line is law enforcement was there, he says. They did engage immediately. They did contain (Ramos) in the classroom. The problem is that classroom was full of students and a teacher. After getting a staff member with a key to open up the door of the classroom where Ramos was hiding out, Border Patrol agents were eventually able to get inside and neutralize the situation. The circumstances surrounding this are also strange, however, as a spokesperson from the agency chose to speak anonymously to the AP. Witness Juan Caranza, 24, who was at the scene as the crime was occurring, says he saw Ramos crash his vehicle and run into the school with an AR-15. Caranza says that they were more of them, referring to law enforcement, and just one of him, referring to Ramos. Caranza told the media that he believes police officers should have done more to diffuse the situation, or at least try to do so. Instead, they just meandered about outside the school while the tragedy unfolded. Why they chose to do this, allowing Ramos almost a full hour to have his way with his victims, remains unknown. Were they told to stand down and not try to stop the tragedy? And if so, why? Is this yet another false flag incident that was allowed to happen as part of the deep states gun grab agenda? The latest news about increasing violence and the decay of Western civilization can be found at Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: ThePostMillennial.com APNews.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) As Russias invasion of Ukraine nears the end of its third month, war clouds appear to be darkening more of Europe. Just a few hours after Prime Minister Viktor Orban took total control of Hungary after pushing through a constitutional amendment allowing his government to rule by decree when there is war in a neighboring country, he declared a wartime state of emergency. According to a report by Bloomberg News, the Hungarian parliament approved a state of emergency earlier in the day on Tuesday, which is scheduled to take effect at midnight. That gives Orbans government maneuvering room and the ability to react immediately to the ongoing conflict in neighboring Ukraine, according to the prime minister, who spoke in a video posted to Facebook. Corporate media outlet Bloomberg, naturally, approved of the actions as a victory for the banner carrier for nationalists worldwide. The outlet reports: The move comes after Orban told US right-wing celebrities last week at an event in Budapest, which included a video message from former President Donald Trump, that the recipe for wielding full power over a nation requires building your own media and institutions. And, above all, ditching established political norms to play by our own rules. We need maneuvering and the ability to take action immediately, Orban said after his ministers took the oath of office. The state of emergency, which he said he called because of Russias attack against neighboring Ukraine, will allow him to use all tools of the state, he said. Now hes the banner carrier for nationalists worldwide, with Trump praising him as a great leader in a video stream at the conference. On Wednesday, Orbans government is expected to announce the first measures it will take under the new state of emergency. He had been making the case for the action even before his Cabinet was sworn in on Tuesday. In addition to amending the constitution to provide for the new powers, Orban, 58, also gave his chief of staff new responsibilities to oversee Hungarys intelligence services. Orban is the European Unions longest-serving head of government and is currently in his fourth consecutive term after he cruised to victory last month in a landslide. Notably, he has had differences with other EU member nations over a host of issues including his opposition to an EU ban on Russian oil. The reason is simple: While Russia certainly did invade Ukraine, Organ knows how dependent the continent is on Russian energy. He also knows that Ukraine is not exactly a model country, being the most corrupt on the continent, or close to it. Meanwhile, in the Asian theater, South Korea and Japan scrambled fighter jets in response to a rare joint air operation by Russia and China. The joint patrol lasted 13 hours over the Japanese and East China seas and involved Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers and Chinese Xian H-6 jets, the Russian Ministry of Defense noted, as cited by Reuters. The report also confirmed that for parts of the lengthy flight, Japanese and South Korean air force jets shadowed the Russian-Chinese patrol, which included nuclear-capable bombers. The operation took place as Americas dementia president, Joe Biden, held a Quad meeting with fellow leaders from India, Japan and Australia, in part to shore up their alliance in the face of new Chinese aggression. At one point during the meeting, Biden ended decades worth of intentional ambiguity over defending Taiwan, claiming in no uncertain terms that he would commit American treasure and blood to do so. A U.S. official said the exercise showed China was continuing military cooperation with Russia in the Indo-Pacific even as Russia brutalizes Ukraine. It also shows that Russia will stand with China in the East and South China Seas, not with other Indo-Pacific states, the official said. World War III is coming even as Biden and his handlers collapse our country. Sources include: Reuters.com Bloomberg.com According to a LiveScience feature, asian mourning elephant mothers, much like their African counterparts, perform rituals for their dead calf. New research shows that Asian mourning elephant mothers, similar to their African counterparts, mourn their deceased by carrying the dead calf in their trunks for days or sometimes weeks. Sanjeeta Sharma Pokharel of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and conservation biology institute, along with Nachiketha Sharma of the Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study, explained that Asian elephants (Eliphaz Maximus) are social creatures that exhibit emotional responses to the loss of one of their conspecifics. Pokharel and Sharma, co-authors of the study, pointed out that understanding how elephants react to death could have far-reaching implications for their conservation. The two researchers observed that people who see an elephant react to a dead relative develop some sense of kinship, compassion, and empathy toward that species. They added that anything that directly connects people could pave the way for coexistence in elephant ranging countries. African Elephants and Asian Elephants The researchers pointed out that African bush elephants (Loxodonta Africana) have been observed to react emotionally when a member of the herd dies. The elephants' reactions include approaching the corpse and touching it with their drunkards, kicking at the carcass, and standing nearby as if standing guard. However, Asian elephants live in forested habitats, the researchers point out, which makes it more difficult to observe the animal. Brian Aucone, senior vice president for biological sciences at the Denver Zoo, pointed out that Asian elephants can be up to 100 feet away from the observer and the observer still can not see the elephants because the forest is so dense. Aucone is not involved in the study. Read also: Botswana's Biggest Elephant was Killed for its Almost 8-Foot-Long Tusksby Trophy Hunters Studying Videos The two researchers, along with Raman Sukumar, a co-author, decided to conduct the observation using YouTube, a video platform. In their search for keywords related to Asian elephants and death, the team found 39 videos of 24 instances between 2010 and 2021 in which Asian elephants reacted to the loss of a herd member. The search found only 4% for semi-captive elephants, i.e., animals working in the timber industry or tourist parks in Asia. 16% are captive elephants and the rest, 80%, of the videos show wild elephants. The research team reports that some of the most noticeable behaviors in the videos are when a calf dies. In five of the 12 videos, an adult female is seen carrying the calf. Judging by the condition of the corpse, the mother elephant had been carrying the dead calf for days or weeks. Other common elephant reactions seen in the videos include restlessness or alertness when elephants are near the corpse. The elephants also show exploratory movements, such as approaching or examining the body, or touching and smelling it. Aucone pointed out that elephants communicate through their sense of smell, so it is not surprising that the elephant sniffs the corpse. Aucone also pointed out that this is similar to cases where the zoo has to euthanize older elephants due to illness or infirmity. The staff gives the herd a chance to say goodbye to their fallen member. The survivors often sniffed the deceased elephant or put their trunks to its mouth, which is a social behavior among elephants. Related article: [CAUGHT ON VIDEO] Last Moments of Mother Dolphin and Calf, Struggling Amid Mauritius Oil Spill CHONGQING, CHINA - MAY 16: (CHINA OUT) A termite queen (L), which is about 5 centimeter long and a termite king, about 1 centimeter long, are displayed by a worker of the Chongqing Termite Control Institute, on May 16, 2007 in Chongqing Municipality, China. A termitarium is found and cleared at the Chongqing Education College. There are about 1,900 species of termite, or white ant in the world, many of which feed on wood and often destroy trees and wooden structures. (Photo : Photo by China Photos/Getty Images) Numerous terrestrial creature groups are divided by long distances of enormous seas. The theories as to how species came so far apart are as diverse as the creatures themselves. Countless creatures have caught journeys with mankind in current history, moving across the globe on our cars, agricultural goods, and bodies. How Drywood Termites Crossed The Ocean Millions of Years Ago Science Alert recently reported that previously, tens of thousands of years earlier, the land masses were linked, and creatures can simply move throughout the earth. However there appears to be a bit of drifting and wishing for the good from then to now. According to recent research, the drywood termite's species (Kalotermitidae) is an adept at this, managed to cross the sea about 40 times in the previous 50 million years. Termites are winged organisms, and while you might think they might travel by flight, they're really quite bad at soaring hundreds of kilometers, so they're best suitable to crossing enormous amounts of sea by another mode of transportation. In the update given by main scientist Ale Buek, an underwater archaeologist from Japan's Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), he stated that the specie really adept at crossing seas and to demonstrate this, the scientists use the Krakatau archipelago. A disastrous supervolcano in 1883 left the entire region barren, yet within only 100 years, various varieties of drywood beetles had reconquered the territory. The dispersion capacity of Kalotermitidae originates from their behavior, since they mainly breed and graze on solitary planks of wood that may drift throughout seas as bridges. Several surviving Kalotermitidae genera are incapable to hunt beyond their breeding piece of timber, therefore forming tiny communities in timber objects such as rotted wood on tree trunks. Evaluating large numbers of drywood insect pest specimens taken all over the globe throughout the past three decades, the experts concentrated to about 120 species of the genus, depicting 27% of the Kalotermitidae diverse culture and nearly the whole of the various species, giving the squad a great deal of details to collaborate with. Also read: Sibling Cannibalism: Wasp Babies Eat Their Siblings Drywood Termites in the World The scientists determined that the oldest closest relative existed 84 million years ago by biologically monitoring their genetic lineage. This implies that some of the earliest divisions in the genealogy may have occurred across the territory prior the supercontinent Gondwana broke apart. Nonetheless, the majority of the 40 or so breaks occurred fewer than 50 million years earlier, suggesting that these tiny land-hoppers were moving throughout the ocean. Furthermore, the study implies that scientists have been too hard on these tiny fellas and their primitive existence. The Kalotermitidae often dwell in small minorities on a block of wood, which many academics believe was the 'traditional' manner insects existed until bigger and more complicated hive formations arose. As per the authors of the study which is posted under the journal of Molecular Biology and Evolution, a few of the biological family's earliest generations farmed on numerous wooden planks, implying that the single-piece-of-wood method is a fairly modern adaption, presumably motivated by rivalry. The investigation as per the experts simply serves to underscore how few scientists understand about beetles, their diverse habits, and the scope of their leisure events. Since more data concerning their conduct and habitat becomes available, researchers will be likely to utilize this bloodline to learn more about the development of socialization in beetles and how organisms are so remarkable. Related article: Wing Virus Has Potential To Wipe Out Honeybee Populations Worldwide Gaborone (Botswana) 26 May 2022 (SPS)- African High Commissions and Embassies accredited to Botswana celebrated Africa Day, this afternoon in Travel Lodge, Gaborone, in the presence of representative of Botswana Government, International diplomatic Missions and some 200 invitees from different institutions, organisations and media. The opening ceremony was an opportunity for the Dean of the Africa group and Ambassador of Angola to Botswana, H.E. Mrs. Beatriz Antonia Manuel de Morais, who stressed the importance of the event emphasizing the principles upon which African unity was built, recalling the theme chosen by the African Union for 2022 celebration of the Day, Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent. The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Botswana and High Commissioner of Mozambique to Botswana, H.E. Mr. Domingos Fernandes, took the audience through the history of the Africanism, and the dreams and aspirations of the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity, now African Union. On his side, the official representative of Botswana government, Honourable Mr. Kabo Morwaeng, Minister for Presidential Affairs, gave the official opening of the event, stressing in his address the importance of celebrating Africa Day to reflect on African achievements, challenges, and strong cultural diversity and heritage. He recalled the history of the unification of African nations under the umbrella of the African Union, emphasizing the sacrifices and wisdom of the founding fathers of the AU, who left a formidable legacy, he said, in the fight for economic and political emancipation of Africa. In this regards, he indicated that as the AU continues with its unwavering stand on principles of self-determination, freedom and political independence, among others, which are key to socio-economic development; we must also determine the extent to which we have lived up to these values. He implored all Africans to continue to speak with one voice and support those among us who continue to be denied full actualisation of these very same fundamental principles. Regrettably, today we still have some countries on the Continent that have not attained their political independence and self-determination, such as the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic. He finally considered that Africans must therefore rectify this anomaly by calling for their political emancipation through the African Union, the United Nations and other relevant bodies. The Saharawi Embassy, like the rest of African Missions, participated in this event with a stand showcasing some aspects of the Saharawi culture, music, clothing and political reality. The event was also an opportunity for African Embassies to present their national food, attire and arts. (SPS) 090/500/60 (SPS) A chimpanzee lays down in a cage at Musee Vivant de Bujumbura (the Living Museum of Bujumbura), in Bujumbura, Burundi, on March 14, 2022. (Photo : Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images) Most intelligent beings like to assume that the command of dialect distinguishes humans from other species' communicative talents, however a recent study on chimps may require humans to reconsider exactly how distinctive the human capabilities of communication truly are. The Study on the Hidden Language of Chumpanzees Investigators studied over 5,000 records of untamed grownup chimp cries in Ta National Park in Cote d'Ivoire for a latest analysis (aka Ivory Coast). After scientists investigated the pattern of the sounds caught on the transcriptions, researchers were shocked to discover 390 distinct auditory patterns, which is similar to various sorts of phrases formed from various sound sorts, as reported by ScieceAlert. In comparison to the nearly limitless potential for human phrase building, 390 different patterns may not appear too lengthy. Nonetheless, prior recently, no one realized that nonhuman chimpanzees had several diverse stuffs to talk to one other - since their communicative talents had not been assessed to a degree. According to wildlife scientist Tatiana Bortolato of Germany's Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, the results indicate that chimpanzee auditory transmission is far more complicated and organized than originally anticipated. The investigators sought to see how chimps aggregate single-use sounds into patterns, how they organize those sounds within the chains, and how they reassemble separate patterns into further lengthier repeats. Although chimp signal mixtures have previously been researched, the patterns that comprise their entire auditory capacity was never submitted to a large quantitative investigation. To address this, the researchers recorded 900 hours of recorded conversations from 46 natural adult foreign chimps (Pan troglodytes verus) from three separate chimp populations in Ta National Park. Furthermore, the authors discovered how auditory stimuli might be pronounced singly, in two time series (bigrams), or in three-unit patterns by examining the utterances (trigrams). Experts also examined how distinct types of common speech patterns were arranged and melded, as well as mapping systems of how these sounds were mixed (for example, bigrams within trigrams). Overall, there were a total of 12 distinct sound types discovered, which encompasses moans, gasps, hoos, growls, yells, and whines, that seemed to imply extra functions based on how they were employed, while also on the circumstances in which the conversation occurred. Also read: Over 100 Baby Crocodiles Hitch Ride on Their Dad's Back 5000 Chimpanzees Recorded by Experts The study which was posted originally under the journal of Communication Biology claimed that the investigators unearthed that these unique varieties of commands could be blended in numerous forms to create 390 distinct sorts of interludes, which experts claim to be an outlier in terms provided that novel auditory patterns were still discovered as the investigators reached their site playback restriction. Nonetheless, the evidence thus far suggests that chimp correspondence is significantly more complicated than previously thought, which has consequences for the complexity of point directly in their speech, as well as giving new clues into the origins of human language. The chimp auditory network, which consists of 12 call types that may be utilized as individual units, bigrams, trigrams, or lengthier series, has the capacity to convey scores of diverse interpretations, as per the authors. While this potential is far shorter than the limitless quantity of possible interpretations that verbal communication can create, it still gives a framework that extends over and above what has usually been deemed plausible in monkey processes. Brill also reported that the group managed to acquire even bigger collections of chimp calls in the future to see how the variety and sequencing of spoken patterns related to flexible signal formation, which was not examined in this work. By researching the rich intricacy of wild chimp speech patterns, a highly sophisticated creature like humans, researchers hope to get new insights into where we came from and how our distinctive vocabulary originated. Related article: 5,000 of the World's Smallest Penguins Swarm the Shore of an Australian Beach Questionable theories that monkeypox may have leaked from a lab in Ukraine or China were dismissed by experts as nonsensical claims, Newsweek reports. Wuhan Institute of Virology Chuck Callesto, a right-wing media activist with 300,000 Twitter followers, alleged the Wuhan lab experimented with monkeypox last year and published a research report in an international journal in February. The tweet was posted Monday. BOMBSHELL REPORT: Wuhan Lab was EXPERIMENTING WITH MONKEYPOX Last Year Published Research Report in International Journal in February 2022... Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) May 23, 2022 Castello did not provide details of the said published research paper. However, Newsweek suspects it is the journal edited by Wuhan Institute of Virology researcher Zheng-Li Shithe and published Feb. 28 in Virologica Sinica. The Wuhan Institute of Virology is the same Chinese lab that was involved in the COVID leak theories that circulated during the pandemic. Newsweek reports that the theories were seriously considered by scientists and investigators. However, experts are leaning toward the theory that the pandemic was caused by natural transmission from animals. The February research article referenced in Castello's tweet discusses creating a fragment of the monkeypox virus to show how large DNA constructs can be assembled without error, allowing detection by PCR testing. The researchers were unable to achieve the stated goal due to safety concerns about their work. The researchers pointed out that they only wanted to create a fragment that was less than one-third the size of the entire genome, which could alleviate the safety concerns raised. The researchers explained that the assembled product is fail-safe in that it virtually eliminates any risk of reversion to an infectious virus. Ukrainian Laboratory Another theory circulating on the Internet states that monkeypox originated in a Ukrainian laboratory, citing an independent investigator who in turn cited an unnamed source at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). However, the theory was published by NewsPunch, a widely discredited website. FactCheck.org calls the website in question a prolific poster of misinformation and conspiracy theories. David Robertson, head of the Department of Viral Genomics and Bioinformatics at the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom, dismissed both theories as unsubstantiated stories that are purely speculative and malicious nonsense. In his interview with Newsweek, Robertson said there is no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 or monkeypox was created in a laboratory. He added that genome sequences of monkeypox are being reported from several countries and that recent cases are linked to an earlier outbreak. Robertson cited a recent study presented by Portuguese researchers on Virological.org, a viral genomic discussion forum. In the study, the researchers noted that the current outbreak virus belongs to the West African clade and is most closely related to viruses associated with the export of monkeypox virus from Nigeria to several countries in 2018 and 2019, namely the United Kingdom, Israel, and Singapore. Richard Ebright, professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Rutgers University in New Jersey, told Newsweek that all indications are that the monkeypox outbreak is a natural monkeypox virus. Ebright is a personality who strongly supports the laboratory leak theory for COVID. Jonathan Stoye, a virologist at the Francis Crick Institute in the United Kingdom, said the reaction to the monkeypox story reflects a degree of hysteria, that is not worthy of serious consideration. He added that it is likely that there is a high number of unreported cases in Africa, in the hundreds if not thousands, and that it is very unlikely that these cases originated in China. Read also: Seven Cases of Rare Monkeypox Infections Detected in Several European Countries World Health Organization Statement In the U.S., there is currently one confirmed case and several suspected cases in six states. Most cases in the recent outbreak occurred in men who have sex with men (MSM), leading to speculation about transmission. On May 23, the World Health Organisation stressed that monkeypox is not a "gay disease," as social media has attempted to label the outbreak. Andy Seale, a consultant to the HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programme at WHO, noted at a conference that the suggestion that monkeypox is a disease of the gay community is not accurate. Seale explained that while there are cases in communities that identify as MSM, anyone can contract monkeypox through close contact. Related artricle: Monkeypox Outbreak Reaches Canada, U.S. with Confirmed Cases Thunderstorms will put multiple regions in the United States at risk again following the recent forecast of a slow-moving storm system from the Central US, which is currently in an eastward journey towards the East Coast. The latest storm warning of US weather authorities indicates that severe thunderstorms may affect states along the Gulf Coast, Midwest, Mississippi Valley, and Ohio Valley; putting approximately 56 million Americans at risk of disruptive, life-threatening winds, and potential flooding. Cities like New Orleans, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; Chicago, Illinois; and Indianapolis, Indiana will have the highest risk of being struck by the severe weather compared to other locations in the said regions. Their surrounding areas can be affected as well. Based on previous related weather events in the country, heavy rain, large hail, and tornadoes are the most potential weather hazards from severe storms. US Storm Warning The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) of the National Weather Service (NWS), which is under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has issued its severe thunderstorm alert for the US from Wednesday to Thursday, May 25 to May 26. Based on the weather forecast, "isolated strong to severe thunderstorms" are still possible in the central Gulf Coast, lower-mid Mississippi Valley, Midwest, and Ohio Valley. The SPC underscores damaging wind gusts to be the main threat with the severe weather as the convection spreads into northeastern Mississippi and western Alabama. The US storm warning came after the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) of the NOAA - NWS on Tuesday, May 24, issued a warning for a massive, slow-moving storm system, forecast to traverse the Central US toward the Eastern US. The WPC weather alert for the system will be valid until Friday, May 27. Also Read: NWS Issues Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for Wisconsin, Texas, and Other Regions This Week Millions Under Threat The mentioned cities earlier are under the Slight Ris' zone with a current area of approximately 85,000 square miles that can affect 17 million people. Under this zone, "scattered severe storms are possible" and can be more intense compared to locations within the Marginal Risk zone. On the other hand, the Marginal Risk zone currently affects an area of approximately 320,000 square miles and 39 million people in cities like Columbus, Ohio; Memphis, Tennessee; Nashville, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; and St. Louise, Missouri. This level means "isolated severe thunderstorms are possible. The said risk zones are part of a five-tier scale being issued by the SPC to determine the number and intensity of thunderstorms. Storms and Tornado Outbreaks Since the spring season started in March this year, various natural phenomena, including tornado outbreaks, have occurred in multiple areas across the US that will span for the coming weeks and months, causing casualties and widespread property damage. On March 18, a tornado outbreak rampaged across six states such as Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee, according to The New York Times. This year's tornadic natural calamity occurred several months after a total of 93 people have been killed when deadly tornadoes ripped through the Central US and the Southern US across five states, including Kentucky, in December 2021, according to ABC News. Related Article: Severe Thunderstorm Places over 60 Million Americans at Risk in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast A recent analysis warns of an increase in intense, quick bursts of rainfall across Australia. According to the Bureau of Meteorology's Special Climate Statement 76, brief and heavy rainstorms have risen by roughly 10% in some places during the last decade, particularly in the north. According to the research, which was issued in the aftermath of the devastating floods that struck Queensland and New South Wales earlier this year, the changing climate will cause heavier rainfall events to grow more extreme in the future. Flood forecast in Australia The Pacific La Nia weather pattern has stagnated, but a crucial Indian Ocean climate driver is shifting towards a wetter phase, increasing the likelihood of severe rain and flooding in eastern Australia, as per The Guardian. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a special weather report on the severe torrential rains that hit parts of south-eastern Queensland, northern New South Wales, and the Sydney region in February and March, and its fortnightly report on climate influences predicted that the wet spell would last for months. The potential of wetter-than-normal conditions for the east coast, in particular, raises worries of more flooding. Because catchments are still wet and dams are full, it won't take much rain to produce further flash floods and destruction. According to the bureau's special climate report, a series of low-pressure systems this year triggered significant floods in Lismore, Brisbane, and other areas. According to the study, more than 50 locations in south-eastern Queensland and north-east NSW received more than one meter of rain in the week ending March 1. The Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment to Sydney's west and north saw the wettest nine- and 14-day spells in records dating back to 1900 for those dates up to March 9. The incidents were uncommon, according to Karl Braganza, national manager of the bureau's climate services. According to Braganza, to generate such high multi-day rainfall totals, you need either very slow-moving systems or quasi-stationary systems. That arrangement, particularly for the Brisbane event, just remained in place for an extended length of time. Also Read: Severe Tropical Cyclone Charlotte Expected to Weaken Off the Coast of Western Australia Residents are again in grave danger According to the Bureau, more than 50 places received more than one meter of rain during the February and March storms in one week, as per 9News. According to the study, some locations received 2.5 to 5 times their monthly normal rainfall. Destructive flash floods engulfed whole communities from Maryborough in Queensland to Grafton in New South Wales, killing 22 people. According to the data, this was the wettest week in dozens of locations since 1990. Some sections of south-eastern Queensland had their biggest flood peaks since 1893, according to the study, however the lower Brisbane and Bremer rivers, as well as Lockyer Creek, crested below the levels of the January 1974 and January 2011 floods. The climate statements attempt to offer information about major weather occurrences that affect Australians. The most current examination of the February-March floods has been added to a more than a 15-year archive of studies. More flooding in Lismore Residents in Lismore are being warned that additional flooding is possible as rain continues to fall in northern New South Wales. The region has already seen catastrophic floods in recent months, and the Bureau of Meteorology has warned that more may be on the way following rain over the weekend. On Monday morning, minor flood warnings were issued for the Wilsons River in Lismore, as well as the Richmond River in Coraki and Bungawalbin. Last weekend, the southeast was put on flood alert after more than 100mm of rain fell on numerous waterlogged catchments and dams, causing them to release water ahead of additional rain. The Sunshine Coast neighborhood of Maroochydore had 122mm of rain in the 24 hours leading up to 9 a.m. last Sunday. Mooloolaba received 112mm, with moreover 100mm falling farther south at Parrearra Weir and inland at Mountain Creek. Related article: Australia Will Experience More La Nina Weather This 2022 Broadcom's planned acquisition of VMware could open opportunities to reach enterprise and telco companies alike with innovative technology. The question is whether Broadcom will let VMware further develop tools for 5G, software-defined networking (SDN), and other technologies. Semiconductor manufacturer and infrastructure software vendor Broadcom confirmed Thursday that it has reached an agreement to buy VMware in a deal worth roughly $61 billion in stock and cash, subject to closing conditions, including regulatory and shareholder approval. The merger agreement includes a "go-shop" provision under which VMware can consider alternative proposals from other parties for a period ending July 5, but if the deal stands and wins approval, it is expected to close by the end of January 2023. Then Broadcom Software Group and VMware would become part of a VMware-branded business unit. The group has the potential to develop enterprise and telco technologies that could broaden its appeal to users in both sectors, experts say. VMware SaaS One of VMware's overarching goals this year was to make all of its major products available as subscription or SaaS offerings. "Specifically, all of our [software-defined data center] offerings will become available as cloud-delivered software, joining our Tanzu cloud-management, security, and end-user SaaS offerings and will help further accelerate our business-model transformation," VMware CEO Raghu Raghuram said during the company's February financial-analyst call. The company has gotten off to a good start in its first fiscal quarter this year, ending May 1, with subscription and SaaS revenue reaching $899 million, an increase of 21% year-over-year. During the quarter, SaaS and subscription revenue accounted for 29% of total revenue, which rose 3% year over year to $3.09 billion. VMware's roots are in software, and how they move forward with virtualization, network function virtualization (NFV), NSX networking software, and other software technology will be areas to watch, analysts say. "VMware has made slow and steady inroads across the spectrum of networking technology and innovation over time in a variety of areasSD-WAN, NFV infrastructure in telecom and enterprise areas, and I would expect that to continue," said Rohit Mehra, group vice president with IDC's Network and Telecom Infrastructure group. VMware has evolved NSX from a pure network overlay to a network, multicloud, and security platform for cloud, containers, and data-center operations, Mehra noted. VMware telco technology The company has also moved further into telco technologies such support for 5G. Last year it rolled out the VMware Telco Cloud Platform radio-access network (RAN) to let service providers virtualize their RAN operations. Raghuram has said that helping build 5G infrastructure that reaches the edge and creates a hybrid environment where data-center infrastructure comes with cloud-like features will be a key business driver in the futurea direction Broadcom should be able to continue with its own chips in a variety of telecom equipment. "VMware has massive ambitions for putting their virtualization stack at the 5G edge," said Keith Townsend, principal with The CTO Advisor. "Broadcom is better positioned in the telco space and may be able to open doors for VMware." Potential for smartNICs Another area that could see synergy between VMware and Broadcom is the development of smartNIC environments that offload server CPU duties onto a separate device to free up CPU cycles and support software-defined cloud, compute, networking, storage, and security services designed for rapid deployment in edge, colocation, or service-provider networks. VMware is already developing its Project Monterey environment that melds bare-metal servers, graphics processing units (GPUs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), network interface cards (NICs), and security into a large-scale virtualized environment. A key component is VMware's SmartNIC, which incorporates a general-purpose CPU, out-of-band management, and virtualized device features. As part of Monterey, VMware enabled its ESXi hypervisor to run on the NIC, which will provide a single management framework for all the compute infrastructure, whether virtualized or bare-metal. An agreement between VMware and GPU giant Nvidia Intel is also a partner promises to bring its BlueField-2 data-processing unit and other technologies into Monterey. Some of these projects could complement Broadcom engineering efforts. Broadcom has a smartNIC as well its Stingray adapter that targets networking, storage and security applications. Opportunities for multiple product integrations "There is potential for co-engineering with Broadcom's existing portfolio leading to product integration enhancements," said Gartner Research Vice President Andrew Lerner. "Some potential examples include: VMware Project Monterey with Broadcom's semiconductor business, and Broadcom's ValuOps with VMware Tanzu." There could also be synergies between VMware's Vrealize cloud-management product line, including Vrealize Automation and Vrealize Operations, and Broadcom's software stack that is based on technology the company acquired when it bought CA, said Forrester analyst Naveen Chhabra. "You could see some product rationalization there," Chhabra said. "Call it fine-tuning." But it's far from certain that co-development will go smoothly, particularly since Monterey in particular involves other chip makers. "The companies will have some synergies with software certainly but it's not at all clear how all of the partnerships both vendors have with other big industry vendors and service providers will work in the future," Mehra said. Other issues surrounding the deal include the possibility of price increases for customers, and whether VMware innovation will thrive under Broadcom ownership, analysts said. "VMware has strong financials, a large and loyal installed base, and a diverse product portfolio," Gartner's Lerner said. "They have a huge installed-based (500,000+) of enterprise customers using their products within their data centers. Thus, they're deeply embedded and 'sticky' to customers." But based on Broadcom's track record, it may not be business as usual for VMware customers, Lerner said. Price increases on the horizon? "Gartner expects Broadcom to increase pricing for VMware customers and adjust R&D spending, based on Broadcom statements and historical precedent with CA/Symantec," Lerner said, noting that Broadcom spends less on R&D, as a percentage of revenue, than VMware does. "Broadcom has publicly stated that it runs acquired software businesses differently than they were operating previously, to create financial returns consistent with their own 'disciplined' business model." Customers already have the perception that VMware is expensive, said Forrester's Chhabra. "Clients have been talking V-tax' [VMware tax] the market is full of those talks. I think from a recent-announcements standpoint clients will be worried about their price increases, as they've experienced from Broadcom in their earlier acquisitions." Price increases could serve to push some customers away. "A number of clients have been asking for alternatives," Chhabra noted. Innovation concerns Broadcom 's approach to R&D also raises concerns about innovation. "Broadcom's intentions at least in the past don't demonstrate that innovation is a priority, so we'll see what happens this time," Chhabra said. On a positive note, the fact that Broadcom's existing software operations will be brought under VMware, which will keep its name, suggests a departure from earlier acquisition management and that there will be leeway to achieve integration among overlapping product developments. "Broadcom's decision to rebrand the software group under the VMware moniker indicates a potential adjustment to prior software acquisitions," Lerner said. User caution advised But as with any big merger among major technology companies, achieving synergies among multiple and varied product lines is incredibly complex, and users are advised to exercise caution. Do not assume "business as usual in the long-term," Lerner said. "Validate existing inventory to prepare for licensing changes and/or to explore vendor alternatives. Push VMware for written roadmap commitments and add price-caps and exit-clauses for multi-year license agreements." (Additional reporting by Jon Gold.) The United Nations Security Council will vote Thursday, at the request of the United States, on a resolution aimed at toughening sanctions on North Korea after it fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, diplomats said Wednesday. The United States, which holds the rotating Security Council presidency for May, has scheduled the vote for the late afternoon, two diplomats told AFP on condition of anonymity. Earlier, a senior US official said the resolution would notably look at curbing oil imports, although diplomats say Russia and China could exercise their veto power. The official noted that Security Council Resolution 2397, adopted unanimously in 2017, called for further consequences in the event of another ICBM launch. That was a provision of that resolution. Thats precisely what happened and so we feel it's now time to take action, the official said on condition of anonymity. The official declined to comment on whether Russia and China would veto the text but said, We think that this resolution will have strong support because this is an issue that's of profound importance to us, obviously, and of profound importance to our allies Japan and South Korea. According to a diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity, Beijing could be willing to adopt new sanctions in the event of nuclear testing, but not over missile launches. A spokesperson for the Chinese mission meanwhile told AFP that We don't think a resolution as proposed by the US can solve any problem. Beijing said it had proposed its own statement on North Korea but it fell on deaf ears of the US. The United States draft resolution up for vote Thursday calls for a reduction in the amount of oil that North Korea can legally import each year for civilian purposes from four million to three million barrels. It would similarly cut imports of refined petroleum from 500,000 to 375,000 barrels. The resolution would also impose further sanctions on North Korean exports including of clocks, watches and mineral fuels. The United States and South Korea say that North Korea fired three missiles, including possibly its largest ICBM, hours after President Joe Biden closed a visit to the region. One UN envoy whose country is on the Security Council, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the huge threat posed by North Koreas actions, but indicated the US decision to push for a quick vote could still backfire. A division of the Security Council on this crisis would be bad, the envoy said, noting the high stakes on the nuclear proliferation issue. If the draft is rejected, I'm afraid it will just be good news for the young leader of the DPRK, the ambassador said, adding that such a rift on the council would make it more difficult to increase the pressure on Pyongyang. Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Thursday said that the government was planning to bring back money smuggled out of the country to ease the current dollar crisis. Amnesty may be announced for those who will bring back such money to the country, he said after a meeting of the cabinet committee on economic affairs. Answering a question about the possible amount of money that has been smuggled out the country, the finance minister said that no calculation was made. It has been learnt from different sources, including media reports, that there has long been capital flight from the country, he said. According to a Global Financial Integrity report released in January 2019, the illicit capital outflow went unabated as $5.9 billion, about Tk 50,000 crore, was siphoned off from Bangladesh in 2015 and a total of $81.74 billion was smuggled out of the country from 2006 to 2016. The finance minister said that they wanted to get back all the money. Former Bangladesh Bank governor Salehuddin Ahmed said that such opportunities may be offered for a limited period to tackle the high demand for dollars. He also said that the central bank must ask for the source of money. The finance minister said that an announcement would be made in the upcoming budget that a certain amount of tax would be charged on the money to be brought back. Centre for Policy Dialogue distinguished fellow Debapriya Bhattacharya said that such a government plan was not acceptable at all. He said that they would soon hold a detailed discussion on the issue of capital flight. The finance minister explained that the government was taking the move to tackle the current dollar crisis amid surging import payments following hikes in the prices of commodities like fuel oils, fertiliser and food items on the global market because of the war between Russia and Ukraine. He, however, affirmed that the current dollar crisis in the country should not be likened to that of other South Asian countries. Bangladesh has already taken a series of measures to slow down the demand for import to safeguard the foreign currency reserve. The measures include the imposition of letter of credit margins up to 75 per cent to discourage import of luxury and unnecessary items. Besides, regulatory duty has been imposed on about 135 imported items. The BB has been devaluing local currency Taka against the US dollar after the foreign currency reserve fell below $42 billion early May from $48 billion in last August. The central bank is also now overlooking the requirement of documents with the inflow of remittance to the tune of $5,000 and above. The finance minister said that the BB would announce further measures ahead of the budget for the return of the money siphoned out of the country. Former National Board of Revenue chair Muhammad Abdul Mazid said that the proposed opportunity should be offered with conditions of disclosing the sources of the money and with penalty. Otherwise, he said, it will be an injustice to the honest taxpayers. Answering whether the opportunity will be popular, the finance minister hoped that it would be a good opportunity to bring the money back home. He added that Indonesia had received a good response after offering amnesty for repatriating laundered money. The national budget is scheduled to be announced in the parliament on June 9. Mustafizur Rahman, also a distinguished CPD fellow, too, said that the move was highly unethical as smuggling of money itself was a crime. What would happen in the case of former NRB Global Bank managing director Prasanta Kumar Halder who has reportedly laundered a lions share of the Tk 10,000 crore he has allegedly embezzled? he questioned. In 2020, the High Court was annoyed with the Anti-Corruption Commission for its failure to identify the government officials, politicians, businesspeople and others who were involved in laundering money to Canada. A virtual bench of the High Court, comprising Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel, later again sought detailed reports on those involved in siphoning money abroad, including to Canada, the USA and Australia. In last January, the High Court directed the head of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit to submit details of individuals and business entities, who allegedly smuggled out and kept their money in Swiss and other foreign banks. The court also asked the chair of the Anti-Corruption Commission and the head of the Criminal Investigation Department to submit progress reports on the probes into alleged money laundering and investment in offshore companies by the individuals and business entities, whose names appeared in leaked Panama Papers and Paradise Papers. Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina addresses an event titled Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 International Conference: Issues and Challenge of Implementation held at a city hotel on Thursday. The PM attended the programme virtually from her official Ganobhaban residence in Dhaka. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged the friendly countries and development partners to join hands in executing the Delta Plan-2100, saying her government has been implementing the plan to ensure a better and improved life for the future generations. To implement the Delta Plan, cooperation or participation of all at home and abroad our friendly countries or development partners are solely needed in every field of knowledge, technology and exchange of experiences, starting from financing, she said. The prime minister said this while opening a two-day event titled Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100 International Conference: Issues and Challenge of Implementation, at a hotel in the capital, joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence. The policy makers, researchers, teachers, development activists and development partners from home and abroad are attending the event. Describing the Delta Plan as a techno-economic master plan based on information technology and knowledge, the prime minister said that its implementation required around 2.5 per cent of the GDP by 2025. Mentioning that Bangladesh is a delta having 700 rivers and a vast low land area, she said, We have to build it in such a way so our future generations can live beautifully. We are taking measures in this regard. She said that despite Bangladesh had no contribution to climate change, it was one of the worst climate affected countries. Were taking various short, mid and long term measures keeping in mind the impact of climate change and were advancing with a far-sighted plan to protect Bangladesh for future generations, she said. The prime minister said that theyre taking measures in such a planned way that the development of Bangladesh could be sustainable and its economy would further be cemented. Sheikh Hasina said that her government had undertaken the Delta Plan-2100 considering 100 years on how Bangladesh would advance towards development and prosperity during the period as it was a disaster prone country. Bangladesh has to face floods, droughts, tidal surges, cyclones, river erosion, salinity and landslides at regular intervals due to the impact of climate change, she said. She also said that her government was implementing various programmes to ensure food security, accommodation, employment generation, healthcare services and others to protect the lives of the masses. It is necessary to ensure nutrition alongside food security, she said. The prime minister reiterated that Bangladesh was advancing and would definitely further ahead in the days to come. She said that they proved Bangladeshs advancement running the countrys economy and smoothing peoples lives and livelihoods whereas the world economy was stalled due to the triple blow of the Covid pandemic, natural disasters and Russia-Ukraine war. The world is facing an economic meltdown for the Covid pandemic and the war. Despite the fact, were trying that the people of the country dont have to face any misery, she said. Due to the governments timely measures, the per capita income of Bangladesh has increased to 2824 US dollars and the country has achieved 7.25 per cent growth in the GDP despite the double blow, she said. The prime minister said that her government had reached electricity to every house and broadband internet to every village and launched a satellite to the orbit which makes Bangladesh a digital one. We have been able to keep rolling the wheels of the countrys economy using the digital system and for which were advancing forward, she said. Sheikh Hasina said that her government had executed the Millennium Development Goals successfully and was working to implement the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. We have incorporated the SDGs in our eighth five year plan to achieve it, she added. The prime minister hoped that the Dhakas Delta Conference would discuss the pragmatic measures which were necessary to implement the Delta Plan-2100. This discussion will help Bangladesh in executing the Delta Plan-2100,she said, and hoped for every success of the conference. The prime minister said that her government was building Bangladesh following the footprints of Bangladeshs founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, adding, Were developing the country as Bangabandhus dream. Sheikh Mujib had formed the Joint River Commission in November 1972 for development of flood control, drainage and irrigation systems alongside rebuilding a war ravaged country, she said. The prime minister said that he had enacted a maritime boundary act in 1974 which the United Nations did in 1981, mainly to resolve maritime boundary related issues with the neighbouring countries. Following the footsteps of Sheikh Mujib, she said that her government had achieved huge maritime areas winning legal battles with neighbouring India and Myanmar maintaining friendly relations. No other governments, including the BNP and Jamaat alliance, took any measure to this end, she said. Assuming office after 21 years, the prime minister said that they had inked the 30 years Ganges Treaty with India in 1996. The General Economics Division of the Bangladesh Planning Commission and embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh are jointly arranging the conference. Agriculture minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, state minister for water resources Zaheed Farooque, state minister for planning Shamsul Alam and Dutch ambassador to Bangladesh Anne Gerard van Leeuwen also spoke at the function. Two people were killed and seven others were injured after a tourist microbus fell into a ditch at Jibonnogor of Thanchi upazila in Bandarban on Thursday morning. The one of the deceased has been identified as Hamidur Rahman, 40, an employee of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, while the identity of the other one is could not be known immediately Thanchi police officer-in-charge Sudwip Roy said that the accident took place at about 10:15am near Nildiganta tourist spot while the microbus was on its way from Bandarban to Thanchi. One of the deceased died on the spot while Hamidur Rahman died on his way to the hospital. The OC said that all the passengers of the vehicle were security guards of BUET. The injured were hospitalised, he added. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its front bodies on Thursday brought out processions in different districts protesting at prime minister Sheikh Hasinas derogatory remark on the party chairperson Khaleda Zia involving Padma Bridge. Ruling Awami League activists and police allegedly created obstacles or carried out attacks on BNP people in different districts during the protest rallies, reported New Age correspondents. Speaking separately at a book launching programme in Dhaka, the party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the BNP was feeling unpleasant not due to the construction of the Padma Bridge, but due to the massive plundering of money from the project by the ruling Awami League. Fakhrul said that the Padma Bridge, which was supposed to cost Tk 10,000 crore, was now being built by spending around Tk 40,000 crore. Zia Parishad arranged the programme at the BNP chairpersons Gulshan office, marking the launching of a new book on late president Ziaur Rahman. So, we [BNP] are feeling unpleasant not for the construction of the bridge but the plundering of thousands of crores of money from the project, Fakhrul added. He also alleged that the ruling Awami League leaders were looting peoples hard-earned money and laundering it abroad. On Wednesday, road transport minister and Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader at a programme said that the hearts of the BNP leaders were getting burnt as the much-awaited Padma Bridge was set to be opened to traffic on June 25. Fakhrul said that the government had destroyed all the achievements of the nation and imposed a burden of loans on the countrys people. He said that the government was always bragging about Padma Bridge, which was constructed with public money. This bridge is not being constructed with anybodys paternal property. It is being built with the money taken from the pockets of the countrys people, he said, adding that the AL leaders were looting money from all mega projects in many ways. About the under-construction metro rail project in the capital, he said that many stations were being built unnecessarily within a very short distance only to plunder public money. I have never seen so many stations at such a close distance for any metro rail in the world. Their [AL] goal is to indulge in corruption, plundering and siphoning off Bangladeshs assets, he added. Fakhrul said that the nation was now facing an existential crisis due to ALs misrule, corruption and plundering. New Age district correspondents reported that AL student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League activists attacked the BNP rally in Patuakhali and created obstacles to the BNP rallies in Faridpur, Rajbari and Manikganj. New Age Khulna correspondent reported that at least 35 BNP people were injured during clashes between BNP, BCL and police in Dumuria upazila. New Age correspondent in Rajshahi reported that at least six journalists were injured in an attack by the leaders and activists of BNP in Rajshahi on Thursday. The injured were identified as Abdus Salam, camera person of Somoy Television, Enamul Haque of Dipto TV, Abu Sayeed of SA TV, Lenin of Channel 24, Khokon of Gazi TV, and Bappi of News 24. Witnesses said that Rajshahi district and metropolitan BNP organised a protest rally at the Bhuban Mohon Park in the city on Thursday afternoon to protest the prime ministers comment against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. BNP standing committee member Selima Rahman addressed the rally as the chief guest while Rajshahi Metropolitan BNP convener Ershad Ali Esha was the special guest. District BNP convener Abu Saeed Chand chaired the programme. Minutes after the rally began, two groups of BNP locked into a clash over seating position. The BNP leaders and activists went heavy on the journalists and carried out a sudden attack as the latter went to film the incident of the clash, leaving six of them injured. District BNP convener Abu Saeed Chand told New Age that he could not understand who attacked the journalists and sought an apology for the incident. Rajshahi Union of Journalists strongly protested the attack on the journalists and demanded punishment of the attackers. Officials and members of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Asia-Pacific Telecommunication and South Asian Telecommunication Regulators Council pose for a photo during an event at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka on Thursday. Press release Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in the supervision of Asia-Pacific Telecommunication organised the working group meetings of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators Council at a hotel in the capital on Thursday. BTRC chairman Shyam Sundar Sikder inaugurated the two-day long meetings on Wednesday while its vice-chairman Subrata Roy Maitra and director general Brigadier General Md Nasim Parvez were present, among others. They discussed important policies and regulatory issues related to the telecommunication and information technology sectors of the councils member states. The meetings were attended by two delegates from each of the member states Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Nepal and one each from India and Iran. A total of 35 members, including representatives of Axiata Group Berhad, Telenor Asia, Banglalink Digital Communications Limited, Grameenphone Ltd, and Robi Axiata Ltd, also participated in the meetings. At the inaugural ceremony, Mudassar Naveed, chairman of the working group and director general of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, thanked the BTRC for organising the event, while Towhid Hossain, programme coordinator of Asia-Pacific Telecommunication addressed it, among others. The ninth defence dialogue between Bangladesh and the United States was held in Honolulu, Hawaii on May 17-18, the Inter-Services Public Relations said. The ISPR in a statement on Wednesday said that the purpose of the dialogue this year was to facilitate a broad discussion on bilateral defence and military cooperation as a complement to the strategic dialogue. During the dialogue, decisions were taken to take necessary steps to strengthen relations between the two countries, said the ISPR. Defence cooperation between Bangladesh and the United States is warm and intense. It is clear that the United States will continue to support the Bangladesh Armed Forces in defence development and training, said the ISPR in its statement. This dialogue will enhance our defence and military cooperation in the areas of global and regional security, technology, defence equipment, disaster management, peacekeeping operations, training, visits, joint exercises and deployments workshops, among others, it added. The bilateral defence dialogue between Bangladesh and the US started with a joint declaration on the 1st BD-USA Security Dialogue in 2012. The 8th such dialogue was held through video conference in October 2020. Every year, many members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces are trained at various institutions in the US, the ISPR said. The two countries armed forces have been working together in UN peacekeeping missions and the war on terror, it added. Exchange of military visits of senior officials between the two countries is another feature of military cooperation, it said. Brigadier General Husain Muhammad Masihur Rahman, the director general of the Directorate of Operations and Plan at Armed Forces Division led the Bangladesh delegation in the dialogue while Brigadier General Thomas J James, the director of Strategic Planning and Policy at US Indo-Pacific Command, led the US delegation. Film Critic Chuck Koplinski is The News-Gazette's film critic. His email is chuckkoplinski@gmail.com and you can follow him on Twitter (@ckoplinski). Ethan Simmons is a reporter at The News-Gazette covering the University of Illinois. His email is esimmons@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@ethancsimmons). Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government that is distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Reporter Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey). Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The first four members of Champaigns new Neighborhood Ambassador program from left, Supervisor Jacqueline Kalipeni, Sara Rand, Naajidaah Jones and Javier Zenil-Pena are shown in front of the City Building in downtown Champaign. AP Another Illinois resident has been charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol after being arrested this week Fire officials do not believe that the missing man, identified by police as Jose Javier Andrade, 50, died in the blaze that destroyed the home in the Ironwood subdivision. When Case Western Reserve University research showed that artificial intelligence (AI) could identify which lung cancer patients would benefit from chemotherapy, a national magazine called the finding one of the "10 Most Incredible Medical Breakthroughs of 2018." Four years later, the university has signed an exclusive license agreement with Picture Health that aims to turn the promise of such AI tools into a reality that ultimately benefits patients around the globe. "Our team is excited by the opportunity to develop this groundbreaking AI further so that clinicians, hospitals and other healthcare entities can better predict, diagnose and treat multiple forms of cancer," said Picture Health CEO and co-founder Trishan Arul, who noted the company is in the process of closing an oversubscribed round of seed funding. "We are focused on the mission of applying these technologies to help patients worldwide." Picture Health co-founder Anant Madabhushi, director of the Center for Computational Imaging and Personalized Diagnostics at the Case School of Engineering, led the research involved in the agreement. The work also included three hospitals within walking distance of campus. "Our collaborations with physicians nearby have allowed us to test and refine techniques to diagnose different kinds of lung cancer and determine which treatments have the highest likelihood of helping specific patients," said Madabhushi, who also has an appointment at the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center. "Now Picture Health will provide the expertise we need to advance our tools and get them out to providers." Madabhushi and his team worked with colleagues at Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals (UH) and the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center on research projects that identified: vessels and other signs outside a potential tumor that pointed to whether it was cancerous; patterns on computerized tomography (CT) scans that signaled which patients with small-cell lung cancer would benefit from chemotherapy-;and which might be resistant to that treatment; and CT scan indicators that could help oncologists personalize patients' immunotherapy approaches. Stan Gerson, dean of the university's School of Medicine and acting director of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, said the agreement again demonstrates the benefits of close collaborations among researchers on campus and clinicians at affiliated hospitals. We all are dedicated to a shared mission of helping patients, and over time have developed a unique ecosystem where scientists and physicians so appreciate one another's expert perspective that they are eager to find new ways to work together." Stan Gerson, Dean, Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine Just last fall, Lucid Diagnostics, a company that produces esophageal cancer tests developed through research at Case Western Reserve and UH completed a $70 million public offering. And in the spring, biopharmaceutical giant Amgen acquired Rodeo Therapeutics, a company based on research from CWRU and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School that had earlier received funding from the Harrington Discovery Institute at UH. Since arriving at Case Western Reserve in 2012, Madabhushi has authored or co-authored more than 200 journal articles and secured more than $60 million in federal and non-federal grant funding for research. "By engaging clinicians early in this work," Arul said, "Anant and his team were able to adapt these AI tools in ways that made them particularly useful to the doctors and others who will ultimately apply them. Those collaborations give Picture Health a unique advantage being able deploy these tools more quickly." Over the past decade, studies involving applications of AI to healthcare have increased dramatically; one analysis found that life sciences publications citing AI or machine learning increased more than 20-fold between 2010 and 2019. Forecasts for growth of the global market for AI in healthcare over the next six to eight years vary widely, but even the most conservative estimates put the compound annual growth figure at 25%-;and 2021 base estimates range between $5 billion and nearly $7 billion. The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) Foundation has been awarded a $125,000 grant to connect students with local nonprofits to develop and implement health communications strategies for the organizations. The Harlem Health Fellowship Award in Health Communication for Social Change establishes a new partnership between CUNY SPH and Harlem-based nonprofit organizations seeking professional and effective communications strategies. CUNY SPH students in the Health Communication for Social Change track completing their Capstone project, a culminating requirement of their degree program, will be matched with local organizations as a consultative and strategic partner. The award was conceived, advanced and funded by Ruth Wooden, a member of the CUNY SPH Foundation Board of Directors and a renowned marketing and communications strategist. The CUNY SPH Foundation has been the recipient of Ruth's peerless guidance that has long been to engage our students and the Harlem community in collaborative communications initiatives. We are enormously pleased to implement her vision with Harlem nonprofit organizations that are so critical to the public health and wellness of our neighbors," Lyndon Haviland, CUNY SPH Foundation Board Chair and Distinguished Scholar "This is an exciting opportunity for our students to fulfill their intent to deepen public health communications in our Harlem community, and to gain valuable insights into the goals, challenges and accomplishments of Harlem nonprofit organizations in communicating with their constituents," says Dr. Ayman El-Mohandes, Dean of CUNY SPH. Students will agree to work with their organization during the Capstone semester on planning, and for 12 weeks afterward for consultation and hands-on implementation. CUNY SPH faculty and Wooden will provide guidance throughout the process and Harlem Health Initiative Director Deborah Levine will work closely with the partner organization to ensure that the work meets the organization's needs. "We have learned through the pandemic that nonprofit community leaders are key to establishing trusted public health dialogue with residents," says Adam M. Doyno, executive director of the CUNY SPH Foundation. "The Foundation is proud to advance an opportunity for our students to participate and contribute to the communications piece of that relationship." Wooden has made a significant impact in the U.S. marketing and public policy communications arena including in the realms of health care and public health. Throughout her career and into the present, Wooden has served as a director for a number of nonprofit organizations. These have included CARE, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, Partnership for Drug Free Kids, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, Columbia University School of Health Sciences and the Mailman School of Public Health, Research!America, Harvard Business School Social Enterprise Initiative, Demos, and The Public Good Projects Inc. She is the Chair of the Board of Futures Without Violence (formerly the Family Violence Prevention Fund), as well as a board member of the Union Theological Seminary. In addition to senior leadership roles in advertising and branding, she served as President of the Advertising Council and President of Public Agenda, the New York City-based research and public policy think tank. In 2020, a commentary published in Cell urged the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to address long-standing funding disparities between Black and white researchers. According to a 2011 study, Black applicants were 10 percentage points less likely to receive NIH funding than white applicants. A feature article in Chemical & Engineering News, an independent news outlet of the American Chemical Society, explores why these racial disparities persist in NIH funding and outlines potential solutions. Special correspondent Melba Newsome writes that the crux of the problem lies in how the funding decisions are made: the subjective review process. Those familiar with the process say that funding decisions can be influenced by several factors other than scientific merit, including a lack of diversity among reviewers, the reviewers' perception of scientific merit, and their perception of the applicant and where they went to school. Lower scores for proposals from Black researchers often mean their proposals don't make the cut to be discussed by the reviewers at the same rate as proposals from white PIs. Additionally, research on Black communities and racial health disparities is funded at a lower rate among researchers of all racial backgrounds, but these are topics that Black scientists are more likely to request funding for. These and other factors all work against applicants from racial and ethnic backgrounds that are underrepresented in science. In 2021, the NIH proposed some solutions to address the racial disparity between their grant recipients. An initiative called Unite promised to appoint diversity officers, publicize demographic data about staff and grant recipients, and allocate funding dedicated to research on health equity and health disparities. Another NIH initiative, the Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation, or the FIRST program, seeks to recruit early-career faculty committed to inclusive excellence, but critics question how inclusive excellence will be defined. And some scientists, including one of the Cell commentary authors, suggest other changes, such as broader evaluations of proposals and establishing programs to award additional grants to Black researchers. This idea would build on an existing NIH program for early-career researchers, which evaluates applications from beginning scientists separately from those submitted by established researchers, in the hopes of creating a more equitable funding process. Australian researchers have discovered the key immunological changes that support the remission of peanut allergy in children, paving the way for new, more targeted treatments. The research showed for the first-time specific gene networks are rewired to drive the transition from peanut allergy to clinical remission following a combination treatment of a probiotic and peanut oral immunotherapy. Led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and the Telethon Kids Institute, and published in Allergy, the study found that this network reprogramming essentially shuts down the allergic immune response that was responsible for causing a food allergy. Lead researcher, Murdoch Children's Professor Mimi Tang, said this was the first study to map the complex gene to gene communication and connectivity underlying clinical remission of peanut allergy. "The immunological changes leading to remission of peanut allergy were largely unknown," she said. Previous studies had mostly focused on examining the levels of gene expression, without also exploring how genes interact with each other. But genes don't work in isolation; instead, biological responses are controlled by large numbers of genes communicating with each other, so it made sense to look at these interactions more closely. What we found was profound differences in network connectivity patterns between children who were allergic and those who were in remission. These same changes were also seen when we compared gene networks before and after immunotherapy in the children who achieved remission following immunotherapy." Mimi Tang, Lead Researcher, Murdoch Children's Professor The randomized controlled trial involved 62 peanut allergic children from Melbourne, aged 1-10 years, who received a combination treatment of a probiotic and oral immunotherapy (the gradual introduction of the allergenic food) or a placebo. Following 18 months of treatment, 74 per cent taking the combination treatment achieved remission compared with 4 per cent in the placebo group. The peanut oral immunotherapy that was used in combination with the probiotic in the trial was PRT120, a lead candidate from Prota Therapeutics, an Australian biotech company focused on bringing its novel allergy immunotherapy treatment for children with life-threatening peanut allergies to market. The team led by Professor Tang also recently showed in a separate trial that two treatments the combination probiotic and peanut oral immunotherapy treatment and the peanut oral immunotherapy alone were highly effective at inducing remission and desensitization. About half of the treated children achieved remission, which allowed them to stop treatment and safely eat peanut freely. Murdoch Children's Dr Sarah Ashley said while oral immunotherapy could successfully induce desensitization and remission, desensitization often waned after treatment ended or even during ongoing maintenance dosing. "Certain changes in the allergen-specific immune cells, called Th2 cells, are critical to achieving lasting remission," she said. Th2 cells are essential for generating allergen-specific antibodies and the development of food allergy. We found that the Th2 signaling that drives allergy is 'turned off' in children in remission." Food allergy is a global public health concern, affecting 10 per cent of infants and 5-8 per cent of children. Telethon Kids Institute's Dr Anya Jones said because there was no cure for food allergies, management relied on avoidance of the allergenic food, resulting in reduced quality of life. "Understanding the complex immune processes that support remission will provide greater insight into key drivers of treatment success and potentially identify novel targets for more effective treatments that deliver long-term solutions for patients," she said. Ju Lee Ng's daughter Stella, 9, was diagnosed with a peanut allergy at 18 months of age after breaking out in hives from a meal containing traces of the nut. But Ju Lee said after taking part in a Murdoch Children's allergy trial, Stella had been in clinical remission for almost four years and now eats peanut regularly. "Stella's quality of life has improved considerably since the trial," she said. Her level of anxiety has reduced dramatically and she has the freedom to enjoy different types of food. Stella no longer has to always check food labels for peanuts and brief her teachers or friends' parents about her allergy. She can now dig in and enjoy a bag of peanut M&Ms. "We previously had to avoid travel to countries that use lots of peanuts in the food, including Malaysia, where my husband and I are from. Shortly after Stella achieved remission we were so excited to be able to travel on a family holiday to Thailand. We tried local dishes and enjoyed an amazing holiday without the stress that Stella could have an allergic reaction." Ju Lee said it was reassuring to learn that new treatments could be developed off the back of the latest study results by the Murdoch Children's. "This research will give a lot of hope to families who have children with a peanut allergy," she said. We hope other families can experience the same sense of comfort we now have with a child who can eat peanut freely without fear of a reaction." Researchers from the University of Melbourne, The Royal Children's Hospital and The University of Western Australia also contributed to the study. When something goes wrong in mitochondria, the tiny organelles that power cells, it can cause a bewildering variety of symptoms such as poor growth, fatigue and weakness, seizures, developmental and cognitive disabilities, and vision problems. The culprit could be a defect in any of the 1,300 or so proteins that make up mitochondria, but scientists have very little idea what many of those proteins do, making it difficult to identify the faulty protein and treat the condition. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of WisconsinMadison systematically analyzed dozens of mitochondrial proteins of unknown function and suggested functions for many of them. Using these data as a starting point, they identified the genetic causes of three mitochondrial diseases and proposed another 20 possibilities for further investigation. The findings, published May 25 in Nature, indicate that understanding how mitochondria's hundreds of proteins work together to generate power and perform the organelles' other functions could be a promising path to finding better ways to diagnose and treat such conditions. We have a parts list for mitochondria, but we don't know what many of the parts do. It's similar to if you had a problem with your car, and you brought it to a mechanic, and upon opening the hood they said, 'We've never seen half of these parts before.' They wouldn't know how to fix it. This study is an attempt to define the functions of as many of those mitochondrial parts as we can so we have a better understanding of what happens when they don't work and, ultimately, a better chance at devising therapeutics to rectify those problems." David J. Pagliarini, PhD, co-senior author, the Hugo F. and Ina C. Urbauer Professor and a BJC Investigator at Washington University Mitochondrial diseases are a group of rare genetic conditions that collectively affect one in every 4,300 people. Since mitochondria provide energy for almost all cells, people with defects in their mitochondria can have symptoms in any part of the body, although the symptoms tend to be most pronounced in the tissues that require the most energy, such as the heart, brain and muscles. To better understand how mitochondria work, Pagliarini teamed up with colleagues, including co-senior author Joshua J. Coon, PhD, a UW-Madison professor of biomolecular chemistry & chemistry and an investigator with the Morgridge Institute for Research; and co-first authors Jarred W. Rensvold, PhD, a former staff scientist in Pagliarini's lab, and Evgenia Shishkova, PhD, a staff scientist in Coon's lab, to identify the functions of as many mitochondrial proteins as possible. The researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to remove individual genes from a human cell line. The procedure created a set of related cell lines, each derived from the same original cell line but with a single gene deleted. The missing genes coded for 50 mitochondrial proteins of unknown function and 66 mitochondrial proteins with known functions. Then, they examined each cell line for clues to the role each missing gene normally plays in keeping the mitochondria running properly. The researchers monitored the cells' growth rates and quantified the levels of 8,433 proteins, 3,563 lipids and 218 metabolites for each cell line. They used the data to build the MITOMICS (mitochondrial orphan protein multi-omics CRISPR screen) app, equipping it with tools to analyze and identify the biological processes that faltered when a specific protein went missing. After validating the approach with mitochondrial proteins of known function, the researchers proposed possible biological roles for many mitochondrial proteins of unknown function. With further investigation, they were able to tie three proteins to three separate mitochondrial conditions. "It is very exciting to see how our mass spectrometry technology platform can generate data on this scale but more importantly, data that can directly help us to understand human disease," Coon said. One condition is a multisystemic disorder caused by defects in the main energy-producing pathway. Co-author Robert Taylor, PhD, DSc, a professor of mitochondrial pathology at Newcastle University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, U.K., identified a patient with clear signs of the disorder but no mutations in the usual suspect genes. The researchers identified a new gene in the pathway and showed that the patient carried a mutation in it. Separately, Pagliarini and colleagues noticed that disrupting one gene, RAB5IF, eliminated a protein encoded by a different gene, TMCO1, that has been linked to cerebrofaciothoracic dysplasia. The condition is characterized by distinctive facial features and severe intellectual disability. In collaboration with co-author Nurten Akarsu, PhD, a professor of human genetics at Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, the researchers showed that a mutation in RAB5IF was responsible for one case of cerebrofaciothoracic dysplasia and two cases of cleft lip in one Turkish family. A third gene, when disrupted, led to problems with sugar storage, contributing to a fatal autoinflammatory syndrome. Data regarding that syndrome were published last year in a paper led by Bruno Reversade, PhD, of A*STAR, Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research. "We focused primarily on the three conditions, but we found data connecting about 20 other proteins to biological pathways or processes," said Pagliarini, a professor of cell biology & physiology, of biochemistry & molecular biophysics and of genetics. "We can't chase down 20 stories in one paper, but we made hypotheses and put them out there for us and others to test." To aid scientific discovery, Pagliarini, Coon and colleagues have made the MITOMICS app available to the public. They built in several user-friendly analysis tools so anyone can look for patterns and create plots just by clicking around. All of the data can be downloaded for more advanced analysis. "The hope is that this large dataset becomes one of a number in the field that collectively help us to devise better biomarkers and diagnostics for mitochondrial diseases," Pagliarini said. "Every time we discover a function of a new protein, it gives us a new opportunity to target a pathway therapeutically. Our long-term goal is to understand mitochondria at sufficient depth to be able to intervene therapeutically, which we can't do yet." A significant proportion of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) - gonorrhea, chlamydia or syphilis - were prevented with a dose of doxycycline after unprotected sex, according to preliminary results of a clinical trial that closed early because it was very effective for men who have sex with men and transgender women who are living with HIV or are taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The results of a clinical trial, conducted in San Francisco and Seattle, have been eagerly anticipated by public health officials and clinicians who are looking for new ways to prevent STIs, which have been on the rise in the United States and many other parts of the world for the past six years. Researchers examined an approach known as doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (or DoxyPEP), in which people take 200 milligrams of the antibiotic doxycycline within three days of having sex without a condom. They recruited from public health clinics in San Francisco and Seattle. To qualify, participants had to have had gonorrhea, chlamydia or syphilis in the previous year. Participants were randomized to receive doxycycline or no doxycycline in an open-label study design. The trial was designed to allow an independent team monitoring the trial's safety to look at interim results, to see if the intervention proved effective enough that it could be stopped early. Data from 554 participants showed that those who were randomized to take doxycycline had substantially fewer infections than those who did not receive doxycycline, and this reduction in STIs occurred both in participants taking HIV PrEP as well as those living with HIV. Doxycycline was generally safe and well tolerated. Researchers said the data support the effectiveness of DoxyPEP to prevent STIs in the population they studied. At this point, doxycycline after sex is a targeted intervention for certain populations, in this case men who have sex with men or transgender women who have already had an STI in the past year." Dr. Annie Luetkemeyer, professor of infectious diseases, University of California San Francisco She led the study with Dr. Connie Celum, professor of global health, medicine, and epidemiology at the University of Washington. "Doxycycline as PEP may be similar to HIV PrEP, which isn't for everyone, but is an effective strategy for those at increased risk for HIV infection," Luetkemeyer said. "Future recommendations for doxycycline use as an STI prevention strategy will need to consider effectiveness in different populations, as well as antimicrobial resistance." The trial has yet to determine whether intermittent use of doxycycline may lead to increased antibiotic resistance in the bacteria that cause STIs or that naturally live on the body, and whether it may lead to negative changes in the bacteria of the gut. Researchers will present updated effectiveness and adherence data from the approximately 630 participants who were enrolled by the time the study closed, along with antibiotic resistance data at AIDS 2022, the 24th International AIDS Conference in Montreal, Canada and virtually July 29 to August 2. The trial was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, through grant R01AI143439, and conducted at the HIV clinic at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and the San Francisco City Clinic, both part of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and the Madison Clinic and the Sexual Health Clinic at Harborview Medical Center, both at the UW Medicine. In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the UK is seeking to provide support to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (U-MOD) to help those who have served and are suffering from conflict-related trauma (psychological and physical). The invasion of Ukraine's sovereign territory by the Russian Federation led to a substantial increase in the number of those serving their country in combat and combat-support roles. This has led to greater pressure on the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) specifically to support an increased number of troops, including those with limited military connections, backgrounds, and experience. The Special Defence Advisory Team is looking for a partner who can lead on the delivery of the following four objectives to: assist with the development of U-MOD's internal policies to ensure it delivers best-practice support for psycho-social trauma and trauma risk management; including recognising the specific needs of vulnerable groups (women and minorities) assist with the development of psycho-social trauma monitoring, lessons-learning, and support reach-back undertake a gaps analysis of psycho-social trauma within the AFU. Engage with UK military trauma support specialist to assist with the development of a package to improve the process in place and fill any gaps in support (through advice, facilitation, or direct delivery of needs, as required) undertake, in consultation with the AFU, a needs analysis of the provision on Ukrainian conflict-related trauma surgery. If required, work with the UK's Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in the adaptation and delivery of their remote trauma surgery training package Bidding guidance projects will be funded initially for 9 months from July 22 to April 2023 successful implementers must receive project funding in GBP and open a GBP bank account for the project project bids should demonstrate 85% spend by 31 December 2022 and 100% spend by 31 March 2023 potential implementers are allowed to combine efforts and submit their project proposals in a consortium of several organisations (implementers). Those could be both international and local non-commercial organisations or multilateral organisations, working in the Ukrainian context. If this option is chosen, one entity should be the main Partner, which will coordinate the efforts of the joint initiative and will be primarily responsible for the project implementation. Governmental institutions may act as project co-funders or beneficiaries only minimum budget limit: 75,000 (seventy five thousand pounds sterling) maximum budget limit: 125,000 (one hundred and twenty five thousand pounds sterling) bids where possible should not exceed 30 pages bids must be in English Recommendations and requirements to project budgets are listed on tab 1 of CSSF Activity Based Budget template and guidance (ODS, 18.1 KB). We are unable to fund academic courses or research, English language tuition; the purchase of land, property, IT or other equipment (clarification is provided below) and finance construction works under this Fund. Assessment Bids will be assessed against the following criteria: alignment with the above mentioned thematic priorities and outcomes realistic outcomes which are achievable within the funding period 01 July 2022 to 31 March 2023 evidence they have the capability to adapt and flex to the unfolding situation in Ukraine and the needs of the AFU project design includes clear monitoring and evaluation procedures, as well as risk and financial accountability procedures evidence of demonstrable outcomes and progress assurance evidence of sustainability - demonstrating that project benefits accrued continue after the funding ends alignment of the project budget with requirements and recommendations listed in CSSF activity-based budget template and the project proposal alignment with the Paris Agreement, demonstrating that a climate and environmental risk and impact evaluation was done and no environmental harm will be done the organisations have robust safeguarding policies and implementation plans in place to ensure the protection of beneficiaries and to safeguard against sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH). Evidence that the organisations will effectively tackle discrimination and ensure equality of opportunity for those with protected characteristics in line with UK equalities legislation, including International Development (Gender Equality Act) and Public Sector Equality Duty the project budget demonstrates a sufficient level of details and overall value for money we aim to ensure that the total amount of project management team costs, project operation support costs and office support costs would ideally not exceed the 10% ceiling of the overall project costs. In case your organisation has a central agreement with the FCDO to include head office overhead costs into the CSSF project budgets (e.g. international multilateral agencies), those can be added to the project budget in line with the central agreement and are not counted into the 10% ceiling mentioned above Essential skills and competencies of the implementer The implementer will have: strong operational experience of working in Ukraine or in similar environments in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECAD) region strong working knowledge of military medical context, including the provision of psychological support within civil and military systems strong working knowledge of the operative framework of the AFU medical support services must have access and influence within the relevant government bodies the ability to source appropriate expertise to support the mapping, capacity building and advocacy components, both in-country and if necessary, from outside project and budget management skills, experience, capabilities and capacity experience of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning processes Funding exceptions Funding cannot be used to finance the following: procurement of medical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), vaccines, diagnostic tests/materials and COVID-19 related medicines procurement of land or property construction works purchase or maintenance of IT and capital equipment (if the equipment is essential for achieving the project outputs and impact, please complete a separate Equipment Purchase Supporting Letter (ODT, 7.09 KB) and submit it with the project proposal and budget) fundraising efforts of the organisation The digital spend - digital development costs in excess of 10,000 for "any external-facing service provided through the internet to citizens, businesses, civil society or non-government organisations" - has to be depicted separately in the Digital Spend Proposal form (ODT, 19.7 KB) and be approved by the FCDO. Process The deadline to submit project proposals is 11:55pm (GMT) on Wednesday 08 June 2022. Late proposals will not be considered. When submitting, include "Ukrainian MOD Psycho-Social and Traumatic Medical Support" and the name of the bidder in the subject line of your email. Proposals must be submitted using the CSSF attached forms only (see below under Additional information and documentation). Bidders must submit documents in standard Microsoft Office formats (Word, Excel). Proposals must be submitted to [email protected] Project proposals selected for further consideration will be notified by 17 June 2022. Due to the high number of bids the British Embassy Kyiv will not provide feedback on each bid - only the successful bidder/s will be contacted. The selected bidder/s will be asked to complete a Due Diligence Assessment (form will be sent to them). The British Embassy seeks to finalize grant agreements with successful project implementers by 01 July 2022. Contacts CSSF Programme Team - [email protected] Additional information and documentation All implementers will be expected to sign a standard FCDO grant agreement with the Embassy. The terms of the contract or agreement are not negotiable. As all projects are expected to have achieved 85% spend by 31 December 2022, Activity Based Budgets must reflect this requirement. Scientists have studied various aspects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and developed pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical measures to combat the disease. They have characterized the pandemic by studying the repeated waves of COVID-19 cases due to the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants. These new lineages exhibit greater viral fitness, where fitness is related to traits associated with lineages growth, including basic reproduction number (R 0 ), the ability to evade immune responses, and generation time. Study: Analysis of 6.4 million SARS-CoV-2 genomes identifies mutations associated with fitness. Image Credit: Science journal Background As the SARS-CoV-2 lineages emerge, scientists warn that it is essential to identify them and predict the possibility of an outbreak. One of the main difficulties associated with this study is analyzing an ever-increasing, huge dataset, i.e., approximately 7.5 million virus genomes, constituting geographic and temporal variability. Researchers stated that current phylogenetic approaches to assess the relative fitness of newly emerged lineages are computationally incompetent for evaluating large datasets, i.e., over 5000 samples. Furthermore, although ad hoc methods used to assess the relative fitness of specific SARS-CoV-2 lineages are computationally efficient, they depend on models that can compare only one or two lineages of interest to others. Therefore, it does not capture the dynamic complexity of multiple SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating. A mutation-based analysis could help identify specific genetic determinants associated with enhanced transmission and pathogenesis. This analysis would positively help predict the phenotypes of newly emerged lineages. For instance, D614G mutation in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is associated with a high viral load. Other mutations found in the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC), relative to the original strain, such as N439R, E484K, and N501Y, are linked to enhanced transmissibility, antibody escape, and increased affinity of the virus to bind to ACE2 of the host. A New Study Researchers believe that it is essential to identify functionally important mutations with the phenotypic outcome related to a large number of SARS-CoV-2 variants that have emerged since the beginning of the pandemic. Recently, scientists have modeled the relative fitness of SARS-CoV-2 lineages based on viral growth as a linear combination of the effect of each mutation. In this new study in the journal Science, researchers have developed a hierarchical Bayesian regression model, named, PyR 0 , which can analyze the complete set of publicly available SARS-CoV-2 genomes. The authors stated that this model is also applicable to any viral genomic dataset. One of the advantages of this regression model is that it can estimate the growth rate of genomic sequences and, thereby, determine statistical strength among genetically alike lineages without entirely depending on the phylogeny. The authors modeled the multinomial proportion of different lineages instead of an absolute number of samples for each lineage. In this study, they fitted PyR 0 to 6,466,300 SARS-CoV-2 genomes, obtained from GISAID. The model contained 3,000 clusters derived from 1,544 PANGO lineages and 2,904 nonsynonymous mutations. The output of this regression model is a posterior distribution of the relative fitness of each SARS-CoV-2 lineage and the impact of each mutation on the fitness. The computational challenge inherent in this large model led the researchers to use an approximate inference method, stochastic variational inference. This model helped predict the fitness of completely new lineages, infer lineage fitness, and estimate the impact of individual mutations on fitness. Relative fitness versus date of lineage emergence. Circle size is proportional to cumulative case count inferred from lineage proportion estimates and confirmed case counts. Inset table lists the 10 fittest lineages inferred by the model. R/RA is the fold increase in relative fitness over the Wuhan (A) lineage, assuming a fixed generation time of 5.5 days. Key Findings The model exhibited a modest upward trend over time among all lineages. Some lineages showed higher fitness over others. The qualitative uniformity of fitness estimates across spatial data subsets was determined via sensitivity analysis. The rapid SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the human population from the beginning of the pandemic to early 2022 was marked by the rapid evolution of fitness and a surge in COVID-19 cases. Additionally, in some geographic regions, certain PANGO lineages with multiple successive peaks were observed, which suggested that lineages within them had varied fitness. This is the reason why researchers have algorithmically refined the PANGO lineages into finer clusters. Importantly, scientists tested the predictive ability of the model and found that its predictions were reliable for one-two months into the future for SARS-CoV-2 VOC; predictions might differ for other new strains. The findings were consistent with the report of the World Health Organization that Omicron (PANGO BA.2) possesses the highest fitness among other VOCs. In this study, PyR 0 identified three hotspots in the S region that are associated with viral fitness. These regions are the receptor-binding domain (RBD), the N-terminal domain, and the furin-cleavage site. Researchers identified two mutations, namely, T478K and S477N, that significantly affect viral fitness. Additionally, PyR 0 predicted the growth of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant. Manhattan plot of amino acid changes assessed in this study. (A) Changes across the entire genome. (B) Changes in the first 850 amino acids of S. In each of (A) to (C) the y axis shows effect size log R, the estimated change in log relative fitness due to each amino acid change. The bottom three axes show the background density of all observed amino acid changes, the density of those associated with growth (weighted by | log R|), and the ratio of the two. The top 55 amino acid changes are labeled. See fig. S13 for detailed views of S, N, ORF1a, and ORF1b. C. Changes in the first 250 amino acids of N. (D) Structure of the spike-ACE2 complex (PDB: 7KNB). Spike subunits colored light blue, light orange, and gray. Top-ranked mutations are shown as red spheres. ACE2 is shown in magenta. (E) Close-up view of the RBD interface. (F) Top-ranked mutations in the N-terminal RNA-binding domain of N. Residues 44-180 of N (PDB: 7ACT) are shown in light blue. Amino acid positions corresponding to top mutations in this region are shown as red spheres. A 10-nt bound RNA is shown in gray. Conclusion Modeling millions of viral sequences across multiple regions, PyR 0 provided mechanistic insights into how mutations enhance viral fitness. Additionally, this regression model offered a panoramic view of viral evolution. According to the authors, their model could have accurately predicted or provided early warning regarding the detection of VOCs. As the model can be adapted faster to incorporate mutations of new linages, it can help protect the public from uncertainties caused by newly emerging variants. A fourth-grade camping trip led to one outbreak, a high school prom to another. But even with covid cases rising as schools head into the final stretch of the academic year, most California districts have not moved toward reinstating mask mandates. That stance has left many parents confused and concerned as they witness or hear about covid outbreaks among students after field trips and proms. Up and down California, school administrators are running out the clock, hoping to outrace the outbreaks. The Berkeley school system and a few others have reversed their mask-optional policies, and the San Diego district sent letters to parents warning that masks could be reinstated if cases continue to rise. But most districts including those in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland haven't revisited their guidance as summer draws near. "I do not plan on making any new recommendations in the final three weeks of school," Dublin Unified Superintendent Chris Funk told KHN, noting that the Alameda County Public Health Department lifted mandatory masking rules in classrooms more than two months ago. Among other factors, administrators are reluctant to expose districts to legal challenges. From the start, the attempt to create statewide covid protocols for schools was met with sometimes-fierce resistance. Some districts, many of them rural, ignored California's school mask mandate. In February, the Roseville Joint Union High School District, which enrolls about 12,000 students in Placer and Sacramento counties, dropped the mask rule even as a statewide mandate remained in effect. Another reason that schools aren't rushing back to masking, several administrators told KHN, is that even though cases are rising, most districts follow county guidelines that tie public health precautions to either the number of covid hospitalizations or the strain they would put on local health systems. Hospital admission rates tend to lag positive case rates by two weeks. Still, hospitalizations remain low for now, likely because of the availability of vaccines and antiviral treatments. "We should be past mask mandates, period," said Dr. Jeanne Noble, who directs covid emergency response at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. She said that the virus no longer poses a significant health risk to young and vaccinated populations and that people need to adjust to living with covid. That means taking a "test-to-treat" approach, she said, rather than trying to prevent transmission. The Biden administration is moving to a model where patients are tested and then treated with antiviral pills such as Pfizer's Paxlovid or Merck's molnupiravir to lower their risk of going to the hospital. "I know my advice sounds scary to many, but covid is here to stay," Noble said. "That is the endgame." That can be a tough sell for some parents. When 40 out of 100 fourth graders at Deterding Elementary in the San Juan Unified School District in Sacramento County contracted covid after sharing cabins during a sleep-away field trip, the school was overwhelmed by inquiries from parents of students in other grades wondering whether the health rules at school were about to change and whether the fifth-grade camping trip, scheduled for June 1, would go on. It will, although the district will monitor local conditions and public health guidance, according to Raj Rai, the district's communications director. Some parents were confused or upset by the news that the fifth grade trip would remain on schedule, even though the district was following county health recommendations. Melanie Allen, the Deterding principal, said such confusion has been a common theme during a school year marked by shifting public health guidelines. "Even though information was posted clearly by the district on the website, parents reached out constantly to school administrators to clarify next steps for exposure or positive results," the principal wrote in an email to KHN. The rising case rates forced the Berkeley district to make a late reconsideration it reinstated mandatory masking in classrooms from May 23 until the end of its school year, on June 3. Superintendent Brent Stephens noted in an update on the district's website that in addition to the spiking student infection numbers, the district could find substitutes for only about half of its absent teachers. District administrators, he said, are working in classrooms to cover the shifts. The city's chief public health officer strongly recommended the move back to mandatory masking. "As we are not a health agency, we must rely on these experts to guide us," Stephens wrote. Very few of California's more than 1,000 school districts have joined the Berkeley system in making such a decision. On May 16, school officials in Pacific Grove, near Monterey, ordered that masks be worn inside all classrooms by its roughly 2,000 students. Katrina Powley, the district nurse, said the district is one of the few that ties its masking policy to case rates in Monterey County. Therefore, when those rates moved from "low" to "moderate" transmission, a mask mandate was triggered. The board of trustees for the San Mateo Union High School District voted in early May to extend its mask mandate until June 1 and strengthened protocols after a prom that was held in San Francisco in April resulted in an outbreak among 90 of the 600 students in attendance. Those districts remain in the minority despite the statewide covid surge. Roughly 20 schools in Marin County experienced outbreaks in early May. And the Dublin school district, in the East Bay, saw rates shoot up fivefold from March to April and continue to rise in May. Those schools haven't revisited their optional mask policies. Schools in Davis, in Yolo County, have not reinstated mask requirements despite rising cases, in large part because the county health director decoupled mandates from test positivity rates. "We have sufficient protection against the virus, especially with Paxlovid available at test-to-treat locations," said John Fout, a spokesperson for the county. Only increased hospitalizations straining the health care system would prompt a change, he added. At this point, an uptick in serious illnesses may not be recognized until after the school year ends and that is what many school administrators appear to be counting on. This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. A disruptive new device which is designed to build strength in the muscles of the feet, including the intrinsic muscles inside the foot, is set to launch following an injection of specialist support from Heriot-Watt University. Novobow inventor Gerry Farrell. Image Credit: Heriot-Watt University Unveiled to coincide with the opening ceremony of the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre, based at Heriot-Watt University, the Novabow device is designed to prevent and treat sporting injuries and a wide range of foot complications and disease. Research conducted in recent years has revealed the vital role played by the intrinsic foot muscles, demonstrating their role in running injuries, conditions relating to diabetes including neuropathy (foot numbness) and ulcers, alongside more common yet painful complaints like bunions. A practising dentist from Glasgow is now set to transform foot health with an easy-to-use foot exercise device which builds foot muscle strength. Working with specialist designers and advisers from the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre at Heriot-Watt University, Gerry Farrell will launch the device this summer. In recent years, our understanding of the vital role that intrinsic foot muscles play has grown exponentially. Modern footwear weakens the feet so most of us lack the strength we need for correct balance and exercise. This can contribute to a range of toe deformities, pain, and injury. One of the main reasons people stop playing a sport or enjoying exercise is because of pain. Many of the foot exercises available focus on the wrong muscles or dont adequately or easily reach the intrinsic muscles. As an amateur athlete, I wanted to prevent sporting injuries and the results of our pilot studies at Napier and Stirling Universities have been extremely positive. We have also tested the device long-term with Olympic hammer thrower Chris Bennett who was set to have surgery before resolving his knee and back issues using the Novabow device. He now uses it daily. The support provided by the MDMC has been invaluable in developing the device for market. As a dentist trying to launch a unique exercise system with clear medical benefits, Ive encountered many challenges. The MDMC team at Heriot-Watt University helped me with detailed CAD drawings and provided an introduction to exactly the right kind of specialist plastic manufacturer, something I wouldnt have found without their help. The facility is invaluable for SMEs working in the complex medical device market. Gerry Farrell, Managing Director, Jomarg Innovation Ltd and Inventor of the Novabow Foot Exercise Device Significantly, those living with diabetes are at a particularly high risk of complicated foot conditions including neuropathy which leads to severe numbness in the feet. A diabetic with this condition is 20 times more likely to fall than someone without diabetes. This significantly increases the risk of injury, particularly as an individual gets older Foot and ankle exercise programs have significantly improved and even reversed neuropathy.[1] A second challenge for those living with diabetes is ulceration which, in some cases, can lead to infection and eventual amputation. Research shows that ulcer recurrence is dramatically reduced using foot and ankle exercise from 72% down to just 16% with this type of exercise.[2] We can see enormous potential for the Novabow device to address and prevent a wide range of health conditions as well as support both amateur and professional sportspeople to exercise safety. As we mark the official launch of the MDMC at Heriot-Watt University, we hope many more companies like Novabow will access our free specialist medical device manufacturing support. The MDMC has been established to help SMEs like Jomarg Innovation to source the right manufacturers for their product, to fully utilise our 2M lab equipment with expert guidance and to navigate the challenging path of medical device regulation. Our support is free to Scottish SMEs, demonstrating our institutions commitment to accelerating life sciences innovation in Scotland and beyond. Professor Marc Desmulliez, Manager, Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC), Heriot-Watt University Commenting on the opening of the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre at Heriot-Watt University, Business Minister Ivan McKee said: The Scottish Government welcomes todays opening of the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre, which we supported through our Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund to stimulate innovation from smaller businesses. The Centre can help make Scotlands healthcare more innovative in addressing urgent clinical needs, in line with ambitions for business in our National Strategy for Economic Transformation. The Centre is supporting smaller companies and start-ups as they overcome the challenges of prototyping and testing while meeting stringent NHS regulatory requirements. I look forward to seeing what further innovations emerge and how these help improve healthcare quality for, potentially, millions worldwide. The Novabow Foot Exercise System holds patents for Europe and the USA. It has been supported by a range of collaborators including the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre based at Heriot-Watt University, Scottish Enterprise, Napier and Stirling Universities, Interface and Business Gateway (Glasgow City Council). Diagnostic testing and disease surveillance are back in the spotlight as scientists and public health workers closely monitor the current outbreak of monkeypox that has emerged in cities across Europe, the US, Australia and Canada. While the disease is not easily contracted, and in most cases is not life-threatening, the epidemiology of this outbreak is different to that which has been seen previously. It has been suggested that lack of routine vaccination for smallpox after eradication of that disease in 1980 may have contributed to an increase in monkeypox cases in humans in recent decades. Monkeypox virus was first discovered in 1958 and is known to be endemic in 12 countries in Africa, four of which have reported cases to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the period 15 December 2021 to 1 May 2022. There are two groups or clades, one found in the Congo Basin of Central Africa with a case fatality of up to 10%, and one in West Africa, with a case fatality of around 3%. Preliminary genomic sequence data from a patient in Portugal in the present outbreak showed the virus to belong to the less dangerous West African clade. In contrast to SARS-CoV-2, monkeypox is a DNA virus, a type of virus which is usually more stable with regard to mutations and evolution of new variants. There is no evidence to date that the monkeypox virus in this outbreak has fundamentally changed its composition relative to previously known viruses. In the early clinical stages, monkeypox can appear similar to more common rash-causing diseases, such as chickenpox, but it can usually be differentiated because the monkeypox rash often extends to the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, which are spared in most other diseases. However, clinical presentations and severity may vary, and atypical presentations have been noted during this outbreak. On 23 May 2022 the WHO issued interim guidance for laboratory testing for the monkeypox virus. Laboratory confirmation of monkeypox relies principally on nucleic acid amplification tests, such as PCR, performed on material from the skin lesion. Testing of other body fluids and tissues, including oropharyngeal swabs, urine, semen, rectal and/or genital swabs, may be indicated based on the clinical presentation and location of the lesions. However, data on the accuracy of testing on these samples is still limited. While there are currently no commercially available PCR tests for monkeypox, a number of primer and probe sequence sets for PCR assays for monkeypox virus have been published and can be used for in-house assays in laboratories with appropriate capacities. Dedicated monkeypox tests, including the GeneXpert platform and recombinase polymerase amplification assay have been developed, although not yet commercially available. While monkeypox is not easily transmissible and the present outbreak gives no cause for panic, its emergence underlines the need for sustained global surveillance systems that can detect emerging viruses in every country in the world. The focus on diagnostics for COVID-19 has boosted testing and surveillance capacity worldwide that can be useful for monkeypox, but dramatic inequities remain in low- and middle-income countries. The monkeypox emergence has highlighted challenges faced by diagnostic developers that may have been hidden by the fast pace of innovation at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Test manufacturers have always struggled to respond to sporadic and unpredictable demand for outbreak diseases such as monkeypox. Ensuring that tests can be developed, made available and implemented quickly relies on access to well-characterized disease samples that can be used to validate new tests, clinical trial networks that can be activated to provide data for regulatory review, production lines standing ready, import and export systems being in place, and health workers being trained and ready to use the tests. All of these elements require investment, with little return on the horizon in the vast majority of cases. FINDs efforts on the 100 Days Mission to respond to future pandemic threats seeks to address these challenges. Daniel Bausch, Director of Emerging Threats and Global Health Security at FIND, will present an overview of available diagnostics and those in the pipeline as well discuss laboratory research needs at the upcoming WHO R&D Blueprint meeting Monkeypox research: What are the knowledge gaps and priority research questions? on 2 June 2022, 13:0019:30 CEST. For more details and to register, please click here. In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, scientists analyzed the necessity of revamping the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines to tackle the current dominant circulating viral variants. Study: Modeling suggests that multiple immunizations or infections will reveal the benefits of updating SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Image Credit: klss / Shutterstock Background The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (OM) variant, which emerged at the end of 2021, is far more transmissible than the initial Wuhan (WU) strain. Omicron also contains numerous spike (S) protein mutations facilitating it to evade antibody responses to previous variants and existing Wuhan-based vaccines. A study by Gagne et al. demonstrated that administering three doses of the vaccine centered on the SARS-CoV-2 ancestral Wuhan strain and two Wuhan isolate-based vaccine doses plus a booster dose with the updated vaccine based on the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant imparted comparable antibody titers against Omicron. It also showed that both vaccination regimens generated similarly high antibody levels against the Wuhan strain versus the Omicron variant. The research suggests a reformulation of the vaccine may not be necessary in order to deal with the Omicron strain. Besides, the timing of vaccine updates for evolving pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 is unknown. About the study In the present paper, the researchers employed computational simulations to increase the knowledge of the rules for enhancing CoV disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination responses to novel SARS-CoV-2 variants. Computer models like the one used in this research could explain the complicated outcomes that result from interactions between various components. Integrating computational modeling to summarize trends observed in several datasets could thus play a significant role. Further, it should preferably be done iteratively, with the models being used to comprehend the available data and proposing experimental evaluations that could permit model rejection or refinement. Gagne et al.'s findings and data from previous SARS-CoV-2 and influenza research were analyzed using computational models built by the team. They examined the significant aspects of increasing immunity after vaccination with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron- and ancestral strain-based vaccines. In addition, the scientists analyzed the dynamics of B cells, antigens, and antibodies in the current simulations to figure out why both Omicron- and Wuhan strain-based vaccines had equal antibody concentrations to Omicron after the third shot. They then used this model to determine what would happen following more vaccinations/infections. Furthermore, the authors assessed how the model can be empirically evaluated. Model schematic. The box at the top left shows the epitopes of the WU- and OM-vaccines. Epitope C (shown in orange) is common to both vaccines. Epitopes W (blue) and V (green) are unique to the WU and OM respectively. Antibodies specific to these epitopes can bind to these epitopes and prevent them from stimulating B cells for the same epitope. The different antigen states generated and the B cells they stimulate are shown in the top right and bottom panels respectively. The bottom panel illustrates that binding of antigen to B cells stimulates their clonal expansion and the production of antibodies. Results and discussions The current mathematical model indicated that WU-WU-OM and WU-WU-WU vaccinations lead to similar antibody concentrations to Omicron since such a response was characterized by relatively strong secondary or recall responses to common epitopes shared by Omicron and Wuhan isolates. The intensity of this secondary reaction conceals the much lower primary response to novel Omicron epitopes that appear initially after third-time immunization with the Omicron vaccine yet not with the Wuhan strain-based vaccine. Repeated boosts with an Omicron-based vaccination, such as the third, fourth, and fifth doses, resulted in substantially greater antibody levels for epitopes specific to Omicron, leading to a much greater total titer to Omicron. The current simulations projected that repeated immunizations with the revised COVID-19 vaccine would be required to improve responses to the novel epitopes found in the antigens of new viral variants. This model recommended a vital experiment to enable rejection or validation of the paradigm, involving giving the primates in Gagne et al.'s study one extra vaccination shot (fourth) with Omicron. The model projected that the animals that received WU-WU-OM-OM vaccines would have much greater Omicron antibody titers than WU-WU-WU-WU. Additionally, after WU-WU-OM vaccination, the scientists expected considerably greater antibody titers to the Omicron variant after spontaneous infection with Omicron. In light of the present findings, the researchers hypothesized that most antibodies produced after the first shot of a vaccine upgraded to match a new viral mutant were specific to the common antigens. Moreover, only after a second vaccination with the same vaccine elevated antibody responses specific for epitopes peculiar to the novel variant emerge. Besides, updating the vaccination to match novel viral variants may improve individual antibody responses facilitating better targeting of future variants that evolve from the current Omicron strain. Finally, the researchers suggested that the at-risk populations would benefit from receiving two doses of updated vaccinations, not just for COVID-19 but also for influenza. Conclusions Altogether, the computational models utilized in this work focused on whether the COVID-19 vaccines should be upgraded to the current SARS-CoV-2 variant, specifically Omicron. The current models confirm previous findings, but they also imply that immunization with the revised COVID-19 vaccine results in qualitatively altered humoral immunity, i.e., a tiny portion of it being specific for novel viral variant epitopes. According to current simulations, these novel variant-specific responses might dominate after successive vaccination or infection with either the present or upcoming viral variants. Additionally, the researchers proposed crucial studies to either reject or confirm the model. They recommended two doses of the updated vaccination approach to assess if the vaccine needs to be updated and vaccinate at-risk people. *Important notice bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Novavax hitched its wagon to the global coronavirus pandemic. Before most Americans truly grasped the scope of the danger, the small Maryland biotech startup had secured $1.6 billion in U.S. funding for its covid vaccine. Its moonshot goal: delivering 2 billion shots to the world by mid-2021. Although the U.S. commitment eventually expanded to $1.8 billion, hardly any Novavax shots have found arms due to manufacturing issues, and most of the world has moved on. Novavax stock has plummeted from $290 a share in February 2021 to around $50 recently. The FDA finally appears poised to authorize the company's vaccine, however. If it does, Novavax would target the tens of millions of Americans who are not vaccinated against covid-19 or would benefit from boosters but have avoided mRNA vaccines because of health concerns or conspiracy theories about their dangers. In clinical trials, Novavaxs two-dose vaccine has worked well and had few safety problems. It appears to cause fewer unpleasant reactions fever, chills, and exhaustion associated with mRNA vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech. Novavax also relies on a more time-tested technology, using recombinant proteins grown in cell cultures. An influenza vaccine produced much the same way as Novavax's shot has been on the market in the United States for nearly a decade. "I do think there is a minority group who would take a protein vaccine over an mRNA vaccine," said Dr. Kathleen Neuzil, director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health at the University of Maryland. She was a researcher in a major U.S. trial of the Novavax vaccine, which found it 100% effective at preventing anything worse than mild covid. With the FDA's authorization, Novavax's product would be the first vaccine produced in India for U.S. consumption. Novavax turned to the Serum Institute of India, a seasoned manufacturer that makes vaccines for poor countries, when its subcontractor in Texas, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, stopped producing the vaccine last summer after it was dinged by FDA inspectors for inadequate contamination control, missing records, and other problems. Founded in 1987, Novavax has never marketed a vaccine in the United States. It has boasted about the potential of a secret proprietary ingredient, Matrix-M, an immune system booster derived from Chilean soapbark trees. Those who've observed the company's string of failures over the past decade see its June 7 FDA advisory committee meeting as the last chance to market its covid vaccine here, although it has obtained more than $2 billion in contracts with the U.S. government and nonprofit organizations. Pharma giants Sanofi and GSK are jointly developing a similar vaccine. European Union reviewers began an examination of the drugmakers' vaccine in March, and the companies expect to request an FDA review "in coming weeks," Sanofi spokesperson Sally Bain said. Even with FDA authorization, Novavax may be too late. While its vaccine is licensed in 41 countries and at least 42 million doses have been distributed, the world is overstocked with covid vaccine. "They are applying for an emergency authorization" from the FDA, said Manon Cox, a vaccine industry consultant and the former CEO of Protein Sciences Corp., which made a similar vaccine. "What's the emergency?" Demand for covid vaccines is sluggish everywhere. About 13 million doses of the Novavax vaccine had been distributed in European Union countries as of mid-April, but fewer than 200,000 were administered. Distribution of the vaccine has been negligible since then. Gavi, a nongovernmental organization, has suspended a 2021 agreement to buy at least 350 million Novavax doses for the COVAX program, which distributes vaccines at a deep discount to poor countries. The U.S. market, however, shows promise for Novavax's shot as an alternative to mRNA vaccines, especially now that the FDA has limited the use of a fourth vaccine, made by Johnson & Johnson, because of a serious though rare safety risk. "The anti-vaxxers have been getting more and more aggressive about mRNA vaccine safety, including in recent months claiming these vaccines cause AIDS," said John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine. "It's all utter BS. But some people do buy into this garbage." Neuzil said the Novavax shot could prove more durable than the mRNA shots, whose capacity to prevent infection seems to fade after several months, although they are effective at keeping people out of the hospital. "Realistically, there probably aren't that many unvaccinated people who will now decide to take Novavax," Moore said. "Being unvaccinated is mostly down to politics, not science, sadly." Most of the demand would be for boosters. But the FDA has indicated Novavax's shots would be authorized initially as a first dose, not a booster, John Trizzino, Novavax's chief commercial officer, told KHN in an interview. FDA officials also have bruited the possibility of requiring vaccine manufacturers to modify their shots by this fall to target the omicron variant. Novavax has data showing its shot effectively boosts people who received mRNA vaccines, Trizzino said. And although the company is skeptical about the need to modify its shot, Novavax recently began testing an omicron-targeted vaccine and expects results in late summer, he said. It's surprising that Novavax should face this quandary now. The company announced May 9 that it had made its first-ever quarterly profit, of $203 million on $586 million in vaccine sales. Novavax expects revenue of $4 billion to $5 billion this year in global sales, Trizzino said, noting "this is not just a pandemic question, it's an ongoing vaccination question." At an April 6 meeting, federal officials strongly suggested that covid vaccination will become an annual recommendation, like the flu shot. "We were slightly behind providing supply into the pandemic period, unfortunately," Trizzino said, "but there's going to be at least some kind of annual revaccination." Trizzino said the company was negotiating with U.S. officials on how much of the remainder of its $1.8 billion contract would pay for shots as opposed to research. Beyond the contract, Novavax can charge the U.S. government a higher per-unit price for additional vaccine, he said. The Biden administration's budget contains no mention of further Novavax contracts, but if federal purchases end, Novavax could sell on the commercial market. Medicare officials have set the price for covid vaccines at about $60 per dose approximately three times what Novavax has been getting from the U.S. and European government buyers, Trizzino said. The company has come a long way from its first product, a microscopic fat particle designed to encase vaccines that instead was employed in skin care products and Girl Scout cookies, according to "The First Shots," an account by journalist Brendan Borrell. Novavax spent hundreds of millions to develop a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus, an infection that is especially harmful to babies and the elderly, but the product failed in 2016, after the company brushed aside a design feature originating in the National Institutes of Health laboratory of Dr. Barney Graham. That feature, which involves shaping the viral protein to allow the immune system to better recognize it, is now a key part of all the U.S. covid vaccines, including the Novavax shot. In 2019, Novavax sold its vaccine production facility and laid off all but about 100 employees. A year later it was revived by Operation Warp Speed, the massive public-private effort to produce covid vaccines. To make its shot, the company genetically alters an insect virus called a baculovirus to produce covid proteins in moth cells. The system was developed by Gale Smith, first at Protein Sciences Corp., which used it to license an influenza vaccine. Sanofi in 2017 bought Protein Sciences and its vaccine. Smith, who has worked at Novavax since 2003, saw the moth cell system as a safer, faster alternative to traditional methods of growing vaccine viruses in eggs or monkey and dog kidney cell cultures, which were prone to contamination with potentially dangerous viruses. Baculoviruses don't grow in people. But the baculovirus system is messy, according to Kevin Gilligan, a senior consultant at Biologics Consulting Group in Alexandria, Virginia, and a former federal pandemic preparedness official. The product of the moth cell bioreactors can be a sticky mixture of cellular debris, and insect and viral proteins. "It's a whole soup of all kinds of things," Cox said. "You go through a purification process and hopefully end up with that 90-plus percent pure protein you want." According to one report, some lots produced at the Texas plant were only 70% pure. So Novavax turned to the Serum Institute of India, one of several companies in the U.S., Asia, and Europe with which it had signed manufacturing agreements in 2020. In the meantime, Novavax's executives reaped record payouts in 2020. CEO Stanley Erck got $48 million, mostly in stocks and bonuses, while Trizzino and others got payouts of $20 million or more each. Over the past year, company executives cashed out stocks worth more than $150 million. Shareholders have sued Novavax over sagging stock prices following missed deadlines for its vaccine. In June 2021 Novavax hired a leading process engineer, Indresh Srivastava, from Sanofi. The company's manufacturing problems are "well past us," Trizzino said. In an unusual twist, while U.S. taxpayers may come to rely on the Indian version of a vaccine they heavily funded, another Indian company, Biological E, is making a vaccine invented by Peter Hotez, Maria Elena Bottazzi, and colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine. Their only government funding was a $400,000 NIH grant, Hotez said, and Baylor is giving the shot away to companies that will make it cheaply in lower-income countries. About 45 million doses of the vaccine have been administered so far to Indian teens with a cost to the Indian government of $1.86 per shot. KHN correspondent Rachana Pradhan contributed to this report. Inflammation of the skin and the esophagus, food allergy and asthma are just some of the symptoms of a now 12-year-old boy who was the first to have a mutation on the IL-33 gene. An international team led by a physician from the Karl Landsteiner University for Health Sciences, Krems, discovered this new disease entity. Their description of a single case provides completely new insights into the in vivo functions of IL-33, which is considered a central upstream regulator of human immune responses. So far, studies on its function were limited to human derived in vitro cellular or animal models. This discovery of an overexpression of IL-33 in humans helps to gain new insights in the consequences of its dysregulation in humans. Concomitantly, it also opens up potential therapeutic options for affected patients. The human body's type-2 immune response serves to defend against larger pathogens, but also represents the hallmark of allergic inflammation. Interleukin 33 (IL-33), a so-called alarmin due to its release upon cellular damage, plays a central role in the initiation and regulation of allergic inflammation. Animal models in which its production is genetically up- or down-regulated have contributed to the understanding and suggested functions beyond allergic inflammation but they allow only limited insight into the conditions in humans. Disease symptoms of a patient with a duplicated IL-33 gene now provide such insight for the first time. Described for the first time An international team at The Hospital for Sick Children led by Prof. Thomas Eiwegger of the Karl Landsteiner Private University for Health Sciences Krems (KL Krems) succeeded in stating the diagnosis and providing the first description. "One of the most striking symptoms of the patient is chronic inflammation of the esophagus, an eosinophilic esophagitis, as well as chronic inflammatory changes of the skin, explains Prof. Thomas Eiwegger, who recently became head of the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at St. Polten University Hospital, which is part of KL Krems. Thus, a high number of eosinophilic granulocytes (hypereosinophilia), elevated levels of IgE antibodies and recurrent eosinophil-dominated inflammation of the skin occurred. According to Prof. Eiwegger: "Especially the skin reactions and the inflammation of the esophagus confirm the central role of IL-33 in type-2 immune reactions in tissues exposed to the external environment." Additionally, food allergies and asthma, as well as inflammatory complications of the broader gastrointestinal tract, also show up in terms of an autoimmune response. Numerous investigations in the now published study were conducted at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, in conjunction with the university there. In addition to the inflammatory symptoms, physical abnormalities of the patient were also recorded. These include changes in the cranial bones, the jaw and the face, as well as delayed weight gain and growth in length with hypermobility of the joints, short-sightedness and a moderate developmental delay. For Prof. Eiwegger, these are indications of the pleiotropic role of IL-33 beyond classical type-2 inflammation. More gene. More cytokine The extent to which this gene duplication affected the actual concentration of the cytokine IL-33 in the blood and various tissues was very interesting. Although there was no increase in IL-33 in the blood, there were significant increases in the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract as well as the skin. The different subcellular localizations of IL-33 in different tissues were also striking. For example, it showed up in the nucleus in inflamed skin tissue, but in the cytoplasm in inflammation-free intestinal tissue." Prof. Thomas Eiwegger, Karl Landsteiner Private University for Health Sciences Krems (KL Krems) The team suggests that these results show how tightly IL-33 is regulated locally and points to new explanations for the patient's tissue-specific disease patterns that could be critical for targeted therapies for diseases in which IL-33 plays a role. Monoclonal antibodies that bind and remove IL-33 are being investigated as therapeutic options in phase 2 studies for the treatment of asthma, atopic dermatitis and food allergies an option that the team also considers worth evaluating here. Thus, this research exemplifies modern precision medicine in which basic science directly impacts clinical decision making. Researchers in Spain conducted a study to compare the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasounds (LUS) performed in the primary care setting to chest X-rays (CXR) performed by a radiologist when diagnosing community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). While previous research demonstrates that ultrasounds are a useful tool to diagnose pneumonia in the hospital setting, most studies have not addressed diagnosis in the primary care setting where patients often present with less severe symptoms. Over a seven month period, physicians at 12 primary care clinics performed LUS, followed by CXR, on 82 patients with clinically suspected CAP. Researchers then compared each LUS finding with the corresponding CXR report. Their findings suggest that, for pneumonia cases detected by LUS, the test's high specificity could mean it is safe for primary care physicians to directly prescribe antibiotics, thus reducing patients' exposure to X-ray radiation and saving time and money. All study participants had performed ultrasound in other areas of medicine, including abdominal ultrasound, and were able to achieve a high level of diagnostic accuracy after receiving only five hours of LUS training. Because the test can typically be performed in 10 minutes or less, the authors posit that incorporating LUS into daily practice may be a time- and cost-saving measure for patients and physicians alike. (Newser) A German court on Wednesday sentenced a woman who posed as a doctor to life in prison for causing the deaths of several people she treated. Judges at the regional court in Kassel said the evidence showed the 51-year-old woman, whose name was not given in line with German privacy rules, used a forged license to obtain employment as an anesthesiologist. The judges determined that three patients died as a result of treatment errors, while others suffered serious damage, German news agency dpa reported. They sentenced the woman on three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder, reports the AP. The judges cited the special gravity of the crimes, making it more difficult for the woman to be released from prison after 15 years. That's the amount of time people given life sentences in Germany must serve to be considered for possible release. Prosecutors accused the woman of having wrongly dosed anesthetics and of having failed to treat blood poisoning at a hospital in Fritzlar, a town near Kassel. She is also said to have been responsible for hours of oxygen deprivation as well as damage to the cardiovascular system and organ failure in patients, dpa reported. The prosecutors claimed that the woman acted on the basis of an excessive need for recognition. After working at the Fritzlar hospital from 2015 to 2018, the woman moved to a clinic in northern Germany. Officials from a regional medical association flagged discrepancies in her records, and she eventually turned herself in for employment fraud. The Hesse Medical Association and her former employer also reported her. (Read more Germany stories.) (Newser) The wave that surfer Sebastian Steudtner rode in October 2020 has been confirmed as the beast it appeared to be. Guinness World Records on Tuesday announced the 36-year-old German did indeed break the record for riding the largest wave when he rode an 86-footer off Portugal. The Washington Post reports the World Surf League, a group of scientists, and Guinness World Records needed 18 months to verify the feat. One challenge is having a reliable height of another object in the frame of a photograph or video to compare the wave's height tobut there typically aren't many objects present beyond the surfer, or can be slightly bent. What was ultimately used in this case as the "ruler" was Steudtner's lower leg, from his heel to his kneecap, since that portion isn't bendable. The wave was caught off Praia do Norte, Nazare, and it nabbed Steudtner his third World Surf League Biggest Wave Award, reports UPI. His wave crushes the previous record, an 80-footer surfed in the same spot in 2017 by Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa. Steudtner expressed his joy at a Tuesday ceremony: "I have achieved everything there is in my sport. It has been a crazy journey to get here and the record is much more than just a number." Guinness quoted comments Steudtner previously made about that wave: "It's also the fastest I ever felt going on a surfboard. I had tears coming out of my eyes because of the wind, my face was melting. It was crazy. I didn't imagine that could happen in surfing until that day." He had this to say to the BBC: "There's no car, there's no airplane, there's nothing I have experienced can match that power." Guinness notes Steudtner's training partner is Brazil's Maya Gabeira, who is the female record-holder for the 73.5-foot wave she surfed at the same spot earlier in 2020. (Read more surfing stories.) (Newser) President Biden, arguing again for new gun control laws after the mass shooting in a Texas school, said Wednesday at the White House that the "Second Amendment is not absolute." When it was added to the Constitution, the president said, "You couldn't own ayou couldn't own a cannon. You couldn't own certain kinds of weapons." Biden said that there have always been limitations on gun ownership and that legislation enacted in the past has been effective without compromising the Second Amendment's protection of gun rights, the New York Times reports. "These actions we've taken before, they save lives," he said. "They can do it again." Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden will travel soon to Uvalde, Texas, per CBS News. He said they'll "meet with the families, and let them know we have a sense, just a sense of their pain. And hopefully, bring some little comfort to the community in shock and grief and in trauma. As a nation, I think we all must be there for them. Everyone." He again pressed Congress to stand up to gun lobby and added a call for action "to, if not completely stop, fundamentally change the amount of the carnage that goes on in this country." (Read more President Biden stories.) (Newser) Less than a day after a gunman shot to death 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Texas, a Senate hearing for President Bidens pick to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reflected the deep political divisions over guns. Steve Dettelbach would be the first confirmed head of the ATF in seven years, and the process can be fraught, the AP reports. For his part, Dettelbach vowed Wednesday to run the agency without political interference in the hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. "Politics can play no role in law enforcement. None at all," he said. The Texas massacre carried out with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle cast a long shadow over the hearing, with Democrats making emotional pleas to restrict the similar firearms, especially for younger buyers. Authorities have said the gunman bought the guns legally just after his 18th birthday. An 18-year-old killed 10 people in Buffalo earlier this month, officials said, also using an AR-15-style semi-automatic. "The shooters in Texas and New York weren't able to buy a beer, but they were old enough to buy an assault weapon," said Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Shootings rose sharply after the decade-long federal assault weapons ban expired in 2004, she said. "The kind of weapons being used by the Russians in Ukraine have no place in a school," said Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton questioned Dettlebach on the definition of "assault weapon," a term that can refer to various firearms. "The point is, there's really no such thing as a category of assault weapons," he said. Dettlebach, who has previously supported a ban, said a legal definition would have to come from Congress. Republican Sen. Mike Lee said the country should be looking at the "root causes of rampage violence" rather than passing new gun restrictions. "It raises questionscould things like fatherlessness, the breakdown of families, isolation from civil society and glorification of violence be contributing factors?" Lee said. (Read more gun control stories.) (Newser) After the shooter barricaded himself in a fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, it was 40 minutes or more before officers entered the room and the gunman was killed by a Border Patrol team. Also dead by that point were 19 children and two teachers. Witnesses tell the AP they yelled at officers to move in as they stood outside the school, and some of them even discussed going in themselves, but nothing happened. "They were unprepared," says the father of a little girl who was killed. One man who watched the entire scene unfold, from the time the gunman crashed his truck outside the school to the time he entered with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle, says women on the scene were shouting at police, "Go in there! Go in there!" The man adds: "There were more of them. There was just one of him." More: Timeline: The Los Angeles Times has put together a timeline of the tragedy; according to its accounting, the shooter crashed at 11:30am and possibly exchanged gunfire with a school resource officer (reports differ on that point), then made his way inside the school until he found the classroom where he eventually barricaded himself by locking the door. Along the way, he wounded two responding police officers as well (it's also not clear whether they shot at him). It's not clear exactly when he made it inside the classroom, but it was at 11:43am that the school announced a lockdown, 12:17pm when the district announced the active shooting situation on social media, and 1:06pm when the police department reported the shooter was "in police custody." It's not clear when or how quickly the victims were killed. The Los Angeles Times has put together a timeline of the tragedy; according to its accounting, the shooter crashed at 11:30am and possibly exchanged gunfire with a school resource officer (reports differ on that point), then made his way inside the school until he found the classroom where he eventually barricaded himself by locking the door. Along the way, he wounded two responding police officers as well (it's also not clear whether they shot at him). It's not clear exactly when he made it inside the classroom, but it was at 11:43am that the school announced a lockdown, 12:17pm when the district announced the active shooting situation on social media, and 1:06pm when the police department reported the shooter was "in police custody." It's not clear when or how quickly the victims were killed. An hour? A report at the New York Times confirms it was just after 1pm that the shooter was killed, and cites the Texas Department of Public Safety director as saying the gunman was inside the school for roughly an hour before he was shot. The director later estimated "40 minutes or so," but would not give a complete timeline; at another point he said the gunman was killed "within, like, 40 minutes, [within] an hour." The take of the director, and other officials, is that the officers successfully contained the shooter inside one of the school's internally connected or adjoining classrooms until a more specially trained tactical team arrived on the scene and breached the room. One held up a shield, the others came behind him, and three fired on the shooter as soon as they entered. A report at the New York Times confirms it was just after 1pm that the shooter was killed, and cites the Texas Department of Public Safety director as saying the gunman was inside the school for roughly an hour before he was shot. The director later estimated "40 minutes or so," but would not give a complete timeline; at another point he said the gunman was killed "within, like, 40 minutes, [within] an hour." The take of the director, and other officials, is that the officers successfully contained the shooter inside one of the school's internally connected or adjoining classrooms until a more specially trained tactical team arrived on the scene and breached the room. One held up a shield, the others came behind him, and three fired on the shooter as soon as they entered. Statement: "The bottom line is law enforcement was there," the aforementioned director says. They did engage immediately. They did contain (the shooter) in the classroom. ... They did contain him in a classroom, and they put the tactical stack together in a very orderly way, and of course breached and assaulted the individual." "The bottom line is law enforcement was there," the aforementioned director says. They did engage immediately. They did contain (the shooter) in the classroom. ... They did contain him in a classroom, and they put the tactical stack together in a very orderly way, and of course breached and assaulted the individual." "Agents didn't hesitate": According to the Guardian, the Border Patrol chief told CNN that once Border Patrol agents, including agents from its tactical unit, arrived on the scene, "They didnt hesitate. They came up with a plan. They entered that classroom and they took care of the situation as quickly as they possibly could." According to the Guardian, the Border Patrol chief told CNN that once Border Patrol agents, including agents from its tactical unit, arrived on the scene, "They didnt hesitate. They came up with a plan. They entered that classroom and they took care of the situation as quickly as they possibly could." Key? A law enforcement official familiar with the investigation says Border Patrol agents struggled to breach the classroom door and needed a staff member to use a key to open it, though that detail has not been officially confirmed. A law enforcement official familiar with the investigation says Border Patrol agents struggled to breach the classroom door and needed a staff member to use a key to open it, though that detail has not been officially confirmed. "The longest 35 minutes of my life": A teacher who spoke to NBC News described what it was like waiting with her students, hearing children wailing from the classroom down the hall in which the shooter had locked himself, until police broke their classroom windows so they could escape. (Read more Uvalde mass shooting stories.) (Newser) The romance novelist who infamously wrote an essay titled "How to Murder Your Husband" was on Wednesday convicted of murdering her husband. Prosecutors say Nancy Crampton Brophy, 71, spent months collecting a ghost gun kit, a gun, and various gun pieces that could have been swapped out on the gun, including a piece to make sure bullets were not traced back to the gun, before shooting Daniel Brophy in his workplace where there were no cameras or witnesses. She then tried to collect on life insurance policies, the New York Times reports. The essay, written in 2011, had included tips about making sure such a murder was not traceable. Defense attorneys said that while acquiring the gun pieces, Brophy had been considering a story about a woman who built a gun to deal with her abusive partner. Brophy, too, said she bought the gun parts for research. Even so, a jury found her guilty of second-degree murder in her husband's 2018 slaying after two days of deliberations, the AP reports. She will be sentenced June 13, and her defense team plans to appeal, KOIN-TV reports. The couple had been together 25 years when Daniel Brophy was killed. Under questioning, Brophy was asked whether she believed, as she's said in some of her writings, that "anyone is capable" of murder. She said "absolutely," if they're backed into a cornerincluding for financial issues, which prosecutors say were the motivation to kill. But Brophy insisted throughout the trial the couple's financial struggles were under control. "An editor would laugh and say, I think you need to work harder on this story. You have kind of a big hole in it,'" she said. (Read more Nancy Crampton Brophy stories.) (Newser) "To their mothers and their families, I express my deepest sympathy." Such were the condolences issued Thursday by Senegal's president to the families of 11 newborns who were killed when a fire swept through the neonatal unit of a hospital in Tivaouane Wednesday night; three infants were saved. Health minister Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr indicated the blaze at Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital is believed to have been the result of a short circuit. The New York Times reports this fire follows one 13 months prior, in which four newborns died when a malfunctioning air-conditioning unit led to a fire at another hospital. The AP notes that "a series of other deaths also have raised concerns about maternal and infant health in the West African nation known for having some of the best hospitals in the region." It cites two incidents: One from early May in which a baby that had been declared dead by a nurse's aide and taken to the morgue was found to actually be alive. The baby ultimately died. In 2021, a pregnant woman's requests for a cesarean section went unheeded and both she and her unborn child died. Three midwives were handed six-month suspended sentences for denying help to a person in danger. (Read more Senegal stories.) (Newser) A former London and Miami art dealer who pleaded guilty to defrauding art buyers and others of more than $86 million was sentenced Monday to seven years in prison. Inigo Philbrick, 34, a US citizen who previously lived in London, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court by Judge Sidney H. Stein. He also was ordered to forfeit $86 million, per the AP. Philbrick pleaded guilty last November to a single count of wire fraud for conducting a multiyear scheme to defraud individuals and entities in order to finance his art business. Prosecutors said he carried out the scheme by misrepresenting the ownership of certain artworks and by sometimes selling more than 100% ownership to multiple individuals and entities without their knowledge. US Attorney Damian Williams said in a release that Philbrick's success as an art dealer came only after he collateralized and resold fractional shares in high-value contemporary art. "Unfortunately, his success was built on brazen lies, including concealed ownership interests, fake documents, and even an invented art collector," Williams said. "When the house of cards fell apart, Philbrick fled for a remote island in the Pacific, leaving many of his victims without recourse. For his extensive fraud, Philbrick is now sentenced to a substantial prison term." Artworks used in the scheme included, among others, a 1982 painting by the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat titled "Humidity," a 2010 untitled painting by the artist Christopher Wool, and an untitled 2012 painting by the artist Rudolf Stingel depicting fellow artist Pablo Picasso, authorities said. The scheme unraveled as jilted art buyers filed civil lawsuits, a lender notified Philbrick that he was in default of a $14 million loan, and he stopped responding to legal processes, prosecutors said. In 2019, his art galleries in Miami and London closed, and Philbrick fled the US before being arrested in June 2020 in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, where he'd been living since October 2019, prosecutors said. (Read more fraud stories.) (Newser) It was an audacious and nearly successful move: Police on Wednesday said a man and woman entered a Manhattan gallery on May 14, took a $45,000 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat from the wall, and began to walk out. They were stopped before making it out of Taglialatella Galleries, however. While the painting didn't leave the premises, they did, and the NYPD is now trying to locate them. An NYPD rep says they were last spotted walking north on 10th Avenue, per NBC News. They are described as both being white and in their 20s or 30s; the female had blonde hair and was dressed in a navy coat, while the man wore a maroon and gray sweatshirt and red sneakers. The New York Post reports they are said to have had European accents. It's not the first time Basquiat's work has been targeted by alleged thieves: Artnet in 2017 reported a 67-year-old Spanish woman was arrested for allegedly stealing a Basquiat from a collector she worked for, supposedly with the intention of demanding a ransom. Also per Artnet, a $10 million Basquiat briefly went missing in 2015 in Paris in the midst of a rich couple's contentious divorce. (Read more Jean-Michel Basquiat stories.) (Newser) For years, Steven Gallagher has suffered from pain in his arms and hands, not finding relief even after an operation to address what he believed at the time was carpal tunnel syndrome. Turns out the Scotsman actually has an autoimmune disease that scars the skin and his inner organs, and he's now found a remedy that has given him what he calls a "new lease" on life: a double hand transplant. Per the Evening Standard, the 48-year-old dad of three from the village of Dreghorn suffers from scleroderma, in which one's immune system attacks the body's connective tissue. In Gallagher's case, that led to a rash on his cheeks and nose starting more than a decade ago, as well as "horrendous" pain in his hands. About seven years ago, "my hands started to close ... to the point where it was basically two fists," he says, per the BBC. "My hands were unusable. I couldn't do a thing apart from lift things." His condition forced him to quit his job as a roof tiler, and things seemed direuntil he spoke with a Glasgow-based plastic and hand surgeon who suggested the double hand transplant. "At the time I laughed and thought, 'That's [a] space-age kind of thing],'" he says. However, after speaking to other experts, Gallagher decided it was a procedure worth pursuing, even after he went through a comprehensive psychological evaluation to make sure he could handle whatever came nextincluding the risk of him losing his hands altogether. "They said it was unlikely, but it was a risk," he notes. After consulting with his wife, Gallagher decided to take the leap, and in December, after a donor was found, a team of 30 carried out the 12-hour procedure in Leeds. "From the moment I woke up from the operation I could move them," Gallagher says of his new hands, calling the whole experience "surreal." Gallagher remained in the hospital for a month and now goes to regular therapy to keep improving the usage of his adopted appendages. At the moment, he can't do more complicated fine-motor tasks like buttoning up a shirt, but he's able to accomplish more simple things like turning on the faucet and petting his dog. "Everything's just slowly getting better," he tells the Standard, noting he may even be able to eventually return to work. Most importantly, "now I've no pain at all." (Read more hand transplant stories.) We use cookies. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Read more in our privacy policy (Newser) Update: Kevin Spacey says he will travel to Britain to defend himself in court against new allegations of sexual abuse and is "confident" he'll be cleared. In a statement released by his attorney on Tuesday, the actor said he will "voluntarily appear in the UK as soon as can be arranged," per Rolling Stone. Spacey is accused of abusing three men in England several years ago, the latest in series of allegations that have torpedoed his Hollywood career. Our original story from May 26 follows: Kevin Spacey is facing yet more allegations of sexual abuse. On Thursday, British prosecutors said he faces charges of assaulting three men between 2005 and 2013, reports CNN. At the time, Spacey ran the Old Vic Theatre in London, per the AP. One of the four counts accuses Spacey of "causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent," notes the Guardian. The 62-year-old Spacey has been fighting legal battles since 2017, when the first of his accusersactor Anthony Rappcame forward, notes Variety. It's not clear where Spacey is living these days. "The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr. Spacey are active and that he has the right to a fair trial," says Rosemary Ainslie, head of the service's special crime division. The charges follow a review of evidence by London's Metropolitan Police, who questioned Spacey in 2019 about claims raised by several men. The Hollywood career of the Oscar winner has tanked amid the scandal, though he did land a role in a movie last year. (Read more Kevin Spacey stories.) (Newser) One of the stories emerging as a flashpoint Thursday in the wake of the mass shooting in Texas is anger over the police response in Uvalde. However, many details about the timeline remain unclear, and the New York Times reports that two officers from the Uvalde Police Department did immediately enter the school after the first calls about a gunman came in at 11:30am Tuesday. The officers reportedly were shot trying to enter the classroom where the gunman had holed up, and they fell back after being wounded. The gunman is believed to have shot all his victims within the first minutes of arriving at the school, per the Times. More: Video: The Washington Post has video from a parent's Facebook feed showing angry parents confronting officers outside Robb Elementary School. "You know that there are kids, right?" the man filming says at one point as an officer orders bystanders to get across the street. "Little kidsthey dont know how to defend themselves. The Washington Post has video from a parent's Facebook feed showing angry parents confronting officers outside Robb Elementary School. "You know that there are kids, right?" the man filming says at one point as an officer orders bystanders to get across the street. "Little kidsthey dont know how to defend themselves. More: NBC News also has video in which multiple people are heard yelling at officers. One woman shouts, Get in! Get in! What is the f------ deal? The AP quotes Javier Cazares, whose daughter was killed in the attack, as saying he suggested to other parents that they charge the school. Lets just rush in because the cops arent doing anything like they are supposed to, he said. More could have been done. NBC News also has video in which multiple people are heard yelling at officers. One woman shouts, Get in! Get in! What is the f------ deal? The AP quotes Javier Cazares, whose daughter was killed in the attack, as saying he suggested to other parents that they charge the school. Lets just rush in because the cops arent doing anything like they are supposed to, he said. More could have been done. Witness: They were just angry, especially the dads, Derek Sotelo, who heard the gunfire from his job at a nearby tire shop and went to the school, tells the Times. We were wondering, What the heck is going on? Are they going in? The dads were saying, Give me the vest, Ill go in there! The shooter was believed to have been killed shortly after 1pm. Timeline: Just how long police and Border Patrol agents waited outside the school before entering en masse is unclear. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw has said 40 minutes to an hour elapsed from when Ramos opened fire on a school security officer to when he was killed. But the AP notes authorities are still trying to clarify. In fact, it's no longer clear the gunman exchanged fire with a security officer at all. It's also possible the 40 minutes began when the gunman shot his grandmother before leaving home. Just how long police and Border Patrol agents waited outside the school before entering en masse is unclear. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw has said 40 minutes to an hour elapsed from when Ramos opened fire on a school security officer to when he was killed. But the AP notes authorities are still trying to clarify. In fact, it's no longer clear the gunman exchanged fire with a security officer at all. It's also possible the 40 minutes began when the gunman shot his grandmother before leaving home. In defense: The bottom line is law enforcement was there, McCraw says. They did engage immediately. They did contain (Ramos) in the classroom. Says Border Patrol leader Raul Ortiz: What we wanted to make sure is to act quickly, act swiftly, and that's exactly what those agents did." (Agents reportedly had difficulty entering the barricaded door, and may have needed a key.) The bottom line is law enforcement was there, McCraw says. They did engage immediately. They did contain (Ramos) in the classroom. Says Border Patrol leader Raul Ortiz: What we wanted to make sure is to act quickly, act swiftly, and that's exactly what those agents did." (Agents reportedly had difficulty entering the barricaded door, and may have needed a key.) Protocol: The Post notes that police protocol in school shootings now typically calls for officers to immediately enter the building. The newspaper quotes security expert Kenneth Trump as saying that any delay will be hard to justify. (Read more Uvalde mass shooting stories.) (Newser) It's an ignoble development for the man who once helmed Paris' Louvre. Former museum president Jean-Luc Martinez was this week questioned by police and then charged with complicity in fraud and "concealing the origin of criminally obtained works by false endorsement." The Guardian reports the case involves items that were possibly spirited out of Egypt during the Arab spring unrest, and calls it a case "that has shocked the world of antiquities." The investigation began in July 2018; Martinez's tenure at the museum ran from 2013 to 2021. The Guardian references the Louvre Abu Dhabi's 2016 purchase of "a rare pink granite stele [slab] depicting the pharaoh Tutankhamun" and four other antiquities for north of $8 million. A report in a French investigative weekly suggests it's possible Martinez is suspected of having "turned a blind eye" to fake certificates of origin for the five antiquities. The Paris prosecutors office said two members of the Louvre's Egyptian antiquities department were also taken into custody this week but released without charge, reports the AP. Martinez previously denied any wrongdoing. The Art Newspaper's source says it's thought Martinez may not have thoroughly considered concerns Marc Gabolde from the University of Montpellier raised about the conditions under which the stele was exported in 1933 by an officer of the German navy. But Gabolde has apparently said he believes "Egyptologists and curators were cheated by thugs and were not accomplices of the traffickers, but their victims." Martinez is currently France's ambassador for international cooperation in the field of heritage and is overseeing a report on restitutions to African countries. (Read more The Louvre stories.) (Newser) People in the Montreal area at high risk of contracting monkeypox will be given the smallpox vaccine, Quebec health officials announced Thursday. The province has 25 confirmed cases of monkeypox, all connected to the Montreal region, CBC reports. Another 20 to 30 potential cases are being investigated. "We aren't expecting a rapid, huge number of cases," said Dr. Luc Boileau, Quebec's public health director. "That's why we think it can be eradicated." Boileau called the outbreak serious but said the disease isn't running through the population the way COVID-19 has. Vaccinations will not be available to everyone. They'll require a recommendation from the public health agency, starting with people who have had contact with those who have confirmed monkeypox cases. Boileau said the "vast majority" of cases so far are adult men who had sex with men. The virus requires close, prolonged contact with an infected person to spread, said Caroline Quach, head of Quebec's immunization committee, per the Montreal Gazette. "So it's not like an entire classroom would suddenly be affected," she said, which could happen with the coronavirus. The monkeypox virus also be transmitted through droplets, she said. The vaccination can help when administered up to 14 days after contact, Quach said, though within four days is ideal. As with COVID-19, contact tracing and isolation are among the strategies being used to prevent the spread. The virus is related to the one that causes smallpox, which is why the existing vaccine can be effective in at least keeping cases from becoming severe. "This is a bit concerning," said an infectious disease specialist at the McGill University Health Center about confirmed cases going from none to 25 in a week. "For a disease that we have never seen before in Canada, that seems to be a relatively big increase." (At least three US states have confirmed or suspected cases.) (Newser) Actor Ray Liotta, whose breakout role came as mobster Henry Hill in Goodfellas, has died at age 67, reports Deadline. Both that outlet and TMZ say Liotta died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was filming a movie. No suspicious circumstances were believed to be at play. Liotta starred alongside Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in Goodfellas, a based-on-true-life mafia classic from Martin Scorcese. Liotta, however, has a long resume, and just a small sampling of movies include Hannibal, Narc, Blow, Cop Land, and Field of Dreams. Liotta is survived by a daughter, Karsen, and his fiancee, Jacy Nittolo. Utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray," tweeted Lorraine Bracco, who played Karen Hill in Goodfellas. "I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas. Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the same ... Ray Liotta. The AP notes that Liotta was adopted out of an orphanage at age 6 months in Newark, New Jersey. He grew up thinking he was Italian but learned later in life while searching for his birth parents that he was actually Scottish. (Read more Ray Liotta stories.) World Bank approves funds to promote biodiversity, carbon neutrality in Chinese cities Xinhua) 13:29, May 26, 2022 BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank has decided to provide funds for an urban environment project in China to promote biodiversity conservation and carbon neutrality, the country's finance ministry said Wednesday. About 26.91 million U.S. dollars will be granted by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the "China-GEF7: Green and Carbon-Neutral Cities Project," which would involve the Chinese cities of Chongqing, Chengdu and Ningbo, as well as an urban development center under the National Development and Reform Commission. The project, expected to run from 2022 through 2027, aims to integrate biodiversity conservation in participating cities' urban development and establish their pathway to carbon neutrality, according to the ministry. Established in 1991, the GEF trust fund aims to provide funding to achieve global environmental benefits with the World Bank serving as its trustee. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Eighteen trading outlets are facing fines and jail terms for possible Value Added Tax (VAT) violations. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism started the inspection clampdown in cooperation with the National Bureau of Revenue (NBR) ever since the amended VAT law took effect early this year. Forty trading outlets have been inspected across Bahrain to ensure adequate implementation of the readjusted VAT, and violators could face fines of up to BD10,000. Competent authorities are taking legal measures against the violating establishments as well as outlets which were found guilty of tax evasion. Lawbreakers can be jailed for five years and fined three times the amount evaded. The Ministry and NBR stressed the importance of complying with readjusted regulations, urging customers to lodge complaints and and report VAT violations via hotline 80008001 round the clock or email vat@ nbr.gov.bh. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) announced signing a new strategic cooperation agreement with the American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC). AIAC is a global organisation in company turnaround, mergers and acquisitions, private equity as well as improving non-performing enterprises and enterprises performing below their full potential. AIAC will provide advisory support as part of Tamkeens recently launched programme Business Turnaround that aims to empower enterprises to transform their business models in response to major organisational, market, technology and financial challenges and opportunities. Husain Mohamed Rajab, Chief Executive of Tamkeen, emphasised Tamkeens commitment to empowering enterprises in Bahrain and helping them become key contributors to the national economy. He said: The outcome of these services will enable enterprises to get on a path of recovery and growth, enhancing their competitiveness both locally and internationally, and helping them reaching their full potential. Peter Graham, Managing Director COO, Asia, AIAC, said, It is a great initiative by Tamkeen to tailor programmes and build partnerships for enterprises in all sizes and through all their development stages. AIAC portfolio consists of 78 manufacturing and distribution sites in 24 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia across different sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare and renewable energy. We look forward to deploying our groups expertise across many sectors with the objective of turning around Bahraini businesses that would contribute significantly to the Kingdom of Bahrains economy. Earlier this year, Tamkeen embarked on a strategic transformation journey that encompassed the entire organisation and resulted in the launch of a line-up of objective-driven support programs and a transparent and enhanced assessment process. The new programmes were developed following a series of consultation sessions with representatives from various sectors and cater to the market requirements. Japan will open its borders to foreign tourists in June for the first time since imposing tight pandemic travel restrictions about two years ago, but only for package tours for now, the prime minister said Thursday. Beginning June 10, Japan will allow the entry of people on tours with fixed schedules and guides, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said. Tourists from areas with low COVID-19 infection rates who have received three vaccine doses will be exempt from testing and quarantine after entry. Japan this week is hosting small experimental package tours from four countries, Australia, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. That experiment, which involves only 50 people who received special visas, not tourist visas, is to end May 31. After facing criticism that its strict border controls were xenophobic, Japan began easing its restrictions earlier this year and currently allows entry of up to 10,000 people a day, including Japanese citizens, foreign students and some business travelers. Japan will double the cap to 20,000 a day from June 1, which will also include package tour participants, said Makoto Shimoaraiso, a Cabinet official in charge of pandemic measures. The scale of the package tours and other details will be finalized after officials evaluate the results of the current experimental tours, he said. ...continue reading TOKYO -- Park24, the largest car park operator in Japan, will convert a parking facility into a takeoff and landing base for flying cars in the western Kansai region in 2025 as part of the World Expo, Nikkei has learned. More companies are entering the business of operating flying cars, which refer to electrically powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft mostly on autopilot, but the lack of landing sites has become an issue. This move by Park24, which runs about 20,000 parking facilities, is expected to spur other operators into entering the space. Park24 will develop a takeoff and landing base in a corner of a parking lot it manages in the Kansai region, close to Yumeshima, a man-made island that will be the site for the World Expo 2025. It will adhere to guidelines for such sites drawn up in Europe and the U.S., with the aim of eventually expanding the business throughout Japan. Park24 will be the first Japanese parking lot operator to enter the flying car business. It will work with Skyport, a U.K.-based company that has developed and operates such a base in Europe. The Kansai lot will be able to accommodate aircraft of various sizes, from small ones that can take one or two passengers to those that have a five-person capacity that are suitable for longer flights. A former Japanese agriculture minister, Yoshikawa Takamori, has been given a suspended prison sentence for taking bribes from an egg producer while in office. Yoshikawa was indicted on charges of receiving a total of 5 million yen, or about 39,000 dollars, from a former head of Hiroshima-based Akita Foods on three occasions between November 2018 and August 2019. Yoshikawa admitted to receiving the cash, but pleaded not guilty, saying the funds received were not bribes. At the Tokyo District Court on Thursday, presiding judge Mukai Katsuko said Yoshikawa was aware the egg producer's intention to seek favors over draft standards for poultry breeding drawn up by an international organization. The judge said Yoshikawa knew the money was for the government's opposition to the proposed standards and preferential treatment for the egg industry. Recognizing all of the cash Yoshikawa received as bribes, the judge criticized his act and gave him a prison sentence of two years and six months, suspended for four years. The judge also ordered him to pay a penalty of 5 million yen, the same amount of money that changed hands. ...continue reading NEW DELHI (AP) For nearly three centuries, Muslims and Hindus in Indias northern Varanasi city have prayed to their gods in a mosque and a temple that are separated by one wall. Many see it as an example of religious coexistence in a country where bouts of deadly communal violence are common. That coexistence is now under threat due to a controversial court case. A local court earlier this month began hearing a petition filed by a group of Hindus that seeks access to pray inside the Gyanvapi mosque compound, arguing it was built on top of the ruins of a medieval-era temple that was razed by a Mughal emperor. The petitioners say the complex still houses Hindu idols and motifs, a claim that has been contested by the mosques authorities. The legal battle is the latest instance of a growing phenomenon in which Hindu groups petition courts demanding land they claim belongs to Hindus. Critics say such cases spark fears over the status of religious places for Indias Muslims, a minority community that has come under attack in recent years by Hindu nationalists who seek to turn officially secular India into an avowedly Hindu nation. The idea to bombard the courts with so many petitions is to keep the Muslims in check and the communal pot simmering, said Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a political analyst and commentator. It is a way to tell Muslims that their public display of faith in India is no more accepted and that the alleged humiliation heaped on them by Muslim rulers of the medieval past should be redressed now. The court case involving the 17th century Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, one of Hinduisms holiest cities, in many ways embodies Indias contemporary religious strife. The widely accepted consensus among historians is that it was built on top of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva after it was demolished by the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. The two communities have in the past stuck to their claims but also made sure the dispute didn't worsen. That changed last week when a local court in Varanasi ordered the mosque to be surveyed after five Hindu women filed a petition seeking permission to offer prayers there. A video survey found a stone shaft alleged to be a symbol of Shiva inside a reservoir in the mosque used by Muslim devotees for ablution before offering prayers, according to Hari Shankar Jain, a lawyer representing the Hindu women. The land on which the mosque is built belongs to Hindus and should be returned to us, Jain said. Mosque representatives have refuted the claims. Rais Ahmad Ansari, a lawyer for the mosques committee, said the alleged stone shaft found in the reservoir was the base of a fountain. The discovery of the alleged Hindu symbol led the local court in Varanasi to seal the premises, banning large Muslim gatherings inside. Indias Supreme Court later overturned that judgment and allowed Muslims to pray in the mosque. But it also ordered local authorities to seal off and protect the area where the stone shaft was found, dispossessing Muslims of a portion of the mosque they had used until this month. The dispute over the mosque and survey has now been taken up by a higher court in Varanasi, with hearings set to continue Thursday. Lawyers representing the Muslim side have questioned the legal basis for the survey, arguing that it was against the law and a precedent most recently upheld by the Supreme Court in 2019. Indias Hindu nationalists have long claimed that thousands of medieval-era mosques are built on the sites of prominent temples that were demolished by Mughal rulers. Many historians have said the numbers are exaggerated, arguing that a few dozen temples were indeed razed but largely for political reasons and not religious. In the late 1980s, Hindu nationalist groups started campaigns to reclaim these mosques. One such campaign culminated in 1992 with the destruction of the 16th century Babri mosque in the northern town of Ayodhya by Hindu mobs. Hindus believe the site of the mosque was the exact birthplace of their god Ram. Its demolition sparked massive communal violence across India that left more than 2,000 people dead mostly Muslims and catapulted Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party to national prominence. A grand Hindu temple is now being constructed on the site after Indias Supreme Court handed over the disputed land to Hindus in a controversial 2019 judgement. However, the court assured Muslims that the order would not be used as a precedent or pave the way for more such contentious cases. The court in its judgment cited the 1991 Places of Worship Act, which forbids the conversion of a place of worship and stipulates that its religious character should be maintained as it existed on August 15, 1947, the day India won its independence from British colonialists. Lawyers representing the Muslim side say the Gyanvapi mosque court case goes against that very judicial commitment. The act was seen as sacrosanct, that it was there to not reopen old controversies. But allowing a survey is doing exactly that you are scraping at old wounds. This is what it was meant to prohibit," said Nizam Pasha, a lawyer representing the mosque's committee. The Gyanvapi mosque case also fits into a narrative of Modis party, which has long campaigned to reclaim what it calls Indias lost Hindu past. Many party leaders have openly suggested they would take such legal battles head on. Critics say the party does so by providing support to Hindu nationalist groups that often contest such cases in court. Modi's party has denied this, saying it cannot stop people from going to the courts. Pasha, the lawyer, said the filing of such court cases was a very carefully thought out pattern meant to bolster Hindu nationalists. He said the cases are brought by ordinary Hindu citizens as plaintiffs who say they are devotees of a deity asking for the right to pray at disputed sites. Once the matter goes to court, the Hindu plaintiffs then push for searches of the sites and present evidence that is used to build a media narrative and galvanize the public, he said. It is very difficult to convince a public then, already influenced by the media, that this is not true, that this is a fountain, Pasha said of the Gyanvapi mosque case. Meanwhile, Hindu nationalists have begun eyeing more such mosques. Last week, a local court accepted a petition to hear a case on the site of another mosque in Uttar Pradeshs Mathura city, located next to a temple, that some Hindus claim is built on the birthplace of the Hindu god Krishna. Similarly, another court in New Delhi heard arguments this week on restoring a temple that Hindu petitioners say existed under a mosque built at the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Qutub Minar. The court said it will deliver a verdict next month. Many other cases are expected to take years to resolve, but critics say they will help Modis party as it prepares for elections in 2024. These cases help Hindu nationalists with a groundswell of support for their divisive politics. And thats what they need, said Mukhopadhyay, the political analyst. ___ Associated Press writer Biswajeet Banerjee reported from Lucknow. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Firefighters have rescued an abandoned newborn elk calf found amid the ashes of the nation's largest wildfire as calving season approaches its peak in New Mexico and fires rage across the American West. Missoula, Montana-based firefighter Nate Sink said Tuesday that he happened upon the motionless elk calf on the ground of a fire-blackened New Mexico forest as he patrolled and extinguished lingering hot spots. The whole area is just surrounded in a thick layer of ash and burned trees. I didnt think it was alive, said Sink, who was deployed to the state to help contain a wildfire that by Wednesday had spread across 486 square miles (1,260 square kilometers) and destroyed hundreds of structures. It's is one of five major uncontained fires burning in New Mexico amid extremely dry and windy conditions. More than 3,000 firefighters battling the biggest blaze have made significant progress halting its growth in recent days ahead of more dangerous fire conditions forecast to return into the weekend, crew commanders said Wednesday night. Wildlife officials in general discourage interactions with elk calves that are briefly left alone in the first weeks of life as their mothers forage at a distance. Sink says he searched diligently for traces of the calf's mother and found none. The 32-pound (14.5-kilogram) singed bull calf, dubbed Cinder, was taken for care to a nearby ranch and is now regaining strength at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Espanola, north of Santa Fe. Veterinarian Kathleen Ramsay at Cottonwood Rehab says she paired Cinder with a full-grown surrogate elk to be raised with as little human contact as possible. They do elk things, they don't do people things, said Ramsay, noting Cinder arrived at a tender days-old age with his umbilical cord still attached. Ramsay said the calf hopefully can be released into the wild in December after elk-hunting season. The strategy has worked repeatedly with elk tracked by tags as they rejoined wild herds. The calf's rescue was reminiscent of events 70 years ago in New Mexico involving a scalded black bear cub and the fire prevention mascot Smokey Bear. The U.S. fire-safety campaign took on new urgency in 1950 with the rescue by firefighters of a black bear cub that was badly burned by wildfire in southern New Mexico. The cub named Smokey Bear after the mascot recovered and lived at the National Zoo until its death in 1976. Wildfires have broken out this spring in multiple states in the West, where climate change and an enduring drought are fanning the frequency and intensity of forest and grassland fires. Crews battling the biggest U.S. fire in northern New Mexico took advantage of one last day of favorable weather Wednesday before hotter, drier and windier conditions are forecast to return late Thursday and continue to worsen into next week. All across the fire, we're making a lot of really good progress over the last few days, incident commander Carl Schwope said at a briefing Wednesday night. We do have some more critical fire weather moving in ... starting now and getting warmer and drier throughout the weekend. (But) feeling real confident that we are ahead of the curve on that, he said. Bruno Rodriguez, an inter-agency meteorologist assigned to the fire, said gusts should continue to increase by about 5 mph (8 kph) per day, from 25 mph (40 kph) Thursday to as strong as 50 mph (80 kph) by Monday. It's definitely going to be a critical fire weather pattern and unfortunately it's going to be fairly prolonged and persistent, he said. __ Associated Press writer Scott Sonner contributed to this report from Reno, Nevada. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LONDON (AP) British prosecutors said Thursday they had authorized police to charge actor Kevin Spacey with four counts of sexual assault against three men, an announcement that came as the actor was in court in New York testifying in a different case. The Crown Prosecution Service said it had "authorized criminal charges" on the four sex assault counts and one of "causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The alleged incidents took place in London between March 2005 and August 2008, and one in western England in April 2013. The alleged victims are now in their 30s and 40s. Rosemary Ainslie, head of the services Special Crime Division, said the charges followed a review of evidence gathered by Londons Metropolitan Police. Prosecutors initially said Spacey had been charged. However, they later clarified that charges had been authorized, but the formal charging by police had not yet taken place. The authorization to charge means criminal proceedings against Spacey are underway. The police force said Spacey who is not currently in Britain will be formally charged at a later date. If Spacey does not return to Britain to face the charges, prosecutors could seek to start extradition proceedings. Spacey, a 62-year-old double Academy Award winner, was questioned by British police in 2019 about claims by several men that he had assaulted them. The former House of Cards star ran Londons Old Vic Theatre between 2004 and 2015. Spacey won a best supporting actor Academy Award for the 1995 film The Usual Suspects and a lead actor Oscar for the 1999 movie American Beauty." But his celebrated career came to an abrupt halt in 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp accused the star of assaulting him at a party in the 1980s, when Rapp was a teenager. Spacey denies the allegations. Spacey testified Thursday in a courtroom in New York City in the civil lawsuit filed by Rapp. Spacey didnt respond to reporters as he left the courthouse talking on his mobile phone. The British charges were mentioned briefly by Rapp's lawyers during the court hearing, and Spacey's lawyers were asked about it by reporters during a break in testimony. They declined to comment. Another criminal case brought against Spacey, an indecent assault and battery charge stemming from the alleged groping of an 18-year-old man at a Nantucket resort, was dismissed by Massachusetts prosecutors in 2019. Thursday's court session in New York City dealt with a technical issue in the civil lawsuit, whether it was better handled in a federal or state U.S. court. Spacey was called to testify about where he lived, not about the truthfulness of the allegations against him. Spacey testified that his main residence and domicile is in Baltimore, where he moved for the filming of House of Cards. He said he was beguiled by its charm, its beauty. But he also testified about his time living in London as the artistic director of the Old Vic. It was extremely important to me that I endear myself to the British public, that Im not running away, he said, noting that his start there was troubled by a disastrous production in 2005 of Arthur Millers last play. But, he said, Im an American citizen. Once the job was done, I came back to America. He said he made a trip to London in February 2020 for a possible film, but then the pandemic hit. His U.S. doctor recommended he stay there, where he resided until the following September, when his visa expired and he flew to Los Angeles for an arbitration proceeding. He said he has not returned to the U.K. since then. ___ Associated Press writer Larry Neumeister contributed to this report from New York. ___ This story has been corrected to say British prosecutors authorized charges against Spacey and he will be formally charged by police later, not that Spacey has been formally charged, and to reflect that it was Rapps lawyers, not Spaceys, who brought up the criminal charges in court. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) Washington Gov. Jay Inslee was quick to react to this weeks carnage at a Texas elementary school, sending a tweet listing the gun control measures the Democratic-controlled state has taken. He finished with: Your turn Congress. But gun control measures are likely going nowhere in Congress, and they also have become increasingly scarce in most states. Aside from several Democratic-controlled states, the majority have taken no action on gun control in recent years or have moved aggressively to expand gun rights. Thats because they are either controlled politically by Republicans who oppose gun restrictions or are politically divided, leading to stalemate. Here I am in a position where I can do something, I can introduce legislation, and yet to know that it almost certainly is not going to go anywhere is a feeling of helplessness," said state Sen. Greg Leding, a Democrat in the GOP-controlled Arkansas Legislature. He has pushed unsuccessfully for red flag laws that would allow authorities to remove firearms from those determined to be a danger to themselves or others. After Tuesday's massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 students and two teachers dead, Democratic governors and lawmakers across the country issued impassioned pleas for Congress and their own legislatures to pass gun restrictions. Republicans have mostly called for more efforts to address mental health and to shore up protections at schools, such as adding security guards. Among them is Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has repeatedly talked about mental health struggles among young people and said tougher gun laws in places like New York and California are ineffective. In Tennessee, GOP Rep. Jeremy Faison tweeted that the state needs to have security officers "in all of our schools, but stopped short of promising to introduce legislation during next years legislative session. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has called for universal background checks and red flag laws, only to be ignored by the Republican-controlled Legislature. We cannot accept that gun violence just happens, Evers said in a tweet after the Texas school shooting. We cannot accept that kids might go to school and never come home. We cannot accept the outright refusal of elected officials to act. On Wednesday, a day after the shooting, legislative Democrats asked that the Wisconsin gun safety bills be taken up again, to no avail. Instead, state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican, told The Associated Press on Thursday that he is open to the idea of arming teachers to better protect schools, along with adding police and armed security guards. In New Hampshire, the Republican-led House on Thursday rejected an effort to reintroduce legislation that would have required criminal background checks for commercial firearms sales. Democratic state Rep. Debra Altschiller said there have been dozens of mass shootings nationwide since the bill was defeated in March. We can make a change so we dont have to live like this, she said, her remarks met by boos from some of her colleagues. Their jeering turned to applause when Republican Rep. Terry Roy said voters dont want further gun control: We should not ever, ever use tragedy to push legislation, he said. An effort on Wednesday by Democratic lawmakers in Pennsylvania's GOP-controlled Legislature to ban owning, selling or making high-capacity, semi-automatic firearms also failed, as House Republicans displayed their firm opposition to gun restrictions. The situation is similar in Michigan, where Republicans have majorities in the Legislature. Democrats in the state Senate were thwarted Wednesday in their efforts to advance a group of bills that would have required gun owners to lock up their firearms and keep them away from minors. Every day we dont take action, we are choosing guns over children, said Democratic Sen. Rosemary Bayer, whose district includes a high school where a teenager was charged in a shooting that killed four in November and whose parents are charged with involuntary manslaughter, accused of failing to lock up their gun. Republican state Sen. Ken Horn responded by urging discussion about other potential causes of gun violence. I would just point out that there are political solutions, but there are just as many spiritual solutions," he said. We dont know whats really happening in this world, whats happening in this country, whats happening to young men. Florida stands out as a Republican-controlled state that took action. The 2018 shooting at a high school in Parkland that left 14 students and three staff members dead prompted lawmakers there to pass a law with a red flag provision that lets law enforcement officers petition a court to confiscate guns from a person considered a threat. Democrats want that expanded to allow family members or roommates to make the same request of the courts, but there has been little appetite among Republicans to amend the law. Instead, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants lawmakers to allow people to carry handguns without a permit. The state currently requires a concealed weapons license. While Republicans have supported red flag laws in some other states, most legislative action around gun control in recent years has been in states led by Democrats. In Washington state, the governor earlier this year signed a package of bills related to firearm magazine limits, ghost guns and adding more locations where guns are prohibited, including ballot counting sites. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom and top Democratic legislative leaders on Wednesday vowed to fast-track gun legislation, identifying about a dozen bills they plan to pass this year. Newsom highlighted a bill that would let private citizens enforce a ban on assault weapons by filing lawsuits similar to a law in Texas that bans most abortions through civil enforcement. Oregon's Democratically controlled Legislature has passed bills that require background checks, prohibit guns on public school grounds, allow firearms to be taken from those who pose a risk and ensure safe storage of firearms. On Wednesday, a group of six Democrats pledged additional action after the mass shooting in Texas and the racially motivated massacre in Buffalo, New York. We ran for office to solve big problems and make life better for our constituents and that includes taking on the gun lobby and politicians that place profits and political power over childrens lives, they said in a joint statement. But there are limits even in some Democratic-controlled states, underscoring the challenge of gaining consensus to combat the rising frequency of mass shootings in the U.S. Rhode Island has passed restrictions in recent years that include measures to ban firearms from school grounds and close the straw purchasing loophole that had allowed people to buy guns for someone else. But bills that would ban high-capacity ammunition magazines and assault weapons have been bottled up in committee, in part because the overwhelmingly Democratic chamber includes many lawmakers who have opposed the measures, citing their support for the Second Amendment. In Connecticut, gun violence legislation supported by both parties passed soon after 20 children and six staff members were shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary Schoo l in 2012. But additional gun control measures stalled this year in the Democratic-led General Assembly, in large part because of a short legislative session and threats by Republicans to hold up legislation through a filibuster. Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said Wednesday hes uncertain whether he will call a special session on the bills. They would put limits on bulk purchases of firearms and require the registration of so-called ghost guns, untraceable firearms that can be assembled at home. I think its become an incredibly partisan argument right now in our society, Lamont said. "It wasnt that way, you know, 30, 40 years ago. So that is disturbing, even in a state like Connecticut, where after Sandy Hook we had strong bipartisan support. ___ DeMillo reported from Little Rock, Arkansas. Associated Press statehouse reporters from around the U.S. contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY Itll be almost a decade before a memorial for Afghanistan war veterans could be built at the nations capital. But Afghanistan war veteran David Vieira believes now is the time to honor the memory of Iraq and Afghan war veterans with a new memorial in Rogers Park in Danbury. Vieira, senior vice commander of VFW Post 149, and other veterans recently formed the Connecticut Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans War Memorial Committee to pursue that effort to honor those veterans. Vieira is chairman of the committee. This has been something the core group of our committee has been discussing for a couple of years, Vieira said. Its finally moving forward so we are only in the early stages of the project. We also want to get the word out and connect with the residents of Connecticut to make them aware of the project. The monument will be constructed at the War Memorial site at Rogers Park, with an ambitious goal of a dedication day for Veterans Day 2023, he said. Vieira wants to get past bureaucratic obstacles to get a war memorial built now. Connecticut does not have a memorial for these veterans, nor does (Washington) D.C b ecause of their antiquated policy of waiting 10 years after the end of a war before one can be considered, Vieira said. Federal statute requires there to be 10 years between the end of a war and when Congress can work on a monument in D.C. Since the Afghanistan War end in August 2021, the earliest any federal monument would be considered for D.C. is 2031. Due to these unfortunate truths, we decided to get the ball rolling now for a memorial in Connecticut, Vieira said. Millions of young Americans fought in two wars over 20 years and I feel their sacrifice deserves to be honored now. Countless men, women and their families gave so much to this country, I feel they have earned a place of honor among the heroes of our previous wars today, not tomorrow. The war memorial committee is a mix of Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Guantanamo Bay and Kosovo veterans. The members are also from multiple veteran organizations that include the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and Marine Corps League. The committee is comprised of Vieira and his co-chairman, Juan Rivas,Treasurer Juan Vasquez, Adjutant Nelson Martins and Trustees Bill Moser, Lenny Esposito, Jairus Domenech and John Kennedy. I think a new war memorial honoring Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans is a great idea, Mayor Dean Esposito said. The Rogers Park area has been the site of an established war memorial for years. It would be a true honor for us to add to that and have a war memorial for our deserving Afghanistan and Iraq veterans. He said hes talked to Rivas about it and plans to work with the Veterans Council to get it built. Ill do whatever I can do to help, whatever we need to get it done, and that includes looking for some funding to support that effort, Esposito said. Dan Hayes, director of veterans affairs in Danbury, agreed. Although still in the planning stages, the new war memorial will be a great tribute to those that served, he said. Vieira said raising funds for the project is the priority at this time. The memorial is expected to cost at least $200,000, although the committee is still in the early stages of design and cost estimation. The cost will be the biggest obstacle, but its an obstacle I know we will meet, said Vieira, 40, who lives in New Milford. He served in Afghanistan from 2010-2011 with the Army National Guard. The committee is designing a website and plans to set up a GoFundMe fundraising page. We will be meeting with the mayor soon to discuss our plan in more detail and to explore the possibility of some city and state funding support, Vieira said. Until the GoFundMe page is created, you can make a donation by sending a check made payable to CT Afghan and Iraq War Memorial to 71 Newtown Road, Unit 114, Danbury, CT 06810. You can also get more information by sending an email to afghaniraqmemorial@gmail.com. Afghan and Iraq Veterans War Memorial committee member Nelson Martins believes it is important to remember veterans from both wars. This memorial would stand as a reminder of the sacrifices that were made by veterans after Sept. 11 in defense of our country during two separate combat theaters, Martins said. OTTAWA, ON, May 26, 2022 /CNW/ - As more Canadian boaters are out on our waters, increased traffic is leading to more boating-related incidents. In 80% of fatalities, a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD) was not worn. This is a simple step that, in many cases, can be the difference between life and death. The Government of Canada is committed to raising awareness about safe boating practices and continuing to support the work of organizations who help foster safety on the water. With North American Safe Boating Awareness Week underway, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Annie Koutrakis, announced $1.4 million in funding for recreational boating safety projects under Canada's Boating Safety Contribution Program. These projects aim to help Canadians and Indigenous Peoples stay safe on the water by raising public awareness about recreational boating safety, advancing knowledge of boating safety issues, practices and behaviours, and conducting research on the most effective ways to change boating behaviour in Canada. North American Safe Boating Awareness Week, which is May 21-27, is an opportunity to reflect on how boaters can enjoy being out on the water in a safe and responsible way. Boating is an activity enjoyed by Canadians across the country and, for many, the boating season began May long weekend. In anticipation of the warmest months of the year, when boating-related fatalities occur the most in Canada, it is important to keep boating safety top of mind. The full list of 2022-23 recipients under Canada's Boating Safety Contribution Program is available online. Further, Transport Canada is now accepting applications under the Recreational Boating Safety Component for projects that will begin in 2023-24. Quotes "Thank you to the Boating Safety Contribution Program recipients for their commitments to keeping Canadians safe on the water. We are proud to support the work of organizations that equip Canadians with lifesaving information. It's every boater's responsibility to boat safely and we hope everyone enjoys a safe boating season exploring Canadian waters." The Honourable Annie Koutrakis Parliamentary Secretary "North American Safe Boating Awareness Week reminds us to be safe on the water, for ourselves and others. The Government of Canada takes the safety of boaters seriously by supporting the recipients of this year's Boating Safety Contribution Program in their efforts to prevent drownings and build awareness around boating safety. We will continue to take action in support of boaters so that they can safely enjoy the boating season." The Honourable Omar Alghabra Minister of Transport Quick Facts Boaters: always wear a lifejacket that fits and is in good condition when on or near the water. Along with wearing your life jacket, safe boating practices including being prepared, making a plan, and boating sober can save your life. It's for your own safety, the guests on your boat, as well as those around you. Since 2009, the Boating Safety Contribution Program has funded 117 recreational boating safety projects across Canada totalling $16.3 million . totalling . According to the Drowning Prevention Research Centre (DPRC), Canada sees an average of 500 drownings per year, with approximately 100 of those drownings related to recreational boating. In 80% of these fatalities, a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD) was not worn. Over one-third of those fatally injured in recreational boating had consumed alcohol. sees an average of 500 drownings per year, with approximately 100 of those drownings related to recreational boating. In 80% of these fatalities, a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD) was not worn. Over one-third of those fatally injured in recreational boating had consumed alcohol. Transport Canada's Office of Boating Safety supports prevention-based programs and encourages safe boating practices and compliance with safety regulations. Office of Boating Safety supports prevention-based programs and encourages safe boating practices and compliance with safety regulations. The Recreational Boating Safety component of the Boating Safety Contribution Program funds up to 75% of total eligible project expenditures, up to a maximum of $300,000 per recipient. A total of $1 million is available annually. Additional multimedia Associated Links Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news or stay connected through RSS, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities. SOURCE Transport Canada For further information: Contacts: Laurel Lennox, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, Ottawa, [email protected]; Media Relations, Transport Canada, Ottawa, 613-993-0055, [email protected] GATINEAU, QC, May 26, 2022 /CNW/ - On May 29th, Canada will kick-off National AccessAbility Week (NAAW). This week is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of persons with disabilities, to lift up individuals and organizations who are removing barriers, and to recommit the work ahead to make Canada a truly disability inclusive country. In advance of the nationwide celebrations for NAAW, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, joined the disability community and opened the Government of Canada's first Canadian Congress on Disability Inclusion (CCDI). The CCDI is taking place May 26 and 27, 2022, with the theme of "Innovating Together: Celebrating and Driving Disability Inclusion in Canada." In her remarks, the Minister spoke about the realities and experiences of persons with disabilities today, the advancement of disability rights, and the work ahead to realize disability inclusion in Canada. The Minister gave updates on the Government of Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan and the Canada Disability Benefit. Specifically, the Minister noted that the Action Plan will be released during NAAW and that the Government will re-table Canada Disability Benefit legislation before the end of June. The CCDI is an accessible, virtual and interactive two-day event, open to all. It offers a variety of activities, including: networking sessions, an innovation showcase, and a career fair. Featuring some of Canada's most diverse and inclusive employers on the lookout for talent, the CCDI career fair provides a unique opportunity for persons with disabilities in search of meaningful work opportunities. Congress participants and attendees also have access to panel discussions and presentations from leading motivational speakers who are bringing fresh perspectives on accessibility in the 21st century. As National AccessAbility Week draws near, this week serves as a reminder for all Canadians to acknowledge the remarkable efforts made by individuals and communities to advance accessibility and disability inclusion in Canada. All Canadians are encouraged to visit the following link for more information, where they will also be able register in advance to watch this important and exciting event: https://pheedloop.com/CCA2022/site/home/. Quote "Persons with disabilities are still far too excluded from society in Canada, but as a community, we are changing that. Every piece of progress we have made, from the Accessible Canada Act to the upcoming Canada Disability Benefit legislation is the result of the advocacy and ground work of the disability community. The Canadian Congress on Disability Inclusion is a chance to celebrate that progress, and to recommit to the work ahead to realize real, meaningful disability inclusion in Canada." - Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough Quick Facts According to the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability, more than 6 million Canadians aged 15 and over (22% of the population) identify as having a disability, and more than 1 in 10 youth in Canada have one or more disabilities. Despite being ready and willing to work, the employment rates among persons with disabilities are much lower than those of Canadians without disabilities59% versus 80%. have one or more disabilities. Despite being ready and willing to work, the employment rates among persons with disabilities are much lower than those of Canadians without disabilities59% versus 80%. Improving the lives and livelihoods for persons with disabilities is a key priority for the Government of Canada . Budget 2022 proposed to provide an investment of $272.6 million over five years to support the implementation of the Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities to help address labour market shortages and make workplaces in Canada more disability inclusive and accessible. . Budget 2022 proposed to provide an investment of over five years to support the implementation of the Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities to help address labour market shortages and make workplaces in more disability inclusive and accessible. On September 23, 2020 , the Government committed in its Speech from the Throne to create Canada's first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan. , the Government committed in its Speech from the Throne to create first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan. National AccessAbility Week is taking place May 29 to June 4, 2022 . This is a nationwide week of recognition, celebrating the many social, economic, cultural and political achievements of persons with disabilities. It is also a time to amplify the efforts underway to ensure persons with disabilities have the supports and tools that they need to participate fully in all aspects of Canadian society. The theme for NAAW 2022 is: "Inclusive from the Start. Imagine a Canada where no one is left out. A Canada that doesn't just accommodate disability, but one that is disability inclusive from the start. That's the Canada we deserve. That's the Canada we are creating for everyone". Associated Links Follow us on Twitter SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada For further information: Tara Beauport, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social, Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected] For 11 years, the brewery has been a staple in the west Toronto beer scene, producing a range of exceptional craft beers including their flagship beer, award-winning Conductor's Craft Ale. In October of 2021, the company initiated a formal restructuring, allowing them to streamline their finances and operations, positioning the business for a post-COVID world and fast-changing beverage market. With the creation of this parent company, they are commencing a multi-year expansion and brewery investment strategy, solidifying their evolution from brewery to beverage company. JCBC will build and further define the growing suite of services and brand portfolio established under JCB. Today the business consists of two areas: JCBC brand portfolio - Junction Craft Brewery, Woodhouse Brewing Co., Caribru Craft Beer Services - Co-packing services supporting craft beverage entrepreneurs and businesses "Over the last two years, JCB has evolved into a multi-brand/co-packing business. We are now well-positioned to accelerate our growth, keeping pace with the changing beverage market. Leveraging our facility strengths, successes and learnings, we've expanded our capabilities to include Ready-to-Drink (RTD), non-alcoholic beer and sparkling beverages," says Stuart Wheldon, CEO of Junction Craft Beverage Co. "We're seeing constant creative innovation coming out of the small and medium-sized beverage space. Our goal is to be right there with our peers, offering value added services to our partners, from product development and production to logistics and distribution support. Combined with our own brand strategy, we're creating a business that celebrates all things craft and lets us do the thing we love most: create exceptional beverages for our customers." In support of this new strategy, JCBC's acquisition of Woodhouse Brewing Co. adds a selection of quality craft beer to complement their growing brand portfolio. Woodhouse founder, Graham Woodhouse, joins JCBC as VP of Sales, overseeing the entire brand portfolio and retains an ownership stake in the business. "We've worked with the Woodhouse team for years, producing a number of products for them," says Wheldon. "Bringing Woodhouse onboard is both an exciting and logical step for us. We're excited to work with Graham and his team, supporting the great work they have done and providing them with additional infrastructure and resources to help continue to grow the brand and reach new customers." "As one of Ontario's largest contract brewers, we're proud of what we've accomplished over the last eight years," says Woodhouse founder, Graham Woodhouse. "Joining JCBC, a larger organisation with a physical brewery, allows us to access new channels, more easily bringing new products to market. It's important that we continue to serve our customers by supplying exceptional products where and however they want to purchase them. We are excited to be a part of this journey with JCBC." Today, JCBC produces over 70 different products for more than 30 different partners, including craft beer, spirit based RTDs, non-alcoholic beer, and sparkling beverages. Their online offering provides customers with free same day delivery across Toronto for both JCB and partner products. With the new addition of Woodhouse, and the establishment of JCBC, customers can expect to see an expanded product offering and more exciting announcements in the coming months. Woodhouse products are now available online and at the JCBC retail shop and taproom. Connect with JCBC | Website About Junction Craft Beverage Co. Junction Craft Beverage Co., is an innovation-focused beverage producer. Based in Toronto Canada, JCBC produces a variety of beverages under its own labels such as Junction Craft Brewery and Woodhouse Brewing Co. as well as over 70 products for more than 30 craft consumer brands and breweries. Offering a suite of end-to-end valued added services such as product development and last mile B2C distribution. JCBC-produced products are shipped and sold across North America. SOURCE Junction Craft Beverage Co. For further information: Kendra Thompson, [email protected], 647-607-9564 Terrorists shot and killed a woman in the Chadoora area of Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district on Wednesday Terrorists shot and killed a woman in the Chadoora area of Jammu and Kashmirs Budgam district on Wednesday. The police however stated that the incident left her minor nephew injured. Police further stated that three terrorists from the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) carried out the attack. Amreen Bhat, a television personality, was identified as the deceased. According to the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Terrorists opened fire at Amreen Bhats home in Chadoora, Budgam. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her 10-year-old nephew was also hit by a gunshot in the arm. A perimeter has been established, and searches have commenced. A case has been filed, and an investigation is ongoing. This happened a day later when the terrorists attacked a policeman and his 7-year-old daughter outside their home in Srinagar, killing him and injuring his daughter. Police in Jammu and Kashmir announced the arrest of ten people for anti-national sloganeering and stone-pelting outside Yasin Malik's residence today Police in Jammu and Kashmir announced the arrest of ten people for anti-national sloganeering and stone-pelting outside Yasin Maliks residence today. Prior to Yasin Maliks sentencing in Maisuma yesterday, ten people were arrested for anti-national sloganeering and stone-pelting outside his residence. Meanwhile, situation in the rest of the state remained calm stated Srinagar Police. The remaining defendants in the case are being identified and will be detained soon. The police later added A case has been filed under the UAPA and the IPC. The principal perpetrators of this riot will face charges under the Public Safety Act. Yasin Malik, a separatist leader from Jammu and Kashmir, was sentenced to life in prison by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Wednesday in a terror funding case. Malik was sentenced to life in jail and was also fined Rs 10 lakh by the NIA court. He was twice sentenced to life in prison (one for waging war against the nation and one in UAPA sec 17 raising fund for terror act). A new petition filed by the Hindu side seeks ban on the use of loudspeakers for Azaan at the Shahi Idgah Masjid A new petition filed by the Hindu side seeks ban on the use of loudspeakers for Azaan at the Shahi Idgah Masjid. The petition has been filed at Mathura Court. The petitioner, a Sanatani Hindu, claims that the use of loudspeakers for azan at the Idgah is a breach of his constitutional right. The petition states that it is worth noting that Mathuras Shahi Idgah Mosque sits near the Krishna Janmabhoomi, which is thought to be the Hindu deity Krishnas birthplace. The suit further claims that the Shahi Idgah is actually the Keshav Dev temples sanctum sanctorum, and therefore Azaan should not be chanted there. Dinesh Kaushik, national treasurer of the All India Hindu Mahasabha, had previously submitted a plea with a local court in Mathura, stating that Keshav Dev Mandir was formerly located there, demanding permission to perform purifying rituals within the Shahi Idgah mosque. In his suit, Kaushik also claims that the fundamental rights of those living near the Shahi Idgah Masjid are being violated and that this is happening while the principal battle over the property where the Idgah is located is ongoing. Later, Kaushik urged that the District Magistrate should be given a directive prohibiting the reciting of Azan over loudspeakers. Modi landed in the national capital early Wednesday morning after attending the Quad Leaders' Summit as part of a two-day visit to Japan Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in the national capital early Wednesday morning after attending the Quad Leaders Summit as part of a two-day visit to Japan. He promptly convened a Cabinet meeting. The meeting included senior Cabinet ministers such as Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, S Jaishankar, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju, Anurag Thakur, and Smriti Irani. Following a two-day trip to Japan that included participation in the Quad Leaders Summit, PM Modi landed at the Air Force Station, Palam on Wednesday. In the fourth Quad leaders meeting, PM Modi emphasized Indias continuous and principled stance on the need for a pause of hostilities, restoration of dialogue, and diplomacy. PM Modi, along with the leaders of the Quad nations, attended the fourth meeting of the leaders, which saw Australia, Japan, and the US criticize Russian military action in Ukraine. The leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, as well as the significance of respecting the values of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful dispute settlement, during the summit. They discussed events in the Indo-Pacific region as well as the European war. On the margins of the Quad Summit, Prime Minister Modi met with US President Joe Biden and new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for bilateral meetings on Tuesday. He also met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in a bilateral meeting. Prime Minister attended a number of events on Monday, the first day of his visit to Japan. He attended and hosted a corporate roundtable in Tokyo to launch the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. In addition, he interacted with people from the Indian community. Yasin Malik, a separatist leader from Jammu and Kashmir, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Wednesday in a terror funding case. Malik was sentenced to life in jail and was also fined Rs.10 lakh by the NIA court. He was twice sentenced to life in prison (one for waging war against the nation and one in UAPA sec 17 raising fund for terror act). However, NIA had pushed for the death penalty for the separatist commander, who was found guilty on May 19. On May 10, Malik told the court that he would not contest the charges brought against him, which included sections 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for a terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy to commit a terrorist act), and 20 (membership in a terrorist gang or organization) of the UAPA, as well as sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the IPC. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) Under fire from parents and politicians, President Joe Bidens administration announced steps Monday to ease a nationwide shortage of baby formula, including reopening the largest domestic manufacturing plant and increasing imports from overseas. The Food and Drug Administration said it was streamlining its review process to make it easier for foreign manufacturers to begin shipping more formula into the U.S. The FDA expects that the measures and steps its taking with infant formula manufacturers and others will mean more and more supply is on the way or on store shelves moving forward, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf told reporters. Califf said the U.S. will prioritize companies that can provide the largest shipments and quickly show documentation that their formulas are safe and compatible with U.S. nutrition standards. The policy is structured as a temporary measure lasting six months. The imports announcement came shortly after regulators said theyd reached a deal to allow Abbott Nutrition to restart its Sturgis, Michigan-based plant, which has been closed since February due to contamination issues. The company must overhaul its safety protocols and procedures before resuming production. Neither step will have an immediate effect on tight supplies that have left many parents searching for formula online or in food banks. After getting the FDAs OK, Abbott said it will take eight to ten weeks before new products begin arriving in stores. The company didnt set a timeline to restart manufacturing. Getting imports into the U.S. supply chain will also take several weeks, according to administration officials. Products from Australia, New Zealand and the U.K. are expected to meet the standards needed for importation. But regulators said national industry data shows most U.S. stores, on average, still have 80% of their formula inventory in stock. They suggested some of the empty shelves seen in recent days may be due to panic buying by parents. Monday's announcement was previewed last week by the White House, which has been leaning on the FDA and formula makers to quickly find ways to alleviate the shortage. Outrage over the issue has quickly snowballed and handed Republicans a fresh talking point to use against President Biden ahead of November elections. The shortage stems from a February recall by Abbott that exacerbated ongoing supply chain disruptions among formula makers, leaving fewer options on stores shelves across much of the country. The shortage has led retailers like CVS and Walgreens to limit how many containers customers can purchase per visit. Abbotts voluntary recall was triggered by four illnesses reported in babies who had consumed powdered formula from its plant. All four infants were hospitalized with a rare type of bacterial infection and two died. After a six-week inspection, FDA investigators published a list of problems in March, including lax safety and sanitary standards and a history of bacterial contamination in several parts of the plant. Under Monday's agreement, Abbott must regularly consult with an outside safety expert to restart and maintain production. Chicago-based Abbott has emphasized that its products have not been directly linked to the bacterial infections in children. Samples of the bacteria found at its plant did not match the strains collected from two babies by federal investigators. But FDA officials pushed back on that reasoning Monday on a call with reporters their first time publicly addressing the company's argument. FDA staffers noted they were unable to collect bacterial strains from two of the four patients, limiting their chances of finding a match Right from the get-go we were limited in our ability to determine with a causal link whether the product was linked to these four cases because we only had sequences on two," FDA's food director Susan Mayne said. Fixing the violations uncovered at Abbotts plant takes time, according to former FDA officials. Companies need to exhaustively clean the facility and equipment, retrain staff, repeatedly test and document there is no contamination. As part of the FDA's new import policy, regulators said companies would need to provide documentation of their factory's inspections. Pediatricians say baby formulas produced in Canada and Europe are roughly equivalent to those in the U.S. But traditionally, 98% of the infant formula supply in the U.S. is made domestically. Companies seeking to enter the U.S. face several major hurdles, including rigorous research and manufacturing standards imposed by the FDA. San Diego father Steven Hyde has faced heart-wrenching challenges finding formula for his medical fragile daughter, who was on an Abbott formula but has had to switch with the recall and subsequent shortages in other brands. Zoie Hyde was born 19 months ago with no kidneys, a rare life-threatening condition that requires dialysis and a feeding tube until she weighs enough for a kidney transplant. Hyde said he used an organic brand from overseas until costs and customs hurdles made that too difficult. Friends and strangers from out of state have sent him other brands, but each time she switches requires more blood tests and monitoring, Davis said. Despite her challenges, Zoie is walking, talking and doing pretty good on other developmental milestones, Davis said. Shes a shining light in my life, he said. ___ AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner contributed to this story from Three Oaks, Michigan. HARTFORD Police said they are investigating a shooting early Thursday, the third in the capital city in 10 hours. All three male victims survived. The most recent shooting happened shortly before 12:45 a.m. on Oakland Terrace in the citys upper Albany neighborhood, police said. A ShotSpotter gunshot activation alerted officers to gunfire and when they arrived, they found a man in his 30s with more than one gunshot wound, Lt. Aaron Boisvert said. He was taken to the hospital, where he was listed in stable condition, he said. About 5:20 p.m. Wednesday, police were called to the 200-block of Barbour Street on a report of a gunshot victim, Boisvert said. They found a man in his 40s suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, and he was taken to the hospital where he was also listed in stable condition. The first shooting happened in the 100-block of Nelson Street, which is near Barbour in the Northeast neighborhood. The gunfire prompted a ShotSpotter alert about 3 p.m. Wednesday, and arriving officers found a man in his 20s suffering from a single gunshot wound, Boisvert said. He was taken to the hospital, where he remained in stable condition Thursday morning. The three shootings are not believed to be connected, he said. As of Thursday morning, Hartford had 51 victims of nonfatal shootings in 2022, compared with 58 at this time last year, Boisvert said. The city had 16 homicides this year, two more than at this time in 2021 which ended with the highest murder rate since 2003. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) Alaska Senate President Peter Micciche said Wednesday he will not seek re-election this year, citing a desire to spend more time with family. His announcement comes after the Legislature last week ended its four-month regular session and a week before a candidate filing deadline. The Soldotna Republican said he has spent nearly 11 of the last 16 months away from his four daughters and wife, who need me at home. My family is my priority. Last year was marked by drawn-out budget fights and four special sessions. The Division of Elections shows that Micciche had previously filed to run for the seat. Leona Long with the Senate Majority press office said by email that he had filed months ago and things have changed. The division currently shows three other candidates for the Senate seat, including Tuckerman Babcock, a former Republican state party chair. Micciche was first elected to the Senate in 2012 and has been Senate president since last year. He led a Republican-majority caucus whose members had sharply different views on the annual dividend paid to residents from Alaska's oil-wealth fund. Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich last week called Micciche a friend. The two spoke to reporters together in Micciche's office on May 19 about their impressions of the legislative session that had just ended. Begich, an Anchorage Democrat, said working with Micciche had been a joy and a delight." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW HAVEN Avelo Airlines begins nonstop flights to three additional destinations Thursday, with flights taking off from Tweed New Haven Regional Airport for Chicagos Midway International Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Avelo now serves more nonstop destinations than any other airline in CT, the airline said in a release. It currently offers flights to 13 destinations, with a 14th, Wilimgton, N.C., to begin June 30. Avelos momentum at Tweed continues to build as we take flight today to three more popular destinations, said Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy. Last November, we endeavored to make HVN Southern Connecticuts most convenient airport. With todays addition of Chicago, Raleigh-Durham and Washington, D.C., Avelo now brings more choice, affordability and ease-of-travel to the state than any other airline. Avelo is offering introductory one-way fares from Tweed (HVN) to the three new destinations, beginning at $59 to BWI, $79 to Raleigh-Durham (RDU) and $89 to Chicago (MDW). Tickets for all Avelo routes are available at AveloAir.com. This is the first time Tweed has offered nonstop service to Chicago since United Airlines, which flew from Tweed to Chicagos OHare International Airport, ceased that service in 1996. The addition of flights to Washington, Chicago and Raleigh-Durham is yet another important milestone in the overwhelming success story that is our partnership with Avelo, said Sean Scanlon, executive director of the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority, who previously has said hes negotiating to open a new, off-site remote parking lot to provide more parking at Tweed. Starting this week, we now serve 13 destinations and are offering service to major business hubs for the first time since the 1990s, Scanlon said. The future is bright here at HVN and if you havent flown with us yet, come see what all the hype is about! Avelo will offer flights four days a week, on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, to Midway, the smaller and closer to downtown of Chicagos two major airports. It will fly to BWI, located 30 miles northeast of Washington, D.C., four days per week, also on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. The low-fare start-up airline also will fly to Raleigh-Durham and North Carolinas Research Triangle four days a week, also on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. All Avelo flights to and from Tweed, Avelos first East Coast base, are on five 147-seat Boeing Next-Generation 737-700s. Avelo, which began serving Tweed last November, currently employs about 150 crewmembers at Tweed, with plans to increase that to 200 by the end of the year. On May 5, Avelo began flying to its first four non-Florida destinations from Tweed: Nashville, Tenn.; Savannah, Ga.-Hilton Head, S.C.; Charleston, S.C.; and Myrtle Beach, S.C. It has offered flights since November to six destinations in Florida, including Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers and Sarasota-Bradenton. Avelo recently announced that Orlando will be its third base after New Haven and Los Angeles Hollywood Burbank Airport, and that it will serve at least 10 nonstop destinations from Orlando by the end of 2022. By June, Avelo will have a total of 10 airplanes in its fleet and officials expect to have a total of 15 by the end of 2022. mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The State Bond Commission on Thursday allocated $5 million for a competitive grant program offering security upgrades to nonprofit organizations including Connecticuts synagogues, mosques and churches at a time when hate-related gun violence is occurring throughout the nation. Religious leaders praised the award, which is the result of a 2020 law approved by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Ned Lamont. For the Rev. Daniel Bland, a regional bishop and senior pastor of the Mt. Calvary Revival Center in Hamden, the repeated acts of violence across the nation have prompted the need for a government response. We have reached an unfortunate reality that our families will now have to travel to grocery stores under this shadow, our children attend school under this shadow and even our parishioners attend our houses of worship under this shadow, Bland told reporters in the Legislative Office building after the commission meeting. The rise in antisemitism and securing our institutions from that rise in antisemitism continues to be the biggest priority for the Jewish community, said Michael Bloom, executive director of the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut. Lets be honest: Its a sad day in our lives that this security is needed. Houses of worship should be able to focus on their congregations, not purchasing bulletproof glass and metal detectors. Only a handful of states have created a similar statewide nonprofit security grant program. We believe in the power of prayer, Lamont said. God also gave us a brain, expects us to us it, to do everything we can to keep our kids safe in school and keep our worshipers safe in their houses of worship. Sadly weve been reminded recently of why we need to make these investments, said Jeffrey Beckham, who as secretary of the state Office of Policy and Management is Lamonts budget chief and a member of the commission. The funding, approved with no discussion among the 10 commission members led by Lamont, joins a previously approved $5 million as part of the 2020 law to give 501(c)(3) organizations as much as $50,000 each to perform a variety of structural improvements from reinforcing structures to installing video monitoring. The eligibility of candidates is determined by the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. In all, $20 million has been authorized for the program and $10 million remains unallocated. In other action, the commission approved: $10 million to improve the industrial Silver Lane corridor near the Pratt & Whitney factory in East Hartford. Nearly $1 million for the purchase of body cameras, dash cameras and video storage devices for several police departments, including Derby, Milford, Waterbury and West Haven. More than $4.1 million for a new sprinkler, ceiling and light project at the Connecticut Mental Health Center in New Haven. Nearly $3.5 million for the state share of the cost of the cleanup of contaminated groundwater and soil remediation, performed by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, at the Raymark superfund site in Stratford. About $4.5 million of the total $8.5 million project has already been allocated. A $1.5 million grant-in-aid for the Bridgeport-based Applied Behavioral Rehabilitation Institute, Inc., for facility improvements at the Home for the Brave Rehabilitation Institute. A $2 million grant to the City of Bridgeport for the Mount Growmore Hydroponic Farming Greenhouse and Wellness Campus to support indoor urban agriculture in what state Sen. Marilyn Moore told the governor is a food desert. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT Taqa Arabia, leader in utility & energy distribution across Egypt, has transferred its knowledge and know-how to introduce the CNG/GNV technology enabling cars to run with natural gas for the first time in Equatorial Guinea. The collaboration between Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons (MMH) in Equatorial Guinea and Taqa Arabia has seen the conversion of the first five cars to run on compressed natural gas (CNG). Kits were safely installed, training for drivers and technicians has been conducted on site, cars were calibrated to international standards. The Target of this successful cooperation is to convert 50% of the fleet of cars in Equatorial Guinea to run with compressed natural gas. Converted cars were a mix between governmental and citizen cars who were eager to get their cars converted, believing in the future of the technology, the potential energy savings and protection of the environment. In cooperation with MMH, Taqa Arabia intends to deploy all its efforts, experience, and know-how on developing gas infrastructure projects in several phases aiming to achieve and support Equatorial Guinea commitments towards net CO2 emissions by 2050. Its the first step in a bigger journey for Taqa Arabias first operation in West Africa, We look forward to replicate our success story in different parts of the continent, said Khaled Abu Bakr Taqa Arabias Executive Chairman. The discussed and potentially agreed on projects will directly and indirectly support Equatorial Guinea financial system utilizing the countrys energy resources resulting in minimizing importation of expensive fuel commodities and creating cheaper transportation alternatives, while also providing several job opportunities for local talents. Taqa Arabia is a one-stop-shop for all energy and utility services in Egypt and across the African Continent. With more than 25 years of experience, Taqa Arabia is the leader in utility & energy distribution across Egypt, serving more than 1.7 million customers with their daily Energy & utility needs. TradeArabia News Service This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) Corporate buzzwords. Technical jargon. Bold but vague pronouncements about climate change and Russia's war in Ukraine. The World Economic Forum's annual gathering of CEOs and government leaders this week in Davos, the town in the Swiss Alps, may seem full of important but impersonal announcements. So what do Davos-goers really think? Here are some voices from the meeting that ends Thursday: WHAT ARE YOU DOING PERSONALLY TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE? NAME: Allen Blue TITLE: Co-founder of LinkedIn Living in Los Angeles, Blue said his family has gotten into the habit of conserving water, as much of California and the Western United States has been in a megadrought for years. They recycle, mostly eat vegetarian, and drive an electric car. One of the things that has slowed the worlds response to climate change is that there was a story out there that it was the behaviors of consumers that made the difference," he said. Its not." Rather, he said consumers' choices are limited when businesses only provide solutions or products that aren't environmentally friendly. NAME: Francis Suarez TITLE: Mayor of Miami Suarez says his family has a Tesla and is putting solar panels on the roof of their house. As a public official, I feel its my responsibility to do what I can. NAME: Antonia Gawel TITLE: The World Economic Forum's Geneva-based head of climate change policy Gawel's day job is spent on environmental protection and fighting climate change. Outside of work, Gawel commutes by bike, uses public transportation and educates her two kids about the environment. My children are kind of the biggest advocates for these types of issues now. And the thing that I have to say that I love seeing is the schools are actually teaching them about this. My daughter, who is 8 years old, is being taught about wind power, about solar, about the challenges of fossil energy." Gawel says such issues were completely not something that was on our curriculum, at least when I was growing up." HOW WILL THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE CRISIS CHANGE THE WORLD? NAME: Hassan El Houry TITLE: CEO of Kuwait-based National Aviation Services The Russia-Ukraine crisis, I think, sends a strong message to the world that the world will no longer accept aggression and war to solve problems, El Houry said. He added that world also has to accept that there are many aggressors around the world that have been doing what theyre doing for years and decades and have gone unpunished. And we cant have a double standard where we only single out Russia." Theres things happening in the Middle East everyday, things happening in East Asia every day in South America every day. And we need to shed the light on those as well and say that needs to stop.' Im not picking sides. Im just saying that we need to solve those problems as well." NAME: Francis Suarez TITLE: Mayor of Miami Suarez said the war has exposed how interconnected the world is, from the workforce to energy shocks to a looming food crisis because of dropped agricultural production from Ukraine. As leaders, we have the responsibility to make those connections for people, explain why what happens in one place can affect another and why we should care. Hearst Connecticut Media file photo A Naugatuck woman was sentenced to three years in prison Wednesday after filing false tax returns on numerous occasions for patrons of her tax preparation service, according to the U.S. attorneys office. Ana Nunez, also known as Ana Pagoaga, owned and operated Nunez MultiServices, LLC, a tax return preparation service located in Naugatuck from 2011 to 2016, officials said in an email. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) By now it's as predictable as the calls for thoughts and prayers: A mass shooting leaves many dead, and wild conspiracy theories and misinformation about the carnage soon follow. It happened after Sandy Hook, after Parkland, after the Orlando nightclub shooting and after the deadly rampage earlier this month at a Buffalo grocery store. Within hours of Tuesday's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, another rash began as internet users spread baseless claims about the man named as the gunman and his possible motives. Unfounded claims that the gunman was an immigrant living in the U.S. illegally, or transgender, quickly emerged on Twitter, Reddit and other social media platforms. They were accompanied by familiar conspiracy theories suggesting the entire shooting was somehow staged. The claims reflect broader problems with racism and intolerance toward transgender people, and are an effort to blame the shooting on minority groups who already endure higher rates of online harassment and hate crimes, according to disinformation expert Jaime Longoria. It's a tactic that serves two purposes: It avoids real conversations about the issue (of gun violence), and it gives people who don't want to face reality a patsy, it gives them someone to blame, said Longoria, director of research at the Disinfo Defense League, a non-profit that works to fight racist misinformation. In the hours after the shooting, posts falsely claiming the gunman was living in the country illegally went viral, with some users adding embellishments, including that he was on the run from Border Patrol. He was an illegal alien wanted for murder from El Salvador, read one tweet liked and retweeted hundreds of times. This is blood on Bidens hands and should have never happened. The man who authorities say carried out the shooting, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, is a U.S. citizen, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a news conference on Tuesday. Other social media users seized on images of innocent internet users to falsely identify them as the gunman and claim he was transgender. On the online message board 4Chan, users liberally shared the photos and discussed a plan to label the gunman as transgender, without any evidence to back it up. One post on Twitter, which has since been deleted, featured a photo of a trans woman holding a green bottle to her mouth, looking into the camera, headphones hanging from one ear. BREAKING NEWS: THE IDENTITY OF THE SHOOTER HAS BEEN REVEALED, claimed the user, saying the shooter was a FEMBOY with a channel on YouTube. None of that was true. The photo actually depicted a 22-year-old trans woman named Sabrina who lives in New York City. Sabrina, who requested her last name not be published due to privacy concerns, confirmed to The Associated Press that the photo was hers and also said she was not affiliated with the purported YouTube account. Sabrina said she received harassing responses on social media, particularly messages claiming that she was the shooter. She responded to a number of posts spreading the image with the misidentification, asking for the posts to be deleted. This whole ordeal is just horrifying, Sabrina told the AP. Another photo that circulated widely showed a transgender woman with a Coca-Cola sweatshirt and a black skirt. A second photo showed the same woman wearing a black NASA shirt with a red skirt. These photos didnt show the gunman either they were of a Reddit user named Sam, who confirmed her identity to the AP on Wednesday. The AP is not using Sams last name to protect her privacy. Its not me, I dont even live in Texas, Sam wrote in a Reddit post. Authorities have released no information on the gunman's sexuality or gender identification. Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar fit both unfounded claims about Ramos in a single now-deleted tweet that also misspelled his name. Its a transsexual leftist illegal alien named Salvatore Ramos, Gosar tweeted Tuesday night. Gosars office did not return a message seeking comment. In some cases, misinformation about mass shootings or other events are spread by well-intentioned social media users trying to be helpful. In other cases, it can be the work of grifters looking to start fake fundraisers or draw attention to their website or organization. Then there are the trolls who seemingly do it for fun. Fringe online communities, including on 4chan, often use mass shootings and other tragedies as opportunities to sow chaos, troll the public and push harmful narratives, according to Ben Decker, founder and CEO of the digital investigations consultancy Memetica. It is very intentional and deliberate for them in celebrating these types of incidents to also influence what the mainstream conversations actually are, Decker said. Theres a nihilistic desire to prove oneself in these types of communities by successfully trolling the public. So if you are able to spearhead a campaign that leads to an outcome like this, youre gaining increased sort of in-group credibility. For the communities bearing the brunt of such vicious online attacks, though, the false blame stirs fears of further discrimination and violence. Something as seemingly innocuous as a transphobic comment on social media can spark an act of violence against a transgender person, said Jaden Janak, a PhD candidate at the University of Texas and a junior fellow at the Center for Applied Transgender Studies. These children and adults who were murdered yesterday were just living their lives," Janak said Wednesday. They didnt know that yesterday was going to be their last day. And similarly, as trans people, thats a fear that we have all the time. ___ Swenson reported from Seattle. Associated Press writers Angelo Fichera and Karena Phan contributed to this report. More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A jury in Portland has convicted a self-published romance novelist who once wrote an essay titled How to Murder Your Husband of fatally shooting her husband four years ago. The jury of seven women and five men found Nancy Crampton Brophy, 71, guilty of second-degree murder Wednesday after deliberating over two days in chef Daniel Brophys death, KOIN-TV reported. Brophy, 63, was killed June 2, 2018, as he prepped for work at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Southwest Portland. Crampton Brophy displayed no visible reaction Wednesday inside the crowded Multnomah County courtroom. Lisa Maxfield, one of Crampton Brophys attorneys, said the defense team plans to appeal. Prosecutors told jurors that Crampton Brophy was motivated by money problems and a life insurance policy. Crampton Brophy said during the trial, however, that she had no reason to kill her husband and that their financial problems had largely been solved by cashing in a chunk of Brophy's retirement savings plan. She owned the same make and model of gun used to kill her husband and was seen on surveillance camera footage driving to and from the culinary institute, court exhibits and court testimony showed. Police never found the gun that killed Brophy. Prosecutors alleged Crampton Brophy swapped out the barrel of the gun used in the shooting and then discarded the barrel. Defense attorneys said the gun parts were inspiration for Crampton Brophys writing and suggested someone else might have killed Brophy during a robbery gone wrong. Crampton Brophy testified during the trial that her presence near the culinary school on the day of her husband's death was mere coincidence and that she had parked in the area to work on her writing. Crampton Brophys how-two treatise detailed various options for committing an untraceable killing and professed a desire to avoid getting caught. Circuit Judge Christopher Ramras ultimately excluded the essay from the trial, noting it was published in 2011. A prosecutor, however, alluded to the essays themes without naming it after Crampton Brophy took the stand. Crampton Brophy has remained in custody since her arrest in September 2018, several months after her husband was shot. Her sentencing has been scheduled for June 13. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) A man accused of randomly murdering a fellow passenger on a New York City subway train made his first appearance in court Wednesday, where his lawyer urged the judge and the public not to rush to judgment. Andrew Abdullah, 25, was ordered held without bail in the death of Daniel Enriquez, 48, who was shot on his way to Sunday brunch in Manhattan. The gunman wore a hooded sweatshirt and a mask that concealed his face, but police said they used security cameras to track the killer after he fled the station, including footage that showed him shedding the clothing that initially hid his identity. Abdullah's lawyer, though, said in court that five of six witnesses brought to a police lineup could not identify him as the shooter. Tensions are running high right now in the city and this is the time to make sure our civil liberties are protected even more, said Kristin Bruan, the Legal Aid Society attorney who represented Abdullah at his first court appearance. Bruan said her client has been "cooperating fully" and had been in "constant communication with authorities as soon as he learned he was being sought. Throughout the court appearance, Abdullah looked ahead as he stood in blue sweatpants, a gray t-shirt and with a white mask with his hands handcuffed behind him. He was led away immediately after the hearing ended. The next court date was set for this coming Wednesday. The shooting, which witnesses told police appeared to be unprovoked, came amid a disturbing rash of gun violence in which people have targeted strangers. Last month, a man who authorities said had traveled from Philadelphia shot 10 people on a subway train in Brooklyn. On May 14 police say a gunman motivated by racial hatred killed 10 Black shoppers and workers at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. News of the mass shootings in New York was quickly overshadowed by another attack that killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Texas. A prosecutor, Nicole Blumberg, described Abdullah as a man with a long history of violent crimes who pulled out a loaded handgun on Sunday as he paced the last car of a Q line train heading from Brooklyn to Manhattan and fired one shot at the center of Daniel Enriquezs body. She said the other passengers scattered to the sides of the subway car, praying for the life of their fellow passenger and hoping they would not be the next victim. Blumberg said that after killing an innocent man, Abdullah told the other passengers to put their cell phones away and that they would be getting off at the next station. The prosecutor said Abdullah fled the train after it pulled into Manhattans Canal Street station, handing his gun to a stranger on the subway stairs. The gun was later recovered by police. Abdullah's lawyer, Bruan, said she plans to make a bail application at a later date. She said there were flaws in the way the lineup was conducted. Besides the fact that five of six witnesses could not identify Abdullah at all, the lone person who could said that Abdullah was wearing a hat during the attack, the lawyer said. Authorities have outlined other evidence. Abdullah was stopped by police as he left the area around the station and showed his identification, but was allowed to leave because he wasn't then wearing the hooded sweatshirt witnesses had described, officials have said. Enriquez worked for the global investment research division at Goldman Sachs and lived in Brooklyn. ___ Associated Press writer Tom Hays contributed to this report. NEW BOSTON, N.H. (AP) Authorities have released the names of a police officer and security guard who fired at a man who died near the New Boston Space Force Station earlier this month. Michael Foley, 33, of Massachusetts, was shot to death May 13 on an access road to the station, which tracks satellites and assists with tracking of commercial space launches. Julia Wall/AP RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein left a Raleigh hospital on Wednesday after being treated earlier this week for what he called a minor stroke. Stein's office confirmed his release the day after the two-term Democrat announced he was hospitalized. He said doctors removed a small blood clot and that he had no lingering effects. NEWTOWN -- Madeleine F. Hsu, who turned 6 in July, was among the youngest victims in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. To Hsu family neighbor Karen Dryer, Madeleine was known as Maddy and was the little girl who wore bright, flowery dresses that matched her personality, and shared a ride to school with her 5-year-old son, the Wall Street Journal reported. Dryer, in earlier reports, described Madeleine as a "very upbeat and kind" girl. "She was a sweet, beautiful little girl," Dryer told the newspaper. A Facebook account for a woman whose records indicate she is a relative of Madeleine's features a photo of a young girl grinning from ear to ear and wearing a pink bow in her hair that matches her pink sweater. The photo also appears on Legacy.com. Several friends have commented on the Facebook profile picture. "A beautiful little soul who was very loved, full of life and I know will be missed dearly by all who knew her," was one of the comments written Saturday evening by Christen Buchert. Judi Muir wrote Monday, "She is such a beautiful granddaughter and now a beautiful angel." People magazine reported that at night, she shared a bed with her two sisters. "They had their own rooms," a family friend told the magazine, "but they slept in the same room because they wanted to be together. ... She was a gorgeous, gorgeous little girl." Dyer said the Hsu family moved into the neighborhood within the last few years. She added that Madeleine's mother would schedule work so she could meet her daughter as soon as she got home from school, always waiting at the end of the driveway in a red minivan. Housatonic Community College held its 55th Commencement ceremony Thursday morning at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater. Among the speakers was Carolyn Vermont, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County, who received an honorary degree. I realize that the journey may not have always been easy. There may have been hills to climb. You probably had to make many sacrifices as you tried to balance work, family life and school. But you persevered! You have positioned yourself to conquer the world, Vermont told the graduating class, according to a social media post. Alumnus William Cain, meanwhile, said, I encourage you to: Be humble, but not shy. Be strong, but not rude. Be proud, but not arrogant. Be kind, but not weak. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SIRTE, Libya (AP) One of Libyas rival prime ministers told The Associated Press that he has no immediate plans to rule from the capital of Tripoli, after his attempted move there last week sparked clashes and fears of a return to widespread civil strife. In an interview late Wednesday, Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha said that his government will work from its headquarters in Sirte, a city on the Mediterranean coast about halfway between the countrys east and west. Rival administrations from each end of Libya claim to be its legitimate rulers until elections are held. Describing last week's events, Bashagha said he had entered Tripoli in a civilian car and that those escorting him were unarmed. A young man was killed during the incident. Bashagha identified him as Ahmed Alashabab, calling him a supporter who was defending him from militiamen. We do not blame ourselves for having entered the city," he said. "I had said that I would not enter the capital unless conditions were 100% favorable. Oil-rich Libya has been wracked by conflict since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. It has been split between rival administrations in the east and west, each supported by different militias and foreign governments. The establishment of Bashaghas government in Sirte is likely to further cement the political divide. Bashagha, a former interior minister and air force pilot, was named prime minister by the countrys east-based parliament in February. But his rival, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, based in Tripoli in the countrys west, has refused to step down, insisting he will hand over power only to an elected government. Last weeks fighting in Tripoli was the most serious there since 2020, when east-based commander Khalifa Hifter and his forces waged a yearlong campaign to try to take the city with backing from Russian mercenaries. They eventually failed to do so, after Tripoli forces were bolstered by Turkish military help. Since then, U.N. mediators have tried to get the country on a path towards elections. Dbeibah's appointment last year, as part of the U.N.-led process, was clouded by allegations of corruption and bribery. As an interim prime minister, Dbeibah was to have led the country through elections in December, but the vote never took place. Both Dbeibah and Bashagha hail from the western city of Misrata, a base of influential militias. Lawmakers have argued that Dbeibahs mandate expired after Libya failed to hold presidential elections on schedule. The failure was a major blow to international efforts to end a decade of chaos in Libya. The country reverted to its long-running political impasse, with rival governments claiming power. Dbeibah has repeatedly promised to hold elections soon. Bashagha said he doubts his rival can unite the country and organize orderly voting, claiming Dbeibah does not command enough loyalty outside of the capital. He will only be able to hold them in Tripoli, he said, adding that his own government is looking at holding nationwide elections within 14 months. The impasse worsened over the past two months, resulting in the closure of oil facilities including Libyas largest oil field in areas controlled by Hifters forces. Bashagha said he was not behind the stoppage of oil production, but that local tribes had decided to take matters into their own hands, not wanting to fund Dbeibahs government. Bashagha said Abdel-Ghani al-Kikli, a Tripoli militia leader, was part of the effort to attack him after he entered Tripoli. Al-Kikli was previously implicated in war crimes by global rights groups, but has headed a nebulous body called the Stability Support Authority that reports to the Tripoli government since 2021. Bashagha also addressed criticism that in areas under his control when he was interior minister under a previous Tripoli-based government, the situation remained abysmal for migrants setting out from Libya on Mediterranean crossings to Europe. After being intercepted, many are kept in squalid detention centers where they face torture, assault, and deprivation. Bashagha said he couldn't be held responsible, claiming he didn't have enough funding or staff to improve the situation. In a message to the country's war-torn Central Bank, Bashagha called on it to pay out his governments budget that was passed by the east-based lawmakers. The bank is the repository for billions of dollars annually in oil revenue as well as foreign reserves. In 2014, it splintered along the countrys broader political fault lines. Air Products, a world leader in industrial gases, has launched Female Engineers & Technical Associates (FETA), a unique programme to enable the progression and career development of female talent in Saudi Arabia. Launched in the presence of the Prince of the Eastern Province, Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, guests from the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development (MOHR); and the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE); the event officially welcomed and congratulated the first women to embark on the programme. Participants of the programme will experience a range of tailored job rotations, hands-on learning as well as professional and technical development opportunities within Air Products, a company that is delivering and executing world-scale, ground-breaking industrial gases projects that will literally and figuratively energise and change the world for future generations. A new path Commenting on the launch, Dr Samir J Serhan, Chief Operating Officer, Air Products, said: "Through FETA we are pioneering a new path of learning for female engineers and technicians. This programme will help shape their futures as they become part of a world-leading industrial gases company, working on some of the most innovative, forward looking, projects of our time projects that are making history by helping to solve significant energy and environmental challenges." "The National transformation programme 2020 will accelerate the empowerment of women and strengthen their position in society. FETA is in line with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, and the advancement of women in leadership roles," added Fahad Saad Alzuabi, Resettlement Programme Manager in the Eastern Province. Opportunity to compete "One of the Saudi Council Engineers' objectives is to support the FETA programme. SCE plans to offer engineering training programmes and initiatives to Saudi female talents and to reaffirm existing skills and knowledge amongst trainees and increase their productivity. This will also provide them with the opportunity to compete and gain a better access in the engineering sector. We believe that Saudi female engineers will play a significant role in making vision 2030 a reality," commented Abdulnasser Saif Al-Abdullatef, Secretary-general of the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE). In parallel with the launch of FETA, Air Products also announced its latest investment and commitment to the kingdom and Vision 2030, by making a financial contribution to Education For Employment, the leading non-profit organisation connecting youth in the Middle East and North Africa to the world of work. EFE places special importance on women's social and economic inclusion in Saudi Arabia and across the Mena region to help close the staggering employment gap, where one in four youth cannot find a job.-- TradeArabia News Service NEWTOWN If one thing needs be emphasized to authorities and anyone wishing to support the small Texas town devastated by Tuesdays elementary school massacre, its to listen to the people who are grieving, Sandy Hook survivors said. A lot of people took a stand on behalf of us and our children and took liberties with using our childrens or loved ones names, and it was very traumatic and hurtful even if it wasnt meant to be, said Michele Gay, whose daughter Josephine was among the 20 first-graders and six educators slain at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. It is important that people not make assumptions or jump to conclusions about anything and keep the focus on the families and the survivors and the first responders and take the lead from them as to how to move forward. Gay, the executive director of the nonprofit Safe and Sound Schools she founded with Alissa Parker after their daughters were slain at Sandy Hook Elementary School, is referring to Americas latest massacre of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, outside San Antonio. The circumstances of the shooting are so close to those in Newtown that some survivors here are reliving their trauma 10 years ago. The families and educators and staff are reeling; they cant eat, they cant sleep, said Abbey Clements, co-founder of the nonprofit Teachers Unify, and a fourth-grade teacher in Newtown who hid her students in a closet as rifle shots rang over the loudspeaker during the 2012 shooting. What concerns me is (Uvalde schools) are ending the year early where they would benefit from getting together and being invited to have conversations about how they are doing. The author of a pioneering peer-reviewed study based on interviews of Sandy Hook families that called for better trauma education and grief treatment agreed. It is absolutely critical to learn from the real experts not the people who study this in school but from the people who have lived through it, said Joanne Cacciatore, a professor at Arizona State Universitys School of Social Work and the author of the 2019 study Primary Victims of the Sandy Hook Murders. It is incumbent on authorities to respond in ways that are appropriate for the primary victims that meet the needs of the primary victims. The most important of those needs at a time like this when the families are still frozen in shock and numb with pain is to listen to their grief, Newtowns senior faith leader said. I would encourage them to be open, to sit down as loved ones and just listen to each other, because we dont have time for each other anymore, said Monsignor Robert Weiss, the veteran pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, where Weiss prepared eight funeral masses for slain Sandy Hook children in five days. One failure of ours is we got so overloaded with love and generosity and diverting the kids attention with gifts and trips that we didnt ask them the right questions. Weiss recalled sitting at a dinner when a Newtown high schooler affected by the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting turned to his father and said, You never asked me how I was doing after the shooting. Tuesday in Newtown, the connection to Texas pain was so palpable that you can hear it in the silence, Weiss said. It hits too close to home; this has been a trigger for Sandy Hook, no doubt about it, Weiss said. Seeing all the police cars and ambulances lined up on T.V. brought me back to the moment I arrived at Sandy Hook School, not knowing what was going on. It was a war zone. Listening to the grieving By encouraging authorities to listen to the grieving in Texas, the hope is people will understand that traumatic grief is a long-term and intensely personal struggle. The (Texas) parents and the families right now are numb and frozen to what is happening; when I heard (news of her own daughters death) I had to catch my breath because I could feel my lungs contracting, said Jenny Hubbard, president and executive director of the nonprofit Catherine Violet Animal Sanctuary, whose daughter was slain in the Sandy Hook shooting. Its time to stop and look each other in the eye and come alongside people for the simple reason they are grieving and hurt. The danger in making community decisions about recovery and grief resources without first deferring to families of loss and those impacted most by the tragedy is that it can fracture a town. Thats when things become divided, said Nicole Hockley, co-founder of the nonprofit Sandy Hook Promise whose son was slain in the 2012 massacre. You have to listen to members of the community and respect the impacted families; you cant assume that you know what they need or want. Newtown was opening its ears to Texas on Tuesday. Efforts were underway to translate a pastoral letter from Weiss into Spanish to send to Sacred Heart Church in Uvalde, and efforts were underway to reach out to teachers through representatives from Newtown schools to see what help Uvalde educators need. A Newtown college student who was in 6th grade when the Sandy Hook shooting changed his life said the best help to offer people in grief is to respect their experience. For parents and directly-impacted family members it is about respecting the process they will go through individually and realizing it takes a long time to come to terms with it, said Jackson Mittleman, a senior at Georgetown University and the federal affairs manager for the nonprofit Newtown Action Alliance. However people (in grief) choose to respond is completely valid in its own right. A veteran former Newtown police officer who was one of the first officers to enter Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012, said it was critical for authorities to listen to the needs of first responders as well. In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook massacre then-police Chief Michael Kehoe was worried about the mental health of his officers, he told Hearst Connecticut Media after his retirement. Former Newtown officer Aaron Bahamonde said authorities did well to offer trauma services to first-responders. Our officers had the ability to seek mental health therapy if they were touched by this it was for the entire town, not just first-responders, said Bahamonde, who was released from the police department last week after 32 years based on a disability, a police union lawyer said. We were certainly at the forefront of it, but we were not the ones who were hurt the most. I was still able to go home to my family. For families in Newtown who put their children on the bus who never came back, what helped most was quiet acts of kindness, Gay said. Some days, meals would show up at her house. Or a neighbor would come in quietly and do the dishes. Or a friend went Christmas shopping for her. Those things meant the world to us because all of those things you do normally every day we couldnt do we were broken, Gay said. People would come in to serve and help us and did it in a way that was so gentle and unobtrusive that it was exactly what we needed. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 MORA, N.M. (AP) As more than 2,700 firefighters in northern New Mexico continued to battle the nations largest active wildfire on Sunday, many evacuees were growing concerned about their future after weeks away from home The biggest fire in the states recorded history has been burning for six weeks now, and some of the hundreds forced to evacuate say their financial resources are dwindling. Amity Maes, a 30-year-old Mora resident who said she is 8 months pregnant and penniless, told the Santa Fe New Mexican that she bounced around for weeks before finding shelter at an evacuation center in Glorieta, where she believes she contracted COVID-19. Officials at Glorieta Adventure Camps said there have been 67 coronavirus cases among evacuees, including some that required hospitalization. After her isolation period, Maes said she was urged to leave and go to a hotel in Santa Fe where she could be closer to a hospital if she went into labor. But the hotel didnt have her reservation when she arrived and when she finally got a room, it was only for one night. They keep encouraging us to go to Albuquerque where evacuees are being housed in hotels, Maes told the newspaper. We dont have gas. We dont have no income. Theres no gas vouchers. Theres no anything. Im on a quarter-tank of gas, and I dont know what Im going to do. The Glorieta retreat center has housed hundreds of people this month and hosted a dozen organizations providing services and resources to evacuees. But it is scheduled to close its shelter this week to prepare for its annual summer camps. Staff members are trying to ensure all of the center's guests have a place to go when the doors close, but some families are uncertain where they will land. Heather Nordquist, who has been engaged in issues affecting northern New Mexico residents, said evacuees needs are not being met. She has collected about $3,000 in donations, which she has used for food, gift and gas cards, and supplies for evacuees. I am so deeply discouraged that our tax dollars arent finding their way to these evacuees, Nordquist told the New Mexican. My heart breaks for the people of Mora. Meanwhile, the wildfire remained 40% contained around its perimeter Sunday. A cold front that arrived Friday night has lowered temperatures, raised humidity levels and provided cloud cover that shades the fuels so that the fire has to work harder and struggles to burn that material, fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns. Its actually given us some decent conditions to go after this fire. At 484 square miles (1,253 square kilometers), the fire is so big its been split into three zones managed separately by three of the 17 largest Type I incident teams in the nation. The merged Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fire is among five active large fires in the state and among 16 nationally, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Once $93 million, improvements to the controversial State Pier in New London have now increased to $255 million, but the chairman of the Connecticut Port Authority on Thursday assured the State Bond Commission that the $20 million it approved for the public-private partnership should finally ready the site for new life as a hub for the budding wind-power industry in Connecticut. But the two Republicans on the Democrat-dominated board, Rep. Holly Cheeseman of East Lyme and Henri Martin of Bristol, voted against the added funding after extensive questioning over the project, which became part of a wider, still-active federal investigation into school construction projects throughout the state. Cheeseman and Martin, top Republicans on the tax-writing legislative Finance Committee, complained that it was the third time the authority has requested more funding for the public-private partnership among the Port Authority, North East Offshore, L.L.C and Gateway New London, L.L.C. to create a modern, heavy-lift port and prepare the site for hundreds of new jobs in wind power. I wonder if someone can offer some reassurance that this is the last time we are going to be asked to increase funds for this project, Cheeseman said. This is the final tranche of funding, David Kooris, board chairman, said the $20 million includes dredging silt around the pier to allow and keep a few million dollars as a contingency as the work heads toward completion at the end of February, 2023. All aspects of the project are now contracted. We do not anticipate any more requests. I had heard that assurance at other meetings, Cheeseman replied, asking what kind of federal support was offered. Kooris said that the prior presidential administration did not prioritize the potential of wind power and the request was denied. That window has closed. He noted that the upcoming dredging of New Haven Harbor is funded at 80 percent by the federal government. The project had originally been scheduled for completion at the end of August, 2022. We had about seven months of permitting delay associated with really two factors, Kooris said. One, the Army Corps (of Engineers) process taking longer than anticipated, but prior to that the state process was challenged and appealed at every step, which added considerable delay. Making the berth at the pier deeper is required for the first American-made offshore-wind installation vessel, under construction in Texas, to make New London its first port-of-call from 2024 to 2027. Lease payments over the first decade of the wind-power hub will total $2 million a year, Kooris said, adding that 200 jobs will be associated there as well as the wind farm is developed in the Atlantic Ocean off the South Fork of Long Island. Kooris, said the original $93-million estimate from 2019, before he joined the board, was not detailed enough for the project, which then rose to $157 million and finally $255 million. To be totally frank, there probably should have been more nuance conveyed at that time; that it was a preliminary estimate based on 10-percent drawings...that it did not include all the soft costs and the contingencies, he said. Another big change, totally $35 million was the result of moving the so-called heavy-left pad from the South side of the pier to the east side so that the existing ferry operations were not crowded. The evolution from $157 to $235 (million) is frankly a little more difficult to explain. Kooris said. It is the difference between engineered cost estimates that were vetted by third parties and actual bid prices we received from contractors. The truth of it is the estimates were off and when the market told us the actual cost of implementation it was higher. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ISLAMABAD (AP) The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan on Thursday expressed concern over the deterioration of rights in the country and called on the ruling Taliban to reverse new restrictions on women. Richard Bennet spoke to journalists at the end of an 11-day visit to Afghanistan, his first since being named last month to his post. His visit came as the Taliban, who seized power when they overran the capital of Kabul in mid-August as the United States and NATO were in the final weeks of their withdrawal from Afghanistan, have started enforcing a sharply tougher line. In recent weeks, they issued edicts requiring women to cover their faces except for their eyes, including women presenters on TV, and banned girls from attending school past the sixth grade. At the same time, Afghanistan has seen persistent bombings and other attacks on civilians, often targeting the mainly Shiite Muslim ethnic Hazara minority. Most of the attacks have been claimed by the Islamic State groups affiliate in the country, which is a bitter rival of the Taliban. Bennett said Afghanistans de facto authorities referring to the Taliban have failed to acknowledge the magnitude and gravity of abuses being committed, many of them in their name, and their responsibility to address them and protect the entire population. I expressed serious concern about the deterioration of human rights across the country, and the erasure of women from public life is especially concerning, Bennett told reporters. In a statement issued at the same time, he called on the Taliban to immediately reverse policies and directives that negatively impact women. His comments follow a statement Tuesday from the U.N. Security Council that called on the Taliban to swiftly reverse restrictions limiting girls access to education and womens employment, freedom of movement and full, equal and meaningful participation in public life. The new edicts have brought the country closer to the harsh measures imposed by the Taliban when they first ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. At that time, they subjected women to overwhelming restrictions, banning them from education and participation in public life and requiring them to wear the all-encompassing burqa. During his visit, Bennett held talks with Taliban leaders as well as toured the country, meeting civil society groups, rights activists and minority communities, including the Hazaras. Speaking to the press, he called for investigations into the militant bombings targeting the Hazaras, other Shiites as well as Sufis, a mystical trend of Sunni and Shiite Islam that militants revile as heretical. Such attacks are becoming increasingly systematic in nature and reflect elements of an organizational policy, he said, adding that they show the hallmarks of crimes against humanity. On Wednesday, at least 14 people were killed in a series of explosions. In one, a bomb ripped through a mosque in Kabul where people were praying, killing five and wounding 22. In the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif, three minivans were hit by bombs, killing nine and wounding 15, all of them Shiites. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the minivan bombings. Bennett also pointed to a high number of reports of intimidation, harassment, attacks, arrests and in some cases killing or disappearances by authorities targeting journalists, prosecutors and judges, as well as civil society for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and association. Bennet said the Taliban stand at a crossroads, where either society would become more stable and a place where every Afghan enjoys freedom and human rights or it will become increasingly restricted. If the Taliban can meet benchmarks, including opening schools fully for girls, establishing a more representative administration and allowing dialogue, he said, the risks of further instability and suffering in Afghanistan may be mitigated. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Mark Schiefelbein/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Andy Wong/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 LONDON (AP) The number of new coronavirus cases and deaths are still falling globally after peaking in January, the World Health Organization said. In its latest weekly assessment of the pandemic, the U.N. health agency said there were more than 3.7 million new infections and 9,000 deaths in the last week, drops of 3% and 11% respectively. COVID-19 cases rose in only two regions of the world: the Americas and the Western Pacific. Deaths increased by 30% in the Middle East, but were stable or decreased everywhere else. A former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah Jang, has described the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries as a sign ... A former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah Jang, has described the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries as a sign of good things soon to be experienced in the State. He also said the outcome of the primaries will best be described as no victor no vanquished, as all the aspirants gave a good account of themselves. The former Governor equally called on the governorship candidate of the PDP in the State, Caleb Mutfwang to hit the ground running by joining forces with the other aspirants who sought the ticket for the number one seat in the state. Jang through his Media Consultant, Clinton Garuba, said, it is time to put the state back in its right place, in both national reckoning and international visibility. He said, The just-concluded primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State which were held under a free and fair atmosphere without any kind of rancour is a sign of good things soon to be experienced in the State. The outcome of the primaries will best be described as no victor no vanquished, as all the aspirants gave a good account of themselves and congratulated each other for a good contest. The party is set to be on winning ways again as it has shown that it is the true party for the state, one which is guaranteed to bring relief to the sufferings that citizens of the state have had to endure in the last seven years. According to him, The years past have indeed been full of agony and untold suffering for the people but succour is on the way with the emergence of the various candidates for various positions in the PDP. While we congratulate our candidates for the various positions, we must also applaud the many aspirants who sought to represent the party. Adding that Their demonstration of sportsmanship in all the primaries is worthy of commendation. Those who won are just one among many equals. The outcome is a call to unity for all our stakeholders to return to the various constituencies to begin to engage with the people in order to vote in a new paradigm which guarantees a better life for our people. The PDP family has shown that unity of purpose is a core ingredient in achieving set goals, we must therefore return to the trenches as we prepare for the secondary election, knowing that we are up against a ruthless opponent whose stock in trade is propaganda without performance. He maintained that The Plateau people must show their dissatisfaction with non-performance and begin to mobilise, toward aligning with those who have not only shown empathy but are more concerned about guaranteeing a secured, peaceful and developed plateau for now and the on-coming generations. We especially, congratulate Barr. Caleb Mutfwang for emerging as the PDP gubernatorial flagbearer and call on him to hit the ground running in joining forces with the other aspirants who sought for the ticket to begin to harmonise ideas, insights and concepts on how to prosecute the forthcoming general elections and put the state back in its right place, in national reckoning and international visibility, he admonished. Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari was reportedly attacked in Kuje prison when angry inmates in the same facility moved to ... Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari was reportedly attacked in Kuje prison when angry inmates in the same facility moved to lynch him. According to Premium Times, the attack happened on May 4 when about 190 inmates descended on him for allegedly prosecuting them despite collecting bribes while in office. It was reported that there are indications that Kyari would soon be moved to the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) following the attack. The incident triggered Kyari, who was suspended following alleged involvement in drugs, to approach a Federal High Court on Thursday for another bail plea. Kyari and three of his co-defendants, through their counsel, urged Justice Emeka Nwite to admit them to bail, stating that their lives in the Kuje Correctional Centre, were unsafe for them. At a resumed hearing, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, counsel to Kyari and suspended ACP Sunday Ubia, informed that an application seeking bail for the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th defendants had been filed and served on the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The Lagos State Governorship Primary Election Committee of the All Progressives Congress, on Thursday, barred one of the aspirants from th... The Lagos State Governorship Primary Election Committee of the All Progressives Congress, on Thursday, barred one of the aspirants from the venue of the primary at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, formerly Onikan Stadium, Lagos Island. Our correspondent learnt that the committee prevented one of the contenders of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Abdul-Ahmed Mustapha, from the venue. Mustapha, a former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Minerals Resources in Lagos, resigned 14 months ago and had picked up the N50m governorship form of the party. It was gathered that the committee chaired by a former deputy governor of Borno State, Shettima Yuguda, claimed that Mustapha was not cleared by the screening committee of the party. However, the aspirant said that he was in Abuja two weeks ago for the screening though the result was not announced. He said the Secretary of the primary election committee, Bashir Mohammed, turned him back on Thursday, saying that he was not cleared and as such cannot be given accreditation access to the venue. Mustapha said, We were told that we were not cleared by the leadership of the party and as such, they only gave accreditation tags to those that were cleared. We went to Abuja for clearance two weeks ago. The results of the clearance were not communicated to us. We went to the APC state secretariat at Acme Road yesterday (Wednesday), we tried to get our accreditation tags but we were not given. We were there till 7am this morning before going to the venue of the primary. Efforts to reach Yuguda, Mohammed and another member of the committee, Tilewa Sijuade, proved abortive as of press time as calls to their lines rang out. Also, APC chairman for Lagos, Cornelius Ojelabi, did not take his calls as of press time. Sanwo-Olu, the anointed aspirant of APC leader, Bola Tinubu, is seeking re-election. He is in the race with Mustapha; and Wale Oluwo, a former Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources in Lagos who is also an ally of ex-governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Brazil is an important strategic market for Edge Group, one of the worlds leading advanced technology groups for defence and beyond, said Faisal Al Bannai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Edge. Brazils advanced and highly developed indigenous industries offer huge potential for us to work together in further knowledge sharing, intelligence exchange, R&D cooperation, and the co-development of defence and advanced technology systems, as recently demonstrated by Embraers partnership with Edge entity Halcon for the development of weapon systems for Embraers A-29 Super Tucano aircraft. We aim to create a more fertile environment for more relationships with leading Brazilian companies to flourish, and to expand the reach and use of Edges products, services, and solutions in Brazil and globally, Al Bannai told a high level diplomatic, military and commercial delegation from Brazil at Edges headquarters in Abu Dhabi. Strong ties The Brazilian delegation, led by Admiral Flavio Rocha, Special Secretary for Strategic Affairs of the Executive Office of the President, Dr Marcos Degaut, Secretary of Defence Products of the MOD, Eduardo Bolsonaro, Congressman in the House of Representatives, Fernando Luis Lemos Igreja, Brazilian Ambassador to the UAE, and other dignitaries, were met by members of the Edge leadership team led by Al Bannai, Mansour Al Mulla, CEO and Managing Director, Hamad Al Marar, Cluster President Missiles & Weapons (M&W), Omar Al Zaabi, Senior Vice President Trading & Mission Support cluster, and other senior members of the Edge leadership including the CEOs of Edge entities Halcon, Adasi, Al Tariq, Caracal, Lahab, Nimr and Al Jasoor. The CEOs of several major Brazilian companies were also part of the delegation, including those of Embraer, Embraer Radar, Akaer, Taurus, Lace, Condor, Avionics, CBC, Mac JEE, CSD, Kryptus, SIATT, Atech, and MK Bomb AEQ. The meeting underscores the importance both countries place on their strong business and cultural ties, and their ongoing collaboration in the areas defence, trade, and technology. New opportunities Al Bannai, speaking at the joint cooperation committee meeting, said: We are delighted to welcome such a high-ranking and commercially important Brazilian visit to Edge today. Not only does it reinforce the importance and fondness with which both our countries view each other as partners, it also underscores the need to keep exploring new opportunities for future collaboration of mutual benefit, and for the pursuit of greater global security. Attending delegates pledged to continue working closely and to achieve mutually agreed objectives for all parties in the military and advanced technology domains.-- TradeArabia News Service The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has cautioned Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State over his remarks against its members. IPOB ... The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has cautioned Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State over his remarks against its members. IPOB warned Umahi that Fulanis will not allow him become Nigerias president, hence he should stop his anger against its members. Emma Powerful, IPOBs spokesperson was reacting to claims that Umahi distanced Fulanis from the killings and destruction of properties belonging to Igbos in the Southeast. In a statement, Powerful described Umahi as an insecure man who lacks knowledge of his root. The statement titled: Dave Umahi Fulani will not give you the Presidential ticket and not to talk about President of Nigeria, reads: The attention of the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU has been drawn to the fallacious and laughable statement credited to the governor of Ebonyi state Eng. Dave Umahi as usual was ranting and calling Igbos liars, calling IPOB family group liars and claiming that Fulani people were not killing or burning down properties belonging to Biafrans in Biafraland and anywhere in the country. Well, what else can you expect from a man who does not know his actual roots? Such statements from a very insecure man do not surprise or bother us in the least because we know where he is coming from and where he is irretrievably heading to. Any individual or politician who ridicules his people because of politics will certainly reap the reward of such misadventure and David Umahi will not be an exception. People should ask David Umahi why no Fulani terrorist governor in the North or politician ever condemn the activities of Fulani terrorists like bandits, Boko Haram and other terrorist groups rampaging the North but they will ask him to prove his loyalty by condemning and killing those he claims are his people. Thank CHUKWUOKIKEABIAMA for IPOB and our great leader Mazi Nnamdi the Fulani would have pursued governor Dave Umahi out from Ebonyi state since two years ago. Acquiring certificates does not confer common sense to the acquirer that is the sorry and pitiable state David Umahi has found himself in. For him to say that Ebonyi state is not part of Biafra means that he is suffering from chronic delusion and mental paralysis. Who told him that he has the mandate of our people in Ebonyi state to decide for them? David Umahi at best can only vote as an individual during the referendum, and he is entitled to cast his vote for Nigeria for all we care but we assure him that during the referendum his family members will vote for Biafra, not Nigeria. The governor of Ebonyi State Dave Umahi is on record lamenting the atrocities committed last year by Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen who attacked part of his state and murdered over 100 innocent citizens of the state. Now he is suddenly suffering from amnesia and no longer has any recollection of his senses. Leaders my foot. Fulani Herdsmen have been pillaging and killing innocent citizens in the states of Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Imo and Ebonyi States for a very long time now. Dave Umahi has forgotten where he was shedding tears because of the level of killing which Fulani did in his state last year but today because he wants to use the blood of our people as a bargaining chip for his unattainable selfish political ambition. I forgot he was shedding the politicians insincere crocodile tears then and he must exonerate the Fulani terrorists, and herdsmen, in Nigeria and blame the innocent victim and peaceful Igbo and Biafrans for these killings. David Umahi may be blind to the footprint of the wanton killings of innocent civilians by the Fulani Herdsmen adjudged the 4th most deadly terror group in the world, but this is not hidden to the world and the international community understand how Fulani murder innocent citizens in the whole of Nigeria and not only in our region and Igboland but in all states and regions. He should therefore stop exhibiting his stupidity to the world to see and begin to ask if this man is not an Igbo man. The whole world today understands what IPOB is fighting for and we must get it. At least three out of the 13 delegates from Mariga Local government Areas of Niger State for the governorship primaries have been allegedl... At least three out of the 13 delegates from Mariga Local government Areas of Niger State for the governorship primaries have been allegedly killed by bandits. It was learnt that the incident occurred between Mariga and Tegina and the three persons were shot dead on the spot in an ambush by the Bandits on Wednesday. They were killed on their way back to Mariga after the party postponed the primaries to obtain their means of identification, following a protest by some of the aspirants who were not comfortable with the delegates list. Against this backdrop, delegates were asked to return home and bring their means of identification and the primaries shifted to Thursday. The victims were two women and a male, whose identities were not revealed. The Chairman of the State electoral panel and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State Mr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo who made the disclosure at the state party secretariat described the incident as sad. Ewhrudjakpo also asked all the aspirants for the replacement of the three deceased delegates, which they agreed to after a brief discussion. He afterwards, ordered a minute of silence be observed for the deceaseds. Sevilla club president, Jose Castro has confirmed that Manchester United loanee, Anthony Martial will return to Old Trafford this summer. Ca... Sevilla club president, Jose Castro has confirmed that Manchester United loanee, Anthony Martial will return to Old Trafford this summer. Castro said that Martial did not play well during his loan spell at Sevilla. After his big-money move from Monaco in 2015, Martial failed to live up to expectations despite a solid start for Man United. The France international was shipped off to Sevilla on loan in January after falling out of favor at Manchester United. He was hampered throughout his time at Sevilla because of persistent hamstring injury. In an interview with Canal Sur Radio, Castro said: It cant be otherwise, we have made a major effort. Hes a player who has shown his value, but who hasnt been able to adapt, he has had several injuries. He continued: It was a pure loan and he will return to United. He didnt play the way we wanted him to, I dont want to say I didnt try, but things didnt work out. The management of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan, Oyo State, has confirmed the arrest of its founder, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, alleging that he was arres... The management of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan, Oyo State, has confirmed the arrest of its founder, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, alleging that he was arrested on Thursday morning over his call for justice in the murder of Timothy Adegoke, a Postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. Adegoke died in a hotel owned by Rahmon Adedoyin in Ile-Ife last year. Adedoyin and his staff have been arrested in connection with the death of Adegoke, a native of Eruwa in Oyo state. The management of the station has however claimed that its owner was arrested because he has been calling for a thorough investigation in the murder case. Yousuph Grey Adebayo, Head of Station, Agidigbo 88.7 FM, Ibadan in a statement made available to newsmen alleged that the owner of the station was arrested only because he has been calling for justice in the murder of the deceased. Adebayo said that Hamzat, has in the past few days been subjected to regular invites and questioning by several security operatives, including but not limited to the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB); all of which he dutifully honoured. He added that Hamzat has been arrested and has been whisked away by the police to Abuja. Adebayo, who spoke further, appealed to all Nigerians to lend their voice to ensure that Hamzat is not subjected to inhumane treatment and undue incarceration because he is standing for the truth. We have been inundated with repeated calls and messages since the early hours of today following widespread concerns by well-meaning Nigerians home and abroad, our colleagues in the media and the general public about the safety of our Chairman at Sure Etiquette Media Plus Ltd, the parent company for Agidigbo FM, Ibadan, Agidigbo FM, Lagos and Agidigbo Television, Mr. Oriyomi Hamzat. Hence, we will like to use this medium to inform everyone that Mr. Oriyomi Hamzat has in the past few days been subjected to regular invites and questioning by several security operatives, including but not limited to the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB); all of which he dutifully honoured and attended to, he said. The premise of these invites and questioning is not unconnected with his consistent call for due diligence in the trial of Chief Rahman Adegoke Adedoyin over the death of Timothy Adegoke who died under unfortunate circumstances in the formers hotel in Osun State. It would be realized that Mr. Oriyomi Hamzats constant call for justice for the deceased has been a source of concern for the accused. However, the entire situation began to escalate when the SIB started plans to hand over Mr. Hamzat to the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and in the early hours of today, Thursday, 26th of May, 2022, he was arrested and as we speak has been whisked away to Abuja. An Airbus A320 jet belonging to First Nation has been sold as scrap to a yet-to-be-identified buyer according to Punch Newspapers An Airbus A320 jet belonging to First Nation has been sold as scrap to a yet-to-be-identified buyer according to Punch Newspapers The development came about four years after the carrier grounded its operations for technical reasons. The buyer of the disused plane has consequently towed the equipment to a town in Oyo where it will be probably converted to a restaurant or other purposes, airport sources close to the deal revealed on Wednesday. The multimillion-dollar plane, which had become unserviceable over time, was towed along the Oshodi-Agege Motor Road on Tuesday night, causing heavy gridlock and widespread confusion. However, it also caused excitement among commuters. But there were also widespread rumours the jet had crashed. The development forced the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to issue a statement, denying the aircraft had crashed. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria would like to inform the general public to disregard the news making the rounds on social media about an alleged crash at Ikeja airport. The aircraft was sold by the owner to a buyer, who was taking it to its final destination, the FAAN statement read. But further findings showed that the aircraft, which had been a subject of litigation, was sold by a third to the Oyo buyer. Unconfirmed sources said the third party had got a court injunction to sell the plane in order to recover certain costs. Also, It was learnt that multimillion-dollar aircraft was sold as scrap for less than N50m. This was after its engine and electronics had been removed. The development probably followed the renewed determination by FAAN and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to rid the nations airports of unserviceable and abandoned airplanes. The National Assembly had recently mandated the aviation agencies to remove unserviceable and disused planes from the nations airports, saying they were constituting safety hazards. One of the drivers of the three lorries towing the fragmented plane revealed on Wednesday that the equipment was being taken to Oyo State. The General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Mr Sam Adurogboye, said FAAN was in charge of the airport land which abandoned and unserviceable aircraft were parked. According to him, NCAA can only be involved when the issues of safety and security are involved. He, however, noted that litigation had made it difficult for authorities to get rid of some disused planes in the airport environment. First Nation has not flown in the past four years. The Managing Director, First Nation, Mr Kayode Odukoya, could not be reached for comments. He telephone line did not connect. There was not response to text messages, seeking enquiries on the development, sent to his telephone line. An industry expert and former Managing Director of Associated Airlines, Mr Alex Nwuba, said when planes had become old and unserviceable, there might be the need to sell them as scraps. A receptionist on duty on the day Timothy Adegoke was discovered dead says she and others took an oath of secrecy to protect the interest ... A receptionist on duty on the day Timothy Adegoke was discovered dead says she and others took an oath of secrecy to protect the interest of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife. Adegoke, a masters student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife had traveled from Abuja to write an exam at the OAUs distance learning centre in Moro, Osun state on November 5. The student, who had lodged at Hilton Hotel and Resort, Ile-Ife was, however, found dead on November 7. Rahman Adedoyin, the hotel owner, and six of his workers are standing trial before the Osun state high court in Osogbo in connection with the alleged murder of Adegoke. During the resumed hearing on Wednesday, the receptionist identified as Magdalene Chiefuna gave her account of the matter. Chiefuna, under cross-examination by Femi Falana (SAN), prosecution counsel, said she took an oath of secrecy. She said she did not know that the deceased was dumped until when she got to the police station six days later. Chiefuna disclosed that she only told the deceased had paid for the room when she resumed duty on November 6 but never saw him. She said when the lodger was not seen in the reception area, she took a spare key to room 305 and opened the door, where she met Adegoke in the room lying face up and wrapped in a duvet exposing only his face on the bed. According to her, she initially thought Adegoke was sleeping but became scared when she shook his leg. She said she immediately informed the manager on duty Adeniyi Aderogba of her discovery. The receptionist said Aderogba also went into the room to check Adegoke and declared that the lodger was dead. She said Roheem Adedoyin, the MD of the hotel, arrived at the hotel after the body had been discovered. According to her, Adeniyi later took her and Esther Asigor, the receptionist that was to take over duty, to the MD office where Adedoyin administered an oath of confidentiality to them in order not to disclose what transpired. Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara State has called on the military to persist in taking the battle to the bandits doorstep as a ... Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara State has called on the military to persist in taking the battle to the bandits doorstep as a major panacea to the lingering insurgency in the state. The Governor made this statement in Gusau, the state capital, when he received a visiting team of members of the Army War College of Nigeria who were on a study visit to the Operation Hadarin Daji in the state, saying that the situation was getting out of hand. If the military adopts total proactive measures, the issue of banditry in the state will soon become history, he added. The Governor, however, acknowledged that the military is overstretched and also in need of more modern equipment at the moment. We understand that the military is overstretched due to the multiple security challenges facing the country as a result of which all the men in the service are currently engaged, he said. Matawalle, however, advised that retired military officers be re-engaged in the service while the government further pursues its laudable efforts of acquiring more modern equipment to address insecurity in the country. He also assured that his administration has noted the commendable efforts of the military in the state over the years and assured that he will continue to give his utmost support to their operations until peace is restored in the state. Earlier, the leader of the team, Major General U.U. Bassey, commended Governor Matawalle for the support he renders to operating officers in the state, restating the commitment of the military towards ending all the security challenges facing the country. The team honoured Governor Matawalle with an award. Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate, was commended for extending its support to the Oman Pavilion throughout Expo 2020 Dubai In a recent ceremony at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) Qais Mohamed Al Yousef, Oman Minister of Commerce & Industry & Investment Promotion handed over an official certificate of appreciation to Dr Khalid Al Balushi (PhD), Senior Manager Government Affairs at Oman Air. Oman Airs longstanding commitment to national projects underscores the airlines vital role in the Sultanates broader tourism strategy and its ongoing participation in the realization of Oman Vision 2040 objectives as a key enabler of travel into the countrylinking Oman to important source tourist markets regionally and internationally. The Oman pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai was an exceptional opportunity to showcase the Sultanates deep connection to frankincense while promoting the countrys benefits as a truly distinct travel destination in the Middle East. As national carrier, Oman Air, along with several other public and private institutions, was active at the Oman pavilion to support projects and community programs. The link between aviation and tourism development is significant and the role of airlines as enablers in the broader tourism ecosystem is especially significant given the challenges facing post-pandemic travel, said Abdulaziz Al Raisi, Chief Executive Officer, Oman Air. As the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, our readiness to support important tourism and country branding projects is absolute, and our presence throughout Expo 2020 Dubai was a national initiative we were delighted to take part in, and one which contributes to Omans economic development in travel-related sectors. In addition to boosting flight frequencies on its Muscat-Dubai corridor, Oman Air established an on-site presence at the Oman pavilion for six months. In conjunction with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, its team was on hand to promote the airlines connectivity to Oman and respond to visitor enquiries; it was actively involved in supporting Oman National Day, the arrival of the Oman Youth Ship at the Dubai Tourism Port, Omani Youth Day, Omani Womens Day, World Education Day, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, International Film Day, World Education Day, International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and the closing ceremony for Expo 2020 Dubai. To facilitate travel to and from Expo 2020 Dubai for 200 youth volunteers, Oman Air offered subsidized tickets and streamlined its departure and return procedures at airports in Muscat and Dubai. Parallel to activities and events throughout Expo 2020 Dubai, and in line with its commitment to support economic activities that benefit the local community, Oman Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tayseer, the commercial platform tasked with managing the mini-commercial centre at Expo 2020 Dubai and providing shipping services and travel for affiliate SMEs. TradeArabia News Service Watertown, NY (13601) Today Some clouds. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 53F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 53F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. To some observers, the increase in the number of Americans identifying as more than one race shows that barriers are breaking down. But the increase also may reflect changes to census questions designed to tease out the heritage of multiracial people. Pexels The setting is elegantly simple: A table topped with a snow-white cloth. Gleaming silverware. Sparkling crystal. And one rose. Theres only one detail missing from this perfectly set table: guests. There wont be any, and thats the point. The table, which the Pontchartrain Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will set, piece by piece, on Monday Memorial Day at the National WWII Museum, is the centerpiece of an annual event, carried out around the country, to remind Americans of the men and women who probably never will be returning to their families dining room tables. The New Orleans ceremony will start at 11 a.m. in the museums U.S. Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center. Missing Americans According to the Defense Departments POW/MIA Accounting Agency, whose records date back to World War II, 83,114 Americans are missing in action or being held in prison camps. No one knows when or how this Memorial Day ceremony started, an agency spokesman said, but it has been conducted for years at military installations. While it is called the Missing Man Table, it is meant to include missing servicewomen, too. Its a very significant military procedure that the museum conducts every Memorial Day, museum spokesman Keith Darcey said. Its nice, when people are doing their barbecues (for the long weekend), that people know that there wont be people at some tables. The principal speaker at the museums table will be Keri Hart, of Baton Rouge. Her husband, Casey Hart, a corporal in the Baton Rouge Police Department, died last June of cardiac arrest he had suffered in Syria while deployed there with the National Guard. He was 42. Their daughter, Taylen, is 10. Being asked to speak was an honor, she said, but it was also appropriate because her husband had been part of the honor guard when the museum opened in June 2000 as the National D-Day Museum. Bringing awareness I thought it was a terrific way to honor my husband, Hart, 41, said. My hope is to bring awareness of the sacrifices of members and their families. For families like ours, Memorial Day is every day. Every component of the table has a meaning, starting with the table itself, which is round to remind everyone that concern for missing service members never ends, according to the script for the ceremony. Other elements of the solemn ceremony include: A Bible, representing faith in a higher power. Lemon slices to remind everyone of these peoples bitter fate. A salt shaker representing families tears. A black napkin to emphasize the emptiness that these warriors captivity provokes. An inverted wine glass to show that missing people cant share the good times. A candle to emphasize the solitude of being in captivity. A yellow ribbon to show undying hope for a happy reunion, A rose to represent families and friends who are hoping for the safe return of servicemembers. According to the script, the ceremony is all about remembrance: Remember those whom we depended on in battle. They depend on us to bring them home. In speaking to people who, like her, have lost a relative in the service, Hart said she has this message: Just be brave, be courageous, but allow yourself time to heal, and you can be there to help someone when its their turn and to guide them through the process. ****************** Memorial Day at the National WWII Museum WHERE: 945 Magazine St. WHEN: 11 a.m. to noon: Commemoration ceremony 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Knit Your Bit offers veterans free handmade scarves 1 p.m.: The Victory Belles perform music of the 1940s (separate admission) Anyone can grow orchids that's the laid-back message from Larry Hennessey, avid orchidist and vice president of the New Orleans Orchid Society. "Growing orchids is just a balancing act," said Hennessey. "You have to balance water, humidity, sun and air circulation; if not, they won't last very long." Hennesseys Metairie backyard is filled with a varied and colorful array of award-winning blooms. He is mostly self-taught and quick to point out that you dont need experience to grow orchids. He also says you don't need a deep pocketbook, an expensive greenhouse or a designer watering system. Look, I fail a lot, Hennessey said with a laugh. The only reason Ive successfully grown so many varieties and won awards is because Ive killed a helluva lot more orchids than the next guy has. As for the ever-present ice cube watering theory, skip it. Ice cubes are the stupidest thing Ive ever heard of in my life. Where did they come up with this idea? Its a tropical plant; youll freeze the roots, Hennessey said. Instead, he advises using an ounce shot glass once a week adjusted for humidity or the lack thereof. The New Orleans Orchid Society annual show is back in June after a COVID-related hiatus. It's an event where orchid aficionados, fans and the merely curious gather to meet the growers and to examine and purchase exotic rarities. Its also where a novice can chat with an expert wholl happily assist them in choosing their first bloom. Like most, Hennessey first attempted orchid cultivation in his kitchen window. That was 30 years ago. After indoor success, he moved outdoors. Practicality led him to create orchid-friendly environments out of shaded nooks and scrap tarps. His goal was to create innovative spaces to house, shelter and grow his orchids that wouldn't break the bank. In his backyard, the orchids he grows are divided into two categories: orchids grown under shade cloths that loosely protect the plants from the sun and rain, and greenhouse orchids. The former are more durable in that they can handle the elements. They shelter under, of all things, a repurposed trampoline frame he separated to form two arches. The arches are covered in a black shade-cloth tent, which gently disperses rain through the fabrics mesh weave. His more delicate blooms are housed in a small greenhouse, a must for the serious enthusiast. He says most orchidists, or "orchid fanciers" as they are known, start out as patio growers, then face the challenge of what to do with tropicals when winter comes. "You can't fit all of them in the windows of your house," said Hennessey. "You have to figure out what to do with them." His solution was an economical greenhouse from the Harbor Freight Tools discount store, which he constructed for under $600. Hes filled it with phalaenopsis orchids, a variety that requires lower light and shelter from the elements. "It's amazing; the ones you place outside the greenhouse, it can pour down rain on them every day, and they're happy," said Hennessey. "They love the rain. But if you water greenhouse plants every day, they'd rot in a month." Even more orchids are grown on an old potting table under a draped shade cloth attached to the back fence further proof that nothing fancy is required to become an orchid grower. Hennessey does, however, use a homemade watering system to disperse water over the cloths when he and his wife travel, but otherwise, he said, it's unnecessary. The system sprays water over his makeshift canopies four times a day for five minutes, mainly to cool the air. He buys his shade cloth fabric on either Amazon or eBay. "In New Orleans, I recommend using 60% to 70% shade cloth for the summer," said Hennessey. Its truly about monitoring humidity and temperature, then adjusting moisture to the individual plants needs. In his early growing days, he focused on Cattleya the large blooms famously pinned to 1950s prom dresses but migrated away from the variety because he says the purple and white flowers all looked alike. "That's what people who are beginners grow the most," said Hennessey. "The big, round, corsage-type flowers, which are mainly greenhouse plants." His favorites are a unique group of epiphytic orchids from Southeast Asia native to China, South Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, known as Bulbophyllum. The other are his terrestrials. However, he finds his "cool growers" to be the most challenging. Larry Hennesseys orchid tips Know your growing conditions and select plants that match them. Water only when the plants need it. Some plants need to dry out between waterings; some need to stay moist. Select the best quality and largest plants you can afford. A large healthy plant has the best chance to survive long enough to successfully adapt. Fertilize plants once a month during the warm season and more often during growing season. Flush pots once a month with plain water. See the American Orchid Societys culture sheets for additional orchid care instruction. 70th New Orleans Orchid Society Show WHAT: The largest orchid show in the Deep South, with vendors selling orchid plants and supplies. WHERE: Lakeside Shopping Center WHEN: Friday, June 3, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; June 4, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; June 5, noon to 4 p.m. MORE INFO: neworleansorchidsociety.org. Orchid Society meetings are held monthly; dues are $20. In the early days of the pandemic, carloads of nervous, feverish residents would line up to have their nostrils swabbed to see if they had contracted the dreaded COVID-19. Then, when vaccines finally arrived, the lines resumed, with residents eager to get their first jab. Now, the largest public sites in the local war against the coronavirus are ceasing operations, as the Louisiana National Guard stands down after stepping up to staff testing and vaccination sites for more than two years. Friday is the last day for testing and vaccinations at the John A. Alario Sr. Event Center near Westwego and the Mahalia Jackson Theater site in Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans. A third site at the UNO Lakefront Arena has already ceased operations. The Louisiana Department of Health said Thursday that while the pandemic is not over, the public health emergency was lifted in March and the state is "no longer in crisis mode" as vaccines and tests have become more widely available. "Thankfully, we are in a much stronger position than we have been, and we have more tools than ever to combat the virus," the agency said in a statement. "Safe and effective vaccines, access to high-quality masks, therapeutics and at-home testing are all tools that we did not have when the Louisiana National Guard was first deployed as part of the statewide COVID response." The Health Department said the National Guard operated more than 1,000 vaccine sites and more than 400 testing sites during the pandemic, administering 626,436 tests and 226,081 vaccines as of Tuesday. Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said the Alario Center site, which opened March 21, 2020, just 12 days after the parish reported the state's first case, tested more than 39,000 people and administered more than 5,000 doses of the vaccine. "It was one of the first pilot COVID testing sites in the country when the pandemic first began," she told the Parish Council on Wednesday. "We were one of the first, and we're proud to have stood up this site and supported this site for more than two years." Lee Sheng thanked state and local partners, such as the men and women of the National Guard, for their efforts and "time spent away from their families." "We could not have done it without them," she said. "They were always there for us." NOLA Business Insider The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every day. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Figures from the Mahalia Jackson Theater site were not immediately available. But Dr. Jennifer Avegno, medical director in Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration, called the National Guard the "cornerstone" of the city's testing program. "They have been deployed for a really long time," she said last week. "They are needed elsewhere. There are limited resources, and so we want residents to prepare for that." A National Guard representative did not return a call seeking comment. The closures come at a time when COVID transmission is increasing in the New Orleans area, with a highly contagious omicron subvariant now dominant among cases. Tests elsewhere Avegno said that pop-up testing sites would still be available in New Orleans, although she acknowledged those won't be as easy or prominent as the Mahalia Jackson Theater site, especially for people without insurance. Lee Sheng said Jefferson residents looking for tests and vaccines may still do so through their doctors or pharmacies. She said the parish Public Health Unit in Metairie is open Wednesdays and Fridays, and the one in Marrero is open Wednesdays and Thursdays, both offices from from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. An updated list of community sites providing vaccinations and boosters in Jefferson Parish can be found online at COVID.JeffParish.net. Anyone with a mailing address may order eight free at-home tests through the federal government. Emily Woodruff contributed to this report. Saudi Arabia moved up 10 places to 33rd in the world overall, in the 2021 World Economic Forum (WEF) Travel and Tourism Development Index, which was released yesterday at Davos. The independent index benchmarks 117 countries on 17 pillars crucial to the development and resilience of their travel and tourism industries. Saudi Arabia moved from 43rd in 2019 to 33rd in 2021, the second largest rise in rankings, as a result of improvements across almost all indicators. This is the first report to be produced since Saudi Arabia opened for international tourism in September 2019. In 2019, Saudi Arabia launched the National Tourism Strategy, a clear plan to drive forward the aims of Vision 2030. These aims will increase the contribution of the tourism sector to 10% of GDP, create 1million new jobs, and attract 100 million local and international visits annually by 2030. The World Economic Forums Travel and Tourism Development Index is a key indicator of Saudi Arabias extraordinary journey as a global tourism leader. Saudi Arabias leadership, resources and ambition are driving the monumental growth of the sector and delivering on Vision 2030 goals, said a statement. Strong investment Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, said: I am proud of the progress the Kingdom has made through our Vision 2030 reforms as we have opened to the world. Our success is demonstrated by our strong investment in the tourism sector from creating jobs opportunities for citizens to working with global partners who are invested in our transformation. Our ranking is proof that since 2019, despite the global pandemic, Saudi Arabia has demonstrated incredible global leadership as a new tourism destination. We have made it easier to invest and create tourism businesses in the Kingdom. Last year saw a record for domestic visits. And top global companies are recognising our commitment and are joining us. The WEFs new Travel and Tourism Development Index measures against a set of factors that enable the sustainable and resilient development of the Travel and Tourism sector, which in turn contribute to national development. Improvement in 12 KPIs The 2021 edition of the index highlights the vital need to invest in tourism, the impact of Covid-19 and how sector stakeholders can draw on development strategies to build back better. Amid current challenges, shifting demand and future risks, a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient sector must be created. Saudi Arabias higher score was achieved by improvements across 12 out of 17 KPIs. Highlights include an improvement from 27th to 10th for business environment, an improvement from 47th to 40th for tourism services and a best in world ranking for managing demand pressure and impact. This significant improvement in Saudi Arabias ranking reflects not only considerable investment into tourism but also its global leadership in future-proofing the sector. Focused on sustainable and resilient development, Saudi Arabia is bringing together key players in the sector to build a future for tourism that is better for all, said the statement. Saudi Arabia aims to welcome 100 million tourism visits by 2030, increasing the sectors contribution to GDP from 3% to 10%. - TradeArabia News Service Dennis Moore, a former attorney with the Capital Defense Project of Southeast Louisiana, has been tapped to serve as a magistrate commissioner for the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, filling a seat left open by Albert Thibodeaux, who resigned earlier this year. Moore, 58, was one of 11 people to apply for the post a six-year appointment by the courts criminal judges to oversee one of the magistrate courtrooms. In the role, Moore will approve arrest warrants, set bail and perform other duties. On Thursday, Moore said he was humbled to be chosen, adding, I just want to be helpful. To serve as a magistrate commissioner, a person must have practiced law in Louisiana for at least five years. Moore has worked as a private criminal and civil attorney for 23 years. He worked alongside Kerry Cuccia, director of the Capital Defense Project of Southeast Louisiana, for more than 15 years. Hes not only a very skilled and knowledgeable attorney, Cuccia said of Moore, but he (also) has the most keen sense of fairness of any person Ive ever known. Moores first day as a magistrate commissioner will be June 7, according to Robert Kazik, judicial administrator of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. Thibodeauxs last day was May 1. Thibodeaux, who has served as a magistrate commissioner since 2014, has declined to comment publicly on his resignation. NOLA Business Insider The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every day. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Last year, the Louisiana Supreme Court determined that Thibodeaux had faked a clients signature on a legal document in his civil law practice. The court issued Thibodeaux a six-month suspension from practicing law that was deferred as long as Thibodeaux doesn't commit any other misconduct. Thibodeaux was never accused of forgery, and he continued to represent the client. It's not clear if his resignation was related to the incident. This week, Thibodeaux complimented Moores appointment, calling the Tulane University Law School graduate qualified and prepared to do the job. He added, I think the community is in good hands with Dennis Moore. The magistrate commissioner post is a part-time position, and commissioners can practice civil, but not criminal, law simultaneously. Moore said he doesnt believe he will continue to practice civil law during the time he is magistrate commissioner but he said he hasnt made a final decision. Cuccia said that Moore will be aided as a magistrate commissioner by his deep legal knowledge and an ability to see all sides of a case. For his part, Moore committed to ensuring that criminal justice moves forward as it should and as the law allows. Im really humbled that the judges saw everything I bring to the table and felt I have the experience and the ability to be a commissioner, Moore said. Despite heavy rains and a flash flood watch, residents turned out in droves to Wednesday nights crime summit in New Orleans East, packing the community center at St. Maria Goretti Church with a standing-room-only crowd. City Councilmember Oliver Thomas spearheaded the event, designed to hear from residents in a part of town particularly afflicted by the recent violent crime wave, from homicides and shootings to carjackings and interstate drive-bys. We felt like the community was never engaged, said Thomas' Chief of Staff Diedre Pierce said. This gave the community an opportunity to come out and give a voice for their concerns. The comments that drew the most applause came from attendees who identified areas of crisis and suggested potential solutions, including more crime cameras, functional street lights and better maintenance of city-owned lots. Some residents said they live next to homes that have sat empty and blighted for years, attracting crime. For the last 15 years since Hurricane Katrina, Ive had to pull up my driveway next to a vacant lot overgrown with rodents and trash, said Michelle Woodfork, an NOPD captain who has been on the force for 31 years and lived in New Orleans East since 1997. If we get some of those blighted properties and overgrown lots taken care of, we can get rid of nuisance crime. Residents also pointed to a charter school system that requires children to test into schools with the most resources and ride buses across the city in commutes that start as early as 6 a.m. Students cant participate in extracurricular activities if they are on the bus, said Wilfort Norris, a retired educator. NOLA Business Insider The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every day. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The more than 130 in attendance discussed possible solutions, including school truancy programs that hold parents accountable for their childrens absences, mandated parent-teacher organizations in every school, neighborhood schools led by people from the area instead of predominately White outsiders, financial literacy training for youth, vocational training for construction projects related to climate change issues (roofing, fencing), and partnerships between older and younger people. The group also heard presentations from panelists: Norris Henderson, the head of Voters Organized To Educate; August Collins, director of reintegration services at the Youth Empowerment Project; Chad Sanders, co-executive director of The First 72; Pres Kabacoff, a developer; Dawn Hebert, president of the East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Commission; Nolan Marshal Jr., an Orleans Parish School Board member; and Dr. Rahn Bailey, the Department Head for Psychiatry at Louisiana State University. Thomas, who lives in Lake Willow, said similar partnerships helped drive down the murder rate after it surged to 300-400 homicides a year in the 1990s. It didnt go down because we were working in isolation," he said. "The community came together to come up with solutions that didn't come from the police department. They came from the people. When the summit concluded after an hour and a half of impassioned commentary, the storm had passed, and a rainbow was reflected in the parking lot's puddles. Pierce called the meeting a resounding success and said she hopes to bring similar summits to every district in New Orleans within the next month. A second crime summit for New Orleans East takes place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Sanchez Multi-Service Center, 1616 Fats Domino Ave. A New Orleans man has been arrested on 200 charges of possessing child pornography. Police said in court documents that the Louisiana attorney general's office received two tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about Ervin Cooper, 22, possessing pornography involving children younger than 13. Police said they obtained the contents of Cooper's Snapchat account, "dirtyfetisher," which had been deactivated Dec. 4, and found five images of infants and toddlers being raped. Cooper consented to let investigators search his online MEGA storage account, where they said they found more child pornography. Police also said they found pictures and video of child pornography on Cooper's two phones and his computer. They arrested him Tuesday. In a court hearing Wednesday, Magistrate Commissioner Robert Blackburn set his bond at $100,000. Carl Wright had plenty of obstacles to overcome in his life: he was displaced after Hurricane Katrina damaged the family's Lower Ninth Ward home, he lost his father in 2019, and he was navigating parenting after splitting with the mother of his two boys. Despite it all, Wright showed up each day to work at a French Quarter gastropub with a smile on his face, his loved ones said. Bar Amar, Wright's former boss and friend, said the 31-year-old, who was known as "Muney," was so positive and hard working that she created a management role for him when they worked together at B.B. King's Blues Club a few years ago. Wright worked for her at at least four different restaurants during the time they knew each other. He was a loyal employee, and in all the years Amar had known Wright, she had never seen him argue with anyone. So when she got the news of Wrights killing last Friday, it didnt feel real, she said. Wright was shot to death the morning of May 20 in front of a duplex in the 2300 block of Governor Nicholls Street (map) in Treme. He had just moved into the apartment the month before. No arrests have been made, NOPD officials said. Wrights brother, Jarian Thomas, said he was also shocked by the news. He said his brother was a loving father who talked about his children every day, even after he separated from their mother. Thomas hasnt slept since his brothers killing and is grateful that the last thing he said to Wright was that he loved him. I know he loved his boys. He always talked about them, he said. The last conversation I had with him we talked about his boys. Wright played trombone in the band at John F. Kennedy High School and then at Priestley Charter School after Hurricane Katrina. Music was his outlet, Thomas said. NOLA Business Insider The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every day. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Jessica Griffin, Wrights cousin, said Wright lived with her for 8 years before moving into his apartment in April. She said he was a creative soul and a free-form poet who loved to write. Griffin talked to Wright the day before he died about staying the weekend at her house. She was excited for him to visit. I got to work the next morning and got the phone call, she said. I lost it. Wrights sister, Vivayana Wright-Hooks, said her brother loved his job as a cook and server at The Will & The Way in the French Quarter and used to say that he loved seeing people eat the food he made. Jess Mogren, a former coworker and friend, said you could assign Wright any job to do and hed do it. But his positive attitude extended beyond work, she said. I cant imagine why somebody would think they needed to do this to him, she said. He was literally a light. Anyone with information regarding the crime is asked to contact Homicide Detective Jamaane Roy at (504) 658-5300 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward. The driver who crashed into a construction site on the Hale Boggs Bridge, launching a worker over the railing to his death, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison and another 12 years of supervised release. Hunter Johnson, 23, was intoxicated when he drove his pickup truck through the construction zone on the bridge between Destrehan and Luling in the early morning hours of Jan. 14, 2021, knocking Brady Ortego of Baton Rouge over the side and into the Mississippi River, Louisiana State Police said. Johnson pleaded guilty Feb. 9 to vehicular homicide and obstruction of justice. On Wednesday, Judge Timothy Marcel of the 29th Judicial Disrict Court issued the 30-year sentence after hearing statements from several relatives of Ortego, 44. Despite a lengthy search of the river, Ortego's body was never recovered. NOLA Business Insider The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every day. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up After he struck Ortega, Johnson abandoned his truck and ran from the scene, State Police said. His grandmother, Marie Sally Dufrene, 73, picked him up and took him back to her home. From there, Johnson's mother, Pebbles Johnson, drove him to a hotel in Houma to hide from police. For weeks, the State Police analyzed DNA and other evidence to identify the hit-and-run driver. Police arrested Johnson in March 2021. His mother and grandmother were arrested that summer and booked with obstruction of justice. "Nothing can bring Brady Ortego back," Marcel said, "but I hope that this sentence can give his family the closure and justice that they deserve." A diver's run-in with a 7-foot alligator near the Municipal Yacht Harbor in New Orleans Monday has prompted warnings and the deployment of trappers, who caught one of the reptiles on Wednesday. Tenants of the Orleans Marina received an email Monday warning them of an "alligator attack" that was reported that morning in the Municipal Yacht Harbor, which sits just north of the Orleans Marina. Marina staff warned tenants to avoid swimming in the harbor and to report any alligator sightings. "We have had a few swimming at this marina," the email reads, "and for every instance we have sent out a designated alligator trapper through LA Wildlife and Fisheries who has been successful in capturing them at both South Shore Harbor and Orleans Marina." Jeb Linscombe, Alligator Program manager at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, said the encounter occurred just west of the Municipal Yacht Harbor, in the Bucktown Harbor Marina. A diver was working on a wharf there when a 7-foot alligator "bumped him," he said. Unsettling as it may have been, Linscombe said, it wasn't an attack. We have very, very few attacks in the state of Louisiana," he said. "Theyre almost nonexistent. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Still, it doesn't take an attack for Wildlife and Fisheries to send out alligator trappers. New Orleans is surrounded by alligator habitat and it's not unusual to see them around, Linscombe said. But an alligator becomes a nuisance when it leaves its habitat and is encroaching on an urban environment, especially if the reptile in question has become accustomed to humans feeding it. If a land owner makes a complaint about such an alligator, Wildlife and Fisheries sends in licensed nuisance alligator hunters. There are about 50 nuisance trappers statewide, Linscombe said, who are allowed to trap and kill nuisance alligators year-round. While some smaller reptiles can be saved, anything longer than around 8 feet is killed and used for its meat and hide. We relocate smaller alligators to more remote locations where they're not a problem," Linscombe said, "but we dont want to relocate large animals because really youre not eliminating the problem, youre moving it. Trappers were already sent out to the Bucktown Harbor Marina to take care of this particular gator, Linscombe said, and have been sent to that area in the past. "This is not unusual," he said. On Wednesday, a trapper caught an alligator on the lawn of the Southern Yacht Club, which is just east of the Municipal Yacht Harbor. Qatar Executive, Qatar Airways private jet charter division, was in the spotlight during the opening day at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) 2022, exhibiting its ultra-modern Gulfstream G650ER aircraft. The flagship jet operated from London Luton Airport to Geneva, Switzerland using a high blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and is currently on display for spectators to tour and experience first-hand. Qatar Airways Group is committed to continuing to invest in the most technologically advanced aircraft, and is collaborating with the wider industry to support the deployment of new technology, drive innovation and encourage the use of recognised SAF at an affordable commercial scale towards a more sustainable air transport. EBACE is the annual meeting place for the European business aviation community and is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland between May 23-25.The exhibition brings together business leaders, government officials, manufacturers, flight department personnel, avionics firms, fractional providers, charter/lease companies and all manner of people involved in nearly every aspect of business aviation. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker, said: We are excited to once again be back at EBACE, Europes leading business aviation show, showcasing Qatar Executives most technologically advanced aircraft. Having flown the G650ER to Geneva using SAF, reflects Qatar Airways Groups commitment to working on its environmental sustainability goals. Al Baker added: Over the last year, Qatar Executive has witnessed exceptionally strong growth in response to increased demand from clients who require the very best, supported by the worlds most modern and efficient aircraft, and complemented by luxurious interior fittings and a world-leading service, both on the ground and in the air. Qatar Executive is the worlds largest owner-operator of the Gulfstream G650ER one of the most coveted jets due to its remarkable range capabilities, industry-leading cabin technology, fuel efficiency and unparalleled passenger comfort. The G650ER aircraft is the fastest ultra-long range business jet in the industry. The jet is renowned for its incredible 7,500 nautical mile range, industry-leading cabin technology and unparalleled passenger comfort. In November 2021, Qatar Executive took an aircraft delivery flight, using drop-in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), establishing another milestone for Qatar Airways Group and reaffirming its leadership to fly one of the most advanced fleets in the sky. As the global launch customer, Qatar Executive is excited for its planned deliveries of the brand-new Gulfstream G700 aircraft, which are capable of operating using 100 per cent SAF. In August 2021, the private jet charter division of Qatar Airways Group showcased the worlds first Gulfstream G700 in Doha, Qatar. Equipped with the all-new Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines and an advanced high-speed wing design, the G700 is able to fly at record-breaking speed and range with outstanding fuel efficiency, promoting sustainable business aviation. The G700 will be the latest addition to Qatar Executives state-of-the-art fleet of long-range and ultra-long-range aircraft. The executive charter service provider has ordered 10 of the worlds largest business jets and will take delivery of the very first aircraft off the Gulfstream assembly line in Georgia, US, in 2022. Qatar Executives fleet includes 12 Gulfstream G650ERs - with three additional jets planned for delivery in 2022, three Bombardier Global 5000s, one Bombardier Global XRS, one Airbus A319ACJ and another Airbus A319 Air Ambulance aircraft, making the current fleet 18 strong. TradeArabia News Service South Africa: Cabinet commends support to recent flood victims Cabinet has commended and expressed its gratitude to all people and organisations involved in recovery and rebuilding efforts following the recent devastating floods in some parts of the country, especially in KwaZulu-Natal. Briefing the media on the outcomes of Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, Minister in The Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said Cabinet thanked all non-governmental organisations, including faith-based organisations, communities, business people and relief organisations that have provided food, clothes, blankets, dignity packs and school uniforms to vulnerable families to meet their basic needs. Gungubele said the National Disaster Management Centre continues to coordinate all spheres of government in its efforts to provide humanitarian relief to all affected households. Sheltering services are being provided to over 7 000 people in the four worst affected districts in KwaZulu-Natal. Work has started on building temporary residences for affected families on state-owned land parcels that have been identified in KwaZulu-Natal for possible resettlement, Gungubele said. Gungubele also affirmed governments commitment to managing the flood relief funds prudently and transparently. The Auditor-General of South Africa is providing an additional monitoring service and the reprioritisation of funds is in line with the governments budgeting system. Take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 Turning to COVID-19, Gungubele urged all people in South Africa to take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus, following the latest statistics, which showed a marked increase in the rate of infections and illnesses associated with the winter season in the country. The National Department of Health confirmed 5 284 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 48 hours, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3 941 045. Cabinet reminded everyone to continue safeguarding ourselves and other people by washing or sanitising our hands regularly, wearing a mask when indoors, maintaining a safe social distance, opening windows for ventilation and vaccinating. Vaccination remains the best defence against COVID-19 as it prevents severe illness, hospitalisation and even death. You do not need a home address to vaccinate. Any person, with or without an identity document, can get vaccinated for free at all public vaccination sites across the country, the Minister said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-05-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China's cross-border e-commerce dazzles overseas markets 14:01, May 26, 2022 By Ye Ting, Ding Le, Huo Siying ( Xinhua GUANGZHOU, May 26 (Xinhua) -- As one of the fast-growing forms of foreign-trade business, cross-border e-commerce has surged popularity in south China's Guangdong Province and has great potential to boost economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The ubiquitous adoption of mobile technology and online shopping among overseas consumers has facilitated the boom in the live-streaming market, providing a valuable platform for the export of various Chinese products and services in innovative ways. LIVE-STREAMING PROMOTIONS Every evening from Monday to Saturday, Dora He is busy with her live-streaming promotion activities. In the space of less than five square meters, she models herself and tries on dozens of women's outfits for the overseas consumers to choose from. Among He's online viewers is Nancy, a housewife in Britain. She purchased a dress through the platform with a simple tap on her phone screen. The dress, worth less than 10 British pounds, arrived at her home in less than two weeks. At the start of 2021, the video-sharing site TikTok began testing its international e-commerce business in Britain. Many Chinese merchants grabbed the chance and poured into the platform, which allows them to provide instant online shopping services. "Once, over 300 people attended my broadcasting room simultaneously," said Dora He, noting that she only sells trendy clothing, with a price of about 10 pounds. Her target customers are mainly housewives and students aged between 20 and 35, and she can sell up to 30 dresses a night. She works for the Yuezitou eCommerce (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., which provides training courses related to cross-border e-commerce, and also acts as a live-streaming agency for many brands. The company's director, Zhu Dengling, said the complete and highly developed supply-chain system in China's Pearl River Delta provides e-commerce enterprises with great confidence. "The local factories can satisfy the need for multiple products very quickly," said Zhu, an experienced entrepreneur who has made forays into various online platforms, including Amazon and TikTok, since 2005. "In recent years, small enterprises have been able to grab the opportunity to make a fortune," Zhu said, adding that "the live-streaming e-commerce of TikTok is growing phenomenally, benefiting from China's mature supply chain and e-commerce operating systems." SHORT-VIDEO CREATION The Ragdoll cat, owned by Puff Media, has gained over 27 million fans on TikTok within two years, thanks to the funny video clips in which it has been dressed up as different characters, such as a cook, scientist and assessor. Zhang Mingchi, founder of Puff Media, said that part of the secret to attracting the audience was updating the short videos very often with fresh watchable content and various forms of expression. Zhang positioned his company as an integrated service provider. Besides cross-border e-commerce, the company businesses also cover brand planning and new-media operation. "An increasing number of Chinese brands plan to enter the overseas market, but they lack visible channels and localized operations," said Zhang. Most Chinese brands have been embraced in the markets in Europe and America, according to Zhang, while demand is also growing in Southeast Asia. "We hope to help Chinese enterprises reach the different target markets." The company's services have expanded to clothing, furniture and cosmetics, pet products and musical instruments. With four operation centers in Guangzhou, New York, San Francisco and Milan, it has attracted plenty of international talent in media and marketing. As TikTok expands e-commerce businesses in more countries, such as Britain, Indonesia and Malaysia, Zhang expects to cooperate with more brands based on the company's hundreds of TikTok accounts to facilitate their entry into overseas markets. PRECISE MARKET POSITIONING Hair-clippers, beard-shavers, nose hair-trimmers -- a variety of hair-care appliances from the SUPRENT brand are available on its official website and the e-commerce platform Amazon. By selling electric trimmers, SUPRENT's overseas turnover exceeded 100 million yuan (about 14.8 million U.S. dollars) in 2020, covering 5 million users in more than 15 countries and regions. Its parent company 8-Oranges started six years ago and covered a wide range of personal-care appliances, including hair straighteners, hairdryers to hair clippers. Later on, Steve Loo, the company's founder, decided to streamline the product lines and focused on the electric trimmers, which he thought might have greater potential and competitiveness. With new-media marketing taking the lead, the company seized the opportunity. They interacted positively with online celebrities and hairdressers for evaluations and feedback, and shared the trendy hairstyles and beard styles to enhance brand exposure and public attention. As an increasing number of people choose to cut their own hair amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Loo is confident that the company's revenue will grow by more than 10 percent this year. It also has plans to establish bricks-and-mortar stores overseas in the future. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Panaji, May 25 (UNI) Bart de Jong, Consul General of the Netherlands in Mumbai, met CII Goa members on Wednesday and interacted on pertinent matters in sectors related to Logistics, E-mobility, Maritime, Tourism and Water. He discussed and exchanged ideas on exploring the potential areas of cooperation and stated that the Netherlands sees numerous opportunities to cooperate in the state of Goa and that he was keen to link such possibilities through their on-going efforts in different sectors, under its economic diplomacy that is mainly associated with increasing the bilateral engagement through trade and investment related work, a statement from CII Goa said. Mr Bart de Jong was briefed about the various CII Goa initiatives related to Development of the Logistics sector into a Multi-modal Hub with advanced warehousing facilities and infrastructure, Nautical Tourism for attracting high end Tourism into the state, the concept of Work from Goa and enhancing the start-ups eco-system in the state. The Consul General expressed his support in further engaging through an annual bilateral forum on ports and maritime affairs to be organised later this year. UNI AKM GNK More evidence of the Motorola Razr 3 has surfaced online. Bearing a design resembling the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3, the Razr 3 will look quite different from the existing Razr 5G. The Razr 3 is expected to arrive in late summer with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipsets. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 3D Printing , 5G , Accessory , AI , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Benchmark , Biotech , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , DIY , E-Mobility , Education , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel , Intel Evo , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Leaks / Rumors , Linux / Unix , List , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Raptor Lake , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Single-Board Computer (SBC) , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Wi-Fi 7 , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) , Zen 4 Ticker Evan Blass has shared more information about 'Maven', a foldable smartphone that Motorola is expected to release as the Razr 3. Previously, the leaker published two hands-on photos of Maven, highlighting design similarities with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3. Additionally, Blass reported that the Razr 3 would be available with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipsets, to which Motorola has hinted on Chinese social media. Subsequently, Ross Young claimed that the Razr 3 will have a 6.7-inch interior display that Blass expects will operate at 1080p. Now, Blass has published a short video of the Razr 3, embedded below. Seemingly, the Razr 3 has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner that sits beneath two volume buttons. Incidentally, Blass notes that Motorola has reduced the visibility of the display crease from the Razr 5G to the Razr 3, although we would recommend waiting until retail units arrive before passing judgement. New Delhi, May 26 (UNI) A CBI court in Delhi will pronounce its order on Friday on quantum of punishment against former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala in disproportionate assets case. Chautala has served as the Chief Minister of Haryana four times from July 24, 1999 to March 5, 2005 and from March 22, 1991 to April 6, 1991 and from July 12, 1990, to July 17, 1990 and from December 2, 1989, to May 22, 1990. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed a chargesheet against Chautala on March 26, 2010 by submitting that between 1993 and 2006, Chautala had amassed assets worth over Rs 6.09 crore far exceeding his known sources of income. The Republican primary for a soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat representing Pennsylvania is headed to a recount, officials announced on May 25. The 902-vote difference between Dr. Mehmet Oz and businessman David McCormick is within the one-half of 1 percent margin that triggers a mandatory recount under state law, Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman said during a briefing. Mr. McCormick has not waived his right to a recount. So, as acting secretary of state, Im required by the election code to order all county boards of elections to conduct a recount of the race, she said. McCormick had said in a statement that the narrow difference between himself and Oz would trigger a recount. We look forward to a swift resolution so our party can unite to defeat socialist John Fetterman in the fall, he added, referring to the Pennsylvania lieutenant governor who won the Democrat primary. Casey Contres, a campaign manager, said earlier that it is becoming obvious that Oz would prevail. The unofficial count, following returns from all 67 counties, had Oz with 419,365 votes, or 31.2 percent, and McCormick with 418,463 votes, or 31.1 percent. Author Kathy Barnette was third with about 25 percent. Each county can start recounting votes on May 27. They must start by June 2 and finish by noon on June 7. Chapman also ordered all counties to separate and tabulate ballots without dates and with incorrect dates. Our position is that undated and incorrectly dated ballots should count, she said, pointing to a federal appeals court decision that federal law requires Lehigh County to count 257 mail-in ballots that were not counted in the 2021 election because no dates were written on the return envelopes. To be clear, our guidance will enable counties to arrive at an accurate count no matter what the courts decide. With 65 counties reporting, the undated ballot count was 860 from Republican voters and 4,190 from Democrat voters. There are about 4,000 absentee ballots that have not yet been counted, in addition to around 6,000 provisional ones. The announcement came a few days after McCormick filed a lawsuit to try to make sure all mail-in ballots lacking a date are counted. No judgement has yet been rendered. Once the recount is over, the winner will face off with Fetterman for the seat being vacated by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who is retiring after his current term in office. Every Senate seat is critical because the makeup of the upper chamber is currently 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats or nominal independents. Because Democrats hold the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris, as president of the chamber, can cast tiebreaking votes. Out of 34 seats up for election, the majority are held by Republicans. From The Epoch Times An earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck the Tirapata region of southern Peru on Thursday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. The quake was at a depth of 212 kilometers (132 miles), USGS said. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System said there was no tsunami warning in place. There were no early reports of damage or casualties. Earlier, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) pegged the quake at magnitude 7. The information we have so far is that there is no damage, Hernando Tavera, executive president of the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP), told local radio station RPP. From the level of intensity on the surface, there should be no damage. According to local media reports, the quake was also felt in the southern regions of Arequipa, Cusco, and Tacna, where residents took to the streets for safety. Some important mines in Peru, the worlds second largest copper producer, are located in the south of the country. Minsurs San Rafael zinc mine operates in the Puno region. Representatives of the firm were not available for comment on the quake. Peru is located in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where approximately 85 percent of the worlds seismic activity occurs. This work allows communities and community-based organizations to know that people do recover to the point where they are in healthy situations and are productive members of society. This work allows communities and community-based organizations to know that people do recover to the point where they are in healthy situations and are productive members of society. Dr. Roberson very clearly recalls the day more than 20 years ago when she witnessed a keynote speaker openly talk about their recovery. It was this huge national conference on Michigan Avenue, and everyones in the room, and this woman gets on stage and says Hi, my name is Susie and I am a person in long-term recovery, and what that means is I have been substance free for the past 15 years says Roberson. And I'm sitting at the table with another colleague who I know is in recovery and we looked at each other, and say did you hear what she just said? She just admitted in front of all these people that she's in recovery. That was a game changer for me. In the decade preceding that conference, Dr. Roberson kept private her own recovery journey. Throughout my professional career, for the better part of 29 years, I wouldn't talk about my personal recovery, because of the stigma, and because I was doing this work in social services and behavioral health, says Dr. Roberson, who will be celebrating 30 years of recovery in July. The reality is that talking about it has given me a fulfillment that I never thought possible. Dr. Roberson was born and raised in Chicago and today lives in Beach Park with her husband Jeff Roberson. She migrated to Lake County to distance herself from the social ills that entrapped her in West Garfield Park in the 1970s and 80s, and to utilize some of her U.S. Veterans benefits. Roberson served in the Navy, enlisting on September 3, 1973, and remains part of the Lake County Veterans and Family Services Foundation. Franciscan Health invites the public to take part in an upcoming blood drive and car seat clinic. A Versiti blood drive will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 9 at Franciscan Health Munster, 701 Superior Ave. Life-saving donations of blood will be collected by Versiti Blood Center, which is the primary blood provide to more than 70 hospitals in Indiana and Illinois, including Franciscan Health hospitals. Donors should bring photo identification, eat a healthy meal for donating and hydrate with plenty of water. Walk-ins are allowed by social appointments are encouraged by visiting versiti.org/IL or by calling 1-800-786-4483. Marks are required. Franciscan Health and Geminus Regional Health Systems also will host a free car safety clinic at the Home Street campus at 301 W. Homer Street in Michigan City. It will take place from 2 to 6 pm Tuesday, May 31. It's open by appointment-only to Indiana residents only. Certified technicians will install free car seats while supplies last. Parents or caregivers have to bring their children so the technician can assess how the kid fits into the current car seat and make adjustments to a new one. "The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration recommends that whether youve just installed a car seat or need help installing or using one, you get help at a car seat inspection station near you," Franciscan Health said in a press release. "Children should remain rear-facing as long as possible. Children under age 2 should always ride rear-facing and should remain rear-facing until they reach the top weight and height allowed by the seat manufacturer. Children between 4 and 7 should be in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether. Once the child outgrows the forward-facing seat, its time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat. Children 8 to 12 should remain in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit in a seat belt properly." For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 800-931-3322. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Region native hopes to save lives with his street art. Sean Rooney, who now lives in Chicago, creates graffiti pieces with a message. "Primarily I do mental health pieces," he said. "I write RUOK (are you okay?). It's a thing I do primarily to get people to have that question asked. Sometimes hearing that is enough. Other times you need more. I try to put a phone number with the piece. That way if somebody sees it, they can call a mental health hotline or a mental health service." Rooney recently painted a piece at Gary's Union Station and was looking to do another at an abandoned elementary school in the city. "I lost a friend," he said. "I started to paint at the time. I couldn't think of what I wanted to paint. If it helps one person, it's enough. I hope people don't have to go through what he went through. It's a fact of my life. It's the fact of the matter. There's not much I can do about it other than try to carry on his legacy." He describes his work as throwies or tag-like drawings designed to be quickly slapped up. He's done about a half dozen across Chicagoland, including a few in the city, over the past year. "Painting RUOK is a great thing I think," he said. "It's a way to help keep his legacy going. I'm trying to paint more and more and get it all out there. I primarily write for people who are struggling through it. I personally deal with mental health struggles. It's a real part of my life." On his piece at Union Station in downtown Gary, he included the number to Edgewater Health. He looks up the number of a local mental health hotline wherever he's invited to put up a piece. "I hope if people or their family members see it, it makes them feel better," he said. "It's a hope I can give someone a moment to feel welcome and have a phone number they can call." He was inspired by the Australian RUOK mental health movement, which he learned about from a friend's hippie rock band. "It's a pretty heavy reason I started painting," he said. "I want to get that out there. It is important. I want to become a better artist and grow beyond my current skill level to take this further and further. It's important to me. It's something I care about. It's something I want to keep doing." He's looking to hone his skills so he can paint bigger and better murals. "I just want to keep painting and doing the art and learning painting," he said. "I'd be honored to get better, learn more and paint big legal pieces. I'd like to put down beautiful pieces. The only way you get better is if you do it. I'd like to get good enough, develop my skills and continue learning." He hopes to make a difference in people's lives when they struggle with mental health. There's a mental health crisis in the nation now, he said. "I hope people see it when they need it," he said. "People are alone. They've been alone. It's hard. They feel alienated. But you're not alone. Remember that you're loved. You're not alone. It's important to know that it would hurt more if you leave than stay around." He remains motivated by the loss of his friend. "I knew him as long as I could remember," he said. "I hosted a birthday party for him. I grew up around him and his twin brother. Then one day he wasn't around and I was at his wake. He was a very bubbly guy. He was a great guy. It's a part of my life. It's who I am. He was a great dude. I wish I could have another conversation with him but here we are." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. New Delhi, May 26 (UNI) In an unusual display of disappointment, former Union Health Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) from Bharatiya Janata Dr Harsh Vardhan left the oath-taking ceremony of new Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena high and dry after he could not find a seat reserved for himself. The disgruntled MP even expressed his resentment with the reporters while walking out of the Rajbhawan where the ceremony was organised. "Not a single seat has been reserved for the parliament members," he told the reporters in a miffed tone. CALUMET CITY Students at Carol Moseley Braun Elementary School and the attached middle school were evacuated for a little more than an hour Thursday morning after a bomb threat was called in, according to Jay Cunneen, spokesman for Dolton School District 149. The robocall came in around 9 a.m., and after a police sweep of the buildings determined there was no threat, the 1,000 students were returned to the classroom by about 10:15 a.m., he said. "In today's environment, we are always proactive," Cunneen said. "We were fine," he said. "Thank goodness it was a nice day." 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. Local school officials and area politicians expressed shock, offered condolences and took action within the Region after the shooting Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. An 18-year-old opened fire at the school, killing at least 19 children and two teachers and wounding about 16 others. Earlier Tuesday, the alleged gunman shot and wounded his grandmother. It was the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 in Connecticut. "As a mother and an educator, the tragedy that struck a small Texas community yesterday shook me to the core," Gary Community School Corp. Manager Paige McNulty said in a prepared statement. "The senseless killing of innocent children and their teachers leaves us all asking 'why' and their families picking up the pieces to a life that will never be the same. On behalf of the Gary Community School Corp. family, we extend our heartfelt sympathy and prayers to all those impacted by this horrific occurrence." Gary had grief counselors on site Wednesday for students and staff in need of counseling. Portage Superintendent Amanda Alaniz released a statement to families and colleagues asking them to keep the families and staff of Robb Elementary School in their thoughts and prayers. She went on to emphasize Portage Township Schools' safety measures in each building, which are reviewed annually and evaluated at the state level. Portage Township Schools is collaborating with the Portage Police Department and Porter County Sheriff's Office to provide additional patrols throughout the city, township and schools this week. Merrillville Superintendent Nick Brown said on Twitter the news had shattered his heart. "This is a tragedy for that community and my thoughts and prayers go out to all of them. Please hug your children tonight and pray this never happens again," Brown said. The School City of Hobart provided resources for children and parents to use in distress, recommending "Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers." "Our hearts are broken and filled with love for the people of this school community," the school city said on Twitter. In addition, state Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, is urging Indiana Statehouse colleagues to reconsider the "permitless carry" law going into effect July 1. Smith is the ranking Democratic member on the Indiana House of Representatives education committee. With the permitless carry law, House Enrolled Act 1296, in place, a person 18 years and older who has successfully purchased a handgun will not need any additional steps to get a license before carrying. The permitless carry law signed into effect by Gov. (Eric) Holcomb is opening a dangerous floodgate for many 18-year-olds who may not be conscious of the responsibility of owning a gun," Smith said in a news release. "Science tells us that human brain development is not finished at 18 years of age, and when combined with access to firearms, that could lead to situations that our country has seen so many times before, like in Uvalde, Parkland, Sandy Hook, and countless other mass murders. Smith asked the legislature to reverse the "harmful legislation before it is too late." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. HAMMOND A federal judge sentenced a Gary man to 19 1/2 years in prison for the armed robbery of a bank two years ago. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio imposed that sentence Wednesday on 43-year-old Omarr R. Williams. Williams pleaded guilty Nov. 17 to taking money at gunpoint Oct. 8, 2019, from a teller of the First Financial Bank branch at 2705 169th St., Hammond. A federal grand jury indicted Williams and his co-defendant, Anthony Day, 24 hours after their capture. The government alleges Williams and Day walked into the bank branch. Williams was wearing sunglasses, a dreadlocks wig, a Golden State Warriors hat and a blue windbreaker. He pointed a gun at the teller and said, Open the drawers and give me everything inside, and if you activate the panic alarm, Ill shoot you. They fled with $4,804 in a car that Hammond and Lake County police were able to follow through a tracking device planted in the money to a wooded area in the 500 block of Burr Street in Gary. Police said they arrested Day as he walked out of the woods and later Williams, six blocks away, in possession of a loaded gun and $1,597 in cash. Officers say they found the defendants getaway car abandoned nearby as well as their disguises. Government investigators allege they found Williams DNA on a Taurus handgun and clothing seen during the bank robbery. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin Padula stated in a memorandum she wrote earlier to the court that Williams is a career offender, chronic alcohol and drug abuser and danger to his community. He has 23 arrests dating back to his teenage years. His offenses include 10 convictions for drug-related crimes and two for violent crimes. Padula said Williams was convicted for severely beating a pregnant woman with a metal pipe, fracturing her skull. Williams committed the 2019 bank robbery while free on probation from a 2016-armed robbery of a Family Dollar store at 61 E. Ridge Road, Gary. In 2016, Williams and another Gary man entered that store wearing ski masks. One hit an employee with a gun before fleeing with a bag of cash and some cigarettes. Mark Psimos, Williams defense attorney, argued in a memo to the court that Williams has a history of mental health issues, including depression and bipolar disorder. State court officials are seeking his return to Lake Criminal Court in Crown Point to answer for his probation violation. A federal court magistrate ordered a psychiatric exam of Williams after his 2019 arrest for mental health issues because of disruptive behavior during his court hearings and seemingly irrational letters to the court. Psimos said lately Williams has stopped acting out and has been respectful in court. Antony Day is maintaining his plea of not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial later this fall. 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. GARY After a young man was found dead, police are seeking the public's help in identifying him. At 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, a deceased man was found in an abandoned house in the 1200 block of East 35th Place in Gary, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said. The Lake County/Gary Metro Homicide Unit and the Lake County coroner's office are currently investigating, and the man's cause of death has not yet been determined. He is described as a white man who is about 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 204 pounds. Authorities believe he was in his 20s. Anyone with information is asked to call the Lake County Metro Homicide Unit at 219-755-3855 or the Lake County Sheriffs Department Report-A-Crime Hotline at 1-800-750-2746. 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. A Gary man convicted last year of attempted murder and criminal recklessness after shooting a woman four times in her Gary home, and then shooting at other people inside the home, received a fair trial, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled. William D. Galloway Jr., 29, was sentenced to 57 years in prison in connection with the shootings on Sept. 18, 2019, at the home in the 2500 block of Pierce Street. According to court records, the woman spent nearly a week in the hospital following the shooting and later required additional surgery to remove a bullet that had lodged in her leg. Nevertheless, records show the woman and her son, Sean Baker, successfully identified Galloway as the shooter in a police photo array, and Baker provided a statement to police describing how Galloway, an acquaintance, escalated his late night request for gas money and a phone call into a violent altercation. Baker, 23, later was shot and killed in Gary. No charges have been filed in his homicide. In his appeal, Galloway argued the trial court erred by allowing a detective to recount for the jury Baker's statements to police about the shooting and Baker's identification of Galloway as the shooter. Galloway claimed he was denied his right under both the U.S. and Indiana constitutions to confront his accuser because Baker himself did not take the stand, according to court records. The trial court noted there is an exception to the confrontation clause, known as forfeiture by wrongdoing, that applies when a defendant is responsible for a witness's absence at trial. In this case, the court said a police investigation that found multiple individuals who identified Galloway as Baker's killer, and Galloway's purported confessions to fellow jail inmates that he killed Baker, showed by a preponderance of the evidence that Galloway caused Baker's inability to testify. The Court of Appeals agreed. It said a 3-0 ruling that its independent review of the facts and circumstances linking Galloway to Baker's death found sufficient evidence to believe Galloway acted to prevent Baker from testifying against him, and Baker's testimony therefore was admissible at trial. "Simply put, when a defendant performs an act that is designed to prevent a witness from testifying, he or she may not reap the benefits of that wrongdoing. To hold otherwise would certainly erode the effectiveness of the judicial process," the appeals court said. Galloway still can ask the Indiana Supreme Court to review his case. Otherwise, his earliest possible release date from prison is Feb. 25, 2061, according to the Indiana Department of Correction. Separately, Galloway is due to be tried in Lake County in October on murder and attempted murder charges for a shooting that killed Jonquell Golida, 23, and wounded a second man Nov. 12, 2016, in Gary's Glen Park section. According to court records, Galloway was on pretrial release and electronic monitoring in that case when he committed the Pierce Street shooting. 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. MERRILLVILLE A Glenwood man was wanted Thursday on charges he stabbed a co-worker in the face and chest Monday afternoon at Methodist Hospitals Southlake Campus and fled before police arrived. Diandre C. Smith, 25, who worked in the hospital's kitchen, is accused of attacking a custodial employee while the employee was in a locker room with his back toward a door. The wounded man told police he "felt something slash his face, and when he turned around he saw the man holding a black folding knife with a 4-inch blade," Lake Criminal Court records state. Smith stabbed the man again, and the man shoved Smith away and grabbed a chair to fend off Smith, court records state. No one was immediately available Thursday at the hospital for comment. The man made his way to the cafeteria, where he told another employee he'd been stabbed by a man from food services, according to court documents. A police officer working security at the hospital was heading to the cafeteria when he noticed a man he later identified as Smith leaving the hospital in a hurry, records state. The officer continued on to the cafeteria, where he found the victim seated in a chair with a puddle of blood under him and a woman applying pressure to his wounds. The man suffered two stab wounds to the left side of his stomach or chest area and one under his left eye. He was transferred to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where doctors discovered the wounds resulted in a pierced liver, cracked ribs and a punctured artery. The man told police he recognized Smith, whom he knew to be a kitchen worker, from passing at work but didn't know his name. The man didn't know why Smith would stab him, records state. He gave police a description of his attacker, which helped officers and hospital staff identify Smith. When presented with a photo of Smith, the man identified him as the suspect, court records state. The officer who saw Smith leaving the hospital told investigators he'd noticed Smith a couple of hours before the stabbing acting strangely in a bathroom. Smith was urinating in a stall with an open door and repeatedly grabbing toilet paper. The officer thought it was weird because a man doesn't normally need to grab toilet paper "while performing that function," records state. Smith was charged Wednesday with aggravated battery, battery by means of a deadly weapon and battery resulting in serious bodily injury. The victim was in stable condition Thursday morning, Merrillville police said. A magistrate sent Smith's bond at $50,000 surety or $5,000 cash. Anyone with information about Smith's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or Detective Alexander Van Rite at 219-769-3531, ext. 349, or email avanrite@merrillville.in.gov. Times Staff Writer Bob Kasarda contributed to reporting. Times staff writer Bob Kasarda contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Sarah Reese Lake County Courts and Social Justice Reporter Sarah covers crime, courts and public safety. She began her career at The Times in 2004. Contact her at sarah.reese@nwi.com or 219-933-3351. Follow Sarah Reese 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 ST. JOHN St. John Police Chief Steven Flores is calling on his peers in law enforcement across the Region to set aside other goals in favor of better addressing the issue of mental health, which he feels is playing a key role in mass shootings such as Tuesday's incident that left 21 dead at a Texas elementary school. "I, quite frankly, am very tired of seeing these same tragic and possibly preventable stories making the news over and over again and I am sure all of you feel the same, but we get nothing but political lip service in the aftermath," Flores said in an email he sent to area police chiefs, sheriffs and state and federal elected officials. "With that being said, the mental health crisis in this country is out of control," he said. "I feel as law enforcement leaders, we are obligated and need to continue to do what we can to address it." Flores said that "red flags" are typically discovered in the wake of mass shootings that if noticed ahead of time, might have prevented the violence. "I feel we need to fight for additional funding that will assist us with combating the mental health crisis and funding for additional technological resources that specifically seek out these perpetrators before they strike." Democrats in Washington are responding to the Texas school massacre by reviving efforts for background checks for gun buyers while acknowledging Congress' rejection of such efforts in the past to curb the national epidemic of gun violence. "If the slaughter of schoolchildren can't convince Republicans to buck the NRA (National Rifle Association), what can we do?" Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday. Authorities say the 18-year-old gunman in Tuesday's Texas school shooting had no known criminal or mental health history. In deciding to release his email publicly, Flores said, "Our residents here in Northwest Indiana and across the entire State of Indiana need to know that their law enforcement leaders are not taking this lightly. We need to be upfront by letting them know that we are doing everything we possibly can to prevent another horrific event such as the incident in [Ulvalde, Texas,] from happening again." "I have instructed two of my officers who have the experience and education in mental health to begin to come up with a plan that partners law enforcement and mental health professionals to work together to make meaningful change," he said. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DOLTON An officer-involved shooting in Dolton resulted in one person being transported to a hospital early Saturday, police said. At 1:08 a.m. Thursday two Dolton officers were in the area of a BP gas station at 667 East Sibley Boulevard, Dolton Chief of Police Robert Collins said. The officers saw two men in an argument by one of the gas pumps. When one of the officers saw a handgun with an extended magazine protruding from his waistband, he reported the situation to dispatchers. The officer then ordered the 54-year-old man with the firearm to show his hands, but he refused and started to run away from the officer. The officer repeatedly ordered the man to show his hands as the man ran across Sibley Boulevard into the backyard of a residence at 680 East Sibley Boulevard. As he entered the yard, the officers said the man appeared to be removing the gun from his waistband, and the officer fired his weapon, Collins said. The man continued to run away and went inside the house through the back door. Police surrounded the residence and issued commands to the man using a sound amplifier, telling him to come out of the house. A short time later, the man exited the house and surrendered and it was discovered he had a gunshot wound in his right side. The man was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening. He remains in good condition in medical care and under guard. Officers searched the home, which the man resides at, and found his loaded handgun with the extended magazine behind the door, police said. It was discovered the gun had been reported as stolen. Dolton Police Department immediately requested assistance from the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force and ISP Crime Scene Services for the investigation into the shooting. No officers were injured in the incident, and the officer involved was placed on administrative leave temporarily during the investigation. ISP said the investigation is ongoing, and no additional information will be released at this time. The man's identity has not been released pending official charges. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CROWN POINT The state's star witness in a triple murder trial testified Wednesday the defendant told him during two recorded phone calls in 1998 they would spend the rest of their lives in prison or possibly "fry" in the electric chair if the witness talked to police. David L. Copley Jr., 47, of Franklin, Indiana, looked down as he sat on the stand and listened to the two phone calls he made to a person he testified was James Higgason III. Higgason, 52, of Whiting, has pleaded not guilty to six counts of murder in the bludgeoning deaths of Jerod "Buddy" Hodge, 18, of Chicago; Elva Tamez, 36, of Hammond; and Timothy W. "Midnight" Ross, 16, of Calumet City, on Jan. 18, 1998, inside a home in the 4600 block of Torrence Avenue in Hammond. Copley, who pleaded guilty last fall to one count of murder linked to Hodge's death, told Lake County Deputy Prosecutors Jovanni Miramontes and Keith Anderson he was testifying "because it's the right thing to do." Defense attorneys Matthew Fech and Mark Gruenhagen moved for a mistrial because Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez said the recorded calls were between Copley and Higgason. After a long talk with the attorneys at the bench, Vasquez told the jury he misspoke and Copley testified the calls were between Copley and a person Copley identified as Higgason. After the jury left the courtroom, Fech said the judge "sort of emphasized" the calls were between Copley and Higgason. "It is very difficult to unring that bell," he said. "Now they have it in their mind." Vasquez denied the defense's request for a mistrial. "You brought it to my attention. I told the jury I misspoke," Vasquez said. "By giving an admonishment, there is an assumption they will follow the court's instructions." Copley was in a rehab program at The Salvation Army in South Bend in May 1998 when he spoke to Hammond police Detective Lt. Thomas Fielden about the triple homicide and allowed the detective to record the phone calls, he said. "I think we should just turn ourselves in together," Copley said. The man replied, "We're going to spend the rest of our lives in prison and maybe even get the electric chair." Copley testified he knew Higgason had two children. The man Copley called said he had "two beautiful children" and a job. Copley told the man during the call he'd been talking to a pastor and told him "everything about what we did together." The man said, "Dude, we're looking at life. Really. We got alibis. "I know we (expletive) up," the man said. "But I don't remember doing it. You understand what I'm saying?" The man repeatedly asks Copley not to talk to police and warns him they could get beat up or raped in prison. The man said, "The only way to get out of this is to get away with it." Copley said, "I don't want to go to the chair for what you did. That was sick." The man said, "Dave, you did it. You did it. Why you want to blame it on me?" Copley said he was having flashbacks of the killings when he went to sleep. He asked the man if it was bothering him. The man said he hadn't been sleeping well at night, but police were trying to play them off each other. "They're trying to peg three of them on us," he said. "So you're talking 75 years." The possible penalty for a person convicted of murder in 1998 was 45 to 65 years, but the law required only 50% of the sentence to be served with good time. The man offered to pay for an attorney for Copley but said he needed to know if Copley was going to talk to police. The man said the story he told his attorney would depend on Copley. "I ain't never did you wrong and, dude, I'm still with you," he said. "You're here trying to back out on me." Copley said, "My whole life is (expletive) because of you." The man replied, "You're saying it was because of me?" Copley said, "My life is (expletive) because you killed those people." The man said, "It was your idea." Copley replied, "Yeah, right." The man said, "Dave, forget about it. We got to, or we're both gonna live the rest of our lives in hell." Copley testified he and Higgason went to Tamez's home on Torrence Avenue three times Jan. 18, 1998, to buy crack cocaine. The first two times, Higgason bought the drugs and he drove Higgason's van around Hammond while they got high. They got a flat tire, so they walked to the house the third time and Higgason went inside but didn't get any drugs, he said. They took Tamez's van to Higgason's girlfriend's home, where Higgason picked up a shotgun, he said. Copley testified they went back to Tamez's house, and a man came out and took the shotgun. They all went inside the house, where Higgason got more crack in trade for the gun, he said. Higgason spent some time with Tamez in a bedroom or bathroom while Copley got high, he said. When Higgason and Tamez came out, Higgason sent Tamez outside to look for cigarette butts and locked the front door, Copley said. "He tells me, 'We're gonna whack these guys,'" Copley said. "I tried to talk him out of it. I was kind of scared." Two men identified by other witnesses at Hodge and Ross had fallen asleep in the living room, and Higgason wanted to rob them of money and drugs, Copley said. "He hands me a board. He has a closet pole or something," Copley said. "He whacks one. I whack the other." Copley said he dropped the board and ran to a back door, but he couldn't get it open so he ran back to the front door. As he passed through the living room, he heard Higgason saying, "Die, (expletive), die," he said. Copley said Higgason stopped hitting the men and told him to open the door for Tamez, who entered and asked Copley where he was going. "I told her I was getting sick," he said. "She says, 'Jimmy, you're bleeding.'" Higgason began hitting Tamez and shut the front door, and Copley fled down an alley, he said. Higgason caught up with him, took off a bloody sweater and sweatpants and threw them in the garbage, he said. Higgason was wearing multiple layers, so he was still wearing a sweater, sweatpants and orange hat as they walked, Copley said. Higgason picked up snow to wipe blood off his hands and face and told Copley, "Loose lips sink ships," he said. Larry Shelton, who worked for the Hammond Sanitary District at the time, testified he saw two men, one taller with an orange hat and one shorter with a dark hoodie, walking near the Johnson Street pumping station about 7 a.m. He thought it was odd that the taller man in the hat was wearing only a muscle T-shirt, despite the cold weather, he said. When he saw them walking a second time, he called police to report the suspicious men, he said. Copley said he and Higgason walked from the house on Torrence to Higgason's van to retrieve Higgason's dog, then continued on to Higgason's grandmother's house in Hammond. 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. GARY The Gary YWCA could receive $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. YWCA Executive Director Caren Jones first went before the Gary Common Council at the start of April. Jones explained that during the pandemic, many Y services and programs were shut down, and several staff members were laid off or furloughed. She asked that some of the $80.3 million the city received in ARPA funding go toward the YWCA. During the April meeting, several council members said they supported the Y's request, but an exact appropriation was not determined. On Tuesday, the Gary Ways and Means Committee discussed an ordinance that would award the Y $1.5 million. Jones said the money would go toward some much-needed renovations as "everything in the building is 22-years-old." Councilwoman Tai Adkins, who represents District 4, where the Y is located, said the Gary YWCA has been "a staple" in the community since it was created in 1920. Adkins, who also chairs the Ways and Means Committee, noted that the Y has one of the city's only operational pools. During the COVID pandemic, I believe they did take a substantial hit but still continued to push through and be an avenue of support for the citizens of the city of Gary, Adkins said. The YWCA's long list of needed improvements includes modernizing the pool, installing a new roof, repainting the gym, renovating the day care and after school centers and getting new LED lights for the entire building. The YWCA also has substantial personnel costs as the organization hosts a summer camp, an after-school program and swim lessons, Jones explained. We want to continue to offer the citizens of Gary the very best services that we can," Jones said. Current ARPA allocations include premium pay, investments in broadband infrastructure and youth training programs. A public hearing the for YWCA appropriation will likely be held during the June 21 council meeting, said Gary Director of Community Development Arlene Colvin. Councilmembers Adkins, Cozey Weatherspoon, D-2, Ronald Brewer, D-at-large, and Mary Brown, D-3, all said they would support the ordinance. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. New Delhi, May 26 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded the Tamil language and culture saying "Tamil language is eternal, Tamil culture global and the government is fully committed to popularising the language." He was speaking in Chennai at an official program in which he inaugurated 11 projects worth over Rs 31,500 crore in the state of Tamil Nadu. Modi's comments lauding the Tamil language came after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, sharing stage with the Prime Minister, made a pitch for Tamil in the program and asked the Prime Minister to make it an official language in offices of the government of India and at the Madras high court. ST. JOHN More than 800 students were asked to rewrite narratives of the future at Lake Central's 2022 commencement Wednesday night. Graduate Kyle Kennedy led a student address during which he said that the graduates' time at Lake Central High School has been the foundation to let them lead successful lives in the future. "Never let anyone say you are finished constructing. Continue to renovate your house as you lead your future. Class of 2022, never let anyone tell you you are aiming too high because there will be times when people will try to stop you from achieving your full potential, but never let anyone bring doubt to your success by geographic location, your sexual orientation and certainly not by the color of your skin," Kennedy said, interrupted by applause from the audience. In total, there were 839 graduates in the Class of 2022. Of those graduates, 574 plan to continue on to a post-secondary institution to continue their education. Several are also planning to serve in the United States military. The ceremony began with a moment of silence for those who were not able to attend, as well as those who lost their lives in the Texas school shooting Tuesday. Principal Erin Novak welcomed graduates to the ceremony, emphasizing the unconventional high school experience they had. Students were only given half of a sophomore year, as well as junior years that were partially or fully virtual. "Know that you have gained the strength, and in turn power, to push through tough times and find better days ahead," Novak said. As the ceremony was inside due to rain, Novak emphasized how rain brings good luck and renewal for the graduates' futures. Kimberly Hestermann, senior class president, and Elizabeth Solia, senior class vice president, provided remarks regarding the class motto and presented the class gift. The Class of 2022 motto was "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can," from Arthur Ashe. The class gift went to groups within Lake Central, such as the Class of 2025 and the incoming Class of 2026. In addition, the class contributed a monetary gift to Phil's Friends, a nonprofit that helps provide support to individuals with cancer. Student Kaitlyn O'Drobinak reflected on the students' time at Lake Central and how they had an unusual experience due to the impacts of the pandemic. She also discussed the lockdown that occurred at LCHS in September and how students felt fear they had never experienced before. O'Drobinak emphasized how even though students are moving on, they can always come home to Lake Central. "One thing I think all of us sitting here can say is that these four wacky years were not anything like High School Musical. And always remember once an Indian, always an Indian," O'Drobinak said, referencing LCHS's mascot. Superintendent Larry Veracco also provided several remarks to the graduates, emphasizing how they need to leave the world kinder than they found it. "Your efforts and participation in activities to assist others did make Lake Central a kinder and gentler place," Veracco said, mentioning several service events that occurred this year. "Please know that your commitment to helping others has made a positive impact." Several members of LCTV, a student-run television station at Lake Central High School, contributed a video tribute to the graduates. LCHS Counterpoints also performed "In My Life" in a video. Lake Central High School is the biggest individual high school in Lake County. The enrollment at LCHS was over 3,000 for 2021. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Thunderstorms with gusty winds caused power outages and downed tree branches throughout Northwest Indiana on Wednesday night. As of 7:30 p.m., a total of 2,694 outages were reported by NIPSCO customers, with the largest outages including Hammond with 1,574, Cedar Lake with 146, Highland with 116 and Portage with 71. Power is expected to be restored Wednesday night, with times varying based on location. There will be more rain and storms to come overnight Wednesday, but they are not expected to be severe, said Times Media Co. Chief Meteorologist Matt Holiner. Gusty winds of up to 60 mph caused some down tree branches in south Lake County communities like Schererville and Lowell. Funnel clouds were spotted in Dupage and Cook counties in Illinois, but no such reports were made in Indiana on Wednesday night. Indiana State Police at the Lowell Post said that a civilian did make a report of that they believed there was a tornado in Lowell near the Interstate 65 mile marker 240 near Route 2, causing police to investigate. However, police found no evidence of a tornado or any damage in the area to indicate a significant weather event. Holiner said it was likely straight line winds. A hazardous weather outlook affecting all Northwest Indiana counties and Cook County was issued Wednesday afternoon, warning of strong storms developing in the evening, with the possibility of tornadoes forming. Large waves and onshore winds also created dangerous rip currents, causing a high swim risk for Lake Michigan. Thursday will bring thunderstorms in the morning through the afternoon, with scattered storms in the evening. 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. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Moscow pressed the West on Thursday to lift sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, seeking to shift the blame for a growing food crisis that has been worsened by Kyiv's inability to ship millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products while under attack. Britain immediately accused Russia of "trying to hold the world to ransom," insisting there would be no sanctions relief, and a top U.S. diplomat blasted the "sheer barbarity, sadistic cruelty and lawlessness" of the invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin told Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi that Moscow "is ready to make a significant contribution to overcoming the food crisis through the export of grain and fertilizer on the condition that politically motivated restrictions imposed by the West are lifted," according to a Kremlin readout of the call. Ukraine is one of the world's largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but the war and a Russian blockade of its ports have halted much of that flow, endangering world food supplies. Many of those ports are now also heavily mined. Russia also is a significant grain exporter, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said the West "must cancel the unlawful decisions that hamper chartering ships and exporting grain." His comments appeared to be an effort to lump the blockade of Ukrainian exports with what Russia says are its difficulties in moving its own goods. Western officials have dismissed those claims. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted last week that food, fertilizer and seeds are exempt from sanctions imposed by the U.S. and many others and that Washington is working to ensure countries know the flow of those goods should not be affected. With the war grinding into its fourth month, world leaders have ramped up calls for solutions. World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said about 25 million tons of Ukrainian grain is in storage and another 25 million tons could be harvested next month. European countries have tried to ease the crisis by moving grain out of the country by rail but trains can carry only a small fraction of what Ukraine produces, and ships are needed for the bulk of the exports. At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry proposed corridors to allow foreign ships to leave ports along the Black Sea, as well as Mariupol on the Sea of Azov. Mikhail Mizintsev, who heads Russia's National Defense Control Center, said 70 foreign vessels from 16 countries were in six ports on the Black Sea, including Odesa, Kherson and Mykolaiv. He did not specify how many might be ready to carry food. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said his country was ready to agree on safe corridors in principle, but it was not sure it could trust Russia to allow safe passage and not send its military vessels "sneaking" into the harbor to attack Odesa. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Putin was "trying to hold the world to ransom" by demanding some sanctions be lifted before allowing Ukrainian grain shipments to resume. "He's essentially weaponized hunger and lack of food among the poorest people around the world," Truss said on a visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. "What we cannot have is any lifting of sanctions, any appeasement, which will simply make Putin stronger in the longer term." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for imposing even tougher sanctions on Russia, including for the European Union to ban Russian oil and gas. "Pressuring Russia is literally a matter of saving lives," he said in his nightly video address. "And every day of delay, weakness, various disputes or proposals to appease the aggressor at the expense of the victim is new Ukrainians killed. And these are new threats to everyone on our continent." Putin said "it's impossible, utterly unrealistic in the modern world" to isolate Russia. Speaking via video to members of the Eurasian Economic Forum, which is comprised of several ex-Soviet nations, he said those who try would "primarily hurt themselves," citing broken food supply chains. Michael Carpenter, the U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, urged its members to provide Ukraine with what it needs to defend itself against Putin's "revanchist delusions." If Russia achieved "success" in Ukraine, "there would be more horrific reports from filtration camps, more forcibly displaced people, more summary executions, more torture, more rape, and more looting," Carpenter said in Vienna. On the battlefield, Russian forces pressed their offensive in several parts of the eastern Donbas region, Ukraine's military said. That industrial heartland of coal mines and factories is now the focus of fighting after Russia suffered a series of setbacks and shifted to more limited goals. "The enemy is storming the position of our troops simultaneously in several directions," said Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar. "We have an extremely difficult and long stage of fighting ahead of us." Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, also came under renewed shelling on Thursday. Zelenskyy said at least nine people were killed and 19 wounded. Among those killed were a five-month-old baby and its father, and the mother was in serious condition. Military officials said Russian forces continued to try to gain a foothold in the area of Sievierodonetsk, the only part of the Luhansk region in the Donbas under Ukrainian government control. A senior U.S. defense official said Russia is making incremental progress in the Donbas, with fighting centered on towns and villages as Russian and Ukrainian forces trade control over scraps of land. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the U.S. military assessment, said those smaller artillery duels could be prolonged. Russia has 110 battalion tactical groups, each with 800 to 1,000 troops, committed to Ukraine, amounting to 80% of Moscow's total force, the official said, adding that it has lost 1,000 tanks and three dozen fighter jets and other fixed-wing aircraft. Zelenskyy pleaded with the West to send multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine as soon as possible to give it a fighting chance against the Russian offensive in the Donbas. In other developments: In the northwestern town of Kotelva, two Russian soldiers accused of war crimes pleaded guilty to shelling civilian infrastructure with a multiple rocket launcher. Alexander Ivanov and Alexander Bobykin could face up to 12 years in prison; the defense asked for eight, saying they were following orders. Bobykin said, "I regret the actions our troops committed." In the ravaged port city of Mariupol, Russia began broadcasting state television news, about a week after the Russian military declared it had "completely liberated" the city. A leader of Russia-backed separatists suggested there might be more Ukrainian fighters hiding in Mariupol's sprawling Azovstal steelworks, which for weeks stood as the city's last bastion of resistance. The Russian military says 2,439 fighters surrendered from the plant last week. The separatist leader, Denis Pushilin, said more may have been hiding or lost or lagged behind, adding "there are already those that have been found" and captured. Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Russian ally Belarus, said he was sending troops to the border with Ukraine, raising the possibility that he may agree to wider participation in the war. Belarus allowed Russian troops to invade Ukraine from its soil but has not taken part in ground operations. The Pentagon said one American military officer has gone back to Ukraine as the U.S. reopens its embassy in Kyiv. But Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the colonel is there for diplomatic work, and no other U.S. troops are going into Ukraine at this point. ___ Becatoros reported from Kramatorsk, Ukraine. Associated Press writers Andre Rosa in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war: 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 10. And finally, TikTok grandfluencers are rewriting the script. By 2030, 70 million Americans will be over 65, meaning there will be more seniors than children. But some of todays older folks are already proving that the later years neednt be a lonely fadeaway. At TikTok hashtags like The Old Gays and retirementhouse, theyre racking up millions of page views, from followers including Rihanna, Jessica Alba and Drew Barrymore. Adi Azran, 27, produces Retirement House, set in Hollywood and featuring 70- and 80-something stars. He was inspired by the TikTok ourfilipinograndma, with 1.4 million followers. He showed it to a 25-year-old colleague: I was like, Dude old people, Azran said. And he saw the vision. Have a vibrant night. Bryan Denton compiled photos for this briefing. Your Evening Briefing is posted at 6 p.m. Eastern. Want to catch up on past briefings? You can browse them here. What did you like? What do you want to see here? Let us know at briefing@nytimes.com. Here are todays Mini Crossword, Spelling Bee and Wordle. If youre in the mood to play more, find all our games here. A Brooklyn man charged in the unprovoked killing of a Q train rider last weekend instructed other passengers to put their cellphones away after the fatal shooting, a Manhattan prosecutor told a judge on Wednesday. The man, Andrew Abdullah, 25, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of the rider, Daniel Enriquez, on Sunday. Appearing in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday, Mr. Abdullah was ordered held without bail by Judge Jonathan Svetkey. The killing of Mr. Enriquez, 48, came amid a recent spate of mass shootings around the country and about six weeks after 10 subway riders were shot and at least 13 others injured when a gunman opened fire on an N train in Brooklyn. Thats another conversation to have. We typically dont allow people with felony convictions to possess firearms, and wouldnt it also make sense to bar purchases by someone with a recent misdemeanor conviction for drug or alcohol abuse, for violence, or for stalking? Only 10 states bar people with stalking convictions from buying guns. We know that people going through breakups are particularly a risk to themselves and to their ex-partners. So why not pass red-flag laws that allow guns to be removed from someone who is undergoing a mental health crisis or subject to a domestic violence protection order? Even former President Donald Trump has backed red-flag laws. What about universal background checks to buy a firearm? Polls suggest that gun owners themselves overwhelmingly favor universal background checks, yet 22 percent of firearms are obtained without them. In much of America, there is a more thorough review of people adopting a rescue dog than of those buying assault rifles. And should we really continue to allow people on the no-fly list to buy firearms but not board a plane? These are pragmatic steps that wont eliminate gun violence or avert every shooting. But they can make our country a bit safer. And while they will feel flimsy and unsatisfactory to many, they would at least break the paralysis on sensible gun policy. They would indicate that some progress is possible at a time when gun-related deaths have been worsening. Nineteen elementary school children died in the Texas school shooting on Tuesday, along with two teachers. Nine days earlier, six people were shot in a California church, one fatally; and five were shot, two fatally, at a Texas flea market. A day before that, a gunman killed 10 people in a racist attack on Black shoppers in Buffalo. When New Zealand experienced a mass shooting in 2019, that country acted in just 26 days to tighten gun laws. Here in America, it has been 56 years since one of the first gun massacres, the University of Texas tower shooting in 1966 that claimed 17 lives. Yet we know that gun safety is not a hopeless task, because just about every other country manages to do better. The Onion satirical website regularly responds to mass shootings with a headline: No Way to Prevent This, Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens. It has a point. Claims of crisis actors and false flags in school shootings are not new: The conspiracy theorist and broadcaster Alex Jones of Infowars has lied for years that the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., was staged by the federal government, with people pretending to be survivors and victims parents. Last year, Mr. Jones lost four defamation lawsuits filed by victims families, many of whom have been harassed by his believers. 2. No, there is no evidence that the gunman was transgender. Hours after the attack, a post on the fringe online message board 4chan circulated claiming that the gunman was transgender. Numerous photographs falsely claiming to show the gunman wearing womens clothing were attached. The authorities have said the gunman was male. The unfounded claims made their way to Telegram channels of far-right militia groups such as the Proud Boys, where people falsely claimed that the shooting was a result of hormone therapy undertaken by the gunman. By Wednesday, the claims that the gunman was transgender had been amplified by high-profile people such as Representative Paul Gosar, an Arizona Republican who was censured last year by the House after he posted a video that depicted him killing a Democratic lawmaker. Mr. Gosars Twitter post on the matter has been deleted. Photos of dark-haired transgender women circulated alongside images of the gunmans face, accompanied with false accusations that they were the same person. There is an overwhelming number of individuals who are posting images of this person, who was the shooter, and information about the nature of them being transgender, Stacy Washington, the host of the SiriusXM show Stacy on the Right, said on Tuesday night. She added: We dont have definitive proof, but Id say, this many pictures? My goodness. Theres something going on here. Gov. Jay Inslee and Lt. Gov. Denny Heck of Washington have both tested positive for the coronavirus, their offices announced Wednesday. The two Democrats said they were experiencing mild symptoms and were working from home. I am experiencing very mild symptoms and am most glad Im vaccinated and boosted, Mr. Inslee said in a statement. I hope others consider getting their booster because its very effective in preventing serious illness. Mr. Inslee, 71, received his second booster shot in March, the statement said. Mr. Heck, 69, who announced his positive test about an hour after Mr. Inslee, also said he had received two booster doses. Washington State has recorded a 74 percent rise in new coronavirus cases in the last two weeks, according to a New York Times database, mirroring an increase across the United States that has brought the nation to an average of more than 100,000 new cases each day. State public health officials said Wednesday that they were not reinstating a broad mask mandate but strongly recommended that people wear masks in crowded indoor spaces. Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma signed a bill on Wednesday that bans nearly all abortions starting at fertilization. The new law, which takes effect immediately, is the most restrictive abortion ban in the country. The law makes exceptions in cases where an abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest if they have been reported to law enforcement. From the moment life begins at conception is when we have a responsibility as human beings to do everything we can to protect that babys life and the life of the mother, Mr. Stitt said after signing the bill into law. If other states want to pass different laws, that is their right, but in Oklahoma we will always stand up for life. Passed by the Oklahoma Legislature last Thursday, the law relies on civilian enforcement to get around the constitutional right to abortion that was enshrined by the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. India and Israel to technologically co-operate with a focus on drones 02 Jun 2022 | 11:34 PM New Delhi, June 2 (UNI) The defence cooperation between India and Israel would be in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India vision and the two countries will collaborate with a focus on drones and defensive capabilities. see more.. Home Minister reviews flood preparedness 02 Jun 2022 | 11:06 PM New Delhi, June 2 (UNI) Home Minister Amit Shah held a high level meeting in Delhi on Thursday and reviewed the overall preparedness to deal with floods in the coming Monsoon. see more.. PM asks Israeli companies to co-produce defence equipment in India 02 Jun 2022 | 10:55 PM New Delhi, June 2 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday encouraged Israeli defence companies to benefit from the opportunities of co-development and co-production in India. see more.. RPF rescues over 150 women under Operation Mahila Suraksha drive 02 Jun 2022 | 10:36 PM New Delhi, June 2 (UNI) Railway Protection Force (RPF) rescued over 150 women from becoming the victims of human trafficking during pan India drive "Operation Mahila Suraksha". see more.. Follow our live updates on President Bidens speech on gun control tonight. WASHINGTON Joseph R. Biden Jr. responded to the slaughter of 20 elementary school children by declaring: The world has changed, and its demanding action. That was almost 10 years ago. When 19 more children were killed by a gunman in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, Mr. Biden, now the president, repeated his own call for the government to do something, decrying another massacre and insisting that it was time to turn this pain into action. But a decade after Republicans blocked gun safety legislation in response to the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., Mr. Biden remains caught between a desire to honor the dead by vowing to act and the reality that he cannot deliver on sweeping promises without consensus in Congress. Mr. Biden said on Wednesday that he would visit Uvalde in the coming days, saying that the idea that an 18-year-old can walk into a store and buy weapons of war designed and marketed to kill is, I think, just wrong. Three days. Thats how long it takes before the publics anger begins to dissipate after a mass shooting, according to two scholars at Princeton University. Its now over 24 hours after an 18-year-old gunman slaughtered 19 schoolchildren and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, and the national conversation over what to do next has already fallen into a familiar pattern. Democrats are demanding action. Republicans are trying to change the subject. And time is running out before the countrys attention inevitably turns elsewhere. For a paper published last year in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Patrick Sharkey and Yinzhi Shen of Princeton examined Gallup surveys of Americans self-reported emotions in the days before and after a mass shooting. The more horrific the massacre, they found, the greater the emotional impact on the local community. The response for Democrats was larger a 50-percentage-point increase in sadness, versus a 20-point rise for Republicans but the sense of devastation went away at the same rapid rate. Defense lawyers have argued that Mr. Sussmann represented the campaign in efforts to get reporters to write articles about the Alfa Bank suspicions, but not when he approached the F.B.I. about the data and his belief that a news article about it would soon be published. In his testimony last week, Mr. Baker said that the prospect of an imminent article led him to fear that the F.B.I. would not have time to investigate the possibility of a secret channel before the participants read the news and shut it down. But a week later, when he asked Mr. Lichtblau to delay, he said the reporter indicated that an article was not yet ready to publish. The Times published an article that mentioned the Alfa Bank matter about six weeks later, but it said the F.B.I. ultimately concluded that there could be an innocuous explanation. Prosecutors have insinuated that Mr. Sussmann sought to prompt an F.B.I. investigation so reporters would write articles about it, while defense lawyers have argued that he went to the bureau only when he believed an article was imminent. The defenses theory is that the story was going to come out, or was likely to come out, or was close to coming out; and Mr. Sussmann wanted to give a heads-up, Sean Berkowitz, Mr. Sussmanns lawyer, told the court on Monday. The Republican primary for a Senate seat in Pennsylvania will go to a recount, with Dr. Mehmet Oz, the celebrity physician backed by former President Donald J. Trump, clinging to a narrow advantage over David McCormick, a former hedge fund executive, in one of the nations most intensely watched midterm contests. Dr. Oz was leading Mr. McCormick by 902 votes as of Wednesday, according to Leigh M. Chapman, the states acting secretary of the commonwealth, who said that all 67 of Pennsylvanias counties had reported unofficial tallies to the state. The recount could lead to a series of lawsuits and challenges in the marquee primary, one that could ultimately determine control of the closely divided Senate. That legal wrangling has already begun: On Monday, Mr. McCormick filed a lawsuit demanding that undated mail-in ballots should be counted. A victory for Mr. McCormick a West Point graduate and the former chief executive of Bridgewater Associates, the worlds largest hedge fund would be a significant rebuke to Mr. Trump, who supported Dr. Oz and campaigned for him in Pennsylvania. The seat will be open after Senator Patrick J. Toomey, a Republican, steps down this year. Maybe its a personal responsibility not to shoot people with guns, said Senator Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri, and maybe people who dont live up to that responsibility ought to be in prison for a very, very long time like forever. Beyond elective office, some Republicans seemed to have had enough. Bill Frist, a former Tennessee senator who served as majority leader from 2003 to 2007, wrote on Twitter: I cant imagine this is what the Founding Fathers hoped for or intended. We can find ways to preserve the intent of the Second Amendment while also safeguarding the lives of our children. Such sentiments were hard to find among elected Republicans. Mr. Schumer framed his call for negotiations as strategic. A quick vote on House-passed legislation to strengthen background checks would all but certainly be filibustered. Republicans would complain about wasting time with political show votes. Democrats would castigate Republicans for their opposition. Nothing would be accomplished, and the Senate would move on. Negotiations, at least, could keep gun safety a live issue for a while. When things like this happen, I think it awakens sensibilities to the bigger picture I will not say greater good, but the greater collective response, Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Republican of West Virginia, said of the Uvalde bloodshed. I think thats what were all probably grappling with right now. But it was not clear that much had changed. Mr. Manchin indicated that he was not dropping his opposition to changing the Senate filibuster rules, which would allow Democrats to push through gun control legislation over unified Republican opposition. He insisted that, with good will, a broad compromise could be reached and such a move would be unnecessary. If we cant get 70 or 75 senators that wont vote to have a common sense protection of your children and grandchildren, what in the world are we here for? Mr. Manchin demanded. Whats your purpose for being in the United States Senate? If its not at least to protect the children? The initial start to talks has begun. Mr. Murphy reached out to Mr. Toomey and Senator Susan Collins of Maine, two of the four Republicans who voted for the bipartisan background check bill co-sponsored by Mr. Manchin in 2013. In 2013, he introduced legislation with Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, that would have incentivized states through grants to submit mental health records to the database that is used to check gun buyers backgrounds, known as the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. It also would have increased the maximum sentences for people found guilty of straw purchases and gun trafficking. But Mr. Cruz, Texas junior senator, has almost uniformly opposed other measures aimed at combating gun violence. During the Trump administration, when Texas senior senator, John Cornyn, a Republican, successfully pushed to pass legislation requiring federal agencies and states to do a better job of reporting criminal offenses to the national background check system, Mr. Cruz kept his distance from the effort. Gun control became a central issue in Mr. Cruzs re-election campaign in 2018, when the Texas Republican fended off a challenge from his Democratic opponent, Beto ORourke, who was a House member at the time. In that race, Mr. Cruz focused attention on Mr. ORourkes support for a ban on purchases of assault weapons, warning voters that the Democrat wanted to take our guns. By contrast, months after the 2012 shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., Mr. Cruz voted against a measure prohibiting the sale of assault weapons. Assault weapons ban fails, he wrote on Twitter at the time. #2ndAmendment prevails #Protect2A. In 2019, when Mr. Cruz was asked about expanding background checks for all firearms sales over the internet and at gun shows, he warned that such a move would have a dispiriting effect on Republican voters. If Republicans abandon the Second Amendment and demoralize millions of Americans who care deeply about Second Amendment rights, that could go a long way to electing a President Elizabeth Warren, Mr. Cruz said, referring to the Democratic senator from Massachusetts, who was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination at the time. Last year, after a mass shooting at a grocery store in Boulder, Colo., that killed 10 people, Mr. Cruz renewed his complaints that Democrats were seeking to politicize the issue. The gunman who killed 19 children and two adults at a school in Uvalde, Texas, told an online acquaintance that he had just shot his grandmother and was about to shoot up a elementary school minutes before carrying out one of the deadliest school shootings in United States history, according to screenshots provided by the friend. A 15-year-old girl in Germany who asked to be identified only by her nickname, Cece, said in an interview that she had met the future gunman, Salvador Ramos, about two weeks earlier on Yubo, an app that lets people livestream themselves to strangers and through which other teenagers from California to Greece said they had interacted with Mr. Ramos. Mr. Ramos turned 18 on May 16, and the girl said that he had video called her in the days around his birthday from a gun store, where he told her he was purchasing an AR-15 rifle. In the following days, Mr. Ramos obliquely referred to doing something with the gun, though she said she was never clear about what. On Monday evening, the night before the shooting, she said, he told her that a package had arrived from an online order and sent her a picture of a large cardboard box that he later said contained ammunition that would expand on impact. Cece said Mr. Ramos also showed her, on a video call, a black bag that appeared to hold many magazines of ammunition and at least one gun. On Tuesday morning, the two spoke on a video call just before 10 a.m., according to the girls phone logs. She said Mr. Ramos showed her the outfit he was wearing, which was all black. He said he could not tell her his secret until his grandfather had left the house. At 11:06 a.m., he texted her that he was waiting for his grandmother, who he said was on the phone with AT&T about his cell phone. He referred to her with a vulgar expletive. Ima do something to her rn, he wrote. The screenshots do not show Cece replying, but at 11:21 a.m., Mr. Ramos sent another text: I just shot my grandma in her head, followed immediately by another: Ima go shoot up a elementary school rn. Cece said she read the messages as soon as he sent them but was curious about whether he was serious. It was only after the shooting appeared on the news that she asked a friend in the United States to contact U.S. authorities, a delay she said she now regrets. Maybe I couldve changed the outcome, she said. I just could never guess that hed actually do this. Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas said on Wednesday that Mr. Ramos had shot his grandmother in the face before driving off in a pickup truck that was registered to her. Mr. Ramoss grandmother survived and called the police as he headed for Robb Elementary School, less than a mile away, and began shooting students and teachers inside a fourth-grade classroom. Mr. Abbott said that Mr. Ramos had posted on Facebook that he had shot his grandmother and was going to shoot people at an elementary school, but a Facebook spokesman said that the governor was inaccurately referring to what the company said were private messages. It was unclear if the messages that the spokesman and governor appeared to be referring to were sent on Facebook, by text message or on another messaging platform. To verify that she was speaking with Mr. Ramos, Cece provided screenshots of a video call that appeared to show Mr. Ramoss face as well as a screenshot of a message he had sent her from an Instagram account that he had used to message others. When Cece saw news of the attack, she said, she got in touch with another friend that she had befriended on Yubo and asked her to contact the authorities, she said. Cece said that Mr. Ramos, in their previous conversations, had suggested that he had a poor relationship with both his mother and his grandmother and that he had previously punched his older sister, kicked his grandmother and shoved an ex-girlfriend. Susan C. Beachy contributed research. BANJUL, Gambia Many of the Gambian citizens who testified in recent years that their former president was responsible for a wide range of atrocities never thought they would one day see him tried in a courtroom. But that prospect became more real on Wednesday, after the current government said it plans to prosecute Yahya Jammeh, who for 22 years ruled over and often terrorized the citizens of his small nation on the coast of West Africa. The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, created to uncover human rights violations, from 2018 to 2021 streamed the testimonies of victims and the confessions of alleged perpetrators live into the nations living rooms. The witnesses included members of the former presidents hit squad, known as the junglers. But many more of the witnesses were citizens who recounted being victimized, such as Toufah Jallow, who accused the former president of raping her when she was 18, just after she had won the nations top talent show. At least 11 newborns were killed after a fire tore through a neonatal unit of a regional hospital in the West African nation of Senegal, the countrys president, Macky Sall, said on Thursday on Twitter. Mr. Sall, who was on a state visit to Angola, said the blaze had broken out at Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital in the city of Tivaouane, which is about 50 miles northeast of Dakar, the capital. To their mothers and their families, I express my deepest sympathy, Mr. Sall said. He gave no further details. Senegals health minister, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, who was in Geneva for the World Health Assembly, posted on Twitter, We learned with sorrow of the deadly fire in the neonatology department of the Mame A. A. Sy Dabakh hospital in Tivaouane. He said that he had dispatched a delegation to the site of the blaze and was cutting short his trip to immediately return to Dakar. The sheer amount of material recorded each day enables viewers to examine every inch of the courtroom with a conspiratorial zeal, as empty gestures and meaningless asides are whipped into dubious case clues, spliced into humiliating Heard reaction GIFs or leveraged to build a charmingly unbothered bad-boy court presence for Depp. (He doodles in court! He cant remember the names of his own movies!) Exhibits supporting Heards claims like a video she recorded of Depp pouring himself a gigantic cup of wine and violently smashing glasses in their kitchen one morning are stripped of evidentiary value and bandied about as memes. Each day of the trial begins with Depp fans convening online and joking about downing their breakfast megapints of wine. Viewers assess both Depp and Heards court appearances as studied performances, but it is as if they have been cast in separate genres, with Depp playing the suave comedy hero and Heard pegged as the histrionic villain from an 80s erotic thriller. YouTube thumbnails freeze their visages into masks of comedy and tragedy he is perpetually smirking, she is permanently aggrieved. (Except when she smiles, in which case her expression is proffered as evidence of her calculated heartlessness.) The cartoonish construction of the double standard (animated hearts for Depp, devil horns for Heard) is the point many TikToks are soundtracked with the circuslike theme from Curb Your Enthusiasm, trapping Heard in the role of sad clown. Anyone else who appears in court risks being lifted into an internet folk hero or smeared as a liar. Heards attorney Elaine Charlson Bredehoft is branded a Karen (once a term for a racist white woman, it has since been flattened into an all-purpose misogynistic slur) and conspiratorially constructed as an undercover Depp fan, while Vasquez is cast as a Depp love interest, hailed as an internet sensation for her intimate interactions with her client. Seemingly every woman tangentially involved in the case has been imbued with imagined Depp-lust. Dr. Shannon Curry, an expert witness called by Depps team, has been celebrated for exchanging glances with Depp on the stand; even Currys husband, who she mentioned once delivered muffins to her office, has been inflated into a treasured fan fiction character referred to as the muffin man. Meanwhile, Depp supporters have harassed two of Heards expert witnesses off the medical professional site WebMD, flooding their profiles with one-star reviews. The internet livestreaming of the trial has created its own virtual sport. Each day hundreds of thousands of viewers congregate on YouTube livestreams, like the one hosted by the Law & Crime Network, and type comments into a racing sidebar chat. Some pay as much as $400 to have their comments highlighted and pinned to the top of the chat the more you pay, the longer your commentary lords over the proceedings. During Wednesdays stream, one participant paid to say that Heard has a nesting snake on her head; another promoted his YouTube novelty song about Heards legal team. The immediacy of the livestream and its commentary gives viewers the illusion that they can somehow influence the outcome of the case; someone is always pleading for an internet artifact to be forwarded to Camille, as if obsessive fan attention alone might crack the case. This week, Depps team called a witness who surfaced after he posted a tweet in response to a pro-Depp Twitter accounts coverage of the trial. Even if they cannot influence the trial itself, viewers can shape public opinion in real time. Once a fan fiction scenario gains enough momentum to achieve escape velocity, it is elevated into mainstream tabloids, which are rife with reports of Depps courtroom flirtations and epic witness-stand one-liners. Once gossip journalists had to craft celebrity story lines themselves, but now the narratives are lifted straight from social media and enshrined as Hollywood canon. Gossip sites are regurgitating banal celebrity internet activity as heartwarming Depp content: Jennifer Aniston followed Johnny Depp on Instagram as a subtle sign of support, the magazine claimed, and Depp followed Aniston back as a sweet gesture. New Delhi, May 26 (UNI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will visit Gabon, Senegal and Qatar from May 30 to June 7 in the first ever visit from India at the level of Vice President to all three countries. Vice President Naidu will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar and three Members of Parliament, Sushil Kumar Modi (Rajya Sabha), Vijay Pal Singh Tomar (Rajya Sabha) and P. Raveendranath (Lok Sabha). The visits to Gabon and to Senegal will add momentum to India's engagement with Africa and emphasise Indias commitment to the African continent. The visit to Qatar, as both sides prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, will further enhance the bilateral ties. A number of bilateral documents are expected to be concluded during the Vice Presidents visit to the three countries, an official statement said. The logo used by Nissan for many years was also Mr. Forbess work, and his designs for Pirelli, British Petroleum and other companies were familiar in their day. His career encompassed a significant expansion in the field, one that saw graphic designers go beyond logos and book covers to consulting on interior spaces, corporate identities and more something Mr. Forbes said he never envisioned when he graduated from the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London in his 20s. When I came out, I presumed if you could do part-time teaching and a few book jackets, that would be Christmas, he told The Honolulu Advertiser in 1991, when he was in Hawaii to give a talk. So I never had a thought I could be standing up in front of the board of Neiman Marcus telling them how I could improve their business in Dallas. Colin Ames Forbes was born on March 6, 1928, in London to John and Kathleen (Ames) Forbes. He did his mandatory service in the British Army from 1945 to 1949, and he had an entirely different career in mind at first. When I came out of the Army in 49, I had thought I was going to do aircraft engineering because aircraft was so romantic to people of my generation, he told The Honolulu Advertiser. Instead he took advantage of a grant program for veterans and went to the Central School of Arts and Crafts, graduating in 1952. He taught at the school for a time, but by 1960 he had left for private practice. In 1962 he formed Fletcher/Forbes/Gill with Mr. Fletcher and Bob Gill. Their eye-catching work for Pirelli, Time Life, Penguin Books and others caught the spirit of the Swinging Sixties that was transforming popular culture in London and beyond. As a team, The Independent of Britain wrote in Mr. Fletchers obituary in 2006, they had an ability to combine the formal restraint of Swiss modernism with the wit of the Madison Avenue advertising industry. PARIS The former president of the Louvre has been charged with complicity in fraud and money laundering in connection with an investigation into Egyptian artifacts that were trafficked over the past decade, French prosecutors said on Thursday. Jean-Luc Martinez, who was the president and director of the Louvre from 2013 to 2021, was released under judicial supervision after he was charged, the Paris prosecutors office said. The prosecutors office did not provide more details about the investigation, which was first reported by Le Canard Enchaine and Le Monde. Under the French legal system, the charges against Mr. Martinez indicate that investigators suspect him of involvement in a crime but he may not necessarily stand trial. The charges could be dropped at any point if the police uncover new evidence. Complex legal investigations often take several years to unfold in France. Wynne called Tomb of Sand an extraordinarily exuberant and incredibly playful book, even though it deals with such topics as bereavement and the partition of British India. Set in northern India, the books protagonist falls into a depression after the death of her husband, then travels to Pakistan to confront the traumas of her teenage years. Wynne said it was a novel of partition unlike any novel of partition I have ever read. The book includes some sections told from the perspective of inanimate objects, and much of the original novel depends on wordplay in Hindi. Rockwells work on the book showed the small miracle of translation, Wynne said, borrowing a phrase from the Italian author Italo Calvino. In a review for The Hindu newspaper, Mini Kapoor wrote that while it may often appear that Shree is playing with words for the sake of word play, and that her digressions are asides, in the end nothing turns out to be self-indulgent or extraneous. The International Booker Prize is awarded every year to the best book translated into English and published in Britain or Ireland. It is separate from the better-known Booker Prize, awarded for novels originally written in English, but it comes with the same prize money and has helped turn some authors into stars. LONDON The British authorities have authorized criminal charges against Kevin Spacey on four counts of sexual assault against three men, the countrys Crown Prosecution Service announced in a news release on Thursday. Rosemary Ainslie, head of the services special crime division, said in the release that the service had also authorized one charge against Mr. Spacey, 62, of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The authorization of charges followed a review of the evidence collected by Londons police force. Mr. Spacey cannot be formally charged unless he enters England or Wales, a spokesman for the service said in a telephone interview. The spokesman declined to comment on whether the service would pursue extradition proceedings if that did not occur. The news release said the charges concerned three complainants. The incidents dated from March 2005, August 2008 and April 2013, it added a time when Mr. Spacey was artistic director of the Old Vic theater in London. All the incidents occurred in London, except one from 2013, which occurred in Gloucestershire, England. The Metropolitan Police said that one of the men was now in his 40s and that the other two were now in their 30s, but did not provide their exact ages. In the 1970s, a series of fires set as arson for profit rocked the Bronx. This story, acted out against a soundtrack of salsa and hip-hop, is currently being told by Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater at Pregones Theater in the Bronx. These are the types of stories and organizations that the Wallace Foundation, which aims to foster equity and improvements in the arts, will support in its new initiative. Eighteen arts organizations of color across the country, including Pregones/PRTT, will each receive up to $3.75 million over the next five years. One of the things that distinguishes this opportunity is the acknowledgment that organizations of color have a certain history of undercapitalization, said Arnaldo Lopez, the managing director of Pregones/PRTT. And that means that, for many years compared to primarily white-serving organizations in the arts and culture we worked with a fraction of the money. The 18 grantees were selected from over 250 applicants and include 1Hood Media in Pittsburgh, Chicago Sinfonietta, the Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project in San Francisco, the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Mich., and the Union for Contemporary Art in Omaha, Neb. SILENT INVASION: The Untold Story of the Trump Administration, Covid-19, and Preventing the Next Pandemic Before Its Too Late, by Deborah Birx. (Harper/HarperCollins, $29.99.) Birxs insider account of the Trump administrations handling of Covid-19 is a scientists story of anger and frustration in a battle against politics and ignorance. Although her time within the Trump White House was in most ways an agonizing debacle, Birx makes a good case that her efforts yielded some significant mitigation of the national catastrophe., David Quammen writes in his review. She was given an impossible task, and she did not fail completely. It sounds like a noble epitaph in a sorry time. Image TASHA: A Sons Memoir, by Brian Morton. (Avid Reader, $28.) Irritable, stubborn and constantly hungry for attention, the authors mother, Tasha, gives good copy, as they say. In his sixth book (and first memoir), Morton writes about her final years and the challenges and joys of being responsible for a parent who defies all stereotypes of docile senior citizenhood. If the dead are never safely dead, and the past never past, the beauty of Tasha is in Mortons very struggle to get Tasha right on the page, once and for all, Dani Shapiro writes, reviewing the book. It is a gift of mature adulthood and perhaps the work of writing memoir to see our parents as people who exist outside of their centrality in our lives. Image STEPPING BACK FROM THE LEDGE: A Daughters Search for Truth and Renewal, by Laura Trujillo. (Random House, $27.) Trujillos seismically moving memoir explores her mothers decision to end her own life. For many who have been touched by suicide, her hard-earned story will be a helpful companion. In a memoir like this, the author must be both scientist and lab rat, painstakingly dissecting her mothers behavior and her own under duress, Michael Greenberg writes in his review. When Trujillo struggles to convey the most trying experiences, her inarticulateness becomes a form of eloquence. Among her realizations is that suicide is a mysterious and unknowable aspect of being human. Image Credit... . PARADAIS, by Fernanda Melchor. Translated by Sophie Hughes. (New Directions, paper, $19.95.) Melchors luminous, unsparing novel is set in the wryly named Paradise, a gated community in Mexico where two teenage outcasts from opposite ends of the economic spectrum plot heinous acts that reflect societys brutal misogyny. Melchor is an incredibly gifted writer, Justin Torres writes in his review. Once youre acclimated to both the style and the sheer rancor of the prose (i.e., once you give up hope for a moment of grace), youll notice other things: flourishes, the attention to the natural world, poetic turns of phrase, shrewd sketches of the indignities of menial labor. The pandemic hurt economies around the world, but Argentina was already deep in crisis when it hit: 2020 was its third straight year of recession. Publishing, like other industries, had been suffering for years, and took a further hit when Argentines went into a severe lockdown in March 2020. The scene on Corrientes Avenue, which peaked in the mid-1980s and 1990s, after the end of Argentinas military dictatorship, lost more of its luster as the downtown emptied and several larger bookstores closed. But with Portenos confined to their neighborhoods for much of 2020, they turned to the small bookstores nearby. And those stores with their smaller staffs, cheaper rents and nimble social media presence suddenly found themselves with a distinct comparative advantage over larger chain stores. The pandemic leveled the playing field with the big monsters that relied more on foot traffic and occasional readers, says Luis Mey, an author who spent years as a bookseller, partly at El Ateneo Grand Splendid, arguably the citys most famous bookstore, which appears regularly in rankings of the worlds most beautiful bookstores and is a required stop for tourists. Nurit Kasztelan, who in 2009 opened a small bookstore in her home in the Villa Crespo neighborhood (called, fittingly, Mi Casa, or My House), accepts customers only by appointment and prides herself on being able to obtain hard-to-find titles. After more than a decade in the business, she said, she felt necessary again when the country went on lockdown and sales in her tiny bookstore soared. HERES THE DEAL: A Memoir, by Kellyanne Conway Can this marriage be saved? That was the name of a long-running couples counseling column in the defunct magazine Ladies Home Journal, a onetime client of Kellyanne Conways. And its a question that hovers over Conways new memoir, Heres the Deal, its title seeming to assure the kind of straight dope that her former boss Donald J. Trumps ghostwritten chest-thumper, The Art of the Deal (1987), did not deliver. There is some of that, but also familiarly dizzying spin. Encouraged in her telling by Trump himself (Write a great book, honey), this is but the latest of the squazillion accounts to splash down from his presidential administration, for which the author was campaign manager, senior counselor and frequent media representative in what she calls, as if it were a rocky theme-park ride, the wildest adventure of my life. Conway clutches policy like a flotation device, but keeps drifting back to the home front in this book. Introduced by Ann Coulter, the conservative fellow pundette she met while making the cable TV rounds in the late 1990s, Conway and her husband, George T. Conway III, a lawyer, had a Concorde courtship it was intrigue at first sight, she writes and eventually an amazing wedding (the Viennese dessert selection is noted) and an apartment in Trump World Tower. They were blessed by Pope John Paul II on their honeymoon and later with four children, including fraternal twins. More than a decade later, a few months into the highest profile job shed ever had and without any preparatory pillow talk, he who had helped to impeach Bill Clinton and had seemed to cheer the Make America Great Again platform dove onto Twitter and started posting disapprovingly about her boss. What book should nobody read until the age of 40? The only reading experience Ive had after 40 that feels truly inaccessible to my earlier self is rereading. As in, rereading The Portrait of a Lady at 40, and finding that the most relatable character is suddenly Madame Merle. When I was 20, I saw Madame Merle as a non-character, a bad person who existed just to mess with Isabel. Now I can see both readings at once, like a magic eye painting. I do think Proust gets better after 30. In college, I could barely get through Swanns Way, or really any literary book about childhood. I just couldnt understand why anyone would voluntarily dwell on such a boring and humiliating time of life. Now, after years of therapy, I can reread Swanns Way and see specifically what the younger me couldnt face about childhood. Your first book, The Possessed, was a memoir about your love of Russian literature. Have you kept up, and who are your current favorites? I do have two recommendations for new Russian books in translation: In Memory of Memory, by Maria Stepanova, and Living Pictures (forthcoming), by Polina Barskova. Ive also had some very intense experiences rereading 19th-century favorites. After #MeToo, for example, I reread Eugene Onegin and Anna Karenina and, although I could still see everything I had loved about those books as a teen, I also saw a message I hadnt been attuned to before: something like, Great literature is about a young woman who ruins her life over a guy who isnt that smart. Where had such messages led me? What do you read when youre working on a book? And what kind of reading do you avoid while writing? I look for books that counteract whatever issue Im wrestling with in my own work. When I was younger, I struggled a lot with anger, and also with archness. I would experience panic and despair, because it all felt so inescapable. For some reason, those feelings melted away when I was reading Haruki Murakami. I must have read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle at least 10 times. This was a lockdown project, Dov Forman said modestly in a video interview from the London home where he interviewed Lily Ebert, his 98-year-old great-grandmother, for several hours a day at the peak of the pandemic. Those conversations, and her detailed, painful, heartbreaking and, later, meticulously fact-checked memories of surviving the Holocaust, are the basis of Lilys Promise, which debuted at No. 2 on the paperback nonfiction list. The book follows Ebert from her hometown in Hungary to Auschwitz (she fiercely protected two younger sisters after their mother and two other siblings were killed) and then to Switzerland and Israel, where she rebuilt her life after the war. Rebuilt doesnt adequately encompass the enormity of starting all over again as a young adult in an unfamiliar place with limited resources, and after surviving unimaginable atrocities. Ebert had three children, and now has 10 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren. Forman, who is 18, described the queen of our family as being very much involved in everyones life, wanting to know what everyone is getting up to. The two were always close, even before Forman launched Ebert into social media stardom (her TikTok account has 1.9 million followers), so it made sense that he would help her keep a promise to tell the world what she had endured. Words can barely describe what happens next, Ebert writes of the journey to Auschwitz. But words are all I have. For years, Ebert didnt talk about the Holocaust. It was always very hard for her to speak to her children; she never really did, Forman said. And then to her grandchildren, it was also very difficult. And then when it got to her great-grandchildren, it was less so. At 98, she has that urgency. She knows how important it is to transfer her testimony not only into history but from history into memory. THE HOTEL NANTUCKET, By Elin Hilderbrand THE SUMMER PLACE, By Jennifer Weiner The term beach read may be evolving from pejorative to praise, as at least some people become less fusty about the value of popular fiction. To me, beach reads are books to linger over on a lounge chair, to lose yourself in while the real (and lately cruel) world slips away. Anything can be a beach read if it truly holds you in its clutches: Amor Towless Rules of Civility was one of the most achingly addictive books I happened to read on a blissful trip to St. Lucia; once, a dear family friend brought a fat history of longitude to the beach his idea of gripping material. The Hotel Nantucket, by Elin Hilderbrand, and Jennifer Weiners The Summer Place try mightily to be beach reads and, given the authors well-earned followings, both are likely to be successful as such. There are blue covers with female silhouettes in repose; summery settings (a wedding on Cape Cod and a buzzy new hotel); sprawling casts of Clue-game characters and myriad mini-mysteries. Both go down with the ease of a Dirty Shirley, but neither captured my heart or attained that overused marketing promise of unputdownability. The Hotel Nantucket opens with a crush of insider-y chatter: Blond Sharon, a turbo engine of gossip, spilling that Lizbet Keaton, an Everywoman who co-ran the popular restaurant The Deck and invented its famed rose fountain, had discovered 187 sexually explicit texts from her longtime boyfriend and the restaurants chef, JJ OMalley, to their wine rep, Christina Cross. The scandal sparks Lizbets departure to manage the revival of the once-grand Hotel Nantucket, which has fallen into disrepair. As a travelogue, the novel is exquisite, transporting you on island, as ACK lingo goes. Hilderbrand revels in the granular details of the Matouk-sheet-swathed lodging, which boasts showers thoughtfully tiled in oyster shells and complimentary minibars stuffed with bluefish pate. The author sets sumptuous scenes a retro cottage with frilled toothpicks purchased some time during the Kennedy administration; a bougie meal of milk-braised pork with hand-rolled gnocchi in sage and butter. I only wished for the same richness in the characters and their stories. Hilderbrands spiky, astute observations a description of a shifty front-desk manager, Alessandra Powell, as a broken doll, a smashed mirror; a lament that JJs memory is his superpower and it always made Lizbet feel like he was paying attention are too fleeting. There is a plucky 8-year-old sleuth, Wanda Marsh, who tries to solve the mystery of the hotel ghost, a chambermaid named Grace Hadley, but the book is short on Wandas precocious dialogue. (I had my initial doubts about Grace, but she is largely charming in her supernatural ability to sniff out guests rotten souls.) Others feel thinner, like the hotels owner, Xavier Darling, an enigmatic billionaire who, implausibly, has the time and will to send cloying, weekly Hey, ladies!-style emails to staff members. Details of Texas school shooting emerge The gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers in a rural Texas elementary school on Tuesday entered the building despite being confronted by an armed security officer, state police officials revealed. He then wounded two responding police officers and engaged in a standoff inside the school for over an hour, the officials said. While gaps remained in the timeline of events, details emerged yesterday of a protracted scene of carnage at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. An armed man, identified as Salvador Ramos, approached the school around 11:30 a.m. Just after 1 p.m., specialized officers breached a pair of adjoining classrooms and killed the gunman barricaded inside, the officials said. Even as more about the attack became clear, the motivation behind the eruption of violence remained frustratingly opaque. In the absence of an explanation, there was only deep grief in a small community and a raw renewal of the national debate over firearms legislation and the stupefying tally of gun violence in America. White House: President Biden said he would travel to Uvalde in the coming days to try to comfort the residents. In remarks yesterday, he said that the Second Amendment is not absolute and that previous gun safety laws had not violated its constitutional protections. These actions weve taken before, they save lives, he said. They can do it again. WASHINGTON The Agriculture Department proposed a rule on Thursday meant to increase fairness in the poultry industry, which is dominated by a handful of meat processors. The department also said it planned to investigate whether certain companies should be more stringently regulated, and it announced $200 million in funding for independent meat processors to increase capacity at slaughterhouses. The actions ultimately will help us give farmers and ranchers a fair shake, strengthen supply chains and make food prices fairer, Tom Vilsack, the secretary of agriculture, said in a statement. The proposed rule would require the companies to disclose certain details to farmers, like how pay is calculated; how much feed, chicks and supplies are provided to other growers; and where the farmers rank under a performance-based system that determines how they are paid. The companies would also be required to guarantee a minimum number of chickens that they would supply to farmers in a year. Among French wine regions, Alsace is unusual. Its one of the few places in which the name of the grape takes precedence over the plot of earth in which the vines grow. In that respect, Alsace may have more in common with Germany than France, which only makes sense. Because of its location in Frances east, practically bulging into Germany, Alsace has been a disputed territory for centuries, reclaimed by France from Germany most recently after World War I. Its borders, the Rhine to the east and the Vosges Mountains to the west, isolate Alsace, leaving it to absorb attitudes and traditions from both sides and making them very much its own. Back in the 1980s, when I was learning about wine, the tall, slender bottles from Alsace were popular in the United States, touted both for their high quality and as good values. Today, though, the wines from Alsace are relatively hard to come by. I was initially struck by the salinity of the Chagnoleau, a wine that was lean in texture compared with the other two bottles, and with earthy, floral and herbal flavors underscored by that salty quality. The salinity was there as well, though to a lesser extent, in the Merlin, which was both richer and more straightforward than the Chagnoleau, with savory citrus and floral flavors. And it was present in the succulent, beautifully textured Les Crays from the Bret Brothers, with its stony flavors of citrus and melon. Most wine writers who have used the term would say its a more precise extension of the vaguer and much-debated quality minerality, a word that is often seen as controversial. Why? Because people either interpret it literally, as if minerals were sucked up from rocks and soil by the roots of a vine and deposited directly into the glass. Or they believe it is not a specific enough, wanting instead a more precise analogy, like seashells, slate or pavement after a rain. I happen to prefer general rather than precise descriptions for a wine. Unspecific terms like savory, fruity and mineral get at a wines overall character. Overly specific descriptions, like this one I read recently of a Chilean syrah, can seem poetic but are more meaningful to the writer as a device for jogging the memory than in communicating the nature of a wine to others: The taste is simply packed with blackberry and Santa Rosa plum fruit, but the bitter-edged brilliance of springtime wood sap hurtles through this heady fruit, trailing after it a summer scent like warm creosote, a hint of talcum powder and a brush of coal dust from a colliers apron. These are mostly not references that are meaningful to me. But saline? That could be useful to anybody familiar with salt. As to the source of this characteristic, the only thing that appears clear, as a recent article on salinity in wine pointed out, is that merely measuring the amount of salts in a wine easy to do in a laboratory does not necessarily correlate with how that wine is perceived by drinkers. Soft Landings culinary program mirrors those in other states, like the New Arrival Supper Club in Los Angeles; Welcome Neighbor STL in St. Louis; Break Bread, Break Borders in Dallas; and Sanctuary Kitchen in New Haven, Conn. But given that Montana was one of only two states not accepting refugees when Soft Landing Missoula began in 2015, its been a particularly significant tool for cultural exchange. Theres so much more to the culture of these countries than just what people see on the news, said Dave Erickson, 40, a staff writer at The Missoulian. You hear that there are refugees here. But when you actually meet someone from the Democratic Republic of Congo, you realize Oh, Missoula is home to an entire community of people from that country. Mary Poole, the executive director of Soft Landing Missoula, wants Missoulians to see refugees and other immigrants as assets. Many of the newcomers aspire to open businesses, which the program supports through a Business 101 class at Missoulas Lifelong Learning Center. Owning a Syrian restaurant is Mrs. AlMasris goal. She is encouraged by the reputation she has earned for her to-go meals, and would like to serve a broader menu of kebab hindi, freekeh salad and khafeh. Some of them dont know me, but they try my food, and next time they will know me, Mrs. AlMasri said. Theyll know my food. For a world weary of fighting the coronavirus, the monkeypox outbreak poses a key question: Am I at risk? The answer is reassuring. Most children and adults with healthy immune systems are likely to dodge severe illness, experts said in interviews. But there are two high-risk groups. One comprises infants younger than six months. But they are not yet affected by the current outbreak. And many older adults, the group most likely to succumb to the monkeypox virus, are at least somewhat protected by decades-old smallpox vaccinations, studies suggest. Vaccinated older adults may become infected but are likely to escape with only mild symptoms. The bottom line is that even those that were vaccinated many decades before maintain a very, very high level of antibodies and the ability to neutralize the virus, said Dr. Luigi Ferrucci, scientific director of the National Institute on Aging. Aleksei A. Navalny, the imprisoned Russian opposition leader, has long been adept at using social media to directly convey political messages threaded with dispatches about the corruption and lavish spending of his countrys government officials, including some at the highest levels. In August 2020, Navalny was poisoned while on a trip to Siberia to film a video about local corruption. Russian doctors blamed low blood pressure, saying no poison was found in his system. But under duress, officials eventually allowed him to be flown to Germany for treatment, where the poison was identified as a military-grade nerve agent from the Novichok family. As he recovered there, Daniel Roher, a 28-year-old documentary filmmaker from Toronto, set out to use his own form of storytelling to shed light on the dissident: following Navalny for months as he conducted another investigation, this time into his own poisoning. The resulting documentary, Navalny, available on HBO Max starting Thursday, is both a look at Navalnys efforts to uncover the culprits who poisoned him as well as a call to action directed at his supporters in case of his imprisonment, a hypothetical that was quickly borne out. Follow our live coverage of the Cannes Film Festivals final awards ceremony. CANNES, France Just two minutes into my interview with David Cronenberg, a spider scuttled onto the 79-year-old directors shoulder. Though I jumped in my seat, Cronenberg simply looked amused. Hes a fan, Cronenberg said as the spider paused on his suit jacket, trying to figure out which way to go next. The arachnid was luckier than it could have known: The man he was climbing over like a jungle gym was the unshockable auteur behind daring films like The Fly, Scanners and Videodrome. Cronenberg just peered at the eight-legged invader and smiled. Thats no problem, he said. I eat those for lunch. We were meeting on a terrace in Cannes the day after Cronenbergs new drama, Crimes of the Future, had premiered to strong reviews at the festival. His first film in eight years, Crimes of the Future stars Viggo Mortensen and Lea Seydoux as performance artists whose act involves live surgery, with Kristen Stewart as the bureaucrat who becomes fascinated by their work. The movie is set in an eerie near-future where human beings can no longer feel physical pain, but what Cronenberg does here is likely to evoke all sorts of feelings from the viewer: Some Cannes-goers found it provocative and romantic, while others simply walked out. Cronenberg is used to that kind of response, especially at Cannes, where several of his films including Crash, A History of Violence and Cosmopolis have premiered to varying levels of controversy and fascination. In addition to contending for the Palme dOr, Crimes of the Future will bow stateside on June 3, and Cronenberg was curious but unruffled about its potential reception, just as he shrugged off the spider that couldnt help but crawl all over him: Its affection. Its interspecies love. What can I say? Brooke Adams has never struck me as a Vengeance Is Mine sort of actor. For a title like that, you need viciousness or fury or a ripe sense of victimhood. And by 1984, the movies had never let her near anything close. Ravishment, sure. Kookiness, yeah. But not a character fleshed out enough to do vengeance. That husky voice; her sharp, sympathetic face; an innate sense of humor: She was a gentlemans idea of a sexpot spinning her eyeballs for Donald Sutherland in Invasion of the Body Snatchers; coveted by Richard Gere in Days of Heaven; in Cuba all but strapped to Sean Connery, like a suicide vest. So what a shock to see her going to town on this dramatic comedy, by Michael Roemer, about a woman who drops in on her Massachusetts family and, after a series of utterly unexpected emotional entanglements, spends the whole movie not quite dropping out. When youve got a great part in a fantastic movie (and this movies fantastic, not to mention fantastical), an actor can flesh out sexpot so that what she is playing is pure vibrancy. To be fair to Adams, Haunted is the movie she might have thought she was at the center of. Thats what Roemer had settled on calling Vengeance Is Mine 38 years ago, when it never got a proper theatrical release; never got the rapturous or even fair or serious reviews it deserved; never, therefore, experienced the paying art-house audience that would have clogged a theater lobby arguing about what the hell they just saw. Haunted wound up, instead, on PBSs American Playhouse with scant public awareness, let alone any kind of full-throated appreciation. Now, its called Vengeance Is Mine, its playing at Film Forum, and it is there for the world to behold. And what youll witness is an American movie executed with a French films interpersonal insouciance. It still feels original, in other words one of those movies that somebody wrote and directed (Roemer, in this case) but that feels controlled entirely, engrossingly by human impulse, lawless in its way. Ms. Hochuls proposed replacement, renamed 485w, was rejected by lawmakers for being too similar to the current program. A lot of people have very serious reservations about 421a as currently constituted, said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, a Democrat who represents parts of the Bronx. We should do things with affordable housing, but I just dont think were getting our moneys worth with 421a. Supporters of a revised tax incentive said it would help alleviate the citys severe housing shortage, a main driver of its affordability crisis. While the city saw a 22 percent jump in new jobs from 2010 to 2018, the citys housing stock grew by only 4 percent, according to the nonpartisan Citizens Budget Commission. Ms. Hochuls proposal sought to appease the chief concerns of critics that the deal has aggravated the citys housing affordability crisis by incentivizing the construction of luxury towers instead of lower-cost homes. They say too many units marketed as affordable are only within reach to families making well over $100,000 a year far higher than the citys median household income and are often more expensive than market-rate apartments in the same neighborhood. Many units target far higher income levels, charging rents affordable to families of four earning over $173,420, which is much higher than the average in their surrounding neighborhoods. The household median income for all of New York City is $67,046, while it is $42,000 in the Bronx, the lowest level in the city. Until the programs last revision, in 2016, some projects could take advantage of the tax deal without building any affordable units. That included the residential development that received the largest property-tax break, Jackson Park in Long Island City, Queens, which enjoys an annual reduction of $21 million in property taxes that nearly eliminates the tax bill on the site. It has 1,871 luxury units and zero affordable apartments. The defendants in the lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, include well-known firms such as Douglas Elliman and teams associated with Re/Max and Coldwell Banker, as well as dozens of individual brokers and landlords. Douglas Elliman did not respond to a request for comment before the lawsuit was filed, nor did representatives of Re/Max Edge, a Re/Max team based in Brooklyn that is named in the lawsuit. Joseph T. Hamdan, a broker and managing member with Coldwell Banker Reliable, an affiliate of Coldwell Banker based in New York City, said his team was waiting to see the specific allegations in the lawsuit before responding. The Real Estate Board of New York, an influential industry group that includes property owners and brokers, has called on the city to better regulate and cut down on bad actors, but has also said it does not believe the problem is industrywide. Basha Gerhards, the boards senior vice president of planning, said the group is also educating our members on all relevant laws and policies and pushing for greater access to vouchers at the city and state level. But many New Yorkers struggling with homelessness have encountered difficulties when they tried to find a home they could pay for with vouchers. Ayesha McGaney, 44, a chef who had worked in the school system and said she had struggled with mental health issues, lived in a shelter in Queens for more than six years, starting in 2015. Over that time, she applied to more than 200 apartments. She received only a few responses. As soon as I said, this is what I have, this is what my income is, she said, immediately, they are like, Oh, no, I cant take that. Donald J. Trump and two of his adult children must sit for questioning under oath as part of the New York attorney generals civil investigation into their business practices, a state appeals court ruled on Thursday. Mr. Trumps lawyers had argued that the inquiry by the state attorney general, Letitia James, was politically motivated and that she should not be permitted to question him or his children Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump. The lawyers also claimed that the attorney general could not force Mr. Trump to face questioning in her civil investigation because he was also the subject of a criminal inquiry into some of the same business practices. But the court found that the Trumps had not shown they were being treated differently from other investigative targets and argued that the existence of a criminal investigation does not preclude civil discovery of related facts. The decision represented the latest in a string of legal setbacks for Mr. Trump, who was also recently held in contempt of court for failing to fully comply with a subpoena from Ms. James seeking documents. And the rebuke will likely embolden Ms. James at a crucial moment in her investigation, as she weighs whether to sue Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization, his family real estate business. There are days, now, when you can almost forget about the virus. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world are still being infected with Covid-19 daily an average of about 361 Americans died from it every day in the last week but after more than two years and millions of lost lives, the pandemic has given way in headlines and breaking-news crawls to older and more familiar atrocities. Across much of the United States the rhythms of life have returned to something like their prepandemic tempo. Bars and restaurants are packed, theres a wedding boom, and Memorial Day weekend looks likely to kick off a busy summer travel season. But remember how giddy we all were for a virus-free summer last year? It was in May 2021 that officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised that Americans who had been vaccinated could take off their masks and forget about social distancing in most settings. Then, during a successful campaign to vaccinate millions of Americans, the White House began preparing a Fourth of July bash to declare a summer of freedom from the virus. You know how that turned out. Americas vaccination rate was too low, and just when we thought wed licked it, Covid wriggled free. First the Delta variant spread widely, then Omicron and its many subvariants. Masks were ordered back on. Boosters were soon recommended for people over 12. And in the year since what was once billed hot vax summer, about 400,000 more Americans died from Covid-19. SMITH: Trump is a factor here, but Democrats really need to keep the focus on these candidates and their beliefs and make this an election between the Democratic candidate and the Republican candidate. As we saw in Virginia, Democrats cant rely on painting their opponents as Trump 2.0 they need to explicitly define and disqualify the opposition, and these mega-MAGA extremists give us plenty of material. The people who arent as out there as Mastriano give us plenty of material, too. BRUNI: Matt, I know youre not here to help Democrats, but if you were advising them, what would you tell them to do to head off a possible or probable midterms drubbing? CONTINETTI: If I were a Democratic consultant, the first thing I would tell my clients would be to take shelter from the storm. There is no escaping Bidens unpopularity. The best hope for Democratic incumbents is to somehow denationalize their campaigns. Even that probably wont be enough to escape the gravitational pull of Bidens declining job approval. BRUNI: Lis, the plenty of material you refer to must include abortion. Along those lines, do you see anything potentially happening in the months ahead that could change the trajectory of the midterms? For example, what if the Supreme Court in June in fact overturns Roe or further weakens gun regulations? What about hearings on the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol? SMITH: Roe is an example of something that could change the trajectory of the election. I usually think of the presidential election as when the broad electorate turns out and midterms as when pissed-off voters come out to vote. The Supreme Court taking away something that has been a fundamental right for 50 years will definitely piss people off and bring some of the Biden voters who might have otherwise voted Republican this year back into our corner. But voters have more reasons to be angry than just Roe. BRUNI: What are you thinking of? Id like to hear it and then what Matt has to say about it. SMITH: We need to be screaming from the rooftops about what the Republicans in Congress are doing. They voted against the American Rescue Plan (then took credit for the checks that went to American households), mostly voted against infrastructure (then took credit for projects in their districts), mostly voted against capping the price of insulin, voted against stopping oil companies from price gouging, mostly voted against a bill that would include importing baby formula. Why? Because they want to impose as much misery as possible on the American people so that voters blame Biden and vote Republican in November. Its really cynical, dark stuff. And then when they win, they want to criminalize abortions and ensure that we never have free and fair elections again. Thats my rant. Teachers with guns is a fantasy, no matter whom you cast as Mrs. Sims. Trained police officers in Uvalde were no match because the shooter had comparable weaponry. We may as well send in wheels of cheese. What we do instead is hope, the grisliest kind of hope. We hope, in some twisted way, that the next victims will be worthy enough for us to care about. If not high school students, then maybe the elderly. If not the elderly, then maybe the very young. If not the very young, then maybe one of their own. From Columbine to Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church to Sandy Hook, no one has mattered enough. The problem is not one of caring. Even the people with whom I vehemently disagree probably care. I concede that. The problem is what they care about more and how little it matters how much the rest of us care. We post pictures of the dead and the bereaved. We do this because we cannot or will not accept that others know the same facts that we know but care less about them than we do. In these moments, we struggle to make the other side care. Parents know that children are murdered. Religious faithful know that the elderly are murdered in church. Politicians know that their constituents live in fear of being gunned down. But other things matter more to them. Winning an argument. Owning a gun. Making money. Never having to think of distasteful things. And winning more arguments. Theirs is a challenge for a priest, not politics. We also ignore what sociologists would call the material basis of emotions. Emotions are not politically neutral experiences; they emerge not from the ether but from the earth, the very foundation of our dirty, delicious, embodied lives. Im reminded of research looking at the relationship between racial identity and empathy. In a study that measured levels of empathy among white Americans watching a white police officer shoot an unarmed Black man, the more that viewers identified as white, the less empathy they had for the victim. Commitment to membership in the racial majority can shape our emotional response to human tragedy. You see a similar relationship as it relates to all kinds of other violence. This is not an empathy gap but an inequality gap. People care as much as their material reality allows them to care. Turkeys conflict with the Kurds goes back at least to the late 19th century, when Ottoman centralization led to tribal uprisings. The initial two decades of the Turkish Republic, founded in 1923, involved the denial of Kurdish identity, autonomy and language, all of which were mainstays of the Ottoman Empire. Rebellions ensued but were forcibly put down. After remaining largely dormant in the 1940s and 1950s, Kurdish militancy then experienced a revival, under revolutionary banners. The Kurdistan Workers Party, or P.K.K., emerged in this atmosphere. The organization is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union and its methods are indeed violent. Across four decades of conflict, the P.K.K. has contributed to the bloodshed and is responsible for the deaths of civilians as well as security officials. Yet Turkeys militaristic approach to the Kurdish issue has left little room for other, more conciliatory Kurdish organizations. The country experienced a spring of Kurdish activism in the late 1960s and 1970s, when many left-wing Turkish movements and organizations also expressed solidarity with the Kurds. But a coup detat in 1980 heavily crushed these forces, with the exception of the P.K.K., most of whose camps were already outside Turkey. In the years after the coup, the heavy torture suffered by Kurdish activists of various organizations swelled the ranks of the P.K.K. More embittered against the Turkish state than ever, many activists saw no other effective home for their struggle. Things today arent much better: Peaceful forms of Kurdish activism such as those organized by the legal Peoples Democratic Party, or H.D.P. are under constant attack, accused of affiliation with the P.K.K. The government also claims that the P.K.K. is in cahoots with the Gulen movement, a former ally of the ruling party the government accuses of orchestrating a failed coup attempt in 2016. It is members of these two groups who Mr. Erdogan is demanding Sweden and Finland give up. Where was NATO in all of this? The 1980 military intervention, at least passively endorsed by the alliance, was led by Kenan Evren, a commander in NATOs counter-guerilla forces. Western countries kept on providing ample support for campaigns against the Kurds in the following years, even during the exceptionally violent clashes of 1993-95. As hostilities resumed in the 2010s, the West largely neglected internal waves of repression and Turkeys recurrent incursions into Syria and Iraq, where Kurds have long sought refuge. They wanted to know who did it and why. I told them that sometimes angry or depressed teenagers make horrible decisions. They both hugged me, and we cried for the kids and families now facing a summer from hell. We are fortunate to be able to afford a family therapist. We are religious, and I read them Scriptures this morning about evil and good and the command to love one another. Sarah Stoddard, Utah County, Utah We tried to keep the conversation short My husband and I talked briefly with our son, 5. He is used to seeing guns, as we hunt for meat. He knows they are dangerous, and they are kept locked up unless we are using them. We tried to keep the conversation short and limit our adult discussion to when he is engaged in something else or not present. I dont think he understands exactly what happened and what it means because his experiences with real guns and shooting are limited to hunting animals, not killing people. Im terrified and angry that he has to confront it and hes not even in kindergarten. Lisa Rhoden, Kauai, Hawaii We talk a lot about staying informed My older daughter, 16, cried this morning, which is unusual, since shes a city kid and rides the subway to school each day, despite recent events. I told her about the Supreme Courts upcoming decision regarding guns in New York and how the decision wont affect them; itll affect us. She said she hopes to make it to 27. Or maybe study abroad and find a way to stay in a place where there are fewer guns. We talk a lot about staying informed. Shes read a lot of U.S. history, and even though her outlook sounds bleak, she does know that, historically, things have been tough but they often get better. Lisa Molinaro, New York City Protecting Their Innocence This tragedy is not a teachable moment for our children In the past few years, I have had so many difficult discussions with my kids 5, 11 and 15: the countless Black lives lost and the erosion in womens access to reproductive health care. But I did not talk to them about the deaths of 19 innocent children in Texas. Not because I think they are safe but because they arent. And there is nothing they can do about it. I dont believe that knowing to crouch under a desk will save them. Police training and a gun did not save the officer in Buffalo. This tragedy is not a teachable moment for our children. It is a failure of our adults. Susannah Cornes, San Francisco Kids have lived with too much fear I dont know what to say. Im still processing it. Kids have lived with too much fear in the past two and a half years as it is. They need a reason to live and to hope. My 13-year-old is already concerned about climate change. My 10-year-old is afraid of burglars. They still wear masks to school because of Covid. Its all too much for such young souls. Heather Schwager, Washington, D.C. In the early 1930s, archaeologists in Pompeii made a remarkable discovery: the skeleton of a man who died during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Unearthed in the Casa del Fabbro, or House of the Blacksmith, the skeleton was found encased in pumice and reclining on what had been a wooden couch, arms folded under his head and legs stretched out on the floor. The figure in its repose recalls the Casanova character played by Marcello Mastroianni in the 1961 film Divorce Italian Style. As embodied by Mastroianni, the ideal 20th-century Italian man, the sciupafemmine had a resigned air, touched by melancholy that suggested indolence and a lifetime of romantic disaster. The Italian actress and writer Marta Mondelli has described him as a solitary, charming, not necessarily beautiful, but seducing man who loves being alone almost as much as he loves women and their company. In the movie, Mastroianni wants to rid the world of his dull wife, who keeps demanding for him to say he loves her, said Fabio Macciardi, a professor of molecular psychiatry at the University of California, Irvine. Fed up, he bolts out of their bedroom, prepares a couch and dreams of courting his teenage cousin. That is how I picture the Pompeii man. Dr. Macciardi is part of a team of geneticists and archaeologists who reported Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports that they had successfully sequenced the genome of this hypothetically lazy Latin lover. It was the first time that a complete stretch of mitochondrial DNA from Pompeian human or animal remains had been genetically decoded. A fact of which Mr. Fetterman is well aware. At least judging from a short video he and the Pennsylvania governor, Tom Wolf, made in 2018 entitled Gov. Wolf Buys John Fetterman a Tie, putting his dress sense front and center. Not to mention that Medium post, in which he also admitted, I even lack the political metaphorical sleeves to roll up all I ever wear are short-sleeve work shirts because hard work is the only way to build our communities back up. An observation that in itself revealed how closely attuned he was to the traditional theater and costume of politics, in case anyone was wondering if all of this happened by coincidence. After all, the rolling up of the metaphorical sleeves is a crucial performative trope in Washington, used, when necessary, to demonstrate serious getting down to business by, as Mr. Fetterman said, most often shucking the jacket and rolling up ones sleeves to act out the gestures of hard work. That, or readiness to fight, as in the case of Representative Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, who seems to see his jacket as an accessory to be left on the back of his chair when he goes into committee hearings that he expects to be, as he once said, heated. Of course, to take a jacket off, you have to have one on in the first place. And indeed, the capitals of both state and federal government have become the last holdouts in the casualization of office dress, hewing still to the power of the suit, with all the respect for tradition and office that implies. In choosing a different path, Mr. Fetterman is taking the natural next step in what has been a slow erosion of the political uniform that first became visible during the tieless days of the Obama White House. Though the trend took a big leap backward during the Trump years, it took off again in 2019 with the candidacy of Beto ORourke, famous for his sweaty shirt-sleeves, and has been given new life by Senator Kyrsten Sinema, whose willingness to buck all convention in her dress has become intrinsically connected to her own brand of renegade politics. In the Taiwanese American painter Phaan Howngs imagined landscapes, flora have evolved to take on a riot of Day-Glo hues as a survival tactic against years of toxic industrial waste in a post-Anthropocene future. Its a theme the artist has explored since the late aughts, when she held down a particularly wearying day job at an electronics manufacturing company in South Florida and gained a mounting awareness of the industrys environmental impact. I did not want my ghost to live in that cubicle forever, she recalls. This month, Howng, now based in Baltimore, presents her first solo show in New York, Ill Be Back, a meditation on domesticity, feminism and the extractive history of house plants. The practice of taming and commodifying nature within the home dates to the Victorian era, and the artists research included Kate Chopins novel The Awakening and Charlotte Perkins Gilmans short story The Yellow Wallpaper, as well as the sci-fi flick Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Among the works is an immersive installation, staged as an interior overrun with acid yellow, orange and fluorescent green plants and patterns, a dizzying array of paintings, sculptures, wallpaper, furniture and more. It elicits a sort of despairing joy an end-of-days, rave-party aplomb. Ive always been interested in how humans attempt to control and manipulate nature to fit their vision, Howng says. Why do we do that? Ill Be Back is on view through June 25 at Dinner Gallery, New York, dinnergallery.com. Canadas internet service still isnt great. But a 2019 analysis by a government agency found that while there were drawbacks to the countrys rental-access approach, it had been largely effective in making internet service more competitive and in pushing companies to lower costs and to improve their networks and customer service. The sticking point in Canada is the price that internet pipeline owners charge. Over the past few years, there has been legal and regulatory wrangling over the appropriate costs and terms for big companies to rent their pipelines. Smaller Canadian internet companies say that the infrastructure owners misled regulators about how much it costs to build and maintain networks. The result, after some flip-flops by government officials, is that the countrys telecom regulator sided with the internet pipeline owners. The government is set to impose significantly higher fees for smaller internet providers to lease larger companies pipelines. At least one such provider in Canada already sold itself and said it wouldnt have been able to stay in business with the new rates. Small internet providers say that Canada is about to break a system that was serving customers well. It will mean in no uncertain terms that home internet prices will continue to rise and consumers will suffer, said Geoff White, executive director of the Competitive Network Operators of Canada, a trade group for smaller telecom service providers. White told me that it took years for the countrys internet system to become more competitive and that its been undone piece by piece by piece. He and other critics of Canadas internet policy said that service providers and customers suffered from years of regulatory limbo over the costs to lease internet pipes. To be sure, figuring out the right price is a complicated analysis in any country. Set prices too low or too high, and the system fails. Its worth paying attention to what happens in Canada. Like other essential services, including electricity and health care, great internet service doesnt happen by accident. It is a choice that demands a sensible mix of effective public policy and the best that capitalism can offer. LONDON If youre going to venture onstage for the first time, a nearly two-hour, emotionally fraught solo play without a break might not seem the best place to start. But the TV actress Jodie Comer, better known as the assassin Villanelle in the Emmy-winning series Killing Eve, has taken to the West End in just such a play, Prima Facie by Suzie Miller, with gleaming-eyed assurance. First seen in 2019 in the writers native Australia, Prima Facie is at the Harold Pinter Theater through June 18 though it will presumably have more life as long as its star chooses to stick with it. House Full signs have marked out Comer as the box-office equal of such theatrical heavy hitters as Mark Rylance in Jerusalem, the Jez Butterworth masterwork playing just streets away. Comer is cool and commanding as a defense lawyer named Tessa who discovers, at considerable personal cost, the limitations of the law. Assaulted on a night out by a colleague whom she brings to trial, Tessa soon finds herself confronting a legal system whose strictures even a mind as shrewd and sharp as hers cannot overcome. The second half devolves into an angry broadside, but you can only commend the impulses behind a play that wants to educate as well as entertain: Audience members are handed leaflets on the way out to raise awareness about sexual consent. Justin Martins busy staging finds Comer leaping onto the furniture and engulfed by a brief onstage rainstorm, to keep a potentially static monologue interesting to the eye: A chair at one point becomes a toilet bowl into which Tessa is sick, and a crucial costume change is done in full view of the audience. MIAMI The former owners of a Florida Keys dive shop whose boat was in such poor condition that it capsized and sank, killing a tourist, pleaded guilty last week after spending a decade on the run in Europe, federal prosecutors said. Christopher Jones, 57, and his wife, Alison Gracey, 54, both of whom are British citizens, each pleaded guilty on Friday to involuntary manslaughter in the 2011 death of Aimee Rhoads, 36, of Washington State, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Florida said in a statement on Tuesday. Lawyers for Mr. Jones and Ms. Gracey did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Juan Antonio Gonzalez, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said that the case illustrates that no matter how long it takes, we will ensure criminals are made to answer for their crimes. The event that set off a 10-year international manhunt unfolded on Dec. 18, 2011, near Key Largo, Fla., where Mr. Jones and Ms. Gracey had operated the Key Largo Scuba Shack, a charter scuba diving business, since June 2010, prosecutors said. WASHINGTON Two former F.B.I. agents accused of bungling the bureaus investigation of Lawrence G. Nassar, the former doctor for U.S.A. Gymnastics who was convicted on state sex abuse and federal child pornography charges, will not be prosecuted, the Justice Department said on Thursday. The decision ends a review the department initiated in October, months after its inspector general issued a scathing report that sharply criticized the F.B.I.s handling of the case, which was brought to the bureaus Indianapolis office in July 2015. The F.B.I.s failure to act on the information it received allowed Mr. Nassar to assault additional girls. Hundreds of female patients, including many members of the U.S. womens Olympic gymnastics teams, say he abused them under the guise of medical treatment. The former agents, W. Jay Abbott, who was in charge of the bureaus Indianapolis field office, and Michael Langeman, who worked in that office, were accused by the Justice Departments watchdog of making false statements when it reviewed the matter. Five Republican candidates for Michigan governor were disqualified by a state canvassing board on Thursday for submitting nominating petitions that officials said had contained thousands of forged signatures. The decision sent the race, in a key battleground state, into chaos and dealt a serious blow to the partys plans to challenge Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic incumbent. The five candidates, half of the partys field, were denied a spot on the Aug. 2 primary ballot by the Board of State Canvassers, including James Craig, a former Detroit police chief, and Perry Johnson, a wealthy businessman. Both had widely been viewed as favorites for the Republican nomination before election officials this week rejected thousands of signatures gathered on behalf of the candidates, finding that the names had been forged and were collected by fraudulent petition circulators. The ruling was expected to draw a host of lawsuits from Republicans, who have characterized the move as politically motivated. WASHINGTON Scott Pruitt, while in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency during the Trump administration, repeatedly pressured his federal security officers to drive at excessive and sometimes dangerous speeds on routine trips, with sirens and emergency lights on, because he had a habit of running late, according to a federal report released on Thursday. The security officers said they knew this was a violation of federal policies and endangered public safety, the report said. Among the incidents cited in the report was a 2017 trip in which a special agent drove Mr. Pruitt with the lights and sirens going, in the wrong direction into oncoming traffic, to pick up Mr. Pruitts dry cleaning, when Mr. Pruitt was late for an agency meeting. Can you guys use that magic button to get us through traffic? Mr. Pruitt would ask members of his security detail, the report said. He would say speed it up or we need to get there quicker, orders that the security agents said they found hard to disobey, even though the lights and sirens were supposed to be used only in emergencies, it said. Reports about this improper use of lights and sirens first became public in 2018, along with other assertions of wrongdoing by Mr. Pruitt, including first-class travel back to his home in Oklahoma on government-paid flights and improper use of government funds to build a $43,000 soundproof phone booth inside his office. They ultimately led to his resignation in July 2018. Most Republicans in the Senate represent deeply conservative states where gun ownership is treated as a sacred privilege enshrined in the Constitution, a privilege not to be infringed upon no matter how much blood is spilled in classrooms and school hallways around the country. We dont want to take away the rights of law-abiding citizens, said Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, the No. 3 Republican, explaining why members of his party have no interest in imposing new regulations on gun purchases, even after the murder of 19 children and two teachers, the latest in a seemingly unending series of shooting massacres in the United States. The politics of gun control have always been fraught, and Democrats dodged the issue for decades following their loss of the House in 1994, which many of them attributed to their passage of an assault weapons ban. The epidemic of mass shootings has prompted Democrats to change course, and now even Democrats from red states, such as Jon Tester of Montana, have embraced background checks. But as Republican voters have become more conservative, Republican lawmakers have dug in deeply against any notion that new strictures on gun purchases are an antidote to mass shootings. They say that such restrictions are unconstitutional, even though adult Americans would continue to have easy access to weapons purchases if they became law. Republicans like Mr. Cramer understand that they would receive little political reward for joining the push for laws to limit access to guns, including assault-style weapons. But they know for certain that they would be pounded and most likely left facing a primary opponent who could cost them their job for voting for gun safety laws or even voicing support for them. When Eulalio Diaz began hearing the roaring sound of nonstop ambulances Tuesday afternoon, he sensed something had gone terribly awry in Uvalde, a town of about 16,000 where most people know their neighbors by name. Mr. Diaz is one of the towns justices of the peace, assuming some of the duties of a coroner, including identifying the dead. He was on duty that day and had never seen so much carnage: The last recorded murder in Uvalde took place at least a year ago, he said. By the time he arrived at Robb Elementary School, after 2:30 p.m., the authorities had descended on the small-town school, which teaches second, third and fourth graders. Moments later, he was informed of the harrowing reality: A gunman had stormed into the school and fired several rounds at defenseless children. He requested aid from the medical examiner in Bexar County, which includes San Antonio. Some time after 5 p.m., he said, Mr. Diaz and two representatives from the big citys coroners office walked into the crime scene. Even though he had been told there were at least 16 or 17 fatalities, he was not prepared for what he witnessed. My heart dropped, he said. I knew there were going to be children. I know their parents. I know their grandparents. Its a scene that you never want to see, that you never imagined. It stays in your mind. My heart drops for them and for their families immediately. He and his colleagues tried to remain calm and proceeded with the painful task of identifying the small victims. Mr. Diaz, a father of two children in eighth and twelfth grades, said he worked hard to release the victims as soon as possible to area funeral homes so that their loved ones could see them again: nine on Wednesday afternoon and the remaining on Thursday or in the next few days, he said. Its a very tough job, he said. Its a small community. We all know each other. Its heart-wrenching. Mr. Diaz, a lifelong Uvalde resident, said he later learned he had known some of the victims, including one of the towns beloved teachers, Irma Garcia, who he said was a high school classmate. I dont want to ever see it happening again anywhere else right now, he said. I know everyone, their parents, their grandparents. Ive been trying to hold it together. Since the Omicron variant of the coronavirus arrived in China, the government has maintained harsh lockdowns, mass testing and border restrictions, arguing that such measures are needed to protect the population. Now, a senior leader in Beijing is flagging urgent concerns about the impact the policy is having on the countrys economy, which is the second largest in the world. Chinas zero Covid policies have triggered an economic slowdown that is in some ways worse than the one in early 2020 during the initial outbreak of Covid-19 in Wuhan, the countrys No. 2 leader said on Wednesday as concerns grew over the impact of lockdowns. During a teleconference with more than 100,000 officials across China, the countrys premier, Li Keqiang, announced efforts to bolster growth and urged local leaders do more on top of that to keep the economy running, according to a summary from the state-run Xinhua news agency. The country is at a critical point for setting its economic trend for the year, Mr. Li said, according to the Communist Party-run Peoples Daily. We must seize the time window and strive to bring the economy back to the normal track, he said. RAMALLAH, West Bank The Palestinian Authority announced on Thursday its final findings from a two-week investigation into the killing of a veteran Palestinian-American journalist, again accusing Israeli soldiers of intentionally killing her. The Authoritys attorney general said at a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah that an Israeli soldier shot the Al Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, on May 11 with an armor-piercing bullet fired from a Ruger Mini-14 semiautomatic rifle. It based its findings in part on examination of the high-velocity 5.56 mm bullet that struck her in the back of the head. Palestinian officials said that they were the only ones who had examined the bullet and neither Israeli nor U.S. authorities were permitted to examine it. It was proven that a member of the Israeli occupation forces stationed in the middle of the street fired a live bullet that hit the martyr journalist directly in the head, said the attorney general, Akram Al-Khateeb. She was shot while she was trying to escape from the successive gunshots fired by the occupation soldiers, he added. The New York Times reached out on Wednesday and Thursday to all 50 Republicans in the Senate to see whether they would support a pair of House-passed measures to strengthen background checks for gun buyers. Within hours of the elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Senate Democrats moved quickly to clear the way for possible votes on the two bills. The legislation would expand criminal background checks to would-be purchasers on the internet and at gun shows and give the F.B.I. more time to investigate gun buyers flagged by the instant background check system. The vast majority of Republicans have opposed gun safety legislation for years, banding together to block its consideration or refusing to bring it up. Any deal in the 50-50 Senate would need the support of at least 10 Republicans, joining every Democrat, to produce the 60 votes necessary to break a filibuster. Most Republicans who have responded to The Times so far have either declined to take a position or signaled they would oppose the measures, citing concerns about infringing on the rights of gun owners. All but one Democrat is supportive; Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia backs a narrower bill to expand background checks that he has co-sponsored with Senator Patrick J. Toomey, Republican of Pennsylvania. Authorities in the African country of Sudan have allegedly sentenced a ram to three years in prison for hitting and killing an old woman. If humans had to go to prison every time they killed a goat, we would have to build so many more prisons, but when the roles are reversed for a change the poor animal has to answer for its actions. Thats exactly what allegedly happened in Sudan earlier this month at least according to multiple national news outlets after a ram in Rumbek East County charged at an elderly woman hitting her in the ribs and causing serious injuries that later proved fatal. Its unclear what possessed the animal to attack, but once it was identified as the culprit, the ram was taken into custody and sentenced to hard time. The ram attacked by hitting her ribs and the old woman died immediately. So this is what happened in Rumbek East in a place called Akuel Yol, Major Elijah Mabor told Sudans Eye Radio. The ram was apprehended and currently under custody at a Police Station of Maleng Agok Payam. Mabor added that the ram would spend the next three years in a military camp in Aduel County, while its owner, who was apparently a neighbor and relative of the victim, will have to compensate the deceaseds family by offering them five cows. Furthermore, after the ram serves its time, it will also be offered to the victims family to do with it as they see fit, in accordance with local law. The owner is innocent and the ram is the one who perpetrated the crime so it deserves to be arrested then later on the case shall be forwarded to customary court where the case can be handled amicably, Major Mabor explained. Ghana Wish reports that both families have signed a contract to formalize their agreement, with police and local community leaders acting as witnesses. Kim Kardashian Beyond Meat goes beyond nutrition labels..The money-losing plant-based protein brand has hired professional tastemaker Kim Kardashian as its chief taste consultant. As an icon synonymous with impeccable taste in food, fashion, beauty and more, Kim will highlight the brands delicious, nutritious and sustainable product portfolio with her signature recipes and engaging create contents, according to that more than a mouthful sentence in Beyond Meats May 24 release. Claiming her fridge and freezer are fully stocked with Beyond Meat goodies, Kardashian wants to inspire her fans to chow down on the stuff. Beyond Meat could use all the help that it can get. Its 2021 revenues dropped 14.2 percent to $464.7M while the net loss grew 245 percent to $182.4M. Beyond Meat says its 2022 operating environment continues to be affected by near-term uncertainty about COVID-19 and its impact on demand levels, labor availability and supply chain disruptions. Eat up, Kim and perhaps invite your sisters over for dinner. The Securities and Exchange Commission is considering proposals for nutritional labels on environmental, social and governance investment funds. Chairman Gary Gensler believes investors need consistent and comparable disclosures about asset managers ESG strategies. Im reminded of walking down the aisle of a grocery store and seeing a product like fat-free milk, said Gensler in his May 25 statement. What does fat-free mean? Well, in that case, you can see objective figures, like grams of fat, which are detailed on the nutrition label. He envisions similar labels to spell out what asset managers mean when they market funds as green, sustainable, low-carbon and so on. Gensler means business. The SEC on May 23 fined BNY Mellon investment advisor unit $1.5M for allegedly mistating and omitting information about ESG funds that it managed. It was the first fine of its kind, though more of them may be on the way. Democrats need to weaponize their gun control PR... Imagine if the Uvalde police department had been defunded prior to the massacre of 19 children and two adults at the Robb Elementary School. All hell would have broken loose with Republicans like Ted Cruz racing before any available TV camera to bash Democrats for stripping the local police of the needed resources to insure public safety. William Saletan, a writer for The Bulwark conservative opinion site, says Democrats should take a page from the Republican playbook and weaponize wedge issues. He notes the gunmen at the Texas school and Buffalo supermarket used assault weapons for mass murder. Those weapons pack more firepower than the arsenals of typical police forces. Increasingly police are outgunned, wrote Saletan. The International Association of Chiefs of Police have come out against the sale of assault weapons to the public because they dont want law enforcement officers to be outgunned. Democrats should attack Republicans, who block efforts to ban the sale of assault weapons, as enemies of law and order. The children in Texas died after Republicans, in the name of law-abiding gun owners, blocked legislation that might have prevented this tragedy and this shooter, among others, from outgunning the cops, wrote Saletan. Democrats should drop their pipe dream that GOPers are going to cave and agree to some restrictions of firearms. There will be no Kumbaya moment designed to save the kids. Republicans don't give a fig about them. They put guns over children a decade ago after Sandy Hook Elementary School slaughter. Its time for Democrats to fight back and brand Republicans anti-cop. Spitting mad over the New York Times decision to run a May 10 op-ed by Yale University history professor Timothy Snyder that called Russia a fascist state, Vladimir Putins top propagandist Vladimir Solovyov tweeted that the same could be said of Donald Trump and the MAGA crowd. Snyder wrote that Putin refers to a past golden age and imperial greatness for Russia. Solovyov pointed out that the Make America Great Again slogan refers to a bygone era that was more myth than reality. He said Snyders thought that fascism needs symbols of belonging applies to the red hats worn by Trumpers. And the professors idea that fascists conduct big rallies to show support for the leader? Mass events in support of the leader: Do you want me to play a clip of the dancing Trump? tweeted Solovyov. If the shoe fits. The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced 700,000 in funding to support Agricultural Shows taking place over the coming months. The Minister made the announcement during a keynote address at the Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show Sponsors Night on Wednesday. Announcing the funding, Minister Humphreys said: For over two and a half years, we lost something that really sums up everything that is good about rural Ireland. As Minister for Rural and Community Development, I know that our Shows are intrinsically linked to that sense of community that Rural Ireland is all about. It is fantastic to see the return of our Shows this summer and I am particularly pleased to announce funding of 700,000 will be made available by my Department to support our Show Committees the length and breadth of the country. Minister Humphreys added: I believe it is of vital importance to our rural communities that we support the efforts of the show committees and the work of their volunteers. I hope that this funding will help put the shows on a firmer financial footing and provide vital support to the committees. Im delighted to support the Irish Shows Association and like many others I look forward to getting out and about and visiting our Shows this summer. The shows are key dates in the rural calendar and central points for the agri-food industry, farming community and local artisan producers. Key dates over the coming weeks include Middleton (29th May), Belgooly (4th June), Ballyconneely Performance Pony Show (4th June), Ennistymon (5th June), Westport Horse and Pony Show (6th June), Leap Horse and Pony Show (6th June), Ballivor Horse Show (12th June), Dundalk (12th June), Claregalway (12th June), Ballinalee Connemara Pony Show (12th June) and Clonakilty (12th June). Minister Humphreys also wished the organisers of the Tullamore Show well as they prepare for the return of the popular event on August 14th. The Minister continued: Tullamore Show, along with all other Agricultural Shows has been sorely missed, and its return is warmly welcomed. I commend the hard work of the local organising committee. The organisers have shown great initiative and enterprise in the quality of the programme for Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show set for August 14th. It wont be long coming around. Welcoming the announcement, Catherine Gallagher, National President Irish Shows Association stated: "As National President of the Irish Shows Association I warmly welcome Minister Heather Humphreys and her Department's continuing support with 125 shows set to benefit. There is no doubt costs have increased this year, its great to have this support and we are also grateful for the support the Department gave us through the pandemic. The showing season has already started and I have attended four shows and the feedback from committees is their entries have doubled and the attendance has greatly increased. The sense of anticipation is palpable and from my experience to date I have no doubt this year will be very busy for committees up and down the country. The upcoming events will add a little colour to the summer." Medical scientists have accepted a recommendation from the Labour Court to return to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The announcement on Wednesday evening means that three consecutive days of industrial action planned for next week are suspended pending the talks. On Tuesday evening, the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA) announced that they had postponed Wednesdays industrial action pending talks at the Labour Court with the Department of Health and the HSE. The Labour Court requested that both parties engage further at the WRC for at least three weeks from Wednesday. The MLSA has organised two strike days in the past two weeks to highlight issues over retention and pay parity in the sector. The organisation claims that 20% of medical scientist roles in public hospitals are unfilled, partly due to burnout after the Covid pandemic, and that the problem was getting worse. Another issue that has been highlighted is pay parity. Medical laboratory scientists who work in a biochemistry laboratory say they get paid less starting out than the biochemists, despite doing the same work. They also claim to have less favourable terms to try to further their career than their biochemist colleagues. Thousands of hospital appointments were cancelled as a result of the MLSA industrial action on Tuesday, as routine laboratory services such as blood and urine analysis, scans and biopsies were made unavailable due to the industrial action. Medical scientists were also involved in the rollout and the increase of capacity of Irelands Covid testing system during the pandemic from the capacity to do 600 tests a week before the pandemic to 300,000 Covid-19 tests. Almost two-thirds of people in Northern Ireland believe that Brexit has increased the likelihood of Irish unity, according to the results of a social attitudes survey. The 2021 results of the NI Life & Times survey, a joint initiative between Queens University and Ulster University, also show 48% support for Northern Ireland remaining within the United Kingdom, a decline since 2016. The survey also suggests that unionist and nationalist identities have become stronger, and the proportion of those who are neither unionist nor nationalist has decreased since 2018. The results are contained in the report, Political Attitudes In NI After Brexit And Under The Protocol, co-authored by Professor Katy Hayward, Dr Milena Komarova and Ben Rosher of Queens University. Key points of the survey include: The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is seen as the best basis for governing Northern Ireland, with only 6% expressing absolute opposition to it. There has been an increase in reporting of nationalist identities (from 19% in 2020 to 26% in 2021). Nearly half of respondents (48%) believe that the long-term policy for Northern Ireland should be to remain part of the UK (down from 54% in 2020). One third (34%) state they would vote for a united Ireland tomorrow. 63% of respondents believe that a united Ireland is more likely after Brexit (a rise of five percentage points on 2020). The proportion who think the Northern Ireland Protocol is on balance a good thing has more than doubled to 33% (15% in 2020), while 33% think it a mixed bag and 21% think it on balance a bad thing. Only 29% support an ending of Troubles-related investigations and prosecutions. There is majority support for progress in full implementation of the 1998 Agreement with 62% wanting to see a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland and 59% wanting to see the re-establishment of the Civic Forum. The report covers the four main themes of the Good Friday Agreement, political identities, constitutional status, and Brexit and the protocol. Prof Hayward said: If the Northern Ireland Assembly election of May 5 was a defining moment, it only compounded the political flux that has troubled Northern Ireland since the Brexit referendum. The NI Life and Times Survey offers a unique insight into how the local population is responding to the realisation that things wont and cant be the same again. The differing expectations and concerns reflected in this data will no doubt prove testing for our democratic institutions as well as for our politicians in the months and years to come. The survey is taken from a randomised sample of 1,397 of the adult population in Northern Ireland. The impasse over Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol is not a real crisis, a senior US Congressman has insisted. Richard Neal said the deadlock was instead a problem to be solved after he and fellow members of a Congressional delegation held talks with Stormonts five main parties in Belfast. Powersharing in Northern Ireland is on ice after the DUP refused to re-establish a devolved executive following the recent Assembly election in protest at arrangements that have created economic barriers on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Mr Neal, who is chairman of the influential House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, has faced intense unionist criticism for describing the protocol dispute as a manufactured issue. On Thursday, Mr Neal acknowledged he could have picked a more artful term to describe the impasse but he said no harm was intended by the comment. Anybody that would suggest that it was maliciously intended would be misguided, he said. Mr Neal suggested the protocol was a slight bump and momentary challenge in the political journey Northern Ireland has been on over the last three decades and paled in comparison to obstacles overcome during the peace process. To describe the protocol issue as a crisis is inconsistent with the success weve had over 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement, he said. I still dont think its a crisis. I think its a problem to be solved, duly negotiated much of it emanates from Brussels and London but it should include the people of Northern Ireland in the discussion and deliberation. He added: I think that every time we simply use the word crisis to describe everything, then we forget what a real crisis means, and I just continue to believe this is not a real crisis. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson heavily criticised Mr Neal after meeting him at Parliament Buildings, describing the delegations fact-finding mission as the most undiplomatic visit he had ever seen to Northern Ireland. Sir Jeffrey branded Mr Neals language in the earlier part of the week as unhelpful, adding it displays an alarming ignorance of the concerns of unionism. However, he said he heard a more realistic approach during the meeting with the delegation at Stormont on Thursday. Mr Neal, who said his meeting with the DUP went very well, said unionist apprehensions about the protocol were legitimate. I think I was very clear in the meeting that I had with the DUP that while I dont want to see a hard border on the island, I also pointed out to them that I understood the apprehension that they have raised about a border in the Irish Sea I thought that they were very receptive to that argument, he said. Mr Neal added: I would like to see the issue negotiated. I thought that the apprehension that they raised was legitimate. I think that there is an acknowledgment that there are some problems with the protocol. We want to see them smoothed over and repaired. Sinn Feins Stormont leader Michelle ONeill, who would be in line to become first minister if the DUP dropped its boycott of the devolved institutions, said the delegations visit was welcome. For many years we have enjoyed the support of successive American administrations in terms of our peace process, so I very much welcome the fact that we have such a strong delegation visiting here, she said. (They are) big supporters of the peace process, big supporters of the Good Friday Agreement and the need to protect that agreement. We have had a very good meeting with them in terms of our shared objective which is to have this Executive and Assembly up and running, supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis, addressing our health service needs. Meanwhile, Sir Jeffrey revealed his party confronted Mr Neal about his use of the term planter to refer to unionists in Northern Ireland. He said that during the meeting the DUP compared the stand-off over the protocol to a well-known event in the history of the America revolution, the Boston Tea Party. Sir Jeffrey said that when revolutionaries pushed tea chests into the harbour in Boston in 1773 the mantra was no taxation without representation. And I reminded Congressman Neal and his colleagues that this too is our mantra: that today Northern Ireland is subjected to laws and taxes into which it has no say, that not a single member elected to this Assembly can influence many of the laws that now oversee how we conduct trade in our country because they are imposed by the European Union, and there is no democratic accountability to this institution or any democratic institution in this country, he said. Stormont was the last stop on the US delegations visit to the island of Ireland. The bipartisan delegation has also held meetings in London and Brussels during its protocol-focused mission. Many unionists and loyalists are vehemently opposed to the protocol, claiming its requirement for checks on goods moving across the Irish Sea has undermined Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdom. The Ways and Means committee would have a key role in approving any future trade deal between the UK and US, and Mr Neal has made clear such an agreement would be at risk if the London government pressed ahead with its plan to unilaterally scrap parts of the protocol. He said a trade deal was very desirable but added: As part of that, we want to make sure that that agreement is reconciled with the idea that we are a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and we dont want to see it jeopardised. Mr Neal said his position was entirely in line with the US administration in Washington DC. He insisted his role and that of the US was as an honest broker. Mr Neal said the issue of whether the Biden administration should appoint a special envoy to Northern Ireland was a matter for the US president to decide on. I actually asked the last president (Trump) to do that, to appoint an envoy he told me he was going to but he did not in the end, he added. Asked what he felt the prospect of a visit by President Joe Biden to Northern Ireland might be, Mr Neal said he would like to see a presidential presence at events to mark next years 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. He said: I would hope that British prime ministers, taoisigh from the Republic of Ireland, American presidents, American members of Congress, members of the Dail, senate and certainly the Assembly would all gather here for the 25th anniversary and say hooray, that challenge 30 years ago should remind the world of what again people of goodwill can do and they did it. Members of the Loyalist Communities Council met Mr Neal to discuss the Northern Ireland Protocol on Thursday. In a statement, the group said that the US could no longer be viewed as honest brokers in Northern Ireland and that the Biden administration has openly taken sides with the nationalist position. They added: Congressman Neal was asked to use his influence on Capitol Hill to require the ending of the Irish Sea Border just as much as he opposed any hard border on this island. A plan to create special school centres branded brainless by opposition parties has been misunderstood, the special education minister has said. The Government has faced frustrations among parents and advocates about the difficulty in finding school and class places for children with additional needs. In Dublin alone, there are 80 children waiting for a special class place. Plans to create emergency special school centres, confirmed by Minister of State for Special Education Josepha Madigan on Twitter on Wednesday evening following media reports, prompted further ire on Thursday. Ms Madigan, speaking after discussing the plan with special education and disability organisations and campaigners, said that her department will not entirely drop the proposal. She said it had been misperceived and said she tweeted to reassure people once the proposal had been made public. I think it was regrettable that this came into the public domain before we had an opportunity to discuss it with stakeholders, Ms Madigan said. It was very much in its infancy and I think it is really important to stress that in any department there are a number of different proposals, a number of different ideas that come about at any given stage. There is a lot of misperception about what it is meant to be. One of the things that struck me is that we have a lot of children on home tuition. These children are to a certain extent segregated anyway in their home environment, because they are not going in socialising with their peers in an adequate learning environment, the junior minister said. Ms Madigan said that it was not about replicating the problem of pupil segregation, but offering parents an option. She said it was something she wanted to explore further and she asked the groups she met on Thursday to come back with more proposals. I think we need to look at this and explore it and interrogate it further and try to use the ETB (education and training) centres that they are offering. This is not to replace a special class. This is not a placement. She said that the centres were very intentionally not called schools. That then relinquishes responsibility on local schools to provide these special class places, she told RTE News. She also pledged to use legal powers available to force schools to make special education available. Any school that does not have a legitimate reason for not opening a special class, I will be compelling them to do so, she pledged. The National Council for Special Education is very confident that they can find special classes and indeed special school places for every child in the country, other than Dublin. So Dublin is the pinch point at the moment. The Tanaiste had earlier defended the Governments commitment to special education amid concerns over the plan. Leo Varadkar acknowledged that stop gap was not appropriate language to use in relation to policy measures for children with special educational needs. In response to a question in the Dail from Labour TD Duncan Smith, who raised the need for more special school places for the second day this week, Mr Varadkar said the Governments policy is one of integration. This is no way to make major public announcements, specifically on areas so sensitive and so important, Mr Smith said. This still seems like one of the most brainless, out-of-touch policy responses to a real crisis that has existed in our country for many years. I want to stress that this proposal is not a medium or long-term alternative to a special class placement in a school. Children can access education on an interim basis in a new SEN Centre and be supported to move quickly to a special class placement in a mainstream school. Josepha Madigan (@josephamadigan) May 25, 2022 Mr Varadkar said: Our policy is one of integration. If were going to have an integrated society, were going to have to start with integrated schools. As much as possible, children with special needs or additional needs should be integrated in mainstream schools or mainstream classes. Last year, there were an additional 300 special needs places made available in mainstream schools, Mr Varadkar said. Last night I attended a meeting with people from my constituency from the Dublin 15 area, he continued. And we were able to confirm last night 22 additional places in special classes in four schools in Dublin 15. We were short 17 places, and we were able to find an extra 22. Ms Madigan was also at the meeting, Mr Varadkar said, and was able to achieve co-operation from the schools in securing the additional places. He said the budget for special education is two billion euro, meaning for every four euro spent in schools one goes to special education. Mr Varadkar also admitted: Language that was used yesterday was not the best language. No parent wants to be told that their child has been offered a stop-gap solution. And I particularly dont like the use of the term autism centre, because it sounds othering. It sounds like children are going to be bussed away to a special place set away from other children. The language that was used last night was not the right language, and certainly has been badly received by parents and by advocates in the sector. I hear that and I get that. Thanks to our Special Education Consultative forum for meeting this morning. As I've reassured them, there are lots of proposals and ideas that come from the department and we want to find solutions that work for children with special educational needs Josepha Madigan (@josephamadigan) May 26, 2022 Mr Varadkar, speaking to reporters in Dublin city centre on Thursday afternoon, defended his Governments record on special education. I dont think any government has been more committed to special education than this Government, he said. Its very much the policy of Government to mainstream and integrate kids with special educational needs and make sure that they get the education theyre entitled to in their local school, in their community and thats what were absolutely committed to, he said. Sometimes we can run into problems and home tuition has to be offered as an option or, in some cases, a special school is the right option for children with very profound needs. But for the vast majority of children, what were providing them with is mainstream classes in mainstream schools. And the minister has the power to require schools to provide additional mainstream classes if thats necessary, and shes willing to use that power. China's development positive for Asia-Pacific: Singaporean PM Xinhua) 14:10, May 26, 2022 SINGAPORE, May 26 (Xinhua) -- China's development is positive for the Asia-Pacific region and many countries expect to take advantage of the opportunities presented by its growth, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said. China is "the biggest trading partner of nearly every country in Asia, including Japan and Singapore. It is natural, and it is something that the regional countries generally welcome, because it creates opportunities for cooperation, trade, prosperity," Lee said in an interview with Japan's Nikkei Editor-in-Chief Tetsuya Iguchi on Monday. Expressing his support for the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Lee said, "We are a member of the Group of Friends of the GDI." On economic cooperation with China, Lee observed, "You cannot afford not to do business with China. The opportunities are there, the markets are there, and you want to trade with them, and soon, many countries will be welcoming their investments as well." He also said that there is a need to look for potential all around the world, and to keep a balance. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Volkswagen is a German motor vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front, known for their iconic Beetle, it is the flagship brand of the Volkswagen Group, the largest car maker by worldwide sales in 2016 and 2017. The group's biggest market is in China, which delivers 40% of its sales and profits. The German term Volk translates to "people", thus Volkswagen translates to "people's car". Bernard Charles Ecclestone is a British business magnate. He is the former chief executive of the Formula One Group, which manages Formula One motor racing and controls the commercial rights to the sport, and part-owns Delta Topco, the previous ultimate parent company of the Formula One Group. As such, he was commonly described in journalism as the 'F1 Supremo'. As Russia concentrates its attack on the east and south of the country, residents of the Kyiv region are returning to assess the war's toll on their communities. Racing Victoria has purchased a large parcel of land in Melbournes north-west, a property more than three times the size of Flemington racecourse. A battle over airplane noise in Brisbane has some pilots criticising a proposal to move incoming flight paths over Moreton Bay, which they say might endanger pilots. ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Delegations from Sweden and Finland were scheduled on Wednesday to hold talks in Ankara with senior Turkish officials in an effort to overcome Turkeys objections to their historic bids to join the NATO alliance. Sweden and Finland submitted their written applications to join NATO last week in a move that marks one of the biggest geopolitical ramifications of Russias war in Ukraine and which could rewrite Europes security map. Turkey has said it opposes the two Nordic countries membership in the military alliance, citing grievances with Sweden's and a to a lesser extent Finlands perceived support to the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and other entities that Turkey views as a security threat. It also accuses the two of imposing arms exports restrictions on Turkey and refusing to extradite suspected terrorists. Turkeys objections have dampened Stockholm's and Helsinkis hopes for their quick membership in NATO amid Russias invasion of Ukraine and puts the trans-Atlantic alliance's credibility at stake. All 30 NATO members must agree to admit new members. The Swedish and Finnish delegations are poised to take up Turkeys grievances with Ibrahim Kalin, the spokesman of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal. The Swedish delegation would be headed by state secretary Oscar Stenstrom while Jukka Salovaara, the foreign ministry undersecretary, would lead the Finnish delegation, Turkish officials have said. The PKK, which is listed as a terror organization by several of Turkeys allies, has waged a decades-long insurgency against Turkey, a conflict that has cost the lives of tens of thousands people. Turkey this week listed five concrete assurances it is demanding from Sweden, including what it... As Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are set to join Queen Elizabeth II in Platinum Jubilee, they would sort of be reunited with the Royal Family through their waxwork figures. PinkNews 31 May 2022 Actor Kevin Spacey has said he will voluntarily appear before court in the UK after being charged with several counts of.. As the Russian army launched fresh assaults against towns in the Donbas, the Ukrainian president asked for more weapons, rejecting the idea that Kyiv should make territorial concessions to Moscow. The fire is thought to have been caused by a short circuit at the hospital in Tivaouane, officials say. Wibbitz Top Stories 05 May 2022 Bank of England, Warns of Recession, as British Pound Plummets. On May 5, the British pound was preparing for its biggest.. The German leader is speaking at the final day of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The consequences of Russia's war in Ukraine have dominated this year's talks in Davos, Switzerland. The 18-year-old perpetrator shot his way past two police officers and barricaded himself into a classroom to kill 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School, witnesses said. F1-Fansite 28 May 2022 May 28 - Bernie Ecclestone has played down widespread reports that he was arrested in Brazil after trying to smuggle a gun onto a.. The Hollywood actor faces charges of four counts of sexual assault against three men in the UK. Spacey was among the high-profile figures accused of sexual assault during the #metoo movement. Newsy 02 Jun 2022 Watch VideoFamilies broken by the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas want answers to a question asked in the first moments of the.. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Marina had no idea her sons would be sent to Ukraine, and fighting in east at "maximum intensity". Fish-and-chips purveyors in Britain are battling rising prices due to a host of factors that include the war in Ukraine, post-Brexit fishing quotas and COVID-era business challenges. When Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern arrived at the Capitol Building in Washington DC on Thursday, the flags were at half-mast.The shootings at Robb Elementary School in Texas that took the lives of at least 19 children and three... Here's the latest for Wednesday, May 25th: Governor: Texas gunman said he was going to shoot up school; Will Congress act on guns after Uvalde?; Jill Biden welcomes baby formula shipment from Europe; Priceless golden manuscripts on display. In Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were killed, everyone, it seemed, had a connection to those lost. The chain H-E-B is also giving people the option to donate via its website or through its delivery app. The company's nonprofit arm the Spirit of Giving Fund will then disburse those donations. Fort Polk, LA (71446) Today Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm this evening. Then partly cloudy. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. National correspondent Trevor Hughes sets the scene in Uvalde of a community in mourning, a huge asteroid will near Earth this week: 5 Things podcast A high school student in Texas has been arrested after he was seen holding an assault rifle and walking towards a high school in Richardson.This comes just a day after 19 children and two adults were killed in a school shooting... Secretary of State Antony Blinken said China is testing American diplomacy like "never before," as he laid out how the U.S. should respond. BOISE, Idaho (AP) A California man convicted of kidnapping an 11-year-old Idaho girl could be released from prison after five to seven months if he successfully completes a treatment program. Third District Judge Randall Grove on Tuesday sentenced Brian Sangjoon Lee to up to 10 years in prison, but retained jurisdiction and said Sangjoon could be released from prison and placed on probation before 2023 if he completes the Idaho Department of Correction program, the Idaho Statesman reported. The treatment program is designed for low-risk offenders and is administered in prison over a five- to seven-month span. Offenders who successfully complete the program are placed on probation rather than finishing their prison terms. Lee pleaded guilty to second-degree kidnapping in exchange for prosecutors reducing the charge from first-degree kidnapping. Second-degree kidnapping carries a maximum penalty of up to 25 years in prison. Prosecutors said the 20-year-old Lee traveled from a Los Angeles suburb to Idaho in August 2021 after making arrangements with the girl through an online gaming program. The child was found at a Nampa hotel after police searched her cell phone and found she'd been in communication with Lee's California phone number. Deputy Canyon County Prosecutor Shari Dodge said Lee took the girl after she told him that she was being abused by her family. Lee's defense attorney, Michael Jacques, said the child was lying about being abused. The bottom line is this is every parents nightmare, Dodge said during the sentencing. We can debate whether (the child) may have some blame in this but I come back to the fact that she was 11. Toward the end of the roughly 90-minute sentencing hearing, Lee read a prepared statement in which he stated regret for every part of the worst decision hes ever made. I would like to deeply apologize to the victim and the victims family for all the stress and pain that I caused them, Lee said. And I would also like to deeply apologize to my loving parents and family for getting myself in this situation. The judge said Lee was young and naive, and placing him directly on probation would not be helpful for his rehabilitation. It is noble to want to help someone else, to save someone else, but its foolish to do it the wrong way, Grove said in court. You were absolutely foolish in this case. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Tereasa Nims. Wednesday, May 25 9:54 p.m. - Deputies were sent to an assisted living home in Ingersoll Twp. to try to locate a missing 19-year-old man. Deputies located the man walking on the shoulder of the roadway. The man was successfully returned home without incident. The man was out for a walk. 9:49 p.m. - Deputies responded to a Jerome Township location for a possibly intoxicated driver. Deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the 47-year-old woman was intoxicated. The woman was placed under arrest and later lodged in the Midland County Jail without incident. A report was sent to the prosecutors office. 8:13 p.m. - A deputy spoke with a 36-year-old Larkin Township resident who had questions regarding photography on private property. 7:47 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township residence regarding a report of a 62-year-old intoxicated man who was no longer wanted at a residence. Deputies assisted the man back to his residence without incident. No further action was requested from the Sheriff's Office. 8:01 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a Porter Township building that was broken into. A deputy spoke with a 62-year-old Porter Township man who is in the process of completing a full list of stolen items. This incident is under investigation. 4:34 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to the Bob Moe Little league Park in Midland Township for a pickup truck doing donuts in the parking lot. When deputies arrived, the vehicle was gone. The caller requested extra patrols in the area. 2:59 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Lincoln Township residence for a verbal argument between a 46-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman. The parties were separated after the woman went next door to her mother's house. 1:12 p.m. An Animal Control deputy received a call for an ongoing problem with a dog running loose from a home in Jerome Township. The dog owner has received verbal warnings on several previous occasions. The complaint was referred to the prosecutor. 12:25 p.m. - A deputy assisted Child Protective Services with a wellbeing check of a 6-year-old who had been absent from school. The child was in good health and the 28-year-old mother had pulled the child out of school to be homeschooled. 10:28 a.m.- Deputies were dispatched to a Mills Township location for threats made via telephone to a 67-year-old Mills Township man. Deputies attempted to contact the suspect without success. 10:07 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township residence for a verbal argument between a 27-year-old man and his 49-year-old mother. The mother and other family members left. There was no assault. 9:51 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township business for a 35-year-old Saginaw woman with warrants out of Midland County. Deputies were unable to locate the woman. 10:38 a.m. - The owner of an Ingersoll Township business requested that a deputy tell a 57-year-old Lincoln Township woman that she is not welcome at the business. The owner was advised of the legal requirements of trespassing, and still asked the deputy to advise the woman. The deputy spoke with the woman and advised her of the owner's wishes. 12:37 a.m. - Deputies responded to Jerome Township to assist Jerome Township Fire with a report of a vehicle on fire parked off of the roadway. Deputies arrived on scene and spoke with the 36-year-old male owner of the vehicle, who reported no injuries. No further assistance was needed from the Sheriff's Office. Midland County added 223 cases from May 19-25, according to the state's website on Wednesday. COVID-19 numbers May 19-25 Midland County added 223 cases from May 19-25. Overall, Midland County has 18,181 cases, 1,734 probable cases, 211 deaths and 15 probable deaths. Bay County added 199 cases and three deaths. Overall, Bay County has 25,185 cases, 2,806 probable cases, 561 deaths and 33 probable deaths. Gladwin County added 32 cases. Overall, Gladwin County has 4,833 cases, 832 probable cases, 111 deaths and four probable deaths. Isabella County added 86 cases. Overall, Isabella County has 13,649 cases, 2,467 probable cases, 193 deaths and 21 probable deaths. Saginaw County added 492 cases and five deaths. Overall, Saginaw County has 47,138 cases, 4,197 probable cases, 905 deaths and 49 probable deaths. Overall, Michigan is at 2,527,831 confirmed and probable cases and 36,357 confirmed and probable deaths. MyMichigan Health statistics As of May 16, MyMichigan Medical Center in Midland was listed as having a 87% bed occupancy with 14 COVID patients and one in the ICU. MyMichigan Medical Center in Gladwin was listed as having a 32% bed occupancy with one COVID patient and none in the ICU. Both medical centers reported having at least 15-30 days worth of personal protection equipment (N95 masks, surgical masks, gowns, gloves and eye protection) on hand. Recovered According to the Midland County Health Department website, 17,656 Midland County individuals have recovered from COVID. This data was last updated on May 16. Testing Midland Countys seven-day rolling positivity rate between May 16-22 was listed at 23.7% and Gladwin Countys was listed at 13.9%. Midland and Gladwin counties have high community transmission. Our 12-county region was listed at 21.1% and Michigan was at 15.9%. Every household in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests for free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. To place an order for at-home COVID tests, visit covidtests.gov. Midland County vaccinations Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available at clinics administered by the health department at the Midland County Services building, 220 W. Ellsworth St., Midland. The health department will vaccinate anyone who needs a first or second dose; those who need their second dose must bring their vaccination card. Following FDA approval, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging all eligible Michiganders to get a Johnson & Johnson, Moderna or Pfizer booster vaccine if they have received their primary COVID-19 vaccines. Following CDC approval, MDHHS is urging all eligible Michiganders 12 and up to get the Pfizer booster vaccine if they have received their two primary COVID-19 vaccines. Currently, Pfizer is the only authorized vaccine for under age 18. The Midland County Department of Public Health has vaccine booster shots available for children ages 5-11. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may prefer the vaccine type they originally received and others may prefer to get a different type of booster vaccine. CDCs recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots. Consult your healthcare provider if there is a question which vaccine is appropriate for you. Michiganders should bring their COVID-19 vaccine card or immunization record with them when getting their booster dose, which is available at any vaccine provider. Downloadable immunization records are accessible free at the Michigan Immunization Portal. To obtain their record, Michiganders must create a MILogin account at Michigan.gov/MiImmsportal and upload a valid government issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID or passport. If you do not have records in the portal, contact your healthcare provider or local health department. Future COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Midland County are listed at www.co.midland.mi.us/HealthDepartment/COVIDVaccineInformation.aspx. Those with questions may call 989-832-6380 or email MCDPH@co.midland.mi.us. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HONOLULU (AP) Federal investigators blamed a deadly 2019 helicopter crash in Hawaii on the pilots decision to keep flying into worsening weather, and in a report Tuesday they accused regulators of lax oversight of air tours that are popular among tourists to the islands. The National Transportation Safety Board said that the Federal Aviation Administration had delayed installing aviation weather cameras that might have alerted the pilot to the fog-shrouded conditions in a mountainous region on the island of Kauai. The board also said the FAA failed to do enough to ensure that tour pilots in Hawaii are trained in handling bad weather. Safety board Chair Jennifer Homendy said some will be quick to single out the pilot for causing the crash, which killed all seven people on board, but that she was troubled more by the FAAs role. The fact is that this tragedy should never have occurred. It was 100% preventable, Homendy said. There was minimal FAA oversight of the safety of air tour operations in Hawaii. The FAA should be leading on safety, not ceding their responsibility to the industry that they are charged with regulating. Kauai, with its steep sea-side cliffs and mountainous terrain, often experiences fast moving weather systems that can change conditions quickly, especially in winter months. The tour helicopter operated by Safari Aviation was carrying the pilot and six passengers three adults and three children, the youngest was 10 when it crashed in turbulent weather near the famed Na Pali Coast. Witnesses and other pilots reported fog, rain and low visibility around the time of the crash, and some pilots had turned around. The pilot, 69-year-old Paul Matero, had his license revoked in 2010 after testing positive for marijuana, but his certificate was reinstated in 2012. A toxicology report after the crash found no drugs in Materos system. Matero was not licensed to fly solely by instruments. The FAA said it has installed weather cameras at five locations in Hawaii including two on the island of Kauai although none in the area of the crash and it plans to install 21 more across six islands by the end of next year. The FAA has been operating weather cameras in Alaska for more than 20 years. The NTSB said it found no mechanical problems with the helicopter, but it said Safari Aviations lack of a formal process to identify safety hazards contributed to the accident. The FAA said it has started writing regulations to require tour and charter operators to adopt safety-management systems to identify and minimize risks a longtime NTSB recommendation. Air tour operators today can apply to the FAAs voluntary Safety Management System program, and we have rule making underway to make these systems a requirement, the FAA said in an emailed statement. The safety board voted 4-0 to adopt a staff-written outline of the probable cause of the crash, along with 10 safety recommendations, eight of them directed at the FAA. The board also renewed nine other past recommendations to the FAA, including requiring tour helicopters to be retrofitted with so-called black boxes that would aid investigators after crashes. Currently, FAA requires the devices on air ambulance helicopters, and manufacturers include them on some models. The agency said it encourages air tour operators to equip their aircraft with flight data recorders and is considering requiring the devices. ___ Koenig reported from Dallas. Monrovia, Liberia (PANA) - Liberia's most formidable opposition political coalition, dogged by a row over the purported forgery of documents, has vowed to put up a spirited battle against state prosecutors in court Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan coast guards have in two separate operations rescued 168 illegal migrants of various nationalities who were heading for European shores in two wooden boats Photo: (Photo : Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) Some students at a South Carolina high school will not be allowed to walk at the graduation ceremony after they pulled a prank on the school premises that allegedly damaged properties. More than 30 kids joined the prank at Darlington High School on Thursday, May 12. While there were underclassmen involved, there were also senior students who are set to graduate on May 27. The kids, however, did more than just a prank because some school properties were vandalized, according to SC Now. Even the principal's office and central offices were not spared from the thrashing made by the students. Some of the kids also allegedly stole items and money thus prompting the school to call the police to conduct an investigation. In a statement, the Darlington County School District said that those who participated in the prank will be subjected to the school's discipline policy and may be charged with burglary, vandalism and trespassing. Police Chief Kelvin Washington said that they are closely working with the school officials given the scope of the damage and the number of perpetrators. Some of the students were already suspended or banned from joining senior week. They were also told they cannot join the graduation march. Read Also: High School Senior Disenrolled, Denied Graduation After Missing Classes Due to Open-Heart Surgery "It was just a senior prank" However, some senior students told ABC 15 News that the school principal was trying to make the situation worse when they insisted that they only placed toilet paper and saran wrap around the school. They were simply following the tradition observed at Darlington High School. Senior high school student Jordan Wilds said the school's ban on the graduation ceremony has robbed the kids and their parents of 12 long years of hard work. Wilds said that some of the students affected have been honor students and student-athletes. Other students also insisted that someone from the school gave them permission to do the traditional senior prank. They insisted that there is no proof of vandalism or stolen items despite the police report. Some of the parents have also spoken up about the incident and said that they gave their kids permission to participate in the prank. Though the school officials said the kids trespassed, mom Taisha Rubin belied the claims and said that the parents would not have given their permission if the prank involved breaking into school property. Mom Kim Britt also said that her daughter never had any disciplinary issues with the school before. She finds the school's punishment "over the top." Britt's sister and kids are driving to South Carolina from Dallas to celebrate the graduation but they will not see her daughter march. Some of the residents also think that the punishment might affect the senior students' college scholarships. The parents are working out a reverse of the decision to ban the kids. Cops Called at Graduation Rites After Parents Argued Meanwhile, the police were also involved in a graduation ceremony at The Lafayette Parish School System in Louisiana. The Advocate reported that three parents fought during the ceremony at J.W. Faulk Elementary School but it was not clear why they had a verbal altercation. Some of the kids were crying following the brawl. The police cited the parents for a misdemeanor. Parents at the high school graduation in Boston were also caught on video physically fighting each other. According to the viral video, the parents had been arguing about the seats and some of the moms pushed and shoved each other. Related Article: Parents Confused After Daughter Completes High School Early But Wasn't Allowed to Walk in Graduation Rites Portfolio holding Nvidia (NVDA) reported its April quarter results on Wednesday evening. Revenue soared 46.4% year over year to $8.29 billion, besting the $8.09 billion consensus, while EPS for the quarter clocked in at $1.36, $0.07 per share ahead of the consensus forecast. Data Center revenue climbed 83% YoY to $3.75 billion while Gaming revenue rose 31% YoY to $3.62 billion. Professional Visualization revenue grew 67% YoY to $622 million while the company's Automotive and Robotics revenues fell 10% YoY to $138 million. Those positives were overshadowed by the company's soft guidance, which it chalked up to the lack of Russia data center related revenue, roughly $100 million, and expected declines in its Gaming business and China lockdown supply issues to account for $400 million. In total, Nvidia sees those factors hitting its revenue by $500 million in the current quarter, leading it to guide July quarter revenue to $7.94 billion-$8.26 billion vs. the $8.44 billion consensus. Here's the thing, though: That revised guidance, which arguably the market has been expecting given the growing number of comments particularly about the impact of China's lockdown, still points to 22%-27% top-line growth year over year. In other words, Nvidia continues to benefit from strong demand across its end markets, especially data center, a market we know is seeing incremental capital spending. Some will no doubt argue Nvidia would have guided revenue for the July quarter above expectations if not for those factors, but we're not going to play "could have been." Instead, we'll recognize the near-term headwinds that are likely to restrain Nvidia's business and the shares, and as a result, drop our rating to Two from One. We'll also cut our price target on NVDA to $225 from $300. We'll look to revisit our rating as we get clear signs China's lockdowns are easing and production is ramping back toward normalized levels. In terms of potential downside, it's likely to be limited given the favorable outlook for data center demand in the coming quarters as well as the Nvidia's increased and extended share repurchase program. Alongside its April-quarter results, Nvidia announced it has upsized that program to a total of $15 billion through December 2023. Given where the stock currently trades this is a program that is likely to be widely used and provide some support. Photo: (Photo : SAMUEL CORUM/AFP via Getty Images) The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched an investigation into baby formula manufacturers on Tuesday, May 24, to determine whether corporate mergers contributed to a nationwide supply shortage by concentrating the industry. FTC Chair Lina Khan said that the commission would also investigate whether infant formula makers and distributors engaged in illegal economic discrimination that limited the availability of their products at some retailers. Khan issued a statement to CNBC about the investigation, saying, "Discriminatory terms and conditions can exacerbate the inability of some grocers, pharmacies, and other stores to source products in short supply, impacting both rural and inner-city communities in particular." Baby formula shortage worsened after the Abbott plant closure Parents across the United States have struggled to find a formula for their babies and infants at stores after Abbott Nutrition shut down its facility in Sturgis, Michigan, back in February due to bacterial contamination. Four infants who consumed formula made at the Michigan plant were hospitalized with bacterial infections, and two of them later died. Abbott has said there is "no conclusive evidence" that its infant formula led to the hospitalizations and deaths. Four manufacturers-Abbott, Nestle USA, Perrigo, and Mead Johnson Nutrition-control 90 percent of the U.S. market. The supply chain in the United States is easily disrupted when one formula plant goes offline. USA Today reported that Abbott and the Food and Drug Administration reached an agreement to reopen the Michigan facility to help ease the baby formula shortage, subject to conditions the company has to fulfill to ensure the plant meets American food safety standards. The agreement, called a consent decree, is enforceable by federal courts. Abbott faces the threat of $30,000 daily fines if it fails to comply. President Joe Biden asked the FTC earlier this month to investigate the baby formula shortage to determine whether manufacturers contributed to the problem by keeping formula from smaller retailers. Biden also asked the commission to stop any businesses or individuals from taking advantage of the scarcity by price-gouging affected parents. Read Also: US Births Increase Last Year, But Still Less Than Pre-COVID Pandemic Numbers Khan says FTC would use the full force of the law against scammers Khan said the FTC would use the full force of the law against anyone who is found to be scamming families who are trying to buy formula, including through online bots that automatically purchase and resell formula at unreasonably high prices. Khan said that while reselling these formula products is not illegal and may serve a useful function, using online bots or other automated tools to divert large amounts of supply of life-sustaining products from ordinary retailers and then prey on desperate families may constitute an unfair practice under the FTC Act. Biden recently invoked the Defense Production Act, a law passed in response to the Korean War, to help manufacturers boost production by ordering suppliers to prioritize the delivery of ingredients for baby formula. The White House also announced that the U.S. is airlifting the equivalent of 1.5 million eight-ounce bottles of formula from abroad. Related Article: British Dad Runs Off With Ukrainian Refugee Just 10 Days After Family Takes Her In Photo: (Photo : Getty images ) Families, former students, and community members hailed two Texas teachers as heroes after protecting their students from Salvador Ramos, 18, who attacked the school Tuesday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of 19 students; the two teachers and the gunman himself. As per CNBC, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Lt. Chris Olivarez said that the shooter was able to enter a classroom, barricaded himself inside, and began shooting children and teachers there. The two teachers died trying to shield their students from the gunman after they burst into the classroom. The gunman was armed with a long-barrelled rifle with multiple rounds of ammunition and wore a "tactical vest" as body armor. As community members struggle with why the gunman senselessly killed innocent people, family, colleagues, and former students call the two fallen teachers heroes for protecting their students from the gunman. The two fourth grade teachers, Irma Garcia,46, and Eva Mireles,44, had been co-teaching together for five years. Garcia taught at the Robb Elementary School for 23 years, while Mireles was in her 17th year. Irma Garcia A mother of four, Garcia considered her students as her family and is best remembered by family and students as a sweet, kind, and loving teacher. Her nephew, John Martinez, wrote on Twitter that his aunt passed away with children in her arms as she tried to protect them. He urged everyone to pray for his aunt, who "died as a hero," adding that she was loved by many and will truly be missed. She was named "teacher of the year" and had dedicated her entire career to the school where she was shot. As per ABC, she was one of the 19 San Antonio-area educators named as finalists for Trinity University's prize for excellence in teaching in 2019. She taught third grade, specializing in social studies and ELAR, or English Language Arts and Reading. She shares a glimpse of her personal life with her students: her love for barbecuing with Joe, her husband of 24 years. Her eldest son was at a military boot camp, while her second son was at the Texas State University. She had two younger daughters as well. Garcia is now the focus of a GoFundMe campaign spotlighted by Bull Pulte. The latter urged his 3.2 million Twitter followers to donate money for the funeral cost and help the family. Donations have climbed to over $50,000 from nearly 2,000 donors. Read Also: 4-year-old Boy Saves Toddler Sister From Drowning; Mom Encourages Swim Lessons For Kids Eva Mireles The daughter of Mireles, Adalynn Ruiz, posted an emotional tribute on her Facebook, saying that her mom "selflessly jumped in front of her students to save their lives." She also described her mom as the "half that makes me whole" and her twin. Mireles was certified in special education and bilingual education. She wrote in her school biography that she had a "supportive, fun, and loving family." Her husband, Ruben Ruiz, is a police officer and held a shooting drill on March 22 at Uvalde High School, where the gunman was a student, New York Post reported. A parent, Audrey Garcia, said that Mireles was a dedicated teacher to her daughter, Gabby, who has Down Syndrome, and remembered that the teacher "never saw Gabby as having less potential than any of the other students." Related Article: Mom Issues Warning After Her Baby Got Killed by an Amber Teething Necklace This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions During Apple's last Financial Conference Call on April 28, CFO Luca Maestri stated: "We grew in each of our product categories except iPad, which remains significantly supply constrained throughout the quarter. Today, a new analytical report covering tablets in mainland China shows that Apple remained the leader in tablets but took a massive hit. A new report by Canalys shows that Apple and Huawei remained first and second in Chinas tablet rankings, but both faced supply issues, leading to declines of 29% and 11% respectively as presented in their chart below. (Click on image to Enlarge) With a greater focus on its Mi Pad line, Xiaomi climbed to third place with 0.6 million units shipped after three quarters of consistent growth. HONOR took fourth place with 2% year-on-year growth, while Lenovo rounded off the top five with a 17% year-on-year fall in shipments. Canalys Analyst Emma Xu: "The surge in tablet use in China during the pandemic has paved the way for new vendors to enter the market. Tablet shipments reached a high in 2020, with Apple the main beneficiary, as there were limited brand options as Huawei struggled. Though the markets momentum was lost as life returned to normal, we are now seeing a similar situation develop as the latest lockdowns are set to cause an uptick in demand. The difference this time is that smartphone vendors such as OPPO, vivo and realme have launched their first tablets as part of strategies to build wider product ecosystems. These players are entering the market at a time when the Chinese government is encouraging investment in digital education, not just in large cities, but in smaller towns and rural areas. The success of these new entrants will firmly rest on their ability to deliver quality user experiences in line with evolving consumer needs while also navigating a difficult supply chain environment." For more on this and for stats relating to PC shipments in Mainland China where Apple doesn't appear in the top five vendors, review the Canalys full report. Hyundai Motor Group said on Sunday it would invest an additional $5 billion in the United States by 2025 to strengthen collaboration with U.S. firms in advanced technology. The investments, announced during a visit to Seoul by President Joe Biden, are for robotics, urban air mobility, autonomous driving and artificial intelligence, the group said. Hyundai Motor Group, which houses Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) and Kia Corp (000270.KS), on Friday announced plans to invest $5.5 billion in Georgia to build electric vehicle (EV) and battery facilities. Hyundai's new EV and battery manufacturing facilities will be based in the southern right to work state, where labour unions are less prevalent and cannot require workers to join. Biden, a Democrat, has described himself as the most pro-union president in history. But the deal, announced by Georgia's Republican governor, showed the compromises the president may have to make as he woos investment overseas. "Hyundai and any company investing in the United States would benefit greatly from entering into partnerships with some of the most highly skilled, dedicated, and engaged workers in the world, anywhere you can find; and that is American union members," Biden said. "Every venture to manufacture electric vehicles and electric vehicle batteries would be made stronger by a collective bargaining relationship with our unions." Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung did not comment on U.S. unions. The new investment brings its planned U.S. total through 2025 to about $10 billion, above the $7.4 billion it announced last year. The world's third-biggest automaker by vehicles sales did not say where in the United States the additional $5 billion would be invested. The auto group said on Wednesday it would invest 21 trillion won ($16 billion) through 2030 to expand its EV business in South Korea. Source: REUTERS Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Customs officers in Burkina Faso seized a record haul of around 115 kilograms of cocaine worth more than $11.5 million last week, the directorate general of customs said in a statement on Wednesday. The drugs were intercepted on Thursday along the main road linking the southwestern city of Bobo to the capital of Ouagadougou, hidden in a vehicle with a foreign plate pretending to transport manioc flower. The vehicle was loaded in Sierra Leone and drove through Guinea and Mali before crossing into Burkina Faso, a customs spokesman told Reuters. Its final destination was Ghana. All smugglers on board escaped from the scene and no arrests have been made, the spokesman added. Cocaine hauls have become increasingly common in West Africa, a region often used as a transit route for illegal drugs en route from South America to Europe. Niger confiscated more than 200 kilograms of cocaine from a truck in January, while Ivory Coast seized a record of more than 2 tonnes of pure cocaine last month. Authorities in Gambia and Senegal have also made significant hauls in recent months. Source: REUTERS Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video analysis Rwanda is getting its turn to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting from 20 June to 25 June 2022. The grouping of former imperialist Britain power plus its dismantled empire of former colonies, protectorates, and mandates has not had its biennial summit since 2018 because of COVID restrictions. Rwanda, one of the five 'non-British Empire' member states, joined the 54-member organisation in 2009. Political scientist Keith Gottschalk unpacks key points of the Kigali meeting. What's the history of the Commonwealth? After the second world war, the United Kingdom dropped the use of terms like "British Empire" and "Imperial". As each colony, protectorate or mandate gained independence it was invited to join the Commonwealth of Nations, which was formed in 1949. The Commonwealth is viewed as an inter-governmental organisation of equals. The British monarch is only its ceremonial head. Its working secretariat is elected. Today, it is one of the largest international governmental organisations, surpassing its Francophone, Lusophone and Islamic equivalents. As a symbol of formal equality, it rotates its summits among members. The first summit was held in Singapore; the most recent in London. They are usually held every second year. What's its relevance in today's world? Relationships between a former imperialist power and an ex-colony are often fraught. The former imperialist power may dominate the economy of its colony for up to a century after "flag indpendence". For example, South Africa got independence in 1910, but only a century later did its trade and investment with China overtake that from the UK. The Commonwealth has done remarkably well in retaining membership, and in comity of relations, despite these background tensions. Associated entities range from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to university links. Publishers open branches in other Commonwealth countries: Oxford University Press is the most prominent of these. The average country in the developing world cannot afford to maintain more than ten or a dozen embassies abroad. Summits like the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting provide useful opportunities for networking. It brings over 50 heads of government to the same town at the same time. It is convenient to arrive a day early, or depart a day late, to allow time for lobbying as well as wheeling and dealing. Past summits have not had dramatic outcomes, but cleared the air through discussions and negotiations about why different governments follow different policies. For 'non-British Empire' states, what's the attraction? Many states find it a gain in prestige and influence to add the Commonwealth to their portfolio. Rwanda, Cameroon, Mozambique, Mauritius and the Seychelles are all examples of states with multiple international affiliations. (Mauritius and the Seychelles were ruled successively as French, then British colonies.) In the case of Rwanda, joining the Commonwealth was also intended as a diplomatic slap in the face to the French government from a Francophone country. Rwanda was a German colony, then a Belgian mandate, and was never under British rule. But the central Africa nation has been viewed as a French enclave in Africa. Rwanda has been bickering with France for nearly 30 years, over involvement in the 1994 genocide. It's only since the 2021 visit to Kigali by President Emmanuel Macron that relations seem to have taken a positive turn. What does Rwanda gain by hosting the summit? It gives President Paul Kagame prestige and soft power. Kagame is often termed "the west's favourite dictator" because he gets no public criticism from states in Europe and northern America. But he receives a steady trickle of criticism from civil society groups over repression of rivals at home and dispatch of death squads to assassinate opponents abroad. Author and journalist Michela Wrong's Do Not Disturb bestseller, and reactions to the jailing of Paul Rusesabagina, who saved lives in Rwanda's genocide, are just the latest examples of this undercurrent of condemnation. Ascension to the African Union chairmanship in 2018 brought more prestige to Kagame than usual for other chairs. His proposal to the African Union to narrow its focus in the interests of efficiency, and revise its collection of annual membership dues was widely accepted. This international role brought much positive publicity (in Africa) to Kagame and Rwanda. A Commonwealth summit in Kigali enables President Kagame to showcase the modernity of his capital, and position himself as central in international diplomatic networks. Kigali has an impressive convention centre, for instance. Kagame also gets the opportunity to project all the positive dimensions of his achievements such as economic growth (which averaged 7.2% over the decade before the COVID-19 outbreak) and a pro-information technology policy that includes distributing smartphones to households. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Rwanda Governance International Organisations By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The summit will no doubt include tours of the 1994 genocide museum for the visiting heads of state and government, and accompanying media. Rwanda is a continental leader in effective family planning. Rwanda also boasts the world record for the highest percentage of MPs who are women, over 60%. This is especially rare in African parliaments. What are the risks of such a high-profile event? There are dangers in the spotlight. Some human rights protest organisations could use the opportunity to seek media attention, to argue that it is inappropriate for a country with Kagame's human rights record to host the Commonwealth summit. Rule of law, human rights, freedom of expression and democracy are some of the values of the Commonwealth. Rights groups could organise protests outside Rwandan embassies in western countries. And should Rwandan troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo be involved in battles, or minerals looting, during the summit, this could also detract from the summit prestige accruing to Kagame. But overall, this Commonwealth summit will be another feather in the cap of President Kagame. Keith Gottschalk, Political Scientist, University of the Western Cape The former Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei and his brother-in-law, Francis Kwaku Arhin, standing trial on corruption-related offences have been granted five million cedis bail each with two sureties to be justified. This was after the Special Prosecutor (SP), Kissi Adjebeng did not oppose bail at the Criminal Division of the High Court presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Nsenkyire today. Mr Adjei has been charged with 17 counts made up of eight counts of using public office for-profit and nine counts of directly and indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract while Mr Arhin was charged with one count of using public office for profit. The court ordered Mr Adjei to deposit his passport at the court registry and apply for it anytime he wanted to travel. The sureties were also to deposit their national identification cards with the registry while the case has been adjourned to June 28, 2022. Giving direction for the trial, the court ordered the prosecution led by the SP to file disclosures and serve the accused persons with all the documents they intended to rely on for the trial as well as all witness statements within four weeks. The accused persons were also to file the names and addresses of all their witnesses in case a prima facie case was made against them and file an alibi if any. The SP presenting the case indicated that Mr Adjei improperly and unlawfully conducted and participated in tendering processes in awarding government contracts to Talent Discovery Limited without disclosing that he was a major shareholder of the company. As a member of the governing board of PPA, Mr Adjei, the SP said used the company as a sure bet of winning the public bids and as the implementor of the decision of the board unlawfully altered the decision to favour his company. Within a short period, the SP said Mr Adjei amassed a "fantastic amount" of GH41million in his account. The SP who did not oppose the bail told the court to use its discretion but take into consideration the amount of GH41million discovered in the PPA boss's accounts. For Mr Arhin, the SP mentioned that he resided in the UK with his family and therefore should be spared from depositing his passport at the registry since he may be travelling in and out of the country in the course of the trial. "I will go for him from the UK myself if he fails to come to court", he told the judge. Pleading for bail for his client, Kwaku Acheampong Boateng said Mr Adjei would avail himself for proceedings. He stated that the accused since he was arrested has been cooperative with the process. "An order was granted for his accounts to be frozen and even after that we continue to be very cooperative up till now", he added. The accused he said had many businesses he was running in the country and therefore was not a flight risk. He informed the court that there was a civil aspect of the case they were pursuing and they would religiously do whatever was required of them for a smooth trial and produce people of substance to stand as sureties. Counsel for Mr Arhin also prayed the court for bail stating that his client was a businessman and has a fixed place of abode assuring to cooperate with the Office of the Special Prosecutor. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has announced it will sell some of its patented drugs at non-profit prices to the world's poorest countries. The non-profit price will take into account the cost to manufacture and transport each product to the port of entry. Launching the initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Pfizer said it would focus on infectious diseases, cancer, inflammation, rare illnesses and women's health. The company's Covid vaccine and anti-viral treatment are included in the scheme. Five African countries including Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda will be the first beneficiaries. Developing countries experience 70% of the world's disease burden but receive only 15% of global health spending. Source: BBC 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 COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited has re-launched COA Mixture, the world-acclaimed herbal medicine that supports the general wellbeing of people. COA Mixture is a well-researched plant medicine that is scientifically developed for general wellbeing and has also been approved by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). The re-launched COA Mixture is an upgrade in drug development and after going through the processes from the FDA, it has been upgraded from a food supplement to herbal medicine for general wellbeing. Speaking at the launch, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited, Professor Samuel Ato Duncan debunked notions that the COA Mixture is a cure for HIV. However, he noted that the COA Mixture is so powerful that it preserves itself and has unique phytochemicals that can support the immune system for healthy living. He also made it known that the COA Mixture is a 100 percent natural product from plants and has no artificial preservative. Professor Ato Duncan announced that the COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited is close to a research breakthrough, adding that when successful, Ghana stands to realize not less than 32 billion dollars annually from this plant medicine. This is what I want to achieve for Mother Ghana as part of my Global peace Mission Project. This will bring economic relief to Ghana and also get treatment for some diseases the world is struggling to treat, he said. He, therefore, called on the government, research institutions, and investors to collaborate with the Company in order to carry the above vision to reality. Professor Ato Duncan made it known that already, the company has acquired 1000 acres of land in the Ashanti Region to cultivate raw materials. However, he said the company needs an additional 9000 acres of land for the cultivation of raw materials to produce COA products to meet the international market demands. He donated GHC 100,000 to the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations (GHAFTRAM) to support members who have potential medicines but do not have sufficient funds to go through the process of evaluation and registration. Prof Ato Duncan appointed the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to be Patron of the COA Mixture because of his support to COA Mixture. He entreated everyone including those abroad to take COA Mixture for their general wellbeing. Source: atinkaonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minister of Trade, Allan Kyeremateng has re-affirmed the governments commitment to supporting local pharmaceutical companies to reach the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards to enable the companies to sell their products on the international market and as well compete with the other world-class medicines. The Minister gave the assurance at the re-launch of the COA Mixture by the COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited in Accra on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited today re-launched COA Mixture, herbal medicine that supports the general wellbeing of people. The COA Mixture is a well-researched plant medicine that is scientifically developed for general wellbeing and has also been approved by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). The re-launched COA Mixture is an upgrade in drug development and after going through the processes from the FDA, it has been upgraded from a food supplement to herbal medicine for general wellbeing. Speaking at the re-launch, the Trade Minister commended the COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited for manufacturing plant medicine, saying it is not just going to cater for the well-being of people but as well provide a high- skilled jobs for the youth teeming youth. Speaking at the re-launch, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited, Professor Samuel Ato Duncan debunked notions that the COA Mixture is a cure for HIV. He also made it known that the COA Mixture is a 100 percent natural product from plants and has no artificial preservative. Professor Ato Duncan announced that the COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited is close to a research breakthrough, adding that when successful, Ghana stands to realize not less than 32 billion dollars annually from this plant medicine. This is what I want to achieve for Mother Ghana as part of my Global peace Mission Project. This will bring economic relief to Ghana and also get treatment for some diseases the world is struggling to treat, he said. He, therefore, called on the government, research institutions, and investors to collaborate with the Company in order to carry the above vision to reality. Professor Ato Duncan made it known that already, the company has acquired 1000 acres of land in the Ashanti Region to cultivate raw materials. However, he said the company needs an additional 9000 acres of land for the cultivation of raw materials to produce COA products to meet the international market demands. Source: Atinkaonline 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 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to ensure that obstructions to the free flow of water, as well as developments along waterways, are removed immediately. They (MMDAs) are to also ensure the strict adherence of developers to the planning laws of Ghana, and sanction staff who have issued permits for structures to be built on waterways to serve as a deterrent to others. The President gave the directives on Wednesday when he commissioned four ultra-modern dredging equipment belonging to Dredge Masters Limited (DML), a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies at Adjei Kojo in Ashaiman near Accra. DML is a leading provider of dredging services in Ghana and across the African continent. The company has extensive experience in comprehensive integrated dredging and related services. The President said to ensure strict compliance to those directives, a monitoring unit had been established at the Jubilee House, to report the progress of the implementation of those measures to him directly. I am, thus, putting all MMDCEs on notice. You will be held accountable for any breaches that result in damage from flooding. As President of the Republic, I will not allow the selfish acts of a few to jeopardize the collective futures of the rest of us. President Akufo-Addo also admonished unpatriotic citizens to stop the dumping of refuse into open drains. Regardless of the investment that is made in the construction of well-engineered drains, the indiscriminate disposal of solid waste into open drains and channels will reduce our capacity to end the problem of flooding. I urge all those engaged in such practices to put an end to it, he charged. The President noted with the threat posed by climate change leading to many coastal nations being susceptible to flooding, it is of the utmost necessity that the integrity of shorelines is regularly maintained. Climate change is already with us in Africa it is evidenced by the prolonged and intense droughts in Eastern Africa, unprecedented floods in Western Africa and indeed in Ghana. The depletion of rain forest along the equator and increase in ocean acidity around Africas southern coast, vastly altered weather patterns and climate extremes that are threatening agricultural productions, food security, health, water and energy security, all these are undermining Africas ability to grow, develop and bring prosperity to her long-suffering masses. Thus, Dredge companies, the President said, have, traditionally, contributed to coastal protection projects and the maintenance of shorelines, and have increasingly improved their engineering technologies to achieve this. For us, in Ghana, Dredge Masters has made significant contributions to this end, and the introduction, today, of two Ultra-Modern IHC Beaver and two IHC Workboats means that Ghana, and, indeed, the West African market have their own indigenous company, with the capability of dredging to a depth of 16 metres. We do not need to look outside anymore when it comes to the dredging of dams, reservoirs, ports, harbours and in land reclamation activities, he said. President Akufo-Addo said the vision of moving Ghana to a situation beyond aid, is being assisted by the support being offered by companies such as the Jospong Group. I want to use this occasion to restate that Government will continue to create an enabling environment for the private sector not only to survive but also to thrive. We shall continue to help strengthen and empower private sector operators, he said. The President, who touched on the recent flooding in Accra, disclosed that since 2017, the government had spent GH450 million on the flood control programme, which has resulted in reduced incidence of flooding, particularly in the major flood-prone areas in Accra, such as the Odaw drainage channel. He said the fifth phase of the Accra Sanitary Sewer and Stormwater Alleviation Project, intended to ensure that the Odaw Channel is free of silt and debris, has been commissioned. Indeed, the construction of 19km of drains has been completed, whilst some 1,000km of drains have been excavated, rechanneled and maintained across the country, as part of efforts to reduce the perennial flooding of Accra, he added. President Akufo-Addo, however, admitted that more needs to be done to deal with the situation permanently, in view of recent events in Accra, and assured that Government will continue to work towards the day when Ghanaians, especially those in Accra, will live in calm and tranquillity through the rainy season. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghana has signed a US$69.88 million renewable energy agreement to enhance electricity access in the next four years. Under the agreement about 6,890 households, 6,001 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and 6,890 public buildings will be connected to electricity. About 1,350 schools and 500 health centres would also benefit from the project, which would include the design, engineering, supply, construction, installation, testing and commissioning of mini-grids and standalone systems. Seventy communities across nine Island districts through mini-grids, 505 communities in 11 districts through standalone solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the country. The Scaling-up renewable energy Programme (SREP), is to close Ghanas 12.8 percent electricity reach deficit by increasing access to clean and reliable energy and supporting socio-economic development. It is to also help reduce public sector electricity debt as well as bills for SMEs and households, while supporting the implementation of environmental, climate and social management plans in the country. Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance signed the protocol agreement with Dr Akinwumi Akin Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group. He also signed the financial agreement of the project with Mr Dominique Paravicini, AfDBs Governor for Switzerland. Speaking at the signing of the agreement, Mr Ofori-Atta, said the project: Dovetails fittingly into an urgent global agenda and demonstrates our countrys commitment to enhance the economic and social viability of low carbon investments. It is also in support of the countrys commitment to create new energy-efficient markets and stave off a future energy crisis by achieving energy sufficiency. The project also: Fully align with the Governments overarching ambition of increasing the contribution of Renewable Energy in the generation mix to 10 percent by 2030 while achieving our emission reduction targets, he added. Mr Ofori-Atta indicated that the project would provide stable and cheaper electricity to hundreds of people across the country and usher in new economic opportunities, particularly for women in rural areas. On his part, Dr Adesina noted that the project would support Ghana in meeting its renewable energy requirement on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and build a resilient economy. This project will increase access to clean and reliable electricity services and support low carbon socio-economic development of Ghana. It will directly support Ghanas efforts in building resilience to socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This would be done through the provision of electricity to healthcare centres, Island communities, enable the refrigeration of vaccines and testing facilities for COVID-19. The project will facilitate the self-sufficiency of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), through rooftop solar power generation and storage under the net metering component, he added. Mr Paravicini, said that the signing of the agreement showed Switzerlands continuous support to bring sustainable and affordable electricity to households and businesses. SREP would be implemented between 2022 and 2025, under three components; the first would comprise of the development of 38 mini-grids and standalone solar PV systems for 2,000 SMEs, 1,350 schools, 500 health centres, and 400 communities. The second component, which is net metering, aims at up-scaling existing project to about 12,000 units of roof-mounted net-metered solar PV systems to reduce public sector electricity debt and bills for SMEs and households. The final component would be the supervision of works including operating cost for SREP Project Implementation Unit, Distribution Utility, and the implementation of environmental, climate and social management plans. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday, 25th May 2022, has been selected to chair the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), an international partnership of countries highly vulnerable to a warming planet. President Akufo-Addo takes over as Chair, following the end of Bangladeshs two-year term as Chair of the Forum, which serves as a South-South co-operation platform for participating governments to act together to deal with global climate change. The President, in his remarks, congratulated Bangladesh, and, in particular, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for the leadership that has been demonstrated these past two years on the vexed issue of global climate. Your successes in leading the Climate Vulnerable Forum and V20 are a credit to Bangladesh, and represent a service done to all vulnerable nations. Ghana is, indeed, honoured to take up the mantle of Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, and will do all she can in defense of the worlds most climate threatened nations, he said. Describing Climate Change as the biggest threat to the realisation of the SDGs the President said it has become an issue of grave concern to leaders across the world, especially for those of us classified as vulnerable nations, as it has considerable impact on the fundamentals required for our survival on earth. For the sake of our and succeeding generations, we have a solemn duty to take immediate, bold and concrete steps to protect global climate from warming beyond unbearable limits, he said. The President continued, It is for this reason that Ghana will follow in the footsteps of the CVF's previous presidents in being a voice for the voiceless. As Chair of the CVF, Ghana will pursue the call for major emitters to strengthen their 2030 mitigation targets in order to bring the 1.5-degree Celsius target, on which our survival depends, within reach. As Chair of the Forum, President Akufo-Addo assured that Ghana will make the increment of adaptation financing a major priority, as well as help to unlock the Loss and Damage Fund, which will provide compensation to vulnerable developing countries for the losses and damages that they face as a result of climate impacts. Excellencies, not only will we work to help make the CVF Global Parliamentary Group's Charter a reality, but we will also expand CVF membership, particularly in Africa. When Ghana takes over the presidency of the V20 Ministers of Finance of the CVF later this year, we will continue to champion all of the V20 Groups key priorities on unlocking finance for climate action, reducing the financial protection gap, and working for an international financial system that is fit-for-purpose to fight the climate crisis, he stressed. With Bangladesh creating its own Climate Prosperity Plan, President Akufo-Addo assured that we will take forward this important programme. We plan to take climate actions that are bold and make sense for our development as we seek to emerge prosperous. He reaffirmed Ghanas commitment to work expeditiously on our own ambitious Climate Prosperity Plan. We call on all partners in the global community to lend full support to this development, as well as the realization of our vulnerable nations' valiant efforts to develop prosperity plans. 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 A newly equipped Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) facility has been handed over to the Bomeng community in the Sekyere Kumawu District and the Ghana Health Service (GHS). The health facility, valued at an estimated amount of millions of cedis, would serve the people in the community who had been faced with moving to other health facilities Like Juaben government hospital, Effiduasi government hospital and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to receive medical care. Baffour Owusu Ansah, Chief of Mampong Botaase and a member of the board at Ghana Gas noted that the handing over of the CHPS facility formed part of their commitment to promoting the concept of human security where everyone could live in dignity without fear through the protection and empowerment of individuals. The Ghana Gas board member entreated the officials of the facility to ensure a culture of maintenance so that the community can ask for more projects from Ghana Gas. The Assistant Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in charge of projects, Mr Anyimah Edomgbole said it was the usual gesture Ghana Gas has been giving to communities which need help. The Health Director in the Sekyere Kumawu District, Lawrence Adinku used the platform to appeal to other stakeholders to come to their aid since the health directorate is going through a lot of challenges. 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 The Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu has stopped short of declaring his total support for the Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi, ahead of the regional elections on Friday. Hon. Kyei-Mensah says Chairman Wontumi is one of the best persons to lead the NPP in the Ashanti Region in the quest to Break the 8-year electoral cycle. He indicated that though the party in its current state is going through some challenges, he still thinks it will require someone with experience such as Wontumi to rectify them. Speaking on Fox 97.9FM political show in Kumasi, the Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Suame, said Chairman Wontumi has a huge influence in NPP politics and credited him for his role in reviving the party in the region since his election as Chairman. "Let's be honest; we all know the role Wontumi played in the NPP, especially prior to the 2016 elections. He did a lot to revive the grassroots and has seen the party win two successive elections. Wontumi has done well and deserves to be commended" He noted. The Majority Leader further emphasized "Yes, it true things are not the way they used to be and will require some review. Some say being the incumbent, and having been around for a while, has the requisite experience to fix things." Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, has announced the Houses intention to create a platform to partner academia, legal and governance experts to lead detailed discussions on reviewing its composition and procedures. He said recent Supreme Court decisions and directives among other court cases have affected the way members conduct business in the House. We may disagree with decisions but we are bound by those decisions and have to comply and obey. We have been called upon by those decisions to take action in reviewing the composition and procedures of the House. The earlier we do that the better for all of us and the country, he said. Speaker Bagbin made the statement in a formal communication to members at the beginning of the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Eighth Parliament in Accra. The House resumed sitting on Tuesday after a six-week break. Speaker Bagbin explained that the deliberations by the experts would focus on the implications and effects of the court decisions on the practice and procedures of Parliament and the relationship between the Judiciary and the Legislature. That would provide valuable input to enable Parliament to revise and refine its rules, laws and Standing Orders to comply with the provisions of the 1992 Constitution. Speaker Bagbin said Parliament would also dedicate more attention to its oversight function, put in the legal processes to consolidate its strength, and empower members to perform their duties and responsibilities effectively. In this second session, we will take further vigorous steps to strengthen the hand of the House to hold government and state institutions accountable to the people for the power, trust, resources and hope reposed in them. The executive President, assisted by the Cabinet and state institutions, shall be called upon to account for their stewardship of the country. The Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, said Parliament must set a rule-of-thumb on borrowing and at no time should it allow any government to borrow beyond 70 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He said allowing governments with four to eight years mandate to borrow beyond 80 percent of GDP could spell doom for the nation. Therefore, we must make a decision, and this House should be able to do thatwe must cap how much any government should be able to borrow not exceeding 70 per pent of GDP per best practice, he said. Mr Iddrisu called for public inquiry into the declassification of certain portions of the Achimota Forest Reserve by the Government, saying it must be treated as an urgent matter of concern. He said the public must be made to know the processes regarding the release of the said lands to the allodial owners. The Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, called for a second look at Article 286 of the Constitution, which relates to assets declaration by public officeholders. Public office holders like Members of the Council of State, officials of EOCO, the Special Prosecutor, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, among others do not declare their assets, which did not help the fight against corruption, he said. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The state is the epicentre of banditry in the country. The governor of Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, has asked the Nigerian military to take the fight to the doorstep of the bandits terrorising residents of the state and the entire North-west region of the country. Mr Matawalle was speaking when he received a team of members of the Army War College of Nigeria who visited him on Tuesday. The governor told the military to take the fight to the bandits rather than wait for the bandits to strike before responding. While admitting the military is overstretched and in need of modern equipment, he said more is expected of it. "We understand that the military is overstretched due to the multiple security challenges facing the country as a result of which all the men in the service are currently engaged", he said. As part of efforts to boost the capacity of the military, the governor said retired military officers should be re-engaged. He said the Federal Government should continue in its drive to buy more modern equipment for the military. The leader of the team, U.U Bassey, a major general, commended Governor Matawalle for the support he renders to officers in the state. He said the military will do all it can to end the security challenges of the country. The team gave the governor an award of excellence. Zamfara, like in other areas in Nigeria's North-west region, is convulsing under the attacks by gunmen locally called bandits who attack mostly rural communities and travellers. These bandits have been blamed for killing thousands of people. They have also abducted many more in what is shaping to become one of the worst kidnap-for-ransom syndicates in the history of the country. In the face of the failure of the government to protect residents of the area, many communities have set up vigilante groups to protect residents from attacks by bandits. However, this has worsened the security challenges in the area as it has given rise to an explosion of tit-for-tat killings between the bandits (who are mostly of Fulani extraction) and the vigilante groups set up by the majority Hausa communities in the area. Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng has been petitioned to look into the alleged state lands owned by the late Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission (FC) Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John. Corruption Watch in a petition dated 24th May 2022 is asking the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate: 1. Whether the said lands were owned by the Republic of Ghana at the time of their alleged acquisition by Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Jakaypros Limited, Fasoh Limited, DML Limited and Charles Owusu. 2. The circumstances of the alleged acquisition 3. The Beneficial Owners of the companies implicated in this transaction and compliance with the reporting requirements of such persons where they are PEPs under ss. 13, 35 and 126 of the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992) 4. Who authorized the alleged sale or purchase of the lands? Read the full petition below Your browser does not support iframes. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen says the flagship programmes being implemented by government which include the Planting for Food and Jobs and One District One Factory (1D1F) initiatives alone cannot create the millions of jobs needed to solve the countrys unemployment challenges. The ministers warning is coming as the countrys unemployment rate almost tripled in little more than a decade, according to the Ghana Statistical Services 2021 Population and Housing Census. More than 1.55 million people, or 13.4 percent of Ghanas economically active population, are out of work with 19.7 percent of unemployed persons being between the ages of 15 to 35 years. Mr. Kyerematen says for the country to fix the yawning unemployment gap, theres a need for deliberate policy to support the countrys micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to play a critical role in the creation of jobs for the teeming unemployed citizens. He was speaking at a graduation and handing-over of start-up kits to beneficiaries of the apprenticeship to entrepreneurship (A2E) component under the Mastercard Young Africa Works project last Thursday in Accra. According to him, successful implementation of the programmes being jointly implemented by GEA and Mastercard Foundation will improve the ecosystem and boost the productivity of governments flagship programmes like 1D1F. He said the delivery mechanisms used by GEA to implement the Young Africa Works Project took into account all the facets of youth entrepreneurship, which is focused on equipping 39,000 young men and women with dignified jobs and 70 percent being women. In this regard, we should be grateful to the Mastercard Foundation for complementing governments efforts at training the youth in Ghana to obtain skills as well as equipping them with relevant tools to support the nations industrial transformation agenda, he said. The minister assured that government will work hard to ensure an enabling environment is created for MSMEs to be profitable and create opportunities for others in their communities. My ministry will continue to partner with both local and foreign organisations to create similar opportunities for MSMEs to enhance their productive capacities, he stated. The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey who was also speaking at the event, said the flagship programmes being implemented by government are strategies to make Ghana an industrial hub for Africa. The long-term goal of government is to create jobs for the youth in Ghana. The successful implementation of these programmes will require the requisite human resources with relevant skill-sets, he stated. Source: B&FT Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video As the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) commence its Regional elections from this Friday, May 27, 2022, the former General Secretary of the Convention People's Party (CPP), James Kwabena Bomfeh, has issued a stern warning to the leadership of the party. The NPP is holding their internal elections to elect Regional executives and will subsequently have their national elections where the party will select its national executives before it finalizes its electioneering year with the election of a flagbearer ahead of the 2024 general elections. The party recently conducted its constituency elections but were characterized by misunderstandings and some pockets of violent confrontations by the delegates as they accused their leaders of foul play. With the NPP going into its Regional elections, James Kwabena Bomfeh, popularly called Kabila, has called on the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to address the grievances of the party delegates. "Mr. President, listen to the concerns in your party because it's affecting your governance." He reminded the party of its role in securing a multiparty democratic rule in Ghana, hence warning them not to do anything to jeopardize their track record in the country's political space. "You have salvaged the nation for multiparty democracy to thrive. Don't joke with it!", he cautioned. Kabila, speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme, urged the leadership to be sincere with the party members stressing "be very careful, NPP! Tell yourselves the truth". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs has sent his well-wishes to all the candidates contesting the Ashanti Regional Chairman position of the New Patriotic Party. The New Patroitic Party (NPP) will from Friday, May 27 to Sunday, May 29, 2022 hold its Regional elections across all the 16 Regions of the country to elect Regional executives. Speaking in an interview with Kumasi-based radio station, Fox 97.9FM, ahead of the Regional elections and dwelling on the Ashanti Regional elections, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu was asked to pitch for his favorite candidate. In his submissions, he stated emphatically that all the aspirants are his favorites explaining he has a close and solid relationship with them, hence subtly avoiding the temptation to pick one for the delegates. The aspirants for the Ashanti Regional Chairmanship include Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi; the current Chairman of the Ashanti Region, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah; a former Chairman of the Afigya Kwabre constituency, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi; former Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejisu constituency, Robert Asare-Bediako; former Asokwa Chairman of the New Patriotic Party among others. All these candidates have well-served the party in their various capacities, thus the Ashanti Regional election is anticipated to be a tight contest. As an experienced Member of Parliament and a leading member of the NPP, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu noted that each of the candidates stand a good chance of winning the contest. "Some people say Chairman Wontumi has done eight years, having practiced with the system, he has the foresight for what we have to transform and lead us because he is in the room and knows our shortcomings, therefore can help us to move forward. Some people also say it appears his energy has waned, so we should look for a fresh blood to continue his reign. "A fresh blood like Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, some people are rooting for him. Others also say he (Chairman Wontumi) has done his part and if we want to change him, then we should search for an elderly person like Asare Bediako who is the Chairman of Asokwa for a long time, another person is Owusu Aduomi who is the Ejisu MP; very experienced Member of Parliament...All these nine people are my friends...I'm in good terms with all of them. I know their strengths and as they are campaigning, what I will tell them is they should sell what their capabilities", he said. Although he was fascinated by the hardwork of Chairman Wontumi as he stated that "he (Wontumi) did a lot to revive the grassroots and has seen the party win two successive elections", the Majority Leader however made it crystal clear that no one person is better than the other, as a result, wishing for the best candidate to win the elections. "All of them have their pluses and, as human as they are, they have their minuses too. So, people should weigh them and make their choice", he emphasized. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video One Corner hitmaker, Patapaa has denied reports that he has divorced his German wife, Liha Miller. He told Cape Coast-based Kastle FM, his wife, Liha Miller, has traveled back to Europe to work. You know that my wife is a white woman from Europe but not permanently based in Ghana and besides shes a nurse. So, she has gone back to make more money abroad and Im also making money here in Ghana thats why youve not been seeing her these days, he said. Patapaa and Liha got married on Saturday, January 2, 2021. Before their marriage, the two used to wow their followers with their public display of love. Interestingly after their marriage that seemed to have stopped as they no longer put their love for each other on display. Early weeks reports alleged that all is not well with the couple. They have not been seeing each other for several months now because they have allegedly separated. Liha Miller has allegedly been staying in Nigeria for over four months, where she has been shooting skits and also enjoying herself in nightclubs out there. In Patapaas father, Kwesi Amoah denial of the divorce in an interview with Adomonline confirmed that they were separated. However Patapaa says they are still married just that his wife has gone back to work, indicating his wife is a supportive woman. Shes a nurse abroad, you know that white people dont joke with their work so she has gone back to Europe after we got married last year. Shes a very intelligent, brilliant and hardworking woman thats why I thank God always for giving me such an amazing wife, Patapaa added. 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 Police and investigators are seen at the scene of a shooting in Toronto, Thursday, May 26, 2022. Toronto police say a man has died after an interaction with officers during which a police gun was fired. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim The Life of a Backpacker in Asia in the 1970s Story and photos by Kevin Kelly In an adapted excerpt from an interview on the Deviate podcast with Rolf Potts, a writer and speaker best known as a futurist talks about his early travel years in Asia, when backpacking meant cutting yourself off almost completely from the home you left. Growing up in the 1960s in New Jersey was very parochial. Before I went traveling later, I had never eaten Chinese food in my life, I had never held chopsticks. But a friend of my father's was living in Japan and I would listen to his exotic stories when he visited and his life there seemed so interesting. But I never really dreamed of going. The only other window I really had into the world beyond was National Geographic magazine. I became interested in photography in high school because I was kind of a science nerd. It seemed like a beautiful convergence of art and technology. At that time in the sixties the only way to do photography was to develop and print photos yourself, to go into the darkroom and mess with the chemicals. Photography was esoteric in the sense that there was a lot of information you had to master. Cameras were not automatic so you had to learn the system. I really got into photography in 1970 and spent a lot time in the darkroom then. My first impetus to want to travel was reading Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grassan ode to the diversity of geography. After that I suddenly got this urge to travel, something I had never really had before. Then a friend of mine told me he was moving to Taiwan for a while and invited me to come visit him there. So then I concocted a plan to take photographs in Taiwan and Japan because my father's friend had a contact for me in Japan also. I knew nothing about Asia, or even travelling; I had never even been out of New England. I knew nothing about what to expect. I went to the bookstores and it was really hard to find any information. There were these Fodor's guidebooks for people who had a lot of money. I didn't have any money. They barely covered places like Taiwan, so these books weren't of any use to me. There was no internet, of course, and the libraries didn't have much. I travelled kind of blindly because I had to. I started getting this idea that maybe I should be a National Geographic photographer so I actually called up the National Geographic office and asked for the photo editor. I was about 18 years old. I had looked at the masthead and got a name, so I called up and asked to speak to him. The guy took my call, I told him about my going to Taiwan and Japan, and asked him if he needed any photos from there. He patiently said, "Well, that's not really how it works. But show me what you've got when you get back and we'll see if any of it's worthwhile." (True to his word, he did take a look later, but I never got published there.) Thinking back it's sort of remarkable. When I was in Taiwan I came across very few other travelers. Taiwan at that time had almost no English translation anywhere. This was in the early seventies and it was similar to China in that respect. It was like I had discovered a secret world. It was very frustrating for me as someone who didn't speak Chinese or read Chinese just finding hotels because to start with there just weren't many apart from business hotels. There were no signs I could read and so I was trying to learn this character for hotel, but sometimes it was more than one character. Often they didn't look like hotels, there was just something like a garage door on the street, and then often they often didn't take foreigners. So just finding a place to sleep was actually a big deal for me as I was trying traveling around. Eventually while I was still in Taiwan, my first foreign country, I encountered these two Swiss guys who were traveling and they were describing their recent adventures going through Indonesia and India and I asked, "Wait, you mean you can just go there? You just buy a ticket and go? And they said, "Yeah you just you just go there." Then of course I asked, "Well...how do you get around? How do you know where to go? They said, "You just go and ask around." Then they were raving about the Philippines, where they had just come from, because you could get by with English. "It's just a couple hours away by flight and the fare is really cheap. You should go!" And I thought yes, I should go. I wanted to take a break from this struggle of trying to get around in Taiwan with the language barrier so I actually bought a ticket to the Philippines a week later. It was very cheap. When I got on the plane. I had nothing. I mean I had zero information. I had no guidebook, no contacts, no addresses. I didn't know anything about the country. I remember sitting there on the plane and there was a little map in the back of the seat and I thought to myself, "Wow, there are a lot of islands down here." I arrived in Manila at the airport and I didn't even know where to go. There were families meeting other people at the airport and one of them threw a little garland of flowers around me. I was asking them, "Are there hotels here in Manila? Where should I go?" I didn't have a single scrap of advance guidance. They told me to get a jeepney into the city and showed me how, so I took a jeepney from the airport and then I was walking around, seeing if I could find a hotel. I just would get a map and try to figure everything out. Well, there's a ferry here, let's see what time the ferries go. The absence of information sounds almost unbelievable to us now but that really was the state of affairs at that time and the solution was just to ask. That's easier in a place where they speak English. Asking in places like Taiwan was frustrating, it was work. There was a little bit of anxiety every day. Will I be able to find a place? I was writing down characters, trying to translate signs. In India, Burma, places like that it was a lot easier, but in Japan it was a constant struggle to communicate and find things. Very little was in English. The standard way to deal with money then was travelers checks. To cash them you had to go to a bank. Not just any bank, but a special bank, and those were usually in the biggest cities. It was always a big ritual, a lot of bureacracy, standing in different lines. That worked pretty well at the time. I would carry a few hundred dollars of cash at any given time and that continued through the 80s. You had to pace yourself with what you had and make sure you didn't run out. This was way before the internet, of course, and you couldn't make phone calls that weren't prohibitively expensive. So the way you stayed in touch was you sent aerograms. These were single thin sheets of paper that you folded up a certain way after you wrote on one side and you could send a letter to someone fairly cheaply. You would then collect mail by telling people ahead of time that you were going to Burma and they should send a letter to you post restante in Rangoon. Then in the main post office in Rangoon there would just be trays and trays of mail, these long trays, full of letters from abroad addressed to different people. There were hundreds, sometimes thousands of envelopes. Often they weren't in any order, so you just had to flip through them all to see if there was anything addressed to you. You could write a letter to anyone, anywhere in the world, and send it to post restante in that city. Japan was very expensive, even then, so I hitchhiked through Japan and stayed in youth hostels. They offered an all-you-can-eat breakfast and dinner. Granted, hostel meals were white rice, miso soup, some pickles and maybe an egg, but that was enough to keep me going most of the time. Then I'd try to find a noodle shop I could afford now and then. I was living on three or four dollars a day in Japan. In India and Burma back then you could get by on a couple dollars a day. You could really go very, very far for a few thousand dollars if you were willing to live at a level where were you stayed was in a dorm with a shared bath and no shower. I wound up going to these communal places not because I wanted to hang out with other travelers necessarily, but because that dorm became the guidebook! Every place would have these guestbooks that guests would write in. People would post key information there. There was this very thin, rarified network of people who just came from an area. Now traveling the circuit is like a rite of passage in Southeast Asia especially, but then it was like this secret network of people who would leave breadcrumbs: which hotels would accept travelers, where you could find yogurt, where to find a bus in the northern Philippines. Because this was before Lonely Planet and Moon Handbooks, this is where you would get all your information, where you picked up all your tips. I didn't identify quite with that crowd though. They were really there to have a good time, cheaply, but I had given myself an assignment. I saw myself as a working photographer. I was documenting the rare stuff. I was out all day taking photos and exploring, traveling hard, always moving. I went to those traveler guesthouses because they were the sources of information. Back then you could take a bus from London all the way to India for very little money and people were realizing you could get to places that previously took expedition level funds to reach. I remember taking an overnight bus from India to Kathmandu. That bus was probably not more than $5. I remember that morning, after traveling all night, rolling down the Kathmandu Valley and seeing the Himalayas, and a whole city with zero cars. It was like taking a spaceship to another planet for five dollars. The way things would often happen is you would meet another traveler in, say, Japan and they would say, "You can take an overnight ferry to Korea, and you know, Korea is kind of cool." So I would think, Hmmm, my visa is running out and I need to go somewhere else, and then I could come back. And it's only a few hundred dollars. I've got that much... Then when you're in Thailand, you find out it's easy to get to Burma. It's almost like you're walking out to the end of the plank and the platform keeps extending below you. You keep meeting people who have come from somewhere else and their tales would convince you that you have to go there-and you can. There were a few jobs you could do along the way, mostly teaching English. But I calculated that I could make more money working for a few months in the USA and saving money, then taking off again. I did that twice, coming home for about six months or so. So that was my solution, except when I got to Iran and I got a "real job" with a driver and everything. But then that kind of blew up in my face when the revolution in 1979 came... Most of the time I was traveling alone, though you really couldn't avoid traveling along with other people because the routes were so parallel. One of my brothers came with me twice for a while. While on one of those trips across Afghanistan, there was a coup by the Soviets. We actually got arrested and exported out of the country. I was photographing with 35mm film. I left home with 500 rolls of film in my backpack. I had 500 rolls of cellophane-wrapped boxes of film, worth a lot of money in those parts back then, and yet over 10 years, no one ever looked inside my backpack, incuding coming back to the US. I would send home maybe 20 or 30 rolls of film at a time in a box. I asked my mom to put them in a freezer when she got them. The first thing I would do when I was back home and earning money was to start getting my rolls of film developed. It was close to $5 a photo in today's money just to develop and print the photos. So I had to really think about it each time I pressed that shutter. It was almost too expensive to experiment. It sounds crazy now, but I often didn't see my pictures until years after taking them! So as you could imagine, there was this really long feedback loop between when I took the picture and when I got to actually see what it looked like. That's a horrible way to do photography where you never see your images. To make it worse, I only had a manual camera, not automatic, so my exposure and focusing could be off and I wouldn't know it. Every few months I would buy a roll of black and white film and get it developed locally just to make sure my cameras were working. I was shooting two rolls of film a day while traveling, about 70 photos. When I was growing up, my family would shoot a roll of 24 photos in a year, which was pretty typical. You'd have three holidays on one roll. It was considered radical, extreme to be shooting as many photos as I was. When I would tell people I shot 70 per day their jaws would drop. They couldn't imagine how you could find 70 things to take a photo of in one day! That many pictures in a day was considered insane. There were great shots I missed because the settings weren't automatic. There are great shots that are gone forever. But the interesting thing is, I never lost a roll of film. Some rolls of Kodachrome got heat stroke when I stored them in Delhi, which affected the color, but I never lost anything. Now I back up digital photos three times, so I still haven't lost any over 40 years. Apart from my camera gear (two camera bodies, 4 lenses) and film, I only had one change of clothes. One pair of pants, a down jacket, a sleeping bag, maybe a sweater. When I went to Sri Lanka with my brother, we left our backpacks somewhere and just brought daypacks. That was fun because we could jump off buses anywhere and stop quickly. My pants were in shreds by the end. I was a total disgrace to hosts. We were obviously not poor, but we looked poor, which was very perplexing to the locals. I was patching my own jeans, not to be cool, but because I was short on money. Sickness was a real risk in Asia. You didn't need a prescription to get any medicine at all though. I went to the library to do research on what I was experiencing in India and I figured out I had giardia. I went and got the right medicine and treated it. Another time I got hepatitus in Nepal. The remedy for that is rest and I ended up spending a whole month in a hostel in Calcutta recovering. Wherever locals drank the water, I drank the water. I think that keeps my microbiology robust. Outside of those two cases I stayed pretty healthy. I still drink local water if the locals do. There were certainly the encroachments of modern life happening, even at that time. But there were places like northern Afghanistan or Kathmandu that hadn't changed in centuries. Now those "unchanged" areas have become much smaller, like tiny corners. In places like China, they have almost disappeared entirely. Other countries like Myanmar still hold the old. Most of the world doesn't look much like the images I captured then at all. My recorded views are increasingly rare views. My first book of pictures from that timeAsia Gracewas published by the German art book publisher Taschen. I'm working on photos now for a second photo book called Vanishing Asia that I hope Taschen will also publish. There will be lots more images of the culture that is rapidly disappearing from Asia. In every culture the native costume is the first thing to go, native architecture is next. Food is one of the last to go, even in modern places where people are wearing blue jeans. So these days I like to go to places where there is still native costume and native architecture. Unfortunately these areas are shrinking. I'm not nostalgic about it; I understand the reasons behind the changes, and it's a net improvement, but someday they will be gone and I want to capture them. After 10 years, when I was hitting 30, I made a switch from being a poor nomad and I started a business. I started to write about travel and was importing and selling travel books by mail order that were hard to find, you know, guidebooks from unknown-at-that-time writers like Maureen and Tony Wheeler (Lonely Planet), Bill Dalton (Moon), and Rick Steves. I started a mail order catalog in 1981 called Nomadic Books selling their self-published guides. That led to other things, like computers, and I quickly graduated to a new class. I stopped traveling so much, had a family, and for a decade and a half in the 1980s and early 1990s I was able to resist that desire to document those disappearing wonders. Now, once my kids left home, I'm covering almost as much territory photographing as I was back then. Again, I am mostly in Asia, returning to the same original assignment, but with more money than time, rather than more time than money. I'm still trying to document these disappearing pockets of timeless places. There was definitely an isolationist aspect of Asia then that is no longer around. These were often societies that were willingly closing themselves off from the rest of the world, economically and culturally. Clearly that is no longer the case. Almost two thirds of the people on the planet live in Asia, so Asia is going to become the cultural and economic leader of the world, which is going to be a big blow to the West. That will be a huge adjustment to make. I keep returning to Asia to both record what is vanishing and to see the future that they have in store for us. Hear the full interview between Rolf Potts and Kevin Kelly on the Deviate podcast. Kevin Kelly is the co-founder of Wired magazine and one of the world's best-known authorities on where technology is headed. He is the author of several popular books including The Inevitable and the Taschen coffee table book Asia Grace. See more at KK.org. Get the weekly Nomadico newsletter and hear from Kevin Kelly and editor Tim Leffel both, quick tips on location independence, long-term travel, and living abroad. Related Features: Two Degrees of Separation: An Introvert's Travel Encounters in New Zealand - Cynthia Trenshaw In North Korea - a Journey Behind the Fiction - Rory MacLean Walkabout Love in China - Dustin Grinnell Dueling Smiles in Muzzled Myanmar - Bruce Northam See more Asia traveling stories from the archives PREMIUM TIMES reported how Nigeria also has the highest number of African students in the United States, with 12,860 students enrolled in the 2020/2021 academic year. The number of Nigerians studying in the United Kingdom (UK) has risen from 13,020 in the 2019/2020 academic session to 21,305 by the 2020/2021 session. The figure, which amounts to an almost 64 per cent increase within a year, is confirmed by data from the UK's Higher Education Statistics Agency. The UK has also witnessed a 13.08 per cent increase in the international student enrolment at the postgraduate level between 2019/20 and 2020/21. The country currently houses 605,130 students in the 2020/2021 session, up from 556,625 in the previous academic session. Alma Miftari, a representative of Erudera, a higher education search platform, believes that the 'unprecedented' rise in the number of Nigerian students in the UK is due to the prestigious reputation of UK universities, their history, quality education, and the multicultural environment they offer. She said: "The UK is the second most popular study destination in the world, counting 605,130 international students by the last academic year, the highest it ever had. The reputation of universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, and the UK higher education system continues to engross ambitious people who want to make a bigger impact" Right after the UK, the top other countries Nigerians choose are The United States, Canada, Malaysia, Ukraine, South Africa, and Germany. However, the United Kingdom remained the world's second most popular study destination among international students, just after the US, with 605,130 international students during the 2020/2021 academic session. Although the UK and the United States (US) are destination choices for many Nigerian students, the US witnessed a decrease in enrolment this year as a result of COVID19 vaccination protocols. Nigerian students in the UK The number of Nigerian students in the UK has always been on the increase, but the latest increase rate is unprecedented. For instance, the number rose from 10,685 in the 2017/18 session to 10,810 in 2018/19 and 13,020 in 2019/20 before 21,305 students during the 2020/21 academic sessions. The data also revealed that Nigeria is the third non-EU country with the most students in the UK with 21,305 students currently enrolled in UK institutions, ahead of the United States with 19,220 students. China and India with 143,820 and 84,555 students respectively have the highest number of students in the UK. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Education Europe and Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Right after Nigeria, other African countries with high number of students in the UK by the last academic year are Egypt (3,260), Ghana (2,795), Kenya (2,640), South Africa (2,060), and Morocco (1,265). According to the data, over 21,000 Nigerians are settled majorly across England (16,980) Scotland (2,655) Wales (935) Northern Ireland (740). Right after the UK, the top other countries Nigerian choose are The United States, Canada, Malaysia, Ukraine, South Africa, Germany, etc. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Nigeria has the highest number of African students in the U.S., with 12,860 students enrolled in the 2020/2021 academic year. This is despite a 6.6 per cent decrease from 13,762 students in the previous 2019/2020 academic year, resulting from the stringent COVID19 vaccination protocols in the US at the beginning of the year. According to Erudera, the three top subjects of study for international students in the UK were Business and Management, Engineering and Technology, and Social Sciences. Erudera noted that the largest number of international students in the UK study Business and Management (177,715). Engineering and Technology is the second most chosen subject of study for international students in the UK with 63,375 students. Social Sciences and Computing rank third and fourth respectively in the number of international students enrolled in such disciplines. Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe. Mark Davis Wins Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown; Denies Elias 5th WPT Title May 26, 2022 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S. After a six-week hiatus, the final six players from a 2,010-entry field in the $3,500 buy-in World Poker Tour (WPT) Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown reconvened at the HyperX Esports Arena in Las Vegas at Luxor. Four-time WPT champ Darren Elias began the final table as chip leader and was looking to extend his record to five titles. That would have put two titles between himself and the next closest competition Chino Rheem, Anthony Zinno, Gus Hansen, Carlos Mortensen, Brian Altman, and Eric Afriat all sit with three. Joining the all-time WPT leader for the televised six-handed final table were Mark Davis, Marcos Exterkotter, Michael Laufer, Andrew Barfield and Viet Vo, who had final-tabled the two largest WPT Main Events in history after finishing third in last year's event for $593,140. Davis, who began the final table second in chips, wound up denying Elias to claim the title and $1,000,300 top prize for himself. Prior to the win, the man from Alabama had $730,167 in live tournament earnings according to The Hendon Mob, with his prior career-best being $334,678 for winning the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Harrahs Cherokee Main Event back in February. WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Final Table Payouts PLACE PLAYER PRIZE (IN USD) 1 Mark Davis $1,000,300 2 Darren Elias $660,000 3 Marcos Exterkotter $490,000 4 Viet Vo $370,000 5 Andrew Barfield $280,000 6 Michael Laufer $215,000 The WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown final table. Final Table Action Despite there being 332 big blinds in play at the start of the final table, the action heated up quickly. According to live updates from the event, it took just six hands for Laufer to exit after his pocket threes lost a race to the ace-nine of Davis. Barfield began the final table as the short stack and lasted until Hand #34, which is when he got his chips all in preflop with pocket sevens and losing a flip against the king-queen of king-queen. Half a dozen hands later, Vo bowed out after getting it in with top pair of aces and a superior eight kicker against Elias, who had ace-seven of diamonds. Unfortunately for Vo, running diamonds gave Elias a flush to end Vos run in fourth place for $370,000. On Hand #53, Exterkotter three-bet all in with ace-four offsuit and was called by Elias, who had pocket sevens. The walking sticks held and Exterkotter exited in third place for $490,000, which allowed Elias to take 63.7 million into heads-up play against the 37.75 million of Davis. The heads-up match lasted nearly 100 hands and proved to be a back-and-forth affair. Eventually Davis picked off a bluff from Elias by calling with just king-high, and five hands later it was all over. On Hand #150, jammed the turn with a gutshot straight draw and Davis snap-called with bottom two pair. Elias bricked the river and had to settle for second place and $660,000 in prize money, which brought his lifetime earnings up over $10.5 million according to The Hendon Mob. Darren Elias Even so, Elias was denied a record-extended fifth title that wouldve went with the four he won between 2014-18. Darren Elias' Four WPT Titles Year Event Buy-in Entries Payout 2014 WPT Borgata Poker Open $3,500 1,226 $843,744 2014 WPT Carribean Casino Royale $3,500 118 $127,680 2017 WPT Fallsview Poker Classic CAD$5,000 489 $335,436 2018 WPT Bobby Baldwin Classic $10,000 162 $387,580 The WPT continues on Thursday, May 26 with the final table of the WPT Choctaw also at HyperX Esports Arena. Some big name pros, including Chance Kornuth and Kristen Foxen, are still alive in the chase for the $486,600 first place prize. PokerNews will offer a recap of that final table once a winner is crowned. Click here for a WPT Choctaw final table preview! Photos courtesy of WPT Sharelines Mark Davis denied Darren Elias a fifth @WPT title by winning the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown. China-ASEAN cooperation gains steam as ties grow stronger Xinhua) 15:54, May 26, 2022 BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Despite COVID-19 outbreaks and growing uncertainties, China sees unstoppable momentum in its cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and is ready to further deepen its strategic partnership. Since China and ASEAN forged dialogue relations in 1991, the two sides have remained committed to promoting regional prosperity with comprehensive cooperation and bringing tangible benefits to people in the region. VIBRANT AND FRUITFUL In 2002, China and ASEAN signed a framework agreement to start the construction of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA), which came into effect in 2010. Under this world's largest FTA, more than 90 percent of the goods between China and ASEAN countries can be traded at zero tariffs, and restrictive measures on services and investment have also been substantially lifted. Trade volume between the two sides jumped from less than 8 billion U.S. dollars in 1991 to 684.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, an increase of more than 80 times. In 2020, ASEAN and China became each other's largest trading partners. After the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, a mega trade deal between 10 ASEAN member states plus China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand, officially took effect at the beginning of this year, the rosy prospects for China and ASEAN are highlighted by their even-closer economic and trade exchanges. Customs data showed that in the first quarter, China's imports and exports to ASEAN reached 1.35 trillion yuan (202.2 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 8.4 percent year on year, accounting for 14.4 percent of China's total foreign trade. During the period, trade between China and ASEAN accounted for 47.2 percent, or nearly half, of China's foreign trade with RCEP partners, according to the data. Last November, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the ASEAN-China dialogue relations, the two sides jointly announced the establishment of a China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, a new milestone in their relations. HIGHER LEVEL AND BEYOND "The economic relations between ASEAN and China have never been stronger and closer than today," ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi said at a summit held last week. "In response to the fast-changing global economic landscape in the post-pandemic era, ASEAN and China are moving towards a new forward-looking partnership," he said, adding that "the scope of this partnership is wide-ranging and includes many emerging priorities such as resilient supply chains, digital economy, and sustainability." China is actively building the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN FTA with ASEAN members, according to Commerce Minister Wang Wentao at the 28th trade ministers' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. The country stands ready to advance pragmatic cooperation with all parties to boost regional economic integration, promote economic recovery in the region, and maintain regional peace and stable development, said a spokesperson for the ministry. "China remains open to any regional economic initiative that conforms to the aforementioned principles," he said. Underscoring efforts to cement ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture, China has made the call to "contribute to an Asian family of unity and progress together." ASEAN countries are also pledging to enhance cooperation to implement the China-proposed Global Development Initiative in a bid to accelerate the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A recent report has forecast growth among the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN+3) at 4.7 percent this year and 4.6 percent in 2023, with growth for ASEAN at 5.1 and 5.2 percent, respectively. The regions can look forward to a fuller opening-up and a strong economic recovery, according to the ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook 2022. To build a more resilient and sustainable ASEAN-China economic partnership, the two sides should jointly promote wider regional economic integration under the RCEP framework and further enhance infrastructure, said Satvinder Singh, ASEAN deputy secretary-general, in a recent article. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the wanton killings of people in the South-East and other parts of the country. Buhari who was displeased over the killings in Nigeria via his verified Twitter handle, warned killers to expect toughest security response. Vanguard had reported how gunmen killed seven persons , attacked police station and set vehicles ablaze in Anambra. Among those that were killed include: a mother and four of her children at Isulo, Orumba North local government area of the state. Before then, a lawmaker representing Governor Charles Soludo's constituency, Hon Okechukwu Okoye, was kidnapped and eventually beheaded by yet to be identified gunmen. In view of these President Buhari frowned at the killings, noting that perpetrators should expect the toughest possible response from the security forces. His words: "I strongly condemn the wild, barbarous and wanton killings of innocent people in the South-East, as well as in other parts of Nigeria. "The perpetrators of these deeply distressing attacks should expect the toughest possible response from the security forces." Downtown Aiken had an extra attraction for several hours May 25, with the American Red Cross holding a blood drive and offering donors the chance to set aside an hour and possibly save a life. The drive, held at Amentum Center for the Performing Arts, resulted in 66 donations. "It goes a long way, so I'm eager to help out in any way that I can," said donor Franki Stevens, after going through the process. It was also familiar territory for Rosetta Franklin, an Aiken newcomer who moved from Preston ("right between Davenport and Dubuque"), Iowa. "I have donated blood in the past, and I try to keep up with it as much as I can, and I took my kids to do their first donation, too, and they still donate every chance that they get, and one of them's in Indiana, one's in Illinois and one's in New Mexico," she said, while waiting her turn in line. For Nancy Johnson, the donation tradition dates back to her teenage years. She said, "When I was a youngster, way back when, in high school, they would let you get out of class if you were old enough to give blood, so we would all sign up to give blood, and I just found that I felt good about myself after doing that, and continued to give blood my whole life I try to at least do it a couple of times a year." The donation process had a family factor for Laraine Clark. "Today's my mother's birthday, and when I saw it in the paper, I said, 'Hi, Mom up in Heaven. I'm going to give you a birthday present. I'm going to give some of my A-negative blood,'" she said. Ajay Krishnakumar said his blood type O-positive means that his donations can be used in a variety of situations, being also acceptable for people in A-positive, B-positive and AB-positive categories. This week's donation was his 23rd, dating back to when he was 17 years old. The Red Cross' website indicates that the need for blood or platelets arises every 2 seconds in the U.S., and the daily need for red blood cells is for about 29,000 units. Type O is the variety most often requested by hospitals, and about 6.8 million people in the U.S. donate blood in the course of a year. Aspiring donors have other local options in the next couple of months: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 19 at VFW Post 5877, 116 Midway Circle (just off Whiskey Road, near New Ellenton); noon to 4 p.m. July 22 at Hillview Baptist Church, 1974 Jefferson Davis Highway; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 25 at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700 Whiskey Road. For more information, visit redcrossblood.org. The Savannah River Site has received more nuclear fuel from Japan. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Monday, May 23, that over 30 kilograms of highly enriched uranium had been moved from three Japanese sites to the Savannah River Site and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn. At the Savannah River Site or in Oak Ridge, the uranium will be downblended into low-enriched uranium for use in nuclear fuel or dispositioned so that it can't be used to make a nuclear weapon in the future. The National Nuclear Security Administration of the Department of Energy, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the United Kingdoms Nuclear Transport Solutions and Civil Nuclear Constabulary worked to remove and ship the material from Japan to the United States. NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Corey Hinderstein said the removal is the result of years of close cooperation and hard work which was made more challenging by the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions implemented to slow the spread of the virus. "It speaks to the strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Japan, he said in a news release. Permanently eliminating nuclear material that could be used in a weapon is just one of the ways NNSA and its international partners help make the world a safer place every day. The uranium was removed from the Yayoi Research Reactor at the University of Tokyo, the Japan Atomic Energy Agencys Deuterium Critical Assembly and Japan Atomic Energy Agencys Japan Research Reactor 4 as part of a commitment announced at a 2018 U.S.-Japan Bilateral Commission on Civil Nuclear Cooperation meeting in Tokyo. In 2016, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency sent plutonium to the Savannah River Site. Originally, it was planned to move the material to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico but in 2019, the NNSA decided to dissolve the plutonium in H Canyon. The Office of Environmental Management announced in April that the Fast Critical Assembly was online and ready to dispose of the plutonium. COLUMBIA In her pursuit of South Carolina's top education job, Republican Ellen Weaver has received endorsements from a number of party leaders across the state, as well a political action committee led by one of the state's top GOP newcomers. In a statement to The Associated Press, honorary chairman John Warren said South Carolina's Conservative Future would be backing Weaver's campaign for state education superintendent, calling the school-choice advocate "by far the most qualified candidate in her knowledge, skillset, and conservative beliefs." Weaver the first woman to chair the state's Education Oversight Committee, a nonpartisan group of political appointees tasked with enacting standards to improve South Carolina's K-12 education system is "a lifelong conservative Republican who has fought in the trenches for school choice," Warren added. A wealthy businessman who forced Gov. Henry McMaster into a 2018 GOP runoff, Warren launched his PAC before the 2020 election, seeking to recruit and support "conservative, capable and courageous" candidates for legislative races based on the "conservative reform movement" he posited during his gubernatorial campaign. Claiming victory in most of the 2020 races in which it sought to play a part, the group is already supporting legislative candidates competing in South Carolina's June 14 primary elections, with plans to announce other endorsements. Warren opted not to challenge McMaster to a rematch this year, saying he would focus on his Bitcoin company, but didn't rule out politics forever. Superintendent Molly Spearman's decision not to seek a third term set in motion a wide-open race for the state's top education job, an election anticipated to garner copious attention amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic, given Spearman's high visibility as she grappled with how best to educate South Carolina's K-12 students safely. Among six Republicans seeking the GOP nomination, Weaver has been racking up endorsements from establishment Republicans including the three sitting Republican congressmen Jeff Duncan, Ralph Norman and William Timmons; former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, Weaver's former boss at the Palmetto Promise Institute; and more than two dozen members of the state Legislature. Weaver also is backed by two former South Carolina education chiefs: Barbara Nielsen and Mick Zais, who also briefly served as U.S. Secretary of Education. The Republican field shrank in April as two GOP hopefuls, activist Sheri Few and Charleston County School Board member Cindy Bohn Coats, acknowledged they lacked a master's degree as required for the post under a 2018 change to state law and dropped out. Weaver also lacks a master's, but said she would earn one online through Western Governors' University before the November general election. Weaver has switched to a master's in educational leadership program at Bob Jones University, a completion her campaign said this week remains on track. Coats subsequently endorsed Weaver, while Few has backed Lexington County educator Kizzi Staley Gibson, who is also endorsed by Republican congressman Joe Wilson. The other GOP candidates are Travis Bedson, Bryan Chapman, Lynda Leventis-Wells and Kathy Maness. The three Democrats seeking their party's nomination are teacher Lisa Ellis, state Rep. Jerry Govan, Jr., and school board member Gary Burgess, who says public dollars should not be diverted to private, parochial or religious schools. Democrats have not held an elected statewide position in South Carolina since Jim Rex won the education superintendent race in 2006. A Lowcountry man has agreed to plead guilty to charges he stole money from a federal housing program meant to help low-income and military families in a case with similarities to conspiracy charges leveled against two other Charleston-area men, including a former banker. Aaron Martez Spann, 55, of Charleston, agreed in a May 25 U.S. District Court filing to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge that carries a maximum five-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced at a later date in Charleston. Spann submitted false information that inflated costs and wrongly claimed repair work had been inspected on paperwork for home improvement grants of up to $12,500 apiece provided by the Federal Home Loan Bank in Atlanta, according to a document filed with the court. In addition, Spann told the bank that funds only went to the parties designated in the grant agreement when, in fact, there were unnamed people getting money from the transactions. Also, Spann kept funds from six grants and used the money for personal expenses, the U.S. Attorney's office said in a court document. The case is similar to two others in which the defendants, who worked together to defraud the grant program, have pleaded guilty. They're scheduled to be sentenced June 14 in Charleston. In the first, former local bank executive Karl Henry Zerbst Jr. admitted he and an accomplice engaged in a kickback scheme involving 91 falsified grant transactions over a 31-month period, netting him nearly $250,000. Zerbst, a former market president for First Reliance and Ameris banks, has repaid the money. The second case involves Charles Willys Mincey, a Charleston contractor who filed dozens of falsified grant applications to improperly obtain funds through the home improvement program. A court filing related to Mincey's sentencing hearing shows he worked with Zerbst to defraud the grant program. It's not clear whether Spann was part of their conspiracy, but documents in all three cases show the fraud lasted for several years and ended in March 2019. Zerbst and Mincey also face maximum five-year prison sentences. Their lawyers have asked Judge Margaret Seymour to sentence them to supervised release. In another case, a former project manager with Charleston's Department of Housing and Community Development admitted last year he accepted $15,000 in bribes to provide non-public information about city housing projects to Mincey. Brian D. Herndon, the former project manager, faces a maximum five-year prison term and a $250,000 fine. He also is scheduled to be sentenced on June 14. Four additional South Carolina residents have been charged with submitting false information to pocket more than $4.7 million in loans the federal government provided businesses to help save jobs during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The alleged ring was led by Lori Hammond, who also goes by the last names of McCracken and Blakely, according to a document filed with U.S. District Court this week in Charleston. Hammond agreed to plead guilty May 19 to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. A plea hearing has not been scheduled. Her alleged associates are Catherine "Cassie" Needham, Christopher Conrad and Jontrell Wright. They also have signed plea deals. All four bypassed the grand jury process and were charged in a document known as an "information." Prosecutors said they defrauded the Small Business Administration's $649 billion Payroll Protection Program, which offered forgivable loans to eligible employers after the global health crisis shut down large swaths of the U.S. economy in March 2020. The case is one of the largest of its kind to come to light in South Carolina. The government tracked the start of the fraud to May 2020. It said Hammond submitted loan applications over the next two months through several federally insured banks on behalf of five companies, mostly in the automotive and transportation industries. On one of the forms, for a cardiology practice that investigators believe does not exist, she listed as the owner a Holly Hill man who had died nine months earlier. Hammond then helped her associates apply for seven additional PPP loans in July 2020, and the completed paperwork was turned over to a "confidential source," who in turn submitted it to banks for processing, prosecutors said. All of the documents contained "false and misleading statements" about the number of employees, payroll expenses, taxes and other pertinent information, according to a court filing. In all, the SBA disbursed more than $4.72 million in pandemic aid to Hammond and the other borrowers. The money was deposited electronically and was used for "non-qualifying, non-business-related purposes in violation of the terms of the PPP loan program," according to a court document. Nearly half went to Hammond. The U.S. Department of Justice said she spent some of her $2.25 million haul on personal items, including a home and an automobile. The government has seized numerous bank accounts in her name that contain more than $1.36 million. She also will forfeit a property she owns in Manning and a 2020 Ford Mustang. Hammond and the others each face up to 25 years in prison and $500,000 in fines. Two other Lowcountry residents, both from Mount Pleasant, were charged with similar PPP loan scams in January and have pleaded guilty. They haven't been sentenced. The government said it's taking a tough stance on crimes involving money from the COVID-19 economic relief effort known as the CARES Act. Earlier this year, a Blythewood woman was sentenced to two years behind bars after she pleaded guilty to bilking the SBA program out of $1.2 million. Theres a reason why we found ourselves in a somewhat removed portion of Italy recently where there are few crowds of tourists and practically no Americans. And thats because the last time we visited, several years ago, the opposite was true. Part of the reason may have had to do with the time of year October, a beautiful month anywhere and part of it may have had to do with locations themselves. Venice and Florence, though two of the most beautiful cities in the world, were both completely overwhelmed with hordes of people the last time we visited. Cruise ships had taken over the Giudecca and Grand Canals of Venice (a problem Venetian authorities are addressing) and we couldnt even get close to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Besides that, it was very nice walking around both cities with tens of thousands of our closest friends. So it was a refreshing change to wake up in the hilltop town of Bernalda one morning a couple of weeks ago. Bernalda (which dates back to 1099 and then known as Camarda) is in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata, comprising the arch or instep of the Italian boot. We were alone at breakfast, and the only language we heard spoken en route by foot to our first stop of the day, a family-owned and operated cheese shop, was Italian. (Godfather film fans might be interested in knowing that Francis Ford Coppolas ancestral roots are in Bernalda and that the famed director actually bought a 19th century Bernaldan palazzo, converted it to a hotel and a beautiful place that his children and others would want to return time and again.) Southern Italy is well-known, among other things, for its thriving local agriculture, citrus, vineyards, olive groves and cheese-making. The Caseificio il Mastello (roughly translated as Mastello family cheese-making), is a classic multi-generational family business supported by the people of Bernalda. Though it has an Instagram page, the family quite unlike the situation with most American family businesses does not place an emphasis on social media because its unnecessary. Theres more than enough local and word-of-mouth demand to make everyone happy. The senior mistress (I didnt catch her first name) runs the retail section of the store up front. Her husband and his sister, Nunio and Bernaldina (I love that), make a variety of cheeses out back with the assistance of Leonardo, son of Nunio, and the lady just mentioned above. Leonardo has completed 16 years of apprenticeship, and Nunio admits cheerfully yet with playful hesitation that Leonardo has mastered the family craft. Sign up for our new opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email Sign Up! Even though that craft doesnt necessarily require a whole lot of ingredients, it does require absolute precision regarding temperature, cooking, manipulation and the way things are put together. The family staple, mozzarella, only requires milk, salt, rennet and heat. But try factoring in timing, mixing, temperature, separation and so forth and its not as easy as it might sound, although probably the easiest prepared of the cheeses made in house. Others include burrata (with the thicker skin and creamier interior), caciocavello, ricotta, stracciatella (the creamy component on the inside of burrata), and some others. James Bond fans might have been intrigued by the beautifully situated, if action-packed, opening scenes of the latest movie in the series, No Time to Die. That afternoon we drove to Matera, which is where most of the opening scenes were shot (but not the bridge scene, filmed at the Ponte dellAcquedotto di Gravinia in the region of Puglia.) Matera is quite literally one gigantic sandstone and limestone sculpture, dating back to cave dwellers that took up residence during the Paleolithic Age (10th millennium B.C.). There are no architectural masterpieces per se, and yet its overall appearance is wonderfully unique, representing a remarkable example of man adapting to harsh environmental conditions instead of trying to conquer them in order to create something completely unrelated to the environment. Though caves would remain a considered necessity (for chilled storage, if nothing else). Walls, stairs, floors and roofs were literally carved out of the limestone through the centuries as was a massive cistern and stone blocks were used to build upward and outward. As recently as the 1950s, though, some of the residents of Matera were still living in unmodified caves, a situation the Italian prime minister considered a disgraceful and intolerable 20th century embarrassment. The population was relocated to modern housing (which sadly and ironically destroyed its sense of community) and the Sassi (Italian for stones) lay abandoned until the 1980s, when renewed investment led to improvements and upgrades. The cave dwellings and surrounds became not only destinations of historic interest, but alive with activity, including an arts community, hotels, small museums and restaurants and expensive private residences. Matera was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site (of which there are several in Southern Italy) in 1993, and in 2019 was designated a European Capital of Culture. The above comprised one days activities. We stayed at our home base in Bernalda, drove the rental car everywhere, and if all that werent enough, my wife upped and stepped on a venomous asp in the mountain town of Pietrapertosa, which very considerately did not bite. Thank goodness we wouldnt have been too interested in determining whether or not Cleopatras outcome was a fluke. South Carolina schools should embrace a whole-child education philosophy, meaning they should cater to a child's needs outside of academics in order to close the achievement gap, according to a report from the University of South Carolina's College of Education. The college believes that by assisting with children's social, emotional, physical and mental health development and needs, schools can create a more equitable environment, giving more children the tools they need to succeed in life. This is especially true for high-needs students, students of color and those from rural areas, said the report released last month. "Schools alone can't address the myriad of challenges facing young people and their future, we need a community approach," said Barnett Berry, senior director of policy and innovation at the college and one of the contributors to the report. More coverage To read more in-depth stories from The Post and Courier's Education Lab, go to postandcourier.com/education-lab. Currently over 61 percent of students in the state are "high needs," meaning they are eligible for Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, are homeless transplants or are in foster care, according to the report. Over half the students in the state are not White, and one in six students attends school in a rural community. The report, which was done in conjunction with Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative, said that the whole-child vision doesn't require teachers and administrators to do any additional work. It's about partnering with businesses and community organizations to meet students' non-academic needs. Sign up for our Education Lab newsletter. Email Sign Up! The USC analysis found five elements to a whole-child education: executing a whole-child vision for teaching and learning; transforming learning environments; redesigning curriculum, instruction and assessment; building adult capacity and expertise; and aligning resources effectively and equitably. South Carolina already has the basis for some of these elements in place. For example, the whole-child vision can be anchored in the profile of a South Carolina graduate that the state's Department of Education has already established. A South Carolina graduate should have world-class knowledge, including rigorous standards in language arts and math for career and college readiness, world-class skills like creativity and innovation, and life and career characteristics such as integrity and self-direction, according to the Department of Education's website. Donate to our Investigative Fund to support journalism like this Our public service and investigative reporting is among the most important work we do. Its also the most expensive reporting we do. We cant do it without your support. Donate Now The researchers also highlighted gaps needed to be filled to enact a whole-child philosophy, such as how different agencies in the state have their own visions, which leads to a lack of coordination and collaboration. They also noted that while there is integrated data available, it remains largely siloed in different agencies and there are limited incentives to get them to share it. The same goes for the other elements. Going forward, the researchers recognized that educators, students and families are still suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic that greatly disrupted learning. They outlined three main recommendations for policymakers and practitioners that include developing a clearinghouse of evidence-based practice of whole-child education in creating a venture capital fund for school communities to learn from each other in systematic ways. They also advise these groups form a set of common performance metrics for monitoring progress as the whole-child system is developed, and that pilot school districts using the whole-child philosophy be established. Columbia's EdVenture Children's Museum has a new leader. The organization's board of trustees named Andy Marquart, former president and CEO of the Gray, Tennessee-based Hands On! Discovery Center and Gray Fossil Site Museum, as the new CEO of the children's museum. Marquart will start at the organization on June 27. "Andy comes highly qualified with extensive museum experience, said Dwayne Porter, chair of the museums board of trustees, in a May 26 news release. Porter noted the new president's history of improving his current museum in Tennessee, which included "merging, re-location, and re-branding it." "That's the kind of leader that we want at this time for EdVenture," he said in the release. Marquart has 18 years of experience working in similar organizations, according to a press release announcing the hiring. Before working in Tennessee, he worked in Missouri, Arkansas and Florida in various museums. I am excited to join EdVenture and be part of an organization with such a rich legacy of engaging and impactful experiences for children and their families. Marquart said. Museums like EdVenture are critical pieces of an enhanced quality of life in thriving, well-rounded communities. Marquart fills the role as EdVentures former president, Lisa Hailey, left at the end of 2021 after spending nearly five years at the museum including close to three years as its leader. She returned to Richmond, Va., where she worked formerly worked at that citys childrens museum and symphony, an EdVenture spokeswoman told Free Times in January. Willie Calloway is currently EdVenture's interim CEO. Calloway had formerly been the director of the S.C. State Museum, located across the Gervais Street parking lot from EdVenture, before a 2020 retirement, and worked on EdVenture's board of trustees. Calloway will rejoin the board when Marquart steps into his role. Marquart will look to end a recent financial slide for the organization. Admission revenue at EdVenture has dropped from $1 million in 2017-18 to $619,000 in 2019-20, according to tax returns posted with the GuideStar nonprofit database. The museum lost a total of $3 million over the most recent three-year period from 2018 to 2020 when tax returns were available. EdVenture had $6.5 million in assets on hand as of July 2020. In an interview with Calloway when he was named interim president, he credited most of the financial slides due to a museum after-care program that it have since discontinued. He said the museum's finances were doing well compared to the industry's state amid COVID-19 as well. EdVenture, approaching its 20th year in operation, is best known for an exhibit featuring a 40-foot-tall, 10-year-old boy named Eddie that visitors can climb through to learn about how the body works. The museum also operates a location in Myrtle Beach. Former governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi has dumped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Obi announced his resignation in a letter dated 20, addressed to the National Chairman of the party. In the letter sighted by Vanguard, Obi gave reasons for his withdrawal from the presidential race. The letter said: "I am writing to intimate you of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was conveyed to the Chairman of Agulu Ward 2. Anaocha LGA "Anambra, effective Friday 20 May, 2022. Consequently, am by this letter informing you of my withdrawal for the PDP Presidential Primaries. "It has been a great honour to contribute to nation-building efforts through our party. Unfortunately, recent developments within our party make it practically impossible to continue participating and making such constructive contributions. "Our national challenges are deep-seated and require that we each make profound sacrifices towards rescuing our country. My commitment to rescuing Nigeria remains firm, even if the route differs. "I wish to thank you personally for your graciousness and leadership. I wish you well and best of luck in the service of country." Details later: GEORGETOWN The five public schools in Georgetown County's Carvers Bay area will shift focus to subjects ranging from performing arts to technology if the county school district's magnet school program outlined at a May 17 work session ultimately goes through. Georgetown County School District is eligible for about $15 million over five years from the federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program, which provides grants to school districts under federal desegregation orders, Superintendent Keith Price said. The Georgetown County School District has been under a federal desegregation order since 1969. Price said the district should hear about the status of its grant application in September. If approved, the programs would take effect in the 2023-24 academic year. The Carvers Bay area home of Browns Ferry, Plantersville and Pleasant Hill Elementary schools, Carvers Bay Middle School and Carvers Bay High School was chosen for the program, Price said, because its schools have the lowest enrollment, highest rate of minority enrollment and highest poverty index in the district. If the plan is adopted, Brown's Ferry Elementary School would become Brown's Ferry Elementary School for the Creative and Performing Arts. Principal Tawanna Grant told the district board of directors that creative arts, an "infusion" of arts and technology into the core curriculum was an important addition after speaking with parents of students. "When speaking with my parents, they felt that the performing arts was definitely the niche of their children, but they also felt that technology, as well, was very important because of the era that we're in," Grant said. Pleasant Hill Elementary would become Pleasant Hill Elementary Stream Academy, with a focus on science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and mathematics, hence "stream." "In our case, an emphasis on environmental science," principal Teddy Graham said. "Why environmental science? Someone asked me when I retire, what am I going to do? Farm? And I said, 'Well, everybody in Pleasant Hill is not a farmer.' But that is our heritage." Plantersville Elementary School would become Plantersville Elementary Digital Immersion School, which would use collaboration with Coastal Carolina University and Boeing to continue the school's technology education, including coding. "What is digital immersion?" principal Darryl Stanley said. "Digital immersion refers to merger of the physical world with the digital world of data." Carver's Bay Middle School would become Carvers Bay Middle STEAM Academy, with a focus similar to that of Pleasant Hill: science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Carvers Bay High School would become Carvers Bay Early College and Career High School. A military magnet model was previously considered but ultimately voted down, principal Larry Odom said. "I think some of the discouraging factors were we would probably lose enrollment with students because of the discipline that comes along with a military magnet," Odom said. In addition to current college prep, honors and dual enrollment programs, the school's early college program would allow students to obtain associate's degrees in the arts or science by graduation. "What is attractive about the early college high school?" Odom said. "Well, pathways. The different pathways that we can offer our students." The Georgetown County magnet school program, dubbed Pathways to Success, aims to increase enrollment and academic achievement, and decrease minority isolation and opportunity gap for students, Price said. "With all of the work that we've been doing over the past two years, along with the goals of our strategic plan that guided us this year, 'Pathways to Success' was a fitting name for our program as our spoken goal has been to prepare every student for success in their chosen pathway," Price said. GREENVILLE When Sylvia Blassengale and Sharon Bennett started the Wheatley Montessori School in 2015, it operated out of the Phyllis Wheatley Center and served about three students. Since then the program, a pre-K and kindergarten school aimed at serving children in the historically Black Nicholtown community and surrounding area, has grown to 17 students and moved into the community room at Heritage Apartments. Blassengale said the school has a ballooning wait list and that she gets two to three calls a day from parents interested in enrolling their children. To meet that demand, Wheatley Montessori is preparing to build a facility in Nicholtown that would allow it to serve roughly 100 students. Working as a school counselor at Northwood Middle School, Blassengale said she found children of color and those from low-income families were often falling through the cracks. She, along with Bennett, a former media specialist at Brushy Creek Elemetary School, opened Wheatley Montessori to reach those kids at an early age and give them a chance to reach their full potential. She said the students who have been through the program in the years since have regularly gone on to thrive academically. Sign up for our Greenville daily update newsletter. Sign up for daily roundups of our top stories, news and culture from the Upstate. This newsletter is hand-curated by a member of our Greenville news staff. Email Sign Up! "We want our school to be the point of origin for our future scientists, doctors, engineers, educators, world leaders," she said. "We want them to come right out of Nicholtown." On May 23, Greenville City Council gave initial approval to donating close to an acre on Greenacre Road in Nicholtown to Wheatley Montessori for the new school. Blassengale said construction is scheduled to begin in January with a completion date set for August 2023. The Montessori method is a style of teaching that focuses on fostering independence, allowing students to explore their own interests in a structured environment, and balancing academic progress with emotional wellbeing. To that end, Blassengale said that the school offers yoga, mindfulness, and music programs that will be expanded in the new building. She hopes to add courses for parents. Blassengale's daughter and the head guide, or teacher, at Wheatley Montessori Collin Blassengale said the expansion would provide her and the school's other educators larger facilities and open up opportunities to more children. Students who go through the program regularly skip grades or enter gifted programs when they go to elementary school, she said. "The kids are gifted, but all kids can do this," she said. "Every child can be a Montessori child, but it's the work and how they're learning." The school will begin accepting enrollment applications for the expansion in January. Charleston hospitals are quick to tout their lung cancer screening programs as lifesavers and those involved have an evangelistic fervor to get more patients into them. "Our goal now is how do we get every person in the Lowcountry screened?" said Dr. Karen Gersch, a cardiothoracic surgeon with Trident Health. "How do we get to people?" Those involved with the lung cancer screening programs say the low-dose CT scan that patients get annually is merely one piece of what they need. Their approaches feature multidisciplinary teams reviewing suspicious scans and use dedicated tracking of patients within a comprehensive program devoted to it. "We are laser-focused on this one issue," said Dr. Benjamin Toll, co-director of the lung cancer screening program at Hollings Cancer Center at Medical University of South Carolina. At Roper St. Francis Healthcare, that means making both providers and patients aware of the program and its benefits, said Dr. Elizabeth Kline, a thoracic surgeon with the program. "What makes our program successful is we have education directed at the providers, every level of provider who sees patients, and can identify at-risk patients, and then we educate the patients so if their provider doesnt ask for a scan, the patient asks for it," she said. It needs to be more than just cancer education but should include smoking cessation as well, with half of the eligible patients likely still smoking, Toll and Kline said. "It feels like a missed opportunity for public health if we dont try and engage this population in tobacco treatment," Toll said. "I feel very strongly that we need to do our best to get them tobacco treatment interventions." It also means employing technology to help bring in patients who need the care. At Trident Health, radiologists note lung nodules picked up on scans whether as part of a screening or for some other purpose that happened to find one, Gersch said. The computer system flags that and brings it to the attention of a navigator, who can reach out to the primary care physician or the patient directly about becoming part of the program. If a review of a suspicious scan warrants it, patients can be scheduled for a minimally invasive biopsy and, if a cancer diagnosis is made, surgery usually within two weeks, she said. "The timeliness of care is quite quick because there are multiple people who are processing these folks," Gersch said. "In order to have a comprehensive program you have to have a lot of people looking at these patients and then a multidisciplinary plan approach." The programs are getting results. At Roper St. Francis they are finding a cancer every 58 scans, Kline said. Since it launched in 2019, Trident's program has tracked more than 2,300 patients with a lung nodule and more than 200 proved to be cancer, Gersch said. "Ideally if we can catch people in early stages, stage I or stage II we can change their life," Gersch said. "It is really special to tell a patient in their darkest hour of a new cancer diagnosis that they are most likely cured with my operation or with localized radiation," Kline said. The AME Church is suing its former retirement fund director and others, alleging a massive, two-decade conspiracy to steal tens of millions of dollars intended to support clergy during their golden years. The allegations, filed May 25, came in response to a raft of federal lawsuits filed this spring by AME ministers around the Southeast. They accuse the 2.5-million member global church of breach of fiduciary duty and negligence. The pastors, seeking class-action status, described nest eggs that suddenly lost two-thirds of their value. In January, the roughly 5,000 employees vested in the pension plan learned that about $88.5 million had vanished seemingly overnight. Now, church leaders are heaving blame at the Rev. Jerome V. Harris, former executive director of the church's Department of Retirement Services. They contend that, left unsupervised by any church authority, he engaged in a conspiracy with others to enrich themselves and their co-conspirators. After taking office two decades ago, Harris ran unopposed four times to keep his position. Key leaders including the various bishops who chaired the retirement services commission during his tenure gave Harris sole decision-making authority over the fund, the pastors lawsuits contend. The last to serve in that role was Bishop Samuel L. Green Sr., whose district spans South Carolina and its roughly 450 active pastors. Anne Henning Byfield, president of the churchs Council of Bishops, pledged that AME leaders would hold those responsible accountable and seek to recover embezzled funds. This financial crime has been committed against the AME Church community, and specifically our clergy and Church employees, Byfield said in a written statement. The lawsuit alleges that in 2001, when Harris was first elected to his post after pastoring churches in Alabama, he began what would become a long-running conspiracy to, among other things, defraud and steal from the AME Church. Harris' attorney did not respond to a request for comment. The losses came to light when Harris retired last summer and the church elected the Rev. James F. Miller to take his place. Miller has said he arrived at an office devoid of documents. He soon uncovered financial irregularities in the retirement fund investments, the churchs lawsuit says. Church leaders opened an investigation. So did federal authorities, church officials have said. Among a litany of allegations, the churchs lawsuit contends Harris made unauthorized payments to himself on top of his normal salary, and created various entities into which he and others moved retirement fund money without permission. The complaint, filed in Tennessee, doesnt specify how much Harris paid himself. The lawsuit also alleges Harris gave church officials financial statements that inflated the pension funds value for years even as he steered millions of dollars into high-risk investments and gave business partners loans without church leaders knowledge. From 2005 until his retirement last year, Harris invested about $37 million from the pension plan into various funds run by a now-defunct Texas investment firm called Motorskill Ventures. According to the churchs lawsuit, AME leaders were not informed of the bets Harris was taking. Exceedingly little is known about how Motorskill invested its clients money. Its website has gone dark, and archived copies contain only vague references to investments in technology, health care and real estate, among other industries. A previous Post and Courier investigation found that Motorskills founders had ties to several failed solar ventures. When one of Motorskills managers, Ryan Erwin, sat for a deposition in 2018, he didnt offer much more detail, according to portions made public. He described Motorskill only as a company that makes investments in other private companies. The churchs lawsuit alleges that Motorskill principals Randall Doc Erwin and his son Jarrod grossly inflated the value of the retirement funds investments. The Erwins could not be reached for comment, and phone numbers Motorskill previously listed on government paperwork are no longer active. Harris, in turn, used the inflated values to give rosy reports to church leaders, the lawsuit says. In July 2021, during his final report to the churchs General Conference, he reported that the retirement annuity fund was valued at $128 million. That amount was baseless, and Harris acted recklessly and deceptively in making it, the complaint says. Instead, Harris reported that the retirement plans funds were invested in annuities with a company called Symetra Financial Corp. He said the plans investments were conservative and prudent, the lawsuit says. He did not mention Motorskill. The churchs lawsuit names Symetra as a defendant because it allegedly wired funds to Motorskill without confirming that Harris was allowed to move the money. A Symetra attorney declined to comment on pending litigation. Harris had operated his office in Memphis with a tiny staff of two or three employees, which included at times his wife and his son. None was an investment analyst. The office had just one accountant, a longtime staffer who is not licensed as a CPA, according to the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. However, during his tenure, Harris department did hire Illinois-based accounting firm Rodney Brown and Co. to audit the plans financial statements to ensure they were free from material misstatement, the lawsuit says. Rodney Brown is an outside CPA the church hired over 15 years to conduct audits. Yet, the firms audits for 2020 and 2021 parroted the inflated values Harris offered. The lawsuit alleges that Browns company breached its fiduciary duty. The audits did not mention the funds ventures into risky investments. Brown could not be reached for comment. Meanwhile, the lawsuit outlines a spate of other alleged schemes. For instance, in 2006, Harris authorized the retirement fund to loan an entity called Meridian/AMEC $2.5 million to buy five lots in a luxury development called Key Marco off the southwest coast of Florida. Meridian never repaid the load, and the lots were never developed. The properties are now worth about half of the loan amount. Harris and the retirement plans financial advisor, Robert Eaton, also steered pension money and contracts toward businesses they managed, according to the lawsuit. For instance, around September 2004, the pension loaned more than $500,000 to Eatons company Financial Technologies LLC. The loan was never repaid. Instead, the church and Financial Technologies agreed to settle the debt for far less than the company owed, the lawsuit says. Eaton did not respond to a request for comment. Harris also allegedly hired his own company, called Trinity Financial Consultants, to manage some of the pensions investments. The lawsuit, filed by Tennessee-based attorneys Bruce A. McMullen and Mary Wu Tullis, seeks unspecified punitive damages. Family members and local activists gathered May 25 outside the Charleston County Sheriffs Office to demand justice, transparency and action more than two weeks after a car crash involving a deputy left three women dead. Stephania Dantzler, 53; Shanice Dantzler-Williams, 28; and Miranda Dantzler-Williams, 22, were one-of-a-kind, sweet people, Eric Dantzler said of his sister and two nieces. The tight-knit bunch from Colleton County were best friends who would do everything together, his brother Darin Dantzler said. The mother and her daughters were traveling on southbound Savannah Highway near New Road just before 11 p.m. May 8 when Deputy Emily Pelletiers cruiser collided with their sedan, according to initial reports. Pelletier, who has worked at the Sheriffs Office since 2021, was responding to a call in which a broken-down motorist had asked for assistance. Her cruiser crashed into the sedan as she turned onto U.S. Highway 17 from New Road, Sheriff Kristin Graziano said at a May 11 news conference. The Dantzlers died at the scene from their injuries. Pelletier was released from the hospital after being treated for injuries that werent life-threatening. The deputy remains on paid administrative leave while the Sheriffs Office internally investigates the collision, per the agencys policy, spokesman Andrew Knapp said. Eric Dantzler said his mother wakes up each day next to a portrait of the three women. She takes it into the living room, where she sits with the photo all day before bringing it back to her bedside at night, he said. The only thing the family wants to know, both brothers said, is what really happened Mothers Day night. All we can do right now is assume who was right and who was wrong," Darin Dantzler said. "And we don't think thats fair to us. Graziano met with Stephania Dantzlers mother on May 9. The family has not heard from authorities since, both Eric and Darin Dantzler said. The Sheriffs Office has communicated with the familys legal representatives when appropriate, and Graziano intends to follow up with the family whenever more information is available, Knapp said. State Rep. Marvin Pendarvis and Clifford Bush III, who are representing the victims estate, are primarily focused on gathering all the evidence, they said. Dash-camera footage from Pelletiers cruiser isnt available because its camera didnt record the crash, according to an incident report. The attorneys hope to see the FR-10 form, a one-page document thats typically filled out by the responding officer within a day of the collision. The report indicates who contributed to the crash, Bush said. The S.C. Highway Patrol not the Sheriff's Office is investigating the crash, as is required by state law. The Highway Patrol is responsible for handling the traffic collision report as part of its investigation, Knapp said. The Highway Patrol is trying to get in touch with the Dantzler family to provide them with the completed FR-10 form, Trooper Nick Pye said following the news conference. Several of the activists who spoke at the news conference explicitly criticized Graziano, characterizing the May 8 crash as another stain on the sheriffs record. What happened that night wasnt rocket science, community advocate Elvin Speights said. He visited the crash site and noticed the stop sign, median and three lanes of traffic that wouldve separated Pelletier from the sedan: She kept going right on through, Speights said. The Dantzler brothers and activists described what justice in the case would look like to them. They want Pelletier fired from her job and criminally charged for her role in the crash, they said. Anyone else would have probably been arrested by now, Speights said. This deputy is still home getting paid. ... And yet here we are still asking for transparency, still asking for something to be said other than (Grazianos) weak apology that she gave to the family. Pelletiers paid leave will last the length of the internal investigation, which is incomplete, Knapp said. As the investigating agency, the Highway Patrol is responsible for determining whether charges are appropriate, he said. SUMMERVILLE Police officers are investigating a homicide after they found a man dead inside a home in the Corey Woods neighborhood. Summerville police officers were dispatched May 24 to 111 Driver Ave. to perform a welfare check on the homeowner after friends hadn't heard from him, Lt. Chris Hirsch said. Officers found an adult man inside the residence, located just north of U.S. Highway 17A. He had multiple wounds on his body from an apparent attack, Hirsch said. The victim's injuries weren't consistent with gunshot wounds, though detectives aren't sure of the weapon, he added. The Dorchester County Coroner's Office will release the man's identity. Hirsch would not provide his age or an incident report until the victim's family is notified, he said. The investigation is in its early stages, but detectives believe the homicide was an isolated incident, Hirsch said. No arrests have been made. The man's death marked the first homicide reported in 2022 by the Summerville Police Department. The Police Department asked anyone in the Corey Woods neighborhood with video footage between 7 p.m. May 22 and 4 a.m. May 23 to call 843-875-1650. Anyone who might have information about the case can also contact Crime Stoppers at 843-554-1111. COLUMBIA A U.S. Senate committee has voted to advance South Carolina U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs' nomination for a high-ranking position on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The 17-5 vote that sends her name to the full Senate came after the Barack Obama-appointee received endorsements from Republicans Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who had supported Childs to be President Joe Biden's pick for the Supreme Court. "From every corner of the legal community, she's highly respected," Graham said during the May 26 hearing. "She is somebody that, while not chosen by a conservative Republican, in my view is somebody highly qualified to do the job. I have nothing but great respect for her and her family." The "no" votes on the committee were all Republicans and were all by proxy. They included Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton. Childs, a district judge in South Carolina, rose to national recognition after a concerted effort by Graham and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn pushed Biden to nominate her as the first Black woman to serve on the nation's highest court. Biden eventually named Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was added to the court earlier this year. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! Childs is well-known in South Carolina and has been at the center of highly consequential decisions in the state to expand ballot access during the 2020 elections as well as issuing the 2014 ruling that effectively overturned South Carolinas ban on gay marriage. While she was among the final group of judges to be considered for the position, her nomination attracted controversy from the left, which expressed discomfort with her record of representing corporate clients in discrimination cases while a partner at Columbia-based law firm Nexsen-Pruet. Childs' colleagues in the South Carolina legal community have downplayed those concerns, saying she was simply an effective attorney representing her client's interests. Republicans, meanwhile, said that the attacks from left-leaning "dark money groups" only galvanized their support for her nomination. "I think she is as good of a pick as we could expect for this very important D.C. circuit that we consider the second-most-important appeals court in our system of justice," Grassley said during the hearing. "I'll also say that I was more likely to support her after seeing how dishonest some liberal dark money groups were campaigning against her when she was a possible nominee to the Supreme Court," he said. SPARTANBURG COUNTY A $3 million fundraising campaign has been launched by the Spartanburg County Foundation to reconstruct the Walnut Grove Manor House. The house on Otts Shoals Road in Roebuck was built in 1765 and last restored in 1961. It's been a popular destination for decades for visitors to experience living history in southern Spartanburg County. When it was constructed, green timbers were used for the house's foundation. Since then the timbers have dried, causing the foundation to settle. The house once used to provide tours to school groups is no longer safe to explore. On May 25, the house was among several stops on a history trail tour hosted by the Spartanburg County Foundation. Troy Hanna, Spartanburg County Foundation CEO, said the tour's purpose was to highlight the county's history and raise awareness to preserve and protect sites, including the manor house. Hanna said the campaign's goal is to raise $3 million, of which $1.5 million would be used to reconstruct the house. Another $1.5 million would be placed in an endowment for future needs to maintain the house. McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture provided consultation on the project. "The foundation timber is compromised and the manor house is bowing on both sides," Hanna said. "The Spartanburg County Historical Association had begun repairs on the house and discovered more issues. We want to see an accurate reconstruction with it taken down and brought back using period material. We want this to be a living history experience and don't want children standing behind ropes at a house that is falling in." Hanna said the reconstruction project would be done in the same manner as the recent Anderson Mill reconstruction project. Anderson Mill along the North Tyger River near Fairmont in Spartanburg County was disassembled in March 2018 and reconstructed. The mill's machinery will be restored, making it a working water-powered gristmill once again. Julian Hankinson, Tyger River Foundation president, said plans for reconstructing the mill began in early 2017. The site will include a park and event space for social gatherings. "We built a new building on it using the old wood and purchased other old wood (from Union)," Hankinson said. "The foundation from the 1700s was repaired and a new roof was installed. It will be grinding corn again sometime in the future." During the mill's excavation, a foundation of a saw mill was discovered at the site. Hankinson said pieces of metal including gears and tools were also found in the dirt near the former saw mill's foundation. A new observation deck will be built at the former saw mill site along the river with plans to build a replica saw mill at the site, he said. The overall cost to reconstruct the Anderson Mill site is about $2 million. Hankinson said landscaping is scheduled to be completed at the site by late 2022 with development of the park before the mill's machinery is reinstalled. Anderson Mill is the oldest standing mill in South Carolina. In 1903, a flood damaged the mill. Flood waters got into the mill's basement, blowing out a back wall. Hankinson said the mill didn't wash away in the river so when it was rebuilt after the flood much of the original wood was reused. In June 1785, the site was where the county's first sheriff and coroner were appointed by justices during a meeting to establish local government. "The grounds right here are considered the beginning of Spartanburg County government," Hankinson said. "The next meeting (in 1785) moved to where Morgan Square is now." During the history trail tour, stops were also made at the Price House at Oakview Farms Road in Woodruff and the Nesbitt Farm at Walnut Grove Road in Roebuck. Hanna noted as residential and commercial development continues, it's important to continue to preserve the area's history. With the reconciliation of the three APC factions and PDP leaders rallying behind one aspirant, the primaries of the two major parties in Zamfara State may be devoid of drama. When the immediate former governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari, accepted an invitation to a meeting at the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, he knew that the outcome of the meeting would determine the fate of the ruling party in the banditry-ravaged state. If he had gone ahead with his plan to defect from the party to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the situation within the two parties would have been different. Mr Yari and another faction leader, Kabiru Marafa, a former senator, reached an agreement with Governor Bello Matawalle that may allow the APC to go into the next general elections as a united party. Ironically, a do or die dispute between Messrs Yari and Marafa was the undoing of the APC in the 2019 elections. Both politicians could not agree on the modalities for party primaries, resulting in Mr Marafa going to court to challenge the list of candidates produced by the then governor, saying the list was not the product of valid primaries. INEC agreed with Mr Marafa and the Supreme Court eventually voided the victory of all the party's candidates in the general elections, the development that allowed the runner-up governorship candidate of the PDP, Mr Matawalle, to be declared as governor. Mr Matawalle's defection in June last year to the APC, however, brought the two old foes, Messrs Yari and Marafa, together in resistance against the party's pronunciation of the governor as the leader of the party in Zamfara. Mr Matawalle is understandably excited that the reconciliation with the old APC leaders will enable him to use a stone to kill two birds. First, he wants to end the internal crisis in the APC which could have seen Messrs Yari and Marafa prodding a candidate against Mr Matawalle at the primary election. Secondly, he has stopped the duo from crossing over to the PDP to increase the opposition party's chances of wresting the seat from him. Without strong contests, the primaries in both leading parties in the state appear set to be mere formalities. APC Despite all the factions agreeing to support Mr Matawalle for a second term following the reconciliation, a youth leader in the APC, Abdulmalik Gajam, will challenge him at the primary. Probably banking on the wealth and political clout of his father, Garba Gajam, the aspirant has rebuffed entreaties to him not to contest against the incumbent. But the young businessman, who is also the President of a group, Youths Liaison Motivity (YLM), has very slim chances of winning the primary, such that some political pundits have said Mr Gajam is contesting to draw attention to himself for the future or position himself for appointment by the governor after 2023. The APC state executive committee, which has control over most of the delegates, is led by Tukur Danfulani, a loyalist of Mr Matawalle. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that some stakeholders, especially from the governor's camp, have been putting pressure on Mr Gajam to withdraw from the race, with a promise to refund the N50 million he paid for the nomination forms. Even if Mr Gajam stands his ground to contest, he is certain to lose because the party is now firmly in Mr Matawalle's control. A political reporter in the state, Abdul Balarabe, agreed that Mr Gajam's prospects at the primary are "bleak" but said the young man could be betting on the eventuality of Mr Matawalle somehow running into trouble over "pre-election" matters, in which case he as the only other contestant would be the beneficiary. PDP Like APC, the PDP has only two strong aspirants seeking its ticket for the governorship election as other aspirants have withdrawn for the man endorsed by party chiefs. The main contestants are Abu Nakwada and Dauda Dare. But the latter, a former Executive Director at the First Bank and a defector from the APC, has won the endorsement of party leaders and appears set to be coronated at the primary. "General Ali (Gusau) asked every aspirant to shelve their ambitions and support Dauda Lawal Dare, who has shown interest," a top member of the party, who asked not to be named, told this newspaper in a telephone conversation on Tuesday. "It shows that General has now learnt his lessons because he would have imposed his son, Mahdi Ali, on the party but he didn't," he said. Mr Ali was recently impeached as deputy governor by the Zamfara State House of Assembly for alleged financial misconduct and other irregularities. But he and most observers attributed his impeachment to his refusal to join Governor Matawalle in abandoning the PDP for the APC. Despite the stakeholders' anointment of Mr Dare, a former House of Representatives member, Ibrahim Shehu-Bakauye, also picked the form for the governorship race. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Mr Shehu-Bakauye is a son of a popular businessman and agriculturalist in the state. While he has the support of some party members, especially at the grassroots, he does not have the financial muscle to seriously bother Mr Dare. The anointment of Mr Dare by the stakeholders, led by Mr Gusau, will work against Mr Shehu-Bakauye. The old general, Mr Gusau, is the main financier of the PDP and its leader in Zamfara and his decisions are rarely challenged in the party. All the party leaders are loyal to Mr Gusau. The party chairman, Baka Mande, a former military governor of Nasarawa State, was one of Mr Gusau's proteges in the military and was believed to have been installed as the party chairman by the ex-National Security Adviser. The two other aspirants, Messrs Madawaki and Nakwada, have withdrawn for Mr Dare, therefore increasing the odds against Mr Bakauye's nomination. Mr Dare also has the support of the two members of the House of Representatives from the state, Kabiru Yahaya (Anka/Talata Mafara) and Sulaiman Abubakar (Gumi/ Bukkuyum). Brooklyn-based choreographer Reggie Wilson founded Fist and Heel Performance Group in 1989, and since then the company has mined the intersection of culture and movement through works they've coined as "kinesthetic anthropology." The name itself is a tipoff: "Fist and heel worshipping" was once a pejorative term applied to art of enslaved Africans in the Americas, which drew from African spiritual traditions. Today, the company marries the cultures of Africans in the Americas and with post-modern elements and Wilson's personal movement style, in a new form that the choreographer describes as post-African/Neo-HooDoo Modern dances. For Spoleto, the company presents his work "POWER." Here, Wilson shares how he came upon his topic of Black Shakers and what drew him to create dance from this lesser-known moment in American history. How did you land upon Black Shakers in the 1800s as fertile ground for contemporary dance? It was slightly to somewhat random. I was working on a different project in Philadelphia and doing research on different African American religious leaders in Philadelphia over the centuries. There are a number of them that were simply quite intriguing, but the one that I didn't really have a frame for at the time was Mother Rebecca, Shaker leader Rebecca Cox Jackson. Later on when I had a bit more time and I started doing deeper research, it slowly started evolving to its own full project. What did you discover? The most striking thing to me was that there was actually a full community of Black Shakers, founded and lead by a free woman of color during the mid-1800s. The piece also explores this community as one led by a Black empowered woman. What the piece does is imagine what that worship could have looked like. So it's not a narrative about Black women and spirituality, but it's not not about that. It's not trying to demonstrate to you, "Here's a Black woman and this is how she worshipped and this is her story." It's not narrative in any way, shape or form. The core of the piece is me imagining in multiple iterations what Black Shaker worship could have looked like. What did you find out? Mother Rebecca wrote her own autobiography. She talks about her dreams, and her spiritual travels, and her physical travels in the world. So a free woman of color, who wrote an autobiography, who prayed herself literate, it's also radical as source material. The idea of creating a religion where the godhead was imagined as male and female, where the races or ethnicities were thought of as being equal. These are radical ideas. That's pretty remarkable to me and that they're using the body to get themselves to that place. Why does religion figure into your work? Hmmm .... well first off I was born in Milwaukee, Wi. My family is from the Mississippi Delta on both sides as far back as we can trace to them into early 1800s. I grew up in the Black church. So even back in the 1990s, I was thinking about what parts of African culture could have made it down to me. Alongside that about the power of Black women's prayer, about my mother praying, about my grandmother praying, being on the bottom of the bottom of the American social hierarchy. What is the connection between Shakers and dance? I think the idea of ritual and religiosity is something that modern dancers, and dancers in general, have thought about for a long period of time, making several works, such as dance pioneers Doris Humphrey and Martha Graham with her classic "Appalachian Spring." The music composed by Aaron Copland used the Shaker hymn "Gift to be Simple" as its main theme. The 2022 Spoleto lineup is very engaged revisiting narratives. Does this figure into your work? Coming down to Charleston is thinking about the ring shout. I've spent a lot of my career thinking about the ring shout, and what I've found is that all the key elements of it existed throughout the United States with Black folks who practiced Christianity. There is often some type of counterclockwise, shuffling, pitching motion with call and response, whether it was called Climbing Jacob's Ladder, or spiritual walking, or was movements of the singing and prayer bands. I've also seen parallels and spent time thinking about these forms of worship in the Caribbean and throughout Africa. It speaks volumes to me. I can talk forever about that. What are you hoping audiences take away from "POWER"? I just try to have and explore the questions that I have, the obsessions and investigations that I have, exploring and playing with the movements and actions. This is an idea and it's interesting to me and I hope it resonates or is at least interesting to the viewer as well. Is there anything in particular you're looking forward to experiencing while in Charleston? Rice and shrimp! I travel for food. And on Charleston, I did want to make sure that I mentioned (Charleston artist) Arianne King Comer. We were working on a separate project in Milwaukee several years ago, and she created, with some Fist and Heel dancers, Indigo-dyed cloth for it. Those cloths ended up being a foundation of the costume design for "POWER." It's been about four years since Guam hosted one of the largest floating hospitals in the world. The USNS Mercy and its crew are visiting the island, resupplying and refueling ahead of a cornerstone humanitarian mission. Pacific Partnership 2022 is the biggest multinational mission of its kind, military officials said, focusing on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness, as well as providing sorely needed medical services to countries and remote islands in the Western Pacific and Oceania. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. During the event, host nations work with military service members and civilian personnel from the United States and its allies to conduct "tailored medical, dental, veterinary, engineering civic action projects and subject matter exchanges," as a way to help enhance the region's collective abilities to respond to disasters, officials said. Guam will serve as the central hub for this year's mission, according to Capt. Charles Maynard of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy, who serves as deputy commander for Pacific Partnership 2022. This is the first opportunity for the exercise to take place since 2018, because the COVID-19 pandemic prevented multinational training from being conducted at this scale. "We know that ... humanitarian disasters and natural disasters are likely to take place in this region. The earthquake in Tonga very recently is a good example of that," he said. The U.S. Navy sent personnel and equipment to the Pacific island nation early this year after the massive eruption of an undersea volcano in the area, providing reconnaissance and damage assessments in the aftermath of the explosion. Maynard noted that the crew aboard the Mercy was particularly excited to enjoy liberty and participate in scheduled activities that support the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Sailors and civilian personnel were seen processing off the ship in order to stay at hotels during their shore leave. "Guam's the beating heart of our personnel and logistics support in the region for both the U.S. Navy and our partner navies," Maynard said. "I know that my own navy, (through) HMS Queen Elizabeth visited Guam last year. That was a really important mission stop for her at a really important time of her deployment. So we know how important Guam is." The USNS Mercy is capable of treating up to 1,000 patients on board and, with a newly upgraded flight deck, can now receive V-22 Ospreys, tilt-rotor military aircraft with a range of about 1,000 miles and the capability to transport more than 20 patients. Officials didn't disclose the hospital ship's specific route, citing operational security concerns. While answering questions from local media, Maynard said the Mercy was in the midst of its "first scheduled stop" on Guam, but declined to explicitly confirm whether the ship will return for more rounds of resupplying. "But, needless to say, we're in the region for a few months," he said. The USNS Mercy's mission will almost certainly overlap with other scheduled military exercises in Micronesia and the Mariana Islands, including portions of a training event called Valiant Shield, and a live-fire test of a Patriot missile system in the Republic of Palau. The ship's leaders, including Maynard and U.S. Navy Capt. Timothy Quast, the Mercy's commanding officer, stressed their focus is on the medical and humanitarian assistance they will provide through their own, concurrent exercise. "We're taking on a host of personnel, logistics," Quast said. "We're spending a significant amount of time here. I know that some of you are familiar with Mercy coming through in previous Pacific Partnerships. We'll probably be here longer than you remember from other times, so we're definitely gearing up." Quast said he was previously stationed on Guam, and told reporters "it's been a dream" of his to return. "We're psyched to be here, I can tell you that. And the island of Guam has just been, obviously working for weeks and weeks to get to this point, so that we're going to get all of those logistical needs taken care of," he said. In 2018, 62 surgeries were completed and 12,700 patients were treated in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Indonesia through Pacific Partnership. This year's iteration is expected to provide a number of medical services, including surgeries to treat hernias and cleft palates. Insights Their number is growing year by year, and it wont be long before they take over the country. Just wait and see what happens then! Did you e Read more The four protesting aspirants said the delegates must present means of identification, which should be a national drivers' licence, a national identity card or international passport. Governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State was postponed from Wednesday to Thursday following protests by four of the five aspirants contesting the election. The protesting aspirants, Sani Kutigi, Sidi Abdul, Abdulrahman Gimba and Abubakar Jankara, insisted that delegates must identify themselves properly before they could be accredited. A total of 800 delegates were expected to elect the party's governorship candidate. The four aspirants took the decision that all delegates must identify themselves properly after an emergency meeting they held in one of the offices at the PDP secretariat, venue of the election. Mr Jankara, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved aspirants, conveyed their decision to the Chairman of the electoral panel and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo. The protesters insisted that delegates must present means of identification, which should be a national drivers' licence, a national identity card or international passport. Efforts by Mr Ewhrudjakpo to pacify the aspirants to agree that the delegates be identified by the chairmen of their respective local governments failed. The four aspirants also intimated the head of the security team at the venue, Adedeji Taiwo, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, who advised them to put their complaint in writing. Mr Ewhrudjakpo later informed journalists that he had directed all delegates to get means of identification and shifted the exercise to Thursday. Salvador Ramoss evil rampage in Uvalde, Texas has had the inevitable consequence: it was politicized within minutes by Democrats calling for more gun control. Michael Moore, at least, was honest. He said the Second Amendment should be repealed. That, one suspects, is what many Democrats want, but most arent bold enough to say it. Instead, they beat around the bush, like Joe Biden who blamed the Uvalde murders on the gun lobby and fumed: When in Gods name will we do what we all know in our gut needs to be done? What, exactly, is that, Joe? He didnt say. The fundamental point to be made about mass school shootings is that they are extraordinarily rare. If we use the FBIs definition of a mass shooting incident, i.e., one where four or more people are killed, this is the pattern of mass school shootings in the 21st century: 2022: 1 2021: 1 2020: 0 2019: 0 2018: 2 2017: 1 2016: 0 2015: 1 2014: 1 2013: 1 2012: 2 2011: 0 2010: 0 2009: 0 2008: 1 2007: 1 2006: 1 2005: 1 2004: 0 2003: 0 2002: 0 2001: 0 2000: 0 So mass school shootings are rare, a total of 14 incidents in more than 22 years. In a nation of 320 million, many more people die from bee stings, lighting strikes, and so on; yet, for understandable reasons, school shootings command national attention. But their very rarity makes it hard to know what to do about them, especially since most school shooters expect to die, which makes them more or less impossible to deter. How do you prevent something that happens, in crude terms, once every 480 million man-years? The solutions proposed by Democrats are laughable, obviously intended for political gain rather than practical benefit. Banning assault rifles, while likely unconstitutional, would do zero good. In close quarters, handguns are better than rifles, even short-barreled rifles like AR-15s. In the worst school shooting rampage so far, at Virginia Tech, the murderer used handguns. And when the ill-fated ban on assault weapons expired in 2004, the homicide rate went down, not up. But there are things we can do. Would-be mass murderers may be crazy, but they arent stupid. They nearly always strike in gun-free zones, including schools, because they want to be sure they are the only one with a firearm. Gun-free zones are an idiotic concept and should be abolished. And if every public school in America fired a diversity consultant and hired an armed guard, they would be vastly safer. Who stands in the way of such practical reform? Mostly the teachers unions, which bitterly resist improvements in school security, thus selling out, as they consistently do, the interests of American children. Beyond that, it would help greatly if our media would stop publicizing mass school shootings. Why do young men who are willing to die undertake to kill innocent school children? Because they are inconsequential and want to be famous. Our press invariably grants their wish with massive publicity. Worst of all is when the murderer pens a manifesto laying out his childish and incoherent political views. That, too, always gets infinitely more attention than it deserves and encourages future mass murderers. Liberals are eager to violate the Second Amendment in the futile hope that it will somehow stop school shootings. But if we dont care about the Constitution, a ban on reporting of school shootings would do vastly more good and would be no less unconstitutional. Finally, lets not have any more shutdowns. As I wrote here, the number of active shooters increased in 2020 after being flat for a number of years, and exploded in Joe Bidens first year in office: The only plausible explanation for this increase is that covid-related shutdowns of schools and businesses exacerbated mental health issues in vulnerable young people. There is a great deal of data confirming such an effect, and in the extreme case, shutdowns evidently have have led to a dramatic increase in active shooters. Lets not make that foolish mistake again. Those solutions arent perfect, but they are practical and would reduce the already microscopically-low incidence of mass school shootings. Rebecca Isaac, 50, sits on a wooden chair at the entrance of her house as she peels baskets of cassava at Pegi, a community in Kuje Area Council of Abuja. Her husband and their two children stand nearby, waiting to grind and process the pellets. Mrs Isaac gets farm inputs on credit from people, and support from her husband and children. Her efforts to receive government funding and support in the past did not succeed. Despite being in the federal capital, she, like most other women farmers in Pegi, have no access to formal financial services or government support schemes for farmers. They are also unable to receive financing from the banks. Lack of access to key information about available programmes is a factor, leaving them open to fraudulent offers. Some people came here and demanded N10,000 and promised to empower us. After paying, we didnt see them again, another set came and collected our data and money but we have not heard from them, Mrs Isaac said. Even with the FADAMA project, I paid N7000 to them, nothing happened, she added. Such offers are commonplace in many rural communities where poverty and illiteracy are rife and many residents struggle all by themselves to build small businesses and livelihoods. The government agrees a way to create wealth and tackle poverty is by expanding financial inclusion. A 2020 survey by EFInA showing access to financial services showed that only 51 per cent of Nigerian adults used formal financial services, such as bank, microfinance bank, mobile money, insurance, or pension accounts. While financial inclusion grew in the past decade, Nigeria missed its National Financial Inclusion Strategy targets for 2020. The Central Bank of Nigeria, which coordinates the effort, had aimed to reach 70 per cent by 2020. Women are more financially excluded than me only 45 per cent of women use formal financial services, compared with 56 per cent of men. In the absence of formal credit access, farmers in Pegi rely on relatives. Farmers turn to families Ihuoma Chijioke, who grows cassava and runs poultry, relies on her husband for financial backing for her farm. I started poultry with the capital I got from my husband, while the cassava farm wasnt difficult. I started the poultry farm with N30,000 then the cassava with N10,000, she said. Another resident of the Pegi community, Elizabeth Onyeri, said after was denied loans by NIRSAL, a CBN-backed facility for farmers, she hired the services of a professional auditor to audit her farm and put the necessary assistance in place for her to file a stronger application. She still could not get it. I even applied for a loan last year from NIRSAL but I was not qualified. I want to re-apply, she said. She said she later approached Access Bank with enquiries on how to apply for the loan dedicated for women. She was told she was not qualified for the application. Some of these women belong to various farmers associations like, but say they have not benefited from support as expected. The Anchor Borrowers Programme, I will tell everybody that cares to listen that it is for some farmers, not for everyone, the ABP is not for rural farmers, Ms Chijoke said. They (banks) are not easily accessible. We were five women but (we werent) a cooperative (society), so we were not given attention. I dont know anyone in BOA or BOI. It has to be who is who. I have not benefited from it. I heard a lot of people have benefited from NIRSAL, Ms Sodeke said. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Prison officials are considering moving suspended police officer Abba Kyari to the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) from the Kuje prison after he nearly got murdered by aggrieved inmates, who accused him of insincerity in bribe-for-release deals when he was in active service. According to internal documents and officials accessed by PREMIUM TIMES, the attack happened on May 4, months after Mr Kyari, who is on trial for drug-related offences, was remanded. His attackers were about 190, an official said, and they are mostly in prison for drug offences. Mr Kyari, 47, a deputy commissioner of police, was a decorated cop and head of the elite Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector-General Police before his fall. First, he was suspended from police duties after being named last July by American investigators as an accomplice in the international fraud and money laundering scheme of Ramon Abbas, popularly called Hushpuppi. Then, while on suspension and awaiting the outcome of an internal probe, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in February accused him of involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The agency released a video in which Mr Kyari appeared to be describing his use of his team to push drugs and discussing sharing of a criminal fortune. He was charged to court in March and remanded in Kuje prison. Dodgy bribe-taking cop The Kuje attackers claimed Mr Kyari prosecuted them despite taking bribes from them, our sources said. One of the sources, a state investigator and intelligence officer, described Mr Kyari as a dodgy criminal. Mr Kyari has not been convicted of any crime and has said he is innocent of the allegations for which he has been charged. Quoting the inmates, our sources said Mr Kyari was eliminating smaller (drug) dealers to clear the field for Afam Ukatu, a suspected billionaire drug baron allegedly behind N3 billion Tramadol deal linked to Mr Kyari. Inmates claimed that upon arrest, Abba Kyari demanded bribes to kill the case, then still prosecuted them, a Kuje prison source who accessed the testimonies of the aggrieved inmates, said. The spokesperson for the Nigerian Correction Service, Francis Enobore, denied the attack on Mr Kyari. But PREMIUM TIMES confirmed the attack from officials with direct knowledge of it and the services internal documents. Settlement According to our sources, Mr Kyari was rescued by officials and has since been kept in an isolated cell under heavy protection where no one sees him for fear of attack or poisoning. To buy his safety, Mr Kyari had to pay each of the aggrieved inmates N200,000 in initial settlement fees and then procured DSTV subscription for cells to buy loyalty and peace, one source said. However, Mr Enobore, who speaks for the correctional service, said, I am not aware Abba Kyari paid anybody to secure his safety in prison. Mr Kyari is alleged to have amassed wealth far in excess of his fair earnings by inverting his role as a law enforcement officer and involving in illicit activities. In April, NDLEA said they marked properties in Borno, Kano, Lagos, and Abuja linked to the disgraced officer. Still threatening to kill Despite the settlements the aggrieved inmates have continued to threaten Mr Kyaris life, our sources said. Regardless of the level of protection, they vowed to get him, a source said. The inmates have given him an ultimatum to return all he extorted from them or be killed. Relevant officials have assessed that he will be killed or badly injured if he continues to be remanded in Kuje. An official recommendation has therefore been made that Mr Kyari should be transferred out of Kuje to an SSS facility, PREMIUM TIMES can report. The SSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, did not answer calls, nor did he reply to a text requesting he comment on this report. Meanwhile, prison sources described Mr Kyaris life in Kuje. So far, he has every relevant officer on his payroll. They do his bidding, he sees his wife, and he has access to mobile devices and marabouts, one source said. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Every night, Saidu Marafa goes to bed around 12 a.m. He keeps his phone under his pillow in anticipation of a phone call he has been waiting for since March 28. It has been 50 days of waiting. Whenever his phone rings he hopes it is a call that will tell him his brother has been released from captivity. His brother, Auwal Marafa, was among the passengers of the Kaduna-bound train that was attacked by bandits. A day after the attack, Mr Marafa said he got a call from one of his brothers abductors. Before the call, his family was worried that he was shot during the attack that left nine people dead. He could not be reached on the phone, and he was not among the dead and the injured taken to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, where victims of the attack were taken and were being treated. They thought maybe he was shot, and his body was not retrieved. When the call came in, I took a sigh and answered. I had been following the development on social media and I read that the bandits had started reaching out to some family members. They told me they kidnapped Auwalu and asked me to wait for their calls, Mr Marafa said. That was the last time the bandits called him. Family members of those abducted were uncertain about the whereabouts and well-being of their relatives for days. Then the bandits released photos of the hostages in captivity. But Mr Marafa said though the pictures provided temporary relief to his family, the state they saw his brother made him cry. He looks sick and in dirty clothes. We dont know whether the bandits give them food or not, Mr Marafa said. But at least, we know he and the other abducted passengers were alive. And that calmed us for some hours. For 50 days now, there has been no contact with them aside from the two video clips and five photographs the gunmen released. Family members of the abducted passengers said they were unimpressed with how the Nigerian government is handling the abduction. They accused Nigerian Railways Corporation of not setting up a situation room as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari. The government insisted it was making efforts to rescue the victims but did not give details of what it was actually doing to secure their release. What the Federal Government is doing wont be the subject matter of a press conference, because we have lives at stake, Lai Mohammed, the information and culture minister said, adding: What I can assure you is that as we speak, the respective arms of the government are actually engaged in getting those victims released. The gunmen insisted they need not need money. The bandits originally did not state was their demands were. However, earlier this week, the bandit announced they want the government to release eight of their children arrested by the Nigerian Army and kept in an orphanage in Nasarawa. A horrendous experience Passengers who were rescued from the train by soldiers said the attack was horrendous. Aisha Bindawa, one of the passengers, said the day of the attack was the worst day of her life. It was terrible, she said during a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES. I had seen nothing close to what I saw that night and I pray it should be the last time Ill ever witness such a thing. There was a man sitting beside me. When that man was shot, I felt like leaving my body. I look at him and felt my soul fleeing too. The abduction has generated uproar among Nigerians. Many are questioning the governments commitment to rescuing or securing the release of the hostages. The wait continues Addressing reportersnin Kaduna to commemorate the 42 days of the attack, the spokesman of the group, Abdulfatai Jimoh, said family members of the passengers have found it difficult to move on. Today marks the 42nd day our loved ones have been held, hostage. It has been 42 long days of living in fear, virtually no sleep, no bath, wearing the same clothes, under the scorching sun and rain, and exposed to extreme environmental hazards. The emotional, psychological, mental, and physical torture arising from these conditions are only imaginable. Among the abducted passengers are children, some as young as 3 years old, pregnant women, women, including an 85-year-old great grandmother, and others. Some of these victims have health challenges requiring daily medications, which they have had no access to in the last 42 harrowing days, he said. Terrible situation It has not been easy for all of us, Abdulaziz Attah, a son of one of the abducted passengers told Premium Times. You know, if they were dead, you will know that theyre dead. Theyll be buried, youll mourn and eventually accept reality. But theyre alive but you cant see them; you dont know what they go through or how they are surviving. Its terrible. For now, Mr Attah has to contend with double tragedy because apart from his elderly mother, who he said is the oldest among the captives, his junior sister was also abducted. Both women were travelling together. The whole family is finding it difficult to cope. No one sleeps, things are in complete disarray and because of this, we have people who are already depressed, he said. Mr Attah said the realisation that he could not do anything to save his mother and sister, makes him feel terrible and increasingly frustrated. Relatives of captive told this newspaper that they are hopeful they would be released but the uncertainty around when they would be released makes them apprehensive. We will remain hopeful but its not easy, Sani Lawal, whose brother and sister-in-law were abducted from the train told Premium Times over the phone. I tell you my immediate family doesnt understand me anymore because of the trauma. How does one even explain this? I mean I have to keep lying to my brothers children that their father has travelled and would soon be back. Mr Lawal said he has also been reassuring his father and mother that negotiations to free the captives were at an advanced stage but for how long? He said the release of the pictures and video clips of the captives was reassuring but he has been praying for more evidence to be sure that his brother and his sister-in-law are still in good health. I would have expected the representatives of the President, at least the transportation minister to have reached out to us to console us, keep us updated on the situation on the ground but nothing is happening. Let them show concern at least, he said. Zarah Aliyu, sister to one of the passengers, told PREMIUM TIMES that the decision by the National Assembly to pass a bill prohibiting the payment of ransom ( The bill is yet to be signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari) came at the wrong time when family members are clinging on to the only string of hope to remain sane. Were in a terrific situation right now but they dont even care, she said. Its not about making the payment of ransom illegal, let them secure the country first. For me, if the bandits have demanded ransom from us, we would have reached out to family and friends and other good Nigerians to save our relatives because its not easy coping, she said. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Days after being declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a former Rivers State Accountant-General, Siminialayi Fubara, on Wednesday clinched the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket. Mr Fubara, who is wanted by the anti-graft agency over N435 billion fraud, polled 721 votes to defeat a former Commissioner for Finance in the state, Isaac Kamalu, who scored 86, at the primary election of the party in Port Harcourt. Mr Fubara, who hails from Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area of the state recently resigned as the state Account-general to focus on his governorship ambition. His ambition is widely speculated to have the blessings of the state governor, Nyesom Wike, who is himself a presidential aspirant in the same party. The chairman of the primary organising committee, Walter Mbotu, declared Mr Fubara winner having satisfied the conditions of the party guidelines and scored the highest number of votes. Mr Mbotu, a professor, while addressing party members at Obi Wale Conference Centre, venue of the primary, said although 980 delegates were expected at the primary, 898 were accredited while eight void votes were recorded. He earlier promised a free, fair and transparent governorship primary. The Nation newspaper reported that Felix Obua got two votes, David Brigs scored four votes, West Morgan had four votes while Tammy Danagogo and George Kelly had 36 and 37 votes respectively, and others scored zero. According to the newspaper, some major aspirants in the race like Mr Obua, former Secretary to State Government Tammy Danagogo, former Senators, Thompson Sekibo, Lee Maeba and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara were conspicuously absent at the primary. Other aspirants, Isaac Kamalu, George Kelly and the only female in the race, Abbie Atedoghu were in attendance. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were on ground to monitor the exercise as mandated by the law. The primary had Mr Wike and head of security agencies in the state in attendance. Earlier in his welcome remarks, the state chairman of the party, Desmond Akawor, expressed happiness at the successful conduct of the State and National Assemblies primaries. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Titus Uba, the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, on Wednesday emerged as the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the states governorship election. His main challenger will be the governorship candidate of the main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which holds its primaries today in Makurdi. While the ruling PDP made a consensus arrangement that threw up Mr Uba and the Benue State Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, as the contestants for its ticket, the APC has cleared a priest, Hyacinth Alia, and 11 other aspirants for its primary. On Wednesday, Mr Uba garnered 731 votes to defeat Mr Abounu, who polled 81 votes. Mr Abounu, while accepting the outcome of the contest, said no human being can swim against the tide, a sentiment that resonates with the Idoma ethnic minority group in Benue. The party authority has spoken and the party authority has spoken well loud and clear and that is how the tide goes, he said. All I can say is that only God can make it possible for somebody like me who is a creation of God to be governor of Benue State, Mr Abounu said in his concession speech. Speaking in an interview with this newspaper on the consensus arrangement in the PDP, Governor Samuel Ortom had said it was designed to guarantee the partys victory at the general poll next year. Mr Ortom, who was first elected governor in 2015 under the platform of the APC but defected to the PDP before the 2019 elections, said zoning the ticket to Benue South (dominated by the minority Idoma ethnic group) would jeopardise the partys chances at the election. If we (PDP) go in a hurry and nominate someone from Zone C (Benue South), and our opponent (APC) does not do same in Tivland, it means that the PDP will lose the (governorship) election completely, even with the overwhelming support that we have today in PDP. That is a fact, Mr Ortom said in the April interview. Two contenders in the PDP, Mr Uba and Dennis Ityavyar, the immediate past education commissioner in the state, hail from Vandeikya Local Government Area in Benue North-east Senatorial District, where the PDP micro-zoned its governorship ticket to the Tiv ethnic group. The deputy governor, Mr Abounu, was the consensus candidate of the PDP in the Idoma speaking area of the state, but owing to the numerical strength of the Tivs, he lost out in the primaries on Wednesday. The Tiv ethnic group is in the North-east and North-west senatorial districts and constitutes the largest group in the state. As Mr Ortom said, this is a game of numbers, and that is what democracy is. Mr Ityavyar, a professor, has declined comments on the outcome of the micro-zoning exercise, which produced Mr Uba from his own side; fuelling speculations that he might work against the party at the general election. Such will not be strange. Mr Ortoms former Chief Staff, Terwase Orbunde, defected to the APC after he lost out in the PDP micro-zoning in the Tiv speaking area. He is now continuing his bid in his new party. Following Mr Ubas endorsement, Paul Orhii, a former director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration (NAFDAC); Susan Waya, wife of billionaire businessman Terry Waya, and six other contenders, all withdrew from the race. In a statement last Friday, Nathaniel Ikyur, the Chief Press Secretary to Mr Ortom, said the eight aspirants had thrown their weight behind Mr Uba for the PDP ticket. The aspirants restated their stance, Friday, May 20th, 2023 after a meeting with Governor Samuel Ortom and Senator Gabriel Suswam at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi to finalize their consultations ahead of the partys primaries. The meeting, which lasted for several hours, had eight of the aspirants saying that they decided to throw their weight behind the consensus candidature of Hon. Uba for the sake of the party and the people of the state they had sought to govern, the statement read in part. With the foregoing, it was crystal clear that the odds were stacked heavily against the Idoma consensus candidate in the race for the PDP ticket. The Alia hurricane In the APC, Mr Alia, a Roman Catholic priest, enjoys grassroots popularity in Benue State, political analysts said. But other top contenders like Barnabas Gemade, a former national chairman of the PDP; Michael Aondoakaa, ex-attorney-general of the federation, and Stephen Lawani, the immediate past deputy governor of the state, have financial war-chest and are formidable opponents of the radical priest, owing to the tradition of money politics in Nigeria. APC insiders are of the view that Mr Alia appears to be the preferred candidate of George Akume, a former governor and current minister of Special Duties, given the formers acceptability amongst the masses. But Alias emergence as APC candidate is only possible through a consensus arrangement, given the role of money in Nigerian politics, an APC stalwart who did not want his name mentioned said. A professor of political science at the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, George Genyi, described Mr Alia as a charismatic politician whose chances are bright if he emerges as flagbearer of either APC or any other political party. His (Alias) chances are very high as a grassroots mobiliser. This is where his popularity stems from, Mr Genyi said, adding that the priest has big hurdles to cross if he must clinch the APCs ticket. While an aspirant like Terhemba Shija, a professor and astute politician, has relied on his intellectual capital to woo delegates ahead of the primary, politicians like Messrs Aondoakaa, Lawani and Germade will deploy their resources to emerge as the APC candidate. According to Mr Genyi, Mr Alia possesses the capacity to reverse the low level of development that has characterised Benue for a long time. Father Alia happens to be one priest who has been able to prudently apply church resources for human development. APCs defeat will end Akumes political career Mr Genyi says if Mr Akume is unable to have a governor elected in Benue in 2023 on the platform of the APC, then he would have said bye-bye to politics. He noted that the party (APC) needs a popular candidate; adding, Father Alia happens to be the one. If they field another candidate, their chances of winning the (governorship) election will be very narrow. Even if he doesnt win the APC ticket at the primary, once he gets the ticket of any party at all, he will defeat other candidates to emerge governor next year. He is like a hurricane, Mr Genyi said. But to guard against any form of manipulation of delegates at the primary, the APC has adopted the direct mode of electing its flagbearer for the Thursday election. Daniel Ihomun, APCs publicity secretary in the state, said Mr Akume met with party stalwarts on May 23, where the mode of the primary was endorsed. One of the top contenders, Mr Shija, a professor, said the APC was at liberty to adopt any mode of election that would produce the partys candidate. Mr Akume was quoted to have said he would allow the people to nominate the candidate of their choice. We are throwing it back to you; you decide. He was speaking with party members at the meeting in Makurdi which had the state chairman of the party, Austin Agada, and the governorship aspirants in attendance. Church suspends priest Meanwhile, the Catholic Diocese of Gboko has suspended Mr Alia from performing his priestly duties for taking into active politics. The Bishop of the Gboko Catholic Diocese, William Avenya, in a letter dated May 20, announced the suspension of Mr Alia from public ministry after series of admonitions to him. Giving reasons for Mr Alias suspension, Mr Avenya said, The Mother Church does not allow her clerics to get involved in partisan politics on their own. It will be recalled that the Catholic church in Benue had suspended Moses Adasu, one of its priests who vied and won the governorship election in 1992, but his government was short-lived as it was sacked by the Sani Abacha military junta in 1993. But a Nigerian born U.S.-based professor of political science, Pita Agbese, disagrees with the Catholic authorities for suspending Mr Alia from the church. Mr Agbese, a fierce critic of the Ortom-led government, said, Benue needs both a physical and a moral re-birth and a physical regeneration. He noted in a Facebook post that, many people in the state see (Mr) Alia as the embodiment of the new morality which would uproot Ortom. Mr Agbese said, Whether Alia has the moral characteristics that have been imbued on him by his supporters may not be as important as the fact that he is seen as possessing all the qualities necessary for burying Ortomism. He said if Mr Alia emerges the APC flagbearer, I will wholeheartedly support him against the presumptive PDP flag-bearer (Mr Uba). WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Glencore International A.G. and Glencore Ltd., both part of a Switzerland-based multi-national commodity trading and mining firm named in massive bribery of officials of Nigerias state-owned oil company, have pleaded guilty and agreed to pay over $1.1 billion fine over their involvement in a corruption scheme. The firms pleas are meant to resolve the United States governments investigations into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and a commodity price manipulation scheme. A United States Department of Justice press statement on Monday said that the guilty pleas are part of coordinated resolutions with criminal and civil authorities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. The rule of law requires that there not be one rule for the powerful and another for the powerless; one rule for the rich and another for the poor, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. The Justice Department will continue to bring to bear its resources on these types of cases, no matter the company and no matter the individual. Last July, a PREMIUM TIMES report detailed how a former United Kingdom-based trader for Glencore Plc, Anthony Stimler, bribed officials in Nigeria in exchange for favourable contracts from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Mr Stimler, acting through subsidiaries of Glencore, conspired with others to make millions of U.S. dollars in corrupt bribe payments to officials in Nigeria. The former trader pleaded guilty over what prosecutors in the United States described as his role in a scheme to bribe and he admitted to conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and commit money laundering at a hearing in Manhattan federal court conducted by video. Prosecutors said millions of dollars in bribes were paid to officials in Nigeria, in exchange for NNPC awarding oil contracts and providing more lucrative grades of oil on more favorable delivery terms. Charges The US Department of Justice said that charges in the FCPA matter arise out of a decade-long scheme by Glencore and its subsidiaries to make and conceal corrupt payments and bribes through intermediaries for the benefit of foreign officials across multiple countries. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Glencore has agreed to a criminal fine of more than $428 million and to criminal forfeiture and disgorgement of more than $272 million. Glencore has also agreed to retain an independent compliance monitor for three years. The department has agreed to credit nearly $256 million in payments that Glencore makes to resolve related parallel investigations by other domestic and foreign authorities. Separately, Glencore Ltd. admitted to engaging in a multi-year scheme to manipulate fuel oil prices at two of the busiest commercial shipping ports in the U.S, the statement said. As part of the plea agreement, Glencore Ltd. agreed to pay a criminal fine of over $341 million, pay forfeiture of over $144 million, and retain an independent compliance monitor for three years. The department has agreed to credit up to one-half of the criminal fine and forfeiture against penalties Glencore Ltd. pays to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in a related, parallel civil proceeding. Sentencing has been scheduled in the market manipulation case for June 24, and a control date for sentencing in the FCPA case has been set for October 3. Nigeria, DRC cases Between 2007 and 2018, Glencore and its subsidiaries caused approximately $79.6 million in payments to be made to intermediary companies in order to secure improper advantages to obtain and retain business with state-owned and state-controlled entities in the West African countries of Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Equatorial Guinea. The DoJ noted that Glencore concealed the bribe payments by entering into sham consulting agreements, paying inflated invoices, and using intermediary companies to make corrupt payments to foreign officials. For example, in Nigeria, Glencore and Glencores U.K. subsidiaries entered into multiple agreements to purchase crude oil and refined petroleum products from Nigerias state-owned and state-controlled oil company, it said. Glencore and its subsidiaries engaged two intermediaries to pursue business opportunities and other improper business advantages, including the award of crude oil contracts, while knowing that the intermediaries would make bribe payments to Nigerian government officials to obtain such business. In Nigeria alone, Glencore and its subsidiaries paid more than $52 million to the intermediaries, intending that those funds be used, at least in part, to pay bribes to Nigerian officials. In the DRC, Glencore admitted that it conspired to and did corruptly offer and pay approximately $27.5 million to third parties, while intending for a portion of the payments to be used as bribes to DRC officials, in order to secure improper business advantages. Glencore also admitted to the bribery of officials in Brazil and Venezuela. In Brazil, the company caused approximately $147,202 to be used, at least in part, as corrupt payments for Brazilian officials. In Venezuela, Glencore admitted to conspiring to secure improper business advantages by paying over $1.2 million to an intermediary company that made corrupt payments for the benefit of a Venezuelan official. Glencores Denial When details of its Mr Stimlers involvement in the bribery scheme was reported in July 2021, Glencore Plc described the traders plea as unacceptable, adding that the conduct has no place in Glencore. Glencore has cooperated fully with the department of justice and other authorities in their investigations and continues to do so, it said. Glencore has taken a number of remedial measures in light of what it has learned during the investigation. Glencore has significantly enhanced its ethics and compliance programme over the last few years with a view to developing a best in class programme. But the company has kept mum about details of the United States Department of Justice revelation on Monday. The NNPC on its part has failed to react to the developments since details of the bribery scheme became public last July. Efforts to speak with the corporations spokesperson failed Tuesday morning as his known telephone number could not be reached. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 In taking impunity to the highest level, some students of the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto State recently lynched one of their colleagues, Deborah Samuel, and burnt her remains in broad daylight. They did not stop at that; they made a video of this most inhuman and horrific act of savagery, dancing and rejoicing in a dramatic show of self-adulation. The act was heart-wrenching, barbaric, reprehensible and an assault on our humanity. Justice must be served in this case as the world is watching. Bestiality such as this without consequences, explains why Nigeria is regarded by the rest of the world as part of countries still in the backwaters of civilisation. But it should not be so! The late Deborah, a 22-year old woman from Niger State, has since been buried by her traumatised parents, who on their own travelled to Sokoto to collect the charred remains of their daughter. The school authorities are supposed to be loco parentis to students under their care, but those in the said school failed abysmally in the discharge of this responsibility. Clearly, they are not worthy of the positions they occupy. The young lady, seeing her death as a fait accompli, painfully intoned: What do you hope to achieve with this?, The school and the students involved in the dastardly act owe Nigerians more explanations about why Deborah lost her life in the manner she did, beyond the nebulous allegation of blasphemy levelled against her. Equally, explanations are needed from the authorities on how unarmed students overpowered operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) in the school, who are supposedly armed but could not fire a single shot in the air to disperse the mob and ferry Deborah to safety. According to reports, what ended up as a tragedy had its roots in a group on an innocuous social media platform, WhatsApp, which Deborahs course mate, known as Rakia, had set up for the ease of communication on class assignments, lectures and examinations. One post to her had enquired how she passed her papers in the previous semester, to which she replied that: It is Jesus o! At that point, there was pressure for her to retract the post, but she had demurred. As more pressure mounted, she exclaimed: Holy Ghost fire. She wondered how a social media platform created for a communal academic purpose had been hijacked for a religious purpose. She never mentioned any religion or religious figure in her own posts. As is usually the case with such ghoulish circumstances, condemnations have been torrential, coming from President Muhammadu Buhari, northern governors, the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society groups, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Saad Abubakar, clerics of all religious persuasions, and public opinion moulders. Governor Tambuwal of Sokoto State responded swiftly by imposing a 24-hour curfew on the State, following violent protests that had led to the burning and looting of shops, as well as attack on churches, in the wake of the arrest and arraignment of two suspects in the murder case. He also directed the school authorities and the security agencies to investigate the matter and fish out all the involved suspects. However, what beggars belief is the charge of merely inciting breach of public peace levelled against the two suspects that have so far been arrested. It is bizarre, tendentious and unacceptable. Such a response tends to evoke in some quarters the feeling of an official imprimatur to felony or, at best, a ploy to let the suspects off the hook. In castigating the action, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, said it was an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerians and God who created Deborah. This is the plain truth! It is sickening that more than a week after Deborah was gruesomely murdered, the two demented fellows who appeared in a video confessing their roles in the homicide have not been arrested. When murders like this take place in any country where law and order means something, within an hour, the area of the crime is subjected to a total lockdown in a manhunt for the suspect(s), who are put on trial immediately they are arrested. It happened in the recent Buffalo mass shooting in New York, USA. These two suspects who remain at large in the immolation of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto must be arrested without further delay and made to face the full weight of the law. The innocent blood of Deborah is crying for justice and must be appeased. This is the least the authorities are expected to do, not just to condemn the act and move on. Life is sacrosanct as expressly stated in Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution (amended), where it is proclaimed that: Every person has the right to life and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life. The point must be emphasised that it is not only the savages that lynched Deborah that are on trial, the government is equally more so, because often times it is deficit, capricious, and aloof, in enforcing the supremacy of our Constitution, which it swore to uphold. In more ways than one, the lack of penal clampdown and the penchant for paying lip service to the secularity of the Nigerian state also guaranteed by the constitution are at the heart of groups, or persons, seeing themselves as above the law, and as such can easily take the lives of their fellow citizens without remorse. In Nigeria, murder is a capital offence against the state. Therefore, the Sokoto State government and the Federal Government must take decisive action to enforce the law, and they should be seen to have been done so, in the interest of justice. Besides, Deborahs family needs psycho-social support from all quarters for them to deal with what happened to her. The Niger State and Sokoto State governments should extend this much-needed support at this most trying moment to the family. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 The duo spoke on Tuesday during the passing out parade of the cadets at the Immigration Training School in Kano State. The minister of interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and the acting comptroller-general of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Isah Idris, have told the newly inducted 548 cadets of the agency that the "overriding reason for their employment is the security of the Nigeria's territorial borders." They reiterated the point in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed on behalf of Mr Idris by the NIS public relations officer, Amos Okpu, an assistant comptroller of immigration. Mr Okpu said the duo spoke on Tuesday during the passing out parade of the cadets at the Immigration Training School in Kano, Kano State. He said the parade was held for the 47th Superintendent Basic Course cadets after an intensive six-month period of physical drills and academic training. Border security Delivering his message to the cadets, Mr Aregbesola said the integrity of Nigeria's borders is the responsibility of the NIS, and urged the new recruits to have it in their minds that securing Nigeria against trespassers, aggressors and interlopers is their primary responsibility. The minister, who was the parade reviewing officer, was represented by a commissioner at the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Emmanuel Bassey, a major general, retired. He said; "Your engagement into the Nigeria Immigration Service reaffirms the government's commitment to strengthening our internal security of which our borders are an integral part. Without secure borders, no security measure can work. External criminally minded persons can infiltrate the country and escape at will, if the borders are not well secured. Deadly diseases are spread also from one country to the other through cross border movements. This is why national borders were shut in the wake of the outbreak of the COVID-19 in 2020, completely grounding the aviation industry and other modes of international transportation. "Even the economic security of a people is threatened when borders are not properly manned. "As you have been taught, your main mission is to man the nation's borders. Every other assignment is secondary. This must settle in your innermost being and resonate in your archetype: to keep the bad people away from our country and encourage the good people to come in. No harm must befall our nation on your watch." He urged them to be disciplined, even as he quoted the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, that "the strength of any military organisation lies not in its size but in its discipline." Technology to the rescue On his part, the acting comptroller general, who has consistently emphasised the massive number of illegal routes to the country, said the adoption of technology by his agency remains the best strategy to adequately man the borderlines. Mr Idris, who encouraged the new cadets to improve their technical and technology skills, said the ongoing deployment of the electronic-border management system will soon phase out the challenges currently identified with the system. He said; "We are retooling our border security structures following the adoption of the eBorder project which would demand massive deployment of human and ICT logistics for effective border security operations across control posts. "We shall complement this with reinvigorated patrols at the border flanks with the aim of keeping away undesirable migrants. As you graduate out of this institution today, I assure you that you will be needed at the forward operations bases and the border control posts to offer your contributions to our fatherland." Mr Isah added that the agency is also upgrading the combat readiness of the border patrol personnel "especially with the recent training exercise for 250 personnel in Sokoto State." He said many of them have been successfully deployed to border formations across the country. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Migration By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "Just as I mentioned earlier, we are placing huge premiums on border security and to this end I have commenced operational visits to our border control posts with my recent visit to some of our blue border formations in Akwa Ibom State. We shall continue with this effort, especially with the e-Border project," he added. Sanction regime Meanwhile, the officials also advised the new cadets to shun corrupt practices and be hardworking. They said as the agency values and rewards integrity and commitment to work, it does not spare the rod when its men are found wanting. The acting comptroller general said; "It is instructive to inform you that we have strong consequence management mechanisms in place to attend to all forms of conduct/activities. While good conduct and performances will be handsomely rewarded, poor conduct and other offences against discipline will receive their due sanctions in line with extant public service rules and paramilitary ethics." He, therefore, urged the cadets to shun all forms of sharp practices and corruption. An aspirant contesting the Edo State House of Assembly primary election under the All Progressive Congress (APC), Elvis Uadiale, was among other Nigerians indicted for an international fraud scheme in the United States in 2012. According to a charge sheet filed by the United States Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Mr Uadiale and others were charged with conspiracy to commit internet fraud and money laundering. The court document, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, revealed details of how Mr Uaduale worked in cahoots with others to defraud hundreds of unsuspecting persons in the U.S. and other countries. The document revealed that the internet fraud syndicate where Mr Uadiale belonged was using conventional communication media such as mail, telephone, or the internet to swindle consumers seeking loans, employment opportunities, and financial awards, among others. In February 2019, Price Efosa, a dual citizen of Nigeria and the U.S. and one of the accused persons in the internet fraud scheme, was sentenced to 63 months imprisonment by the Pennsylvania courts chief judge, Christopher Conner. Also known as mass marketers, the group, based in the U.S., had in 2002 started fleecing victims by exhibiting fake bet winnings, advance fees for fake loan grants and other internet fraud schemes. Other indicted Nigerians are Susan Osagiede, Itohan Agho-Allen, and Ikejiani Okoloubu, according to a press statement by the U.S. court. The accused were using their individual experience as former agents of the Western Union and MoneyGram, two international money transfer agencies, to process and cash the received illicit funds without revealing their identities, the court was told. They were also said to have kept a portion of the proceeds as compensation for their role in the internet fraud deal, after fleecing about 410 victims totalling over $1.4 million. Enters Elvis Uadiale In another U.S. court document superseding indictment, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Uadiale was said to have operated MoneyGram and Western Union outlets named Diale Investment in the Greater Brooklyn in the New York area between 2008 and 2009. During the period May 2008 through September 2008, Western Union senders reported that seven money transfers totalling $9,985 paid at Diale Investments were induced by fraudulent mass marketing activity, the court document revealed. Western Union suspended Uadiales authority to process Western Union money transfers during the September 2008 Anti Money Laundering compliance issue. Mr Uadiale was also said to have recruited an unindicted co-conspirator to process fraudulent money transfers on behalf of him and other unidentified mass marketers. The U.S. superseding indictment sheet noted that in 2008 alone, MoneyGram senders reported that over 100 illicit money transfers totalling over $327,000 paid to Mr Uadiales company were fraudulently induced. In or about January 2009, MoneyGram terminated Uadiales contract to process MoneyGram transfers due, in part, to Uadiales apparent complicity in mass marketing fraud and money laundering activity, the document, signed by Peter Smith, a U.S. Attorney, said. My political opponent at work Uadiale A decade after he was indicted for money laundering and internet fraud in the US, Mr Uadiale is now running a political race for the APC House of Assembly ticket in Edo, his state of origin. However, some Edo politicians contacted by PREMIUM TIMES described him as an unpopular aspirant spending a lot of money to emerge as the candidate for the legislative seat under the ruling party. Despite his alleged involvement in an international fraud scheme, Mr Uadiale was screened by the APC in his state as a qualified aspirant to jostle for the ticket. Neither David Imuse, the Edo APC chairman nor Igbinigie Uwadia, the partys publicity secretary in the state, answered PREMIUM TIMES calls when contacted over the matter. READ ALSO: Judge withdraws from election fraud case against Nigerian professor But Mr Uadiale said his political enemies were behind his internet fraud story. Although he admitted he was once indicted for money laundering and mail fraud, he was evasive when asked if he was acquitted in the case. Im contesting an election and my opponents can do whatever they wish to do, Mr Uadiale told PREMIUM TIMES. I know theyre at work but when theyre done, I will definitely start my own. When asked to provide evidence that he had been acquitted in the case, Mr Uadiale remained evasive, insisting his name was only mentioned in the international wire fraud allegation. As of publication time, the U.S. Department of Justice has not responded to PREMIUM TIMES public service inquiry on the allegation against Mr Uadiale and the current status of the case. Should Mr Uduale contest and become a lawmaker, he would not be the first Nigerian to be elected lawmaker despite a U.S. crime indictment. The late Buruji Kashamu, who was wanted for drug-related crime in the U.S., was elected senator on the platform of Nigerias main opposition party, PDP. As a senator, Mr Kashamu frustrated his extradition to the U.S. using Nigerian courts. Until his death in 2020, Mr Kashamu was still wanted in the U.S. for his crimes. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Two factions of the Ogun Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held parallel governorship primaries in Abeokuta on Wednesday to elect governorship flag bearers for the party ahead of the 2023 elections. The faction which had the state party executives on ground held its primaries at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) where Ladi Adebutu emerged as the candidate. The other faction which produced Segun Sowunmi, former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar as its governorship candidate held its primaries at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Abeokuta. Mr Adebutu, who once represented Remo North Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, defeated three other contestants. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise was supervised by a five-man Electoral Committee from the National Headquarters headed by Akase Sorkaa. Announcing the result of the election at exactly 10:50pm , Mr Sorkaa said Mr Adebutu polled 714 votes to defeat Mr Sowunmi, Jimi Lawal and Abimbola Abodunrin who all polled zero vote. He encouraged all the delegates to elect candidates that would be acceptable to the people. In his acceptance speech, Mr Adebutu expressed satisfaction on the conduct of the exercise, saying he was happy with his election as the candidate of the party. He noted that it was high time an environment of hope was created. Earlier, in the parallel election that produced Mr Sowunmi, the chairman of the electoral committee, Abayomi Daniel announced him the winner of the election after the votes were counted. Mr Abayomi said Mr Sowunmi contested against two other aspirants, Messrs Lawal and Adebutu who were not physically present but were represented by their agents at the primaries. According to him, Mr Sowunmi polled 555 votes to defeat his closest rival, Lawal, who scored 30 votes while Adebutu polled 15 votes. According to Mr Daniel, a total number of 778 delegates were accredited, 702 votes cast, while three votes were voided. By the power conferred on me by the national leadership of our great party as the chairman electoral committee of the PDP governorship primary election in Ogun, I declare Segun Sowunmi winner of the election, haven polled the highest number of votes and he is hereby returned and elected, Mr Daniel said. Mr Sowunmi in his acceptance speech, commended members of the party for their support and promised not to let them down. He called on other aspirants to work together with him to secure victory for the party in the 2023 general elections. I humbly accept the nomination as candidate of the PDP, he said. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 A former member of the House of representatives, Isah Ashiru, has clinched the PDP governorship ticket in Kaduna. Mr Ashiru defeated four other aspirants including a former head of National Emergency Management Agency, Sani Sidi, the former governor of the state Ramalan Yero, and a former Senator Shehu Sani, among others. The primary elections which took place at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna on Wednesday through Thursday morning and monitored by PREMIUM TIMES, saw Mr Ashiru scoring 414 votes to win the race. According to the results as announced by the returning officer Raymond Dabo at the venue Mr Sidi scored 260 votes, Mr Yero scored 28 votes, Mr Abbas scored 15 votes, Mr Kajuru scored 11 votes and Mr Sani got 2 votes. In a congratulatory message to the winner on his verified Twitter page senator Sani congratulated the winner and also thanked the two delegates that voted for him. Mr Sani said The Kaduna PDP Governorship primaries have been concluded. I lost and Honourable Isah Ashiru won. I wish to congratulate him. Two Delegates voted for me without giving them a dime. Unfortunately, I dont know who they are so that I can appreciate these clean votes. We look forward. Mr Ashiru was the PDP governorship candidate in 2019. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 A former member of the House of Representatives, Yahman Abdullahi, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State. Mr Abdullahi, a three-time member of the Green Chamber, defeated two other aspirants to clinch the position. The other aspirants were Ahman Pategi and Issa Gana. The Chairman of the electoral committee of the governorship primary, Niyi Owolade, announced the result of the election at about 10 p.m. on Wednesday night. Mr Owolade said that Mr Abdullahi polled 518 out of the total 574 votes cast, while Mr Pategi recorded 31 votes and Mr Gana 14. According to him, 574 of the total 591 delegates were accredited while 11 votes were voided. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governorship candidate was a member representing the Pategi/Lafiagi/Moro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. Mr Abdullahi, who was a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019, defected to the PDP six weeks ago and collected the forms to contest for the governorship ticket. READ ALSO: Lawal wins Zamfara PDP guber ticket Mr Abdullahi, in his acceptance speech, thanked his co-contestants for accepting the outcome of the election. He called for the cooperation of all members of the party so that PDP would become victorious in the 2023 general elections in the state. Mr Abdullahi alleged that Kwara State, under the present APC administration, has derailed from the track of progress and development. He called on the people of the state to vote for PDP in order to put the state back on track. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 A High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, issued a warrant of arrest on a dismissed teacher who failed to appear in court to face charges of sexual abuse. The teacher, Igoche Ada, 39-year-old, was accused of sexually molesting a 14-year-old girl on the premises of Destiny Christian Academy, Airport Road, Abuja, by touching and caressing her breast and other sexual parts. Tuesday was the second time Mr Ada would be absent from his trial. He has also not been able to take his plea. This prompted the judge, Akeem Fashola, to issue the arrest warrant. The prosecutor, John Ijagbemi, drew the courts attention to Mr Adas absence for the second time when the case was heard on Tuesday. He informed the judge that the accused and his surety had been served with hearing notices and had agreed to appear in court. According to him, Mr Ada opted to disrespect the court for the second time by rejecting the courts invitation. He asked the judge to issue an arrest warrant on the accused so that the police may apprehend him and bring him before the court. Ruling In his ruling, the judge agreed that the defendant was disrespecting the court. He ordered that Mr Ada be arrested and brought before the court. The case was adjourned to June 23. An arrest warrant is hereby issued against the defendant. This case is hereby adjourned to June 23, 2022, for the arraignment of the defendant, Mr Fashola ruled. Background Mr Ada is accused of molesting a female student of a school, Destiny Christian Academy, where he was a teacher until 2021. The school is affiliated with the Dunamis International Gospel Centre. Mr Ada had sued the Senior Pastor of the Church, Paul Enenche, and his wife, Becky, who are co-owners of the school after his dismissal from the school as a result of the sexual assault allegations. READ ALSO: Rivers polytechnic suspends lecturer over alleged sexual harassment He filed a suit at the National Industrial Court in Abuja urging the court to declare his dismissal from the school as null and void, malicious, wrongful, unconstitutional and illegal. That suit is still pending. Mr Ada was, however, arrested in September 2021 but released thereafter. The Commissioner of Police on January 18 filed a child molestation charge against Mr Ada at the Abuja court. The one-count criminal charge read, That you, lgoche Daniel Ada m 39yrs, on or about 25/04/2021 at about 21:15hrs at the school premises of Destiny Christian Academy Airport Road FCT, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did sexually harassed one aged 14yrs by touching and caressing her breast and other sexual parts, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 32 (1) and punishable under section 32 (2) of Child Right Act LFN 2003. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 The Electoral Committee for APC Governorship Primaries in Lagos State has said that only Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was cleared to participate. The APC special state congress to select the partys candidate for the 2023 governorship election held on Thursday. Adamu Yuguda, chairman of the five-man electoral committee, stated this to newsmen while reacting to allegations that the two other aspirants in the race were prevented from attending the primary election. Mr Yuguda said: We are aware that three aspirants bought forms for Lagos state. Three accredited for the screening. One was cleared, two were not cleared. So, as we speak, the other two aspirants have not been cleared by the screening committee and by the appeal committee. We are only attending to those that have been cleared, the aspirant that has been cleared by the two committees. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the other two aspirants for the topmost seat in Lagos state that were not cleared are a former commissioner, Wale Oluwo, and a former permanent secretary, Abdul-Ahmed Mustapha. Assessing the exercise, Mr Yuguda said that since Lagos APC was one family, it had helped in the orderliness and peaceful conduct of delegates and leaders of the party in the state. The exercise is transparent and going on well. Everything is taking place the way we expect it to be, Mr Yuguda, a former deputy governor of Borno said. He reiterated that Lagos APC had 1,225 delegates and 1,198 had been accredited. According to him, ad hoc delegates from two local government areas have voted already as of 2:44 p.m. and the committee is moving to the third local government area. The APC governorship special congress is holding at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, formerly known as Onikan Stadium, on Lagos Island on Thursday. However, the downpour in the state has impeded the progress of the exercise at the time of filing this report. Only the incumbent, Mr Sanwo-Olu, was at the venue. The event is being conducted under heavy security presence and under the watch of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 A Lagos governorship aspirant, Olawale Oluwo, has said that he was not informed of his disqualification from the race. The former Lagos commissioner was disqualified alongside AbdulAhmed Mustapha, a former Permanent Secretary. The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, clinched the partys ticket at the primary election held in the Onikan area of the state on Wednesday. The governor got all the votes cast by the delegates. In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES shortly after the party primary election, Mr Oluwo said the outcome of the screening by the partys electoral committee was not communicated to them. I cannot understand why the Screening Committee chose not to contact the aspirants screened by them either by phone call, text message, written letter, or any other means of communication, considering their decision to withhold the results of the screening, he said. He described the partys failure to communicate with the aspirants as a serious breach of aspirants fundamental rights to a fair hearing, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. He said the committee also refused to release the result of the screening within 24 hours of concluding the exercise. Mr Oluwo further said that this will give participating aspirants an opportunity to appeal the outcome of the screening at the APC Screening Appeals Committee. More allegations Mr Oluwo said the organisers of the election were biased in their selection of delegates. According to the organisers of the event, the eligible Delegates to vote at the Governorship Primary Election are those handpicked by just one of the APC factions in Lagos State, through a sham Delegates Congress purportedly held in the 245 Wards of Lagos State on 18th and 19th of May 2022, the statement reads. The one-sided Congress, which excluded all the other aspiring delegates that bought the APC Delegates Nomination Forms, was conducted in gross violation of the APC Electoral guidelines, APC Constitution and the Electoral Act. The Lagos State APC State Exco, headed by one pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, is complicit in the exercise of this blatant rape of democracy in APC Lagos. The former commissioner said that some powerful persons within the party have decided to prevent him because they are afraid of his message of a new agenda and accountability in governance. He added that he will seek redress from the internal dispute resolution mechanisms of the party. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 An entrepreneur, Uche Nnaji, has emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State. Mr Nnaji was the sole-contestant in the primary election held at the APC South-east Zonal Office in Enugu on Thursday. He polled 1070 votes out of the 1100 votes cast in the primary. A total of 1300 delegates were accredited for the exercise. Thirty votes were voided. Mr Nnaji, in his acceptance speech, thanked the delegates and party faithful who took part in the exercise. He vowed to defeat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state in the 2023 general election. He promised not to fail the people of the state if elected governor. We are saying sorry to you because we are the ones that brought the PDP government and they are making mistakes. I am happy that the person that brought the PDP has been elected to correct the mistakes and I am capable of correcting those wrongs, he said. I have all it takes to do that. We have all it takes to wage the political battle. What we are bringing to the people of Enugu State is peace and transparency and I am not going to fail our people, Mr Nnaji said. The Chairman of the APC in the state, Ugochukwu Agballah, commended officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission for monitoring the exercise. Mr Agballah said with Mr Nnaji as the APCs candidate, the party was sure of victory in 2023. The people of Enugu State are with us and even the souls of the founding fathers are with us. We are going to restore the dreams of the founding fathers and make Enugu the citadel of commerce, he said. The APC candidate, Mr Nnaji, hails from Akpugo in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state. Peter Mbah, the PDP governorship who was elected on Wednesday, hails from Owo in Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state. Both candidates are from Enugu East District. The PDP, which is the dominant party in Enugu, has been in power for 23 years in the state. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Sandy Onor, a senator representing the Central District of Cross River State on Thursday, picked the gubernatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 general election. Mr Onor defeated a fellow senator, Gershom Bassey, who represents the Southern District. The winner of the primary, Mr Onor scored 236 votes, while Mr Bassey scored 175. Another aspirant, Daniel Asuquo, who is a House of Representatives member, scored 147 votes. Babajide Coker, chairman of the primary election committee, said 591 voters were accredited out of 594, and that 591 votes were cast. Mr Coker added that 571 votes were valid while 20 votes were voided. By the powers conferred on me as chairman of the electoral committee for the gubernatorial convention in Cross River, I hereby declare Senator Sandy Onor the winner of the election. Having pulled the highest number of votes, he is hereby returned and elected, he said. Speaking on the victory, Mr Onor said God was about to do something new in Cross River. He said he would offer the state a leadership that is different. We will take the state to where it used to be, where people came and saw a clean and green environment, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that other contestants were Arthur Archibong with six votes, Nkoyo Toyo, four votes, Imah Adegoke, one vote, and Philia Henshaw, two votes. NAN reported that the aspirant, Effiok Cobham, a former deputy governor of Cross River State, withdrew from the race a few hours before the election. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 The Lead Visioner, Lagos4Lagos Movement, Olajide Adediran (Jandor) on Wednesday clinched the PDP ticket for the 2023 governorship election in Lagos State. Declaring the result in Ikeja, the Chairman of the Lagos PDP Electoral Committee/Returning Officer, Emmanuel Ogidi, said Mr Adediran scored 679 votes to defeat his opponent David Vaughan, who polled 20 votes. Mr Ogidi, who noted that there were 775 ad hoc delegates for the primaries, said 709 were accredited for the election. According to him, 10 votes were voided in the election. Mr Ogidi said: The total number of accredited voters is 709, and Olajide Adediran got 679 votes, DAKOVA (David Kolawole Vaughan) had 20 and we had 10 voided votes. Having satisfied all the requirements in our guidelines, I want to announce Dr Olajide Adediran as our candidate after scoring the highest votes of 679. He is hereby declared the winner and returned elected. Meanwhile, Mr Ogidi, before announcing the result, said delegates from Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government failed to see reasons with the committee over alleged discrepancies on the delegate list. He, however, commended the aspirants and delegates for their peaceful conduct and sportsmanship throughout the process. I want to thank all of you for your patience and I want to congratulate the two contestants for your spirit of sportsmanship, especially DAKOVA. He is a true sportsman, Mr Ogidi said. In his victory speech, Mr Adediran, who acknowledged the aspirants that stepped down for him, said he was ready to face the All Progressives Congress (APC). He pledged to sit with all aspirants and leaders of the party to tap from their wealth of knowledge and experience in a bid to win Lagos state for the PDP. Mr Adediran, who applauded all the delegates for their trust in giving him the partys ticket, promised to bring governance to the grassroots. Also, Mr Vaughan, who accepted defeat, said he vied for the ticket with a well mapped out strategy to transform Lagos state. He promised to support and back Mr Adedirans ambition. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four contestants including Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal, Adedeji Doherty, Ade Dosunmu and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour stepped down from the race. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Kaduna State continues to play a significant role in the politics of the North and of Nigeria in general, so interest in its internal politics spread far beyond its boundaries Kaduna State is the political hub of Northern Nigeria and the former capital from which the late Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, administered the defunct Northern Nigeria as premier. The state continues to play a significant role in the politics of the North and of Nigeria in general, so interest in its internal politics spread far beyond its boundaries. Kaduna in the millennium The state is sharply divided along ethnic and religious lines. Since it became a state in 1967, Kaduna has had 20 governors, nine of them democratically elected while the others were soldiers. Until the 2019 election, the state had been governed by an unwritten principle that when the governor is a Muslim, the deputy would be a Christian and vice-versa. In 2019, Governor Nasir El-Rufai broke that tradition when he picked a Muslim woman who was his commissioner of health, Hadiza Balarabe, as his running mate. 2023, many candidates The APC in Kaduna has managed to avoid a major crisis in the run up to the 2023 elections, unlike the case in previous cycles. This is perhaps because most of the adversaries of Governor El-Rufai have fled the party. From the look of things, the party's primary is going to be a coronation for the governor's anointed aspirant, Uba Sani, who is currently serving as a senator. The senator is a close ally of Mr El-Rufai, previously serving as the governor's adviser on political matters between 2015 and 2019. Declaring his governorship bid at the APC state secretariat along Ali Akilu Road on March 22, Mr Sani said he was out to consolidate the legacy of the governor. Mohammed Dattijo, Mr El-Rufai's former chief of staff, had also declared interest in the ticket but the governor asked him to step down for Mr Sani. Confirming his withdrawal from the gubernatorial race to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Dattijo said he will contest for the Kaduna North senatorial seat, which is presently occupied by Mr Sani. Hurdles before Uba Sani However, despite his governor's backing, the APC primary may not be a cakewalk for Mr Sani. A former member of the House of Representatives and President Muhammadu Buhari's in-law, Sani Sha'aban, is challenging Mr Sani in the primary. Obviously, he is not happy about the endorsement of his opponent by the governor. "I cannot be part of any anointment of a candidate. My children bought the N50 million form to contest. That is not a joke. I will fight for the seat at the primaries," he said after Mr El-Rufai named his horse in the race. Mr Sha'aban expects support from politicians close to his in-law, the president. His son is married to Mr Buhari's last daughter, Hanan Buhari. A family source told this newspaper he believed that Mr Sha'aban will get a strong backing from the presidency. But as things stand, it is safe to project that it will be Mr Sani's day at the APC primaries. PDP's many aspirants The PDP has many aspirants in its gubernatorial race. And unless the party shows dexterity in managing the primary, it may lose some of the losers to other parties after the event. Among the aspirants is Isah Ashiru, a former member of the House of Representatives who flew the party's flag in 2019 but lost to Governor El-Rufai at the secondary election. Many observers believe he remains the man to beat at the primary. The owner of Baze University, Abuja and a former senator, Datti Baba-Ahmed, is also running. He is a popular figure in Kaduna politics and his candidature will bother the APC if he clinches the PDP ticket. A former governor of Kaduna State, Ramalan Yero, who lost his reelection bid to the APC in 2015, has also returned. He has campaigned vigorously among delegates and other stakeholders for the primary. There is also the former Accountant-General of the state during the Ahmed Makarfi governorship, Yunusa Saeed. The popular senator, Shehu Sani, who lost his senatorial seat in 2019 to Uba Sani of the APC, is also in the race for the PDP ticket. Mr Sani decamped to the PDP from the PRP to contest for the governorship seat. He had been in the APC before defecting to the PRP following incessant quarrels with Governor El-Rufai Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Another aspirant is a former boss of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sani Sidi. Mr Sidi lost to Mr Ashiru at the PDP primary in 2019 and decamped to the APC. In late 2021, however, he returned to the PDP. PDP in the race According to Hassan Mamman, a PDP chieftain in Kaduna, it will be a disaster for the PDP not to win Kaduna in 2023. "I said disaster because this is the right time for us to take the governorship from the APC. But from the look of things, if we are not careful, the choice of candidate will give us away so cheaply to the opposition. "Obviously, the APC will have a serious problem choosing a candidate, so we should put our house in order and choose the right person". Mr Mamman urged a former governor of the state, Ahmed Makarfi, to play a role to ensure the primary is successful. "Makarfi is the godfather of PDP in Kaduna. His choice will surely be the party's choice. All delegates should rally around him because he has always been with the party in the state since 1999. He is well respected," the politician said. Former Vice Chancellor of the Abia State University, Uturu, Uche Ikonne, has emerged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 general elections. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Ikonne, a professor, was elected at the partys primary election held at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Wednesday. He polled 468 votes to defeat five other contestants in the exercise that took place under heavy security. Mr Lucky Igbokwe came a distant second with 45 votes, while the only female contestant,Ngozi Merenge, scored five votes. Other contestants, including Deputy Governor Ude Oko-Chukwu, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Emma Nwaka, had earlier announced their withdrawal from the race. They were, however, credited with six, five and four votes, respectively. Also, Greg Ibe, who formally defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance on April 17, was also credited with two votes. Other aspirants that withdrew from the race were Ncheta Omerekpe, Enyinnaya Nwafor and Chima Anyaso. However, they were credited with three, four and five votes, respectively. The Chairman of the Primary Election Committee and former Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, thanked the delegates for their peaceful conduct during the exercise. In an acceptance speech, Mr Ikonne expressed gratitude to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and PDP for believing in him. He said he would not betray such confidence. He further assured them that he would deliver victory to the party in the general election. He promised to tackle the huge infrastructure need of the state, create job for the youth and ensure that women were gainfully engaged, when elected. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 No fewer than 663 delegates on Wednesday elected Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State as the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP) governorship candidate to contest the 2023 election for a second term of office. Gibon Katabs, Chairman of the electoral committee of the primary election, made the announcement in Yola, the state capital after the exercise. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Fintiri was the only contestant following the disqualification of Jamil Waziri by the screening committee. Mr Katabs said that 668 delegates were accredited, but there were five invalid votes. Governor Ahmadu Fintiri scored 663 valid votes and is hereby returned as the governorship candidate of PDP for Adamawa in 2023, he said. Mr Katabs also commended the delegates for the successful primary election. In his acceptance speech, Mr Fintiri thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him to run for a second term of office. He congratulated all the partys candidates for the successful primary elections and assured that the party would stand by them to the end. Mr Fintiri urged those who lost elections to accept their fate as an act of God and to continue to support the party to succeed as one family. He also called on the partys supporters to be ready for the national convention to ensure that Atiku Abubakar, an Adamawa indigene and former vice president emerge as the partys presidential candidate. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 The Chairman of Inter-Party Advisor Council (IPAC), Yabagi Sani, an umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, has taken a swipe at Nigerians over the leadership quality in the country. He said Nigerians deserve the kind of leaders they elected into power. Mr Sani spoke at a high level discussion on 2023 General Elections organised by Central for Democracy and Development (CDD) and Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) on Thursday in Abuja. He made the comment in reaction to the position of his fellow panelists who highlighted the roles of political elite in country years of democratic impunity. Disagreeing with Jibrin Ibrahim, a senior fellow at CDD and Cynthia Mbamalu, a program director at YIAGA Africa, the IPAC chairman said that Nigerians at different stages of the electoral process have contributed to the victory of leaders they often condemn after elections. I think, the political class, just like the saying goes the people get the kind of government they deserve. It is true, it is all about us, not about the political parties because political parties are made up of the same Nigerians we are talking about. The same Nigerians that INEC will engage, particularly the youth, to supervise the process of election. It is the same youth that will compromise themselves and thumbprint for certain candidates to undermine the process. It is the same youth that will come out to say no to bad government, Mr Sani said. While the Director of CDD, Idayat Hassan, had earlier in her welcome remarks, described the coming 2023 elections as a battle for the soul of Nigeria and its togetherness, both Mr Ibrahim and Ms Mbamalu identified things that country must do away with in order to have a successful poll. In his contributions, the CDD Senior Fellow, identified the uncertainty of free and fair election as the major challenge, a misnomer he linked to the do or die nature of many Nigerian politicians. He condemned the recent effort of the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to contest for the ruling APC presidential ticket while retaining his seat in the agency where election materials are kept. We as citizens will continue to have crisis around elections if we do not get people of integrity, who are honest and who have a sense of the public good into the political arena, Mr Ibrahim concluded a panel discussion moderated by the immediate past INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega. Expanding on the concerns of non-inclusivity of women and youth in Nigeria as earlier noted by the OSIWA regional Director, Muthoni Wanyeki at the event, Ms Mbamalu said the exorbitant prices of forms as witnessed in some parties are targeted at excluding the youth and women. The bandit political class has converted our election into an election of the highest bidder, this is made evident by the current hike in the price for the nomination form, she said. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Different reactions have trailed the exit of a presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, from Nigerias main opposition party, PDP. While many have hailed his defection, others condemned it and blamed him for running away from a good fight. Mr Obis decision to leave the PDP came as a shock to many on Wednesday. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the former Anambra State governor conveyed his decision in a letter to the partys national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu. He said recent developments within the party makes it impossible for him to continue participating and making constructive contributions. Our national challenges are deep-rooted and require that we each make profound sacrifices towards rescuing our country, the letter read. On Twitter, mixed reactions have trailed Mr Obis exit from the PDP with many dishing out what they believe is his reason, the way forward or possible ripple effect. Some also say he left because delegates frowned at his refusal to give them money. The presidential hopeful who is enjoying support from Nigerian youth, especially on social media had many vowing to vote for him in the 2023 election, no matter the party he runs under. A Twitter user, Obinna Nwosu, said a PDP delegate described Peter Obi as annoying because he was sharing his plans for a better Nigeria instead of sharing dollars. They plotted to humiliate him during the primaries and he saw through their tricks. A PDP delegate described Peter Obi as annoying because was sharing his plans for a better Nigeria instead of sharing dollars. They plotted to humiliate him during the primaries and he saw through their tricks. He has abandoned the party for them. Tueeeeh Obinna Nwosu (@obi_Nwosu) May 25, 2022 Another user, Pato Slam, said Mr Obis exit from the PDP is the best news in months. Whether Labour Party or NNPP, I dont care! Even if he joins Jollof Rice Party, Ill vote him. PDP should share their stolen Dollars & bid farewell to the presidency. Peter Obi leaving the PDP is the best news I've heard in months. Whether Labour Party or NNPP, I don't care! Even if he joins Jollof Rice Party, I'll vote him. PDP should share their stolen Dollars & bid farewell to the presidency. Patrick Udeh (@Patoslam2) May 25, 2022 Nefertiti, on her part, said Mr Obi refused to be part of a corrupt system that was about distributing money to delegates. On Arise TV interview moments ago, Doyin Okupe revealed that the PDP primaries is mainly transactional. A candidate needs up to $20,000 x 4,000 delegates, around $80m. Peter Obi had no option than to dump the PDP. He refused be part of such a corrupt system. NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) May 25, 2022 Atiku, Saraki, Tambuwal, Dino & others may have decamped to the APC in 2015, but they did so for their own political survival. But Emperor Wike hatched a plot to suspend Peter Obi from the PDP, before the primaries, she added. Atiku, Saraki, Tambuwal, Dino & others may have decamped to the APC in 2015, but they did so for their own political survival. But Emperor Wike who sadly is my Governor, destroyed whats left of the party. He hatched a plot to suspend Peter Obi from the PDP, before the primaries NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) May 25, 2022 While a member of the House of Representatives, Ben Igbakpa, says Mr Obis resignation is a blow below the belt! that makes PDP vulnerable for many reasons. @PeterObi's resignation from the party is a blow below the belt! It makes @OfficialPDPNig vulnerable for many reasons. But the party will react, and I hope for the best. I genuinely wish him all the best. He is one of the good ones. Rep. Ben Igbakpa (@benigbakpa) May 25, 2022 Truth is PDP isnt worthy to be called an opposition party, its about money over integrity for them, them Atiku never saw the Peter Obi movement coming, they already have a plan in place to make him the vice as usual, he has made the right decision by pulling out of the primaries, wrote Tee Classique. Truth is PDP isn't worthy to be called an opposition party, its about money over integrity for them, them Atiku never saw the Peter Obi movement coming, they already have a plan in place to make him the vice as usual, he has made the right decision by pulling out of the primaries OMOTAYO Of Lagos (@Tee_Classiquem1) May 25, 2022 Notwithstanding his defection, there are indications that Mr Obi will continue the presidential race under the platform of a different party. Although he is yet to announce the party, there are speculations that he might join the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) or the Labour Party. An official announcement is expected in the coming days. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 FBN Holdings Plc saw its gross earnings for last year jump to N757.3 billion, 28.2 per cent higher than the figure recorded one year prior, while its net profit climbed by more than three-fifths according to its audited financial statement obtained on Thursday. Late in coming, the release of the earnings report came nearly two months after the March 31 deadline, with management citing difficulty in completing the audit of one of the biggest subsidiaries of the group as the ground for the delay, making it the last of the thirteen lenders listed on the Nigerian Exchange to issue its audited financials. The parent company of Nigerias oldest commercial bank FirstBank Limited achieved the feat even though interest income, its major earnings source, diminished by 4.1 per cent. Fee and commission income rose 24.2 per cent to N140.6 billion, helping to soften the blow of depressed interest income on revenue. But the major boost to both top-line and profit came from a mind-blowing surge in the amount of loan recovered, which ballooned by nearly twelvefold to N141 billion. FBN Holdings highlighted the recovery of a written-off credit availed to Jide Omokore-backed Atlantic Energy Limited as the principal driver. To cover loan facilities whose repayment has been made uncertain by repeated defaults, the lender made a provision N91.7 billion from its earnings for the year. That was nearly half of the cash it set aside for that purpose a year earlier. Pre-tax profit came to N166.7 billion compared to the N83.7 billion reported for the 2020 financial year. Profit for the year stood at N151.1 billion, 28.4 per cent higher than a year before. Last Wednesday, FBN Holdings said it entered a pact with Access Bank Plc to acquire the latters pension unit, Access Pension Fund Custodian for an undisclosed fee in a deal aimed at consolidating the operation of its own pension subsidiary First Pension Custodian Limited. The financial services group stated in the earnings report its board is proposing a dividend of N0.35 per share for the year, translating to a payout of N12.6 billion. That compares with the N0.45 paid a year earlier, summing up to N16.2 billion. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 At least 32 people were killed by suspected members of terrorist group ISWAP while sourcing metals in a deserted community in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State, an official have said. Isah Gusau, the spokesperson for Borno Governo, Babagana Zulum, told reporters on Wednesday the victims were shot at close range last weekend after being captured by the terror group in Mudu community, about 45 kilometres away from Rann, headquarters of Kala-Balge Local Government Area of Borno. The incidents occurred in Dikwa council area but the victims hail from Kala-Balge, a neighbouring community. The victims were said to have gone to a deserted Mudu village in Dikwa LGA, which is 45 kilometres away from Rann in Kala-Bakge, in search of the raw materials; but in the process, they were unfortunately ambushed by the insurgents, the spokesperson said. The official said six persons were injured during the ambush while two escaped unhurt. Governor Babagana Umara Zulum is very disturbed by the unfortunate killing of fellow citizens at the weekend, Mr Gusau said. He said the governor was briefed by the majority leader of Borno State House of Assembly, Mohammed Dige, who represents Kala-Balge where the victims hailed from. From the lawmakers briefing, a total of 32 youths are believed to have been killed by the insurgents. The youths were not farmers but highly enterprising young men engaged in gathering metals popularly called Kayan Ajaokuta which are sold as raw materials for steel production. A team of soldiers, alongside the Chairman of Kala-Balge LGA, on Tuesday, recovered 14 bodies of victims who were apparently tied and shot at close range. Governor Zulum shares deeply the pains of bereaved families and the good people of Kala-Balge and is awaiting a full report by the end of today before necessary measures, the spokesperson said. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has declared a 12-hour curfew in eight local government areas of the state as part of measures to tackle rising insecurity. The affected council areas are Aguata, Ihiala, Ekwusigo, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ogbaru, Orumba North and Orumba South. Mr Soludo, who disclosed this during his state-wide broadcast in Awka on Wednesday, said the directive would be reviewed after four weeks. He expressed sadness that gunmen attacks have continued to increase in Anambra, despite the state government efforts. With effect from tomorrow, Thursday, May 26, a 6pm to 6am curfew is hereby placed on motorcycles (okada), tricycles (keke), and shuttle buses until further notice. Until further notice also, motorcycles, keke and shuttle buses are banned from operating in these local governments on Mondays until the sit-at-home completely stops, Mr Soludo said. The governor stressed that the gunmen operating in the state are Igbos, mainly from other states in the South-east. He said the criminals who masquerade as freedom fighters usually attack soft targets whenever they are dislodged from their camps by security agencies. They are in our forests, communities, and houses owned by individuals. They dont come from the air, and hence are not unknown gunmen. They are known. You know them, but are either too scared to speak up or out of indifference. But for how long will you be silent while our people continue to be killed in the most cruel and barbaric manner? Anambra is the prime target because that is the most lucrative location for kidnapping for ransom in the South-East, Mr Soludo said The governor appealed to the youths and other residents of the various communities in the state to cooperate with security agencies to end criminality in the state. He directed community leaders and landlords to keep record of occupants of their structures and report suspected criminals to the security agencies. He warned that the state government would take over any land found to be harbouring criminals in the state. All hotels are directed to obtain the means of identification of their guests and keep an inventory of all guests in their hotels. The management of the hotels should immediately report any suspicious persons or group of persons checking into or converging in their hotels. All fuel stations are hereby directed to, within four weeks from today, place surveillance cameras in their stations and keep the records generated by those cameras in order to assist the state government, when required, in tracking these criminals who inevitably fuel their vehicles at fuel stations, the governor said. Mr Soludo asked transport operators in the state to re-register their vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles with their valid means of identification and their biometrics captured within four weeks or face punishment. He urged the transport operators to report their passengers and fellow operators who are involved in criminal activities in the state. Increasing attacks Security in Nigerias South-east has deteriorated in recent times with attacks by armed persons reported almost on a daily basis across the region. Anambra State has witnessed some of the worst attacks in the region. The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities. The attacks by the gunmen increased in the state shortly after Mr Soludos inauguration and announcement of an end to the sit-at-home order in the state. The Nigerian government has accused outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied their involvement in the attacks. The separatist group is leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra to be carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south Nigeria. Leader of the secessionist group, Mr Kanu, is currently being detained in Abuja where he is facing trial for treason. Mr Kanu, leader of the group, appeared in court on May 18, in continuation of his trial. He is billed to appear in court again on June 28. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 More than half of the almost 6,000 death-row inmates in sub-Saharan Africa are in Nigeria, a new report shows. Prison facilities across sub-Saharan Africa are housing at least 5841 death-row inmates, global rights body, Amnesty International, said in its annual review of the global death penalty. Of the total number of death row inmates as of December 2021, about 3036, which represents over 52 per cent, were in Nigeria. Kenya is behind Nigeria with 601 inmates on death row. This was followed by Tanzania with 480 sentenced to death. South Sudan housed 334 inmates. Zambia, the landlocked South African country, had 257. Cameroon had 250, Mauritania 183, Ghana 165, and Uganda 135. At the other end was Sierra Leone which housed 117 inmates on death row and Sudan 95. Zimbabwe had 66, Mali had 48, Malawi had 37, and Liberia had 16. Even though the death sentence is legal in Nigeria and other African countries, executions are a rarity. For instance in 2021, despite sentencing 56 people to death, Amnesty International said Nigeria has no record of executions. Between 2007 and 2017, there were seven executions in the country with the last one taking place in 2016. Only three countries in Sub-Saharan Africa recorded executions in the past year. Somalia had 21, South Sudan 9, and Botswana 3. Global Data Globally, Amnesty International recorded 579 executions in 2021, an increase of 20 per cent from the 483 executions recorded in 2020. Despite the rise, the rights group said last years figure remained among historical-low totals, constituting the second-lowest figure for global executions the organization has recorded since at least 2010. The number of known death sentences increased by almost 40 per cent (from at least 1,477 in 2020 to 2,052 in 2021). These figures do not include the thousands of executions and death sentences that the organization believed were carried out and imposed in China which remained the worlds lead executioner, Amnesty International said. It added that secrecy in North Korea and VietNam, as well as restricted access to information in several other countries, has impaired a full assessment of global trends. Secretive state practices and restricted access to information for these three countries made it impossible to accurately monitor executions, while for several other countries, recorded totals must be regarded as minimum figures as some of the worlds most prolific executioners returned to business as usual and courts were unshackled from Covid-19 restrictions, the report stated. Iran accounted for the highest number of executions in 2021. The country executed at least 314 people (up from at least 246 in 2020), its highest execution total since 2017. Amnesty International said this was due in part to a marked increase in drug-related executionsa flagrant violation of international law that prohibits the use of the death penalty for crimes other than those involving intentional killing. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia more than doubled its number of executions, a grim trend that continued in 2022 with the execution of 81 people in a single day in March. After the drop in their execution totals in 2020, Iran and Saudi Arabia once again ramped up their use of the death penalty last year, including by shamelessly violating prohibitions put in place under international human rights law. Their appetite for putting the executioner to work has also shown no sign of abating in the early months of 2022, said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty Internationals Secretary-General. Somalia came behind Iran and Saudi Arabia with 21 executions. Yemen followed with 14 and South Sudan with 9. Japan had 3, Belarus 1, and UAE 1. Death penalty as a tool of state repression In several countries in 2021, the death penalty was deployed as an instrument of state repression against minorities and protestors, with governments showing an utter disregard for safeguards and restrictions on the death penalty established under international human rights law and standards, the rights group said. An alarming increase in the use of the death penalty under martial law was recorded in Myanmar, where the military transferred the authority to try civilian cases to military tribunals, which conducted summary proceedings without the right to appeal. Close to 90 people were arbitrarily sentenced to death, several in absentia, in what was widely perceived as a targeted campaign against protestors and journalists, Amnesty International said. It noted that despite these alarming developments, positive signs of a global trend toward abolition continued throughout 2021. For the second consecutive year, the number of countries known to have executed people was the lowest since Amnesty International began keeping records. Ms Callamard said that a world without state-sanctioned killing is not only imaginable but is within reach and her organisation will continue to fight for it. We will continue to expose the inherent arbitrariness, discrimination, and cruelty of this punishment until no one will be left under its shadow, she said. It is high time the ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment is consigned to the history books, she said. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Two gubernatorial candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adekunle Akinlade and Biyi Otegbeye, have faulted the delegates list and the appointment of the gubernatorial primary chairman, Wale Ohu. The aspirants said they were not included in the selection of delegates who will vote at the primaries. They said although they paid a stipulated amount for delegates form, the primaries electoral panel headed by Mr Ohu denied them the forms. Both aspirants recalled that Mr Ohu supervised the controversial wards, local governments, and state congresses that deepened the cleavages within the party in Ogun State. It was now surprising that the same Wale Ohu was again appointed to serve as the Chairman of the gubernatorial primary election in Ogun State, they said. It is intriguing that out of the millions of members of the APC nationwide, Mr Ohu is having an exclusive preserve of chairmanship of all congresses in Ogun State. Our members who have bitterly complained about the partisan conduct of Mr Wale Ohu in all the congresses had super-intended in Ogun State, are therefore not comfortable with the choice of him as Chairman of all the election panel. By his antecedents, we do not believe that he has the capacity to conduct an objective and impartial gubernatorial primary election. The aspirants added that a few hours before the election, no list of delegates for the primary election was published, and neither did the committee meet with them in line with standard procedure. Only one aspirant collected all the delegate forms in the State, thus hedging the entire process in his favour, they continued. Your Excellency may wish to note that a few hours before the scheduled primaries, no list of delegates for the primary has been formally published nor did the Primary Election Committee members meet with us in line with standard procedures. This has spurred speculations that the list to be used for the exercise is a disputed list of delegates. Our members are aggrieved about it. Against this background, we wish to inform your Excellency that we have no confidence in the choice of Chairman of the election panel and have fears and reservations about the list of delegates to be used for the exercise. Despite their concerns, the two aspirants said they would take part in the congress. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Gombe State governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in the state. The Chairman of the governorship primary committee, Danjuma Dabo, announced Mr Yahayas victory at the Gombe International Hotel, the venue of the election. He said the governor emerged unopposed being the only aspirant that purchased the nomination form and was screened by the party. Mr Dabo said that 563 delegates out of the 570 accredited for the exercise, affirmed the nomination through a voice vote. With his victory, Mr Yahaya, who was elected governor in 2015, will now fly the ticket of the APC in the 2023 governorship election in the state. He will slug it out with Jibril Barde, who, on Wednesday, emerged the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other candidates to be fielded by the various political parties. In his acceptance speech, Mr Yahaya thanked the delegates for finding him worthy to be the partys flag-bearer for the 2023 governorship election. He called on party stakeholders to work together to deliver the state to the APC in the 2023 elections, adding that: our performance will speak for us; so there is no shaking. The governor commended President Muhammadu Buhari, leader of the party, for standing firm and for providing good leadership in Nigeria in this hard time that there is indeed a global challenge. Mr Yahaya also thanked members of his team for supporting and working hard to produce results that have convinced the people of Gombe State. He assured that the confidence reposed in him through the affirmation would spur him to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the rampaging terrorists and bandits have been reduced to scavenging from artisanal miners and farmers for survival because they are boxed into a corner. The President has also expressed mourning over the senseless killing in Borno and Katsina states by terrorists and bandits in the past two days. A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said, "Today, Nigeria is in mourning for the senseless loss of lives seen in Borno State and Katsina State over the last 48 hours. "President Muhammadu Buhari holds the victims in his thoughts and his prayers. "The perpetrators will be brought to justice-and they are running scared." According to the statement, 56,000 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists have surrendered to the authorities in a year and still counting. It said, "That these terrorists and bandits have been reduced to scavenging from our artisanal miners and farmers for survival is evidence that they are backed into a corner. "This will be small comfort to the family members and loved ones of those murdered this week. But it is in times like these that we must be at our strongest. "Now more than ever Nigerians must come together, in proud defiance of those who would seek through terror and violence to divide us along religious, political or ethnic lines. "And so while we are in mourning for those we have lost, let us face these cowards already fading in strength, number and willpower as one. "Let us show them that Nigerians will not be swayed by terror. Let us show them that Nigerians will not be divided. Let us show them we will not be defeated." A presidential aspirant on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Olufemi Ajadi, has announced his withdrawal from the race. Mr Ajadi, an entrepreneur, told journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday, that he is withdrawing from the race to support the former Kano State governor and presidential aspirant, Rabiu Kwankwaso. He said he is aiming to become Mr Kwankwansos running mate. Ladies and gentlemen, I Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, having considered many things, and in the interest of our great party and beloved country, today, relinquish my presidential ambition, to support the presidential candidacy of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate, he said. Senator Kwankwanso is a great Nigerian, an accomplished politician and administrator who will lift this country. Speaking on the state of the nation, Mr Ajadi said nothing is working. Nigeria is a country that God Himself has blessed, but look around you today, you will agree with me that things are not working well. There is insecurity in the country, despite the fact that there is an elected government, with the police, the Army, the Navy and the Air force Our children finish school and there are no jobs. Is it a wonder that there is crime everywhere? Roads are in terrible condition. There is no public water supply, no electricity and all the necessities of life. But we have a government. We have billions of Naira in cash and assets. I now ask, What is the missing link? Distinguished Nigerians, the missing link is selfless. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 The Appeal Committee set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to receive appeals from House of Representatives aspirants has disqualified four of the aspirants. The Committee chaired by Chinedu Okwokwo, in a report submitted to the National Chairman of the Party, Abdullahi Adamu, disqualified Sunday Oche (Benue State), Pascal Obi (Imo State), Archibong Joseph (Cross River) and Efiong Edumoh (Akwa-Ibom). The screening committee had screened all National Assembly and governorship aspirants on May 14-15, while the three-member appeal committee considered petitions against some of them. According to the report obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the appeal committee received petitions against 65 aspirants, while four were disqualified. Mr Oche disqualified due to an ongoing criminal trial Mr Oche seeks to Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State The committee stated that Mr Oche failed to disclose an ongoing case of forgery against him at Bwari Magistrate Court. According to the committee, Mr Oche risks 14 years imprisonment if convicted by the court. It said all attempts to get Mr Oche to clarify himself failed. Mr Oche Sunday Oches failure to disclose the pending criminal trial against him while filing his nomination form is a fraudulent act and a total failure of an integrity test expected of any leader seeking to lead the party at any level. Worst still, it is an unpardonable breach of the partys guidelines and instructions which is capable of negatively affecting the partys victory in the forthcoming election. That the ongoing criminal trial against Mr Oche Sunday Oche is one capable of securing him a fourteen-year imprisonment if found guilty and the party cannot be seen to be taking such a costly risk. Pascal Obi disqualified for being a member of PDP Mr Obi currently represents Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State. He was elected on the platform of Action Alliance. In 2020, Mr Obi defected to APC after the Supreme Court nullified the election of Emeke Ihedioha as governor of the state. The defection was witnessed by Henry Nwosu, Rochas Okorochas son-in-law. According to the report, three petitions were submitted against Mr Obi. Ijeomah Arodiagbu, Bethel Orji and Emeka Okpara all submitted petitions against him, stating that he was screened by the PDP Screening Committee and cleared to run for the House of Representatives. The Committee stated that Mr Pascal did not respond to all the allegations levelled against him. The panel, therefore, resolved that since an individual cannot be a member of two parties at the same time, he should be disqualified. Archibong Joseph disqualified for using his brothers WAEC certificate The committee received a petition from Bassey Joseph, an elder brother to an aspirant. According to the report, Mr Joseph accused his brother of using his WAEC certificate without his permission. Aspirant Joseph Bassey is in breach of article (1) of the All Progressives Guidelines for nomination of candidates for the 2023 General election and section 65 of the 1999 constitution, the committee stated. Efiong Robinson Edumoh disqualified for discrepancies in identity. Mr Edumoh was also disqualified by the committee due to discrepancies in his document. Mr Edumoh was said to have filled Edumoh, Robinson Effiong in the expression of interest and the nomination forms, whereas, the name appearing on his voters card reads Abianga, Robinson Effiong. The primary election for House of Representatives aspirants will hold on Thursday. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said a former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, would not have won the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if he had chosen to remain in the party. Mr Wike stated this when he appeared on Politics Today, a programme on Channels TV, on Thursday. Mr Obi, who was considered one of the top contenders for the partys presidential ticket, recently announced his resignation from the PDP as well as withdrawal from the presidential race under PDP. His resignation and exit from the presidential race came less than three days to the partys presidential primary which is billed to hold between May 28 and 29. But the Rivers State governor, who is also a presidential aspirant of the party, said he was not surprised by the decision of the former governor. Its not surprising to me. Peter Obi leaving the party, does not surprise me, because he knows that there is no way he would have won the PDP presidential primaries. How would he have won? I went to Anambra and told (them), dont waste your votes on him, he said Since he left APGA as a governor, he has never won an election in Anambra. Check it! The issue is that, at that level, there must be integrity, there must be character, Mr Wike added. He also criticised Mr Obi over speculations that the former governor was considering offers from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to be fielded as a vice presidential candidate of the party. So, when we talk of character and integrity, it is an issue. You can be the best economist, but you dont have character, no integrity. A (PDP) vice presidential candidate in the 2019 election? What is he seeing differently (in NNPP) that he didnt see for many years now? Just 72 hours (to the PDP presidential primary), he is now seeing them, the governor said. Mr Obi served as governor of Anambra State between 2006 and 2014 under the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). In October 2014, seven months after handing over to Willie Obiano, the former governor defected to the PDP. He was the vice presidential candidate in 2019 to Atiku Abubakar, who has also declared interest to run for the position in 2023. Since he exited PDP, speculations have been rife about his possible defection to the NNPP reportedly to be a vice presidential candidate to former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is a presidential aspirant of the party. Mr Obi is also speculated to be considering a switch to the Labour Party where he is expected to be given an automatic presidential ticket of the party. An official confirmation of his next destination is expected in the coming days. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 I think the West will eventually bow to the pressure coming from Caribbean countries on the issue of reparations for slavery in the forms of investment and cooperation. But without the zest of MKO and the eminent persons group, who is still bothered about reparations to Africa? Nigerias spectacular crises in almost every facet of its national life are inescapable. They cling like your skin. And for your sanity, you must detox from time to time. I hope this trip to Grenada, through Afghanistan, helps. Instead of writing about killings of the most bestial variety up and down the country, an economy on life support, insecurity, ASUU strike, men fighting for Allah and those defending them, the politics of 2023 that has left even politicians confused and enthroned delegates as royalty, Ive decided to comment on a topic in which I recently renewed interest. In a recent special report, Laura Trevelyan, a BBC anchor and correspondent, visited her ancestors former slave plantation in Grenada. In that report, sights and sounds in the Caribbean Island reminded slave owners and the enslaved about the grim legacy of slavery. By the time Britain abolished African slavery in 1833, the British Slave Compensation Commission had paid 46,000 slave owners a whooping sum of 20million, or 40 per cent of its expenditure in 1834. In a family email chain, I learned that the Trevelyans received about 34,000 for the loss of their property on Grenada the equivalent of about 3 million in todays money, Trevelyan said. In America, after the abolition of slavery, the government, through the Homestead Act of 1862, created a new asset ownership model for white Americans but denied the same to former slaves. In a book co-authored with Kirsten Mullen, William Darity, a professor of public policy, wrote: Black families received no assets while large numbers of white families received substantial assets as a starting point for building wealth in the United States. A system which compensated a people who had already profited from a brutal practice but left the actual victims of the cruelty impoverished, genetically sick, eternally oppressed and their region glaringly underdeveloped, can only fuel the feeling of inequality and deprivation that Black people suffer in many Western countries. For this reason, Caribbean countries are calling for reparations for the atrocities of the past. Thus, they have all set up National Commission on Reparations for Slavery. In a speech in London in 1992, late MKO Abiola told his audience that the demand for reparation was based on a tripod of moral, historical and legal arguments. As a group, the idea of reparations for slavery is being championed by the Caribbean Community or CARICOM, a 20-member economic, cultural and political bloc. Agreeing on reparations for slavery is already a contentious issue. However, the form or forms they should take is even more controversial. While some are pressing strongly for direct cash payments, others think reparations should come in the form of investment in infrastructure, education and health sectors of descendants and former colonies. The idea of reparations for slavery is not new. Since the end of the American Civil War, there have been calls for reparations in one form or another. It also became one the passions of the late business mogul and politician, MKO Abiola. Arguably the richest black man of his era, Abiola was famous for his philanthropy. Not many, however, remember that he also deployed his enormous resources towards the campaign for reparation to Africa from its old colonial masters. Racism of all shades and forms is a direct fallout of slavery and although reparations will not undo the inhuman system of centuries ago, many argue that it will at least demonstrate remorse by the perpetrators and bring closure to the victims. Many are also calling on the U.S. government and the British monarchy to lead the reparation process. And their cold shoulders on the matter have been met with condemnation and protests among Black communities in Africa, the Caribbean and Europe. In March, Prince William and Kate Middleton faced protests in Jamaica, the Bahamas and Belize during their Caribbean tour. In 2021, Barbados dropped the Queen of England as head of state in the presence of her son, Prince Charles. Jamaica is mulling a similar symbolic gesture. In the U.S., where 74 per cent of African Americans favours reparation, while 85 per cent of white people opposes it (according to an Associated Press poll), the H.R. 40 bill, which proposes to create a commission to study slavery and discrimination, has been gathering dust since 1989. And although there seems to be a renewed interest in confronting systemic racism and inequality by the present administration, it is yet to be seen whether Bidens fresh appetite has reparations for restitution on its menu. In 2019, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell admitted that slavery was Americas original sin but argued that slavery was abolished so long ago that no one currently alive was responsible for it. In response, journalist and author Ta-Nehisi Coates countered the lawmaker by reminding him that the U.S. was still paying out pensions to the descendants of Civil War soldiers, despite no one being alive who signed those treaties! Agreeing on reparations for slavery is already a contentious issue. However, the form or forms they should take is even more controversial. While some are pressing strongly for direct cash payments, others think reparations should come in the form of investment in infrastructure, education and health sectors of descendants and former colonies. Either way, agitators agree that the first step towards reparations is for the beneficiaries of Black slavery U.S., Britain, The Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, etc to own up, admit that slavery was a cruel act and tender an unreserved, unequivocal apology to former slaves and their descendants. No healing process kicks off without an admission of guilt and that first step, although the most difficult on the part of former slave masters, is the soothing balm former slaves and their descendants desire and deserve. However, beyond the big figures and arguments for and against reparations, individuals such as Trevelyan can take baby steps towards compensating descendants of slaves. In her case, she was able to trace descendants of some of her ancestors slaves in Grenada. If anyone is in doubt, they should look back at the decision of the U.K. government in 2013 to express sincere regret and offer compensation for the acts of torture that the British colonial government carried out against Kenyans fighting for liberation from colonial rule, which was greeted with jubilation in Nairobi and beyond. I think the West will eventually bow to the pressure coming from Caribbean countries on the issue of reparations for slavery in the forms of investment and cooperation. But without the zest of MKO and the eminent persons group, who is still bothered about reparations to Africa? Not known for half measures, MKO convened and sponsored the first world conference on reparations at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, in 1990 and formally inaugurated the reparations campaign. In 1991 the Heads of State and Government of the defunct Organisation of African Unity, during the 55th Summit of the Council of Ministers, passed a resolution recognising the injustice of slavery and demanded Africas right to reparations. Not much is heard about this legacy of MKO anymore, notwithstanding the fact that the continent needs such conversations more than ever before. Although there are many reasons the disparity in the median distribution of wealth in the U.S. tilts significantly in favour of white families ($188k for whites compared to $24k for blacks), the lingering slave-related legacy is one of them. Analysts have estimated the cost of reparations within the U.S. alone at between $10 trillion and $19 trillion, depending on which model and excluding the demands of Caribbean countries. It sounds like a huge sum of money, but how much is enough to pay for the physical, emotional and medical loss of slaves and their descendants? If denominated in todays currency, what is the monetary value of the forced, torturous labour Black slaves put up with in plantations in the Americas? However, beyond the big figures and arguments for and against reparations, individuals such as Trevelyan can take baby steps towards compensating descendants of slaves. In her case, she was able to trace descendants of some of her ancestors slaves in Grenada. When she asked if giving money to help Grenadian students with higher education amounts to an empty gesture, she was told that it would be a great symbolic gesture. Think of the impact if every one of the slave-owning families did the same thing, she was told. Maybe we should start from there. Azu Ishiekwene is Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has been declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 governorship election. Mr Abiodun contested the primary election with five other aspirants; Abdulkabir Akinlade, Biyi Otegbeye, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf, Owodunni Opayemi, and Remi Bakare. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise was held at the main bowl of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta on Thursday. NAN reports that the election was supervised by a five-man Electoral Committee from the National Headquarters headed by Wale Ohu. Two of the aspirants had rejected the delegates list and Mr Ohus chairmanship of the committee. Also, the aspirants apart from Mr Abiodun had petitioned the party leadership demanding direct primaries. Announcing the results of the election after delegates from the 20 Local Government Areas had cast their votes, Mr Ohu said Mr Abiodun scored 1,168 votes while other aspirants had nil. He said that 1,180 delegates were accredited for the election, saying that 1,170 votes cast with two voided votes. Prince Dapo Abiodun, having scored the majority votes cast, is hereby declared the winner of the APC governorship primary election in Ogun state. He is hereby declared the governorship candidate of APC to stand in the 2023 governorship election in the state, Mr Ohu said. In his acceptance speech, Mr Abiodun promised to continue with the massive turnaround of the state with various infrastructural development. He appreciated the people of the state for their continuous support and prayers. The governor also commended members of the electoral committee, saying that they have conducted a free and fair election. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has received the APC ticket for the 2023 governorship election in the state. Mr Sanwo-Olu was the only aspirant cleared by the partys electoral committee. The two others, Wale Oluwo, and Abdul-Ahmed Mustapha, were disqualified. The governor polled 1,170 votes to emerge the winner of the primaries held at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium in Onikan, Lagos. Just before the partys screening, Mr Sanwo-Olu was slated to contest alongside two aspirants a former commissioner; Mr Oluwo, and a former Permanent Secretary, Mr Mustapha. Reacting to allegations that the two other aspirants in the race were prevented from attending the primary election, Adamu Yuguda, chairman of the five-man electoral committee, said the three aspirants were accredited for screening but only one was cleared. So, as we speak, the other two aspirants have not been cleared by the screening committee and by the appeal committee, Mr Yuguda said. We are only attending to those that have been cleared, the aspirant that has been cleared by the two committees. While announcing the result of the poll, Mr Yugudu said the accredited votes were 1,198, total votes cast, 1,182, valid votes, 1,170, invalid vote is 12. The candidate with the total is Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, who scored 1,170 votes. Assessing the exercise, the former deputy governor of Borno said that since Lagos APC was one family, it had helped in the orderliness and peaceful conduct of delegates and leaders of the party in the state. The exercise is transparent and going on well. Everything is taking place the way we expect it to be, he said. Mr Sanwo-Olu will seek re-election against Olajide Adediran, the candidate of the main opposition party, the PDP, and others. Mr Adediran, popularly called Jandor, defected to the PDP last January from the APC. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Victims want Jammeh and suspected accomplices to be tried for the crimes committed. Gambia's Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations commission recommends prosecuting officials for rights violations and abuses committed during Yahya Jammeh's 22-year reign. Victims also want the ex-leader to face justice. Gambian authorities on Wednesday released the long-awaited white paper by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) set up to probe crimes committed during the reign of former President Yahya Jammeh. The TRRC's findings were delivered after over two years of hearings, during which witnesses gave chilling evidence about torture, death squads, rape and witch hunts -- often at the hands of Jammeh's hit unit, known as the Junglers. Among the recommendations on the panel's white paper is the prosecution of Jammeh and members of the Junglers and to provide support to victims of the former dictator's brutal reign, which was notorious for crushing dissent through murder, disappearances, torture, rape and castration. Meaningful step forward The release of the white paper ends six months of waiting since the TRRC first released its findings into human rights abuses under Jammeh. "Impunity is a kind of incentive that we are not prepared to serve perpetrators," said Gambia's justice minister, Dawda Jallow. "Let us be clear about this," he said, "that those who contemplate committing gross human rights violations must also be aware that society one day will hold them accountable." Reed Brody, a lawyer with the International Commission of Jurists who works with Jammeh's victims, called the ministry's response to the TRRC "an important and meaningful step forward." "Now the government will have to demonstrate with concrete actions to an increasingly skeptical public that it actually has the determination to bring the perpetrators to book," he said. "Laws still have to be enacted, a court has to be established, cases have to be prepared," he said, "and Yahya Jammeh has to be brought into custody." Journalists not spared Sherrif Kijera, chairman of the Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations, said: "The statement by the justice minister is a clear indication of the government's commitment and the political will to implement recommendations of the white paper." The TRRC found that 240 to 250 people died at the hands of the state during Jammeh's rule -- including journalists. Among the notable victims is AFP journalist Deyda Hydara, who was killed by the Junglers. A death squad member identified by the media as B. Lowe is currently on trial in Germany for killing Hydara. Victims want justice The victims advocate Isatou Jammeh told DW correspondent Omar Wally in Banjul that his father, Haruna, a cousin of the former president's, was killed by the Junglers in 2005. Haruna Jammeh's body was never found. Isatou wants her father's killers to be prosecuted and his body found and given a decent burial. "My expectations of the white paper is to see that prosecution of those who bear highest responsibilities take place," Isatou Jammeh said. "I would like the Gambian government to ensure that the bodies of the missing persons are found and returned to their families for proper burials," he added. "The government should ensure that what happened under Yahya Jammeh's rule never happens again," he said. No justice, no peace The justice activist Fatoumata Sandeng told DW that her father, Solo Sandeng, was arrested in April 2016 for leading a protest without a permit. Solo Sandeng was a senior member of the opposition United Democratic Party. He and scores of other opposition supporters were protesting, demanding electoral reforms. For Fatoumata, the prosecution of Yahya Jammeh and his accomplices is very important for the nation's healing. "I always say there is no reconciliation without justice and no one can force victims to reconcile," Fatoumata Sandeng said. "Recommendations of the white paper should be fully implemented to have a stable Gambia," she added. "We want just for Yahya Jammeh's victims for the healing process to begin." 'Prosecute Jammeh and reform security services' According to the white paper, civil society organizations in Gambia have pressed the authorities to prosecute Jammeh for abuses during his 22-year rule. Victims have expressed optimism that Gambia's current president, Adama Barrow, will also overhaul the security sector; reform prison, media and public order laws; and forensically probe forced disappearances to avoid a repeat of abuses. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Gambia Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "Jammeh and others named by the TRRC should, without fail, be held accountable for their crimes," civil society organizations said in the white paper, referring to the 69 other alleged perpetrators mentioned in the report. "Decisions on granting of amnesty should not be taken without prior consultation with victims and/or their families," according to the paper. Living in exile Jammeh was forced from power after losing the 2016 election to Barrow. He subsequently fled to Equatorial Guinea where lives in exile. For Jammeh to face trial, Equatorial Guinea would have to agree to extradite him. However, there is currently no extradition agreement between the two nations. Two-thirds of Gambia's parliament would also have to approve a prosecution. The commission recommended using a hybrid tribunal or trying Jammeh in a neighboring country. Jammeh denies the accusations against him. Edited by Keith Walker The generous donation from the Nick Maughan Foundation will directly support the lives of local people, many of whom are internally displaced having fled conflict or civil unrest in neighbouring Sudan or Northern Uganda. The NMF Riverside School, operated by PEAS, is expected to provide education for over 1250 students in the Namatala region, which is home to the second largest slum in Uganda. The area currently has few education opportunities, so construction of the school will provide young people with the chance to gain an education that they would otherwise miss out on. The secondary school will also provide attendees with essential skills for the future, with practical science and maths on the curriculum, alongside IT and software engineering that will be taught in the state-of-the-art computer lab on site, also funded by the Nick Maughan Foundation. The NMF Maternity Centre, which is set to open within the next few months, expects to safely deliver over 1,500 babies each year. Tragically, Uganda has some of the highest rates of neo-natal and maternal deaths in the world. However, this new facility plans to dramatically improve the safety of childbirth by providing dedicated pre, post and neo-natal healthcare to mothers and babies in the area. Along with the NMF Medical Centre, these facilities will provide healthcare for a region that is desperately in need. Currently, the only health centre in the Namatala slum is overwhelmed with patients. Providing another designated health centre in the region will help to ease the high pressure for healthcare services and have a transformative impact on the lives of local residents. Nick Maughan, Founder of the Nick Maughan Foundation, commented on his return from Uganda to visit the projects: "I was amazed by the real impact these projects are having on those in desperate need in East Africa. I am delighted that the Nick Maughan Foundation could help make a meaningful difference to the lives of people in Namatala, and we greatly look forward to working closely with the NMF Centre, the NMF Health Centre and the forthcoming NMF Riverside School." Hefin Rees QC, Chairman of Harpenden Spotlight on Africa has commented: "I would like to particularly thank Nick Maughan for coming out to Uganda. We are very excited by what we can achieve through these fantastic donations." Bim Afolami, MP for Hitchin & Harpenden, added: "The generous funding from the Nick Maughan Foundation will have a huge impact on the health and education of people in Namatala, and will greatly improve the quality of life of those who live there." The Nick Maughan Foundation was established in 2020 to further a range of philanthropic initiatives in the spheres of education, the environment, and community. The Foundation supports community projects both in the United Kingdom and worldwide. https://nmf.org . Harpenden Spotlight on Africa is committed to creating links between communities in the UK and Africa through charitable projects relating to education, health, clean water, and economic development. The organisation works closely with an experienced team in Uganda to deliver lasting change to the lives of people in desperate need, many of whom have been displaced by generations of conflict. www.hsoa.org.uk PEAS (Promoting Equality in African Schools) supports children across Africa access quality secondary education. Working in some of the most underserved areas of Uganda and Tanzania, PEAS builds and operates non-selective and proactively inclusive schools to offer millions of young people a safe and happy learning environment. https://www.peas.org.uk/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826618/NMF_Maternity_Centre_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826619/NMF_Maternity_Centre_2.jpg SOURCE The Nick Maughan Foundation The sustainable resilience concept is considered to be a solution to tackle all forms of disasters, including facing a pandemic and concurrently supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Jokowi remarked. He highlighted the need to apply several measures to build sustainable resilience. "First, we should strengthen an anticipatory, responsive, and adaptive disaster preparedness culture as well as institutions in dealing with disasters," President Jokowi stated. According to the president, disaster mitigation education and government institutions that are synergistic and responsive to disasters must become a shared priority. Jokowi explained that the second measure deemed necessary is for every country to invest in science, innovation, and technology, including in ensuring access to finance and technology transfer. "Access to funding is an important issue that we must take seriously. Indonesia has developed a strategy for funding and disaster insurance by establishing a pooling fund and using development funds at local levels to support disaster mitigation and preparedness," he stated. The third measure is by building infrastructure that is resilient to disasters and climate change. "(This is) in addition to mitigating (the impacts on) physical infrastructure, such as dams, breakwaters, reservoirs, and embankments; green infrastructure, such as mangrove forests, shrimp seedlings on the coast; ... as well as the development of open spaces to be part of the realization of infrastructure development," Jokowi pointed out. "The protection of vulnerable groups living in high disaster risk areas must also get special attention," he stressed. Lastly, the Indonesian president invited all countries to commit to implementing global agreements at the national and local levels. "The Sendai Framework, the Paris Agreement, and the SDGs are important international agreements in the efforts to reduce disaster risk and climate change. I invite all countries to be committed and serious about implementing it," Jokowi stated. He affirmed that disaster risk reduction is an effective investment to prevent future losses. "To that end, we affirm Indonesia's commitment to implementing the Sendai Framework as well as other international commitments," he stressed. The head of state also expressed Indonesia's readiness to share experiences and knowledge in disaster mitigation. "As a disaster-prone country, Indonesia has accumulated knowledge and experience that can be an important lesson for the world, but Indonesia is also eager to learn from international experience," Jokowo emphasized. "Let's work together to mitigate (impacts and manage risks with regard to) the rise in disasters for a better life today and tomorrow," he concluded. Appreciation On the occasion, several United Nations (UN) officials -- President of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly Abdulla Shahid, UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed, and Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori -- lauded Indonesia for being successful in controlling COVID-19, so that the 2022 GPDRR forum could be held in-person in Nusa Dua, Bali. "I would like to convey the appreciation of the UN to the president of Indonesia and the people for hosting the 2022 GPDRR," Mohammed stated at the opening ceremony. "I would like to congratulate and appreciate Indonesia for the measures that have been taken to address COVID (as a) response that had allowed us to meet in this conference here in-person," she stated. According to the UN deputy secretary general, Indonesia's efforts to vaccinate its population of 217 million people is a major achievement. "We applaud the leader of Indonesia for its vaccine program for keeping everyone safe and reacting and responding to the COVID pandemic," she stated. She also affirmed that Indonesia is a critical partner that has taught the world a lot about disaster risk reduction. "Your willingness to host this important gathering is a testament to theleading role that you (Indonesia) play in sustaining development and climate action," she remarked. Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Director Ricardo Mena lauded Indonesia as a country that is leading in the global efforts for disaster risk reduction. "This is a very important (effort), and I think this is where we think that Indonesia is leading in terms of the global efforts to reduce disaster risks," Ricardo Mena stated in a special interview with ANTARA here on Monday (May 23). Mena remarked that Indonesia has put forth a strong message about the importance of disaster risk reduction efforts by hosting the 2022 GPDRR. "We believe that Indonesia is giving a very strong message through the engagement and hosting of the GPDRR here in Bali. We are very thankful to the Indonesian Government for that," he remarked. The UNDRR director also highlighted Indonesia's leadership in adopting the long-term disaster risk reduction plan. "I think what I would like to highlight is that Indonesia is one of the few countries in the world that has adopted a very long term plan to reduce disaster risks," he remarked. "This is very important because if you want to really address the root causes, and you cannot do it in two, three, or five years. It is impossible, and we look and welcome very much the fact that Indonesia has a plan to reduce disaster risks that goes even beyond 2040," he added. To that end, Mena also encouraged other countries to follow Indonesia's steps in adopting long-term plans for disaster risk reduction. Indonesia hosts a series of meetings of the 7th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2022) in Bali on May 23-28, 2022. Image Attachments Links: Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=422164 Caption: President Joko Widodo (center), UN deputy secretary-general Amina Mohammed (fourth left), vice president of Zambia W.K. Mutale Nalumango (fourth right) take a picture with the head of National Agency for Disaster Management Suharyanto (left), special representative of the secretary-general for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori (second left), coordinating minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy (third left), president of the United Nations General Assembly Abdulla Shahida (third right), foreign affairs minister Retno Marsudi (second right), Bali governor Wayan Koster (right), and several delegations ahead of the opening ceremony of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2022 in Nusa Dua, Bali, Wednesday (May 25, 2022). The GPDRR is held in Bali, raising the theme of "From Risk to Resilience: Towards Sustainable Development for All in a COVID-19 Transformed World". ANTARA FOTO/Akbar Nugroho Gumay/foc. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826692/antarafoto_pembukaan_gpddr_250522_ak_1__2.jpg SOURCE Ministry of Communication and informatics of the Republic of Indonesia Collaboration will focus on three key pillars: Natural Language Processing (NLP) including Arabic, AI applications in the healthcare industry, and sustainability ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, May 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)the world's first graduate, research university dedicated to Artificial Intelligence (AI)has announced plans for a strategic collaboration with IBM (NYSE: IBM ). Senior leaders from both organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at advancing fundamental AI research, as well as accelerating the types of scientific breakthroughs that could unlock the potential of AI to help solve some of humanity's greatest challenges. Professor Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI, delivered short remarks, as did Jonathan Adashek, IBM's Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, and Saad Toma, General Manager, IBM Middle East, and Africa. The agreement was then signed by Sultan Al Hajji, Vice President for Public Affairs and Alumni Relations at MBZUAI and Wael Abdoush, General Manager IBM Gulf and Levant. "We're excited to to be among the first research universities in the MENA region to host a Center of Excellence for AI research and development with technology and expertise from a world-leading technological giant like IBM. This center will provide highly valuable resource and collaborative environment to our faculty and students to broaden their work in AI. IBM has a long history of technological innovation, and we look forward to joining their latest efforts in our region and together advance AI technology and commercialization for mutual good," MBZUAI President, Professor Eric Xing said. Saad Toma, General Manager, IBM Middle East and Africa, said: "This collaboration will help drive innovations in AI which is critical for the future of business and society. We're bringing together some of the brightest minds across both the industry and academia, while reinforcing IBM's commitment to promoting knowledge and skills in critical areas for the UAE's development, where the use of technologies like AI is fundamental." Central to the collaboration is the establishment of a new AI Center of Excellence to be based at the university's Masdar City campus. The Center will leverage the talents of IBM researchers, in collaboration with MBZUAI faculty and students, and will focus on the advancement of both fundamental and applied research objectives. The initiative seeks to develop, validate, and incubate technologies that harness the capabilities of AI to address civic, social, and business challenges. Further, the collaboration aims to provide real-life applications, particularly in the fields of natural language processing, as well as AI applications that seek to further climate and sustainability goals, and accelerate discoveries in healthcare. IBM will provide targeted training and technologies as part of the initiative, which supports the university's vision to be a global leader for advancing AI and its application for the good of society and business. For example, through the IBM Academic Initiative , IBM will provide MBZUAI students and faculty with access to IBM tools, software, courseware and cloud accounts for teaching, learning, and non-commercial research. In addition, through the IBM Skills Academy program, MBZUAI will have access to curated AI curricula, lectures, labs, industry use cases, design-thinking sessions, and an AI Practitioner certification. The planned relationship is subject to the parties reaching definitive agreements. About IBM IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Nearly 3,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information. About Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) MBZUAI is a graduate, research university focused on artificial intelligence, computer science, and digital technologies across industrial sectors. The university aims to empower students, businesses, and governments to advance artificial intelligence as a global force for positive progress. MBZUAI offers various graduate programs designed to pursue advanced, specialized knowledge and skills in artificial intelligence, including computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing. For more information, please visit www.mbzuai.ac.ae For press inquiries, please contact: Nicholas Demille Jumana Akkawi Associate Director of Communications at Communications Director, IBM Middle East MBZUAI and Africa and Central Eastern Europe [email protected] [email protected] Aya Sakoury Head of Communications at MBZUAI [email protected] SOURCE IBM 5G will usher in the next generation of wireless technology, enabling faster speeds, lower latency and massive connectivity. This research report provides an overview of the 5G chipset market, including key players and applications NEWARK, Del, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent study done by FMI, the 5G chipset market is expected to reach US$ 180 Billion by 2032, up from US$ 21 Billion in 2022, expanding at a high CAGR of 25.5%. This study explains that the rising demand for high-speed internet and large network coverage for several applications, such as distance learning, autonomous driving, multi-user gaming, videoconferencing, live streaming, telemedicine, and augmented reality, is expected to propel the growth of the 5G chipset market. The speed and reliability of 5G are expected to have a massive impact on machine-to-machine (M2M) and IoT. Key reasons for the increased adoption of new M2M technologies are better connectivity for smooth communication and low power requirement. The existing capacity of mobile networks must be able to handle billions of nodes that are expected to ascend in the next couple of years to achieve effective M2M communication. Currently, the network capacity is incapable of handling M2M and human-based communications, as well as their different communication patterns such as latency time. For this reason, a next-level cellular network for mobile communication, featuring hyper-connectivity and larger bandwidth, is required (e.g., 5G network). M2M communication technology will be widely used in heavy manufacturing industries and process industries (e.g., food industries) to increase the efficiency of different processes and reduce human interference with machines. M2M communication is thus expected to drive the 5G chipset market. Get Sample PDF [email protected] https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-14788 Key Takeaways from the Market Study Global 5G chipset market worth to experience over 8x growth until 2032 By frequency, sales of sub-6 GHz 5G chipsets to accelerate at a 23.2% value CAGR Asia Pacific to be the most opportunistic region for market growth, registering a CAGR of 25.5% to be the most opportunistic region for market growth, registering a CAGR of 25.5% U.S to emerge as the dominant market, yielding US$ 69 Billion in value by 2032 in value by 2032 China to be the most lucrative market in APAC, documenting a 24.6% CAGR to be the most lucrative market in APAC, documenting a 24.6% CAGR Japan & South Korea to yield dollar opportunities worth US$ 10 Billion and US$ 7 Billion respectively "Continuous development of cellular networks has enabled users to experience faster data rates with low latency, which is anticipated to propel the industry growth over the forecast period," remarks an FMI analyst. Competitive Landscape Players in the global 5G Chipset Market focus on expanding their global reach through various strategies, such as; partnerships, collaborations, and partnerships. The players are also making a significant investment in R&D to add innovations to their products which would help them in strengthening their position in the global market. Some of the recent developments among the key players are: In September 2020 , Qualcomm launched a new 5G mobile platform in the 7-series, the Snapdragon 750G 5G Mobile Platform, which enables 5G with brilliant HDR gaming and on-device AI. , Qualcomm launched a new 5G mobile platform in the 7-series, the Snapdragon 750G 5G Mobile Platform, which enables 5G with brilliant HDR gaming and on-device AI. In June 2020 , Nokia announced a collaboration with Broadcom for the custom system-on-chip solutions for the vendor's ReefShark-powered portfolio , Nokia announced a collaboration with Broadcom for the custom system-on-chip solutions for the vendor's ReefShark-powered portfolio In June 2021 , Samsung Electronics unveiled a new range of new chipsets that will be embedded into the company's next generation 5G solutions. The new 3GPP Rel.16 compliant chipsets consist of a third generation mmWave Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) chip, a second generation 5G modem System-on-Chip (SoC) and a Digital Front End (DFE)-RFIC integrated chip. Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with [email protected] https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/5g-chipset-market Key Players Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. Broadcom Intel Corporation Nokia Corporation Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Mediatek Inc. Xilinx Inc. Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Qorvo Infineon Technologies AG Key Segments Covered in The 5G Chipset Market Report 5G Chipset Market by Type: 5G Chipset Modem 5G Chipset RFIC RF Transceiver RF Front-end 5G Chipset Market by Process Node: 5G Chipsets less than 10 nm 5G Chipsets between 10-28 nm 5G Chipsets above 28 nm 5G Chipset Market by Frequency: Sub-6 GHz 5G Chipset 24-39 GHz 5G Chipset Above 39 GHz 5G Chipset 5G Chipset Market by Application: 5G Chipset for Telecommunications Macro Cell Base Station Small Cell CPE 5G Chipset for Mobile Devices Smartphone Laptops & Tablets Mobile Hubs Robots Wearables AR/VR 5G Chipset for Non-Mobile Devices IoT Gateways Surveillance Cameras 5G Chipset for Automobiles Cellular V2X Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/brochure/rep-gb-14788 Table of Content 1. Executive Summary 1.1. Global Market Outlook 1.2. Summary of Statistics 1.3. Key Market Characteristics & Attributes 1.4. FMI Analysis and Recommendations 2. Market Overview 2.1. Market Coverage 2.2. Market Definition 3. Market Risks and Trends Assessment 3.1. Risk Assessment 3.1.1. COVID-19 Crisis and Impact on 5G Chipset 3.1.2. COVID-19 Impact Benchmark with Previous Crisis 3.1.3. Impact on Market Value (US$ Mn) 3.1.4. Assessment by Key Countries 3.1.5. Assessment by Key Market Segments 3.1.6. Action Points and Recommendation for Suppliers 3.2. Key Trends Impacting the Market 3.3. Formulation and Product Development Trends TOC continued...! Know More About What the 5G Chipset Market Repost Covers Future Market Insights offers an unbiased analysis of the global 5G chipset market, providing historical data for 2015-2021 and forecast statistics from 2022-2032. To understand opportunities in the 5G chipset market, the market is segmented on the basis of type, process node, frequency, and application across five major regions. Speak to our Research [email protected] https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-14788 About Technology Division at Future Market Insights The technology team at Future Market Insights offers expert analysis, time efficient research, and strategic recommendations with an objective to provide authentic insights and accurate results to help clients worldwide. With a repertoire of over 100+ reports and 1 million+ data points, the team has been analyzing the industry lucidly in 50+ countries for over a decade. The team provides a brief analysis on key trends including competitive landscape, profit margin, and research development efforts. Have a Look at Related Research Reports: Finance Cloud Market to reach a valuation of US$ 90.11 Billion by 2032 - Comprehensive Research Report by FMI Telecom Power Systems Market is likely to reach US$ 12.03 Bn by 2032 - Comprehensive Research Report by FMI Portable Monitor Market is likely to reach US$ 1,848.51 Mn by 2032 - Comprehensive Research Report by FMI About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights (ESOMAR certified market research organization and a member of Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) provides in-depth insights into governing factors elevating the demand in the market. It discloses opportunities that will favor the market growth in various segments on the basis of Source, Application, Sales Channel and End Use over the next 10-years. Contact: Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-845-579-5705 For Sales Enquiries: [email protected] Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/5g-chipset-market LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs SOURCE Future Market Insights The Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr. to serve as Special Guest Speaker SANTA ROSA, Calif., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ANOVA, the Bay Area's most trusted provider of education and services to children and adults with autism spectrum disorders and other neurodevelopmental impairments, will hold the high school Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 3, 2022 at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. The Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr. will be in attendance as keynote speaker. "We're beyond proud to celebrate another graduating class of ANOVA seniors," says Andrew Bailey, founder and CEO of ANOVA. "When students come to ANOVA, not only do they receive an exceptional education, but they experience acceptance, a sense of belonging, and a community that embraces them. When our students graduate from ANOVA, they are better equipped to succeed and contribute to their communities as adults." Located in Santa Rosa and Concord, ANOVA's K-12 schools provide elementary, middle and high school students with a comprehensive and supportive learning environment combined with academic, social, and communication-based programs tailored to foster each child's success. With low student-to-teacher ratios, highly skilled faculty, and a commitment to advancing students through a rich and highly personalized academic curriculum, ANOVA effectively treats student's individual challenges. ANOVA's campuses are fully certified by the California Department of Education/Special Education Division as a non-public school. Since 2000, ANOVA has proudly served over 5,000 families in Northern California. The ceremony will take place on Friday, June 3, 2022 at 10:30AM at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. This year will be the first in-person commencement since 2020, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Media interested in attending the Graduate Ceremony should contact Wendy Langley at (707) 527-7032 or [email protected]. About ANOVA Founded in 2000, ANOVA is Northern California's most trusted provider of education and behavioral therapy services for children and teens diagnosed with autism, learning differences, and other neuro-developmental impairments. ANOVA's two non-profit K-12 schools are located in Santa Rosa and Concord, CA. They also provide behavior analysis, speech and language, social cognition, occupational therapy, sensory integration and training, early intervention, paraprofessional support in public schools, and in-home services within 15 counties across California. ANOVA's unique program produces measurable and life changing results for children, their families, and the community. www.anovaeducation.org Contact: Wendy Langley (707) 527-7032 [email protected] www.anovaeducation.org SOURCE ANOVA BOSTON, May 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Aura, the leader in intelligent safety for consumers, announced that it will be offering a 50 percent discount on its family plan to current and former members of the military and their families in honor of Military Appreciation Month. According to data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), active duty military are 76 percent more likely than the average adult to report misuse of their bank accounts or credit cards. The FTC data also shows that service members are 22 percent more likely to report new accounts opened with their stolen information, and almost three times more likely to have money stolen from their bank account using a debit card or other electronic means. Factors unique to military life, like frequent moves and living overseas, contribute to this disproportionate risk. "Members of the military and their families make incredible sacrifices every day," said Aura Founder and CEO Hari Ravichandran. "Aura believes that online security should not be one of these sacrifices. We are proud to offer Aura to men and women in uniform and help defend the digital lives of those who defend our freedom." In 2021, Aura partnered with Blue Star Families , the nation's largest military family support organization, to reduce the risk of digital crime and financial fraud within the military community. Aura also published the white paper " Addressing Cybercrime's Disproportionate Impact on America's Armed Forces " in October 2021. Active duty military, veterans and military families can learn more and access their two-week free trial and discounted plans at https://buy.aura.com/military . About Aura Aura, the leader in intelligent safety solutions, provides all-in-one digital protection for consumers. We understand that the online safety needs of each individual are unique and require a personalized solution. By bringing together security, privacy and parental controls on an intelligent platform, Aura makes adaptive and proactive digital safety accessible to everyone. Visit www.aura.com . SOURCE Aura President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday called on executives of banking institutions in West Africa to forge a closer collaboration to tackle economic challenges confronting the sub-region. Receiving a delegation from the West African Bankers Association (WABA), led by its President, Thierno Seydou Nourou Sy, the President noted that the sub-region must find a common understanding and ground to address low access to financial services and recovery from post COVID-19 pandemic. Buhari in a statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, told the association, founded in 1981, and which brings together over 250 commercial banks and 15 institutions from across West Africa, that for many centuries, African countries have traded with one another without a formalized and structured system. He, however, noted that over time, global trade has become more complex and organised. The Nigerian leader expressed confidence that the rollout of the African Continental Free Trade Area would be a turning point in how African countries trade with each other. "More importantly, we will turn the page in ensuring that we deepen and expand our industrial capabilities by making sure we export less of what we have been endowed with in primary or raw form, and convert larger portions of these resources into finished materials. "That will allow us to benefit from the revenue earned from the added value of exporting a finished product," he said. Speaking further, the Nigerian leader declared: "Our ability to overcome the current phase of our development lies in our resolve to work jointly via our regional and sub-regional organisations where we can all reach a common understanding to fight against a common enemy. "This is one of the reasons I am delighted with the strides ECOWAS has been making towards unanimity and forging alliances with a goal to resolve issues that confront the sub-region. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Africa Business Nigeria By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "I believe that this is also the approach that is being followed in the West African Bankers' Association and the West African Monetary Union." Commenting on ongoing efforts to synchronize monetary and fiscal policies through WABA, the President challenged the association to work towards finding a common ground, despite the unique macro-economic challenges that each member-state faces. He pledged that Nigeria will always be ready to support efforts that are geared towards improving the lives of all its citizens "as long as they do not place us at a disadvantage." The WABA president lauded the lead role Nigeria plays in the African economy, adding that President Buhari's leadership was also well appreciated. "That's why we are here for counsel and guidance for the financial sector in West Africa," he said. He urged President Buhari to be an advocate for greater inclusion for WABA in ECOWAS structure, also noting that one of the challenges with the banking system is capacity building, and urging Nigeria to set up a training academy for the industry. NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Boosting its support of the U.S. programs insurance market's fast-paced growth, AXA XL is investing more resources in its Americas Program insurance business with the appointment of David Brooks to the new role of Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO), Programs and Delegated Arrangements for the Americas. Mr. Brooks will report to Donna Nadeau, AXA XL's Chief Underwriting Officer for the Americas. According to Ms. Nadeau, "The Program insurance market is a center for innovation, creativity, and specialization. It continues to mature and is becoming a home to some of the most experienced underwriting talent in the industry. With David's new role, we're putting some of our most experienced talent to work so that we can best support our program partners' growth strategies. David brings nearly 40 years of industry experience as an underwriter, broker and more recently as a risk manager to his new role." The latest biennial market survey from Target Markets Program Administrators Association (TMPAA) found that US program premium volume grew by 32.8 percent to $53.8bn from 2018 to 2020 with momentum expected to continue, making program business the fastest growing P&C sector. Mr. Brooks steps into this new role from his most current role as AXA XL's Chief Risk Officer for the Americas, effective June 1. After 16 years working in the insurance brokerage community, David joined AXA XL in 1998 to help with the initial launch of its aerospace operation. Since then, he has held numerous roles in underwriting, management, and head of ceded re. In his more recent risk management role, he was instrumental in helping establishing AXA XL's North America Program due diligence protocol. In his new role, Mr. Brooks will set strategy, direction and provide a heightened level of sophistication to our Program partners so they can benefit from AXA XL's deep insurance capabilities and underwriting expertise. "AXA XL has a long history of supporting niche Program business with partnerships that go back decades. We're looking forward to boosting our support as growth and increasing demands of the sector become more sophisticated every day," said Mr. Brooks. "Under Chris Bressette's leadership, AXA XL has built a robust and growing Program business. With our financial strength, creativity of coverage, access to multiple coverage lines, actuarial experience, analytical data science capabilities, and knowledge of regulatory issues, we have a lot to offer our program partners. We're looking forward to extending our expertise, capacity and appetite to build more long-term Program partnerships." Commenting on the appointment, Chris Bressette, Chief Underwriting Officer for North America P&C Programs, said: "I am excited to work with David as he aligns strategy and operational synergies across multiple delegated businesses. From his diverse experiences, I know he will add unique and valuable insights to our P&C space as we work together to execute profitable growth within this business model." Follow AXA XL on Twitter and on LinkedIn. ABOUT AXA XL AXA XL, the property & casualty and specialty risk division of AXA, provides insurance and risk management products and services for mid-sized companies through to large multinationals, and reinsurance solutions to insurance companies globally. We partner with those who move the world forward. To learn more, visit www.axaxl.com ABOUT AXA XL INSURANCE AXA XL Insurance offers property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty insurance solutions to mid-sized companies through to large multinationals globally. We partner with those who move the world forward. To learn more, visit www.axaxl.com SOURCE AXA XL In honor of Queer Youth of Faith Day on June 30, 2022, Beloved Arise encourages communities to go "all in" to celebrate the life, creativity, and gifts of LGBTQIA+ youth across all faith traditions. SEATTLE, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Beloved Arise, the leading national organization dedicated to celebrating and empowering LGBTQIA+ youth of faith, proudly presents Jacob Feldon (Logan, UT), Lily Clifford (Portland, OR), Roswell Grey (Sherman, TX), Sabrina Hodak (Hollywood, FL), and Sid Karasek (Cedar Rapids, IA) as the organization's queer youth of faith ambassadors. These inspiring young leaders give voice to LGBTQ+ youth who are often silenced and marginalized in religious communities. Beloved Arise "One in four LGBTQIA+ youth say faith is important to them, but many struggle with embracing both their faith and their queer identity. I hope our five queer youth of faith ambassadors, who come from various faith traditions, can be a source of inspiration and encouragement," said Dr. Jun Love Young, founder of Beloved Arise. "As part of PRIDE month, Queer Youth of Faith Day is our chance to go "all in" to support LGBTQ+ youth from across all religious communities. In a world that tells them to change or hide in shame, let's all boldly say to queer youth: You are beautiful, beloved, and worth celebrating!" These queer youth of faith ambassadors will be featured in various Beloved Arise events and programs throughout the duration of Pride Month, culminating on Queer Youth of Faith Day when a keynote address will be delivered by one of the ambassadors at the #QYFDAY All In party in Los Angeles, CA. For the first time, Beloved Arise is collaborating with ALL IN, an inclusive Christian creative community, to host a Queer Youth of Faith Day "All In" Party on June 30th which starts at 6:00 pm PST at Harmony Toluca Lake (4301 Cahuenga Blvd, Toluca Lake, CA 91602). The event will also be livestreamed. A pre-show will commence at 5:00 pm in the lawn area of the church. The Beloved Arise multi-faith celebration will begin at 6:00 PM and include voices from the LGBTQ+ youth community. After this segment, guests are invited to stay for a free progressive Christian-style worship concert led by Gattison, founder of ALL IN and an artist in Los Angeles. While ALL IN is a Christian community, they are also excited and honored to welcome people of different faith backgrounds. For those who cannot attend the event, Beloved Arise encourages communities across the nation to host their own "All In" parties in celebration of Queer Youth of Faith Day. Hosted by Beloved Arise, the third annual Queer Youth of Faith Day is sponsored by over 20 partner organizations and people dedicated to uplifting LGBTQ+ communities, including The Trevor Project, Glaad, PFLAG, JQY (Jewish Queer Youth), Interfaith Alliance, Hidayah, and Keshet. To learn more about Queer Youth of Faith Day, visit www.qyfday.org. ABOUT BELOVED ARISE Beloved Arise is the leading national organization dedicated to celebrating and empowering LGBTQ+ youth of faith. For more information, please visit www.belovedarise.org . Contact: Lauren Witt 817-721-5576 [email protected] SOURCE Beloved Arise PHILADELPHIA, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Carisma Therapeutics Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing innovative immunotherapies, announced two presentations including findings of its lead candidate, CT-0508, accepted for presentation at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting taking place in Chicago, June 3-7. The company will present the latest data from its landmark CT-0508 chimeric antigen receptor macrophage (CAR-M) trial for patients with advanced metastatic HER2 overexpressing solid tumors, reaffirming safety and feasibility of its proprietary engineered cell therapy platform. Clinical trial design for phase 1 study of adenovirally transduced autologous macrophages, a second CT-0508 study, was also accepted for presentation. In the abstract "A Phase 1, first-in-human (FIH) study of the anti-HER2 CAR Macrophage CT-0508 in subjects with HER2 overexpressing solid tumors," Kim A. Reiss, MD, principal investigator of the Phase 1 clinical trial and an Assistant Professor of Hematology-Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), will present an update on the ongoing clinical trial. The findings are the first clinical data of genetically engineered macrophages in humans and demonstrate that CT-0508 was well tolerated after infusion and there were no dose-limiting toxicities reported to date in the current study. CT-0508 was also successfully manufactured using macrophages obtained from heavily pre-treated, advanced solid tumor patients and showed high chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) expression, viability, and purity. The data provide the first clinical demonstration of the CAR-M mechanism of action, exhibiting tumor infiltration, remodeling of the solid tumor microenvironment, and early indications of T-cell activation. "This additional patient data reinforces the potential of the CAR-M platform, which may have applicability across other therapeutic areas in addition to HER2 over expressing cancers," said Debora Barton, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Carisma Therapeutics. "We look forward to continuing the CT-0508 clinical trial to further observe how our CAR-M therapy can potentially address the unmet needs of patients with hard-to-treat cancers." Also accepted for presentation at the ASCO Annual Meeting is, "A phase 1, first-in-human (FIH) study of adenovirally transduced autologous macrophages engineered to contain an anti-HER2 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) in subjects with HER2 overexpressing solid tumors," overview of the design of the Phase 1 clinical trial, also presented by Dr. Reiss. Both of the abstracts will be presented at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting in the "Developmental TherapeuticsImmunotherapy" poster session on June 5. Editor's Note: Carisma has licensed certain Penn-owned intellectual property from the University of Pennsylvania, and Penn's Perelman School of Medicine receives sponsored research and clinical trial funding from the company. Penn may also be entitled to receive additional financial benefits from technologies licensed and optioned to Carisma in the future. In addition, Penn is a co-founder of the company and holds equity interests in Carisma. About CT-0508 CT-0508 is a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeted chimeric antigen receptor macrophage (CAR-M). It is being evaluated in a landmark Phase 1 multi-center clinical trial that focuses on patients with recurrent or metastatic HER2-overexpressing solid tumors whose cancers do not have approved HER2-targeted therapies or who do not respond to treatment. We are selecting participants who have tumors of any anatomical origin, but with the commonality of overexpressing the HER2 receptor on the cell surface, which is the target for our CAR-M. The Phase 1 clinical trial is first-of-its-kind, marking the first time that engineered macrophages are being studied in humans. The trial continues to enroll patients at five U.S. sites, including Penn; the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill; City of Hope in Duarte, California; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas; and Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Tennessee Oncology Nashville. About Carisma Therapeutics Carisma is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing a differentiated and proprietary cell therapy platform focused on engineered macrophages, cells that play a crucial role in both the innate and adaptive immune response. The first applications of the platform, developed in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania, are autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-macrophages for the treatment of solid tumors. Carisma is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. For more information, please visit www.carismatx.com Carisma Media Contact: Julia Stern (763) 350-5223 [email protected] SOURCE Carisma Therapeutics Inc. PROVIDENCE, R.I., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clinica Esperanza/Hope Clinic ("CEHC") announces today that the clinic will be the first federally funded "Test to Treat" site in the state of Rhode Island and the nation. Located in the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence, CEHC is a free medical clinic serving the unmet healthcare and health education needs of a predominantly immigrant, uninsured, Spanish-speaking population. The clinic already offers COVID-19 testing and vaccination and clinic staff have recorded high COVID-19 positivity rates (27%) over the past 12 months. Positivity rates at the clinic have been consistently higher than other sites in Rhode Island throughout the pandemic. Clinica Esperanza/Hope Clinic tapped as FEMA site for "Test to Treat" COVID-19 initiative Tweet this First announced in March 2022, Test to Treat is a federal program to give patients access to life-saving treatments for COVID-19. Test to Treat sites will provide oral antiviral medications such as Pfizer's Paxlovid to individuals that test positive for COVID-19. On CEHC's selection as the first FEMA "Test to Treat" site, Volunteer Medical Director Dr. Annie De Groot, fondly known as "Dr. Annie" around the clinic, said, "We are ready to provide Paxlovid to individuals who test positive at the new Test to Treat site [and] we will continue to provide vaccines and boosters for those who test negative." CEHC staff are grateful to the Biden Administration, the RIDOH, RI EMA, and the State of Rhode Island for their support and willingness to focus on the hardest hit communities for the Test to Treat effort that will be lifesaving for our community. The CEHC Test to Treat site is located at the Neighborhood Health Station at 85 Eagle St. in Providence and will provide Paxlovid to those who test positive for COVID-19 in addition to telemedicine visits with our providers. Test to Treat services are offered six days a week, and individuals are welcome to walk in without an appointment. Test to Treat Hours of Operation Monday: 1-8pm Tuesday: 9am-2pm Wednesday: 9am-2pm Thursday: 1-8pm Friday: 10am-4pm About Clinica Esperanza/Hope Clinic Clinica Esperanza provides linguistically-appropriate, culturally-attuned medical care to uninsured adults living in Rhode Island. Since 2010, CEHC has served more than 10,000 patients, 80% of whom are Spanish-speaking, through various clinics and health education programs. Free healthcare is provided by a team of multi-lingual volunteers and core staff. CEHC believes healthcare is a human right. Press Contact: Morgan Leonard, Director of Clinical Operations Clinica Esperanza/Hope Clinic [email protected] SOURCE Clinica Esperanza/Hope Clinic NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Convergence Partners, Inc., a leader in the commercial and industrial lighting industry, introduces technology consulting division to bridge the knowledge gap for luxury homeowners. "Luxury homeowners are looking for a resource to learn about the technology solutions currently available for connected homes, said Matt Selecman, General Manager of Bespoke. "People know the types of features they want in their luxury homes, but typically don't know what's available or what's best for their lifestyle," Selecman continued." "Bespoke is a unique partner and has a combination of both design experience and the engineering support we need to execute a very complicated project," said Doug Dushan, Business Development Manager for Denizen. The Bespoke team consists of highly-experienced individuals with decades of experience in the luxury residential market including electrical, interior design, lighting, controls, automation, dedicated home theaters, and automated window treatments. "We're very happy to partner with Bespoke because they're committed to bringing our residential innovations to the design community, to our dealers, and installers," said Michael Smith, Vice President of Lutron Electronics. "The Bespoke team is capable of winning the great opportunities we now have for Connected Home Solutions," Smith continued. "Up-to-date information about incorporating technology into homes for the luxury-connected experiences essential for unique lifestyles is a great deal to ask of interior designers, architects, and home builders," said Erin Mankameyer, Owner of Groover Interior Design in Leawood, Kansas. "Working with Bespoke is the best way to guarantee the experience will be flawless and that our clients are going to have a great outcome in their luxury homes," said Alex Capecelatro, CEO of Massachusetts-based, Josh A.I. About Convergence Partners, Inc. Incorporated in 2014, Convergence represents quality manufacturers and provides service solutions within four focused divisions. Convergence has a family-first culture built on ethical business practices that foster long-term relationships. Based in North Kansas City, Missouri, Convergence covers Western Missouri and all of Kansas via its regional offices in Springfield, Missouri, and Wichita, Kansas. In 2021, Convergence expanded its lighting business by adding a regional office in St. Louis, Missouri. The luxury residential division of Convergence originally formed in 2019 was introduced as Bespoke in 2022, and services Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. Company Website: https://bespoke.fyi/ VIDEO (Vimeo): https://vimeo.com/660749647 LOGO: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/22-0526-s2p-bespoke-300dpi.jpg This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com SOURCE Convergence Partners, Inc. Keynote by Congressman Tom Emmer kicks off event chaired by Ric Edelman, featuring latest educational content and actionable ideas from leading investors and industry thought leaders GREAT FALLS, Va., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DACFP VISION, the longest-running digital assets investment conference, returns in-person this year June 8-9 in Austin. Chaired by legendary financial advisor Ric Edelman, VISION features top thought-leaders who will give financial professionals the latest information about blockchain and digital assets. Edelman, the industry's top financial educator and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 11 books, including the recently released and critically acclaimed The Truth About Crypto, will be joined by keynote speaker U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN). Congressman Emmer is a member of the House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the Task Force on Financial Technology. As sponsor of several bills on crypto, he is regarded as a leading voice in Congress on blockchain and digital assets regulation and legislation. "We are thrilled to be in-person at VISION," said Ric Edelman. "The agenda is filled with experts focusing on the most important crypto topics of interest to financial professionals, making VISION a one-of-a-kind experience." The all-star lineup of speakers include Katherine Molnar of the Fairfax County Police Officers Retirement System, Josh Brown of Ritholtz Wealth Management, David Canter of Fidelity Investments, Michael Greenwald of Amazon Web Services, Jason Les of Riot Blockchain, Brett Harrison of FTX, Matt Hougan of Bitwise, Perianne Boring of the Chamber of Digital Commerce, and many more. Attendees will take a field trip to a nearby bitcoin mining farm operated by Riot Blockchain. For the agenda, speakers, accommodations and registration, visit www.dacfpvision.com. Sessions will qualify for CE credits. About DACFP Founded by Ric Edelman, the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals (DACFP) is the premier provider of digital assets education for financial professionals. DACFP connects the financial services industry and digital assets communities with leading experts via live and online events, webinars, blogs, and other educational content. Its flagship program, the Certificate in Blockchain and Digital Assets, is an online program featuring a world-class faculty and 13 CE credits. Thousands of financial professionals from hundreds of firms in eight countries have already enrolled. DACFP is also the official crypto education partner for the CFP Board, FPA, MMI, IAA, IARFC, NAPFA, XYPN, and others. Contact for DACFP: Ryan Graham, JConnelly, 862-777-4274 or [email protected] SOURCE Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals (DACFP) KIOTI Tractor parent company honors roots while growing for the future WENDELL, N.C., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Daedong Corporation, the world-class agricultural machinery leader and parent company to KIOTI Tractor, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Committed to innovation, Daedong is eager to recognize this milestone alongside staff, customers, dealers and the global agricultural community. "The spirit of innovation that fueled the company's founding remains our guiding principle today as we develop quality products that meet the needs of our customers around the world," said J.S. Kim, chairman and CEO of Daedong Corporation and chairman of Daedong-USA, Inc. "We're proud of the impact Daedong Corporation has had on the global agricultural industry." In 1947, Sam-Man Kim founded Daedong Corporation alongside his four brothers. As Korea battled famine in the wake of World War II, the need for agricultural mechanization fueled Kim's determination and creativity. The brothers' work resulted in machines that increased food production throughout a critical time during Korea's industrialization. Today, Kim's pioneering spirit remains a defining characteristic of Daedong Corporation and KIOTI Tractor. Exporting to 70 countries, Daedong Corporation is a global leader in agricultural innovation. This past year, the company produced Korea's first 3.8-liter diesel engine, launched the country's first remote-controlled and autonomous tractor series, and entered the e-mobility market. KIOTI Tractor, a division of Daedong-USA Inc., has been providing equipment across North America for more than 35 years. With more than 60 tractor models, 12 zero-turn-radius mowers, five utility vehicle models and an expansion into compact construction in late 2022, KIOTI strives to increase offerings to meet customer needs. In late 2019, KIOTI completed a $13 million renovation of its North American headquarters, including a state-of-the-art training facility for dealers. Following this expansion, KIOTI opened a distribution center in Mississauga, Ontario, further continuing its commitment to the compact equipment industry in Canda by reducing shipping and delivery times to Canadian dealers and partners. "KIOTI is honored to share Daedong's legacy with customers across North America," said Peter Dong-Kyun Kim, president and CEO of Daedong-USA, Inc. KIOTI Tractor Division. "We're grateful to our Pack of customers, dealers and staff who allow us to empower professionals and hobbyists across agriculture, turf care, construction and beyond. We look forward to being a part of Daedong's next chapter." About KIOTI Tractor For more than 35 years, KIOTI Tractor has been supplying tractors in the 22-110 horsepower range to the U.S. and Canadian markets. Today, the company offers a full line of compact tractors, utility vehicles and zero-turn-radius mowers for both residential and commercial use. Headquartered in Wendell, N.C. with additional distribution centers in Texas and Canada, KIOTI is committed to providing equipment that is durable, reliable and easy to use. KIOTI customers benefit from an extensive and growing dealer network that's dedicated to superior customer service across North America. For more information on KIOTI or KIOTI products, please visit your authorized KIOTI Tractor dealer or www.KIOTI.com. SOURCE KIOTI Tractor Spin-off of Enhabit Home Health & Hospice expected July 2022 DALLAS, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Enhabit Home Health & Hospice, a leading home health and hospice care provider, announced it filed a Form 10 registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 25, 2022, in connection with its spin-off from Encompass Health Corporation. The spin-off is anticipated to occur on July 1, 2022, subject to various conditions. Upon completion of the spin-off, Enhabit will become an independent, publicly traded company. While the Enhabit name is new, the company has a long track record of success and deep expertise in the home health and hospice industries. Enhabit is one of the largest home health providers in the nation, with a vast geographic footprint and an extensive team of clinicians delivering the highest quality of care to all patients, at their homes and on their terms. Enhabit announces anticipated appointees to board of directors In addition, Enhabit announced anticipated appointees to its board of directors at the time of the spin-off, including Enhabit President and CEO Barbara Jacobsmeyer and eight other professionals from across the healthcare, technology and financial sectors, who qualify as "independent" under the NYSE corporate governance standards. Five of the board members previously served on Encompass Health's board of directors. Service by the legacy Encompass Health directors on a transitional basis will facilitate a smooth start for Enhabit as a public company, particularly given their knowledge of the business. The board is committed to an orderly and gradual transition of the five legacy Encompass Health board members over the next two years and is actively engaged in recruiting additional candidates. The members of Enhabit's board of directors will include: Leo I. Higdon Jr. , who will serve as chairman of the board , who will serve as chairman of the board Barbara A. Jacobsmeyer, president and CEO of Enhabit Jeffrey W. Bolton Yvonne M. Curl Charles M. Elson Erin P. Hoeflinger John E. Maupin Jr. Gregory S. Rush L. Edward Shaw Jr. "This announcement is another exciting step as Enhabit embarks on our next chapter as an independent, public company," Jacobsmeyer said. "We have a comprehensive transition plan in place and are confident that the board's diverse background and experience will help guide us into the future as we work to expand what's possible for patient care at home." Meet the Board Leo I. Higdon, Jr. Mr. Higdon joined Encompass Health's board of directors in 2004, and served as its chairman from 2014 until May 5, 2022. He served as president of Connecticut College from July 1, 2006 to December 31, 2013. He served as the president of the College of Charleston from October 2001 to June 2006. Between 1997 and 2001, Higdon served as president of Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. He also served as dean of the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia. His financial experience includes a 20-year tenure at Salomon Brothers, where he became vice chairman and member of the executive committee, managing the Global Investment Banking Division. Higdon also served as a director of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Barbara A. Jacobsmeyer Ms. Jacobsmeyer has served as president and chief executive officer of Enhabit since June 2021. Prior to that, she served as Encompass Health's Executive Vice President of Operations since December 2016. Jacobsmeyer joined Encompass Health in 2007 as chief executive officer of the Rehabilitation Hospital of St. Louis, a partnership of BJC HealthCare and Encompass Health, and then as president of Encompass Health's central region from 2012 to 2016. Prior to joining Encompass Health, Jacobsmeyer served as chief operating officer for Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. She received her bachelor's degree in physical therapy from St. Louis University and her master's degree in health services management from Webster University. Jacobsmeyer, as our president and chief executive officer, directs the strategic, financial and operational management of the Company and, in this capacity, provides unique insights into its detailed operations. She also has the benefit of more than 30 years of experience in healthcare operations and management. Jacobsmeyer currently serves on the Go Red for Women National Leadership Council of the American Heart Association. Jeffrey W. Bolton Mr. Bolton has more than 40 years of experience in a variety of industries, including healthcare, higher education, and local government. Throughout his career, Bolton has developed a deep knowledge of acute care hospitals and integrated health networks. Most recently, Bolton served as the chief administrative officer and vice president for administration (the most senior non-physician executive) at Mayo Clinic. While holding this position, Bolton managed strategic alliances and business development, corporate accounting and external reporting, and financial planning and analysis. Bolton was instrumental in establishing the international business of Mayo Clinic by expanding clinical sites in London and Abu Dhabi. Bolton co-led the development of the organization's new strategic plan and substantially transformed the leadership team, bringing in high-profile executives from outside the system for key roles, such as chief financial officer and chief human resources officer, that had traditionally been filled from within. Prior to serving as the chief administrative officer and vice president, Bolton was the chief financial officer and chair of the Department of Finance at Mayo Clinic. Prior to joining Mayo Clinic, Bolton worked at Carnegie Mellon University where he held various finance and planning positions, including chief financial officer. Previously, Bolton worked as a planning and financial analyst at the University of Pittsburgh. He began his career as a contract administrator in the City of Pittsburgh. Bolton currently serves on the board of Resoundant, Inc., a privately held medical technology company. He was recently elected to serve on the board of directors of HMN Financial, Inc. a publicly traded stock savings bank holding company. Yvonne M. Curl Ms. Curl is a former vice president and chief marketing officer of Avaya, Inc., a global provider of next-generation business collaboration and communications solutions, which position she held from October 2000 through April 2004. Before joining Avaya, Curl was employed by Xerox Corporation beginning in 1976, where she held a number of middle and senior management positions in sales, marketing and field operations, culminating with her appointment to corporate vice president. Curl currently serves as a director/trustee of VALIC Companies I & II, a mutual fund complex sponsored by American International Group, Inc., and as a director on the boards of the Hilton Head Community Foundation. In the past five years, she has served as a director of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and the Hilton Head Humane Association. Charles M. Elson Mr. Elson is a professor of Finance and the Edgar S. Woolard, Jr. Chair in Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware's Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics. Since 2020, he has served as executive editor-at-large of Directors & Boards magazine. From 2000 to 2020, he served as the director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware. Elson has also served on the National Association of Corporate Directors' Commissions on Director Compensation, Executive Compensation and the Role of the Compensation Committee, Director Professionalism, CEO Succession, Audit Committees, Governance Committee, Strategic Planning, Director Evaluation, Risk Governance, Role of Lead Director, Strategy Development, Board Diversity, Board and Long-term Value Creation, and Building the Strategic Asset Board. Additionally, he has served as a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors' Best Practices Council on Coping with Fraud and Other Illegal Activity and of that organization's advisory council. Elson serves on the board of Blue Bell Creameries U.S.A., Inc., a privately held company. He recently served as a director of Bob Evans Farms, Inc. In addition, Elson serves as vice chairman of the American Bar Association's Committee on Corporate Governance. Elson has been of counsel/consultant to the law firm of Holland & Knight LLP from 1995 to the present. Erin P. Hoeflinger Ms. Hoeflinger brings over two decades of experience and expertise in the healthcare payor industry and has played key roles in strategy, operations, and general management throughout her career. Hoeflinger joined Aetna Inc. in 2018 and rose to the role of senior vice president of specialty and strategic solutions where she led the strategy to unite CVS and Aetna assets post-merger (one of the largest health insurance acquisitions in history). Prior to her time at Aetna, Hoeflinger held several positions at Anthem, including the senior vice president and president for local commercial business, senior vice president and president of the commercial and specialty business division, the president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio, and the president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine. Throughout her career, Hoeflinger has developed an extensive skillset in implementing and leading complex transformations and integrations. In addition to her healthcare company experience, Hoeflinger presently serves on the board of directors and the nominating and governance committee of Midmark Corporation, a privately held company that manufactures and supplies medical, dental, and animal healthcare products. She previously served on the board of directors and the compensation committee of First Financial Bancorp, a publicly traded banking and financial services company. Hoeflinger also served on the board of directors and compensation committee of MainSource Financial Group, Inc. and MainSource Bank. Hoeflinger served as a member of The Ohio State University Board of Trustees, including on its audit, compliance, and finance committee, and also served on the board of the Wexner Medical Center, an academic medical center on The Ohio State University campus. She has also served in various local and national nonprofit board leadership roles as well in the past. John E. Maupin Jr. Dr. Maupin is a retired healthcare executive with over 40 years of diverse executive leadership experience in academic medicine, public health, ambulatory care and government relations. He served as president and chief executive officer of Morehouse School of Medicine for eight years until his retirement in July 2014. Prior to that, he was the president and chief executive officer of Meharry Medical College for 12 years. His other executive leadership positions have included chief administrative officer of the Morehouse School of Medicine, chief executive officer of Southside Healthcare, Inc., and Deputy Commissioner Medical Services, Baltimore City Health Department. Maupin currently serves as the chair of the board of directors for VALIC Company I, a mutual fund complex sponsored by American International Group, Inc. In the past five years, he has served as a director on the boards of LifePoint Health, Inc. and Regions Financial Corp. Gregory S. Rush - Mr. Rush brings more than 30 years of financial experience and expertise within the clinical research organization (CRO), biopharmaceutical, technology and professional services industries. He joined Parexel International Corporation, a global CRO, as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2018. Prior to joining Parexel, Rush served from 2013 to 2018 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Syneos Health, Inc., a publicly traded biopharmaceutical services organization. Rush also was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Tekelec, Inc., a leading developer of telecommunications products and services acquired by Oracle. Rush's experience also includes serving in various roles at Siebel Systems, Inc., Quintiles Transnational Corporation, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young, where he developed extensive knowledge in financial operations, capital market transactions, financial reporting, and acquisitions. L. Edward Shaw Jr. Following his practice as a partner at Milbank LLP, Mr. Shaw served as general counsel of The Chase Manhattan Bank from 1983 to 1996 and Aetna, Inc. from 1999 to 2003. In addition to his legal role, his responsibilities at both institutions included a wide range of strategic planning, risk management, compliance and public policy issues. From 1996 to 1999, he served as chief corporate officer of the Americas for National Westminster Bank PLC. In 2004, Shaw was appointed independent counsel to the board of directors of the New York Stock Exchange dealing with regulatory matters. From March 2006 to July 2010, he served on a part-time basis as a senior managing director of Richard C. Breeden & Co., and affiliated companies engaged in investment management, strategic consulting, and governance matters. In the past five years, Shaw has served as a director of MSA Safety Inc. He currently serves as a director and former chairman of Covenant House, the nation's largest privately funded provider of crisis care to children. About Enhabit Home Health & Hospice Enhabit Home Health & Hospice, a subsidiary of Encompass Health, is a leading home health and hospice care provider working to expand what's possible for patient care in the home. Encompass Health expects to spin-off Enhabit as an independent, publicly traded company on July 1, 2022. As a national leader in integrated healthcare services, Encompass Health offers both facilitybased and homebased patient care through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies and hospice agencies. With a national footprint that includes 148 hospitals, 252 home health locations, and 99 hospice locations in 42 states and Puerto Rico, Encompass Health provides highquality, cost-effective integrated healthcare. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Forward-looking statements Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts, such as those relating to the timing and effects of the spin-off and rebranding of the home health and hospice business, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, Encompass Health and Enhabit, through their senior management, may from time to time make forward-looking public statements concerning the matters described herein. All such estimates, projections, and forward-looking information speak only as of the date hereof, and Encompass Health and Enhabit undertake no duty to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates based upon current information, involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and relate to, among other things, future events, business strategy, financial plans, future financial performance, projected business results or model, and regulatory approvals. Actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, factors which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those estimated by Encompass Health and Enhabit include, but are not limited to, the possibility that Encompass Health may not be able to realize higher values for Enhabit through strategic transactions; the possibility that Encompass Health is not able to consummate the spin-off due to, among other things, market, regulatory and other factors; the potential for disruption to Encompass Health's or Enhabit's business resulting from the spin-off; the continued spread of COVID-19, including the speed, depth, geographic reach and duration of the spread, which could decrease patient volumes and revenues and lead to staffing and supply shortages and associated cost increases; actions to be taken in response to the pandemic; Enhabit's ability to attract and retain key management personnel; Enhabit's ability to attract and retain nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals in a highly competitive environment with often severe staffing shortages, which may be worsened by the pandemic; general conditions in the economy and capital markets, including any instability or uncertainty related to armed conflict or an act of terrorism, governmental impasse over approval of the United States federal budget, an increase in the debt ceiling, or an international sovereign debt crisis; and other factors which may be identified from time to time in Encompass Health's and Enhabit's SEC filings and other public announcements, including Encompass Health's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021, and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and Enhabit's Form 10 Registration Statement filed on May 25, 2022. Media contact Erin Volbeda [email protected] 972-338-5141 Investor relations contact Jennifer Hills [email protected] 469-621-6496 SOURCE Enhabit Home Health & Hospice Esquire Deposition Solutions LLC Acquires TSG Reporting, Inc. in One of Court Reporting Service Industry's Largest Deals Tweet this Michael Rixon, chief executive officer of TSG, said, "Our integration with Esquire Deposition Solutions will allow for collaborative, positive net gains for clients of both companies. This acquisition provides the foundational elements of infrastructure, organizational depth and breadth, operational excellence, and strategic resources that can be leveraged to further increase the value we deliver to our clients. In addition, leveraging Esquire's broad base of client relationships offers an opportunity for tremendous market share growth. "The arrival of innovative technologies and services is having a profound effect on litigation," Rixon explained. "Continuing to increase market share while improving client value and white-glove focus required a revised strategic approach which the acquisition by Esquire offers. TSG employees, clients, and service providers will all benefit from this acquisition." The acquisition of TSG will significantly expand Esquire's presence in the Northeast where TSG is particularly strong, including in Boston and New York City, as well as in California, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Founded in 2003 and well known in the industry for its detail-oriented complex case service approach, TSG services the most demanding and complex litigations for some of the largest law firms in the world. Many of TSG's court reporters have worked with TSG for more than 10 years. TSG also works with hundreds of service providers that have long-standing, personal relationships with the agency. Esquire is an industry leader in court reporting with a focus on applying technology to improve the customer experience and drive efficiency gains. This focus has allowed the company to successfully conduct more than 200,000 remote depositions in the last 18 months alone, serving customers internationally and in all 50 U.S. states. Esquire is committed to covering its clients' needs on a daily basis by utilizing its extensive network of top-quality, professional court reporters, while leveraging its broad-reaching relationships across the court reporter industry when necessary. All Esquire production is performed by Esquire, where permitted by law. About Esquire Deposition Solutions Esquire Deposition Solutions is a leading national provider of remote and in-person court reporting, video, and interpreting services for law firms, insurance companies, and corporate legal departments, supporting more than 140,000 depositions annually. For more information, visit https://www.esquiresolutions.com/. SOURCE Esquire Deposition Solutions LLC Presented at a luncheon ceremony in London, the award was determined by votes from throughout the capital markets community. RegTech Insight, an A-Team Group publication, said this year's awards had more entries and votes than ever before, following selection of the shortlist in each category by the editorial staff and advisory board. Angela Wilbraham, CEO at A-Team Group, said: "Congratulations to Eventus for winning the 2022 RegTech Insight Award Europe for Best Trade Surveillance Solution. This year's RegTech Insight Europe awards have been extremely popular and competitive, highlighting established solution providers and innovative newcomers that help capital markets participants respond effectively and efficiently to evolving and ever more complex regulatory requirements across the global financial services industry." Eventus CEO Travis Schwab said: "We've been putting substantial resources into our expansion in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. It's a great honor to receive this recognition based on votes from capital markets participants who appreciate our high level of service, the expertise of our growing team and our proven ability to deliver for our clients." Last fall, Eventus won the award for Best Trade Surveillance Solution in the RegTech Insight Awards APAC 2021, one of four awards the firm received in 2021 for its efforts in the Asia-Pacific region. Eventus has previously won two RegTech Insight awards for trade surveillance addressing U.S. regulations. Earlier this month, the company won the Markets Media Markets Choice Award for Best in RegTech for the third consecutive year. The annual RegTech Insight Awards Europe recognize both established solution providers and innovative newcomers, seeking to herald and highlight regulatory technology solutions that throughout the year have successfully improved firms' ability to effectively respond to the evolving and ever more complex regulatory requirements across the global financial services industry. About Eventus Eventus is a leading global provider of multi-asset class trade surveillance and market risk solutions. Its powerful, award-winning Validus platform is easy to deploy, customize and operate across equities, options, futures, foreign exchange (FX), fixed income and digital asset markets. Validus is proven in the most complex, high-volume and real-time environments of tier-1 banks, broker-dealers, futures commission merchants (FCMs), proprietary trading groups, market centers, buy-side institutions, energy and commodity trading firms, and regulators. The company's rapidly growing client base relies on Validus and Eventus' responsive support and product development teams to overcome its most pressing regulatory challenges. For more, visit www.eventus.com. SOURCE Eventus Nairobi President Uhuru Kenyatta was on Thursday expected to lead Kenyans in the 19th Edition of the National Annual Prayer Breakfast at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi. The Head of State is expected to be joined by Deputy President William Ruto, Azimio coalition Presidential candidate Raila Odinga and other religious leaders. According to a Communication by the Speaker of the Senate, Kenneth Lusaka, the prayer ceremony comes at critical time when the country is preparing for a general election hence the need for the prayer. Lusaka had called on Senators to attend the prayer breakfast. The National Prayer Breakfast is an annual ecumenical event offered under the auspices of the Co-Patrons, the Speaker of the Senate and the National Assembly; and organized by a group of dedicated volunteers who make up the National Prayer Breakfast Organizing Committee. The Organizing Committee is co-chaired by Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Samuel Poghisio, MP and Hon. Daniel Maanzo, MP, of the National Assembly. The purpose of the National Prayer Breakfast is to meet, engage, interact and together pray for the nation in the company of fellow leaders from all sectors of society. SILVER SPRING, Md., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing an update on steps it has taken that will lead to millions of bottles of specialized medical infant formula to help address immediate needs for infants with certain allergies or critical health conditions. This type of specialized medical infant formula is currently in short supply in the U.S. "We have made tremendous progress, including notable steps in just the past week, which will allow us to immediately begin bringing specialty and infant formula products into the U.S. as quickly as possible," said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. "We continue to work closely with our U.S. government partners and domestic and international manufacturers to identify additional formula product that will be available to parents and caregivers in the weeks and months ahead. It is our goal to ensure that hospitals, specialty pharmacies, and retail store shelves will begin seeing adequate supplies again in the coming weeks." About 500,000 additional cans of specialized medical formula manufactured by Danone's Nutricia business will be headed to the U.S. These Neocate amino acid-based formula products -- some of which are already manufactured for the U.S. market and are made at facilities in Europe -- amounts to more than 5 million full-size, 8-ounce bottles. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Danone continue to partner to evaluate options for getting the products to the U.S. as quickly as possible. The specialized medical formula is expected to be distributed through direct ordering, hospitals, health care professionals, pharmacies, healthcare product distributors and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) local access points to ensure they get to the infants who rely on these products. The FDA has been working with Danone's Nutricia business over the past several months to boost production of these products at its facilities and to identify additional supply of other infant formula products moving forward. The agency is leveraging a number of flexibilities to bolster the supply of products that serve as the sole source of nutrition for many infants while ensuring the infant formula can be used safely and provides adequate nutrition. The FDA remains in further discussions with manufacturers and suppliers regarding additional supply to ensure there's adequate infant formula available wherever and whenever parents and caregivers need it. On Tuesday, the FDA announced that it informed Kendal Nutricare that the agency is exercising enforcement discretion for the importation of certain infant formula under the Kendamil brand. Under the agency's recent increased flexibilities regarding importation of certain infant formula products, the company initially estimates that about 2 million cans of infant formula (over 50 million full-size, 8-ounce bottles) are expected to land on U.S. store shelves beginning in June. Kendal Nutricare also currently has over 40,000 cans in stock for immediate dispatch. The FDA also announced that it is not objecting to the release of about 300,000 cans of EleCare amino acid-based infant formula previously produced at Abbott Nutrition's Sturgis, Michigan, facility to individuals needing urgent, life-sustaining supplies of this specialty formula on a case-by-case basis. These products will undergo enhanced microbiological testing before release. Last week, the FDA issued guidance that outlined a process by which the FDA would not object to the importation of certain infant formula products intended for a foreign market or distribution in the U.S. of products manufactured here for export to foreign countries. This guidance also may provide flexibilities to those who manufacture infant formula products domestically and may be able to increase further the quantity of domestically produced product for the U.S. market. The FDA has posted a webpage that will be updated with information about additional products headed to the U.S. The agency's around-the-clock work as part of the all-of-government efforts has already begun to improve supply and availability. The agency expects that the measures and steps it is taking, and the potential for Abbott Nutrition's Sturgis, Michigan, facility to safely resume production in the near-term, will mean more and more supply is on the way or on store shelves moving forward. As more formula becomes available to the general population of infants, the agency understands that availability of specialty products -- such as amino acid-based specialty formulas and metabolic products -- continues to be of concern. The FDA has already taken steps with Abbott Nutrition to make product available to those with life-threatening conditions on a case-by-case basis and will continue its efforts to make these products even more readily available as the agency works with the company to implement provisions of a consent decree. In addition, these products have been an area of focus for discussions with other manufacturers that make comparable products. As a result of the recall and work with the FDA, other manufacturers have increased production of comparable product lines and in some cases expedited the importation of these products where available. The FDA continues to advise against making infant formulas at home or diluting formula. Caregivers are encouraged to work with their child's health care provider for recommendations on changing feeding practices, if needed. HHS has also released a fact sheet with information to help families find infant formula. The agency also monitors online marketplaces for fraudulent products and works with major online retailers to remove violative and harmful products offered for sale on their sites. Additionally, since many of these fraudulent products originate overseas, the agency targets and examines these products at ports of entry. The FDA also monitors and follows up on various external signals such as consumer complaints about potential counterfeit and fraudulent products. The FDA will continue to dedicate all available resources to help ensure that infant formula products remain available for use in the U.S. and will keep the public informed of progress updates. Additional Information: Media Contact: FDA Office of Media Affairs, 301-796-4540 Consumer Inquiries: 888-723-3366 The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products. SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration This year's conference was themed around "history at a turning point". Post-Covid, we have entered a world of accelerated digital transformation, reappraised our relationship with the natural world and are facing the risk of a new recession. We are looking to industry leaders as the engines of change, yet businesses are under intense pressures, from the speed of change to shifting customer demand and supply chain issues worsened by international conflict. The Forum has never been more relevant and the ideas discussed need to be shared with the world at large. Acclaimed production company TBD Media Group returned to Davos in 2022 with a series of case studies and bite-size documentaries on the business leaders that attended the Swiss city to play their role in meeting this critical moment. TBD Media is cementing their outstanding reputation for reporting on global leaders in business innovation and digitalisation by providing a platform for those addressing the world's problems. TBD Media goes beyond the thinkers and talkers to meet the people who are putting these ideas into practice - the business leaders grappling with the issues and finding real solutions to answer urgent needs. Andrew Wilson, former Foreign Correspondent for Sky, as well as Tina Dauster, professional TV journalist and moderator, spoke with mobility experts, energy providers and healthcare professionals, taking their learnings to a global online audience. Paolo Zanini, Founder and CEO at TBD Media Group says: "Davos is where decisions are made about the today and tomorrow of the planet. TBD Media is proud to be part of making the philosophies, and the people behind them, accessible to the global community in an engaging and insightful way." Zanini says that to create positive change we need to understand the motivation of the people driving change: "History is truly at a turning point: the shockwaves of Covid, conflict in Ukraine and the climate crisis are being felt, and we talked to the people who have control over the levers of action. We found out what they plan to do, how they plan to do it and most importantly, why they make the decisions that they do. We all want a cleaner, fairer, more peaceful world. To achieve that, we need to know the people who will be part of delivering it." Further information on the campaign may be found here: https://www.davosinterviews.com Africa Finance Corporation , ATOSS , AXA Investment Managers , Borussia Dortmund , Boson Energy , Cambridge Associates , CyberVerse Advisors , Eventide Asset Management , Geopolymer Solutions , Harvard Management Company , Henkel , IAR Systems , Straumann Group , IWC Schaffhausen , Li-Cycle , Palladium Equity Partners , Provivi, Schoeller Allibert , Svante , Toom Baumarkt , Yokoy About TBD Media Group: TBD Media Group is an international, purpose-driven, media developer that helps companies, organizations and governments tell their brand stories in a human and direct way. Learn more at https://www.tbdmediagroup.com/ Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826635/TBD_Media_Group_Davos.mp4 Media Contact: Jenna-Leigh Ancill Head of Marketing TBD Media Group [email protected] SOURCE TBD Media Group DUBLIN, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global and China CNC Machine Tool Industry Report, 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The scale of the global CNC machine tool industry is expanding year by year. In 2021, the industrial scale hit USD163.2 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3.8%. As typical mechatronics products, CNC machine tools are a combination of mechanical technology and CNC intelligence. The upstream mainly involves castings, sheet metal parts, precision parts, functional parts, CNC systems, electrical components and other parts industries, and the downstream spreads widely to machinery industry, mold industry, automobile industry, power equipment, railway locomotives, shipbuilding, petrochemical, electronic information technology industry and the like. By market segment, the scale of the global CNC metal cutting machine tools in 2021 amounted to USD77.21 billion, accounting for 47.5% of the total; the scale of CNC metal forming machine tools reached USD41.47 billion, accounting for 25.5%; the scale of CNC special processing machine tools was USD22.56 billion, accounting for 13.9%. Major producers of machine tools include China, Germany, Japan, and the United States. Germany attaches great importance to the high quality, precision, sophistication and practicality of CNC machine tools and accessories; it is highly specialized in the R&D and production of various functional components and ranks among the top in the world in terms of quality and performance. Japan focuses on the development of CNC systems, and the machine tool companies in this country emphasize the layout of upstream materials and components and the integrated development of core products. The United States has strong competitiveness in design, manufacturing and basic scientific research of CNC machine tools. China's machine tool industry started late, but it is developing rapidly. Thanks to the guidance of the government's industrial policy on innovation and development, China's machine tool industry has grown significantly in terms of technology and market size, and China has become the world's largest machine tool producer and seller. In the world's largest machine tool consumption market, Chinese machine tool enterprises are highly sensitive to the market with fast response in marketing and services. In recent years, the optimized industrial structure of China's manufacturing industry, the rapid development of high-end manufacturing and the growing demand for intelligent manufacturing upgrades have triggered enormous demand for high-end CNC machine tools. With higher requirements of high-end manufacturing industries represented by automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding, power equipment, construction machinery, and 3C industries in China for the performance and accuracy of CNC machine tools, the market demand for CNC machine tools, especially high-end CNC machine tools, is swelling in China. Therefore, the CNC machine tool market size is expected to escalate steadily. In 2021, the market size of China's CNC machine tool industry jumped RMB21.4 billion or 8.65% over last year to RMB268.7 billion. Regarding competitive landscape, Japan-based Yamazaki Mazak, Germany-based TRUMPF and DMG MORI, a German-Japanese joint venture, rank the top three globally, followed by MAG, Amada, Okuma, Makino, GROB, Haas, EMAG. TRUMPF Group is one of the leading companies in the global manufacturing technology. The company has been investing in China since 2000. It has successively invested in four production enterprises in Taicang, Jiangsu and Dongguan, Guangdong to produce CNC sheet metal processing machine tools and medical equipment. It plans to gradually develop, produce and sell various types of CNC machine tools under the TRUMPF brand in China. In China, main players of CNC machine tools include Haitian Precision, Guosheng Zhike and Rifa Precision Machinery. Among them, Haitian Precision mainly produces CNC gantry machining centers, CNC horizontal machining centers, CNC vertical machining centers, and other machine tools. In 2021, the revenue from CNC machine tools hit RMB2.73 billion, of which 52.2% came from CNC gantry machining centers. The main products of Guosheng Zhike include CNC machine tools, intelligent automated production lines, equipment parts, etc. The revenue reached RMB1.137 billion in 2021, of which 66.3% was contributed by CNC machine tools and 16.2% by intelligent automated production lines. Rifa Precision Machinery is primarily engaged in digital intelligent machine tools and production lines, aerospace intelligent equipment and production lines, aerospace parts processing, as well as engineering, operation and leasing of fixed-wing aircrafts and helicopters, etc. In 2021, digital intelligent machine tools and production lines occupied 30.1% of the total revenue. Global and China CNC Machine Tool Industry Report, 2022-2027 highlights the following: Definition and classification of CNC machine tools, including industrial chain, etc.; Size, demand structure, competitive landscape, etc. of global and Chinese machine tool market; Global CNC machine tool market size and market segment structure, as well as regional development in Japan , Germany , South Korea , etc.; , , , etc.; Size, product structure, demand structure, import, export, competitive landscape and development trends of Chinese CNC machine tool market; Production, marketing, import, export, and competitive landscape of major CNC machine tool types such as CNC lathes, CNC grinding tools and machining centers; Overview of upstream and downstream markets of CNC machine tool industry; Operation, CNC machine tool business development, etc. of 11 foreign and 20 Chinese CNC machine tool manufacturers. Key Topics Covered: 1. Overview of CNC Machine Tool Industry 1.1 Overview 1.2 Classification 1.3 Industry Chain 2. Status Quo of Global and China Machine Tool Industry 2.1 Global 2.1.1 Production 2.1.2 Consumption 2.1.3 Import and Export 2.1.4 Competitive Landscape 2.2 China 2.2.1 Market Size 2.2.2 Metal Cutting Machine Tool 2.2.3 Metal Forming Machine Tool 2.2.4 Import and Export 2.2.5 Competitive Landscape 3. Status Quo of CNC Machine Tool Markets Worldwide 3.1 Overview 3.2 Main Countries 3.2.1 Japan 3.2.2 Germany 3.2.3 South Korea 4. Status Quo of CNC Machine Tool Market in China 4.1 Development Environment 4.1.1 Policy Environment 4.1.2 Technological Environment 4.2 Market Situation 4.2.1 Market Overview 4.2.2 Production 4.2.3 Demand 4.3 Import and Export 4.4 Competitive Landscape 4.4.1 Competition between Enterprises 4.4.2 Regional Competition 4.5 Development Trend 5. Main CNC Machine Tool Products in China 5.1 CNC Lathe 5.1.1 Production 5.1.2 Import & Export 5.1.3 Key Manufacturers 5.2 CNC Grinder 5.2.1 Production 5.2.2 Import & Export 5.2.3 Key Manufacturers 5.3 Machining Center 5.3.1 Production 5.3.2 Import & Export 5.3.3 Key Manufacturers 6. Core Components of China CNC Machine Tool Industry 6.1 CNC System 6.1.1 Supply and Demand 6.1.2 Market Pattern 6.2 Servo System 6.2.1 Overview 6.2.2 Servo Motors 6.2.3 Motorized Spindle 6.2.4 Feed Transmission System 7. Downstream Sectors of China CNC Machine Tool Industry 7.1 Automobile 7.1.1 Market Size 7.1.2 Automotive & Parts-use CNC Machine Tool 7.2 Aviation Industry 7.2.1 Market Size 7.2.2 Aviation-use CNC Machine Tools 7.3 Rail Transit Equipment 7.3.1 Market Size 7.3.2 Rail Transit-use CNC machine tools 7.4 Electronic Information 7.4.1 Market Size 7.4.2 CNC Machine Tools for 3C 8. Major Foreign CNC Machine Tool Manufacturers 8.1 Mazak 8.1.1 Profile 8.1.2 Layout in China 8.2 Trumpf 8.3 Amada 8.4 Okuma Corp. 8.5 DMG MORI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT 8.6 Other Players 8.6.1 Hass 8.6.2 Emag 8.6.3 MAG 8.6.4 Gleason 8.6.5 Indes 8.6.6 Makino 9. Key Chinese CNC Machine Tool Enterprises 9.1 Shenyang Machine Tools Co., Ltd. 9.1.1 Profile 9.1.2 Operation 9.1.3 CNC Machine Tool Business 9.1.4 Shenji Group Kunming Machine Tool Co., Ltd. 9.1.5 Development Strategy 9.2 Qinchuan Machine Tool & Tool Group Co., Ltd. 9.3 Jiangsu Yawei Machine-Tool Co., Ltd. 9.4 Wuhan Huazhong Numerical Control Co., Ltd (HNC) 9.5 Qinghai Huading Industrial Co., Ltd. 9.6 Weihai Huadong Automation Co. Ltd. 9.7 RIFA Precision Machinery 9.8 J-TECH CNC Technology Co., Ltd. 9.9 Ningbo Haitian Precision Machinery Co., Ltd 9.10 Nantong Guosheng Intelligent Technology Group Co., Ltd. 9.11 Zhejiang Headman Machinery Co., Ltd. 9.12 Wuxi Shangji Automation Co., Ltd. 9.13 Other Enterprises 9.13.1 Qiqihar Heavy CNC Equipment Corp., Ltd. 9.13.2 JIER Machine-Tool Group Co., Ltd. 9.13.3 BYJC 9.13.4 Tianshui SPARK Machine Tool 9.13.5 Zhejiang Golden Fire Industry Co., Ltd. 9.13.6 Beijing Jingdiao Technology Group Co., Ltd. 9.13.7 Zhejiang Ruiyuan Machine Tool Group Co., Ltd. 9.13.8 General Technology Group Dalian Machine Tool Co., Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/87b2c1 Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Data Center Colocation Trends and Growth Opportunities" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report highlights the key trends shaping the global data center colocation services industry. Data centers represent the backbone of the digital economy. Enterprises and governments need to rely on best-in-class data centers and digital infrastructure in today's digital world. Enterprises increasingly outsource their data operations to third-party colocation services providers specializing in data center operations. The capability of colocation service providers to build scale in terms of physical space, adequate power supply, and cooling systems for servers and network connectivity backed by effective operations to ensure high SLAs boost enterprise confidence in outsourcing services. Demand for data center colocation services is forecast to be fueled by the growing need for hyperscale capacity from public cloud providers, OTT content, and media segments. COVID-19 is accelerating the digital adoption journey of enterprises further, creating higher demand for storage and compute capabilities. While data center providers invest heavily to build new capacity to address demand, deployment of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning also encourages service providers to invest in new data center designs to boost efficiencies. Competition in the industry is intensifying to address global demand from carrier-neutral and telecom service providers. While it is critical for service providers to invest in favorable locations, optimize energy costs, and provide best-in-class services, they also need to develop strategic differentiation in highly-competitive markets and align with global trends to enhance customer value. Key Topics Covered: 1. Strategic Imperatives Why Is It Increasingly Difficult to Grow? The Strategic Imperative Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on the Data Center Colocation Services Industry 2. Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine Growth Opportunity Analysis Growth Drivers Growth Restraints 3. Colocation Trends Key Trends Impacting the Data Center Colocation Services Industry Focus on Building Scale to Address Hyperscale Demand Designing Data Centers with High-Density Colocation Capabilities Accelerated Focus on Edge Data Centers Increasing Role of PE Firms and Wealth Funds in the Data Center Industry AI Becoming Pivotal to Competitive Colocation Services Regulatory Frameworks Increasing Impact of Regulatory Frameworks 4. Growth Opportunity Universe Growth Opportunity 1 - Development of Data Centers Offering Colocation Services For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/27q63a Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets GUIYANG, China, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In February, 2022, China has approved a mega-project approved for data clusters, indicating that its strategy to channel more computing resources from the country's eastern regions to its less developed yet resource-rich western regions is in full swing. As the main force of western computing power, Guizhou's big data industry has once again gathered the world's attention with the opening of the China International Big Data Industry Expo 2022. Guizhou, which is on the "express train" of big data, has accelerated the upgrading of traditional industries and the digital economy. It has become a platform for comprehensively displaying the latest achievements of global big data development and an important window to observe China's big data industry. Guizhou finds new opportunities amid gathering massive data Relying on climate advantages and policy guidance, Guizhou, which is located in the southwest corner of China, has created a strong data base for computing power with the long-standing big data industry. As the core area of the National Big Data (Guizhou) Comprehensive Pilot Zone, up to now, Gui'an New Area has 23 data centers under construction or put into operation. The Gui'an New Area alone has gathered 7 super-large data centers of big companies, such as Huawei, China Unicom, China Mobile, and Tencent. It is estimated that by 2025, Gui'an New Area will become a world-class data center cluster with a server capacity of 4 million units. In addition, Gui'an Huawei Cloud Data Center is Huawei's largest cloud data center in the world that accommodates 1 million servers; China Telecom Cloud Computing Guizhou Information Park, the largest data center operating in southern China, is also the cloud network data center with the most active data interaction and the largest data volume in Guizhou Province, running more than 80,000 servers, with a daily data volume of more than 100G and an annual output value of more than 200 million yuan; Gui'an Supercomputing Center with a data storage capacity of 1PB and a peak of 13PFlops (PFlops means 1 quadrillion operations per second), with a daily average output of 10.4 quadrillion floating point arithmetic ...... It is reported that, in order to channel more computing resources from the eastern areas to the less developed western regions, Guizhou Yunshang Kunpeng Technology in Guizhou has reached a strategic cooperation intention with Digital China and Wuhan Yangtze Computing Technology to build a regional computing industry ecology. At present, Guizhou Kunpeng's self-developed "Zhaohan" series of servers have been put into use in dozens of projects across the province, providing arithmetic support and information security for education, finance, transportation, government and other areas. Guizhou's digital economy in full swing by exploring digital industrialization Guizhou province has promoted the development of digital economy by pushing forward the growth in a series of emerging industries based on big data technology, such as electronic information manufacturing, software and information technology service industry, and telecommunication industry. At present, the digital economy and the real economy in Guizhou are accelerating their deep integration, and digital transformation is empowering traditional industries to upgrade. It is reported that in recent years, Guizhou has promoted enterprises, especially industrial enterprises, to carry out digital and intelligent transformation through the "integration of ten thousand enterprises" action, and so far, a total of 401 benchmark projects and 4234 demonstration projects have been formed, driving 8485 enterprises to carry out integration and promoting more than 23,000 enterprises to use the cloud. In recent years, through the full implementation of big data strategic initiatives, Guizhou has ranked first in the country in terms of digital economy growth rate for 6 consecutive years, and ranked first in the country in terms of employment growth rate absorbed by the digital economy for 2 consecutive years, providing a model for the development of big data industry in China. SOURCE The China International Big Data Industry Expo 2022 Organizing Committee Introductory fares between MDW and New Haven start at $89 CHICAGO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Avelo Airlines today begins serving the Windy City with nonstop service to Southern Connecticut from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). The flight offers Chicago a more convenient and affordable gateway to the New England and New York regions. Introductory one-way fares between MDW and Connecticut's most convenient airport Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) starting at $89* are available at AveloAir.com . Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said, "Chicago it's officially time to say hello to Avelo! Getting from the Windy City to Southern Connecticut is now easier and more affordable than ever. We're excited to connect these two pizza capitals, allowing for long getaways to the New York and New England areas for a quick trip with friends and family to enjoy a slice." Avelo will fly its Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 aircraft on the route beginning May 26, 2022. This new route will typically operate four days per week. Flight days and times below: Route Departs Arrives Effective May 26: Monday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday MDW-HVN 7:05 p.m. 10:05 p.m. HVN-MDW 4:55 p.m. 6:25 p.m. "On behalf of Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the entire Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), I am thrilled to welcome Avelo Airlines for inaugural service at Midway International Airport," said City of Chicago Commissioner of Aviation Jamie L. Rhee. "Travelers now have new options for affordable travel between New England at Tweed New Haven Airport and the "Windy City," voted Best Big City in the U.S. by Conde Nast Traveler for the fifth year in a row." Tweed-New Haven Airport The New Haven Way to Connecticut Amidst the crowds, long lines, lengthy walks and traffic congestion encountered at other airports frequented by travelers to and from the region, HVN offers a refreshingly smooth and simple alternative hometown airport experience. HVN's adjacency to multiple major highways and commuter railways make it Connecticut's most convenient and easily accessible airport. Tweed-New Haven Airport Executive Director Sean Scanlon said, "The addition of flights to Chicago is yet another important milestone in the overwhelming success story that is our partnership with Avelo. Starting this week, we now serve thirteen destinations and are offering service to major business hubs for the first time since the 1990s. The future is bright here at HVN and if you haven't flown with us yet, come see what all the hype is about!" Best known as the home of Yale University, New Haven is the second largest city in Connecticut and is part of the New York metropolitan area. The coastal city has experiencedand continues to enjoya renaissance. Within an easy stroll from the New Haven Green are more than 100 distinctive restaurants, offering something for every palate, and the city abounds with theaters, museums, and shopping destinations to satisfy all interests and tastes. A Different, Better and More Affordable Travel Experience Avelo offers several unbundled travel-enhancing options that give Customers the flexibility to pay for what they value, including priority boarding, checked bags, carry-on overhead bags, and bringing a pet in the cabin. The American-made Boeing 737 NG mainline jets Avelo operates from HVN offer a more spacious and comfortable experience than the regional jets that historically served this airport. Customers may choose from several seating options, including seats with extra leg room, as well as pre-reserved window and aisle seating. Avelo is distinguished by its Soul of Service culture. The culture is grounded in our Avelo "One Crew" value that promotes a welcoming and caring experience. By caring for one another and owning their commitments, Avelo Crewmembers focus on anticipating and understanding Customer needs on the ground and in the air. About Avelo Airlines Avelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose to Inspire Travel. The airline offers Customers time and money-saving convenience, low everyday fares, and a refreshingly smooth and caring experience through its Soul of Service culture. Operating a fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo currently serves 27 popular destinations across the U.S., including its three bases at Los Angeles' Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Southern Connecticut's Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) and Orlando International Airport (MCO). For more information visit AveloAir.com or the Avelo Newsroom at AveloAir.com/Newsroom. Media Contacts Avelo Airlines Courtney Goff [email protected] Chicago Midway International Airport Christine Carrino [email protected] *One-way introductory fares include government taxes and fees. The introductory fares must be booked by June 3, 2022. The introductory one-way fares starting at $89 are only available on Avelo flights between MDW and HVN between now and November 7, 2022. Blackout dates will apply. The introductory fares are available on a limited number of flights and seats. Additional fees for carry-on and checked bags, assigned seats and other optional services may apply. For full terms and conditions, please see Avelo's Contract of Carriage. SOURCE Avelo Airlines HARRISBURG, Pa., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania State Senator Devlin Robinson lauded an ongoing traveling exhibition, "Darshana A Glimpse into Hindu Civilization," its organizers Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS), and its partner organizations. PA State Senate Darshana Event, May 23, 2022 PA State Senate Darshana Event, Volunteers with Elected Officials Senator Robinson welcomed the exhibition and volunteers of HSS to the State Senate and encouraged all senators to visit the exhibit. He further appreciated the 24 detailed posters depicting the several facets of Hindu Civilization and the Hindu way of life. During his remarks, he said, "I'm confident that everyone who takes the time to learn about the culture will walk away with a better understanding and appreciation of the Hindu civilization. Not only have the Members of this organization been great to work with, but we have become. Good friends" PA State Senator Yudichak, during his comment, said, "HSS is an organization that promotes a sense of selfless service and civic duty. They have brought the Darshana exhibit, which offers an opportunity to learn about the concepts and practices of the Hindu civilization. It is awe-inspiring to see Hindus coming together as one people to help all people in need." "I want to say thank you to HSS and all the Hindu community organizations. They collaborated and put this in the exhibition together. Hinduism is a religion as well as a way of life born and nurtured in the womb of the Indian subcontinent," said Stephanie Sun, Executive director for Governor's Commission on Asian American Affairs. Doctor Jeffery Long, Professor of Religion, Philosophy, & Asian Studies, Elizabethtown College, observed, "This ancient culture has enriched the world in countless ways. You get a sense of that as you go through this exhibit and read about the various dimensions of the Hindu civilization. Again, someone might ask why this exhibit? Why here in the state capital? Well, Hindu culture is American culture. There have been Hindus in America for over 2 centuries. And American culture has been greatly enriched by Hinduism, Hindu thought, Hindu philosophy, and Hindu practice." Senator Devlin Robinson - 37th State Senatorial District, Senator Yudichak - 14th State Senatorial district, Dr. Jeffery Long, Carl W. Zeigler Professor of Religion, Philosophy & Asian Studies. Stephine Sun - Executive Director, Pennsylvania Governor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, House Chair Representative Bryan Cutler - 100th Legislative District, and Senator Marty Flynn - 22nd State Senatorial District, spoke and shared their observations on the exhibition during the media event. Many other State Senators and State House representatives visited the exhibition and interacted with the HSS volunteers. Dr. Prasanna Jog, Communications Director for HSS Mid-Atlantic Region, said, "It was great to participate in this exhibition at the PA State Capitol! Many of our lawmakers joined this event. The iconic state Capitol was the perfect place to deliver the message of seeing divinity in all, which implies "Vasudhsiva Kutumbakam" or "whole world is one family." Mr. Mahesh Kalla, National Communications Director, HSS, said, "It was a moment of joy for HSS volunteers experiencing the great American culture of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equality in this temple of democracy. We also felt so proud of HSS for being recognized for its selfless service on the PA Senate floor. It was a fulfilling experience with so many state senators and representatives visiting and welcoming this exhibition." This traveling exhibition was held at over 200 locations in April and May 2022 to educate political, civic, educational, and interfaith leaders about Hindu Dharma, another term for Hinduism. Contact: HSS Media Contact Vikas Deshpande 973-500-8477 [email protected] SOURCE Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA HWE arranges sale of 112-room hotel centrally located in Athens, GA on behalf of seller ATHENS, Ga., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hodges Ward Elliott ("HWE"), the premier boutique real estate capital markets advisor, announced it has brokered the sale of the Hampton Inn Athens hotel, a 112-room select-service hospitality asset located at 2220 W. Broad Street in Athens, GA. An HWE team led by Clint Hodges, Managing Director, B.J. Patel, Director, and Michael Brandes, Vice President, advised the seller McNeill Hotel Company in the negotiations. "The Hampton Inn Athens is an exceptional asset strategically positioned in the heart of one of the fastest growing submarkets in the Sunbelt," said B.J. Patel, Hodges Ward Elliott. "This was an opportunity to acquire a desirable Hilton branded, select-service asset with an excellent location and we received strong interest in the offering from numerous investors." Built in 1995, the Hampton Inn Athens is centrally located in the Athens market with immediate access to area demand generators and corporate lodging demand. The hotel is within a five-minute drive of the University of Georgia, a perennial top 20 public university, and The Classic Center, the region's state-of-the-art convention center. Athens, situated halfway between I-85 and I-20 and within an hour drive of Atlanta, features a thriving business climate with demand centered around numerous corporate, academic and leisure demand drivers. The Sunbelt city also features temperate year-round climate, a business-friendly environment, and vast growth potential. The Hampton Inn Athens property is part of the Hilton family of hotels, one of the most recognized lodging brands in the world. As one of the most awarded select-service brands in the lodging industry, with more than 2,400 hotels worldwide, Hampton Inn is also arguably the most recognized select-service brand, and Hilton's largest brand by distribution and keys. About Hodges Ward Elliott: Hodges Ward Elliott ("HWE") is the premier boutique real estate capital markets advisor, empowered to deliver exceptional results across a broad spectrum of business lines and product types. HWE's multi-disciplined platform includes commercial, hotel and debt capital markets teams, with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Washington D.C., and London. As a privately held company, HWE is dedicated to cultivating long-term client relationships and takes pride in the reputation and track record established over its 46-year history. HWE has closed $80 billion of transactions, including $36 billion since 2015. For more information, please visit https://hodgeswardelliott.com/ Contact: Great Ink 908-392-0333, Tom Nolan ([email protected]) SOURCE Hodges Ward Elliot The Company is on schedule to execute its aggressive strategy to become the leading North American distributor for cannabis and cannabis accessories. Optimizing the business and driving toward profitability remains a priority. Stabilizing quarterly consolidated net revenue for the quarter of $16 million (-4% vs. Q2) while driving optimization and with an eye on profitability with operating expenses down by 18% and a 6% increase in gross margins vs. last quarter. (-4% vs. Q2) while driving optimization and with an eye on profitability with operating expenses down by 18% and a 6% increase in gross margins vs. last quarter. Rapid expansion into cannabis distribution in California is ahead of schedule and operational, with multiple tier-one brand partners onboarded in the first three months with an anticipated annualized revenue contribution of USD $25 -35 million which is slated to start in Q4 (April - June 2022 ). is ahead of schedule and operational, with multiple tier-one brand partners onboarded in the first three months with an anticipated annualized revenue contribution of USD -35 million which is slated to start in Q4 (April - ). White label products developed across five different categories strengthen relationships with legal dispensaries. TORONTO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Humble & Fume Inc. (CSE: HMBL) (OTCQX: HUMBF) ("Humble" or the "Company"), the leading North American distributor for cannabis and cannabis accessories, today reported its third-quarter fiscal 2022 ("Q3 2022") financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2022. Joel Toguri, Chief Executive Officer of Humble, commented, "We are laser-focused on cost-cutting, optimizing the business, improving on our end-to-end customer experience, and aggressively pursuing expansion opportunities in the US. Our commitment to right-sizing the business has resulted in faster turnaround times, improved accuracy in our fulfillment and a meaningful reduction in our inventory. We have made significant improvements to our cost base while stabilizing revenue and improving gross margins." Highlights Include: Gross margin improved by 6%, going from 14% in Q2 to 20% in Q3; Q3 saw a decrease in operating expenses as a percent of revenue, with Q3 decreasing to 33% from 39% in the previous quarter; from $6.6 million to $5.3 million ; to ; Inventory levels were reduced by $812,124 with a YTD reduction of $1,814,216 ; or a 5% decrease; and with a YTD reduction of ; or a 5% decrease; and Operational costs are down 12% from Q2, with the bulk of the savings coming from shipping efficiency and our inventory reduction. Mr. Toguri continued, "In a service-focused industry such as ours, the priority will always be to provide the most effective, efficient, and informed customer service possible. In Q3, we enhanced our analytical capabilities to provide our brand and retail partners with actionable insights to inform their decision-making process, resulting in improved promotions and sales results. Data-driven insights inform our internal portfolio development, guiding the procurement of products and inventory, resulting in improved working capital allocated to inventory." "Our expansion into cannabis distribution in the US is ahead of schedule. In Q3, the build-out of our cannabis operations in California resulted in the on-boarding of multiple partners, including California's preeminent flower brand Canndescent and industry-leading brands such as Leune, Proof, Highsman, and Humboldt Farms. We are very proud to be associated with these brands who share our vision for the future growth of the cannabis industry. They have chosen us as partners because we are dedicated to helping them grow their businesses, and we are committed to moving with pace. We will continue to be disciplined in our approach in seeking out new partners who will be part of our accelerated expansion efforts." As part of the overall US expansion strategy, multiple white label products across five different categories were developed to serve the needs of legal dispensaries in the US. The company's industry-leading product portfolio and go-to-market expertise have helped secure a significant increase in dispensary partner relationships, ultimately leading to our ambition to become the leading cannabis and cannabis accessory distributor in North America. Mr. Toguri concluded, "We are getting better every day, and the business is ahead of schedule on multiple fronts. The shape of the P&L is stronger today than when we began the strategic review in Q1, and it's anticipated to continue to deliver significantly next quarter. The business optimization is now resulting in lower operating costs and higher margins, and we remain focused on healthy revenue generation." Operational Updates March 2022 - Humble Cannabis Solutions officially launches operations in California as a premier cannabis sales, distribution, and field marketing company. Building on its experience in the Canadian market, Humble Cannabis Solutions is committed to its brand and retail partners to help grow their businesses by providing data-driven insights, proven go-to-market expertise, innovative trade marketing initiatives and best-in-class distribution for cannabis and cannabis accessories. Launch includes hiring of key personnel and sales team, securing over 20 distribution vehicles and outfitting the distribution facility with cutting edge technology and security. Subsequent Events April 2022 The Company announced that, further to the Company's press release on November 15, 2021, it has formed HC Solutions Holdings Inc., a Joint Venture with Green Acre Capital Distribution Corp., for the purpose of distribution of cannabis throughout the United States, initially focused on accelerating the Company's expansion into cannabis distribution operations in California. Subsequent to the formation of the Joint Venture, Green Acre Capital Distribution Corp. completed a US$2 million investment directly in the Joint Venture. Green Acre Capital Distribution Corp. has funded its investment through an option agreement with Johnson Brothers, a leading wine, spirits and beer distributor in the United States. April 2022 Humble Cannabis Solutions California announces an exclusive distribution service agreement with the most sought-after California brand house, Canndescent Brands, for the sale and distribution of all its product lines. Well-known retailers and consumers alike, Canndescent's brand portfolio offers something for all consumer groups. Humble will provide exclusive sales agent representation and distribution services for Canndescent across the Californian market, focusing on generating new listings, trade marketing services, promotional services, commercial planning support and order fulfillment. The team will service all product lines in the Canndescent Brands portfolio. April 2022 Humble Cannabis Solutions California announces an exclusive sales agreement with LEUNE, one of California's premier cannabis lifestyle brands. Through the agreement, Humble will be responsible for exclusive sales representation for LEUNE branded products across the California market, focusing on generating new listings, trade marketing services, promotional services, and commercial planning support. LEUNE has a well-known reputation for uncompromising quality, product transparency and a commitment to social advocacy. May 2022 In Canada, the Company announced an exclusive distribution service agreement with Molecule for its innovative line of quality craft beverages. This is a welcome addition to the existing portfolio of category-leading brands Kalvara, Nuveev, Wyld, Harts, and Olli. Reaffirming the Company's commitment to becoming North America's leading distributor for cannabis and cannabis accessories, the Company expanded its exclusive Canadian distribution service agreement with PAX Labs, Inc. to include the US. Financial Results for the Third Quarter Ended March 31, 2022 Three months ended March 31, Nine months ended March 31, ($ Thousands) 2021 2022 2021 2022 Revenue $18,482 $16,111 $54,709 $51,016 Gross margin $2,573 $3,277 $10,062 $9,887 Operating (loss) expenses $(2,680) ($2,055) ($5,503) ($8,251) Net loss after taxes ($5,837) ($2,545) ($12,909) ($8,404) Loss per common share (0.10) (0.02) (0.22) (0.07) Adjusted EBITDA ($2,167) ($1,288) ($3,508) ($5,467) Revenue for the third quarter was $16 million, compared to $19 million in the same quarter prior year. Third quarter revenue decreased as a result of management's focus on selling higher margin products and moving away from lower margin sales channels. Revenue for the nine months ended March 31, 2022 decreased from $55 million to $51 million. In Canada, revenue increased by 13% over the nine months ended March 31, 2022 as a result of onboarding over 750 new customer accounts plus net new revenue from white labeling. In the US, revenue declined by 19% for the nine months ended March 31, 2022 as a result of management's continued focus on higher margin products. In the third quarter, gross profit was $3 million, which resulted in a gross margin of 20%, compared to $3 million, or a gross margin of 14%, year-over-year. The increase in gross profit margin is primarily due increased controls on discounting, focus on higher margin sales plus favorable inventory provision adjustment. Gross profit decreased 2% for the nine months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the same period prior year, as a result of a move away from high volume, low margin sales channels in the US. Operating loss for the quarter decreased to ($2) million from ($3) million compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease in operating loss was driven primarily by increased gross margin. Operating loss for the nine months ended March 31, 2022 increased 50% compared to the same period prior year, as a result of increased operational expenses of which $1 million relates to one-time restructuring costs. Net losses for the quarter decreased from ($6) million to ($3) million compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease in net losses was primarily driven by the decrease in accretion expense on the convertible debentures issued May 2019 and exercised on June 14, 2021, resulting in conversion of the debt to share capital. Net loss for the nine months ended March 31, 2022 improved by $5 million compared to the same period prior year, as a result of the conversion of the debt to share capital. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was ($1) million, compared to ($2) million for the same period in the prior year. The improvement was driven primarily by increased gross margin. For the nine months ended March 31, 2022, adjusted EBITDA was ($6) million compared to ($4) million for the same period in the prior year, as a result of increased operational expenses of which $0.9m relates to one-time restructuring costs. About Humble & Fume Inc. Humble & Fume Inc. is a leading North American distributor of cannabis and cannabis accessories. Humble is committed to our brand and retail partners to help grow their businesses by providing data-driven insights, proven go-to-market expertise and best-in-class distribution for cannabis and cannabis accessories. As the only fully-integrated cannabis distribution solution, Humble bridges the gap for retailers, Canadian licensed producers, American multi-state operators, and cannabis customers increasing sales penetration to maximize financial performance. With over 20 years of North American operating experience, Humble has cultivated extensive vendor and customer relationships distributing premium cannabis consumables and consumption devices. The Company is comprised of Humble+Fume / B.O.B. Headquarters Inc. , Windship Trading LLC, and Humble Cannabis Solutions. Non-IFRS Financial Measures. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are financial measures that are not defined under IFRS. We define EBITDA as net income (loss), or "earnings", before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA before: (i) finance expenses (ii) fair value adjustments; (iii) share-based compensation expense; and (iv) foreign exchange (gain) loss. We believe Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure to assess the performance of the Company as it provides more meaningful operating results by excluding the effects of expenses that are not reflective of our operating business performance and other one-time or non- recurring expenses, and also provide additional perspective and insights when analyzing the core operating performance of the business. These supplemental non-IFRS financial measures should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for or as an alternative to, and should only be considered in conjunction with, the IFRS financial measures presented herein. Forward-Looking Information and Statements. This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the Company's growth and strategic plans for each of its business segments, including distribution of cannabis in the United States and the strategic focus in California, as well as expected future results including expected anticipated annualized revenue contributions of California operations, and anticipated future P&L. Any such forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "contemplates", "believes", "projects", "plans" and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements about, among other things, Humble & Fume Inc.'s strategic plans including future growth opportunities and strategies in the United States and expected anticipated annualized revenue contributions of California operations are all forward-looking information. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will occur as described herein. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances or actual results unless required by applicable law. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's disclosure available on its SEDAR profile (at www.sedar.com) for information as to the risks and other factors which may affect the Company's business objectives and strategic plans. SOURCE Humble & Fume Inc. ANAHEIM, Calif., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light's (HWPL) 9th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace was held online on May 25th, 2022. 3,000 participants from politics, religion, academia, and media joined to discuss the theme of "Institutionalizing Peace: Realizing the Collective Will for Peace," an international cooperation for sustainable peace ensured by legal instruments. Chairman Man Hee Lee's commemoration speech addressed HWPL's determination for the Declaration of Peace Cessation of War (DPCW-also know as the Peace Law) to be adopted by the United Nations. Over 3,000 participants in the field of politics, religion, academia and media showed their support for the institutionalization of peace through the DPCW. HWPL proclaimed the Declaration of World Peace in 2013, which developed into the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) to establish international legal instruments for global peace. Young Min Chung, the General Director of the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), an affiliate group of HWPL, stated, "730,000 citizens from 176 countries have signed in support of the DPCW for the past nine years. Recently, IPYG is running Youth Empowerment Peace Workshops to discuss agendas such as education, human rights, and policy proposals." The DPCW's 10 articles and 38 clauses include conflict prevention, reduction of war potential and resolving religious and ethnic group conflicts. Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL urged participants to be united as "messengers of peace" "to bring freedom and peace to future generations." "This time (Russia) invaded Ukraine and started the war. This is why HWPL and families of peace have long called for the establishment of international law to prevent war potentials. So, we gathered experts in international law globally and made the declaration." In India, religious leaders signed MOU's to promote mutual understanding based on comparative studies on religious scripture. In particular, the partnership between HWPL and the International Organization for Religion and Knowledge at Lampur led to establishing a peace monument conveying peace values to local citizens. Supalak Ganjanakhundee, Thammasat University's Pridi Banomyong International College Visiting Fellow in Thailand shared that the foundation of peace is closely related to democracy efforts in Southern Thailand that "[allow] participation of civil society." "Any peace process that would lead to lasting peace must address the problem at its root cause and must be conducted along the democratization with intensive participation of not only stakeholders but also civil society." HWPL has been developing global cooperation for peace both nationally and internationally by garnering civil organizations' support for the DPCW and working together to reinforce peace efforts as international norms. HWPL peace activities are carried out for the public good to ensure that peace takes root. Media contact: Shane Sanchez [email protected] 747-262-3264 SOURCE HWPL Couple dedicated to restoring ancient buildings with LEGO blocks (People's Daily App) 16:13, May 26, 2022 Chen Xi, who works in the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University, calls herself "an architect who doesn't attend to her proper duties." She and her husband Jiang Buting restored many ancient Chinese buildings and architectures which appeared in animations with LEGO blocks. Their dream is to restore the world with blocks. The couple opened an account of "Reproduction Elf Pang Xiaoqi" on Chinese video streaming platform Bilibili and started to share videos of them restoring different works in August 2020. They have 32,000 followers. (Video: Global People magazine) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The Nigerian Navy yesterday said that it deactivated 172 illegal refineries and recovered 20,378,414 liters of crude oil and 367,715 liters of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) in seven weeks after it launched an operation against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region It put the cost at N15,761,536,440. Other recoveries include 232,000 Liters of PMS, 830,000 liters of lludge and 66,000 liters of LPFO and 11,781,937 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). At a briefing in Abuja ahead of its 66th anniversary, the Chief of Operations, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral A. S. Garba, said 45 suspects were also arrested. Reviewing the general operations of the Navy, he said it also performed satisfactorily in the fight against crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering through operations conducted by operations bases and Forward Operating Bases (FOBs). "The most recent and ongoing operation in the NN is Op Dakatar da Barawo (meaning "stop the thief" in hausa language) which was activated on April 1, 2022, in synergy with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited. "Pertinently, within seven weeks, the operation recorded some successes. "Notably are the arrest of 45 suspects, deactivation of 172 Illegal Refining Sites (IRS), 745 metal storage tanks, 567 ovens, 263 pits including the destruction of 50 wooden boats and 14 speedboats. Equally, NN Patrol Teams denied oil thieves about 11,781,937 Liters of illegally refined AGO, 20,378,414 Liters (128,180 bbls) of crude oil and 367,715 Liters of DPK. "Others are about 232,000 Liters of PMS, 830,000 Liters of Sludge and 66,000 Liters of LPFO. These products are worth over N15,761,536,440," he said. LONDON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IFS, the global cloud enterprise software company, today announced that it is positioned in the Leaders category in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-Enabled Manufacturing ERP Applications 2022 Vendor Assessment (doc #US49047922, May 2022). The company attributes its continued growth and success to its deep industry expertise, innovative and flexible IFS Cloud solution, and service management expertise. The IDC MarketScape study provides an assessment of the most popular SaaS and cloud-enabled manufacturing enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solutions and discusses what criteria are most important for manufacturers to consider when assessing/selecting a system. It considers the trends and drivers impacting the global manufacturing industry - including customer and market expectations for more personalised products, deliveries and services, and the unanticipated events and demand shocks - and how digital-first manufacturing organizations are turning their focus to SaaS and cloud-enabled software to provide flexible and agile ERP applications. The report reinforces the depth and breadth of IFS's manufacturing industry knowledge, noting how IFS Cloud provides solutions across all four manufacturing value chains - asset-oriented (AOVC), brand-oriented (BOVC), engineering-oriented (EOVC), and technology-oriented (TOVC). Along with deep industry expertise a strength highlighted is IFS field service management software, which stands out as a differentiator, especially as many in the industry continue to suffer from the commoditization of products. Manufacturers will continue to explore new value-add services and servitization to grow revenue or move into new markets. The IDC MarketScape assesses that IFS Cloud offers a flexible, integrated ERP solution tailored to the needs of manufacturers. IFS Cloud supports mixed-mode manufacturing, covering the full process from design, engineering, estimating, and configuration through to strategic and operational planning, production, delivery, and service. The report describes how IFS Cloud also supports sustainable manufacturing, a growing investment area for IFS. Besides the digital core of financials, human capital management (HCM), manufacturing and distribution, IFS Cloud, a single product that delivers all the company's solutions and capabilities, also includes enterprise asset management (EAM), product lifecycle management (PLM), field service management (FSM), and CRM. Launched in April 2021, the new value proposition offers new functionalities twice a year, giving customers the option to stay evergreen, but equally offering the flexibility to choose only select updates. "Disruption remains an ongoing challenge for the manufacturing industry and isn't likely to subside anytime soon. Being able to adapt, be nimble and resilient is essential for enterprises, especially those who have complex operations but are also committed to innovation and the customer experience," said Antony Bourne, SVP Industries at IFS. "Other factors like becoming more sustainable, closing the skills gap and managing the future product/services mix only add to the pressure. At IFS we live and breathe our customers' industries so feel confident that we can help them navigate the path to digitalization, not only to support key business functions but also - and perhaps most excitingly - to propel them towards their most innovative future with new ways of applying technology, whether that's IoT, AI/ML or beyond. He concluded: "The way in which IFS delivers innovation is completely customer-centric and value-focused, to ultimately deliver the high-quality experiences that really matter in their Moment of Service." Download the full report here About IDC MarketScape The IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors. About IFS IFS develops and delivers cloud enterprise software for companies around the world who manufacture and distribute goods, build and maintain assets, and manage service-focused operations. Within our single platform, our industry specific products are innately connected to a single data model and use embedded digital innovation so that our customers can be their best when it really matters to their customers-at the Moment of Service. The industry expertise of our people and of our growing ecosystem, together with a commitment to deliver value at every single step, has made IFS a recognized leader and the most recommended supplier in our sector. Our team of 4,500 employees every day live our values of agility, trustworthiness and collaboration in how we support our 10,000+ customers. Learn more about how our enterprise software solutions can help your business today at ifs.com. IFS Press Contacts MEA & APJ: Adam Gillbe IFS, Director of Corporate & Executive Communications Email: [email protected] Phone: +44 7775 114 856 USA: Mairi Morgan Corporate Communications Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 520 396 2155 Europe: Marie-Christin Hansen Corporate Communications Email: [email protected] Phone: +44 755 306 1878 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/ifs/r/ifs-named-a-leader-in-idc-marketscape-for-worldwide-saas-and-cloud-enabled-manufacturing-erp-in-2022,c3574792 The following files are available for download: https://news.cision.com/ifs/i/idc-2022-marketscape,c3053697 IDC 2022 Marketscape SOURCE IFS Inspire Investing and ADF join forces to address corporations undermining free speech, religious freedom, and free markets. BOISE METRO, Idaho, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In certain corporate executive circles, it has become popular for C-suite activists to leverage their company's brand influence to push for political agendas that threaten free speech and religious freedom. To address this growing problem, Inspire Investing has partnered with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) to bring transparency to the American corporations that are fueling the undermining of these sacred rights. This joint venture between Inspire Investing and ADF has resulted in the Viewpoint Diversity Score website (www.ViewpointDiversityScore.org) and Business Index. Business Index is designed to help companies create cultures that respect customers' and other stakeholders' freedom of expression and belief, foster viewpoint diversity in the workplace, and reflect a commitment to the underlying principles of American democracy. Along with scoring companies, it will also provide companies with workable solutions through model policies, research, toolkits, polling, and constructive dialogue. "This is exactly why we built the Inspire Insight technology that contributes to the Viewpoint Diversity Score," said Robert Netzly, the CEO of Inspire Investing and one of 10 members of the Viewpoint Diversity Score Advisory Council. "To provide Christian investors with insight into the biblical values alignment of the companies in their portfolio and inspire transformation for God's glory throughout the world. Partnering with ADF to create the Business Index provides critical information about which companies are aligned with or opposed to religious freedoms." Examining 50 companies on the Fortune 1000 list that pose the most prominent risk to free speech and religious freedom for everyday Americans, the Business Index is the first comprehensive benchmark designed to measure corporate respect for religious and ideological diversity in the market, workplace, and public square. The companies scored by the index only hit an overall average of 12% (out of 100%) for respecting religious and ideological diversity. While no industry performed well, some of the worst respecters for religious and ideological diversity were computer software at 6% and the financial and data services industry at 8%. "CEOs and business leaders have positions of considerable power. They shouldn't weaponize their influence or the companies they run to divide Americans or engage in speech censorship or anti-religious bigotry," said Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel, Senior Vice President for Corporate Engagement Jeremy Tedesco. "Instead of using the cultural power of their brands to drive polarization, business leaders should commit to respecting everyone, regardless of their religion or ideology. Businesses should respect viewpoint diversity at every level of their organizations, from the shop floor to the board room, and externally as well."` About Inspire Investing Inspire Investing is a leading provider of biblically responsible, faith-based ESG (environmental, social, and governance)1 investments and is the creator of the globally recognized Inspire Impact Score, which investors around the world use to measure the biblical alignment of their investments according to Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) principles. Inspire ranked #3 in the "Top 50 fastest growing RIA firms" by FA Magazine two years in a row (2020 & 2021 report) and recognized in The Financial Times "Americas' Fastest Growing Companies" 2021 & 2022 report. Inspire's Discretionary Assets Under Management (AUM) is $1.98 billion as of March 31, 2021. Visit www.inspireinvesting.com to learn more about Inspire's biblically responsible investment products. About ADF Alliance Defending Freedom is one of the nation's most respected and successful Supreme Court advocates working to preserve the fundamental freedoms of speech and religion, marriage and family, parental rights, and the sanctity of life. ADF defends cherished liberties in Congress, state legislatures, and courtrooms across the countryall the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. ADF has won 13 victories at the Supreme Court since 2011 and has an 80% win rate of all cases. Investment advisory services are offered through Inspire Investing, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC. 1Environmental criteria considers how a company performs as a steward of nature. Social criteria examine how it manages relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates. Governance deals with a company's leadership, executive pay, audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights. SOURCE Inspire Investing "We assist kratom vendors with GMP compliance to ensure product quality and consumer safety," explains Stacey Lloyd. Tweet this KVA has an advisory board comprised of world-renowned kratom researchers, Dr. Oliver Grundmann, Dr. Christopher McCurdy, and Dr. Charles Veltri; GMP Compliance Specialists, Sherry Strong, Blanca Padrino, Lisa Anthony, Ronald Hare, and Enrique Amoros Baez; GMP Training Developer, Gary Steele; kratom vendors, Sam Weber and Soren Shade of Top Tree Herbs, and Joey Levin from Super Speciosa; and kratom advocate, Melody Woolf. The GMP Compliance Specialists perform vendor audits and provide GMP assistance to kratom vendors. All KVA Advisors promote and support KVA and its mission to educate, assist and support kratom vendors to ensure product quality and consumer safety and for the purpose of strengthening, improving, and growing the association. "Most kratom vendors want to be GMP compliant. They care about product quality and consumer safety. Those are the kratom vendors we want to help," states Stacey Lloyd. About the Kratom Vendors Association Founded in March 2022 by Stacey Lloyd, the Kratom Vendors Association (KVA) is a virtual organization whose mission is to provide GMP compliance support to kratom vendors to ensure product quality and consumer safety. KVA offers membership to the association, individual SOPs, SOP packages, GMP training, GMP consulting, and a GMP Certification Program to kratom vendors in the United States. Learn more at http://www.kratomva.com. SOURCE Kratom Vendors Association One case example is Ms. Aba Hayford. She lived in Michigan and was looking to move to Atlanta. She received 3 Atlanta-based job offers. Aba states, "I ultimately selected LGA because I loved what they stood for, everyone I encountered was so friendly and supporting, it was a black and veteran-owned business, and I felt I could learn a lot to develop myself professionally." Aba accepted the Direct Support Professional (DSP) entry level role in December. LGA helped Aba transition from out of state, even assisting her with finding housing. During New Hire Orientation, the LGA Team saw leadership potential in Aba and offered her a new position of "Shift Leader", a step up from the DSP role. However, she didn't accept it immediately as she wanted time to get grounded in the company, the care needs of their patients, and her co-workers. After 4 months as an LGA DSP, Aba was re-approached about promotion and then accepted the very first LGA Shift Leader position. LGA Vice-President Elaina Ford shares, "It's an absolute joy to promote from within at LGA! When we see someone with strong functional talent and leadership promise, who embraces our 'LGA Way', we don't hesitate to identify opportunities for advancement." Aba's LGA journey did not stop there. By that September, Aba was promoted again to Residential Manager! Fast forward nearly a year in the Residential Manager position and now Aba has set out for her next step in the LGA journey. While maintaining her full-time LGA role and support of the LGA Leadership Team, Aba has enrolled in a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program with the goal of ultimately attaining her RN, BSN. Aba says, "LGA puts me in a position to grow. While challenging me, I am being taught and encouraged to excel. I'm learning a lot about care management, entrepreneurship, and business acumen and all the ways I can use it in my future, regardless of what path I take. LGA is family! They are mentors, leaders, and just amazing people. I had never worked for a company that is actually family-oriented, until coming to LGA. I know that whatever the future holds for me, LGA will always be my family." Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Lowe's Guardian Angel is the premier care provider in the Southeast with a mission to help people with disabilities live their best lives through compassionate, competent care. MEDIA CONTACT: ELAINA FORD LOWE'S GUARDIAN ANGEL 704-488-5144 [email protected] SOURCE Lowes Guardian Angel Lyca Mobile announced the implementation of Salesforce solutions earlier this year to unify customer data and interactions on multiple channels in order to drive personalized customer interactions. Flytxt's CVM Accelerator will feed actionable customer and product insights for Lyca to maximize Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV) across these personalized interactions. CVM Accelerator is a purpose-built AI that seamlessly integrates with any CRM or CX environment to deliver actionable intelligence for maximizing CLTV. Its power was demonstrated during a one-month pilot project in one of Lyca Mobile's European markets. Lyca harnessed the predictive insights from the Accelerator while executing marketing campaigns through Salesforce Marketing Cloud, which resulted in 1.3% increase in ARPU. Jogan Satkunanathan, Chief of Pricing and Product Management at Lyca Mobile, said: "We wish to place customers and digital capabilities at the center of our business strategy as we enter the next phase of our ambitious growth journey. Flytxt, with its pioneering AI solutions, is a perfect partner for Lyca Mobile to better understand customers' needs and deliver high quality experiences." Dr Vinod Vasudevan, CEO, Flytxt, said: "Communications Service Providers have a wealth of data yet often lack the necessary technology for powering data-driven decisions that maximize CLTV a critical KPI for all subscription and usage-based businesses. CVM accelerator uses proven and well-trained AI to achieve this. We are delighted to support Lyca Mobile through our unique solution, which will help them significantly boost the outcomes of their CX initiatives." Ankit Rai, Lyca Mobile's Head of Retention, CRM/CVM, added: "We are on a mission to take customer engagement to the next level and provide personalized and contextually relevant customer experience on any of our touch points. Flytxt's CVM Accelerator brings in a deeper understanding of customers' usage behavior and predicted needs. The pilot project proved that with data-driven actionable insights, we can further enhance the value of customer interactions on our existing CX systems and build a long-term relationship with our customers." The CVM Accelerator harnesses Flytxt's award-winning AI that has been designed and trained using real-world insights from more than a billion consumers and trillions of data points. The partnership with Lyca Mobile marks the first time it will be deployed in the US and Europe. About Flytxt Flytxt empowers major enterprises around the world to solve one of the fundamental challenges of subscription and usage-based businesses how to maximize CLTV. Flytxt is the trusted technology partner of 80+ digital enterprises across more than 50 countries, as well as of top CX platform vendors for CLTV maximization. Its award-winning, proprietary CLTV maximization AI has been trained using real-world insights and patterns from more than a billion consumers and trillions of data points. [email protected] About Lyca Mobile Lyca Mobile is one of the world's largest mobile virtual network operator, operating in 23 countries across five continents including the UK, USA and large parts of Europe. It is one of the market leader in the international prepaid mobile calls market, with over 16 million customers worldwide. Lyca Mobile is part of Lyca Group, a British multinational corporation delivering low-cost, high-quality products and services across the globe. www.LycaMobile.co.uk SOURCE Flytxt The inauguration drew the participation of influential healthcare dignitaries, most notably H.E. Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri , Assistant Undersecretary of Public Health Policy and Licensing at the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention; H.E. Nicola Lener , Ambassador of Italy to the UAE, as well as high-level executives from Menarini's global team, as Dr Luca Lastrucci ,Group General Manager, Dr Ugur Bingol META President and Dr Basel Thaher Middle East Regional Head and MEA General Manager. Elcin Barker Ergun, CEO Menarini Group and Member of the Board of Directors, said: "Today marks a historical moment for us as we open our regional offices in Dubai, a key inflection point, to significantly grow our presence and portfolio in the Middle East. As a 135 years old family owned company, we are looking forward to serve many more patients in the Middle East in the coming years with our unwavering commitment to Quality." Luca Lastrucci, Group General Manager at Menarini, commented: "Today's inauguration of our MEA headquarters in Dubai is a significant milestone for our company as we expand our investments in the MEA region. Our presence in a leading pharmaceutical hub like Dubai will strengthen Menarini's capabilities and improve market access in delivering breakthrough products in the areas of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and inflammatory diseases." Lastrucci added: "The UAE government has shown unwavering support for pharmaco-economic investments through its solid commercial infrastructure and impressive facilities. We see this as a vital step in the right direction for Menarini and will continue to work side-by-side with the UAE government to raise healthcare standards and support the wellbeing of communities across the UAE and beyond." Commenting on Menarini's new regional launch being perfectly aligned with the Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030, Dr. Ali Al Sayed, Director of Pharmaceutical Services Department at the Dubai Health Authority, said: "A defining objective of Dubai's 2030 strategy is to be a global hub for knowledge-based, sustainable and innovation focused businesses. As Menarini is a company with longstanding roots based in medical research, it will be a strong contributor to this visionary strategy. Together, we share Dubai's overarching healthcare vision of positioning Dubai as the leading destination for healthcare knowledge, education and training." Present in 140 countries with over 17,000 employees, the new Menarini regional headquarters in Dubai will be guided by Menarini's deeply rooted values of being patient-focused, people centered, and being committed to quality, integrity, and responsibility. This important milestone serves as a testament to Menarini's ongoing mission of curing diseases on a global scale and prioritizing patient health above all else. About Menarini The Menarini Group is a leading international pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, with a turnover of more than $4 billion and over 17,000 employees. Menarini is focused on therapeutic areas with high unmet needs with products for cardiology, oncology, pneumology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, diabetology, inflammation and analgesia. With 18 production sites and 9 Research and Development centers, Menarini's products are available in 140 countries worldwide. For further information, please visit www.menarini.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826819/Menarini_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826820/Menarini_2.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/652491/MENARINI_Group_Logo.jpg SOURCE Menarini Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite Sempera Organics Looks to Transform the Future of Food Using Fungi, with Support from MISTA's Extensive Regenerative Ecosystem. MORGAN HILL, Calif., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mushroom ingredient supplier Sempera Organics joined MISTA, the prestigious invite-only food innovation platform that unites the most innovative food companies to help transform the global food system to meet the needs of the future. San Francisco based MISTA helps its member businesses innovate by providing access to experts from nearly every discipline in the food system as well as commercial kitchens and development labs to facilitate new food advances. From tea, to flour, to meat substitutes, mushrooms have a plethora of uses in food that have grown increasingly popular. Sempera Organics looks forward to discovering and refining the next uses for mushrooms with its MISTA partners. "Demand for functional mushrooms is growing as more people learn about their health benefits, and we are grateful that MISTA has given us the opportunity to develop new methods of using them in food," said Sempera Organics CEO, Nirmal Nair. "As our team discovers delicious, new uses for fungi, we are pleased to work with MISTA to create and commercialize new foods to nourish and delight people, moving us all toward the future of food." "MISTA is excited to welcome Sempera Organics as a Member to our hyper-connected ecosystem as we see the value fungi can play in creating a decentralized, regenerative food system that nourishes people and planet," said Scott May, Founder and Head of MISTA. "Mushroom and mycelium solutions will be critical in delivering on the consumer promise of taste, nutrition, clean label and cost." As demand for functional mushrooms increases and they continue being used in food products and nutraceuticals, Sempera Organics serves as the premier supplier meeting this need. Cultivating mushroom varieties such as lion's mane, cordyceps, reishi, chaga, turkey tail, shitake, maitake, almond mushroom, agarikon, and king oyster in its own state-of-the-art lab, Sempera Organics' proprietary growing methods maximize these varietals' growth, produce the most nutrient-dense mushrooms, and accelerate production time for products. Additionally, Sempera brings companies these ingredients on a reduced supply chain, assuring faster and more reliable delivery than other ingredient suppliers. MISTA is a multi-dimensional innovation platform and incubator program that unites its member companies in a hyperconnected ecosystem that develops their skills, enabling them to deliver exponential value for their business and create food system solutions with high commercial and regenerative value. The state-of-the-art development labs and commercial kitchens at the MISTA Innovation Center in San Francisco provide a space for Sempera Organics and other member business to innovate and quickly develop new products. About Sempera Organics Founded by CEO Nirmal Nair, Sempera Organics brings high-quality mushroom ingredients to the world, growing fungi species like lion's mane, cordyceps, reishi, chaga, turkey tail, shitake, maitake, almond mushroom, king oyster, snow fungus, and agarikon in its state-of-the-art facility in Morgan Hill, CA. Growing mushrooms in its lab enables Sempera Organics to control every aspect of cultivation and maximize mushroom growth. Sempera Organics supplies food and nutraceutical brands with powders and extracts made from these individual species, as well as powdered blends formulated for immune support, physical activity recovery, mental clarity, anti-aging, and the gut biome. Sempera Organics delivers products through a reduced supply chain, creating predictable delivery for customers. For media inquiries contact Kyle Daly at [email protected] . For all other inquiries, contact Sempera at [email protected] . About Sempera Organics MISTA's mission is to transform the global food system to meet the needs of the future...an abundant future that nourishes and delights people and planet. We are an ecosystem and innovation platform made up of members from across the globe that range from large, established companies to new food technology start-ups interested in making a difference. We practice curated collaboration by bringing companies together in a hyper-connected, trust-based ecosystem to work in new ways, inspiring innovative, regenerative solutions that stretch the boundaries of possibilities and accelerate the changes required to solve for some of the most challenging opportunities facing our global food system. Our members include food, food technology and ingredient companies from across the globe. The MISTA Innovation Center (MIC) is located in San Francisco, CA. For more information go to https://mistafood.com/ SOURCE Sempera Organics WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has selected hundreds of small businesses and dozens of research institutions to develop technology to help drive the future of space exploration, ranging from novel sensors and electronics to new types of software and cutting-edge materials. The newly awarded projects under the agency's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program also include a high-power electric rocket and a coating to make solar panels more efficient that could be used both in space and here on Earth. The awards total nearly $50 million, with investments spread out over 39 states and Washington. Under the selection, 333 proposals from 257 small businesses and 41 research institutions including 10 Minority Serving Institutions will be awarded first-round funding for technology development. View the full lists of SBIR awardees and STTR awardees online. "NASA is working on ambitious, groundbreaking missions that require innovative solutions from a variety of sources especially our small businesses," said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. "Small businesses have the creative edge and expertise needed to help our agency solve our common and complex challenges, and they are crucial to maintaining NASA's leadership in space. The SBIR program is one of the key ways we do that as well as creating jobs in a growing, sustainable space economy." NASA investments in American small businesses and research institutions help provide the innovations needed for the exciting and ambitious missions on the agency's horizon and foster robust commercial space and technology sectors. Each proposal team will receive $150,000 a 20% increase over previous years' funding to establish the merit and feasibility of their innovations. Phase I SBIR contracts are awarded to small businesses and last for six months, while Phase I STTR contracts are awarded to small businesses in partnership with a research institution and last for 13 months. "The selections span a breadth of areas to empower the agency's work in human exploration, space technology, science, and aeronautics," said Jenn Gustetic, director of early-stage innovation and partnerships for NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate. "We're excited about the uses for these technologies for Artemis and other missions, as well as their potential use in the commercial space industry and people's everyday lives." About 30% of the awards will go to first-time NASA SBIR/STTR recipients. This includes Ad Astra Rocket Company based in Webster, Texas. With its Phase I award, the company will develop a new way of manufacturing part of its Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket, or VASIMR, engine a high-power electric rocket engine the company has been working on with NASA for 25 years. In the engine, powerful radiofrequency waves are launched by special antennas, called couplers. The waves ionize gas into plasma, which is then accelerated to provide rocket thrust. The Phase I funding will be used to manufacture couplers in a way that increases the engine's power limit. This innovation will help move the entire engine closer to commercialization, where it could be used for high-maneuverability satellites, lunar settlement cargo delivery, and more. Nearly 25% of the selected companies are women-owned, veteran-owned, disadvantaged, and/or HUBzone small businesses. For example, D2K Technologies, a women- and minority-owned small business based in Oceanside, California, will create a monitoring and advisory system for health management of solenoid operated valves (SOV) used in industrial applications with its Phase I award. This technology could find use in many of NASA's research centers, testing centers, and launch sites, since SOVs are basic components of most fluid systems. And, with the widespread use of SOVs in industrial applications, the system could be useful to oil and gas, nuclear, manufacturing, power generation, chemical, food, and pharmaceutical companies. This eight-person company is also a first-time NASA SBIR awardee. "Finding and building a diverse community of entrepreneurs is a central part of our program's outreach, and the efforts to reach them can start even before Phase I," said Gynelle Steele, deputy program executive for NASA's SBIR/STTR program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "For example, working in partnership with NASA's Minority University Research and Education Project, we started offering M-STTR planning grants last year, which incentivized partnerships between MSIs and small businesses and prepared them to submit a STTR Phase I proposal in 2022." M-STTR awardee Oakwood University, a historically Black university based in Huntsville, Alabama, will continue working alongside SSS Optical Technologies, a small business also based in Huntsville, using their Phase I award to develop a new type of coating for photovoltaic (PV) cells embedded in solar sails. The coating could generate extra electricity and improve the overall PV conversion efficiency, which could advance solar sailing and other power and energy conversion needs for space exploration. This technology could improve the efficiency of commercial solar panels. NASA selected Phase I proposals to receive funding by judging their technical merit and commercial potential. Based on their progress during Phase I, companies may submit proposals for $850,000 in Phase II funding to develop a prototype, as well as subsequent SBIR/STTR Post Phase II opportunities. The NASA SBIR/STTR program is part of the Space Technology Mission Directorate and is managed by NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. To learn more about NASA's SBIR/STTR program and apply to future opportunities, visit: https://sbir.nasa.gov/ SOURCE NASA - New data to be presented by Invitae at 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting show importance of genetic testing for all cancer patients - SAN FRANCISCO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Invitae (NYSE: NVTA), a leading medical genetics company, today announced eight studies to be presented at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting held in Chicago from June 3-7, 2022. While the research covers a variety of cancer types, stages and patient demographics, all of the data underscore the importance of universal genetic testing to improve health outcomes for all cancer patients. Inherited genes impact risk for developing melanoma Melanomathe most frequent cause of skin cancer-related deathsis often perceived as a cancer caused by environmental factors. While sun exposure plays a role in most melanoma tumors, a new, first-of-its-kind study by Cleveland Clinic and Invitae found that genetics also play a critical role in the likelihood of developing melanoma. In fact, the study found that 15% of individuals with melanoma have inherited variants in a variety of genes associated with cancer predisposition syndromes, demonstrating multiple potential etiologies. What's more, genes previously associated with inherited melanoma comprised less than half of pathogenic variants (48%); and the majority of germline variants were in cancer predisposition genes that are not traditionally associated with melanoma. This study shows that all patients with melanoma should undergo genetic testing, whether or not they have a family history of cancer, or a personal history of sun exposure. "Previously, it was thought that few melanoma patients would demonstrate a pathogenic germline variant in cancer susceptibility genes indicating an inherited component to their melanoma risk," said Joshua Arbesman, M.D., dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic and senior author of the study. "Our results, however, suggest that about 1 in 6 melanoma patients would have an inherited variant in cancer genes. This means that these particular patients would benefit from cancer specific screening (separate from skin screening) that could catch other cancers earlier. We found similar results using multiple datasets with variable inclusion criteria, suggesting this may be potentially applicable to many melanoma patients." Research shows prostate cancer testing guidelines out of date A separate study of prostate cancer patients confirmed similar findings that limiting genetic testing to those patients who meet NCCN guidelines deprives individuals and clinicians of actionable information. In data from the ongoing PROCLAIM study, conducted primarily in community urology clinics, 50% of pathogenic variants in patients with prostate cancer would be missed if genetic testing were done based on NCCN guidelines. The study also showed current guidelines are poorly suited to detect pathogenic variants in traditionally underrepresented populations, suggesting a transition to universal testing may be the most expeditious strategy to mitigate this potential healthcare disparity. Appropriately, patients with cancer-linked pathogenic variants in the study were more likely to have recommendations made by their clinicians regarding changes to treatment, follow up and cascade testing than those with negative or uncertain results. Clinicians made genetics-based recommendations across the spectrum of patients tested, including those not meeting NCCN criteria, and those with low-grade and non-metastatic disease. "Guidelines from national and international oncologic societies are regularly updated but not always as quickly as our understanding of gene-disease relationships in the rapidly evolving field of genomic sequencing, and thus there are real world implications affecting patient-physician decision making as well as patient access to affordable and geographically accessible genetic testing," said Dr. Neal Shore, lead author of the study. "This study shows that germline genetic testing has a significant impact on prostate cancer patient care, and that urologists, oncologists, their patients and patients' family members would benefit from making germline genetic testing a routine practice for all prostate cancer patients." Genetic changes impact colorectal cancer care In a third study of more than 34,000 colorectal cancer patientsthe largest study of its kind to dateresearchers found that 13% of patients had inherited pathogenic variants that could potentially impact patient eligibility for precision therapy, access to clinical trials and/or inform screening for future cancers. This study, in collaboration with investigators at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, showed rates > 7.8% of clinically actionable pathogenic gene variants independent of age group, racial/ethnic group and panel size. The study saw a lower rate of pathogenic variants in known cancer genes in Hispanic patients and a higher rate of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in Black, Asian and Hispanic patients. This underscores the historical underrepresentation of these patients in genetics studies, and the ongoing need to mitigate the associated healthcare disparities. "In the United States, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and in women, and the second most common cause of cancer deaths when men and women are combined," said Ed Esplin, M.D., Ph.D., FACMG, FACP, clinical geneticist at Invitae. "The genetic variants we inherit play a crucial role in providing patients access to approved precision therapies and clinical trials for colorectal cancer treatment, and to quantify and mitigate the risk of colorectal cancer in their at-risk family members. This study shows the importance of broadening genetic testing criteria to include all patients with colorectal cancer, regardless of age, race/ethnicity or family history." Additional clinical research from Invitae at ASCO Invitae is presenting additional research at ASCO in collaboration with academic institutions and research partners that showcase the importance of genetic testing to guide cancer diagnosis and precision medicine treatment. This effort is consistent with the primary objectives of the Cancer Moonshot to reduce the death rate from cancer by 50 percent and improve the experience of people and their families living with cancer. All of the presentations highlight Invitae's commitment to improving the adoption of germline genetic testing among physicians and people living with cancer, highlighting the impact of cancer genetics on cancer patients from underserved populations, and effectively illustrating its clinical utility in improving patient care. 2022 ASCO presentations: Poster 60/Abstract 4569: Titled: Germline variants across self-reported racial populations with urothelial carcinoma (UC). Presenter: Amin Nassar , M.D. Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 1:15 p.m. CDT . , M.D. at . Abstract 10500: Titled: Democratizing germline genetic testing and its impact on prostate cancer clinical decision-making. Presenter: Neal D. Shore , M.D. Monday, June 6, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. CDT . , M.D. at . Abstract 10504: Titled: Clinical implications of germline genetic testing stratified by ethnicity in a large colorectal cancer cohort. Presenter: Sarah Coughlin , M.D. Monday, June 6, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. CDT . , M.D. Monday, June 6, 2022 at . Poster 464/Abstract 10589: Titled: Integrated germline and somatic cancer testing provides opportunity to identify cancer risk and resolve variant origins. Presenter: King Das , M.D. Monday, June 6, 2022 at 1:15 p.m. CDT . , M.D. at . Poster 455/Abstract 10580: Titled: Implementation of universal, pan-cancer germline genetic testing in cancer patients in Jordan . Presenter: Hikmat Abdel-Razeq , M.D. Monday, June 6, 2022 at 1:15 p.m. CDT . . Presenter: , M.D. Monday, June 6, 2022 at . Poster 463/Abstract 10588: Titled: Universal genetic testing versus guideline-directed testing for hereditary cancer syndromes among traditionally underrepresented patients in a community oncology program. Presenter: Jeremy Clifton Jones , M.D. Monday, June 6, 2022 at 1:15 p.m. CDT . , M.D. at . Poster 401/Abstract 10523: Titled: Germline predisposition in oncologic and dermatologic melanoma cohorts. Presenter: Pauline Funchain, M.D. Monday, June 6, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. CDT . at . Online Publication: Titled: Patterns and prevalence of pathogenic germline mutations using multi-gene panel testing in patients with ovarian cancer. The Jordanian Exploratory Cancer Genetics (Jo-ECAG) ovarian study. Lead Author Hikmat Abdel-Razeq, M.D. About Invitae Invitae Corporation (NYSE: NVTA) is a leading medical genetics company, whose mission is to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medicine to improve healthcare for billions of people. Invitae's goal is to aggregate the world's genetic tests into a single service with higher quality, faster turnaround time and lower prices. For more information, visit the company's website at invitae.com . Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the company's beliefs regarding the utility and implications of its new research; that the data from the new research demonstrate that genetic information can transform cancer care; that the data underscore the importance of genetic testing for all cancer patients; and that the research shows the importance of broadening genetic testing criteria to include all cancer patients. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the company's history of losses; the company's ability to compete; the company's failure to manage growth effectively; the company's need to scale its infrastructure in advance of demand for its tests and to increase demand for its tests; the company's ability to use rapidly changing genetic data to interpret test results accurately and consistently; security breaches, loss of data and other disruptions; laws and regulations applicable to the company's business; and the other risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and Invitae Corporation disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Contact: Charaighn Sesock [email protected] (628) 213-3283 SOURCE Invitae Corporation Recommendations from the NK Corn Replant Calculator are generated from publicly available data, and calculations are based on a farmer's location, original planting date, replant date, current plant density and desired plant density. While the Calculator provides replanting recommendations based on university data, there's no definitive resource for replant decisions. "Farmers make countless decisions throughout the growing season, but the decision on whether or not to replant a corn crop is arguably one of the most significant in terms of potential ROI," says Todd McRoberts, NK Seeds Agronomy Manager. "It's not always a black-and-white decision, but there are simple steps farmers can take to build confidence in their decision to invest in a replant." Steps to Consider a Potential Replant Determine Your Existing Stand. To estimate stand, count the number of healthy plants in the length of a row that equals 1/1,000 of an acre (Table 1) and multiply the number of plants by 1,000. "Take several counts throughout various areas of the field to get an accurate final stand," advises McRoberts. "If stand loss is occurring in distinct zones, limit your stand count measurements to those areas of replant consideration." Compare Estimated Replant Yield Potential versus Potential of Existing Stand. Reference Table 2 to figure your percent yield potential of corn by emerged stand and planting date. "This calculation will provide a lot of clarity into the yield potential both options offer," adds McRoberts. Decide Whether Relative Maturity Should Be Reduced for Replant. Once a farmer decides to replant corn, the next big decision is whether to reduce hybrid RM. "Choose a hybrid that can reach maturity prior to the first frost," says McRoberts. "Hybrids compensate for the abbreviated growing season and will reach black layer within fewer growing degree units than if planted earlier." Now is the time for farmers to devise a replant plan, if necessary, and to decide whether a different RM is necessary. McRoberts cautions that the increased yield potential of a fuller-season hybrid often outweighs the cost of drying grain. He recommends that farmers plant full-season hybrids adapted for a given area until the last week in May and then change to a mid-season hybrid (4-7 RM) and never switch to 8-11 RM hybrids earlier than adapted full-season hybrids unless drying grain is not an option. Visit NKSeeds.com/ReplantCalculator to access the NK Corn Replant Calculator. To learn more about NK corn hybrids or soybean varieties for your area, contact your NK Seeds retailer. * The replant calculator is provided by Syngenta as a reference tool for agronomists and farmers. It is not intended to be nor should it be used as a definitive source of agronomic guidance on any matter. The replant calculator provides data gathered from the university data and publications listed below. Syngenta assumes no responsibility for the results of this data, nor does it represent that the data is current. The universities periodically update their databases; therefore, the replant calculator may not reflect the most current data. About Syngenta Syngenta Crop Protection and Syngenta Seeds are part of Syngenta Group, one of the world's leading agriculture companies. Our ambition is to help safely feed the world while taking care of the planet. We aim to improve the sustainability, quality and safety of agriculture with world class science and innovative crop solutions. Our technologies enable millions of farmers around the world to make better use of limited agricultural resources. The content of this release is for information purposes only. This release is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or other property interests. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/syngenta. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential', 'plans', 'prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or commodity prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. 2022 Syngenta, 2001 Butterfield Road, Suite 1600, Downers Grove, IL 60515. NK and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE NK Seeds Blog Last Thursday evening, some great news was delivered to health advocates and Nigerians at large. The President had just signed to law an Act to repeal the National Health Insurance Scheme Act of 1999 and establish the National Health Insurance Authority. For many who are keen followers of Nigeria's journey to Universal Health Coverage, it could be said that this was one small step for legislation, one big step towards Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria because through the Act just signed by Mr President; health insurance was now mandatory for all Nigerians! This could mean that over 70% of Nigerians who pay for health out of pocket, many of whom are thrown into poverty as a result could benefit from national level mandatory health insurance. As a quick digest, here are five things you need to know about the new National Health Insurance Authority Act of 2022; HEALTH INSURANCE IS NOW MANDATORY Yes, every Nigerian is now mandated by law to get health insurance! Specifically, the Act requires the following to get health insurance: All employers and employees in the public and private sectors with five staff and above Informal sector employees, and All other residents in Nigeria This is an improvement from the National Health Insurance Scheme Act, 2004 , 1999 whose purpose was "providing health insurance which shall entitle insured persons and their dependants the benefit of prescribed good quality and cost-effective health services", and a major step towards the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). FROM A SCHEME TO AN AUTHORITY -- IMPLICATIONS The National Health Insurance Scheme Act, 2004 established a scheme whose purpose was to provide health insurance to entitled insured persons and dependents. The National Health Insurance Authority Act, 2022 however created an oversight and regulatory body for Health Insurance Schemes and more clearly defined the roles of this authority to: (a) Promote, regulate and integrate health insurance schemes; (b) Improve and harness private sector participation in the provision of health care services; and Do such other things that will assist the authority in achieving Universal Health Coverage to all Nigerians. One way the NHIA will likely integrate health insurance schemes in Nigeria is through an extensive information and data management system which the law stipulates should be established in collaboration with other information management organisations in Nigeria and across all states. THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATORS Two components of the NHIA Act of 2022 speak to Third Party Administrators. The first expands the role of Third-Party Administrators and the second restricts the actions of Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs). Considering how HMOs are in fact TPAs, these two stipulations might seem conflicting at first glance. But we break it down a little more below. Expanded definition of Third-Party Administrators: First, Third Party Administrators (TPAs) are intermediaries to facilitate claims between the insurer and the insured. TPAs were not defined or referred to in the NHIS Act, 1999. This gap meant that HMOs were the only acknowledged administrators of health insurance outside the National Scheme, limiting the efficacy of health service delivery. In the newly signed act, TPAs have been expanded to include: HMOs, Mutual Health Associations and other TPAs of health insurance. TPAs are defined by the NHIA act of 2022 "any organisation with expertise and capability to administer all or a portion of the insurance claims process, including administration of claims, collection of premiums, enrolment and other administrative activities, which is registered by the Authority." Restricted scope of HMO services: An important aspect of the new law is how it limits the scope of HMOs in comparison with the NHIS Act of 1999. The previous NHIS Act had HMOs empowered to collect and implement contributions for premiums, including payment for services to healthcare providers, investment of pooled funds not in use etc. The Act establishing the NHIA however removes fund management completely from HMOs and places it with State Health Insurance Schemes (SHIS). Essentially, HMOs may collect contributions for premiums on behalf of SHIS where they are employed to do so but must remit these pooled funds to the SHIS who will then manage, and or invest the funds through the NHIA. The new NHIA Act addressed a conflict of interest that existed in the NHIS Act, where the NHIS council included a Health Maintenance Organisation. This clearly stood in the way of proper regulation and monitoring of HMOs which ideally was part of the NHIS' mandate, leading to allegations of abuse, monetary impropriety and fraud levelled against the HMOs and NHIS. The new act in no way has representatives of HMOs as part of its governing council. In fact, prospective council members are required to declare assets, and investment in any HMO is grounds for reconsidering such a member. That's one way to be accountable. The question to be asked is, are TPAs able to make healthcare more available, accessible and affordable to the population at large? This should be the underlying raison d'etre for all of the new agency's engagement with TPAs. Where wings are clipped or wings extended, NHIA's mandate to provide mandatory quality services for all Nigerians without financial harm must remain paramount. NHIA AS A REGULATOR, IMPLEMENTER, INVESTOR, AND INSURER A summary of the new Act shows that the NHIA has been outfitted with a wide range of expanded functions that empower the Authority to serve as regulator, implementer, investor and insurer of health insurance practices and schemes in Nigeria. NHIA as a Regulator -- Given continued advocacy, intense technical and public sessions and debate, the new act clearly states that the NHIA is empowered to serve as regulator of Health Insurance Schemes in the country. As we have written about extensively, many state health insurance schemes have been established to provide services for residents. These needed a governing body that the NHIS was just not empowered by law to provide. Thus, the NHIA will now promote, regulate and integrate all health insurance schemes in Nigeria. NHIA will also regulate, accredit and register HMOs and other third-party administrators since it has been empowered by this new act as a licensing body to carry out these oversight functions for TPAs. NHIA as an Insurer -- This new Act seeks to make NHIA a wholesome authority which will insure registered private health insurance companies through a security deposit that these HMOs are required to pay before registration. This function ensures that should a health insurance scheme or private health insurance organisation run into financial trouble or out of business for any reason, enrolees continue to remain insured and do not suffer financial ruin. Similar to how the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) insures banks to protect user funds. NHIA as an investor -- This simply empowers the NHIA to invest funds not in immediate use in approved federal government securities at the discretion of the governing council. Sustainability of funding for health insurance schemes continues to be the goal and it is expected that by investing funds at the NHIA level, schemes will have a support system for funding in emergency. NHIA as an Implementer -- This is one component of the new act that did not change much from the NHIS Act, 1999 and continues to raise questions among experts. Should a National Health Insurance Authority mandated with regulatory oversight for other schemes also implement health insurance by running a scheme? This question was not answered in the new Act since the provisions state that NHIA will establish and run a scheme that provides health insurance for all employees in Federal Service. If all states plus the FCT are being empowered to establish health insurance schemes that will provide care for all residents in those locations, why create another fragmented pool for federal employees? Is it not safe to say that even federal employees reside in one of these 37 locations? It is understandable however, how a separate scheme for federal employees may be more practicable for ease of premium contributions given the way federal employees' salaries are structured and paid centrally. It is thus easier to deduct at source. Another option could be to make health insurance deductions for federal employees at source and then remit payments to corresponding State Health Insurance Schemes (same way other employers are required to). This will consolidate the State Health Insurance pools and free the NHIA to properly regulate Health Insurance in Nigeria. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CHANGES The new NHIA Act stipulates the creation of a new vulnerable group fund and retains the NHIA fund. The Vulnerable Group Fund The vulnerable group fund will be established to provide for Subsidy for health insurance coverage for vulnerable persons Payment of health insurance premiums for indigents Just as interesting to note are the sources of this fund; the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), health insurance levy, special intervention fund allocated by the government, interests from investments and others -- grants, donations, gifts and contributions. The telecom tax previously included in the bill was subsequently removed. It is worth asking how the funds would have been earmarked and managed for the provision of health insurance for the vulnerable -- what mechanisms and instruments would have been put in place? Should this tax therefore not be included in the Finance Act instead? Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Health By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. This fund will be managed by the Governing Council through directives to the NHIA, and shall provide a formula for the disbursement of monies from the fund, and develop criteria for the disbursement of subsidies to State Health Insurance Schemes, subject to the approval of the Minister of Health. One key point to note is the need for specifications on who the vulnerable and indigents that will benefit from this fund are. While the Act says it will be determined by the Governing Council (and that those who have private health insurance are not eligible to benefit from the fund), the specifics of who they are, needs to be clarified and put in the public domain. The NHIA Fund The new Act retains the NHIS fund stipulated in the 1999 NHIS Act. All expenditures shall be made from this fund, including staff salaries, allowances and benefits. It shall be funded by Federal Government allocations, donors, charges from private insurance, fees, fines and commissions, gifts and contributions. It can also be invested in securities and deposits, with interests accrued back to the fund. Proper accounts on the management of this fund will be presented to the Minister of Health not more than 6 months after the succeeding year. The NHIA also continues to be exempt from tax. One other critical component of the Act to note is that NHIA is to undertake on its own or in collaboration with others sustained and continuous public education on health insurance. As we outline in this 2017 article, NHIA already has a ready group of collaborators in Universal Health Coverage advocates who have sustained continuous public education on health insurance across states and communities. One good example is Nigeria Health Watch's Health4AllNaija advocacy which since 2017 has worked to drive citizens' awareness around health insurance and its benefits to community members in various states while advocating for, and providing technical support around UHC legislation. Ultimately, it is good to see that many of the critical recommendations made regarding the NHIS Act have been addressed in the NHIA Act. We will continue to monitor and support implementation to ensure that we achieve #Health4AllNaija. What are your thoughts on the new NHIA act? Should NHIA implement a health insurance scheme? What stood out the most for you in the NHIA Act? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Let us know in the comments section below or join the conversation online using #Health4AllNaija. WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) announced that Emily Melton, Managing Partner at Threshold Ventures, will serve as the 2022-2023 Chair of the NVCA Board of Directors. "This is a critical moment for the United States as we continue building back after two pandemic years," said NVCA President and CEO Bobby Franklin. "I am very excited to have Emily lead the board during this important time. She knows what it takes for entrepreneurs and investors to build great companies, and she has a true gift in communicating these priorities with policymakers." "As Board Chair, I will push for laws, regulations, and policies that support investors and entrepreneurs tackling our most pressing societal challenges," said Melton. "From immigration reform to the climate crisis, the U.S. must remain the most attractive place in the world to build new companies. This will undoubtedly create more American jobs along with services and products that will benefit all of society." Melton is preceded by Michael Brown, General Partner at Battery Ventures. Brown successfully led NVCA and its members during the pandemic and set up the VC community to help lead the recovery. "Michael's strong leadership and creative thinking guided us through a new administration and shifting legislative agendas," said Franklin. "His commitment to the values that define NVCA helped advance pro-startup policies that diversified and expanded the greater venture capital ecosystem at a time when we witnessed unprecedented investments in tomorrow's economy." NVCA also announced the appointment of seven new directors to its board who will serve four-year terms from 2022-2026: The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) empowers the next generation of American companies that will fuel the economy of tomorrow. As the voice of the U.S. venture capital and startup community, NVCA advocates for public policy that supports the American entrepreneurial ecosystem. Serving the venture community as the preeminent trade association, NVCA arms the venture community for success, serving as the leading resource for venture capital data, practical education, peer-led initiatives, and networking. For more information about the NVCA, please visit www.nvca.org. SOURCE National Venture Capital Association Knoxville, TN, Agency Joins National Top 20 Independent Insurance Firm FORT WORTH, Texas, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PMG Benefits Consulting, an independent broker of employee benefits, life and ancillary insurance plans in Knoxville, TN, has joined Higginbotham, an insurance, financial and HR services firm ranked as the 20th largest independent broker in the U.S. The deal expands Higginbotham's presence in Tennessee by adding a fourth location in the state and positions PMG Benefits Consulting for growth by providing access to more client services. Higginbotham is strategically growing to expand its footprint and increase its service capability by selectively partnering with other independent agencies that have strong reputations in their local markets, a desire to keep growing by tapping into Higginbotham's single source solution and a strong cultural match. Johnny Pitts, managing partner for Higginbotham's Tennessee region, said, "The growth we've experienced in Tennessee since first entering the state in 2020 is a testament to Higginbotham's new partner strategy. Our partner agencies get the strength that comes with our size. Their clients get additional products and services. And, Higginbotham gets localized support to spread our solutions. It's a win for everyone." PMG Benefits Consulting serves employers in all industries ranging in size from as few as two employees to as many as several thousand. The agency gains the ability to offer commercial and personal property and casualty insurance as well as HR consulting and other risk management and benefit plan services by tapping into Higginbotham's expansive resources. In a joint statement, PMG Benefits Consulting CEO Debbie Perry and COO Ryan Grose said, "We were particularly drawn to the fact that Higginbotham is employee-owned, so we're not beholden to shareholders like a publicly-traded company. We put our clients first and felt that Higginbotham provided the best opportunity to continue doing so, plus the ability to immediately start offering property and casualty insurance and risk management services by teaming up with their local experts. We've already seen the culture that permeates Higginbotham, and it's exactly what we've always strived for at PMG." Higginbotham named Perry and Grose managing directors, and they will continue overseeing PMG Benefits Consulting's operations. About PMG Benefits Consulting For 22 years PMG Benefits Consulting in Knoxville, TN, has created lasting partnerships with employers by adhering to the core values of its region: honesty, integrity, leadership and hard work. These principles have resulted in one of the fastest growing employee benefits firms in East Tennessee. PMG helps clients deliver the best available employee benefits value to their workforce, and its consultants serve as advocates for every client employee. Visit pmgbenefits.com for more information. About Higginbotham Employee owned and customer inspired, Higginbotham is a single source solution for insurance, financial and HR services. The firm was established in 1948 and ranks by revenue as the nation's 20th largest independent insurance firm. Serving thousands of businesses and individuals through locations coast to coast, Higginbotham's approach to finding insurance, employee benefit and risk management solutions is more individual and less institutional. By understanding customer priorities, eliminating inefficiencies and committing to transparency, Higginbotham is a place that leads with values so value leads. Visit higginbotham.com for more information. SOURCE Higginbotham Leading Black-owned multimedia company announces new content showcasing the vibrant cultures of Colombia and South Africa LOS ANGELES, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, leading Black-owned multimedia company REVOLT announced two new installments of Coming Home, the hit documentary film series that explores Hip-Hop's wide influence across various cultures. Following leading DJ, host and record label executive DJ EFN and his crew as they travel to different countries, Coming Home provides a deeper look into the scope of Hip-Hop culture all over the world. Directed by DJ EFN and co-produced by his Crazy Hood Film Academy and Rock the Bells - the global lifestyle brand dedicated to elevating Hip-Hop culture founded by LL COOL J, REVOLT will debut this impactful content across its streaming and linear channels. Featuring two films that document Hip-Hop culture in Colombia and South Africa, these new iterations of Coming Home follow along DJ EFN and his crew as they use the common language of music to guide and familiarize them with foreign places. With culture at the forefront of everything REVOLT provides, the fast-growing multimedia platform continues to uplift Black voices worldwide with fresh content for today's generation in mind. Committed to telling stories from across the Black diaspora, REVOLT is putting the Black experience on a global stage through its expanding footprint and storytelling alongside key content creators and tastemakers. "Our focus at REVOLT is telling global stories through the lens of Hip Hop and connecting Black culture across the diaspora," said Detavio Samuels, CEO of REVOLT. "Teaming up with DJ EFN and Rock the Bells to bring this incredible slate of documentaries to life is another example of our commitment to partnering with top talent and leading voices to create content that changes the narrative of Black culture globally." Known for his unfiltered conversations with A-list guest stars on REVOLT's hit series Drink Champs, hip-hop activist DJ EFN produced and directed the first Coming Home documentary in 2013 to highlight the Hip-Hop scene in Cuba. The film went on to be featured in top film festivals around the world before airing on REVOLT's network. Additional installments featured Vietnam, Haiti, and Peru. The latest entries in the film series focus on the music scenes in the South American country of Colombia and across South Africa. "I started Coming Home to go back to my roots in Cuba almost 10 years ago, where I learned that regardless of how different our cultures are, we'll always find ourselves in the people we meet through our common love of Hip-Hop culture," said DJ EFN, DJ, host and record label executive. "Our new body of work taking place in Colombia and South Africa were powerful exchanges of music that I'm excited to share with the REVOLT audience." "Rock The Bells was created to elevate Hip-Hop culture from its roots to modern-day" said James Cuthbert, President of Rock The Bells. "Coming Home is a masterful look at the global impact of Hip-Hop and highlights DJ EFN and REVOLT's dedication to lifting up the culture." Kicking off with Coming Home: Colombia, the film brings viewers into the Hip-Hop culture in Colombia as DJ EFN and his Crazy Hood Film Academy crew learn how music has provided a platform for citizens often struggling to be heard. Featuring appearances from local artists MC Killer, La Etnnia, Crack Family, Clika Underground, and more, the documentary takes an inside look at musicians fusing Hip-Hop and Latin music. The newest installment in the series, Coming Home: South Africa, brings DJ EFN and friends Charles Ribeiro, Big Drain, Trek6, and Wrekonize to South Africa where they explore the Hip-Hop scene with the help of local musicians and acquaintances to reveal a vibrant culture inspired by social justice, patriotism, and love of all things music. Coming Home: Colombia will premiere on REVOLT's streaming and linear channels on Monday, May 30th at 10:00pm ET which will be closely followed by Coming Home: South Africa on Monday, June 13th at 10:00pm ET. ABOUT REVOLT TV REVOLT is the leading Black-owned and operated multimedia platform servicing content 24/7 across digital, linear and live media channels. The platform produces rich content and original material with the biggest names in Hip-Hop, along with reports of breaking news, current events, trends and announcements within the Black cultural movement and Hip-Hop world. REVOLT takes pride in its diversity, both in its mindset and its company makeup, further instilling its dedication to culture within its staff and audiences. Founded by Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2013, REVOLT attracts over 50 Million millennials and Gen Z audiences through their disruptive, authentic material across all platforms. In 2021, REVOLT launched a brand new digital mobile app where users can view extended releases, live updates from relevant news, exclusive specials and much more. For more information on REVOLT's linear content, please visit https://www.revolt.tv/ and visit www.revolt.tv/providers for local broadcast listings. ABOUT ROCK THE BELLS Rock The Bells is the leading global platform elevating Hip-Hop culture from its roots to modern-day. Founded in 2018 by LL COOL J, Rock The Bells focuses on content, experiences, and commerce that honor the timeless elements of Hip-Hop (MC's, DJ's, B-Boys and B-Girls, Writers [aka graffiti artists], etc.) that drive mainstream culture today. Visit us at www.rockthebells.com, stream LL COOL J's Rock The Bells Radio on SiriusXM (Ch. 43) and follow us @RockTheBells. SOURCE REVOLT Transitions ReVolve from solely being a developer of renewable energy projects to an independent power producer with recurring revenue and cashflows. Aligns with and underpins the Company's recent strategic move into the distributed generation market and provides a strong platform for growth moving forward. Adds a 2.8MW portfolio of operational distributed generation assets in Mexico and a further 3MW asset that is under construction and expected to go into operation by the end of 2022. Upfront cash consideration of MX$33,000,000 payable on completion of the transaction. Cash consideration to be funded through a combination of cash on hand and a new C$1.6m 2 year secured loan facility being provided by RE Royalties (TSXV:RE). VANCOUVER, BC, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - ReVolve Renewable Power Corp. (TSXV: REVV) ("ReVolve" or the "Company"), has signed a definitive purchase agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") to acquire 100% of the share capital of Centrica Business Solutions Mexico S.A. de C.V. ("CBS Mexico), a Mexican incorporated company and subsidiary of Centrica PLC (LON:CLA) for MX$33,000,000 (the "Acquisition"). CBS Mexico is involved in the distributed generation market in Mexico focused on designing, installing and operating a range of different distributed generation solutions / projects located on the premises of various industrial customers. The Acquisition once completed will immediately add a base of operating projects and recurring revenue to the Company's newly established distributed generation division "ReVolve Renewable Business Solutions" as announced on the 26th April 2022. This division was established to target distributed generation projects with customers across a range of different industries in the US and Mexico. These projects include rooftop solar, battery storage and energy efficiency projects of up to 5MW located at the customers premises. The Company's strategy is to develop, construct and finance these projects and will enter into long term (up to 10 years) power purchase agreements for the sale of electricity from the projects with the underlying customers. (Link to the Company's April 26th, 2022 Press Release, which is also available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com:https://money.tmx.com/en/quote/REVV/news/617702864972 2935/ReVolve_Renewable_Power_announces_establishment_of_new_division_to_focus_on_distributed_generation_market_in_the_US_and_Mexico) Acquisition Overview Revolve has agreed to pay Centrica MX$33,000,000 for the purchase of 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of CBS Mexico subject to standard working capital adjustments at completion; The assets of CBS Mexico being acquired include six (6) operational rooftop solar projects and one (1) operational combined heat & power project with a combined capacity of 2.85MW's (the "Operational Projects" ). The energy generated by these projects is sold under a number of fixed price power purchase agreements with industrial clients located in Central Mexico with an average remaining term of approximately 8 years. The Operational Projects were commissioned during the period 2019 to 2021. The Operational Projects are expected to generate revenues and EBITDA in excess of equivalent US$400,000 and US$300,000 respectively per annum, refer to currency note below. In addition to these projects the assets of CBS Mexico also include (i) a 3MW combined heat and power project (the "Construction Project" ), which has been installed at the site of an industrial user, has completed pre commissioning and is awaiting receipt of final permits prior to commercial operations commencing and (ii) cash and inventory. Once operational the energy generated by the Construction Project will also be sold under a fixed price power purchase agreement with a term of 10 years. The Acquisition is being completed on a debt and liability free basis and CBS Mexico is not expected to have any employees at completion. The Acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and the other conditions set out in the Purchase Agreement. Subject to satisfaction of such conditions, the Acquisition is expected to close within the next 45 days. Conditional approval has been received from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") as the Acquisition is considered a "reviewable acquisition" in accordance with Policy 5.3 of the TSXV. Completion of the Acquisition is subject to final approval of the TSXV. Financing Concurrently with signing of the Purchase Agreement the Company has also signed financing agreements with RE Royalties Ltd (TSXV:RE) for the provision of a C$1.6m secured loan to part finance the Acquisition. The financing agreements consist of a secured loan agreement and a royalty agreement between ReVolve and RE Royalties. The Secured Loan will be drawn down as part of completion of the Acquisition and will have a term of 24 months. It will be repayable at maturity, bear interest at 10% on drawn funds, with interest payable on a quarterly basis during the term. The Company will pay RE Royalties a financing fee of 1.5% of the Secured Loan amount on signing and final repayment of the loan. The Secured Loan will be secured on certain assets of the Company. The Company has also entered into a royalty agreement with RE Royalties under, which they will receive a variable royalty of between 1% to 5% on gross revenues generated by a number of the Operational Projects for the life of the power purchase agreements for each relevant Operational Project. The Company and RE Royalties expect to collaborate on further distribution generation projects as the Company looks to continue to aggressive grow this part of its business. Steve Dalton, CEO of ReVolve, said: "We are extremely excited about the opportunity presented by the Acquisition. It will fast track the Company's strategy for the distributed generation market while moving the business from being a pure development company to an independent power producer generating electricity, revenues and cashflow. We are also looking forward to establishing a broader partnership with the RE Royalties team as we look to develop and build out a pipeline of distributed generation assets in the US and Mexico throughout the course of this year and beyond." Currencies CBS Mexico generates revenue in Mexican Pesos. For ease of reference all dollar amounts stated herein refer to US dollars. Where applicable and stated in U.S. dollars, the following rates have been utilized: USD/MEX 0.049. About ReVolve Renewable Power ReVolve Renewable Power Corp. (www.revolve-renewablepower.com) is in the business of developing utility scale renewable energy generation projects in North America with a particular focus on wind, solar and battery storage technologies. The Company has also recently establish ReVolve Renewable Business Solutions, a division dedicated to the development and operation of distribution generation and sub 20MW renewable energy projects in the US and Mexico. The Company was established in 2012 and since then has successfully built a diversified portfolio of projects across the different renewable energy technologies in both the US and Mexican markets. It currently has a portfolio of 3.3 gigawatts ("GW") of projects under active development and a further 1GW of greenfield opportunities, which it is in the process of converting to its pipeline in the near term. ReVolve is in the process of rapidly expanding its pipeline and development activities in the US and is targeting an active portfolio of up to 3GWs under development by the end of 2022 in addition to a 2GW target for Mexico. Forward Looking Information Although ReVolve believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because ReVolve can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the business plans of ReVolve and ReVolve's management's expectation on the growth and performance of its business in the United States and Mexico, including the planned MW capacity of its projects; its expansion into the distributed generation market; potential opportunities in the distributed generation market; the completion and timing of the development of its planned portfolio of distributed generation projects; the completion of the Transaction, including final approval of the transaction by the TSXV; potential revenues generated from CBS Mexico; and the Company's plans to develop, construct and finance rooftop solar, battery storage and energy efficiency projects of up to 5MW and enter into long term power purchase agreements for the sale of electricity from the projects with the underlying customers. Such statements and information reflect the current view of ReVolve and/or ReVolve, respectively. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, having regard to the Company's experience and its perception of historical trends, and includes, but is not limited to, expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions relating to the extent of regulations pertaining to the Company's projects and ReVolve's ability to continue as going concern. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information, including but not limited to: the effects of weather, catastrophes and public health crises, including COVID-19; labour availability; disruptions to the Company's supply chains; changes to regulatory environment, including interpretation of production tax credits; armed hostilities and geopolitical conflicts; failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals in a timely fashion, or at all; risks related to the development and potential development of the Company's projects; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; the availability of tax incentives in connection with the development of renewable energy projects and the sale of electrical energy; as well as those factors discussed in the sections relating to risk factors discussed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings on SEDAR. Such statements and information reflect the current view of ReVolve. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of ReVolve as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. ReVolve does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE ReVolve Renewable Power Corp COSMOCEL is a leader in specialty biostimulants with a high value-added portfolio and a consolidated commercial footprint in North America , Latin America , Europe , Middle East , and South Africa . , , , , and . This strategic step transforms ROVENSA into global leader in BioSolutions for sustainable agriculture, with the broadest and best-balanced portfolio of high value bionutrition, biostimulant, biocontrol, bio-adjuvant, bio-soil enhancers, and bio-plant performance products based on innovative technologies. COSMOCEL will continue to operate as an independent company, led by the current management team, leveraging the capabilities of ROVENSA to accelerate the platform's internationalization and portfolio development through state-of-the-art innovation. MADRID, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ROVENSA, a global leader of agricultural inputs for sustainable agriculture, today announces that it has agreed to integrate COSMOCEL, a leading player in specialty biostimulants and high-tech products for agriculture. The completion of the integration is subject to approval by the anti-trust authorities. Based in Monterrey, Mexico, COSMOCEL is a market-leading developer, manufacturer, and distributor of specialty biostimulant solutions with over 60 years of experience. COSMOCEL's portfolio of over 100 products spans biostimulants, biocontrol and adjuvants. COSMOCEL has more than 700 employees, 3 state of the art manufacturing facilities, 11 offices and 26 warehouses to serve its customers in more than 50 countries across North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and South Africa. It has a strong and long-established market reach through commercial teams and strategic partnerships, as well as a highly experienced R&D team. This strategic integration positions ROVENSA as global leader in BioSolutions for sustainable agriculture and it is squarely aligned with its strategy to provide distributors and farmers with innovative solutions to increase land productivity and output profitability, whilst enabling farming in a sustainable and responsible way to protect and preserve the environment for future generations. COSMOCEL complements ROVENSA's geographical footprint, bringing exposure to new geographies and enhanced access to strategic markets in the Americas. It also brings sizeable and versatile production capabilities in Mexico, additional R&D competences, and material product synergies. COSMOCEL and ROVENSA share a similar business culture and go-to-market approach, a critical cornerstone to achieve continued commercial growth and value creation in partnership with distributors and farmers. Eric van Innis, ROVENSAs CEO stated: "We are thrilled to welcome COSMOCEL to the group to strengthen our global presence as a reference provider of well-balanced solutions for agriculture. This strategic integration highlights our growth ambitions in the BioSolutions international market and our strong commitment to sustainable agriculture. The high quality and complementary range of biostimulants and bio-performance products of COSMOCEL, their culture, their market approach, the quality and commitment of their people and management, and their production capacities will give us a unique position to offer the best nature-based solutions for our distributors and farmers, leveraging on our global scale and capabilities. We are determined to have a strong impact in sustainable agriculture that should be both productive and regenerative, in harmony with nature, making crops more resilient to climate change, and ultimately feed the world guarantying equity and health". The Management of Cosmocel added: "We strongly believe that this integration will be highly beneficial to COSMOCEL and everyone that belongs to the organisation. Since the very beginning of our discussions, ROVENSA always demonstrated a clear commitment and willingness to preserve our culture and people, which will undoubtedly allow us to, together with other ROVENSA businesses, keep on pursuing a path to contribute to a better and more sustainable agriculture." Rovensa was advised by J.P. Morgan, Uria Menendez, Dunham Trimmer, PwC, Marsh and ERM. Cosmocel was advised by Seale & Associates, Santamarina + Steta, EY, and ERM. The financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed. About Rovensa Rovensa is a global leader in bionutrition, biocontrol and crop protection solutions for sustainable agriculture, helping farmers to produce safe, healthy and nutritious food for all. Supporting our mission of contributing to feed the planet, our more than 2,000 employees across over 30 countries, strive every day to lead the change in food production systems through science-led innovation in agriculture, aiming to preserve and enhance soil, environmental, and human health. With sales in over 80 countries worldwide, Rovensa offers a complementary portfolio of environmentally friendly and innovative solutions for plant health & care. From our more than 30 R&D Experimental Centers and Laboratories across the world and with over 800 field support professionals, we are working closely with farmers to help them producing more with fewer natural resources. With the integration of Cosmocel, Rovensas revenues exceed EUR 650m. For more information, go to www.rovensa.com. SOURCE Rovensa MILWAUKEE, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating VMware (NYSE: VMW) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with Broadcom. Click here to learn how to join the action: https://www.ademilaw.com/case/vmware-inc or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you. Ademi LLP alleges VMware's financial outlook and prospects are excellent and yet VMware holders will receive only either $142.50 in cash or 0.2520 shares of Broadcom common stock for each VMware share, subject to proration, resulting in approximately 50% of VMware's shares being exchanged for cash consideration and 50% being exchanged for Broadcom common stock. The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for VMware by imposing a significant penalty if VMware accepts a superior bid. VMware insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements. We are investigating the conduct of VMware's board of directors, and whether they are (i) fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders, and (ii) obtaining a fair and reasonable price for VMware. If you own VMware common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/vmware-inc. We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contacts Ademi LLP Guri Ademi Toll Free: (866) 264-3995 Fax: (414) 482-8001 SOURCE Ademi LLP An overwhelming majority (90%) use custom collateral for their role, indicating the importance of customization in the sales cycle. As a result, a majority of respondents (59%) say they lose business when they don't have the customized marketing collateral they need. Further, 88% of respondents create custom sales collateral as part of their role, spending significant time each week customizing materials. In fact, 54% spend three or more hours weekly on custom collateral. Similarly, 80% create five or more pieces of custom marketing material each month. On the high end, 10% of respondents create more than 20 pieces monthly. The solution in the opinion of most respondents is branded, customizable templates. An overwhelming 89% say it would make their life easier if they had branded, easily customizable templates to create sales materials. Nearly half (48%) of the respondents reported that they believe they could gain 30% or more in additional sales by having branded, customizable content templates to create sales collateral. "We find that the back-and-forth approval process between sales, creatives and marketing teams is causing a significant choke point in the sales process," said Mark Hilton, CEO of Santa Cruz Software. "We designed BrandingUI from the ground up to eliminate this friction and to make it simple for sales and on-site marketing teams to customize materials, all while maintaining brand compliance. The admin interface makes it simple for creative and marketing teams to upload well-designed, branded marketing and sales materials. Then the user interface empowers sales and on-site marketers to customize collateral for their specific needs. This enables salespeople to have the collateral they need, when they need it, eliminating this pain point." Interestingly, when asked what kind of materials they create, 72% said social media ads, 53% said promotions, 42% said event fliers and 34% said brochures. About Santa Cruz Software Santa Cruz Software offers a suite of tools to connect Adobe applications to other Cloud Services, enabling teams to collaborate seamlessly on projects without ever leaving their applications. Enjoy simplified version control, easy asset search and seamless connection between your shared team assets. Santa Cruz Software features are designed to streamline brand compliance, empower collaboration between teams and increase productivity. Our solutions range from integratable Dynamic Templates based upon Adobe InDesign (PrintUI), DAM connectors for Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects (LinkrUI), and turnkey collateral/campaign portals (BrandingUI). For more information, visit the Santa Cruz Software website . The Santa Cruz Software solution BrandingUI enables in-house design teams and agencies to create branded marketing collateral that can be quickly and easily modified, localized and used by partners, resellers, sales and field marketing teams. All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective companies. Media Contact David Haefele FortyThree, Inc. [email protected] 831.401.3175 SOURCE Santa Cruz Software TAIPEI, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Taiwan Cement Corp. (TCC) held its 2022 annual general meeting, in which Chairman Nelson Chang delivered a speech, and TCC shared its 1Q22 results as below: Chairman Nelson Chang's Speech In the past half a year or so, it seems foreboding dark clouds are surrounding the world, such as the fast-spreading COVID-19 variants in Asia, and the interruption of worldwide commodity supply chains. These have all led up to uncertainty, pessimism, and anxiety about the future. It is also the most difficult year for Taiwan Cement for the past ten years. Granted all is true, we remain positive that every cloud has a silver lining if we position ourselves in just the right direction. A beam of light always comes out from behind the clouds. However tiny it may be, it gives us hope that we shall remain undaunted so as to embrace a promising future. Living in the 21st century, we are unsure of where to go from here and what can be made sure in this world. The risks are no less great than those of the Age of Exploration in the 15th century, notwithstanding the greater knowledge we have gained about the world today. The totally inexcusable war has caused the ensuing scarcity in both resources and energy. The worldwide break-out of a virus has caused millions of unexpected deaths as well as increased wastes, especially of plastics to an alarming ubiquity. The sudden shortage of energy has also worsened the emissions of carbon-dioxide to make the Earth even warmer. All these issues are posing grave threats to the future existence of Humankind. In fact, the reason Humankind has strayed today lies entirely in ourselves. Only when self-examination is in place to allow a fundamental conceptual change in conduct can we afford to claim that we are underway to explore a real answer. The sense of co-existence in our age should be awakened and evoked on a full scale of the Planet Earth. We must be upfront with the pandemic, weather change and a more idealistic society. Each of us will require a cognitive restructuring in our thinking. It can no longer be "I," but "WE." To familiarize ourselves with the capitalized "WE" is an indispensable step to a sustainable future of mankind. But unfortunately, at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos this year, it seems to be going backwards and moving towards a regional economy, an economic model where every country comes first. We cannot continue to contemplate living a life solely for our time and selfishness. Most wars took place for individual rights or self-interests of politicians per se. Only a minimum of warfare was fought genuinely for such lofty causes as freedom and human life. The Great Leap of the next generation will beyond doubt be motivated by continuous revolutions. It will no longer be technology-driven cognitive change but a restructured mental framework for sustainability. Dante wrote, "The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a period of moral crisis, maintain their neutrality." Lastly but not least, may I remind you ladies and gentlemen, "Today is the beginning of eternity." TCC: Silver Lining In 1Q22, TCC saw cement revenue in Mainland China decreased by 7.8% year-on-year. Sales volume for the same period also decreased by 24.1% year-on-year. Despite the cement price increase by 18%, it could not catch up with the price hike of coal, especially in 1Q22, when international coal price grew by 195% year-on-year. This price increase in coal caused TCC to see a drop both in gross margin and net profits. Nevertheless, TCC's 1Q22 consolidated revenue was NT$22.97 billion, representing a 4% increase compared to NT$22.03 billion in 1Q21. This growth was mainly attributed to the new energy businesses. Cement revenues in 1Q22 dropped by 3% year-on-year, but new subsidiaries in the energy segment such as, NHA, E-One Moli, and TCC Energy Storage contributed positively to TCC's consolidated revenue. TCC has transitioned into a circular economy company. As cement markets begin to shrink from their peak, waste treatment has become the focus of business operation. This transition not only helps solve society's waste problem but also increases profits. In the future, TCC's target is to become one of the growth tech stocks. For growth tech stocks around the world, cash dividend payout ratio has not been the main reason for market capitalization growth. In the past two years, TCC has been redeploying two-thirds of its profits into ESG-related projects, such as building waste treatment facilities in Taiwan and Mainland China, investing in green energy projects, and buying the majority stake in the Italy-based energy storage company NHA. These steps are part of a comprehensive strategy to help TCC Group to achieve carbon neutrality. For example, TCC's total renewable energy generated by 2025 is actually sufficient for the Company to achieve RE100 but, TCC's renewable energy are still provided mainly to meet the demand of Taiwan's companies that focus on exporting products. As a circular economy company, its waste treatment capacity has been increasing, together with alternative material and fuel usage. Using cement kilns' high temperature to co-process wastes can help the society solve its waste problem. It can also generate alternative material and fuel to help increase cement production once stricter energy and coal controls, such as the situation in Mainland China in 4Q21. Moreover, it can help reduce carbon emissions, generate carbon rights, and reduce cost and reliance on coal. Currently, the cost of alternative fuel is only 1/3 to 1/2 of the cost of coal. By 2030, the total waste treatment volume by TCC may rise up to 10 million tons while alternative fuel usage can exceed 1.3 million tons. This is equivalent to reducing carbon emissions by more than 10 million tons. CIMPOR and OYAK, TCC overseas-invested cement companies, have also been using large amounts of alternative fuel. As energy business is concerned, TCC foresees a possible supply shortage of industrial green energy in Taiwan. The green energy installations scheduled by the government for 2025 and 2030 are 27Gw and 45GW, respectively. To have green energy used at full capacity and efficiency, TCC believes that there must be at least 20% of energy storage complementary to green energy. This means that at least 5GW and 9GW of energy storage are needed in 2025 and 2030. TCC's total green energy installation is estimated to exceed 500MW by 2025 and is also building, scheduling, and planning many energy storage projects. TCC's global energy storage installation is expected to exceed 400MWh by the end of 2022. By 2024, the figure is estimated to exceed 2,900MWh. NHA, the Italy-based TCC subsidiary, has been rapidly expanding global energy storage presence with projects completed or under planning, spanning across a total of 26 countries. Free2Move eSolutions, an business line of NHA, has also built the world's largest vehicle-to-grid (V2G) site with a capacity of 30MW and, when the grid needs electricity, the site can have up to 600 EVs connected to provide electricity back to the grid. NHA's other business line, Atlante Co., has been swiftly expanding businesses in Southern Europe with the aim to become the largest virtual independent power producer (IPP). Energy storage requires batteries and that is why TCC believes the key to the future of energy is batteries. Molie Quantum Energy, a TCC subsidiary, has been building a 1.8GWh super battery factory in Xiaogang, Taiwan since October 25, 2021, and it is scheduled to begin production in 1Q23. Combining the current 1.6GWh battery capacity of E-One Moli, by 2024, TCC's total battery capacity will reach 3.3GWh, around 216 million units per year. The price of batteries is also expected to increase to US$5 per unit in 2024. In addition to maintaining existing business and expanding to new energy businesses, TCC also has a responsibility to its current and future shareholders. The Company has been taking initiatives to revitalize its land assets, namely the properties in Taiwan and Mainland China. In Taiwan, the Zhudong property is aimed at becoming a lifestyle theme park while the property at Keelung Road, Taipei is aimed to be an "Urban Green Eco-Valley". In Mainland China, an iconic building is under construction in the name of "TCC Gong Liang Building in Hangzhou", which is scheduled to be completed in 2024 and will be TCC's headquarters in Mainland China. TCC firmly believes that an enterprise should be responsible for its current and future shareholders, but cannot solely focus on current profits. The most important responsibility lies in its positive contribution to the society and the Earth. We have inherited this planet from our ancestors. Therefore, we need to prove to the future generations that the decisions we are making right now is the correct one. For the next decade, low-carbon cement, resource circulation and green energy are the three pillars for TCC's sustainable growth. SOURCE Taiwan Cement Corp. ORLANDO, Fla., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Family Cafe is excited to return to its entirely in-person event at The 24th Annual Family Cafe in Orlando this year. This event brings together Floridians with disabilities to learn about resources and supports available to them while also giving them a chance to network with one another and meet the organizations that serve them. The May 27-29 event at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, sponsored by the Children's Medical Services (CMS) Health Plan, will feature high profile advocates for the disability community like the stars of the Amazon Prime series "As We See It." Nearly 200 educational sessions on topics ranging from advocacy and financial planning to employment and assistive technology, a full exhibit hall with an array of agencies and vendors, adaptive recreation activities, self-advocate performances, networking opportunities for people with disabilities and their families, and more. "Floridians with disabilities need the right resources and support to thrive in their communities. The Annual Family Cafe is a place where they can come together with the whole disability community to share experiences and figure out what solutions are right for them," said President and CEO of The Family Cafe, Lori Fahey. "Hosting the event is a genuine community effort. Having a partner like the Children's Medical Services Health Plan that understands the value of empowering families is essential to making it a success." "The Annual Family Cafe brings together people with disabilities and their families, so they know they aren't alone," said Dr. Robert Karch, Deputy Secretary for Children's Medical Services at the Florida Department of Health. "Not only does it allow them to learn more about resources and supports available to them, but it also gives them a chance to meet other families facing the same obstacles and have a good time. These speakers are fun, the room is interactive, and this isn't some stuffy conference. It's important for the attendees and just as important for those who serve them to have in-person interaction." CMS will present "Old MacDonald's Sensory Farm," one of the conference's most popular activities. The sensory room is outfitted with equipment to help special-needs young people get personalized sensory input, allowing them to decompress and balance their sensory experiences. It is named after Centene Senior Vice President Gregg MacDonald, who has supported The Family Cafe for many years. Centene is Sunshine Health's parent company. "We're honored to support this room because it helps kids with a wide range of disabilities feel comfortable and empowered. Our hope is it will provide an accessible, enjoyable environment for children with a wide range of sensory needs to relax and regulate. Families may learn a regulation technique or two they can take home and continue," said MacDonald. CMS Health Plan will have an information booth where employees will provide more information about the plan's benefits for Florida children with complex health needs. They'll also have a photo booth and face painting for all Annual Family Cafe participants. All people with disabilities, their families, and advocates are welcome, and there is no registration fee to attend. For more information and to register, visit familycafe.net/annual-family-cafe/. ABOUT CMS HEALTH PLAN The Children's Medical Services Health Plan (CMS), operated by Sunshine Health on behalf of the Florida Department of Health, covers Florida children up to age 21 with physical, developmental, behavioral, and emotional conditions through Medicaid (Title XIX) as well as those who enroll through KidCare (Title XXI). Learn more at SunshineHealth.com/CMS. SOURCE Sunshine Health The fashion show will showcase six of Ai Austin's talented fashion students, each displaying two to three of their favorite designs created this past term. Led by Ai Austin Fashion Faculty Karen Bravo, the show's production will be managed by Mia Morales, a Fashion & Retail Management student from San Antonio, TX who will be assisting Bravo. After the show, student designers will welcome questions about current designs and upcoming trends through a meet and greet session. "This show is an end-of-term celebration of the students' hard work, and an opportunity for them to show off what they have learned during this term," said Bravo. The six (6) Ai Austin Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design students selected to showcase their work, include: Deja Wright , a sophomore in fashion design who is originally from Baltimore , will be showing pieces with a touch of texture, color, and prints blended into a rebellious style. , a sophomore in fashion design who is originally from , will be showing pieces with a touch of texture, color, and prints blended into a rebellious style. Elly Abels , a junior in fashion design from Austin, TX , will be showing pieces inspired by 60s mod fashion, with a bright, colorful presence. , a junior in fashion design from , will be showing pieces inspired by 60s mod fashion, with a bright, colorful presence. Anntionette Davis , a junior in fashion design from Georgia , will be showing edgy street chic separates that can be dressed up or down. , a junior in fashion design from , will be showing edgy street chic separates that can be dressed up or down. Naomi Hollar , a freshman in fashion design from Austin, TX , is an aspiring sustainable designer who will be showing pieces that fabricate internal emotions into physical fashion designs. , a freshman in fashion design from , is an aspiring sustainable designer who will be showing pieces that fabricate internal emotions into physical fashion designs. Kadajza Griffin, a sophomore in fashion design from Georgia , will be showing pieces where modern meets streetwear infused with glamor. , will be showing pieces where modern meets streetwear infused with glamor. Kenah Fuller, a senior in fashion design from Austin, TX , will be showing pieces using luxury materials, juxtaposing masculine and feminine pieces into one-of-a-kind couture designs. "Our students in the Pattern Making/Draping and Construction courses have learned the basics of pattern making, draping, and construction over 10 weeks, making a basic bodice, pencil skirt, dresses, and pants, as well as a bias-cut dress inspired by French designer Madeleine Vionnet," added Bravo. "The audience will see the student's interpretations of what they learned this term and their runway show is highly anticipated." The Spring Student Fashion Show is open to the public and offered at no charge. When: Wednesday, June 8th from 5:30-7pm. Doors open at 5pm with refreshments, and the fashion show will be followed by social time with the designers until 7pm. Where: Lost Pines Art Center, 1204 Chestnut St, Bastrop, TX 78602 The show will also be available to the public via livestream at Ai Austin's Instagram page, @Ai_Austin . To learn more about The Art Institute of Austin, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/austin . The Art Institute of Austin The Art Institute of Austin, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston, is one of The Art Institutes, a system of private schools throughout the United States. Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by school and are subject to change. Not all programs are available to residents of all U.S. states. The Art of Austin, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston, 1204 Chestnut Street, Bastrop, TX 78602 2022. The Arts Institutes International LLC. All rights reserved. Media Contact: Lacy Jansson [email protected] SOURCE The Art Institutes Nigeria and Ethiopia have concluded plans to hold a Joint Ministerial Commission meeting in Addis Ababa in June 2022 to discuss various areas of bilateral relationship and exchange perspectives on a wide range of international issues of mutual interest. To this end, President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday hosted the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Dr Abiy Ahmed, to a state visit and a presidential lunch attended by the First Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari and Ethiopian First Lady Zinash Tayachew, at the State House, Abuja. A major fallout of the visit is the desire of both countries to take concrete steps to expand bilateral relations in key areas including the economy, trade, science and technology and solid minerals, among others. Briefing newsmen after the visit, Nigeria's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Victor Adeleke, explained the essence of the visit and the burgeoning state of relations between both countries. According to him, the state of relations between Nigeria and Ethiopia is very warm, adding that: "We are working together and we will soon be convening the Joint Ministerial Commission to discuss various areas of relationship that will be beneficial to both countries. "Nigerian officials are heading to Addis Ababa in June to discuss various areas of relationship including political, economic, science and technology, mines and industry. "We have been engaging and we will continue to engage." The envoy further said: "The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Dr Abiy Ahmed, has always taken Nigeria as one of the pillars in Africa and a strong country in stabilizing democracy in Africa. "In the spirit of African brotherhood and seeking African solutions to African problems, President Buhari and the Prime Minister consult from time to time and this visit is an icing on the cake. "President Buhari has been in Addis Ababa a couple of times so the Prime Minister thought it wise to visit Nigeria and confer with President Buhari enroute to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, for the humanitarian conference and the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government. "In the private sector, Dangote has a big cement factory in Ethiopia and Ethiopia has an expanding economy in Africa. "So this is a very important and useful visit that will help officials from both countries to continue to network." "Eating disorders are on the rise, and medical science is advancing in this area to continually improve treatment outcomes," said Dr. Margherita Mascolo, chief medical officer at Alsana, a leading eating recovery community and treatment provider. "Our patients consistently report a decrease in eating disorder symptoms after treatment, and just as importantly, our survey data shows they also report a much better quality of life post-treatment. This data is very encouraging for patients and their families." Eating disorders affect people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, races and socioeconomic statuses. An estimated 20 million women and 10 million men in the United States have an eating disorder, and by 2030, there will be a 5% increase in the number of people with eating disorders, according to the Academy for Eating Disorders. One of the challenges in treating eating disorders is finding treatment options and models of care that work with individual needs and schedules. For example, college athletes, young mothers and women with careers all have distinctly different lifestyles, so a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment is impractical and unlikely to succeed. One potential solution is an approach that treats the whole person, such as The Adaptive Care Model at Alsana, which meets clients where they are in recovery. This holistic approach strives to create an inspiring healing experience that focuses on the patient's total health. Creating a compassionate community of care is key to this treatment model. The program is based on five core areas: Medical Treatment Someone working to overcome an eating disorder must build health resilience and establish a physical foundation for recovery. A collaborative and compassionate approach allows for your medical issues to be monitored and addressed by specialty-trained physicians. The medical dimension seeks to empower you by educating you on the organic causes of your symptoms and how to overcome them. Relational Exploring and growing your own sense of purpose and self-expression can empower you to connect on a deeper level with yourself, others and your sense of purpose or true calling. This means rediscovering your true self, feeling confident in expressing your potential and working toward your goals. Instilling hope, inspiration and motivation along your healing journey can provide you with the tools and knowledge to thrive long after completing treatment so you have a positive outlook for the future. Nutrition Proper nutrition plays an important role in recovery, as you must learn to balance nourishment and pleasure on a physical and emotional level to restore a nurturing relationship between food and your body. Guidance and exposure to balanced food choices and real-life eating experiences helps build confidence and promotes enjoyment of meal experiences, not just the food itself. Movement Physical activity can be healing for both the mind and body. Listening and responding to the body creates a strong foundation of body awareness. Movement is an avenue toward achieving optimal health, but it's also a way to learn to appreciate and connect with your body on a deeper level. Therapeutic Through therapy, you can work to heal from trauma, negative feelings, fears, and challenges that may be standing in the way of recovery. Practices that treat the person (not the disorder) can prove effective. No treatment plan is one-size-fits all, and finding the right care is essential to recovery. "Focusing on the patient's total health is an innovative treatment model that is proving effective," Mascolo said. "Our caregivers provide personalized care, compassion and support to complement the medical, nutritional and psychological therapies in a holistic treatment model." Find more information about eating disorders and available treatments at alsana.com. How to Identify an Eating Disorder The first step in effective treatment is identifying a problem. Discussing the answers to these questions with your doctor may help you pinpoint an eating disorder and get you on the path toward recovery. Take the survey to find out if you may have an eating disorder at alsana.com/survey. Do you attempt to restrict calories or foods? Do you make yourself sick because you feel uncomfortably full? Do you worry you have lost control over how much you eat? Have you recently lost more than one stone in a three-month period? Do you believe yourself to be "fat" when others say you are too thin? Would you say food dominates your life? Michael French [email protected] 1-888-824-3337 editors.familyfeatures.com About Family Features Editorial Syndicate A leading source for high-quality food, lifestyle and home and garden content, Family Features provides readers with topically and seasonally relevant tips, takeaways, information, recipes, videos, infographics and more. Find additional articles and information at Culinary.net and eLivingToday.com. SOURCE Family Features Editorial Syndicate By bringing innovative concepts, strategic business planning and comprehensive initiatives to life, these extraordinary women support partners and customers with exceptional leadership. CRN celebrates these women, who are so deserving of recognition, for their constant dedication to channel excellence. "We are proud to once again recognize the remarkable leaders on this year's Women of the Channel list. Their influence, confidence, and diligence continue to accelerate channel success significantly," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "Their accomplishments will inspire others, and we look forward to witnessing their future contributions to the channel." Healy has expanded Ricoh's presence and resources in various industries through both direct and dealer channel marketing. She has proposed and executed entirely new roles driven by paradigm shifts, which has led to her advancements and career success. Over the past seven years, she has focused on leading and building a successful channel marketing strategy that helps Ricoh be a true partner to its dealers, making its powerful marketing apparatus an extension of the dealers' business. In her current role, Healy supports Ricoh's dealer channel transformation and implementation of core strategies fueled by her keen awareness of customer needs. With 22 years of Ricoh experience, six of which have been centered on dealer partner marketing, Salladay develops end-to-end integrated marketing campaigns and programs to support the company's business objectives. In her current role, her primary focus is to understand the biggest challenges for Ricoh's dealer customers and provide them with the tools and support needed to optimize their success and achieve their goals. "We are very proud to see the exemplary work of our talented team members represented among other accomplished women of the channel," said Lauren Sallata, Chief Marketing Officer, Ricoh North America. "At Ricoh, we deliver excellent experiences that drive success for both our customers and dealer partners by providing innovative ways to simplify and transform business processes. Through their deep understanding of channel dynamics, Jennifer and Krista comprehensively address customer challenges and personify Ricoh's commitment to helping them succeed every day." CRN's 2022 Women of the Channel list will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/WOTC. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end-users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. 2022. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. | About Ricoh | Ricoh is empowering digital workplaces using innovative technologies and services that enable individuals to work smarter from anywhere. With cultivated knowledge and organizational capabilities nurtured over its 85-year history, Ricoh is a leading provider of digital services, information management, and print and imaging solutions designed to support digital transformation and optimize business performance. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group has major operations throughout the world and its products and services now reach customers in approximately 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ended March 2022, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 1,758 billion yen (approx. 14.5 billion USD). For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com 2022 Ricoh USA, Inc. All rights reserved. All referenced product names are the trademarks of their respective companies. SOURCE Ricoh USA, Inc. Seasoned GRA from Chicago Marriott Downtown earns third annual award NORTHBROOK, Ill., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UMF Corporation today announced that Mabel Castro, guest room attendant (GRA) at the Chicago Marriott Downtown, has earned the company's third annual Guest Room Attendant Excellence Award. UMF established the GRA Excellence Award in 2020 to acknowledge the crucial role GRAs play in ensuring hotel guest safety, satisfaction, and loyalty in the COVID-19 era. Mabel Castro, Guest Room Attendant at the Chicago Marriott Downtown, is the recipient of UMF | PerfectCLEAN's third annual GRA Excellence Award. "In the more than 15 years that Mabel has worked for Marriott, she has been recognized countless times by our guests for going above and beyond," said Chicago Marriott Downtown Director of Services Victoria DeSantis. "She consistently exceeds our guests' expectations, exuding positive energy, remembering our return guests, and creating personal connections with them. Our guests often specifically request Mabel as their GRA because of these connections and her impeccable attention to detail. Her dedication to Marriott is admirable and well known throughout the hotel. She always upholds Marriott's exacting brand standards, no matter what task she is undertaking." In accordance with the CDC, Safe Stay guidelines from the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) recommend that hotel surfaces frequently touched by multiple people should be cleaned and disinfected at least daily. More frequent cleaning and disinfection may be required based on level of use and local infection risk in locations including: front desk check-in counters, bell desks, elevators and elevator buttons, door handles, public bathrooms, stairwells, vending machines, ice machines, room keys and locks, ATMs, escalator and stair handrails, gym equipment and shower areas, pool seating and surrounding areas, dining surfaces, and all seating areas. In the guest room, the AHLA recommends that housekeeping staff focus on high-touch areas and hard non-porous items including: television remote controls, toilet seats and handles, door and furniture handles, water faucet handles, nightstands, telephones, in-room control panels, light switches, temperature control panels, alarm clocks, and luggage racks. The ABCs of Housekeeping, which evolved from an infection prevention program created for acute care hospitals, details the precise steps for mitigating the risk of cross-contamination throughout the hotel to ensure the safest possible guest and employee environment. "We are honored to recognize Ms. Castro's dedication to meeting the ever-increasing standards of cleanliness and hygiene in the hospitality industry," said UMF Corporation CEO George Clarke. "Over the course of her career, she has committed herself to learning new approaches, making improvements, and sharing those best practices with her team. Responsible for carrying out industry-recommended cleaning and disinfection protocols, GRAs such as Ms. Castro are on the front lines of preventing infection in hospitality. She encompasses GRA excellence." Three additional GRAs were selected as finalists for the 2021 award. They include: Maria Trejo , The Tremont House Hotel, Galveston, Tex. , The Tremont House Hotel, Delmy Bonilla , Sheraton Commander Hotel, Cambridge, Mass. , Sheraton Commander Hotel, Esther Lopez , Residence Inn, Manchester, NH As the 2021 GRA Award recipient, Castro will receive an all-expenses paid trip for two, including airfare, to a location of her choice within the 48 contiguous states. About UMF Corporation UMF Corporation is the leader in the research and development of high-performance products, programs, and training for the infection prevention and commercial cleaning markets. Through extensive testing, exhaustive analysis and the commitment of significant human and financial resources, new antimicrobial technologies have been merged with innovative product designs that are redefining the future of clean. LinkedIn. SOURCE UMF Corporation Presentation will highlight development of recent recommendation for low-level disinfection of transducers used in percutaneous procedures HARTWELL, Ga., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A presentation at the upcoming annual meeting of the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) will discuss the recent development of a policy statement favoring low-level disinfection (LLD) as a safe and sufficient technique for disinfecting ultrasound transducers used in percutaneous procedures such as ultrasound-guided peripheral IV (UGPIV) catheter insertion. The multidisciplinary presentation will feature Nancy Moureau, RN, PhD, an internationally recognized vascular access expert and CEO of PICC Excellence , and Natwalee Kittisarapong, DO, an emergency department physician with emergency ultrasound fellowship experience. They will discuss the development and implementation of the 2021 Intersocietal Position Statement on transducer cleaning and disinfection, which was created by a task force led by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM). The statement advocates the use of LLD effective against bloodborne pathogens as sufficient for ultrasound transducers used in vascular access procedures. "As the use of ultrasound guidance for medical procedures increases, guidelines for transducer disinfection must be established to protect patients from infection risk," says Moureau. "We always want to make sure we're performing safe practices, but it's a balance between doing what is necessary without being excessive. Requiring high-level disinfection would impose significant economic and workflow burdens that could actually limit the use of ultrasound guidance, and would ultimately be harmful to patients." The position statement has received the support of 22 health professional organizationsincluding INSall together representing more than 800,000 healthcare professionals. Moureau and Kittisarapong will discuss application of the position statement to UGPIV procedures, as well as transducer management strategies for mitigating infection risks associated with transducers, gel usage, and touch contamination. INS 2022 Presentation Details: Why One Size Does Not Fit All: Examining the Intersocietal Position Statement on Ultrasound Transducer Disinfection Presented by Nancy Moureau, RN, PhD, and Natwalee Kittisarapong, DO Tuesday, June 7, 2022 11:45 am-12:45 pm Protecting Ultrasound Access in the ED The position statement was developed to address a growing debate among practitioners in a wide range of medical specialties regarding how ultrasound transducers should be disinfected between percutaneous procedures. Some practitioners have supported the use of HLD techniques, which typically involve placing transducers in an apparatus that exposes them to specialized disinfecting chemicals. Meanwhile, other experts have maintained that adequate protection is provided by use of a disposable transducer cover followed by cleaning and LLD, which involves wiping the equipment thoroughly with standard disinfectants. AIUM organized the intersocietal taskforce to examine the evidence available in published studies. The group concluded that LLD is adequate for percutaneous procedures, especially when transducer covers are used. Moreover, requiring HLD for percutaneous procedures is "not evidence based" and will increase "the possibility of safety events if percutaneous procedures are performed without ultrasound guidance," the statement says. According to Kittisarapong, this is especially true in an environment like the emergency department, where clinicians often rely on ultrasound guidance to obtain immediate vascular access for trauma cases and for the significant population of patients with difficult vascular access. "The use of ultrasound has significantly improved our ability to quickly and safely achieve vascular access in our patients, and it is now the standard of care for many procedures in our department," says Kittisarapong. "LLD is the only reasonable choice for protecting patient safety while ensuring that ultrasound technology is still widely available." Patient Safety and ANTT Patient safety during vascular access procedures can also be improved with proper implementation of Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT), which is quickly becoming the global standard for safe aseptic practice. INS added ANTT as a new clinical standard to its 2021 Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice . At the INS meeting, a presentation by Stephen Rowley, MSc, RGN, RSCN, and Simon Clare, MRes, RN, of the Association for Safe Aseptic Practice , will cover the basics of ANTT and how clinicians can implement it within their own organizations. "Aseptic technique is essential for minimizing contamination, but risk to the patient increases if it's not done in an effective and consistent manner," says Rowley. "There is clearly an urgent need for more clinical education on the application of ANTT, as well as greater focus on products that promote standardization to improve aseptic technique in all practice settings." For UGPIV insertion, Moureau recommends using a transparent barrier dressing that facilitates proper ANTT by separating the ultrasound probe and gel from the sterile insertion site, resulting in a safer, gel-free insertion. Manufactured by Parker Laboratories, it is the first dressing designed specifically for use during UGPIV procedures to act as both probe protection and a final transparent dressing cover. INS 2022 Presentation Details: Your Role in Implementing ANTT to Prevent Patient Infection Presented by Stephen Rowley, MSc, RGN, RSCN, and Simon Clare, MRes, RN Sunday, June 5, 2022 11:15 AM12:15 PM The INS 2022 annual meeting will take place June 47, 2022 in Orlando, Fla. About Dr. Nancy Moureau and PICC Excellence Nancy Moureau, RN, PhD, CRNI, CPUI, VA-BC, is founder and CEO of PICC Excellence, a vascular access education and training service for clinicians. Internationally recognized as an expert in vascular access education and training, Moureau is also a member of the Alliance for Vascular Access Teaching and Research (AVATAR), based in Australia. Moureau is widely published in the medical literature , and is a coauthor of recent guidelines that define appropriate indications for the insertion, maintenance, and care of peripherally inserted central catheters. Moureau's consulting organization, PICC Excellence, provides effective, easy-to-understand web-based education, workshops, and on-site training for clinicians worldwide. For more information about PICC Excellence, visit www.piccexcellence.com . About Dr. Natwalee Kittisarapong Nat Kittisarapong, DO is an emergency medicine physician based in Southern California. After finishing her Emergency Medicine/Trauma residency at St John Hospital Health Systems in Detroit, MI, she did fellowship training in emergency ultrasound at Northwell Hospital in Long Island, NY. Her passion lies in ultrasound education, specifically procedural ultrasound and the improvement of patient care through proper ultrasound use as well as resident and medical student education. She has published a chapter in the Ultimate Guide to Point of Care Ultrasound Guided Procedures textbook and is part of the clinical teaching staff at UC Riverside Medical School . Contact: Liz Dowling Dowling & Dennis PR 415-388-2794 [email protected] SOURCE PICC Excellence LUXEMBOURG, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Votorantim Cimentos International S.A. (" VCI "), a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Votorantim Cimentos S.A. (" VCSA "), is announcing today the pricing terms of its previously announced tender offer for cash (the " Tender Offer ") to purchase its 7.250% Senior Notes due 2041 (the " Notes ") in an aggregate principal amount that would result in VCI paying aggregate total consideration (excluding accrued and unpaid interest) not to exceed U.S.$200 million (the " Maximum Purchase Amount "). The Notes are guaranteed by VCSA and Votorantim S.A. (" VSA "). The Tender Offer is being made pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase, dated May 13, 2022 (the " Offer to Purchase "). The total tender consideration to be paid for the Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer was determined by reference to (i) the Fixed Spread for the Notes set forth in the table below and (ii) yield for the Notes (the " Reference Yield ") based on the bid-side price of the U.S. Treasury reference security set forth in the table below (the " Total Tender Consideration "). The Reference Yield was calculated in accordance with standard market practice at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on May 26, 2022. The Total Tender Consideration for the Notes includes an early tender payment (the " Early Tender Payment ") of U.S.$30.00 per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer. The following table sets forth the pricing information for the Tender Offer: Title of Notes CUSIP No. / ISIN No. Reference Security Reference Yield Fixed Spread (basis points) Total Tender Consideration(1)(2)(3) 7.250% Senior Notes due 2041 92911QAA5; P98088AA8 / US92911QAA58; USP98088AA83 UST 2.375% due February 15, 2042 3.226% +281 U.S.$1,135.43 ____________________ (1) Per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer to Purchase. (2) Includes the Early Tender Payment of U.S.$30.00 per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) on or prior to the Early Expiration Deadline. (3) Excludes accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the Early Settlement Date (as defined below) or a date promptly following the Expiration Deadline (the " Final Settlement Date " and, each of the Early Settlement Date and Final Settlement Date, a " Settlement Date "), as the case may be, which will be paid in addition to the Total Tender Consideration or Tender Offer Consideration (as defined below), as the case may be. In addition to the applicable Total Tender Consideration for the Notes, Holders who have validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) their Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 26, 2022 (the " Early Expiration Deadline ") and whose Notes are accepted for purchase by VCI pursuant to the Tender Offer, subject to the Maximum Purchase Amount, will receive accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer from and including the most recent interest payment date to, but not including, the early settlement date, which is currently expected to be June 1, 2022 (the " Early Settlement Date "). Notes validly tendered in the Tender Offer may not be withdrawn after 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on May 26, 2022 (unless extended by VCI), except as may be required by applicable law. Holders of Notes who have not yet tendered their Notes have until 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on June 10, 2022 (such date and time, as the same may be extended, the " Expiration Time "), to tender their Notes pursuant to the Tender Offer in accordance with the terms of the Offer to Purchase. Holders of the Notes who validly tender their Notes following the Early Tender Deadline, but on or prior to the Expiration Time, subject to the Maximum Purchase Amount, will be eligible to receive the applicable " Tender Offer Consideration " for the Notes, which is an amount equal to the Total Tender Consideration less the Early Tender Payment. To the extent VCI purchases validly tendered Notes in an aggregate principal amount representing an aggregate total consideration (excluding accrued and unpaid interest) equal to the Maximum Purchase Amount on the Early Settlement Date, Holders validly tendering Notes after the Early Expiration Deadline will not be entitled to have any of their Notes accepted for purchase. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes validly tendered would result in VCI paying aggregate total consideration (excluding accrued and unpaid interest) that exceeds the Maximum Purchase Amount, only a principal amount of Notes validly tendered representing an aggregate total consideration (excluding accrued and unpaid interest) not exceeding such Maximum Purchase Amount will be accepted for purchase. Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, VCI may, but is not obligated to, increase the Maximum Purchase Amount in its sole and absolute discretion without extending the Early Expiration Deadline or Withdrawal Deadline or otherwise reinstating withdrawal or revocation rights, except as required by applicable law. Copies of the Offer to Purchase are available to holders from D.F. King, the information and tender agent for the Tender Offer (the " Information and Tender Agent "). Requests for copies of the Offer to Purchase should be directed to the Information and Tender Agent, (i) banks and brokers calls, at +1 212 269 5550 (collect), (ii) all other calls, at +1 (800) 628 8538 (toll free U.S. only) or (iii) via email, at [email protected]. VCI has retained BofA Securities, Inc. (" BofA "), Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (" Citigroup "), HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. (" HSBC "), Itau BBA USA Securities, Inc. (" Itau BBA ") and UBS Securities LLC (" UBS ") to act as Dealer Managers in connection with the Tender Offer. Questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to BofA at +1 (646) 855-8988 (collect), +1 (888) 292-0070 (toll free), Citigroup at +1 (212) 723-6106 (collect), +1 (800) 558-3745 (U.S. toll free); HSBC at +1 (212) 525-5552 (collect), +1 (888) HSBC-4LM (toll free); Itau BBA at +1 (888) 770-4828 (toll free) and +1 (212) 710-6749 (collect); and UBS at +1 (203) 719-4210 (collect) and +1 (888) 719-4210 (toll free). Neither the Offer to Purchase nor any related documents have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, nor have any such documents been filed with or reviewed by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority of any country. No authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Offer to Purchase or any related documents, and it is unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make any representation to the contrary. This announcement is not an offer to purchase, a solicitation of an offer to purchase or a solicitation of consents. The Tender Offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase. VCI is making the Tender Offer only in those jurisdictions where it is legal to do so. The Tender Offer is not being made to, nor will VCI accept tenders of Notes from holders in any jurisdiction in which the Tender Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction. About Votorantim Cimentos International S.A. VCI is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of VCSA, a global vertically integrated heavy building materials company, with operations in South America, North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. VCSA and its subsidiaries (collectively, " Votorantim Cimentos ") produce and sell a complete portfolio of building materialswhich includes cement, aggregates, ready mix concrete, mortar and other building materialsand Votorantim Cimentos serves a highly diversified and fragmented client base. VCSA is a wholly-owned, direct subsidiary of VSA, a privately held holding company. VSA's portfolio companies operate in 16 countries in various industries: building materials, finance, aluminum, clean and renewable energy, metals and mining, orange juice, long steel, real estate, and infrastructure. NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are and will be, as the case may be, subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to VCI and its affiliates that may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Although VCI believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information currently available to VCI's management, VCI cannot guarantee future results or events. VCI expressly disclaims a duty to update any of the forward-looking statements. SOURCE Votorantim Cimentos International S.A. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NOAA is predicting an above-average hurricane season this year. However, travel insurance aggregator, Squaremouth.com , says an uptick in tropical weather shouldn't cause a major impact for summer travelers. Due to the opening of European borders, Caribbean destinations most prone to summer hurricanes will see less travelers this summer than over the past two years. European countries replace popular Caribbean destinations Earlier this year, Squaremouth reported a spike in trips to Europe . This summer, US tourists are returning to Italy, the UK, and France more than any other countries, replacing tropical getaways that remained open and popular throughout the pandemic, including Costa Rica, Turks and Caicos, and the Virgin Islands. This summer, the only tropical destination among Squaremouth's top 10 most popular countries is Mexico, with Canada and the Philippines being the only other non-European countries included on the list. Covid-19 still more concerning to travelers than hurricanes 88% of customers on Squaremouth.com indicated they weren't worried about a hurricane impacting their travels this summer. Of those travelers, almost 40% are planning to travel to Europe, compared to just 16% visiting the Caribbean. In comparison, 40% of summer travelers have specifically sought out coverage for contracting Covid-19, including cancellation, medical, and quarantine benefits. This is by far the biggest concern for travelers this summer. Most travel insurance policies on Squaremouth.com include coverage for contracting Covid-19, as well as Hurricane and Weather benefits at no additional cost. Methodology: Squaremouth Analytics compared thousands of travel insurance policies purchased for travel during the 2022 summer season to identify trends and shifts in traveler behavior. Squaremouth also surveyed over 2,900 customers to understand what concerns were driving their travel insurance purchases for summer trips. Available Topic Expert: Megan Moncrief, Chief Marketing Officer, is available for comment and interview. [email protected] (727) 378-0938 Additional Resources: About Squaremouth: Squaremouth.com has insured over 2 million travelers. Using Squaremouth's intuitive quoting and comparison engine , award-winning support team, and verified customer reviews, travelers can save time and money to find the best travel insurance policy for their trip. SOURCE Squaremouth WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WILL Interactive has been honored at the 27th Annual Viddy Awards. WILL's groundbreaking Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging product, A Brighter Tomorrow, has won a Platinum Viddy for Video Series. Platinum awards are earned by companies whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry. Viddy Awards A Brighter Tomorrow was selected from nearly 2,500 entries from across the U.S. and around the world. "It is truly exciting to see innovation recognized on this crucial topic. We believe our science-based approach will help lead to better workplaces for us all," said Sharon Sloane, CEO of WILL Interactive. A Brighter Tomorrow is a comprehensive learning experience in DE&I that meets employees where they are in an accessible, friendly, and private environment. With a diverse cast and engaging reality-based storytelling, A Brighter Tomorrow guides learners through DE&I concepts in fun and easy to digest short modules. Using WILL Interactive's proprietary Choose Your Own JourneyTM learning methodology, users make choices as different characters to experience the professional and personal impacts of DE&I concepts from a variety of perspectives. About the Viddy Awards: Viddy Awards is an international competition honoring video excellence in a digital world. Viddy traces its roots to 1994 when it was known as the Videographer Awards. Viddy Awards' categories are the products of the industry's evolving tools, including long and short form videos, broadcast and non-broadcast television programs, commercials, social media videos, podcasts, remote learning, animation, and virtual and augmented reality. About WILL Interactive: WILL Interactive is the sole provider of Choose Your Own Journey immersive and experiential training. Committed to learning initiatives that address issues important not only to organizations, but all of society, WILL training products cover sexual harassment, unconscious bias, effective policing, and many more issues of national concern. Proven in 9 independent studies to positively improve behaviors, WILL's programs are used by many of the most respected names in America including Yale-New Haven Health System, AIG, and the Department of Defense. WILL delivers off-the-shelf solutions to organizations of all sizes and partners with market leaders to create new, groundbreaking training tools that employees love to use. For more information, please visit willinteractive.com or contact 301.983.6006 Media Contact: Brittney Sweeney 301-983-6006 [email protected] SOURCE WILL Interactive PINELLAS PARK, Fla., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Reporter Newsletter is a service of Access Ready Inc. which is an independent, non-profit, cross-disability education and advocacy organization promoting a policy of inclusion and accessibility of information and communications technology (ICT). For people with disabilities, accessible information and communications technology is a necessity, not a luxury or a convenience, which fosters independence, economic self-sufficiency, and active, meaningful participation in civic life. In all his 42 years in the Senate, Orrin Hatch's greatest achievement was his last-minute rescue of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Capitol Hill, July 11, 1990 The greatest civil rights law since the 1960s was about to die on the floor of the U.S. Senate. There was only one person who could save it Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah. But he didn't know how to do it. Read More HOW STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION EXPLORED BLINDNESS & ACCESSIBILITY WITH GEORDI LAFORGE Throughout the many additions to the Star Trek universe, one key element remains at its core: a fundamental drive to explore topical difficult subject matters, like racism, sexism, and even fascism, all through futuristic allegory. Star Trek: The Next Generation took these philosophical and ethics based quandaries to the next level, often the subject tackled by the fan favorite Captain Jean-Luc Picard, but one character embodies the idea of striving for a better future unburdened by discrimination Read More Business Accessibility UNIONS MUST FIGHT FOR DISABLED WORKERS Read More JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND EEOC WARN AGAINST DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION Read More Current Legal Actions AEW FACING LAWSUIT FOR VIOLATING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT Read More PNC CLASS ACTION ALLEGES WEBSITE NOT ACCESSIBLE TO BLIND, VISUALLY IMPAIRED Read More UNCOMMON GOODS CLASS ACTION CLAIMS WEBSITE NOT ACCESSIBLE TO BLIND, VISUALLY IMPAIRED Read More TALBOTS CLASS ACTION CLAIMS WEBSITE NOT ACCESSIBLE TO BLIND, VISUALLY IMPAIRED Read More MARRIOTT CLASS ACTION CLAIMS WEBSITE NOT ACCESSIBLE TO BLIND, VISUALLY IMPAIRED Read More Election Accessibility Sponsored by VOTEC FRESNO COUNTY ELECTION OFFICIALS FOCUSING ON ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVITY June 7 primary elections in California are around the corner, and Fresno County is highlighting flexible and convenient options for voters. The California Voters Choice Act modernizes elections by providing more convenience and flexibility to voters. This election model -- which has been in Fresno County for at least four elections now -- allows voters to choose how, when, and where to cast their ballot. This is a big deal for those with disabilities like Sarah Harris, who lost her sight 20 years after a car accident Read More BILL TO UPDATE DISABILITY BENEFITS WINS CRUCIAL REPUBLICAN CO-SPONSOR Read More FLORIDA COLLEGE VALEDICTORIAN WITH NONVERBAL AUTISM DELIVERS MOTIVATIONAL GRADUATION ADDRESS USING A TEXT-TO-SPEECH COMPUTER PROGRAM Read More Government Spotlight DEAF EDUCATION VOTE IS THE LATEST PARENTS' RIGHTS BATTLEGROUND IN L.A. Read More DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCES INTENT TO STRENGTHEN AND PROTECT RIGHTS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES BY AMENDING REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING SECTION 504 Read More Healthcare Accessibility MASTER GENE THAT CAN RESTORE HEARING LOSS DISCOVERED In a breakthrough, US scientists have discovered a single master gene that programs ear hair cells into either outer or inner ones, overcoming a major hurdle that had prevented the development of these cells to restore hearing. Read More NEW ALZHEIMER'S TEST COULD DETECT DISEASE EARLY, BE MORE ACCESSIBLE Read More Technology Spotlight TOP TECH TIDBITS MAY 12 2022 Top Tech Tidbits. The world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in adaptive technology. Adaptive Technology refers to items that are specifically designed for people with disabilities. Adaptive Technology is a subset of Assistive Technology. Adaptive Technology often refers specifically to electronic and information technology access. Read More Sponsored by Commonlook Content Curation sponsored by Microassist Circulation sponsored by eReleases Assistive Technology curation sponsored by Top Tech Tidbits Contact: Douglas Towne 727-531-1000 [email protected] SOURCE Access Ready Inc GREENVILLE, S.C., May 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ACL Airshop, a technology-enabled market leader in air cargo products and services, is pleased to be attending Air Cargo India in Mumbai, India on May 31 June 2, 2022, and the Air Cargo Tech Summit in Miami, Florida on June 6-7, 2022. The company will be highlighting its growth plans in the India region, and its latest technology innovations with Bluetooth cargo-tracking efficiencies. ACL Airshop, with over 200 airlines as clients, has air cargo ULD leasing, servicing, manufacturing, repairs, and specialized ULD logistics services delivered through over 55 of the world's Top 100 cargo hub airports on six continents. ACL Airshop continues steady advances for growing the network in all dimensions, accelerated with investments in market-leading new logistics and tracking technologies. Headquartered in South Carolina USA and with its main international head office in Amsterdam NL, the company has been strategically expanding in the past five years, following and pivoting with its customers as they keep pace with market demands. The Air Cargo India convention in Mumbai starting May 31st offers new business opportunities, global perspectives, and strong networking platforms for its stakeholders. The Indian air cargo sector continues to remain among the world's leading marketplaces for domestic and international players. Expanding cargo-handling infrastructure at airports, demand for speedy delivery, greater trade and commerce, and increase in the number of flights operating are some of the key reasons for this growth. Maurice van Terheijden, ACL Airshop's Managing Director for business in that region, will be an expert panelist for "Cross-border ecommerce and its impact on air cargo." LONDON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Advent Life Sciences, a leading transatlantic venture and growth investor focused on building innovative life science companies in the UK, Europe, and the US, announced today that it has appointed three senior members to its team, all sector investment specialists, and adept at building companies and supporting them in translating ideas into transformative medicines. Dominic Schmidt, based in the UK, and Satish Jindal, based in Boston, USA, have been appointed General Partners. Katrine Bosley, based in Boston, USA, joins as Venture Partner. Advent's investment team now includes 18 professionals with a track record of nurturing entrepreneurs and companies to deliver innovative new medicines. Dominic previously spent eight years as a Partner in the investment team of Syncona, where he was involved in the founding, funding, and building of several life science businesses and served on the Boards of Anaveon, Orbit Biomedical, Gyroscope Therapeutics (acquired by Novartis), Purespring Therapeutics and Forcefield Therapeutics. Dominic has a degree in Biochemistry from the Free University of Berlin and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, and a PhD from the Department of Oncology at the University of Cambridge. Dominic was a Cancer Research UK scholar, and his award-winning research has been published in Cell, Nature, and Science. Satish was previously serving as CEO of BioMotiv, an early-stage investment fund. Satish was a co-founder and CEO of NeoGenesis (acquired by Schering-Plough, now Merck), co-founder and President of Verastem (NADAQ: VSTM) and co-founder of Elicio Therapeutics. He also served as Vice President and Site Head at Schering-Plough Research Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Vice President at Bristol-Myers Squibb. Satish's PhD in Biochemistry is from Punjab University in India. He did his postdoctoral research at MIT's Whitehead Institute. Katrine is an entrepreneur with over 30 years biotech industry experience. She is Chair of the Board of Arrakis Therapeutics, founding CEO of DaCapo Brainscience, and a Board member of Genocea Biosciences. Katrine was CEO of Editas Medicine, the first company established to develop CRISPR-based gene editing therapeutics. Before that she was CEO of Avila Therapeutics, and held various roles at The Broad Institute, Adnexus Therapeutics, Biogen, Highland Capital Partners, and Alkermes. Katrine has been recognized as one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company, as CEO of the Year by Xconomy, as one of 30 Global Game Changers by Forbes, as Entrepreneur of the Year by the New England Venture Capital Association, and as one of the Top Ten Women in Biotech by Fierce Biotech. Shahzad Malik, General Partner, Advent Life Sciences said: "I'm delighted to welcome Dominic, Satish, and Katrine. They bring a wealth of expertise to our talented team. Since its launch, Advent Life Sciences has invested at the interface of academic research and commercial drug development with a focus on identifying and backing high-potential innovations that can deliver important new medicines for unmet medical needs. The last few years have reinforced the vital need to translate world class science into the discovery and development of new medicines to tackle devasting diseases." Dominic Schmidt, General Partner, Advent Life Sciences said: "Advent is one Europe's leading venture capital firms in the life sciences space with a long successful track record resulting in an impressive 14 approved medicines and products to the benefit of patients. I am looking forward to working with such a hands-on and entrepreneurial team supporting Advent's long-standing successful strategy of backing high-potential life sciences companies." Satish Jindal, General Partner, Advent Life Sciences said: "It's a great pleasure to join the stellar team at Advent, who have founded over 35 new biotech companies that are focused on translating academic research into the next generation of medicines. This stage of development in life sciences is underserved and we have extensive experience in supporting new companies through the critical early years." Katrine Bosley, Venture Partner, Advent Life Sciences said: "I'm delighted to join the Advent team and provide on-the-ground in-market support in Boston, USA, right at the heart of the world's biggest cluster of biotech expertise. Venture financing is critical to the development of new medicines, more so than ever in these turbulent public market times, and it will continue to deliver real impact to patients in addition to strong financial returns." About Advent Life Sciences Advent Life Sciences founds and invests in early- and mid-stage life sciences companies that have a first- or best-in-class approach to unmet medical needs. The investing team consists of experienced professionals, each with extensive scientific, medical and operational experience, a long-standing record of entrepreneurial and investment success in the US and Europe and is particularly focused on supporting entrepreneurs and founders to take innovative new medical entities from concept to approval. The firm invests in a range of sectors within life sciences, principally drug discovery, enabling technologies and med tech, always with an emphasis on innovative, paradigm-changing approaches. Advent Life Sciences has a presence in the UK, US and France. For more information, please visit www.AdventLS.com SOURCE Advent Life Sciences At least 65 people mostly farmers were reportedly killed when terrorists struck at different times in Katsina and Borno states between Sunday and Tuesday, Daily Trust reports. Our correspondents gathered that 50 people were killed and an unspecified number injured when the Boko Haram fighters attacked Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State on Sunday. Kala Balge is the easternmost LGA and has its headquarters in the town of Rann, situated on the international border between Nigeria and Cameroon, 365 km from Maiduguri. Rann and adjoining villages have remained targets of attacks by terrorists, who killed and maimed people over the years. The locals who are mostly farmers, fishermen and businessmen have lost their loved ones and fortunes to terrorists due to the limited presence of security operatives and full restoration of civilian authorities. During Sunday's killing, a source told one of our correspondents that the insurgents accused the locals of spying on them and revealing their location to the military despite several warnings to look the other way. It was learnt that the villagers were rounded up and held hostage by the proscribed group a few kilometres away from Rann town, the local government headquarters around 3pm. The source said the ISWAP fighters withheld them for about 2 hours before releasing the elderly men and three children among them and later slaughtered the rest one after the other. The source said, "In the last few weeks, Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have lost scores of their fighters to the military onslaught against them. "They believed that most of their locations were revealed to the military by the locals. They warned them to stay away from their location but the civilian did not listen. They called them betrayals and said the killing would serve as lessons to others." A Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama, said the fighters attacked the peasant farmers who were working in their fields with machetes. "The bodies were dismembered while some were tied up and their throats slit by the terrorists. "More dead bodies have been recovered, not less than 50 corpses and they have been buried according to Islamic rites Monday evening. The search for bodies continues because many are still missing," he said. The House of Representatives member from the area, Zainab Gimba, confirmed the incident to the BBC Hausa service monitored by our correspondent. She said the incident indeed was a sad one and urged the military to do more to protect lives and property. It would be recalled that the insurgents had in November 2020 killed 48 rice farmers working on their farms in Zabarmari town in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State. The farmers were slaughtered by insurgents at the neighbouring Koshebe town in Mafa Local Government Area. They were reportedly working on their farms in different locations including Zabarmari, Koshebe, Bulaburin, Karkut, Gudda, Gudda Cizama and Azaya before they were assembled at Koshebe and killed. I'm yet to be briefed - Police commissioner The military and Borno State Government were yet to speak on the matter. On his part, the Commissioner of Police Commissioner in the state, Abdu Umar, who journalists approached at the International Conference Hall, Musa Usman Secretariat, in Maiduguri, yesterday said that he has not been briefed by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area or the local government chairman. 15 farmers killed in Katsina In Katsina, the terrorists went on a rampage Tuesday killing at least 15 farmers when they stormed Gakurdi village in Jibia Local Government Area. A resident told Daily Trust that the victims of the Katsina attack were killed while preparing their farms ahead of the rainy season. He said the bandits, who rode on four motorcycles, were initially headed for Gakurdi village. He said when they sighted the farmers, they began shooting. "They came around 8.30am today (Tuesday) using four motorcycles and started killing the people. Three were killed on the same farm and eventually, it was discovered that up to 15 were killed on different farms," he said. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He added that by the time the villagers discovered what was happening, the attackers had fled the area. In a related development, bandits rustled over 100 cows at Danye Gaba village, Bugaje ward also in Jibia LGA of Katsina State. Danye Gaba village is about two kilometres away from the 17 Brigade, a military barracks in Katsina. A resident, who craved anonymity, said the cows belonging to about seven persons were taken away by the rustlers around 1.30 am on Tuesday. He alleged that the movement of the criminals was known since around 8pm on Monday and different security agencies were alerted but no proactive measure was taken until the bandits struck. However, another resident who confirmed the incident said there was an exchange of gunfire between the criminals and the security agents during the attack. The Commissioner of Police, Idrisu Dauda Dabban who visited the area commiserated with the families of those killed and assured them of adequate protection. He also said similar incident will not happen again. In connection with the company's filing of its preliminary proxy statement, the company's Board of Directors (the Board) disclosed its slate of director nominees for the Annual Meeting, which includes a new, independent director candidate, Christopher I. Wright, M.D., Ph.D., who was appointed to the Board on May 24, 2022. Dr. Wright is a highly accomplished scientific and medical leader with nearly three decades of drug development and clinical expertise in diseases of the central nervous system. Dr. Wright currently serves as Chief Medical Officer at AavantiBio, Inc. and previously served in senior medical and clinical roles at Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc., Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Axcella Health Inc., and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, where he oversaw the development of ORKAMBI and KALYDECO. In addition to his industry experience, Dr. Wright brings more than 20 years of experience as both a practicing, board-certified neurologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and as an Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. "I'm delighted to join Alkermes' Board as the company seeks to develop innovative medicines and focus on real-world challenges faced by people living with complex and serious neuropsychiatric diseases. Neuroscience remains an untapped frontier in medicine and I look forward to working with the Board and Alkermes' management team as they focus on advancing new medicines to help address the significant unmet needs that remain," said Dr. Wright. "Chris brings significant and complementary expertise in the field of neuroscience to the Board. His proven success in developing and securing approval of important new therapies and his background as a practicing neurologist uniquely position him to provide valuable insights to the company as we seek to develop medicines to treat complex neurological diseases, a key focus area of our development pipeline," said Richard Pops, Chief Executive Officer of Alkermes. "The robust board refreshment efforts during the past three years reflect Alkermes' continued commitment to a strong, independent board of individuals with diverse backgrounds, expertise and skillsets that align with the company's strategic priorities of growing our commercial portfolio of proprietary products, advancing our development pipeline of neuroscience and oncology candidates, and driving profitability. Alkermes has demonstrated significant business momentum in 2021 and into 2022, as reflected by multiple quarters of strong execution against our strategic priorities, positioning us well to deliver long-term shareholder value." Appointment of Nancy J. Wysenski as New Lead Independent Director and Retirement of Longer-Serving Directors as Part of Board Refreshment Process As part of the Board's continued refreshment process, Nancy J. Wysenski has been appointed as Lead Independent Director, effective as of the close of the Annual Meeting. Two longer-serving directors, David W. Anstice AO, the company's current Lead Independent Director, and Wendy L. Dixon, Ph.D., will retire from the Board at the close of the Annual Meeting. Mr. Pops stated, "We're delighted to have Nancy assume the role of Lead Independent Director, a testament to her dedication and leadership since joining the Board. On behalf of Alkermes and the Board, I would like to express our most sincere appreciation to David and Wendy for their many contributions to the company, their steadfast leadership, and their distinguished tenure on the Board. The company has benefitted greatly from their expertise and commitment to Alkermes' growth and success." With the appointment announced today, the Board has appointed seven new independent directors since 2019, including three in the last year alone, further strengthening its expertise in targeted areas of importance. Each of the new directors appointed to the Board is independent and has no previous connections to the company or its leadership team. In addition, five longer-serving directors have retired over the course of the past three years. As a result of these significant board refreshment activities, the Board has increased the diversity of its membership and has reduced the average director tenure from approximately six years as of June 30, 2019 to approximately three years as of the close of the upcoming Annual Meeting. The recent additions to the Board include three directors appointed with the support of Elliott Investment Management L.P. Emily Peterson Alva in May 2021, and David A. Daglio and Brian P. McKeon in December 2020 as well as a director designated by Sarissa Capital Management (together with its affiliates, Sarissa) Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D. in November 2021. In 2021, the company initiated declassification of its Board, which the company's shareholders approved and which will be completed over a three-year period. In May 2022, at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, the company's shareholders approved establishment of a plurality voting standard for contested director elections. These actions exemplify the company's commitment to best practices in corporate governance. Alkermes' Engagement with Sarissa The company's preliminary proxy statement highlights the company's extensive engagement with Sarissa since 2020, including more than 20 calls and virtual meetings as well as a recent in-person meeting, initiated by the company's Chairman of the Board, at Sarissa's offices in Greenwich, Conn. In early January 2022, approximately six weeks after the Board appointed a director designated by Sarissa, the company received a notice from Sarissa nominating another two Sarissa director candidates for election to the Board. Consistent with the Board's nomination process, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, which is composed of independent directors Drs. Dixon and Snyderman and, Sarissa designee, Dr. Laurencin, considered the qualifications of the Sarissa director nominees and, in this context, the attributes, qualifications and experience previously identified by the Board as important in order to support the long-term strategy of the company and create shareholder value. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee unanimously determined that the Sarissa nominees' key attributes and experience were neither additive to the Board at this time nor consistent with those attributes and experience previously identified by the Board as important in a new director nominee, and therefore not in the best interests of all shareholders. The company repeatedly offered to work with Sarissa to identify a mutually agreeable director candidate, such as Dr. Wright, possessing these desired qualifications and experience; however, Sarissa declined. Throughout the engagement, Sarissa was complimentary of the company's strategy, performance and management, including the Board's appointment of Dr. Wright to the Board. Until yesterday, when Alex Denner, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Sarissa Capital, objected to the Board's director nomination process and, in particular, its decision not to recommend or appoint a Sarissa nominee as a director, Sarissa had never voiced any concerns regarding the company's governance practices. Sarissa has not once presented a plan or new ideas for the business and has instead focused entirely on its belief that it deserves to have additional directors on the Board. About Christopher Wright, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Wright currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of AavantiBio, Inc., a Cambridge, Mass.-based company focused on developing precision gene therapies for the treatment of debilitating diseases. Prior to joining AavantiBio, Dr. Wright served as Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer of Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc. (Cyclerion), where he led global development functions across therapeutic areas, and prior to that served as Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Earlier in his career, Dr. Wright served as Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer of Axcella Health Inc. and Senior Vice President of Global Medicines Development and Affairs at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Vertex), where he led global development functions across therapeutic areas, including clinical development and operations, regulatory and medical affairs, and pharmacovigilance. In his role at Vertex, Dr. Wright directly oversaw the successful submission of medications for approval to the FDA, EMA and other regulatory bodies. Dr. Wright currently serves as a Scientific Advisor for Cyclerion. Dr. Wright was an Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and a practicing, board-certified neurologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital for 20 years. Dr. Wright earned his A.B., Magna Cum Laude, in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard University and his M.D., Magna Cum Laude, in Medicine and Neuroscience from Harvard Medical School. Later, he earned his Ph.D. in Neuroanatomy from Vrije Universiteit and his MMSc. in Clinical Investigation from Harvard Medical School. About Alkermes plc Alkermes plc is a fully-integrated, global biopharmaceutical company developing innovative medicines in the fields of neuroscience and oncology. The company has a portfolio of proprietary commercial products focused on alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder, and a pipeline of product candidates in development for neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Alkermes plc has an R&D center in Waltham, Massachusetts; a research and manufacturing facility in Athlone, Ireland; and a manufacturing facility in Wilmington, Ohio. For more information, please visit Alkermes' website at www.alkermes.com. Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements set forth in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, but not limited to, statements concerning the potential therapeutic and commercial value of the company's products and development candidates; the company's ongoing commitment to regular Board refreshment; and the company's strategic priorities and ability to deliver long-term shareholder value. The company cautions that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Although the company believes that such statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, the forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and they are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk. Actual performance and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various risks and uncertainties, including the unpredictable outcome of contested director elections and those risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021 and in subsequent filings made by the company with the SEC, which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the company disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Important Additional Information and Where to Find It The company intends to file a definitive proxy statement, accompanying WHITE proxy card and other relevant documents with the SEC in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH OR FURNISHED TO THE SEC, INCLUDING THE COMPANY'S DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and shareholders will be able to obtain a copy of the definitive proxy statement and other documents filed by the company with the SEC free of charge from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In addition, copies will be available at no charge by visiting the "Investors" section of the company's website at www.alkermes.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Certain Information Regarding Participants in the Solicitation The company, its directors and certain of its executive officers are participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders in respect of the Annual Meeting. Information regarding the names of such participants and their respective interests in the company, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in the company's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on Feb. 16, 2022 and amended by a Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 29, 2022; the company's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC from time to time; and in Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 or Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC from time to time. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the direct and indirect interests of these participants, by security holdings or otherwise, will also be included in the definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC, if and when they become available. ORKAMBI and KALYDECO are registered trademarks of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Alkermes Contacts: For Investors: Sandy Coombs, +1 781 609 6377 For Media: Katie Joyce, +1 781 249 8927 SOURCE Alkermes plc Download a sample PDF of this sourcing and procurement report Aluminum Market: Supplier Intelligence Our sourcing and procurement report provides detailed insights and analysis of the major cost drivers, volume drivers, and innovations of the Aluminum procurement and sourcing market, which the global suppliers have been leveraging to gain a competitive edge across regions. Some of the leading Aluminum suppliers profiled extensively in this report include: China Hongqiao Group Ltd. Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd. Alcoa Corp. This sourcing and procurement report provides detailed analysis on: Strategies deployed by major category end-users The most adopted and high potential pricing models Managing commodity price volatility Negotiate on pricing and contractual terms Get more information about "Supplier Intelligence" from our sample report Aluminum Market: Price Strategies and Pricing Models To optimize the value of the purchase it is crucial to keep a track of current and future price trends. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects a change of 4%-7%. Identify favourable opportunities in oil and gas pipeline safety TCO (total cost of ownership) Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities Know more about these pricing strategies and models, click here SpendEdge's Smart Procurement for Aluminum Market SpendEdge's procurement intelligence platform is the go-to tool for companies looking to access latest procurement research insights and supplier data on an easy to use platform. Subscribe to our FREE starter plan if you are looking to explore our capabilities: View 6 full reports View 800+ report samples Pre-order upcoming reports Dedicated account manager Invite colleagues to try platform Our web-based procurement platform has helped procurement professionals and sourcing teams manage multiple spend areas and achieve more than $2 billion in savings - Sign up for free today! Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. Contact SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SOURCE SpendEdge ASU, with the assistance of the Deloitte Foundation, to give select Maricopa Community College students scholarship funding to pursue an undergraduate degree in accounting at ASU's W. P. Carey School of Business TEMPE, Ariz., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aware of the lack of diversity in the accounting field and the financial struggles many transfer students face, Arizona State University and the Deloitte Foundation are committed to helping make a difference locally. A new need-based scholarship, the Deloitte Foundation Bridge Scholarship Program, will help support student populations in Arizona and help strengthen the pipeline of diverse accountancy professionals in the Valley. The funding will provide select Maricopa Community College students with scholarships to pursue a bachelor's degree in accounting at ASU's W. P. Carey School of Business. "We wanted to make the transition from community college to our ASU accounting program more affordable for students with financial needs," said Andy Call, director of the School of Accountancy and Accountancy Professional Advisory Board Professor. "The Deloitte Foundation Bridge Program scholarships will provide increased opportunity for diverse students to pursue an accounting education and pathway to a successful career." The Deloitte Foundation and ASU plan to provide scholarships to Maricopa Community College students to cover third- and fourth-year tuition as they pursue undergraduate degrees in accounting at W. P. Carey. This new undergraduate scholarship program seeks to provide a bridge for community college students to help them transition to an undergraduate accounting program. "This bridge program creates pathways for youth who may face multiple barriers to be part of the next generation of business leaders in Arizona and beyond," said Ken Udenze, Arizona marketplace leader and managing partner, Deloitte LLP. "I'm proud that the Deloitte Foundation is helping to diversify the local talent pipeline and demonstrate the importance of inclusion in the accounting profession." The effort also reflects ASU's charter, which challenges the university to evaluate itself on whom it includes and how they succeed. "I welcome different opportunities to help a variety of students enter our accountancy program," said Amy Ostrom, interim dean of the W. P. Carey School of Business and PetSmart chair in Services Leadership. "Giving students the financial assistance to get a degree and help them succeed is a core value of ASU's mission." ASU provides relationship support for the Bridge Scholarship recipients who transfer to W. P. Carey, helping the university further advance its charter of helping all students achieve success. "On behalf of the Academic Enterprise at ASU, I am thrilled to collaborate with the Deloitte Foundation to create a pathway that will help lead more students to attain an accounting degree," said Nancy Gonzales, executive vice president and university provost at ASU. "The program can lead students toward an in-demand career that can help benefit their lives and positively impact the state of Arizona." About the W. P. Carey School of Business The W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University is one of the top-ranked business schools in the United States. The school is internationally regarded for its research productivity and distinguished faculty members, including a Nobel Prize winner. Students come from more than 100 countries, and alumni represent W. P. Carey in over 160 countries. Visit wpcarey.asu.edu. About the Deloitte Foundation The Deloitte Foundation, founded in 1928, is a not-for-profit organization that supports education in the U.S. through a variety of initiatives that help develop the next generation of diverse business leaders, and their influencers, and promote excellence in teaching, research, and curriculum innovation. The Foundation sponsors an array of national programs relevant to a variety of professional services, benefiting high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, and educators. Learn more about the Deloitte Foundation. For more information, contact: Shay Moser, W. P. Carey School of Business [email protected] 480-965-3963 SOURCE W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University CLEARWATER BEACH, Fla., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheraton Sand Key Resort's CEO, Russ Kimball announced this week that their award-winning Executive Chef, Chef Andrew Basch has joined the prestigious Chaine des Rotisseurs, the world's oldest international gastronomic society devoted to the promotion of fine dining, culinary arts and bringing together the world's top chefs. The community has welcomed Basch by honoring him with membership in this gastronomic society that was founded in Paris in 1248. Boasting over 20 years of experience in the food service industry, Chef Andrew Basch joined Sheraton Sand Key in 2019 to oversee their culinary operations. "Being part of the culinary team at Sheraton Sand Key Resort has inspired me to be creative, pull inspiration from my Italian and German roots and provide our guests with a unique fine-dining experience they can't get anywhere else," explained Basch. Basch oversees the catering and banquet operations for Sheraton Sand Key Resort, as well as, four on-site restaurants and bars that offer a variety of menu options and ambiances, including Rusty's Bistro, an eight-time consecutive Golden Spoon Awards Winner by Florida Trend Magazine. Basch has continued the legacy of the Sand Key staple, Rusty's Bistro, by giving guests a memorable dining experience with locally sourced and innovative menu options. Basch commented on the achievement, "As a chef, I always want to provide exceptional service and exciting cuisine that is reflective of the region and gives guests a unique culinary experience. I'm proud to be a member of this historic organization among some of the world's top culinary talents." About Sheraton Sand Key Resort Sheraton Sand Key Resort is located directly on the beach at Sand Key. Offering 390 rooms and suites overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway, the resort offers a legacy of exceptional hospitality serving guests from around the world. For more information, visit https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/tpasi-sheraton-sand-key-resort About Chaine des Rotisseurs Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs is the world's oldest international gastronomic society, founded in Paris in 1248. It is devoted to preserving the camaraderie and pleasures of the table and to promoting excellence in all areas of the hospitality arts. For more information, visit https://www.chaineus.org/ SOURCE Sheraton Sand Key Resort Forbes teamed up with market research firm Statista to identify the 150 best executive recruiters for its sixth annual list of America's Best Executive Search Firms, which recruit executives for jobs with annual gross earnings of more than $100,000. They considered over 22,400 nominations from more than 31,000 recruiters, HR professionals, hiring managers, and candidates. The firms with the most recommendations were ranked highest. "We are honored to be ranked No. 26 by Forbes and to be continually recognized by the business community and our clients, candidates, and peers for excellence in executive recruiting," said Fernando Ortiz-Barbachano, President & CEO of Barbachano International. "Since 1992, we have delivered a superior client and candidate experience with a multicultural focus. Developing and strengthening our people, culture, process, and technology has impacted the growth and success of our clients and our candidates." "This year marks our 30-year anniversary and Barbachano International celebrates our commitment to transforming the lives of people and achieving major breakthroughs for the companies we serve, one executive at a time," continued Fernando Ortiz-Barbachano. "Making a difference is what motivates our team to continue on that journey." About Barbachano International Barbachano International (BIP) is the premier executive search and leadership advisory firm in the Americas (USA, Mexico, Latin America, & Canada) with a focus on diversity and multicultural target markets. BIP has 15 search practice groups including Consumer Goods, Manufacturing, Agribusiness, Medical Devices, Automotive, Aerospace, Electronics & Technology, among others. Since 1992, BIP and its affiliates have impacted the profitability of over 50% of Fortune 500 Companies. Headquartered in San Diego, California with satellite offices in Florida and Mexico. As member-owners of NPAworldwide Recruitment Network, we are supported by partner offices in over 50 countries. Media Contact Company Name: Barbachano International, Inc Contact Person: Claudia Lorenzo Email: [email protected] Phone: 619-427-2310 SOURCE Barbachano International, Inc. The first U.S. state legislature, one of the first refinery cities, four new Canadian cities, and many more take action to stop fossil fuel expansion & fast-track clean energy RICHMOND, Calif., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, Richmond, California became the 51st community around the world and one of the first frontline refinery communities to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and commit to SAFE Cities policies. To honor this leadership and momentum, SAFE Cities, Stand.earth, and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative have announced they will host a live online event today, Thursday, May 26 at 9:30 AM PT/12:30 ET. Click to join: http://www.stand.earth/SAFEstream In April and May alone, 10 new governments in Canada and the US have introduced or passed resolutions naming the need to move off fossil fuels. Many of these are also home to existing or developing actionable policies that stop fossil fuel expansion and accelerate a just transition to renewable energy. This leadership by local and subnational governments and advocates shows how the tide is turning against powerful fossil fuels interests. Anne Pernick, SAFE Cities and Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Community Manager at Stand.earth: "Each of these jurisdictions is taking responsibility for moving beyond fossil fuels, using their authority to protect the health and safety of their communities as well as global climate. They are working for a secure future where their neighbors and people around the world, especially those most vulnerable, are safe from the impacts of fossil fuels and climate change. SAFE Cities is honored to support their leadership." Eduardo Martinez, Vice Mayor of Richmond, CA: "In Richmond, we banned coal shipments from our port. We passed an all-electric policy for new buildings. These policies protect our community and global climate. We are one of the first refinery cities to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty because we need action by every level of government to move us off fossil fuels and to a cleaner, safer future." SAFE Cities supports the work of these and other local and subnational government leaders and advocates with technical, policy, communications, and organizing assistance, and by creating opportunities for local climate and environmental leaders to connect and collaborate on creating policies to stop fossil fuel expansion and phase out fossil fuels. SOURCE Stand.earth State's leading private health plan is among first in nation to launch a Nudge Unit to empower members and clinicians to improve health care decision making BOSTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) wants to make it easier for members to make better health care choices. The company's recently created Nudge Unit uses behavioral insights to present information in new ways that can lead to improved decision making and better health outcomes. Nudges - also known as choice architecture - change the way information is presented and choices are offered, making it easier for a consumer to make a better decision. "One of the most effective things you can do in health care is encourage people to make better choices," said Mark Friedberg, MD, senior vice president of performance measurement and improvement at Blue Cross. "The guiding principle behind our Nudge Unit is that better decisions exist - and that clinicians and members are likely to make those decisions if information is presented in a slightly different way. We want to make it easy to make optimal decisions, in a way that respects rather than limits freedom of choice." Blue Cross is one of the first health plans in the country to launch a Nudge Unit, as recently detailed in a HealthAffairs blog post. Since its launch, the Nudge Unit has deployed several interventions focused on member and clinician decisions, including: Revising a letter to members that accompanies at-home colorectal cancer screening test kits, resulting in a 3% increase in test uptake and a net increase of approximately 500 additional screening kits returned. Revising letters encouraging primary care providers to order statins for their patients with diabetes. The most effective letter (containing a blank prescription form to prompt recipients to perform the desired behavior) increased statin prescriptions by nearly 14%. Leveraging behavioral insights to update the MyBlue app interface, making it easier for members to self-report their race and ethnicity to support the company's efforts to measure and address inequities in care. Since implementation, more than 300,000 members have provided their race and ethnicity. Notifying clinicians if they are outliers in their rates of prescribing certain medications and ordering certain tests. Subtle nudges like these often result in more efficient, evidence-based care for patients. "These results show that behavioral science can achieve meaningful changes at low cost," said Dr. Michael Hallsworth, managing director at the global social purpose company Behavioural Insights Team and national expert on behavioral insights and well-being. "This is just a start - there are many other ways to help both patients and clinicians." Blue Cross' Nudge Unit is led by Rebecca Oran, who joined Blue Cross earlier in 2022 to expand the company's use of behavioral insights. She is assisted by consultants from the Behavioral Insights Team and academic institutions. Since its inception, the Unit has deployed 53 interventions that aimed to improve members and clinician decisions. About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (bluecrossma.com) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are committed to the relentless pursuit of quality, equitable and affordable health care with an unparalleled consumer experience. Consistent with our promise to always put our members first, we are rated among the nation's best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Global AI body data leader amplifies innovative solutions charting a new course towards sustainability SAN FRANCISCO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bold Metrics Inc. the AI-first SaaS solution helping companies unlock the power of body data, today announced $8 million in Series A financing. The new round, led by Bessemer Venture Partners with participation from Lytical Ventures, ValueStream Ventures, and Nanban Ventures, brings the company's total funding to $12.3 million. Bold Metrics secures $8M in Series A funding to unlock the power of body data for the apparel industry. Tweet this Bold Metrics AI sizing solutions empower apparel brands and retailers to reduce returns, boost conversion and enable data-led product design by seamlessly connecting shoppers to their ideal size based on personal fit preferences. Easy-to-use, accurate and effective, Bold Metrics helps brands unlock the power of body data to solve sizing and optimize operations at scale. The company, which already has a global presence and is profitable, will use the funds to accelerate its expansion into new growth markets while also scaling research and development to deepen its core capabilities. Bold Metrics already works with a number of brands including Canada Goose, Tailored Brands (Men's Wearhouse, Jos A Bank), SuitShop, Blue Delta Denim and UpWest, amongst others. Bold Metrics provides apparel brands and retailers with the most accurate AI Body Modeling technology to unlock the power of body data enabling data-led product design. This in turn reduces returns, boosts conversion and quantifiably improves sustainability efforts while making shopping for clothing easy, convenient and personal for consumers. Its AI solutions connect customers to clothes that fit according to their body measurements, shape and personal preference data in seconds, driving down return rates at a time when the apparel industry is grappling with a serious returns problem. Consumer preference-based returns drive approximately 72% of all returns in the apparel product categories, with poor fit accounting for more than 50% of those returns. In addition, the significant environmental cost as a result of returns contributes an estimated 15 million metric tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere annually while generating 5 billion pounds of landfill waste within the same period in the U.S. alone. Bold Metrics powers sizing intelligence solutions for ready-to-wear, on-demand and custom apparel both in-store and online so that consumers can efficiently connect their body data to products. With an ever-growing arsenal of 45 million body models, the company continues to lead the market, adding more than 2 million new body models per quarter. "To state the obvious, when you're selling clothes online, the way they fit really matters to the customer and the business." said Kent Bennett, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. "Bold Metrics hides sophisticated AI models in an elegant user-friendly wrapper that helps customers choose clothes that fit every time. We're excited to help this team modernize the way this massive industry does business." The lack of consistency and accuracy in addressing the sizing needs of apparel consumers has been a persistent challenge for both brands and their customers. Despite being able to collect and measure numerous customer attributes, apparel brands ascertain sizing specifications in the near complete absence of customer body shape and measurement data, as that data has been historically not possible to collect in a scalable or meaningful way. This fuels a disconnect between what the technical design team is producing and what customers want when it comes to product fit, which cumulatively adds to the return rate and conversion challenge. "Inspired by my family's craft in tailoring and my background in data science, we sought to develop a method to capture body measurements accurately without compromising adoption rates." said Daina Burnes, CEO of Bold Metrics. "With Bold Metrics' proprietary AI Body Modeling technology, we've achieved a scalable sizing solution that is easy for our clients and their customers to adopt and use, while simultaneously unlocking data-led insights to provide new tracks of retail intelligence throughout the organization." Unlocking access to consumer body data in the apparel industry is crucial, and Bold Metrics has been leading the way in its accuracy of results as well as innovation. The timeliness of the funding will enable Bold Metrics to further scale growth, attract talent and boost its R&D efforts to address the evolving needs of apparel brands and their global customers. In addition to its core capabilities, Bold Metrics unveiled the world's-first Body Data NFT technology at this year's NRF2022, allowing it to work with Web3 native Ethereum wallets like Coinbase and Metamask to provide a streamlined experience for shoppers buying clothes online, in-store, or in the Metaverse, while readying apparel brands for Web3. To learn more, please visit boldmetrics.com . About Bold Metrics Established in January 2017, Bold Metrics develops AI Body Modeling technologies that empower apparel brands to unlock the power of body data to boost conversion, slash return rates, and improve sustainability efforts. Bold Metrics innovative solutions supercharge supply chains through actionable insights based on actual customer body measurements, proprietary algorithms, and advanced machine learning technologies that have been proven to be the most accurate in its category. Follow @boldmetrics or learn more at boldmetrics.com About Bessemer Venture Partners Bessemer Venture Partners is the world's most experienced early-stage venture capital firm. With a portfolio of more than 200 companies, Bessemer helps visionary entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to create companies that matter, and supports them through every stage of their growth. The firm has 130 IPOs, including Pinterest, Shopify, Twilio, Yelp, LinkedIn, Skype, LifeLock, PagerDuty, DocuSign, Wix, MindBody, and Fiverr. Bessemer's team of investors and partners are positioned all over the world in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Boston, Tel Aviv, Bangalore, and Beijing. Follow @BessemerVP and learn more at bvp.com . Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Bold Metrics Meanwhile, the country is constantly developing its whole-process people's democracy, and improving legal frameworks to ensure legal protection of human rights, making its people the major participators, promoters and beneficiaries of the cause of human rights development. Whether people's sense of gain, happiness and security has been enhanced is the most important criterion to test a country's human rights situation, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, during his meeting with visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet via video link. Noting that China has successfully blazed a path of human rights development that conforms to the trend of the times and suits its national conditions, Xi said that the human rights of the Chinese people have been protected as never before. To jointly advance the international human rights cause and bring benefits to people of all countries, China is ready to actively engage in human rights dialogue and cooperation with other parties, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, to expand consensus and reduce differences, he said. The priorities in human rights development It is the greatest human right to strive to enable people to live a happy life, he said, calling for efforts to embrace a human rights philosophy that centers on people. The people's interests are where the human rights cause starts and ends, he stressed. The people should be the real masters of their country, and become the main participants, promoters and beneficiaries of the development of human rights, he said. Noting that countries differ from each other in history, culture, social system and level of economic and social development, he said that they must promote and protect human rights in light of their national realities and the needs of their people. All aspects of human rights should be advanced, he said, adding that human rights are an all-encompassing concept, and must be advanced in a comprehensive and systematic manner. For developing countries, the rights to subsistence and development are the primary human rights, he added. He also emphasized that global human rights governance should be advanced. Countries should not politicize and instrumentalize human rights affairs, practice double standards or interfere in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, he said, adding that China will continue to support the active efforts of the United Nations in promoting the international human rights cause. Joint efforts in global human rights cause For her part, Bachelet said that the high commissioner's office is ready to strengthen communication with China, explore cooperation and make joint efforts to promote progress in human rights globally. "This is the first visit to China by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in 17 years, and I attach great importance to and cherish this visit," she said. She said she admired China's efforts and achievements in poverty eradication, human rights protection and economic and social development and appreciated the country's important role in upholding multilateralism, addressing climate change and other global challenges and promoting global sustainable development. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-05-25/Xi-meets-UN-human-rights-chief-1ajR2G90DcI/index.html SOURCE CGTN Company Continues to Add New Products to Its Innovative Financial Platform WILMINGTON, Del., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Marlette Holdings, Inc., a leading financial technology company that operates the Best Egg financial platform, today announced that Charles Do has joined the company as Head of Auto Lending. He will lead the overall strategy for an emerging auto loan product as part of the company's growing suite of innovative financial products and tools. "Our Best Egg customers own automobiles and look to us for financial products that meet their needs," said Bobby Ritterbeck, President of Personal Loans at Best Egg. "Charles' deep experience is precisely what we need to help us reshape the auto lending category and the customer experience. We're incredibly excited about welcoming Charles to our team and bringing something new to borrowers." Since its launch in 2014, Best Egg has focused on helping people feel more confident about their finances by offering fast, simple, and convenient ways for them to pay for things beyond their everyday needs, especially when they have limited savings to absorb unplanned expenses. Best Egg's personal loan products have seen tremendous growth in the past two years, accelerating from $12B to $18B of loans with solid credit performance. The company has also diversified its offering, introducing the Best Egg Visa Credit Card and the free Best Egg Financial Health tool in 2021 and announcing $225 million in equity funding in March 2022. "I have been impressed with the track record of success and growth, and leadership's focus on cultivating and preserving a strong company culture," said Do. "My single-minded goal is to develop a unique product within the auto space that serves our customers' needs. I know Best Egg has the technology, platform, and the team to do something different with auto loans, and I'm looking forward to leading this effort." Do brings 14 years of experience in auto lending to the team, having most recently served as Managing Director, Head of Auto Remarketing at JPMorgan Chase, where he worked for nine years. He has held other leadership and finance roles at Ally Financial, GE, and Lockheed Martin. He also sits on the Board of Directors of the Chinese American Planning Council, the country's largest Asian American social services non-profit. Do holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Philosophy from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. Best Egg continues to grow and add hundreds of new members to its team. Learn more about open positions on the Best Egg careers page . About Marlette Holdings, Inc. Marlette Holdings, Inc. is a leading financial technology provider whose subsidiaries develop and operate Best Egg, a financial health platform that provides lending products and resources focused on helping people feel more confident as they manage their everyday finances. Since March 2014, Best Egg has delivered over $18 billion in consumer personal loans with strong credit performance, welcomed 209,000 members to the recently launched Best Egg Financial Health platform, and empowered over 57,000 cardmembers who carry the new Best Egg Credit Card in their wallet. For more information, visit www.bestegg.com . SOURCE Best Egg The federal government and the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) have charged Nigerians to strive towards reducing light pollution to conserve migratory birds. It noted that Nigeria's bird species are under threat of extinction. A focal person for the conservation desk in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Abdulmalik Ogizi, said government was concerned about the danger posed by the declining bird species. He spoke at an event to mark the World Migratory Bird Day in Lagos organised by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF). He said migratory birds fly hundreds of thousands of kilometres to find the best ecological conditions and habitats for feeding and breeding. "When conditions at breeding sites become unfavourable, it is time to fly to regions where conditions are better. "The phenomenon is accompanied by several anthropogenic, political and environmental challenges on the migratory bird's survival and conservation," Ogizi said. He said the 2022 campaign highlights the impacts of the increasing but underestimated threat of light pollution on migratory birds. Ogizi noted that artificial light was increasing globally by at least two per cent per year with adverse effect on bird species. The Director-General of NCF, Dr Muhtari Aminu-Kano, charged Nigerians to show interest in bird conservation by eradicating light pollution. He said birds are facing challenges such as, but not limited to loss of habitat, persecution, famine and pollution. He stated that this year's theme, 'Light Pollution: Dim the light for birds at Night', was a clarion call to action for all to jointly participate in bird conservation. USCIS promises foreign investors seeking visas --- whose investments were redeployed by their sponsoring regional centers in order to maintain their capital at risk --- will be safe from retroactive geographic restrictions announced in USCIS's recent policy clarification WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Investment firms Civitas Capital Group and EB5 Capital jointly announced today they are voluntarily dismissing, without prejudice, concurrent litigation against the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). The dismissal was granted in light of assurances by the agency to the Court and the plaintiffs in the EB5 Capital case that it would not apply its previously stated policy to deny any investor petitions based on redeployment of an investor's capital beyond the geographic scope of their sponsoring regional center. Dallas (TX)-based Civitas and Bethesda (MD)-based EB5 Capital in April 2021 each filed suit against USCIS in response to the geographic restrictions USCIS had imposed retroactively on redeployed EB-5 investments, which could have negatively impacted thousands of pending petitions. Since the Immigration and Nationality Act's regulations and precedential decisions define the regional center geography requirement for initial investor fund deployment based on whether a job is created, and the laws do not limit the future redeployment of funds based on geography, the geographic limits the USCIS threatened to place on redeployments had to be eliminated, the firms argued. Attorney Ron Klasko, of Klasko Immigration Law Firm, represented the firms. He noted that the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (as part of H.R.2471 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022), signed into law by President Biden on March 15, which reauthorized the EB-5 immigrant investor regional center program through September 2027, specifically removed any geographic restriction on redeployments with respect to new investors. The litigation sought to ensure that the new policy would be applied retrospectively as well as prospectively. He called the agreement to dismiss litigation a win not only for the EB-5 firms and regional centers represented but an enormous win for EB-5 investors and the industry at large. "Since the government stated on the record that it had no intention of denying existing investors on the basis of redeployment geography, we believe the best course of action was dismissal of both lawsuits without prejudice," says EB5 Capital President Brian Ostar. "It essentially means we are taking the government at its word. However, we will remain vigilant on behalf of our investors. We reserve the right to bring the case back to court if necessary." The decision to bring litigation and the promise that should the government not uphold its word, the firms will once again sue emphasizes how seriously the EB-5 industry stakeholders take compliance with rules, says Civitas Capital Group CEO Daniel J. Healy. "It also shows just how seriously we take our obligations to protect our investors. This is a win for our investors and the industry." Between 2008 and 2021, the EB-5 Program helped generate $37.4 billion in foreign direct investment to create and retain U.S. jobs for Americans, all at no cost to the taxpayer. About Civitas Capital Group Civitas Capital Group is a nimble alternative investment manager, founded in 2009, offering compelling, niche opportunities in U.S. real estate. Civitas exists to create opportunities that enrich our communities, investors, and employees alike. Driven by relentless creativity, Civitas digs deeper to uncover opportunities that others miss. Follow Civitas Capital Group on LinkedIn. Learn more at civitascapital.com. About EB5 Capital EB5 Capital provides qualified investors from around the world with opportunities to invest in job-creating commercial real estate projects to obtain U.S. permanent residency, as well as private equity investments and secondary passports. For more information, follow EB5 Capital on LinkedIn and visit www.eb5capital.com. SOURCE Civitas Capital Group THUNDER BAY, ON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Clean Air Metals Inc. ("Clean Air Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV: AIR) (FRA: CKU) (OTCQB: CLRMF) is pleased to announce new assay results from the 2022 drill campaign from the Escape PGE-Cu-Ni Deposit at the Company's Thunder Bay North Project near Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada (the "Project"). New assay highlights from the Escape South deposit area includes (Table 1): Hole ELR22-137 which intersected 39.0m grading 1.17g/t Platinum (Pt), 1.47g/t Palladium (Pd), 0.49% Copper (Cu) and 0.27% Nickel (Ni) from 361.0m - 400.0m downhole. from - downhole. Hole ELR22-139 which intersected 16.0m grading 1.83g/t Platinum (Pt), 2.38g/t Palladium (Pd), 0.88% Copper (Cu) and 0.51% Nickel (Ni) from 383.0m - 399.0m downhole including 6.0m grading 2.63 g/t Platinum (Pt), 3.48g/t Palladium (Pd), 1.28% Copper (Cu) and 0.75% Nickel (Ni) from 385.0- 391.0m downhole (Figure 1). from - downhole including from 385.0- downhole (Figure 1). Hole ELR22-140 which intersected 25.0m grading 2.01g/t Platinum (Pt), 2.57g/t Palladium (Pd), 0.94% Copper (Cu) and 0.52% Nickel (Ni) from 325.7m - 373.0m downhole. The Escape Deposit also underwent an additional 37,000m of expansion drilling in 2021 and over 17,000m in 2022 which has confirmed continuity between the Escape South HGZ and the Escape North Zone and may add materially to the total Thunder Bay North Project Indicated insitu mineral resource (effective November 1, 2021) of 8.12 g/t PtEq in 14,553,324 million tonnes (reported December 1, 2021). Mineral resource endowment and platinum-equivalents are quoted pursuant to the Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Thunder Bay North Project, Thunder Bay, Ontario, with an effective date of January 20, 2021 (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report was posted to SEDAR on March 4, 2021 and prepared by Nordmin Engineering Ltd.- QP Glen Kuntz, P.Geo. Ontario. Nordmin as QP utilized 2-year trailing average metal price assumptions[1] for the updated mineral resource as a basis for the Preliminary Economic Assessment reported on December 1, 2021 and filed January 12, 2022. Property Payment to Panoramic Resources Limited The Company is also pleased to advise that it has paid Panoramic Resources Limited (ASX: PAN) ('Panoramic') the second deferred consideration instalment payment of C$1.5 million from the sale of the Thunder Bay North PGM Project. The sale of the Thunder Bay North Project was completed via a Share Purchase Agreement in the 2020 financial year (see press release issued on May 14, 2020) whereby Panoramic's wholly-owned subsidiary Magma Metals Pty Limited sold all shares it held in Panoramic PGMs Canada Limited to Clean Air Metals Inc. for total consideration of C$9 million. Inclusive of this latest instalment (C$1.5 million), Panoramic has received sale proceeds totaling C$7.5 million to date. The final deferred consideration payment of C$1.5 million is due to be received by May 13, 2023. A related transaction with Rio Tinto Exploration Canada for the purchase of the Escape Property for C$6 million has been paid in full. Both transactions fall under an Option-Purchase Agreement with Benton Resources Inc. __________________________ 1CRU 2-year metal price assumptions can be viewed in the following Link (Click Here) DRA Selected as PFS Metallurgical Process Provider The Company also advises that DRA AMERICAS INC ("DRA") is the successful bid under a request for proposal (RFP) for Pre-feasibility Metallurgical Testing and Process Plant Design for the Thunder Bay North Project. The DRA team has reviewed the existing and historical metallurgical testing results and marketing studies culminating in the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) by Nordmin Engineering, the technical report of which was filed on SEDAR on January 12, 2022. DRA will leverage existing knowledge on standard crush, grind, flotation process design and smelter payabilities into the next phase of testing and metallurgical optimization, including amenability to hydrometallurgical recoveries of the main platinum, palladium, copper, nickel commodity suite with rhodium, cobalt, gold, and silver byproducts. Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) The Company announced a comprehensive mine plan and cashflow model for both the Escape Deposit and Current Deposit as part of a PEA for the Current and Escape PGE-Cu-Ni Deposits of the Thunder Bay North Project on December 1, 2021. The related Technical Report was filed on SEDAR on January 12, 2022 https://cleanairmetals.ca/site/assets/files/5750/21015-01-pfs-0000_ni_43_101_pea_12jan2022.pdf Table 1: New Insitu Assay Results Update Escape South Sail-Zone Extension (Figure 1) Hole ID Company From, m To, m Length, m Pt+Pd (ppm) Cu+Ni (%) Pt (ppm) Pd (ppm) Cu (%) Ni (%) ELR22-109 AIR 218.5 221.5 3.0 1.36 0.44 0.63 0.74 0.26 0.19 ELR22-109 AIR 224.5 229.4 4.9 1.52 0.48 0.71 0.81 0.27 0.21 ELR22-122 AIR 385.3 396.3 11.0 2.82 0.76 1.29 1.53 0.54 0.23 ELR22-136 AIR 334 336 2.0 1.04 0.40 0.42 0.62 0.22 0.18 ELR22-136 AIR 356 362 6.0 1.65 0.44 0.74 0.91 0.28 0.17 ELR22-137 AIR 333 347 14.0 1.21 0.42 0.53 0.68 0.23 0.19 ELR22-137 AIR 361 400 39.0 2.64 0.77 1.17 1.47 0.49 0.27 *incl. 391 398 7.0 5.72 1.40 2.53 3.19 1.02 0.38 ELR22-137 AIR 404.4 404.83 0.4 6.97 2.97 3.09 3.88 1.69 1.28 ELR22-137 AIR 410 416 6.0 1.97 0.64 0.90 1.07 0.41 0.22 ELR22-138A AIR 377 385 8.0 1.55 0.44 0.70 0.85 0.29 0.15 ELR22-138A AIR 393.8 394.8 1.0 2.09 0.77 0.88 1.21 0.44 0.33 ELR22-138A AIR 528.4 531.5 3.1 1.57 0.71 0.72 0.85 0.42 0.29 ELR22-139 AIR 383 399 16.0 4.21 1.39 1.83 2.38 0.88 0.51 *incl. 385 391 6.0 6.11 2.03 2.63 3.48 1.28 0.75 ELR22-140 AIR 385 410 25.0 4.58 1.46 2.01 2.57 0.94 0.52 Note: 1) All intercepts are estimated to be >95% of true width based on drill hole inclination 2) Mineralized intervals calculated at 1 ppm Pt+Pd cutoff 3) Metallurgical recoveries estimated at 95% Copper; 85% Sulphide Nickel (52% total Ni); 87% Palladium; 82% Platinum Abraham Drost, CEO of Clean Air Metals stated that "we are very pleased to have made the second to last C$1.5 million payment to Panoramic Resources of Australia. As Rio Tinto has already been fully paid, the last payment to Panoramic Resources will result in fully vesting the Option-Purchase Agreement with Benton Resources Inc. and owning the project 100%, subject to royalty considerations. The appointment of DRA Americas for metallurgical and marketability optimization of feed material from both the Current and Escape deposits, marks the onset of prefeasibility studies at the Thunder Bay North Project. This is an exciting moment in the life of the project which could see the publication of a full prefeasibility study of ramp-access underground mining at the Current and Escape deposits by Q2 of 2023. Ongoing exploration drilling for massive sulphides and infill drilling to improve mine design will proceed apace with regular updates through 2022. Recent infill drilling on the margins and extension of the Escape South High Grade Zone (HGZ) continues to deliver impressive assay results. The Escape South HGZ (>5g/t Pt+Pd) is identified as a high value potential mining area at the base of the Escape Deposit contributing feed to the mill at Year 4.5 of the PEA mine plan, pursuant to the recently delivered PEA technical report (filed January 12, 2022). An approximate total of 54,000m of previously reported additional drilling results from the Escape Deposit in 2021 and additional infill drilling on the PEA mine plan in 2022 will form part of an updated mineral resource expected for the Thunder Bay North Project in Q4/2022 to support prefeasibility level mine design. Assay results to date suggest good continuity of mineralization between sections along the 900m trend of mineralization between the Escape South HGZ and Escape North Zone where the PEA Escape deposit underground ramp development encounters Escape Deposit mineralization at approximately 200m vertical depth." (Figure 1). Figure 1: New Drill Hole Intercepts in the Escape Deposit Area (link) https://cleanairmetals.ca/site/assets/files/5799/elr_20220525_v3.png COVID Policy Clean Air Metals continued to apply COVID-19 avoidance and personal protection measures for its geological staff, drilling contractor and service suppliers. Personnel are required to self-monitor and self-isolate or elect to work from home. The Company closely follows Provincial Government COVID guidelines. Qualified Person Dr. Geoff Heggie, Ph.D., P.Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 and Vice President - Exploration for the Company, has reviewed and approved all technical information in this press release. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Clean Air Metals uses ALS Global ("ALS"), a well-established and recognized mineral assay and geochemical analytical services company. The Thunder Bay laboratory holds ISO-9000 accreditation; the Vancouver facility holds ISO-17025 registration. All NQ-sized drill core is cut with a diamond-tipped saw blade with half of the core submitted to ALS for sample preparation and analysis. Core samples from selected intervals are individually bagged and tagged, gathered up in larger sealed poly bags and shipped to the sample prep facility in Thunder Bay, ON under custody of Clean Air Metals' personnel at all times. Sample preparation is completed at the ALS sample preparation facility located in Thunder Bay, ON and analysis is completed at the primary ALS assay laboratory located in Vancouver, B.C. Clean Air Metals follows a documented quality control procedure for its core assay sampling program consisting of the insertion of blind blanks, duplicates, and certified Palladium-Platinum and Copper-Nickel standards into the sample stream. The insertion procedure results in a minimum of 11% to 12% control sample frequency depending on the length of the sampled interval. Gold, platinum, and palladium are analyzed using fire assay (FA) with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) finish. Samples with grades above the optimal ICP-MS detection limits are analyzed using an optical emission spectroscopy method (ICP-OES). Also, thirty-three (33) elements of each sample, including copper, nickel, silver, chromium, cobalt, and sulphur, are analyzed by a multi-element analytical method using the atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) technique following four-acid digestion of the sample. When samples have grades above the optimal detection limits for this analytical method, they are re-analyzed using a high-grade method consisting of either ICP-AES or atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) techniques. Social Engagement Clean Air Metals Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Panoramic PGMs (Canada) Ltd. acknowledge that the Thunder Bay North Project is on the traditional territories of the Fort William First Nation, Red Rock First Nation and Biinjitiwabik Zaaging Anishinabek. The parties together are the Cooperating Participants in a Memorandum of Agreement dated January 9, 2021 (press release January 11, 2021) and Exploration Agreement signed April 13, 2022 (press release April 14, 2022). The Company appreciates the opportunity to work in these territories and remains committed to the recognition and respect of those who have lived, traveled, and gathered on the lands since time immemorial. Clean Air Metals is committed to stewarding Indigenous heritage and remains committed to building, fostering and encouraging a respectful relationship with First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples based upon principles of mutual trust, respect, reciprocity and collaboration in the spirit of reconciliation. About Clean Air Metals Inc. Clean Air Metals' flagship asset is the 100% owned, high grade Thunder Bay North Project, a platinum, palladium, copper, nickel project located near the City of Thunder Bay, Ontario and the Lac des Iles Mine owned by Impala Platinum. The Thunder Bay North Project hosts the twin magma conduit bodies which host the Current and Escape deposits forming the basis for a robust preliminary economic assessment PEA) filed January 12, 2002. The PEA of a ramp access underground mine and on-site 3600tpd milling complex and the 2-year trailing average price deck, features a pretax NPV5 of C$425m and an IRR of 31% on initial capital of $378m over a 10-year mine life. Executive Chair Jim Gallagher and CEO Abraham Drost lead an experienced technical team who are using the Norilsk magma conduit stratigraphic and mineral deposit model to guide ongoing exploration and development feasibility studies for a low-carbon, all-electric sustainable mining operation at Thunder Bay North. As the former CEO of North American Palladium Ltd. which owned the Lac des Iles Mine prior to the sale to Impala Platinum in December 2019, Jim Gallagher and team are credited with the mine turnaround and creation of significant value for shareholders. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Abraham Drost" Abraham Drost, Chief Executive Officer of Clean Air Metals Inc. 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. Cautionary Note The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including statements regarding the potential of the Thunder Bay North Project and the Escape and Current deposits and timing of technical studies including prefeasibility studies and updated mineral resource estimates. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projection. SOURCE Clean Air Metals Inc. Buy Bitcoin with cash in Dubai at Coinsfera Bitcoin shop with complete authenticity. Buy Bitcoin with AED, USD, USDT or the currency of your choosing. DUBAI, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Coinsfera is currently a leading crypto exchange platform in Dubai. 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SAN FRANCISCO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Compliance.ai , the leading provider of regulatory change management (RCM) solutions for the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) industries, welcomes five members to its expert advisory board, augmenting subject matter expertise on its award-winning regtech platform. New advisors include Dr. Iris Liliana Bleck , John Caruthers , and James Phillips . Compliance.ai new advisors, Dr. Iris Liliana Bleck, John Caruthers and James Phillips Committed to developing an unparalleled expert advisory board, Compliance.ai has gathered some of the most educated and experienced minds across legal, compliance, and technology in the regulatory, financial services, banking and insurance sectors. You can see the growing list of Expert Advisors and their profiles, visit Expert Advisory Team . "The regulatory environment is complex and constantly shifting," says John Caruthers, business information security officer of Evotek. 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"Our regulatory coverage and RegTech capabilities are continuously expanding, and the growing list of subject matter experts joining our Expert Advisory team underscores our commitment to the industry." Compliance.ai's Auto-translation provides access to high-quality English translations of regulatory documents that do not have an official English version. This capability not only delivers access to a professionally translated and formatted in English, but also incorporates the platform's annotations, obligations and task management capabilities for the translated documents. As a result, organizations can add transparency and consistency to their regulatory change management processes across the globe. In addition, Compliance.ai continues to expand the depth and breadth of its global coverage of regulatory content. Since January 2022, Compliance.ai has added 40,711 documents from new and existing regulatory sources including new sources across 13 jurisdictions outside the US. 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To request a demo, visit https://www.compliance.ai/request-demo For Press Inquiries: Ronjini Joshua [email protected] (949) 295-9779 SOURCE Compliance.ai The rising population along with high food demand as well as the rapidly flourishing agriculture sector is expected to contribute to the growth of the Controlled Release Fertilizer Market over the forecast period. JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Verified Market Research recently published a report, "Controlled Release Fertilizer Market" By Type (Slow release, Coated and encapsulated, N-stabilizers), By Application (Cereals and Grains, Oilseeds and Pulses, Turfs and Ornamentals), and By Geography. According to Verified Market Research, Controlled Release Fertilizer Market size was valued at USD 2708.4 Million in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 4895.6 Million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.91% from 2022 to 2030. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample/?rid=4645 Browse in-depth TOC on "Controlled Release Fertilizer Market" 202 - Pages 126 Tables 37 Figures Global Controlled Release Fertilizer Market Overview The rising population, increasing demand for food along with high demand from agricultural industries is anticipated to drive the Controlled Release Fertilizer Market over the forecast period. According to The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), total fertilizer nutrient demand is expected to reach 201.66 million tons by 2021. The nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus used as fertilizer accounted for 110193, 39 473, and 48 264 thousand tons in 2021. Increasing demand for fertilizers is expected to positively impact the Controlled Release Fertilizer Market over the forecast period. There are several benefits associated with the use of these fertilizers, including potential reduction of environmental impact, comparatively lower application costs than water-soluble fertilizers, and ease of use. The use of CRF eliminates the need for mixing and monitoring water-soluble fertilizers, as well as reduces the need for expensive injection equipment, thereby reducing labor costs. Furthermore, it also eradicates the occurrence of improper mixing of water-soluble fertilizer in the stock solution, responsible for the reduction in crop quality. Key Developments In 2021, ICL Group announced the introduction of a new product marketed under the Osmocote 5 brand name. The product has been formulated to overcome explicit nutritional difficulties faced by growers using peat-reduced and peat-free growing media. It displays exceptional nutrient matching release technology and an enhanced Optimised Trace Element Availability (OTEA) system catering to plants' needs throughout the release program. Key Players The major players in the market are Nutrien Limited, Yara International ASA, Israel Chemicals Ltd, Haifa Group, Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile SA, Scotts Miracle Gro, Compo GmbH and Co. KG, ATS (Growth Products), JNC Corporation (Chisso), Kingenta International. Verified Market Research has segmented the Global Controlled Release Fertilizer Market On the basis of Type, Application, and Geography. Controlled Release Fertilizer Market, By Type Slow release Coated & encapsulated N-stabilizers Controlled Release Fertilizer Market, By Application Cereals & Grains Oilseeds & Pulses Turfs & Ornamentals Fruits & Vegetables Others Controlled Release Fertilizer Market, by Geography North America U.S Canada Mexico Europe Germany France U.K Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Rest of Asia Pacific ROW Middle East & Africa & Latin America Browse Related Reports: Nitrogenous Fertilizers Market By Product (Ammonium Fertilizers, Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizers), Application (Grains and Oilseeds, Fruits and Vegetables), By Geography, Forecast, 2021-2028 Specialty Fertilizers Market By Crop Type (Cereals & Grains, Fruits & Vegetables), By Form (Liquid, Dry), By Technology (N-stabilizers, Slow-release, Chelated), By Application Method (Soil, Foliar, Fertigation), By Geography, Forecast, 2021-2028 Organic Fertilizers Market By Source (Mineral, Plant, Animal), By Crop Type (Cereals and Grains, Vegetables and Fruits, Oilseeds and Pulses), By Form (Liquid, Dry), By Geography, Forecast, 2021-2028 Fertilizer Hydrophobic Agent Market By Product (Prills, Granules, Powder), By Application (Urea, Ammonium Nitrate, Diammonium Phosphate, Monoammonium Phosphate, Ammonium Sulphate, Triple Super Phosphate), By Geography, Forecast, 2021-2028 Top 5 Organic Fertilizer Companies taking the green initiative forward at global level Visualize Controlled Release Fertilizer Market using Verified Market Intelligence:-: Verified Market Intelligence is our BI Enabled Platform for narrative storytelling of this market. VMI offers in-depth forecasted trends and accurate Insights on over 20,000+ emerging & niche markets, helping you make critical revenue impacting decisions for a brilliant future. VMI provides a holistic overview and global competitive landscape with respect to Region, Country, and Segment, and Key players of your market. Present your Market Report & findings with an inbuilt presentation feature saving over 70% of your time and resources for Investor, Sales & Marketing, R&D, and Product Development pitches. VMI enables data delivery In Excel and Interactive PDF formats with over 15+ Key Market Indicators for your market. About Us Verified Market Research is a leading Global Research and Consulting firm servicing over 5000+ customers. Verified Market Research provides advanced analytical research solutions while offering information enriched research studies. We offer insight into strategic and growth analyses, Data necessary to achieve corporate goals and critical revenue decisions. Our 250 Analysts and SME's offer a high level of expertise in data collection and governance use industrial techniques to collect and analyze data on more than 15,000 high impact and niche markets. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection techniques, superior research methodology, expertise and years of collective experience to produce informative and accurate research. We study 14+ categories from Semiconductor & Electronics, Chemicals, Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Energy & Power, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Automotive & Transportation, Information & Communication Technology, Software & Services, Information Security, Mining, Minerals & Metals, Building & construction, Agriculture industry and Medical Devices from over 100 countries. Contact Us Mr. Edwyne Fernandes Verified Market Research US: +1 (650)-781-4080 UK: +44 (753)-715-0008 APAC: +61 (488)-85-9400 US Toll Free: +1 (800)-782-1768 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter SOURCE Verified Market Research LONDON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 16, 2022, articles were published detailing the gross violations and ongoing political pressure of the former Prime Minister of Georgia, Bidzina Ivanishvili, and other beneficiaries by the Swiss bank, Credit Suisse and its subsidiaries. It was alleged that despite the Bank implementing the trust structures in the best interests of the beneficiaries, the Trustee had delayed disbursement for more than a month without providing any reasonable grounds and linking the delay to "geopolitical developments in Eastern Europe" and providing no additional information. A spokesperson for Mr. Ivanishvili commented: "It has now been 45 days since the instructions were provided, the Trustee continues to ignore its obligations to the beneficiaries and this context is important for a proper assessment of the issue. Mr Ivanishvili has received two "memorable gifts" from his many years of relationship with Credit Suisse: First, more than USD 1 billion lost as a result of a fraud and mismanagement perpetrated by the Bank's personnel, and, secondly, the ongoing problems with the Trusts created on the advice of the bank, to which significant funds were entrusted, and access to disbursement in any form is very limited." Regarding the first issue, Mr. Ivanishvili has achieved notable success following the Judgement of the Bermuda Court which awarded more than USD 600 million to the Plaintiffs, and a similar outcome is expected in Singapore by the end of the year. In terms of the ongoing issues with the Trust, the Trustee has continued to frustrate the beneficiaries. On 11th April 2022, a request was made for disbursement to the beneficiaries and the Trustee questioned the purpose of the disbursement on 13th April. Despite comprehensive information being provided in response on 14th April, the Trustee requested additional information on 20th April, including documentation and information on signatories. On 5th May 2022, the Trustee confirmed the information provided was sufficient and the necessary draft documents had been prepared for signature. However, on 19th May the Trustee delayed the process further by requesting information which had already been provided on 13th April. These actions are emblematic of Credit Suisse's actions and the affected clients have been victims for the many years of dispute the Bank's follows a procedure to frustrate their efforts to uncover the truth and recover the misappropriated funds. This procedure violates all established standards of banking and the move into politics is a worrying escalation. The reference to the war in Ukraine is unprecedented and the political pressure is without any justification whatsoever. The client remains committed to expose these tactics and legal actions have been filed to ensure the Trustee fulfils its obligations to the beneficiaries and Credit Suisse is held accountable for the actions of its subsidiaries and those of its employees. The spokesperson added: "Mr. Ivanishvili will continue to expose to the public the failures of Credit Suisse, which he considers to be his moral obligation and hopes that this will prevent the Bank and its subsidiaries from harming the interests of other clients." Information for editors CS Victims was established by the representatives of certain clients of Credit Suisse. They are victims of an estimated $1 billion fraud perpetrated by the Bank's personnel over seven years. At least one of Credit Suisse's employees has been convicted of fraud and FINMA has highlighted failures in Credit Suisse's systems and controls which led directly to crimes being committed. SOURCE CS Victims CLEVELAND, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyprium Investment Partners, a non-control private equity firm, has completed a subordinated debt investment in D.P. Nicoli Inc. The proceeds of this investment were used to support a recapitalization transaction with a newly formed Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). D.P. Nicoli is a leading provider of shoring equipment rental services to utilities, municipalities and contractors in Oregon, Washington, California and Idaho. The company is a one-stop resource supplying steel and aluminum trench shields, hydraulic shoring, steel plates, slide rail, pipe plugs and other equipment utilized in underground construction projects. See www.dpnicoli.com. "We chose Cyprium to provide junior capital based on their twenty-year history of supporting independent businesses and experience with ESOPs and the equipment rental industry," said Dave Nicoli, President of D.P. Nicoli. "Dave and his team have built an excellent business driven by a strong culture of customer service, safety and employee development" stated Dan Kessler, a Partner at Cyprium Partners. "We are excited to work with the management team and employee-owners in the next phase of the company's growth." About Cyprium Partners Cyprium Partners is a private equity and mezzanine firm focused on non-controlling investments in profitable middle-market companies, allowing company owners and their management teams to retain a controlling interest in their businesses. Cyprium provides common equity, preferred stock, subordinated debt, or any combination thereof, offering flexibility and increasing the certainty of close. With offices in Cleveland, New York, and Chicago, the firm invests $10 million to $60 million per transaction in U.S. and Canadian companies with $8 million or more of EBITDA. Since 1998 our team has invested $1.8 billion in 97 companies headquartered throughout North America. Learn more about Cyprium Partners at cyprium.com Contact Karen Heise Telephone 216-453-4526 Cell 440-476-7637 Email [email protected] Website www.cyprium.com SOURCE Cyprium Partners Firm to offer sessions on GIS standard concepts, applications and sustainability SANTA ANA, Calif., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DATAMARK, the public safety geographic information systems (GIS) team of Michael Baker International, announced today that the State of Oklahoma has selected the firm to provide continued state-wide training on GIS standard concepts, applications and sustainability. "Now, more than ever, we have the tools and technology to provide timely and accurate emergency response services by connecting with today's digital society," said Leigh TeWinkle, Associate Vice President of PMO at DATAMARK. "DATAMARK has established itself as the go-to authority on GIS data for public safety and the training courses provided by our knowledgeable staff for the State of Oklahoma will grow the skills, productivity and confidence of public safety professionals." DATAMARK has longstanding expertise in providing quality GIS services that are mission critical to call routing, dispatch and response. Through their partnership with the State of Oklahoma, the firm will offer the following courses: GIS Standard Concept Training, covering the Oklahoma Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) GIS Standard GIS Standard Applications Training, intended to train a novice GIS user on the specific applications used to create the proper datasets that will meet the Oklahoma NG9-1-1 GIS Standard NG9-1-1 GIS Standard GIS Sustainability Training, providing guidance on how local jurisdictions can upload their local data to a state database "Consistency is very important to the State of Oklahoma. In order to provide consistency, we have to provide the same message through training," said Lance Terry, Oklahoma State 9-1-1 Coordinator. "DATAMARK showed great success in the first phase of our GIS technical training. We are excited to work with them on phase 2 of this invaluable training. " DATAMARK supports addressing authorities, public-safety answering points (PSAPs) and GIS analysts in the successful transition to NG9-1-1. Its data-forward, purpose-built and configurable solutions provide the highest levels of public safety GIS data completeness and accuracy needed to support the requirements for any NG9-1-1 system. About DATAMARK As trusted advisors in public safety, DATAMARK brings comprehensive, real-world expertise in police, fire, EMS and 9-1-1 leadership roles to Next Generation 9-1-1 transitions. The DATAMARK team leads the industry by shaping rules and legislation, and by building a suite of products and services that ensure accurate emergency response location data in life-critical situations. DATAMARK empowers its team and stakeholder partners to foster trusted relationships and cultivate data integrity for informed decision making. DATAMARK, the public safety GIS team of Michael Baker International, has decades of proven experience in mission-critical government addressing projects. The team works with clients to solve their complex needs, from data quality checks and addressing to workflow analysis and more. Learn more about the company at www.datamarkgis.com and follow DATAMARK on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook . About Michael Baker International Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services. The firm's Practices encompass all facets of infrastructure, including design, civil engineering, planning, architecture, environmental, construction and program management. For more than 80 years, the company has been a trusted partner, providing comprehensive services and solutions to commercial clients and all branches of the military, as well as federal, state and municipal governments. Embracing emerging technologies and the latest innovations like intelligent transportation and design-build project delivery Michael Baker is an industry leader that delivers expertise and quality. The firm's more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to Making a Difference for clients and communities through a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement while Reimagining Michael Baker to become a full-service engineering and consulting firm over the next five years. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/ . Contact: Julia Covelli [email protected] (866) 293-4609 SOURCE DATAMARK Trading of two new exchange traded products (ETPs) - Valour Enjin (ENJ) EUR and Valour Cosmos (ATOM) EUR - begins May 26, 2022 . . The ETPs will enable retail and institutional investors to gain exposure to the ENJ and ATOM tokens simply and securely via their bank or broker. Toronto, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - DeFi Technologies Inc . (the "Company" or "DeFi Technologies'') (NEO: DEFI) (GR: RMJR) (OTC: DEFTF), a technology company bridging the gap between traditional capital markets and decentralised finance, announced today that Valour Inc. ("Valour"), its wholly owned subsidiary and a pioneer in digital asset exchange traded products ("ETPs"), received approval to begin trading Valour Enjin (ENJ) EUR and Valour Cosmos (ATOM) EUR on the Boerse Frankfurt Zertifikate AG (''Frankfurt Stock Exchange"). Trading of Valour Enjin (ENJ) EUR and Valour Cosmos (ATOM) EUR begins today, May 26, 2022. The new ETPs will enable both retail and institutional investors to gain exposure to the native tokens of the Enjin and Cosmos networks as easily as buying shares from their bank or broker. "We are excited to announce the listings of Enjin and Cosmos. With the focus on creating a state of the art infrastructure and product offering, these new listings support our high ambitions", says Tommy Fransson, CEO of Valour. The Valour Enjin (ENJ) EUR ETP (ISIN CH1149139656) precisely tracks the price of ENJ, the native token of the Enjin protocol. Enjin ("ENJ") is an online gaming community creation platform built on Ethereum blockchain. Enjin aims to make the gaming experience easy for developers and players by providing crypto-backed value and tools like software development kits (SDKs), game plugins, wallets, virtual item management apps, along with a payment gateway platform. Using the Enjin platform, gamers and content creators can easily manage, distribute, and trade their virtual goods, including NFTs. ENJ is currently among the top eighty cryptocurrencies in the world by market capitalization, at USD$600.74 million as of March 25, 2022. The Valour Cosmos (ATOM) EUR ETP (ISIN CH1149139664) tracks the performance of the native token of Cosmos. Cosmos ("ATOM") is a cryptocurrency that powers an ecosystem of blockchains designed to scale and interoperate with each other. The team aims to "create an Internet of Blockchains, a network of blockchains able to communicate with each other in a decentralized way." Cosmos is a proof-of-stake chain. ATOM is currently among the top thirty cryptocurrencies in the world by market capitalization, at USD$2.9 billion as of March 25, 2022. Valour offers fully hedged digital asset ETPs with low to zero management fees, with product listings across four European exchanges. Valour's existing product range includes Valour Uniswap ( UNI ), Cardano ( ADA ), Polkadot ( DOT ), Solana ( SOL ), and Avalanche (AVAX ) ETPs as well as Valour's flagship Bitcoin Zero and Valour Ethereum Zero products, the first fully hedged, passive investment product with Bitcoin ( BTC ) and Ethereum ( ETH ) as underlyings which are completely fee-free, with competitors charging up to 2.5% in management fees. Learn more about DeFi Technologies and Valour at defi.tech and valour.com . About DeFi Technologies DeFi Technologies Inc. is a technology company bridging the gap between traditional capital markets and decentralised finance. Our mission is to expand investor access to industry-leading decentralised technologies which we believe lie at the heart of the future of finance. On behalf of our shareholders and investors, we identify opportunities and areas of innovation, and build and invest in new technologies and ventures in order to provide trusted, diversified exposure across the decentralized finance ecosystem. For more information or to subscribe to receive company updates and financial information, visit https://defi.tech/. About Valour Valour Inc. issues exchange-listed financial products that enable retail and institutional investors to access investment in disruptive innovations, such as digital assets, in a simple and secure way. Established in 2019 and based in Zug, Switzerland, Valour is a wholly owned subsidiary of DeFi Technologies Inc. (NEO: DEFI) (GR: RMJR) (OTC: DEFTF). For more information on Valour, visit www.valour.com. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking information: This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to trading of Valour Enjin (ENJ) EUR and Valour Cosmos (ATOM) EUR; the growth of AUM; expansion of DeFi Technologies and Valour into other markets and geographic areas; the growth and adoption of decentralized finance; the pursuit by DeFi Technologies and its subsidiaries of business opportunities; and the merits or potential returns of any such opportunities. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but is not limited to investor demand for DeFi Technologies' and Valour's products; the growth and development of DeFi, the metaverse and cryptocurrency sector; rules and regulations with respect to DeFi and cryptocurrency; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. THE NEO STOCK EXCHANGE DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE SOURCE DeFi Technologies, Inc. NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DocPanel , a global innovator in providing subspecialized radiology coverage through a network of the country's top fellowship-trained radiologists, has appointed Jaideep Sohi, MD as the new Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Sohi succeeds DocPanel Co-Founder Philip A. Templeton, MD, FACR, who has stepped into the role of Chief Innovation Officer after serving as CMO since the company's inception in 2016. Dr. Sohi will lead initiatives to enhance radiologist and client satisfaction, with an emphasis on creating company-wide structure that addresses factors contributing to the 49% physician burnout rate among radiologists. Dr. Sohi will also oversee clinical quality assurance, lead direction for radiologist recruitment, and drive expansion within molecular imaging. "I am thrilled to entrust Dr. Sohi with the role of Chief Medical Officer. He shares DocPanel's passion to provide the best care possible for each patient, and his dedication to that fundamental goal fits perfectly with our mission," says Dr. Templeton. "He plans to help empower each physician in DocPanel to reach their goals. In addition, as a highly recognized Nuclear Medicine expert, he will assist us in expanding our reach in molecular imaging and beyond." Dr. Sohi is a Johns Hopkins fellowship-trained nuclear medicine specialist, the President of American Molecular Imaging, and Assistant Professor of Nuclear Medicine at the California Northstate University School of Medicine. He brings with him over 15 years of experience in radiology and is currently the principal and sub-investigator in multiple clinical trials. "It's an extreme honor to join such an exceptional group of human beings who are working so tirelessly to achieve our deeply shared goal of improving worldwide access to top-notch subspecialized radiology expertise. I'm both excited and humbled to come onboard and help maximize our potential," says Dr. Sohi. Radiologists looking for a rejuvenating reading experience can expect new and exciting opportunities within DocPanel, and providers can enjoy full-spectrum radiology solutions that bring a breath of fresh air while solving the biggest pain points in today's imaging world. About DocPanel : DocPanel is the largest network of US-based academic and subspecialty radiologists who provide final reads, protocol optimization support, new-service launch assistance, second opinions, and educational consults to clients worldwide. DocPanel's mission is to ensure every imaging exam is read by the right subspecialist, while fostering the optimal reading environment for radiologists. Full announcement with photo here . SOURCE DocPanel Nairobi Chief Justice Martha Koome is expected to preside over the swearing-in ceremony of the chairperson and members of the Tribunal appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta to probe the conduct of suspended High Court Judge Said Juma Chitembwe. In a gazette notice dated May 18, the President appointed a 12-member team to inquire into the allegations against the judge and determine his suitability. Justice Cimambwe's suspension came after the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) recommended to the president to form a tribunal to probe the judge's conduct in line with the Constitution. The President noted that the JSC petition contained grave allegations against the judge and that it could potentially erode Kenyans' faith in the fair administration of justice. The tribunal is set to be chaired by Justice Mumbi Ngugi with Jasper Mbiuki and Sarah Yamo assuming the role of joint secretaries. Justice Chitembwe's woes began after former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko who was the main complainant, accused him of corruption. On November 22, 2021, the JSC initiated proceedings against Chitembwe after Sonko released video clips, social media posts and cell phone recordings implicating the judge in corruption. Chitembwe at the time dismissed the allegations saying that he was unfairly targeted. On November 25, the JSC also summoned Sonko to testify as a witness on videos he posted linking Chitembwe to corruption. Several petitions were filed with JSC, including by Sonko's aide Francis Wambua, all seeking a probe on the judge's conduct. Inhi, Jennifer, Jim and Jerome bring world-class leadership experience from companies at scale. Tweet this Inhi Cho Suh will transition from her role on DocuSign's board of directors to lead the company's newly created Product and Technology group in July. As President of Product and Technology, she will be responsible for driving innovation across the DocuSign Agreement Cloud including eSignature, expanding our partner ecosystem, and delivering transformative experiences for DocuSign's more than one million customers. Inhi has spent over 20 years at IBM, successfully traversing senior leadership roles ranging from Watson AI and blockchain, to eCommerce and Collaboration SaaS, to leading key strategic acquisitions like IBM's The Weather Company. She brings tremendous experience in leading large teams and developing broad partner ecosystems at scale. Inhi will be stepping down from her DocuSign board seat and will remain on the board of AnitaB.org and Grace Hopper Conference, the largest non-profit for the advancement of women in technology. Jennifer Christie will be joining DocuSign as Chief People Officer in June, with Joan Burke stepping into a strategic advisor role. Previously, Jennifer was the Chief HR Officer at both Twitter and Bolt, and SVP of HR at American Express. Jennifer brings additional public sector experience, having served as Special Assistant to the POTUS for personnel. Jim Shaughnessy will be joining the company as Chief Legal Officer this month, bringing over 20 years of experience in public policy and legal experience representing technology companies. Most recently, he spent 10 years at Workday across roles including General Counsel and Senior Advisor for Corporate Affairs. Prior to that, he held General Counsel roles at Orbitz, Lenovo, PeopleSoft and Hewlett Packard. He is also a director on the boards of BSA and Wild Aid. Jerome Levadoux has stepped up to the role of DocuSign's Chief Product Officer, accountable for leading overall product strategy and delivering applications across the DocuSign Agreement Cloud. Prior to joining DocuSign as Head of eSignature Products in 2016, Jerome was an SVP of Product Management and CMO at Recommind (now OpenText) in addition to serving in senior product and IT roles at HP, SAP and Oracle. He is also an advisor for Paxata. For more information on DocuSign, visit www.docusign.com . Media Relations Megan Gregorio Corporate Communications [email protected] Investor Relations [email protected] About DocuSign DocuSign helps organizations connect and automate how they prepare, sign, act on, and manage agreements. As part of the DocuSign Agreement Cloud, DocuSign offers eSignature, the world's #1 way to sign electronically on practically any device, from almost anywhere, at any time. Today, over a million customers and more than a billion users in over 180 countries use the DocuSign Agreement Cloud to accelerate the process of doing business and to simplify people's lives. SOURCE DocuSign, Inc. Following a previous agreement to build the digital platform that will underpin the London market's transformation, in the latest contract the parties have agreed on a set of services that will create the foundation to safely transition approximately 400 London market insurance companies over to the cloud-native digital platform running on AWS. The agreement includes provisions for operational resilience in line with new industry regulations. As the world's largest insurance centre, the London insurance market represents 7.6% of the global commercial (re)insurance market, employs 47,000 people across the UK, and makes up almost a quarter of the City of London's GDP, with its gross written premium worth over US$110 billion. Supporting the Market's Joint Venture, and as the Joint Venture's largest shareholder, DXC will work with Lloyd's, the IUA, and all market associations and participants to transition London market insurance companies to the new digital platform, bringing significant improvements in speed and efficiency. The work is being done in support of the Future at Lloyd's initiative and in conjunction with brokers, managing agents, syndicates, and insurers of the London insurance marketplace. One of the biggest current cloud migrations in the world, the goal is to transform the London insurance market from a largely paper-based, analogue set of processes to one that is data-focused, automated, and cost-efficient. John Neal, CEO of Lloyd's said: "In announcing this extension, Lloyd's, DXC and the IUA are demonstrating our commitment to digitally securing the activities of London market customers in both the long and short term. With the Future at Lloyd's transformation, we will transition to a single platform that will provide automated processing and accounting for the market, leading to a substantial reduction in operating costs, and providing customers with a much faster, better service." "The new digital platform that we are building will transform the London market into one of the most technologically advanced insurance markets in the world," said Mike Salvino, President and CEO of DXC Technology. "This agreement will enable us to support the delivery of the new digital processing services to London insurance market companies safeguarding their transformation journey." Dave Matcham, CEO of the IUA, said: "This extension signifies the intent of the Joint Venture to accelerate the current technological capabilities of company market customers. Using technology to adapt quickly to market conditions will give insurance companies confidence that they can modernize their businesses while reducing their exposure to risk". About DXC Technology DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) helps global companies run their mission critical systems and operations while modernising IT, optimising data architectures, and ensuring security and scalability across public, private and hybrid clouds. The world's largest companies and public sector organisations trust DXC to deploy services across the Enterprise Technology Stack to drive new levels of performance, competitiveness, and customer experience. Learn more about how we deliver excellence for our customers and colleagues at DXC.com. About Lloyd's Lloyd's is the world's leading marketplace for commercial, corporate and specialty risk solutions. Through the collective intelligence and expertise of the market's underwriters and brokers, we're sharing risk to create a braver world. The Lloyd's market offers the resources, capability, and insight to develop new and innovative products for customers in any industry, on any scale, in more than 200 territories. We're made up of more than 50 leading insurance companies, over 200 registered Lloyd's brokers and a global network of over 4,000 local coverholders. Behind the Lloyd's market is the Corporation: an independent organisation and regulator working to maintain the market's successful reputation and operation. We're working to build solutions for the most current and prevalent threats. As Chair of the Insurance Task Force for HRH The Prince of Wales's Sustainable Markets Initiative, Lloyd's is bringing the industry together to insure the transition to net zero. Our research community is pooling expertise from across the industry to provide cutting edge insight on systemic risks from climate change to cyber security. And through our digital-led strategy, The Future at Lloyd's, we're making it easier and cheaper to place, price and process cover in the Lloyd's market. About IUA The International Underwriting Association of London (IUA) is the representative body for companies in London providing international and wholesale insurance and reinsurance coverage. Its mission statement is to secure an optimal trading environment for London insurance companies. The IUA's London Company Market Statistics Report shows that overall premium income for the company market in 2020 was 33.138bn. Gross premium written in London totalled 27.976bn, whilst a further 5.162bn was identified as written in other locations but overseen by London operations. SOURCE DXC Technology Company CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- E2 Mobility, Inc. (E2) has announced that Cox Automotive Mobility will provide logistics and business solutions for the planned launch of its next-generation smart mobility fleet. E2 Mobility will utilize Cox Automotive Mobility's suite of digital and physical fleet solutions, including the company's comprehensive service-management solution, fleet platform and vehicle connectivity solutions combined with its integrated marketplace of the leading commercial and independent repair shops and mobile maintenance service providers to maximize uptime for its vehicles. As technology advances and Cox Automotive Mobility develops new services, such as EV battery lifecycle management solutions, E2 Mobility expects this collaboration to keep their fleet operating at the highest level of competitiveness in the smart mobility market. E2 aims to dramatically improve the economics of mobility services by lowering vehicle costs-per-mile for operators, while simultaneously increasing revenue potential by providing access to a digital platform connected to the smart mobility ecosystem. "The services provided by Cox Automotive Mobility align well with our vision to create the future of smart mobility by reducing operators' costs and optimizing the lifecycle of our vehicles," said Theodoros Papaspyridis, CEO and Founder of E2 Mobility. The vision of E2 started more than a decade ago with the innovations of Edison2, which won the mainstream competition of the 2010 Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize thanks to an ultra-efficient vehicle design and patented in-wheel suspension system. The team that became E2 set out to solve the problem of economic sustainability for shared mobility by merging the smart mobility concept with a purpose-built electric vehicle to do the job. The result is the E2 Flex, a Smart Mobility Vehicle (SMV) that delivers at least a 50% reduction in energy needs, and with integrated technology to optimize the operators' access to revenue-generating opportunities. "As the needs of a smart mobility future come into focus, having Cox Automotive as part of our strategy puts E2 in a position to make a serious impact," said Papaspyridis. "We look forward to working with E2 Mobility to enhance the flow, health, and lifecycle of its vehicles through our digital-first suite of fleet solutions," said Alex Fraser, AVP of Fleet Operations, Cox Automotive Mobility. E2 will build its SMV with globally renowned partners, including partnerships for platform licensing, prototype development, and application design, with projections to deploy a fleet of around 1 million SMVs in the United States by 2030. About E2 Mobility E2 Mobility, Inc., was founded by Theodoros Papaspyridis to provide a solution for the new era of smart mobility, leveraging his decades of experience in the international automotive industry to deliver the innovations made possible by the ultra-efficient design of the X Prize-winning Edison2 Very Light Car. Its purpose-built smart mobility vehicle for the movement of passengers and cargo helps operators to increase profits. The integrated software platform with its mobile app connects MaaS operators to diverse revenue opportunities. E2 aims to be an all-inclusive smart mobility solutions company by providing an E2 ecosystem and selling mobility by the mile. For more information, visit www.e2mobility.us. About Cox Automotive Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using vehicles easier for everyone. The global company's more than 27,000 team members and family of brands, including Autotrader(r), Dealer.com(r), Dealertrack(r), Kelley Blue Book(r), Manheim(r), NextGear Capital(r), VinSolutions(r), vAuto(r) and Xtime(r), are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with annual revenues of nearly $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com "This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise. For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com. SOURCE E2 Mobility DUBUQUE, Iowa, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Steve Biver, Chief Operating Officer of Eagle Point Software, will present at the upcoming Nordic BIM Summit in Stockholm, Sweden, held June 1-2, 2022. This Summit is recognized as one of the largest BIM events in Europe within the building and infrastructure landscape. Biver will be on stage two times at the event. He will first participate in a skills and knowledge panel discussion, where he and other experts will explain best practices of how successful companies are investigating new ways of working with competence development and skills uplift. He will later present his session topic, "Time for Training: Why Your Firm Needs a Learning Strategy." Here, Biver will focus on the benefits gained by AEC firms that create a corporate learning strategy to ensure employees have time in their workday to upskill. Biver explained the importance of his attendance at this international BIM Summit. "It is an honor to be a part of this outstanding conference in the Nordics and present alongside a group of widely-recognized industry leaders. As COVID has taken away the opportunity for most in-person events over the past two-plus years, I know I am pleased that the opportunity is finally here to return to an in-person conference setting. This is where connections are made and important information is shared." Biver continued, "Our team at Eagle Point continues to lead via innovation and the introduction of new best practices, and I am excited to share insights about training and upskilling in the AEC arena. This is sure to be an outstanding event." Pinnacle Series by Eagle Point Software is an AEC and manufacturing e-learning solution that features a comprehensive library of videos, documents, and other manufacturing development resources that enable long-term employee training, on-demand problem-solving, and digital transformation. About Pinnacle Series Pinnacle Series creator Eagle Point Software has helped AEC & manufacturing companies work more efficiently since 1983. Based in Dubuque, Iowa, the Pinnacle Series team is comprised of industry experts who deliver the leading development and productivity platform to 250,000+ global AEC & manufacturing professionals. Pinnacle Series offers a robust library of on-demand software e-learning training content , plus knowledge capture and sharing capabilities that ultimately increase efficiency. www.eaglepoint.com ; +1 563.556.8392. Follow Pinnacle Series on LinkedIn ; Twitter ; Facebook ; YouTube . SOURCE Eagle Point Software Representing a cross-section of institutions nationwide, the new Board met for the first time this month, ahead of Cialfo's attendance at the 2022 NAFSA Conference WASHINGTON , May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EdTech company Cialfo , which provides access to international higher education options for students globally, has today announced the formation of its inaugural University Advisory Board in the United States. The Board held its first meeting in Washington, D.C. from May 18th to 20th. Over time, the group will help guide the company's university business initiatives across America, which is the most sought-after destination amongst the 310,000 students on its platform, accounting for 80% of the applications since 2017. Cialfo CEO and Co-Founder Rohan Pasari said: "The perseverance and commitment to building exceptional classes amidst the great resignation and in the new, 'never normal' environment that I saw and felt from the university professionals I met in the U.S. earlier this year strengthened my commitment to supporting them as part of Cialfo's mission to make education accessible. There are several issues that they all share which can best - perhaps only - be solved together, and establishing this Advisory Board is an amazing step towards not only addressing today's challenges but creating new opportunities and paradigms in higher education for tomorrow." A global digital transformation leader in higher education and international student mobility, Cialfo intentionally invited enrollment management and international admissions professionals from various regions and institution types to inspire innovative thinking and address common challenges in the new, "never normal" environment. Each member is an industry thought leader in their own right, and, together, they will help accelerate their shared mission to empower learners worldwide. Vice President of University Engagement at Cialfo, Felicja Syska, added: "A great deal of care and thoughtfulness went into selecting the members of the Advisory Board and I'm thrilled that we have brought together some of the biggest thinkers and innovators in higher education from a wide range of institutions across the U.S. Their agreement to contribute to our mission reflects not only what we want to build as a company and the diverse nature of our network, but speaks volumes about their individual and collective foresight. Never have I seen such a swift movement within higher education towards welcoming something new and different. We look forward to learning from their expertise and wisdom, as we navigate the future for our organization and for international student mobility, together." The Board comprises International Education Consultant and Advisor to Cialfo, Clay Hensley along with the following higher education professionals: Adrienne Amador Oddi, Vice President of Strategic Enrollment and Communications, Queens University of Charlotte; Andrew Palumbo, Vice President of Enrollment Management, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Bryce Benton, Associate Director of Admission, Coordinator of International Admission, Denison University; Daniel Marschner, Ph.D., Director of International Admission, Loyola Marymount University; Holly (Moninder) Singh, Assistant Vice President, Academic Enterprise Enrollment, Arizona State University; John Wilkerson, Ed.D., Associate Vice President for International Services, Indiana University; Jose Aviles, Ed.D., Vice President For Enrollment Management, Louisiana State University; Joseph Montgomery, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success, Tuskegee University; Karen Kristof, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Admission, Colorado College; Nancy Machles Rothschild, Associate Dean of Admissions, Syracuse University; Panetha Ott, Ed.D., Director of Admission, International Recruitment, Brown University; Patriece Campbell, Ed.D., Director of International Programs, Millersville University; Satyajit Dattagupta, Chief Enrollment Management Officer, Senior Vice Chancellor, and Special Advisor to the President, Northeastern University (starting this role in June 2022); and Yvonne Romero da Silva, Ed.D., Vice President for Enrollment, Rice University. Karen Kristof, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Admission, Colorado College reflected on the meeting, saying, "I found it inspiring to talk about possibilities in using tech to facilitate deeper connections between students and universities, and to strategize with Cialfo staff who are dedicated to delivering innovative solutions in response to daunting challenges in the enrollment management space." The announcement reflects the significance of the market for international student mobility, continuing demand for hybrid recruitment strategies and solutions, and the company's significant momentum there following a month-long tour of the United States by Cialfo CEO and Co-Founder Rohan Pasari in Q1. After announcing a Series B extension led by Tiger Global, Rohan traveled to six cities across the U.S. to meet with K12 schools and high-profile universities. Portland State University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have joined the roster of Cialfo University partners this year. Recent data from Admissionsly shows that pre-COVID, over 1,095,299 International students were registered with American colleges, making up 5.5% of all enrolled students. shows that pre-COVID, over 1,095,299 International students were registered with American colleges, making up 5.5% of all enrolled students. NAFSA indicates that students from other countries contributed over $28.4 billion USD to the American economy from 2020-2021, with post-pandemic figures expected to rise steadily in the years ahead. Web / Facebook / LinkedIn / Instagram About Cialfo Cialfo is an award-winning digital transformation leader in higher education and international student mobility, connecting high school students, their counselors, and families with over 1,000 leading higher education institutions worldwide. Co-founders Rohan Pasari (CEO), Stanley Chia (COO) and William Hund (CPO) brought their personal experiences studying abroad - as well as their diverse professional backgrounds in education consulting, engineering and entrepreneurship together with a shared passion for using the power of technology for good to form the company in 2017. Headquartered in Singapore with offices in the US, India and China, Cialfo has over 200 employees across the globe. For further information please visit www.cialfo.co SOURCE Cialfo WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Swimming and boating season will soon be underway as Memorial Day weekend approaches. Knowing how to recognize the signs of a distressed swimmer and prevent someone from drowning can save lives, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). "Even the most experienced swimmers can be in danger if the weather is bad, currents are strong or a medical emergency occurs in the water," said Gillian Schmitz, MD, FACEP, president of ACEP. "Most drowning accidents are preventable, but it only takes seconds for a tragedy to occur." On average every day, 11 people are killed in unintentional drowningsone of the leading causes of death among children ages one to four, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What can be done? Always designate a responsible adult to supervise children in or near water. Clear any loose toys from the pool area to avoid a tripping hazard for children or adults. Do not use a toy as a flotation device. Use life jackets for activities in or near lakes, rivers, or oceans, especially for children and weaker swimmers. When swimming in natural bodies of water, be wary of hidden hazards such as strong currents, sharp rocks, or tangles of vegetation. Be sure to check the weather forecast before committing to activities on the water. Emergency physicians recommend that everyone uses the buddy system when swimming. Avoid drinking alcohol before or during water activities or while supervising children. Be mindful that anyone with medical conditions or those taking certain medications may require additional precautions. The signs that someone is drowning may be subtle. Watch for: Bobbing or floating in place Head tilted back with mouth open Head low in the water, with mouth at water level Trying to roll over onto the back Hyperventilating or gasping for breath Hair over forehead or eyes Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus, or eyes closed Take swift action if somebody is potentially drowning or seems in trouble in the water. Get help from a lifeguard or call 911. Do not attempt to rescue a drowning person while in the water unless trained to do so. People who are drowning may panic and try to pull anyone nearby underwater with them. Extend or throw a floating object. Once a person is safely out of the water, tilt their head back, lift their chin and check for breath. Turn the person on their side so they can expel fluids easier. If the person is not breathing, anyone trained should begin to perform hands-only CPR until first responders arrive. "Learning to swim and becoming familiar with water safety are choices that can save a life," said Dr. Schmitz. "Simple steps to avoid danger can help keep everyone safe during the holiday weekend and through the summer." The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is the national medical society representing emergency medicine. Through continuing education, research, public education, and advocacy, ACEP advances emergency care on behalf of its 40,000 emergency physician members, and the more than 150 million people they treat on an annual basis. For more information, visit www.acep.org and www.emergencyphysicians.org. SOURCE American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) BOONTON, N.J., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Enteris BioPharma, Inc. gave plush animals a dose of personality as they created a dozen stuffed teddy bears for Ronald McDonald House Charities to help comfort sick children as they undergo medical treatment. The day, which involved every employee in the organization, began with a mix of classroom training and personalized learning experiences to develop work styles that foster collaboration and engagement, and to celebrate the unique working environment at Enteris. This was capped by the Team Teddy Bear program that included several competitive events from which the teams gained points to creatively customize their bears that were distributed to children at the Ronald McDonald House in New Brunswick, N.J. "When we were thinking of a charity to support as part of our Enteris Day program, the Ronald McDonald House was a very logical choice," said Enteris CEO Rajiv Khosla. "We both are patient-focused organizations, and the comforting support they provide to families with sick children is consistent with our own culture and values." "On behalf of the Ronald McDonald House of Central & Northern NJ, I would like to personally thank you all for your kindness and donation of the bears," said Jessie Curcio, house manager for Ronald McDonald House of Central & Northern NJ. "The families who are staying with us are going through so much, that something such as giving their child a bear means the world to them. The bears will be such comfort on difficult days. We are truly grateful for your support and choosing us for your team building." Ronald McDonald House of Central and Northern New Jersey has locations in Long Branch and New Brunswick and family rooms and a hospitality suite in the pediatric units of four hospitals in Monmouth and Middlesex County. The facilities allow family members and children undergoing medical treatment to stay together and interact with their clinical care team during a time of uncertainty and stress. "The bear building program was designed to be collaborative and competitive, while allowing us to bring levity and creativity to our organization," said Nicola Skeet, a quality control manager at Enteris. "It was a truly engaging program that gave meaning to our teamwork and celebrated the goodwill that is inherent in the Enteris team," Skeet said. About Enteris BioPharma Enteris BioPharma, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SWK Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq: SWKH) offering total integrated contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services including innovative formulation solutions utilizing its proprietary drug delivery technologies, Peptelligence and ProPerma. The technologies have been the subject of numerous feasibility studies and active development programs, several of which are in clinical development. Additionally, Enteris BioPharma is advancing an innovative internal product pipeline of drug products that address significant unmet clinical needs for which there is no satisfactory treatment option. For more information on Enteris BioPharma and its proprietary oral drug delivery technologies, please visit http://www.EnterisBioPharma.com. SOURCE Enteris BioPharma, Inc. Epson to Showcase Live High-Tech Automation Solution Demos and Present Industry Insights on Manufacturing Considerations for Automation Success LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MEDIA ALERT: Who: Epson Robots, the #1 SCARA robot manufacturer in the world, will be demonstrating its lineup of robotic solutions at Automate in booth #2018. What: As the automation industry continues to grow, manufacturers are seeking robot solutions that offer the highest levels of performance. To meet the need for high-end automation, Epson will debut their new high-power-density SCARA robots which deliver next-level performance and flexibility. Automate attendees will have the opportunity to experience live product demonstrations of these new SCARA robots, in addition to product introductions and overviews of their 6-Axis robots, integrated Vision Guide and IntelliFlex Parts Feeding Systems, and ColorWorks label printer. Epson's event participation and live booth demos will include: Automate Presentation: "Why Automate? Manufacturing Consideration in Today's 'New Normal'" Scott Marsic , Epson Robots group product manager, will explore the "how" and "why" of automation and help decision makers evaluate the role of robotics and manufacturing within their business. Topics will include changes to customer pain points, onshoring and near-shoring impacts, market trends, and top insights for automation project success. No-Code Industrial Automation Robot Programming Epson will demonstrate its no-code, easy-to-use Epson RC+ Express visual development software. Featuring a simple, visual-based teaching environment, Epson RC+ Express is ideal for new users to implement industrial robot solutions quickly and easily, including common pick-and-place, palletizing and depalletizing applications. High-Performance Parts-Feeding Solution Experience parts feeding made simple with an integrated solution powered by Epson robots, IntelliFlex software and Vision Guide. Featuring dual IntelliFlex 240 parts feeders, this demo will showcase a simple pick and place operation with multiple feeders and multiple components per feeder to illustrate the ultimate in flexibility of the system. The IntelliFlex lineup has four feeder sizes and can handle a variety of parts from 3mm to 150mm with optional anti-roll, anti-stick and medical grade tray configurations. Integrated Productivity Systems This booth demo will showcase label handling with the VT6L robot and ColorWorks CW-C6000P on-demand label printer, to print and apply product, warning, and shipping labels from a single printer. Offering label placement flexibility and precision for packaging, Epson's ColorWorks printers are ideal for part identification, visual management and displaying product pictures on packaging. When: Automate will take place Monday, June 6 to Wednesday, June 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT and Thursday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT. Marsic's "Why Automate? Manufacturing Consideration in Today's 'New Normal'" presentation will take place on Wednesday, June 8 from 8 to 8:45 a.m. EDT, and registration is required. Where: Huntington Place, located in Detroit, Mich.; Epson booth #2018 Why: Epson is dedicated to helping both new and experienced automation professionals succeed by providing essential information and education and by delivering the latest robot technologies and innovations required to meet their factory automation needs. For more information, visit www.epsonrobots.com. About Epson Robots Epson Robots is a global leader in PC-controlled precision factory automation, with well over 100,000 units sold worldwide1 and a product line of hundreds of models of easy-to-use SCARA and 6-Axis robots based on a common PC-based platform. Building on a four-decade heritage, Epson Robots today delivers robots for precision assembly and material handling applications in the aerospace, appliance, automotive, biotechnology, consumer product, electronics, food processing, medical device, pharmaceutical, plastics, semiconductor, and telecommunication industries. For more information, visit www.epsonrobots.com, or follow our Spotlight page on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/epson-america-robots-/) About Epson Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to co-creating sustainability and enriching communities by leveraging its efficient, compact, and precision technologies and digital technologies to connect people, things, and information. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson's goal is to become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of around JPY 1 trillion. global.epson.com/ Epson America, Inc., based in Los Alamitos, Calif., is Epson's regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com . You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook ( facebook.com/Epson ), Twitter ( twitter.com/EpsonAmerica ), YouTube ( youtube.com/epsonamerica ), and Instagram ( instagram.com/EpsonAmerica ). 1 Epson internal sales data through 2020. EPSON, ColorWorks and Epson RC+ are registered trademarks and EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. IntelliFlex is a trademark of Epson America, Inc. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2022 Epson America, Inc. SOURCE Epson America, Inc. Bill Holiber Named as Vice Chairman and President Executive appointments position U.S. News to take advantage of growth opportunities into new verticals WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today announced that Eric Gertler will assume the role of chief executive officer of the multifaceted digital media company, in addition to his current role as executive chairman. Gertler will spearhead the overall strategy, vision and growth plans for the business and will work closely with Bill Holiber, a 20 plus year veteran of the company, who was named vice chairman. Holiber, who also serves as president of U.S. News, will continue to run the day-to-day operations of the company. The executive appointments position the media company to take advantage of growth opportunities in its current verticals as well as new verticals being launched, as it continues to invest in quality rankings, independent reporting, data journalism and consumer advice. The USNews.com platform reaches almost 500 million people annually. "U.S. News is at a very compelling place in its lifecycle as a digital media company and I am thrilled to assume this role and its responsibilities. Consumers trust and rely on U.S. News because of the rigor and integrity with which it is produced. As we continue to build the business to offer even more dynamic content and services to consumers, we will never compromise that," said U.S. News Executive Chairman and CEO Eric Gertler. "I am fortunate to have had a long history with U.S. News and to work with such dedicated and talented individuals. This is a great opportunity to realize a vision we put in motion many years ago." "U.S. News is an exceptional media company and I am excited to take on this new role in the company during this pivotal moment," said Bill Holiber, vice chairman and president. "Eric and I have a wonderful working relationship over a 30 year period and I am equally exhilarated as we continue to partner on charting the course forward for this dynamic brand, building on the strong foundation we have created." Prior to rejoining U.S. News and the private sector in August 2021, Gertler served as acting commissioner/president & CEO-designate of Empire State Development, New York State's principal economic development agency, from 2019 to 2021. During his tenure, he led the agency's response to meet the unprecedented economic needs arising from COVID-19, was instrumental in completing critical infrastructure projects including Moynihan Train Hall, attracted companies to and expanded job opportunities in the state, and implemented economic initiatives with long term benefits, particularly for small businesses. From 2013 to 2015, Gertler served New York City as executive vice president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation and managing director of the Center for Economic Transformation. Gertler also served as the executive chairman of U.S. News from 2015 to 2019 and concurrently as co-chairman and co-publisher of the New York Daily News from 2015 to 2017. Gertler led and completed the sale of the Daily News to the Tribune Company in 2017. In the late 1990s, Gertler also served as president of the three media properties that included U.S. News, Fast Company and The Atlantic, for which he managed day-to-day operations with a focus on expanding the online presence of each of these entities and developing new business lines. Bill Holiber has had a distinguished career in media for over four decades, managing over 30 publications and launching more than ten new magazines in the media and tech industries. Holiber has served as president and CEO of U.S. News since 2004 and concurrently served as president and CEO of The New York Daily News from 2010 to 2017. Holiber played a critical role in transforming U.S. News from print to an all-digital model, as well as streamlining the company to create the foundation on which it has been able to build its robust digital platform. In 2000, he was appointed publisher of U.S. News. Holiber previously served in senior executive roles at other media companies including The Atlantic, Applied Graphics Technologies, CurtCo Freedom Group, where he expanded its magazines portfolio through acquisitions and startups, and Cowles Business Media, where he was group publisher and responsible for all revenue for Folio, Catalog Age and Direct Magazine. About U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C. SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P. Firm's 401(k) Solutions Group honored by National Association of Plan Advisors CAMAS, Wa., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions has been named to the National Association of Plan Advisors' (NAPA) prestigious "Top Defined Contribution (DC) Advisor Multi-Office Firms" list for 2021. The annual list highlights the nation's top 30 retirement plan adviser firms with at least $1 billion in defined contribution (DC) assets under advisement. This marks the fourth consecutive year NAPA recognized Fisher Investments. An affiliate of the American Retirement Association, NAPA is an advocacy group exclusively focused on retirement plan advisers. NAPA selects firms for their "Top DC Advisor Multi-Office Firms" list based on information about their practices, including advised DC assets. "We're proud to be recognized by NAPA as one of the country's leading retirement plan advisers," said Nathan Fisher, Senior Executive Vice President of Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions. "This recognition reflects our dedication to our clients and commitment to helping their employees plan a more financially secure retirement." Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions was also named to NAPA's "Top Defined Contribution Advisors Firms" listfocused on single-office firmsfrom 2017-2019. Earlier this year, Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions received the "Fiduciary Excellence Certification" (CEFEX) from the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence. About Fisher Investments Fisher Investments is an independent, fee-only investment adviser. As of 3/31/2022, Fisher Investments and its subsidiaries manage over $197 billion in assets globallyover $156 billion for private investors, $39 billion for institutional investors and $2 billion for US small to mid-sized business retirement plans. Fisher Investments maintains four principal business groups: US Private Client, Institutional, Private Client International and 401(k) Solutions, which serve a global client base of diverse investors. Founder and Executive Chairman Ken Fisher wrote the Forbes "Portfolio Strategy" column from 1984 through 2016, making him the longest continuously running columnist in the magazine's history. In recent years, Ken's columns have run consistently in major media outlets across almost every Western European country as well as material Asian countries, spanning more countries and more volume than any other columnist of any type in history. Ken has also authored 11 books, including four New York Times bestsellers on finance and investing. For more information on Fisher Investments, please visit www.fisherinvestments.com. About Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions is dedicated to providing superior retirement plan services to small and mid-sized businesses and their employees. Fisher's unique service offering is built on 40+ years of successful wealth management experience and includes our flexible investing platform with institutional class funds. Our clients experience the benefit of ongoing support from a dedicated Retirement Counselor whose focus is making the management of a company retirement plan easier, while helping employees plan for a dignified retirement. For more information on Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions, please visit http://www.fisher401k.com/ . Media Contacts SOURCE Fisher Investments Nairobi Legislators in the Finance Committee of the National Assembly are urging their colleagues to shoot down proposals by the National Treasury to increase taxes on basic food commodities and common household goods. The Committee chaired by Homabay County Woman Representative Gladys Wanga pointed out that passing the proposals would effectively leave the common man to bear responsibility for the increased costs. "The Committee observes that imposing VAT on the commodities will increase the prices and we, therefore, reject the proposal and delete the amendment," read the Committee report. A vote against the Finance Bill will force National Treasury Ukur Yatani and his mandarins to go back to the drawing board to find other ways of raising revenue to meet the additional Sh51.6 billion to support the Budget. Yatani had sought to increase the cost of maize, cassava flour, and cooking gas among other basic products. Other items which will not be affected include soda, motorcycles for boda bodas and gaming. The Committee has recommended that VAT on LPG should be charged at 8 percent, not 16 percent as Yatani had proposed. Wanga and her team have also rejected a proposal to charge excise duty on motorcycles, which would have seen their tax go up. The Committee has given users of beer something to smile home about after the recommended the Excise Rate be retained at Sh121.85 per litre. "Rate of beer was increased in the Finance Act 2021 and therefore needs to give manufacturers time before another increase." "Increasing the price of beer will encourage the consumption of illicit brews and also reduce tax collection by the Government," the committee observed. The MPs also felt that there was similarly no reason to increase the Excise Tax on wines and spirits was increased in the Finance Act last year and therefore there is a need to give manufacturers time to adjust. On the Capital Gains Tax (CGT), the Committee recommended that the rate be revised to 10 percent, not 15 percent that the Yatani wanted. Bottled water will see a marginal rise in duty charged after the committee concurred with the Treasury to impose a tax rate of Sh6.60 per litre, up from Sh6.03. The 11th CS International Conference is slated for June 28-29 in Brussels, Belgium, and Forge Nano has signed on to become the Diamond Headline Sponsor of the world's premier compound semiconductor event. THORNTON, Colo., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Forge Nano, leaders in atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology and equipment, have signed on to become the Diamond Headline sponsor of the 2022 CS International Conference, scheduled for June 28-29 in Brussels, Belgium. Forge Nano is Diamond Headline Sponsor of the CS International Conference 2022. Forge Nano enjoys a long history of supporting trade shows and conferences as sponsors, exhibitors, and presenting speakers, lending their knowledge and expertise in ALD surface engineering technology to a wide range of industries. In addition to being the headline sponsor of the CS International Conference this year, Forge Nano's own Dr. Matt Weimer will take the stage for his presentation on "Enabling Advanced Architectures in Compound Semiconductor Devices with Atomic Layer Deposition of Conformal Coatings at High-Volume Manufacturing Throughput." "I am excited to be attending CS International 2022," Dr. Weimer commented. "With five topical themes this year, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn how ALD can improve the performance of a multitude of compound semiconductor-based devices." Dr. Weimer is an R&D Scientist at Forge Nano who specializes in object and semiconductor applications for atomic layer deposition. With a PhD in chemistry and experience working at Argonne National Laboratory and Lam Research, Dr. Weimer has utilized his background in synthetic chemistry to develop new ALD and CVD solutions on a variety of tool sets for a wide range of applications in both logic and memory. "Radio frequency devices and microLED both have established ALD solutions, but these two themes will focus on the future of those devices, where ALD can be a true technology enabler. VCSELs (vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers) have the potential to revolutionize 3D sensing technology and there are multiple instances where ALD can improve device aging performance with passivation," Dr. Weimer went on to explain. "It will be fun to see what new solutions these fields have developed and how ALD can enable this progression. My favorite part will be the face-to-face exchange of ideas and hopefully my talk on the ALDx line of tools will ignite fruitful conversations with existing and new collaborators." CS International is part of AngelTech, which delivers a portfolio of insightful, informative, highly valued chip-level conferences. Bringing together 3 conferences, 700+ delegates, 80+ exhibitors, 120+ presentations and numerous networking opportunities, AngelTech is the number-one global event covering compound semiconductor, photonic integrated circuit and sensor technologies. Find out more about Forge Nano's proprietary atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes and equipment visit ForgeNano.com. Media: Please direct inquiries to Ron Benfield (714 960 5500, [email protected]) at Acorn Woods Communications About Forge Nano We are pioneers in precision surface engineering, applying our proprietary Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technology to a wide range of applications, from consumer electronics and lithium-ion batteries to medical devices and raw materials used in manufacturing. The superior coatings produced by our ALD tools allow us to re-engineer these products or materials to unlock characteristics like conductivity, thermostability, and corrosion resistance, to name a few. Our team of scientists have worked with an impressive portfolio of commercial partners to develop custom ALD solutions to meet your needs at any scale, from small-scale R&D and laboratory work to large-scale high-volume production lines. The end result is a better performing product, component or material that directly impacts the end user. Learn more at www.ForgeNano.com. SOURCE Forge Nano Dr. Emily Kirby was chosen by fellow physicians to be recognized as one of the top 7% of doctors nationwide. FORT WORTH, Texas, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fort Worth Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Emily J. Kirby was recently recognized with Castle Connolly Top Doctor status for the fourth year in a row. Castle Connolly represents the largest network of meticulously vetted board certified physicians from all major specialties. To become a Top Doctor, physicians are nominated by their peers and screened for excellence in all areas of patient care. The Top Doctor designation is considered to be a strong indicator of trust that the public can rely on when choosing a physician. Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Emily J. Kirby of Fort Worth, Texas has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for the fourth year in a row. "I have trusted the Castle Connolly designation when it comes to finding care for myself and my family, and I am humbled to be included in the ranks of these accomplished specialists," said Dr. Kirby. "To be recognized by my peers in this capacity is a career milestone as a physician." Castle Connolly doctors are located throughout all 50 states and are considered to be the elite of their specialty. Peer physicians submit nominations for Top Doctors, who are then carefully evaluated by the organization. Castle Connolly looks for appropriate credentials, experience, leadership, high standards of ethics, and the interpersonal skills necessary to receive patients' trust and offer excellent care. Dr. Kirby also serves on the Castle Connolly Blue Ribbon Committee to nominate and vote on other plastic surgeons. Using the Castle Connolly Top Doctor directory , patients can search for doctors by location, health insurance, specialty, hospital, or the reason for their doctor visit. Each doctor profile contains information such as hospital affiliations and how to contact them. In plastic surgery, particularly, patients are keen to find the best possible surgeon for a safe, aesthetically sound outcome. Top Doctor status is a mark of an outstanding reputation and allows patients to begin their search exclusively with doctors who are known to have extraordinary skill. "I caution my patients and friends to always research their physicians carefully," commented Dr. Kirby. "While patient reviews can be a helpful tool in many cases, Castle Connolly adds another layer of vetted trust to the search process for quality medical care." About Kirby Plastic Surgery: Dr. Emily J. Kirby is a board certified plastic surgeon specializing in aesthetic and reconstructive procedures as well as non-surgical treatments. She is the founder and owner of Kirby Plastic Surgery, City Surgery Center, and Kalos Medical Spa, which are located at 5075 Edwards Ranch Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76109. Dr. Kirby was the first female Chief of Plastic Surgery at Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital, the largest hospital in Fort Worth. For more information, visit kirbyplasticsurgery.com . Media Contact: Randol Kirby, 817.292.4200, [email protected] SOURCE Kirby Plastic Surgery HONG KONG, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 7th Annual Morgan Stanley Sustainable Futures Conference was hosted in a hybrid mode on Monday, May 23 to Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Intensifying focus on sustainability from multiple stakeholders positions environmental and social issues as key priorities for companies in 2022. This year's conference featured corporates from a range of sectors who will discuss their sustainability strategies, addressing a variety of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) themes and topics as they manage against an evolving landscape. Invited by the organizer, Fosun International (the Group) participated in the conference for two straight years, and as the sole Chinese corporation speaker this year. Ning Jin, Executive Director of IR & Treasury, on behalf of Fosun, joined a virtual fireside chat moderated by Ehsernta Fu, Morgan Stanley Research, and talked about Fosun's sustainable development and recent achievements in ESG to audience and investors all over the globe. Ms. Jin first introduced Fosun's mission of "creating happier lives for families worldwide" and four major businesses, namely health, happiness, wealth, and intelligent manufacturing. Entering its 30th anniversary, Fosun has developed business for good with a customer-oriented focus. Fosun joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) in 2014, and has been devoted to the global commitment to sustainable development. "We have been improving ESG rating for three consecutive years, and we are the only conglomerate in Greater China with an MSCI ESG rating of AA as of 2021." Said Jin. Jin mentioned that Fosun has set a carbon reduction target "to achieve carbon emissions peak by 2028 and carbon neutrality by 2050". Particularly, Atlantis Sanya, one of the member companies of Fosun Tourism Group, was awarded the carbon neutrality certificate, which was the first carbon neutrality certificate obtained by tourism enterprises in Hainan Province in China. In addition, Nanjing Iron & Steel rolled out multiple initiatives such as product lifecycle management, PV power generation, green logistics, and research on innovative technology to fulfill its energy and climate change commitments. In terms of social responsibilities, Fosun, as a global enterprise rooted in China, while actively creating business value, attaches great importance to corporate social responsibility and actively brings contribution to the society through public welfare programs such as supporting the combat against the pandemic, assisting in the fight against malaria in Africa, running the Rural Doctors Program, fostering education, culture and entrepreneurship. Talking about governance, Fosun is committed to safeguarding the interests of shareholders through high-standard corporate governance and ethical business operations and to enhance its corporate value and accountability. In order to ensure the smooth and continuous progress of ESG work, Fosun has established a top-down and long-term mechanism for ESG improvement. Fosun includes ESG management performance as an evaluation factor in the Board and senior management' performance assessment and remuneration assessment. "To further improve the ESG management system, Fosun has set up an ESG Board Committee under the Board of Directors to assist the Board in guiding and overseeing the Group's ESG development and implementation; at the management and decision level, Fosun has established an ESG Management Committee under the ESG Executive Committee to provide decision support for the implementation of ESG strategies. At the implementation level, the Group has also set up an ESG Management Committee and an ESG Working Group to implement ESG strategies and related actions and ensure the establishment of appropriate and effective ESG risk management and internal control system." Jin detailed how the ESG governance system works in Fosun. In the Q&A session, Jin further explained Fosun's roadmap to achieve goals on carbon emission. "We will continuously build a green and low-carbon management system and take measures to mitigate, adapt to and resist climate change. The Group has integrated energy saving and greenhouse gas emissions reduction as key considerations into the environmental health and safety audit system, and annually conducts the group-level audit on member companies to urge their self-supervisions." To answer a question about "Fosun for Good, Operation with Love", Jin pointed out that in 2021 the donation of Fosun Foundation was over RMB 153,803,621, including public welfare donation of over RMB 106,827,965, community investment of more than RMB 46,870,000, and business initiatives of over RMB 105,656. She also took the examples of Fosun's innovation-driven and technology-enabled pandemic containment such as the co-development of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, as well as the anti-pandemic battles in China and around the world. Moreover, Jin demonstrated Fosun's sound corporate governance structure and its ever-optimizing governance. As of 2021, the Board currently comprises 15 directors, with 7 executive directors, 3 non-executive directors and 5 independent non-executive directors. Among them, 2 directors are female. As of the issue date of our 2021 ESG Report, Fosun's global partners have reached more than 140 from China, Japan, India, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Portugal, the United States, Israel, etc. "Fosun recognizes and embraces the benefit of having a diverse governance and believes that increasing diversity in governance will help Fosun maintain a competitive advantage and achieve long-term sustainable growth." Concluded Jin. The Sustainable Futures Conference, a 3-day event, attracted more than 50 global leading companies in ESG to speak up. Key topics of discussions included climate transition, decarbonization technologies, inclusive growth, sustainable consumption, and governance of ESG strategy. To watch the replay of the section of "Fosun: Sustainable Consumption" and other conversations, please visit: https://morganstanley.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1548996&tp_key=ed415d7adc About Fosun Founded in 1992, Fosun is a global innovation-driven consumer group dedicated to providing high-quality products and services for families around the world in Health, Happiness, Wealth, and Intelligent Manufacturing segments. In 2007, Fosun International Limited was listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 00656.HK). In 2021, Fosun International's total revenue was RMB161.3 billion and total assets amounted to RMB806.4 billion. Fosun International ranks No.589 on the 2022 Forbes Global 2000 List, with a MSCI ESG rating of AA. For more information about Fosun ESG, please visit: https://ir.fosun.com/en/investor-relations/sustainability/ Investors are also welcome to email us regarding any questions you may have. SOURCE Fosun FUKUOKA, Japan, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fukuoka City (Secretariat of Fukuoka Prize Committee) on May 26 announced the laureates for the Fukuoka Prize 2022. The Grand Prize has been awarded to Mr. HAYASHI Eitetsu, a taiko drummer who has been constantly at the forefront of creative interpretations of taiko music. The Academic Prize has been awarded to Professor Timon SCREECH, an art historian specializing in the Edo period. Ms. Shahzia SIKANDER, an artist from Pakistan who represents South Asia, has won the Arts and Culture Prize. Grand Prize: Mr. HAYASHI Eitetsu (Japan / Taiko Drummer) https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M100886/202205191422/_prw_PI4fl_WXW4Ybyu.jpg Academic Prize: Prof. Timon SCREECH (U.K. / Art Historian) https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M100886/202205191422/_prw_PI5fl_IJxLs80A.jpg Arts and Culture Prize: Ms. Shahzia SIKANDER (U.S.A. / Artist) https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M100886/202205191422/_prw_PI6fl_64hCT1ls.jpg The Award Ceremony will be held and live-streamed on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. An archived recording will be available after the event. Mr. Hayashi Eitetsu and Prof. Timon Screech will give public lectures on Wednesday, September 28, and Ms. Shahzia Sikander's lecture is scheduled for Friday, September 30. These lectures will be held with an audience in attendance, and archived recordings will be available online at a later date. (Available for viewing from abroad.) About the Fukuoka Prize The Fukuoka Prize is awarded annually to honor the outstanding achievements of individuals, groups and organizations in the field of research, arts and culture. The prize was established in 1990 by Fukuoka City, which has played a significant role as Japan's gateway for exchanges with the rest of the Asian region since ancient times. The prize aims to foster and increase awareness of the value of Asian cultures, and to establish a foundation from which the people of Asia can learn and share with one another. The prize has so far been presented to 118 leaders in their respective fields. Past laureates include Professor Muhammad YUNUS from Bangladesh, who also received the Nobel Peace Prize; and Dr. NAKAMURA Tetsu from Japan, who took the lead in medical services, land reclamation and social welfare for the sick and vulnerable in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Bookings for the official events will be open from Monday, August 1. *Advance bookings are compulsory. Fukuoka Prize official website: https://fukuoka-prize.org/en/ SOURCE Fukuoka City (Secretariat of Fukuoka Prize Committee) SHANGHAI and BRUSSELS, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Full-Life Technologies ("Full-Life") today announced it completed a $37 million (USD) Series A financing round to advance the development of its radiopharmaceutical oncology product pipeline and its radiotechnology production platform. The financing round was led by Sequoia China, together with Yunion Healthcare Ventures, Junson Capital, CD Capital and Kunlun Capital. "The funding from world-class venture investors like Sequoia China is a strong vote of confidence in our strategy, team and progress to date," said Lanny Sun, Full-Life's Co-founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer. "The funds will enable us to advance our lead radiopharmaceutical compounds into first-in-human studies next year and accelerate the development of our global radioisotope production and logistics capabilities." "Radiopharmaceuticals represent an enormous, largely untapped opportunity for developing precision oncology drugs," said Managing Director Trency Gu at Sequoia China. "Full-Life is building a powerful end-to-end solution to discover and develop innovative next-generation radiopharmaceuticals for cancer patients. The company has built an outstanding team to execute on that vision and has rapidly established a robust pipeline." Full-Life's discovery platform includes optimized single domain antibodies, peptides and linkers to radionuclides. Additionally, the Company pairs each development candidate with a theranostic nuclide to generate human PKPD data to guide patient selection, before administering therapeutic medicines. About Sequoia China Sequoia China helps daring founders build legendary companies. In partnering with Sequoia, companies benefit from our unmatched community and the lessons we've learned over 50 years. As "The Entrepreneurs Behind The Entrepreneurs", Sequoia China focuses on three sectors: technology, consumer and healthcare. Over the past 17 years we've had the privilege of working with more than 900 companies in China. About Full-Life Technologies Full-Life Technologies Limited ("Full-Life") is a fully integrated global radiotherapeutics company headquartered in Shanghai with operations in Europe. We seek to own the entire value chain for radio-ligand production, research, development & commercialization in order to deliver clinical impact for patients. Our core platform seeks to attack the two core issues that exist in radiopharmaceuticals today including innovative translational & biology research platform targeting the radiopharma treatments of tomorrow. We are comprised of a team of fast-moving entrepreneurs & scientists with demonstrated track record in life science company building as well as radioisotope research and clinical development. From Half-Life to Full-Life. Contact: Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.full-life.com SOURCE Full-Life Technologies Limited -- Profitability Exceeds Expectations -- -- Reaffirms Fiscal 2023 Outlook -- First Quarter Fiscal 2023 Financial Summary Net sales of $521 million , a decrease of 3% from last year and an increase of 5% over Q1FY20 with 90 fewer stores compared with three years ago , a decrease of 3% from last year and an increase of 5% over Q1FY20 with 90 fewer stores compared with three years ago Gross margin increased 50 basis points over last year GAAP operating income decreased 47% from last year and down 9% over Q1FY20 Non-GAAP operating income decreased 50% from last year and increased 14% over Q1FY20 E-commerce sales decreased 29% from last year and increased 74% from Q1FY20 E-commerce sales represented 19% of retail sales this year versus 25% of retail sales last year and 11% of retail sales in Q1FY20 GAAP EPS from continuing operations was $0.37 vs. $0.60 last year and $0.36 in Q1FY20 vs. last year and in Q1FY20 Non-GAAP EPS from continuing operations was $0.44 1 vs. $0.79 last year and $0.33 in Q1FY20 vs. last year and in Q1FY20 Sequential retail sales improvement in April and May to-date compared with last year NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) today reported GAAP earnings from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.37 for the three months ended April 30, 2022, compared to $0.60 in the first quarter last year and $0.36 per diluted share three years ago, prior to the pandemic. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, the Company reported first quarter earnings from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.44, compared to $0.79 last year and $0.33 per diluted share pre-pandemic. Mimi E. Vaughn, Genesco board chair, president and chief executive officer, said, "We are very pleased with our start to fiscal 2023, particularly our ability to exceed profitability expectations. While the year ago period posed a difficult comparison due to government stimulus-fueled consumer spending, especially for our Journeys business, our top and bottom line performance on a multi-year basis underscores the success of our footwear focused strategy and our conviction that our company is fundamentally stronger than prior to the pandemic. Importantly, our business accelerated sequentially in April and thus far in May versus last year as inventory levels improved. Our work on increasing digital penetration, improving store economics, and growing branded sales has put us in a great position to drive profitable growth across all channels. We believe these results are a good indication of the positive things to come as we move into the back to school and holiday selling seasons." _____________________ 1Excludes a gain related to the pension plan termination, retail store asset impairments and expenses related to the new headquarters building, net of tax effect in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 ("Excluded Items"). A reconciliation of earnings/loss and earnings/loss per share from continuing operations in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") with the adjusted earnings/loss and earnings/loss per share numbers is set forth on Schedule B to this press release. The Company believes that disclosure of earnings/loss and earnings/loss per share from continuing operations adjusted for the items not reflected in the previously announced expectations will be meaningful to investors, especially in light of the impact of such items on the results. Thomas A. George, Genesco chief financial officer, commented, "Our first quarter results were highlighted by strong full priced selling as we continue to experience healthy demand for our merchandise offerings. While sales would have been higher if not for inventory shortfalls, we are pleased that our top-line grew 5% versus the same pre-pandemic period three years ago with 90 fewer stores and adjusted operating income increased 14%. This combined with share repurchases, allowed us to achieve a 33% increase in adjusted EPS compared with pre-pandemic levels with the more efficient use of capital to drive these results. With this first quarter performance and updated outlook on the remainder of the year, we are reaffirming our expectations for adjusted earnings per share for Fiscal 2023 to range between $7.00 and $7.75. We still believe somewhere close to the middle of the range is where we will land. First Quarter Review Net sales for the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 decreased 3% to $521 million from $539 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2022 and increased 5% from $496 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020, prior to the pandemic. The sales decrease compared to last year was driven by decreased comparable direct sales, partially offset by increased sales in the wholesale and store channels. The store channel increase was led by our Schuh business as their stores were only open 19% of possible days in the first quarter last year. As a result of store closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has not included first quarter comparable sales for this year or last year, except for comparable direct sales, as it believes that overall sales is a more meaningful metric for these periods. Comparable direct sales for the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 were down 26% compared to an increase of 43% for the first quarter of Fiscal 2022. The overall sales decrease of 3% for the first quarter this year compared to the first quarter of Fiscal 2022 was led by Journeys where sales were down 16%, as Journeys was the biggest beneficiary of government stimulus in the first quarter last year and experienced a lack of inventory in the first quarter this year due to the impact of supply chain disruptions. The sales decrease in Journeys was partially offset by sales increases of 28% at Schuh, 46% at Johnston & Murphy and 5% at Licensed Brands. First quarter gross margin this year was 48.3%, up 50 basis points, compared with 47.8% last year and down 110 basis points compared with 49.4% in Fiscal 2020. The increase as a percentage of sales as compared to Fiscal 2022 is due primarily to lower shipping and warehouse expense as a result of lower e-commerce penetration, increased full-priced selling and price increases partially offset by the channel mix impact of increased wholesale sales and increased freight and logistics costs. Selling and administrative expense for the first quarter this year increased 230 basis points as a percentage of sales as compared with last year and decreased 90 basis points compared with Fiscal 2020. Adjusted selling and administrative expense for the first quarter this year increased 220 basis points as a percentage of sales compared with last year and decreased 120 basis points compared with Fiscal 2020. The increase as compared to Fiscal 2022 is due in large part to one-time benefits for rent credits and government tax relief in the first quarter of Fiscal 2022. In addition, increased selling salaries were partially offset by decreased performance-based compensation expense. Genesco's GAAP operating income for the first quarter was $8.2 million, or 1.6% of sales this year, compared with $15.5 million, or 2.9% of sales in the first quarter last year, and $9.1 million, or 1.8% of sales in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, operating income for the first quarter was $9.5 million this year compared to $18.8 million last year and $8.4 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020. Adjusted operating margin was 1.8% of sales in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023, 3.5% in the first quarter last year and 1.7% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 36.7% in Fiscal 2023 compared to 40.1% in the first quarter last year and 30.7% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020. The adjusted tax rate, reflecting Excluded Items, was 34.7% in in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 compared to 35.7% in the first quarter of last year and 31.3% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020. The lower adjusted tax rate for Q1 this year as compared to Q1 last year reflects a reduction in the amount of foreign losses for which we are unable to recognize a tax benefit. GAAP earnings from continuing operations were $5.0 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023, compared to $8.9 million in the first quarter last year and $6.5 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, first quarter earnings from continuing operations were $5.9 million, or $0.44 per share, in Fiscal 2023, compared to $11.6 million, or $0.79 per share, in the first quarter of last year and $5.9 million, or $0.33 per share, in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020. Cash, Borrowings and Inventory Cash and cash equivalents at April 30, 2022, were $200.6 million, compared with $258.0 million at May 1, 2021. Total debt at the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 was $14.7 million compared with $44.2 million at the end of last year's first quarter. Inventories increased 33% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 on a year-over-year basis and increased 9% versus the first quarter of Fiscal 2020. Capital Expenditures and Store Activity For the first quarter, capital expenditures excluding the new headquarters building were $11 million, related primarily to digital and omnichannel initiatives. Depreciation and amortization was $11 million. During the quarter, the Company opened four stores and closed 15 stores. The Company ended the quarter with 1,414 stores compared with 1,444 stores at the end of the first quarter last year, or a decrease of 2%. Square footage was down 2% on a year-over-year basis. Share Repurchases The Company repurchased 102,895 shares during the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 at a cost of $6.5 million or an average of $63.17 per share. The Company currently has $100.3 million remaining on its expanded share repurchase authorization announced in February 2022. Fiscal 2023 Outlook The Company reaffirms its Fiscal 2023 full year EPS guidance: Sales to be up 1% to 3%, compared to FY22, incorporating the impact of the lower exchange rates with a stronger U.S. dollar. Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $7.00 to $7.75 , with an expectation that earnings per share for the year will be near the mid-point of the range.2 Please refer to the Q1FY23 conference call and Q1FY23 Summary Results presentation for details regarding guidance assumptions. __________________________ 2A reconciliation of the adjusted financial measures cited in the guidance to their corresponding measures as reported pursuant to GAAP is included in Schedule B to this press release. Conference Call, Management Commentary and Investor Presentation The Company has posted detailed financial commentary and a supplemental financial presentation of first quarter results on its website, www.genesco.com, in the investor relations section. The Company's live conference call on May 26, 2022, at 7:30 a.m. (Central time), may be accessed through the Company's website, www.genesco.com. To listen live, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary software. Safe Harbor Statement This release contains forward-looking statements, including those regarding future sales, earnings, gross margins, expenses, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization, tax rates, stores openings and closures and all other statements not addressing solely historical facts or present conditions. Forward- looking statements are usually identified by or are associated with such words as "intend," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "optimistic" and similar terminology. Actual results could vary materially from the expectations reflected in these statements. A number of factors could cause differences. These include adjustments to projections reflected in forward-looking statements, including those resulting from the effects of COVID-19 on the Company's business, including COVID-19 case spikes in locations in which the Company operates, additional stores closures due to COVID-19, weakness in store and shopping mall traffic, restrictions on operations imposed by government entities and/or landlords, changes in public safety and health requirements, and limitations on the Company's ability to adequately staff and operate stores. Differences from expectations could also result from stores closures and effects on the business as a result of civil disturbances; the level and timing of promotional activity necessary to maintain inventories at appropriate levels; our ability to pass on price increases to our customers; the imposition of tariffs on product imported by the Company or its vendors as well as the ability and costs to move production of products in response to tariffs; the Company's ability to obtain from suppliers products that are in-demand on a timely basis and effectively manage disruptions in product supply or distribution, including disruptions as a result of COVID-19 or geopolitical events; unfavorable trends in fuel costs, foreign exchange rates, foreign labor and material costs, and other factors affecting the cost of products; the effects of the British decision to exit the European Union and other sources of market weakness in the U.K. and Republic of Ireland; the effectiveness of the Company's omnichannel initiatives; costs associated with changes in minimum wage and overtime requirements; wage pressure in the U.S. and the U.K.; weakness in the consumer economy and retail industry; competition and fashion trends in the Company's markets; risks related to the potential for terrorist events; risks related to public health and safety events; changes in buying patterns by significant wholesale customers; retained liabilities associated with divestitures of businesses including potential liabilities under leases as the prior tenant or as a guarantor; and changes in the timing of holidays or in the onset of seasonal weather affecting period-to-period sales comparisons. Additional factors that could cause differences from expectations include the ability to renew leases in existing stores and control or lower occupancy costs, and to conduct required remodeling or refurbishment on schedule and at expected expense levels; the Company's ability to realize anticipated cost savings, including rent savings; the amount and timing of share repurchases; the Company's ability to achieve expected digital gains and gain market share; deterioration in the performance of individual businesses or of the Company's market value relative to its book value, resulting in impairments of fixed assets, operating lease right of use assets or intangible assets or other adverse financial consequences and the timing and amount of such impairments or other consequences; unexpected changes to the market for the Company's shares or for the retail sector in general; costs and reputational harm as a result of disruptions in the Company's business or information technology systems either by security breaches and incidents or by potential problems associated with the implementation of new or upgraded systems; the Company's ability to realize any anticipated tax benefits; and the cost and outcome of litigation, investigations and environmental matters involving the Company. Additional factors are cited in the "Risk Factors," "Legal Proceedings" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of, and elsewhere in, the Company's SEC filings, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC website, www.sec.gov, or by contacting the investor relations department of Genesco via the Company's website, www.genesco.com. Many of the factors that will determine the outcome of the subject matter of this release are beyond Genesco's ability to control or predict. Genesco undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Forward-looking statements reflect the expectations of the Company at the time they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such statements. About Genesco Inc. Genesco Inc., a Nashville-based specialty retailer and branded company, sells footwear and accessories in more than 1,410 retail stores throughout the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, principally under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Little Burgundy, Schuh, Schuh Kids, Johnston & Murphy, and on internet websites www.journeys.com, www.journeyskidz.com, www.journeys.ca, www.littleburgundyshoes.com, www.schuh.co.uk, www.schuh.ie, www.schuh.eu, www.johnstonmurphy.com, www.johnstonmurphy.ca, www.nashvilleshoewarehouse.com, and www.dockersshoes.com. In addition, Genesco sells footwear at wholesale under its Johnston & Murphy brand, the licensed Levi's brand, the licensed Dockers brand, the licensed Bass brand, and other brands. Genesco is committed to progress in its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and the Company's environmental, social and governance stewardship. For more information on Genesco and its operating divisions, please visit www.genesco.com. GENESCO INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited) Quarter 1 Quarter 1 April 30, % of May 1, % of 2022 Net Sales 2021 Net Sales Net sales $ 520,748 100.0% $ 538,695 100.0% Cost of sales 269,304 51.7% 281,033 52.2% Gross margin 251,444 48.3% 257,662 47.8% Selling and administrative expenses 243,481 46.8% 239,465 44.5% Asset impairments and other, net (283) -0.1% 2,670 0.5% Operating income 8,246 1.6% 15,527 2.9% Other components of net periodic benefit cost (income) 98 0.0% (39) 0.0% Interest expense, net 297 0.1% 729 0.1% Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes 7,851 1.5% 14,837 2.8% Income tax expense 2,882 0.6% 5,943 1.1% Earnings from continuing operations 4,969 1.0% 8,894 1.7% Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (22) 0.0% (16) 0.0% Net Earnings $ 4,947 0.9% $ 8,878 1.6% Basic earnings per share: Before discontinued operations $ 0.38 $ 0.62 Net earnings $ 0.38 $ 0.62 Diluted earnings per share: Before discontinued operations $ 0.37 $ 0.60 Net earnings $ 0.37 $ 0.60 Weighted-average shares outstanding: Basic 12,961 14,287 Diluted 13,369 14,702 GENESCO INC. Sales/Earnings Summary by Segment (in thousands) (Unaudited) Quarter 1 Quarter 1 April 30, % of May 1, % of 2022 Net Sales 2021 Net Sales Sales: Journeys Group $ 314,445 60.4% $ 376,548 69.9% Schuh Group 88,159 16.9% 68,711 12.8% Johnston & Murphy Group 71,016 13.6% 48,762 9.1% Licensed Brands 47,128 9.1% 44,674 8.3% Net Sales $ 520,748 100.0% $ 538,695 100.0% Operating income (loss): Journeys Group $ 14,930 4.7% $ 33,124 8.8% Schuh Group (2,746) -3.1% (3,847) -5.6% Johnston & Murphy Group 550 0.8% (3,180) -6.5% Licensed Brands 3,793 8.0% 2,561 5.7% Corporate and Other(1) (8,281) -1.6% (13,131) -2.4% Operating income 8,246 1.6% 15,527 2.9% Other components of net periodic benefit cost (income) 98 0.0% (39) 0.0% Interest expense, net 297 0.1% 729 0.1% Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes 7,851 1.5% 14,837 2.8% Income tax expense 2,882 0.6% 5,943 1.1% Earnings from continuing operations 4,969 1.0% 8,894 1.7% Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (22) 0.0% (16) 0.0% Net Earnings $ 4,947 0.9% $ 8,878 1.6% (1) Includes a $0.3 million gain in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 which includes a $0.7 million gain on the termination of the pension plan, partially offset by $0.4 million for retail store asset impairments. Includes a $2.7 million charge in the first quarter of Fiscal 2022 which includes $2.3 million for legal fees related to the shareholder activist and $0.4 million for retail store asset impairments. GENESCO INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands) (Unaudited) April 30, 2022 May 1, 2021 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 200,623 $ 258,044 Accounts receivable 48,868 45,891 Inventories 401,479 301,017 Other current assets (1) 74,609 117,467 Total current assets 725,579 722,419 Property and equipment 219,421 208,759 Operating lease right of use assets 508,986 639,575 Goodwill and other intangibles 66,785 70,056 Other non-current assets 27,671 21,558 Total Assets $ 1,548,442 $ 1,662,367 Liabilities and Equity Accounts payable $ 243,224 $ 164,975 Current portion operating lease liabilities 137,770 158,295 Other current liabilities 83,882 112,648 Total current liabilities 464,876 435,918 Long-term debt 14,712 44,169 Long-term operating lease liabilities 430,606 555,204 Other long-term liabilities 37,910 48,068 Equity 600,338 579,008 Total Liabilities and Equity $ 1,548,442 $ 1,662,367 (1) Includes prepaid income taxes of $47.1 million and $92.1 million at April 30, 2022 and May 1, 2021, respectively. GENESCO INC. Store Count Activity Balance Balance Balance 01/30/21 Open Close 01/29/22 Open Close 04/30/22 Journeys Group 1,159 5 29 1,135 3 8 1,130 Schuh Group 123 0 0 123 1 2 122 Johnston & Murphy Group 178 1 12 167 0 5 162 Total Retail Stores 1,460 6 41 1,425 4 15 1,414 GENESCO INC. Comparable Sales Quarter 1 Apr. 30, May 1, 2022(1) 2021(1) Comparable Direct Sales -26% 43% (1) As a result of store closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic during the first quarter of Fiscal 2022, and the Company's policy of removing any store closed for seven consecutive days from comparable sales, the Company has not included comparable sales for both the first quarter this year and last year, except for comparable direct sales, as it felt that overall sales is a more meaningful metric during these periods. Schedule B Genesco Inc. Adjustments to Reported Earnings from Continuing Operations Three Months Ended April 30, 2022, May 1, 2021 and May 4, 2019 The Company believes that disclosure of earnings and earnings per share from continuing operations and operating income adjusted for the items not reflected in the previously announced expectations will be meaningful to investors, especially in light of the impact of such items on the results. April 30, 2022 May 1, 2021 May 4, 2019 Net of Per Share Net of Per Share Net of Per Share In Thousands (except per share amounts) Pretax Tax Amounts Pretax Tax Amounts Pretax Tax Amounts Earnings from continuing operations, as reported $ 4,969 $0.37 $ 8,894 $0.60 $ 6,470 $0.36 Asset impairments and other adjustments: Retail store asset impairment charges $ 412 359 0.03 $ 414 326 0.02 $ 307 212 0.01 Gain on pension termination (695) (511) (0.04) - - 0.00 - - 0.00 Fees related to shareholder activist - - 0.00 2,256 1,600 0.11 - - 0.00 Expenses related to new HQ building 1,526 1,122 0.08 597 424 0.03 - - 0.00 Gain on lease termination - - 0.00 - - 0.00 (1,000) (689) (0.04) Gain on Hurricane Maria - - 0.00 - - 0.00 (38) (26) 0.00 Total asset impairments and other adjustments $ 1,243 970 0.07 $ 3,267 2,350 0.16 $ (731) (503) (0.03) Income tax expense adjustments: Other tax items (3) (0.00) 400 0.03 (58) 0.00 Total income tax expense adjustments (3) (0.00) 400 0.03 (58) 0.00 Adjusted earnings from continuing operations (1) and (2) $ 5,936 $0.44 $ 11,644 $0.79 $ 5,909 $0.33 (1) The adjusted tax rate for the first quarter of Fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2020 is 34.7%, 35.7% and 31.3%, respectively. (2) EPS reflects 13.4 million, 14.7 million and 17.9 million share count for the first quarter of Fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2020, respectively, which includes common stock equivalents in all periods. Genesco Inc. Adjustments to Reported Operating Income and Selling and Administrative Expenses Three Months Ended April 30, 2022, May 1, 2021 and May 4, 2019 April 30, 2022 Operating Asset Impair Adj Operating In Thousands Income (Loss) & Other Adj Income (Loss) Journeys Group $ 14,930 $ - $ 14,930 Schuh Group (2,746) - (2,746) Johnston & Murphy Group 550 - 550 Licensed Brands 3,793 - 3,793 Corporate and Other (8,281) 1,243 (7,038) Total Operating Income $ 8,246 $ 1,243 $ 9,489 % of sales 1.6% 1.8% May 1, 2021 Operating Asset Impair Adj Operating In Thousands Income (Loss) & Other Adj Income (Loss) Journeys Group $ 33,124 $ - $ 33,124 Schuh Group (3,847) - (3,847) Johnston & Murphy Group (3,180) - (3,180) Licensed Brands 2,561 - 2,561 Corporate and Other (13,131) 3,267 (9,864) Total Operating Income $ 15,527 $ 3,267 $ 18,794 % of sales 2.9% 3.5% May 4, 2019 Operating Asset Impair Adj Operating In Thousands Income (Loss) & Other Adj Income (Loss) Journeys Group $ 18,976 $ - $ 18,976 Schuh Group (5,428) - (5,428) Johnston & Murphy Group 5,106 - 5,106 Licensed Brands 429 - 429 Corporate and Other (9,999) (731) (10,730) Total Operating Income $ 9,084 $ (731) $ 8,353 % of sales 1.8% 1.7% In Thousands April 30, 2022 May 1, 2021 May 4, 2019 Selling and administrative expenses, as reported $ 243,481 $ 239,465 $ 236,555 Expenses related to new HQ building (1,526) (597) - Total adjustments (1,526) (597) - Adjusted selling and administrative expenses $ 241,955 $ 238,868 $ 236,555 % of sales 46.5% 44.3% 47.7% Schedule B Genesco Inc. Adjustments to Forecasted Earnings from Continuing Operations Fiscal Year Ending January 28, 2023 In millions (except per share amounts) High Guidance Low Guidance Fiscal 2023 Fiscal 2023 Net of Tax Per Share Net of Tax Per Share Forecasted earnings from continuing operations $ 102.0 $ 7.59 $ 91.6 $ 6.81 Asset impairments and other adjustments: Retail store asset impairments and other matters 0.6 0.04 0.9 0.07 New building costs 1.6 0.12 1.6 0.12 Total asset impairments and other adjustments (1) 2.2 0.16 2.5 0.19 Adjusted forecasted earnings from continuing operations (2) $ 104.2 $ 7.75 $ 94.1 $ 7.00 (1) All adjustments are net of tax where applicable. The forecasted tax rate for Fiscal 2023 is approximately 27%. (2) EPS reflects 13.4 million share count for Fiscal 2023 which includes common stock equivalents. This reconciliation reflects estimates and current expectations of future results. Actual results may vary materially from these expectations and estimates, for reasons including those included in the discussion of forward-looking statements elsewhere in this release. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such expectations and estimates. SOURCE Genesco Inc. VANCOUVER, BC, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Orex Minerals Inc. ("Orex") (TSXV: REX) (OTCQB: ORMNF) is pleased to announce that Tatiana Alva Jimenez, M.Sc. P.Geo. has joined the geological senior management team of Belcarra Group Management Ltd. as a Vice President Exploration, and in this role she will serve as a Technical Advisor to Orex. As well as geological sciences degrees from both Peru and Canada, she has 18 years international experience with companies and mining industry consulting firms. Orex's President & CEO, Ben Whiting, P.Geo., states: "We welcome Tatiana Alva Jimenez to our team at the Belcarra Group. Her experience in Latin American exploration and mining projects will be a particularly valuable addition to our technical guidance for Orex." Tatiana Alva Jimenez is a registered Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) with Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC) and is a member of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) and Sociedad Geologica del Peru (SGP). She holds a Geology degree from Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria (UNI), Lima, Peru and a Master of Science in Economic Geology from the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada. She is bilingual in English and Spanish. Of direct application to Orex is Tatiana Alva Jimenez's experience in Mexico, she has worked on projects in the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Mesa Central, both regions where Orex currently has exploration projects. ABOUT OREX MINERALS INC. Orex Minerals Inc. is a mineral exploration company focused on precious and base metals exploration in Mexico and Canada. Orex has several current projects: Two projects are located in Durango State, Mexico, the Sandra Silver-Gold Project with Pan American Silver Corp. and the Coneto Gold-Silver Project with Fresnillo PLC. The third project is the Jumping Josephine Gold Project in British Columbia, Canada. Orex is managed by the experienced Belcarra Group Management Ltd. (the "Belcarra Group"), comprised of highly qualified mining professionals. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ben Whiting. P.Geo. President and CEO The Canadian Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this press release. SOURCE Orex Minerals Inc. Local soy farmers and global buyers of soy products will benefit from Global Processing's expanded footprint and processing capabilities. The acquisition is a win for the NON-gmo and organic soy industry. HOPE, Minn., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Processing, an emerging leader in NON-gmo and organic food ingredients, has entered into an agreement to purchase a soy processing facility in Hope, Minnesota. The location in Steele County was strategically chosen as part of Global Processing's expansion plan to improve service and product offerings to soy customers around the world. The facility is currently 90% operational and on pace for trial operation by the 2022 harvest. Full scale operations will occur by December of this year. The acquisition will have a positive impact on local farmers who are capable of producing high quality soybeans. "There is a strong base of experienced soy producers in the region around Hope who excel at growing some of the best food grade soy," said Carey Williams, CEO at Global Processing. "We are excited to partner with those farmers and provide them with a competitive marketing channel for their specialty soybeans." Global Processing's new facility will allow the company to better serve its customers around the world. It is near five operating shipping container yards, providing service to east coast, west coast and south coast USA ports. "With the challenging worldwide container access issues in 2021, our company prioritized and escalated this acquisition as a direct response to the needs of our customers," said Rob Prather, Chief Ambassador at Global Processing. "The operation provides capacity support for existing specialty products underserved by market demand. In addition to the current product lines, it will supply new products, proteins, & ingredients that help buyers operate more efficiently. This leads to less reliance on logistics thus helping contribute to a reduced global footprint." Global Processing Inc Global Processing supplies customers around the world with value-added, quality, farm-grown food products. It is a small but rapidly growing company with operations in Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and Minnesota. Global Processing's core product offerings have historically been specialty soybeans. In recent years the company has expanded into additional products such as high oleic soybean oil, organic soybean meal/oil and organic corn. For more information, please visit www.globalprocessing.org. SOURCE Global Processing Inc DUBLIN, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The " Syndromic Multiplex Panels Markets. Strategies and Trends. Forecasts by Syndrome (Respiratory, Sepsis, Gi Etc.) by Place, by Product and by Country. With Market Analysis, Executive Guides and Customization. " report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report forecasts the market size for five years. In a special section, the report looks at the numbers on how syndromic molecular diagnostics is replacing traditional panel based ordering of infectious disease tests. The COVID pandemic has ushered in a new world of infectious disease diagnostics. Infectious disease Dx is changing and will change more in the future. Can a rapidly growing market expand even faster? Find out all about it in this comprehensive report on Syndromic Multiplex Diagnostics. Are targeted tests for specific pathogens going to be obsolete? Will diagnostics replace physicians? Will Infectious Disease testing move into the Physician's Office or even the Home? Syndromic testing is proving itself in the market. Players are reporting double digit growth. Lowering costs, improving outcomes and even helping in the battle against Anti Microbial Resistance. Learn about this market including the issues and outlooks. The two key trends of Point of Care Testing and Molecular Diagnostics are merging with spectacular success. It could possibly displace most frontline test protocols AND save money at the same time. Syndromic Testing Recent Developments Genetic Signatures Wins Public Health Wales Contract Qiagen Looks to Long-Term Growth LexaGene Gets Investment Seegene Multiplex COVID-19/Flu/RSV Test Receives Approval BforCure to Adapt Rapid PCR Platform for Cancer Accelerated Growth for Decentralized Testing QuantuMDx Developing Syndromic Panels for European Launch Quidel Gains CE Mark for Savanna Analyzer, Respiratory Panel QuantumDx Gets CE Mark for Rapid PoC PCR System Bio-Rad Laboratories, Seegene Partner for MDx Development Baebies to Expand Finder Platform With Luminex Acquisition, DiaSorin to Broaden MDx Portfolio Binx Health Targeting Clinics, DTC & OTC With STI Tests Luminex Lands BARDA Grant to Develop Test for SARS-CoV-2, Flu, RSV Molzym, Fraunhofer Developing Rapid Sepsis Diagnostic MiRxes Receives Approval for Multiplex SARS-CoV-2, Flu Test New Approach Involves Silicon-Based Test for Infectious Disease Screening Scanogen's Portable Battery Operated Instrument for 90 Minute Multiplex Test Qiagen sees NeuMoDx as Growth Vehicle Torus Biosystems Developing Syndromic Test with 30-Minute Turnaround Roche, SpeeDx Partner to Expand Access to Antibiotic Resistance Tests BioMerieux's BioFire SARS-CoV-2 Respiratory Panel Wins FDA EAU Infectious Disease Testing Firm Curative Acquires KorvaLabs ChromaCode Raises Additional $10M COVID-19 Patients Need Syndromic Testing GenMark Diagnostics - New Respiratory Panel due in June Qiagen Respiratory Panel with Coronavirus Targets Receives CE Mark Exact Diagnostics launches respiratory panel control bioMerieux submits enhanced BIOFIRE BCID2 Panel to FDA Nanomix Receives CE Mark for Diagnostic Applied BioCode Applies to FDA for Syndromic Respiratory Panel Expedeon AG and Sona Nanotech to Collaborate on Multiplex POC QIAGEN's New GI Panel Performance Assessed McKesson to Distribute QIAstat-Dx Syndromic Testing Solution in USA Applied BioCode Obtains FDA Clearance Meridian Bioscience to Acquire GenePOC Inc Curetis Introduces Rapid DNA Testing for Antibiotic Resistance Qiagen gets FDA clearance for syndromic testing system Entasis Therapeutics Signs Rapid Diagnostic Agreement with bioMerieux Akonni Biosystems Submits Multiplex Diagnostics System to FDA Ador Diagnostic to receive $30M in Funding for 100-Plex PoC in Funding for 100-Plex PoC SAW Diagnostics Receives Funding for Commercialisation of PoC Platform QuantuMDx and Molbio announce MoU Immunexpress Wins $745K Contract for Rapid Sepsis Assay Contract for Rapid Sepsis Assay Mobidiag Inks European, Middle Eastern Distribution Deals BIOFIRE FILMARRAY System chosen for Phase 3 clinical trial Market Trends Factors Driving Growth Speed of Diagnosis. Effect of Syndromic Testing on Costs Point of Care Advantage Syndrome Testing, Accuracy and Diagnostic Risk Single Visits Improvement in Outcomes Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Factors Limiting Growth Lower Prices Administration/reimbursement Infectious Disease is Declining But. Wellness Hurts Economic Growth improves Living Standards. Impact of the Pandemic Recession Instrumentation and Automation Instruments Key to Market Share The Shrinking Machine Syndrome Testing Moving to Big Instruments? Diagnostic Technology Development Syndromictrends.com Comparing Syndrome and Targeted Testing The Multiplex Paradigm Shift The Sepsis Testing Market - Bellwether for Syndromics The Single Visit and Antimicrobial Resistance Syndromics drives POCT adoption A Big Future for PCR? Guide to the Pathogens The Coronavirus HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS) HBV - Hepatitis B HCV - Hepatitis C HPV - Human papillomavirus Influenza CTGC - Chlamydia/Gonorrhea Tuberculosis MRSA - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus VRE - Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus Industry Overview Industry Participants IVD Supplier Independent lab specialized/esoteric Independent lab national/regional Independent lab analytical Public National/regional lab Hospital lab Physician lab Audit body The Clinical Laboratory Market Segments Traditional Market Segmentation Laboratory Focus and Segmentation Segmenting the Syndromic Testing Market Industry Structure Hospital Testing Share Economies of Scale Hospital vs. Central Lab Physician Office Lab's Physician's and POCT Profiles of Key Syndromic Testing Companies Abacus Diagnostica Abbott Diagnostics Accelerate Diagnostics Ador Diagnostics Akonni Biosystems Alveo Technologies Antelope Dx Applied BioCode Aus Diagnostics Baebies Beckman Coulter Diagnostics Becton, Dickinson and Company Binx Health Biocartis BioFire Diagnostics (bioMerieux) bioMerieux Diagnostics Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc Bosch Healthcare Solutions GmbH Cepheid (Danaher) Credo Diagnostics Biomedical Cue Health Curetis N.V./Curetis GmbH Diagenode Diagnostics Diasorin S.p.A Enzo Life Sciences, Inc Eurofins Scientific Fluxergy Fusion Genomics Genetic Signatures GenMark Dx (Roche) Hibergene Diagnostics Hologic Immunexpress Inflammatix Invetech Janssen Diagnostics Karius Lexagene LightDeck Diagnostics Lucira Health Luminex Corp Maxim Biomedical Meridian Bioscience Mesa Biotech ( Thermo Fisher ) ) Millipore Sigma Mobidiag (Hologic) Molbio Diagnostics Nanomix Novel Microdevices Operon Oxford Nanopore Technologies Panagene Perkin Elmer Primerdesign (Novacyt) Prominex Qiagen Gmbh Quantumdx Quidel Roche Molecular Diagnostics Saw Diagnostics Seegene Siemens Healthineers Sona Nanotech SpeeDx T2 Biosystems Talis Biomedical Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc Veramarx Visby Medical XCR Diagnostics For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/n6runh Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets With most single-day tickets sold out and only four-day passes remaining, this year's Hwy 30 is expected to be the best yet, a long way from its beginnings as a school fundraiser back in 2009. In addition to a world-class music lineup, concertgoers can expect a step above by way of luxe camping facilities, low-priced concessions, and expanded activities like IV drips and massage sessions. "We wouldn't be doing this without our fans and volunteers and the people who come back every year and make Hwy 30 the success that it is which is why we do everything in our power to give them the experience that they deserve," said Gordy Schroeder, founder of Hwy 30. "Where else can you go and have a family type of environment while seeing some of the world's biggest bands? We're extremely unique and proud of it." Each day of Hwy 30 will offer a special tribute to a different group: breast cancer awareness (Wednesday), active military (Thursday), Family Day and truck drivers (Friday), as well as first responders and veterans (Saturday). Four-day passes are available for $299. Tickets available at the gate will go up in price and are not guaranteed. For more information, visit www.hwy30musicfest.com. About Gordy's Hwy 30 Music Fest Gordy's Hwy 30 Music Fest is a four-day music event that takes place each June at the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds in Filer, Idaho. Originally created by local Gordy Schroeder as a school fundraiser in 2009, the family-friendly fest now attracts tens of thousands and showcases a collection of country, Americana, rock, and red dirt artists. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.hwy30musicfest.com. Media Contact: Kristen Skladd 586-222-2423 [email protected] SOURCE Hwy 30 Music Fest Kajiado Kajiado County residents have been urged to maintain peace before, during and after the August 9 General Elections. County Commissioner Wilson Wanyanga called on the residents to desist from any form of violence including incitement on social media and heckling of opponents during political campaign rallies. Wanyanga urged politicians to preach peace during their campaigns and avoid divisive politics which may lead to tension among residents. He challenged the youth to be agents of peace and refrain from being bribed by politicians to cause chaos during campaigns. "Kajiado is a cosmopolitan county and we want to ensure that the peace which has always reigned is maintained during the electioneering period. I want to urge all residents to maintain peace even as we head to the polls," he said. The CC spoke in Kajiado town after launching a Multi-Sectoral Forum tasked with harmonizing coordination of peace initiatives ahead of the August polls. The Multi-sectoral committee composes key stakeholders in the electoral process drawn from the security sector, County Government, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Non-Governmental Organizations, religious organizations, media fraternity, boda boda association, women and youth representatives among others. Wanyanga noted that the government is committed to delivering peaceful elections by engaging strategic electoral and political partners at the grass root level. "We are working with key stakeholders drawn from various sectors to ensure that the August polls is delivered in a free and fair peaceful environment devoid of threats and intimidation," said Wanyanga. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Wanyanga revealed that the committee will work with security agencies to identify hotspot areas in the county and sensitize residents in those areas on the importance of maintaining peaceful co-existence. Kevin Osido, Executive Director, County Governance watch, noted that the multi-sectoral forum on elections was important as it gives an opportunity for the citizens to have an engagement with the electoral process. Bishop Michael Mwasia, called on all Kenyans to vote peacefully and avoid being incited against one another. He noted that all religious leaders in the county have committed to spreading peace messages to the residents even as the country heads towards the polls. The Bishop added that as Kenyans, we have a duty to build the nation regardless of one's political, ethnic and religious affiliations and this can only be achieved if peace is maintained. "Elections will come and go but as residents we will still need one another as we live together, so we should ensure that we maintain peace and vote wisely during the polls," said the Bishop. Kajiado town boda boda association chairman David Kiiya said it was unfortunate that the operators were mostly used by politicians to cause violence. He called on the riders to reject bribes from politicians and commit to become peace agents as their business is affected when there is violence. - Kna Market drivers include reduced flight time at reduced costs, untapped and on-demand markets and use of sustainable fuels BOULDER, Colo., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report from Guidehouse Insights provides an assessment of the global public and private markets for supersonic and hypersonic aircraft, market drivers, challenges, and technology issues through 2035. Supersonic passenger aircraft have not been in service since the Concorde was retired in 2003. The Concorde's technology was state-of-the-art during its service but is now considered outdated due to the lack of efficiency, extremely loud engines, and thunderous sonic boom that the aircraft created. Multiple companies and government agencies are working together to solve these issues. According to a new report from Guidehouse Insights, the supersonic and hypersonic market is anticipated to grow significantly by 2035, with expenditure surpassing $17.3 billion annually for the development, testing, and final delivery of these aircraft. "Supersonic and hypersonic aircraft are poised to become a disruptive technology for passenger transport by 2035," says Christian Albertson, senior research analyst with Guidehouse Insights. "Technology for these supersonic and hypersonic aircraft has matured to the point where some are expected to be able to deliver cargo or passengers anywhere in the world in less than two hours. Engines are much more efficient and can be flown on sustainable fuels, and the aircraft are being shaped to reduce the sonic boom to a thump." Factors driving the development of supersonic and hypersonic aircraft range from reductions in flight times and costs, the ability to serve new routes, and the promise of these aircraft using renewable fuels. With multiple countries and companies working on these new aircraft, and some ready to take flight in 2022, the market is primed for rapid growth by 2035, according to the report. The report, Supersonic and Hypersonic Flight, analyzes the global public and private markets for supersonic and hypersonic aircraft in the three phases of aircraft life: development, testing, and operational. The study provides an analysis of market issues, including business cases, opportunities, and implementation challenges associated with these aircraft. Global market projections for capacity and revenue broken out by lifecycle phases extend through 2035. An executive summary of the report is available for free download on the Guidehouse Insights website. About Guidehouse Insights Guidehouse Insights, the dedicated market intelligence arm of Guidehouse, provides research, data, and benchmarking services for today's rapidly changing and highly regulated industries. Our insights are built on in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The team's research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research, and demand assessment, paired with a deep examination of technology trends, to provide a comprehensive view of emerging resilient infrastructure systems. Additional information about Guidehouse Insights can be found at www.guidehouseinsights.com. About Guidehouse Guidehouse is a leading global provider of consulting services to the public sector and commercial markets, with broad capabilities in management, technology, and risk consulting. By combining our public and private sector expertise, we help clients address their most complex challenges and navigate significant regulatory pressures focusing on transformational change, business resiliency, and technology-driven innovation. Across a range of advisory, consulting, outsourcing, and digital services, we create scalable, innovative solutions that help our clients outwit complexity and position them for future growth and success. The company has more than 13,000 professionals in over 50 locations globally. Guidehouse is a Veritas Capital portfolio company, led by seasoned professionals with proven and diverse expertise in traditional and emerging technologies, markets, and agenda-setting issues driving national and global economies. For more information, please visit www.guidehouse.com. * The information contained in this press release concerning the report, Supersonic and Hypersonic Flight, is a summary and reflects the current expectations of Guidehouse Insights based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report's conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Guidehouse Insights nor Guidehouse undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report. For more information, contact: Cecile Fradkin [email protected] SOURCE Guidehouse Insights Developer plans third community to accommodate Houston growth DALLAS, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning residential developer Hillwood Communities, a Perot Company, today announced the acquisition of 540 acres in League City and the intent to develop the land as its third Houston-area master-planned community. The new community, which has not been named, will include 1,250 single-family lots once developed. This 540-acre purchase will be the site of Hillwood Communities' third master-planned development in the Houston area and another step in the developer's actively growing Houston platform. The League City community will include 1,250 single-family lots ranging from $400,000 to $700,000, served by Clear Creek ISD. The purchase follows the acquisition of Valencia, which closed in October of last year in nearby Manvel, also home of the developer's first Houston community, Pomona. When complete, Hillwood Communities will have a collective total of 4,500 lots across all three communities. "This acquisition is another step in our plans to help accommodate the ongoing Houston-area growth," said Fred Balda, president, Hillwood Communities. "And we are committed to providing thoughtfully planned, quality communities that Houston residents deserve." The land, known as the Stedman West Tract, was purchased from the Stedman and Wesley West families, longtime property owners interested in partnering with a developer to maximize the value of their land. The sellers chose Hillwood Communities as their partner because of the company's proven record of success in developing quality, award-winning master-planned neighborhoods that create a strong sense of community among the residents. "Stedman West Interests, Inc. is honored to partner with Hillwood Communities in this development," said Stedman West. "Hillwood is a world-class residential real estate development organization that we have gotten to know over the last couple of years, and we are confident that they will create a community that League City will be proud of." Hillwood Communities has not selected the builders for the community or selected a community name. As with all Hillwood developments, Hillwood Communities intends to incorporate meaningful, environmentally conscious measures into an insightful, master-planned development focused on long-term sustainability for the residents and surrounding communities. "With over 45% of League City yet to be built out, it's extremely important that we seek out and work with residential developers who share our vision of creating thoughtfully planned and quality-built environments that promote community and family," said League City Mayor Pat Hallisey. "We look forward to partnering with Hillwood Communities as we continue to grow in population while still maintaining our small town feel and neighborly charm." About Hillwood Hillwood, a Perot company, is a premier commercial and residential real estate developer, investor and advisor of properties throughout North America and Europe. With a diverse portfolio of properties and home to many of the world's leading companies, Hillwood is committed to bringing long-term value to our customers, partners and the communities we serve. Through its Communities division, Hillwood has delivered more than 30,000 single-family lots in 90 master-planned communities across 13 states and Costa Rica. These communities continue to raise the bar in terms of quality, innovation, and the unmistakable sense of community that sets each property apart. Before laying the physical groundwork for any new residential development, Hillwood Communities takes the time to focus on the ideals that draw people together and the everyday interactions that strengthen those bonds. By purposefully designing its walkways, gathering spaces, and structural amenities to spark spontaneous encounters and foster shared interests, Hillwood Communities creates community in every sense. For more information, please visit http://www.hillwoodcommunities.com. Contact: Russell Bynum Hillwood Communities General Manager, Houston [email protected] SOURCE Hillwood Communities Inspired by the modern sleekness of Silicon Valley and the breathtaking landscapes of the Caribbean, Chalmers is a 90,000 sq. ft facility with ergonomic workspaces and stunning environmental design and aesthetics that seek to elevate the senses and inspire all who enter its doors. itel Founding Chairman and CEO, Yoni Epstein explains, "We are proud to say we have built a world-class state-of-the-art facility that marries beautiful artistic design with functionality, security, and employee experience at the fore. We have unveiled the finest contact center, and perhaps the finest corporate building, in Jamaica, and one that can rival any facility in the world." Construction of the space commenced in 2020, and despite supply-chain challenges posed by the COVID pandemic, itel stayed the course and operations began in March of 2022. The building currently houses 825 employees and provides 1,140 seats, for a total employee capacity of 1,400. At maximum capacity, the site will annually contribute U$60 million to the local economy. This year, Chalmers Commercial (The landlords) will begin construction on a second building for itel on the adjacent lot, which will launch in 2023. The Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, noted the significant contribution that entrepreneurs, like Epstein, make in the local economy and country as whole. He highlighted itel's importance as a job creator. "Yoni who has made the investment to put in the computer systems, to train the people, to offer the services of the global service industry and the knowledge service industry. The people who are employed here will earn a wage. They will earn a salary and that's all private, but Jamaica has benefitted so significantly." itel celebrates its 10-year anniversary next month. To learn more about itel, visit www.itelinternational.com SOURCE itel BOSTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For the sixth year in a row, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts ("Blue Cross") has been named the top health plan in Massachusetts for member satisfaction by J.D. Power, a global expert in customer insights. Blue Cross is the only plan in Massachusetts to be ranked No. 1 by J.D. Power for six consecutive years. "The pandemic has brought extraordinary challenges for our members, and I am proud we have been able to help support them," said Blue Cross President and CEO Andrew Dreyfus. "This honor would not have been possible without our 3,800 employees, who work hard every day to provide best-in-class service." The J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan StudySM measures member satisfaction in 22 regions throughout the United States. Blue Cross earned the highest score in billing and payment; coverage and benefits; customer service; and information and communication in the Massachusetts region. The J.D. Power results for the region are based on responses from 987 commercial health plan members from five health plans across Massachusetts. The survey was fielded in January-April 2022. About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (bluecrossma.org) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are committed to the relentless pursuit of quality, equitable and affordable health care with an unparalleled consumer experience. Consistent with our promise to always put our members first, we are rated among the nation's best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. About J.D. Power J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies. J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company's business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com. SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts CARMEL, Ind., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KAR Auction Services, Inc. d/b/a KAR Global (NYSE: KAR), a leading operator of digital marketplaces for wholesale used vehicles, will host an Investor Update call on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. ET. The event is expected to conclude at 12:15 p.m. ET. During the event, Chief Executive Officer Peter Kelly and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Eric Loughmiller will discuss the current market outlook and provide an in-depth review of KAR Global's strategic direction, operating model, financial performance and long-term roadmap. An interactive Q&A session will follow the presentation. The event is designed for financial analysts and institutional investors. The live webcast, including concurrent video and slide presentation, will be available via the investor relations section of karglobal.com and a replay of the webcast and slide deck will be made available after the event. The live conference call may also be accessed by calling 1-844-778-4145 and entering participant passcode 4065878. KAR Contacts: Media Inquiries: Analyst Inquiries: Tobin Richer Mike Eliason (317) 665-0366 (317) 249-4559 [email protected] [email protected] About KAR KAR Auction Services, Inc. d/b/a KAR Global (NYSE: KAR), provides sellers and buyers across the global wholesale used vehicle industry with innovative, technology-driven remarketing solutions. KAR Global's unique end-to-end platform supports whole car, financing, logistics and other ancillary and related services. Our integrated physical, online and mobile marketplaces reduce risk, improve transparency and streamline transactions for customers in about 75 countries. Headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, KAR Global has employees across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Uruguay, Europe and the Philippines. For more information and the latest KAR Global news, go to www.karglobal.com and follow us on Twitter @KARspeaks. SOURCE KAR Auction Services For nearly 30 years, Kemin has been growing its business within Mexico and Central America and this new location will offer improved service and solutions to better serve its customers. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday, May 17, which included Kemin's worldwide executive team and members of the Nelson family who founded Kemin in 1961, Libby Nelson and Kimberly Nelson. The event was also attended by several elected officials, including Principal Commercial Officer, Patrick Krissek, and Juan Herrera, Senior Commercial Specialist, both from the U.S. Commercial Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, and Alfonso Ruiz Cobo, General Director of the Mexican Dairy Federation. Post-ceremony, customers and partners toured the new facilities that will support Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health, Kemin Pet Food & Rendering Technologies, and Kemin Food Technologies. "Our new, enhanced facilities greatly support our long-term business goals and will uniquely position Kemin within Mexico and Central America," said Alejandro Romero, a newly hired Country Manager for Kemin Mexico who leads the sales team. "These new facilities are just one of many ways Kemin is investing in this market to continue to provide the highest-quality services and personalized solutions to our customers." The new state-of-the-art, 36,000-square-foot building has 5,800 square feet of office space that can accommodate up to 40 team members and includes conference rooms that will allow Kemin customers, stakeholders, and partners to collaborate at the facility. The new product distribution warehouse can hold more than 1,000 metric tonnes of product and features a dedicated Kemin Application Solutions (KAS) area to build, pilot, and demonstrate customer-tailored systems for optimal product application. "The Kemin Mexico team is excited about the opportunity to expand our footprint, grow our team and offer more solution-oriented products to our customers in the Mexico and Central America regions," stated recently promoted Operations Manager, Guillermo Garcia. To help support the growth in Mexico, Kemin made strategic shifts in their leadership team. In addition to Romero and Garcia, Kemin has promoted Gloria Noriega to Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager for Mexico and Central America. Noriega serves as the official government liaison for the country's regulatory authority and represents Kemin as part of the company's membership with Consejo Nacional de Fabricantes de Alimentos Balanceados y de la Nutricion Animal, A.C. (CONAFAB). To learn more about Kemin Mexico and its global ingredient solutions, visit kemin.com/mexico. About Kemin Industries Kemin Industries (www.kemin.com) is a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services. The company supplies over 500 specialty ingredients for human and animal health and nutrition, pet food, aquaculture, nutraceutical, food technologies, crop technologies, textile, biofuel and animal vaccine industries. For over half a century, Kemin has been dedicated to using applied science to address industry challenges and offer product solutions to customers in more than 120 countries. Kemin provides ingredients to feed a growing population with its commitment to the quality, safety and efficacy of food, feed and health-related products. Established in 1961, Kemin is a privately held, family-owned-and-operated company with more than 3,000 global employees and operations in 90 countries, including manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Italy, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa and the United States. Media Contacts: Natalia Arias, Senior Marketing Specialist, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health North America, [email protected] | +52 871 108 5030 Jared Bramer, International Marketing Communications Manager, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health North America, [email protected] | 765-309-1612 Kemin Industries, Inc. and its group of companies 2022. All rights reserved. TM Trademarks of Kemin Industries, Inc., U.S.A. Certain statements, product labeling and claims may differ by geography or as required by government requirements. SOURCE Kemin Industries The competitive scenario provided in the LED Phosphors Market report analyzes, evaluates, and positions companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered for this analysis include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.Don't wait, Make a strategic approach & boost your business goals with our LED phosphors market Forecast Report - Buy Now! LED Phosphors Market 2022-2026: Scope The led phosphors market report covers the following areas: Frequently Asked Questions: Based on segmentation by Application, which is the leading segment in the market? The LED phosphors market share growth in the smartphones segment will be significant during the forecast period. The LED phosphors market share growth in the smartphones segment will be significant during the forecast period. What are the major trends in the market? The development of new LED phosphor materials is one of the key LED phosphor market trends that are expected to impact the industry positively in the forecast period. The development of new LED phosphor materials is one of the key LED phosphor market trends that are expected to impact the industry positively in the forecast period. At what rate is the market projected to grow? The LED phosphors market share is expected to increase by USD 3.44 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 20.18%. The LED phosphors market share is expected to increase by USD 3.44 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 20.18%. Which are the major market players? BBandS Lighting, Bridgelux Inc., Citizen Watch Co. Ltd., Denka Co. Ltd., EPISTAR Corp., Everlight Electronics Co. Ltd., General Electric Co., and Intematix Corp., are some of the major market players. LED Phosphors Market 2022-2026: Drivers & Challenges The adoption of LED phosphors in the automotive industry, strategic initiatives of market players, and favorable government policies will offer immense growth opportunities. However, the slowdown of the global automotive industry may impede market growth. The holistic analysis of the drivers & challenges will help in deducing end goals and refining marketing strategies to gain a competitive edge. LED Phosphors Market 2022-2026: Segmentation Analysis Application Smartphones LCD TVs Laptops/Tablets Automotive Others Geography APAC Europe North America South America Middle East And Africa To know about the market contribution of each segment - Download a sample now! LED Phosphors Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2022-2026 Detailed information on factors that will assist LED phosphors market growth during the next five years Estimation of the led phosphors market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the led phosphors market across APAC, Europe , North America , South America , and the Middle East and Africa , , , and the and Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of led phosphors market vendors Related Reports: The radiation detection monitoring and safety market size is predicted to surge by USD 1.48 billion from 2021 to 2026 at a CAGR of 7.21%. Download a sample now! size is predicted to surge by from 2021 to 2026 at a CAGR of 7.21%. The decorative lighting market share is expected to increase by USD 8.32 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.75%. Download a sample now! LED Phosphors Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 20.18% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 3.44 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 19.25 Performing market contribution APAC at 49% Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled BBandS Lighting, Bridgelux Inc., Citizen Watch Co. Ltd., Denka Co. Ltd., EPISTAR Corp., Everlight Electronics Co. Ltd., General Electric Co., Intematix Corp., Lumileds Holding BV, Materion Corp., Merck KGaA, Mitsubishi Chemical Corp., Monocrystal, Nichia Corp., OSRAM Licht AG, Phosphortech Corp., Seoul Semiconductor Co. Ltd., SMART Global Holdings Inc., Yantai Tongli High-tech New Materials Co. Ltd., and Yuji International Co. Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for forecast period, Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of Content 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Application Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 09: Parent market Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 12: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by Application 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Application Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Application Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Application 5.3 Smartphones - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Smartphones - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Smartphones - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Smartphones - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Smartphones - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 LCD TVs - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on LCD TVs - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on LCD TVs - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on LCD TVs - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on LCD TVs - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Laptops/Tablets - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 36: Chart on Laptops/Tablets - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Laptops/Tablets - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 38: Chart on Laptops/Tablets - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Laptops/Tablets - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.6 Automotive - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 40: Chart on Automotive - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Automotive - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 42: Chart on Automotive - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Automotive - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 44: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 46: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.8 Market opportunity by Application Exhibit 48: Market opportunity by Application ($ million) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 49: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 50: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 51: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 52: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 53: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 55: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 59: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.5 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.8 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 81: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 84: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 85: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 86: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 87: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 88: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 89: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 South Korea - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 90: Chart on South Korea - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 91: Data Table on South Korea - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 92: Chart on South Korea - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 93: Data Table on South Korea - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 94: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 8.1 Market drivers 8.2 Market challenges 8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 95: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 96: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 9.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 97: Overview on factors of disruption 9.4 Industry risks Exhibit 98: Impact of key risks on business 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 99: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 100: Matrix on vendor position and classification 10.3 BBandS Lighting Exhibit 101: BBandS Lighting - Overview Exhibit 102: BBandS Lighting - Product / Service Exhibit 103: BBandS Lighting - Key offerings 10.4 Bridgelux Inc. Exhibit 104: Bridgelux Inc. - Overview Exhibit 105: Bridgelux Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 106: Bridgelux Inc. - Key offerings 10.5 Citizen Watch Co. Ltd. Exhibit 107: Citizen Watch Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 108: Citizen Watch Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 109: Citizen Watch Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 110: Citizen Watch Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 10.6 Denka Co. Ltd. Exhibit 111: Denka Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 112: Denka Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 113: Denka Co. Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 114: Denka Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 115: Denka Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 10.7 EPISTAR Corp. Exhibit 116: EPISTAR Corp. - Overview Exhibit 117: EPISTAR Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 118: EPISTAR Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 119: EPISTAR Corp. - Segment focus 10.8 Everlight Electronics Co. Ltd. Exhibit 120: Everlight Electronics Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 121: Everlight Electronics Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 122: Everlight Electronics Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 123: Everlight Electronics Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 10.9 General Electric Co. Exhibit 124: General Electric Co. - Overview Exhibit 125: General Electric Co. - Business segments Exhibit 126: General Electric Co. - Key news Exhibit 127: General Electric Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 128: General Electric Co. - Segment focus 10.10 Intematix Corp. Exhibit 129: Intematix Corp. - Overview Exhibit 130: Intematix Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 131: Intematix Corp. - Key offerings 10.11 SMART Global Holdings Inc. Exhibit 132: SMART Global Holdings Inc. - Overview Exhibit 133: SMART Global Holdings Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 134: SMART Global Holdings Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 135: SMART Global Holdings Inc. - Segment focus 10.12 Yuji International Co. Ltd. Exhibit 136: Yuji International Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 137: Yuji International Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 138: Yuji International Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 139: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 140: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 141: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 142: Research methodology Exhibit 143: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 144: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 145: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio Ranked second in the medium-sized company category INDIANAPOLIS, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeOmic , the software company that leverages the cloud, machine learning and mobile devices to power precision health and wellness solutions, today announced it has been recognized on Best Companies Group's list of Great Employers to Work for in Indiana . Best Companies Group's annual award program identifies and honors the best places of employment in Indiana. The ranking is based on an anonymous employee survey and an analysis of their responses about corporate culture, training and development, salary and benefits and overall employee satisfaction. LifeOmic ranked number two in the medium-sized company category for its sought-after workplace practices, including flexible work hours, 401(k) match, equity in the company, professional development stipends and more. LifeOmic places a high value on its employee satisfaction and corporate culture as well, which includes its biannual, all-expenses-paid retreat in Salt Lake City for over one hundred of its employees and access to a company-wide wellness program that offers cash for participation. "We are honored to be recognized on the Great Employers to Work for in Indiana list," said Dr. Don Brown, LifeOmic CEO and founder. "It's been a challenging time for companies looking to attract and retain best-in-class employees and I'm thrilled LifeOmic is able to cultivate a desirable workplace that employees are both proud of and excited about. We understand the importance of taking care of our employees and are focused on creating an environment they feel empowered to grow in." "The data is clear: these companies are treating people with respect and care, and in return, their people are giving their best at work," said Jaime Raul Zepeda, executive vice president of Best Companies Group. "Best Companies Group is proud to recognize all companies on our 2022 Great Employers to Work for in Indiana list. Congratulations to all of our winners for building a people-first organization and being an employer of choice." Best Companies Group isn't the only company to honor LifeOmic as a great place to work. The company was also recently recognized by Outside Magazine's list of "Best Places to Work " for its third consecutive year and awarded several company culture and leadership honors from Comparably . LifeOmic is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with offices in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and Salt Lake City, Utah. To learn about career opportunities at LifeOmic, visit https://lifeomic.com/jobs/ . For the complete list of the Great Employers to Work for in Indiana 2022, please visit the Best Companies Group website . About LifeOmic: LifeOmic is a software company that leverages the cloud, machine learning, and mobile devices to power precision health solutions. LifeOmic's cloud-based software, Precision Health Cloud , securely aggregates, stores, and analyzes health data to power its entire suite of solutions, including: Precision Wellness for employers; LIFE Apps for individuals; Precision Recovery and Precision Oncology for providers and researchers; and Lifeology for healthcare and pharmaceutical companies. LifeOmic also offers a platform-as-a-service, allowing companies to build custom applications for health care. Combined, LifeOmic's solutions span the health continuum to improve prevention, wellness, diagnosis, management and research. To learn more about LifeOmic visit lifeomic.com Media Contact: BAM for LifeOmic [email protected] SOURCE LifeOmic More details: Get Sample Report in MINUTES Load Monitoring System Market: Segmentation The load cell sector will gain considerable market share in load monitoring systems. Load cells are in high demand in the healthcare and food industries. Because of their advantages, such as improved cell protection, moisture resistance, and high compatibility with wet and high-humidity applications, digital load cells offer a long and steady signal range, allowing the proliferation of hermetically sealed load cells. This is encouraging many suppliers in the market to offer digital load cells, for example. Load Monitoring System Market: Geography Landscape Europe will account for 32 percent of market growth. In Europe, the primary markets for load monitoring systems are Germany and the United Kingdom. The market in this region will grow more slowly than the market in other regions. Over the forecast period, Europe's rising automotive and freight industries will aid the expansion of the load monitoring system market. Know more about this market's geographical distribution along with a detailed analysis of the top regions. Download Sample Report! Key Market Drivers & Challenges: The rising use of load monitoring systems in the healthcare sector is one of the primary reasons driving growth in the load monitoring system market. A load monitoring system market trend that is predicted to have a favorable impact in the coming years is the growing number of strategic collaborations. During the projection period, rigorous regulatory compliance will be a major barrier for the load monitoring system market. Download our Exclusive Sample Report for highlights on market Drivers & Challenges affecting the Load Monitoring Systems Market. Load Monitoring System Market 2022-2026: Segmentation Product Load Cell Indicator And Controller Data Logging Software Geography Europe North America APAC South America Middle East And Africa View Sample Report : to know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years. Load Monitoring System Market 2022-2026: Vendor Analysis Airtec Corp. Dynamic Load Monitoring UK Ltd. Eilersen Electric Digital Systems AS Euroload Inc. FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology Inc. Indutrade AB James Fisher and Sons Plc and Sons Plc JCM Load Monitoring Ltd. LCM Systems Ltd. Load Monitoring Systems Ltd. Mantracourt Electronics Ltd. Mettler Toledo International Inc. Precia SA Spectris Plc Standard Loadcells Strainsert Inc. Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Read Sample Report . Load Monitoring Systems Market Value Chain Analysis Our study includes detailed information on the load monitoring system market's value chain analysis, which suppliers can use to gain a competitive advantage over the forecast period. Profit margin optimization and company strategy evaluation require an end-to-end understanding of the value chain. During the projected period, the data in our value chain analysis segment can assist vendors to reduce costs and improving customer service. To know more about market Value Chain analysis. Speak to our Analyst Now! Related Reports: Micro Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Market by Product, End-user, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 Railway Traction Motor Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 Load Monitoring System Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.14% Market growth 2022-2026 $ 724.72 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.2 Regional analysis Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution Europe at 32% Key consumer countries US, Canada, China, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Airtec Corp., Dynamic Load Monitoring UK Ltd., Eilersen Electric Digital Systems AS, Euroload Inc., FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology Inc., Indutrade AB, James Fisher and Sons Plc, JCM Load Monitoring Ltd., LCM Systems Ltd., Load Monitoring Systems Ltd., Mantracourt Electronics Ltd., Mettler Toledo International Inc., Precia SA, Spectris Plc, Standard Loadcells, Strainsert Inc., Thames Side Sensors Ltd., The Crosby Group LLC, Vishay Precision Group Inc., and WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE and Co. KG Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Product Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 09: Parent market Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 12: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by Product 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Product Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Product Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Product 5.3 Load cell - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Load cell - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Load cell - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Load cell - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Load cell - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Indicator and controller - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Indicator and controller - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Indicator and controller - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Indicator and controller - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Indicator and controller - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Data logging software - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 36: Chart on Data logging software - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Data logging software - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 38: Chart on Data logging software - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Data logging software - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.6 Market opportunity by Product Exhibit 40: Market opportunity by Product ($ million) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 41: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 42: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 44: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 45: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.4 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 51: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 55: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 59: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 61: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 81: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 84: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 85: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 86: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 8.1 Market drivers 8.2 Market challenges 8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 87: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 88: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 9.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 89: Overview on factors of disruption 9.4 Industry risks Exhibit 90: Impact of key risks on business 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 91: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 92: Matrix on vendor position and classification 10.3 Eilersen Electric Digital Systems AS Exhibit 93: Eilersen Electric Digital Systems AS - Overview Exhibit 94: Eilersen Electric Digital Systems AS - Product / Service Exhibit 95: Eilersen Electric Digital Systems AS - Key offerings 10.4 FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology Inc. Exhibit 96: FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology Inc. - Overview Exhibit 97: FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 98: FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology Inc. - Key offerings 10.5 Indutrade AB Exhibit 99: Indutrade AB - Overview Exhibit 100: Indutrade AB - Business segments Exhibit 101: Indutrade AB - Key offerings Exhibit 102: Indutrade AB - Segment focus 10.6 James Fisher and Sons Plc and Sons Plc Exhibit 103: James Fisher and Sons Plc - Overview and Sons Plc - Overview Exhibit 104: James Fisher and Sons Plc - Business segments and Sons Plc - Business segments Exhibit 105: James Fisher and Sons Plc - Key offerings and Sons Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 106: James Fisher and Sons Plc - Segment focus 10.7 LCM Systems Ltd. Exhibit 107: LCM Systems Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 108: LCM Systems Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 109: LCM Systems Ltd. - Key offerings 10.8 Mettler Toledo International Inc. Exhibit 110: Mettler Toledo International Inc. - Overview Exhibit 111: Mettler Toledo International Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 112: Mettler Toledo International Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 113: Mettler Toledo International Inc. - Segment focus 10.9 Precia SA Exhibit 114: Precia SA - Overview Exhibit 115: Precia SA - Business segments Exhibit 116: Precia SA - Key offerings Exhibit 117: Precia SA - Segment focus 10.10 Spectris Plc Exhibit 118: Spectris Plc - Overview Exhibit 119: Spectris Plc - Business segments Exhibit 120: Spectris Plc - Key news Exhibit 121: Spectris Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 122: Spectris Plc - Segment focus 10.11 Vishay Precision Group Inc. Exhibit 123: Vishay Precision Group Inc. - Overview Exhibit 124: Vishay Precision Group Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 125: Vishay Precision Group Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 126: Vishay Precision Group Inc. - Segment focus 10.12 WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE and Co. KG Exhibit 127: WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE and Co. KG - Overview Exhibit 128: WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE and Co. KG - Product / Service Exhibit 129: WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE and Co. KG - Key offerings 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 130: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 131: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 132: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 133: Research methodology Exhibit 134: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 135: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 136: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio MSBA holds Gubernatorial Forums to deliver political perspective and engagement to legal profession and the public BALTIMORE, Md., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) is hosting non-partisan Maryland Gubernatorial Forums in June, offering voters and colleagues in the legal profession an opportunity to learn candidate positions on the most pressing issues facing the state and legal vocation. MSBA invited all Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates to participate in these forums. MSBA does not endorse or rank political candidates. The Democratic forum will take place at 7:30 p.m. on June 1 in Ocean City as part of MSBA's Legal Summit , moderated by Baltimore Banner reporter, Pamela Wood, and Dick Uliano, WTOP Washington D.C. reporter. The Republican forum will follow on June 27, 2022, at the University of Maryland (Baltimore County). May 31, 2022: Republican Discussion (Virtual only) Join us via livestream ( https://www.msba.org/connect-with-the-candidates/ ) at 7:00 p.m. as we welcome candidate Kelly Shulz . June 1, 2022: Democratic Forums (In-person and virtual) The Democratic candidates for governor will join us in-person at 7:30 p.m. on June 1, 2022, at the Ocean City Convention Center Theater (4001 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, MD 21842) for MSBA's Legal Summit. MSBA welcomes the following candidates: Rushern Baker , Jon Baron , Doug Gansler , John King , Wes Moore , Tom Perez , and Jerome Segal . The Maryland State Bar Association invites all MSBA members and local legal professionals to the event. Although you do not have to register to attend the forums, we encourage you to sign-up and join us for our premier networking and educational gathering: https://www.msba.org/product/2022-legal-summit/#2022-legal-summit-primary-registration View the livestream: https://www.msba.org/connect-with-the-candidates/ June 27, 2022: Republican Forums (In-person and virtual) All Republican candidates for governor are invited for an in-person forum at the University of Maryland (Baltimore County). Details to follow. The discussions and forums will be recorded and available to members and the public on-demand at https://www.msba.org/connect-with-the-candidates/ , making them accessible to all. "Presenting the Maryland Governor Forums to MSBA members and the broader Maryland community is an opportunity we're incredibly honored to lead as we offer candidates a platform to present their plan on moving our state forward in 2022 and beyond," said M. Natalie McSherry, President of the Maryland State Bar Association. "We look forward to hearing from the panel of aspiring individuals running for Governor and are pleased to provide enhanced exposure and educational opportunities to our colleagues in the legal profession." NOTE: MSBA sought to hold a Republican forum at the Legal Summit, but lack of responses or late responses from candidates resulted in the decision to hold a recorded forum to stream during the conference on May 31. Several candidates then opted out with little notice to MSBA. MSBA will be seeking to host an in-person forum for all Republican candidates at the end of June. All are welcome to attend. Details to follow. *MSBA will livestream responses from Kelly Shulz on May 31 as indicated above. MSBA Legal Summit 2022 The MSBA Legal Summit brings together legal professionals from every segment of the profession for multiple days of learning and networking. It features unique instruction and thought leadership from nationally recognized speakers and leaders in the profession. With over 100 substantive sessions across eight learning tracks, unique networking opportunities, and multiple ways to participate, there's something for everyone. The 2022 Legal Summit is the first to be held in-person since the beginning of the pandemic. Safety is a top priority starting with the introduction of our new venue - the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland. This expansive venue provides a 1,200-seat theater for a true thought leadership experience, larger classrooms for increased capacity and comfort, a full trade-show style exhibitor hall, quick access to the outdoors, ample parking, and magnificent views of the Chesapeake Bay. SOURCE Maryland State Bar Association Kirinyaga Kirinyaga governor Ann Waiguru has appointed education county executive James Kinyua as her running mate. While unveiling him, Waiguru described Mutugi as a diligent achiever and a civil servant who has demonstrated illustriousness in his current capacity. Waiguru said the appointment will help strike gender and more so regional balance in the leadership positions. Mutugi comes from Mwea West substituting Peter Ndambiri from Mwea East who is deputizing Charles Kibiru of Jubilee party. Speaking in Wamumu, Waiguru expressed optimism that Kinyua will make a competent deputy governor should they clinch the governor's and deputy governor's seats respectively. Mutugi previously served as Wamumu ward MCA between 2013-2017 before being nominated to the position of county education CEC in 2017. He expressed his gratitude for his appointment and pledged to continue being loyal to the governor and demonstrate servanthood and result-oriented leadership. He pledged his unrelenting support to improve rice farming by agitating for a more reasonable fee charged on the rice irrigation water. NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Massive Multiple-Input, Multiple Output (mMIMO) is the key technology of 5G, and network operators are actively deploying 5G to provide superior experience to both consumers and the enterprise. 5G revenue is dominated by massive MIMO and Asia Pacific generates 60% of the total revenue in the world market. According to global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, by 2027, there will be 41 million mMIMO deployments worldwide, reaching revenue of US$43 billion, representing 35% of the total revenue in outdoor infrastructure. Furthermore, deployment will be led by Asia Pacific due to the large adoption in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. "Network operators around the world are actively deploying mMIMO and there is regional difference in mMIMO deployments. 5G in China initially started with dense urban areas so they were mainly deploying mMIMO in 64T64R configuration. Since the 2021 move toward the suburbs, the 32T32R mMIMO configuration became preferred. The semiconductor shortage may be another contributing factor. Europe mainly deploys mMIMO in 32T32R configuration as they prioritize simple site migration and the high-power consumption associated with 64T64R," explains Fei Liu, 5G & Mobile Network Infrastructure Industry Analyst at ABI Research. "Due to space and weight constraints, South Korea and Japan favor 32T32R mMIMO. The U.S. operators are aggressively deploying 64T64R mMIMO as 5G in the United States still focuses on dense urban areas. 64T64R is the primary use in the Middle East region and this configuration is expected to the adopted in Latin America as well." The fast-growing power consumption of 5G is burdening network operators with high energy costs and they are demanding equipment that is more energy efficient. "PAs (Power Amplifiers) represent up to 60% of the mMIMO power consumption with high traffic load," Liu says. "Therefore, vendors switch from LDMOSs (Laterally Diffused Metal-oxide Semiconductors) to GaN (Gallium Nitride) for PAs to meet the requirement of high-output power and lower energy consumption for 5G massive MIMO. The evolution of the amplifiers could promise a 5% improvement in energy efficiency every year." These findings are from ABI Research's Indoor, Outdoor and IoT Network Infrastructure market data report. This report is part of the company's 5G & Mobile Network Infrastructure research service, which includes research, data, and analyst insights. Market Data spreadsheets are composed of deep data, market share analysis, and highly segmented, service-specific forecasts to provide detailed insight where opportunities lie. About ABI Research ABI Research is a global technology intelligence firm delivering actionable research and strategic guidance to technology leaders, innovators, and decision makers around the world. Our research focuses on the transformative technologies that are dramatically reshaping industries, economies, and workforces today. ABI Research 1990 For more information about ABI Research's services, contact us at +1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific or visit www.abiresearch.com. Contact Info: Global Deborah Petrara Tel: +1.516.624.2558 [email protected] SOURCE ABI Research CHICAGO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, McDonald's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.38 per share of common stock payable on June 20, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 6, 2022. Upcoming Communications For important news and information regarding McDonald's, including the timing of future investor conferences and earnings calls, visit the Investor Relations section of the Company's Internet home page at www.investor.mcdonalds.com. McDonald's uses this website as a primary channel for disclosing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. About McDonald's McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with more than 39,000 locations in over 100 countries. Approximately 95% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business owners. Forward-Looking Statements This document contains forward-looking statements about future events and circumstances. Generally speaking, any statement not based upon historical fact is a forward-looking statement. In particular, statements regarding McDonald's plans, strategies, prospects and expectations regarding its business and industry are forward-looking statements. They reflect McDonald's expectations, are not guarantees of performance and speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, McDonald's does not undertake to update such forward-looking statements. You should not rely unduly on forward-looking statements. McDonald's business results are subject to a variety of risks, including those that are described in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SOURCE McDonald's Corporation Nearly all support gun background checks; majority support abortion access with some restrictions by trimester NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Physicians rank healthcare, substance/opioid abuse, and racial disparities as among the most important social issues facing the U.S., followed closely by gun control and climate change, according to the results of a new Medscape survey, Physicians' Views on Today's Divisive Social Issues Report 2022, released today. A strong majority, 85%, said healthcare access was their top concern, followed by substance/opioid abuse (66%), racial disparities (54%), gun control (53%) and climate change (51%). More than 2,300 U.S. based physicians from 29 specialties responded to the survey, which assessed their views on a range of issues, including healthcare access, racial discrimination, reproductive rights, gun control, immigration and refugee policies, gender discrimination, domestic violence, and LGBTQ+ rights. The survey was conducted between January 22 and March 2. Click here for full report: https://www.medscape.com/2022-social-issues-report Regarding the top five concerns -- healthcare, substance abuse, racial disparities, gun control and climate change: Nearly two-thirds (64%) of physicians said they are concerned or very concerned about gun control, and the overwhelming majority favor background checks (96%) and restricting ownership to people 18 and older (90%); 70% say gun purchasers should be required to have a psychological evaluation. Although more than two-thirds (68%) say the U.S. has made strides in combating racial inequality, 78% say that disparities must be addressed. More than half (55%) said patients are treated differently because of race. Nearly half of respondents (48%) favored a healthcare system in which the government is at least partially responsible for contributing to the cost, with one in five supporting a single payer system. More than 70% of physicians said climate change should be the top priority worldwide, with 67% indicating that it is a major threat to humanity. A majority (77%) of physicians reported that they see patients with substance use issues in their practice (42% often). Reproductive Rights, LGBTQ+ Rights More than half of respondents (53%) said they are concerned or very concerned about reproductive rights. Nearly one in five doctors said abortion should be accessible no matter the reason, and regardless of trimester; 13% said it should be limited to the first trimester and 11% to the second trimester. Nearly one-third (32%) said abortion in the third trimester should be available only for an outstanding medical reason, and 18% of physicians said that it should only be available to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape and incest. Only 3% said it should be banned. When asked if LGBTQ patients receive different levels of care, 45% of physicians said no, while 35% said yes and 20% indicated they weren't sure. Slightly more than one-third (36%) said they were concerned or very concerned with LGBTQ rights. Immigration and Refugee Policies About 60% of physicians said they were concerned or very concerned with immigration but split on their views about current policy; 28% said policies are too restrictive and 34% that they are not restrictive enough; 20% said they were appropriate. Domestic Violence, Gender Discrimination About two-thirds of physicians report substantial levels of concern about domestic violence, and only 8% think the U.S. does an adequate job of addressing the issue. Concerns about gender discrimination differed significantly between male and female physicians. Female physicians were far more likely to report being concerned or very concerned about gender discrimination (67%) versus men (38%). "In Medscape's first report on physician views on social issues, those that impact our health and our safety were paramount," said Leslie Kane, MA, senior director, Medscape Business of Medicine. "Physicians have a critical role in the national discussion on these issues, as they witness first-hand how healthcare access, racial disparities, climate, substance use, gun violence and other societal problems impact our health and well-being. Their points of view should be central to these debates." Medscape Survey Methods The Physicians' Views on Today's Divisive Social Issues Report 2022 was completed by 2,342 U.S. physicians representing more than 29 specialty areas. Data were weighted to American Medical Association membership by specialty, gender and region. Participants were invited to respond to an online survey. The margin of error is 2.03% at a 95% confidence level using a point estimate of 50%. About Medscape Medscape is the leading source of clinical news, health information, and point-of-care tools for health care professionals. Medscape offers specialists, primary care physicians, and other health professionals the most robust and integrated medical information and educational tools. Medscape Education (medscape.org) is the leading destination for continuous professional development, consisting of more than 30 specialty-focused destinations offering thousands of free C.M.E. and C.E. courses and other educational programs for physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals. SOURCE Medscape Companies join forces to accelerate kidney care device innovation and improve patient outcomes DUBLIN and DENVER, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) and DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA) today announced the intent to form a new, independent kidney care-focused medical device company ("NewCo" or "the Company") to enhance the patient treatment experience and improve overall outcomes. By bringing together Medtronic's capabilities as a healthcare technology leader and DaVita's deep expertise as a comprehensive kidney care provider, NewCo will be uniquely positioned to advance the development of differentiated therapies for patients with kidney failure. The Company will focus on developing a broad suite of novel kidney care products and solutions, including future home-based products, to make different dialysis treatments more accessible to patients. "This is an exciting moment that will shape the future of kidney care," said Ven Manda, president of Medtronic's RCS business and NewCo's CEO upon close. "Our singular focus on end-to-end kidney health solutions will position this new company to make a measurable difference in the lives of more than three million patients with kidney failure globallya figure expected to double over the next decade." "We're excited to collaborate with Medtronic and share our deep insight into patient and physician needs with the goal of accelerating the development and commercialization of scalable kidney care technologies," said Javier Rodriguez, CEO for DaVita. "DaVita is committed to best-in-class solutions that improve outcomes, access and the quality of life of our patients, and this is another way to provide more options to the market." Under the terms, NewCo will be co-owned by Medtronic and DaVita, each with equal equity stakes, and led by an independent management team. Medtronic will contribute its Renal Care Solutions (RCS) business including the current product portfolio (renal access, acute therapies, and chronic therapies), product pipeline, and global manufacturing R&D teams and facilities. No other Medtronic products or portfolios, including those in the AV access portfolio in the Peripheral Vascular Health business, are included. Both companies will provide an initial investment to fund NewCo and future certain operating capital. NewCo, which will be renamed and rebranded at close, will operate as an independent company governed by a six-person board of directors composed of two directors each from Medtronic and DaVita, and two independent directors. The transaction is expected to close in the next calendar year, subject to the completion of the information and consultation obligations with employee representative groups under applicable laws and receipt of customary regulatory approvals and satisfaction of customary closing conditions. About Medtronic Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life unites a global team of 90,000+ passionate people across 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow @Medtronic on Twitter and LinkedIn. About DaVita DaVita (NYSE: DVA) is a comprehensive kidney care provider focused on transforming care to improve the quality of life for patients globally. The company is one of the largest providers of kidney care services in the U.S. and has been a leader in clinical quality and innovation for more than 20 years. DaVita is working to help increase equitable access to care for patients at every stage and setting along their kidney health journeyfrom slowing progression of kidney disease to streamlining the transplant process, from acute hospital care to dialysis at home. As of December 31, 2021, DaVita served 203,000 patients at 2,815 outpatient dialysis centers in the U.S. The company operated an additional 339 outpatient dialysis centers in ten countries worldwide. DaVita has reduced hospitalizations, improved mortality and worked collaboratively to propel the kidney care community to adopt an equitable, high-quality standard of care for all patients, everywhere. To learn more, visit DaVita.com/About. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All such statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements about the anticipated effects of the transaction and the timing of closing, are forward-looking statements. Words such as "expect," "intend," "will," "plan," "anticipate," "may," "believe," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Each of DaVita and Medtronic base their respective forward-looking statements on information available to it on the date of this report and undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of changed circumstances, new information, future events or otherwise, except as may otherwise be required by law. Actual results and other events could differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the risk factors set forth in the reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed by DaVita or Medtronic, as applicable, and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in any subsequent reports that DaVita or Medtronic, as applicable, files with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. CONTACTS Medtronic Contacts: Erika Winkels Ryan Weispfenning Public Relations Investor Relations +1-763-526-8478 +1-763-505-4626 DaVita Contacts: Halie Peddle Public Relations Investor Relations +1-303-550-6349 [email protected] SOURCE Medtronic plc "We're excited that our team continues to receive independent external recognition for its innovative work and commitment to clients," said Joe Hoffman, CEO of Mesirow Currency Management. "Our expertise, custom strategies and relevant research are exceptional, and we will continue to focus on delivering best-in-class service and differentiated currency solutions to all of our clients around the globe." About Mesirow With more than $125B in currency assets,* Mesirow Currency Management has been delivering innovative, customized currency solutions to institutional clients globally since 1990.1 Being a private, employee-owned firm, Mesirow is free from many conflicts of interest associated with bank-affiliated organizations or publicly held firms and is fully aligned with the interests of its clients. Mesirow is an independent, employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937. Headquartered in Chicago with offices around the world, we serve clients through a personal, custom approach to reaching financial goals and acting as a force for social good. With capabilities spanning Global Investment Management, Capital Markets & Investment Banking, and Advisory Services, we invest in what matters: our clients, our communities and our culture. To learn more, visit mesirow.com and follow us on LinkedIn. About MoneyAge MoneyAge provides IFAs and the financial services sector with timely news and in-depth analysis to help guide their advice and decisions. The brand comprises a mixture of financial advisers, investment platforms, and other wholesale investment providers and financial intermediaries from across every sector of the financial services industry. Media Michael Herley [email protected] | 203-308-1409 1. As of March 31, 2022. Mesirow Currency Management AUM reflects assets under management for both currency risk management products (passive and active management) and alpha and macro products. Risk management product AUM reflects the total foreign currency portfolio exposure of passive and active clients' underlying portfolios allocated to the Currency Division of Mesirow Financial. Alpha and macro product AUM reflect the client's total investment amount in the alpha and macro strategies of the Currency Division of Mesirow Financial, which is calculated based on an annualized 2% volatility target. Past performance is no indicator of future results. SOURCE Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. HAYWARD, Calif., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Microvi, a leader in enabling biological solutions for various industries, announced today that it was awarded a contract by the City of Goodyear, Arizona, for a commercial groundwater nitrate treatment plant. This plant will be the first commercial biological nitrate treatment in the state of Arizona and Microvi's first installation in the state. The plant is scheduled to be commissioned in the summer of 2022 and will utilize Microvi's novel MicroNiche Engineering (MNE) technology. Microvi is partnering with Felix Construction and NCS Engineering Inc. Microvi was awarded a contract by the City of Goodyear, Arizona, for a commercial groundwater nitrate treatment plant. "We're excited to introduce this innovative technology to our drinking water treatment system," said Barbara Chappell, Goodyear Public Works Deputy Director. "The Microvi system has exceeded our treatment goals while providing an economical and environmentally friendly operation." "This plant represents a key milestone for Microvi as we expand our offerings to other states which are challenged by a lack of drinking water supplies due to drought and population growth,'' said Dr. Fatemeh Shirazi, Microvi's CEO. "We are pleased to bring our cost-effective innovation and many years of commercial operating experience to the City of Goodyear and other municipalities in Arizona." Nitrate is one of the most widespread contaminants in groundwater globally and can have significant human health impacts. Historically, the City of Goodyear, with a rapidly growing population of over 101,000, has blended water from multiple wells to reduce the level of nitrate to below the Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL). By implementing Microvi's MNE system, nitrate levels will be reduced to far below the MCL standard, reducing the City's need to blend water from other wells. Unlike conventional nitrate treatment processes such as reverse osmosis and ion exchange, Microvi's MNE treatment technology degrades nitrate in water without producing a significant waste stream, thereby reducing the need for secondary treatment and disposal. The single-pass MNE system also requires minimal operator time and features reduced maintenance requirements compared to conventional technologies. This project follows a number of successful full-scale commercial plants including Sunny Slope Water Company and the City of San Juan Bautista as well as a groundbreaking commercial wastewater sidestream treatment project at Oro Loma Sanitary District's 12 million gallons per day (MGD) plant. About Microvi Microvi is a transformative biology company based in the San Francisco Bay Area that delivers next-generation biotechnologies for the water, wastewater, bio-based chemicals, biofuels and biopharma industries. Microvi offers commercial technologies around the world to reduce waste, increase productivity and provide disruptive economics across the value chain. Learn more at www.microvi.com . Contact: Microvi Marketing [email protected] +1 (510) 344-0668 SOURCE Microvi Biotech The Busch Family and Pacific Hospitality Group Lead the Buyout of The Meritage Resort & Spa, Commit to $25 Million Investment in Upgraded Room, Meeting Space and Restaurant NAPA, Calif., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Busch Family and Pacific Hospitality Group (PHG) have led the recapitalization of The Meritage Resort and Spa, the premier AAA Four Diamond resort located at the gateway of Napa Valley. By increasing their ownership, the Busch Family enabled previous investors to exit the property at a significant gain but to more importantly reinvigorate long time partners and bring in new equity investors to become part of this iconic flagship resort. The family's commitment to the word-class destination includes a $25 million investment in enhanced upgrades including full guestroom renovations of The Meritage Resort (2023), meetings and events space renovations (winter 2022) and the opening of a new pop-up French bistro (summer 2022). The Meritage Resort and Spa, the premier AAA Four Diamond resort located at the gateway of Napa Valley The Meritage Resort and Spa was purchased in 2004 and opened in 2006 and has since served as a luxury destination and community gathering place for residents and visitors. Providing beautiful wine country accommodations paired with bespoke amenities, the resort features 322 well-appointed guestrooms, in addition to an upgraded offering of 145 upscale rooms at Vista Collina at The Meritage. Pacific Hospitality Group, which is wholly owned by the Busch family, has been managing the resort since 2004 and will continue to be retained as the management company. "We are proud to be a member of this incredible community going on almost 20 years," said Tim Busch, chief executive officer at the Pacific Hospitality Group. "It has been a rewarding experience to transform the resort from what was once a small Napa Valley hotel into a world class destination. I am humbled by what we have built together with the support of the local community, and I am excited for the future." "We are ecstatic to have the opportunity to increase our commitment to the Meritage, and the Napa community. Napa was my home for nearly 10 years and is very near and dear to me personally. It has been a long journey to build this world-class resort, and we're confident we can raise the bar even higher, starting with our $25 million investment," said Garrett Busch, President, Pacific Hospitality Group. "This is a vote of confidence in Napa and the entire wine country. We are grateful to our original investors who are exiting at this time, as well as our fellow and new investors who have partnered with PHG to take full ownership of the property." "This investment is a culmination of PHG's investment philosophy and strategy. We believe in building a business, holding world-class assets for the very long term, and being impactful in our communities. PHG has an incredible investor network of high-net-worth individuals and families who share our philosophy. We are always looking to expand our network of like-minded investors who share our passion for hospitality," added Garrett Busch. Meritage Resort & Spa's robust leadership team will be leading the resort's rollout of upgrades and enhancements. PHG has been building a world-class team comprised of recently appointed hospitality professionals, including Managing Director Joe Leinacker; Resort Manager Boris Banda; Director of Marketing Monica Smiley; Regional Director of Revenue Management Sarah Kalin Churchill and Director of Culinary Experiences Vincent Lesage. "I am proud to lead an incredible team of seasoned experts who share my resounding investment and passion for providing visitors and the community the highest level of service and unforgettable experiences," said Leinacker. "We are excited to unveil a new level of exquisite offerings and accommodations that will elevate the overall resort experience and further establish the property as the premier hospitality destination in the world-renowned Napa Valley." "Meritage Resort and Spa is poised to achieve over $90 million in topline revenue in 2022, a flagship year for the resort and a testament to the appeal of Napa Valley and the resurgence of companies looking to meet again," added Leinacker. "Napa Valley provides a premier experience for both meetings and vacationers and we are excited to welcome them to our burgeoning resort." SOURCE The Meritage Resort and Spa WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will hold a media teleconference at 12 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 27, to discuss the status of the next wet dress rehearsal test of the agency's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of the uncrewed Artemis I lunar mission. The rehearsal is the final test needed before launch and calls for NASA to test the system including operations to load propellant into the rocket's tanks, conduct a full launch countdown, demonstrate the ability to recycle the countdown clock, and also drain the tanks to give them an opportunity to practice the timelines and procedures they will use for launch. The teleconference will stream live on the agency's website. Participants include: Tom Whitmeyer , deputy associate administrator for common exploration systems development, NASA Headquarters , deputy associate administrator for common exploration systems development, NASA Headquarters Cliff Lanham , senior vehicle operations manager, Exploration Ground Systems Program, NASA's Kennedy Space Center , senior vehicle operations manager, Exploration Ground Systems Program, NASA's John Blevins , chief engineer, Space Launch System Program, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center To participate by telephone, media must RSVP no later than two hours prior to the start of the event for call details at: [email protected]. Engineers successfully completed work on items identified during the previous wet dress rehearsal tests including replacing and testing an upper stage check valve and fixing a small leak within the tail service mast umbilical ground plate housing. Teams also completed some tasks originally scheduled to take place in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) after wet dress rehearsal. Through Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone to send the first astronauts to Mars. For updates, follow along on NASA's Artemis blog at: https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis SOURCE NASA NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of the securities of HUMBL, LLC (OTC: HMBL) and/or the Company's unregistered digital asset (sold as BLOCKS Exchange Traded Index ("ETXs") on various cryptocurrency exchanges) between November 1, 2020 and May 19, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than July 19, 2022. SO WHAT: If you purchased Humbl securities and/or the Company's ETXs during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Humbl class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=6398 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than July 19, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants violated provisions of the Exchange Act by making false and misleading statements concerning the Company's growth prospects, technological advancements, international partnerships, and financial benefits for Humbl common stock and digital asset investors, as well as using selectively timed announcements to keep Humbl stock price high so that Company insiders could sell off their holdings into artificially created volume. The complaint also alleges that defendants violated provisions of the Securities Act by selling its unregistered securities (BLOCK ETX digital assets) to investors. To join the Humbl class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=6398 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. Nairobi Chief Justice Martha Koome has this morning presided over the swearing-in of the Special Tribunal to inquire into the conduct of High Court Judge Said Juma Chitembwe. Koome told members of the Tribunal in a ceremony held at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, that Article 168 of the Constitution demands they conduct proceedings transparently, fairly and without any bias, whether real or perceived. "I have no doubt in my mind that the President had good reasons for appointing you given that you are distinguished professionals in your various professions. I therefore have confidence that you will perform the task before you in accordance with the law and fairness given that our Constitution venerates the cardinal value and principle of justice," she said. Tribunal members committed to abide by the law and serve the country to the best of their abilities bearing in mind the enormous responsibility placed upon them. The membership of Tribunal chaired by Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi includes Dr Fred Ojiambo, SC, Lady Justice Abida Ali Aroni, Justice Nzioki wa Makau, James Ochieng' OduolLt. Gen. (Rtd.) Jackson W. Ndung'u and Dr. Lydia Nzomo. Mumbi, on behalf of the members of the tribunal, said they will obey the oath they had taken and discharge their duties without fear of favour or evil and in a manner that will bring honour both to the judiciary and to the country. "I look forward to working with you and I know we will do our work in harmony and achieve the results that the dictates of our constitution will take us to," she said. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Also sworn in were Lead Counsel is Kiragu Kimani, SC, and Jasper M. Mbiuki and Sarah Yamo who took oath as Joint Secretaries. Joseph Gitonga Riungu and Edward Omotii Nyang'au will work as Assisting Counsel. The tribunal was appointed following a recommendation by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) which noted that the allegations of gross misconduct on the part of a judge erode the faith of Kenyans in the fair administration of justice. Justice Chitembwe's woes began after former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, who was the main complainant in the petition seeking his removal, accused him of corruption. Chitembwe dismissed the allegations saying that he was being unfairly targeted. He was suspended from office with immediate effect when President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed the Tribunal on May 19, 2022. Parents Care About What They Put on Their Children's Skin. Natralus Helps Them Safely Tap into Mother Nature's Inherent Skincare Abilities. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The team at Natralus Australia can empathize with the challenges that modern parents face when it comes to family hygiene and skincare. There is anything but certainty as mainstream brands utilize "organic" labels and "natural" marketing messages even as many continue to use dangerous ingredients. The struggle is nothing new, too. Over a decade ago, the Environmental Working Group released a study claiming that, per a sizeable online survey of 3,300 parents, it had discovered that the average child is exposed to 27 chemicals each day that have not been found to be safe for children. Even more sobering was the fact that the study was only in regards to body care products i.e., things like skincare and hygiene products. Since that time, awareness has risen dramatically, and many parents have become more thoughtful when it comes to sourcing their childcare products. Even so, the number of chemicals present in many mainstream brands remains mysteriously difficult to gauge. This has even spurred the Environmental Protection Agency to state that "Young children face special risks related to chemical exposures because of their unique biological makeup and child-specific behaviors; however little is known about young children's exposures and the factors that impact exposure." (Emphasis added.) This is why brands like Natralus Australia have been able to attract a key market demographic in the form of parents looking for quality skincare products for their children. Natralus has spent years developing a line of skincare products that tap into the power of Mother Nature. Each Natralus formula focuses on selecting high-quality natural and organic ingredients like Paw Paw (Carica Papaya), Styrax Benzoin , and Aloe Vera and combining them in purposeful ways to create functional products that serve specific purposes. Along with a range of adult products, the company has also created its My Little One line, which empowers parents to opt for a more natural approach to skincare and wellness. "We are a family-owned brand that understands the challenges modern parents face," says Natralus owner and CEO John Rowe, "Our roots go back to my grandfather, who was recognized for his ability to craft selected natural ingredients into incredibly effective medicines. Even doctors would send him their patients because they knew they could trust him to find an effective solution to their problems. We've brought that same philosophy to the 21st century with Natralus. We're helping families effectively and safely solve their skincare and hygiene concerns one issue at a time." Along with using natural, organic ingredients, Natralus products are also free from mineral oils, artificial fragrances, parabens, and sulfates. They are also certified toxic free. From shampoo and body wash to diaper cream and lotions, Natralus helps parents tend to their children's skin without tapping into unhealthy chemical alternatives. They offer a welcome solution that allows caregivers to effectively care for their little ones without sacrificing safety in the process. About Natralus Australia: Indie natural beauty brand Natralus Australia was established in 2010 and operates out of Adelaide, Australia. The company focuses on empowering women and parents to use a more natural approach for both themselves and their families throughout their skincare and wellness activities. Learn more about Natralus at natralus.com . Please direct inquiries to: Warner Procter (954) 714-4663 [email protected] SOURCE Natralus The Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program will support up to 150 early career scientists for their research and their efforts to create labs in which everyone can thrive. Applications to the program are open now. CHEVY CHASE, Md., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) launched a roughly $1.5 billion program to help build a scientific workforce that more fully reflects our increasingly diverse country. The Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program is now accepting applications from outstanding basic biomedical researchers, including physician-scientists, who are strongly committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in science. Over the next 20 years, HHMI expects to hire and support up to 150 early career faculty as Freeman Hrabowski Scholars - appointing 30 Scholars every other year for the next decade. Each Scholar will be appointed to a five-year term, renewable once with evaluation. Each Freeman Hrabowski Scholar will receive up to $8.6 million over 10 years, including full salary, benefits, a research budget, and scientific equipment. In addition, Scholars will participate in professional development to advance their leadership and mentorship skills. With these resources, Scholars will be positioned to advance their scientific research and their capacity to create an equitable and inclusive lab climate that values diversity. HHMI anticipates that Scholars will work toward becoming leaders in their field and believes this program can benefit everyone working in Scholars' labs, providing the foundation for their future success in science. The Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program is a key step forward in HHMI's pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, announced in 2021, and extends HHMI's existing commitment to early career scientists at universities, colleges, and research organizations around the US. "For academic science to thrive in an increasingly diverse world, we need to attract and support scientists from a wide variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds," says HHMI President Erin O'Shea. "Early career faculty play a key role because they are the leaders of tomorrow. We're excited to support talented early career scientists dedicated to a model of excellence in science that combines innovative scientific research and intentional, inclusive development of postdocs, students, and other lab members." Scholars will maintain their appointments and labs at their home institutions while becoming employees of HHMI. Scholars will be included in HHMI's community of scientists, educators, and students for scientific meetings, networking, and other opportunities. "Our goal is to help promising researchers build the future of science," says Leslie Vosshall, an HHMI vice president and the Institute's chief scientific officer. "In keeping with HHMI's 'people, not projects' ethos, we want Scholars to follow their own scientific curiosity, ask innovative research questions, and go where the science takes them." HHMI named the program in honor of Freeman A. Hrabowski III, outgoing president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a major force in increasing the number of scientists, engineers, and physicians from backgrounds underrepresented in science in the United States. "We should all be encouraged by HHMI's commitment to changing the face of science in America," Hrabowski says. "This initiative shows what is possible when an institution is guided by its values and by evidence of what works. I am deeply honored to be connected with HHMI and with this new program." The Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program will accept applications through September 28, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. (ET). For more information and application instructions, please visit the program page at https://www.hhmi.org/fhs. For questions, contact HHMI program staff at [email protected]. Follow the announcement on Twitter using the hashtag #FHScholars or by following @HHMINEWS. HHMI is the largest private biomedical research institution in the nation. Our scientists make discoveries that advance human health and our fundamental understanding of biology. We also invest in transforming science education into a creative, inclusive endeavor that reflects the excitement of research. HHMI's headquarters are located in Chevy Chase, Maryland, just outside Washington, DC. Provided by Newswise, online resource for knowledge-based news at www.newswise.com SOURCE Howard Hughes Medical Institute Officials for the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) and Swissport International AG officially opened ONT's two Aspire Lounges one in each of the airport's two terminals. The OIAA Board of Commissioners recently approved an agreement with Swissport to operate the premium lounges under the company's Aspire Airport Lounges brand. Swissport, which operates 64 lounges at 38 airports worldwide, expanded into the United States in February with the opening of a newly refurbished lounge in San Diego. The all-inclusive premium airport lounges open to all ONT travelers. Guests receive a wide variety of amenities that include hot and cold food and beverages, plush and relaxing seating with ample power outlets, high-speed Wi-Fi and up-to-the-second flight information. "We're pleased to welcome Swissport and Aspire Airport Lounges to Ontario. These new premium lounges add to the excitement and momentum that has been building at ONT and reflects our commitment to provide our customers with the best amenities and experience possible," said Alan D. Wapner, President of the OIAA Board of Commissioners. "We are delighted to open two new Aspire Lounges in America's fastest growing airport. The opening of the Ontario lounges mark an important milestone in the expansion of our global lounge network," says Nick Ames, Head of Lounges North America. "The new lounges in Ontario are open to all travelers irrespective of travel class or airline and offer a dedicated space to relax, refresh and recharge before a flight." The Aspire Lounge in Terminal 2 will be open from 5 a.m. - 1 p.m. and from 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. (and until 12 a.m. on Wednesdays). The lounge in Terminal 4 will be open from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The lounge is open to all passengers for a current admission fee of $37 per adult. Visits can be pre-booked at www.aspirelounges.com. All Aspire Lounges accept various entry methods, including eligible American Express cardholders, Priority Pass and more to come. Each Aspire Lounge offers a discounted "thank you" rate for military and emergency personnel, currently at $30 per adult. The lounge openings come as ONT continues its strong recovery from the global decline in air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Already one of the fastest-recovering airports in the world, ONT has exceeded pre-pandemic passenger volumes for the past two months. About Ontario International Airport Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport which offers nonstop commercial jet service to 33 major airports in the U.S., Mexico, Central America and Taiwan. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario Mayor Pro Tem Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner). OIAA Media Contact: Steve Lambert, (909) 841-7527 [email protected] SOURCE Ontario International Airport WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey by John Zogby Strategies found that workers at private businesses owned by employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) place a higher priority on their companies' commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) than employees at non-ESOP companies. The survey also found that employee-owned companies are more likely to deliver on those expectations, with S corporation ESOP workers giving their employers higher marks than their peers at non-ESOP companies for community investment, volunteering, economic opportunity, and social justice. The survey, commissioned by the Employee-Owned S Corporations of America (ESCA), explored the opinions of rank-and-file employees on the importance of CSR at both ESOP and non-ESOP companies. Key findings include: Seven in 10 ESOP employees (72%) said their companies' commitment to CSR was very important , compared to just 53% of non-ESOP employees. , compared to just 53% of non-ESOP employees. Only 2% of ESOP employees said their companies DO NOT value CSR, compared to 10% of non-ESOP employees. value CSR, compared to 10% of non-ESOP employees. Greater than eight in 10 (84%) ESOP employees said it's very important for their companies to invest in the local community, compared to 53% of non-ESOP employees. for their companies to invest in the local community, compared to 53% of non-ESOP employees. More than nine out of 10 ESOP employees (94%) felt their companies encourage volunteering in the local community, compared to just 76% of non-ESOP employees. ESOP employees (94%) felt their companies encourage volunteering in the local community, compared to just 76% of non-ESOP employees. ESOP employees were twice as likely as non-ESOP employees to say their companies made an effort to provide economic opportunity in the community. as non-ESOP employees to say their companies made an effort to provide economic opportunity in the community. Nearly one half of ESOP employees said their companies made a high effort in a commitment to social justice/diversity/inclusion, compared to just one third of non-ESOP employees. in a commitment to social justice/diversity/inclusion, compared to just one third of non-ESOP employees. ESOP employees would be less likely to accept a prospective job from an employer that did not have a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility. "Workers across all industries, age groups, and demographics expect more from their employers than just a paycheck at the end of the day," said Stephanie Silverman, President and CEO of ESCA. "Employee ownership isn't only about delivering financial returns; it's about providing a better culture and commitment to employee-owners. While we understand there is always work to be done, we are proud to see yet another data point demonstrating the strong advantage of employee ownership, especially when it comes to fostering a better workplace culture." To read the executive summary of the survey, CLICK HERE. To learn more about the Employee-Owned S Corporations of America (ESCA), CLICK HERE. SOURCE Employee-Owned S Corporations of America NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Initial study results show that an experimental drug, called nemvaleukin alfa, when used alone or in combination with another anticancer drug (pembrolizumab) may be effective in treating several types of late-stage cancers in some patients. Both drugs are immunotherapies, medications designed to help the body's immune defense system detect and kill cancer cells, much like it would an invading virus. They work by boosting the action of immune cells that both directly attack the cancer and prevent cancer cells from evading immune system surveillance. New generations and combinations of immunotherapies are needed, researchers say, because existing treatments do not work for all patients, especially those whose cancer has (after standard treatment) returned after remission or spread to other parts of the body. The latest international Phase I/II study, led by a researcher at NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center, showed that a series of injections of nemvaleukin alfa stopped tumor growth or resulted in some shrinkage for at least six months in four out of 22 (18%) men and women with advanced kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma). Some tumor shrinkage was also observed in four of 46 (8%) patients with various forms of melanoma (skin cancer). All had cancer that had previously failed to respond to other immunotherapies. Side effects were minimal, although some patients experienced chills and anemia (temporarily low blood counts). The study findings, to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago on June 4, also showed that nemvaleukin alfa demonstrated anticancer activity when used in combination with injections of another, more widely used immunotherapy, pembrolizumab. Researchers found that the drug combination led to a sustained and tenfold increase in the production of CD8 T cells and natural killer cells, highly specialized immune cells known to fight cancer. This occurred in 22 of 137 patients (16%) of study participants with all kinds of cancer, over half of whom (59%) experienced a total stall in their cancers' progression. Similar anticancer immune cell activity was observed in four of 14 (28%) women with ovarian cancer whose disease did not respond to initial drug chemotherapy. "Our early results demonstrate that nemvaleukin alfa is a generally safe, tolerable, and potentially effective therapy for several different cancers," says study senior investigator and oncologist Vamsidhar Velcheti, MD. "If further trial results prove successful, then nemvaleukin alfa, when prescribed on its own or in combination with other anticancer medications, could serve as a valuable option for people with advanced-stage cancer in which other therapies have not worked and for whom there are few remaining treatment options," says Velcheti, an associate professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and a member of Perlmutter Cancer Center. Velcheti, who also serves as director of Perlmutter's thoracic medical oncology program, cautions that further results from the ongoing study would have to demonstrate similar benefits before nemvaleukin alfa treatment could become a "standard of care," or go-to therapy, for patients with advanced cancers. The current study, known as ARTISTRY-1, was funded by Alkermes Inc. of Waltham, Mass., the manufacturer of the nemvaleukin alfa drug used in the experiments. Study participants, who range in age from 18 to 83, are being treated at more than a dozen cancer centers in the United States, Canada, and Europe. More information about the trial can be found online at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02799095. Nemvaleukin alfa helps anticancer immune cells grow and multiply. The drug is an engineered version of a naturally occurring signaling protein called interleukin-2, which attaches to immune cells at a site called the interleukin-2 alpha receptor. This in turn triggers the action of CD8 T cells and natural killer cells. Because of its specificity, the drug does not target binding sites that increase the action of regulatory T cells, which cancer cells use to dial down immune responses against them. Nemvaleukin alfa has already been granted fast-track status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer, based in part on earlier ARTISTRY-1 findings. Pembrolizumab is a well-tolerated immunotherapy drug known as pembro or Keytruda that has been in widespread use against a variety of cancers for the last decade. Known as a checkpoint inhibitor, the drug blocks the PD-1 receptor site on certain immune cells that help cancer cells avoid detection and attack by other immune cells. Besides Velcheti, Marc Ernstoff, at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, N.Y., also serves as study co-senior investigator. Other study investigators are Ulka Vaishampayan, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; Piotr Tomczak, at Klinika Onkologii Oddizial Chemiotrerapii in Poznan, Poland; Jameel Muzaffar, at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla.; Ira Winer, at Wayne State University in Detroit; Seth Rosen, at the Hematology Oncology Association of the Treasure Coast in Port St. Lucie, Fla.; Christopher Holmes, at Duke University in Durham, N.C.; Aman Chauhan, at the University of Kentucky in Lexington; Anna Spreafico, at Princess Margaret Cancer Center in Toronto, Canada; Karl Lewis, at the University of Colorado in Aurora; Debora Bruno, at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio; Olivier Dumas, at Laval University in Quebec City, Canada; David McDermott, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Mass.; James Strauss, at Mary Crowley Cancer Research in Dallas; Quincy Chu, at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada; Lucy Gilbert, at McGill University in Montreal, Canada; Arvind Chaudry, at Summit Cancer Centers in Spokane, Wash.; Julie Graham, at Alkermes Inc.; and Valentina Boni, at Madrid University in Spain. Velcheti has previously been compensated by Alkermes for consulting and scientific activities unrelated to the current study. Questions regarding disclosures may be directed to the investigators, ASCO, and NYU Langone Health. Note: This abstract 2500 is titled "Nemvaleukin Alfa Monotherapy and in Combination with Pembrolizumab in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors: ARTISTRY-1," and is scheduled to be presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting at 8:30 am EDT, Saturday, June 4, at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. Media Inquiries: Jeffrey Molter 347-920-1471 [email protected] SOURCE NYU Langone Health LONDON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Binance, the world's leading blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider has announced that London-based, Nigerian musician-artist, NISSI OGULU, will be launching 'Jigsaw Tribe.' The exclusive NFT For Good collection will be available on the Binance NFT marketplace in collaboration with Binance Charity on May 30, 2022. The digital art series features a collection of unique pieces exploring the music heritage of Africa through ancient yet animated instruments, 'Jigsaw Tribe'. It explores the different facets of life and music, each represented as a puzzle piece. "What excites me is the fact that African music and culture are finally getting the renown and success they so richly deserve as being integral to global music and creativity. So, the collection is my artistic take on bringing the continent's vibrant music tradition and all-round creative brilliance to the world, this time in an animated way," says Nissi. This NFT collection comprises various rarity levels and pricing, added value utilities include invitations to live events and art exhibitions to concessions on signed & printed digital art pieces and white listing privileges to future NFT drops. This is the latest collaboration for Binance Charity's NFT For Good Campaign, an initiative that enables world renowned creators to convert their art and creativity into meaningful global action targeting social and humanitarian issues. As part of this, a percentage of proceeds will go to The Reach, an Ogulu family initiative which provides 6000 meals a month for underprivileged people in Nigeria along with other ad hoc community initiatives. "Binance Charity's NFT for Good initiative connects creators, their art and their cause. Jigsaw Tribe is yet another exciting example of this and it's beautiful to see the series merging tradition and technology. Having spent many years working in Africa, the region, the people and their culture holds a special place in my heart. I'm thrilled we're able to collaborate with Nissi in a homage to her heritage," said Helen Hai, Executive VP of Binance and Head of Binance Charity. Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, into a highly creative family, Nissi's older brother is Burna Boy (dubbed 'the African Giant') and her grandfather is Benson Idonije who was an Afrobeat legend and Fela Kuti's manager. As an artist, Nissi has worked with a variety of mediums but found her niche in the world of fine art with her unconventional, contemporarily driven style of paintings and artistic innovative design. She has further expanded her deep involvement in the digital realm with her founding of Creele Animation Studios, which creates black and African content with storytelling through animation, music, the metaverse and games. To participate in this charitable auction in support of the Binance Charity, traders need to open a cryptocurrency account on binance.com and bid for the artwork on https://www.binance.com/en/nft between 30 May 2022 (12:00pm CAT) and end on 20 June 2022 (12:00pm CAT). SOURCE Binance MILAN, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Olon, Leading API supplier, announces the creation of an R&D hub at its center in Milan, home to the Group's headquarters, paving the way for further major expansion and diversification of its expertise applied to the development of APIs for the CDMO and Generics market. With a 10-million investment, the Italian Group has announced the creation of a huge area dedicated entirely to research laboratories to be used to develop API (active pharmaceutical ingredients), manufacturing processes, forming a central research hub and which, integrating with the 7 existing Olon research centers will give rise to an innovative global R&D networking model where the high-level expertise and know-how involved in specific processes, consolidated in the 11 Olon plants worldwide, will be connected, and extensively applied across the Group's entire manufacturing network. The major investment involves the construction of a vast area of laboratories, some of which will focus on furthering the development of new, highly sustainable technologies, including biocatalysis and photochemistry. It will also support significant growth in the R&D team, with up to 50 new researchers hired, bringing the total number of people assigned to research activities to around 350. The international research and development hub, which will cover a huge area within its site in Milan, one of the largest in the Group's network and already highly strategic in terms of expertise in advanced manufacturing processes, as high containment technologies. The new hub represents growth in terms of people, expertise and skills, with the strategic objective of boosting internal know-how. Based on integrated data systems, this know-how will enable the company to scale up products faster and to achieve highly flexible and reliable tech transfer from one site to another. It will also facilitate the development of new molecules and innovative synthesis methods and, lastly, help the company attain more competitive process safety standards, thus increasing the safety of plants, constant product quality and ensuring business continuity. The centre will house different areas, each one dedicated to a specific field of application. The hub will include a laboratory for process safety and research into scale-up and transfer processes. It will also have an analytical R&D area, which will broaden expertise for the development of new synthesis methods and new APIs, from the early phase. www.olonspa.com SOURCE Olon HONOLULU, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hawaii Children's Cancer Foundation (https://www.hccf.org/) has launched its new website, designed with the Foundation's specific needs in mind. The mission of the Foundation is to assist, support, and advocate for the needs of children diagnosed with cancer, their families, and long-term survivors of childhood cancer. The new website is a gift from OMNICOMMANDER, a company dedicated to saving the credit union industry. The journey to this new website began with a conversation between Rand Fernandez, Account Manager at OMNICOMMANDER, and Gloria Omandam, CEO of HMSA Employees Federal Credit Union (https://www.hmsaefcu.org/) and board member of the Hawaii Children's Cancer Foundation. "A new website is something the Foundation desperately needed," said Fernandez. "Their old website wasn't serving the Foundation's goals." Omandam added, "The old website was difficult to navigate and manage. This new website has the upgraded technologies needed to help get our story out, help our business development efforts, and market our fundraising events." After meeting with Omandam, Fernandez met with Eric Isham, Founder and CEO of OMNICOMMANDER, and told him about the Foundation's story and mission and explained the goals they were looking to accomplish with a new website. Isham responded, "This is an easy one for me. Let's build a new website for the Foundation and cover the costs of the build and hosting. If it's important to the credit union, then it's important to OMNICOMMANDER." As a result of his conversation with Isham, Fernandez reached out to OMNICOMMANDER's AVP of Project Management, Macey Buchanan, who worked with the Hawaii Children's Cancer Foundation Director, Michelle Meredith, to get the website built. When asked about the new website, Meredith exclaimed, "OMNICOMMANDER is truly an amazing company to work with. They helped to create and launch our new website which is absolutely fantastic. Our account manager, Macey, was wonderful and so easy to work with. She really took the time to listen to what we needed and what was important to us. She was a true partner in executing our vision! So appreciative of the entire team at OMNICOMMANDER and know that we will look to them in the future for our next project!" About OMNICOMMANDER OMNICOMMANDER is a veteran-owned and operated website design, marketing, and cybersecurity firm that focuses on the credit union industry. With a dedication to member experience, the company ensures every touchpoint has a remarkable interface. Alongside the incredible design, OMNICOMMANDER creates websites with built-in mobile responsiveness, SSL encryption, and observance of ADA guidelines. OMNICOMMANDER provides marketing services, including targeted marketing, branding, SEO, video creation, and social media, to enhance every aspect of a brand's digital presence. OMNICOMMANDER's cybersecurity division CYBERCOMMANDER is the industry's first cybersecurity provider focused on providing a holistic yet affordable cybersecurity solution for credit unions, offering customized compliance solutions that help our partners stay two steps ahead of cybercriminals. Contact: John Pennycuff Phone: (800) 807-3109 Email: [email protected] SOURCE OMNICOMMANDER The competitive scenario provided in the Organs On Chips Market report analyzes, evaluates, and positions companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered for this analysis include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc. Don't wait, Make a strategic approach & boost your business goals with our Organs On Chips Market Forecast Report - Buy Now! Organs on Chips Market 2022-2026: Scope The organs on chips market report covers the following areas: Frequently Asked Questions: Based on segmentation by Type, which is the leading segment in the market? The organ on chips market share growth by the lung segment will be significant during the forecast period. The organ on chips market share growth by the lung segment will be significant during the forecast period. What are the significant trends in the market? The growing number of partnerships and collaborations between pharmaceutical companies and organs-on-chips manufacturers is one of the key organs on chips market trends that is expected to impact the industry positively in the forecast period. The growing number of partnerships and collaborations between pharmaceutical companies and organs-on-chips manufacturers is one of the key organs on chips market trends that is expected to impact the industry positively in the forecast period. At what rate is the market projected to grow? The organs on chips market share are expected to increase by USD 73.91 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 29.34%. The organs on chips market share are expected to increase by USD 73.91 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 29.34%. Who are the top players in the market? Altis Biosystems Inc., AxoSim Inc., BICO Group AB, BiomimX Srl, BIOND Solutions BV, CN Bio Innovations Ltd., Elveflow, TARA Biosystems Inc., and TissUse GmbH are some of the major market participants. Organs on Chips Market 2022-2026: Drivers & Challenges The increasing prevalence of chronic disorders, shortage of organ donors, and the need for early detection of drug toxicity and new product launches will offer immense growth opportunities. However, factors such as the high cost of organ-on-chip may impede the market growth. The holistic analysis of the drivers & challenges will help in deducing end goals and refining marketing strategies to gain a competitive edge. Organs on Chips Market 2022-2026: Segmentation Analysis Type Lung Liver Heart Kidney Others Geography North America Europe Asia Rest Of World (ROW) To know about the market contribution of each segment - Download a sample now! Organs on Chips Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2022-2026 Detailed information on factors that will assist organs on chips market growth during the next five years Estimation of the organs on chips market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the organs on chips market across North America , Europe , Asia , and the Rest of the World (ROW) , , , and the Rest of the World (ROW) Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of organs on chips market vendors Related Reports: The nucleic acid amplification market share is expected to reach an estimated value of USD 1.47 billion by 2026 at an accelerating CAGR of 7.73%. Download a sample now! share is expected to reach an estimated value of USD 1.47 billion by 2026 at an accelerating CAGR of 7.73%. The predicted growth of the DNA sequencing market share from 2021 to 2026 is USD 23.56 billion at a progressing CAGR of 20.85%. Download a sample now! Organs On Chips Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 29.34% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 73.91 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 28.24 Performing market contribution North America at 35% Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Allevi Inc., Altis Biosystems Inc., AxoSim Inc., BICO Group AB, BiomimX Srl, BIOND Solutions BV, CN Bio Innovations Ltd., Elveflow, Emulate Inc., Hesperos Inc., InSphero AG, Kirkstall Ltd., MIMETAS BV, NETRI, Nortis Inc., SynVivo Inc., TARA Biosystems Inc., and TissUse GmbH Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for forecast period, Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of Content 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Type Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 09: Parent market Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 12: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by Type 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Type 5.3 Lung - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Lung - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Lung - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Lung - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Lung - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Liver - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Liver - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Liver - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Liver - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Liver - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Heart - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 36: Chart on Heart - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Heart - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 38: Chart on Heart - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Heart - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.6 Kidney - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 40: Chart on Kidney - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Kidney - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 42: Chart on Kidney - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Kidney - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 44: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 46: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.8 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 48: Market opportunity by Type ($ million) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 49: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 50: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 51: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 52: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 53: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 55: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 59: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.5 Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.6 Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.7 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.8 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 81: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 84: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 85: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 86: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 87: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 88: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 89: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 90: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 8.1 Market drivers 8.2 Market challenges 8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 91: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 92: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 9.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 93: Overview on factors of disruption 9.4 Industry risks Exhibit 94: Impact of key risks on business 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 95: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 96: Matrix on vendor position and classification 10.3 AxoSim Inc. Exhibit 97: AxoSim Inc. - Overview Exhibit 98: AxoSim Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 99: AxoSim Inc. - Key offerings 10.4 BiomimX Srl Exhibit 100: BiomimX Srl - Overview Exhibit 101: BiomimX Srl - Product / Service Exhibit 102: BiomimX Srl - Key offerings 10.5 Elveflow Exhibit 103: Elveflow - Overview Exhibit 104: Elveflow - Product / Service Exhibit 105: Elveflow - Key offerings 10.6 Emulate Inc. Exhibit 106: Emulate Inc. - Overview Exhibit 107: Emulate Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 108: Emulate Inc. - Key offerings 10.7 InSphero AG Exhibit 109: InSphero AG - Overview Exhibit 110: InSphero AG - Product / Service Exhibit 111: InSphero AG - Key news Exhibit 112: InSphero AG - Key offerings 10.8 Kirkstall Ltd. Exhibit 113: Kirkstall Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 114: Kirkstall Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 115: Kirkstall Ltd. - Key offerings 10.9 MIMETAS BV Exhibit 116: MIMETAS BV - Overview Exhibit 117: MIMETAS BV - Product / Service Exhibit 118: MIMETAS BV - Key offerings 10.10 Nortis Inc. Exhibit 119: Nortis Inc. - Overview Exhibit 120: Nortis Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 121: Nortis Inc. - Key offerings 10.11 SynVivo Inc. Exhibit 122: SynVivo Inc. - Overview Exhibit 123: SynVivo Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 124: SynVivo Inc. - Key offerings 10.12 TissUse GmbH Exhibit 125: TissUse GmbH - Overview Exhibit 126: TissUse GmbH - Product / Service Exhibit 127: TissUse GmbH - Key offerings 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 128: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 129: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 130: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 131: Research methodology Exhibit 132: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 133: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 134: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio SCARSDALE, N.Y., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Owen A. O'Connor, M.D., Ph.D., is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Distinguished Medical Oncologist for inventing and developing many drugs for the treatment of blood cancers, and in acknowledgment of his work in both academic medicine and the private sector for nearly 25 years. Owen A. O'Connor, M.D., Ph.D An internationally renowned oncologist, Dr. O'Connor is known for his expertise in drug discovery and development and diagnosing in diagnosing and treating all forms of lymphoma with over 20 years of experience in academic medicine. He invented and pioneered the development of several first-in-class drugs to treat blood cancer, including one he co-invented for T-cell lymphoma, which has now been approved in over 35 countries worldwide. He has held several prestigious leadership positions at the major cancer centers in New York City, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York University Medical Center, and Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. O'Connor earned his Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science at Manhattan College in NY. He completed a Ph.D. in Environmental Medicine at the New York University Medical School, where he studied the mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis. After earning his Medical Degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, he completed an Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at the New York Hospital - Cornell University Medical Center. He then went on to complete two fellowships, including one in medical oncology in the Department of Medicine under the Clinical Investigator Program (in the laboratory of Dr. Joseph R. Bertino) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a second in clinical pharmacology in the Division of Pharmacology in the Department of Medicine New York Hospital - Cornell University Medical School. He was appointed Chief Medical Oncology Fellow in the Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. During his decades-long career, he has focused his scientific interests on developing novel small molecules for blood cancer treatment, many representing first-in-class drugs. His interests have focused on everything from the chemistry through preclinical modeling and early Phase clinical studies, as well as regulatory Phase 3 studies. Passionate about his craft, Dr. O'Connor has published over 250 articles in peer-reviewed journals, books and book chapters, and reviews on the management of lymphoma and drug discovery. He is the editor of the first textbook on the Peripheral T-Cell Lymphomas and is now editing a new series of books for Wiley Sciences on Precision Cancer Therapies. He was a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Lymphoma Research Foundation and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and has received countless awards for his research, including being named to America's Top Cancer Doctors, cited among the Top 50 Irish-Americans in Science and Medicine by the Irish government, and inducted into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame. He is also a recipient of the American Cancer Society Research Professorship, the most prestigious honor bestowed by the Society. He has been a Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2011. Among his professional memberships and affiliations, Dr. O'Connor is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the American Society of Hematology. In his spare time, Dr. O'Connor enjoys creative photography and travel, and in particular, spending time at his second home on Cape Cod. He also actively supports the Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod and the Cape Cod Arts Center. The doctor would like to acknowledge his mentors: Dr. William Hait, and Dr. Joseph R. Bertino. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Former vice minister of finance voices confidence in China's economy of second half-year CGTN) 16:25, May 26, 2022 Concerns about China's economic growth momentum have risen, as the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country's financial hub Shanghai slid in the first quarter of this year and international organizations revised their outlook on the second-largest economy. To battle the new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic since March, Shanghai, home to 25 million people, had to take strict measures in response citizens were put on quarantines and business and production were halted, reflected in its first-quarter GDP growth standing at 3.1 percent, a big drop from 8.1 percent year on year. The International Monetary Fund also revised the growth of China for this year to 4.4 percent, lower than the official target of 5.5 percent. What does all this mean to China's economic outlook? CGTN sat down with former Chinese Vice Minister of Finance Zhu Guangyao, to understand the impact of the COVID-19 in Shanghai and the necessary course corrections that China needs to keep its economy ticking. Edited for clarity and brevity, here are some excerpts from the interview. CGTN: How does the big drop of Shanghai's economy affect China's economy as a whole? Zhu: Last month Shanghai suffered from the pandemic hit. In recent days, new increased patients number is less than 100 and Shanghai has held up community transmission. And we have confidence that with efforts by the Shanghai people and the support by the whole country, Shanghai will return to the normal life next month. Certainly, Shanghai will continue to contribute to national development. We have real confidence in that. CGTN: Some say that China's dynamic zero-COVID policy is damaging global economic recovery. For instance, by blocking global supply chain. What's your response to that? Zhu: China's successful control of the pandemic contributed not only to the domestic development but also made a great contribution to the supply chain of the whole world. That's why we see many Chinese products, including healthcare products, were supplied to the whole world. Again, we emphasize the operation of the supply chain will need global efforts. We should continue to contain the pandemic. We should make every effort to avoid another political virus making a negative impact on the global chain. I mean the ideological line of the United States. Unfortunately, as the leading economy, I think their vision is too narrow. They want to get this advantage of competition. That's understandable. I must say to American friends, if you want to keep this competition ability, that's fine, but that should be based on market principles, not using ideological lines to cut the business relations. That's a damage to others and finally a damage to yourself. CGTN: China's economic growth target for this year is 5.5 percent, higher than IMF's recent forecast of 4.4 percent. How will China achieve its economic target? Zhu: IMF is a very important international financial organization that has a powerful influence. China is a key member of the IMF. I respect their professionality. However, not every time IMF's prediction is correct. For example, the figure for 2020. Due to the pandemic hitting the Chinese economy then, IMF predicted the Chinese economic growth to be 1 percent. But the growth turned out to be 2.3 percent, more than 100 percent higher than the prediction of IMF. In the first quarter of this year, Chinese economic development is 4.8 percent. It's very stable in the beginning. As we recognize the reality, the economic growth of the second quarter should be lower than the first quarter. The good thing now is that life is gradually returning to normal in Shanghai and Jilin Province, and we believe in the second half of this year, the Chinese economy will develop better. The meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee last month mentioned the two important economic terms: "initial lead" and "redundancy rate." Putting them in a simple way, the former means "to do something before needed", while the latter means "to prepare for the worst scenario". As we always say, with the bottom-line thinking and the whole policy comprehensively in place, the Chinese economy will continue to keep sustainable development. (CGTN's Wang Hui contributed to the story.) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Nairobi Deputy President William Ruto now says he owns 2,536 acres of land in Mata farm, Taita Taveta legally, despite controversies surrounding its ownership. During a Kenya Kwanza economic forum, Ruto revealed that he acquired the land from Former Taveta MP Basil Criticos after he helped him offset a loan, he owed the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC). "You know even me am an elder in Mata. The Former MP Basil Criticos shared with me a small chunk of the land after I helped him offset a loan at Agricultural Finance Corporation," he said. Ruto asked the electorate of Taita-Taveta to support his presidential bid as he is now a resident of the county from the mere fact that he owns land there. "I want to ask you people of Taita-Taveta will you now refuse to vote for me, and you clearly now know am a resident here," said DP Ruto. The property of land has put him on a collision path with the Taita Taveta County government and villagers. Ruto is accused of diverting water to his Mata ranch as the villagers suffer due to lack of access to water. After the purchase, he set out to fortify it by erecting an electric fence to ward off squatters. Ruto's bid to develop the estate has sparked off a protest and is now the subject of a bitter dispute in court. "Many businesses including financial institutions still require you to send them documents via fax, especially those that contain sensitive information such as loan applications." explained Bradley Davis, CEO at Faxaroo. "Due to the nature of the information contained in these documents, fax is the preferred method of transmission because of its strict security protocols to protect data privacy." "Email, on the other hand, is easy to hack, easy to intercept and easy to trick users into clicking links that can cause major damage to your email account and personal files." Said Rodan D'Rozario, Chief Technology Officer at Faxaroo. Not only is Faxaroo a more secure way of sending confidential documents, but it also makes sending a fax online easy, by removing the barriers of having to create an account or sign-up for a monthly subscription. Faxaroo brings a fresh face to an antiquated era of technology, making it an accessible and simple to use online process for any type of user." Said Mr. Davis. Faxaroo allows for fax sending to fax numbers globally across the United States, Australia, Germany, Japan and Canada and more. About Faxaroo Faxaroo is an Australian-based pay-as-you-go online faxing company providing individuals with a fast, cost-effective and hassle-free way to send a fax online with no subscriptions or sign-ups. Simply upload the documents you'd like to send, enter the fax number and pay only for the pages you send. Learn more at: https://faxaroo.com/ Media Contact Details Jade Dor Content & Communications Specialist [email protected] 0499 773 985 SOURCE Faxaroo SAN FRANCISCO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global pediatric clinical trials market size is expected to reach USD 23.6 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., registering a CAGR of 5.1% over the forecast period. The market is growing on account of the rise in the number of pediatric clinical studies globally. As per the BMC journal, between January 2008 and December 2010, 7,029 pediatric clinical trials were registered. Whereas, between January 2017 and December 2019, the number of registered pediatric clinical trials was 11,738, which certainly reflects a significant surge in the total number of trials across the industry. The treatment options for COVID-19 pediatric patients were limited at the start of the pandemic, owing to which, in May 2020, FDA granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Veklury (remdesivir), which could be used for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults and children. Key Insights & Findings from the report: The observational segment is expected to witness a considerable growth rate over the forecast period. These studies are done to investigate rare outcomes of the treatment and to detect unusual adverse effects. Such factors are driving the demand for observational studies in paediatrics. The Phase II segment accounted for the largest share in 2021. Phase II studies consist of a high number of pediatric subjects; moreover, studies in this phase are more complex than that in other phases. Such factors are contributed to the segment's high share. Based on therapeutic area, the oncology segment accounted for the largest share in 2021, after the others segment, owing to the high burden of cancer among the pediatrics, thus contributing to the demand for clinical studies. Asia Pacific is projected to witness the fastest CAGR during the forecast years owing to the high population of the region, which contributes to the demand for new treatments. Read 275-page market research report, "Pediatric Clinical Trials Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Phase (Phase II, IV), By Study Design (Treatment, Observational Studies), By Therapeutic Areas (Mental Health Disorders, Oncology), And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030", published by Grand View Research. Pediatric Clinical Trials Market Growth & Trends Similarly, Convalescent plasma was also granted an EUA from the FDA for the treatment of children and adults with COVID-19. Such actions by the regulatory agencies are likely to promote the demand for pediatric clinical trials. Furthermore, increasing efforts by several government bodies to support the clinical research pertaining to pediatric diseases has further supported the market growth. For instance, in March 2022, the National Cancer Institute launched the Molecular Characterization Initiative for pediatric tumors. The Initiative is offered through NCI's Childhood Cancer Data Initiative, which was formed to promote data sharing and collection of new data among researchers who study pediatric oncology. In addition, the increasing prevalence of pediatric cancer is another significant factor supporting the market as well as the oncology segment's growth. For instance, as stated by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)in February 2022, in the U.S., an estimated 10,470 children are younger than 15 years of age and about 5,480 teens aged 15 to 19 years will be diagnosed with cancer by the end of 2022. The WHO states that diarrhea, malaria, pneumonia, and sepsis are the leading causes of death among children between the age of 1 month and 9 years The high burden of these diseases is contributing to the demand for new treatment opinions. Thus, is likely to have a positive impact on the market growth. Apart from the high burden of infectious diseases, a significant number of children also suffer from diabetes. For instance, according to the U.S. CDC, over 26.9 million in the U.S. were diagnosed with diabetes in 2018, which included 210,000 children and adolescents younger than age 20or 25 years. Commercially, COVID19 vaccines were majorly focused on immunizing adults aged 18 years and above, this created a high risk of disease among children below the age of 18 years. The ClinicalTrial.GOV reports that as on 4th May 2022, over 1000 studies were in the active stage for treating and diagnosing COVID-19 for pediatric patients. The burden of COVID-19 among the kids is likely to promote the demand for COVID-19 vaccine trials for pediatrics from 2021. Pediatric Clinical Trials Market Segmentation Grand View Research has segmented the global pediatric clinical trials market on the basis of phase, study design, therapeutic areas, and region: Pediatric Clinical Trials Market - Phase Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030) Phase I Phase II Phase III Phase IV Pediatric Clinical Trials Market - Study Design Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030) Treatment Studies Observational Studies Pediatric Clinical Trials Market - Therapeutic Areas Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030) Infectious Diseases Oncology Autoimmune/Inflammatory Diseases Respiratory Disorders Mental Health Disorders Others Pediatric Clinical Trials Market - Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030) North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K. Germany France Italy Spain Asia Pacific India Japan China Thailand South Korea Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Colombia Middle East & Africa & South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE List of Key Players of Pediatric Clinical Trials Market ICON plc Syneos Health Medpace, Inc. PPD Inc. Premier Research LabCorp Drug Development QPS Holdings. Pfizer Inc. The Emmes Company, LLC IQVIA Inc. Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research: Pediatric Vaccines Market - The global pediatric vaccines market is expected to reach USD 60.4 billion by 2025 at an 11.7% CAGR, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Advancements in development of vaccines and new product launches are some of the major drivers of the market. The global pediatric vaccines market is expected to reach by 2025 at an 11.7% CAGR, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Advancements in development of vaccines and new product launches are some of the major drivers of the market. Pediatric Imaging Market - The global pediatric imaging market size is expected to reach USD 12.2 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 7.6% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing incidences of pediatric trauma cases are expected to accelerate the demand for innovative patient screening, which is expected to augment the market growth. The global pediatric imaging market size is expected to reach by 2027, registering a CAGR of 7.6% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing incidences of pediatric trauma cases are expected to accelerate the demand for innovative patient screening, which is expected to augment the market growth. Pediatric Home Healthcare Market - The global pediatric home healthcare market size is expected to reach USD 68.6 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2021 to 2028. The growing population of Children with Medical Complexities (CMC) requiring in-home care is expected to drive the market during the forecast period. Browse through Grand View Research's Medical Devices Industry Research Reports. About Grand View Research Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc. Phone: 1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com Grand View Compass | Grand View Pipeline Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc. Larrimer has led Retail Banking since July 2016, following her appointment to chief customer officer in 2014. Prior to that, she held several executive positions at PNC, including chief marketing officer, EVP for Business Banking and leadership roles within Treasury Management. Before joining PNC, Karen was an assistant director for Ernst & Young and served as a vice president in Corporate Banking at Mellon Bank. "I am personally grateful to Karen for her leadership during my time as CEO," said William S. Demchak, PNC chairman, president and chief executive officer. "She is an exceptional executive and banker whose guidance and insights have benefitted the bank and our customers in many ways. She has played an instrumental role in PNC's growth, and she has driven key initiatives that were squarely focused on improving PNC's retail offerings and our customers' satisfaction. She will be missed, and I wish her all the best in her next chapter." During her tenure at PNC, Larrimer has led numerous significant programs and projects that have helped position the bank as a national competitor. In particular, as the head of Retail, she led PNC's digital expansion, the creation of Solution Centers in PNC's expansion markets and several rebranding efforts through acquisitions. She also notably led the launch of Low Cash Mode last year, which represented the industry's first big move to address overdraft fees and the dissatisfaction they cause for customers. As PNC's first chief customer officer, Larrimer also established the Office of the Customer, led several efforts designed to improve the bank's customers' experience, and rolled out an analytical measurement tool to gauge employee and customer satisfaction. Across her admirable career, Larrimer has been recognized through numerous honors and awards, including being named one of the Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker magazine for seven consecutive years (2015-2021) and receiving the Girl Scouts of America Award of Distinction in Business (2013). She was named a Working Mother magazine "Mother of the Year" (2010), designated "Women Worth Watching" by Diversity Journal magazine (2009) and named one of the Best 50 Women in Business in Pennsylvania (2003). Alex Overstrom will move into the role of head of Retail Banking, reporting directly to Demchak. Overstrom has been with PNC for nearly eight years, during which time he has served in a variety of roles including head of Merchant Services, chief operating officer of Corporate & Institutional Banking and Asset Management and head of Aviation Finance. In addition to his business leadership roles across PNC, Overstrom has helped lead several important strategic initiatives for the bank, including most recently the enterprise integration and conversion of BBVA USA, through which PNC signed, closed and converted 2.6 million customers, 9,000 employees and nearly 600 branches in less than one year. Overstrom joined PNC in 2014 from Goldman Sachs, where he worked in strategy and investment banking. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com. CONTACTS: MEDIA Marcey Zwiebel (412) 762-4550 [email protected] INVESTOR Bryan Gill (412) 768-4143 [email protected] SOURCE The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. SHANGHAI, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As the investment division of Viva Biotech, Viva BioInnovator is committed to being a collaborative platform for Innovative Biotech companies from around the world. Over the past 2 month, our portfolio companies have had great progress. Anji Pharma Completes Patient Enrollment in Phase 2 Study of Pradigastat in Functional Constipation On May 18, 2022, Anji Pharma, an emerging global medicines company which invested and incubated by Viva BioInnovator, announced it has completed enrollment in its Phase 2 proof of concept study of pradigastat (ANJ908), a diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) inhibitor, in patients with functional constipation. Anji plans to report topline data from this study in the second half of 2022. AIxplorerBio Entered A Broad Collaboration with Baidu's PaddleHelix to Expedite the Construction of Its AI Small Molecule Drug RD Platform On May 18, AIxplorerBio, a Viva BioInnovator portfolio company, announced a broad collaboration with PaddleHelix. The two parties will leverage their strengths and collaborate in the fields of de novo molecular design and druggability evaluation, to accelerate new AI-powered drug research and development platform. The collaboration takes fully advantage of PaddleHelix's strengths in AI technologies and AIxplorerBio's experience in new drug RD and experiemental capabilities to jointly develop AI-powered drug discovery models. Dr. David. Xu, CEO of AIxplorerBio, emphasized, "AIxplorerBio is an AI-powered, structure-based drug R&D biotech company. The collaboration with Baidu's PaddleHelix will help enhance our new AI drug RD platform - AIxMolTM, and speed up the development of our pipeline." Domain Therapeutics Raises $42m Series A Financing On May 10, Domain Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the research and development of innovative drugs targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) in immuno-oncology, announced the closing of a US $42m (39m) series A financing round co-led by Panacea Venture, CTI Life Sciences and 3B Future Health Fund, and joined by adMare BioInnovations, Schroders Capital, Omnes, Turenne Capital, Theodorus, Viva BioInnovator and existing investor Seventure Partners. VivaVision Announces That VVN539 Has Been Formally Submitted for U.S. Phase II Clinical Trial Application VivaVision, an innovative ophthalmic drug company which invested and incubated by Viva BioInnovator, announced that it has submitted a Phase II clinical trial application for the new drug VVN539 for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma to the FDA on May 5, 2022, and will start the clinical study in June 2022. VVN539 is a new generation, dual-targeted IOP-lowering drug that acts on the trabecular meshwork of the eye to increase the outflow of aqueous humor, thereby reducing IOP. In preclinical animal models, VVN539 has shown excellent IOP-lowering efficacy. ArrePath Announces Appointment of Dr. Bret Benton as Vice President of Microbiology ArrePath, an anti-infective drug discovery company addressing the global health challenge of drug resistant infections, which invested and incubated by Viva BioInnovator, recently announced that a new appointment of Dr. Bret Benton as Vice President, Microbiology. Bret will become part of ArrePath's senior leadership team, leading their Princeton based operations, bringing a wealth of expertise to company in applying imaging and machine learning technologies to the discovery and development of new classes of anti-infectives. Dr. Kasper Roet, CEO of QurAlis, Selected for The 2022 Henri Termeer Award On April 21, 2022, The Termeer Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on connecting life science innovators and catalyzing the creation of new medicines, announced the recipients of the 2022 Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award. Dr. Kasper Roet, co-founder and CEO of QurAlis, a biotech company that invested and incubated by Viva BioInnovator, was recognized as an honoree at the Innovation for Health conference. Apeiron Completed A $17.5 Million Series A Financing and Established A New Strategic Partnership with Viva Biotech GT Apeiron Therapeutics ("Apeiron") announced it has completed a $17.5 million series A financing. Panacea Venture led the investment round with participation from Viva BioInnovator and existing investors. This is the company's second round of financing in the last year following a Pre-A+ round in May 2021. The investment will enable the company to advance its lead CDK7 program to enter clinical trials, as well as several earlier stage programs. Apeiron also announced a strategic partnership with Viva Biotech under which Viva Biotech provides world-leading structure-based drug discovery expertise to enhance Apeiron's AI-empowered innovative drug discovery and development platform. About Anji Pharma Anji Pharma is a clinical-stage company dedicated to bringing life-changing therapies to patients across the globe. Anji's asset-centric business model allows for speed and flexibility in building value, leveraging a clinical and regulatory core that operates with "hub-and-spoke" efficiency. Anji's clinical pipeline includes gut-targeted metformin (ANJ900 in Phase 3) intended for glucose management in patients with type 2 diabetes and advanced chronic kidney disease, as well as pradigastat (ANJ908 in Phase 2) for treatment of functional constipation. For more info, visit www.anjipharma.com. About AIxplorerBio We are an AI-powered, structure-based drug R&D biotech company. We focus on the discovery and development of new medicines for immunological and neurodegenerative diseases. In the quest for the new medications, we are committed to creating a AI-powered, data-driven, structure-based, efficient drug R&D paradigm through introduction, cooperation and technological innovation. For more info, visit http://www.aixplorerbio.com. About Domain Therapeutics Domain Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company operating in France and Canada, is dedicated to the discovery and development of new drug candidates targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), one of the most important classes of drug targets. The company focuses on developing high-value drug candidates to tackle GPCR-mediated immunosuppression in immune-oncology. www.domaintherapeutics.com About VivaVivion Biotech VivaVision is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on best-in-class and first-in-class therapies for ocular diseases. Besides VVN001 program, VivaVision is developing VVN539 for the treatment for Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension, and VVN461 for the treatment of non-infectious ocular inflammation of Uveitis. VivaVision is also engaged in discovery and development of novel therapies for the treatment of other anterior and posterior eye diseases. For more info, visit www.vivavisionbio.com. About ArrePath ArrePath is an anti-infective drug discovery company addressing the global health challenge of drug resistant infections. The company's proprietary machine learning (ML)-based platform enables the rapid and efficient identification of anti-infective agents with new mechanisms of action at the outset of the discovery process, through a deep understanding and analysis of pathogen behavior. The platform's proof-of-concept has been demonstrated in studies published in Cell by ArrePath's scientific founder, Zemer Gitai, Ph.D., Edwin Grant Conklin Professor of Biology at Princeton University. Learn more at www.arrepath.com. About QurAlis QurAlis is trailblazing the path to conquering amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases with genetically validated targets with next-generation precision medicines. QurAlis' proprietary platforms and unique biomarkers enable the design and development of drugs that act directly on disease-causing genetic alterations. Founded by an internationally recognized team of neurodegenerative biologists from Harvard Medical School and Harvard University, QurAlis is advancing a deep pipeline of antisense oligonucleotides and small molecule programs including addressing sub-forms of ALS that account for the majority of ALS patients. For more information, please visit www.quralis.com. About GT Apeiron Therapeutics Apeiron is strategically based in Shanghai and in the San Francisco Bay Area, with significant collaborations in the UK enabling us to tap into technologies and talent from all three continents. Our team and partners bring together deep expertise in oncology and drug discovery to enable efficient and scalable discovery and development of novel drugs. To learn more, please visit http://www.apeiron-bio.com. SOURCE Viva Biotech CARMIEL, Israel, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American:PLX) (TASE:PLX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, production and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins produced by its proprietary ProCellEx plant cell-based protein expression system, today announced that five poster presentations are scheduled to be available at the 2022 Program: 7th Update on Fabry Disease: Biomarkers, Progression and Treatment Opportunities. The program is supported by Kidneys for Life, a Registered UK Charitable Organization (Manchester, UK), and is taking place May 29, 2022 through May 31, 2022 at the Maritim Hotel and Conference Center, Wurzburg Germany. The following poster presentations are planned to be available at the program: "Safety and Efficacy of Pegunigalsidase Alfa vs Agalsidase Beta on Renal Function in Fabry Disease: 24-Month Results from the Phase III Randomized, Double-blind, BALANCE Study" "Long-term Safety and Efficacy of Pegunigalsidase Alfa: A Multicenter Extension Study in Adult Patients with Fabry Disease" "Tolerability and Infusion Duration of Pegunigalsidase Alfa in Patients with Fabry Disease: Data from 5 Completed Clinical Trials" "Switching from Agalsidase Alfa to Pegunigalsidase Alfa to Treat Patients with Fabry Disease: 1 Year of Treatment Data from BRIDGE, a Phase 3 Open-label Study" "Safety and Efficacy of Pegunigalsidase Alfa Administered Every 4 Weeks in Patients with Fabry Disease: Results from the Phase 3, Open-label, BRIGHT Study" A copy of the poster presentations from the program, as well as abstracts describing results from certain of the Company's clinical trials that are going to be distributed at the program, will be available on Protalix's website under the Presentation tab in the Investors section. About Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. Protalix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell-based expression system, ProCellEx. Protalix was the first company to gain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a protein produced through plant cell-based in suspension expression system. Protalix's unique expression system represents a new method for developing recombinant proteins in an industrial-scale manner. Protalix's first product manufactured by ProCellEx, taliglucerase alfa, was approved by the FDA in May 2012 and, subsequently, by the regulatory authorities of other countries. Protalix has licensed to Pfizer Inc. the worldwide development and commercialization rights for taliglucerase alfa, excluding Brazil, where Protalix retains full rights. Protalix's development pipeline consists of proprietary versions of recombinant therapeutic proteins that target established pharmaceutical markets, including the following product candidates: pegunigalsidase alfa, a modified stabilized version of the recombinant human GalactosidaseA protein for the treatment of Fabry disease; alidornase alfa or PRX110, for the treatment of various human respiratory diseases or conditions; PRX115, a plant cell-expressed recombinant PEGylated uricase for the treatment of uncontrolled/severe gout; PRX119, a plant cell-expressed long action DNase I for the treatment of NETs-related diseases; and others. Protalix has partnered with Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., both in the United States and outside the United States, for the development and commercialization of pegunigalsidase alfa. Investor Contact Chuck Padala, Managing Director LifeSci Advisors 646-627-8390 [email protected] SOURCE Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. SOMERSET, N.J. and CORK, Ireland, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Workforce solutions firm Rangam opens a new office in Cork, Ireland as part of its continued EMEA expansion strategy to meet the growing global demand for effective and accelerated innovation in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). Rangam appointed Lee Corless in the UK in January this year to bring the organisation's DE&I expertise to EMEA and APAC. As Senior VP of Sales & Partnerships, Lee has since been involved in meeting autistic, neurodivergent, and disabled candidates to understand their pain points and career aspirations. He and his team have also been attending various job fairs and other events across the UK and Ireland to build partnerships with employers and service providers. "Following the success of our launch in the UK, I am delighted to see the expansion of the SourceAbled programme into Ireland. 85% of autistic people in Ireland are unemployed or underemployed and disability employment in Ireland is one of the lowest in the EU at 26%. I am looking forward to working with businesses and job seekers to change this statistic for the better, and I'm excited to welcome Ireland into the fold as part of our mission to bring inclusive and accessible employment to the EMEA region," said Emma Kearns, Solutions Manager, Rangam EMEA. "The feedback that we have received from the DE&I ecosystem in EMEA since January has been phenomenal," Rangam President and Co-founder Hetal Parikh elaborates. "We have signed up over 40 candidates, talked to 48 service providers, onboarded two employers, advertised 10 roles, attended eight events, and hosted two webinars all while learning and developing new skills, knowledge, and a resource base for our community. With the opening of a new office in Ireland, we hope to not only sustain this great momentum but also build on a promising start to further innovate and scale our SourceAbled programme beyond North America." Rangam Ireland Address: Rangam Consultants Ltd. Units 1201/1202 (Bldg 1000) City Gate, Mahon Cork, Ireland Website: https://sourceabled.ie/ Email: [email protected] Phone: +44 2381 680370 About Rangam Rangam is a minority-, woman-, and disability-owned workforce solutions company with a mission to "Accelerate Meaningful Employment for Everyone", including autistic and neurodivergent talent, people with disabilities, service veterans, women in STEM, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and other diverse groups. The organisation delivers innovative workforce solutions by designing an integrated and inclusive recruiting methodology. Rangam specialises in attracting and retaining talent globally for IT, Engineering, Scientific, Clinical, Healthcare, Administrative, Finance, and Business Professionals categories. To learn more, visit: https://www.rangam.com/ SOURCE Rangam CHICAGO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TruckersForMe.com announced the availability of its same-day or next-day capacity port and rail drayage, servicing a wide variety of industries across rail terminals and ports throughout the United States. TruckersForMe also provides bonded transport; overweight triaxle chassis; container status monitoring; transloading; FTL and LTL; O'Hare airport (ORD) pickup and delivery; and customs clearance. All transport services come with full tracking and status monitoring, virtually eliminating the hassle of demurrage and per diem fees. Owned by All Miles Transport, TruckersForMe maintains a warehouse and base of operations in Lincolnshire, just 30 minutes from the O'Hare Airport in Chicago and within 60 mins from most Chicago rail ramps. Work with all shiplines "Demurrage is a word that sends shivers down the spine of any importer or exporter," said Lincoln Hugh, founder of TruckersForMe. "That's always been true, but it takes on a deeper significance due to the global shipping crisis over the past year or two. Business has been hard enough without having to worry about accruing extra shipping penalties based on forces out of your control. To avoid delays and demurrage/per diem costs, you need partners in the shipping and trucking industry professionals who closely monitor the arrival of your containers. That's why we are in constant communication with shiplines and rail/port authorities, maintaining regular contacts with receivers via phone and email. And we're always verifying receiving times and unloading modes, so you don't have to. Saving you time and money." TruckersForMe: Full-Spectrum Trucking Services Working directly with many global freight forwarders, TruckersForMe is one of the very few companies that can manage same-day or next-day drayage for all U.S. ports. And global freight forwarders will benefit significantly from TruckersForMe's services, finding reliable and affordable drayage and inland trucking services despite the ongoing global supply chain crisis. Chicago Terminal: Reliable draymen and truckers covering Chicago ramps with local and regional destinations. Reliable draymen and truckers covering ramps with local and regional destinations. Houston Port : Drayage and intermodal services covering Port Houston , including Barbours Cut and Bayport terminals. Drayage and intermodal services covering , including Barbours Cut and Bayport terminals. ORD Pickup and Delivery: A personal TruckersForMe truck and trailer providing fast pickup and delivery from and to Chicago O'Hare International Airport. A personal TruckersForMe truck and trailer providing fast pickup and delivery from and to Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Chicago Warehousing and Transloading: Warehouse and transloading facility near Chicago rail ramps, serving FCL and LCL. Warehouse and transloading facility near rail ramps, serving FCL and LCL. Trucking Partners for Full and Less Truckloads: Fast full truckload delivery at low prices by partnering with the nation's finest trucking companies. Fast full truckload delivery at low prices by partnering with the nation's finest trucking companies. Integrated Rail and Truck Transport: Low long-distance (1000 miles+) transport rates by combining rail and truck transport. Full truckloads and less-than-truckload included. To learn more about current rates, or how TruckersForMe is partnering with U.S. Foreign Trade Zone #271 to develop an Asian factory wholesale center, please contact TruckersForMe online. About TruckersForMe.com Owned by All Miles Transport LLC and conveniently located close to the Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) and the Chicago railway ramps, TruckersForMe provides comprehensive logistics services including port and rail ramp drayage (intermodal), airport pickup and delivery, warehousing, and land transportation within the United States. And by leveraging partnerships with over 100 different leading freight forwarders based in Asia, TruckersForMe also provides fast, reliable, and affordable ocean/air freight services from Chinese and Vietnamese factories delivering directly to the doors and warehouses of American importers and/or consignees. TruckersForMe is already poised for easy, low-cost e-commerce, warehousing, distribution, and transloading services for both domestic and international clients. Learn more at: www.TruckersForMe.com. Media Contact: Lincoln Hugh, CEO of All Miles Transport LLC TruckersForMe | ShippersForMe | OrdCargoShipper 847 383 5746, [email protected] SOURCE TruckersForMe Foundation to develop semiconductor job training in Michigan under SEMI Career and Apprenticeship Network (SCAN) program MILPITAS, Calif., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SEMI and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation that the SEMI Foundation has been awarded $1.5 million in funding to design and develop the SEMI Career and Apprenticeship Network (SCAN) in Michigan. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and CARES Act funding will support semiconductor industry job training in Michigan. "As global demand for semiconductors continues to grow, Michigan is poised to be a solution provider for semiconductor shortages and puts companies in the heart of semiconductor and battery R&D efforts nationwide," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "Michigan is one of only three states that will be launching planning work to define curricula to support employers in the semiconductor industry. With this new apprenticeship program, along with our global manufacturing and automotive R&D leadership, we are leading the charge in addressing the universal industry demand for semiconductors while creating good jobs for Michigan workers." Long a key semiconductor industry market, Michigan is home to nearly one-fifth of U.S. auto production more than any other state in the nation and headquarters or technology centers of 26 original equipment manufacturers (OEMS), the greatest concentration in the country. "SCAN will provide critical job training to Michigan residents while helping the U.S. microelectronics industry address its talent shortage," said Shari Liss, Executive Director of the SEMI Foundation. "We are thrilled to work in partnership with Michigan's workforce development agencies and ecosystem to offer registered apprenticeships, a proven pathway to better jobs and greater economic mobility and opportunity." The SEMI Foundation will drive the SCAN program planning and development in Michigan in two phases: In phase one, the SEMI Foundation will engage key microelectronics employers, players in the automotive and manufacturing industries, and educational and workforce development providers. In phase two, the SEMI Foundation will conduct focus groups and work with employers to identify jobs in the greatest demand as well as the skills and competencies needed for a skilled, diverse workforce. The funding comes three months after Liss testified before the Science Research and Technology Subcommittee, one of five subcommittees of the United States House on Science, Space, and Technology, as it discussed the U.S. semiconductor industry's workforce needs. Liss stressed the need for increased industry visibility, more investment in K-12 STEM education and a stronger focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry. Liss also pointed to the importance of programs like SCAN in re-skilling and up-skilling workers, particularly historically underrepresented wage earners in the industry and those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as earn-and-learn programs such as apprenticeships. About SEMI Foundation The SEMI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2001 to support economic opportunity for workers and the sustained growth of the microelectronics industry. The Foundation accomplishes this through creating pathways and opportunities for job seekers, and tools and systems for semiconductor companies to attract, develop, and retain a diverse, innovative, and skilled workforce. Visit semifoundation.org to learn more, and connect with the Foundation on LinkedIn. SEMI is the Foundation's parent organization. About SEMI SEMI connects more than 2,500 member companies and 1.3 million professionals worldwide to advance the technology and business of electronics design and manufacturing. SEMI members are responsible for the innovations in materials, design, equipment, software, devices, and services that enable smarter, faster, more powerful, and more affordable electronic products. Electronic System Design Alliance (ESD Alliance), FlexTech, the Fab Owners Alliance (FOA), the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group (MSIG) and SOI Consortium are SEMI Strategic Technology Communities. Visit www.semi.org to learn more, contact one of our worldwide offices, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and Twitter. About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state's marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan's economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. SEMI Contact Samer Bahou/SEMI Phone: 1.408.943.7870 Email: [email protected] SOURCE SEMI NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Vectrus, Inc. ("Vectrus" or the "Company") (NYSE: VEC), in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by The Vertex Company ("Vertex"). Upon completion of the transaction, Vertex shareholders will own approximately 62% of the combined company, while Vectrus shareholders will own only approximately 38% of the combined company. The all-stock transaction is valued at approximately $3.4 billion. If you own Vectrus shares and wish to discuss this investigation or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/vec Or please contact: Joshua Rubin, Esq. Weiss Law 305 Broadway, 7th Floor New York, NY 10007 (212) 682-3025 (888) 593-4771 [email protected] Weiss Law is investigating whether (i) Vectrus's board of directors acted in the best interests of Company shareholders in agreeing to the proposed transaction, (ii) the per-share merger consideration adequately compensates Vectrus's shareholders, and (iii) all information regarding the sales process and valuation of the transaction will be fully and fairly disclosed. Weiss Law has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at [email protected] SOURCE Weiss Law Nairobi The anticipated re-entry of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka into the Azimio fold has elicited a fresh debate in the Raila Odinga-led camp with allies from the Ukambani region where the former Vice President hails from issuing fresh demands on terms of engagement. Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana fired the warning shot saying the coalition's leadership must consult the region's leaders before offering Kalonzo any concessions. "Dialogue with AZIMIO's leadership must involve those of us who have been selling Azimio in the region; those who did the heavy lifting, and Wiper. Fairness/decency are virtues," the second-term county chief tweeted. Kibwana quipped moments after Mutahi Ngunyi, a controversial State House strategist, suggested that the Prime Minister offer made to Kalonzo should be rescinded and the position given to Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu who has been spearheading Azimio campaigns jointly with Kibwana. "WHATEVER Azimio gives to this Kalonzo Musyoka man, he will be a PROBLEM. A problem DURING this election; and a problem AFTER the election. TAKE it or LEAVE it. The path of rational reason is #NgiluTosha. Unknowingly, Kalonzo has become a PROJECT of UDA. Am I RIGHT or am I RIGHT?" Ngunyi quipped. Kibwana who was recently appointed the head of Azimio regional campaigns in Ukambani maintained that the block has largely remained pro-Azimio even with the exit of Kalonzo. Inside talks within the Azimio alliance allude that there has been infighting in the coalition among the Ukambani leaders. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Supremacy battles have been at the centre of cold wars between Kalonzo on one side, and Kibwana and Ngilu on the other. The two had teamed up with Governor Alfred Mutua (Machakos) who recently exited the outfit to join Deputy President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza Alliance. Kibwana said talks within the Azimio coalition over the issues of Ukambani region must involve all its leaders. Earlier, Kibwana had said that Kalonzo wanted him out of the Azimio-One Kenya Alliance structures. The governor said that it had become impossible to work with Kalonzo in the Ukambani region under Azimio. Kibwana ditched Wiper in August 2021 after a fall-out with Kalonzo and joined the Muungano Party, a constituent party of the Azimio caravan. "It is proving impossible to work with Kalonzo Musyoka in Azimio in Ukambani. After he joined us, he has wanted me out of all Azimio structures. I have no choice but to be at peace with this sad reality. History will ultimately judge all of us," he said in a tweet. Kalonzo is seeking to vie for the presidency in the August 9 elections, after the party severed ties with the Azimio coalition citing deceit following Odinga's decision to name Martha Karua as his running mate, a position the Wiper leader had expected would be ringfenced for him. In a bid to to beat the IEBC deadline for submitting running mates, Kalonzo unveiled Andrew Sunkuli as his Deputy President designate. "We have a robust offering, a motivated team, and a strong network that is growing on a daily basis. Solera Auto Finance planned to launch initially in seven states and add about a dozen more in the next six months. I'm proud to say we have made quick inroads with dealers and customers in a record time. SAF is already operational in 20 states within two months of its launch. Based on our accelerated growth and performance, we are revising our short- and long-term growth targets and now plan to be operational in all 50 states within the next one year," commented Kenn Wardle, CEO, Solera Auto Finance. SAF levels the playing field for dealers, enabling them to provide the same seamless experience with a 'captive-like' financing solution that rivals even the most prominent used-car disrupters. "We are fulfilling our promise of enabling independent and franchise car dealers to provide competitive-rate auto loans to the non-prime segment of used car buyers. By the year-end, we expect to extend our offering to the full spectrum of used-car buyers. Besides reducing operating costs, SAF's commercial value proposition for used car dealers is designed to positively impact the automotive industry, create a seamless journey for car buyers, accelerate the financing and funding processes and provide a superior car-buying experience," added Wardle. SAF provides a new competitive financing option that fully integrates with Solera's Dealer Management Systems (DMS), including Auto/Mate for franchise dealers and IDMS for independent dealers. Amongst SAF's first customers is Virginia-based dealership Town Auto Brokers. Rena Bateman, General Manager, Town Auto Brokers said: "What attracted us to Solera Auto Finance was their straightforward financing solution with an all-digital, online option and competitive financing rates. We are excited to collaborate with a company that is easy to reach and impressed by the customized service provided to us at every step in the process. Based on our interaction, this is the key differentiator of why we believe Solera Auto Finance is making quick inroads in the used car finance segment." Having expanded to 20 states, SAF is already actively recruiting in others for its high-speed rollout. In the current, highly competitive used car market, SAF will empower dealers to engage new customers with a fast, simplified lending solution for buyers and dealers. With its purpose-built financing solution, car buyers can receive financing decisions in seconds. SAF will also fund the dealer significantly faster than the current process, which can take several days for many franchise and independent dealers. As SAF's AI-driven technology continues to mature, dealer funding time is expected to shrink to mere hours. Dealers who take advantage of Solera Auto Finance will also qualify for a unique rewards program that can reduce or eliminate their Solera DMS solution fees. Details about the program, including how to enroll, are available at www.soleraautofinance.com or via email: [email protected]. About Solera Solera is the global leader in vehicle lifecycle management software-as-a-service, data, and services. Through four lines of business vehicle claims, vehicle repairs, vehicle solutions and fleet solutions Solera is home to many leading brands in the vehicle lifecycle ecosystem, including Identifix, Audatex, DealerSocket, Omnitracs, LoJack, Spireon, eDriving/Mentor, Explore, cap hpi, Autodata, and others. Solera empowers its customers to succeed in the digital age by providing them with a "one-stop shop" solution that streamlines operations, offers data-driven analytics, and enhances customer engagement, which Solera believes helps customers drive sales, promote customer retention, and improve profit margins. Solera serves over 300,000 global customers and partners in 100+ countries. For more information, visit www.solera.com. SOURCE Solera Holdings, Inc. DUBLIN, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The Textile Industry in South Africa 2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report covers the industrial activities relating to the preparation of wool and cotton fibres, the spinning of these into yarn and the weaving of yarns into fabrics for use in downstream clothing, textiles, footwear and leather manufacturing. It includes information on the state and size of the industry, imports and exports, developments, regulations and factors and issues that influence the sector. There are profiles of 14 companies including Standerton Mills and Svenmill, Gelvenor Africa, Yarntex and Samil Natural Fibres. The textile industry has been in long term decline since 1994 as a result of trade liberalisation, the increase in cheap Asian imports, and declining competitiveness and manufacturing capacity of local players. The result has been the deindustrialisation of the textiles component of the value chain and a situation where the vast majority of fibres are exported and the majority of spun yarn and woven textiles are imported. Masterplan The decline of the textiles industry has created a policy dilemma - whether to provide import protection and reduce competitiveness of clothing manufacturers, or allow for rebated textile imports by clothing manufacturers and facilitate further deindustrialisation of the local textile supply. This dilemma may be resolved in the Retail-CTFL (clothing, textile, footwear and leather) masterplan, implemented in 2019. Mechanisms in the plan aim to reduce input costs for clothing manufacturers while securing supply agreements for local textile manufacturers. The plan includes domestic procurement targets. Quick Response Manufacturing Quick response manufacturing, driven by retailers and design houses, is placing immense pressure on clothing manufacturers to be flexible and to quickly respond to changes in fashion, style and design. The trend does not put similar pressure on the textile industry, but it does require a more rapid supply of raw materials. Global supply chain disruptions have presented domestic textile manufacturers with a unique opportunity to provide stock more quickly than international suppliers. Key Topics Covered: 1. INTRODUCTION 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY 2.1. Industry Value Chain 2.2. Geographic Position 2.3. Size of the Industry 2.4. Key Success Factors and Pain Points 3. LOCAL 3.1. Key Trends 3.2. Notable Players 3.3. Trade 3.4. Corporate Actions 3.5. Regulations 3.6. Enterprise Development and Social Economic Development 4. AFRICA 5. INTERNATIONAL 6. INFLUENCING FACTORS 6.1. COVID -19 6.2. Economic Environment 6.3. Labour 6.4. Environmental Issues 6.5. Technology, Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation 6.6. Government Support 6.7. Input Costs 7. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT 7.1. Competition 7.2. Ownership Structure of the Industry 7.3. Barriers to Entry 8. SWOT ANALYSIS 9. OUTLOOK 10. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 11. REFERENCES 11.1. Publications 11.2. Websites Company Profiles Gelvenor Africa (Pty) Ltd Glodina Towelling (Pty) Ltd Good Hope Textile Corporation (Pty) Ltd (The) Ivili Loboya (Pty) Ltd Ninian And Lester (Pty) Ltd Old Nick Fabrics (Pty) Ltd Prilla 2000 (Pty) Ltd Rotex Fabrics (Pty) Ltd Samil Natural Fibres (Pty) Ltd Sesli Textiles (Pty) Ltd Standerton Mills (Pty) Ltd Stucken And Company (Pty) Ltd Svenmill (Pty) Ltd Yarntex (Pty) Ltd For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/szyyxs Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets IRVING, Texas, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sow Good, Inc. (OTCQB: SOWG) announced its successful capital raise of $3.7 million (further details available in 8-K filed on 4/14/22), primarily for the construction of the company's second and third freeze driers. The additional two freeze driers are necessary to increase Sow Good's production capabilities and meet the anticipated demand from increased retail, direct-to-consumer (DTC), and joint venture opportunities. The two additional freeze driers will be fully operational in Q1 2023. The company's progress from one freeze drier to three, in less than two years, will allow Sow Good to provide more job opportunities; bring healthy, sustainable, natural snacks to more consumers; and be at the forefront of the rapidly developing freeze dried industry. According to Global Insights, Inc., the global freeze dried market is expected to hit $130 billion by 2027. "We are incredibly excited about the freeze dried trend and how that will impact Sow Good's future," said Executive Chairman Ira Goldfarb. Contributing to increased production demand is the expansion of distribution across North America. Sow Good has launched 16 SKUs with KeHE Distributors, a leading distributor for natural foods, in five of their distribution centers: Chino, CA; Romeoville, IL; Dallas, TX; Northeast, MD; and Flower Mound, DC. KeHE distributes products to over 30,000 natural food stores, chain and independent grocery stores, e-commerce retailers and other specialty retailers throughout North America. Sow Good has also launched 12 SKUs with Star Wholesale LTD, a food distributor servicing both eastern and western Canada. Sow Good's e-commerce presence has likewise expanded with its initial launches in Walmart.com (WMT) and Target.com (TGT). "Sustain Us", the sister brand under Sow Good, Inc. oriented toward the long-term food storage market, is launching in Sierra Trading Company with 5 SKUs. "These important developments are compounded with the return of in-person meetings, from in-store product samplings, buyer meetings, to trade-shows," said CEO Claudia Goldfarb. "Expo West, a top trade-show and hotspot for natural products held in Anaheim, CA. in March 2022, was incredibly successful for Sow Good. We are excited to attend the many upcoming tradeshows this summer to continue meeting buyers and increase brand exposure." About Sow Good Sow Good, Inc. (OTCQB: SOWG) is dedicated to producing the highest quality and nutritious products in the freeze dried food industry while building a brand that celebrates the importance of sustainability, environment, and community. Sow Good's offerings are shelf-stable, plant-based, and gluten- and preservative-free. To purchase Sow Good online or learn more, visit www.thisissowgood.com and follow @thisissowgood on Instagram and Facebook. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Sow Good, Inc. Acquires intellectual property to support pursuit of regulatory approval for innovative treatment TORONTO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Minimally invasive image-guided therapy start-up, SpinaFX Medical Inc. (SpinaFX), today announced significant milestones hit since closing its $6.88M CDN Series A round in November 2021. SpinaFX has leveraged investment proceeds for patent estate expansion, product enhancements, quality management system implementation, regulatory approval pursuits and commercialization of Triojection.1 SpinaFX acquired the world's largest collection of patents, trademarks, pre-clinical and clinical evidence, and regulatory and commercial documentation surrounding intradiscal oxygen/ozone therapy for treating lumbar disc herniations. Intradiscal oxygen/ozone therapy involves the injection of a mixture of oxygen and ozone gas into an intravertebral contained herniated disc for relief of leg and back pain. The acquisition of existing IP yielded a powerful repository of evidence for intradiscal ozone injection involving bench, animal and randomized clinical trial data, as well as 65 patents covering the generation, measurement, delivery, and clinical use of technology for intradiscal ozone injection. SpinaFX is now well positioned to advance its products and accelerate regulatory approval in Canada, the EU, the U.S. and beyond. "There is an indisputable gap within the continuum of care for contained herniated lumbar discs," said Jeff Cambra, SpinaFX CEO. "I am extremely pleased with the confidence placed in the SpinaFX team by investors and to have acquired the collective knowledge of the most impressive companies behind intradiscal ozone technology under the umbrella of SpinaFX. We are moving decisively to bring this technology to market to address the unmet needs of patients and providers." Since closing the funding round in November 2021, SpinaFX has achieved several additional key milestones, further positioning the Company to achieve its goal of bringing innovative, minimally invasive image-guided treatments to the global market: Built a world-class leadership team, including leading interventional neuroradiologist Dr. Kieran Murphy as Chief Medical Officer as Chief Medical Officer Acquired existing device finished goods and manufacturing inventory Partnered with StarFish Medical for commercialization contract manufacturing support "With these investments and acquisitions, SpinaFX now has the initial capital needed to commercialize Triojection and the IP base to protect our competitive advantage for future expansion," said Igor Keselman, SpinaFX Executive Chair. The Company looks forward discussing these accomplishments with leading interventional radiologists as an exhibitor at the Society of Interventional Radiology 2022 Annual Meeting in June. To learn more about SpinaFX, visit SpinaFX.com. About SpinaFX Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, SpinaFX is a medical device company bringing innovative, minimally invasive image-guided treatments to patients with back pain due to herniated discs. Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", which are made as of the date of this news release or as of the effective date of information described in this release, as applicable. The forward-looking statements address such anticipated events or occurrences which may include economic factors, industry trends, market demand, and corporate performance and profitability. Forward-looking statements are often identified through words or expressions including "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "envisages", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "can", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by, and information currently available to SpinaFX's management team. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. We caution any person reviewing this news release not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. Neither SpinaFX nor its representatives undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by SpinaFX or its representatives or on behalf of either of them, except as may be required by law. 1 Triojection Intradiscal Ozone injection therapy from SpinaFX is not currently approved for sale by regulatory agencies in the U.S., Canada, EU or elsewhere. SOURCE Spinafx medical inc HOUSTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: SMLP) (the "Partnership" or "SMLP") announced today that its 2022 annual meeting of limited partners initially convened and partially adjourned on May 10, 2022 and reconvened on May 26, 2022 (the "Annual Meeting") has been adjourned, prior to conducting any business, for the purpose of soliciting additional votes with respect to Proposal 2, the approval of the Summit Midstream Partners, LP 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan, set forth in the Partnership's definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2022 (the "Proxy Statement"). A quorum was present at the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will be reconvened solely with respect to Proposal 2 on Friday, June 24, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time and will be held virtually via live webcast at https://web.lumiagm.com/275506380 (password: summit2022). The record date for determination of the limited partners of the Partnership who are holders of record of outstanding common units of the Partnership entitled to vote at the reconvened Annual Meeting remains the close of business on March 21, 2022. Any proxies previously submitted by such holders with respect to Proposal 2 will continue to be counted. Such holders need not submit a new proxy for their votes to be counted. Such holders may revoke their proxies as set forth in the Proxy Statement. About Summit Midstream Partners, LP SMLP is a value-driven limited partnership focused on developing, owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets that are strategically located in the core producing areas of unconventional resource basins, primarily shale formations, in the continental United States. SMLP provides natural gas, crude oil and produced water gathering, processing and transportation services pursuant to primarily long-term, fee-based agreements with customers and counterparties in six unconventional resource basins: (i) the Appalachian Basin, which includes the Utica and Marcellus shale formations in Ohio and West Virginia; (ii) the Williston Basin, which includes the Bakken and Three Forks shale formations in North Dakota; (iii) the Denver-Julesburg Basin, which includes the Niobrara and Codell shale formations in Colorado and Wyoming; (iv) the Permian Basin, which includes the Bone Spring and Wolfcamp formations in New Mexico; (v) the Fort Worth Basin, which includes the Barnett Shale formation in Texas; and (vi) the Piceance Basin, which includes the Mesaverde formation as well as the Mancos and Niobrara shale formations in Colorado. SMLP has an equity method investment in Double E Pipeline, LLC, which provides interstate natural gas transportation service from multiple receipt points in the Delaware Basin to various delivery points in and around the Waha Hub in Texas. SMLP also has an equity method investment in Ohio Gathering, which operates extensive natural gas gathering and condensate stabilization infrastructure in the Utica Shale in Ohio. SMLP is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain statements concerning expectations for the future that are forward-looking within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, without limitation, the timing of the reconvened Annual Meeting. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements and may contain the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions, or future conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would," and "could." In addition, any statement concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies and possible actions taken by us or our subsidiaries are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also contain known and unknown risks and uncertainties (many of which are difficult to predict and beyond management's control) that may cause SMLP's actual results in future periods to differ materially from anticipated or projected results. An extensive list of specific material risks and uncertainties affecting SMLP is contained in its 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2022, as amended and updated from time to time. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and SMLP undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events. SOURCE Summit Midstream Partners, LP The Triaj healthtech app provides life-saving "Just in Time" treatment pathways thereby reducing the pediatric knowledge gap for physicians, nurses and first-responders. Triaj is providing the health care professionals of Ukraine quick access to anywhere, anytime vital medical knowledge to treat blast, burn and crush trauma injuries to child victims. WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As Russian forces continue assaults in Ukraine, the number of victims continues to grow, many of which are children. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General (GPU), as of the morning of 11 May 2022, the official number of child victims in Ukraine was 226 - the number of wounded has increased to 417. These figures are not final, as work is underway to establish the exact numbers of victims in places of active hostilities, and in the temporarily occupied and liberated territories. Local hospitals continue to treat the increase in wounded children. However, most civilian doctors, nurses, and first-responders have little experience in the treatment of blast injuries. Diagnosis and treatment of injury from explosions; missiles, land mines or artillery shells, are complicated and are a challenge with a high mortality rate for the untrained. As of this week, the healthtech company, Triaj ( www.triaj.com ), began a collaboration with the European Pediatric Surgery Association (www.eupsa.info) and the Ukrainian Association of Pediatric Surgery to improve access to treatment protocols that will improve the survival of children injured in the Russian/Ukraine conflict. Triaj provides evidence-based treatment guidelines, resources, procedures, and checklists to assist doctors, nurses and emergency personnel who desperately need access to timely information to treat children with a blast injury at the point of care. For Android users, the protocols have been loaded and translated into Ukrainian, on the Triaj website at www.Triaj.com . The founder of Triaj, Martin R. Eichelberger, MD, a Pediatric Surgeon and a former Navy Surgeon, is an expert in blast explosion injuries and burns. "The children of Ukraine are experiencing devastating explosion and burn injuries from the war Triaj provides immediate access to treatment guidelines which can save countless lives of children" according to Dr. Martin Eichelberger. In an effort to educate healthcare professionals on the battlefield in Ukraine, Triaj will be conducting Blast Explosion Injury webinars for providers in the war zone, as well as teaching them how to use the treatment protocols. You can find more information on webinar times at www.triaj.com. The Triaj app is now available, free to the doctors, nurses and first responders in Ukraine on the App Store and the company has translated the content into Ukrainian on their website, www.triaj.com. About Triaj Triaj is an advanced clinical decision support system that is available via the Triaj App, for FREE on the Apple App Store for iOS users. Triaj provides evidence-based treatment guidelines, resources, procedures, and checklists to quickly diagnose and care for children anywhere worldwide. Media Contact: Kate Peters T: 800-572-7888 E: [email protected].com www.triaj.com SOURCE Triaj ASHLAND, Ohio, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tahoma Engineered Solutions, a leading manufacturer of precision machined parts and wire formed products, has increasingly become a manufacturing solution for companies held hostage by the recent lockdowns in China. "Manufacturers in the USA are seeking ways to escape the China lockdown nightmare," explained Jerry Lynch, General Manager of Tahoma Engineered Solutions. "We are finding many customers looking for solutions to the supply chain disruptions, including significantly longer lead times, caused by the lockdown." Beginning in March 2022, China has seen the biggest increase in COVID-19 cases. In April Shanghai was the biggest hotspot but by early May over 300 million people in more than 40 cities in China are affected by the latest lockdowns. The pandemic business lockdowns have severely disrupted the supply chain from China and USA manufacturers who were counting on CNC machined parts and wire formed products from Asia are now dealing with the fallout. Tahoma Engineered Solutions is located off interstate I-71 just north of Columbus, Ohio, which means one-day access to half of the population of the U.S. and one-third of the population of Canada. The company operates two shifts of four 10-hour days during the week and also runs a 12-hour Friday/Saturday/Sunday shift. Both precision machined parts and wire formed products have increased production capacity, which has become a lifeline for manufactures still waiting for Chinese parts to be produced. About Tahoma Engineered Solutions Tahoma Engineered Solutions, a business unit of Tahoma Enterprises, is ISO 9001-2015 certified. They have built a strong reputation for precision machining and are specifically known for the precision manufacturing of large hydraulic manifolds and creating custom wire assemblies. For more information, call 419-496-0964 or visit www.tahomaengineeredsolutions.com. Media Contact: Christine Brown [email protected] 330-656-9793 SOURCE Tahoma Engineered Solutions World Oceans Day serves as a significant annual event and an opportunity to unite the community in support for the sustainable management of the world's oceans and also raise awareness of the impact of individual actions on the ocean. Throughout June, guests may partake in eco-driven initiatives in partnership with Marine Mammal Care Center and International Bird Rescue , which bring awareness to the importance of protecting the ocean for all to enjoy. STAY & GIVE In honor of World Ocean's Day in June, Terranea celebrates its long-standing partnership with Marine Mammal Care Center and invites guests to support the organization throughout the month with a donation when booking their stay at www.Terranea.com. Based locally in San Pedro, Marine Mammal Care Center provides medical care and rehabilitation to injured or sick seals and sea lions throughout Los Angeles County and also releases them back into their natural habitat often along Terranea's coastline. KELP FOREST KAYAK TOUR WITH A MARINE BIOLOGIST Join marine biologist and Chief Operations and Education Officer of Marine Mammal Care Center, Dave Bader, as he guides guests through an immerse experience along the California coastline, while also providing his wealth of knowledge of endangered cetaceans and the conservation of our local marine life. A portion of the proceeds from each tour will be donated to Marine Mammal Care Center. Ages 8 and up. Advanced reservations required. All equipment provided. Weather dependent. For reservations, please visit https://marinemammalcare.org/events/kayak/. June 4 | 7:30am 10:30am | $250 per person donated directly to Marine Mammal Care Center KELP FOREST CLEANUP KAYAK TOUR Kayak with a purpose and help maintain the coastline by collecting litter along the pristine Marine Protected Area of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Ages 8 and up. Advanced reservations required. All equipment provided. Weather dependent. June 11 | 9:30am & 11:30am | $100 per person EDUCATIONAL OCEAN ACTIVITIES Learn about the ocean's fascinating sea creatures with the Marine Mammal Care Center and International Bird Rescue outside of Nelson's. Guests may participate in fun activities and donate in support of these vital organizations. June 11 | 11:00am 2:00pm | Nelson's SEA HARVEST WORKSHOP Join Terranea's award-winning chefs for an intimate sea salt and kelp tasting, paired with farm-fresh produce, signature crafted bites and sparkling ONEHOPE Wine, all while learning about the resort's sea harvesting process. Terranea's Sea Salt Conservatory is used to produce Terranea's own signature sea salt using local seawater from the Pacific Ocean and to cure locally grown and foraged kelp. Ages 21 and up. Advance reservations required at www.terranea.com/experiences. June 11 | 10:00am | Sea Salt Conservatory | $80 per person SELF-GUIDED NATURE WALK & SCAVENGER HUNT Terranea is home to many beautiful species of native plants and animals. Explore the scenic property with a Self-Guided Nature Walk and learn more about the wildlife in the region, as well as the history of the resort. Ask about the Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt, and identify wildlife commonly seen at Terranea. Learn educational facts about the many beautiful plants and animals local to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Fun for all ages. Both experiences contain many photo opportunities and are fun for all ages. Guests are encouraged to share photos using #Terranea. June 1-30 | Map available at pointe discovery CAPTAIN GRAY WHALE COOKIES Dive into culinary imagination and learn about the local gray whale species while enjoying a delicious treat to-go. Guests may purchase the signature Captain Gray Whale cookies at sea beans. June 1 - 30 For more information about Terranea and to make reservations, please visit terranea.com/celebrate or call (866) 261-5873. About Terranea Resort Located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Terranea is the premier oceanfront resort in Southern California with 102 acres of unparalleled Pacific Ocean views. Terranea opened in 2009 and proudly celebrates more than 10 years of service and memorable guest experiences in this scenic Southern California enclave. The resort also offers world-class accommodations that range from hotel suites to bungalows, oceanfront casitas, and luxurious villas. Amenities include The Links at Terranea, a nine-hole, par-3 golf course; award-winning 50,000 sq. ft. oceanfront spa, fitness, and wellness center; four swimming pools and a 140-foot waterslide; marea luxury boutique; 135,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; and nine dining venues showcasing its farm-to-Terranea culinary philosophy utilizing local and seasonal ingredients. Terranea's bountiful land boasts herb and vegetable gardens, lemon groves, bee hives, farm-fresh eggs, a Sea Salt Conservatory, and more. In addition, the resort's team of expert Adventure Concierge members help guests discover and explore Terranea's rich terrain that includes miles of scenic coastal trails, a secluded beach cove, and ocean environments. Fun, enriching programs and activities such as falconry, archery, kayaking, and paddle boarding also abound. Terranea Resort is owned by a joint venture comprised of Lowe and JC Resorts, managed by CoralTree Hospitality Group, and is a member of the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program and Virtuoso Travel Network. Since its opening, Terranea Resort has been named one of Travel + Leisure's "500 Best Hotels in the World" and earned a spot on Conde Nast Traveler's "Readers' Choice Awards" and "Gold List." The resort also received the "Best of Award of Excellence" from Wine Spectator and has been recognized numerous times on U.S. News & World Report's "Best U.S. Hotels" list. Terranea is designated a Great Place To Work-Certified company by Great Place to Work. To learn more about Terranea's enhanced standards of care Promise, please visit www.terranea.com/promise. For additional information about Terranea Resort, visit www.terranea.com, call 866.261.5873, or follow Terranea on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. SOURCE Terranea Resort Dr. Mahoney is known for her passion for both teams and technology in healthcare. She is leading initiatives in team-based healthcare and precision health. The initiatives bring together the latest science and technology to enhance the understanding of each patient, from lifestyle to DNA, and customize their healthcare on an individual basis. "We are pleased to welcome Dr. Mahoney to our board," said Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and CEO of The Doctors Company and TDC Group. "Her background is extraordinary, and her expertise in precision health and practice transformation, in large healthcare systems, further strengthens The Doctors Company on our mission to advance the practice of good medicine." Before joining Stanford, Dr. Mahoney served in leadership capacities in clinic operations, medical education, and research as a faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco, for 10 years. She was a Visiting Professor at Aga Khan Medical College of East Africa and served on the family medicine committee of the Kenya Ministry of Health. In addition, she was selected as one of The Top 100 Women Leaders in Medicine of 2021 by Women We Admire. "I am excited to bring my background in developing transformative approaches to proactive and personalized team-based care that empowers patients, healthcare providers, and communities to this organization dedicated to innovation," said Dr. Mahoney. "I see my work throughout my career as an ideal complement to The Doctors Company and look forward to helping build upon TDC Group's position as the preeminent organization for service to healthcare." Dr. Mahoney earned her MD at the University of California, San Francisco, and her MBA at Brandeis University. She received her undergraduate degree in molecular and cellular biology from the University of California, Berkeley. About The Doctors Company Founded and led by physicians, The Doctors Company (thedoctors.com), the nation's largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer, is relentlessly committed to advancing, protecting, and rewarding the practice of good medicine. The Doctors Company helps physicians manage the complexities of today's healthcare environmentwith expert guidance, resources, and coverage. The Doctors Company is part of TDC Group (thetdcgroup.com), the nation's largest physician-owned provider of insurance, risk management, and healthcare practice improvement solutions. TDC Group serves the full continuum of care, from individual physicians to academic medical systemsover 100,000 healthcare professionals and organizations nationwidewith annual revenue of $1 billion and over $6.5 billion in assets. To learn more about our data-driven insights and to stay up to date on industry trends, follow and subscribe to The Doctors Company on Twitter (@doctorscompany), YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. SOURCE The Doctors Company As we honor our fallen heroes this Memorial Day 2022, it is enlightening to compare the dreadful conduct of Russia's soldiers in Ukraine to the virtuous nature of America's soldiers. American troops see more combat than any other military in the world and have done an excellent job obeying the laws of war. Our culture is historically steeped in the tradition of protecting life and helping those in need. As children, we are taught to pursue goodness, to be virtuous and to never cause unnecessary harm to others. America's military reflects our nation and her values. This Memorial Day, we have reason to be proud of both. This article presents a first-hand account of the conduct of American soldiers as they incarcerated and protected over 55,000 Iraqi prisons during the Gulf War in comparison to the horrendous behavior of Russian forces in Ukraine, against the backdrop of the Geneva Conventions. On this Memorial Day, we should honor virtuous behavior shown by American forces in the Gulf War and condemn the vile treatment of innocent civilians by Russia today. Support Our Troops, Inc provides morale and well-being shipments and services to active-duty soldiers worldwide, and looks out for their interests in a variety manner. This article is offered freely for use as guest commentary or an article without compensation. Permission is granted to reprint it in whole or part, provided its meaning is not altered and proper attribution to SupportOurTroops.Org is made. SupportOurTroops.Org warrants this is original internal content and the imagery associated with comes with the right to use and republish same without compensation. The full 1,944 word article downloads here: MSWord https://supportourtroops.org/downloads/memorial-day-2022-valiant-v-vile-support-our-troops-org.docx PDF https://supportourtroops.org/downloads/memorial-day-2022-valiant-v-vile-support-our-troops-org.pdf HTML https://supportourtroops.org/feature-articles/1827-memorial-day-2022 A 600px wide web-image downloads here: https://supportourtroops.org/downloads/memorial-day-2022-valiant-v-vile-support-our-troops-org.jpg A high res image downloads here: https://supportourtroops.org/downloads/memorial-day-2022-valiant-v-vile-support-our-troops-org-HIGH-RES.jpg Contact: Jim Spearing 877-879-8882 [email protected] SOURCE SupportOurTroops.Org Murang'a Property of unknown value was destroyed after a business building caught fire in Kenol town, Murang'a County. The incident which occurred on Monday night at around 9:30 pm left scores of traders counting losses after the inferno consumed their merchandise. Jane Wairimu, who witnessed the fire incident, told KNA that at around 9:30 pm they saw a dark cloud of smoke coming out of the building when she was walking home. "I saw huge flames on the building that quickly spread to the electricity pole that was nearby," said Wairimu adding that she alerted the residents of the ongoing fire by screaming. The residents of Kenol town took to social media to attract the attention of the nearest fire station in the area in order to put off the fire. The firefighters responded by arriving at the scene shortly after being alerted of the raging ongoing fire. The fire burned for almost an hour despite the efforts of the fire fighter to put it off. Kenya Power officials arrived at the scene and switched off the power supply causing a total black out in the area. "I heard a huge explosion at around 10 pm and everyone ran away. The firefighters arrived after a while but they had to wait for Kenya power to come and switch off the electricity," narrated Paul Kimani one of the traders who stores his goods in the building. A section of the residents faulted Kenya power for not arriving on the scene sooner while others praised efforts for both Kenya Power and the fire fighters. The firefighters were able to put out the fire in the building which comprised of a hotel, salon and a big second-hand clothes stores which caught fire. The cause of the fire is yet to be disclosed by the area OCPD but no human casualty has been reported yet. - Kna DUBLIN, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Electronically Scanned Array Market by Installation, Platform (Air, Marine, Land), Frequency Band, Type, Component, Range, Dimension, Array Geometry and Region (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East & Africa and Latin America) - Forecast to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The electronically scanned array market is estimated to be USD 7.4 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 10.4 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2021 to 2026. Growth of this market can be attributed to the rise in trade of electronically scanned array, developments in the defense sector, and national security sector. Increasing defense expenditure of emerging economies to drive the market for electronically scanned array during the forecast period Emerging economies, such as China and India, are investing in advanced electronically scanned arrays to prepare themselves for any battle. These economies have increased their military budgets to augment their defense powers and are procuring advanced ESA-based navigation systems for air, marine, and land platforms. The growing GDP of the countries in the last decade has further helped increase their defense budgets. High defense budgets allow economies like China and India to spend on the development of new ships and maintenance of old ships. This, in turn, increases the demand for electronically scanned arrays. Development of Active Electronically Scanned Array radar Active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar technology is a module containing a new generation of transceiver modules. Software-defined radio (SDR) is used for radio communication because of its high data rates. The use of AESA technology is growing rapidly because of its enhanced reliability and affordability and is expected to replace conventional electronically scanned array in the near future. This has allowed countries such as the US, Norway, the Netherlands, India, and Israel, among others, to incorporate AESA into legacy/old systems on land, sea, and airborne platforms. Due to its resistance to electronic jamming, low interception, high reliability, and multi-mode capability, countries around the world are adding AESA radar into their military aircraft and vessels and manufacturers around the world are working to meet demand. Incorporating AESA radar into aircraft/sea/or ground platforms will remain relevant since electronic warfare is becoming more important and without AESA, modern conventional militaries are obsolete. In February 2022, Sweden-based SAAB AB received an order for the delivery of RBS 70 NG short-range air defense systems for the Argentine Armed Forces along with RMF-200V, an AESA tactical air defense radar for threat detection at medium and short distances, which could form the core of a low-altitude anti-air battery. 4D: The fastest-growing segment of the electronically scanned array market, by Dimension. 4D electronically scanned arrays determine the range, azimuth, height, and velocity vector of the detected object. They are expensive and are hence primarily used in autonomous tactical surveillance applications that generate high-resolution target signals. Advanced economies such as the US and Germany have invested substantially to conduct multiple-level research activities in the development of these electronically scanned arrays. The North American region is the largest market for 4D electronically scanned arrays Thales Group (France) offers a 4D electronically scanned array for surveillance and ISR. These electronically scanned arrays provide bearing, range, elevation (3D), and an in-depth analysis of a target's Doppler signature and other characteristics with a single scan. This analysis results in a superior air and surface detection, tracking, and classification of targets. In 2019, Thales Group secured a contract to supply next-generation 4D active electronically scanned array technology to the Royal Netherlands Army. Hensoldt AG (Germany) also signed an agreement with the German government (BAAINBw) to supply its TRS-4D naval electronically scanned array. North America: The largest contributing region in the electronically scanned array market. The US and Canada are key countries considered for market analysis in the North American region. Defense agencies of these countries are involved in the development of technologically advanced electronically scanned arrays. Well-established and prominent manufacturers of electronically scanned arrays, such as Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), Northrop Grumman Corporation (US), the Boeing Company (US), and Raytheon Technologies Corporation (US), are present in this region. Electronically scanned arrays are being increasingly used in critical missions due to their accurate targeting and friend or foe detection feature that enables armies to precisely neutralize threats to ensure the safety and security of the countries. Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 4.1 Attractive Growth Opportunities in Electronically Scanned Array Market 4.2 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Platform 4.3 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Frequency Band 4.4 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Component 4.5 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Type 4.6 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Installation 4.7 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Range 4.8 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Array Geometry 4.9 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Dimension 4.10 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Country 5 Market Overview 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Market Dynamics 5.2.1 Drivers 5.2.1.1 Growth in Deliveries of Military Vessels 5.2.1.2 Emergence of Modern Warfare Systems 5.2.1.3 Increasing Defense Expenditure of Emerging Economies 5.2.1.4 Increasing Number of Radar Upgradation Contracts 5.2.2 Restraints 5.2.2.1 Limited Bandwidth for Commercial Applications 5.2.3 Opportunities 5.2.3.1 Rise and Adoption of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles 5.2.3.2 Geopolitical Instability 5.2.4 Challenges 5.2.4.1 Stringent Policies of Cross-Border Trading 5.2.5 Demand-Side Impact 5.2.5.1 Key Developments from January 2019 to January 2022 5.3 Trends/Disruptions Impacting Customers' Business 5.4 Market Ecosystem 5.5 Pricing Analysis 5.6 Tariff Regulatory Landscape 5.7 Trade Data 5.8 Patent Analysis 5.9 Value Chain Analysis of Electronically Scanned Array Market 5.10 Technology Analysis 5.11 Porter's Five Forces Model 5.12 Key Stakeholders & Buying Criteria 5.13 Use Cases 5.13.1 Development of 4D Active Electronically Scanned Array (Aesa) Radar System (Ns50) - Thales Group 5.14 Key Conferences & Events, 2022-23 5.15 Operational Data 6 Industry Trends 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Supply Chain Analysis 6.2.1 Major Companies 6.2.2 Small and Medium Enterprises 6.2.3 End-users/Customers 6.3 Emerging Industry Trends 6.3.1 Software-Defined Radar 6.3.2 Active Electronically Scanned Array (Aesa) 6.3.3 Digital Beamforming Technique in Radar 6.3.4 4D Electronically Scanned Array 6.3.5 Scalable Aesa Transmitter with Phase-Only Nulling 6.4 Impact of Megatrends 6.4.1 Digitalization and Introduction of Internet of Things (Iot) Systems in Esa-Based Airborne Radar 6.4.2 Shift in Global Economic Power 7 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Platform 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Air 7.2.1 Esa Radar Used in Aew&C Systems for Command & Coordination 7.2.2 Fixed-Wing Aircraft 7.2.3 Rotary-Wing Aircraft 7.2.4 Uav 7.3 Marine 7.3.1 Marine Electronically Scanned Array Widely Used for Navigation and Collision Avoidance 7.3.2 Commercial Vessels 7.3.3 Defense Vessels 7.4 Land 7.4.1 Increased Need for Border Surveillance Drives Land Segment 7.4.2 Fixed 7.4.3 Portable 7.4.4 Mobile 8 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Frequency Band 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Single Frequency 8.2.1 S-Band Electronically Scanned Array Radar Dominates Single Frequency Radar Market 8.2.2 Vhf Band 8.2.3 L-Band 8.2.4 S-Band 8.2.5 C-Band 8.2.6 X-Band 8.2.7 K-Band 8.3 Multifrequency 8.3.1 Used for Coherent Detection and Tracking of Moving Target Objects 9 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Component 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Transceiver Modules 9.2.1 Transceiver Modules Transmit and Receive Radio Waves of Fluctuating Frequencies 9.3 Phase Shifters 9.3.1 Phase Shifters Carry Data from Antenna Section to Signal Processing Section of Electronically Scanned Array 9.4 Beamforming Network 9.4.1 Beamforming Networks Designed to Transmit and Receive Directional Signals 9.5 Signal Processor 9.5.1 Signal Processors Gather Signals from Sensors to Provide Insights 9.6 Radar Data Processor 9.6.1 Used in Electronically Scanned Array to Separate Targets from Clutter 9.7 Others 10 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Type 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Active Electronically Scanned Array (Aesa) 10.2.1 Development of Solid-State Radar to Boost Aesa Segment 10.3 Passive Electronically Scanned Array (Pesa) 10.3.1 Wide Use of Pesa in Stealth and Covert Operations Drive this Segment 11 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Installation 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Fire Control Radar 11.2.1 Increased Use in Fixed-Wing Aircraft to Fuel Growth 11.3 Tactical Data Link Radar 11.3.1 Increasing Use in Uavs Fuels Segment 11.4 Air Traffic Control Radar 11.4.1 Rising Demand for Esa-Based Security & Surveillance Applications Drives Segment 11.5 Others 12 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Range 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Short-Range Radar 12.2.1 Used Primarily in Commercial Applications or Man-Portable Reconnaissance Missions 12.3 Medium-Range Radar 12.3.1 Widely Used Across Military Applications 12.4 Long-Range Radar 12.4.1 Used for Long-Distance and Accurate Location Tracking 13 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Array Geometry 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Linear Array 13.2.1 Linear Array Minimize Number of Elements Needed to Perform Radar Operations 13.3 Planar Array 13.3.1 Planar Array Provides Much More Flexibility Than Linear Array 13.4 Frequency Scanning Array 13.4.1 Frequency Scanning Array Uses Multi-Frequency Mechanism for Scanning 14 Electronically Scanned Array Market, by Dimension 14.1 Introduction 14.2 2D 14.2.1 2D Electronically Scanned Array Used Mainly for Air Traffic Management 14.3 3D 14.3.1 High Target Location Accuracy and Automatic Operation Modes Drive Demand for 3D Electronically Scanned Array 14.4 4D 14.4.1 4D Electronically Scanned Array Used in Autonomous Tactical Surveillance Vehicles for Accurate Target Mapping 15 Regional Analysis 16 Competitive Landscape 16.1 Introduction 16.2 Market Share Analysis of Leading Players, 2020 16.3 Rank Analysis, 2020 16.4 Competitive Evaluation Quadrant 16.4.1 Star 16.4.2 Pervasive 16.4.3 Emerging Leader 16.4.4 Participant 16.5 Competitive Scenario 16.5.1 Progressive Companies 16.5.2 Responsive Companies 16.5.3 Starting Blocks 16.5.4 Dynamic Companies 16.5.5 New Product Launches 16.5.6 Deals 17 Company Profiles 17.1 Introduction 17.2 Key Players 17.2.1 Northrop Grumman Corporation 17.2.2 Aselsan A.S. 17.2.3 Lockheed Martin 17.2.4 Raytheon Technologies 17.2.5 General Dynamics 17.2.6 L3Harris Technologies 17.2.7 Teledyne Technologies 17.2.8 Thales Group 17.2.9 Hanwha Systems 17.2.10 Saab Ab 17.2.11 Bae Systems 17.2.12 Leonardo S.P.A. 17.2.13 Israel Aerospace Industries 17.2.14 Indra Company 17.2.15 Bharat Electronics Ltd 17.2.16 Airbus Group 17.2.17 Mitsubishi Electric 17.2.18 Lig Nex 1 17.2.19 Api Technologies Corp. 17.3 Other Key Players 17.3.1 Hensoldt Ag 17.3.2 Src, Inc. 17.3.3 Telephonics Corporation 17.3.4 Vega Radio Engineering Corporation 17.3.5 Jem Engineering LLC 17.3.6 Cea Technologies 18 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/27cwm Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Unity Charitable Fund Grant Brings the Metaverse into the Curriculum of Underrepresented Communities to Provide the Next Generation of Learners with 21st Century Skills LOS ANGELES, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zoe Immersive, an award-winning metaverse software company with a mission to democratize content creation, and the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District have been awarded a $100K grant from the Unity Charitable Fund, a fund of Tides Foundation. This grant will allow the deployment of metaverse learning programs to support over 300 educators and students in the Title I School District. The Zoe Metaverse Program will empower students to easily create fully interactive and immersive experiences, which increase awareness around social and environmental issues. Learners will have the opportunity to develop key digital skills, such as user experience design, storytelling, coding logic, and how to leverage virtual reality to immerse others in their perspectives. Zoe Immersive brings 21st Century skills to the next generation of learners. Zoe's easy-to-use, cross-platform, world creator empowers anyone to create and share interactive and immersive experiences in a collaborative marketplace. The company has partnerships with leading technology companies such as Meta, Unity, Qualcomm and HTC, among others. "At Unity, we believe the world is a better place with more creators in it. As someone who was raised near West Allis, Wisconsin, I was thrilled to see this grant awarded to Zoe Immersive, as their program embodies that belief, by ensuring education is accessible to all, regardless of zip code," said Jessica Lindl, Vice President of Social Impact at Unity. "It's more important than ever to connect young people with the skills needed for future jobs, as these help chart a clear path from learning to earning opportunities." Through this program, educators will be provided a four-week online training program delivered by Virtual Research, led by educators and innovators Kwaku Aning, Liz Nebo, and Kevin Merges (Innovation Academy). Student outcomes will be measured through Zoe analytics by educational partners, which will include assessment of immersiveness, UX design, game design skills and soft skills, such as collaboration, communication, and management abilities. The project impact will also be measured through follow-on assessment of the students' progress, such as job applications or education applications for colleges, general change in motivation, and confidence of participants. The program is designed to enable educators to easily replicate the curriculum year after year, building awareness and ensuring more students gain similar skills rather than a "one-off" approach. "We are ecstatic to be awarded this grant and to help students easily build the skills and confidence to work in the metaverse," said Emilie Joly, CEO of Zoe Immersive. "With a strong partner in West Allis-West Milwaukee School District, together we can help students achieve even greater success by including 3D/AR/VR learning into their curriculum." During this program, Zoe will be working with West Allis-West Milwaukee School District, which contains 18 schools and 7,400 students. The district's minority enrollment is 50%, and 65% of students are economically disadvantaged. "Our district embraces student growth with a framework of an innovative curriculum, deeper learning work and integration of emerging technologies," said Deidre Roemer, Director of Leadership and Learning at West Allis-West Milwaukee School District. "We are excited to empower our learners and teachers through this significant support from the Unity Charitable Fund and Zoe Immersive." Unity is the world's leading platform for creating and operating real-time 3D (RT3D) content. Unity for Humanity is a program within Unity Social Impact that celebrates and empowers creators who are using real-time 3D to inspire change. The program represents the company's strong belief that the world is a better place with more creators in it and its commitment to empowering creators with the resources and guidance to bring these powerful experiences to life. About Zoe Immersive Zoe Immersive is an award-winning metaverse company based in Los Angeles and Geneva, Switzerland. Founded in 2020, Zoe Immersive democratizes 3D/AR/VR content creation by empowering new generations of learners in the metaverse. With Zoe, novice to experts can create their own interactive worlds with a simple and visual interface, and easy-to-use, cross-platform, world creator. Zoe has partnerships with leading technology companies such as Meta, Unity, Qualcomm and HTC, among others. www.zoe.com . About West Allis-West Milwaukee School District At the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District, our schools provide engaging learning experiences in classrooms where students are welcomed, challenged, and supported. We provide students with purposeful, authentic learning experiences in an environment that is equitable for all. For us, when students are in schools where they are valued and know they belong, and they are empowered to learn things that interest them, they work harder. That is our theory of action and why we do this incredibly important work. SOURCE Zoe Immersive Major Crane Trends in the Crane Procurement Market The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the moderate bargaining power of suppliers. This makes it extremely important to get the pricing and pricing model right. Buyers should align their preferred pricing models for Crane with the wider industry and identify the cost-saving potential. The most widely adopted Pricing Models in the Crane Market in the Crane Market Cost-plus pricing Lease-based pricing Download our free sample report to know more about the latest Crane trends and various pricing models Will there be an Increase in the Spend Growth for Crane Procurement? The Crane market will register an incremental spend of about USD 318.59 million during the forecast period. However, only a few regions will drive the majority of this growth. Moreover, on the supply side, North America, Europe, and APAC will have the maximum influence owing to the supplier base. The growth is expected to be primarily driven by increasing demand and adoption of the category across those few regions. To get a detailed analysis of the volume drivers that are driving the adoption of the category across regions. Download the "Crane Sourcing and Procurement" Sample Report Subscribe to our "Free Limited Period Starter Procurement Plan" to get the following: View 6 full reports View 800+ report samples Pre-order upcoming reports Dedicated account manager Signup for our subscription services now for FREE! This procurement report answers help buyers identify and shortlist the most suitable suppliers for their Crane Market requirements following questions: Am I engaging with the right suppliers? Which KPIs should I use to evaluate my incumbent suppliers? Which supplier selection criteria are relevant for? What are the workplace computing devices category essentials in terms of SLAs and RFx? Get the Details That You Are Looking for: Buy our detailed market analysis report to uncover: Changing market landscape with yearly forecast till 2025. Analyze the market's competitive and vendor landscape. How much marketing budget to set aside for geographical market expansion? Understanding the most adopted procurement strategies by buyers across industries. Read more about this market from our sample report! About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. Contact SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SOURCE SpendEdge Strategic relationship brings together the power of Deloitte's Human Capital Analytics & Insights Solutions Practice with Visier's market-leading people analytics solution VANCOUVER, BC, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Visier , the globally recognized leader in people analytics and on-demand answers for people-powered business, today announced a strategic alliance with Deloitte. Together, Deloitte and Visier can provide enterprise organizations guidance and professional services support around their people analytics journey, combining state-of-the-art technology with world-renowned consulting. "Organizations are under extraordinary pressure to rethink how they manage their talent, with a direct correlation between people decisions and business outcomes," said Nigel Stoodley, Head of People Cloud Custom Services at Visier. "There are growing expectations from CEOs, investors and customers that all revolve around data-informed decisions, particularly as it relates to managing a large workforce during times of unprecedented change and upheaval." Through this alliance, Deloitte will be Visier's largest global implementation partner; and Visier and its customers will benefit from the extensive range of people analytics services that will be available to complement the product. Utilizing the combined services, joint clients will benefit from Visier's market-leading technology and Deloitte's proficiency in deploying and scaling high performance people analytics functions. Organizations will be empowered with essential resources they need to go from the earliest phases of adoption and implementation to a comprehensive and mature people analytics function. "We believe this collaboration with Visier will provide incredible value to our joint clients," said Marc Solow, Human Capital Analytics and Insights Solutions Practice Leader, and Managing Director, Deloitte Consulting LLP. "One of the major challenges that many organizations face once they have their people data in place is building out the programs, and leading the change management, to get the insights to where people decisions have the most impact. This is where this relationship truly shines. Deloitte consultants will help design and drive these programs, which are not familiar territory for most HR functions. This strategic alliance will ultimately enable clients to maximize the impact of their investments in People Analytics while accelerating their time to value." Clients of Deloitte's Human Capital practice can benefit from this alliance with Visier. This announcement comes at a time of record growth and change for Visier, marked by the best fiscal year in the company's history and a recently announced vision for the next act of the people analytics category. Dubbed the People Cloud , this initiative builds upon Visier's category defining people analytics platform, bringing data-driven insights to a variety of different roles, including HR, people managers and executives, to make better decisions on behalf of both the employee and the business. About Visier Visier is the recognized global leader in people analytics, providing on-demand answers to people-powered businesses. Behind every great brand, product, or idea is the Human Truth, and the Visier People Cloud reveals the fundamental questions and actionable truths capable of elevating your employeesand your businessto new heights. Founded in 2010 by the pioneers of business intelligence, Visier has 15,000 customers in 75 countries around the world, including enterprises like Adobe, BASF, Bridgestone, Electronic Arts, McKesson, MerckKGaA, Uber, and more. Visier is headquartered in Vancouver, BC with offices and team members worldwide. For more information, visit www.visier.com . About Deloitte Deloitte provides industry-leading audit and assurance, tax and legal, consulting, financial advisory, and risk advisory services to nearly 90% of the Fortune Global 500 and thousands of private companies. Our professionals deliver measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in capital markets, enable clients to transform and thrive, and lead the way toward a stronger economy, a more equitable society, and a sustainable world. Building on its 175-plus year history, Deloitte spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's more than 345,000 people worldwide make an impact that matters at www.deloitte.com . Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. SOURCE Visier Omdia notes the strength of Vonage's CPaaS platform, 1+ million registered developers, & global communications network. Tweet this Also noted is Vonage's strong and steady growth in its CPaaS business, reporting a 42% increase for 2021, as well as its ability to integrate with the power of the full Vonage Communications Platform (VCP) to provide enterprise communications solutions. VCP is a unique and powerful combination of CPaaS, Unified Communications, Contact Center and Conversational Commerce solutions, all of which are increasingly critical for businesses to perform better, connect easier and create more meaningful customer engagement. Pamela Clark-Dickson, Principal Analyst, Advanced Messaging and Communications for Omdia, commented: "In this increasingly digital world, CPaaS capabilities have become a must for businesses across industries that want to make meaningful connections with customers and to keep those loyalties in an incredibly competitive landscape. Vonage has been ranked as a leader in the Omdia Universe because it scored highly across a range of categories for its CPaaS capabilities, including APIs, value-added services and packaged solutions, access and integration, and use cases, among others." The Leader in CPaaS As one of the largest CPaaS vendors by revenue, Vonage is a Market Leader taking the top spot in eight of the ten categories that Omdia scored, including access and integrations, use cases, and partnerships with the highest results coming from APIs (95%) and technical support (92%). Just as important, Vonage scored big with its customers in Recommendation, as well as Product and Vendor Experience. Overall, Vonage placed ahead of competitors with the leading total Capability Score derived from top marks in Solution Breadth, Solution Innovation and Strategy / Roadmap. "We are honored to be recognized as a leader by Omdia for the breadth and depth of our CPaaS offerings and for the way we are leveraging the full power of the Vonage Communications Platform," said Rory Read, Vonage CEO. "With our CPaaS platform, our vast developer community has the APIs to develop an unlimited number of enterprise-focused communications use cases to create better engagement and experiences for their customers. It is powerful for developers and can provide businesses with powerful and disruptive solutions for their industries." Building on CPaaS By leveraging Vonage communications APIs to embed programmable capabilities - Video, Voice, Chat, Messaging, Verification, and AI - into existing products, workflows and systems, including Vonage Business Communications and Vonage Contact Center, businesses can build better relationships with customers across the entire journey to serve them better and drive revenue. The Omdia Universe also calls out Vonage's ability to continue to build upon the strength of its CPaaS platform and Communications API capabilities through the acquisitions of conversational AI platform, Over.ai and conversational commerce solution, Jumper.ai. A natural extension of the Vonage API portfolio, Conversational Commerce enables businesses to drive customer engagement and business growth, turn conversations into sales, communicate with customers on the channels they prefer, and elevate the customer journey with orchestrated omnichannel experiences - all within the single, integrated Vonage Communications Platform. To learn more, download the full report . *Omdia Universe: Selecting a CPaaS Platform Provider 2022, Pamela Clark-Dickson, May 25, 2022. About Vonage Vonage , a global cloud communications leader, helps businesses accelerate their digital transformation. Vonage's Communications Platform is fully programmable and allows for the integration of Video, Voice, Chat, Messaging, AI and Verification into existing products, workflows and systems. Vonage's fully programmable unified communications and contact center applications are built from the Vonage platform and enable companies to transform how they communicate and operate from the office or remotely - providing the flexibility required to create meaningful engagements. Vonage is headquartered in New Jersey, with offices throughout the United States, Europe, Israel and Asia. To follow Vonage on Twitter, please visit www.twitter.com/vonage . To become a fan on Facebook, go to facebook.com/vonage . To subscribe on YouTube, visit youtube.com/vonage . To learn more about Vonage, visit https://www.vonage.com/ . SOURCE Vonage CHICAGO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Winston & Strawn LLP has released its 2022 Pro Bono Racial Justice & Equity CEASE Initiative Report. The publication outlines the CEASE Initiative's most significant wins and ongoing matters over the past two years in key areas of racial justice and equity. Launched in the wake of George Floyd's murder, Winston's CEASE Initiative pledges to devote 100,000 pro bono hours through 2025 to racial justice and equity matters, with a primary focus on issues and programs impacting Black people. The CEASE Initiative pursues pro bono projects that most effectively address five critical areas for change: C riminal Justice and Criminal Justice Reform riminal Justice and Criminal Justice Reform E ducational and Vocational Opportunity ducational and Vocational Opportunity A ccess to the Political System ccess to the Political System S ocial Welfare ocial Welfare Economic Development "For social justice to be real, our words are only as important as our actions," said Racial Justice & Equity Council Co-Chairs and Winston Partners Bryan C. Goldstein and Angela A. Smedley. "We believe this report offers concrete proof that taking the right actions on behalf of those in need of strong advocacy is the bestin fact, the onlyway to create lasting change." The 2022 report highlights matters in each category, including the following: Criminal Justice and Criminal Justice Reform Reaching a settlement agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that curtailed its use of illegal traffic stops and mass arrest practices nationwide. Winning an important appeal that affirmed the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizureshelping to safeguard private citizens from illegal police intrusions. Educational and Vocational Opportunity Negotiating a historic settlement agreement with the University of California to stop using standardized test scores when making admission decisions and awarding scholarships. to stop using standardized test scores when making admission decisions and awarding scholarships. Working with Cabrini Green Legal Aid to help hundreds of Chicagoans with felony convictionsthat were found unconstitutionalclear their records. Access to the Political System Collaborating with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) to win a federal court ruling requiring the State of Illinois to adopt new legislative maps that better represent the State's Latinx community. Social Welfare Representing The Federation of Southern Cooperatives to ensure Black farmers receive the USDA funds Congress allotted to them. In March 2022 , Winston won a reversal in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals of an order that had denied Winston's motion to intervene on behalf of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives to defend the law granting debt relief to Black farmers. , Winston won a reversal in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals of an order that had denied Winston's motion to intervene on behalf of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives to defend the law granting debt relief to Black farmers. Assisting in forming and securing federal tax-exempt status (and advising on corporate and contract issues) for the Black Homes Matter reparations fund that compensates Detroit homeowners who were unjustly dispossessed of their homes and wealth from 2011 to 2015 due to illegally inflated property taxes. Economic Development Providing legal services to ensure the formation of Fifth Star Funds, a social enterprise that provides equitable access to early-stage venture capital and reinvests 100% of its returns. Supporting the National Center for Law and Economic Justice with a class action against the Louisiana Workforce Commission alleging rampant due process violations in the administration of unemployment benefits. "Winston's CEASE Initiative has lent greater depth and significance to the firm's longstanding commitment to pro bono work," said Winston Senior Pro Bono Counsel Gregory A. McConnell. "We are uniquely privileged to serve these clients, and we look forward to devoting even greater energy to setting things right for those harmed by the weight of historical and ongoing discrimination." Read the 2022 Pro Bono Racial Justice & Equity CEASE Initiative Report. About the Pro Bono Racial Justice & Equity CEASE Initiative Founded in September 2020, Winston's Pro Bono Racial Justice & Equity CEASE Initiative has pledged to devote 100,000 pro bono hours through 2025 to racial justice and equity matters, with a primary focus on issues and programs impacting Black people. This pledge of hours is a significant expansion of Winston's longstanding commitment to racial justice and equity and represents a $50 million investment over five years. To date, Winston has contributed more than 25,000 hours to achieving the goals of the CEASE Initiative. The firm has made significant progress expanding existing and establishing new relationships with public interest organizations to cultivate opportunities that advance CEASE Initiative goals. Winston has built a strong foundation for the innovative work undertaken by its attorneys to address racial disparities and help build better societal and economic systems. Winston & Strawn LLP is an international law firm with 16 offices in North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. More information about the firm is available at www.winston.com. Contact: Michael Goodwin [email protected] 646-502-3595 SOURCE Winston & Strawn LLP VANCOUVER, BC, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Zacatecas Silver Corp. ("Zacatecas Silver" or the "Company", (TSX Venture: ZAC) (OTC Markets: ZCTSF) (Frankfurt: 7TV) is pleased to announce the nomination of Dr. Luis Chavez to the Company's Board of Directors. Dr. Luis Chavez-Martinez Senior Vice President, Mexico , Alamos Gold Inc. current Director of the Mexican Chamber of Mines former President of the Mexican Mining Association former General Director Mexican Geological Survey Dr. Chavez has over 35 years of experience in the global mining industry. He is the Senior Vice President, Mexico, Alamos Gold and has served in that capacity since 2015, when he held a similar position with AuRico Gold since 2007. Previously, Dr. Chavez served as Energy and Mines Director, Coahuila State from 2001 to 2006, and was also General Director of the Mexican Geological Survey from 1994 to 2000. Dr. Chavez is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Mines and former President of the Mexican Mining Association (1996). Dr. Chavez holds a PhD in Mineral Economics (1982) from the University of Arizona, a Master of Science degree in Geology (1978) from Penn State University, and a Business Administration degree (1989) from the Pan-American Business Institute in Monterrey, Mexico. Bryan Slusarchuk, CEO of Zacatecas Silver, states, "We look forward to working with Dr. Chavez as the team advances the advanced-stage Esperanza Gold Project located in Morelos State towards production and while concurrently conducting exploration and expansion work at the Company's silver project located in Zacatecas State. Dr. Chavez has extensive experience and operational success throughout Mexico and has also served the industry in non-commercial roles such as his current directorship on the Chamber of Mines and his former Presidency of the Mexican Mining Association. His guidance, oversight and independent role on the Board of Directors will serve the Company and shareholders well." Dr. Chavez has been nominated to the Board of Directors by Alamos Gold, the largest shareholder of Zacatecas Silver, with the appointment expected to take place at the upcoming Annual General Meeting on July 15, 2022. About Zacatecas Silver Corp. Zacatecas is a mineral resource company with the gold focused advanced stage Esperanza Gold Project and the silver focused advanced stage Zacatecas Property. The Zacatecas Property is located in Zacatecas State, Mexico, within the highly prospective Fresnillo Silver Belt, which has produced over 6.2 billion ounces of silver. The Company holds 7,826 ha (19,338 acres) of ground that is highly prospective for low and intermediate sulphidation silver-base metal mineralization and potentially low sulphidation gold-dominant mineralization. On December 15, 2021, Zacatecas Silver announced a mineral resource estimate at the Panuco Deposit consisting of 2.7 million tonnes at 187 g/t AgEq (171 g/t Ag and 0.17 g/t Au) for 16.4 million ounces AgEq (15 million ounces silver and 15 thousand ounces gold) (see Company's news release dated December 15, 2021). The Zacatecas Property is 25 km south-east of MAG Silver Corp.'s Juanicipio Mine and Fresnillo PLC's Fresnillo Mine. The Zacatecas Property shares common boundaries with Pan American Silver Corp. claims and El Orito which is owned by Endeavour Silver Corp. There are four main high-grade silver target areas within the Zacatecas Property concessions: the Panuco Deposit, Muleros, El Cristo and San Manuel-San Gill. The Zacatecas Property also includes El Oro, El Orito, La Cantera, Monserrat, El Penon, San Judas and San Juan silver-base metal vein targets, and such targets are relatively unexplored and will be the focus of rapid reconnaissance. The advanced stage Esperanza Gold Project, comprising 14,337.83 hectares), is located in Morelos State, Mexico. To date, significant core and reverse circulation drilling has occurred at the Esperanza Gold Project resulting in a total of 389 drill holes for 69,716 metres. Alamos Gold Inc. reported in its most recent annual information form a resource estimate of a measured and indicated resource of 34,352,000 tonnes at 0.98 g/t gold and 8.09 g/t silver for 1,083,366 ounces of gold and 8,936,201 ounces of silver and inferred resource of 718,000 tonnes at 0.80 g/t gold and 15.04 g/t silver for 18,375 ounces of gold and 347,192 ounces of silver. The Company considers this to be an historical resource for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. Resource blocks were defined using with dimensions of 10 metres (m) by 10 m by five m. The estimation of grades was performed with the ordinary kriging method on capped composites. An added step in the estimation strategy was the utilization of the dynamic anisotropy technique in Vulcan's unfolding options. This added capability allows for a more realistic outcome of the estimated grade's spatial distribution as it follows the folded shape of the deposit. Assumptions used in the resource include the following metal prices: gold price of $1,400 (U.S.) per ounce (oz) and silver price of $22 (U.S.) per oz. The resource assumed the following economic assumptions: recovery of 60.4 per cent at 0.2 g/t to 71.9 per cent at 1.6 g/t for gold, 25 per cent for silver, $2.60-per-tonne mining costs, 64-cents-per-tonne general and administrative costs, $4.20-per-tonne milling costs and a pit slope of 45 degrees. The Company considers the resource relevant due to its identification and modelling of the Esperanza deposit. The Company has not done sufficient work to classify the resource as a current mineral resource or mineral reserves and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Although the resource estimate is considered reliable, the Company will resample a portion of the drill core for the purpose of carrying out a new resource estimate. Furthermore, additional data verification, including resurveying of select diamond drill holes collars; review of graphic drill core logs, comparison of these logs with remaining half-cut core and a cross check of select geological logs agonist database entries; and a check of original assay certificates against the assays and drill hole database. On behalf of the Company Bryan Slusarchuk Chief Executive Officer and Director Qualified Person The contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Chris Wilson, B.Sc. (Hons), PhD, FAusIMM (CP), FSEG, Chief Operating Officer of Zacatecas Silver. Dr. Wilson is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and is responsible for all technical information in this news release. Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Zacatecas Silver cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, many of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Zacatecas Silver's limited operating history, its proposed exploration and development activities on its properties and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Zacatecas Silver does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Zacatecas Silver Corp. Expanded Role Adds Responsibility for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy and Office of the CEO to Portfolio WARSAW, Ind., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZBH) (SIX: ZBH), a global medical technology leader, today announced the appointment of Keri P. Mattox as Chief Communications and Administration Officer, reporting to President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Bryan Hanson. Ms. Mattox previously served as Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Chief Communications Officer, and now adds responsibility for building and executing a comprehensive strategy around Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives and increasing CEO visibility, engagement and accessibility to her portfolio. "As we continue to focus on delivering on our mission to alleviate pain and improve the quality of life for people around the world, it's essential to create a function responsible for building and executing a comprehensive strategy around Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives," said Mr. Hanson. "Since joining Zimmer Biomet in January 2020, Keri has spearheaded our brand evolution, worked to build a best-in-class communications and IR function and expanded and publicly launched the Zimmer Biomet Foundation, overseeing the creation of our Team Member Relief Fund, Giving Center and local and global philanthropy activities. I am confident that in this expanded role, Keri will continue to raise ZB awareness and I look forward to partnering more closely with her as part of our ongoing evolution and transformation." Ms. Mattox was appointed Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Chief Communications Officer in January 2020, responsible for strategically integrating, aligning and driving investor relations, communications and philanthropy functions and activities. Prior to joining Zimmer Biomet, she served as Global Lead, Integrated Corporate Communications at W2O Group (now Real Chemistry), an international healthcare-focused marketing and communications firm. There she was responsible for strategically shaping and expanding the firm's global corporate communications, investor relations, crisis communications, M&A, board engagement and corporate social responsibility/foundation capabilities and offering. Prior to W2O, Ms. Mattox was Vice President, Corporate & Investor Relations at AmerisourceBergen, a healthcare company ranked #10 on the Fortune 500. She also held executive leadership team level positions at Endo International and Auxilium Pharmaceuticals and spent more than 10 years at communications agencies in leadership positions. Earlier in her career, Ms. Mattox was a reporter with Hearst Newspapers. She holds a B.A. from Boston University and an M.A. in Journalism from the University of Maryland. About Zimmer Biomet Zimmer Biomet is a global medical technology leader with a comprehensive portfolio designed to maximize mobility and improve health. We seamlessly transform the patient experience through our innovative products and suite of integrated digital and robotic technologies that leverage data, data analytics and artificial intelligence. With 90+ years of trusted leadership and proven expertise, Zimmer Biomet is positioned to deliver the highest quality solutions to patients and providers. Our legacy continues to come to life today through our progressive culture of evolution and innovation. For more information about our product portfolio, our operations in 25+ countries and sales in 100+ countries or about joining our team, visit www.zimmerbiomet.com or follow Zimmer Biomet on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zimmerbiomet. ZBH-Corp SOURCE Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a blood diagnostics device developed by ANGLE PLC (AIM:AGL, OTCQX:ANPCY) that can identify metastatic breast cancer in patients. UK-based biotech company Angles Parsortix technology is the first product ever to be cleared by US regulators that harvests cancer cells from a blood sample. The UK business secretary has flagged telecoms business Altice UK Sarls shareholding in BT Group PLC (LSE:BT.A) as a matter of national security. The move comes after concerns were raised last year that the government could take steps to block a possible foreign takeover of the company. Altice is owned by French-Israeli billionaire and telecoms magnate Patrick Drahi, who is the owner of Israeli cable television company HOT and has built stakes in multiple American and British telecoms companies. His firm Altice raised its stake in the national telecoms business to 18% in December, raising alarm bells that the government could block a possible takeover. Altice previously became the largest shareholder in BT last June after paying 2.2 bn for 12.1% of its shares. It acquired further shares in BT in December, increasing its total ownership to 1,785,476,188 shares, equivalent to an 18% stake in BT. BT said in a notice to shareholders on Thursday that the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has now considered Altice UKs move to increase its shareholding and that Kwasi Kwarteng is exercising his call-in power under section 1 of the National Security and Investment Act 2021. The clause in the Security Act states that it can be exercised where there is a threat to national security: Arrangements are in progress or contemplation which, if carried into effect, will result in a trigger event taking place in relation to a qualifying entity or qualifying asset, and the event may give rise to a risk to national security. BT Group said it will fully cooperate with this review. Its share price fell 4% to 182p in early trades on Thursday morning. Altice insisted to BTs board after increasing its stake in the company last December that it did not intend to make an offer for BT and would be bound by the UKs Takeover Code. Drahi said at the time: "Over recent months we have engaged constructively with the Board and Management of BT and look forward to continuing that dialogue. We continue to hold them in high regard and remain fully supportive of their strategy, principally to play the pivotal role in delivering the expansion of access to a full fibre broadband network; an investment programme which is so important to both BT and to the UK. The UK government once held a golden share in BT but removed the covenant, which would restrict a takeover of a national publicly listed asset, to facilitate a mooted merger with MCI. It currently only holds golden shares in BAE Systems PLC (LSE:BA.), Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LSE:RR.) and a smaller portion in Babcock Internationals dockyard assets. Last August, a group of influential MPs urged the government to repurchase golden shares in defence groups critical to UK national security to prevent takeovers by overseas rivals after US company Parker-Hannifin Corps agreed takeover of FTSE 250-listed contractor Meggitt PLC (LSE:MGGT). BT Group is nevertheless a valuable asset, reporting 20.85 bn of revenue for the year ending 31 March 2022 and pre-tax profit of 1.96 bn. Nairobi A detective attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations' Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit (AHTCPU), was on Tuesday awarded for his role in the protection of vulnerable and exploited children. The DCI said in a statement Wednesday that International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children awarded detective Lawrence Okoth during a ceremony for child protection held in Manhattan, New York City. "Detective Okoth received the Everyday Hero Award that was also awarded to two other exceptional police officers, one from India and the other from Guatemala, whose outstanding performance in handling matters affecting children and safeguarding their rights stood out across the world," the DCI said. The agency said that Okoth, a certified digital forensic investigator, was awarded for his role in helping bring to justice pedophile suspects. During the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of the International Centre for Missing Children, Bob Cunningham, lauded detective Okoth for a job well done and for being a frontline defender of children's rights. Also awarded with a lifetime achievement award was U.S Senator Ron Wyden, who has represented Oregon in the U.S Congress for the past 26 years, and sponsored hundreds of bills in support of child protection. "The organization has for the past 20 years worked with over 120countries from across the world in protecting children from exploitation through empowering law enforcement agencies with the tools and the training to make the world safer for children. This year alone, over 1, 600 missing children have been rescued courtesy of the organization," said the DCI. Panthera Resources PLC (AIM:PAT)has gained ground after a drilllng update. The gold exploration and development company, which has assets in West Africa and India, said a reverse circulation drill rig had arrived on-site at the Labola Project in Burkina Faso. The programme to drill 46 holds to test up to five targets has begun, with assay results expected during the third quarter of 2022. Its shares are up 5.9% at 7.49p. 12.16pm: RA International sees earnings fall on pandemic and Mozambique problems RA International Group PLC (AIM:RAI), which provides remote site services to humanitarian, governmental and commercial organisations, has seen profits hit by the pandemic and unrest in Mozambique. Full year revenues fell from US$64.4mln to US$54.6mln, while underlying earnings halved from US$14.2mln to US$6.7mln. Chief executive Soraya Narfeldt said: "2021 was very disruptive from an operational perspective. Clearly, our customers' spending over the last two years has been focused on mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and less on project development. As a result, government and humanitarian agencies have suffered from staff shortages which impacted requests for proposals, bids, and project execution. In September 2021 we believed that these challenges were abating, however this view was superseded by a return to government-imposed lockdowns and restrictions which led to further delays and uncertainty." The company took US$31.5mln of charges relating to Mozambique. Narfeldt said: "Investors will be aware that this area was subject to an insurgency attack in March 2021 and, as at the time of these results, the local situation had not yet stabilised sufficiently to see sizable commercial activity restarting. We are working hard to realise value from our investments made relating to this project, which will support our cash position." It is looking at disposing of US$7.2mln of assets located in storage, and said it remained confident that development works would restart in Mozambique, although timing was difficult to predict Reflecting its cautious view on the operating environment in the near-term, the board is not recommending a full year dividend. Its shares are down 11.88% at 21.15p. 10.59am: Hostmore sees its restaurants and bars hit by falling consumer confidence Hostmore PLC (LSE:MORE) shares have gone flat after seeing sales hit by falling consumer confidence. The hospitality business, whose brands include Fridays and cocktail bar outlets 63rd+1st, said like for like revenues were down 6% in the 20 weeks to the end of May, compared to the same period in pre-pandemic 2019. It said the fall was mainly due to consumer confidence weakening significantly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine which is contributing to the current cost of living crisis. For the year it expects a combination of lower volumes and cost increases will mean margins will be in the low double digits compared to its target of mid-teens. Even so, it plans to open three new sites this year, and still hopes to double the number of outlets from 89 over the medium term. Chief executive Robert B. Cook said: "We are not where we expected to be, however, I am able to report a financial performance which, regardless of the arduous challenge and extreme economic headwinds being encountered presently, allows us to confidently continue with our development strategy. Our ambition remains that of almost doubling the size of our existing portfolio brands over the medium term as economic conditions improve. Our relationship with landlords, coupled with a prudently managed balance sheet, provides the basis for confidence in the success of our strategy over the longer term." Its shares are down 13.98% at 42.75p. 9.49am: CAP-XX (AIM:CPX) lifted by supercapacitor plans CAP-XX (AIM:CPX) is climbing after an update on its latest supercapacitor. After a collaboration with the University of New South Wales, it is currently preparing for the launch of the 3 volt product at the end of the year, using at production line at its Seven Hills facility in Sydney, Australia. It had planned to do this work at its Malaysian manufacturing site but continual delays caused by COVID-19 and the results from the university prompted the company to pivot back to using the Sydney site. The company has worked with the university since 2017, resulting in new intellectual property, which has a direct commercial application in the development of the 3 volt product. The result is a supercapacitor with exceptionally low leakage current. Chief executive Anthony Kongats said: 'Following the recent announcement of our proposed joint venture with Ionic Industries, which involves technology developed at Monash University, I am pleased to be able to point to how CAP-XX (AIM:CPX)'s collaboration with university partners, such as this example with the University of New South Wales, can lead to direct commercial applications which can enhance the performance of our supercapacitors." its shares are up 4.88% at 4.3p. 8.53am: Zinc Media (AIM:ZIN) shines after new order boost Zinc Media (AIM:ZIN) shares have brightened after a positive trading update from the TV and multimedia content producer. In a statement for its annual meeting, the company said it had won 4mln of new business in the last four weeks, giving total revenues booked so far this year of 17mln. This compares with 17.5mln in its last financial year to the end of December. It said its pipeline remained strong with 7mln worth in advanced discussions. This latest new business includes several series recommissions from its factual label Red Sauce and from Nation's producer Tern TV. Chief executive Mark Browning said "The group's rate of new business wins in 2022 has been excellent and we are confident of significantly growing revenues year on year. We continue to invest in new hires and in new markets and are confident about the outlook for the remainder of the year and beyond." Its shares are up 6.73% at 119p. Elswhere DWF Group PLC (LSE:DWF) has added 3.2% to 106.3p. The legal and business services group said full year revenues were expected to rise 6% to around 350mln, with pretax profit up 20% to not less than 41mln, in line with market expectations. It has also signed an affiliation agreement with Hong Kong law firm Hauzen. Chief executive Sir Nigel Knowles said: "The 2022 results demonstrate significant progress towards our medium term guidance which we are confident will continue during 2023. We have enjoyed strong like-for-like growth and a 20% increase in adjusted profit before tax, underpinned by our integrated model and our less cyclical businesses, such as insurance, litigation and regulatory work, where we do not see the sort of volatility that can occur in more transaction focussed firms. "We are continuing to build out our international footprint, with the latest agreement signed with Hauzen in Hong Kong. This is a key global financial centre and we see a clear opportunity to increase activity focused on areas where we have sector strength, but without overcommitting operationally." GameStop Corp (NYSE:GME) rose more than 29% on Wednesday to record its best session of the year in response to social media speculation over a potential short squeeze. The American video game retailer saw over 9.9mln shares traded, more than double its normal volume. In the coming weeks, GameStop is to report earnings and shareholders will vote on a stock split proposal. The stock closed 29% higher on Wednesday at US$115.17. Gamestop was the hub of meme-stock fever in 2021, which saw retail investors gang together on social media and buy huge quantities of 'shorted stocks' and it is still highly susceptible to random jumps and falls in the stock price. Some 26% of GameStop's shares are currently being shorted (sold to buy back later at a lower price), so any substantial rise in the price encourages shorters to close positions (buy shares) to avoid losses, sending the price higher and starting the cycle again. That is commonly how a short squeeze develops. On June 2, shareholders are to vote on a stock split aimed to increase the number of common shares from 300mln to 1bn and though GameStop has not yet disclosed the split ratio, it is counting on shareholder approval. If approved, the 2022 Incentive Plan will also allow the issuance of 8mln common shares, with GameStop noting it needs the approval to continue to "attract, retain, and motivate the company's high-quality management team". As part of its plan to transform into a much more digitally focused company, GameStop announced the launch of its digital wallet for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrencies. Caerus Mineral Resources PLC (LSE:CMRS) announced a transformational change in its strategic alliance with EV Metals Group PLC following the planned acquisition by EV Metals of the majority of Johnson Matthey PLC (LSE:JMAT)s Battery Materials business. Johnson Matthey said today it had agreed to sell part of its Battery Materials business to Australias EV Metals for 50mln in cash and will also take a minority stake in EV Metals. READ: Johnson Matthey agrees to sell part of Battery Materials business to Australias EV Metals for 50mln Shares in London-listed Caerus jumped as much as 25% on the expansion of the strategic alliance. EV Metals, a cornerstone investor in Caerus, has approached Caerus to renew and expand their original strategic alliance to enable EV Metals to comply with the Rules of Origin (RoO) for electric automotive products under the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) so that they qualify to be tariff- and quota-free. Automotive products covered by the TCA include lithium, copper, cobalt, nickel, other metals and industrial minerals in the context of battery packs for electric vehicles and hybrids. Caerus thereby becomes a key component of the EV Metals business plan by virtue of having, from the outset, an emphasis on development and production of copper from its multiple opportunities in Cyprus, Caerus said. EV Metals has also agreed to use Caerus as its preferred vehicle to further its ambitions in the European raw materials market, enabling EV Metals to acquire advanced mining and production projects and still comply with the TCA. Acquisitions and board appointments EV Metals has agreed to make a substantial investment in Caerus by increasing its present shareholding, on terms to be agreed, and by providing expertise and guidance through new board appointments. These new appointments will help promote the next phase of growth in the company's business plan and advance expansion plans in Europe in co-operation with EV Metals. Brian Rowbotham will step down as non-executive chairman of Caerus to be replaced by Christopher Lambert as executive chairman. Lambert has a background in financial services and commodity trading and has extensive experience in non-executive and executive chairman roles and of asset identification and acquisition in the natural resources sector. Russell Thompson and Dominic Traynor, both with EV Metals, will also join the Caerus board. Earlier this month, Caerus announced the appointment of Charles Long as chief executive and said Martyn Churchouse, the former CEO, will remain in a senior consulting role to advance the Troulli joint venture project with Bezant Resources PLC (AIM:BZT). Shares in Caerus were up 15% at 11.50p in mid-morning trade. Tai said she was thrilled to be working with Albert Labs, noting the companys commitment to addressing the mental health needs of people with cancer Albert Labs International Corp (CSE:ABRT) said it has appointed Dr Sara Tai as principal investigator for its upcoming trial on KRN-101, a psilocybin-based medicine, for the treatment of cancer-related distress. Tai, a senior lecturer in clinical psychology at Manchester University, has extensive clinical research experience, according to Albert Labs. Tai developed psychological interventions for people diagnosed with a variety of mental health issues such as depression, psychosis and bipolar disorder, and her research focuses on the science and practice of therapy, progressing these into regulatory approved clinical practices. Vancouver-based Albert Labs also noted Tais deep understanding of the commercial imperative of delivering the necessary training to offer these novel therapeutics at scale as part of the UK's National Health Service. "I'm delighted that Dr Tai has agreed to work with Albert Labs as principal investigator in what will be the company's key first study investigating the effects of a natural psilocybin treatment on cancer-related distress, Malcolm Barratt-Johnson, chief medical officer at Albert Labs said in a statement. Sara is rightly regarded as a leading global light in the field of psilocybin research, having been involved in several of the studies underpinning our present knowledge in this important area of clinical research," he added. Tai said she was thrilled to be working with Albert Labs, noting the companys commitment to addressing the mental health needs of people with cancer. I value Albert Labs' emphasis on ethical and patient-centred investigations of the effectiveness of psychotherapy assisted by novel plant-based medications, Tai added. Being involved in such groundbreaking research with the potential to develop new treatments for people in great need is very exciting. Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas BT Group is facing a first national striker for 35 years, with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) to ballot its members over what it called insulting inaction over its pay demands. The (CWU) said it will be serving an industrial action notice to BT Group which includes BT, Openreach and EE - on Wednesday, June 8 with strike ballot papers to follow on 15 June. Last month, CWU workers unanimously rejected the imposed pay rise offer of a 1,500 flat-rate pay rise. Dave Ward, CWU general secretary said:: This is not about a company that cant afford to pay employees this is about management choosing not to give people what they deserve during a time of serious uncertainty. These workers were instrumental in keeping this country going during the worst crisis since the Second World War. While our members made huge sacrifices, their employers made huge profits. Andy Kerr, deputy general secretary added: If BT Group wants to avoid a summer of disruption, they have to start treating their workers with some respect. Panthera Resources PLC (AIM:PAT) (Panthera Resources PLC (AIM:PAT)) gained ground after a drilling update. The gold exploration and development company, which has assets in West Africa and India, said a reverse circulation drill rig had arrived on-site at the Labola Project in Burkina Faso. The programme to drill 46 holes to test up to five targets has begun, with assay results expected during the third quarter of 2022. A resource estimate expansion drilling programme will comprise 2,000m of infill and step-out holes targeting the Daramandougou area and is included in Area 1. A further 3,200m exploration drilling proposal will test additional pit expansion targets in Area 1 and a number of new targets within the Wuo Land 1 and Wuo Land 2 licences in Areas 1 to 5. Shares rose 2% to 7.25p. Anteris Technologies Ltd (ASX:AVR, OTC:AMEUF) has begun treating its second cohort of patients as part of the first-in-human study for the companys DurAVR transcatheter heart valve system. Anteris is a structural heart company focused on developing next-generation technologies that help healthcare professionals reproduce consistent life-changing outcomes for patients. The companys DurAVR 3D single-piece aortic heart valve replacement addresses the needs of more active aortic stenosis patients by delivering durability designed to last the remainder of a patients lifetime. The benefits of Anteris patented ADAPT tissue technology, paired with the unique design of its DurAVR 3D single-piece aortic heart valve, are aimed at providing a much-needed solution to the challenges facing doctors today. The news relating to its second cohort of patients comes just a day after the company announced it was strengthening its Australian Medical Advisory Board with the appointment of Associate Professor Dion Stub MBBS, PhD, FRACP of the Alfred Hospital and Monash University. Associate Professor Stub has significant TAVI experience and specialises in structural heart procedures. Read: Anteris Technologies enhances Australian Medical Advisory Board Matador has tenure covering 120 kilometres of continuous strike along the highly prospective, yet under-explored Cape Ray Shear in Newfoundland, Canada. Matador Mining Ltd (ASX:MZZ, OTCQX:MZZMF) has hit high-grade gold mineralisation in a winter diamond drilling program at the flagship Cape Ray Gold Projects Central Zone in Newfoundland, Canada. The company has reported the first assays from the winter drilling campaign, which took place between February and April this year. During the program, the explorer intersected strong gold mineralisation, such as: 6 metres at 13.3 g/t gold from 214 metres, including 1-metre at 45.8 g/t from 217 metres and 1-metre at 11.7 g/t from 219 metres; 6 metres at 7.1 g/t from 228 metres, including 1-metre at 22.4 g/t from 229 metres; 5 metres at 5.4 g/t from 53 metres, including 2.9 metres at 8.9 g/t from 53 metres; and 2 metres at 11.1 g/t from 64 metres, including 1-metre at 13.6 g/t from 64 metres. Theres more to come from the Cape Ray project, with pending results for: 29 exploration diamond holes at the Window Glass Hill Granite, PW East and Stag Hill targets; Four Central Zone geotechnical drill holes; The remainder of the Stag Hill Power Auger sampling program; and 96 gold grain samples from the Malachite greenfield reconnaissance program. Increasing understanding Matador chief geologist Warren Potma said the company was very pleased with the initial set of drill results from Matadors first winter diamond campaign. Drilling at Central Zone has returned positive results from drill hole CRD352, with two separate zones of high-grade mineralisation recorded in an 80-metre gap in the previous mineral resource drilling. It appears some of the historical drilling in this area may have reported anomalously low grades relating to variable core recovery associated with the highly sheared host rocks. These new results indicate potential for higher grades and increased widths compared to the current mineral resource estimate. The Central Zone drill results have increased our understanding of the structural controls of gold mineralisation at Cape Ray, which is particularly important as we step out to explore new greenfields targets such as Malachite. Hole CRD352 Gold mineralisation at the Central Zone deposits occurs as quartz veins and vein arrays, parallel to and splaying off the Cape Ray Shear Zone. Interestingly, the gold-bearing quartz veins dip moderately to steeply towards the southeast. Drill hole CRD352 tested an identified 80-metre-wide gap within the current mineral resource drilling. The drill hole returned multiple intercepts, with assays totalling 130.4 grams of gold and confirming the interpreted upward continuation of a wide mineralised zone encountered at depth. Two main zones of mineralisation were intersected, reporting the 6 metres at 13.3 g/t and 6 metres at 7.1 g/t gold hits. Hole CRD351 Meanwhile, drill hole CRD351 was designed to twin a historical drill hole to provide supplementary structural information on the mineralisation controls. Drilling conditions associated with a highly sheared country rock were difficult, resulting in core loss and poor core orientation results. However, the hole intersected the targeted mineralised zone and returned high-grade intercepts such as 5 metres at 5.38 g/t and 2 metres at 11.1 g/t. Remaining core from OAD002, prior to resampling for the revised test-work, to be used in the updated scoping study. Oar Resources Ltd (ASX:OAR) is readying to complete a 5,500-metres aircore drilling campaign and a new metallurgical test-work program for the Oakdale Graphite Project on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, home to Renascor Resources emerging Siviour Graphite Project. The drilling program will target expansions and upgrades to the current JORC resources at Oakdale, designed to convert existing inferred resources to the indicated category while growing the current resource along strike and at depth. Metallurgical tests will assess Oakdale graphites suitability for creating battery-grade spherical graphite for the production of lithium-ion batteries. OAR has reduced the time and cost of this test-work by using core samples from previous diamond drilling, a strategy that will also provide cost-effective samples for a planned updated scoping study. Graphite market changed substantially The company has undertaken a detailed review of its Oakdale Graphite Project with a view to assessing the projects development options, Oar Resources exploration manager Ross Cameron said. It is focused on a staged approach to expand on the previous work at the project, which includes metallurgical test-work to determine if the Oakdale graphitic material may produce a finer grade spherical graphite concentrate. This will be followed by an extensive drilling program to upgrade the existing inferred JORC resource. This staged approach will ensure the company is well-positioned to capitalise on the prevailing strength in the graphite market which has changed substantially for the better since the initial scoping study was undertaken in 2015, due to the demand for ethically sourced battery-grade graphite and the rapid uptake of electric vehicles. OAR has lodged a Program for Environment Protection and Rehabilitation (PEPR) with the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining, approval of which will clear the way for the aircore drilling program. Kitui Goat Foundation, a non- profit organization that gives hope to widows has donated 200 goats to 100 widows in Kitui Central to address poverty and impact the lives of the vulnerable in the society. According to Chief Project Executive Officer of Cause Companies Ann Musau, this charity work has been made possible by Financially Fit Africa which is under Cause Companies. Cause Companies is advancing Cause Capitalism where profit making companies choose a non- profit organization and partner with them with an aim of turning their agenda a reality. "So far, we have managed to gift 450 widows each with a billy goat and a doe in different regions. 30 percent of the goats we've donated have reproduced," said Musau. The widows who received goats in Kitui Central and the surrounding regions are the lowly favoured who are grouped by either a church, business or a government leader and placed under a non- profit organization. The goats were also purchased from the same region. Musau added that the focus is to empower the less fortunate in the society as well as in efforts to mitigate drought in such areas. On his part, Chief Marketing Officer Shem Guchiri stated that they aimed at donating 20 million goats to 10 million widows by 2025. "Our goal is to donate 20 million goats to 10 million widows by 2025 across East Africa. We teach widows the importance of the goats and we also make sure we come back after six months or a year to see if there has been any impact," said Shem Guchiri. Musau confirmed that the goats provide milk and manure for small scale farming such as growing sukuma wiki and tomatoes. They could also be sold when they multiply therefore improving the widows' income. Kitui Central Member of Parliament Benson Makali Mulu, who was present during the event urged other well-wishers and companies to chip in and help the most vulnerable in our society. Other counties that have benefited from Goat Foundation are Kilifi, Makueni, and Machakos. - Kna Kin Mining NL (ASX:KIN)s Andrew Munckton talks with Proactives Andrew Scott about RC drilling at Cardinia Hills, follow up drilling at Pegasus, as well as an upcoming resource update in in the September quarter. The managing director gives insight into the high-grade drilling results of up to 2 metres at 14.5 g/t gold from 120 metres drilled that confirm an extension to the Cardinia Hill prospect at the 1.275-million-ounce Cardinia Gold Project (CGP) near Leonora in Western Australia. Final assay results from RC drilling at Cardinia Hills North Extension have extended the 106,000-ounce deposit to the north, which remains open in that direction. Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) subsidiary VSUN Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with North Harbour Clean Energy (NHCE). The non-exclusive MoU provides a framework for the two companies to assess market opportunities for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) installations, including potential for local manufacture or assembly of VRFBs and leasing facilities for vanadium electrolyte. The MoU will allow VSUN Energy to help to facilitate the development of VRFBs into existing and future projects being developed by NCHE. What does NHCE do? A Sydney-based energy company, NHCE is involved in the identification, investigation, development and operation of renewable energy and energy storage projects and is particularly focused on long-duration energy storage, including pumped hydro and vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) for stationary energy applications. It is also involved in a joint collaboration with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in the research and commercialisation of VRFBs. Birthplace of VRFBs NHCE was also part of a group of entities involved in a A$50 million investment from the Australian Government to create a new business and research partnership through the Trailblazer program. UNSW and the University of Newcastle will lead the partnership, working with 27 industry partners including NHCE. UNSW is the birthplace of the VRFBs, where Emeritus Professor Maria Skyllas-Kazacos and her team still work on the product invented in the 1980s. NHCE is also working with UNSW on the optimisation of VRFB cell design. Positioning Australia as a key player Long duration energy storage is in its infancy in the Australian market but has the potential to scale up quickly. The VRFB is a proven, commercialised product that can help complement the use of pumped hydro energy storage. NHCE is interested in supply of vanadium electrolyte from AVL, product selection and project development support from VSUN Energy, and the ability to position Australia as a centre of excellence and a key player in the global VRFB supply chain. Strong funding capability In working together on VRFB projects, VSUN Energy and NHCE will have the opportunity to support the development of large projects through access to a company with strong funding capability, AVL managing director Vincent Algar said. Jointly the companies aim to grow the Australian vanadium energy storage sector and do justice to this Australian-invented technology. NHCE managing director Tony Schultz commented: We look forward to partnering with VSUN Energy to help accelerate the implementation of VRFBs at industrial scale into the Australian energy market, allowing the rapid uptake of renewable energy to continue. This technology is perfectly suited to long-duration stationary energy storage, has a number of advantages over alternative technologies and Australia has a unique opportunity given its invention of the technology in the 1980s, coupled with our large share of known vanadium resources. Drill core from the Gibsons prospect at Halls Peak. Critical Resources Ltd (ASX:CRR) has received high-grade zinc, lead and copper results from the 10th and 11th drill holes at Gibsons prospect within the 100%-owned Halls Peak Project in northern New South Wales. The two diamond drill holes - CRR21DD_04 and CRR21DD_02 have intersected further zinc, lead, copper, and silver-bearing zones of sulphide mineralisation. Both are step-out holes that continue to demonstrate the potential mineralisation at the Halls Peak system. Extent of mineralisation Assays for Hole 04 revealed: 6.91 metres at 9.41% zinc, 2.45% lead, 1.56% copper and 34.6 g/t silver from 98.04 metres down hole, including 1.69 metres at 13.82% zinc, 2.08% lead, 4.26% copper and 64.37 g/t silver from 103.26 metres; 5.6 metres at 8.20% zinc, 4.33% lead, 1.81% copper and 393.23 g/t silver from 75.1 metres, including 1.65 metres at 14.79% zinc, 7.61% lead, 3.17% copper and 807.55 g/t silver from 77.05 metres; and 4.9 metres at 3.91% zinc, 1.24% lead, 0.15% copper and 8.55 g/t silver from 58.6 metres. Drill core from Hole 04. Hole 02 returned 17.75 metres at 2.20% zinc, 1.28% lead, 0.18% copper and 19.34 g/t silver from 87.8 metres down hole, which included 1.1 metres at 7.45% zinc, 4.36% lead, 0.67% copper and 43 g/t silver from 90.3 metres and 1.4 metres at 10.4% zinc, 7.53% lead, 0.48% copper and 33.8 g/t silver from 99.6 metres. Potential in previously untested areas These results continue to demonstrate the scale potential of the Halls Peak system and provide strong support for an expanded drill program, with previously untested areas continuing to reveal consistent mineralisation at depth. The company is expecting assays from cores from completed holes 14, 15 and 16 to be returned progressively. CRR managing director Alex Biggs said: Were continuing to see some fantastic intersections at Gibsons that are demonstrating the potential of the Halls Peak system." Potentially transformational Drilling is ongoing across multiple targets as we look to start to further define the potential scale at Halls Peak," he said. The asset is shaping up as potentially transformational for the company and we look forward to updating the market with more exciting results. About Halls Peak Project The 100% CRR-owned Halls Peak project can be found in NSW, around 45 kilometres southeast of Armidale in the New England Fold Belt, an area well known for its mineral endowment and production. Massive sulphide deposits were discovered at Halls Peak in 1896, where near-surface mining extracted high-grade zinc, lead, copper and silver. Recent exploration at the Gibsons prospect has yielded excellent high-grade intersections of zinc, lead, copper and silver. Halls Peak is considered to have the potential to contain world -lass deposits similar to those already being mined in northern Australia. The project area comprises multiple historic mines and prospects including Gibsons, Sunnyside, Firefly, Faints, Khans Creek, Keys and Mickey Mouse. All current exploration activities are focused on exploration licence EL 4474, with primary targets being the Gibsons and Sunnyside prospects. Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) has shipped 35,002 tonnes of Butcherbird manganese concentrate from Port Hedland aboard the MV Aquamarine SW on 24 May 2022. The contract price received was higher than for previous shipments due to the buoyant prevailing manganese markets, which helped to offset the higher than forecast diesel and shipping costs. Manganese ore markets have remained strong through Q2 2022 with 44% index material remaining well above US$7 / dmtu (dry metric tonne unit) CIF Tianjin. Moreover, feedback on the handling properties of E25 concentrate ore remains positive from logistics providers to consumers. A further shipment of approximately 35 to 40kt of normal contract material is expected to be despatched prior to the end of June 2022. E25s marketing team is looking for opportunities to place additional conventional and non-conventional material into the current market whilst strong market conditions prevail. Process plant optimisation E25 has been undertaking rectification works around the primary comminution circuit to alleviate throughput bottlenecks caused by material handling challenges due to high clay content feed. The first stage of this work has culminated in the mobilisation to site of a scalping screen and radial stacker conveyors to allow clay rich ore feed to be better managed through the front end of the plant and eliminate one of the biggest challenges in achieving nameplate throughput volumes. The units are scheduled to arrive on site on 27 May 2022 and will be installed and commissioned immediately. This is the first of a series of steps identified in the recent review which are expected to lead to improved throughput volumes and maximise production from the installed plant and equipment. Stage 2 expansion The strategy around the development of the Butcherbird Project has consistently included an expansion of current production to take advantage of the large resource, which has a mine life of 42 years whilst utilising only 20% of the identified resources. As part of the optimisation studies being undertaken on the plant, E25 has been conducting engineering design work on the expansion, focussing initially on the primary (dry) comminution stage(s) and the final beneficiation step which currently utilises optical ore sorters. As part of the review process, dense media separation (DMS) is being assessed as an alternative to ore sorters to provide more consistent results in terms of both manganese recovery and grade. The results of this work will provide guidance on engineering design decisions for Stage 2 expansion works. Project team focus E25s operations team continues to focus on delivering sustained nameplate production. The business development team is focussing on E25s multi-stage development strategy, including a Stage 2 expansion of the concentrate business in parallel with the Stage 3 development of a conversion facility to convert the concentrate material into HPMSM for electric vehicle EV batteries to power the global transition away from fossil fuel powered mobility. Manganese is emerging as an increasingly important ingredient for EV batteries, with potential supply constraints for nickel and cobalt forcing battery manufacturers to look to high manganese cathodes to produce the vast amount of cathode material required by the EV industry in coming years. Butcherbird is ideally placed to feed this potential demand, with advanced flowsheet development work undertaken in 2019 and 2020 confirming a simple leach process for Butcherbird ores which, when combined with offsets, will target the worlds first Zero Carbon Manganese for EV cathode manufacture. E25 released a scoping study in January 2022 to update the market prior to the release of the Feasibility Study (FS) which is currently being completed. ReVolve said the operational projects are expected to generate revenues and EBITDA in excess of the equivalent of US$400,000 and US$300,000, respectively, per year ReVolve Renewable Power Corp (TSX-V:REVV) said it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Mexicos Centrica Business Solutions Mexico S.A. de C.V. (CBS Mexico), a subsidiary of Centrica PLC (LSE:CNA), for a total consideration of $33 million Mexican pesos. The renewable energy projects owner and developer said the deal adds a 2.8 megawatt (MW) portfolio of operational distributed generation assets in Mexico and a further 3MW asset that is under construction and expected to go into operation by the end of 2022. We are extremely excited about the opportunity presented by the acquisition, ReVolve Renewable Power CEO Steve Dalton said in a statement. It will fast track the company's strategy for the distributed generation market while moving the business from being a pure development company to an independent power producer generating electricity, revenues and cash flow, Dalton added. ReVolve noted the energy generated by these projects is sold under a number of fixed-price power purchase agreements with industrial clients located in central Mexico with an average remaining term of about eight years. It added that the operational projects are expected to generate revenues and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in excess of the equivalent of US$400,000 and US$300,000, respectively, per year. As well, the company said the cash consideration of the transaction is to be funded through a combination of cash on hand and a new C$1.6 million, two-year secured loan facility being provided by RE Royalties. ReVolve also noted it has entered into a royalty agreement with RE Royalties, under which RE will receive a variable royalty of between 1% to 5% on gross revenues generated by a number of the operational projects for the life of the power purchase agreements for each relevant operational project. The company and RE Royalties expect to collaborate on further distribution generation projects as the company looks to continue to aggressively grow this part of its business, ReVolve said. The acquisition is expected to close within the next 45 days and conditional approval has been received from the TSX Venture Exchange, according to the company. ReVolve Renewable Power is in the business of developing utility-scale renewable energy generation projects in North America with a particular focus on wind, solar and battery storage technologies. Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL) has returned sulphide mineralisation in all drill holes at the Callisto palladium-platinum-copper-nickel discovery, part of the 100%-owned Norseman Project in WA. Reverse circulation (RC) drill assays have confirmed palladium, platinum, gold, copper and nickel hits in five more drill holes at Callisto after the explorer hit strong results in a discovery hole. The reported assays all occur within wider disseminated sulphide zones, indicating the potential for a large mineralised system at Callisto. RC drilling will resume late next week, with roughly 4,000 metres of drilling planned to priortise a target area east of Callistos discovery hole. Drilling should take around five to six weeks to complete, with geological updates followed by assay results. Important step forward Speaking on the fresh results, Galileo managing director Brad Underwood said: The assays from all drill holes undertaken at Callisto contain significant zones of mineralisation and confirm initial results from the discovery drill hole. Todays results are a very important step forward as we have now shown the sulphides are carrying high-value metals in all six drill holes completed." He said: The next round of RC drilling is due to begin late next week with a focus on drilling across strike to determine the thickest and highest grades in the easterly direction. The same program of drilling will then continue to the north as we aim to move from discovery drilling to advanced and detailed resource drilling. The extensive prospective strike, combined with the thick and consistent mineralisation drilled to date, indicates the potential for a large mineralised system. Around 20 holes will be undertaken in the coming round of drilling and we look forward to updating the market with results from this exciting new discovery. Turning the soil at Callisto Galileo recently drilled six holes, covering 1,142 metres, across Norsemans Callisto target. The discovery hole recorded the widest interval of sulphide mineralisation, as reported earlier this month. Now, five more drill holes have reported assays, including: 22 metres at 1.60 g/t palladium, platinum and gold (3E), 0.25% copper and 0.26% nickel from 135 metres; 28 metres at 1.58 g/t 3E, 0.27% copper and 0.26% nickel from 137 metres; 19 metres at 1.69 g/t 3E, 0.24% copper and 0.28% nickel from 124 metres; 12 metres at 1.36 g/t 3E, 0.19% copper and 0.22% nickel from 135 metres; and 14 metres at 1.26 g/t 3E, 0.25% copper and 0.28% nickel from 133 metres. The zone east of Callistos discovery hole is now a priority target and will be tested in the program starting next week. Encouragingly, every drill hole exhibits a consistent geological mineralisation pattern. Drill holes in the initial program were completed on two east-west lines spaced 50 metres apart with a 50-metre drill spacing along the lines. Now, drill holes in the upcoming program will continue to be spaced roughly 50 metres apart in a bid to define the grade variation across strike prior to step-out drilling along strike to the north. What now? An initial interpretation of results from the Callisto discovery continues to show similarities with South Africas Platreef deposits, with disseminated sulphide mineralisation hosted in the lower unit of a layered ultramafic sill. The first samples from the discovery hole are at the laboratory for nickel sulphide collection fire assay, with assays pending to test for rhodium, osmium, ruthenium and iridium mineralisation. If rhodium or other platinum group elements are found, it could add to the propertys prospectivity. In the meantime, downhole electromagnetic surveying has been completed over two of Callistos holes, with a strong electromagnetic response below the holes modelled as a single large plate and interpreted to represent a sediment. Deep diamond drilling is planned for later in the year to explore for additional mineralisation below the sediment. Allergy Therapeutics PLC (AIM:AGY, OTC:AGYTF)s chief financial officer has said he plans to leave the company after six years to pursue non-executive roles. Nick Wykeman will leave in six months, giving the business time to recruit a successor. Chief executive Manuel Llobet said: "We are very sorry that Nick Wykeman has decided to leave the company after a successful period with the business but fully understand his decision. I should like to take this opportunity to thank him for his dedication and insight over the past six years and look forward to his replacement joining the group." Challenger Energy Group PLC (AIM:CEG, OTC:BSHPF) told investors it has now completed the formal signing of the petroleum licence offshore Uruguay, which was awarded to the company in May 2020. The AREA OFF-1 licence was awarded prior to an extended period of inactivity due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the formal approval and signing, the company has now begun a four-year exploration period. It includes what the company described as "relatively modest" low-cost reprocessing and reinterpretation of historical 2D seismic data there are no drilling obligations in the initial phase. For very low cost we were able to secure an exploration licence of an extremely high quality, with a greater than 1-billion-barrel recoverable resource potential, said chief executive Eytan Uliel. Globally significant developments are now underway along the South American Atlantic margin in Guyana and Suriname - basins with analogous technical characteristics. Even more significantly, very recent mega-discoveries from the South Atlantic conjugate margin to Uruguay, offshore Namibia, from two wells drilled by majors in the past few months, have calibrated and confirmed the play source rock and petroleum systems evident on seismic in OFF-1. Uliel added: At the same time, over the remainder of 2022 and into 2023 we will explore partnering options that could lead to an accelerated work program - the object being to quickly and fully evaluate the licence's potential, and to thereby create what we hope will be an opportunity of great value to shareholders." In the statement, Challenger highlighted that the Uruguay offshore exploration area is directly analogous to the recent prolific, conjugate margin discoveries made offshore Namibia Totals Venus discovery and Shells Graff - where reported multi-billion-barrel Cretaceous turbidite reservoirs have been encountered. Jubilee Metals Group PLC (AIM:JLP, JSE:JBL, OTC:JUBPF) said it appointed Manuel Lino Silva de Sousa Oliveira (Ollie) as its independent non-executive chairman with effect from 1 June 2022. Colin Bird, the founder of Jubilee, previously announced his intention to step down as chairman to pursue various initiatives outside the metals processing company. Bird will still have an advisory role for two years, assisting with special projects. Oliveira, a chartered accountant and economist with more than 35 years of strategic and operational experience worldwide in the mining industry and corporate finance, was appointed as an independent non-executive director of Jubilee with immediate effect. Oliveira held senior executive positions at Anglo American PLC (LSE:AAL) and has led and managed corporate finance assignments totalling more than US$36bn covering every major commodity, including the US$19.3bn De Beers public-to-private transaction in 2001. He is currently non-executive director and chair of the audit committee of Brazils Vale SA and has held non-executive roles at BlackRock World Mining Trust PLC, Polymetal International PLC (LSE:POLY) and Antofagasta Minerals PLC. Ollie's experience will be of significant value to our company given his vast experience, knowledge of the sector and deep understanding of financial markets, as the roll-out of our global metals processing strategy continues this year and beyond, said chief executive Leon Coetzer. The company also said chief financial officer Pedja Kovacevic will become chief strategy officer (CSO) to focus on the groups global expansion drive and named Peet van Coller as the new CFO. In addition, Jubilee has appointed Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co KG as joint corporate broker alongside its existing brokers, with immediate effect. Johnson Matthey PLC (LSE:JMAT) said it agreed to sell part of its Battery Materials business to Australias EV Metals Group PLC, a global battery chemicals and technology business, for 50mln in cash. Johnson Matthey will also receive a minority equity stake in EV Metals. The sale includes Johnson Matthey's assets at the Battery Technology Centre in Oxford and the Battery Technology Centre and pilot plant in Billingham, a research centre in Moosburg, Germany and the partly constructed site in Konin, Poland. The sale does not include Johnson Matthey's LFP facility in Canada, which will be acquired by Nano One. "Johnson Matthey made the decision to exit Battery Materials due to insufficient returns, increased commoditisation of battery materials combined with the need for very high capital investments to remain competitive, said Johnson Matthey chief executive Liam Condon. With EV Metals Group vision and capability to be a fully integrated battery chemicals business, I am very confident that they are the right owner for the Battery Materials business going forward. Johnson Matthey took a 314mln charge in its interim results relating to the carrying value of its battery materials assets and then announced in January 2022 that it expected additional cash costs up to 150mln. After taking into account the proceeds of this sale these net additional cash costs are now expected to be no more than 50mln, it said in a statement. The transaction is expected to complete in Summer 2022. Voi The idea was first met with skepticism and frowns. Small-scale farm holders kept asking question after question. They demanded clarification and answers. Finally, they reluctantly agreed to adopt the proposal. "It was a new idea. It is good to be cautious and we are glad we adopted it," says Mama Grace Sau, a farmer at Kiziki village in Mwatate sub-county. The idea came at the beginning of 2021. Harrison Tuja, an agricultural expert, approached a group of farmers in the village with what at first sounded like a whacko plan. Although each farmer had their individual farms, Tuja introduced the idea of a communal seedlings nursery to grow vegetables. The communal nursery would help cut down on costs related to land preparations, procuring of farm implements, fertilizers and seeds. The ultimate objective was to create a village population that would attain a level of self-sufficiency in production of vegetables for domestic consumption. Tuja says that despite the conducive environment offered by the climate, hundreds of poor homesteads were enslaved to vegetable market and ended up spending an average of Sh200 daily on vegetables. "We have to help the farmers save money by growing their own vegetables," he says. Less than a year later, Kiziki and neighbouring villages have become a model on how adoption of new farming methods can empower rural populations and promote savings for artisanal farmers. Though the farmers would eventually decide to start their own individual nurseries, the vegetable project has become such a success that production is satisfying local consumption and leaving surplus for the market. Tuja adds that farmers who were once dependent on the market as buyers have now become suppliers and sellers of vegetables. "We have succeeded beyond what we anticipated. Our first goal was to make sure they are growing their own vegetables to save on the money. They are now even selling the surplus," he said. Mama Sau is the chair of Sere-Kiziki Self Help Group; a group of farmers who benefited from the project. She says the training has transformed the village with farmers now owning their own nurseries. She adds the vegetable project is gradually rolling over to other farms. She notes that after years of low-yield, the vegetable project has excited over 600 rural homesteads with farmers expressing their satisfaction with the results. "We are harvesting and selling. This has never happened before and we are now interested in expanding our farms to accommodate more crops," she says. Jackline Wakesho, a farmer, states that the training on land preparation, type of seeds and fertilizers to use has been beneficial to the village. She adds she is saving enough money to ease her burden of paying school fees. Wakesho adds that the farms' productivity could be enhanced through more support of seeds and fertilizers. One of the key supporters of the project is Mwatate MP Andrew Mwadime. The MP bought into the idea and asked farmers to adopt the ideas as part of fighting food insecurity, keep malnutrition at bay and bolster the government's Big 4 Agenda. Tuja states that the legislator saw the potential in the project and came on board to empower the rural population. "He bought into the idea. He told farmers they needed to be part of this initiative by the time it is picking up," says Tuja. Amongst the vegetables adopted include kales, amaranthus and other indigenous species. Some farmers are also experimenting on soya while others are growing tomatoes, kales and onions. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Agribusiness By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The vegetable magic has spilled over to Wundanyi sub-county with Sughulu, Kilema and Chome villages becoming early adopters. Residents of the three villagers have started a communal nursery with 5,000 seedlings to be distributed to members for replanting in farms. Jackson Kidemo, a farmer who donated land for the nursery, says they are committed to severing total dependency on market-supplied vegetables. He adds that households are spending a fortune in the market; a situation likely to be reversed by the project. She noted that the farmers were committed to ensuring sustainability through establishment of their own nurseries where they can get seedlings. "This initiative will not cease to function even after the support we are receiving stops. We have accepted it and will introduce nurseries to produce seedlings for farmers," she said. - Kna The first AUDACIOUS products are expected to hit the New York market in October Australis Capital Inc (CSE:AUSA, OTCQB:AUSAF) - dba AUDACIOUS - has announced that the company and its partner, First Americans LLC, have started construction of its New York cultivation, manufacturing and retail project located on the Saint Regis Mohawk territory. The Las Vegas-based cannabis company said the project will begin with a low-cost, customized growing system utilizing top class auto-flower genetics but an Achieve12 facility will eventually be constructed to expedite stocking products on shelves. "Early market entry into New York has been a core element of our strategy and we are 100% executing on this, AUDACIOUS CEO Terry Booth said in a statement. With first products hitting the market around October, we are well ahead of the general market, which is still waiting for the full regulations on how adult use will be introduced throughout the entire state. AUDACIOUS said the cultivation system employed by the partnership will benefit from technology measures to mitigate the effects of inclement weather, while at the same time, benefiting from full sun and utilizing the latest in crop management techniques. All materials have been ordered, the irrigation is expected to be delivered shortly and growing activities are anticipated to commence late June/early July 2022 with first harvest commencing in September, it said. The company will also process the harvested material into derivative products such as its award-winning brands Tsunami and Provisions on site. Additionally, construction of the companys first dispensary on the Saint Regis Mohawk territory has commenced and is expected to be completed in time to carry the first products from the outdoor facility, AUDACIOUS said. The dispensary will be located immediately adjacent to the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort, which attracts close to 2.4 million visitors annually, it noted. This partnership with First Americans shows how AUDACIOUS is a preferred partner who is able to translate its operational excellence into capex light entry for new, high growth markets, CEO Booth said. We look forward to working with Rick Hamelin, president of First Americans, and his team to claim our position among the market leaders in New York state, he added. AUDACIOUS also announced that it has issued 151,100 common shares as part of its ongoing senior executive compensation plan. Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com Net income came in at C$14.5 million compared to a loss of C$2.7 million a year earlier on revenue, which was up 109%, at C$53.3 million Minto Metals Corp (TSX-V:MNTO) said it has delivered a positive performance for the second consecutive quarter as the copper producer posted its first-quarter metrics. Sales of copper from its Yukon mine rose by around 71% in the three months to end-March 2022 to 9.1 million pounds compared to 5.3 million pounds in Q1 2021. Net income came in at C$14.5 million compared to a loss of C$2.7 million a year earlier boosted by revenue, which was up 109%, at C$53.3 million compared to C$25.5 million in the first quarter of last year. "Our excellent operating performance and cost containment in a higher copper price environment has surpassed our expectations," said Chris Stewart, Minto metals CEO in a statement. "Our team has strong momentum and has delivered a positive performance for the second consecutive quarter." Stewart added: "Our quarter 1, Adjusted EBITDA improved to $19.2 million dollars compared to a loss of $0.9 million dollars a year ago. These great results highlight the extraordinary performance and are a testament to the drive and passion to win shown by everyone who works here at Minto." Notably, all-in-sustaining-costs (AISC) per pound sold averaged US$3.44 in the first quarter, which was a 15.9% decrease from the US$4.09 seen in Q1, 2021. Minto also confirmed again its guidance for full-year 2022 as the miner continues to ramp up production and said it was committed to a "cost control strategy while improving our mine and milling operations". The company expects to generate between 27 million and 31 million pounds of payable copper in 2022 at AISC of between US$3.85 to US$4 per pound. "At the beginning of 2022, Minto committed to spending $8 million dollars to improve the mine water management system at the Minto mine," noted Stewart. "Our investment included an upgrade to our water treatment plant, the installation of a new microfiltration plant, and the purchase of evaporation units, all to support improved environmental stewardship," he added. The miner ended the first quarter with C$11.8 million in cash (March 31, 2021: C$778,000). Minto owns and operates the producing Minto mine located in the Minto copper belt of Yukon in Canada, which includes underground mining operations, a processing plant that produces a high-grade copper, gold, and silver concentrate, and supporting infrastructure. Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com Pacific Empire CEO Brad Peters said the companys initial objective was to test below shallow historic drilling at Target 1 Pacific Empire Minerals Corporation (TSX-V:PEMC, OTCQB:PEMSF) has announced that it has finalized two high-priority drill targets for the upcoming summer exploration season at its flagship Jean Marie copper porphyry project in north-central British Columbia. The company said the two targets had been chosen following the companys comprehensive exploration programs at Jean Marie in 2020 and 2021, which incorporated historical data on the property. Pacific Empire CEO Brad Peters said the companys initial objective was to test below shallow historic drilling at Target 1, where new geophysics suggests this zone extends at depth, dipping to the east. Our interpretation is that there is a copper porphyry centre at depth and that intervals encountered in shallow drilling bodes well for high grades at depth, he said. He added that one of the most intriguing targets was Target 2 which was the location of the most significant geochemical anomaly on the property. Our work during 2021 suggests this anomaly is till transported therefore, rather than focusing on the centre, our priority target is the northern margin of the geochemical anomaly, Peters said. It will be exciting to drill-test this sizeable anomaly and we look forward to cost-effectively advancing Jean Marie and appreciate the project's location, ease of access and nearby infrastructure. For the 2022 drill program, the company said it was pleased to retain the services of Atlas Drilling Ltd of Kamloops, BC. Based in Vancouver, Pacific Empire Minerals is a copper exploration company with a strong portfolio of gold-enriched copper projects in British Columba. Contact Emily at emily.jarvie@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter @emilyjjarvie 'We have proven again that Ayurcann is able to maintain a growing business and expand its market share,' said Ayurcann CEO Igal Sudman Ayurcann Holdings Corp. (CSE:AYUR, OTCQB:AYURF), a cannabis extraction company, said revenue in the third quarter of its fiscal year 2022 jumped nearly 7.7% year-over-year as it gained more traction in the market. For its fiscal 3Q ended March 31, 2022, the rapidly growing Toronto-based company reported net revenue of $2.8 million, compared to $2.6 million in the 3Q in fiscal year 2021. Ayurcann also logged $7.8 million in revenue for the nine months ended March 31, 2022, up 57% from the corresponding period in 2021. The $7.8 million figure also surpassed the companys total revenue for the full fiscal year 2021. READ: Ayurcann Holdings says it has received its flower sales license amendment from Health Canada effective April 19, 2022 The company also reported gross margins of $580,000 for the quarter, and $3.3 million for the nine-month period, maintaining strong control over its expenses. Ayurcann said it reported a loss of $306,000 of operating income for the quarter, which was partially due to increased inventory in anticipation of new sales and products set to enter the Canadian market in July this year. On the other hand, the firm noted that it continues to maintain a strong positive operating income of $650,000 for the nine months ended March 31, 2022, continuing its profitable operations. In a statement accompanying the numbers, Ayurcann CEO Igal Sudman said: "As we gain more traction in the market, grow our offerings, and establish ourselves as a major player in the industry, we have proven again that Ayurcann is able to maintain a growing business and expand its market share." Ayurcann highlighted that it has started to focus on its recreational brands and its products are available in over 1,000 locations. The Fuego-branded vapes are ranked in the Top 5 stock keeping units (SKUs) in the market, said the company. Meanwhile, the firms Vida-branded tinctures and Glow-branded topicals have been shipped to Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta and will soon be available across the rest of the country. In addition, the company has started to manufacture and ship new products across the country including high potency CBD products under the Joints brand. Ayurcann also revealed that it plans to penetrate the market with an additional 12 new SKUS accepted by various retail boards. These include vapes, tinctures, dablicators, flower and pre-rolls and the company said it has a goal of beginning cross-country shipping in July 2022. Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive It follows the announcement in May this year of a final agreement between the company and Rio Tinto America Inc on the scope of the stage one work program at the firm's Mason Valley assets in Nevada Lion Copper and Gold Corp (TSX-V:LEO, OTCQB:LCGMF) said it has struck an amicable deal to terminate a previously announced sale of water rights, which will further allow the advance of its MacArthur and Yerington assets in Nevada, USA. As a result, Lion Copper and Gold will recover the water permit designated for mining and milling use and will return a US$1 million deposit to Desert Pearl Farms, it said in a statement. It also follows the announcement in May this year of a final agreement between the company and Rio Tinto America Inc on the scope of the stage one work program at the firm's Mason Valley assets in Nevada, which will see Rio Tinto provide $3.5 million in funding to advance the assets. "We appreciate Desert Pearl Farms' support in allowing us to put these water rights back to their original intended use for mining and milling, as we pursue development of the MacArthur and Yerington projects with Rio Tinto," said Travis Naugle, CEO of Lion Copper and Gold in a statement. "We recognize our role as a steward of natural resources in the Mason Valley and are working closely with Rio Tinto on leading sustainability approaches on water use and consumption," he added. The company also announced a financing of up to US$2 million in convertible debentures with final terms yet to be determined and that it has agreed to settle US$61,366 of debt (for services provided) with a creditor by issuing 915,910 shares at a deemed price of US$0.067 (C$0.085) each. Lion CG is a Canadian-based company advancing its flagship MacArthur Copper project in Nevada, in addition to advancing its exploration projects including the Chaco Bear and Ashton properties in highly prospective regions in British Columbia, Canada, and the Blue Copper prospect in Montana, USA Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com SIGMA Lithium said it expects to announce an updated mineral resource estimate in the second quarter of 2022, with the goal of determining the potential for a further production expansion in Phase 3 SIGMA Lithium Corporation has announced the filing of its consolidated Phase 1 DFS and Phase 2 PFS Update of the NI 43-101 Technical Report for its 100% owned Grota do Cirilo Project. The consolidated technical report incorporates the Phase 1 Feasibility Study and a Phase 2 Pre-Feasibility Study, and demonstrates robust combined economics, highlighted by a combined after-tax NPV8% of US$5.1 billion and combined after-tax IRR of 589%. "With Phase 1 funded and in construction, we are delighted to share our progress on Phase 2 and the combined economics of this fully-integrated lithium project," says Ana Cabral-Gardner, co-CEO and co-chairperson of Sigma Lithium in a statement. "We remain focused on delivering Battery Grade Sustainable Lithium for the electric vehicle supply chain, while continuing to focus on lifting the most vulnerable members of our local communities in Vale do Jequitinhonha, Brazil," she added. The company noted that the consolidated technical report considers a fully integrated and environmentally sustainable production of battery-grade high purity lithium concentrate, with feedstock spodumene ore sourced from its Phase 1 and Phase 2 lithium deposits. The combined operation increases average run-rate production to 531,000 tons per annum (tpa) of battery grade sustainable lithium. Additionally, Grota do Cirilo's operating life has been extended by more than 50% to 13 years with the addition of Phase 2 production from the initial eight years in the Phase 1 Feasibility Study. The consolidated technical report estimates US$76 million in capital expenditures to build a "second production line" to produce battery grade sustainable lithium in a Phase 2, which will begin construction once Phase 1 has initiated commissioning. The key factors influencing the robust consolidated technical report economics include: High average feed grades of 1.55% Li2O for Phase 1 and 1.37% Li2O for Phase 2; and superior recovery rates achieved by the greentech plant in the dense media separation (DMS) circuit of 65.0% for Phase 1 and 57.9% for Phase 2. The company said it expects to announce an updated mineral resource estimate in the second quarter of 2022, with the goal of determining the potential for a further production expansion in Phase 3. A Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on Phase 3 is expected to be completed at the end of the second quarter or early in the third quarter of 2022. Sigma Lithium is a Canadian company dedicated to powering the next generation of electric vehicle batteries with environmentally sustainable and high-purity lithium. The company is currently in construction at its wholly-owned Grota do Cirilo Project in Brazil, which includes a state-of-the-art, green-tech processing plant that uses 100% renewable energy, 100% recycled water and 100% dry-stack tailings. The project also represents one of the largest and highest-grade hard rock lithium spodumene deposits in the Americas. Since inception, Sigma has devoted itself to strong ESG practices, from its ongoing support of local communities to its goal of achieving net-zero by 2024. Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com Eytan Uliel, chief executive at Challenger Energy joined Katie to talk about the company's operations during the last six months. The company successfully completed a restructuring and recapitalisation process, which allowed it to refinance the company. As well as that, it recently told investors it completed the formal signing of the petroleum licence offshore Uruguay, which was awarded to the company in May 2020. Clean Seed Capital said it believes the orders are reflective of customer and dealer enthusiasm and support surrounding the SMART Seeder MAX Clean Seed Capital Group (TSX-V:CSX) has announced that Saskatchewan dealer Canada West Harvest Centre (CAWHC) has placed orders for Clean Seeds SMART Seeder MAX units. The seeding tools technologies provider said CAWHC has placed an initial order for three 2023 SMART Seeder MAX-5 Series-60 units in advance of the demonstration programs across Saskatchewan, which it believes are reflective of customer and dealer enthusiasm and support surrounding the SMART Seeder MAX. Clean Seed noted that with the early orders the company has begun building its order book in advance of the CAWHC demo program and the tradeshow demonstrations scheduled for this season both in Canada and the US. To that end, the company said it is showcasing its SMART Seeder MAX technology at this years Ag in Motion on July 19-21, 2022, the largest outdoor live demo tradeshow of its kind in Canada. Clean Seed added that it will then head to Farm Progress USA in Boone, Iowa, in late August, to demonstrate its technology at the largest outdoor farm event in the US. Clean Seeds SMART Seeder technologies are revolutionary seeding tools that utilize the unique synergy of sophisticated electronic metering and intuitive software control, putting row-by-row variable rate technology at the forefront of agricultural innovation. Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com enCore Energy Corp. (TSX-V:EU, OTCQB:ENCUF) executive chairman William M Sheriff joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with details of the sale of its Cebolleta Uranium Project in New Mexico to Future Fuel Corporation. Sheriff telling Proactive that the move is a major step towards reaching enCores goal of becoming the next producer of American uranium. The sale resulted in enCore holding approximately 15.90% of Future Fuels and a US$250,000 boost to its balance sheet, which he said will help bring enCore's Rosita Central Uranium Processing Plant back into production. Cookie Policy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping us understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. See our Cookie Policy for more information. Mombasa Chief Justice Martha Koome is expected to give directions on two petitions that have been filed to bar former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko from vying in Mombasa. The petitions were referred even as the High Court in Nairobi sent a similar file to Koome to constitute a bench to determine Sonko's suitability to hold office. Two petitions were filed separately before a Mombasa High Court - one by two Mombasa residents and another by three civil society organizations. In the first petition, which was filed on April 25, two Mombasa residents - Ndoro Kayuga and George Odhiambo, had sued to block Sonko from contesting. They argue that the former governor was removed from office for contravening Article 75 of the Constitution and for behaving in a manner that demeaned the office of a county governor. On April 27, Kayuga however withdrew from the case, saying it had taken a political trajectory, rather than being legal. The second petitioner, Odhiambo, however, said he will continue with the matter. On Tuesday, Mativo allowed Odhiambo to continue with the case, despite Kayuga's withdrawal. In the separate case filed by three CSOs, Transparency International, Kituo Cha Sheria, and Haki Yetu, they argued that Sonko had violated the constitution. The organization said Sonko should not be allowed to contest for any seat. Justice Mativo was on Wednesday, who was was expected to issue orders on the two cases, said he cannot issue further orders on the matter, since the matter is now with the CJ's office. The CJ is now expected to constitute a three-judge bench to hear the matter. The cases are also expected to be consolidated into one, since they are all challenging Sonko's chance of being allowed to vie. Last week, Eldoret High Court judge Justice Reuben Nyakundi directed that the petitions filed in Mombasa, Nairobi, and Eldoret challenging Sonko to be placed before CJ Koome to decide if they will be consolidated and transferred to Mombasa. Patna, May 26 : The death toll in suspected hooch tragedy in Bihar's Aurangabad district has reached 13 while many others are battling for their lives in hospitals. Earlier, the Aurangabad police had claimed five persons including three from Khiriyawa village and two from Raniganj village under Madanpur police station were killed due to "poisonous" liquor between Saturday and Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Vinod Pal (55) former sarpanch of Khiriyawa, Sonwa Kunwr (60), Kameshwar Kumar (35), Shiv Saw, Shambhu Thakur, Anil Sharma, Vinay Kumar Gupta (30), Manoj Yadav (65), Ravindra Singh and 4 others. While three others, Dhananjay Chaudhary, Mohammad Nezam and Subodh Singh, are said to be critical and admitted in a hospital in Sherghati in Gaya district. As per the information, a liquor consignment arrived from Jharkhand and distributed in Madanpur, Salaiya and Gaya's Aamas block. The sale of the liquor is currently underway and the villages of the region are becoming victims of it. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, three persons died in mysterious circumstances and eight others were hospitalised in Gaya. The family members of the deceased are claiming that they have consumed poisonous liquor during the wedding function on Monday. The deceased were identified as Amar Paswan (26), Rahul Kumar (27) and Arjun Paswan (43). The victims went to Pathra village under Aamas police station in the district to attend a wedding function where they allegedly consumed country made liquor. Majority of the victims complained about vomiting, stomachache, and low visibility. Following mass deaths in Aurangabad and Gaya, National Human Right Commission (NHRC) has served notice to the Bihar government and asked to reply on this matter. Patna, May 26 : Seema Kumari, a 10-year old handicap school girl of Bihar's Jamui district has become a talking point these days due to her high spirit and will power. Seema lost one leg as it came under the wheels of a tractor in her native village Fatehpur under Khaira block two years ago. During the treatment doctors suggested that she may die if her injured leg would not be cut. Her parents agreed on it and the doctors chopped her left leg. Despite losing her one leg, Seema did not lost hope. She used to go to school. She uses long jump technique to travel the distance of 1 km from her home to school and that too with a school bag on her back. "I want to study and become a teacher so that I could teach the next generation students," Seema, a class 4 student says. "My father and mother are not literate. They are labourers. My father is a migrant labourer while mother is staying in the village and working in a brick kiln," Seema says. Her mother Beby Devi says: "When she lost her one leg in a road mishap, she was staying at home. As other students used to go to school, she often insisted that she also wanted to go to school for study. Due to her obstinacy, we got her admitted to the government school of the village. Now, she used to do every work including wearing school dress, arranging books in the school bag, putting it on the back and reaching school on her own. She never takes help from any person to reach school." A video of Seema went viral on social media where she is moving step by step forward through one leg to reach the school. Following the video, Jamui district magistrate Awanish Kumar and other senior officials went to Fatehpur village on Wednesday and gave her a tri-cycle. The officials are also mulling to arrange an artificial leg for her. Ashok Chaudhary, Bihar Building Construction Minister, tweeted: "Seema will study and she will also walk." Shimla, May 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a "mega" rally in Shimla on May 31, Himachal Pradesh BJP chief Suresh Kashyap said while elaborating that the rally is being organised to mark 8 years of BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. The BJP-led government at Centre will complete its 8 years on May 30. The state BJP president participated in a meeting to discuss the preparations in this regard. "The tenure of our Central government under the leadership of Narendra Modi has been historic. BJP has given a strong, transparent and corruption free government to the people of India," Kashyap asserted. The rally will be held at the historic Ridge Maidan (ground). Kashyap said that the Prime Minister will address 17 lakh beneficiaries of various government sponsored schmes across the country from the Ridge Maidan in Shimla. "This public meeting will be historic and Himachal Pradesh considers itself lucky to host the event." He said that the party will make this programme grand and over 50,000 people of Shimla parliamentary constituency will participate in it. With Himachal Assembly elections drawing nearer, a public meeting by Modi in Shimla will boost the morale of the party workers. Giving information about the Prime Minister's visit to Shimla, Kashyap said that a road show will start from Shimla's CTO and will end at Ridge Maidan, where Prime Minister Modi will interact with the general public and workers. Ministers Suresh Bhardwaj, Rajiv Sehjal, Vikram Thakur, Ram Lal Markandeya, Sukhram Chaudhary, MLAs Jitram Katwal, Balbir Verma and state BJP General Secretary Trilok Jamwal were present in the meeting. Moscow, May 26 : Russia has said that it is closely monitoring hostile activities of Japan and reserves the right to strengthen its defence capability in response. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova made the remarks in a statement commenting on Japan's "so-called" protest against the joint strategic air patrol by Chinese and Russian air forces on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported. Cooperation between the Russian and Chinese militaries is an important part of the bilateral ties, and the regular joint air patrols have demonstrated the high level of mutual trust and interaction between the two armed forces, she said. These patrols were held in strict accordance with the norms of international law and fully met the objectives of strengthening peace, stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region and in the world as a whole, she added. Zakharova criticised Tokyo for clinging to these already traditional training events, distorting their goals and content, and wrongly linking them with Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. The diplomat dismissed Japan's so-called protest as "groundless and absurd." Zakharova stressed that the Japanese government is accelerating the build-up of military-political cooperation with the United States and non-regional outsiders from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and conducting joint military exercises of unprecedented scale near the Russian borders. Japan is seeking to connect to the Australia-UK-US (AUKUS) trilateral security partnership, studying the prospects for deploying US medium- and shorter-range missiles on its territory, and taking other provocative actions that pose a serious challenge and potential threat to Russia's security in the Far East, she added. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Mumbai, May 26 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) swooped on the homes and offices of Shiv Sena leader and Transport Minister Anil D. Parab, here early on Thursday. The ED teams simultaneously reached over half a dozen locations in Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Pune, including Parab's official bungalow here and carried out searches. The action follows a complaint lodged by the agency in an alleged money-laundering case against Parab. Parab became the second sitting Minister of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government who has been targetted by central probe agencies. Earlier in February, Nationalist Congress Party Minister Nawab Malik had also been raided and is currently in jail. Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party former MP Kirit Somaiya, who had predicted the ED actions, said this is only the beginning and many more persons shall be in the net. Kalaburagi : , May 26 (IANS) Security has been beefed up in Karnataka's Kalaburagi district on Thursday after the murder of 25-year-old Hindu youth, who was in love with a woman of a different faith. The deceased has been identified as Vijaya Kamble, a resident of Bheema Nagar Layout in Waditown in the district. According to police, Kamble was in love with a woman belonging to another religion and wanted to marry her. The woman's family was opposed to their relationship. According to preliminary reports, Kamble was waylaid near the railway bridge by a gang of miscreants. He was attacked by weapons, stones and bricks. Police said that the deceased had been attacked brutally. Kamble succumbed to profuse bleeding on the spot. The incident took place on Wednesday night and the situation has turned tense in the Wadi town. The police have beefed up security in sensitive and hyper sensitive pockets of the town to avoid any untoward incident. Wadi police have taken up the case for investigation. Bengaluru, May 26 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who is in Davos for the World Economic Forum meet, has extended his trip by a day and will now return on Friday. CM Bommai is will hold talks with business honchos who have evinced interest in investing in the state. Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani and Minister for IT and BT, Higher Education C.N. Ashwath Narayan are also staying back with the chief minister to facilitate the investments. In its official statement, the Karnataka government has claimed that the meet has been fruitful as the state has succeeded in drawing huge investments. The Chief Minister highlighted the two new policies of the state--New R and D Policy and New Employment Policy--as part of its endeavour to make Karnataka the most attractive investment destination. He invited the corporate honchos to participate in the Global Investors' Meet to be held in Bengaluru in November and the Bengaluru Tech Summit. For the first time, the team led by Chief Minister Bommai has inked MoUs with two major companies for a total investment flow of Rs 52,000 crore. "It is proof of strong faith and trust reposed by major companies in Karnataka. It is the biggest investment flow the state proposal the state recorded in the recent past," the statement read. ReNew Power, a leading name in the renewable energy sector signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the state government to invest Rs 50,000 crore. The Chief Minister termed it a "milestone" in the state's Renewable Energy sector. The Lulu Group International has come forward to invest Rs 2,000 crore in Karnataka which will lead to creation of 40,000 jobs in the state. Siemens, Dassault Systems, Nestle, Axis Bank and Nokia have evinced interest in investing in Karnataka. Mega Data Centre will be established by Bharti, Ikea store is being opened in Nagasandra, Bengaluru. Additional Chief Secretary in the department of Industries EV Ramana Reddy, CM's Principal Secretary N Manjunath and Commissioner in the department of Industries Gunjan Krishna are part of the CM's team. Houston, May 26 : The 19 children and two teachers killed earlier this week during the mass shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, have been identified, authorities said. On Tuesday, they were shot and killed inside a fourth grade classroom at Robb Elementary School, just two days before the summer break, Xinhua news agency quoted Chris Olivarez, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, as saying to reporters on Wednesday. Another 17 people were injured in the shooting and their injuries are not life-threatening, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at a news conference on Wednesday. The gunman, a local high school student identified as Salvador Ramos, 18, shared his plan on Facebook minutes before the attack. He was killed by a Border Patrol officer on the scene, Abbott said. Local media reported that Ramos legally purchased two assault rifles and 375 rounds of ammunition from a federally authorised dealer in the Uvalde area last week for his 18th birthday. "It's the first thing he did when he turned 18," Texas State Senator Ronald Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde, told CNN on Wednesday. "(He) had no problem accessing those weapons." A personal background examination revealed a bullied loner with few if any friends and no criminal or known mental health history, said the CNN report. Abbott, who is seeking re-election this year, placed the blame for the Uvalde school shooting on mental health issues. "Anybody who shoots somebody else has a mental health challenge, period. We as a government need to find a way to target that mental health challenge and do something about it," the Governor said at the news conference, doubling down concerns about an 18-year-old's ability to purchase firearms. "This is totally predictable," Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke yelled at the Governor and interrupted the press conference. O'Rourke, who was led away by officers, said Abbott did nothing to solve the problem of easy access to guns that is plaguing communities across Texas and the nation. The Governor "has refused to champion red flag laws... He's refused to support safe-storage laws so young people cannot get their hands on their parents' weapons", O'Rourke said. "Why are we letting this happen in this country? Why is this happening in this state? Year after year, city after city." The Uvalde tragedy is the deadliest shooting at a school since the Sandy Hook massacre in Connecticut in 2012 that left 26 people dead, including 20 children between 6 and 7 years old. The shooting once again demonstrates that gun violence, a deep-rooted problem in the US, is worsening, local analysts say. "By doing nothing to prevent gun violence, (our) nation chooses this pain," an editorial published by the San Antonio Express-News said. As of Tuesday, over 31,300 people had died or been injured due to gun-related incidents in the US this year, according to a database run by the nonprofit research group Gun Violence Archive. Including the Uvalde tragedy, there have been at least 40 shootings in schools, colleges and universities in the US so far this year, resulting in at least 31 deaths and more than 50 injuries. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Chennai, May 26 : Indian boy wonder Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa found the going tough and lost the first match in the two-round, two-day final against China's Ding Liren in the Chessable Masters, going down 2.51.5 on the opening day of the summit clash of the fourth leg of the Champions Chess Tour. In the four-game encounter, Pragg lost the first, came back strongly to win the second but succumbed to pressure in the third. The Chinese managed to steer the fourth game to a draw to take the opening encounter. The final of the Chessable Masters started with Ding Liren giving 16-year-old Pragg a tough test just hours after the talented youngster sat a real-life school exam, his class XI final exams. The Chinese star showed exactly why he is ranked world number 2 with a cool and classy display to take the first of two matches of the Champions Chess Tour's first all-Asian final. Praggnanandhaa will now have to win the second match on Thursday night to drag the matter into the tie-breaks to decide the winner of the online rapid chess tournament. Pragg started the final on a disappointing note as Ding reeled off a smooth win. For the Indian Grandmaster, it was hard to see where he went wrong. Just a cumulation of small mistakes was enough for Ding to take the lead. But Pragg came back hard in the second as two extra pawns in the endgame proved too much for his opponent, who resigned. Then Pragg crumbled again in the third as Ding went 2-1 up. Ding clinched the encounter by forcing through a pawn in the endgame. Finally, Ding steered the fourth game to a draw to see out the match-win. However, there was no big celebration or show of relief after Ding's win. "It was a tough match, I'm very happy with my performance," the 29-year-old said. "My strategy is to avoid any complicated lines and any long or forced lines!" Giving an update on his school exam earlier in the day, Pragg said: "It went decent, it went well, I could say. Probably it shouldn't be a problem. I guess I will pass," Pragg was quoted as saying by the organisers of the Champions Chess Tour, Play Magnus Group. The second encounter in the final may prove tougher than the school exam and Pragg will now have to play at his best to get the better of the Chinese player. He will be better rested than on Wednesday as he would not have any school exams to deal with on Thursday morning. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Thiruvananthapuram, May 26 : Former MLA P.C.George was on Thursday morning remanded to 14 days judicial custody by a local court here in connection with a hate speech. The arrest of George, one of the most controversial politicians of the state, was preceded by more than three weeks of political drama. On May 1, he was first arrested from his house at Poonjar in Kottayam district and brought to the state capital and released on bail the same day. A few days later after getting bail, during an election rally in Thrikkakara in Kochi, George again resorted to a hate speech attacking the minority community. Soon, a fresh case was registered and again he approached the court for bail and on Wednesday when he was travelling to Kochi to present himself before the Kochi police in connection with the matter, it was learnt that his bail given on May 1 has been cancelled by a court in the state capital. After recording his statement in the case registered in Kochi, the police team arrested the former seven-time legislator Thursday and brought him here. He was produced before the local court this morning which remanded him to a 14-day judicial custody. Just before being taken to the Central Jail, he told media that all this is a joke. "I really don't know what's happening," said George. Reacting sharply to his arrest, state BJP president K.Surendran who has been strongly defending George, called it a part of the pre-written script as the Thrikkakara bypoll is just a few days away. "This is nothing but a drama as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had assured to some that George will be arrested before the by-election. George has become a victim of appeasement politics," alleged Surendran. Meanwhile, George's bail plea will come up for hearing in the High Court, later in the day. If the verdict is not in his favour, he will have to be in jail for a longer time. The world will experience 1.5 medium to large-scale disasters every day through the end of the decade, unless countries ramp up action on prevention and risk reduction, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said in Bali, Indonesia, on Wednesday. Ms. Mohammed was speaking at the opening of the Seventh Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction - the first international forum on the issue since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic - bringing together governments, the UN and key stakeholders. During the three-day meeting, participants will take stock of implementation of a 2015 agreement known as the Sendai Framework, which aims to protect development gains from the risk of disaster. Resilient future The UN deputy chief told participants that the world is looking to the forum for leadership, wisdom, and expertise. "The decisions you take can play a significant part in preventing another calamity like the COVID-19 pandemic," she said. "We can - and we must - put our efforts firmly behind prevention and risk reduction, and build a safe, sustainable, resilient and equitable future for all." Disasters are already hampering global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Lessons from COVID-19 Stressing the need for urgency, Ms. Mohammed outlined four areas for action, starting with learning from the pandemic. "We must secure better coherence and implementation of the humanitarian development nexus. That means improving risk governance. Because despite our efforts, risk creation is outpacing risk reduction," she said. Ms. Mohammed noted that currently, there are no governance frameworks in place to manage risks and to mitigate their impact. She said the UN's 2022 Global Assessment Report, published last month, outlines ways in which governance systems can evolve to better address systemic risks. The report "makes clear that in a world of uncertainty, understanding and reducing risk, is fundamental to achieving sustainable development", she added. Invest in data For her second point, Ms. Mohammed emphasized the importance of investing in stronger data capabilities. She pointed to "new multilateral instruments" in this area, such as the UN's Complex Risk Analytics Fund, which supports "data ecosystems" that can better anticipate, prevent, and respond to complex threats, before they turn into full-blown disasters "This includes jointly developing risk analysis, and investing in coordination and data infrastructure that enables knowledge-sharing and joint anticipatory action. Such investments will us help us navigate complex risks earlier, faster, and in a more targeted and efficient manner," she said. Support vulnerable countries As the world's Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States suffer disproportionately during disasters, her third point centred on giving greater focus to them. Disasters in these countries can wipe out decades of development progress and economic growth, she said, with very serious long-term economic and social consequences. "We urgently need to step up international cooperation for prevention and disaster risk reduction in the most vulnerable countries and for the most vulnerable communities, including women and girls, people with disabilities, the poor, marginalized and isolated," she said. Early warning saves lives Ms. Mohammed listed the provision of Early Warning Systems as one example of an effective measure that provides a considerable return on investment. She said the UN Secretary-General has asked the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to present an action plan at the next UN Climate Conference (COP27), to be held in Egypt in November, aimed at ensuring that every person on earth is covered by Early Warning Systems within five years. For her final point, Ms. Mohammed called for the public and financial sectors to be "risk proofed", stating that "we need to 'think resilience', account for the real cost of disasters and incentivize risk reduction, to stop the spiral of disaster losses." Governments also need to factor disaster risk reduction into financial frameworks, while "alternative measurements, beyond Gross Domestic Product, should take account of disaster risk and resilience." Resilience 'must be our mantra': Shahid The President of the UN General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, said that one overriding lesson of COVID and the climate crisis, was that those who are furthest behind, and who suffer the most are "far to often, wiped away by whatever crisis comes their way." "Our recovery from the pandemic must reflect this knowledge. Resilience, must be our mantra", he said. "Every new building, every new social programme, every budget and every initiative must be designed and executed in a way that reduces risk. It must be embedded into everything we do, from the very beginning, and cross-checked at each step of the way. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines International Organisations Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "And the importance, no, the necessity, of this will only increase." Mr. Shahid said the requirement now, was for a "transformative recovery" that makes up for gaps in economic, social, and environmental policies, and over production and consumption. "Everything about the way we live on this planet, must now be seen through a precautionary lens, ever mindful of the volatility that exists, and laser focused on covering gaps and strengthening defences. Such a recovery, he said, "requires more than policy, it requires whole-of-society ownership." Seize the moment The Seventh Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction was organized by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and is being hosted by the Government of Indonesia. President Joko Widodo said his country is highly prone to disasters. "In 2022, as of May 23, 1,300 disasters have taken place, and in a month, on average, 500 earthquakes happened," he said. "Therefore, at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, today, the government of Indonesia offers to the world the concept of resilience as a solution to mitigate all forms of disasters, including pandemics." President Widodo also called on all nations to "commit and be serious" in implementing the Sendai Framework. Mumbai, May 26 : Bollywood actor Satish Kaushik shared a post on social media accusing private airline Go First of using dubious means to earn money from passengers. He talked about a recent bad experience where he paid extra money for a particular seat but the airline allegedly still sold that seat to someone else. Satish posted on Twitter on Wednesday morning about paying Rs 25,000 for a middle seat on a Go First flight from Mumbai to Dehradun. He later found out that the same seat had been sold to some other passenger. The actor wrote, "It is very very sad that @GoFirstairways has to use dubious ways to earn money from passengers. My office booked two seats (Satish Kaushik/Ajay Rai) in the first row with middle seat also and paid 25K in G8 2315 from Mum-Dehradun on 23rd June. But alas they sold the middle seat to another passenger inspite of my office paying for it." He added that members of the flight crew tried to help him and were apologetic too. "Mr Zubin from Go First tried to help by telling the other passenger that he will adjust him next flight since the flight was full and there was no seat but that passenger was adamant. After the fellow passenger did not get seat and flight was in hold I decided to offer the seat to him. "Zubin and air hostesses who were aghast at the mistake of their own organisation thanked me. Air hostess told me that I will mail her airline office about this unfortunate glitch from their side and give you an apology. Zubin told me that I will inform the office get refund the money for that seat. "I told Zubin that it will never happen and as I thought that actually happened. Zubin my office is contacting the customer care and they are saying what I expected, NO REFUND." The actor asked the airline and accused them of harassing passengers, questioning their practices. "Is it right?? Is this the way to earn extra money by harassing a passenger? It is not about getting refund but it is about voicing your grievance," his note further read. He concluded by adding, "I could have hold the flight but my goodness and holding the passengers for more hours after three hours of torturous delay did not allow me to do that. Good luck #GoFirstairways." Go First responded to the thread: "Dear Satish, we thank you for reaching out to us and we regret any inconvenience caused. You will positively hear from our office soon." Reacting to the incident, a Go First spokesperson said in a statement, "We truly regret the inconvenience caused to Mr. Satish Kaushik regarding the middle seat - Go More - on flight 'G8 2315'. "We are terribly disappointed by what occurred on his journey and believe that such mistakes should not be condoned, and that no consumer should ever be put through such an ordeal." "Go First immediately contacted and apologised to Mr Satish Kaushik as well as offered a refund, which is presently being processed," their spokesperson said. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Islamabad, May 26 : PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday gave a six-day ultimatum to the incumbent government to announce an election and dissolve Assemblies, indicating an end to his partys 'Azadi March'. The PTI chairman was off to his Bani Gala residence after addressing the participants of the 'Azadi March' at Jinnah Avenue, leaving behind his supporters who marched for hours in anticipation of a major public gathering and sit-in, Geo News reported. The PTI marchers, who were in D-Chowk most of Wednesday night, had by this time entered Islamabad's prohibited Red Zone, which is home to several sensitive buildings, including Supreme Court, PM House, US Embassy. They managed to enter despite heavy security. In his speech at Jinnah Avenue, Khan said he had reached Islamabad after 30 hours of travelLing from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. "The government tried every method to crush our Azadi March. They used teargas on peaceful protests, our homes were raided and our privacy was violated. However, I have seen the nation free itself of (the) fear of slavery," Geo News quoted the former premier as saying. He also claimed that three PTI workers lost their lives in Karachi, while two others were thrown off Ravi Bridge and thousands of others were arrested. Giving a deadline to the government to announce the date for fresh polls in the country, Khan said he is giving the government this time to announce a general election in June. "My message for the imported government is to dissolve assemblies and announce elections, otherwise I will come back again to Islamabad after six days." As Khan's convoy entered Islamabad and started marching towards D-chowk with the large caravan, the federal government called in the army to protect Red Zone According to the notification issued by Interior Ministry, the "Army has been called in to control the situation under article 245 of the Constitution". Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah took to Twitter and confirmed the development. PTI workers threw stones using catapults at the Jang/Geo building located near D-Chowk and shattered the glasses of the newsroom. Due to stone-pelting, several staffers got injured. Also, vans parked near D-chowk were damaged, Geo News reported. Los Angeles, May 26 : Authorities in Southern California are on high alert in the wake of the Texas school massacre that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers earlier this week. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore said in a statement on Wednesday that they are "working closely with the Los Angeles School Police to increase patrols around our schools and common pathways to ensure the safety of our children", reports Xinhua news agency. "Yesterday (Tuesday) the world suffered yet another tragedy in the loss of 19 innocent children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas at the hands of a mass shooter," he said, noting that "we are also working diligently to investigate crimes and behaviors that can lead to future violence". Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva said that his Department's stations "will be closely monitoring and working with our station's school resources officers to ensure the safety of our children". Police departments in some cities in Los Angeles County also issued statements, saying that they will take safe measures, for example, showing a "strong presence" or maintaining "a vigilant posture" around local schools. Arcadia Police Department said in a Facebook post that "although part of our normal patrol duties, APD Officers will be conducting extra patrols at our schools. We will have extra officers out as well". Police authorities in some other Southern California counties also vowed to protect the safety of their cities after the latest mass school shooting in the country. Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes noted in a statement that there were no adequate words to describe Tuesday's elementary school shooting. "While we believe this is an isolated incident, the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center is monitoring the situation, and we will have an increased presence at schools in our jurisdiction," he added. San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department noted in a statement that the agency has monitored the incident from the beginning and will continue to work with its patrol stations, school resource officers, school police departments, and education partners. San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit said that when he heard the news out of Texas, he contacted local law enforcement agencies to make sure they were all on the same page and had their eyes and ears open to possible local threats, NBC 7 San Diego TV station reported. What's equally important, Nisleit was quoted as saying by the news outlet, is making sure civilians know their role in stopping tragic incidents like this one from happening in their community. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, May 26 : In yet another tragic incident involving Ola Electric Scooter, a user has claimed that his Ola S1 Pro's front suspension broke down while riding. On the microblogging site Twitter, Sreenadh Menon requested the company for a replacement of the vehicle. "The front fork is breaking even in small speed driving and it is a serious and dangerous thing we are facing now, we would like to request that we need a replacement or design change on that part and save our life from a road accident due to poor material used," Menon wrote. Many other users too joined him with countless stories of quality issues, breakdowns and poor after-sales experiences on the same thread. "This is a misery that happened to me. The front fork collapsed while hitting a wall at a speed of 25kmph in eco mode along an uphill side," another user wrote. "Similar issue happened to some other customers on the plain road also. Take this as a serious and most urgent problem and resolve it soon," he added. Ola Electric was yet to address the new incident. Meanwhile, recently, a 65-year-old man in Jodhpur suffered serious injuries after the Ola e-scooter unexpectedly went into a reverse mode at full speed. Pallav Maheshwari, who is the son of the victim and returned to India last year and was 'ecstatic' about the country's EV revolution, posted on LinkedIn that his father suffered serious injuries in the incident. Several Ola Electric customers have complained about the reverse mode accelerator glitch in the past. Balwant Singh from Guwahati tweeted last month that his son met with an accident "due to fault in regenerative braking were on a speed breaker instead of slowing, the scooter accelerated, sending so much torque that he had an accident". Ola Electric had said it did a thorough investigation of the accident and the "data clearly shows that the rider was over-speeding throughout the night and that he braked in a panic, thereby losing control of the vehicle. There was nothing wrong with the vehicle". Kolkata, May 26 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Trinamool Congress MLA Saokat Molla in connection to a coal smuggling case in West Bengal. Mollah is the party's sitting MLA from the Canning (East) Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district. He has summoned to appear at the CBI's office in Kolkata on Friday at 11 a.m. CBI sources said that although the coal-belt of Asansol in West Burdwan district was the base of smuggling rackets, the investigating sleuths have recently identified several points where the coal smuggled illegally were sent to different areas in the state. "Now Jeebantala area under Molla's constituency, Canning (East) houses several brick kilns that require huge amount of coal at cheaper rates to successfully operate. We have come across many such brick kilns in Canning (East) which had been getting regular supply of smuggled coal. Our investigators doubt that the local MLA acted as a mediator in this supply and hence he has been summoned for questioning on Friday," a CBI official said on the condition of anonymity. Incidentally Molla's residence is also at the Jeebantala area. Molla has however, denied his involvement, saying: "This is a sheer political conspiracy to frame me." The MLA also said that he was yet to decide about his appearance before the CBI on Friday. Molla is a two-time Trinamool Congress MLA since 2016. Before the change of guards in West Bengal in 2011, Molla was an active member of the erstwhile ruling party CPI(M) and was also considered as the right-hand man of former Land Reforms Minister, Abdur Rezzak Mollah in the previous Left Front regime. After 2011, Molla shifted to Trinamool Congress and became an MLA from Canning East for the first time in 2016. He was re-elected from the same constituency in 2021. New Delhi. May 26: The first Eurasian Economic Forum kicks off in Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek on Thursday as Russia battles unprecedented sanctions amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine which is having much wider ramifications not just in the region but all over the world. The Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which also includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, will be meeting in the backdrop of Moscow vowing to raise cooperation with post-Soviet states located in the region to a "qualitatively new level of allied relations" to counter a wide range of "modern challenges and threats". Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak at the plenary session virtually and share his views on 'Eurasian economic integration in an era of global change - New opportunities for investment activity'. Russian President Vladimir Putin with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko before the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Yerevan in October 2019 Besides Putin, leaders of other EAEU countries, including Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Belarus PM Roman Golovchenko will also be attending the meet. While the heads of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, as well as the Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich will participate in the event in person, the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Belarus will, like Putin, join the discussions via videoconference. Putin will also take part in the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on May 27 which will be chaired by Kyrgyzstan via video conference. "Topical aspects of the activities of the Eurasian Economic Union will be considered, including strategic directions for the development of integration until 2025. It is necessary to approve the guidelines for the macroeconomic policy of the member states of the Union for 2022-2023. It is also meant to discuss the development of trade and economic cooperation between the EAEU and external partners," the Kremlin said in a statement on Wednesday. As Putin prepares for a long haul in Ukraine, Moscow has intensified interaction with leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Last week, leaders of the CSTO member states had gone into a huddle with the Russian President in Moscow to intensify their partnership. At the meeting, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov had batted for a "common approach" to mitigate the consequences of the financial sanctions and prevent the deterioration of the socio-economic situation in the countries of the region. "Our great concern is the sanctions war. The Kyrgyz economy has not yet recovered from the coronavirus pandemic, and the sanctions situation is already threatening food and energy security, macroeconomic stability and social stability, he had said while looking forward to hosting the EAEU bloc meeting in Bishkek. Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus - a key Russia ally - had also stated that the pressure from the West, which according to him is "waging a fierce struggle to maintain its positions", will only increase if it does not encounter a united opposition from the allies and other integrated associations in the post-Soviet space. Also Read: Putin bugles call for collective defence of Eurasia citing NATO's expansion in region On Tuesday, Putin had a telephone conversation with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev where the two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen the Russian-Uzbek strategic partnership and alliance. "The key topics of the bilateral agenda, steps to expand mutually beneficial trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as issues of interaction within the framework of Eurasian integration associations, including taking into account the current chairmanship of Uzbekistan in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, were discussed," said the Russian President's office. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Srinagar, May 26 : A total of 26 foreign terrorists have been killed in different gunfights with the security forces in Kashmir this year so far, including three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists from Pakistan, who were killed in North Kashmir's Kupwara district on Thursday. "From the incriminating materials recovered, the three killed terrorists have been identified as Pakistani, affiliated with terror outfit LeT. So far, 26 foreign terrorists (14 JeM & 12 LeT) have been neutralised this year," Jammu and Kashmir Police quoting Inspector General Police Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar tweeted. Three terrorists were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Jumagund village in North Kashmir's Kupwara district on Thursday. Police said they had a specific input which was later developed by the Kupwara Police regarding an infiltration attempt of terrorists in village Jumagund. Based on this input an encounter started when the infiltrating terrorists were intercepted by Army and the police. As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where the terrorists were hiding they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter. Bhopal, May 26 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday visited the Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Mangubhai Patel. The courtesy meeting came a day after the state government sent an ordinance for direct election of municipal corporation mayors to the Governor for his consent on Wednesday. Notably, the state government had earlier sent the ordinance for an amendment on Madhya Pradesh Municipalities Rules (Amendment) - 2022 to Raj Bhavan on May 14, however, it was withdrawn on May 16. It has said that the ordinance was taken back due to differences within the BJP. However, a week later, the BJP-led state government sent the ordinance to the governor's office again to seek his consent ahead of the panchayats and local body polls, which would be conducted soon. The Shivraj Singh Chouhan government has decided that mayors and chairpersons of municipalities would be elected directly by the electorate. There are as many as 16 municipal corporations, 99 municipalities and 292 town councils in the state. Notably, the erstwhile Kamal Nath-led Congress government had ended the system of direct election of mayors and chairpersons of municipalities and town councils by voters. However, after returning to power, Shivraj's cabinet passed an ordinance on December 9, 2020 to return to the system of direct election of mayors by the electorate. Digvijaya Singh led the Congress government (1993-2003) that introduced the system of direct election of mayors in Madhya Pradesh. Till 1998, the state corporators elected their leader as mayor of municipal corporations after local body elections. After the Supreme Court permitted the state government to conduct local body polls with OBC reservation, the state elections commission (ECS) has started the process of reservation of panchayats and local wards in all districts. Hyderabad, May 26 : Debutant director Sarath Mandava's 'Rama Rao On Duty,' which stars Ravi Teja, has been delayed as the producers have now issued an official statement regarding the postponement of the release date. The film was supposed to be released in theatres on June 17. However, due to post-production delays, the film will be released at a later date. The producers will soon announce a new release date. Billed to be a film which is based on true events, Divyansha Kaushik and Rajisha Vijayan play the female lead roles. In his comeback, actor Venu Thottempudi will play a pivotal role in the film. The soundtrack for the film is composed by Sam CS, while Sathyan Sooryan ISC is the cinematographer, and Praveen KL is the editor. Mumbai, May 26 : Essar Ports Paradip Terminal has recorded 0.8 million metric ton (MMT) of cargo handling for April 2022 that is, a run rate of 9.5 MMT for FY 2022-23 suggesting a growth of 40 per cent on an annualised basis. The terminal has also handled a record cargo of 6.8 MMT during the financial year 2021-22, making it the highest annual cargo handled since its commissioning. The buoyancy in throughput is a mirror of spur in the economy and excellence in operations of Paradip Terminal. It also recorded the highest load rate of 70,000 tonne in a day with an average berth turnaround time score of 1.23 days per vessel. The average throughput in FY 2021-22 stood at 49,500 tonne per day. The terminal has handled 33 MMT of cargo and catered to 556 vessels since its commissioning. Rajiv Agarwal, Operating Partner (Infrastructure), Essar, and Managing Director, Essar Ports, said, "I congratulate the team at Paradip Terminal for achieving the best cargo throughput in spite of the difficult market conditions. The stellar performance is a testimony of our commitment to give a sustainable advantage to our customers and trade. Our all-round performance is a result of our innovative approach, developing state of the art solutions and investment in future-ready technology. All investments in the terminal are a reflection of Essar's Environment, Social and Governance philosophy and an approach that places people before profits." Essar Ports is known to invest in technology, environment-friendly mechanisms and efficient handling systems. The company's Paradip Terminal boasts of a fully mechanised eco-friendly infrastructure that include wagon tipplers, stackers and reclaimers, ship loaders and unloaders. By eliminating non-mechanised handling, the terminal infrastructure delivers performance at efficient costs to its customers. The deeper drafts of the terminal lead to economies of scale and bigger parcels, which in turn helps reduce carbon footprint. Essar Ports falls under the infrastructure and logistics portfolio of Essar Global Fund Limited, which is managed by Essar Capital Limited as its investment manager. The 16 MTPA all-weather deep-draft terminal in Paradip Port is strategically located in the Bay of Bengal in close proximity to China, Japan, Myanmar and the rest of the southeast-Asian region. The terminal also serves the coastal movement for the steel industry within India. Governments must take greater action to ensure school remains a safe place for boys and girls, the head of the UN children's agency, UNICEF, said on Wednesday, following the latest deadly school shooting in the United States. At least 19 children and two teachers were killed on Tuesday when 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos opened fire at Robb Elementary School in the small city of Uvalde, Texas, located near the border with Mexico. How many more? Catherine Russell, UNICEF's Executive Director, said there have already been "horrific attacks" this year on schools in Afghanistan, Ukraine, the US, West Africa and beyond. "Tragedy after tragedy, shooting after shooting, young life after young life: how many more children will die before government leaders act to keep children and their schools safe? Because until they do, these horrors will continue," she said in a statement. Ms. Russell emphasized that outside of their homes, school is the one place where children should feel safest. She noted that in addition to the lives lost, "many more children, teachers and school staff who witnessed the carnage will bear the emotional and psychological scars for the rest of their lives." Shock and sadness UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was deeply shocked and saddened by "the heinous mass shooting", saying it was particularly heart-wrenching that most of the victims are children. Mr. Guterres has extended his heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims and to the entire community, his Spokesperson said in a statement issued on Tuesday. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed expressed her outrage in a post on Twitter. "When children go to school, they should only be concerned about learning," she wrote. "Children should not go to school fearing for their lives!" Ms. Mohammed said her heartfelt prayers are with the families, classmates and teachers who are mourning this "devastating loss". New Delhi, May 26 : The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside the Delhi High Court order, which stayed the investigation into companies related to the Sahara Group and also the look out circulars issued against Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy and his wife. A bench comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Bela M. Trivedi said the high court order was unwarranted and also it passed an extraordinary order staying the investigation. On May 17, the top court had agreed to list a plea by SFIO challenging the Delhi High Court order. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the SFIO, submitted that total money involved is Rs 1 lakh crore and considering layers and layers of companies involved, the probe could not be completed in three months and it took more time. Mehta said: "We issued a look out circular so that they do not flee the country..." A plea by Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) said: "The petitioner SFIO has filed the captioned petition against the final judgement of the Delhi High Court dated December 13, 2021, whereby the high court erroneously granted interim relief to respondents 1 to 3 by staying the operation, implementation, and execution of the investigation orders dated October 31, 2018 and October 27, 2020 passed by the Central government and stayed all subsequent actions and proceedings initiated pursuant thereof including coercive proceedings and look out notices issued against the respondents." After hearing arguments, the top court said the Delhi High Court was not correct in staying the investigation at interim stage. "We allow appeals and set aside the high court order on stay...," said the bench. The SFIO, a statutory corporate fraud investigating agency, moved the top court against the December 13, 2021 Delhi High Court order. "It is submitted by way of the order, all actions and proceedings undertaken under the orders dated October 31, 2018 and October 27, 2020, passed by the central government have been stayed which seriously prejudice the ongoing investigations and proceedings which necessitated urgent listing of the captioned petitions," added the SFIO's plea. It further added that high court order was passed by ignoring the material facts available on record, and sought stay on high court order. The high court had observed that petitioners Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Ltd and others have made out a prima facie case for the grant of interim relief. It further added that the balance of convenience was also in their favour, and irreparable loss would be caused to them, if interim relief is not granted. The high court had asked the central government to file its response to the petition. The petitioners -- Sahara firm and others -- had submitted before the high court that the first order was passed on October 31, 2018, for investigation into the affairs of three companies -- Sahara Q Shop Unique Products Range Ltd, Sahara Q Gold Mart Ltd, and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Ltd. The petitioners further contended that perusal of the October 27, 2020 revealed that no reason was assigned, why it was necessary to begin an investigation against the six companies. These companies are: Aamby Valley Ltd, Qing Amby City Developers Corporation Ltd, Sahara India Commercial Corporation Ltd, Sahara Prime City Ltd, Sahara India Financial Corporation Ltd and Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Ltd. New Delhi, May 26 : Pakistan has been exposed of its involvement in carrying out terror activities in India with the conviction of Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by an NIA Court here for waging war against India, according to Ajmer Dargah's spiritual head. "The real face of Pakistan is being exposed in front of the world, how Pakistan does terrorist funding in India through people like Yasin Malik, by provoking terrorism in India," Spiritual Head of the Shrine & Hereditary Sajjadanashin of Ajmer Dargah, Dewan Syed Zainul Abedin Ali Kha Sahab said. He further said the terror activities done by Pakistan are now in front of the world as they funded the Kashmiri separatist to carry out terror incidents in Kashmir and snatching books from innocent Kashmiris and forcefully putting guns in their hands and making them terrorists. Malik, 56, was sentenced to life on Wednesday by a special NIA court in Delhi. He may not even challenge the sentencing in higher courts as he himself pleaded guilty. During the previous hearing, Malik told the court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him which means he will spend the rest of his life in jail. "Yasin Malik is being punished for his crimes after going through a complete judicial process", the Dargah head said. He also said that the judicial system of India once again proved its wisdom, independence and transparent image which is always hailed by the entire world. Los Angeles, May 26 : Supermodel Kate Moss appeared at Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's $100 million defamation lawsuit via video link to deny rumours that her ex-boyfriend had pushed her down the stairs. Heard, 36, previously referenced the model during the ongoing court case, when she discussed an alleged altercation between Depp and her sister, Whitney Henriquez, saying: "(Whitney's) back was to the staircase, and Johnny swings at her. I don't hesitate, I don't wait - I just, in my head, instantly think of Kate Moss and stairs." When asked in court by Benjamin Chew, a member of Depp's legal team, if the 58-year-old Hollywood actor had ever pushed her down the stairs while they were dating, Moss replied: "No, he never pushed me, kicked me or pushed me down any stairs." She told the court how during a holiday in Jamaica with Depp he had picked her up and "got (her) medical attention" after she had fallen down some stairs. She explained: "We were leaving the room and Johnny left the room before I did. There had been a rainstorm and as I left the room I slid down the stairs. I hurt my back. And I screamed because I didn't know what had happened to me and I was in pain. He came running back to help me, carried me to my room and got me medical attention." Moss, who gave evidence in less than five minutes, was not cross-examined by Heard's team. Heard first made the allegation during her testimony in the UK in 2020. She said at the time: "I remembered information I had heard [that] he pushed a former girlfriend - I believe it was Kate Moss - down the stairs. I had heard this rumour from two people and it was fresh in my mind." But Depp's legal team were seen pumping their fists when she first mentioned Moss' name during the ongoing defamation case in Fairfax, Virginia. The reference gave them the opportunity to call the model as an impeachment witness to disprove the allegation. Moss previously shared it took her years to overcome the heartache of her split from Depp. She said: "There's nobody that's ever really been able to take care of me. Johnny did for a bit. I believed what he said. Like if I said, 'What do I do?', he'd tell me. And that's what I missed when I left. I really lost that gauge of somebody I could trust." The explosive court case has been taking place over the last few weeks after Depp sued his ex-wife Heard for $50 million over a 2018 op-ed in which she recalled being a victim of domestic abuse. New Delhi, May 26 : Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Prahlad Singh Patel on Thursday said that the Centre will encourage and promote not just the production of millets but also processed millet products for the global market. "Next year, i.e. 2023, is the International Year of Millets. India produces 40 per cent of world's millets. Our government has made tremendous efforts to promote millets and not just for production but also for processed millet foods for supplying to international markets," Patel told mediapersons. Patel was speaking on the sidelines of the first Plant-Based Foods Summit organised by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Agriculture & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), and Plant Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA). In his speech, he batted for millets and spoke of the parameters and enabling factors by APEDA for millets and plant-based food and such processed food. "Our Ministry has been allotted over Rs 10,000 crore for promotion of this kind of food. The only condition is that the company should be Indian," Patel said, and gave example of several traditional Indian food items that just "need to be validated by scientific documentation of traditional practices". "India has traditionally been a supporter of plant-based food. It has been our strength," the Minister said and assured support for the plant-based industry. Sanjay Sethi, Exective Director of PBFIA, appealed to the animal-based food industry "to not look at us as competitors but rather as a younger brother" and also suggested hand-holding for the nascent industry. With sustainability and human health as key driving forces behind the activities of the Association, the foremost aim of PBFIA is to make plant-based foods mainstream while providing new avenues for economic growth. Inoshi Sharma, Executive Director, FSSAI, pointed to the increasing disconnect with India's traditional food items, which is evident much more in urban areas. "If I say, I am eating roti and baingan bharta, I am looked down upon. But the moment I say, I am having baba ganoush and pita bread, I am cool. Why are we going away from our own food?" Sharma also assured full support from FSSAI. Rachel Dreskin, CEO, Plant Based Food Association, US, drew attention to the main reasons for promoting plant-based food: environmental benefit vis-a-vis reduction of green house gases; human health and social justice. The event also saw the launch of a pertinent report, 'The Dawn of a Plant-Based Age: India to Lead the Way to World Food Security and Nutrition'. Latest updates on Global Food Crisis -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Gandhinagar, May 26 : Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener and former Gujarat Congress working president, Hardik Patel is under attack from his one time associates and fan followers. They have also accused him of indulging in corruption. Hardik is not reachable for comment. The latest allegation has been made by Hardik Patel's one time associate Bhavesh Somani from Bhavnagar, who said that he had hurled 'Chappal' on Hardik Patel's instruction on the then Union Minister of State Mansukh Mandaviya. Somani has also levelled serious allegations of corruption against Hardik Patel. He said that Hardik took Rs 23 lakh bribe to give ticket for the Gariyadhar assembly constituency election in 2017. "Rs 10 lakh cash was delivered to his father Bharatbhai at his Ahmedabad flat and the rest was paid through Angadia services in two instalments," Somani said. Hardik Patel is tight-lipped on the issue. When IANS contacted him over phone and through text message, he did not respond. While Hardik is cornered with various allegations, his one time associate Vandana Patel has come out in his support. She has appealed Patidars and PAAS workers to stop making allegations against Hardik Patel in public. She cited the unwritten rule of the tribal community, where no one makes allegations against their leaders if they switch sides. She said Ashwin Kotawal and Keval Joshiyara joined BJP, but the tribal community did not criticise them. "These allegations can't be termed baseless," said Rajendrasinh Gohil, president of the Bhavnagar District Congress Committee. Gohil said, "I know Bhavesh Somani was one of the trustworthy and confidant of Hardik Patel in Bhavnagar. I have heard about him demanding money to organise Hardik's public meeting in Bhavnagar district, in the run up to the elections. Gariadhar Congress candidate Paresh Kheni was a party worker as well as the PAAS worker too." People will question and make such allegations, argues Dhanji Patidar, PAAS worker from Unava in the Mehsana district, and said, "why is Hardik Patel not disclosing his family's annual income before and after he headed PAAS movement. What is his source of income? Does he do a job anywhere? Does he have investment in any industry? How is he meeting his expenses and living a lavish lifestyle?" "Once a Patidar leader joins politics, such allegations will keep cropping up," said Varun Patel, PAAS convener and now BJP leader, on specific corruption allegations against Hardik Patel. He said, "It is difficult to either call it baseless or true, but one thing is sure, where there is a smoke, there is a fire." New Delhi, May 26 : Kashmiri Separatist leader Yasin Malik, who wanted Jammu and Kashmir to be a 'separate' territory, will now spend the rest of his life, all alone, 'separated' from the rest of the world at Jail No. 7 of the Tihar Prison. Malik, 56, was sentenced to life on Wednesday by a special NIA court in Delhi. During the previous hearing, Malik told the Court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him. He may not even challenge the sentencing in higher courts as he has himself pleaded guilty which means by all means, Malik will spend the rest of his life in Jail. But the catch is, Malik will not be just separated from the outside world, he is even kept alone inside the prison, away from nearly 13,000 prisoners. "He is already in jail no.7 and will continue there presently. He is alone in his cell," Director General (Prisons), Sandeep Goyal, told IANS. The Tihar prison's Jail Number 7 has been always in the limelight as it has housed several high-profile prisoners, including former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, former Union Minister A. Raja, Sahara head Subrata Roy, Christian Michel among several others. On October 12, as many as 32 Tihar Jail officials were found complicit with the former Unitech promoters. It was alleged that the Chandra brothers, Ajay Chandra and Sanjay Chandra, were conducting business from inside the Tihar Jail in connivance with the prison staff. Interestingly, all the said 32 jail officials were posted in Tihar's jail number 7. The Court in its Wednesday's sentencing had awarded two life sentences and five punishments of 10 years of 'Rigorous Imprisonment' each to the convict. Rigorous imprisonment means confinement of the offender in a manner that increases the hardship of the jail term based upon the nature of the offence by subjecting the offender to special arrangements in the jail. However, despite court orders, Malik will not be given any work inside the prison. "He won't be assigned work at all due to security reasons," the top prison official said, adding the work is assigned subject to security concerns and the decision is taken as per jail rules. As per the jail conduct report of Yasin Malik, his conduct has been satisfactory inside the jail. The jail records depict that no jail punishment has been recorded against him. "Regarding the convict's inclination towards reformation, it is submitted that during his incarceration, behaviour of convict towards co-inmates as well as jail administration has remained cordial and peaceful. Convict seems to be inclined towards reformation," the sentence order read. Meanwhile, sources said that Tihar authorities have enhanced security arrangements outside Malik's ward in Jail No 7. "He will be kept under maximum security cover," sources said. They also infomed that the convicted terrorist will always be under the watch through CCTV cameras.( Ujwal Jalali can be reached at ujwal.j@ians.in) Chennai, May 26 : Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police, Shankar Jiwal has said that the names of the directors of 'Junior Vikatan' bi-weekly will be removed from the First Information Report in the case related to blackmailing a realtor company. Shankar Jiwal in a statement on early Thursday said that there was no basis for arraigning the directors of Junior Vikatan, Mariadoss, and Suvakku Sankar. The police commissioner, however, said that there was evidence of transactions between some staff members of the bi-weekly with the prime accused, Kevin who was arrested on charges of blackmailing a realty firm. Chennai Commissioner in the statement said that probe is on to find out whether these transactions between some members of the bi-weekly Junior Vikatan and Kevin were part of the blackmailing episode. It may be noted that on Tuesday, journalists of Chennai had conducted a massive protest against the naming of the directors of the bi-weekly in an arbitrary manner. The editorial staff of the magazine was also made accused in the case. A real estate firm had raised a complaint that Kevin, a YouTuber claiming proximity to the bi-weekly had demanded Rs 50 lakh as a bribe from the firm and threatened that defamatory reports would be published against the real estate company if bribe was not paid. New Delhi, May 26 : A court here on Thursday reserved the quantum of sentence to former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, who was convicted in a disproportionate assets case. After the submissions of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court is set to pronounce the order on Friday. In the course of the hearing, the probe agency opposed Chautala's lawyer who argued for a concession on medical grounds for the 87-year-old politician. Instead, the Central agency argued for maximum punishment, pointing out that the convict is a public figure. If the punishment is less for him, it would send a wrong message to society. It was also argued that Chautala is convicted for the second time and does not have a clean image. On May 19, the court had reserved its verdict in this case. As per the charge sheet filed by the CBI, Chautala is responsible for amassing assets worth Rs 6.09 crore (disproportionate to his legitimate source of income) between 1993 and 2006. In May 2019, the Enforcement Directorate had attached over Rs 3.6 crore worth of properties of the former Chief Minister located in New Delhi, Panchkula, and Sirsa. Chautala was also convicted in the JBT scam in January 2013. In 2008, Chautala and 53 others were charged in connection with the appointment of 3,206 junior basic trained teachers in Haryana from 1999 to 2000. In January 2013, a court sentenced Om Prakash Chautala and his son Ajay Singh Chautala to ten years imprisonment under various provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. Chautala was found guilty of illegally recruiting over 3,000 unqualified teachers. Out on parole, Chautala was released from Tihar Jail on July 2, 2021 from a 10-year prison sentence after completing due formalities. He was the Chief Minister of Haryana four times between 1989 to 2005. His grandson Dushyant Chautala is the Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana. Dakshina Kannada : , May 26 (IANS) The Karnataka Police department has said that they will not allow any disturbance in the law and order situation over the Malali Masjid row in Dakshina Kannada region. Additional DGP (Law and Order) Alok Kumar stated on Thursday that no room for disturbance would be given in the region in the backdrop of the row that surfaced following the finding of temple structure during the renovation of the mosque. "The matter of Malali mosque is in the court. The court has ordered status quo till June 3. Necessary steps have been taken to ensure peace in the region," he said. "Mangaluru is a sensitive place. The elections are going to take place next year. Necessary action would be taken to ensure peace by holding meetings with officials," he said. "There is a spurt in the number of crimes related to social media in the region. Mangaluru police have initiated action in this regard," he said. The row took a political turn after former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy ridiculed the Hindu activists' attempt to ascertain the history of Malali Masjid through 'Tamboola Prashne', a traditional religious method to ascertain the history of the temple. "All decisions will be taken at Keshva Krupa (RSS headquarters in Bengaluru). These persons will follow instructions from there. There is no future for the country and there is possibility of disturbance of peace and harmony in the state," Kumaraswamy stated. BJP MLA Bharat Shetty slammed Kumaraswamy and said, "Kumaraswamy, who conducts 'yagnas' and 'homas', will question the practice of 'Tamboola Prashne'...We know what questions he asks the Kerala priests," he said. Meanwhile, during 'Tamboola Prashne', the priest has confirmed the existence of the temple before the mosque and also talked about resolving the matter amicably. After ascertaining facts through religious methods, the Hindu activists have decided to take up a legal course of action for reclaiming the mosque. The Hindu activists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal have decided to ascertain the truth about the mosque in the form of traditional way by posing "Tambula Prashne" before the priests on Wednesday. Temple structure was found on April 21 during the renovation of Malali mosque, stirring up a controversy. Following the controversy, the court had ordered the mosque management to stop the work. Washington, May 26 : David Malpass, chief of the World Bank. has warned that Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine could cause a global recession as the price of food, energy and fertiliser jump. He made the remarks while addressing a US business event on Wednesday, the BBC reported. "As we look at the global GDP, it's hard right now to see how we avoid a recession... The idea of energy prices doubling is enough to trigger a recession by itself," he said in the latest warning over the rising risk that the world economy may be set to contract. Last month, the World Bank cut its global economic growth forecast for this year by almost a full percentage point, to 3.2 per cent. Malpass also said that many European countries were still too dependent on Russia for oil and gas. That's even as Western nations push ahead with plans to reduce their dependence on Russian energy. He also told a virtual event organised by the US Chamber of Commerce that moves by Russia to cut gas supplies could cause a "substantial slowdown" in the region. He said higher energy prices were already weighing on Germany, which is the biggest economy in Europe and the fourth largest in the world, the BBC reported. Developing countries are also being affected by shortages of fertiliser, food and energy, the World Bank head added. Malpass also raised concerns about lockdowns in some of China's major cities. including the financial, manufacturing and shipping hub of Shanghai, which he said are "still having ramifications or slowdown impacts on the world". "China was already going through some contraction of real estate, so the forecast of China's growth before Russia's invasion had already softened substantially for 2022," he said. "Then the waves of Covid caused lockdowns which further reduced growth expectations for China." Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The Kuje attackers claimed Mr Kyari prosecuted them despite taking bribes from them. Prison officials are considering moving suspended police officer Abba Kyari to the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) from the Kuje prison after he nearly got murdered by aggrieved inmates, who accused him of insincerity in bribe-for-release deals when he was in active service. According to internal documents and officials accessed by PREMIUM TIMES, the attack happened on May 4, months after Mr Kyari, who is on trial for drug-related offences, was remanded. His attackers were about 190, an official said, and they are mostly in prison for drug offences. Mr Kyari, 47, a deputy commissioner of police, was a decorated cop and head of the elite Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector-General Police before his fall. First, he was suspended from police duties after being named last July by American investigators as an accomplice in the international fraud and money laundering scheme of Ramon Abbas, popularly called Hushpuppi. Then, while on suspension and awaiting the outcome of an internal probe, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in February accused him of involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The agency released a video in which Mr Kyari appeared to be describing his use of his team to push drugs and discussing sharing of a criminal fortune. He was charged to court in March and remanded in Kuje prison. "Dodgy" bribe-taking cop The Kuje attackers claimed Mr Kyari prosecuted them despite taking bribes from them, our sources said. One of the sources, a state investigator and intelligence officer, described Mr Kyari as a "dodgy criminal." Mr Kyari has not been convicted of any crime and has said he is innocent of the allegations for which he has been charged. Quoting the inmates, our sources said Mr Kyari was "eliminating smaller (drug) dealers to clear the field for Afam Ukatu," a suspected billionaire drug baron allegedly behind N3 billion Tramadol deal linked to Mr Kyari. "Inmates claimed that upon arrest, Abba Kyari demanded bribes to kill the case, then still prosecuted them," a Kuje prison source who accessed the testimonies of the aggrieved inmates, said. The spokesperson for the Nigerian Correction Service, Francis Enobore, denied the attack on Mr Kyari. But PREMIUM TIMES confirmed the attack from officials with direct knowledge of it and the service's internal documents. Settlement According to our sources, Mr Kyari was rescued by officials and has since been kept in an isolated cell "under heavy protection where no one sees him for fear of attack or poisoning." To 'buy' his safety, Mr Kyari had to pay each of the aggrieved inmates N200,000 'in initial settlement fees' and then 'procured DSTV subscription for cells to buy loyalty and peace,' one source said. However, Mr Enobore, who speaks for the correctional service, said, "I am not aware Abba Kyari paid anybody to secure his safety in prison." Mr Kyari is alleged to have amassed wealth far in excess of his fair earnings by inverting his role as a law enforcement officer and involving in illicit activities. In April, NDLEA said they marked properties in Borno, Kano, Lagos, and Abuja 'linked' to the disgraced officer. Still threatening to kill Despite the 'settlements' the aggrieved inmates have continued to threaten Mr Kyari's life, our sources said. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Legal Affairs Nigeria By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "Regardless of the level of protection, they vowed to get him," a source said. "The inmates have given him an ultimatum to return all he extorted from them or be killed." "Relevant officials have assessed that he will be killed or badly injured if he continues to be remanded in Kuje." An official recommendation has therefore been made that Mr Kyari should be transferred out of Kuje to an SSS facility, PREMIUM TIMES can report. The SSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, did not answer calls, nor did he reply to a text requesting he comment on this report. Meanwhile, prison sources described Mr Kyari's life in Kuje. "So far, he has every relevant officer on his payroll. They do his bidding, he sees his wife, and he has access to mobile devices and marabouts," one source said. New Delhi, May 26 : The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has handed over the case of arrest of four Khalistani terrorists in Karnal to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), officials said here on Thursday. The NIA registered a fresh case against the four terrorists and also named another terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda who is said to be hiding in Pakistan. On May 5, the Haryana Police arrested four Khalistani terrorists who have links with proscribed organisation Babbar Khalsa International. Arms and ammunition and explosives were recovered from their possession. These Punjab-based gangsters were arrested by the Haryana Police at a toll plaza in Haryana's Karnal. The four gangsters were reportedly on their way to Telangana to deliver the explosives and arms when they were arrested after inputs from the Intelligence Bureau and Punjab Police. One pistol, 30 cartridges, three IEDs weighing 2.5 kg each and Rs 1.3 lakh cash is was recovered from the vehicle that bore a Delhi registration number. Bengaluru, May 26 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday submitted a charge sheet against Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar. The development is seen as a major setback for Shivakumar and the Congress in Karnataka. The case is based on an Income Tax Department charge sheet filed against Shivakumar and others before a Bengaluru court for alleged tax evasion. Reacting to the development, Congress MP D.K. Suresh, brother of Shivakumar, said on Thursday that the charges against his brother are politically motivated and they will not bow down before the BJP government. "We will ask our advocate to get a copy from the court," Suresh added. He said Shivakumar and the Congress would continue to fight the BJP government in the state. "Let them (BJP) do everything. It has been eight years since the BJP came to power at the Centre. All institutions have been misused," Suresh said. He added, "We don't expect justice from the BJP. We are ready to face any consequences. There is no question to fear any action." Suresh was the only Congress candidate to win 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Karnataka. The ED is investigating the money laundering allegations against Shivakumar for which he was sent to Tihar jail. However, later Shivakumar got bail. The charge sheet has been submitted to the special court in New Delhi. The ED sleuths have filed the charge sheet after more than two-and-a-half years after the raids were conducted on Shivakumar's residence and offices in Bengaluru and New Delhi. The raids were conducted by the Income Tax department which recovered Rs eight crore in cash at his Safdarjung Road residence in New Delhi. The case was then handed over to the ED. The ED sleuths after interrogating Shivakumar had arrested him. With the submission of the charge sheet, sources say that there are possibilities that Shivakumar may be arrested again. The ED case against state Congress President will have a direct impact on the 2023 state Assembly elections. Meanwhile, the state Congress President cancelled all his programmes on Thursday and took part in 'Chandika Homam' (worship to Maa Durga) along with family members. Family sources said the religious function is being organised every year by Shivakumar. Hyderabad, May 26 : Famed for his role as 'Arjun Reddy', Vijay Deverakonda partied hard at Karan Johar's birthday bash on Wednesday night. The 50-year-old Bollywood writer, director, and producer had invited some of Hindi cinema's biggest stars, with Vijay Deverakonda, the only Telugu actor in attendance. Despite the fact that he has yet to work on a major Hindi project, Vijay Deverakonda has a strong network in Mumbai, which he appears to have developed following the success of his film 'Arjun Reddy'. Vijay Deverakonda's dazzling appearance at Bollywood's most-awaited birthday bash is a classic example of his chemistry with the Mumbai film industry. For more than two years, Mumbai has felt like his second home, as he worked on his much-anticipated film 'Liger'. In his glowing black suit, the 'Geetha Govindam' actor dazzled the photographer at Karan's birthday party. After completing the first schedule of 'Kushi' starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu, the actor was seen in his 'Kushi' look, having recently flown to Mumbai from Kashmir. Puri Jagannadh, the director of 'Liger' and producer Charmme Kaur were also present at the event. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Nay Pyi Taw, May 26 : The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) has banned the use foreign currency for local payments in an effort to stabilise the foreign exchange rate in the country. The bank asked government agencies to pay with only Myanmar kyat, saying the use of foreign currencies for domestic payments could lead to higher demand for dollars and cause exchange rate instability, reports Xinhua news agency. The move came after the CBM found out that some government agencies and organisations were using foreign currencies for local payments, the central bank said in a statement. "Some government agencies were using and accepting foreign currencies in some of their activities including renting lands, capital investments for insurance business and income from joint ventures," Win Thaw, deputy governor of the central bank, was quoted as saying in the statement. He added that the CBM has found out the U.S dollar was also being used in some hotels, restaurants, international schools, souvenir shops and renting of properties to foreigners in the country. It already sent the notification to all ministries, region and state governments and municipal committees of Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay cities to use only kyat for the purchase and sales of goods and services and payments in the country, the central bank said. The CBM last month ordered all local holders of foreign currencies, excluding some foreign organisations and traders that were later exempted from it, to compulsorily convert them into kyat within one working day after receiving the foreign currencies. Kabul, May 26 : A total of 876 Afghan families received cash assistance in Herat and Kandahar provinces, authorities said on Thursday. In Kandahar's Khakriz district, 310 conflict- and drought-affected families received 28,000 afghanis ($320), Xinhua news agency quoted the Office of the State Minister for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs as saying. Besides, provincial disaster management officials distributed 8,000 afghanis to 566 destitute families each in the western Herat province, according to the Office. The assistance was provided by two international humanitarian agencies and the families were identified by surveys jointly conducted by the provincial officials and members of the aid agencies, according to the source. The Office added that more humanitarian assistance would be provided to needy families in far-flung provinces in the coming days or weeks. New Delhi, May 26 : Great Place to Work, a global authority on workplace culture, recently celebrated the first edition of Certification Nation Day in India along with the community of Great Place to work-certified organisations across the country. More than one lakh employees from different organisations celebrated this day across the country. The celebration witnessed participation from organisations across industries, including IT, manufacturing and FMCG. To make the event fun and memorable, Great Place to Work, India, also ran a social media contest within the certified organisations, encouraging them to showcase their innovative and creative skills on social media platforms. Many companies participated by displaying ingenious video posts and even posted heartfelt messages for their employees, reaffirming their commitment to nurturing great workplaces. Speaking on the occasion, Yeshasvini Ramaswamy, CEO, Great Place to Work India, said, "We are overwhelmed with the response received from the Indian organisation in the debut year of Certification Nation Day. In recent years, India has emerged as one of the major players on the global map and we expect this growth to continue in the coming times. We are looking forward to certifying more Indian firms and are hopeful to foresee increased participation from organisations in the coming years." Globally, the initiative, Certification Nation Day, began four years ago with an aim to celebrate organisations awarded with the 'Great Place to Work Certification'. It is celebrated to acknowledge the hard work of organisations, their employees and the future-ready culture they foster. On this day, companies pledge to continue creating a high trust and high-performance workplace culture. The day is commemorated worldwide in countries like Australia, the US, the UK and Singapore, among many others. Congratulating the certified organisations, Yeshasvini Ramaswamy added, "The dedication of the organisations in building a strong great workplace is the testimony that culture has to be a leadership agenda moving well beyond the HR agenda. Today, as we strive to make India a great place to work for all, the participation of each and every certified organisation is significant and we are grateful for this commitment." Great Place to Work accords 1500 Indian organisations with certification every year. The certification provided to companies is an attestation of the exceptionally good work done by them for their employees. It is a title that is recognised worldwide by employees and employers alike, and it has become a global benchmark for identifying outstanding employee experience. Bhopal, May 26 : Several persons were reportedly injured in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district after a communal clash broke out over a land dispute, police said on Thursday. People from two communities (Hindu-Muslim), claiming ownership of a government plot where a temple and mosque are located side by side, indulged in a heated argument which later turned into a communal clash. As per the police, a former BJP Councillor of the area, Lavkush Gupta was about to start construction on the land when a group of Muslims objected to it, claiming the land belonged to the mosque. During the argument several people from both the communities assembled there and fought with each other. The incident occurred on Wednesday in Mangawan area, nearly 30 km from the district headquarters, Rewa. Police reached the spot and brought the situation under control. Heavy security has been deployed to ensure peace in the area, a local police official told IANS. Police said both communities attacked each other with 'lathi' (stick) and pelted stones. Those injured during the communal clash have been admitted to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial hospital for treatment. "People from both communities have lodged complaints against each other. Heavy police personnel were deployed to avoid any untoward incident," said a police official posted in Mangawan police station. Inspector In-charge of Mangawan police station, D.K. Dahiya said the land belongs to the state government where a temple and a mosque have existed for the last several years. Later, Rewa Superintendent of Police, S. Navneet Bhasin reached the site and interacted with the people from both communities. "FIR has been registered against 11 people. We have requested revenue officials to verify the land. Action would be taken after investigation in the matter. As of now, the situation is under control," Bhasin said. New Delhi, May 26 : Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, who is an accused in the Chinese visa scam, on Thursday alleged that the Centre was "misusing" its agencies to frame him and his father and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram. While interacting with the media after recording his statement before the investigating agency, he said that the case was nothing but a "tactic" to harass him. Karti Chidambaram said his father was being targetted through him. "The central government is once again using its agencies to accuse me of a malicious and completely fabricated charge. Previously, the agencies have gone after me based on the statement of an undertrial murder suspect. Now, they are basing their bogus charges on the alleged actions of a deceased person, whom I have never met," he said. In a statement to the CBI, he dismissed all charges levelled against him saying: "I have no relationship whatsoever with any of the corporate entities mentioned in the FIR. I have never facilitated even a single Chinese national in their visa process, let alone 250. I don't know about Visa formalities and who is the authority." "I have also never known the person (now deceased) whose alleged action triggers this charge," he added. S.Bhaskararaman, his Charted Accountant was recently held in the case. CBI wanted to confront him with Karti. Bhaskararaman is in custodial remand of the CBI. A sales deed which recovered by the CBI during the raids was very important. The sales deed is of a property bought in Jor Bagh and the power of attorney is in the name of Bhaskararaman whereas the property was bought by Karti and his mother. Karti Chidambaram was questioned in this connection. As per an FIR filed recently, a Mansa (Punjab)-based private firm, Talwandi Sabo Power Limited, took the help of a middleman and allegedly paid Rs 50 lakh to get the visa issued for Chinese nationals to complete a project before the deadline. According to CBI, "A bribe of Rs 50 lakh was allegedly demanded by the private person based at Chennai through his close associate which was paid by the Mansa-based private company. "The payment of said bribe was routed from the Mansa-based private company to said private person of Chennai and his close associate through a Mumbai-based company as payment of false invoice raised for Consultancy and out of pocket expenses for Chinese visas related works, whereas the private company based at Mumbai was never in any kind of work relating to visas rather it was in an entirely different business of industrial knives." Mumbai, May 26 : Veteran actor Shakti Kapoor and Suchitra Krishnamoorthy are coming together for the upcoming anthology titled 'Bravehearts' which celebrates the stories of unsung heroes. The show also features actors like K.K. Raina, Varun Tewarii, Giresh Sehdev and Naman Jain among others. Created by Dice Media, in partnership with edtech giant Unacademy, 'Bravehearts - The Untold Stories Of Heroes' brings together five short films about the families behind the heroes in the Indian armed forces. Each of the 5 stories in the anthology captures a unique aspect of the courageous journeys of Armymen and women and their families - whether it is getting into the armed forces after several failed attempts, or dealing with the loss of a loved one who gave up their life for the nation or getting to know a parent after 15 years of them coming back from service. The first look and trailer of the show have been unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Dice Media is the long-form premium content studio by Pocket Aces. During the trailer launch at the Cannes, Pocket Aces co-founder and CEO Aditi Shrivastava, who is also the showrunner of 'Bravehearts' said, "We couldn't have asked for a better platform to premiere the first look of 'Bravehearts'. India is the country of honour at the Cannes Film Festival this year as our 75th year of independence also coincides with the 75th year of Cannes. Launching Dice Media's first Army show on this occasion and in front of a global audience is a dream come true." She further added, "A large part of our creative team including the writers of the show come from an Army background, and hence the show has been created in an extremely authentic manner inspired from true stories. Our debut at Cannes has been nothing short of spectacular, and we look forward to coming back next year with more wonderful content." The show goes live for the audience on May 28 and the first episode drops on June 4 on Dice Media's YouTube channel. Chennai, May 26 : A priest of Kalaimannan temple in Tamil Nadu's Madurai was hacked to death on Thursday morning, police said. The deceased was identified as 52-year-old Lakshmanan, who was also a government employee, working as a clerk at Idayapatti panchayat in Madurai. He was attacked early in the morning while he was on his way to the temple on a motorbike. The murder of a temple priest on the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the state has alerted the police and the DGP has instructed Madurai police to immediately nab the culprits. However, local police said that the murder was due to a personal grudge between some distant relatives and the priest, adding that some relatives were sore that Lakshmanan was not allowing them to get priority at the temple. The police have taken three people into custody and are questioning them. China-Africa historical ties continue to flourish as the continent marks Africa Day 16:38, May 26, 2022 By Tafara Mugwara ( Xinhua HARARE, May 26 (Xinhua) -- From helping Africa free itself from the claws of colonialism by supporting some of the continent's liberation movements to the current struggle for economic development, China's role in Africa has evolved with the continent's needs. The remarks were made by Donald Rushambwa, a researcher at the Harare-based China-Africa Economic and Culture Exchange Research Center. "China played a pivotal role in Africa's fight for independence. When Africa was fighting for independence from colonial powers, China would give a helping hand, giving arms and training to their brothers so that they can liberate themselves from the colonial masters," Rushambwa told Xinhua. As the continent marks Africa Day on May 25, China is still playing a pivotal role in Africa's development. "It's still playing that role again in today's Africa's struggle for economic development because when we gained our independence, the colonial masters didn't really give us the economic independence," Rushambwa added. Writing his weekly column in the government-controlled Sunday Mail newspaper this week, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said while the West was trying to hamstring Zimbabwe's independence, China had come back to join in gainful partnerships for economic development in the second phase of Africa's struggle of economic development. "Apart from generous grants, interest-free or light loans, they have now come back to the continent they helped liberate as new, non-traditional investors. Read against time and historical circumstances, they are new and latecomers in this domain, unlike Western interests which have been exploiting our continent even well before its formal occupation," Mnangagwa said. He said China had brought value and employment to local economies and societies through mutually gainful partnerships, adding that Chinese capital is supporting landmark and iconic infrastructural projects across Africa. "Here in Zimbabwe, China has helped fund and implement several projects in the sectors of energy, air transport, water, real estate, industrial value addition, mining and defense. All these have secured and bolstered our independence while changing the structure of our economy in this season of punitive Western sanctions," he said. Mnangagwa said the West, which still sees Africa as its colonial dependence, has been left feeling challenged by alternative capital which provides new opportunities to Africa. Historical experts say contact between China and Africa predates the era when the Asian country supported Africa's liberation movements. Cornelius Mushangwe, an archaeologist, said vast evidence of foreign items like glass beads and Chinese porcelain have been unearthed by archaeologists at the Great Zimbabwe ruins as a sign that the locals were in contact with foreign traders from the East. The Great Zimbabwe was a medieval city near modern-day Masvingo in Zimbabwe. "Probably the eastern coast was the trading harbor where people from Southern African hinterland could exchange goods and come back home. However, you must remember that this trade was a pass-on thing where people from closer regions could pass it on to other regions until it reached the final destination," he added. Today China is actively involved in Africa's battle for development, particularly in infrastructure. According to Deloitte, a consultancy, investment in African infrastructure is a global public good in the context of the worldwide significance of Africa's demographic evolution and its necessary productive transformation. The report notes that the largest addition to the workforce in the 21st century will be in the African continent. Improved infrastructure would facilitate domestic and international trade, reduce the cost of doing business and enhance Africa's competitiveness both as an exporter and a destination for investors, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB). China continues to play a significant role in building Africa's infrastructure projects. In 2020, Chinese firms were responsible for 31 percent of all infrastructure projects in Africa with a value of 50 million U.S. dollars or more, according to Deloitte. Shared Future for Mankind China has emerged as Africa's biggest bilateral trading partner, one of the continent's biggest bilateral lenders, as well as one of the biggest foreign investors. Trade between China and Africa reached an all-time high in 2021 of 254 billion U.S. dollars, from about 10 billion U.S. dollars in 2000. China's partnership with Zimbabwe began with its support for the country's liberation struggle against British rule in the 1960s. The relationship further strengthened during the early 2000s when Western countries imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe following its land reform program that aimed at addressing colonial land ownership imbalances. In response to increased economic isolation and capital flight, Zimbabwe in 2003 adopted the Look East policy, which pivoted the country economically toward the Asia-Pacific region, with an emphasis on closer trade relations with China. Since that time, China has taken a leading role in modernizing Zimbabwe's agriculture, telecommunication and mining sectors. Cooperation in other fields such as education, science, culture, and health has also made significant progress. Godfred Sowah Khartey, an international relations expert and Teaching Assistant at Xiamen University's School of International Relations said China has emerged as the preferred development partner due to various reasons. "Africa's quest to realize and attain a respectable developmental status has seen her moving and looking East, mainly to China for infrastructure and other developmental projects. "The gradual shift from traditional developmental partners namely and largely, Western countries is as a result of the nature of conditionalities placed on loans and grants which in so many ways seek to question the sovereignty of such borrowing nations," he said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Kampala, Uganda A Ugandan official says a new influx of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo is stretching the country's resources to the breaking point. On May 22, 2022, a joint operation by Congolese government soldiers and the U.N. peacekeeping mission MONUSCO against M23 rebels prompted hundreds of people to flee into Uganda. Hillary Onek, Uganda's Minister for Refugees, said the fresh influx is taxing resources. The refugees flocked toward the Bunagana border crossing with little or no belongings. The country already is home to close to 1.5 million refugees from across the region. "It is actually affecting even our population who are at the border," Onek said. "Because, when people shoot, sometimes they shoot across the border. Frankly speaking, it's overwhelming and we cannot satisfy the needs of those large influx of people and we are enabling what is feasible with respect to our meager resources." The latest fighting took place around Rutshuru in North Kivu province. After clashes in the province last November, fresh fighting broke out late in March. It is estimated that about 17,000 Congolese refugees have since crossed into Uganda. Manishimwe Bernard, a Red Cross official in charge of aiding refugees in Uganda's western Kisoro district, said most people arrive in desperate circumstances. "When war broke out, people started running without anything," Bernard said. "You find a person has nothing, has no clothes, children are nearly hungry. So, emotionally, people run in stress. And of course, the panic and fear is still at large. Because fighting for now, from their stories, hasn't stopped." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Congo-Kinshasa Uganda By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. On Sunday, the special representative of the U.N. Secretary-General in the DRC, Bintou Keita, issued a statement condemning attacks by the M23 movement against the peacekeepers in Rutshuru. In the statement, Keita accused the rebels of deliberately attacking peacekeepers in eastern Congo, where fighting had resumed between the rebels and the Congolese army. Bintou stated that in response to the attack, the army and peacekeepers mounted a joint operation to clear the area of M23 fighters. He said the attack was in accordance with MONUSCO's mandate. Speaking to VOA by phone, M23 spokesperson Willy Ngoma denied the rebel group attacked the U.N. base. He said it was MONUSCO who attacked first, and those who were caught up in the fighting with the army got confused and started running. After just 12 minutes, he said, MONUSCO sent two Cobra attack helicopters in the area of Runyoni, which targeted the M23 bases. The U.N. statement called on both the M23 rebels and the Congolese army to immediately cease all hostilities, in accordance with the commitments made in the Nairobi process. The Nairobi process is an effort to negotiate peace between the Democratic Republic of Congo government and about 30 rebels based across the mineral-rich African country. The M23 said that while they respect the Nairobi process, they are being attacked from various forces. Chennai, May 26 : The Greater Chennai police have constituted special team to arrest the killers of BJP leader Balachander, who was hacked publicly to death by a three-member gang. The slain BJP leader was the party's SC wing District Secretary in Chennai South. Police said the killers of Balachander were identified as Pradeep (25), a history-sheeter with more than 10 criminal cases, his brother Sanjay and their associate Kalaivanan. According to police, the BJP leader had been in jail recently and was involved in six criminal cases. Personal enmity could reportedly have been the reason behind his murder. His name was withdrawn from the list of history sheeters in 2020 and had joined the BJP recently where he was made the BJP's SC wing District Secretary. Balachander's brother ran a textile shop and had a quarrel with Pradeep over some money transactions. Both Balachander and his brother filed a police complaint against Pradeep and the latter was arrested and remanded in judicial custody. According to police, Pradeep had walked scot-free from prison a week ago and held a personal grudge against Balachander for sending him to prison. Balachander had a personal security officer (PSO), Balamurugan, who was appointed after the former had complained that he was facing threat to his life and requires security. The assailants allegedly attacked Balachander on Tuesday evening when his PSO Balamurugan had went outside to have tea. Balamurugan, who had failed to protect Balachander, is suspended by the Tamil Nadu Police. The police said special teams are constituted to arrest the culprits in the Balachander murder case. A senior police officer with the Greater Chennai Corporation told IANS, "The police have constituted special teams to nab the culprits and we have identified them and will soon arrest them." New Delhi, May 26 : Germany on Thursday approved the 'Made in India' Bharat Biotech's Covid vaccine Covaxin. "Covaxin has been approved by Germany. The entrants will no longer need proof of vaccination as the Federal Cabinet relaxes restrictions," said Bharat Biotech in a tweet on Thursday. "The Federal Cabinet of Germany has approved Covaxin and relaxed restrictions on the entry for those vaccinated with WHO approved vaccines. The promulgation takes effect from June 2022," said the vaccine manufacturer in a statement. Walter J. Lindner, German Ambassador to India, on Thursday hailed the German government for recognizing the WHO-listed Bharat Biotech's Covid vaccine, Covaxin for travel to the country starting June 1. Taking to Twitter, the Ambassador said: "Very happy that GER government just decided to recognize WHO-listed Covaxin for travels to GER, starting June 1! This Embassy has been pushing very actively for such decision (because of Covid-backlogs visa sections have longer waiting periods than normal, please have patience)." The World Health Organization in November last year issued an emergency use listing (EUL) for Covaxin. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Mumbai, May 26 : Two Shiv Sena leaders -- party Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut and Kolhapur District Chief Sanjay Pawar -- filed their nomination papers for the upcoming biennial elections to Rajya Sabha, here on Thursday. In a major show of strength by Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Raut and Pawar were joined by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Congress Legislature Party chief and Minister Balasaheb Thorat, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, many ministers, MPs and MLAs from the three allies. Simultaneously, the NCP has decided to renominate senior leader Praful Patel for one seat, while the Congress is yet to announce its candidate. With Sena filing nominations for two seats, the fate of Yuvraj Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje is not clear, as he had planned to contest the RS polls independently with support of all other parties. There are indications that Sambhajiraje may withdraw from the contest and he is likely to announce his decision here on Friday. Speaking to mediapersons after submitting their nomination papers, Raut said that both the RS seats "belong to the Sena" and the party would bag them comfortably. To a question, Raut said even if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fields a third candidate, the Sena nominee would win as it has "more than the required number of votes". The RS elections will fill up the vacancies by six retiring members -- one each from ruling (MVA) allies, Shiv Sena (Sanjay Raut), NCP (Praful Patel) and Congress (P. Chidambaram), and three from the BJP Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Piyush Goyal and Dr. Vikas Mahatme. This time, given the re-alignment of the legislature after the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP can win only two of the three seats it holds, the MVA can win their three seats, and Sena is now contesting the third seat held by the BJP. The electoral college comprises the 288 MLAs and a candidate must get 42 votes to win a seat in the Upper House of Parliament. The MVA has 170 MLAs -- Shiv Sena 55 (one MLA Ramesh Latke, died in Dubai last week), NCP 53, Congress 44, smaller parties/groups 10 and eight Independents. On the Opposition side, BJP has 106 with other smaller parties/groups two and five Independents. New Delhi, May 26 : Delhi Police has registered an FIR against an unknown person for allegedly issuing death threats to Member of Parliament Navneet Rana, an official said on Thursday. "An FIR has been registered at the North Avenue police station under sections 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code," Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi district) Amrutha Guguloth said. Rana's Personal Assistant, Vikas Goswami, in the complaint, alleged that the parliamentarian received 11 calls on Tuesday in which the caller threatened her of dire consequences if she ever recites Hanuman Chalisa or comes to Maharashtra. "The caller spoke to her very rudely and in a very inappropriate manner. He abused her, threatened to kill her and said he won't allow her to enter Maharashtra," the complaint lodged in Hindi read. He further wrote that MP Rana was extremely disturbed and scared after several threatening calls. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has started probing the matter, and call detail records of the parliamentarian are being examined. Kochi, May 26 : The actress, who has accused actor-producer Vijay Babu of rape, on Thursday asked the Kerala High Court not to grant him anticipatory bail, as an accused cannot decide the terms of bail. The court, after hearing both the sides, said the plea of the actor-producer, who is on the run ever since the allegations came out, will not be considered if he fails to return to Kerala on May 30, and posted the case for Friday. The Kerala Police has been trying their best to bring back Vijay Babu, who slipped out of the country last month to Dubai and from there - after the police began steps to issue a red corner notice - headed for Georgia and is now there. His counsel has already informed the court that he will be landing in Kerala on Monday. The actor-producer was on the run after the actress from Kozhikode filed a complaint in Ernakulam on April 22 that she was raped and beaten up by him several times in a flat in Kochi. She has also accused him of giving her intoxicants before sexually abusing her. Soon after the news surfaced, Vijay Babu appeared live on his social media handle claiming that he was the "real victim" in this case, adding that he would take appropriate legal steps against the complainant whom he also named. The police, apart from the initial complaint, have registered a second case against him for disclosing the name of the complainant. With his anticipatory bail plea likely to be disposed of on Friday, if the court fails to give him bail, then it remains to be seen if he will land in Cochin on Monday or not. Kanpur, July 30 (IANS) The Kanpur Police will invoke provisions of the National Security Act (NSA) against the accused in the Bikru incident, which claimed the lives of eight policemen and left several others injured in an ambush on July 3. Image Source: IANS News Kanpur : , May 26 (IANS) Almost 22 months after the Bikru massacre in which eight police personnel were killed, the then station in-charge Vinay Tiwari and inspector K K Sharma, who were in jail for helping gangster Vikas Dubey, have been dismissed from service. Both have been found guilty in the departmental inquiry, police said on Thursday. On July 3, 2020, a police team that went to raid the house of gangster Vikas Dubey in Bikru village was attacked by his henchmen during which eight police personnel, including the then Bilhaur Circle Officer Devendra Mishra, were killed. Later, six criminals, including Vikas Dubey, were killed in back-to-back encounters within a week of the incident. During investigation of the case, the then police station in-charge of Chaubepur Vinay Kumar Tiwari and K K Sharma were found to be helping Vikas Dubey. It is alleged that they had already given information about police raids to Vikas Dubey. Both the police personnel were suspended, arrested and sent to jail. Separate departmental inquiry was started for both. Investigating officer, Additional Commissioner of Police, Anand Kulkarni said that the investigation report in the case has been submitted to the government, in which it has been decided to sack both the policemen. Agartala, May 26 : A day after the Election Commission announced by-elections for four Assembly seats in Tripura on June 23, all political parties started the process to select candidates and to finalise their electoral strategies. According to political pundits, the by-elections in Agartala, Town Bordowali, Surma, and Jubarajnagar assembly constituencies are expected to be a multi-cornered contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), opposition CPI-M-led Left parties, Congress, and the Trinamool Congress. Few other smaller parties are also likely to contest the elections. The BJP, CPI-M, Trinamool Congress, and the Congress leaders separately on Thursday said that they will announce their candidates by May 30, when the statutory notifications will be issued by the Election Commission (EC), and the process of filing nominations will start. Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury, Trinamool's Tripura state President Subal Bhowmik, BJP spokesman Nabendu Bhattacharjee have separately told IANS that they would not forge any alliance with any other party in the by-elections. The by-polls were necessitated after the resignation of three BJP MLAs, and the death of CPI-M legislator Ramendra Chandra Debnath. Amid open resentment by a section of BJP legislators, three MLAs, Sudip Roy Barman (Agartala), Ashis Kumar Saha (Town Bordowali), Ashis Das (Surma) quit the BJP and the assembly membership following differences with former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who also resigned on May 14 following the instructions of the party's Central leadership, the exact reason for which is yet to disclosed. Roy Barman, also a former BJP minister, and Saha joined the Congress in February this year while Das joined Trinamool Congress last year. Elected from the Jubarajnagar assembly constituency six times, Debnath was Tripura assembly speaker multiple times. He passed away on February 2 in Kolkata due to kidney failure. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, who assumed office on May 15, a day after Deb's resignation, is expected to contest from Town Bordowali constituency on a BJP ticket as he is not a member of the state assembly. According to the EC's schedule announced on Wednesday, the statutory notification would be issued on May 30 and the last date of filling of nomination is June 6. The scrutiny of nominees will be done next day. The last date of withdrawal of nomination is June 9. The votes will be counted on June 26. Bengaluru : Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrashekar Rao met with former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda and former Chief Minister of Karnataka H.D. Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru on Thursday, May 26, 2022.(Photo: snapsindia/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru : Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrashekar Rao met with former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda and former Chief Minister of Karnataka H.D. Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru on Thursday, May 26, 2022.(Photo: snapsindia/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru, May 26 : Telangana Chief Minister Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Thursday called on former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda at his residence here and discussed "topics of national importance". The meeting was long a key topic of discussion in political corridors in connection with bids to form a 'third front' opposing both the BJP and the Congress. The Telangana Chief Minister, who also heads the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, avoided meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Hyderabad on Thursday. On an earlier occasion too, he did not meet the PM during his visit to Hyderabad citing health reasons. KCR, as the leader is popularly known, was welcomed by Deve Gowdaa's son and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and grandson, politician and actor Nikhil Kumaraswamy at their residence in Bengaluru. On the meeting, Deve Gowda, in a social media post, said: "We exchanged views on various topics of national importance. It was a candid and cordial meeting." The meeting has assumed importance as KCR had met his New Delhi and Punjab counterparts, Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann, respectively, of the Aam Aadmi Party recently, as well as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. The talk of formation of a third front came to the front then. Meanwhile, as senior BJP spokesperson in Karnataka slammed Chandrashekar Rao for avoiding meeting PM Modi who has arrived in Hyderabad. "Not able to face PM Modi, Telangana CM has escaped to Karnataka. He is taking blessings from the father of family politics here". Shimla, May 26 : The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday gave its nod to the Mukhya Mantri Bal Suposhan Yojna. The scheme would be run through joint efforts of the Centre and state governments. It envisions significant improvement in nutritional status of mothers and children through multiple intensified interventions converging stake holders. The state government has done consultations with the NITI Aayog to realise this scheme with a budget outlay of Rs 65 crore. It would be a milestone in curtailing childhood malnutrition by combating illnesses such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and anemia. The Cabinet also decided to provide 50 per cent concession in fare to women passengers in state-run Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) ordinary intra-state buses. Announcement in this respect was made by the Chief Minister on Himachal Day i.e. April 15 in Chamba. The Cabinet gave its approval to provide government guarantee in favour of HRTC for raising term loan of Rs 160 crore to buy 360 new buses and other transport vehicles. This would provide better transportation facilities to the commuters. The Cabinet also decided to provide free domestic water supply facility to the people in rural areas from May 1. It gave its approval to provide two free gas cylinders to the beneficiaries of Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna in addition to the refill provided at the time of gas connection. Also, it gave approval for grant of Child Adoption Leave up to 12 weeks to the regular female employees of the government. Chennai, May 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Thursday evening. He was received at the Chennai airport by Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, Leader of Opposition K. Palaniswami and Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will receive the Prime Minister at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for 11 projects worth Rs 31,500 crore at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium here. It is to be noted that this is the first visit of the Prime Minister to Tamil Nadu after the DMK assumed office in the state in May 2021. At least 22,000 police personnel have been deployed in the state capital to look after the security. Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police, Shankar Jiwal is leading the police security with eight Joint Commissioners, Deputy Inspector Generals, 29 Deputy Commissioners, and Superintendents of police also pressed into service for the visit of the Prime Minister. DMK and BJP cadres were present in large numbers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium to listen to the speech of Prime Minister Blantyre, Malawi Malawi has rolled out a vaccination campaign to help stop an outbreak of cholera. Authorities report more than 350 cases and 17 deaths from cholera across eight districts of southern Malawi. Malawi's Ministry of Health declared the cholera outbreak in early March after the first case was confirmed in the Machinga district in southern Malawi. The disease has so far spread to eight districts including Nsanje, Chikwawa and Blantyre. In its latest report on Monday, the ministry said the country had recorded 367 cholera cases in all with 17 deaths and 19 hospital admissions. Dr. Gertrude Chapotera represented the World Health Organization at the launch of the vaccination campaign Monday in Blantyre. She said the campaign is running with support from various global partners, including the Gavi Vaccine Alliance and the Global Task for Cholera Control. "We are supporting the Ministry of Health with up to 3.9 million doses that will be administered in two rounds," she said. "So this actually is the beginning of the first round with the campaign starting from today the 23rd of May running up Friday this week the 27th of May." Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with bacteria. The disease affects both children and adults and, if untreated, can kill within hours. Dr. Gift Kawalazila is director of Health and Social Services in Blantyre. He says the district has so far seen nearly 100 cases of cholera, with five deaths but only three hospital admissions as of Monday. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Malawi Health By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "This means that cholera is a disease that can easily be reversed and we have treatment options with us," said Kawalazila. "So, the general message to the general population is that they should quickly present themselves to our health workers in our different health facilities whenever they notice the signs and symptoms of cholera which is profuse diarrhea and vomiting in some cases." Health authorities say many people are turning up for vaccination, with some districts running short of the doses. Alinafe Longwe is among those who received the cholera vaccine in Blantyre. Longwe says she did not get the COVID-19 vaccine, citing fears of blood clotting and other health issues. "But with this one, I haven't heard any issues, so I am okay with it and I have received it and I am fine," said Longwe. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health says it has intensified public education preventing cholera infections. These include the use of clean water for domestic purposes and observing personal hygiene. Kolkata, May 26 : A fresh confrontation between West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and the Mamta Banerejee government loomed after the state cabinet on Thursday decided to have Chief Minister as the Chancellor of all state universities instead of the Governor. This is for the first time that the state government has taken such an initiative to break the protocol, persisting since Independence, of having the Governor as Chancellor of the state universities. Following the state cabinet meeting at the state Secretariat, Nabanna, Education Minister Bratya Basu said that the state government will bring a bill in the Assembly proposing that the Chief Minister, not the Governor, will be the Chancellor of the state universities. "Once the bill is passed in the Assembly, it will be sent to the Governor for his assent. In case the Governor refuses to clear the bill, the state government will bring an ordinance to implement this change of practice," he said. The development comes at a time when the state government and the ruling Trinamool Congress is already in a fix over the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe on the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment irregularities where two ministers of the state government have already been grilled by the central agency sleuths. Till this report was filed there was no reaction from the Governor on this matter. However, the opposition parties have criticized the initiative. BJP's state spokesman, Shamik Bhattacharya said that this is a direct attempt to have a control over the autonomy of the state universities. "Since the beginning the Chief Minister had been trying to run the state as an independent entity and hence, she has taken such a decision which no state government has done before. This is against tradition and convention," he said. CPI-M Central Committee member and former leader of Left in the Assembly, Dr Sujan Chakraborty, contended that this initiative is aimed at having direct administrative and political control over the state universities. "The decision has been taken at a time when roles of several state ministers and officers are in question because of rampant corruption in the education sector. This is complete politicisation of the functioning of the state agencies. On one hand, the Chief Minister is demanding complete autonomy for the central agencies, and on the other, she is trying to destroy the autonomous nature of the state universities," he said. Educationists seemed to be divided over this development. Educationist, political analyst and former Principal of the then Presidency College, Dr Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyay said that the Chief Minister is the administrative head of the state and a political personality. "So, the event of the Chief Minister being the Chancellor of the university means political interference in the independent functioning of the institutions. Traditionally and conventionally the Governors, by virtue of their chairs, had been the Chancellors of the state university. I do not find any reason to break away from that convention," he said. Renowned historian and Sanskrit scholar, Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri, however, welcomed the decision. "Current West Bengal Governor, Jagdeep Dhankhar had been creating many obstacles for the state government to function properly. The Governor is holding back many files including those relating to appointment Vice Chancellors of universities. So, the state government had no other option but to take this decision. I welcome this move," he said. Mumbai, May 26 : The Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) will be back with its 17th edition in a hybrid format. The fest, which showcases documentaries, short fiction and animation films, will start from May 29 with the inaugural ceremony at Nehru Centre Auditorium, Worli, Mumbai and will conclude with the award distribution ceremony on June 4. DG, Films Division and Director, MIFF, Ravinder Bhakar informed that the hybrid component is being facilitated by National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). Bangladesh has been chosen as the 'Country of Focus' this year in commemoration of 50 years of its Independence. A special package of 11 films from Bangladesh including critically acclaimed film 'Hasina: A Daughter's Tale' will be presented at MIFF 2022. Dheep Joy Mampilly, Director Administration(Films Division) and Deputy Director, PIB, Mumbai quoted, "The 17th and the first post-pandemic edition of Mumbai International Film Festival is being held by Films Division, Government of India, with the aim to celebrate films and filmmakers and honour the timeless values which films hold and nurture." "On behalf of Festival Director and DG, Films Division, Ravinder Bhakar and the Government of India, it is our privilege to invite and welcome all citizens to join the celebration. While the festival is being hosted at Films Division Complex, Pedder Road, Mumbai during.Current + aspiring film lovers can join the celebration online as well,since the festival is being held in a hybrid format this year", he further said in the statement. "Close to 400 documentary, short fiction and animation films from India and across the world will be showcased at this festival", he concluded. Internationally acclaimed film 'Reena Ki Kahani' will be screened at the fest along with the World Premiere of the Netflix original series 'Mighty Little Bheem: I love Taj Mahal' episode and the first animation film co-produced by India and Japan 'Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama', which will complete its 30th anniversary this year. Animation lovers will be delighted to savour retrospective packages from three countries - Portugal, Russia and Canada. Films of Portuguese animator Regina Pessoa; Russian animation director, Aleksandr Petrov; Canadian animator and illustrator Janet Perlman will be a treat to animation lovers. Filmmakers from documentary and animation genre, who left us in the recent times, will be remembered with special screenings under 'Homage' section: legendary Pin screen Animator from Canada, Jacques Drouin; first female documentary filmmaker of Italy, Cecilia Mangini; Indian veteran Buddhadeb Dasgupta; multi-faceted Sumitra Bhave; famous national award-winning cinematographer from Manipur, Irom Maipak are some among others. Contribution of Films Division in documentary culture in India will be showcased through a specially curated package, 'Image-Nation'. Special packages like Oscar Film package, curated by Shorts TV, Special film packages from Italy and Japan, Indian Panorama - from the recent editions of IFFI will be a point of attraction for film buffs. Chandigarh, May 26 : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for trying to enforce the Delhi government's 'failed' education model on Punjabis, even as it asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to stop deriding Punjab schools and its education standards following the release of the National Achievement Survey 2021 that ranked Punjab students ahead of Delhi at all levels of school education. Asking the Chief Minister to congratulate the government school children of Punjab as well as seek their apology for defaming them, SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said students of Punjab had fared better than their counterparts in Delhi in the survey which evaluated the education quality and overall health of the education system in the country. "It is now clear that the much hyped Delhi model of school children which was used as a propaganda tool by AAP in Punjab as well as country wide is a complete failure. Bhagwant Mann should acknowledge this fact and not try to impose it on Punjabis besides working to strengthen the current Punjab model which had given good dividends to the state in the national survey." Cheema said school children from Punjab had fared better than their counterparts in Delhi when compared class wise right from class three, class five, class eight and class 10. He said Punjab students has stood first as far as comprehending mathematics was concerned, second in case of social sciences and third in case of English. "We must build on this achievement by developing both short as well as long-term interventions to improve learning levels further as per the findings of the independent survey conducted by the Union Education Ministry. The Chief Minister should now reject the Delhi model of school education firmly. Not doing so would amount to betraying the interests of Punjab and Punjabis." The Akali leader said the education system of any state was built over a period of time and lauded the vision of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who had not only given a fillip to school education in the state but came up with the concept of meritorious schools and Adarsh schools to provide ultra modern education to the poorest of the poor. "The AAP government should build on these concepts to improve the education system in the state even further," Cheema added. London, May 26 : The UK competition watchdog on Thursday opened a second investigation into Google's unfair practices in ad tech, following the launch of a probe into Google and Meta's 'Jedi Blue' agreement. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether Google has broken the law by restricting competition in the digital advertising technology market. Advertising technology intermediation, also known as the 'ad tech stack', is a complex set of services which facilitate the sale of online advertising space between sellers (publishers, like online newspapers and other content providers) and buyers (advertisers). In 2019, UK advertisers spent around 1.8 billion pounds on this kind of online advertising. Google has strong positions at various levels of the ad tech stack, charging fees to both publishers and advertisers, the CMA said in a statement. "We're worried that Google may be using its position in ad tech to favour its own services to the detriment of its rivals, of its customers and ultimately of consumers," said Andrea Coscelli, the CMA's Chief Executive. "This would be bad for the millions of people who enjoy access to a wealth of free information online every day," he added. The CMA is assessing whether Google's 'ad tech stack' practices may distort competition. These include whether Google limited the interoperability of its ad exchange with third-party publisher ad servers and/or contractually tied these services together, making it more difficult for rival ad servers to compete. The CMA is also concerned that Google may have used its publisher ad server and its DSPs (demand side platforms) to illegally favour its own ad exchange services, while taking steps to exclude the services offered by rivals. "Weakening competition in this area could reduce the ad revenues of publishers, who may be forced to compromise the quality of their content to cut costs or put their content behind paywalls. It may also be raising costs for advertisers which are passed on through higher prices for advertised goods and services," said Coscelli. The European Commission (EC) has launched its own investigation into Google's practices in the ad tech sector. Google practices are also the subject of a complaint by the state of Texas (and other US states) currently in the US courts. In July 2021, the French regulator closed a similar case against Google having imposed a fine and secured commitments. Ahmedabad, May 26 : Several members from the upper caste (Thakor) community on Thursday allegedly attacked the wedding procession of a Dalit woman in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, leaving four persons injured. The injured persons were rushed to the hospital for treatment. The police reached the Dangarva village and brought the situation under control. The bride's family intends to file an FIR once her wedding ends. Bride Tara Jagdish Parmar's marriage with Rahul Haresh Parmar was scheduled on Thursday afternoon. When the 'barat' (wedding procession) reached the outskirts of the village, the bride along with other family members started a procession with DJ to welcome the groom and his family. As the procession reached near Thakorvas area, nearly 40 persons armed with sticks and other weapons attacked the procession by pelting stones, alleged Jagdish Parmar, the bride's father. Jagdish said the village has passed a resolution banning wedding procession on horses, so his daughter and family members walked on foot accompanied with DJ music, yet members from Thakor community attacked the wedding procession. As the police came to know about the incident, police personnel from the Detroj and nearby police stations reached the spot and brought the situation under control. "The wedding of Tara and Rahul took place under police protection and the situation is under control," said N.D. Chauhan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ahmedabad Rural. Chauhan said the bride's family has decided to lodge a complaint only after the marriage concludes. Once the complaint is lodged, those responsible for the attack on the procession will be arrested, he added. The state police control room in a statement said there was verbal quarrel between members of Thakor community and the Dalit family over playing DJ, which led to a clash in which four to five persons were injured. The process of registering the complaint is underway. New Delhi, May 26 : The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside the Delhi High Court order, which stayed the investigation into companies related to the Sahara Group and also the lookout circulars issued against its chief Subrata Roy and his wife. A bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Bela M. Trivedi said the high court order was unwarranted and also it passed an extraordinary order staying the investigation. On May 17, the top court had agreed to list a plea by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) challenging the Delhi High Court order. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the SFIO, submitted that total money involved is Rs 1 lakh crore and considering layers and layers of companies involved, the probe could not be completed in three months and it took more time. "We issued a look out circular so that they do not flee the country...". Mehta also took objection to the high court order staying the lookout circulars issued against the directors, promoters, and employees of the companies, so that they won't flee the country. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Sahara Group, submitted that the Companies Act 2013, is not applicable to the transaction which occurred in 2011, which SFIO is seeking to investigate. He added that the investigation under Section 219 of the Act, is without legal basis and also there is no prima facie materials against the firms. Citing the 2012 top court judgment, Sibal said Sahar Housing Corporation Ltd. has deposited Rs 24,000 crore with market regulator, SEBI. A plea by the SFIO, a statutory corporate fraud investigating agency, said: "The petitioner SFIO has filed the captioned petition against the final judgement of the Delhi High Court dated December 13, 2021, whereby the high court erroneously granted interim relief to respondents 1 to 3 by staying the operation, implementation, and execution of the investigation orders dated October 31, 2018 and October 27, 2020 passed by the Central government and stayed all subsequent actions and proceedings initiated pursuant thereof including coercive proceedings and look out notices issued against the respondents." After hearing arguments, the top court said the Delhi High Court was not correct in staying the investigation at interim stage. "We allow appeals and set aside the high court order on stay...," said the bench. The top court also clarified that this order will have no bearing on merits of the writ petitions pending before the high court. In a statement, the Sahara Group said: "The Supreme Court has ordered that the issues raised by Sahara companies before the high court in writ petitions will be decided on merits by high court without getting influenced by observation of Supreme Court. It has been clarified by Supreme Court that the observations are only relatable to the interim order granting stay of investigation and not on merits of the issues involved." The SFIO, in its plea against the Delhi High Court order, said: "It is submitted by way of the order, all actions and proceedings undertaken under the orders dated October 31, 2018 and October 27, 2020, passed by the Central government have been stayed which seriously prejudice the ongoing investigations and proceedings which necessitated urgent listing of the captioned petitions," added the SFIO's plea. It further added that high court order was passed by ignoring the material facts available on record, and sought stay on high court order. The high court had observed that petitioners Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Ltd and others have made out a prima facie case for the grant of interim relief. It further added that the balance of convenience was also in their favour, and irreparable loss would be caused to them, if interim relief is not granted. The high court had asked the Central government to file its response to the petition. The petitioners -- Saharas firm and others -- had submitted before the high court that the first order was passed on October 31, 2018, for investigation into the affairs of three companies -- Sahara Q Shop Unique Products Range Ltd, Sahara Q Gold Mart Ltd, and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Ltd. The petitioners further contended that perusal of the October 27, 2020 revealed that no reason was assigned, why it was necessary to begin an investigation against the six companies. These companies are: Aamby Valley Ltd, Qing Amby City Developers Corporation Ltd, Sahara India Commercial Corporation Ltd, Sahara Prime City Ltd, Sahara India Financial Corporation Ltd and Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Ltd. New Delhi, May 26 : A 38-year-old woman was arrested on Thursday for allegedly extorting money from her brother by faking her own kidnapping, a police official said. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), Harsh Vardhan said a complaint was lodged by the brother of the accused woman on May 25, saying that his sister had been kidnapped and he had also received extortion calls. He also informed that the kidnappers also sent him a photo of his sister in which her hands were tied with a rope and mouth with a cloth. Based on the brother's statement, the police registered a case under relevant sections of law and took up the investigation. During the probe it was found that the mobile phone of the victim was switched off and was only available on WhatsApp through which the alleged kidnappers were communicating. "Through technical analysis, the location was traced to a locality in Agra," the ADCP said. A police team was immediately deployed to Agra where it searched nearly 50 hotels and resorts based on the victim's last location. "During checking in a hotel in Tajganj Market, Agra, the entry of the victim was found to be made in the register of that hotel wherein the victim was found to have checked-in alone. On checking, the victim was found present in the room," the official said. The victim was then examined and she revealed that she herself hatched a plan to stage her kidnapping and demanded ransom from her brother in lieu of her release. The police brought her back to Delhi and arrested her under relevant sections of law for extortion. The investigation of the case is underway, the official added. Bhubaneswar, May 26 : The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Odisha Police has arrested another accused for his alleged involvement in cheating people through a fake loan mobile app, police said on Thursday. The accused Ram Shriram Pathade, a resident of Sonam Heights, Mumbai, was arrested from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, on Wednesday. Earlier, the police had arrested Tarun Dudeja, the proprietor of six shell companies and Mohd Javed Saifi, proprietor of fake company IWT India. The EOW has also frozen an amount of Rs 6.57 crore in different accounts of IWT India. After producing Pathade in a local court, the EOW brought him to Bhubaneswar seeking his transit remand. He is the Director of at least five companies -- Mahagram Payments Private Limited, Sarsewa Simplified Innovations Limited, Mahagram Foundation, Finnovity Global Payments Private Limited and Express Digital Money Private Limited, said the EOW officials. Pathade along with his associates Tarun Dudeja and Mohd Javed Saifi was involved in the business of illegal digital loan apps like Koko and Jojo, which are not registered as non-banking financial companies under the RBI Act. More than 1.5 lakh people, including many from Odisha, had downloaded the two fake loan apps. The EOW has received more than 100 complaints from Odisha related to the illegal activities of loan apps, they said. During investigation, the EOW found that the apps directly credited a small loan amount ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000 to customers' bank accounts. Once the amount is credited, within a week the customer or borrower is asked to repay the amount with an excessive rate of interest. On refusal to pay the high rate of interest, the concerned customer is humiliated in many ways. Obscene messages and indecent pictures along with abusive texts are sent to his or her WhatsApp number as well as to their contact list as a coercive measure to recover the loan amount with interest. The police officials said the process of recovery is so overbearing and humiliating that there are some instances of the customers committing suicide. The police blocked 1,058 such virtual accounts created by Mahagram Payments Private Ltd to make such illegal transactions. Aizawl, May 26 : A total of 468 endangered exotic animals, smuggled from neighbouring Myanmar, were seized by police and wildlife enforcement agencies in Mizoram, and five people arrested in this connection, officials said on Thursday. Police said that acting on a tip off, exotic animal species, including 442 lizards, were seized at Chalbawia Junction, Khankawn Police Checkgate in Champhai district on Wednesday and handed over the animals along with five traffickers to Custom Preventive Force. The seized animals also comprise four tortoises, 11 snakes, four sloths, two beavers, and a wild cat. The five traffickers were arrested while they were trying to cross the river Tiau, which divides India and Myanmar, with several cages containing the animals. On May 8, kangaroos, rats, meerkats, white cockatoos and Burmese pythons, - all exotic animals not indigenous to India - were seized after they were smuggled from Myanmar. Police officials said Mizoram and other northeastern states, bordering Myanmar, have become an active route for smuggling of exotic animals and various drugs from South East Asian countries to mainland India. These animals are smuggled from countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar where there are exotic animal breeding farms. There were instances that the exotic animals seized in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh smuggled from Myanmar and ferried through Mizoram to these states. A police official also said most of the persons arrested with the smuggled animals were only carriers who were doing the illegal job for money. Srinagar, May 26 : An Army porter, injured in an encounter between terrorists and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district on Thursday, succumbed to his injuries, officials said. Three terrorists were killed in an encounter at Jumagund village in Kupwara. "One Army porter, namely Ab Lateef Mir s/o Majeed Mir, resident of Kuchiban Jummagund, got injured in the said encounter. Later on, succumbed to injuries in hospital," police said Police said all three terrorists killed were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT, and their identification is being done. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered. According to police, based on a specific input developed by Kupwara police regarding infiltration attempt of terrorists in Jumagund, army and police took up positions and intercepted the terrorists. Kicukiro primary court on Wednesday, May 25 granted bail to Elsa Iradukunda, former Miss Rwanda 2017, after prosecution withdrew their case on pre-trial detention. Iradukunda is being pinned on various charges which include, influencing assistants in judicial organs, giving false testimony as well as use of forged documents. Pronouncing the ruling, the presiding judge said the prosecution had withdrawn the case after considering it unnecessary to prosecute the accused while detained. "During the bail hearing, the prosecution requested to grant her bail arguing that, based on the written accounts from Rwanda Investigation Bureau made by Iradukunda, they want to withdraw their case on pre-trial detention," he said. In addition, he pointed out that Iradukunda and her lawyer also agreed on granting her bail for her to continue with her studies, among other reasons. The presiding judge said that after examining the defences and requests of both sides, the court resolved to grant her bail and ruled to release her as the trial continues. Both Iradukunda and her lawyer were present in court. Iradukunda's lawyer welcomes the decision Speaking to The New Times after the bail ruling, Lawyer Rafael Nyamaswa said that they are happy with the court's decision, adding that justice was served. "My client was detained for some time. But now we are glad that the prosecution, after evaluating the level of investigation, and how she has been cooperative, decided to withdraw their case on detention and she will be prosecuted out of jail," he said. In addition, he said that this is a good gesture and urged people to believe in the country's justice. Nyamaswa further said that they are ready to proceed with a substantial trial and hope to win the case as well. Iradukunda appeared before the court for the first time on May 24, to seek bail where a bail hearing was heard in camera (closed to the public) upon her lawyer's request. She was arrested on May 8, and was detained a few days after the arrest of Dieudonne Ishimwe, commonly known as Prince Kid, the CEO of Rwanda Inspiration Back-Up--an organisation that used to organise the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant. Chennai, May 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation stone of 11 infrastructure projects worth Rs 31,500 crore at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor stadium. He said that the focus on road construction in the state was clearly visible and that it was being done keeping in mind the economic development in the region. He also handed over the keys of houses constructed under the Light House scheme to five of the 150 beneficiaries. Narendra Modi while addressing the mammoth gathering said that Tamil language is eternal and that Tamil culture was global. He said that it was always wonderful to be back in Tamil Nadu and said that the people, language and culture of the land was outstanding. Praising Tamil culture and society, Narendra Modi said that people from Tamil Nadu are excelling in every field and said that from Chennai to Canada, from Madurai to Malaysia, from Namakkal to New York and from Salem to South Africa, the occasions of Puthandu and Pongal are marked with great fervor. He said that this was what is known as eternal and global Tamil culture. He said that Bangalore-Chennai express highway will connect two key centres of growth and added that the four lane elevated road connecting Chennai port to Maduravoyal will make Chennai port more efficient and will decongest city traffic. The Prime Minister said, "We want our Children to live a better life," adding that the most important precondition for that was top quality infrastructure and said that those countries that have given priority to infrastructure development have become developed countries from developing countries. He said that the expansion of Neraluru to Dharmapuri and Meensuruti to Chidambaram railway sections will have many benefits and added that he was happy that five railway stations were being redeveloped. The Prime Minister said that this development and modernization were being done keeping in mind the needs of future. New Delhi, May 26 : The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Thursday said it has recovered a consignment of 52 kg of cocaine valued at Rs 500 crore under "Operation Namkeen" at Mundra port that was imported from Iran. "On the basis of extensive data analysis and field surveillance, intelligence was developed by the DRI that certain consignments being imported from Iran were likely to contain narcotic drugs. "... 'Op Namkeen' was launched and a consignment, declared to contain 1,000 bags of common salt having gross weight of 25 MT, which had been imported at Mundra port from Iran, was identified for detailed examination," said a DRI official. The said consignment was examined for three continuous days from May 24-26. During the examination, some bags were found to be suspicious, as a substance in powder form having distinct smell was found in these bags. Samples were drawn from those suspected bags and testing was conducted by officials of Directorate of Forensic Sciences, Gujarat, who reported the presence of cocaine in these samples. "Examination and seizure proceedings under the provisions of NDPS Act, are in progress. Roles of various persons involved in the consignment are also being investigated by DRI," the official said. Dhaka, May 26 : Excellent centuries by Angelo Mathews (145 not out) and Dinesh Chandimal (124) put Sri Lanka in a commanding position against Bangladesh on the fourth day of the second Test, here on Thursday. The twin tons from the two experienced batters gave Sri Lanka a massive lead of 141. The bowlers then did significant damage in the final hour of play as Bangladesh limped in at 34/4 at stumps, trailing by 107 runs. Resuming the Day 4 at 282/5, still 83 behind Bangladesh, Mathews and Chandimal started positively, smashing two boundaries and a six in the opening five overs.Their approach became a lot more cautious thereafter, but despite that, they ensured the runs didn't dry up, constantly rotating the strike and putting away the occasional boundary. Chandimal brought up his fifty at the stroke of lunch, and the two batters went unscathed into the break having added 87 runs to the overnight score, giving Sri Lanka a slender lead of four runs. They carried on after the break. Mathews was extremely watchful in his 90s, taking 27 balls to go from 93 to his second century of the series. He was saved by the DRS twice on either side of his century -- he was given caught behind on 94 but replays showed that there was no edge. The umpire raised his finger again when Mathews was on 105 and he looked trapped plumb in front, but snicko came to his rescue, showing a clear spike as the ball passed the bat, an ICC report said. At the other end, Chandimal, who took 118 balls to get to his half-century, was a lot more aggressive after the milestone. His next 50 runs came in just 63 balls as he brought up his 12th Test ton. It was a toil for the Bangladesh bowlers on a pitch that did not offer anything for the pacers and very little spin early on, despite it being a day four wicket. Mathews and Chandimal ploughed away through the second session, milking singles and doubles while also finding boundaries when given the chance. Sri Lanka went into Tea on 459/5, leading the hosts by 94 runs. The Tigers finally broke through in the second over of the final session, with Ebadot Hossain deceiving Chandimal (124) with the slower delivery. One brought two as Shakib Al Hasan struck at the other end, dismissing Niroshan Dickwella for 9. The boundaries were coming thick and fast for Sri Lanka but they also kept losing wickets. Hossain trapped Ramesh Mendis for 10 before Shakib completed his 19th Test five-wicket haul in the very next over by snaring Praveen Jayawickrama. Asitha Fernando was the last to fall, run-out at the non-striker's end trying to keep Mathews on strike, who was left stranded on 145 not out. In reply, Bangladesh had a tricky hour to see off before stumps, and endured a horror start to their second innings when Tamim Iqbal fell for a duck, collecting a pair in the match.Two overs later, a direct hit from Jayawickrama sent Najmul Hossain Shanto back to the hut. Mominul Haque followed him back in the very next over for a duck, with DRS coming to Sri Lanka's aid. Fernando produced a belter of a delivery that had Mahmudul Hasan fending, leaving Kusal Mendis with a simple catch at slip. Bangladesh were reduced to 23/4 before Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das ensured there was no further damage. Brief scores: Bangladesh 365 and 34/4 trail Sri Lanka 506 all-out (Mathews 145 not out, Chandimal 124; Shakib 5-96, Ebadot 4-148) by 107 runs Islamabad, May 26 : Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has given the ruling government a deadline of six days to dissolve the assemblies and announce elections, threatening to bring back the entire country to the capital. The ultimatum was given by Imran Khan after he led a massive long march from Peshawar to the capital Islamabad with hundreds of thousands of his supporters on Wednesday. However, Khan's anti-government march, in which, he claimed to bring with him at least 2 million people, who would stage a sit-in in the capital Islamabad until the ruling government does not announce a date for early elections, was unable to create that public strength and momentum as government's steps to stop the masses through blockades and massive deployments of security forces with a free hand to use all means necessary from reaching or joining Imran Khan's long march, confronted the protesters and dealt with them with iron hands. Wednesday became one of Pakistan's and in particular Islamabad's worst as violent clashes seemed to erupt from all major cities of Pakistan with PTI protesters and security forces saw open use of force, baton charge, tear gas, turning the capital Islamabad, economic hub Karachi and Punjab provincial capital Lahore into a war zone and a battlefield. While this chaotic situation continued, Imran Khan, along with his supporters and party members marched from Peshawar towards Islamabad, removing all hurdles and calling on people to join in for what he called March for true freedom (Haqeeqi Azadi ki March) against what he termed as Imported Government. But Khan's rally that took at least 15 hours to cover a distance of 2 hours, was unable to gather more public strength. While the crowd was huge, it was certainly not even close to 2 million people. On the other hand, backdoor contacts remained active in view of the deteriorating situation in the country to engage both parties in negotiations and bring both to a mutual ground of understanding and de-escalate the situation that seemed to be moving towards a disastrous scenario. As per sources, PTI leadership flew to Islamabad mid day of Wednesday to have back door meetings with the government representatives and the establishment to work out an exit strategy and carry forward its narrative. The source confirmed that it was because of this backdoor deal that court's route was used to direct government to release all arrested PTI workers and remove all blockades from the route of the long march. This was also followed by an internal understanding that Imran Khan would be allowed to come to Islamabad, but will not stage a sit-in in the capital. As per sources, it has also been decided that both parties will make a negotiating team and sit together to decide on a date for early elections. Cannes, May 26 : Oscar-winning Hollywood star Tom Hanks on Thursday opened up about Colonel Tom Parker, the not-so-reputable character he plays in 'Elvis', the Baz Luhrmann-helmed biopic that opened to a thunderous reception at the 75th Cannes Film Festival. The first question Hanks fielded from journalists, according to 'Variety', concerned his thick, and at times unintelligible, Dutch-American accent as Colonel Parker in the movie. He skirted around the question and spoke at length instead about learning more about pop icon Elvis Presley's notorious manager, who "was a delightful guy" who could light up every room he walked into. "Was he a cheap crook that played fast and loose? Yeah, when it comes down to that, but I worked that all out to everyone's satisfaction," Hanks said. "He was a man who brought joy to everything he did -- along with a bit of larceny." He described Parker as a "mercurial and brilliant man who at the same time lined his own pockets". Critics have praised Austin Butler's tour de force performance as Elvis, but Hanks's accent for Parker has been singled out as one of the movie's weaker turns, according to 'Variety'. Some have even called Hanks's prosthetic nose and padding to resemble the heavy-set Parker distracting. Talking about Parker, Hanks said to laughs from the assembled media: "I'm not interested in playing a bad guy just for the sake of, 'Before I kill you Mr Bond would you like a tour of my installation?' That's okay. I get it, but I think that's for other stuff." He then went on to add: "What Baz tantalised me with right off the bat was, here's a guy who saw the opportunity to manifest a once-in-a-lifetime talent into a cultural force. He sought that and knew that about Elvis the first time he saw Elvis's effect on an audience. He realised that guy was forbidden fruit and you could make an awful lot of money off of forbidden fruit." New Delhi, May 26 : The Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Delhi Prisons Department for training and skill enhancement of the inmates. With the collaboration, the skill varsity shall offer different skill-based courses at Tihar Jail, from July this year, and award certificates upon successful completion of the programme which will enable the inmates to be gainfully employed upon release from jail. It is envisaged that skill training shall enable inmates upon release to have an opportunity to respectfully integrate themselves into the society. Officials said that the initiative is intended to support long term rehabilitation of the inmates and integration into the society. Skill University Vice Chancellor Prof. Neharika Vohra said this is not just as a skilling program but something which also builds agency among the inmates. "Through this initiative, we want to give the prisoners a second chance to lead a respectable life upon release," she averred. Director General (Prisons), Sandeep Goel remarked "this is the need of the hour". "With such a strong institutionalised collaboration, we could aim at long term reform of the prisoners. This programme will help us add various skill courses for inmates in our jails which will help them earn their livelihood upon release. This will give the inmates a better opportunity to lead a dignified life," the top prison official said. The University shall deploy trainers for imparting skill based courses for identified groups within the jail premises. It is proposed that a detailed assessment of existing skills and market requirements will be conducted before the launch of the courses, which shall be tailor-made for the prisoners. Mumbai police book 8 MOFSL execs for alleged harassment of female colleague Mumbai, May 26 (IANS) Mumbai Police have lodged a first information report against 8 senior executives of a major financial company, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd (MOFSL) for allegedly outraging the modesty of a 37-year-old female employee who was under suspension for reportedly making the male colleagues 'sexually uncomfortable'. The Dadar Police Station has filed the FIR under Indian Penal Code Sec 509 against the company's top executives ranging from Senior Manager to Board Member and Senior Group Vice-President - Sudhir Dhar, Gaurav Maniar, Rohit Singh, Ankit Jobanputra, Vijay Agarwal, Rohan Adawale, Prince Sharma and Suraj Pawar. The MOFSL has dismissed the allegations by the woman and said it would move an appropriate court to quash the FIR even as Dadar Police is investigating the matter in which no arrests have been made so far. The woman, working as Digital Marketing Assistant Vice President was placed under suspension on May 6 for two weeks on alleged grounds of making her male colleagues 'sexually uncomfortable', and after she approached the police, the suspension was extended. One of the senior persons named in the FIR, Maniar, had allegedly made certain explicit remarks on her clothes and dressing styles which made other males in the office 'sexually uncomfortable', he demanded to know which Gujarati caste she belonged to, and asked her to resign or the company would sack her. The woman said that the company is conducting an internal probe for which she was not called or contacted, but the company countered by saying she did not attend a meeting of the independent committee and her responses are awaited. When contacted by IANS, a MOFLS official spokesperson "flatly denied" all the baseless allegations by the woman who had worked with the company for barely a month. The MOFSL is also filing a quashing application before a competent court, added the spokesperson. Slamming the woman complainant, the MOFSL said: "Her behaviour at our organisation has been toxic and was making co-workers very unfortable... She had not complained or brought these allegations to the notice of the organisation before her suspension. These are her afterthoughts. She is trying to harass the people who had complained against her and also trying to damage the reputation of our organisation." The MOFLS said the company has nearly 10,000 employees with many women, has a stringent policy with a very strict code of conduct for all employees and a committee with an independent member for all such complaints. A listed entity, MOFSL has been a financial services major for over 35 years, offering a wide range of financial and investment-related services, with its headquarters at Prabhadevi in south central Mumbai. Mumbai, May 26 : Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil took a jibe at Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule, advising her to "go home and cook" instead of indulging in politics, and found himself in a hot soup, here on Thursday. Patil's comments came on Wednesday during a procession against the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government demanding OBC reservations, and a day later it became a raging row as he was slammed by various political parties, women leaders all over India and female activists. The BJP chief, responding to Supriya's statements, had said: "Why are you in politics even. Just go home and cook. Go to Delhi or go to a crematorium but get the OBC quotas." Rushing to his wife Supriya's defence, hubby Sadanand Sule attacked Patil for his way of speaking about his spouse, terming it as "an insult to all women". "I have always maintained that they (BJP) are misogynistic and demean women whenever they can. I am proud of my wife who is a home-maker, mother and a successful politician, one amongst many other hardworking and talented women in India," said Sadanand Sule. NCP Women Wing President Vidya Chavan said Patil - who had denied a ticket to a sitting woman BJP MLA Medha Kulkarni to contest the Kothrud (Pune) seat himself - "had no right to bad-mouth an MP who has been honoured with the 'Sansad Ratna Award' twice" for her good performance in parliament. "We know you believe in Manusmriti, but we won't keep quiet any more, (Patil) should learn to make chapatis and help his wife at home," Chavan said sharply. Ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) ally Shiv Sena Spokesperson Dr Manisha Kayande hit out at Patil, asking how at his age, he could be saying such things about a woman and termed the BJP as a 'party of goons'. Other senior women politicians like CPI-M's Suhasini Ali and DMK MP Kanimozhi, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, several Congress leaders and women's activists also gave a piece of their minds to Patil. Floundering under attacks from various quarters, Patil claimed that his statements were in a rustic style of speaking and meant no disrespect to Sule or women, and said whenever he meets her (Sule) they always greet each other with respect. Several other NCP leaders castigated Patil including Mahesh Tapase, Samir H. Dalwai, Rupali Chakankar, Clyde Crasto, who questioned the BJP's attitude towards womenfolk and whether this was the party's opinion in the "progressive BJP's vision" for the Indian women. Demonstrations and protests were organised against Patil in Pune and other places and memes mocking him were also circulated on social media. Kohima, May 26 : The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) categorically said that "the Naga national flag symbolises Naga political identity. It is not negotiable", in the editorial of its latest news bulletin "Nagalim Voice". It is unthinkable for NSCN-IM to accept the Naga national flag as a cultural flag as hinted by the Government of India. Since 1997, the Central Government has held more than 85 rounds of negotiations with the NSCN-IM and other Naga groups. However, the NSCN-IM's insistence on a separate Naga flag and Constitution have become a big hurdle in the way of resolving the Naga issue. The former interlocutor and then Governor of Nagaland, R.N. Ravi had rejected these demands repeatedly. The editorial of the May issue of Nagalim Voice, referring to the Framework Agreement signed on August 3, 2015, expressed: "Today, NSCN is watching how Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to handle Framework Agreement with NSCN and Naga people that he himself took so much pride in and credit for. When the high profile Framework Agreement was signed, Modi went histrionic as he called up all political leaders who matter to announce that he has solved the longest running insurgency movement in Southeast Asia. The world at large was, however, not impressed and waited to see how he would match his words with action acceptable to the Naga people." The editorial further read: "What is of concern to NSCN in particular, and to the Nagas in general is the habitual betraying of the Government of India after signing agreement after agreement." "Such was the depravity on the part of Government of India that every good thing gained during the 25 years of Indo-Naga political talks is facing the risk of going down the drain. The unfortunate development is tantamount to political blackmail," the editorial said. The Nagalim Voice said that NSCN cannot allow defilement to take place for the fourth time and this is the crux of the issue. "Everything is clear before the world," the Naga outfit said. "How could Naga people tread such hollow ground after more than six decades of blood, sweat, and tears. In spite of threat and pressure, NSCN will never lend itself to committing an act of abomination before God and treason before the Naga people," the Nagalim Voice stated. After Ravi was transferred to the gubernatorial post of Tamil Nadu last year, former Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau A.K. Mishra was appointed for Naga peace talks. There was an open difference of opinion between the NSCN-IM and Ravi leading to the deadlock in the peace process that culminated in his transfer to Tamil Nadu. Mishra, during his first visit to Nagaland in September last year, also discussed the Naga issue with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the Convener of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the northeast unit of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Mishra, in his second week-long visit from April 18, met Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, leaders of the NSCN-IM, Naga National Political Groups (NNPG), core committee on Naga political issues as well as the Naga civil society and discussed the matter. Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton, who is also a BJP leader, recently in a public meeting in Wokha district, categorically said that the Centre should resolve the Naga issue by August 15 this year. "If the Naga political issue is not settled now, the long pending issue would take another 100 years to settle," said Patton, who is a member of all the important committees, including the Core Committee on Naga political issues. During an Assembly session last month, all legislators across party lines strongly urged the Centre to settle the issue at the earliest as Assembly elections are due early next year. Participating in the discussion, Rio urged the negotiating parties to settle the issue, and that if a settlement cannot be reached, there should be a fresh mandate by the people on how to pursue the Naga political issue. Noting that 17 resolutions on the Naga political issue have been passed in the Assembly since 1964, he said: "But if a solution is not arrived at, and insurgency activities continue, the future of the younger generation remains at stake." Ahmedabad, May 26 : In a horrific incident, a teenager killed his minor cousin over the trivial issue of playing games on a cell phone. The incident took place at Goblej village of Kheda district in central Gujarat. Kheda Police Sub Inspector S.R. Prajapati said that two days ago, 16-year-old Jagrut (name changed) hit his 12-year-old cousin Vijesh on his head with a stone, after which he fell unconscious. Jagrut thought Vijesh died and fearing scolding from parents, he tied his legs and hands and threw him in the well. He then fled to his village Damsath in Banswara district in Rajasthan. The boy was brought back by the family and was arrested on Thursday afternoon before the Juvenile Board, said the cop. According to Jagrut's statement, he and his cousin Vijesh were playing games on his mobile phone. They both decided to have golgappa but Vijesh was insisting for the mobile phone for games. This angered Jagrut and he struck Vijesh with a stone. The accused took the family members to the well in which he had thrown his cousin. Vijesh's father Jitmal Valhi identified him by seeing his legs in the well and informed Kheda Town Police, which called the fire brigade and retrieved the deceased's body and sent it for postmortem. Jitmal Valhi and his brother (Jagrut's father) are from Rajasthan. They moved to Goblej village with their families and were working as labourers. As the two children went missing, the families searched for them and when they learned that Jagrut had reached their native village, they brought him back. Upon return, he confessed to his crime before his family members, said the complainant Jitmal. A map showing the location (with red pin) of the city of Ngaoundere in Cameroon. Police in northern Cameroon said they have freed 70 children from an illegal disciplinary camp, where the children say they were left by their parents to be chained and beaten. According to authorities, camp workers were detained and the injured and traumatized children are being treated. Cameroon police said they entered an illegal disciplinary camp, known locally as a traditional rehabilitation center for wayward children, in the city of Ngaoundere. Police said they freed 70 boys and girls 6 to 14 years old Tuesday, with many limping as a result of torture and others with fresh wounds. Among the freed children is 14-year-old Alim Iddrisou, who said when he refused to attend a Quranic school in March 2020, his parents accused him of having a lack of respect for community rules and elders and took him to the center. He said God saved his life and gave him courage to bear the gruesome torture inflicted on him by workers of the center. He said he spent the first of his two years in the camp with his feet chained, and each child was served a poorly cooked meal each day and anyone who complained was beaten by the camp's guards. Speaking on local media, Iddrisou said each time the few toilets in the camp were occupied, workers forced children to defecate in plastic bags or urinate in bottles. He said older boys were escorted to empty the feces and urine in a nearby stream at night. The freed children said four of their peers died of torture and starvation within the past three months and they do not know where their bodies were buried. Police acknowledge that a few children died. The government said it is still trying to identify their parents. Kildadi Taguieke Boukar is the governor of Cameroon's Adamawa region, where Ngaoundere is located, said he ordered children who looked tired and frail to be rushed to local hospitals. Boukar also said he has asked police to locate parents of the freed children so they can answer to charges that will include child abuse and negligence. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Cameroon Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Boukar ordered local government officials, clerics, elite, community leaders and village chiefs to help put a stop to this form of primitiveness and torture by reporting promoters of such disciplinary camps to the police. He said parents who send their children to such camps will be punished, as Cameroon is a state of laws and its citizens must respect human rights or face the consequences. Owners of the camp and its workers have been arrested by police. The camp owners are to be charged with torture, homicide, illegal detention and child abuse. Rights groups like the Yaounde-headquartered Center for Religious Studies and some Muslim groups like the Council of Imams and Muslim Dignitaries of Cameroon, have previously criticized what they call the proliferation of Islamic disciplinary camps in Cameroon. The government says even though such camps were prohibited in 2017, many are hidden within communities and operate illegally. The government says it will locate and close such centers and educate parents about the abuses committed there. London, May 26 : Monkeypox virus may persist in the body for 10 weeks, even after the tell-tale rash has disappeared, according to a retrospective study published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases. The finding, led by a team of researchers from Liverpool University Hospitals, is based on an analysis of the UK's seven previous cases, who were struck down between 2018 and 2021. According to the research, one of the UK's seven previous cases - a man in his 40s, who caught monkeypox in Nigeria before being hospitalised in the UK - still tested positive 76 days after first falling ill, Daily Mail reported The man, who wasn't identified, was given the all clear and sent home from hospital a few weeks after being struck down with the virus. Six weeks later, when he had sex for the first time after his illness, his virus came back, the doctors claimed. The man told doctors how his lymph nodes had swollen in size, researchers wrote in the paper. This swelling came with pustular skin lesions, characteristic of monkeypox. Subsequent PCR tests of the lesions and his throat came back positive for the virus. But the man's relapse was short and he was 'otherwise clinically well', the report said. Although the study reported detection of monkeypox virus in blood and throat swabs, lead author Dr. Hugh Adler from the Hospital said they were "surprised" that the virus could linger in the throat and blood "for that length of time". "It remains positive in the throat and blood for the length of the illness and maybe even longer after the rash," he was quoted as saying. Traditionally, monkeypox patients are considered infectious while they have the characteristic rash and lesions, which tend to scab over and fall off after a few weeks. The man did have a second rash, which likely means he was infectious again, the report said. Other patients tested positive for monkeypox on PCR tests up to four weeks after their rash disappeared. No other patients experienced a relapse. Dr Adler warned more research was needed to confirm whether the virus could be transmissible after the hallmark rash has disappeared, the report said. "We don't, in our paper, see any signal these patients are infectious for longer than the rash persisted. But it is a very notable finding that has not been demonstrated before that changes our understanding of how the disease works," he added. Monkeypox has for the first time been widespread in countries, where it is not typically found. The current outbreak has affected nearly 300 people, spread across more than a dozen countries. hile the virus itself is not a sexually transmitted infection, which are generally spread through semen and vaginal fluids, the most recent surge in cases appears to have been spread among men who have sex with other men. Latest updates on Monkeypox Virus Outbreak Karachi, May 26 : Foreign banks have stopped offering trade credit for oil imports to Pakistan refineries, and some suppliers are seeking payment upfront to avoid potential problems resulting from political standoff in the country, the media reported. They said politically-tense Pakistan is likely to face fuel shortages in days to come as international banks have refused to confirm letter of credits (LCs) for oil import orders citing "high country risk" alert, The News reported. For the import of crude oil from the global market, LCs are opened by the local banks. However international banks confirm the LCs of local partners to provide guarantee to the exporter. Under the guarantee if a Pakistani bank defaults on a payment to an exporter, its international counterpart pays the amount. "The political unrest has increased the country's risk in the eyes of international banks and they are reluctant to confirm LCs," a source in the oil sector told The News. The source said a quasi-stalemate in Pakistan's talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had also complicated the situation. "The deadlock has created a serious credibility crisis for the country in the global market." Sources pointed out that following the Sri Lanka default, an overall negative environment emerged in Pakistan, being perceived as the next country heading towards a default after a serious balance of payment crisis and a huge erosion of foreign exchange reserves, The News reported. "This situation has not only severely dented Pakistan's credit rating, but it also has added to the country's risk especially for confirming the LCs." Sources said that refineries and oil marketing companies (OMCs) are in serious trouble. Chennai, May 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said his government is focused on developing top class infrastructure in the country. Dedicating to the nation and laying the foundation stone of 11 projects worth over Rs 31,530 crore here, Modi said history proves that nations that gave importance to infrastructure development moved from developing country to developed one. He said the people have gathered at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here to celebrate another glorious chapter of Tamil Nadu. Modi said parents of today would like their children to enjoy top quality infrastructure and the Indian government is focused on building that. According to Modi, infrastructure means social-housing, toilets, financial inclusion, piped water supply to every home and others, as well as physical that would benefit the youth. He also said the term infrastructure has changed from conventional sectors like roads, power and water to gas pipelines, high speed internet and others. Referring to the mega Rs 100 lakh crore programme National Infrastructure Pipeline, Modi said the government is committed to complete the infrastructure projects on time. PM Modi dedicated to the nation five projects worth over Rs 2,960 crore. The 75 km long Madurai-Theni (Railway Gauge Conversion Project), built at a project cost of over Rs 500 crore, will facilitate access and give a boost to tourism in the region. The 30 km long third railway line between Tambaram - Chengalpattu, built at a project cost of over Rs 590 crore, will facilitate running of more suburban services, thus offering greater options and enhancing comfort for the travellers. The 115 km long Ennore-Chengalpattu section and 271 km long Thiruvallur-Bengaluru section of Ennore-Thiruvallur-Bengaluru-Puducherry-Nagapattinam-Madurai-Tuticorin (ETBPNMT) natural gas pipeline, built at a project cost of around Rs 850 crore and Rs 910 crore respectively, will facilitate supply of natural gas to consumers as well industries in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The programme also witnessed inauguration of 1,152 houses constructed as part of the Light House Project - Chennai, built at a cost of Rs 116 crore under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban. PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of six projects, being built at a cost of over Rs 28,540 crore. The 262 km long Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway will be built at a cost of over Rs 14,870 crore. It will pass-through the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and help reduce travel time between Bengaluru and Chennai by 2-3 hours. The four lane double decker elevated road connecting Chennai Port to Maduravoyal (NH-4), of about 21 km in length, will be built at a cost of over Rs 5,850 crore. It will facilitate round the clock approach of goods vehicles to Chennai port. The 94 km long four lane Neraluru to Dharmapuri section of NH-844 and 31 km long 2 lane with paved shoulders of Meensurutti to Chidambaram section of NH-227, being built at a cost of around Rs 3,870 crore and Rs 720 respectively, will help provide seamless connectivity in the region. The foundation stones for redevelopment of five Railway stations: Chennai Egmore, Rameswaram, Madurai, Katpadi and Kanyakumari, were also laid during the programme. This project will be completed at a cost of over Rs 1,800 crore, and is being undertaken with a view to enhance convenience and comfort of the passengers through provision of modern amenities. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of a Multi Modal Logistic Park at Chennai worth around Rs 1,430 crore. It will provide seamless intermodal freight movement and also offer multiple functionalities. He concluded by reiterating the country's collective resolve to fulfil the dreams of our freedom fighters during the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Union Minister L. Murugan and others participated in the function. New Delhi, May 26 : A 40-year-old woman got her husband killed by a contract killer over an illicit affair with another man, an official said on Thursday. The accused were identified as Zeeba Qureshi (40), Shoaib (29) and the contract killer Vinit Goswami. Furnishing details, DCP Shweta Chauhan said on May 17 at about 10 p.m., a sensational firing incident took place in front of gate No 3 Khalsa School at Kalidas Road which is a densely populated area of Daryaganj, Delhi. The complainant Rukmuddin Qureshi stated that his elder brother Moinuddin Qureshi was present at workshop, at about 10 p.m. when he came out to urinate near gate No 3 Khalsa School. Suddenly the complainant heard firing sound and saw that blood was oozing out from the body of his brother Moinuddin. His brother told him that someone had fired upon him. The complainant took Moinuddin to LNJP Hospital where he succumbed to gunshot injury. Accordingly, the police registered a case under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code at Daryaganj police station. During investigation, details of similar cases of gunshot murders and firing incidents occurred in Delhi were obtained. On analysis of the CCTV footage & technical surveillance, it was ascertained that the shooters involved may have belonged to the state of UP as a white colour motorcycle used in commission of murder was found abandoned near Tara Hotel, Daryaganj and on verification it was found stolen from Meerut, UP. "More than 500 CCTV footages, examination of more than 100 public persons and local human intelligence got information about the accused persons involved in the said offence and all the three were apprehended," the official said. During interrogation it was learnt that accused Zeeba Qureshi was not happy with her husband and she wanted to get rid of him and to solemnize "Nikah" with some other person. About 2 years ago, she came in contact with accused Shoaib through Facebook and after that both of them started meeting each other. Accused Zeeba Qureshi lured and instigated accused Shoaib to kill her husband and to marry her. After that accused Shoaib searched for a contract killer and he came in contact with Vinit Goswami and he consented to kill Moinuddin Qureshi in lieu of Rs 6 lakh. On May 17 at about 10 p.m., when Moinuddin Qureshi was urinating near near gate No 3 Khalsa School, accused Vinit Goswami shot him at a very close range and both of them ran away from the spot on the stolen white colour motorcycle having a fake number plate. All the three accused have been arrested under relevant sections and further probe is still on, the official added. Chennai, May 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said his government is committed to the development of Tamil language and culture. PM Modi also said it gives him a nice feeling to be back in Tamil Nadu, the land of great persons like poet saint Thiruvalluvar and poet and freedom fighter Subramania Bharathi. Quoting Bharathi's lines "Senthamizh nadu ennum podhiniley, enba thean vandhu payudhu kaadhinilay," which means it is very sweet like honey to hear the word Tamil Nadu, Modi said the people, language and culture are outstanding. Pointing to the setting up of the Subramania Bharathi Chair on Tamil Studies at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Modi added that the joy for him was extra special as the institution is located in Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency. In January this year, the new campus of Central Institute of Classical Tamil was inaugurated in Chennai. The new campus is fully funded by the Union Government, Modi said. At the outset he said that people from Tamil Nadu excel in various fields and recalled hosting the Deaflympics contingent. He said this time it was India's best performance in the tournament. Out of the 16 medals India won, youngsters from Tamil Nadu had a role in 6 of them. Further commenting on rich Tamil culture, the Prime Minister said the Tamil language is eternal and the Tamil culture is global -- from Chennai to Canada, from Madurai to Malaysia, from Namakkal to New York, from Salem to South Africa. The occasions of Pongal and Puthandu are marked with great fervour. Modi also told the gathering that Union Minister and son of the soil L. Murugan wearing the state's traditional dress walked on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival making Tamil people all over the world proud. It should be noted that many leading politicians in Tamil Nadu will be coated and booted while visiting overseas. Be that as it may, Modi also said the National Education Policy enables technical and medical courses in the local languages and the Tamil youth would benefit. Raipur, May 26 : Learning new techniques of cash crop farming, a group of women in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh successfully started papaya farming on barren land, a source of inspiration for other women that nothing is impossible to achieve. A group of women in Mangalpur village of Bastar formed the 'Maa Danteshwari Papai Utpadak Samiti' in which 43 women joined and decided to cultivate papaya on barren land. Their hard work finally paid off and they successfully produced papaya worth Rs 40 lakh. Hemvati Kashyap, Secretary of Maa Danteshwari Papai Utpadak Samiti, tells that she did a business of Rs 40 lakh by growing 300 tonnes of papaya on 10-acre land. The women were invited to visit Delhi for the first time in an aeroplane. "Our lives are changing," Kashyap said. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel congratulated the women for travelling in a plane to New Delhi. He said they earn a profit of Rs 10 lakh a year by recovering the cost. Hema Kashyap said that the land was quite rocky and barren. So, to make it cultivable, they had to toil for one and a half month. She said women picked stones with their own hands and removed nearly 100 trolley of rocks. The ground was made fit for cultivation by bringing red soil from outside. The women associated with this self-help group say that places were selected and made ready for planting papaya. The preparation work for land was started by the women of the self-help group in December 2021 which lasted for about one and a half months. On January 11, 2021, the planting of papaya saplings started. Due to the hard work put in by the women, 5500 papaya plants are flourishing on a 10 acre area. As much as 300 tonnes of papaya have been produced till now and vegetables are being grown on the same land by inter-cropping. It is being claimed that for the first time the Amina variety of papaya is being cultivated in Bastar which are not only sweet and tasty, but nutritious as well. The sweet taste of papaya grown by women in Mangalpur village across Darbha block of Bastar is fast spreading to Delhi. In Delhi's Azadpur mandi, three consignments of papaya of nearly five tonnes each have been sold at Rs 80 per kg. These women have used automated drip irrigation system to grow papaya due to which water and soluble fertilisers reach the papaya roots in appropriate quantity. Experts say that farming is possible only with the help of drip irrigation technology on rocky soil. Irrigation system operator Manish Kashyap has told that this entire irrigation system is computerised and can be operated from anywhere with the help of internet connection. Women have also built a state-of-the-art weather station by which the appropriate temperature, evaporation rate, soil moisture, moisture content in the air, wind speed and wind direction are measured. Women are using the information for irrigation through the app in their mobile phones and productivity has increased with the use of the technology. Chennai, May 26 : As a close friend and neighbour, India is providing support to Sri Lanka which is reeling under a serious economic crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Thursday. He was speaking at a function here where he dedicated to the nation some infrastructure projects and laid the foundation stones for some new projects cumulatively valued at about Rs 31,500 crore. Modi said Sri Lanka is passing through difficult times. "I am sure you are concerned with the developments there. As a close friend and neighbour, India is providing all possible support to Sri Lanka," Modi said. Recalling his visit to Jaffna in Sri Lanka, Modi said he was the first Indian Prime Minister to visit that place. He said the Government of India is undertaking numerous projects to assist Tamil people in Sri Lanka. These projects cover healthcare, transportation, housing and culture. Earlier speaking at the function, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin urged PM Modi to secure the Katchatheevu islet transferred to Sri Lanka long back. New Delhi, May 26 : Underlining the "high fees" being charged by the National Board of Examination for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Postgraduate (NEET-PG), junior doctors questioned the lack of basic facilities at various centres during the recent test. The NEET PG 2022 exam was held on May 21. Talking to IANS, a NEET PG aspirant, on the condition of anonymity, said that the charges are being increased every year but the NBE didn't provide even any basic facilities during the examination period. She said that despite such scorching heat, even fans were not running at many centres across many states. Taking notes of aspirants' complaints, the Federation of All India Medical Association, in a statement, said: "Doctors at the Federation of All India Medical Association are getting complaints from students who took the NEET PG 2022 examination held on May 21 regarding the poor administrative management at the examination centres all over the country." "It is shameful for the National Board of Examination to charge such exorbitant fees for merely appearing in an examination and do not provide even water to students at such high temperature." "NBE is charging Rs 1,500 for NEET UG exam and Rs 5,000 for NEET PG. It is unacceptable because various platforms in India is conducting online medical exams at 1000-1500 very smoothly. This fee should be revised to minimal because student appears this exam more than once," FAIMA President, Dr. Rohan Krishnan, told IANS. He also said that various organisations such as Delhi AIIMS, AIIMS Rishikesh, INICET, ESI releases an answer key the next day after exams and gives clear cut data of which questions were marked right or wrong by candidate. But NBE lacks this transparency which should change, he added. New Delhi, May 26 : India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Tokyo for his second in-person Quad summit scheduled for May 23-25, and he held bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The leaders reviewed progress of Quad initiatives and Working Groups formed on Covid-19 vaccine distribution, critical and emerging technologies, cyber-security, climate change, infrastructure, maritime security, countering disinformation, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and other issues, identified new areas of promotion and mutual cooperation and provided strategic guidance and vision for future collaboration. The situation in Ukraine is expected to dominate the discussions. PM Modi also addressed a business summit and met members of the Indian community in Tokyo. The summit in Tokyo is the fourth interaction of Quad leaders since their first virtual meeting in March 2021, in-person Summit in Washington DC in September 2021 and virtual meeting in March 2022. Under Quad, the vibrant democracies -- US, Japan, Australia and India are representing different regions looking to build a security architecture using concept of democratic peace. Further, S. Huntington in his seminal work, Clash of Civilizations argues that the unholy alliance between Islamic and Confucian civilizations is the most fundamental threat to the international order. Earlier during QUAD in-person Summit in Washington DC in September 2021, the initiatives put forward by the leaders were e.g. ending the Covid-19 pandemic, including increasing production and access to safe and effective vaccines, and promoting high-standards infrastructure. They also discussed combating the climate calamity, partnering on emerging technologies, space and cyber-security, and cultivating next-generation talent. The upcoming Quad summit is expected to take stock of the Russia's Ukraine war, and the impact of three months of Western sanctions. India is the only Quad member that has not joined sanctions against Russia nor has it directly criticised Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. India has also increased its intake of Russian oil, buying more oil in March-April 2022, an estimated 40 million barrels more than it had in all of 2021, while the other Quad members, members of the G-7 and NATO have pledged to end their imports from Russia in time. More recently, the issue of India's ban on wheat exports10 have been taken up by the US and the EU, which has appealed to India to reconsider. India's stand on the wheat exports ban, with some exceptions, had been outlined at the UN Security Council, emphasising on the importance of "affordability and accessibility" when it comes to food grains. India has the view that open markets must not become an argument to perpetuate inequity and promote discrimination. The Quad Vaccine Initiative had earlier planned a billion US-developed and funded vaccine doses manufactured in India and distributed by Japan and Australia by end 2022. It ran into trouble over indemnity and other issues, and no vaccines have been distributed yet as part of the project designated at Hyderabad-based Biological-E Limited. It is important to add that India distributed other vaccines to several countries individually so far, and it remains to be seen whether the upcoming Quad summit will see a "review" of the vaccine initiative under Quad umbrella. The most noteworthy outcome of the last Summit was Quad pledging to deliver a billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine throughout the Indo-Pacific by the end of 2022 that was widely seen as a bid to counter China's influence in the region. We should note that US State Department claimed that Chinese military scientists presenting a new era of genetic weapons allegedly investigated weaponising coronaviruses five years before the Covid-19 pandemic, 14 and also predicted a World War III would be fought with biological weapons to collapse the enemy's medical system. It should be noted that the high seas belong to mankind, and its economic zones are in an exclusively possession of the adjacent coastal states. We are well aware about the Chinese tactics of dominance under its most ambitious, extensive and expensive project in the world, Belt-Road trap in which on the name of economic integration, China is engaged in construction of roads, railway lines, shipping routes, ports, oil refineries, industrial parks, and power plants to more than fifty countries across the globe costing between one to eight trillion dollars. Yet, the BRI is fast turning into belt and roads blocks with potholes. BRI is not a gift, but a debt trap with a singular strategy in hand to lure the developing fragile nations into borrowing more than they can afford and pay off. Keeping the above in mind, US wants to propose an ambitious economic initiative for the region in this summit, i.e. the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), designed to tackle emerging economic challenges in the post Covid-19 age. IPEF will work on ranging "from setting the rules of the digital economy ensuring secure and resilient supply chains to managing the energy transition to investing in clean, modern high standards infrastructure". In the field of critical and emerging technologies, the Quad member states are expected to launch a satellite-based maritime initiative to curb illegal fishing in the Indo-Pacific region. The system will enable to monitor illegal fishing even when fishing boats have turned off the transponders. The launch is aimed at stopping China from its alleged illegal fishing which is allegedly responsible for 95 per cent of the illegal fishing in the Indo-Pacific. India and US are also expected to discuss India-US Strategic Partnership. PM Modi and the Australian PM are expected to review the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Indian PM will have a bilateral meeting with Japan Prime Minister Kishida which will provide an opportunity to carry forward their conversations from the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit held in March 2022, when PM Kishida visited India. PM Modi will also participate in a business event with Japanese business leaders and address and interact with the Indian community in Japan. Since the establishment of QUAD, China accuses Quad to sow discord by projecting China as a potential threat and fabricated lies about it, maliciously manufactured political confrontation, continuing cold war psyche and of ideological prejudice. Further, it has also advised the group to refrain forming exclusive small cliques. Chinese reference of Quad meeting as selective multilateralism and Covid politics showed its high frustration because of emerged alternative international collaboration on global vaccination, something which China had unilaterally reserved for itself for profiteering. China's Global Times, the propaganda mouthpiece, categorised India as Negative Asset for BRICS and SCO failing to understand Chinese goodwill. Making Quad effective against China, the member countries must stand together against Chinese plots on the principle of collective security. Further, the Quad meeting could be seen as a step in the right direction both in the security realm where the rise and advancement of authoritarian China is noticeable; also, in the domains of technology, climate, infrastructure and global pandemic. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, May 26 : Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani has said that as a response to global conditions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme is precisely the catalyst India needs to step up and strengthen self-reliance across all sectors - be it vaccinations, defence, or semiconductors. In his thoughts on the recent visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, he said that it is clear, in this uncertain time, that there is little alternative to effective, confident self-reliance and that we are now onto this era of self-reliance. "As we go through this process there will be pushbacks - and we will run into controversies in other parts of the world. So be it. Many will try to stop us building semiconductor plants. Many will dissuade us from investing a larger portion of our GDP in defence. Our principles will come under criticism. What we must keep in mind is that many of those who set targets for emissions reductions for India are also those that shy away from acknowledging the disproportionate responsibility borne by a small number of developed countries for the climate crisis. In other words, it is far easier to talk than to walk the talk," he said. "India is right to focus on self-reliance, while also seeking to provide an alternative to a world in need of alternatives. If there is a rejigging of the world order, it needs to be one that is based on respectful multipolarity. The world need not be flat. Not when flatness really just means that the world has been forcefully flattened," Adani said. "Instead, let's seek a more stable world order built around countries that are self-confident, self-reliant and willing to speak to each other in terms of mutual respect rather than coercion and condescension. This is the paradox we must solve!" "I must admit that the very large presence of India at the WEF, even in these times, was reassuring. It showed that India is no longer shy about asserting itself in the global arena. It was a sign of our growing confidence. It was a sign of our belief in the India story, and I am glad I was in Davos to experience this for myself!" he added. Adani said this state of global affairs has forced us to confront the resulting realpolitik directly rather than hide behind a faAade of global cooperation. "On one side, we are too connected now, bound together by trade and the brute logic of the supply chain. But on the other, a combination of the pandemic, followed by the war in Ukraine and the effort to limit climate change, has exposed the limits of global cooperation," he said. Adani said that international alliances and pacts are mutable, built on slippery foundations of self-interest. Indeed, many of the most economically developed nations on the planet are scrambling to find alternatives to a world they have largely brought about, recognising belatedly that in the quest for hyper efficiencies they have become too reliant on some nations to meet manufacturing needs and too reliant on others to meet energy needs. analysis Mogadishu Somalia's prime minister has suspended his foreign affairs minister over allegations that he authorized an illegal shipment of charcoal to Oman. The Somali government banned charcoal exports a decade ago to prevent deforestation and the funding of conflicts. However, analysts say the shipment was not the real reason for the suspension. The suspension of Foreign Affairs Minister Abdisaid Muse is equivalent to a dismissal and came after he authorized a ship to leave Somalia carrying a load of charcoal. The shipment violates Somalia's laws preventing charcoal exports. However, Muse's suspension was long expected because Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble is expected to be replaced by incoming Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Isak Farhan, deputy director of Somali Public Agenda, a research group based in Mogadishu, notes that Muse was close to outgoing Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, and had ignored letters from the prime minister, including one that fired African Union Special Envoy to Somalia Francisco Maidera. Isak says the suspension could be seen as a result of poor cooperation between the minister of foreign affairs and the prime minister. He says, we know that minister was the national security adviser to the outgoing president, and with the confidence of the president, he was later appointed foreign minister. Apparently, he says, the minister did not report to the prime minister and did not listen to his suggestions. Isak says the export of charcoal is a highly sensitive issue in Somalia because makers of charcoal cut down trees and cause damage to the environment. He says, it is illegal to export and log coal in Somalia because it contributes to land degradation, drought, and famine. Somalia is semi-arid, he says, so logging forests will exacerbate desertification. Hassan Sheikh, a professor who teaches at Somalia's universities, says Muse's action sends a bad signal. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Somalia Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He says, I find it particularly regrettable that some people are still involved with logging trees in Somalia, let alone a government official, such as the foreign minister, to permit a ship to carry charcoal to Oman. He says that will certainly encourage those who were discouraged to continue logging the trees. The professor noted that charcoal exports were banned by both the Somalia government and the United Nations Security Council in 2012, and that U.N. monitors are particularly vigilant about enforcing the ban. He says, among the U.N. monitoring group's work is the ban on charcoal, which threatens Somalia's environment as it continues to become a desert, because Somalia is progressing towards desert. It is still a mystery why the foreign affairs minister authorized an illegal charcoal export, but it is no secret that many Somali politicians take advantage of transitions between administrations, by putting their own interests ahead of the general public's. New Delhi, May 26 : Three people, including a woman, were injured in an cooking gas cylinder explosion in south Delhi on Thursday, a Fire Department official said. The official told IANS that they received a call about a blast and house collapse around 9 p.m. at C block, Phase 1, Rajpur near Chattarpur in south Delhi after which five fire tenders were immediately pressed into service. "Second and third floor of the building were damaged in the blast that occurred due to LPG leakage," Delhi Fire Service chief Atul Garg said, adding the injured were shifted to a nearby hospital. "Usually the blast results in a fire, however, this time there was no such thing," another fire department official said, adding the situation is under control. Patna, May 26 : RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday said that as long as his party would be in the opposition, central agencies will continue to raid him and his family members. After returning from London, he said: "We are in the opposition and as long as we stay in this position, the ruling parties would misuse the constitutional agencies against us to conduct raids. This was not new to us. We are witnessing such raids from our childhood. This was not the first raid and I am not saying that this would be the last one." Tejashwi Yadav, along with his wife Rajshree Yadav, were in London when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids on the 16 properties of Lalu Prasad and his other family members and relatives on May 20 in an alleged railway job scam. "People sitting the government are getting richer and richer but agencies would not conduct raids on them. The people of Bihar are watching it how they are unnecessarily penalising Lalu Praad Yadav," he said. "During his tenure as Railway Minister of the country, the department had gained Rs 90,000 crore profit. He gave permanent jobs to coolies, ran AC trains for poor (Garib Rath express train), allowed 'Kulhar Wala Chai' (clay teapots) in the railway to benefit Kumhar community people and now the Narendra Modi government is selling Indian railway," Tejashwi Yadav said. Reacting on his closeness with Nitish Kumar, he said that he had proposed for the caste-based census and meet Prime Minister on this issue last year. On Rajya Sabha candidate, Tejashwi said that RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav will announce the names of the candidates officially. Sources have said that the RJD has selected Misa Bharti and Fyaz Ahmed and they are expected to file nominations on Friday. Washington, May 26 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that while the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine was an immediate threat to the international order, his country remained focussed on China because the latter posed the most serious and long-term challenge. Laying out the Biden administration's long awaited China policy, he said Beijing had been undermining the very international rules, laws, and institutions that enabled its emergence and rise and that under President Xi Jinping, the ruling Chinese Communist Party had become more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad. "Russian President Vladimir Putin poses a clear and present threat and attacking Ukraine three months ago, he also attacked the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in the UN Charter to protect all countries from being conquered or coerced," the Secretary of State said and went on detail the military and diplomatic reverses suffered by Russia. But, he added, "even as President Putin's war continues, we will remain focused on the most serious, long term challenge to the international order. And that's posed by the People's Republic of China. China's the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order, and increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do it". The US is not seeking conflict or a new cold war and it also does not want to block China's rise as a global political or economic power, the top US diplomat made clear. But citing Xi-led China's repressive measures at home and aggressive behaviour abroad and its "no limits" pact with Putin's Russia just before the Ukraine invasion, Blinken said Beijing cannot be relied upon to change this "trajectory" on its own. The US will, therefore, "shape the strategic environment around Beijing to advance our vision for an open, inclusive international system", he added. The Biden administration's China policy will stand on three pillars of "invest, align and compete", Blinken said. The US will invest to restore America's leadership in invention and innovation, work with its network of allies in the Indo-Pacific and around the world and compete with China. "We will invest in the foundations of our strength here at home, our competitiveness, our innovation, our democracy. We will align our efforts with our network of allies and partners acting with common purpose and in common cause and harnessing these two key assets will compete with China to defend our interests, and build our vision for the future," he added. Blinken spoke of the Quad in this context, referring to a grouping of the US, India, Japan and Australia that is focused on the Indo-Pacific region. The group leaders held met in Tokyo earlier in the week, which was their fourth summit since the first in March of 2021. He also mentioned India's membership of the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, which was launched by President Joe Biden in Tokyo past Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. But the US will also "engage constructively" with China where it can. "Not as a favor to us or anyone else, and never in exchange for walking away from our principles," Blinken said, "but because working together to solve great challenges is what the world expects from great powers, and because it's directly in our interests to do so". Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, May 26 : Citing reasons such as felling of 30,000 trees, location in seismic zone, unscientific studies, and evidence of tiger presence in and around the project area, a group of activists on Thursday demanded reconsideration of the proposed Etalin hydroelectric project (HEP) in Dibang basin of Arunachal Pradesh. The 3097 MW Etalin hydroelectric project (HEP) is the largest hydropower project proposed in the country. The Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India, a network of about 800 individuals and organisations who are involved in the water sector issues in general and water conflicts in particular since 2004-05, has written a letter to the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to reconsider the project citing multiple, specific reasons. Drawing attention to what they termed as "destructive content of the proposed Etalin HEP", the members of the Steering Committee of the Forum said they are "deeply concerned" about the all round destruction the Etalin project can cause - ecology of the region, socio-cultural milieu of the people, especially the indigenous Idu Mishmi communities, and their nature-dependent livelihoods." The specific reasons included, first and foremost, the proposed destruction of 30,000 trees in old growth forest in a biodiversity hotspot. "The ecosystem services of such a forest cannot be compensated in any way by plantation or compensatory afforestation programmes," the letter said, and reminded of violations in compensatory measures regarding two similar projects in that state. The Forum also sought to remind the FAC of how the Dibang Valley is prone to natural hazards "as it lies on a seismically active zone" and also has melting glacial lakes. The Forum letter - addressed to Sanjay Deshmukh, chairperson of the FAC sub-committee for the purpose - drew attention to the fact that 29 scientists from 16 research institutions had poked holes in the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) report that had been the basis of the project proposal. "It is our hope and plea that as an expert committee, the FAC must not base such an important decision that can have unimaginable consequences on such an error-ridden report." It also mentioned how the WII report omitted reference to the presence of tigers in and around the project area. The minutes of the meetings of the FAC meeting held on May 11 shows that none of the issues raised by experts and local citizens have been addressed either by the sub-committee or the state. Apart from the technical and scientific issues, the Forum letter also stated how the indigenous Idu Mishmi community that inhibits the Dibang Valley has a population of only about 10,000 people. Etalin is one of the 17 proposed HEPs in the Valley and the possible influx of outsiders can make Idu Mishmis minorities in their own area and impact their way of life, the activists said. Srinagar, May 26 : The killers of Kashmiri artiste Amreen Bhat killed by terrorists on Wednesday have been trapped in an ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces at Aganhanzipora area at Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said on Thursday. "Both killers (LeT terrorists) trapped in Awantipora encounter," Jammu and Kashmir Police quoting Inspector General Police Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar tweeted. The firefight between terrorists and security forces took place after a joint team of the police and the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about presence of terrorists. As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter. Paris, May 26 : World No 1 Iga Swiatek extended her winning streak to 30 consecutive matches with a 6-0, 6-2 victory against American Alison Riske in the second round of the French Open, here on Thursday. Swiatek hit 23 winners to 15 unforced errors in 61 minutes and lost just 10 points in seven service games. She improved to 3-0 against Riske with the victory, with all three wins coming on clay; they played in both Madrid and Rome last year. Over the course of her winning streak, the Pole star has been on the record saying that she's been taking her matches just one point at a time.That mentality was on full display against Riske at the start of the second set. After holding serve to lead 6-0, 1-0, Swiatek sat down in her chair, sipping from her water bottle and expecting a full changeover. She knowingly jumped up moments later after an amusing exchange with chair umpire Emmanuel Joseph, complete with a nearly literal spit-take. Montenegro's Danka Kovinic will be Swiatek's next opponent after upsetting No 25 seed Liudmila Samsonova in Round 1, she matched her best-ever Grand Slam performance thanks to a 6-3, 7-5 win over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova. Kovinic also reached the third round of the Australian Open earlier this year. Meanwhile, No 7 seed Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the last 32 in Paris for the third year running after a 6-1, 6-3 win over American Madison Brengle. Sabalenka broke Brengle five times in a 62-minute victory, and hit 37 winners to 24 unforced errors. Her plus-13 differential between winners and unforced errors was a cleaner shower than the 42 winners to 50 unforced errors she struck against Paquet in Round 1. Though she was the bigger hitter in each of her first two rounds, Sabalenka's third round foe will no doubt match her for power: She will face No. 28 seed Camila Giorgi of Italy next. Elsewhere in the Top 10, and in a match that guaranteed an American in Round 3, No 9 seed Danielle Collins was beaten by compatriot Shelby Rogers, 6-4, 6-3. Guwahati, May 26 : The death toll from the pre-monsoon flood in Assam rose to 30 as two more deaths were reported on Thursday, officials said, adding at least 5.61 people remained affected in the state's 12 districts even as the flood situation saw some marginal improvement. Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said that an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) of seven members arrived in Guwahati on Thursday to study the flood-ravaged Assam districts. To accelerate an effective damage assessment, IMCT members would be divided into two groups for visiting the affected districts. The one group including the IMCT leader Ravinesh Kumar, Financial Advisor, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of the Home Ministry, will visit Cachar and Dima Hasao districts on Friday and Saturday while another would visit Darrang, Nagaon and Hojai districts on May 27-28. According to the ASDMA officials, despite some improvement in the flood situation, at least 5,61,149 people, including 1,13,139 children of 956 villages have now been affected in 12 of the state's 34 districts. Of the 30 deaths, 25, including children, died in floods and remaining five in landslides in different districts. Over 47,139 hectares of crop areas remained affected in flood-hit areas, an ASDMA statement said. Altogether, 66,836 people are staying in the 295 relief camps, while the district administrations have also opened 70 relief distribution centres in all the affected areas. Out of the 12 flood affected districts, the highest number of 3,68,188 people were affected in Nagaon districts alone followed by 1,49,995 people in Cachar and 41,036 in Morigaon district. The Army, the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Assam Rifles, various para-military forces, the National Disaster Response Force, and the State Disaster Response Force, Civil Defence along with the district administrations continue to work round the clock to rescue the stranded people and to provide relief to the marooned men, women and children. The IAF has air-dropped the most essential supplies in the flood affected areas through 20 shuttles/ trips of helicopters from Guwahati, Jorhat and Silchar. The water of Kopili river was flowing above the danger level in several places. Washington, May 27 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that while the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine was an immediate threat to the international order, the US remained focussed on China because the latter posed the most serious and long-term challenge. Laying out the Biden administration's long awaited China policy, Secretary Blinken said Beijing had been undermining the very international rules, laws and institutions that enabled its emergence and rise and that under President Xi Jinping, the ruling Chinese Communist Party had become more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad. "Russian President Vladimir Putin poses a clear and present threat and attacking Ukraine three months ago he also attacked the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in the UN Charter to protect all countries from being conquered or coerced," the secretary of state said and went on detail the military and diplomatic reverses suffered by Russia. But, he added, "even as President Putin's war continues, we will remain focused on the most serious, long term challenge to the international order. And that's posed by the People's Republic of China. China's the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order, and increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do it". The United States is not seeking conflict or a new cold war and it also does not want to block China's rise as a global political or economic power, the top US diplomat made clear. But citing Xi-led China's repressive measures at home and aggressive behavior abroad and its "no limits" pact with Putin's Russia just before the Ukraine invasion, Blinken said Beijing cannot be relied upon to change this "trajectory" on its own. The US will, therefore, "shape the strategic environment around Beijing to advance our vision for an open, inclusive international system", he added. The Biden administration's China policy will stand on three pillars of "invest, align and compete", Blinken said. The US will invest to restore America's leadership in invention and innovation, work with its network of allies in the Indo-Pacific and around the world and compete with China. "We will invest in the foundations of our strength here at home, our competitiveness, our innovation, our democracy. We will align our efforts with our network of allies and partners acting with common purpose and in common cause and harnessing these two key assets will compete with China to defend our interests, and build our vision for the future," he added. Blinken spoke of the Quad in this context, referring to a grouping of the US, India, Japan and Australia that is focused on the Indo-Pacific region. The group leaders met in Tokyo earlier in the week, which was their fourth summit since the first in March of 2021. He also mentioned India's membership of the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, which was launched by President Biden in Tokyo past Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. But the US will also "engage constructively" with China where it can. "Not as a favor to us or anyone else, and never in exchange for walking away from our principles," Blinken said, "but because working together to solve great challenges is what the world expects from great powers, and because it's directly in our interests to do so." On Taiwan, the secretary of state said US policy remained unchanged, which was notable coming in the light of President Biden's recent remarks that America will intervene militarily if Taiwan was attacked by China. US officials had walked that back as once before when the president had seemingly changed decades all policy of "strategic ambiguity", essentially that the US will not reveal what it will do exactly if China invaded Taiwan. "The United States remains committed to our 'one China' policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, the Six Assurances," Blinken said, adding, "We oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side; we do not support Taiwan independence; and we expect cross-strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means." He went on to say that "while US policy has not changed, what has changed is Beijing's growing coercion". Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, May 27 : Did you ever get misled due to a review of a product that you bought online? Did you feel cheated after buying something online as you found it did not conform with the reccos online? The government claims it is alive to such situations and troubles faced by the consumers and now called on a virtual meeting on Friday to resolve such issues and chart a roadmap, it was declared on Thursday. The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) in association with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) will be holding a virtual meeting on Friday along with various stakeholders to gauge the magnitude of fake reviews on e-commerce platforms, which mislead consumers into buying online services or products and to prepare a roadmap ahead. The discussions will be broadly based on the impact of fake and misleading reviews on consumers and possible measures to prevent such anomalies. In this regard, Secretary DoCA, Rohit Kumar Singh has written to all stakeholders: E-commerce entities such as Flipkart, Amazon, Tata Sons, Reliance Retail and others besides, Consumer Forums, Law Universities, Lawyers, FICCI, CII, Consumer Rights Activists etc. to attend the meeting. Along with the letter, Singh has also shared a press release of the European Commission dated January 20, 2022 highlighting results of an EU-wide screening on online consumer reviews across 223 major websites. The screening results underlined that at least 55 per cent of the websites violated the unfair commercial Practices Directive of the E.U. which requires truthful information to be presented to consumers to make an informed choice. Further, in 144 out of the 223 websites checked, the authorities could not confirm that traders were doing enough to ensure that reviews were authentic, i.e., if they were posted by consumers who had actually used the product or service that was reviewed. The letter states: "It is relevant to mention that with growing internet and smartphone use, consumers are increasingly shopping online to purchase goods and services. Given that e-commerce involves a virtual shopping experience without any opportunity to physically view or examine the product, consumers heavily rely on reviews posted on e-commerce platforms to see the opinion and experience of users, who have already purchased the goods or service. "As a result, due to fake and misleading reviews, the right to be informed, which is a consumer right under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 is violated." "Since the issue impacts people shopping online on a daily basis and has a significant impact on their rights as a consumer, it is important that it is examined with greater scrutiny and detail," the letter adds. Patna, May 27 : In a bid to promote industries, the Bihar government on Thursday announced to provide 10 per cent grant to the industries related to leather and textiles. Additional Chief Secretary S. Sidharth said that Bihar government will give up to Rs 10 crore grant to industrialists who would set up their production facilities in Bihar. "Under this policy, Bihar government will provide grants in power, employment, capital, and payment subsidies to the industries. The state government will give Rs 2 per unit power subsidy to them," he said, adding that it is a part of the 2022 industrial encouragement policy approved by the state cabinet. The state government has also decided to pay Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 to every employee who works in those factories. Such as salaries will be additional payment to the labourers that would be included in the actual salaries fixed by the company. Bihar is considered as a labourer state in the country, but the ndustrial set up will change such a perception. State Industry Minister Shahnawaz Hussain said: "It will turn out to be a landmark policy to encourage industrialists to invest in Bihar. Our state will soon become a leather and textile hub in the country. The Bihar government has prepared the best policy for the industrial sector to encourage investors." Worried by the recent audio interview where terrorists who abducted the passengers of the attacked train on the 28th March, 2022 threatened to start killing their abductees in seven days if the federal government does not immediately release their (terrorists) eight children in government custody, families of the abducted passengers have cried out for help. The terrorists had on Tuesday released an audio tape, saying that, government was holding in custody eight of their children between ages one and seven, and that, government should release the children within seven days or they (terrorists) would start killing the victims in their captivity. The kidnapped passengers' families who addressed a press conference in Kaduna yesterday, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to personally supervise the process and grant the demand of the terrorists, to secure the release of their 62 loved ones in captivity. This was also as they appealed to the abductors of their family members to be compassionate and spare the lives of the victims who they described as innocent Nigerians. Addressing journalists in Kaduna, leader of the families, Dr AbdulFatai Jimoh, said the families woke up on Tuesday to the sad reality of a recorded audio tape from the abductors of our family members, which contained some highly disturbing information that was having negative impact on their lives. According to Jimoh, "It is exactly 58 days since our loved ones were captured and 23 days after Mr. President issued a directive to security agencies for their immediate and safe rescue, we are still anxiously waiting for a positive outcome of rescue efforts." Speaking on the threat issued by the terrorists, one of the families leaders, Dr. Abdulaziz Atta said, "The seven-day ultimatum is real and that seven-day started since yesterday, so we have six more days to go. And we are asking the government to act fast, because these people don't make empty threats. "We have all heard the audio of from those that are holding our loved ones in captivity. They have a clear demand and we are actually taking the demand up. The government is holding eight of their children. "There is absolutely no reason those children should not be released for 62 of our loved ones to be released. For us, it is no more 62 of our loved ones, it is now plus eight. So, we are now fighting for 70, because it cannot be justified why the government is holding the eight children. Terrorists Kill 57 As Bandits Give Ultimatum On Train Passengers "Government should please release those eight children to those who abducted our loved ones. It appears the government is absolutely not concerned in bringing our loved ones out. They are not concerned because they are busy with politics, they are busy fighting for positions, that is their interest now, they are not interested in several people being held in captivity. "But the good news we have is that, those that abducted our loved ones, are now speaking with us directly. So, what you are hearing from us today is unadulterated. What you are hearing from us is directly from the abductors. We are going to release a video now to buttress our points. "What they (abductors) are saying is that, they have eight children held by government and kept in Yola. They should be brought down to Kaduna and taken to the abductors. And if the government cannot take the children there, they should give us the responsibility, we will take the children to the forest, so that, we can get our loved ones out. "For the past few days that we opened direct communication with the abductors of our loved ones, we had asked for proof of life and they sent a video to us. "We also asked them for the names of their children in custody and they sent them to us. So, we can say we are building confidence between us and them. So, we don't have any reason to doubt them, because we have 62 people there and we want them out. "The government should take their responsibility serious. For now, it appears like they don't know what to do, or they have refused to do what they are expected to do. "Our message is now directed to the President of our country. President Muhammadu Buhari should come to our aid. The President should handle this issue directly. This is eight weeks now and we have children and elderly people there in the forest. We have pregnant and injured people there. "How can you sleep Mr President? How can you sleep? You can't do this to us Mr President," Dr Atta said. Another relative, Malam Sani Lawal, said, all the victims' family members had been traumatized since the past 58 days, "we cannot concentrate on anything, we cannot work, because our loved ones are in dehumanized condition. "We are in democracy for God sake. We voted for people to protect us, but what bothers them is how to recontest election and return to office. "Since government is not concerned about our plight, it is even better for us to go and meet the abductors in the forest to capture us too. "These people have stated their reason for abducting our innocent loved ones and they had stated what they want in return. And to us, it is not something that is too difficult to give. That, government is holding their children of one year, two years and seven years among others. What do children know about what is happening? "So, why will the government not do the needful? So, we are telling the government that these people are talking to us directly and they are accusing the government of cheating them, of deceiving them. "The government should do the needful because these people have issued a seven-day ultimatum to start killing our people. They also made other threats to our loved ones. Government should meet the demand of the abductors as a matter of urgency. "We are begging the abductors to be compassionate and see our loved ones with them as their fellow Nigerians, who are just victims of circumstance. We believe they have the capacity to release our loved ones. They should please do so and not carry out their threats," Lawal said. In her own remarks, a female relative, Dr. Fatima Ciroma, said the victims' families had been broken down by the latest video released abductors of their loved ones, as well as the threat to slaughter them, once their demand is not met. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Ciroma said, "We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, that we are law abiding citizens, so we don't deserve this kind of treatment. We have been through 58 days of horror. We have had enough. Then, a video came yesterday from the abductors which broke almost all of us down. "Mr President, if you don't listen to us, your wife, as a mother, knows our feelings right now. We are pleading with you, because this is not a joke. They said they are going to slaughter our people after seven days, this type of thing has happened before, so there is no doubting the fact that they can carry out their threats. "Please, please, we are begging you, release those small innocent children. I don't even know why you arrested children. In a country where they know what they are doing, they don't touch women and children but here we are in Nigeria, our people are inside the bush for 58 days. "Ahhh! Please, Mr. President, we are law abiding citizens. You promised to protect us; you promised to give us good security and everything. But we are very sorry, the government has failed us. The government has failed us because I don't even trust the government anymore. Please, we are begging you on behalf of all the families. Please, wake up and wake. Call your people (security), let them start working because definitely, they are not working," she said. The families carried placards with different inscriptions like "Rescue AK9 passengers now!" "Bring back our loved ones." And "release abductors children" among others. New Delhi, May 27 : Concerned with the expansion plan of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has directed state units to plan strategies to stop it from becoming principal opposition parties there by replacing Congress. After its thumping victory in Punjab assembly polls, the AAP has now shifted its focus on the upcoming Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly. The AAP is also focusing on next year's assembly polls in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Apart from Karnataka where JD-S has a stake, the BJP is in direct fight with Congress in the remaining important states. A senior party functionary said that all the state units especially the poll bound and where Arvind Kejriwal's party is planning to expand its footprint to the BJP state unit must not allow them to establish organisational base. "State units have been directed to induct AAP leaders, holding organisational responsibility from district to state levels, who are interested to join BJP without any pre-condition," he said. In April, BJP had delivered a big jolt to AAP's ambitious plan to expand the party in Himachal Pradesh by inducting its top state leadership in the party. "In Gujarat, over 500 AAP leaders holding positions at different levels have joined BJP in recent times. In Uttarakhand, AAP chief ministerial candidate and others joined BJP. By inducting senior AAP in poll bound Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat or in Uttarakhand, the BJP have given a big blow to Kejriwal's plan to expand the party in a new state after historic victory in Punjab and we will continue to do it," a senior BJP leader said. A party insider said that the state unit has been asked to adopt specific strategies based on local ground conditions. "For example, AAP's freebies will be countered with the development model of each state under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. While the Himachal Pradesh government has countered AAP freebies by extending benefits of existing schemes, while in Gujarat or in Madhya Pradesh it will be downplayed with the development and welfare works of BJP government," he said. A senior BJP functionary said that the party unit in the national capital, meanwhile, has been asked to intensify its attack against the failed Delhi model of Kejriwal. The Delhi BJP has launched a door to door 'poll khol' campaign against AAP government in the national capital New Delhi, May 27 : The UN Sasakawa Award 2022 was announced to Sustainable Ecological & Environmental Development Society (SEEDS), South Asia's foremost non-profit organisation working in the field of disaster risk reduction and climate change. The award that recognizes excellence in reducing disaster risk was announced at the United Nations' 7th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) in Bali, Indonesia. Two other institutions and three individuals also received the awards along with SEEDS that received the third prize in the organization category. The United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction is a global award established in 1986 by the founding Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Ryoichi Sasakawa. It was given on Wednesday night, a United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) statement said on Thursday. SEEDS has been working with the communities across South Asia for almost three decades. By combining local wisdom with modern science and technology, SEEDS has been building resilience among communities who are at risk of the climate crisis and disasters. This award recognizes SEEDS' efforts in adopting a multi-hazard approach and its commitment to accountability and transparency in responding to climate emergencies. Recognising the efforts of the awardees, Masato Seko, Senior Programme Director of Global Issues Department, The Nippon Foundation, said: "The UN Sasakawa Award was established in 1986, well before the time of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), when the awareness of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) was limited compared to today. It is not enough to build truly inclusive and resilient societies. We must act to mitigate the negative impact of natural disasters." "We must emphasise the need to put people at high risk at the centre for disaster management. Even in times of peace," Seko added. "We are delighted and humbled by this award. It has been 28 years since we took up the mission to help build resilience among vulnerable communities. As we grapple with the global climate crisis, it is imperative for all of us to think of innovative ways, embrace technology as leverage; and empower people to thrive despite recurring disasters. With the 2030 horizon for the Sendai Framework, SEEDS will continue building resilient communities through a holistic, inclusive, and multi-hazard approach," said Manu Gupta and Anshu Sharma, co-founders, SEEDS. In this nearly three-decade-long journey, SEEDS has rebuilt more than 62,000 homes, 650 schools and healthcare facilities, carried out school safety programmes for more than a quarter million children, developed disaster management plans for 500 plus communities, provided emergency assistance to more than 8,30,000 people and positively impacted the lives of more than six million people, the statement said. The other awardees include: The Pacific Disaster Centre and Save the Children, Philippines (organizations) and Myriam Urzua Venegas, Rajib Shaw and Glenn Suerte Felipe Banaguas. Venegas is the Secretary for the Secretariat of Integrated Risks Management and Civil Protection of Mexico City, Mexico; Shaw is a professor at the Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Japan; Banaguas is the founder and president of the Environmental and Climate Change Research Institute in Philippines. Aligarh, May 27 : The Aligarh Muslim University successfully concluded the phase-3 trial of country's indigenous Covid-19 vaccine - Covaxin - at its Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC). Principal Investigator, Prof Mohammad Shameem along with his team members apprised the Vice Chancellor, Prof Tariq Mansoor about it and expressed their gratitude for his "constant support and motivation throughout the vaccine trial". AMU Registrar Abdul Hamid, IPS was also present on the occasion. The Vice Chancellor, who was also Co-Principal Investigator, congratulated Prof Shameem and the entire team "for the hard work, dedication and perseverance while braving the peak phases of the pandemic for conducting the study and maintaining confidence amongst the volunteers". Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL), Krishna M. Ella appreciated Prof Mansoor and the team for the "mega" task and hoped to collaborate with the AMU in future research also. The phase-3 trial for Covaxin was done in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and BBIL. It was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) in November 2020 and the volunteers were recruited for the trial. "AMU was the first to enroll 1,000 volunteers for the vaccine trial. The reputation of AMU and constant support and encouragement provided by the VC was paramount in developing confidence among volunteers," Prof Shameem said, adding that the report of the trial has been submitted to the ICMR. The team members for the trial included Samia Kirmani, Arbaaz Alam Khan, Azimuddin Malik as Scientist B (Medical), Shariq Ahmad, Nafees Ahmad Khan, and Obaid Imtiyazul Haque as Sub-Investigators. Patna, May 27 : RJD vice president Shivanand Tiwari said on Thursday that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar showed close proximity with Tejashwi Yadav to put pressure on BJP and take its benefit on the issue of caste-based census. "Nitish Kumar achieved his goal. He wanted the BJP to agree on caste-based census. For BJP, our country has only two castes and those are rich and poor. Nitish Kumar came close to Tejashwi Yadav to force the BJP to agree on the caste-based census," Tiwari said. "Now, the BJP has agreed on the caste-based census but that does not mean that its heart has changed," asserted the RJD leader. "The BJP is facing challenges in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and its mobilisation has already begun. Nitish Kumar cleverly used this opportunity and the Iftar parties had given an ideal platform for him. Nitish Kumar had given a strong message to BJP's top leadership," Tiwari said. "The BJP knows about the joint strength of Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar, which it has seen in the 2015 Assembly election. Hence, the message came from BJP's top leadership to agree for the all-party meeting on the issue of caste-based census," he added. "For the last few days, people who were expecting that the government would change in Bihar may be disappointed with it," Tiwari said. King Kevin Dorival, Black Legacy Tour. "Stop The War Against Haiti" We owe the brave women and men of the Haitian Revolution that fought for the freedom of all, more than just to sit back and watch the powers that be eat Haiti alive. Several cruel policies must be dismantled and our voices must be heard at the United Nations, and African Union. On Friday, May 27, 2022, King Kevin will begin The Black Legacy Tour at the Haitian American Museum of Chicago at 10 am, CST. The mission of this tour is to gain financial and moral support for the fundraiser from the international community to reduce the burden of paying 100% for every aspect of the national tour. Specifically, to gain the attention of the US Congress, the United Nations, and African Union leaders to change the policies that have crippled Haiti economically, socially, and spiritually since the US invasion of 1915. Ultimately, the goal is to restore what has been taken and denied to the Haitiansjustice. The trouble that we see in Haiti started in 1650 and throughout the Atlantic Slave Trade. According to the author, political scientist, activist, and Haitian currentaffairs representative, King Kevin Dorival, if nothing is done to curtail this oppression Haitians are faced with daily, it will continue for yet another 1,000 years. Mr. Dorival handpicked Chicago to kick off his Black Legacy Tour in the city was founded by a prosperous Haitian businessman, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. Hes going to address in detail why hes taken on this humanitarian cause against the ill-treatment of the Haitian people, shed light on their constant suffering, and open thievery of their unlimited natural resources of valuable iridium, gold, and oil. This highly anticipated presentation will also discuss how the US marines, under former president, Thomas Woodrow Wilsons order, stole $11 million in gold from the National Bank of Haiti to New York City Bank and disbanded the Haitian parliament at gunpoint while slaughtering 15,000 Haitian resistant fighters, along with innocent bystanders from 1915 to 1934, according to Professor Noam Chomsky's lecture at the MIT 2002 Tech Culture Forum with Dr. Paul Farmer. Then they reversed the 1804 Constitution created by General Toussaint and Jean Jacque Dessalines, who led the Haitian Revolution, the worlds first and only successful slave rebellion, and eradicated slavery. They further expelled over 10,000 Frenchmen and women from the island and blocked foreigners from owning land. The coerced change in the Haitian constitution now enables them to own properties, especially American business partners to buy up thousands of acres of land. two decades after winning its freedom, in 1825 France pulled off the greatest heist in world history, by surrounding Haiti with gunships,forcing the tiny island to pay $21 billion dollars in reparations to former slaveowners for its freedom, according to the University of Virginia scholar and historian Marlene Daut in a 2021 NPR article. The Black Legacy Tour audience will want to know how in the heavens was either of these events possible? Everyone will be given an opportunity to ask during the questions and answers segment of Mr. Dorival's presentation that will also be held in Boston, New York City, Oakland, Cali., New Orleans, Miami, Tampa, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, Memphis, and London; more cities will be added as the tour picks up momentum. If we dont do anything significant regarding these policies towards Haiti, millions will continue to starve, and be oppressed for another five generations," King Kevin Dorival says passionately in his viral video on Haiti's Rich With Oil, Gold, And Foreign Corruption. Placing all this into contention, King will bring to the audience's attention several cruel policies that must be dismantled in order to allow Haiti to be self-sufficient, prosperous, and hopeful. Haitians deserve to finally break free from the shackles that are holding the country behind from competing in the 21st century. Therell be light refreshments at the RSVP only, limited seated event, which will be streamed LIVE on Mr. Dorivals socialmedia accounts for the public to watch and ask questions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Zoom accounts; follow him for more details. The museum is located at 4654 N Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60640. It is a historical fact that Haiti represents the first and only time in history that slaves overthrew their oppressors to create their own country, and very few people are aware of this, according to CLR James' monumental book, The Black Jacobins. Thanks to the critical race theory, that number will be even smaller. Furthermore, according to historical research by the National Council for Social Studies, most of us are oblivious to the fact that the United States of America, the Land of the Free, is actively practicing neo-colonialism and colonized Haiti back in 1915 with the facade of the Haitian-American Treaty. To this day, every president of the US has used heavy hands towards Haiti for daring to fight back and win their independence. We owe the brave women and men of the Haitian Revolution that fought for the freedom of all. To support the Black Legacy Tour initiative: The "Stop The War Against Haiti" campaign, please go to GoFundme: https://gofund.me/85b511ee For Bookings/Questions: 470-366-1126 http://www.KevinDorival.com Mail-In Tax-Deductible Donation Checks of Support to: Courage To Believe International, Inc. P.O. Box 150071 Atlanta, GA. 30315 Brandon Wiebe, Transcend's incoming General Counsel and Head of Privacy. Im excited to guide Transcends legal organization and help the industry move to tech-forward approaches as the default privacy operating model. Transcend, the privacy platform that makes it easy to encode privacy across a companys tech stack, today welcomed Brandon Wiebe as its General Counsel and Head of Privacy. Brandon brings nearly a decade of privacy experience in the technology sector to Transcend. Most recently, Brandon served as Associate General Counsel of Privacy and Product for Segment before and after its acquisition by Twilio (NYSE: TWLO). Previously, Brandon served for many years as a corporate counsel for the technology sector, as well as a privacy analyst. Transcend is at the forefront of privacys shift to becoming a more technical discipline, and Im honored to join as General Counsel and Head of Privacy, said Brandon Wiebe. Ive seen firsthand how privacy compliance continues to evolve from policies to complex technical implementations, and I know that companies need strong alignment between legal and engineering teams in order to solve todays biggest compliance challenges and the next wave of regulations ahead. Im excited to guide Transcends legal organization and help the industry move to tech-forward approaches as the default privacy operating model. Brandon brings unparalleled experience in helping companies navigate the technical complexity of privacy challenges, said Kate Parker, Transcends Chief Operating Officer. Hes a trusted partner and expert in the privacy space who will help guide Transcends rapid growth and be a critical asset to the broader Transcend community. Were thrilled to have him on board to help the industry more deeply understand how to encode privacy at a businesss code layer and to solve their biggest privacy headaches with sophisticated technology solutions. At Transcend, Brandon will lead all legal and privacy efforts, accelerating Transcends market position and leading the global community on frameworks for the most challenging and complex privacy use cases and issues. These include managing opt-outs of targeted or behavioral advertising (which require complex client-side tracking and backend compliance), the increase in complexity and volume of data subject requests, and long-term solutions to handling cross-border data transfers and data regionalization. About Transcend Transcend is the privacy platform that makes it easy to encode privacy across a companys tech stack for full auditability, visibility, and compliance. Backed by Accel and Index Ventures, the company is the data privacy partner of choice for brands such as Robinhood, Clubhouse, Eventbrite, HashiCorp, and more. Transcend customers go beyond the patchwork compliance and manual offerings of today to realize an easy, efficient, and secure privacy program at scale. By future-proofing its technology, Transcend also enables customers to confidently address new or future regulatory requirements, whatever they might be. In addition, Transcends privacy platform incorporates standard-setting data protections that security-conscious brands have come to expect, including an on-premise security gateway, end-to-end encryption (E2EE), and more. Founded in 2017 by Ben Brook (CEO) and Mike Farrell (CTO), Transcend is headquartered in San Francisco. You can also find us on: Twitter LinkedIn GitHub Sign up for Transcend's weekly newsletter on privacy and technology, Privacy XFN. The Cove at Sylvan Beach brings together the best of Sylvan Beach with the guest service we have perfected at properties like Turning Stone Resort Casino for a unique destination that redefines the Upstate New York vacation experience. Oneida Nation Enterprises today announced that The Cove at Sylvan Beachs flagship store and cafe, Sylvan Beach Supply Co., will open to the public on Friday, May 27, ahead of The Coves grand opening next month. With a huge selection of lake activity rentals that include pontoon, fishing, ski, jet, and deck boats, canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, bicycles, and fishing gear, a delicious menu with incredible ice cream offerings, and everything needed to enjoy summertime in Upstate New York, there is no destination like The Coves Sylvan Beach Supply Co. on Oneida Lake, or in the region. The new vacation rental community and its flagship store will meet the same award-winning standards found across Oneida Nation Enterprises properties and deliver the one-of-a-kind guest experience the Oneida Indian Nation has become known for. The Cove at Sylvan Beach brings together the best of Sylvan Beach with the guest service we have perfected at properties like Turning Stone Resort Casino for a unique destination that redefines the Upstate New York vacation experience, said Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Oneida Nation Enterprises CEO. We are excited to give visitors a chance to preview that experience by opening Sylvan Beach Supply Co. to the public ahead of The Coves official grand opening and showcase our continued investment in Upstate New Yorks tourism economy. Lake Activity Rentals: As The Coves flagship store, Sylvan Beach Supply Co. will offer a wide variety of rentals for guests to explore Oneida Lake, New Yorks largest lake. Rentals available for both day visitors and overnight guests staying at The Cove include: Pontoon, deck, ski, jet and fishing boats Kayaks Canoes Paddle boards Water bikes Bicycles Fishing equipment Water skis Tubes All rentals, including pontoon boats, can be reserved online. For a full list of rentals, additional details, and pricing, click HERE. Sylvan Beach Supply Co. Cafe: Guests can pull their boats up and dock right in front of Sylvan Beach Supply Co., and grab a sundae, ice cream cone, or burger from the stores cafe. The menu is also packed with sandwiches, snacks and a variety of incredible ice cream options, including the most elaborate ice cream sundaes: Breezy Berry Cobbler, SOS Mint, Campfire and more. The cafe also offers a selection of milkshakes: Classic flavors: chocolate, vanilla and strawberry Frozen hot chocolate Cherry cheesecake Creme brulee With both indoor and outdoor seating, guests are invited to dock their boats at Sylvan Beach Supply Co. There are several boat slips for guests to dock. The Candy Wall: Sylvan Beach Supply Co. is also home to one of the largest candy walls in Upstate New York with a literal TON (2,000 pounds) of candy, including nearly 80 different varieties. With chocolate, peanut butter, taffy, hard candies, and fourteen flavors of jelly beans, the candy wall is the perfect place for kids of all ages to satisfy their sweet tooth this summer and a great photo opportunity. When The Cove opens next month, it will welcome guests with 70 modern two- and three-bedroom cottages. The new $35 million lakeside vacation rental destination will showcase the best of Upstate New York with beautifully appointed accommodations featuring full eat-in kitchens, gas grills, fire pits, and other amenities. Each weeklong cottage rental at The Cove also includes a pontoon boat and dedicated boat slip, so guests can enjoy fishing, water sports, and cruising on Oneida Lake. Cottage rentals are filling up quickly, but accommodations are still available at The Cove for this summer. Guests interested in being among the first to experience Upstate New Yorks newest lakeside vacation community can reserve a cottage by calling 877.667.COVE (2683). A peach orchard in Georgia managed for crop, soil, and ecosystem health "We recognize the critical role that private lands play in conservation, and the Georgia LandCAN tool offers a spectacular resource to incorporate conservation into landowners management goals. - Leopoldo Miranda-Castro, Reg. Dir., South Atlantic-Gulf & Mississippi Basin Regions, USFWS Private landowners throughout the state of Georgia are invited to use a new, free resource that will help them invest in their piece of the planet, in keeping with the theme of Earth Day 2022. Organized with the landowner in mind, Georgia LandCAN provides a unique, interactive stewardship marketplace for the people who own or manage working lands in Georgia. Whether the need is for information, technical assistance, training, grants, or other support, the Georgia Land Conservation Assistance Network (Georgia LandCAN, https://www.georgialandcan.org/) helps individuals navigate the overwhelming patchwork of resources provided by federal and state agencies, county and regional governments, professional organizations, and nonprofitsall in one easily searchable location. Currently over 6,300 resources are searchable within 12 distinct state geographic regions by the following key topics: Carbon Conservation Energy Farming Forestry Invasives Grant & Cost-sharing Programs Recreation Tax Water and Soil Wildlife "We recognize the critical role that private lands play in conservation, and the Georgia LandCAN tool offers a spectacular resource to incorporate conservation into landowners management goals, said Leopoldo Miranda-Castro, Regional Director for the South Atlantic-Gulf and Mississippi Basin Regions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "The Georgia LandCAN supports vital collaborations critical to connecting lands and waters. We are proud to partner with Georgia LandCAN to further these efforts. Leonard Jordan, CEO of LJ Conservation Matters, LLC said, This resource network has exceeded my expectations. Its a one-stop shop full of critically important resources that are valuable and can help so many! The website makes it easy to find the many different resources available in your community. Check it out. Few people in urban America appreciate the degree to which private land is essential not only for the production of food and fiber, but to Americas wildlife and its water supply. This is particularly true in the Peach State, where more than 90% of a total 38 million acres is privately owned. Bees and other pollinators rely on the careful management of private farms and ranches, just as farmers rely on pollinators services to produce Georgia peaches and many more crops. Yet from 2001-2016, more than 600,000 acres of agricultural and forest land in Georgia were paved over, fragmented, or converted to uses that jeopardize agriculture. Georgia's 24 million acres of forest land provide benefits such as water quality protection, and they also harbor rare or endangered species such as the Gopher Tortoise, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and many others. Scott Jones, CEO of the Forest Landowners Association said, Private forest landowners are vital to the environmental and economic success of our country. Empowering them with the resources to make wise decisions on the management of their property is essential to our nation, and Georgia LandCan is providing an essential tool to ensure their sustainability. Working with private landowners in Georgia is critical to our mission as an agency, explained Brad Alexander, Private Lands Program Manager with the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. While there are many private land programs, landowners often dont have the time or resources to find them. The Georgia LandCAN website provides Georgians a good place to start down the path of bettering their property to the benefit of themselves and their neighbors, as well as future generations. The Georgia Chamber welcomes the launch of the Georgia-specific LandCAN conservation data resource, said Chris Clark, President and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. LandCAN is to be commended for adding Georgia data to its expanding national database of conservation resources. About: Georgia LandCAN is a project of the nonprofit Land Conservation Assistance Network (LandCAN, https://www.LandCAN.org). Since 2000, LandCAN has used a bottom-up approach to offer the countrys private landowners the tools they need to manage their land profitably and sustainably. Nationwide, natural areas are being lost almost five times faster on private lands than on public lands. Fortunately, the number of users of LandCAN and associated state websites grows every year, and in 2021 many sites doubled their audience. Executive Director Amos Eno explains LandCANs philosophy: Land and healthy landscapes are essential to our quality of life, and people who own or manage land are the most valuable asset we have in expanding conservation. Moving into our new space at 125 S Wacker symbolizes where we are as a growing company. It is twice as big and three times as nice. I couldnt be more excited about entering our next phase of growth and prosperity at our new Chicago HQ. said Will Kerr, President of Edge Logistics. The new Edge Logistics Chicago is located near the heart of Chicago transit and business district near the Willis Tower, providing easy access for new employees to multiple transportation opportunities, dining, and shopping. The recently renovated new headquarters is complete with multiple private offices, numerous collaborative meeting rooms, an in-office arcade, multiple break rooms, and tenants are also welcome to use the free fitness center and tenant lounge the building has to offer. The new facility is critical to meeting Edges corporate and personal growth goals. With the addition of the new amenity-rich facility, located off the West Loop, the Edge team forecasts this number to double by end of Q2 and continue to grow well into the future. This expansion comes within the same year Edge has announced its new office in Phoenix opening Summer 2022 and recently named on Transport Topics Top 100 Freight Brokerage Firms list for 2022. Edge worked closely with Cushman & Wakefield Vice Chairman, Ari Klein, an industry service expert in building management and successfully preparing companies for future market and entrepreneurial growth. Moving into our new space at 125 S Wacker symbolizes where we are as a growing company. It is twice as big and three times as nice. I couldnt be more excited about entering our next phase of growth and prosperity at our new Chicago HQ. said Will Kerr, President of Edge Logistics. Edge is continuing to hire new talent and has also devoted resources to making logistics a more engaging and enjoyable work environment through continued education, mentoring, training and more. With a highly accessible location near public transit and interstate in Chicago and the new Phoenix location opening this summer, Edge is well on their way of surpassing company goals and exceeding industry standards. About Cushman & Wakefield Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global real estate services firm that delivers exceptional value for real estate occupiers and owners. Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest real estate services firms with approximately 50,000 employees in over 400 offices and approximately 60 countries. In 2021, the firm had revenue of $9.4 billion across core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, and valuation and other services. To learn more, visit http://www.cushmanwakefield.com or follow @CushWake on Twitter. About Edge Logistics Since 2014, Edge Logistics has provided freight technology solutions for its customers and carriers all across the United States. This family-owned and managed business quickly became a resource for individuals, small businesses, and major carriers alike, landing in the INC 5000 fastest-growing companies list four years in a row. The goal of Edge Logistics is to make business easier for customers by offering state-of-the-art resources and tools, unmatched customer service, and affordable prices. Edge Logistics works with a network of select carriers to create the optimum transportation plan for each customers specific needs. With its CAPACITY platform and app, Edge Logistics is driving the industry forward by finding innovative solutions for Americas best shippers and best truckload carriers. Visit http://www.edgelogistics.com. We are honored to be recognized for our growth and innovation in the D.C. region by DCA Live. SemaConnect, leading provider of electric vehicle charging solutions to the North American residential, commercial, and fleet markets, announces its inclusion on DCA Lives 2022 Red Hot Companies list. This years award recognizes 46 top companies in the Washington, D.C. region who will be recognized at a ceremony and celebration on July 20. Founded by Mahi Reddy in 2008, SemaConnect is the top privately owned electric vehicle charging company in North America. In 2021, SemaConnect doubled its team, opened a sales office in India, and introduced new Level 2 charging stations for fleet, retail, and home users. Today, the Bowie, Maryland-based company counts over 100 US-based employees across all 50 states. Accessible EV charging is helping to drive the rapid growth in electric vehicle adoption, said Mahi Reddy, founder and CEO at SemaConnect. Since the beginning of the EV industry, SemaConnect has been at its forefront, working hard to design charging solutions that meet the changing needs of drivers and station owners. With the advent of the newest models of EVs and increased public interest from the government and business, we are focused on bringing the best EV charging technology to our customers. We are honored to be recognized for our growth and innovation in the D.C. region by DCA Live. For more information on SemaConnects solutions, visit semaconnect.com. About SemaConnect: SemaConnect is a leading provider and pioneer of electric vehicle charging infrastructure solutions to the North American commercial, residential and fleet market. A complete EV support partner, SemaConnect is making transportation electrification possible in this decade through innovative, elegantly designed charging stations, a robust and open network platform, and an unparalleled charging experience for drivers and station owners. Since our founding in 2008, SemaConnect has installed thousands of smart charging stations at top companies like CBRE, JLL, Hines, Greystar, Electrify America, and SP Plus. SemaConnect remains the preferred charging solutions partner to municipal, parking, multifamily, hotel, office, retail and commercial fleet customers across the United States and Canada. For more information, visit https://semaconnect.com/. The Presidency has cautioned against any form of retaliatory violence following the viral videos of the alleged killings of non-natives by the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and its mother terrorist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Abuja, said while expert agencies are now verifying the factuality and veracity of the claims accompanying the horrid pictures being circulated, all citizens are to avoid hasty steps or conclusions that could exacerbate the situation. He urged everyone to keep to a line of conduct that will help the law to take its proper course. The Presidency also cautioned the public against the indiscriminate sharing of posts on social media so as to deny vested interests who seek to cause division and disturbance the chance to do so. Shehu condemned in strong terms the "wild, barbarous and wanton killings of innocent people" in the South East as well as in other parts of the country, which he described as "deeply distressing." According to the statement, President Muhammadu Buhari has warned the perpetrators of these evil acts to expect a tough response from the security forces. Meanwhile, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has vowed that the killers of a mother and her four children in Isulo, Orumba South local government area of the state must be fished out and made to face the full weight of the law. A woman, Harira Jubril from Adamawa state, and her four children, aged from two to nine years, were said to have been killed at the weekend by a gang of hoodlums. Mrs Jubril and her children, LEADERSHIP learnt, were being conveyed in a motorcycle when their assailants, who were driving in a vehicle, overtook them and shot them dead before fleeing. Soludo, who bemoaned the incident, described the action as "barbaric and unacceptable" even as he gave assurance that his administration would make sure that the perpetrators were "found and brought to justice". Soludo said, "All law-abiding Nigerian citizens, irrespective of tribe, religion or other affiliations, are entitled to reside and or do business in any part of the country, including the South East and in Anambra State, without any fear of unlawful harassment, molestation or attack of any kind, under any guise by anyone or group". Warning that the perpetrators of the heinous atrocities, and similar others like the kidnapping of the lawmaker representing his Aguata 11 constituency of the state Assembly, Hon. Okechukwu Okoye, along with his aide, Cyril Chiegboka, and their sponsors were merely testing the resolve of his government and people of Anambra State, Prof Soludo said efforts are underway to fish out and bring to justice whoever was behind the killing of Mrs Jubril, her children and any other atrocities in the state. Governor Soludo urged all Nigerians living or doing business in Anambra State not to panic, but to remain calm as he gave assurance that government had the capacity to cleanse the state of criminals and criminal activities. Meanwhile, the state commissioner of police, CP Echeng Echeng, has assured that his command would soon track down the killers of Mrs Jubril and her children. When contacted, he told LEADERSHIP that the spokesman of the state police command, Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Ikenga Tochukwu, would give detailed information on the achievements the command had made so far in respect of the killing of the woman and her children. When contacted, Tochukwu said the state police command would ensure that all those responsible for the atrocities committed against Mrs Jubril and her children were brought to book soonest. Already, spokesman of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Emma Powerful has exonerated members of the group from the killing of Mrs Jubril and her children, including all other atrocities being committed lately in the South East zone. Onits part, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has condemned the killing of the Adamawa women and kids in Anambra State. In a statement signed yesterday by the group's secretary-general, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and made available to journalists, Ohanaeze said, "We condemn in strong terms the barbaric acts of violence and killing of the Adamawa pregnant woman and her kids. It is not in the character of Ndigbo to indulge in such desecration and sacrilege. Those behind these carnages are criminals and must be made to face the consequences of their actions with stiff penalties through death". Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He said, "We are shocked at how the Anambra Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, is not defending the oath of office he took as the chief security officer of the state to protect the lives and property of citizens of Anambra State. "If there is anybody to be blamed for the senseless killings in the state, Governor Chukwuma Soludo should be held accountable for the actions of these criminals. This is not time to shift blame because the buck stops at the Governor's table, he should arrest the insecurity challenges confronting the people of Anambra state". "We are aware of the fact that criminal elements have hijacked the violent agitation and turned it into a killing spree". "North should accept our condolences, especially ACF and Arewa youths. We recommend the castration of those criminals ravaging the southeast, security is local. "Ohanaeze is ready to partner with the government and people of Anambra to end this madness. This is the best time for action and not to make bogus speeches and take pictures in DSS facilities," he said. California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross (left) met with Lisa Balestra (far left), co-owner of S&L Produce, inside The SF Market in San Francisco, California. The SF Market, a wholesale produce market that is home to 26 merchant businesses in the heart of San Francisco, welcomed California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross (CDFA) on May 20, 2022. Secretary Ross was joined by Natalie Krout-Greenberg, CDFAs Director for the Division of Inspection Services, Joshua W. Bingham, CDFAs Public Information Officer II, Senator Scott Wiener, and his staff, Eli Zigas, President of The SF Market Board of Directors, and David Lea, a member of The SF Market Board of Directors, on an early morning tour led by Michael Janis, General Manager of The SF Market. The tour showcased the critical fresh food infrastructure that The SF Market has provided for San Francisco, the Bay Area, and California businesses since 1963. The attendees engaged with several of The SF Markets 26 merchant businesses, some of which have been family-run for more than three generations. The Secretary was able to see The Markets award-winning Food Recovery Program in operation and gain an understanding of some of The SF Markets key needs in order to continue serving the City and region. Beyond its central role in the local food business community, The SF Market is deeply committed to the health and sustainability of the broader food system. The Markets Food Recovery program, which has been in operation since 2016, is an example of this commitment in action. Program staff works with The SF Markets merchants to recover an average of 4,000 pounds of surplus food per day and distribute it to community organizations at the front lines of the regions food security challenges. To date, the program is rapidly approaching a milestone of 7 million pounds of nutritious, quality produce distributed to neighbors in need, filling a critical gap in the food access landscape in San Francisco and beyond. The SF Market is an incredible resource for the state of California and a critical part of our fresh food supply chain, said Secretary Ross. It is amazing to see The SF Market and all the merchant businesses in their work to improve access to the agricultural bounty of our state for all California citizens. Secretary Ross has been a longtime advocate and leader on agriculture issues, addressing urgent issues from climate change adaption, to domestic and international trade. She has also led programs to provide greater opportunities for farmers and ranchers to engage in sustainable environmental stewardship as well as provide greater access to farm-fresh foods in school cafeterias through CDFAs Farm to Fork program. Prior to her current appointment, Secretary Ross served as the Chief of Staff to U.S. Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack. We are honored to welcome these outstanding leaders from the CDFA, said Eli Zigas, President of The SF Market Board of Directors. Our organization represents so much more than just produce. It provides the connection between rural farmers and urban consumers in California and provides the infrastructure, programs, and relationships that help hundreds of farmers grow their businesses within the Bay Area. Continuing the dialogue with Secretary Ross brings much promise and an opportunity to expand what weve already accomplished. ABOUT THE SF MARKET The SF Market makes things growfor farmers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, and communities. Home to 26 merchants in a single vibrant San Francisco marketplace, our diverse range of produce businesses supplies the widest, best-tasting selection of fresh produce available in Northern California. The SF Market is a platform for critical access and scaleproviding the food infrastructure, programs, and relationships that help hundreds of farmers, Bay Area food businesses, and their communities thrive. The SF Market is San Franciscos originaland onlywholesale produce market. As a pillar of the Bay Areas food economy and a non-profit social enterprise, we create jobs for over 500 people and foster efficiency, diversity, and innovation. The market moves millions of pounds annually of fresh produce through the Bay Area, occupies 485,000 sq. ft. of food-focused warehouse and logistics space in San Franciscos Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood, and has reinvestment plans to upgrade our facility designed to support new food businesses and an engaged community. The SF Markets focus on growth extends to the entire food systemwith programs directed toward healthy food access, food waste reduction, and much more. Learn more at http://www.thesfmarket.org. Jason Allen, TuneCore's new Senior Director of Infrastructure Operations "Jason is a key member of TuneCores leadership team who brings passion and dedication to everything he does. Not only does he excel at DevOps, he keeps us in sync with the latest infrastructure innovations. As a music tech company, I cant over emphasize the importance of this." Leading independent digital music distributor, TuneCore, owned by global digital music company, Paris-based Believe, has promoted Jason Allen to the role of Senior Director of Infrastructure Operations. Allens new position was announced today by TuneCore CEO, Andreea Gleeson. In his new role, Allen will continue to manage the DevOps and Database teams, which lead the implementation and delivery of the cutting-edge infrastructure, security, data, and back-end automation processes behind TuneCores industry leading product. Additionally, Allen manages TuneCores internal IT functions, working closely with TuneCores parent company, Believe, to coordinate activities for all global employees. Gleeson commented, Jason is a key member of TuneCores leadership team who brings passion and dedication to everything he does. Not only does he excel at DevOps, he keeps us in sync with the latest infrastructure innovations. As a music tech company, I cant over emphasize the importance of this. Jason is also a longstanding member of our TuneCore/Believe Ambassadors group through which he has taken a leadership role with furthering internal Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Allen joined TuneCore more than three years ago. Since then, he has been integral in building the companys infrastructure team, revamped TuneCores cloud-based infrastructure and database offerings, implemented new security frameworks, managed disaster recovery, and business continuity plans. Allen also created new monitoring and dashboard solutions that keep TuneCores staff aware of the platforms performance. Allen said, Working at TuneCore has proved to be rewarding on so many levels. I get to work alongside incredibly smart, talented, and funny people every day. I have the best team in the world! Besides adding value to the company with the DevOps, infrastructure, database, and IT work that I do, Im proud to work for a company that puts emphasis on expanding DEI initiatives. I feel empowered to be able to utilize my voice, and that both my voice and my work continue to have a strong influence on the direction of TuneCore as a company, Allen studied Computer Information Science at Niagara University. Before joining the team at TuneCore, he was the Technical Operations and Platform Manager at PBS. Allen grew up singing in choir and chorus and had been an active DJ in the Washington, D.C. music scene for the past 10 years, before moving to Brooklyn. Allen spins all genres, but mainly House, Drum & Bass, Trap Music, Hip-Hop, and R&B. Allen said, As a DJ, working at TuneCore is the perfect balance of technology and music for me. When working on the platform Im able to look at things from both a technical perspective, but also from that of an artist. It helps me to ask the right questions, and I use that to inform my decisions all the time Over the last year, TuneCore has prioritized the launch of several first-of-their-kind products including: TuneCore Rewards, TuneCore Certified, and Social Platforms. TuneCore has also been an early distribution partner for Digital Service Partners (DSPs) in their new programs such as YouTube Shorts, Facebooks Independent Artist Program, Spotify Discovery Mode, Tidals Direct Artist Payments, and others. About TuneCore: TuneCore is the global platform for independent musicians to build audiences and careers with technology and services across distribution, publishing administration and a range of promotional services. TuneCore Music Distribution services help artists, labels and managers sell their music through Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, TikTok, Tencent and more than 150 download and streaming stores worldwide, while retaining 100 percent of their sales revenue and rights for a low annual flat fee. TuneCore Music Publishing Administration assists songwriters by administering their compositions through licensing, registration, worldwide royalty collections, and placement opportunities in film, TV, commercials, video games and more. The TuneCore Artist Services portal offers a suite of tools and services that enable artists to promote their craft, connect with fans, and get their music heard. TuneCore, part of Believe, is headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, with offices in Los Angeles, Nashville, Atlanta, and Austin, and operates globally through local teams based in the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, India, Japan and Singapore across 5 continents.http://www.tunecore.com About Believe: Believe is one of the worlds leading digital music companies. Believes mission is to develop independent artists and labels in the digital world by providing them the solutions they need to grow their audience at each stage of their career and development. Believes passionate team of digital music experts around the world leverages the Groups global technology platform to advise artists and labels, distribute and promote their music. Its 1,430 employees in more than 50 countries aim to support independent artists and labels with a unique digital expertise, respect, fairness and transparency. Believe offers its various solutions through a portfolio of brands including TuneCore, Nuclear Blast, Naive. Groove Attack and AllPoints. Believe is listed on compartment A of the regulated market of Euronext Paris (Ticker: BLV. ISIN: FR0014003FE9). http://www.believe.com Hall of Flowers Canada in Toronto, Sept 13-14, 2022 Canada has led the way for national legalization. To be able to bring the unique Hall of Flowers experience to Toronto allows us to help drive the industry forward across North America. For the first time, Hall of Flowers, the iconic, industry-leading cannabis brand and retail trade show, will be coming to Toronto, Canada in September 2022. Hall of Flowers is an invite-only, tightly-curated, B2B trade show that is specifically designed to strengthen relationships between brands and retailers. Hall of Flowers Canada is made possible in collaboration with Vetrina Group. Canada has led the way for national legalization, said Hall of Flowers co-founder Dani Diamantstein. To be able to bring the unique Hall of Flowers experience to Toronto allows us to help drive the industry forward across North America. As the Canadian industry has experienced exponential growth of both brands and retailers, a gap has emerged between the two, noted Jay Rosenthal co-founder and former Managing Director of Business of Cannabis, integral to attracting Hall of Flowers Canada to Toronto. We are proud to help close that gap by bringing Hall of Flowers Canada to Toronto. Retailers are starved for deep connections to the brands they sell - yet are often stretched incredibly thin on time, said Krista Raymer, CEO, Vetrina Group. Hall of Flowers Canada will be the only place for retailers to connect with all the leading brands in one setting. Hall of Flowers Canada will bring together over 200 brands and over 1,000 retailer leaders at the Enercare Centre in Toronto. For additional exhibitor, buyer or media information, please contact: info@hallofflowers.com About Hall of Flowers Hall of Flowers is a licensed, industry-only, highly curated B2B show designed to facilitate commerce between our vast network of premium licensed cannabis brands and retailers. Our product categories span across flower, concentrates, edibles, topicals, accessories and technology. Hall of Flowers is the first show of its kind to deliver an experience that elevates the cannabis industry to a new level of cultural significance. About Vetrina Group Vetrina Group is an all-in-one retail consultancy that specializes in the cannabis consumer experience. Drawing on a diverse CPG background, we are experts in the customer journey and retail excellence, solving problems and helping clients exceed their goals into sustainable profitability. Our mission is to elevate and destigmatize cannabis, the industry and its retailers through the use of education, technology, data and our leading retail expertise. Learn more at VetrinaGroup.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. "Manquen Vance and RDS Services is a great fit for the Accretive family of companies. They have a strong entrepreneurial and innovative culture that is central to all Accretive agencies." Accretive Insurance Solutions, the recently-launched specialty and wholesale insurance division of AssuredPartners, is proud to announce that Manquen Vance and RDS Services joined the Accretive group of companies on May 1, 2022. The team of 24 associates based in Troy, Michigan, will remain under the operational leadership of Mark Manquen and John Vance. Manquen Vance is one of the most innovative and trusted health care benefits consulting firms in Michigan, specializing in strategic benefits administration, retiree health care/OPEB solutions, and cost containment programs primarily for state and local governments. Sean Smith, CEO of Accretive, explained, "Manquen Vance and RDS Services is a great fit for the Accretive family of companies. They have a strong entrepreneurial and innovative culture that is central to all Accretive agencies. We are excited to help them continue to achieve their mission to provide best-in-class support for human resources and plan administration." Founded in 2005, Manquen Vance and RDS Services offer specialized expertise to help control the cost of health care and provide clients with data to help them make informed decisions. Since 2006 RDS Services has specialized in subsidy recovery services, Medicare coordination, and pharmacy solutions focused on high-cost brand and specialty drugs. These programs have saved clients over $100 million since inception. "Since the beginning, our firm has been dedicated to providing modern solutions for today's challenges," said Mark Manquen, CEO of Manquen Vance and RDS Services. He continued, "Health care becomes more complex every year. Joining Accretive gives us access to additional resources that will enable us to meet the market's changing needs and continue to provide cost-saving solutions for our clients." David Wetzler, EVP Employee Benefits at Accretive, stated, "Manquen Vance and RDS Services has built a leading agency through niche specialization and dedicated commitment to customer service. We are thrilled to welcome them to our team of industry specialists." Manquen Vance has received multiple awards for workplace culture and wellness; and, was named one of the top 20 agencies in Michigan in 2022. For more information on Manquen Vance or RDS Services, please visit: https://manquenvance.com/ or https://rdsservices.us/ ### About Accretive Accretive was established in January 2022 with the mission of facilitating growth and innovation in the wholesale and specialty insurance market. With a leadership team of industry-recognized innovators, Accretive organizations have an established track record of building ground-up solutions, differentiated product delivery, and industry specialization. For more information about Accretive, please email info@accretive-ins.com or visit http://www.accretive-ins.com. The world's finest aerobatic pilots such as Kirby Chambliss will be flying in the daily air shows at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022. (EAA photo/Adam Glowaski) Whether youre seeking innovation, history, family fun, or just the excitement of aerobatic flight, youll find it gathered at Oshkosh unlike any other place on earth. The 69th Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention, scheduled for July 25-31, will welcome more than 10,000 aircraft and 600,000 flight enthusiasts to Oshkosh, Wisconsin this summer. EAA AirVenture Oshkoshknown as many flight enthusiasts simply as Oshkoshwill make Wittman Regional Airport the busiest airport in the world. Children less than 18 years of age will be admitted free throughout the week, thanks to support from The Boeing Company. This years event will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Air Force. All branches of the Air Force will be represented during AV22via flybys, static displays, and presentations. Aircraft expected at AirVenture include: C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, F-16 Fighting Falcon, KC-46 Pegasus, HH-60 Pavehawk, AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Blackhawk, MH-47 Chinook, AH-6 Little Bird, and T-38 Talon. The Air Force has more than 325,000 personnel and more than 5,000 aircraft. An airfields worth of other anniversaries are scheduled to take place at AirVenture, as well, including the 30th year of Young Eagles, which is the largest youth aviation program ever created. More than 50,000 volunteer EAA-member pilots have flown nearly 2.3 million young people in the last 3 decades. Other iconic homebuilt air craft designs are celebrating milestone anniversaries include Dyke Delta and Fly Baby brands (60 years) as well as Acro Sport, KR-1, VariViggen, and Vans RV (50 years). There have been more than 11,000 completed Vans homebuilt planes registered, making it the worlds most popular aircraft kit. Additionally, the One Week Wonder returns to Oshkosh for AV22. During AirVenture week, a group of volunteers will build a Sonex Waiex kit plane, with the help of AirVenture attendees, who will have a chance to pull rivets and be part of the team that builds an aircraft in a single week. Displays of new aviation technology will also be featured at AirVenture 2022, including a host of VTOLs (vertical takeoff and landing vehicles) and eVTOLs (electric VTOL). Fittingly, the first North American eVTOL charging station is being implemented at Wittman Regional Airport as the fledgling personal aircraft industry takes off. Boeing will showcase its 777 EcoDemonstrator jetliner from July 25 through 27. As always, the worlds top air show performers will be on hand for AV22. There are nine air shows scheduled, including night shows on Wednesday, July 27 and Saturday, July 30. The world of flight literally comes to Oshkosh for this weeklong celebration, said Dick Knapinski, EAAs director of communications. Whether youre seeking innovation, history, family fun, or just the excitement of aerobatic flight, youll find it gathered at Oshkosh unlike any other place on earth. EAA WomenVenture is back for a 15th year. For the first time, AirVenture will maintain a dedicated space for women in aviation throughout the week. KidVenture returns to Pioneer Airport, where children can learn how to fly a radio-controlled airplane, experience flight simulators and learn aviation history. AirVenture also includes learning centers throughout the grounds for aircraft enthusiasts; aircraft of nearly every size, shape and era to view (including more than 300 warbirds, homebuilts and vintage craft); nightly activities, like a fly-in theater which will show Top Gun July 23 and the new Top Gun: Maverick July 29 and concerts; and flight experiences on a B-17, Ford Tri-Motor and Bell 47 Helicopter. The EAA Aviation Museum is also open for tours during the week of AirVenture. About EAA AirVenture Oshkosh EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is the Worlds Greatest Aviation Celebration and EAAs yearly membership convention. Additional EAA AirVenture information, including advance ticket and camping purchases, is available online at http://www.eaa.org/airventure. EAA members receive lowest prices on admission rates. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit http://www.eaa.org. Immediate news is available at http://www.twitter.com/EAA. We are proud to carry the (WBE) and (WOSB) certifications and bring another layer of diversity to our customers and the supply chain as a whole. Karen Norheim, President & CEO. American Crane & Equipment Corporation, a business specializing in overhead cranes and custom material handling equipment, is proud to announce our national certification as a Womens Business Enterprise by the Womens Business Enterprise Center - East, a regional certifying partner of the Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). We are proud to carry the (WBE) and (WOSB) certifications and bring another layer of diversity to our customers and the supply chain as a whole. Karen Norheim, President & CEO. The WBENC standard of certification implemented by the Womens Business Enterprise Center - East is a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a woman or women. By including women-owned businesses among their suppliers, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier diversity programs. To learn more about American Crane, please visit http://www.americancrane.com ABOUT AMERICAN CRANE: American Crane & Equipment Corporation (ACECO) is a privately held international material handling company with locations in Southeastern Pennsylvania, USA. They are the leading manufacturer of cranes, hoists and other material handling equipment, with powerful innovation, proven experience and are a government approved supplier. About WBENC: Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nations leader in womens business development and the leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, with more than 17,000 certified Womens Business Enterprises, 14 national Regional Partner Organizations, and more than 350 Corporate Members. More than 1,000 corporations representing Americas most prestigious brands as well as many states, cities, and other entities accept WBENC Certification. For more information, visit http://www.wbenc.org. ARCH Cutting Tools expands its capabilities with its newly acquired facility in Spring Arbor, Michigan. Diversified Precision Products is a welcome addition to the ARCH family, further bolstering our custom tooling DNA ARCH Cutting Tools Corp., an ARCH Global Holdings LLC Company (ARCH), today announces the acquisition of Diversified Precision Products, Inc. in Spring Arbor, Michigan. The company specializes in Custom Round Tools and Work Rest Blades, and excels in the automotive, medical, agricultural, heavy equipment, and aerospace industries. The new acquisition will join ARCH Cutting Tools, further solidifying ARCH as an industry-leader in precision custom tooling. Diversified Precision Products is a welcome addition to the ARCH family, further bolstering our custom tooling DNA, said Jeff Cederstrom, Divisional President of ARCH Cutting Tools. I look forward to offering Diversified Precision Products cutting tool design capabilities and responsive domestic manufacturing to ARCHs growing customer base, particularly in the Transportation and Aerospace industries. Steve Lazaroff, Owner of Diversified Precision Products, sees the partnership as a growth platform for the engineered round carbide cutting tool and centerless grinder work rest blade markets. Lazaroff says, Diversified Precision Products was founded in 1969, and we have dedicated more than five decades earning a strong reputation of producing quality precision tooling and work rest blades for a diverse base of loyal customers. He further explains, Expanding this 53-year legacy by partnering with another company was a decision that we took seriously. ARCHs core values and devotion to their employees, customers, and the industry align deeply with Diversified Precision Products. Together we will continue to provide custom made-to-print tooling for decades to come. About ARCH Cutting Tools ARCH Cutting Tools Corp., an ARCH Global Holdings LLC Company based in metro Detroit, is recognized as a world leader in high-performance solid round and indexable cutting tools. With manufacturing facilities located throughout the United States, the companys engineering and machining facilities are dedicated to the betterment of precision machined parts, products, tools, and related supply chain processes. ARCH Cutting Tools combines the expertise of leading American manufacturing professionals and expanding technologies to serve the medical, aerospace and defense, and industrial markets. ARCHcuttingtools.com Media contact: ARCH Marketing marketing (at) archgp (dot) com With the support of partners like Bank of America, we can build upon Sierra Colleges efforts to advance equity and inclusion in manufacturing industries, said Sonbol Aliabadi, Executive Director of the Sierra College Foundation. Sierra College Foundation announced that they are the recipient of a grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation in the amount of $25,000. The grants purpose is to encourage enrollment and successful participation among traditionally underrepresented students in Sierra Colleges manufacturing programs. Target programs include Advanced Manufacturing, Drafting and Engineering, Mechatronics, Welding, and i3 (Invention and Inclusion Innovation Learning Community). With the support of partners like Bank of America, we can build upon Sierra Colleges efforts to advance equity and inclusion in manufacturing industries, said Sonbol Aliabadi, Executive Director of the Sierra College Foundation. Sometimes specific outreach, field trips, seminars, and other events, help expand students horizons and introduce them to new industries. Addressing community needs through our philanthropic investments is just one way we deploy capital to help build a more sustainable community, said Lori Rianda, Market Executive, Bank of America. Were honored to partner with Sierra College Foundation to help advance economic and social progress, in particular for vulnerable populations. About Sierra College Foundation Sierra College Foundation was established as a nonprofit tax-exempt 501(c)(3) in 1973. In concert with Sierra College and the community it serves, the Foundation commits itself to work toward educational excellence and to assist the implementation of the mission of Sierra College: Student success for all while closing equity and achievement gaps. The programs supported by the Foundation vary widely, and benefit students including former foster youth, veterans, students in crisis, low income, and first in family to attend college, to name a few. About Sierra College Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern California with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information is at http://www.sierracollege.edu. Before and After The team at Britten Periodontics understands that sometimes teeth just cant keep up. If a client has lost a tooth (or a few teeth) due to injury or disease, dental implants can rejuvenate both their smile and oral health. With this updated offering, Dr. Todd Britten continues his commitment to providing top-notch dental services to all of his patients. His highly experienced team caters to patients from all backgrounds. While regular brushing, flossing, and checkups allow many clients to maintain their natural smiles for a lifetime, the team at Britten Periodontics understands that sometimes teeth just cant keep up. If a client has lost a tooth (or a few teeth) due to injury or disease, dental implants can rejuvenate both their smile and oral health. An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The root is usually made of titanium (the same material used in many replacement hips and knees), a metal that is well suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Permanent teeth are more stable and feel more like natural teeth. The ideal candidate for implants is a non-smoker who has good oral health, including a sufficient amount of bone in the jaw and healthy gums with no sign of gum disease. Dr. Britten reiterates all procedures in our office are administered by highly trained professionals. As a full-service periodontal practice, the Clearwater, Florida, practice can also provide many other periodontal services in addition to implants that our clients need such as laser therapy, cosmetic periodontics, regenerative therapy and gum grafting. A satisfied parent shared this review: After breaking my 5 front upper teeth I was at a loss. Between Dr. Britten and my regular dentist, they worked out a plan of action to deal with my problem. I had major teeth and gum surgery yesterday and absolutely no pain. Couldnt ask for a more proficient doctor or his staff. What a pleasant surprise to wake up pain free after 2- hours of very difficult surgery. Dr. Britten deserves 100 stars for his skill set. Interested parties may visit https://brittenperio.com if they need more information about the dental practice and its services. These efforts help us make our own dreams come true while being ever-mindful to provide a similar space for other Asian creatives and entrepreneurs to share their craft with consumers. We love the tremendous positive energy at the AC*E pop-ups and the community weve helped create. Cali & Dana announce the next AAPI Creatives & Entrepreneurs pop-up will be held on June 25 and 26 at Industry City in Brooklyn. The brand is a co-founder and proud supporter of the collective helping local Asian artists and small businesses promote their work to broader communities via pop-up events and social media. The two-day event will showcase a collection of fashion, accessories, home and living, food and beverage, health and beauty, and arts and crafts. Attendance is estimated to be over 1,500 engaged consumers looking for unique goods from vendors and artists, supporting marginalized businesses across different industries. Cali & Dana, designers of denim for curvy petite women 53 and under, is a disruptive, design-forward brand that will exhibit its apparel at the AC*E event, proudly supporting the collective's endeavors to reach out to more consumers and identify Asian owned brands that bring diversity to the creative industry. Founders Choua Vang, Ali Diallo and Dana Hibbard-Herrera came together to start the brand influenced by their own heritages. Vang is from Thailand and Hibbard-Herrera comes from South Korea. Co-founding AC*E has special meaning, inspiring them to use their business and marketing skills to help other Asian creatives gain recognition for their offerings. Our brand is an example of the type of vendors that benefit from what AC*E offers, said Vang. These efforts help us make our own dreams come true while being ever-mindful to provide a similar space for other Asian creatives and entrepreneurs to share their craft with consumers. We love the tremendous positive energy at the AC*E pop-ups and the community weve helped create. The Cali & Dana design philosophy focuses on designing suitable fit options mindful of slow fashion with an eye on sustainability, featuring fabric made from recycled polyester for all of their denim. For more information on Cali & Dana, visit https://calindana.com. ### About Cali & Dana: Based in New York City, Cali & Dana is the premier brand specializing in denim for petite (5'3" and under) and curvy women. The forward-thinking company is founded by friends Choua, Ali, and Dana, whose design philosophy is creating styles that fit while staying fashionable. The government of Rwanda is issuing a fresh extradition request for Genocide fugitive Maj. Pierre-Claver Karangwa, who was arrested in the Netherlands earlier this month. Karangwa, a former officer in the genocidal regime's military, alleged to be one of the key masterminds in the massacre of thousands during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, was arrested on May 11, by Dutch police. The Ambassador of Rwanda to the Netherlands, Olivier Nduhungirehe, told the new times that the fugitive "was provisionally arrested for 20 days." He added: "And the Dutch authorities requested an updated extradition request by 31st of May, which will be sent by tomorrow [Wednesday, May 25]. Then the Judge will formally decide on the extradition." Before his arrest, the 65-year-old lived in Ermelo, a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland. On May 13, soon after his arrest, he was brought before the examining magistrate in The Hague who, sources said, validated his arrest. Though wanted in Kigali on suspicion of involvement in the 1994 genocide, Karangwa continued to live in the Netherlands since 1998. The former chief of army intelligence acquired Dutch citizenship in 2004. He worked at the school campus of Landstede Harderwijk as the facility officer. Harderwijk is located in the province of Gelderland. He is accused of being responsible for the mass murder of more than 20,000 people in his birthplace Mugina, in the former Gitarama district. Dozens of witnesses of the Mugina killings, including former Interahamwe militia who participated in the massacres and were sentenced for it, testified against Karangwa. Apart from participating in the massacres, he is also accused of being responsible for the murder of the Mayor of Mugina, Callixte Ndagijimana, who was trying to protect the Tutsi. Gacaca courts in his home area sentenced him in absentia to life in prison. Massacre of Tutsi at Bibungo bya Mukinga, Kamonyi Mugina Parish is located in Mbati Cell, Mugina Sector, Kamonyi District. According to a document by the now defunct National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), on April 24, 1994, there was a major attack on Mugina parish, in Kamonyi District, that killed the Tutsi who had taken refuge in the area. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Rwanda Legal Affairs Europe and Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. It is noted that those who had managed to get inside the church there had managed to survive until killers ordered them to get out and they were immediately killed. The killers said that they will not kill women and children, many of whom were wounded, hence they decided to take them all to Kabgayi. "When they arrived in Bibungo, they met Major Karangwa Pierre Claver, the head of National Gendarmery Investigation Service and asked them where they are taking them and killers told him that they are taking them to Kabgayi," reads a section about the massacres at a place called Bibungo bya Mukinga. "Karangwa prohibited them and ordered Tutsi to be killed on spot, they took them into the nearby house of a Tutsi called Moko and others were put in the toilet pit alive. Major Karangwa provided petrol to burn them in the house as well as those in the toiled pit who were burnt alive." Karangwa later fled to the Netherlands. Capt. Cole Cosgrove, vice president, Crowley global ship management, was presented with the Benkert Award by U.S. Coast Guard leaders with Crowley's Owen Clarke, director, government affairs. The Benkert Award is a tremendous honor that above all reflects the dedication of the men and women in every facet of our organizations to go above and beyond basic regulations and industry standards. Crowley has been awarded the Rear Admiral William M. Benkert Marine Environmental Protection Award for Excellence, the U.S. Coast Guards most prestigious merchant marine honor, for the global shipping and logistics companys commitment to safety and sustainability while exceeding essential standards for operations. Crowley received the Osprey designation, the Benkert Award programs highest distinction. The Benkert Award is a tremendous honor that above all reflects the dedication of the men and women in every facet of our organizations to go above and beyond basic regulations and industry standards. Each day, our mariners live our commitment to Integrity, and safety is essential to what we do from our vessels, to our terminals, to our engineering and shoreside safety professionals and all others, said Tom Crowley, the companys Chairman and CEO. We appreciate the trust and recognition of our work by the U.S. Coast Guard, who are the maritime industrys partners in ensuring our marine transportation safely operates to deliver cargo for America. Operating more than 170 vessels, Crowley has built on its established safety and environmental management systems and leadership programs which include stop-work authority for every employee and contractor in recent years, setting its ambition to be the most sustainable maritime, logistics and technology company in the Americas. The company has committed to reach net-zero emissions across all scopes using the Science Based Targets Initiative standards, and Crowley is the first maritime corporation to use Salesforces Net Zero Cloud to measure that progress. The largest U.S. employer of merchant mariners, the company also has enhanced its concentration on development and empowerment opportunities for mariners and administrative personnel even as it overcame challenges of COVID-19 in daily service. The companys commitment to inclusion includes resource groups recognizing the diversity of employees. None of our success would be possible if our people were not willing to take on these responsibilities, which are often outside of their normal day to day job requirements. Integrity, which is our first core value, means doing the right thing when no one is looking. This award is a testament to our peoples unending commitment to live up to that value, said Kelly Baughman, director, environment, Crowley Shipping. The award, given every two years, was presented by the Coast Guards Wayne Arguin, assistant commandant for prevention policy, on May 19 in a ceremony at Washingtons National Press Club. The program recognizes corporations and businesses involved in marine facility or vessel operations that have demonstrated sustained excellence and outstanding achievement in protecting the marine environment. It also encourages innovations in operations, pollution prevention and response, environmental outreach and partnerships and provides a means for award recipients to share their successful methods and techniques with others in industry. About Crowley Crowley is a privately held, U.S.-owned and -operated maritime, energy and logistics solutions company serving commercial and government sectors with more than $2.5 billion in annual revenues, over 170 vessels mostly in the Jones Act fleet and approximately 7,000 employees around the world employing more U.S. mariners than any other company. The Crowley enterprise has invested more than $3 billion in maritime transport, which is the backbone of global trade and the global economy. As a global ship owner-operator and services provider with more than 130 years of innovation and a commitment to sustainability, the company serves customers in 36 nations and island territories through four business units: Crowley Logistics, Crowley Shipping, Crowley Solutions and Crowley Fuels. Additional information about Crowley, its business units and subsidiaries can be found at http://www.crowley.com. Cybereason, the XDR company, today named Osamu Yamano President of Cybereason Japan. A cybersecurity thought leader with nearly four decades of experience, Yamano will oversee the companys operations in the region and is responsible for expanding Cybereasons business and further strengthening its sales and support systems. Yamano brings valuable expertise and a strong track record of excellence to Cybereason most recently from both Akamai and McAfee. With nearly 40 years of experience, Yamano has held a variety of different roles in Marketing, Research & Development, Enterprise Sales and Channel Sales over his career. Since 2019, Yamano was President of Akamai Japan and also served as President of McAfee Japan between 2016-2019. He also ran EMC Japan as President from 2010-2016. And for 12 years between 1998-2010 he held a variety of titles with EMC Japan such as Executive Officer and Vice President and President. Yamanos career started in 1984 at AT&Ts Bell Laboratories. There is one common theme with Osamus distinguished and successful career and that is growing successful businesses for many of the biggest names in cybersecurity in Japan. I am confident that Osamu will play a pivotal role in increasing Cybereason market share with an ecosystem of partners that work with many of the largest financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, government, retail and telecommunications companies, said Lior Div, Cybereason CEO and Co-founder. Yamano holds a Master's degree in Control Engineering from the Tokyo Institute of Technology (1984), an Executive Program from Stanford University Business School (2001), and is a visiting professor at the University of Telecommunications. With the largest EDR market share in Japan, Cybereason is well positioned to continue rapidly growing our organization. Defenders need the ability to detect threats faster, monitor activities across both networks and endpoints with actionable intelligence, and leverage guided remediation tailored specifically to their organizations unique digital environment and cyber requirements. My goal is to ensure our customers are protected from cyberattacks and to work on Digital Transformation safely and securely, said Yamano. About Cybereason Cybereason is the XDR company, partnering with Defenders to end attacks at the endpoint, in the cloud and across the entire enterprise ecosystem. Only the AI-driven Cybereason Defense Platform provides planetary-scale data ingestion, operation-centric MalOp detection, and predictive response that is undefeated against modern ransomware and advanced attack techniques. Cybereason is a privately held international company headquartered in Boston with customers in more than 40 countries. Learn more: https://www.cybereason.com/ Follow us: Blog | Twitter | Facebook Media contact: Bill Keeler Senior Director, Global Public Relations Cybereason bill.keeler@cybereason.com +1 (929) 259-3261 Treasures of a Hopeful Heart: A Collection of Christian Poetry: a potent message of Gods dedication and the comfort He provides. Treasures of a Hopeful Heart: A Collection of Christian Poetry is the creation of published author George Magdalany, a dedicated husband, father, and pastor. Magdalany shares, From the depths of despair to the mountain of hope, Treasures of a Hopeful Heart is a collection of poetry that reflects a battle fought and a victory won in Christ. Reading every poem will give birth to a divine peace and an enduring hope. May the past sorrows that led the author to his present hope inspire you also. May your heart be filled with treasure beyond measure! Published by Christian Faith Publishing, George Magdalanys new book will encourage and motivate as readers consider the message held within each poem. Magdalany shares a message of hope in honor of Gods blessings bestowed upon one within the pages of this inspiring collection. Consumers can purchase Treasures of a Hopeful Heart: A Collection of Christian Poetry at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Treasures of a Hopeful Heart: A Collection of Christian Poetry, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Tuttle Royale School We are aligning ourselves with leaders in the education industry to develop a school to service the communitys most fundamental needs. said Bjarne Borg, CEO and Executive Chairman of Index Investment Group Index Investment Group has closed on a 10-acre parcel in the Tuttle Royale development on Southern Blvd in Royal Palm Beach that is slated to host a new K-12 school that would support up to 1,500 students. Index is currently working to identify an operator to run the school. Index Investment Group paid $6 Million for the land and the total development cost is estimated to be around $25 Million which would include a campus with classrooms, cafetorium and gymnasium at a total square footage of around 90,000 SF and designed with a high level of security in mind. The development is anticipated to commence within six months with an expected opening by July 2024 for the new school year. Index has identified that there are numerous growing and marginalized communities that have an inherent need for quality education access within proximity of where they reside. Index is proud to help support the expansion of education availability across Florida. After seeing the great influx of people moving to Florida, we have identified that there is a general lack of schools available to growing communities, it is a paramount necessity for children to have access to quality education and we are investing directly in the Florida education system said Bjarne Borg, CEO and Executive Chairman of Index Investment Group. We are aligning ourselves with leaders in the education industry to develop a school to service the communitys most fundamental needs. Index has made numerous significant investments in multi-family rental communities, industrial/logistics and commercial facilities as well as hospitality properties along the East Coast of the United States. The Jupiter-based real estate investment company has ongoing and completed twenty-five developments throughout North America since 2011, including nearly 3 million square feet of commercial-industrial properties in the Upstate New York market. About Index Investment Group Index Investment Group is a dynamic real estate investment group based in Jupiter, Florida that has major investment initiatives throughout North America including apartment communities, industrial/logistics, office, hospitality, and senior living communities. Index Investment Group develops intelligently designed properties throughout the East Coast of United States with a focus on Florida and contributes to the community through valuable and meaningful investments. For more information about Index Investment Group, visit http://www.indexinvest.com. ### The SECs new marketing rule opens the door for online client testimonials, reviews, and ratings, and feedback is the start of that journey. Indyfin, an innovative fintech company, and Wealthbox, an industry-leading CRM solution, announced today a new technology integration that will enable advisors to quickly and easily add client contacts from Wealthbox to the Indyfin platform. This first-of-its-kind technology integration will dramatically decrease the time it takes for Wealthbox advisors to start gathering feedback from clients. The SECs new marketing rule opens the door for online client testimonials, reviews, and ratings, and feedback is the start of that journey, said Akshay Singh, Founder of Indyfin. The stories shared by clients that have benefited from working with advisors far surpass anything an advisor can say about themselves. Indyfin provides investors with the ability to find and research advisors through robust, easy-to-read profiles that clearly differentiate an advisor, highlighting their unique credentials and experience along with ratings and reviews from existing clients. Financial advisors looking to grow their business partner with Indyfin to gather client feedback to build credibility and trust online with clients and prospects through Indyfins investor experience platform. The new Indyfin integration with Wealthbox enables advisors and staff to securely sync client information between the platforms with just a few simple clicks. The intuitive search and filtering offered in this integration make launching workflows for 10, 20, or all of their clients a painless process. In addition to the ease of use, Wealthbox advisors can confidently submit client feedback requests knowing their contacts are up to date and that no one will be left out. At Wealthbox, we are always looking at ways to save advisors time so that they have more time helping clients manage their wealth, said Jeff Mello, President & CFO of Wealthbox. Helping advisors grow their business and improve their clients' experience are key ways technology can make a difference. So, were excited to partner with Indyfin to support our clients in this integration. The companies will be hosting a joint webinar on June 14, 2022 to showcase the features and benefits of this new integration. Sign up here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2716533205188/WN_K1B8-nMHQU-TXZAcBswRLQ About Indyfin Indyfin is the worlds first investor experience platform redefining how consumers find, research, and connect with financial advisors. Financial Advisors partner with Indyfin to gather feedback, ratings, and reviews, which helps them to build credibility and trust online. Advisors utilize Indyfins proprietary technology to create data-rich profiles, enabling accurate matching to new clients while offering investors transparency into what makes an advisor unique. Headquartered in Dallas, TX, Indyfin is a fast-growing fintech company committed to helping investors meet their financial objectives with help from a trusted financial advisor. About Wealthbox Wealthbox is a CRM technology for financial advisors that launched in 2014. Integrated with leading custodians and wealth-tech partners, Wealthbox is known for its modern product design and powerful yet intuitive user experience. The collaborative platform allows financial advisors, enterprise firms, and broker-dealers to manage client relationships while streamlining operations. Jim Patrick at a medical office ribbon cutting. His success as an investor serves as an inspiration to fellow entrepreneurs while his passion for hyperbaric oxygen therapy makes him a champion in the medical arena. Since leading CutisCare, Jim Patrick has raised awareness for hyperbaric oxygen therapy by developing and managing hospital-based outpatient hyperbaric and wound care programs. More recently, Jim has raised awareness through the development of vascular and physician office-based practice programs focused on hyperbaric oxygen, wound care, and limb salvage. CutisCare is a national leader in championing these new programs aimed at delivering better care in convenient patient-friendly settings, and making this care more affordable. Under Jim Patricks guidance, CutisCare is pioneering the expansion of wound care and hyperbaric oxygen services outside the traditional hospital outpatient setting. To support this expansion, Cutiscare recently completed a follow on capital raise with key shareholders led by Bison Capital, a financial partner, and leader in middle-market healthcare financing. The company has raised additional debt financing to improve its ability to invest in new programs. When receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy, patients breathe in pure oxygen in pressurized conditions. This form of treatment has been effective when administered to people suffering from decompression sickness, a common issue for scuba divers. It is an accepted and covered therapy for numerous health indications covered by Medicare and Commercial Insurance, including severe diabetic foot ulcers, failed skin flaps, late effects of radiation therapy, and chronic osteomyelitis. Although not generally covered by insurance in the United States, Hyperbaric Oxygen has also been used worldwide to treat traumatic brain injury, late effects of stroke, dementia, concussions, anti-aging, and numerous other conditions where blood flow to tissue or vital organs has been compromised. Presently, CutisCare, Jim Patrick, and head of marketing Kelly Casares have launched a national Hyperbaric Awareness Campaign. Mays Hyperbaric Awareness USATM is off to an excellent start as UHMS will be featuring content for Hyperbaric Aware throughout the month of May. The campaign to raise awareness for hyperbaric oxygen therapy will include emails and social media posts to help spread the word while informing patients and physicians about the advantages of the treatment. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or, HBOT, can treat wounds and infections that have not improved after administering standard treatments. By raising awareness for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Jim Patrick is helping educate physicians while benefiting patients in need of healing. His success as an investor serves as an inspiration to fellow entrepreneurs while his passion for hyperbaric oxygen therapy makes him a champion in the medical arena. About Jim Patrick: Jim Patrick has an impressive portfolio of businesses that have benefitted from his involvement. He has helped companies like National Healing, CutisCare, RegenQuest, and others grow into successful businesses with reputations for excellence. Through the process of establishing hundreds of wound care clinics in outpatient settings across the US, Jim has also improved patient care offered by some of the nation's largest profit and not-for-profit hospital chains, and academic medical centers. Press Release by SFL Media Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhomwik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Loyal Source Government Services LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Loyal Source Government Services LLC violated the California Labor Code. The Loyal Source Government Services LLC class action lawsuit, Case No. 22STCV15413, is currently pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. According to the lawsuit filed, Loyal Source Government Services LLC allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse employees for required expenses, (f) failed to provide wages when due, and (g) failed to pay sick pay wages, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections 201, 202, 203, 204, 226, 226.7, 233, 246, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges Defendant underpaid sick pay wages to Plaintiff and other California Class Members by failing to pay such wages at the regular rate of pay. Plaintiff received a non-discretionary bonus that was allegedly not calculated into the regular rate of pay, which resulted in an alleged underpayment of sick pay wages. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Loyal Source Government Services LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** If you would like to know more about the The Vasquez Company dba Miguel's Jr. lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047. The Los Angeles County labor law attorneys at Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC, filed a class action complaint against The Vasquez Company dba Miguel's Jr., ("Miguel's Jr.") for allegedly failing to provide meal and rest breaks. The class action lawsuit, Case No. CIVSB2204403, is currently pending in the San Bernardino County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. According to the lawsuit, Miguel's Jr. allegedly violated California Labor Code Sections 201, 202, 203, 204, 221, 226, 226.7, 246, 510, 512, 558, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, and 2802 by failing to: (1) pay minimum wages; (2) pay overtime wages; (3) provide required meal and rest periods; (4) provide accurate itemized wage statements; (5) provide wages when due; and (6) reimburse employees for required business expenses. As a result of their rigorous work schedules, Miguel's Jr. employees were allegedly unable to take off duty meal breaks and were not fully relieved of duty for meal periods. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges employees were from time to time interrupted during their off-duty meal breaks to complete tasks for Miguel's Jr. Employees were allegedly required to perform work as ordered by Miguel's Jr. for more than five (5) hours during a shift without receiving an off-duty meal break. Further, the lawsuit alleges Miguel's Jr. failed to provide employees with a second off-duty meal period each workday in which these employees were required by Miguel's Jr. to work ten (10) hours of work. Miguel's Jr.'s policy allegedly caused employees to remain on-call and on-duty during what was supposed to be their off-duty meal periods. Employees therefore allegedly forfeited meal breaks without additional compensation and in accordance with Miguel's Jr.'s alleged strict corporate policy and practice. If you would like to know more about the Miguel's Jr. lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland K. Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047. Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC are labor and employment law firms with offices located in California that dedicate their practices to fighting for employees who have been wronged by their employers due to unfair employment practices. Contact one of their attorneys today if you need help with workplace issues regarding wage and hour, wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, and harassment. -THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT- James Scott Farrin Hispanic League Scholar Perla Moreno-Gil The firm supports programs like the Hispanic League because we consider it our civic duty to ensure promising young people like Perla Moreno-Gil have all the advantages they need to succeed, said attorney James S. Farrin, President and CEO of the firm. The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin is proud to sponsor Perla Moreno-Gil for a Hispanic League scholarship as she pursues a degree in social work at North Carolina A&T State University. Hispanic League, founded in 1992, fosters diversity and raises awareness by serving as a liaison between non-Hispanic and Hispanic communities. Scholarships are awarded to outstanding Hispanic students to assist with their continuing education and were presented at the Hispanic Leagues 23rd Annual Spanish Nite Virtual Gala. We are proud to sponsor Perla and help her get a head start in her career in the important field of social work, said attorney James S. Farrin, President and CEO of the firm. The firm supports programs like the Hispanic League because we consider it our civic duty to ensure promising young people like Perla have all the advantages they need to succeed. Perla said she wants to become a behavior psychologist who helps children, and this scholarship will help her pursue her dream. She is dedicated to helping others, and this career path fits in with that goal. I believe that being a good leader is about being selfless," Perla said. "Everything you do has to be thought out in consideration of your subordinates because they are always looking up to you. There should be dedication, responsibility, and accountability. Every move you make will affect those who come after you. I want to continue to be that leader in helping others, and this scholarship will allow me to do so." ABOUT THE LAW OFFICES OF JAMES SCOTT FARRIN The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin is one of the largest personal injury firms in North Carolina and has helped over 55,000 injured people since 1997. Operating from 16 offices in NC and one in SC, many of the firm's 60+ accomplished attorneys are recognized professionals in their fields. The firm focuses on providing quality legal services to as many people as possible in the following practice areas: personal injury, car accidents, workers' compensation, nursing home abuse, whistleblowing, defective products, eminent domain, mass torts, class actions, and Social Security Disability. Offices in Durham (main), Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, NC and Greenville, SC. Attorney J. Gabe Talton: 280 South Mangum St., Suite 400, Durham, NC. Contact Information: David Chamberlin 280 S. Mangum Street Suite 400 Durham, NC 27701 866-900-7078 Venue at American kitchen. We take great pride in providing a wide range of new home offerings that comes equipped with everything you could possibly need and want, said Anthony Mignone, Division President of Lennars NJ Region. The future forecast looks exceptionally bright for the nations leading homebuilder. And the reality surrounding that notion is clear whether youre a first-time homebuyer, move down buyer or somewhere in between, Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN and LEN.B) is building homes for all ages and stages of life based on the tremendous need for housing in key New Jersey markets. And the best part each home includes smart home technology and other exciting additions (i.e., quartz countertops, LED lighting, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, etc.) that most builders will charge extra for. We take great pride in providing a wide range of new home offerings that comes equipped with everything you could possibly need and want, said Anthony Mignone, Division President of Lennars NJ Region. The excitement doesnt stop there. On the heels of being named #1 Most Admired Homebuilder by FORTUNE Magazine, Lennar has recently unveiled three new home communities in Morris and Passaic Counties. Besides their premier locations and unrivaled onsite amenities, all three communities feature The Connected Home by Lennar. Venue at The American, Collection at Morris Plains and The Parke at Little Falls are now open with quick move-in homes available. We are so happy to offer these upscale communities in New Jerseys most desirable areas, said Mignone. Venue at The American, a 55+ Active Adult community that offers luxurious lofts and upscale townhomes in Morris Plains, will host its model grand opening this month. The Morris County community is just minutes from downtown Morristown and will highlight a clubhouse, pool and an array of onsite amenities. Collection at Morris Plains will also unveil its model home this month. This community is ideal for both growing families, as well as those looking to downsize. This community offers luxurious, loft-style residences and townhomes in beautiful Morris County, said Mignone. Nature lovers will feel right at home with a beautiful park nestled in the heart of the community, complete with bike racks, walking paths, benches and more. Residents are also in walking distance to the train station for easy commuting. The Parke at Little Falls features luxurious loft-style residences on Main Street in Little Falls just 25 minutes from New York City. This community is perfect for commuters, as well as those who want to make the most out of living right next to Manhattan while living in the suburbs, said Mignone. The Parke at Little Falls also offers a special tax abatement, meaning monthly payments will go down and the amount of the home you can afford will go up. The Connected Home by Lennar is offered at each of these new communities as part of Lennars signature Everythings Included program, which incorporates the most desired features in every new home as standard. Homes come included with features like Ring, Level, eero wifi, Moen, Resideo - A Honeywell Home smart thermostat, LiftMaster myQ Smart Garage Control and more. The Connected Home is made possible through Lennars comprehensive technology strategy and is profoundly reflected in its most recent ranking as #1 Most Admired Homebuilder on FORTUNE Magazines 2021 List of Worlds Most Admired Companies. This recognition is a direct response to the remarkable efforts and overwhelming dedication of everyone at Lennar for delivering outstanding homes and providing an unrivaled level of customer service, said Mignone. Looking to the future, we are excited to continue these efforts as we continue to grow in the North Jersey market and bring the dream of homeownership to life for so many families. About Lennar Corporation Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's largest builders of quality homes for all generations. The Company builds first time, move-up and active adult communities under the Lennar brand name. Eagle Home Mortgage and CalAtlantic Title provide mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of the Company's homes and others. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about the Company may be obtained at the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website, http://www.lennar.com. A former governor of Anambra State and presidential aspirant, Mr. Peter Obi, yesterday, resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and also dropped from the presidential race in the party. Obi's letter of resignation to the PDP was submitted to the party's National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, by the Director General of his campaign organisation, Dr. Doyin Okupe, who has vowed that his resignation from the PDP notwithstanding, Obi's name would be on the ballot for presidential race in 2023. The letter, personally signed by Obi, was titled: "Resignation From Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Withdrawal from the Presidential Contest" and read thus: "I am writing to intimate you of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was conveyed to the Chairman of Agulu Ward 2 Anaocha LGA, Anambra, effective Friday, 20 May, 2022. "Consequently, I am by this letter informing you of my withdrawal for the PDP presidential primaries. "It has been a great honour to contribute to nation-building efforts through our party. Unfortunately, recent developments within our party make it practically impossible to continue participating and making such constructive contributions. "Our national challenges are deep-seated and require that we each make profound sacrifices towards rescuing our country. My commitment to rescuing Nigeria remains firm, even if the route differs. "I wish to thank you personally for your graciousness and leadership. I wish you well and best of luck in the service of country." THISDAY gathered that Obi left the PDP because the body language of the party leadership suggested that he not wanted in the party. His grouse may not be unconnected to the delegate crisis in his home state, Anambra, where the list of the delegates was swung in favour of some political godfathers in the state. It was further gathered that Obi might be going to join the Labour Party now seen as a third force Okupe, after submitting Obi's resignation letter, said, "This is not the end of the presidential contest for him. Certainly, his name will be on the ballot during the 2023 presidential election." Indications of crisis in Anambra State came to the fore, when members of PDP in the state urged the Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) to listen to the will of the people expressed during the delegate election. The PDP in the state, after a four-hour meeting with all contending groups in the state, urged the NWC not to pander to the wishes of those he described as "godfathers" Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Addressing newsmen after the meeting, a former National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the party members in the state had spoken and "it is in the best interest of the PDP to respect the will of the people than pander to the views of the godfathers. "The people have spoken and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the congresses. We wonder why the Ayu-led NWC is dilly-dallying over the matter? We want him to release the outcome of the delegates election in the state. "INEC report is clear on the conduct of the three-man ad hoc delegates list. We wonder why the NWC led by Ayu is reluctant in obeying the wishes of the people." The story was that the delegates that were elected in the state were loyal to a certain godfather, thus stripping Obi of any control of the delegates. Lake Forest-based dry cleaning business Power Cleaners is pleased to announce that they have been certified again by Americas Best Cleaners for 14 consecutive years. The certification they received is one of the strictest independent certifications known to the garment care industry. Americas Best Cleaners is a national institution that acknowledges the best dry cleaning businesses in major metropolitan regions throughout America. To be selected for this prestigious merit, Power Cleaners had to meet strict and rigorous criteria. To be accepted as a full affiliate of Americas Best Cleaners, Power Cleaners was obliged to undergo on-site inspections by certified representatives from the organization to identify if the business met the qualification requirements of stain removal, finishing quality, machinery equipment, and cleanliness. As only a few cleaners certified by Americas Best Cleaners for 2022, Power Cleaners are also required to undergo quarterly mystery shopping reports, monthly quality tests, and testing for customer service and quality as part of the stringent certification in the dry cleaning industry. According to a representative from the dry cleaning company, We are truly honored to have been selected again as an affiliate of Americas Business Cleaners this year. Receiving full affiliation with Americas Best Cleaners and the associated requirements offers our customers and partners the guarantee that we are completely dedicated to incessantly exceeding their expectations of service and quality. Power Cleaners is a family-owned dry cleaning company in Lake Forest, California, actively working to make sure they exceed their customers expectations. While they use advanced technology to make every customers cleaning service or delivery fast and simple, Power Cleaners is always proud of its old world secrets. Americas Best Cleaners works closely with some top retailers and fashion designers. Their certification process provides the manufacturers of high-end couture a level of convenience and security when it comes to the care and maintenance of their garments. Also, their selection criteria deliver security, and their professional network of affiliates across the country offers convenience. As an affiliate of Americas Best Cleaners, Power Cleaners guarantee that they will be held only to the highest standard of excellence in all they do. As one of the best businesses certified, Power Cleaners joins an exclusive group of elite dry cleaners from the over 40,000 dry cleaning establishments in the United States. About Power Cleaners Power Cleaners is a dry cleaning business in Orange County, California. With years of expertise and knowledge in dry cleaning, the company has been offering superior quality laundry and dry cleaning along with the best customer service in the region. To learn more about the Power Cleaners certification, call Crystal Doaifi at (949) 472-0393 or email her at crystal@powercleaners.net. Visit the companys official website at https://powercleaners.net to know more about the dry cleaning, wedding dress cleaning, or alteration services they offer. ### Researchers from Rochester Institute of Technology are part of a team creating a system to detect coronavirus antibodies in one minute. RITs team will develop the technology needed for a point-of-care diagnostics system built on integrated photonics. Capable of accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, the new system could reduce the need for expensive equipment and specialized expertise to better inform care decisions in underserved, resource-limited communities. Our expertise in integrated photonic chips and packaging will be leveraged to address the unique needs of point-of-care systems, said Stefan Preble, professor of electrical and microelectronic engineering in RITs Kate Gleason College of Engineering. Preble will work with Dorin Patru, RIT professor of electrical engineering, and both faculty will develop the integrated photonic sensors that will be key for detecting coronavirus and other emerging viruses. Integrated photonics has traditionally been used for data centers and internet communications, but the low cost and impressive sensitivity of integrated photonic devices based on silicon chip manufacturing is showing promise to revolutionize health care, said Preble, who also serves as graduate program director of microsystems engineering. RIT has been one of the lead universities in AIM Photonics since 2015, and provides both technology development and integration as well as workforce training. Preble has been instrumental in researching integrated photonic chips as part of RITs Future Photonics Initiative and in developing as well as teaching a series of courses for AIM Photonics. The university has also led the development of integrated photonic packaging technologies that are being used at the AIM Photonics Test, Assembly and Packaging (TAP) facility in Rochester, N.Y. The U.S. Department of Commerces National Institute of Standards and Technology recently announced that more than $54 million would be distributed to 13 national project teams for research, development, and testbeds for pandemic response as part of the American Rescue Act. AIM Photonics was awarded $5,273,779 as one of those key projects and is a sponsor of the regional work that will be based primarily at the University of Rochester Medical Center, with a portion of that funding provided to RITs photonics researchers. The extensive project also involves collaborators from SUNY Polytechnic Institute, the University of California at Santa Barbara, the Naval Research Laboratory, Infinera, Spark Photonics, and Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics. We are confident that the principles that enable photonic biosensing for the clinical laboratory can also be applied to point-of-care diagnostics, said Ben Miller, professor of Dermatology, Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Materials Science, and Optics at the University of Rochester Medical Center and principal investigator on the disposable point-of-care sensors project. Sensors are a critical technology in the developing photonics market, noted David Harame, chief operations officer of AIM Photonics. Both projects will leverage and extend AIM Photonics photonic sensor manufacturing and packaging capabilities to develop prototypes to help get these critical solutions to market as rapidly as possible. Early and accessible diagnostics are key in combating the rapid advance of a new pathogen. Understanding who is infected, who among those infected is most likely to require hospitalization, who has successfully acquired immunity via vaccination or previous disease, and how new viral variants impact immunity are all critical components of a pandemic response strategy. At the outset of the pandemic, AIM Photonics, working in collaboration with the academic community, the U.S. Department of Defense, and industrial laboratories responded to the urgent need by developing a new disposable photonics approach to coronavirus diagnostics. The system uses a tiny silicon nitride ring resonator photonic sensor chip paired with a plastic micropillar microfluidic card to passively process a human whole blood or serum sample, enabling a one-minute detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with high sensitivity and specificity. "I am very excited about the integration within RamQuests Closing Market and the time it will save us! RON has been a great feature to use, and the SIGNiX platform has been awesome." SIGNiX, a leading digital signature and Remote Online Notarization technology company based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, announced its integration with RamQuest, Inc., a leading provider of technology-based solutions for the title insurance and settlement industry. SIGNiXs remote online notary (RON) platform transforms the traditional in-person notary process that requires paper documents, rubber stamp notary seals, and pen-and-ink signatures into a secure, online document signing process. SIGNiXs RON technology is now integrated with RamQuests Closing Market an application-to-application interface that seamlessly integrates diverse systems and enables participants to work from their own software. This integration will save Closing Market users considerable time and hassle by making their notarizations faster, more secure and much more convenient. Kevin McGuire, Vice President of Real Estate and Strategic Partnerships at SIGNiX, commented In addition to our existing Digital Signature integration with RamQuests Closing Market, we are extremely excited for the new RON integration and the efficiencies it will provide users. Documents and signer information flow directly into SIGNiX to perform the RON, and when the RON Signing is complete, the documents automagically upload and save into the appropriate file in Closing Market. Big time saver! I am very excited about the integration within RamQuests Closing Market and the time it will save us! RON has been a great feature to use, and the SIGNiX platform has been awesome, said RamQuest customer Tayler Tibbetts from Empire Title & Escrow Idaho. SIGNiXs remote online notarization solution allows notaries and their clients to notarize documents anywhere, anytime using audio and video technology in concert with SIGNiXs patented digital signature technology. Instead of using paper documents with wet signatures that can easily be tampered with, SIGNiXs RON technology provides secure digital documents with embedded legal evidence and fraud protection that is superior to traditional notarization. About RamQuest RamQuest is a Texas-based corporation that has been serving the title industry since 1991. As the provider of the title insurance and settlement industrys most comprehensive production solutions, RamQuest products are currently in use for closings in all 50 states. For more information about RamQuest, visit RamQuest.com. About SIGNiX SIGNiX provides digital signature and remote online notarization technology to users in highly regulated industries. Our cloud-based platform protects critical documents and contracts from tampering. Since all the necessary legal evidence is contained within the digitally signed document, SIGNiX clients can store their documents on their servers and not rely on a vendor to provide future evidence and verification. SIGNiXs technology ensures document enforceability and independent verification by giving users complete ownership and control of their digitally signed documents. For more information about SIGNiX, visit SIGNiX.com. Happy Thursday! After delivering a bespoke consulting project for General Mills this week, our iQ researchers still managed to track the positive patterns around uplifting and engaging BIPOC communities, reflections on intentional mental health resets, and the physical store as online brand discovery platform. Plus check out an exclusive recording of May 19th's NFT webinar event!! PSFK's Guide for engaging and uplifting BIPOC and LGTBQ+ communities through thoughtfully designed brand activations and product strategies. Thoughtfully Celebrating BIPOC & LBGTQA+ Communities We live and operate within an imperfect world. Top brands and organizations can find success by creating opportunities for the disadvantaged with thoughtfully designed products and store experiences; and by leveraging operational strengths and local partnerships to address inequalities with initiatives for communal good. In fact, new research suggests brands and organizations can explore new opportunities when they empower consumer audiences to be seen, heard, and represented. Trader Joes creates inclusive experiences for neurodiverse shoppers Trader Joes is creating more accessible shopping journeys for people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities by providing neurodiverse shoppers with step-by-step instructions, visual cues, and even guided audio how-to's for in-store tasks that are traditionally challenging or overwhelming for certain consumer communities. Read More CVS brings huge investment to underserved communities CVS Health has invested $185 million in creating permanent supportive housing (PSH) units for underserved communities. PSH residents tend to be individuals with disabilities, as well as youth aging out of foster care, victims of domestic violence, people in need of behavioral health or addiction treatment and individuals challenged by similar life situations. Community residents will gain access to services provided by CVS to help stabilize and improve their wellbeing. PSFK Twitchs internal guilds give its employees a voice in client decisions The video live streaming service Twitch doesnt just serve communities, it works as one too by building strong and diverse employee guilds where every team member and employee community is represented by having a voice. Read More Download Today: A PSFK Playbook for Inclusive Engagements Discover 6 intentional strategies to enact positive communal change by holistically championing equity and inclusion both inside the organization and out. Details *Download the PSFK Report* IRL Storytelling As Discovery Platform For Online Brands Online brands are increasingly choosing brick-and-mortar retail channels, not for sales, but as a platform for discovery. As brands grapple with high costs of customer acquisition, physical stores and pop ups have become additional marketing vehicles for even the most traditional of tech giants and e-commerce platforms. By centering in-store experiences around brand initiatives and missions, and placing those stores in locations and geographies people trust, brands can create what are essentially billboards consumers can walk into. Amazons first clothing store reminds shoppers the giant sells fashion The Amazon Style store in Los Angeles is a retail first for the tech company, and meant to burnish Amazons brand among consumers shopping for fashion and apparel, while simultaneously reminding them of the depth and breadth of offerings that can be found on the e-commerce giant's platform. Amazon Style DTC brand Mosaic Foods uses new store to market its vegan products Meal delivery subscription company Mosaic Foods is opening a storefront to give consumers an opportunity to try the brand's vegan and vegetarian food offerings without the longer-term commitment of the online subscription it's primarily known for. The new location in Brooklyn, NY will sell individually pre-prepared vegan and vegetarian meals, and hopefully hook shoppers onto a longer-term relationship with both veganism and the food brand's products. Mosaic Foods Google's Brooklyn retail store offers locally-branded experience The Google Store Williamsburg is the first of the tech giants planned neighborhood stores which will celebrate their local setting and its unique creatives. The new Google Store offers a similar hands-on experience as the companys flagship, but in a more intimate setting with a localized design that differs from, say, Apples more uniform approach. Google Duolingo's innovative taqueria helps diners practice Spanish Duolingo is opening up a new brand concept called Duos Taqueria in their hometown of Pittsburgh. The language-focused restaurant will offer visitors discounts on their food if they successfully test their Spanish skills, as well as offer other initiatives that prove Duolingo really is the world's best way to learn a language. TripSavvy eBay opens retail pop-up targeting sneakerheads An upcoming eBay pop-up store in Los Angeles looks to remind shoppers of the platform's position as a top destination for sneaker resale, not just knick-knacks from your aunt's attic. The activation will feature popular and collectible sneakers at discounts of up to 70% off, with even lower prices for shoppers who literally wear their purchases out the door. Press Release WATCH: Last Week's Webinar Event Learn how your organization can leverage the potential of NFT's underlying token technology to drive loyalty and sales, plus optimistically unpack what it all means for the future of retail Marketing & Advertising. Subscribe to RIW's YouTube Channel For All The Best Events Intentional Reflections Resetting Mental Health As the world evolves at lightning speed, it can sometimes be difficult for consumers to keep up with the pace of their daily existence, much less feel comfortably grounded. There is a growing mental health crisis in America among all ages of the population. Consumers see slowing down, taking a break, and living reflectively and intentionally, as an antidote to the ever changing situations and myriad doom and gloom double-binds of modern life. BMW iX Flow body color responds to drivers mental states The BMW iX Flow is an innovative new vehicle with an E Ink body coat capable of changing its color on demand. By hooking up the cars color suite to an EEG attached to volunteers, BMW was able to harness consumer brain activity to change the color patterns on the car depending on their mental state. As participants calmed and relaxed their brains, a special patterned E Ink animation across the car was unlocked. The activation was meant to show which strategies work best to relax consumers brain activity. BMW What if we simply didnt follow the news? The Guardian reports on a growing percentage of the population who are stepping away from the 24/7 news cycle of doom and gloom overload, replacing political and geopolitical dialogue with things like baby animals and live-feeds from zoos on their social media to boost mental health. These individuals are increasingly asking themselves, Will my knowledge, or lack thereof, of this event be able to actually change anything? when they decide what content to consume. The Guardian A sabbatical may not fix your job, but it can nurture life outside of it The Atlantic writes on the growing prevalence of workers taking sabbaticals, and the valuable opportunity they provide for resting and reflecting on an identity outside of work. Giving workers extended time off also allows them to detach from works value system, and refocus on simple but essential, humane activities. Many companies find sabbaticals to be a powerful tool for attracting, and keeping, talented employees who return to the office more engaged and efficient. The Atlantic Using vocal biomarkers to detect signs of depression and anxiety Mindful talk therapy app Kintsugis AI software analyzes short clips of the human voice to detect depression and anxiety in patients. The mental health software is being integrated into clinical call centers, telehealth services and remote monitoring apps to provide a more well-rounded, 360-view of patients during virtual screenings. Kintsugi Get this Weekly Debrief as an email SUBSCRIBE to the PSFK Newsletter Also In The News & Opinions This Week Every PSFK report is now available to order and download. We might just have the insights you need to get smart quick on that topic you're digging into today. psfk.com/reports The mind of an adult begins in the imagination of a child, said Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander in his keynote address during the U.S. Book Show on Thursday, May 26. If you want to create more empathetic human beings, then I believe weve got to put books in the hands of children that are going to expand their way of thinking. That are going to expand how they view other people who dont live like them. Ultimately, its going to help us all become better human beings. Alexander is the bestselling author of 35 books, including The Undefeated, Booked, Rebound, Solo, and Swing. He spoke with fellow author Lev Grossman (The Golden Swift, Little, Brown) from New Orleans, where the Disney+ series based on his Newbery-winning book The Crossover is currently being filmed. The focus of their conversation was the fall release of Alexanders new middle grade novel, The Door of No Return (Little, Brown). This historical novel in verse tackles the turbulent period of the transatlantic slave trade from the perspective of a 12-year-old boy living in what is now Ghana. Alexander said that throughout the process of writing the book, he wondered if the material would be too heavy for young readers. He described the books interplay of wonder and woe, triumph and tragedy as an unprecedented challenge for him as a writer. We often think of Black history here in America as the beginning, he said. I posit that its the middle. With The Door of No Return, I wanted to refashion what the beginning was for students, for teachers, for parents, for readersfor us. Lets change the narrative so that we can have an understanding of the real roots of this tree. Alexander writes both picture books and novels in poetry and verse. Poetry, chants, songs, and rhyme were the original forms of stories, he said, through which important messages were handed down through generations. Poetry allows me to talk about really heavy, expansive things in a few words, he explained. That economy of words and immediacy magnifies the emotional impact on the reader. An expanse of text and a lengthy book can be intimidating to kids, he noted; but a novel in verse allows a child to take in the pages and the whole book quickly. It builds confidence in young readers, he said. To see the video, click here to log in to the U.S. Book Show. The Door of No Return is scheduled for September 27. Set in 19th-century Ghana, it tells the story of 11-year-old Kofi, who lives in the village of Upper Kwanta. Kofi is an ordinary boy who loves swimming, hates yams, and dreams of future glory in an upcoming village wrestling competition. Beyond his village, forces are at work that will change his world forever. He finds himself caught between his communitys traditions and the dark clouds of the future gathering on the horizon. By focusing on the aspects of Kofis life that any kid can connect and relate to, Alexander said, he is able to take young readers out of that normal, accessible, comfortable place to a very uncomfortable place in which they can open their hearts and minds. Alexander has made 11 trips to Ghana in the past decade, and has built a library and a health center in the countrys Eastern Region. He visited the Elmina Castle, the countrys infamous slave castle seven times. The portal through which enslaved people passed on the way to the ships gave his new book its title: the door of no return. Those visits inadvertently became research: Alexander said that at some point during his many journeys to Ghana, he realized, Ive got to write a story exploring the tragic history of this vibrant culture and the people who experienced the brutality of the slave trade. The book was the most emotionally difficult hes ever written, Alexander said. Its hard to talk about the book even now because of how heavy, how weighted it is. At times it felt like pushing water uphill with a rake, he recalled. This novel took longer to write than his other books, he said, in part because writing such tough material required being in a certain uncomfortable frame of mind. I believe in the power of hope and dreaming a world and saying yes. The Door of No Return is planned as a trilogy. Its sort of my Hunger Games, Alexander said. Readers will be able to follow the characters through their world. Some may not make it. But in confronting one of historys most tragic chapters, the author hopes that readers will also recognize the resilience of individuals and communities that lived through it, giving them a whole new level of understanding of the humanity of Black people. Black people need to be reminded of that. White people need to be told that. I felt like it was my job to do it. Ultimately, the author described himself as a hope person. I believe in the power of hope and dreaming a world and saying yes. I want to write books that instill that and inspire that in kids. In the space of two years, global work culture shifted at a remarkable rate. Four panelists, along with moderator Paul Bogaards of Bogaards Public Relations, looked around today's publishing landscape to assess what may return and what's gone for good. Odom Media Management founder and literary agent Monica Odom was already working from home, expecting a baby, when the pandemic began. "I sold the most books of any year in 2020and I'm still waiting for them all to publish," she said. Despite her productivity, she fought "to stay grounded amid the immense collective trauma we were all having, recognizing we were all humans doing this work." As an aside, she commented, "I did miss the editor lunches." That sounds like a throwaway line, yet social distancing highlighted publishing's reliance on workplace culture. Bogaards suggested the pandemic put "a cap on industry fun," lowering morale among people who thrive on hard work and literary perks. "The social fabric seems to be fraying at the edges," Bogaards lamented. "We're not having as much fun together, and that does take a toll," agreed Julia Sommerfeld, publisher of Amazon Publishing and founder of Amazon Original Stories. As remote work developed, she noticed the rise of "a strong online chat culture. The team is always pinging each other and trying to capture that casual conversation. We're missing the kind of osmosis that happens when we're all together." St. Martin's Publishing Group president Jennifer Enderlin assured everyone that "the parts we liked best about it will find their way back." Enderlin looks forward to "the special lunch you have with an author who's in town and who gets to meet a few members of the team. It's the 'Tuesday night, another party' that won't come back." She added that Macmillan sponsors company-wide days off to combat burnout. ("I want to go back and work at St. Martin's now, based on all Jennifer is saying," Bogaards quipped.) To see the video, click here to log in to the U.S. Book Show. If coffee chats and side-by-side teamwork appeal to many, though, others would prefer never to darken the doorway of a conventional office space. "How do we go from 'the office is a fine place to work' to a categorical rejection of office life?" Bogaards asked the panelists. "One of the good things to come out of the pandemic was this recognition that people can be at home and actually be very productive," said agent Anjali Singh of Ayesha Pande Literary, who launched a side business in lecture management and represented anti-racist educators while stuck at home during Covid. In pre-pandemic years, Singh recalled feeling "stigmatized when I had young children and wanted flexibility in my work life [because] it flew against corporate mores. Now you can read a manuscript pretty much anywhere." The challenge, Singh said, is balancing "the mentorship that comes from being around employees with more experience, and the camaraderie that comes from being around employees at the same level." Amazon's Sommerfeld felt similarly: "Creative work can really benefit from the privacy and the concentration when working from home or in a mostly empty office," she said. "The hardest part is onboarding new people who don't have that [established office] shorthand." Enderlin likewise believes in allowing "as much schedule flexibility as possible" and trusting her team. "Everybody wants to do a good job," she said. "When people get as much choice as possible, they're incentivized to make it work." Odom reminded the group: "As a millennial, being a digital nomad was the dream!" Along with remote and hybrid work spaces comes the opportunity to hire from outside publishing's metro areas. When Bogaards asked the panel how to diversify publishing's workforce in a meaningful way, Odom responded, "I would love to have an agent that lives in New Orleans. Agents are frontline cultural gatekeepers," and hiring people outside New York is a way to access "region, tied to race." Sommerfeld offered the example of Amazon Publishing's Seattle headquarters, which "has editors in Tennessee, Michigan, Maine, and California, as well as New York. It's been a great asset," she said. "Most authors and readers are not New Yorkbased, and by having team members around the country, we have an opportunity to speak to our customers' breadth of experiences." Outside hires require training and support too, and some of the panelists saw this moment as a chance for publishers to invest record profits in young and diverse staffers' careers. "We're bringing in a lot more staffers of color, but are we really changing the systems?" asked Odom. When Bogaards asked the panelists whether employees should share more readily in publishers' profits, Enderlin explained that St. Martin's gave bonuses to every employee in good standing at the end of 2021, "from the most junior newest employee all the way up. We werent going to write a press release, we just did it." "Good news should be shared," replied Bogaards, who hadn't known. "When PRH gave out bonuses to employees for 50 Shades, it was not a secret!" Odom, who supported Enderlin's example, reinforced Bogaards's response. "If you were to make it public as something to celebrate, it would encourage other publishers: 'OK, guys, are you going to meet us there?'" Odom said. "Your positive influence allows for it to proliferate instead of stay within your company." She underscored how important profit-sharing may turn out to be, "especially for the younger folk who are resigning. Talks are happening for sure," she said, referring to collective bargaining and a burgeoning interest in labor organization and unions, both in the publishing industry and beyond. "Historically in trade publishing, the expectation was that you would work from 9 to 5, then you would go to a reception, and then you would read at night," Bogaards observed. "The collectivizing generation is actually putting mile markers down. They say, I don't want to go home and read for four hours." Innovative community-buildingeven if it's happening from nationwide home officesseems poised to change the industry for good. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue University has welcomed race fans home again for the Indianapolis 500 each year for more than a century. Over the years, Purdue alumni and students have represented the university at the race in many ways. Purdues involvement began in 1919, when the Purdue All American Marching Band became the first band to perform as part of the days ceremonies. Over time, Boilermakers enthusiasm and involvement in the sport has only grown from the pre-race parade to the pits. These stories, photos, videos and podcast celebrate how Boilermakers continue to shape the Indianapolis 500. Journalists are welcome to share or publish any of this content from Purdue Marketing and Communications. Media contact is Trevor Peters, peter37@purdue.edu. Purdue alumni Bill Pappas turned his love for racing from a young age into a career with the Indy 500. With two Indy 500 victories under his belt, Pappas has exemplified the Boilermaker's trademark of persistence. He currently serves as the IndyCar series' vice president of competition and race engineering. Read this story to learn more about Bill Pappas journey as he raced toward his dreams. The new episode of This Is Purdue focuses on Purdue alumna Angela Ashmore and lifelong motorsports fan who is an engineer for Chip Ganassi Racings No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda. Listen in as Ashmore discusses her experience with Purdues Formula Society of Automotive Engineers student club and how the problem-solving techniques she learned at the School of Mechanical Engineering helped propel her career. One boy's lifelong passion for racing leads him to chase his dreams of becoming an Indy 500 race engineer. Purdue alumnus Nathan ORourke was a dedicated student, but his drive and curiosity to excel pushed him to create opportunities for himself in the racing industry. On the brink of his ninth year working at Andretti Autosport, ORourke is ready to take his next giant leap toward Victory Lane. Whether it's engineers developing optimal vehicle performance, the All-American Marching Band performing "Back Home Again in Indiana," or students representing the university in the 500 Festival Princess Program, Boilermakers have been integral to the Indianapolis 500 for more than 100 years. "The Greatest Spectacle in College Racing" has been going since 1958 at Purdue, and students compete for scholarships and real-world experience. Four Purdue racing fans - Russ, Olivia, Dawn and Carter - share how the Grand Prix Foundation has helped them explore their interests, find community and take steps toward their next giant leap. Through their participation in the Indy 500, Purdue University students display leadership, commitment, showmanship and empowerment. The Purdue All-American Marching Band Playing a part Becoming a part of Purdue History A community coming together Leadership and showmanship 500 Festival Princesses Redefining the definition of a princess Empowering others Modeling community service A passion for community About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last four years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://stories.purdue.edu. Compiled by: Margaret Mowrer Media contact: Trevor Peters, peter37@purdue.edu Abuja Contrary to reports that immediate past president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, is out of the race for the presidential ticket of the ruling All progressives Congress, APC, because he did not submit his nomination form, Vanguard gathered yesterday that he is still in the race. Sources said he submitted his expression of interest and nomination forms to the party. However, party leaders could not confirm, yesterday, if he has left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the APC. Some leaders of the PDP, led by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, early in the week, met Jonathan to convince him to remain in the PDP and attend the party's presidential convention on Saturday. The move to include Jonathan in the race, sources said, last night, was partly responsible for the much-postponed screening of APC presidential aspirants. Apart from the issue of raising a seven-man screening committee to be chaired by the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the panel has to be given a list of aspirants to be screened. It was also gathered that the bid by some powerful Northern political leaders to draft Jonathan into the presidency of Nigeria in 2023 is gaining momentum, with the endorsement of the idea by a cross-section of Northern political stakeholders. Vanguard however learned last night that although the idea has been pushed to President Muhammadu Buhari by his henchmen, he has neither rejected nor openly endorsed it as of the time of writing this report. A source close to Jonathan's camp confirmed to Vanguard that the bid by Jonathan to fly the APC flag in the 2023 presidential election is on the course but declined to give details of the process and who the promoters are. The source was confident that barring any unforeseen political development, Jonathan might emerge the consensus candidate of the APC and win next year's presidential poll with a wide margin. The former president is said to have made some contacts with some powerful persons close to the president, who are also pushing the agenda to secure him the APC ticket. The source said: "There have been a series of political stakeholders' engagements and many more are still being held in a bid to finalise the details of the process and we are confident Jonathan will emerge the candidate of the party. "Although there have been some back and forth developments relating to the project, there is clear hope now since the necessary contacts have been made and are still being made to advance the cause of the former Nigerian leader. "The former president is likely to get the ticket of the APC largely because the majority of the stakeholders and supporters of other presidential aspirants are on his side, having seen and known that their principals will not be able to make it." Why North is rooting for Jonathan Giving further insight into why the North is rooting for Jonathan, the source said the former president is seen as a trusted ally of the region, given what he did for them when he was in power and that he is possibly going to pick a Northern Muslim as his vice, as opposed to a leading aspirant from the South-West, who would likely choose a Christian vice president. Odds against Osinbajo, S-West aspirants "The idea that the South-West should produce the president of Nigeria after the eight years of Obasanjo and eight years of Yemi Osinbajo as vice president of Nigeria is repulsive to the generality of the North and that is why they are not disposed to back anyone from the South-West this time," the source disclosed. Reminded that the President might prefer his vice who has worked hard while remaining loyal since their journey began in 2015, the source said the sacking of two trusted allies of Buhari, including former DSS DG, Daura Lawal, and the former SGF, David Babachir, while the vice president held sway, was not pleasing to the president and might count against him. "The core North has not forgiven Osinbajo for these gaffes and the president is still relating well with these people, even while they are outside the corridors of powers," the source stated. It is not clear how the former president will emerge as the consensus candidate of the APC, given the fact that he was upset that a group of Fulani cattle dealers bought him the nomination form without informing him. It was also unclear last night if the form was submitted to the APC secretariat before the close of nomination. Why Jonathan is still in the race Another source told Vanguard how and why Jonathan is still in the race. "They (Presidency Cabal) persuaded him that he is the chosen one. He got the nomination form but when he could not get any guarantee from President Buhari, he hesitated. "The party created room for those who collected the forms late to fill and submit. Jonathan took advantage of the window and submitted the forms. "The cabal persisted. All sorts of stakeholders' meetings were held to convince him he is the chosen one. He told his associates that he is discussing with them but wants to get a firm assurance from the President. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "Clearly, it is either the President or the cabal who convinced him to run. That is one of the reasons delaying the screening of the presidential aspirants," the source said. I'll consult the party register to know if Jonathan has registered with APC - Bayelsa party chairman Can Jonathan run on the platform of the APC without joining the party? As of now, the issue of whether or not Dr Jonathan is a registered member of the APC is still unclear. Attempts to get the response of Ogori Freeman, APC Ward 13 chairman, Otuoke, Jonathan's hometown proved abortive but a kinsman of the former president, Engr. Mike Ogiase, simply said, "at the appropriate time, everything will unfold. The country will know the true position." Also, Bayelsa State chairman of APC, Dr Dennis Otiotio, who spoke with Vanguard on the telephone, said he was not in Yenagoa and was not in possession of the party register to know if the former president had registered with the party. His words: "I'm not in Yenagoa now, I am in Abuja. So, I may not be able to confirm anything. As I am talking to you now, I will not know until I get back to Yenagoa to check the register before I can confirm whether the former President is registered or not." Published: 25 May 2022 Estimated Reading Time: 3-4 minutes. In May 1994 - less than a week after the first democratic elections in South Africa - Labour won a majority on Croydon council for the first time. It was a coincidence which was not lost on observers. Croydon had long been a Conservative stronghold, and the result was a sure sign of the parties' changing fortunes: two Labour MPs were elected in the Borough in the 1997 landslide. In the 2017 General Election, too, the victory of Labour's Sarah Jones was one of the stories of the night. And yet, in this month's local elections - despite a strong showing elsewhere in London - a Conservative became Croydon's first directly-elected mayor, and Labour lost a majority held since 2014. What had gone wrong? There are obvious local explanations. That there was a directly-elected mayoralty for Jason Perry to win (following a referendum at the end of last year) owes much to the problems which the Labour council has faced since its 2020 bankruptcy. Though Croydon's financial problems went beyond them, a series of risky investments and growing antipathy about the Council's planning decisions saw the downfall of virtually an entire generation of Labour councillors - many of them first elected in the euphoric years of the early 1990s. As with Lutfur Rahman's win in Tower Hamlets, Croydon is a reminder for Keir Starmer that unpopular Labour councils are as likely to lose the party votes as popular ones are to win them. And the very importance of local factors, in one of the relatively few places where Labour topped the polls even in the 2019 European elections, is an indication of the broader challenges which the party still faces in shoring up its vote. Croydon is a strange place and means different things to different people. For some, it is still the suburban hellscape of 1980s sitcom Terry and June, and winning there in the 1990s was about as significant as Labour's 2022 victories in Barnet. The party has never made much of a dent in the Conservative-voting south of the Borough, but Pat Ryan's win in the Upper Norwood by-election in 1992 had signalled that Labour could win in the 'leafier' bits of South London around Crystal Palace Park. He stepped down in 2022, and his old ward elected a Liberal Democrat alongside two Labour councillors; it's the first time that a Liberal has won in the north of the Borough since Bill Pitt's parliamentary by-election victory in 1981. Upper Norwood voted 66 per cent for Remain, and planning decisions have been controversial locally. Labour will need to do something about its fractured vote. Labour's 1990s wins, of course, also owed something to the Borough's changing demographics. Nowadays, Croydon is more likely to be thought of as Stormzy's hometown than it is the birthplace of the National Front. The Borough, and particularly areas like Thornton Heath and South Norwood, are a prime example of what Stuart Hall called 'multicultural drift'. It is in exactly those places, however, that turnout is dwindling, and that the problems which caused the 2011 riots seem barely addressed. Labour's hold on the Borough's north might be enough for its MP, Steve Reed, to sit comfortably, but the loss of the mayoralty shows that Labour needs more. And even there, the (currently unsuccessful) campaigns of the Taking the Initiative Party - founded by Black Lives Matter activist Sasha Johnson - are perhaps a sign that the upset produced by Lutfur Rahman's Arise in Tower Hamlets could be repeated elsewhere if Labour takes its voters for granted. For other readers, Croydon will have a different significance, as the home of Peep Show's Mark and Jez. If Croydon's iconic trams did not feature in the show, its former office blocks certainly did, rapidly transformed into apartments which made the town emblematic of 'permitted development'. To their credit, the Labour council did try to put a halt on this, but through the late 2010s it undeniably benefitted from the votes of their residents, and of the young commuters in the new builds by East Croydon station. It was the town centre ward, Fairfield, with its trendy(ish) bars and cafes, which was to elect prominent local Momentum members in 2018, and a full slate of Momentum-member candidates was selected again for 2022. This time, however, two of them were defeated by the first Greens ever to be elected in the Borough. Local factors were salient, but the loss of enthusiasm (and canvassers) which was accompanied by Keir Starmer's leadership of the Labour Party cannot have helped. And then there is the Croydon of the 'Croydon Facelift' and the group of kids that berate Mark in Peep Show's first episode. There's a good chance that they would've travelled from New Addington: Croydon's Croydon, the sprawling housing estates way out on the Kent border. Turnouts in New Addington have been abysmal for a while, and what was once a Labour stronghold (their unsuccessful mayoral candidate, Val Shawcross, got her start as a councillor there before she joined the London Assembly) has elected three Conservatives for the first time. The Tories have been prodding away in the south of New Addington for a while - Tony Pearson, a councillor from 2010 to 2014, was re-elected as a Conservative councillor after a brief foray in the 'Democrats and Veterans Party' - but their success on the Fieldway Estate, in the north, is virtually unprecedented. New Addington voted for Leave by large margins, and it's close to 'Red Wall' as you'll find in London. Still work to be done for Starmer, there. Similarly, in Waddon - a more socially-mixed area just to the south of the town centre, but with a long history of council housing - Labour has experienced mounting problems since the 1970s. If Waddon was never so secure as New Addington, in the mid-twentieth century it was reliably won through the hard-fought campaigns of Viterbo Burgos, a refugee from Francoist Spain, who was as much a thorn in the side of the Labour Group as the council itself. Council house sales and a certain amount of support for the Far Right ate away at Labour's votes in Waddon as they had in New Addington, but in recent years it still elected three Labour councillors. One of these, Andrew Pelling, a formerly Conservative (and then Independent) MP about as popular with Croydon's Labour Group as Burgos had once been, was suspended from the party in the aftermath of his support for the directly-elected mayoral system. He stood as an independent, both in the mayoral race and in Waddon, and that was enough to let one more Conservative slip into his old seat in the council chamber. Again, a local result which still speaks to the difficulties faced by Labour nationally. There are many Croydons, then, and the results in all of them are a reminder of Labour's challenge. In the 1990s, when there were also many Croydons, Labour found a way of rising to it. After the recession at the beginning of the decade, the rise of the Docklands, and the growth of ICT - all of which hit Croydon especially hard - voters that might once have been comfortable found themselves warming to the critics of Thatcherism, and Labour benefited. It might do so again; its recent results are hardly as bad as 1982, when it had just five councillors. But its local reputation will take some rebuilding. At the same time, Labour's losses in Croydon cannot be reduced to local factors alone. If anything, they reveal how little Labour has succeeded in papering over the divisions of a fractured borough. These multiple Croydons, as so often, are a synecdoche for the situation in the country as a whole. The Labour Party - with sometime Croydon councillor David Evans as General Secretary - would be wise to pay attention to them. Dr Dan Frost is a Visiting Fellow at the Mile End Institute and is the Co-Convenor of the Contemporary British History Seminar at the Institute for Historical Research. Elon Musks first tweet after his $44 billion offer to purchase Twitter seemed uncontroversial enough: Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy. As the potential owner of the social media giant and self-proclaimed free speech absolutist, Musk promises to make Twitter the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated. But why are so many Americans divided on Musks pledge to provide an online space for free speech? After all, the First Amendment declares that Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. While the First Amendment covers the governments role in restricting speech, there have long been debates about how the private sector should observe free speech. In other words, the First Amendment doesnt require Twitter to protect free speech but should Twitter anyway? In short, its complicated. In times of war and in times of peace, from newspapers to college campuses, the battle over free speech has raged for centuries. In America, of course, free speech has been a controversial topic in politics and society ever since the nation's founding. What did the Founder who first proposed what became the First Amendment think about freedom of speech? Enter the Father of the Constitution: James Madison. Madison presented his original proposal for the First Amendment on June 8, 1789. The people shall not be deprived or abridged, Madison wrote, of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable. Although refined by the time of its inclusion in the Bill of Rights, the spirit of Madisons words remained intact: freedom of speech was a prerequisite for self-government. Writing later in 1791, Madison asserted, Public opinion sets bounds to every government, and is the real sovereign in every free one. In other words, governments that place boundaries on free speech create societies in which the people can never truly rule. One of the first big tests came when the Adams administration introduced the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798. Anticipating a war against France, Adams and the Federalists feared that aliens, or non-citizens, living in the United States would sympathize with the French during a war. The collection of laws imposed strict limits on speech that was critical of the American government and authorized the president to deport or imprison aliens. Madison and Thomas Jefferson asserted that such actions undermined a free republic. Both men went so far as to argue that states could interpose themselves between the people and the federal government or even nullify unconstitutional acts signed into law. Simply put, Madison believed the First Amendment gave Americans free speech as well as making them the voice of self-government. What might Madison think about Elon Musk, Twitter, and free speech absolutism? And why does it matter in the modern world? According to Madison expert and Jack Miller Center fellow Colleen Sheehan, Madison argued that free speech encourages a commerce of ideas that allows a society to refine its arguments and make a common cause together, despite the many ways we are different and diverse. We cannot speak for Madison. But efforts that remind us of the important role free speech and our Constitution more broadly plays in our individual lives help preserve our free society, a central goal of all the founders in establishing a self-ruling form of government. At the Jack Miller Center, we believe that understanding our nation's history and founding principles are the best way to make progress on these important questions. Freedom of speech is no exception. Students and teachers alike will benefit from our programming in civics education that promotes these principles in a faithful and responsible way. Elliott Drago is the Online Education Officer at the Jack Miller Center. South Korean boy band BTS are heading to the White House in Washington, D.C., to meet with President Joe Biden on Tuesday. ADVERTISEMENT The K-pop group will discuss how to address anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination, the importance of diversity and Asian inclusion and representation. BTS will also celebrate Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month with the president and will additionally discuss their roles as youth ambassadors who spread positive messages across the globe. More details about the visit will be announced at a later date. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris recently condemned attacks on minority communities during a AANHPI Heritage Month celebration at the White House. "Hate can have no safe harbor in America. And every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect," Biden said at the event. BTS is set to release their new anthology album titled Proof and a music video for single "Yet to Come" on June 10. BTS consists of members Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook. The band is signed to Big Hit and made its debut in 2013. Solomon Islands, China pledge to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation Xinhua) 16:39, May 26, 2022 HONIARA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Solomon Islands and China pledged here on Thursday to further enhance their mutually beneficial cooperation to serve as a paragon of mutual trust between China and the Pacific island countries. While meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Acting Governor General of the Solomon Islands John Patteson Oti said the government and the people of his country attach great importance to the relations with China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the development of bilateral ties has made significant progress, and the visit by the Chinese delegation will bring new highlights and add new impetus to the cooperation between the two sides, Oti said. Expressing gratitude to China for aiding the country in implementing the Stadium Project, which will be the main stadium for the 2023 Pacific Games, Oti said his country hopes to deepen cooperation with China in all fields so as to benefit its people. As a member of the international community and a member state of the United Nations, the Solomon Islands is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China in multilateral fields, he added. Wang said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Solomon Islands, which conforms to the historical trend of the times and serves the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries, the two countries have achieved all-round development of relations, deepened political mutual trust and pushed forward win-win cooperation, delivering tangible benefits to the two peoples. Noting that the diplomatic relations with China mean the Solomon Islands has had one more good friend as well as a sincere and reliable partner, Wang said it is expected that the bilateral ties will forge a high ground of win-win cooperation and become a paragon of mutual trust between China and the Pacific island countries. He said China will continue to uphold the spirit of mutual support and assistance of South-South cooperation, and help the Solomon Islands improve its people's well-being and promote development and prosperity. Wang also said China fully supports the Solomon Islands' hosting of the 2023 Pacific Games, and will work to ensure the timely delivery and quality of projects constructed with Chinese aid. Wang is visiting the Solomon Islands as part of his tour to the South Pacific island nations, which will also take him to Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, as well as Timor-Leste. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) press release The digital transformation of customs and borders in Africa could improve efficiencies in processes, such as administration at customs and borders, and yield trade gains on the continent of $20 billion a year. A new report by the World Economic Forum, Growing Intra-Africa Trade through Digital Transformation of customs and borders, launched today at the Annual Meeting 2022 in Davos, provides a pragmatic perspective on the non-tariff barriers in border and customs services that can be exponentially improved through digital transformation to increase intra-Africa trade. The report, written in collaboration with Deloitte, is launched at the convening of the Forum Friends of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a multistakeholder group that supports implementation of the goals set out by AfCFTA through public-private collaborations. The group comprises Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda,; Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General, of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat; Patrice Motsepe, Founder and Executive Chairman, African Rainbow Minerals; and Jim Ovia, Chairman, Zenith Bank among others. The AfCFTA implementation, which started in January 2021, has the potential to increase intra-African trade from its current 18% of total trade to 50% by 2030. It also has the potential to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty. However, achieving its full potential depends on putting in place significant policy reforms and trade facilitation measures. Kavitha Prag, Africa Lead, Enterprise Technology and Performance at Deloitte Africa, said: The African Free Trade Area agreement can be a great catalyst for Africas growth and development, but its full realization hinges on the introduction of efficiencies, including the improvement of customs processes. Digital transformation of border posts and customs is thus a crucial and necessary step in the implementation of the protocol, especially for many of Africas landlocked countries. Various countries and the regional economic communities are making efforts to build better trade networks enabled by world-class logistics networks that can withstand recent supply chain shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions. The report highlights insights from the Logistic Performance Index as well as key insights from case studies demonstrating the quantifiable value of digital reforms in countries such as Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. The paper is a call to action for more integrated digital reforms that can drive higher impact through public-private partnerships that sets the course for Africas post-pandemic recovery and growth. Even after tariffs are lowered, and simplified procedures put in place, the full benefits of the AfCFTA will not be realized unless non-tariff barriers to trade are also addressed, said Chido Munyati, Head of Africa at the World Economic Forum. Policy-makers can make a difference by implementing digital solutions. The report calls on the following policy support to enable digital transformation: Legislative support and acceptance that embraces new practices such as e-signatures or the use of drones to monitor cargo Buy-in from the various agencies that enable these operations to embrace digital reforms and embed them in their processes Take action based on demand-driven interventions that lead to higher adoption of rates by all organizations and position intra-Africa trade as more cost- and time-competitive Develop skills of services agents that can maximize the potential of the digital solutions Better co-ordination among AfCFTA members to establish Single Customs Territories The World Bank notes that while African exports of goods and services have seen their fastest growth in the past decade, the volumes remain low at just three per cent of global trade. The bank says boosting intra-regional trade requires improvement of physical integration, such as cross-border energy, transport and connectivity infrastructure, strengthening cooperation by harmonizing customs rules and procedures, and facilitating business integration through regional electronic settlement systems, an electronic cargo-tracking system, and easing restrictions on services trade. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Africa Business Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. About the Annual Meeting 2022 For over 50 years, the World Economic Forum has been the international organization for public-private cooperation. The Annual Meeting is the focal point for leaders to accelerate the partnerships needed to tackle global challenges and shape a more sustainable and inclusive future. Convening under the theme, History at a Turning Point: Government Policies and Business Strategies, the Annual Meeting 2022 and its 450 sessions bring together global leaders from business, government and civil society. Learn more about the programme and view sessions live and on-demand. THE Amref Health Africa-Tanzania has officially launched "Afya Kamilifu' project in Mara Region, whose objectives are, among others, preventing new HIV transmissions. The project, which is sponsored by the US government through Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), also offers Covid-19 vaccinations to people living with HIV/AIDS and health service providers. A five-year project (since 2018) has been implemented in Tanga, Simiyu, Mara na Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba) and is set to benefit 166,767 people, by September 2023, said the Amref-Tanzania Country Director, Ms Florence Temu, during the launching ceremony in Mara, on Monday. "But in Mara, the project kicked off last year and we are today officially launching it, wherein Amref and the Regional Administrative Secretary office has signed the 5.2bn/- contract," she said. According to her, various interventions on HIV/AIDS have been implemented through 'Afya Kamilifu', to speed up the achievement of 95-95-95 goal by 2025. She clarified that the goal means that 95 per cent of people living with HIV should test and come across of their health status, 95 per cent of those who diagnosed with the disease to be on virus suppression antiretroviral (ARVS) treatment and 95 of those on ARVs to be already suppressed the virus, by 2025. In totality, a total of 154,250 people living with HIV have been reached so far (Tanga, Simiyu Mara and Zanzibar), with 100 per cent being on ARVs treatment and 137,270 (89 per cent) being already suppressed the virus, according to Dr Temu. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Tanzania AIDS By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The Rorya District Commissioner (DC), Mr Juma Chikoka, said that male circumcision is among earmarked activities to prioritize through the project, due high HIV transmission rate (in Rorya) which has reached six per cent, compared to other districts of Mara. He expressed his gratitude to stakeholders, including Amref and CDC, who back up government' efforts towards fighting the HIV new infections through the project, including provision of self HIV test kits. The Project Director, Dr Edwin Kilimba, said HIV self-test kits were available at all health centres in the region. He urged the people to bring back the test results to service providers for records and immediate start of ARVs to those who proved positive. He at the same time commended the positive response to males who have been showing up for circumcision; saying about 92 per cent of the annual project target has already been met so far. "We therefore expect to go beyond the target before end of this first year of the project in Mara. Circumcision is part of mobile services offered in this project," he said. Every year since 1976 morris and sword teams from all over North America, and occasionally the UK, have gathered in southern Vermont to dance, make music and celebrate the arrival of Spring and coming of Summer. In response to our press release regarding my deputys reported discharge of their weapon, I Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media A former Morris resident pleaded guilty to a child pornography offense Wednesday and now faces up to 20 years in prison, according to the U.S. attorneys office. Kevin Curley, 41, pleaded guilty to a single count of receipt of child pornography, a charge that carries a potential 20-year sentence, the office said. RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) The Palestinian Authority on Thursday announced the results of its investigation into the shooting death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, saying it had proven she was deliberately killed by Israeli forces as she tried to flee. The conclusion echoed the results of a preliminary investigation announced nearly two weeks ago and were widely expected. Israel rejected the findings, with Defense Minister Benny Gantz calling them, a blatant lie. Abu Akleh, a veteran Palestinian-American reporter for Al Jazeeras Arabic service, was shot in the head on May 11 during an Israeli military raid in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Witnesses and Palestinian officials have said she was hit by Israeli fire. Israel says she was shot during a battle between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants. It says that only a ballistic analysis of the bullet which is held by the Palestinian Authority and the soldiers guns can determine who fired the fatal shot. Announcing the results of his probe at a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah,, Palestinian Attorney General Akram Al Khateeb said he had determined there were no militants in the immediate area where Abu Akleh was located. The only shooting was by the occupation forces, with the aim of killing, he said. Abu Akleh was in a group of journalists wearing helmets and protective vests marked press. Al Khateeb said the army saw the journalists and knew they were journalists. He accused Israel of shooting Abu Akleh directly and deliberately as she tried to escape. He also repeated the Palestinian position that the bullet will not be handed over to the Israelis for study. He said they decided not even to show images of the bullet to deprive (Israel) of a new lie. Al Khateeb said his investigation was based on interviews with witnesses, an inspection of the scene and a forensic medical report. In a speech later Thursday, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi said it was impossible to know who fired the bullet and once again called on the Palestinians to cooperate to get to the bottom of what happened. But there is one thing that can be determined with certainty," the military chief said. "No soldier fired intentionally at a journalist. We investigated that. We checked it. That is the conclusion. There is no other. Israel denies targeting journalists and has offered two possible scenarios, saying Abu Akleh was either shot by Palestinian militants who were firing recklessly at an Israeli army convoy or that she was hit by Israeli gunfire aimed at a nearby militant. The military has identified the rifle that may have been used in that scenario, but says it needs to test the bullet to make any final determination. An AP reconstruction of events has lent support to eyewitnesses who say she was shot by Israeli troops. But a weapons expert interviewed by the AP as part of the reconstruction said that it was impossible to reach a conclusive finding without further forensic analysis. Palestinian witnesses say there were no militants or clashes anywhere near Abu Akleh. The only known militants in the area were on the other side of the convoy, some 300 meters (yards) from her position. They did not have a direct line of sight, unlike the convoy itself, which was some 200 (meters) away on a long straight road. Israel has publicly called for a joint investigation with the PA, with U.S. participation, and has asked the PA to hand over the bullet for testing. But the State Department said Wednesday that it had received no formal request for assistance from either side two weeks after her death. The PA has refused to hand over the bullet to Israel or cooperate with it in any way, saying Israel cannot be trusted to investigate its own conduct. Rights groups say Israel has a poor record of investigating when security forces shoot Palestinians, with cases often languishing for months or years before being quietly closed. The PA administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hussein Al Sheikh, a top Palestinian official, said Thursday's report would be shared with the U.S. administration. Copies will also be delivered to Abu Akleh's family and to Al Jazeera, he said. The Palestinians say they will also share their results with international parties, including the International Criminal Court, which launched an investigation into possible Israeli war crimes last year. Israel has rejected that probe as being biased against it and is not cooperating with it. The severe distrust means the Israeli and Palestinian investigations into Abu Aklehs death are unfolding separately, with neither likely to accept any conclusions reached by the other. Each side is in sole possession of potentially crucial evidence. Ballistic analysis could match the bullet to a specific firearm based on a microscopic signature, but only if investigators have access to both. Lt. Col. Amnon Shefler, a military spokesman, told the AP the military has additional footage from that day, but declined to say what it shows or when it would be released, citing the ongoing investigation. Palestinians are still mourning Abu Akleh, a widely known and respected on-air correspondent who rose to fame two decades ago, during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, against Israeli rule. The 51-year-old documented the harsh realities of life under Israeli military rule now well into its sixth decade with no end in sight for viewers across the Arab world. Jenin has long been a bastion of Palestinian militants, and several recent attacks inside Israel have been carried out by young men from in and around the town. Israel has continued to carry out near-daily raids in Jenin since Abu Aklehs death, which it says are aimed at preventing more. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 war and has built settlements where nearly 500,000 Israelis live alongside nearly 3 million Palestinians. The Palestinians want the territory to form the main part of their future state, but peace talks broke down more than a decade ago, and Israels dominant right-wing parties are opposed to Palestinian statehood. The PA itself is seen by many Palestinians as a corrupt and authoritarian body that aids the occupation by coordinating with Israel on security matters. Any cooperation with Israel on the Abu Akleh investigation would likely spark a popular backlash among Palestinians, who view her as a martyr to both journalism and their national cause. ___ Associated Press writer Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) Democrats first attempt at responding to the back-to-back mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas, failed in the Senate Thursday as Republicans blocked a domestic terrorism bill that would have opened debate on difficult questions surrounding hate crimes and gun safety. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., tried to nudge Republicans into taking up a domestic terrorism bill that had cleared the House quickly last week after mass shootings at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and a church in Southern California targeting people of color. He said it could become the basis for negotiation. But the vote failed along party lines, raising fresh doubts about the possibility of robust debate, let alone eventual compromise, on gun safety measures. The final vote was 47-47, short of the 60 needed to take up the bill. All Republicans voted against it. We're disappointed, said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. She said it's "shameful" that the National Rifle Association and others have stood in the way of advancing such measures but encouraged Congress to press ahead. The president has been very clear thats its time to act," she said. Rejection of the bill, just two days after the mass shooting at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 children and two teachers, brought into sharp relief Congress' persistent failure to pass legislation to curb the nation's epidemic of gun violence. It also underscored the prevalence of mass shootings in the U.S. as Congress struggled to react to earlier shootings but was confronted by yet another massacre. Schumer said he will give bipartisan negotiations in the Senate about two weeks, while Congress is away for a break, to try to forge a compromise bill that could pass the 50-50 Senate, where 60 votes will be needed to overcome a filibuster. None of us are under any illusions this will be easy, Schumer said ahead of the vote. A small, bipartisan group of about 10 senators who have sought to negotiate legislation on guns met Thursday afternoon for the second time searching for any compromise that could win approved in Congress. They narrowed to three topics background checks for guns purchased online or at gun shows, red-flag laws designed to keep guns away from those who could harm themselves or others, and programs to bolster security at schools and other buildings. We have a range of options that were going to work on, said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who is leading the negotiations. They broke into groups and will report next week. Murphy has been working to push gun legislation since the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, that killed 20 children and six educators. He was joined Thursday by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and others. Collins, a veteran of bipartisan talks, called the meeting constructive. What is clear, however, is that providing funding for local gun safety efforts may be more politically viable than devising new federal policies. GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina exited the meeting saying there is no appetite for a federal red flag law or a so-called yellow flag law which permits temporary firearm confiscation from people in danger of hurting themselves or others, if a medical practitioner signs off. But Graham said there could be interest in providing money to the states that already have red flag laws or that want to develop them. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who circulated a draft at the meeting, will work with Graham on a potential compromise. These laws save lives, Blumenthal said. Toomey told reporters that the Manchin-Toomey background check bill which failed in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school shooting a decade ago still does not have enough support. Manchin said he hoped this time would be different. I cant get my grandchildren out of my mind. It could have been them, Manchin said. None of the lawmakers could say definitively if any of the efforts will be able to win all Democrats and have the 10 Republican senators it needs to advance past a GOP-led filibuster. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who has said little about gun legislation since the several tragedies have unfolded, told reporters he met with Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas earlier and encouraged senators to collaborate across the aisle on workable outcomes. I am hopeful that we could come up with a bipartisan solution thats directly related to the facts of this awful massacre, McConnell said. The domestic terrorism bill that failed Thursday dates back to 2017, when Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., first proposed it after mass shootings in Las Vegas and Southerland Springs, Texas. The House passed a similar measure by a voice vote in 2020, only to have it languish in the Senate. Since then, Republicans have turned against the legislation, with only one GOP lawmaker supporting passage in the House last week. What had broad bipartisan support two years ago, because of the political climate we find ourselves in ... or to be more specific, the political climate Republicans find themselves in, were not able to stand up against domestic terrorism, Schneider, who came into office in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting, told The Associated Press. Republicans say the bill doesnt place enough emphasis on combating domestic terrorism committed by groups on the far left. Under the bill, agencies would be required to produce a joint report every six months that assesses and quantifies domestic terrorism threats nationally, including threats posed by white supremacists and neo-Nazi groups. Proponents say the bill will fill the gaps in intelligence-sharing among the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI so that officials can better track and respond to the growing threat of white extremist terrorism. The efforts would focus on the spread of racist ideology online like replacement theory, which investigators say motivated an 18-year-old white gunman to drive three hours to carry out a racist, livestreamed shooting rampage two weeks ago in a crowded supermarket in Buffalo. Or the animus against Taiwanese parishioners at a church in Laguna Woods, California, that led to the shooting death the following day of one man and the wounding of five others. While Schneider acknowledged that his legislation may not have stopped those attacks, he said it would ensure that those federal agencies work together to better identify, predict and stop threats. Under current law, the three federal agencies already work to investigate, prevent and prosecute acts of domestic terrorism. But the bill would require each agency to open offices specifically dedicated to those tasks and create an interagency task force to combat the infiltration of white supremacy in the military. ___ Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Alan Fram and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Sen. Collins' vote was incorrectly announced in the Senate chamber as a yes vote. All Republicans voted against the measure. ___ More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings WATERBURY Police charged two men after finding them separately with drugs and guns that had been reported stolen, the Waterbury Police Department announced Thursday. In the two separate incidences, both men were prohibited from having any firearms. One suspect, identified as Anthony Orellana, had an active protective order against him, while the other, Andre Kellam, is a convicted felon, police said. When police found the guns, each was loaded with live ammunition, according to the police department. At around 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, officers were patrolling North Main Street due to recent complaints regarding narcotics and weapons-related violations. After further investigation, police identified Orellana, 21, of Waterbury, as a suspect. Police said they found Orellana with a loaded 9mm firearm with one round in the chamber and three additional live rounds of ammunition in the magazine. Police determined that the firearm was reported stolen out of Bridgeport. Orellana did not have a valid state pistol permit. There was also an active protective order against him, which prohibits him from possessing any firearms or ammunition, police said. Police also found Orellana with almost 70 grams of marijuana packaged in various quantities. Orellana was charged with second-degree breach of peace, interfering with an officer, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, illegal transfer of stolen pistol, carrying a pistol without a permit an criminal possession of a firearm.- Orellana was held on bond and was arraigned in court Thursday, police said. Police discovered a second stolen handgun while conducting a compliance check Thursday on Kellam, 24, of Waterbury. During the compliance check, parole officers determined that his vehicle would need to be searched. Inside the car, police found a loaded 45 caliber firearm that contained one live round in the chamber and five live rounds in the magazine. The firearm was reported stolen out of Waterbury in 2016, police said. Police added that Kellam is a convicted felon, having past convictions for first-degree burglary with a deadly weapon and third-degree robbery, making it illegal for him to possess any firearms. Detectives also found various amounts of fentanyl and cocaine in the vehicle, police said. Kellam was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, illegal transfer of a pistol/revolver, illegal transfer or sale of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, theft of a firearm, weapons in a motor vehicle and possession of narcotics with intent to sell, according to police. Police said Kellam was remanded back to custody by the state Department of Corrections. PRESIDENT Hussein Mwinyi has said the government recognizes and appreciates support offered by non-governmental organizations including Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) towards contributing to the development of the people of Zanzibar. Dr Mwinyi made the remarks on Wednesday at the State House where he held talks with leaders from the Munadhamat Al Dawa Al Islamia Community, the meeting which aimed at cementing cooperation between the Community and Zanzibar. "The government appreciates the efforts made by NGOs and FBOs to support development programmes that benefit the people of Zanzibar, because the government cannot work alone to meet all the social needs of its citizens," Dr Mwinyi said. He said the efforts made by the community in the consolidation of various social services; Including education, health, clean and safe water, housing for street children, services for orphans and widows, are among the Government's priorities, as he praised the cooperation between the FBO and the Government aimed at eliminating challenges of the people. In addition, Dr Mwinyi expressed his happiness with the Community's commitment to support the development promising that the Government will continue to collaborate with NGOs to address all the challenges that emerge in the implementation of various projects. In addition, he commended the Community for working professionally and transparently with its efforts to support Zanzibar's higher education sector through the University of Zanzibar (ZU). He explained that education is key to economic reform, so he stressed the importance of young people getting education in universities and vocational colleges so that they can eventually build capacity to work. The organization's leader, Sheikh Abdulrahman Abdulla from Qatar, said the organization has had historical ties with Tanzania and Zanzibar, and implemented various social projects, particularly in the sectors of higher education and health. He said the community will spare no effort to support Zanzibar focusing on social services. The Munadhamat Al Dawa Al Islamia Community, which has its branch in Tanzania, is involved in the implementation of various social projects in various African countries. The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. With the carnage in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, in May 2022, calls have begun again for Congress to enact gun control. Since the 2012 massacre of 20 children and four staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, legislation introduced in response to mass killings has consistently failed to pass the Senate. We asked political scientists Monika McDermott and David Jones to help readers understand why further restrictions never pass, despite a majority of Americans supporting tighter gun control laws. Mass killings are becoming more frequent. Yet there has been no significant gun legislation passed in response to these and other mass shootings. Why? Monika McDermott: While there is consistently a majority in favor of restricting gun access a little bit more than the government currently does, usually thats a slim majority though that support tends to spike in the short term after events like the recent mass shootings. We tend to find even gun owners are in support of restrictions like background checks for all gun sales, including at gun shows. So thats one that everyone gets behind. The other one that gun-owning households get behind is they dont mind law enforcement taking guns away from people who have been legally judged to be unstable or dangerous. Those are two restrictions on which you can get virtual unanimous support from the American public. But agreement on specific elements isnt everything. This isnt something that people are clamoring for, and there are so many other things in the mix that people are much more concerned about right now, like the economy. Also, people are insecure about the federal budget deficit, and health care is still a perennial problem in this country. So those kinds of things top gun control legislation in terms of priorities for the public. So you cant just think about majority support for legislation; you have to think about priorities. People in office care what the priorities are. If someones not going to vote them out because of an issue, then theyre not going to do it. The other issue is that you have just this different view of the gun situation in gun-owning households and non-gun-owning households. Nearly half of the public lives in a household with a gun. And those people tend to be significantly less worried than those in non-gun households that a mass shooting could happen in their community. Theyre also unlikely to say that stricter gun laws would reduce the danger of mass shootings. The people who dont own guns think the opposite. They think guns are dangerous. They think if we restricted access, then mass shootings would be reduced. So youve got this bifurcation in the American public. And that also contributes to why Congress cant or hasnt done anything about gun control. How does public opinion relate to what Congress does or doesnt do? David Jones: People would, ideally, like to think that members of Congress are responding to public opinion. I think that is their main consideration when theyre making decisions about how to prioritize issues and how to vote on issues. But we also have to consider: What is the meaning of a members constituency? We can talk about their geographic constituency everyone living in their district, if theyre a House member, or in their state, if theyre a senator. But we could also talk about their electoral constituency, and that is all of the people who contributed the votes that put them into office. And so if a congressmembers motive is reelection, they want to hold on to the votes of that electoral constituency. It may be more important to them than representing everyone in their district equally. In 2020, the most recent congressional election, among citizens who voted for a Republican House member, only 24% of those voters wanted to make it more difficult to buy a gun. So if youre looking at the opinions of your voters versus those of your entire geographic constituency, its your voters that matter most to you. And a party primary constituency may be even narrower and even less in favor of gun control. A member may have to run in a party primary first before they even get to the general election. Now what would be the most generous support for gun control right now in the U.S.? A bit above 60% of Americans. But not every member of Congress has that high a proportion of support for gun control in their district. Local lawmakers are not necessarily focused on national polling numbers. You could probably get a majority now in the Senate of 50 Democrats plus, say, Susan Collins and some other Republican or two to support some form of gun control. But it wouldnt pass the Senate. Why isnt a majority enough to pass? The Senate filibuster a tradition allowing a small group of Senators to hold up a final vote on a bill unless a three-fifths majority of Senators vote to stop them. McDermott: This is a very hot political topic these days. But people have to remember, thats the way our system was designed. Jones: Protecting rights against the overbearing will of the majority is built into our constitutional system. Do legislators also worry that sticking their neck out to vote for gun legislation might be for nothing if the Supreme Court is likely to strike down the law? Jones: The last time gun control passed in Congress was the 1994 assault weapons ban. Many of the legislators who voted for that bill ended up losing their seats in the election that year. Some Republicans who voted for it are on record saying that they were receiving threats of violence. So its not trivial, when considering legislation, to be weighing, Yeah, we can pass this, but was it worth it to me if it gets overturned by the Supreme Court? Going back to the 1994 assault weapons ban: How did that manage to pass and how did it avoid a filibuster? Jones: It got rolled into a larger omnibus bill that was an anti-crime bill. And that managed to garner the support of some Republicans. There are creative ways of rolling together things that one party likes with things that the other party likes. Is that still possible? Im not sure. It sounds like what you are saying is that lawmakers are not necessarily driven by higher principle or a sense of humanitarianism, but rather cold, hard numbers and the idea of maintaining or getting power. McDermott: There are obvious trade-offs there. You can have high principles, but if your high principles serve only to make you a one-term officeholder, what good are you doing for the people who believe in those principles? At some point, you have to have a reality check that says if I cant get reelected, then I cant do anything to promote the things I really care about. You have to find a balance. Wouldnt that matter more to someone in the House, with a two-year horizon, than to someone in the Senate, with a six-year term? Jones: Absolutely. If youre five years out from an election and people are mad at you now, some other issue will come up and you might be able to calm the tempers. But if youre two years out, that reelection is definitely more of a pressing concern. Some people are blaming the National Rifle Association for these killings. What do you see as the organizations role in blocking gun restrictions by Congress? McDermott: From the publics side, one of the important things the NRA does is speak directly to voters. The NRA publishes for their members ratings of congressional officeholders based on how much they do or do not support policies the NRA favors. These kinds of things can be used by voters as easy information shortcuts that help them navigate where a candidate stands on the issue when its time to vote. This gives them some credibility when they talk to lawmakers. Jones: The NRA as a lobby is an explanation thats out there. But Id caution that its a little too simplistic to say interest groups control everything in our society. I think its an intermingling of the factors that weve been talking about, plus interest groups. So why does the NRA have power? I would argue: Much of their power is going to the member of Congress and showing them a chart and saying, Look at the voters in your district. Most of them own guns. Most of them dont want you to do this. Its not that their donations or their threatening looks or phone calls are doing it, its the fact that they have the membership and they can do this research and show the legislator what electoral danger theyll be in if they cast this vote, because of the opinions of that legislators core constituents. Interest groups can help to pump up enthusiasm and make their issue the most important one among members of their group. Theyre not necessarily changing overall public support for an issue, but theyre making their most persuasive case to a legislator, given the opinions of crucial voters that live in a district, and that can sometimes tip an already delicate balance. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here. Pottsville, PA (17901) Today Thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. The Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA) has seized the ongoing 'Energy Week' exhibitions in Dodoma Capital City to showcase their day-to-day activities as well as reacting to the MPs and public officials regarding the extraction sector. The colorful event, which brings together various institutions under the Ministry of Energy and players in the energy sector at large, will conclude tomorrow in Tanzania's Capital City. Describing the main focus of the event earlier this week, the Minister of Energy, January Makamba said the exhibition aims at answering Members of Parliament (MPs) questions regarding various energy sector issues as well as addressing challenges facing the industry. The event is being heralded by the theme: 'Energy for Sustainable Development'. PURA experts were busy attending and reacting to MPs questions on various matters including, but not limited to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project, locals' participation in various oil and natural gas sub-sector projects as well as opportunities available in the implementation of the petroleum upstream projects. Geologist Ebeneza Mollel said the exhibition was an important platform for PURA to reach out to 'wananchi' through their representatives by raising awareness and how best to take advantage of the opportunities available in the implementation of various petroleum projects. For his part, geologist Wangese Matiko noted that lawmakers visiting the PURA pavilion will also have an opportunity to learn technical issues such as the oil and natural gas value chain, ongoing exploration and production activities in the country and more Chinese censors have deleted a social media post from a university professor who hit out at the blanket surveillance deployed against Chinese citizens as part of the zero-COVID policy. The post from Tsinghua University law professor Lao Dongyan, who has long been a vocal critic of mass surveillance and facial recognition under the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), was deleted from Weibo on . Undeterred, Lao posted further comments on , calling on the highest judicial authorities in China to pay attention to the personal privacy risks posed by big data surveillance, and for laws to limit its scope. Lao's initial post took issue with the widespread deployment of big data surveillance as part of the Beijing municipal government's attempts to deliver on CCP leader Xi Jinping's zero-COVID policy. Lao said government promises that citizens' data "won't be used for purposes other than disease control and prevention" weren't enough, and that legislation was needed, otherwise victims of big data leaks or theft would have no channel for redress. "I'm human, not a zoo animal," Lao wrote on . "If you want to live in captivity, that's your choice, but I don't." "There should be some dignity to a human life, which should be more than just existence." Workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) are seen at an entrance to an alley in a neighborhood under lockdown due to Covid-19 in Beijing, May 24, 2022. Credit: AFP Limiting freedom On , Lao expressed concern in two fresh posts that technologies like facial recognition, voiceprint recognition, and even emotional recognition infringe on citizens' privacy, and called for legislation to limit their use. In Beijing, a link had now been made between public transportation ticketing systems and the traffic light health code app that is mandatory for access to any public place under the zero-COVID policy. She said the linkage gave the authorities instant access to individuals' identities, whereabouts and social connections, and that the health code app could be used indefinitely to limit citizens' freedom of movement. She also warned that the move had greatly increased the risk of people's personal data being abused or leaked. Lao tagged the Supreme People's Court and the highest-level state prosecutor, among other official accounts, in her post. Tsinghua sociologist Li Zhen, who has campaigned for privacy in the face of big data, said such surveillance eventually gets used as a political tool to exert social control in China. "Now, PCR-testing has been normalized in Beijing, with testing stations every mile, just like bus stops," Li told RFA. "The whole thing is controlled by the government, so it's totally about political control." "This has totally destroyed the past 30 or 40 years of legal progress in China," he said. "We have moved forward, only to regress, because of technology." Farmers targeted The controls on people's movements aren't just limited to urban areas, either. Farmers in some areas now need to get a pass before they can work their own land. "It's hard for me to imagine, as a farmer," Zhang Jianping told RFA. "When I was a kid in the Mao Zedong era, they would crack down on capitalism if we grew a cash crop on our private land." "Fast forward several decades, and there are still restrictions on farmers wanting to work the land," he said. "I can't understand such disease control and prevention measures." Beijing-based commentator Ji Feng agreed. "Since the pandemic, our every action has been subject to government monitoring," Ji said. "The aim is simple: to bring everyone under government control." "They are using the pandemic as a testing ground in the mass management of the population, the prevention of mass incidents [like protests], and the elimination of dissatisfaction and even resistance," he said. U.S.-based legal scholar Teng Biao said it's entirely possible for the CCP to eliminate any public dissent through the use of high-tech surveillance. "The high-tech system they have in China has exceeded the imaginations of political dystopia authors," Teng told RFA. "They can control every corner [of the country] and everyone in it." "China is using the pandemic as a pretext to control the flow of information and the actions of its citizens, including the use of technologies mentioned by Lao Dongyan: voiceprint recognition; facial recognition and other biometric techniques," he said. "This isn't just an infringement of people's right to privacy: the consequences will be far more serious than that, because people with different views [to the CCP line] will be unable to act and see no hope [for the future]," Teng said. Teng said he is concerned for Lao's safety in the wake of her posts, and called on the international community to keep a close eye on her situation. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Singapore Prime Minster Lee Hsien Loong walks after delivering a speech at The Future of Asia conference in Tokyo Thursday, May 26, 2022. Singapores prime minister warned Thursday that trade and security were being put at risk by U.S.-China tensions and urged better communication between Washington and Beijing to maintain stability and growth in Asia. If U.S.-China relations continue on this path, it will lead to further bifurcation of technology and splitting of supply chains or even worse, unintended consequences, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told an audience at the 27th Future of Asia conference in Tokyo. His comments came hours before the top U.S. diplomat, Antony Blinken, made a speech in Washington where he accused China of seeking to reshape the international order. He also said that the U.S. is not looking for conflict or a new Cold War. Lee, on a four-day working visit to Japan, delivered a keynote speech at the annual, two-day conference, organized by Nikkei Inc., where Asian political leaders and academics are discussing regional issues. Lees sentiments were echoed by Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob who said that old divisions are deepening because of the Ukrainian war and the U.S.-China tensions. Look at the U.S.-China trade war. These discriminatory tariffs and now real possibility of a divided supply chain have caused negative ripple effects throughout the world, he said. Singapores Lee called for adversaries to talk to each other. He noted that even during the Cold War, there were channels of communication on many levels between the U.S. and Soviet Union leadership. He said that not only the U.S. and China, but countries that have disputes with each other should talk, too. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at George Washington University in Washington, Thursday, May 26, 2022, outlining the administration's policy toward China at an event hosted by the Asia Society. Credit: AP We arent looking for conflict The Southeast Asian leaders remarks came on the heels of U.S. President Joe Bidens first visit to Asia since taking office in January 2021. In Tokyo this week, Biden announced the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) which Singapore, together with 12 other nations, signed up to with hopes that it will lead to a free trade agreement in the future. IPEF does not include China and has been criticized by Beijing as a U.S. tool to coerce regional countries. Biden also attended a summit of the Quad, an Indo-Pacific security grouping that is widely seen as countering Chinas rising influence and assertiveness in the region. U.S. Secretary of State Blinken followed up on that strategic push with a China policy speech at George Washington University on Thursday, where he vowed that the U.S. would defend and strengthen international law, principles and institutions which he argued that China was undermining. While critical of Beijing, Blinken said: We arent looking for conflict or a new Cold War. To the contrary, were looking to avoid both. He added that the U.S. stands ready to increase direct communication with Beijing. Participants look at Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's pre-recorded speech shown on a screen at The Future of Asia conference, May 26, 2022 in Tokyo. Credit: AP Warning of an arms race Prime Minister Lee urged that China be integrated into the region. Most countries would prefer not to be forced to choose between the U.S. and China, he said. While praising Washington for providing the framework for peace and stability in the region since the end of World War II, Lee said countries should acknowledge that Chinas economic influence in Asia is large and growing and it has benefitted the region immensely. Its far better that Chinas economy be integrated into the region, than for it to operate on its own by a different set of rules, he said. The Singaporean leader said Asian countries have increasingly emphasized national security considerations over the economic gains from free trade and investment flows. If we only look at regional security from the perspectives of individual nations, we may end up with an arms race and an unstable outcome, Lee warned. He suggested that countries should work together for collective security and they must do it beyond forming alliances and formal groupings of like-minded partners but also through engagement and trust-building arrangements with potential adversaries. Food supply chain disruption Participants in the Tokyo conference also highlighted the impact of the conflict in Ukraine. Malaysias Ismail Sabri said that current supply chain disruptions, including food, affect developing nations first. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is facing mass protests and is accused of economic mismanagement, asked the international community for help. The indebted Indian Ocean island nation is struggling to import sufficient food and fuel to meet its needs. In a pre-recorded message, Rajapaksa said that the last few months have been extremely difficult for his country. "We are presently undergoing a severe economic crisis that has profoundly impacted the lives of all Sri Lankans resulting in social unrest," he said. "We urgently require the assistance of our friends in the international community to ensure ... our immediate needs," the president said. Rajapaksa said the shortages of food items and sharp increases in food prices likely to occur in the months ahead will place considerable strain on many countries. A Chinese participant to the conference, former vice minister of commerce Yi Xiaozhun, went further, saying that if the Ukrainian conflict continues, it will escalate energy and food shortages worldwide, and even trigger a global economic crisis of a scale no less than the 2008 international financial crisis. Yi, who also once served as China's envoy to the World Trade Organization, said as countries in Asia are largely dependent on trade, they would be affected the most when global trade declines in the post-pandemic era. BenarNews journalist Subel Rai Bhandari in Bangkok contributed to this report. Antony Blinken says the U.S. is not looking for conflict or a new Cold War with China. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks about US policy towards China during an event hosted by the Asia Society Policy Institute at George Washington University in Washington, DC, May 26, 2022. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said the United States would employ a threefold strategy of investing at home, aligning efforts allies and partners, and competing with China to counter Beijings drive to change the existing rules-based world order. To succeed in this decisive decade, the Biden Administrations strategy can be summed up in three words invest, align, compete, Blinken said. The foundations of the international order are under serious and sustained challenge, he told an audience at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., citing Russian President Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine posing a clear and present threat, and China as a long-term challenge. Even as President Putins war continues, we remain focused on the most serious long-term challenge to the international order, and thats posed by the Peoples Republic of China, he said. China is the only country with the intent to reshape the international order and increasingly the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do it, Blinken said. Beijings vision would move us away from the universal values that have sustained so much of the worlds progress over the past 75 years since the end of World War II, he said. IPEF & Quad Blinkens speech came several days after President Joe Biden returned from his first visit to Asia since taking office in January 2021. Biden visited U.S. allies South Korea and later Japan, where he unveiled the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) which 13 other nations signed up to with hopes that it will lead to a free trade agreement in the future. Biden also attended a summit of the Quad, an Indo-Pacific security grouping of the Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. that is widely seen as countering Chinas rising influence and assertiveness in the region. Blinken noted that cooperation with China is necessary for the global economy and solving issues such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic and said the U.S. was not looking for conflict or a new Cold War. To the contrary, we are determined to avoid both, he said, adding that the U.S. is not seeking to block China or any other nation from growing economically or advancing the interest of their people. But we will defend and strengthen international law, agreements, principals and institutions that maintain peace and security, protect the rights of individuals and sovereign nations, and make it possible for all countries, including the United States and China, to coexist and cooperate, said Blinken. Though Chinas rise was possible because of the stability and opportunity that the international order provides, the country is now seeking to undermine those rules, he said. In his 40-minute talk, Blinken touched on hot-button issues like the South China Sea and Chinas treatment of the Uyghur ethnic minority in Xinjiang, where Beijings heavy-handed policies have been branded genocide by the U.S. and other Western nations. Under Xi Jinping, the ruling Chinese Communist Party have become more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad, he said. Well continue to oppose Beijings aggressive and unlawful activities in the South and East China Seas, he said, noting a 2016 international court ruling that found Beijings expansive claims in those waters have no basis in international law. Uyghur genocide Human rights was another area of alignment we share with our allies and partners, said Blinken, who raised Chinese crackdowns on Uyghurs, Tibetans and repression in Hong Kong. The United States stands with countries and people around the world against the genocide and crimes against humanity happening in the Xinjiang region, where more than a million people have been placed in detention camps because of their ethnic and religious identity, he said. A leading Uyghur-American official welcomed his remarks, which came as the top United Nations official for human rights was poised to visit Xinjiang, amid expectations that Beijing will so tightly manage the itinerary that the official, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, will not get an accurate view of conditions there. I was encouraged to hear Secretarys commitment to align with US allies and partners to respond and stop the ongoing Uyghur genocide and crimes against humanity in the Uyghur homeland, said Nury Turkel, vice chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. We stand together on Tibet, where the authorities continue to wage a brutal campaign against Tibetans and their culture, language, and religious traditions, and in Hong Kong, where the Chinese Communist Party has imposed harsh anti-democratic measures under the guise of national security, Blinken added. Well continue to raise these issues and call for change not to stand against China, but to stand up for peace, security, and human dignity. Additional reporting by Alim Seytoff in Munich, Germany. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves as he attends the ground-breaking ceremony for construction of Ryonpho Greenhouse Farm Held in Ryonpho area of Hamju County, South Hamgyong Province of the DPRK, North Korea in this photo released on February 18, 2022. North Korea has begun promoting a vaccination campaign for soldiers working on a high-priority construction project in the capital Pyongyang, marking the first time the government has administered vaccines in large numbers, sources in the country told RFA. The countrys leader, Kim Jong Un, promised to build 50,000 new homes for the residents of Pyongyang by the end of 2025, and tens of thousands of soldiers have been mobilized to help with the project. They play loud political propaganda messages as the soldiers get injected with the vaccines from China, a city government official told RFA on condition of anonymity for security reasons. They are calling it a vaccination of love from the Highest Dignity, he said, using an honorific term for Kim Jong Un. Each brigade of soldiers has set up a field sanitation center. On the morning of May 18th, broadcast vehicles began documenting army doctors dressed in protective gear inoculating the soldiers, according to the source. It was like it was a national political event. All of the officials of the construction command came out to the site, and the atmosphere was all serious, he said. The broadcasting car played loudspeaker messages saying, The general secretary has decided to import COVID-19 vaccines in the midst of our nations difficult situation. It was repeatedly emphasizing that the vaccines were a gracious gift given to the people from Kim Jong Un, he said. North Korea is in a state of maximum emergency after acknowledging this month that the virus had begun to spread among participants of a large-scale military parade in late April. Prior to that, Pyongyang had denied that anyone in the country had contracted COVID-19, even rejecting 3 million doses of Chinas Sinovac vaccine last September, saying that other countries needed them more. Long live Kim Jong Un Sources have told RFA that doses for elite members of society have made their way to Pyongyang in small amounts, and that a limited number of soldiers stationed at the Chinese border had also been inoculated. The soldiers in Pyongyang were relieved to learn they would be receiving the vaccine after they heard news that COVID-19 was spreading rapidly in the capital, the source said. Some of the soldiers were seen raising their hands and giving praise to Kim Jong Un, shedding tears and shouting Manse!, said the source, using a Korean phrase usually said during times of overwhelming emotion that directly translates into English as 10,000 years but effectively means long live Kim Jong Un in this context. The vaccination campaign conducted that day was only for the soldiers, even though others are helping with the 10,000 homes project. Members of the Korean Socialist Womens League or local residents who volunteered for construction were excluded, he said. The original plan called for the completion of 10,000 homes in 2021, but the home-building project in the capital fell behind schedule. The government now hopes to meet the target sometime this year and construct an additional 10,000 by the end of the year. The rapid spread of the coronavirus could upend those plans. Over the past month the viruss spread has forced the government to shut down entire cities, including the capital. But for now projects like the one in Pyongyang continue. Soldiers mobilized for construction in other parts of the country are also in the governments vaccination plans, a resident of South Hamgyong province, north of Pyongyang, told RFA on condition of anonymity to speak freely. Last week I heard from a friend who works in the medical field that the soldiers who are working on the Ryonpho Greenhouse Farm in Hamju County have received COVID-19 vaccines, she told RFA Tuesday. The government is prioritizing soldiers working on national construction projects. The greenhouse farm is a national construction project which Kim Jong Un ordered to be completed by Oct. 10 The general secretary attended a groundbreaking ceremony there on February 18th. The soldiers who are fighting the construction battle night and day were prioritized for vaccination against COVID-19 with vaccines imported from China, she said, using militaristic language that North Korea uses to describe communal work projects and public campaigns. Immortal Potion of Love. People are angry that the government is not rolling out the vaccine for them, however. They are saying that the governments behavior is ridiculous. They are only vaccinating soldiers, and they are using images of these soldiers, saying how thrilled they are that the Highest Dignity is giving them a special consideration, as propaganda, said the second source. A broadcast vehicle that appeared at the vaccination site loudly proclaimed the greatness of the general secretary, who prepared for them the Immortal Potion of Love. People saw the scenes of the emotional soldiers, singing, weeping and shouting Manse! but they looked on emotionless. Though North Korea has acknowledged that the virus is spreading inside the country, it has only reported a handful of confirmed COVID-19 cases, which 38 North, a site that provides analysis on the country and is run by the U.S.-based Stimson Center think tank, attributed to insufficient testing capabilities. Data published on the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center showed North Korea with only one confirmed COVID-19 case and six deaths as of Thursday evening. The country is, however, keeping track of numbers of people who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19. About 3.1 million people have been hit by outbreaks of fever, 68 of whom have died, according to data based on the most recent reports from North Korean state media published by 38 North. Around 2.7 million are reported to have made recoveries, while 323,300 are undergoing treatment. Washington has offered to give vaccines to North Korea and China, U.S. President Joe Biden announced during a recent visit to Seoul. Neither country has responded to the offer. North Korea has also ignored a South Korean proposal to cooperate in efforts to combat the pandemic. Observers say Pyongyang is unlikely to accept humanitarian aid from the international community because it would be an admission of Kim Jong Uns failure to protect the country from the virus. Translated by Claire Lee and Leejin J. Chung. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Photo of Thai villagers near the Mekong River who were rescuing their property after the Jinghong Dam in China released large amounts of water in April 2022. Heavy rains in northern Laos forced a hydroelectric dam on the Nam Ou River to release water unexpectedly, panicking downstream residents who said a late warning gave them little time to respond, sources in the country told RFA. The Nam Ou has a cascade of seven dams that have been operating since October 2021. They are part of Laos controversial economic strategy of becoming the Battery of Southeast Asia by aggressively damming the Mekong River and its tributaries and selling the generated power to neighboring countries. The Nam Ou 4 Dam, owned by the Power Construction Corporation of China, began releasing water on Monday after its reservoir rapidly rose. A district-level office in Phongsaly province issued a warning to its citizens earlier in the day. The Khoua District of Phongsaly province would like to inform party members, government employees, chiefs of villages and all residents, that heavy rain is causing the Nam Ou River water levels to rise, and the amount of water in the Nam Ou 4 Dam reservoir is rising fast. Therefore, for safety reasons, all residents along the Nam Ou River and Nam Bak River should be extra cautious, it said. A villager in the district told RFAs Lao Service that the warning was too late. The district issued the warning on May 23, and the dam released water the same day. We had no time to prepare for the worst, and we were worried about the possible loss of lives and property, said the villager, who like all anonymous sources in this report declined to be named for safety reasons. Other villagers in the same district told RFA they were still concerned on Wednesday, two days after the dam began releasing water. The Chinese company is discharging more water from the Nam Ou 4 Dam, a resident of Phonxay Neua village, who declined to be named, told RFA. Right now, the river is not yet at a dangerous level, but we are worried that our homes, land and other properties will be flooded, or will cause landslides. The district authorities havent informed us about how much water the dam is discharging and how high the water will rise, the Phonxay Neua villager said. The sudden rise of the Nam Ou is uncharacteristic for this time of year, a resident of Sob Kai village told RFA. Usually the Nam Ou and Nam Bak rivers in Khoua district rise in August or September, so this year is unusual, the Sob Kai resident said, on condition of anonymity. When the dams reservoir is full, itll release water. Each time, the authorities and the dam developer warn us, but many residents who live in remote areas might not be aware of the warning, the Sob Kai resident said. Provincial authorities told RFA that their duty was simply to warn citizens and that they had effectively done that. Our job is to receive the information about the discharge from the Chinese company and then inform our constituents. Measuring the water levels is the responsibility of the company, but we do check and monitor Nam Ou River water levels daily and report them to the province, an official of the provinces Natural Resources and Environment Department told RFA. Thailands Water Department on Wednesday said heavy rains would increase the Nam Ou 4s discharge from 500 cubic meters per second to 2,400 cubic meters per second from May 23 to May 31. More than half of the Thai-Lao border is demarcated by the Mekong River, which the Nam Ou flows into. The water will flow down at 6,600 cubic meters [about 233,000 cubic feet] per second to the Mekong River through the Xayaburi Dam in Lao P.D.R. raising water levels downstream between one meter and 1.5 meters today, May 25, 2022, and tomorrow, May 26, 2022, the statement said. Sustainable Development Thailand has called on the Mekong River Commission (MRC), an intergovernmental organization that works with the governments of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to jointly manage the Mekong, to be more forthcoming with information prior to making decisions that affect people living along the banks of the river. The Thai deputy prime minister, [Prawit Wongsuwon] met with the new CEO of the MRC [Anoulak Kittikhoun] and stressed that information sharing is important so that it can be used to warn residents along the river, Surasri Kittimonthon, secretary-general of the Thai Office of National Water Resources, told RFA Wednesday. The deputy PM called for sustainable development along the river such that information about the impact should be clear and tangible, Surasri Kittimonthon said. Any kind of effort to warn people in advance will fail without Chinas cooperation, however, an official of the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment told RFA. When Chinese dams release more water, they dont inform us. We have to measure the water levels (of the Mekong River) every day ourselves, then we report them to MRC, the official said. A representative of the Thailand-based Love Chiang Khong Group, an environmental NGO, told RFA that the notifications from Laos and Thailand were less than useful. The notification of the water released from the dams is not helpful at all. It wont solve any of the problems or impacts on the people and the environment in the Lower Mekong River region, he said. The right way to solve these problems is for the governments and people to work together to properly manage the Mekong River water. The local people know best about their river, about fish, where they live and how they reproduce, he said. In a report about Mondays meeting published on its website, the MRC said China agreed in 2020 to share hydrological data from two of its Mekong River dams not only during the wet season but also in the dry season to help countries downstream plan for any unusual rise or fall. The report noted, however, that the agreement never clearly defined unusual. Laos has staked its future on power generation, hoping to export electricity from more than 50 large and small-scale dams on the Mekong River and its tributaries. Though the Lao government sees power generation as a way to boost the countrys economy, the projects have faced criticism because of their environmental impact, displacement of villagers and questionable arrangements with financial backers. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Many victims have been forced to live in tents in the forest as the rainy season starts. A man examines the remains of a structure burned down by junta forces in Naw Yoe village, Yinmabin township, northwestern Myanmar's Sagaing region, May 15, 2022. Nearly 6,300 homes have been burned down in 19 townships in northwestern Myanmars war-torn Sagaing region during the past two months, forcing residents into tents and other makeshift shelters as the rainy season begins, according to data compiled by RFA. Most of Sagaings 34 townships and more than 5,900 villages have been affected by fighting between military forces and members of the anti-junta Peoples Defense Forces (PDF). While the military denies it is responsible for the widespread arson, villagers who spoke to RFA said the fires were part of the juntas strategy to crush opposition forces. Some of the fiercest armed resistance to junta rule has occurred in Sagaing since the military seized power from the countrys elected government in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup. As fighting between the military and the PDFs has intensified there in recent months, junta forces have conducted an arson campaign targeting rural villages, killing civilians and burning hundreds of homes, leaving thousands displaced. Among the 6,281 homes destroyed between April 1 and May 24, Kalemyo township had the highest number with 1,609 houses. Khin Oo township had the second-highest with 874 houses, followed by Mingin township with 609 houses. Homes have also been destroyed in Pale, Chaung-U, Myinmu, Wetlet and Kanbalu townships. A resident of Ngadin Gyi village in Khin Oo township, who declined to be named for safety reasons, told RFA that he could not rebuild his house so long as military forces are still conducting clearance operations in the area. Its unthinkable to build a house under this regime, he said. Theres also a financial problem [because] a house costs 2.5 million-5 million kyats ($1,325-$2,650). And no one can guarantee that this will not happen again. Soldiers reportedly burned down more than 200 houses in Ngadin Gyi village on April 3, forcing residents to live in makeshift tents. A resident of Tayawgyin village in Yinmabin township, whose community was torched on May 15 and May 24, said the arson was an act of cruelty committed by the ruling junta. Tayawgyin village has suffered fires twice, said the villager who declined to be named. They set fire to 25 houses the first time. Another 15 homes were set on fire yesterday. We cannot understand why they did that. It is just plain cruelty to the people. Other villagers said their homes were set ablaze as they fled in fear of the soldiers. A resident in Tin Maw village in Kanbalu township, who also did not want to be named for security reasons, said he and his fellow villagers have been living in tents in the woods after Burmese soldiers burned their homes on May 17. The houses and the barn where we had over 500 baskets of paddy were all gone, he said. Now I have to pitch a makeshift tent in the forest. We need timber to rebuild the [houses], and timber is scarce in this area. Only when the situation calms down will we be able to rebuild. 'This shouldn't have happened' Junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun rejected the arson allegations and blamed the fires on the PDFs. We did not enter the villages, he said. Our main focus was their camps near the villages and places where they produced weapons. As is customary for PDFs, they attacked some villages when they heard that militia units had been formed. When they retreated, they set the villages on fire and blamed us, saying the army set fire to them. Locals and civil defense groups said otherwise. Bo Moe Yan, a member of Taungdwin PDF in Minkin township, said residents just watched the military destroy buildings. The actions of the military are so inhumane, he said. When they could not fight the PDFs, they would burn any house they came across. Almost all the houses and shops along Kalaywa and Yagyi Roads are now gone. This shouldnt have happened. We just had to watch in agony. Sagaing villagers who have lost their homes are now suffering from poor health and need food and shelter to get through the rainy season, locals said. The rainy season in Myanmar typically runs from mid-May through October. U Pe of the Black Peacock PDF in Pale township said the need for tents there is great, though the armed resistance groups are helping villagers as much as they can. We need about 60,000 kyats ($32) to get bamboo and poles to build a tent, he said. We collect donations for those who cannot rebuild their houses yet. A palm leaf now costs about 150 kyats because most of the houses were destroyed by fire, and demand for them has gone up. It is hard to get them now because it is planting season. After thousands of homes were destroyed in the fires, their group was able to donate only 23 tents, he added. More than 800,000 civilians across the country of about 55 million people have been displaced by hostilities since the coup, with Sagaing region having the highest number at more than 240,000. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane for RFAs Burmese Service. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. More than 5,000 Tibetans refugees live in limbo after Nepal stopped issuing ID cards in 1995. US Under secretary of State for civilian security, democracy, and human rights Uzra Zeya delivers remarks on the sideline of a session of the UN Human Right Council in Geneva, on March 1, 2022. Uzra Zeya, the U.S. special coordinator for Tibetan issues, met with Tibetan refugees in Nepal as well as government officials during a recent visit to Kathmandu in the highest-level visit by a U.S. official in a decade, sources in the Himalayan country told RFA. Zeya, who also met with Tibetans in India on her trip, reportedly discussed the refugees undocumented status during the meeting. In 1995, Nepal stopped issuing refugee cards for Tibetans who flee across the border from their homeland, which has been under Chinese control since 1951. Nepal is seen by China as a partner in its Belt and Road Initiative to boost global trade through infrastructure investment, and Nepals government has cited promises of millions of dollars of Chinese investment as a reason for restricting Tibetan activities in the country. Zeyas trip from May 20 to 22 was intended to deepen cooperation on human rights and democratic governance goals, and to advance humanitarian priorities, the State Department said on its website. Zeya met with Tibetans in Jawalakhel where they raised the problems they are facing in the absence of proper documentation in Nepal and deteriorating human rights conditions, a Nepalese journalist told RFAs Tibetan Service on condition of anonymity to speak freely. The lack of proper identification cards for the refugees is a result of pressure from the Chinese government, Vijay Karna, Nepals former ambassador to Demark, told RFA. More than 5,000 Tibetan refugees and their families are facing problems regarding their refugee card. Resolving this issue would also be of huge significance to the Nepalese government, he said. Zeyas meeting with the Tibetan community in Nepal during this visit sends a clear message to the Chinese government, Karna said. It is high time the Nepalese government resolves the issues of Tibetan refugees in Nepal with obtaining their identity cards. Sangpo, who works at the Human Rights Organization of Nepal, told RFA that any solution to the ID card problem would have to be practical. Right now an ID card would act only as an ID card and nothing more. To get a travel document, one must first run around to three or four different offices and since there are no proper guidelines in place, the government should reconsider this, Sangpo said. Zeyas meeting with the Tibetan community in Nepal has been closely watched by China, Santosh Sherma, a co-founder of Nepal Institute for Policy Research, told RFA. Before the arrival of Uzra Zeya and her delegation in Nepal, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi called on Nepals home minister to discuss the One-China Policy and bilateral relations between the two countries to get assurance from Nepal. So, Zeyas visit has definitely made China anxious, Sherma said. Of his meeting with Zeya, Nepals Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba tweeted, It was a pleasure receiving the US delegation led by Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human rights. We exchanged views on Nepal-US relations and matter of mutual interests. Zeya announced in a tweet on May 21 that the U.S. would provide Nepal with $659 million through the United States Agency for International Development. The United States, U.N. and European Union have urged Nepals government to protect the rights of Tibetans living in Nepal and of refugees fleeing Tibet. The recent visit also coincided with the 75th anniversary of the Nepal-US diplomatic ties. Washington-based Freedom House rated Nepal partly free in its 2022 annual index of world liberty, with a score of 57 out of a possible 100. China was rated not free with a score of 9, while Tibet got an even lower ranking of just 1. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Eugene Whong. 'My mind has been full of the images of the inmates who I know in person," says political prisoner Ho Duc Hoa. Vietnamese political prisoner Ho Duc Hoa, who was released nine years into a 13-year sentence for conducting activities to overthrow the peoples government" and put on a plane to the United States on May 11, 2022. Prisoner of conscience Ho Duc Hoa, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison in January 2013 on the charge of conducting activities to overthrow the peoples government, was set free and flown to the U.S. on May 1l, the eve of the Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Minh Chinhs trip to Washington D.C. for a U.S. summit with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Despite suffering health problems from poor conditions in jail, the Christian Hoa shared with RFA his experiences as a political prisoner in Vietnam, a one-party Communist state that has little tolerance for dissent. RFA: Congratulations on being released and starting a new life in the U.S. Could you please share with us your feelings when you arrived here? Ho Duc Hoa: When I just landed in the U.S., the land of freedom, the first feeling came to me was that I missed my mother; my lost father, who passed away when I was in prison; and my younger sibling, who also died when I was in prison. I also thought of those who had supported and advocated for me to be released. I remembered the staff from the U.S. Embassy [in Hanoi] and the State Department who received me and organized my trip to the U.S. Now I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and send my prayers to those who I may or may not know in person but who had always supported me until I was released. I dont know how to return your favor except to ask God to bless you, and wish you all health, peace and safety. RFA: In your time in Vietnam, it seems that you have been transfered among various prisons. What can you say about the life of political prisoners in those places? Ho Duc Hoa: In fact, I have lived in four detention centers, of which three were temporary ones and the last was a permanent one. The first one was B34 Detention Center in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). The second was Detention Center No. 34 in Hanoi, and the third was Nghi Kim Detention Center in the central province of Nghe An. The last one where I stayed for the longest time was Nam Ha Detention Center in the northern province of Ha Nam. Among them, the detention center in Nghe An province was the worst in terms of living conditions. I lived in the areas for political prisoners, which were separated from the places for ordinary prisoners. I quickly recognized discrimination towards political prisoners right after arriving at each detention center. For example, we had to live in hot and tiny cells and lie next to the toilet. The water was so contaminated that we often got sore eyes and became itchy after having a shower. We had made a lot of complaints, of which some had been addressed but many just dropped into silence without any response. RFA: How do Vietnamese prisons treat religious prisoners like you? Do you receive scriptures and religious books? How do they respond to requests to allow religious practice? Ho Duc Hoa: Actually, when I was being held at temporary detention centers, I was allowed to receive scriptures and read them daily. However, things changed since 2020, when I was at Nam Ha Detention Center. They tightened the policy and only allowed me to read scriptures once a weekevery Sunday. As I strongly demanded the right to read scriptures on a daily basis, they issued a document accusing me of violating the detention centers rules. Then I went on a 10 day hunger strike to fight for the right to read scriptures. I believe religious practice is a right, not a favor. However, they did not change their harsh policies towards religious prisoners. I was very weak during my hunger strike and my health has been deteriorating significantly since then. RFA: Could you tell us more about other inmates fight for their rights and the outcomes of these efforts? Ho Duc Hoa: We always fought against things which were unreasonable or contradictory to the rules and regulations of the [Nam Ha] detention center. As I said, some issues have been resolved but many havent: Firstly, the right to read scriptures daily; Secondly, the contaminated water; Thirdly, we requested to have the toilet moved out of the cell (when someone used the toilet, others suffered from the smell) and; Fourthly, we requested to be moved to a larger cell with more space and light. However, none of these issues had been addressed at the time I was set free. Among them, I think the right to read scriptures daily is the most critical. RFA: Tell us about the lives of orphan prisoners, i.e. those who dont have family support. Ho Duc Hoa: You are right. Orphan prisoners are the ones who dont receive supplies or get very little supplies from their family. These people fully depend on the food provided by the detention center, which certainly does not have sufficient nutrients. As prisonsers have to work everyday while their food is poor, their health often goes from bad to worse. Some kind inmates do share food with the orphans, but their kind act, of course, cannot help much. Most of the orphan prisoners are ethnic minority people. They were also convicted for political reasons. RFA: If you could send a message to your inmates who fight for democracy in Vietnam, what would you say? Ho Duc Hoa: Since I was released, my mind has been full of the images of the inmates who I know in person, or not in person, but are still held in detention centers in Vietnam. The very first ones are those who have shared the same prison with me such as Le Dinh Luong, Nguyen Nang Tinh, Pham Van Troi, Nguyen Van Nghiem, Nguyen Viet Dung and Vo Quang Thuan. I would like to say to them: You should take good care of your health, both mentally and physically, and that well stay with you, pray for you and continue our advocacy efforts to get you released, as well as better care, especially for those with serious health issues. Ill pray for you and wish you health and strong determination despite the harsh prison environment. RFA: Now that you have arrived in the U.S, what is your plan for the time being? Ho Duc Hoa: As you all know, the key thing that brought me to the U.S. was my health concerns. My health has seriously deteriorated since 2017. Also because of my health conditions, I could not say hello and express my gratitude to our audience until today when I feel a little bit better. Therefore, my first and most important plan now is to improve my health both mentally and physically. Translated by Anna Vu. After decades of neutrality, Finland has now formally applied to join NATO. The decision now lies with the parliaments of NATO countries, which need to ratify Finland's application. RFE/RL's Georgian Service spoke to Major General Pekka Toveri, the former intelligence chief of the Finnish General Staff, and Colonel Petteri Kajanmaa, director of the Department of Military Skills at the National Defense College, about Finland's changing security outlook, the potential stumbling blocks ahead, and why so-called "Finlandization" was never a good model for Ukraine. The Path To NATO RFE/RL: There might be possible stumbling blocks along the way to Finland's NATO accession. Turkey, Hungary, even the Croatian president, seem to be unwilling to commit. How do you intend to deal with that? Can the United States persuade them? Pekka Toveri: The Croatian president, as I understand, has a special relationship with the Russians, but the Croatian government has a totally different view and the president is not the one who determines things. Turkey might be more interesting and challenging. There's been discussion between the Finnish political leadership and Turkey already beforehand about this thing. And I think what [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan wants to do now is get some face time in this issue -- in what in Finland we call "night milking," meaning he wants to see what he can get out of this. I don't think Hungary is such a big problem. You have to remember that the biggest NATO countries, barring the U.K., are also the biggest EU countries and Hungary is getting a lot of money from the EU. So I don't think that [Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor] Orban is willing to risk that and gain the hatred of both NATO and the EU by [making] things difficult for Finland. RFE/RL: The U.K. has said it would "provide support" if Finland and Sweden were attacked. What does the pact entail exactly? How much support are we talking about and in what manner? It's all [Putin's] fault.... We had a balance [of power] in this area, and it was Putin who decided to change that balance." Toveri: It's not a security guarantee. It's not a government-to-government agreement ratified by parliament. It's an assurance, meaning that if we would be attacked, [we could have] military support which would then be decided between Finland and the U.K. [U.K. Prime Minister Boris] Johnson would probably have to go to parliament and ask them to give him the powers to provide such support. It would depend on the situation, what Russia would do, what's available, what's needed. Finland's Changing Security RFE/RL: How would Finland's NATO membership change the security paradigm in the region, especially with regards to Russia? Toveri: From Russia's point of view, it's a big [problem] because now the Baltic Sea will practically become a lake [belonging to] NATO. Russia has a couple of 100 kilometers of shoreline in the Baltic Sea, which is 98 percent surrounded by NATO countries. So Russia's ability to have any military operations there will be practically zero. Petteri Kajanmaa: Finland has always had a good relationship with Russia. During the Cold War and ever since, we tried to create such a relationship [so] that we wouldn't have any arguments between each other. [But] that might change now, because of the Russian point of view [according to which] NATO is the enemy, or at least on the opposing side. If Finland joins NATO, then we are on the enemy side, so to say. So, it will change the basic relationship. All those basic security policy instruments, which we had in Europe, [were] ruined at that moment when [Russian President Vladimir] Putin decided to launch his military operation [against Ukraine on February 24]. RFE/RL: Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said if the Russians aren't pleased, then they should look in the mirror. To what extent does President Vladimir Putin have himself to blame for this outcome? Toveri: It's all his fault. For years, Russia has said Finland shouldn't join NATO, but it's Finland's decision, [and that has] been good enough for Finland. But then in December [2021], when President Putin said that Finland can't join NATO and if Finland joins NATO there would be consequences, that was a direct threat, trying to force Finland's hand. [Russia could stop] selling us gas. But Russian energy is a very small part of Finnish energy consumption. It might hurt for a couple of weeks...but it's not going to cripple our economy in any way." [And then] we saw with the aggression against Ukraine that Putin is blatantly willing to use force against even other Slavic nations. That's what our president means when he says: "You should look in the mirror." It's your fault, not our fault. We had a balance [of power] in this area, and it was Putin who decided to change that balance. RFE/RL: Did Putin's December statement tip the scales in NATO's favor in the minds of the Finnish government and society? Kajanmaa: I think, from the politicians' point of view, they realized at that moment that someone else was trying to decide on behalf of Finland and that's not acceptable. It's not President Putin who says what Finland can and cannot do. RFE/RL: Is there a sense of concern in Finnish society? A sense of: "We are going into NATO. What is Russia going to do now?" Kajanmaa: Yes, it's [clear] that it's one of the biggest topics [of discussion]. Our citizens thought that if we have really good cooperation with Russia, then we wouldn't have to fear them. But now the Russians have showed that it doesn't matter. They had some sort of a good relationship with Ukraine before 2014, and now the situation is what it is -- and that's why our citizens have changed their minds. What Threat Does Russia Pose To Finland? RFE/RL: The Kremlin has threatened Finland with "military and political consequences." Is that an empty threat? What can Russia actually do? Toveri: I'd say that [Russia's] possibilities are somewhat limited currently. Traditionally, Russia has used political, economic, and military pressure -- and power. Well, there's no political power anymore. They don't have this leverage [in Finland]. Their economic power is very small, because even before the war, our trade with Russia was something like 5 percent of the total trade in Finland. And now it's maybe half of that and still going down. So there's not much they can stop. [They could stop] selling us gas. But Russian energy is a very small part of Finnish energy consumption. It might hurt for a couple of weeks for southern areas of industry to replace the Russian gas, but it's not going to cripple our economy in any way. Then [regarding] military power, [Putin's] forces are tied up in Ukraine. Barring nuclear weapons, in conventional terms, they don't have anything with which they could seriously threaten Finland's independence and existence in such a way that they could force our hand, especially now that the United Kingdom and some other NATO countries will give us some assurances of military support if we are attacked. Kajanmaa: Of course, Russia can harm [Finland] and they are trying to put pressure on our decision-makers. Of course, they will try to threaten our politicians and our citizens with the consequences -- that's the first one, so using information warfare. And secondly, they might try to deploy more military units close to our border and maybe some military instruments as well. We are pretty sure that they won't launch any kind of military operation because first, they don't have the capabilities and they don't have any reason to do that.Right now, they don't have enough troops to do that because they are busy in Ukraine. But after the Ukraine war, they might build some new garrison areas and bases closer to the Finnish border, but it's not that easy. Of course, they can move missile defenses and so on, weapons systems close to our border. It's more or less threatening. It's not nothing, but it's not as serious as it sounds. We are pretty sure that [Russia] won't launch any kind of military operation because, first, they don't have the capabilities, and they don't have any reason to do that." RFE/RL: Finland shares a 1,340-kilometer land border with Russia. Is that not a cause of concern if Russia is making mischief? Toveri: The thing is that 90 percent of that border is wilderness, it's just forestno road, no network, no anything. Attacking with land forces across the border is mostly impossible. They don't have any land force [to do that]; 80 percent of their combat-capable land forces are in Ukraine. The garrisons next to the Finnish border have been emptied. They don't have anything. Of course, they could look to air attacks over that long border, but our air defenses and air force are in pretty good condition, and we've seen the quality of the Russian Air Force in Ukraine -- it's really not too impressive. So it would be a very big risk for Russia to try something like that. I'd say that the most vulnerable thing is our communications, because Finland is logistically an island and almost 90 percent of our trade goes on Western sea lines of communications. And if you go down souththat is where the major Baltic Sea forces of Russia are, at Kaliningrad, close to Poland. But again, that's where the assurances given by some of the NATO countries are important because NATO has an overwhelming maritime force in the Baltic Sea. So I think that they could help there. Kajanmaa: Of course, we will double, more than double, NATO's border with Russia and we know exactly what's behind that border, mostly forested areas. They do have some bases and military installations there. Of course, they can do something, but we know where and we can control that and we are prepared for that every day. They can fly over Finnish airspace. They can move troops very close to the border. They can arrange military exercises, move those long-range missile units close to the border. And [they can do] what happened in 2015 -- they can push refugees from Russia to Finland. But, actually, we are not worried because our society -- and, of course, our officials -- are ready for those kinds of actions. We are pretty sure that they won't launch any kind of military operation because, first, they don't have the capabilities, and they don't have any reason to do that. How NATO Could Change Finland's Military RFE/RL: Putin says he won't object to membership per se, but that it's NATO infrastructure he is worried about. What NATO military infrastructure do you expect to be introduced in Finland, in terms of bases, air-defense systems, for example? Toveri: That is a difficult question to answer. I think that it would totally depend on the situation. First of all, I doubt that there would be separate NATO bases in Finland. If there would be air force or navy units arriving, they would probably use existing Finnish bases that could maybe be enlarged a bit if needed. Same goes for army units. Instead of major units, I could see maybe the need for certain capabilities that we don't have ourselves just now, such as long-distance air defense/ballistic missile-defense units. Overall I don't think that there would be a need to permanently base NATO units in Finland, but [instead] to improve our capability to receive temporary reinforcement if needed. RFE/RL: I know Finland very closely cooperates with NATO, in NATO's Partnership For Peace program and has taken part in NATO missions. Does Finland becoming a NATO member also mean you are going to increase the numbers of your professional army? Kajanmaa: It depends on how we negotiate with NATO. We don't know what NATO wants us to give them. Of course, we will participate in the Baltic Sea maritime surveillance. We will participate most probably in Baltic air surveillance activities. We will cooperate with Sweden and Norway in the northern part. So we will establish the northern flank of NATO in the future, and I think there are enough tasks for the Finnish defense forces. I don't see any reason why Finland should send, for example, one brigade to Greece because we have our own threats here and vice versa. I don't think that any Greek or Italian units will be seen in Finland because it's a different part of NATO. But all that is a matter of the negotiation process with NATO. RFE/RL: Would NATO membership change in any way Finland's conscription system? Toveri: No, I don't expect any changes. We have a big country to defend with a small population. We've seen in Finland that the most important part of our defenses is building willingness to defend the country among the population. That comes through general conscription because, that way, every family more or less is tied up in the [country's] defense. And we've seen that when the Cold War ended, many countries [abandoned] the conscription system and went for a professional force [and in those countries] the willingness to defend the country went down drastically. And that means we still need the conscription system, for sure -- even as a NATO member, the responsibility to defend Finland lies 99 percent with the Finns. We can't lower our guard. RFE/RL: Prior to the war, a model was offered to settle the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and this was unofficially dubbed "Finlandization." With Finland joining NATO now, is that model dead? Kajanmaa: I have never been fond of that idea, that we use Finlandization as a model for Ukraine or anyone else. [Finlandization was from] the Cold War. It was our survival mechanism. We were between East and West and the Soviet Union was a totally different player than Russia is now. We tried to choose our way of, like I said, survival during that time. For Ukraine, they are not ready for that kind of work with Russia, because they want to be independent. They are heading West and all those [with] Soviet heritage have already moved, except Belarus, to the West, to Europe, so Ukraine wants to follow that and Finlandization does not help that process. Note: These two interviews were conducted separately. The interviews have been abridged and edited for clarity Across Russia, teachers who have taken an anti-war stance have been fired from their jobs and charged by the authorities. In Volgograd, Roman Melnichenko is considering emigration. Marina Dubrova, from Sakhalin in Russia's Far East, was denounced to the authorities by her own students. RESEARCHERS and innovators across all sectors have been urged to focus on research and innovations in emerging technologies to boost industrial growth and people's livelihood. Representing the Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, in officiating the climax of the 7th University of Dar es Salaam Research and Innovation week in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, the Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Omary Kipanga, said researchers and innovators should continue to do research and innovations so that they can educate the community about the effects of technological change. "Researchers should continue to conduct research to educate the members of the public over positive or negative effects so that they could get prepared," said Mr Kipanga. The Deputy Minister said it was time research findings were integrated in the different sectors to yield results that will contribute to the development economy. "The Government through the Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) has developed research priorities for the year 2021/22 -2025/26 which sets the vision and direction for research, innovation and technological innovation based on our country's Development Plans," said Mr Kipanga. He urged all Universities in the country to use those priorities as a vision in conducting research and innovation aimed at solving the challenges that hinder government's efforts to build a strong and sustainable economy. Furthermore, he said the government is focusing on building the capacity of institutions and citizens to design and produce simple technologies that are relevant to our environment. Presenting views from discussions on strategic partnerships, Super doll Managing Director, Seif Seif said that in order for college graduates to be employed in the industry they need to have character, competence, and chemistry those are the foundation of industrial success. Mr Seif said every year he took graduates from UDSM, Sokoine University and other universities but they had to train them to acquire required skills so that they could fit into their field. Iran's Defense Ministry says an "accident" in the Parchin area near Tehran occurred at one of its research units, killing one person and injuring another. Parchin, some 60 kilometers southeast of Tehran, is a military base where the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has previously said it suspected Iran conducted tests related to nuclear detonations more than a decade ago. "On Wednesday evening, in an accident that took place in one of the research units of the Defense Ministry in the Parchin area, engineer Ehsan Ghad Beigi was martyred and one of his colleagues injured," the ministry said. It did not elaborate on the cause of the accident or provide any further details, saying an investigation was under way. Iran in 2015 allowed the IAEA to take environmental samples at Parchin to make an assessment of "possible military dimensions" of its nuclear program. Iran says its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, but it is now enriching uranium to up to 60 percent purity -- its highest level ever and a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90 percent. In June 2020, an explosion caused by a tank leak occurred in the Parchin area at a gas storage facility. Western concerns over the Iranian atomic program led to sanctions and eventually to Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 withdrew from the accord and reimposed harsh economic sanctions. Talks to revive the agreement resumed in Vienna last year but have lately stalled. U.S. special envoy for Iran Robert Malley said on May 25 that the prospects of reviving the 2015 deal were "tenuous" at best, telling a Senate committee that it is more likely than not that talks will fail. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP Hundreds of residents took to the streets of Abadan, the capital of the southwestern Iranian province of Khuzestan, late on May 25, chanting slogans against the Iranian authorities. The protest came following the May 23 collapse of an unfinished building in Abadan that killed at least 19 people and injured nearly 40, according to official figures. Rescuers are still searching for dozens of people who are believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed building. An emergency official interviewed earlier this week on state television suggested that some 50 people may have been inside the building at the time of the collapse. However, it wasn't clear if that figure included those already pulled from the rubble. Many in the city are angered by the incident, blaming city officials for the deadly accident. An angry crowd at the site chased and beat Abadan Mayor Hossein Hamidpour immediately after the collapse, according to the semiofficial ILNA news agency and online videos. Critics say the building work was poorly constructed due to efforts to save on costs. Videos posted online on May 25 showed crowds mourning those killed while beating their chests. Some chanted that the 1979 revolution was a mistake, while others said, Death to incompetent authorities. The head of Khuzestan Province's judiciary has ordered a probe into the accident. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has offered his condolences and appealed to local authorities to investigate the case. Irans vice president in charge of economic affairs, Mohsen Rezaei, and Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi visited the site. With reporting by AP and dpa Street fighting was under way on June 2 in Syevyerodonetsk where Ukrainian forces continued to put up stiff resistance despite Russian forces controlling most of the key Donbas city with the aid of massive and indiscriminate artillery bombardments. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy again urged the West to speed up weapons deliveries for his outnumbered and outgunned troops as the Kremlin angrily warned that arming Kyiv will "bring more suffering to Ukrainians." Moscow's furious reaction came after Britain joined the United States and Germany in announcing that it will send Ukraine advanced weapons systems to help defend itself against Russia. As fighting raged in Syevyerodonetsk, a regional official warned that civilians are sheltering from Russian shelling under a chemical plant in the city and authorities fear it may still have stocks of dangerous materials. The regional head of the military administration, Serhiy Hayday, said that 80 percent of Syevyerodonetsk was now under Russian control. Hayday also said on June 2 that, besides Syevyerodonetsk, Russians are also attempting to advance south towards the key Ukrainian-held cities of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk, where Mayor Vadym Lyakh called for the evacuation of the heavily damaged city. Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, a spokesman for Ukraine's Defense Ministry, said there was fighting in the streets in Syevyerodonetsk and the Russians had reached the city center, but "the Ukrainian armed forces are actively resisting them." Hayday warned that a number of civilians were sheltering from Russian shelling under a chemical plant in Syevyerodonetsk and authorities fear it may still have stocks of dangerous materials. In its daily intelligence bulletin on June 2, Britain's Ministry of Defense concurred that Russia has taken control of most of Syevyerodonetsk. It said that the main road into the city "likely" remains under Ukrainian control but Russians are making steady gains with the aid of heavy artillery fire. In an address to Luxembourg's parliament, Zelenskiy said Russia now occupies about 20 percent of his country's territory, with the front line of the battle stretching for more than 1,000 kilometers. He said Ukraine estimates Moscow that has lost "more than 30,000 soldiers," since it launched its offensive on February 24, "but this does not stop Russia. This state is still ready to lose and kill, kill people." "Because only one person in Russia doesnt want to let us stay as we are," he added, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who before the war questioned the existence of Ukraine as a nation state. Zelenskiy voiced gratitude for all the assistance that Ukraine has received from the West, but said that weapons supplies needed to be sped up up because "we have to defend ourselves against virtually the entire Russian Army." The most advanced U.S. rocket systems -- the HIMARS -- which can strike targets as far as 80 kilometers away, will take at least three weeks to reach the battlefront, senior Pentagon officials have said, raising questions of whether they will arrive in time to stop Russias slow but steady gains. "We need more weapons for Ukraine -- modern weapons that will ensure the superiority of our state over Russia in this war not only through courage, intelligence, but also technologically. And I ask you to advocate this need before other European states," Zelenskiy said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov again warned on June 2 of absolutely undesirable and rather unpleasant scenarios if the latest Western-supplied weapons were used against Russia. This pumping of Ukraine with weapons...will bring more suffering to Ukraine, which is merely a tool in the hands of those countries that supply it with weapons, Peskov told reporters. But Peskov, asked if Moscow, after being slapped with the most onerous sanctions in recent history, wants to close "the window" to Europe that Peter the Great sought to open 300 years ago, said "No one is planning to close anything." With reporting by Reuters, BBC, CNN, AP, and AFP Moldova's government has not yet decided about whether it would accept lethal weapons from NATO countries, but will be announcing a decision soon on steps to improve the country's security, Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu told RFE/RL. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said recently that Moldova should be "equipped to NATO standards" to protect itself against potential Russian aggression. Popescu was asked about her comments in an interview with RFE/RL's Ray Furlong in Prague on May 26. Thousands of U.S., Polish, and French soldiers are taking part in military exercises called Defender Europe 2022 at a military range near Orzysz, Poland. These images from May 24 show air and land forces practicing what the U.S. Army says are defensive operations aimed at demonstrating Washington's commitment to its NATO allies. The exercises come amid tensions with Russia over its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, which is nearing its 100th day. Poland borders Ukraine and has taken in thousands of refugees fleeing the fighting. Russian troops are in the midst of an attack on two cities straddling a river in eastern Ukraine that is designed to encircle Ukrainian forces in what could be a decisive battle for Moscows military campaign in the country. The city of Syevyerodonetsk -- which sits on the easternmost part of Ukrainian-held territory in the Donbas -- and its twin Lysychansk, which lies across the Siverskyi Donets River, are at the heart of a pivotal assault that has Russian forces advancing from three directions as they try to encircle Ukrainian troops on the eastern front. The effort to trap Ukrainian forces could have major repercussions for the current phase of the war and could determine the success or failure of Moscows revised plans of seizing full-control of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces. The Russian troops continue to make small advances but are yet to break through, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warning of difficult weeks ahead. The intense fighting in the Donbas comes after more than three months of war that many experts and Western officials originally predicted would see Russia win within days or weeks. Moscow has achieved only limited gains in a war where it is reported to have suffered heavy military losses since first invading Ukraine on February 24. Ukraine has also sustained major combat casualties and many of its cities have been reduced to rubble, with thousands of citizens killed and wounded. To find out more about the changing battlefield, RFE/RL spoke with Mark Cancian, a retired U.S. Marine colonel and senior adviser at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies. RFE/RL: Russia has stepped up its attacks in the east and poured more forces and equipment into the campaign, especially around Syevyerodonetsk and Lysychansk, where it is trying to encircle Ukrainian forces. What do you make of these developments and does this show that Russia has some momentum on its side in the Donbas? Mark Cancian: It's important to put this in perspective. This is [essentially] the third step in the Russian war aims and the reduction of those war aims. In the very beginning, they were trying to capture Kyiv and take control over the entire country, which, of course, failed. In their second effort, they moved their forces east and they tried to bite off most of the eastern Donbas region. They tried to strike south from Izyum and then move north from Mariupol, but that failed, too. The Russians have not made any significant progress in two or three weeks. Mariupol held out much longer than anyone expected, and it took a long time for the Russians to get those forces [from Mariupol] freed up, and they also took a lot of casualties. So that southern prong Russia had planned for never really materialized. Now, the focus is on Syevyerodonetsk, which is a much smaller pocket. The Russians are [pushing] to surround the city -- they made an attack from the north and tried to cross a river [but] did it very badly and lost a lot of troops and equipment in the process. But they're still trying to pinch off that area. That city would give them a great deal of control over most of Luhansk Province. That may be their last ambition in this war because they've [taken] a lot of casualties. [Russian forces] are clearly running out of steam and their morale has always been shaky. I doubt that they have the combat power to do much more than that. RFE/RL: Many analysts have suggested that it appears that Russian forces have abandoned efforts to encircle the large Ukrainian formations in eastern Ukraine and are instead attempting to secure smaller encirclements of Ukrainian troops in the Donbas. Are there downsides and risks for Russia in this change in approach? Cancian: Well, the smaller encirclement is probably all they have the combat power to execute, given that the attempt at the larger one failed. It's important to keep in mind that the Russians just don't have a lot of combat power; in fact, they never have throughout the entire campaign. They began with maybe 200,000 troops, but of those maybe 30,000 or so were [separatist] militias from the Donbas provinces. So maybe they had 150,000 ground forces or so, but that's not very much for the massive amount of territory that we're talking about for the initial attack they did on four different axes. To put it in context, the front lines now are about where the front lines were in early 1943 [during World War II between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany]. At that time, the Soviets had well over a million soldiers on the same front line, where the Russians now have 150,000 or maybe fewer troops. So they just don't have very much combat power given the task ahead. That's why when the attacks on Izyum failed, they needed to further constrain what they were trying to do. The notion of an encirclement [is] an [established] part of Russian military doctrine, and [it] is something that they did in the Second World War. The nature of the battlefield lends itself to trying that against the Ukrainian forces, with them sticking out to the east like how theyve been positioned. It's a sensible thing to try from a strategic perspective. The problem is that it's not clear that [Russia] has the kind of power to do it. RFE/RL: Senior Kremlin officials are increasingly openly admitting that the Russian offensive in Ukraine is moving slower than anticipated and new equipment and aid continue to be sent from Western nations to Ukraine. With those developments in mind, in your view, how do the two militaries stack up against each other currently after more than three full months of war? Cancian: Over time, the Ukrainians are getting stronger and the Russians are getting weaker. The Ukrainians are benefiting from the flow of munitions and weapons that are coming from the West, which has made a huge difference. They would not have been able to sustain their resistance to this point without that flow of equipment and munitions. There are now some questions about how much the Ukrainians can actually absorb. But those weapons will both replace what they've lost and increase their capabilities in certain important ways, so they're getting stronger. It's also important to note that at the beginning of the war the Ukrainians called up a lot of reservists and created these militias that were initially quite untrained and unskilled, but after three months they're getting much better trained and much savvier on the battlefield. So I think that their forces are also becoming more effective. On the other side, the Russians are getting less effective. They've taken a lot of casualties. Certainly, more than the Ukrainians, although it's a little unclear exactly how many casualties the Ukrainians have taken. The Russians have replaced many of those casualties, but they replaced them with lower quality units and some individual replacements. They've used a lot of their preferred munitions and their missile stockpile in particular appears to be low. Notice that in the last couple of weeks, they really haven't fired too many missiles. I think that's because they're running low. RFE/RL: There have been growing warnings, as well as U.S. and British intelligence showing, that a Russian naval blockade is halting Ukrainian ports in what many world leaders are calling a deliberate attack on the global food supply chain by Moscow. Does this mean were likely to see more battles and military attention focused at sea than we have so far? Cancian: I think we will. There's no question that the Russians have instituted a naval blockade of the Ukrainian ports, and that's pretty standard in this kind of situation. It does have an effect on world food markets [and] it also affects Ukrainian imports, which makes it much more difficult to bring in supplies of any sort, including military ones. I expect that there will be some continuing conflict along the coast. The West is supplying Ukrainians with anti-ship missiles, and they [also] have some of their own, which could force the Russians farther out into the Black Sea. It's likely that at some point Russian ships are going to be in range and the Ukrainians will take shots at them that might be successful. This conflict is going to keep going and evolving. For example, the Russians are also using Mariupol and some of those other ports for resupply. It's much easier to resupply using ships than it is with trucks or rail. I think you'll have some battles there between Russia's resupply efforts and Ukraines anti-ship capabilities. So, yes, that's going to be a continuing and maybe even increasing domain for the conflict. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) Executive Director, Chima Williams, has been named among the seven winners of this year's prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize. A statement released by the Goldman Environmental Foundation listed other winners to include Niwat Roykaew from Thailand; Marjan Minnessma , the Netherlands; Juliet Vincent, Australia; Nalleli Cobo, United State and Alex Luciatante and Alexandra Narvaez, Ecuador. The Goldman Prize is awarded annually to environmental heroes from each of the world's six inhabited continental regions. "The Goldman Environmental Prize honours the achievements and leadership of grassroots environmental activists from around the world, inspiring all of us to take action to protect our planet", the statement said. The Prize was founded in 1989 in San Francisco by philanthropists and civic leaders Rhoda and Richard Goldman. In 33 years, the Prize has had an immeasurable impact on the planet. To date, 213 winners have been honoured including 95 women from 93 nations. "While the many challenges before us can feel daunting, and at times make us lose faith, these seven leaders give us a reason for hope and remind us of what can be accomplished in the face of adversity," said Jennifer Goldman Wallis, Vice President of the Goldman Environmental Foundation. She added: "The Prize winners show us that nature has the amazing capability to regenerate if given the opportunity. Let us all feel inspired to channel their victories into regenerating our own spirit and act to protect our planet for future generations." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Environment By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Chima Williams who became ERA/FoEN Executive Director in October 2020 won the award based on his work with two Niger Delta communities to hold Royal Dutch Shell accountable for environmental damage caused by a spill from its facilities into the communities between 2004 and 2007. On the 29th January 2021, after 13 years of legal proceedings, the Court of Appeal sitting in The Hague, Netherlands, the home country of Shell, ruled in favour of three Nigerian farmers from two communities in two States of the Niger Delta - Eric Barizaa Dooh of Goi Community of Rivers State; Fidelis Oguru and Alali Efanga both from Oruma Community of Bayelsa State. The Court ruled that not only was Royal Dutch Shell's Nigerian subsidiary responsible for the oil spills, but, as parent company, Royal Dutch Shell also had an obligation to prevent the spills. The ruling was the first time a Dutch transnational corporation has been held accountable for the violations of its subsidiary in another country, opening Shell to legal action from communities across Nigeria devastated by the company's disregard for environmental safety. Previous Nigerian winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize include the late Playwright and environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and Cross River based environmentalist Odiga Odigha. Normally, the Prize award is conducted in-person at a ceremony at the San Francisco Opera House, United States, but this year, in the light of the COVID 19 pandemic, the Prize will be awarded virtually and broadcast online on May 25, 2022 (1am Nigerian time). The event will be streamed on YouTube and Facebook. Guests can register for the event here: rsvp.goldmanprize.org/2022. Vanguard News THERE is a confluence of events next week that bears strongly on President Muhammadu Buhari. First, on Sunday, May 29, he marks his seventh year in office, and his penultimate as president. Second, the same day and the next, May 30, his party, All Progressives Congress, APC, elects his successor as presidential candidate and, potentially, president of Nigeria These two events - the start of his last year in office and the election of his potential successor - have a strong bearing on Buhari's legacy. Certainly, as he enters the twilight of his presidency, with just one year left in power, after spending seven years, President Buhari must be concerned about how posterity will remember him. But whatever Buhari considers his legacy so far, his most important legacy would be who emerges as his party's presidential flagbearer next week and, possibly, Nigeria's president next year. This is so for two reasons. First, the emergent APC presidential candidate, if he ends up as Nigeria's next president, could either sustain or destroy Buhari's "legacy". Second, and far more important. From Nigeria's perspective, not just Buhari's legacy standpoint, whoever emerges as APC's presidential candidate could, if elected president, be disastrous for this country. Both reasons are enough to concentrate President Buhari's mind. Of course, even if a president anoints a successor, there's no guarantee that nothing will go awry afterwards. After all, former President Olusegun Obasanjo fell out spectacularly with his hand-picked successors, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan. In Britain, although Margaret Thatcher anointed John Major as her successor in 1990, they spent the next seven years of Major's premiership in mutual hostility, hardly talking to each other. Yet, that's not a reason why a president shouldn't anoint his successor. Indeed, provided he acts in the national interest, and assuming he exercises sound judgement, an incumbent president is within his rights to influence the choice of his successor. So, subject to avoiding the end-justifies-means approach of manipulating party primaries and browbeating every opponent, as Obasanjo did in handpicking Yar'Adua in 2006, Buhari is entitled to steer his party towards his preferred candidate. But who is President Buhari's favourite as APC's presidential flagbearer? Well, no one knows, except, perhaps, those in his inner circle. President Buhari's taciturnity usually leaves most people puzzled. And on his preferred APC presidential candidate, he has kept his cards close to his chest! In January, Channels TV asked President Buhari if he had any favourite presidential flagbearer in his party. He replied: "No, I wouldn't, because he may be eliminated if I mention him. I better keep it secret." Inevitably, that statement set tongues wagging about the president's favourite among the 25 APC presidential aspirants, each of whom paid a whopping N100m for the party's nomination forms. Yet, one thing is clear. Buhari and APC governors will determine the party's flagbearer. Furthermore, just as the governors deferred to President Buhari on his choice of Abdullahi Adamu as the party's national chairman, they are likely to defer to him on his preference as the party's presidential candidate. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State puts it succinctly: "Our leader, President Buhari, is very important in this political equation. We are still waiting for him to tell us what to do and we will follow." He added that Buhari's "anointed candidate will most likely fly the party's flag in 2023". Well, that places a huge and historic responsibility on President Buhari, requiring him to exercise good judgement and act in the national interest. The first question he must settle in his mind is whether to pick a Southern candidate or a Northern one. Given how much he has been criticised for "mismanaging Nigeria's diversity", Buhari would commit a monumental error of judgement, bequeathing himself a terrible legacy, if he favours a Northerner to succeed him. That's inconceivable and he won't do it, so let's shift the focus to the South. But who will Buhari support in the South? First, would he back a flagbearer from the South-East? Well, he could, but APC would lose if it fielded a candidate from the South-East while PDP didn't. That's the point former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State has been making, and why he withdrew from the contest for APC's presidential ticket. Truth is, a president of South-East extraction can only emerge in 2023 if both main parties, APC and PDP, micro-zone their presidential tickets to the South-East. If only one party does, it won't work; and PDP's flagbearer seems likely to come from the North. What about the South-South? Well, the only person touted as President Buhari's favourite from the South-South is Rotimi Amaechi, former transport minister. His turbaning as Dan Amanar Daura, "trusted son of Daura", Buhari's hometown, suggests this. But Amaechi is a self-important politician, who talks loosely, lacks discretion and plays to the gallery. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. His buck-passing, self-justifying, outburst after the Abuja-Kaduna train attack is not ministerial, let alone presidential. Which leaves us with the South-West. First, Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State. There's an exaggerated claim that Tinubu made Buhari president. This evokes a strong sense of entitlement - "payback time" - among his supporters: Tinubu helped Buhari become president in 2015 and 2019, so Buhari should help Tinubu become president in 2023! But Buhari must not "reward" Tinubu with APC's ticket and, potentially, Nigeria's presidency; he is too powerful, too wealthy, too controversial, too Machiavellian, too divisive to be this country's president! Well, of the remaining South-West APC presidential aspirants, President Buhari cannot credibly justify choosing Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State or former Governor Ibikunle Amosun over Professor Yemi Osinbajo, his vice president for the past seven years. As Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State said recently, Osinbajo is "Buhari's Number One confidante". He's also a more sellable figure across Nigeria and internationally. President Buhari faces a historic moment. His decision on his party's flagbearer will shape his legacy far more than anything else he's done in office. Retired General Aminu Muhammad Bande has won the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kebbi state. The primaries was peaceful amid tight security at the royal platform in Birnin Kebbi. Bande, who scored 471 votes, was followed by Dr Buhari Bala the former minister who polled 43 votes, while Garba Haruna scored 22 votes and Samaila Sambawa scored 21 votes. The primaries, which streched through the night was conducted before INEC officials and top PDP stalwarts. A supporter of General Bande, Malam Basiru Gwandu described the victory as a deserving one. His words: "We have survived a huge gang up against us after giving our all to the party." Vanguard News This visit has been successful in paving the way for new development opportunities and stronger trade relations between the two countries. According to statistics from the General Department of Customs, the bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and the US in 1995 was at USD 450 mn, and by 2021 it had increased to USD 111.6 bn, 248 times higher. In 2021, Vietnam exported USD 96.3 bn worth of goods to the US, up by 24.9% compared to 2020, accounting for 28.6% of the total export turnover of the country. As a result, Vietnam had a trade surplus of USD 81 bn, and the US continues to be Vietnam's number one trade surplus market, up by 27.9% compared to USD 63.4 bn in 2020. This has contributed to creating a new peak in exports and imports and prolonging the trade surplus for six consecutive years from 2016 until 2021. Vietnam is now in the group of twenty countries with the largest trade in the whole world. Bilateral trade Vietnams main export products to the US are in the lead position. In 2021, Vietnamese exports to the US had twenty-eight key products, of which thirteen items were valued at USD 1 bn. From the beginning of 2022 until now, these items have grown to a new high level, and are the driving force for Vietnams economic recovery and development. More than 50% of Samsung phone production in the world is made in Vietnam. Of the total market share of Samsung phones in the US, sales of folding phones have increased from 0.6% in 2020 to 12% in 2021. Export of wood and wood products in the first four months of 2022 reached USD 5.48 bn, up 4.5% over the same period in 2021. The US is in the group of the three largest import markets for wood and wood products from Vietnam. In 2021, the US was the number one seafood export market in Vietnam, with 23.1% of the total seafood export turnover. Since the beginning of the year, seafood exports have occupied a runner-up position in the export of agricultural goods and the export market share to the US continues to be at the top, along with China. Ever since the two countries agreed on an action plan to harmonious a sustainable trade balance, many complicated issues in bilateral economic trade have gradually been erased, bringing benefit to the business communities of the two countries. The US Trade Representative Office (USTR) also officially concluded the investigation into Vietnam's practices, policies, and alleged undervaluation of the Vietnamese currency. Anti-dumping tax on Vietnamese honey exported to the US has also decreased sharply, from 410.93% to 413.99% in the preliminary conclusion to 58.74% to 61.27% at present. More and more top US traders are now paying attention to a growing Vietnamese market. One of the highlights of a recent event of the Foreign Affairs Department (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), was a food and beverage exhibition held in a Nang. The exhibition brought together twenty-one participating units, such as agricultural associations, state representatives, distributors, and manufacturers of the United States. They showcased many products such as beef, pork, chicken, seafood, potatoes, cheese, raisins, beans, soy products, apples, blueberries, ginseng, popcorn, pecans, wine, and whiskey. The event marked the opening in a Nang of the Economic Center in Central Vietnam, in the context that international tourism is now gradually recovering after the Covid-19 pandemic and the US exhibition organizers tried to reach out to a wide range of enterprises. In 2021, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports were among the twenty-eight key products that Vietnam exported to the US, which was an increase by 32% compared to 2020. Trade and investment According to a report by the Vietnam Confederation of Trade and Industry (VCCI) and the General Department of Customs, in collaboration with the US International Development Agency (USAID), the enterprises experiencing facilitation was the highest when complying with procedures in the field of goods quality management. However, despite being Vietnam's leading trade partner, the US ranks only 11th among Vietnam's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) partners. Vietnams trade surplus with the US is mainly from FDI enterprises, so it is difficult to actively take advantage of this surplus to import equipment and raw materials for production in US dollars. In addition, due to weak logistics, lack of containers, traffic congestion, high transportation costs, and high prices of raw materials, a fluctuating market can cause disruptions to the goods supply chain. These are bottlenecks that are preventing Vietnam from making full use of existing advantages and fully promoting goods to the world's leading economy. The trade value of the two countries is large but there is still room for more growth. New opportunities for trade and investment flow are very necessary. Therefore, to build new opportunities Vietnam needs to create an independent and proactive economy and trade with extensive international integration and know-how to adapt and become resistant to huge, unexpected impacts from the world market and effectively participate in the global value chain. This will enable Vietnam to export large volumes of goods and meet large long-term orders according to US standards. Nguyen Duy Nghia 57 days after the abduction of Kaduna bound passengers by gunmen, family members continue to be in anguish, waiting for the rescue of their relatives. Every night, Sa'idu Marafa goes to bed around 12 a.m. He keeps his phone under his pillow in anticipation of a phone call he has been waiting for since March 28. It has been 50 days of waiting. Whenever his phone rings he hopes it is a call that will tell him his brother has been released from captivity. His brother, Auwal Marafa, was among the passengers of the Kaduna-bound train that was attacked by bandits. A day after the attack, Mr Marafa said he got a call from one of his brother's abductors. Before the call, his family was worried that he was shot during the attack that left nine people dead. He could not be reached on the phone, and he was not among the dead and the injured taken to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, where victims of the attack were taken and were being treated. They thought maybe he was shot, and his body was not retrieved. "When the call came in, I took a sigh and answered. I had been following the development on social media and I read that the bandits had started reaching out to some family members. They told me they kidnapped Auwalu and asked me to wait for their calls," Mr Marafa said. That was the last time the bandits called him. Family members of those abducted were uncertain about the whereabouts and well-being of their relatives for days. Then the bandits released photos of the hostages in captivity. But Mr Marafa said though the pictures provided temporary relief to his family, the state they saw his brother made him cry. "He looks sick and in dirty clothes. We don't know whether the bandits give them food or not," Mr Marafa said. "But at least, we know he and the other abducted passengers were alive. And that calmed us for some hours." For 50 days now, there has been no contact with them aside from the two video clips and five photographs the gunmen released. Family members of the abducted passengers said they were unimpressed with how the Nigerian government is handling the abduction. They accused Nigerian Railways Corporation of not setting up a situation room as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari. The government insisted it was making efforts to rescue the victims but did not give details of what it was actually doing to secure their release. "What the Federal Government is doing won't be the subject matter of a press conference, because we have lives at stake," Lai Mohammed, the information and culture minister said, adding: "What I can assure you is that as we speak, the respective arms of the government are actually engaged in getting those victims released." The gunmen insisted they need not need money. The bandits originally did not state was their demands were. However, earlier this week, the bandit announced they want the government to release eight of their children arrested by the Nigerian Army and kept in an orphanage in Nasarawa. A horrendous experience Passengers who were rescued from the train by soldiers said the attack was horrendous. Aisha Bindawa, one of the passengers, said the day of the attack was the worst day of her life. "It was terrible," she said during a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES. "I had seen nothing close to what I saw that night and I pray it should be the last time I'll ever witness such a thing. There was a man sitting beside me. When that man was shot, I felt like leaving my body. I look at him and felt my soul fleeing too." The abduction has generated uproar among Nigerians. Many are questioning the government's commitment to rescuing or securing the release of the hostages. The wait continues Addressing reportersnin Kaduna to commemorate the 42 days of the attack, the spokesman of the group, Abdulfatai Jimoh, said family members of the passengers have found it difficult to move on. "Today marks the 42nd day our loved ones have been held, hostage. It has been 42 long days of living in fear, virtually no sleep, no bath, wearing the same clothes, under the scorching sun and rain, and exposed to extreme environmental hazards. The emotional, psychological, mental, and physical torture arising from these conditions are only imaginable. "Among the abducted passengers are children, some as young as 3 years old, pregnant women, women, including an 85-year-old great grandmother, and others. Some of these victims have health challenges requiring daily medications, which they have had no access to in the last 42 harrowing days," he said. Terrible situation "It has not been easy for all of us," Abdulaziz Attah, a son of one of the abducted passengers told Premium Times. "You know, if they were dead, you will know that they're dead. They'll be buried, you'll mourn and eventually accept reality. But they're alive but you can't see them; you don't know what they go through or how they are surviving. It's terrible." For now, Mr Attah has to contend with double tragedy because apart from his elderly mother, who he said is the oldest among the captives, his junior sister was also abducted. Both women were travelling together. "The whole family is finding it difficult to cope. No one sleeps, things are in complete disarray and because of this, we have people who are already depressed," he said. Mr Attah said the realisation that he could not do anything to save his mother and sister, makes him feel terrible and increasingly frustrated. Relatives of captive told this newspaper that they are hopeful they would be released but the uncertainty around when they would be released makes them apprehensive. "We will remain hopeful but it's not easy," Sani Lawal, whose brother and sister-in-law were abducted from the train told Premium Times over the phone. "I tell you my immediate family doesn't understand me anymore because of the trauma. How does one even explain this? I mean I have to keep lying to my brother's children that their father has travelled and would soon be back." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs Transport By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Mr Lawal said he has also been reassuring his father and mother that negotiations to free the captives were at an advanced stage "but for how long?" He said the release of the pictures and video clips of the captives was reassuring but he has been praying for more evidence to be sure that his brother and his sister-in-law are still in good health. "I would have expected the representatives of the President, at least the transportation minister to have reached out to us to console us, keep us updated on the situation on the ground but nothing is happening. Let them show concern at least," he said. Zarah Aliyu, sister to one of the passengers, told PREMIUM TIMES that the decision by the National Assembly to pass a bill prohibiting the payment of ransom ( The bill is yet to be signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari) came at the wrong time when family members are clinging on to the only string of hope to remain sane. "We're in a terrific situation right now but they don't even care," she said. "It's not about making the payment of ransom illegal, let them secure the country first. For me, if the bandits have demanded ransom from us, we would have reached out to family and friends and other good Nigerians to save our relatives because it's not easy coping," she said. Addis Abeba -The Federal Supreme Court Cassation bench has today ruled to set free Colonel Gemechu Ayana, one of the senior leader of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), and subsequently ordered his release from police custody. On 19 May Colonel Gemmechu was arraigned at the federal supreme court cassation bench alongside four other ranking members of the party, more than three months after a federal court closed the case file; however, the court ruled that the defendants should remain under police custody because judges "didn't know who arrested them." Three of the five defendants in the case file: Kisu Qituma, Usman Hassen, and Lemmesa Takelewere have since released but their cases were cases were pending; and one defendant, Amanuel Ejigu Merga, was reportedly killed by government security forces, according to Lammi Gemechu, interim public relations head of the OLF. The five defendants were among the 12 senior and ranking members of the OLF who were acquitted of terrorism charges by federal High Court 3rd Anti-Terrorism and Constitutional Bench in May last year. But only Colonel Gemechu remained under custody. At a hearing on 19 May this year, the prosecutor was ordered to provide explanation surrounding the killing of Amanuel Ejigu. The court also arraigned Oromia police commission on 23 May to explain the circumstances surrounding the continued detention of Colonel Gemechu. Previously, the federal police explained to the court that they have no cases against Colonel Gemechu but were keeping him in detention on behalf of Oromia police. At the hearing today, the court ordered the release of Colonel Gemechu. This is the second time he is being released by a court. Last year in May he was taken back by members of Oromia police in front of the Kilinto federal prison in the outskirts of the capital Addis Abeba as he was leaving after being freed by court; he was then held for six months at Galan Police Station and Awash Melka military camp, among other places without appearing in a court of law. He also told the federal court that had been detained at a poultry farm since 19 November last year. In a new report released on 19 May, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said that its monitoring on the detention of senior leaders of the opposition OLF in various police stations in Oromia regional state confirmed that were "detained without due process." Chinese envoy warns against double standards on protection of civilians in armed conflict Xinhua) 16:40, May 26, 2022 UNITED NATIONS, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday warned against double standards on the protection of civilians in armed conflict and the denial of the leadership of the countries concerning this issue. Parties to conflict are obliged by international law to protect civilians. However, to this day, countless civilians have been falling victim to armed conflict. The harsh reality serves as a reminder that the international community must continue to make unremitting efforts, said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. There is a need for parties to armed conflict to strictly abide by international law and international rules. All parties to conflict must refrain from harming innocent civilians and civilian facilities, prioritize protecting vulnerable groups such as women and children, and provide safe, unimpeded humanitarian access, he told a Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. "It must be pointed out that double standards undermine efforts to protect civilians. Protection of civilians applies to all parties in all armed conflicts without distinction. All forms of exceptionalism must be abandoned," he said. "The particular country that has engaged in the largest number of foreign wars and for the longest period of time should do self-reflection." Dai stressed the need to follow a membership-owned and membership-led approach. Individual member states bear the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians. The international community should provide targeted assistance to countries concerned to strengthen their capacity in this regard. The Security Council should adjust arms embargoes in light of the developments so as to create favorable conditions for the countries concerned to assume their primary responsibility in the protection of civilians, he said. The arbitrary freezing and diversion of foreign exchange reserves owned by the countries concerned and the theft of their energy and agricultural resources by some countries have not only deprived the countries concerned of life-saving money for restoring development, but also have indirectly taken away valuable resources for humanitarian aid. The international community should jointly say no to such actions, he said. The leadership of the countries concerned in the protection of civilians should not be denied just because there have been tragic cases of massive civilian deaths due to ineffective international intervention. Denying the ownership and leadership of the countries concerned will open up a Pandora's box and make it convenient for a few countries to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries or even engage in "regime change" under the pretext of protecting civilians. Such actions could lead to greater civilian suffering, Dai said. There is also a need to commit to the peaceful settlement of disputes, he added. All parties to armed conflict should seek to resolve their differences through dialogue, negotiation and other peaceful means, and to support efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of crises. Following the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and upholding the principle of the indivisibility of security, all countries need to work together to build balanced, effective, and sustainable security mechanisms, and strive to create a peaceful and stable international environment, he said. "It must be pointed out that the current international security landscape has become more volatile with hegemony and power politics prevailing and Cold War mentality and confrontational ideology rising. This will bring more challenges to efforts to the protection of civilians," Dai said. "We urge relevant countries to stop creating divisions and geopolitical confrontation around the world, including in the Asia-Pacific, and stop grouping countries by ideology and coercing other countries to take sides." (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Addis Abeba The National Movement of Amhara (NaMA) yesterday issued a statement discussing the current state of affairs within the country, particularly in the Amhara region. NaMA extended support for regional and nationwide efforts to enforce the law, however, laid concern over what it called errors in arrests during the law enforcement campaign declared by the government. The party said that it has been monitoring the government's actions using its various structures. "There are several reasons for the region's instability and insecurity, but one is the internal power struggle within the ruling party," the statement read. The press release stated that the party was witnessing individuals with political differences vis-a-vis the ruling party being arrested, including leaders and members of NaMA itself. The statement however stressed that different individuals and groups were utilizing questions being raised over the 'law enforcement operation' to sow chaos and cheap political gains. The party also named certain media houses as being in service of the TPLF. The presser concluded by forwarding recommendations calling upon the Amhara regional state government to conduct the said law enforcement operation in a manner respectful of the law, stressing the region to cease indiscriminate arrests. Noting that NaMA officials and members have also been subject to arrests, the party urged the regional government to put a stop to such actions and insisted on the unconditional release of people jailed due to political differences. The statement also condemned individuals and groups, it accuses them of using the conditions to worsen the security situation and call for mass demonstrations. NaMA's statement comes in the backdrop of reports of widespread detentions and unrest in the Amhara region since last week. Confrontations between security forces and armed groups after an announcement was made by the regional government to conduct law enforcement operations lead to clashes resulting in casualties and deaths. press release The newly appointed High Commissioner of the Republic of Ghana to Mauritius, Mr Charles Asuako Owiredu, paid a courtesy call to the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, this afternoon, at the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development House, in Phoenix. In a statement, the High Commissioner stated that the meeting with the VPM focused on how Ghana could benefit from Mauritian expertise and skills as regards oral proficiency in French since despite Ghana being surrounded by French speaking countries such as Togo and Cote d'Ivoire, it is an English speaking country. The High Commissioner expressed hope for an enhanced cooperation in the ICT sector adding that Mauritius being among the leading countries in ICT, could improve Ghana's ability to tap into the technology pool. He also appealed to the Vice Prime Minister to consider widening internship opportunities for Ghanaian students in Mauritius so that they gain the required knowledge and experience to find employment when they complete their studies. Mr Owiredu indicated that discussions also pertained to the implementation of the Smart City project on which Ghana and Mauritius are collaborating, and it was agreed that this would be the start of a stronger partnership so that more opportunities between the two countries can be explored. press release An exhibition entitled, "Sculptures marines - objets de l'homme faconnes par la mer", was launched, this afternoon, at the National History Museum in Mahebourg in the context of the International Museum Day (IMD), observed annually on 18 May. It is open to the public till 15 July 2022. An initiative of the Mauritius Museums Council (MMC) in collaboration with the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society, the exhibition showcases naval artefacts and provides an insight of the maritime history of Mauritius such as sea battles and shipwrecks. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage, Mrs Leela Devi Luckheenarain; the Chairman of the MMC, Mr Somduth Dulthumun; the Member of Parliament; Mr Rameswar Doolub; and other personalities were present at the event. Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of the MCC stressed on the importance of organising the exhibition which forms part of activities marking the IMD 2022. He commended the Ministry's initiative in providing support to the museum while adding that the MCC will come up with a strategic plan for all museums. He also spoke of revamping the museum at so as to house more artefacts with a view to raise public awareness on the history of the country. The International Council of Museums established the IMD since 18 May 1977, to showcase the role and functions of museums in society as means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples. The theme for this year is "The Power of Museums". Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, denounced Russian aggression and its use of "hunger and grain to wield power", in a special address at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022. "Global cooperation is the antidote to Russia's blackmail," she said. Her message focused on strategic priorities for Europe since the invasion. Boosting military spending is one such initiative. "We have to invest much more in solid European defence capabilities," von der Leyen said. While NATO remains the world's strongest military alliance, European spending on defence has not kept pace with recent increases by the United States, Russia or China, particularly since the 2008 financial crisis. Increasing that spending with a particular focus on the interoperability of nations' defence investments can help strengthen the region's ability to defend itself from such threats. She pointed to other key initiatives such as promoting green power, ensuring the resilience of supply chains and promoting food security. In terms of energy, she said, the crisis in Ukraine has galvanized Europe's embrace of renewable sources and diversification of its energy supply. RePowerEU, a 300 euro plan launched last week by the European Commission, aims to accelerate the green transition by nearly doubling Europe's energy consumption from renewable sources by 2030. Ultimately, "hydrogen is the new frontier of Europe's energy network", von der Leyen said. Europe must respond to additional knock-on effects of the war, such as rising food prices, as Russia has confiscated Ukrainian grain and blockaded other food exports. Europe is helping by providing revenue, increasing its food production and supporting other regions such as Africa in becoming less dependent on food exports. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Africa Business Conflict By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Technology can be a part of the solution to food insecurity to boost "climate-smart" agriculture. Vertical farming and precision irrigation are among the initiatives that can improve access to food in climate-responsible ways. In a conversation with Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman and Founder, World Economic Forum, von der Leyen noted that she could see a long-term future in which Russia found a path back to alignment with Europe. "This brutal invasion is standing up against the leadership in Russia," she said. The people of Russia, who ultimately will control the nation's future, are the ones who will decide the nation's way forward. If, in the future, the nation embraces "rule of law and respect for the international, rules-based order, it's a clear yes", she said. About the Annual Meeting 2022 For over 50 years, the World Economic Forum has been the international organization for public-private cooperation. The Annual Meeting is the focal point for leaders to accelerate the partnerships needed to tackle global challenges and shape a more sustainable and inclusive future. Convening under the theme, History at a Turning Point: Government Policies and Business Strategies, the Annual Meeting 2022 and its 450 sessions bring together global leaders from business, government and civil society. Learn more about the programme and view sessions live and on-demand. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate One couple bought an RV with unemployment money after losing their apartment when their roommate died. Another couple moved into an RV after leaving an apartment they shared with their stepdaughters family when the husband contracted COVID-19. Yet another couple living in an RV had a spot in a city-run site where they could park and get basic services, only to be back on the street when it closed. One by one, some of the 15 RV dwellers in a circle at San Francisco State University on Wednesday evening shared their experiences and needs for a safe place to park with the head of the citys homeless services department. The group represented just a fraction of residents who live in some 80 RVs near Lake Merced. Many are families with children who worry about speeding cars and struggle without water, electricity and anywhere to dump waste. For months, community and homeless advocates have pushed the city to set up a safe parking site. Wednesday was the first meeting with homeless services department head Shireen McSpadden after three dozen residents sent her a letter in March demanding immediate action. We need some help, said Alberto Buchanan, who has lived in an RV with his wife for two years. Time and time again, we hear that we have to talk to this person and that person. ... A lot of talking, no action. McSpadden and the districts supervisor, Myrna Melgar, told the crowd they are committed to getting a safe parking site on the citys west side but face hurdles in finding the right site with electricity, water and sewage services. Melgar told The Chronicle last week the city narrowed the list to two sites that are strong possibilities, but she wouldnt disclose locations. Two similar safe parking sites one near the Balboa BART station and another in the Bayview district faced pushback from neighbors. Still, San Francisco keeps pursuing this shelter model as it turns to interim solutions to address the crisis of thousands of people living on the streets. On Wednesday, community members and advocates from the Coalition on Homelessness expressed gratitude for the meeting but had a host of questions: Will the site have rules? How long will it remain open? When would it open? I dont know, Melgar said. I wish supervisors had more power. (The city) is a bureaucratic place, there are lots of hoops to jump through, but I do believe well get it done. McSpadden told the group that we just have to find the right site, and its harder than it sounds. Once the city does, it could be set up within a matter of months. With any solution still far off, Melgar said shes working on interim measures. She wants the city to pick up waste from RV dwellers. San Francisco State University offered to place a dumpster on its parking lot nearby that the universitys garbage collector could pick up. The homeless services department would need to pay for both measures. McSpadden said Wednesday shes committed to interim solutions. While many residents welcomed the concept of the safe parking site at the meeting, one who gave only his first name Zach said he had mixed feelings. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The plan is slapdash its not long-term focused, he said. Its focused on homelessness rather than housing, which is what the issue is. McSpadden said the city has a plan for building housing but stressed the problem goes beyond the city, since San Francisco relies on state and federal funding. Melgar begged to differ. She said San Francisco does produce regular reports about how it will comply with a state mandate to build 82,000 housing units by 2031, with 57% of those required to be below market rate, but the city doesnt have its own policy directives on affordable housing and puts none of its own $13 billion budget toward building it. In terms of an overall plan of how to meet our No. 1 problem in San Francisco, no, we dont have one, Melgar said. Mayor London Breed is backing a proposal to get a ballot measure in November that would ask voters whether to speed up affordable housing production. A group of progressive supervisors pushed back this week with their own similar proposal. Melgar said she hasnt decided which measure to support yet. Its going to be an interesting, contentious year because we dont all agree about what needs to happen, Melgar said. But it is my No. 1 issue. Mallory Moench (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench Fremont police said they arrested a 17-year-old high school student for allegedly threatening gun violence toward a school employee on social media, and for an alleged hate crime. The student, a minor, was booked into juvenile hall Wednesday on suspicion of felony terrorist threats after Fremont police received an alert at about 9:45 a.m. from American High School staff that a student was making threats on social media, the Fremont Police Department said. Police did not detail the specific social media threats, but said the student made direct threats of gun violence towards the school employee and also made comments about committing additional gun violence at an unnamed secondary school. The posts also included numerous racial epithets, which prompted the hate crime investigation, police said. School resource officers identified the student they said was making the social media posts, police said. Police contacted the student and his family at a location away from the school and arrested him and booked him at juvenile hall. Police served a search warrant at his home, where authorities said they recovered numerous pieces of evidence but did not disclose what kind. Police did not find a firearm, authorities said. Police said that at this time they believe the student arrested was the only one who threatened gun violence. The investigation is ongoing, and others may be involved, they said. While numerous subjects were involved in this conversation, the student who was arrested made direct threats of gun violence towards the school employee, Fremont police said. All other involved students have been identified and are currently being addressed by (Fremont Unified School District) staff. The Fremont arrest came a day after an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two teachers in a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. The mass shooting prompted police agencies across the Bay Area to increase patrols around local schools last week out of an abundance of caution. In a statement to the Fremont Unified School District community, Superintendent CJ Cammack said screenshots of the hateful speech and specific threats of violence were circulating and that the messages had been exchanged amongst a small group of our students from American High School. Cammack said the messages do not reflect the standard of excellence and high character demonstrated at the high school or in the school district. The District is taking this matter very seriously and we will assign consequences as appropriate and permissible under the law and related education code, Cammack said, adding that the school district is cooperating with the police investigation. Hateful words and threats of violence strike at the heart of the diverse community we celebrate in FUSD. These messages dishonor our entire school community, and more directly impact specific students and staff. Cammack said that students in the district have witnessed more hate and violence than any of us can fully process, and pointed to resources the school district has offered the school community in light of the mass shooting in Texas. He also urged the school community to take advantage of counseling opportunities and to report any suspicious activity to police and school administrators. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Please take time to talk to your student about not actively or passively participating in racist, violent and homophobic messaging. Such actions will not be tolerated or accepted, Cammack said. Please underscore the importance of making good choices, the potential consequences for students who engage in inappropriate and/or dangerous conduct, and the lasting impact such acts (or inaction in the face of such acts) can have on their lives, and the lives of others. Fremont Police Chief Sean Washington said he is proud of the school resource officers and detectives who took immediate action upon receiving information about the threats toward the employee, and the hate crime. I am also thankful for the community members and parents who came forward, as well as the students who notified their parents of the concerning messages, Washington said. The Fremont Police Department is committed to the safety of our community and schools. Washington added, Considering recent events, I want to ensure the public that school safety is our top priority. He said he directed the Police Department to do more patrol checks towards all school campuses, including resources from specialized units. Anyone with information about this case should contact school resource officer Sgt. Calvin Tang at 510-790-6743 or ctang@fremont.gov. Those wishing to remain anonymous can send a tip at https://local.nixle.com/tip/alert/5788118, or text a tip by typing TIP FREMONTPD followed by the tip to 888777. Lauren Hernandez (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez The rifles an 18-year-old used to kill 19 schoolchildren and two adults in Texas could not have been legally sold to him in California, which has some of the nations strongest gun control laws. But the future of those laws is in question in the courts particularly the U.S. Supreme Court. The gun laws can be traced to a mass shooting in San Francisco in July 1993, when a gunman entered a law office at 101 California St., killed eight people and wounded six before taking his own life. State lawmakers banned the sale or purchase of gun magazines carrying more than 10 cartridges and outlawed assault weapons, semiautomatic firearms with features such as detachable magazines and forward pistol grips that make them easier to fire repeatedly. The state also prohibited the sale of handguns and most long guns to anyone under 21. California also does not allow private citizens to carry guns openly in public and bans carrying concealed handguns without a license from local law enforcement, which are unavailable in most populous counties. And red flag laws allow police, family members and co-workers to obtain court orders removing firearms from those who are dangerous to themselves or others. Still, Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators are pushing to do more. On Wednesday, they announced plans to fast-track a slate of bills to tighten Californias gun laws further, including measures to allow private citizens to sue gun manufacturers for the harm caused by their products. The National Rifle Association and its allies have frequently challenged Californias gun laws in court, but they have been largely upheld by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which found no violation of the right to bear arms for self-defense. An exception was a ruling May 11 by a Ninth Circuit panel rejecting the prohibition on selling semiautomatic weapons to anyone under 21 the 2-1 majority cited the heroism of the young adults who fought and died in our revolutionary army. In the past, however, the full appeals court has ordered such cases reconsidered by larger panels, which have upheld the laws. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, has steered clear of firearms cases for more than a decade, since a 2008 ruling declared that the Second Amendment, contrary to previous decisions, guaranteed the right to possess handguns at home for self-defense, a ruling that the court applied to state laws in 2010. But the court, with a solidly conservative majority, is apparently about to change course. In a November hearing, most of the justices appeared likely to strike down a New York state law requiring a law enforcement permit to carry a concealed handgun in public. Such a ruling, expected within a month, would affect a similar law in California, and allow thousands of firearms on city streets. It could also mean that other gun restrictions are in peril. I suspect this is the first of a series of cases that (Justices Samuel) Alito and (Clarence) Thomas and other supporters are hoping to cut back on gun regulation, said John Donohue a Stanford Law School professor who filed arguments with the court supporting the New York law. Its clear that at least five of the justices have an enormous appetite for promoting agenda of the gun lobby. Thomas has accused his Supreme Court colleagues of treating the Second Amendment as a second-class right. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, as a federal appeals court judge in 2011, voted to overturn a ban on assault weapons in Washington, D.C., dissenting from a ruling that upheld the ban. Justice Amy Coney Barrett likewise dissented in 2019 on a federal appeals court that upheld a ban on firearms ownership by convicted felons. Other cases are pending that could affect California laws, said Esther Sanchez-Gomez, an attorney with the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence in San Francisco. She said they include challenges in other states to bans on large-capacity magazines, minimum age requirements to buy or possess guns, and even the ban on bringing guns into sensitive places, such as schools and government buildings, that the Supreme Court affirmed in its 2008 ruling on firearms possession at home. But Eugene Volokh, a UCLA law professor and libertarian legal scholar, said he does not expect a profusion of Supreme Court gun rulings after the decision in the New York gun case, as the court generally waits to see how lower courts interpret such rulings. Because most states already allow adults to carry concealed weapons in public many of them without requiring a license the anticipated ruling will just mean that Los Angeles will be in this respect like Philadelphia or like Houston or other cities where law-abiding adults are allowed to carry, Volokh said. Im not sure itll have that much effect on crime. Federal law now prohibits the sale of handguns to anyone under 21 but only sales from a federally licensed firearms dealer, and not at gun shows or other private sales, which are barred for minors in California. In 1994, Congress also enacted a nationwide ban on future sales of semiautomatic assault weapons, similar to Californias current law, and on possession or sale of magazines holding more than 10 cartridges. But the ban, written by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., expired in 2004 when Congress refused to renew it. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Feinstein, who has repeatedly tried and failed to reinstate the law, has introduced legislation to ban possession of assault weapons by anyone under 18. There is simply no reason that average citizens need weapons of war to go about their daily lives, she said Wednesday in a statement responding to the shootings in Texas and Buffalo, N.Y., where another 18-year-old allegedly killed 10 people, all Black, at a supermarket on May 14. The shooters in both Texas and New York werent old enough to buy a beer, but they were able to buy an assault weapon. The prospects for her legislation appear to be no brighter than they were for her previous futile efforts to reinstate the 1994 assault weapons ban. Meanwhile, Newsom and state lawmakers say they arent waiting for Congress to do more to crack down on the gun industry. Newsom and the top two Democrats in the Legislature announced Wednesday that they will expedite approval of 12 gun-related bills, including a measure to let residents sue gun manufacturers of untraceable ghost guns or illegal assault weapons for at least $10,000 a bill crafted after Texas abortion law that deputizes private citizens to sue abortion providers. The governor said that measure, along with bills to prohibit advertising gun sales to minors and outlaw the manufacturing of ghost gun parts, will probably have emergency clauses so they take effect immediately. Were not going to roll over and accept the status quo, Newsom said at a news conference, flanked by two dozen legislators. I will enthusiastically be signing these bills by the end of next month. San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Dustin Gardiner contributed to this report. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Addis Abeba Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing today announced the carrier is further expanding its all-Boeing freighter fleet with an order for five 777 Freighters. The order is currently unidentified on Boeing's orders and deliveries website. "The addition of these five 777 Freighters into our cargo fleet will enable us to meet the growing demand in our cargo operation. While cementing our partnership with Boeing with new orders, the growth of our freighter fleet takes the capacity and efficiency of our shipment service to the next level," said Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew. "We always strive to serve our customers with the latest technology aircraft the aviation industry could offer. Our cargo terminal is Africa's largest, coupled with fuel-efficient freighters and well-trained cargo handling professionals will enable our customers get the best quality shipment service. Customers can rely on Ethiopian for wide-ranging cargo services across five continents." Boeing's market-leading 777 Freighter is the world's largest, longest-range and most capable twin-engine freighter flying with 17% lower fuel use and emissions to prior airplanes. Ethiopian Airlines operates a fleet of nine 777 Freighters, utilizing the model's range of 4,970 nautical miles (9,200 km) and maximum structural payload of 107 tonnes (235,900 lb) to connect Africa with 66 dedicated cargo centers throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. "Ethiopian Airlines' all-Boeing freighter fleet provides them with unrivaled capability and flexibility as Africa's largest cargo operator," said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing's senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "These additional 777 Freighters will enable Ethiopian to capitalize on near-term cargo demand, while positioning the airline for further expansion in the future." In early March 2022, Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines also announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the carrier's intent to purchase five 777-8 Freighters, the industry's newest, most capable and most fuel-efficient twin-engine freighter. Ethiopian Airlines also operates three 737-800 converted freighters, as well as a combined passenger fleet of more than 80 Boeing jets, including 737s, 767s, 777s and 787s. As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future and living the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. Dispatch The atmosphere at San Franciscos Abraham Lincoln High School was somber this week as students and teachers gathered around an impromptu memorial to grieve and reflect on Tuesdays school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. It was the second-to-last week of classes at the Sunset District school, and students said that while they might normally be mentally checking out of their classes and dreaming of summer, many were racked with worry, sadness and even guilt, seeing versions of themselves in their Texas counterparts. I just feel disappointed that its still happening, and its still happening to children, Jose Hernandez, 18, a senior at Lincoln, said of the victims. They had their whole lives to live, and its not fair to them, its not fair to kids who are learning and figuring out the world to not be able to explore it as much as they want to. Hernandez and several dozen other students, as well as a handful of teachers and support staff, stood solemnly shortly after lunch on Wednesday around a group of 21 empty chairs arranged in a circle in the schools central courtyard. Each chair in the memorial, which was organized by students and teachers, represented a life lost Tuesday in Uvalde, when an 18-year-old gunman walked into Robb Elementary School and fatally shot 19 students and two teachers in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle Teachers took their students to the memorial throughout the day, an opportunity for them to observe, think and discuss. Many students had their heads down and were visibly emotional. Each empty chair had flowers on it, and many had photos of the victims faces on them. Flowers in the center of the circle swayed in the breeze as fog rolled through the courtyard. As you look at the faces, the idea of this is to humanize folks, right? To not have this be just another abstract thing that you see on the news all too often, but to think about the humanity of these people who are not here anymore, a peer resource coordinator said to the students huddled around the memorial. Along the courtyards walls were long sheets of paper with prompts written on them, encouraging students to write how they were feeling. Among the phrases that students wrote in colorful marker ink were, Helpless, Angry, Concerned for society and Are we next? Teachers led the crowd of students around the memorial in an open conversation, allowing students who wanted to speak to do so while creating space for silent reflection, too. One teacher led the group in a unity clap in which everyone clapped together in a show of community and resilience. A peer resource coordinator explained the facts of the shooting, read Langston Hughes 1938 poem Kids Who Die, which has gained renewed attention amid school shootings, and put Tuesdays bloodshed in the context of a broader history of violence in the United States. We had to do something more than just talk, and create a space where folks could mourn, could talk and start grieving, said Anthony Navarro, an ethnic studies teacher who helped organize the memorial. I just hope they feel heard; I hope they feel like they have a safe space to share their voice. Photos by Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle Shairely Bravo, 16, a sophomore at the school, visited the memorial with her classmates. She said she felt the magnitude of Tuesdays shooting and worried about its implications for students across the country going forward. This is a big situation, Bravo said. I feel really bad for their families, for these kids. It scares everyone and makes us think, Are we safe going to school? Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Hernandez said he thinks about the possibility of getting shot at school every day. He said he is disappointed in his country and that he cant shake the feeling that schools are no longer safe. I have this fear in my head, he said, that one day it could be my time. His friend Tyreque Elleston, also 18, said he was grieving for the young children who died Tuesday, and that he felt inspired by the way the Lincoln High School community was banding together to spread awareness. Navarro reminded students that teachers were there for them because we really love and support yall. He emphasized the need to build on this moment and keep the conversation about gun violence going to avoid falling into complacency. He encouraged them to build community. These are our future leaders, Principal Shari Balisi said as she watched her students surround the memorial. This really hit home. Andy Picon (he/him) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: andy.picon@hearst.com Twitter: @andpicon A San Francisco elementary school principals use of a racial epithet, while speaking to students about the word being used during a fight, angered some parents and stirred a new controversy for the school district over race and language. Carol Fong, principal at Ulloa Elementary in the citys Outer Sunset district, acknowledged in a letter sent to parents Tuesday that she used the N-word in a discussion with fifth-graders to explain a lunch-period fight they had witnessed between two students in January in which the slur was reportedly said. A parent filed a complaint and the school district launched an investigation, Fong said in her letter. She did not disclose the result of the investigation but said she is moving forward as principal to unite and heal the school community. A district spokesperson did not confirm the investigation or say whether discipline resulted. I am truly sorry that the use of the N-word has caused harm to this community. I understand that the word is toxic to our families and it triggers horrific experiences for some, Fong said in the letter. It is a harmful word used to demean a whole group of people by the color of their skin. I am aware that I have made a mistake and I would like to sincerely apologize for this action. Fongs address to parents came the same day that the four-month-old incident resurfaced during a school board meeting. Three months ago, voters recalled board member Alison Collins, who had drawn criticism last year for a series of tweets in 2016 addressing anti-black racism in the Asian community. In a now-deleted tweet, Collins, who is Black, used the epithet in a reference to Asian Americans and the treatment of Asian Americans. She later said that she was trying to illustrate the pitfalls of white supremacy in pitting communities of color against each other. Gabriela Lopez, who served as school board president, and Faauuga Moliga, a board member, were also ousted. The recall stemmed largely from frustration among parents over the slow reopening of schools during the pandemic, as well as the boards focus on controversial issues, like renaming 44 school sites and ending the merit-based admission system at Lowell High School. The incident puts SFUSD in a thorny position as parents consider whether it is ever appropriate to invoke the epithet and if there are standards for disciplining those who use it. Fong, who is Asian American, said she was trying to use the discussion with students after the lunchtime fight in January as an effort to teach children about the wrongs of using the epithet. During lunchtime on Jan. 27, a fight broke out between two students in the schoolyard in front of other fifth-graders at Ulloa Elementary, according to Fongs letter. Fong said that to ensure that fighting and the use of racial slurs were not deemed acceptable, she decided to address the incident with the class. In her recounting of the incident to the students, 40% of whom come from non-English-speaking families, she said the epithet in full. Soon after, a parent filed an official complaint against Fong. During the districts investigation, Fong said she used the word again when recounting what she said, and what the student said, to district officials looking into the matter. In repairing the harm, I have apologized to the specific parent and her child, Fong said. I have apologized to all the fifth-graders. I have also apologized to the Ulloa African American Parent Advisory Council. Fong did not respond to The Chronicles request for an interview. Hope Williams, a Black parent and SFUSD worker, said she was holding back emotions and feared for her childs well-being. Im sick and tired of coming down here to sit and battle for what it should mean to be (a) Black parent in this school, she said at the Tuesday board meeting. I dont feel safe with my child being in SFUSD. Her 7-year-old daughter also spoke, saying, I hear people talk about bad things at me. I feel like I dont have power but I do. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Referring to the Collins case, another parent said: When there is harm and theres no accountability when others have been held accountable for it (it) is a slap in the face. In a statement submitted to the district, the schools African American Parent Advisory Council called Fongs use of the epithet a misguided attempt at a teachable moment. But the group criticized Fong for using the slur several more times when speaking to parents, staff and district staff during the investigation. Yet, the community of Black parents and students at Ulloa who expressed their outrage as well as fear for their childrens safety have somehow been drowned out. That is where you all are supposed to show up standing on truth and responsibility to the each and every that is a notion commonly denied when the one harmed is Black, the council said. The group also noted that it received a letter in support of Fong that declared the process a witch-hunt and smear, and demanded the reputation of our beloved principal and the school be restored. SFUSD said in a statement to The Chronicle on Wednesday that the district values diverse voices, cultures, backgrounds and experiences of students, families, and staff members: We do not tolerate any instance of hate, bigotry or racism in our schools. Anti-racist practices are a priority for us and we actively work to support all of our staff with implementing anti-racist approaches both in and out of the classroom. A spokesperson for the school said there are times when harm is caused in a school community and relationships must be repaired by implementing restorative practice which include restorative circles among affected parties, family meetings, classroom discussions and more. Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika After more than six decades as world champion, Californias mighty Methuselah could lose its title as the worlds oldest living tree to a challenger from South America. A gnarled bristlecone pine that lives in a confidential location in the White Mountains of the Inyo National Forest near Bishop (Inyo County), Methuselah is believed to be 4,853 years old, according to dendrochronologists scientists who calculate tree longevity based on the number of rings the trees have accumulated. Methuselah has been regarded as the worlds oldest tree since a pencil-thin sample taken from its twisted trunk in 1957 revealed its advanced age. Recently, however, a Chilean environmental scientist has claimed that a giant, elderly alerce tree a conifer from Chile should be designated as the worlds oldest arboreal wonder, according to a recent report in Science magazinee,published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The tree, in Chiles Alerce Costero National Park, is known as Alerce Milenario or Gran Abuelo great grandfather in Spanish and is 5,484 years old, according to Jonathan Barichivich, the Chilean scientist who is cited in Science. Barichivich, who works on a climate initiative in France, took a partial sample of the tree and scientifically estimated its age. But plenty of dendrochronologists are not prepared to award the oldest-tree trophy to the Chilean newcomer. Tree ages have traditionally been measured by counting their rings one ring equals one year of life and cross-dating or comparing those rings to the patterns in cores taken from nearby trees. Gran Abuelos age was estimated using a partial boring technique and mathematical extrapolation yet to be published in a scientific journal and reviewed by other dendrochronologists. Cores are taken using an increment borer, a T-shaped device that allows dendrochronologists to extract a small sample without harming the tree. But the boring devices are only able to extract a core about 30 to 40 inches deep, said Peter Brown, a tree-ring expert and director of Rocky Mountain Tree-Ring Research in Colorado. Brown has produced a database of the oldest trees on earth, and he serves as Guinness World Records consultant on the oldest tree. Guinness, in fact, called recently, Brown said, to see whether Methuselah still holds the record. He believes it does. Details of the extrapolation method used on the Chilean tree havent yet been scrutinized by fellow scientists or revealed publicly. Its awfully interesting but it doesnt have all the rings there to count, he said. Barichivich has yet to submit an article on the calculations used to determine Gran Abuelos age but has said hell do so soon. The challenge from the Chilean alerce is not the first. In 2017, Methuselah brushed off a threat from an ancient bristlecone just uphill. Back in 1959, a noted tree ring researcher from the University of Arizona collected samples from several trees but was unable to analyze them before he died. In 2010, a researcher started analyzing the cores and determined that one from a still-living tree appeared to be 5,062 years old. But that researcher also died before the trees age could be verified, and as of 2017, Brown said, the core could not be found in the universitys Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research. While it might seem distressing to some that California could lose the designation of being home to the worlds oldest living tree, Andrew Kennedy, an Inyo National Forest ranger for the White Mountain District, said theyre not concerned but are eager to see the publication and peer review regarding the Chilean challenger. The Inyo National Forest supports the advancement of the science of dendrochronology, he said. Perhaps there are other older trees out there waiting to be discovered with this new potential dating method. But Brown was so far unconvinced, believing that Gran Abuelos champions need to provide more solid evidence before they claim a world record. The old Carl Sagan quote, that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, comes into play, he said. Michael Cabanatuan (he/him) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ISLAMABAD (AP) A series of explosions shook Afghanistan on Wednesday, the Taliban said, including a blast inside a mosque in the capital of Kabul that killed at least five worshippers and three bombings of minivans in the country's north that killed nine passengers. The Islamic State groups local affiliate claimed responsibility for the minivan bombings. The Kabul Emergency Hospital said it received 22 victims of the mosque bombing, including five dead. There were no further details on the blast that struck the Hazrat Zakaria Mosque in the citys central Police District 4, according to Khalid Zadran, a Taliban police spokesman in Kabul. The blast took place while people were inside the mosque for the evening prayers, Zadran said, adding that they were waiting for an update. The minivans were targeted in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif after explosive devices were placed inside the vehicles, according to Mohammad Asif Waziri, a Taliban-appointed spokesman in Balkh province. He said the explosions killed nine and wounded 15. All the victims in Mazar-e-Sharif were from the country's minority Shiite Muslims, according to a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to give details to the media. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The IS claim of responsibility was posted on the Sunni militant group's Aamaq news agency. The statement said IS targeted three buses with improvised explosive devices. There was no claim of responsibility for the Kabul mosque explosion but it also bore the hallmarks of the regional affiliate of the Islamic State group, known as Islamic State in Khorasan Province, or IS-K. The IS affiliate, which has been operating in Afghanistan since 2014, is seen as the greatest security challenge facing the countrys new Taliban rulers. Following their takeover when they seized power in Kabul and elsewhere in the country last August, the Taliban have launched a sweeping crackdown against the IS headquarters in eastern Afghanistan. The father of a child killed by a shooting rampage at a Texas elementary school says police were slow to move in and were unprepared. Javier Cazares is the father of fourth-grader Jacklyn Cazares, one of 19 youngsters who died along with two teachers in a classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Cazares says he raced to school when he heard about the shooting and arrived while police were still massed outside the building. Cazares says he was upset that police weren't charging and raised to idea of going inside himself with several others. However, authorities say the shooter, Salvador Ramos, had fired at a school security officer outside and once in the school he shot at two arriving police officers, who were injured. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw says law enforcement did immediately engage" Ramos and contained him inside the locked classroom. The standoff ended when the 18-year-old shooter was killed by a Border Patrol team. ____ KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TEXAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING: Governor: Texas gunman said he was going to shoot up school Beto ORourke disrupts news conference on shooting Stories are emerging about the lives of the children and teachers killed Many questions remain to be answered ___ IN OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: UVALDE, Texas The rifle used in the Texas elementary school shooting is known as a DDM4 Rifle. Its modeled after the M4 carbine, the U.S. militarys go-to rifle, according to a blog post by the guns maker, Daniel Defense. The Daniel Defense rifle can be classified as an AR-15 type. A key difference between the Daniel Defense rifle and the M4 carbine is that the militarys version can switch to fully automatic or fire a three-round burst depending on the model. AR-15-type rifles can be purchased for as little as $400, but the Daniel Defense rifle is on the high-end of around $2,000 or more. These rifles can also be financed, with customers paying less than $100 a month. The Daniel Defense rifle is not sold with sights. According to pictures of the shooters guns posted on Instagram, he appears to have purchased a battery-powered holographic sight that typically sells for around $725. A snipers scope uses magnification to aid in hitting targets from a great distance. Holographic sights are designed to speed up the process of short-range shooting by helping to fix on targets more quickly. ___ WASHINGTON President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the Second Amendment is not absolute as he called for new limitations on guns in the wake of this weeks massacre at a Texas elementary school. When the amendment was approved, he said, You couldnt own a cannon. You couldnt own certain kinds of weapons. Theres always been limitations. Biden was speaking at the White House before signing an executive order on policing on the second anniversary of George Floyds death. He that he would visit Texas with first lady Jill Biden in the coming days to hopefully bring some little comfort to the community. As a nation, I think we must all be there for them, he said. And we must ask, when it Gods name will we do whats needed to be done." ___ WASHINGTON The State Department says the school shooting in Texas and other mass casualty incidents are hurting Americas standing abroad and giving comfort to U.S. rivals and adversaries. Spokesman Ned Price said Wednesday incidents like these not only cause damage to the U.S. global reputation but also upset and confuse friends and allies who dont understand how they can continue to happen. The fact is that what happens in this country is magnified on the world stage, Price told reporters a day after a gunman killed 19 children and two adults in the Texas school shooting. And countries around the world, people around the world, are going to fixate on what transpires here oftentimes out of envy, but again thats when were at our best. Price said the shootings will have implications for our standing and the U.S. diplomats posted around the world are very mindful of that. He said that despite the State Departments foreign policy focus, the shootings hit American diplomats as a real punch to the gut. ___ A Facebook spokesman says messages posted by the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school were private. Andy Stone says the messages were private one-to-one text messages that were discovered after the terrible tragedy. He says Facebook is cooperating with investigators. Gov. Greg Abbott described the messages at a news conference where he said the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, used an AR-15 in the attack Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. About 30 minutes before the shooting, Ramos sent three social media messages. According to the governor, Ramos posted that he was going to shoot his grandmother, then that he had shot the woman, and finally that he was going to shoot an elementary school. ___ UVALDE, Texas Beto ORourke interrupted a press conference Wednesday about the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, calling the shooting totally predictable when you choose not to do anything. ORourke was escorted out while members of the crowd yelled at him, with one man shouting profanities at ORourke. The Democrat is challenging against Gov. Greg Abbott in this years election. Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said to ORourke: Youre out of line and an embarrassment. ORourke, as he was being escorted out, turned around, faced the stage, pointed his finger and said: This is on you until you choose to do something different. This will continue to happen. Somebody needs to stand up for the children of this state or they will continue to be killed just like they were killed in Uvalde yesterday. Abbott says the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school warned on social media minutes before the attack that he was going to shoot up a school. He says the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, used an AR-15 in the attack Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The news conference was attended by several elected Republican officials. ___ UVALDE, Texas The governor of Texas says the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school warned on social media minutes before the attack that he was going to shoot up a school. Gov. Greg Abbott says the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, used an AR-15 in the attack Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. About 30 minutes before the shooting, Ramos made three social media posts. According to the governor, Ramos posted that he was going to shoot his grandmother, then that he had shot the woman, and finally that he was going to shoot an elementary school. Seventeen people were also injured in the attack. Abbott says Ramos had no known criminal or mental health history. Evil swept across Uvalde yesterday, the Republican governor said at a news conference attended by other Republican political officials. ___ Former President Donald Trump says hell deliver an important address to America at the National Rifle Associations annual convention in Texas on Friday. The Republican leader posted on his social media network Wednesday that America needs real solutions and real leadership in this moment, not politicians and partisanship. Houstons Democratic mayor, Sylvester Turner, says some people want the city to cancel the NRA meeting, but he says they cant break the contract. The greater question, he says, is why politicians still plan to speak there after the shooting in Uvalde. Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz are among other Republicans scheduled to address a leadership forum sponsored by the NRAs lobbying arm. Its about elected officials at the highest level in our state going and speaking and endorsing those policies and thats wrong," Turner said. "And you cant pray and send condolences on one day and then be going and championing guns on the next. ___ BERLIN German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser sharply condemned the Texas school massacre, saying shes shocked by the terrible bloodshed. It is horrific that so many children and a teacher were killed. And it is terrible how powerful the gun lobby still is in the USA despite so many terrible crimes, Faeser tweeted on Wednesday. Germany has a strict weapons law, and its authorities must enforce it decisively, she said. Above all, we must disarm extremists very consistently. Where necessary, we will further tighten gun laws, Faeser said. However, Germany is not immune from school attacks. Last week, a school employee was seriously wounded in a crossbow attack at a high school in Bremerhaven and a suspect was detained. Earlier this month, a 16-year-old was detained for allegedly plotting an attack on a secondary school in Essen after police seized weapons and bomb-making materials from his apartment, authorities said. ___ HARTFORD, Conn. Schools around the country increased security as a precaution after the killings of 19 children and two teachers in Texas. In Connecticut, where the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting killed 20 first graders and six educators, state police said they were sending extra troopers to schools Wednesday, although no specific threats had been received. This assault on the most innocent of our citizens is deeply disturbing and heartbreaking, Connecticut state police Col. Stavros Mellekas said in a statement. At this time, our focus will be on protecting all school populations here in our state. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Schools in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Virginia, Maryland and Florida also were among those increasing security and offering counseling. ___ WASHINGTON Majority Leader Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor Wednesday in the aftermath of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting to call out the Republicans decadeslong opposition to gun control legislation. Maybe the thought of putting yourself in the shoes of these parents instead of in the arms of the NRA might let you wriggle free from the vise-like grip of the NRA to act on even a simple measure, the New York Democrat said. For the sake of these children, these 9-year-olds, these 10-year-olds, these 11-year-olds, these beautiful children, please, damn it. The Democrats pleas to Republican colleagues reflect a long history of congressional inaction on gun control since a gunman killed 20 schoolchildren in Newtown, Connecticut, nearly a decade ago. Democratic lawmakers have introduced countless proposals that would have required a background check of the gunman in Texas. All failed to pass, mostly due to the filibuster. Schumer pledged Wednesday to move forward with or without Republican lawmakers. ___ Instagram has confirmed it's working with law enforcement to review an account that appears to belong to the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers in Texas. A series of posts appeared on Instagram and TikTok in the days leading up to Tuesdays shooting. One selfie appears to show the shooter in front of a mirror. Another photo shows a gun magazine in hand. And on Friday, the same day law enforcement officials believe Salvador Ramos bought a second rifle, a picture of two AR-style semi-automatic rifles appeared. Another Instagram user with many more followers was tagged in that post. That user has since removed her profile, but first she shared parts of what appears to be a chilling exchange with Ramos, asking her to share his gun pictures with her more than 10,000 followers. I barely know you and u tag me in a picture with some guns, she responded, adding, Its just scary. A response sent from Ramoss account on Tuesday morning just said: Im about to. Witnesses said the shooting began around 11:30 a.m. ___ UVALDE, Texas The man who killed 19 children and two teachers in Texas bought his guns legally days before the attack and soon after his 18th birthday, a law enforcement briefing said. He bought one AR-style rifle from a federally-licensed gun dealer in the Uvalde area on May 17, according to a state police briefing given to Sen. John Whitmire. The next day, he bought 375 rounds of ammunition, and bought a second rifle on May 20. Officers recovered one of the rifles from Ramos truck and the other was found in the school, according to the briefing. It says Ramos dropped a backpack with several magazines full of ammunition near the school entrance, and that he was wearing a body-armor style vest but that it had no hardened plates inside. ___ Actor Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers on Tuesday. He called on Americans to act now to control an epidemic of mass shootings. Once again, we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us, McConaughey posted on his Instagram account. We cannot exhale once again, make excuses, and accept these tragic realities as the status quo. The actor doesnt describe any specific laws or policies he wants adopted. He doesnt mention gun control. As Americans, Texans, mothers and fathers, its time we re-evaluate, he wrote. We have to rearrange our values and find a common ground. This is an epidemic we can control, and whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better. ___ UVALDE, Texas Uvalde community members arrived early Wednesday at a civic center where families learned the fate of their loved ones the night before. Volunteers arrived with Bibles and therapy dogs. A minister says he prayed with families of victims in a hospital waiting room after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers inside an elementary school classroom in Texas. Uvalde Memorial Hospital said 13 children were taken there. Another hospital reported a 66-year-old woman was in critical condition. Pastor Doug Swimmer of the nondenominational Potters House Church told ABCs Good Morning America on Wednesday that Uvalde is a tight-knit community where people know their neighbors and see them every day. Asked what he said to people whose faith may have been shaken by the mass shooting, Swimmer said I know that one thing that we as Texans understand is that God is still God ... he is able to bring comfort in times of distress. ___ VATICAN CITY Pope Francis has said he's heartbroken about the massacre at an elementary school in Texas. Francis spoke Wednesday during his general audience. He said he was praying for the children and adults killed and their families after a gunman opened fire at an elementary school in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde, Texas, killing at least 19 children and two adults before an officer shot and killed the gunman. ___ UKRAINE Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that he was deeply saddened by the news of the murder of innocent children in Texas. Zelenskyy, in a tweet, sent his condolences to the families of the victims, the people of the U.S. and President Joe Biden after a gunman opened fire Tuesday at an elementary school in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde, Texas, killing at least 19 children and two adults before an officer shot and killed the gunman. In 2011, a student on a field trip with my father, a high school history teacher, jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge. The field trip was part of a biannual tradition, in which he and his teaching partner took their class of 11th- and 12th-graders on a walk across the bridge and into San Francisco for a visit to a museum. The student survived, beating miraculous odds, and though it turned out he had done it as an act of thrill-seeking, his classmates and my father faced intense scrutiny over claims he had been goaded by the crowd. I thought about this incident Tuesday night when I heard about the mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and remembered a recent drive my father and I took across the bridge. Years after the jumping incident, the journey still makes him a bit anxious. When I asked him why, he responded that when youre an educator, every child in that classroom becomes your own. You are the steward of their safety physical and otherwise. To watch a student in direct peril, he said, meant confronting the reality that such safety is fragile and of feeling the impossible weight of responsibility when you cant keep it intact. I hardly think my father is some extraordinary example of caring. Teachers all across the country mirror his sensibility the children in their classrooms are their own. Just as Eva Mireles fourth-graders were her own, just as Irma Garcias were her own. As reports emerge that the two Robb Elementary School educators fought to protect their students from gunfire and paid with their lives, I reflect on what kind of society is so willing to make martyrs of our finest public servants. To be an educator is to stretch your capacity for family wider than most of us will ever understand. Teachers also do the impossible math of divvying up the fierce protectiveness of a parent so theres enough for each of their students without ever diminishing its potency. In grieving the losses of these two heroic souls, I think also of the profound responsibility of teachers to put a hopeful sheen on an often cruel world. In the days after the shooting, theyll suit up once again and enter their classrooms faced with the difficult task of telling young minds that this society is worthwhile. This society that loves bullets, that grieves just to forget, that would rather arm its teachers than reject the right to individual militarism. And yet theyll manage. I know they will. Just as my teachers did for me, and just as I watched both my parents do for generations of students whom they wanted to give a fighting chance at hope. May God bless Mireles and Garcia and all those other lives lost. May their memories be for a blessing and may we continue to keep in our prayers the countless teachers who prepare for battle each day, one eye on the door and the other on the young creatures in front of them, doing their best to ward off the evil outside so each of their students might grow up to believe this place is better than it is. Anna Kaufman is story coordinator with CBS Inside Edition and a freelance writer covering politics and culture. San Francisco's Asian American voters played a key role in February's school board recall and are doing the same in the upcoming bid to recall District Attorney Chesa Boudin. On this episode of the Fifth & Mission podcast, political scientist David Lee joins host Cecilia Lei to explain how they built their political power and what the city should expect from the new generation. Then, Kasie Lee, chief of the Victim Services Division of the DA's office, talks about how she's trying to reach AAPI victims of crime. Photo above: District Attorney Chesa Boudin chats with Shaw San Liu of the Chinese Progressive Association Action Fund during a rally against Proposition H, the recall of Boudin. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Carie Mathis spotted the notice on her front door before her daughter did the one saying they had 60 days to move out or take their case to court. Mathis, 53, felt the blood drain from her face. She started to sweat. It seemed like she might pass out. Then the housekeeper and single mother of teenage twins realized it would be the third time her family had been uprooted in a two-year blur of unemployment red tape and searching for a stable, affordable Bay Area home. Here we are again, Mathis said. I dont want to have to go through the eviction process, but I dont have a choice. Mathis was one of hundreds of thousands of California workers ensnared by pandemic unemployment delays at the state Employment Development Department and its contractors. At first, she was able to dig herself out of the bureaucratic mess, restart her cleaning business and eke out enough last May for a two-bedroom in the tiny Contra Costa County town of Crockett. But now, in a state emerging from the pandemic amid intense economic inequality, she along with many others still dealing with unemployment issues worries whether efforts to rebuild will be derailed by housing that seems further out of reach than ever. Its a cycle that Daniela Urban, executive director of Sacramentos Center for Workers Rights, has seen play out many times. Housing was the No. 1 thing, she said, that jobless workers have worried about while contesting COVID-era unemployment claims. As the pandemic proceeded, we were dealing with more and more homeless individuals, Urban said. The best-case scenarios were the folks who moved in with relatives, sometimes out of state or out of country. But it was folks living in cars, living on the street. Mathis considered herself lucky to be in the former group. It wasnt until about a month after pandemic lockdowns began that federal officials created an emergency program for self-employed workers like Mathis to even apply for unemployment. With her income from housekeeping and other odd jobs vaporized, she said the family had already gotten an eviction notice at its Rodeo home of four years. She moved into her parents Vacaville garage, and her twins split their grandparents guest room. The setup was far from ideal, but it became a lifeline during another round of unemployment limbo. We were homeless, basically, Mathis recalled. But we had a roof over our head. In December 2020, Mathis said her payments suddenly stopped for about five months as the state scrambled to crack down on what is now estimated at $20 billion in benefit fraud. Mathis was one of thousands of people stuck trying to verify her identity with the EDD after an unprecedented 14 million jobless claims flooded the agency in the early months of the pandemic. Panic about fraud left desperate workers to weather account freezes, hours-long customer service waits or negative benefit balances. While there is no official estimate for how many California unemployment claimants have lost housing as a result of payment problems, the casualties included a former San Francisco tech office kitchen staffer who, by late 2020, was sleeping in a friends car in West Oakland after his unemployment debit card stopped working and he was forced out of his nearby apartment. Or a Disneyland candymaker left homeless with her son while she fought to recoup more than $12,000 in fraudulent charges on her unemployment debit card. Enough plaintiffs expressed concern about losing their homes in a class-action lawsuit over unemployment debit card contractor Bank of Americas role in the crisis that a San Francisco federal judge cited the issue in a May 2021 preliminary order. The harm being suffered by the class members is irreparable, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria wrote. Continued denial of these benefits will seriously hinder the ability of many class members to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads. At the time of the lawsuit, bank representatives blamed the states unemployment processing for much of the fraud confusion, and said they had hired more staff to help repay claimants who lost funds. By this time last year, Mathis was hoping to put her unemployment ordeal behind her. She had received a check from the state to cover missed payments and found the quirky old house in Crockett the last town before you cross the bridge, she said, from Contra Costa to Solano County. She went to John Swett High School there, where her 17-year-old twins will be seniors next year. Many prospective landlords had asked to verify that her monthly income was at least three times the rent often $6,000 or more, far beyond her income so Mathis was grateful when the owner of a local hardware store offered her a lease with no such requirement. But everything changed again three weeks ago. Mathis found the typed, one-page notice on the door just before Mothers Day. Maintaining the property had become too demanding while preparing for retirement, landlord Gene Pedrotti explained in the 60-day notice. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. In a phone interview, Pedrotti said the pandemic left him with his own challenges as a small business owner working 70- or 80-hour weeks while short-staffed. He still owns a nearby mobile home park and emphasized making large contributions to groups working to alleviate the housing crisis, but Pedrotti said he plans to sell the house in Crockett as he and his husband try to split their time between Washington state and the Bay Area. No matter who the tenant would be, I have to face this, said Pedrotti, who has owned the home for about 25 years. I cant do this anymore. Though precise numbers are hard to come by, landlord advocates have warned more mom-and-pop owners are looking to sell in a record-breaking pandemic real estate market and get out of the Bay Area rental business. The timing couldnt be worse for workers still trying to recover from job loss, because advocates like Urban fear the state is on the cusp of another wave of financial turmoil linked to unemployment. A March 2021 state audit identified nearly 1.7 million Californians at risk of needing to repay benefits, and some workers have already received letters requesting additional documentation or threatening wage garnishment. The class-action unemployment lawsuit against Bank of America is also ongoing after the bank unsuccessfully attempted to pull out of its EDD debit card contract last year. Since then, the bank has rolled out unemployment cards with more security measures, which EDD Director Rita Saenz said in a statement was one of several reforms to help many Californians get benefits faster. Attorneys for those still navigating the process warn that some workers continue to fall through the cracks. There are still people who are being wrongly deprived of benefits, and there are still people whose housing security is being affected by these policies, said Brian Danitz, a Burlingame-based partner at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy. Every week I receive several inquiries. As the long tail of Californias unemployment turmoil continues, Mathis is back to spending time between her cleaning shifts scrolling Zillow for new rentals. It seems like there are fewer options in her $2,200-a-month price range. Shes started a GoFundMe to cover moving costs for the third time in two years one last chance, Mathis hopes, to contain the fallout from a pandemic that refuses to end. My first thought is always my kids, she said. Im always afraid that Im damaging them for their future. Lauren Hepler (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hepler@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LAHepler Shortly after San Francisco police, firefighters and sheriffs deputies announced last week that they would sit out this years LGBTQ Pride Parade unless the organizers reverse a controversial ban on uniforms, a former police commissioner weighed in with an eyebrow-raising tweet. SFPD wont march in Pride because they cant wear their uniform, even tho they could wear all the SFPD clothes they want, tweeted John Hamasaki, a criminal defense attorney and reliable critic of police who stepped off the commission in March. Real problem is they wont get paid all that overtime if they arent in uniform/on duty. Its not about Pride, Its about (money), punctuating the missive with an an emoji of a sack of cash. The tweet, which several city officials said was inaccurate, added fuel to an already ferocious debate that spilled into City Hall. Prides board of directors voted this year to prohibit law enforcement uniforms as a concession to people who feel they have been harmed by police, following on the heels of other cities that instituted similar policies. Officers and sheriffs deputies who saw the rule as an affront to their work and their contributions to police reform opted to bow out of the event in protest. San Francisco firefighters joined them, as did Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Matt Dorsey. Hamasakis widely viewed tweet put a new spin on the fight, implying that LGBTQ officers insistence on marching in uniform stems from financial motivations and not a sense of dignity tied to their work, which they said was at the root of their resistance. While I appreciate that former Commissioner Hamasaki has a true desire to see policing be more just and more equitable, the former commissioner has missed the mark with his tweet, Officer Kathryn Winters, a trans woman and spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Officers Pride Alliance, told The Chronicle. She said Hamasaki is wrong, as officers who march in Pride generally do so off-duty and do not get paid overtime to march in Pride. Carolyn Wysinger, president of the San Francisco Pride board, said the issue of pay never came up during months of negotiations with the Pride Alliance over whether to allow uniforms. The organization has no knowledge of any department rules requiring officers to be paid once they don a uniform, Wysinger said. In some rare cases, officers who are assigned to work on the day of the parade can march during their shifts if they are granted a series of approvals, with the expectation that they could be radioed to a call at any time. Such cases are the exception, Winters said. Those who are working (that day) will sometimes even use accrued time off during the parade time so that they can march and not worry about getting called away, she said. Most parade participants simply take the day off. Hamasaki told The Chronicle he believed that officers are on duty and expected to work every time they wear their uniforms, an inference he made after several conversations with Police Chief Bill Scott about whether police should anticipate getting paid every time they do public service for the community unrelated to law enforcement such as backpack giveaways or coffee with a cop events. One long-standing issue I have with the department is their unwillingness to give back to the community outside of paid shifts, Hamasaki said, noting that he wants to see officers ingratiate themselves with communities by doing volunteer work and serve the public on their own time. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. While Scott agreed on the importance of community service, Hamasaki recalled, the chief told Hamasaki that when officers are in uniform, they are on duty. Scott was not immediately available for comment. His rationale was ... that if people see police officers in uniform there is an expectation that they are on duty and required to help with every situation that arises, the ex-commissioner said. He thought the same logic applied to the parade: that if officers wore their uniforms, they could expect to be on the clock, and receiving payment, and that many of them who had signed up to work that day could earn overtime. Winters said that hypothesis is incorrect. Officers marching in Pride wear their uniforms, and most if not all are either totally off for the day or have taken the day off, she said. But Hamasaki dug in, acknowledging only that hes happy to hear that some of the participating officers will be doing so off the clock. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Andy Reinhardt / The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Andy Reinhardt / The Chronicle Show More Show Less About 750 residents near San Franciscos Noe Valley neighborhood were without power Thursday morning following an outage that impacted more than 3,000 customers on Wednesday night, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said. The outage was first reported at about 11 p.m. Wednesday and affected 3,272 customers, said PG&E spokesperson Karly Hernandez. Addis Abeba The Motta City Administration of Peace and Security Command Post has revised its earlier statement to include strict measures including a two day ultimatum for "suspects to surrender," changed curfew hours and renewed its ban on group mobility by "any part of the community," in the city. The Command post issued the first curfew on Saturday 21 May, imposing a curfew and restricting movements between 6:00 PM and 6:30 AM local time, among others. The curfew has now been revised between 7:30 PM and 6:30 AM local time. "Security forces will be forced to take action," unless the curfew is not observed, the Command Post said. The Command Post said the security were working to ensure peace in the area, where earlier clashes between federal and regional security forces on the one hand and armed members of the Fano, a group of non-state armed militia in Amhara state, resulted in the death of civilians. Hailu Ayele, a resident of Motta town, told Addis Standard this week that "the conflict began when government security forces attempted to arrest a Fano member [and} the residents came out to the streets in protest. The security forces then started shooting against the crowd." He added, "a lot of people were taken to the hospital. There were people who were killed too." The new statement from the Command post warns individuals who are wanted by law enforcement to surrender at the local police station and said that the security "will not assume any responsibility for any action" to be taken against those who fail to respond to the call as of today. Furthermore, the Command Post warned that any activity or social media campaign that may interfere with the law enforcement operation will be held to account and has renewed ban against carrying weapons and said it's "strictly forbidden to carry a weapon" unless it is issued by security forces. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Ethiopia Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The Command Post also warned that those who knowingly provide hiding places for suspected perpetrators will be held accountable and called on "religious leaders and elders to advise those who are working to aggravate the problem and call on the youth of our city to stand by the security structure," the statement said. In March this year, clashes left unknown numbers of people dead and injured after an attempt by government security forces to arrest the leader of the local Fano. Back then, Motta City Administration released a statement saying four security forces were killed by "unidentified armed forces." It also alleged that the armed groups were operating in the guise of Fano and mobilized from other woredas to launch the attacks on the town. San Francisco saw by far the biggest percentage drop in population among major U.S. cities during the first part of the pandemic, underscoring how the city emptied out during a shift to remote work, according to new census data. The city lost 54,813 people, or 6.3% of its population, from July 2020 to July 2021. One pandemic year erased a decade of tech-fueled population boom: San Franciscos 815,201 residents as of July 2021 was the lowest since 2010, according to census data. New York had the second-highest percentage drop, losing 3.5% of residents or over 305,000 people. The countrys most densely populated county, Manhattan, was the hardest-hit New York borough, losing 6.6% of its population. Other Bay Area cities saw some of the highest percentage of population losses in the country: Daly City dropped 3.2%, and Redwood City was down 3%, while San Mateo, Cupertino and South San Francisco each fell almost 3%. Boston and Washington, D.C., also had population drops of almost 3%, and nine of the 15 most populous U.S. cities saw losses in people. That included San Jose, the Bay Areas largest city, which saw its population fall 2.7%, dropping below 1 million people for the first time since 2013. It remained the countrys 10th most populated city with 983,489 people. Austin, Texas, a popular pandemic destination for both California residents and companies, gained only 1,056 people for a total of 964,177 to remain the 11th largest city, though its suburbs boomed. Experts have said the Bay Areas high housing costs and remote work policies, particularly for the tech industry, fueled outmigration during the pandemic, as residents sought cheaper homes and more space. Almost all California coastal cities lost population, while the more affordable Central Valley and Inland Empire saw gains. Census data released in March showed domestic out-migration was the primary factor in San Franciscos population drop, with 56,000 people moving out. There are signs that fewer San Franciscans are leaving and some are coming back. Postal service change of address requests fell last summer, and apartment rents are rebounding as companies bring people back to the office. State population estimates, which differ in methodology from the Census Bureau, put San Franciscos population at 842,754 people at the beginning of 2022, down 0.8% from the previous year. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The 15 fastest growing U.S. cities were concentrated in the west and south regions, including in Arizona, Texas, Florida and Idaho. Two suburbs north of Austin, Georgetown and Leander, Texas, added a combined 13,352 people, each growing more than 10% during the 12-month period. That was the nations highest two rates for cities with 50,000 or more people. Central Texas housing construction is outpacing Californias biggest region. Travis County, which includes Austin, added 25,693 housing units, more than the 22,925 in Los Angeles County, which has almost eight times as many people, according to census data. Overall, the nations population grew only 0.1% from July 2020 to July 2021, the slowest pace on record, as births fell, deaths rose and international immigration plunged. Californias population fell slightly for the second year in a row in 2021, according to state figures. Roland Li and Susie Neilson are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com, susan.neilson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf, @susieneilson Amy Osborne/Special to The Chronicle The word chief will no longer be used in reference to job titles in the San Francisco Unified School District in an effort, school officials said, to avoid the words connotation with Native Americans. In an administrative decision released on Wednesday, the school district decided to retire the term among its 10,000 employees, said spokesperson Gentle Blythe. San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin has made good on many of the plans he laid out in his campaign for office. He ended cash bail, put fewer people behind bars and helped divert more people into programs aimed at addressing underlying issues such as drug addiction and mental illness. All laudable goals if done well. All promises seemingly fulfilled. But Boudin also pledged to improve the experience of crime victims as their cases wind through court. In a recent visit with The Chronicles editorial board, Boudin said his proudest accomplishment since taking office in January 2020 was his work to expand victim services. In a news release sent during National Crime Victims Rights Week last month, Boudin said that supporting victims and survivors is my top priority. As Boudin faces a June 7 recall, its important for voters to understand what he promised and whether his office is delivering. And four former staffers and one current staffer in his Victim Services Division told me that victims are regularly not updated on progress in their cases, meaning their voices remain unheard as prosecutors work quickly to resolve them. The complaints coming from inside Boudins office are proof that while the recall may turn on political disagreements over how to prosecute crime, that tension isnt the whole story. There are deeper concerns about the district attorneys management style and the performance of his office concerns that former prosecutors also have raised. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle To understand the conflicts playing out in the Victim Services Division, it helps to know about how California law spells out victims rights. Changes to state law approved by voters in 2008 were meant to address concerns that crime victims werent being heard. While parts of what is known as Marsys Law are controversial and opposed by groups including the ACLU for potentially restricting defendants rights, the sections about keeping victims notified about their cases and giving them the right to speak in court are widely embraced. While victims dont and shouldnt have the right to dictate the outcome of cases, they do have the right to air their wishes, including in court. But the advocates said thats frequently not happening. Jessica Zuasola, who worked in the Victim Services Division for five years before resigning in October 2021 because she felt victims werent prioritized, said that under Boudins predecessor, George Gascon, prosecutors kept victim advocates and crime victims in the loop. Under the previous D.A., it was more of a standard protocol, she said. Victims thoughts and what they would want to see as an outcome were taken into account. In the transition to Chesa, it became less and less about keeping the victims involved, she said. They were hardly getting calls. Their Marsys rights were constantly being violated. Edgar Zamudio, who worked in the division for two years before also quitting in October 2021 for the same reason, agreed, saying, The office is not as victim-centered as it was before. It would be valuable to hear Boudins answers to his employees complaints, but his spokesperson said his schedule was too full to do an interview. Kasie Lee, a former public defender Boudin assigned last year to lead the Victim Services Division, stood up for her boss, saying he values victims rights. Theres genuine concern, she said. I know he cares. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Lee acknowledged the office hasnt fully complied with Marsys Law because the pace of cases can be so fast, and she said many district attorneys offices struggle to live up to the letter of the law. But she said shes working to improve that and published a new handbook in December explaining the law and whats required by prosecutors and victim advocates to fulfill their obligations. Ive been trying to get people to understand Marsys Law, she said, adding victim advocates often have to chase down prosecutors to get the information they need for victims. We all have to change our practices. The Victim Services Division is composed of people akin to social workers who seek to connect victims or victims family members to services like therapy and financial help, such as paying for funerals. Its made up of 42 people, and 20 have left since the beginning of Boudins tenure compared with seven people who left in the same time period at the start of Gascons tenure. The units widely acclaimed, longtime leader, Gena Castro Rodriguez, quit a year ago, though she never publicly explained why. Advocates said low morale because of victims not being prioritized has contributed to the turnover. A handful of advocates hired by Boudin to fill vacancies have stayed as little as a few weeks to a few months before quitting themselves. Rachel Marshall, a spokesperson for Boudin, noted that people are resigning in big numbers from all sorts of professions now because of the pandemic. She pointed to other improvements Boudin has made to the Victim Services Division, including hiring a more diverse team with the ability to speak several languages, adding property-crime victim advocates and seeking more grants to support financial restitution. On Wednesday, the office announced a new unit in the Victim Services Division specifically for Asian American and Pacific Islander crime victims and said it would work to expand trauma services for them. The advocates who talked to me said the changes in the office happened largely because Boudin hired many public defenders to replace the legions of prosecutors who quit or were fired during his tenure, and theyre overworked and not familiar with centering victims. The advocates said the attorneys often failed to keep them apprised of progress in their cases and gave them too little information to effectively do their jobs. For example, it was common practice under Gascon for attorneys to explain to victims the legal basis for a certain case outcome, but now some attorneys refuse to speak to victims, and the advocates dont have the legal training to explain, they said. The advocate still working in the division who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of being fired said that calling a victim to tell them a case is over even though they didnt get a chance to weigh in can be heartbreaking, especially if the victim doesnt agree with the outcome. Its a mix of anger, a lot of yelling, a lot of tears, the advocate said. Boudin supporter Bill Hing, a law professor at the University of San Francisco, said theres broad agreement that victims should be notified about their cases and allowed to speak in court. But he added it can be hard to fully comply if prosecutors offices are underfunded or short-staffed. That should be the aspiration, he said. He added that he has a friend who was held up at gunpoint who was constantly notified about his case by Boudins office and had no complaints about his treatment. San Mateo District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe agreed it can be hard to comply with Marsys Law on every case, but said his office ensures the rules are followed in all felony cases and in all misdemeanor cases involving violence. Wagstaffe said hes adamant that victims voices be heard before any decision is made even if the outcome will differ from their wishes. Always, always, always, he said. This really matters to me, and my lawyers know it. Some victims have spoken out about their frustration with the San Francisco District Attorneys Office. Jack Liao, whose elderly grandfather was brutally jump-kicked and toppled from his walker in February 2020, has said Boudins office kept the family in the dark and misrepresented its wishes in court when seeking to divert the case and assign the defendant to mental health treatment. Boudins office blamed the confusion on a lack of Chinese-speaking victim advocates and has since added more. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Blaise Zerega, the father of a girl who was followed and grabbed by a stranger, previously told me the District Attorneys Office kept him up-to-date on the case at first, but then stopped. He didnt know about the hearing in which a judge dismissed the entire case until it was over. Robyn Burke, another spokesperson for Boudin, said the office called the family immediately after court to let them know the case was dismissed but to Zerega, that was much too late. Perhaps no victim is as frustrated as Jason Young, the father of 6-year-old Jace Young, who was gunned down as he watched fireworks in the Bayview on the Fourth of July in 2020. Young, whod been in and out of prison himself for robbery, had voted for Boudin in November 2019 because he appreciated his focus on jailing fewer people. But Young said his experience dealing with Boudins office as the father of a victim of gun violence has been so disappointing that hes now volunteering with the campaign to recall the district attorney. Partly because of high turnover, Young said hes worked with four different advocates, meaning hes had to repeat his traumatic story over and over, though he appreciated when Lee took on the case herself. Young said it took six weeks to get an assessment for free therapy and the wait for an appointment was so long, he paid for counseling himself. Marshall agreed there are far too few mental health services for crime victims and said Boudin advocates every year for more victim services funding. To be sure, Youngs primary gripe is the fact that Boudin did not prosecute one of the alleged assailants in his sons killing in adult court, which could have yielded a longer sentence. The defendant was 17 at the time of the slaying, and Boudin stood by a campaign promise to not prosecute people younger than 18 as adults. Good people can disagree on whether 17-year-olds should ever be charged as adults in murder cases, but Young said all he wanted was Boudin to hear him out. Thats a big-boy crime, he said. After Young and family members collected 3,000 signatures from people who agreed the alleged assailant should be charged as an adult, Mayor London Breed brokered a meeting with the family and Boudin. Young said Boudin didnt look at the petition and kept saying, Nothing I do can bring back your son, and that crime in the city was down. Lakesha Kyle, Jaces mother, said Boudin didnt maintain eye contact with the family, kept twirling his pen and clearly didnt want to be there. She grew so upset, she said, that she left the meeting in tears. Boudin said nothing as she walked out, Young said, and quickly left. It didnt look like he was paying attention to anything we were saying, Kyle said. His mind was already made up. Marshall didnt respond specifically to a question about Boudins conduct in the meeting. In December, Boudins office won guilty verdicts on murder and weapons charges for the young man. The feeling that victims like Young werent prioritized by Boudin spurred Zuasola and Zamudio to quit soon after Boudin fired another advocate, Giles Feinberg, apparently for speaking out in court against a plea deal viewed by many as overly lenient for a hit-and-run driver who killed a bicyclist. Zamudio, an immigrant from Mexico, said he grew tired of seeing victims, many of them low-income, Spanish-speaking immigrants, not included in case settlements or not informed their alleged perpetrators had been quickly released upon arrest often because he hadnt been told himself. He and Zuasola both support the recall of their former boss. Whatever happens June 7, its clear the district attorney Boudin or somebody else must find a way to seek fair outcomes for people suspected of committing crimes and those who are victims of them. Victims should be the main concern, Zuasola said. And at this point, they arent. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf A San Francisco police officer wears the SFPDs rainbow-patterned Pride patch at a Pride Month event in June 2019. As the Pride Parade returns June 26 for the first time since the pandemic, officers who identify as LGBTQ announced they will not march in the parade if they cannot march in their uniforms. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner) Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, showed that they are in-charge in their various as they or their candidates won the governorship tickets of the party. A host of those who fought for the tickets with the governors withdrew before the contests or lost out eventually. Notable politicians who pulled out of the race before the primaries include former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu); Senate Minority Whip, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia); Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi (Delta) and Deputy Governor Ude Oko Chukwu (Abia) among others. The only PDP governor in the South-West, Engineer Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, secured his re-election ticket in style, polling 1,040 votes to beat his challenger, Mr Hazeem Gbolarunmi, who had two votes. Governor Ahmadu Fintiri also emerged as the PDP Candidate for the 2023 election in Adamawa State. At the primaries conducted in Yola Wednesday, Fintiri scored 668 votes out of the 668 accredited votes. In Delta, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa beat former Governor James Ibori in the battle for the soul of the PDP. Okowa's preferred candidate, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, won the PDP primaries beating Ibori's choice, David Edevbie and other contenders. In the sorting and counting which weres done in the full glare of cameras, Journalists, security agents and officials of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, Oborevwori scored 597 votes to beat all his opponents. In Enugu, Mr Peter Mbah, who is supported by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, won the governorship ticket. Ugwuanyi and Nnamani, on Tuesday won senatorial tickets of the PDP. In Akwa Ibom, Governor Udom Emmanuel's preferred successor, the immediate past Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Umo Eno, emerged tops. In like manner, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu's candidate, Professor Uche Ikonne, the immediate-past Vice Chancellor of the Abia State University, won the governorship ticket in Abia State. In Bauchi, Immediate past Secretary to Bauchi State Government, SSG, Mr. Ibrahim Kashim Mohammed, won the ticket. He is in the good books of first term serving Governor Bala Mohammed, who is running for the PDP presidential ticket. Pundits said that Ibrahim would step down for Governor Bala Mohammed if the presidential quest fails. How Mbah won in Enugu Mbah polled a total of 790 votes to defeat Chijioke Edeoga who got nine votes. Chukwunta Gilbert got one vote while Chinyeaka Oha got three votes. Mbah had served in the State as Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Finance during the tenure of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani. Earlier, no fewer than eight aspirants stepped down. They include; Kingsley Udeh, Erasmus Anike, Nwabueze Ugwu, Ralph Nwoye, Prof. Jehu Nnaji, as well as Beloved-Dan Anike, Dr. Gabriel Ajah, and Abraham Nneji Chukwudi. They cited the supremacy of the party's decision. Senator Ike Ekweremadu had withdrawn from the contest in protest. Makinde emerges Oyo PDP candidate **I accept him as my leader, Gbolarumi declares Governor 'Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, yesterday, won the PDP governorship primary held at Lekan Salami Stadium, after polling 1,048 votes, to defeat his challenger, Mr Hazeem Gbolarunmi, who had two votes. The returning officer, Ben Obi, who was represented by Abdullahi MaiBasia, made the declaration. There were six void votes out of the total votes cast In his acceptance speech, Governor Makinde expressed gratitude to party leaders, members and delegates across the 33 local government areas for believing in him and the leaders of the party in the state. He vowed to keep all the promises he had made to the party and the people of the state. Addressing the delegates, Mr. Hazeem Gbolarumi, who stepped down for Governor Makinde, said his stepping down was necessitated by his observation that politics is a game of numbers and Makinde has the numbers to win both the primary and general election. "We are in the same party but I don't want us to be divided. What we are doing is just formality. There is no reason for us to sit here and be contesting for the same post. We already have a leader in the state. No matter how small he is, he is our leader in the state. I pray that this party won't be divided." Meanwhile, there was a mild drama at the venue, as policemen stationed at the entrance of the stadium prevented journalists from covering the event. A bid to have access at all cost to cover the governorship primaries led to the beating and harassment by policemen of Mr. Yinka Adeniran the Governor's Office reporter of The Nation Newspapers, who is also the chairman, press corps. The policemen had fired teargas at journalists which caused pandemonium. The reporter was doing his job when the police suddenly descended on him, upon showing his identity card to them. "I was first attacked by some overzealous policemen, two of them were holding riffles threatening to shoot me and I ran as they pursued me," Adeniran said. Udom's preferred choice wins in A-Ibom Pastor Umo Eno also win the Akwa Ibom PDP ticket polling 993 out of 1006 valid votes cast. Other aspirants, Mr. Etim Aniekan Akan scored two votes, Michael Enyong got one vote. Others include Bassey Albert (one vote), Mr Akan Okon (three votes), Onofiok Luke (three votes), Imoh Idorenyin James (two votes), and Ide Owodiong (one vote). Two votes were voided. The voting for the governorship primary which started by 12:07pm with delegates from Abak local government area, was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. No fewer than 1,018 Ad-hoc delegates were accredited to vote during the exercise held at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo. The voting which ended by 1:47pm was followed immediately by the sorting of the ballot papers, while counting of the ballot ended by 3:58pm. Of the 14 aspirants that were cleared for the governorship race, seven participated in the exercise including Mr Akan Okon. The Chairman of Akwa Ibom Governorship Primary Committee and Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu, while declaring the results congratulated the aspirants and delegates for their peaceful and orderly conduct throughout the exercise. In his acceptance speech, an elated Pastor Umo Eno expressed gratitude to God and commended Governor Udom Emmanuel and the delegates for the confidence reposed in him to fly the party's flag. "I assure you all that you have made the right choice and I will not sacrifice the confidence that you have reposed in me. This moment is an ultimate vindication of those who trust in the Lord," he said. In his remarks Governor Udom Emmanuel described Umo Eno as a man of peace, stressing, 'This is a man that God has qualified for this time, we should join hands with him to grow Akwa Ibom. I came to say congratulations to him Let us all work for the success of our great party. One person must become the governor and all of us must make the government." Our History The San Francisco Examiner was founded in 1863 as the Democratic Press, a pro-Confederacy paper. After Lincolns assassination, the paper's offices were destroyed by a mob, and starting June 12, 1865, the paper was called the Daily Examiner. In 1880, mining engineer and businessman George Hearst took over The Examiner, reportedly as payment for a gambling debt. When he became a U.S. senator seven years later, he gave the paper to his son, William Randolph Hearst, who was 23 years old. The paper's popularity increased considerably, with the help of such writers as Ambrose Bierce, Mark Twain and Jack London. Hearst also pushed sensational coverage and foreign news and gave The Examiner its Monarch of the Dailies moniker. Through the middle of the 20th century, The Examiner was one of several dailies competing for readership in The City and the Bay Area. In 1965, The Examiner and the Chronicle established a joint operating agreement in which the Chronicle published a morning paper and The Examiner published in the afternoon. As part of a deal to purchase the Chronicle in 2000, the Hearst Corp. sold The Examiner to the Fang family. In 2004, the Fangs sold The Examiner and its printing plant to the Clarity Media Group. Clarity sold The Examiner to Black Press Group in 2011. In January 2021, Clint Reilly Communications, which owns the Nob Hill Gazette, announced its purchase of The Examiner. The Examiner has one numerous awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes. An electron microscopy image of mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of Throughout the pandemic, libraries across San Francisco became places where students could conduct distance learning. (Ellie Doyen/Special to The Examiner) Lincoln Mitchell has written numerous books and articles about The City and the Giants. Visit lincolnmitchell.com or follow him on Twitter @LincolnMitchell The San Francisco tech startup that helped popularize a push for a four-day workweek in Silicon Valley, is now laying workers off. As first reported by the New York Times, Bolt, the payment services startup with offices near San Franciscos Union Square, laid off around 250 of its around 900 employees Wednesday in a move to secure our financial position, extend our runway, and reach profitability with the money we have already raised amid industrywide financial challenges, according to a letter to staff. A Bolt spokesperson confirmed to SFGATE Thursday that "approximately a third of the company" was laid off. Its no secret that the market conditions across our industry and the tech sector are changing, and against the macro challenges, weve been taking measures to adapt our business, recently appointed CEO Maju Kuruvilla said in the letter, which was made public Wednesday. One laid-off employee, posting on the anonymous forum Blind, said that they received the news after getting a pay-raise just a couple of weeks ago. The company, already dealing with a rocky 2022, now has to contend with the realities of a challenging period for fledgling tech startups. Shortly after the wave of good press Bolt received in January for implementing a permanent four-day workweek (and, more crucially, its titanic $11 billion valuation), the company suffered a torrent of bad news. Founder and former CEO Ryan Breslow posted a fiery Twitter thread accusing notable startup accelerator Y Combinator of Mob Sh*t and being corrupted by money, power, and greed. (Breslow stepped down as CEO for the company just days later.) In April, Authentic Brands a fashion retail conglomerate that owns Forever 21 and Reebok and one of Bolts most high-level clients sued the company for its failure to deliver on its promises for a checkout system for the brands in a timely manner. The New York Times also ran an expose earlier in May alleging that the company stretched the truth about its services to investors and prospective merchants. Theres no good way to share news of a restructure but its in our culture to be committed to candor and care, today and always, Kuruvilla ended the letter. I cant thank you enough for all of your past, present, and future dedication to make Bolt what it is. We have an incredible team, great product, and the market needs us more than ever before. But today, my focus is on our people. Please be mindful and caring for your colleagues and yourself. It is unclear what severance benefits employees who were laid off will receive. AMERICAN FORK, Utah (AP) _ Domo, Inc. (DOMO) on Thursday reported a loss of $32.9 million in its fiscal first quarter. On a per-share basis, the American Fork, Utah-based company said it had a loss of 99 cents. Losses, adjusted for stock option expense and amortization costs, came to 23 cents per share. JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday proposed restrictions that would block plans for a copper and gold mine in Alaska's Bristol Bay region, the latest in a long-running dispute over efforts by developers to advance the mine in a region known for its salmon runs. Critics of the Pebble Mine project called the move an important step in a years-long fight to stop the mine. But John Shively, the CEO of the Pebble Limited Partnership, which is pursuing the mine, called EPA's proposal a political maneuver and a preemptive effort to veto the project. The EPA in a statement said the proposal would bar discharges of dredged or fill material into the waters of the U.S. within the mine site footprint proposed by the Pebble partnership. The federal agency said it took into account information that has become available since it previously proposed restricting development in 2014, including new scientific analyses and a mine plan from the Pebble partnership that was submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of a permit application. The Pebble partnership, owned by Canada-based Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd., is appealing a 2020 corps decision that denied approval of a key permit for the project in southwest Alaska. Leaders of the Pebble partnership had seen as favorable to the project an environmental review from the corps that was released several months before the rejection decision. The corps' Pacific Ocean Division is handling the appeal. A division spokesperson, Luciano Vera, earlier this month said the corps did not have a timeline for releasing a decision but was committed to working as efficiently as possible to reach an objective and fair decision on the merits of this appeal. Casey Sixkiller, the EPA's administrator for the region, said Bristol Bay supports one of the worlds most important salmon fisheries. The EPA has said the Bristol Bay region supports the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world and that it also contains significant mineral resources. Clearly, Bristol Bay and the thousands of people who rely on it deserve the highest level of protection, Sixkiller said in a statement. The fight over the project has spanned several presidential administrations. The EPA during the Obama administration proposed restrictions on large-scale mining in the region but they were never finalized. The Pebble partnership called those proposed restrictions unfair, saying they were based on hypothetical mine plans and that the project should have a chance to go through the permitting process. There was litigation, and the parties in 2017 during the Trump administration reached a settlement in which the EPA agreed to initiate a process to suggest withdrawing the proposed restrictions. The agreement gave the Pebble partnership time to file a permit application with the corps, which it did. In 2019, the EPA withdrew the proposed restrictions, removing what it called an outdated, preemptive proposed veto of the Pebble Mine. That move was challenged in court. The EPA last year asked a judge to vacate the withdrawal decision and send the matter back to the agency for further consideration. The request was granted. The EPA said it will accept public comments on its latest proposal through July 5 and plans to hold public hearings. Shively, the Pebble partnership CEO, said the Pebble project "remains an important domestic source for the minerals necessary for the Biden Administration to reach its green energy goals and if it blocks Pebble it will have to seek minerals to meet its goals from foreign sources, which simply do not have the same environmental standards as we do. Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, in a statement, said he encouraged Alaskans "to support a full permitting process, responsible resource development and good jobs for our state by commenting against the EPA proposal. Critics of the proposed Pebble Mine have been pressing the EPA to provide protections for the Bristol Bay region. President Joe Biden as a candidate in 2020 said if elected he would protect Bristol Bay. As stewards of these lands and waters since time immemorial, our people welcome this step towards permanent protections for our waters and way of life, said Alannah Hurley, executive director for the United Tribes of Bristol Bay, a tribal consortium that has fought the Pebble project. Todays announcement by the EPA is a good start in this effort. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington state Democrat, in a statement commended the EPA for advancing permanent Clean Water Act protections for Bristol Bay. She said she urged the agency to move swiftly to finalize the actions. Las Vegas may definitely be the number one place where gamblers go to get lucky and win big. But for the employees of Sin Citys famed Cosmopolitan, it didnt take a trip to the slot machines to win some surprise cash after the hotel awarded its over 5,000 employees with $5,000 bonuses on a whim on Wednesday. Everyone from cooks to casino attendees to front desk receptionists received the word that they would be getting the unexpected token of appreciation during an employee appreciation and awards buffet. Resort President and CEO Bill McBeath reportedly made the announcement on stage to the cheering crowd, followed by confetti being shot into the crowd via cannons. A Vegas-style celebration indeed! Related: Couple Flying to Vegas Shocked to Find Their Chihuahua Hiding Inside Suitcase at Luggage Counter Over half of the Cosmopolitan employees were estimated to have been in attendance. WWNYTV also reported that employee Staci Stafford (housekeeping worker trainer) and Samira Herbal (a server) were gifted vacations to San Diego and Hawaii, respectively, as part of the celebration. "It's you, every single day, that makes a difference," Daniel Espino, Cosmopolitan chief people officer, told employees. "Whether you clean the rooms, cook the food, are dealing cards, serving drinks, at the front desk." The Cosmo, which was purchased for $1.7 billion by private equity firm Blackstone in 2014, is currently in the middle of a soon-to-be finalized sale to Vegas-beloved MGM Resorts International and several real estate firms. We are incredibly proud of what we accomplished at The Cosmopolitan under our ownership to create the most dynamic destination on the Las Vegas Strip, wrote head of strategic investments for Blackstone Real Estate, Tyler Henrtize in an email. We know that none of that would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the resorts amazing employees, and we are thrilled to recognize those contributions. The gifted bonuses totaled an estimated $27 million. The Cosmo went up for sale in September of last year for $5.65 billion after the pandemic ravished through the nightlife-reliant city, though Blackstone was still able to list the property for just shy of $4 billion more than it had purchased it for, partially thanks to the firms $500 million worth of renovations on the property over the years. Blackstone Inc. was up over 17.5% year over year as of late Thursday afternoon. Copyright 2022 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Kampala, Uganda Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Douglas Karekona Singiza and 15 other judicial officers have been appointed High Court judges by President Museveni. They have been appointed in acting capacity for two years. This is the larges ever appointment of judges of the High Court at that level by the president. Of the 16 appointed, seven are male and nine female. Singiza came into the limelight recently while handling novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija's offensive communication court case. Kakwenza fled to Europe after he was granted bail. According to the Judicial Service Commission, the appointments will enhance the capacity of the High Court to expeditiously dispose of cases and tackle back log. FULL LIST NEW YORK (AP) Shoppers' return to occasion dressing helped to power Macy's fiscal first-quarter results, and the department store chain raised its annual earnings outlook even as surging inflation is crimping Americans' budgets. The results announced Thursday were among the few bright spots in a pile of reports from retailers that showed the impact of rising costs for everything from labor to shipping. Macy's, along with others, is also adjusting to quickly changing shopping behavior as consumers go back to the office and resume normal lives. Some shoppers, grappling with rising costs on necessities, are also scrutinizing their purchases Those factors flummoxed a number of retailers. Gap reported weak first-quarter results after the stock market closed Thursday, and slashed its outlook amid surging costs and weakening demand at its Old Navy and Gap businesses. Mall-based teen clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch posted a first-quarter loss and cut its outlook on Tuesday. Department store chain Kohls cut its annual earnings and sales forecast last week. Target reported last week that its profit tumbled 52% from last year. The chain said a lightening-quick return by consumers to more normalized spending left it with bloated inventory of items, including TV sets that must be marked down to sell. Targets quarterly financial report comes a day after shares of rival Walmart tumbled about 17% for similar reasons after its earnings report. Both companies missed profit expectations by a wide margin. Macy's said its shoppers in all income tiers, including those with household incomes under $75,000, increased their spending, though inflation is putting more financial pressure on lower-income customers. In an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette said that the chain is noticing that consumers are still buying prestige fragrances as gifts for holidays like Mother's Day. But for clothing purchases for themselves, low-income shoppers are trading down to its off-price business, Backstage. Macy's also noted that, while credit card revenues exceeded its expectations for the quarter, it continues to expect inflation to outpace wage growth and weigh on consumer health and that will lead to higher bad debt. That's a reversal from the last year when consumers were flush with cash. Gennette said higher-income shoppers continue to spend at a healthy pace, but the company's upscale Bloomingdale's chain is monitoring indicators such as interest rates and stock market volatility. Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, said Macy's portfolio of businesses from Bloomingdale's to Backstage and wide range of prices will be a significant advantage over the next year or so as consumer behavior polarizes. He noted that with good planning, Macys can flex to take advantage of differences in the trading across various shopper groups and categories. That advantage, he believes, is why Macys outlook has not deteriorated as much as those of other retailers. Overall, Gennette said Macy's saw a faster-than-expected shift away from items that were in hot demand during the pandemic like home accessories, activewear, casual clothing, and more toward dress up clothes, Macy's sweet spot. That shift contributed to an increase in foot traffic at Macy's stores as consumers are more likely to shop in person for occasion-based clothing. But it also meant that Macy's was caught with too many items that are seeing demand wane and must be marked down. Macy's said that it earned $286 million, or 98 cents per share, for the three-month period ended April 30. That compares with $103 million, or 32 cents per share, for the year-ago period. Adjusted earnings per share were $1.08, above estimates for 82 cents per share, according to FactSet. Sales rose 13.5% to $5.35 billion from $4.71 billion. Analysts were expecting $5.33 billion for the quarter. Sales at stores opened at least a year rose 12.4% for the quarter. The figure includes business from licensed owned businesses like cosmetics. Online sales rose 2% as more shoppers returned to stores. The company said it expects earnings per share for the year in the range of $4.53 to $4.95. That's up from the previous forecast of $4.13 per share to $4.52 per share. Analysts were expecting $4.33 per share for the year. Macys reiterated its sales outlook for the year of flat to an increase of 1%, compared with last year. The company's shares rose $3.71, or more than 19%, to close at $22.92 on Thursday. ______ Follow Anne DInnocenzio: http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio Wilfredo Lee/AP NEW YORK (AP) Airline stocks rallied Thursday after Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways said revenue from summer travel will be stronger than previously expected as travel bounces back after two years of the pandemic. The comments, which the airlines made in regulatory filings, point to their ability to charge higher fares and still fill their planes because of strong demand from travelers. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A civil rights advocate says he and two Dollar General store workers were denied access to the company's shareholder meeting Wednesday in Tennessee where they had been outside protesting for better pay and workplace safety improvements. The Rev. William Barber II told The Associated Press he and the two workers sought to enter the meeting inside Goodlettsville City Hall with their proxy paperwork, but were told they could not go in after the meeting's start time. Video posted to social media shows Barber approach the meeting room's door, saying multiple times that We are shareholders, to which a person staffing the meeting said, I hear you. We just closed the check-in. Barber also repeatedly knocked on the room's door and said, We don't want to disrupt. We didn't come here for violence. We're shareholders. Barber said he was attending as a proxy representative for the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, which he said means the group owned at least $2,000 in stocks in the company for at least three years. The two workers were acting as proxies for others, Barber added. He later said the people staffing the sign-in area saw them through the doors as they were about to enter and quickly began to pack up. In a statement, Tennessee-based Dollar General said the meeting began promptly at its start time. We are unaware of any individual, including Reverend Barber, who sought access to the meeting at or before that time and was denied access, the company said, in effect stating Barber and the two others showed up late. Barber noted the meeting was in a public building, and said he saw nothing that specified ahead of time or while he was there that he wouldn't be allowed in after the meeting's start time. Barber is the national co-chairman of the Poor Peoples Campaign, a national demonstration against poverty Martin Luther King Jr. was planning, as revived by activists with the goal of ending systemic racism. The groups that protested with Dollar General workers outside the building included Step Up Louisiana, United for Respect, Fight for $15 and a Union, #Putinaticket and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. The groups have called workplace conditions at the stores shameful, pointing to federal workplace safety citations, and decried pay there as poverty wages. Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego pulled absolutely no punches in his response to the tragic mass shooting that happened at an Uvalde, Texas elementary school Tuesday afternoon, answering his colleagues' tweets of "thoughts and prayers" with aggressive and explicit language, even going so far as to call Texas Sen. Ted Cruz a "f--king baby killer." Shortly after news broke of the shooting at Robb Elementary School, which has so far claimed the lives of 21 people, including 19 children, Gallego started his tweet storm with a simple message to the National Rifle Association: "F--k you @NRA." The organization is holding its annual conference this weekend in Houston, where speakers will include former President Donald Trump, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and Cruz, who caught the brunt of Gallego's ire. CANNES, France (AP) Just days removed from finishing her latest film and hours after arriving in Cannes, Claire Denis sat down in a poolside hotel restaurant and warmly pronounced herself a mess. Denis latest, the Denis Johnson adaptation Stars at Noon, has been percolating in her for more than a decade. She was compelled to make it after the authors death in 2017. But there have been hurdles along the way. The pandemic, for one. (Masks appear in the film.) Robert Pattison, star of Denis' 2019 sci-fi film High Life," had to drop out over scheduling conflicts. After another actor departed at the last minute, Denis cast co-star Joe Alwyn from Panama by Zoom days before shooting began. A week before Cannes, a problem with the film's mix meant having to frantically redo it before the film's premiere Wednesday. But Denis, the 76-year-old French filmmaking legend of Beau Travail," White Material and 35 Shots of Rum, felt strongly about making Stars at Noon." It stars Margaret Qualley as a motel-dwelling American journalist named Trish in a present-day Nicaragua overrun by rebels and oilmen. (The book takes place in the 80s). When Trish propositions a British businessman (Alwyn) at a hotel bar, she finds both trouble and love. The film drew a mixed reception from critics at Cannes, but it's a characteristically Denis film, languid and seductive, enlivened by a freewheeling, charismatic performance by Qualley. Denis, who grew up in colonial West Africa and briefly considered resetting Stars at Noon there, crafts a politically-tinged thriller and an oblique love story about the perilous, transactional nature of intimacy. I think for Denis, love is the main problem of his life," Denis says, sipping an espresso. Much more than money. Asked if its the same for her, Denis smiles. Obviously, yeah. Its probably not a good choice, Denis replies. If youre made for falling in love, what else can you do? ___ AP: This is your first time in Cannes competition lineup since your feature film debut Chocolat in 1988, which seems unbelievable. How do you feel about it? DENIS: It's not a problem for me. I was not aware it was so important. To be in competition, it's not fun. I'm happy to have been more to the side. Sometimes I read things like, Shes a renegade. I'm not a renegade. I'm a normal person. The selection people probably don't like my films and it's their right. It's such a difficult thing to be able to do a film. Some people like it or not. That's the story of cinema, no? I'm a strange figure for people from a distance, probably. AP: Do you think there's a false perception of you? DENIS: I try to be honest with my work, of course. I never try to do an arty movie. I always try to do my best with my feelings. Like this film, it's so moving to do a film. The best for me is to be in the mood for love, with the actors, with scriptwriting. AP: How did you get to know Denis Johnson? DENIS: I heard about Denis Johnson sort of late. I read Jesus' Son. After a while I found Stars at Noon. It was as if I understood everything completely. So I wrote to Denis Johnson, I met with him. I was so terribly sad when he died. I said, Man, I have to try. I had been a little bit afraid. Then he died and I thought: I have to do it. At least try. AP: Why did you respond to the book so much? DENIS: These two characters are absolutely not made to meet. They should not, and yet they do. Little by little they fall in love but each with a different aim. He's lying to her. She's not lying to him but he doesn't know how much she's been through. She cheats on him in a way I understand, in a way I could do. I thought: This is like a tragedy in the modern world, not in Greece. Their destinies are so imposed. I thought Denis was maybe both characters. He was her when he was trying to be a journalist, and he was maybe a little bit of the Englishman with his secret. AP: Did you always want to set it in present day? DENIS: Yeah, when I was in Nicaragua and I saw what was happening, the way it is today. To pretend this is 1984 with American tanks, I thought was too late. It would have been too sad to make a film outside Nicaragua, because no insurance wanted us to shoot in Nicaragua, speaking about a glorious revolution. I thought it was unfair to the Sandinistas. AP: I imagine you're also not especially interested in a lot of set dressing and would rather focus on working closely with the actors. DENIS: Yeah. Reading the novel, the two characters' relationship is much more important than the revolution. The revolution is like background noise. AP: Qualley is a revelation in the film. How did you come to see her in the role? DENIS: I was in Cannes watching (Quentin) Tarantino's movie ("One Upon a Time in Hollywood"). I already had the project. I came out of the Palais and I thought: It's her, only her. She waited for almost three years because the pandemic came and Robert was supposed to be in it but he was Batman and did Tenet. She believed in the project and trusted me. I never thought I would be disappointed by her. She's so luminous. She's not interested in being a beautiful young woman only. She has a spirit, a flame. ___ Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP ___ For more Cannes Film Festival coverage, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/cannes-film-festival. Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP WASHINGTON (AP) BTS, the Grammy-nominated South Korean boy band, will join President Joe Biden next week to talk about Asian inclusion and representation and to address hate crimes and discrimination against Asians, the White House announced Thursday. The musical group's White House visit next Tuesday follows Biden's trip last week to South Korea, a U.S. ally. FAIRFIELD Fairfield officials expressed profound grief at the recent tragedy in Texas the second worst school shooting in American history behind only the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012. Our hearts break watching the news tonight of another mass shooting, this one at a elementary school, First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said in a Facebook post. I cant pretend to understand what brings a human being to the point of walking into a school, a grocery store, a church, a theater or anywhere and open fire on innocent people. I also dont understand why a teenage boy was stabbed and lost his life at a party this month, she said, speaking about the death of Fairfield Prep student James McGrath. On Tuesday afternoon, Salvador Ramos, 18, killed 19 students and two teachers with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. In a message to Fairfield Public Schools, police Capt. Edward Weihe said the Fairfield Police Department would be increasing police presence at all schools in town on Wednesday. This is not the result of any threats to our town or our schools, he said. This is simply a community engagement measure in response the tragedy occurring yesterday at Robb Elementary School, Texas. Weihe said people can expect to see police cars driving through parking lots and around the streets surrounding properties at various times throughout the day. As always, be vigilant in observing and reporting anything suspicious on or near school properties, he said. The non-emergency reporting number is 203-254-4800. When in doubt, call 9-1-1. In response to the shooting, an interfaith gathering offering support, counsel, faith and community connection will be held at the Sherman Green on Saturday from noon to 2:30 p.m. Kupchick, who was a member of the Connecticut General Assembly in 2012 when the shooting in Sandy Hook took place, said that shooting had a tremendous impact on the families of victims and the state and was a period of time she will never forget. At that time I joined every resident in Connecticut in feeling the gut wrenching pain of this unimaginable tragedy, she said. I soon realized I would be called upon with my legislative colleagues to answer our states residents cries to do something. Kupchick said the legislature spent the entire session working on bills that were introduced in nearly every committee. There were hundreds of hours of public hearings, hundreds more spent discussing legislative proposals and a lot of time listening, talking and emailing with the residents of Fairfield, she said. What still stands out the most to me was meeting the families who lost a child or family member in the school that day. Watching their faces and broken souls as they sat in the well in the House Chamber was heartbreaking. That year, Kupchick said, legislators from both sides of the aisle worked together on gun violence, school safety and mental health legislation that was passed into law in Connecticut. I dont have all the answers, Im not sure any of us do, she said. As citizens, I believe we need to start having real conversations without anger or judgment about the increase of violence in our country and how we can be part of solving it, together. On its Facebook page, the Fairfield Police Department said it offers its sincere condolences to those who were harmed by the tragic events at Robb Elementary School. Our deepest sympathies are extended to the family members and friends who have lost a loved one, along with the entire community affected by this tragedy, it said. We recognize that following tragic incidents such as these, no matter the distance between us, communities across the country are left feeling unsettled. Fairfield is certainly no exception and we take seriously our responsibility to ensure our residents, employees and visitors are all able to feel safe within our community and within our schools. Bob Smoler, the president of the Fairfield Education Association, said teachers are devastated by the news of the shooting. Its mostly all weve been talking about today, he said. Its very sad. Its obviously concerning. We had Newtown close by to us, so were not strangers to the situation. We are sad and devastated for the families, and frustrated that its still going on. Smoler called the shooting a needless slaughter with needless deaths, adding Fairfields schools practice drills for this possibility. The kids are all aware that this is a possibility, which is a scary thing, he said. I dont think children this age should have to worry about these things but they do. Teachers also worry about these things, but we still have to soldier on and do the work of the school district. Smoler said the possibility of a gunman coming into school and killing people is a lived fear for teachers similar to other lived fears like a cancer diagnosis. He said it gives them one more hesitancy about working in a school. But to be quite honest, as we saw in Buffalo, shootings are happening in places other than schools, he said. I think the country as a whole, and teachers in particular, are fearful but also its sort of been integrated into our psyche a little bit. That means taking all the precautions possible and hoping it never happens in Fairfield, Smoler said, adding it is a fear that people can only do so much to account for. He said it is a shame that the United States can not do more to protect its young people, teachers and citizens because it refuses to. You look anywhere else in the world and they dont have these issues, because they dont have guns in everybodys hands, he said. For some reason, our elected officials feel like its their obligation to make sure that anybody who wants a gun in their hands should have one. Its an absolute catastrophe. (The shooting) is inexcusable and unacceptable, but it doesnt seem like anybody is going to do anything about it. joshua.labella@hearstmediact.com HARTFORD A Bristol man previously convicted of burglary, home invasion and assault offenses pleaded guilty Tuesday to unlawfully possessing a firearm, according to federal prosecutors. Investigators saw 34-year-old Alexander Patterson, who is a convicted felon, in a photo handling a handgun, according to United States Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery. The charge stems from when police searched a mans New Haven home in August 2021 and seized a semi-automatic pistol. Prosecutors said the man, identified as Tyrone Brown, was a convicted felon and was arrested. Police determined that the firearm was registered to a family member of Leah Boucher, of Bristol, and discovered that Boucher had purchased 10 other firearms in Connecticut between March and July 2021. Investigators interviewed Boucher in August 2021 and she admitted to buying the firearms for others, Averys office said. When police searched Bouchers phone, they saw Patterson handling the handgun that was seized from the New Haven mans home, as well as another handgun that investigators said was registered to one of Bouchers family members, according to Averys office. Pattersons criminal history includes felony convictions in Connecticut and Georgia for firearm, burglary, home invasion and assault offenses. Because of his felony convictions, it is illegal for him to possess a firearm, Averys office said. Patterson has been detained since his arrest on Jan. 12, according to Averys office. Patterson faces up to 10 years in prison for the offense. His sentencing has not been scheduled, Averys office said. Boucher and Brown have pleaded guilty to related charges. They are both detained and await sentencing, according to Averys office. NEW YORK (AP) Queen Elizabeth II just might have the hardest working wardrobe on the planet. Every outfit worn in public is carefully calibrated to inspire or remind, to signal gratitude or respect, to convey a sense of power or familiarity, wrote The Mail on Sunday in 2015. Her Majesty neither sets trends nor follows them but while she is deaf to the siren call of fashion, she has her own singular style. From her tiaras, hats and Hermes scarves to her Launer London handbags and even her umbrellas, the queen's style has been hyper-documented since her birth, young princess days, ascension to the throne and now, more than 70 years into her reign, as she celebrates her Platinum Jubilee at age 96. Now known for her bright coats (so as to be seen by huge crowds) with matching brimmed hats, the queen was a young, glamorous princess and monarch in earlier decades. Some highlights of the queen's style through the years: ___ HER CHILDHOOD Cotton or wool? The queen's very birth prompted style debate, writes Bethan Holt, fashion editor of The Telegraph and author of this year's The Queen: 70 Years of Majestic Style. Her wardrobe from the get-go was a topic of national fascination with a layette sewn by her mother and grandmother, and a little help from underprivileged women throughout Britain. Declaring that babies in wool looked like little gnomes, Lilibet's mum, then the Duchess of York, opted for frilly cotton, rejecting anything too fussy. When sister Margaret came along four years later, the princesses often twinned it, dressing alike into their teens. But the future queen as a girl never cared a fig about clothes, according to her former governess, Marion Crawford. She wore what she was told without argument, apart from a long, drab mackintosh that she loathed, Crawford wrote in her controversial memoir, The Little Princesses. THE YOUNG HEIRESS With the tumultuous abdication of her uncle and the rise of her father to become King George VI, Princess Elizabeth became heiress presumptive (absent any future male heir, who never materialized). Enter couturier Norman Hartnell, according to Holt. While there were other designers, he was entrusted with dressing the family as they emerged on the world stage, including the two princesses at ages 11 and 6. Their bow-adorned dresses and little cloaks signalled a return to the calm dependability of the monarchy, Holt wrote. During World War II, 18-year-old Elizabeth began to make more public appearances, training as a mechanic in early 1945 toward the end of the war. It was the only time she routinely wore trousers (and boiler suits), according to Holt. The queen was, and remains, a practical dresser when necessary, but also glamorous in sparkly gowns when the moment beckoned. And she often went short sleeved or with no sleeves at all, something that doesn't happen today. She stood for photos with Prince Philip in a simple, light-colored dress with sleeves above the elbow and peekaboo low heels on her size 4 (6 U.S.) feet shortly before their wedding in 1947. People want to see their royals looking like royals, but equally, they dont want to think that taxpayers' money is being blown away, said Nick Bullen, editor in chief of True Royalty TV. THE WEDDING DRESS Hartnell transformed the florals of Botticelli's Primavera into a gown of white crystals and pearls. But it wasn't easy. There were diplomatic questions in the still-miserable aftermath of the war, Holt wrote. Customs impounded 10,000 seed pearls from the U.S., and journalists were assured that the origins of the silk produced in Kent and woven in Essex were worms from nationalist" China rather than enemy Japan. Thousands in the U.K. sent in their ration coupons for Princess Elizabeth to use for dress materials. That would have been illegal, so she saved up her own and asked the government for 200 extra, Holt told The Associated Press. It showed the thirst there was in the country for this big moment of glamour, she said. In recent years, we have known the queen and Prince Philip as this sweet old couple but we have to remember, in that time they were this dazzling, glamorous new couple on the scene. The wedding was not without behind-the-scenes drama. Queen Mary's Fringe tiara, made by Elizabeth's grandmother from a necklace given to Mary by Queen Victoria, snapped right before the ceremony and was rushed off to crown jeweler Garrard for repair. The dress, and the wedding, offered a real moment of hope, Holt said. HER HEMLINES She settled years ago on skirts and dresses just below the knee, but her hemlines were sometimes an issue for senior members of her family. In 1952, the 25-year-old queen led her family in mourning at her father's funeral in accordance to strict dress codes set out during the reign of Queen Victoria, according to Holt. As Queen Mary curtsied to her granddaughter and kissed each cheek, she admonished: Lilibet, your skirts are much too short for mourning, Holt writes. The new queen's dress hovered well above her ankles yet respectfully below the knee, while that of her grandmother reached the ground. All, including Queen Elizabeth II, were shrouded in black veils, as Queen Victoria was for 40 years after the death of Prince Albert in 1861. The evolution of the queens style from young princess to longest-serving monarch in British history has her being of the time but not following fashion, Bullen said. FINDING A UNIFORM The queen we know today wears sensible block heels or brogues, usually handmade by Anello & Davide, a custom Launer perched on her arm and a brooch on one shoulder. She goes with kilts and skirts in tartans and plaids as her country style. But the queen of the early 1950s charmed the world in nipped-in waists, pencil silhouettes and some floaty, full experiments as a post-war fashion quake took hold in the country. In the early years of her reign, she really embraced Diors New Look aesthetic, and women looked to her outfits as a source of inspiration, much like people do with the Duchess of Cambridge today, said Kristin Contino, style reporter for Page Six. There was a playful glamour in the 1970s, '80s and '90s, including a bold multicolored evening dress in 1999 for a Royal Variety Performance. Created by Karl-Ludwig Rehse, it featured a riotous sequin diamond-pattern bodice of bright yellow, blue, green and pink. There were also some trouser days and a turban phase in the 60s and 70s amid a wide range of hat styles. The queen learned of her father's passing on a stop in Kenya en route to Australia. Some reports indicate she was wearing jeans for an encounter with a herd of elephants the moment her father died in his sleep at Sandringham, Holt wrote. She donned slacks on safari in Zambia in 1979, and a trouser set in 2003 as she left King Edward VIII hospital in London after a knee operation. It was Margaret, the rebel, who was renowned as a fashion plate in Dior and other designers, and her influence on Elizabeth was tangible. Little sister helped the queen scout new British designers and introduced her to up-and-comers, such as milliner Simone Mirman, according to Holt. Mirman created some of the queen's standout hats, including her Tudor-style medieval helmet," as Hartnell called it, in soft yellow, for the 1969 investiture of Prince Charles. Margaret was really in tune with fashion. She would have been the one reading Vogue. And so she would often go with the queen to appointments to help her inject that little bit of extra style into her looks, Holt said. Usually sticking to British designers, the queen has a long-held fondness for silk scarves by the French fashion house Hermes. The brand has issued several special designs in her honor. It did so in 2016 with a horse-themed scarf to mark her 90th birthday. One doesn't equate the queen of today with a mad rush to copy her style, but for a brief spell in the 1950s women could do just that thanks to her love of cotton dresses in dainty floral or abstract prints from Horrockses Fashions, a British ready-to-wear brand, Holt said. Another look from those early years stands out as well. In October 1952, soon after ascending the throne, the queen was a sensation at the Empire Theatre for a royal viewing of the musical comedy Because You're Mine. She wore a tuxedo-like Hartnell gown in black with a white front and wide lapels in a halter design, paired with long white gloves, a tiara on her head and a diamond bracelet on one wrist. She hit every magazine and newspaper the next day. Manufacturers rushed to copy it. It was dubbed the Magpie and she never wore it again. ___ MATCHY MATCHY The queen loves to color coordinate, sticking to bright colors and pastels in coats and floral dresses today. That goes for her signature clear, bird-cage umbrellas as well. They're made by Fulton Umbrellas and are attainable at $30 or less, though the queen's are custom made. She owns about 100 in a rainbow of colors but contrary to reports, she doesn't possess 200 of her favorite Launer bags, Holt said. Gerald Bodmer, who rescued Launer in 1981 after a period of decline, was keen to clear up that myth. He says she has several styles in several colors. He says that 200 is very far off the mark, Holt said. Launer extends the straps of her leather bags to make it easier for her to hang them on her arm, and they make them lighter for her to carry. And what does she carry? Bullen said he's heard there's always a lipstick, a handkerchief and a photo of Prince Philip, who died last year at 99. Irish designer Paul Costelloe, who dressed Princess Diana in the 1980s and 90s, told the AP of the queen's style: Shes a bit like a schoolteacher, a good schoolteacher. She never shocks. She gets it right. ___ Follow Leanne Italie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/litalie ___ Associated Press writer Sylvia Hui in London contributed to this report. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) The smokestack of a Carnival Cruise ship docked in the Turks & Caicos Islands caught fire on Thursday and officials allowed guests and crew members to go ashore as heavy smoke billowed into the air. Carnival said in a statement that no one was injured during the incident in Grand Turk, although it was not immediately clear what caused the fire, which was filmed by passengers. Addis Abeba International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) Director General & Chief Executive Officer, Dr Segenet Kelemu, is the 2022 International Recipient of the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor. The medals, which were established in 1986 by the Ellis Island Honors Society (EIHS), are among the United States most renowned awards. They are officially recognized by the US Senate and House of Representatives, and all the recipients are listed in the Congressional Records; the official record of the proceedings and debates of the US Congress. The medals are aptly named after Ellis Island, located in Upper New York Bay, which served as the US principal immigration reception center (1892-1954). Thus, the island remains an enduring symbol of the immigrant roots and diversity that characterizes the United States. The Ellis Island Medals of Honor are awarded to individuals "who have made it their mission to share with those less fortunate, their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity. They do so while acknowledging their debt to their ethnic heritage as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America." Since 2003, the EIHS also awards one International Medal of Honor for special achievements and contributions to the global community, with Dr Segent being the sole recipient in 2022. "It is a great privilege to receive this recognition and to be associated with its symbolism. My journey to becoming a scientist started in rural Ethiopia, where I was inspired by the possibility of changing the lives of rural communities through science and agriculture," Dr Segenet remarked, adding "the opportunity to study in the United States helped to transform this dream into reality, setting me up for an international career as a molecular plant pathologist and the rise to scientific leadership." Dr Segenet Kelemu Born in Finote Selam, Ethiopia, Dr Segenet Kelemu obtained a Bachelors degree from Addis Abeba University, Ethiopia, in 1979, before proceeding to the US for an MSc at Montana State University, in 1985; and a PhD in molecular plant pathology from Kansas State University, in 1989. From 1989 to 1992, she was a postdoctoral research scientist at Cornell University. She assumed leadership of icipe in 2013, becoming the first woman and the second African to head the institution - Africa's only research institution dedicated to research on insects and other arthropods. She took the helm of icipe after a highly prolific scientific tenure (1992-2007) at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Cali, Colombia; as the Director of the Biosciences eastern and central Africa Hub at the International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI Hub), from 2007 to 2012; and as Vice-President of Programs at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), from 2012 - 2013. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Ethiopia U.S., Canada and Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Dr Segenet joins a list of noteworthy past recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor including: several United States Presidents, among them Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden; Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger, Madeline Albright, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton; American activist and civil rights movement icon, Rosa Parks; Nobel Prize laureates Elie Wiesel and Malala Yousufzai; artistes including singer and actor Frank Sinatra, film director Martin Scorsese, actress Rita Moreno and opera singer Renee Fleming; celebrated sports figure Muhammad Ali; Albert II, Prince of Monaco; industry leaders, including former Apple CEO John Sculley; former Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt; Mastercard Executive Chairman, Ajay Banga; former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty; former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi; and Prof. Bill Hansson, Director and Scientific Member, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology and former Chair of the Governing Council of icipe. Dispatch A man exposed the tip of his private part to a woman in public, according to the Webb County Sheriffs Office. Arturo Breceda-Razo, 36, was arrested on the charge of indecent exposure. The Biden administration has sided against the airline industry and urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to uphold a California law that would provide more rest and meal breaks than airline crews are guaranteed under federal rules. The U.S. solicitor general and other administration officials said in a filing that California's law is not pre-empted by the Federal Aviation Administration's authority to regulate airline safety. A federal appeals court ruled in 2021 that California was within its rights to apply a law on employee rest and meal breaks to the airline industry. The original defendant, Virgin America, was later bought by Alaska Airlines, which asked the Supreme Court to overturn the decision. The administration asked the court to deny the airline's appeal to hear the case or send the matter back to lower courts for further consideration. The Trump administration had sided with the airlines when the case went before the appeals court. The airline industry, represented by trade group Airlines for America, has lobbied to overturn the appeals court ruling. Airlines worry about a patchwork of different state rules, and the trade group says the California law would cause airlines to reduce flights and raise fares. The trade group said Wednesday, The conflict between federal and state law is a critical issue with nationwide implications, and it hopes that the Supreme Court will overturn the lower courts ruling. Under the ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, airlines would have to release California-based flight crews from all job duties even during flights for 10 minutes every four hours, a 30-minute meal break every five hours, and another meal break after 10 hours. FAA rules set a maximum work day of 14 hours for flight attendants during which they can take meal breaks but must remain on duty. That saves airlines the cost of adding flight attendants to cover for those who are off-duty. Lawyers for flight attendants who sued Virgin America say that a 1978 federal law deregulating the airline industry gave the FAA sole authority over airline prices, routes and services, but not other matters. BATH, Maine (AP) A man charged with killing his 66-year-old mother told police he strangled her after she attacked him, according to court records. Jason Ibarra, 42, is expected to make his initial court appearance Friday following the killing of his mother, Jeanine Ross, the Bangor Daily News reported. Her body was found late Tuesday morning with a set of keys attached to a lanyard around her neck. TIRANA, Albania (AP) Albania has offered NATO a naval base in an effort to highlight the small country's value in the alliance in these difficult times, the prime minister's office said Thursday. Prime Minister Edi Rama said Pashaliman naval base, 180 kilometers (110 miles) south of the capital Tirana, could be an added value to the alliance and they had prepared a project on its renovation. In these dangerous times I believe the general may consider having a NATOs naval base in Albania, Rama said in a speech Wednesday. Albania, which became a NATO member in 2009, has joined the United States and the European Union in denouncing Russias war in Ukraine. The Pashaliman base located under the Vlora Bay was built in the 1950s when the Soviet Union brought 12 submarines, making it the only naval base they had in the Mediterranean. Following the breakdown of Tirana-Moscow ties in 1961, the Pashaliman remained as a naval base sheltering four remaining submarines and other small military ships. The base was looted, including material from the submarines, during the anarchic year of 1997 in Albania when Europes then-poorest population lost its life savings in failed pyramid investment schemes. Three of the submarines were sold for scrap while the fourth one remains, with the government considering whether to turn it into a museum. Pashaliman was renovated by Turkey and since has been used as a naval base for some military ships patrolling the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. NATO also has started work to upgrade Albanias communist-era Kucove Air Base, 85 kilometers (53 miles) south of the capital Tirana, which will allow it to be used for alliance operations. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Justen Watkins, self-proclaimed leader of the white nationalist group, The Base, was sentenced to up to six years in prison on charges of conspiring to train for civil disorder and felony firearm on Tuesday in a Tuscola County courtroom. Watkins faced charges for his role in an incident in which he and two other men reportedly broke into two former Michigan Department of Corrections sites in Caro. Watkins, 25, of Bad Axe, was sentenced to 32 months to four years for conspiring to train for a civil disorder and a mandatory consecutive two years for felony firearm by Judge Amy Gierhart of the Tuscola County Circuit Court. One of the charges filed against Watkins conspiring to train for a civil disorder marked the first time a defendant has faced the felony in Michigan's history, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessels office. "The tragic event in Buffalo that resulted in 10 people being murdered and another three injured is an example of why we must prosecute and pursue these types of crimes to deter others from contemplating such acts of violence," Nessel said. "Securing these convictions on the conspiracy to train for civil disorder creates a historic precedent in our state's court system and conveys the real danger domestic terrorism poses here and around the country. "Today's sentencing is recognition by the court of the serious nature of these crimes and demonstrates the willingness of our justice system to hold accountable those who commit crimes in the name of overthrowing our government or perpetuating racist ideologies. I appreciate the work of our law enforcement partners at all levels to help bring these criminals to justice." The cases resulted from joint investigations by the Michigan State Police Caro Post and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint Terrorism Task Force. In October 2020, Watkins was charged in connection to a December 2019 incident in which a Dexter family was terrorized at their home after Watkins used intimidation tactics and posted messages to other members of The Base targeting the home. Watkins faced the following charges in Washtenaw County in that case: gang membership, a 20-year felony; unlawful posting of a message, a two-year felony and/or a $5,000 fine; and using computers to commit a crime, a four-year felony and/or $5,000 fine. Following the authorization of the Washtenaw County charges, the involved agencies found evidence of Watkins and two other members of The Base Thomas Denton and Tristan Webb entering two former and vacant Michigan Department of Corrections sites in the city of Caro a few weeks prior to the charges being filed. The men assessed the properties as potential future training grounds for hate camps, which is what the group named their paramilitary firearms training exercises. The charges, co-prosecuted with Tuscola County Prosecutor Mark Reene, were the following in Tuscola County against Watkins: one count of larceny in a building, a four-year felony; one count of gang membership, a 20-year felony; one count of conspiracy to train with firearms for a civil disorder, four-year felony; and one count of felony firearm, two-year felony. Founded in 2018, The Base, which is the literal translation of "Al-Qaeda" in English, is a white supremacy gang that openly advocates for violence and criminal acts against the U.S., and purports to be training for a race war to establish white ethnonationalist rule in areas of the U.S., including Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The group also traffics in Nazi ideology and extreme anti-Semitism. Watkins claims to be the leader of The Base and reportedly ran a "hate camp" for members of the group at a farmhouse northeast of Bad Axe, where he led tactical and firearms training for participants with the goal of being prepared for the violent overthrow of the government. Ron Harris ATLANTA (AP) Former Georgia state Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler is joining state Rep. Bee Nguyen in a runoff in the Democratic primary for Georgia secretary of state. Nguyen won about 44% of the primary vote, short of the majority she needed to win outright. Dawkins-Haigler won nearly 19%, enough to advance to the June 21 runoff. The winner will face Republican incumbent Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and libertarian Ted Metz in the November general election. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Two of the leading candidates for the GOP nomination for Michigan governor say they will ask the courts to intervene after they were found ineligible Thursday for the August primary, reshaping the race to challenge Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in the battleground state this fall. Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig, who has led in most primary polls, and businessman Perry Johnson, along with three other lesser-known candidates, did not qualify for the ballot. The state elections bureau recommended they be disqualified, saying it found thousands of fraudulent signatures on petitions submitted by the candidates. The vote by the bipartisan Board of State Canvassers was 2-2, with two Democrats supporting the recommendation and two Republicans saying the candidates should get on the ballot. A tie vote means the candidates lost. Craig criticized the board's partisan decision as a travesty and said the bureau should have done a line-by-line verification of signatures he submitted, rather than rejecting entire pages based on its findings of fraud. He said the campaign will file an immediate appeal. "We are confident that when the law is justly applied, our campaign will be on the ballot this August, Craig said. Johnson has already spent millions of his personal fortune on the contest. Attorney Jason Torchinsky said the state's process had fatal flaws that didn't follow election law and that he's confident Johnson will be on the ballot after the court review. The other lesser-known GOP candidates Donna Brandenburg, Michael Brown and Michael Markey also were found ineligible after elections staff said they, too, didnt turn in enough valid signatures. Brown withdrew from the race on Tuesday. Democrats challenged the GOP candidates petitions, alleging mass forgery and other issues. Another Republican candidate, Tudor Dixon, had also contested Craigs voter signatures as fake. But the bureau, which is part of Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's department, said it discovered the fraud in its own review and didn't process the challenges filed by the Michigan Democratic Party and Dixon. Candidates for governor were required to submit valid signatures from 15,000 registered voters to make the ballot. In a report released late Monday, bureau staff said multiple petition sheets for various candidates displayed suspicious patterns indicative of fraud. Some of the petitions for Craigs campaign, for example, had signatures that all appeared to be written in the same handwriting. Staff said that while its typical for petitions to include scattered instances of dubious signatures, the Bureau is unaware of another election cycle with such a substantial volume of fraudulent signatures involving multiple candidates. They identified 36 petition circulators who are often paid per signature gathered who submitted petition sheets made up entirely of invalid signatures. The Republicans who remain on the ballot are Dixon, who recently was endorsed by the family of former Trump administration Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, real estate agent Ryan Kelley, businessman Kevin Rinke, pastor Ralph Rebandt and chiropractor Garrett Soldano. An attorney for Craig said Thursday he has signed affidavits from 15 registered voters whose signatures were determined to be forged, but who say they did sign the candidate's petition. Lawyer George Lewis also said the campaign acknowledges it appears there was fraud by the people who gathered signatures, but said Craig himself is a victim. Democratic board member Mary Ellen Gurewitz pushed back. She described Craig's petitions as obviously fraudulent" and said the law puts the burden on the candidate to submit valid signatures. Gurewitz also asked what the campaign did to check the validity of the signatures. Lewis said he wasn't able to provide an answer. Republican board member Tony Daunt said he rejects suggestions that state staff acted for partisan reasons, as some have alleged. But he said he couldnt support kicking candidates off the ballot because the staff didnt have the resources to check every signature. The bureau said Craig submitted 10,192 valid signatures well short of the 15,000 needed. It tossed 11,113 signatures, including 9,879 that were allegedly fraudulently collected by 18 paid circulators. Staff said Johnson turned in 13,800 valid signatures. They threw out 9,393, including 6,983 that they said are fraudulent and were gathered by many of the same people who also forged signatures that Craig submitted. The bureau said it doesn't believe specific campaigns or candidates were aware of what fraudulent-petition circulators were doing, and said it's working to refer the fraud to law enforcement for criminal investigation. Republican Norman Shinkle, chairman of the Board of Canvassers, said the people who committed fraud should go to prison but that the courts should decide whether candidates make the ballot. Michigan Republican Party Chairman Ron Weiser said in a statement that the candidates should have their time in court" and that they are fighting against voter disenfranchisement. Meanwhile, Michigan Democratic Party Chairwoman Lavora Barnes called on the GOP candidates whose petitions were reviewed Thursday to withdraw from the race. Michiganders deserve accountable leaders, and these candidates have shown they are not capable of that, she said. BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has decided to attend the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles next month and plans to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden, close allies of the South American leader said late Wednesday. Three of Bolsonaro's Cabinet ministers confirmed Bolsonaro's decision to The Associated Press, following weeks during which his attendance remained a question, with some media reporting he had ruled it out. The Brazilian officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly, said the bilateral meeting with Biden has been confirmed. The press office of the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia declined to comment. A bilateral meeting in Los Angeles would be a first for the U.S. and Brazilian leaders. The summit, which the United States is hosting for the first time since the inaugural event in 1994, has risked collapsing over concerns about the guest list, with several leaders in the region threatening not to attend. In addition to Bolsonaro, the most notable possible no-show has been Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has threatened to boycott if Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua arent included. Lopez Obrador told reporters at his daily news conference Wednesday that the possibility of the trip was still under discussion. Bolsonaro, an ally of former President Donald Trump, was among the world's last heads-of-state to recognize Biden's 2020 electoral victory. After Biden took office, Bolsonaro's administration made an effort to demonstrate renewed commitment to reining in deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, including stepping up its pledges at the U.N. climate talks in Glasgow. But bilateral talks fell apart as data showed destruction was continuing. PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday received the Africa Road Builders-Babacar Ndiaye Trophy 2022, in recognition of her commitment in the development of transport infrastructures in her country. However, she explained that credits should go to her predecessor, the late Dr John Magufuli, president of the fifth phase government who implemented a number of infrastructure projects including roads, railways and bridges. At the event held in Ghana's capital Accra, President Samia apart from thanking the organisers for awarding her with the trophy, said construction of infrastructural projects in her country began with the administration of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and his successor Ali Hassan Mwinyi. She noted that the task was also inherited by other administrations, where great improvement started to be seen during the presidency of the late Benjamin Mkapa, following improvement of policies and debt relief money that Tanzania owed different countries and institutions. "The fourth and fifth presidents Jakaya Kikwete and Dr Magufuli respectively, did a great part, but the latter did the most since he was the Minister for Works and before he became the Head of State," she said. "If this award was to go to one person, I believe, Dr John Magufuli is the one who really deserves this, however, unfortunately he is not alive to witness fruits of what he did during his tenure in the office," added the Head of State. President Samia was named the 2022 winner of the Africa Road Builders-Babacar Ndiaye Trophy in April. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Tanzania Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), the prize is awarded to leading figures in Africa, who have demonstrated their commitments to the development of transport infrastructure in the continent. She said increasing infrastructural connectivity is the key to development among developing countries, since it eases movement of people, goods and services. President Samia was of the view that this connectivity should start internally before crossing borders to regional level for an improved implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The Head of State also briefed delegates on the initiatives by the government of Tanzania to construct the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in a bid to improve connectivity of Tanzania to East African Community EAC member states and that of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). She said the government is currently constructing the 2,724 Kilometres of SGR line from the Port of Dar Salaam to the western zone of the country that links Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through the central corridor. "Plans are on the cards for execution of the 1,028km is SGR to the northern corridor and some 1,000km others to the southern part, the aim is to link all seven EAC member countries and the 16 countries under SADC," she said. As part of efforts to soften interaction and address the trade barriers, President Samia said Tanzania in collaboration with border counties have built one stop border centres in all border posts. Going forward, President Samia commended the AFDB for its continued support on infrastructural projects in Tanzania, saying the institution has in the past 15 years, has supported the country with a total of 2.92bn Us Dollars. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) A former deputy warden at the Mississippi State Penitentiary has pleaded guilty in a case involving the beating of an inmate, the U.S. Justice Department said Thursday. In a news release, officials said Melvin Hilson, 49, pleaded guilty to violating the inmates civil rights in 2016. CHICAGO (AP) A former Democratic leader in the Illinois House was sentenced Wednesday to nearly five years in prison for his role in a bribery scheme. Luis Arroyo was handed a 57-month sentence by U.S. District Judge Steven Seeger after pleading guilty in November to a wire fraud count alleging he tried to bribe a state senator to help with promoting legislation. A criminal complaint alleged Arroyo gave a $2,500 bribe to a sitting state senator who had been cooperating with federal investigators. The senator was not named in the complaint. The bribe was part of a scam that involved popular but technically illegal sweepstakes games and involved the state senator and the son-in-law of a once-powerful Cook County politician. Arroyo was charged with bribery in October 2019 after federal prosecutors announced he had paid a $2,500 bribe to the senator who was wearing a recording device. Arroyo resigned the next month from the House seat he had held for nearly 13 years. A follow-up indictment filed last year added wire and mail fraud charges against Arroyo and lodged similar charges against James T. Weiss, the son-in-law of former Cook County Democratic leader Joseph Berrios. Weiss allegedly began paying Arroyo bribes in November 2018 in exchange for the lawmakers support of legislation favorable to sweepstakes machines, a specialty of Weiss company. Not technically gambling instruments, they proliferate even though state regulators had declared them illegal. Needing an ally in the Senate, Arroyo approached a then-veteran member of that chamber who was cooperating with the FBI for leniency in a false tax return investigation. The senator recorded a meeting with Arroyo in which the two agreed to $2,500-per-month in kickbacks for the senators complicity. Citing anonymous sources, the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune identified the senator as Democrat Terry Link of Vernon Hills, who repeatedly denied the label. But Link pleaded guilty in September 2020 to filing a false tax return before resigning his post. The FBI announced Link had been cooperating with the government criminal investigation and prosecutors indicated they would seek probation if his help continued in good faith. MADRID (AP) An explosion hit a biodiesel production plant in northern Spain on Thursday, killing two people and forcing the evacuation of 250 children who had been on a field trip nearby, police said Thursday. Police video of the explosion showed flames engulfing the plant in the northern region of La Rioja, sending large plumes of black smoke into the sky. The two people killed were both workers at the plant, said police. The latest mass shooting at a Texas elementary school, which left 19 children and two adults dead, once again has politicians discussing the root cause of America's high number of gun-related killings compared to the rest of the developed world. Republican lawmakers this week were quick to blame mental health, as they have in other recent mass shootings, including Buffalo just a couple of weeks ago. "We have a problem with mental health illness in this community," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday at a press conference in Uvalde, the sight of Texas' deadliest school shooting. Abbott used a similar line in 2019 after a gunman killed 23 people and injured 23 more at a Walmart in El Paso. "Bottom line is mental health is a large contributor to any type of violence or shooting violence," he said at the time. But not everyone agrees with that statement. Notably, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer dismissed the notion this week that mental health is the sole reason for the country's excessive gun violence. "If mental illness were the simple cause, you'd see mass shootings happen all over the developed world," Schumer said in a speech on the Senate floor. Let's get the facts: According to the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit philanthropy organization based in New York City, the U.S. had higher rates of mental illness diagnoses in 2016 compared to other developed nations, leading Canada in diagnoses by 3%. However, taking a look at gun-related killings in both countries, America disproportionately leads its northern neighbor by 42%, according to data from the CDC and Statistics Canada. The data also found that the U.S. is 66% higher than Australia in gun-related killings, compared to 10% higher in diagnoses, and 75% higher than the U.K., compared to 12%. Based on those statistics from nonpartisan agencies and organizations, U.S. gun murders occur at far higher rates than in other countries, with a far smaller difference in rates of diagnosed mental illness. AP DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) A gas cylinder explosion in Abu Dhabi earlier this week that injured 120 people killed an Indian and a Pakistani national, authorities in those two countries said Thursday. India's External Affairs Ministry said one Indian died and around 100 were injured in the blast Monday in Abu Dhabis Khalidiya neighborhood, just a few blocks from the Emirati capitals beachfront corniche. TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) The International Organization for Migration says up to 600 people attempting to reach Europe by sea from Tunisia and Libya have gone missing during the first three months of 2022, the highest figure since 2014. In the latest tragedy, according to Tunisian authorities, a wooden boat carrying over 100 people capsized early Tuesday near the island of Kerkennah in southeastern Tunisia due to bad weather. The IOM said Wednesday that 30 people from that boat were rescued but 75 are still missing. ATHENS, Greece (AP) The crude oil cargo of an Iranian-flagged tanker that was stopped in Greek waters last month has been seized and is being transferred to another vessel following a request from the U.S., a Greek official said Thursday. The official said following a judicial intervention by U.S. authorities concerning the ships cargo the process is currently underway, at U.S. government expense, for the oil to be handed over off the port of Karystos on the Aegean Sea island of Evia. WASHINGTON (AP) With mass shootings in Texas, New York and California fresh in Americans mind, the Supreme Court will soon issue its biggest gun ruling in more than a decade, one expected to make it easier to carry guns in public in some of the largest cities. Already in an uncomfortable spotlight over a leaked draft opinion that would overrule Roe v. Wades nationwide right to abortion, the justices also are facing a possible backlash from the guns case. In both cases the court could issue decisions that polls say would be unpopular with the majority of people in the United States. I think the court is heading into uncharted waters. I cant recall the last time the Supreme Court ruled in so many cases likely to spark a strong political backlash, said UCLA law professor Adam Winkler, an expert on the court and gun policy. Winkler predicted the recent shootings would not do anything to change the outcome in the guns case, where the court's conservative majority has been expected to strike down a New York gun law. Pro-gun justices are pro-gun," he said, adding it is not likely that recent mass shootings have done anything to change that. The decisions in both the abortion and guns cases are expected to be released sometime in the next month before the justices take their summer break. The reaction to the decisions could add to criticism the court has faced recently over the disclosure that conservative political activist Virginia Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, urged the White House and Republican politicians in Arizona to work to overturn Joe Bidens presidential victory and keep Trump in office. A poll released this week found public approval of the court has fallen to 44%, down from 54% in March. The poll was conducted after the leak of the draft abortion decision, which has sparked protests and round-the-clock security at justices homes, demonstrations at the court and concerns about violence following the courts ultimate decision. The court itself has been ringed in a tall security fence for weeks in anticipation of the abortion ruling. In 2020, AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of the electorate, showed 69% of voters in the presidential election said the Supreme Court should leave the Roe v. Wade decision as is, while 29% said the court should overturn the decision. In the leaked decision overturning Roe, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that the court should not be swayed by public opinion. We do not pretend to know how our political system or society will respond to today's decision. ... And even if we could foresee what will happen, we would have no authority to let that knowledge influence our decision, he wrote. Still, the justices do not live in a bubble, and New York University scholar Barry Friedman has argued that the court's decisions are never too far out of step with public opinion. "You know we dont have an army. We dont have any money. The only way we can get people to do what we think they should do is because people respect us, Justice Elena Kagan said in 2018. Eric Tirschwell, the legal director at Everytown for Gun Safety, said it is hard not to think that whats going on in the country doesnt impact to some degree" how the justices go about their work. The recent violence, he said, underscores that interpreting the Second Amendment is not an abstract exercise. It has life or death consequences. About half of voters in the 2020 presidential election said gun laws in the U.S. should be made more strict, according to AP VoteCast. An additional one-third said gun laws should be kept as they are, while about 1 in 10 said gun laws should be less strict. The gun case the court is considering involves a New York law that makes it difficult for people to get a permit to carry a gun outside the home. To do so, a person has to show a particular need to carry the weapon. When the case was argued in November, it sounded from the justices' questions as though the justices were prepared to strike down the law as too restrictive. Similar laws exist in California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island, and the Biden administration has said those states could be affected by a ruling against New York. Opponents have said that could lead to more guns on the streets and more resulting violence. Just since the court heard arguments in the case, there have been 16 shootings where four or more people were killed, according to The Associated Press/USA TODAY/Northeastern University mass killing database. Those shootings have left 94 dead, including 31 adults and children in Buffalo and Texas, and 45 injured, the database says. One of two conservative justices, Thomas or Amy Coney Barrett, probably is writing the guns opinion, based on the court's usual practice of giving each justice at least one opinion for each month the court hears cases. Neither has written yet in the cases heard early in November. No matter how the court decides the New York case, other gun rights disputes are already at or nearing the court. The justices have been asked to hear cases challenging limits on ammunition magazine capacities in New Jersey and California as well as a challenge to Maryland's assault weapons ban. Earlier this month, a federal appeals court struck down California's ban on the sale of semiautomatic weapons to adults under 21, holding it violated the Second Amendment. That case too could be headed to the court. ___ More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings Commentary: Take forward China-ROK relations in age of change Xinhua) 17:00, May 26, 2022 BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- One should be able to establish himself at the age of 30, said Confucius. As this year marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), it is time for the two countries to continue fostering a relationship that features mutual benefit, maturity and stability. Looking back on the past three decades, we can see that the relations have brought tangible results for both countries. The convergence of their interests has been expanding as well. Trade between the two countries has grown 72-fold to more than 360 billion U.S. dollars from around 5 billion dollars 30 years ago. China has become the ROK's largest trading partner, while the ROK is now China's third-largest trading partner. Meanwhile, the cumulative two-way investment between China and the ROK has exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The industrial and supply chains between the two countries have witnessed deeper integration over the years, and the two countries have close cooperation in such areas as IT, automobiles, new energy, finance and logistics, showing high complementarity between the two economies. The benefits of bilateral relations, however, do not stop here. Greater potential lies ahead with the growth of the Chinese market, the rise of new industries, as well as the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the advancement of the second phase of the China-ROK FTA talks. Bilateral trade is expected to take a further leap with the entry into force of the RCEP earlier this year and the progress made in the China-ROK FTA talks. The FTA talks have generated five rounds of tariff reductions between the two countries since June 2015 when the trade pact was signed. For international enterprises, China is one of the most promising markets across the globe. The ROK, given its geographical proximity, is no doubt in a pole position to harness the opportunities. The two countries also have similar positions on an array of global and regional issues, and keep close communication on issues of common concern. Both China and the ROK are beneficiaries of economic globalization, trade liberalization and investment facilitation. The two countries should jointly promote free trade, openness and cooperation, and contribute to the world economic recovery, rather than engage in protectionism, create geopolitical confrontation, or undermine the stability of the industrial chain. The Asia-Pacific is one of the most vibrant and promising regions in the world. As the global economy still falters from the COVID-19 pandemic and regional turbulence, there is every reason for the region to strive to become the pacesetter of peace and development, and China and the ROK should work together to inject stability and certainty in an age of change. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Maputo The World Bank has launched a plan for a series of public consultations, in order to review its operational strategy for Mozambique for the 2023-2027 period. According to a Tuesday press release, the consultations include meetings at government level, and with development partners, civil society organizations and other stakeholders. "The new strategy, resulting from this exercise, will include a description of the World Bank operational program in Mozambique for the 2023-27 period, as well as defining the composition and volume of investments, including the indicative package of reforms, the institutional capacity building programs, technical assistance and analytical studies to be conducted during the next five years", says the document. The presence of the World Bank in Mozambique is guided by its operational strategy, known as the Country Partnership Framework (CPF). The total investment portfolio of the International Development Association (IDA), which is the Bank's main funding arm for Mozambique, amounts to 4.1 billion dollars in national projects and another 1.1 billion dollars in regional projects. The preparation of the strategy, explains the document, includes the revision of previous strategies, alignment with the country's own priorities, as well as a review of the Bank's corporate priorities. "The public consultations aim to obtain contributions on the objectives registered in the draft strategy to be discussed; to gather contributions to further elaborate on the sub-components of each objective; to improve the focus and responsiveness of the World Bank's new emerging portfolio to country-specific development challenges, and to better define the lending portfolio and other areas of support to the country" stated the document. As Kevin Spacey faces a New York City court over a sexual abuse allegation, police in the United Kingdom have charged the House of Cards actor with four counts of sexual assault. The 62-year-old actor has been accused of sexual assault against three men, as well as causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime Division announced Thursday. The charges stem from an investigation by the Metropolitan Police, CPS said. Two of the alleged incidents occurred in March 2005, the third in August 2008 and the final in April 2013, according to police. One was in Gloucestershire and the others in London. No other details were given, including the ages or identities of the victims other than that they are all male. The embattled actor has been accused of sexual misconduct by dozens of men, beginning with Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp, who said in October 2017 that Spacey assaulted him when he was just 14. Among other alleged victims were Tony Montana, Richard Dreyfuss son, a teenager who accused Spacey of groping him at a Nantucket, Massachusetts, bar in 2016, several actors at the Old Vic theater in London where he served as artistic director, a theater usher in Connecticut and a military adviser working on the set of Outbreak. As allegations from other men poured in, Spacey was fired from House of Cards, replaced in All the Money in the World" and dumped by his publicity team. For the next three years, the 62-year-old New Jersey native released unsettling Christmas videos in his House of Cards character, taking on Frank Underwoods creepy tone and inflection. DALTON, Ga. (AP) A Korean solar panel maker announced Thursday that it will expand its presence in Georgia, building a new $171 million plant next to an existing factory in Dalton. The new plant will open in the first half of 2023 and will hire 470 people, Qcells, a unit of Hanwha Solutions, said in a written statement. The company already has 750 workers at its existing northwest Georgia factory. In 2019, Qcells opened a 300,000-square-foot (28,000-square-meter) factory in Dalton that assembles 1.7 gigawatts of solar modules each year. The company said it is the largest solar panel factory in the Western Hemisphere. The new factory will have a capacity of 1.4 gigawatts. Once the second plant is built, Qcells will control almost a third of all American solar module assembly, the company said. Qcells said it sells 24% of all solar modules installed on American homes and 21% of all modules installed on commercial buildings. The company also describes itself as a leading supplier to large solar farms that provide electricity to utilities. The company had announced plans for a U.S. expansion earlier this month without saying where. Qcells is paying Whitfield County $1.7 million for 30 acres (12 hectares) next to its existing plant, county commission chairman Jevin Jensen told the Dalton Daily Citizen. Carl Campbell, executive director of the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority, said Qcells would pay new employees at least $17 an hour. Qcells could claim various tax breaks, including an income tax credit that would allow it to annually deduct $3,000 per job from state income taxes up to $7 million over five years as long as workers make at least $30,628 a year. The solar plant is another large Korean investment in Georgia. Last week, the Hyundai Motor Group announced a $5.5 billion electric vehicle and battery plant near Savannah. The SK Group has built a $2.6 billion, 3,000-job electric battery plant built near the city of Commerce. Georgia has become the clean energy manufacturing heart of America, and we are proud to contribute to the states advanced manufacturing economy, Qcells CEO Justin Lee said in a statement. The administration of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has cultivated ties with South Korea: Kemp said he visited Hanwha officials during a trade mission to the country in 2019. The state of Georgia and Korea have enjoyed an outstanding partnership for decades, supported by a dedication to relationship building, Kemp said in a statement. U.S. Sen Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, told reporters Thursday that he met with Hanwha officials while in South Korea last year and encouraged them to invest more, saying additional solar panel production in the United States lessens dependence on China. We cannot continue to rely upon China for solar panels, Ossoff said. Our access to this technology is a matter of national security and energy independence. And so by growing our domestic manufacturing capacity in solar energy, and doing it right at home in Georgia, we are strengthening our national security and our energy independence. SEATTLE (AP) A 25-year-od man faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to a federal hate crime for setting a fire outside a Seattle nightclub called Queer/Bar. Kalvinn Garcia, of Sedro Woolley, was arrested minutes after setting fire to the contents of a dumpster in an alley directly behind the club in the Capitol Hill neighborhood on Feb. 24, 2020. CONCORD, N.H. (AP) A New Hampshire man has pleaded guilty in federal court to defrauding government programs that were intended to provide assistance related to the COVID-19 pandemic. George Adyns, 51, of Sandown, who was chief financial officer of several companies in Plaistow, directed employees in March 2020 to file for state unemployment benefits while continuing to work, prosecutors said. The state paid more than $49,000 in fraudulently obtained benefits. Kladys Castellon prays during a vigil for the victims of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24. Kladys Castellon prays during a vigil for the victims of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24. An 18-year-old gunman shot and killed close to two dozen people at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on the afternoon of May 24. Uvalde is a town of about 16,000 people about 85 miles West of San Antonio. As a mark of respect for the victims, an anguished and angry President Joe Biden proclaimed "that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, May 28, 2022." Photo provided/Manny Renfro/AP Biden spoke Tuesday night from the White House barely an hour after returning from a five-day trip to Asia that was bracketed by mass shootings in the U.S., according to The Associated Press. He pleaded for action to address gun violence after years of failure and bitterly blamed firearm manufacturers and their supporters for blocking legislation in Washington. "When in Gods name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?" Biden said with emotion. "Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen?" Tuesday's shooting marks the 27th school shooting this year. Under Biden's proclamation, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer ordered the U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex and upon all public buildings and grounds statewide to be lowered to half-staff immediately on Tuesday, May 24 through Saturday, May 28. "My heart breaks for the students, teachers, staff, and families of Robb Elementary School," Whitmer said in a Tuesday press release. "The death of multiple students and the shooting of many others is horrific. Our state is in mourning alongside the parents who had their children taken from them today and the entire community in Uvalde, Texas." Whitmer also encouraged Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments and other organizations to display the flag at half-staff in the release. To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day. Authorities said Wednesday the gunman barricaded himself inside a single classroom and "began shooting anyone that was in his way." Law enforcement officers eventually broke into the classroom and killed the gunman, who used an AR-style rifle. Police and others responding to Tuesdays attack also went around breaking windows at the school to enable students and teachers to escape, Lt. Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety said on NBCs "Today" show. Olivarez told CNN that all of the victims were in the same fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary. The killer "barricaded himself by locking the door and just started shooting children and teachers that were inside that classroom," he said. "It just shows you the complete evil of the shooter." "Michigan stands with Uvalde after the deaths of children and teachers at Robb Elementary School," Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II said in a Tweet. "We must all wrap our arms around this community, and our own children, as we mourn this senseless loss." Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also expressed she was heartbroken in a Tweet on Tuesday, explaining that she will do everything in her power to "end this epidemic of violence." Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson sent out a string of Tweets after the shooting. On Wednesday, Michigan State Police stated "there are no known threats to our schools at this time, now serves as a good reminder to keep vigilant." Additionally, the MSP website offers school safety resources, including emergency operations plans, firearm safety, mental health guidance, Michigan's OK2SAY program and more. The video below, produced by VOX in 2016, explores America's gun problem. BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) A court in Moldova placed former President Igor Dodon under 30-day house arrest on Thursday as he faces an investigation into suspected treason, corruption, illicit enrichment and illegal party financing. The ruling came after Dodon, who served as Moldova's president from 2016 to 2020 and leads the Eastern European countrys pro-Russian opposition bloc, was detained Tuesday at his home in the capital of Chisinau after it was searched by investigators. Speaking as he left a courtroom Thursday, Dodon claimed the charges against him were politically motivated and at the behest of foreign powers. It is a political issue aimed at neutralizing the opposition, Dodon said in a video published by Moldovan news site Protv.md. It is strange and despicable for those who ... filled all the state institutions with foreign, Romanian, American and German advisers, who control all of the institutions, to accuse me of treason. Following Dodon's detention, senior anti-corruption prosecutor Elena Cazacov said the subjects of the police investigation were mainly one of the former presidents of the Republic of Moldova and those close to him, but also other persons who have a connection to the commission of the alleged acts. Dodon has denied wrongdoing. In a post on Facebook on Tuesday, he wrote that he had explanations for any allegations. This is not the first time I have become the target of a politically directed and directed justice system, he wrote. One of Europes poorest countries, Moldova is an ex-Soviet republic that gained independence in 1991. Russia maintains troops nominally peacekeepers in the separatist Moldovan region of Transnistria, a disputed, Russian-backed breakaway state that borders southwestern Ukraine. WASHINGTON - The American general slated to become NATO's next supreme allied commander warned Thursday that Russia's blockade of Ukrainian grain exports could enable terrorist networks in other parts of the world and may require U.S. military intervention to ensure global markets don't become destabilized. Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander of all U.S. Army forces in Europe and Africa, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that groups including the Islamic State, al-Shabab and Boko Haram stand to benefit from food shortages resulting from the war. Those groups "feed on weak governance and food insecurity and corruption and poverty," he said. Cavoli appeared on Capitol Hill as part of the confirmation process to lead U.S. and NATO forces in Europe. Ukraine is the world's largest exporter of sunflower oil, the fourth-largest exporter of corn and the fifth-largest exporter of wheat. Western officials have accused Moscow of using food as a form of blackmail, with Russia's navy effectively controlling all traffic in the northern third of the Black Sea, according to U.S. intelligence assessments. There were mixed signals Thursday over Russia's willingness to release any of the wheat now at risk of rotting while it sits on commercial vessels unable to depart Ukraine's seaports. The Kremlin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that no ships carrying Ukrainian grain would be allowed to leave until Western governments lift their sanctions on Russia. Hours later Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi told reporters that, in a call, Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed in principle to liberate several million tons. A Kremlin readout of the leaders' conversation did not go that far. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss accused Moscow of attempting to "hold the world to ransom" and "essentially weaponizing hunger." In calling on Putin to end the blockade, she rejected the idea of lifting sanctions and said "any appeasement" would only make the Russian leader "stronger in the longer term." Draghi said during a news conference that he decided to call Putin because "millions and millions of lives are at stake." The Russian leader, he said, blames Ukraine for blocking its own seaports by laying floating mines to stave off attack. The proposal involves a collaboration between Russia and Ukraine, "on the one hand on de-mining, and on the other on guaranteeing" that no attacks are launched while the operation is being carried out, Draghi said, adding that he intends to inquire with Kyiv whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would agree to such an arrangement. In his Senate testimony, Cavoli hinted that, at some point, the U.S. military could get involved in an effort to guarantee that exports from Ukraine can resume. But he declined to say whether he would recommend such an approach, apart from preparing the options requested by civilian leaders, if he's confirmed to take over at NATO. For now, he said, "it's going to be a combination of modes of transportation that we're going to have to use" to get around Russian efforts to stymie grain shipments from leaving Ukraine. Romania has already made the Black Sea port of Constanta available to exports of Ukrainian grain, though Cavoli noted that accounts for only about 90,000 tons a day. About 22 million tons remain backed up in Ukraine, he said. German rail line Deutsche Bahn also has begun an operation Cavoli referred to as the "Berlin train lift" - intentionally reminiscent of the Berlin Airlift of 1948 and 1949, when Allied forces flew food and other vital supplies into Berlin to circumvent a Soviet blockade of the roads and rail lines. That option would route Ukrainian grain supplies through Poland, which established a border crossing regime to facilitate such passage, and on to ports on Germany's northern coast for shipping. "Some efforts are taking place," Cavoli told senators, adding: "Much more needs to be done." Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, speaking to reporters later Thursday, said "there are no plans to use the United States military, or military sources or assets, to assist in the movement of grain outside of Ukraine." The Biden administration, he added, is "in discussion with our international partners and allies about how best to address this." Cavoli also acknowledged that the influx of Western arms flows into Ukraine poses the risk of weapons smuggling by or to illicit groups who could in turn use them to undermine U.S. interests elsewhere. "Establishing accountability over where all of that equipment [goes] is a vital task for us," Cavoli said, adding that doing so is "challenging right now" as the United States has no military presence in Ukraine. "As the conflict winds down or concludes that will be one of the things that I have to get at," he added, telling senators, "I share your concern on it." Cavoli, a Russian-speaker with extensive experience and expertise in the region, would take over at U.S. European Command as Putin, having failed to topple the government in Kyiv, has scaled down his ambitions in Ukraine. Putin's forces have made only slow, grinding progress in their renewed campaign to seize territory in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, Western intelligence assessments show. The Pentagon on Thursday said that Russian commanders are attempting to entrap Ukrainian forces defending key towns in Donbas even as the Kremlin's combat losses continue to mount in the face of significant resistance. The northeastern part of Severodonetsk, a strategic city in the region, appears to have been seized by Russian forces, said a senior U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity under ground rules established by the Pentagon. Collectively, this official said, the strategy amounts to "an encirclement effort" meant to cut off Ukrainian forces from reinforcement and resupply of Western weapons. The war, entering its fourth month, has been a costly endeavor for the Russians, the senior U.S. official said. They've lost about a thousand tanks, 350 artillery pieces, three dozen fighter-bomber aircraft and more than 50 helicopters, according to Pentagon estimates. More than 80% of Russia's go-to fighting units - battalion tactical groups - have been committed to the war effort, the official said, stressing, however, that Russian forces "still have a significant amount of their capability" left to fight. Ukrainian military officials have claimed their forces have expunged nearly 30,000 Russian troops from the battlefield. The Pentagon has declined to provide an estimate of either side's casualty figures. --- Pitrelli reported from Rome. The Washington Post's Shane Harris, Jennifer Hassan and Mary Ilyushina contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CEDAR CITY, Utah (AP) She walked up a red carpet and crossed a stage to accept her diploma wearing an eagle feather beaded onto her cap that her mother had gifted her. Amryn Tom graduated this week from southern Utah's Cedar City High School. Her family cheered. For the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah and other Native Americans, eagle feathers of the variety Tom wore are sacred items passed down through generations, used at ceremonies to signify achievement and connection with the community. This is from your ancestors, Tom said her mother, Charie, told her. One year ago, students in Tom's school district would have been barred from wearing any form of tribal regalia along with their traditional cardinal-colored caps and gowns. Not this year. In March, Utah joined a growing list of states in enshrining Native American students' rights to wear tribal regalia at their graduation ceremonies. In Iron County, where the school district tried to bar two graduates from wearing regalia at last year's ceremonies, Tom and other Native American students savored the hard-won right. Its kind of huge, said Paiute tribal member Brailyn Jake, an eagle feather and beads dangling from her turquoise cap. Her cousin was one of the students stopped from donning beads last year. People dont understand our culture, the meaning behind it and how, when youre turned down for something this big, its kind of like, wow," Jake said. Students across the U.S. often sport flower leis or flashy sashes at graduation with little controversy. But the rules governing tribal regalia at high school graduations have emerged as a legislative issue in several red and blue states after reports of students being prevented from wearing attire like Jake and Tom's. Arizona, California, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota and Washington all recently enacted laws that either enshrine students rights or bar schools from enforcing dress codes banning tribal regalia. After passing through the legislature, a bill with similar provisions is being sent to Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy. In Utah, Paiute Chairwoman Corrina Bow brought the issue to state lawmakers after last year's two Iron County incidents. The district had no formal rules prohibiting Native American students from donning regalia. Bow noted the graduation rate for Native American and Alaskan Native students was 74% in 2019, the lowest of any demographic group, and told lawmakers that guaranteeing students statewide the right to wear regalia would allow them to honor their culture, religion and heritage. Similar controversies have occurred at schools in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, suburban Chicago and elsewhere, with graduates being barred from wearing everything from beadwork and moccasins to sealskin caps. The incidents pit Native American students and their parents against administrators who say they want to maintain uniformity at graduation ceremonies. Emalyce Kee, who is Navajo and Rosebud Sioux, was one of the two students told not to wear a beaded cap or plumes to her Cedar City High School graduation ceremony last year. She did it anyway. Before walking across the stage to accept her diploma, Kee switched out her plain cap for one with a plume and beadwork by her uncle. Half a dozen family members in the front row applauded. "I hadn't felt that powerful before that moment, standing up with my diploma, with my Native cap on and then shaking my principals hand," Kee said. At a high school that used Redmen as its mascot until 2019, Kee and her mother, Valerie Glass, said it stuck with them how the principal had argued beaded caps would set a precedent to allow all students to decorate their graduation attire. Its not decorative regalia. It's traditional beaded regalia. How can you have the Cedar Redmen for so long and not honor your Native American students? Glass said. Iron County Superintendent Lance Hatch was not available for comment. Hoksila Lakota gifted his nephew Elijah James Wiggins, who is of Lakota ancestry, an eagle feather in honor of his graduation from Cedar City High School on Wednesday. He said eagle feathers called wamblii wakan in Lakota are fundamental to celebrating once-in-a-lifetime achievements, with many believing they hold a connection to God. These arent something you find on the floor and do whatever with, he said. "These are sacred items given from grandfather to son or uncle to nephew." ___ Metz reported from Salt Lake City. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) The circumstantial evidence against Nathan Carman had been lying in plain sight for years before his surprising indictment and arrest this month on allegations he killed his mother at sea off New England in a plot to inherit millions of dollars. Federal prosecutors in Vermont are not commenting on the timing of their decision to put the case before a grand jury, and the indictment offers no clues and no new information on the case, which included a dramatic rescue at sea and the suspicious deaths of two members of a wealthy New England family. Legal experts and other law enforcement officials say the delay in bringing a criminal case could be the result of several factors, including that his mother and his boat have never been found. Its very difficult to charge murder federally ... so I think what the government has been doing for the last six years is to build its case to charge him with mail fraud and wire fraud, said Jessica Brown, a former state and federal public defender who is now an assistant professor at Vermont Law School. The grand jury indictment accuses Carman, 28, of Vernon, Vermont, of murder and fraud in the killing of his mother, Linda Carman, during a fishing trip that began in Rhode Island. Carman made international headlines when he was found alone in a life raft near Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, eight days after he and his mother left port. The indictment also accuses him of fatally shooting his millionaire grandfather, John Chakalos, in 2013 in Connecticut, but does not charge him with that killing. He has repeatedly denied any involvement in both deaths. Federal prosecutors say their deaths paved the way for Carman to inherit an estimated $7 million his mothers share of Chakalos estate. The inheritance remains tied up in probate court in Connecticut, where his mother's three sisters are seeking to bar Carman from receiving any money from his grandfathers estate. Seven of the eight counts in the indictment are charges related to what prosecutors allege were fraudulent efforts to get money from his grandfathers estate or insurance companies. The other count accuses Carman of killing his mother. Vermont U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest, through a spokesperson, declined to comment on the case. Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels, whose office is defending Carman, also declined to comment on the indictment. His state of mind is strong, and he knows he has a good team of defense lawyers working for him, Desautels said. Some law enforcement officials who were involved in the investigation said the indictment could be the result of new evidence that is not being disclosed. Or, perhaps, federal prosecutors in Vermont were more aggressive in assembling all the evidence collected by a variety of local, state and federal agencies and presenting it to a grand jury. One of the issues is jurisdiction, especially when you cross state lines, and who has the ability to bring all that together under one roof," said Donald Melanson, police chief in Windsor, Connecticut, where Chakalos was killed. And I think thats why, rightfully so, the U.S. attorneys office took that and took responsibility for that and brought everything together. When you look at the overall picture ... it brings, to me, a very clear picture of how everything tied together to achieve his (Carman's) goals," he said. In 2014, before Melanson joined the department, Windsor police drafted an arrest warrant charging Carman with murder in his grandfather's death, but a state prosecutor declined to sign it and requested more information, according to a search warrant for Linda Carman's home in Middletown, Connecticut, obtained by police after she disappeared at sea. Neither state nor federal prosecutors in Connecticut or Rhode Island ever brought any charges against Carman. The case went cold. Then came the ill-fated fishing trip, which roused investigators' suspicions about Carman. But the probe into Linda Carman's disappearance also failed to produce an arrest. In 2017, investigators began keeping tabs on a lawsuit filed in federal court in Providence, Rhode Island, where insurers and Carman were suing each other over his rejected $85,000 claim for the loss of his boat, named the Chicken Pox. The insurance case tied all the evidence together and may have spurred a new effort to charge Carman, current and former investigators said. The insurers' lawyers laid out a case accusing Carman of plotting both killings and covering them up, using police investigation findings and information they obtained themselves, including: A month before Chakalos shooting, Carman bought a rifle that can fire the same bullets as the ones used in the shooting. Carman invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a deposition when asked about the rifle, which was never found. Carman destroyed his laptop computer's hard drive and a GPS device in his truck after his grandfather was killed. He again took the Fifth when asked why. Before the 2016 fishing trip, Carman had altered the boat in ways that contributed to its sinking, the judge in the Rhode Island case found in rejecting Carman's insurance claim. Witnesses testified he removed two stabilizing trim tabs from the stern, near the vessels waterline, leaving holes that he tried to seal with an epoxy stick. An expert on tidal patterns testified the life raft could not have floated toward Marthas Vineyard from the spot Carman claimed the boat sank, but in fact would have drifted in the opposite direction. Carmans attorneys said that it was the first time he had used sea charts and that he was confused about the boats location. After his grandfather was killed, Carman inherited about $550,000. By late summer 2016, prosecutors said Carman, who had moved from Connecticut to Vermont, was unemployed and low on funds after quickly burning through most of that money, much of which he spent on his new home. It was then that he set up the fishing trip with his mother with plans to kill her, authorities said. The relationship between mother and son was strained, but fishing was one of the ways they were still able to connect. Carman remains detained while his case is pending. Federal prosecutors argued in court documents that he should remain locked up while awaiting trial because he poses a flight risk and is a danger to the community. Prosecutors cited the violence and planning involved in the two killings and his apparent lack of ties to his community a factor in bail arguments. They said he has little personal interaction with other people, having alienated his family because of his conduct. They also said he discontinued the mental health treatment he had received from early childhood until he was 17. They wrote that Carman was diagnosed with potential mood and psychotic disorders in 2011, and that he had a history of hostility and aggression. Carman and his relatives also have said he has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism that can be characterized by social awkwardness and repetitive behavior but is not associated with an increased likelihood of violence. Carman has said he is misunderstood and an easy target for police because he has Asperger's. ___ Lavoie reported from Richmond, Virginia. Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Lisa Rathke in Montpelier, Vermont, and Jennifer McDermott in Providence, Rhode Island, as well as AP news researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York. PHOENIX (AP) Prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against an Arizona police officer in the death of a 17-year-old boy who was shot in the back twice during a foot chase in which authorities say the teen appeared to turn toward the officer with a gun his hand. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said on Thursday that she concluded that Chandler police Officer Chase Bebak-Miller didnt commit a crime in the shooting that led to the January 2021 death of Anthony Cano. Two minutes after he was shot, Cano told the officer that he was trying to throw away the gun. The prosecutor said the officer feared during the chase that the teen had a gun because Canos right hand remained on his waistband and that Cano dropped a handgun to brace himself when he tripped. Mitchell said Cano quickly picked up the gun and appeared to turn toward the officer with the gun in his right hand, leading the officer to fire the first of two shots at the teen. The officer then shot Cano, who was on the ground at the time, a second time. When he fired the second shot, Mitchell said, the officer still believed he was in danger because he didnt realize Canos gun had been tossed aside. I believe we do not have a reasonable likelihood of conviction in that second shot. And I agree its hard to watch, Mitchell told reporters. The encounter was captured by Bebak-Miller's bodycam. Greg Kuykendall, an attorney representing Canos family, said in a statement that the 17-year-old suffered an agonizing death and called Mitchells decision not to charge the officer legally and morally indefensible. Kuykendall said that a criminal prosecution could serve as a wake up call to future perpetrators of inexcusable violence against children like Anthony, to police departments who encourage a culture of violence, to officers who face no repercussions whatsoever for their indefensible aggression. The Chandler Police Department declined to comment on Mitchells decision. Police have said Bebak-Miller saw Cano riding his bike at night and swerve into another lane, leading the officer to turn on his siren and lights. The boy abandoned the bike and ran into a park. The officer shouted at Cano to stop moments just moments before the shooting unfolded. As officers to tried to help the handcuffed teen with his injuries, Cano said he was trying to throw away the gun. Well, I thought you were pulling it on me, man, Bebak-Miller said. No, no, Cano said. Bebak-Miller profanely told Cano that what he did was stupid. Cano died at a hospital three weeks later. The city of Chandler paid more than $1 million to settle legal claims filed by Canos parents. Maputo The Mozambican Federation of Road Transport Operators (Fematro) has threatened that its Maputo members may pull their vehicles off the roads, unless they receive help from the government, reports Wednesday's issue of the independent newssheet "Mediafax". Interviewed by the paper, Fematro chairperson Castigo Nhamane said transport operators in the Greater Maputo Metropolitan Area could not continue to operate with the current costs of transport. He urged the government to find mechanisms that would make transport a viable business. He was speaking after a meeting with Maputo operators which discussed the position to be taken towards the latest increase in fuel prices. As of Tuesday, the price of diesel rose by 11.3 per cent, and that of petrol by 7.6 per cent. Even before this increase, "the situation was extremely bad", said Nhamane. Operators had been allowed to put up their fares by two meticais (3.1 US cents, at the current exchange rate) in January, but that had all been devoured by subsequent increases in fuel prices. He accused the government of "a lack of will" to understand the real situation of the transport business. The increases in fuel prices so far this year, Nhamane claimed, had put an extra 17 meticais onto the cost of a litre of diesel, the fuel normally used in buses and minibuses. Nhamane claimed that most of the price of fuel ends up in the government's pockets though taxation - but the government says it slashed diesel and petrol taxes by four meticais per litre in order to reduce the impact of the price rises. Nhamane wanted to oblige passengers to pay for the increased fuel costs - he could see no way forward other than an increase in bus fares. Some of the participants at Tuesday's meeting wanted to press ahead with a unilateral fare rise. But, after a great deal of discussion, the meeting agreed "to wait a little while", for the government's response. A meeting will be held, probably on Friday, between the transport operators, the Maputo and Matola municipalities, the Transport Ministry and the Greater Maputo Metropolitan Agency. In addition to the fuel price rises, the operators also protested at the costs of other inputs. such as batteries and oils, and of the tolls now being charged along the Maputo Ring Road. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) A North Carolina woman has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison for conspiring with others to defraud North Carolina's Medicaid system by turning in more than $4 million in fake claims for behavioral health services. Sharita Mathis Richardson of Greensboro was also sentenced on Wednesday to three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit health care fraud. She pleaded guilty to the charge in March 2021, said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Police have charged a Kentucky man with killing his wife and two adult daughters, authorities said. Steven Wilson, 64, was charged Wednesday with three counts of murder-domestic violence in the deaths of Lisa Wilson, 65, Bryonny Wilson, 42, and Bronwyn Wilson, 38, Lexington Police said in a statement. Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn told news outlets that the women killed were Wilson's wife and daughters. Officers responded to a report of a disorder with a gun at the family's home Wednesday afternoon and found the victims suffering from gunshot wounds, police said. They were pronounced dead at the scene. Wilson was taken to the Fayette County Detention Center. Online jail records don't say whether he has an attorney. GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) Alabama Republican Party officials are incredibly upset about a mix-up in Etowah County that might have caused some primary voters to get ballots for the wrong legislative district, and are looking at options for how to proceed, the party chairman said Thursday. The problem affected House of Representatives Districts 28 and 29, Secretary of State John Merrill and Etowah County Probate Judge Scott Hassell said in a joint statement. They said the Etowah County Board of Registrars was responsible for sorting voters into the legislative districts. They said they learned Tuesday that a problem, first identified in late April, of some voters being listed in the wrong district had not been corrected, or corrected entirely. MANISTEE COUNTY The following includes reports made to the Manistee County Sheriffs Office from April 28 to May 2. All calls may not be reported. This is part of a lengthy report and is compiled by assistant editor Arielle Breen. April 28 A person was reported to have been driving without insurance at 10:44 a.m. in Norman Township. Deputies responded to an adult protective services referral at midnight in Manistee Township. Deputies conducted a child protective services investigation at 10:50 a.m. in Bear Lake Township. A person was reported to have been driving without insurance at 2 p.m. in Manistee Township. A traffic hazard was reported at 2:36 p.m. in Manistee Township. A domestic incident was reported in Manistee Township. Deputies conducted a well-being check on livestock at 6:02 p.m. in Bear Lake Township. April 29 A vehicle was reported to have been unlawfully driven away at 3:48 a.m. in Norman Township. Two embezzlement incidents were reported at 6 a.m. in Maple Grove Township. Fraud and identification theft was reported at 6 a.m. in Maple Grove Township. Threats were reported at 9:30 a.m. in Stronach Township. A vehicle-semitrailer property damage crash was reported at 11:04 a.m. in Manistee Township. Deputies conducted a well-being check on a dog at noon in Manistee Township. Deputies assisted Manistee High School with a threat in the city of Manistee. Larceny in a building and organized crime was reported at 2:30 p.m. in Filer Township. The items being stolen were also reported to have been sold. A civil dispute was reported at 3:49 p.m. in Marilla Township. Deputies conducted a well-being check on dogs at 2:23 p.m. in the city of Manistee. A person was reported to have driven away without paying for gasoline at 4:56 p.m. in Dickson Township. A suspicious situation was reported at 11:49 p.m. in Norman Township. April 30 A structure fire was reported at 3:49 a.m. in Maple Grove Township. A suspicious situation was reported at 3 p.m. in Bear Lake Township. A two-vehicle property damage crash was reported at 3:09 p.m. in Bear Lake Township. Deputies transported an inmate to Traverse City. Deputies assisted EMS with a disorderly person at 6:47 p.m. in Filer Township. Deputies assisted EMS with an overdose at 7:53 p.m. in Bear Lake Township. A person was reported to have misused 911 with a call of unlawful imprisonment at 6:41 p.m. in Norman Township. May 1 A person was reported to have been trespassing at 2:16 p.m. in Norman Township. A person was reported to have been unwanted at a location and a suspicious situation was reported at 3:10 p.m. in Cleon Township. May 2 A person was reported to have been trespassing at 10:39 p.m. in Norman Township. A person was reported to have been driving without insurance, without a plate and with a suspended license at 11:46 a.m. in Pleasanton Township. Deputies assisted Michigan State Police at 12:22 p.m. in Springdale Township. A two-vehicle property damage crash was reported at 1:51 p.m. in Stronach Township. Deputies assisted Michigan State Police at 1:32 p.m. in Norman Township. Animal control was called to Manistee Township at 2:44 p.m. for a complaint and animal surrender. A reckless driver was reported at 4:56 p.m. in Eastlake. Larceny from a vehicle was reported at 6:03 p.m. in Bear Lake Township. Threats were reported in Filer Township. A dog was reported missing at 5:10 p.m. in the city of Manistee. A dog was reported to have been running loose at 4:21 p.m. in Bear Lake Township. PHOENIX (AP) The Arizona Senate's ethics committee voted Wednesday to formally investigate a Republican lawmaker's online comments that appeared to blame the federal government for the recent massacre at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. The panel was directed by the full Senate last week to look into an online post Sen. Wendy Rogers made the night a young white man went into the market in a predominately Black neighborhood and fatally shot 10 people. Authorities say the gunman had posted a racist screed before the May 14 attack. Rogers, who is in her first term, has built a national profile among the far right with inflammatory rhetoric and vociferous support for former President Donald Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Democrats wanted to expel Rogers, who was just censured by the Senate on March 1. That action came after she spoke at a white nationalist gathering and said that her political opponents should face a newly built set of gallows. As news of the mass shooting in Buffalo was just becoming known, Rogers tweeted: Fed boy summer has started in Buffalo. Many in both parties took that tweet to mean that Rogers was blaming the attack on the federal government, especially in light of Rogers history of embracing conspiracy theories. Rogers did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday. She did not comment when the Senate debated the ethics referral while she sat at her Senate floor desk last week. The ethics panel ordered its attorneys to review the online posts and their context. Rogers, who represents Flagstaff and a wide swath of northern Arizona, will also be interviewed. She will have a week after the report is complete to provide a response. The panel did not set a deadline for the investigation's completion, but Senate lawyer Chris Kleminich told reporters that he expects the process to take weeks, not months. He said he expected Rogers to cooperate with his review. The Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, could decide on discipline ranging from a formal censure to expulsion once the report is complete. It could also drop the matter with no action. The Ethics Committee also acted on two other matters at Wednesday's brief meeting. It ordered Kleminich to suggest possible changes to state laws on when a public office should be declared vacant. The panel was acting on a request from Republican Sen. T.J. Shope, who complained that Democratic Sen. Juan Mendez has been absent for nearly the entirety of this year's session. Mendez's wife, Democratic Rep. Athena Salman, gave birth to the couple's first child in January. The couple have not attended floor debates or votes this year to avoid being exposed to the coronavirus and infecting their infant daughter. Both asked to be able to participate and vote remotely, as members were allowed to do last year, but were denied. They could vote from their Capitol offices but have done so rarely. The Senate also dismissed an ethics complaint that accused Democratic Sen. Lisa Otondo of helping Democratic Rep. Robert Meza cover up an alleged fraud and public corruption scheme. The House Ethics Committee voted May 5 not to act on the complaint against Meza filed by Scottsdale resident Phillip Potter. Potter was involved in a bitter divorce with his wife and filed what courts called frivolous lawsuits against her parents, business associates and companies her firm had done business with. Meza was named in one lawsuit, and his lawyer said the ethics complaint also was intended to lash out at her associates. A Phoenix judge last week refused Potter's request to reconsider his ruling throwing out one lawsuit. The judge also ordered Potter to pay nearly $70,000 in legal fees for attorneys who represented the people and businesses Potter sued. The Court agrees that Plaintiffs inexplicable expansion of a family court dispute has caused the dismissed parties to incur significant attorneys fees and costs to defend an entirely frivolous action, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Jay Ryan Adelman wrote. - This story has been updated to correct the date of Buffalo supermarket shooting to May 14. PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) A 13-year-old boy was arrested on terrorism charges after alleging threatening to shoot up the Prescott middle school he attended, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said. The student allegedly made the threat three times May 17 while speaking to the bus driver before getting off the bus, a sheriff's office said Wednesday in a statement. Markus Schreiber/AP MADRID (AP) The Spanish government will tighten judicial control over the countrys intelligence agency, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Thursday, weeks after the agency admitted it had spied on several pro-independence supporters in the region of Catalonia with judicial authorization. The countrys National Intelligence Center, or CNI, has been under fire since April, after Canada-based digital rights group Citizen Lab alleged that the phones of more than 60 Catalan politicians, lawyers and activists had been hacked with controversial spyware. The CNI later acknowledged in a closed-door meeting with Spanish lawmakers that it had hacked into the cellphones of some of these politicians. CAIRO (AP) The United States on Thursday urged Yemen's Houthi rebels to release all U.S. Embassy local staffers that they had detained, following the death of one of them after seven months in captivity. The Iran-backed Houthis seized the headquarters of the U.S. Embassy in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa last October. They detained dozens of former staffers, many of whom were later released but at least 11 remained in the rebels' custody. Yemen, the Arab world's poorest nation, has been fractured by a brutal civil war since 2014, when the Houthis seized Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war a year later to try and restore the government to power. Washington shut down its embassy in 2015. In a tweet, the embassy, now operating outside of Yemen, said it was mourning Abdulhameed Al-Ajami, a retired employee of the U.S. Agency for International Development, describing him as an innocent grandfather and a proud Yemeni dedicated to educating children in his country. We extend our condolences to his loved ones and call on the Houthis to end this injustice and release every single current and former U.S. Embassy employee now," it said. On Wednesday, the U.S. State Department issued a statement confirming Al-Ajami's death but did not mention any details on the time or the circumstances of his death. The United States has been unceasing in its diplomatic efforts to secure the release of our Yemeni staff in Sanaa. We demand the Houthis release detained current and former U.S. employees, spokesman Ned Price said. The Houthis never charged Al-Ajami or any of the other captives or brought them to trial. The former USAID worker was already suffering from moderate kidney failure at the time of his detention and his condition worsened in recent weeks but he had no access to medication or medical help, according to an international aid worker. The aid worker spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the detentions with the media. The war in Yemen has created one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises and over the years turned into a regional proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. More than 150,000 people have been killed, including over 14,500 civilians. The fighting has stalemated and the warring sides agreed to a two-month cease-fire, which expires next week. The United Nations is now pushing to extend the truce. Occasional violence has persisted, however, On Thursday, at least five civilians were killed in the southern port city of Aden when a man dropped a hand grenade in a crowded market. The blast also wounded at least 20 people. BOISE, Idaho (AP) A Washington man is dead after a boating accident on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Custer County. Robert Gray, 63, of Mill Creek, Washington, was floating the river Tuesday afternoon when his raft struck a log jam, throwing him into the water, according to a news release from the sheriffs office. The accident took place around 2:30 p.m. near the Boundary Creek boat launch, northwest of Stanley. Officials with the East Bay Regional Park District are warning visitors and hikers of its parks to be aware of the re-emergence of snakes -- most notably rattlesnakes -- along some regional park trails. Park district staff said Wednesday that trails in the East Bay regional parks make up the natural habitat for snakes. In warm spring weather, snakes emerge to explore their environment, which can lead to more encounters with humans and dogs. Park district officials advise visitors and hikers to keep in mind the following safety precautions, including: Leave snakes, including rattlesnakes, alone. Do not try to capture it or harm it. All park wildlife is protected by law; Avoid hiking alone, in case you need help in an emergency; Scan the ground ahead of you as you walk, jog or ride a bike; Stay on trails, and avoid walking in tall grass. Watch your surroundings, and look under logs and rocks before sitting down; Keep dogs on designated trails and away from snakes. Fremont police arrested a 17-year-old boy Wednesday for allegedly making threats on social media about shooting a school employee and potentially other people at a school. The threats echo the actions taken Tuesday by a Texas teenager at an elementary school where 21 people were gunned down. Fremont police said the suspect made threats of gun violence against an employee at American High School, where the boy is a student, and that he also made comments about committing additional gun violence at an unnamed secondary school. Police arrested the boy on suspicion of making felony terrorist threats and a hate crime, as the threats included numerous racial epithets, according to a news release issued Wednesday night by the Fremont Police Department. Sonoma County supervisors approved the use of nearly $15 million this week to support local homelessness services and develop new housing for the county's homeless residents. The board voted to utilize $11.8 million in federal and state grants for services that benefit homeless residents like street outreach and emergency shelter operations. The board also approved using $2.6 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support local organizations that provide services to homeless residents. A man shot by a state parole officer Wednesday in Santa Rosa is in critical condition following emergency surgery, according to an 8 p.m. Facebook post from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. Detectives are investigating the officer-involved shooting, which took place about 1:40 p.m. in the 4400 block of Lahinch Lane in Santa Rosa involving parole agents with from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The area is in the north end of the city west of Nagasawa Park. The social media post included little information about the incident itself, aside from the following: "The Santa Rosa Police Department initially responded to assist as the event unfolded. According to the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chief's Association protocols, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office will be investigating this incident. Our investigation is just beginning, so we have no additional information to share at this time." Palo Alto police investigators are looking for a man who exposed himself to a high school-aged girl as she walked past his parked pickup truck on Arastradero Road Tuesday morning. Police released a sketch of the suspect Wednesday afternoon. At about 9:05 a.m. Tuesday, police dispatchers received a call about an indecent exposure incident that just occurred in the 600 block of Arastradero Road. Officers responded immediately, but they could not locate the suspect. The investigation revealed that the victim was walking westbound on the north sidewalk of Arastradero Road when she approached the truck, which was parked along the side of the road. The girl saw a man standing on the sidewalk side of the truck with his arm on its open window ledge. The victim then noticed that the man's pants were unbuckled and that he was masturbating. Large Oakland businesses will pay more in taxes under a proposal going before the City Council Thursday. A coalition of elected officials, business leaders and labor struck a compromise that will have businesses paying about $10,000 more in taxes on average if they have Oakland-based gross receipts of $50 million or more. Voters in November will need to approve of the measure if it passes the council. Council President Pro Tem Sheng Thao, who is running for mayor, brought the groups together on the proposal, which would raise about $22 million for the city's General Fund. The money would pay for parks, libraries, fire stations, and, among other things, needed city workers. The San Francisco Sheriff's Office announced this week plans to create nameplates for its deputies to let the public know if they are fluent in a language other than English. Nameplates for more than 100 deputies are in the works to denote that they speak Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish or Filipino, according to the Sheriff's Office, which said they are the first emergency responders in the city to launch such a program. The deputies have to be bilingual-certified through the city's Human Resources Department to receive the name tag, and other languages such as Vietnamese, Russian and Arabic will be included in the future, sheriff's officials said. Parents of Parker Elementary School students and their allies are planning to assume control of the Oakland school starting Wednesday evening on the last day of school in the Oakland Unified School District, organizers said. Following outcries over the last three months about the district's consolidation plan, which will affect Parker Elementary School, parents and their allies at 5 p.m. Wednesday plan to occupy the school and reopen it Monday as Parker Community School. A celebration of the liberation is planned for noon Saturday at the school at 7929 Ney Ave. The outcries from the community over the school district's consolidation plan have involved at least one hunger strike, at least one student-led walkout, and a one-day unfair labor strike by the district's teachers. Despite the outcries, the school district has remained steadfast in its plan for consolidation due to declining enrollment and therefore declining funding for the district. The National Weather Service forecast for Thursday for the San Francisco Bay Area calls for slightly cooler temperatures with highs in the upper 60s along the coast to the 70s and 80s bayside and inland with low 90s in the inland valleys. Overnight lows Thursday morning will range from the low to upper 50s around most of the region. Copyright 2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2022 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Mass shooters have killed hundreds of people throughout U.S. history in realms like stores, theaters and workplaces, but it is in schools and colleges where the carnage reverberates perhaps most keenly places filled with children of tender ages, older students aspiring to new heights and the teachers planting the seeds of knowledge, their journeys all cut short. If a mass shooting is defined as resulting in the death of four or more people, not including the perpetrator, 169 people have died in 14 such events connected to U.S. schools and colleges from 1999's Columbine High School massacre to Tuesday's shooting in Texas. That's according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University, and to other AP reporting: ROBB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, May 2022, 21 dead An 18-year-old gunman opened fire Tuesday at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two adults, officials said. Law enforcement killed the attacker. OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL, November 2021, 4 dead A sophomore student is accused of killing four people and wounding others at his school in Oxford, Michigan, near Detroit. His trial is set for September. His parents are charged with involuntary manslaughter; authorities say they ignored warning signs. SANTA FE HIGH SCHOOL, May 2018, 10 dead A shooter opened fire at a Houston-area high school, killing 10 people, most of them students, authorities said. The 17-year-old suspect has been charged with murder. MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL, February 2018, 17 dead An attack left 14 students and three staff members dead at the school in Parkland, Florida, and injured many others. The 20-year-old suspect was charged with murder. UMPQUA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, October 2015, 9 dead A man killed nine people at the school in Roseburg, Oregon, and wounded nine others, then killed himself. MARYSVILLE-PILCHUCK HIGH SCHOOL, October 2014, 4 dead A 15-year-old used text messages to draw several cousins and friends to his cafeteria table at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Washington state. He fatally shot four of them before killing himself. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA, May 2014, 6 dead A 22-year-old college student frustrated over sexual rejections fatally stabbed or shot six students near the school in Isla Vista, California, and injured several others before he killed himself. SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, December 2012, 27 dead A 19-year-old man killed his mother at their home in Newtown, Connecticut, then went to the nearby Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 20 first graders and six educators. He took his own life. OIKOS UNIVERSITY, April 2012, 7 dead A former nursing student fatally shot seven people at the small private college in East Oakland, California. He died in prison in 2019. NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, February 2008, 5 dead A 27-year-old former student shot and killed five people and wounded more than 20 others at the school in DeKalb, Illinois, before killing himself. VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY, April 2007, 32 dead A 23-year-old student killed 32 people on the campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, in April 2007; more than two dozen others were wounded. The gunman then killed himself. WEST NICKEL MINES AMISH SCHOOL, October 2006, 5 dead A 32-year-old man entered an Amish schoolhouse near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, dismissed the boys, bound the girls, and fatally shot five of them before killing himself. Five others were wounded. RED LAKE HIGH SCHOOL, March 2005, 9 dead A 16-year-old student killed his grandfather and the man's companion at their Minnesota home, then went to nearby Red Lake High School, where he killed five students, a teacher and a security guard before shooting himself. COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL, April 1999, 13 dead Two students killed 12 of their peers and one teacher at the school in Littleton, Colorado, and injured many others before killing themselves. Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media With the end of the most recent legislative session, we saw success in stopping bad legislation aimed at eroding local control of zoning. These proposed bills would not have resolved the lack of affordable housing in Connecticut. There is no question that affordable housing is of vital interest to support the economy in Connecticut. We just seek local solutions to address this issue, not state mandates. We also know that the effort to stop such legislation and protect local infrastructure, schools and the environment will need to continue as there will be an ongoing effort to push state mandated zoning legislation in future sessions. Our mission will continue to endeavor to protect local autonomy as well as to continue to strive to attain the 10 percent affordable housing mandate. In Greenwich, residents have been working hard with local and state leaders to coordinate efforts on presenting a unified and compelling case for retaining and expanding local control of zoning, including testifying on several bills that were introduced at the Capitol this session. These overreaching bills sought to undermine local say in beach access policy, carve up real estate lots within a half mile of train stations, and prohibit local zoning boards from having the ability to stop overdevelopment that will have profound effects on our town. Our efforts prevailed. When it comes to Israel, The Associated Press reporting is propaganda rather than news, and the coverage of the killing of Palestinian reporter Shireen Abu Akleh is a classic example of this anti-Semitic pattern (May 12). The reports information is based almost entirely on stories by Al Jazeera reporters who are Palestinian advocates and who are notorious for spreading not only misinformation but outright lies. Regrettable as her death may be, reporter Akleh was one of them, despite APs efforts to virtually sanctify her in this article. She was a Palestinian propagandist whose coffin was draped with a Palestinian flag and whose mourners chanted Islamist slogans about shedding blood. Whether she was killed by an Israeli or a Palestinian bullet is unknown because the Palestinian Authority has refused to allow Israeli scientists to examine the bullet, and has furthermore refused to participate in a joint and impartial Israeli-Palestinian-U.S. investigation. None of these inconvenient facts were in the AP article. Across the country, growing concern over crime has led to the same scapegoat: reform prosecutors. Progressive prosecutors have been blamed by conservative politicians and police unions pushing the false narrative that progressive criminal justice policies increase crime. Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schuberts rhetoric is just one example. She has attacked reforms to make parole more accessible and has pushed for harsher punishment for minor crimes like thefts. But her anti-reform approach does not promote safety; Sacramento has seen a dramatic increase in crimes, including homicides. Just last month, a mass shooting in Sacramento took six lives and injured 12. Nonetheless, Schubert has falsely blamed progressive prosecutors throughout California for upticks in crime. These types of comments belie the truth: Reform prosecutors approaches promote long-term public safety. Progressive prosecutors including my boss, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin have adopted markedly different priorities than the tough-on-crime strategies that long defined prosecutors. They focus on reducing unnecessary incarceration; centering victims; and addressing crimes root causes. Contrary to the attacks levied against them, these approaches center safety. To be sure, crime rates all over the country have increased, including a spike in homicides. Gun violence and gun ownership began rising in 2020, as the pandemic exacerbated inequality, limited housing access and caused a mental health crisis. But in California, it was Kern County that had the highest per capita homicide rate in the entire state in 2021 more than double as many as San Francisco, despite being about the same population size. The Republican DA there has blasted reforms like reducing sentencing enhancements. Nationally, one of the largest homicide increases occurred in Fort Worth, Texas where its tough-on-crime prosecutor attacked judges for setting bail she deemed too low. Memphis, Tennessee, has one of the highest murder rates in the country, despite its DAs punitive approach that includes prosecuting kids as adults. Indeed, murder rates have been 40% higher in Republican-run states. This is true beyond homicides; California jurisdictions with some of the harshest prosecutors like Riverside have the highest crime rates. And violent crime in California is worse in conservative jurisdictions. But only progressive prosecutors are made to answer for crime rates; I have yet to learn of a traditional prosecutor attacked for crime increases (take Oakland, where homicide rates have ballooned crime reports there rarely name, let alone blame, the longstanding DA). Similarly, in cities with progressive prosecutors, police are rarely impugned for crime increases, even when they solve fewer crimes. The truth is that progressive reforms have not negatively impacted crime rates; an examination of 35 jurisdictions found that reforms did not increase crime. When former Suffolk County (Boston) District Attorney Rachael Rollins now the first Black Massachusetts U.S. Attorney decided not to prosecute certain misdemeanor offenses it did not lead to crime upticks. Baltimore States Attorney Marilyn Mosby declining prosecutions for drug possession and prostitution cases did not increase crime. None of this is to minimize the significance of rising homicides or the impact of crime. But those committed to failed criminal justice approaches are capitalizing on fear to push for ineffective policies. Everyone deserves to be and feel safe. It is precisely that concern that drives progressive prosecutors; decades of punitive responses have devastated poor communities and communities of color and do not promote safety. Having the highest incarceration rate in the world has not deterred crime: Two-thirds of people leaving prison are quickly re-arrested, and pretrial incarceration makes people more likely to be arrested again. Incarceration makes securing housing, employment and other paths forward challenging. That is not to say incarceration is never appropriate but over-relying on incarceration fails to stop the recidivism cycle when the root causes driving behavior are never addressed. To achieve long-term safety, progressive prosecutors recognize that government must invest in housing, education and treatment to prevent the poverty, desperation and illness that often lead to crime. They use diversion programs which reduce recidivism to link people to treatment or employment. They support victims and focus resources on the most serious of crimes. Progressive prosecutors also develop innovative approaches to preventing crime. For example, DA Boudin sued manufacturers of ghost guns untraceable firearms sold online. He launched an auto burglary operation that used bait cars and trackers to identify and dismantle fencing networks. These approaches are far more impactful than individual sentences after a crime occurs. An honest conversation about criminal justice reform requires us to broaden our understanding of what public safety means and whose safety is valued. For many Black and brown communities disproportionately impacted by violent crime real public safety also means preventing police violence that creates a culture of fear and dissuades cooperation in solving crimes. Many low-income people face wage theft by corporate actors who fail to compensate them fairly. Progressive prosecutors use their prosecutorial power to hold accountable officers inflicting unlawful violence and corporations exploiting workers. Rather than blaming progressive prosecutors for national trends or giving oxygen to the false narrative that theyve caused increased crime we must have the honest, tough conversations about what it will take to reduce crime. We should not revert to failed approaches that will exacerbate the very problems that led us here. Instead, we should encourage prosecutors to focus on the investments needed to keep us all safe. Rachel Marshall is the director of communications, policy adviser and an assistant district attorney at the San Francisco District Attorneys Office. She also co-hosts the podcast "Chasing Justice" with District Attorney Chesa Boudin. She is on Twitter @RachelRMarshall. Earlier this month, a large black bear walked into a trap set by wildlife biologists in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The trap is large and rectangular, made of metal. Its designed to capture bears for research purposes. Once a bear is trapped, wildlife officials sedate it, collect DNA samples from hair, blood and saliva, perform a health evaluation, pin its ear with a tag and then release it back into the wild. All the information collected is added to a database that wildlife officials are using to learn more about bear behavior in Lake Tahoe. This particular bear was among the 41 individuals that wildlife officials have captured, tagged and released in Lake Tahoe since 2017. It was a 15-year-old male who had seemingly been living a good life deep in the woods. This was a bear that we only just learned about this weekend, said Jason Holley, a biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife who has worked with bears in the Lake Tahoe region for some 20 years. This bear was last recorded by Nevada wildlife officials back in 2007, on the other side of the lake. Since then, it had escaped the radar of humans, meaning it probably was living like a bear should, out in the wild. Obviously, its making a living not breaking into homes, not causing significant damage, otherwise we would have come across it, Holley said. In Tahoe, where bears commonly break into houses and cars to find food, or intrude upon picnics and campsites and help themselves to the cooler, or dive into dumpsters for trash fixings, this old wild-ish bear brought good news for Holley. Not all bears are bad, he said. CDFW calls its research initiative Trap, Tag, Haze, referring to the methods by which bears are captured, recorded and then released. The program began in 2017 and recently started up again this spring, when wildlife officials set up research traps in South Lake Tahoe with hopes of tagging and monitoring some of the bears that had been actively breaking into homes in the Tahoe Keys throughout the past year. In just the first couple weeks of the program starting back up this spring, officials captured, tagged and released another five bears. Wildlife officials say the program gives them invaluable data about Tahoes bear population, where bears are prone to eating human food and trash and, in their pursuit of food, cause extensive damage to homes and cars. Among the goals of the program, officials hope to learn more about population densities in different neighborhoods and how bears travel across the landscape. They also want to use DNA evidence collected from the tagged bears to trace family units of bears, hoping to learn more about learned behavior thats passed down from mother to cub. Were starting to draw comparisons on similar behaviors among related family units, which seems obvious to some, but it also backs it up with hard data, Holley said. Some bear advocates are critical of the traps, however. One veterinarian and 30-year Tahoe resident told the Tahoe Daily Tribune that she thought the traps were inhumane. And Ann Bryant, executive director of the Bear League, a nonprofit and grassroots organization that defends bears in Tahoe, agrees. Some of the information that [the CDFW] has gotten from these programs has given them a little bit, a little bit, of valuable data, Bryant said in an interview with SFGATE. But the way the program is executed is flawed, she continued. The ear tags are way too big and some of the bears have pulled off their ears to get rid of the tags. Bryant continued to list other ways the Trap, Tag, Haze initiative actually traumatizes bears. Once the bears are trapped, they are sedated with drugs that Bryant believes can cause long-term side effects. She holds contempt for traps set up in the forest, where she says bears should roam without fear of being captured. And shes especially critical of reports of hazing gone wrong. Hazing comes when wildlife officials release an animal from the trap and shoot nonlethal ammunition, paintball guns or bean bags to scare the bear so it will run away, ideally into the forest. The aim, Holley says, is to re-instill a fear of humans in the bear. He calls it tough love, and he sees hazing as giving bears another chance to become wild again. Were getting some interesting effects, Holley said. For some of them, it seems the hazing works pretty well and some of them go back into neighborhoods. Quite frankly, we dont expect severely habituated and conditioned bears to change from that activity. Bryant sees hazing differently. She told SFGATE of eyewitnesses who saw a hazed bear being steered into a highway. Its harassment of bears where they are supposed to be and then scaring them into a heavily populated neighborhood, she said. In our opinion, its driving the bears into town. Instead of trapping, tagging and hazing, Bryant would like to see wildlife officials employ other means of research and monitoring. She suggested collecting DNA samples from bears whose hair samples have snagged onto trees and bushes. They can tell so much more without having to do these horrific things to the bears, Bryant said. So I dont agree with this program at all. Many people in Tahoe believe humans are the root cause of bear conflicts and accept the responsibility of keeping bears out of their homes. Thats why so many homeowners are installing electric wires across their windows and installing bear-proof trash boxes. Since resuming the trap, tag, haze program, wildlife officials have moved traps from South Lake Tahoe to North Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Daily Tribune reported that some of the research traps are being sabotaged by people who pour ammonia around them. Ammonia is a scent that bears can detect and will avoid. Mother bears who are lactating and have cubs are released immediately, said Peter Tira, a spokesperson for CDFW. One night, a trap caught three year-old cubs while their mother was nearby, clearly aggravated that her cubs were behind the metal cage. Wildlife officials opened the trap and let them out, Tira said. These are research traps, Holley reiterated. Still, wildlife officials are encountering tense resistance when they go out to the traps. Just yesterday, I had some of my biologists accosted, for lack of a better word, with a phone in their face saying, What are you doing here? Holley said. Were getting scrutinized by some folks, even when were doing research. Vice Mayor of Vientiane, Mr. Phoukhong Bannavong and representatives of departments of Vientiane receive the delegation of Ho Chi Minh City high ranking officials at Wattay International Airport. (Photo: SGGP) Attending the trip was Major General Nguyen Truong Thang, Commander of Military Region 7; Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Nam, Commander of the HCMC High Command; Vice Chairman of the HCMC Peoples Committee Ngo Minh Chau and representatives of departments of the city. The visit is part of the activities to celebrate the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 as well as the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 45th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. It aims to further promote the Vietnam-Laos great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, and strengthen the implementation of cooperation projects between HCMC and Laotian localities. The delegation had a meeting with Vietnamese people who are living in Laos and will visit Vientiane Capital, Savannakhet and Champasak provinces. Secretary of HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen in a receiving ceremony at Wattay International Airport. The delegation of Ho Chi Minh City high-ranking officials has a five-day official visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic from May 25-29. Vice Mayor of Vientiane, Mr. Phoukhong Bannavong, representatives of departments of Vientiane and Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung received the delegation of Ho Chi Minh City high ranking officials at Wattay International Airport, beginning the five-day official visit to Laos from May 25-29. On May 26, the delegation had a working session with Laotian leaders at Vientiane , laid a wreath at a monument dedicated to unknown martyrs in Vientiane, and visited the Vientiane-Ho Chi Minh City Friendship High School. Afterwards, Secretary of HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen and the citys leaders will have a meeting with Mr. Anouphap Tounalom, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Peoples Council of Vientiane and Laotian students who studied in HCMC The delegation of HCMC's leaders lays a wreath at a monument dedicated to unknown martyrs in Vientiane. (Photo: SGGP) Secretary of HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen lays a wreath at the monument commemorating unknown martyrs in Vientiane. The delegation observes a minute of silence to commemorate fallen soldiers. The delegation pays tribute to martyrs. The delegation of HCMC's leaders visits the monument dedicated to unknown martyrs in Vientiane. Secretary of HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen (L) and Vice Mayor of Vientiane, Mr. Phoukhong Bannavon. By Van Minh Translated by Kim Khanh Page Content Should an employee notify a California employer that he or she will not be able to return to work upon the expiration of Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)/California Family Rights Act (CFRA) leave, the employer must determine whether to grant additional leave as a reasonable accommodation of the employee's disability. Should an employee simply fail to show up for work upon the expiration of FMLA/CFRA leave, you should not immediately terminate the employee for job abandonment. Rather, you should contact the employee and inquire whether he or she needs additional leave and, if so, how much leave. You may require a medical certification of the employee's need for additional leave. If the employee has not exhausted his or her 12 weeks of FMLA/CFRA leave, you must give the employee 15 days to respond. Otherwise, you must give the employee a reasonable amount of time to respond, but you should set a specific deadline. Only if the employee fails to respond to such a communication regarding need for additional leave would termination for job abandonment be warranted. Intermittent Leave An employee may use FMLA/CFRA leave on an intermittent basis up to the total amount of leave available, which is 480 hours per year for a full-time employee. Intermittent leave may be taken in daily increments, or in increments as small as the smallest increments you allow employees to take vacation or PTO. Common examples of the use of intermittent leave include whole- or part-day absences for therapy or treatment. Unfortunately, however, employees who qualify for intermittent leave due to chronic conditions that may flare up, such as migraine headaches or bipolar disorder, may take intermittent leave with little or no prior notice. You may require an employee who is taking intermittent leave to transfer to an alternate position at the same pay and benefits during the period of such leave. If an employee needs leave intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule for planned medical treatment, then the employee must make reasonable efforts. Three Good Ways to Get Sued by an Employee Who Took Leave The following are not lawful reasons for failing to reinstate an employee returning from leave: You discovered during the employee's absence that you no longer needed him or her. You hired a temp to cover for the employee on leave, and you like the temp better. You did not think the employee would be returning from leave, so you replaced him or her. Failing to return an employee from leave for one of these reasons will almost certainly result in a lawsuit. This article is excerpted from Chapter 15 of the newly released California Employment Law: A Guide for Employers, Revised and Updated for 2022 by James J. McDonald, Jr. Congressman Ami Bera of California, along with Congresswoman Deborah Ross, Senator Alex Padilla, and Senate judiciary committee chair Dick Durbin, called for the passage of America's CHILDREN Act. FREMONT, CA: Last week, Congressman Ami Bera of California, along with Congresswoman Deborah Ross, Senator Alex Padilla, and Senate judiciary committee chair Dick Durbin, called for the passage of America's CHILDREN Act, bipartisan legislation that will protect documented dreamers who are dependents of long-term non-immigrant visa holders from aging out of the system when they turn 21. Several documented dreamers accompanied the parliamentarians, sharing their stories and advocating for the Bill. Improve The Dream brought a delegation of 40 youth members from throughout the country to the US Capitol to lobby. Dip Patel created Improve The Dream, a youth-led organization that fights for children of legal immigrants who grew up in the United States but have no clear path to citizenship because they "age out" of the system at the age of 21. Documented dreamers is a term used to describe them. Over 20 young immigrants from Improve, The Dream visited the White House this week for the first time, meeting with senior immigration officials to discuss the issue of aging out and the backlog of green cards for affected youngsters. They were able to express their stories not just to the president, but also to their legislatorsthe congresspeople who represent them. They met senators and congressmen from Indiana, Florida, Iowa, and other states as a result of their advocacy. Over 200,000 children and young adults are dependents of long-term non-immigrant visa holders in the United States (including H-1B, L-1, E-1, and E-2 workers). These people are born and raised in the United States, and they attend American schools and institutions. Documented dreamers are not eligible for protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy or the work authorization that comes with it because they have retained legal status. Senators Padilla and Rand Paul introduced bipartisan America's CHILDREN Act in the Senate by Representatives Ross, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Andy Kim in July. If passed, the bill would put an end to aging out and give these young individuals a road to permanent residency. The so-called documented dreamers, who are estimated to be about 250,000, grew up legally in the US but risk deportation when they turn 21. FREMONT, CA: For the first time, White House officials met with a group of documented 'dreamers,' largely Indian-Americans, to listen to their fears about ageing out and suggest that constructive steps should be taken to save them from having to leave the country where they have spent practically their entire lives. The estimated 250,000 "documented dreamers" grew up legally in the United States but face deportation when they turn 21. Improve the Dream, a youth-led grassroots organization working for the rights of documented dreamers is looking forward to seeing significant policy reform, both administrative and legislative, to end ageing out. A meeting with Betsy Lawrence, Deputy Assistant to the President for Immigration, and Erika L. Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President for Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Affairs, was held earlier this week by Improve the Dream. Even though these children have been visiting Washington, DC for several years, this is the first time senior White House officials have met them. Sri Harini Kundu expressed her gratitude to the White House officials who took their time out of their busy schedules to listen to their experiences and offer assistance. He also appreciated everything that was done to assist them and remarked that it was a surreal experience to meet White House officials at the White House as the first group in such a circumstance. Mr Harini immigrated to the United States when he was seven years old and has since lived in three states: Texas, New Jersey, and North Carolina. As children, Eti and her twin sister Eva were brought to the United States by their father when he began his PhD, they are now 25. Their father's employer-sponsored their father and dependents for a green card when they were in middle school. Eva and Eti bounced from temporary visa to temporary visa after their parents' visa and green card applications expired. Chandana Karumanchi noted that speaking to these government officials about her experience was an amazing event for her after years of feeling alone and out of control. Over 250,000 children and young adults are dependents of long-term nonimmigrant visa holders in the United States (including H-1B, L-1, E-1, and E-2 workers). These people are born and raised in the United States, and they attend American schools and institutions. Documented dreamers are not eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or the work authorization that comes with it because they have retained legal status. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! San Mateo, CA (94402) Today Partly cloudy. High around 70F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low around 55F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Agrawal appeared at Twitters virtual annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, saying from the outset he would not answer any questions about the pending deal, which shareholders will vote on at a later date. Behind the scenes, employees and advisers said, Agrawal has been working with bankers and board members to close Twitters sale to Musk, even though the billionaire has recently suggested he wanted to renegotiate and has made barbed comments about the company. Twitter staff remain uneasy as they await a resolution to the Elon Musk takeover. Credit:Bloomberg Agrawal has also doubled down on his plans to overhaul Twitter while he can. This month, he fired two top executives, paused most hiring and pulled back on discretionary spending after the company missed financial goals. He also plans to enhance Twitters features using machine learning, wants to make the platform more attractive to new users and move more swiftly to debut new products, according to a presentation at a company meeting this month. I know weve been going through a period of uncertainty, Agrawal said at that meeting, according to a recording of it that was obtained by The New York Times. We are shifting our focus back to our work. Agrawal joined Twitter as an engineer in 2011 while completing his doctoral studies in computer science at Stanford. He then rose steadily through the companys ranks, becoming chief technology officer in 2017. He has spent most of his career at the company and has more than 610,000 followers on the service. When Dorsey passed the reins to Agrawal in November, the engineer went from overseeing a handful of employees to instantly managing more than 7,000 people. My trust in him as our CEO is bone-deep, Dorsey said at the time. Agrawal immediately made changes. Days after becoming CEO, he dismissed two top executives responsible for design and engineering. He gave remaining leaders broader responsibilities. In internal emails seen by the Times, he stressed accountability, saying the new structure would clarify who was responsible for what tasks and speed up decision-making. In January, Agrawal pushed out two security executives. In an internal memo, he said the organisation was not being led according to his expectations, which was affecting top-priority work. Some Twitter employees applauded the moves, saying that some of the ousted executives had been sluggish or had bullied workers. Others were shocked that Agrawal had dismissed longtime leaders and found him inscrutable. By March, Musk had started building up a large stake in Twitter. On March 31, Agrawal spoke with Musk to pitch him on joining Twitters board, according to a regulatory filing. Musk initially agreed, then reversed course. Musk said he was also weighing a bid to take Twitter private and had an idea of starting a new social media company, according to the filing. Musk has been sparring with Agrawal on Twitter since announcing the deal. Credit:Getty Images It was Agrawals first brush with Musks unpredictable style, which quickly became routine. Musk soon launched a takeover bid for the company, sealed the deal and then needled Agrawal on Twitter over issues such as fake accounts. When Agrawal tried addressing the concerns on Twitter, Musk responded by sending him a poop emoji. At Twitter, some employees soured on Agrawal, according to 10 current and former employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity. He told workers he could not share information on the deal with Musk as details were hashed out. He was also initially quiet at company meetings, they said, and was absent from an internal employee chat. Agrawals supporters said he was legally restricted from sharing information about the deal, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and internally he expressed his frustrations with being unable to initially say more about the deal. After the agreement was signed, Twitter held staff meetings and sent more than a dozen emails to update workers. Last week, Twitter let employees ask Vijaya Gadde, the head of legal and policy, and Ned Segal, the chief financial officer, questions about the deal. Many employees remain uncertain about their futures at the company, several people said. Some are also bristling at the golden parachutes that Agrawal and other top executives will receive if they are fired after the deal with Musk closes, the people said. Loading Agrawal has told confidants that he will carry out his plans rather than simply waiting for Musk to take over. After slashing spending and freezing nearly all hiring at the company this month, he tried to rally workers. During this time of change, its critical that we continue to strengthen our work through increased accountability and execution to make Twitter everything it can be, he wrote in an email to employees, which was seen by the Times. Our purpose is existential. Years ago, I read an academic paper where the authors said bluntly that the experience of being stalked was common and increasing in Australia. The 2002 research was terrifying, but I figured it was a small sample in Victoria, so maybe not generalisable. Still, I tucked away the statistic, with all my other worries about womens safety in this country, not at all reassured by the knowledge that all Australian states and territories made stalking a distinct crime in the 1990s. If Id ever thought those laws might make a difference after a period of time, I was wrong. In 2017, the Australian Bureau of Statistics made it crystal clear: one in five women (1.6 million) and 1 in 13 men (663,800) experienced stalking during their lives. Author Ellis Gunn. Credit:Sarah Wilson Ellis Gunns book Rattled gives us a first-person account of what it is like to be the victim of a stalker. She does a brilliant job, so brilliant that a few pages in, I had to Google her to make sure she was still alive. Of course, my logical self knew she was the book is testament to her indomitable spirit, her support networks and her very existence but the power of the writing made it just ever so possible that this was somehow a living will, all that remained of her. The story begins in Adelaide, where Gunn has just dropped her son at school. A man calls out to her. She knows him vaguely. The conversation, if you can call it that, takes an unsettling turn. There has already been one awkward conversation at a previous meeting where The Man, as she calls him, asks far too many personal questions, including asking her for her phone number, for her email address. Shes said no, but hes still in hot pursuit. And will be for quite some time. The creators of the musical Six, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, knew the rhyme chanted in classrooms around the world to remember the grisly fates of the wives of King Henry VIII: divorced, beheaded and died, divorced, beheaded, survived. But that was about the extent of their knowledge of Tudor history. Then, in their final year at Cambridge University, where Marlow studied English and Moss history, the two theatre fans decided to write a musical comedy. From left, Phoenix Jackson Mendoza, Kala Gare, Loren Hunter, Kiana Daniele, Chelsea Dawson and Vidya Makan play the six wives of Henry VIII. Credit:Steven Siewert Neither of us were big Tudor buffs, thats not really where the idea came from, Marlow says. It was wanting to write something that had a famous group of women at the forefront. We had so many incredibly talented friends at uni who were women and non-binary performers, who would get to sing ballads about loving a man or not being loved by a man. And then we thought, wouldnt it be fun to write a show with a bunch of pop bangers that would allow a female cast to be hilarious and charismatic and have as much pizzazz and charisma as the boys songs usually have in musicals. Toby Marlow (left) and Lucy Moss wrote Six while they were students at Cambridge University. Credit:New York Times Over the course of 10 non-consecutive days in 2017 they wrote their musical comedy featuring Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr as pop princesses with an all-girl back-up band. By that summer it had been selected for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and now five years on it has become an international hit with rave reviews in London, New York, Chicago and Sydney. So, what needs to change? 1. Poles and wires Australias energy grid is built for a highly centralised system, with the bulk of electricity coming from coal plants in the Latrobe or Hunter valleys. Labor has committed to upgrading the grid, so it can handle more renewables, targeting 82 per cent by 2030, which would see billions in private and public funds poured into new poles and wires. However, any investment in transmission first must pass the Regulatory Investment Test for transmission a complex and lengthy process. Corbell says the transmission line under construction to connect South Australia and NSW Project EnergyConnect took more than a decade to approve. 2. Backup generation While red tape needs cutting, Scaysbrook says new rules must also to be written. Two key industry regulators the Energy Security Board and Australian Energy Market Commission in recent years have released detailed reform agendas to rapidly decarbonise Australias energy system. Scaysbrook says these must be adopted in full. This work has been done, it just didnt get the airtime it deserved under the previous government, he says. We need the Labor government to get behind the recommendations and implement them in a bipartisan way. The most critical of these reforms, he says, is the capacity mechanism to underwrite generators that can snap into action when the wind isnt blowing and sun isnt shining. Similar to the UKs model, the mechanism would prevent blackouts by financing backup generators, such as batteries, gas or synchronous condensers (popular in the UK). These might only operate five to 10 minutes of the year, but that is the period when the lights go out, Scaysbrook says. 3. Demand While these factors work to increase the supply of renewable energy, the other side of the equation is decreasing demand. Some economies, such as Texas, provide financial incentives to major energy consumers to reduce or switch off power, when convenient. These consumers are now often signed up to long-term contracts, so are not exposed to market price fluctuations, meaning they have little reason to reduce electricity usage. Turning off a large customer is equivalent to having something in reserve, Scaysbrook says. Rather than turning on a gas generator in times of peak power, you have large users turning down their load where they can. Loading At an individual level, technology is developing to assist households to use energy in off-peak times, saving Australians cash while reducing stress on the system. 4. Collaboration The new government faces a combination of circumstances that require action to be taken as quickly as possible. The economy is crying out for a nation-building agenda to help create jobs and drive growth. The science demands it, as the window to prevent the worst of climate change is fast closing. You cant afford to be late, says Scaysbrook. The third time pressure is supply chains. Anyone who is renovating their home would know how difficult it is to obtain materials, causing construction timeframes to blow out. Australias green energy transition requires a building boom. Everything is taking longer. What you may have been able to do in 24 months, will now take 36 to 48. The timing problem is being compounded by supply chain issues that dont look like theyre going to be resolved, says Scaysbrook. Loading Effective energy policy requires navigating a complex patchwork of federal, state and local government planning. Corbell says the Albanese government should convene an urgent meeting between all energy ministers to plan the way forward. 5. Emissions reduction The election result is also going to have consequences for the other side of the clean energy transition fossil-fuel producers. The Greens, which have seized the balance of power in the Senate, are calling for a moratorium on any new coal and gas projects. The teals are largely united in opposing fossil-fuel subsidies, and want more ambitious emissions-reduction targets. Loading These factors combined will likely make it harder for fossil-fuel producers to expand operations and may put their revenue streams under pressure by raising risks for exploration and production. Labors safeguard mechanism to cap the emissions for the dirtiest companies will likely push up the cost of doing business. Green investors can see Australia is on the brink of a new renewables revolution, with opportunity for jobs, growth and new export industries. Among memories the children shared was the knowledge that their mother was the best-looking parent in the tuck shop, not something a teenage boy wants to be known for. Jillian thought that while shopping was a regrettable necessity, it was best performed at warp speed 11. And when undertaking a project, do your research, and touch up your make-up before any meeting. You do not want to go into battle looking unkempt, she said. The Snells moved to Lindfield, primarily to expand their architecture practice and to let the children have a crack at the so-called best schools. Once the children were safely off to school and life started to be a bit calmer, Jillian began to immerse herself in local community activities, especially native bush regeneration. Doing this she was introduced to an orphaned grey-headed flying fox, and its plight struck a chord in Jillians heart. Jillian Snell with TV presenter and conservationist Richard Morecroft. In 1987 Jillian joined the Ku-ring-gai Bat Colony Committee and was licensed as a carer of native fauna with Wildlife Information and Rescue Service (WIRES). And so it began: bottle feeding three or four times a day and night, the joy of watching the flying fox begin to flap its wings as it learnt how to fly, rescues across Sydney any time of day or night, a hundred tasks unstintingly performed. It became a family affair. Kevin contributed a new logo for Ku-ring-gai Bat Colony Committee. In 1989 architects Snell donated the design for a flying-fox enclosure in Lane Cove River Park to house the education flying foxes initiative. The NSW Minister for Environment performed the opening ceremony. Regrettably, in 2009, because of changes to legislation governing national parks, the bats couldnt stay at Lane Cove, their home for more than 20 years, so the Ku-ring-gai Bat Society chose the Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park as their new home. Because of the lack of published information about injured and orphaned flying foxes in 1990, Jillian compiled Management of Orphan, Injured or Sick Flying-foxes, which was published in the Australian Veterinary Association Newsletter. This drew on the work of Peter Coote at Ku-ring-gai Veterinary Hospital, Helen George, OAM, and Jeff Hardy, executive officer (wildlife), NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. At the 4th Australian Bat Research Conference in 1991 she presented a paper on the need for active promotion of bat conservation in Australia. The Australasian region is a hot spot for both mega and microbat diversity. However, this region also has one of the highest numbers of species at risk from extinction. More than 30 per cent of the worlds endangered and critically endangered bats (International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species) call Australasia home. It is estimated that by about 2090 the grey-headed flying fox will be extinct. This is devastating to contemplate because the flying fox is a keystone species. The night-flowering Australian forest trees are completely dependent on the flying fox for pollination. With no flying foxes, there will be no forest. With no trees, there will be no koalas. Jillian and the Ku-ring-gai Bat Colony Committee were instrumental in establishing the Australasian Bat Society (ABS), the peak body promoting bat conservation in the Australasian region. Jillian was its first secretary and treasurer. Jillian even approached Vogue suggesting that this unique, overlooked mammal might make an occasional appearance in fashion photoshoots. Areas of conflict between bat behaviour and human agriculture had to be addressed. As a member of Ku-ring-gai Bat Colony Committee, Jillian worked with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to organise the Fruit Crop Protection Seminar in 1992. The object was to provide practical information on the effective method of netting orchards for fruit crop protection from flying foxes and birds. This method was developed by trial and error by orchardists in the Northern Rivers districts. Loading Jillian was tireless and innovative in defence of bats, even approaching Vogue suggesting that this unique, overlooked mammal might make an occasional appearance in fashion photoshoots, adding a bit of glamour. As her long-standing colleague Nancy Pallin said: She had flair. Jill started Flying Fox Supporters (FFS) in 2018. The double entendre of the initials FFS was intentional. It is the expression of the exasperation and frustration felt by wildlife rescuers about the lack of knowledge Australians have about Australian wildlife and their lack of concern for their welfare and fate. Recent projects included the negotiations to provide a sprinkler system at Parramatta Park to cool flying foxes during the worst of the summer heat and the ongoing campaign to stamp out backyard fruit tree nets, which kill several thousand of now endangered grey-headed flying foxes each year and cause an untold amount of suffering. Jillian Snell lets the bat face the camera. FFS has been a source of accurate bat education and undertaken countless rescues and cared for hundreds of orphan bat pups. These pups are soft-released back into the wild when they reach a stage of independence and can forage and integrate into the wild bat population. It has a very high success rate. Recently, she rallied Australian support for the Kasanka Trust in Zambia. Zambia hosts the worlds largest flying fox migration area, but it is under threat from the destruction of the trees that form their roosting habitat and provide their food. International pressure helped secure a temporary victory in the Zambian High Court on January 25, 2022. Four men in their early 20s have been arrested after NSW Police say they found more than 20 kilograms of MDMA and other prohibited drugs worth more than $4 million at two homes in Fairfield West, in Sydneys west. Police said a search warrant was executed at a home on Hawkesbury Street in the suburb about 1.30pm on Tuesday. A large hydraulic press, 11 kilograms of MDMA and some electronic devices were allegedly located. The men, two aged 21 and two aged 22, were arrested and taken to Liverpool police station. Four men have been arrested after police allegedly seized more than 20 kilograms of prohibited drugs worth more than $4 million at two homes in Fairfield West. Credit:Police Media Later that day, police searched a home on Vancouver Place in Fairfield West, where a further 12 kilograms of MDMA, 2.5 kilograms of cocaine and about 40 grams of a crystal substance suspected to be methylamphetamine were allegedly seized. The two 22-year-olds and one 21-year-old were charged with two counts of supplying a prohibited drug more than a large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity. The other 21-year-old was charged with five counts of supplying a prohibited drug more than a large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity. Clover Moores council is under growing pressure to fix an out of control waste problem in central Sydney as rubbish piles up on city streets and residents say their bins are not being collected. Councillor Linda Scott said she was receiving several complaints a day, while community Facebook pages this week were overflowing with irate residents demanding urgent action. Rubbish and furniture strewn over Darlinghurst Road on Thursday. Credit:Kate Geraghty Deputy lord mayor Jess Scully admitted dumping and rubbish collection were problems across the City of Sydney, especially in Potts Point, but she said COVID-19 absenteeism was a major factor behind delayed council pick-ups and bins being missed. Its not fun. Nobody likes having full bins or waste on their street. Thats not what we want in the city either, she said. Penny Wong launches charm offensive in Pacific Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss Parents from Citipointe Christian College, which sparked national uproar over its controversial enrolment contract, are lodging discrimination complaints with the Human Rights Commission. The Brisbane college was condemned in February for its enrolment contract, which asked students to agree to specific gender roles and denounce homosexuality. Parents and former students of the college will on Thursday file discrimination complaints with the Queensland Human Rights Commission regarding the contract. Janina Leo, a mother of a former student at the college, said she was heartbroken that the identity of her daughter Emmey, and others like her, would not be recognised by the school. Ramping of ambulances has risen and there has been a drop in the amount of some emergency patients attended to in time at Queensland hospitals for the first three months of this year. The LNP opposition has pursued the government for weeks over the data, released on Thursday, which it claimed showed an extraordinary failure. But Health Minister Yvette DAth said the data could not be divorced from the context of the pandemic. Despite the significant impact of Omicron, patient off-stretcher time improved at some of our hospitals compared to the previous quarter, DAth said, using the technical term for the situation often referred to as ramping, where patients are required to wait in an ambulance for more than 30 minutes after it arrived at a hospital. On election night, as the blue sapphires that once adorned Victorias so-called Liberal crown were replaced with rubies and aquamarines, Matthew Guy hurried to dismiss the partys losses. His message to colleagues was simple: voters wanted to change the government and that sentiment could assist the Coalition in November. Pressed on his optimistic interpretation on Tuesday, Guy said he was also buoyed by heavy swings against Labor in the outer-suburban seats. Opposition leader Matthew Guy was quick to dismiss concerns about the partys loss federally. Credit:Joe Armao Its hard to blame Guy for searching for a glimmer of hope in the wake of the Morrison governments election defeat which wiped out a generation of high-profile Victorian Liberals and delivered large swings against those lucky enough to hold on to their seats. Of the 39 federal electorates in Victoria, the Liberals, at best, will hold eight in the next Parliament - or just 21 per cent. And the primary vote swing against the Liberals in Victoria was 5.2 per cent. Women are giving birth in emergency departments and new mothers are prematurely discharging themselves from hospital, as a worsening shortage of midwives hampers access to maternity ward beds. Labour inductions are being delayed each day at major Melbourne hospitals, along with routine pregnancy check-ups, amid warnings that legislated midwife ratios one midwife for every four patients are not being met. Jesse Maher was hoping to have a water birth, with dim lights and soft music. Credit:Scott McNaughton Its like ambulance ramping the hospital cant actually move [the mothers], said Liz Wilkes, the head of private midwife service My Midwives. Wilkes said several of her clients had been forced to give birth in emergency departments as if they were car crash victims, while others were being prematurely shunted out the door. Staying authentic is not easy once the doors are opened to The Lodge, Kirribilli House and the RAAF KC-30 that flew the new prime minister to Tokyo and back. The aircraft, a modified Airbus that is mostly used as an air-to-air refueller, was called Shark One by the Morrison office but Albanese would be wise to skip the naming rights. After all, it is not his plane. Albanese handled the Tokyo summit well. He was comfortable with Biden and the two other members of the Quad Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and made sure his opening remarks offered total support for the security partnership while issuing a new message on climate change. Unlike Morrison, he said action on climate was a key part of cementing alliances in the Pacific in other words, keeping China at bay. And he was right. Loading The Albanese argument on climate, derided by conservatives during the election campaign, was endorsed by the Quad leaders and written into their formal statement at the end of the summit. That is a success by any standard. The public moments, like the comedy of Biden pretending to walk out of a meeting, told Australian voters that world leaders were getting along famously with the new prime minister. Albanese has scored a double win from a fateful decision inside the Liberal campaign. Morrison knew the Quad meeting was planned for May 24 and Liberal cabinet ministers thought this made May 14 the logical election date. Albanese thought this, as well, but not because Morrison confided in him about the Quad meeting this crucial information was passed on to the Labor leader by others. So the Labor campaign assumed May 14. In naming May 21 instead, Morrison dragged out the contest to no advantage. Albanese won the campaign. Then he won again with the rush to the Quad. The timing meant Albanese had to be sworn in quickly at Government House without waiting for a majority in parliament; assurances from the crossbench were enough. He vaulted onto the world stage within days of the election, gaining instant authority. Loading Finally, a note about the media and the election. West Australian Premier Mark McGowan had some sharp words for national journalists this week about the way they asked questions of Albanese during the campaign. They were screaming, and interrupting, and rude, and insulting, intimidating and bullying the sort of stuff that in the workplace you get sacked for, McGowan said. They need to reflect on their behaviour. Ive never seen anything like it. McGowan was right to call out the shouting at those press conferences. On occasion, Albanese had barely begun his answer before journalists were yelling an interjection. Even if a question was fair enough, the yelling was out of control. This happened to Morrison as well. I shouted a question to Morrison about the minimum wage. I had to: there is a fine line between being loud and being rude, but a quiet question is easily ignored in a cramped and crowded doorstop at a small business in a marginal seat. At another point, I asked Morrison whether he was a buffoon for calling the NSW anti-corruption commission a kangaroo court, given others had called him that. Some would consider me rude for being so blunt. Loading Albanese stumbled at times but kept taking questions. Morrison ignored one journalist for several days, unfairly in my view. One of McGowans criticisms was that he saw media take their cameras off their stands at the end of an event and go after Albanese to portray the false impression he was fleeing the media. While I didnt witness this, there are lessons from the campaign. One: do not turn a press conference into a confected drama. Another: smart questions are better than loud ones. I heard plenty of smart questions during the campaign. Journalists were right to question Albanese about his policy costings even though they were unfairly rebuked when they refused to be fobbed off. At one point I saw a brilliant volley of questions from young journalists to Morrison about trans issues, showing they were thoroughly across the policy quagmire. So I have no time for old folk on social media complaining about the youth of today. Enough about the media. The first week of this new era has only offered a glimpse of how Australia will evolve with a transformed parliament, a new government and a new leader who has promised to change politics for the better. The seat of Brisbane remained on a knifes edge late Thursday, as Labor and the Greens battled it out for second place to claim the electorate on preferences. The Greens strong showing in Brisbane, which also saw them claim the neighbouring seats of Griffith and Ryan, now has the party bullish about a run at City Hall at its next electoral test. Labor candidate Madonna Jarrett had a 672-vote lead over the Greens Stephen Bates as of 1.40pm Thursday, but ABC elections analyst Antony Green said preference flows from the lower-ranked candidates were favouring the Greens. Brisbane was a genuine three-way contest between the LNP, Labor and the Greens. All that was certain was LNP incumbent Trevor Evans had lost the seat, because preference flows between Labor and the Greens would result in Jarrett or Bates overtaking Evans. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says it was a mistake for frontbencher Tanya Plibersek to compare potential Liberal leader Peter Dutton to a Harry Potter villain, insisting he wants to improve political discourse in the country. Dutton has emerged as the sole candidate to stand for the leadership of the Liberal Party, as it reels from the election rout that saw the decimation of its moderate wing. Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek apologised after comparing Liberal MP Peter Duttons appearance to that of Harry Potter villain Voldemort. Credit:James Brickwood/Alex Ellinghausen Plibersek described Dutton as looking a bit like Voldemort, in an interview on Brisbanes 4BC radio on Wednesday, adding he was not the warm and friendly face of the Liberal Party. I think there will be a lot of children who have watched a lot of Harry Potter films who will be very frightened of what they are seeing on TV at night, thats for sure, she said. People who call triple zero but do not need urgent care would be transported to general practitioners or pharmacies under a proposal to help the states ambulance network deal with unprecedented demand. NSW Ambulance is reviewing an alternate transport option to health care services, such as general practitioners or pharmacists, for some triple-zero callers who are assessed as having conditions that do not need an urgent ambulance response. Groaning under the strain: NSW Ambulances are struggling to cope with huge demand. Credit:Jessica Hromas The states ambulance service has reached its highest possible emergency response level multiple times in recent weeks, including on Thursday, with ambulances attending a near-record 116,000 cases in April. Growing pressure on the service comes as doctors warn that emergency departments are so overcrowded patients are being treated in corridors and ambulances are routinely ramped for hours outside hospitals waiting to offload patients. NSW and Victoria will work with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to urgently address the skilled worker shortage plaguing the states, with education, healthcare and construction among the worst-hit sectors. Premier Dominic Perrottet on Thursday said both states could not afford to delay addressing the worker drought, with delays of up to 18 months for accredited overseas workers to obtain a visa. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on Thursday. Credit:Dean Sewell I was speaking with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews last night on this exact issue ... we will be working very closely together with the prime minister to address that, and it needs to be addressed as soon as possible. We cant wait. Perrottet said he had been told by the NSW Department of Education secretary that overseas workers who had been targeted to fill teacher shortages were being held back by lengthy delays in visa approvals. First published in the Sydney Morning Herald on May 28, 1977. AMSTERDAM, Friday The child hostages of Boven Smilde, shaken and sickly, were borne on stretchers to freedom today from the confines of their schoolroom prison after a four-day ordeal under the threatening guns of South Moluccan terrorists. The dramatic, unexpected release of the remaining 91 youngsters appeared to have been precipitated by a mysterious outbreak of a virus disease causing widespread diarrhoea through the children, teachers and terrorists. Young hostages on their way to a medical examination following their release. Credit:AP Eight had already been freed by the time Dutch officials received a curt telephone call at 3:45am: The children can go free. You look after the transport. A sick teacher was also allowed to go. An 18-year-old shooter killed at least 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday local time, marking the deadliest school shooting in the United States in a decade. Salvador Ramos, a local teenager, had already shot his grandmother, although she survived the attack. He too was killed in a shoot-out with local police after a 40-minute rampage through the school. But the US has been here before after shootings in Tucson, Aurora, Newtown, Charleston, Roseburg, San Bernardino, Orlando, Las Vegas, Parkland, El Paso, Boulder, and 10 days earlier at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. There have been 14 shootings that have claimed four or more victims lives at US schools and colleges since 1999, when two students killed 12 of their peers and a teacher at Colorados Columbine High School in 1999. Thats according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University, and to other AP reporting. These mass attacks have killed 169 people in all. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI), hereby announces that there will be an interruption in the traffic flow on the A.T. Illidge Road (Mount William Hill), on Monday, May 30, 2022, from 8:00 pm until 5:00 am (May 31, 2022). Motorists are requested to be vigilant and observant of the traffic directional signs. The road closure is in connection with the repairs of a sewage pit. The road will be partially closed in one direction. The Ministry of VROMI apologizes for any inconvenience that this may cause. Mawson\-s Subsidiary Southern Cross Gold Reports 17.3m @ 4.9 g/t AuEq Intersection at Sunday Creek Mawson Gold Limited (aMawsona or the aCompanya https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/mawson-gold-ltd/) (TSX:MAW) (Frankfurt:MXR) (PINKSHEETS: MWSNF) reports that its majority-owned Australian subsidiary, Southern Cross Gold Ltd (aSXGa), has reported assay results from six diamond drill holes at its 100% owned Sunday Creek property, Victoria, Australia. Mawson now owns 60.3% of SXG following its recent initial public offering (aIPOa) on the ASX. Highlights for Mawson Shareholders: SXG reports high grade gold intersections continue at Sunday Creek 17.3m @ 4.9 g/t AuEq (3.9 g/t Au and 0.6% Sb) from 214.4m in hole SDDSC031 9.8m @ 4.6 g/t AuEq (3.9 g/t Au and 0.5% Sb) from 55.5m in hole SDDSC032 Sunday Creek now contains a total of twelve 100 g/t AuEq x m intersections (Figure 1) Further core drilled pre-IPO await assay. Assays are pending and drilling continues, with SXGa?s IPO funding an expected 24 month work program Mawsona?s share of SXG has a market capitalization of ~C$17.0 million based on 24th May closing price of A$0.20 per share. Ivan Fairhall, Mawson CEO, states: aWe are very pleased to highlight Southern Crossa? continued success at Sunday Creek. We consider Sunday Creek one of the best discoveries in Victoria, and thankful that results like this could be bought forward by the funding accessed by spinning-out SXG onto the ASX. Southern Cross is now well funded to continue drilling and we look forward to more assays as the Sunday Creek discovery matures. In the meantime, Mawson focuses its attention on its maiden drill program at SkellefteA in Sweden, and PEA studies to underwrite value in its million-ounce gold equivalent inferred resource at Rajapalot in Finland. Drill Hole Discussion Drill holes MDDSC0027 and SDDSC031-32 were targeted to extend and infill mineralization across specific multiple north-west striking mineralized shoots in the Apollo mine area. As is typical with the Sunday Creek property, wide mineralized zones with high grade central intersections were intersected. SDDSC031 was drilled to target mineralized shoots to the west of the Apollo shaft in a 67m gap to infill between drill hole MDDSC015A (15.3m @ 5.5 g/t AuEq (2.2 g/t Au and 2.1% Sb) from 231.4m) and drill hole MDDSC0012 (10.4m @ 7.0 g/t AuEq (5.4 g/t Au and 1.1% Sb) from 203.0m). With a 0.3 g/t AuEq over 2m lower cut SDDSC031 intersected: 17.3m @ 4.9 g/t AuEq (3.9 g/t Au and 0.6% Sb) from 214.4m (0.3 g/t AuEq over 2m lower cut), including: 3m @ 27.3 g/t AuEq (23.4 g/t Au and 2.5% Sb) from 226.0m. With a 3m @ 0.1g/t AuEq lower cut, SDDSC031 intersected 36.0m @ 2.9 g/t AuEq (2.3 g/t Au and 0.4% Sb) from 197.7m (109 g/t AuEq * m) and included high grade mineralization: 4m @ 16.3 g/t AuEq (10.9 g/t Au and 3.4% Sb) from 222.7m 4m @ 28.5 g/t AuEq (18.0 g/t Au and 6.6% Sb) from 226.3m 3m @ 66.9 g/t AuEq (66.8 g/t Au and 0.0% Sb) from 227.3m SDDSC032 was drilled to test the Gladys mineralized shoots. The closest hole was historic RC hole VCRC011, located 20m in the plane of the shoot, intersected 21.0m @ 3.9 g/t Au from 37.0m. With a 0.3 g/t AuEq over 2m lower cut SDDSC032 intersected: 9.8m @ 4.6 g/t AuEq (3.9 g/t Au and 0.5% Sb) from 55.5m (0.3 g/t AuEq over 2m lower cut), including: 5m @ 27.0 g/t AuEq (23.1 g/t Au and 2.5% Sb) from 60.3m. With no lower cut applied, SDDSC032 intersected multiple structures yielding 97m @ 0.8 g/t AuEq (0.7 g/t Au and 0.1% Sb) from surface, and included high grade mineralization: 4m @ 26.4 g/t AuEq (15.7 g/t Au and 6.7% Sb) from 60.3m 3m @ 86.6 g/t AuEq (81.2 g/t Au and 3.4% Sb) from 61.5m Drillhole MDDSC027, targeted at depth below the Apollo mine, intersected a significant cataclastic fault zone which disrupted the mineralized target. The hole hit a broad low-grade interval including 2.5m @ 0.5 g/t Au from 285.5m, 1.9m @ 0.5 g/t Au from 302.9m and 4.0m @ 0.3 g/t Au from 315.0m and is considered a near-miss hole for further drill follow-up. Drill holes SDDSC028-29 tested a coincident gold in soil anomaly, with low grade boulders on a topographic high and a coincident 3D array IP chargeability anomaly (with higher chargeability than the main mineralized zone at Apollo). Low-grade and geologically significant gold was discovered in SDDSC029 including 0.6m @ 0.4 g/t Au from 16.0m, 1.0m @ 0.4 g/t Au from 26.0m and 1.2m @ 0.3 g/t Au from 29.8m. The source of soil anomalies above SDDSC029 could be explained in part by the presence of gold in drilling. SDDSC028, drilled 300m north-east of SDDSC029 did not intersect significant results and the source for the 3D IP chargeable anomalies remains unexplained. These indications of a parallel zone of gold mineralization located 250m north of the main mineralized area opens further opportunities for undercover parallel zones across the property that will require drill testing. Drill hole SDDSC030 was a short hole (104.1m) to test earlier trench results located 200m east of any prior drilling (Trench 1: 14.0m at 11.5 g/t gold and 0.3% antimonyA includingA 8.0m @ 19.6 g/t gold and 0.4% antimony and Trench 2: 2m @ 4.9 g/t gold and 0.2% antimony). The single hole failed to intersect the mineralized structure and further drilling is warranted. The mineralized trend remains open and undrilled for 10km to the NE from these trenches. Southern Cross Gold has continued to drill at Sunday Creek over the last three months during the IPO process, with drilling of 10 holes for 2,278m completed and one hole in progress. With six holes assayed and reported here (MDDSC027, SDDSC028-32), drill core from four further holes (SDD033-36) has been forwarded to the assay laboratory and geochemical assay results will be released as announcements to ASX by SXG following being received from the laboratory. Figures 1 and 2 show plan and longitudinal section views of drill results report here and Tables 1a3 provide collar and assay data. The true thickness of the mineralized interval is interpreted to be approximately 60% of the sampled thickness. All drill results quoted have a lower cut of 0.3 g/t Au cut over a 2.0m width, with higher grades reported with a 5 g/t Au cut over 1.0m applied unless otherwise stated.A Additional information may be found in Southern Crossa? news release dated 23rd May, and on its website at www.southerncrossgold.com.au. Technical Background and Qualified Person C$ conversions of A$ values completed at an exchange rate of 1.10. The Qualified Person, Michael Hudson, Executive Chairman of Mawson Gold, and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has reviewed and verified the technical contents of this release. Analytical samples are transported to the Bendigo facility of On Site Laboratory Services (aOn Sitea) which operates under both an ISO 9001 and NATA quality systems. Samples were prepared and analyzed for gold using the fire assay technique (PE01S method; 25 gram charge), followed by measuring the gold in solution with flame AAS equipment. Samples for multi-element analysis (BM011 and over-range methods as required) use aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS analysis. The QA/QC program of Southern Cross Gold consists of the systematic insertion of certified standards of known gold content, blanks within interpreted mineralized rock and quarter core duplicates. In addition, On Site inserts blanks and standards into the analytical process. Gold equivalent aAuEqa for Sunday Creek is = ?? (?/?) + 1.58 A ?? (%) based on assumed prices of gold US$1,700/oz Au and antimony US$8,500/metal tonne, and total year metal recoveries of 93% for gold and 95% for antimony. Given the geological similarities of the projects, this formula has been adopted to align to TSX listed Mandalay Resources Ltd Technical Report dated 25 March 2022 on its Costerfield project, which is located 54 km from Sunday Creek and which historically processed mineralization from the property. Gold equivalent aAuEqa for Rajapalot = Au+(Co/1005) based on assumed prices of cobalt US$23.07/lb and gold US$1,590/oz. Details of Mawsona?s Inferred Mineral Resource can be read in the Companya?s news release dated August 26, 2021. About Mawson Gold Limited (TSX:MAW, FRANKFURT:MXR, OTCPINK:MWSNF) Mawson Gold LimitedA is an exploration and development company with its flagship Rajapalot gold-cobalt project in Finland now entering technical study stages to de-risk its inferred resource and exploration growth program. Alongside ongoing exploration at Rajapalot, Mawson holds an option to earn up to 85% in the Skelleftea Gold Project in Sweden. Mawson also has a significant majority interest in the ownership or joint venture into three high-grade, historic epizonal goldfields covering 470 kmA in Victoria, Australia, through Southern Cross Gold Ltd, which has successfully listed on the ASX. Mawsona?s 60.3% ownership interest in Southern Cross is escrowed until May 16, 2024. About Southern Cross Gold Ltd (ASX:SXG) Southern Cross Gold holds the 100%-owned Sunday Creek project in Victoria and Mt Isa project in Queensland, the Redcastle and Whroo joint ventures in Victoria, Australia, and a strategic 10% holding in the ASX listed Nagambie Resources Limited (ASX:NAG) which grants it a Right of First Refusal over a 3,300 square kilometre tenement package held by NAG in Victoria. On behalf of the Board, \Ivan Fairhall\A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A Ivan Fairhall, CEO Further Information www.mawsongold.com Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, \forward-looking statements\). All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Although Mawson believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate, and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Mawson cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, Mawsona?s expectations regarding its ownership interest in Southern Cross Gold, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, changes in world metal markets, changes in equity markets, the potential impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises, including the current pandemic known as COVID-19 on the Companya?s business, risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; planned drill programs and results varying from expectations, delays in obtaining results, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, local community relations, dealings with non-governmental organizations, delays in operations due to permit grants, environmental and safety risks, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading \Risk Factors\ in Mawson\-s most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Mawson disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. A Tudor Gold Increases Exploration Efforts With Eight Drills At Their Flagship Treaty Creek Property Located In Northwestern, BC Tudor Gold Corp. (TSXV: TUD) (Frankfurt: TUC) (the \Company\ or \Tudor Gold\ https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/tudor-gold-corp/ ) is pleased to announce that exploration efforts have doubled for Phase l of the 2022 exploration program (the aPrograma) at their flagship property, Treaty Creek, located in the heart of the Golden Triangle of Northwestern British Columbia. The fully funded Program consists of a 30,000 metre (m) diamond drilling campaign that has been developed to systematically test the extension of the Goldstorm Deposit well beyond the limits that were outlined in the 2021 Mineral Resource Estimate ( Tudor Gold press release dated March 9, 2021 : reported a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 19.41 million ounces of AuEq grading 0.74 g/t AuEq and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 7.9 million ounces of AuEq grading 0.79 g/t AuEq). In addition, exploration diamond drilling will focus on the Calm Before the Storm (CBS) and the Eureka zones (EZ or Eureka). During the past two weeks, Tudora?s crews have mobilized four more drill rigs to the site from the winter route via the Brucejack Access Road. Our drill contractors now have eight drill rigs working on three targets. Six drill rigs have commenced drilling the northern aspects of the Goldstorm Deposit as step-out exploration holes. One rig has been drilling at CBS as follow-up on last yeara?s newly discovered gold-silver system, located 2.5 kilometres northeast of the Goldstorm Deposit. Additionally, crews have begun drilling the Eureka Zone located 800 meters southeast of the Goldstorm Deposit (Figure 1). Ken Konkin, President and CEO, comments aThe start-up of 2022 exploration campaign has been a huge success. We are well ahead of schedule starting the step-out exploration drill holes in the northern aspects to the Goldstorm Deposit as well as initiating drill programs at CBS and Eureka.A Additionally, we plan to complete a high-resolution aeromagnetic survey over our Treaty Creek and Crown claims with Terraquest Geophysics. A total of 1,600-line kilometres are expected to be flown during the next few days. This will serve as a vital mapping tool to aid continued exploration efforts throughout both properties. In addition to exploration, Tudor plans to construct an exploration access road that will connect our Lower Camp to our weather station area located 3.5 kilometers east of that camp. This route will eventually tie into the permitted access road that Seabridge Gold (Seabridge) is currently constructing from the Highway 37 junction at Glacier Creek. This will provide an all-weather road access to our project once completed. Seabridge has already completed the bridge construction for the Bell Irving River crossing at Glacier Creek. Our engagement efforts with local First Nations continue to develop. We have initiated contact with Nisgaa?a First Nations, and we have pledged follow-up meetings to ensure clear communication as the project evolves. Earlier in the year, Tudorsa? geologists and geotechicians held an informal Core Processing Workshop as an Open-Invite for the Tahltan community members in Dease Lake. It was a successful three-day session that included geotechnical procedures, QA/QC protocols as well core sampling and shipping procedures. We plan to continue to host these workshops in communities interested in gaining employment in the exploration sector. For many of those who attended, this was an excellent introduction to one small aspect of exploration. We are committed to include all First Nations including Tahltan, Skii Km Lax Ha and Nisgaa?a as part of our engagement process and we will continue to encourage participation with our future workshops to provide employment opportunities and public awareness to our industry sector.a Qualified Person The Qualified Person for this news release for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 is the Companya?s President and CEO, Ken Konkin, P.Geo. He has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this news release. About Tudor Gold TUDOR GOLD Corp. is a precious and base metals exploration and development company with properties in British Columbiaa?s Golden Triangle (Canada), an area that hosts producing and past-producing mines and several large deposits that are approaching potential development. The 17,913 hectare Treaty Creek project (in which TUDOR GOLD has a 60% interest) borders Seabridge Gold Inc.a?s KSM property to the southwest and borders Newcrest Mining Limiteda?s Brucejack property to the southeast. In April 2021 Tudor published their 43-101 technical report, aTechnical Report and Initial Mineral Resource Estimate of the Treaty Creek Gold Property, Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia Canadaa dated March 1, 2021, on the Companya?s Sedar profile. The Company also has a 100% interest in the Crown project and a 100% interest in the Eskay North project, all located in the Golden Triangle area. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains aforward-looking informationa within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. aForward-looking informationa includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including the completion and anticipated results of planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as aplansa, aexpectsa, ais expecteda, abudgeta, ascheduleda, aestimatesa, aforecastsa, aintendsa, aanticipatesa, or abelievesa or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results amaya, acoulda, awoulda, amighta or awill be takena, aoccura or abe achieveda or the negative connation thereof. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Companya?s planned exploration activities will be completed in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companya?s plans or expectations include risks relating to the actual results of current exploration activities, fluctuating gold prices, possibility of equipment breakdowns and delays, exploration cost overruns, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate As the Wood-n-Tap restaurant chain announces plans to cross the border into Massachusetts, another Hartford-based brand prepares to open its first Springfield eatery next month. Hartford Restaurant Group co-founders Phil Barnett and Mike Hamlin are planning to open a Wood-n-Tap in West Springfield, Mass. later this year, and Gina Luari's The Statement Group plans a June 1 opening for its first The Place 2 Be brunch restaurant outside of Connecticut. Luari's team is putting the finishing touches on the new space, in the former Samuel's Tavern at 1000 West Columbus Avenue. The newest Wood-n-Tap will open in the former Carrabba's Italian Grill at 955 Riverdale Street. The renovation of the West Springfield building will eventually feature a wrap-around centerpiece bar, indoor seating for 300, and a new 2,800-square-foot patio with planned seating for 120 guests. "Mike and I have grown the business step by step since 2002, and we agreed it was time to step out of the box and go over the border into Massachusetts," Barnett said in a statement. The casual dining brand offers burgers and sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, salads, tacos, steaks and seafood, with seasonal menus, craft cocktails and extensive beer, wine and spirits options. Hartford Restaurant Group currently operates Wood-n-Taps in Enfield, Vernon, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, Farmington, Southington, Hamden and Wallingford, along with Southington's Que Whiskey Kitchen. The new The Place 2 Be, by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will play on the sports theme with balls-themed decor and specialty menu items, according to a news release. "Were beyond excited to open the doors to The Place 2 Be Springfield and bring our audacious brand and unique brunch experience to Massachusetts," Luari said. "Guests from the area already make the drive down to our Connecticut locations, so we are thrilled to be able to provide our TP2B energy and bold vibe right in their own backyard." The 6,000-square-foot space will have four bars, including an outdoor bar on its patio, and is the only The Place 2 Be location to offer a private event room. Luari owns and operates three other The Place 2 Bes in Hartford and West Hartford, with plans for a New Haven restaurant later this year. Her group also plans further expansion in Hartford, including a raw bar and seafood spot, a Central and South American restaurant with a tequila bar and a brick-oven pizzeria with craft beer and cocktails. The Place 2 Be will join two other restaurants with Connecticut roots at the Hall of Fame, including Max Tavern and Plan B Burger Bar. Max Tavern is part of Hartford-based Max Hospitality, with seven restaurants in Hartford County (and a Max Burger in Longmeadow, Mass.) Locals 8 Restaurant Group also owns and operates Plan B Burger Bars in Glastonbury, Milford, Simsbury, Southington and West Hartford, along with Tisane Euro-Asian Cafe and The Half Door in Hartford and Farmington's Butchers & Bakers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEIJING (AP) Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting the South Pacific with a 20-person delegation this week in a display of Beijing's growing military and diplomatic presence in the region. The U.S. has traditionally been the area's major power, but China has been pursuing inroads, particularly with the Solomon Islands, a nation less than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from Australia. In a sign of Australias concern, new Foreign Minister Penny Wong is heading to Fiji less than a week after her Labor Party won national elections. Below is a look at Wang's tour and its likely outcomes. WHERE IS WANG HEADED? Wang is due to stop in the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor on a 10-day trip. The visits emphasize China's push for engagement with the region, which has traditionally retained close ties with Beijing's major rivals including the United States and Australia. China has also waged a protracted struggle for influence because of Taiwan. China considers the self-governed island its own territory and opposes foreign interactions that treat Taiwan as autonomous and independent, but four South Pacific island nations are among Taiwan's dwindling number of formal diplomatic allies. A more robust Chinese presence in the South Pacific could enable its naval forces to make port calls and possibly put personnel and equipment at a base in the area. That would complicate U.S. defense strategy, particularly over contingency plans for any Chinese move to take Taiwan that would likely draw in Japan and other allies. WHAT'S BEHIND THE NEW DIPLOMATIC PUSH? Under leader Xi Jinping, China has been expanding its foreign economic and diplomatic clout through the Belt and Road Initiative that seeks to link East Asia with Europe and beyond through ports, railways, power plants and other infrastructure. The results have been mixed, with client states such as Sri Lanka and Pakistan falling deeply in debt and developed nations citing national security grounds in banning Chinese government-backed companies including telecoms giant Huawei. The South Pacific, however, remains relatively open for Chinese advances at low cost and potentially high reward. China has mostly sat on the sidelines over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its top leaders haven't left the country in more than two years amid strict anti-COVID measures and deteriorating ties with the U.S., Canada and the EU. With Xi seeking a third five-year term as head of the ruling Communist Party, a foreign policy victory would help cement his authority and fend off criticism of his handling of the pandemic and its economic costs. WHAT'S IN THE PACT BETWEEN CHINA AND SOLOMON ISLANDS? The agreement could allow China to send security forces to the Solomons at its government's request for what are described as peacekeeping duties. It would also enable Chinese navy ships to make port calls to resupply and provide recreation for sailors, possibly leading to a permanent presence in the islands. The United States has said it would take unspecified action against the Solomon Islands if the agreement with China poses a threat to U.S. or allied interests. WHAT IS AUSTRALIA'S MAJOR CONCERN? Apart from worries over Chinese expansion across the vast Pacific, under its new government, Australia has urged Beijing to lift trade sanctions if it wants to reset their bilateral relationship. The Chinese premiers congratulatory letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his election victory was widely seen as a relaxation of Beijings two-year ban on high-level government contact with Australia. Premier Li Keqiang said China was ready to work with Australia to improve ties, which plummeted after Australia passed legislation targeting Chinese influence in its elections and political discourse. In retaliation, China has created a series of official and unofficial trade barriers in recent years to a range of Australian exports worth billions of dollars including coal, wine, barley, beef and seafood. WHAT OTHER PLANS DOES CHINA HAVE IN THE REGION? According to a draft of an agreement obtained by The Associated Press, China wants 10 Pacific nations to enter into an arrangement with it covering everything from security to fisheries. The draft shows that China wants to expand law enforcement cooperation, jointly develop a fisheries plan, increase cooperation on running the regions internet networks, and set up cultural Confucius Institutes and classrooms. Wang is hoping the countries will endorse the pre-written agreement as part of a joint communique after a May 30 meeting in Fiji with the other foreign ministers. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) An effort by Democratic lawmakers in Pennsylvania to ban owning, selling or making high-capacity, semi-automatic firearms went nowhere Wednesday as state House Republicans again displayed their firm opposition to gun restriction proposals. The state House of Representatives voted 111-87 against the effort by Democratic Rep. Danielle Friel Otten of Chester County to take up the bill after Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff argued it should have to go through a committee first. The bill has spent more than a year in the Judiciary Committee, where Chairman Rob Kauffman, R-Franklin, has bottled up most proposals to regulate or restrict firearms. During floor debate, Otten said the massacre of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday created a moral obligation to act, today, before this happens one more time. Minority Leader Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, listed communities across Pennsylvania that have recently been the site of gun violence. The bill would not apply retroactively and result in people losing firearms they already lawfully bought, McClinton said. Benninghoff, R-Centre, responded that because of the magnitude of the proposal it needs to be vetted through the committee process so that lawmakers can get it right. Just one Republican, Rep. Todd Stephens of Montgomery County, and one Democrat, Rep. Chris Sainato of Lawrence County, crossed party lines in the vote to suspend the rules to allow the measure to be considered. Both men are in swing districts and expected to face tough reelection campaigns this fall. The GOP-majority Legislature has long rejected appeals by Democratic governors over the past two decades to tighten gun control laws, rejecting such ideas as expanding background checks or limiting the number of handgun purchases one person can make in a month. RENO, Nev. (AP) A California man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing a Reno woman whose 5-year-old son told police he pretended to be dead after the killer started firing nearly two dozen gunshots in their motel room. Lamar Adams, 49, of Richmond, pleaded guilty earlier to one count of first-degree murder and one count of child endangerment, both with the use of a deadly weapon, in the 2020 killing of 42-year-old Lynette Lozano. Vic Eng / Hearst Connecticut Media Group Vic Eng / Hearst Connecticut Media Group Vic Eng / Hearst Connecticut Media Group Vic Eng / Hearst Connecticut Media Group Vic Eng / Hearst Connecticut Media Group The Greenwich International Film Festival hosted its 2022 Changemaker Gala on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at LEscale at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor Hotel. Each year, the gala honors artists who use their craft to create positive social change; this years honoree is Grammy, Emmy and Tony-winning songwriter, director and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda. Mirandas father, Luis, alongside Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, accepted the award on his behalf. Were you SEEN? OLD SAYBROOK A local middle school student was arrested Wednesday after threatening to shoot a staff member and blowing up the building, officials said. Law enforcement and school officials do not believe there was a genuine threat to the school, students or faculty, Superintendent Jan Perruccio wrote in a letter to the community Wednesday. Perruccio said the students alleged behavior was extremely concerning. However, she said the student did not possess or have access to any materials required to carry out any past threats that were made. Perruccio did not say when the threat was made. Old Saybrook Police Chief Michael Spera said the student was charged with second-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace and was scheduled to appear Thursday in juvenile court. The students name, age and gender were not released. Juvenile arrests and court proceedings are generally not public unless the matter is transferred to adult court often for the most serious crimes. The arrest came one day after a mass school shooting in Texas, where 21 students and teachers were killed, renewed calls to address the deadly violence in schools. Spera contended Thursday that there was no need to increase the police presence at Old Saybrooks three schools since each has a school resource officer and multiple patrol officers show up for drop-off and dismissal each day. Perruccio did not return phone calls seeking comment. First Selectman Carl Fortuna Jr. also did not return phone calls. Police Commission Chair Alfred Chub Wilcox said he believed the threats were made in the past week and reported within 24 hours to authorities. I think its been handled very professionally, Wilcox said. Perruccio said in the letter that the schools were limited by state and federal law on how much information could be shared about the incident. The involved student was not at school (Wednesday) by design and was taken into custody this afternoon, Perruccio said. The investigation began after the Old Saybrook Department of Police Services received an anonymous complaint about the student making the remarks, Perruccio wrote in the letter to the school community. The individual staff member involved has been made aware of the situation and has expressed comfort that the matter is being addressed appropriately, the letter said. School and law enforcement investigated and the student was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon, Perruccio wrote in the letter. As we have jointly communicated in the past, the safety and security of our students, staff and school campuses is our utmost priority, Perruccio wrote in the letter. We must rely on you and our students to bring matters of concern to our attention in a very timely manner. In situations concerning the safety and security of our schools, seconds matter. As mentioned in last evenings communication, please contact the police or the school without delay to share a safety concern. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Lime Rock Park / contributed/Lime Rock Park Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Contributed photo by Myrna Suarez / Courtesy of Greenwich Town Party Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 5 of 5 This Memorial Day weekend is loaded with events ranging from racing to butterflies and faires. It also brings back some of the parades that were canceled last year during the pandemic to honor those who have served. Here are some things to do this weekend: Chinese official urges high-quality development of digital economy Xinhua) 17:01, May 26, 2022 BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Thursday called for leveraging strategic opportunities to accelerate the high-quality development of the digital economy. Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks while addressing via video link the opening ceremony of the China International Big Data Industry Expo 2022 held in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Noting that the digital economy has bright prospects and a great role to play, Huang stressed the importance of promoting the full-chain digital transformation of key industries and key enterprises. He urged further integration between the development of the digital economy and the real economy. Huang called for further digitization in public services and improving the governance of the digital economy, as well as exploring international cooperation to benefit people around the globe. This year's expo was held online, with the participation of over 100 renowned enterprises from countries such as China, Germany, and Japan. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CCIA Tripoli, in the presence of members of the Libyan delegation and representatives of Romanian companies interested in the respective market, informs a press release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday. "The event took place on the sidelines of a visit to Romania on May 25-27 of a delegation led by Farag Darbil Amer, President of the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (CCIA Tripoli), and was honored by the presence of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. of the State of Libya in Romania, His Excellency Abdulmuli Monem, and of the Head of the Chancellery of the Embassy, the coordinator of the economic, commercial and cultural sectors, Mohamed L. A. Shebani," mentions the press release. The President of the Bucharest Chamber, Iuliu Stocklosa, gave a brief presentation of the economic potential of the Capital, a city that concentrates almost a quarter of the companies registered in our country, 18% of exports and 31% of imports. He spoke about the activity and services of CCIB, with an emphasis on those dedicated to the promotion of the Romanian offer abroad, but also of the business and investment opportunities offered by various markets, among the business community. The president of CCIA Tripoli, Farag Darbil Amer, underlined the special interest for the development of the cooperation relations with Romanian companies, both in the commercial field and on various large investment projects. "The president of CCIA Tripoli has expressed his full openness to provide information of interest about the opportunities offered by his country, but also to offer support to Romanian companies wishing to work with partners in Libya," the release said. In the second part of the event, the representatives of the Romanian companies presented their activity and entered into a dialogue with the members of the Libyan delegation. Thus, there was interest in cooperation in: agri-food processing industry (bakery, pastry, miscellaneous food, sunflower), energy, including from renewable sources, transport infrastructure, software, consulting, industrial automation, construction and materials construction, tourism.AGERPRES Art is "an extremely liberal profession" and should be supported, and not puzzled, by the state, said on Wednesday the Minister of Culture, Lucian Romascanu, at the inauguration of the art gallery "The H Gallery," a space dedicated to contemporary art. "I would like to send a message on this occasion. I will only be Minister of Culture for a short amount of time and I know that, because ministers have short terms-in-office, but my person shouldn't count that much, only the fact that, at this point, this citizen who is holding the office of Culture minister is giving a signal that he appreciates and encourages the artistic phenomenon in the private sector, or especially in the private sector, because, after all, art is an extremely liberal profession, and it should only receive support from the state, instead of being puzzled," Romascanu said. He voiced satisfaction that, after the pandemic, people were "moving" to organize various cultural events. "I see a lot of things that I enjoy after the pandemic, a lot of festivals, in addition to those of the Ministry of Culture and its subordinate institutions. There are private festivals, there are a lot of events that the Ministry of Culture supports by funding priority programmes, but there are also private initiatives. And this is a wonderful initiative - "The H Gallery." I look around and I like what I see, and what's important is that we see increasingly more initiatives, which brings the public in 21st century location, while seeking to cover this huge need of galleries. For we are used to see old galleries, which only a small number of people visit. And it's good that they exist, but there are a lot of people who are lifelong friends, who meet, have a drink, and then leave. No! A gallery should be more than that," said Minister Romascanu. Lucian Romascanu announced that the Ministry of Culture is "able" to support contemporary art. "We can support art, we have this funding programme on priority projects and this year we had quite a lot of money. It was for the first time, for instance, when Art Safari, which is already a phenomenon in the visual arts area, receives funds from the Ministry of Culture. What I want is to find together with the local authorities, a legislative formula to allow us to provide very many spaces to artists, be it unconventional ones, which are now left abandoned, for things appear to be much more simple if we look at them like this. People have paintings in their homes, art is made to bring us joy. (...) Unfortunately, we saw how art and the public have become separated in time. The large public believes that art is for the elites. No. Art is for people. Which means that, the more galleries we have, the more vivid paintings of painters we will find on the walls of houses," he said. The Minister of Culture also stated that he will support through a law "the establishment of spaces for modern art and the acquisition of modern art by the local authorities," the first step he envisages in this regard being the beginning, in the next period, of a new programme for the acquisition of contemporary art. The gallery's debut exhibition focuses on Lucian Hrisav (b. 1994), through the exhibition "Signal vs. Noise," a solo show by the artist in collaboration with H'art Gallery. Gallery owner and curator Dan Popescu, owner of the H'art Gallery in Bucharest, said Lucian Hrisav was from the generation born after 1989, and that it was "absolutely spectacular" to see artists familiar with the digital, the Internet and taking advantage of "technology." "What makes him special is the fact that his works are done with spray," said the curator. Naomi Guttman, the representative of the Cultural Department of the Israeli Embassy to Romania, was also present at the event, held on the ground floor of the H building on Victoriei 109th. "It's a very interesting exhibition. I'm fascinated by the colours I find in these paintings and the special style," Guttman said. A graduate of the National University of Arts, Department of Painting and Mural Painting, Lucian Hrisav was the coordinator of the Multimedia Visual Arts Centre and Atelier35 in 2018-2020. A new space, with a dynamic exhibition plan, developed through collaborations with local and international galleries, The H Gallery aims, according to the organizers, to set a precedent in the Romanian art scene, in which the ideas of innovation and creative diversity takes a leading place. AGERPRES. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced on Thursday that it has expanded its presence in Romania with a new office in Cluj-Napoca, thus becoming the first international financial institution to open a regional office in this city, a release informs. The EBRD office in Cluj-Napoca will mainly support SMEs in the region with expert advice, training and access to finance. Through the Advice for Small Businesses program, funded in Romania by the EU and the EBRD, the Bank has already provided support to more than 900 Romanian SMEs, including regional business leaders such as Arobs, Ciserom and Unilact. "The opening of our new office in western Cluj-Napoca confirms our commitment to Romania. We have supported hundreds of companies across the country through direct and indirect investment, as well as advisory projects, and we now want to increase our support for businesses in Transylvania," said Charlotte Ruhe, EBRD's Managing Director, Central and South Eastern Europe. In Romania, where the EBRD is a major investor, the Bank focuses on financing sustainable infrastructure, boosting productivity and developing the financial sector. To date, the EBRD has invested almost 9.7 billion euros in the Romanian economy through 488 projects.AGERPRES Traian Basescu has filed a second lawsuit against the Protection and Guard Service (SPP) at the Bucharest Court of Appeal, requesting the annulment of the decision to withdraw the protection and guard detail due to the former presidents. This is the second trial filed by Traian Basescu, after he had previously asked judges to suspend the effects of the SPP ruling. As head of state, from 2004 to 2014, Traian Basescu enjoyed a number of privileges. Thus, he received for free a protocol villa on Gogol Street in Bucharest Sector 1, he had an indemnity and a SPP protection and guard detail. Under Law no. 406/2001, subsequently amended, the former presidents lose the right to these benefits if a court finds by final decision that they had the quality of a worker or collaborator of the (former communist secret police - ed.n.) Securitate. Given that Traian Basescu received in March, at the Supreme Court, a final decision that he was a collaborator of the Securitate, RA-APPS notified him that he has 60 days to leave the protocol villa, and on March 28, SPP announced him that he no longer enjoys the right to protection and security from the Service. Traian Basescu has not yet left the protocol villa and has filed two lawsuits against SPP. According to the National Council for the Study of Securitate Archives (CNSAS), Traian Basescu gave informative notes that would have led to the retention of a colleague from the Navy in the country. The documents submitted in court by CNSAS show that Basescu had a liaison officer appointed by the former Securitate, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and that he would have given two holographic informative notes. According to CNSAS, during his collaboration with the Securitate, Traian Basescu provided information denouncing activities contrary to the totalitarian communist regime, such as the intention to go abroad and relations with foreign citizens.AGERPRES Madeline-Dalila Alexander has been appointed interim director - a member of the Board of Directors of Agricover Holding of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the company said in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday. Madeline-Dalila Alexander has over 30 years of experience as an auditor, of which 20 years as a partner in audit firms under Big 4 Accounting Firms. Alexander is accredited as a GAAP and IFRS expert in the United States as well as a GAAP, SOX compliance and implementation expert in Romania. She is a member of the Romanian Chamber of Financial Auditors (CAFR), ASPAAS, CECCAR as well as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the United States of America. She has Romanian citizenship and will be the first woman appointed in the Board of Directors of Agricover Holding SA. The appointment is to be ratified by the shareholders, at the next General Assembly of Shareholders convened for June 20, 2022. Agricover is the leader of the agribusiness market in Romania. Agricover Holding SA brings together Agricover SA - a company that will be renamed Agricover Distribution SA, specialized in the distribution of agricultural technologies, Agricover Credit IFN SA - non-banking financial institution specialized in financing farmers and Agricover Technology SRL through which the Group offers farmers access to the latest innovations in global digital agriculture. At the end of 2021, as many as 470 employees worked in the subsidiaries Agricover Holding S.A. The group serves a portfolio of over 9,200 active farm customers, operating more than 2.6 million hectares of arable land nationwide. Agricover Holding SA is owned by Jabbar Kanani, with a share of 87.269% of the subscribed and paid-in share capital, together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which holds 12.727% of the shares of Agricover Holding and the remaining 0.004% is owned by list shareholders. Adama Agriculture B.V., a member of the Syngenta Group, one of the world's largest producers of certified plant protection products and seeds, owns 10% of the shares of Agricover S.A.AGERPRES Chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Nicolae Ciuca presented on Thursday the government's stocktaking report after six months in office, stating that "step by step" the targeted results are being achieved. "In the first six months of governing we have taken concrete steps to achieve all the goals set forth in the governing program. Step by step we are getting closer to achieving the targeted results, many of which were obtained through the efforts of the government and implicitly of the ministries, which have worked hard in recent months not to waste Romania's unique chances for development and modernization," Ciuca told the meeting of the League of PNL Local Elected Representatives taking place in Poiana Brasov. He explained that he postponed the assessment of the ministers and secretaries of state on-the-job performance by one month, for the end of June, when all the milestones and targets pledged under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan for the first semester must be presented. "Their fulfillment (...) is an important indicator in assessing the performance and competencies of the ministers and secretaries of state," the Prime Minister explained. He went on to say that six months after his taking office, Romania has the "highest" economic growth in the EU and has over 90 billion euros at its disposal for development and modernization. "Romania is a secure country, with the strongest security guarantees proving all the more important as the Russian military invasion has triggered a devastating war on our border. The security we are enjoying at this time, as the crisis generated by the illegal and unprovoked war waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine is in full swing, our guarantee, is provided by our North Atlantic Alliance and EU membership and by the Strategic Partnership with the U.S., which confers protection for our territory, economy and - most importantly - our citizens," Nicolae Ciuca said. He also mentioned the measures taken through the "Support for Romania" package "meant to make possible both the continuation of investments and the protection of the vulnerable categories affected by the rising prices", pointing out that investments are the government's main concern and that today's government meeting approved the last OUG authorizing the Ministry of European Investments and Projects to submit the first application for European funds no later than May 31st. "We thus facilitate the inflow of another almost 3 billion euros," the Prime Minister said. He also noted that the government has pumped up the absorption rate of European funds by 7 percent and that the "Anghel Saligny" program envisages the expansion of water and sewerage networks, with more than 2,000 applications under assessment. Ciuca concluded by mentioning the "efficient" management of the COVID-19 pandemic. resident Klaus Iohannis had a telephone conversation with European Council President Charles Michel, on the main topics on the agenda of the extraordinary meeting of the European Council to take place Monday and Tuesday. "In preparation of the upcoming extraordinary #EUCO, I had an exchange of views with @eucopresident Charles Michel on the main topics on the agenda: humanitarian and financial support for #Ukraine, food security, energy, security and defence," the head of state wrote on Twitter on Thursday. AGERPRES. Charles, Prince of Wales, who arrived for a visit in Romania on Wednesday, spent a day on Thursday in his house at Valea Zalanului, a small town in the central County of Covasna, where he has been coming for years for a short holiday. Because of the pandemic, Prince Charles has not been in our country for two years, but continued promoting the cultural heritage and the natural landscapes of Romania. "Romania is an astonishingly diverse country, from the Danube Delta, Europe's largest and most pristine wetland, to the forests, springs and monasteries of Bucovina, Moldavia and the Maramures, the hills of the Apuseni or the wilds of Harghita, the precious collections in Bucharest museums or the wild beauty of the Iron Gates gorge, the castles, mountains and Saxon villages of Transylvania, or the remote valleys of Banat and Crisana. Romania has an historic legacy that stretches back to the Dacian fortresses and the Greek cities of Histria and Argamun. To find such a huge wealth of natural and cultural diversity under a single flag is quite remarkable, and is one of the features which makes Romania such a unique and special corner of Europe. So too is the determination of the Romanian people to preserve and protect their heritage, to hold fast to their crafts and traditions and to retain the very best of the past whilst building a brighter future. I'm so glad that Romania's many treasures are becoming known and appreciated by a growing number of people," Prince Charles has said in 2020, as the narrator of the Wild Carpathia documentary series made by British journalist Charlie Ottley. "For myself, Romania holds a very special place in my heart. I can trace my forbearers all the way back to Vlad Tepes, which may explain why each time I visit, there is a part of me that feels at home. For as long as I am able, I will continue to champion the importance of protecting and celebrating Romania's unique treasures, her villages, her historic buildings, her food and drink and her precious biodiversity, her wildlife and majestic forests," Prince Charles then added. Valea Zalanului is an isolated village in the area of Baraolt area, where less than 100 people live, most of them elderly, who are in agriculture and animal husbandry. To reach this village you must go through 14 kilometers of wilderness, on a narrow country road, where there is barely enough room for two carriages. The houses have kept their traditional architecture and ancestral charm, and less than a decade ago, Prince Charles bought an old mansion, on the edge of the village, which he restored and transformed into a holiday home. Prince Charles also has other properties in Transylvania, old buildings which he saved from demolition, including in the town of Viscri, Brasov county, which, according to sources, he will be visiting on Friday.AGERPRES Romania is taking part in the Book Fair in Madrid, between the period of May 27 - June 12, in Retiro Park, with its own stand and a program that includes book presentations, recitals, debates, translation workshops and autograph sessions. According to a press release sent by the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) to AGERPRES, Romania's stand will have numerous works of art available, of Romanian authors translated into Spain in the last years, many of them being published with the support of ICR through the "Translation and Publication Support" program, as well as a varied selection of Romanian titles, addressed to fans of Romanian literature, of any age. During the Book Fair there will be events meant to contribute in promoting Romanian culture, especially contemporary Romanian literature translated into Spanish, as well as consolidating and extending Romanian-Spanish dialogue in the areas of literature, translations and editorial policies. Furthermore, at Europe's pavilion of the European Commission's Representation in Spain, ICR will organize, with support from the network of cultural institutes accredited in Madrid, EUNIC Spain, a series of events where Romanian authors and European guests will take part, from the areas of literature, creativity, cinema and comic books. The Romanian participation in the Madrid Book Fair is organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute, through the Romanian Cultural Institute in Madrid and the National Book Center, with the support of Romania's Embassy in the Kingdom of Spain, the Collegiate Association of Writers in Spain and the European Commission's Representation in Madrid.AGERPRES Romania supports the involvement of the United States of America in the joint efforts aimed at consolidating European defence, Romanian Defence Minister Vasile Dincu said on Thursday, at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest at an event marking Memorial Day. "We are in a turning point of history, in a turbulent and unpredictable security context, when a new challenge emerges in the rule-based international environment architecture. The Russian Federation's actions in Ukraine represent serious breeches in international law and international commitments also assumed by the Russian Federation, as well as in the territorial integrity of Ukraine, namely the inviolability of its borders. Romania condemns in the strongest terns the unjustified, brutal and deeply illegal aggression of Russia against Ukraine," the minister said. Dincu added that "the presence of U.S. forces in Romania has, beyond the security component, a very significant symbolic dimension. "Together with the Romanian military, the U.S. servicemen protect and defend the Euro-Atlantic values essentially defining our society. Democracy, human rights, rule of law and the right of each people to self-determination," Dincu said, highlighting that "the strategic partnership with the U.S. is essential for Romania's security." In his turn, U.S. Charge d'Affairs David Muniz underscored that the friendship and alliance the U.S. is enjoying today with the Romanians, who are loyal allies, have been based on their courage and sacrifice. From former belligerent entities to ideologically opposed entities, behind an Iron Curtain that was dividing the continent, we are now united by unwavering solidarity. Our veterans have brought us to this point. This day is devoted to them, said Muniz. He also spoke of the current security situation, saying that as war is making new damage on the continent, the U.S. and its allies have the privilege to have inherited the protection of unshaken courage and he underscored the need of having a strong and united transatlantic alliance, its efficient deterrence and its defence capacities. Muniz also said that confronted with the unjustified, illegal, barbarian invasion of Russia in Ukraine, the peaceful world is forced to remember there is no substitute for collective defence. The diplomat stressed that the alliance as a whole is stronger than its component parts alone. He added that Romania's huge contribution to NATO is very much appreciated, same as the individual actions of men and women in uniform. It is an honour to call them allies, said Muniz, taking into account that malign forces are trying to set back the world to the dark times of 80 years ago, it is very comforting to know that none of us is alone in fighting this challenge. AGERPRES The President of the Senate, Florin Citu, received Rim Kap-soo, the ambassador of the Korean Republic in Bucharest, on Thursday, for a presentation visit, the Romanian dignitary highlighting his interest for boosting high level bilateral political contacts, namely exchanges at the level of the select parliamentary committees, to stimulate economic, commercial and investment relations. The two officials confirmed the substantial character of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the Republic of Korea, the only one of this type that Romania has with an Asian country until now, context in which an opportunity was stated for identifying new sectorial domains for joint cooperation, in order to capitalize on the potential of this partnership, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday. Furthermore, there was also an exchange of opinions regarding the management of the pandemic situation and the good cooperation between the two states in the context generated by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Senate head Citu and ambassador Rim Kap-soo highlighted the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in order to promote common interests and decided to resume and boost bilateral relations, at the level of the legislative fora's leadership of the two states, the quoted source specifies.AGERPRES TOKYO (AP) Japanese and U.S. forces have conducted a joint fighter jet flight over the Sea of Japan, Japans military said Thursday, in an apparent response to a Russia-China joint bomber flight while U.S. President Joe Biden was in Tokyo. The Japan-U.S. joint flight on Wednesday involved eight warplanes based in Japan, including four U.S. F-16 fighters and four Japanese F-15s, the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces said. The joint flight was meant to confirm the combined capabilities of the two militaries and further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, it said in a statement. The flight occurred hours after North Korea fired three missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile, toward the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, amid concerns about another nuclear test by the North. The missiles fell in waters outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone. Chinese and Russian strategic bombers conducted joint flights near Japan on Tuesday, Japans Defense Ministry said. Biden was meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and their counterparts from India and Australia for the Quad, an Indo-Pacific security and economic coalition meant as a counterweight to Chinas growing influence in the region. Chinese H-6 bombers joined Russian TU-95s over the Sea of Japan and flew to areas over the East China Sea, but did not violate Japanese airspace, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said. Separately, a Russian IL-20 reconnaissance plane was spotted flying off the northern Japanese coast. The Chinese-Russian joint flight represented an increased level of provocation and a threat to the Quad, Kishi said. China said the flights were over the the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the western Pacific. Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said it was a routine joint strategic air patrol that has been carried out four times since 2019. This operation is not aimed at a third party and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation, he said in a video statement posted Wednesday on the Defense Ministry website. Associated Press writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. ST. LOUIS Another developer has stepped forward with plans to redevelop the Chemical Building in downtown St. Louis into a dual-branded hotel. Louisiana-based Campo Architects wants to turn the historic property into a 240-room Residences Inn and SpringHill Suites hotel at 777 Olive Street. It has hired Maryland Heights-based Paric Construction as the general contractor. The plans, which have no other details, were posted to an online portal of construction jobs hosted by St. Louis Development Corp. Campo Architects Principal John Campo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Campo bought the building in late December for $5 million from New York-based Morgan Communities, whose own plans stalled years ago. The 17-story building has just one tenant: Kessler Mroz Jewelry. Campo Architects is the latest in a string of developers with plans for the Chemical Building, a 126-year-old brick and terra cotta structure with bay windows. In 2019, Restoration St. Louis wanted to build apartments and a hotel, the latter of which would have been an extension of their Hotel St. Louis project located next door. Restoration St. Louis said they planned to buy the historic building from Morgan Communities that had plans in 2018 for micro apartments there. Both conversions stalled. 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. NEW YORK Spoiler alert: Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey obviously knew how The Office ended its nine-year run on NBC, because, after all, they filmed it but revisiting that time for their new book, Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There, was still something they put off. I have not watched the finale episode in full even now, Fischer confessed recently over Zoom. The St. Louis native (Nerinx Hall High School, 1991) played receptionist Pam Beesly. "I just watched the parts that I had to write about in the book because its too emotional for me. Kinsey, however, watched the whole thing." I boohooed through it. When we were writing about it, I started crying," said Kinsey, who played the stickler, cat-loving accountant, Angela Martin. The real-life best friends and former co-stars have put their memories to good use, with both Office BFFs and a re-watch podcast called Office Ladies." They're more than halfway through Season 6 of the series. In Office BFFs, they also document the growth of their friendship from when they first bonded while filming an episode in Season 1 to Kinsey being at Fischer's side when she broke her back while attending an NBC party in New York during the hiatus between seasons 3 and 4. Fischer and Kinsey talked recently to the Associated Press about their book, the podcast and their friendship. Answers have been edited for length and clarity. Q How do you remember so clearly what happened to be able to fill a podcast and a book? Fischer We are big journalers, so we journaled about our days on set. And Angela is a digital hoarder. She kept every email I ever sent her. It was so great. When I was writing the chapter on the romance between (characters) Jim and Pam, she had an old email that I had written her. She forwarded that to me, and I was able to use that. Q Is there anything you've saved specifically for the podcast and other things for the book? Or was there overlap? Kinsey The podcast is a true re-watch. And the book is our personal journey as two gals who are not from show business or Hollywood ... just try and figure out what it means to be on a show and navigate a red carpet and how to do interviews and all those things you dont learn in an acting class. And we were horrible at it. Those are things we dont really talk about on the podcast. Q You've started these businesses together and pivoted into a new career path, marketing on yourselves rather than characters. Do you want to inspire others in making career changes by thinking outside the box? Kinsey I turned 50, and I didnt think I would be trying anything new in my career at 50. And here I am, learning how to do a podcast and writing a book with my best friend. I just think of other women Ive always looked up to who reinvented themselves later in life and that you dont have to say, Oh, I cant do that" or "Its too late. Its not too late its really not. Thats something I would want to share with other folks out there. Q Both the podcast and the book introduce fans to the people behind the scenes of The Office who helped make the show, such as editors, props people, and your wardrobe and hair department. It must be gratifying to give them some of the spotlight. Fischer One of my favorite pieces of mail that we got is someone wrote to tell us, All those names that I see scroll by in the credits at the end of the episode, now I feel like I know everybody. I'm so proud of that. Q In the first episode of your podcast, Jenna, you made a comment about how many episodes you two had ahead of you to recap, and you sounded overwhelmed and maybe even scared. Is it funny to think about that now? Fischer Yes. There's 201 episodes of The Office, and to imagine doing 201 things of something that youre not sure you know how to do is very daunting. Were definitely in a groove now. Were more than halfway finished, and now were starting to talk about what can we do next. Q Are you seriously thinking about what else you can do together? Kinsey Rainn Wilson (who played Dwight on "The Office") will tell you, we love to chat. So I think we have a few ideas for what Office Ladies would be after we break down all the episodes. ST. LOUIS The American Revolution was far away from the 700 people of this wilderness trading village. Mostly of French origin, they were little disposed to care about Bunker Hill or Valley Forge. American commander George Rogers Clark and a small band of frontiersmen had managed to run the lonely British sentries from Cahokia and Kaskaskia in 1778 with little effort or gunfire. Local merchants such as Charles Gratiot rewrote their customer lists, betting on the Americans. But the war would find St. Louis, at least for a day, because of imperial scheming in Europe. Great Britain wanted to flank the rebellious American colonies and snatch vast Louisiana from Spain, which ruled the former French colony with a soft touch and few troops. Spain saw a chance to grab some of the land east of the Mississippi River from the English, who were distracted by the pesky insurrection on the Seaboard. In two palaces far away, maps pointed to St. Louis as a place of value. By March 1780, the trader grapevine brought word that the British were recruiting Native American warriors from around the Great Lakes to attack St. Louis. Don Fernando de Leyba, the Spanish lieutenant governor here, ordered construction of a stone tower near present-day Fourth and Walnut streets on the ridge overlooking the river-hugging village. Local residents, slave and free, dug trenches vaguely around what would become the Gateway Arch grounds. Just to the west were the common planting fields. More rumors floated down the Mississippi River. Leyba expanded the local militia and ordered up the small garrison from Ste. Genevieve. On May 25, 1780, St. Louisans celebrated the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi by relaxing in the common fields, picnicking on wild strawberries. British officers and their warrior allies watched the frolic from nearby woods and figured their stealth had held. Shortly after noon the next day, the British force of perhaps 600 caught a few farmers outside the line before its screaming charge from the north was stopped cold by heavy musket fire from the trenches and steady blasts from five cannon in the tower. Stunned by the defenders readiness, the warriors never reached the trenches and, after a few more half-hearted feints, retreated. The Americans in Cahokia brushed off a smaller attack. Prudently, Leyba kept his force of 300 from charging after the warriors, who returned upriver in a hurry. Accounts of casualties vary wildly. The British claimed to have killed 68 in and near St. Louis. Leyba reported 21 killed and 25 taken away as prisoners. Later research suggests only six were buried in the St. Louis churchyard, although others were buried in the outlying countryside. The British never tried again for St. Louis, where relief gave way to anger that the episode had spoiled the trading business. Leyba was upset with his ungrateful charges when he died a month later of a sudden illness. St. Louis remained a colonial outpost until 1804, when the United States took over through the Louisiana Purchase. Tim O'Neil is a reporter at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Contact him at 314-340-8132 or toneil@post-dispatch.com ST. CLAIR COUNTY A Cahokia Heights woman has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the killing of an employee at an O'Fallon, Illinois, restaurant on Sunday night, authorities said. Nautica Young, 18, was arrested Monday and remained in custody at the O'Fallon Police Department; her bail was set at $1.5 million, St. Clair County court documents indicate. She has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Ivan J. Marshall in the parking lot behind Bella Milano, at 455 Regency Park in O'Fallon, police said. Marshall worked at the restaurant. Earlier this week, dispatchers said the restaurant manager called police about 10 p.m. Sunday to say that one of his employees had been shot behind the restaurant. Marshall was found on the parking lot. He had been shot in the chest and died at a hospital. The shooting happened about an hour after the restaurant closed. The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis said the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Major Case Squad at 618-624-9399 or O'Fallon police at 618-624-4545, ext. 0. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS. ST. LOUIS A man was found dead in north St. Louis late Wednesday afternoon, police said. Homicide detectives are investigating the death, which was reported just before 4:50 p.m. in the 6000 block of Lucille Avenue. The scene is in the Walnut Park West neighborhood. No other details, including how the man died or his name, were available Wednesday night from police. ST. LOUIS In the hours after Metro bus driver Jonathan Cobb was shot on Dec. 3, detectives started with a broad lead: The shooter drove a red or maroon PT Cruiser. Cobb was shot and critically injured seemingly at random that night while ferrying a bus full of passengers in the Normandy area. It turns out, the color, make and model were all investigators with the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis would need to make an arrest because of a tool thats increasingly at the center of police investigations across the St. Louis area. Falcon cameras from Atlanta-based startup Flock Safety have over the past three years proliferated on area roadways. They record license plates, but also use artificial intelligence to collect what the company calls a vehicle fingerprint the make, model, color and identifying features from each passing car. In the Metro shooting case, Flock allowed police to search for every PT Cruiser matching the description that passed a growing network of Falcon cameras in the St. Louis suburbs. Those leads resulted in the arrest of Isaiah L. Houston within three days of the shooting. He faces multiple felonies accusing him of shooting Cobb and firing at another Metro bus just 10 minutes earlier. We had a case where someone was just shooting up buses full of people, said Maj. Ron Martin, assistant chief of the North County Police Cooperative who also served on the Major Case Squad on Cobbs case. I dont think that gets solved nearly as quickly if you dont have Flock. Martin is among the law enforcement officials pushing for more Flock cameras in the region. He said license plate readers have been used in 75% of homicide arrests in the cooperatives jurisdiction since 2018. For more than a decade, automated license plate readers have been a mainstay of big-city police departments, including St. Louis Real Time Crime Center. But Flock Safetys Falcon are less expensive and more advanced, making them accessible now to more civilians and suburban departments. The company has competitors, including Genetec and Motorolas Vigilant solutions, but around St. Louis, Flock appears to be the fastest growing. The startup says it gained 75 local Missouri customers over the past few years, including 22 police agencies. Civilian users include cities, businesses, community improvement districts and neighborhood home owners associations that typically share the data with their local police, said Flock spokeswoman Holly Beilin. Information collected can also be shared across sometimes hundreds of police agencies. The power of Flock somewhat lies in the network, Beilin said. Local communities where police use Flock include Ballwin, Brentwood, Bridgeton, Des Peres, Eureka, St. Ann, St. Charles and many others, according to city records. While the expansion of smart-reader technology has St. Louis area police rattling off lists of cases solved, it also draws criticism from civil liberties advocates. Critics worry the databases Falcon cameras create of each passing car are invasive and ripe for abuse by police and private entities with access. Law enforcement will always cite stories where the tool saves the day, but I think that as citizens we have to go beyond the question: Will this ever solve crimes? said Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union who wrote a paper published in March on the spread of Flock Safety. Theres no question that if you record everyone all the time you could solve more crimes. We could solve crimes if you let the government put cameras in everybodys bedrooms, but were not willing to go there. Are we willing to let cameras change the nature of our public spaces? Flock isnt subtle in marketing its ambitions. The company aims to have Flock cameras in every city in the U.S. We started Flock Safety with a simple mission, the companys website reads. Eliminate crime. Birds eye view Theres big money fueling Flock Safetys rise. The startup, launched in 2017 by Atlanta entrepreneur Garrett Langley, raised $380 million from venture capital investors and grew to a valuation of $3.5 billion, according to a February announcement from the company. Today, Flock says its operating in about 1,500 communities nationwide and records data on more than 1 billion vehicles each month. Whats made it grow so fast? Older automated license plate readers cost upward of $10,000 each and require special wiring or regular trips to the reader to gather data. Falcon readers typically cost $2,500 each to operate annually. Theyre powered by a solar panel and have their own LTE signal, similar to a cellphones data plan, that allows them to constantly upload data and operate without a cable. Flock has identified St. Louis as a growth market, announcing last year that it planned to invest $10 million in the region. Beilin said Flock often fields concerns about the technologys privacy implications. As protections, she said, the company: Uses a default setting to delete data collected every 30 days, though customers can adjust that to longer. Assures customers that the cameras are focused on the backs of vehicles, not aimed at gathering data on drivers or passersby. Claims no ownership to the data collected and pledges not to sell it to third parties. This technology enables the collection of completely objective evidence, Beilin argues. It does not know who is driving that vehicle. It is whether that is a stolen vehicle. Stanley, with the ACLU, is skeptical. Americans have always worried about government surveillance and rightfully so. But theres also a long history of abuse by private companies, especially technology companies, he said. But you also have to worry about what individual business owners or the head of the HOA would do with the information as well. Can the HOA use Flock to spy on their neighbors? Thats a real concern. Flock is already expanding its offerings. Last month, Flock introduced the Raven, a gunshot audio detection tool that competes with ShotSpotter, which is already used to cover miles of areas with high crime rates in St. Louis and St. Louis County. Flock says the Raven can use artificial intelligence to identify sounds that indicate crimes in progress, including screeching tires, the sawing of catalytic converters or the breaking of glass. Taking flight in St. Louis On a recent morning, Jefferson County sheriffs detectives pulled up on a computer all blue Dodge pickups recently recorded on their Flock software. On the screen, clear photographs of pickups appeared. Its a gamechanger, said Capt. Nic Forler. We check Flock on every investigation that involves a vehicle, which is a lot of them, and it can break it wide open. Forler recalled one instance when someone drove off with a boat listed for sale on the side of the road. Flock actually photographed the car driving off with the boat attached, he said. Sheriff Dave Marshak compiled a list this spring of 17 cases solved using Flock since early 2021, including stolen vehicles, burglaries and missing persons. In one case, a vehicle with no license plate was wanted in a purse theft and was identified through the stickers on its back window. The list was presented along with testimony at a hearing last month before the Missouri Legislature on House Bill 2705. The bill proposed regulating the use of license plate readers, along with red light cameras, across the state. We dont want to have a system in which theres a wide dragnet of information being collected and indefinitely retained, sponsor Rep. Tony Lovasco, R-St. Charles County, said at the hearing. Even if our local groups are good about using that responsibly, we know the federal government loves to get their fingers on large databases on folks. A large group of local law enforcement agencies traveled to Jefferson City to testify against including license plate readers in the measure. The bill died during the Legislative session. Beyond investigations, Flock also sends real-time alerts to officers through a cellphone app or directly to dispatch centers when it gets a hit for a wanted vehicle. That side of the technology has come in handy for Wentzville police, which has 18 Flock cameras and plans to add a dozen more by 2025, said Sgt. Jacob Schmidt. In one case, a teenage runaway from Florida on her way to Colorado with a boyfriend stopped in Wentzville for gas. Wentzville police reported their location to their parents. Theyre in QuikTrip getting snacks and we show up and say: Hey your parents are worried sick, Schmidt said. In another Wentzville case, someone was pumping gas at a local station each week before driving off without paying. Police asked Flock to search for the license number and were able to arrest the gas thief when they pulled into the station. Catching in-progress crime is actually pretty rare, Schmidt said. Were usually on the reactive end, but this makes us more proactive. Wentzville put out a news release when it installed Flock, while many other agencies have done so quietly. We caught a little bit of pushback from the community about how the data is stored when we first put out the press release on Facebook, Schmitt said. What we were hearing was people worried we were running every license plate for traffic violations, but thats not true. Flock takes a picture and its only run against a database for mostly serious felonies and missing persons. Sgt. Bryan Harr, of OFallon, Missouri, police, said Flock cameras have spread across local suburbs in part because of joint regional efforts to curb rising car break-ins and auto thefts. Agencies in both St. Charles County and St. Louis County have launched task forces aimed at auto crime within the last two years. Harr said OFallon police installed 18 Flock cameras a little more than a year ago. Together they record more than 100,000 plates daily. Like many police officials across the region, Harr used the term force multiplier to describe Flock. Its like having the cops 24/7 out there telling us, hey look theres a stolen car over there, or theres this car that was involved in a burglary, Harr said. Most local agencies share their Flock data with each other. Its like when we got Tasers years ago, it changed use of force, Harr said. Flock cameras have been no different. Its changed the way we do business. License plate readers are allowed on highways operated by the Missouri Department of Transportation, but require that agencies get approval from the Missouri Department of Public Safety. The department has approved all 30 agencies that have submitted requests to put readers on highways in the last three years, though the department could not provide the total number of readers added, according to department spokesman Mike OConnell. Harr, and other local law enforcement officers, emphasize that Flock is used for criminal investigations, not traffic enforcement like red light cameras, which were nearly wiped out in Missouri after a 2015 state Supreme Court ruling. Theres no revenue generation from this, Harr said. Civilians on Flock Six Falcon cameras watch the entrances to the WingHaven subdivision in OFallon, Missouri. Red signs declare, Notice: 24/7 video recording. Protected by Flock. The WingHaven Residential Owners Association was among the first civilian customers to invest in Flock in early 2019, said Bill Halley, the associations board president. There wasnt a big crime problem, just very minor crimes, Halley said. But we wanted to make sure we were going to make the neighborhood as safe as possible. Some residents strongly opposed installing the cameras, he recalled, but an informal poll by the board of neighbors showed the majority supported the idea. They were worried it was Big Brother, but we explained its not that, he said. We made sure it wasnt facing any properties or crosswalks. Its hands off, only the police detectives are searching it. WingHaven residents can put their vehicles on a list to opt out of tracking, with Flock cameras programed to delete photos and data from their cars. Two vehicles are on the opt-out list, he said. Flock has continued to market to neighborhoods. Creve Coeur police invited the company to a community meeting last year. Salesman Gurshan Bansal presented the product as a kind of virtual gate for the neighborhood and highlighted suburban crimes it has solved. Its as easy to install as a bird feeder, Bansal said on a video of the meeting posted to YouTube. Neighborhoods are not the only civilian customers. Bi-State Development, the regions transportation agency, is considering a plan to add 36 Flock cameras at bus stops and stations in North County, said Bi-State general manager of public safety Kevin Scott. The plan came as part of a pledge to improve safety after the shooting of Metro bus driver Cobb in December, Scott said. We have 400 buses on over 60 routes across the Metro area, Scott said. Theres only so many human beings that can have eyes on our system for security, so we decided we need to look to technology. The Bi-State plan would help with an ambitious push by police from more than 24 municipalities within the Normandy School District to get private companies to fund or install 100 Flock Safety cameras across 10 square miles, said Martin, deputy chief of the North County Police Cooperative. The 100 cameras would cost $250,000 and Martin is asking local entities interested in the effort to call the cooperative. Theres uses for businesses. If a landlord evicts someone, they can be notified if they come back onto the property. If theres repeat shoplifters, a business can see when they come back to the store, Martin said. Beyond that, Flock cameras covering the area would be huge for public safety. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS Kyle Stone, who is accused of randomly shooting and killing a Shaw resident in the mans backyard, pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges Wednesday afternoon and also requested to defend himself. Stone, 20, remained in custody at the City Justice Center after Wednesdays hearing. Circuit Judge Rex Burlison ruled there were no conditions he could place on Stones release that would mitigate the danger the man poses to the community. Stone appeared before the judge virtually from the jail. He is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting death of Christopher Brennan on Friday in the 4000 block of Flora Place in south St. Louis. At the end of the short hearing, Stone spoke directly to Burlison after the judge asked if he had heard and understood what was discussed. Can I defend myself? he asked Burlison. Because they were lying about a lot of stuff. Stone was apparently referring to a discussion regarding his mental health, primarily that Stone had been diagnosed with schizophrenia two years ago and that it had gone untreated. Attorney Javad Khazaeli, who has been fielding questions for Brennans family, addressed the court on their behalf. He said Brennans brother and sister-in-law were in the courtroom because Brennans wife was devastated and terrified. The attorney described how the gunman walked up to Brennans backyard and shot him multiple times in front of his wife, with their toddler nearby. He also noted that many people in the community have connected Stone to a string of robberies and other criminal activity. He said the entire community would feel unsafe if Stone was released from jail. Hes been on a two-month reign of terror in our neighborhood, said Khazaeli, who also lives in the Shaw neighborhood. Stones court-appointed defense attorney, Johnny Lee Peddicord, asked the judge to consider that the conditions at the downtown jail were not suitable for treating Stone. (He is) extremely mentally ill; I think there is no one who can look at this and say otherwise, Peddicord said. Stones family this week told the Post-Dispatch he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and autism when he was 18, but they struggled to get him follow-up care and said they believed the mental health system had failed Stone. Despite Peddicords concerns about the city jail, assistant St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jonathan Phipps countered that he offered no suitable alternatives. Burlison declined to set bail for Stone. The Brennan family is thankful that Judge Burlison denied bond today, Khazaeli said in a statement a few hours after the hearing. This has provided a small measure of relief as the family continues to grieve. As we all process this senseless death to more gun violence, we hope everyone can embrace Chris greatest quality and open your hearts and homes to your neighbors and friends. Because he was denied bail, Stone is legally entitled to an additional bail hearing in front of a different judge. That hearing was set for June 1. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS City officials on Thursday outlined a plan to combine enforcement and funding to deter crime in the summer months. The city will devote $1 million in Community Development Block Grants to provide summer programming for children and teens, including camps, pop-up events and three meals a day, officials said at an event with community partners at the OFallon Park Rec Complex YMCA. At the same time, police patrols are being increased, said Heather Taylor, deputy director for the Department of Public Safety. The police department will use data to determine when and where officers should patrol to help reduce crime downtown and in the Downtown West neighborhood. The dual tactics come amid concerns about an uptick in crime in the downtown area recently and as students are wrapping up classes ahead of summer. Taylor said keeping kids engaged and providing them resources is critical in creating a safer city and a better future. I actually grew up in St. Louis city, and rec centers are why Im here, Taylor said. ... I grew up in the 90s where homicides were at their highest in the city of St. Louis. If it wasnt for rec centers, having that outlet and those resources available to me, I wouldnt be a college graduate. The city and St. Louis Public Schools worked together to create Summer Fun STL, a series of youth camps, programs and pop-up events that will take place at seven locations from June 6 through July 29. The offerings also will include three meals a day for kids ages 5 to 17. City officials hope to serve about 700 kids with the programs. The locations are: Nance Elementary, Oak Hill Elementary, Ashland Elementary, Walbridge Elementary, Patrick Henry Downtown, Yeatman Middle School and Peabody Elementary School. The Gateway Region YMCA also will provide programming with funding from the Prop S Youth at Risk Program. More information on the citys youth summer programs is available at www.stlouis-mo.gov. Paired with the new programming, the city is boosting police enforcement efforts. Officers will work 12-hour shifts on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. And during peak crime hours 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. the city will increase traffic enforcement, air support, specialized units, park rangers and deputy marshals. A collaboration with the St. Louis Sheriffs Office also will provide an increased police presence on Washington Avenue and Market Street. The city began increased patrols of downtown about a month ago, and this week announced they have worked with rentable electric scooter companies to shut down the service at 7 p.m. in the downtown area after residents complained of safety hazards created by the scooters. Additionally, Lt. Col. Michael Sack announced the citys public safety department has developed an incident mass notification system in partnership with federal authorities, highway patrol and local agencies, to help the city investigate large-scale violence and mass shootings. Sack is the commander of the Bureau of Community Policing but will take over as interim police chief next month when Chief John Hayden retires. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Updated Friday with county counselor's response. ST. LOUIS A woman has sued the St. Louis County Police Department after her husband was killed earlier this month in a crash caused by a motorist fleeing police. Kelly Pratts husband, Derek Pratt, 44, was the father of three adult children. He was a union painter working for Jos. Ward Painting Co. when he died May 4. He was ejected from his Dodge pickup truck when a Hyundai Sonata hit the truck at the intersection of South Broadway and River City Casino Boulevard, within the city of St. Louis. The truck went airborne and rolled side over side while fully off the ground. Pratt is suing two unnamed police officers as well as each St. Louis County police commissioner: Brian Ashworth, Michelle Shwerin, Thomasina Hassler and Richard Banks. One of Pratts attorneys, Adam Altman, said they chose to name the members of the board because they believe they are responsible for handing down policy and direction to officers. The lawsuit does not specify the officers, Altman said, because at this point he does not know the names of those involved. St. Louis County police have denied they were involved in a pursuit. County Sgt. Tracy Panus said officers were conducting a drug investigation and tried to make a traffic stop. When the vehicle failed to stop, our officers immediately ceased all efforts to stop the vehicle, she said at the time. There was no pursuit. The suit claims the officers initiated a high-speed police pursuit beginning in the River City Casino parking lot and they should have known soon after that the Hyundai was headed into an intersection. By continuing the chase, the suit stated, they created a dangerous situation. Marc O. Gardner was driving the Hyundai and Frank R. Moore was in the passenger seat, according to the lawsuit. No charges have been filed against either man in connection with the crash, according to online court records. The suit alleges the police board members and the department failed to train and supervise the officers. The policies and procedures of all defendants prohibited them from initiating and continuing such high-speed pursuits, except under specific circumstances not present in this case, the suit stated. Pratts suit argued the officers treated the incident as if it was an emergency, when it was not. St. Louis County Counselor Beth Orwick said she could not comment on pending litigation. Derek Pratt was one of seven motorists who died in crashes involving suspects trying to elude police during a recent 15-day span in St. Louis and St. Louis County. The NAACP on May 19 publicly expressed its outrage regarding police pursuits that put motorists in danger and said leaders are working to get a mediator with the U.S. Justice Department involved to set some agreeable parameters for when pursuits are warranted. The first of the three crashes happened April 22 in north St. Louis County when Jace Richardson, 2, and his mother were thrown from their car after a suspected car thief collided with their vehicle and another car while fleeing police. The crash was at West Florissant Avenue and Hudson Drive. St. Louis County police said officers followed departmental policy regulating police pursuits because the chase involved a vehicle that had been taken in a violent crime. Dispatchers broadcast it as an armed carjacking. The suspect, Leon M. Russell, was not injured. Russell, 29, has been charged in St. Louis County with second-degree murder, assault and other felonies. The third crash happened two days after the crash that killed Pratt. On May 6, a stolen Jeep Cherokee crashed into a minivan carrying seven members of a family. Four of those family members died that night. A fifth victim, an 11-year-old girl, died three days later. The crash was at Delmar Boulevard and Pendleton Avenue. Before the collision, St. Louis police had tried to stop the Jeep because it was stolen. One of the Jeeps occupants fired shots at another car as the Jeep wove through traffic, police said. Authorities maintained that a police pursuit did not occur. But a brief news conference Friday failed to answer questions surrounding the extent of police activity leading up to the crash. The departments initial crash report states the stolen Jeep Cherokee that caused the crash was attempting to elude officers, and interim Public Safety Director Dan Isom said last week that the Jeep had refused to pull over for officers. Killed in the minivan were Takera Thompson, 11; her grandmother, Anngelique Simmons, 56; Takeras aunt, Rhonda Simmons, 34; and two of Takeras great-uncles, Ephriam Wayne Simmons, 47; and Luther Simmons, 43. Police arrested two 17-year-old boys who had been riding in the Jeep at the time of the crash. The juvenile court released one of the boys; the other was being held on a weapons charge. The 18-year-old driver who police said fled the scene was arrested a week after the crash. Marshawn D. Stepney, 18, of St. Louis, has been charged with five counts of second-degree murder, seven counts of armed criminal action, two counts of assault, two counts of leaving a scene and one count of tampering with a motor vehicle. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JEFFERSON CITY Missouri businesses may be able to tap into a new state program to add child care services as part of a bid to keep employees from leaving the workforce when they have kids. As part of the $10 billion budget for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Legislature inserted $10 million in federal emergency stimulus aid for the program. The measure is now under review by Gov. Mike Parson, who supports the expansion. Business groups hailed the budget proposal, saying it will help small businesses recover from the financial strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Workforce remains the No. 1 issue impacting business growth across Missouri with the child care crisis being a major factor. Thanks to this new funding, Missouri will be on the leading edge as businesses work to develop innovative child care models that will help parents get back to work, said Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Dan Mehan. Along with lobbying by the chamber, the program is an outgrowth of a task force created in the wake of the pandemic. In January, the Show Me Strong Recovery Task Force issued a set of recommendations, including improving child care availability and affordability. The panel met with small-business owners in seven cities, conducted a statewide survey of small-business owners and worked with the Federal Reserve to analyze the impact of the pandemic. A study by the U.S. Chamber Foundation found that nearly 1 in 3 parents have changed jobs due to child care issues in 2021, signaling that state intervention could help bolster the workforce. Under the plan, companies could apply for grants up to $250,000 to form partnerships with child care providers or establish dedicated child care centers to serve employees. Small businesses will also be encouraged to band together and offer this benefit. An additional $10 million was dedicated to establish a grant program to help provide child care for essential workers, including state employees. Pam Thomas, assistant commissioner of the DESE Office of Childhood, said it will take a few months for the agency to roll out the plan. Right now, its very much at the concept level, Thomas said. We dont have any implementation plans yet. She said the program will help fill a hole left in child care by the pandemic, in which there was a 30% decline in licensed child care facilities. We certainly support starting up and expanding child care, Thomas said. There are other efforts underway to boost child care services. In St. Louis County, officials are considering spending some of the $74 million in federal pandemic aid on bolstering child care providers. A vote could come in late June after Parson takes action on the state budget. The legislation is House Bill 3002. 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. ST. LOUIS Faith leaders across the St. Louis region on Thursday called on Missouri elected officials to support universal background checks and other gun control measures in the wake of a deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Enough is enough, said the Rev. Ivan C. James, lead pastor of New Horizons United Methodist Church, backed by more than 30 interfaith leaders outside the house of worship on Washington Boulevard. They lamented lives lost to a seemingly unending wave of mass shootings across the U.S. in recent years. And they demanded change, calling on Gov. Mike Parson, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, all Republicans, to support tighter gun controls, including universal background checks. Today, the church said we will come out from behind the pulpit ... and we will speak truth to power and we will say to our governments that there must be gun control, said the Rev. Darryl Gray, senior pastor of Greater Fairfax Missionary Baptist Church. The Rev. Andy Bryan, lead pastor of Manchester United Methodist Church in Manchester, called for a disruption to the script he said has followed mass shootings: outrage, thoughts and prayers, but no real change. Lets get off script, Bryan said. Enough is enough. Lets do something. He called on Hawley, Blunt and other Senate Republicans to take up and approve a measure that would require background checks for all gun purchases and close a loophole allowing some gun sales, such as gun show or online sales, to be done without checks. House Resolution 8, or the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, passed the U.S. House last year in a 227-203 vote. Eight Republicans voted in favor and one Democrat voted against the measure. But the measure has languished without a vote in the Senate, which is currently split between 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats and Independents. Sixty votes would be required to end debate on the bill if the Senate doesnt end the filibuster rule. Bryan on Thursday said Hawley, Blunt and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., are among six Republicans who havent signaled any support for the measure. Six people stand between this nation and a step towards some kind of progress in gun safety, Bryan said. Sen. Blunt, Sen. Hawley, you could be a leader here. You could lead the way here. You are two of those six. Gray called on Parson to convene a special session of the Missouri Legislature to adopt tighter gun controls. Were praying that our governor might hear our prayer today ... and that he may be moved to call the Legislature into session to talk about gun control, Gray said. Blunt said in a statement that he would review any proposal to come out of bipartisan talks between McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. But Blunt said it was unlikely H.R. 8 would receive 60 votes to pass the Senate. Were not going to make any progress voting on House bills that wont get 60 votes, Blunt said. I hope Sen. Schumer wont start this discussion by bringing bills to the floor that cant pass if he really is interested in finding a solution. Blunt said he would be open to looking at the possibility of a red flag law to keep weapons out of the hands of people who pose an imminent threat to themselves or others, and would be open to considering further changes that are needed and have bipartisan support. A spokesperson for Hawley did not respond to questions about H.R. 8, but referred a reporter to recent statements the senator made calling for increasing penalties for gun crimes and directing more resources to law enforcement. Parson did not respond to a request for comment. James, of New Horizons, opened his remarks at 11:32 a.m. the same time on Tuesday that the shooting began at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. At least 19 students and two teachers were killed. It was the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012. And just 10 days before Uvalde, 10 Black people were shot to death in a racist attack at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket. The Rev. Linda Settles, pastor of United Methodist Church of Green Trails in Chesterfield, said the shootings were preventable. If we can go to the moon, ... I think we can do something about the violence that has been enacted, she said. She invoked the memory of one of the children killed in Uvalde, Eliana Ellie Garcia, 9, while reading a Bible verse from Deuteronomy : Do what is good and right in the Lords sight. Can we do this for Ellie, do what is right? she said. Democrats running for U.S. Senate in Missouri told the Post-Dispatch on Wednesday that they would support ending the filibuster to approve tougher gun laws. Ending the filibuster in the current Congress could provide Democrats with an opportunity to pass laws without Republican support. The U.S. Constitution gives the vice president, who presides over the Senate, the authority to vote to break ties. Vice President Kamala Harris is a Democrat. 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. JEFFERSON CITY State officials have rejected a bid to transform a state-owned building in north St. Louis into a federal halfway house. And with the former hospital and social services facility sitting empty, Gov. Mike Parsons administration is moving to get rid of the facility known as Prince Hall, located at 4411 North Newstead Avenue. Exodus Reentry Villages submitted the lone bid in April to lease Prince Hall, which was built in 1965 as a privately run hospital and then used by the state later as a clearinghouse for social service programs. Thomas Utterback, who operates Exodus, wanted the 151,500-square-foot building to become the new provider in St. Louis of services to federal prisoners being released from custody. But Parsons Office of Administration, which handles state-owned real estate, determined that the Exodus proposal was non-responsive. OA has canceled the procurement and will not be reissuing at this time, agency spokesman Chris Moreland said. Late last year, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded a contract to Exodus to replace Dismas House, which had run the oldest halfway house in the country after years of controversy. Initially, the new halfway house was expected to be situated in the former home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, 3225 North Florissant Avenue, in the St. Louis Place neighborhood. That facility was supposed to open by March 1, housing as many as 160 inmates. But Post-Dispatch columnist Tony Messenger reported that at least two prospective sites for the Exodus facility were nixed, raising questions about whether it would become a reality. The Justice Department later announced it had extended Dismas Houses contract. The decision to reject Utterback came as the Legislature sent Parson a package of bills that included language allowing the Office of Administration to sell the building, which sits on 6.2 acres in a residential area known as the Penrose neighborhood. That legislation also calls for the sale of a handful of parcels of state-owned residential property surrounding Prince Hall. If the bill is signed, the governor is authorized to convey the properties, if desired, to any interested party, Moreland said. The five-story property was last renovated in 1996, bidding documents note. City records show the property has been cited in recent years for uncut grass, overflowing garbage containers and inadequate outside lighting. The Department of Social Services operated a family resource center at the location until 2017. The state later offered some services through a private vendor at the facility, but that arrangement ended in June 2020. In 2015, a group proposed using the building as a 10-bed hospital, but the plan didnt materialize. 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. HAZELWOOD Amazon warehouse employees, area union leaders and supporters called for higher wages and improved work conditions at all Amazon facilities in the St. Louis region at a rally on Wednesday. The rally, sponsored by the labor group Missouri Workers Center, was held at First Missionary Baptist Church, just a half-mile from Amazons Hazelwood facilities. Inclement weather canceled a march initially planned to run from the church to an Amazon site. Over 75 people instead filled a room in the church, calling on Amazon to boost pay by $3 an hour for all employees instead of just during the companys peak season around the holidays. They also urged safer work conditions, such as better storm preparedness an issue brought into focus after a powerful tornado ripped through an Amazon facility in Edwardsville in December, killing six people on site. Lawsuits are pending against Amazon from families of those employees. One Amazon employee, Jake Frankenreiter, told the crowd of his concerns with Amazons handling of his work injury at the St. Peters location. Frankenreiter, who has worked there for over two years, said he injured himself while pushing a bulk container on the job. Once he reported the injury, he said he was told to take a COVID-19 test with the companys on-site medical team. His injury ended up being with one of his pectoral muscles, and he said he was left with no paid time off in addition to a $1,000 hospital bill. If you get hurt thats a bad thing and thats considered a bad thing, and its never Amazon or the worker safety teams fault, Frankenreiter said. Amazon employs about 4,000 people at its regional facilities in St. Peters, Hazelwood and Edwardsville. A labor-union based group, the Strategic Organizing Center, released a report earlier this year that said injuries at Amazon facilities nationally had increased by 20% from 2020 to 2021. Amazon has disputed the report, saying that recordable injuries fell by 13% from 2019 to 2021, while noting in a statement provided Wednesday that we have more work do to make additional improvements in reducing injuries and keeping employees safe. We encourage anyone to compare our median pay and benefits to other retailers. Amazon employees earn an average starting wage of at least $18 an hour more than double the federal minimum wage, the statement continued. Thursdays rally was one of many across the nation timed to coincide with the e-commerce giants annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday. A record number of investor resolutions were considered at the meeting, but all 15 that challenged the companys policies, including several on worker safety, were rejected during shareholder voting, Reuters reported. The rallies also took place amid union organizing efforts at many Amazon facilities, which the company has fought. 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. DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) Irans foreign minister sat before an audience of Western business executives and policymakers at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, fielding questions about why Iran has yet to condemn Russia for its invasion in Ukraine and why efforts to revive its nuclear deal have stalled. It was a rare opportunity for many in the audience to hear directly from Hossein Amirabdollahian, who was interviewed Thursday by CNN's Fareed Zakaria. When pressed on why Iran has not condemned its ally Russia for the war in Ukraine, he said Iran has, just as it had wars against Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Palestine." In Ukraine, however, he says the U.S. and NATO were involved in actions that provoked Moscow. On stalled nuclear talks, he says some people in Iran and the U.S. are against reviving the accord for their own reasons, including members of Irans elected parliament. Amirabdollahian says he thought U.S. President Joe Biden is facing some kind of inaction. I hope that the American side will act and behave realistically. He added that Iran is keeping the window of diplomacy open and that the Trump administrations sanctions must be lifted. He dodged questions on whether removing Iran's Revolutionary Guard from a list of terrorist organizations was on obstacle to a deal. He hinted that the issue isn't essential as long as Iran is guaranteed economic benefits. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated his conviction that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not win the war in Ukraine. In a speech Thursday at the end of the World Economic Forums annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Scholz said of Putin: He has already failed to achieve all his strategic goals. The chancellor said that a capture of all of Ukraine by Russia seems further away today than it did at the beginning of the war. More than ever, Ukraine is emphasizing its European future. In addition, Scholz said the brutality of the Russian war has prompted two states to move closer to NATO: With Sweden and Finland, two close friends and partners want to join the North Atlantic alliance. They are most welcome! The chancellor added that Putin underestimated the unity and strength with which the Group of Seven major industrialized nations, NATO and the European Union had responded to his aggression. The mayor of Kyiv says he's grateful to receive calls from the leaders of other cities around the world pledging their support for rebuilding the Ukrainian capital. Speaking Thursday at the World Economic Forum's meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Vitali Klitschko says the support is important but first of all, right now, we have to stop the war. And after that, we have to rebuild all infrastructure which destroyed (by) aggressors." He says 300 hundred buildings in Kyiv have been destroyed, including 220 apartment towers. Klitschko says the main priority right now until the winter season is to rebuild, to make a reconstruction for these buildings and give these services to these people who is right now homeless. For that, he says around 80 million euros ($85.6 million) is needed. Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Germany must pursue its climate goals even more resolutely because of Russias war in Ukraine. In a speech Thursday on the last day of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Scholz said Germanys plan to become carbon-neutral by 2045 has become even more important as a result of the war. He added that while the conflict is not the sole trigger of the turning point, it increases the pressure to act. If the Paris climate targets were not met, he says the world would be heading for a catastrophe. The German chancellor also mentioned how new, emerging powers in Asia, Africa and Latin America are taking advantage of the opportunities offered by globalization. He says that for too long, we have practically equated democracy with the West in the classical sense. To broaden multilateral cooperation, Scholz says he invited South Africa, Senegal, India, Indonesia and Argentina to the summit of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations in Elmau, Bavaria, next month. Scholz says, they represent countries and regions whose cooperation the world needs to move forward on global challenges in the future. He added that a new partnership also means showing solidarity in the face of looming hunger, commodity and inflation crises. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply condemned Russias war on Ukraine and called for global cooperation to overcome life-threatening challenges such as climate change, hunger and dependency on fossil fuels. Speaking Thursday at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Scholz said the invasion of Ukraine does not mark the outbreak of any conflict anywhere in Europe. Here, a nuclear-armed superpower claims to redraw borders. Scholz said Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to return to a world order in which the strongest dictate what is right, in which freedom, sovereignty and self-determination are not. The German chancellor described Putins war politics as imperialism, which is trying to bomb us back to a time when war was a common means of politics, when our continent and the world lacked a stable peace order. He says the world is no longer bipolar like during the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union. Instead of using the power politics of past centuries, the chancellor said its important all powers work together to solve threats like hunger, climate change or dependence on fossil fuels. Scholz said: If some want to take us back to the past of nationalism, imperialism and war, our answer is not with us. We stand for the future. Journalists, press freedom advocates and human rights activists debated how governments and the private sector can safeguard a free press. Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said Thursday at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos that while hundreds of journalists have been imprisoned in repressive regimes, there are also invisible prisons, invisible bullets journalism itself, beyond journalists, is under attack by digital platforms and social networks. Also speaking on a press freedom panel, Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth said that social media has become a way for autocrats and others to evade that kind of journalistic accountability provided by traditional news organizations. Roth said powerful governments can set up fake sites and trolls and pump out misinformation. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is wrapping up the World Economic Forums annual meeting with a speech in Davos. His address Thursday comes after days of discussions about Russias war in Ukraine, a global food crisis, climate change and other hot-button issues. The yearly gathering of elites that was suspended twice over the COVID-19 pandemic has been overshadowed by the war in Ukraine. It's doused moods among policymakers but not stopping advocacy groups and business leaders from trying to improve fortunes and as forum organizers hope the state of the world. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and an array of lawmakers, local officials and business leaders captured the spotlight in-person and virtually to drum up support for their countrys fight. Attention is turning to Scholzs near-finale address, mostly to see if he might try to answer two of Ukraines key appeals: for stronger sanctions against Russia and better weapons to help their forces fight. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. A witness says onlookers urged police to charge into the Texas elementary school where a gunmans rampage killed 19 children and two teachers. Juan Carranza spoke Wednesday as investigators worked to track the massacre that lasted upwards of 40 minutes and ended when the 18-year-old shooter was killed by a Border Patrol team. Carranza lives across the street from Robb Elementary School in the town of Uvalde. He says women were shouting at officers: Go in there! Go in there! soon after the attack began. But he says the officers didn't enter. Minutes earlier, Carranza had watched as Salvador Ramos crashed his truck into a ditch outside the school, grabbed his AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle and shot at two people. Authorities say once inside the school, Ramos locked the door of a classroom and started shooting. All those who died were in that classroom. A law enforcement official familiar with the investigation says Border Patrol agents had trouble breaching the classroom door and had to get a staff member to open the room with a key. KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TEXAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING: Governor: Texas gunman said he was going to shoot up school Beto ORourke disrupts news conference on shooting Stories are emerging about the lives of the children and teachers killed IN OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: UVALDE, Texas The rifle used in the Texas elementary school shooting is known as a DDM4 Rifle. Its modeled after the M4 carbine, the U.S. militarys go-to rifle, according to a blog post by the guns maker, Daniel Defense. The Daniel Defense rifle can be classified as an AR-15 type. A key difference between the Daniel Defense rifle and the M4 carbine is that the militarys version can switch to fully automatic or fire a three-round burst depending on the model. AR-15-type rifles can be purchased for as little as $400, but the Daniel Defense rifle is on the high-end of around $2,000 or more. These rifles can also be financed, with customers paying less than $100 a month. The Daniel Defense rifle is not sold with sights. According to pictures of the shooters guns posted on Instagram, he appears to have purchased a battery-powered holographic sight that typically sells for around $725. A snipers scope uses magnification to aid in hitting targets from a great distance. Holographic sights are designed to speed up the process of short-range shooting by helping to fix on targets more quickly. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the Second Amendment is not absolute as he called for new limitations on guns in the wake of this weeks massacre at a Texas elementary school. When the amendment was approved, he said, You couldnt own a cannon. You couldnt own certain kinds of weapons. Theres always been limitations. Biden was speaking at the White House before signing an executive order on policing on the second anniversary of George Floyds death. He that he would visit Texas with first lady Jill Biden in the coming days to hopefully bring some little comfort to the community. As a nation, I think we must all be there for them, he said. And we must ask, when it Gods name will we do whats needed to be done." WASHINGTON The State Department says the school shooting in Texas and other mass casualty incidents are hurting Americas standing abroad and giving comfort to U.S. rivals and adversaries. Spokesman Ned Price said Wednesday incidents like these not only cause damage to the U.S. global reputation but also upset and confuse friends and allies who dont understand how they can continue to happen. The fact is that what happens in this country is magnified on the world stage, Price told reporters a day after a gunman killed 19 children and two adults in the Texas school shooting. And countries around the world, people around the world, are going to fixate on what transpires here oftentimes out of envy, but again thats when were at our best. Price said the shootings will have implications for our standing and the U.S. diplomats posted around the world are very mindful of that. He said that despite the State Departments foreign policy focus, the shootings hit American diplomats as a real punch to the gut. A Facebook spokesman says messages posted by the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school were private. Andy Stone says the messages were private one-to-one text messages that were discovered after the terrible tragedy. He says Facebook is cooperating with investigators. Gov. Greg Abbott described the messages at a news conference where he said the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, used an AR-15 in the attack Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. About 30 minutes before the shooting, Ramos sent three social media messages. According to the governor, Ramos posted that he was going to shoot his grandmother, then that he had shot the woman, and finally that he was going to shoot an elementary school. UVALDE, Texas Beto ORourke interrupted a press conference Wednesday about the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, calling the shooting totally predictable when you choose not to do anything. ORourke was escorted out while members of the crowd yelled at him, with one man shouting profanities at ORourke. The Democrat is challenging against Gov. Greg Abbott in this years election. Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said to ORourke: Youre out of line and an embarrassment. ORourke, as he was being escorted out, turned around, faced the stage, pointed his finger and said: This is on you until you choose to do something different. This will continue to happen. Somebody needs to stand up for the children of this state or they will continue to be killed just like they were killed in Uvalde yesterday. Abbott says the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school warned on social media minutes before the attack that he was going to shoot up a school. He says the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, used an AR-15 in the attack Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The news conference was attended by several elected Republican officials. UVALDE, Texas The governor of Texas says the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school warned on social media minutes before the attack that he was going to shoot up a school. Gov. Greg Abbott says the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, used an AR-15 in the attack Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. About 30 minutes before the shooting, Ramos made three social media posts. According to the governor, Ramos posted that he was going to shoot his grandmother, then that he had shot the woman, and finally that he was going to shoot an elementary school. Seventeen people were also injured in the attack. Abbott says Ramos had no known criminal or mental health history. Evil swept across Uvalde yesterday, the Republican governor said at a news conference attended by other Republican political officials. Former President Donald Trump says hell deliver an important address to America at the National Rifle Associations annual convention in Texas on Friday. The Republican leader posted on his social media network Wednesday that America needs real solutions and real leadership in this moment, not politicians and partisanship. Houstons Democratic mayor, Sylvester Turner, says some people want the city to cancel the NRA meeting, but he says they cant break the contract. The greater question, he says, is why politicians still plan to speak there after the shooting in Uvalde. Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz are among other Republicans scheduled to address a leadership forum sponsored by the NRAs lobbying arm. Its about elected officials at the highest level in our state going and speaking and endorsing those policies and thats wrong," Turner said. "And you cant pray and send condolences on one day and then be going and championing guns on the next. BERLIN German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser sharply condemned the Texas school massacre, saying shes shocked by the terrible bloodshed. It is horrific that so many children and a teacher were killed. And it is terrible how powerful the gun lobby still is in the USA despite so many terrible crimes, Faeser tweeted on Wednesday. Germany has a strict weapons law, and its authorities must enforce it decisively, she said. Above all, we must disarm extremists very consistently. Where necessary, we will further tighten gun laws, Faeser said. However, Germany is not immune from school attacks. Last week, a school employee was seriously wounded in a crossbow attack at a high school in Bremerhaven and a suspect was detained. Earlier this month, a 16-year-old was detained for allegedly plotting an attack on a secondary school in Essen after police seized weapons and bomb-making materials from his apartment, authorities said. HARTFORD, Conn. Schools around the country increased security as a precaution after the killings of 19 children and two teachers in Texas. In Connecticut, where the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting killed 20 first graders and six educators, state police said they were sending extra troopers to schools Wednesday, although no specific threats had been received. This assault on the most innocent of our citizens is deeply disturbing and heartbreaking, Connecticut state police Col. Stavros Mellekas said in a statement. At this time, our focus will be on protecting all school populations here in our state. Schools in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Virginia, Maryland and Florida also were among those increasing security and offering counseling. WASHINGTON Majority Leader Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor Wednesday in the aftermath of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting to call out the Republicans decadeslong opposition to gun control legislation. Maybe the thought of putting yourself in the shoes of these parents instead of in the arms of the NRA might let you wriggle free from the vise-like grip of the NRA to act on even a simple measure, the New York Democrat said. For the sake of these children, these 9-year-olds, these 10-year-olds, these 11-year-olds, these beautiful children, please, damn it. The Democrats pleas to Republican colleagues reflect a long history of congressional inaction on gun control since a gunman killed 20 schoolchildren in Newtown, Connecticut, nearly a decade ago. Democratic lawmakers have introduced countless proposals that would have required a background check of the gunman in Texas. All failed to pass, mostly due to the filibuster. Schumer pledged Wednesday to move forward with or without Republican lawmakers. Instagram has confirmed it's working with law enforcement to review an account that appears to belong to the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers in Texas. A series of posts appeared on Instagram and TikTok in the days leading up to Tuesdays shooting. One selfie appears to show the shooter in front of a mirror. Another photo shows a gun magazine in hand. And on Friday, the same day law enforcement officials believe Salvador Ramos bought a second rifle, a picture of two AR-style semi-automatic rifles appeared. Another Instagram user with many more followers was tagged in that post. That user has since removed her profile, but first she shared parts of what appears to be a chilling exchange with Ramos, asking her to share his gun pictures with her more than 10,000 followers. I barely know you and u tag me in a picture with some guns, she responded, adding, Its just scary. A response sent from Ramoss account on Tuesday morning just said: Im about to. Witnesses said the shooting began around 11:30 a.m. UVALDE, Texas The man who killed 19 children and two teachers in Texas bought his guns legally days before the attack and soon after his 18th birthday, a law enforcement briefing said. He bought one AR-style rifle from a federally-licensed gun dealer in the Uvalde area on May 17, according to a state police briefing given to Sen. John Whitmire. The next day, he bought 375 rounds of ammunition, and bought a second rifle on May 20. Officers recovered one of the rifles from Ramos truck and the other was found in the school, according to the briefing. It says Ramos dropped a backpack with several magazines full of ammunition near the school entrance, and that he was wearing a body-armor style vest but that it had no hardened plates inside. Actor Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers on Tuesday. He called on Americans to act now to control an epidemic of mass shootings. Once again, we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us, McConaughey posted on his Instagram account. We cannot exhale once again, make excuses, and accept these tragic realities as the status quo. The actor doesnt describe any specific laws or policies he wants adopted. He doesnt mention gun control. As Americans, Texans, mothers and fathers, its time we re-evaluate, he wrote. We have to rearrange our values and find a common ground. This is an epidemic we can control, and whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better. UVALDE, Texas Uvalde community members arrived early Wednesday at a civic center where families learned the fate of their loved ones the night before. Volunteers arrived with Bibles and therapy dogs. A minister says he prayed with families of victims in a hospital waiting room after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers inside an elementary school classroom in Texas. Uvalde Memorial Hospital said 13 children were taken there. Another hospital reported a 66-year-old woman was in critical condition. Pastor Doug Swimmer of the nondenominational Potters House Church told ABCs Good Morning America on Wednesday that Uvalde is a tight-knit community where people know their neighbors and see them every day. Asked what he said to people whose faith may have been shaken by the mass shooting, Swimmer said I know that one thing that we as Texans understand is that God is still God ... he is able to bring comfort in times of distress. VATICAN CITY Pope Francis has said he's heartbroken about the massacre at an elementary school in Texas. Francis spoke Wednesday during his general audience. He said he was praying for the children and adults killed and their families after a gunman opened fire at an elementary school in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde, Texas, killing at least 19 children and two adults before an officer shot and killed the gunman. UKRAINE Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that he was deeply saddened by the news of the murder of innocent children in Texas. Zelenskyy, in a tweet, sent his condolences to the families of the victims, the people of the U.S. and President Joe Biden after a gunman opened fire Tuesday at an elementary school in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde, Texas, killing at least 19 children and two adults before an officer shot and killed the gunman. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. UVALDE, Texas (AP) A Texas law enforcement official says the 18-year-old gunman who slaughtered 21 people at an elementary school entered the building unobstructed through a door that was apparently unlocked. Victor Escalon, a regional director at the Texas Department of Public Safety, said Thursday that Salvador Ramos did not initially encounter any law enforcement officers when he entered Robb Elementary School on Tuesday and opened fire, killing 19 children and two teachers. after two days of unclear and contradictory accounts from police, a Texas law enforcement official said that an armed school district officer did not encounter or exchange fire with the attacker, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, before he entered Robb Elementary in the town of Uvalde, as previously reported. But many other details about the timing of events and the police response remained murky. The motive for the massacre the nation's deadliest school shooting since Newtown, Connecticut, a decade ago remained under investigation, with authorities saying Ramos had no known criminal or mental health history. During the siege, which ended when a U.S. Border Patrol team burst in and shot the gunman to death, frustrated onlookers urged police officers to charge into the school, according to witnesses. Go in there! Go in there! women shouted at the officers soon after the attack began, said Juan Carranza, 24, who watched the scene from outside a house across the street. Carranza said the officers should have entered the school sooner: There were more of them. There was just one of him." Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said Wednesday that 40 minutes to an hour elapsed from when Ramos opened fire on the school security officer to when the tactical team shot him. The bottom line is law enforcement was there, McCraw said. They did engage immediately. They did contain (Ramos) in the classroom. But a department spokesman said Thursday that authorities were still working to clarify the timeline of the attack, uncertain whether that period of 40 minutes to an hour began when the gunman reached the school, or earlier, when he shot his grandmother at home. This is a breaking news update. APs earlier story follows below. President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to improve accountability in policing. It's a meaningful but limited action on the second anniversary of George Floyds death that reflected the challenges in addressing racism, excessive use of force and public safety with a deadlocked Congress. Most of the order issued Wednesday is focused on federal law enforcement agencies for example, requiring them to review and revise policies on use of force. It will also create a database to help track officer misconduct. The administration cannot require local police departments to participate in the database, which is intended to prevent problem officers from job-hopping. The order also restricts the flow of surplus military equipment to local police. What message are Missouris most prominent politicians sending to kids? From the looks of the advertisements and websites of the major male U.S. Senate candidates, the message is guns, guns, guns. And in typical fashion, disgraced former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens leads the way with more videos of him simulating gun violence while suggesting its open season on his political enemies. Theres zero evidence that such imagery inspired the teenage shooter behind the massacre of 19 kids in Uvalde, Texas, this week, but kids who click on candidates videos and websites certainly arent getting a message of gun responsibility and restraint. Asked how he would respond to a massacre like Uvalde, Greitens campaign expressed outrage not at the slaughter but at the question. It is shocking youd want to talk about politics at this time, the Post-Dispatchs Jack Suntrup reported. But a quick online search offers some clues. Theres a widely circulated YouTube video from April in which Greitens stands next to Donald Trump Jr., blasting away with assault-rifle fire at a target shaped like a human torso. Striking fear into the hearts of liberals, folks, Trump says once theyve emptied their clips and the target has collapsed. In a subsequent segment involving pistols, the two trade shots as a target bounces back and forth with each bullet that hits it, after which Greitens says, Liberals beware. The message for kids (and grown-ups) everywhere: Disagree with someone? Blow them away. Want to send a political message? Unleash a barrage of bullets. And yet, for Greitens, its shocking that a gun-policy question might arise following a massacre of children using the same style of high-powered weaponry he displays in his videos. Sadly, hes far from alone. Candidate Mark McCloskey, infamous as the man who in 2020 brandished an AR-15 rifle in front of his Central West End house next to his pistol-wielding wife, has posted large billboards along major St. Louis-area highways with a photo of his standoff with protesters (while she aims her pistol, index finger wrapped around the trigger). The message: Guns are the answer. A much lower-key website on the Senate campaign website for Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt displays him aiming a rifle skyward, along with a message about his strong Second Amendment support. The pattern of guns as political validation is unmistakable. The only major Republican Senate candidate who has no guns on display nor any reference to guns on her campaign website is Rep. Vicky Hartzler. But her solution to school massacres isnt to reduce the proliferation of military-style assault weapons. Rather, its to put off-duty or retired law enforcers in schools while instilling children with a greater respect for life. Missouri Republicans who are weary of gun massacres might stop to ask whether the candidates vying for their vote might be contributing more to the problem than the solution. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / Toronto-based CO2 GRO Inc. ("CO2 GRO" or the "Company") (TSXV:GROW), (OTCQB: BLONF), (Frankfurt:4021) and their Mexico marketing and sales partner, Rancho Nexo are pleased to announce that a second technology trial ("Trial") will proceed at a bell pepper greenhouse in the state of Quertaro. The size of the Trial grow area is 500m2 or 5500 square feet. The customer requires anonymity so no further details can be disclosed. The Trial's goals are to increase bell pepper fruit yield, reduce the spread of pathogens such as powdery mildew, and reduce the overall cost per unit of production thereby increasing overall margins. On April 7, 2022 CO2 GRO and Rancho Nexo announced the first Trial in Mexico for Bresca Hortalizas S.P.R. de R.L. in their 4 Ha (10 acre) new greenhouse in the State of Puebla, Mexico. Rancho Nexo's Matt Grant stated "Rancho Nexo is committed to bringing key technologies to Mexican Agri Business of which CO2 GRO's precision ag technology is integral." CO2 GRO's VP Sales & Strategic Alliances, Aaron Archibald commented, "Commercial success at these two Mexican vegetable Trials with our partner Rancho Nexo should open the door to many other Mexican AMHPAC member vegetable growers trying our technology. They represent 90% of Mexico's vegetable exports to the US and Canada." Visit CO2 Delivery Solutionsafor more information on CO2 Delivery Solutions" or awatch this video.a About Rancho Nexo (www.ranchonexo.com) Rancho Nexo, based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and Mexico City, is dedicated to connecting the world with the power of technology by bringing together innovators and global channel partners. Rancho Nexo was founded to help innovative tech companies reach broader markets in a shorter period of time. "We represent advanced technology firms in Latin American Markets and offer their innovative solutions to companies looking to revolutionize their performance". CO2 GRO Inc. CO2 GRO Inc. CO2 GRO's proprietary CO2 Delivery Solutions" technology is revolutionizing the global estimated 800 billion square foot protected grower market. This is comprised of 600 billion square feet of fruits & vegetables (Cuesta Roble 2019), an estimated 100 billion square feet of floriculture and another estimated 100 billion square feet of crops such as medicinal plants, citrus tree seedlings and other non-food varieties. Dedication: CO2 GRO is dedicated to enhancing plant growth and productivity sustainably, while reducing our customers' ecological footprint with a focus on People, the Planet and Prosperity. Our Technology: CO2 Delivery Solutions" creates a dissolved CO 2 solution that is misted onto plants grown in greenhouses and protected grower facilities globally providing growers with multiple significant benefits. Value Proposition: Growers that cannot atmospherically enrich their facilities with CO 2 (gassing) can now realize yield increases of up to 30% and up to a doubling of gross profits, while suppressing the development of micro-pathogens such as E.coli and powdery mildew leading to healthier crops. Greenhouses and indoor facilities that currently do employ CO 2 gassing can save up to 90% on their CO 2 consumption, thereby reducing their production costs and CO 2 enrichment emissions. Patent Protection: CO2 GRO's CO2 Delivery Solutions" technology is protected by a suite of patents and patents pending. Business Model: Our technology is sold to growers based on the cultivation area installed at prices that provide a high return on their investment and high margins for our shareholders. Global Expansion: CO2 GRO's management is rapidly expanding its international marketing partner relationships into Mexico, Spain, the EU, the UK, South Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia and Latin America as well as in its US and Canadian base. Environment, Social and Governance ESG: CO2 GRO is committed to good Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies and practices. We are an equal opportunity employer of choice and opportunity. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements which constitute "forwardalooking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities. Forwarda looking information is often identified by the words "may," "would," "could," "should," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" or similar expressions and include information regarding: statements regarding the future direction of the Company; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business and financial objectives; plans for expansion and the ability of the Company to obtain, develop and foster its business relationships; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Investors are cautioned that forwardalooking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect the Company's management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning the business of the Company's future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates that management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Such assumptions include but are not limited to: general business and economic conditions; the Company's ability to successfully execute its plans and intentions; the availability of financing on reasonable terms; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled staff; market competition; the products and technology offered by the Company's competitors; and that good relationships with business partners will be maintained. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forwardalooking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forwardalooking information are the following: changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; in particular, in the ability of the Company to raise debt and equity capital in the amounts and at the costs that it expects; adverse changes in applicable laws or adverse changes in the application or enforcement of current laws; the biotechnology industry and the greenhouse growers market are highly competitive, and technical advances in the industry will impact the success of the Company, and other risks described in the Company's filings that are available at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forwardalooking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forwardalooking information except as otherwise required by applicable law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For more information, please visit www.co2gro.ca or contact Michael O'Connor, Manager, and Investor Relations at 604-317-6197 or [email protected] SOURCE: CO2 Gro Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a-(Excellent) of National Guaranty Insurance Company of Vermont (NGIC) (Burlington, VT). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect NGICs balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings also reflect NGICs strategic role as the captive insurance company of Waste Management, Inc. (WM) [NYSE: WM], one of the leading providers of comprehensive waste management environmental services in North America. As a strategic and integral part of WMs enterprise risk management program, the parent wholly funded the captives capitalization in the form of a demand note that generates net investment income to augment surplus annually. Further supplements have been provided in form of letters of credit as changes in exposures warrant. NGIC benefits from WMs robust risk management strategies, which enable it to efficiently and appropriately support a portion of WMs financial assurance program. The company has had no losses in the program but has an expense ratio that compares unfavorably with the surplus lines composite due to the nature of the financial assurance line of business and expenses focused on risk mitigation. Nonetheless, the company has been able to reduce underwriting expenses significantly over the past five years to further benefit operating and net income. The stable outlooks reflect AM Bests expectations that the company will maintain its very strong balance sheet strength and strong operating performance through active risk identification and assessment strategies. AM Best remains the leading rating agency of alternative risk transfer entities, with more than 200 such vehicles rated in the United States and throughout the world. For current Bests Credit Ratings and independent data on the captive and alternative risk transfer insurance market, please visit www.ambest.com/captive. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2022 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005622/en/ Kourtnie Beckwith, CPCU, AU, AMIM Financial Analyst +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5124 [email protected] Dan Teclaw Associate Director +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5394 [email protected] Christopher Sharkey Manager, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 [email protected] Jeff Mango Managing Director, Strategy & Communications +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5204 [email protected] Source: AM Best CAMDEN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, today announced that Hannah Greenwald, a doctoral student at the University of California, Berkeley, has been chosen as the recipient of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) 2022 American Water Scholarship. The American Water scholarship is an annual award of $5,000 presented to a graduate level student to assist with the development of professionals interested in service to the water industry. "American Water is pleased to present this prestigious award to Hannah Greenwald, who was selected among 166 outstanding applicants," said Dr. Zia Bukhari, principal scientist, water & wastewater research at American Water. "The field of water research is vital to the future of our business and the industry. We are pleased to help Ms. Greenwald advance her research studies and hope she will develop and utilize her talent for the long-term benefit of people, communities and the environment." Ms. Greenwald was selected for this scholarship as a result of her outstanding academic record, remarkable character, community and outreach experience and dedication to contribute to the advancement of science in the field of drinking water. She is a doctoral student in Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, with minors in infectious disease and environmental health. During the recent pandemic, Ms. Greenwald worked to understand the microbial safety of drinking water in buildings that were unoccupied during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders. She contributed to an improved understanding of microbial communities in distribution systems and management strategies. Ms. Greenwald is planning additional research on Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), focusing on creating more resilient water infrastructure. The research examines if wastewater can be utilized as an information resource that can be used to address public health challenges and will help to maintain drinking water quality throughout distribution systems during transitions in water usage. Ms. Greenwald earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Administered by AWWA, American Water's Scholarship is currently the only one offered by a water utility among the Associations 16 active scholarships. For more information about AWWA scholarships, visit http://www.awwa.org/membership/get-involved/student-center/awwa-scholarships.aspx. About American Water With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs approximately 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to an estimated 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable, and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005473/en/ Media: Joseph Szafran External Affairs Manager 856-955-4304 [email protected] Source: American Water MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), a leading worldwide manufacturer of innovative filtration products and solutions, announced the companys 2021 patent recipients and Inventor Award winners, recognizing employees contributions in helping Donaldson maintain its leadership in the filtration industry. The Emerging Innovator Award recognizes an individual who has created and implemented significant process technology and product improvements for manufacturing operations. This years winner is Kyle Sontag, principal engineer, Advanced Research and Development. The Frank A. Donaldson Award, named after Donaldsons founder, is presented to an individual for outstanding, long-term engineering achievements. This years winner is Derek Jones, principal engineer, Media Technology. The Richard M. Negri Manufacturing Excellence Award, named for a past vice president of operations whose many contributions greatly advanced Donaldsons global operations, goes to an individual who has created and implemented significant process technology and product improvements for manufacturing operations. This years winner is Jaromir Skapa, manufacturing project manager, European Manufacturing Technologies. The Technology Achievement Award recognizes a material, product, process or method that has made an extraordinary contribution to Donaldsons long-term success. This years award winner is the Fuel-Water Separation technology, which is due to the collective efforts of 12 employees across several teams: Scott Betcher, Andrew Dallas, Brad Hauser, Paul Hennen, Derek Jones, Vijay Kapoor, Davis Moravec, Aflal Rahmathullah, Ken Skaja, Kyle Sontag, Gwen Stouthuysen and Brian Tucker. Our global engineering, technology and operations teams develop the innovative solutions and sophisticated technologies that help Donaldson fulfill our purpose of Advancing Filtration for a Cleaner World, said Michael Wynblatt, Donaldson vice president and chief technology officer. In 2021, nearly 400 patents were issued to Donaldson. Our patent holders and inventor awardees are vital to our continued leadership in filtration. This event provides us with the opportunity to recognize their significant achievements and contributions. About Donaldson Company, Inc. Founded in 1915, Donaldson (NYSE: DCI) is a global leader in technology-led filtration products and solutions, serving a broad range of industries and advanced markets. Diverse, skilled employees at over 140 locations on six continents partner with customersfrom small business owners to the worlds biggest OEM brandsto solve complex filtration challenges. Discover how Donaldson is Advancing Filtration for a Cleaner World at www.Donaldson.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005739/en/ Becky Cahn (952) 703-4590 [email protected] Source: Donaldson Company, Inc. Toronto Education Workers urge everyone to vote for positive change TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Frontline workers are warning of devastating lifelong effects from the Toronto District School Boards looming cuts of nearly 100 designated early childhood educators (ECEs) for the school year starting in September. TDSB trustees must immediately rescind these damaging cuts, said John Weatherup, president of Toronto Education Workers/CUPE Local 4400. Children five years old and younger are one of the groups most affected by the pandemic. Being forced to learn online has already set them back. Its simply wrong for those in charge to cut corners on the hands-on experience our kids need now that theyre back in the classroom. According to the Ontario Ministry of Education: ECEs have knowledge of early childhood development, observation skills, and assessment skills. They bring a focus on age-appropriate program planning that promotes each childs physical, cognitive, language, emotional, social and creative development and well-being. If these cuts occur as planned, 96 designated ECEs predominately racialized women will lose their jobs. Many kindergarten classes with 29 five or six year old students will be reduced from having two adults in the room to only one. Students in historically underserved areas of the city are the most impacted by underfunding and more cuts, said Melissa Somer, DECE. Weve seen a demonstrated lack of reading, writing, and mathematical skills due to the use of virtual learning systems. ECEs are trained in physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of children, said Lanette Bryant, DECE. At this time, more than ever before, its imperative that every Kindergarten classroom has a designated early childhood educator in it. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionally affected children from low-income families, said Dr. Petr Varmuza, retired Director of Operational Effectiveness, City of Toronto Childrens Services. Instead of making cuts, the TDSB should be directly delivering before and after-school programs in every school especially in the poorest neighbourhoods. In March, the TDSB chair wrote to Education Minister Stephen Lecce reminding him that: New students entering Junior Kindergarten in the 2022-23 school year will have spent the vast majority of their existence living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Early childhood development depends on experience, and particularly social experience, which stimulates, tunes and hones the brains unfolding architecture. Because of the pandemic, opportunities for social experience have been limited due to closed childcare services, community centres, playgrounds, social distancing and other factors. Decades of bad decisions by Conservative and Liberal governments to insufficiently fund our childrens schools have brought us here, said Weatherup. Each of us has power in the choice well make when we mark our ballot next Thursday and its time for change. Toronto Education Workers/Local 4400 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees is the union of 17,000 education workers at the Toronto District School Board, childcare workers at childcare centres throughout the Toronto, and caretakers at Viamonde French school board. CUPE Local 4400 members proudly serve their communities in over 400 job classifications at more than 1,000 worksites. :kw/cope491 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005632/en/ John Weatherup President Toronto Education Workers/CUPE Local 4400 416-902-9266 (cell) Ken Marciniec CUPE Communications [email protected] 416-803-6066 (cell) Source: Toronto Education Workers/Local 4400 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees 30 abstracts highlighting key data encompassing the Companys broad oncology clinical portfolio to be presented ROCKLAND, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Not intended for UK-based media EMD Serono, the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the US and Canada, today announced the latest research representing the Companys innovative oncology portfolio has been accepted for presentation at this years American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, June 3-7, 2022. Data encompass Company-sponsored, investigator-sponsored, and external collaboration studies. Abstracts to be shared at the meeting include data for the Companys licensed medicines BAVENCIO (avelumab), TEPMETKO (tepotinib) and its oncology pipeline. The presentations span key tumor types including advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC), advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), and head and neck cancer (SCCHN). We look forward to coming together with the scientific community at ASCO 2022, where we will share the latest data from our portfolio, which demonstrate our determination to make a real difference in the lives of patients with some of the most challenging cancers, said Victoria Zazulina, Head of Development Unit, Oncology, for the Healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Select presentations include: BAVENCIO (avelumab): New analyses of long-term data from the Phase III JAVELIN Bladder 100 study of BAVENCIO as first-line maintenance treatment in advanced UC, including data from subgroups defined by best response to first-line chemotherapy and in patients who did or did not receive second-line treatment after BAVENCIO maintenance. New analyses of long-term data from the Phase III JAVELIN Bladder 100 study of BAVENCIO as first-line maintenance treatment in advanced UC, including data from subgroups defined by best response to first-line chemotherapy and in patients who did or did not receive second-line treatment after BAVENCIO maintenance. TEPMETKO (tepotinib): Data for the oral MET inhibitor TEPMETKO include two poster presentations from the VISION trial reporting efficacy, safety and quality-of-life results of TEPMETKO in Asian patients with MET ex14 skipping NSCLC, and updated efficacy and safety results of TEPMETKO and exploratory biomarker analyses in patients with NSCLC with high-level MET amplification enrolled into Cohort B of the VISION trial based on liquid biopsy. Data for the oral MET inhibitor TEPMETKO include two poster presentations from the VISION trial reporting efficacy, safety and quality-of-life results of TEPMETKO in Asian patients with ex14 skipping NSCLC, and updated efficacy and safety results of TEPMETKO and exploratory biomarker analyses in patients with NSCLC with high-level amplification enrolled into Cohort B of the VISION trial based on liquid biopsy. Berzosertib: Results from research collaborations assessing the intravenous ataxia telangiectasia-mutated and Rad3-related protein kinase (ATR) inhibitor berzosertib, including the National Cancer Institutes (NCI) Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program 9938 Phase I study of berzosertib plus irinotecan in patients with advanced solid tumors and NCI single-arm Phase II data of berzosertib plus topotecan in patients with relapsed extra-pulmonary small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas. Below is a selection of key Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany-related abstracts accepted for presentation at ASCO 2022: Title Lead Author Abstract/# Session Title/Date/Time BAVENCIO (avelumab) Avelumab first-line (1L) maintenance for advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC): long-term outcomes from JAVELIN Bladder 100 in subgroups defined by response to 1L chemotherapy BP Valderrama 4559 Genitourinary CancerKidney and Bladder Saturday, June 4, 2022 1:15 PM-4:15 PM CDT Long-term outcomes in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) who received avelumab first-line (1L) maintenance with or without second-line (2L) treatment: exploratory analyses from JAVELIN Bladder 100 J Bellmunt 4560 Genitourinary CancerKidney and Bladder Saturday, June 4, 2022 1:15 PM-4:15 PM CDT TEPTMETKO (tepotinib) Tepotinib in Asian patients with advanced NSCLC with MET exon 14 (METex14) skipping T Kato 9120 Lung CancerNon-Small Cell Metastatic Monday, June 6, 2022 8:00 AM-11:00 AM CDT Clinical response to tepotinib according to circulating tumor (ct) DNA biomarkers in patients with advanced NSCLC with high-level MET amplification (METamp) detected by liquid biopsy (LBx) X Le 9121 Lung CancerNon-Small Cell Metastatic Monday, June 6, 2022 8:00 AM-11:00 AM CDT Pipeline Berzosertib (M6620)* Targeting genomic instability in extrapulmonary small cell neuroendocrine cancers: a phase II study with ATR inhibitor berzosertib and topotecan N Takahashi 8518 Lung CancerNon-Small Cell Local-Regional/Small Cell/Other Thoracic Cancers Monday, June 6, 2022 Live discussion: 12:26 PM CDT NCI 9938: Phase I clinical trial of ATR inhibitor berzosertib (M6620, VX-970) in combination with irinotecan in patients with advanced solid tumors LC Villaruz 3012 Developmental TherapeuticsMolecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology Sunday, June 5, 2022 Live Discussion: 4:42 PM CDT *These studies are sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, under its Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany for M6620. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is a science-led organization dedicated to delivering transformative medicines with the goal of making a meaningful difference in the lives of people affected by cancer. Our oncology research efforts aim to leverage our synergistic portfolio in oncogenic pathways, immuno-oncology, and DNA Damage Response (DDR) to tackle challenging tumor types in gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and thoracic cancers. Our curiosity drives our pursuit of treatments for even the most complex cancers, as we work to illuminate a path to scientific breakthroughs that transform patient outcomes. Learn more at www.emdseronooncology.com. About BAVENCIO (avelumab) BAVENCIO is a human anti-programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) antibody. BAVENCIO has been shown in preclinical models to engage both the adaptive and innate immune functions. By blocking the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 receptors, BAVENCIO has been shown to release the suppression of the T cell-mediated antitumor immune response in preclinical models.7-9 In November 2014, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer announced a strategic alliance to co-develop and co-commercialize BAVENCIO. BAVENCIO Approved Indications BAVENCIO (avelumab) is indicated in the US for the maintenance treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) that has not progressed with first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy. BAVENCIO is also indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic UC who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib is indicated in the US for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In the US, the FDA granted accelerated approval for BAVENCIO for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. BAVENCIO is currently approved for at least one indication for patients in more than 50 countries. BAVENCIO Important Safety Information from the US FDA-Approved Label BAVENCIO can cause severe and fatal immune-mediated adverse reactions in any organ system or tissue and at any time after starting treatment with a PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibody, including after discontinuation of treatment. Early identification and management of immune-mediated adverse reactions are essential to ensure safe use of PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies. Monitor patients closely for symptoms and signs that may be clinical manifestations of underlying immune-mediated adverse reactions. Evaluate liver enzymes, creatinine, and thyroid function at baseline and periodically during treatment. In cases of suspected immune-mediated adverse reactions, initiate appropriate workup to exclude alternative etiologies, including infection. Institute medical management promptly, including specialty consultation as appropriate. No dose reduction for BAVENCIO is recommended. For immune-mediated adverse reactions, withhold or permanently discontinue BAVENCIO depending on severity. In general, withhold BAVENCIO for severe (Grade 3) immune-mediated adverse reactions. Permanently discontinue BAVENCIO for life-threatening (Grade 4) immune-mediated adverse reactions, recurrent severe (Grade 3) immune-mediated reactions that require systemic immunosuppressive treatment, or an inability to reduce corticosteroid dose to 10 mg or less of prednisone or equivalent per day within 12 weeks of initiating corticosteroids. In general, if BAVENCIO requires interruption or discontinuation, administer systemic corticosteroid therapy (1 to 2 mg/kg/day prednisone or equivalent) until improvement to Grade 1 or less. Upon improvement to Grade 1 or less, initiate corticosteroid taper and continue to taper over at least 1 month. Consider administration of other systemic immunosuppressants in patients whose immune-mediated adverse reactions are not controlled with corticosteroid therapy. Toxicity management guidelines for adverse reactions that do not necessarily require systemic corticosteroids (eg, endocrinopathies and dermatologic reactions) are discussed in subsequent sections. BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated pneumonitis, including fatal cases. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of pneumonitis and evaluate suspected cases with radiographic imaging. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater pneumonitis. Withhold BAVENCIO for Grade 2 and permanently discontinue for Grade 3 or Grade 4 pneumonitis. Immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 1.2% (21/1738) of patients, including fatal (0.1%), Grade 4 (0.1%), Grade 3 (0.3%) and Grade 2 (0.6%) adverse reactions. Systemic corticosteroids were required in all (21/21) patients with pneumonitis. BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated colitis. The primary component of immune-mediated colitis consisted of diarrhea. Cytomegalovirus infection/reactivation has been reported in patients with corticosteroid-refractory immune-mediated colitis. In cases of corticosteroid-refractory colitis, consider repeating infectious workup to exclude alternative etiologies. Withhold BAVENCIO for Grade 2 or Grade 3, and permanently discontinue for Grade 4 colitis. Immune-mediated colitis occurred in 1.5% (26/1738) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.4%) and Grade 2 (0.7%) adverse reactions. Systemic corticosteroids were required in all (26/26) patients with colitis. BAVENCIO can cause hepatotoxicity and immune-mediated hepatitis. Withhold or permanently discontinue BAVENCIO based on tumor involvement of the liver and severity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), or total bilirubin elevation. Immune-mediated hepatitis occurred with BAVENCIO as a single agent in 0.9% (16/1738) of patients, including fatal (0.1%), Grade 3 (0.6%), and Grade 2 (0.1%) adverse reactions. Systemic corticosteroids were required in all (16/16) patients with hepatitis. BAVENCIO in combination with INLYTA can cause hepatotoxicity with higher than expected frequencies of Grade 3 and 4 ALT and AST elevation compared to BAVENCIO alone. Consider more frequent monitoring of liver enzymes as compared to when the drugs are used as monotherapy. Withhold or permanently discontinue both BAVENCIO and INLYTA based on severity of AST, ALT, or total bilirubin elevation, and consider administering corticosteroids as needed. Consider rechallenge with BAVENCIO or INLYTA, or sequential rechallenge with both BAVENCIO and INLYTA, after recovery. In patients treated with BAVENCIO in combination with INLYTA in the advanced RCC trials, increased ALT and increased AST were reported in 9% (Grade 3) and 7% (Grade 4) of patients. Immune-mediated hepatitis was reported in 7% of patients including 4.9% with Grade 3 or 4 immune-mediated hepatitis. Thirty-four patients were treated with corticosteroids and one patient was treated with a non-steroidal immunosuppressant. BAVENCIO can cause primary or secondary immune-mediated adrenal insufficiency. For Grade 2 or higher adrenal insufficiency, initiate symptomatic treatment, including hormone replacement, as clinically indicated. Withhold BAVENCIO for Grade 3 or Grade 4 endocrinopathies until clinically stable or permanently discontinue depending on severity. Immune-mediated adrenal insufficiency occurred in 0.5% (8/1738) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.1%) and Grade 2 (0.3%) adverse reactions. Systemic corticosteroids were required in all (8/8) patients with adrenal insufficiency. BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated hypophysitis. Hypophysitis can present with acute symptoms associated with mass effect such as headache, photophobia, or visual field defects. Hypophysitis can cause hypopituitarism. Initiate hormone replacement, as clinically indicated. Withhold BAVENCIO for Grade 3 or Grade 4 endocrinopathies until clinically stable or permanently discontinue depending on severity. Immune-mediated pituitary disorders occurred in 0.1% (1/1738) of patients, which was a Grade 2 (0.1%) adverse reaction. BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated thyroid disorders. Thyroiditis can present with or without endocrinopathy. Hypothyroidism can follow hyperthyroidism. Initiate hormone replacement for hypothyroidism or institute medical management of hyperthyroidism, as clinically indicated. Withhold BAVENCIO for Grade 3 or Grade 4 endocrinopathies until clinically stable or permanently discontinue depending on severity. Thyroiditis occurred in 0.2% (4/1738) of patients, including Grade 2 (0.1%) adverse reactions. Hyperthyroidism occurred in 0.4% (7/1738) of patients, including Grade 2 (0.3%) adverse reactions. Systemic corticosteroids were required in 29% (2/7) of patients with hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism occurred in 5% (90/1738) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.2%) and Grade 2 (3.7%) adverse reactions. Systemic corticosteroids were required in 7% (6/90) of patients with hypothyroidism. BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated type I diabetes mellitus, which can present with diabetic ketoacidosis. Monitor patients for hyperglycemia or other signs and symptoms of diabetes. Initiate treatment with insulin as clinically indicated. Withhold BAVENCIO for Grade 3 or Grade 4 endocrinopathies until clinically stable or permanently discontinue depending on severity. Immune-mediated type I diabetes mellitus occurred in 0.1% (2/1738) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.1%) adverse reactions. BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated nephritis with renal dysfunction. Withhold BAVENCIO for Grade 2 or Grade 3, and permanently discontinue for Grade 4 increased blood creatinine. Immune-mediated nephritis with renal dysfunction occurred in 0.1% (1/1738) of patients, which was a Grade 2 (0.1%) adverse reaction. Systemic corticosteroids were required in this patient. BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated dermatologic adverse reactions, including rash or dermatitis. Exfoliative dermatitis including Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), has occurred with PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies. Topical emollients and/or topical corticosteroids may be adequate to treat mild to moderate non-exfoliative rashes. Withhold BAVENCIO for suspected and permanently discontinue for confirmed SJS, TEN, or DRESS. Immune-mediated dermatologic adverse reactions occurred in 5% (90/1738) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.1%) and Grade 2 (2.0%) adverse reactions. Systemic corticosteroids were required in 29% (26/90) of patients with dermatologic adverse reactions. BAVENCIO can result in other immune-mediated adverse reactions. Other clinically significant immune-mediated adverse reactions occurred at an incidence of BAVENCIO can cause severe or life-threatening infusion-related reactions. Premedicate patients with an antihistamine and acetaminophen prior to the first 4 infusions and for subsequent infusions based upon clinical judgment and presence/severity of prior infusion reactions. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infusion-related reactions, including pyrexia, chills, flushing, hypotension, dyspnea, wheezing, back pain, abdominal pain, and urticaria. Interrupt or slow the rate of infusion for Grade 1 or Grade 2 infusion-related reactions. Permanently discontinue BAVENCIO for Grade 3 or Grade 4 infusion-related reactions. Infusion-related reactions occurred in 25% of patients, including three (0.2%) Grade 4 and nine (0.5%) Grade 3 infusion-related reactions. Eleven (92%) of the 12 patients with Grade 3 reactions were treated with intravenous corticosteroids. Fatal and other serious complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can occur in patients who receive HSCT before or after being treated with a PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibody. Follow patients closely for evidence of transplant-related complications and intervene promptly. Consider the benefit versus risks of treatment with a PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibody prior to or after an allogeneic HSCT. BAVENCIO in combination with INLYTA can cause major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including severe and fatal events. Consider baseline and periodic evaluations of left ventricular ejection fraction. Monitor for signs and symptoms of cardiovascular events. Optimize management of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia. Permanently discontinue BAVENCIO and INLYTA for Grade 3-4 cardiovascular events. MACE occurred in 7% of patients with advanced RCC treated with BAVENCIO in combination with INLYTA compared to 3.4% treated with sunitinib in a randomized trial. These events included death due to cardiac events (1.4%), Grade 3-4 myocardial infarction (2.8%), and Grade 3-4 congestive heart failure (1.8%). BAVENCIO can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise patients of the potential risk to a fetus including the risk of fetal death. Advise females of childbearing potential to use effective contraception during treatment with BAVENCIO and for at least 1 month after the last dose of BAVENCIO. It is not known whether BAVENCIO is excreted in human milk. Advise a lactating woman not to breastfeed during treatment and for at least 1 month after the last dose of BAVENCIO due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants. The most common adverse reactions (all grades, 20%) in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) were fatigue (50%), musculoskeletal pain (32%), diarrhea (23%), nausea (22%), infusion-related reaction (22%), rash (22%), decreased appetite (20%), and peripheral edema (20%). Selected treatment-emergent laboratory abnormalities (all grades, 20%) in patients with metastatic MCC were lymphopenia (49%), anemia (35%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (34%), thrombocytopenia (27%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (20%). A fatal adverse reaction (sepsis) occurred in one (0.3%) patient with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) receiving BAVENCIO + best supportive care (BSC) as first-line maintenance treatment. In patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic UC, fourteen patients (6%) who were treated with BAVENCIO experienced either pneumonitis, respiratory failure, sepsis/urosepsis, cerebrovascular accident, or gastrointestinal adverse events, which led to death. The most common adverse reactions (all grades, 20%) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic UC receiving BAVENCIO + BSC (vs BSC alone) as first-line maintenance treatment were fatigue (35% vs 13%), musculoskeletal pain (24% vs 15%), urinary tract infection (20% vs 11%), and rash (20% vs 2.3%). In patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic UC receiving BAVENCIO, the most common adverse reactions (all grades, 20%) were fatigue, infusion-related reaction, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, decreased appetite, and urinary tract infection. Selected laboratory abnormalities (all grades, 20%) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic UC receiving BAVENCIO + BSC (vs BSC alone) as first-line maintenance treatment were blood triglycerides increased (34% vs 28%), alkaline phosphatase increased (30% vs 20%), blood sodium decreased (28% vs 20%), lipase increased (25% vs 16%), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased (24% vs 12%), blood potassium increased (24% vs 16%), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased (24% vs 12%), blood cholesterol increased (22% vs 16%), serum amylase increased (21% vs 12%), hemoglobin decreased (28% vs 18%), and white blood cell decreased (20% vs 10%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 1.8% of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) receiving BAVENCIO in combination with INLYTA. These included sudden cardiac death (1.2%), stroke (0.2%), myocarditis (0.2%), and necrotizing pancreatitis (0.2%). The most common adverse reactions (all grades, 20%) in patients with advanced RCC receiving BAVENCIO in combination with INLYTA (vs sunitinib) were diarrhea (62% vs 48%), fatigue (53% vs 54%), hypertension (50% vs 36%), musculoskeletal pain (40% vs 33%), nausea (34% vs 39%), mucositis (34% vs 35%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (33% vs 34%), dysphonia (31% vs 3.2%), decreased appetite (26% vs 29%), hypothyroidism (25% vs 14%), rash (25% vs 16%), hepatotoxicity (24% vs 18%), cough (23% vs 19%), dyspnea (23% vs 16%), abdominal pain (22% vs 19%), and headache (21% vs 16%). Selected laboratory abnormalities (all grades, 20%) worsening from baseline in patients with advanced RCC receiving BAVENCIO in combination with INLYTA (vs sunitinib) were blood triglycerides increased (71% vs 48%), blood creatinine increased (62% vs 68%), blood cholesterol increased (57% vs 22%), alanine aminotransferase increased (ALT) (50% vs 46%), aspartate aminotransferase increased (AST) (47% vs 57%), blood sodium decreased (38% vs 37%), lipase increased (37% vs 25%), blood potassium increased (35% vs 28%), platelet count decreased (27% vs 80%), blood bilirubin increased (21% vs 23%), and hemoglobin decreased (21% vs 65%). Please see full US Prescribing Information and Medication Guide available at http://www.BAVENCIO.com. About TEPMETKO (tepotinib) TEPMETKO is a once-daily oral MET inhibitor that inhibits the oncogenic MET receptor signaling caused by MET (gene) alterations. Discovered and developed in-house at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, TEPMETKO has a highly selective mechanism of action, with the potential to improve outcomes in aggressive tumors that have a poor prognosis and harbor these specific alterations. TEPMETKO Approved Indications TEPMETKO is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring mesenchymal epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 skipping alterations. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials TEPMETKO was the first oral MET inhibitor to receive a regulatory approval anywhere in the world for the treatment of advanced NSCLC harboring MET gene alterations, with its approval in Japan in March 2020. In February 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to TEPMETKO, making it the first and only once-daily oral MET inhibitor approved for patients in the U.S. with metastatic NSCLC with METex14 skipping alterations. In February 2022, the European Commission (EC) approved once-daily oral TEPMETKO as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring alterations leading to mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor gene exon 14 (METex14) skipping, who require systemic therapy following prior treatment with immunotherapy and/or platinum-based chemotherapy. TEPMETKO is available in a number of countries, and under review by various other regulatory authorities globally. To meet an urgent clinical need, TEPMETKO is also available in a pilot zone of China in line with the government policy to drive early access for innovative medicines approved outside of China. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is also investigating the potential role of tepotinib in treating patients with NSCLC and acquired resistance due to MET amplification in the Phase II INSIGHT 2 study of tepotinib in combination with osimertinib in MET amplified, advanced or metastatic NSCLC harboring activating EGFR mutations that has progressed following first-line treatment with osimertinib. Important Safety Information from the US FDA-Approved Label TEPMETKO can cause interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis, which can be fatal. Monitor patients for new or worsening pulmonary symptoms indicative of ILD/pneumonitis (eg, dyspnea, cough, fever). Immediately withhold TEPMETKO in patients with suspected ILD/pneumonitis and permanently discontinue if no other potential causes of ILD/pneumonitis are identified. ILD/pneumonitis occurred in 2.2% of patients treated with TEPMETKO, with one patient experiencing a Grade 3 or higher event; this event resulted in death. TEPMETKO can cause hepatotoxicity, which can be fatal. Monitor liver function tests (including ALT, AST, and total bilirubin) prior to the start of TEPMETKO, every 2 weeks during the first 3 months of treatment, then once a month or as clinically indicated, with more frequent testing in patients who develop increased transaminases or total bilirubin. Based on the severity of the adverse reaction, withhold, dose reduce, or permanently discontinue TEPMETKO. Increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) occurred in 13% of patients treated with TEPMETKO. Grade 3 or 4 increased ALT/AST occurred in 4.2% of patients. A fatal adverse reaction of hepatic failure occurred in one patient (0.2%). The median time-to-onset of Grade 3 or higher increased ALT/AST was 30 days (range 1 to 178). TEPMETKO can cause embryo-fetal toxicity. Based on findings in animal studies and its mechanism of action, TEPMETKO can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential or males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TEPMETKO and for one week after the final dose. Avoid concomitant use of TEPMETKO with dual strong CYP3A inhibitors and P-gp inhibitors and strong CYP3A inducers. Avoid concomitant use of TEPMETKO with certain P-gp substrates where minimal concentration changes may lead to serious or life-threatening toxicities. If concomitant use is unavoidable, reduce the P-gp substrate dosage if recommended in its approved product labeling. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in one patient (0.4%) due to pneumonitis, one patient (0.4%) due to hepatic failure, and one patient (0.4%) due to dyspnea from fluid overload. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 45% of patients who received TEPMETKO. Serious adverse reactions in >2% of patients included pleural effusion (7%), pneumonia (5%), edema (3.9%), dyspnea (3.9%), general health deterioration (3.5%), pulmonary embolism (2%), and musculoskeletal pain (2%). The most common adverse reactions (20%) in patients who received TEPMETKO were edema, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, musculoskeletal pain, and dyspnea. Clinically relevant adverse reactions in Selected laboratory abnormalities (20%) from baseline in patients receiving TEPMETKO in descending order were: decreased albumin (76%), increased creatinine (55%), increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (50%), decreased lymphocytes (48%), increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (44%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (35%), decreased sodium (31%), decreased hemoglobin (27%), increased potassium (25%), increased gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) (24%), increased amylase (23%), and decreased leukocytes (23%). The most common Grade 3 to 4 laboratory abnormalities (2%) in descending order were: decreased lymphocytes (11%), decreased albumin (9%), decreased sodium (8%), increased GGT (5%), increased amylase (4.6%), increased ALT (4.1%), increased AST (2.5%), and decreased hemoglobin (2%). A clinically relevant laboratory abnormality in For more information about TEPMETKO, please see full Prescribing Information, and visit www.TEPMETKO.com. About Berzosertib (M6620) Berzosertib is an investigational, intravenous, potent and selective inhibitor of the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) protein that blocks ATR activity in cells. Berzosertib is the first ATR inhibitor evaluated in a randomized clinical trial in any tumor type, and it is the lead candidate in Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germanys DNA Damage Response (DDR) inhibitor portfolio. It is currently being investigated in a number of internal and external studies with early phase I/II data in small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and various solid tumors. Berzosertib, formerly known as VX-970, was licensed from Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2017. Berzosertib is not approved for any use anywhere in the world. About EMD Serono, Inc. EMD Serono - the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the U.S. and Canada -aspires to create, improve and prolong life for people living with difficult-to-treat conditions like infertility, multiple sclerosis and cancer. The business is imagining the future of healthcare by working to translate the discovery of molecules into potentially meaningful outcomes for people with serious unmet medical needs. EMD Seronos global roots go back more than 350 years with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Today, the business has approximately 1,500 employees around the country with commercial, clinical and research operations in Massachusetts. www.emdserono.com. About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and electronics. Around 58,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of peoples lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices the company is everywhere. In 2020, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of 17.5 billion in 66 countries. The company holds the global rights to the name and trademark Merck internationally. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Electronics. Since its founding in 1668, scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to the companys technological and scientific advances. To this day, the founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220525005729/en/ Media Relations [email protected] Phone: +1 781 427 4351 Source: EMD Serono Later Customers Now Have Access to First-of-a-kind TikTok Scheduling, Conversation and Analytics Features VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Later, the leading social media marketing and commerce platform for small business owners and creators, announced a major new partner integration with TikTok, the world's leading platform for short videos. Later is one of the inaugural partners to be awarded TikTok's Content Marketing badge as part of the TikTok Marketing Partner Program, and this new partnership sees Later integrate a number of exciting new features into its platform for its customers, including: This press release features multimedia. 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Melissa Yang, Head of Ecosystem Partnerships, TikTok, comments: "At TikTok, we are always looking for ways to make it easier for brands to develop great content that resonates with their communities. We are excited to welcome our new content marketing partners into the TikTok Marketing Partner Program, and to be collaborating with some of the most trusted partners in the industry. These partners will provide marketers with simple, effective tools to help them to regularly publish content, gain valuable performance insight, and meaningfully engage with their communities." Since its launch in 2016, Laters Linkin.bio feature has generated over 2 billion pageviews for users worldwide, capturing valuable insights on the social profiles and content that drive traffic. Later users can also use Linkin.bio for TikTok, allowing them to build a mini page built out of their TikTok profile, helping followers discover more about them, their favorite products, and brands. Later makes it easy to visually plan and schedule social content, drive traffic, and increase sales empowering customers to turn their passions into possibilities. Later recently announced that it has joined forces with Mavrck, the leading influencer marketing platform for enterprise consumer brands, to solve measurement and monetization for the creator economy. For more information on todays news, please visit: https://later.com/tiktok/ About Later Later is the leading social media marketing and commerce platform that helps small business owners and creators grow their brands and businesses online. With a unique combination of tools, machine-learning-based recommendations, and education, Later makes it easy to visually plan & schedule social content, drive traffic, and increase sales empowering customers to turn their passions into possibilities. Proudly based in Vancouver, BC, Later started at a hackathon in 2014. Six months later, Latergramme launched to almost 20,000 people waiting to use the first version. The Later web and iOS mobile app were launched in May of 2014. Shortly after, Later launched an Android mobile app and continued the journey into the visual content marketing space. Profitable and debt-free, Later has become the pioneer for visual marketing in the social and digital age, operating at the intersection of content, social, and commerce. Maintaining its market lead and independence, the company is now the leading visual marketing platform for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Pinterest in the world with over six million users, and in 2022 was ranked #18 in Canada in Deloittes Fast 50 list, #119 in North America, and placed 51st in the Globe and Mails Fastest Growing Companies list. About TikTok Marketing Partners Program The TikTok Marketing Partners Program is a community of carefully selected and innovative 3rd party technology and service companies that enable marketers to get started, grow their strategy, and find repeatable success. TikTok badge Partners who have a diverse range of industry expertise and a proven track record of success on TikTok in Creative, Measurement, Campaign Management, Effects, Sound and Commerce categories. To learn more about the TikTok Marketing Partners Program, click here: TikTok Marketing Partners 1 September 27th 2021, TikTok: TikTok Claims the App Now Tops 1 Billion Monthly Active Users View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005257/en/ Dan Gamble [email protected] Later [email protected] Source: Later The 2022 cohort brings together five teams of innovators focused on tackling global sustainability challenges, from protecting our oceans and fighting climate change and plastic waste, to increasing educational opportunities across the African continent. Each of the winning teams will receive a $250,000 award and participate in a year-long program that will aid and guide them as they work to scale their systemic solutions. NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing (the Institute) today announced the second cohort of its Sustainable Solutions Collaborative (the Collaborative). The Collaborative, launched in 2020, aims to identify breakthrough innovations that address systemic change to support a sustainable future. The second cohort of five winners will join a bespoke yearlong strategic collaboration with the Institute where they will tap into the full range of Morgan Stanleys expertise, networks and resources to help them achieve scale. Each winner will also receive an award of $250,000 to increase the impact of their initiative. The 2022 Sustainable Solutions Collaborative cohort is comprised by a diverse group of organizations: CarbonBuilt is a startup from Los Angeles, California, delivering a scalable concrete product that reduces embodied carbon by 70 to over 100% compared with traditional concrete, without compromise to performance or production cost. is a startup from Los Angeles, California, delivering a scalable concrete product that reduces embodied carbon by 70 to over 100% compared with traditional concrete, without compromise to performance or production cost. ISeeChange , the data company from New Orleans, Louisiana, empowers communities to report and track real-life climate change impact. Their AI-enabled model cross-references community-reported events with real-time data, enabling sustainable, equitable and efficient infrastructure and public works projects in municipalities across North America. , the data company from New Orleans, Louisiana, empowers communities to report and track real-life climate change impact. Their AI-enabled model cross-references community-reported events with real-time data, enabling sustainable, equitable and efficient infrastructure and public works projects in municipalities across North America. Notpla , a sustainable packaging startup based in the UK, delivers the convenience of single-use plastics without the environmental impact. Notplas home-compostable, seaweed-based plastic alternatives biodegrade in nature in just 4-6 weeks. , a sustainable packaging startup based in the UK, delivers the convenience of single-use plastics without the environmental impact. Notplas home-compostable, seaweed-based plastic alternatives biodegrade in nature in just 4-6 weeks. OceanMind is a nonprofit based in the UK that powers enforcement and compliance to protect the worlds oceans. OceanMind draws on AI modeling and satellite data to provide marine enforcement agencies with locations of suspected illegal fishing, human and workers rights violations, and other threats to ocean health. is a nonprofit based in the UK that powers enforcement and compliance to protect the worlds oceans. OceanMind draws on AI modeling and satellite data to provide marine enforcement agencies with locations of suspected illegal fishing, human and workers rights violations, and other threats to ocean health. Teesas is a Nigeria-based EdTech startup, delivering curriculum-aligned, online educational content to elementary school students across the African continent. Teesas delivers engaging tutor-led videos and e-books in both English and local indigenous languages. Each of these organizations has the potential to scale and contribute to creating the type of systemic change needed to achieve a more sustainable future, said Matthew Slovik, Head of Global Sustainable Finance at Morgan Stanley. In 2020, Morgan Stanley launched the Sustainable Solutions Collaborative to boost sustainability initiatives that would benefit from partnerships across private and public industries. This second cohort joins a group of global innovators thinking about health care, climate solutions, plastic waste reduction and ecosystem services through re-engineered distribution methods, technology platforms and a new perspective on the importance of nature. We are thrilled to welcome these visionary teams into the Collaborative and look forward to seeing their solutions scale as the need to reach a sustainable future is at an all time-high, said Shelley OConnor, Vice Chairman and Head of External Affairs for Morgan Stanley. For this award, the Institute engaged a diverse network of sustainability thought leaders and practitioners from across a wide variety of industries and sectors to make anonymous nominations. Morgan Stanley carried out a rigorous selection process on the nominations received to identify the innovations with the greatest potential for systemic impact that would also benefit from deep and sustained engagement with Morgan Stanley. To learn more about the Sustainable Solutions Collaborative, please visit here. About Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in 41 countries, the Firms employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com. About the Institute for Sustainable Investing The Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing (The Institute) builds scalable finance solutions that seek to deliver competitive financial returns while driving positive environmental and social impact. Founded in 2013, The Institute creates innovative financial products, thoughtful insights and capacity building programs that help maximize capital to create a more sustainable future. For more information about the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing, visit www.morganstanley.com/sustainableinvesting. Disclosures The returns on a portfolio consisting primarily of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) aware investments may be lower or higher than a portfolio that is more diversified or where decisions are based solely on investment considerations. Because ESG criteria exclude some investments, investors may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as investors that do not use such criteria. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining financial market. 2022 Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Members SIPC. CRC 4758691 5/2022 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005261/en/ Media Relations: [email protected] Source: Morgan Stanley THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nexeo Plastics, a leading global thermoplastics resin distributor, is pleased to announce an agreement with Highsun Engineering Plastics Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Highsun Holding Group (also known as HSCC), to provide high-quality virgin polyamide resins to customers in the Americas. The number of packaging and virgin polymer applications continue to increase across the globe, and we are pleased to add Highsuns high-quality products to our list of solutions, said Arturo Hoyo, vice president, Nexeo Plastics Product Line Management. Highsun is a leader in this market, and we are honored they have chosen to partner with us to carry their products. Highsuns products are often ideal for mono and multilayer film applications that require thermoformability, improved oxygen and aroma barrier, and chemical and puncture resistance. Highsun resins are also an excellent option for compounding, extrusion and blow molding. Highsuns and Nexeo Plastics synergistic competencies will create a valuable platform for our accelerated growth in the Americas. This partnership will see us harnessing the strength of Highsuns world-leading polyamide polymerization capabilities and Nexeo Plastics integrated supply chain and its local network and relationships, said Stanly Tan, Business General Manager, Highsun Engineering Plastics. About Nexeo Plastics Nexeo Plastics is a leading global thermoplastic resins distributor, representing quality products from world-class suppliers, and serving a diverse customer base across North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia. From material selection assistance to identifying supply chain and inventory solutions, we go beyond traditional logistics to provide value-added services across many industries, including automotive, healthcare, packaging, wire and cable, 3D printing and more. Learn more at www.nexeoplastics.com. About HSCC Founded in Fujian, China in 1984, HSCC has more than 8000 employees and is active in more than 30 countries and regions of the world. HSCC has taken the lead in completing the integration of the comprehensive nylon 6 industrial chains, from cyclohexanone (CYC)caprolactam (CPL) polymerizationspinningtexturizingwarping/weaving to dyeing and finishing. As an integrated player focused on PA6, HSCC is committed to continue to extend its industrial value chains to optimize synergies. More information about Highsun Group is available at https://www.hscc.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005562/en/ Romelia Hinojosa [email protected] 936-242-0542 Source: Nexeo Plastics NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to Pfizers investigational combination therapy for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with liver fibrosis: ervogastat (PF-06865571, a diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 inhibitor, or DGAT2i) and clesacostat (PF-05221304, an acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitor, or ACCi). Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of new drugs and vaccines intended to treat or prevent serious conditions and address unmet medical need. The FDAs decision is informed by the results of Pfizers nonclinical studies and a Phase 2a clinical study of ervogastat/clesacostat, which showed that treatment with ervogastat/clesacostat reduced liver fat with a favorable safety and tolerability profile. These data were recently published in Nature Medicine. Receiving Fast Track designation from the FDA reinforces Pfizers belief in ervogastat/clesacostat as a potential treatment for NASH, a serious, progressive liver disease with no currently approved therapies, said James Rusnak, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Internal Medicine and Hospital, Pfizer. We are proud to be advancing this investigational combination as part of our goal to develop innovative medicines to address some of the worlds most widespread health challenges that affect millions of peopleincluding diseases like NASH. Pfizer is currently studying ervogastat/clesacostat in an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the impact of treatment on resolution of NASH or improvement in liver fibrosis (NCT04321031), expected to complete in 2024. The results of this study, which also includes arms investigating ervogastat as monotherapy, will inform a potential Phase 3 development program. About NASH Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a serious, progressive form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by a buildup of fat in the liver and accompanied by inflammation, liver cell damage, and in some cases scarring of the liver.1,2 Approximately 17 million patients in the U.S. are impacted by NASH (and 3-5% of the global adult population), a number that is predicted to grow significantly over the next 10-15 years due to increases in obesity and Type 2 diabetes prevalence and an aging population.3,4 NASH is largely unrecognized and underdiagnosed, increasing patients risk of morbidity, liver events and mortality.5,6,7 There are currently no FDA- or EMA-approved medications to treat NASH, and Pfizer researchers are working to develop treatments for the disease to fill this significant unmet medical need. About Ervogastat/Clesacostat Diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) are two key enzymes that regulate lipid metabolism. Inhibitors of ACC and DGAT2 have demonstrated the ability to lower liver fat in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).8 Pfizer believes that ervogastat/clesacostat, its investigational DGAT2i/ACCi combination therapy, has the potential to deliver direct improvements in inflammation and fibrosis. About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients Lives At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer. References 1National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Definition and Facts of NAFLD and NASH. Accessed May 14, 2021. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/nafld-nash/definition-facts. 2Perumpail, Brandon J et al. Clinical epidemiology and disease burden of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. World journal of gastroenterology vol. 23,47 (2017): 8263-8276. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i47.8263. 3Estes C, Razavi H, Loomba, R, Tounossi Z, Sanyal Aj. Modeling the Epidemic of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Demonstrates an Exponential Increase in Burden of Disease. Hepatology. 2018;67(1):123-133. 4Povsic M, Wong OY, Perry R, Bottomley J. A Structured Literature Review of the Epidemiology and Disease Burden of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). Adv Ther. 2019;36(7):1574-1594. doi:10.1007/s12325-019-00960-3 5Machado MV, Cortez-Pinto H. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: what the clinician needs to know. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(36):12956-12980. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i36.12956 6Rinella ME, Lominadze Z, Loomba R, et al. Practice patterns in NAFLD and NASH: real life differs from published guidelines. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2016;9(1):4-12. doi:10.1177/1756283X15611581 7Kumar R, Priyadarshi RN, Anand U. Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Growing Burden, Adverse Outcomes and Associations. J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2020;8(1):76-86. doi: 10.14218/JCTH.2019.00051. 8Esler WP, Bence KK. Metabolic Targets in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology. 2019;8(2):247-267. doi:10.1016/j.jcmgh.2019.04.007 Disclosure Notice The information contained in this release is as of May 26, 2022. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments. This release contains forward-looking information about Pfizers investigational combination therapy for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with liver fibrosis: ervogastat/clesacostat, including its potential benefits and a potential Phase 3 development program, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for our clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable new clinical data and further analyses of existing clinical data; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments by regulatory authorities; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from our clinical studies; whether and when drug applications may be filed in any jurisdictions for ervogastat/clesacostat; whether and when any such applications may be approved by regulatory authorities, which will depend on myriad factors, including making a determination as to whether the product's benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the product's efficacy and, if approved, whether ervogastat/clesacostat will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of ervogastat/clesacostat; the impact of COVID-19 on Pfizers business, operations and financial results; and competitive developments. A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizers Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned Risk Factors and Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005017/en/ Media Relations: 212-733-1226 [email protected] Investor Relations: 212-733-4848 [email protected] Source: Pfizer Inc. MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Propanc Biopharma, Inc. (OTCQB: PPCB) (Propanc or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel cancer treatments for patients suffering from recurring and metastatic cancer, today announced that 100 years of clinical evidence supporting the use of proenzymes as a new therapeutic approach to treat cancer can be considered compelling. Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder, Dr Julian Kenyon MD, MB, ChB, has researched the effects of proenzymes against cancer for over 15 years and first came across the technology in his search to extend the life of several late-stage patients suffering from malignant solid tumors in the mid 2000s. It was Professor John Beard from Edinburgh University who first proposed that pancreatic enzymes represent the bodys primary defense against cancer and would be useful as a cancer treatment. Since then, several scientists have endorsed Beards hypothesis with encouraging data from patient treatment. In 1902, in an article published in The Lancet, Professor Beard proposed that the answer to questions about the origin of cancer could be found in the field of embryology. Professor Beard tested his theory in a mouse model of cancer. After injections of commercially available pancreatic enzyme trypsin, the tumor in a treated mouse was much smaller than that in an untreated control. Over several years, a number of physicians in the UK and US injected enzyme preparations with some remarkable success stories. As a result, the physicians began writing letters to the editor summarizing their clinical cases, such as Medical Record in the early 1900s. For example, Dr Campbell wrote about a 56-year-old male with a malignant left tonsil the size of a hens egg, experiencing left facial paralysis and constant pain. After periodic injections for a month, the infiltrations in the tongue and tonsil were greatly decreased, pain free and felt well. A second example, Dr Oldfield, reported a 65-year-old male with an abdominal tumor with secondary metastases in the stomach, full of solid tumor and in great pain. After daily injections for 3 months, the patient was reported to eat and sleep well, returned to a normal weight. Dr Outfield concluded that No-onecan doubt the immense improvement that has taken place. However, mixed results in the early stages of treatment were observed and attributed by Beard to the wide variation in the quality of enzymes of available enzymes at the time. Over the years, there have been further clinical cases investigated into the use of enzymes as a way to treat cancer. Of particular note was the work undertaken by molecular biologist from Bucknell University, Dr Josef Novak and a retired Czech oncologist, Dr Frantisek Trnka. Drs Novak and Trnka undertook extensive laboratory work in the late 90s and 2000s, publishing their work in the journal Anticancer Research in the mid 2000s, where they first proposed that the enzyme extracts as recommended by Beard, must be used in the proenzyme form to ensure their selective activation at the tumor site. They also undertook clinical research, administering a proenzyme treatment via a suppository formulation to 20 late-stage cancer patients, with a range of malignancies, of which 10 survived, ranging from 8 months to 10 years, with minimal, or non-existent side effects normally seen with current standard therapies. The conclusion of Drs Novak and Trnka from this work was the discovery that proenzyme therapy mandated first by John Beard nearly one hundred years ago, shows remarkable selective effects that result in growth inhibition of tumor cells with metastatic potential. As a result of the clinical evidence observed throughout the years, Dr Kenyon decided to undertake his own investigation motivated by the condition of a number of late-stage cancer patients he treated in his clinical practice at The Dove Clinic, in Hampshire, UK. Consequently, the clinical efficacy of a suppository formulation containing pancreatic proenzymes was evaluated in the context of a UK Pharmaceuticals Special Scheme and results published in a peer reviewed journal, Scientific Reports. Clinical effects were studied in 46 patients with advanced metastatic cancers of different origin (prostate, breast, ovarian, pancreatic, colorectal, stomach, non-small cell lung, bowel cancer and melanoma) after treatment with a rectal formulation consisting of pancreatic proenzymes trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen. Dr Kenyon concluded that no severe or serious adverse events related to the rectal administration were observed. Patients did not experience any hematological side effects as typically seen with classical chemotherapy regimens. No allergic reactions after rectal administration of suppositories were also observed. In order to assess the therapeutic activity of rectal administration, overall survival of patients under treatment was compared to the life expectancy assigned to a patient prior to treatment start. Nineteen (19) from 46 patients (41.3%) with advanced malignant diseases, most of them suffering from metastases, had a survival time significantly longer than their expected, in fact, for the whole set of cancer types, mean survival (9.0 months) was significantly higher than mean life expectancy (5.6 months). Although the number of patients per cancer indication was naturally quite low, 3 out of 8 patients with prostate cancer and 5 out of 11 patients with gastrointestinal cancers appeared to particularly benefit from the treatment with the proenzyme suppositories. As a result of my research over the last 15 years, as well as the clinical evidence over the last 100 years, proenzyme therapy can have a meaningful and long-lasting clinical benefit on patients suffering from solid tumors, but without the side effects associated with standard therapies, which is simply compelling, said Dr Kenyon. Since the pioneering work undertaken by Professor John Beard and his medical colleagues, in the early 1900s, their approach was ahead of their time, but since then, our understanding of tumor cell biology means we have elucidated how the activated enzymes works against solid tumors and in particular, cancer stem cells, optimized the formulation and its clinical effects, and developed a product candidate to pharmaceutical standard which can be administered by I.V. injection to maximize the exposure at the tumor site. My scientific and clinical research team at Propanc Biopharma are preparing to take our lead product candidate, PRP, into a world first, Phase I, First-In-Human study in advanced cancer patients suffering from solid tumors. The 100-year history of enzyme therapy gives me confidence we are on the right pathway with an exciting approach for the treatment and prevention of metastatic cancer from solid tumors, which is the main cause of patient death for sufferers. PRP is a mixture of two proenzymes, trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen from bovine pancreas administered by intravenous injection. A synergistic ratio of 1:6 inhibits growth of most tumor cells. Examples include kidney, ovarian, breast, brain, prostate, colorectal, lung, liver, uterine and skin cancers. About Propanc Biopharma, Inc. Propanc Biopharma, Inc. (the Company) is developing a novel approach to prevent recurrence and metastasis of solid tumors by using pancreatic proenzymes that target and eradicate cancer stem cells in patients suffering from pancreatic, ovarian and colorectal cancers. For more information, please visit www.propanc.com. The Companys novel proenzyme therapy is based on the science that enzymes stimulate biological reactions in the body, especially enzymes secreted by the pancreas. These pancreatic enzymes could represent the bodys primary defense against cancer. To view the Companys Mechanism of Action video on its anti-cancer lead product candidate, PRP, please click on the following link: http://www.propanc.com/news-media/video Forward-Looking Statements All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, which may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words as may, might, will, will likely result, would, should, estimate, plan, project, forecast, intend, expect, anticipate, believe, seek, continue, target or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These factors include uncertainties as to the Companys ability to continue as a going concern absent new debt or equity financings; the Companys current reliance on substantial debt financing that it is unable to repay in cash; the Companys ability to successfully remediate material weaknesses in its internal controls; the Companys ability to reach research and development milestones as planned and within proposed budgets; the Companys ability to control costs; the Companys ability to obtain adequate new financing on reasonable terms; the Companys ability to successfully initiate and complete clinical trials and its ability to successful develop PRP, its lead product candidate; the Companys ability to obtain and maintain patent protection; the Companys ability to recruit employees and directors with accounting and finance expertise; the Companys dependence on third parties for services; the Companys dependence on key executives; the impact of government regulations, including FDA regulations; the impact of any future litigation; the availability of capital; changes in economic conditions, competition; and other risks, including, but not limited to, those described in the Companys periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at http://www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligations to update these statements except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005298/en/ Investor Relations and Media Contacts: Mr. James Nathanielsz Propanc Biopharma, Inc. [email protected] +61-3-9882-0780 Source: Propanc Biopharma, Inc. Addition of 255 funds and models, new Portfolio Builder tool, and reduction in certificate fees among changes SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- RetireOne, the leading platform for fee-based insurance solutions, and Midland National Life Insurance Company (Midland National), today roll out a number of enhancements to Constance a unique, zero-commission portfolio income insurance solution designed expressly for RIAs. The firms announced the addition of 255 mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and model portfolios to the lineup of investment options covered by Constance. Launched in October of 2021, Constance allows RIAs to wrap client brokerage accounts, IRAs, or Roth IRAs with lifetime income protection to combat longevity risk, while enabling advisors to continue to oversee client assets as they enter retirement and begin the decumulation phase. Leading managers including Cambria Investments, Fidelity Investments, Inspire ETFs, Invesco, iShares, Nuveen and Schwab Asset Management combined to add 195 mutual funds and ETFs that are now available for investment under the protection of Constance, bringing the total to 390 total funds. Additionally, 60 new model portfolios have been added to the lineup, including strategies from American Funds, Delaware Funds, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Dynamic Wealth Management, Horizon Investments, Inspire ETFs, and WealthCare Capital Management. Retirement remains the primary goal for most investors, so leveraging Cambria ETFs to help investors pensionize and protect retirement income via a contingent deferred annuity (CDA) is an important and novel step that we are excited to take with RetireOne, said Meb Faber, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Cambria. Exposure to Cambria ETFs and portfolio insurance within RetireOnes Constance CDA can help position investors to more effectively manage longevity and sequence of return risks as they approach and enter retirement. At Cambria, we pride ourselves on innovating by providing uniquely useful ETFs, and seeing five of them offered within the Constance platform shows again how ETFs continue to find new roles to play in solving big problems for investors. Constance certificate fees have also been reduced to lower the cost of insurance. RetireOnes CEO and Co-Founder, David Stone, explains, As we build and evolve this unique portfolio income insurance solution, we want to make it as easy as possible for advisors to cover their preferred strategies in client portfolios. To that end, we continue to collaborate with our partner firms and RIAs interested in building durable sustainable income streams for clients to include those investment options. In addition to new investment options and reduced certificate fees, RetireOne has developed a new Portfolio Builder tool to help RIAs construct portfolios of publicly traded mutual funds and ETFs covered by Constance. By designing portfolios and determining their allocation percentages, advisors may better understand which coverages and Asset Allocation Tiers may best meets their clients needs. Advisors who would like to learn more about how they can begin to leverage Constance for their clients can schedule a meeting, or call their RetireOne Relationship Manager at (877) 575-2742. For additional information, visit Retireone.com. About RetireOne Serving over 1,000 RIAs and fee-based advisors since 2011, RetireOne is the leading, independent platform for fee-based insurance solutions. With offerings from multiple A rated companies, RIAs may access this fiduciary marketplace at no additional cost to them or their clients. Currently servicing over $1.5 billion of retirement savings and income investments, RetireOne continues to grow in its mission to provide advisors and their clients valuable retirement solutions that are simple to use, easy to understand, and delivered with outstanding service. Learn more at RetireOne.com and follow us on Twitter @RetireOne and LinkedIn. About Midland National Life Insurance Company For more than 115 years, Midland National Life Insurance Company (Midland National) has been an industry leader, crediting the companys strength to its commitment to stability, innovation, and dedicated customer service. Midland National is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and has earned an A+ (Superior) rating from A.M. Best, a large third-party independent reporting and rating company that rates an insurance company on the basis of the company's financial strength, operating performance, and ability to meet its ongoing obligations to policyowners. This rating is the second highest out of 15 categories and was affirmed by A.M. Best for Midland National as part Sammons Financial Group, Inc. on July 30, 2021. Founded as Dakota Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1906, Midland National has protected families and preserved legacies for generations. Midland National is one of the leading insurance companies in the United States. Midland National is a member of Sammons Financial Group, a subsidiary of Sammons Enterprises, Inc. With its annuity division in West Des Moines, Iowa, and its life insurance operations in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Midland National operates in 49 states and the District of Columbia through its 12,000 licensed sales professionals. For more information, click here. The Certificate is designed to protect investors who are concerned that, either because of withdrawals over time, poor market performance, or both, their Covered Asset Pool may be depleted during their lifetime. To address that need, the Certificate in effect provides a limited form of insurance against outliving assets. The Certificate has no cash value, surrender value or death benefit. The Certificate is intended for long-term investment purposes. You and your client should consider the risks and expenses of the annuity carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information. You or your client can call 877-575-2742 to obtain a current prospectus for the contingent deferred annuity. Inform investors to read it carefully before investing. Securities offered through EF Legacy Securities, LLC (EFLS). EFLS is a member of FINRA/SIPC, registered in all 50 states and is a licensed insurance agency (resident KY license no. DOI-896601). In CA, EFLS is doing business as EF Legacy Insurance Agency LLC (nonresident license no. 0L01472). The Constance Group Contingent Deferred Annuity is issued by Midland National Life Insurance Company, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266, offered by EF Legacy Securities, LLC (dba RetireOne), member FINRA and underwritten by Sammons Financial Network, LLC., member FINRA. Sammons Financial Network, LLC., and Midland National Life Insurance Company are wholly owned subsidiaries of Sammons Financial Group, Inc. and are not affiliated with EF Legacy Securities, LLC., and RetireOne. The Constance Group Contingent Deferred Annuity can play an important role in your retirement plan but may not be for everyone. Before investing, you and your financial advisor should discuss aspects that affect the appropriateness of your situation, including cost, investment timeframe and other retirement assets you may have. The Certificate is intended for long-term investment purposes. Excess withdrawals may significantly decrease and even terminate the benefits provided by the Certificate. NOT FDIC/NCUA INSURED, MAY LOSE VALUE INCLUDING LOSS OF PRINCIPAL, NO BANK/CU GUARANTEE, NOT A DEPOSIT, NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY. FOR INSTITUTIONAL USE ONLY. NOT INTENDED FOR CONSUMER SOLICITATION PURPOSES. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005219/en/ RetireOne Will Ruben [email protected] 847-208-8289 Midland National, a Sammons Financial Group company Kevin Waetke [email protected] 515-608-2558 Source: RetireOne LYMINGTON, United Kingdom & DURHAM, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Each year, the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) and the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy (Rhodes Academy) sponsor the Rhodes Academy-ICPC Submarine Cables Writing Award for a deserving paper addressing submarine cables and their relationship with the law of the sea. Applicants to, and graduates of, the Rhodes Academy are eligible to compete for the award, in a competition administered by the Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore. With the award, the ICPC and the Rhodes Academy seek to foster scholarship regarding submarine cables (the infrastructure of the Internet) and the law of the sea and promote the rule of law as applied to submarine cables. The referees of the 2022 competition chose Sophie Ryan of Australia as the winner for her paper, Submarine Cables and Belligerent Rights in Armed Conflict. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005670/en/ Rhodes Academy. Each year, the Rhodes Academy brings together approximately 50 mid-career professionals from around the world to study and learn from leading ocean law and science scholars, judges, and practitioners about the law of the sea and its key legal instrument, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Academy is organised by a consortium of research universities and institutes, led by the School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering at the University of New Hampshire. After the COVID-19 pandemic led to cancellation of the Academy in 2020 and a virtual Academy in 2021, the Directors of the Academy are pleased to return to Rhodes in person for this years Academy. For more information about the Rhodes Academy and the writing competition, see https://marine.unh.edu/academics/rhodes-academy and https://cil.nus.edu.sg/publication/rhodes-academy-icpc-submarine-cables-writing-award/. The Award. Each year, the winner will receive either guaranteed admission and a full scholarship (covering the attendance fee, travel expenses, and shared hotel room) to the Rhodes Academy, or for a Rhodes Academy graduate from a prior year, a cash award of GB 4,500. The winner will receive assistance from the Rhodes Academy in seeking publication of the winning paper and will also be invited to speak at the next ICPC Plenary meeting to be held in Madrid, Spain from 18th 20th April 2023. The papers of all past winners have been published in peer-reviewed journals. About the ICPC. The ICPC is the worlds premier submarine cable protection organisation. It was formed in 1958 to promote the protection of international submarine cables against human and natural hazards. It provides a forum for the exchange of technical, legal, and environmental information about submarine cables and engages with stakeholders and governments globally to promote submarine cable protection. The ICPC has over 185 Members from over 60 nations, including cable operators, owners, manufacturers, industry service providers, as well as governments. For further information about the ICPC, see www.iscpc.org and www.linkedin.com/company/icpc-ltd/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005670/en/ ICPC Contact: Kent Bressie, International Law Adviser, ICPC +1 202 730 1337 [email protected] Rhodes Academy Contact: Judy Ellis, Rhodes Academy Administrator School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire [email protected] Source: International Cable Protection Committee Romeo Power announces commercial expansion into aftermarket solutions in alignment with Companys strategy to support all stages of commercial vehicle electrification LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Romeo Power, Inc. (Romeo Power or the Company) (NYSE: RMO), an energy technology leader delivering advanced electrification solutions for complex commercial vehicle applications, today announced that the Company is supplying batteries to a leader in powertrain performance products. We are pleased to supply Romeo batteries to an established provider of aftermarket solutions, marking another encouraging step that supports our growth trajectory, said Romeo Powers Chief Executive Officer Susan Brennan. The superior energy density of our battery packs is a natural fit for anyone interested in optimizing the performance of an electric powertrain. Selling into aftermarket solutions fits into our commercial strategy to support vehicle electrification at all stages of a vehicles lifecycle and serves as a solid indicator of our efforts to expand the application of our leading technology into the growing spectrum of vehicle electrification opportunities. Our customers diverse portfolio of premium products to enhance commercial and performance vehicles is an exciting opportunity to showcase the superiority of Romeos technology. Our batteries offer the power and energy needed, while staying light and compact to complement our customers innovative product line, Brennan added. About Romeo Power, Inc. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Romeo Power (NYSE: RMO) is an energy technology leader delivering advanced electrification solutions for complex commercial vehicle applications. The Companys suite of advanced battery electric products, combined with its innovative battery management system, delivers the safety, performance, reliability and configurability its customers need to succeed. To keep up with everything Romeo Power, follow the Company on social media, @romeopowerinc or visit RomeoPower.com Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words estimates, projected, expects, anticipates, forecasts, plans, intends, believes, seeks, may, will, should, future, propose and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, express or implied statements concerning Romeo Powers ability to develop or sell new products, or to pursue customers in new product or geographic markets, Romeo Powers expectations regarding its future financial performance, the demand for safe, effective, affordable and sustainable EV products, Romeo Powers ability to produce and deliver such products on a commercial scale, and Romeo Powers expectations that its customers will adhere to contracted purchase commitments on the currently expected timeframe are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside Romeo Powers managements control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include: Romeo Powers ability to execute on its plans to develop and market new products and the timing of these development programs; Romeo Powers ability to increase the scale and capacity of its manufacturing processes; Romeo Powers estimates of the size of the markets for its products; the rate and degree of market acceptance of Romeo Powers products; the success of other competing technologies that may become available; Romeo Powers ability to identify and integrate acquisitions; Romeo Powers potential need for and ability to secure additional capital; the performance of Romeo Powers products and customers; potential litigation involving Romeo Power; demand for battery cells and supply shortages; the potential effects of COVID-19; and general economic and market conditions impacting demand for Romeo Powers products. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Companys filings with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from those implied by our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Romeo Power undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Romeo Power Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005764/en/ For Investors: Joe Caminiti or Ashley Gruenberg Alpha IR Group [email protected] 312-445-2870 Source: Romeo Power Inc. Grid Operations Platform as a Service unlocks rapid innovation with agile cloud solutions managed as a service Deployment model offers remote access to a scalable, flexible architecture that simplifies and expedites implementations, ongoing maintenance and updates Platform assists utilities on their digital transformation journey toward managing more reliable, efficient, sustainable and flexible grids MISSISSAUGA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Schneider Electric, the global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today announced Grid Operations Platform as a Service as part of its EcoStruxure Grid portfolio. Backed by Microsoft Azures open cloud computing platform, Schneider Electric is offering a deployment environment that enables grid planning and operations solutions to be hosted and managed on the cloud. As the industry experiences significant disruption and technology advancing at a rapid pace, traditional ways of deploying software solutions and associated services are changing. Schneiders Grid Operations Platform as a Service was built to answer the unprecedented challenges that grid operators face today. While cloud solutions continue to demonstrate value across industries, grid operators can gain value with simplified deployments, incremental enhancements, increased scalability and reduced maintenance all while enabling managed and advisory services. Simplified, stepwise, cybersecure approaches are in demand for all aspects of grid management, both IT and OT. Schneider Electric is delivering Grid Operations Platform as a Service on Azure in collaboration with Microsoft to address the demands of critical energy infrastructure for the energy industry. Microsofts commitment to this collaboration is helping drive digital transformation for people, organizations and the industry at large said Alexis Grenon, SVP Digital Grid at Schneider Electric. Together we are working to help our customers manage more reliable, efficient, sustainable and secure grids today and into the future. Schneider Electric has a strong history of delivering asset management and edge management cloud solutions to utilities and is now extending that success to operations management, with EcoStruxure DERMS (distributed energy resource management systems) and EcoStruxure ADMS (advanced distribution management system) running on Azure, including use cases such as DER (distributed energy resource) management, outage management, grid planning, and user training. This is unlocking value that can be delivered to a much broader market where smaller organizations can realize the same benefits as the largest ones. This progression provides increased value to customers and enables a more agile approach to delivering innovation. Microsoft is supporting Schneider Electric in delivering business solutions that allow customers to focus more on their operations and less on managing software infrastructure, said Darryl Willis, Corporate Vice President, Energy Industry at Microsoft. This further enables Schneider Electric to address the utility industrys most pressing business challenges with the flexibility, reliability and security of Azure." The announcement comes on the heels of Schneider Electrics ranking #1 on the Guidehouse Insights Leaderboard for Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) Vendors report. The new DERMS solution addresses utility and grid management needs from a holistic perspective, offering an end-to-end approach to DER management. Schneider Electrics EcoStruxure Grid solution portfolio demonstrates the companys commitment to a more digital and electric world, and together with Grid Operations Platform as a Service supports the growth of distributed energy resources, microgrids, energy communities, and other flexible resources across digitally planned, designed and operated lifecycles. Grids of the future are powered by data and integrated network models they are more reliable, flexible, efficient and secure. To learn more about Schneider Electrics vision for Grids of the Future, visit https://www.se.com/ww/en/work/campaign/grids-of-the-future/. About Schneider Electric Schneiders purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On. Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency. We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, endpoint to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries. We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values. https://www.se.com/ca/en/ Discover Life Is On Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Blog Discover the newest perspectives shaping sustainability, electricity 4.0, and next generation automation on Schneider Electric Insights Additional resource: Hashtags: #IndustriesOfTheFuture #NextGenAutomation #IndustrialAutomation #UniversalAutomation #EcoStruxure View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005252/en/ Media Relations - Edelman on behalf of Schneider Electric, Juan Pablo Guerrero, Phone: +1 416 875 7173, Email: [email protected] Source: Schneider Electric NEEDHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- International Data Corporation (IDC) today published an IDC Innovators report profiling three companies offering legal research tools that leverage artificial intelligence (AI), proprietary tags, and user-friendly interfaces to make legal research more affordable and accessible. The three companies are: Casetext, eDiscovery Assistant, and Fastcase. Legal research tools are digital versions of the case lawbooks that fill every law library and are updated with the latest statutes, regulations, and caselaw. Historically, the cost to conveniently access legal research has been exorbitantly expensive. However, several smaller companies are adding advanced search functions, summaries of the law, and other proprietary add-ons, such as AI and analytic capabilities, to create legal research tools that enhance lawyers' ability to analyze and interpret the law. "Law firms have subsidized their cost to access research by billing their access to their corporate clients with larger pockets. This has put solo practitioners and small firms at a disadvantage. However, smaller players are emerging to democratize and disrupt the cost and way that attorneys access legal research. These innovators are leveraging technology to make legal research more affordable and accessible for your legal department," said Ryan O'Leary, research manager, Privacy and Legal Technology at IDC. The report, IDC Innovators: Legal Research Software, 2022 (IDC #US49114621), profiles three companies offering legal research tools that leverage artificial intelligence (AI), proprietary tags, and user-friendly interfaces. The three companies are: Casetext offers analytics and AI enhanced legal research that enables practitioners to quickly access caselaw summaries, relevant holdings, and the appropriate cites based on their fact patterns. eDiscovery Assistant uses proprietary issue tags tailored to eDiscovery issues to cut through the noise and bring practitioners the caselaw they need to make informed decisions about their eDiscovery strategies. Fastcase uses a unique subscription model to offer practitioners an affordable and fully searchable library of over 200 million briefs, pleadings, and motions on top of a library of caselaw, regulations, and statutes. About IDC Innovators IDC Innovators reports present a set of vendors under $100 million in revenue at time of selection chosen by an IDC analyst within a specific market that offer an innovative new technology, a groundbreaking approach to an existing issue, and/or an interesting new business model. It is not an exhaustive evaluation of all companies in a segment or a comparative ranking of the companies. Vendors in the process of being acquired by a larger company may be included in the report provided the acquisition is not finalized at the time of publication of the report. Vendors funded by venture capital firms may also be included in the report even if the venture capital firm has a financial stake in the vendor's company. IDC INNOVATOR and IDC INNOVATORS are trademarks of International Data Group, Inc. For more information about IDC Innovators research, please contact Jen Melker at [email protected]. About IDC International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,200 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005495/en/ Michael Shirer [email protected] 508-935-4200 Source: International Data Corporation SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Trepont Acquisition Corp I (the Company) today announced that it will redeem all of its outstanding Class A ordinary shares (the Class A Shares), effective as of June 10, 2022, because the Company will not consummate an initial business combination within the time period required by its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (the Articles of Association). As stated in the Companys Articles of Association, if the Company does not consummate an initial business combination within 18 months of the closing of the Companys initial public offering, or June 4, 2022, the Company will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Class A Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Companys trust account (the Trust Account) held with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (Continental), including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest income to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Class A Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the rights of the holders of Class A Shares (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining shareholders and the board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to the Companys obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law. Net of taxes and dissolution expenses, the per-share redemption price for the Class A Shares is expected to be approximately $10.10 (the Redemption Amount). The Company had previously scheduled an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (EGM) on May 27, 2022 to vote on a proposal to extend the time period under the Articles of Association during which the Company may consummate an initial business combination. In light of the Companys determination to redeem all of the Class A Shares, the Company will propose at the EGM that the only item of business to take place will be a proposal to adjourn the meeting indefinitely. The Company anticipates that the Class A Shares will cease trading as of the close of business on June 9, 2022. As of June 10, 2022, the Class A Shares will be deemed cancelled and will represent only the right to receive the Redemption Amount. After June 10, 2022, the Company shall cease all operations except for those required to wind up the Companys business. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Companys warrants, which will expire worthless. The Companys initial shareholders waived their redemption rights with respect to the outstanding Class B ordinary shares issued prior to the Companys initial public offering. In order to provide for the disbursement of funds from the Trust Account, the Company has instructed Continental to take all necessary actions to liquidate the Trust Account. Registered holders may redeem their shares for their pro rata portion of the proceeds of the Trust Account upon presentation of their respective share or unit certificates or other delivery of their shares or units to Continental, the Companys transfer agent. Beneficial owners of Class A Shares held in street name, however, will not need to take any action in order to receive the Redemption Amount. The redemption of the Class A Shares is expected to be completed within ten business days after June 4, 2022. The Company expects that The New York Stock Exchange will file a Form 25 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) to delist its securities. The Company thereafter expects to file a Form 15 with the SEC to terminate the registration of its securities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. About Trepont Acquisition Corp I Trepont Acquisition Corp I was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. For more information, please visit www.trepontac.com. Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or the future financial or operating performance of the Company. For example, statements about the expected timing of the completion of the business combination, the benefits of the business combination, the competitive environment, and the expected future performance (including future revenue, pro forma enterprise value, and cash balance) and market opportunities are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as may, should, expect, intend, will, estimate, anticipate, believe, predict, potential or continue, or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently uncertain. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005787/en/ Investors Lee Fan [email protected] Source: Trepont Acquisition Corp I ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- WestRock Company (NYSE: WRK), a leading provider of sustainable paper and packaging solutions, today announced its participation in Deutsche Banks 13th Annual Global Materials Conference on June 8, 2022. David B. Sewell, chief executive officer, and Alex Pease, chief financial officer, will present information about the Company at 9:00 am ET. This event will be webcast and available for replay on WestRocks website, ir.westrock.com. About WestRock WestRock (NYSE: WRK) partners with our customers to provide sustainable paper and packaging solutions that help them win in the marketplace. WestRocks team members support customers around the world from locations spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Learn more at www.westrock.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005513/en/ Investors: Robert Quartaro, 470-328-6979 Senior Vice President, Investor Relations [email protected] James Armstrong, 470-328-6327 Vice President, Investor Relations [email protected] Media: Robby Johnson, 470-328-6397 Manager, Corporate Communications [email protected] Source: WestRock Company FILE PHOTO: A flame burns from a tower at Vankorskoye oil field owned by Rosneft company north of the Russian Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk March 25, 2015. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin/File Photo By Scott DiSavino NEW YORK (Reuters) -Oil prices climbed about 3% to a two-month high on Thursday on signs of tight supply ahead of U.S. summer driving season, as the European Union (EU) wrangled with Hungary over plans to ban crude imports from Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Traders also noted oil prices followed a rise in equities and some weakening of the U.S. dollar against a basket of currencies, which makes oil cheaper when purchased in other currencies. [.N][USD/] Brent futures rose $3.37, or 3.0%, to settle at $117.40 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $3.76, or 3.4%, to settle at $114.09. After rising for six days in a row, Brent closed at its highest since March 25. WTI settled at its highest since May 16. "Crude prices rose as a tight oil market was going to remain in place given the start of the summer driving season was going to keep a downward trajectory for U.S. stockpiles," said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at data and analytics firm OANDA. Prices drew support from a big weekly drawdown in U.S. crude inventories, reported on Wednesday. [EIA/S] "The fundamental backdrop ... is getting price supportive ... and will turn even more bullish once the EU sanctions on Russian oil sales are endorsed by all parties involved," PVM Oil's Tamas Varga said. European Council President Charles Michel said he was confident an agreement can be reached before the council's next meeting on May 30. Hungary remains a stumbling block, as EU sanctions require unanimous support. Hungary is pressing for about 750 million euros ($800 million) to upgrade its refineries and expand a pipeline from Croatia. Even without a formal ban, much less Russian oil is available as buyers and trading houses have avoided suppliers from the country. Russia's oil production should decline to 480-500 million tonnes this year from 524 million tonnes in 2021, state-run news agency RIA reported, citing Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. OPEC+ meets on June 2 and is expected to stick to last year's deal to raise July output targets by 432,000 barrels per day, six OPEC+ sources told Reuters, rebuffing Western calls for a faster increase to control prices. Other factors also are supporting oil prices. "Shanghai is preparing to reopen after a two-month lockdown, while the U.S. peak driving season begins with the Memorial Day weekend," said Sugandha Sachdeva, vice president of commodities research at Religare Broking. The United States celebrates Memorial Day on Monday. The U.S. government confiscated an Iranian oil cargo held on a Russian-operated ship near Greece and will send the cargo to the United States aboard another vessel. Britain, meanwhile, announced a 25% windfall tax on oil and gas producers' profits, alongside a 15 billion pound ($18.9 billion) package of support for households struggling to pay energy bills. Hungary announced new windfall taxes worth 800 billion forints ($2.19 billion) on "extra profits" earned by banks, energy companies and other firms. ($1 = 0.9348 euros) ($1 = 0.7942 pounds) ($1 = 365.7200 forints) (Additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar in London, Sonali Paul in Melbourne and Mohi Narayan in New Delhi; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio) FILE PHOTO: Delta airplanes are seen at John F. Kennedy International Airport during the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Queens, New York City, U.S., December 26, 2021. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Delta Air Lines on Thursday said it will cut flights through August to improve operational reliability amid soaring travel demand as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic recedes. The U.S. airline said in a statement that from July 1 through Aug 7 it will cut about 100 daily departures, primarily in U.S. and Latin America markets. Ahead of what could be a record holiday travel weekend, Delta said in an email to employees seen by Reuters it will also work to "relieve pressure by proactively thinning the schedule over Memorial Day and through the balance of June." Other airlines are also cutting flights ahead of what could be a record U.S. travel season. In recent months, weather or air traffic delays have often resulted in hundreds of airline industry cancellations. JetBlue Airways in April said it was reducing its planned summer schedule by more than 10%. Delta forecasts it will carry approximately 2.5 million passengers this Memorial Day weekend a 25% increase over 2021 levels. The Atlanta-based airline said the service reduction for July to early August equates to approximately a 2% reduction in departures. It will reduce domestic planned aircraft hours in the July schedule by several percentage points "to create more buffer in the system and improve operational reliability." Delta does not plan to exit any markets. "We know there is extreme demand to fly a very full schedule, but we continue to adjust our network and other aspects of our operation to balance customer demand for Delta with the realities of our operating environment," Delta said in the employee memo. The airline added that more than any time "various factors currently impacting our operation - from weather and air traffic control, vendor staffing to higher-than-planned unscheduled absences in some work groups (some due to COVID) are resulting in an operation that isnt consistently up to the standards Delta has set for the industry in recent years." (Reporting by David ShepardsonEditing by Bill Berkrot) By Bianca Flowers and Joseph White BONDURANT, Iowa (Reuters) -Deere & Co has sold its tractors and other equipment to farmers for decades, but the world's largest agriculture machinery manufacturer is tearing a page from the technology world's playbook - combining cutting-edge hardware with software and subscription models to drive revenue growth. In a world with a dwindling number of grain producers and a growing population, Deere and its rivals are developing self-driving equipment loaded with the latest software that is harvesting a new kind of bumper crop: data. All that translates into recurring revenue, something companies like Apple have long enjoyed and industrial manufacturers like Deere hungrily eye. "The more technology we can develop to allow farmers to get productivity out of their land without having to spend so much money on fertilizer and inputs, the better off everybody is," Julian Sanchez, Deere's director of emerging technology, told Reuters. Investments in automation for high-horsepower equipment is only at its inception for Deere and rivals AGCO and CNH Industrial. The next step is to equip machines to plant seeds using satellite imagery and soil data, Sanchez said. While Deere has not outlined what that could mean to its bottom line, last fall U.S. automaker General Motors Co said it was targeting up to $25 billion in software-driven services by 2030, and added its Cruise self-driving unit could achieve $50 billion in annual revenue within six years. The race among farm equipment companies to automate agriculture has accelerated amid a burgeoning food crisis. And Deere's strategy around scaling its suite of tech products is now in the spotlight, after the manufacturer's stock plunged 14% on May 20 following a quarterly revenue miss. It was the biggest drop for Deere in 14 years. The timing comes as the war in Ukraine and widespread drought in key grain-producing countries have roiled commodity markets, causing grain and farm input prices to spike as supplies shrink. That, in turn, has U.S. farmers scrambling to boost crop yields, yet limit their fertilizer and pesticide use. That and a shrinking farm labor workforce has opened the door for Deere and others to make their high-tech push. For farmers, the prize is higher crop yields. For Illinois-based Deere, it's the revenue. Autonomous machinery is where Deere is placing its bet as artificial intelligence becomes more integrated in farming. Its self-driving 8R tillage tractor will be the latest addition to the company's algorithm-enabled offerings when the green machines go on sale in the fall. The new tractor will be priced at $500,000. However, the autonomy feature will be sold separately. Deere executives told analysts at a conference that the company will largely maintain its "point-of-sale" model for equipment, but will integrate a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model for its autonomous solutions. That will likely include their self-driving tractor. "While it may take us a few years to build out a base of recurring revenues, autonomous solutions, on top of our underlying machine forms, will be recurring," said Joshua Jepsen, Deere's deputy financial officer. The recurring revenue model can be economically favorable to heavy machinery manufacturers "based on those data insights," said Michael Staebe, a Bain & Company partner focused on machinery. In Deeres case, using a subscription model by either selling or leasing its driverless tractor can result in higher margins. "After expenses, every incremental dollar falls straight to the bottom line," Edward Jones analyst Matt Arnold said. "We would expect it to be an attractive offering to farmers given the efficiency it offers them, and lucrative to Deere." AGRONOMIC DATA HELPS BOTTOM LINE Farmers have long been wary about how machinery and supplier firms profit off the data gleaned from their operations, and how secure such data is. But with farmers facing economic pressures, Deere and other manufacturers said it is easier to sell farmers on making such investments. One key reason: The ability to glean crop insights from huge amounts of agronomic data takes the guesswork out of when to plant and how many seeds to use - which saves farmers money. "Everybody in the industry is much more data-focused than we have ever seen them," said Michael Boehlje, a professor at Purdue University. "(Companies) can do profit projections by geographic space in fields. That takes you to a different level of thinking and analysis. In 2020, Deere acquired Harvest Profit, a farm profitability software company that has been integrated into the John Deere Operations Center. The platform stores and lets farmers access their machine data from the cloud. "When I look at what precision ag has done for our operations and what we can accomplish in a day's time compared to 10 to 20 years ago, it's so much easier," said Jeremy Jack, a row crop farmer in Mississippi and chief executive of Silent Shade Planting Co. Ron Heck's fleet of Case IH combines and tractors are equipped with automated steering to harvest his 4,000 acres where he rotates soybeans and corn. The fourth-generation farmer in Iowa said some of his new equipment is loaded with technology. "Unfortunately for us it costs more, but hopefully the costs will be paid back in the long run by better efficiency." (Reporting by Bianca Flowers and Joseph White; Editing by Ben Klayman and Lisa Shumaker) FILE PHOTO: U.S. Marines load an M777 towed 155 mm howitzer into the cargo hold of a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport plane, to be delivered in Europe for Ukrainian forces, at March Air Reserve Base, California, U.S. April 21, 2022. Picture t By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As the United States and its allies provide Ukraine with increasingly sophisticated arms, Washington has held discussions with Kyiv about the danger of escalation if it strikes deep inside Russia, U.S. and diplomatic officials tell Reuters. The behind-the-scenes discussions, which are highly sensitive and have not been previously reported, do not put explicit geographic restrictions on the use of weapons supplied to Ukrainian forces. But the conversations have sought to reach a shared understanding of the risk of escalation, three U.S. officials and diplomatic sources said. "We have concerns about escalation and yet still do not want to put geographic limits or tie their hands too much with the stuff we're giving them," said one of the three U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity. President Joe Biden's administration and U.S. allies have been increasingly willing to give Ukraine longer-range weaponry, including M777 howitzers, as Kyiv battles Russia's invasion forces with more success than American intelligence officials had predicted. The Pentagon's announcement last week that Denmark will provide Ukraine with Harpoon anti-ship missiles would further extend Kyiv's reach. After initially forecasting Ukraine would be overrun by Russia's much bigger military, American officials have recently voiced hopes that Ukrainian forces can win the war, and want to arm them to do so. U.S. officials say the Biden administration is even considering supplying Kyiv with the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which depending on the munitions can have a range of hundreds of kilometers. But U.S. intelligence has also warned about growing risks, particularly given a mismatch between Russian President Vladimir Putin's apparent ambitions and the performance of his military. The coming months could put the war on a "more unpredictable and potentially escalatory trajectory," Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told a Senate hearing this month. The United States, by design, is not directly combating Russian forces but Pentagon commanders are in constant contact with Ukrainian leaders and have provided critical intelligence that has allowed Ukraine to target Russian troops, on land and at sea, U.S. officials have said. A second U.S. official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington and Kyiv had a shared "understanding" about the use of certain Western-provided weapon systems. "So far, we've been on the same page about the thresholds," the official said. Ukraine's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the West that supplying weapons to Ukraine capable of hitting Russian territory would be "a serious step towards unacceptable escalation," according to remarks published on the Russian foreign ministry website on Thursday. MILITARY TARGETS Russia has attacked Ukraine's capital and locations far from the front lines of fighting. But Ukraine has not reciprocated with attacks on a major Russian city or carried out strikes deep inside Russia, including on military targets such as weapons manufacturers or supply hubs far from the border. Russian officials have repeatedly accused the Ukrainian military carrying out cross-border attacks, including on a fuel depot in the city of Belgorod. It justified its invasion of Ukraine partly on the premise that Ukraine was a threat to Russia -- an idea that Kyiv and the West reject. In what one diplomatic source said was a clear indication Kyiv understood the sensitivities of any cross-border action, Ukraine has declined to confirm any involvement in those alleged incidents. The United States also has not commented. The U.S. sensitivities came into public view in April, when the Pentagon cited U.S. intelligence warnings about the risk of a military escalation between Russia and the NATO alliance if the United States transferred fighter jets to Ukraine. Democratic Representative Jason Crow, who visited Ukraine in the past month and spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said he was not concerned about escalation risk and that Ukraine would use the weapons being provided in the south. Three months into the conflict, Russia is focusing its campaign in the south after a failed attempt to capture Kyiv. "We should reiterate, as we do in all cases, that these weapons should be used responsibly," said Crow, a veteran Army Ranger who sits on the Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in Congress. "But I'm less concerned about the issue of escalation than making sure that Ukrainians can win now and push back the Russian forces." The first U.S. official said Ukraine had plenty of targets to hit inside Ukraine, and that was the goal of obtaining longer-range weaponry from Western allies. Douglas Lute, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO and retired Army lieutenant general, agreed Ukraine has enough Russian targets inside Ukraine to worry about. But he acknowledged the risk for escalation and political division inside NATO should Ukraine strike deep inside Russia. "It would spark a divisive debate inside the alliance. And, of course, the alliance doesn't want that. And neither does Ukraine," Lute told Reuters. One remaining question is whether Ukraine could change its strategy if the war takes a turn for the worse, perhaps using U.S.-provided weaponry in ways not originally intended. "There could be scenarios where the Ukrainians are backed into such a corner that they feel they have to escalate further, but we haven't seen that yet," the second U.S. official said. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Mary Milliken and Daniel Wallis) FILE PHOTO: A Mastercard logo is seen on a credit card in this picture illustration August 30, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White/File Photo By Divya Chowdhury DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Southeast Asia and Latin America are strong growth regions for Mastercard after its withdrawal from Russia in March and India's 2021 ban on it from issuing new cards, the company's co-president for international markets said. "Southeast Asia is exciting (due to) the right demographics, the adoption of technology and digitisation, and governments' focus on financial inclusion," Ling Hai told the Reuters Global Markets Forum, adding that countries in the region would also benefit as supply chains shift away from China. India's central bank banned Mastercard after declaring it "non-compliant" with the country's 2018 rules that required foreign card networks to store Indian payments data locally for "unfettered supervisory access". "Our sense is we are getting really close to a resolution," Hai said on the India ban, adding that the company was working "very constructively" with the Indian government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Hai said Mastercard was ready to comply with India's local data-storage rules. "The goal is to be 100% compliant. Anything we need to localise in India, we are taking tangible steps to get there." Mastercard says India is a key growth market and has invested $2 billion in the country since 2014 to build technology centres and support innovation in digital payments. Mastercard suspended operations in Russia - a market that accounted for roughly 4% its net revenue in 2021 - in March, over its invasion of Ukraine. In Russia, if an opportunity arose to improve rules and regulations in areas such as financial inclusion, sustainability and data privacy, Mastercard will "work towards changing them together with other stakeholders in the ecosystem, including the government themselves", Hai said. Hai also said that Europe was an exciting market for the company due to its post-COVID economic recovery and the scope of innovation that the continent offers. Besides geography, the payment network company is also focusing on high-growth parts of the business, such as business-to-business payments flows, telecommunications and retail. (This interview was conducted in the Reuters Global Markets Forum. Join GMF on Refinitiv Messenger: https://refini.tv/33uoFoQ) (Reporting by Divya Chowdhury in Davos; Additional reporting by Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru; Editing by Alexander Smith) A media snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking the image or link below: TORONTO and HONG KONG, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This summer, bask in the warm glow of Hong Kong's dazzling arts and culture scene wherever you are in the world. Riding on the staging of international art and cultural events, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is launching an 'Arts in Hong Kong' campaign to showcase to a global audience the city's extraordinary and enduring appeal as an arts and cultural hub. The campaign aims to raise Hong Kong's international profile further, offering in-depth community arts and cultural tours and interactive art tech experiences to encourage the local public and visitors alike to rediscover the city from a cultural perspective. HKTB Executive Director Mr. Dane Cheng said: "In-depth travel experiences have become a major global trend, and arts and culture are a key driver of this trend. The Hong Kong Tourism Board has organized an 'Art Month' promotion for the past nine years when international events were held in town to generate city-wide art vibes. As well as the staging of large-scale events, new world-class art landmarks such as M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum are also opening their doors, boosting Hong Kong's allure as an arts and cultural travel destination. As the city's arts scene becomes richer than ever, the HKTB will make 'Arts in Hong Kong' a year-round promotional platform to raise awareness of the city's always-on, diverse experience of arts and culture, and establish Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange." Supporting International Events and Promoting Hong Kong Culture to the World 'Arts in Hong Kong' is being rolled out in May with international events, including Art Basel Hong Kong and French May, along with a series of unique neighbourhood projects headlining a series of promotions to demonstrate that large-scale art and cultural events have returned to Hong Kong. The campaign will also form part of the HKTB's existing 'Hong Kong Summer Treats' promotion that encourages residents to explore Hong Kong from new perspectives. The HKTB is working closely with the organizers of international arts events staged in Hong Kong to increase their reach and impact. It has teamed up with Art Basel Hong Kong to host online tours, for instance, and has invited Hong Kong artists to bring an explosion of colour to the streets by displaying their inspirational works on the city's iconic trams. The integration of arts and technology is a rapidly-growing trend, and the HKTB is stepping up its use of technology to promote art events and cultural landmarks. It has produced a video to promote the interactive virtual reality experience of French May's highlighted programme Intraverse, and is supporting the promotion of the moving image work The Shape of Light a joint presentation by Art Basel and M+ as well as the Hong Kong Museum of Art's outdoor artwork installation, Resonance-In-Sight. Three Surprises from 'Arts in Neighbourhoods' As well as its programme of major cultural events, the HKTB is launching a range of promotions to inspire residents to rediscover hidden gems of culture in neighbourhoods across Hong Kong, and experience the city's thrilling ambience as an arts and cultural hub. Surprise 1: Street exploration of five cultural themes Wander through Old Town Central, Sham Shui Po and West Kowloon and explore more than 20 cultural discovery hot spots under five major themes. The HKTB has created an interactive map with arts and cultural guides for each hot spot. The map includes fascinating anecdotes, like the mystery behind the embroidery of Chinese wedding gown tailor Koon Nam Wah Bridal. Surprise 2: Discover arts with an avatar A browser-based app has been created that allows visitors to create a customized avatar with their own cultural interests to enrich their neighbourhood experiences in a hybrid environment. Three ways to roam with your avatar: Visit three designated hot spots in person for a unique AR interactive experience. Check out Hong Kong Neighbourhoods' hot spots and take snapshots. Take creative selfies with your avatar, anywhere, anytime Surprise 3: Community art exhibition offers a journey through West Kowloon The HKTB and the University of Hong Kong's Department of Cultural and Creative Arts are hosting a community art exhibition titled 'Journey to West Kowloon' in June at the Art Pavilion in the West Kowloon Cultural District. More than 650 primary and secondary school students and university student artists have been invited to create 250 West Kowloon-themed art pieces, including 12 highlighted works by the department's students. Promoting Hong Kong to a global audience In Canada and other overseas source markets, the HKTB is organizing Hong Kong-themed arts events in new formats, inviting Hong Kong Super Fans active in the arts and cultural scene to showcase arts events and raise the city's profile in the international arts scene. Virtual tours with 1,000+ participants worldwide: The HKTB is organizing a range of arts-themed online tours for about 1,000 overseas media representatives, Hong Kong Super Fans, trade members and other stakeholders to promote arts and cultural attractions, including M+, the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the Tung Nam Lou Art Hotel, Biu Kee Mahjong, and embroidered footwear shop Sindart. The HKTB is teaming up with Art Basel Hong Kong to organize online viewing tours showcasing Hong Kong's rich arts and cultural scene, targeting Mainland, and overseas media in the Greater Bay Area markets, Hong Kong Super Fans, and the travel trade. Hong Kong-themed artwork recreated overseas: The HKTB is working with Hong Kong Super Fan and German artist Alexandra Unrein to host a two-day outdoor graffiti workshop at the Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art in Munich. In partnership with a France-based Hong Kong Super Fan, the HKTB is organizing a transcontinental Instagram contest. Winners will receive a West Kowloon painting by a French street mural artist Elsa Jean de Dieu living in Hong Kong Street murals are being created with Hong Kong themes in Australia, with QR codes redirecting visitors to DiscoverHongKong.com Find out more about 'Arts in Hong Kong':https://www.discoverhongkong.com/ca/explore/arts.html Members of the media can download the photos and videos below:HKTB Arts in Hong Kong Assets More information about the international events, Arts in Neighbourhoods, and fact sheets can be downloaded here. For media inquiries, please contact: Jorge LeeTel: 416 366-2389 ext 206Email: [email protected] Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ed69b7d0-932c-4600-acdf-5ef18c7d68eb https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/32cb428a-2044-4509-9381-58f70f312cf4 Hong Kong Tourism Board Kicks Off Arts in Hong Kong Mr Mason Hung, General Manager of Event and Product Development (left) and Ms Cynthia Leung, General Manager, Corporate Affairs (right) announced the details of the 'Arts in Hong Kong' Campaign. Student artist Emily Tsang Emily Tsang, a student of the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts of EdUHK, shared her inspiration for the art piece 'Aging' in the "Journey to West Kowloon" Community Art Exhibition. Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board Canada Brooklyn Park, MN, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa Minnesota, an Associa company, is pleased to announce that Heather Breuer has been promoted to the position of director of developing communities. In her new role, she will be responsible for training and developing community managers to help them achieve their professional objectives and goals. She will also focus on helping managers better understand the importance of effective communication and one-on-one customer service in order to meet the needs of communities they serve. Mrs. Breuer joined Associa Minnesota in 2019 as a community manager and has since managed a wide portfolio of communities throughout Minnesota. She has more than 20 years experience in all facets of real estate management, sales, and training. Mrs. Breuer previously worked with a leading international real estate firm where she helped clients navigate the home buying and selling process. Mrs. Breuers background includes financing, needs assessment, staging, negotiations, closings, and title work. She is highly skilled at growing and maintaining relationships, corporate branding, and fully understands the importance of building credibility and trust with clients. Mrs. Breuer graduated Magna Cum Laude from Winona State University where she earned a BA in Speech Communications with a Minor in Business Administration. Heather Breuer personifies the culture and spirit that Associa strives to offer our community partners and residents, said JoAnn Borden, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Associa Minnesota branch president. Her demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with clients and employees makes her a highly valued member of our team. About Associa With more than 225 branch offices across North America, Associa is building the future of community for nearly five million residents worldwide. Our 11,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise, and trailblazing innovation. For more than 43 years, Associa has brought positive impact and meaningful value to communities. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com. Stay Connected Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa Subscribe to the Blog: https://hub.associaonline.com/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/associa Join us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa Attachment Tom Womack Associa 214-272-4107 [email protected] Source: Associa SAN FRANCISCO and BERLIN and LONDON, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Before Alan Turing designed the first computer, humans only dreamed of intelligent machines. For years, countless science fiction movies have depicted advanced software processing large amounts of documents to find hidden insights that save the day. Today, this is no longer science fiction. Automation Hero launches version 6 of its Hero Platform_ that takes a quantum leap in document processing accuracy and outperforms its competitors. Hero Platform_ has proven it can unlock millions in return on investment (ROI) for companies like Markerstudy, turning data previously locked inside of documents into actionable insights in claims processing, supply chain optimization, fraud detection and customer interaction automation. The latest version of the platform provides a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) engine for document processing and automation. The novel, deep learning-based approach can turn structured or unstructured documents, such as contracts, invoices, receipts, prescriptions, doctor notes, and purchase orders, into highly accurate and actionable data. Intelligent document processing (IDP) solutions offer a relatively simpler means to digitize paper-based information assets and convert semi-structured data in documents to a structured format, said Saurabh Sharma, a lead analyst at GigaOm. Automation Heros context-aware approach and AI-driven handwriting recognition are aimed at improving data processing accuracy and increasing the degree of straight-through processing (STP). In an ongoing benchmark test, Automation Heros product performed better than ABBYY FlexiCapture in terms of handwriting recognition accuracy. Modeled based on cognitive science, Automation Heros optical character recognition (OCR) engine turns scans of documents into data in a way that is similar to how humans read even the most difficult handwriting with contextual cues. The patent-pending technology is combined with an easy-to-use natural language understanding engine, all within a powerful end-to-end platform. The goal is to deliver the highest ROI in the industry within weeks without any data science or large training data required. Based on new benchmarking data, Hero Platform_ outperformed handwriting OCR alternatives ABBYY and Google Vision by approximately 180% and 40% respectively. It also outperformed ABBYY and Rossum in AI-based invoice processing in a separate benchmark by 60% and 100% respectively. Automation Heros unique approach to OCR has decreased our tedious claims administration work by hundreds of hours, transforming the way we handle customer claims and manage employee satisfaction, said Eoin Grace, deputy head of IT at Markerstudy. Before, we were manually deciphering vet diagnoses, stamped addresses, and handwritten notations, across a wide variety of claims forms. Automation Hero's intelligent OCR technology delivers above-human accuracy, which gives us speed and peace of mind. Companies today are disappointed with the ROI and technical challenges of first generation RPA tools. To address this, Automation Hero offers a highly scalable, end-to-end intelligent automation platform that fulfills IT enterprise needs but is as simple to use as Microsoft Excel. Our job at Automation Hero is to improve healthcare efficiency, get insurance claims paid out faster, and find bad actors that over-invoice or surface contracts that can be renegotiated, said Automation Hero founder and CEO Stefan Groschupf. Our mission is to provide overwhelmed employees with the AI superpowers to work faster through the mountain of documents that keeps stacking up on their desk or in their inbox. To try a free trial of Automation Hero, visit https://trial.automationhero.ai/. About Automation HeroAutomation Hero helps organizations process any type of document faster than ever with the most powerful and complete intelligent document processing platform. It offers the easiest-to-use and most accurate AI in the industry so companies can instead focus on accelerating business processes to stay competitive. The company was built by a world-class team of sales and AI experts, many of whom were on the founding team of Datameer, the leader in big data analytics. Visit https://automationhero.ai for more information and follow the companys blog and LinkedIn. Click here for a product demo and here for a product overview. ContactMonique ShermanHead of Marketing, Automation Hero[email protected] Source: Automation Hero San Antonio, Texas, May 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- South Texas blood donors turned out by the hundreds on Wednesday in support of the nearby community of Uvalde. More than 1,500 blood donations were collected by South Texas Blood & Tissue on Tuesday and Wednesday, the most since Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas coast in 2017. The response was so great that the blood center expanded capacity at its single largest donor site, the Donor Pavilion. Additional donation beds were set up in the organizations auditorium, supplementing those typically used in the Donor Pavilion. The community blood drive in Uvalde was extended by four hours because of the response from the community, which was devastated by Tuesdays shooting at Robb Elementary School. The community supported those waiting to give blood in Uvalde by bringing food. Supporters from as far as Austin drove to Uvalde to bring sandwiches and pizza for donors, and a local Starbucks donated coffee for the drive. Even those who did not sign up to donate supported the blood drive workers and donors. In San Antonio, the San Antonio Restaurant Association and individual restaurants, including Mad Dogs and Fogo de Chao, provided items for those giving at local donor centers. HEB delivered canteen items for South Texas Blood & Tissue donor centers in the coming days and weeks. South Texas Blood & Tissue appointments for donations are full through the Memorial Day weekend, but the need for blood will continue. Blood inventories across the nation have been at historically low levels for months. As we begin the summer, blood donations typically decline during because there are no school drives and fewer donors are available due to travelling. Community members are encouraged to make appointments and keep them to ensure blood will be available for patients in hospitals today and in the future before disaster strikes. Because of the overwhelming response, now through Memorial Day weekend, we will only be able to accommodate donors who have appointments. Donors can make an appointment at SouthTexasBlood.org or by calling 210-731-5590. ### About South Texas Blood & Tissue: South Texas Blood & Tissue (STB&T) is a nonprofit community blood center that provides blood, plasma, platelets and other blood components to 100 hospitals in 48 South Texas counties. It is the largest blood supplier in our region. In addition, STB&T supports the development of advanced therapies, including those derived from donated human cells and tissues used in research and in new therapies and cures for cancers and degenerative diseases. Through the generous life-legacy gifts of human tissue, STB&T also supports development of tissue allografts for patients in need of reconstructive surgery, repair or tissue regeneration. STB&T has a 47-year history serving the South Texas community and is part of the BioBridge Global family of nonprofit organizations, which offers services in regenerative medicine and research including blood banking and resource management; cellular therapy; umbilical cord blood collection and storage; donated human tissue recovery and distribution for transplant; and testing of blood and plasma products to help patients in the United States and worldwide. STB&T has eight donor centers in South Texas and conducts hundreds of mobile blood drives each year. STB&T is online at SouthTexasBlood.org. Laurryn Salem BioBridge Global 210-296-9026 [email protected] Source: BioBridge Global TORONTO, May 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Ltd. (CSE: NICO/OTCQB: NICLF) ("Class 1 Nickel" or the "Company") announced today that Mr. Mathew Fitch has resigned as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Board of Directors would like to thank Mr. Fitch for his contribution and wish him well in his future endeavours. About Class 1 Nickel Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Limited (CSE: NICO/OTCQB: NICLF) is a mineral resource company focused on the development of its 100% owned Alexo-Dundonald Property, a portfolio of komatiite hosted magmatic nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide Mineral Resources located near the City of Timmins, Ontario. The Corporation also owns the Somanike komatiite-hosted nickel-copper sulphide property in Quebec, which includes the famous Marbridge Nickel Mine, as well as additional property interests. For more information, please contact: David Fitch, President T: +61 400.631.608 E: [email protected] For additional information please visit our website at www.class1nickel.com and our Twitter feed: @Class1Nickel. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Forward Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including risks relating to the prospective nature of the Companys property interests. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Class 1 Nickel, including with respect to the receipt of all permits and licenses, environmental matters, results of exploration activities, increased costs, delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and availability of capital.. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Source: Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Limited DETROIT, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DT Midstream, Inc. (NYSE: DTM) announced today that it has published its inaugural Corporate Sustainability Report which covers the Company's approach and strategy to health and safety, environmental, philanthropy, and corporate governance. The report can be found at DTMidstream.com/sustainability and will be published annually. David Slater, President and CEO, stated: "Our team is proud of our ongoing sustainability work. It embodies our desire to be a good corporate steward, a good neighbor, and a safe place to work. About DT Midstream DT Midstream (NYSE: DTM) is an owner, operator and developer of natural gas interstate and intrastate pipelines, storage and gathering systems, compression, treatment, and surface facilities. The Company transports clean natural gas for utilities, power plants, marketers, large industrial customers, and energy producers across the Southern, Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. The Detroit-based company offers a comprehensive, wellhead-to-market array of services, including natural gas transportation, storage and gathering. DT Midstream is transitioning towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including a plan of achieving 30% of its carbon emissions reduction in the next decade. Media Contact: Steven Rawlings, DT Midstream, 313.774.0690 [email protected] Source: DT Midstream, Inc. CLEVELAND, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- All new to Evergreen Podcasts: tales from the Kennedy dynasty, untold presidential history, a tech entrepreneur on a mission to prevent companies from failing, and a creative conference. What do these eclectic offerings have in common? They deliver fresh storytelling, uncommon accounts, different perspectives, and listening that ignites ideas. This spring, Evergreen Podcasts introduces Greyt Big Talk, The Kennedy Dynasty, Tech-Entrepreneur on a Mission, and Presidencies of the United States. "We're thrilled to roll out new series that enhance our rich content menu on Evergreen Podcasts' History Channel and Business Channel," says David Moss, Chief Creative Officer. "From interviews with creatives answering the question, 'What's important to you?' to sit-downs with software CEOs who share what it takes to make a mark in the industry, our new Business podcasts are loaded with insight you won't find on the bookshelves or in magazines. And the addition of more intrepid storytelling to our History Channel will hit the spot for this growing audience." Here's a sneak peek of what's to come this season: Greyt Big Talk is a multi-disciplinary creative conference and podcast series designed to inspire the next generation of artists and entrepreneurs. Host and producer Thomas Fox leads the lecture series of personal stories and lessons from creatives as part of his overarching independent arts collaborative, Greyt Culture. "I like to find people who do exceptional things and let them talk, hear their perspective. It helps others to find their paths," says Fox. The Kennedy Dynasty was born from a night of random Netflix documentary selection in host Alyson Holland's dorm room. It triggered years of research for the marketer-turned-podcaster, then an Instagram account that went viral. Now, The Kennedy Dynasty podcast shares stories about the family's dynamic appeal, call to public service, and notable accomplishments. Holland interviews guests like bestselling author Dan Abrams, and Stewart McLaurin, who is president of the White House Historical Association. "Alyson has a passion for sharing history with all generations in an engaging way to champion the Kennedy legacy," Moss says. Presidencies of the United States with host Jerry Landry is a deep dive into the history of the nation's commanders-in-chief. From the George Washington days to the present term, Landry examines the people and events that often fly behind the radar but are contributors to the success (or failure) of each presidency. "Landry brings a lifelong interest in American presidential history and his communication-tech prowess to this engaging podcast," Moss says. Tech-Entrepreneur on a Mission with host Ton Dobbe showcases interviews with B2B SaaS (software as a service) CEOs to find out what it takes to create a business the world starts talking about. Dobbe is the founder of Value Inspiration and author of "The Remarkable Effect." "I envision a world where we solve the biggest problems faster because more SaaS Startups gain traction sooner," he says. Given that 90% of startups fail, based on research, Dobbe wants to address SaaS scale-ups that need traction. About Evergreen Podcasts Evergreen's goal is to bring entertaining, thought-provoking content to people, wherever they are. We produce podcasts for life that capture modern makers. Our channels are packed with backstories and insights that deliver different perspectives from entrepreneurs, musicians, artists, athletes, and more. Aside from original podcasts, Evergreen's capabilities extend to branded and partner podcasts. Our team is powered by knowledgeable executives, supported by rock-star talent, and backed by professional production and broadcast professionals. Together, we're growing an engaged community. Learn more about Evergreen Podcasts and check out our complete lineup of shows. Our storytelling podcasts have something for everyone. Contact: Julie Holiday, Evergreen Podcasts Marketing Director [email protected] evergreenpodcasts.com Related Images Image 1: EVG Logo Evergreen Podcasts This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment EVG Logo EVG Logo Source: Evergreen Podcasts CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glatfelter Corporation (NYSE: GLT) today announced that it will be participating in the Deutsche Bank 13th Annual Global Materials Conference being held on June 8, 2022 in New York City. Dante C. Parrini, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, along with Ramesh Shettigar, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, will be presenting at the conference while also conducting one-on-one meetings with investors. The Company's formal presentation will begin at 12:00 pm ET on June 8th. The webcast link along with a copy of the Companys presentation will be available on Glatfelters website the morning of the conference, located at Webcasts and Presentations - Glatfelter Engineered Materials . About Glatfelter Glatfelter is a leading global supplier of engineered materials with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability. The Companys high quality, technology-driven, innovative, and customizable nonwovens solutions can be found in products that are Enhancing Everyday Life. These include personal care and hygiene products, food and beverage filtration, critical cleaning products, medical and personal protection, packaging products, as well as home improvement and industrial applications. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, the Companys 2021 net sales were $1.1 billion with approximately 3,250 employees worldwide. Glatfelters operations utilize a variety of manufacturing technologies including airlaid, wetlaid and spunlace with sixteen manufacturing sites located in the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and the Philippines. The Company has sales offices in all major geographies serving customers under the Glatfelter and Sontara brands. Additional information about Glatfelter may be found at www.glatfelter.com . Contacts: Investors: Media: Ramesh Shettigar Eileen L. Beck (717) 225-2746 (717) 225-2793 Source: Glatfelter Corporation Washington, DC, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tuesday evening, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) held its annual AcceptAbility Gala at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC. The event attracted nearly 300 attendees and raised $400,000 for life-changing research and medical care for people with Down syndrome. The AcceptAbility Gala was emceed by power-couple Kyra Phillips, an award-winning ABC anchor and correspondent, and John Roberts, co-anchor of America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith on Fox News. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) received GLOBALs highest honor, the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award, for their strong advocacy in Congress on behalf of people with Down syndrome. Increased funding is essential to meaningful Down syndrome research that will result in longer lives and improved health outcomes for people with Down syndrome it also supports our larger effort to find treatments for diseases that contribute to more than half of all deaths in our country, said Senator Daines. Everyone must endeavor to advance this critical research. People with Down syndrome are our family members, students, friends, and colleagues, said Senator Hickenlooper. We need to recognize their valuable contributions to society and promote equity and inclusion. Im honored to have played a small role supporting the Global Down Syndrome Foundation in their tireless efforts to increase research funding and improve medical care. During the event, Jonah Berger, a 10-year-old with the dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism, was recognized as GLOBALs 2022 Ambassador and brought everyone to their feet. American Authors, a popular, triple platinum rock bank, delighted the audience with their biggest hits, including Best Day of My Life, while the inclusive dance troupe RhythmXpress and solo dancer Robert Wallop wowed attendees. The energy, acceptance, and love in the room Tuesday night is a true testament to the inclusive societal impact were generating around dramatically increasing funds for research and medical care for people with Down syndrome, said GLOBAL Co-Founder, President, and CEO, Michelle Sie Whitten. Senators Daines and Hickenlooper, over a dozen of our Congressional Champions, our friends from NIH, Ambassador Jonah Berger, and over forty attendees with Down syndrome, along with celebrities such as the American Authors, Robert Wallop, and Olympic Champion Elana Meyers Taylor, highlighted the tangible impact we are making. Additional notables included Senator Roy Blunt, Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Congressman Pete Stauber. Read Senator Steve Daines op-ed, Individuals With Down Syndrome Deserve Better, written in solidarity with GLOBALs AcceptAbility Gala in The Washington Times. To learn more about GLOBAL, visit www.globaldownsyndrome.org. ### About Global Down Syndrome Foundation The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is the largest non-profit in the U.S. working to save lives and dramatically improve health outcomes for people with Down syndrome. GLOBAL has donated more than $32 million to establish the first Down syndrome research institute supporting over 400 scientists and over 2,000 patients with Down syndrome from 33 states and 10 countries. Working closely with Congress and the National Institutes of Health, GLOBAL is the lead advocacy organization in the U.S. for Down syndrome research and care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 120 Down syndrome organizations worldwide, and is part of a network of Affiliates the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, and the University of Colorado Alzheimers and Cognition Center all on the Anschutz Medical Campus. GLOBALs widely circulated medical publications include Global Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome, Prenatal Testing and Information about Down Syndrome, and the award-winning magazine Down Syndrome WorldTM. GLOBAL also organizes the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world. Visit globaldownsyndrome.org and follow us on social media (Facebook & Twitter: @GDSFoundation, Instagram: @globaldownsyndrome). Attachments Anca Call Global Down Syndrome Foundation (720) 320-3832 [email protected] Cora Mandy Plus Communications (203) 980-1940 [email protected] Source: Global Down Syndrome Foundation New York, NY, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Tech Industries Group, Inc. (OTCQB: GTII) (GTII or the Company), www.gtii-us.com, a Nevada corporation, announced today that it has entered into a term sheet with Wildfire Media Corp., owner of the 1-800-LAW-FIRM brand (Wildfire Media), which outlines certain additional terms of the proposed acquisition of Wildfire Media by GTII. Pursuant to the term sheet, the parties are anticipating a purchase price of $100-$120 million for a 100% interest in Wildfire Media, which would be paid in restricted shares of GTII common stock once a third-party valuation has been obtained. Wildfire Media will pay for and provide an audit of its books for the periods ended December 31, 2020, December 31, 2021, and all applicable stub periods, which complies with PCAOB requirements and is acceptable to GTII as a closing condition. Definitive agreements are expected following GTIIs review of Wildfire Medias updated and audited financial statements for the applicable periods and completed its due diligence. David Reichman, Chairman and CEO of GTII stated, When we started our discussions with Wildfire Media and 1-800-LAW-FIRM back in early March, we saw an opportunity to partner with an organization in the business of further expanding access to individuals, small businesses and other going concerns in need of legal advice and support; fast forward to today and I can see that 1-800-LAW-firm is developing a keen understanding of what it takes to partner with a public entity such as GTII, who can provide them the expertise, experience and public access that should support their continued growth and expansion. Ari Kresch, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Wildfire Media/1-800-LAW-FIRM stated, We have made progress this year in multiple areas, including the due diligence process with GTII, and we remain confident in the long-term opportunities and growth that we believe our Legal Service Organization model will unlock. Our group continues to expand our range of services offered to our client law firms across the country. We provide a range of services to our client firms. About Wildfire Media Corp./1-800-LAW-FIRM: [insert description of business] About Global Tech Industries Group, Inc.: GTII is a publicly traded Company incorporated in the state of Nevada, specializing in the pursuit of acquiring new and innovative technologies. Visit GTII here https://gtii-us.com/. Please follow our Company at: www.otcmarkets.com/stock/GTII or at https://gtii-us.com/ Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements:This press release may contain forward looking statements that are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks as well as uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those anticipated or expected, including statements related to the amount and timing of expected revenues related to our financial performance, expected income, distributions, and future growth for upcoming quarterly and annual periods. These risks and uncertainties are further defined in filings and reports by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC. Among other matters, the Company may not be able to sustain growth or achieve profitability based upon many factors including but not limited to the risk that we will not be able to find and acquire businesses and assets that will enable us to become profitable. Reference is hereby made to cautionary statements set forth in the Companys most recent SEC filings. We have incurred and will continue to incur significant expenses in our development stage, noting that there is no assurance that we will generate enough revenues to offset those costs in both the near and long term. New lines of business may expose us to additional legal and regulatory costs and unknown exposure(s), the impact of which cannot be predicted at this time. Words such as estimate, project, predict, will, would, should, could, may, might, anticipate, plan, intend, believe, expect, aim, goal, target, objective, likely or similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes generally indicate forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of this press release. Unless legally required, we undertake no obligation to update, modify or withdraw any forward-looking statements, because of new information, future events or otherwise. Global Tech Industries Group, Inc.511 Sixth Avenue, Suite 800New York, NY 10011[email protected] Source: Global Tech Industries Group, Inc. LUXEMBOURG, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tenaris S.A. (NYSE and Mexico: TS and EXM Italy: TEN) was advised today that the Milan court of first instance overseeing an investigation in Italy into allegedly improper payments made in Brazil prior to 2014 for the supposed benefit of Confab Industrial S.A., a Brazilian subsidiary of the Company, dismissed for lack of jurisdiction the case brought by the public prosecutor against each of Tenariss Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Paolo Rocca and Board members Gianfelice Rocca and Roberto Bonatti, and the Companys controlling shareholder, San Faustin S.A.. The court stated that the criminal proceeding should not even have been initiated. The public prosecutor may appeal the decision. Tenaris is a leading global supplier of steel tubes and related services for the worlds energy industry and certain other industrial applications. Giovanni Sardagna Tenaris 1-888-300-5432www.tenaris.com Source: Tenaris SA PITTSBURGH, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Delegates from 20 countries around the world attending a three-day international railroad conference in Denver, CO, will visit L.B. Fosters production facilities in Pueblo, CO, to learn more about the companys range of innovative technology solutions designed to save lives and prevent accidents on level crossings. The 14th annual International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) on June 9 forms the centerpiece of the three-day conference. ILCAD is a worldwide initiative to improve awareness of level crossing safety. The campaign is spearheaded by the UIC, the worldwide professional association representing the railway sector and promoting rail transport.Michael OConnell, Manager of Technology Sales Americas, says, ILCAD is a moment each year when the global rail industry comes together to jointly consider how to improve safety at level crossings. According to the US Department of Transportation, there are about 5,800 train-car crashes each year in the United States, most of which occur at railroad crossings. These accidents cause 600 deaths and injure about 2,300 people. This year, L.B. Foster is hosting the conference delegates at our Pueblo site, where we will be showcasing our state-of-the-art grade crossing obstacle detection system, called Insight, which uses smart laser technology and CCTV to alert railroad operators to potential hazards at crossings. L.B. Fosters Grade Crossing safety solution includes a range of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) based Obstacle Detection and Red-light Enforcement solutions. LiDAR is a method for determining ranges by targeting an object or a surface with a laser and measuring the time for the reflected light to return to the receiver. When the barrier lowering sequence starts at the grade crossing, the L.B. Foster Insight LiDAR continues to monitor the area, providing alerts to control signaling and trains. When trains are not passing through a crossing, the LiDAR can be configured to continually scan along the direction of the track to monitor for trespassers. This system is actively in use for UK train infrastructure operator, Network Rail. Insight is one of a suite of critical solutions designed by L.B. Foster for rail and other transit operators, called Total Track Monitoring. Other applications include event monitoring solutions for flood, rockfall and bridgestrike. L.B. Fosters Pueblo facility manufactures and supplies railroad equipment for mainline, transit, mining, port, and industrial markets worldwide. The Track Products division has grown for more than a century to become a manufacturer of rail, rail accessories, and project services that meet the diverse needs of major rail systems around the globe.L.B. Foster Pueblo employs over 50 people, skilled in manufacturing products in compliance with the latest AREMA specifications and respective freight railroads and transit systems. L.B. Fosters strategic US locations include Niles, Ohio and Pueblo, Colorado, both are ISO 9001:2018 certified.The 14th ILCAD campaign goes live on June 9 at The Cable Center Denver (Colorado), preceded by a special session on "Trespass and Suicide Prevention" on June 8 at the Colorado Railroad Museum. On June 10, delegates will be welcomed to technical visits centered around the Security and Emergency Response Training Center (formerly TCCI) and L.B. Fosters facilities at Pueblo. Visit www.lbfoster.com for more information. Marketing & Communications:Caroline Toplak(412) 928-3540[email protected] Technology Sales:Michael O'Connell(678) 787-6473[email protected] Source: L.B. Foster Company Alexandria, Va., May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The percentage of U.S. adults who self-identify as LGBTQ+ has doubled since 2012 to 7.1%.* Despite this uptick, there is a significant lack of data and research on sexual orientation and gender identity when it comes to health care. People who identify as LGBTQ+ may have a higher risk of getting cancer than those who identify as heterosexual and/or cisgender. On Thursday, May 19, the Prevent Cancer Advocacy Workshop convened conversations addressing these disparities. You dont fix what you dont measure, said Scout, Ph.D., the Executive Director of the National LGBT Cancer Network, in reference to how the lack of sexual orientation and gender identity data and research on LGBTQ+ individuals experience with their health care providers affects their outcome of care. In his keynote address, Scout discussed the state of the LGBTQ+ community as it relates to cancer care, best practices for data collection, such as encouraging data collection in research, trials and electronic health records (EHRs), and how the National LGBT Cancer Network promotes the creation of welcoming spaces across the health care continuum. Other speakers included: Chris Chamars , Program and Partnership Specialist for GRYT Health, discussed their experiences navigating the health care space as a patient, former health care professional and advocate. , Program and Partnership Specialist for GRYT Health, discussed their experiences navigating the health care space as a patient, former health care professional and advocate. Christina N. Dragon, MSPH, CHES , Measurement and Data Lead for the Sexual and Gender Minority Research Office at the National Institute of Health, gave an overview of how to measure sex, gender identity and sexual orientation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Consensus Study Report. , Measurement and Data Lead for the Sexual and Gender Minority Research Office at the National Institute of Health, gave an overview of how to measure sex, gender identity and sexual orientation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Consensus Study Report. Mandi L. Pratt-Chapman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Medicine at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Associate Professor, Prevention and Community Health at the Milken Institute School of Public Health and Associate Center Director, Patient-Centered Initiatives and Health Equity at the GW Cancer Center at The George Washington University, spoke on content and outcomes of a novel learning intervention to train cancer care professionals on LGBTQ+-affirming care. Rachel Waller, M.D. and Ari Laoch of Health Brigade, spoke about data on screening discrepancies between LGBTQ+ and the general population, cancers that are more common in the LGBTQ+ community and how to provide a safer medical environment for the LGBTQ+ community. The Foundation remains committed to increasing education and action amongst patient advocacy groups, said Caitlin Kubler, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Conversations and contributions from our workshop will help us move forward in raising awareness of cancer screening disparities in the LGBTQ+ community. If you missed the Advocacy Workshop, you can watch the full video here. A list of resources provided by speakers from the workshop can be found at www.preventcancer.org/advocacy/workshop. The 2022 Prevent Cancer Advocacy Workshop thanks its sponsors: Gold Exact Sciences Gilead Sciences Silver Genentech Bronze Bristol Myers Squibb Takeda Oncology *Jones, J. M. (2022, February 18). LGBT identification in U.S. ticks up to 7.1%. Gallup.com. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from https://news.gallup.com/poll/389792/lgbt-identification-ticks-up.aspx ### About the Prevent Cancer Foundation The Prevent Cancer Foundation is the only U.S. nonprofit organization focused solely on saving lives across all populations through cancer prevention and early detection. Through research, education, outreach and advocacy, we have helped countless people avoid a cancer diagnosis or detect their cancer early enough to be successfully treated. The Foundation is rising to meet the challenge of reducing cancer deaths by 40% by 2035. To achieve this, we are committed to investing $20 million for innovative technologies to detect cancer early and advance multi-cancer screening, $10 million to expand cancer screening and vaccination access to medically underserved communities, and $10 million to educate the public about screening and vaccination options. For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org. Kyra Meister Prevent Cancer Foundation 703-836-1746 [email protected] Source: Prevent Cancer Foundation DALLAS, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RQI Partners LLC, the partnership between the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical, announced today its suite of digital training and education programs designed for 9-1-1 dispatchers and telecommunicators, RQI Telecommunicator CPR (RQI T-CPR), meets the state requirements for initial licensure training and continuing education compliance, set by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). A state agency charged with establishing minimum standards regarding competence and reliability in education, training and licensing for law enforcement, corrections and telecommunications professionals, TCOLE recognizes the RQI T-CPR program as meeting the learning objectives for TCOLEs Cardiac Emergency Communication Course No. 786. The course results from Texas House Bill 786, which requires all 9-1-1 dispatchers and telecommunicators in the state to receive and complete training in telecommunicator CPR. The law went into effect September 2021. Texas House Bill 786 requires that telecommunicator licensure and continuing education training and courses: Use the most current nationally recognized emergency cardiovascular care guidelines. Incorporate recognition protocols for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Provide information on best practices for relaying compression-only CPR instructions to callers. The RQI T-CPR program is based on the nationally recognized American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, the official resuscitation guidelines used by all other training providers nationwide. The program is uniquely qualified to meet the requirements of this legislation and holds the distinction as the only T-CPR program that has been vetted by Association scientists and educators. The statistics on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest occurrences and survival bring great urgency to optimizing every link in the chain of survival and preparing providers to deliver peak, high-quality performance, beginning with 9-1-1 dispatchers and telecommunicators the first first responders, said Matt Zavadsky, chief transformation officer at MedStar Mobile Healthcare, which implemented RQI T-CPR last spring. TCOLEs recognition brings another level of validity to the efficacy of RQI T-CPR and how the program positions these professionals to convey CPR instructions effectively to help save more lives. More than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the U.S. annually. About 90% of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victims chance of survival. Research shows that resuscitation knowledge and skills, including the ability to recognize and manage a cardiac arrest event, decay in one to six months following training, which may result in a delay, or failure, to initiate telecommunicator CPR. Available in three tiers Essentials, Challenger and Responder RQI T-CPR is rooted in the Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) program, which is co-developed by the American Heart Association, the worlds leading voluntary organization dedicated to a world of longer, healthier lives for all, and Laerdal, one of the world leaders in medical simulation and resuscitation training. Course content and the three learning levels can help public safety telecommunicators achieve mastery, verified competence and confidence the hallmarks of the RQI program in high-quality telephone CPR delivery and cardiac arrest recognition. Bringing increased effectiveness and efficiency to the learning experience, telecommunicators can enroll in entry, intermediate and advanced instruction, and upon course completion, will receive an American Heart Association T-CPR course certificate of completion or e-credential. We are excited our RQI T-CPR programs have received this designation from TCOLE, said Julie Buckingham, program director with RQI T-CPR oversight. The states public safety answering point telecommunicators and 9-1-1 dispatchers now have confirmation of this more efficient and frequent path to T-CPR training and education, and one that is rooted in quality improvement and verifies competence. We have established a solid footprint in program adoption in North Texas and look forward to opening even more doors and conversations with other agencies across the state. For additional information and to learn more about the RQI T-CPR program, visit the RQI Partners website. About the American Heart AssociationThe American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the publics health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. About Laerdal Medical Laerdal is dedicated to our mission of helping save lives. For more than 60 years, Laerdal has remained a world leader in healthcare education, training and therapy solutions. Laerdal develops products, programs and digital solutions designed to increase survival and improve patient outcomes. By implementing evidence-based solutions within the areas of resuscitation, patient safety and global health, we address the changing needs of healthcare organizations and help build competence of healthcare providers, educators and lay rescuers. Together with our partners, we believe we can help save one million more lives, every year. Laerdal is a global company in 25 countries worldwide with the head office located in Stavanger, Norway. For more information, visit www.laerdal.com. About RQI Partners LLCRQI Partners LLC is a partnership between the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical, positioning the organizations to deliver innovative solutions that accelerate the impact of their lifesaving mission. The company blends the Associations leadership in science and resuscitation education with Laerdals expertise in technology and implementation to deliver impactful and innovative resuscitation quality improvement programs. For more information, visit www.rqipartners.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. For Media Inquiries: Contact: Stephanie M. Brown; C: 214-984-0013; [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/158a339a-e06d-4023-af64-4c5037fbd326 RQI Partners RQI T-CPR Digital Education New telecommunicator CPR digital training programs meet legislatively mandated course requirements for telecommunicators. Source: RQI Partners LLC TOKYO, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ, the Company, TSE Prime Market: 3774) announced that at the IIJs Board of Directors meeting held on May 26, 2022, it resolved to dispose of its treasury stock (the Disposal of Treasury Stock or the Disposal), as the restricted stock remuneration shown below. 1. Overview of the Disposal (1 ) Disposal date June 15, 2022 (2 ) Class and number of shares to be disposed of 35,865 shares of common stock of the Company (3 ) Disposal price 4,685 yen per share (4 ) Total disposal price 168,027,525 yen (5 ) Allottees and number thereof, and number of stocks to be disposed of 8 Directors of the Company (excluding Part-time and Outside Directors) 16,692 shares15 Executive Officers of the Company 14,291 shares4 Directors of subsidiary of the Company (excluding Part-time and Outside Directors) 3,058 shares3 Executive Officers of subsidiary of the Company 1,824 shares (6 ) Others The Disposal of Treasury Stock is conditioned on the Securities Registration Statement taking effect in accordance with the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. 2. Purpose and reason of disposalThe Company decided, at the Board of Directors meeting held on May 25, 2020, to provide a restricted stock remuneration which is equivalent to performance-linked bonuses (the Scheme) for the Directors of the Company (excluding Part-time and Outside Directors, Eligible Directors) and Executive Officers of the Company (collectively, Eligible Directors, etc.), for the purpose of providing mid- to long-term incentives to Eligible Directors, etc. and further promoting shared value with shareholders. In addition, at the 28th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on June 24, 2020, it was approved that monetary remuneration claims shall be paid to the Eligible Directors, within the existing maximum aggregate amount of IIJs director remuneration, under the Scheme as monetary remuneration to be contributed for the acquisition of restricted stocks and the total number of shares of common stock issued or disposed of by the Company to the Eligible Directors shall be 80,000 shares or less per year. (The Company conducted a stock split at a ratio of two-for-one with a record date of December 31, 2020. Accordingly, the total number of shares of common stock issued or disposed of by the Company to the Eligible Directors has been adjusted from 40,000 shares or less per year to 80,000 shares or less per year). Furthermore, IIJ Global Solutions Inc. (IIJ-Global), which is our wholly-owned subsidiary, decided, at the Board of Directors meeting held on April 26, 2022, to provide a restricted stock remuneration for the Directors of IIJ-Global (excluding Part-time and Outside Directors) and Executive Officers of IIJ-Global (collectively, Eligible Directors, etc. of IIJ-Global), with the same purpose and content as the Scheme. The Board of Directors decided to provide a total amount of 168,027,525 yen as monetary remuneration claims (consequently 35,865 shares of the Companys common stocks to be disposed, including 16,692 shares for Eligible Directors) which is equivalent to performance-linked bonuses in FY2021 for Eligible Directors, etc. and Eligible Directors, etc. of IIJ-Global, taking into consideration our consolidated financial results, and non-consolidated financial results of IIJ and IIJ-Global, along with the disposal of treasury stock as the restricted stock remuneration for Eligible Directors, etc. and Eligible Directors, etc. of IIJ-Global. Overviews of the Scheme are shown below. Overviews of the Scheme Eligible Directors, etc. shall pay in the entire amount of monetary remuneration claims granted to them as a cash investment asset, and will receive shares of common stock issued or disposed of by the Company (the Allotted Shares). The Board of Directors will determine the amount to be paid in per share. This amount will be based on the closing price of the Companys common stock on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on the business day immediately preceding the date of the Board of Directors resolution (the closing price on the most recent day on which trading has taken place if there is no trading on that day), and will be an amount that does not provide the Eligible Directors, etc. who receive the common stock with a particularly advantageous price.Moreover, issuance or disposal of the Allotted Shares shall be conditional upon a restricted stock allocation agreement (the Allotment Agreement) concluded between the Company and each Eligible Directors, etc. An overview of the Allotment Agreement is described in 3. below.The scheme for IIJ-Global is basically the same as above, but Eligible Directors, etc. of IIJ-Global shall make an in-kind contribution to the Company of the entire amount of monetary remuneration claims granted by IIJ-Global to such Eligible Directors, etc. of IIJ-Global (the Company shall assume the obligations of the IIJ-Global owed toward Eligible Directors, etc. of IIJ-Global arising from the monetary remuneration claims granted to such Eligible Directors, etc. of IIJ-Global), and will receive shares of common stock issued or disposed of by the Company. 3. Overview of the Allotment Agreement (1) Transfer restriction period Eligible Directors, etc.: From the disposal date to the point in time when Eligible Directors, etc. resigns from the position of a director and/or an executive officer of the Company.Eligible Directors, etc. of IIJ-Global: From the disposal date to the point in time when Eligible Directors, etc. of IIJ-Global resigns from the position of a director and/or an executive officer of IIJ-Global. (2) Conditions for removing transfer restrictions The Company shall remove the transfer restrictions with respect to the Allotted Shares in whole upon the expiry of the transfer restriction period, provided that as for the Eligible Directors, etc., they continuously served as a director or an executive officer of the Company during the transfer restriction period, and provided that as for Eligible Directors, etc. of IIJ-Global, they continuously served as a director or an executive officer of IIJ-Global during the transfer restriction period (In the case of death of Eligible Directors, etc. or Eligible Directors, etc. of IIJ-Global, the transfer restrictions on the Allotted Shares shall be removed and those shares shall be succeeded by inheritance). If certain grounds prescribed in the Allotment Agreement, such as if an Eligible Directors, etc. retires from the position during the restriction period or upon the expiration of the restriction period for any reason other than those deemed justifiable by the Company (retirement during the term of office due to personal reasons not deemed justifiable by the Company etc.), the Company will naturally acquire the Allotted Shares for no consideration. Acquisition of the Allotted Shares without considerations for Eligible Directors, etc. of IIJ-Global is the same as above. (3) Management of shares In order to prevent the Allotted Shares from being transferred, collateralized, or otherwise being disposed of during the transfer restriction period, the Allotted Shares shall be managed by a specified securities firm during the transfer restriction period in a dedicated account opened by each Eligible Directors, etc., at Nomura Securities Co., Ltd. during the transfer restriction period. In order to ensure the effectiveness of the transfer restrictions, etc. pertaining to the Allotted Shares, the Company has entered into an agreement with Nomura Securities Co., Ltd. concerning the management of the accounts for the Allotted Shares held by each Eligible Director, etc. In addition, the Eligible Directors, etc. shall give consent to the content of the management of the said account. Management of shares for Eligible Directors, etc. of IIJ-Global is the same as above. (4) Treatment in the event of organizational restructuring, etc. If a matter concerning the organizational restructuring, etc. of the Company, such as a merger agreement whereby the Company will be the non-surviving party to the merger, or a share exchange agreement or share transfer plan whereby the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of another entity, is approved at the Companys General Meeting of Shareholders (or by the Companys Board of Directors if such organizational restructuring, etc. does not require approval at a Companys General Meeting of Shareholders) during the transfer restriction period, the Company will remove, based on a resolution of the Companys Board of Directors, the transfer restriction on the Allotted Shares on a date prior to the effective date of such organizational restructuring, etc. Treatment in the event of organizational restructuring, etc. for Eligible Directors, etc. of IIJ-Global is the same as above. 4. Basis for calculating the amount to be paid and its specific detailsTo avoid arbitrary pricing, the disposal price for the disposal of treasury stock shall be set at 4,685 yen, which is the closing price of a share of the Companys common stock in the Tokyo Stock Exchange on May 25, 2022, the business day immediately before the Board of Directors made the resolution. This is the market share price immediately prior to the date of the resolution, and the Company believes that it is reasonable and not particularly advantageous price. About Internet Initiative Japan Inc.Founded in 1992, IIJ is one of Japan's leading Internet-access and comprehensive network solutions providers. IIJ and its group companies provide total network solutions that mainly cater to high-end corporate customers. IIJ's services include high-quality Internet connectivity services, mobile services, security services, cloud computing services, and systems integration. Moreover, IIJ operates one of the largest Internet backbone networks in Japan that is connected to the United States, the United Kingdom and Asia. IIJ listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) in 2006 and transitioned to the Prime Market of TSE from April, 2022. IIJ Investor Relations Tel: +81-3-5205-6500 E-mail: [email protected] URL: https://www.iij.ad.jp/en/ir Source: Internet Initiative Japan, Inc. Q1 2022 Adjusted Revenue was $2.9 million1, an increase of 260% over Q1 2021 Q1 Pro Forma 2022 Adjusted Revenue was $7.5 million1, an increase of 838% over Q1 2021 Current Pro Forma Trailing Twelve-month Adjusted Revenue was $30.1 million1, an increase of 871% over Q1 2021 Q1 2022 Gross Profit was $1.4 million, a nearly eight-fold increase over Q1 2021 TORONTO, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NowVertical Group Inc. (TSX-V: NOW) (NOW or the Company), a big data, analytics and vertical intelligence (VI) software and services company, today announces its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Our results demonstrate the tremendous opportunity in front of us as we continue to acquire and integrate new businesses into the NOW platform. Our business segments are performing well, with Now Origin increasing revenues by 227% as our Privacy Product and offerings gain traction in the marketplace. While our Q1 results only represent half a quarter of contributions from our team in Latin America and nothing from our exciting acquisition of Allegient, which closed in April, our Solutions group delivered a 24 times revenue increase over the same quarter last year, said Daren Trousdell, CEO of NOW. With the first quarter behind us, we are laser-focused on driving to profitability. We remain on track to deliver our first profitable quarter during the second half of this year by driving efficiencies and creating the necessary foundation for sustainable organic growth and future accretive acquisitions. While our M&A pipeline has never been larger, we are committed to ensuring we grow responsibly for all of our stakeholders and will look at adding additional financing methods, including a new acquisition line, to protect our balance sheet and remain prudent stewards of our shareholders capital. Selected Pro Forma and Financial Highlights Revenue Revenue was $2.6 million in Q1 2022, an increase of 714% from $0.32 million in the prior years first quarter, while Adjusted Revenues were $2.9 million in the first quarter compared to $0.8 million in the first three months of 2021, primarily due to the acquisition of CoreBI. Revenue was $2.6 million in Q1 2022, an increase of 714% from $0.32 million in the prior years first quarter, while Adjusted Revenues were $2.9 million in the first quarter compared to $0.8 million in the first three months of 2021, primarily due to the acquisition of CoreBI. Net Loss Net Loss was $1.8 million in Q1 2022, or a net loss per fully diluted share of $0.03 compared to a net loss per fully diluted share of $0.10 for the first quarter of 2021. Net Loss was $1.8 million in Q1 2022, or a net loss per fully diluted share of $0.03 compared to a net loss per fully diluted share of $0.10 for the first quarter of 2021. Q1 Pro Forma 2022 Adjusted Revenue Q1 Pro Forma 2022 Adjusted Revenue was $7.5 million, an increase of 838% over Q1 2021. Q1 Pro Forma 2022 Adjusted Revenue was $7.5 million, an increase of 838% over Q1 2021. Current Pro Forma TTM Adjusted Revenue 1 (which includes all acquisitions closed to date) Current Pro Forma TTM Adjusted Revenues as at March 31, 2022, was $30.1 million, an increase of 871% from $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2021. 1 (which includes all acquisitions closed to date) Current Pro Forma TTM Adjusted Revenues as at March 31, 2022, was $30.1 million, an increase of 871% from $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA 1 Adjusted EBITDA was $(0.96 million) for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Adjusted EBITDA was $(0.96 million) for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents were $4.4 million on March 31, 2022. Investor Webinar NOW invites shareholders, analysts, investors, media representatives, and other stakeholders to attend our upcoming webinar, where Daren Trousdell, Chief Executive Officer, will discuss Q1 2022 results, followed by a question-and-answer session. Registration details for the webinar, including the date and time, can be found immediately below: Time: May 27, 2022, 9:30 AM ESTRegister here: https://bit.ly/NOW-Q1-Registration A recording of the webinar and supporting materials will be made available in the Investors section of the Companys website at https://ir.nowvertical.com/news-and-media Related Links:https://www.nowvertical.com Additional Information The Company's unaudited first quarter 2022 condensed consolidated interim financial statements, notes to financial statements, and management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2022, are available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to "$" in this press release refer to US dollars, and all references to "CAD$" in this press release refer to Canadian dollars. An investor presentation, including supplemental financial information and reconciliations of certain non-IFRS measures, is available on NOWs Investor Relations website at: https://ir.nowvertical.com About NowVertical Group Inc. NOW is a big data, analytics and VI software and services company that is growing organically and through acquisition. NOW's VI solutions are organized by industry vertical and are built upon a foundational set of data technologies that fuse, secure, and mobilize data in a transformative and compliant way. The NOW product suite enables the creation of high-value VI solutions that are predictive in nature and drive automation specific to each high-value industry vertical. For more information about the Company, visit www.nowvertical.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, please contact: Daren Trousdell, Chief Executive Officere: [email protected]t: (212) 302-0868 or Glen Nelson, Investor Relationse: [email protected]t: (403) 763-9797 NON-IFRS MEASURES The non-IFRS financial measures referred to in this news release are defined below. The management discussion and analysis for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 (the Q1 2022 MD&A), available at www.nowvertical.com and on the Companys SEDAR profile, also contains supporting calculations for Adjusted Revenue, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Pro Forma TTM Adjusted Revenue. Adjusted Revenue adjusts revenue to eliminate the effects of acquisition accounting on the Companys revenues. EBITDA represents net income (loss) before depreciation and amortization expenses, net interest costs, and provision for income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA adjusts EBITDA for revenue adjustments in Adjusted Revenue and items such as acquisition accounting adjustments, transaction expenses related to acquisitions, transactional gains or losses on assets, asset impairment charges, non-recurring expense items, non-cash stock compensation costs, and the full-year impact of cost synergies related to the reduction of employees in relation to acquisitions. Pro Forma TTM Adjusted Revenue represents the trailing twelve months of Adjusted Revenue of all acquisitions completed as of the end of the respective period presented. Current Pro Forma TTM Adjusted Revenue adjusts Pro Forma TTM Adjusted Revenue to include the Pro Forma TTM Adjusted Revenue of all acquisitions completed through the date of the Q1 2022MD&A. The prior year's comparable amount reflects acquisitions completed through the date of the prior periods MD&A. Q1 Pro Forma 2022 Adjusted Revenue adjusts Adjusted Revenue to include the Adjusted Revenue of all acquisitions completed through the date of the Q1 2022 MD&A. The prior year's comparable amount reflects acquisitions completed through the date of the prior periods MD&A. ForwardLooking Statements This news release may contain forwardlooking statements (within the meaning of applicable securities laws) which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "believe", "anticipate", "project", "expect", "intend", "plan", "will", "may", "estimate" and other similar expressions. These statements are based on the Company's expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections and include, without limitation, statements regarding the future success of the Company's business. The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on certain assumptions. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. Several factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, these forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Cautionary Note Regarding Non-IFRS Measures This news release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measures. These measures are not recognized measures under IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of the Companys results of operations from managements perspective. The Companys definitions of non-IFRS measures used in this news release may not be the same as the definitions for such measures used by other companies in their reporting. Non-IFRS measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of the Companys financial information reported under IFRS. The Company uses non-IFRS financial measures including Adjusted Revenue, Q1 Pro Forma 2022 Adjusted Revenue, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Pro Forma TTM Adjusted Revenue, and Current Pro Forma TTM Adjusted Revenue. These non-IFRS measures are used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and to eliminate items that have less bearing on our operating performance or operating conditions and thus highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. The Company believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS financial measures in the evaluation of issuers. The Companys management also uses non-IFRS financial measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period and to prepare annual budgets and forecasts. 1 See NON-IFRS MEASURES at the end of this news release Source: NowVertical Group Inc ATLANTA, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amazon has been a corporate juggernaut in the U.S. over the past 15 years, becoming the nations largest e-commerce retailer. In just 4 years, its sales have exceeded $100 billion annually, and its income is more than $33 billion. While the company prides itself on its speed and sales growth, the businesss success comes at a costinjuries and unsafe working conditions. Amazon is under fire for the way it treats its warehouse workersand for good reason. For a company that strives to focus on customer service, Amazon seems to have forgotten that its warehouse workers are the 1st line of service for those customers. The number of workers who have been hurt on the job is staggering. Amazon has more than 575,000 employees in the U.S., and in 2020, 6.5 percent of those workers were injured on the job. That's over 37,000 people injured in the course of their work for Amazon in a single year. In an effort to increase production, Amazon has introduced robots to a few of its warehouses. One would think that using robots would reduce the number of injuries workers experience, but the opposite is true. There are more injuries in warehouses that utilize robots than those without robots. Amazon attempts to reduce the number of workers compensation claims by using onsite nurses and industrial clinics and altering work capacity. This is not done with their workers' health in mind, however, but with the warehouse's injury record in mind. Gerber & Holder recently litigated a case for a client who was an Amazon worker who twisted her knee while sorting items. The video camera in the warehouse was partially obstructed, and there was no clear view of our client being hurt. Amazon's response to this worker's claim was to move slowly. It took 15 months for this case to resolve in our clients favor. About Gerber and Holder With over 50 years of combined experience in work injury cases, experienced Atlanta work injury attorneys Ben Gerber and Tom Holder represent Georgia workers injured due to unsafe working conditions. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0e1ded4b-e5c3-4216-8bd9-69dbaa512954 OAKLAND, Calif., May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Promaxo, Inc. (Promaxo or the Company), a medical imaging, robotics, and AI technology company, today announced exhibit booth activities showcasing its compact, in-office MRI system at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL on June 3-7, 2022. The Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of oncology professionals worldwide. We are thrilled to join the clinical oncology community at ASCO and look forward to introducing our technology to a diverse audience of oncology professionals, including urology surgeons, surgical oncologists, and interventional radiologists, said Dr. Amit Vohra, Founder and CEO of Promaxo. We remain committed to advancing cancer treatment programs leveraging our portable MRI-system equipped for in-office diagnostic biopsies and treatments. The Company is hosting an exhibit showcasing its minimally-invasive and patient-centric MRI platform at booth #4123 at ASCO 2022. Exhibits will be held in person on June 4-6, 2022 from 9:00 AM5:00 PM CT each day. About American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting The ASCO Annual Meeting is one of the largest gatherings of oncology professionals in the world, providing access to cutting-edge research and the latest advances in oncology. The Annual Meeting welcomes over 30,000 attendees from more than 100 countries around the globe. The ASCO is a leader in promoting and providing innovative, evidence-based quality education for oncology professionals worldwide. About Promaxo, Inc. Promaxo was founded by a team of entrepreneurs and healthcare innovators to develop a minimally-invasive and patient-centric MRI and robotic platform. Based in Oakland, California, and backed by over 200 patents, the Companys mission is to improve lives through state-of-the-art medical imaging, robotics and AI capabilities. With a compact and adaptable MRI, Promaxo is redefining the standard of care by improving the quality and speed of patient diagnosis and interventions. The Company has formed numerous long-term and strategic partnerships with investor groups and corporation as it drives commercialization of the Promaxo MRI system. To learn more about the technology behind the MRI system and its scope, please visit: Promaxo.com. LinkedIn: PromaxoTwitter: @PromaxoFacebook: Promaxo InvestorsGilmartin GroupVivian Cervantese: [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a133aea-348f-48d0-a7e5-8099471aff19 Promaxo Exhibit Booth at ASCO 2022 Promaxo is hosting an exhibit showcasing its minimally-invasive and patient-centric MRI platform at booth #4123 at ASCO 2022. Source: Promaxo, Inc. HOUSTON, TEXAS, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quanex Building Products Corporation (NYSE: NX) (Quanex or the Company) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share on the Companys common stock, payable June 30, 2022, to shareholders of record on June 15, 2022. About Quanex Quanex Building Products Corporation is an industry-leading manufacturer of components sold to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the building products industry. Quanex designs and produces energy-efficient fenestration products in addition to kitchen and bath cabinet components. Petrified Forest National Park Diana Boudreau, Fossil PreparatorPetrified Forest National Park, Arizona PETRIFIED FOREST, Ariz., May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Along Interstate 40, situated between the New Mexico border and Winslow, Arizona, sits the Painted Desert Visitors Center (PDVC) at the north end of Petrified Forest National Park. Its location draws in hundreds of thousands of travelers every year driving across the country in everything from tiny cars to giant U-Haul trucks. The PDVC provides a respite from the open road and a break from travels. But once visitors pass through the central courtyard, following the signs to the Museum Demonstration Lab, they embark on a different journey that takes them back in time.The Museum Demonstration Lab (Demo Lab) is a space specifically designed to bring the paleontological discoveries and museum collections of Petrified Forest into public view. Paleontologists at Petrified Forest actively work with academic partners to reconstruct a detailed history of life during the Late Triassic, and exciting new research has resulted in the publication of multiple scientific manuscripts in just the last few years (e.g., Marsh et al. 2020; Kligman et al. 2021; Parker et al. 2021a, 2021b). The Demo Lab has been THE primary place for park staff to share these scientific discoveries with the public, often showcasing the fossils themselves before they even go on exhibit or into collections. Although commonly found Late Triassic fossils, such as phytosaurs and metoposaurs, can be seen on the bench in the Demo Lab, it is more likely that new and significant specimens are being prepared, housed, or exhibited for the public. Collection of notable fossil projects worked on in the Museum Demonstration Lab. Clockwise from top left: Azendohsaur dentary (PEFO 38606); Revueltosaurus field jacket (PEFO 42442); Skybalonyx skapter claw (PEFO 43703); Kataigidodon venetus dentary (PEFO 43755); and the most complete (right, PEFO 47877) and worlds largest (left, PEFO 50050) Anaschisma browni skulls.NPS photos.Some of the notable discoveries that have recently been on the bench in the Demo Lab include: Field jackets containing skull elements, vertebrae, limb bones, and other bones from the first azendohsaur (an extinct Triassic reptile distantly related to crocodiles) found in North America a manuscript is currently being reviewed for publication in the Journal of Paleontology (Marsh et al. in review) New species of reptiles, lizards, fish, amphibians, freshwater sharks, and other animals from the Thunderstorm Ridge microvertebrate locality , which reveals a previously unknown diversity of taxa from the Chinle Formation and Late Triassic worldwide (i.e., Stocker et al. 2019; Jenkins et al. 2020; Kligman et al. 2020a; Kligman et al. 2020b) , which reveals a previously unknown diversity of taxa from the Chinle Formation and Late Triassic worldwide (i.e., Stocker et al. 2019; Jenkins et al. 2020; Kligman et al. 2020a; Kligman et al. 2020b) A well preserved, partial skeleton of the aetosaur (herbivorous crocodile relative) Calyptosuchus wellesi nicknamed Gloria including osteoderms (bony scutes), pelvis, and vertebrae Revueltosaurus callenderi material including a field jacket with a partial articulated skeleton, skull, and numerous other disarticulated elements (Parker et al. 2021a) Skulls of the metoposaur (extinct amphibian) Anaschisma browni, including the worlds largest, as well as the most complete skull from the park with 100+ teeth still rooted in the sockets of the upper jaw The diversity and exceptionality of fossils on view in the Demo Lab and direct interaction with paleontologists is what makes it a must-see for visitors coming to Petrified Forest. In the past two years, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, staff turnover, and ongoing PDVC construction projects have spurred the Demo Lab staff to adapt in order to continue providing this invaluable service for visitors. Pre-COVID 19 Operations A few years ago, staff realized a need for a public-facing preparation space where park paleontology could be shared with visitors while simultaneously completing important projects. Utilizing a vacant room in the old school building near the museum offices, the small room contains two large south-facing windows and built-in shelving. To convert the space into a preparation lab, two work benches, each with its own microscope station, were added in addition to a flammable storage cabinet with glues, adhesives, and solvents. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors were invited to enter the Demo Lab through an exterior doorway and chat directly with staff members who were working on fossil projects from the park. A small monitor on the table displayed a live-feed microscope view which provided visitors with a better view of the preparation work. In March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced park and Demo Lab closures and provided staff an opportunity to restructure Demo Lab operations. Lab set-up and operation pre-COVID 19 allowed visitors to enter the Demo Lab and see fossils up close.NPS photo. Re-establishing Visitor CommunicationSince COVID-19 safety practices prevented visitors from entering the Demo Lab, direct verbal communication between staff and visitors was no longer possible. To re-establish that communication, a few methods were implemented. For context, the PDVC complex was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017, which meant any adjustments or alterations to the Demo Lab could not adversely affect the historic integrity of the structure. The initial solution for this problem was to use a two-way baby monitor with the baby unit placed outside for visitors and the parent unit used for staff. While reliable, the parent unit was not hands-free. After many trials and errors, an intercom system with a wireless microphone was installed which allowed visitors and staff to communicate hands-free. This improvement occurred simultaneously with the installation of an outdoor TV monitor connected to the microscope camera. This new set-up allows staff to safely use both hands to prepare or work on fossil material underneath the microscope and explain to visitors what they are seeing on the screen in real time. Visitors stay longer at the Demo Lab and have more meaningful interactions, all while following COVID-19 safety practices. View from outside the Demo Lab. Note the TV monitor located to the left of the door (left). NPS photo. Refining Wayfinding and Lab AestheticsThe Demo Lab is located towards the back of the PDVC complex and can be difficult for visitors to find. Therefore, effective wayfinding to the Demo Lab has been a top priority. New sandwich board directional signs were designed to assist with wayfinding. These signs were also updated to accommodate the temporary relocation of the main PDVC lobby during a construction project at the end of 2021. Overall aesthetics of the lab were also improved by designing and installing custom curtains to hide the materials stored on the built-in shelves. The second window shade in the room was also opened, although only one staff member was present in the Demo Lab per day. The second work bench was utilized to display larger showy items, such as phytosaur skulls and large field jackets. Many changes have been made to the Demo Lab set up between March 2020 (left) and February 2022 (right). Many of these updates have improved the aesthetics and overall functionality of the lab during a global pandemic, staffing changes, and visitor center construction projects.NPS photos. Improving Project Versatility and Staff ComfortOver the past few years, many additions to the Demo Lab have improved staff comfort and project versatility. One of the most pressing issues was temperature regulation. The south-facing windows turned the small room into a greenhouse, particularly since the doors were no longer open to provide air flow. Small standing fans and a swamp cooler were tested out, but eventually a small standing AC unit was installed and the vent was routed through an existing window to avoid damage or alteration to the historic structure. To increase the capacity for varied tool use and ability to work on more diverse projects, a new air compressor system, for puffer pin vices and other pneumatic tools, was installed in addition to a small dust collector system. Additional microscope parts, such as ergonomic accessories and a variety of lenses, allow individual preparators to tailor the station to their specific needs. Visitation TrendsAverage daily visitation at the Demo Lab the first three years of operation (2017-2019) increased from 31 visitors in 2017 to nearly 50 in 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of 2020, visitation dropped significantly with only 15 average visitors per day. The lull in visitation allowed staff to develop and test out new ways to communicate park paleontology to visitors, including regular social media posts using the #fossilfriday hashtag as well as filming, editing, and publishing a seven-part YouTube mini-series for National Fossil Day in October 2020 and 2021.In 2021, the Demo Lab was open 5 days each week and daily visitation returned to pre-COVID levels with nearly 50 visitors on average. This increasing trend is hoped to continue into 2022. As of February 2022, daily visitation for the year is averaging 22 visitors. Winter is a slower season at the park and visitation is anticipated to increase beginning mid-March with spring break and continuing into the summer and fall season. Visitors peek through the main windows in the Demo Lab to see paleontologists working on fossils.NPS photo. Looking to the FutureWhile the Demo Lab has already seen many changes in the past few years, staff continue to find ways to improve the Demo Labs functionality. Some of the issues that we hope to address in the future include: Reduce glare and reflections on the south-facing windows, which continue to be issues for staff comfort inside as well as impairing visibility for visitors looking into the windows Continue to increase capacity for varied tool use to facilitate diverse projects Continue to improve wayfinding to the Demo Lab, especially with PDVC construction Continue effective communication with Interpretation Division in regard to Demo Lab schedule Incorporate a 3D scanning/printing station With all of the new updates to the Demo Lab and continuous influx of fossils from the field, paleontologists at Petrified Forest National Park are working on important preparation projects and sharing new discoveries with visitors 5 days a week. While some visitors may have seen fossils at a museum, many say their visit to Petrified Forest was the first time they had seen someone physically working with and handling fossils, let alone a completely new species of fossil! These impactful interactions stay with visitors of all ages long after they leave the park and is what makes the Demo Lab small, but MIGHTY.Keep up with what new projects or changes are happening in the Museum Demonstration Lab by following us on social media References Jenkins, X.A., Pritchard, A.C., Marsh, A.D., Kligman, B.T., Sidor, C.A., & Reed, K.E. 2020. Using manual ungual morphology to predict substrate use in the Drepanosauromorpha and the description of a new species. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 40(5). Kligman, B.T., McClure, W.C., Korbitz, M., & Schumacher, B.A. 2021. New sphenodontian (Reptilia: Lepidosauria) from a novel Late Triassic paleobiota in western North America sheds light on the earliest radiation of herbivorous lepidosaurs. Journal of Paleontology 95(4): 827-844. Kligman, B.T., Marsh, A.D., Seus, H.D., & Sidor, C.A. 2020a. A new non-mammalian eucynodont from the Chinle Formation (Triassic: Norian), and implications for the early Mesozoic equatorial cynodont record. Biology Letters 16: 20200631. Kligman, B.T., Marsh, A.D., Nesbitt, S.J., Parker, W.G., & Stocker, M.R. 2020b. New trilophosaurid species demonstrates a decline in allokotosaur diversity across the Adamanian - Revueltian boundary in the Late Triassic of western North America. Paleodiversity 13(1): 25-37. Marsh, A.D., Smith, M.E., Parker, W.G., Irmis, R.B., & Kligman, B.T. 2020. Skeletal anatomy of Acaenasuchus geoffreyi Long and Murry, 1995 (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia) and its implications for the origin of the aetosaurian carapace. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 40(4). Parker, W.G., Nesbitt, S.J., Irmis, R.B., Martz, J.W., Marsh, A.D., Brown, M.A., Stocker, M.R., & Werning, S. 2021. Osteology and relationships of Revueltosaurus callenderi (Archosauria: Suchia) from the Upper Triassic (Norian) Chinle Formation of Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, United States. The Anatomical Record 1-62. Parker, W.G., Nesbitt, S.J., Marsh, A.D., Kligman, B.T, & Bader, K. 2021. First occurrence of Doswellia cf. D. kaltenbachi (archosauriformes) from the Late Triassic (middle Norian) Chinle Formation of Arizona and its implications on proposed biostratigraphic correlations across North America during the Late Triassic. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 41(3). Related Links Contact(s):Phone number:Email:Date:Release code: Sarah Herve(928) 524-6228 x245 [email protected] May 26, 2022NPS Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c64efb69-3234-4f23-88e0-357f7dcfc513 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7aaa11b7-81b6-40e4-8cee-cc11168c4a15 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/642d7983-9c90-42ab-b2fd-3146bea08bce https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ccf96cd8-0588-4d74-ac10-504193e56ad1 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a940b6e-944e-4997-ae0c-bdc5af56e8f2 The photos are also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress. Collection of notable fossil projects worked on in the Museum Demonstration Lab Clockwise from top left: Azendohsaur dentary (PEFO 38606); Revueltosaurus field jacket (PEFO 42442); Skybalonyx skapter claw (PEFO 43703); Kataigidodon venetus dentary (PEFO 43755); and the most complete (right, PEFO 47877) and worlds largest (left, PEFO 50050) Anaschisma browni skulls.NPS photos. Demo Lab Lab set-up and operation pre-COVID 19 allowed visitors to enter the Demo Lab and see fossils up close.NPS photo. Demo Lab View View from outside the Demo Lab. Note the TV monitor located to the left of the door (left). NPS photo. Demo Lab set up March 2020 (left) and February 2022 (right) Many changes have been made to the Demo Lab set up between March 2020 (left) and February 2022 (right). Many of these updates have improved the aesthetics and overall functionality of the lab during a global pandemic, staffing changes, and visitor center construction projects.NPS photos. Demo Lab Visitors Visitors peek through the main windows in the Demo Lab to see paleontologists working on fossils.NPS photo. Source: Petrified Forest Museum Association ATLANTA, GA, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- THUNDER ENERGIES CORP. [OTC Pink: TNRG ] President Ricardo Haynes, and Turvata Holdings Limited (Dubai) Executive Chairman Duane Lee, announce the execution of a $40 million dollar cryptocurrency funding pact with a two-year repayment provision. The transaction has resulted in 50,000 RORA COINS being issued and delivered to Thunder Energies with a trading value set at $800 per coin. Thunder Energies, in payment for the crypto coin, has issued a convertible promissory note. Rora Coin, cryptocurrency, is an asset-backed cryptocurrency. Operating from offices in Dubai, the Lithuanian based coin and blockchain firm claims it is developing the next level, the next standard, in asset-based trading instruments. Haynes, in announcing the agreement, stated Turvata, issuer of the RORA coin, has informed Thunder Energies that it is backing its trading coin with solid assets, assets that translate across international boundaries. I am proud to enter into this agreement which allows Thunder Energies to build a war chest for acquisitions. Thunders president added, a forty-million-dollar funding facility, similar to a credit agreement or line of credit, or a general capital raise such as with a SPAC, is a powerful tool in todays business world. This will place Thunder Energies on a firm footing for executing top level business events, acquisitions and investments, that will substantially and quickly add shareholder value. The coin will be listed as a company asset, with the promissory note recorded as an offsetting liability. All transactions will be recorded pursuant to recommendations made by the companys independent auditors, in consultation with Turvata and Thunder Energies management. For more information about Thunder Energies, its SEC filings, and business activities, please visit: www.thunderenergiescorp.com Safe Harbor Act: This release includes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involves risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the impact of competitive products, the ability to meet customer demand, the ability to manage growth, acquisitions of technology, equipment, or human resources, the effect of economic business conditions, and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel. The Company is not obligated to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release. CONTACT Investor Relations Rick Freeman CMO MAJORMEDIA INC E: [email protected] P: 570.468.2205 Donald R. Keer, P.E., Esq. Corporate Counsel Thunder Energies Corp. 3663 Greenwood Circle Chalfont, PA 18914 215-962-9378 Source: Thunder Energies Corp. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This morning, the 2022 Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) was kicked off at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The goal of the competition is to encourage students and apprentices to excel in their chosen skilled trade or technology, and to create awareness of the many incredible career opportunities that are available to youth.Special guests at the launch included Dr. Patrick Rouble, President of Skills/Competences Canada, Al Phillips from UA Local 170, Chris Foster from TC Energy, Maureen Phung from ITA, and HGTVs Kate Campbell. The Trades Trivia challenge included 10 multiple choice questions about the 9+1 Skills for Success. This fun activity officially launched the two-day Skills Canada National Competition. SCNC will have over 300 post-secondary competitors onsite and over 200 secondary students competing virtually, from across Canada, competing in 45 skilled trade and technology Skill Areas for the opportunity to be named the best in the country, in their respective field. The WorldSkills Team Canada Selection Category will also be taking place during SCNC 2022. The Skills Canada National Competition highlights the variety of career opportunities available in the skilled trade and in technology sectors to Canadian youth, the next generation of skilled workers. Developing a diverse workforce with many skills will ensure our countrys prosperity, said Shaun Thorson, Chief Executive Officer of Skills/Competences Canada. Throughout the competition, Skills/Competences Canada (SCC) is expecting over 3,000 student visitors. These students will have the opportunity to experience over 40 Try-a-Trade and Technology activities, and participate in Skills for Success activities, which will highlight Creativity & Innovation. Visit the Skills for Success Stage to see interactive demonstrations on the importance of the Skills for Success for careers in the skilled trade and technology sectors. Watch the Skills for Success Talks for interactive panel discussions with representatives from industry, education, SCC alumni and industry celebrities. In addition, on May 27 there will be a Skills for Success Forum for teachers, guidance counselors and industry representatives. Throughout the event, industry celebrities including Kate Campbell, Celebrity TV Contractor and Founder of KateBuilds Inc., will be onsite to speak with students.You can also check out SCCs YouTube channel to see the event livestream! Watch opening and closing ceremonies, onsite competitors from different sectors and Skill Areas, highlights from the virtual competition, interviews, and more. We will also upload a highlight video at the end of each day of competition. The Closing Ceremony, where the results of the competition will be announced, will take place on May 28, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Vancouver Convention Centre. This event is supported by our Funding Partners the Government of Canada, and the Government of British Columbia, as well as our Presenting Sponsors, UA Canada, and TC Energy. About Skills/Competences CanadaSkills/Competences Canada was founded in 1989 as a national, notforprofit organization that works with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trade and technology careers among Canadian youth. For information on Skills Canadas programs and SCNC, visit: www.skillscompetencescanada.com.Follow SCC on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn. The event hashtag is #SCNC2022. PHOTOGRAPHY and VIDEOView the SCC Flickr page to access and upload hundreds of high resolution pictures of competitors in action. MEDIA CONTACT: Michele Rogerson, [email protected], 613-266-4771. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1772f73a-3d50-455d-b976-26a0ca815304 Visit the 2022 Skills Canada National Competition, at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Special guests participate in the official launch of the 2022 Skills Canada National Competition, in Vancouver Source: Skills/Competences Canada South Africa: Cabinet condemns all acts of racism Cabinet has strongly condemned all acts of racism in the country, including the reported incidents at the Good Hope Seminary High School and the University of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. This comes after the Stellenbosch University urinating incident where a white student is seen in a video degrading and humiliating a fellow black student by urinating on his study material. The incident caused widespread anger that such acts still take place in a country with a bitter past like South Africa, a past which the country fought so hard to overcome. These deplorable acts go against the constitutional values on which our democratic country was founded, which include human dignity, non-racialism, non-sexism, social justice, equity and respect, said Minister in The Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, during a post Cabinet media briefing on Thursday. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996 is our guide towards eradicating the despicable divisions and injustices of the past. Parents are urged to teach children to reject racism and embrace diversity, as part of our concerted drive to promote nation-building and social cohesion. Let us work together to expose racism wherever it is treated as the norm and send a clear message that there is no space for it in our democratic country, he said. On Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa used his weekly newsletter to the nation to speak against racism which is still part of the daily South African experience. President Ramaphosa said it is more troubling that such incidents are happening at schools and places of higher learning, adding that a number of the people involved were born after the end of apartheid. While the incident at the University of Stellenbosch may seem like an aberration an appalling act that has been roundly condemned the truth is that racism is still a feature of everyday life in South Africa. The sooner we recognise that reality, the sooner we can change it, the President said. President Ramaphosa said that racism, here and around the world, is driven by feelings of superiority on the part of those who perpetuate it. Ending racism is not just about changing attitudes; it is also about changing the material conditions that still today separate black and white South Africans. We have come too far and the sacrifices made have been too great for such appalling acts of racism to turn us against each other. Rather, we must use this incident to confront the issue of race and racial inequality in our society, President Ramaphosa said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-05-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Wen Weiru According to Japanese media reports, Gen. Koji Yamazaki, chief of staff of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), was invited to Brussels to participate in the NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defense Session. The chief of staff is the highest-ranking uniformed officer of JSDF. Representing Japan for the first time at a NATO military meeting has unusual symbolism. Japan makes use of this opportunity to pander to NATO's invitation The NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defense Session was held in Brussels on May 19.In addition to NATO members, Japan, ROK, Australia, and New Zealand was also invited to participate in the session on the theme of security environment and defense cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan's Ministry of Defense revealed that the purpose of Yamazaki's participation this time was to discuss and reach a consensus with NATO on issues such as the security environment in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan's dispatch of the highest-ranking uniformed officer to the meeting was not a sudden move. In recent years, under the leadership and coordination of the US, Japan has continuously strengthened its military interaction with major NATO member states. Since 2019, Japan's Ministry of Defense has dispatched staff to the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence and liaison officers to the NATO Allied Maritime Command. Japan has established a "2+2" meeting mechanism with major NATO member states such as the UK, France, and Germany, in which foreign ministers and defense ministers participated, frequently expressed their positions on issues such as Asia-Pacific security and regional disputes and attracted many countries to stand for Japan. In addition, Japan has continued to strengthen cooperation with the UK, France and other countries at specific levels such as joint weapons research and development and joint military exercises. Recently, Japan's Ministry of Defense also announced that it will participate in the multilateral military exercise hosted by France in the South Pacific region for the first time. There are various signs that Japan has crossed continents and moved closer to NATO with a more active attitude, becoming an active caterer of NATO's "Eastward Crossing" to the Asia-Pacific. Japan takes the opportunity to achieve multiple strategic goals Japan's move makes people wonder if it is moving out of Asia and reaching for Europe, again. The analysis believes that under the realistic background of the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the US has gradually abandoned the idea of gathering ROK, Japan, India, Australia and other countries to form the so-called "Asia-Pacific version of NATO". Instead, the US is inclined to directly expand NATO to the Asia-Pacific region, use the NATO framework to attract countries to join it, to realize the global expansion of NATO's military radiation. As the "northern anchorage" of the US in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan has territorial disputes with Russia and other countries, historical and realistic disputes with DPRK, and is in the so-called first island chain. These had made it the "bridgehead" for countries outside the region to take the opportunity to intervene in security affairs in the Asia-Pacific region. The US hopes that Japan will become a "model" for Asia-Pacific countries to enter the NATO system. In fact, from Japan's point of view, joining NATO is not a top priority, and actively catering to it is just intended to seek more strategic interests. On the one hand, Japan wants to take the opportunity to get rid of the shackles of its status as a defeated country and realize its militarization. For a long time, Japan has been actively adjusting its military strategic layout and building offensive combat capabilities even under the supervision of the international community. On the other hand, Japan wants to use external force to check and balance Russia. Recently, Japan has stepped up sanctions against Russia, and has also changed its expression of the so-called "Northern Territories". Japan claimed that it will revise the National Security Strategy, use NATO power to check and balance Russia's influence in the Far East and gain more chips to territorial disputes. It should be seen that in the context of security commitments based on the US-Japan military alliance, Japan has no urgent need to rely on and join NATO. Once Japan joins NATO, the risk of its involvement in war will rise sharply. The Japanese government will face enormous pressure from domestic peace forces by then. However, it cannot be ignored that as a "partner country" of NATO, Japan continues to introduce NATO forces into the Asia-Pacific region to disrupt the situation, which brings risks and challenges to the regional security landscape. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - Aurelius Minerals Inc. (TSXV: AUL) (OTCQB: AURQF) (the "Company" or "Aurelius") is pleased to announce its maiden Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for the 100% owned Aureus East Gold Project, with 162,700 ounces ("oz") Indicated gold ("Au") and 387,600 oz Inferred Au contained in the consolidated MRE. Highlights of the Aureus East gold MRE include: Combined Indicated Mineral Resources of 162,700 oz Au, including; 78,000 oz Au pit constrained Indicated Mineral Resource; and 84,700 oz Au underground constrained Indicated Mineral Resource. of 162,700 oz Au, including; Combined Inferred Mineral Resources of 387,600 oz Au, including; 147,200 oz Au pit constrained Inferred Mineral Resource; and 240,400 oz Au underground constrained Inferred Mineral Resource. of 387,600 oz Au, including; Tremendous exploration potential remains: Multiple zones north and south of the axis of the deposit Zones extend from surface, open at depth Potential for surface extraction and near surface resource growth Majority of drilling is less than 500m depth and constrained to western portion of the deposit Mineral resource estimate de-risks the Aureus East Project and advances value creation strategy Aurelius CEO, Mark N.J. Ashcroft, P.Eng, said, "Delivery of our maiden MRE at Aureus East is a major milestone for the Company. We established this maiden resource estimate as a key milestone for the project, and we have delivered on that in 21 months. We had exceptional success in validating the Project's potential, with our drill program intersecting significant intervals of gold at 100% of our drill holes. The result is a robust gold resource that unlocks tremendous value through the drill bit and demonstrates the potential for significant additional resource growth in the near term. With this resource now in hand, we are well positioned to advance our value creation strategy by focusing on expanding this resource further with Phase 3 drilling, followed by the initiation of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ('PEA') Study. We would like to thank the entire Aurelius team, including our contractors and local communities, for their commitment and contribution to this achievement." "This MRE represents an exciting milestone for the Aureus East Project and confirms the abundant gold mineralization intersected in our first two phases of drilling. The majority of the drilling to date is less than 500m in depth and constrained to the western portion of the project. We believe there is strong potential to expand the resource at depth, as all zones appear to continue along strike for at least 1600m. As well, most of the deposit remains underexplored and there is a good opportunity to grow the resource by following the zones to the east. Going forward, we will be looking to incorporate the results of the recently completed channel sampling program into the resource estimate, as well as enhance it through targeting high grade zones in the next phase of our exploration drilling. We are delighted at the pace of advancement of the project," said Jeremy Niemi, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration. Outlook The MRE represents an important building block in delivering on the Company's "Define/Refine/Re-Engineer" value creation strategy, as it demonstrates management's successful interpretation of the deposit. The robustness of the MRE provides both an increased understanding and flexibility to the management team, as it further evaluates pathways to enhanced value creation at Aureus East, whether leveraging existing mill infrastructure and assets or focusing on a potential hub and spoke model collaboration with other operations. Nova Scotia's growing gold mining belt includes a producing mine and multiple advanced deposits within a 100km radius of the Aureus East Project, providing opportunities to enhance value within a mining-friendly jurisdiction. Aurelius now has four distinct mineral resource estimates in Nova Scotia, with a strong potential for resource growth at each deposit. All deposits extend from surface and are open at depth. Next Steps The Company intends to build on the success of the MRE by focusing the next phases of drilling on high grade target zones (i.e., Zone 4 - 944 Level channel sampling) in an effort to increase the resource estimate in the near term and advance the project towards a PEA. Aureus East remains open at depth and most of the drilling to date has focused on the first 500m of strike from the western limit of the deposit. As a result, most of the deposit is underexplored at this stage. The zones identified so far appear to continue for at least 1,600m, representing a strong opportunity to follow them to the east and at depth. The Company's Aureus West deposit is located approximately 800m south of Aureus East and is interpreted to be its offset along a regional fault line. The Aureus West Project remains open in all directions and the Company is optimistic at being able to shrink the distance between the projects by drilling and defining new limbs of mineralization. The MRE for Aureus East ("Project") was completed in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") standards for disclosure and the CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May 2014) and has an effective date of May 20, 2022. A technical report is being prepared in accordance with NI-43-101 and will be available on the Company's website and SEDAR within 45 days of the effective date of the MRE. The MRE includes both pit constrained and underground constrained resources. The total combined resources include an Indicated mineral resource of 0.985 million tonnes ("Mt") grading 5.14 grams/tonne ("g/t") Au (162.7 koz Au contained) and an Inferred mineral resource of 4.185 Mt grading 2.88 g/t Au (387.6 koz Au contained). Table 1. Aureus East Gold Deposit Mineral Resource Estimate Type Cut-off (Au g/t) Category Tonnes ('000s) Au g/t Contained Oz Au ('000s) Pit Constrained 0.44 Indicated 654 3.71 78.0 Inferred 2,557 1.79 147.2 Underground Constrained 2.40 Indicated 332 7.94 84.7 Inferred 1,628 4.59 240.4 Combined 0.44 / 2.40 Indicated 985 5.14 162.7 Inferred 4,185 2.88 387.6 Mineral resources were prepared in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (MRMR) (2014) and CIM MRMR Best Practice Guidelines (2019). Mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource tonnages are rounded to the nearest 1,000. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates and totals may not add correctly. Au ounces reported are troy ounces. Density was determined from measurements on 245 drill core samples. The density of background sediments was determined to be 2.72 t/m3; the density of the mineralized zones was determined to be 2.77 t/m3. Au g/t deposit grade was estimated using Inverse Distance Squared methods based on 1 m downhole assay composites. Capping was applied variably to each wireframe based on the distribution of assays; of the 39,831 assays, 243 were capped (0.6%). This was implemented to prevent the overestimation of grade. The parent model block size used was 2 m (x) by 2 m (y) by 2 m (z) with minimum sub-celling of 0.67 m (x) by 0.67 m (y) by variable (z). The model was regularized to 2 m (x) by 2 m (y) by 4 m (z) for pit optimization. Pit constrained mineral resources were defined within an optimized pit shell with average pit slope angles of 45 in rock and 25 in overburden, and a 13.1 strip ratio (waste material: mineralized material). Pit optimization parameters include: metal pricing at US$1,700/oz Au; exchange rate of C$1.33 /US$1.00; transportation and refinery charges of C$5.00/oz Au; 99.95% Au payable; 2.0% combined royalty charges; mining cost of C$5.25/t; processing plus general and administration cost of C$30.00/t processed; and a Au recovery of 96%. Pit constrained mineral resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.44 g/t Au within the 100% revenue factor optimized pit shell. The cut-off grade reflects the marginal cut-off grade used in pit optimization to define reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction by open pit methods. Pit constrained mineral resources are reported from the model regularized to 2 m (x) by 2 m (y) by 4 m (z) to include must take blocks. Underground minable shape optimization parameters include: metal pricing at US$1,700/oz Au; exchange rate of C$1.33/US$1.00; transportation and refinery charges of C$5.00/oz Au; 99.95% Au payable; 2.0 % combined royalty charges; mining cost of C$125.00/t; processing plus general and administration cost of C$40.00/t processed; and a Au recovery of 97%. Underground constrained mineral resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 2.40 g/t Au. The cut-off grade reflects total operating costs to define reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction by conventional underground mining methods. All material within minable shape optimization wireframes has been included in the mineral resource to include must take blocks. The MRE was prepared by Christian Ballard, P.Geo., of Nordmin Engineering Ltd., who is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and is independent of Aurelius Minerals Inc. and Aureus Gold Inc. Figure 1: Plan View of Pit Constrained Resources at Aureus East To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7140/125382_dd21b64704f148d3_002full.jpg Figure 2: Long-section View of Underground Constrained Resources at Aureus East To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7140/125382_dd21b64704f148d3_003full.jpg Geology and Mineralization The Aureus East deposit lies within the Meguma Terrane, the most southerly zone of the Canadian Appalachian province. The Meguma is historically associated with gold mineralization and mining in Nova Scotia, with a history of over 160 years of mining and exploration. The Meguma consists of a thick sequence of lower Paleozoic metasediments intruded by Devonian granitoid plutons. The metasediments are divided into two formations: the Goldenville Formation and the Halifax Formation. The Aureus East deposit lies within an anticline hosted by the Goldenville Formation. The deposit occurs in a series of tight chevron-style fold-hosted quartz "saddles". The hinge zone of the fold is typically a rounded arc-shaped structure of 5-10m and the "limbs" are typically more uniform and straight. These quartz horizons occur parallel to stratigraphy which consists of interbedded greywacke and argillite sequences. The deposit is regionally offset by the Harrigan Cove Fault on the Western margin, which has approximately 1.5km of strike-slip offset, and unknown (but significant) dip-slip displacement. The deposit itself also has lesser internal offsets (on the scale of 5-20m) with sinistral, east-side-down displacement. Four such faults have been incorporated into the resource model. Gold mineralization is associated with the quartz saddles and limbs but is not restricted to only the quartz veins. In addition, numerous generations of quartz exist at the deposit, including parallel to the offset faulting as well as parallel to the fold compression (cleavage), which can also host gold mineralization. Resource modelling was domained through 230 wireframes designed to represent the quartz saddle/limb horizons hosting gold mineralization. These wireframes were separated into five fault blocks as dictated by the four offsetting faults within the deposit. Each wireframe was estimated individually. In addition, background wireframes were created for each fault block, which fully encompassed all mineralization wireframes within the fault block and were clipped to overburden and topography. An estimation was run on the background mineralization, that is, all the gold mineralization which was not able to be attributed to a mineralization wireframe. Wireframes which did not contain enough composites to be estimated, were returned to the background for estimation. COVID-19 Precautions Aurelius has developed and implemented compliant precautions and procedures that are in line with guidelines for the Province of Nova Scotia. Protocols were put in place and are updated where necessary to ensure the safety of our employees, contractors, and the communities in which we operate. Qualified Person Mr. Christian Ballard, P.Geo., of Nordmin Engineering Ltd., is the Qualified Person for this release and for the MRE it discloses, as defined by NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this release. About Aurelius Aurelius is a well-positioned gold exploration company focused on advancing its recently acquired and renamed Aureus Gold Properties, including Aureus East and West, the Tangier Gold Project and the Forest Hill Gold Project located in Nova Scotia and described in detail in the Company's press release of November 18, 2019. Aurelius is also advancing two district-scale gold projects in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Ontario, Canada, one of the world's most prolific mining districts; the 968-hectare Mikwam Property, in the Burntbush area on the Casa Berardi trend and the 12,425-hectare Lipton Property, on the Lower Detour Trend. The Company's management team is experienced in all facets of the mineral exploration and mining industry, and will be considering additional acquisitions of advanced staged opportunities in Nova Scotia, the Abitibi and other proven mining districts. On Behalf of the Board AURELIUS MINERALS INC. For further information please contact: Aurelius Minerals Inc. Mark N.J. Ashcroft, P.Eng., President and CEO [email protected] Tel.: (416) 304-9095 www.aureliusminerals.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" under the provisions of applicable Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Aurelius. All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Aurelius within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements with respect to the Company's planned drilling and exploration activities, the anticipated benefits of the Acquisition and the development of the Aureus Gold Properties, the future price of gold, the estimation of Mineral Resources, the realization of Mineral Resource estimates, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, currency exchange rate fluctuations, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. Generally, this forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" , "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" , "believes", or variations or comparable language of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Aurelius to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Aurelius will operate in the future, including the price of gold, anticipated costs and ability to achieve goals. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performances or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking information include, among others, gold price volatility, mining operational and development risks, litigation risks, regulatory restrictions (including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability), changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/or change in the administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in Canada, delays, suspension and technical challenges associated with projects, higher prices for fuel, steel, power, labour and other consumables, currency fluctuations, the speculative nature of gold exploration, the global economic climate, dilution, share price volatility, competition, loss of key employees, additional funding requirements and defective title to mineral claims or property. Although Aurelius believes its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions and has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources will be converted to Mineral Reserves. Inferred Mineral Resources are based on limited drilling which suggests the greatest uncertainty for a resource estimate and that geological continuity is only implied. Additional drilling will be required to verify geological and mineralization continuity and it is reasonable that most of the Inferred Mineral resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources. There is no certainty that a Preliminary Economic Assessment will be completed. The Company provides forward-looking information for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Aurelius to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to difficulties in executing exploration programs at the Mikwam, Lipton and Aureus Gold Properties on the Company's proposed schedules and within its cost and scheduling estimates, whether due to weather conditions, availability or interruption of power supply, mechanical equipment performance problems, natural disasters or pandemics in the areas where it operates, the integration of acquisition; risks related to current global financial conditions including market reaction to the coronavirus outbreak; competition within the industry; actual results of current exploration activities; environmental risks; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future price of gold; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; mine development and operating risks; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining approvals or financing; risks related to indebtedness and the service of such indebtedness, as well as those factors, risks and uncertainties identified and reported in Aurelius' public filings under Aurelius' SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although Aurelius has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Aurelius disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125382 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. (TSXV: PEMC) (OTCQB: PEMSF) ("Pacific Empire", "PEMC" or the "Company"), a British Columbia copper explorer, is pleased to provide an exploration update and to report that it has retained Atlas Drilling Ltd. of Kamloops British Columbia for diamond drilling at its Jean Marie property this summer. In addition, the Company is pleased to announce that it has finalized drill targets at its flagship Jean Marie copper porphyry project, located in north-central British Columbia. During 2021, PEMC completed a comprehensive exploration program at Jean Marie that was designed to incorporate all existing historical data on the property with data collected during the 2020 and 2021 exploration programs. As a result, PEMC has delineated 2 high priority drill targets for diamond drilling during the 2022 exploration season. Brad Peters, President and CEO of Pacific Empire commented, "The Jean Marie project has drill-proven potential to host a significant copper discovery. Our initial objective is to test below shallow historic drilling at Target 1 where new geophysics suggests this zone extends at depth, dipping to the east. Our interpretation is that there is a copper porphyry centre at depth and that intervals encountered in shallow drilling bodes well for high grades at depth. One of the most intriguing targets is Target 2 which is the location of the most significant geochemical anomaly on the property. Our work during 2021 suggests this anomaly is till transported therefore, rather than focusing on the centre, our priority target is the northern margin of the geochemical anomaly. It will be exciting to drill-test this sizeable anomaly and we look forward to cost-effectively advancing Jean Marie and appreciate the project's location, ease of access and nearby infrastructure." Target 1 Target 1 is located in the area of the historical A and B Zones. Although previous drilling at both of these zones encountered widespread copper mineralization, drilling was shallow and the area between was only tested with three shallow holes. Of particular importance in this area is the presence of a mineralized hydrothermal breccia that was encountered in drill hole J97-11 and occurred within an interval that graded 1.19% copper, and 5.74 g/t silver over 27 metres. Drilled to a depth of only 276 metres, J97-11 is one of the deepest holes on the property and the presence of a mineralized brecciated intrusion suggests that there is the potential for a mineralized hydrothermal system at depth in this area. Cross Section Target 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5412/125369_d1bfbec9542a3bd4_001full.jpg Plan View of Target Areas 1 & 2 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5412/125369_d1bfbec9542a3bd4_003full.jpg Target 2 The area of Target 2 is immediately to the northwest of the most significant copper/molybdenum soil anomaly on the property. This geochemical anomaly is characterized by a large number of samples greater than 1000 ppm copper and 100 ppm molybdenum in till over 3 km length. The center of this soil geochemical anomaly was drilled in the 1970's, only one hole returned significant copper mineralization (JPH74-15) averaging 0.2% copper over the entire length of the hole. This hole is the closest hole drilled to PEMC's interpreted bedrock source of copper mineralization. The LiDAR survey and surficial mapping completed by PEMC during 2021 clearly demonstrate that the till was transported with the ice flowing from west to east, pointing to a bedrock source of mineralization at the head of the geochemical anomaly. This area has never been drill tested. Plan View of Target 2 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5412/125369_d1bfbec9542a3bd4_004full.jpg Summary of Work Completed During 2021 2021 saw the first high-resolution, magnetic gradient, radiometric, and VLF-EM airborne geophysical survey completed at Jean Marie. This was followed up with a LiDAR survey and acquisition of high-resolution satellite imagery. Using the LiDAR data and high-resolution imagery, a surficial mapping program was completed by Quaternary Geology expert, Derek Turner. Results from this work provided detailed ice flow direction indicators which were then incorporated into PEMC's surface geochemical analysis. A detailed review of historical drill core was completed, in addition to the collection of over 600 soil geochemical samples. The land position at Jean Marie was expanded from 7,357 hectares to over 12,600 hectares. About Jean Marie The Jean Marie property is a copper-molybdenum-silver-gold porphyry prospect located 50 km south of Northwest Copper's Kwanika Copper-Gold deposit and 50 km west of Centerra Gold's Mt. Milligan Copper-Gold Mine in central BC. The property covers over 12,000 hectares and has multiple mineralized zones which are open for expansion with drilling. Drill results demonstrate kilometer-scale base and precious metal mineralization over a large, under-explored property with multiple untested diamond-drill targets. Drilling in the 1990's returned near surface intercepts of up to 244m of 0.28% copper, 0.007% molybdenum and 1.1 g/t silver, in a broad area located close to the pluton, volcanic contact. Two of the holes intercepted a distinct quartz breccia which returned up to 27 metres of 1.19% copper, and 5.74 g/t silver. Drilling was limited to a maximum depth of 288 metres below surface and mineralization remains unbounded at depth and along strike to the NW and SE. Of the 96 holes drilled on the property since the 1970's 76 are less than 130 metres in depth with numerous short holes that were mineralized over the entire length. Jean Marie Project Location To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5412/125369_d1bfbec9542a3bd4_005full.jpg About Atlas Drilling Ltd. Atlas Drilling Ltd is a large and well-respected drill contractor located in Kamloops, BC, Canada. Atlas Drilling Ltd. has been servicing drill projects in British Columbia for over twenty five years. It is full service drill company with a large amount of support equipment including bulldozers, skidders, excavators, water trucks and truck-trailer for transporting equipment. Atlas Drilling has a helicopter to transport their crew in and out of job sites that are not accessible by trucks. Qualified Person Thomas Hawkins, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration for the Company, serves as a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed the scientific and technical information in this news release, approving the disclosure herein. About Pacific Empire Pacific Empire is a copper exploration company based in Vancouver, British Columbia and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PEMC. The Company's strong portfolio of gold-enriched copper projects in British Columbia, is the culmination of perseverance through one of the longest bear markets in the resource industry. British Columbia is a "Green" copper jurisdiction with abundant hydroelectric power, access and infrastructure in close proximity to the end market. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, "Brad Peters" President and Chief Executive Officer Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. Tel: +1-604-356-6246 [email protected] www.pemcorp.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers, directors or promoters with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume and the additional risks identified the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125369 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - SLANG Worldwide Inc. (CNSX: SLNG) (OTCQB: SLGWF) ("SLANG" or the "Company"), a leading global cannabis consumer packaged goods (CPG) company with a diversified portfolio of popular brands, today released financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2022. All figures in this press release are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. Drew McManigle, Interim CEO and Chairman of SLANG, said, "We entered 2022 as a new company, advancing a more streamlined and efficient infrastructure to more effectively operate and expand in today's largest and fastest growing cannabis markets. We are recognizing higher margin sales due to the successful implementation of our transformational growth strategy, eliminating non-performing assets and consolidating our supply chain. I am pleased to report that we have reduced our operating expenses by 32% while increasing our gross margins. I believe we will continue upon this path to recognize stronger financial results going forward and successfully scale our operations in our Core and Emerging markets." "With a strong balance sheet in place and growing demand for our market-leading cannabis products, such as our O.pen vape cartridge, we are well positioned to build upon our leadership position in each of our target markets. In the upcoming quarters, we will continue to focus on new M&A opportunities while organically growing our most popular brands. I look forward to sharing our continued progress and the new level of growth we are set to achieve as the NEW SLANG." First Quarter 2022 Operational Highlights and Growth Drivers: Continued build-out of Vermont operations following the acquisition of High Fidelity, Inc. ("HiFi"), one of Vermont's largest medical cannabis companies, in August 2021, to advance the Company's ability to leverage a vertically integrated infrastructure and adding Vermont as a Core Market to become a first mover for adult use sales in the state, which is expected later this year. Continued wind down and elimination of non-performing assets, including manufacturing operations of all SLANG branded THC products in Oregon and cultivation operations in Colorado, in order to advance its restructured growth strategy focused on cost control, operating efficiencies and an optimized infrastructure. Advanced discussions with prospective Board Members to build upon the already strengthened management team put in place during the Company's rollout of its transformational business plan. Strengthened the SLANG brand portfolio by implementing, rebranding and reformulating the product portfolio initiatives to increase margins in Core Markets and enhance product offerings. SLANG's brands continued to earn market-leading positions in its core markets in Q1 2021, highlighted by O.pen maintaining its #1 ranking in the vape cartridge category In Colorado, according to BDSA. 498,476 SLANG Branded Units were sold across The SLANG Network in the three months ended March 31, 2022. Subsequent Quarterly Operational Highlights: Launched operations in Michigan through an exclusive strategic partnership with a leading high-quality premium cannabis brand and operator in the state in May 2022, beginning with the launch of the Company's best-selling, premium vape produce line, O.pen Daily Strains. Launched operations in Maryland through a strategic partnership with Trulieve Cannabis Corp. ("Trulieve"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company based in the United States, in May 2022. This is the third market that SLANG has entered in partnership with Trulieve. First Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights Revenue from continuing operations for Q1 2022 was $8.37 million, compared to Q1 2021 revenue of $9.09 million. Gross profit of $3.66 million (44% gross margin) in Q1 2022, compared with $3.90 million (43% gross margin) in Q1 2021. EBITDA of ($2.36 million) in Q1 02022, compared with ($4.0 million) in Q1 2021. The improvement in EBITDA is primarily attributable to a reduction in share-based compensation payments offset by a decrease in gross profit and an increase in salaries & wages and consulting and subcontractor expense. The Company reduced operating expenses from continuing operations by $3.57 million, or 32%, in Q1 2022 when compared to Q4 2021, which is a result of the cost cutting and restructuring initiatives implemented over the last two quarters. $16.56 million in cash and restricted cash on March 31, 2022, compared to $20.83 million on December 31, 2021. First Quarter 2022 Consolidated Financial Statements The consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with IFRS. The following is selected presentation of the Income Statement for the three months ended March 31, 2022. 3 months ended 31-Mar-22 3 months ended 31-Mar-21 (In thousands except per share data and percentages) CDN$ CDN$ Net Operating Revenue from Continuing Operations $8,374 $9,085 Cost of Goods Sold 4,735 5,193 Gross Profit Before Gain on Fair Value of Biological Assets 3,639 3,892 Realized fair value amounts included in inventory sold (514) - Unrealized gain on fair value of biological assets 530 - Gross Profit 3,655 3,892 Gross Profit Margin 44% 43% Operating expenses 7,486 9,819 Operating Loss (3,831) (5,927) Other items (Impairment, FV adjustment, FX, gains/losses, taxes, etc.) 683 3,148 Total Comprehensive Income / (Loss) (4,514) ($9,075) Earnings Per Share Basic ($0.04) ($0.10) Diluted ($0.04) ($0.10) 3 months ended 31-Mar-22 3 months ended 31-Mar-21 (In thousands except per share data and percentages) CDN$ CDN$ Total Comprehensive Income (Loss) (4,514) ($9,075) EBITDA (2,359) (3,998) Adjusted EBITDA (1,628) (349) See the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2022 (the "Q1 2022 MD&A") for a detailed reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Operating Income / (Loss). SLANG's financial statements and the Q1 2022 MD&A are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and on the Company's Investor Relations website at www.slangww.com. Non-IFRS Measures EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Branded Unit volume are non-IFRS financial measures that the Company uses to assess its operating performance. EBITDA is defined as net earnings (loss) before net finance costs, income tax expense (benefit) and depreciation and amortization expense. Management defines Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for other non-cash items such as the impact of unrealized fair values, share based compensation expense, impairments, one-time gains and losses, and one-time revenues and expenses. See the heading "Key Performance Indicators" in the Q1 2022 MD&A for a description of how Branded Unit volume is calculated. This data is furnished to provide additional information and are non-IFRS measures and do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. The Company uses these non-IFRS measures to provide shareholders and others with supplemental measures of its operating performance. The Company also believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties, frequently use these non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of companies, many of which present similar metrics when reporting their results. As other companies may calculate these non-IFRS measures differently than the Company, these metrics may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. We caution readers that Adjusted EBITDA should not be substituted for determining net loss as an indicator of operating results, or as a substitute for cash flows from operating and investing activities. Conference Call Details Management plans to host an investor conference call today, May 26, 2022 at 10:00am ET to discuss the results. Timing: Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 10:00am ET Dial-in: 1 (888) 440-5938 (US toll-free) or 1 (646) 960-0202 (US toll) or for a list of international toll-free options click here Conference ID: 6291438 Webcast: A live webcast can be accessed via the Company's website at www.slangww.com or at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/639514787 A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Company's website for one year. About SLANG Worldwide Inc. SLANG Worldwide Inc. is a global leader in the cannabis CPG sector with a diversified portfolio of popular brands distributed across the United States. SLANG specializes in acquiring and developing market-proven regional brands as well as launching innovative new brands to seize global market opportunities. For more information, please visit www.slangww.com. To be added to SLANG's email distribution list, please email [email protected] with "SLNG" in the subject. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management of SLANG at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to regulatory risks, risks related to the COVID-19 global pandemic, changes in laws, resolutions and guidelines, market risks, concentration risks, operating history, competition, the risks associated with international and foreign operations and the other risks identified under the headings "Risk Factors" in the Q1 2022 MD&A and other disclosure documents available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. SLANG is not under any obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. Third Party Information This press release includes market and industry data that has been obtained from third party sources, including industry publications. The Company believes that the industry data is accurate and that its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of this data. Third party sources generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of included information. Although the data is believed to be reliable, the Company has not independently verified any of the data from third party sources referred to in this press release or ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon by such sources. Media and Investor Inquiries [email protected] KCSA Strategic Communications Phil Carlson [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125345 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 26, 2022) - Sweet Earth Holdings Corp. (CSE: SE) (FSE: 1KZ1) (OTCQB: SEHCF) ("Sweet Earth" or the "Company") is pleased announce that it has signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with ST Group of Companies ("ST Group") to explore the amalgamation of various Strategic Partner assets and companies into Sweet Earth. ST Group holds a unique position as an incubator company strategically engaged with a target company portfolio of assets. It is either contractually engaged or in formal discussions with each asset of its overall target portfolio and holds a critical relationship with its target asset portfolio which reflects the desire to execute a roll up strategy of undervalued European and American brands that require proper exposure and global market placement. Its companies include businesses in pharmaceutical therapeutics, CBD, cosmetics, and lifestyle with clients that include Fortune 500 firms. Sweet Earth's current products are expected to benefit by leveraging ST Group's celebrity brands access to approximately 1000 dispensaries in the European Union and North America. The Company is pleased to announce that the following key principals will join the Sweet Earth team: Jason Frankovich: Founder and principal executive of ST Labs, a holding company for cannabis- related companies, where he oversees operations and business development for seed to shelf operations on 5 continents. Patrick Ryan Morris: Proven track record of planning, developing, and executing innovative strategies to improve process efficiency and attain expected outcomes. Demonstrated success creating bottom-line impact through targeted business development initiatives aligned with emergent growth strategies. David Conkling: David has been with the ST companies from the onset of development and continues to support and expand the business footprint and expand corporate awareness throughout its global platform. Although the Agreement does not constitute an obligation of either entity the parties have been working closely to review and create a structure deemed mutually optimal. Chris Cooper, CFO of Sweet Earth, commented, "The ST Brands opportunity is a game changer for the company as it will provide access to dispensaries and white label branding opportunities that have been slow to materialize. Our acquisition of STB International will allow us to leverage our strengths and synergize with their network and operations." This was seconded by Peter Espig, CEO of Sweet Earth, who commented, "We believe that there is an opportunity to become a global leader in the space." About Sweet Earth Corporate Website: https://sweetearthcbdcorp.com . Sweet Earth is a vertically integrated "farm to shelf" hemp grower with a farm in Applegate, Oregon, that maintains a full line of hemp and CBD products for the US and global market. Its products combine CBD with herbal and organic ingredients, all of which are selected for their beneficial properties to soothe, rejuvenate, and reduce inflammation. In addition to high-end finished products, Sweet Earth prides itself on sustainability by minimizing the use of plastics in both production and packaging. Sweet Earth maintains a portfolio of skin and body care products that includes facial products, men's, spa, hemp, and muscle products that are sold on its website, https://sweetearthskincare.com . Sweet Earth operates a proprietary online shopping portal for discerning pet owners offering pet treats comprised of high-quality ingredients, which are further enriched with CBD and Vitamin E. The treats are sold on its website: https://www.sweetearthpets.com . Sweet Earth has created a line of CBD pre-rolls that are made from 100% naturally grown US hemp flower that is rich in non-intoxicating cannabinoids like CBD and cannabigerol ("CBG"). The pre-rolls are completely free of tobacco, nicotine, or additives. The pre-rolls are also rich in terpenes, like pinene, limonene and myrcene and are sold on its online portal, https://www.sweetearthsmooth.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Chris Cooper" Chris Cooper, CFO and Director For additional information contact: Chris Cooper / CFO and Director Telephone: (604) 307-8290 Email: [email protected] Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The securities being referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States (U.S.) Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the U.S. or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Forward-Looking Information: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "would", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this News Release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/125361 FILE PHOTO: Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet logistics support ship Vsevolod Bobrov sails in the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey January 7, 2022. Picture taken January 7, 2022. REUTERS/Yoruk Isik/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Thursday discussed ways to help ease the international food crisis, with the Kremlin saying this could be done only if the West lifts sanctions. "Vladimir Putin emphasized that the Russian Federation is ready to make a significant contribution to overcoming the food crisis through the export of grain and fertilizers, provided that politically motivated restrictions from the West are lifted," Moscow said in a statement. Ukraine has described the Russian position as "blackmail", and British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Thursday that Putin was "trying to hold the world to ransom" by weaponising the food crisis created by his war on Ukraine. The White House said there were no talks being held about relaxing sanctions on Russia in order to secure grain exports. In a news conference held on Thursday evening, Draghi said he took the initiative of calling the Russian leader. "I felt it was my duty to take (this initiative) because of the gravity of the humanitarian crisis that may affect the world's poorest," he told reporters. Draghi said Putin told him the food crisis was the fault of sanctions. "I am interested in a more defined, smaller issue, which is to try to see if we can unblock these huge quantities of grain in Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea," Draghi said. He added he will hold a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on this issue. Russia's blockade of Ukrainian ports has prevented shipments of grain, of which both countries are major exporters. Russia accuses Ukraine of mining the ports. The conflict is fuelling a global food crisis by sending prices for grains, cooking oils, fuel and fertilizer soaring. Separately, Russia's defence ministry said civilian vessels may now safely use the Azov Sea port of Mariupol in Ukraine, where its forces took full control last week after Ukrainian fighters surrendered at the besieged Azovstal steelworks. It said the danger from mines around Mariupol port had now been eliminated. The ministry said six foreign dry cargo vessels in the port were now free to leave. It said they were from Bulgaria, Dominica, Liberia, Panama, Turkey and Jamaica, and urged those governments to get the owners of the vessels to remove them. (Reporting by Mark Trevelyan, Angelo Amante, Giulia Segreti, Giselda Vagnoni, Steve Holland and Kanishka Singh; Editing by David Evans, Andrew Heavens and Daniel Wallis) New Product Innovation Fuels Revenue Growth DALLAS, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 4WEB Medical, an orthopedic device company focused on developing innovative implants with an Advanced Structural Design utilizing its proprietary Truss Implant Technology, announced today that the company achieved record revenue in Q1 2022, largely driven by sales of the company's stand alone devices for ALIF and ACDF procedures. "4WEB's outstanding results in Q1 reflect the market continuing to adopt new products incorporating our proprietary Truss Implant Technology," said Geoff Bigos, Vice President of Spine Sales. "The company's spine business has now accomplished seven consecutive quarters of year over year growth with Q1 2022 being our highest revenue first quarter ever. We are confident that our team will build upon this momentum over the remainder of 2022, and further accelerate growth with some exciting new product launches expected in the second half of the year." 4WEB currently has four FDA regulatory submissions under review with plans to launch multiple novel implant systems before the end of 2022. The company's successful stand alone technology portfolio will expand with new anchor fixation offerings for both ACDF and ALIF procedures. 4WEB also plans to launch an advanced procedural solution in the sacroiliac joint space leveraging truss principles to solve known problems with current competitive offerings on the market today. Lewis Harrison, Vice President of Research and Development added, "We are very pleased with 4WEB's business results last quarter and the trajectory over the last 18 months has been nothing short of outstanding. In addition to our sales performance, the company's robust innovation pipeline will provide significant uplift in the second half of 2022 and beyond." About 4WEB Medical 4WEB Medical, founded in 2008 in Dallas, TX, is an orthopedic implant company. Thirty years of research in topological dimension theory led to the discovery of a novel geometry, the 4WEB, that can be used as a building block to create high-strength, lightweight web structures. The company leveraged this breakthrough to develop 4WEB Medical's proprietary truss implant platform which was the first 510(k) cleared implant manufactured with 3D printing technology. The 4WEB Medical spine product portfolio includes the Cervical Spine Truss System, the Stand Alone Cervical Spine Truss System, the Anterior Spine Truss System, the Stand Alone Anterior Spine Truss System, the Posterior Spine Truss System, the Lateral Spine Truss System, and the Lumbar Spine Plating Solution. 4WEB Medical is actively developing truss implant designs for tumor, trauma, and patient-specific applications. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/4web-medical-announces-record-first-quarter-performance-301556251.html SOURCE 4WEB Medical WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AsylumConnect started as the world's first tech platform for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers announced today a new brand identity, including a new name, logo, homesite, and tech platform. Developed in partnership with creative agency B-Reel and announced right before LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the rebranding seeks to position the free app as a resource for the broader LGBTQ+ community as well as those seeking asylum. Since its launch in 2016, AsylumConnect has made over 140,000 matches between LGBTQ+ individuals fleeing persecution and independently verified legal, medical, mental health, and social service providers. InReach is the world's first tech platform matching LGBTQ+ people with safe, verified resources. InReach is the world's first tech platform matching LGBTQ+ people with safe, verified resources. Over the last six years, the organization has heard user testimonials from a wide variety of LGBTQ+ people, not just those seeking asylum. As a result, this rebranding seeks to better communicate and reflect the value of the organization's rigorous service verification process and app to a broader user base. "As someone who has had the privilege of hearing numerous success stories over the years and who recently used the free InReach App to locate trusted trans affirming legal, medical and mental health services during my own transition, I have such high hopes for this organization's future," said Jamie Sgarro, InReach Co-Founder and Executive Director. InReach strives to invoke a sense of hope and the platform's overarching mission: to ensure safe help is in reach for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. This new brand identity will position InReach as a connector for the entire diverse LGBTQ+ community including asylum seekers and refugees; undocumented and other immigrants; young people experiencing homelessness; those facing family or community rejection due to their identity; and other transgender and non-binary people in need of safe resources. InReach's launch comes at a critical time for the LGBTQ+ community with over 300 bills , about half of which target transgender people, filed in state legislatures to limit LGBTQ+ rights and the pandemic's disproportionate impact on LGBTQ+ youth's mental health and safety. Every direct service provider listed on InReach undergoes a unique and rigorous vetting process designed to ensure they are welcoming to members of the diverse LGBTQ+ community. The organization's tailored vetting process will continue to center the needs of the most marginalized and often overlooked LGBTQ+ communities. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/asylumconnect-rebrands-to-inreach-reflecting-growing-lgbtq-user-base-301555329.html SOURCE InReach CEDIA Expo, the largest North American event for the residential technology channel, names THE rAVe Agency as agency of record CHAPEL HILL, N.C., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- THE rAVe Agency, a full-service creative agency serving the AV, UCC and digital signage industries, announces it has been selected by CEDIA Expo as its agency of record, after a competitive review. THE rAVe Agency will be responsible for elevating CEDIA Expo through developing and executing strategic and integrated public relations, social media marketing and live-event production. CEDIA Expo is the platform where residential technology integrators, designers and construction professionals connect, learn, and engage. The premier trade show unites thousands of home tech pros and exhibitors to experience the industry's hottest smart home technology. This year, CEDIA Expo 2022 will include a vibrant array of aptitudes and new, compelling opportunities supported by THE rAVe Agency. THE rAVe Agency has created effective campaigns for industry-leading brands, such as Samsung, LG, Barco, Epson, Sony and others, to launch innovative and unique in-person or online events. THE rAVe Agency will magnify its mastery through the combination of live trade-show coverage with rAVe [NOW], the introduction of social influencers through rAVe [CREATE] and expanded media outreach through rAVe [STORYTELLING]. "As the largest North American event for the residential technology channel, CEDIA Expo is committed to amplifying the powerful impact of home technology through exhibitor activations, educational opportunities and peer-to-peer connections," said Jason McGraw, CTS, group vice president for CEDIA Expo and KBIS, Emerald. "We are thrilled to have THE rAVe Agency as our partner as we work together to achieve this goal. THE rAVe Agency is recognized as a leader in innovation and creativity through engaging marketing and communications campaigns. With THE rAVe Agency, we look forward to introducing new, vibrant ideas to elevate our brand and relationships with technology integrators, designers and construction professionals." Originally founded in 1998 by Gary Kayye, Kayye Consulting was the AV industry's first marketing consulting firm. Today, THE rAVe Agency is a full-service creative agency focused exclusively on the AV market. THE rAVe Agency brings a combined professional experience of 50 years to solve companies' most unique communications and marketing challenges. THE rAVe Agency's team will be led by industry professionals Emily Dean, Morgan Lawrence and Katie Leiser, bringing a diverse background in earned media, thought leadership, creative strategy and social media. "We are excited to expand our relationship with CEDIA Expo," said Gary Kayye, co-founder and director of THE rAVe Agency. "We have a long-standing relationship with CEDIA Expo through our unique live event and trade show coverage with rAVe [NOW]. Now, THE rAVe Agency will bring a vibrant array of new talents to this year's event. We are energized to introduce new initiatives and opportunities to create the most captivating event for the residential technology industry. We can assure you, CEDIA Expo 2022 is going to be a must-see event!" For more information on THE rAVe Agency, please visit THErAVeAgency.com. Keep up with the latest news from THE rAVe Agency on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. To learn more about CEDIA Expo, please visit cediaexpo.com. Keep up with the latest news from CEDIA Expo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. About THE rAVe AgencyFounded in 1998 by Gary Kayye, Kayye Consulting was the AV industry's first marketing consulting firm. Now, it has become THE rAVe Agency, providing the AV market, globally, with the industry's first creative agency. We're leaders in social media marketing, strategy, branding, product development, experiential marketing, content marketing, lead generation and storytelling. THE rAVe Agency incorporates more than 45 years of professional experience into seven strategic talents including rAVe [PUBS], rAVe [NOW], rAVe [LAVNCH], rAVe [CREATE], rAVe [CONSULT], rAVe [STORYTELLING] and rAVe [SPEAK]. For more information, please visit www.THErAVeAgency.com. About CEDIA ExpoCEDIA Expo, owned by Emerald Expositions, is THE platform where residential technology integrators, designers and construction professions connect, learn, and engage. CEDIA Expo brings together thousands of home tech pros and hundreds of exhibitors to the leading event for smart home technology. CEDIA Expo 2022 will take place September 29 October 1, 2022, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, TX. For more information, please visit cediaexpo.com. About EmeraldEmerald is a leader in building dynamic, market-driven business-to-business platforms that integrate live events with a broad array of industry insights, digital tools, and data-focused solutions to create uniquely rich experiences. As true partners, we at Emerald strive to build our customers' businesses by creating opportunities that inspire, amaze, and deliver breakthrough results. With over 140 events each year, our teams are creators and connectors who are thoroughly immersed in the industries we serve and committed to supporting the communities in which we operate. For more information, please visit www.emeraldx.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cedia-expo-selects-the-rave-agency-as-agency-of-record-301556062.html SOURCE THE rAVe Agency Company Continues to Add New Products to Its Innovative Financial Platform WILMINGTON, Del., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Marlette Holdings, Inc., a leading financial technology company that operates the Best Egg financial platform, today announced that Charles Do has joined the company as Head of Auto Lending. He will lead the overall strategy for an emerging auto loan product as part of the company's growing suite of innovative financial products and tools. "Our Best Egg customers own automobiles and look to us for financial products that meet their needs," said Bobby Ritterbeck, President of Personal Loans at Best Egg. "Charles' deep experience is precisely what we need to help us reshape the auto lending category and the customer experience. We're incredibly excited about welcoming Charles to our team and bringing something new to borrowers." Since its launch in 2014, Best Egg has focused on helping people feel more confident about their finances by offering fast, simple, and convenient ways for them to pay for things beyond their everyday needs, especially when they have limited savings to absorb unplanned expenses. Best Egg's personal loan products have seen tremendous growth in the past two years, accelerating from $12B to $18B of loans with solid credit performance. The company has also diversified its offering, introducing the Best Egg Visa Credit Card and the free Best Egg Financial Health tool in 2021 and announcing $225 million in equity funding in March 2022. "I have been impressed with the track record of success and growth, and leadership's focus on cultivating and preserving a strong company culture," said Do. "My single-minded goal is to develop a unique product within the auto space that serves our customers' needs. I know Best Egg has the technology, platform, and the team to do something different with auto loans, and I'm looking forward to leading this effort." Do brings 14 years of experience in auto lending to the team, having most recently served as Managing Director, Head of Auto Remarketing at JPMorgan Chase, where he worked for nine years. He has held other leadership and finance roles at Ally Financial, GE, and Lockheed Martin. He also sits on the Board of Directors of the Chinese American Planning Council, the country's largest Asian American social services non-profit. Do holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Philosophy from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. Best Egg continues to grow and add hundreds of new members to its team. Learn more about open positions on the Best Egg careers page. About Marlette Holdings, Inc. Marlette Holdings, Inc. is a leading financial technology provider whose subsidiaries develop and operate Best Egg, a financial health platform that provides lending products and resources focused on helping people feel more confident as they manage their everyday finances. Since March 2014, Best Egg has delivered over $18 billion in consumer personal loans with strong credit performance, welcomed 209,000 members to the recently launched Best Egg Financial Health platform, and empowered over 57,000 cardmembers who carry the new Best Egg Credit Card in their wallet. For more information, visit www.bestegg.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/charles-do-joins-the-best-egg-team-to-develop-auto-secured-lending-products-301555984.html SOURCE Best Egg JACKSON, Miss., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EastGroup Properties (NYSE: EGP) (the "Company", "EastGroup") announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.10 per share payable on July 15, 2022 to shareholders of record of Common Stock on June 30, 2022. This dividend is the 170th consecutive quarterly distribution to EastGroup's shareholders and represents an annualized dividend rate of $4.40 per share. EastGroup has increased or maintained its dividend for 29 consecutive years and has increased it 26 years over that period, including increases in each of the last 10 years. EastGroup Properties, Inc. (NYSE: EGP), a S&P Mid-Cap 400 company, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina. The Company's goal is to maximize shareholder value by being a leading provider in its markets of functional, flexible and quality business distribution space for location sensitive customers (primarily in the 15,000 to 70,000 square foot range). The Company's strategy for growth is based on ownership of premier distribution facilities generally clustered near major transportation features in supply-constrained submarkets. The Company's portfolio, including development projects and value-add acquisitions in lease-up and under construction, currently includes approximately 52.4 million square feet. EastGroup Properties, Inc. press releases are available at www.eastgroup.net. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eastgroup-properties-announces-170th-consecutive-quarterly-cash-dividend-301556046.html SOURCE EastGroup Properties NEW YORK and LONDON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eventus, a leading global provider of multi-asset class trade surveillance and market risk solutions, today received the award for Best Trade Surveillance Solution at the RegTech Insight Awards Europe 2022. The award is the second this month for the firm's Validus platform and recognizes the company's continued growth and expansion within the European region. Presented at a luncheon ceremony in London, the award was determined by votes from throughout the capital markets community. RegTech Insight, an A-Team Group publication, said this year's awards had more entries and votes than ever before, following selection of the shortlist in each category by the editorial staff and advisory board. Angela Wilbraham, CEO at A-Team Group, said: "Congratulations to Eventus for winning the 2022 RegTech Insight Award Europe for Best Trade Surveillance Solution. This year's RegTech Insight Europe awards have been extremely popular and competitive, highlighting established solution providers and innovative newcomers that help capital markets participants respond effectively and efficiently to evolving and ever more complex regulatory requirements across the global financial services industry." Eventus CEO Travis Schwab said: "We've been putting substantial resources into our expansion in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. It's a great honor to receive this recognition based on votes from capital markets participants who appreciate our high level of service, the expertise of our growing team and our proven ability to deliver for our clients." Last fall, Eventus won the award for Best Trade Surveillance Solution in the RegTech Insight Awards APAC 2021, one of four awards the firm received in 2021 for its efforts in the Asia-Pacific region. Eventus has previously won two RegTech Insight awards for trade surveillance addressing U.S. regulations. Earlier this month, the company won the Markets Media Markets Choice Award for Best in RegTech for the third consecutive year. The annual RegTech Insight Awards Europe recognize both established solution providers and innovative newcomers, seeking to herald and highlight regulatory technology solutions that throughout the year have successfully improved firms' ability to effectively respond to the evolving and ever more complex regulatory requirements across the global financial services industry. About Eventus Eventus is a leading global provider of multi-asset class trade surveillance and market risk solutions. Its powerful, award-winning Validus platform is easy to deploy, customize and operate across equities, options, futures, foreign exchange (FX), fixed income and digital asset markets. Validus is proven in the most complex, high-volume and real-time environments of tier-1 banks, broker-dealers, futures commission merchants (FCMs), proprietary trading groups, market centers, buy-side institutions, energy and commodity trading firms, and regulators. The company's rapidly growing client base relies on Validus and Eventus' responsive support and product development teams to overcome its most pressing regulatory challenges. For more, visit www.eventus.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eventus-wins-best-trade-surveillance-solution-at-regtech-insight-awards-europe-2022-301555244.html SOURCE Eventus Borrowed Time Tattoo, known for their notorious realism designs, has hit up to 20.9M views on their TikTok account, @jonnelson_tattoos FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jon Nelson, owner and operator of Borrowed Time Tattoo, is known for his meticulous tattoo designs and comedic TikTok content. For the last couple years, Borrowed Time Tattoo has solidified its killer reputation in the heart of Downtown FTL. Well-known for his black and gray realism tattoo designs, Nelson didn't need TikTok to boost the shop's business, but it definitely didn't hurt. Ranging from 200K to 20.9M views and a follower count of 558K, it's no question that Jon's content is making waves amongst the TikTok community. When asked why Nelson turned to TikTok as a creative medium, he replied, "TikTok, and social media in general, is an incredible way to join all the amazing people that make up the tattoo community. The friends I've made, the community I've helped createit's so rewarding to spread hope and humor in such an open-minded space." Having grown his following on Facebook and Instagram, Nelson's feed fuels a blunt discussion on body art, communication, and self-confidence. In his videos, his deadpan delivery cuts through like a knife, shocking viewers into flares of laughter. Nelson's videos have gone viral on TikTok due to his, and other artists, quick-witted skits that embody the amused, confused, and plain dumb client requests. There's no age cut-off for humor or simply enjoying creative contentwhich is why Nelson's comment section is filled with interactions from individuals of all ages. Jon Nelson is an award-winning American tattoo artist living and creating in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A versatile artist who produces exceptional tattoos in a variety of styles, Jon is best known for his work featuring black and gray ink designs. His unique illustration style involves blackwork, dotwork, and realism. His striking designs can be observed throughout the studio as well as Fort Lauderdale, and are featured on people all around the world. Book your consultation with Jon, or any of the talented artists at Borrowed Time, by calling ahead or visiting their website. Check out Borrowed Time Tattoo's studio in person at 410 NW 1st Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. For more of Jon Nelson and the crew at Borrowed Time, follow @jonnelson_tattoos on Instagram and TikTok. Contact: Jon NelsonPhone: 954-530-4122Email: [email protected] Website: https://borrowedtimetattoo.com/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fort-lauderdale-tattoo-shop-gone-tik-tok-viral-301556171.html SOURCE Borrowed Time Tattoo Introductory fares between MDW and New Haven start at $89 CHICAGO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Avelo Airlines today begins serving the Windy City with nonstop service to Southern Connecticut from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). The flight offers Chicago a more convenient and affordable gateway to the New England and New York regions. Introductory one-way fares between MDW and Connecticut's most convenient airport Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) starting at $89* are available at AveloAir.com. Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said, "Chicago it's officially time to say hello to Avelo! Getting from the Windy City to Southern Connecticut is now easier and more affordable than ever. We're excited to connect these two pizza capitals, allowing for long getaways to the New York and New England areas for a quick trip with friends and family to enjoy a slice." Avelo will fly its Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 aircraft on the route beginning May 26, 2022. This new route will typically operate four days per week. Flight days and times below: Route Departs Arrives Effective May 26: Monday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday MDW-HVN 7:05 p.m. 10:05 p.m. HVN-MDW 4:55 p.m. 6:25 p.m. "On behalf of Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the entire Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), I am thrilled to welcome Avelo Airlines for inaugural service at Midway International Airport," said City of Chicago Commissioner of Aviation Jamie L. Rhee. "Travelers now have new options for affordable travel between New England at Tweed New Haven Airport and the "Windy City," voted Best Big City in the U.S. by Conde Nast Traveler for the fifth year in a row." Tweed-New Haven Airport The New Haven Way to Connecticut Amidst the crowds, long lines, lengthy walks and traffic congestion encountered at other airports frequented by travelers to and from the region, HVN offers a refreshingly smooth and simple alternative hometown airport experience. HVN's adjacency to multiple major highways and commuter railways make it Connecticut's most convenient and easily accessible airport. Tweed-New Haven Airport Executive Director Sean Scanlon said, "The addition of flights to Chicago is yet another important milestone in the overwhelming success story that is our partnership with Avelo. Starting this week, we now serve thirteen destinations and are offering service to major business hubs for the first time since the 1990s. The future is bright here at HVN and if you haven't flown with us yet, come see what all the hype is about!" Best known as the home of Yale University, New Haven is the second largest city in Connecticut and is part of the New York metropolitan area. The coastal city has experiencedand continues to enjoya renaissance. Within an easy stroll from the New Haven Green are more than 100 distinctive restaurants, offering something for every palate, and the city abounds with theaters, museums, and shopping destinations to satisfy all interests and tastes. A Different, Better and More Affordable Travel ExperienceAvelo offers several unbundled travel-enhancing options that give Customers the flexibility to pay for what they value, including priority boarding, checked bags, carry-on overhead bags, and bringing a pet in the cabin. The American-made Boeing 737 NG mainline jets Avelo operates from HVN offer a more spacious and comfortable experience than the regional jets that historically served this airport. Customers may choose from several seating options, including seats with extra leg room, as well as pre-reserved window and aisle seating. Avelo is distinguished by its Soul of Service culture. The culture is grounded in our Avelo "One Crew" value that promotes a welcoming and caring experience. By caring for one another and owning their commitments, Avelo Crewmembers focus on anticipating and understanding Customer needs on the ground and in the air. About Avelo AirlinesAvelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose to Inspire Travel. The airline offers Customers time and money-saving convenience, low everyday fares, and a refreshingly smooth and caring experience through its Soul of Service culture. Operating a fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo currently serves 27 popular destinations across the U.S., including its three bases at Los Angeles' Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Southern Connecticut's Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) and Orlando International Airport (MCO). For more information visit AveloAir.com or the Avelo Newsroom at AveloAir.com/Newsroom. Media Contacts Avelo AirlinesCourtney Goff[email protected] Chicago Midway International AirportChristine Carrino[email protected] *One-way introductory fares include government taxes and fees. The introductory fares must be booked by June 3, 2022. The introductory one-way fares starting at $89 are only available on Avelo flights between MDW and HVN between now and November 7, 2022. Blackout dates will apply. The introductory fares are available on a limited number of flights and seats. Additional fees for carry-on and checked bags, assigned seats and other optional services may apply. For full terms and conditions, please see Avelo's Contract of Carriage. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hello-avelo-avelo-airlines-begins-new-nonstop-service-from-chicago-midway-to-southern-connecticut-301555578.html SOURCE Avelo Airlines Introductory fares between BWI and New Haven start at $59 BALTIMORE and WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Avelo Airlines today takes off with nonstop service from Washington D.C./Baltimore to Southern Connecticut. The flight offers the National Capital region a convenient and affordable gateway to the New England and New York regions, without the time-consuming traffic and high gas prices to worry about. Introductory one-way fares between Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Connecticut's most convenient airport Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) starting at $59* are available at AveloAir.com. Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said, "BWI it's time to say hello to Avelo! Avelo's unmatched convenience and affordability make getting to Southern Connecticut and the New York metropolitan region easier than ever. We look forward to welcoming our Customers in the National Capital region to our network of destinations and our Avelo Soul of Service." Avelo will fly its Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 aircraft on the route beginning May 26, 2022. This new route will typically operate four days per week. Flight days and times below: Route Departs Arrives May 26 June 15 Monday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday BWI-HVN 9:55 a.m. 11:00 a.m. HVN-BWI 8:00 a.m. 9:15 a.m. Effective June 16: Monday & Friday BWI-HVN 9:55 a.m. 11:00 a.m. HVN-BWI 8:00 a.m. 9:15 a.m. Effective June 16: Thursday & Sunday BWI-HVN 7:35 p.m. 8:40 p.m. HVN-BWI 5:40 p.m. 6:55 p.m. "We are thrilled to welcome Avelo Airlines to our market," said Ricky Smith, Executive Director of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. "Avelo offers low fares, convenient access, and added tourism to Maryland and the entire National Capital region. We remain committed to growing our air service portfolio and adding new travel options for our customers." Tweed-New Haven Airport The New Haven Way to ConnecticutAmidst the crowds, long lines, lengthy walks and traffic congestion encountered at other airports frequented by travelers to and from the region, HVN offers a refreshingly smooth and simple alternative hometown airport experience. HVN's adjacency to multiple major highways and commuter railways make it Connecticut's most convenient and easily accessible airport. Tweed-New Haven Airport Executive Director Sean Scanlon said, "The addition of flights to Washington D.C./Baltimore is yet another important milestone in the overwhelming success story that is our partnership with Avelo. Starting this week, we now serve thirteen destinations and are offering service to major business hubs for the first time since the 1990s. The future is bright here at HVN and if you haven't flown with us yet, come see what all the hype is about!" Best known as the home of Yale University, New Haven is the second largest city in Connecticut and is part of the New York metropolitan area. The coastal city has experiencedand continues to enjoya renaissance. Within an easy stroll from the New Haven Green are more than 100 distinctive restaurants, offering something for every palate, and the city abounds with theaters, museums, and shopping destinations to satisfy all interests and tastes. A Different, Better and More Affordable Travel ExperienceAvelo offers several unbundled travel-enhancing options that give Customers the flexibility to pay for what they value, including priority boarding, checked bags, carry-on overhead bags, and bringing a pet in the cabin. The American-made Boeing 737 NG mainline jets Avelo operates from HVN offer a more spacious and comfortable experience than the regional jets that historically served this airport. Customers may choose from several seating options, including seats with extra leg room, as well as pre-reserved window and aisle seating. Avelo is distinguished by its Soul of Service culture. The culture is grounded in Avelo's "One Crew" value that promotes a welcoming and caring experience. By caring for one another and owning their commitments, Avelo Crewmembers focus on anticipating and understanding Customer needs on the ground and in the air. About Avelo AirlinesAvelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose to Inspire Travel. The airline offers Customers time and money-saving convenience, low everyday fares, and a refreshingly smooth and caring experience through its Soul of Service culture. Operating a fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo currently serves 27 popular destinations across the U.S., including its three bases at Los Angeles' Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Southern Connecticut's Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) and Orlando International Airport (MCO). For more information visit AveloAir.com or the Avelo Newsroom at AveloAir.com/Newsroom. Media ContactsAvelo AirlinesCourtney Goff[email protected] Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall AirportJonathan Dean[email protected] *One-way introductory fares include government taxes and fees. The introductory fares must be booked by June 3, 2022. The introductory one-way fares starting at $59 are only available on Avelo flights between BWI and HVN between now and November 7, 2022. Blackout dates will apply. The introductory fares are available on a limited number of flights and seats. Additional fees for carry-on and checked bags, assigned seats and other optional services may apply. For full terms and conditions, please see Avelo's Contract of Carriage. SOURCE Avelo Airlines The successful launch further expands the world's largest SAR satellite constellation and includes the second and third satellites built, licensed and operated by ICEYE US. HELSINKI, Finland and IRVINE, Calif., May 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ICEYE, the global leader in persistent monitoring with radar satellite imaging and an expert in flood and natural catastrophe (NatCat) solutions, has successfully launched five new SAR satellites. All spacecraft were launched on SpaceX's Falcon 9 smallsat rideshare mission via EXOLAUNCH from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Communication has successfully been established with each spacecraft. ICEYE and ICEYE US have now deployed 21 satellites since 2018, including both commercial and dedicated customer missions. ICEYE's satellite constellation is designed to provide customers with reliable and frequent imagery enabling the rapid detection and tracking of changes on the Earth's surface, regardless of time of day, or weather conditions. This capability is vital for government and commercial uses in various sectors, including insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, national security, defense, humanitarian relief and climate change monitoring. "The ICEYE team has launched 21 small radar imaging satellites in a few short years, which is a remarkable feat to accomplish," says Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE. "The world needs these sources of objective truth data now more than ever. With this launch, we'll have increased performance and capacity to further support our customers and our growth across current and emerging vertical markets." The launch also included the second and third satellites built, licensed and operated by ICEYE US. ICEYE US, a subsidiary of ICEYE, established a satellite manufacturing facility early last year at its headquarters in Irvine, California. The newly launched ICEYE US satellites are licensed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and will be operated and controlled exclusively from the company's 24/7 Mission Operations Center in Irvine. "Expanding our fleet of US built satellites is a critical step that expands our capability to support our customers across the U.S. Government," says Jerry Welsh, CEO of ICEYE US. "We are seeing a shift in the U.S. and international government sector that is now looking to fully leverage and integrate commercial remote sensing technologies into their collection architectures." Two of the satellites launched are provided directly to the Brazilian Air Force. The Air Force will operate the satellites in support of environmental and national security objectives. Due to Brazil's cloudy weather, SAR satellites that can image the earth during the night or through clouds have an important advantage in gathering actionable insights. Later this year, ICEYE plans on adding up to five additional satellites to its constellation including more satellites manufactured by ICEYE US. About ICEYE ICEYE delivers unmatched persistent monitoring capabilities for any location on earth. Owning the world's largest synthetic aperture radar constellation, the company enables objective, data-driven decisions for its customers in sectors such as insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, security, maritime monitoring and finance. ICEYE's data can be collected day or night, and even through cloud cover. For more information, please visit www.iceye.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iceye-successfully-completes-its-largest-satellite-launch-ever-placing-five-new-sar-satellites-into-orbit-301555488.html SOURCE ICEYE NEW YORK and LONDON, May 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Infusive Asset Management Inc. ("Advisor"), the advisor to Infusive Compounding Global Equities ETF (the "Fund"), determined that the Fund should be closed. Based upon a recommendation by the Advisor, the Board of Trustees of Infusive US Trust (the "Trust") has approved a Plan of Liquidation for the Fund under which the Fund will be liquidated on or about June 17, 2022 (the "Liquidation Date"). The Liquidation Date may be changed without notice at the discretion of the officers of the Trust. Infusive will continue to operate its other Funds as normal. Beginning when the Fund commences the liquidation of its portfolio, the Fund will not pursue its investment objectives or, with certain exceptions, engage in normal business activities, and the Fund may hold cash and securities that may not be consistent with the Fund's investment objective and strategy, which may adversely affect Fund performance. Suspension of Sales and Trading. Effective as of the close of business on June 10, 2022, the Fund will no longer accept orders for the purchase of Creation Units. It is expected that June 10, 2022 will be the Fund's last full day of trading on NYSE Arca ("NYSE"). Based on this schedule, NYSE is expected to halt trading in shares of the Fund after the market close on June 10, 2022. During the period between market close on June 10, 2022 and the Liquidation Date, because the Fund's shares will no longer trade on NYSE, there can be no assurance that there will be a market for the purchase or sale of the Fund's shares. Liquidation Process. In connection with the liquidation, any shares of the Fund outstanding on the Liquidation Date will be automatically redeemed as of the close of business on the Liquidation Date without the imposition of customary redemption transaction fees. The proceeds of any such redemption will be equal to the net asset value of such shares after the Fund has paid or provided for all of its charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities. The distribution to shareholders of these liquidation proceeds will occur as soon as practicable, and will be made to all Fund shareholders at the time of the liquidation. Additionally, the Fund must declare and distribute to shareholders any realized capital gains and all net investment income no later than the final liquidation distribution. The Advisor intends to distribute substantially all of the Fund's net investment income at the time of or prior to the liquidation. All administrative expenses associated with the liquidation and termination of the Fund will be borne by the Advisor. Other Alternatives. Shareholders of the Fund may sell their shares of the Fund on NYSE until the market close on June 10, 2022, and may incur customary transaction fees from their broker-dealer in connection with such sales. Prior to the Liquidation Date, Authorized Participants may continue to submit orders to the Fund for the purchase and redemption of Creation Units. U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters. Although the liquidation is not expected to be a taxable event for the Fund, for taxable shareholders the automatic redemption of shares of the Fund on the Liquidation Date will generally be treated as a sale that may result in a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. Instead of waiting until the Liquidation Date, a shareholder may voluntarily sell his or her shares on NYSE until the market close on June 10, 2022, and Authorized Participants may voluntarily redeem Creation Units prior to the Liquidation Date, to the extent that a shareholder wishes to realize any such gains or losses prior thereto. See "Dividends, Distributions, and Taxes" in the Prospectus. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the tax treatment of the liquidation. About Infusive: Infusive Asset Management is a New York / London based investment manager expert in human behavior. It focuses on global brands that people are emotionally connected to and invested in. InfusiveTM harnesses it's Consumer AlphaTM research and investment framework to locate the most rewarding investments in the space. The companies they research sell products that provide happiness to consumers and tend to be characterized by stable revenue streams reflecting consumers' repeat purchase of their products. Infusive Consumer Alpha investment strategy is accessible through its Consumer AlphaTM Global Leaders Fund (UCITS). For more information, please contact the Fund at 1-844-INF-JOYY (1-844-463-5699). Investing in securities involves risk, and there is no guarantee of principal. Investors should carefully consider the investment objective, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. To obtain a prospectus containing this and other important information, please visit https://www.infusive.com/holdings/ to view or download a prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. The Fund is distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/infusive-asset-management-closing-its-infusive-compounding-global-equities-etf-nyse-joyy-301555482.html SOURCE Infusive Asset Management SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Invenio Imaging, the leader in intraoperative fresh tissue imaging, announced today the CE Mark for the NIO Glioma Reveal image analysis module. NIO Glioma Reveal is based on deep learning and allows neurosurgeons to identify areas of cancer infiltration in patients undergoing primary treatment of a diffuse glioma. With the CE mark, neurosurgeons in the European Union can now use NIO Glioma Reveal to inform intraoperative decisions*. "Glioma Reveal provides cancer detection where we really need it, dramatically improving brain tumor surgery" Dr. Beck "By streamlining intraoperative tissue imaging, the NIO Laser Imaging System allows the imaging of multiple samples from the resection cavity. The NIO Glioma Reveal image analysis module now adds immediate decision support", says Chris Freudiger, PhD, co-founder and CTO of Invenio Imaging. "Glioma Reveal provides cancer detection where we really need it, dramatically improving brain tumor surgery", says Prof. Dr. Jurgen Beck, Chair of Neurosurgery at the University of Freiburg. "Applying reliable artificial intelligence to digital pathology appears to me, as a surgeon, to be the missing piece in the puzzle of rapid intraoperative histology-based decision-making", says Asst. Prof. Dr. Volker Neuschmelting, Vice-Chair of Neurosurgery at the University of Cologne. "The NIO Laser Imaging System can also be combined with other important imaging techniques such as 5-ALA fluorescence to further improve brain tumor detection during surgery", says Prof. Dr. Georg Widhalm, neurosurgeon at the University of Vienna. Invenio will launch NIO Glioma Reveal at the upcoming Annual Meeting of the German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC) in Cologne from 29 May - 01 June 2022. *NIO Glioma Reveal is available "For Research Use Only" in the United States, not for use in diagnostic procedures. About Invenio Imaging Inc. Invenio Imaging is a medical device start-up based in Santa Clara, CA dedicated to advancing the care of cancer patients by combining intraoperative fresh tissue imaging with artificial intelligence. Our technology, the NIO Laser Imaging System, has been used in over 2500 procedures at major cancer centers in the US and in Europe. In 2021 Invenio received a Medical Design Excellence Award, was selected to be a Rosenman Innovator, and received CE Mark to commercialize in Europe. www.nioimaging.com. Media Contact: J. Fernando Corredor[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/invenio-imaging-receives-ce-mark-to-detect-cancer-at-the-time-of-surgery-using-artificial-intelligence-301554134.html SOURCE Invenio Imaging CHICAGO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) today announced that, based on a preliminary vote count provided by its proxy solicitor, shareholders have voted to re-elect all 12 of McDonald's highly qualified directors to the McDonald's Board: Enrique Hernandez, Jr., Lloyd H. Dean, Robert A. Eckert, Catherine M. Engelbert, Margaret H. Georgiadis, Chris Kempczinski, Richard H. Lenny, John J. Mulligan, Sheila A. Penrose, John W. Rogers, Jr., Paul S. Walsh and Miles D. White. The preliminary results also indicate that Mr. Icahn's two nominees received approximately 1% of the Company's outstanding shares and were not elected to the McDonald's Board. The Company issued the following statement: The McDonald's Leadership Team and Board of Directors would like to thank shareholders for their continued support and engagement. Under the current leadership, and guided by the Board of Directors, McDonald's has successfully continued its long history of sustainable value creation while acting on some of the world's most pressing social and environmental challenges important to our stakeholders. The McDonald's Board is comprised of a diverse, highly engaged group of individuals that provide effective oversight of our Company and have strong track records inside and outside of our Boardroom. McDonald's shareholders value a Board of Directors with a breadth of experiences to advise the Brand on the multitude of issues that can impact the business. McDonald's is committed to remaining a leader on ESG initiatives, including animal welfare. Its approach is governed by making a meaningful impact in the communities it serves while also meeting the needs of customers. Moving forward, McDonald's Board and Leadership Team remain focused on continuing to take actions that uphold and advance our values while committing to serve the interests of all our shareholders. Additional information regarding the results of the annual shareholders' meeting will be available in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and on McDonald's investor relations website within the next four business days. The vote is subject to certification by the Independent Inspectors of Election. About McDonald'sMcDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with more than 39,000 locations in over 100 countries. Approximately 95% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business owners. Forward-Looking StatementsThis release and other written or oral statements made from time to time by McDonald's contain forward-looking statements about future events and circumstances. Generally speaking, any statement not based upon historical fact is a forward-looking statement. In particular, statements regarding McDonald's plans, strategies, prospects and expectations regarding its business and industry are forward-looking statements. They reflect McDonald's expectations, are not guarantees of performance and speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, McDonald's does not undertake to update such forward-looking statements. You should not rely unduly on forward-looking statements. McDonald's business results are subject to a variety of risks, including those that are described in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcdonalds-shareholders-re-elect-all-12-directors-at-annual-meeting-301555963.html SOURCE McDonald's Corporation Alex Overstrom to assume head of Retail Banking role PITTSBURGH, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) announced today that Karen Larrimer, head of Retail Banking and chief customer officer, has elected to retire after more than 27 years of service and leadership to the bank. Larrimer will remain as the bank's chief customer officer through 2022, as she transitions out of her role as head of Retail Banking, effective July 1. Alex Overstrom, PNC's current head of Small Business and deputy head of Retail Banking, will assume responsibility for leading PNC's Retail Banking line of business. Larrimer has led Retail Banking since July 2016, following her appointment to chief customer officer in 2014. Prior to that, she held several executive positions at PNC, including chief marketing officer, EVP for Business Banking and leadership roles within Treasury Management. Before joining PNC, Karen was an assistant director for Ernst & Young and served as a vice president in Corporate Banking at Mellon Bank. "I am personally grateful to Karen for her leadership during my time as CEO," said William S. Demchak, PNC chairman, president and chief executive officer. "She is an exceptional executive and banker whose guidance and insights have benefitted the bank and our customers in many ways. She has played an instrumental role in PNC's growth, and she has driven key initiatives that were squarely focused on improving PNC's retail offerings and our customers' satisfaction. She will be missed, and I wish her all the best in her next chapter." During her tenure at PNC, Larrimer has led numerous significant programs and projects that have helped position the bank as a national competitor. In particular, as the head of Retail, she led PNC's digital expansion, the creation of Solution Centers in PNC's expansion markets and several rebranding efforts through acquisitions. She also notably led the launch of Low Cash Mode last year, which represented the industry's first big move to address overdraft fees and the dissatisfaction they cause for customers. As PNC's first chief customer officer, Larrimer also established the Office of the Customer, led several efforts designed to improve the bank's customers' experience, and rolled out an analytical measurement tool to gauge employee and customer satisfaction. Across her admirable career, Larrimer has been recognized through numerous honors and awards, including being named one of the Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker magazine for seven consecutive years (2015-2021) and receiving the Girl Scouts of America Award of Distinction in Business (2013). She was named a Working Mother magazine "Mother of the Year" (2010), designated "Women Worth Watching" by Diversity Journal magazine (2009) and named one of the Best 50 Women in Business in Pennsylvania (2003). Alex Overstrom will move into the role of head of Retail Banking, reporting directly to Demchak. Overstrom has been with PNC for nearly eight years, during which time he has served in a variety of roles including head of Merchant Services, chief operating officer of Corporate & Institutional Banking and Asset Management and head of Aviation Finance. In addition to his business leadership roles across PNC, Overstrom has helped lead several important strategic initiatives for the bank, including most recently the enterprise integration and conversion of BBVA USA, through which PNC signed, closed and converted 2.6 million customers, 9,000 employees and nearly 600 branches in less than one year. Overstrom joined PNC in 2014 from Goldman Sachs, where he worked in strategy and investment banking. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com. CONTACTS: MEDIA Marcey Zwiebel(412) 762-4550 [email protected] INVESTORBryan Gill(412) 768-4143[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pncs-head-of-retail-banking-and-chief-customer-officer-karen-larrimer-to-retire-301556050.html SOURCE The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. SHANGHAI, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As the investment division of Viva Biotech, Viva BioInnovator is committed to being a collaborative platform for Innovative Biotech companies from around the world. Over the past 2 month, our portfolio companies have had great progress. Anji Pharma Completes Patient Enrollment in Phase 2 Study of Pradigastat in Functional Constipation On May 18, 2022, Anji Pharma, an emerging global medicines company which invested and incubated by Viva BioInnovator, announced it has completed enrollment in its Phase 2 proof of concept study of pradigastat (ANJ908), a diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) inhibitor, in patients with functional constipation. Anji plans to report topline data from this study in the second half of 2022. AIxplorerBio Entered A Broad Collaboration with Baidu's PaddleHelix to Expedite the Construction of Its AI Small Molecule Drug RD Platform On May 18, AIxplorerBio, a Viva BioInnovator portfolio company, announced a broad collaboration with PaddleHelix. The two parties will leverage their strengths and collaborate in the fields of de novo molecular design and druggability evaluation, to accelerate new AI-powered drug research and development platform. The collaboration takes fully advantage of PaddleHelix's strengths in AI technologies and AIxplorerBio's experience in new drug RD and experiemental capabilities to jointly develop AI-powered drug discovery models. Dr. David. Xu, CEO of AIxplorerBio, emphasized, "AIxplorerBio is an AI-powered, structure-based drug R&D biotech company. The collaboration with Baidu's PaddleHelix will help enhance our new AI drug RD platform - AIxMolTM, and speed up the development of our pipeline." Domain Therapeutics Raises $42m Series A Financing On May 10, Domain Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the research and development of innovative drugs targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) in immuno-oncology, announced the closing of a US $42m (39m) series A financing round co-led by Panacea Venture, CTI Life Sciences and 3B Future Health Fund, and joined by adMare BioInnovations, Schroders Capital, Omnes, Turenne Capital, Theodorus, Viva BioInnovator and existing investor Seventure Partners. VivaVision Announces That VVN539 Has Been Formally Submitted for U.S. Phase II Clinical Trial Application VivaVision, an innovative ophthalmic drug company which invested and incubated by Viva BioInnovator, announced that it has submitted a Phase II clinical trial application for the new drug VVN539 for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma to the FDA on May 5, 2022, and will start the clinical study in June 2022. VVN539 is a new generation, dual-targeted IOP-lowering drug that acts on the trabecular meshwork of the eye to increase the outflow of aqueous humor, thereby reducing IOP. In preclinical animal models, VVN539 has shown excellent IOP-lowering efficacy. ArrePath Announces Appointment of Dr. Bret Benton as Vice President of Microbiology ArrePath, an anti-infective drug discovery company addressing the global health challenge of drug resistant infections, which invested and incubated by Viva BioInnovator, recently announced that a new appointment of Dr. Bret Benton as Vice President, Microbiology. Bret will become part of ArrePath's senior leadership team, leading their Princeton based operations, bringing a wealth of expertise to company in applying imaging and machine learning technologies to the discovery and development of new classes of anti-infectives. Dr. Kasper Roet, CEO of QurAlis, Selected for The 2022 Henri Termeer Award On April 21, 2022, The Termeer Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on connecting life science innovators and catalyzing the creation of new medicines, announced the recipients of the 2022 Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award. Dr. Kasper Roet, co-founder and CEO of QurAlis, a biotech company that invested and incubated by Viva BioInnovator, was recognized as an honoree at the Innovation for Health conference. Apeiron Completed A $17.5 Million Series A Financing and Established A New Strategic Partnership with Viva Biotech GT Apeiron Therapeutics ("Apeiron") announced it has completed a $17.5 million series A financing. Panacea Venture led the investment round with participation from Viva BioInnovator and existing investors. This is the company's second round of financing in the last year following a Pre-A+ round in May 2021. The investment will enable the company to advance its lead CDK7 program to enter clinical trials, as well as several earlier stage programs. Apeiron also announced a strategic partnership with Viva Biotech under which Viva Biotech provides world-leading structure-based drug discovery expertise to enhance Apeiron's AI-empowered innovative drug discovery and development platform. About Anji Pharma Anji Pharma is a clinical-stage company dedicated to bringing life-changing therapies to patients across the globe. Anji's asset-centric business model allows for speed and flexibility in building value, leveraging a clinical and regulatory core that operates with "hub-and-spoke" efficiency. Anji's clinical pipeline includes gut-targeted metformin (ANJ900 in Phase 3) intended for glucose management in patients with type 2 diabetes and advanced chronic kidney disease, as well as pradigastat (ANJ908 in Phase 2) for treatment of functional constipation. For more info, visit www.anjipharma.com. About AIxplorerBio We are an AI-powered, structure-based drug R&D biotech company. We focus on the discovery and development of new medicines for immunological and neurodegenerative diseases. In the quest for the new medications, we are committed to creating a AI-powered, data-driven, structure-based, efficient drug R&D paradigm through introduction, cooperation and technological innovation. For more info, visit http://www.aixplorerbio.com. About Domain Therapeutics Domain Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company operating in France and Canada, is dedicated to the discovery and development of new drug candidates targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), one of the most important classes of drug targets. The company focuses on developing high-value drug candidates to tackle GPCR-mediated immunosuppression in immune-oncology. www.domaintherapeutics.com About VivaVivion Biotech VivaVision is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on best-in-class and first-in-class therapies for ocular diseases. Besides VVN001 program, VivaVision is developing VVN539 for the treatment for Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension, and VVN461 for the treatment of non-infectious ocular inflammation of Uveitis. VivaVision is also engaged in discovery and development of novel therapies for the treatment of other anterior and posterior eye diseases. For more info, visit www.vivavisionbio.com. About ArrePath ArrePath is an anti-infective drug discovery company addressing the global health challenge of drug resistant infections. The company's proprietary machine learning (ML)-based platform enables the rapid and efficient identification of anti-infective agents with new mechanisms of action at the outset of the discovery process, through a deep understanding and analysis of pathogen behavior. The platform's proof-of-concept has been demonstrated in studies published in Cell by ArrePath's scientific founder, Zemer Gitai, Ph.D., Edwin Grant Conklin Professor of Biology at Princeton University. Learn more at www.arrepath.com. About QurAlis QurAlis is trailblazing the path to conquering amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases with genetically validated targets with next-generation precision medicines. QurAlis' proprietary platforms and unique biomarkers enable the design and development of drugs that act directly on disease-causing genetic alterations. Founded by an internationally recognized team of neurodegenerative biologists from Harvard Medical School and Harvard University, QurAlis is advancing a deep pipeline of antisense oligonucleotides and small molecule programs including addressing sub-forms of ALS that account for the majority of ALS patients. For more information, please visit www.quralis.com. About GT Apeiron Therapeutics Apeiron is strategically based in Shanghai and in the San Francisco Bay Area, with significant collaborations in the UK enabling us to tap into technologies and talent from all three continents. Our team and partners bring together deep expertise in oncology and drug discovery to enable efficient and scalable discovery and development of novel drugs. To learn more, please visit http://www.apeiron-bio.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/portfolio-highlights-clinical-and-financing-updates-of-anji-aixplorerbio-domain-vivavision-arrepath-quralis-and-apeiron-301556024.html SOURCE Viva Biotech Transitions ReVolve from solely being a developer of renewable energy projects to an independent power producer with recurring revenue and cashflows. Aligns with and underpins the Company's recent strategic move into the distributed generation market and provides a strong platform for growth moving forward. Adds a 2.8MW portfolio of operational distributed generation assets in Mexico and a further 3MW asset that is under construction and expected to go into operation by the end of 2022. Upfront cash consideration of MX$33,000,000 payable on completion of the transaction. Cash consideration to be funded through a combination of cash on hand and a new C$1.6m 2 year secured loan facility being provided by RE Royalties (TSXV: RE ). VANCOUVER, BC, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - ReVolve Renewable Power Corp. (TSXV: REVV) ("ReVolve" or the "Company"), has signed a definitive purchase agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") to acquire 100% of the share capital of Centrica Business Solutions Mexico S.A. de C.V. ("CBS Mexico), a Mexican incorporated company and subsidiary of Centrica PLC (LON:CLA) for MX$33,000,000 (the "Acquisition"). CBS Mexico is involved in the distributed generation market in Mexico focused on designing, installing and operating a range of different distributed generation solutions / projects located on the premises of various industrial customers. The Acquisition once completed will immediately add a base of operating projects and recurring revenue to the Company's newly established distributed generation division "ReVolve Renewable Business Solutions" as announced on the 26th April 2022. This division was established to target distributed generation projects with customers across a range of different industries in the US and Mexico. These projects include rooftop solar, battery storage and energy efficiency projects of up to 5MW located at the customers premises. The Company's strategy is to develop, construct and finance these projects and will enter into long term (up to 10 years) power purchase agreements for the sale of electricity from the projects with the underlying customers. (Link to the Company's April 26th, 2022 Press Release, which is also available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com:https://money.tmx.com/en/quote/REVV/news/617702864972 2935/ReVolve_Renewable_Power_announces_establishment_of_new_division_to_focus_on_distributed_generation_market_in_the_US_and_Mexico) Acquisition Overview Revolve has agreed to pay Centrica MX$33,000,000 for the purchase of 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of CBS Mexico subject to standard working capital adjustments at completion; The assets of CBS Mexico being acquired include six (6) operational rooftop solar projects and one (1) operational combined heat & power project with a combined capacity of 2.85MW's (the "Operational Projects" ). The energy generated by these projects is sold under a number of fixed price power purchase agreements with industrial clients located in Central Mexico with an average remaining term of approximately 8 years. The Operational Projects were commissioned during the period 2019 to 2021. The Operational Projects are expected to generate revenues and EBITDA in excess of equivalent US$400,000 and US$300,000 respectively per annum, refer to currency note below. In addition to these projects the assets of CBS Mexico also include (i) a 3MW combined heat and power project (the "Construction Project" ), which has been installed at the site of an industrial user, has completed pre commissioning and is awaiting receipt of final permits prior to commercial operations commencing and (ii) cash and inventory. Once operational the energy generated by the Construction Project will also be sold under a fixed price power purchase agreement with a term of 10 years. The Acquisition is being completed on a debt and liability free basis and CBS Mexico is not expected to have any employees at completion. The Acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and the other conditions set out in the Purchase Agreement. Subject to satisfaction of such conditions, the Acquisition is expected to close within the next 45 days. Conditional approval has been received from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") as the Acquisition is considered a "reviewable acquisition" in accordance with Policy 5.3 of the TSXV. Completion of the Acquisition is subject to final approval of the TSXV. Financing Concurrently with signing of the Purchase Agreement the Company has also signed financing agreements with RE Royalties Ltd (TSXV: RE) for the provision of a C$1.6m secured loan to part finance the Acquisition. The financing agreements consist of a secured loan agreement and a royalty agreement between ReVolve and RE Royalties. The Secured Loan will be drawn down as part of completion of the Acquisition and will have a term of 24 months. It will be repayable at maturity, bear interest at 10% on drawn funds, with interest payable on a quarterly basis during the term. The Company will pay RE Royalties a financing fee of 1.5% of the Secured Loan amount on signing and final repayment of the loan. The Secured Loan will be secured on certain assets of the Company. The Company has also entered into a royalty agreement with RE Royalties under, which they will receive a variable royalty of between 1% to 5% on gross revenues generated by a number of the Operational Projects for the life of the power purchase agreements for each relevant Operational Project. The Company and RE Royalties expect to collaborate on further distribution generation projects as the Company looks to continue to aggressive grow this part of its business. Steve Dalton, CEO of ReVolve, said: "We are extremely excited about the opportunity presented by the Acquisition. It will fast track the Company's strategy for the distributed generation market while moving the business from being a pure development company to an independent power producer generating electricity, revenues and cashflow. We are also looking forward to establishing a broader partnership with the RE Royalties team as we look to develop and build out a pipeline of distributed generation assets in the US and Mexico throughout the course of this year and beyond." Currencies CBS Mexico generates revenue in Mexican Pesos. For ease of reference all dollar amounts stated herein refer to US dollars. Where applicable and stated in U.S. dollars, the following rates have been utilized: USD/MEX 0.049. About ReVolve Renewable Power ReVolve Renewable Power Corp. (www.revolve-renewablepower.com) is in the business of developing utility scale renewable energy generation projects in North America with a particular focus on wind, solar and battery storage technologies. The Company has also recently establish ReVolve Renewable Business Solutions, a division dedicated to the development and operation of distribution generation and sub 20MW renewable energy projects in the US and Mexico. The Company was established in 2012 and since then has successfully built a diversified portfolio of projects across the different renewable energy technologies in both the US and Mexican markets. It currently has a portfolio of 3.3 gigawatts ("GW") of projects under active development and a further 1GW of greenfield opportunities, which it is in the process of converting to its pipeline in the near term. ReVolve is in the process of rapidly expanding its pipeline and development activities in the US and is targeting an active portfolio of up to 3GWs under development by the end of 2022 in addition to a 2GW target for Mexico. Forward Looking Information Although ReVolve believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because ReVolve can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the business plans of ReVolve and ReVolve's management's expectation on the growth and performance of its business in the United States and Mexico, including the planned MW capacity of its projects; its expansion into the distributed generation market; potential opportunities in the distributed generation market; the completion and timing of the development of its planned portfolio of distributed generation projects; the completion of the Transaction, including final approval of the transaction by the TSXV; potential revenues generated from CBS Mexico; and the Company's plans to develop, construct and finance rooftop solar, battery storage and energy efficiency projects of up to 5MW and enter into long term power purchase agreements for the sale of electricity from the projects with the underlying customers. Such statements and information reflect the current view of ReVolve and/or ReVolve, respectively. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, having regard to the Company's experience and its perception of historical trends, and includes, but is not limited to, expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions relating to the extent of regulations pertaining to the Company's projects and ReVolve's ability to continue as going concern. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information, including but not limited to: the effects of weather, catastrophes and public health crises, including COVID-19; labour availability; disruptions to the Company's supply chains; changes to regulatory environment, including interpretation of production tax credits; armed hostilities and geopolitical conflicts; failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals in a timely fashion, or at all; risks related to the development and potential development of the Company's projects; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; the availability of tax incentives in connection with the development of renewable energy projects and the sale of electrical energy; as well as those factors discussed in the sections relating to risk factors discussed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings on SEDAR. Such statements and information reflect the current view of ReVolve. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of ReVolve as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. ReVolve does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/revolve-renewable-power-tsxvrevv-signs-definitive-agreement-for-the-acquisition-of-centrica-business-solutions-mexico-301555689.html SOURCE ReVolve Renewable Power Corp CEO and co-founder Heather Fernandez uses fundraising efforts to build a diverse investor base representative of Solv's user base $3.4M of newly created special purpose vehicle (SPV) raised by women, 60% of which are women of color and 33% are first time investors Hollywood actress Kerry Washington participated in the round, alongside personal investments from tech CEOs and founders from Cityblock, StichFix, and PagerDuty SAN FRANCISCO, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Solv, an app that delivers everyday healthcare on demand, today revealed that the company's recently completed $45 million Series C funding round included participation from 75 female investors, 60% of whom are women of color and 33% of whom are first-time investors. The round was co-led by Acrew Capital and Corner Ventures, with participation from existing investors, Benchmark and Greylock. Solv formed a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to provide female investors with access to the round, raising $3.4 million in just two weeks. Hollywood actress, producer, and director Kerry Washington participated in the round, alongside personal investments from Dr. Toyin Ajayi, CEO of Cityblock; Katrina Lake, founder of StichFix; and Jennifer Tejada, CEO of PagerDuty. The venture capital community also participated via personal investments from Kara Nortman, Managing Partner at UpFront Ventures; Lydia Jet, Managing Partner at VisionFund; and Laela Sturdy, General Partner at Capital G. "As a founder, I realized that the most direct way that I could create more cap table diversity in tech was to make the space on Solv's cap table. This might sound obvious, but an SPV created with this purpose is not common as it should be," shared Heather Fernandez, CEO and co-founder of Solv. "I hope that this helps other founders and investors see what's possible so we can all stop talking about cap table diversity, and actually do something about it. I'm proud and excited to have so many first-time investors join the Solv growth journey, and I hope the success of Solv's SPV and enthusiastic response from the female investors who participated will inspire other venture-backed companies to follow suit." Opportunities for women and minorities, including smaller investors, to participate in deal flow and successful startup growth rounds are rare. While women make up 33% of the combined founder and employee workforce, they hold just 9% of the equity value, according to a comprehensive public study of cap table data by Carta and the investment collective #Angels. The other 91% belongs to men. "Through our 20-year friendship, Heather and I have spoken at length about how to make cap table diversity a reality in high growth start-ups. Access to these circles are typically constrained to a small group of men who have long term relationships with investors or repeat founders," said Kara Nortman. "By tapping into our personal and professional networks, we were able to activate our community to bring women who have never been invited to the table, into a growth stage investment. The success of Solv's SPV is a testament to Heather, Solv's traction and culture, and the women who believe and invested in her vision." To increase access and participation from underrepresented communities, the female-founded and -led company used its Series C round to provide wealth creation opportunities for ambitious women investors, a group that more accurately reflects the makeup of Solv user base and healthcare decision-makers in the United States. Unlike many SPVs who maintain a $25,000 minimum, Solv eliminated any investment minimum and opened a dedicated portion of its cap table to provide women the opportunity to invest in a growth-stage company. Of the 75 female investors, contribution amounts ranged from $1,000 to more than $1 million. Concurrently, Solv established its first industry advisory board, whose founding members are all women, including: Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, 18th U.S. Surgeon General Alexandra Morehouse, Chief Marketing Officer of Banner Health Florence Chang, President of MultiCare Health System "Women and mothers make most healthcare decisions for their families, yet are often underrepresented by their care teams and healthcare executives," said Dr. Benjamin. "I'm honored to join the Solv team as Heather and the company strive to empower women and families at every level, whether it's at the cap table or ensuring they have access to high quality, affordable healthcare." Solv is on a mission to make affordable, high quality, same-day and next-day care easy to access for all. Today, 150 million Americans live within five miles of a same-day bookable appointment with a Solv provider and 1 in 16 Americans have used Solv to schedule care. About Solv Solv is an app that delivers everyday healthcare on demand. The app connects patients to a national network of convenient healthcare providers, empowering consumers to simplify their everyday healthcare needs. For providers, Solv's technology improves their quality of service, engagement with their patients, and the performance of their practice. For consumers, Solv offers same-day appointment availability, in-person and virtual visits, and cost transparency. Solv eliminates the stress of everyday healthcare by letting you know where you can go, when you'll be seen, and how much it will cost. Download the Solv app or book online at solvhealth.com. Providers can learn more at solvhealth.com/for-providers Media Contact[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/solv-diversifies-its-cap-table-secures-participation-from-75-female-investors-as-part-of-larger-45m-series-c-301556315.html SOURCE Solv HOUSTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: SMLP) (the "Partnership" or "SMLP") announced today that its 2022 annual meeting of limited partners initially convened and partially adjourned on May 10, 2022 and reconvened on May 26, 2022 (the "Annual Meeting") has been adjourned, prior to conducting any business, for the purpose of soliciting additional votes with respect to Proposal 2, the approval of the Summit Midstream Partners, LP 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan, set forth in the Partnership's definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2022 (the "Proxy Statement"). A quorum was present at the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will be reconvened solely with respect to Proposal 2 on Friday, June 24, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time and will be held virtually via live webcast at https://web.lumiagm.com/275506380 (password: summit2022). The record date for determination of the limited partners of the Partnership who are holders of record of outstanding common units of the Partnership entitled to vote at the reconvened Annual Meeting remains the close of business on March 21, 2022. Any proxies previously submitted by such holders with respect to Proposal 2 will continue to be counted. Such holders need not submit a new proxy for their votes to be counted. Such holders may revoke their proxies as set forth in the Proxy Statement. About Summit Midstream Partners, LP SMLP is a value-driven limited partnership focused on developing, owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets that are strategically located in the core producing areas of unconventional resource basins, primarily shale formations, in the continental United States. SMLP provides natural gas, crude oil and produced water gathering, processing and transportation services pursuant to primarily long-term, fee-based agreements with customers and counterparties in six unconventional resource basins: (i) the Appalachian Basin, which includes the Utica and Marcellus shale formations in Ohio and West Virginia; (ii) the Williston Basin, which includes the Bakken and Three Forks shale formations in North Dakota; (iii) the Denver-Julesburg Basin, which includes the Niobrara and Codell shale formations in Colorado and Wyoming; (iv) the Permian Basin, which includes the Bone Spring and Wolfcamp formations in New Mexico; (v) the Fort Worth Basin, which includes the Barnett Shale formation in Texas; and (vi) the Piceance Basin, which includes the Mesaverde formation as well as the Mancos and Niobrara shale formations in Colorado. SMLP has an equity method investment in Double E Pipeline, LLC, which provides interstate natural gas transportation service from multiple receipt points in the Delaware Basin to various delivery points in and around the Waha Hub in Texas. SMLP also has an equity method investment in Ohio Gathering, which operates extensive natural gas gathering and condensate stabilization infrastructure in the Utica Shale in Ohio. SMLP is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain statements concerning expectations for the future that are forward-looking within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, without limitation, the timing of the reconvened Annual Meeting. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements and may contain the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions, or future conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would," and "could." In addition, any statement concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies and possible actions taken by us or our subsidiaries are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also contain known and unknown risks and uncertainties (many of which are difficult to predict and beyond management's control) that may cause SMLP's actual results in future periods to differ materially from anticipated or projected results. An extensive list of specific material risks and uncertainties affecting SMLP is contained in its 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2022, as amended and updated from time to time. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and SMLP undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/summit-midstream-partners-lp-announces-adjournment-of-annual-meeting-and-information-for-reconvened-annual-meeting-301556335.html SOURCE Summit Midstream Partners, LP NAPA, Calif., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Doctors Company, the nation's largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer, is pleased to announce the appointment of Megan Mahoney, MD, MBA, to its Board of Governors. Dr. Mahoney is Chief of Staff for Stanford Health Care and Professor of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. In this role, she oversees the quality, safety, and professionalism activities of the 3,000 physicians within Stanford Health Care. Dr. Mahoney is known for her passion for both teams and technology in healthcare. She is leading initiatives in team-based healthcare and precision health. The initiatives bring together the latest science and technology to enhance the understanding of each patient, from lifestyle to DNA, and customize their healthcare on an individual basis. "We are pleased to welcome Dr. Mahoney to our board," said Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and CEO of The Doctors Company and TDC Group. "Her background is extraordinary, and her expertise in precision health and practice transformation, in large healthcare systems, further strengthens The Doctors Company on our mission to advance the practice of good medicine." Before joining Stanford, Dr. Mahoney served in leadership capacities in clinic operations, medical education, and research as a faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco, for 10 years. She was a Visiting Professor at Aga Khan Medical College of East Africa and served on the family medicine committee of the Kenya Ministry of Health. In addition, she was selected as one of The Top 100 Women Leaders in Medicine of 2021 by Women We Admire. "I am excited to bring my background in developing transformative approaches to proactive and personalized team-based care that empowers patients, healthcare providers, and communities to this organization dedicated to innovation," said Dr. Mahoney. "I see my work throughout my career as an ideal complement to The Doctors Company and look forward to helping build upon TDC Group's position as the preeminent organization for service to healthcare." Dr. Mahoney earned her MD at the University of California, San Francisco, and her MBA at Brandeis University. She received her undergraduate degree in molecular and cellular biology from the University of California, Berkeley. About The Doctors Company Founded and led by physicians, The Doctors Company (thedoctors.com), the nation's largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer, is relentlessly committed to advancing, protecting, and rewarding the practice of good medicine. The Doctors Company helps physicians manage the complexities of today's healthcare environmentwith expert guidance, resources, and coverage. The Doctors Company is part of TDC Group (thetdcgroup.com), the nation's largest physician-owned provider of insurance, risk management, and healthcare practice improvement solutions. TDC Group serves the full continuum of care, from individual physicians to academic medical systemsover 100,000 healthcare professionals and organizations nationwidewith annual revenue of $1 billion and over $6.5 billion in assets. To learn more about our data-driven insights and to stay up to date on industry trends, follow and subscribe to The Doctors Company on Twitter (@doctorscompany), YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-doctors-company-names-megan-mahoney-md-mba-to-board-of-governors-301556316.html SOURCE The Doctors Company Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby makes, constitutes and appoints each of Gregory A. Korbel and Scott M. Coiante, or either of them acting individually, and with full power of substitution, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to: (1) prepare, execute in the undersigned's name and on the undersigned's behalf, and submit to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a Form ID, including amendments thereto, and any other documents necessary or appropriate to obtain codes and passwords enabling the undersigned to make electronic filings with the SEC of reports required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or regulation of the SEC; (2) execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director of Aprea Therapeutics, Inc. a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5, including amendments thereto, in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder; (3) do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form 3, 4, or 5, complete and execute any amendment or amendments thereto, and timely file such form with the SEC and any stock exchange or similar authority; and (4) take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's discretion. The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier (a) revoked by the undersigned i n a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact or (b) superseded by a new power of attorney regarding the purposes outlined herein at a later date. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 11th day of May , 2022. /s/ Oren Gilad Signature Oren Gilad Print Name Item 5.02 - Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. On May 25, 2022, the Board of Directors of WeWork Inc. (the Company) appointed Andre J. Fernandez as the Companys new Chief Financial Officer, effective June 10, 2022. Mr. Fernandez, 53, served as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of NCR Corporation from 2018 to 2020, and as President & Chief Executive Officer of CBS Radio Inc. from 2015 to 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Fernandez spent seven years at Journal Communications Inc. (2008 - 2015), serving in various roles including President & Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Fernandez currently serves on the boards for (1) Givewith, (2) Sachem Acquisition Corp., and (3) Bankroll Club LLC, and previously served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Froedtert Health, and on the boards of directors of both Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. and the National Association of Broadcasters. Also on May 25, 2022, the Company and Benjamin Dunham, the Companys current Chief Financial Officer, agreed to terminate his employment effective June 9, 2022. In connection with the termination, Mr. Dunham will receive severance as set forth in his employment agreement, effective as of October 1, 2020, with the Company. The termination is not the result of any issues relating to financial disclosures or accounting matters. Mr. Fernandez will receive an annual base salary of $900,000 and will be eligible to participate in the Companys benefit and compensation plans. Mr. Fernandez has a target annual cash bonus of 50% of his base salary, provided that his bonus for 2022 will be at least $450,000. In connection with his appointment as Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Fernandez will receive an award of restricted stock units with a nominal value of $3,000,000, which will vest over three years in equal annual installments on July 10, 2023, 2024 and 2025, subject to his continued employment with the Company or one of its majority-owned subsidiaries. In the first quarter of 2023, subject to his continued employment with the Company through the grant date, Mr. Fernandez will receive an award of restricted stock units consistent with the grants made to other Company employees that will vest over three years in equal annual installments in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and have a nominal value of $2,650,000. Mr. Fernandezs employment agreement also provides, upon any termination of employment, for payment of any accrued and unpaid base salary, payment for accrued and unused vacation time, and any rights surviving termination of employment under any employee benefit plan or program or compensation arrangement in which he participates. Upon a termination by the Company without cause or by Mr. Fernandez for good reason, the employment agreement provides for (i) 18 months of base salary (or 24 months, if such termination occurs within six months after a change in control of the Company); (ii) 150% of his target bonus (or 200%, if such termination occurs within six months after a change in control of the Company); (iii) any unpaid annual bonus for the calendar year preceding the termination; (iv) acceleration of all time-based vesting conditions of equity awards outstanding on the date of termination; and (v) COBRA reimbursements for 18 months or until he ceases to be eligible for COBRA coverage or becomes eligible for group health insurance coverage through a subsequent employer, whichever is earliest. In the event of a change in control of the Company, all time-based vesting conditions of outstanding equity awards held by Mr. Fernandez on the date of the change in control, excluding any equity awards which include a performance-vesting component, would accelerate. There are no other arrangements or understandings between Mr. Fernandez and any other person pursuant to which he was appointed to the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and Mr. Fernandez is not a party to any transaction that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. There is no family relationship between Mr. Fernandez and any director, executive officer, or person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer of the Company. Item 7.01 - Regulation FD Disclosure On May 26, 2022, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Fernandez, the termination of Mr. Dunham as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and the reaffirmation of its second quarter and full year guidance. The full text of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference in this Item 7.01. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13D Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. __)* CalAmp Corp. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (Title of Class of Securities) 128126109 (CUSIP Number) B. Riley Asset Management, LLC 3811 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Suite 2100 Dallas, TX 75219 Eleazer Klein, Esq. Adriana Schwartz, Esq. Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP 919 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 (212) 756-2000 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) May 12, 2022 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement) If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), Rule 13d-1(f) or Rule 13d-1(g), check the following box. (Page 1 of 24 Pages) ______________________________ * The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 2 of 24 Pages 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON B. Riley Asset Management, LLC 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) (b) 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS AF 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH 7 SOLE VOTING POWER -0- 8 SHARED VOTING POWER 1,354,678 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,354,678 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,354,678 12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 3.76% 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IA CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 3 of 24 Pages 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Wes Cummins 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) (b) 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS AF 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH 7 SOLE VOTING POWER -0- 8 SHARED VOTING POWER 1,354,678 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,354,678 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,354,678 12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 3.76% 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 4 of 24 Pages 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Michael Burdiek 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) (b) 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS PF 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH 7 SOLE VOTING POWER 1,003,213 (including options to purchase 476,803 shares) 8 SHARED VOTING POWER -0- 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,003,213 (including options to purchase 476,803 shares) 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,003,213 (including options to purchase 476,803 shares) 12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.75% 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 5 of 24 Pages 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Garo Sarkissian 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) (b) 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS PF 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH 7 SOLE VOTING POWER 50,302 (including options to purchase 2,900 shares) 8 SHARED VOTING POWER -0- 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 50,302 (including options to purchase 2,900 shares) 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 50,302 (including options to purchase 2,900 shares) 12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) Less than 0.1% 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 6 of 24 Pages Item 1. SECURITY AND ISSUER This statement on Schedule 13D (the " Schedule 13D ") relates to the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (" Shares ") , of CalAmp Corp., a Delaware corporation (the " Issuer "). The Issuer's principal executive offices are located at 15635 Alton Parkway, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92618 . Item 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND (a) This Schedule 13D is being filed on behalf of (i) B. Riley Asset Management, LLC (" BRAM ") with respect to the Shares held by certain funds and accounts (the " BRAM Funds and Accounts ") to which it acts an investment manager; (ii) Wes Cummins (" Mr. Cummins ", and together with BRAM, the " BRAM Parties "), who is the President of BRAM; (iii) Michael Burdiek, (" Mr. Burdiek "); and (iv) Garo Sarkissian (" Mr. Sarkissian ," and together with Mr. Burdiek and the BRAM Parties, the " Reporting Persons "). The filing of this statement should not be construed in and of itself as an admission by any Reporting Person as to beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein. (b) The principal business address of: (i) each of the BRAM Parties is 3811 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75219; (ii) Mr. Burdiek is 688 Mystic View, Laguna Beach, CA 92651; and (iii) Mr. Sarkissian is 2820 Townsgate Road #204, Westlake Village, CA 91361. (c) The principal business of: (i) BRAM is to invest in securities; (ii) Mr. Cummins is to serve as the President of BRAM; (iii) Mr. Burdiek is serving as a corporate director after having previously served as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of the Issuer; and (iv) Mr. Sarkissian is serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Dune Labs, Inc. and the owner of Caneel Investments, LLC, after having previously served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development of the Issuer. (d)-(e) During the last five (5) years, none of the Reporting Persons has: (1) been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (2) been party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and, as a result of such proceeding, was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws. (f) BRAM is a Delaware limited liability company. Each of Messrs. Cummins, Burdiek and Sarkissian (as defined below in Item 4) is a citizen of the United States of America. CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 7 of 24 Pages Item 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION Funds for the purchase of the Shares beneficially owned by the BRAM Parties reported herein were derived from general working capital of the BRAM Funds and Accounts. Funds for the purchase of the Shares beneficially owned by each of Messrs. Burdiek and Sarkissian reported herein were derived from their respective personal accounts. The BRAM Parties used a total of approximately $7,882,638, including brokerage commissions, in the aggregate to acquire the 1,354,678 Shares reported herein as beneficially owned by them. Mr. Sarkissian used a total of approximately $291,471 in the aggregate, including brokerage commissions, to purchase the 50,302 Shares (including options to purchase 2,900 Shares) reported herein as beneficially owned by him. Mr. Burdiek used a total of approximately $770,652 in the aggregate, including brokerage commissions, to purchase 115,540 Shares reported herein as beneficially owned by him. The remaining 887,673 shares reported herein as beneficially owned by Mr. Burdiek were acquired pursuant to stock awards he received pursuant to his position as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the board of directors of the Issuer from 2011 to 2020. The Reporting Persons have and may effect purchases of Shares through margin accounts maintained with prime brokers, which extend margin credit as and when required to open or carry positions in their margin accounts, subject to applicable federal margin regulations, stock exchange rules and such firms' credit policies. Positions in the Shares may be held in margin accounts and may be pledged as collateral security for the repayment of debit balances in such accounts. CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 8 of 24 Pages Item 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION Each of the Reporting Persons acquired the securities reported herein for investment purposes and because they believe the Shares are undervalued and represent an attractive investment opportunity. On April 29, 2022, the BRAM Parties delivered a notice to the Issuer of their intent to propose the six Nominees (as defined below) for election at the Issuers 2022 annual meeting of stockholders (including any adjournment or postponement thereof or any special meeting held in lieu thereof, the Annual Meeting ). The BRAM Parties believe that the Nominees possess the necessary expertise and experience to help the Board evaluate and address opportunities for stockholder value creation. BRAM has entered into the April 2022 Nominee Agreement with Mr. Sarkissian, Mr. Burdiek, Doug Miller (" Mr. Miller ") and Alan Howe (" Mr. Howe ," and together with Messrs. Cummins, Sarkissian, Burdiek, and Miller and Saidal Mohmand (" Mr. Mohmand "), the " Nominees ") as described in Item 6 of this Schedule 13D, with such Item 6 incorporated by reference into this Item 4. The Reporting Persons have had and may continue to have discussions with officers and directors of the Issuer in connection with the Reporting Persons' investment in the Issuer. The topics of these conversations may cover a range of issues, including those relating to the business of the Issuer, management, board composition, investor communications, operations, capital allocation, dividend policy, financial condition, mergers and acquisitions strategy, overall business strategy, executive compensation and corporate governance related to the Issuer's business and stakeholders. The Reporting Persons may also have similar conversations with other stockholders or other interested parties, such as industry analysts, existing or potential strategic partners or competitors, investment professionals and other investors and may exchange information with any such persons or the Issuer pursuant to appropriate confidentiality or similar agreements (which may contain customary standstill provisions). The Reporting Persons may at any time reconsider and change their intentions relating to the foregoing. The Reporting Persons may also take one or more of the actions described in subsections (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D and may discuss or propose such actions with the Issuer's management and the board of directors of the Issuer, other stockholders of the Issuer, and other interested parties, such as those set out above. Depending on various factors including, without limitation, the Issuer's financial position and strategic direction, the outcome of the discussions and actions referenced above, actions taken by the Issuer's board of directors, price levels of the Shares, liquidity requirements and other investment opportunities available to the Reporting Persons, conditions in the securities market and general economic and industry conditions, the Reporting Persons may in the future take actions with respect to their investment position in the Issuer as they deem appropriate including, without limitation, purchasing additional Shares or other instruments that are based upon or relate to the value of the Shares of the Issuer in the open market or otherwise, selling some or all of the securities reported herein, and/or engaging in hedging or similar transactions with respect to the Shares. CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 9 of 24 Pages Item 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER (a) See rows (11) and (13) of the cover pages to this Schedule 13D for the aggregate number of Shares and percentages of the Shares beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons. The percentages used in this Schedule 13D are calculated based upon 36,058,448 Shares outstanding, as reported in the Issuer's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2022 filed on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2022. By virtue of the April 2022 Nominee Agreements (as defined in Item 6 below), the BRAM Parties, Mr. Burdiek and Mr. Sarkissian may be deemed to have formed a "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act and such "group" may be deemed to beneficially own an aggregate of 2,408,193 Shares (including 476,803 and 2,900 options to purchase Shares held by Messrs. Burdiek and Sarkissian, respectively), representing approximately 6.68% of the outstanding Shares. Mr. Burdiek expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned by the BRAM Parties and Mr. Sarkissian. Mr. Sarkissian expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned by the BRAM Parties and Mr. Burdiek. The BRAM Parties expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the Shares beneficially owned by each of Messrs. Burdiek and Sarkissian. (b) See rows (7) through (10) of the cover pages to this Schedule 13D for the number of Shares as to which each Reporting Person has the sole or shared power to vote or direct the vote and sole or shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition. (c) Information concerning transactions in the Shares effected by the Reporting Persons during the past sixty (60) days is set forth in Annex A hereto and is incorporated herein by reference. All of the transactions in Shares listed hereto were effected in the open market through various brokerage entities. (d) No person other than the Reporting Persons and the BRAM Funds and Accounts are known to have the right to receive, or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or proceeds from the sale of, the Shares held by the BRAM Funds and Accounts. 272 Capital Fund LP, a BRAM fund, has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends or the proceeds from the sale of more than 5% of the Shares. (e) Not applicable. CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 10 of 24 Pages Item 6. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER Each Nominee (with the exceptions of Messrs. Cummins and Mohmand) has entered into an engagement and indemnification agreement (collectively, the " April 2022 Nominee Agreement ") with BRAM substantially in the form attached as Exhibit 2 to this Schedule 13D, whereby the Nominees agreed to become members of a slate of nominees and stand for election as directors of the Issuer in connection with a proxy solicitation which may be conducted in respect of the Annual Meeting. Pursuant to the April 2022 Nominee Agreement, BRAM has agreed to pay certain costs of soliciting proxies in connection with the Annual Meeting, and to defend and indemnify each of the Nominees (with the exception of Mr. Mohmand and Mr. Cummins) against, and with respect to, certain losses that may be incurred by any Nominee (with the exception of Mr. Mohmand and Mr. Cummins) in the event he becomes a party to litigation in connection with his nomination as a candidate for election to the Board and the solicitation of proxies in support of his election as a director of the Corporation. The foregoing summary of the April 2022 Nominee Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the April 2022 Nominee Agreement, a copy of the form of which is attached as Exhibit 2 and is incorporated by reference herein. Mr. Burdiek beneficially owns 33,200 options to purchase 33,200 Shares with a strike price of $15.14, 35,500 options to purchase 35,500 Shares with a strike price of $17.47, 49,300 options to purchase 49,300 Shares with a strike price of $17.54, 74,300 options to purchase 74,300 Shares with a strike price of $14.49, 64,700 options to purchase 64,700 Shares with a strike price of $14.49, 51,920 options to purchase 51,920 Shares with a strike price of $19.32, 53,200 options to purchase 53,200 Shares with a strike price of $23.08, and 114,683 options to purchase 114,683 Shares with a strike price of $11.11, all of which are currently out of the money and expire on May 31, 2023. Mr. Sarkissian beneficially owns 100 call options to purchase 1,000 Shares with a strike price of $10.00 and which expire on December 16, 2022, 90 call options to purchase 900 Shares with a strike price of $7.50 and which expire on September 16, 2022, and 100 call options to purchase 1,000 Shares with a strike price of $10.00 and which expire on June 17, 2022. Except as otherwise described in this Schedule 13D and the joint filing agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 1 , there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or similar relationships with respect to the securities of the Issuer between the Reporting Persons and any other person or entity. Item 7. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS Exhibit 1: Joint Filing Agreement, dated May 26, 2022. Exhibit 2: Form of April 2022 Nominee Agreement CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 11 of 24 Pages SIGNATURES After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his or its knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: May 26, 2022 B. Riley Asset Management, LLC /s/ Wes Cummins Name: Wes Cummins Title: President /s/ Wes Cummins WES CUMMINS /s/ Michael Burdiek MICHAEL BURDIEK /s/ Garo Sarkissian GARO SARKISSIAN CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 12 of 24 Pages EXHIBIT 1 JOINT FILING AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(k) The undersigned acknowledge and agree that the foregoing statement on Schedule 13D is filed on behalf of each of the undersigned and that all subsequent amendments to this statement on Schedule 13D shall be filed on behalf of each of the undersigned without the necessity of filing additional joint filing agreements. The undersigned acknowledge that each shall be responsible for the timely filing of such amendments, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning him or it contained herein and therein, but shall not be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning the others, except to the extent that it knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate. DATE: May 26, 2022 B. Riley Asset Management, LLC /s/ Wes Cummins Name: Wes Cummins Title: President /s/ Wes Cummins WES CUMMINS /s/ Michael Burdiek MICHAEL BURDIEK /s/ Garo Sarkissian GARO SARKISSIAN CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 13 of 24 Pages Annex A Transactions in the Shares of the Issuer by the Reporting Persons During the Last Sixty (60) Days The following tables set forth all transactions in the Shares effected in the past sixty days by the Reporting Persons. Except as noted below, all such transactions were effected in the open market through brokers and the price per share includes commissions. Where a price range is provided in the column Price Range ($), the price reported in that row's Price Per Share ($) column is a weighted average price. These Shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices between the price ranges indicated in the Price Range ($) column. The Reporting Persons undertake to provide to the staff of the SEC, upon request, full information regarding the number of Shares purchased at each separate price. The BRAM Parties Trade Date Shares Purchased (Sold) Weighted Average Price Per Share ($) Price Range 5/25/2022 150,000 6.633040 6.00-6.80 5/24/2022 55,403 6.358004 6.24-6.40 5/23/2022 37,480 6.391923 6.35-6.40 5/20/2022 35,754 6.162981 6.05-6.25 5/19/2022 40,700 6.073664 5.93-6.16 5/18/2022 17,074 5.885383 5.82-5.90 5/17/2022 15,315 5.613900 5.60-5.65 5/16/2022 80,089 5.541400 5.46-5.60 5/13/2022 23,910 5.276836 5.26-5.28 5/12/2022 16,194 4.967933 4.92-5.00 5/11/2022 130,000 4.886694 4.71-4.97 5/10/2022 29,906 4.892493 4.74-5.05 5/9/2022 60,000 5.065033 4.99-5.16 4/29/2022 (100) 5.000000 5.00-5.00 4/28/2022 (100) 5.000000 5.00-5.00 4/27/2022 61,000 5.417581 5.23-5.53 4/26/2022 50,000 5.673351 5.62-5.76 4/25/2022 83,247 5.768826 5.63-5.82 4/22/2022 23,995 5.726906 5.67-5.77 4/21/2022 22,268 5.758067 5.69-5.85 4/20/2022 24,519 5.854618 5.82-5.93 4/19/2022 12,588 5.958421 5.95-5.96 CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 14 of 24 Pages 4/18/2022 111,440 5.983568 5.86-6.04 4/11/2022 15,400 5.941800 5.92-5.95 4/8/2022 171,096 5.946949 5.94-6.00 CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 15 of 24 Pages EXHIBIT 2 Form of Nomination Agreement ENGAGEMENT AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, dated as of April __, 2022 (this " Agreement "), by and between B. Riley Asset Management, LLC ("BRAM," " we " or " us ") and ________ (" Nominee " or " you "). WHEREAS, BRAM has asked Nominee, and Nominee has agreed, to be (i) a member of the slate of nominees (the " Slate ") of BRAM or an affiliate thereof for election to the Board of Directors (the " Board of Directors ") of CalAmp Corp., a Delaware corporation (the " Company "), at the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company (including any adjournment, rescheduling, continuation or postponement thereof, the " Annual Meeting ") and/or at any special meeting of the stockholders of the Company (including any adjournment, rescheduling, continuation or postponement thereof, a " Special Meeting ") and (ii) named as such in the proxy solicitation materials of BRAM related to the Annual Meeting and/or a Special Meeting; WHEREAS, BRAM may solicit proxies from the stockholders of the Company in support of, among other things, Nominee's election as a director of the Company at the Annual Meeting and/or a Special Meeting (the " Solicitation "); and WHEREAS, Nominee has agreed to serve as a director of the Company if Nominee is (i) elected at the Annual Meeting and/or a Special Meeting or (ii) appointed to the Board of Directors by other means. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and with the understanding on the part of BRAM that Nominee is relying on this Agreement in agreeing to be a nominee as aforesaid and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1. Certain Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below: " Claim " means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative, formal or informal, investigative or other), whether instituted by BRAM, the Company or any other party, or any inquiry or investigation that Nominee in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any such action, suit or proceeding. " Expenses " means all reasonable documented out-of-pocket attorneys' fees and all other reasonable out-of-pocket fees, costs, and expenses paid or incurred directly in connection with the Solicitation or related matters, as applicable, including without limitation, investigating, defending or participating in (as a party, witness or otherwise, including on appeal), or preparing to defend or participate in, any Claim relating to any Indemnifiable Event, including the reasonable documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses of Nominee incurred directly in connection with seeking enforcement of this Agreement in the event that Nominee is successful in such enforcement action, in each case except to the extent arising out of or resulting from Nominee's (i) willful violation of state or federal law in connection with the Solicitation, unless you demonstrate CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 16 of 24 Pages (any such demonstration to be reasonably determined solely by BRAM) that your action was taken in good faith and in a manner you reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of electing the Slate, (ii) gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith or (iii) a material misstatement or omission in any information provided by Nominee in connection with the Solicitation and in each case to the extent not otherwise covered by insurance or indemnification from another source (including, without limitation, the Company). " Indemnifiable Event " means any event or occurrence directly arising out of, or any action taken or omitted to be taken directly and solely in connection with, the Solicitation or being a member of the Slate, in each case except to the extent arising out of or resulting from Nominee's (i) willful violation of state or federal law in connection with the Solicitation, unless you demonstrate (any such demonstration to be determined solely by BRAM) that your action was taken in good faith and in a manner you reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of electing the Slate, (ii) gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith or (iii) a material misstatement or omission in any information provided by Nominee in connection with the Solicitation and in each case to the extent not otherwise covered by insurance or indemnification from another source (including, without limitation, the Company). " Loss or Losses " means any and all damages, judgments, fines, penalties, amounts paid or payable in settlement, deficiencies, losses and Expenses (including all interest, assessments, and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Losses), in each case except to the extent arising out of or resulting from Nominee's (i) willful violation of state or federal law in connection with the Solicitation, unless you demonstrate (any such demonstration to be determined solely by BRAM) that your action was taken in good faith and in a manner you reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of electing the Slate, (ii) gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith or (iii) a material misstatement or omission in any information provided by Nominee in connection with the Solicitation and, in each case, to the extent not otherwise covered by insurance or indemnification from another source (including, without limitation, the Company). 2. Agreement to be Named and Serve . Nominee hereby agrees, should we so elect, to (a) be a nominee for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting and/or a Special Meeting, (b) be named as such in the proxy solicitation materials of BRAM, an affiliate thereof or the Company related to the Annual Meeting and/or a Special Meeting, (c) serve as a director of the Company if (i) so elected at the Annual Meeting and/or a Special Meeting or (ii) appointed to the Board of Directors by other means, (d) devote the time and energy necessary to participate in the Solicitation as BRAM may request, subject to reasonable attempts to accommodate Nominee's other professional responsibilities and avoid conflicts with Nominee's pre-existing schedule, by Nominee making himself or herself available to attend and participate in meetings with, interviews with and presentations to stockholders, analysts, fund managers, representatives of nominee holders, proxy advisory firms, members of the media, and other persons BRAM may reasonably request in connection with the Solicitation, the election of the Slate or any stockholder resolutions BRAM may determine to bring before the Company's stockholders in connection with the Solicitation and (e) (i) not consent to being nominated to stand for election to the Board of Directors by the Company or any stockholder of the Company (other than BRAM) and (ii) not serve as a director of the Company in connection with any appointment by the CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 17 of 24 Pages Company, the Board of Directors, any stockholder of the Company (other than BRAM) or otherwise, without, in each case of (i) and (ii), prior approval of BRAM, and (f) subject to Section 4 , reasonably cooperate with BRAM in connection with any litigation, investigation or other proceeding arising out of or related to the Solicitation, including the nomination of the Slate, and subject to reasonable attempts to accommodate Nominee's other professional responsibilities and avoid conflicts with Nominee's pre-existing schedule, to be reasonably available to respond to and participate as reasonably necessary in any such litigation, investigation or other proceeding. 3. Questionnaires; Disclosure of Information . Nominee hereby agrees (a) to promptly complete and sign one or more questionnaires requesting information relating to Nominee's background and qualifications (the " Questionnaires ") and the written consent that is required to be completed and delivered to the Company in order to be eligible to be a nominee for election to the Board of Directors and to serve as a director if elected, pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(ii)(A) of the Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws (the " Written Consent "), (b) that Nominee's responses in the Questionnaires and Nominee's statements in the Written Consent will be true, complete and correct in all material respects and will not omit any material information, (c) that Nominee will provide true, correct and complete information concerning such other matters as are required or customary to be disclosed regarding Nominee, his or her nomination to the Board of Directors or the Solicitation under (i) the Company's governing documents or nomination or director requirements or (ii) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (d) that Nominee will promptly provide any additional information as may be requested by BRAM, such information to be true and correct and not omit any material information, and (e) that Nominee will promptly notify BRAM of any changes or updates to any information provided by Nominee to BRAM pursuant to this Section 3 . Nominee further acknowledges and agrees that BRAM may forward the Written Consent and the Questionnaires to the Company, and both BRAM and the Company may at any time, in their respective discretion, publicly disclose such information, as well as the existence and contents of this Agreement and any information that you provide pursuant to this Agreement. Furthermore, Nominee acknowledges and agrees that BRAM may elect, at its expense, to conduct a background and reference check of Nominee and Nominee further agrees to complete and execute any necessary authorization forms or other documents required in connection therewith. 4. Indemnification . (a) In the event Nominee was, is or becomes a party to or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or other participant in, a Claim by reason of (or arising or allegedly arising in any manner out of or relating to in whole or in part) an Indemnifiable Event, BRAM or a designee thereof, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall indemnify and hold harmless Nominee from and against any and all Losses suffered, incurred or sustained by Nominee or to which Nominee becomes subject, arising out of such Claim (it being understood and agreed that, except as provided in Section 4(c) with respect to Expenses, reimbursements of any such Losses payable hereunder shall be made as soon as practicable but in any event no later than 30 days after written request is made to BRAM accompanied by reasonable supporting documentation). CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 18 of 24 Pages Nominee shall give BRAM prompt written notice of any Claim (accompanied by such reasonable supporting documentation as may be in Nominee's possession) as soon as Nominee becomes aware thereof. (b) In the case of the commencement of any Claim against Nominee in respect of which he or she may seek indemnification from BRAM hereunder, BRAM will be entitled to participate therein, including, without limitation, the negotiation and approval of any settlement of such Claim. In addition, BRAM shall have, in its sole discretion, the right to assume control of the defense of such Claim with counsel chosen by BRAM. To the extent that BRAM may wish to assume the defense of any Claim against Nominee in respect of which Nominee may seek indemnification from BRAM hereunder, BRAM shall provide Nominee with written notice of BRAM's election to assume the defense of such Claim. From and after such election by BRAM to assume defense of a Claim, BRAM will not be liable to Nominee under this Agreement for any Expenses subsequently incurred by Nominee in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation and preparation therefor (including, without limitation, appearing as a witness and reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel in connection therewith). If, in any action for which indemnity may be sought hereunder, BRAM shall not have timely assumed the defense thereof, or Nominee shall have been advised by his or her independent counsel in writing that it would constitute a conflict of interest for the same counsel to represent both Nominee and BRAM in such action, or if Nominee has been advised by his or her independent counsel that Nominee has separate or additional defenses than those available to BRAM with regard to such action, Nominee shall have the right to employ his or her own counsel reasonably satisfactory to BRAM in such action, in which event BRAM shall pay directly or reimburse Nominee for any reasonable documented costs not paid directly for all reasonable documented out-of-pocket legal fees and expenses incurred by Nominee in connection with the defense thereof; provided , however , that BRAM shall be obligated to pay for only one firm to serve as counsel for all of BRAM's nominees for election to the Board of Directors, unless Nominee has been informed by independent counsel that there are conflicts of interest or additional defenses for Nominee relative to the other nominees. Nominee shall not settle any action, and BRAM shall not be responsible for any settlement of any claim against Nominee covered by this Agreement, without the prior written consent of BRAM, which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld. BRAM shall not settle any Claim in any manner that would impose any expense, penalty, obligation or limitation on Nominee that could reasonably be viewed as an acknowledgment of wrongdoing on the part of Nominee, without Nominee's prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, delayed or withheld). (c) Nominee's right to indemnification pursuant to this Section 4 shall include the right of Nominee to be advanced by BRAM or a designee thereof any Expenses incurred in connection with any Indemnifiable Event as such expenses are incurred by Nominee; provided , however , that all amounts advanced in respect of such Expenses shall be promptly repaid to BRAM or a designee thereof by Nominee to the extent it shall ultimately be determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that Nominee is not entitled to be indemnified for or advanced such Expenses. The indemnification and CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 19 of 24 Pages reimbursement arrangements contemplated herein shall only take effect if Nominee is publicly named by BRAM or an affiliate thereof as a member of the Slate. (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the indemnity and expense reimbursement obligations of BRAM under this Agreement will not apply to any event or occurrence (i) prior to the date hereof, (ii) subsequent to the conclusion of the Solicitation or as such earlier time as you are no longer a member of the Slate or (iii) relating to or directly or indirectly arising out of Nominee's service as a director of the Company. 5. Publicity . From and after the date hereof until the date on which Nominee is elected or appointed to serve as a director of the Company, Nominee shall coordinate with BRAM with respect to Nominee's public disclosures regarding the Solicitation, BRAM, and/or the Company, including press releases, public or private announcements, communications and statements or disclosures to the media or third parties concerning this Agreement, the Solicitation or any of the matters contemplated hereby, by notifying BRAM with respect to any planned media or other engagements or oral or written statements or communications, and coordinating in advance with BRAM, and following BRAM's direction in connection therewith, on the text, if any, or content of such disclosures, statements, communications, oral or written, or topics to be discussed in connection with such engagements or oral or written statements or communications. Nominee also agrees to consult with BRAM prior to taking any actions that are likely to interfere with Nominee's obligations hereunder and follow BRAM's direction in connection therewith or that are likely to result in an adverse recommendation from Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. or Glass, Lewis & Co. 6. No Agency . Each of BRAM and Nominee acknowledges that Nominee is not acting as an agent of BRAM or in a fiduciary capacity with respect to BRAM and that Nominee is not assuming any duties or obligations to BRAM other than those expressly set forth in this Agreement. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as creating, or be deemed to create, the relationship of employer and employee between the parties, nor any agency and nothing contained herein shall entitle Nominee to any compensation from BRAM. Each of BRAM and Nominee further acknowledges that, should Nominee be elected, or otherwise appointed, to the Board of Directors, Nominee will be acting as a director of the Company, on behalf of the Company and all of its stockholders, independent of and not controlled by BRAM, and all of Nominee's activities and decisions as a director of the Company will be governed by applicable law and subject at all times to his or her fiduciary duties to the Company and its stockholders. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall govern or restrict Nominee's decisions or conduct as a director of the Company, which such decisions and conduct shall be based on Nominee's independent business judgment and honest belief as to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Each of BRAM and Nominee further acknowledges that there is no agreement between or among them that governs the decisions which Nominee will make, or actions that Nominee will take, while serving as a director of the Company or regarding the voting or holding of any securities of the Company. CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 20 of 24 Pages 7. Amendment; Waiver; Etc . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in a writing signed by the parties hereto. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. The parties may not waive or vary any right hereunder except by an express written waiver or variation. Any failure to exercise any rights hereunder, or any delay in exercising any such rights, or any partial or defective exercise of any such rights, shall not operate as a waiver or variation of that or any other such right. The waiver by one party of any breach of this Agreement by another party shall not be deemed a waiver of any other prior or subsequent breach of this Agreement. 8. Subrogation . In the event of payment under this Agreement, BRAM shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Nominee, and Nominee shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable BRAM effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. 9. No Duplication of Payments . BRAM shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with a Claim made against Nominee to the extent Nominee has otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, by-law or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder. In addition, Nominee shall be required to reimburse BRAM for any indemnification payments made to Nominee by BRAM for any Losses to the extent that Nominee subsequently receives payment of such amounts from another source. 10. Notices . All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopy or similar writing) and shall be given to such party, if to BRAM, to: B. Riley Asset Management, LLC 3811 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Suite 2100 Dallas, TX 75219 Attention: Wes Cummins Telephone: [] Email: [email protected] with a copy to (which copy shall not constitute notice hereunder): Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP 919 Third Avenue New York, New York 10022 Attention: Eleazer Klein Telephone: (212) 756-2376 Email: Eleaz[email protected] if to Nominee, to: [] [] [] Telephone: [] Email: [] CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 21 of 24 Pages or such other address, email address or telecopy number as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the other party hereby given in accordance with this Section 10 . Each such notice, request or other communication shall be effective when delivered at the address specified in this Section 10 . 11. Termination . This Agreement shall automatically terminate on the earlier to occur of (a) the termination of the Solicitation by BRAM, (b) Nominee's election or appointment to the Board of Directors, (c) the conclusion of the Annual Meeting (or Special Meeting, as applicable) or (d) BRAM's election to not include you as part of the Slate; provided , that BRAM may terminate this Agreement at any time upon written notice to Nominee; provided , further , that BRAM's obligations with respect to advancement, reimbursement and indemnification hereunder and Nominee's obligations with respect to non-disclosure, advancement, reimbursement and indemnification hereunder shall each remain in full force and effect and survive the termination of this Agreement. 12. Nominee Acknowledgement . Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, Nominee acknowledges that BRAM shall be under no obligation to nominate Nominee for election to the Board of Directors or otherwise seek the appointment of Nominee to the Board of Directors. Nominee acknowledges that BRAM will rely upon information provided by Nominee for purposes of preparing regulatory filings, submissions to the Company, proxy solicitation materials and other public disclosures. 13. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws. Each party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any agreements or transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought in the state courts of the State of New York located in New York County, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and hereby expressly submits to the personal jurisdiction and venue of such courts for the purposes thereof and expressly waives any claim of improper venue and any claim that such courts are an inconvenient forum. Each party hereby irrevocably consents to the service of process of any of the aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the address set forth or referred to in Section 10 . 14. Execution by Counterparts/Facsimile . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may also be executed by facsimile or PDF. 15. Expense Reimbursement . BRAM hereby agrees to reimburse Nominee for his or her reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of being a member of the Slate, including, without limitation, reimbursement for reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket travel expenses; provided , that Nominee hereby agrees that in the event Nominee reasonably determines that he or she needs to retain legal CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 22 of 24 Pages counsel to represent Nominee in connection with being a member of the Slate (other than in connection with a claim for indemnification, which is addressed in Section 4 ) he or she will employ counsel selected by BRAM and reasonably satisfactory to Nominee. Should Nominee be elected or otherwise appointed to the Board of Directors, other than as expressly set forth herein, BRAM will not be liable for any expenses or any other liabilities incurred by Nominee during the period following election or appointment to the Board of Directors. 16. Non-Disclosure . Nominee acknowledges and agrees to hold in strict confidence, and that Nominee will neither use nor disclose to third parties, information Nominee receives from BRAM or any of its agents or representatives or information developed by Nominee based upon such information, including without limitation all information relating to the Solicitation that is non-public, confidential or proprietary in nature, except for (a) information which was public at the time of disclosure or becomes part of the public domain without disclosure by Nominee, (b) information which Nominee learns from a third party (other than BRAM or its agents or representatives) which does not have a legal, contractual or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality to BRAM or its agents or representatives, (c) following Nominee's election or appointment as a director of the Company, information which is necessary for Nominee to disclose in order to comply with Nominee's fiduciary duties under applicable law or (d) information which is required to be disclosed by applicable law; provided , that in the event of any required disclosure pursuant to this clause (d), Nominee hereby agrees to notify BRAM of such required disclosure promptly so that BRAM may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy or, in BRAM's sole discretion, waive compliance with the terms of this Section 16 ; provided , further , that in the event that no such protective order or other remedy is obtained, or that BRAM waives compliance with the terms of this Section 16 , Nominee further agrees to furnish only that portion of the confidential information which Nominee is advised by counsel is legally required and will cooperate with BRAM's efforts, without incurring any monetary expense, to obtain assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to the confidential information. Nominee further agrees not to (i) make any public communication relating to the Solicitation, the Company, or BRAM without the prior permission of BRAM and (ii) stand for election to the Board of Directors through nomination by the Company or any other person (other than BRAM) without the prior permission of BRAM. Nothing in this Section 16 shall constrain Nominee's communications with his or her counsel, or prevent Nominee from disclosing information to his or her counsel. 17. Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the matters covered hereby and supersedes all previous written, oral or implied understandings among them with respect to such matters. 18. Headings . The headings used herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. 19. Warranty of Authority . Each person executing this Agreement represents and warrants that he or she has full authority to sign this Agreement on behalf of the party for which he or she is acting and that the parties will thereby be fully bound by the terms of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 23 of 24 Pages 20. Remedies . Nominee hereby acknowledges that money damages would be both difficult to calculate and speculative and an insufficient remedy for any breach of Nominee's obligations in Sections 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 and/or 16 and that any such breach would cause BRAM irreparable harm. Accordingly, Nominee also agrees that in the event of any breach or threatened breach of Sections 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 and/or 16 BRAM, in addition to any other remedies at law or in equity it may have, shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, without the requirement of posting a bond or other security or proof of actual damages. [Signatures on following page] CUSIP No. 128126109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 24 of 24 Pages IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written. B. Riley Asset Management, LLC By: Name: Wes Cummins Title: President RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany It was a sight rarely seen over this mobility hub: nine C-130J Super Hercules airplanes flying in formation and dropping 90 paratroopers onto a grassy landing zone between two runways. Before the Wednesday exercise, it had been more than two years since that many C-130s flew a training mission together and about four years since paratroopers dropped in to Ramstein, said Capt. Mandy Olguin, a member of the 37th Airlift Squadron who flew one of the nine planes. Ramstein is seldom used as a drop zone because of its busy flightline operations, but this day marked an exception because the mission was an anniversary celebration. The 37th Airlift Squadron orchestrated the training exercise to commemorate its inception 80 years ago at Patterson Field, Ohio, during World War II. Activated as the 37th Transport Squadron, the unit initially flew C-47 Skytrain transports from desert airfields in Egypt and Libya. Later, the squadron dropped paratroopers into Normandy on D-Day. It was important to do something special today to honor the people who have come before us the pilots, the crews of those other aircraft, said Olguin, who flew in the formations No. 3 plane. Its just a thank you and a big moment of gratitude to everything that they have done. Since 1994, the squadron has called Ramstein home, serving as the linchpin of the Air Forces tactical airlift mission in Europe and Africa. Its so busy that were lucky if we can get three aircraft in the air at the same time for training, Olguin said. The squadron employed 18 pilots and nine loadmasters for the flight. Most of the jumpers came from Army units in Germany, though a few Canadians and German paratroopers were last-minute additions. Master Sgt. Edwin Rodriguez, a paratrooper from Stuttgart, jumped for the 78th time in his 20-year Army career. He wasnt nervous at the outset. Once the door opens, yes, I feel it, he said while standing near the plane before it took off. Paratroopers exited one by one from side doors and floated to the ground in a long line of green chutes. The second portion of the flight involved tactical formation maneuvers, practicing avoiding towers and different terrains, moving the entire formation as one, Olguin said. Flying inside the belly of a participating C-130 felt like riding a roller coaster. Some passengers along for the ride to document the flight debarked with used motion sickness bags. For the pilots, the flying was an adrenaline rush, Olguin said. I cannot stop smiling, she said. Ive been here for three years. This has been by far the most worthwhile and rewarding flight I have flown here. VICENZA, Italy More than 300 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade are back at their home base after deploying to Latvia to support NATO following the February launch of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Some 330 troops assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment finished the return trip to Italy on Wednesday from their mission at Camp Adazi, Latvia, the brigade said Thursday. Some troops were already back in Italy on Monday. Multiple flights were required to ferry the troops back, so the return of the battalion was spread over three days. The unit deployed to Latvia on Feb. 24, the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, within 17 hours of notification, according to the brigade. The battalion was deployed to demonstrate the United States commitment to NATO allies and bolster defensive capabilities, said Capt. Rob Haake, a brigade spokesman. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the Army's contingency response force in Europe, rapidly deploying to the U.S., European, African and Central Command areas of responsibility. It routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners. A second squadron of F-35B Lightning IIs became fully operational this month at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, bringing the total number of stealth fighters there to 32. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 as of May 17 has the required pilots, aircraft and maintenance capabilities needed to take part in missions with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, according to an email Tuesday from Capt. Tess LaBossiere, a spokeswoman for the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The 31st MEU, based on Okinawa, is a crisis response force of more than 2,200 Marines. The Marine Corps on Sept. 9 approved the squadron for smaller scale operations with 10 jets, a little over one year after being designated as an F-35B squadron in October 2020, LaBossiere said. Now fully operational, the squadron fields 16 jets. [This] milestone is the culmination of well over two years of planning and execution, all while being forward deployed and in the face of a global pandemic, squadron commander Lt. Col. Michael Wyrsch said in a May 19 news release from 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Squadron 242 joins Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, which arrived at MCAS Iwakuni in January 2017. It also fields 16 F-35Bs. U.S. Forces Japan now has two [fully operational] F-35 squadrons prepared to receive tasking from higher header quarters in order to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific, LaBossiere said in the email. It enhances posture and preparedness and lethality in the region. The squadrons establishment follows a trend of U.S. military expansion and modernization across the Indo-Pacific. The strategy is a response to mounting tensions with China, which the Defense Department routinely refers to as its pacing challenge in the region. The F-35B, one of three variants, is capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings that allow it to operate from flat-deck amphibious assault ships like the USS America, homeported at Sasebo Naval Base. The Marines also fly the F-35C, which can operate from the aircraft carriers. The services first squadron of F-35Cs, Fighter Attack Squadron 314, went to sea in January aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The service considers the F-35 the future of Marine Corps tactical aviation and the replacement for its inventory of AV-8B Harriers, F/A-18 Super Hornets and EA-6B Prowlers, according to the wings news release. The F-35 is also flown by the Air Force and Navy and is the costliest weapon system in Defense Department history, the Government Accountability Office said in an April 2021 report. Each aircraft has a price tag of approximately $103 million, according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin, and the estimated costs over the life of the program exceed $1.7 trillion. U.S. troops deployed to Bahrain now have certain mental health services available locally for themselves and their families, freeing them of the necessity of returning stateside for care, Naval Forces Central Command announced Thursday. A two-year pilot program will allow people in military families who are experiencing acute mental health issues to receive up to a month of inpatient care from providers in Bahrain, a NAVCENT statement said. The new program also allows for intensive outpatient care, 5th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Tim Hawkins said in an interview Thursday with Stars and Stripes. The protocols in place prior to this pilot program did not allow the military to refer our service members and their families to community-based providers in Bahrain for inpatient care beyond about one week, and intensive outpatient care at all, Hawkins said. Naval Support Activity Bahrain includes about 6,000 U.S. active duty and reserve troops, 1,200 family members, 500 military civilians and 300 contractors, Hawkins said. Inpatient treatment in a hospital can be beneficial for people who are severely ill or suicidal, according to a mental health services guide from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Inpatient treatment typically includes medication and individual and group counseling, according to the mental health handbook, published in 2012. The same handbook defined intensive outpatient care as involving a minimum of nine hours per week at a clinic, with the goal of helping to bring a serious mental illness under better control. In September 2021, the military reviewed the mental health care options available to service members and families in Bahrain, Thursdays statement said, adding that the pilot program resulted from the review. The announcement comes as the Navy grapples with a string of suicides. Seven sailors assigned to the USS George Washington died by suicide since 2019, when the aircraft carrier began an overhaul in Newport News, Va. Four of the deaths took place in the past year, with three happening during one week in April, the Navy has said. In some locations, it can take more than a month for sailors contemplating suicide to get a mental health appointment, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell Smith told Congress last week. (Tribune News Service) With Memorial Day weekend upon us, many people are prepping for a weekend of fun with family and friends. From barbecues to beach parties to fireworks, there are a multitude of activities we associate with this holiday weekend. And while fun in the sun is great, its not the real reason we celebrate Memorial Day. Communities across the country will also hold ceremonies to celebrate those in the military that sacrificed their lives for the country. But where and how did Memorial Day start? General Order No. 11 Three years after Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant to end the Civil War, General Order No. 11 was issued by Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, which was a group of former Union soldiers. The 1868 order designated May 30 as a memorial day for the purpose of strewing flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. The first national commemoration of the holiday took place that same year, where former Union General and future U.S. President James Garfield gave a speech at Arlington National Cemetery. We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens, Garfield said that day. Where did Memorial Day begin? We know that Memorial Day began being recognized on a national level in 1868 but where did the idea originate? The village of Waterloo, N.Y., was designated as the official Birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. By signing a presidential proclamation, the federal government officially recognized a ceremony that Waterloo held a century earlier in 1866 as the beginning of the United States observance of the holiday. That year, the towns residents prepared wreaths, crosses and bouquets for each veterans grave and walked from cemetery to cemetery to honor those who died in the Civil War. But other towns also claim rights to the holidays origin story, including Boalsburg, Pa., which cites a ceremony it held in 1864. That ceremony, which took place as the Civil War still raged, also consisted of decorating the graves of recently fallen soldiers, as well as men who had died in the War of 1812 and the Revolutionary War. Another notable early recognition of Memorial Day came in Charleston, S.C., and was held by formerly enslaved people shortly after the Civil War ended. The recently emancipated people gave a proper burial to Union soldiers who had died at a makeshift prison camp and had been put in a mass grave by the Confederates. Those men and women got to work after the Confederate soldiers evacuated the city, and in 1865 a crowd of 10,000 people, mostly freed slaves with some white missionaries, staged a parade at the former camp. Changes to Memorial Day Memorial Day wasnt actually called Memorial Day at first. It was originally titled Decoration Day, a reference to the act of decorating soldiers graves. But by the beginning of the 20th century, the name of the holiday held annually on May 30 was changed to Memorial Day. In 2022, Memorial Day will fall on May 30 again, the day originally designated for the holiday each year. But that changed in 1968, when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which officially declared that Memorial Day would be celebrated on the last Monday in May. Three other holidays were affected by the law: Washingtons Birthday, Labor Day and Columbus Day. 2022 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com . Every textbook introduction to Renaissance art emphasizes the central importance of two sculptures of David, the youth who killed Goliath and later became king of the Israelites. Both are in Florence, where, during the Renaissance, David was established as a symbol of the city. Both show David nude. One, by Donatello, seems to prophesy the other, by Michelangelo. Michelangelo's David is the more famous of the two. Carved from marble, his 17-foot-tall figure is robust, muscular and unequivocally masculine. Donatello's earlier, smaller David, in bronze, is adolescent, almost androgynous. His nudity is set off by his helmet, fancy boots and enormous sword. His casual, almost sashaying pose - as if he were vamping at the end of a catwalk - lends the sculpture a teasing eroticism. The impression is compounded by the feathered wing coming off the side of Goliath's helmet right up David's inner thigh. Donatello (c. 1386-1466) is now the subject of a retrospective in Florence, the first since a 1985-1986 exhibition marking the 600th anniversary of his birth. It's refreshing to have him presented as the main attraction. The exhibition is spread across two venues, the Palazzo Strozzi and the nearby Bargello, bringing together 130 works from 50 collections. The title - not "Donatello and the Renaissance" but simply "Donatello, the Renaissance" - is a reminder that without Donatello, the Italian Renaissance is unimaginable. The show demonstrates Donatello's profound influence on other artists. And in emphasizing genealogies - sometimes with whole walls dedicated to different artists addressing the same subject - it gets you thinking about what it means both to achieve precedence and to claim someone else's mantle. During the Renaissance, Florentines were obsessed with questions of lineage, not only in art but also in religious and civic life. Positioning themselves as the rightful inheritors of republican Rome, they treated the Greek and Roman gods as natural precursors to the divine order laid out in the Bible. In this same spirit, art historians are forever casting Donatello in the role of John the Baptist to Michelangelo's Christ. Donatello is the Precursor - the opening act to Michelangelo's thundering apotheosis. But it was Donatello who, more than any artist, led Italian art out of the Middle Ages. He replaced the stylizations of International Gothic with a new emphasis on real figures with frank, expressive faces and body postures that animate the space around them. His impact has been likened to that of an earthquake. Some scholars have argued that Donatello's David alludes to the winged god Mercury's victory over the giant Argus. Regardless, the youth's foot resting on Goliath's head certainly symbolizes the victory of liberty and intelligence - qualities Florentines identified with their own city - over brute force and tyranny. David, like John the Baptist, is often seen as a forerunner to the Messiah, so the Bible continues to resonate in Donatello's otherwise pagan-seeming interpretation. But Donatello's evocation of youth, restrained force, grace and hedonistic beauty all spoke to a new vision of the sovereign human figure occupying a central place in the world. This, above all, was the Donatello earthquake. We're still feeling the aftershocks. The show will travel to Berlin and London. But Florence feels like the place to see it, if possible. During Donatello's life, the city was one vast workshop, as it vied for political and cultural supremacy with Milan. In a frenzy of competitive energy, the city's guilds lavished attention on its unfinished cathedral, its neighboring baptistery and the former granary-turned-church of Orsanmichele. Donatello began work on the cathedral as a 20-year-old. Over the next half-century, despite long stints away from Florence, he helped to adorn all three buildings. One well-known origin story demands retelling. It begins with Lorenzo Ghiberti (to whom Donatello was briefly apprenticed) beating out Filippo Brunelleschi in a competition to decorate the north doors of the baptistery. Brunelleschi's loss prompted him to leave town. He traveled with Donatello, 10 years his junior, to Rome. There the two men fell under the spell of antiquity, which was lying all around them in the form of ancient sculptures and crumbling architecture. Back in Florence, their excitement caught on quickly. This was that crucial phase of the Renaissance when a craving to imitate antiquity dovetailed with fresh ideas about nature and the human body and a new awareness of time and space. Brunelleschi, Ghiberti, Masaccio and Leon Battista Alberti were establishing the rules of perspective. The idealized nudity of classical sculptures, the sturdy realism of Roman portrait heads, and the proportions and decorations of classical architecture were all taken up in Florence as a kind of patrimony. The city's artists and its famous patrons - above all the House of Medici - wanted a new style to distinguish Florence from Milan, where the French-influenced forms of International Gothic prevailed. You can see that style emerging in the show's opening room, which presents Donatello's first sculpture of David. Clothed and carved from marble, this David is altogether more martial than the later bronze. The same room includes two crucifixes in painted wood, the first by Donatello, the second by Brunelleschi. Pressed for his opinion of Donatello's crucifix, Brunelleschi remarked that his protege, instead of carving the body of Christ ("the most perfect human form ever created"), had carved the body of a peasant. "So you get some wood and try to make one yourself" was Donatello's wounded response. Brunelleschi obliged, and Donatello was suitably impressed. "Your job is to make Christs," he concluded, "and mine is making peasants." Donatello exaggerated. But his "peasant crucifix" anticipates some of his late works, including sculptures of Mary Magdalene and Saint John the Baptist, which are astonishingly expressive. The remaining galleries in the Palazzo Strozzi include marble statues, wall decorations, bronzes and terra cottas (Donatello revived both materials, which had fallen out of favor since antiquity). They also include his spiritelli, the winged cherubs, or putti, which he made into a uniquely dynamic motif, and many of his famous low reliefs. The reliefs include the "Pazzi Madonna," "The Feast of Herod" and the "Miracle of the Mule," which read more like pictures than sculptures, so thinly do they protrude from the vertical plane. They are among his most refined and moving works. The later David and the marble Saint George (Donatello's two most famous works) are dramatically installed in the Bargello in the company of related works by other artists. Donatello's understanding of the rules of perspective was so deep and instinctive that while others were merely implementing them, he was already playing sophisticated games with them. He made the first large-scale sculptures since antiquity that were independent of architecture. At the same time, Donatello was so sensitive to the placement of sculptures in architectural space that he would change the proportions of his figures to adjust for the diminishing effects of distance. In this way, and in his embrace of non finito, or "unfinished," effects, he took care to include the viewer in the visual order he had established. All this points to what the curator, Francesco Caglioti, calls Donatello's "unflagging, pervasive search for everything that could overturn the usual institutional habits of art." Concluding his biographical sketch of Donatello, Michelangelo's great champion Giorgio Vasari seemed to embrace the confusion around questions of precedence when he wrote: "Either the spirit of Donato [Donatello] is at work in [Michelangelo] Buonarroti or the spirit of Buonarroti was already at work in Donato." There's no question that many of Donatello's innovations do anticipate Michelangelo. But just as there's no need to insist on the primacy of Florence over Rome, there's no need to see Donatello retrospectively through the lens of Michelangelo. Half a millennium on, we can stand to the side of all such claims to primacy and simply marvel at it all. If you go Donatello, the Renaissance runs hrough July 31 at the Palazzo Strozzi and Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence. Online: palazzostrozzi.org/en/archivio/exhibitions/donatello Rocks from Antarctica form a memorial to an American explorer on a wind-swept hill overlooking the New Zealand capital. The stones are part of a tent-like monument at the top of Mount Victoria, a 40-minute walk up-hill from Wellingtons Courtenay Place bar district. They were placed in 1962 to honor Rear Adm. Richard Evelyn Byrd, who claimed the title of first man to fly over the North and South Poles. Byrd, a veteran of both world wars who died in 1957 at age 68, commanded a flight to the North Pole on May 9, 1926. His report of the mission, which claims he flew over the pole, is disputed, according to the International Antarctic Center. The Winchester, Va., native was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor the following year, the San Diego Air and Space Museum states on its website. However, Byrd is best known for his achievements in Antarctica. In 1928, he established Little America as a scientific base on the ice and flew over the South Pole, according to the museum. Under sponsorship of the National Geographic Society and U.S. Navy, he led five major expeditions to the southern continent, adding significantly to man's knowledge of this polar region, the museum states. Byrd, who departed from New Zealand on missions, organized and led Operation Highjump (1946-47), the largest-ever expedition to Antarctica, according to the museum. It included 4,000 men, 23 aircraft and 13 ships. This operation mapped 75 percent of the coastline and flew long range flights into the interior, the museum states on its website. Byrd was awarded the Medal of Freedom for this achievement. Operation Deep Freeze (1956-57), also spearheaded by Byrd, led to a permanent U.S. presence in Antarctica, including bases at the South Pole and McMurdo Station, according to the International Antarctic Center. The memorial on Mount Victoria includes a bust of Byrd and a plaque describing him as The Greatest Explorer of the Air Age. The plaque reads: Outstanding in aviation and exploration, he was a scientist, a humanitarian, a champion of freedom, and a great internationalist. His concept of Antarctica The Great White Continent of Pace was a prelude to the Antarctic Treaty. The monument is made of stones from the Koettlitz Glacier region, Cape Hallett and Cape Evans, Antarctica, according to another inscription. Glazed tiles covering the stones symbolize the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, observed in the far south of New Zealand and Antarctica. The memorial, created through the efforts of the New Zealand American Association and the New Zealand Antarctic Society, includes information about the Antarctic Treaty signed by 12 nations, including the United States and New Zealand, on Dec. 1, 1959. It provided for non-militarization It demonstrated the subordination of national interests to the wider cause of science and increased understanding among nations, an inscription reads. Another plaque honors Dr. Paul Siple (1908-1968), who accompanied Byrd on three expeditions to Antarctica between 1928 and 1941. He led the scientific team at the South Pole Station from 1956-57. An inscription reads: Dr. Siple became one of the foremost authorities on the geography of Antarctica, polar logistics and the principles governing the adaptation of humans to life in cold regions. The Wellington memorial isnt the only tribute to Byrd, who was present when Japan surrendered at the end of World War II. A photograph posted on the Naval History and Heritage Command website shows the aviator boarding the USS Missouri for the surrender ceremonies in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945. The Richard E. Byrd Elementary School in Yokohama, Japan, taught the dependents of U.S. military personnel there for 66 years before closing its doors in June 2014. A statue of Byrd stands in front of the National Science Foundations headquarters at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, reminding modern military fliers of their heritage. ON THE QT Directions: Atop Mount Victoria in Wellington, New Zealand. A 40-minute hike from the Courtenay Place bar district. Times: Open 24 hours, seven days a week Costs: No admission fee Food: Several options available in Wellington. Information: Online: wellington.govt.nz/recreation Memorial Day, celebrated on May 30 this year, is cause for contemplation as well as ceremonies. Parades featuring people in uniform those currently serving, those who have served, and others who protect us should always be welcome. Military uniforms remind us of the roles of war in our history and our present. From ancient times, parades have been vital to the reintegration of warriors into society. War is profoundly disruptive and disturbing as well as dangerous. Even the rare man who finds combat invigorating and rewarding is in severe need of returning home after the killing ends. Homer, chronicler of the Trojan War, is extremely sensitive to this. The great classic is divided into two parts. The Iliad focuses on the fighting and related associations involving Greeks and Trojans; The Odyssey describes the very long voyage home of Greek leader Ulysses and his men. They traverse allegorical geography, struggling to put the horrors behind them. Gen. George S. Patton Jr., a very great American combat leader, was extremely mindful of this dimension. A special ceremony in the Los Angeles Coliseum after the surrender of Nazi Germany featured Patton and Gen. James Doolittle, who led the first air raid on Tokyo not long after Pearl Harbor. Patton celebrated the accomplishments of his Third Army in the victorious drive across Europe. In honoring his troops, he stressed in particular the 40,000 who lost their lives. Patton made such statements regularly in the few months remaining of his own life. In World War II, peoples liberated from Axis occupation welcomed Allied troops. Understandably, our media gave special emphasis to this dimension. The Korean War created very strong bonds between the U.S. and the people as well as very effective military of South Korea. The first Gulf War liberated an oppressed population. The Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars were different. During Vietnam, the Pentagon urged, sometimes ordered, personnel to practice public anonymity. Opposition to the war became hostility to our own military. There was no collective welcome home. Many aging veterans of that war suffer without a Ulysses, troubled and troublesome, sometimes criminally. Afghanistan and Iraq war controversy did not target our military. Visits to Washington, D.C., provide reminders of the visibility of the uniformed military, especially on public transportation. President Richard Nixons decisive end of the military draft has been crucial in the change. However, often-rapid rotation of personnel back to overseas missions is unfair as well as counterproductive. Enormous psychological strains join physical danger, and families suffer heavily. The all-professional military is segregated from our wider American society. This in turn facilitates frequent personnel rotation overseas, a problem that developed destructively during the Clinton administration. The military remains a vital engine for equality and opportunity. Gen. Colin Powell and many others demonstrate the point. Powell, from modest origins, achieved the most senior civilian and military posts in our government. Powell noted he experienced discrimination in the South, but never on post. Our military emphasize merit. Memorial Day provides the opportunity to recognize commitment to fairness. Arguably, the fact that the military draft had been abolished three decades earlier greatly facilitated undertaking direct military invasion of Iraq in 2003, along with our various other interventions of recent decades. This returns attention emphatically to civil-military relations, and the important role of Congress in reviewing as well as working with the executive branch, especially the White House. Congress has not formally passed a declaration of war since World War II. Encourage veterans to run for office. We won the Cold War in part because members of the World War II generation also served in government. Every U.S. president from Harry Truman through George H.W. Bush was a veteran. Today, things are starkly different. What we need above all is the sort of sensible realism women and men who served bring to policy. Learn more: Patton A Genius for War, by Carlo DEste, and the film Patton. Arthur I. Cyr is the author of After the Cold War. KINSHASA, Congo Congo's M23 rebels closed in on a major military camp in the country's east on Thursday after days of fighting the army, officials said. Clashes continued Thursday at the Rumangabo base in the Rutshuru area of North Kivu province about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the provincial capital, Goma. "There is no truce. The fighting is still continuing this morning on the same fronts as yesterday," deputy army spokesman Gen. Sylvain Ekenge said. Gunfire exchanges have been heard there since early in the morning, said Manouvo Nguka, who lives in Rumangabo where the base is located. "The army seeks to regain full control of Rumangabo," he told The Associated Press. The situation has been critical since Wednesday night, he added. "There was more than an hour of exchange of fire between the loyalist army and the M23 rebels," he said. The army earlier confirmed the rebels also attacked its positions in the Nyragongo and Rutshuru areas. More than 20 shells were fired by the rebels on Tuesday and Wednesday on Rumangabo, Natale, near the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature, and the surrounding area, according to a statement from military spokesman Lt. Gen. Constant Ndima. The M23 is largely an ethnic Tutsi group opposed to the Congo government that started in 2012 and seized control of Goma, a city of more than 1 million for nearly a month. U.N. forces and Congo's army dislodged the M23 from Goma and many of rebels fled to Rwanda and Uganda before a 2013 peace agreement. Rwanda and Uganda deny claims that they support M23. The group has recently resurfaced with increasing attacks in eastern Congo. It accuses the Congo government of not respecting the commitments it made to integrate rebel fighters into the national army. Gen. Benoit Chavanat, Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations mission in Congo, said its forces are backing the Congolese army against M23. He told U.N.-backed Radio Okapi the joint forces are stabilizing the situation in the Tchanzu, Runyonyi and Bunagana areas. Pope Francis is expected to visit Congo at the beginning of July, including a trip to Goma to celebrate Mass and meet with war victims, according to Congolese authorities. However, the Vatican did not immediately respond when asked Thursday whether the current fighting would bring the pope to alter his plans. ___ AP writer Carley Petesch in Dakar, Senegal and Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed. SIRTE, Libya One of Libya's rival prime ministers told The Associated Press that he has no immediate plans to rule from the capital of Tripoli, after his attempted move there last week sparked clashes and fears of a return to widespread civil strife. In an interview late Wednesday, Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha said that his government will work from its headquarters in Sirte, a city on the Mediterranean coast about halfway between the country's east and west. Rival administrations from each end of Libya claim to be its legitimate rulers until elections are held. Describing last week's events, Bashagha said he had entered Tripoli in a civilian car and that those escorting him were unarmed. A young man was killed during the incident. Bashagha identified him as Ahmed Alashabab, calling him a supporter who was defending him from militiamen. "We do not blame ourselves for having entered the city," he said. "I had said that I would not enter the capital unless conditions were 100% favorable." Oil-rich Libya has been wracked by conflict since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. It has been split between rival administrations in the east and west, each supported by different militias and foreign governments. The establishment of Bashagha's government in Sirte is likely to further cement the political divide. Bashagha, a former interior minister and air force pilot, was named prime minister by the country's east-based parliament in February. But his rival, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, based in Tripoli in the country's west, has refused to step down, insisting he will hand over power only to an elected government. Last week's fighting in Tripoli was the most serious there since 2020, when east-based commander Khalifa Hifter and his forces waged a yearlong campaign to try to take the city with backing from Russian mercenaries. They eventually failed to do so, after Tripoli forces were bolstered by Turkish military help. Since then, U.N. mediators have tried to get the country on a path towards elections. Dbeibah's appointment last year, as part of the U.N.-led process, was clouded by allegations of corruption and bribery. As an interim prime minister, Dbeibah was to have led the country through elections in December, but the vote never took place. Both Dbeibah and Bashaga hail from the western city of Misrata, a base of influential militias. Lawmakers have argued that Dbeibah's mandate expired after Libya failed to hold presidential elections on schedule. The failure was a major blow to international efforts to end a decade of chaos in Libya. The country reverted to its long-running political impasse, with rival governments claiming power. Dbeibah has repeatedly promised to hold elections soon. Bashagha said he doubts his rival can unite the country and organize orderly voting, claiming Dbeibah does not command enough loyalty outside of the capital. "He will only be able to hold them in Tripoli," he said, adding that his own government is looking at holding nationwide elections within 14 months. The impasse worsened over the past two months, resulting in the closure of oil facilities including Libya's largest oil field in areas controlled by Hifter's forces. Bashagha said he was not behind the stoppage of oil production, but that local tribes had decided to take matters into their own hands, not wanting to fund Dbeibah's government. Bashagha said Abdel-Ghani al-Kikli, a Tripoli militia leader, was part of the effort to attack him after he entered Tripoli. Al-Kikli was previously implicated in war crimes by global rights groups, but was appointed by Dbeibah as head of a nebulous body called the Stability Support Authority last year. Bashagha also addressed criticism that in areas under his control when he was interior minister under a previous Tripoli-based government, the situation remained abysmal for migrants setting out from Libya on Mediterranean crossings to Europe. After being intercepted, many are kept in squalid detention centers where they face torture, assault, and deprivation. Bashagha said he couldn't be held responsible, claiming he didn't have enough funding or staff to improve the situation. Bashagha also called on the country's Central Bank, torn by years of civil war, to pay out his government's budget that was passed by the east-based lawmakers. The bank is the repository for billions of dollars annually in oil revenue as well as foreign reserves. In 2014, it splintered along the country's broader political fault lines. VILLA CLARA, Cuba Some of the more than 840 Haitians who tried to reach the United States in a boat but ended up in Cuba said Thursday that they fled violence in their country and were charged thousands of dollars by smugglers who ushered them onto a dilapidated boat and later abandoned them at sea. It is the largest single arrival of people from Haiti on the Cuban coast amid an increasing exodus caused by gang violence and other problems there. "They deceived us. In my case (a trafficker) told me that the boat was going to have 200 or 300 people, and on a big boat it is normal. But when you're on board, you don't know how many people are going to appear," said Maximaud Cherizard, a 34-year-old engineer who traveled with a 7-year-old son, his wife and his sister. "We were ashamed when we arrived" in Cuba, Cherizard said. The boat was so packed that some people were on the vessel's roof, he said. The 842 people were rescued Tuesday by the Cuban coast guard and other government services in the vicinity of Caibarien in Villa Clara province, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) east of the capital, Havana. They were taken to a temporary center in a former summer camp and were in isolation as a health precaution. According to the account of at least three migrants with whom the AP spoke, the group left Tortuga Island in northern Haiti after waiting there for almost two months for the trip. News of the supposed opportunity to go to Florida had spread spread by word of mouth and some people said they paid $4,000 each for a spot on the boat. They were taken in a small boat to the larger one early Saturday morning and their phones were taken away by smugglers, who alleged the signal would make them detectable by the U.S. Coast Guard, according to the migrants. Cherizard said he had been shown a picture of a cruise liner that was going to take the migrants, a promise that he realized was false when he saw the dilapidated boat. He and other migrants said they did not see a name on the vessel. Cherizard said he and his family were placed in a cabin with others with little access to the rest of the vessel. When the captain abandoned ship at sea early Tuesday morning, they learned that some migrants had tried to take control of the boat in an attempt to reach their destination. Another migrant, 19-year-old Joyce Paul, said the captain had left in a smaller vessel and the one the migrants were on began to lean. The Haitians signaled with flashlights towards the Cuban coast to be rescued. In the days at sea, 15 people threw themselves into the water as conditions grew more desperate, according to Paul. There were 70 children, including infants, among the migrants, Cuban authorities reported. "In Haiti, there is no future for babies," said Loverie Horat, the 30-year-old mother of a 24-day-old infant. She told The Associated Press that she and her husband boarded the boat after leaving Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. Her comments in Creole were translated into Spanish by Cherizard. Migrants said that insecurity and poverty in Haiti forced them to flee. Paul, the 19-year-old, said that gang members had killed his two sisters. "You can't go out on the street" because of the violence, Cherizard said. Due to sea currents and winds, some smugglers' vessels aiming to reach the United States end up on Cuban coasts. Not all arrivals are officially reported, although in recent months authorities in Havana have acknowledged an increase in arrivals. Migrants are usually returned to their home countries in accordance with binational agreements. The Haitians arrived in Cuba at a time when the island itself is suffering from a severe economic crisis with food, medicine and fuel shortages and high emigration to the United States. "Humanitarian aid has been a real challenge," said Andy Borges, a member of the Civil Protection office of the municipality of Corralillo, where the Haitian camp is based. U.S. Coast Guard crews have intercepted some 4,500 Haitian migrants since October last year. Many tried to land on the Florida coast in overloaded boats. More than 3,000 of those migrants have been intercepted since mid-March, indicating the pace has quickened this spring. ''We don't want to go back to Haiti," said 30-year-old Leverie Horat one of the Haitian migrants who hoped to reach the United States but ended up in Cuba. ___ Rodriguez reported from Havana. A suicidal mother whom police coaxed away from the ledge of a 400-foot seaside cliff on Guam after several hours on Sunday is a U.S. sailor stationed on the island, the Navy confirmed Wednesday. The sailor, whose name and age have not been released, was carrying her 1-year-old daughter, who was later pronounced dead at a hospital, the Guam Police Department said in a news release Sunday. The Navy is working with the police departments investigation of the death, Lt. Cmdr. Kelli Roesch, a spokeswoman with Joint Region Marianas, said in a phone interview Wednesday. She referred all other questions to the Guam police, which did not provide an update requested by Stars and Stripes on Wednesday. Police were called early Sunday morning to Two Lovers Point, a popular tourist site on the northwest side of Guam, where a distraught woman was holding her child, the police news release said. After several hours, members of the departments crisis negotiation team convinced the woman to hand over the child, who was unresponsive at that point, the release said. The child was taken to Guam Regional Medical where she was pronounced dead, the release said. An off-island medical examiner is scheduled to perform an autopsy at the request of the Guam Office of the Attorney General, the Guam Daily Post reported on Wednesday. The sailor was taken to U.S. Naval Hospital Guam, the Post reported. The Navy has been struggling to cope with a spate of suicides among sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which has been drydocked in Virginia since 2019 for an extensive overhaul. Seven sailors have taken their lives in that time, including three within one week in April. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell Smith told a House committee last week that it is currently taking more than a month for sailors struggling with thoughts of suicide to get a mental health appointment. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. will seek to influence Chinas behavior by shaping the strategic environment around Beijing in a speech that took direct aim at President Xi Jinpings performance in leading the worlds second-biggest economy. This is a charged moment for the world, Blinken said Thursday in a speech laying out the Biden administrations approach toward China. We cannot rely on Beijing to change its trajectory. So we will shape the strategic environment around Beijing to advance our vision for an open, inclusive international system. Blinken warned that China is seeking to dominate the industries of the future. He said the U.S. response will be to bolster investment at home; work closely with allies, particularly in the Indo-Pacific; and compete with China on a level playing field. He said Xis government is actively undercutting the international system that aided Chinas rise, while saying the U.S. doesnt seek a new Cold War with Beijing. Rather than using its power to reinforce and revitalize the laws, agreements, principles and institutions that enabled its success, so that other countries can benefit from them too, Beijing is undermining it, Blinken said. Under President Xi, the ruling Chinese Communist Party has become more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad. The top U.S. diplomats comments were unusually direct. He praised the U.S. for having the worlds most powerful military and lauded American-created Covid-19 vaccines that have been shown to be more effective than those made in China. He emphasized that the U.S. is providing millions of vaccines to other nations without political strings attached. Blinken said the U.S. doesnt want to sever China from the global economy, but warned that Beijing, despite its rhetoric, is pursuing asymmetric decoupling, seeking to make China less dependent on the world and the world more dependent on China. And he said that businesses shouldnt sacrifice Western values in seeking access to Chinas markets. In terms of areas of potential cooperation, Blinken cited climate change, food security, Iran and North Korea nuclear programs and global macro coordination as the global economy recovers from the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic. In short we will engage constructively with China wherever we can, not as a favor to us or anyone else, and never in exchange from walking away from our principles, he said. Those passages about cooperation arent likely to be seen as the takeaway message in Beijing. The unusually frank rhetoric against Chinas government comes after tensions between the nations soured further over what the U.S. sees as Chinas tacit support for Russian President Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine and comments by President Joe Biden suggesting the U.S. would take military action to defend Taiwan in case of invasion. Blinken said U.S. policy toward Taiwan hasnt changed -- we do not support Taiwan independence, he said -- but he added that America has a strong unofficial relationship with Taipei. And he said that the war in Ukraine wont distract the Biden administration from what it sees as its key long-term challenge. Even as President Putins war continues, we will remain focused on the most serious long-term challenge to the international order - and that is the one posed by the Peoples Republic of China, Blinken said. Despite signaling for months that the administrations China strategy was ready for public airing, key unresolved issues remain, including the fate of $300 billion in tariffs Biden inherited from the Trump administration. A top U.S. trade official said Wednesday that the administrations review of those tariffs is likely to take months. Thursdays speech came after months of delays and internal deliberations, as well as Blinkens Covid-19 diagnosis earlier this month. As a result, it followed instead of preceded Bidens travel to Asia last week, where he unveiled a new 13-nation Indo-Pacific Economic Framework designed to counter Chinas influence. The U.S. didnt invite China to join the economic framework and hasnt revealed the criteria for other nations to join. TOKYO Japanese and U.S. forces have conducted a joint fighter jet flight over the Sea of Japan, Japan's military said Thursday, in an apparent response to a Russia-China joint bomber flight while U.S. President Joe Biden was in Tokyo. The Japan-U.S. joint flight on Wednesday involved eight warplanes based in Japan, including four U.S. F-16 fighters and four Japanese F-15s, the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces said. The joint flight was meant to confirm the combined capabilities of the two militaries and further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, it said in a statement. The flight occurred hours after North Korea fired three missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile, toward the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, amid concerns about another nuclear test by the North. The missiles fell in waters outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone. Chinese and Russian strategic bombers conducted joint flights near Japan on Tuesday, Japan's Defense Ministry said. Biden was meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and their counterparts from India and Australia for the Quad, an Indo-Pacific security and economic coalition meant as a counterweight to China's growing influence in the region. Chinese H-6 bombers joined Russian TU-95s over the Sea of Japan and flew to areas over the East China Sea, but did not violate Japanese airspace, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said. Separately, a Russian IL-20 reconnaissance plane was spotted flying off the northern Japanese coast. The Chinese-Russian joint flight represented an "increased level of provocation" and a threat to the Quad, Kishi said. China said the flights were over the the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the western Pacific. Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said it was a "routine joint strategic air patrol" that has been carried out four times since 2019. "This operation is not aimed at a third party and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation," he said in a video statement posted Wednesday on the Defense Ministry website. ___ Associated Press writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report. China's foreign minister starts Pacific tour in the Solomons WELLINGTON, New Zealand China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a 20-strong delegation arrived in the Solomon Islands Thursday at the start of an eight-nation tour that comes amid growing concerns about Beijing's military and financial ambitions in the South Pacific region. China says the trip builds on a long history of friendly relations between Beijing and the island nations. But Australia scrambled to counter the move by sending its own Foreign Minister Penny Wong to Fiji to shore up support in the Pacific. Wong had been on the job just five days following an Australian election and had just arrived back Wednesday night from a meeting in Tokyo. In Fiji, Wong said it was up to each island nation to decide what partnerships they formed and what agreements they signed, but urged them to consider the benefits of sticking with Australia. "Australia will be a partner that doesn't come with strings attached nor imposing unsustainable financial burdens," Wong said. "We are a partner that won't erode Pacific priorities or Pacific institutions." Meanwhile, the Media Association of Solomon Islands called on its members to boycott a news conference in the capital, Honiara, held by Wang and his counterpart from the Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele, following a meeting between the pair. That's because only selected media were invited to the event, and the schedule allowed for just a single question to be asked of Wang by China's state-owned broadcaster CCTV. "Its a tough call to make regarding the media boycott for the press event on Thursday," wrote association president Georgina Kekea on Twitter. "Our protest is for our govt to see our disappointment. They have failed us & they failed to protect #democracy." According to an official Chinese summary of the meeting, Wang told his counterpart that China would firmly support the Solomon Islands in its efforts to maintain national security and territorial integrity, while Manele described the visit as historic and a "milestone in the relations" between the two countries. China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands last month in a move that sent shock waves around the world. That pact has raised fears that China could send troops to the island nation or even establish a military base there, not far from Australia. The Solomon Islands and China say there are no plans for a base. In another move by China, a draft document obtained by The Associated Press shows that Wang is hoping to strike a deal with 10 small Pacific nations during his visit. The sweeping agreement covers everything from security to fisheries and is seen by at least one Pacific leader as an attempt by Beijing to wrest control of the region. Wang is hoping the countries will endorse the pre-written agreement as part of a joint communique after a May 30 meeting in Fiji with the other foreign ministers. During his 10-day visit, Wang is also planning to make stops in Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor. Earlier, Australia's new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he'd sent Wong to Fiji because Australia needed to "step up" its efforts in the Pacific. "We need to respond to this because this is China seeking to increase its influence in the region of the world where Australia has been the security partner of choice since the Second World War," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that in recent years, exchanges and cooperation between Beijing and the island nations had been expanding in a development that was welcomed by the Pacific countries. SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss visited Bosnia's capital Thursday to reaffirm the U.K.'s commitment to the ethnically divided Balkan country amid growing fears of what she described as malign influence from Russia. Truss was meeting with top officials in Sarajevo to announce a deepened security and economic partnership between Bosnia and the U.K. She unveiled a U.K.-backed Western Balkans investment package aimed at providing $100 million for infrastructure and energy projects in the region by 2025. Truss said the signs of "Russian meddling here today" threatened to take the Balkans back "those darks days" of the 1990s when interethnic conflicts following the breakup of Yugoslavia killed thousands of people. "This must be stopped," Truss said after meeting Bosnian Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic. "The way we go about this is not by offering compromise and appeasement to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. As Russia meddles here, Putin's troops are committing atrocities just 700 miles away in Ukraine," she added. "This country's tragic history is a reminder of what happens when we fail to stand up to aggression." Bosnia has been divided along ethnic lines since a 1992-95 war between its Bosniak, Croat and Serb ethnic communities. The war started when Bosnian Serbs, with the help of the Yugoslav army, tried to create ethnically pure territories with the aim of joining neighboring Serbia. Bosnian Serb militias conquered 60% of Bosnia's territory in less than two months, committing horrendous atrocities against their Bosniak and Croat compatriots. More than 100,000 people were killed and 2 million more than a half of the country's population were left homeless from the war. In 1995, the U.S.-brokered Dayton peace agreement put an end to the bloodshed in Bosnia by dividing the country into two semi-autonomous parts one run by the Serbs and the other shared by Bosniaks and Croats. The two are linked by weak multiethnic institutions. The postwar power-sharing system perpetuates a polarized and venomous political climate, and entrenched nationalist leaders continuously stoke ethnic animosities for political gain. Fears of destabilization have mounted in recent months as the staunchly pro-Russia Bosnian Serb leader, Milorad Dodik, increased his divisive rhetoric. Dodik has threatened to dismantle the multiethnic institutions, block Bosnia's long-stated goal of joining NATO and to advocate for the secession of majority Serb areas. Bosnia condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations but failed to agree on imposing sanctions because of opposition from Dodik and other Serb officials. Russia's ambassador has repeatedly praised to Dodik's anti-Western stance, stating in March that if Bosnia succeeded in gaining NATO membership, Moscow "will have to react to this hostile act." Turkovic, Bosnia's foreign minister, said that with the broader risks posed by the Ukraine war she hoped her country's Western partners realize that supporting its EU and NATO membership aspirations was "of vital importance not just for us, but for many of them as well." BUCHA, Ukraine As he listened to his father die, the boy lay still on the asphalt. His elbow burned where a bullet had pierced him. His thumb stung from being grazed. Another killing was in progress on a lonely street in Bucha, the community on the outskirts of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, where bodies of civilians are still being discovered weeks after Russian soldiers withdrew. Many had been shot in the head. The 14-year-old Yura Nechyporenko was about to become one of them. Survivors have described soldiers firing guns near their feet or threatening them with grenades, only to be drawn away by a cooler-headed colleague. But there was no one around to restrain the Russian soldier that day in March when Yura and his father, 47-year-old Ruslan, were biking down a tree-lined street. They were on their way to visit vulnerable neighbors sheltering in basements and homes without electricity or running water. Their bikes were tied with white fabric, in a sign they traveled in peace. When the soldier stepped from a dirt path to challenge them, Yura and his father immediately stopped and raised their hands. "What are you doing?" Yura remembers the soldier asking. The soldier didn't give Yura's father time to answer. The boy heard two gunshots. His father fell, mouth open, already bleeding. A shot hit Yura's hand, and he fell, too. Another shot struck his elbow. He closed his eyes. A final shot was fired. ___ Yura's extraordinary account alleging an attempted killing by Russian soldiers stands out as international justice experts descend on Bucha, a center of the horrors and possible war crimes in Ukraine. More than 1,000 bodies have been found so far in Bucha and other communities around Kyiv. In Bucha alone, 31 children under the age of 18 were killed and 19 wounded, according to local authorities. "All children were killed or injured deliberately, since the Russian soldiers deliberately shot at evacuating cars that had the signs 'CHILDREN' and white fabric tied to them, and they deliberately shot at the homes of civilians," the chief prosecutor of the Bucha region, Ruslan Kravchenko, told the AP. The U.N. human rights office says at least 202 children across Ukraine have been killed in Russia's invasion, and believes the real number to be considerably higher. The Ukrainian government's count is 217 children killed and over 390 wounded. The AP and Frontline, drawing from a variety of sources, have independently documented 21 attacks where children were killed that likely meet the definition of a war crime, ranging from the discovery of a child in a shallow grave in Borodyanka to the bombing of a theater in Mariupol. The total number of child victims in the attacks is unknown, and the accounting represents just a fraction of potential war crimes. Yura is a teenager growing into himself, spindly and spotted, with dark circles pressed under his eyes. Adulthood has been rushed upon him. As he lies on the floor of his family's home to demonstrate what happened, he shows the healing holes in his elbow. His mother, Alla, takes deep breaths to calm herself. Yura, sitting up, wraps an arm around her, then puts his head on her shoulder. On that awful day, Yura survived the attempted killing by the awkward grace of that teenage constant, his gray hoodie. It was shot instead of him, and he felt it move. Yura lay on the street for minutes afterward, waiting for the soldier to walk away. Then Yura ran. He reached the kindergarten where his mother worked, and where some residents used the basement as a shelter. They were shocked to see the boy and gave him first aid. He realized he needed to go home. He returned to the streets, not knowing where the next soldier might be. When he arrived home, his family called the police. The police said they could do nothing because they didn't control the area, according to the family. The ambulance service said the same. The police told the family that officers didn't know what to do with the case, according to the boy's uncle, Andriy. A prosecutor's report describes the killing and attempted killing in a few bare sentences, including the loss of a cellphone belonging to Yura's father. He would have been of help now he'd been a lawyer. Kravchenko told the AP that they continue to work on Yura's case, and expressed confidence that crimes committed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine can be successfully investigated. Among other things, footage from dozens of surveillance cameras in Bucha is being analyzed, and an identification album of Russian soldiers' faces is being assembled. In March, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced that investigations into crimes against children in particular will benefit from a new trust fund. Children account for half or more of those affected by conflict, but are often labeled as too vulnerable to testify or as having inaccurate memories, according to Veronique Aubert, the special adviser on crimes involving children to the prosecutor of the ICC. Yura's case is unusual. "Prosecutors may want to take up this case because the victim is still alive and can potentially testify," said Ryan Goodman, a law professor at New York University and former special counsel for the U.S. Defense Department. "It may be difficult if not impossible for a defendant to claim they were somehow justified in trying to kill a child." ___ It was left to Yura's family to retrieve his father's body. They did it the following day. Yura's grandmother, who is in her 70s, pleaded with Russian soldiers to let her approach the body. With their guns cocked, they let her walk ahead of them. Another soldier in the distance shouted, "Don't come here or we'll kill you." But he didn't fire. They brought Yura's father home in a wheelbarrow. He was rolled in a carpet and placed on an old wooden door. Amid the sounds of shelling and gunfire, they buried him in the yard behind the woodshed, in one of many makeshift graves hurriedly dug during the monthlong Russian occupation. Yura and his family left Bucha the next day along a rare evacuation corridor. The wounded boy walked first through the streets, holding a stick tied with a white towel, with a white sling around his arm. The family had to pass the scene of the shooting. As they walked closer to the evacuation point, Russian soldiers asked where they were going. They asked what had happened to Yura. "I was shot by a Russian soldier," the boy replied. At that, his mother was terrified. "I felt everything collapse inside me," she recalled. "I thought they would shoot us all." She asked the soldiers to let them pass, saying it was getting late. They did. The family left town that day. ___ The gray hoodie, bloodied at the elbow, is now the centerpiece of the family's search for justice. The top seam of the loose fabric has been sliced. Yura's mother insists that it's evidence and can't be thrown away. The family returned to Bucha in mid-April, after the Russians withdrew. They dug up Yura's father and buried him again in a local cemetery. The boy's family continues to play detective, scouring the area of the shooting for further evidence and theorizing on the trajectory of bullets. They question neighbors and analyze holes in a metal fence. As the family shows the AP the scene, Yura wanders in the grass beside the street, head down, looking for bullet casings. He is confident he could identify the Russian soldier, even though the soldier wore a balaclava over part of his face. Yura will finish ninth grade this year, once electricity returns and he can resume online classes. Until then, he is volunteering like his father did, visiting older residents. His mother is thinking of sending him overseas for the sake of his mental health. She needs some distance, too. "I'm never alone physically, but it's possible to be alone mentally," she said, near tears. "I try to avoid this." Her son's case is still a faint source of hope. There are courts and these courts will work, she believes. No one should go through what her son did. Yura fears they already have. "It's not only me who wants justice," he said. "People in Ukraine are still possibly being tortured and killed even now." Yura turned 15 on April 12. It was a quiet birthday. His father, a good cook, usually grilled to celebrate it. On April 25, a day after Orthodox Easter, the family again gathered at the grave to mark 40 days after Ruslan's death, by local custom. Food blessed by a priest in Bucha for Easter dyed eggs, bread was laid out along with homemade pickles, chocolate and wine. A plastic bag of food was hung on the wooden cross. Yura stood apart, quietly lighting a candle and placing it on the grave. Then he pulled a hoodie, a black one, over his head to block the chill. The boy's uncle, Andriy, watches him closely these days. Yura has always been a good kid, but he's become edgy and restless, moving from one task to another. Andriy fears the trauma of surviving death will catch up with Yura and mourns his nephew's damaged childhood. "This tears my soul apart," said Andriy, in tears. "What we see is suffering after suffering ... (Russian President Vladimir) Putin just decides to make us suffer, and we do." ___ This story is part of an ongoing investigation from The Associated Press and Frontline that includes the War Crimes Watch Ukraine interactive experience and an upcoming documentary. Frontline producer Tom Jennings contributed to this story. Editor's Note: The AP and "Frontline" are gathering information from organizations including the Centre for Information Resilience, Bellingcat, the International Partnership on Human Rights, the Ukrainian Healthcare Center and Physicians for Human Rights to inform the War Crimes Watch Ukraine interactive experience. A group of 16 Afghan evacuees living at an American military base in Kosovo since the fall of their country to the Taliban last year have been deemed ineligible to enter the U.S., according to media reports and government officials. The State Department is seeking other countries willing to take in the denied Afghans now at Camp Bondsteel, two federal agency officials told Stars and Stripes on Wednesday. No one is going to be forcibly deported to Afghanistan, said one senior administration official who is aware of the situation and requested anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the record. The decision not to let the refugees enter the United States was initially reported recently by Axios and The Wall Street Journal. Afghan refugees are allowed to stay at the base for up to one year, according to the agreement between the U.S. and Kosovo, said a State Department official, who was also unauthorized to speak on the record. Many of those left at Camp Bondsteel are family members of someone going through additional security vetting, with the hopes of settling in the U.S. About 70 refugees remain at the camp, down from the roughly 200 in December. Many relocated to the United States, while some left after applying for asylum in other countries. Officials speaking to Stars and Stripes did not say what countries might take in evacuees denied by the U.S., although one of them said an Afghan had recently left the base to seek entry into a Persian Gulf country. Evacuees can also go back to Afghanistan if they wish, according to Axios. Although the officials did not specify why the 16 refugees were denied, a senior administration official told Stars and Stripes in December 2021 that some of those at Camp Bondsteel had been flagged during vetting for security concerns. During the evacuation of some 74,000 people from Afghanistan last summer, U.S. lawmakers expressed fears that evacuees could pose security threats or have connections to violent groups such as the Taliban or the Islamic State. That only a small number of those applicants have been denied entry to the U.S. is an example of the system working exactly as it should, the State Department official said to Stars and Stripes. But family members of evacuees who are still at the base told Stars and Stripes this week that their loved ones fear that they too will be denied entry into the U.S. Some of the 16 who were rejected told The Wall Street Journal that their families had no ties to militant groups and were just victims of poor translation. They were also concerned about conditions at the base, which some described as makeshift shelters that were freezing over the winter, according to the report. The State Department official said the government was striving to build suitable accommodations and opened a new medical facility at the base. Examinations into conditions at other U.S. bases that housed evacuees revealed a lack of appropriate staffing, limitations on funding and difficulties deciding what law enforcement should do when people were suspected of crimes, a Pentagon inspector generals report published May 13 said. In addition to the evacuees still in Kosovo, some 2,800 Afghans remained at bases in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar at the end of March, the report said. WASHINGTON - The American general slated to become NATOs next supreme allied commander warned Thursday that Russias blockade of Ukrainian grain exports could enable terrorist networks in other parts of the world and may require U.S. military intervention to ensure global markets dont become destabilized. Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander of all U.S. Army forces in Europe and Africa, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that groups including the Islamic State, al-Shabab and Boko Haram stand to benefit from food shortages resulting from the war. Those groups feed on weak governance and food insecurity and corruption and poverty, he said, noting they already have been doing fairly well in Africa in recent years. A food shortage now would just exacerbate the situation down there. Cavoli appeared on Capitol Hill as part of the confirmation process to lead U.S. and NATO forces in Europe. Russias navy effectively controls all traffic in the northern third of the Black Sea, according to U.S. intelligence assessments, and Western officials have accused Moscow of using food as a form of blackmail. The Kremlins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said earlier Thursday that commercial ships carrying Ukrainian grain would not be allowed to leave from any Black Sea ports until Western governments lift their sanctions on Russia. Ukraine is the worlds largest exporter of sunflower oil, the fourth-largest exporter of corn and the fifth-largest exporter of wheat. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss accused Moscow of attempting to hold the world to ransom and essentially weaponizing hunger. In calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the blockade, she rejected the idea of lifting sanctions and said any appeasement would only make the Russian leader stronger in the longer term. Cavoli hinted that, at some point, the U.S. military could get involved in an effort to guarantee that exports from Ukraine can resume. But he declined to say whether he would recommend such an approach, apart from preparing the options requested by civilian leaders, if hes confirmed. For now, he said, its going to be a combination of modes of transportation that were going to have to use to get around Russian efforts to stymie grain shipments from leaving Ukraine. Romania has already made the Black Sea port of Constanta - which is not under blockade - available to exports of Ukrainian grain, though Cavoli noted that accounts only for about 90,000 tons a day. About 22 million tons remain backed up in Ukraine, he said. German rail line Deutsche Bahn also has begun an operation Cavoli referred to as the Berlin train lift - intentionally reminiscent of the Berlin Airlift of 1948 and 1949, when Allied forces flew food and other vital supplies into Berlin to circumvent a Soviet blockade of the roads and rail lines. That option would route Ukrainian grain supplies through Poland, which established a border crossing regime to facilitate such passage, and on to ports on Germanys northern coast for shipping. Some efforts are taking place, Cavoli told senators, adding: Much more needs to be done. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, speaking to reporters later Thursday, said there are no plans to use the United States military, or military sources or assets, to assist in the movement of grain outside of Ukraine. The Biden administration, he added, is in discussion with our international partners and allies about how best to address this. Cavoli also acknowledged that the influx of Western arms flows into Ukraine poses the risk of weapons smuggling by or to illicit groups who could in turn use them to undermine U.S. interests elsewhere. Establishing accountability over where all of that equipment is a vital task for us, Cavoli said, adding that doing so is challenging right now as the United States has no military presence in Ukraine. As the conflict winds down or concludes that will be one of the things that I have to get at, he added, telling senators, I share your concern on it. Cavoli, a Russian-speaker with extensive experience and expertise in the region, would take over at U.S. European Command as Putin, having failed to topple the government in Kyiv, has scaled down his ambitions in Ukraine. Putins forces have made only slow, grinding progress in their renewed campaign to seize territory in eastern Ukraines Donbas region, Western intelligence assessments show. The Pentagon on Thursday said that Russian commanders are attempting to entrap Ukrainian forces defending key towns in Donbas even as the Kremlins combat losses continue to mount in the face of significant resistance. The northeastern part of Severodonetsk, a strategic city in the region, appears to have been seized by Russian forces, said a senior U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity under ground rules established by the Pentagon. Collectively, this official said, the strategy amounts to an encirclement effort meant to cut off Ukrainian forces from reinforcement and resupply of Western weapons. The war, entering its fourth month, has been a costly endeavor for the Russians, the senior U.S. official said. Theyve lost about a thousand tanks, 350 artillery pieces, three dozen fighter-bomber aircraft and more than 50 helicopters, according to Pentagon estimates. More than 80% of Russias go-to fighting units - battalion tactical groups - have been committed to the war effort, the official said, stressing, however, that Russian forces still have a significant amount of their capability left to fight. Ukrainian military officials have claimed their forces have expunged nearly 30,000 Russian troops from the battlefield. The Pentagon has declined to provide an estimate of either sides casualty figures. The Washington Posts Shane Harris, Jennifer Hassan, Mary Ilyushina contributed to this report. KYIV, Ukraine Moscow pressed the West on Thursday to lift sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, seeking to shift the blame for a growing food crisis that has been worsened by Kyiv's inability to ship millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products due to the conflict. Britain immediately accused Russia of "trying to hold the world to ransom," insisting there would be no sanctions relief, and a top U.S. diplomat blasted the "sheer barbarity, sadistic cruelty and lawlessness" of the invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin told Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi that Moscow "is ready to make a significant contribution to overcoming the food crisis through the export of grain and fertilizer on the condition that politically motivated restrictions imposed by the West are lifted," according to a Kremlin readout of the call. Ukraine is one of the world's largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but the war and a Russian blockade of its ports has halted much of that flow, endangering world food supplies. Many of those ports are now also heavily mined. Russia also is a significant grain exporter, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said the West "must cancel the unlawful decisions that hamper chartering ships and exporting grain." His comments appeared to be an effort to lump the blockade of Ukrainian exports with what Russia says are its difficulties in moving its own goods. Western officials have dismissed those claims. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted last week that food, fertilizer and seeds are exempt from sanctions imposed by the U.S. and many others and that Washington is working to ensure countries know the flow of those goods should not be affected. With the war grinding into its fourth month, world leaders have ramped up calls for solutions. World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said about 25 million tons of Ukrainian grain is in storage and another 25 million tons could be harvested next month. European countries have tried to ease the crisis by moving grain out of the country by rail but trains can carry only a small fraction of what Ukraine produces, and ships are needed for the bulk of the exports. At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry proposed a corridor to allow foreign ships to leave Black Sea ports and another to allow vessels to leave Mariupol on the Sea of Azov. Mikhail Mizintsev, who heads Russia's National Defense Control Center, said 70 foreign vessels from 16 countries are in six ports on the Black Sea, including Odesa, Kherson and Mykolaiv. He did not specify how many might be ready to carry food. Ukraine expressed skepticism. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said his country was ready to agree on safe corridors in principle but that it was not sure if it could trust Russia. He said the issue was how to ensure that "Russia will not violate the agreement on the safe passage and its military vessels will not sneak into the harbor and attack Odesa." British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Putin was "trying to hold the world to ransom" by demanding some sanctions be lifted before allowing Ukrainian grain shipments to resume. "He's essentially weaponized hunger and lack of food among the poorest people around the world," Truss said on a visit to Sarajevo. "What we cannot have is any lifting of sanctions, any appeasement, which will simply make Putin stronger in the longer term." Putin said "it's impossible, utterly unrealistic in the modern world" to isolate Russia. Speaking via video to members of the Eurasian Economic Forum, which includes several ex-Soviet nations, he said those who try would "primarily hurt themselves," citing broken food supply chains among the economic problems the West is facing. Michael Carpenter, the U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, urged its members to provide Ukraine with what it needs to defend itself against Putin's "revanchist delusions." If Russia achieved "success" in Ukraine, "there would be more horrific reports from filtration camps, more forcibly displaced people, more summary executions, more torture, more rape, and more looting," Carpenter said in Vienna. On the battlefield, Russian forces continued to press their offensive in several parts of the eastern Donbas region, according to the General Staff of the Ukrainian military. That industrial heartland of coal mines and factories is now the focus of fighting after Russia suffered a series of setbacks and shifted to more limited goals. "The enemy is storming the position of our troops simultaneously in several directions," said Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar, "We have an extremely difficult and long stage of fighting ahead of us." Regional governors said at least seven people were killed and 17 injured including a 9-year-old child in shelling in Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv, while three were killed by attacks in and around the eastern city of Lysychansk, which is a key focus of fighting. Military officials said Russian forces continued to try to gain a foothold in the area of Sievierodonetsk, the only part of the Luhansk region in the Donbas under Ukrainian government control. A senior U.S. defense official said Russia is making incremental progress in the Donbas, with fighting centered on towns and villages as Russian and Ukrainian forces trade control over scraps of land. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the U.S. military assessment, said those smaller artillery duels could be prolonged. Russia has 110 battalion tactical groups, each with 800 to 1,000 troops, committed to Ukraine, amounting to 80% of Moscow's total force, the official said, adding that it has lost 1,000 tanks and three dozen fighter jets and other fixed-wing aircraft. Meanwhile, in the ravaged port city of Mariupol, Russia began broadcasting state television news, even as a leader of the Russia-backed separatists suggested there might be more Ukrainian fighters hiding in its sprawling Azovstal steelworks that was the focus of weeks of bombardment. The Russian military declared Azovstal and Mariupol on the whole "completely liberated" on May 20 and reported that 2,439 fighters who had been holed up at the plant had surrendered. The leader, Denis Pushilin, said some of the fighters may have been hiding, lost or lagged behind, adding that "there are already those that have been found" and captured. ___ Becatoros reported from Kramatorsk, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor contributed from Washington. DAVOS, Switzerland - Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraines minister of foreign affairs, was a prominent presence at this years World Economic Forum in Davos. He spoke to The Washington Posts Lally Weymouth about the situation in Ukraine. Edited excerpts follow: Q. How is the war going? A. Its devastating. The situation in Donbas is extremely fragile, and Russia is throwing more and more heavy weapons and personnel on our positions. We fight at the edge of our physical and moral resources. Q. By Donbas, you mean Luhansk and Donetsk? A. In the Luhansk region, to be more specific. That is the main focus of the Russian offense, in the Luhansk region. We are fighting at the edge of our physical and moral strengths, but we hold our ground. The main advantage Russia has is heavy weapons. This is why its so important to provide Ukraine with all of the necessary heavy weapons as soon as possible - multiple launch rocket systems being our top priority. Q. I heard that theyre more capable than the Soviet-made MLRS that the U.S. and NATO allies have been sending to you. Is that correct? A. Yes, thats why some time ago we discussed with the United States that they need to provide us with American rocket launch systems. We heard the positive response, but the decision as far as we understand - the final decision - hasnt been made yet. For us, every day of continued discussions in Washington means more losses on the ground. Q. Administration officials are reportedly saying on background that Ukraine will not give a commitment to not use these weapons in Russian territory. A. This is not true. Q. Isnt it true that thats what theyre saying? A. No, Ukraine did publicly and officially commit itself to not using these weapons against targets in the territory of the Russian Federation. Q. What is holding the administration back? A. I have no idea. Im curious myself. If they have additional requests of us, we are ready to hear. We are in a position where we are ready to do almost anything to get these weapons. Q. Youre ready to do almost anything. A. We are ready to do everything reasonable to get these weapons. Q. So the Biden administration is holding up the weapons that you say you need, right? A. The response from Washington is, We are working on it. It would be incorrect for me to say that they are holding it up or not giving it to us. They just asked for more time to make a decision. But, as I said, every day for us means loss of life, loss of another kilometer of our territory and advance of Russia deeper into the territory of Ukraine. Q. How does peace come to Ukraine? Some officials in your government have demanded the return of all of occupied Ukrainian territory, including the Donbas and Crimea. Do you agree with that position? A. This is the position of the government of Ukraine and of Ukraine as a state. We all send the same message: That Ukraine wants to restore its territorial integrity. Eight years of diplomatic efforts since 2014, eight years of trying to build a compromise around the separation line and about concessions towards Russia failed - it didnt work. Putin killed Minsk. The Trilateral Contact Group doesnt exist anymore. No one is bound by any commitments or obligations. Im certain that part of the issue of our territorial integrity will be resolved on the battleground and another part through the diplomatic process. But the balance between both parts is yet to be seen, so I wont go into details. Q. The part resolved on the battleground will be extremely bloody, am I correct? A. This is our country. We are fighting for it. What is the alternative? Q. If you say youre going to free the Donbas and Crimea, it would be extremely bloody. A. Everything that has happened since the 24th of February has been extremely bloody already. Q. Im talking about since 2014. A. Yes, we stopped. . . . there was no big fighting on the ground, but where did it bring us to? To missiles hitting Kyiv, to mass atrocities committed by Russia, to the occupation of new Ukrainian territories. This is the failed - I can call a spade a spade. The idea that you have to help Putin save his face, or you have to convince Ukraine to make another concession, or you have to establish another cease-fire, and then look for solutions is something that we all tried from 2014 until 2022, and it all failed. I understand its not easy to recognize that it is failure, that this policy was a failure. But it failed, and if someone tries to do it again, he will fail again. And there will be another war, another large-scale offensive by Russia. They will simply buy time to regroup, refresh, better prepare themselves and move forward again. Q. The return of your territory would give Ukraine control of your ports in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, right? A. Russia is blackmailing the entire world. It says, We will unblock Ukrainian ports so that Ukraine can export its agriculture to global markets if sanctions against Russia are lifted. They blame sanctions against Russia for the unfolding global food crisis. This is a lie. This is a manipulation. The only reasons why the world is facing a global food crisis is the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the blockade Russia imposed. They dont care about African nations, Asian nations, not anyone. They dont care about children and adults dying in those countries because of hunger. They care about only one thing - to escape the suffocating pressure of sanctions. The world should take a very firm position that there should be no compromises with Russia on this count, no lifting sanctions against them. Q. Is there any way you see to achieve peace? A. Yes, to win the war physically. The West - Washington, Berlin, Paris - capitals should come to a simple conclusion. What they are trying to do is to help Ukraine win the war. Not to let Russia win the war, not to let Ukraine fail. Help Ukraine win the war. We are not in the gray zone, as was the case in the last years. We are in a black-and-white situation. Q. Youve been very critical of an off-ramp solution for Russian President Vladimir Putin, is that correct? A. Yes, of course. Putin has been benefiting from this face-saving policy for years. Maybe after everything he did and the way he betrayed everyone. . . . Putin betrayed everyone who tried to help him in this world by launching an open, large-scale aggression against Ukraine. And even after that happened, the same people who feel betrayed, who support Ukraine with weapons, with sanctions - mostly in Europe - they still sit in their offices and say, Yes, he definitely went too far, he betrayed us, we tried to be helpful, but we still have to find a way out for him. No. The way out for Putin is his defeat. I understand that it may sound too radical for some politicians in Europe and in the United States, but this is the logical solution of this war. Its either him or us and the West. There is nothing in between. We cannot have another separation line in Ukraine. We cannot have another temporary solution. This will only extend the sufferings and will help Putin to prepare for another large-scale offensive. Q. If he survives the war, will Putin go after Moldova or another country? A. Yes, I think Moldova is at risk. Q. You said the other day that you are disappointed with NATO and youre happier with the E.U. Youre disappointed that NATO hasnt done enough. A. NATO did nothing as an alliance, as a union. Allies and members of the coalition of the willing consisting of allies did a lot. But NATO as an alliance, as an institution, was sidelined by allies themselves, I think. Thats my impression. The E.U. impressed us very much, but we hope they will not slow down. What we are seeing is they are slowing down on sanctions. Q. So the main thing you want is more sophisticated weapons? A. Yes. Weapons, sanctions, and kill Russia exports. DRUZHKIVKA, Ukraine - Stuck in their trenches, the Ukrainian volunteers lived off a potato per day as Russian forces pounded them with artillery and Grad rockets on a key eastern front line. Outnumbered, untrained and clutching only light weapons, the men prayed for the barrage to end - and for their own tanks to stop targeting the Russians. They [Russians] already know where we are, and when the Ukrainian tank shoots from our side it gives away our position, said Serhi Lapko, their company commander, recalling the recent battle. And they start firing back with everything - Grads, mortars. And you just pray to survive. Ukrainian leaders have projected and nurtured a public image of military invulnerability - of their volunteer and professional forces triumphantly standing up to the Russian onslaught. Videos of assaults on Russian tanks or positions are posted daily on social media. Artists are creating patriotic posters, billboards and T-shirts. The postal service even released stamps commemorating the sinking of a Russian warship in the Black Sea. Ukrainian forces have succeeded in thwarting Russian efforts to seize Kyiv and Kharkiv and have scored battlefield victories in the east. But the experience of Lapko and his group of volunteers offers a rare and more realistic portrait of the conflict and Ukraines struggle to halt the Russian advance in parts of Donbas. Ukraine, like Russia, has provided scant information about deaths, injuries or losses of military equipment. But after three months of war, this company of 120 men is down to 54 because of deaths, injuries and desertions. The volunteers were civilians before Russia invaded on Feb. 24, and they never expected to be dispatched to one of the most dangerous front lines in eastern Ukraine. They quickly found themselves in the crosshairs of war, feeling abandoned by their military superiors and struggling to survive. Our command takes no responsibility, Lapko said. They only take credit for our achievements. They give us no support. When they could take it no longer, Lapko and his top lieutenant, Vitaliy Khrus, retreated with members of their company this week to a hotel away from the front. There, both men spoke to The Washington Post on the record, knowing they could face a court-martial and time in military prison. If I speak for myself, Im not a battlefield commander, he added. But the guys will stand by me, and I will stand by them till the end. The volunteers battalion commander, Igor Kisileichuk, did not respond to calls or written questions from The Post. A Ukrainian military spokesman declined immediate comment, saying it would take days to provide a response. War breaks people down, said Serhiy Hayday, head of the regional war administration in Luhansk province, acknowledging many volunteers were not properly trained because Ukrainian authorities did not expect Russia to invade. But he maintained that all soldiers are taken care of: They have enough medical supplies and food. The only thing is there are people that arent ready to fight. But Lapko and Khrus concerns were echoed recently by a platoon of the 115th Brigade 3rd Battalion, based nearby in the besieged city of Severodonetsk. In a video uploaded to Telegram on May 24, and confirmed as authentic by an aide to Hayday, volunteers said they will no longer fight because they lacked proper weapons, rear support and military leadership. We are being sent to certain death, said a volunteer, reading from a prepared script, adding that a similar video was filmed by members of the 115th Brigade 1st Battalion. We are not alone like this, we are many. Ukraines military rebutted the volunteers claims in their own video posted online, saying the deserters had everything they needed to fight: They thought they came for a vacation, one service member said. Thats why they left their positions. Hours after The Post interviewed Lapko and Khrus, members of Ukraines military security service arrived at their hotel and detained some of their men, accusing them of desertion. The men contend that they were the ones who were deserted. - - - Waiting to die Before the invasion, Lapko was a driller of oil and gas wells. Khrus bought and sold power tools. Both lived in the western city of Uzhhorod and joined the territorial defense forces, a civilian militia that sprung up after the invasion. Lapko, built like a wrestler, was made a company commander in the 5th Separate Rifle Battalion, in charge of 120 men. The similarly burly Khrus became a platoon commander under Lapko. All of their comrades were from western Ukraine. They were handed AK-47 rifles and given training that lasted less than a half-hour. We shot 30 bullets and then they said, You cant get more; too expensive, Lapko said. They were given orders to head to the western city of Lviv. When they got there, they were ordered to go south and then east into Luhansk province in Donbas, portions of which were already under the control of Moscow-backed separatists and are now occupied by Russian forces. A couple dozen of his men refused to fight, Lapko said, and they were imprisoned. The ones who stayed were based in the town of Lysychansk. From there, they were dispatched to Toshkivka, a front-line village bordering the separatist areas where the Russian forces were trying to advance. They were surprised when they got the orders. When we were coming here, we were told that we were going to be in the third line on defense, Lapko said. Instead, we came to the zero line, the front line. We didnt know where we were going. The area has become a focal point of the war, as Moscow concentrates its military might on capturing the region. The city of Severodonetsk, near Lysychansk, is surrounded on three sides by Russian forces. Over the weekend, they destroyed one of three bridges into the city and are constantly shelling the other two. Ukrainian troops inside Severodonetsk are fighting to prevent the Russians from completely encircling the city. Thats also the mission of Lapkos men. If Toshkivka falls, the Russians can advance north toward Lysychansk and completely surround Severodonetsk. That would also allow them to go after larger cities in the region. When the volunteers first arrived, their rotations in and out of Toshkivka lasted three or four days. As the war intensified, they stayed for a week minimum, sometimes two. Food gets delivered every day except for when there are shellings or the situation is bad, Khrus said. And in recent weeks, he said, the situation has gotten much worse. When their supply chains were cut off for two days by the bombardment, the men were forced to make do with a potato a day. They spend most days and nights in trenches dug into the forest on the edges of Toshkivka or inside the basements of abandoned houses. They have no water, nothing there, Lapko said. Only water that I bring them every other day. Its a miracle the Russians havent pushed through their defensive line in Toshkivka, Khrus said as Lapko nodded. Besides their rifles and hand grenades, the only weapons they were given were a handful of rocket-propelled grenades to counter the well-equipped Russian forces. And no one showed Lapkos men how to use the RPGs. We had no proper training, Lapko said. Its around four RPGs for 15 men, Khrus said, shaking his head. The Russians, he said, are deploying tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, Grad rockets and other forms of artillery - when they try to penetrate the forest with ground troops or infantry vehicles, they can easily get close enough to kill. The situation is controllable but difficult, Khrus said. And when the heavy weapons are against us, we dont have anything to work with. We are helpless. Behind their positions, Ukrainian forces have tanks, artillery and mortars to back Lapkos men and other units along the front. But when the tanks or mortars are fired, the Russians respond with Grad rockets, often in areas where Lapkos men are taking cover. In some cases, his troops have found themselves with no artillery support. This is, in part, because Lapko said he has not been provided a radio. So theres no contact with his superiors in Lysychansk, preventing him from calling for help. The men accuse the Russians of using phosphorous bombs, incendiary weapons that are banned by international law if used against civilians. It explodes at 30 to 50 meters high and goes down slowly and burns everything, Khrus said. Do you know what we have against phosphorous? Lapko asked. A glass of water, a piece of cloth to cover your mouth with! Both Lapko and Khrus expect to die at the front. That is why Lapko carries a pistol. Its just a toy against them, but I have it so that if they take me I will shoot myself, he said. - - - Survival Despite the hardships, his men have fought courageously, Lapko said. Pointing at Khrus, he declared: This guy here is a legend, a hero. Khrus and his platoon, his commander said, have killed more than 50 Russian soldiers in close-up battles. In a recent clash, he said, his men attacked two Russian armored vehicles carrying about 30 soldiers, ambushing them with grenades and guns. Their mistake was not to come behind us, Lapko said. If they would have done that, I wouldnt be talking to you here now. Lapko has recommended 12 of his men for medals of valor, including two posthumously. The war has taken a heavy toll on his company - as well as on other Ukrainian forces in the area. Two of his men were killed, among 20 fatalities in the battalion as a whole, and many are wounded and in recovery now, he said. Then, there are those who are traumatized and have not returned. Many got shell shock. I dont know how to count them, Lapko said. The casualties here are largely kept secret to protect morale among troops and the general public. On Ukrainian TV we see that there are no losses, Lapko said. Theres no truth. Most deaths, he added, were because injured soldiers were not evacuated quickly enough, often waiting as long as 12 hours for transport to a military hospital in Lysychansk, 15 miles away. Sometimes, the men have to carry an injured soldier on a stretcher as far as two miles on foot to find a vehicle, Lapko said. Two vehicles assigned to his company never arrived, he said, and are being used instead by people at military headquarters. If I had a car and was told that my comrade is wounded somewhere Id come anytime and get him, said Lapko, who used his own beat-up car to travel from Lysychansk to the hotel. But I dont have the necessary transport to get there. - - - Retreat Lapko and his men have grown increasingly frustrated and disillusioned with their superiors. His request for the awards has not been approved. His battalion commander demanded that he send 20 of his soldiers to another front line, which meant that he couldnt rotate his men out from Troshkivka. He refused the order. The final affront arrived last week when he arrived at military headquarters in Lysychansk after two weeks in Toshkivka. His battalion commander and team had moved to another town without informing him, he said, taking food, water and other supplies. They left us with no explanation, Lapko said. I think we were sent here to close a gap and no one cares if we live or die. So he, Khrus and several members of their company drove the 60 miles to Druzhkivka to stay in a hotel for a few days. My guys wanted to wash themselves for the first time in a month, Lapko said. You know, hygiene! We dont have it. We sleep in basements, on mattresses with rats running around. He and his men insisted that they want to return to the front. Were ready to fight and we will keep on fighting, Lapko said. We will protect every meter of our country - but with adequate commandments and without unrealistic orders. I took an oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people. Were protecting Ukraine and we wont let anyone in as long as were alive. But on Monday, Ukraines military security services arrived at the hotel and took Khrus and other members of his platoon to a detention center for two days, accusing them of desertion. Lapko was stripped of his command, according to an order reviewed by The Post. He is being held at the base in Lysychansk, his future uncertain. Reached by phone Wednesday, he said two more of his men had been wounded on the front line. The Washington Posts Yevhen Semekhin contributed to this report. WASHINGTON The move to reopen the U.S. embassy in Ukraine has brought one American military officer back into the country as part of the diplomatic team. But the Pentagon said Thursday that no other troops are going into Ukraine at this point. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the defense attache, a colonel, has gone back to Kyiv with other embassy staff. The defense attache, while a military officer, reports to the chief of mission and is there for diplomatic work, not security. There have been ongoing questions about whether the U.S. will send a Marine security detachment back to the embassy. Kirby said that so far, the State Department is handling embassy protection with diplomatic security personnel and has not asked for Marines. Nothing has changed about the presidents direction that US troops will not be fighting in this war in Ukraine, Kirby told reporters at the Pentagon. He said active discussions about security are ongoing with the State Department. Saying he was not particularly optimistic, to put it mildly, of success in the year-long negotiations over reviving the nuclear deal with Iran, the Biden administrations envoy to the talks insisted Wednesday that ongoing diplomacy remains the best option for U.S. national security. The military option cannot resolve this issue and prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, Robert Malley told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. There is no military response. . . . Weve heard this repeatedly, including from Israel, he said. The only option here is the diplomatic one. The hearing was the first extended public presentation by the administration since the stalemated talks were suspended in March. While several Democrats urged the administration to continue negotiations, several others joined most Republicans in questioning the value of continuing the talks. The administration said in February that if an agreement were not reached within the next few weeks, Iranian nuclear advances would make it impossible to return to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, as the Obama-era deal is known. Its late May, noted the committees chairman, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. If Iran were to break out tomorrow with enough highly enriched uranium to make a bomb, what is the United States prepared to do? he asked. We want to hear U.S. plans to enforce sanctions already in place . . . plans in detail for what the administration is prepared to do to stop the growing oil trade between Iran and China . . . to bring home Americans wrongfully detained in Iran. The United States must back up President Bidens statement that Iran will never get a nuclear weapon on my watch, Menendez said. Malley acknowledged that, in addition to expanding its nuclear program, Iran has increased its other destabilizing activities in the region, including support for proxy militias, development of its ballistic missile program and attacks against U.S. and other forces in the Middle East. But, he said, it is much safer to negotiate those issues when we know the nuclear program is under control. Since April 2021, the United States has negotiated indirectly with Iran through the three European parties - Britain, Germany and France - to the original agreement, which sharply limited Irans ability to produce and retain the enriched uranium needed for a nuclear weapon, in exchange for lifting U.S. nuclear-related sanctions against it. Signers Russia and China have also participated in the negotiations, held in Vienna, to return to the agreement from which the Trump administration withdrew in 2018. After the withdrawal, Trump embarked on a maximum pressure campaign against Iran, reimposing sanctions that had been lifted and adding about 1,600 more, while Iran increased the quantity and quality of its enriched uranium production far beyond the JCPOA limits. Under the terms of a new agreement, Iran would return to the 2015 restrictions on the size and scope of its nuclear program and the United States would lift nuclear-related sanctions against it, while other sanctions would remain. But negotiations were suspended in March, according to U.S. and European officials, when Iran demanded that the United States also lift its 2019 designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a branch of the Iranian military, as a foreign terrorist organization. The Biden administration has not announced a decision in response to the Iranian demand. But Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, in statements Tuesday on Twitter, said that Biden had confirmed to him in a telephone call late last month that he would keep . . . the IRGC on the list, which is where it belongs. In a tweet, Bennett thanked President Joe Biden for this principled decision, and for being a true friend of Israel. Since the talks were suspended, the European Union negotiators, who serve as coordinators for the negotiations, have traveled back and forth between Tehran and Washington trying to fashion a way out of the stalemate. Chief E.U. negotiator Enrique Mora and the emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, both issued mildly positive statements after visits to the Iranian capital this month. In a lengthy prepared statement, Malley acknowledged that there are strongly held competing views in Congress about the deal. Last month, a bipartisan supermajority of the Senate passed a nonbinding resolution insisting that there be no delisting of the IRGC and that any nuclear deal also address Iranian support for terrorism in the region. Repeating familiar administration talking points, Malley said that the negotiations were always limited to Irans nuclear program, with the hope that an agreement would lead to further discussions about Irans other activities, including terrorism, support for proxy forces in the region and development of ballistic missiles. To the extent that there is a disagreement in this room, he told lawmakers, it boils down to this: are we better off reviving the nuclear deal and, in parallel, using all other tools at our disposal - diplomatic, economic and otherwise - to address Irans destabilizing policies? Or are we better off getting rid of the deal and banking on a policy of pressure alone to get Iran to accept more onerous nuclear constraints and curb its aggressive practices. We have gone through several years of a real-life experiment in the very policy approach critics of the JCPOA advocated: a so-called maximum pressure policy, designed to strangle revenue for the Iranian regime, in hopes of getting Iran to accept far greater nuclear restrictions and engage in far less aggressive behavior, Malley said. Many of us strongly disagreed with this policy at the time, but we could of course not prove that it would fail. That was then. This is now. Then we predicted, now we know. In response to questions, he repeated the administrations pledge to submit any new deal to congressional review, while declining appeals to make it a treaty that would be subject to Senate approval. Malleys testimony was followed by that of Mark Dubowitz of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a leading critic of U.S. reentry into the nuclear deal. In his prepared remarks, Dubowitz said that reinstated sunset clauses in the original agreement - to be retained in a revived deal - would lift many of the nuclear restrictions it imposes on Iran within a handful of years, and the removal of nuclear-related sanctions would provide Iran with $275 billion in sanctions relief during the first year, and $800 billion in five years. Malley called those figures wildly exaggerated compared to what our intelligence believes. He said that removal of current sanctions on Iranian oil exports would bring Iran about $5 billion a month at current prices. China is the largest current purchaser of Iranian oil, in violation of U.S. sanctions. BAGHDAD Iraqi lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill criminalizing normalization of ties and any relations, including business ties, with Israel. The legislation says that violation of the law is punishable with the death sentence or life imprisonment. The law was approved with 275 lawmakers voting in favor of it in the 329-seat assembly. A parliament statement said the legislation is "a true reflection of the will of the people." Influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose party won the largest number of seats in Iraq's parliamentary elections last year, called for Iraqis to take to the streets to celebrate this ""great achievement." Hundreds later gathered in central Baghdad, chanting anti-Israel slogans. It was unclear how the law will be implemented as Iraq has not recognized Israel since the country's formation in 1948; the two nations have no diplomatic relations. The legislation also entails risks for companies working in Iraq and found to be in violation of the bill. Earlier this year, Iran fired a dozen ballistic missiles towards the northern city of Irbil in the Kurdish-run north, saying it was targeting an Israeli intelligence base. The home of Baz Karim, the CEO of the oil company KAR GROUP, was heavily damaged in the attack. KAR has been accused in the past of quietly selling oil to Israel. A report by the Iraqi parliament's fact-finding committee said it found no evidence to support Iranian accusations of an Israeli spy base in Irbil. ISLAMABAD The United Nations' special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan on Thursday expressed concern over the deterioration of rights in the country and called on the ruling Taliban to reverse new restrictions on women. Richard Bennet spoke to journalists at the end of an 11-day visit to Afghanistan, his first since being named last month to his post. His visit came as the Taliban, who seized power when they overran the capital of Kabul in mid-August as the United States and NATO were in the final weeks of their withdrawal from Afghanistan, have started enforcing a sharply tougher line. In recent weeks, they issued edicts requiring women to cover their faces except for their eyes, including women presenters on TV, and banned girls from attending school past the sixth grade. At the same time, Afghanistan has seen persistent bombings and other attacks on civilians, often targeting the mainly Shiite Muslim ethnic Hazara minority. Most of the attacks have been claimed by the Islamic State group's affiliate in the country, which is a bitter rival of the Taliban. Bennett said Afghanistan's de facto authorities referring to the Taliban have failed to acknowledge the magnitude and gravity of abuses being committed, many of them in their name, and their responsibility to address them and protect the entire population. "I expressed serious concern about the deterioration of human rights across the country, and the erasure of women from public life is especially concerning," Bennett told reporters. In a statement issued at the same time, he called on the Taliban to "immediately reverse policies and directives that negatively impact women." His comments follow a statement Tuesday from the U.N. Security Council that called on the Taliban to "swiftly reverse" restrictions limiting girls' access to education and women's employment, freedom of movement and "full, equal and meaningful participation in public life." The new edicts have brought the country closer to the harsh measures imposed by the Taliban when they first ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. At that time, they subjected women to overwhelming restrictions, banning them from education and participation in public life and requiring them to wear the all-encompassing burqa. During his visit, Bennett held talks with Taliban leaders as well as toured the country, meeting civil society groups, rights activists and minority communities, including the Hazaras. Speaking to the press, he called for investigations into the militant bombings targeting the Hazaras, other Shiites as well as Sufis, a mystical trend of Sunni and Shiite Islam that militants revile as heretical. Such attacks "are becoming increasingly systematic in nature and reflect elements of an organizational policy," he said, adding that they show "the hallmarks of crimes against humanity." On Wednesday, at least 14 people were killed in a series of explosions. In one, a bomb ripped through a mosque in Kabul where people were praying, killing five and wounding 22. In the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif, three minivans were hit by bombs, killing nine and wounding 15, all of them Shiites. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the minivan bombings. Bennett also pointed to "a high number" of reports of intimidation, harassment, attacks, arrests and in some cases killing or disappearances by authorities targeting journalists, prosecutors and judges, as well as civil society for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and association. Bennet said the Taliban stand at a crossroads, where either society would become more stable and a place where "every Afghan enjoys freedom and human rights or it will become increasingly restricted." If the Taliban can meet benchmarks, including opening schools fully for girls, establishing a more representative administration and allowing dialogue, he said, "the risks of further instability and suffering in Afghanistan may be mitigated." WASHINGTON The nominee to be the next commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe told senators on Thursday that expanding the alliance would change the security landscape in the region to Russias detriment. Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the U.S. Armys top general in Europe, said adding Finland and Sweden to NATO would give the military alliance a footprint over almost the entire Baltic Sea coastline and force Russia to reconfigure longstanding troop formations for a buffer against Finland. Cavoli is poised to succeed Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters as the leader of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, pending confirmation by the Senate. Cavoli said Thursday during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that he would lead U.S. forces as an example for other NATO members. The U.S.s special role inside NATO is to point the way toward the future and demonstrate with our actions how to go in that direction, he said. As we arm our own military, we create a model that other nations in the alliance can emulate. The U.S. is by far the largest defense spender in the alliance, accounting for 51% of NATOs combined Gross Domestic Product and 69% of combined defense expenditure, according to a March report by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Cavoli said he wanted to see each member country exceed NATOs 2% of GDP military spending target. Just eight NATO nations in the 30-member alliance met that threshold in 2021, according to Stoltenberg. Two percent is a floor, not a ceiling, the general said. Finlands defense budget is near that figure, and Sweden is aiming to meet it by 2028. The two countries filed their applications for NATO membership earlier this month as Russia wages war in Ukraine to deter the alliances expansion. Cavoli said Finlands military investments, including a pending purchase of 64 F-35 fighter jets, as well as history with Russia will be a major asset on NATOs eastern flank. Finland shares an 810-mile border with Russia and has cultivated a large, well-equipped and well-trained army that fended off a Soviet invasion during the 1939-40 Winter War. The Finns are absolutely expert in defending that border, Cavoli said. Ive personally gone on a snowmobile with the chief of the border guard and the chief of the Finnish army down half the length of that border and I was very impressed with their ability to defend it. Cavoli told Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., that he disagreed with fears that bringing NATO to Russias doorstep could expose the alliance to greater risk. He said the risk will be felt on Russias side. For years, Moscows amicable relationship with Helsinki allowed it to maintain light ground forces near the Russia-Finland border and concentrate most troops elsewhere, Cavoli said. That possibility will now go away for Russia, he said. Still, Cavoli cautioned the U.S. and its NATO allies should emphasize transparency when conducting large-scale exercises to avoid miscommunication with Russia. Cavoli noted NATOs supreme allied commander has a direct line of communication with a Russian counterpart. Its a delicate balance because one must not shy away from activity to stay strong but its also necessary not to overdo that and create a problem where there wasnt a problem, he said. The Russian Defense Ministry responded angrily to Finlands move to join NATO, with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announcing last week that Russia will form 12 units and divisions in its western military district by the end of the year. Russian officials have also suggested stationing nuclear-armed missiles on the Baltic Sea as a retaliatory measure. Swedens accession into NATO would bring the Baltic Sea under near total NATO jurisdiction, a development that Cavoli said would be of enormous military significance. The alliance also would gain access to the strategically located Swedish island of Gotland, which lies about 200 miles from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, the headquarters of Russias Baltic Fleet. I think [Sweden] will bring an enormous amount of surface capability to us in the Baltic Sea, Cavoli said. They also have underwater capabilities that will help us as well. Cavoli declined to speculate on how the widening of the alliance and Russias war in Ukraine will affect long-term American troop presence in Europe, but he said he does not expect a need for large additional forces. The U.S. surged troops into Europe following Russias invasion of Ukraine in February. Clearly whats been happening is the center of gravity of the NATO force has been shifting eastward, Cavoli said. Depending on the outcome of conflict, we may have to continue that for some time. Senators on Thursday were particularly taken with Cavolis extensive knowledge of Russia, believing it will be critical for managing deteriorating relations with the Kremlin. Cavoli is a Russian speaker who has lived in Moscow for months at a time and traveled all over the former Soviet space. He previously served as director for Russia on the Joint Staff and holds a masters degree in Russian and East European Studies from Yale University. Id say you are Vladimir Putins worst nightmare, said Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska. If approved, Cavoli is expected to assume command of his new post during the summer and serve for three years. WASHINGTON A group of Democratic senators on Thursday called on the Biden administration to account for what they said was disparate treatment of Afghans who have sought to flee their country since the U.S. withdrawal compared with Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. President Joe Bidens recent creation of a program to ease a pathway to the United States for Ukrainian war refugees cast the administrations more restrictive policy toward Afghans and others into stark relief, Democratic Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Ron Wyden of Oregon and Elizabeth Warren Massachusetts wrote in an open letter to Biden and the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday. While the U.S. response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis has been admirable, it is unfortunate that this welcoming and accommodating model is not the standard for all humanitarian crises, wherever they occur, whether in Haiti, throughout Central America, in Africa, the Pacific, and elsewhere, the senators wrote. The Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program, created last month, allows Ukrainians to apply for temporary refuge, known as humanitarian parole, in the United States if they meet certain basic criteria, including that they lived in Ukraine at the time of the Russian invasion and that they have a U.S.-based sponsor to vouch for them. The Russia invasion of Ukraine began in February. Since the U4U program launched last month, nearly 22,000 Ukrainian nationals have been authorized to travel to the United States to apply for parole, said Angelo Fernandez Hernandez, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security. While refugee advocates have applauded the program for its humanitarian breadth, it has also been criticized by several American veterans groups, refugee resettlement organizations, and Afghan advocates, who say the administration has simultaneously hindered tens of thousands of Afghans from seeking refuge the same way. The United States in late August completed its withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. Administration officials say the comparison is unfair. The Biden administration last year brought more than 76,000 Afghan evacuees to the United States, most as humanitarian parolees, after a chaotic August withdrawal ushered in the collapse of the U.S.-backed government and the return of Taliban control. Two thousand more Afghans have followed in the months since, and Operation Allies Welcome, as the government has called the mass resettlement effort, represents its own separate pipeline to welcome our Afghans allies, said a senior official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in accordance with guidelines set by the administration. Afghans and Ukrainians who come to the United States through these programs are allowed to stay for up to two years before they must apply for a more permanent immigration status. They are eligible to receive temporary work authorization during that time, and the Afghans are also able to access temporary housing support and other cash and resettlement assistance, whereas the Ukrainians are not, said Fernandez Hernandez. The Ukraine program is quite different in a way, in that its not set up for permanent relocation to the United States. Its meant to be kind of a safe harbor program, which is different from Afghans, because I dont think any of us expect Afghans who flee to go back to Afghanistan any time soon, the official said. Critics of the U.S. handling of its Afghanistan withdrawal say that despite the mass airlift, tens of thousands of Afghans - including those who worked directly for and alongside the U.S. government - were left behind and have struggled to find a way out. The U.S. government concedes there is no easy way to get Afghans out of their country. The senior official said the administration would like to see more Afghans moved to the United States but that it is very difficult for people to get out of Afghanistan if it is not facilitated by us. So thats a key difference, that under United for Ukraine, you can book a commercial flight. Afghans cant. More than 40,000 Afghans have applied for humanitarian parole through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a division of Homeland Security, for lack of other viable escape routes. The Taliban has enacted a harsh new government and detained or assassinated people associated with the previous American-backed system, lawmakers and advocates say. For humanitarian parole applicants, there are formidable hurdles, including a per-person application fee that exceeds what the average Afghan earns in a year and a requirement to prove that theyve been personally targeted by the Taliban. The creation of Uniting for Ukraine has, meanwhile, offered Ukrainians a path to humanitarian parole with no such burdens. Ukrainians applying for humanitarian parole through U4U are not required to show any proof of individualized targeting - only that they were displaced because of the war. The Department of Homeland Security says that 70 percent of Afghan parole applicants remain in Afghanistan, which means the United States will not process their applications because it cannot vet or interview them in person. The lawmakers say the Biden administration can try harder. That the Biden administration has delivered billions of dollars in aid and rallied the world in support of Ukrainians proves that when we have the will, we will find a way to live up to American ideals of embracing people fleeing war and oppression, Markey said in a statement. My question is why this approach is reserved for a select few, when refugees from Afghanistan and around the world facing persecution, instability, and violence face barriers to entry that Ukrainians get to bypass. Its a shameful but well-documented reality that, throughout our history, the United States has prioritized the comfort and safety of European Christian migrants, Markey said. In just over a month, the administration has approved 6,000 Ukrainians for humanitarian parole through the program. But the vast majority of Afghan parole applicants have languished with no answer, the senators wrote in their letter. Of those who saw their cases adjudicated: The United States has approved only 270 Afghans for humanitarian parole, denying more than 2,000 applications, they said. While Biden has raised the annual cap on refugees allowed to resettle in the United States - his administration has not actually admitted that many refugees in practice, the senators said. [O]nly 3,268 refugees were resettled in the United States between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 - putting it on track to resettle only 10 percent of the 125,000 refugees Biden said the United States aims to welcome. BUTTE, Mont. When Republican Ryan Zinke first ran for Congress, the former Navy SEAL faced false accusations amplified by Democrats that his military career had ended in disgrace. After winning in 2014 and two years later getting picked as President Donald Trump's interior secretary, Zinke is seeking a return to Congress and facing a near-identical smear campaign this time from the right wing of his own party. A website allied with one of his opponents accuses Zinke of exaggerating his military service failing to mention two Bronze Stars that Zinke earned in Iraq and of being demoted, which his service records refute. It's part of a broad campaign by some Republicans leading up to the state's June 7 primary to thwart Zinke's bid for a political comeback and advance a more conservative candidate for the general election. The political dynamics reflect the sharp right turn the GOP has taken since Trump barnstormed across Montana's electoral scene with repeated visits during the 2018 election in a failed attempt to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. Zinke's status as a former Trump Cabinet member is simply not enough anymore for some in his party. They say he's too liberal and too soft on guns and didn't do enough to build Trump's envisioned wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Zinke has also been dogged by problems of his own making, including recent revelations that he lied to a federal ethics official before his 2018 resignation from the Department of Interior. This month came a disclosure from Politico that Zinke's wife, Lolita, designated her family's California home as her primary residence. That boosted long-standing suspicions that Zinke spends most of his time outside Montana. His opponents see a chance to make inroads with Trump voters, who seemed a lock for Zinke when he entered the race last year and quickly secured the former president's endorsement. "He quit Montana," said former state Sen. Albert Olszewski, one of Zinke's four primary opponents. "He quit Trump." Zinke is still acting as the front-runner, referring to himself as the "battleship" and other candidates as "canoes" while speaking to a reporter on the sidelines of a dinner last week hosted by Butte-Silver Bow County Republicans. "Everybody wants to shoot at the battleship. Nobody shoots at the canoes," he said. Zinke denies lying. But he doesn't deny that his wife is a California resident, and he acknowledges holding fundraisers there. He said he spends "a couple days a quarter" in Santa Barbara. The Montana House district that's at stake was created last year to account for the state's growing population and covers half the state from Yellowstone National Park, north along the spine of the Rocky Mountains, to the Canadian border. The district had been eliminated in 1993. Montana Democrats lost the state's only other House seat a few years later, and over the last several election cycles, Republicans took control of every statewide office in Montana except Tester's. Trump won Montana in 2020 with a 16-point advantage. The notion that Zinke quit him could prove hard to sell after Trump held a recent telerally with Zinke supporters reiterating his support. Trump spoke less than four minutes and spent most of the time touting his own accomplishments. Montana Democrats spent the past six years painting Zinke as extreme, and he suggested the attacks on him in the GOP primary for being too liberal could help if he advances to the November election. It offers a contrast, he said, so moderate voters know he's not "crazy." Still, he's got much in common with his fellow GOP candidates. He's refused to acknowledge that President Joe Biden was legitimately elected and has called for harsher immigration policies. He's also backed by the National Rifle Association. Democrats and his Republican detractors alike have highlighted the numerous investigations Zinke came under while at the Interior Department and the large paychecks he received when he later worked in the private sector. The questions surrounding Zinke's conduct haven't put a dent in his fundraising success. Through March 31, Zinke had raised $2.5 million, almost as much as all other candidates from both parties combined. About 80% of Zinke's campaign contributions came from out-of-state donors, Federal Election Commission data shows. For Republican voter Jennifer Howell, Zinke's outside support "speaks of corruption." "That means he's bought by outside interests. Money talks," she said before the Republican dinner in Butte, as Zinke spoke with other local members of the party just a few feet away. "To me, that's rude in your face, like saying, 'I don't need your money, Montana. I'll get my money elsewhere.'" Later, as the dinner drew to a close, 70-year-old Barbara Jones passed a donation envelope to Zinke and thanked him for hosting her at his table. Despite the attacks on him, Jones said Zinke had behaved "like an honorable man." She also praised him for returning to Montana after linking up with a Washington lobbying firm when he first left the Cabinet. But Jones hasn't decided whom to support in the primary. She first wanted to learn more about Olszewski and Republican candidate Mary Todd, a pastor from Kalispell who contends her son was killed after refusing to help a Chinese-backed firm steal U.S. technology. Also on the Republican ballot are contractor Mitch Heuer, of Whitefish, and Missoula teacher Matt Jette. The $50 for Zinke, Jones said, was because "he paid for my dinner, so I wanted to pay him back." Farmers and growers surrounding the degraded Waihi Estuary are being urged to seek free support and financial help from local environmental group Wai Kokopu to develop a plan to reduce their carbon footprint. The Governments recent announcement to tackle climate change will require all producers to have a greenhouse gas report by the end of this year, and have a greenhouse gas emissions mitigation plan in place by 2025. A lot of farmers are feeling overwhelmed, says Wai Kokopu Project Manager Alison Dewes. They know theyve got to move, and industry is moving in quite a positive way. Fonterra and Beef & Lamb are working actively with their farmers to build capability. But were here with a good skilled team and have funding in place for the next three years which could save farmers up to $8000 each to plan a journey to lower their footprint, stay profitable and consider restoration. New wetlands are being created. Photo: Supplied. Wai Kokopu is a community-led initiative to restore the health of the Waihi Estuary. Its one of the five most degraded estuaries in New Zealand, suffering from high nitrogen and phosphorus loads, and E. coli levels in shellfish that are 430 per cent higher than what is safe to eat. From a catchment-specific point of view we need to look not only at emissions to the atmosphere, but emissions to water, says Alison. We help farmers know their numbers what their nutrient loss is, what their greenhouse gas emissions are, what their risk of E. coli and sediment loss is, and support them to make farm system changes like voluntarily retiring marginal land. Wai Kokopu has raised almost $4m of Government and philanthropic funding to help landowners adapt to and implement change across the 34,000ha catchment which stretches from the mountains below Rotoruas lakes to the coast at Pukehina. Retiring land in Rotorua lakes. Photo: Supplied. We can provide advice, support and funding for carbon farming and land use changes; help people to plant streambanks and steep sidlings or protect wetland and native bush; and help improve waterway health, reduce erosion, shelter for stock and enhance biodiversity. Alison says Wai Kokopu has a large team of experts on board including agri science professionals, business analysts, and specialists in nutrient management, animal health, forestry, land use planning and restoration. Our funding is available for a limited time to support behavioural change and adapt to change. While the focus is working with pastoral farmers as theyre the biggest emitters per hectare, were also working with orchardists and other growers. Natives are being planted on retired farm land. Photo: Supplied. In the past year, Wai Kokopu and Bay of Plenty Regional Council have helped local landowners retire 150ha of vulnerable land into native bush - the equivalent of one whole dairy farm. Over 500,000 plants are planned to go in the ground this winter so were off to a good start in our first year. Alison says the new climate rules are imminent and Wai Kokopu can help farmers make the changes necessary while still remaining profitable. We are farmers too and understand change is difficult. But we need to be agile to thrive given the freshwater rules and emission reduction rules that will impact farming. This is their chance to work with some highly qualified nutrient/farm system and restoration advisors. Working through options with a professional can help you create a more resilient farm system. For support to improve your farm and meet your carbon reduction requirements, email info@wai-kokopu.org.nz or visit www.wai-kokopu.org.nz New native plantings. Photo: Supplied. RNZ's The Detail heads to Matata to find out how New Zealand's first managed retreat was handled - and what lessons can be learned as communities around the country grapple with the impacts of climate change. Matata is a pretty coastal town in Bay of Plenty, just north of Whakatane. Boulders lie on the grassy reserve that leads to a wildlife refuge and beyond that, there's the beach. It's like a lot of seaside settlements, with a dairy, a pub and a petrol station. But a closer look at some of the roadside signs gives a hint of an event that changed the town forever: "Kia mataara. Be aware. This is a high risk debris flow area. Keep clear during and after heavy rainfall". Beyond the sign are more boulders, overgrown grass and a road that leads to a lone house. It's the last house to be acquired by Whakatane District Council under its managed retreat programme. It was bought a couple of months ago, 17 years after torrential rain caused massive landslides that brought a torrent of rock, silt and trees down from the hills. Travelling at a speed of 30km/h, the landslides dumped debris through the town. The last home to be demolished in Matata. Photo: The Detail/Sharon Brettkelly. A total of 34 properties, including 16 homes, were affected, but the drawn-out process that eventually led to the managed retreat left some residents bitter, traumatised and physically and mentally ill. The Detail looks at the Matata experience - New Zealand's only managed retreat - as councils and other authorities consider it as an option for managing flood-prone areas and coastal settlements facing the threat of sea level rise. Whakatane District Council strategic projects manager Jeff Farrell describes managed retreat as relocating people out of harm's way. Jeff Farrell. Photo: RNZ. But the council's handling of the programme has been cited by some affected property owners as a lesson in what not to do - a large sign on the gate of a house on the main road signals that lingering anger: "Whakatane District Council leave our homes alone. Watch out the rest of NZ, you're next". Farrell tells The Detail why it took the council so long to reach the final decision to acquire the properties, get homeowners permanently off the land, and remove or demolish their homes. He says he's contacted by other councils regularly about the managed retreat at Matata. Among his key points of advice: don't rush in and make promises without fully understanding all the factors at play and work with the community. Farrell admits things could have been done a lot better. "Seventeen years from the time of the event to now...it's not a reasonable time period to be subjected to uncertainty, stress about another event happening while they're still living here, uncertainty about funding packages." He explains the council had nothing to work off: no rules, no funding framework and, until 2017, no formal risk management policy. "There was no guidance on roles, responsibilities, processes or procedures on how to do it," says Farrell. Some residents felt betrayed by the council, Farrell says. "They didn't appreciate that some of the decision-making was beyond the council's ability to control but we were the ones to implement it." Stuff's Nikki Macdonald has written extensively about the impact of on residents and says Matata's managed retreat would differ from that of coastal communities threatened by rising seas. "In this case they didn't have the luxury of time, it's not related to climate change, it's related to a natural hazard and once they'd identified it as 'dangerous', they had to take action, so they had to effectively get them out," she says. "You didn't have the option of foreseeing this problem." Councils and the government considering managed retreat should never underestimate people's attachment to their homes and the toll it can take on lives, Macdonald says. "It is definitely a traumatic process, and I wouldn't want anyone to treat it lightly." Sharon Brettkelly/RNZ The Government is providing further support to help Police protect small businesses affected by a spike in ram raids, Minister of Police Poto Williams says. $6 million from the Proceeds of Crime Fund will be invested in a crime prevention programme to be managed by Police which will include solutions such as installing bollards or other protection structures. This complements Budget 22s strong Law and Order investment to maintain police numbers in line with population growth and strengthen their ability to tackle crime and pursue those responsible in order to keep New Zealanders and their communities safe. We have heard the concerns of the small businesses being targeted by ram raids and other offending, says Williams. While there has been a significant reduction in youth offending over the past decade, there has also been a recent spike in ram raids and related offending which we urgently need to address for these business owners. This funding will enable Police to work closely with vulnerable small retailers to identify effective and practical solutions based on the particular features of each location. Police will also look at the range of crime and security risks each small retailer may face, and other options such as fog cannons, security alarms, or screens may be considered, says Williams. A similar approach was taken to support the installation of fog cannons in 1,000 stores to prevent robberies. Alongside the obviously physical damage, ram raids can also have serious personal mental health and wellbeing impacts on business owners, their families, and staff and these measures help prevent that, says Williams. Police will establish and manage the programme of funding for small retailer crime prevention, with work beginning in Auckland and expanding if required. It adds to the Governments already-record investment in Police, to which Budget 22 added over $562 million over four years. Money and assets forfeited under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 go into the Proceeds of Crime Fund. This is exactly what the fund was designed for, to rectify the significant harm such criminal activities cause, says Justice Minister Kris Faafoi. This builds on work done by the National Retail Investigation Support Unit set up by Police in November 2021 in partnership with Retail NZ. In Waikato, Operation Pryor has targeted offenders involved in ram raids, and resulted in 150 arrests and 750 charges laid. The Government is committed to making sure the Police have the resources they need to prevent crime and keep our communities safe, says Williams. Thats why Budget 2022 included a record investment of $562 million as our first priority is increasing the number of Police on the frontline which is the key to making people feel safe, says Williams. Alongside the increased Police prevention work, and in keeping with the Governments policy of being tough on crime and also tackling the drivers of crime, social and justice Ministers, supported by agencies, are undertaking a broader programme focusing on the causes of child and youth offending and how to build on the success of the existing early interventions approach. We know that families need wrap around support, and MSD and other agencies will continue to work with the South Auckland Social Wellbeing Board which have established a cross-agency prototype to provide whanau-centred support for the young people who have been directly involved in ram raids, says Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni. So far they have been able to respond to the needs of 19 tamariki and their families which has included re-enrolling them in school and connecting them up with financial assistance for helping them to access appropriate services, and multi-agency wrap around support targeted at each individual, says Sepuloni. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Courtesy of NMDOH The epidemic curve for Taos County as of May 20. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. In brief: Sony's embracing of the PC platform reaped rewards to the tune of $80 million during the last fiscal year, but that's nothing compared with what's to come. The Japanese company has told investors that this year will see PC gaming bring in a massive $300 million in net sales. In a business segment briefing for shareholders titled PlayStation: The Road to Profitable Transformation, Sony writes about the unprecedented demand for its PlayStation 5something anyone who's tried to buy one knows all about. An interesting part of the briefing for PC owners is the section that examines Sony's growth on the platform. Net sales more than doubled in the most recent financial year, which ended March 31, 2022, to $80 million, which Sony attributes to the PC releases of Horizon Zero Dawn, Days Gone, and God of War. That amount pales in comparison to the $300 million Sony predicts the PC gaming segment will earn the company by the end of next March. Yet, the only announced game from the PlayStation PC publishing label is Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection. It seems Sony expects much of that $300 million to come from its $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie, which analysts say could net it around $200 million in revenue per year across all sources. But Sony also projects to have three live service games by the end of the next financial year, meaning we'll see more of these type of games joining Destiny 2. It's good news for future Sony games on the PC, too. The company predicts around 15% to 20% of its releases in the coming year will be on PC, with that figure rising to almost 30% by the end of 2025. All of which is good news for those waiting to see Ghost of Tsushima and Bloodborne get the PC treatment. h/t: PC Gamer Snake and spider bites can be venomous and deadly, and scientists recently found that the venom can be more dangerous to humans. (Photo : Inti Ocon/AFP via Getty Images) TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Blanca Morel An employee shows the chelicerae and fangs - used to inject venom - of a tarantula, known as Costa Rican Tiger Rump (Cyclosternum fasciatum), at the Exotic Fauna Store in Managua, Nicaragua, on November 24, 2014. Venom is considered by some to be sterile, which means it's free from bacteria, and this is because of the antimicrobial substances in it. However, that may not be the case this time around. UK researchers found a piece of strong evidence that the bacteria in venom evolves to survive in the venom glands of the animals and in the venom liquid itself. They investigated the venom of five snake and two spider species and all of their venoms were host to bacterial DNA. The researchers found that the bacteria mutated over time, which makes it resistant to the harsh venom environment. Enterococcus faecalis is one type of bacteria found in the venom of black-necked spitting cobras and researchers found that it grew under the harsh conditions. Sterghios Moschos, associate professor in cellular and molecular sciences at Northumbria University and leader of the study said in a press release, "This is extraordinary because venom is like a cocktail of antibiotics, and it is so thick with them, you would have thought the bacteria would not stand a chance. Not only did they stand a chance, they had done it twice, using the same mechanisms." Also Read: Next Blockbuster Painkiller Could Be Inspired By Opioid-Like Venom of Aquarium Fish Questions About the Sterility of their Venom Answered? For years, researchers have been looking to animal venoms for the next generation of antibiotics. However, with this recent finding and a November 5 biorXiv preprint, it also showed that snake and spider venom may not be sterile. The idea that animal venoms are free of bacteria has been around since the mid-20th century. What Does This Mean for Human Victims With these new findings, human victims that are bitten by snakes or spiders should also consider getting treated for infections as well. University of Arizona medical toxicologist Leslie Boyer who has treated snakebite cases for decades says she is skeptical that the microbes in the paper have immediate clinical relevance, "There's a big difference between good basic science and meaningful applied clinical science. And this is the first step in a path that could conceivably lead to clinical implications, but it hasn't got them yet," she said. Researchers started documenting the antimicrobial activities of venoms and their components in the mid-20th century, which was then translated into clinical practice and snakebites have not been treated for infection since then. However, Sebastien Larreche, a clinical microbiologist at the Hospital d'Instruction Des Armees Begin in France said "new culture-free methods suggest that no anatomical area is really sterile by humans. By extrapolation, we can therefore assume that the venomous apparatus has its own microbiota." Related Article: Will Bee, Snake, and Scorpion Venom Be the Future of Cancer Treatments? This article is owned by TechTimes Written by April Fowell 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The founder and former long-running CEO, Jack Dorsey, already announced that he is exiting the Twitter Board of Directors at a meeting last Wednesday, May 25. The move is expected of the former executive. Still, expectations point out until the end of 2022 for the executive to vacate his position, especially as the company has a pending sale. Jack Dorsey Officially Leaves the Twitter Board of Directors (Photo : David Becker/Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 09: Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey speaks during a press event at CES 2019 at the Aria Resort & Casino on January 9, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jack Dorsey is no longer a part of the Twitter Board of Directors, and the former executive made it official at its latest shareholder's meeting last Wednesday. Here, the executives talked about many things regarding Twitter's ventures; one is also about Twitter's sale to Elon Musk, who is still preventing the deal from pushing through. According to a report by CNet, Dorsey's departure from Twitter was somewhat done last November 2021 when he transferred the role of CEO to Parag Agrawal. The executive distanced himself from Twitter by taking on a less current or active part in the company and entrusting the top position to another person to lead it. Read Also: Jack Dorsey Quashed Rumors About Being Twitter's CEO, Says 'No One Ultimately' Should Be Dorsey Left Before Finalizing the Musk Sale It is widely known that Dorsey already left Twitter before the company finalized or secured the Musk sale that will make the company privately owned again after some time. Instead of seeing through what will happen on Twitter, Dorsey has already left the company and will focus on his ventures instead of his former company. Dorsey is Focusing on Block The former Twitter CEO and one of its founders, Jack Dorsey, previously provided a platform that gave the public a so-called "online diary" where they could share their thoughts in real-time. Twitter made the internet centralized, says Dorsey, and he apologized for it as it was not meant to be that way. Now, there are efforts to decentralize the internet, with Twitter leading it again, with Elon Musk. Apart from his focus on Twitter, Dorsey also has another priority in his venture, and it is with a company formerly known as Square. Now called "Block," it focuses on everything cryptocurrency and NFT, as the online blockchain wallet has the capability of storing the digital currency and making it available whenever it is needed. Dorsey is a massive fan of cryptocurrency and the digital blockchain, with the executive supporting the cause. The former Twitter CEO previously hosted and became a guest speaker at Bitcoin conferences, and here together with Elon Musk, they brought out their insights on the industry. Yes, it is an end of an era for Dorsey and Twitter, but this is inevitable as he already stepped down from the CEO position, meaning he wants to distance himself from the company, which is now already official. Related Article: Jack Dorsey's Block Bitcoin Eyes 'Ecosystem' Expansion Instead of Being a 'Purely Payments Company' This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Isaiah Richard 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The country's National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is providing massive funding to companies that focus on Earth Observation technology in their recent ventures. The companies include BlackSky, Maxar, and Planet, which all have stakes on a surveillance technology in space that looks over the planet's events or changes from the heavens. National Reconnaissance Office Funds Earth Observation Tech (Photo : NASA/Newsmakers) STS-79 astronauts enjoy this view of the Mir complex backdropped against the blackness of space over Earth's horizon. The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) announced that they are awarding massive commercial contracts to three companies that present their technology for Earth observation. The focus of this venture is to help these companies gain funding, and it will also help the NRO for their stakes in the information gathered by their technology. The three companies included in this venture are BlackSky, Maxar, and Planet, all of which are known startup names in the industry. It will help the NRO achieve its historic expansion towards the commercial acquisition of the imagery technology available to the public. The contract has massive funds amounting to millions that it brought for the three partner companies. Read Also: NASA Solar Sails: How Does it Work? Space Ventures to Have New Technology Like Boats BlackSky, Maxar, and Planet: Who Are They? According to a Twitter post of NRO, the three companies it funded are massive names that it would partner up with and gain stakes in their operations in the coming years of its ventures. BlackSky is a company that claims to be the leading provider of geospatial intelligence. At the same time, Maxar focuses on spacecraft and Earth intelligence ventures. Lastly, Planet focuses on Earth observation satellites that capture its daily changes. Earth-Watching Satellites NASA and other partners in the space industry do not ensure that space is the only one that will have eyes set on it, as the planet deserves as much attention as the great unknown. An example of this venture would be the Landsat satellite that recently launched the Landsat-9 to bring the latest spacecraft that will help in their mission. Another famous Earth-watching satellite would be a venture from the European Space Union, with the renowned Sentinel-1 spacecraft that floats around the planet's orbit. The recent happening on the Sentinel-1 is its maneuver to avoid the floating Russian space debris in orbit, which the spacecraft and its team avoided and saved its satellite. The venture toward Earth-watching satellites is massive, and the government agencies and its stakeholders all focus on this kind of venture to keep the world's security in check. Earth observation tools are one famous venture, but it has been the case of privacy and security in the past years as these satellites can track and know information. Related Article: NASA Hubble Telescope Captures Galaxy Twice as Big as Milky Way; Here's What Makes NGC 474 Unusual This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Isaiah Richard 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BEIJING, May 26 -- "Any attempt to build one's own security on the insecurity of other countries is unfair and unsustainable. Facts have proven that the US is the greatest nuclear threat to the international community," said a Chinese defense spokesperson at a regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday. Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in responding to recent words made by a US military official. It is reported that Charles Richard, commander of the US Strategic Command, said in a recent Senate hearing that Washington faces a heightened nuclear deterrence risk when it comes to Russia and China, and that China will likely use nuclear coercion to its advantage in the future considering its quick expansion of nuclear arsenal in recent years, with considerable growth in its land-, sea- and air-based nuclear forces. Snr. Col. Wu Qian said that the US officer is just exaggerating the so-called nuclear threats from China in total disregard of the facts. His purpose is no other than finding an excuse for Washington's own nuclear weapon development and maintaining and cementing its global domination. "It is known to all that the US has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world," Wu said, noting that in recent years, to ensure its absolute security and military superiority, the US has pulled itself out of several international treaties on arms control and non-proliferation, consistently pushed the deployment of anti-missile systems worldwide, sought to deploy land-based intermediate-range missiles in Europe and Asia-Pacific, and formed the Cold War-like "cliques" through multiple ways. Wu pointed out that at the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) not long ago, the US released a negative signal by refusing to adopt a "no first use" policy. What the US said and did have increased the risk of a breakout of nuclear confrontation or even a nuclear war, implying grave hazards for international security. "China pursues a nuclear strategy of self-defense, commits to a nuclear policy of no first use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances, and not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones unconditionally, and keeps its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security," said the spokesperson. "This policy is clear and definite." "We hope the US will abandon the outdated Cold War and zero-sum mentality and the narrow geopolitical concept, actively fulfill its international obligations of nuclear non-proliferation, and meet China halfway to jointly preserve regional and global peace, stability and prosperity," added Snr. Col. Wu. Clearview AI is now looking into bringing its technology to schools in the country, particularly with its facial recognition systems and tech that will help them identify students and every person that comes in. It will be a measure that the company will take to prevent future incidents from happening, especially after what happened recently in Texas. Clearview AI: Facial Recognition Technology in Schools (Photo : M2020 @ Shutterstock) Hybrid learning is taking over schools. Whether school systems use in-person or online learning modes, a reliable classroom management platform can help. Reuters reported that Clearview AI aims to launch its facial recognition technology in schools and applications that will help the institutions ensure safety within their walls. The technology company presented its features available for everyone, and it aims to help the institutions from the many dangers lurking in public. According to a report by Vox, there were previous measures used by schools to promote and utilize facial recognition systems to have an additional safety layer on the learning institution. However, some states and schools banned this use of technology as it is said to be an invasion of privacy and does not do any good for the students and staff. Read Also: Ukraine is Identifying Russian Soldiers Via Clearview AI Facial Recognition Clearview AI's Technology for a Safer Environment However, it is getting more relevant as another incident took place in Texas, leaving many casualties that the country now mourns. While Clearview AI's technology may help avoid the incident, it is not a clear-cut solution that will help the schools in cases like this. Nevertheless, Clearview AI is also asking for consent regarding this venture, and it will help make users feel more in control of their data. Facial Recognition Technology Clearview AI is one of the leading facial recognition technology companies that bring its systems to different companies. However, that is not the company's only focus, especially as it borders on personal data and information. The company faced several lawsuits regarding its data collection that captures images of all people in certain countries. Allegedly, lawmakers claim that what Clearview AI does is illegally collect data from the public and use it for the gain of their technology, apart from its partnership with companies that use their features. Despite the different sides of what its technology aims to bring to the public, Clearview always faces these kinds of information thrown at them for their innovation. The world wants safety and privacy to themselves in the present time, especially now that people use the internet to present different information online. Their profile on the internet is made with their consent, and it is unlike Clearview's data that has it captured from other cameras in public. Clearview is now presenting itself to provide schools with an additional layer of protection with its technology. Related Article: UK Watchdog Fines Clearview AI $9.5 Million For Illegal Collection of Facial Images of Residents This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Isaiah Richard 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The new filing on Wednesday seems to have quashed speculations that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk will back down from his $44 billion acquisition deal with Twitter after the bid was "on hold." (Photo : Britta Pedersen-Pool/Getty Images) BERLIN, GERMANY DECEMBER 01: SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrives on the red carpet for the Axel Springer Award 2020 on December 01, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. The filing indicated that Musk will be paying an upfront of $33.5 billion to continue his takeover bid for the bird app. The billionaire is also currently in talks with Twitter founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey and other investors to roll their shares over or aid him in financing the deal. In his letter to investors who are supporting the holding company that Musk is aiming to take Twitter private, he assured that he is committed to completing the deal even though it was on hold due to an impending investigation on the number of bots on Twitter. However, Dorsey also announced in a shareholder's meeting on Wednesday that he will no longer take part on Twitter's Board of Directors even though the company's sale is not yet finalized. But the new filing was still a piece of good news for both the app and the billionaire after facing multiple controversies since he announced his takeover bid. As a result, shares of Twitter increased to more than five percent, although Tesla shares decreased by about one percent, as noted by CNBC. Musk recently lost $10 billion on Wednesday after being mired with allegations of sexual misconduct. On May 19, he also lost $12 billion in a day after tweeting his support for the Republican party and calling Democrats a "party of division and hate." Twitter and Musk have also not been on good terms lately after the company alleged the billionaire of violating their NDA after claiming a sample size for the number of bots on the social platform. When Musk first announced his takeover back in April, the shares are only trading below the $54.20 acquisition price, according to CNBC. This means that investors had low confidence that the acquisition deal would push through with the proposed price. Musk also raised the possibility of buying Twitter at a lower sale price since the company's shares have been falling since he planned to take over. Read Also: Twitter Settles for $150 Million Over the Use of User Privacy, Elon Musk's Deal Still Moving Forward Are Twitter and Musk on Good Terms Now? Back in May, Twitter shares were left under the mercy of Musk's announcement that his deal would be put on hold as he conducts an independent investigation on the number of fake and spam accounts found on the social platform. Musk said at the All in Summit tech conference in Miami that the acquisition price must be decreased citing concerns about inauthentic activity and accounts present on Twitter. The recent filing could finally put both parties on good terms and usher in Musk's era on Twitter. Twitter eventually acknowledged that there is a proportion of "false or spam accounts" on their platforms, including legitimate monetizable daily active usage or users (mDAUs). In its first-quarter earnings report, the company said that the average number of bots was less than 5% of its mDAU during the first quarter of 2022. On Wednesday, the company's shareholders voted not to re-elect Silver Lake's Egon Durban back to the company's board even though he is a long-time business associate and backer of Musk's several companies. Related Article: Twitter Will Hide False Info During a Crisis: New Policy Amid Musk's Deal On Hold This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google Docs sees a new update from the Mountain View giant, and it will help the use of the platform to see better features and functions. The primary purpose of this update is to improve the experience and service of the online document platform, where people can collaborate and use it easily via the web browser and app integrated to help in its function. Google Docs Update: What is New on the Platform? (Photo : Image from Unsplash Website) Google announced via its workspace blog a new feature of the Docs from its G Suite applications that are available now on the platform for usage and access. Google brings this new feature for all that will help access its features, particularly with its unique functions that will help in the needs they require for an office collaboration tool. Google Docs brings the feature called "Quick Summary," which is the feature that comes to the platform now. It allows multiple selections of texts that may have or receive the same edits from users. For example, if there are two phrases in different paragraphs that you want to turn into boldface, users can select both and do their edit with the new feature. Windows users only need to click the "Control" or "Ctrl" button, while Mac users need to press the "Command" or "Cmd" button to highlight the text. Read Also: Google Docs' New Feature Will Notify You If You Need to Make Changes and Improve Your Writing Google Docs and Its Better Collaboration Tools Users can also focus on the keyboard shortcuts from Google to learn more about this new addition to the Docs platform. The feature brings a significant collaboration tool that will help make this possible for all users to access. More features are coming to Google DocsDocs and other apps in the suite to expect in future releases. It is detailed under the roadmap of the platforms from Google, available for the coming future. Google Docs and Other from the Suite Google Docs is bringing a massive collaborative feature for all based on the company's previous releases in their technology. It offers different tools to help with work and school needs. Most of what the pandemic taught the world is the ability to experience remote working and collaboration, with tools like Google's suite helping their needs. However, apart from its many features, that aims to help the public get their work accomplished and have the chance to do their tasks without needing to meet in person to get them done. Users should still be wary of using online platforms like Google Docs, as threat actors still flood the company's servers and systems to instill malware and phishing scams for its users. Docs is one of the many collaborative online tools that Google has, and the company has a dedicated Suite for its Office apps that widely helped during the pandemic when people needed to stay at home. Now that people are going back to offices or returning to schools, it may still be used for new features and other user needs. Related Article: Google Docs to Roll Out a Safety Feature Due to an Increase in Phishing Attacks This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Isaiah Richard 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. There are water worlds and rocky worlds on the planet and in outer space, but there is one unique destination that NASA is looking into, and it is with a metal world. The national space agency is set to explore this new world with the "Psyche" mission that it aims to launch, but it faced a glitch in its operations, hence a delay in its exploration. NASA Psyche Mission: What is it and What is the Metal World? (Photo : NASA Psyche) Going on a metal world may be a bummer for some, but for NASA, it is a significant one as it is one of the unique destinations in space that it will visit. The world has not yet seen a metal world, and the NASA Psyche will be the first to see and report on it, bringing information and details as to what makes it up and how it was formed. The Psyche is an asteroid, but it is also the exact name of the mission that NASA would soon embark on once it had already fixed everything for it. The asteroid called Psyche offers a unique window into these building blocks. NASA believes that it is one of the essential explanations for planet formation that is still a massive unanswered question. Read Also: NASA Artemis I Update: SLS, Orion Rocket to Return to Launch Pad 39B in June NASA Psyche Delay Due to Glitch, Falcon Heavy Awaits According to NASA's blog post, the quest toward the metal world will have to wait as there is a glitch that its spacecraft saw before its supposed mission. All systems like hardware and software are a go, except for this glitch. The Psyche mission is at its final stage of preparations for its future mission, and it would not go later than September 20 this year for its launch with SpaceX's Falcon Heavy. NASA's Unique Explorations in Space NASA has many unique explorations in space, and it focuses on the many applications and features that the space agency aims to bring to the public soon. One of its unique explorations is with the Solar Sailsthat the company seeks to get quickly, currently on its Phase III transition that pitches the idea and entirety of the object for the future of space travels. The NASA Psyche mission fits various solar panels on its structure. It will help power the spacecraft for its needs, especially with the upcoming billion-mile task that it will soon travel. The areas it will go through will be in low-light conditions, and it will have to store as much energy as it can via its solar panels for the duration of its trip. The company is supposedly launching the Psyche mission, but it seems that it would have to postpone it due to a glitch that NASA did not talk about much. Nevertheless, the space agency is intended to have the mission done at the earliest possible time, especially as it is already ready with the technology it aims to use for the task. Related Article: President Biden: NASA Will Include Japanese Astronaut on Artemis Mission to Moon This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Isaiah Richard 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A recent report shows that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help physicians identify cancer risk in lung nodules that are visible on CT. (Photo : Photo by PASCAL POCHARD-CASABIANCA/AFP via Getty Images) Medical Radiology Manipulator Ludovic Foy look at his screen as he takes a lung scan on a smoking woman for the Acapulco experimentation in Ajaccio on December 16, 2021 on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. - Corsica wants to be at the forefront of lung cancer screening, the leading cause of cancer deaths in France and particularly active on the island, thanks to the launch of a study to detect "early lung lesions" by a low-radiation scanner. According to Anil Vachani, MD, Study Senior Author and Director, Clinical Research, Interventional Pulmonology and Thoracic Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, "Chest CT is such a sensitive test, you'll see a small nodule in upwards of a third to a half of cases. We've gone from a problem that was relatively uncommon to one that affects 1.6 million people in the US every year," he said. Dr. Vachani and his team tested an AI-based computer-aided diagnosis system that is developed by Oxford, England-based Optellum Ltd. The test is to help doctors analyze lung nodules on chest CT more accurately and further. "AI can go through very large datasets to come up with unique patterns that can't be seen through the naked eye and end up being predictive of malignancy," Dr. Vachani added. Also Read: AI in Healthcare: The Key To The Success In The Medical Industry The Test There were six pulmonologists and six radiologists who used CT imaging data alone to determine the possibility of malignancy for nodules in the research. The study consisted of 300 chest CT scans of indeterminate lung nodules with a diameter of 5 to 30 mm. The test showed that AI helped enhance the nodule malignancy assessment on chest CT and increased reader agreement on risk categorization and management recommendations. It also showed that the model operates well on diagnostic and low-dose screening CT. However, there still needs to be additional research before the AI tool can be used inside a clinic. Taking the First Step & What's Next? Dr. Vachani and his team took the first step in testing the AI tool in radiology and pulmonology practice. Now, the next step is to take the tool into trials where physicians can use it in a real-world setting. Currently, Dr. Vachani and his team are designing these trials. AI demonstrates its value specifically in this medical field because of its high potential to ease the workload of physicians while increasing the speed and accuracy of diagnosis. Along with AI being used in the detection of the malignancy of lung nodules, there are also ongoing studies in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) that used radiomics to predict distant metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma and tumor histological subtypes and disease recurrence, somatic mutations, gene-expression profiles, and overall survival. Also in 2019, researchers developed and tested a deep-learning-based algorithm for classifying results of chest radiographs from patients with pulmonary malignant neoplasm, active tuberculosis, pneumonia, and pneumothorax. Related article: New Health App Using AI Can Detect Early Warning Signs For Cognitive Impairment This article is owned by TechTimes Written by April Fowell 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. With a lot of focus being given to solar power and other sources of electricity, a geothermal system is often being overlooked. The system, however, could have enough power to supply 10 million homes. Geothermal Energy System Dubbed a 'Rock Star' According to the story by Hackaday, the results of having Pacific Northwest National Laboratories taking over "what was once the largest and deepest gold mine in North America" could lead to enough power for 10 million homes. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has called the geothermal energy system a "rock star" and has tested it almost 1,250 meters underground. To add, the system project included academia and industry partners and a lab that aims to test out different fluids being sent "down boreholes so the Earth can heat them up. How the System Makes Energy As noted by Hackaday, when fluids are heated, hot fluids could result in the creation of electricity. Due to its requirements of being deep underground, the system is not that convenient to reach. The publication, however, notes that modern technology has allowed the equipment to be "largely automated" making the experimentation process much easier on the workers. Due to automation, workers will be able to carry out experiments even with the use of a phone or computer. How Big is the Geothermal Energy System? The system itself is quite small and is only 2.1 meters long by 2.1 meters wide and is about 9.14 meters long as well. The system was initially assembled above the ground and tested before it was split into different sections. The sections were then transported underground and were used as the geothermal energy system. In order to make the system easier to use, the tunnel was airconditioned. Project Described Further in a Deep Talk The project was talked about in detail by the researchers in a "deep talk" talking about the potential of its energy. The researchers' thoughts regarding the geothermal energy system can be seen in a video uploaded by the Sanford Underground Research Facility on YouTube. As per PNNL scientist, Chris Strickland, the system's uniqueness is that it is capable of rolling out different components that are needed in order to "glean important data for geothermal study into one system." Read Also: Largest Nuclear Fusion Reactor Might Not Work Due To Fuel Crisis; Tritium Shortage Getting Worst? Two Injection Pumps Used in the Setup Chris Strickland is also co-leading the EGS Collab's Simulation as well as the Flow team. The components are reportedly comprised of two different injection pumps with one of them used for precise flow and pressure control "while the other can be operated when high flow rates are needed." The unique geothermal energy system is now trying to find a more feasible way to harvest and roll out the energy from underground to put into practical use. Related Article: New Solar Cell Uses Night Vision Tech To Generate Electricity Even in Complete Darkness This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian B. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The latest Boeing Starliner test spaceflight is a success! This means that NASA's new astronaut taxi will soon be ready enough to deliver humans to the International Space Station. (Photo : Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images) In this handout provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft jettisons the heat shield as it lands at White Sands Missile Ranges Space Harbor, on May 25, 2022 at the White Sands Missle Range, New Mexico. Boeing's Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2). The American multinational rocket developer's advanced crew taxi re-entered the Earth's atmosphere after its six-day ISS mission. Boeing's Starliner rocket touched down at the White Sands Space Harbor at the U.S. Army's White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on Wednesday, May 25, at exactly 4:49 p.m. MDT. Since the rocket manufacturer's test flight was a success, Forbes reported that the advanced Boeing Starliner space taxi is almost complete. Boeing Starliner Test Flight is a Success! According to KSAT's latest report, Boeing's Starliner capsule was able to make a quick return after detaching from the giant space laboratory. (Photo : Photo by Aubrey Gemignani/NASA via Getty Images) In this handout provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft onboard sits on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 ahead of the Orbital Flight Test-2 mission August 2, 2021 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Also Read: National Reconnaisance Office Funds BlackSky, Maxar, and Planet's Earth Observation Tech In just four hours after leaving ISS, Starliner was able to make its successful Earth re-entry. Officials of NASA and Boeing shared their excitement for the latest spaceflight test. NASA's Commercial Crew Program Director Steve Stich said that the Starliner uncrewed launch was an "extremely successful" one, claiming that all the objectives were met by Boeing's rocket. "On a scale of one to 10, I think I'd give it a 15," shared Boeing Vice President Mark Nappi. As of writing, the new space taxi of NASA only delivered the mannequin called "Rosie the Rocketeer" to the International Space Station. But, this is expected to change soon, with Starliner delivering real astronauts into outer space this coming March 2023. What is Rosie the Rocketeer? NASA's official blog post explained that Rosie the Rocketeer is an anthropometric test device used in Boeing's Starliner test flight. It is integrated with 15 sensors to collect essential data during space launches. This means that it can provide some information about the things that astronauts can experience once onboard Boeing's Starliner. Meanwhile, experts said that NASA solar sails could enhance space missions. On the other hand, the James Webb Space Telescope is now tracking space objects. For more news updates about the Boeing Starliner and other new commercial spacecraft, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Space Perspective's Passenger Balloon Development Receives Million-Dollar Funding; What is Spaceship Neptune This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google Pixel Fold is allegedly delayed, again. This means that interested consumers need to wait longer before the new foldable device arrives. (Photo : Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The new Google Pixel 3a is displayed during the 2019 Google I/O conference at Shoreline Amphitheatre on May 07, 2019 in Mountain View, California. Google CEO Sundar Pichai delivered the opening keynote to kick off the annual Google I/O Conference that runs through May 8. As of writing, there's no confirmed reason behind the delay. But, some individuals, who are familiar with the search engine giant's business activities, claim that it could be the not-so-advanced features. They believe that the new Google Pixel Fold, aka Pixel Notepad, will not be enough to compete against existing foldable gadgets, such as Galaxy Z Fold, Oppo Find N, and other models. Google Pixel Fold's New Launch Date According to Toms Guide's latest report, Google allegedly pushed back the launch date of its new Pixel Fold smartphone, with an estimated 2023 spring release schedule. (Photo : Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The new Google Pixel 3a is displayed during the 2019 Google I/O conference at Shoreline Amphitheatre on May 07, 2019 in Mountain View, California. Google CEO Sundar Pichai delivered the opening keynote to kick off the annual Google I/O Conference that runs through May 8. Also Read: Google Pixel 7 Pro Camera Specs Could be at Par With its Predecessor [Leak] "Hearing from multiple sources in their supply chain that the Google foldable launch was delayed till next spring...," said Ross Young, the CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC). Hearing from multiple sources in their supply chain that the Google foldable launch was delayed till next spring pic.twitter.com/QXr7hhV3ZX Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) May 25, 2022 This is not the first time the tech giant manufacturer changed Pixel Fold's launch schedule. Previously, many speculations claimed that the new Pixel Fold was supposed to be launched before 2021 ended. However, this didn't happen. Because of this, new rumors arose, claiming that Google canceled the development of its first foldable tech. Then, some critics declined the rumored Pixel Notepad cancelation, clarifying that Google continued its project and will launch its first foldable model around late 2022. Google Pixel Fold Can't Compete With Other Foldables? The Elec's latest report claim that Pixel Fold's launch date has been delayed since its features are not enough to compete against Samsung Galaxy Flip and other popular foldable models. If this is true, then the search engine giant is actually putting it on its sideline devices. On the other hand, it is believed that the new Pixel Notepad has a lot of similarities with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3. These include a 7.57-inc main screen, as well as an ultra-thin glass cover. If you want to see further details about the upcoming Google Pixel Fold, you can visit this link. Recently, Google's safety check feature was launched. On the other hand, Google Pixel devices received the new video call function called "type-to-talk." For more news updates about Google Pixel Fold and other new foldable models, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Google Android: Pixel Update to Fix Wireless Charging Issues on Device, Security Flaws This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Monkeypox and COVID-19 are both dangerous and can lead to the death of the patients. Health experts say that if Monkeypox is not controlled, it can create a widespread outbreak. (Photo : Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Healthcare professionals prepare to screen people for the coronavirus at a testing site erected by the Maryland National Guard in a parking lot at FedEx Field March 30, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. The guard, in cooperation with the state of Maryland and Prince Georges County, said the site will be able to test about 100 people. But, CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) explained that monkeypox's posed health threat is quite different from the novel coronavirus. "This is the first time that we have gathered again in Davos since the 2020 meeting and we find ourselves facing another dangerous disease threat," said Richard Hatchett, CEPI CEO. He added that the spread of monkeypox is a sign that as the world starts to go back to normal, other infectious diseases are also appearing. Monkeypox Vs. COVID-19: Here's Their Key Difference According to CNBC's latest report, although monkeypox and COVID-19 are both global threats, they have one key difference. This is their transmission method. (Photo : Photo credit should read CHARLES BOUESSEL/AFP via Getty Images) Blood samples are drawn from a boy who didn't display any sign of monkeypox despite his all family has been contaminated, while at a quarantine area of the centre of the International medical NGO Doctors Without Borders (Medecins sans frontieres - MSF), in Zomea Kaka, in the Lobaya region, in the Central African Republic on October 18, 2018. Also Read: WHO Records 80 Monkeypox Cases Globally, Confirms Outbreaks in 11 Countries The novel coronavirus can spread via respiratory transmission. On the other hand, monkeypox is transmitted via close physical contact. This means that monkeypox is less infectious compared to COVID-19. CEPI's CEO explained that although the skin disease is not that contagious, it still shows that old health threats can re-appear even in the modern world. As of writing, health authorities stated that the world is still far from a monkeypox outbreak. Compared to COVID-19, monkeypox already has ready-for-use vaccines. This is another factor why experts are not that alarmed when it comes to serious monkeypox outbreaks. Some People are Safe from Monkeypox The New York Times reported that certain individuals are safe from monkeypox infections. These are specifically older adults who have already received their smallpox vaccine shots. Dr. Luigi Ferrucci, a scientific director of the National Institute on Aging, explained that even if the smallpox vaccines were taken decades ago, they still offer a high level of antibodies. Meanwhile, CDC confirmed the first U.S. monkeypox case. On the other hand, a new study revealed that 50% of people are at risk of the most infectious parasite in the world. For more news updates about monkeypox and other dangerous diseases, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Monkeypox Concerns Europe Health Officials; Experts Now Check if Human Intercourse Also Spreads the Virus This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. AOC and Elon Musk are still having their feud. The conflict between the U.S. representative and Tesla CEO started when Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted about a billionaire "with an ego problem." (Photo : Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images) Progressive challenger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez celebrartes at a victory party in the Bronx after upsetting incumbent Democratic Representative Joseph Crowly on June 26, 2018 in New York City. Ocasio-Cortez upset Rep. Joseph Crowley in New Yorks 14th Congressional District, which includes parts of the Bronx and Queens. Although she didn't mention any name, Elon Musk still accused her of "hitting on him." The tech CEO even said that he is shy about women making the first move. Of course, Ocasio-Cortez tried to direct her tweet to other billionaires. She specifically mentioned Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. Now, it seems like AOC is taking the issue to the next level, announcing that she will ditch her Tesla EV and look for other zero-emission vehicle models. AOC, Elon Musk Feud Update: Ocasio-Cortez Wants To Ditch Tesla? According to Business Insider's latest report, AOC said she is tired of billionaires with ego problems, especially those trying to control communication platforms. (Photo : Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) A general view of the Tesla Assembly plant building which also does vehicle delivery and has a service centre, on March 29, 2021 in Tilburg, Netherlands. In mid-March, a Dutch online news site reported that the Tilburg plant, which assembles the Tesla Model S and Model X, will cease work due to changes in the production process, jeopardizing around 100 jobs. Also Read: Bill Gates Reportedly Poured Millions to Dark Fund Against Elon Musk-Tesla CEO is ANGRY The U.S. representative said that she wants to have a new EV manufactured by companies that support employee unionization. AOC added that she only purchased a Tesla Model 3 to get it from New York to Washington. As of writing, Ocasio-Cortez hasn't confirmed when she will resell her Tesla EV. When it comes to impact, some experts said that Elon Musk's issue with AOC can affect Tesla since most of the company's consumers are Democrats. But, it could also benefit the automaker since experts claim that Elon Musk's online activities are further attracting Republican EV buyers. Is It Easy To Resell Tesla EV? Reselling or transferring your EV to another owner also follows the process of reselling conventional car models. This means that you will do some paperwork, check the condition of the vehicle, etc. But, unlike other car models, Tesla EVs require system resetting. Tesla's official website provides the simple steps you can follow if you want to sell your electric car: First, you need to click the Controls button. After that, just choose the Service option. Click the Factory Reset button and check if your accounts are no longer in your Tesla system. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's sexual misconduct leads to a billion-dollar loss. Previously, Elon Musk claimed that ESG is a scam, adding that Tesla is better for the environment compared to other companies. For more news updates about AOC and Elon Musk, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Elon Musk Pauses Twitter Buyout After Report Reveals Biden's Followers are Bots-Almost 50% of Them This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. [Exclusive] Even though we are not medical professionals, we practice each other for being forced to draw blood without qualification Turkey said today, Thursday, that its military operations on its southern borders have a security dimension and do not pose any threat to the sovereignty of neighboring countries. Turkey said today, Thursday, that its military operations on its southern borders have a security dimension and do not pose any threat to the sovereignty of neighboring countries. The meeting comes on the heels of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's announcement on Monday that his country will soon launch new military operations on its southern borders to combat what he described as terrorist threats by expanding the safe zone to a depth of 30 km. "The operations carried out now and in the future to eliminate the terrorist threat on our southern borders do not target the territorial integrity of neighboring countries or sovereignty in any way," Turkey's National Security Council said after a meeting chaired by Erdogan. Any operations in northern Syria, where Turkey has launched several incursions since 2016, are expected to target the US-backed Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). Ankara considers the YPG to be part of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency in the southeast of the country since 1984. Ankara classifies the two groups as terrorist organizations. But the YPG is a key component of the Kurdish-led coalition, the Syrian Democratic Forces, on which the United States has largely relied in fighting Islamic State. It is noteworthy that the Turkish army has been carrying out an operation in northern Iraq since mid-April, targeting PKK sites. Keywords: Louisiana's best public school teachers are certified and experienced but the state trails the nation in both categories, according to a report Thursday by Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack. The state has the fifth highest rate of uncertified teachers 9% and the fourth most teachers in their first or second years in the classroom 16%, the review says. The national figures are 3% and 12% respectively. "According to our analysis, increasing the average years of teacher experience and the percentage of teachers who are certified may improve the effectiveness of Louisiana's teaching workforce and consequently improve the quality of the education that students in the state receive," it says. Waguespack did the report to evaluate how differences in qualifications, pay and other issues affect student retention and student performance. Louisiana, like much of the nation, is facing a teacher shortage that has expanded from math, science and special education to include virtually all subjects. +2 Aspiring teachers down 30% in Louisiana as state faces shortage, lack of diversity in classrooms Louisiana's teacher workforce is suffering from a variety of ills, including a 30% drop in the ranks of aspiring teachers, a glut of educators In his written response to the report, state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley said the state needs another 2,000 teachers to staff classrooms today. Louisiana's teacher shortage is raising alarms: 'Fewer teacher candidates than ever' Louisiana's teacher shortage is getting worse with retirements on the rise, the number of new teachers plunging and superintendents finding it increasingly difficult to fill classroom jobs. The state has suffered from low student achievement in public schools for generations, and the inordinate number of uncertified teachers is a longtime sore spot. Certified teachers have to earn a college degree, finish with at least a 2.5 grade point average out of 4.0 and pass a national teacher exam. Roughly 1 of 5 teachers here are either uncertified or teaching outside their field of expertise, and the report says that carries consequences. A total of 51% of certified teacher finished in the state's top two rating categories compared to 43% of uncertified educators. Also, 53% of teachers with four or five years of experience finished in the top two grades versus 43% of those in their first or second year in the classroom. Louisiana House approves plan to allow retired teachers to return to classrooms for higher pay Some retired teachers would be allowed to return to work for double the current rate under a bill that won House approval Monday 96-0. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Only 6% of teachers at A-rated schools are uncertified compared to 24% of those at F-rated schools, according to the audit. Waguespack also said only 50% of teachers in charter schools are certified compared to 92% in traditional public schools. How to tackle teacher shortage? Some lawmakers say retirees could ease the problem Louisiana's teacher shortage is growing more urgent, and some state lawmakers want to try to lure retired teachers back to the classroom by of Among public schools in New Orleans, which are all charters, 54% of teachers are uncertified compared to 12.5% statewide. State law allows charter school teachers to be uncertified, part of the push to offer innovative ways to deliver instruction. The Legislature is in the process of approving $1,500 pay raises for teachers. But Louisiana remains 12th of 16 states in the region for teacher pay, and many were disappointed that lawmakers failed to deliver $2,000 increases despite a push to do so by Gov. John Bel Edwards. Average pay is $51,566 per year. Brumley said state leaders should listen to teachers to better understand their working conditions. "Today, unfortunately, too few of our teachers are encouraging students, friends and neighbors to consider careers in education," he wrote. "Even in our colleges of education we note about 500 fewer education graduate annually as compared to just ten years ago." In comments that accompanied the report, Brumley said the state should pursue a variety of steps to boost the teaching ranks, including new compensation models, better high school pathways for aspiring teachers and easier ways for those from other professions to enter the classroom. Average teacher salaries included in the report are Ascension, $53,905; Central, $51,123; East Baton Rouge, $54,457; Jefferson, $52,287; Lafayette, $49,103; Livingston, $50,243; St. Bernard, $51,855; St. Tammany, $54,246; West Baton Rouge, $54,180 and Zachary, $55,779. The full report is available at lla.state.la.us. We know it is early, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pointed out on Thursday, to be talking about diplomatic posts for ALP royalty Kristina Keneally and Kevin Rudd. But speculation is the currency in which we deal here at CBD, so lets do some. Kristina Keneallys gone through a difficult election campaign. I wish her well. Im sure [a diplomatic posting] is the last thing on her mind, the PM said, not exactly ruling out the prospect of ambassador KK. The real question is: will Keneally break the 12-month lease of the Liverpool residence she rented back in November, in the hope she would be the member for Fowler? Or will she offer her suburban south-western Sydney home to a poor refugee family as she hotfoots it back east to idyllic Scotland Island? Could Kristina Keneally be posted overseas? Credit:Alex Ellinghausen OLD HABITS DIE HARD For outgoing federal treasurer Josh Frydenbergs political career, relentless self-promotion was always a winning approach. Until it wasnt. Representing Australia, General Sir Thomas Blamey signs the Japanese surrender document on board the USS Missouri. Credit:Frank Filan, AP Leader in Two World Wars First published in The Age on May 28, 1951 Sir Thomas Blamey, the first and only Australian soldier to be appointed a Field Marshal, died in Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital yesterday morning. He will be accorded a State funeral in Melbourne with full military honors on Wednesday afternoon. During World War II, Field Marshal Blamey was Commander in Chief of the Australian General forces. Lady Blamey was with the Field Marshal on Saturday night, but was not present when he died. He had been in hospital for 11 months. NSW Health is advising people who have been in the Sydney CBD area in the past 10 days to be on the lookout for symptoms of Legionnaires disease as five people who have developed the disease spent time in the area in the last three weeks. All five people have been identified with the bacteria that causes Legionnaires disease, which is often associated with contaminated cooling towers of large buildings, NSW Health reported on Thursday. People can be exposed to the bacteria if contaminated water particles from the cooling system are emitted into the air and breathed in. The five people, two women and three men, ranging in age from their 40s to 70s, independently visited locations between Museum Station, York Street, Park Street and Martin Place in the 10 days prior to their onset of symptoms. All five people have been admitted to hospital for treatment for pneumonia. I used to think things would always get better with Andrew, but I think I always knew there was evil in him. Hes like the son of Satan, one victim said. The cruel and sadistic man with links to white supremacy groups took pleasure in raping, bashing and brutalising women across Melbournes north and west over two decades. On Thursday, Males, 43, was jailed for 25 years for what a judge described as sustained and devastating attacks against four women. The County Court heard there were no other cases like Males recorded in Victorias history. Police sources described him as one of the worst perpetrators of sexual and family violence the state had ever seen before he was finally arrested in 2015 and later charged with 20 years of abuse. Judge Patricia Riddell said Males violence and sexual offending included some of the worst examples of the crimes. She praised the courage of the women who not only survived their attackers abuse, but took their stories to trial. Riddell said research showed abused women were less likely to report violence when it came from a partner than a stranger, as feelings of emotional attachment and self-loathing were often complicating features. She acknowledged the crimes left the victims scared, humiliated and ashamed. The judge told Males: They have brought you to justice. The new government is facing an industrial relations minefield after it promised to make job security an object of the Fair Work Act, industrial relations experts say, since a Labor-led inquiry this year found there was no single definition of insecure work. Labor made secure work the standpoint for a range of policy reforms during the election, despite it being a variable term, and experts say the government must now navigate competing interests to properly enshrine it in legislation. Protections for gig workers are among Labors promised reforms under the banner of secure work. Credit:Steven Siewert A former longstanding Fair Work Commission deputy president, Reg Hamilton, who retired from the commission earlier this year, said introducing and reworking provisions would be an extremely difficult, technical job for everybody. Its a minefield, but with goodwill, employers and unions can perhaps reach some accommodation on it, Hamilton said. London: Russia is ready to provide a humanitarian corridor for vessels carrying food to leave Ukraine, in return for the lifting of some sanctions, the Interfax news agency cited Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko as saying on Wednesday. Ukraines Black Sea ports have been blocked since Russia sent thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24 and more than 20 million tonnes of grain are stuck in silos in the country. A Ukrainian army officer inspects a grain warehouse shelled by Russian forces. Credit:Getty Russia and Ukraine usually account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies and the lack of significant grain exports from Ukrainian ports is contributing to a growing global food crisis. Ukraine is also a major exporter of corn and sunflower oil. Western powers have been discussing the idea of setting up safe corridors for grain exports from Ukraines ports, although these would need Russian consent. Tuesday, May 24 at approximately 9:45 p.m. Cheyenne Police Officers were dispatched to Walmart located at 580 Livingston Avenue for a report of a domestic disturbance with a firearm. During the investigation, responding officers determined that the suspect, later identified as Davin Darayle Saunders, was wanted out of Scottsbluff, Nebraska for multiple homicide related charges. Saunders fled the scene on foot prior to officer arrival. Cheyenne Police Officers and partnering law enforcement agencies conducted an extensive search of the area including adjacent neighborhoods, surrounding businesses, and interstates; however, the suspect has not been located. The Scottsbluff Police Department shared that they have obtained an arrest warrant for Davin Darayle Saunders for the following charges: 1 Count of Murder in the Second Degree; Class 1B Felony 1 Count of Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Prohibited Person; Class 1D Felony 1 Count Use of a Deadly Weapon to Commit a Felony; Class 1C Felony Saunders is described as a black male, 511, 190-200 lbs., brown eyes, and black hair. He has numerous tattoos, to include tattoos on both inner forearms, a script tattoo across his upper chest, a tattoo of script on the right side of the neck that has a star at the beginning and at the end of the text, and a flaming skull tattoo above the navel. Saunders has an extensive history of violence and should be considered armed and dangerous. Please contact local law enforcement at (307) 637-6525 should you see Saunders. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Scottsbluff Communications Center at (308) 632-7176 or Crime Stoppers at (308) 632-STOP or crimestoppers@scottsbluff.org This case remains under investigation by the Scottsbluff Police Department. BEIJING, May 26 -- "US Congress members' visit to Taiwan and their provocative remarks are just political shows to catch public eyeballs, which China firmly opposes," said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday. Snr. Col. Wu made the remarks when commenting on several US Congress members' visit to Taiwan this year and their provocative remarks. According to media report, US Senator Lindsey Graham said in his meeting with Tsai Ing-wen that the US would make Chinese mainland pay a price. Taiwan media also reported that several members of the US House of Representatives wrote a joint letter petitioning Biden to visit Taiwan. The spokesperson pointed out that there is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing the whole China. These are commonly acknowledged by the international community as accepted norms of international relations. "Those who clamor for making the Chinese mainland pay a price should get ready for paying the price themselves. On the issue of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese PLA is always ready to fight and win," said the spokesperson. Family members console each other outside the Mame Abdoul Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital, where eleven babies died following an electrical fault, in Tivaouane, Senegal, on May 26, 2022. (Seyllou/AFP via Getty Images) Senegal Hospital Fire Leaves 11 Newborn Babies Dead A hospital fire has killed 11 newborn babies in a neonatal ward in the Senegalese city of Tivaouane, the West African countrys president announced just before midnight local time on May 25. I have just learned with pain and dismay the death of 11 newborns, in the fire that occurred in the neonatal department of the Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital in Tivaouane, Senegal President Macky Sall wrote on Twitter on May 25. To their mothers and families, I express my deepest sympathy. Visitors stand in front of the Mame Abdoul Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital, where 11 babies died following an electrical fault in Tivaouane, Senegal, on May 26, 2022. (Seyllou/AFP via Getty Images) Senegals health minister, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, told a local TV network that a preliminary investigation revealed that the fire broke out because of a short circuit and spread very quickly in the ward. Three babies were saved, Tivaouane Mayor Demba Dip reportedly said. Police and fire services were still at the hospital, Dip said, without providing further details. Je viens dapprendre avec douleur et consternation le deces de 11 nouveaux nes, dans lincendie survenu au service de neonatalogie de lhopital Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh de Tivaouane. A leurs mamans et et a leurs familles, jexprime ma profonde compassion. Macky Sall (@Macky_Sall) May 25, 2022 Tivaouane, in northwest Senegal, is a holy city for Tijani Muslims and is located about 50 miles from the countrys capital, Dakar. Its also a transport hub. The countrys health minister is in Geneva for the World Health Assembly, but said he would cut the trip short and return immediately to Senegal, AFP reported. This isnt the first time that a fire has erupted in a Senegalese hospital this year. In April, a fire similarly broke out at a hospital in Linguere, where four newborns were killed. The mayor of Linguere cited an electrical fault in an air conditioner in the maternity ward as the cause, AFP reported. The news agency also reported about an incident in early April in which a pregnant woman died while waiting in vain to receive a Caesarean section. Her death outside a public hospital in the northwestern town of Louga caused nationwide anger about the state of Senegals public health system. The High Court of Louga sentenced three midwives to six months of suspended imprisonment for failure to assist a person in danger, AFP reported. Three other midwives were acquitted. Bill Gates discusses his new book 'How To Prevent The Next Pandemic' onstage at 92Y in New York on May 03, 2022. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) 12 Groups Behind Protest of Musks Twitter Takeover Have Ties With Gates Foundation, Soros A dozen liberal groups that pressured Twitter advertisers to boycott the platform in response to Elon Musks plans to acquire it received money from entities backed by Bill Gates and George Soros, an analysis of public filings shows. In early May, a group of 26 organizations penned a public letter claiming that the Tesla CEOs takeover of Twitter would be a direct threat to public safety and turn the platform into a cesspool of misinformation. The letter called for Twitters top advertisers to hold [Musk] to account by committing to non-negotiable standards for doing business with the site, one of which is to not restore the accounts of political and public figures banned for egregious violations of Twitter Rules. The letter contained the logos of Accountable Tech, Media Matters for America, and UltraViolet Action. An analysis of the public filings and records shows that at least 11 of the letters signatories or their affiliated groups have taken money from organizations funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. One of the three groups leading the letter has received over $1 million from billionaire financer George Soross grant-making network Open Society Foundations, while the two others were founded in part by former staffers for Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton. Eight signatories also collected roughly $10.25 million in federal grants and loans between 2020 and 2021, public records show. The New Venture Fund, the recipient of more than $500 million in grants from the Gates Foundation since 2012, in 2020 gave $180,000 in total to two signees, Media Matters for America and Center for Media Justice. Another $11.2 million of the New Venture Funds 2020 grant money went to North Fund, a shadowy progressive nonprofit based in Washington that funnels money to a number of other activist groups, including Accountable Tech, which published the letter. Accountable Techs website shows that two members on its teamits co-founder and digital directorworked for Clintons 2016 presidential campaign. Founded in 2004, Media Matters for America describes itself as a progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media. A key function of the organization is to provide tools for monitoring what it considers to be conservative misinformation, which it defines to be news or commentary that is not accurate, reliable, or credible and that forwards the conservative agenda. The Center for Media Justice, which in 2019 was rebranded to MediaJustice, aims to promote racial, economic, and gender justice in a digital age, its website states. Elon Musk attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating In America: An Anthology of Fashion at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on May 2, 2022. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) Tides Foundation, a Gates Foundation grantee since at least 2013, has handed over $2.34 million to eight of the signatories or their affiliates over a three year-period since 2019. Among the recipients is Indivisible Project and its nonprofit charitable arm Indivisible Civics that work to defeat the Trump agenda, of which the signatory Indivisible Northern Nevada is a local chapter. The other seven signatories that received money from Tides Foundation in the past three years are: womens advocacy group UltraViolet Action; environmentalist groups Union of Concerned Scientists and Friends of the Earth; pro-abortion association NARAL Pro-Choice America; Black Lives Matter South Bend, a local chapter of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation; GLAAD, which monitors media portrayal of LGBTQ groups; and Media Matters Action Network, a partner project of Media Matters for America. UltraViolet Actions board chair and board member Karen Finney was the Democratic National Committees first African American spokeswoman and had served as the senior spokesperson for Hilary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign, according to the groups website. Another board chair, Arisha Hatch, was an organizer for then-candidate Barack Obamas presidential campaign in 2008. Access Now, which focuses on internet accessibility around the world, in 2021 received funds totalling $1.35 million from the Open Society Foundations that Soros founded and chairs, along with grants from Wikimedia Foundation, Microsoft, governments in Germany, Switzerland, Canada, and the Netherlands. Beginning in 2017, the Open Society Foundation has also awarded three grants with a combined value of 1.625 million to Free Press, a pro-net neutrality group that also signed on to the letter. The Microsoft founder last month admitted to having taken a $500 million short position on Tesla shares, according to a leaked text message string between Gates and Musk said that the latter said was authentic. Tweets by Elon Musk are shown on a cell phone in Chicago, Ill, on April 25, 2022. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Musk had reacted to the boycott letter by calling for an investigation of the signatories funders. Who funds these organizations that want to control your access to information? Lets investigate he wrote on Twitter on May 3, adding: Sunlight is the best disinfectant. He later made note of a report that some signatories received funding from Soros and European governments. Interesting. I wonder if those funding these organizations are fully aware of what the organizations are doing, he wrote. Twitter in recent years has drawn criticism for censoring and suspending conservative users. Among its list of banned public figures are former President Donald Trump, Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, COVID-19 vaccine critic Dr. Robert Malone, and retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn. Musk has called Twitters ban of Trumps account in early 2021 flat-out stupid. He said he would reverse the move if he becomes the platforms new owner. At a recent Miami tech conference, Musk also said he would be voting Republican after having voted overwhelmingly for Democrats. He described the $44 billion deal as not some right-wing takeover, but instead a moderate take over and an attempt to ensure that people of all political beliefs feel welcome on a digital town square and they can express their beliefs without fear of being banned or shadowbanned. The Gates Foundation connections were first reported by Breitbart. The Epoch Times has reached out to all the named organizations. This map shows the location of the coast of Sfax, Tunisia. (Google maps/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) 75 People Missing, One Dead, After Migrant Boat Sinks Off Tunisia TUNIS, TunisiaSeventy five people were missing after a crowded boat of migrants sank off Tunisia on Wednesday, the International Organization for Migration said and a security official said, as the numbers risking the dangerous crossing to Europe increase. The IOM said 24 people had been rescued from the boat, which departed from the beaches of Zawara in Libya and sank off the coast of Sfax. A Tunisian security official told Reuters that the coastguard had recovered a body as they continue to search for 75 others who were missing. In recent months, dozens of people have drowned off the Tunisian coast, with an increase in the frequency of attempted crossings from Tunisia and Libya towards Italy. Hundreds of thousands of people have made the perilous Mediterranean crossing in recent years. Figures from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) showed that more than 123,000 illegal immigrants arrived in Italy in 2021, compared to more than 95,000 in 2020. By Tarek Amara Kevin Spacey on stage to present Britannia Award for Excellence in Television at the 2017 AMD British Academy Britannia Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2017. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) Actor Kevin Spacey Charged In London With Sexual Assault Against Three Men American actor Kevin Spacey, star of House of Cards and numerous films, has been charged by police in London with four counts of sexual assault against three men. The Metropolitan Police said on Thursday it had been authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service to charge 62-year-old Kevin Spacey Fowler. Spacey has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The decision by the CPS follows a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police over a three-year investigation. Spacey will face a trial later this year or in 2023 and, under Englands Contempt of Court Act, no information can be published which might prejudice that trial. The Met said the offences against Spacey were: Sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 40s, in March 2005 in London. Sexual assault on that same man in March 2005 in London. Sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 30s, in August 2008 in London. Sexual assault on another man, who is now in his 30s, in April 2013 in Gloucestershire. Causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, relating to the third complainant, in August 2008 in London. Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr. Spacey are active and that he has the right to a fair trial. Spacey, who was born in New Jersey, trained at The Juilliard School in New York and began his career as an actor in the early 1980s. He won a Tony on Broadway and then broke into movies, with his first big part in Glengarry Glen Ross alongside Al Pacino. Spacey won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in American Beauty in 2000, four years after he won a Best Supporting Actor for his role as Verbal Kint in The Usual Suspects. He played a scheming politician, who ends up as U.S. President in the TV series House Of Cards. Spacey, who also starred in Hollywood movies L.A. Confidential, Seven, and Horribles Bosses, was previously the artistic director of The Old Vic theatre in London. The flag of the World Health Organization (WHO) at their headquarters in Geneva on March 5, 2021. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) Opposition Forces Back-Room Talks Seeking Revisions to Bidens 13 WHO Amendments African nations say 'the process should not be fast-tracked' Opposition from African delegates to the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, has forced hours of informal dickering on possible revisions to President Joe Bidens proposals to grant new powers to the World Health Organization (WHO) to deal with viral pandemics. As previously reported by The Epoch Times, Bidens 13 proposed amendments to the UNs International Health Regulations (IHR) that govern WHO operations grant broad new powers to Director-General Tedros Adhanhom Ghebreysus, a former Ethiopian government minister who has been in the role since 2017. Earlier this week, Tedros was confirmed for a second term by the assembly, which is WHOs decision-making body. The United States provides more than $150 million in assessed contributions to fund the organization and has given, on average, an additional $262 million in annual voluntary funding since 2012. Under the proposed amendments, the director-general could declare a public health emergency in any country regardless of whether local officials agree with the declaration. Tedros also would be authorized to rely on evidence from sources other than those approved by the affected country as the basis of such a declaration. Neither the organizations media office nor its counterpart at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) responded to The Epoch Times request for comment. The WHAs business is being conducted by two committees consisting of delegates from 194 member nations. The Biden proposals were first considered earlier this week by Committee A, presided over by Japanese delegate Hiroki Nakatani. The assemblys process is to allow delegates to comment on and debate proposals, then if no objections are heard, the proposals are considered approved. But when the Biden proposals were first discussed earlier this week in Committee As third session, objections were voiced by African delegates. The African region shares the view that the process should not be fast-tracked, Moses Keetile, deputy permanent secretary in Botswanas health ministry, reportedly told the assembly on behalf of the African region. During May 25s sixth meeting of Committee A, Nakatani told the delegates that progress was made during the informal discussions but further discussion seems to be needed and he said talks would continue. James Rogulski, an independent journalist and researcher, who is closely following the assembly livestream, said for some reason, they [assembly officials] could not reach a consensus, so it seems like they are not even going to bring it to the floor, pending the outcome of the informal negotiations. Rogulski added that what they have done is they are setting up another bureaucracy. They are going to have a working group for the [IHR]. They are going to be taking submissions from around the world for their ideas on how these things should be amended. That will go into September and then it looks like they are apparently going to be having another meeting in November. More details about the working group were contained in Tedros report to the world assembly on Strengthening WHO Preparedness for and Response to Health Emergencies, including a recommendation for the international health agency to proceed as described by Rogulski. The report said the new working group will invite proposed amendments to be submitted by 30 Sept. 2022. All such proposed amendments to be communicated by the director-general to all state parties without delay; (d) request the [Working Group on International Health Regulations] WGIHR to convene its organizational meeting no later than 15 November 2022. Earlier this week, HHS assistant secretary for global affairs Loyce Pace alluded to the Biden amendments without acknowledging the necessity for the informal negotiations. Pace told the assembly that the Biden administration believes in the need for strong global relationships to combat COVID-19 and to prevent and prepare for future health emergencies. Pace said U.S. officials are pleased that the WHA is moving to strengthen existing tools available to the WHO and to all member states. This includes strengthening the international health regulations from 2005 to clarify roles and responsibilities, increase transparency and accountability, share best practices, and communicate in real-time with our global partners. We are also committed to an intergovernmental negotiating body process that engages external stakeholders and develops an international instrument on pandemics that enables meaningful, inclusive action. But the Biden proposals have sparked a growing furor in the United States among critics who contend the amendments would amount to ceding of some portion of American sovereignty to WHO in the event of another pandemic like the one that has killed more one million Americans and in excess of six million people worldwide. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), the first member of Congress to comment critically on the amendments, told The Epoch Times on May 26 that, Of course the amendments should be withdrawn, but the bigger issue is how we got to this point in the first place. Why is this administration apparently willing to cede any authority to an international body, particularly the WHO? Norman added that given the public outrage over this issue, youd think wed be hearing directly from the White House concerning the status of these amendments, or at least our delegation to the World Health Assembly. It makes you wonder whats coming next. The Biden amendments are being defended by FactCheck.org, a media organization at the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania that claims to monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by political and other figures on the issues of the day. FactCheck.org said, conservatives in the United States falsely claim the amendments will threaten U.S. sovereignty. The media organization then cited as an example the Biden proposal to delete an existing requirement that WHO consult with officials in a nation with a suspected pandemic before acting. But FactCheck.org then noted that the proposal eliminates the requirement of consulting and obtaining verification of those third-party reports before taking action, and adds a deadline for the WHO to seek verification of the third-party report. Critics of the amendment claim removing the organizations requirement to consult with an affected nation before taking actionsuch as declaring a public health emergency in that countryamounts to a unilateral grant of power to the international health body. When she was working towards her Ph.D. in genetics at the University of California at Berkeley in the 1960s, my mother noticed something extraordinary: the organelles inside the cells she was studying looked surprisingly like single-celled free-living bacteria. Was it possible, my mom asked herself, that bacterial cells somehow became integrated into other cells to form new organisms? And could this be a driving mechanism of evolutionary change? More established biologists laughed at her. Many of her colleagues dismissed her. A paper she wrote on the subject got rejected dozens of times. Later, Richard Dawkins, a famous British evolutionary biologist, called her Attila the Hen. Throughout her career, my mother was ridiculed for being too iconoclastic, too unconventional, and too outspoken. But science speaks for itself and my mother, Dr. Lynn Margulis, was able to prove, via electron microscopy, that, indeed, the mitochondria in our bodies (those tiny organelles within our cells that are responsible mainly for energy metabolism) could have come from a merger of very early bacterial cells becoming integrated into other cells. Her theory, called the endosymbiotic hypothesis, as well as the idea of symbiogenesis (a word that she and my brother, science writer Dorion Sagan, coined), are now widely accepted by the scientific community. Today the idea that we cohabitate with bacteria and other microorganisms as obligate symbionts is of seminal importance to our understanding of the human microbiome and how to promote and heal the gut. For years my mother was considered an outlier, now she is regarded as a visionary. Science Advances With Open Debate Orville and Wilbur Wright were famous for disagreeing with each other as they tried to solve the thorny problem of getting a craft airborne. How to design propellers was one of the many engineering questions the two brothers had to resolve, and the more they studied the problem the more complicated it seemed, according to David McCullough, who wrote a best-selling book in 2016 about the Wright brothers. It took months of failures to find a design that worked. The problem, the Wrights figured out, was that the thrust of a standing propeller was not the same as the thrust of the same propeller in motion. They could only test the propellers if they tried them on a flying machine, McCullough explained in his book. This was a frustrating time for the inventors, and they disagreed loudly about how to proceed, arguing day and night. If you dont stop arguing, Ill leave home, their younger sister Katharine reportedly screamed at them one day. But their heated arguments were a productiveeven essentialpart of the process of invention. Both brothers capitulated to each other, changing their minds based on their discussions, observations, and subsequent experiments. And they solved the propeller problem by positioning two propellers between the wings of their Flyer, just behind the pilot, with one spinning clockwise and the other counterclockwise to balance each other out. I love this story because it shows how important differences of opinion are to the scientific process and how the best scientists and inventors are always willingeventuallyto put their egos aside and see things in a different way for the greater good of advancing knowledge. And who knows? Without their lively debates, which helped them move their experiments forward, the Wright brothers may not have invented flight. Whether the question is how life evolved on earth, how to get an aircraft off the ground, or what is the best way to treat an infectious disease like SARS-CoV-2, scientific knowledge advances by open debate, lively disagreement, and testing and re-testing hypotheses. Differences of opinion are not dangerous. Conflicting information is not the problem. Shutting down conversations about science, censoring scientific debate, or ignoring data that do not fit into a preconceived ideaas the molecular geneticist and former vaccine developer Dr. Joe Wang has written about previously for The Epoch Timesare what lead to deadly consequences. But that is exactly what has been happening for over two years now. Public health authorities, government officials, Big Tech, and even the conventional media, using SARS-CoV-2 as an excuse, continue to actively censor the free and fair exchange of ideas. Much of this censorship is done by robots. Last week I was temporarily banned from Facebook for posting a link to a peer-reviewed scientific article published in the New England Journal of Medicine about the risk of myocarditis in young people following vaccination. Apparently Facebook artificial intelligence knows more than an international team of highly qualified, highly credentialed scientists and their editors. Lessons From China You would think that every American understood that freedom of thought is the hallmark of an open society. After all, since the beginning of the COVID-19 scare, American newspapers have dedicated quite a bit of ink to criticizing the Chinese government for their extreme censorship. As the Los Angeles Times reported, when Dr. Li Wenliang tried to share news about coronavirus, the Chinese government arrested him and seven other whistleblowers for spreading rumors. The 33-year-old ophthalmologist then died in a hospital in Wuhan on February 7, 2020, allegedly of SARS-CoV-2. In China, the broadly worded crime of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, has been used time and again against citizens who are critical of the party line. In August of 2021 it was evoked as a justification to give two Chinese brothers a 15-month jail sentence, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Their crime was simply making censored materialsome 100 articles about COVID-19available on the internet. Silencing dissent is so deeply engrained in the CCP culture that the only people in China who can criticize the CCP are the CCP itself, and only after behind-the-scene power struggles settled by new CCP bosses criticizing their predecessors. Speaking Out Against Censorship We are silencing scientists, Dr. Martin Kulldorf said at a meeting of medical doctors and scientists in Washington, D.C. in March. Science cannot operate that way. We wont get progress and more knowledge that way. A Swedish-born epidemiologist who was a professor of medicine at Harvard for almost twenty years, Kulldorf has been fearlessly speaking out against censorship and dishonesty in the medical community. He was at the inauguration of Hillsdales new Academy for Science and Freedom, attended by dozens of other scientific leaders who also champion the honest exchange of scientific ideas. All civilized societies depend on the free exchange of ideas that are involved in scientific inquiry, said Scott Atlas, M.D., who is also a fellow at the Academy for Science and Freedom, at the meeting in Washington, D.C. Its not just that we need to allow that, we need to encourage that without that free exchange of ideas, you do not have science, Atlas said. This week, when I boarded a plane in New York, there were signs on the jet bridge instructing passengers to stay six feet apart. It doesnt take a scientist to realize that staying six feet apart while walking to the plane, only to be seated close together breathing the same recirculating air, makes no sense. The origin of the public idea that we should stay six feet apart from each other has been attributed to research conducted in 1897 by a German scientist named Carl Flugge. But at the time when this was widely promoted by public health officials, no studiesnonehad ever evaluated the biophysics of droplets or gas cloud formation for patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, according to MITs Lydia Bourouiba, Ph.D., writing in the journal JAMA. Later, as people started feeling increasingly restless with lockdowns and distancing, and parents began clamoring for schools to reopen, a study appeared in the journal Clinical Infectious Disease that found that three feet of social distance was enough. This peer-reviewed science concluded that: Lower physical distancing requirements can be adopted in school settings without negatively affecting student or staff safety. So, it seems, the six foot rule may have been wrong all along? As the French would say, nimporte de quoi. My mother died of a brain hemorrhage in November of 2011. Even though shes not here anymore, she feels very present. Every day I hear her urging me to be brave, defend scientific freedom, and question the status quo. Jennifer Margulis, Ph.D., is an award-winning science journalist and book author. She is currently writing a book about her mothers life and legacy, to be published by Mariner Books in Fall of 2023. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Americas Curious History of Jailhouse Political Campaigns Can a candidate run for office in America while incarcerated? For the most part, yes. In fact, while it is rare, the Unites Sates has a curious history of jailhouse political campaigns, some of which were successful. Article One of the U.S. Constitution requires that members of the House and Senate fulfill three requirements: All members of the House must be at least 25 years old, and members of the Senate must be at least 30 years old. Members of the House must have been a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and members of the Senate must have been a U.S. citizen for at least nine years. They have to be an inhabitant of the state when elected. According to a report by the Congressional Research Service, committing a crime cannot constitutionally disqualify someone from serving in Congress. And the state has no say in determining whether or not someone is qualified to serve in the House or Senate. In a report updated in 2002, the CRS said the following: Since a State does not have the authority to add qualifications for federal offices, the fact of conviction, even for a felony offense, could not be used to keep a candidate off of the ballot under State law either as a direct disqualification of convicted felons from holding or being a candidate for office, or as a disqualification of one who is no longer a qualified elector in the State. Once a person meets the three constitutional qualifications of age, citizenship and inhabitancy in the State when elected, that person, if duly elected, is constitutionally qualified to serve in Congress, even if a convicted felon. As reported May 24 by The Epoch Times, Jan. 6 prisoner Jeremy Brown, 47, is running for the Florida House of Representatives. What makes his campaign unique to the Sunshine State is that he is conducting his campaign from a jail cell. Brown is currently being held in Pinellas County Jail on two misdemeanor chargesentering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and disrupting the orderly conduct of government businessrelated to his presence at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. Brown, however, contends his arrest and subsequent imprisonment have more to do with his exposure of the FBIs efforts to recruit him as a spy than anything they say he did on Jan. 6. Brown is a member of the Oath Keepers. According the their website, the Oath Keepers is a non-partisan association of current and formerly serving military, police, and first responders who pledge to fulfill the oath all military and police take to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. As revealed in an exclusive April 13 report by The Epoch Times, Brown exposed in a four-page letter to the American people that agents from the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) had tried to recruit him as a confidential informant on Dec. 9, 2020. They allegedly wanted to gauge his willingness to infiltrate law-abiding citizen groups that had no criminal history and certainly were not designated terrorist groups, Brown said. Brown even made an audio recording of the encounter, which was shared on multiple social media platforms and still survives, despite government efforts to scrub it from the internet. The Florida Constitution requires state representatives to be at least 21 years old. They must reside in the district where theyre elected and must have lived in Florida for at least two years prior to the election. But just as with the U.S. Constitution, the Florida Constitution has no law barring a candidate from running for the position of state representative while incarcerated or after having been convicted of a crime, including a felony. The Epoch Times reached out to the Florida Department of States Division of Elections seeking confirmation on whether Brown would be eligible to serve as a state representative if elected while incarcerated and if he could remain in that position, even if eventually convicted of his charges. As this has never happened in Florida before, the state officials said theyre currently investigating in order to provide a proper legal response. Not the First Time Long before Bernie Sanders campaigned for president by railing against the evils of capitalism, Eugene V. Debswho had already sought election as president of the United States five timesran once again in 1920. This time it was from behind bars. Debs, who ran on the socialist ticket, had been imprisoned in the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary for speaking out against World War I and criticizing the government for arresting anti-was activists. Under the Sedition Act of 1918, crafted primarily by Attorney Genera A. Mitchell Palmer under President Woodrow Wilson, such language was considered treasonous. The Sedition Act, an amendment to the Espionage Act of 1917, which was also enacted under Wilson, sought to silence anyone who wrote or spoke out against the war or the government. In January 2015, Joseph D. Morrissey, a former Democrat turned independent and longtime Virginia legislator in Virginias 74th house district, won his bid for reelection to the state House of Delegates in a special election while serving a jail sentence for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Morrissey was accused of having sex with a 17-year-old receptionist who worked at his law firm and of possessing child pornography, allegedly a photo of the teenager. Morrissey and the receptionist insisted their relationship was platonic and that the girls spurned lesbian ex-lover had hacked their cellphones and planted the incriminating text messages and nude photos to frame them. Facing pressure from Democrats, Morrissey eventually capitulated and resigned. In 2022, he was pardoned by outgoing Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. In June 2021, Joel Castonconvicted of killing a teen in a Washington parking lot in 1994was the first person elected to the D.C. Advisory Neighborhood Commission while behind bars. The voters in ANC7F comprised mostly incarcerated people and had elected him ANC Commissioner the previous June. In September 2018, Texas state Rep. Ron Reynoldsconvicted in 2015 on misdemeanor charges for illegally soliciting clients for his personal injury practice and sentenced to a year in jailturned himself in to authorities in Montgomery County to begin serving his year-long jail sentence. Because Texas state law does not force resignations for misdemeanor convictions, Reynolds did not resign his seat. In May 2022, Andrew Wilhoite, a farmer from Boone County, Indiana, who was arrested in March and charged with the murder of his wife, advanced on the Republican ticket for a seat on the Clinton Township Board while in jail. According to local news reports, Wilhoites wife, Elizabeth Nikki Wilhoite, had recently completed chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer when he hit her with a flower pot during a fight. Matthew Lyon While it is unique to Florida to have a candidate run for state office from jail, an individual did run for a United States congressional office while incarceratedand won. In fact, the story of Matthew Lyon bears an uncanny resemblance to that of Jeremy Brown. A portrait of Matthew Lyon hangs in the Vermont Statehouse. (Courtesy of the Vermont State Curators Office) In 1797, Republican Matthew Lyonwho had served as a member of a militia known as the Green Mountain Boys during the American Revolutionary Warwas elected as a member of the Fifth Congress to represent the state of Vermont. President John Adams was a member of the Federalist Party, which controlled both houses of Congress at the time and favored a monarchial-style government with restrictions on speech and in the press. The opposition party, the Democratic-Republicans, preferred powers to be given to individual states. In June and July 1798, amid widespread fear that war with France was imminent, the Federalist majority in Congress passed four new laws, collectively known as the Alien and Sedition Acts. These controversial four laws restricted the activities of foreigners residing in the United States and placed restrictions on the Constitutional rights of freedom of speech and of the press, taking particular aim at anyone who spoke out against Adams or the Federalist-controlled government. On July 14, 1798, Adams signed the Sedition Act into law. On October 12, 1798, Adams had Lyon arrested for publishing letters in a newspaper he founded in support of Thomas Jefferson that were critical of Adams and the Federalist-controlled government. Lyon won reelection while sitting in jail. He also survived a Federalist attempt to kick him out of the House. Curiously, the Sedition Actfor which Lyon was imprisoned for four months and fined $1,000was set to expire on March 3, 1801, the last day of Adams term in office. When Lyon was released from prison, he was welcomed as a hero and a martyr to free speech. An Oct. 12, 1798, newspaper clipping from the Vermont Gazette announcing the arrest of Democratic-Republican candidate for Congress Matthew Lyon under the newly enacted Sedition Act, signed into law by Federalist President John Adams, which made it illegal to criticize the president or the Federalist-controlled government. (Courtesy of Freeview) Between 1798 and 1801, at least 26 individuals were prosecuted under the Sedition Act. Many were editors of or contributors to newspapers that supported the Democratic-Republican Party. All of those arrested opposed Adams and the Federalist-controlled government. Passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts is considered to be one of the biggest mistakes Adams ever made, and the reason why he was defeated in his reelection bid by Thomas Jefferson in 1800. Except for the Alien Enemies Act, all of the Alien and Sedition Acts were repealed or expired by 1802. FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the fiscal year 2023 budget for the FBI at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on n May 25, 2022. (Bonnie Cash - Pool/Getty Images) Assassins and Terrorists Seek to Exploit Southern Border: FBI Director Terrorists from organizations including Al Qaeda and ISIS seek to gain entry the United States and commit acts of terrorism against its citizens every single day, according to testimony by FBI Director Christopher Wray. In many cases, they attempt to do so by illegally crossing the southern border. Certainly, any porous point of entry is a potential vulnerability that bad actors of all sorts, including national security threats, can seek to exploit, Wray said during a May 25 Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the FBIs proposed budget for FY2023. Wray made the comments in response to a line of questioning by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who asked whether there was a persistent threat from known or suspected terrorists attempting to cross the border illegally. During the questioning, Moran explicitly highlighted the case of Shihab Ahmed Shihab, who was charged on May 24 for his alleged role in organizing a plot to smuggle assassins into the country to kill former U.S. President George W. Bush. According to press reports, the Suspect, an ISIS operative, was recorded claiming to have just smuggled two individuals associated with Hezbollah into the United States, Moran said. Likewise, Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) questioned the efficacy of processes currently in place at the border to prevent the entry of known or suspected terrorists. Hagerty raised issue with the case of Isnardo Garcia Amado, a Colombian national on the terrorist watch list, who crossed the southern border into Arizona, was screened at the FBI terrorist screening center and released into the United States. In that case, it took three days for the FBI to send confirmation that Isnardo was on the terrorist watch list, and an additional two weeks before an arrest warrant was issued. You would think that DHS would have immediately arrested this person, yet despite knowing that a suspected terrorist had been released in the United States, the leadership of the Department of Homeland Security didnt even authorize ICE to arrest him until two weeks later, Hagerty said. He was in Florida by that time. Hagerty said that there was a clear threat to national security when immigration laws permitted known and suspected terrorists to enter the country before being identified, and said that there was no way to determine how many people on the terror watch list were released into the United States. Im deeply concerned about this, Hagerty said. When I went to the border myself about six weeks ago, I was informed that 157 different nationalities had been apprehended at our southern border in the past year. Thats a deep, deep national security concern. For his part, Wray acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, and underscored the fact that threat actors from Al Qaeda, ISIS, and other terror organizations not only still existed, but were actively sending people to attempt to enter the United States in order to conduct terrorist attacks. The episode follows a series of escalations in violence and crime at the United States southern border, including an alleged hit being placed on an Arizona Sheriffs border patrol team by a drug cartel, and a massive influx of deadly fentanyl smuggling, largely sourced from China. Bahamas Hotel Provides Update After 3 Americans Found Mysteriously Dead The Sandals resort in the Bahamas where three American tourists were found dead earlier this month confirmed it has installed carbon monoxide detectors in its rooms after officials said their cause of death was due to the odorless gas. Despite initial speculation, Bahamian authorities have concluded the cause was an isolated incident in one standalone structure that housed two individual guest rooms and was in no way linked to the resorts air conditioning system, food and beverage service, landscaping services or foul play, Sandals said in a statement to news outlets this week. Authorities said that Michael Phillips, 68, and Robbie Phillips, 65, along with 68-year-old Vincent Chiarella died of carbon monoxide poisoning several weeks ago. Chiarellas wife, Donnis, was hospitalized, family members have said. Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our guests and team members is and will always be paramount. It is for this reason that we have taken additional measures such as engaging environmental safety experts for a comprehensive review of all systems across the resort, Sandals statement continued. In addition, CO detectors have now been placed in all guest rooms at Sandals Emerald Bay and although not mandated in any Caribbean destination where we operate, detectors will be installed in all guest rooms throughout the portfolio, it added. None of the three Americans who died showed any signs of trauma, according to the Royal Bahamian Police in a statement earlier in May. Officials have also ruled out foul play. Sandals Emerald Bay in Great Exuma, Bahamas, on June 4, 2016. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Sandals) Theres still some investigations ongoing at the Sandals resort. We also have the pathologists in-country who have done their job and samples were sent to a very reliable lab in the United States, Dr. Michael Darville, the minister of health for the Bahamas, told Eyewitness News. Authorities in the archipelago nation are willing to assist anyone who wants to get to the bottom of their loved ones death, said Darville. And so, those requests are being entertained. Im not sure exactly where they are at this point. The U.S. Department of State said earlier in May that it is monitoring the investigation. The son Chiarella couple told local media that they were in the Bahamas to celebrate their wedding anniversary. On the day Vincent Chiarella was found dead, Donnis Chiarella had woken up to discover that she couldnt move and that her husband was laying on the floor, Austin Chiarella said. His mothers legs and arms [were] swollen and she couldnt move and she screamed to get someone to come in the door, he added. A spokesperson for HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in Miami, where Donnis Chiarella was being treated, told Fox News that she was discharged earlier in the week. FILE PHOTO: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi is seen on a screen as he attends a news conference via video link on the sidelines of the National People's Congress (NPC), in Beijing, China March 7, 2022. REUTERS/Ryan Woo Beijing Pursues Pacific Security, Data Bloc to Entrench Influence Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yis visit to the Pacific will coincide with attempts by Beijing to advance a South Pacific-wide deal with 10 island nations covering areas such as policing, security, and data communication, according to a leaked draft of the agreement. The expansive pact is the latest step by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to entrench its influence and presence in the regiona situation which has left democratic nations scrambling to shore up alliances. A draft communique of the China-Pacific Island Countries Common Development Vision and a five-year action planleaked to Reutershas been circulated to the leaders of 10 Pacific nations, prior to the Chinese foreign ministers tour to eight nations in the region. The communique proposes a China-Pacific Islands Free Trade Area, including support for climate change. The action plan meanwhile, includes ministerial dialogue on law enforcement and police cooperation in 2022. China will hold intermediate and high-level police training for Pacific Island Countries through bilateral and multilateral means, according to the document. This picture taken shows flags from the Pacific Islands countries being displayed in Yaren on the last day of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) on Sept. 5, 2018. (Mike Leyral/AFP via Getty Images) On the security front, the CCP will push to bolster cooperation in the fields of traditional and non-traditional security, including a pledge to work on data networks, cyber security, and smart customs systems. In recent years, democratic nations have taken significant measures to distance key infrastructure from Chinese-owned telecommunications and tech companies like Huawei and TikTok, citing the ease at which Beijing can take advantage of vulnerabilities in these systems. In fact, the U.S. and Australia have thwarted several attempts by Chinese companies to build submarine cables and take control of mobile networks in the region, including the $1.6 billion takeover bid of Digicel in October 2021. Meanwhile, David Panuelo, president of the Federated States of Micronesia, has written to 21 Pacific leaders arguing against the regional pact over fears it could spark a new Cold War between Beijing and democratic nations. He said it could draw Pacific nations very close into Beijings orbit, intrinsically tying the whole of our economies and societies to them, according to the letter sighted by Reuters. The practical impacts, however, of Chinese control over our communications infrastructure, our ocean territory and the resources within them, and our security space, aside from impacts on our sovereignty, is that it increases the chances of China getting into conflict with Australia, Japan, the United States and New Zealand, he said. Map of Australias immediate neighbours in the western Pacific Ocean. (College of Asia and the Pacific/ANU/CartoGIS Services [CC BY-SA 4.0]) Panuelo also warned that Beijings provision of customs systems could lead to biodata collection and mass surveillance of those residing in, entering and leaving our islands. Ned Price, U.S. State Department spokesperson, said the Biden administration was aware of the plans and expressed concern about reported agreements that may have been negotiated in a rushed, non-transparent process. Its worth noting that [Peoples Republic of China] has a pattern of offering shadowy, vague deals with little transparency or regional consultation in areas related to fishing, related to resource management, development assistance and more recently, even security practices, he said. Bribery and corruption are rife in the upper echelons of several Pacific nations. We dont believe that importing security forces from the [Peoples Republic of China] and their methods will help any Pacific Island country, he said. Doing so can only seek to fuel regional and international tension and increase concerns over Beijings expansion of its internal apparatus to the Pacific. In contrast, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said he did not agree that further cooperation between Beijing and the South Pacific would trigger a new Cold War. Meanwhile, the Chinese foreign minister will visit the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and Timor Leste from May 26 to June 4. He will also hold virtual meetings with the leaders of Micronesia, Cook Islands, and Niue. South Pacific expert Cleo Paskal noted that Beijing was only focusing on Pacific nations that had strong ties with the communist regime. The only fully independent [Pacific Island nations] hes skipping are ones that recognize Taiwan or have Compacts with U.S, she wrote on Twitter on May 25. Even without them, pieces are in place to try to build a first island chain to hem in [or] interdict Australia and New Zealand. My very rough EEZ map of Wang Yis Pacific Islands (PI) tour. The only fully independent PIs hes skipping are ones that recognize Taiwan or have Compacts with US. Even without them, pieces are in place to try to build a first island chain to hem in/interdict Australia & NZ. pic.twitter.com/DQFbRlodDs Cleo Paskal (@CleoPaskal) May 25, 2022 Wang is also set to meet with Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare for the signing of a number of key bilateral agreements. The Solomon Islands has come under the spotlight in recent months over a security pact with Beijing that could open the door for its Peoples Liberation Army to station weapons, troops, and naval ships in the region. Such a move could lead to militarisation and tensions similar to the South China Sea. The Solomons and its surrounding area is a strategic hotspot that has major influence over sea lanesit was the site of extensive fighting during World War II between the allied forces and Imperial Japan. Australias freshly minted Foreign Minister Penny Wong has jetted off to meet with Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama and Henry Puna, the secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum, soon after news of the Chinese foreign ministers visit made headlines. Australia will listen to our Pacific partners as we work together to face our shared challenges and achieve our shared goalsincluding tackling climate change, pandemic recovery, economic development and regional security, she said in a statement. These commitments include taking real action on climate change at home and with our region, as well as increased development assistance and security cooperation, and reforming and expanding our Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme. President Joe Biden delivers remarks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington on May 24, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Biden Signs Executive Order Reforming Federal Law Enforcement President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Wednesday that sets broad new policing standards for federal law enforcement agencies. The order does not affect state and local police departments but encourages them to follow suit. Among other things, the order puts into place a police misconduct database, mandates body cameras, limits no-knock warrants, and bans chokeholds unless deadly force is authorized. Its a measure of what we can do together to heal the very soul of this nation to address profound fear and trauma exhaustion, particularly black Americans have experienced for generations and to channel a private pain and public outrage into a rare mark of progress for years to come, Biden said during a live bill signing ceremony. The action comes on the two-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd, whose murder by a Minneapolis police officer sparked nationwide protests that, in several cases, led to violence and rioting in major cities during the summer of 2020. Members of the Floyd family were present at the bill signing. In the aftermath of Floyds death, Congress failed to pass a police reform bill called the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Congress also failed to move on the Justice for Breonna Taylor Acta ban on no-knock warrants named after a Louisville resident and EMT who was killed during a police raid on her home in March 2020. Bidens executive order serves as a fallback position for the administration that has voiced support for the Floyd bill. Why havent I done this executive order earlier? asked Biden during his speech. If Id done it, I was worried it would undercut the effort to get the law passed. We also know this executive order is no substitute for legislation, nor does it accomplish everything we know must be done, but it is a necessary and long overdue, critical step forward, Vice President Kamala Harris said. The order includes a list of changes meant to promote accountability, raise standards, improve training and improve data transparency at federal law enforcement agencies. It also takes some steps to reform the broader criminal justice system. This includes the database, which will be required by all federal law enforcement agencies and show a record of officer misconduct. State and local law enforcement agencies are encouraged to enter their own officer records into the database as well. Bidens order also limits the use of no-knock warrants to special circumstances like when an announced entry would pose an imminent threat of physical violence. The order will enhance public trust by promoting accountability, transparency, and the principles of equality and dignity in policing and the larger criminal justice system, according to a release from the White House. President Joe Biden gives remarks at an executive order signing event for police reform in the East Room of the White House in Washington, on May 25, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Biden to Travel to Texas to Meet Families of Latest School Shooting Victims President Joe Biden on Wednesday said that he and First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Uvalde, Texas, to meet with the families of the 19 children and two teachers killed during the second-worst elementary school shooting in U.S. history. Jill and I will be traveling to Texas in the coming days to meet with the families and let them know we have a sense of their pain, and hopefully bring some little comfort to a community in shock, in grief, and in trauma, Biden said at the White House during a live bill signing ceremony that sets broad new policing standards for federal law enforcement agencies. As a nation, I think we all must be there for themeveryone, he added. And we must ask: When in Gods name will we do what needs to be done to, if not completely stop, fundamentally change the amount of the carnage that goes on in this country? On Tuesday, an 18-year-old gunman identified as Salvador Ramos by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, west of San Antonio and began shooting. He was slain by responding law enforcement officials, according to the governors office. During Wednesdays unrelated bill signing event, Biden stressed that he believes it is just wrong for an 18-year-old to be able to buy weapons of war, likely referring to AR-15-style rifles the suspect reportedly used in the shooting. Ramos had posted several pictures of guns on Instagram just days before the shooting, including one that appears to be a Daniel Defense AR-15-style rifle. Another image showed an individual holding a magazine. Pushing for gun reform, Biden said they will not prevent every tragedy, but would still have a significant impact, and have no negative impact on the Second Amendment. I am sick and tired of whats going on and continues to go on, Biden said. I spent my career working on common-sense gun reforms. The Second Amendment is not absolute, he added. When it was passed you couldnt own a cannon. You couldnt own certain kinds of weapons. Theres just always been limitations. Bidens claim that private citizens were not allowed to own cannons in the 1700s was rated false by PolitiFact and numerous other agencies when the president made it on previous occasions. The shooting in Uvalde was the deadliest school shooting in almost a decade and came days after an 18-year-old killed 10 people at a Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, New York. Biden and his wife visited the Empire State site on May 17 to meet with mourning families, the White House said in a statement. In 2012, 26 children and adults were killed by a 20-year-old at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in what is reported as the deadliest elementary school shooting in U.S. history. In his national address, Biden recalled the Sandy Hook massacre, which happened under the Obama administration when he was vice president. I had hoped when I became president I would not have to do this again, he said. How many scores of little children who witnessed what happenedsee their friends die as if theyre in a battlefield, for Gods sake? Theyll live with it the rest of their lives. From NTD News U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a virtual summit from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington on Nov. 15, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Bidens Newly Unveiled China Policy a Missed Opportunity: Experts The Biden administrations newly unveiled China policy was not well received by defense and security experts, who criticized the administrations decision not to engage in any economic decoupling from China, as well as its move to announce the policies at an event hosted by a group that has ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Others, meanwhile, said that it marked an admission of the failure of the United States longstanding effort to pull China into the global marketplace. Blinkens speech on China essentially says decades of diplomatic & economic engagement with China have failed to keep the Communist Party from a path of aggression, said Edward Wong, a fellow at Harvard University, in a tweet. Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined the long-awaited China policy on May 26, during which he continually stressed that the United States would not decouple its economy from China. The choice of emphasis may have been an effort to soothe Beijing, following the Chinese foreign ministrys efforts to initiate a propaganda campaign earlier in the week accusing the United States of trying to decouple from China. Decoupling, the act of severing or severely limiting certain economic engagement, has been increasingly promoted by some in Congress in recent years, who consider such an effort vital to prevent the continued theft of critical technologies by China. We need to decouple our economy in strategic and vital sectors from the Chinese economy, said Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) during a recent interview on Fox. We cannot be dependent on the goods that feed us and clothe us and provide us defense and literally save our lives from the communist Chinese regime that wants to replace us as the worlds dominant power. If Biden were serious about China wed decouple our supply lines, onshore & kick the CCP out of our markets, said Congressional candidate for Washington state Joe Kent. Instead we let them control us economically & saber rattle wars we cant afford. Others criticized the Biden administrations selection of the Asia Society as an inappropriate or otherwise questionable venue for the announcement of the policy, due to the fact that it has several ties to the CCP. Why do top Dems like Blinken persist in choosing a Chinese Communist Party-friendly organization, sponsored by state-owned China Investment Corp ($1.2 trillion AUM) as a venue for a major policy speech? said Anders Corr, principal of boutique risk management firm Corr Analytics, in a tweet. There are hundreds of orgs more deserving of State Department support. Others lambasted the Asia Societys continued relationship with Ning Gaoning, a CCP member who is currently on its board of trustees and also serves as the chairman of Sinochem, a Chinese state-owned company that was blacklisted from U.S. investments in 2020, when the Trump administration determined that it was backed by the Chinese military. Tony Blinken is unveiling the admins China policy this morning at an event hosted by Asia Society, the soft-on-China organization that established dozens of Confucius Institutes and has a CCP member on its board of directors, said journalist Chuck Ross in a tweet. Still, others expressed less ire and more disappointment that the administration used the opportunity to merely repeat the same phrases it has previously said, and did not meaningfully engage in new initiatives or ideas, given that the policy has been in the works for 17 months. Todays major Blinken speech on China didnt cover any new ground, said Derek Grossman, an Indo-Pacific analyst for the Rand Corporation, in a tweet. Missed opportunity. The Epoch Times has reached out to the Asia Society and State Department for comment. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks on China at Jack Morton Auditorium of George Washington University in Washington on May 26, 2022. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Blinken Unveils Biden Administrations China Strategy, Says US Wont Decouple From China The United States wont seek to decouple its economy from China, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who unveiled the Biden administrations China strategy on May 26. The United States does not want to sever Chinas economy from ours or from the global economy, though Beijing, through its rhetoric, is pursuing asymmetric decoupling, seeking to make China less dependent on the world and the world more dependent on China, Blinken said. Competition need not lead to conflict. We do not seek it. We will work to avoid it. But we will defend our interests against any threat. Blinken, who outlined the administrations strategy to the Asia Society at George Washington University, said that the United States wouldnt interfere with Chinas rise to great power status, but would seek to ensure that Chinas ruling communist regime adheres to international rules and norms that helped it achieve superpower status. The strategy is likely to be considered insufficient by China hawks in Congress, who believe that severing the two economies, or at least the flow of vital technologies between them, is vital for the United States to adequately combat the communist regimes strategy of unrestricted hybrid warfare. Blinken acknowledged that China has become increasingly aggressive since the rise of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping in 2012, but said the United States would work to ensure that the strategic environment around China was favorable to the United States, rather than confronting the nation directly. Under President Xi, the ruling Chinese Communist Party has become more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad, Blinken said. We cannot rely on Beijing to change its trajectory. So we will shape the strategic environment around Beijing to advance our vision for an open, inclusive international system. President Joe Bidens administration has largely continued many of President Donald Trumps tough-on-China policies, including U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, and pursued closer economic and security ties with nations throughout the Indo-Pacific in an effort to curb the CCPs influence. However, the administration also has drawn fire for not pushing back more strongly against the regimes rampant industrial espionage, military aggression, and human rights abuses. Blinken said the United States would vigorously pursue a strategy that he termed The American Model, which he defined simply as Invest. Align. Compete. Under this model, the United States will invest in its allies, align with democratically minded partners, and seek to outcompete Beijing within the greater context of the rules-based international order. To that end, Blinken said that the United States would have to counter Chinas repressive one-party state apparatus by demonstrating the validity of international liberalism, which he said isnt based on Western values, but global aspirations. We do not seek to transform Chinas political system, Biden said. Our task is to prove once again that democracy can meet emerging challenges, create opportunity, and advance human dignity. The future belongs to those who believe in freedom. This is not about forcing countries to choose, but about giving them a choice. Blinken specifically called out Beijings decision to engage in a no limits partnership with Russia in the leadup to the invasion of Ukraine, as well as the CCPs unilateral attempts to leverage economic warfare against Taiwan and Australia in order to isolate them from the world order. He said that the purpose of the international order isnt to compel any nation to act in one way, but to allow them to write their own futures as sovereign equals. Blinken further said that the CCP is exploiting the United States open society by using its traditional and social media platforms to spread propaganda and disinformation, while simultaneously barring U.S. platforms such as Twitter from operating in China. This lack of reciprocity is unacceptable and its unsustainable, he said. In all, he said that its the United States mission to defend the international rules and norms that made international peace and coexistence possible, but that its within the CCPs power to challenge that order. China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it, Blinken said. Put simply, the United States and China have to deal with each other for the foreseeable future. Burkina Faso is shown on a map. (Google Maps/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Burkina Faso Seizes Record 115 kg of Cocaine From Vehicle OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina FasoCustoms officers in Burkina Faso seized a record haul of around 115 kilograms of cocaine worth more than $11.5 million last week, the directorate general of customs said in a statement on Wednesday. The drugs were intercepted on Thursday along the main road linking the southwestern city of Bobo to the capital of Ouagadougou, hidden in a vehicle with a foreign plate pretending to transport manioc flower. The vehicle was loaded in Sierra Leone and drove through Guinea and Mali before crossing into Burkina Faso, a customs spokesman told Reuters. Its final destination was Ghana. All smugglers on board escaped from the scene and no arrests have been made, the spokesman added. Cocaine hauls have become increasingly common in West Africa, a region often used as a transit route for illegal drugs en route from South America to Europe. Niger confiscated more than 200 kilograms of cocaine from a truck in January, while Ivory Coast seized a record of more than 2 tons of pure cocaine last month. Authorities in Gambia and Senegal have also made significant hauls in recent months. By Thiam Ndiaga An honour guard marches at the funeral service for Calgary Police Service Sgt. Andrew Harnett in Calgary, Alberta, on Jan. 9, 2021. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) Calgary Police Union Tells Members to Remove Thin Blue Line Patches The Calgary Police Association asked its members on Wednesday to comply with an order from the citys police commission to remove the Thin Blue Line (TBL) patches from their uniforms after previously telling them to resist it a few weeks ago. We reluctantly recommend you remove the TBL patches and comply with [the commissions] order, wrote Calgary Police Association (CPA) president John Orr in an email, reported CBC News. While we know that removing the patch is a tough pill to swallow, we believe that you have achieved several wins, Orr said, in reference to negotiations with the Calgary Police Service and the Calgary Police Commission. Some of these wins include the right to wear the symbola Canadian flag on a black and grey background with a thin blue line through iton dress uniforms. We would be the first major police service in the country to do so and, in turn, would lead the way for all police services across the country to follow suit, wrote Orr. Another win is the prospective adoption of rules to prevent police commission members from slandering CPA members or the policing profession. After the Calgary Police Commission had ordered the patch be removed on March 30, the CPA doubled down by saying it would purchase enough patches for all its uniformed members and lapel pins for officers working in plain clothes. We were very disappointed with the decision to ban the wearing of the thin blue line patch. Its a symbol of great importance to our members and it speaks to a number of important issues, including remembrance for our fallen, a show of support to one another and a very difficult job, which has long- and short-term health implications for our members, Orr told CBC at the time. The commission has argued that the Thin Blue Line has been associated to white national or racist views with the symbol being seen at protests against the Black Lives Matter movement. The movement, which says that blacks are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement, has pushed for defunding the police and increased hostility toward police officers. The United States saw a large increase in attacks against officers last year. According to the Thin Blue Line Canadas website, the symbol originated in the United Kingdom but is now prevalent in the United States and Canada to commemorate fallen officers and show support for law enforcement in general. The issue has been controversial across Canada, from Montreal to Vancouver. While officers from these cities are still not prohibited from wearing the symbol, a recent report by the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) to the Board of Police Commissioners states that SPS officers should not wear it. Officers from the federal police force RCMP are not allowed to wear the symbol. California Should Use Surplus to Establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund Commentary The California legislature is trying to figure out what to do with the cornucopia of wealth from the expected $97.5 billion surplus for fiscal year 2022-23, which begins on July 1. Heres a new idea to throw into the mix: Create a sovereign wealth fund. The Investopedia definition: A sovereign wealth fund is a state-owned investment fund comprised of money generated by the government, often derived from a countrys surplus reserves. SWFs provide a benefit for a countrys economy and its citizens. The funding for a SWF can come from a variety of sources. Popular sources are surplus reserves from state-owned natural resource revenues, trade surpluses, bank reserves that may accumulate from budgeting excesses, foreign currency operations, money from privatizations, and governmental transfer payments. In Californias case, the money would come from the vast wealth from the taxes paid after the increase in valuations of tech companies, especially in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Californias Rainy Day Fund, set up by Proposition 2 in 2014, is a quasi-SWF. According to Gov. Gavin Newsoms May Revision to his budget proposal, it currently contains $23.3 billion and is now at its constitutional maximum of 10 percent of general-fund revenues. Theres also another $9.5 billion in the Public School System Stabilization Account and $900 million in the Safety Net Reserve. These are valuable and would be used should the surpluses of recent years turn into deficits, as has occurred in the past during recessions. The state also operates large pension funds, which will be addressed below. But those exist for the specific purpose of paying the pensions of qualified employees. A California SWF would be different, paying dividends to go into the state general fund. The money then could be used to pay for programs or to reduce taxes. For example, suppose all $97.5 billion of this years surplus were put into a new California SWF. Next, suppose it rose in value by 10 percent across fiscal year 2022-23. Then it would pay $9.75 billion into the general fund for the next year, 2023-24. A modification might to be to split the dividend: half to the general fund, or $4.9 billion; the other half reinvested into the SWF, $4.9 billion. That would raise the SWFs value to $102.4 billion. The fund also could increase in value with future surpluses being put into it. If theres a bad year with the fund declining, then there would be no transfer to the general fund. Complications A California SWF would have to overcome some complications. One is Proposition 98, which mandates 40 percent of all new revenues go to K-12 education. It could be modified so the 40 percent rule does not apply to surplus funds put into the SWF, but only to what is paid out. The schools still would get the money, and more of it as the fund grew, just not right away. Another complication could be the legislature using the SWF to manipulate markets. Something similar already happens with the California Public Employees Retirement System banning investments in tobacco companies, costing it at least $3.6 billion over the past two decades. The SWF would have to be set up so it invests in all legal investments. Alternatively, it could be set up to invest only in the S&P 500, insulating it from legislative legerdemain. The retirement funds of public employees also could bring complications because they are underfunded. If they default on their obligations, retirees might go after the SWFs money. Their status as of their most recent valuations: CalPERS, as of its June 30, 2021 report, was worth $477 billion, but only 80 percent funded. The California State Teachers Retirement System had a valuation on Sept. 30, 2021 of $317 billion and a 69.2 percent funding ratio. University of California Pensions valuation was $91 billion on June 30, 2021, with an 83 percent funding ratio. Other SWFs According to the SWF Institute, the current top SWFs are: $1.3 trillion: Norway Government Pension Fund Global; $1.2 trillion: China Investment Corp.; $738 billion: Kuwait Investment Authority; $709 billion: Abu Dhabi Investment Authority; $690 billion: GIC Private Ltd. (Singapore). In North America, using other sources, the top funds are: Eureka! If other states and Canadian provinces can establish SWFs, why cant California? Starting with even $10 billion from this years $97.5 billion surplus would be something. Then plan for what to do with future surpluses. The reason why the oil countries set up such funds is because they know some day the liquid gold will dry up. Then how will they fund their welfare states without their people starting revolutions? California should expect the vast wealth currently generated by our world-leading tech sector wont last forever. Indeed, looking at the exodus of Tesla and other firms shows there are storms on the horizon. The tech gold rush, too, someday will end. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Canada Stands by Its Dairy Quotas as US Files Second Trade Complaint Canadas international trade minister says the country stands by its position on imposing trade quotas on dairy products after the United States filed a second formal complaint against the policy under the new North American trade agreement. The dispute is centred on Canadas tariff-rate quotas (TRQs)the quantities of certain goods that can be imported under preferential duties. The United States has accused Canada of assigning too much of its quotas to processors and thus denying American producers the level of access to which theyre entitled under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). In response to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tais announcement on May 25 that it is, for the second time, filing a formal dispute settlement request against Canadas TRQs, Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng said it respects the U.S.s rights to do so but will stand its ground on dairy quota practices. Canada has met its obligations under CUSMA to ensure that our TRQ system is compliant, Ng said in a May 25 statement. We respect the right of the United States to initiate the dispute resolution mechanism as part of the agreement. Canada will actively participate in CUSMAs consultation process and stand by our position to administer our TRQs in a manner that supports our dairy supply management system. The U.S.s new challenge came as part of its years-long dispute against Canadas trade restriction measures intended to protect its dairy farmers from American importspolicies which the U.S. trade representative said are contrary to the commitments under CUSMA. In her statement, Tai said Canadas dairy TRQs policies deny allocation access to eligible applicants, including retailers, food service operators, and other types of importers. She also challenged Canadas failure to fully allocate its annual dairy TRQs, saying it is parceling out a few months quota at a time. Tai said she is deeply troubled by Canadas decision to expand the TRQ restrictions, which she said are undermining the market access Canada has agreed to provide under the CUSMA through these measures. We communicated clearly to Canada that its new policies are not consistent with the USMCA and prevent U.S. workers, producers, farmers, and exporters from getting the full benefit of the market access that Canada committed to under the USMCA, she said. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack described Canadas dairy tariffs as a top concern for U.S. President Joe Bidens administration. The United States previously filed a formal trade complaint against Canadian dairy policy in December 2020 under CUSMA, which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that year. An international arbitral panel, established under the CUSMA agreement, sided with the United States in a key ruling that year, saying that Canadas practices are inconsistent with the commitments spelled out in the trade deal. The panel issued a final report in January 2022, forcing Canada to modify its measures. On May 16, Canada published the final changes to its dairy TRQ allocation rules, but it was rejected by the United States as the basis for resolving the dispute between the two countries, saying the new rules will only produce similar results as the old ones. According to the Financial Post, the United States had accused Canada of reserving most TRQs for its domestic processorsincluding three major dairy companies Saputo Inc., Agropur, and Groupe Lactaliswhichwhich are in control of most of the market, and therefore impedes American companies from full and fair competition. This issue remains in Canadas new TRQs rule, the U.S. trade representative office said. Canadas revised policies provide that only processors, further processors, and distributors will be able to apply for and be granted an allocation. This means that Canada continues to exclude other eligible applicants, such as retailers and food service operators, reads its May 25 statements. The statement also said Canadas dairy TRQs require applicants to be active during all 12 months of a 12-month reference period, which will potentially exclude some applicants who are otherwise eligible, particularly new entrants. More details on the Texas school shooting: what did the gunman post on social media minutes before the attack? President Joe Biden has some latest words on public safety. Following the shooting, Democrats are calling for more gun control legislation. But in a 5050 Senate, their calls likely will not be answered. Well look at the projected results for key primary races in four states, including a crucial Georgia race that may flip the majority in the Senateand the outlook heading into the midterms. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas had a sympathetic message for illegal immigrants. He acknowledged the hardships they face, but asked them not to come to the southwest border. We speak with New Mexico Congresswoman Yvette Herrell to discuss possible solutions for taming the surge at the southern border. Congress held a hearing on the baby formula crisis thats left parents scrambling to find food for their babies. Some members of Congress argue that the crisis was preventable. * Click the Save button below the video to access it later on My List. Follow CapitolReport on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/capitolreport Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CapitolReport/ Gettr https://gettr.com/user/capitolreport Follow EpochTV on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV A section of skin tissue, harvested from a lesion on the skin of a monkey, that had been infected with monkeypox virus, is seen at 50X magnification on day four of rash development in 1968. (CDC/Handout via Reuters) CDC Confirms More Monkeypox Cases Across US The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on May 26 confirmed nine monkeypox cases across seven U.S. states. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky confirmed the number of cases during a news briefing. These cases were suspected by local clinicians. They were identified by local laboratories and triggered local public health action to help with treatment and management of any potential contacts, Walensky told reporters. Cases have been found in California, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state so far, she said. The World Health Organization has said that more than 200 suspected or confirmed cases of the virus have been found in more than a dozen countries. Walensky, meanwhile, said that monkeypox cases were found in homosexual males, coming after WHO and other agencies said earlier this week that sexual transmission appeared to be linked to the outbreak. They said that two events in Europe were responsible for the spread of the virus. A monkeypox outbreak of this scale and scope across the world, it has not been seen before, Raj Panjabi, the White Houses senior director for global health security, said during the briefing. This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. Monkeypox, a disease that rarely appears outside Africa, has been identified by European and American health authorities in recent days. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP) The first monkeypox case in the United States was reported in Massachusetts last week. The disease, which mostly occurs in West and Central Africa, is a viral infection that was first recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1970s. Meanwhile, Spanish health authorities reported 25 new cases of monkeypox on May 26, bringing the total tally of infections in one of the main hot spots of the recent outbreak to 84. Spain, England, and Portugal are the three nations with the most cases in the recent outbreak. Spains Health Ministry, which now considers all non-human-origin pox infections as monkeypox after a positive test while before only counting those confirmed by sequencing, also noted 73 suspected cases. Minister of Health Carolina Darias said on May 25 that Spain would buy monkeypox vaccines as part of the European Union joint vaccine purchases and confirmed that the West African strain, which has a fatality rate in about 1 percent of cases, was the variant detected. Symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, and chills. Lesions may develop within one to five days after the fever symptoms show. U.S. officials say that smallpox vaccines are effective in preventing the spread of monkeypox. Reuters contributed to this report. Chinas Premier Li Keqiang speaks via live video transmission during a press conference after the closing session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 11, 2021. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) China Holds Unprecedented Meeting as Zero-COVID Crushes Economy Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on May 25 presided over a meeting of over 100,000 officials to issue a stark warning about the grim challenges ahead for the countrys economy, which has been battered by the communist regimes COVID-19 policies. In a teleconference with representatives from provincial, city, and county levels of government, Li warned about the apparent downward trend across employment, manufacturing, electricity, and cargo transportation. The difficulties, in some aspects and to a certain degree, are even greater than 2020 when the pandemic hit hard, he told the attendees, according to a summary from Chinese state media. The scale of the conference, unseen for years, as well as the tone he struck in the remarks both suggest a sense of growing anxiety as the Chinese premier become increasingly vocal about the outlook of the worlds second largest economy. A transcript of his speech posted online shows him calling for officials to try to make sure the Chinese economy will not contract in the second quarter. The goal is not high, and quite a distance away from the 5.5 percent growth target we raised at the years start, but this is what we must do judging from reality, he said. Investment banks such as UBS, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and JP Morgan have recently cut their China GDP forecasts due to the crushing effects of the regimes zero-COVID policies. Unexpected factors since March, such as COVID-19 outbreaks and the Ukraine war have dragged down the economy, Li said, adding that it would take considerable effort to reverse the current economic trajectory. Aprils government revenue, after taking into account the tax refunds, has dropped by 5.9 percent, while the income for some local governments in the eastern coastal area of China plunged by as much as 32 percent, he said. He revealed that several provinces had requested to borrow money from Chinas cabinet-like State Council. We are having this meeting today because theres no time to lose, he said. Li made the speech two days after hosting a cabinet meeting unveiling 33 measures to ease economic pressure, including stepping up tax refunds, giving loans to small businesses, and extending unemployment insurance assistance. Chinas central bank on May 25 also commenced an emergency meeting. It later sent a notice urging national banks to prioritize lending, according to Chinese media reports. A man walks in street during a scheduled lockdown break on May 23, 2022, in Shanghai. (Photo by Hu Chengwei/Getty Images) Beijings heavy-handed lockdowns to contain COVID-19 have grounded production in major industrial and commercial centers. Shanghai, after more than two months of stringent COVID-19 restrictions that have largely fenced people into their homes, saw its industrial output nosediving 61.5 percent in April from a year earlier. Factory production across the country has meanwhile sunk to the worst level since the pandemic hit more than two years ago. At least 26 Chinese cities have remained in some form of lockdown as of May 23, affecting over 200 million Chinese and more than a fifth of the countrys economic output, according to an estimate by Japanese bank Nomura. Factories cant work, commoners cant live their lives, and transportation cant function, this dynamic COVID zero is pretty much an economic suicide, Gu Guoping, a retired professor from the Shanghai University of Engineering Science, told The Epoch Times, referring to the official name for the regimes zero-tolerance strategy. While the conference was unprecedented in terms of scale, Gu believes it wont achieve the outcome Li hopes for. His boss has him tied, he said, referencing Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who is seen as spearheading the regimes COVID-19 policies. Chinese leader Xi Jinping (C) prepares to take his seat as he arrives with Premier Li Keqiang at the opening session of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on March 4, 2022. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) Li, for the better part of the last decade, has long kept a low profile. But his remarks in recent months have appeared to carry a divergent sentiment from Xi. Despite the continuing outbreak in Beijing, Li didnt wear a mask in the conference room, which sat dozens of people. He also made no mention of the regimes zero-COVID policy that Xi has touted. For Xi to allow Li to convene the meeting on May 25 is indicative of how grave Chinas economic problem is, according to Feng Chongyi, a China studies professor at the University of Technology Sydney. But Li is walking a tightrope right now, he said. If Li Keqing indeed succeeds, the credit will still go to Xi Jinping, who is the supreme leader, he told The Epoch Times. But if Li cant salvage the Chinese economy, he will have to share the responsibility. Luo Ya contributed to this report. A worker mans a furnace during the nickel smelting process at Indonesian mining company PT Vale's smelting plant in Soroako, South Sulawesi, on March 30, 2019 . (Bannu Mazandra/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese Companies Seize Indonesian Nickel Resources Amid New Energy Battery Opportunities The recent big investments Chinese companies are making in Indonesian nickel mines are attracting renewed attention. Chinas CNGR Advanced Materials Co Ltd. announced on May 19 that it will expand its nickel matte business in Indonesia, partnering with Singapores RIGQUEZA International Co., LTD. A total investment of $1.26 billion will be put in a production line in Indonesia with an annual capacity of 40,000 tons of nickel matte. This is the second cooperation between the two companies in Indonesia. In 2021, the two sides signed a cooperation project agreement to produce 60,000 tons of nickel matte per year. Nickel matte is the raw material for high-purity nickel sulfate, which is an important raw material for ternary precursors, the compound cathode material for ternary lithium batteries, CNGR said in its statement. The partnership is aimed at securing nickel resources to reduce the companys cost of producing nickel ternary precursors. In March, trading in nickel futures on the London Metal Exchange (LME) went awry, resulting in an $8 billion paper loss for Chinese company Tsingshan Holding Group. However, the suspension of trading and delivery by the LME caused a huge shock to the international metal futures market. As LME was acquired by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) for HK $16.7 billion (about $2.3 billion) in 2012, its handling is suspected of helping Chinese companies avoid losses. On April 4, the UKs Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Bank of Englands Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) issued a joint statement that the FCA will examine LMEs handling of the March 8 Demon Nickel incident, while the PRA will examine LME Clear (the LME clearinghouse). In recent years, mainland Chinese have greatly expanded the scale of investment in minerals outside China. China Mining Magazine reported that by 2017, China had invested a staggering $1.8 trillion in overseas mining resources. China Invests Nearly $2 Trillion in Overseas Mining Chinas foreign investment in mineral products mainly focuses on petroleum and iron ore, but with the rapid development of the global electric vehicle market, the competition for vehicle battery manufacturing materials is increasingly fierce. Under the development trend of high nickel and low cobaltization in ternary lithium batteries, Chinese enterprises are stepping up their efforts to acquire foreign nickel resources. Nickel can increase the energy density of electric vehicle batteries, thus increasing the driving range between charges. Market Research firm SNE Research forecasts that global nickel demand for power batteries will roughly double by 2025 and be six times higher by 2030 compared with 2022, driven by the continued expansion of the electric vehicles market. Indonesia is one of the worlds richest laterite nickel resources. The main reserves are concentrated on Sulawesi island and other nearby islands. According to statistics, about 70 percent of Indonesias nickel exports go to China. Tsingshan Holding Group, which entered Indonesia as early as 2009 to develop laterite nickel mines, is currently the worlds largest producer of nickel metal. By 2018, Chinese companies had more than 50 nickel production lines in Indonesia, about half of which were owned by Tsingshan. The Group, along with other Chinese companies, aims to build a whole new energy industry chain, from nickel and cobalt ore development to battery cathode material production and battery application. In April, Ningde Times, Chinas largest manufacturer of vehicle-powered batteries, also announced a $4 billion investment in Indonesia, which will be put into the industries of laterite nickel mine development, smelting, battery cathode materials, and battery manufacturing. Indonesia Concerned About National Security According to a 2022 report released by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), in 2021, Indonesia and Australia each accounted for 22 percent of the worlds proven nickel reserves, Brazil accounted for 16.8 percent, Russia 7.8 percent, the Philippines 5 percent, and China 3 percent. Indonesia accounted for 37 percent of the worlds nickel production in 2021, ranking first. It was followed by the Philippines with 13.7 percent and Russia with 9 percent. China produced just 4.4 percent of the worlds nickel in 2021. In a May 17 report, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said there are signs that Indonesia is concerned about the potential impact of Chinese investment on its national security. Indonesias sovereign wealth fund set up in 2020, for example, excludes Chinese investors. Still, investment between the two countries has continued to climb in recent years, with Chinese investors particularly interested in Indonesias nickel ore that is used to make lithium-ion batteries. The CSIS report argues that the United States and Europe should increase investment in three emerging markets: Indonesia, India, and Vietnam, which will help the United States and its allies protect their supply chains and prevent key technologies from leaking to rivals. Map of Australia's immediate neighbors in the western Pacific Ocean. (College of Asia and the Pacific/ANU/CartoGIS Services [CC BY-SA 4.0]) Chinese Foreign Minister Receives Red Carpet Welcome in Honiara, Solomon Islands Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi landed in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara on May 26 where he will meet with the Pacific nations leadership for a two-day visit. Beijing is expected to sign-off on a contentious security deal with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare that will open the door for Chinese Peoples Liberation Army to station troops, weapons, and naval ships in the region. Yi and [Foreign Minister Jeremiah] Manele are expected to sign a number of cooperation agreements that will enhance the bilateral relationship between the two countries, according to a statement from the Solomons official government website. Yi and Minister Manele are scheduled to hold a joint press conference at the end of their official engagements today before departing on Friday. Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele (L) shakes hands with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi to mark the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China on September, 2019. (Naohiko Hatta Pool/Getty Images) Wangs tour encompasses seven other nations including Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and East Timor. He will attempt to advance a recently uncovered Pacific-wide security and data communique that could pave the way for Chinese telecommunications firms to embed themselves into the infrastructure of the regionposing a threat to privacy and security. A draft of the China-Pacific Island Countries Common Development Vision and a five-year action planleaked to Reutershas been circulated to the leaders of 10 Pacific nations and promises a China-Pacific Islands Free Trade Area, police training, and cooperation in the fields of traditional and non-traditional security, including a pledge to work on data networks, cyber security, and smart customs systems. Australian and U.S. representatives have rushed to stem the influence of Beijing in the region, with new Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong touching down in Fiji to meet with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama and Henry Puna, the secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum. Australia will listen to our Pacific partners as we work together to face our shared challenges and achieve our shared goalsincluding tackling climate change, pandemic recovery, economic development and regional security, she said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Biden administrations Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell has spoken with the Fijian prime minister to enhance security and economic engagements. A Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jet flies in an undisclosed location in a file photo. (Taiwan Ministry of Defense via AP) Chinese Regime Announces Military Drills Near Taiwan After Bidens Comments About Defending Island The Chinese military announced on May 25 that it would organize military drills in the sea and air spaces near Taiwan, a move it described as a warning to Washington. Col. Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the Peoples Liberation Army, said the regimes military conducted multi-service joint combat readiness patrols and actual combat drills near Taiwan, according to a May 25 statement. The statement didnt specify whether such a drill had already taken place or was to come, but it described the move as a solemn warning to Washington over its collusion with Taiwan. The regime views the self-ruled island as its own territory to be taken by force if necessary. The announcement comes a day after the Chinese regime and Russia conducted joint military drills over the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the western Pacific. The exercise marked the two countries first joint drills since the Ukraine war, which has raised concerns that the Chinese regime could use the crisis to hasten its designs to seize Taiwan. Beijing has stepped up its military harassment of Taipei in recent years by continuing to send warplanes flying near the island on a regular basis. On May 25, four Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwans air defense identification zone. 4 PLA aircrafts (J-10*2 and J-16*2) entered #Taiwans southwest ADIZ on May 25, 2022. Please check our official website for more information: https://t.co/LEmfLu8pAN pic.twitter.com/4qNjJfBl7H Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. (@MoNDefense) May 25, 2022 During his first trip to Asia, U.S. President Joe Biden said the United States had a commitment to defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion by the Chinese regime. The White House later walked back the controversial comments, saying that they didnt indicate a shift in U.S. policy on Taiwan. The United States has a longstanding policy toward Taiwan, known as strategic ambiguity, meaning that U.S. administrations have been deliberately vague on whether the United States would defend the island in the event of a Chinese invasion. Washington maintains robust relations with Taiwan, and a federal law obliges the U.S. administration to provide Taipei with the means to defend itself. Taiwan Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said on May 26 that the Chinese Communist Party has almost never stopped its harassment of Taiwan in recent years, noting that the ministry will continue to monitor its exercises. Chiu said Taiwan must be prepared to defend itself and cant entirely depend on other countries help. In response to the regimes saber-rattling, the island has increased military spending to a record level this year and has proposed to extend the islands four-month compulsory military service to a year. Constitutional Originalists Love America Commentary I fled academia in 2010 because of its increasingly bizarre environment. Since then, the situation has only gotten worse. This is reflected in the scholarly journals, in which they publish more and more silly stuff. Recently, for example, I learned that a journal published an article (pdf) claiming that those of us who interpret the Constitution as written do so because we hate America! I, among other constitutional originalists, was singled out. The author was Andrew Koppelman, a law professor at Northwestern University in Chicago. Ive never met him. I understand that, although he can be a provocateur, hes a fine fellow in other respects. The fact that he was born in Nyack, New Yorksite of my beloved high schoolinclines me to think better of him than he apparently thinks of me. Koppelman claims constitutional originalists are following a new and radical methodology. He believes we want to hold constitutional law hostage to shifting conclusions derived from musty old books that no one else knows about. He notes, correctly, that many of us believe the federal government has exceeded its constitutional powers and should be trimmed back. He concludes: If we seek to inflict such changes on our country, then we must really hate America! My friend and colleague, Independence Institute Research Director Dave Kopel (whom Koppelman also singled out for criticism), has composed a response directed at constitutional scholars, which you can read here. Kopel points out that our sources arent obscure at all. He further observes that its entirely consistent with love of country to advocate that government be improved and stay within its legal limits. Heres my response for readers of The Epoch Times. Originalism Is Central to Our Understanding of Law We originalists argue that, with some modifications, we should read and apply the Constitution by the same rules we apply to other legal documents. Specifically, we should interpret the Constitution according to its original meaning or original understanding. If judges can rewrite the Constitution with new interpretive theories to serve the convenience of favored or privileged people, then the Constitution is no longer the supreme Law of the Land. Critics of originalism know that label is new, since they made up the label. (We adopted it nevertheless.) So they often assume the idea itself is new. But actually, its very old. As Ive explained elsewhere, the rule that documents should be construed according to the intent of makers (thats the original phrase) has been around for at least 500 years, and probably longer. The framers wrote the Constitution to be interpreted that way. American judges and lawyers almost universally applied it that way for the following 150 yearseven though (because law is not an exact science) they didnt always agree on the results. Today, originalism continues to be the rule of interpretation for nearly all legal documents. With minor variations according to the nature of the document, it remains the standard method for reading contracts, statutes, and state constitutions. Lawyers and judges routinely seek evidence of how the parties to a document understood it. To supplement the evidence, they employ guidelines called rules of construction to deduce the parties likely understanding. For almost every kind of document except the U.S. Constitution, this process is entirely uncontroversial. The problem is that when you apply originalist methods to the Constitution, the progressives who dominate the legal elite often dont like the results. So they invent new methods of interpretation to the get results they prefer. Progressive Distortion of the Constitution During the 20th century, progressive judges and academics concluded that the Constitution as written wasnt good enough. The document was too popular to attack broadside; instead, they began to reinterpret it to suit modern times. The Supreme Court rewrote several parts of the Constitution in the 1930s and 1940s, as I explained in an Epoch Times series earlier this year. (Part I of the series is here.) The court converted a federal government with important but limited powers into a centralized government with nearly unlimited power. Then, during the 1960s and 1970s, the Supreme Court rewrote other provisions to force the states to comply with liberal social priorities. Side by side with the courts innovations came changes in legal education. At one time, most law students were trained in the offices of senior attorneys. During the 20th century, however, law schoolsespecially those attached to universitiesobtained a near-monopoly on legal education. Most professors teaching constitutional law were left-of-center politically. Moreover, most had little or no experience practicing law, where they would have gained perspective on interpreting legal documents. Untethered to the real world, law professors derided traditional understandings of the Constitution as legal formalism. They tossed some traditional understandings down the memory hole entirelyby, for example, having students read versions of Supreme Court cases that omitted inconvenient passages. Particularly subjected to this treatment were the Supreme Court opinions of John Marshall, our greatest chief justice. An entire generation of future lawyers and future professors never learned how Marshall relied on traditional legal sources, or what those sources were. They never knew of the limits Marshall had placed on Congresss powers under the necessary and proper clause. Nor did they learn that Marshall himself affirmed that health policy was strictly a state, not a federal, concern. Instead, students got the impression that Marshall was like the liberal activist justice who decides constitutional disputes by making stuff up (pdf). The Originalist Resurgence There were always scholars who questioned the progressive rewrite of the Constitution. In the late 20th century, they began to publish intensively on the Constitutions actual meaning. They often consulted materials their progressive colleagues should have been consulting all along, but had neglected. Among these are books and pamphlets by leading Founders, 18th-century law books and other writings popular with the founding generation, early state constitutions, proceedings of state legislatures and the British Parliament, proceedings of the Continental and Confederation Congresses, and the 17871790 debates over the Constitution itself (pdf). When originalist findings started rolling off the press, many liberals and progressives became alarmed. Here was a frontal assault on the mythology they had constructed! Many were unaware of the sources originalists used. Thats why Koppelman and others think that originalism is novel and its evidence obscure. The Disadvantages of Being Originalist If youre a law professor, being an originalist isnt exactly a good career move. On most law school faculties, it will make you the odd man out. The academic journals are mostly woke, so unless you have good connections, its hard to get originalist scholarship published in any of the prestige journals. I know this from personal experience: Again and again, Ive been rejected without explanation from top journalsonly to find out later that those same publications deem my work important enough to print derivative pieces and rebuttals. Along with having the proper gender and ethnicity, consistent progressive scholarship can be the ticket to the academic big leagues. Originalism can keep you on the sandlots till you quit. We Do It Out of Love Nevertheless, some of us remain originalists. Speaking for myself and the originalists I know, I can report that we do it out of love: First, theres the love of knowledge: Most of us love to learn new stuff. We reject the common practice of writing advocacy papers and passing them off as scholarship. My own search for constitutional meaning has sent me in all kinds of unexpected and wonderful directions. We love liberty, fairness, and human flourishing. In our legal system, applying documents as their makers understood them is central to the rule of law, which in turn, promotes those values. We admire the primary principles behind the Constitution: liberty, republicanism, public trust, decentralization, and effective government. We admire, moreover, how the framers deftly balanced them. We are gratified that most constitutional amendments have furthered the same principles. We love our country, so were concerned for her future. Admittedly, a few academics might like a situation in which federal officeholders disregard local and individual preferences, foster dependency, spend irresponsibly, ignore the rule of law, and override the limits in the same Constitution from which they claim their power. But as the public opinion polls show, most Americans dont care for that situation at all. Because most Americans, like most originalists, love America. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. AMERICAN ESSENCE: What Were They Fighting For? The Stories Behind Early Americans Motivation to Join the Revolutionary War Elon Musk's Twitter profile is seen on a smartphone placed on printed Twitter logos in this picture illustration taken April 28, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters) Elon Musk Is Taking a Page From Donald Trumps Book: Part I Is Musk beginning a career in public service? Commentary Elon Musks acquisition of social media giant Twitter could be just the start of his public service to America. To the great consternation of the American Left, Musk is in the process of acquiring Twitter. Is this a randomalbeit very surprisingact on the part of Musk, or is it the start of something wholly unexpected, just like Donald Trumps announcement of his candidacy for president in June 2015? Let us examine the question in detail, starting with a summary of Musks offer to acquire Twitter, why the left is apoplectic about it, and what he has been exposing about Twitter along the way. Then, in the second part of this series, we will look at what could be his real motivation for the proffer and his long-term plan. Musks Nonbinding Offer to Buy Twitter Ever since Musk offered to buy all shares of Twitter on April 13, he has weathered a storm of criticism from the left. His $41.4 billion offer shocked the Twitter blue-check (verified) accounts, which are dominated by people from left-of-center to radical leftists, including Hollywood celebrities, Democrat politicians, legacy media figures, academics, and others. For example, media commentator Max Boot tweeted out on April 14: I am frightened by the impact on society and politics if Elon Musk acquires Twitter. He seems to believe that on social media anything goes. For democracy to survive, we need more content moderation, not less. And that was one of the more G-rated reactions from the blue-check crowd. Elon Musk attends the opening ceremony of the new Tesla Gigafactory for electric cars in Gruenheide, Germany, on March 22, 2022. (Patrick Pleul/Pool via Reuters) The blue checks are enduring the Musk version of Chinese water torture as he exposes Twitter as a modern version of George Orwells Ministry of Truth, into which it has morphed over the past six-plus years. The shock waves started with this excerpt from Exhibit B of his filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (emphasis added): I invested in Twitter as I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe, and I believe free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy. However, since making my investment I now realize the company will neither thrive nor serve this societal imperative in its current form. Twitter needs to be transformed as a private company. Anyone familiar with Twitter in recent years knows full well that its algorithms are specifically designed to squelch free speechespecially that of a political naturethat deviates from the leftist/Democrat/globalist narrative. On the flip side, this makes it possible to create a media echo chamber on Twitter to reinforce accepted left-wing narratives, as 24.6 percent of blue-check Twitter accounts are held by journalists. Thousands of Twitter accounts of those who have deviated from the approved speech on COVID injections, vaccine mandates, mask mandates, 2020 election fraud, President Joe Bidens mental acuity, sexual dysphoria (transsexualism), and a host of other topics have had their accounts locked or suspended. For example, Twitter permanently suspended former President Trumps accountwhich had 88 million followers!on Jan. 8, 2021. And the very existence of those Twitter algorithms suppressed the free speech of many dissenting voices who did not want their accounts suspended. Twitter has become an essential element in the lefts ongoing efforts to control the political dialogue in the United States and around the world by suppressing speech that deviates from the approved left-wing narratives, and also propagating approved speech in order to amplify its importance far more than warranted as a tactic to advance the Democrat agenda. Musk has begun to expose thisand much more. Anti-Free Speech Twitter does not support the First Amendment, yet the company enjoys protections under Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which protects online companies like Twitter from liability for any content posted via their service. Section 230 was never intended to restrict political speech; it was aimed at blocking and filtering technologies that empower parents to restrict their childrens access to objectionable or inappropriate online material, according to Cornell Law School. Twitter claims not to be a content provider. Still, it has bastardized Section 230 protections to restrict political content posted that violates its leftist ideological rules, making it a de facto content provider. Back in March, Musk himself conducted an unofficial poll using his Twitter account to ascertain the public perception of whether Twitter as a company rigorously adheres to the principle that free speech is essential to a functioning democracy. Over 70 percent of the 2 million respondents voted no. Bots and Fake Accounts As of October 2021, there were 1.3 billion total Twitter accounts, with only 330 million classified as active users (regularly accessed accounts). According to Website Rating, some 77.75 million of those accounts are active in the United States. Twitter has claimed that less than 5 percent of its accounts are automated bots or fake accounts. As described by TechTarget, a botshort for robot and also called an internet botis a computer program that operates as an agent for a user or other program or to simulate a human activity. A single person can create and control a bot network comprised of thousands of bots on social media like Twitter, which can be used to falsely influence the opinions of real people and ultimately affect U.S. public policy decisions. Foreign actors can use bot networks to adversely influence public policy, too. For example, in May 2020, the U.S. State Departments Global Engagement Center reported that China is employing thousands of Twitter bots as part of its disinformation campaign to portray itself as the leader in global coronavirus recovery efforts instead of the source of the pandemic. And in September 2021, a large propaganda bot network was discovered that promoted the Chinese Communist Party and targeted American users across multiple social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Twitter continually claims to purge bots and fake accounts. Yet, the company has not publicly produced evidence that backs up its less than 5 percent claim. Company Valuation In 2020, Twitter received 86 percent of its revenue from advertising. The companys valuation is thus almost entirely dependent upon the number of active accounts claimed over timeso-called monetizable daily active users. Twitter reported 211 million monetizable daily active users in the third quarter of 2021. The more active accounts, the greater the revenue stream from advertisers who pay fees based on the anticipated number of eyes who see their ads. The greater the presumed Twitter stock value as it meets its projected account growth goals. Twitter occasionally purges bot accounts with great fanfare, as reported here in July 2018. But one might suspect that Twitter only half-heartedly conducts purges for obvious financial reasons. A 3D-printed Twitter logo in a picture illustration taken on April 28, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters) Note that Twitters market cap peaked at $54.91 billion in June 2021 and has been trending downward to the current value of $28.5 billion, having lost about $6 billion since Musk began acquiring Twitter shares in January 2022. How might the stock be valued if it is determined that 30 percent to 40 percent of its 211 million active user accounts are bots/fake? No wonder the Twitter board members accepted Musks tender offer of $44 billion on April 25! This link here shows a list of accounts that were suspended/banned by Twitter and the purported reasons for doing so. However, Musk is now demanding Twitter to produce proof of the percentage of bots and fake accounts. As reported by CNBC, he believes that at least 20 percent of Twitters user accountsand possibly moreare fake or spam accounts. He could very well be right about that because a recent audit of Twitter accounts by the software company SparkToro found that nearly half of Bidens 22 million Twitter followers are fake. In any event, Musk placed his tender offer on hold on May 13 to ascertain the true value of Twitter and almost certainly to readjust his bid when the true number of active accounts is made known. Suspended Accounts When Twitter bans or permanently suspends an account, the account is still accessible by the individual user, but all Twitter functionality is disabled. Thus, suspended accounts are still in the system. Are suspended accounts considered to be active user accounts for the purpose of monetization? What does the Twitter board of directors know about these issues, and when did they learn of them? The list mentioned above may grow over time as Musk exposes more about the goings-on at Twitter. Conclusion Musk has clearly ruffled the feathers of the political left in America through his tender offer to acquire Twitter and restore the company to basic free speech principles for everyonenot just the voices approved by the Democratic Party. Is Musks pending acquisition of Twitter just a passing fancy of his, or is he perhaps pursuing a public service agenda similar to Trumps that is just beginning to unfold? Part II of this series will compare the careers of the two billionaires and suggest what Musk may really be up to in that regard. Read part II here. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Michael Sussmann arrives at federal court in Washington on May 18, 2022. (Teng Chen for The Epoch Times) Ex-Clinton Lawyer Facing Jail Time If Convicted Wont Testify WASHINGTONThe former Hillary Clinton campaign lawyer who is on trial for allegedly lying to the FBI will not take the stand to testify, he said in federal court on May 26. Michael Sussmann, the lawyer, said that he agreed not to testify after speaking with his lawyers when asked by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who is overseeing the case. Cooper told Sussmann he has the right to testify, but can choose to forgo that right. Sussmann was considering testifying in his own defense against the charge of making a false statement to the government, which carries a potential jail term of up to five years. The charge came after Sussmann brought derogatory information about Donald Trump, while representing Clintons campaign, to the FBI ahead of the 2016 election while claiming he was acting on his own accord. Sussmann later told Congress he went to the FBI on behalf of a client, with information from a client. The FBI examined the data, which allegedly showed a link between Trump and Russia, and found it did not substantiate that alleged link. Months afterward, Sussmann shared the information with the CIA, which concluded the alleged link was not technically plausible and did not withstand technical scrutiny, according to special counsel John Durhams team, which is prosecuting the Perkins Coie lawyer. Clinton campaign officials have said that Clinton approved a plan to spread the same allegations to media outlets, but that they did not approve Sussmann going to the FBI because they feared it would delay the publication of stories about the allegations. Sussmanns decision not to take the stand followed his attorneys attempting to convince the judge not to allow him, if he did testify, to be questioned on negotiations he had with the government prior to being charged. Filings on the matter were entered, but were sealed. That means they werent available for perusal by parties outside of the defense, the prosecution, and the judge. Prosecutors rested their case Wednesday. The defense began calling witnesses, including FBI special agent Thomas Grasso. Two character witnessesJimma Elliott-Stevens, a lawyer for Thomson Reuters who was an assistant for Sussmann when he worked at the Department of Justice, and Martha Stansell-Gamm, a retiree who hired Sussmann at the departmenttold the court about their relationships with him, though they acknowledged not knowing anything about the case in question. The defense closed its case on Thursday, and prosecutors offered no rebuttal. Closing arguments are slated for Friday. That will give the parties time overnight to hone arguments to no more than 100 minutes each, Cooper said. After the closing arguments, the jury will deliberate before returning a verdict. John Haughey Follow John Haughey has been a working journalist since 1978 with an extensive background in local government, state legislatures, and growth and development. A graduate of the University of Wyoming, he is a Navy veteran who fought fires at sea during three deployments aboard USS Constellation. Hes been a reporter for daily newspapers in California, Washington, Wyoming, New York, and Florida; a staff writer for Manhattan-based business trade publications. EXCLUSIVE: Lithuanian Ambassador: Vilnius Withstood Beijings Coercive Pressure When the Chinese regime resorted to political and economic coercion to punish Lithuania for leaving a voluntary grouping of countries led by China and growing its ties with Taiwan, Lithuania did not cave in and withstood the pressure with the support of the European bloc and other countries. Lithuania informed the Chinese regime in February 2021 about its decision to withdraw from the 17+1 framework, said Diana Mickeviciene, Lithuanias current ambassador to China. Like other countries participating in the framework, Lithuania had high hopes to advance their exports to China, Mickeviciene told The Epoch Times. China has been positioned as a very prospective market for [certain] Lithuanian products. Since the inception of the 16+1 platform in 2012, the successive Lithuanian governments made a lot of efforts in realizing that potential hoping to achieve a major breakthrough in export to China but the numbers were growing very slowly, the ambassador said. The 16+1 forumChina-Central and Eastern European Countries Cooperation (China-CEEC) is a Chinese-led initiative aimed at promoting economic, technological, and cultural cooperation between China and participating countries in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2019, Greece, an E.U. member, joined the forum making it the 17+1 but after Lithuanias withdrawal the platform became the 16+1 again. Despite having such potential Lithuania could not actually enter the Chinese market, despite its efforts, and for a decade it had been in talks with China about what went wrong, Mickeviciene explained. Lithuanias exports of goods to China rose from nearly $86 million in 2012 to nearly $358 million in 2020, while the countrys imports from China rose from nearly $682 million to $1.3 billion during the same period of time, according to United Nations Comtrade data. The Baltic country planned to sell its high-quality wheat on the Chinese market but its efforts to advance wheat exports met with hindrances, the ambassador said. For example, in early 2020 several Lithuanian wheat containers were halted by the Chinese authorities due to allegedly being contaminated with a fungus that does not exist in Lithuania. Mickeviciene said that as an ambassador she tried to resolve the issue but to no avail. Mickeviciene said she believes that wheat could have been blocked in retaliation for the countrys earlier proposal involving the Taiwanese in the general meeting of the World Health Organization made by then-Lithuanian Foreign Minister in his conversation with the Organizations Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. There were lots of barriers preventing Lithuania from entering the Chinese market which were abolished so slowly or almost not abolished so the country continued to have a trade deficit with China, Mickeviciene said. Lithuanias bilateral dialogue with China started turning into discussions with all forum participants, which became the second reason prompting Lithuanias withdrawal from the forum, Mickeviciene said. We had our bilateral issues, but we were forced to sort of discussing them in the view of all the 17 countries, which we thought was not justified because the bilateral track is still the main track and every sovereign country wants to have a bilateral track. Moreover, in the last years, Lithuania has seen certain disguised attempts by China to offer carrots to separate countries or a group of countries, which in Mickevicienes opinion, were undermining the E.U. market. In the E.U., we have a single market and we have a single trading area. Chinese products are admitted to a single market of the E.U. by one set of principles and standards, she explained. Weve seen certain efforts of playing us against each other [and] against Brussels. Among the participants of the 17+1 platform are 12 E.U. member states from Central and Eastern Europe and five Balkan countries which are potential candidates to the Union. The E.U. single market is an entity enabling the free movement of people, services, goods, and capital throughout the territories of all participating countries, according to the European Commissions website. Lithuanias Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told BNS (Baltic News Service) when Lithuanias withdrawal was announced that the 17+1 is a divisive format, according to The Baltic Times. I would urge all E.U. member states to seek a more effective 27+1 attitude and cooperation with China. Europes unity is what makes it strong and influential, Landsbergis said referring to the 27 members of the European Union. Lithuania also hoped to attract some transit from China due to the Baltic countrys favorable geographical location, Mickeviciene said. We are very much on the crossroads. China has been also interested in Lithuanias only seaport but the Baltic country has very strict foreign investment screening laws which limit investing in the countrys critical infrastructure to members of NATO, the E.U., and OECD (The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), the ambassador said. This rule by definition automatically excludes China, she added. Leaving 17+1 Forum The Chinese seemed to understand Lithuanias decision to leave 17+1 but asked the country to not make it public and Lithuania agreed, Mickeviciene said. Beijing, however, kept on inviting the country representatives to 17+1 meetings and was displaying the Lithuanian flag during these meetings without the countrys permission, she said. The Chinese regime did not honor its own commitment that the participation in the 17+1 is voluntary, she added. The Lithuanian government had no other choice but to make its decision public and announced it in May 2021, the ambassador said. After the announcement, the Lithuanian embassy immediately started feeling the consequences, as its cultural projects had been stalled, Mickeviciene said, adding that the Chinese party started declining her meetings. Chinese students who were studying the Lithuanian language were prevented, under various pretexts such as COVID-19 restrictions, from attending the cultural events held by the Embassy, she said. Galleries and private museums refused to deal with the Embassy saying that they were informed about Lithuania being on the list of unfriendly countries and for their own safety, they decided to avoid any collaboration, the ambassador said. Closer Ties with Taiwan Two months later, Taiwans Foreign Minister Joseph Wu announced the opening of a representative office in Lithuania under the name of The Taiwanese Representative Office, drawing the ire of the Chinese communist regime. Although Taiwan has its trade and cultural offices in many European countries none of them is called the Taiwanese Representative Office. They bear the name of Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan in order to adhere to the One-China policy. One-China policy is a tenet of the Chinese regimes foreign policy which asserts that Taiwan is a part of Chinas territory and there is only one sovereign state with the name China. The policy demands from other countries to not form ties with Taiwan. Only a handful of countries around the world established formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan with the Vatican being the only one in Europe. There was no particular reason for naming the representative office Taiwanese, Mickeviciene explained. Its a principle that a party that is setting up the officeit is choosing the name. We only agreed to it. The Lithuanian government had plans to tighten its ties with Taiwan several years ago to diversify the countrys economic partnership but the plans were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she added. We felt Taiwan being a smaller size economy, but also predictable market economy and of democratic nature [so it] could be one of the partners to diversify. In addition, Taiwans focus on the high-tech sector was consistent with Lithuanias traditional focus on laser and biotech industries which the country planned to develop, Mickeviciene said. The experience of some Central European countries showed that their cooperation with the self-ruled island brought Taiwanese investments to their nations which in turn created thousands of jobs for their people, Mickeviciene said. Taiwanese missions in those states played an important role in this cooperation so opening a Taiwanese office in Lithuania could also help Lithuania, a small country with little presence in Asia, to strengthen its partnership with Taiwan, she explained. The idea of a Taiwanese office was discussed first with Beijing but their response was: the others have made mistakes [by permitting Taiwanese office in their countries], but the Chinese would not allow [Lithuania] to make the same mistake, Mickeviciene said. My government took it very seriously as something which was limiting our ability to operate as a sovereign country, she stated. Lithuania was also accused of violating the one-China policy to which it committed upon the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, the ambassador said. But the office opened by Taiwan has not been given any diplomatic status, so the one-China agreement has not been breached, she explained. This is not an embassy or sort of semi-embassy. Even the Chinese side themselves admitted in their written and verbal communications that we violated the spirit, but not the letter of the commitment. Taiwanese Office Opened After the announcement, a huge number of Lithuanian businesses exporting products to China encountered hindrances from the Chinese, and even a direct train from a Chinese city to Lithuania was canceled, the ambassador said. When the Taiwanese office was opened a few months later the Chinese regime downgraded its diplomatic relation with Lithuania to the level of charge daffaires, a rank lower than that of ambassador, and unilaterally renamed both embassies to the office of charge daffaires. Both ambassadors had been recalled earlier by their governments so the embassies could have been headed by charge daffaires but neither the international law nor Lithuanian domestic law has any provision for the office of charge daffaires, Mickeviciene explained. The name Embassy of Lithuania was removed from the navigation system, Chinese customs have refused to deal with cargo, banks, and other institutions were informed that the Lithuanian Embassy no longer exists, she added. The embassy personnel were given seven days to surrender their diplomatic accreditation cards which were the only legal basis for their stay in China, the ambassador said, adding that they did not have Chinese visas on their passports due to a visa-free agreement for diplomatic personnel. The Lithuanian government decided then to evacuate all the embassy back to Lithuania on the first available flight, she said. You cant risk the well-being of your employees. Depriving the existing embassy of its status, name, and IDs is unprecedented. And I think its a huge violation of international agreements. Since then the Lithuanian Embassy to China operates from Lithuania as an online embassy and is only able to do certain parts of its job, the ambassador said. The Chinese authorities have also effectively blocked imports from Lithuania by removing the countrys name from their customs systems, Mickeviciene said. A day or two later, the name reappeared but the systems did not process any requests if the country of origin was Lithuania, she continued. Furthermore, the pressure was exerted on supply chains and international companies dealing with China to get rid of Lithuanian components in their products in return for access to the Chinese market, Mickeviciene said. Although Lithuanian exports to China account only for less than 1 percent of the countrys total exports the country is home to hundreds of businesses making components used by international companies to manufacture products for the Chinese market, according to the Gatestone Institute. The E.U. upon collecting evidence brought a case before the World Trade Organization against China for the economic coercion against Lithuania, Mickeviciene said, adding that her country received a lot of support from the E.U. and individual countries including the United States. The collective pushback resulted in more or less leaving alone the multinationals, the global supply chains, yet again, the situation is not completely clear and over. In February this year, China imposed an official ban on importing certain Lithuanian products such as dairy, beef, and beer, citing problems in sanitary compliance which Mickeviciene dismissed. To mitigate the impact, the Lithuanian government tried to assist businesses in redirecting the goods planned for the Chinese market, she added. Lithuania has received political support from the United States since the early days when it stood up to the Chinese coercion and it also intensified its economic cooperation with the United States, Mickeviciene said. Our exports to the U.S. have grown exponentially last year. So we may be losing the China market but I think we have opened a lot of windows into the U.S. market [as well as] other markets. We may be a small nation but we are very proud of our sovereignty, we fought very hard to be a sovereign country so we cant compromise on our sovereign decisions, Mickeviciene said. Frank Fang contributed to this report. EXCLUSIVE: Part TwoWho is Jan. 6 Prisoner Kash Kelly? Those who have been incarcerated for their participation or presence in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, have been called everything from patriots to insurrectionists. But of all the Jan. 6 prisoners currently being held in any number of detention facilities across the country, the one who seems to stir the most controversy is a 33-year-old Hammond, Indiana, man named Kash Kelly. So, who is Kash Kelly? As The Epoch Times reported May 6, Kelly was sentenced in February 2021 to four years of incarceration and three years of supervised release for a 2017 drug chargeconspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuanadating to when he was a Latin King gang member in Chicago. For years, Kelly had been trying to get his life back on track. He was active in his church. He was active in the lives of his children and was a father figure to other kids in the community. Through his social media channel, Kash Kelly The Streetlight, which is still active, Kelly provides guidance to those who are struggling to escape gang life or to turn their own lives around. Kelly became an internet sensation when his June 3, 2020 videoWhen do Black Lives Matter to us Black PPL??? Tough Discussionwent viral on social media. However, all of his progress was derailed when he traveled to Washington to protest against the certification of the 2020 election. As a condition of Kellys pretrial release, court documents state he was allowed to travel throughout the country as long as prosecutors approved the trip, knew where he was going and how long he would be there. While Kelly said he received permission from his attorney to go to the Capitol for the protest, federal investigators claim they gave no such permission and that Kelly misled them by saying he would be going to Texas, not Washington. According to Kelly, the severity of the sentence had more to do with the judges prejudice regarding the Jan. 6 protest in 2021 than the 2017 conspiracy drug charge. Statements made by the judge and prosecuting attorney during the course of Kellys sentencing hearing appear to support his claim. Because of his charges related to Jan. 6, 2021knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol groundsKelly is being held in the Correctional Treatment Facility in Washington, where he has been now for over a year. Kelly insists Capitol Hill Police invited him into the Capitol Building and he did not participate in any violent activity. He is appealing his sentence. Ultimately, it was Kelly who made the decision to go to Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, and that choice had serious consequences. Still, there are people who have known Kelly through it all, and they are choosing to support him. Jose Burgos is one of them. Officer Jose Burgos of the Hammond Police Department. (Courtesy of Jose Burgos) Burgos, a police officer in the Hammond Police Department for the past 28 years, met Kelly when he was in the fifth grade. Burgos was teaching D.A.R.E classes at the elementary school Kelly attended. According to its website, the D.A.R.E. programDrug Abuse Resistance Educationis a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children from kindergarten through 12th grade how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives. Burgos said what made D.A.R.E. so unique was that police officers were trained to teach the curriculum, thereby putting a local, human face on drug prevention in schools. It was awesome, Burgos told The Epoch Times. Essentially, I went to different elementary schools every day and I spent an hour in each of the fifth-grade classes teaching a lesson. There was a 17-week curriculum, which took me through the whole semester. Id have fifth-grade students for an hour at a time for a whole semester, which gave me 17 hours with them. Burgos would teach these lessons in a set of three or four elementary schools each semester. The following semester, he would move to a different set of schools and begin the program again. At the time, there were 15,000 students in Hammonds schools, including 24 public elementary schools and four parochial schools. Asked what Kelly was like when he first met the youth, Burgos said, awesome. He was one of those kids, Burgos recalled, first noting the uniqueness of his name, Kash Kelly. Ive only met one Kash Kelly in my entire life. When I met him, he was in the fifth grade. He was charismatic, outgoing, fun-loving, and had a great sense of humor. He had charisma. You were not going to miss him in a room full of kids. He stood out. He had a big personality. Burgos said he wasnt sure how Kelly got caught up in the gang life. After the fifth grade D.A.R.E. program, Burgos taught the sixth grade G.R.E.A.T. program, which he said is a gang program, structured similarly to the D.A.R.E. program. According to its website, G.R.E.A.T.Gang Resistance Education and Trainingis an evidence-based and effective gang and violence prevention program built around school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curricula. I had Kash for fifth and sixth grade, Burgos explained. Statistics show its in the middle schools, sixth, seventh and eighth grade is where we lose them. I was in the sixth-grade program the year they moved sixth grade out of the elementary schools and into middle schools. To this day, I think that was a mistake. I think they should leave sixth graders in elementary school. Statistics show thats where we lose them. According to Burgos, kids become susceptible to gang and peer pressure because gangs meet a very real need. Despite popular belief that kids are violently recruited into gangs, Burgos explained that gangs draw kids in by providing a sense of belonging, of caring, and a sense of respect. Gangs dont work the way people think they do, Burgos explained. People think they come into your space, and they threaten to beat you up or threaten to harm you if you dont join their gang. Thats not how it works. Gangs befriend you. They come along side you, they put their arm around you, and they buy you things. They meet your physical and your emotional needs, and when they begin to do that, you will want to hang around them. Then, eventually, youre indoctrinated. Then youre initiated, and thats how it happens. While I dont know exactly what happened to Kash, I can bet you his situation was very similar. Burgos is correct. Kelly was born in East Chicago, Indiana. He grew up in Hammond, Indiana, in an area they called Little Waco, where as far back as he can remember there were always gangs. They protected him and gave him money and candy. A particular gang member took a liking to him. Some said they looked alike, so they called Kelly Little Joe. His father was murdered when he was three years old. His mother was a drug addict. His step father beat him. So Kelly avoided home. It was normal to see houses burning and people getting beaten. At the age of six, he witnessed his first shooting. When the police came, Kelly refused to talk to them. After that, the gangs gave him respect. They taught him how to fight, and how to shoot a gun. He watched his grandfather die of an overdose in the car while driving him to school. His grandfather was his safe space, he said. After that, everything changed. By 14, Kelly was on his own, and by 16, he was a member of the Latin Kings. I had to be tough. I had to be ready for anything, Kelly told The Epoch Times in a phone interview from jail. If youre anything like me and you joined a gang, it was because you felt like you didnt have any other option. You didnt have family. The gang was your family. Thats the case sometimes when you grow up on the wrong side of the tracks. Erica Nicole Conklin and Kash Lee Kelly. (Courtesy of Erica Nicole Conklin) But then there was this church in his neighborhood, about a block and a half from his house. Because there was little else to do in his neighborhood, Kelly used to go there for after school programs. It was his get away while growing up in chaos. The kids he met there were from the better parts of town. I could see their parents come pick them up. They were happy. They were nice, Kelly reminisced. They just had a different vibe about them. That was my first introduction to normal life. My normal was different from their normal. I wanted their kind of normal. Kelly began reading his Bible. He began doing what the pastor said, and he began prayinglots of praying. Back then, the church was called The First Assembly of God. Today, its known as The Gate. That was there Kelly met Pastor J, known to others as J. Calaway. J. Calaway, lead pastor of The Gate in Hammond, Ind. (Courtesy of J. Calaway) According to his website, Calaway has been the lead pastor of The Gate in Hammond, Indiana, for over 32 years. Described as a multi-site, multi-ethnic church with five campuses with locations in both urban/inner-city and suburban areas, The Gate provides a wide range of missional and attractional programming. They have planted four churches and over 20 house churches, over the past 30 years and have even started a nonprofit company and multiple businesses to help people gain jobs and additional sources of revenue. It was probably around 1995 or 1996 we established a new program in our community called Adopt a Block, Calaway recalled for The Epoch Times. Its where we could go in and build relationships with the neighborhood. We would have different teams that would go out and clean up the blocks. We did kids programs and kid ministries. Kash lived on one of those blocks. He was eight to 10 years old, and started joining in with us. He became part of our church and our faith community and our kids programs. Kash Kelly (C) as a youth in 1998 at the Hammond Campus of The Gate church in Hammond, Ind. (Courtesy of J. Calaway) It was sometime in his mid teens that Calaway saw the change in Kelly. Like it is in so many times, he got caught up in the gangs, Calaway recalled, adding that he knew Kellys family was unstable. So we kind of lost touch. It was later he got caught up in the drug trafficking and got arrested. He wasnt violent or part of the trafficking. He was holding the drugs in his house. He was out on bail and they kept deferring his court date, so that was hanging over his head. It was sometime in 2016 or 2017 that Calaway said Kelly started his return to the church and gaining a real understanding of what was going on in the world. He began talking about race and doing a lot of research about it and one day he went live on social media and just goes off and it exploded from there, Calaway said. People started following him and listening to him. So he went on again. The one day my wife asked, Hey, have you seen whats going on with Kash? and I said no. Thats when she pulled up Facebook and showed me. About a week later, Kelly called Calaway saying he needed to talk to him. He needed guidance. His following on social media was growing at rate that made him nervous. He wasnt sure what to do or what to make of it. He said it was crazy. Thats when we really started talking and he really came back around, Calaway reflected. He was saying he now understood what I had been telling him all his life. It was real. It was true, and he was giving his life back to God and getting his life back into a value-based way of living. Through the course of that we really started connecting. He said he really needed a pastor and a mentor in his life if he was going to go through his viralness, if thats what you want to call it. As we got closer to election time he started getting out there more and more and he started traveling and every time he was going to travel he would call and say, Pastor, youve got to pray form me. So we would pray together. Kelly also called to tell him when he was going to Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. He called me that day and shared with me what was going on, Calaway shared, and when they found out about his background and that he had those charges. We knew he was getting ready to be sentenced for the convictions he had. It just hadnt happened yet. Those charges were old. But when it was indicated he was part of Jan. 6 and he was in the Capitol, they pulled him in and put him [in jail] in Washington. Not all of those who know Kelly have favorable opinions. According to the transcript of his sentencing, the mother of Erica Conklin, Kellys girlfriend of two and a half years, wrote a letter to the judge expressing things the judge described as a little bit troubling. Judge Philip Simon told Kelly there were a couple of others that viewed him as a sort of charlatan. But there are many others who have spoken of how Kelly has changed his life for the better. Our relationship was all the way through, Calaway said of Kelly. It was from him being a kid and growing up and him having kids. But there was always this one thing he couldnt get away from. Now hes in jail. But even now, hes like this light on the street. He knows a lot of what has happened to him is because he didnt have anybody and because he walked away. Now hes saying he wants to be the roadblock for others so they dont walk away. He wants to be the light shining in the street, shining the way for others through the drugs and the gangs. He really has had a transformation. Its not just a thing hes doing because hes in jail. Hes even doing it while hes in jail while paying the price. Calaway then shared a passage from the Bible, Romans 12:1-2, Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the power of God. I believe that part of this in his life is that there was a transformation in the idea of not conforming to the crowd and doing what everyone else was doing, Calaway said. He was transformed and was able to stand up and thats what hes doing now. Hes standing up, answering for his previous mistakes, and we are standing with him. FBI Agent Under Investigation for Withholding Exculpatory Information in TrumpRussia Probe WASHINGTONThe FBI is probing the alleged withholding of exculpatory information during the series of investigations into Donald Trump and his campaign known collectively as Crossfire Hurricane, it was revealed in federal court. Agent Curtis Heide said on the stand on May 24, during trial testimony, that hes being investigated as part of an internal FBI inquiry into Crossfire Hurricane for not including exculpatory information, or information that negates an allegation or allegations, in an application to the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. He described the information as various consensual recordings. George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign associate who was spied on by an FBI confidential source before the 2016 election, during an appearance on Fox News called the disclosure of the FBI probe an incredible twist. Did the FBI willfully take information that they knew was tainted to obtain these fraudulent warrants, or were they duped? he asked. The FBI received permission from the court just weeks before the 2016 election to spy on Carter Page, another Trump campaign associate. The bureau also received three renewals, which enabled it to keep spying on Page for months. Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz, an Obama appointee, investigated the four applications and found they were riddled with errors and omissions. That included citing portions of the discredited dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele despite not having verified the portions that were cited, and omitting that Page had worked as a CIA asset, which would have been exculpatory. Kevin Clinesmith, an FBI lawyer who worked on Crossfire Hurricane, was the first person charged by special counsel John Durham. Clinesmith admitted to doctoring an email from the CIA to change it from saying Page had been an asset to saying he hadnt been. Clinesmith received no jail time. Durham has since brought charges against two others, including former Hillary Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann. Heide was testifying during the trial of Sussmann, who was charged with lying to the FBI when he said he was bringing claims about Trump and Russia to the bureau on his own accord but later acknowledged he was doing so on behalf of a client. That is a serious allegation, that you intentionally withheld information that could help prove an individuals innocence, Sean Berkowitz, a lawyer for Sussmann, told Heide at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse. Heide denied under oath that he intentionally withheld exculpatory information from the surveillance court. A more recent audit uncovered widespread problems with the FBIs applications to the court, including the identification of 183 applications that had a missing or incomplete Woods file, a document meant to ensure the accuracy of statements. The FBI, which doesnt comment on ongoing investigations, stated after that audit was released that it has already made significant changes to how the applications are handled in light of the issues uncovered by Horowitzs office. John Haughey Follow John Haughey has been a working journalist since 1978 with an extensive background in local government, state legislatures, and growth and development. A graduate of the University of Wyoming, he is a Navy veteran who fought fires at sea during three deployments aboard USS Constellation. Hes been a reporter for daily newspapers in California, Washington, Wyoming, New York, and Florida; a staff writer for Manhattan-based business trade publications. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis holds press conference in The Villages and signs SB 7044 on April 19, 2022. (The Florida Channel/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Florida Lawmakers Deliver New Property Insurance Package to DeSantis PUNTA GORDA, Fla.Both chambers of the Florida legislature approved a new legislative package geared toward rising property insurance rates, created a $2 billion reinsurance fund. and wrote new rules around coverage denials and what attorneys are able to charge during litigation. As hurricane season looms, the measure now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantiss desk for approval. The Republican-controlled Senate voted 30-9 on May 24 for the property insurance bill SB-2-D and SB-4-D sponsored by Republican State Sen. Jim Boyd in the hope of lessening the upfront insurance costs for homeowners by lowering premiums and addressing roof repairs. Rep. Jay Trumbull sponsored the House versions HB 1D and HB 3D that passed 95-14 on May 25. Supporters said that it was a good first step in an effort to stabilize the market and attract insurance carriers back to Florida. Both Chambers signed their respective bills on May 25 and sent it to the governors office on May 26. The bill before us isnt perfect and doesnt purport to answer every question or solve every problem but offers a balanced solution, Trumbull said during the House hearing. Its a bill that fights fraud without disenfranchising consumers. It helps Floridas domestic insurance companies without rewarding corporate mismanagement. Its a bill that provides help for homeowners without endangering the stability of the insurance market. Opponents of the bill said it only bails out the industry without providing relief to homeowners from high premiums and canceled policies throughout the state. This is a milquetoast attempt at reform that fails to live up to the urgency of our moment, said Democratic Rep. Andrew Learned, at a press conference after the vote. This is a tiptoe in the right direction but make no mistakethis bill will not result in lower premiums. It will not prevent more Floridians from having their coverage drop when their insurance company goes under. And it wont change the underlying problem that storms are becoming more frequent and more severe because of climate change. A scene from a flooded neighborhood as Hurricane Sally passes through on Sept. 16, 2020, in Pensacola, Florida. The storm is bringing heavy rain, high winds and a dangerous storm surge to the area. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) In the bill is an extra $2 billion in reimbursements for reinsurance to assist policyholders for insurers to purchase insurance to help protect themselves from risk due to hurricane losses, which would allow insurers to participate in the Hurricane Catastrophe Fund before reaching the maximum claim payout. However, in order for an insurer to participate in the program it would have to reduce policy rates. Florida has on record approximately seven million homeowners who have continued to see their homeowners insurance rates double. The governor called a special session to address the issue that could help bring savings to homeowners but there were no guarantees it would work. The bills would prohibit insurers from denying coverage because of the age of a roof, if it is less than 15 years old. If the roof is older, homeowners would be allowed to obtain an inspection before they are denied coverage from an insurer. If the inspection finds that there are five years of life left, insurers cannot refuse to issue a policy solely based on the roofs age under the proposed legislation. In addition, if the roof has 25 percent or more of damage, but complies with building codes, it will only have to be repaired instead of being replaced under the building codes exemption that is created by the proposed legislation. An additional measure would allow grants up to $10,000 to retrofit homes so they are less susceptible to hurricane damage. In order to qualify, the property would have to have an insured value of $500,000 or less, be homesteaded, built before 2008, and in an area where wind speed from storms can exceed 140 mph. Property owners would obtain $2 from the state for every dollar they invest in mitigation improvements. Attorney fees are also limited in insurance-related cases, which some of the bills supporters say accounted for nine percent of all insurance claims filed nationally but almost 80 percent of all the property lawsuits. The proposed legislation will allow for more state oversight so regulators can spot trends, analyze reasons, and try to prevent future failure of insurers. DeSantiss proclamation for calling legislators back to Tallahassee said that since 2021, the insurance industry has had two years of underwriting losses that exceeded one billion each year and many insurance companies have either gone insolvent, required midterm cancelations, are in liquidation, or have stopped writing new business. Lawmakers also reached an agreement to include in the legislative package a measure to require that all condominiums more than three stories high have periodic inspections of their structural integritystatewide. This comes after the condominium collapse in Surfside that killed 98 people in June 2021. The partially collapsed Champlain Towers South residential building is demolished, in Surfside, Fla., on July 4, 2021. (Marco Bello/Reuters) Florida Gulf Coast University Professor of Economics Shelton Weeks told The Epoch Times that the insurance debacle didnt manifest in the past few months because businesses, even insurance companies must make a profit to stay in business. This didnt just start yesterday, Weeks said. Its been building and its one where we need not a patch; we need a long-term solution. In the summer of 2004, four strong hurricanes and one tropical storm hit Florida, resulting in massive property losses and putting a great strain on insurance companies. In 2006, a newly elected Gov. Charlie Crist and the legislature changed the property insurance laws constricting premiums that homeowners would pay to insurance companies. Weeks said that in the business world, a business is expected to make profits. And there are a lot of profits to be made in the insurance industry. If we want to have these financial services hereinsurance in our stateweve got to make sure that it is an environment that is friendly to their business model, he said. That doesnt mean we have to give the state away to them, we just have to give them opportunity. Weeks said that insurance companies look at Florida in terms of risk-return trade-off and know that if Florida does business correctly, those companies can be profitable operating in Florida. Another area of concern for the legislature that has caused a major shift in insurance companies raising rates and pulling out of the state altogether is fraudulent roof claims. Weeks said he was offered a free roof, from a reputable roofing company, but he did not take the bait. Nothing is for free, he said. Following (Hurricane) Irma, every other advertisement on television was a roofing company telling you that you needed to hurry and get your roof, and they would use the termat no cost to you. The cost to all us now is the situation that were in. Weeks said the roof claims are what got us here and that was the main driver of the rate hikes because of unscrupulous roofing contractors. Another portion of the bill would be to establish a temporary reinsurance fund that would depend on $2 billion in taxpayer money. Other changes call for restricting lawsuits filed against insurance companies while hindering insurers from refusing to renew or offer policies to homeowners with roofs that are less than 15 years old. Weeks explained that reinsurance is simply insurance for insurance companies. In coastal areas, they look at that and say Geez you know, if we get another Category five hurricane coming through here, that could wipe us out, he said. So, they buy insurance to cover that risk. Weeks said that the good news in all of this is that the problem has been on everybodys radar for a while and we have at least had conversations about it. The governor didnt just wake up out of the blue and say hey, we need to fix this, Weeks quipped. Theyve known that this is a serious issue. They (legislators), I guarantee you, know somebody thats been canceled. I mean, I was canceled. Florida lawmakers returned to Tallahassee on May 23 at the request of DeSantis who had called them back by proclamation on April 19, in order to address a troubled insurance market in the regular session that ended in March. Florida homeowners have been plagued by high rates, policy cancellations and insurance companies folding or moving out of the state leaving homeowners vulnerable as they face an upcoming hurricane season that begins on June 1. The logo of BT in an undated file photo. (BT/PA) French Bid for Prized BT Faces UK Government Probe The UK government is to deploy new call in laws to investigate the national security risks from the French telecoms group Altices 18 percent holding in BT. The probeordered by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwartengcomes just weeks before the investment vehicle controlled by French billionaire Patrick Drahi, 58, is allowed to make a takeover bid for the prized national asset. The business secretary has decided to call in the acquisition of shares by Altice of BT for a full national security assessment, the government said in a short statement. Altice is BTs biggest shareholder and increased its stake last December from 12.1 percent to 18 percent in what many analysts believe to be manoeuvre ahead of a full purchase coup for the French company. Under the new National Security and Investment Act, Kwarteng has the power to the green light the investment, impose certain conditions, or block it outright. He can also use the new law to stop a single investor from owning more than 25 percent in a business deemed to be of national significance. BT, formerly British Telecom, maintains the telephone cables and exchanges connecting nearly all UK homes and businesses to the broadband and telephone network through its Openreach operation. BTs Chief Executive Philip Jansen is overseeing a strategic investment plan aligned with government policy, and which will see 15 billion ($19 billion) spent on expanding BT Openreachs full-fibre broadband infrastructure network in the UK. In a brief statement, Kwartengs business department said it had 30 working days to assess the shareholding on national security grounds, and this can be extended by 45 days if required. After increasing his shareholding last year, Drahi was, under Takeover Panel rules, barred from bidding for BT for six months without the agreement of the telecoms groups board or a third party announcing an offer. At the time the government said it would not hesitate to act to protect Britains critical national infrastructure. A French-Israeli said to be worth 9 billion ($11 billion) with his fortune made in the telecoms sector, Drahis takeover bid ban expires in mid-June. The BT brand was introduced in 1980 and became independent of the nationalised Post Office in 1981. BT was a flagship sell off in 1984 under then Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatchers privation of state assets policy, becoming British Telecommunications plc with some 50 percent of its shares sold to investors. The UKs national security act came into force on Jan. 4 last year and grants the government greater power to scrutinise foreign takeovers of companies in sensitive industries. The probe into BT comes on the heels of the business departments probe of the takeover of Britains biggest microchip factory, Newport Wafer Fab, by a subsidiary of the Chinese smartphone manufacturer Wingtech Technology, Nexperia. Google Faces Fresh UK Competition Probe Over Potential Abuse of Ad Tech Dominance The UKs competition watchdog on Thursday launched a new investigation into Googles digital advertising businesses. The investigation, launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), will look into the tech giants practices in advertising technology intermediation, also known as the ad tech stack, a set of platforms and tools needed to facilitate the sale of online advertising space between advertisers and content publishers. According to the CMA, UK advertisers spent around 1.8 billion on such digital advertising in 2019. The watchdog said Google has a strong position at various different levels of this space, providing a wide range of services including platforms where advertisers can buy online advertising space, technology that automates the sale of advertising space, and those for managing ad inventories for publishers, which decide which ads to show. The range of services Google offers means it deals with and charges fees to both ad sellers and buyers. The CMA said it will assess whether Google had distorted competition by practices such as limiting the interoperability of its ad exchange with third-party publisher ad servers and/or contractually tied these services together, making it more difficult for rival ad servers to compete. The watchdog also said its concerned that Google may have used its publisher ad server and its Demand-side platforms to benefit its own ad exchange services and exclude competition. Andrea Coscelli, the CMAs chief executive, said, Were worried that Google may be using its position in ad tech to favour its own services to the detriment of its rivals, of its customers and ultimately of consumers. This would be bad for the millions of people who enjoy access to a wealth of free information online every day. Weakening competition in this area could reduce the ad revenues of publishers, who may be forced to compromise the quality of their content to cut costs or put their content behind paywalls. It may also be raising costs for advertisers which are passed on through higher prices for advertised goods and services. Its vital that we continue to scrutinise the behaviour of the tech firms which loom large over our lives and ensure the best outcomes for people and businesses throughout the UK. In response, a Google spokesperson said: Advertising tools from Google and many competitors help websites and apps fund their content, and help businesses of all sizes effectively reach their customers. Googles tools alone have supported an estimated 55 billion in economic activity for over 700,000 businesses in the UK and when publishers choose to use our advertising services, they keep the majority of revenue. We will continue to work with the CMA to answer their questions and share the details on how our systems work. PA Media contributed to this report. Members of the "Not [Expletive} Around Coalition" (NFAC), an all-black militia, march during a rally to protest the killing of Breonna Taylor, in Louisville, Ky., on July 25, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Dean/AFP via Getty Images) Government Rests Its Case Against All-Black Militias Leader LOUISVILLE, Ky.The U.S. government wrapped up its case against all-black militia leader John Johnson on May 26 with the testimony of FBI special agent Andrew Phillips, who led the investigation against the defendant. Johnson is accused of pointing his AR-15 rifle at law enforcement officers during a Sept. 4, 2020, protest in Louisville, Kentucky. His defense attorney, Donald Meier, has argued since the trial began on May 23 that Johnson was simply using a tactical flashlight attached to the rifle. At the heart of the dispute are two roughly 30-second surveillance videos, each showing Johnson exiting a vehicle with other members of his Not [Expletive] Around Coalition (NFAC), turning on the tactical flashlight, then pointing toward a rooftop before returning the weapon to his side and continuing to walk. Phillips said on May 26 that when he reviewed the surveillance footage of the incident, he determined that Johnson was threatening the lives of five officers standing on the rooftop. After discussing the matter with FBI supervisors, Phillips said the bureau opened an investigation into Johnson in mid-September 2020. The probe culminated on Dec. 3, 2020, with law enforcement knocking down the door of Johnsons Cincinnati townhome with an armored vehicle in an early morning raid. Phillips said law enforcement flew a drone inside Johnsons home after knocking down the door and that the defendant appeared voluntarily about 10 minutes later. Johnson agreed to participate in an interview that lasted three hours, Phillips said. Prosecutor Josh Judd played about 20 minutes of audio recordings from the interview. Johnson and Phillips could be heard discussing the Sept. 4, 2020, incident. We were illuminating the building, Johnson told Phillips in the Dec. 3, 2020, interview. Youve got a weapon shouldered, and your finger is on the trigger, Phillips said. Johnson disagreed. I would never put my finger on the trigger while using that light. Johnson said he heard reports of people shooting paintball guns at protesters from rooftops. When someone in his group said there were people on the roof, he shined his light up there to see who it was. Johnson said he didnt know the people on the rooftop were law enforcement officers. That was not the intended target. I was not aware there were officers involved, he said in the interview. Johnson conceded in the interview that his actions were reckless and that he, a resident of Ohio, wouldnt have pointed his rifle at the rooftop had he been familiar with the citys layout. On cross-examination, defense attorney Meier criticized Phillips for not telling Johnson specifically why he was being interviewed until more than an hour into the questioning. While Phillips read Johnson his Miranda rights and told him the federal statute he was accused of violating, the FBI agent didnt specify the incident at which the alleged offense took place, according to Meier. Phillips said he was employing a specific interview tactic. I wanted to talk generally about nine-four [Sept. 4, 2020], but I needed to explore his whole story, he said, explaining that he talked to Johnson extensively about his military background at first. Nine-four [Sept. 4, 2020] is like the 10th chapter of a book. Meier also questioned why the FBI waited for about three months after the incident to arrest his client. Phillips said he was still building his case against Johnson during that time. The defense attorney further noted that Johnson returned to Louisville on Oct. 6, 2020, for a dinner hosted by Louisville Metro Police veteran Yvette Gentry, who was to be sworn in as interim police chief at the time. No plan to arrest him then? Meier asked the FBI agent. No, Phillips responded. I needed to do additional investigation. After Meiers cross-examination, Judd said the government has no further witnesses. While Meier has indicated that Johnson may take the stand, on May 26 he said that decision hadnt been finalized. Johnson faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of aiming his rifle at law enforcement officers with the intent of assaulting or intimidating them. Teenagers protest against gun laws during the student-organized March for Our Lives rally in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 24, 2018. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images) Gun Control Advocacy Group Plans Nationwide Protests After Texas School Shooting A student-led gun control advocacy group is planning nationwide protests in the wake of the Texas elementary school shooting that claimed the lives of 19 children this week. According to its website, March for Our Lives is planning to take to the streets of Washington, D.C. on June 11. The group also has several other marches planned in various parts of the country spanning from San Francisco and Michigan to South Carolina, on a number of dates. There will also be a protest at the convention center where the National Rifle Association (NRA) is hosting a conference in Houston, Texas on May 27. The convention center is roughly 300 miles from the scene of the deadly shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24. Organizers are also calling on activists to join them at Capitol Hill from June 7 to 10 where they will be discussing a push for universal background checks on gun purchasers with lawmakers. A bill requiring them, titled the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, or H.R. 8, passed the House in March 2021 but the Republican-controlled Senate has not taken it up. Our message and ask is simple: no longer will we be held hostage by our lawmakers and no longer will we tolerate feeling unsafe in our communities, the group wrote on the website. Regardless of what party you stand for, if you do not support lifesaving measures like universal background checks, we will pledge to vote against you this fall and in future elections. March for Our Lives was founded in 2018 following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, during which a gunman killed 17 people. The group organized one of the largest protests against gun violence in U.S. history. March for Our Lives says it believes gun violence across the country is the result of gun glorification, political apathy, poverty, armed supremacy, and a nationwide mental health crisis. The group proposes proactively addressing these issues while banning assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and other weapons; and holding the gun industry and lobbyists more accountable. It also advocates policies to disarm gun owners who pose a harm risk, and a national gun buy-back program to reduce the estimated 265393 million firearms in circulation by at least 30 percent. President [Joe] Biden and all our elected officials must act with a fierce urgency to call this crisis what it is: a national public health emergency, the group states on its website. Biden condemned gun laws in America in a White House address on Wednesday following the Texas school shooting, while advocating for limitations on constitutionally protected gun rights and for lawmakers to stand up to a very powerful gun lobby. When in Gods name will we do what needs to be done to, if not completely stop, fundamentally change the amount of the carnage that goes on in this country? Biden said. While they clearly will not prevent every tragedy, we know certain ones will have a significant impact and have no negative impact on the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment is not absolute, he added. When it was passed, you couldnt own a cannon, you couldnt own certain kinds of weapons. Salvador Ramos, 18, allegedly shot his grandmother on May 24 before driving toward Robb Elementary School in Uvalde and opening fire on the campus, killing 19 children and two adults. The gunman was shot and killed by law enforcement officers. An empty street is seen in the normally bustling bar and restaurant district of SoHo in Hong Kong on March 8, 2022. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images) Hong Kongs GDP Shrinks by 4 Percent in Q1, Full-Year Economic Growth Forecast Halved Hong Kongs economy contracted by 4 percent in the first quarter, disrupting the growth trend of the previous four quarters. The Hong Kong government adjusted its full-year economic growth forecast to nearly half of the original forecast. The economic contraction coincided with a sharp rise in the unemployment rate to 5.4 percent, the highest level since June last year. Some analysts expect the unemployment rate to deteriorate further. A survey showed that the Hong Kong government followed the mainlands Zero-COVID Policy and imposed strict travel restrictions and other measures that affected market sentiment and also presented challenges for Hong Kong businesses. On May 13, the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department released the first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP). Hong Kongs real GDP contracted by 4 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, real GDP fell by 3.0 percent. During the period, the overall export of goods deteriorated sharply, falling by 4.5 percent year-on-year in real terms. Exports to the mainland have fallen sharply, while export growth to Europe, America and the rest of Asia is also slowing down. In addition, exports of services contracted by 2.8 percent year-on-year in real terms. The report shows that domestic demand in Hong Kong has also weakened significantly. The sharp drop in market traffic, coupled with the deteriorating labor market conditions, turned private consumption expenditure to a year-on-year decline of 5.5 percent in real terms. At the same time, business sentiment deteriorated, the year-on-year decline in overall investment expenditure widened to 8.4 percent in real terms. The report pointed out that the worsening global economic outlook in the future may continue to affect Hong Kongs export performance. Factors such as the situation in Ukraine, the evolution of the global pandemic, and Sino-U.S. relations have also added uncertainty. Chen Maobo Expects Unemployment Rate to Worsen Hong Kong Financial Secretary Chen Maobo said in a blog on April 15 that due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, economic data in April is expected to remain weak, and he decided to lower the annual economic growth forecast from 2-3.5 percent to 1-2 percent. While the Hong Kong economy is contracting, the unemployment rate has risen significantly. The Census and Statistics Department announced on May 19 that the unemployment rate in Hong Kong from February to April was 5.4 percent, an increase of 0.4 percentage points from the unemployment rate from January to March and the highest level since June 2021. Over the same period, the underemployment rate rose to 3.8 percent from 3.1 percent. During the period, the unemployment rate in some industries increased significantly. The unemployment rate in the food service activities industry rose by 1.9 percent to 12.9 percent, and in the retail industry rose by 0.6 percentage points to 8.3 percent. Chen Maobo said that the latest unemployment rate published is from February to April, and the numbers can be expected to deteriorate further as a reflection of the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak. Businesses Face Challenges Due to Hong Kongs Strict Anti-Epidemic Measures According to a survey, the Hong Kong government followed the mainlands Zero-Covid policy and implemented strict travel and social distancing restrictions, which affected market sentiment and made challenges for Hong Kong businesses. The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong said in its 2022 Business Confidence Survey that Hong Kong still has business opportunities, but a number of issues, notably strict travel restrictions and deteriorating U.S.-China relations, caused stress on market sentiment. The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong surveyed 151 business representatives and 111 individual members from Sept. 10 to Oct. 8, 2021. According to the survey, 60 percent of respondents regarded international travel restrictions as a major business challenge, surpassing the concerns of Sino-U.S. relations (44 percent) and the pandemic (40 percent); 35 percent of respondents believe that legal and regulatory inconsistencies are the main challenges they face, with political uncertainty (32 percent) also cited as a main business challenge. The report pointed out that Hong Kongs strict pandemic control policies are weakening its attractiveness as a global financial center. In addition, the survey shows that both corporate and individual members of the American Chamber of Commerce are increasingly pessimistic about the rule of law in Hong Kong, and corporate members are particularly concerned about this. More than 8 out of 10 companies are affected by Hong Kongs National Security Law. Nearly half of businesses believe that employee morale has been affected and report that employees have migrated as a result. Husband of Teacher Slain in Texas Attack Dies of Broken Heart: Family The husband of one of the teachers slain in the mass shooting at a Texas elementary school this week died on May 26 from an apparent heart attack, family members said. Joe Garcia, the husband of Irma Garcia, tragically passed away this morning as a result of a medical emergency, Debra Austin, Irma Garcias cousin, wrote on GoFundMe. I truly believe Joe died of a broken heart, and losing the love of his life of more than 25 years was too much to bear. According to the teachers official biography, the Garcias had been married for 24 years and had four children. I love to BBQ with my husband, listen to music, and take country cruises to Concan, Irma Garcia wrote in the bio. Family members took to social media to lament the newest loss. Lord god please on our family, my [tias] husband passed away this morning due to a heart attack at home, Joey, one of Irma Garcias nephews, wrote on Twitter. Joe Garcia visited a memorial for his wife in the morning on May 26 to drop off flowers, and when he returned home, he pretty much just fell over, John Martinez, another nephew, told The New York Times. Im really in shock right now, he added. Uvalde residents attend a community prayer evening held the day after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School that killed 19 children and 2 teachers, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 25, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Martinez said on Twitter that Irma and Joe Garcia were high school sweethearts and leave behind children aged 13, 15, 19, and 23. No child should have to go through this. My heart breaks for them, he said. Irma Garcia and Eva Mireles, another teacher at Robb Elementary School, and 19 children were killed on May 24 by a shooter identified by authorities as Salvador Ramos, 18. Ramos was killed by officers, according to Texas authorities. Family members have said Garcia and Mireles died trying to protect their students. Garcia sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom, according to Martinez. Adalynn Ruiz, Mireless daughter, said on Facebook that her mother selflessly jumped in front of her students to save their lives. Mom, I have no words to describe how I feel right now, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life, Ruiz wrote. Mom, you are a hero. I keep telling myself that this isnt real. I just want to hear your voice. A Border Patrol agent pulls tires behind his vehicle to smooth out the road to make detecting footprints easier near Naco in Cochise County, Ariz., on Dec. 6, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Illegal Border Crossings Are an Invasion Leading to More Drugs, Crime: Arizona House Republicans Proclamation Issued Denouncing Continued Breach of Southern Border Arizona House Republicans called for securing the southern border in an official legislative proclamation, sponsored by state Rep. Gail Griffin and signed by all 31 members of the Republican majority caucus. The proclamation (pdf), published on May 25, condemned the continued breach of the border, expressed support for safe communities, and endorsed immediate, decisive action to secure the border and alleviate the security and humanitarian crises which are associated with illegal immigration. The proclamation seconded the opinion of Mark Brnovich, the Attorney General of Arizona, who had earlier referred to the crossing of illegal aliens into the United States as an invasion. Earlier this year, our office issued a legal opinion determining the current crisis at Arizonas southern border, fueled by violence & lawlessness of cartels and gangs, legally qualifies as an invasion under the Constitution. Thanks to @AZHouseGOP for highlighting our efforts, Brnovich wrote in a tweet on May 25. The GOP announcement said there was a 379 percent increase in border encounters during the past fiscal year when compared to the prior year. Similarly, there was a substantial growth in the number of apprehensions, expulsions, and getaways, with 1 million encounters and 300,000 getaways between Oct. 1, 2021, and April 11, 2022. A getaway is an illegal immigrant who is observed crossing the border but is not apprehended and does not turn back to Mexico. In March 2022, Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels said that officials captured more than 7,000 illegal immigrants who attempted to escape. Two years ago, that number was a manageable 400 per month, Dannels told members of Congress during an April 6 House hearing. These 1.7 million individuals represent 164 countries, including countries with suspected terrorist ties, and 63 percent of them are from countries other than Mexico, the proclamation stated. Minors made up 8 percent, or 136,000 of the 1.7 million encounters during the last fiscal year. After crossing the border, the proclamation noted, the smuggled individuals would begin a life of servitudeincluding drug distribution, modern-day slavery, and sex traffickingto pay back the Mexican and South American cartels that helped them. The cartels make use of young people, some as young as fourteen years old, to transport the illegals by vehicle to Tucson or Phoenix. Drivers are recruited via social media platforms and paid $1,500 to $2,000 for every person they transport. Besides this, a porous border allows the flow of illicit drugs into the country. In the past fiscal year, the number of illegal drugs seized has skyrocketed, including 10,000 pounds of fentanyl, 180,000 pounds of methamphetamine, 86,000 pounds of cocaine, 5,000 pounds of heroin and 311,000 pounds of marijuana. Along with the drugs and illegal aliens, there has been an uptick in criminal activity with law enforcement documenting 60 homicides, 1,178 assaults, 2,138 drug-related or drug trafficking arrests, 825 burglaries, 1,629 DUIs, 336 weapons arrests and 488 sexual assaults. The GOP announcement stressed the threat faced by local communities as well as innocent American citizens, and mentioned the halted southern border wall construction, which has numerous unfinished sections in Arizona. Several state attorneys general, including Arizonas Brnovich, sued the Biden administration in April for changing immigration policies established by Congress. The rule change gives unprecedented authority to asylum officers within the Department of Homeland Security, instead of federal immigration judges, to grant asylum to migrants outright. This is nothing more than a radical attempt to set up a system that encourages illegal immigration and undermines the rule of law, Brnovich said. Jack Dorsey, then-CEO of Twitter, attends the crypto-currency conference Bitcoin 2021 Convention at the Mana Convention Center in Miami on June 4, 2021. (Marco Bello/AFP via Getty Images) Jack Dorsey Steps Down from Twitter Board Twitters former CEO Jack Dorsey has reportedly stepped down effective immediately from his seat on the social media platforms board after a stakeholder meeting on Wednesday. The move was expected after Twitter shared back in November that Dorsey would leave the board when his term expired at the 2022 meeting of stockholders, a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement obtained by The Hill. This comes amid the Twitter takeover bid of billionaire Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk. That deal was temporarily put on hold before Musk said he wants to slash his initial $44 billion takeover offer until there is more clarity on the websites spam bots. Dorsey has been supportive of Musks takeover and critical of the companys board. In April, Dorsey responded to a post on Twitter by a person who claimed they witnessed plots and coups by board members, particularly among the founders. Its consistently been the dysfunction of the company, Dorsey replied. Dorsey, who helped found Twitter in 2006, stood down as CEO in November last year, saying he decided to leave because I believe the company is ready to move on from its founders. He handed the reins to the companys chief technology officer, Parag Agrawal, on Nov. 29, 2021. My trust in Parag as Twitters CEO is deep. His work over the past 10 years has been transformational. Im deeply grateful for his skill, heart, and soul. Its his time to lead. Dorsey, who survived an attempt to oust him in 2020 by Twitter stakeholder Elliott Management, took ownership of the decision to resign but said it was a tough one for me. In seeking to take over Twitter, Musk has declared his intention to make it a bastion of free speech. Dorsey, who has previously faced significant criticism from conservatives and free speech proponents after the platform banned President Donald Trump in January 2021, has thrown his full support behind Musk. Dorsey in May agreed with comments made by Musk that he would overturn Trumps permanent ban, saying it was a mistake in the first place. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) speaks during the House Judiciary Committee hearing on Policing Practices and Law Enforcement Accountability at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on June 10, 2020. (Michael Reynolds/Getty Images) Jan. 6 Commission Subpoena Is Political Vendetta Disregarding House Rules: Rep. Jim Jordan Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) responded to a subpoena from the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach by characterizing it as political vendetta, pointing to the committees doctoring and misrepresentation of nonpublic information and listing some of his demands in return. Jordan contested the validity and constitutionality of the congressional subpoena and reiterated that he carries no relevant information that would advance any legitimate legislative purpose, in the six-page May 25 letter (pdf) addressed to Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chairman of the committee. Jordan is one of the five Republican members subpoenaed by the House committee on May 12. The subpoena notes that Jordan was in communication with President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, and participated in strategy discussions for overturning the 2020 election. I had no responsibility for the security of the Capitol Complex on January 6, Jordan said in his letter. I had no role in or advance knowledge that violence would occur that day, and I publicly condemned the violence and encouraged support for the U.S. Capitol Police. Jordan said that the Select Committee violated House rules by selectively targeting political adversaries, disregarding civil liberties of witnesses, and noted how Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) misrepresented nonpublic information through doctoring a text message forwarded by Jordan to former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. The committee was forced to admit the alteration but had failed to provide explanations or apologies. Besides this, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) falsely attributed a second text messagesuggesting that Vice President Mike Pence could reject the election resultsto a lawmaker when it was not sent by any member of Congress. Jordan said that in light of such misleading activities, he did not have confidence that the committee would accurately represent any information I could provide. The committee went against the rules of the House when it failed to consult with the ranking minority member while ordering a deposition, according to Jordan. Furthermore, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) did not appoint committee members in agreement with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), which resulted in a violation of rules. Jordan said the committee mischaracterized his constitutional oversight activities concerning election integrity, which he had been expressing well before the 2020 election, and claimed that the subpoenas were leaked to the press before being publicly announced or properly served. Due to the unprecedented use of a committees compulsory authority, Jordan requested some material before responding to the subpoena. This includes all documents, videos, and other materials in the committees possession that can be used during questioning. Jordan requested this owing to the committee withholding specific information which he says goes against the official Democratic narrative about Jan. 6. He also requested all material with his name to be presented because the committee had earlier altered and publicly misrepresented information regarding Jordan. Finally, Jordan challenged the authority of the committee to issue such a subpoena and asked them to submit legal analyses pertaining to the constitutionality of a non-ethics congressional subpoena to a Member of Congress. Since there is little historical precedent for Congress to issue a subpoena against its own members, the issue will likely face the courts before the congressmen, including McCarthy and Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Scott Perry (R-Pa.), and Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) are required to comply. I stand with immense respect for our Constitution, the Rule of Law, and the Americans I represent who know that this entity is illegitimate, and not duly constituted under the rules of the US House of Representatives, Scott Perry (R-Pa.) said in a Twitter thread, regarding an earlier request for voluntary cooperation. Former President Donald Trump speaks during the American Freedom Tour at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas, on May 14, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Judge Strikes Email, Testimony Suggesting Trump-Russia Claims May Have Been Fabricated WASHINGTONTestimony that suggested the Donald Trump-Russia claims given to the FBI by a Hillary Clinton lawyer may have been fabricated will be struck from the record, along with mention of the email that triggered the testimony, a judge has ruled. On Tuesday, FBI agent Curtis Heide was presented with an email sent by Rodney Joffe to researchers with the Georgia Institute of Technology dated Sept. 14, 2016. Joffe discussed one of the white papers Michael Sussmann, a lawyer representing both Joffe and the Clinton campaign, later handed over to the FBI alleging a secret link between Trump and a Russian bank. Please read as if you had no prior knowledge or involvement, and you were handed this document as a security expert (NOT a DNS expert) and were asked: Is this plausible as an explanation?' Joffe wrote. NOT to be able to say that this is, without doubt, but to merely be plausible. DNS stands for Domain Name System, or the type of information that Joffe and the researchers said linked Russias Alfa Bank and Trumps business in the papers they compiled. Sussmann gave those papers to the FBI shortly after the September email. Asked about the language in the message, Heide said that it appears, from this email, that this report may have been fabricated. Sean Berkowitz, a defense lawyer, said while the jury was out of the room that the answer was prejudicial to his client. I did not want to draw attention to it. But given the parameters of the courts prior ruling and the way that they went through that, I think that was improper to elicit, and nonresponsive, Berkowitz said. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper. (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia) Jonathan Algor, a prosecutor with special counsel John Durhams team, said asking Heide about the email was legitimate because it followed a series of questions from the defense about David Dagon, one of the researchers Joffe emailed, and the source for the paper in question. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, the Obama appointee overseeing Sussmanns case, on May 24 ordered Heides quote struck from the record. His justification was that the answer was at odds with his earlier ruling that prosecutors could not delve into whether the data was concocted or spoofed because Sussmann was said to not be involved in the research itself. On Wednesday, Cooper said the email itself can no longer be an exhibit. Cooper had allowed the document to be admitted because he said it was not hearsay since it had a statement and a question. Berkowitz, Sussmanns lawyer, argued the fabrication quote from Heide had been reported by some media outlets and the only remedy would be to strike all mention of the email in addition to the email itself, as well as forbid prosecutors from bringing it up again. We think the probative value of that document at this stage is minimal, and I expect that if it is published to the jury and used in any way, the jurors will associate it with the fabrication comment, he said. While the bell can never be unrung, jurors should not be reminded of the email and the comment, he added. DeFilippis noted that the court had cleared the document before prosecutors presented it to Heide. He also said prosecutors had never shown Heide the email prior to when it was presented, and did not anticipate that he was going to speculate that it could be fabricated. So we think the appropriate remedy here, Your Honor, is to cut off the responsethe speculationbut not the document itself, which is highly probative because of when it was sentjust days before Sussmann met with Baker, and on the same day Sussmann billed the Clinton campaign for drafting a white paper. Cooper sided with the defense, citing how Joffe and the three researchers he emailed have not testified in the trial. Dagon and colleague Manos Antonakakis were on the prosecution witness list, but were never called. According to the judge, that means there is no basis to admit the document. He said the government, which has spent years on the investigation, had plenty of time to interview the researchers and call them as witnesses. Cooper previously barred prosecutors from introducing emails from Fusion GPS, a firm that specializes in opposition research. Fusion operatives helped promote the Alfa Bank-Trump allegations to media outlets, and were part of the team that compiled the Trump-Russia dossier known as the Steele dossier. He also turned down a request from prosecutors to introduce other messages, including one that featured Joffe saying he was promised a position in the U.S. government if Clinton won the 2016 election. The string of unfavorable rulings for the prosecution has led some legal observers to say the treatment of Sussmann differs from past high-profile cases, such as that against Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn. While the judge in Flynns case was eager to remove obstacles from the prosecutions path, the judge in Sussmanns case seems to have created a virtual obstacle course for Durham, Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, said in a recent op-ed. Durham may be able to jump the legal hurdles, but he will do so without much of his evidence. To paraphrase Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities, for a prosecutor D.C. can be the best of venues or it can be the worst of venues. John Haughey Follow John Haughey has been a working journalist since 1978 with an extensive background in local government, state legislatures, and growth and development. A graduate of the University of Wyoming, he is a Navy veteran who fought fires at sea during three deployments aboard USS Constellation. Hes been a reporter for daily newspapers in California, Washington, Wyoming, New York, and Florida; a staff writer for Manhattan-based business trade publications. Children recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of the school day at the federally-funded Head Start school in Woodbourne, New York. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) Judge Tosses Racial Justice Activists Bid to End NYC Gifted & Talented Program New York State Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to end New York Citys Gifted & Talented (G&T) programs for young children, which a racial justice advocacy group accused of exacerbating racial segregation in the city. The March 2021 suit was brought against New York City in March 2021 by youth group IntegrateNYC on behalf of 13 students, who claimed to be victims of what they called a caste system reinforced by the citys public education system. The suing students wanted the court to eliminate the citys G&T programs that offer accelerated education and additional resources for high-performing public school students in grades K through 5. They argued that the programs, while enrolling many white and Asian students, unfairly excluded their black and Latinx peers who didnt perform so well in the high-stake entrance exams. The demographics of the Citys G&T programs reflect disparate familial resources, enrolling predominantly white and certain Asian students, the complaint (pdf) read. Having identified so-called gifted students, the City has set them apart from their classmates in general education, who are predominantly Black and Latinx. Among other demands were the ban on admission screenings to middle and high school, the adoption of critical race theory-inspired culturally responsive-sustaining education, and the implementation of racial hiring quotas. In his May 24 decision, Justice Frank Nervo threw out the entire case, noting that its not the courts job to set education policies. The petition improperly seeks, inter alia, this Court to make educational policy by directing respondents take certain actions regarding curriculum content, testing content, employment diversity, employment policies, admission policies, and disciplinary policies, among others, Nervo wrote. The legislature, not the judiciary, is the proper branch of government to hear petitioners prayers, he concluded. The decision was applauded by parental rights and civil rights groups that advocate against racial discrimination in schools, including Parent Defending Education (PDE)which intervened in the case as a defendantand the Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York (CACAGNY). Judge Nervo found that the plaintiffs sought to force the courts to make education policywhich is a wholly inappropriate role for the judiciary, said PDE president Nicole Neily. We are pleased by the courts decision, and hope that other activists realize that policy reform must occur through the legislative processnot by executive or judicial fiat. Fearing that NYC and NYS may not defend themselves vigorously, woke administrations have engaged in sue-and-settle conspiracies with their activist allies increasingly often around the country, the CACAGNY said, noting that the activists could still appeal the case to the New York Court of Appeals, the states highest court. The decision comes as tens of thousands of families in New York City prepare to apply for the newly expanded G&T programs, which will open applications on May 31. In April, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that there would be another 100 kindergarten G&T seats added to the existing 2,400. The city will also add 1,000 seats in the G&T classes in grade 3, open to the top 10 percent of 2nd graders at each school based on teacher-given grades. However, the entrance exam, which has phased out near the end of the Bill de Blasio era, will not come back. Instead, students will be admitted on the basis of teacher recommendations and teacher-given grades, and then will enter a lottery. The CACAGNY said this is a tactic used by woke education bureaucrats to pursue racial equity, or same outcome among different racial groups, at the expense of academic excellence. The woke use this one-two punch of debased initial qualifications followed by lotteries to nullify G&T programs, magnet schools, even AP courses around the country, the CACAGNY warned. Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally in Delaware, Ohio, on April 23, 2022. (Gaelen Morse/Reuters) Judges Rule Trump, Children Must Testify in New York Investigation Former President Donald Trump and two of his children must testify in the investigation headed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a panel of judges ruled on May 26. The panel of New York Supreme Court justices said the Trumps hadnt proven that they were treated differently from any similarly situated persons, rejecting arguments that the Trumps were politically targeted by James, a Democrat who campaigned on the promise to investigate Trump. The political campaign and other public statements made by [James] about appellants do not support the claim that [James office] initiated, or is using, the subpoenas in this civil investigation to obtain testimony solely for use in a criminal proceeding or in a manner that would otherwise improperly undermine appellants privilege against self-incrimination, the panel stated. The justices also said that because theres no indication that James was going to grant immunity to the Trumps to secure their testimony, the subpoenas she issued didnt frustrate any right to testify with immunity. The panel consisted of Justices Rolando Acosta, a David Paterson appointee; and Anil Singh, Peter Moulton, and Tanya Kennedy, all Andrew Cuomo appointees. A lawyer for Trump didnt respond by press time to a request for comment. New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference in Manhattan in New York on May 21, 2021. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) The decision, which upheld an earlier ruling from New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron, could be appealed to the New York Court of Appeals. In an appeal on Feb. 28, Trump asked justices to overturn or stay Engorons order, which rejected a bid to quash the subpoenas. The appeal stated that Jamess office was violating the rights of the Trumps because its a law enforcement agency participating in a criminal prosecution of them at the same time that its seeking their testimony in the case in question, which is a civil suit. Lawyers for Trump also alleged that James was engaged in impermissible selective prosecution against the Trumps. James is investigating The Trump Organization, a Trump family business. She has said that she found indications that the companys financial documents contain material misstatements and omissions and said getting answers from Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump would help determine who was responsible for the issues. Once again, the courts have ruled that Donald Trump must comply with our lawful investigation into his financial dealings, James said in a statement after the new ruling. We will continue to follow the facts of this case and ensure that no one can evade the law. The sign for a Wendys restaurant is seen in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on Jan. 8, 2002. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Largest Shareholder of Wendys Exploring Buying Fast Food Chain Amid Rising Costs Fast-food chain Wendys may be up for sale as the restaurant struggles with rising commodity and labor costs. According to a May 24 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, The Wendys Company Chairman Nelson Peltz said that his management fund, Trian Partners, wants to explore a possible sale or merger for the restaurant chain. Trian Fund Management owns 19 percent of the company and is the largest shareholder. Such a potential transaction could include an acquisition, business combination such as a merger or other transaction that would result in the acquisition of control of the company by the filing persons, the Schedule 13D/A states. In a statement posted to its website on May 24, Wendys said its board of directors would carefully consider any proposals submitted by Trian Partners consistent with its fiduciary duties. The Wendys Companys Board of Directors and management team regularly review the Companys strategic priorities and opportunities with the goal of maximizing the value for all stockholders, the company said in a statement. Our board is committed to continuing to act in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The move by Peltz, who has been a director at the company since 2008, saw Wendys stocks jump 15 percent in after-hours trading on May 25. Stocks are currently trading up 9.77 percent. Wendys said in its first-quarter earnings report earlier in May that it experienced 4.2 percent global sales growth for the first three months of 2022, down from 12.5 percent growth for the same period in 2021. The company reported global sales of approximately $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2022, up from $2.951 million in sales in 2021. However, the company noted that it had experienced higher operating costs tied to increased commodity and labor costs, and the impact of its investment toward opening 50 restaurants in the United Kingdom this year. Net income fell to $37.4 million in the first quarter, down nearly 10 percent compared to the same period last year. We had one of our best quarters in our history for unit growth, with over 90 new restaurant openings, and are on track to reach our planned net unit growth goal of 5 to 6 percent for the year, President and CEO Todd Penegor said during the earnings call. Penegor also noted that the fast-food chain was well-positioned to win in this volatile environment, thanks to the strong franchisee alignment behind its strategies and a strengthened balance sheet with the successful debt raise transaction we recently completed. With sustained focus on executing against our key priorities, we are confident we will achieve our vision of becoming the worlds most thriving and beloved restaurant brand. Wendys was founded by Dave Thomas in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969. The company has approximately 7,000 restaurants worldwide. President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (C) raises hands with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, left, and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco during his proclamation at the House of Representatives, Quezon City, Philippines, on May 25, 2022. (Aaron Favila/AP Photo) Marcos Jr Proclaimed Next Philippine President With Huge Win MANILA, PhilippinesFerdinand Marcos Jr. was proclaimed the next president of the Philippines by a joint session of Congress on Wednesday following a landslide election triumph 36 years after his dictator father was ousted in a pro-democracy uprising. The Senate and House of Representatives also declared that his separately elected vice presidential running mate, Sara Duterte, had won by a wide margin. She is the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, whose six-year term ends on June 30. With his 92-year-old mother, Imelda Marcos, his wife, family, and siblings beside him, Marcos Jr.s hands were raised by the Senate president and House speaker in a plenary hall bedecked with a huge Philippine flag to applause from the audience, which included diplomats. Im humbled, he later told reporters. I thank our people and, beyond that, I promise you that we may not be perfect but we will always strive to perfection. I ask you all pray for me, wish me well. I want to do well because when the president does well, the country does well, he said, without taking any questions. Marcos Jr., a 64-year-old former governor, congressman, and senator, has refused to acknowledge or apologize for massive human rights violations and plunder under his fathers rule and has defended his legacy. When they take office, Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte will likely face demands to prosecute her father over thousands of killings of mostly poor suspects under his yearslong crackdown on illegal drugs. The deaths are currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court. Marcos Jr. received more than 31 million votes and Sara Duterte more than 32 million out of more than 55 million votes cast in the election. It was the first majority presidential victory in the Asian democracy in decades. During the campaign, they avoided controversial issues and focused on a call for national unity, although their fathers presidencies opened some of the most volatile divisions in the countrys history. Marcos Jr. appealed to be judged not by my ancestors, but by my actions. Sen. Imee Marcos, his sister, thanked those who voted for him after what she described as decades of ridicule and oppression. Were very, very grateful for a second chance, she told reporters before the proclamation. Our family went through a lot and after 1986, we faced all sorts of cases, ridicule and oppression for nearly four decades. In Marcos Jr.s campaign headquarters, supporters waved Philippine flags, flashed the victory sign, and held a streamer congratulating him and Sara Duterte. Still, both have been hounded by their fathers reputations. Riot police used a water cannon and shields to prevent a few hundred activists from marching to Congress to oppose Wednesdays proclamations, injuring at least 14 protesters, the left-wing group Bayan said. Police disperse activists protesting against the upcoming proclamation of presidential frontrunner Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. and running mate Sara Duterte, daughter of the current president, during a rally at the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippine, on May 25, 2022. (Basilio Sepe/AP Photo) Ferdinand Sr. tortured a lot of people, many were killed and many are still missing up to now. There is no justice for their families. Many starved and that was also the same in Dutertes period, protester Mimi Domingo said. Last week, human rights activists submitted a petition to the Supreme Court against Marcos Jr.s eligibility, citing his past tax conviction. They asked the court to block his proclamation, but no such order was issued. The complaint was earlier dismissed by the Commission on Elections. His father was forced from power by a largely peaceful People Power uprising in 1986 and died in 1989 while in exile in Hawaii without admitting any wrongdoing, including accusations that he, his family, and cronies amassed an estimated $5 billion to $10 billion while he was in power. A Hawaii court later found him liable for human rights violations and awarded $2 billion from his estate to compensate more than 9,000 Filipinos who filed a lawsuit against him for torture, incarceration, extrajudicial killings, and disappearances. Imelda Marcos and her children were allowed to return to the Philippines in 1991 and worked on a stunning political comeback, helped by a well-funded social media campaign to refurbish the family name. Along metropolitan Manilas main avenue, democracy shrines and monuments erected after Marcos downfall stand prominently. The anniversary of his ouster is celebrated each year as a special national holiday, and a presidential commission that has worked for decades to recover ill-gotten wealth still exists. Marcos Jr. has not explained how he will deal with such remainders of the past. What happens to all the monuments that commemorate all those lives lost? What happens to all those monuments that celebrate our collective victories? asked Pio Abad, a Filipino artist who opened an art exhibit last month focusing on the extravagant lifestyle of the Marcoses when they were in power amid the countrys appalling poverty. History is at stake and that is probably, for me, one of the largest things at risk, said Abad, whose activist father was detained after the dictator imposed martial law in 1972. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) walks to the Senate Chambers in the U.S. Capitol Building in the District of Columbia on May 11, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) McConnell, Other Republicans Consider Concessions to Democrats on Gun Legislation Some Republicans are considering conceding to Democrats demands to tighten federal gun laws in the wake of a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left at least 19 dead. Democrats have long pushed for stricter gun control at a federal level but Republicans, citing Second Amendment rights, have long pushed back against these efforts. Now, some Republicans seem to be open to softening this stance. Most prominently, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said during an interview with CNN that he had instructed Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) to negotiate with some Democrats, including Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), to try to hammer out a compromise bill. Ive encouraged him to talk to Senator Sinema, Senator Murphy, and others who are interested in trying to get an outcome thats directly related to the problem, McConnell said, adding that he is hopeful that we could come up with a bipartisan solution thats directly related to the facts of this awful massacre. McConnell was anxious to emphasize that he was not pushing for legislation that would advance a partisan Democrat agenda, but only to find a legislative solution directly related to the circumstances of the Uvalde shooting. What Ive asked Senator Cornyn to do is to meet with the Democrats who are interested in getting a bipartisan solution and come up with a proposal, if possible, thats crafted to meet this particular problem, he said. McConnells lukewarm support for a compromise package could be a welcome sign for Democrats, who will need the support of at least 10 Republicans to overcome the Senates 60-vote filibuster threshold. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also suggested a willingness to work across the aisle on a legislative response. I look forward to coming back after the break, see if we can find a pathway forward on common-sense gun reforms, Graham said, ahead of a planned recess for the Senate. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) also suggested that a bipartisan agreement could be reached. Part of I think what some of us are still looking at is: is there a way to identify these individuals that have this propensity? Rounds told reporters. Is there a way to provide local law enforcement tools to use? Is there enough resources available at schools to be able to provide additional protection? Are those things that we could agree on? Could we find consensus on those things? And I think thats part of the discussion that may very well ensue in the future. He suggested that such a bill may not include new gun regulations at all, but rather might focus on providing localities with additional funding for law enforcement. What do you do proactively then, that you could get, you know, 75, 80 votes on the floor of the Senate? Rounds mused. Perhaps it is fundingthats one thing that weve been able to do. That is, to promote direct funding for local units, to be able to have the resources available to add additional protections to offer a deterrence for these individuals with, you know, with evil intent or with a serious mental health issue. However, other prominent Republicans, including Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), have rejected any efforts to concede to Democrats demands on gun law. In a statement to one reporter, Scotts spokesperson said that Scott is not working with Senator Murphy or any other Democrat on federal gun legislation, but is rather focused on how we can continue to make schools safe. Some Democrats have expressed optimism that a compromise bill can be reached. Though he refused to send a doomed gun control bill to the floor to force Republicans to show their position, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said he will continue to work with Republicans to reach an agreement. Im gonna keep in touch with them, and hopefully, we can get an outcome that can actually pass and become law rather than just scoring points back and forth, Schumer said. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), whose support is essential for almost any Democrat policy goal, has also said that he thinks that the moment feels different than past shootings. Asked about Cornyn, Manchin said, Hes had different iterations of bills. Hes worked with anybody thats had anything along the lines [of] been mental illnessit could be red flag [laws], it could be backgroundlooking at everything that we can to bring everyone to the table to find a really plausible way for them to move forward. Its just the timewe just need to go, Manchin added. Way past time. The shooting has caused some Democrats to again look to H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446, two House bills that would further strengthen background check laws, as plausible ways to move forward. However, it is somewhat unclear whether these bills could win the support of 10 Republicans in the Senate. Despite criticism from progressives demanding wide-reaching, immediate action, the Senate has not canceled its Memorial Day recess, pushing off any possibility of a compromise bill until the week of June 6. Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a former commissioner on the Federal Election Commission. (Crossroads. Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Most Election Fraud Involves Absentee Ballots and Drop Boxes: Expert Election fraud in the United States dates back to the late 19th century and most often it involves absentee ballots, said Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation and a former commissioner on the Federal Election Commission. Absentee ballots are the only kind of ballots that are voted outside the supervision of election officials and outside the observation of poll watchers, von Spakovsky told EpochTVs Crossroads program in a May 20 interview. Theres nothing to preventunfortunatelyactivists and political consultants, and others from going to peoples homes and pressuring, intimidating, and coercing them to vote a particular way, or frankly, just taking their ballots and filling them out themselves and sending them in, he said. The Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, maintains an election fraud database that stores hundreds of proven fraud cases in which someone was convicted in a court of law and found guilty of election fraud, von Spakovsky said. Many of those cases involve absentee ballots. In some of those cases, isolated individuals registered to vote in more than one state and who voted twice, once in person and once by absentee ballot, von Spakovsky said, but there are also organized cases of fraud through vote harvesting. I call it vote trafficking because thats really what it is, he said. This has particularly been a problem in Florida and Texas, along the southern border, where political activists paid by candidates or political partiescalled boleteros in Florida and politiqueras in Texasgo to peoples homes to pressure and coerce them to vote a particular way, the expert said. [They target] Hispanic communities where people are considered more vulnerable, poor, or maybe not as well informed. Von Spakovsky cited a prominent election fraud case in the 1997 mayoral race in Miami, where a court overturned the election due to evidence of widespread, massive fraud involving 5,000 absentee ballots. In that election, incumbent [Joe] Carollo won a majority of the in-person precinct votes, but his challenger, Xavier Suarez, won a majority of the absentee ballots, von Spakovsky wrote in a legal memorandum for the Heritage Foundation (pdf). In the run-off election, the incumbent lost while his challenger received two-thirds of the absentee votes cast, the memo reads. Upon finding thousands of fraudulent absentee ballots, the court returned the incumbent to office. Journalists of the Miami Herald won a Pulitzer Prize for an intensive investigation of that election fraud, von Spakovsky said. He also referred to a case in Indiana, in which the state Supreme Court ruled that a ballot fraud scheme had targeted the poor, the elderly, and many people who spoke English as a second language. In many ways, it is like a mafia. You have organizations that are involved in doing this, I think, in a way that is very harmful to our election process, he said. Another big problem in the 2020 election was that election authorities in some states such as Pennsylvania did not comply with the law stating that absentee ballots have to reach election officials by the end of Election Day, von Spakovsky said. The officials accepted ballots received after Election Day, but von Spakovsky said those were invalid votes. They should never have been counted, he added. Efforts to Weaken Election Safeguards Absentee ballots were introduced in the United States in 1864 when Abraham Lincoln was running for reelection, and they were exploited against him, the expert said. The ballots of soldiersparticularly wounded soldiers in hospitalswere basically being stolen, filled out and sent in in their name, he said, referring to soldiers in New York. The same is going on today, von Spakovsky said, citing a case of a supervisor in a nursing home in Michigan who was convicted of doing the same thing. By the early 1900s, election fraud was so common all over the country that various measures to prevent it were put in place, from requiring people to register to vote, to coming up with the secret ballot, von Spakovsky said. What is observed now, however, is a reverse of the trend of securing the election, he noted. It is a clearly defined well-financed effort to basically get rid of every safety and security protocol we have in place such as voter ID, witness signature, and the ability of states to clean up their voter rolls, the expert pointed out. Keeping voter rolls current means removing voters who have died or moved out of state, and preventing illegal aliens from voting, von Spakovsky explained. When inaccurate voter rolls are combined with the policy of mailing ballots to all registered voters, you will have large numbers of absentee ballots floating around in places where they can be gathered up by paid political activists and used to try to change election results, he added. Moreover, the left tries to force states to adopt automatic voter registration without a persons consent, not only in drivers license bureaus but in all state government agencies, von Spakovsky said, calling it a recipe for fraud. If this is implemented, people who own properties or do business in more than one state will be registered multiple times, and illegal aliens who do not have voting rights will also be registered, he added. Thirty-six states have laws requesting or requiring voters to show some form of identification at the polls, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) recently said that Democrats are using claims that voter ID laws are racist in a bid to strike down these laws. In September 2021, a North Carolina court struck down a law that required photo identification to vote, saying the measure was enacted with the unconstitutional intent to discriminate against African American voters. Von Spakovsky said the claim that a voter ID requirement is racist is a bogus argument and the argument itself is patronizingly racist. Each state that has passed a law requiring to show a photo ID to vote also provides a free ID to anyone that does not have it, he explained. Moreover, these laws have been in place for a long time. For example, in Georgia and Indiana, voter ID laws were enacted in 2008 when President Barack Obama was elected, he added. Data shows that voter turnout has consistently gone up in states that require voter identification, and that includes all voters of all races and ethnicities, von Spakovsky said, debunking the claim. According to a recent poll, 80 percent of Americans support voter ID, he added. We have to show ID every day in so many other places, and no one ever claims that [it is] somehow racist. There have been dozens of organizations formed on the left to engage in voter registration, but they also file lawsuits against states to get rid of every election safety and security protocol, he said. Private Donations to Election Offices Von Spakovsky explained that private donations to support election offices contribute to weakening the election system. In 2020, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, made $419.5 million in donations to nonprofits, of which $350 million went to the left-wing Center for Technology and Civic Life. The money was supposed to be used to buy personal protective equipment and new ballot-counting equipment, train poll workers, and expand mail-in voting to help Americans vote during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but critics said the funds were used to artificially drive up turnout in Democratic, but not Republican, strongholds across the nation. For example, the donated money was used to implement drop boxes, which had never been used in prior elections, said von Spakovsky. Unguarded drop boxes without surveillance are an easy target for fraud because people are able to either manufacture or steal absentee ballots and stuff large numbers of them into a drop box while no election official sees it, he added. The supposedly nonpartisan nonprofit organizations gave huge amounts of grant money received from Zuckerberg to election offices in big urban Democratically controlled districts, the expert said. The clear intent there was to move the Get Out the Vote campaign of the Democratic Party into government offices and use government offices to do that, he said. That was, like I said, unethical, something that should not have happened. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, the clerk responsible for running the citys elections resigned a week before the 2020 election upon seeing that the grant money was also used to bring in a Democratic activist, who allegedly took over and began telling election workers what to do, with the approval of the Democratic mayor of the city, von Spakovsky said. States didnt really have any laws that prevented a private individual from giving a grant to city and county election offices, but they shouldnt have accepted that money. How to Ensure Election Integrity When such anomalies are combined with findings documented by Dinesh DSouza in his film 2000 Mules, they pose pretty serious questions about the last presidential election and warrant investigation, von Spakovsky said. DSouzas documentary presents an analysis of a huge amount of cell phone records which leads to the conclusion that ballot trafficking occurred in the 2020 election. To ensure election integrity, von Spakovsky advises people to get involved locally in the election process. Become a poll watcher, get a job as a precinct election official, pay attention to what your county election board is doing. He also cautioned people against losing trust in the election system and encouraged them to go vote. The Heritage Foundation created an election integrity scorecard, which compares how fair and secure election laws are in each state and ranks the states on a scale between zero, the lowest, and 100, the highest level of election security and integrity. Among the criteria used to evaluate states are: voter ID implementation, voter roll accuracy, vote harvesting or trafficking restriction, registration procedures, and restrictions on private funding of election officials. Von Spakovsky urged people to check the score of their state, find out which laws are lacking, and ask their state legislators to fix these laws. More than two dozen states since the 2020 election have actually passed major election reform bills, improving their election process. Jack Phillips, Zachary Stieber, and Matthew Vadum contributed to this report. Ella Kietlinska Reporter Follow Ella Kietlinska is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on U.S. and world politics. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks about Budget 2022 highlights on housing investments from a podium in a backyard in Hamilton, April 8, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Peter Power) New Tools Being Provided to Security Agencies to Counter Extremist Ideology and Misinformation, Says Trudeau News Analysis Investments in new tools for Canadas security agencies to deal with extremist ideology and misinformation are being made by the government, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says. We need new tools to fight all of these pending threats, and thats why weve turned to all of our security agencies to look at new ways of ensuring peoples safety, Trudeau said in French while addressing media in Vancouver on May 24. Because, as we know, what happens in the virtual world has impact in the real world. It doesnt stay on the internet. Trudeau said the measures are needed to counter the new threats weighing on our society and our country, citing the rise of misinformation and disinformation, and social media being weaponized by foreign actors and domestic extremists. Whether its extremist ideology and right-wing terrorism on the rise in Canada, or whether its examples like the illegal [Freedom Convoy] protests we saw in the winter, there are a whole new set of challenges that we need to be responding to, Trudeau said. The prime minister said this would be done in a way that protects freedom of speech and protest. While at the same time, were taking on more tools to keep Canadians safe. The Liberal government invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 to deal with the trucker-led Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa and related border blockades, with protestors demanding the lifting of COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Throughout the three weeks of protests, there was very little violence reported on the part of protesters. On one occasion a large vehicle painted in camouflage broke through a police barricade in Surrey, B.C. The RCMP also made a seizure of firearms and several pre-emptive arrests near the border blockade in Coutts, Alberta, with some individuals being charged with conspiracy to commit murder and other weapons charges. The remaining protesters at Coutts dispersed voluntarily after arrests were made, in order to not be associated with that event. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said there were links between the individuals arrested in Coutts and the protest organizers in Ottawa, but didnt publicly substantiate the claim. Many other claims made by the government and Liberal MPs surrounding the Freedom Convoy have since been unsubstantiated or debunked, such as that protesters were behind an apartment arson, that they made threats of sexual assault, that they were in possession of loaded firearms, or that they were bankrolled by Russia. A serious violent incident unrelated to the convoy took place at the same time as the protests on Feb. 17, when the Coastal Gas Link operation in B.C. was attacked by reportedly axe-wielding assailants which caused millions in damages. In addition, dozens of churches in Canada were attacked in politically-motivated arsons last summer around the issue of unmarked graves found at residential schools. Trudeau didnt make a reference to these incidents in his comments about developing threats on May 25. Tools While not specifying which new tools are being invested in or adopted, Trudeau said the government is working closely with organizations like the Canadian Security Establishment [CSE] around communications. This focus on the information space suggests some computer-assisted collection and analytic capability to gather data from social media and identify potential threats using keywords and algorithms. CSE is not allowed to collect information on Canadians, but its technical expertise can be leveraged by other security agencies. The eavesdropping agency has also been releasing information on its Twitter feed in recent months to counter Russian disinformation, saying the tweets are based on its collected intelligence. Public Safety Canada oversees the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Canada Border Services Agency, while CSE falls under National Defence. The Epoch Times inquired with Public Safety Canada about what security investments are being made and which tools are being developed, but they didnt provide a response by the deadline. Newsom Vows to Fast Track Gun Control Bills, Fires Back at Texas Governor SACRAMENTOGov. Gavin Newsom vowed to accelerate a series of gun reform bills May 25, just a day after state lawmakers introduced more than a dozen gun-control bills aimed at reducing gun violence. The bills were introduced just hours after the deadly massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that claimed the lives of 19 children and two adults on May 24. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was shot by police responding to the scene. California leads this national conversation, Newsom said during a press conference in Sacramento. When California moves, other states move in the same direction. For all of those [who] are feeling deep anxiety and fear, I hope you look to the state for leadership. A man uses an assault rifle in Stanton, Calif., on May 3, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Newsom said he will be enthusiastically signing the slew of bills by the end of June aimed at tackling a series of critical areas on issues related to the proliferation of assault weapons and ghost guns to increase enforcement. Among the bills introduced are Assembly Bill (AB) 1594, which would allow Californians to sue gun manufacturers for misconduct, AB 2571 would limit the marketing of certain firearms to minors, and AB 1621 would further crackdown on tracking ghost guns. AB 1594, one of the most talked-about bills in the series, is modeled after a Texas law that allows citizens to sue abortion providers. Similarly, the bill would allow individuals who have suffered harm as a result of a firearm to sue the gun manufacturer. The law would mirror the 2014 case where nine families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School victims filed a lawsuit against gun manufacturer Remington, which was the manufacturing company that created the AR-15 used by the shooter. After back and forth litigation, Remington settled with the family for $75 million this year. Currently, California has some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. Newsom said the states progressive gun policies have consistently outperformed other states in terms of gun murder rates and gun death rates. Earlier in the day, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also held a press conference in which he did not call for gun control legislation. Instead, he said members in the Uvalde community told him theyre suffering a mental health crisis and said real gun laws in California and other states are not effective in preventing deadly shootings. Newsom shot back at Abbott during the press conference. Gov. Abbott just name-checked the state of California, Newsom said. I would caution him from doing that. Particularly, and you can just go to the CDC website and look at that gun murder rate in 2020 that was 67 percent higher than the state of California in 2020. Newsom was joined by Senate President Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood). He added that weve completely lost our senses and lost touch with [the] reality of common-sense gun control laws and pushed back against the claim that there is a mental health epidemic, saying the United States is the only country with pervasive mass shootings. Do not give in to the cynicism and all the crap you heard today in that press conference around evil and mental health, which completely belies the fact that theres only one nation on planet Earth that separates itself from all other nations, and thats the United States of America, in the perversion of a Second Amendment that begins around well-regulated gun policy, he said. According to an FBI report, active shooter incidents increased 52 percent last year, with six of the 61 active shooter incidents across 30 states occurring in California. Last weekend, a gunman opened fire in a Laguna Woods church killing one and injuring five others. The 2021 Chemistry Nobel Prize winner and University of CaliforniaIrvine alumnus David MacMillan (C) shares his story at UC Irvines Barclay Theatre in Irvine, Calif., on May 24, 2022. (Carol Cassis/The Epoch Times) Nobel Laureate, UCI Alumnus on What Its Like to Win the Prize IRVINE, Calif.The 2021 Chemistry Nobel Prize winner and University of CaliforniaIrvine alumnus David MacMillan has a lot to say about what it was like to win. His storycoupled with his massively successful researchmade for an evening of riveting recollections laced with laughter and happy tears as he took the stage May 24 at UC Irvines Barclay Theatre. Praised as making chemistry greener, few in the audience knew what to expect as MacMillan took the stage under the beaming lights. Many were instantly enthralled as the Scottish speaker took on the role of not just scholar, but expert story-teller and comedian. Why is your phone buzzing all the time? Jean MacMillan, his wife, asked angrily, having been woken up by his mounting phone notifications after he was announced to be the winner that October 6 morning. Initially ignoring the commotion, MacMillan reluctantly checked to see that the Royal Swedish Academy of Science had texted him, urging his response. Thinking his mischievous friends were playing another practical joke, MacMillan ignored the message and went back to bed. David, its happening. Were winning this thing, his research partner Ben List exclaimed on the phone moments later. Still not budging, MacMillan bet List $1,000 that these messages were a prank, feeling guilty the man was now getting embroiled in it. The newly-announced Nobel Prize winner then went back to bed. I literally went and I fell [back] asleep, MacMillan recalled as the audience roared with laughter. I was snoring away. And I didnt realize that half a world away there were these people trying to get ahold of me. It wasnt until he went downstairs and saw the New York Times announcement on his counter that he began to believe. Depicted at the top was a sketch-like animation of him and his co-researcher. The 2021 Chemistry Nobel Prize winner and University of CaliforniaIrvine alumnus David MacMillan shares his story at UC Irvines Barclay Theatre in Irvine, Calif., on May 24, 2022. (Carol Cassis/The Epoch Times) I looked at it and Im like well, that looks like Ben List. Oh my God, who the hell is that? MacMillan joked, pointing at his face on the image as the audience cackled. Having been asked repeatedly what it feels like to win, MacMillans answer didnt disappoint. Its a weird mixture of elation and being somewhat offended, MacMillan explained as he stared at the cartoon, unraveling the room in laughter yet again. Having been the first in his family after his brother to attend college, the professor had never even met anyone who had gone. Attending was seen as lazy by his parents, at least until they saw his brothers salary exceed both of theirs combined after he graduated, prompting them to urge MacMillan to attend as well. One Ph.D. later, MacMillans research is credited with revolutionizing the field of organic catalysis, the science of using organic substances to increase the rate of chemical reactions. The process comprises a majority of the worlds production already. The 2021 Chemistry Nobel Prize winner and University of CaliforniaIrvine alumnus David MacMillan shares his story at UC Irvines Barclay Theatre in Irvine, Calif., on May 25, 2022. (Carol Cassis/The Epoch Times) His research is ground-breaking since it allows for far more material production that uses a fraction of the energy it would normally take, paving the way for cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient production in technology, medication, and more. It would also allow new reactions to happen that were previously impossible. We need it to make food. We would not have enough food to sustain 8 billion people without this one catalytic process, MacMillan said. Furthermore, 90 percent of industrial-scale chemical reactions use catalysis right now, with 35 percent of the worlds GDP relying on catalysis, according to research. That number is only going to keep increasing as we move towards more and more sustainable processes, MacMillan said. Because research on catalysis is inexpensive, MacMillans discovery paves the way for researchers with the best ideasrather than those with the most moneyto make further discoveries within catalysis studies since his research can be applied to multitudes of other specialties. The University of CaliforniaIrvines Barclay Theatre in Irvine, Calif., on May 24, 2022. (Carol Cassis/The Epoch Times) MacMillan began to tear up as he thanked his mentor Larry E. Overman, one of the founding faculty members of chemistry at UCI, as well as the man who helped him apply to the schools doctoral program. I would not be standing here if it werent for Larry. Hes an amazing chemist, mentor, and person, MacMillan said. I cannot put into words what you did for me, and I probably never will. Thank you so much. MacMillan claims he had no idea what [he] was doing when he applied, having written letters to various universities he admired in the hopes he would be accepted. All but UC Irvine rejected him, thanks to Overmans help in mailing him the application so that he could apply properly. He was the only one who responded to me, after 18 rejections, MacMillan recalled. He basically said youre an idiot, heres the application, and it worked! North Carolina Republicans Push Parents Bill of Rights That Bans K-3 Sex, Gender curriculum Republican lawmakers in North Carolina have pushed forward a bill to protect parents rights to direct their childrens upbringing, including the right to be informed of conversations the school has with their child about sex and gender. The bill, similar to one that recently became law in Florida, would ban public school curricula for grades K through 3 from containing instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. In general, school administrators and employees would not be allowed to keep secret from parents any information related to the mental, emotional or physical health or well-being of their child. Under the proposal, North Carolina schools would have to tell parents if their child wants to be referred to by a different name or pronoun, as well as ask for parents consent before providing the child with any counseling service or other non-emergency health care. In addition, the bill would allow parents to sue the school if it fails to address concerns about their parental rights. Any health care provider that fails to obtain parents consent before giving non-emergency medical treatments for their child would also face penalties, including fines of up to $5,000. The proposed measures will be added to an existing curriculum transparency bill, which would guarantee that parents have the right to review and object to textbooks and supplementary materials, to seek a medical or religious exemption from immunization requirements for their child, and to see which books their child has borrowed from the school library. Parents want to be more involved in their childs education. This proposal strengthens the relationship between schools and parents, state Senate leader Phil Berger said at a May 24 press conference. The bill is about transparency and trust in our public schools. The more open communication school personnel have with parents about a childs education and well-being the better. If the bill passes the Republican-controlled State Assembly, it is very likely to be vetoed by Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper. In that scenario, Republicans will need the support of Democrats to secure enough votes needed to override the governors veto. When it comes to the debate over whether young children should be taught at public schools about LGBTQ-related topics, Cooper has a different opinion than Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who openly called such teachings filth. Those issues have no place in the schools, Robinson said last June at a Baptist church event. There is no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexualityany of that filth. Robinson refused to walk back those comments after a video of his speech went viral on social media, saying instead that he would continue to fight for the right of children to receive an education that is free from sexual concepts that do not belong in the classroom. Coopers office released a statement criticizing Robinsons comments. He does not speak for North Carolina, the governor said. We are a welcoming and inclusive state and we want the entire nation and the world to know that. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks to guests during an event with President Joe Biden and several family members of victims of the Tops market shooting at the Delavan Grider Community Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 17, 2022. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) NY Gov. Hochul Suggests Raising Gun Purchase Age Limit After Texas Mass Shooting New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Wednesday that she wants to work with the legislature to raise the age limit for some gun purchases in the Empire State. I have a question to ask: How does an 18-year-old purchase an AR-15 in the State of New York, State of Texas? That persons not old enough to buy a legal drink, she said at a meeting with the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns. I want to work with the legislature to change that. I want it to be 21. I dont want 18-year-olds to have guns at least not in the State of New York, she added. Hochuls recommendation came after Salvador Ramos, 18, reportedly killed 19 students and 2 teachers on Tuesday in a classroom in Robb Elementary School in Texas. Police cordon off the streets around Robb Elementary School after a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Ramos was also killed in the event by a tactical team of law enforcement officers, including Border Patrol SWAT agents and a Uvalde deputy. In a separate mass shooting incident on May 14 in Buffalo, New York, a suspect who is also 18-year-old allegedly killed 10 people at the Tops Friendly Market in a predominantly Black neighborhood. The suspect, Payton Gendron, was charged with first-degree murder. His court-appointed lawyer entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. The New York governor also ordered more safety measures at the schools. I want state police patrols visiting our schools, doing daily check-ins, every single day from today until the end of the school year, she said. These state police will be both uniformed and plainclothed officers. Brian Brase, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) (left to right) at the Senate Visitor Center in U.S. Capitol on Mar. 8, 2022. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times) The Uvalde shooting and Buffalo shooting triggered a new round of disputes over stricter gun laws and second amendment rights. President Joe Biden pushed for stricter gun laws after the Texas shooting and urged lawmakers to stand up to the gun lobby. However, Republicans proposed a different solution to the situation. Inevitably, when theres a murder of this kind, you see politicians try to politicize it, you see Democrats and a lot of folks in the media whose immediate solution is to try to restrict the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told reporters. That doesnt work. Its not effective. It doesnt prevent crime. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also said he wants law-abiding citizens armed and trained so that they can respond when something like this happens because its not going to be the last time. The National Rifle Association made a statement on Wednesday about the Texas shooting without mentioning the Second Amendment. The Associated Press contributed to the report. A Montreal Police badge is shown during a news conference in Montreal on Oct. 7, 2019. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press) Over 6 Million Amphetamine Pills Worth $32 Million Seized in Drug Bust, Montreal Police Say Montreal police say they seized 6.5 million amphetamine pills during a drug bust on Wednesday morning. The police operation resulted in a record seizure of amphetamines estimated at more than $32.5 million, the SPVM said in a press release on May 26. In total, 28 searches were conducted in the Greater Montreal area and several regions, including Montreal, Laval, the Laurentians, Monteregie, Centre-du-Quebec, and Mauricie. The SPVM said on May 25 that 280 officers from local and provincial forces were deployed in what they described as a dismantling operation. Several warehouses were searched. The targeted facilities served either as an amphetamine production facility, as a storage facility, or both, police said. The searches have so far resulted in the arrest of eight suspects. Besides the amphetamine pills, SPVM reported seizing 21 firearms, 481 kilograms of methamphetamine powder, 11 kilograms of pure meth, 5,000 ecstasy pills, hundreds of Cialis and Xanax pills, 13 pill press machines, and nearly $300,000 in cash, among other items, in their latest update on May 26. [BILAN FINAL] Demantelement dun reseau majeur de production et de distribution damphetamines. #SPVM Details https://t.co/09bBA4XMUZ pic.twitter.com/buLbDWd3bo Police Montreal (@SPVM) May 26, 2022 The SPVM said the investigation into the alleged production and trafficking network was initiated last September by their anti-gang squad, part of the organized crime division. The police investigation revealed that this major network managed to sell about $5 million worth of amphetamines per week across the provinceroughly about 1 million pills per week, the release said. The municipal police service said the dismantling of the network will disrupt the activities of criminal organizations. The scale of the seizures will deliver a severe blow to organized crime, depriving criminals of an important source of income to finance, among other things, the purchase of firearms, SPVM said. The law enforcement agency said their operation will be carried out in two phases. The first is the disruption of criminal activities and the multiple searches carried out yesterday, the police said. The second phase will aim to make other arrests within the dismantled network, based on evidence gathered. Phone and Internet Complaints Are Soaring: Australian Authorities Australian authorities have seen a sharp increase in phone and internet complaints made across the country, partly due to poor customer service and billing issues. According to a new report, The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman received over 22,200 complaints in the March quarter, up 21 percent from the previous three months. The report listed various problems in all types of services that negatively affected residential consumers and small businesses. More specifically, fault and connection issues accounted for almost 53 percent of the complaints. In addition, mobile phone service was the most complained service type with 8,578 complaints, followed by internet service with 7,830 complaints. At the same time, 90 percent of the complaints came from the top 10 telecommunications providers, with Telstra garnering more than half of the complaints number. The latest data comes after the number of complaints fell for two consecutive years. This quarters increase in complaints is a reminder that telcos need to focus on working with consumers to resolve complaints before they escalate to us, Ombudsman Cynthia Gebert said. Consumers need to be able to rely on their phone and internet services. When problems happen, the telcos need to work with consumers to identify and repair the problem. It is noteworthy that complaints made by residential consumers soared by over 22 percent compared to the December quarter, while complaints from small businesses also climbed by more than 12 percent. A woman walks past a Vodafone store in Melbourne, Australia, on Aug. 30, 2018. (William West/AFP via Getty Images) Meanwhile, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released a new industry statement that outlines the government agencys expectations toward telecommunications companies. In particular, telcos are expected to treat all consumers fairly and reasonably, be proactive in identifying and dealing with customers in vulnerable situations and have better policies and processes to support those susceptible customers. ACMA Chair Nerida OLoughlin said many Australians would fall into vulnerable circumstances at some point in their life and that the statement sent a message to the industry that people experiencing vulnerability should be assisted. Its important that telcos have processes in place to recognise and provide appropriate customer care and service to people in these situations, OLoughlin said. With the development of this statement, which was done in consultation with industry and consumer groups, telcos now have a clearer understanding of what is expected of them. Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Grappling With CRT Residue After Banning It An education board member of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School Districtwhich banned Critical Race Theory (CRT) in early Aprilsaid it is going to be a lengthy battle for the district to make its schools CRT-free. Board Member Shawn Youngblood told The Epoch Times the ban is a part of the initial steps to eliminate CRT, which he described as peeling back layers of an onion. Were starting with one layer and will go to another, he said. The board is taking steps to change what is already in place, Youngblood said, but it has been difficult. He said the boards job now is to define how the ban looks when there are already curriculums with CRT in schools that they dont have control over. Considering that CRT has been in the field of education since the mid-1990s, he said those who have been allowing CRT-informed curriculum into the schools have almost a 30-year jump on the boards actions. Some parents discomfort with the lack of control over the freedom teachers have in classrooms is not baseless, he said, since the board has also been told that college students, many of whom are future teachers, have been thoroughly attuned to CRT through college education. During last weeks Board of Education meeting, a concerned grandmother presented a bookthat openly claimed to be a part of the CRT curriculumto the board. The book was taught in her granddaughters third-grade class at Linda Vista Elementary School. Her granddaughter returned home after being shown a poem by Langston Hughes titled I, too and asked her grandmother if she, as a white person, was black. She didnt know, Sue Bayliss said. She said as a teacher she acknowledged the board has no control over what teachers say in the classroom, but she pleaded with them to look at their curriculum. You ever crumple a paper and then try to uncrumple it? Bayliss asked the board. Once words are said, you cant get it straight again. According to the districts resolution that banned CRT, the California Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum defines CRT as the practice of interrogating race and racism in society, which acknowledges race as a social constructnot biologically realand informs racism as being embedded in systems and institutions to form racial inequalities. The district also formed a committee to put together a new curriculum for the board to approve, Youngblood said. But AP and IB courses would be excluded from the curriculum alterations following the ban due to a risk of jeopardiz[ing] the integrity of the coursework and losing certification, according to the resolution. He also said it is important to teach mathematics, language, and history without language that is anti-American, Marxist, or neo-Marxistsomething he said to be indoctrination instead of education. Regarding the remaining CRT curriculum that still appears in classrooms, Youngblood said the board supports their curriculum being transparent for parents to understand what is being taught to their children, and they do so by relying on teachers, administrators, and parents to come forward and report when they see issues. The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District serves 34 K12 schoolsin the cities of Placentia, Yorba Linda, Anaheim, Brea, and Fullertonin northeast Orange County. Police cordon off the streets around Robb Elementary School after a mass shooting, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Police Waited to Enter Texas School as Shooter Opened Fire: Witnesses Several witnesses at the scene of the Texas mass shooting said that police waited to enter, as videos surfaced of parents telling officers, Go protect the kids! What are you doingget inside the building! a person yelled in one of the videos, while another screamed, Go protect the kids! Law enforcement authorities faced questions on May 26 about how much time had elapsed before they stormed a classroom in Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, where an 18-year-old gunman opened fire, killing two teachers and 19 children on May 24. Investigators were also unable to say with any certainty whether an armed school district security officer outside Robb Elementary in the town of Uvalde exchanged fire with the attacker, Salvador Ramos, when Ramos first arrived. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw confirmed to news outlets on May 25 that 40 minutes to an hour had elapsed between when Ramos opened fire on the school security officer to when the tactical team shot him. Ultimately, officials confirmed that a Border Patrol agent shot and killed Ramos. The bottom line is law enforcement was there, McCraw said. They did engage immediately. They did contain [Ramos] in the classroom. Salvador Ramos, was identified as the gunman in a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. (Texas Department of Motor Vehicles) However, several videos were captured outside the school, apparently as Ramos was inside, including a person saying to an officer, Half of these [expletive] parents here, dude, they want to go in therewithout vests, without gunsto get their [expletive] kids. Law enforcement officials at the Uvalde Civic Center, which is operating as a grief counseling location for community members affected by the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School the day prior, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Javier Cazares, whose daughter Jacklyn was fatally shot during the incident, told news outlets that police were not prepared. Lets just rush in because the cops arent doing anything like they are supposed to, he said. We didnt care about us. We wanted to storm the building. We were saying, Lets go because that is how worried we were, and we wanted to get our babies out, he said, according to The Washington Post. McCraw said Ramos had run down a hallway into two adjoining classrooms and barricaded himself inside. And thats where the carnage began, McCraw said, according to reports. Juan Carranza, 24, who watched the scene from outside a house across the street, said officers should have entered the building sooner. Carranza had seen Ramos crash his truck into a ditch outside the school, grab his AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle, and shoot at two people outside a funeral home, who ran away uninjured. There were more of them. There was just one of him, he said. Despite the criticism, McCraw defended the response. The bottom line is law enforcement was there, he said. They did engage immediately. They did contain [Ramos] in the classroom. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A man cycles past a sign for Tencent, the parent company of Chinese social media giant WeChat, outside the Tencent headquarters in Beijing on Aug. 7, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images) Pony Mas Online Comment Ignites Discussion in Chinese Social Media Chinese social media Weibo went wild when Pony Ma, Chinese tech heavyweight billionaire, posted a comment online. China watchers believe the staggered Chinese economy has finally pushed the famous low-profile Tencent Holdings CEO to voice his frustration. Ma commented, This is a really vivid description, quoting a partial statement of an online opinion piece which stated, A company can go bankrupt, but it cannot lay off employees; a company can go bankrupt, but it cannot work overtime. Many Chinese analyzed Mas endorsing the post as a bleak sign of the economy under Beijings strict zero-COVID policy. Rare Comment From Ma On May 20, the former editor-in-chief of the state-run tabloid Global Times Hu Xijin made a post about the economic impact of the national COVID-19 policy. Following Hus post, a blogger responded with an opinion piece, entitled Apart from Hu Xijin, no one else cares about the economy. Ma quoted an opinion piece that said, This is what certain netizens care about the economy: A company can go bankrupt, but it cannot lay off employees; a company can go bankrupt, but it cannot work overtime. What is the Chinese economy? They dont know and they dont care. All they care about is the chips and the so-called hard-core tech. Everything else in life such as food, clothing, housing, and transportation, is all too low and insignificant. But of course, if their meal orders come 10 minutes late, they will curse the delivery guys. Along with the quote, Ma wrote, This is a really vivid description. Following his post, some netizens questioned, Is this really Pony? Others responded that it really was posted by him, and the subsequent sharing and reposting flooded the Chinese internet. Pony Ma is known to be a low-profile Chinese entrepreneur, unlike his outspoken competitor, Jack Ma of Alibaba. Alibabas co-founder Jack Ma (R) applauds with Tencent Holdings CEO Pony Ma (L) during a meeting marking the 40th anniversary of Chinas reform and opening up policy in Beijing on Dec. 18, 2018. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images) The Quiet One Finally Speaks Zhang Ming, an influential history professor, responded to the post on Weibo, Pony Ma spoke on the internet. Its like a mute actually talks. Something is really bad. Finance influencer ganggutong commented on May 21, This pony rarely kicks. But now its obviously defending. The popular Chinese columnist Rong Jian tweeted, The cautious pony, once in a dozen years, finally found an excuse to speak his mind. The business leaders are panicking! The stagnant Chinese economy along with the regimes strict pandemic containment policy is hitting the market hard. Tencents shares have halved in value since their peak in January last year, wiping away $440 billion in market value, the Wall Street Journal reported. Tencent reported on May 18 that its profit dropped 23 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, marking a decline for three consecutive quarters. Xia Song contributed to this report. U.S. President Joe Biden gives remarks on providing additional support to Ukraines war efforts against Russia from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington on April 28, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) President BidenEnd This War As Ukraine threatens to devolve into another forever war, China watches and waits Commentary According to the latest Quinnipiac poll, 75 percent of Americans are concerned that the Ukraine war may spiral out of control. And no one in their right mind should want another forever war, especially with a country that possesses nuclear weapons. Yet President Joe Biden, who arguably blundered into this war, seems well on his way to blundering into a wider conflict with Russia. Not only did Biden fail to deter the invasion, but his administration may also have provoked it. Reckless talk of expanding NATO to include Ukraine, while at the same time failing to provide that country with the means to defend itself, may have convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin that it was now or never. Was Putin further emboldened to strike by the Afghanistan debacle? China, Iran, and every other bad actor on the planet certainly were. The ineptitude of the Biden administration and the Pentagon were on full display as American citizens, allies, and billions upon billions of dollars in military equipment were abandoned to the Taliban. If a fraction of that equipment had been shipped to Ukraine before they cut and ran, Putin might have thought twice about ordering the invasion. Of course, reflecting on the Biden administrations past failures will not extricate Ukraineor usfrom our present predicament. The question is, where do we go from here? Residents transport a box on a wheelbarrow past a heavily damaged apartment building near Azovstal Iron and Steel Works during the Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, May 22, 2022. (Alexander/Reuters) Some of the answers to that question from the president, quite frankly, are alarming. Biden has variously called for Putins ouster, threatened the retaliatory use of (nonexistent) chemical weapons, and told U.S. troops they are headed into the war zone. Do we really want another forever war under this commander-in-chief? Even administration officials who are in full command of their faculties, however, want to use Ukraine as a proxy to destroy the Russian military and effect regime change in the country. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, for example, explained last month that the administration wanted to see Russia weakened to the degree that it cant do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine. How will we determine that Russia has been weakened enough that we can bring the carnage to a close? When all it has left is its nuclear arsenal? Austin did not say. We hear a lot of talk from the Washington War Party that the conflict should continue until all of the territory held by Russia, not just its recent gains in the Donbass, has been reconquered by Ukraine. This includes the two breakaway republics in the Donbass and Crimea, which have been in Russian hands since 2014. These folks want a military victory, not a negotiated peace, and are willing to arm Ukraine to the teeth with the latest in American weaponry to get it. This is the position of John Bolton, for example, who briefly served as former President Donald Trumps national security adviser. He wants to escalate, arguing that we should not only send Polish MIGs to Kyiv, but American F-15s and F-16s as well. An armed U.S.-made F-16 fighter jet takes off from a motorway in Pingtung, southern Taiwan, during the annual Han Kuang drill on Sept. 15, 2021. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images) It would be a significant blow to American credibility globally to come as close as Ukraine has to defeating a superpower only to give away at the negotiating table what has been won at such a high cost on the battlefield, he explains. Leaving aside the throwaway about Americas global credibility, which is already in tatters because of our ignominious exit from Kabul, this is delusional. Ukraine has not come close to defeating a superpower. Instead, as matters now stand, the entire east coast of the country is in Russian hands, including the key port of Mariupol. And Russian forces are poised to capture more territory. These victories have been costly for the Russian invaders, to be sure, but they have been victories, not defeats. Now everyone, including U.S. intelligence services, thought that Russia was simply going to steamroll Ukraine in the opening days of the invasion. We all celebratedmyself includedwhen that didnt happen. But while Ukraine may not lose this war, it cannot win it either, not against a vastly larger and more populous Russia. No one reported it, but even the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency recently admitted that, even with massive U.S. and NATO support, all that Ukraine could hope for is to fight Russia to a draw. Asked if Ukraine can win, DIA head Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier replied: That is a difficult predication to make. I think where the assessment is at, is a prolonged stalemate should no factor change on either side. In other words, the Russians continue to do what theyre doing, and we continue to do what we are doing for the Ukrainians. A prolonged stalemate is a pretty good definition of a forever war. After Iraq and Afghanistan, the American people have had enough of forever wars. Apparently, the Ukrainian people want no part of one either. On May 22, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted that the war can only be resolved through diplomacy. Enough is enough. We need to be encouraging Zelenskyy to negotiate, not recklessly urging him to fight to the last Ukrainian. Mr. Biden, end this war. And then pivot to Asia, where the real threat lies. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Protestors against the WHO pandemic treaty gather outside the UN building in Manhattan, New York, on May 24, 2022. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times) Protestors Against WHO Global Pandemic Treaty Rally Outside UN Headquarters NEW YORKAbout 100 New Yorkers of varied backgrounds gathered near the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan on May 24 to protest against a global pandemic treaty being negotiated under the WHO. New York Freedom Rally hosted a peaceful demonstration outside the United Nations to protest the global pandemic treaty currently being proposed in Geneva, Switzerland. This treaty would grant the World Health Organization the supposed authority to dictate the health policy of any signatory, overriding all national sovereignty without any legislative or democratic due process, Kevin Peters, an organizer of the rally, told The Epoch Times. As a result, we felt there was no more powerful message we could send than to recite the founding documents of our country in front of this unelected parent organization acting as a modern-day imperial monarchy. Their veil has been liftedas billionaires flying around in private jets demanding that global populations be taxed for their carbon, tracked, and coerced into experimental and harmful medical procedures, Peters added. Were here give one very direct simple, clear message to the UN, the WHO, Klaus Schwab, the World Economic Forum, BlackRock, Bill Gates, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and all their cronies around the world, Peters said before reading part of the U.S. Declaration of Independence with an amplified sound device directed at the UN HQ. The WHO already has binding rules known as the International Health Regulations (2005) which set out countries obligations where public health events have the potential to cross borders. These include advising the WHO immediately of a health emergency and measures on trade and travel. Adopted after the 20022003 SARS outbreak, these regulations are still seen as functional for regional epidemics like Ebola but inadequate for a global pandemic. Suggested proposals for the pact include the sharing of data and genome sequences of emerging viruses and rules on vaccine distribution. Every human being now and in the future will be negatively affected by this unprecedented, illegal global pandemic treaty, New Yorker Cat McGuire told The Epoch Times. There has been virtually no participation allowed from the people to stop this globalist hijacking of the sovereignty of nations. The Davos elite is unelected and unaccountable, and they are being forewarned at protests like this one here outside the UN that we the people will not comply! Negotiations are set to continue in June and a final treaty, whose legal status is yet to be determined, would not be ready until 2024. Reuters contributed to this report. Ray Liotta attends the 22nd Annual Newport Beach Film Festival as it presents Festival Honors & Variety's 10 Actors To Watch at The Balboa Bay Club And Resort in Newport Beach, Calif., on Oct. 24, 2021. (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images) Ray Liotta, Star of Goodfellas, Dead at 67 Longtime actor Ray Liotta, who starred in Goodfellas and Field of Dreams, died at age 67, according to his publicist. Liotta, who played mob associate Henry Hill in the Martin Scorcese film, died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, his publicist, Jennifer Allen, told news outlets on Thursday. He was in the country filming a movie called Dangerous Waters, she said. Allen did not provide any more details. The actor is survived by his daughter, Karsen, and his fiance, Jacy Nittolo. His cause of death as well as other details about his passing were not immediately known. Unnamed sources told TMZ that there is no foul play suspected in Liottas death. Other than Goodfellas and Field of Dreams, the actor also appeared in Unlawful Entry, Blow, Hannibal, Cop Land, The Place Beyond the Pines, John Q, Identity, and many more. Liotta notably appeared in the Sopranos prequel, the Many Saints of Newark, released last year. Born in New Jersey in December 1954, Liotta was adopted at the age of six months after he was left at an orphanage. The actor grew up in New Jersey before he moved to New York. He eventually pursued an acting career in Los Angeles. His first film was The Lonely Lady in 1983. His biggest film was Goodfellas, where he appeared alongside Joe Pesci and Robert de Niro as an up-and-coming mob associate based on the life of Henry Hill, who eventually became a federal informant. After a number of prominent roles in the 1990s, Liottas star began to fade although he continued to make films. But in the 2010s, he generated attention and praise for films such as Killing Them Softly, Marriage Store, and The Place Beyond the Pines. His death was mourned on social media. RIP Ray Liotta, 67. Brilliant actor, loved him in Goodfellas. Sad news, wrote Piers Morgan. Very sad to hear the news this morning about the passing of #RayLiotta. An extraordinary talent whose remarkable performances left an indelible mark on the screen. Our deepest condolences to his family. RIP Ray, wrote actor Cary Elwes. San Francisco School District Drops Chief From Job Titles, Cites Native American Concerns San Franciscos public school district, which not too long ago underwent a recall election fueled by its controversial priorities, said it will remove the word chief from all job titles to avoid offending the Native American community. Gentle Blythe, a spokesperson for San Francisco Unified Schools District (SFUSD) told the San Francisco Chronicle that the word chief will no longer be used in job titles because of its connotations with Native Americans. While there are many opinions on the matter, our leadership team agreed that, given that Native American members of our community have expressed concerns over the use of the title, we are no longer going to use it, Blythe said, reported The Chronicle. The word chief entered English via Old French and shared the same Latin origin with words such as capital and captain. In the 17th century, English settlers started to use the word to describe the headmen of indigenous tribes of America. The SFUSDs website lists a dozen officials who have the word chief in their titles, including Chief Technology Officer Melissa Dodd, Chief of Staff Jill Hoogendyk, and Chief General Counsel Danielle Houch. As of May 26, these titles remain unchanged on the website. The school district, which has approximately 10,000 employees, has not yet decided what top officials will be called instead of chiefs. Blythe clarified that the name change does not mean demotion. By changing how we refer to our division heads we are in no way diminishing the indispensable contributions of our district central service leaders, the spokesperson explained. The decision comes about three months after a recall vote that decisively ejected three members from the San Francisco Board of Education. According to San Francisco Mayor London Breed, voters were frustrated because the school district had been focusing on things other than its fundamental job. It was really about the frustration of the board of education doing their fundamental job, and that is to make sure that our children are getting educated, that they get back into the classroom, Breed said in February on NBC programming. That did not occur. As an example of the school districts misplaced priorities, Breed pointed to a now-shelved plan to find alternative names for 44 schools that werent even open at that time. In January 2021, the SFUSD unanimously approved a decision to start replacing names of schools named after prominent figures who allegedly have connections to injustices in history, such as slavery, oppression of women, and inhibiting societal progress. The namesakes that were planned to be dropped, in addition to U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt, included two-time Secretary of State Daniel Webster, Spanish missionary Junipero Serra, American revolutionary Paul Revere, and Francis Scott Key, the author of the lyrics for The Star Spangled Banner. The plan was met with immediate opposition from the districts families and the general public. The backlash continued until board president Gabriela Lopez announced that the district would focus on reopening those schools instead of finding new names for them. Lopez was ousted in this years recall election. Law enforcement officers work the scene after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. (Jordan Vonderhaar/Getty Images) Second Amendment Is Not Absolute: Biden Decries Gun Laws After Texas School Shooting U.S. President Joe Biden has decried current gun laws in America after 19 students and two adults were killed by a shooter at a Texas elementary school. He argued there are reform options that dont negate the Second Amendment, which he claimed is not absolute. Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has framed the problem as a mental health issue, as opposed to one regarding access to firearms. When in Gods name will we do what needs to be done to, if not completely stop, fundamentally change the amount of the carnage that goes on in this country? Biden said in a White House address on Wednesday. I spent my career, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee and as vice president, working for commonsense gun reforms as a senator and a vice president, he said. President Joe Biden delivers remarks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington on May 24, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Biden advocated for limitations on constitutionally protected gun rights and for lawmakers to stand up to a very powerful gun lobby. While they clearly will not prevent every tragedy, we know certain ones will have significant impact and have no negative impact on the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment is not absolute, he added. When it was passed, you couldnt own a cannon, you couldnt own certain kinds of weapons. Salvador Ramos, 18, allegedly shot his grandmother on May 24 before driving toward Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, entering the campus, and opening fire19 children and two adults were confirmed dead. Law enforcement officers shot Ramos and killed him. Colleagues and those who knew Ramos have described him as quiet but sometimes aggressive, with a former friend saying he had been bullied. Texas governor said that any person who conducts such an attack has mental health issues. We as a government need to find a way to target that mental health challenge and do something about it, Abbott said. There are real gun laws in New York. There are real gun laws in Chicago. There are real gun laws in California. I hate to say this, but there are more people that were shot every weekend in Chicago than there are in schools in Texas, he said. And we need to realize that people who may think we just need to implement tougher gun laws, itll solve itChicago and LA and New York disproves that thesis. Police cordon off the scene where a man shot his grandmother before carrying out a massacre at Robb Elementary School, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) The president said he and First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Texas in the coming days to meet the families of the victims. Biden then urged the Senate to confirm without delay his nomination for leader of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, which is the agency that measures and ensures gun laws according to the constitution. I nominated a supremely qualified former prosecutor who has broad bipartisan support from law enforcement and the community overall, Biden said, adding that his confirmation hearings were held on Wednesday. The Senate should confirm him without delay, without excuse. Send the nomination to my desk. Its time for action, he said. Senate Republicans Block Domestic Terror Bill, Claim Democrats Are Creating Thought Police Senate Republicans on May 26 filibustered controversial House-passed legislation designed to combat domestic terrorism, but critics say that the bill is a thinly-veiled effort to create Thought Police for members of the military and law enforcement officers. The 4747 vote comes as little surprise, as Republicans have long been skeptical of efforts by Democrats to expand the reach of federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted with Republicans to filibuster the bill to open up the possibility for reconsideration of the legislation at a later date. H.R. 350, dubbed the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022, would authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism. The legislation would establish a new Domestic Terrorism Unit in DHS, which the bill says will be responsible for monitoring and analyzing domestic terrorism activity. More specifically, the Domestic Terrorism Unit would be responsible for investigating and prosecuting incidents of domestic terrorism [and coordinating] with the Civil Rights Division on domestic terrorism matters that may also be hate crime incidents. Further, the bill would establish a new Domestic Terrorism Section within the Counterterrorism Division of the FBI. This proposed expansion of the FBIs power comes as the federal agency faces scrutiny for alleged overreach under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in light of a report showing that the agency spied on over 3.3 million Americans, in several cases without a court-approved warrant. The DHS secretary, the attorney general, and the director of the FBI would be required under the Democrats bill to ensure that each office authorized under this section in their respective agencies shall have not less than one employee dedicated to ensuring compliance with civil rights and civil liberties laws and regulations; and require that all employees undergo annual anti-bias training. In addition, the leaders of DHS, the DOJ, and the FBI would be required to submit an annual assessment of the domestic terrorism threat posed by White supremacists and neo-Nazis, including White supremacist and neo-Nazi infiltration of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and the uniformed services. The bill would also institute new training programs purportedly designed to root out white supremacist and neo-Nazi infiltration of the military and law enforcement. [DHS] Secretary, the Attorney General, and the Director [of the FBI] shall review the anti-terrorism training and resource programs of their respective agencies that are provided to Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies, including the State and Local Anti-Terrorism Program that is funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Department of Justice, and ensure that such programs include training and resources to assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies in understanding, detecting, deterring, and investigating acts of domestic terrorism and White supremacist and neo-Nazi infiltration of law enforcement and corrections agencies, reads the text of the bill. Foreseeing First Amendment challenges to the bill, its sponsors included at the bottom of the text a disclaimer that, Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, may be construed to authorize the infringement or violation of any right protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States or an applicable provision of Federal law. The bill does not appropriate a set sum to carry out enforcement of the act, but rather simply authorizes the DHS, the DOJ, and the FBI such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act. Sen. Rand Paul: Bill Would Create Thought Police for Military, Law Enforcement Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has made a name for himself in the Senate for long-held opposition to civil liberties violations by federal agencies, blasted the bill in a speech on the Senate floor prior to the vote. Though the bill is ostensibly about domestic terrorism, Paul said, the bill would be more accurately called the Democrat plan to brand and insult our police and soldiers as white supremacists and neo-Nazis.' These are young men and women who have given arms and legs and I dont know of an example of some guy who says Oh yeah we were blown up by an IED but weve gotta leave that guy because hes of a different race,' Paul continued. How insulting! So youre going to have a task force to investigate our soldiers, this is going to be a federal agency thats going to go in and investigate our soldiers for white supremacy, he said. I guess, read their emails, read what websites they go to, because the implication is theyre guilty until they can prove themselves innocent. Thats what this will set up, it will set up more government agencies that presume your guilt. But its an insult to our armed services, to our police, and to anyone who works in law enforcement. This bill is an insult to every police officer in this country. This bill is an insult to everyone in our armed services. The new departments created by the bill, Paul said in a reference to George Orwells 1984, are essentially going to be the Thought Police of the military. He continued, We just took down the Ministry of Truth, which was in the Department of Homeland Security. It took them a couple weeks to be finally be ashamed that they were going to censor speech, and the Biden administration has canceled itor at least put it on pause. Paul also ridiculed the bill for creating new departments at the DOJ and FBI while also implying that these offices have been completely infiltrated by white supremacists and neo-Nazis. But again, none of the bill makes sense. It doesnt make sense because it was never a bill that was intended to become law, and wont. Its a dumb Washington talking points memo masquerading as legislation, but its also a grave insult to anyone involved in law enforcement, anyone involved in the military. Congressional Democrats have gotten so extreme, so radical, so out of touch with the American people that when they read it, they think this is something worthwhile to do. Its a messaging bill for today, Paul concluded. This bill will fail today though, because the Democrats messagehate the police, defund the police, the police are terrible people, the military are terrible people it has been roundly rejected by the American people and will continued to be. First responders secure Santa Ana High School as parents and family members wait for students on lockdown after bomb and weapon threats circulated at the school in Santa Ana, Calif., on March 10, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) SoCal Schools Work With Law Enforcement After Texas Shooting Southern California schools worked May 25 with local law enforcement to increase campus security a day after an 18-year-old killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Texas. Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said shortly after the shootingthe second deadliest school shooting in the nations historyhe would immediately increase deputies at schools in his jurisdiction for the following day, in addition to school police officers. No parent should ever have to wonder if their child is safe at school, Barnes said in his statement. We extend condolences and prayers to the grieving community of Uvalde. Ian Hanigan, a spokesman for the Orange County Department of Education, told The Epoch Times in an email that the department is [working] closely with the Orange County Sheriffs Department and other local law enforcement agencies to analyze everything from cyberbullying to securing school facilities. Huntington Beach High School students leave campus for the day in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Feb. 22, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said in a statement it will work with the countys patrol stations, school resource officers, school police departments, and others to monitor safety threats. Maria Garcia, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino City Unified School District, told The Epoch Times in an email it has made significant upgrades to security protocols districtwide that have resulted in safer campuses, since three died and one was injured in a 2017 shooting at one of its elementary schools. Since then, Garcia said, the district has ensured that campus gates and doors are secured while school is in session and installed a single point of entry, with a requirement that all visitors enter through the school office, with a check-in system that requires showing government-issued identification. In addition, Garcia said, schools in the district practice two lockdown drills per year. Santa Ana High School was placed on lockdown after reports of a possible bomb threat and active shooter on March 10, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said after the incident that the district will be closely monitoring and working with our stations school resources officers to ensure the safety of our children. On May 25, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced expanded safety protocols for school campuses. Since Columbine, Sandy Hook, Parkland, and now in Uvalde, Texas, we have witnessed that ready access to guns for anyone, including students, without any filter, means that any place in America can become a dangerous place, whether its a movie theater, a grocery store, a temple, a church or a school, Carvalho said. As part of the ongoing review of our practices and procedures, we must continue to assess and update safety protocols in order to keep our students, employees and families as safe as possible. The district will undergo an assessment of schools access points to ensure reduced points of entry, as well as an assessment of protected areas in case of an incident. In addition, LAUSD and LA School Police will explore the use of mobile apps with GPS capability to give first responders access to critical incidents. In 2013, Los Angeles Unified spent $4.2 million to create about 1,000 unarmed campus aide positions in response to the 2012 shooting at an elementary school in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, that left 20 children and six adults dead. That shooting is the worst school shooting in American history. The issue also rekindled the discussion of if police should be on campuses at all. Some argued in the wake of the 2020 George Floyd killing that they should not. LA School Police Department Sergeant Rudy Perez told The Epoch Times he believes, however, they are a key part of the ecosystem of a school campus. Every student deserves a good counselor. Every student deserves a good teacher. And every student deserves a police officer on their campus, Perez said. This ecosystem is in place in case something evasive comes in. All these elementsfrom teachers to copshelp address evasive issues. The shooting comes just a year after LAUSD opted to decrease on-campus police presence. Last February, LAUSDs school board voted to cut the districts police budget by one-third and to remove police officers from school campuses in response to police brutality protests after the Floyd killing. Perez said Los Angeles schools were disrupted by the changes and that many officers left as a result, which cut their ranks from 510 to fewer than 300. Hydro infrastructure and trees sit broken on a street in the Ottawa Valley municipality of Carleton Place, Ont. on May 23, 2022. A major storm hit the parts of Ontario and Quebec on May 21, 2022, leaving extensive damage to infrastructure. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) Strong Winds That Hit Ottawa Reached 190 Km/h, Say Researchers The storm that hit Ottawa on May 21 brought strong winds that reached 190 kilometres per hour in some areas, a research group says. The storm that left at least 8 people dead and thousands without power wasnt caused by a tornado, but instead by what is known as a derechoa devastating wind system that can travel long distances rapidly, according to Western Universitys Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP). Analysis of the data reveals that a particularly intense downburst, not a tornado, was responsible for the damage in southern Ottawa, NTP said on Twitter on May 25. Maximum wind speeds reached 190 km/h, with the intensity of wind damage measured as EF2 on a scale from 0 to 5 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, the research group said. The group also shared a map of the worst-affected areas that suffered EF1 and EF2 levels of damage, stretching five kilometres to as far as Plantagenet township. A preliminary map of the worst-affected area on May 21 is shown below (green pin EF1, yellow pin EF2). However, intermittent intense damage along a path ~5 km wide continues ENE at least as far as Plantagenet. Additional details on that damage will be forthcoming. #ONStorm 2/2 pic.twitter.com/iTTChRWmDx Northern Tornadoes Project (@westernuNTP) May 25, 2022 As of May 26, Hydro Ottawa said it is still working in some of the worst-hit neighbourhoods in the city, including Merivale, Woodroffe, Greenbank, Pineglen, Overbrook and Elmvale Acres. While it didnt give a set restoration timeline, the company said on Twitter that it is hopeful to have the bulk of its systems back by May 27. Hydro Ottawa said in a Restoration Advisory on its website that it has restored power to roughly 135,000 customers as of May 26, while about 45,000 customers are still without power. The company said on May 25 that it will temporarily remove the outage map from its website due to the complexity of overlapping outage areas that no longer reflect the current situation. On May 25, Toronto Hydro said it has restored power to 99 percent of its customers, and its crews are now mobilizing to assist Hydro Ottawa to bring power back to the national capital. Speaking on Newstalk 580 CFRA on May 25, Ottawa mayor Jim Watson said Ontario Premier Doug Ford has assured him that the province will be covering the costs of the storm cleanup. A health worker vaccinates an elderly person with the BioNTech-Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a temporary vaccination clinic in a church in Sollentuna, north of Stockholm, on March 2, 2021. (Fredrik Sandberg/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images) Sweden Recommends 5th Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine to Pregnant Women and Over-65s Swedens government is recommending a fifth dose of COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 65 and over, and at-risk groups that are under 65, which includes those who are immunocompromised and pregnant women, authorities said on May 24. At-risk groups under 65 also include people with heart and lung disease, the Swedish Public Health Agency noted. The agency said its fifth doseor third booster dosewill be available starting Sept. 1. In Sweden, we need to be prepared for an increased spread during the coming autumn and winter season, the agency said in an announcement. Swedish Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren said the pandemic is not over. The vaccine is our strongest tool for preventing serious illness and death, she said in a statement. The agencys recommendations for the other age groups remain the same. Adults aged 1864 are recommended to have taken three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. They can take a fourth dose if they want to, the agency said. Children aged 2 to 17 are recommended vaccination with two doses. In general, the risk of serious illness is assessed as low for adults under the age of 65 who have been vaccinated with three doses, but the risk increases with age and varies within the group, agency chief Karin Tegmark Wisell said. Sweden has been relatively hands-off in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, having never imposed a full lockdown or closed businesses. Vaccines currently in use in Sweden are Comirnaty from Pfizer-BioNTech and Spikevax from Moderna, both of which are based on mRNA technology. The COVID-19 vaccines from these companies have been linked with heart inflammation, including myocarditis and pericarditis, data from around the world have suggested. Younger populations, especially young men, have been observed to experience these conditions at much higher than expected rates, data from the CDC previously suggested. A small number of deaths from heart inflammation after COVID-19 vaccine have been reported. The primary regimens of the vaccines, which are two doses administrated several weeks apart, have been insufficient to protect against infection, and have shown waning efficacy in protecting against hospitalization amid newly emerging variants. This has prompted the governments of many countries to recommend boosters and subsequent boosters throughout the pandemic. Zachary Stieber and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Read More Boosters Stop Boosting After Only 4 Months Police officers wearing protective gear control access to a tunnel near Pudong district during the lockdown in Shanghai on March 28, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Take a Walk Outside: Shanghai Residents Proclaim Lockdown is Lifted Residents of a Shanghai high-end community, called Huixianju, proclaim the lockdown is lifted. They went outside and walked around their streets. The slogan, Walk Out, Huixianju went viral online. Shanghai is divided into three zones based on antigen+nucleic acid screening results: the closed control areas, currently involving a population of 2.3 million; the control areas, involving a population of 3.62 million; and the prevention areas, involving a population of 17.37 million, as the officials announced on May 9. Huixianju was one of the prevention areas. The officials allowed areas without positive cases for a stretch of two weeks to engage in appropriate activity in their neighborhoods, reported CGTN, the English outlet of the state media. For weeks, Huixianju had zero confirmed COVID-19 cases, but residents continued to be confined to their homes. On May 22, through WeChat posts, residents claimed they lifted the lockdown on their own by going outside for a walk. New Slogan: Take A Walk Outside Shanghai media reported that, while many communities in the prevention areas have reached the standard for lifting the lockdown, the local community committee limited the number of exit passes it issued to restrict the freedom of local residents. Huixianju, a residential community developed by Hong Kong property developer Li Ka-shings group in the 1990s, drew public attention for the recent community protest that went viral online. Walk Out, Huixianju became a buzzword on the evening of May 22 when residents connected with one another through WeChat; in a concerted action, they walked out of their homes and demanded that the community committee lift the lockdown. An online video shows a woman speaking with a megaphone as the residents continued their demands on May 23. If you cant provide [us] an exit pass, the Huixianju communitya prevention area, with no positive tests, [and has] passed the epidemic prevention standardis ready to lift the lockdown on its own. We are free! the woman said, while the residents cheered and applauded. A woman looks out through a gap in the barrier in a residential area in lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Shanghai, China, May 6, 2022. (Aly Song/Reuters) The Domino Effect Since May 24, the surrounding communities have been negotiating with their community committees on when the lockdown will be lifted. On May 25, Shanghai resident Ms. Gu told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times that the news of what happened in Huixianju was widely spread in Chinese social media; and it was really encouraging to the residents in other locked down areas. She said that on May 24, residents of a nearby community, Zhongkai City, collectively took a walk outside their homes and chanted, Respect the law, Give me my life. Another nearby community, Dingyuan, also demonstrated by walking outside on the evening of the 24th, as seen in an online video. Mr. Wang, also a Shanghai resident, said that people have had enough of being in lockdown, and the staff of the community committee are also complaining about having to enforce the restrictions. Mr. Wang said that his community started to allow residents to go out shopping twice a week, for four hours each time. The Chinese edition of The Epoch Times called the community office of Huixianju on May 25 regarding the issue of exit passes. The staff said that the exit passes have been issued, but denied that the lockdown has been lifted. We issued temp passes for three hours of grocery shopping, the staff said, Shanghai has not lifted the lockdown. A local resident posted online, As of 4:37 pm of May 25, I am right in front of Huixianju community. They are free to exit and enter. Gu Qinger and Luo Ya contributed to this report. The Texas Association of Schools Boards has left the national body over what it says is a lack of good governance practices. File photo taken in Tyler, Texas, on Sept. 11, 2003. (Mario Villafuerte/Getty Images) Tell-All Report Leads the Texas Association of School Boards to Quit National Body A nonprofit that serves local school boards in Texas joins 22 other states in withdrawing from the National School Boards Association (NSBA) after a Sept. 29, 2021 letter sent to U.S. President Joe Biden was thoroughly analyzed. Funding for the Texas Association of Schools Boards (TASB) membership renewal for the upcoming year would have been due on July 1, 2022, but based on the boards May 23 decision, the renewal will not be processed. After several hours of discussion, our board decided to leave the NSBA due to the significant lack of internal controls and processes outlined in the report, said Tiffany Dunne-Oldfield, TASBs associate executive director of communications and marketing. In short, serious concerns about the lack of good governance practices was the primary driver behind the decision. The report in question involved an internal investigation by an outside law firm that was commissioned by the association and released on May 20. Im glad they were doing some reports and audits, but they were completely unnecessary, said State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Waxahachie). All somebody had to do was read the plain text of the letter that we know was worked on in collusive action with the NSBA and the Biden administration. TASB should have left NSBA the second that letter became published. The Sept. 29 letter, signed by NSBA interim executive director Chip Slaven and president Viola Garcia, asked for federal law enforcement and other assistance to deal with the growing number of alleged threats against school board members. I was alarmed they were actually looking at using law enforcement, the National Guard, to suppress a parents right to participate in their childrens education, said State Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano). The letter further implied that parents were engaging in domestic terrorism. As these acts of malice, violence and threats against public school officials have increased, the classification of these heinous actions could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes, Slaven and Garcia wrote. Representatives Shaheen and Harrison, who are both members of the Freedom Caucus, had been pressuring TASB to withdraw from NSBA since the letter was made public last year. It shows a connectivity between the Justice Department and the White House, trying to falsely accuse parents of being domestic terrorists, said Pat Hardy, a Republican who has served on the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) for some 20 years. In other words, the president of the United States is basically calling parents, who question some of the things that are going on in their childrens schools, domestic terrorists. The report further concluded the following. The September 2021 letter was principally directed, reviewed, and approved by Slaven, who was responsible for both the origin and substance of the letter. NSBA board president Frank Henderson, Jr. has since apologized. Thank you for apologizing, said Audrey Young, a Republican SBOE member. People can apologize all day long, but unless your behavior changes then an apology means nothing. I want to see NSBA get back to providing global training on the importance of local boards, their authority and their responsibility to the community. It is my opinion that TASB was not receiving its moneys worth. The review points to collaboration between Slaven and the White House, but did not find direct or indirect evidence suggesting the administration requested the letter. What was alarming as I read the report is where the Biden administration was working with the National School Board Association, Rep. Shaheen told The Epoch Times. Thats very troubling. That means you have the National School Board Association with the executive branch of the federal government working against parents. The letter was not widely reviewed or approved within the organization, and the finalized letter was not disclosed to the full NSBA Board of Directors or NSBA members until after it was submitted. When they called these parents terrorist, that was way, way over the line, Rep. Shaheen added. They didnt believe parents had the right to speak out when liberal Democratic extremists were trying to sexualize their children. Children have been politicized by liberal extremists for a very long time. Texas is the 23rd state to withdraw from NSBA, which provides national-level events and training as well as advocacy on behalf of state associations in Washington, D.C. Other states that have also withdrawn include California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, New Hampshire, Illinois, and Missouri. This organization was using taxpayer money to ask the administration to target those same tax-paying parents, Rep. Harrison added. For 2021-22, TASB is saving $103,747 on membership dues it would have paid NSBA, according to Dunne-Oldfield. At present, we are not looking at any alternative organizations, she said in an email. Our TASB Risk Management Fund [insurance] is not connected to our membership in the NSBA. Its Texas focused and managed here in Texas. The logo of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries is seen in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Feb. 19, 2019. (Amir Cohen/Reuters) Teva, Allergan Reach $161.5 Million Opioid Settlement With West Virginia Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and AbbVies Allergan unit reached a settlement worth $161.5 million to resolve claims the companies fueled an opioid epidemic in West Virginia, state attorney general Patrick Morrisey said Wednesday. The agreement is the largest state-negotiated settlement in West Virginia history, and consists of $134 million in cash plus the contribution of drugs used to treat opioid overdoses, Morrisey said. This is a great day for West Virginia, Morrisey said at a press conference. The settlement ended a trial that had been proceeding for two months in Kanawha County Circuit Court. The companies did not admit wrongdoing in making the settlement. Teva said it will pay $83 million in cash, as well as a 10-year supply of Narcan, a drug used to stop opioid overdoses, which the state valued at $27 million. Allergan could not immediately be reached for comment. The settlement includes a most favored nation clause which will protect West Virginia during the two companies efforts to reach a nationwide settlement of opioid claims, Morrisey said. West Virginia will receive at least 2.25 percent of the two companies future nationwide settlement number. West Virginia previously reached a $99 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson and a $26 million settlement with Endo International Plc. Endo settled before the trial began and J&J settled two weeks into the trial. Israel-based Teva has said that it expects a deal by the end of the year. The company believes it will have to pay around $2.6 billion in cash and medicine to reach a nationwide settlement. Teva reached opioid settlements with Texas and Rhode Island earlier this year. West Virginia has been hit particularly hard by opioid abuse and overdoses, with more than three times the national rate of overdose deaths in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. West Virginia had accused Teva and Allergan of deceiving prescribers about the risks of opioid painkillers when marketing their drugs for the treatment for chronic pain. The misleading marketing led to an increase in substance abuse and overdose deaths, according to West Virginias complaint. By Dietrich Knauth Police cordon off the streets around Robb Elementary School after a mass shooting, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Texas Attorney General Calls for Arming Teachers After Uvalde School Shooting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has suggested arming teachers in the wake of an attack that left more than a dozen children and two adults dead at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. During an appearance on Newsmax, Paxton said having teachers and staff trained in firearm defense and armed would make it more difficult for people even to get in that point of entry. First responders typically cant get there in time to prevent a shooting, he said. Its just not possible unless they have a police officer on camera on every campus, which for a lot of these schools is almost impossible. I think youre gonna have to do more at the school, because it typically involves very short periods of time, and you have to have people trained on campus to react. The comment comes after the 18-year-old suspect, identified as Salvador Ramos, on Tuesday afternoon opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde before he was killed by police. As of Wednesday, the police have found and identified 21 victims, including 19 children and two teachers. The gunmans motive so far remains unclear. He first shot his grandmother at home, then fled the scene in a car, crashing it near the school before he walked into the classroom and opened fire, according to reports. This is not the first time Paxton has suggested carrying weapons at places that are usually considered weapon-free zones as a means to combat potential threats. In 2015, he supported a law that allows license holders to carry concealed handguns on college and university campuses. In November 2017, following the Sutherland Springs church shooting that killed 26 worshipers, he said that congregation members should consider arming themselves to better respond to similar events. In Texas, at least we have the opportunity to concealed carry, Paxton said in an interview with Fox News at that time, arguing that there is then always the possibility the attacker may be taken out before he has the opportunity to kill very many people. Weve had shootings at churches forever. This is going to happen again, he added. And so, we need people in terms of professional security or in terms of arming the parishioners or the congregation so that they can respond when something like this happens again. Devin P. Kelley, who killed 26 people and injured 22 more at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, was confronted outside the church and forced into a gunfight by Stephen Willeford, a local resident and former NRA firearms instructor armed with an AR-15 rifle. Willeford continued to pursue Kelley after wounding the gunman in the leg and torso. Kelley eventually crashed his vehicle in the pursuit and shot himself in the head. Police cordon off the scene where a man shot his grandmother before carrying out a massacre at Robb Elementary School, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Texas Mass Shooter Appears to Have Walked Into School Unobstructed: Official A Texas Department of Public Security official said the 18-year-old suspected gunman who killed 21 at a school on Tuesday appeared to have walked unobstructed into the building before the incident unfolded. Victor Escalon, the South Texas Regional Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, told reporters Thursday that the door at Robb Elementary School, where the shooting occurred, was left unlocked when suspect Salvador Ramos entered. Before that, according to Escalon, Ramos crashed a pickup truck and fired shots at two people outside a funeral home. Then, he walked into Robb Elementary at 11:40 a.m. local time and fired a number of shots, Escalon said. Ramos was not confronted by a school police officer, and media reports making that claim are inaccurate, he added. We will find out as much as we can why it was unlocked, or maybe it (the door) was locked, the official said at a news conference. But right now, it appears it was unlocked. Ramos walked down a hallway and walked into a classroom after entering, the official said. Previously, authorities said that he opened fire inside two connecting classrooms, killing 19 students and two teachers before he was shot by an officer. Four minutes later, local police departments, Uvalde Police Department, the Independent School District Police Department are inside, making entry, Escalon said. They hear gunfire, they take rounds, they move back, get cover. And during that time, they approach where the suspect is at. Authorities called for backup and tried to help students and teachers escape the school, he added. Responding officers and deputies eventually entered the classroom and shot and killed Ramos, Escalon said. During a news conference on Wednesday, state officials said he was killed by a Border Patrol agent. Were going to find out. With all the different agencies that are involved, were working every angle thats available. We wont stop until we get all the answers that we possibly can, said Escalon. Earlier, Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez issued a statement saying officers responded to the mass shooting within minutes amid criticism and allegations that police delayed trying to engage with the gunman. It is important for our community to know that our Officers responded within minutes alongside Uvalde [school] Officers, Rodriguez said. Responding UPD Officers sustained gun-shot wounds from the suspect. Rodriguez noted that there are questions about the details of what occurred, adding that answer[s] will come fast enough during this trying time, but rest assured that with the completion of the full investigation, I will be able to answer all the questions that we can. The initial group of officers that were on scene, at that point, they were at a point of disadvantage because the shooter was able to barricade himself inside that classroom. There was not sufficient manpower at that time and their main, their primary focus was preserve any further loss of life, spokesperson Lt. Chris Olivarez with the Department of Public Safety told CNN. So they started breaking windows around the school, and trying to rescue, evacuate children and teachers while that was going on. The suspect purchased several firearms earlier this month after he turned 18, State Sen. John Whitmire told news outlets. He also purchased about 375 rounds of ammunition, the senator said, citing law enforcement officials. Those guns were purchased legally from a federally licensed firearms dealer. Before the rampage, Ramos shot and seriously wounded his grandmother, said officials. Reports this week indicated that he messaged a stranger online and said he would shoot up a school after firing upon his grandmother. Uvalde school children comfort each other at a community prayer evening held the day after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School that killed 19 children and 2 teachers, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 25, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Texas Town Prays Together After Tragic Shooting at Elementary School UVALDE, TexasAthena Pedraza dropped off a homemade meal at her friends house before driving to a community vigil at the Uvalde, Texas, rodeo arena on May 25. Her friends son was one of the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School the day before. The friend found out at midnight after having to give a DNA sample to police so they could match the identification of her child. They had to give DNA because they couldnt recognize some of them. The damage he did was unspeakable, Pedraza said of the alleged killer, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos. Nineteen children and two teachers were fatally shot in the massacre before a Border Patrol special agent fatally shot the attacker. Pedraza said yesterday it felt like God had left Uvalde, although the community prayer evening was restorative. Yesterday just felt very distant, she said. Just seeing that people have come together [tonight] in such an amazing way to pray, it just shows you that Gods in our midst and Hes going to help us in the days forward to get through this. Uvalde has a population of about 16,000, and everyone knows someone who was affected by the shooting. Its in a rural agriculture and ranching area that sits between the U.S.Mexico border and San Antonio. A row of golden retriever therapy dogs sat at the entrance to the arena, and children and adults alike gravitated toward them. Bonnie Fear, the K-9 crisis response coordinator for Lutheran Church Charities, said her dog therapy team was invited to Uvalde to help bring comfort after the tragedy. People will either cry, or theyll smile and say, I needed this. It just brings out whatever theyre feeling, Fear said. Sometimes, I say were a ministry that makes people cry, because they hold it in. And when they see the dogs, they cry, or they laugh or they see that little glimmer of hopethat there is good in this world, and thats the message we want to get across. There is good in this world. Pete Arredondo, the chief of police for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, was outside the Fairplex hugging and comforting students as they emerged from the vigil. This is a good beginning, he said of the vigil. It needed to happen. Get everyone to reach for their faith. I saw a lot of shoulders drop, which means people started to breathe a little bit. And thats one of the first processeslearn to breathe again. Its good to see a good tight-knit community come together. The air was heavy with grief and disbelief as pastors encouraged the people of Uvalde to pray together and hold onto one another. It may be hard to see, it may be hard to understand or even believe, but God still loves you. God still loves those little children, one local pastor told the packed crowd in the rodeo arena stands. Many of the mourners wore the maroon merchandise of Uvalde High School. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Gov. Greg Abbott attended the vigil, both wiping away tears and praying with others. Sobs broke out and tears flowed as a violinist ended the vigil with Amazing Grace. Earlier in the day, Chris Vasquez, a pre-K teacher at the local Episcopal school, said she had talked to the parent of one of the two surviving children in the classroom. The young boy was shot in the shoulder but survived. He told his parents that the shooter walked in and said, OK, everybody, good night, and then opened fire. As a teacher, your job is to protect your students, they will do anything to protect their students, Vasquez said. The shooting happened during the final week of the school year, and all classes and associated activities were immediately canceled in Uvalde. Vasquez said on the day of the shooting, the children would have been excitedly sharing with their teachers about their plans for the upcoming summer holidays. Vasquez said she worries about when her 20-year-old son has children. I worry if he ever has children of his own, how difficult it would be to raise children in this age with all this violence going on in schools, she said. You hear it in other towns, but not here. Marilyn Olivarez, 15, a freshman at Uvalde High School, said she had attended Robb Elementary and knows a lot of the siblings of the children who were killed. I have no words, she said. Olivarez said shes a little bit fearful of returning to school in the fall, but I just kind of have trust in God that Ill be okay. Earlier, Abbott held a press conference to provide an update on the shooting. He said Ramos had shot his grandmother in the face at their home before heading to the elementary school. The grandmother remains in stable condition. Questions have emerged about the police response to the shooting, with several witnesses who had rushed to the scene saying that police waited to enter. Videos have surfaced of parents telling officers to go protect the kids! What are you doing? Get inside the building! a person yelled in one of the videos, while another screamed, Go protect the kids! Uvalde Chief of Police Daniel Rodriguez released a statement on May 26, saying, It is important for our community to know that our officers responded within minutes alongside Uvalde CISD officers. I understand questions are surfacing regarding the details of what occurred, Rodriguez said. I know answers will not come fast enough during this trying time, but rest assured that with the completion of the full investigation, I will be able to answer all the questions we can. Texas Department of Public Safety regional director Victor Escalon confirmed on May 26 that the suspect was not confronted before entering the school, contrary to prior reports that a school officer engaged with him outside the school. The school was unlocked, Escalon said. He refused to address questions during a media conference about the allegations that police officers could have confronted and eliminated the shooter more quickly, saying he would circle back once the investigation was further along. The Texas Rangers are leading the investigation into the massacre. The panel "Leaders for Europe's Digital Decade" at the 2022 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on May 25, 2022. The yearly meeting takes place from May 22 to 26 with heads of governments and economic leaders. (Eric Lalmand/Belga Mag/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) The World Economic Forum Wants Your Face Commentary The World Economic Forums (WEFs) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, recently ended. The theme of the five-day event, Working Together, Restoring Trust, was both vague and troubling, in equal measures. Remember, this is the WEF were discussing here, an international organization actively pushing The Great Reset. The theme could just as easily have read Suffering Together, Restoring Compliance. Among the many issues discussed, members focused on the spread of misinformation and disinformation. How, they asked, can the proliferation of harmful content be combated? Its easy, they answered, how about introducing digital IDs? The WEF recently rolled out the Global Coalition for Digital Safety, an initiative designed to accelerate public-private cooperation to tackle harmful content online. In an effort to remedy the scourge of malicious material, the WEF has brought together a diverse group of leaders who are well placed to exchange best practices for new online safety regulation and help millions of connected citizens improve digital media literacy. These diverse leaders include head honchos at the likes of Google, Microsoft, and Interpol, and a number of government ministers. Another coalition member is Yoti, a company that strives to make the internet a safer place. How so? Through the use of digital IDs. The dangers posed by digital IDs cant be emphasized enough. As the researcher Brett Solomona man who has tracked the advantages and perils of technology for human rights for more than a decadepreviously noted, the mass rollout of digital IDs poses one of the gravest risks to human rights of any technology that we have encountered. As we rush headlong into a future where new technologies will converge to make this risk much more severe, we must prepare ourselves for the dawn of near-perfect facial recognition technology and other identifiers, from the human gait to breath to iris, Solomon said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) addresses the assembly next to founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on May 26, 2022. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) According to the tech researcher, biometric databases of the not-too-distant future will be centralized in nature. Opaque in the extreme, our data will be harvested by the people in the highest positions imaginableyou know, the kind of people who travel to Davos for polite debates. Moreover, Solomon said, throw geolocation of identifiers into the mix, and you have a recipe for absolute chaos. Such identifiers track youmore specifically, the digital youin real time. You can run all you want, but you cant hide. The Panopticon Gets a Digital Upgrade Canada, a country with close ties to the WEF, is actively considering the use of digital IDs. According to the Canada Gazette, the countrys prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has spoken with airlines about introducing digital identity documents and biometric travel documents. Catherine Luelo, Canadas chief information officer, has also spoken about the need for digital identity. Luelo is currently spearheading Canadas digital innovation strategy, which seeks to introduce digital IDs across the entire public sector. Canadas plan is part of a broader plan, one that was initiated by the World Economic Forum. In a white paper released last year, authors at the WEF discussed the many ways in which digital ID programs would become an integral part of the financial services industry. Resistance is futile. Digital IDs may soon be the norm. In the United States, as analysts at Reclaim the Net recently reported, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is pushing for the introduction of digital IDs. The USPS wants to have a more prominent role in biometric data collection and digital ID services. More worryingly, the USPS has already partnered with the General Services Administration and the FBI, two prominent biometric data collection pilots. The bad news doesnt end there. As Ive discussed elsewhere, the Internal Revenue Service also wants your face. A facial recognition program is demonstrated during a biometrics conference in London, in this file photo. (Ian Waldie/Getty Images) Digital IDs Arent Compatible With Democracy Freedom House, an international group that was established to promote the idea of democracy, recently warned that when it comes to respecting democratic norms, such as the right to privacy, the United States is going backward. The countrys democratic institutions have suffered erosion, as reflected in partisan pressure on the electoral process, bias and dysfunction in the criminal justice system, harmful policies on immigration and asylum seekers, and growing disparities in wealth, economic opportunity, and political influence, Freedom House stated. Yes, but what about digital surveillance? What about the governments desire (and the organizations closely affiliated with the government) to spy on the American people? What about the push to mine people for data and use the information gathered to manipulate and control? For those who doubt that the United States is backsliding, please note that Argentina and Mongolia now rank higher on the democracy ladder, according to a Freedom House 2021 report. Whos to blame for the regression? The very people elected to keep citizens safe, I contend. The United States is fast becoming a first-world country with third-world protections for its people. No one should be happy about this. Well, almost no one, except, perhaps, the elites in Davos. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Businessman Tony Accurso arrives at the courthouse for sentencing in Laval, Que., July 5, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes) Tony Accurso, Former Quebec Construction Tycoon, Loses Appeal and Heading to Prison Quebecs highest court has upheld a sentence delivered to ex-construction magnate Tony Accurso, who is to report to prison before June 1. Accurso received a four-year prison term in 2018 in connection with what a Quebec court judge called one of the worst examples of municipal corruption to come before a Canadian court. A jury convicted Accurso on five fraud-related charges tied to a kickback scheme that saw companies receive lucrative public contracts in exchange for bribes to elected officials, including Gilles Vaillancourt, former mayor of Laval, Que., a Montreal suburb. But Accurso appealed that decision and after serving one week in prison, was released pending the results of the case. Quebecs Court of Appeal deliberated on the case for just over a year and on Thursday ordered Accurso to report to prison authorities before June 1. The kickback and fraud scheme lasted between 1996 and 2010 and was run by Vaillancourt, who pleaded guilty to fraud-related charges and received a six-year sentence. In October 2020, Accurso and several companies tied to him were ordered to pay a total of $4.2 million after pleading guilty to tax fraud. Accurso was ordered to pay $2 million of that amount. Empty shelves show a shortage of baby formula at a CVS store in San Antonio, Texas, on May 10, 2022. (Kaylee Greenlee Beal/File Photo/Reuters) Too Slow: FDA Admits Delayed Response to Complaints About US Baby Formula Plant The U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) initial response to complaints about Abbotts infant formula plant was too slow and some decisions could have been more optimal, the FDAs top official said while facing a grilling from lawmakers on Wednesday. FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf appeared before a congressional panel to answer questions about the FDAs handling of events that led to the biggest infant formula shortage in recent U.S. history after Abbott in February recalled some products and closed its Sturgis manufacturing plant. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), chair of the panel, raised the question of the timeline of FDAs investigation and response, citing a four-month lapse before returning to inspect the Sturgis facility, and a delay in contacting a former Abbott employee whistleblower. Lawmakers heard that senior FDA officials only saw the complaint in February because of pandemic-related mail routing issues. Califf acknowledged that the FDAs timeliness of interviewing the whistleblower and getting into the facility for a for-cause inspection were too slow. And some decisions in retrospect could have been more optimal. While there are many steps along the way where different actions could have sped up the sequence of events, to this day, I can find no evidence of intentional delay or malfeasance, he said. The FDA inspected the plant following reports of bacterial infections in babies allegedly linked to Abbotts formula, and the whistleblower complaint in late October. But an investigation by the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could not conclude that the egregiously unsanitary conditions at the Abbott plant caused the illnesses in the infants. However, we cannot rule it out either. Theres a confluence of events thats highly unusual. There is no dispute that the facility was unacceptably unsanitary, as evidenced by the consent decree. Frankly, the inspection results were shocking, he said. Califf noted that inspectors found cracks in vital equipment, a lack of adequate handwashing, evidence of previous bacterial contamination, and water leaks in areas where formula is produced, a risk factor for bacteria. It is critical to return the Sturgis plant to safe production of infant formula as soon as possible, Califf said, because Abbott holds the largest market share in America, leaving it with a responsibility to produce safe formula that was not met. Abbott did not have a contingency plan to produce its lines of specialty formulas that serve as the only source of nutrition for thousands of babies with metabolic disorders, lawmakers heard. We will do everything in our power to work with Abbott to make this happen as quickly and safely as possible. But this timing is in Abbotts control, Califf said. Reflecting on the FDAs role in exacerbating the formula shortage, Califf cited chronic underfunding of the FDA as one issue that needs to be addressed, hinting that you will see changes in the future. Our requests for funding and authority are essential in concert with improved operations and leadership, he said. For the sake of expediency, the FDA entered a consent decree with Abbott, which allows the company to avoid litigation by pledging to voluntary act to improve and address deficiencies. An outside official will have full oversight of every single step. Abbott said on Tuesday that it planned to reopen the plant on June 4. Meanwhile, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Tuesday launched an inquiry into the ongoing shortage of formula. In a statement, the FTC said the inquiry seeks information on the nature and prevalence of any deceptive, fraudulent, or otherwise unfair business practices aimed at taking advantage of families during this shortage. The inquiry also seeks to find out what factors have led to concentration in the infant formula market and the fragility of the supply chains for these crucial products, the FTC said. Reuters and Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report. Top Democrat Blocks Legislation Aimed at Preventing School Shootings Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blocked legislation on May 25 that proponents say could help prevent school shootings. The legislation, known as the Luke and Alex School Safety Act, would require the Department of Homeland Security to establish a clearinghouse on the best school safety practices after consulting with education, justice, and health officials. Its pretty simple. It just creates a clearinghouse of information of the best practices for school safety. It ensures that parents, teachers, school officials, and other stakeholders have input into what those best practices are. It doesnt allow the clearinghouse to mandate any school to take any certain action. Maybe most importantly, it publishes the available grant programs and federal resources available for school safety, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said on the Senate floor in Washington. The bill is named for Luke Hoyer and Alex Schachter, who were both killed when a man with a gun opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida in 2018. Its backed by the parents of the boys. Its a good idea. It could save lives. It is an action, when people are calling for action following this tragedy, Johnson said. He asked for unanimous consent for the legislation. That enables a bill to pass with no recorded vote, but also opens up the possibility that a single senator could block the request. Schumer blocked it, referencing the mass shooting that took place this week in Uvalde, Texas. The sad truth about that shooting is that hardening schools, or ramping up prevention techniques and strategies, would have done nothing to prevent the shooting, Schumer said. In fact, there were guards and police officers already at the school yesterday when the shooter showed up. One was a school police officer, two were from the Uvalde Police Department. The shooter got past all of them, with two assault weapons that he purchased. They couldnt stop him, Schumer said. The bill would not have protected those children. More guns wont protect our children. That is the wrong answer. He said he was open to adding the bills language as an amendment to a bill he supports, but only if Republicans voted for it. Johnson responded, saying that he would not engage in partisanship, other than to say it is just sad. It is just sad that this body cant pass this bill, when about a month ago, they passed an identical bill that applied to churches. This one applies to schools, and yet its inappropriate, according to the majority leader, to pass this nonpartisan bill by unanimous consent, he said. The Senate is in negotiations on different measures regarding guns, but with its 5050 divide between Republicans and Democrats, few of them, if any, are expected to be approved. Max Schachter, Alexs father, denounced the blocking of the bill. I hoped after 21 were murdered in Uvalde, partisan politics would be put aside, he wrote on Twitter. I WAS WRONG. Police officers work at the scene where police shot a suspect who was walking down a city street carrying a gun, in Toronto on May 26, 2022. (Reuters/Chris Helgren) Police Kill Armed Man Near Toronto School Police shot and killed an armed man seen walking on a street in east Toronto as five nearby schools went in lockdown as a precautionary measure. Toronto Police Chief James Ramer said in a media briefing that police responded to a report of an armed man in the area, and fired after the gunman confronted them. Ramer said he couldnt provide further details, citing ongoing investigations.. The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said on Twitter that schools including William G Davis Junior Public School, Joseph Howe Senior Public School, and Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate Institute went under lockdown, while Charlottetown Junior Public School and Centennial Road Junior Public School were in Hold & Secure as a result of police investigation. As of roughly 3 p.m., the lockdowns in all schools were lifted, the TDSB said. Toronto police said on Twitter that they located the man between Maberley Crescent and Oxhorn Rd, which is roughly 200 metres away from the William G Davis JPS. A police officer works at the scene where police shot a suspect who was walking down a city street carrying a gun in Toronto on May 26, 2022. (Reuters/Chris Helgren) Police officers work at the scene where police shot a suspect who was walking down a city street carrying a gun in Toronto on May 26, 2022. (Reuters/Chris Helgren) Police said there is no wider threat to public safety and parents can pick up their children at the schools. The incident follows the tragic killing of 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Texas on May 24. I certainly understand the trauma and how traumatic this must have been for staff, students and parents, given the recent events that have happened in the United States, Ramer said. Ramer said Toronto police are investigating the incident. I dont want to speculate and suggest that its something similar to whats happening in the United States, he added, saying further investigations are being conducted. He also said police is setting up patrols in the area and continue to work with our school and community partners and services will be available for those that require those services. Reuters contributed to this report. Editors note: This article was updated to add more details about the incident. Conservative leadership hopefuls (L-R) Pierre Poilievre, Patrick Brown, Scott Aitchison, Leslyn Lewis, Jean Charest and Roman Baber take part in the Conservative Party of Canada French-language leadership debate in Laval, Quebec on May 25, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz) Tory Candidates Take on China Policy in French Leadership Debate Tory leadership candidates presented their approach to China policy during the French-language debate on May 25, providing their response to the moderators question, What, as prime minister, would be your attitude to China? Moderator Marc-Olivier Fortin prefaced his question with the context that China has now taken control of Hong Kong, and is expected to attack Taiwans sovereignty, which will pose a threat to Canada since Taiwan produces 92 percent of the [computer] chips we use every day. Candidate Patrick Brown answered first, saying while its important to defend human rights, it is also crucial to support trade that is vital to Canadas interests. He suggested sending B.C.s liquefied natural gas to China as a way to help China fight climate change. And it is a way to improve relations with China that became worse under [former] Prime Minister [Stephen] Harper, he said. Jean Charest, a former Quebec premier, said there is a need for Canada to reformulate and review its foreign policy. We can see that our U.S. allies were always with us, and now thats no longer happening, he said, while noting China is emerging as a superpower. Charest said the fact that U.S. President Joe Biden did not invite Canada to a recent meeting with 12 other Indo-Pacific countries to create a new economic zone with a focus on Asia-Pacific, says a lot about how the allies are now perceiving Canada. Why is that? Because we are insignificant in the eyes of our allies, Charest said. Were missing in action in Asia. Charest proposed reaching more economic agreements with ASEAN countries and contributing to the security of the new zone with allies including the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Pierre Poilievre said he believes Canada can advance its economic interests with China while also defending its principles and values. That is why I support the rights of Taiwan, which is a democracy in Asia, and we need to maintain good relations with Taiwan, he said. We also need to stand up for human rights in China. And that is why I voted to condemn the treatment of Uyghur people, of Christians, and of other minorities in China. We can do both at the same timethat is what we did with the Harper government. Independent MPP Roman Baber said he is not afraid of China, and if elected prime minister, he would strategize with Canadas allies in dealing with the communist regime. Justin Trudeau was too easy on China. China is putting Uyghur people in concentration camps. They are stealing our intellectual property. They are threatening to turn Taiwan into another Hong Kong, he said. Baber stressed that having lived under the communist reign of the Soviet Union when he was a kid showed him we must never be afraid of facing whats wrong. It is time to face up to China, to stand up to China, he added. Leslyn Lewis, an MP for Haldimand-Norfolk, said trade with China is no longer based on cooperation, but rather on confrontation. That is the new reality. We need to establish new policies that take this new reality into account, she said. Ontario MP Scott Aitchison said while it is good that the federal government recently banned Chinese telecommunications Huawei Technologies from the countrys 5G network, there is still a need to examine all security threats created by the hesitation of Justin Trudeaus government. China uses its military and economic power to sow instability, undermine world security in the Indo Pacific region, and violates human rights in the most flagrant way we are seeing in the world today, he said. Aitchison said he was also supportive of Taiwans sovereignty. We need to recognize Taiwan as an independent, sovereign democratic country, he said. Spar Over Huawei During the debate, Poilievre called on Charest to disclose the details about his consulting work for Huawei after leaving provincial politics. Are you going to disclose how much you were paid by Huawei? And secondly, are you going to disclose the contract that you or your company had with Huawei so that Canadians learn all the details of the work you did for Huawei? Poilievre said. Charest defended himself, saying he had not undertaken any assignment that goes contrary to Canadas interests. The first thing Id like to say is that I never worked on any issue that would jeopardize the interests of my country, he said. And secondly, I am proud to have contributed something that has been confirmed, that I contributed to helping releasing Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig. Cherest had previously worked as a member of the McCarthy Tetrault law firm that was hired in January 2020 to provide strategic advice to Chinese telecom giant Huawei following Canadas arrest of the companys senior executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition request. Days after Mengs arrest, the two Canadian men Spavor and Kovrig were arbitrarily detained in Chinese prisons for over 1,000 days in what is widely viewed as retaliation by Beijing. Charest also counselled the Beijing-linked company in its bid for Ottawas approval to sell equipment for the construction of Canadas 5G networks. Canadas closest allies have banned Huawei from their 5G networks due to security concerns. Spavor and Kovrig were freed last September after Meng reached a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Justice Department. She was released soon after by Canada. (L-R) Conservative Party leadership candidates Patrick Brown, Leslyn Lewis, Scott Aitchison, Pierre Poilievre, Jean Charest, and Roman Baber pose for photos after the French-language debate in Laval, Que., on May 25, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz) Tory Leadership French Debate Reflects Vitriolic Turn of Race Commentary The Conservative Party of Canadas (CPC) French leadership debate in Laval, Que., was better than the odd spectacle in Edmonton when the use of trombone sound effects and paddles as props made more news than the views of the candidates. The debate was not dominated by shouting and fireworks as was the Ottawa debate hosted by the Canada Strong and Free Network. It was well moderated by Marc-Olivier Fortin who kept a solid hand on the event. All that said, it still wasnt terribly productive as it was dominated by a form of muted vitriol. Fortin was forced to chide the audience several times as they cheered and clapped for extended periods for Jean Charest and often booed Pierre Poilievre. It was a contrast to prior debates where Poilievre supporters appeared to be dominant in the audience. Charest needs to have a solid showing in Quebec if he is to win the leadership race and his team was clearly well-organized in ensuring that supporters came out to the event. Dr. Leslyn Lewis and Roman Baber read from prepared statements on issues but didnt take much part in debate exchanges due to their limited abilities in speaking French. Scott Aitchisons French was more solid but he remained predominantly a background figure in the debate and stuck to his notes. The discourse was dominated by Patrick Brown, Jean Charest, and Pierre Poilievre. Things remained relatively civil for the first half-hour of the debate. Then Brown came out of the blue and accused Poilievre of being a supporter of jailed activist Pat King and implied that Poilievre supports racists. Brown remained focused for the rest of the evening on trying to accuse Poilievre of racism or extremism whenever possible. When asked about policies on China, Brown accused Poilievre of supporting hate speech on his Twitter account. When asked about economic development, Brown said that Poilievre would never get pipelines built because indigenous people dont trust him. It is becoming evident that Patrick Browns campaign is more based on ensuring that Poilievre loses rather than trying to win the race himself. It became tiresome hearing the constant accusations against Poilievre in the debate. Being the presumptive front-runner, Poilievre did draw fire from all the candidates. His digital currency policies were harshly criticized, with Brown accusing Poilievre of embracing the economic polices of El Salvador, which uses Bitcoin as legal tender. Charest stated with irony that it was nice that Poilievre hadnt called for the firing of the head of the Bank of Canada yet in the debate. The main stances of the candidates can be summarized as: Aitchison: Canadas system is broken, and he can unite Canadians and repair it. Baber: Focused on individual freedoms and rights; a strong stance against Quebecs controversial Bill 21 which bans the wearing or display of religious items by civil servants. Brown: Can win elections for the CPC and will win in urban ridings where other candidates cant. Charest: Will win and unify Canada through partnerships with provinces and respect for provincial rights. Points to his experience as a premier in giving him the ability to make deals and bring Canadians together. Lewis: Strongly supportive of individual rights and rights of conscience. A nod to social conservatives. Poilievre: Supports economic reforms, protection of individual freedoms, and the right to be wrong. He is trying to balance respecting the Truckers Convoy protest rights while still distancing himself from their messaging and organizers. If anybody could be declared a victor in the debate, it would be Jean Charest. Charest remained focused on his campaign points while only occasionally taking time out to take shots at Poilievre. Many of Poilievres points were lost as he was constantly on the defensive and fending off attacks from Patrick Brown. The debate made it clear that the CPC leadership race is a two-person affair. Charest and Poilievre are presenting divergent views for the party. Poilievre is taking a small-c conservative stance with a strong emphasis on individual rights and reforming the system. Charest is an establishment candidate with a red-Tory leaning who wants to work within the system. Having two distinct choices makes for a good competitive race, but it can also lead to dividing the party. This leadership race is taking a much more personal and combative tone than the last two CPC races. Whoever the winner may be, he or she will have a tough task uniting the party after drawing such distinct ideological lines within it. If the new leader of the CPC is to have any hope of winning the next general election, he or she will have to bring the party together before then. This task may prove impossible if the leadership race continues to be as vitriolic and divisive as it has to date. The top candidate for the leadership may win the immediate battle, but lose the war in the long run. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. President Donald Trump gestures to guests at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum at the 148th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 26, 2019. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Trump Says US Needs Real Leadership After Texas School Shooting, Commits to Speak at NRA Convention Former President Donald Trump said he will still deliver his scheduled speech at the National Rifle Associations (NRA) annual meeting in Houston on May 27, following the deadly school shooting in Uvalde that killed 19 students and two teachers. America needs real solutions and real leadership in this moment, not politicians and partisanship. Thats why I will keep my longtime commitment to speak in Texas at the NRA Convention and deliver an important address to America, Trump said in a statement released on his Truth Social account on May 25. Trump added, In the meantime, we all continue to pray for the victims, their families, and for our entire nationwe are all in this together! On May 24, Salvador Ramos shot his 66-year-old grandmother at home where he lived, before driving her car to Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. He then used a semi-automatic rifle, which he purchased legally in March, to commit the mass shooting. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said there was no meaningful forewarning of the shooting, apart from three separate Facebook posts Ramos made before he arrived at the school, during a briefing on May 25. The final two posts said I shot my grandmother and Im going to shoot an elementary school. The NRA has since released a statement, saying its deepest sympathies are with the families and victims involved in this horrific and evil crime. On behalf of our members, we salute the courage of school officials, first responders and others who offered their support and services, the group said. Although an investigation is underway and facts are still emerging, we recognize this was the act of a lone, deranged criminal. As we gather in Houston, we will reflect on these events, pray for the victims, recognize our patriotic members, and pledge to redouble our commitment to making our schools secure, the NRA concluded. The NRA meeting, hosted by the groups Institute for Legislative Action (ILA), is scheduled to take place from May 27 through May 29 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, which is located about a four-hour drive east of Robb Elementary School. According to Politico, two other scheduled speakers, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), have said they will not attend the NRA convention but not because of the mass shooting. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, still intends to give her scheduled speech at the event, according to the outlet. According to the NRA, Abbott, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, and NRA-ILA Executive Director Jason Ouimet are on the agenda as other confirmed speakers. It is unclear if Cruz still plans to attend the event. Weve seen too many of these shootings. No parent should have to bear the pain of burying their child. We need to come together, as one nation, and support Uvalde as they try to heal from this devastating loss, Cruz said in a statement following the shooting. In May, when the NRA announced that Trump would speak at the convention, LaPierre said NRA members were excited to hear the former president speak, according to a statement. It is truly an honor to have President Trump address NRA members for the sixth time at our 2022 NRA-ILA Leadership Forum in Houston, LaPierre said. President Trump delivered on his promises by appointing judges who respect and value the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and in doing so helped ensure the freedom of generations of Americans. In May 2018, Trump used his speech at the annual NRA meeting to rally supporters to vote for Republicans in the midterm elections. R | 2 episodes | Documentary | May 30, 2022 (USA) He was a transformational president by any progressive measure. Unfortunately, by dividing the Republican opposition, he helped elect Woodrow Wilson (who dramatically turned back the clock for Civil Rights when he segregated the federal government). In so many ways, Theodore Roosevelt reshaped America, even through his strategic mistakes. There is much then to consider when TRs life and legacy are chronicled in History Channels two-night documentary-special, Theodore Roosevelt. Like History Channels Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt is also directed by Malcolm Venville and based on Leadership: In Turbulent Times, written by Doris Kearns Goodwin, who again serves as an executive producer and the lead on-camera commentator. Melissa Myburgh as Alice Lee In Theodore Roosevelt. (History Channel) Turbulent Times TRs public life did indeed encompass turbulent years, spanning the Spanish American War and World War I. However, the greatest crisis he faced as president was a coal strike that threatened to hamstring the economy and plunge Americas urban population into freezing temperatures as the winter approached. Theodore Roosevelt also employs dramatic vignettes to illustrate significant episodes from Roosevelts life that are similar in style and duration to that of the prior Lincoln two-parter. Stand-In Actors However, the Roosevelt dramatizations really feel like standard documentary re-enactments, with actors merely standing-in for the figures in TRs life. In contrast, Graham Sibleys performance breathed life into Lincoln in a way that transcended the docudrama format. Jandre Le Roux as William Sewell in Theodore Roosevelt. (History Channel) Regardless, much of what you think you knew about TR is largely correct. He was a sickly child, who built up his once-frail body through sheer determination, eventually becoming quite the outdoorsman. However, it was the father he idolized, Theodore Roosevelt Sr., who instilled in him a sense of duty and a passion for public service, which eventually spurred him to embrace progressive causes, for the benefit of New Yorks growing immigrant underclass. (Ironically, Roosevelt Sr. helped found the American Museum of Natural History, which recently generated debate by removing a statue of TR because the accompanying figures were deemed racially insensitive.) Goodwin and company largely ignore current controversies (and the unfortunate implications of Wilsons presidency). However, they duly examine Roosevelts record on Civil Rights, mostly giving him mixed grades. Roosevelt gets due credit for hiring increased numbers of black Americans for federal government positions and inviting Booker T. Washington to dine with him at the White House. At the time, their meeting created an uproar (and became the subject of Scott Joplins now-lost opera A Guest of Honor). On the other hand, TR is criticized for his subsequent reluctance to push for more significant reforms. Given the current level of national discourse, Theodore Roosevelts historians are surprisingly even-handed and rational when addressing such topics. Focus on Domestic Affairs Of course, the talking heads are eager to celebrate TR for his trust-busting and social welfare policies. A great deal of time is devoted to his early progressive years, but the most interesting might be his stint rooting out corruption as New York Citys police commissioner. Once again, his larger-than-life man-of-action persona served him well. Melissa Myburgh as Alice Roosevelt Longworth in Theodore Roosevelt. (History Channel) Goodwin et al point to the Coal Strike of 1902 as the pivotal moment in his presidency. It certainly cautions presidents of the perils of ignoring artificial disruptions of the supply chain. However, the two-parter has relatively little time for Roosevelts foreign policy, beyond the Panama Canal, which is largely positioned as an economically motivated endeavor. In fact, there is no mention of the Roosevelt Corollary or his Nobel Prize for mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese War, which were kind of big deals. Starting and ending the two-parter with Roosevelts Man in the Arena speech is also a bit of an obvious cliche. Still, the lack of overtly canceling rhetoric in Theodore Roosevelt is refreshing. The dearth of partisan political figures is also welcome (but perhaps also telling of the times). It is nice to hear from his great-grandson Tweed, but some New Yorkers might also have wished to hear from Teddy Roosevelt IV, a Vietnam-era Navy SEAL, who shows that service continues to be a tradition in the Roosevelt family. When watching History Channels Theodore Roosevelt, you can find episodes and statements to support a wide array of political positions. That means they did a decent job of capturing his complexity. Gavin Werner as William Howard Taft In Theodore Roosevelt. (History Channel) Still, the docu aspects of the docudrama definitely work better than the dramatic segments. Recommended for history buffs (especially those more concerned with domestic policy rather than foreign affairs), Theodore Roosevelt premieres on May 30, 2022 on History Channel. Theodore Roosevelt Director: Scott McGehee and David Siegel Running Time: 2 episodes Release Date: May 30, 2022 Rating: 3 out of 5 Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng speaking at the the Northern Ireland Business and Innovation Showcase at the QEII Centre in Westminster, London, on Sept. 15, 2021. (Victoria Jones/PA) UK Government to Probe Chinese Takeover of UKs Largest Microchip Factory The acquisition of Britains biggest microchip factory by a Chinese-owned technology company is to face a full national security assessment. After weeks of pressure from politicians and concerns issued from Washington, the UKs Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng confirmed the government would examine whether the takeover of Newport Wafer Fab by Nexperia, a subsidiary of the Chinese smartphone manufacturer Wingtech Technology, would pose a threat to national security. There will now be a full assessment under the new National Security and Investment Act, announced Kwarteng on Twitter. He added, We welcome overseas investment, but it must not threaten Britains national security. Netherlands-based Nexperia inked a 63 million ($80 million) deal last year to acquire Newport Wafer Fab, which is located in south Wales and makes silicon wafers. Initially, the government concluded after a probe in March by the UKs national security adviser there were insufficient reasons to block the deal because it was believed the company produced outdated technology. But with multiple contracts with the UK government, including defence-related projects, the government has been forced to investigate the deal again. The sale of Britains biggest microchip plant, which employs 450 staff, to the Chinese drew ire and disbelief inside the UK and elsewhere, especially from across the Atlantic where nine U.S. congressmen, including the lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), signed a letter last month demanding urgent action by the UK government to overturn the acquisition. The takeover serves as a critical test case of Britains willingness to address a shared security concern regarding critical technology their letter said. Global Shortage Investment screening specialist Datenna, which carries out research on Chinese investments and acquisitions for governments, found during an analysis of Wingtechs shareholders that the companyfounded by CEO Zhang Xuezheng, also known as Mr. Wingwas heavily backed by the Chinese Communist Party. The Datenna report cited the Chinese state-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, as well as specific Chinese regime-run semiconductor investment funds. Added to the anxiety is the ongoing global shortage of computer chips which has been exacerbated by pandemic-related lockdowns. Theyre so important to modern manufacturing, semiconductors are regarded as an vital strategic asset. The new investigation is the first under the National Security and Investment Act, which came into force in January. The government now has the power to intervene, including retrospectively, in acquisitions on national security grounds, and has 30 working days to carry out its assessment. It could force the company to reduce its shareholding back to the 14 percent it originally owned. Last year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he did not want to drive Chinese investment away from Britain because of an anti-China spirit. But increasing fears that Chinese state-backed companies were acquiring key parts of Britains infrastructure and national assets, and amid a political and public backlash over Beijings human rightsincluding the clampdown in Hong Kongand aggressive economic expansionism, has forced a wholesale rethink of the UKSino relationship. Undated handout photograph of Jeton Memia, who is wanted by the National Crime Agency. Picture released in England on May 24, 2022. (National Crime Agency) UK National Crime Agency Arrest 4 Over Illegal Immigrant Cannabis Farm Britains National Crime Agency (NCA) has arrested four men and is searching for a fifth after raiding cannabis farms in north Wales and the north of England which had been run by illegal immigrants from Albania. During this weeks operation NCA officers seized crack cocaine and cannabis, cash, and two rigid inflatable boats (RIBS) which are popular with people traffickers bringing illegal immigrants across the English Channel from France and Belgium. NCA operations manager Julie Booker said: This is a complex investigation into organised crime groups that have been running cannabis farms across the country and facilitating illegal migrants into the UK to work in them. On Monday three men were arrested in Cheshire and north Wales on suspicion of drug cultivation and money laundering offences. A man in his 50s was later released on bail and a 28-year-old Albanian national was handed over to the UK Border Agency for processing as an illegal immigrant. The third man, who was in his 60s, was released but remains under investigation. Then on Tuesday the alleged ringleader, Trevor Williams, 61, was arrested at a house in Wrexham, north Wales, and is being questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to produce and supply controlled drugs and money laundering. The NCA is still trying to track down another Albanian national, Jeton Memia, 29, who has links to Manchester and Southend in Essex. The gang, which reportedly has links to an organised crime group in the western Balkans, is alleged to have brought Albanian illegal immigrants into Britain and then put them to work at a number of cannabis farms it owned. During the investigation police found Albanian illegal immigrants working at three cannabis farms in Leigh, near Manchester, Prestatyn on the north Wales coast, and the seaside resort of Blackpool in Lancashire. In 2020 criminology researchers from Cambridge University suggested many people running cannabis farms in Britain were actually doing it under duress to pay off debts to people trafficking gangs which had brought them into the country. Their report, co-authored by Detective Inspector Adam Ramiz of Surrey Police, said: While growersoften Vietnamese nationalsare not always imprisoned within farms, many work under threat of extreme violence towards themselves or family back home, with little in the way of language or contacts in the UK. UK government figures released in 2017 found 981 Albanian illegal immigrants had stowed away in the back of lorries coming into Britain between 2008 and 2016, twice as many as any other nationality. Arthur Labinjo-Hughes with his father Thomas Hughes and Thomass partner Emma Tustin taken at their home in Solihull on an unspecified date. (Family handout/West Midlands Police/PA) UK Review After Murders Urges Fundamental Shift in Protecting Children An independent national review into the deaths of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson has found they were not isolated incidents and suggested child protection needed to change fundamentally in England. The review team, led by Annie Hudson, the chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, said child protection teams made up of police officers, social workers, and NHS staff should be set up in every area. Emma Tustin, 32, was jailed for life in December for the murder of Arthurwhose father, Thomas Hughes, was her boyfriendin Solihull, near Birmingham. Two weeks later Savannah Brockhill was convicted of murdering her girlfriends daughter, Star Hobson, in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Hudson said: Arthur and Star suffered horrific and ultimately fatal abuse. But sadly, whilst their individual stories are unique, many hundreds of children are seriously harmed each year. Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi ordered the national review and on Thursday it published its findings. It said some social workers may have under-estimated the risk to Arthur and Star presented by Tustin and Brockwell given societal beliefs about women as caregivers. Undated photo of 16-month-old Star Hobson who died from utterly catastrophic injuries at her home in Keighley, West Yorkshire in September 2020. (West Yorkshire Police/Handout via PA) The report said there was also a mistaken early view taken that Thomas Hughes was a protective father and this was not challenged despite evidence to the contrary. It also criticised social workers who too easily accepted claims made by Savannah Brockhill and her girlfriend Frankie Smith that concerns raised by a relative were rooted in homophobia. The report said that in general concerns raised by relatives were too often disregarded and not properly investigated by police and social workers and there were also problems with information sharing and poor decision-making. The review also recommended the government establish a national child protection board to coordinate policy better. Undated family handout file photo of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, issued on Dec. 2, 2021. (West Midlands Police) Zahawi said: We must waste no time learning from the findings of this reviewenough is enough. I will set up a new child protection ministerial group, a first and immediate step in responding to these findings, before setting out a bold implementation plan later this year to bring about a fundamental shift in how we support better outcomes for our most vulnerable children and families. He added: Nothing is more tragic than the death of a child, but when that child dies as a result of abuse or neglect it is incomprehensible. The deaths of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson appalled the nation and highlighted the urgent need for action and change. Zahawi also praised social workers for their dedication but said, We must be honest about where we can strengthen the system so that it helps, never hinders, good decision-making for everyone involved in child protection, the police, health services and childrens services. During the review the panel interviewed almost 80 social workers, police officers, and other professionals in Bradford, Birmingham, and Solihull, and looked at 1,500 reviews of similar incidents. It said child protection work was often complex but the system did not allow professionals to cut through the bureaucratic fog to get to the truth of what life is like for children. Earlier this week Nathaniel Pope was jailed for life for murdering his girlfriends son, Kemarni Watson Darby, and the boys mother, Alicia Watson, was convicted of causing or allowing Kemarnis death. And on Wednesday Laura Castle was given a life sentence for murdering a baby boy she was hoping to adopt. PA Media contributed to this report. Russia is preparing a new law to seize properties of Western firms. Itll raise the stakes for global firms that are trying to leave the country over Moscows invasion of Ukraine. The UK is slapping a windfall tax on energy companies as they make record profits while energy prices are through the roof. Twitter will pay millions of dollars in fines after it was accused of using peoples data illegally to help advertisers. A car subscription service is raising money to expand in the United States and Europe. Is now a good time? John Deere is rolling out its first autonomous tractor for tilling. What impact could it have on farming? * Click the Save button below the video to access it later on My List. Follow EpochTV on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV Head of the Institute of Microbiology of the German Armed Forces Roman Woelfel works in his laboratory in Munich, on May 20, 2022, after Germany has detected its first case of monkeypox. (Christine Uyanik/Reuters) US Officials Now Offering Monkeypox Vaccines to Certain People Who Were Exposed Federal officials confirmed that a vaccine for the monkeypox virus is now being offered to health care workers who have been exposed, according to a White House official. Im happy to report, even with the first case in Boston at Massachusetts General Hospital, our colleagues across the government have been able to get vaccines to that hospital. And just yesterday theyve already started offering the vaccines to health care workers who have been exposed, Dr. Raj Panjabi, who leads the White Houses monkeypox response, told CNN this week. Monkeypox has been detected in several states, including New York and Massachusetts, in recent days. The World Health Organization (WHO) said officials are investigating 237 cases suspected and confirmed cases in 19 countries outside of Africa, where the virus is endemic. Its not clear if there have been any deaths associated with the outbreak. The first part is to identify those who are infected and to isolate them and make sure that they get the care they need, Panjabi added. The second part is to ensure we vaccinate those whove been exposed to the infected individuals. If we do that again and againand thats our approach at the White House and across the governmentthen we have a better chance of ending this outbreak. Health officials do not expect the outbreak to morph into a pandemic like COVID-19 as the virus does not spread as easily as the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Monkeypox, a relative of smallpox, is a considered mild viral infection that is endemic in west and central Africa. In a file electron microscope image, Monkeypox virions, left, in a sample of human skin. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP) Meanwhile, WHO and CDC officials this week said that monkeypox is being primarily spread via sexual contact, while suggesting that homosexual males are the primary vector for the virus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) website says that the Jynneos-made smallpox vaccine is also effective against monkeypox. Because monkeypox virus is closely related to the virus that causes smallpox, the smallpox vaccine can protect people from getting monkeypox, the agencys website says. Smallpox and monkeypox vaccines are effective at protecting people against monkeypox when given before exposure to monkeypox. Experts also believe that vaccination after a monkeypox exposure may help prevent the disease or make it less severe. Jennifer McQuiston, the CDCs deputy director, told news outlets earlier this week that the United States has a stockpile of 100 million smallpox vaccines if it is needed. I just dont think it rises to the level of the kind of concern that existed with COVID-19, and the smallpox vaccine works for it, President Joe Biden told reporters in Tokyo on Monday when asked if the United States would employ a mandatory quarantine for the virus. Belgium, which reportedly hosted an event that spread monkeypox, said last week that it would require anyone infected to isolate for 21 days after several cases were confirmed in the European nation. Two years of excessive screen time at home and the disengagement of online learning have left students struggling, falling behind, and adrift in a sea of depression.(Dreamstime/TNS) US Schools Facing Mass Exodus of Teachers Who Wont Return This Fall With the end of the academic year in sight, an overwhelming number of educators are planning to close the book on their teaching careers. Much of this stems from post-pandemic classroom behavioral challenges with students and ongoing staff shortages that create excessive workloads for teachers. Many educators who have 25 years or more under their belt are opting to retire, but even less seasoned ones are walking away and choosing different career paths. Back in February, the National Education Association (NEA) released a study conducted by GBAO Strategies that revealed a startling 55 percent of teachers planned to leave their profession ahead of schedule. The NEA is the most prominent teachers union in the United States and represents 3 million educators. Widespread educator shortages pre-date the arrival of COVID-19, but the pandemic also served as the last straw for many, kicking off the trend of an early departure. A RAND study from January 2021 showed nearly a quarter of those surveyed expressed the desire to quit after just one year of teaching during the pandemic. Students and parents arrive masked for the first day of the school year at Grant Elementary School in Los Angeles, California, on Aug. 16, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) The average national turnover rate was only 16 percent before COVID-19. However, in 2021, that number jumped to 25 percent. This year, 80 percent of NEA members reported that unfilled job openings at schools have led to more work obligations for the educators whove chosen to stay in their profession. I think people are leaving because its all too much. Its a firestorm. Its all eroding, Heidi Rickard told The Epoch Times. Rickard has been an educator since 1999. After spending some time teaching in Colorado Springs, she put down roots in the Alameda Unified school district in the San Francisco bay area. She explained that many veteran teachers just cant take it anymore and are leaving due, in part, to the scale of mental health challenges students brought back to the classroom after two years of online learning. As a veteran teacher, when the best of my best isnt working, thats so defeating, Rickard said. Two years of excessive screen time at home and the disengagement of online learning have left students struggling, falling behind, and adrift in a sea of depression. COVID-19 and its subsequent restrictions created a mental health crisis for youth, which is now manifesting as aggressive or excessively troublesome behavior in the classroom. In October 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Childrens Hospital Association acknowledged the pandemic-fueled decline in child and adolescent mental health had become a national emergency. Students walk to their classrooms at a public middle school in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 10, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) And the dire shortage of counselors in school districts to assist students has added to this. Rickard noted, We havent had a counselor all year. Nobody even applied. Findings from a joint study on the role of school counselors from the Connecticut State Department of Education, the Connecticut School Counselor Association, and the Center for School Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst revealed schools with fewer students and more counselors had lower rates of student suspensions and disciplinary actions. Former superintendent, educator, and school counselor Gary Marks spent decades working in Nebraska schools. He agreed that student counseling and support for teachers in the classroom have hit a critical point. You need way more counselors when youre having all these mental health issues, Marks told The Epoch Times. For example, he pointed to where his grandchildren go to school in Tennessees Farragut school district, which has only two counselors for about 600 students. He also thinks a general lack of respect for educators underscores why more are leaving their jobs early, and others are reluctant to apply. The respect situation is just a huge issue, he said. Marks was candid when asked about the difficulties of hiring new talent in schools. I dont know right now, given the way the world is, if Id be interested in being a classroom teacher. Yet the struggle to keep existing educators and hire new ones is only half the battle. A new report from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education indicates that university students pursuing teaching degrees are declining. In 2019, U.S. colleges awarded fewer than 90,000 undergraduate degrees in education. Thats down from nearly 200,000 a year in the 1970s. Over the past 10 years alone, the number of people completing traditional teacher preparation programs has dropped by 35 percent. This is a five-alarm crisis, said NEA president Becky Pringle. One of the hurdles administrators face amid the staff scarcity is a lengthy certification and training process even after qualified university graduates apply to teach. I want to continue teachinghowever, Im being forced out, Lisa Carley Hotaling told The Epoch Times. Having taught in Michigan and New York, Hotaling found herself between a rock and a hard place after she took a teaching job in California as an emergency hire in the Alameda Unified school district. Despite already having a masters degree and more than a decade of education and classroom experience, she still has to take the California Basic Skills Test (CBEST) and go back to school specifically for her masters in education to continue teaching. That only gives me a one year credential, Hotaling explained. [Then] Ill be required to return to school to do what Im already doing in the classroom. It makes no sense. And I have to pay for further education on top of it? Last year, the Golden State eliminated the requirement for the CBEST and the California Subject Matter Exams for Teachers (CSET) to earn a teaching credential, so long as the applicants complete approved coursework. A student takes a standardized test in a file photo. (SIAATH/Shutterstock) Yet, some districts still want their educators to complete the additional screening, despite a shortage of educators. Its very tricky to fill positions, Heather Dutton told The Epoch Times. Dutton has been a math instructor for nine years in the Community Learning Center Schools in the San Francisco Bay area. She explained a lot of time is spent training a teacher who may leave if theyre not a good fit. This happens more often with newer teachers because Dutton says the first three years are profoundly challenging. I went into COVID with seven years of teaching experience. If your first three hellish years are on top of a pandemic, it would just crush you, Dutton said. We lost a lot of teachers before the pandemic anyway, maybe 30 percent. But if you started in the middle of this horrible pandemic people think its just too hard and can get paid as much or more doing something else. And the lack of substitute teachers has created a disproportionately high workload for the educators who remain. The sub [teacher] shortage is awful. We havent had subs all year, I think the pool of them dried up during COVID, Dutton noted. Additionally, Rickard says the lack of substitutes makes it nearly impossible to be gone for even a day. I feel guilty if I have to take a day off. Theres literally no one to cover. It leaves everybody in a bind. Dutton mentioned that in the high schools in her district, only three teachers would return in the fall. The rest will be new hires. If all the veteran people give upwhere will we be? Rickard asked. Eliahna Garcia, Tess Mata, and Uziyah Garcia in undated photos. (Siria Arizmendi via AP; Courtesy of Tess Matas Family via Reuters; Manny Renfro via AP) Here Are All the 21 Victims Who Died in the Texas School Shooting The identities of the 21 people, including 19 children, who were slain in a Texas school shooting on May 24 have been identified. Eva Mireles, 44, is one of two teachers killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, according to her aunt, Lydia Martinez Delgado, who spoke to ABC7. Mireles daughter, Adalynn, paid tribute to her mother on Wednesday morning, writing in a Twitter post: My sweet mommy, I will miss you forever. Xavier Lopez, 10, was identified as another victim, his cousin, Lisa Garza, told The Associated Press. He was just a loving 10-year-old little boy, just enjoying life, not knowing that this tragedy was going to happen today, said Garza, according to the AP. Manny Renfro lost his 8-year-old grandson, Uziyah Garcia, in the shooting. The sweetest little boy that Ive ever known, Renfro said. Im not just saying that because he was my grandkid. Uziyah Garcia in San Angelo, Texas, in March 2022. (Manny Renfro via AP) Jailah Silguero, a 10-year-old who was slain Tuesday, loved to film TikTok videos, said her mom, Veronica Luevanos, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. She told her father, Can I stay home?' Luevanos also told Univision. I think she knew something would happen. Jailahs cousin also died in the shooting. Alexandria Aniyah Rubio, one of the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in an undated photograph obtained from social media. (Courtesy of Alexandria Aniyah Rubios Family via Reuters) Irma Garcia, another teacher who died, was remembered on a GoFundMe page as a mother to four children. Sweet, kind, loving. Fun with the greatest personality, the page read. She sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom. She was a hero. Angel Garza, a medical assistant with a step daughter at the school, arrived soon after the shooting and found himself aiding students streaming out injured and shaken up. One girl was covered in blood and he asked if she had been shot. Im not hurt. He shot my best friend, the girl said. Shes not breathing. She was just trying to call the cops. And then she named the friend, Amerie Jo Garza, his stepdaughter. Amerie was a happy child who had just gotten her first cell phone for turning 10 and had just gotten a certificate the morning of the shooting for making the honor roll. She also loved to paint and draw and work with clay. Eliahna Garcias parents, Stephen Garcia and Jennifer Lugo, said that she, too, died in the shooting. Relatives of 10-year-old Eliahna Garcia recalled her love of family. She was very happy and very outgoing, said Eliahnas aunt, Siria Arizmendi, a fifth-grade teacher at Flores Elementary School in the same district. She loved to dance and play sports. She was big into family, enjoyed being with the family. Tess Matas sister, Faith Mata, remembered the girl in a Twitter post, confirming her death. My precious angel you are loved so deeply, Faith wrote. In my eyes you are not a victim but a survivor. I love you always and past forever baby sister, may your wings soar higher then you could ever dream. Till we meet again Tess Marie, love your big sissy. Tess Mata in an undated image obtained from social media. (Courtesy of Tess Matas Family via Reuters) A GoFundMe account said that Jayce Luevanos was another victim. The Cardona family is asking for any and all help both monetarily, for funeral expenses, as well as prayers for their family, the page says. Eliahana Elijah Cruz Torres, 10, was looking forward to her teams final softball game before her death, according to her aunt. I talked to her last night, her aunt told KENS-TV, and she was kind of nervous, saying that it was her last game, and she didnt want softball to end. Claudia Perez Sanchez confirmed that her family member died on social media. Prayers to all the families and kids. This is so heartbreaking, she said. In an updated post, Sanchez confirmed Maite was killed. Another victim Nevaeh Bravos death was confirmed by her cousin on Twitter, reported the Los Angeles Times. Unfortunately my beautiful Nevaeh was one of the many victims from todays tragedy, she wrote. Thank you for the support and help. Rest in peace my sweet girl, you didnt deserve this. Makenna Lee Elrods sister Kadence Elizabeth confirmed the childs death on Twitter Tuesday. My baby sister has finally been found in a classroom thank you for everyone sending their love to my family and I, she wrote. All I ask is that you hug your loved ones tonight and tell them you love them, you never know when you wont have the chance to anymore. Rosemarie Ramirez, the aunt of one of the victims, told People magazine that Alithia Ramirez was among those who died. I want the families to know that theyre not alone. Were all grieving, she says. My whole family is devastated. She loved to draw, Rosemarie said. Its the last thing she gave me. FBI public affairs officials arrive at the Uvalde High School auditorium for an update with state and local officials the day after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 25, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Jacinto Cazares, the father of 10-year-old Jackie Cazares, confirmed that the girl died inside her fourth-grade classroom on Tuesday. My baby girl has been taken away from my family and I, the father wrote online. Annabell Rodriguez, 10 also died in Tuesdays massacre, along with her cousin, Jackie Cazares, who was 10, according to Annabells aunt Polly Flores. Miranda Mathiss cousin Deanna Miller confirmed the 11-year-old girls death on social media: My sweet baby cousin we loved u dearly Im so sorry this happen to u baby please keep my family in your prayer. Salvador Ramos, 18, was identified by officials as the lone gunman in the shooting. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Ramos shot his grandmother in the head before carrying out his rampage at Robb Elementary. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Why Is a Premier City Like Anaheim So Mismanaged? Commentary It would be the last time I would enjoy a meal at Mr. Stox, the former landmark Anaheim, Calif., restaurant which has since closed. It was sentimentally special, as I had dinner there in high school for a prom night double date. I was there more than ten years ago to have lunch with The Walt Disney Companys vice president of government relations and a senior executive to discuss cable negotiations. Would the cable provider drop Disneys channel, or would it accept its increase in charges? The leverage game is serious stuff, and they figured the county supervisor, the position I held at the time, needed to know their side of the story. It would start a relationship with the Burbank-headquartered Disney government relations executive. She would write me in December of 2016, congratulating me on my re-election to the State Senate, providing mostly information of the Disneyland Resorts economic impact on Orange County. It would include the customary please feel free to contact us if we can ever be of service to you closer. So, I did. I let her know that I was not amused with what occurred in Anaheim during the 2016 city council race and the attacks that were made on Mayor Tom Tait and his successful re-election effort. It made no sense to me that Mayor Tait, a brilliant financial and structural asset to the council, would be treated in such a manner, and now they would have to work with him for the next two years. I gave the same message of concern to Todd Ament, then-CEO of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, when he visited my Capitol office around the same time. It would be safe to assume that I did not endear myself to these two powerful forces. Then-mayor of Anaheim Tom Tait (L) and Julie Tait attend the 17th Annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball in Los Angeles on June 2, 2018. (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Chrysalis Butterfly Ball) Mayor Tait and I served on the Orange County Transportation Authority Board together. He and I voted against the trolley proposal that would have gone from the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (Artic) to Disneyland. It would be ancient rail technology interrupting existing lanes of traffic and would most likely include eminent domain of existing nearby hotels. If memory serves me correctly, we were the only two votes against this inappropriate use of taxpayer funds. A trolley? Really? Hows that working for the city of Santa Ana? In my mind, it was a land grab by the Disney Resort to utilize the train stations parking lot. And Taits opposition to it had to be repaid. Besides, it was not Taits only fiscally reasonable discretion. He rightfully opposed the expansion of the Convention Center, as its financing was dubious. He also spoke out against tax credits for hotels in the resort district, another inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars, but pushed by the powers that be. And in 2015, he opposed a moratorium on a ticket tax for Disneyland for 45 years, something a fiscally distressed city should never rule out. When current Mayor Sidhus FBI investigation hit the news, old memories reverberated in my mind. When would the Disney Resort be revealed as a party to all the nonsense over the obviously disappointing potential sale of Angel Stadium to Arte Moreno, as one of the many players behind the scenes? Lo and behold, political consultant Jeff Flints involvements and his relationships with the Chamber of Commerce and the Disney Resort provide the broader scope of the web that is corporate-town-Disney. Mickey Mouse poses in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., on Aug. 27, 2019. (Joshua Sudock/Walt Disney World Resorts via Getty Images) In my ranking of Orange County cities for June 30, 2020, Anaheim was in 32nd place out of 34 cities. It had dropped from 30th place back in June of 2017. Anaheim dropped to 33rd place in 2021. It would be in last place, but that position has been held by the ineptly run city of Costa Mesa for years. Why do I bring this up? When I had the opportunity some seven years ago to meet with the new incoming CFO for the Disney Resort, after his being recently reassigned from the Disney Cruise division, as a trained Certified Public Accountant, I asked him if he had a chance to read the financial statements of his host city. He had not. I gave him counsel on making sure that Disney did not always brag about its prominence in the city of Anaheim while it had turned it into a corporate town that was slowly strangling the community with its overbearing political involvement. Instead of being a great guest, it was becoming a devouring parasite. A massive PR effort by the resort began not too long after that discussion. The FBI investigation is not providing very much in the way of new information for this old, seasoned politician that has seen too many players mess up our cities and county. The old nemesis from generations past were the developers. Now the dirty rats behind the scenes are public employee unions and, for Anaheim, the Disney Resort. Instead of heeding my warnings, the FBI investigation seems to indicate they only doubled down. Members of the public make public comments during an Anaheim City Council meeting in Anaheim, Calif., on May 24, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) It mystifies me that Disneyland is located in a city that is now against the fiscal ropes. The same for Costa Mesa. How could the South Coast Plaza be in a city that is the bottom dweller when reviewing balance sheets? These two cities should be at the top of the rankings. Consequently, its voters have got to wake up. Its the residents who vote in supposed leaders to their city councils. They should become better aware as to whether the candidates are legitimate leaders or bought and paid for lackeys. When Orange County filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy on December 6, 1994, the first response was to put Measure R on the ballot in a special election in order to raise the sales tax for ten years. It failed. Although voters had put financially inept individuals into office, they were in no mood to bail them out with a tax increase. The mood was very tense during the first half of 1995, and the public was more than irate. Once the reverberations of the alleged misconduct of Mayor Sidhu, and all of his cohorts, becomes a household topic, perhaps residents will pay closer attention to the dreaded topic of politics. Its just too bad that we have to endure bad players every generation to be reminded of how critical it is to get good, ethical, honest and fiscally literate individuals into public office. Anaheim and Costa Mesa need leaders like Tom Tait, professionals who run businesses and do their communities a favor by their public service. We need leaders willing to stand up to the powers that be and do what is right for their citizens and not the furtherance of their political careers. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Selling the family home to downsize requires careful planning to know what your needs will be in the future. (Feverpitched/iStock) Why the Sun Belt Is Becoming an Economic Powerhouse Commentary Americans are on the move. Before the pandemic, many Americans had already relocated in search of career opportunities and better quality of life. However, once the reality of working from home set in, millions more decided to see what other states had to offer. This redistribution of population, in which warm-weather stateswith the exception of Californiahave attracted hundreds of thousands of new residents, could become known as The Great Southern Migration. The shifting demographics have created some unprecedented circumstances. For two years in a row, the population of California has decreased. In 2021, about 280,000 more people left California than relocated to the Golden State. Los Angeles and the Bay Area had especially large population losses. Meanwhile, in New York state and New Jersey, the pattern is similar. In New Jersey, for every seven people who left the state, only three moved in. New York state saw a loss of 300,000 residents between 2020 and 2021. Several factors have fueled this redistribution. One of the biggest factors is cost of living, combined with work-from-home jobs. During the pandemic, people realized they could keep their jobs and work remotely in more affordable parts of the country. A lot of that affordability was found in less crowded markets. Before the pandemic, buyers and renters were happy to pay more to live in or near urban centers, but recently there has been a shift toward less densely populated areas. According to United Van Lines Annual National Movers Study, 8 of the top 10 states to which people are moving are among the 25 least densely populated states in the country. In addition to lower population density, a major lure is climate, according to the United Van Lines study. South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee were among the ten states that saw the largest influx of new residents relative to outbound residents. Other states in the South have also seen major population increases. The population of Texas jumped 1.42 percent this past year. Arizonas population increased by 1.81 percent, and Florida, which we mentioned above, saw its population jump by 1.19 percentan increase of over 260,000 new residents. While there is a definite shift to less populated areas, urban areas in the Sun Belt have also seen their populations grow rapidly. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was the fastest-growing metro area in the U.S. in 2021, with a year-over-year population increase of 4.24 percent. Meanwhile, out west, Phoenix, Arizona continued to attract displaced Californians and East Coasters. For the past three years, greater Phoenix has been growing in population by about 1.6 percent per year. Meanwhile, Dallas-Fort Worth grew by over 97,000 people between 2020 and 2021. Whereas previous generations would make their money up north and then eventually retire to Florida or Arizona, millennials and members of Generation Z arent waiting until their golden years to enjoy the advantages of living in the Southern half of the U.S. Millennials have been relocating in much higher numbers than previous generations. According to a 2017 study by Zillow, 45 percent of people ages 23-35 reported having lived in their homes for less than two years. By contrast, in 1960, only 33 percent of young people reported having lived in their homes for less than two years. In addition to the sunshine and mild (or nonexistent) winters, Southern states and metro areas have been able to attract new residents thanks to their robust job markets. For example, people were on the move from Connecticut, where unemployment this year stood at 4.6 percent, to Florida, where unemployment was at 3.2 percent. Simultaneously, people left California, with 4.9 percent unemployment, for Arizona, where unemployment at 3.3 percent unemployment. Along with the influx of new residents, there has also been a migration of major employers to these markets. Greater Miami is quickly garnering the nickname of Wall Street South, with firms like Goldman Sachs, Tiger Global Management and D1 Capital Partners having all announced plans to move offices and executives to Florida. Meanwhile, Austin, Texas has been luring tech giants. Apple is opening a new billion-dollar campus in the Texas capital this year, while Oracle, the worlds largest database company, moved its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Austin. In addition to these recent shifts by major employers, many cities in the southern U.S. were already economic powerhouses, offering employment diversity. Houston, Texas is known as the energy capital of the world: it boasts nearly a third of the nations jobs in oil and gas extraction and the worlds fourth-largest concentration of engineers. While Atlanta, Georgia has long been home to CNN and Coca-Cola, the states film and television industry has taken off in recent years, with over $4 billion spent on production in 2021. Many of these states, particularly Florida and Arizona, also offer employment opportunities connected to tourism. While the Great Southern Migration may seem like a recent anomaly, we may be witnessing the beginning of a major population shift. With the jump in population, the Sun Belt is poised to become a true economic powerhouse. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A preprint study found adult participants in Modernas trial who got the real injection and later got a breakthrough infection did not generate antibodies against the nucleocapsid a key component of the virus as frequently as did those in the placebo arm. Their anti-nucleocapsid response was also lower regardless of the viral load. As a result of this reduced antibody response, those who got the jab may be more prone to repeated COVID infections Many argue that Omicron was more contagious than Delta, hence the higher death toll. But Omicron was also far milder than Delta, and theres no reason the jabbed would die at a higher rate from a less lethal variant than a more lethal one, unless the injection made the infection worse According to an analysis of U.S. data, in September 2021, when Delta was most prominent, 23% of those who died from COVID had received the jab. In January and February 2022, when Omicron started dominating, that percentage jumped to 42% Many data sources reveal that COVID-jabbed individuals are now getting COVID-19 at far higher rates than the unjabbed. Death rates, both for COVID and other causes, have also risen in tandem with the number of shots administered This rationale is dubious at best, considering the unvaccinated have continuously been accused of not taking COVID seriously and going about their lives as normal, while the vaccinated are, by and large, more fearful and take authorities advice to heart, which includes avoiding large gatherings and close one-on-one interactions without wearing a face mask According to a recent modeling experiment, Increased contact among vaccinated people can give the false impression that COVID-19 vaccines are not working Dont believe what youre being told by the propaganda machine. Facts dont lie, and its now clear that COVID vaccination makes it more likely youll die if you are 60 years old or younger, not less likely. Heres why. Well, the COVID jab pushers have had to resort to all sorts of obfuscation to hide the fact that the injections dont work, and now theyre really scraping the bottom of the barrel of excuses. According to a recent Reuters report,1 Increased contact among vaccinated people can give the false impression that COVID-19 vaccines are not working. This irrational explanation has been levied in response to studies showing COVID-jabbed individuals are getting infected at higher rates than the unjabbed, and there are many such studies. These studies are likely to involve statistical errors, particularly if they did not account for different contact patterns among vaccinated versus unvaccinated people, Korryn Bodner, a research associate in infectious disease modeling in Toronto, told Reuters. Bodner is the first author of a preprint study2 posted on medRxiv at the end of April 2022. Are the Jabbed More Carefree Than the Unvaxxed? Bodners claim is that those who got the jab may be more likely to throw caution to the wind and mingle with others, hence getting infected more frequently, while the unjabbed may be more cautious because they know theyre vulnerable. This rationale is dubious at best, considering: a) The unvaccinated have continuously been accused of not taking COVID seriously and going about their lives as normal b) Those who have taken the jab are, by and large, a far more fearful lot; they tend to listen to the authorities and take all of their advice to heart, which would include avoiding large gatherings and close one-on-one interactions without wearing a face mask Check out the following story, reported by Anchorage Daily News:3 Arianne Bennett recalled her husband, Scott Bennett, saying, But Im vaxxed. But Im vaxxed, from the Washington hospital bed where he struggled to fight off COVID-19 this winter Bennett went to get his booster in early December after returning to Washington from a lodge he owned in the Poconos, where he and his wife hunkered down for fall. Just a few days after his shot, Bennett began experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, meaning he was probably exposed before the extra dose of immunity could kick in. His wife suspects he was infected at a dinner where he and his server were unmasked at times He was absolutely shocked. He did not expect to be sick. He really thought he was safe, Arianne Bennett recalled. And Im like, But baby, youve got to wear the mask all the time. All the time. Up over your nose.' Within days of his third dose, he got a serious case of COVID. Yet they blame it on hypothetical exposure to an apparently healthy food server. This kind of irrational reasoning is prevalent among those who got the jabs and who keep going back for more as they are part of the 30% of the population that have been completely brainwashed. To reiterate what Ive explained since 2020, asymptomatic spread is likely to be so rare as to be nonexistent.4 It was a lie perpetuated to drive up fear and prop up rising case rates that didnt really exist. Its basic virology that you cannot transmit a virus unless you have a hot infection, and if you have an active, transmissible infection, you have symptoms. The symptoms are a sign that your bodys defenses are kicking in to rid itself of the live virus. No symptoms, no transmission. So, unless the server was feeling sick and went to work anyway, the simplest explanation for Bennetts demise was the shot itself. And if the server was sick, the fact that Bennett got so ill suggests the shot is ineffective, even at two doses. The pro-pharma shills want you to believe there are so many confounding variables, we cant possibly draw any conclusions from data showing the shots dont work. Yet looking at data from a wide spectrum of sources, all show the same alarming trends. What confounding factor could possibly account for ALL of them being misinterpreted? An Unproven Hypothesis Reuters5 does note that Bodners simulations do not prove that this type of bias affected studies of vaccine effectiveness versus the Omicron variant. What it does show, according to Bodner, is that even if vaccines work, increased contact among vaccinated persons can lead to the appearance of the vaccine not working. In other words, this is a hypothesis that has yet to be proven. Her modeling suggests it COULD make the jabs appear ineffective IF those who got the jab actually behave very differently from the unjabbed. But again, its highly unlikely that the unvaccinated are avoiding exposure by steering clear of close contacts and crowds to a greater degree than those who got the jab. Its far more reasonable to suspect that the shots dont work. On a side note, Bodners study was funded by the Canada COVID-19 Immunity Task Force.6 This task force is housed at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and McGill University is a long-term recipient of grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.7,8,9,10 What Do the Data Say About COVID Jab Effectiveness? Based on data from around the world, it seems clear that the COVID gene transfer injections are not working. In fact, theyre having the opposite effect of what youd expect from a real vaccine. According to a Washington Post analysis of state and federal data,11 in September 2021, when Delta was most prominent, 23% of those who died from COVID in the U.S. had received the jab. In January and February 2022, when Omicron started dominating, that percentage jumped to 42%. In December 2021 and January 2022, just under half of all the COVID patients in intensive care at Kaiser Permanentes hospital system in Northern California had also received one or more shots.12 Many argue that Omicron was more contagious than Delta, hence the higher death toll. But Omicron was also far milder than Delta, so why would the jabbed die at a higher rate from a less lethal variant than a more lethal one? One attempt at an explanation is that the fatalities are now occurring primarily among the elderly. Nearly two-thirds of those who died from COVID during the Omicron wave were 75 and older. During the Delta wave, 75-year-olds and older accounted for just one-third of the deaths.13 But that was the case from the beginning, and it still doesnt answer the question: Why would old people be more likely to die from a milder virus than a more serious one? To answer that question, the injection pushers revert back to the argument of waning potency. Two-thirds of those who died in January and February 2022 did not have a booster shot. According to Anchorage Daily News:14 Experts say the rising number of vaccinated people dying should not cause panic in those who got shots, the vast majority of whom will survive infections. Instead, they say, these deaths serve as a reminder that vaccines are not foolproof and that those in high-risk groups should consider getting boosted and taking extra precautions during surges. So, in other words, the jab only works for a handful of months, and then you have to take another. And another. And another. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,15 the first two doses wear off after five months, necessitating a third dose, and the third dose wears off in just four months, at which time youre supposed to get dose No. 4. Israeli data16 show the effectiveness of shot No. 4 in preventing severe disease declines by 56% in just seven weeks. So, it appears the protection you get from the shots keeps getting shorter with each dose. Meanwhile, data show the shots can render you increasingly susceptible to all manner of infection and disease, through a wide variety of mechanisms. Moderna Trial Data Reveal Repeated Infections Are Likely Among such data is a preprint study17 posted on medRxiv April 19, 2022, which found adult participants in Modernas COVID jab trial who got the real injection, and later got a breakthrough infection, did not generate antibodies against the nucleocapsid a key component of the virus as frequently as did those in the placebo arm. Curiously, placebo recipients produced anti-nucleocapsid antibodies twice as often as those who got the Moderna shot, and their anti-nucleocapsid response was larger regardless of the viral load. As a result of this reduced antibody response, those who got the jab may be more prone to repeated COVID infections. As reported by The Defender:18 [T]he authors found that using the presence of anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) antibodies to determine whether a person was exposed to SARS-CoV-2 will miss some infections. Thus, the sensitivity of this kind of test, when applied to vaccinated individuals, is not ideal. However, there are more important implications19,20 of these findings Specifically, the study implies that the reduced ability of a vaccinated individual to produce antibodies to other portions of the virus may lead to a greater risk of future infections in the vaccinated compared to the unvaccinated. It is important to note that this is not just another argument for the superiority of natural immunity. Rather, this is evidence suggesting that even after a vaccinated person has a breakthrough infection, that individual still does not acquire the same level of protection against subsequent exposures that an unvaccinated person acquires. This is a troubling finding, and something investigators conducting the Moderna vaccine trial likely knew in 2020. UK Data Confirm Results These findings are corroborated by data from the U.K. Health Security Agency. It publishes weekly COVID-19 vaccine surveillance data, including anti-nucleocapsid antibody levels. The report21 for Week 13, issued March 31, 2022, shows that COVID-jabbed individuals with breakthrough infections have lower levels of these antibodies a finding they attributed to the protective benefit of the shot: These lower anti N responses in individuals with breakthrough infections (post-vaccination) compared to primary infections likely reflect the shorter and milder infections in these patients. However, this interpretation is likely flawed, because less severe infection is associated with lower viral load, and as the study above demonstrated, the vaccinated have lower anti-nucleocapsid antibody levels than the unvaccinated at all viral load levels, but especially so at the lowest viral loads. As noted by The Defender:22 This is one of the most significant findings of the study because it overturns the heretofore unchallenged idea that decreased seroconversion in the vaccinated is due to less severe infection in this population which is a benefit provided by the vaccine. However, this new study shows that even at low viral loads, the unvaccinated are more likely to seroconvert than those who are vaccinated. In fact, the difference in seroconversion rates is the greatest at lowest viral loads. The decrease in conversion rates is not a result of a benefit from the vaccine. It is a consequence of it. Boosted Now Have Three to Four Times Higher Case Rates The Defender also reviews other U.K. data showing the COVID case rate is three to four times higher among those who have received a booster shot, compared to the unvaccinated. This is true for all age groups with the exception of children under 18:23 What could explain such a large increase in infection rates among the boosted? Interestingly, the authors warn that the unvaccinated may have contracted COVID-19 prior to the observation period in other words, they may have acquired natural immunity previously, giving them added protection But their own data tells the opposite story. The boosted are more likely to contract the disease by a factor of 3 to 4. How do we know whether the larger infection rates in the boosted are due to more robust immunity in the unvaccinated because of prior infection or due to an immune deficiency in the boosted? The question can be definitively answered by examining the trend of infection rates [using] the equivalent table from two months earlier. There is still a greater infection rate among the boosted, but it is only two to three times higher. If the authors hypothesis was correct, the more recent data should have shown less of a difference, not more. If anything, their data support the finding that the decreased seroconversion rates in the vaccinated may be causing a greater risk of repeated infections. Walgreens Data Data from the pharmacy chain Walgreens in the U.S. also reveal the same trend COVID-jabbed individuals are testing positive for COVID at higher rates than the unjabbed, and those who got their last shot five months or more ago have the highest risk. As you can see in the screenshot from Walgreens COVID-19 tracker24 below, during the week of May 9 through 15, 2022, 21.4% of unvaccinated individuals who got tested for COVID got a positive result. Of those who had gotten just one COVID shot, the positivity rate was 26.3%. Of those who received two doses five months or more ago, 31.3% tested positive, and of those who received a third dose five months or more ago, the positive rate was 32.7%. So, after the first booster shot (the third dose), people are at greatest risk of testing positive for COVID. More Jabs, More COVID Deaths Perhaps most disturbing of all are the data showing the COVID shots are raising mortality rates, both from COVID and other causes. Above is an animated illustration25 sourced from Our World In Data, first showing the vaccination rates of South America, North America, Europe and Africa, from mid-December 2020 through the third week of April 2022, followed by the cumulative confirmed COVID deaths per million in those countries during that same timeframe. Africa has had a consistently low vaccination rate throughout, while North America, Europe and South America all have had rapidly rising vaccination rates. Africa has also had a consistently low COVID mortality rate, although a slight rise began around September 2021. Still, its nowhere near the COVID death rates of North America, South America and Europe, all of which saw dramatic increases. Heres another one,26 also sourced from Our World In Data, first showing the excess death rate in the U.S. (the cumulative number of deaths from all causes compared to projections based on previous years), between January 26, 2020, and January 30, 2022, followed by an illustration of the tandem rise of vaccine doses administered and the excess mortality rate. It clearly shows that as vaccination rates rose, so did excess mortality. Risk-Benefit Analyses We also have the benefit of more than one risk-benefit analysis, and all show that, with very few exceptions, the COVID jabs do more harm than good. A risk-benefit analysis27 by Stephanie Seneff, Ph.D., and independent researcher Kathy Dopp, published in mid-February 2022, concluded that the COVID jab is deadlier than COVID-19 itself for anyone under the age of 80. Another analysis,28 which relied on data in the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS), concluded that in those under age 18, the shots only increase the risk of death from COVID, and theres no point at which the shot can prevent a single COVID death, no matter how many are vaccinated. If youre under 18, youre 51 times more likely to die from the COVID jab than you are to die from COVID if not vaccinated. If youre under 18, youre a shocking 51 times more likely to die from the jab than you are to die from COVID if not vaccinated. In the 18 to 29 age range, the shot will kill 16 for every person it saves from dying from COVID, and in the 30 to 39 age range, the expected number of vaccine fatalities to prevent a single COVID death is 15. Only when you get into the 60 and older categories do the risks between the jab and COVID infection even out. A third risk-benefit analysis by researchers in Germany and The Netherlands was published in June 2021, in the journal Vaccines.29 The paper caused such an uproar, part of the editorial board resigned in protest.30 The journal retracted the paper, but after a thorough re-review, it was republished in the August 2021 issue of Science, Public Health Policy and the Law.31 These researchers concluded that, as we vaccinate 100 000 persons, we might save five lives but risk two to four deaths.32 A fourth, still preliminary, analysis based on more than 1,700 death reports collected by Steve Kirsch shows the shots do more harm than good in anyone under age 60. Kirsch writes:33 Figure 1 below is an analysis of survey data I collected. The analysis shows that the vaccines are harmful to those under 60. The red dots higher than the error bar means more vaccinated people observed dead than expected based on the population of vaccinated to all people. In other words, if we vaccinated 60% of people (middle of the grey bar) and 70% (red dot) of the deaths are vaccinated, we have a serious problem. The precautionary principle of medicine suggests if you are under 60 and thinking of taking a vaccine, you shouldnt. These preliminary results are both statistically significant The conclusion is very clear: nobody under 60 years old should get the vaccine because there is no evidence of a benefit. In fact, if you are between 40-60, its clear that vaccination makes it more likely youll die, not less likely. Figure 1. Red dot below error bar = vax works. Red dot above error bar = vax likely causes harm. Red dot inside the error bar = Insufficient evidence to justify taking a new, unproven vaccine. Conclusion: Vaccine shouldnt be considered unless there is a clear benefit. 60 and older seems to justify use based on the data we have so far. Limitations: we are waiting for others to confirm / challenge the analysis. See text 34 for more info. Joel Smalley did the analysis. Figure 1. Red dot below error bar = vax works. Red dot above error bar = vax likely causes harm. Red dot inside the error bar = Insufficient evidence to justify taking a new, unproven vaccine. Conclusion: Vaccine shouldnt be considered unless there is a clear benefit. 60 and older seems to justify use based on the data we have so far. Limitations: we are waiting for others to confirm / challenge the analysis. See textfor more info. Joel Smalley did the analysis. While some analyses present a direr picture than others, taken together, its clear that there appears to be no long term benefits to the COVID jabs. Were consistently ending up with a higher cost than can conceivably be considered reasonable. The pro-pharma side will likely continue to lob flimsy excuses at the data, but at some point, the truth will be so clear that even the blind will see it. Until that day, continue to inform yourself and share what you find. Originally published Why Were Praying for John Durham Commentary Sometimes I think, to conjure the old spiritual, that special counsel John Durham has the whole world in his hands. By that, I obviously dont mean Mahalia Jacksons transcendent version that could make the most adamant atheist drop to his knees. In Durhams case, its considerably more secular. Nevertheless, the special counsel is dealing with something extraordinarily significant. He holds in his hands the future of democratic government under the law, republican (small r) or otherwise, as we know it, if not forever, at least for the foreseeable future. Although hes been accused of going slowlyhow could it have been otherwise, really, with COVID-19 lockdowns, even though they were unjustifiedso far hes doing a remarkable job. He has demonstrated how the colossal and pernicious lie that Donald Trump was in collusion with Russia originated with people working for the Hillary Clinton campaign (via a made-up connection to a Russian bank) that was approved and later promulgated by Clinton herself. Some of this renewed clarity is because of Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook actually telling the truth in court about what happened, whether for fear of perjury or because of some iota of basic morality. When you look in the eyes of Michael Sussmann, the onetime Perkins Coie law partner, whose charge of having lied to the FBI has instigated this serial unmasking, you see something far worse than the proverbial deer in the headlights. I see an individual clinging to some semblance of doing this for a greater good, that his ends did justify whatever bending of the means he found necessary. While this all may not be treason in the technical or legal sense, its certainly as treasonous as any behavior that has come from the political class of either party in any of our lifetimes and, although completely ignored by a legacy media whose culpability in it was nearly total, vastly more serious than the Watergate scandal that they still obsess about. In this case, the attention of the countryindeed the world, including our adversarieswas riveted, and the presidency of newly elected President Trump was tarnished and nearly upended for a supposed crime that never occurred. Indeed, its the Clinton people and their myriad accomplices that committed the real crimethe real Russian collusionin this ultimate case of projection. In other words, the whole world watched a massively public display in the United States of something that anyone with a modicum of intelligence would have realized almost immediately was a complete miscarriage of justice. Whether or not you believe in American Exceptionalism, the country that almost since its inception has been the envy of the world was busy stomping on its own institutions and bringing itself to the edge of being unrecognizable. Could our enemies have asked for more? What will happen now? It may be, even though theres clear email evidence in which the defendant assured then-FBI General Counsel James Baker that he was working as an independent and not a Hillary campaign operative, that given the deep-blue District of Columbia jury, Sussman will be acquitted. All he needs is one juror. Having witnessed the O.J. Simpson trial, its easy to see how such forms of jury nullification occur. (Have you noticed that no one has come forward in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldmannot even from the world of Faye Resnick, as Johnny Cochran put it?) And for those who might think Sussmann lying to the FBI is a small thing, remember that he is then lying to all of us. We pay for the existence of the FBI, such as it is, to find the truth and keep us safeat least we thought we did. And thats not to mention what then flowed from that liethe TrumpRussia investigation and so forth. But back to what will really happen now. It seems that Durham has his eyes on larger prizes than Sussmann. Ironically, it may not matter all that much whether Sussmann is convicted. The door has been opened to explore the myriad accomplices referred to several paragraphs above and their activities. The question is, will the buck stop with Hillary or will she be thrown under the bus so the other denizens of our political class from the FBI to the White House can skate? Now we learn, from the testimony of FBI agent Curtis Heide in the Sussmann trial, that the FBI is conducting an internal investigation of Heide for not including exculpatory information in its investigation of Trump, called Crossfire Hurricane. (As a sidelight, isnt it pathetic the would-be hipsters in the FBI named their investigation after a Rolling Stones song?) Of course, the FBI conducting an internal investigation looks about as legitimate as the KGB conducting a similar investigation. The word whitewash is far too weak. We humble citizens, or normals as Kurt Schlichter puts it, have been living under a government in which Sussmannalthough just another $800-per-hour (from testimony) Beltway lawyeris a useful symbol. Lying is the way of the Washington Deep State and its most powerful people. To them, its almost like breathing. Lying for their own benefit and those of their friends are the respirators from which theyll never get off. In March, the New York Post called many of these individuals to account in its editorial Spies who lie: 51 intelligence experts refuse to apologize for discrediting true Hunter Biden story. They are the supposed nonpartisan group of top spies looking out for the best interest of the nation, the article reads. But the 51 former intelligence officials who cast doubt on the Posts Hunter Biden laptop stories in a public letter really were just desperate to get Joe Biden elected president. And more than a year later, even after their Deep State sabotage has repeatedly been shown to be a lie, they refuse to own up to how they undermined an election. The officials, including CNN pundit and professional fabricator James Clappera man who was nearly charged for perjury for lying to Congresssigned a letter saying that the laptop has the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation. While not directly in Durhams purviewalthough who knows, since so much these days is interconnectedthis is the kind of thing the special counsel may be calling to Americas, and the worlds, attention. Its literally in his hands to steer our ship of state back to the rule of law. If not him, who? Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz walked up to the edge of truth in his report and then did an about-face before making the obvious conclusions, as if concerned that his Deep State card would be revoked. The legacy media, so many of whom are deeply implicated in these lies themselves (I worked with some of them and cant even be near them now, let alone talk to them), will do everything they can to hide or obfuscate this information. Its our job, every one of us, to disseminate itfactually and with a minimum of rancoras widely as possible as the truth emerges. We can also pray for Durham. Another verse from Mahalia wont hurt. A Final Point To illustrate just how bad things have become, one of those directly implicated as a liar in the Durham investigation, in case you missed it, is currently our national security adviser, managing the Ukraine situation and presumably keeping an eye on the $40 billion that U.S. taxpayers are now sending the Eastern European nation. From law professor Jonathan Turley: For her part, [Hillary] Clinton not only approved using the Alpha Bank claim but helped to portray it as an established fact, tweeting: Computer scientists have apparently uncovered a covert server linking the Trump Organization to a Russian-based bank. That claim was then further amplified by one of her campaign advisers, Jake Sullivan, who now serves as President Bidens national security adviser. This could be the most direct link yet between Donald Trump and Moscow, Sullivan declared at the time. Computer scientists have uncovered a covert server linking the Trump Organization to a Russian-based bank. Sullivan added that he could only assume federal authorities will now explore this direct connection between Trump and Russia as part of their existing probe into Russias meddling in our elections. Clearly, Sullivan got his wish. As I said, pray for Durham. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Wisconsin Voters Sue 5 Cities Over Unlawful Unmanned Ballot Drop Boxes in Elections Voters in Wisconsins five largest cities are suing over the use of illegal unmanned absentee ballot drop boxes in elections. Attorneys from the Thomas More Society, a nationwide public interest law firm, filed the legal complaints on May 25 on behalf of voters in Green Bay, Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee, and Racine. Officials from the affected cities werent immediately available for comment. Although Wisconsin election law forbids the use of unmanned absentee ballot drop boxes for voting, those cities used them, Thomas More Society special counsel Erick Kaardal said in a statement. In 2020, the cities of Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Kenosha, and Green Bay made an agreement with the nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life to use the drop boxes to get these cities residents to vote, Kaardal said. This so-called Wisconsin Safe Voting Plan, involved $8.8 million of private grants to these five cities, to target specific populations to vote. It had little, if anything at all, to do with keeping voters safe from Covid-19, as it purported to do. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, made $350 million in donationsZuckerbucks or Zuckbucks, as some have called the moneyto the Safe Elections Project of the left-wing Center for Technology and Civic Life (CTCL). The CTCL reportedly distributed grants to more than 2,500 election offices throughout the country. Amid a wave of controversy over the election grants, a Zuckerberg spokesman said in April that the billionaire activists wont be participating in such grantmaking this year, as The Epoch Times previously reported. The legal complaint (pdf) filed against Green Bay in Brown County Circuit Court argues the case is urgent because the city used the unauthorized drop boxes in the November 2020 elections and may use them in the future. For the general election of 2020 and subsequent election cycles, the City of Green Bay purchased absentee ballot boxes, subsidized by Center for Tech and Civic Life, and placed them in certain city neighborhoods, the complaint continues. The document also states that the Wisconsin Elections Commission hasnt adopted any rule restricting the use of the boxes. The lawsuits follow the Wisconsin Elections Commissions refusal last month to investigate the cities use of unmanned drop boxes and after the Waukesha County Circuit Court found in January that the drop boxes were contrary to state law. My clients have done everything in their power to get the Wisconsin Elections Commission to investigate the Wisconsin 5 cities for their policies of using the illegal drop boxes, Kaardal said. Nonetheless, the Wisconsin Elections Commission refuses to investigate these known illegalities. Because the Wisconsin Elections Commission has made itself irrelevant, we now turn to the great circuit courts of Brown, Dane, Kenosha, Milwaukee and Racine Counties for judicial remedies to prevent these cities from using illegal drop boxes as they did, by agreement and with private funding, in the November 2020 election. Never again. Separately, Kaardal spoke with The Epoch Times in an interview. In Wisconsin, youre not allowed to deliver someone elses ballot and the Waukesha County Circuit Court agreed that unmanned absentee ballot drop boxes are prohibited, he said. Its just unbelievable that the Wisconsin Election Commission and the five cities have not repudiated the use of the unmanned absentee ballot drop boxes and were only probably a month or two away from distributing absentee ballots for the August primary. If nothing is done about the illegal drop boxes, the harm is going to continue, he said. The lawsuits are part of a new project of the Thomas More Society, which began its own Election Integrity Initiative earlier this year. The goal of the project, in the societys words, is to preserve and protect Americans sacred right to vote against those who would use money or other illegal means such as conditional gift or grant agreements to distort, evade or compromise electoral laws and safeguards. BEIJING, May 26 -- The US remarks reflect its strong Cold War mentality, hegemonic mentality and anxieties over China's peaceful rise, and the words chosen by the US such as "bullying" or "undermining international rules and order" are just a reflection of itself, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday. Senior Colonel Wu made such response when commenting on relevant remarks made by the US side. According to reports, US Secretary of Defense Austin said in a recent Senate hearing that the focus of US military deployment lies in confronting China's "aggressive bullying behavior". Meanwhile, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark A. Milley also expressed that both China and Russia, the two major powers faced by the US, feature strong military strength and are trying to fundamentally undermine the rules-based international order. As for such statements, Senior Colonel Wu remarked that the US is the well-deserved instigator and master of "bullying behaviors" in international relations. He illustrated that the US blatantly invaded Iraq by citing a test tube of white powder, resulting in massive civilian casualties and displacement of numerous families. It also took armed intervention in Syria's internal affairs by citing a false video with the White Helmets, causing a tragic humanitarian disaster. The Chinese people will never forget that in May of 23 years ago, the US-led NATO bombed the Chinese embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, causing another bloody debt to the Chinese people. These are both bullying behaviors and crimes, he added. In addition, Wu made it clear that the US has also been a globally recognized rule-breaker when it comes to the rules-based international order, and it is the least qualified to blame other countries in terms of international law and rules. The US always applies international law and rules when they conform, and abandons them when they disagree, he said, adding that the US has successively withdrawn from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, and the Treaty on Open Skies in recent years, which fully demonstrate its selfishness and hypocrisy. It is hoped that the US should accept China's peaceful development in an objective and rational mood, and stop the wrong practices of packaging its own laws and regulations as international rules to promote the US-style hegemonic order, stressed the spokesperson, adding that it would be beneficial to China-US relations and world peace and stability. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) Queen Elizabeth II just might have the hardest working wardrobe on the planet. Every outfit worn in public is carefully calibrated to inspire or remind, to signal gratitude or respect, to convey a sense of power or familiarity, wrote The Mail on Sunday in 2015. Her Majesty neither sets trends nor follows them but while she is deaf to the siren call of fashion, she has her own singular style. From her tiaras, hats and Hermes scarves to her Launer London handbags and even her umbrellas, the queen's style has been hyper-documented since her birth, young princess days, ascension to the throne and now, more than 70 years into her reign, as she celebrates her Platinum Jubilee at age 96. Now known for her bright coats (so as to be seen by huge crowds) with matching brimmed hats, the queen was a young, glamorous princess and monarch in earlier decades. Some highlights of the queen's style through the years: ___ HER CHILDHOOD Cotton or wool? The queen's very birth prompted style debate, writes Bethan Holt, fashion editor of The Telegraph and author of this year's The Queen: 70 Years of Majestic Style. Her wardrobe from the get-go was a topic of national fascination with a layette sewn by her mother and grandmother, and a little help from underprivileged women throughout Britain. Declaring that babies in wool looked like little gnomes, Lilibet's mum, then the Duchess of York, opted for frilly cotton, rejecting anything too fussy. When sister Margaret came along four years later, the princesses often twinned it, dressing alike into their teens. But the future queen as a girl never cared a fig about clothes, according to her former governess, Marion Crawford. She wore what she was told without argument, apart from a long, drab mackintosh that she loathed, Crawford wrote in her controversial memoir, The Little Princesses. THE YOUNG HEIRESS With the tumultuous abdication of her uncle and the rise of her father to become King George VI, Princess Elizabeth became heiress presumptive (absent any future male heir, who never materialized). Enter couturier Norman Hartnell, according to Holt. While there were other designers, he was entrusted with dressing the family as they emerged on the world stage, including the two princesses at ages 11 and 6. Their bow-adorned dresses and little cloaks signalled a return to the calm dependability of the monarchy, Holt wrote. During World War II, 18-year-old Elizabeth began to make more public appearances, training as a mechanic in early 1945 toward the end of the war. It was the only time she routinely wore trousers (and boiler suits), according to Holt. The queen was, and remains, a practical dresser when necessary, but also glamorous in sparkly gowns when the moment beckoned. And she often went short sleeved or with no sleeves at all, something that doesn't happen today. She stood for photos with Prince Philip in a simple, light-colored dress with sleeves above the elbow and peekaboo low heels on her size 4 (6 U.S.) feet shortly before their wedding in 1947. People want to see their royals looking like royals, but equally, they dont want to think that taxpayers' money is being blown away, said Nick Bullen, editor in chief of True Royalty TV. THE WEDDING DRESS Hartnell transformed the florals of Botticelli's Primavera into a gown of white crystals and pearls. But it wasn't easy. There were diplomatic questions in the still-miserable aftermath of the war, Holt wrote. Customs impounded 10,000 seed pearls from the U.S., and journalists were assured that the origins of the silk produced in Kent and woven in Essex were worms from nationalist" China rather than enemy Japan. Thousands in the U.K. sent in their ration coupons for Princess Elizabeth to use for dress materials. That would have been illegal, so she saved up her own and asked the government for 200 extra, Holt told The Associated Press. It showed the thirst there was in the country for this big moment of glamour, she said. In recent years, we have known the queen and Prince Philip as this sweet old couple but we have to remember, in that time they were this dazzling, glamorous new couple on the scene. The wedding was not without behind-the-scenes drama. Queen Mary's Fringe tiara, made by Elizabeth's grandmother from a necklace given to Mary by Queen Victoria, snapped right before the ceremony and was rushed off to crown jeweler Garrard for repair. The dress, and the wedding, offered a real moment of hope, Holt said. HER HEMLINES She settled years ago on skirts and dresses just below the knee, but her hemlines were sometimes an issue for senior members of her family. In 1952, the 25-year-old queen led her family in mourning at her father's funeral in accordance to strict dress codes set out during the reign of Queen Victoria, according to Holt. As Queen Mary curtsied to her granddaughter and kissed each cheek, she admonished: Lilibet, your skirts are much too short for mourning, Holt writes. The new queen's dress hovered well above her ankles yet respectfully below the knee, while that of her grandmother reached the ground. All, including Queen Elizabeth II, were shrouded in black veils, as Queen Victoria was for 40 years after the death of Prince Albert in 1861. The evolution of the queens style from young princess to longest-serving monarch in British history has her being of the time but not following fashion, Bullen said. FINDING A UNIFORM The queen we know today wears sensible block heels or brogues, usually handmade by Anello & Davide, a custom Launer perched on her arm and a brooch on one shoulder. She goes with kilts and skirts in tartans and plaids as her country style. But the queen of the early 1950s charmed the world in nipped-in waists, pencil silhouettes and some floaty, full experiments as a post-war fashion quake took hold in the country. In the early years of her reign, she really embraced Diors New Look aesthetic, and women looked to her outfits as a source of inspiration, much like people do with the Duchess of Cambridge today, said Kristin Contino, style reporter for Page Six. There was a playful glamour in the 1970s, '80s and '90s, including a bold multicolored evening dress in 1999 for a Royal Variety Performance. Created by Karl-Ludwig Rehse, it featured a riotous sequin diamond-pattern bodice of bright yellow, blue, green and pink. There were also some trouser days and a turban phase in the 60s and 70s amid a wide range of hat styles. The queen learned of her father's passing on a stop in Kenya en route to Australia. Some reports indicate she was wearing jeans for an encounter with a herd of elephants the moment her father died in his sleep at Sandringham, Holt wrote. She donned slacks on safari in Zambia in 1979, and a trouser set in 2003 as she left King Edward VIII hospital in London after a knee operation. It was Margaret, the rebel, who was renowned as a fashion plate in Dior and other designers, and her influence on Elizabeth was tangible. Little sister helped the queen scout new British designers and introduced her to up-and-comers, such as milliner Simone Mirman, according to Holt. Mirman created some of the queen's standout hats, including her Tudor-style medieval helmet," as Hartnell called it, in soft yellow, for the 1969 investiture of Prince Charles. Margaret was really in tune with fashion. She would have been the one reading Vogue. And so she would often go with the queen to appointments to help her inject that little bit of extra style into her looks, Holt said. Usually sticking to British designers, the queen has a long-held fondness for silk scarves by the French fashion house Hermes. The brand has issued several special designs in her honor. It did so in 2016 with a horse-themed scarf to mark her 90th birthday. One doesn't equate the queen of today with a mad rush to copy her style, but for a brief spell in the 1950s women could do just that thanks to her love of cotton dresses in dainty floral or abstract prints from Horrockses Fashions, a British ready-to-wear brand, Holt said. Another look from those early years stands out as well. In October 1952, soon after ascending the throne, the queen was a sensation at the Empire Theatre for a royal viewing of the musical comedy Because You're Mine. She wore a tuxedo-like Hartnell gown in black with a white front and wide lapels in a halter design, paired with long white gloves, a tiara on her head and a diamond bracelet on one wrist. She hit every magazine and newspaper the next day. Manufacturers rushed to copy it. It was dubbed the Magpie and she never wore it again. ___ MATCHY MATCHY The queen loves to color coordinate, sticking to bright colors and pastels in coats and floral dresses today. That goes for her signature clear, bird-cage umbrellas as well. They're made by Fulton Umbrellas and are attainable at $30 or less, though the queen's are custom made. She owns about 100 in a rainbow of colors but contrary to reports, she doesn't possess 200 of her favorite Launer bags, Holt said. Gerald Bodmer, who rescued Launer in 1981 after a period of decline, was keen to clear up that myth. He says she has several styles in several colors. He says that 200 is very far off the mark, Holt said. Launer extends the straps of her leather bags to make it easier for her to hang them on her arm, and they make them lighter for her to carry. And what does she carry? Bullen said he's heard there's always a lipstick, a handkerchief and a photo of Prince Philip, who died last year at 99. Irish designer Paul Costelloe, who dressed Princess Diana in the 1980s and 90s, told the AP of the queen's style: Shes a bit like a schoolteacher, a good schoolteacher. She never shocks. She gets it right. ___ Follow Leanne Italie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/litalie ___ Associated Press writer Sylvia Hui in London contributed to this report. Mary Ann Jacob recalled being huddled in a closet with 18 children and three other staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown nearly 10 years ago as a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six staff members in a hail of bullets that stunned Connecticut and the nation. Yesterday, I was right back in that closet, Jacob told a crowd Wednesday during a news conference seeking more federal legislation to prevent further mass shootings like Sandy Hook and the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 elementary school students and two staff members were killed. The Texas shootings are reverberating through schools in Connecticut, leaving teachers and staff again fearful of returning to work much like the aftermath of the Sandy Hook tragedy, according to officials with the Connecticut Education Association, the states largest teachers union. This brings back a terrible remembrance of Sandy Hook in schools throughout the state, said Donald Williams, the unions executive director. Williams said his organization was looking to provide more mental health support for teachers and students as the state legislature recently recognized that schools need more social workers and clinical staff. But Joslyn DeLancey, vice president of the union, said its still too early to tell which districts may need help and staff members need more resources on how to discuss tragic events with students in an age-appropriate way. Its hard, Im not going to sugarcoat it, said DeLancy, a Darien fifth-grade teacher who is on a leave of absence. A significant number of educators had to talk themselves into going to work today, just as you had a significant number of parents who didnt want to say goodbye to their children. The magnitude of Tuesdays shootings committed by a lone male teen with an AR-15 in light of the Sandy Hook tragedy can seem like the world is on fire, said Dr. Javeed Sukhera, chair of Psychiatry for Hartford HealthCares Institute of Living. But it also provides an opportunity for educators and others to show their humanity and help students by allowing them to experience their feelings, Sukhera said. While every feeling wont have a fix, Sukhera said, allowing children and staff to acknowledge their concerns will help children process their fears. Teachers cant pretend like they arent being affected by the this and not lean into their humanness, he said. They need to allow children to express their concerns and feelings and be role models. The Institute of Living is often called on to provide support and advice to school officials dealing with tragedies, Sukhera said. Since the impact of the shooting is still unfolding throughout Connecticut, no school districts have yet requested help, he said. We are prepared to provide educators and administrators the support they need, he said. Dr. Andre Newfield, chair of psychiatry at St. Vincents Medical Center in Bridgeport, said mass shootings like Uvalde have enduring effects on their communities and survivors, who may develop post-traumatic stress disorder. Theres no greater violence than perpetration of violence against children, and when theres a mass murder of children all in one place in a sacred institution like a school, it doesnt matter how big or small or strong or weak a community is, theyre going to have a major reckoning to deal with, he said. Newfield recommended that parents of young children in Connecticut think carefully about how, or whether, they discuss the shooting. For the younger kids who dont have access to this firsthand, I dont think you discuss this, he said. I wouldnt want to instill fear in my children in going to school and having to think about, is there a shooter hiding around the corner? Theres just no way they could possibly process that. If children ask, Newfield said, parents can emphasize the rarity of school shootings and reassure them that school remains a safe place. While mass shootings at schools are rare one estimate claims that in 40 years there has been 19 mass school shootings, meaning three or more people were killed in addition to the gunman state officials asked local superintendents to review their safety and security plans and to contact the states Mobile Crisis system through 211 if teachers or students have difficulty dealing with the Uvalde shootings. The state Department of Education has contacted the Connecticut Intelligence Center and the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to monitor safety issues and provide support to districts, CSDE Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker said in the letter to superintendents issued Wednesday. As the academic year draws to a close, we want to make sure that those who might need help coping with this traumatic event find the assistance they need, Russell-Tucker said. The letter also provided links to national materials on how to explain traumatic events to children and state and resources on trauma, violence and grief in the aftermath of mass shootings. But theres more work to do, including considering federal gun legislation, DeLancey said. Were at a loss that something like this could happen again, she said. Teachers need to feel safe in their jobs so they can make students feel safe, DeLancey added. We had teachers who were at Sandy Hook and now work in other districts going to school today remembering that moment of that day, she said. The state also needs to make it easier for children, their parents and educators to get help before a tragedy occurs, she said. We need our schools to feel safe and joyful, DeLancey said. I cant say that they feel that way now and that is just devastating. Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Mary Ann Jacobs name. Staff writer Alex Putterman contributed to this story. SEATTLE (AP) Alaska Airlines pilots have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a future strike if current contract negotiations with management and federal mediation efforts fail. The Air Line Pilots Association said Wednesday that almost 96% of its members cast mail-in votes and that 99% of those authorized the unions leaders to call a strike if necessary and when permitted after a prolonged process managed by the National Mediation Board, The Seattle Times reported. Following an informational picket in April by 1,500 off-duty pilots, the vote may increase pressure on Alaska Airlines management to come to a contract settlement. The union has been stalled for years trying to negotiate a contract that addresses work rules, scheduling flexibility and career security. In a memo to the pilots, Capt. Will McQuillen, council chairperson of the pilots association's Alaska unit, said the vote provides union negotiators an important tool to help achieve your goals. He said it also sends a clear message that you are unwilling to fall further behind your peers at other major airlines. After a management request, the pilots union and company officials are meeting again this week. The union told its members it will report to them Friday on the outcome of those talks. A strike, however, cannot happen soon. Federal legislation governing national transportation workers mandates that before they can strike, the National Mediation Board must decide that additional mediation efforts would not be productive and must offer an opportunity to resolve the contract through arbitration. That could take months. If either side declines the arbitration, a further 30-day cooling off period is required before strike action. A spate of Alaska Airlines flight cancellations over the past two months were not because of labor action by the pilots but were caused by a general pilot shortage. Alaskas management misjudged how many newly hired pilots would graduate from its training school this spring. The airline cut its flight schedule in response and said the situation should substantially improve in June. NORWALK Only a few votes stand in the way of the city finally building a new school in South Norwalk. Next week, the Common Councils Land Use and Building Management committee will review the tentative agreement reached by the city to acquire a piece of private property owned by The Hatch & Bailey Co. at 1 Meadow St. Ext., where the South Norwalk neighborhood school is proposed to be built. The matter will then move to the full Common Council for formal approval at a special meeting on June 6. Shareholders of Hatch & Bailey Co. must also approve the agreement for the sale to proceed, according to the city. This is bittersweet for Hatch and Bailey, but we know that our property will be put to great use as an elementary school for the South Norwalk community, David Bailey, director and treasurer of Hatch & Bailey Co., said in a statement. We thank our employees for their integrity, professionalism and incredible work ethic. Over the last two years, the city said it exhausted all options and the Hatch & Bailey Co. property represented the only single lot that could meet city and state requirements for locating a school in South Norwalk, according to a news release announcing the agreement. The city needed to acquire property for the new school before June 30 to meet the submission deadline for the state reimbursement grant application. Under a new state reimbursement rate for school construction projects in Norwalk, the new school will qualify for a 60 percent rate. The Common Council already approved a special appropriation of $72 million for the project earlier this year. The funds were recaptured from two previous school construction projects for the South Norwalk neighborhood that never materialized, totaling $76 million. Alan Lo, Norwalk facilities and building manager, plans to ask the Board of Estimation and Taxation for another special appropriation of $4 million to appropriate the remaining funds. This is another step, albeit an important one, in what has been a long journey to bring a neighborhood school back to South Norwalk, Common Council President Tom Livingston said. The children and families of South Norwalk deserve a world-class school in their community, and this will bring us one step closer to building that school. The citys announcement of the new schools location comes nearly seven years after the Norwalk Board of Education added a South Norwalk school to its 2015-16 facilities master plan. Several previous attempts to build the school at the former Nathaniel Ely site and on Tito Court failed due to environmental concerns and other restrictions. Now, the city seems poised to give the South Norwalk community its first neighborhood school in over 40 years. Children in the South Norwalk community deserve a neighborhood school and will finally get one, Mayor Hary Rilling said in a statement. After years of setbacks, we never gave up on fulfilling our promise to provide students and parents in South Norwalk with a world-class school in their community. Action to desegregate schools in the late 1970s forced the closure of the Nathaniel Ely School on Ingalls Avenue. South Norwalk students were dispersed throughout the city. The distance between home and school also has precluded some families from taking part in their childrens school activities, city officials said. Based on the minority student population in Norwalk, children in South Norwalk are no longer required by law to attend schools outside of their community. Proposed changes to the school zone would eliminate the unassigned and satellite attendance areas in the neighborhood. Students living within a quarter-mile of the unassigned area along South Main Street may attend five to eight different elementary schools based on availability. Two years ago, Cranbury, Kendall and Rowayton schools each took more than 100 students from the South Norwalk neighborhood. A new school in South Norwalk will enable the school district to provide a high-quality educational option, right within the neighborhood. It will increase pre-K opportunities for local families, eliminate long bus rides to schools in other neighborhoods, and improve engagement through easier access for families and the community, Superintendent Alexandra Estrella said in a statement. Families in South Norwalk wont have to wait until construction is complete to enroll their youngest children in the new neighborhood school. Norwalk Public Schools plans to start incubating the new school this fall at the Concord Magnet School building on Concord Street that will be left vacant when CMS relocates to the Ponus Ridge campus over the summer. Incubating the school while the new location is being built allows the school to start establishing its character and academic programs, and makes for an easier transition once the new school building is ready, Estrella said. A discussion of the character and academic themes for the school will take place on Tuesday at a community meeting hosted by Estrella and the Board of Education at CMS from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Families and the South Norwalk community are invited to share their ideas. The school incubation will start with two sections of pre-kindergarten and four sections of kindergarten. A new grade level will be added each year until the school reaches a capacity of 682 students in pre-K through fifth grade. Students already enrolled in the district would not be rezoned to attend the new school, and incoming kindergarten students with siblings already enrolled can join them at their established schools. This project is all about the children of South Norwalk and future generations, said Darlene Young, Common Council member for District B. Its been a long time coming, but the fact that students will no longer have to endure long bus rides to and from school and will have a neighborhood school will make a huge impact in their daily lives and in the lives of their families. emily.morgan@hearstmediact.com UVALDE, Texas (AP) Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, made a visit to a memorial site for the victims involved in the deadly elementary school shooting in Texas. Meghan placed white flowers tied with a purple ribbon at a memorial outside the Uvalde County Courthouse on Thursday. She paid her respects after a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. TIVAOUANE, Senegal (AP) Police were on guard and nearby residents and parents stood mourning outside a hospital in Senegal where a fire in the neonatal unit killed 11 newborns. Only three infants could be saved, President Macky Sall said before calling on Thursday for three days of mourning for the young lives lost. Mamadou Mbaye, who witnessed the fire Wednesday at the Abdoul Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital in Tivaouane, a town 120 kilometers (75 miles) northeast of the capital, Dakar, told The Associated Press that conditions inside the hospital were atrocious. It was hot and smoky inside with a suffocating heat, and there was a power outage, Mbaye said. Grieving parents were still in shock. I baptized my child on Wednesday and he was baptized here in the hospital. To my great shock, I got a call to tell me that the neonatal section had been destroyed by a fire, said Badara Faye, who lost his son. Moustapha Cisse, who also lost a newborn, said they are still awaiting answers on how such a tragic fire could take the lives of their children. The fire was blamed on an electrical short circuit, according to Mayor Demba Diop. Interior Minister Antoine Diome announced that authorities would be opening an investigation into the condition of the hospitals facilities as well as other health care centers, Senegalese media reported. President Sall called for three days of mourning. To their mothers and families, I express my deepest sympathy, Sall had tweeted upon hearing the news of the fire. His chief of staff, minister Augustin Tine, visited the remains of the hospital Thursday. We have come to be close to the people, in particular the parents, he said. We have come to share the suffering, he added, to share our condolences and to say again it is a misfortune that has hit our country, but we keep our faith. The deadly fire comes a year after four other newborns died in a hospital fire in Linguere in northern Senegal. A series of other deaths also have raised concerns about maternal and infant health in the West African nation known for having some of the best hospitals in the region. Earlier this month, authorities discovered a baby that had been declared dead by a nurses aide was still alive in a morgue. The infant later died. Last year a pregnant woman died in Louga, in the north of the country, after waiting in vain for a cesarean section. Three midwives were given six-month suspended sentences for not giving help to a person in danger. Health Minister Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, who was attending the World Health Assembly in Geneva, cut short his trip to return to Senegal. ___ This story has been corrected to show the correct spelling of the hospital is Abdoul Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital. ___ Dione contributed from Dakar, Senegal. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an order Wednesday to fast track Russian citizenship for residents of parts of southern Ukraine largely held by his forces, while lawmakers in Moscow passed a bill to strengthen the stretched Russian army. Putins decree applying to the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions could allow Russia to strengthen its hold on territory that lies between eastern Ukraine, where Moscow-backed separatists occupy some areas, and the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized in 2014. The Russian army is engaged in an intense battle for Ukraines eastern industrial heartland, known as the Donbas. In a sign that the Kremlin is trying to bolster its stretched military machine, Russian lawmakers agreed to scrap the age limit of 40 for those signing their first voluntary military contracts. A description of the bill on the parliament website indicated older recruits would be allowed to operate precision weapons or serve in engineering or medical positions. The chair of the Russian parliaments defense committee, Andrei Kartapolov, said the measure would make it easier to hire people with in-demand" skills. Russian officials say only volunteer contract soldiers are sent to fight in Ukraine, although they acknowledge that some conscripts were put into the fighting by mistake in the early stages of the war. Three months into Russia's invasion, Putin visited a military hospital in Moscow on Wednesday and met with some soldiers wounded in Ukraine, the Kremlin said in a statement. It was his first known visit with soldiers fighting in Ukraine since he launched the war on Feb. 24. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited wounded soldiers, civilians and children including at times when Russian troops were fighting on the outskirts of Kyiv. A reporter for the state-run Russia1 TV channel posted a video clip on Telegram showing Putin in a white medical coat talking to a man in hospital attire, presumably a soldier. The man, filmed from behind standing up and with no visible wounds, tells Putin that he has a son. The president, accompanied by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, responds: He will be proud of his father, before shaking the man's hand. Zelenskyy reiterated Wednesday that he would be willing to negotiate with Putin directly but said Moscow needs to retreat to the positions it held before the invasion and must show it's ready to shift from the bloody war to diplomacy. I believe it would be a correct step for Russia to make," Zelenskyy told leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, by video link. He also said Ukraine wants to drive Russian troops out of all captured areas. Ukraine will fight until it reclaims all its territories, Zelenskyy said. Its about our independence and our sovereignty. In his nightly address to the nation, Zelenskyy strongly rebuffed those in the West who suggest Ukraine cede control of areas occupied by Russian troops for the sake of reaching a peace agreement. Those great geopoliticians who suggest this are disregarding the interests of ordinary Ukrainians the millions of those who actually live on the territory that they propose exchanging for an illusion of peace, he said. We always have to think of the people and remember that values are not just words. Zelenskyy compared those who argue for giving Russia a piece of Ukraine to those who in 1938 agreed to cede territory to Hitler in hopes of preventing World War II. Russia already had a program to expedite the naturalization of people living in Luhansk and Donetsk, the two eastern Ukraine provinces that make up the Donbas and where the Moscow-backed separatists hold large areas as self-declared independent republics. During a visit to the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions last week, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin indicated they could become part of our Russian family. A Russia-installed official in the Kherson region has predicted the region would become part of Russia. An official in Zaporizhzhia said Wednesday that the region's pro-Kremlin administration would seek that as well. Melitopol, the Zaporizhzhia regions second-largest city, plans to start issuing Russian passports in the near future, said the Russia-installed acting mayor, Galina Danilchenko. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who attended the Davos forum in person, called for friendly countries particularly the United States to provide Ukraine with multiple launch rocket systems so it could try to recapture lost territory. Every day of someone sitting in Washington, Berlin, Paris and other capitals, and considering whether they should or should not do something, costs us lives and territories, Kuleba said. Zelenskyy said his army was facing the fiercest attack possible in the east by Russian forces, which in some places have many more weapons and soldiers. He pleaded for even more military assistance from the West, without exception, without restrictions. Enough to win. The governor of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Haidai, accused Russia of targeting shelters where civilians were hiding in the city of Sievierodonetsk. The situation is serious, Haidai said in a written response to questions from The Associated Press. The city is constantly being shelled with every possible weapon in the enemys possession. Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk are the largest remaining towns held by Ukraine in Luhansk. The region is more than 90% controlled by Russia, Haidai said, adding that a key supply route for Kyiv's troops was coming under pressure despite stiff Ukrainian resistance. Haidai said the road between Lysychansk and the city of Bakhmut to the southwest was constantly being shelled and that Russian sabotage and reconnaissance teams were approaching. The governor of the Donetsk region, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said four civilians were injured when two rockets hit the town of Pokrovsk early Wednesday. One strike left a crater at least three meters (10 feet) deep, with the remnants of what appeared to be a rocket still smoldering. A row of low terraced houses near the strike suffered significant damage. Theres no place to live in left. Everything is smashed, Viktoria Kurbonova, a mother of two who lived in one of the terraced houses, said. An earlier strike about a month ago blew out the windows, which were replaced with plastic sheeting. Kurbonova thinks that probably saved their lives since there was no glass flying around. In other developments, Russia said the strategic Ukrainian port of Mariupol was functional again following a nearly three-month siege that ended with the surrender last week of the last Ukrainian fighters holed up in a giant steel plant. Russia now has full control of Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the separatists in Donetsk planned to set up a tribunal to put the fighters on trial and that Moscow welcomes the action. ___ Elena Becatoros in Pokrovsk, Ukraine, and Jamey Keaten in Davos, Switzerland, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Some residents of the Montie Beach neighborhood have growing concerns Main Street Tap & Grill, 4002 N. Main St., which since opening in late 2019 has had nearly 200 noise complaints filed against it with the Houston Police Department. There also have been incidents of violence at the Heights-area restaurant and bar. Two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. - Robert Frost At the end of this month, other things being equal, Nigerias major political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will select their presidential candidates for the February 2023 general election. By hook or by crook, one of these two candidates will emerge president next year. It will be asking for too much to request Nigerias dominant political class to spare a thought for the nation. But we are duty-bound to make this plea, not because we think this class has the disposition or capacity to change anything but because the metaphorical Nigerian egg, according to Tim Akano, is about to crack. Enlightened self-interest demands that we do not force this crack from the outside. Two tragic events, among many, in the last one monththe decapitation of a military couple and the immolation of Deborah Samueland the mute indifference of those whose constitutional duty it is to protect lives and property as well as maintain law and order and those who are lining up to replace them, is a cruel reminder that the best of 2023 cant and wont scratch the surface of the existential crisis facing Nigeria. It is unfortunate that Nigerians have to endure these tragedies which have become common features of our national existence. Of course, nothing can justify the reprehensible practice of a nation preying on its citizens. When that happens, it calls to question the foundation and future of that nation; it shows us how flawed that nation is. So, you wonder why the political class is fixated on 2023 and why those who are aspiring to lead the country are not taking a stand on this crucial question. It is a pointer to not only how unprepared they are, but also their lack of candour and the superficiality of their ideasno vision of the kind of country they want to lead and no faith in that country. Faith in Nigeriaeven though our motto is unity and faith, peace and progressis a scarce commodity among our political class. Each time I discuss our pitfalls as a nation with younger compatriots, I like to reference a 2004 essay titled, The Path to Nigeria's Greatness: Between Exceptionalism and Typicality by Prof Ali Mazrui, one of Africas foremost political scientists. In that essay, to mark the 90th anniversary of the amalgamation of Nigeria, Mazrui memorably observed, There are indeed certain attributes which make Nigeria strikingly unique in Africasetting it apart in configuration from all other African countries. In summary, these attributes include its size, the human and natural resources, and of course, what appears to be a balance of forces in the geo-political and religious configuration of the country. Nigeria is like no other country; no other country is like Nigeria. So why has this propitious exceptionalism not worked for Nigeria? Perhaps, the answer lies in Nigerias typicality. Some particular ups and downs of the country may be typical of the entire continent, Mazrui wrote about Nigeria. To understand Nigeria is to comprehend this dialectic between the exceptionalism of Nigeria in the African configuration and the typicality of Nigeria as a mirror of the continentNigeria is typical of Africans also because of the swings between tyranny (too much government) and anarchy (too little government). When under military rule, Nigeria leans towards tyranny (too much government), when under civilian administration, Nigeria leans towards anarchy (too little government). I will expand Mazruis thesis to say there is something sinister about Nigerias typicality, which undergirds the mutual fear and loathing and explains the current anarchy. The idea of Nigeria is premised on conquestconquest of people and resourcesand has been sustained by new forms of domination and oppression. For far too long, we have refused to confront this menacing typicality. I do not know how much longer we can ignore it. We seem to have arrived at the crossroads of what political scientists refer to as anocracya state that is neither autocratic nor democratic. It is a dangerous place for a country to be. Each tragedy reinforces the need for us to step back and properly answer the fundamental question of nationhood that began more than six decades ago. From terrorism to banditry to countless sub-national, ethnic, political, religious, cultural, and environmental skirmishes, we have arrived at the Door of No Return, that infamous point through which millions of Africans were forced onto slave ships headed for the New World. What do these social and political phenomena tell us about our country? They tell us that Nigeria is a cauldron of repressed rage fuelled by overt injustice, and to keep it together, we must heed the bellowing orchestra of minorities (whether ethnic, political, economic, religious, or social), to borrow the title of Chigozie Obiomas widely acclaimed novel. Perhaps, 2023 offers us a rare chance to revisit the vexed questions of belongingness, inclusivity, equity, and justice, which to a large extent are driving the discontent and disquiet across the country. One of the most profound statements by a Nigerian politician in this regard is credited to the late Chief Bola Ige, Second Republic governor of Oyo State and Fourth Republic minister for power and later justice, who was assassinated (as a serving minister) on December 23, 2001. According to Ige, There are two basic questions that must be answered by all Nigerians. One, do we want to remain as one country? Two, if the answer is yes, under what conditions? Simply put, we must renegotiate Nigeriathrough a new constitutionthat will recreate the country in the image of Nigerians of the 21st century. That process is not a silver bullet. In fact, it could lead to the dismantling of Nigeria as we currently know it. But, importantly, that unravelling will not come at the cost of the blood of millions of citizens. And if we get it right, it can lead to the glorious dawn of our exceptionalism. Nation building experiment is a tough but rewarding one; that is, for people who are genuinely committed to the process. Whether it is power sharing, affirming secularity or religious plurality, protection of minorities, and everything in between, we must constantly defer to the default position that Nigeria is a country of diverse nationalities with religious and socio-cultural peculiarities negotiated as a federation at independence in 1960. Every decision we make must largely reflect this heterogeneity. To do otherwise is to court disaster. The central question of the 1999 transition was to return to civilian rule. The central question in 2015, when the current monstrosity came to power, was the prospects of a party-to-party transition after 16 years of PDPs misgovernance. We seem to have come full circle. The central question in 2023 will be (re)negotiating Nigerias unity. Lets forget all the talk about fixing the economy, about GDP, and tackling insecurity. Without a country we cant do anything. Lets not repeat the errors of our tragic past. We shouldnt wait to get to the precipice before we go to the negotiation table. So, when you hear our ruling class use such weasel words as the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable, it is important to ask them the nature and purpose of this unity. The unity of Nigeria is not a problem. The challenge is the nature and purpose of that unity. Is it a unity based on trust, equity, and respect or one conditioned by age-long cavalier beliefs of conquest and domination? As 2023 approaches, the political class is running around like a headless chicken, claiming to have the magic wand to fix Nigeria. Their managerial philosophy and approach to the Nigerian crisis, which is foundational, tells you they are in it for what they can get. My admonition is that as a nation we shouldnt be afraid to walk the road less travelled. To paraphrase the famous quote on fear from the first inauguration speech of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, the only thing we have to fear isfear itselfirrational and unjustified fear which paralyses sorely needed efforts to strengthen the unity of Nigeria. Onumah is the author of We Are All Biafrans, among other books. He can be reached via Twitter @conumah The Spanish government has donated 4.4 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines to Nigeria, in order to align with its unconditional defence of fair, equitable, and universal access to vaccines against COVID-19. This was disclosed in a statement by the Embassy of Spain in Nigeria on Wednesday. The Embassy explained that the handover ceremony of the single-dose vaccines was held at the premises of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency in Abuja on Tuesday. At the event was the Executive Director of the Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, the Ambassadors of Spain, Greece, Sweden, and Austria; UNICEF Director of Health, Mr. Eduardo Celades; WHO Deputy Country Representative, Mr. Alexander Chimbaru, and the European Union envoy, Ambassador Samuela Isopi. The statement read in parts, With this donation, Spain stands out as the third donor of COVID vaccines to Nigeria. It is the largest donation Spain has done to a single country in Africa so far. Furthermore, these figures place Spain as the seventh-largest donor of vaccines in the world, with 70 million doses already delivered. Spain is fully committed to multilateral efforts. Consequently, this donation and more than 90 percent of Spanish donations have been made through the COVAX mechanism. The embassy added that the donation constituted one more action of the Team Europe in Nigeria, integrated by the European Union and its member states. Altogether, the EU and EU countries had donated 30m vaccines to Nigeria so far. To defeat the pandemic, the Spanish ambassador, Mr. Juan Sell, said it was important the vaccine reach every citizen and corner of the world, including the most remote areas with the vaccines. In his words, We have to strengthen primary health systems; and we must improve global mechanisms for technology transfer to decentralise the production of health products in all regions, particularly in Africa. In that sense, the President of the Government of Spain announced at the recent II Global Summit against COVID, that Spain will allocate $300m for the donation of an additional 30m COVID vaccines and to strengthen public health systems through projects related to COVID-19, which will be implemented by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation. Barbara Lange goes home PHUKET: Barbara Lange, the 75-year-old German tourist who was rescued from being lost in the Phuket jungle after being missing for seven days, has gone home. tourismSafety By The Phuket News Thursday 26 May 2022, 10:04AM Ms Lange, who suffers from Alzheimers, boarded a flight back to Germany yesterday, assisted by officers from the Tourist Assistance Center (TAC) at Phuket airport, together with the Tourist Police. The adventures of Ms Lange, who disappeared twice from her hotel in Mai Khao during her stay in Phuket, raised concerns about the duty of care of seniors on holiday in Phuket, especially those suffering dementia. Phuket officials focussed only on the safety aspect and of finding Ms Lange safe, which was achieved only after a large-scale search for her by land, sea and air. Many readers of The Phuket News have pointed out that bringing any person suffering dementia requires special efforts to ensure the family member is under close watch at all times, and that services such as hiring a caretaker nurse for the duration of the holiday are available on the island. Zelensky rebukes West as Russia closes in on key Ukraine city KYIV: Fierce battles raged in eastern Ukraine yesterday (May 25), with Russian troops on the verge of encircling a key industrial city, as President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a bitter rebuke of the West for not doing enough to help Kyiv win the war. RussianUkraineviolencedeathmilitarypolitics By AFP Thursday 26 May 2022, 10:32AM A young boy sits in front of a damaged building after a strike in Kramatorsk in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas yesterday (May 25). Photo: Aris Messinis / AFP Lugansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday described fighting outside of the industrial city of Severodonetsk, a key military goal for Russia, as very difficult, saying Russian troops were shelling the city from the outskirts with mortars. The coming week will be decisive, Gaiday said in a video posted on Telegram, adding he believes Russias goal is to capture the Lugansk region no matter what cost. There is a colossal amount of shelling, he added. Earlier in the day, addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukraines Foreign Ministry Dmytro Kuleba compared the battle for Donbass to the epic battles fought in World War II and said his country badly needs multiple launch rocket systems to match Russian firepower. In Kyiv, Zelensky echoed that plea. We need the help of our partners - above all, weapons for Ukraine. Full help, without exceptions, without limits, enough to win, Zelensky said in his daily address to the nation. And he called out the international community for paying too much attention to Russias interests and too little to Ukraines. The Ukrainian president blasted a recent New York Times editorial and other similar statements by influential Western figures suggesting that Ukraine might have to sacrifice some territory to end the conflict. We must do everything in our power so that the world develops a firm habit to take Ukraine into consideration, so that the interests of Ukrainians dont get overtaken by the interests of those rushing to yet another meeting with the dictator, Zelensky said. Clear blackmail Russias Feb 24 invasion of its pro-Western neighbour has caused global shockwaves, with the latest being fears of food shortages, particularly in Africa. Moscow blamed the international sanctions imposed after the invasion, while the West says the shortage is mainly down to Russias blockade of Ukrainian ports. Solving the food problem requires a comprehensive approach, including the removal of sanctions that have been imposed on Russian exports and financial transactions, said Russian deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko. But Kuleba urged the West not to give in. This is clear blackmail. You could not find a better example of blackmail in international relations, Kuleba said in Davos. Kuleba also slammed the western military alliance NATO for doing literally nothing to stop Russia. Extremely heavy shelling Moscows army has plotted a slow but steady course deeper into Ukraines eastern Donbas region since withdrawing forces from central and northern regions. In the eastern town of Soledar, Ukraines salt manufacturing hub, the ground shook moments after Natalia Timofeyenko climbed out of her bunker. I go outside just to see people. I know that there is shelling out there but I go, the 47-year-old said after a thundering blast smashed apart a chunk of a salt mine where she worked with most of her friends and neighbours. Ghostly frontline towns like Soledar are being hammered by Russian artillery as they sit along the crucial road that leads out of besieged Severodonetsk and its sister city Lysychansk. Twelve people were killed by extremely heavy shelling and attacks in the neighbouring region of Donetsk, which also forms part of Donbas, the Ukrainian presidency said. In a sign that the rest of the country remains at risk, Russian cruise missiles struck the major southern rail hub of Zaporizhzhia, killing one person and damaging dozens of houses, the presidency added. It is just war Russia also sought to tighten its grip over the parts of southern Ukraine that it occupies. President Vladimir Putin signed a decree yesterday simplifying a procedure to obtain a Russian passport for residents of the southern Ukrainian regions of Kherson, under the full control of Russian troops, and partly-occupied Zaporizhzhia. Kyiv said the plan was a flagrant violation of Ukraines sovereignty. Moscow-backed officials are pushing for formal annexation by Russia. People are very apprehensive, Kherson trolleybus driver Alexander Loginov, 47, told AFP from the cabin of his vehicle, during a press trip organised by the Russian defence ministry. Day-to-day life remains marked by uncertainty, especially over payment of salaries as Ukrainian banks are closing, he said. To be honest, it is just war. Underlining the human cost, about 200 bodies were found in the basement of a destroyed building of the port city of Mariupol, which fell to Moscow recently after a devastating siege, Ukrainian authorities said. It is impossible to be within the area due to the corpse smell, Ukrainian ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova wrote on Telegram yesterday. The occupiers turned the entire Mariupol into a cemetery. The tribute is made more powerful considering that the Rockin 1000 was originally formed back in 2015 in Italy as a way to convince the Foo Fighters to come and perform at Cesena, a city over there. They performed another classic Foo Fighters song, 'Learn to Fly'. Things to do in the Attleboro area and beyond Drug charges filed against 4 EDWARDSVILLE Drug charges were filed against three Wednesday by the Madison County States... Student loans forgiven for Corinthian Colleges borrowers Corinthian Colleges was founded in 1995 and bought out private for-profit colleges nationwide. In... When a shooter attacked a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, on May 14, its security guard tried to stop him. At least one of his shots hit the gunman, but it didnt stop the deadly rampage because the gunman was wearing body armor. Ten Black people died in the racist massacre, including security guard Aaron Salter, a retired Buffalo police officer hailed as a hero. It's the latest mass shooting in which the gunman apparently came prepared for anyone trying to stop him with a gun. At least 21 mass shooters over the last four decades have worn some kind of body armor and the majority of those were within the last 10 years, according to a database maintained by The Violence Project, a nonpartisan research group that tracks gun violence. Among them: A massacre that killed 12 people and injured dozens more at a crowded movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, in 2012, and another in nearby Boulder that left 10 people dead at a supermarket last year. The shooter in Texas's deadliest mass slaying was also wearing protective gear when he killed more than two dozen people at a church in 2017, as was a radicalized Islamic couple who carried out a terror attack in San Bernardino, California, in 2015. Theyre demonstrating this intent that, I want to absolutely kill or hurt as many people as I possibly can before I just cant fight anymore, said Chris Burbank, the former police chief in Salt Lake City whos now with the Center for Policing Equity. The Violence Project database doesn't show a clear correlation with body armor and the number of victims. But such gear can enable attackers to shoot longer and is a symbolic way to adhere to societal expectations of what a mass shooting looks like, said James Densley, a criminal justice professor at Metro State University in Minnesota who co-founded The Violence Project. A mass shooting is intended to be a final act you dont get away with a mass shooting, Densley said. So its meant to be a big spectacle, and its meant to have people pay attention and to notice it. One of the ways you do that is you dress up pretending youre in the military. Police officers are seeing body armor in other types of investigations, like narcotics cases, said former Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina. Body armor is relatively easy to get, especially the soft body armor similar to the bulletproof vests regularly worn by police officers that are effective against handguns. Getting body armor isnt difficult under U.S. laws. Federal law prohibits certain violent felons from buying body armor, but other than that there are few restrictions on purchasing it. Only one state blocks it from being ordered online and shipped to homes: Connecticut, which requires a face-to-face purchase. Colina would like to see more states consider stricter rules. I dont think its something that is really thought about too much, but weve seen it many times and weve seen it here in south Florida," Colina said. "Somebody commits a crime wearing body armor, and its terrifying. The idea that you may not be able to stop them if you had to use deadly force is terrifying. Still, body armor itself isn't inherently dangerous and is in fact aimed at protection something on the minds of many people amid a spike in gun violence in the U.S., Burbank said. And its unclear what effective body armor regulation would even look like, given the difficulty of regulating the weapons that are used in the shootings. Most of those same laws apply to guns," Burbank said. "Does that prohibit anyone in this nation from having access to a firearm? Body armor hasn't been worn in the majority of mass shootings, said James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University who has been tracking mass killings back to 2006 along with The Associated Press and USA Today. But it does indicate a level of planning. Body armor was mentioned more than a dozen times in the online writings attributed to the white suspect in the Buffalo shooting, Payton Gendron, who was arrested at the supermarket and has pleaded not guilty to murder. The Violence Project database also doesn't include slayings that don't meet the definition of a mass shooting because fewer than four people were killed. In one such shooting at Philadelphias Thomas Jefferson University Hospital last October, a nursing assistant wearing blue scrubs and a ballistics vest killed a co-worker and then wounded two police officers before being shot by police and taken into custody. In another, this month in Round Rock, Texas, a 31-year-old Marine veteran wounded a neighbor before engaging in a shootout with law enforcement, after which he was found dead, wearing body armor. In contrast to U.S. laws, four Canadian provinces have enacted severe restrictions on the possession of body armor Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. Residents must obtain permits to possess body armor, including ballistic vests, and must undergo background checks before getting those permits, which must be renewed on an annual or biannual basis. Violators face hefty fines and jail time. Alberta adopted its law in 2012 because of spiraling gang violence in which gang members wore vests while committing crimes such as drive-by shootings and even sported them in public, said Ian Roddick, a spokesman with the provinces Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General. Applicants must have no criminal record. Permits generally are granted to those whose jobs, such as security guards, require protection. Some Australian territories also restrict body armor possession. ___ Associated Press writer Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report. __ This story was first published on May 18, 2022. It was updated on May 26, 2022, to correct that the shooter in a 2021 Philadelphia case was not killed, but was shot by police and taken into custody. It was also updated on May 26, 2022, to clarify that federal law prohibits certain violent felons from buying body armor. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HONOLULU (AP) After guests checked out of a corner room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village resort on Waikiki beach, housekeeper Luz Espejo collected enough trash, some strewn under beds, to stuff seven large garbage bags. She stripped the linens from the beds, wiped built-up dust off furniture and scrubbed away layers of grime on the toilet and bathtub. She even got on her hands and knees to pick confetti from the carpet that a heavy-duty vacuum failed to swallow up. Like many other hotels across the United States, the Hilton Hawaiian Village has done away with daily housekeeping service, making what was already one of the toughest jobs in the hospitality industry even more grueling. Industry insiders say the move away from daily cleaning, which gained traction during the pandemic, is driven by customer preferences. But others say it has more to do with profit and has allowed hotels to cut the number of housekeepers at a time when many of the mostly immigrant women who take those jobs are still reeling from lost work during coronavirus shutdowns. Many housekeepers still employed say their hours have been cut and they are being asked to do far more work in that time. It's a big change for us, said Espejo, a 60-year-old originally from the Philippines who has cleaned rooms at the world's largest Hilton for 18 years, minus about a year she was laid off during the pandemic. We are so busy at work now. We cannot finish cleaning our rooms. Before the pandemic there were 670 housekeepers working at Espejos resort. More than two years later, 150 of them havent been hired back or are on-call status, spending each day from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. waiting for a phone call saying theres work for them. The number not hired back or on call stood at 300 just a few weeks ago. This is all about more money in the owners pocket by putting a greater workload on the frontline workers and eliminating jobs," said D. Taylor, president of UNITE HERE, a union representing hotel workers. While some hotels started experimenting with less frequent cleaning in the name of sustainability, it became far more widespread early in the pandemic, when to promote social distancing and other safety protocols, many hotels switched to offering room cleaning only if a guest requested, and sometimes only after staying a certain number of days. Guests were instructed to leave trash outside their door and call the front desk for clean towels. But even as safety restrictions fade and demand picks up as the country enters peak travel season, many hotels are keeping their new cleaning policies in place. A spokesperson for the Hilton Hawaiian Village said no Hilton representative was available for an interview about such policies at any Hilton property. Representatives for several major hotel chains, including Marriott and Caesars Entertainment, either declined to be interviewed or didn't respond to Associated Press requests for comment. Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, a trade group whose members include hotel brands, owners and management companies, said it was the demands of guests not hotel profits that guided decisions about pandemic housekeeper services. A lot of guests, to this day, don't want people coming into their room during their stay," he said. To force something onto a guest that they don't want is the antithesis of what it means to work in the hospitality industry. The pandemic changed the standard of most hotel guests wanting daily cleaning, he said, adding it's not yet clear if that will result in a permanent shift. Housekeeping policies vary based on the type of hotel, Rogers said, with luxury hotels tending to provide daily housekeeping unless guests opt out. Ben McLeod, of Bend, Oregon, and his family didnt request housekeeping during a four-night stay at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort on Hawaiis Big Island in March. My wife and I just have never really understood why there would be daily housekeeping ... when thats not the case at home and its wasteful, he said. He said he expects his kids to tidy up after themselves. Im a Type-A, so I get out of bed and I make my bed, so I dont need someone else to make my bed, he said. Unionized hotel workers are trying get the message out that turning down daily room cleaning is hurting housekeepers and threatening jobs. Martha Bonilla, who has spent 10 years working at the Caesars Atlantic City Hotel & Casino in New Jersey, said she wants guests to ask for daily cleaning, noting it makes her job less difficult. Even though hotels in New Jersey are required by law to offer daily cleaning, some guests still turn it down. When I come home from work now, the only thing I want to do is go to bed, said Bonilla, originally from the Dominican Republic and a single mother of a 6-year-old daughter. I am physically exhausted. It's not just partying guests like the ones who threw confetti around in Hawaii that leave behind filthy rooms, housekeepers say. Even with typical use, rooms left uncleaned for days become much harder to restore to the gleaming, pristine rooms guests expect when they check in. Elvia Angulo, a housekeeper at the Oakland Marriott City Center for 17 years, is the main breadwinner in her family. For the first year of the pandemic, she worked a day or two a month. She has regained her 40 hours a week, but with rooms no longer cleaned daily the number of people working each shift has been cut in half, from 25 to 12. Thank God I have seniority here so I now have my five days again, and my salary is the same," said Angulo, 54, who is from Mexico. But the work really is now harder. If you dont clean a room for five days you have five days of scum in the bathrooms. Its scum over scum. Many housekeepers still arent getting enough hours to qualify for benefits. Sonia Guevara, who has worked at a Seattle Hilton for seven years, used to really enjoy the benefits at her job. But since returning to work after being laid off for 18 months, she hasn't qualified for health insurance. At first I was thinking to get a new job, but I feel like I want to wait, she said. I want to see if my hours change at the hotel. She said there are few other job options with hours conducive for having two children in school. Now politicians are picking up on the issue, including Hawaii state Rep. Sonny Ganaden, who represents Kalihi, a Honolulu neighborhood where many hotel workers live. Almost every time I talk to people at their doors, I meet someone who works in a hotel and then we talk about how they are overworked and what is happening and working conditions, he said. You've got a lot of first- and second-generation immigrant folks that are kind of left high and dry by these non-daily room cleaning requirements." Ganaden is among the lawmakers who introduced a resolution requesting Hawaii hotels immediately rehire or recall employees who were laid off or placed on leave because of the pandemic. If that's not enough, Ganaden said he would be open to more forceful measures like some other places have taken. Washington, D.C.s city council in April passed emergency legislation requiring hotels in the district to service rooms daily unless guests opt-out. Amal Hligue, an immigrant from Morocco, hopes the rules mean more hours at the Washington Hilton where she has worked for 22 years. She needs them so her husband can get health insurance. I hope he has this month because I worked last month," she said. At 57 years old, she doesn't want to find a new job. I'm not young, you know, she said. I have to stay. ___ Snow reported from Phoenix. ST. LOUIS Americas Central Port in Granite City and two other local ports are reporting more than half a billion dollars in recent, current or projected improvements. These three ports are playing an important role in the global freight network," said Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises at Bi-State Development and head of the St. Louis Regional Freightway. "And the infrastructure funding recently secured will prepare these facilities for future growth. "It's also evident the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is supportive of this growth and is taking various steps to improve the reliability of our waterways and the equipment that supports the movement of barge traffic along them," she said. "The investments occurring today will help to deliver cost savings that will produce profits for the barge industry and contribute to future success. Her comments came at a Wednesday panel discussion as part of FreightWeekSTL 2022. Other panelists included Dennis Wilmsmeyer, executive director of Americas Central Port; Ed Weilbacher, general manager of the Kaskaskia River Port District; Mark Coulter, vice president and general counsel for Port KC in Kansas City; and John Grothaus, program manager for Missouri River studies with the Kansas City District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. America's Central Port with access to six Class I railroads, two multi-modal harbors, four U.S. interstates is home to more than 85 manufacturers and freight intensive operators employing about 1,000 people. It's one of the largest freight hubs in the Midwest and has experienced success in securing federal and state funding for several recent projects; others are working their way through the facility. Two port projects funded through the Illinois Department of Transportations Competitive Freight Program include a recently completed $1.2 million project to revitalize the Granite City Harbor general cargo dock with a 12-inch reinforced concrete pavement and new rail track that serves the harbor facility, as well as $2 million for a new entrance off of Illinois 3, which touches Interstate 70 on the south and Interstate 270 on the north. We see about 18,000 cars a day coming past port property, Wilmsmeyer said. This new entrance will give us immediate access to the heart of our industrial park and create a new street along the front of our warehouses. The project will soon be out for bid and were expecting construction to start here this summer. Other infrastructure investments at the port include a nearly $500,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity under the Opportunity Zone Program to realign and reconstruct West Fourth Street in the port's Warehouse District. The port was also awarded Rebuild Illinois funding for three projects, including a sediment reduction project in Madison Harbor to increase operational efficiency and reduce long-term expenses. Another recent award tied to the port is a BUILD grant secured by SCF Lewis & Clark Terminals, the ports barge and harbor operator, for improvements at four river terminals in the St. Louis region, including two at Americas Central Port. Kaskaskia Regional Port District projects including construction of a second entrance road, a second rail loop, safety improvements at rail crossings and enhancements to the rail yard are being funded by state and federal grants, Weilbacher said. Weilbacher said the recent designation of the Kaskaskia River in Illinois as a Marine Highway Route (M3) was driven partially by a new company expected to ship an additional 1.2 million tons of coil steel inbound for processing. The new route, which will include existing freight traffic between the terminals on the Kaskaskia and Mississippi Rivers, is expected to create new opportunities for public-private partnerships and supply chain resiliency. All three port operators agreed on the importance of collaborating with other partners, users of their facilities and others around them is as well as with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They also praised grant funding of upwards of $80 million the Corps secured to strengthen levees in southwestern Illinois to the higher current standards. Another timely accomplishment for the Metro East Levee System which consists of five levees in Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties was the final Federal Emergency Management Agency letter of accreditation in April acknowledging the levees now meet 100-year flood levels. FreightWeekSTL 2022, which concludes online Friday, is presented by the St. Louis Regional Freightway and Bi-State Development in conjunction with The Waterways Journal. For more information visit www.freightweekstl.com. May 26 is World Redhead Day. If you're sporting natural red hair, you're part of a unique group. Only 2% (or about 140 million people) of the world's population has natural red hair. Sisters Adrienne and Stephanie Vendetti, who run the website, How To Be a Redhead, started another celebratory day for redheads: National Love Your Red Hair Day, which is celebrated in November. The sisters created the day after noticing there was a "Kick a Ginger Day," the sisters wrote. "We wanted to create a nationally recognized day of the year that empowered redheads to LOVE their hair. But, most of all, it's a reminder for women everywhere, redhead or not, to love their unique qualities," Stephanie wrote. The first "Love Your Red Hair Day" was celebrated in 2015. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BUCHA, Ukraine (AP) As he listened to his father die, the boy lay still on the asphalt. His elbow burned where a bullet had pierced him. His thumb stung from being grazed. Another killing was in progress on a lonely street in Bucha, the community on the outskirts of Ukraines capital, Kyiv, where bodies of civilians are still being discovered weeks after Russian soldiers withdrew. Many had been shot in the head. The 14-year-old Yura Nechyporenko was about to become one of them. Survivors have described soldiers firing guns near their feet or threatening them with grenades, only to be drawn away by a cooler-headed colleague. But there was no one around to restrain the Russian soldier that day in March when Yura and his father, 47-year-old Ruslan, were biking down a tree-lined street. They were on their way to visit vulnerable neighbors sheltering in basements and homes without electricity or running water. Their bikes were tied with white fabric, in a sign they traveled in peace. When the soldier stepped from a dirt path to challenge them, Yura and his father immediately stopped and raised their hands. What are you doing? Yura remembers the soldier asking. The soldier didnt give Yuras father time to answer. The boy heard two gunshots. His father fell, mouth open, already bleeding. A shot hit Yuras hand, and he fell, too. Another shot struck his elbow. He closed his eyes. A final shot was fired. ___ This story is part of an ongoing investigation from The Associated Press and Frontline that includes the War Crimes Watch Ukraine interactive experience and an upcoming documentary. ___ Yuras extraordinary account alleging an attempted killing by Russian soldiers stands out as international justice experts descend on Bucha, a center of the horrors and possible war crimes in Ukraine. More than 1,000 bodies have been found so far in Bucha and other communities around Kyiv. In Bucha alone, 31 children under the age of 18 were killed and 19 wounded, according to local authorities. All children were killed or injured deliberately, since the Russian soldiers deliberately shot at evacuating cars that had the signs CHILDREN and white fabric tied to them, and they deliberately shot at the homes of civilians," the chief prosecutor of the Bucha region, Ruslan Kravchenko, told the AP. The U.N. human rights office says at least 202 children across Ukraine have been killed in Russias invasion, and believes the real number to be considerably higher. The Ukrainian government's count is 217 children killed and over 390 wounded. The AP and Frontline, drawing from a variety of sources, have independently documented 21 attacks where children were killed that likely meet the definition of a war crime, ranging from the discovery of a child in a shallow grave in Borodyanka to the bombing of a theater in Mariupol. The total number of child victims in the attacks is unknown, and the accounting represents just a fraction of potential war crimes. Yura is a teenager growing into himself, spindly and spotted, with dark circles pressed under his eyes. Adulthood has been rushed upon him. As he lies on the floor of his familys home to demonstrate what happened, he shows the healing holes in his elbow. His mother, Alla, takes deep breaths to calm herself. Yura, sitting up, wraps an arm around her, then puts his head on her shoulder. On that awful day, Yura survived the attempted killing by the awkward grace of that teenage constant, his gray hoodie. It was shot instead of him, and he felt it move. Yura lay on the street for minutes afterward, waiting for the soldier to walk away. Then Yura ran. He reached the kindergarten where his mother worked, and where some residents used the basement as a shelter. They were shocked to see the boy and gave him first aid. He realized he needed to go home. He returned to the streets, not knowing where the next soldier might be. When he arrived home, his family called the police. The police said they could do nothing because they didnt control the area, according to the family. The ambulance service said the same. The police told the family that officers didnt know what to do with the case, according to the boys uncle, Andriy. A prosecutors report describes the killing and attempted killing in a few bare sentences, including the loss of a cellphone belonging to Yura's father. He would have been of help now he'd been a lawyer. Kravchenko told the AP that they continue to work on Yuras case, and expressed confidence that crimes committed during Russias invasion of Ukraine can be successfully investigated. Among other things, footage from dozens of surveillance cameras in Bucha is being analyzed, and an identification album of Russian soldiers faces is being assembled. In March, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced that investigations into crimes against children in particular will benefit from a new trust fund. Children account for half or more of those affected by conflict, but are often labeled as too vulnerable to testify or as having inaccurate memories, according to Veronique Aubert, the special adviser on crimes involving children to the prosecutor of the ICC. Yuras case is unusual. Prosecutors may want to take up this case because the victim is still alive and can potentially testify, said Ryan Goodman, a law professor at New York University and former special counsel for the U.S. Defense Department. It may be difficult if not impossible for a defendant to claim they were somehow justified in trying to kill a child. ___ It was left to Yuras family to retrieve his fathers body. They did it the following day. Yura's grandmother, who is in her 70s, pleaded with Russian soldiers to let her approach the body. With their guns cocked, they let her walk ahead of them. Another soldier in the distance shouted, Dont come here or well kill you. But he didnt fire. They brought Yura's father home in a wheelbarrow. He was rolled in a carpet and placed on an old wooden door. Amid the sounds of shelling and gunfire, they buried him in the yard behind the woodshed, in one of many makeshift graves hurriedly dug during the monthlong Russian occupation. Yura and his family left Bucha the next day along a rare evacuation corridor. The wounded boy walked first through the streets, holding a stick tied with a white towel, with a white sling around his arm. The family had to pass the scene of the shooting. As they walked closer to the evacuation point, Russian soldiers asked where they were going. They asked what had happened to Yura. I was shot by a Russian soldier, the boy replied. At that, his mother was terrified. I felt everything collapse inside me, she recalled. I thought they would shoot us all. She asked the soldiers to let them pass, saying it was getting late. They did. The family left town that day. ___ The gray hoodie, bloodied at the elbow, is now the centerpiece of the familys search for justice. The top seam of the loose fabric has been sliced. Yuras mother insists that it's evidence and can't be thrown away. The family returned to Bucha in mid-April, after the Russians withdrew. They dug up Yuras father and buried him again in a local cemetery. The boys family continues to play detective, scouring the area of the shooting for further evidence and theorizing on the trajectory of bullets. They question neighbors and analyze holes in a metal fence. As the family shows the AP the scene, Yura wanders in the grass beside the street, head down, looking for bullet casings. He is confident he could identify the Russian soldier, even though the soldier wore a balaclava over part of his face. Yura will finish ninth grade this year, once electricity returns and he can resume online classes. Until then, he is volunteering like his father did, visiting older residents. His mother is thinking of sending him overseas for the sake of his mental health. She needs some distance, too. Im never alone physically, but its possible to be alone mentally, she said, near tears. I try to avoid this. Her sons case is still a faint source of hope. There are courts and these courts will work, she believes. No one should go through what her son did. Yura fears they already have. Its not only me who wants justice, he said. People in Ukraine are still possibly being tortured and killed even now. Yura turned 15 on April 12. It was a quiet birthday. His father, a good cook, usually grilled to celebrate it. On April 25, a day after Orthodox Easter, the family again gathered at the grave to mark 40 days after Ruslans death, by local custom. Food blessed by a priest in Bucha for Easter dyed eggs, bread was laid out along with homemade pickles, chocolate and wine. A plastic bag of food was hung on the wooden cross. Yura stood apart, quietly lighting a candle and placing it on the grave. Then he pulled a hoodie, a black one, over his head to block the chill. The boys uncle, Andriy, watches him closely these days. Yura has always been a good kid, but he's become edgy and restless, moving from one task to another. Andriy fears the trauma of surviving death will catch up with Yura and mourns his nephew's damaged childhood. This tears my soul apart, said Andriy, in tears. What we see is suffering after suffering ... (Russian President Vladimir) Putin just decides to make us suffer, and we do. ___ Frontline producer Tom Jennings contributed to this story. Editors Note: The AP and Frontline are gathering information from organizations including the Centre for Information Resilience, Bellingcat, the International Partnership on Human Rights, the Ukrainian Healthcare Center and Physicians for Human Rights to inform the War Crimes Watch Ukraine interactive experience. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) Sweden and Finland's push to join NATO won't require adding more U.S. ground forces into either country, the U.S. general nominated to take over European Command told senators Thursday. But Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli said military exercises and occasional American troop rotations will probably increase. Cavoli, who currently serves as head of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, said the increased military focus will probably continue to be on eastern Europe where nations are more worried about potential Russian aggression and any spillover of the war on Ukraine. The center of gravity of NATO forces has shifted eastward, Cavoli told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his nomination hearing. Depending on the outcome of the conflict, we may have to continue that for some time. Cavoli was asked about the U.S. troop presence in Europe, which has grown from fewer than 80,000 to about 102,000 since the buildup to Russia's invasion. He said the increase had no ties to the more recent move by Finland and Sweden to seek NATO membership. Sweden and Finland submitted their written applications to join NATO last week in one of the most significant geopolitical consequences of Russia's war on Ukraine. Cavoli noted that the U.S already has strong military ties with both countries, and that additional exercises and other engagements are likely to grow. If confirmed, Cavoli will be key as the Pentagon assesses its military structure across Europe. Defense officials have noted that historic troop concentrations in Germany, Italy and Britain may well shift and spread out into other eastern nations, such as Poland and the Baltics. Eastern European countries have been clamoring for more U.S. weapons and troops, as a hedge against Russia. Cavoli said the U.S. also has to continue to strike a delicate balance and ensure its actions in Europe don't inflame relations with Russia and spark a broader conflict. One must not shy away from activity to stay strong and outline our priorities, he said, but the U.S. also must be careful not to overdue that and create a problem where there wasnt one." Cavoli's nomination to be the top U.S. commander in Europe includes the job of NATO Supreme Allied Commander, which gives him a critical role in the Russian war on Ukraine. Committee members voiced support for his nomination, which is expected to be easily confirmed by the Senate. Cavoli has extensive expertise on Russia. He served as a foreign area officer with a concentration on Eurasia, spent time in Russia, and speaks Russian, Italian and French. He was also the director for Russia on the Joint Staff. He would replace Gen. Tod Wolters, who currently heads European Command but is finishing his three-year tour there. SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) A poaching investigation has been launched after two Stevens County deputies stumbled upon four dead wolves in northeast Washington while on snowmobile patrol near the Canadian border on Feb. 8, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said. Some environmental groups contend the animals were poisoned, although they havent offered any evidence to support that allegation. The Spokesman-Review reported Thursday the wolves were in the territory of the Wedge Pack. "The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is aware of and actively investigating dead wolves found in Stevens County, said agency wolf coordinator Julia Smith in a statement. Because this incident is under active investigation by law enforcement, no further information is being provided at this time. Rumors of the deaths have been swirling in eastern Washington for months. On Wednesday, the Kettle Range Conservation Group issued a statement claiming the wolves were poisoned. The Wedge Pack has been exterminated twice for preying on cattle, but new packs keep forming in the remote area. In 2012, WDFW killed all members of the pack following repeated attacks on livestock from the Diamond M Ranch. Wolves repopulated the area in subsequent years. In 2020, WDFW again killed all members of the pack following livestock attacks. As of last December, WDFW estimated there were 9 wolves in the pack. Wolves were exterminated in Washington early in the last century. Since wolves naturally returned to the state in 2008, there have been numerous conflicts with ranchers. There were a minimum of 206 wolves and 33 packs in Washington state in 2021, according to an annual survey conducted by state and tribal biologists. EDWARDSVILLE A request to keep bees, goats and double the allowed number of chickens on residential property was denied by the Madison County Zoning Board of Appeals Tuesday. Seven other requests were approved. The one denial was a request by Steven Taylor and Kaitlyn Bryan, owners of property at 57 Odom Drive, Collinsville, for a special use permit to allow the keeping of bees, two goats and chickens. They also sought a variance to keep 10 chickens instead of the five normally allowed. There was a great deal of opposition from neighbors who submitted a petition with 36 signatures against the request. Another request was approved on a split 3-2 vote. Danielle Trask and Joey Muscarella had requested a special use permit to place a mobile home at 1930 Roberta Ave., Granite City, for Trask and her family. The special use permit was approved with Nicholas Cohan, Sharon Sherrill and Cedric Irby voting yes while George Ellis and Mary Goode voted no. Member Thomas Ambrose was absent. Other requests approved include: Mike Moniger of Moniger Excavating Co. Inc. requested to rezone a 4.54-acre tract at 5965 Illinois 140, Moro, to B-4 Wholesale Business district from PD Planned Development District. In February 2020 the County Board approved rezoning to a planned development district to allow a small-scale hemp processing facility, but the plans fell through, according to Planning & Development officials. Nic Frey requested a special use permit to allow the placement of a mobile home at 10115 Lower Marine Road, Marine. Mark and Donna Sanders had requested a variance at 8411 Steelecrest Lane, Troy, to construct an attached garage 2 feet from the east property line, instead of the required 10 feet. James and Patricia Radcliffe requested a variance for 2635 Staunton Road, Troy, to construct an accessory structure in the front yard setback area in an R-1 Single-Family Residential area. Colby Schrumpf, on behalf of Frey Properties of Highland LLC, requested a special use permit to construct a helicopter hanger and heliport along Ellis Road, St. Jacob, for the storage of St. Josephs Hospitals helicopter in an M-2 General Manufacturing District. Andrew Jones Jr., on behalf of the Southwestern Electric Cooperative Inc., requested the rezoning of a half-acre tract at 4772 Illinois 4, Alhambra, to PD Planned Development District from A Agricultural District to operate a bitcoin mining facility using power from the existing electrical substation on site. All the zoning requests must go to the Building & Zoning Committee and then to the full Madison County Board for approval. In the aftermath of major mass shootings, politicians and pundits depict the killers as crazed monsters and blame mental illness as the fundamental cause. But this misleading narrative is not supported by scientific evidence and is counterproductive to solving Americas epidemic of mass shootings. The claim that mental illness produces such attacks implies that mass shooters are insane, as if they are disconnected from reality and act based on no rational thinking. This goes hand in hand with the common theme that these offenders snap, which suggests they commit impulsive acts of violence, bursting forth from nowhere. Both explanations are wrong. Over the last decade, Ive studied scores of mass shootings and looked deep into the field of behavioral threat assessment, an emerging method where experts in mental health, law enforcement and other disciplines work together to prevent planned acts of violence. Extensive case history shows that mass shooters dont just suddenly break they decide. They develop violent ideas that stem from entrenched grievances, rage and despair. In many cases they feel justified in their actions and regard killing as the sole solution to a problem. They arm themselves and prepare to attack, choosing where and when to strike. Often this is a highly organized and methodical process. The suspected Buffalo shooter, Payton Gendron of Conklin, New York, spent months becoming radicalized online and readying himself to kill, according to law enforcement authorities and written documents they say Gendron posted online. He acquired weapons and tactical gear, practiced shooting, detailed his ideological hatred of Black people and others, and surveilled intended targets. Gendron had a history of troubling behavior, according to authorities, including a threat he made last June as a graduating high schooler to commit a murder-suicide. Under New York law, he was taken into custody by state police and given a psychiatric evaluation; the results are not publicly known. Gendron was released within two days, and authorities said he claimed to have been joking with his threatening comments a form of deception that has figured into other shootings. In 2018, a deep investigation of 63 rampage shooters conducted by experts with the FBIs Behavioral Analysis Unit showed that only a quarter of the offenders were known to have been professionally diagnosed with a mental illness of any kind. While its possible that some suicidal attackers may have gone undiagnosed, only three of the 63 perpetrators, or about 5% of the total examined, had a known psychotic disorder. Blaming mental illness for mass shootings inflicts a damaging stigma on the millions of people who suffer from clinical afflictions, the vast majority of whom are not violent. Extensive research shows the link between mental illness and violent behavior is small and not useful for predicting violent acts; people with diagnosable conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are in fact far more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violence. Yet no person who commits a mass shooting is, in a basic sense, mentally healthy. So if we want to do more to reduce these attacks, we need to better understand the behaviors and circumstances that lead up to them. Threat assessment experts have found that in a majority of cases warning signs are noticeable to people who are in the orbit of would-be shooters. These dont fulfill any predictive checklist as the public commonly expects due to the notion of criminal profiling but compose a set of actions and conditions that indicate potential danger. They also reveal opportunity to intervene. The warning signs include threatening comments, personal deterioration, patterns of stalking and other aggression, as well as fixating on guns, graphic violence and previous mass shooters. Many perpetrators express a desire for infamy. Threat assessment teams seek to use constructive measures to steer troubled individuals away from violent thinking and planning. That can include fostering better social connections and improving a subjects education, work or living circumstances. Case management often does involve mental health interventions, such as counseling or even a period of hospitalization if necessary. In a country saturated with firearms that are easy to obtain, mass shootings are a complex problem with no simple solution. But making mental illness the bogeyman detracts from making progress on stopping these attacks. Thats going to take everything weve got: strengthening our nations gun laws, quashing a surge in violent political extremism, raising cultural awareness of shooter-warning signs and, yes, investing in a lacking mental health care system to give troubled people the help they may need before its too late. Job Title: Reception Center Assistant (Fresher Job Opportunities) Organisation: ALIGHT Duty Station: Uganda Reports to: Senior Protection Manager About US: ALIGHT, formerly the American Refugee Committee (ARC), is an international non-profit, non-sectarian organization that has provided humanitarian assistance and training to millions of beneficiaries over the last 40 years. In 2011, Alight helped nearly 2.5 million people get essential services to regain their health and take back control of their lives. Alight works with its partners and constituencies to provide opportunities and expertise to communities of refugees and internally displaced persons in seven countries in Africa, Asia and Europe, including Iraq, Kosovo, and in the Darfur region of Sudan and is currently providing for emergency relief and recovery in Haiti. Alight provides shelter, clean water and sanitation, health care, skills training, microcredit education, protection to help survivors of war and natural disasters to rebuild their lives with dignity, health care, security and self-sufficiency. Job Summary: Reporting to the Senior Protection Manager, the Reception Center Assistant will be responsible for supporting the implementation of effective general management of Transit and Reception Center activities in line with overall ALIGHT programming. He/she will be responsible for conducting a range of activities, including information provision, regular protection and assistance interventions to ensure that new arrivals, asylum seekers and protection cases at the reception center access and enjoy their rights. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Ensure that the hot meal preparation and provision at reception center level is done effectively. Regularly check the Reception Centre to ensure that there is enough space for accommodation for POCs. Coordinate with protection staff of ALIGHT, OPM and UNHCR in explaining to the new arrivals the process of relocation to settlements. Liaise with ALIGH protection and Community Service staff to provide special attention to UAM/SCs and persons with specific needs (PSNs) such as Disabled and elderly persons. Coordinate with ALIGHT / other Partner Protection /Community service staff for the receipt of the relocated Persons of Concern at Reception /Settlement, especially PSNs. Record and share the relocation Information actual and against target for onward submission. Coordinate with ALIGHTC, OPM and UNHCR staff to assist the new arrivals to Board BUSES/TRUCKS by calling their names and checking their presence as per the relocation list. Supervise Casual workers especially those assisting in Loading of Luggage and Shelter Pole distribution. Prepare timely activity, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports Contribute to project planning, development of proposals and lessons learned processes. Prepare and submit weekly action plan to the supervisor. Adhere to the ALIGHT code of conduct. Perform any other duties assigned to you. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The applicant should hold a Bachelors degree in Social Sciences, Arts and Development studies from recognized Institution. At least two years of experience in a similar or relevant role. Experience of working with UN or NonGovernmental organizations. Good communication skills and ability to conduct training and awareness. Computer skills. Good organizational and people management skills. Strong knowledge of the local population and language. Fluency in Swahili is added advantage. Ability to ride a Motorcycle with a Valid License (Class A) is a MUST. How to Apply: All suitably qualified candidates should apply online at the link below Click Here Deadline: 30th May 2022 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline CAYLA BEVERLY, Stonington, Softball, Senior; Beverly was named the MVP of the ECC Division II tournament. Beverly pitched a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts as the Bears shut out St. Bernard for the title. MADDIE PERKINS, Wheeler, Softball, Senior; Perkins was 4 for 5 with a double, a triple and five RBIs in a win over Putnam. Perkins is hitting .535 for the season with nine doubles and 31 RBIs. JAKE SERRA, Westerly, Track, Senior; Serra established a school record in the 800 meters at the Bishop Hendricken Invitational. Serra turned in a time of 1:56.02, good for fifth place. Andrew Springer held the previous record of 1:56.26. ELI SPOSATO, Chariho, Boys Track, Sophomore; Sposato broke the school record in the 400 meters at the Bishop Hendricken Invitational Sposato finished second in 50.79. Joe DiPalma set the previous record of 50.83 in 2013. Vote View Results In early February, I received a letter from Santander regarding an outstanding repayment on a credit card. I don't have a Santander credit card, or indeed a Santander account of any kind - so I immediately contacted the bank's fraud department which told me someone had borrowed nearly 6,000 in my name. Santander said it would get back to me but I didn't hear anything for 25 days, when I received another letter demanding payment. Hacked off: This reader unfortunately fell victim to online fraud - and Santander's response left a lot to be desired I called the bank multiple times, sometimes holding for up to 45 minutes. Every time I did manage to speak to someone, they said they would get back to me - but then nothing. In late March, I received another letter saying that I would need to pay back the full 6,000 if I didn't make the required monthly repayment. It seems the fraudsters managed to access an old email account I had, but haven't used for years and which I believed to be closed. They used personal information and documents I had sent in emails years ago to apply for a credit card in my name, as well as making purchases on my debit card with NatWest - who were great and refunded the money almost immediately. It appears that the Santander credit card was taken out in December 2021 and the thief went on a spending spree pre-Christmas. Because of the late credit card payments, my previously excellent credit rating is in tatters. I contacted Experian, who went to Santander on my behalf - but it was told I would need to call Santander and answer some questions. I have already done this on several occasions. Not knowing what else to do, I sent Santander a special delivery letter in late April with all the information - but it hasn't been acknowledged. Although I'm not a Santander customer, I believe that the way I have been treated is extremely poor. It has been a very stressful situation and me and my wife have have put plans, such as holidays, on hold until we know what the outcome of all this will be. L.T, Surrey CRANE ON THE CASE Our weekly column sees This is Money consumer expert Helen Crane tackle reader problems and shine the light on companies doing both good and bad. Want her to investigate a problem, or do you want to praise a firm for going that extra mile? Get in touch: helen.crane@thisismoney.co.uk Helen Crane of This is Money replies: This is truly a terrifying situation to find yourself in. How many of us have old email accounts that we have forgotten over the years? Online identity fraud has sadly exploded over the past few years and criminals are thinking of ever more inventive ways to take advantage. Hacking into an old email account would have given them access to all kinds of personal information, which they could then use to make purchases and borrow money in your name. In this case, criminals took out a credit card and went on a Christmas shopping spree, burning through nearly 6,000. As a result your credit rating - which was previously spotless - has fallen through the floor. Scared and desperate, you went to Santander for help - and were met with what can only be described as total indifference. This is appalling. You rightly contacted Action Fraud and Experian to try and get it sorted, but again Santander fobbed you off, promising to follow it up and never doing so. I contacted Santander to demand it took action. It swiftly wrote off the debt, and says it is in the process of amending your credit file. It has also given you 150 as a gesture of goodwill - though in my opinion this doesn't make up for giving you the silent treatment in your time of need. Credit card crime: The scammers spent almost 6,000 on a credit card in L.T's name It is also shocking that it took my intervention for the bank to kick itself into gear. While it's not your fault that you fell victim to fraud, I hope this will encourage readers to dig out forgotten email accounts and shut them down once and for all. I will certainly be doing an audit of my teenage hotmail accounts that I know are still lurking around in the wild west of the world wide web. It can be difficult to do this if you no longer know the password for the account, however - which is why it is a good idea to set up a 'recovery' phone number or secondary email address for all your accounts. This will enable you to get into your account if you don't have the password, or if it is hacked and the password is changed. A spokesperson for Santander said: 'We have a great deal of sympathy for L.T and all those who fall victim to fraud. 'We have reviewed the case and believe that he was unfortunately the victim of application fraud, and as such we have written off the debt and are in the process of amending his credit file. 'We are sorry for the delay in responding to L.T and have provided him with 150 as a gesture of goodwill.' I hope you can finally move on from this sorry episode - and that you and your wife can go on the holiday you were hoping for. Cancelled cruise: Reader David was pleased to be offered a room upgrade after his trip was repeatedly called off due to Covid - but Tui later removed it from his booking Hit and miss: This week's naughty and nice list Every week, I look at the companies who have fallen short when it comes to customer service, and those who have gone above and beyond. Miss: Reader David contacted us as he was upset at Tui's sneaky removal of a cruise upgrade, following a wave of disappointments during Covid. He, his wife and some friends booked a Mediterranean cruise with Marella, which is owned by Tui, for July 2020. The total cost was 4,400 for two inside cabins and they paid a 1,090 deposit. That cruise was cancelled due to Covid and rebooked for 2021. David was told the price had increased to 4,800 and that was with a discount because he didn't ask for his deposit back. And the unexpected changes did not stop there. David said: 'Before we could travel, the ship we were initially booked on was removed from service. Marella booked us on to a new one with a room upgrade to a balcony, which I thought was good. 'But that cruise was cancelled and I had to rebook once again. I booked the same cruise, with an 880 booking incentive applied as I had still not asked for my deposit back. 'However, the balcony upgrade was removed and the cost was approximately ,5500, after the discount - a huge increase on my original booking. Apology: Tui said the reader's experience 'didn't reflect it's usually high levels of customer service' 'I therefore downgraded my room to an outside cabin, with the total cost being 4824.84 more than 400 more than the original booking and for a very similar itinerary, albeit with a slightly better room. 'I'm annoyed that our upgrade was taken away, and I don't feel I've been rewarded for my loyalty to the brand who have had over 1,000 of my money for more than two years.' You got your balcony bonus for being a loyal customer, and while Tui was within its rights to remove it, it certainly did nothing to improve your relation-ship with the firm. Since I got in touch, you have told me Tui has offered you a 200 as a gesture of goodwill. While that doesn't cover your extra expense, you've said it is better than nothing. A spokesperson for Tui said: 'We're sorry that [David] was impacted by changes to his holiday throughout covid. 'We understand that his experience doesn't reflect our usual high levels of customer service and have offered him a gesture of goodwill and an apology, which we're pleased he has accepted' David told me that it his wife's 50th birthday while they are on the cruise, and he has told the company in the hope of getting a special surprise. Hopefully the company will come good and it won't be Tui little, Tui late. Free pass: Reader George managed to skip the passport chaos and get his delivered on time Hit: A somewhat surprising show of support for HM Passport Office landed in my inbox this week. The Government service has come under fire recently for its tardy treatment of customers wanting to renew their passports. There is a massive backlog of applications as a wave of would-be holidaymakers seek to venture out to sunnier climes for the first time in three years. The Government has now said the 10 week target for dealing with applications is 'not guaranteed'. But reader George emailed to tell me he and his wife were perfectly happy with the service provided by HM Passport Office. He said: 'I keep hearing that it can take up to 10 weeks to get a new passport. 'I and my wife both applied for our new passports on 4 May and received our new ones on 16 May. 'The old passports were mailed using the Post Office, one to Bootle and one Belfast, both received the same day via courier. Why all the fuss?' I suspect you may simply have been one of the lucky ones, George - but it's good to hear all the same. Do spare a thought for those stuck in a queue outside the passport office while you are sipping margaritas on the beach. The last thing the country needs is yet another tax coming so soon as it does after the April imposition of the NHS and Social Care hike in national insurance, which affects every business and employee in the country. Yet that is precisely what Rishi Sunak has done with the infliction of a whopping 25 per cent surcharge on the extraordinary profits being made by oil and gas companies in an effort to raise 5billion extra of revenues. In the context of the cash flows currently being achieved by Britains oil majors, this might seem like a flea bite. Gushing profits: Shell notched up 7.4bn or so of profits in the first quarter and BP some 5bn. But BP ended up with a 16.3bn loss after it exited from Moscow-controlled Rosneft After all, Shell notched up 7.4billion or so of profits in the first quarter and BP some 5billion. But it is also worth noting that BP ended up with a 16.3billion loss after it exited from Moscow-controlled Rosneft and wrote down its Russian operations. The shares of BP and Shell have shrugged off Sunaks tax raid. The blow has been softened by a promise of a super deduction for new investment, which on paper will provide tax relief of 91.25 per cent. That should encourage further North Sea drilling as well as major new renewable projects such as hydrogen plants on Teesside. The Government makes much of the fact that even after the surcharge, taxes on explorers in Norway from where we buy much of our gas will be higher. It may be easy for the UK majors such as Shell and BP to ride out the new levy, but the bigger worry post-Brexit is the impact it has on inward investment in the North Sea and on renewable projects. One of the big factors favoured by overseas investors is certainty about the tax regime. By constantly moving the goalposts, the Treasury risks driving investment away to locations where future returns on new projects can be relied upon, even if the headline tax rate is higher. In many ways, the Chancellors threat to impose a future tax on the electricity suppliers is even more worrying, causing share prices to slump. Threatening a future tax is damaging to shareholders, dividends and investment. How disturbing it would be, for instance, if Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) were to push back on its ambitious 24billion renewable plans. The Treasury is playing with fire. EY challenge Barely a day passes without some audit disgrace. KPMG is once again in the frame, this time over its failure to notice bribery payments by aero-engine giant Rolls-Royce. Doubtless accounting enforcers may at some point catch up with Glencore after the commodity giant owned up to bribery and corruption in seven African countries. Meanwhile, PwC has found itself at the vortex of a dispute over the audit of Martin Sorrells S4 Capital. Given the urgency of the issue of audit reform, one might have thought it deserved more prominence in the Governments legislative programme than a background note to the Queens Speech. In spite of three high-profile studies, the shape of the reforms is still in doubt largely because of push back by the all-powerful audit lobby. It is all but decided that the new regulator the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority proposed by Lord Kingman way back in 2018, will get the go ahead. But Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is caught in the middle of a battle royal over the future shape of the profession. Kwarteng, with clear support from EY which is to carve out its audit practice favours a formal split with the burgeoning consulting arms of the big firms, hived off as separate companies, ending conflicts of interest which have bedevilled the profession. There has been heavy lobbying by much of the profession for a less dramatic separation. This is hardly surprising given the huge partner incomes generated by consulting. Other firms must be encouraged, if not forced, to follow the EY lead. It is essential if the credibility of the profession is to be shored up. Ringing change When it comes to potential overseas takeovers, the Government is showing steel. The decision to use new powers under the National Security and Investment Act to probe telecoms billionaire Patrick Drahis 18 per cent stake in BT has caused a sharp intake of breath. Not least at BT itself where chief executive Philip Jansen may have nurtured hopes of using the Drahi firepower to speed up change. Kwasi Kwarteng is taking no prisoners. The takeover of Britains largest microchip maker Newport Wafer Fab has been called in for review by the Government on national security grounds. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the 63million acquisition of the Welsh firm by Nexperia, a subsidiary of Chinese chip firm Wingtech, would be scrutinised. There will now be a full assessment under the new National Security and Investment Act. We welcome overseas investment, but it must not threaten Britains national security, he tweeted. Intervention: Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng says overseas investment must not threaten Britain's national security Under the Act, the Government has 30 days to investigate the takeover before deciding whether to intervene. The move followed a decision last year by Boris Johnson to have the deal reviewed by national security adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove, whose report has not yet been published. It also follows a Daily Mail campaign to save Britains tech industry from foreign buyers. The takeover of Newport Wafer Fab by Wingtech was controversial and sparked a debate on the influence of Chinese firms on the UKs tech sector and other industries vital for national security. The semiconductor wafers made in Newport are vital in the computer chip-making process. They are mostly shipped to Asia to make finished semiconductors and account for more than half the value of the final product. They are used to make products for companies including Dyson and Bosch. Earlier this month, it was reported that Zhang Xuezheng, a Chinese tech tycoon who owns about 17 per cent of Wingtech, was set to fly to the UK to settle nerves over the deal. The takeover has drawn fierce criticism from politicians, with Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Parliamentary foreign affairs committee, saying it was absolutely baffling that it had not been blocked. The semiconductor 'wafers' made at the Newport Wafer Fab factory (pictured) are vital in the computer chip-making process Lord Alton, a crossbench peer, said the sale to a Chinese buyer was madness. And Ciaran Martin, the former chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, said it is a greater threat to British interests than Huaweis involvement in the 5G network Parliaments business, energy and industrial strategy committee is probing the UKs semiconductor industry. Semiconductors are growing in technological and geopolitical importance. With scarce global supply, its essential that we conduct a stock take of the UKs capacity and what Government can do to raise it. said Labour MP Darren Jones, chairman of the committee. Semiconductors are essential in electronics and, after the pandemic disrupted global supply chains, there is a shortage. Severn Trent has launched a 30million fund to help low-income families struggling to pay their water bills. The scheme is expected to cut the bills of 100,000 customers by up to 90 per cent and aims to support 315,000 customers by 2025. As cost of living pressures continue, were acting now, said Severn Trent boss Liv Garfield. 30m fund: Severn Trent boss Liv Garfield says the money will help low income families She added: We dont want anybody in our region feeling nervous about their water bill arriving. Management consultant CEPA says 6.5 per cent of households around 1.5m are in water poverty, meaning they spend more than 5 per cent of their income after housing costs on water bills. But Severn Trent sparked anger with its plans to pay around 154million in dividends to investors. The water supplier for an area stretching from the Cotswolds to Lincolnshire, reported a profit for the year of 506million, up 7.5 per cent on last year, while revenues climbed 6.4 per cent to 1.9billion. Separately, the water industry regulator Ofwat yesterday called on firms to do more. Its guidance requires them to help resolve problems without resorting to enforcement action to recover debts. Firms are also compelled to offer flexible payment options. Ofwat director Emma Kelso said: We want companies to continue to go above and beyond for customers. The UK Government is investigating billionaire entrepreneur Patrick Drahis growing stake in telecoms giant BT on national security concerns. Drahis Altice UK last year boosted its shareholding in BT from 12.1 per cent to 18 per cent, leading to concerns about the Franco-Israelis influence over a vital British company. The telecoms firm informed the market of the investigation on Thursday morning, sending BT Group shares more than 5 per cent lower in early trading. Patrick Drahi's BT stake grew to 18 per cent in December, via his company Altice UK It said: BT Group has received notification from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy that he has considered the increase by Altice UK of its shareholdingand is exercising his call-in power under section 1 of the National Security and Investment Act 2021. BT Group will fully cooperate with this review. Drahi initially bought 12.1 per cent of BT in June 2021, before bumping that up to 18 per cent in December. While Drahi, who is estimated to be worth roughly 9billion, claimed he had no plans to take BT private as he hoovered up more shares, his investment rang alarm bells for Government ministers. At the time, a Government spokesperson said Britain will not hesitate to act if required to protect our critical national telecoms infrastructure. Under the National Security and Investment Act 2021, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng has the power to either approve Drahis investment outright, impose certain conditions on it, or block it outright. The Bill also allows the Government to halt a single investor from owning more than 25 per cent in a business deemed to be of national significance. Drahi, who also owns auction house Sotheby's, is known for ruthless cost-cutting. However, he has also invested heavily into fibre in his businesses in Portugal, France, Israel and the US after a series of debt-fuelled deals. Among potential national security concerns for the Government are BTs role in maintaining phone cables and exchanges across the UK, as well as the Openreach broadband network. Openreach is BT's infrastructure arm that manages phone and internet lines for 28m homes. Billionaire Patrick Drahi faced fresh scrutiny over his BT stake after the Government launched a review amid national security concerns. There are fears that the Frenchman could launch a takeover bid for the telecoms giant as soon as next month, which could hand him control of BTs Openreach broadband empire as well as sensitive state contracts. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has deployed powers granted under the National Security & Investment (NSI) Act to examine Drahis decision to increase his holding in the FTSE 100 group from 12.1 per cent to 18 per cent in December last year. Kwarteng now has up to 45 days to assess the national security implications of the shareholding. BT said it will fully cooperate with the Governments review. Drahi owns the BT stake through his firm Altice and is the companys largest shareholder. The 58-year old, who also owns auction house Sothebys, stunned the market last June when he declared he had bought just over 12 per cent of BT. He increased the holding in December but said he did not intend to make an offer for the company despite speculation. Under City rules, the statement meant Drahi was barred from making an offer for BT for six months unless he agreed a takeover with the firms board or another buyer tabled a bid. However, this prohibition is set to expire on June 14, which may have spurred the Government into action. Altice declined to comment on the review but it is understood the firm will cooperate with the Governments investigation. Ben Barringer, research analyst at investment manager Quilter Cheviot, said: The timing of this review into Drahis stake in BT is interesting. The fact he has been raising his stake has been well known and is not news, so the fact the Government has decided to act now shows it may want to be seen to flex its muscle on key national infrastructure. BT shares fell 2.3 per cent, or 4.35p, to 185.55p following the news. While Drahi keeps a low profile publicly, in the business world he is known as a corporate swashbuckler and deal maker. He has also garnered a reputation for ruthlessness and is dubbed the cost killer by French trade unions for cutting workforces and slashing salaries and spending. The probe into Drahis stake in BT came less than a day after the takeover of Newport Wafer Fab, the UKs largest microchip maker, was called in for review amid concerns about its owner, a subsidiary of Chinese firm Wingtech. It is also thought other takeovers have been quietly called in since the NSI Act came into force at the start of this year. Concern over who controls BT comes as the firm embarks on a massive effort to expand the UKs fibre broadband network in a bid to boost growth in Britains regions. It also performs sensitive work for the Government, raising its importance in terms of national security. Additionally, Drahis stakebuilding has sparked speculation other potential buyers are eyeing up BT. It also comes amid wider interest in the British telecoms sector from overseas investors, with Abu Dhabi-based telecoms group Etisalat revealing earlier this month that it had snapped up nearly 10 per cent of Vodafone for 3.6billion, making it the companys largest shareholder. Kingsport, TN (37660) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 63F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 63F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday ordered an end to visa-free travel for Russian citizens, citing the need to improve border security in the wake of Moscows invasion. Russian citizens are currently allowed to visit neighbouring Ukraine without visas. In an order posted on the presidential website, Zelenskiy said he backed a petition submitted by a citizen asking for this practice to end. Against the backdrop of full-scale Russian aggression, the issue raised is important and vital. I support the need to strengthen controls on the entry of Russian citizens, he said. Zelenskiy said he had sent a letter to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal asking him to work on the matter. He did not give further details. Russian President Vladimir Putin early last month signed a decree introducing visa restrictions for citizens of countries that Moscow deems unfriendly, including Ukraine. SOURCE: REUTERS This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Ask David Fadden about water pollution and he shares a story from his childhood in Onchiota. When he was about seven, he went walking with his father, a Mohawk who grew up at the Akwesasne territory on the St. Lawrence River, and tossed a stick into a stream. You know that will end up in the ocean, his father said. It hit me, the concept that its all connected. It goes to the Saranac River, which empties into Lake Champlain, which goes up into the St. Lawrence, which goes out to the ocean. Water pollution happens the same way, Fadden said. If we throw garbage in there, its going to end up somewhere else. It will seep into the ground or go into a spring or end up in a river. And it has negative effects. Not just on human life but all life. In June, in Saranac Lakes BluSeed Studios, awareness of our precious water is the focus of a science-infused art exhibit, Multi-Cultural Interpretations on How Pollution Impacts the Lake Champlain Watershed. The project was funded with a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program, which organizes and supports efforts to protect the natural and cultural resources of the watershed: 8,234 square miles within New York, Vermont and Quebec, home to more than half a million people. New works were created by five artists: Carol Marie Vossler, founder and director emeritus of BluSeed; Martin Akwiarnoron Loft, a First Nation photographer and printmaker who was born in Kahnawake, Mohawk Territory near Montreal; Katsitsionni Junie Fox, a Mohawk filmmaker from Akwesasne; Steven Kostell, a papermaker and University of Vermont professor; and Fadden, a Mohawk painter and storyteller. Curt Stager, a professor at Paul Smiths College, is the science advisor. A paleontologist and climatologist, Stager is co-host of Natural Selections on North Country Public Radio and author of Still Waters: The Secret World of Lakes. For nearly a year, the artists and Stager have conversed. I showed them pictures of some of the key molecules that are causing the pollution instead of just giving them a name and a formula, Stager said. Under a microscope, theyre beautiful, like diamonds and emeralds and green necklaces. Phosphorus, from excess farm fertilizer and leaky septic systems, is a major polluter, triggering algae and cyanobacteria blooms in Lake Champlain that are harmful to fish and can be toxic. You cant go in the water or you cant use it for drinking, Stager said. If pets or livestock drink it, they can be hurt. If you add the stronger storms we are getting due to climate change, you wash more of this stuff into the lake too. Its a global issue, happening in lakes all over the world. The BluSeed project packs more of an emotional impact than a straight science report, Stager said. If you see something that moves you, it goes into your soul and it affects how you think and feel. It motivates people to do things. Vossler, a papermaker and sculptor who brought BluSeed to life in an old warehouse in 2002, was artistic director when the arts center applied for funding. For more info BluSeed Studios 24 Cedar St, Saranac Lake 518-891-3799 https://www.bluseedstudios.org/ See More Collapse How many people even know, even in Saranac Lake, that Lake Champlain is our watershed? Thats what inspired me to come up with the idea for the grant, Vossler said. And it just made sense to invite the Indigenous, Native American and First Nation artists to lead the idea. Vossler created an abstract work thats mostly printmaking, on paper made of leftover fiber from local farm crops and invasive plants she collected. Im interested in the microorganisms in the ground or the water or the soil, what is hidden beneath the surface, she said. The installation includes round clay forms she imagined after learning about core sampling of lake sediment from Stager. Vosslers mission is to make individuals aware that what we do or may not do on a daily basis affects the water quality, the biodiversity and habitats of the Lake Champlain watershed. When something is presented in an abstract or semi-abstract mode, it allows for an uninhibited discussion. She has been shuttling that message to students. This spring, she talked about protecting the water during hands-on papermaking workshops at a high school in Plattsburgh and Adirondack Educational Center in Saranac Lake. Fox, an award-winning film maker, is known for documentaries showcasing the strength and power of Native women. PBS aired her 2017 film Under the Husk, about a Mohawk womans right of passage, and in 2020, Without a Whisper, the story of how indigenous women influenced New Yorks suffragist movement. For BluSeed, Fox created a large pottery bowl that represents Mother Earth. A video projected inside the vessel illustrates the lesson of the Haudenosaunee Dish Belt, a symbol that her ancestors used to warn against taking too much from the Earth. The pollution of Lake Champlain Basin is an example of this delicate reciprocal relationship, her artists statement said. We often dont think about the effects we have individually and collectively that will affect future generations. For Fadden, art making and an intense awareness of the natural world have been passed down through his family. Since 1954, three generations have run the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center, formerly called the Six Nations Museum, in Onchiota. At BluSeed, Faddens painting depicts a Native American woman cupping water in her hands against a backdrop of lake, mountains and sky. Faddens mosaic technique is revealed in the leaves and grass behind the figure. As in pointillism, there are dabs of paint but in his version, images and designs, an inch or two in size, appear inside outlined shapes. Every blade of grass, every leaf, is a different color with a Native design, and also a scientific aspect of pollution, whether it be phosphates or different road salts, nitrogen, he said. You have to really study the painting to find these graphics and images of different chemical compounds and formulas. In a bit of whimsy that children adore, even a few Star Wars characters appear. The title, Water Is Life, is an homage to the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, a spoken ritual integral to the six Iroquois nations. At any gathering of people, whether it be political, whether it be a wedding, a funeral, they always say these words first before business takes place, Fadden said. The idea is that you talk to and address every part of creation. Plants, rivers, streams, trees, animals, birds, sky, wind, stars, sun and moon. Each part is spoken at length and its an expression of gratitude, Fadden said. Kostell, who lives minutes away from the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, is a maker of paper both as an artist and at his job. An assistant professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, he instructs students in the BioFiber Paper Lab, where they engage local farmers and research how fiber waste from crops could be used to micro-manufacture paper in rural communities. Paper is one of the most ubiquitous materials in society, and making it from farm waste instead of trees would be more sustainable and less harmful to the environment, Kostell said. For BluSeed, Kostell created a panel of handmade paper from hemp grown in Vermont. Its rough surface, colors and round marks show how the water interacted with the fiber and pigments. While making the paper, Kostell, an avid outdoorsman, questioned how his own manicured lawn affects the watershed.Is it really necessary to use fertilizers or pesticides or herbicides? Stager, the scientist, said the exhibits message is simple: Dont pollute the water. CLIFTON PARK - EyesNY President Dr. Amjad Hammad has been appointed to a national health care advisory board in Jordan. Hammad is tasked with researching and testing different health care models to deploy in the Middle Eastern country while keeping factors such as limited resources, access to care and topography in mind, a news release explained. Hammad's invitation comes after he met with King Abdullah II and Jordanian medical professionals being honored for their achievements and ongoing support for students at the United Nations earlier this month. The doctor is a board member of the Jordanian American Physicians organization and has hosted and trained several international students. He initially came to the United States to further his specialized ophthalmology training with the intention of returning to Jordan. However, he found himself calling the Capital Region home after meeting his wife here, the release noted. For Hammad, taking care of Jordan, where he grew up and his family resides, is near and dear to his heart. "It is a Third World country with little resources, yet it still finds ways to support millions of people from other countries by providing health care, education, clean food and water, and jobs; that is not easy. It is time for me to pay back the country, people and community that gave me so much and helped me get to where I am today," he said. This is all about a bigger plan that is more than a single doctor helping its patients, said Hammad. We need to bring more value to the people of Jordan," he added. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EAST GREENBUSH - A tanning salon war has heated up in the Capital Region with the takeover of a local company by a national chain, leaving a group of unemployed workers and dismayed customers in its wake. Earlier this month, Florida-based Zoom Tan chain took over locally based St. Croix Tan. When the sale occurred, more than three dozen mostly part-time female high school and college students who worked at St. Croixs six locations were abruptly laid off via text messages. The move stunned the employees and customers, many of whom had become friends at their respective tanning parlors. It also ignited a Facebook firestorm among the regions tanning booth cognoscenti, decrying the employees treatment and what they said was another case of a national mega-corporation crowding out independent businesses. It was like a family, said Katelyn Montforte, the 29-year-old who managed St. Croixs six salons for owner Vincent Crisafulli. Zoom, which already has a presence in the Capital Region, had been trying to buy out St. Croix for several years. When word came out that a sale was going through, Montforte said she urged the employees she supervised to be patient, thinking they would stay on with the new owners. As it turned out, only three, including Crisafulli, were able to remain and four of the six St. Croix parlors were going to be closed. A text on the purchase from Crisafulli to employees said that I have been informed that only three St. Croix Tan employees have completed Zoom Tans offer to apply and be hired by their company. "Because of this Zoom Tan has elected to permanently close four St. Croix locations and temporarily close Delmar and Clifton Park ... I must inform you that your employment with St. Croix Tan has been terminated immediately. They left these young girls, 17, 18 and 19 years old, at the counter having to explain to customers that the locations would be closing and they would be losing their jobs, said longtime St. Croix patron Linden Mackenzie. Angered, Mackenzie took to Facebook and posted the following message: Looks like I was mostly correct about St. Croix and the way the employees are treated. Wow, she said, referring to the dismissal text that employees received. Montforte added that as manager she took pride in working to set up schedules that the students could live with, which was apparently not going to work with the new owners. Crisafulli couldnt immediately be reached for comment. Calls to the three Zoom salons in the Capital Region were met with recordings saying they do not accept appointments. Calls to Zooms Florida headquarters werent returned. Zoom has been expanding in recent years, buying up smaller or independent operators in communities across western and central New York, as well as the Southern Tier, northern Pennsylvania and Michigan. Tom Golisano, the former Rochester resident who started the Paychex payroll firm and made several runs for governor, has been listed as an early investor in Zoom, according to several reports. Tanning salons in general havent been free of controversy, with health experts warning about overexposure to the ultraviolet rays the tanning beds and booths use to propagate a tan. New York and other states also restrict or ban the use of tanning beds to those under 18. Additionally, there have been discussions about raising that age to 21. And biennial state inspection costs have jumped from $75 to $200 per tanning booth or bed in recent years. Despite those worries, tanning salons do have a loyal following of patrons Mackenzie says they are especially helpful with seasonal affective disorder that strikes her and others during the gloomy winter months. Shes already reaching out to patrons and directing them to other, independently owned tanning salons in the area. This is Cheers," Laura Higgins said of her sole tanning salon, Hawaiian Tan. She was referencing the 1980s sitcom Cheers, about a bar where Everybody knows your name. Higgins added that Zoom had earlier contacted her about acquiring her shop, located near the intersections of Route 9 and 20. They wanted to buy me out, she said. Montforte is working on new possibilities and shes continuing to worry about her former employees. One, she said, may not make her college summer school tuition without the salon paycheck, while others are worried about car payments, cellphone bills and other expenses. Montfortes family owns a restaurant but theyve been using her tanning salon health insurance, which runs out soon. And she decried what she saw as just another example of how corporate America seems to buy up small local businesses left and right. Mom and pop places, this is why they dont exist, she said. rkarlin@timesunion.com 454-5758 @RickKarlinTU Know before you go was a phrase in use at the height of the pandemic two years ago as travelers were urged to double-check their accommodations and transit options before heading off on trips away from home. While many of the pandemic restrictions and rules have since eased, travelers during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend and beyond would still be well advised to check things out. This time, though, you should be prepared for sharply higher prices, especially for gas, hotel rooms and airfares, and the return of crowds. Were paying for the pent-up demand, said Jean Gagnon, of Lathams Plaza Travel. Plane or hotel reservations for this weekend, she said, have already been made by people months ago. And now, travelers who may want to go somewhere on Labor Day, at the end of the summer, should be making their plans. Flights are full, she said. Its a very tumultuous situation, remarked Bob Provost, president and CEO at the New York State Tourism Industry Association. To be sure, the metrics for tourism/travel in New York havent surpassed pre-pandemic numbers. But the decline from earlier years has been slashed by more than half. "The pace of recovery for the state overall has escalated, said Provost, a former Times Union marketing executive. Statewide, the numbers are tilted because of New York City. A top 10 global attraction, the city is still struggling with staff shortages at restaurants and hotels and a lack of international travelers. Ready to spend? No matter where you are going, prepare to pay more to reach your destination and to sleep there. According to the national AAA, even the lowest airfares are up 6 percent over last year, while midrange hotels are up 43 percent. Car rental costs are up a shock-inducing 170 percent and, of course, gas is up 51 percent. Nationally a gallon of regular gas sold for an average of $3.03 a year ago compared to $4.60 as of this week, according to AAA. In New York this week gas averaged $4.93 per gallon, with Capital Region prices averaging $4.88 and New York City at $5.05. Airfares are climbing out of sight. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index airfares have jumped 33 percent year to year. From March to April of this year alone, they rose 18.6 percent, which was the steepest one-month jump ever. Based on our projections, summer travel isnt just heating up, it will be on fire. People are overdue for a vacation and they are looking to catch up on some much-needed R&R in the coming months, said Paula Twidale, senior vice president at AAA. Overall, AAA predicts that 39.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home this weekend, an 8 percent increase over last year. One group that wont be catching up, though, are visitors from abroad. Provost noted that continued COVID test requirements for international flights into the U.S., as well as turmoil in Europe stemming from Russias invasion of Ukraine, have seriously dented overseas tourism to the U.S. and will likely continue through the summer. Moreover, harsh COVID lockdowns, a souring economy, and troubled relations with the U.S. has led to a drop-off in visitors from China, which had until recently been a growing source of tourism revenue in the states, especially in New York City. Even Canadians are hesitant to return right away, said Gina Mintzer, executive director at the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Queen of American Lakes and the Adirondacks have long been popular travel spots for Canadian vacationers. Its not like the floodgates of Canadian visitors have come back, Mintzer said, explaining that there were fewer than average Quebec and Ontario-based visitors to Lake George over the three-day Victoria Day holiday last week. There is still some trepidation, she said. Lake George, though, will see some extra help in the villages restaurants, hotels and other attractions. After a pandemic interruption, foreign exchange students are back in full force, said Mintzer. Some 900 college students on J1 educational/cultural visas from countries as varied as Turkey, Jamaica and the Philippines will be working there in the summer. And like they did during the height of the pandemic, promoters of Lake George and upstate in general are quick to point out that many tourist spots upstate are just a few hours from the downstate/New York City area. Were still just a tank away, said Mintzer. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed hopes Thursday for global cooperation on climate change, hunger and war, while dozens of climate activists demonstrated in the Swiss town of Davos as a meeting of global elites ended with many words but little concrete action to solve the world's most pressing crises. The German leader ratcheted up his criticism of Moscow's military onslaught in Ukraine during a speech on the last day of the World Economic Forum's annual gathering. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin "wants to return to a world order in which the strongest dictate what is right, in which freedom, sovereignty and self-determination are not. Voicing hopes for countries to work together on shared crises, Scholz said todays world is no longer bipolar as it was during the Cold War era when United States and the Soviet Union dominated geopolitics. If some want to take us back to the past of nationalism, imperialism and war, our answer is not with us. We stand for the future," he said in the final major address of this week's Davos event. "When we realize that our world is becoming multipolar, then that must spur us on to even more multilateralism, to even more international cooperation. As he spoke, about 50 young people protested across town, with banners that read Cut the (BS)! and There is no Planet B adding a coda of condemnation to the gathering of elites in Davos that is often derided for being more about talk, business and relationship-building than action. Forum organizers reject such claims, insisting they want to improve the state of the world by drawing in decision-makers. The gathering in the Swiss Alps twice suspended over the COVID-19 pandemic has been overshadowed by the war in Ukraine, rising food and fuel prices, and signs that governments aren't doing enough to fight global warming. That has doused many moods in the face of a can-do spirit by many innovators and entrepreneurs at the event. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and others made the journey or joined by video link to drum up support for their countrys grueling and uncertain campaign to oust Russian forces. Russian President Vladimir Putins campaign has drawn international scorn and unsettled his allies, and as a result, Russian business and government envoys who have been staples at Davos since the end of the Soviet Union werent invited this year. Scholz reiterated his conviction that Putin will not win the war, saying the Russian leader has already failed to achieve all his strategic goals. He noted that a capture of all of Ukraine by Russia seems further away today than it did at the beginning of the war." Kuleba voiced little hope that the war could come to a negotiated end, or even a pause, anytime soon. The moment Russia will agree to a cease-fire will be the moment it will be one step away from losing the war, he told reporters late Wednesday. They (the Russians) will agree to a cease-fire with only one purpose: to save themselves from losing the war. Until then, this war will continue. Kuleba has pressed for Western powers to supply Ukraine with weapons like multiple-launch rocket systems and pointed to a saga about obtaining Gepard tanks from Germany, among other things his government has discussed with Berlin. We clearly understand that Germany will not be a country that will lead the process of supplying Ukraine with heavy weapons we need, Kuleba said. Let's make it clear: If we don't get heavy weapons, we get killed. The upshot of Ukraines efforts is to rally countries around a budding democracy with ambitions to join the European Union the free-world and free-market club in the face of an onslaught by a Russian regime that clamps down on dissent and centralizes power in one man: Putin. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. Also on many minds in Davos was the deadly school shooting in Texas. More broadly, battles against global warming, a food crisis, and cyberattacks by hackers from Russia and beyond have exposed how progressive leaders from civil society, corporations and government have struggled to cope with simultaneous crises. Many touched on the need to find solutions to the blockade of Ukrainian port s, preventing its critical stocks of wheat, barley and sunflower oil from getting to the world and threatening food insecurity in countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The European Union and United States have accused Russia of using food supplies as a weapon and say there have been talks of opening secure shipping corridors. Russian officials are blaming Western sanctions or Ukrainian mines in the sea. This food crisis is real, and we must find solutions, World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said on a trade panel Wednesday. Davos organizers touted over 450 sessions bringing together more than 2,500 people, including 50 heads of state. Many of the achievements to emerge were piecemeal, such as announcements that more countries would join the First Movers Coalition, which aims to decarbonize the heavy industry and transport sectors. Other initiatives were announced in areas like energy, health, inclusion, education and economic transformation. Some sought to get their messages across in Davos and said success doing that would suffice for now as they work toward concrete results. What Im getting from here is this commitment in our moving to nature, and I think the trend of focus on only climate change is no longer there," said Elizabeth Mrema of Tanzania, executive secretary of the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity, which aims to protect plants and animals. "To me, that is a major achievement. ___ AP reporters Peter Prengaman and Kelvin Chan in Davos and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) Irans foreign minister sat before an audience of Western business executives and policymakers at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, fielding questions about why Iran has yet to condemn Russia for its invasion in Ukraine and why efforts to revive its nuclear deal have stalled. It was a rare opportunity for many in the audience to hear directly from Hossein Amirabdollahian, who was interviewed Thursday by CNN's Fareed Zakaria. When pressed on why Iran has not condemned its ally Russia for the war in Ukraine, he said Iran has, just as it had wars against Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Palestine." In Ukraine, however, he says the U.S. and NATO were involved in actions that provoked Moscow. On stalled nuclear talks, he says some people in Iran and the U.S. are against reviving the accord for their own reasons, including members of Irans elected parliament. Amirabdollahian says he thought U.S. President Joe Biden is facing some kind of inaction. I hope that the American side will act and behave realistically. He added that Iran is keeping the window of diplomacy open and that the Trump administrations sanctions must be lifted. He dodged questions on whether removing Iran's Revolutionary Guard from a list of terrorist organizations was on obstacle to a deal. He hinted that the issue isn't essential as long as Iran is guaranteed economic benefits. ___ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated his conviction that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not win the war in Ukraine. In a speech Thursday at the end of the World Economic Forums annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Scholz said of Putin: He has already failed to achieve all his strategic goals. The chancellor said that a capture of all of Ukraine by Russia seems further away today than it did at the beginning of the war. More than ever, Ukraine is emphasizing its European future. In addition, Scholz said the brutality of the Russian war has prompted two states to move closer to NATO: With Sweden and Finland, two close friends and partners want to join the North Atlantic alliance. They are most welcome! The chancellor added that Putin underestimated the unity and strength with which the Group of Seven major industrialized nations, NATO and the European Union had responded to his aggression. ___ The mayor of Kyiv says he's grateful to receive calls from the leaders of other cities around the world pledging their support for rebuilding the Ukrainian capital. Speaking Thursday at the World Economic Forum's meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Vitali Klitschko says the support is important but first of all, right now, we have to stop the war. And after that, we have to rebuild all infrastructure which destroyed (by) aggressors." He says 300 hundred buildings in Kyiv have been destroyed, including 220 apartment towers. Klitschko says the main priority right now until the winter season is to rebuild, to make a reconstruction for these buildings and give these services to these people who is right now homeless. For that, he says around 80 million euros ($85.6 million) is needed. ___ Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Germany must pursue its climate goals even more resolutely because of Russias war in Ukraine. In a speech Thursday on the last day of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Scholz said Germanys plan to become carbon-neutral by 2045 has become even more important as a result of the war. He added that while the conflict is not the sole trigger of the turning point, it increases the pressure to act. If the Paris climate targets were not met, he says the world would be heading for a catastrophe. The German chancellor also mentioned how new, emerging powers in Asia, Africa and Latin America are taking advantage of the opportunities offered by globalization. He says that for too long, we have practically equated democracy with the West in the classical sense. To broaden multilateral cooperation, Scholz says he invited South Africa, Senegal, India, Indonesia and Argentina to the summit of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations in Elmau, Bavaria, next month. Scholz says, they represent countries and regions whose cooperation the world needs to move forward on global challenges in the future. He added that a new partnership also means showing solidarity in the face of looming hunger, commodity and inflation crises. ___ The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply condemned Russias war on Ukraine and called for global cooperation to overcome life-threatening challenges such as climate change, hunger and dependency on fossil fuels. Speaking Thursday at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Scholz said the invasion of Ukraine does not mark the outbreak of any conflict anywhere in Europe. Here, a nuclear-armed superpower claims to redraw borders. Scholz said Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to return to a world order in which the strongest dictate what is right, in which freedom, sovereignty and self-determination are not. The German chancellor described Putins war politics as imperialism, which is trying to bomb us back to a time when war was a common means of politics, when our continent and the world lacked a stable peace order. He says the world is no longer bipolar like during the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union. Instead of using the power politics of past centuries, the chancellor said its important all powers work together to solve threats like hunger, climate change or dependence on fossil fuels. Scholz said: If some want to take us back to the past of nationalism, imperialism and war, our answer is not with us. We stand for the future. ___ Journalists, press freedom advocates and human rights activists debated how governments and the private sector can safeguard a free press. Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said Thursday at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos that while hundreds of journalists have been imprisoned in repressive regimes, there are also invisible prisons, invisible bullets journalism itself, beyond journalists, is under attack by digital platforms and social networks. Also speaking on a press freedom panel, Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth said that social media has become a way for autocrats and others to evade that kind of journalistic accountability provided by traditional news organizations. Roth said powerful governments can set up fake sites and trolls and pump out misinformation. ___ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is wrapping up the World Economic Forums annual meeting with a speech in Davos. His address Thursday comes after days of discussions about Russias war in Ukraine, a global food crisis, climate change and other hot-button issues. The yearly gathering of elites that was suspended twice over the COVID-19 pandemic has been overshadowed by the war in Ukraine. It's doused moods among policymakers but not stopping advocacy groups and business leaders from trying to improve fortunes and as forum organizers hope the state of the world. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and an array of lawmakers, local officials and business leaders captured the spotlight in-person and virtually to drum up support for their countrys fight. Attention is turning to Scholzs near-finale address, mostly to see if he might try to answer two of Ukraines key appeals: for stronger sanctions against Russia and better weapons to help their forces fight. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) A top aide to Republican South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg announced Tuesday he is seeking the GOP nomination for state attorney general, suggesting that Ravnsborg wont seek another term as he faces an impeachment trial in the death of a pedestrian. David Natvig, who was one of Ravnsborg's closest appointees, announced his candidacy in a video touting his work investigating drug trafficking. He will face Marty Jackley, a former state attorney general and U.S. attorney who mounted a campaign to unseat Ravnsborg as Ravnsborg faced impeachment for his actions surrounding a 2020 car crash in which he struck and killed a man. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LONDON (AP) British prosecutors said Thursday they had authorized police to charge actor Kevin Spacey with four counts of sexual assault against three men, an announcement that came as the actor was in court in New York testifying in a different case. The Crown Prosecution Service said it had "authorized criminal charges" on the four sex assault counts and one of "causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The alleged incidents took place in London between March 2005 and August 2008, and one in western England in April 2013. The alleged victims are now in their 30s and 40s. Rosemary Ainslie, head of the services Special Crime Division, said the charges followed a review of evidence gathered by Londons Metropolitan Police. Prosecutors initially said Spacey had been charged. However, they later clarified that charges had been authorized, but the formal charging by police had not yet taken place. The authorization to charge means criminal proceedings against Spacey are underway. The police force said Spacey who is not currently in Britain will be formally charged at a later date. If Spacey does not return to Britain to face the charges, prosecutors could seek to start extradition proceedings. Spacey, a 62-year-old double Academy Award winner, was questioned by British police in 2019 about claims by several men that he had assaulted them. The former House of Cards star ran Londons Old Vic Theatre between 2004 and 2015. Spacey won a best supporting actor Academy Award for the 1995 film The Usual Suspects and a lead actor Oscar for the 1999 movie American Beauty." But his celebrated career came to an abrupt halt in 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp accused the star of assaulting him at a party in the 1980s, when Rapp was a teenager. Spacey denies the allegations. Spacey testified Thursday in a courtroom in New York City in the civil lawsuit filed by Rapp. Spacey didnt respond to reporters as he left the courthouse talking on his mobile phone. The British charges were mentioned briefly by Rapp's lawyers during the court hearing, and Spacey's lawyers were asked about it by reporters during a break in testimony. They declined to comment. Another criminal case brought against Spacey, an indecent assault and battery charge stemming from the alleged groping of an 18-year-old man at a Nantucket resort, was dismissed by Massachusetts prosecutors in 2019. Thursday's court session in New York City dealt with a technical issue in the civil lawsuit, whether it was better handled in a federal or state U.S. court. Spacey was called to testify about where he lived, not about the truthfulness of the allegations against him. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. Spacey testified that his main residence and domicile is in Baltimore, where he moved for the filming of House of Cards. He said he was beguiled by its charm, its beauty. But he also testified about his time living in London as the artistic director of the Old Vic. It was extremely important to me that I endear myself to the British public, that Im not running away, he said, noting that his start there was troubled by a disastrous production in 2005 of Arthur Millers last play. But, he said, Im an American citizen. Once the job was done, I came back to America. He said he made a trip to London in February 2020 for a possible film, but then the pandemic hit. His U.S. doctor recommended he stay there, where he resided until the following September, when his visa expired and he flew to Los Angeles for an arbitration proceeding. He said he has not returned to the U.K. since then. ___ Associated Press writer Larry Neumeister contributed to this report from New York. ___ This story has been corrected to say British prosecutors authorized charges against Spacey and he will be formally charged by police later, not that Spacey has been formally charged, and to reflect that it was Rapps lawyers, not Spaceys, who brought up the criminal charges in court. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY Albany Medical Center fired a local community activist, along with two executives who helped hire her, less than a month after she joined the staff because top hospital executives had concerns about her political views and outspoken advocacy, according to allegations in a lawsuit filed this week in state Supreme Court in Albany. The lawsuit indicates that earlier this year Albany Medical Center hired Jamaica Miles, a Schenectady-based activist who has been deeply involved in racial and social justice protests throughout the Capital Region, as the director of community engagement. Miles is also an active member of the Working Families Party and a member of the Schenectady City School District Board of Education. Her hiring was part of a renewed commitment the hospital was pushing to engage with communities of color. But once top officials at the hospital learned of Miles' selection for the position, they moved to dismiss her, citing "extreme political views," according to the lawsuit filed by Miles and Laura Liebman, the hospital's former assistant vice president of advancement. Miles and Liebman, who also was terminated, are both represented by Phil Steck, an attorney and Democratic member of the state Assembly from Colonie. "They wanted the right kind of diversity, as they defined, it," Steck said. Albany Medical Center, in response to the questions about the lawsuit, issued a statement defending its actions and denied it fired Miles for any of the reasons she stated in her complaint. "Albany Med recently made personnel changes in its development department that had nothing at all do with the race of any employee," the statement reads. "Albany Med is a bridge builder. We are caregivers and unifiers, bringing together diverse populations for the betterment of all. Albany Med is proud of our diverse workforce, which is reflective of the community we serve, and we are committed to the highest standards of equality and fairness in employment opportunities for all." Miles and Liebmans lawsuit alleges the hospital and its leadership, including CEO Dr. Dennis McKenna and Dr. Vincent Verdile, dean emeritus at the hospital's medical college, violated the state's human rights and labor laws by dismissing them. The lawsuit also alleges racial bias. James Kellerhouse, the hospital foundation's vice president for philanthropy and chief development officer, was also terminated in the fallout from Miles' hiring but is not a party in the lawsuit. Their lawsuit details allegations that senior leadership at the hospital sought diversity, equity and inclusion efforts that fit their views while minority employees pushing for broader involvement in the community were dismissed or not supported. Liebman and Miles claim in their lawsuit that during their short time at Albany Med, two other hospital employees relayed their concerns about the hospital's diversity initiatives, including hiring practices. One of those employees, Charles Day, the hospital's vice president of public safety, had participated in the hiring process for Miles and allegedly complained about a "lack of diversity among the candidates (although the leading candidate was of South American descent) and that he hoped ... Liebman would move community engagement in new directions, reaching communities of color and marginalized populations." The lawsuit alleges that Day, a former State Police major who is Black, also told Miles during a diversity, equity and inclusion workshop "that white supremacy existed at AMC." Day did not return a call for comment. In a statement released after this article was published, hospital officials said Day denied saying white supremacy existed at Albany Med. Another employee, Dr. Angela Antonikowski, allegedly told Liebman "there wasnt deep institutional commitment to diversity and inclusion, nor support for employees of color." Antonikowski was promoted in July 2020 to the hospital's chief officer of health equity, diversity and inclusion. In the lawsuit, Antonikowski also is alleged to have told Liebman that "there was a long history of failing to meaningfully engage minority employees, to actually listen to their concerns, and to give them leadership opportunities." Antonikowski did not return a call for comment. Liebman joined the hospital's foundation in September in a new position to oversee community engagement, foundation and corporate relations, signature events and the Children's Miracle Network. She previously worked for the Bard Prison Initiative, a Bard College program that provides college education to people in prison. Liebman was told that Albany Med was planning to launch a transformational campaign focused on engaging with marginalized and minority communities and that her experience aligned with the leadership's goals. After she was hired, Liebman moved to fill the director of community engagement position, which was vacant. During the search, according to the civil complaint, Day expressed his frustration to Liebman about the lack of racial diversity in the potential candidates. After two candidates turned down the job, Liebman reached out to several community organizations and received recommendations to interview Miles for the job. Miles has been at the forefront of many of the social justice protests in the area in the two years since the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering him. On Sept. 9 in Saratoga Springs, Miles was charged with disorderly conduct and unlawful imprisonment in connection with a July 14 Black Lives Matter protest. The protesters blocked traffic on Broadway as they sought to bring attention to tensions with police in the city. A judge dismissed the charges against Miles in January, noting police apparently targeted her for arrest because of the "volume and intensity of her voice." Her attorney, Kevin A. Luibrand, noted he represented another protester at that event, who is white, and her charges were adjourned in contemplation of dismissal. According to the lawsuit, Liebman and others who interviewed Miles for the Albany Med job made it clear that it was not an activist position. At least seven hospital employees interviewed Miles for the position and no one objected to her hiring, according to the lawsuit. But there were still concerns that Miles' documented activism and arrest in Saratoga Springs last year might affect their ability to hire her. Kellerhouse, who would've overseen Miles, spoke with the hospital's head of human resources Sandra Castillo, and McKenna, the hospital's CEO, on behalf of Miles prior to her being hired, the lawsuit states. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. McKenna allegedly expressed concerns about her ability to represent Albany Med. Kellerhouse sought to allay those concerns, pointing to Miles' previous work in the community and the fact that the interview committee had emphasized that the position was not tied to activism. Miles was offered the position and started work on Feb. 14. But her tenure lasted just 17 days. According to the lawsuit, a force behind Miles' termination was Verdile, the former head of Albany Medical College. Verdile is an influential figure in Albany Medical Center, having served as dean of the college from 2001 until last December. Under his leadership, the number of applicants to the college more than doubled and the college's endowment nearly tripled. He and his wife also started Light Up the Night in Saratoga Springs, a major fundraiser for the hospital. Days after Miles was hired, Verdile confronted Kellerhouse and berated him over Miles' hiring while also disparaging the social justice protests in Saratoga Springs, where he lives, according to the lawsuit. Verdile allegedly said he didn't believe Miles would last six months at Albany Med. After that conversation, Kellerhouse told Liebman he knew Verdile well and understood how he "operated." Verdile did not return a call seeking comment. Roughly a week after that conversation, McKenna texted Kellerhouse that he was "furious" that he and Liebman had hired Miles. On March 3, Miles was brought to a conference room and told she was being let go because of her political activism, the lawsuit alleges. Liebman learned of the firing and came down to the conference room to intervene. She said a hospital official "slammed the conference room door" in her face just after Liebman heard Miles say "that she did not understand why she was being terminated since her personal activities were not related to her performance at AMC," according to the lawsuit. The next day Liebman was scheduled to meet with two hospital employees investigating the hospital's hiring practices, "to ensure what had transpired did not happen again." Liebman told them that the solution was not to fire someone for racial reasons. She was suspended and then fired on March 31, along with Kellerhouse. Kellerhouse was recently hired by Hartwick College as its vice president for institutional advancement. He did not return a call seeking comment. Liebman could not be reached for comment. Miles declined to comment beyond what is in the lawsuit. "Everything that needs to be said is within the filings of the court documents," she said. JamesBrey, Contributor / Getty Images BALLSTON SPA A motorcycle crash victim recalled in court how he was "left for dead" in a ditch by the reckless driver who struck him a day that started "my new journey into months of extreme pain that still continues today," according to local prosecutors. "I have lost full use of my left leg that now includes extensive internal hardware," the victim said in his impact statement provided in Saratoga County Court and included in a statement from the district attorney's office. "I remember laying on my back in the field where I was thrown after the collision in excruciating pain. At first I feared paralysis because I couldn't move, but after some time I could lift the bloody visor on my helmet. When assistance finally came to my aid it was clear that my left leg was destroyed." ALBANY A federal judge sentenced a self-described "pervy" Vermont man to three years and 10 months in prison Wednesday for traveling to Lake George in 2020 intending to have sex with a 15-year-old girl in a hotel room. Robert McAdam, 49, of Rutland, who described himself as both a gentleman and "scumbag" and highlighted Elvis Presley to justify sex with underage girls, will be on supervised release for 15 years after he is released from prison. He will have to register as a sex offender. In November 2021, McAdam pleaded guilty to one count of traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. On June 16, 2020, police arrested McAdam following an undercover sting conducted by an FBI task force. Starting in February 2019, McAdam exchanged messages with an undercover State Police investigator who told McAdam that he and his 14-year-old stepdaughter sought a sex partner. Elvis saw a 14-year-old girl and he married her bro," McAdam added. "Women mature at a younger age. So I'm OK with that. I'm a gentleman. (Elvis met his future wife, Priscilla, when she was 14 but they did not marry until she was in her early 20s) The undercover investigator and McAdam met in a McDonald's in Queensbury. There, the undercover officer showed McAdam a digitally altered image of an agent made to resemble a 15-year-old girl. At that point, the would-be stepdaughter was supposed to have turned 15. The undercover investigator asked McAdam if he thought he was a "scumbag." "No 'cause I'm just as big of a (expletive)-ing scumbag," McAdam replied. Police arrested McAdam in a Best Western hotel room in Lake George. McAdam had brought alcoholic seltzer, beer, condoms and a laptop to the would-be encounter. In a pre-sentencing memo to U.S. District Judge Mae D'Agostino, McAdam's attorney, Manhattan-based Oliver Storch, said that McAdam had surgery to remove a brain tumor in 2008 and has since been unable to work. His client, a native of Huntington, Long Island, has been isolated and depressed since living in Vermont. On Wednesday, Storch appeared virtually joined in court by attorney Thomas Capezza. They argued for a two-year sentence, which would be tantamount to time served since McAdam has been jailed since his arrest. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Williams recommended that McAdam be sentenced to at least three years and 10 months behind bars and as high as four years and nine months. "The defendants crimes and relevant conduct are serious and extremely troubling," Williams told the judge in a memo. She highlighted a number of portions of McAdams' conversations with the undercover investigator, including one in which the defendant said "I'm just pervy." The judge recommended that McAdam participate in sex offender treatment while in prison. A massacre in Uvalde, Texas, in which an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 elementary school students and two teachers on Tuesday in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history, has brought renewed national and state attention to the issue of gun laws, mental health and school safety. New York, which has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, has seen 76 school shooting incidents since 1971, according to data collected by the Advanced Thinking in Homeland Security program at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Security and Defense. The program documents a school shooting incident "when a gun is brandished, is fired, or a bullet hits school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims, time of day, or day of week." That includes four New York school shootings this year, the most recent earlier this month on Staten Island. In that case, a 26-year-old man was fatally shot during a fight with two other men near the front door of the school; it was unclear if those involved had any relation to the school. In February, three school shooting incidents marred high school campuses in Brooklyn, Buffalo and Mount Vernon. All three cases resulted from shots fired at dismissal time. In one case in East Greenbush in 2004, a 16-year-old brought a shotgun to school, loaded it in a school bathroom and then attempted to shoot a student, but missed. He did shoot and injure one teacher before he was tackled by a school administrator. Now out of prison after 15 years, the shooter, Jon Romano, spoke to police in February and discussed ways law enforcement can look for signs of students in trouble to avoid more school shootings. In most of these New York school shootings, teenagers are holding the weapons. Where an exact age for the shooter was available, 33 of the perpetrators in the incidents were between 13 and 17 years old, the data shows. Four were 18 years old and eight were 21 years or older. In New York, people 21 and older can legally possess or purchase a handgun, according to the Giffords Law Center. Twenty other states allow people to buy a handgun beginning at age 18. But in New York, individuals can buy a long gun once they reach the age of 18, according to the Giffords Law Center, and they can possess a long gun when they're 16 or older. Long guns include shotguns and rifles of various types. Only six states set the minimum age to buy a long gun at 21. Two states explicitly allow possession of long guns at ages younger than 16: Minnesota at age 14 and Massachusetts at age 15. But recent high-profile shootings by 18-year-old gunmen have New York lawmakers reconsidering minimum ages for purchasing certain types of guns. On Wednesday, following the Texas shooting, Gov. Kathy Hochul called on New York lawmakers to raise the legal age for someone to legally purchase an AR-15 semiautomatic weapon from 18 to 21 in New York. She also left open the door to raising the age to 21 to purchase additional firearms beyond just AR-15s or semiautomatic weapons which are weapons that fire a round each time the trigger is pulled. The AR-15, which is a legal civilian version of the military's fully automatic M-16, is the most popular rifle in the U.S. in terms of sales. "I don't want 18-year-olds to have guns, at least not in the state of New York," Hochul said. The shooting in Uvalde, Texas, came on the heels of another mass shooting committed by an 18-year-old white man in Buffalo less than two weeks ago. There, in what police said was a racially motivated attack, the gunman killed 10 Black people in a Tops Friendly Markets grocery store. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. In both cases, semi-automatic firearms were used. The shooter in Texas bought two AR-15-style rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in the days following his 18th birthday, shortly before the shooting. In Buffalo, the gunman is believed to have legally purchased an AR-15-style rifle in New York and then modified the magazine allowing more bullets to be fired in rapid succession. "He used large-capacity magazines illegal in New York, again, but legal in other states so he was able to build his own assault weapon using not an assault weapon, (but) a legally compliant rifle in New York," David Pucino, deputy chief counsel for the Giffords Law Center, said by phone Wednesday. In New York, handguns have been the weapons most commonly used in school gun violence incidents, according to data collected by the Naval Postgraduate School. Handguns were used in all the New York school shootings identified by the school since 2010. Rifles were identified in only four cases since 1971. Definitions of mass shootings vary, but just one of the New York incidents appears to meet the most common definitions of mass shootings, which generally specify four or more people are injured or killed. In total, the 76 incidents produced 97 victims, most of them male students who were wounded. In nearly all the incidents, one or two people were injured or killed. But in 1974 in Olean, a city in Cattaraugus County, a 17-year-old high school shooter fatally shot three people and injured another 11 using a rifle during a two-hour shooting spree at Olean High School. Another review of active shooter incidents in educational settings produced by the Federal Bureau of Investigations found 62 incidents nationwide from 2000 to 2019, including one in New York in 2004. That review found that incidents most commonly happened in high school or higher education settings. The shooters in these incidents were overwhelmingly male and most often teenagers. Outside of school settings, the FBI identified 10 active shooter incidents in New York from 2000 to 2019. In the vast majority of active shooter incidents nationwide, the weapon used by perpetrators was a handgun, according to the FBI. WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A 39-year-old man died after he exchanged gunfire with members of a Wichita SWAT team after a lengthy standoff on Wednesday, police said. Officers were called to a home in west Wichita after a report of a shooting. The officers found a woman and child in the front yard and saw a man with a gun go into a home, Wichita Officer Chad Ditch said. ALBANY The owner of a Schenectady construction business and his son were charged in U.S. District Court on Thursday with conspiring to traffic an estimated $600,000 of cocaine in a Mafia-connected drug pipeline between the New York City area and the Electric City. Jeffrey Civitello, 50, and his son, Jeffrey Civitello Jr., 22, were charged in an unsealed indictment alleging that they conspired to move drugs with two men, including reputed Bonanno crime family associate Richard Sinde of Fort Lee, N.J., and Robert Ingrao of Lodi, N.J. The elder Civitello, the owner of Focus Construction in Schenectady, has a prior conviction for cocaine trafficking and money laundering. His son was arrested last year on drug and weapon charges. At the time, the Times Union reported that both Civitellos were under federal investigation for their alleged drug trafficking. On March 31, 2021, investigators watched both Civitellos meeting in Schenectady with alleged conspirators, including the reputed mob associate, for the alleged purpose of borrowing the younger Civitello's blue 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Two days later, the same men who met the Civitellos in Schenectady were inside the SUV when authorities stopped the vehicle in Greene County. Investigators with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration seized nine kilograms of cocaine that was in a hidden compartment in the SUV. Neither Civitello was in the car. The indictment seeks a money judgment against both Civitellos of $600,000, the estimated street value of all the drugs. On Thursday, the elder Civitello pleaded not guilty at an arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Stewart. The defendant faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted of the charges. His son is expected to be arraigned at a later date. Several Civitello relatives were in court Thursday. The elder Civitello's lawyer, Eric Galarneau, declined to comment. Jeffrey Lichtman, a Manhattan attorney representing the younger Civitello, told the Times Union that federal authorities tried unsuccessfully to turn his client against his father. "Its no secret how badly and for how long the government sought the indictment of my clients father, attempting to cooperate anyone and everyone with even a passing knowledge of him including his own son in their efforts," said Lichtman, whose high-profile clients have included Sinaloa drug cartel kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, John A. "Junior" Gotti, the son of the late Gambino crime family boss and, for a period of time, NXIVM leader Keith Raniere, formerly of Halfmoon. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. "Apparently they turned one last inmate and here we are," Lichtman said. "We look forward to a hard-fought trial and vindication of Jeffrey Jr." The Times Union previously reported that on Oct. 21, federal drug investigators raided the younger Civitello's penthouse apartment on Albany Street and seized 75 pounds of marijuana, loaded weapons and more than $407,000. Prosecutors said another $319,387 was found in a relative's home and that another $128,860 was found in the younger Civitello's Coinbase cryptocurrency account most of it transferred by his father in March 2021. The transfer took place when both Civitellos were receiving unemployment benefits "dubiously claiming" they had lost their jobs at the father's company, prosecutors said. During the October raid, a gun was found in a safe in a first-floor office of the company, which is in the same building where Civitello Jr. lives. As a prior felon, the elder Civitello is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GUILDERLAND Guilderland police on Wednesday announced they arrested two Schenectady teenagers in connection with the alleged firing a semi-automatic handgun at a group of people in the parking lot of Crossgates Mall last month, resulting in injuries to an innocent bystander. A 16-year-old male and 17-year-old female were arrested on Wednesday and charged with multiple felonies. The male was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies. The female was charged with second-degree hindering prosecution, a class E felony. She also allegedly drove the male and two other people out of the parking lot following the shooting. The male allegedly fired several rounds from a semi-automatic handgun at a group of people on April 10 near the Best Buy entrance of Crossgates, striking an uninvolved 17-year-old female bystander in the hand, police said. Authorities initially said two groups exchanged gunfire and released photographs of 10 people in an attempt to generate leads. Wednesdays late afternoon press release from police did not mention if the second group discharged weapons. When contacted in the early evening, police would only refer to what their press release said. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. Both juveniles were arraigned in Albany County Family Court. The male was released under the supervision of the Albany County Department of Probation, and the female was released on her own recognizance. The shooting was at least the third time in recent years that gunshots were fired at the mall. The investigation is ongoing, authorities said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY North Albany Middle School has become increasingly regimented as school officials try to stop violence brought not only by students but also by their parents. In February, school officials briefly suspended 46 students. After spring break, the city school district tried a reboot to get students reacclimated to the school environment. After multiple fights among students, the middle school went virtual for a week. On May 12, the school began a staggered return, grade by grade. The school has grades 6 through 8. When students returned, they spent a week in their classroom, not switching rooms. Teachers switched rooms instead. Students were supposed to go back to regular instruction May 18 but the school regularly must return to classroom pods because of a lack of staff. Staffing is so tight that if 10 employees are absent, we must restructure the day, Albany Superintendent Kaweeda Adams said. And thats happening all too often. Students said after dismissal Thursday that they hate the pods - they dont see their friends and hate sitting still for so long. That causes a lot of people to get annoyed. And when they get annoyed they get into fights, one 13-year-old said. A teacher said pods learning seems to "fall apart" by third period each day. Adams acknowledged the learning environment is much better when the students arent in pods. When were fully staffed, the tone and tenor of the building changes, she said. Adams also had to institute rules limiting parents and guardians from the building after repeated altercations between adults. No one can enter without an appointment. The adult must also be on a students list, and only two adults can be listed per student. No one is allowed in after 2 p.m., except in an emergency. The rules were necessary for safety, Adams said. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. Out of protection for our faculty and our staff, and our students, she said. So far its working really well. We had an irate parent this morning. They didnt have an appointment, so they werent allowed into the building. We called Albany PD and they handled it. The district has also tried intensifying efforts to help students learn to self-regulate, get therapy and adjust to school. Theyve started bringing in entire families to develop a plan for struggling students. Theyve added problem-solving and dispute resolution procedures. But students are still reflecting the huge impacts of isolation and disconnection during the pandemic, Adams said. It takes time, she said. In retrospect, she said she wishes the district had staggered the return to school after the pandemic shutdown. So we could get a smaller set of students acclimated to getting back, then another set, she said. Adults said they arent happy with the pods, saying its not a good learning environment. But they also expressed sympathy for school officials trying to keep students safe from misbehaving students and criticized parents who try to angrily confront teachers. It starts at the home, said parent Thelma Williams on Thursday. You teach your kids to have respect. How are they going to act right if youre not right? This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BUTTE, Mont. (AP) When Republican Ryan Zinke first ran for Congress, the former Navy SEAL faced false accusations amplified by Democrats that his military career had ended in disgrace. After winning in 2014 and two years later getting picked as President Donald Trump's interior secretary, Zinke is seeking a return to Congress and facing a near-identical smear campaign this time from the right wing of his own party. A website allied with one of his opponents accuses Zinke of exaggerating his military service failing to mention two Bronze Stars that Zinke earned in Iraq and of being demoted, which his service records refute. Its part of a broad campaign by some Republicans leading up to the state's June 7 primary to thwart Zinke's bid for a political comeback and advance a more conservative candidate for the general election. The political dynamics reflect the sharp right turn the GOP has taken since Trump barnstormed across Montana's electoral scene with repeated visits during the 2018 election in a failed attempt to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. Zinkes status as a former Trump Cabinet member is simply not enough anymore for some in his party. They say hes too liberal and too soft on guns and didnt do enough to build Trumps envisioned wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Zinke has also been dogged by problems of his own making, including recent revelations that he lied to a federal ethics official before his 2018 resignation from the Department of Interior. This month came a disclosure from Politico that Zinkes wife, Lolita, designated her family's California home as her primary residence. That boosted long-standing suspicions that Zinke spends most of his time outside Montana. His opponents see a chance to make inroads with Trump voters, who seemed a lock for Zinke when he entered the race last year and quickly secured the former presidents endorsement. He quit Montana, said former state Sen. Albert Olszewski, one of Zinkes four primary opponents. He quit Trump. Zinke is still acting as the front-runner, referring to himself as the battleship and other candidates as canoes while speaking to a reporter on the sidelines of a dinner last week hosted by Butte-Silver Bow County Republicans. Everybody wants to shoot at the battleship. Nobody shoots at the canoes, he said. Zinke denies lying. But he doesn't deny that his wife is a California resident, and he acknowledges holding fundraisers there. He said he spends a couple days a quarter in Santa Barbara. The Montana House district that's at stake was created last year to account for the state's growing population and covers half the state from Yellowstone National Park, north along the spine of the Rocky Mountains, to the Canadian border. The district had been eliminated in 1993. Montana Democrats lost the state's only other House seat a few years later, and over the last several election cycles, Republicans took control of every statewide office in Montana except Testers. Trump won Montana in 2020 with a 16-point advantage. The notion that Zinke quit him could prove hard to sell after Trump held a recent telerally with Zinke supporters reiterating his support. Trump spoke less than four minutes and spent most of the time touting his own accomplishments. Montana Democrats spent the past six years painting Zinke as extreme, and he suggested the attacks on him in the GOP primary for being too liberal could help if he advances to the November election. It offers a contrast, he said, so moderate voters know he's not crazy." Still, he's got much in common with his fellow GOP candidates. He's refused to acknowledge that President Joe Biden was legitimately elected and has called for harsher immigration policies. He's also backed by the National Rifle Association. Democrats and his Republican detractors alike have highlighted the numerous investigations Zinke came under while at the Interior Department and the large paychecks he received when he later worked in the private sector. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. The questions surrounding Zinkes conduct havent put a dent in his fundraising success. Through March 31, Zinke had raised $2.5 million, almost as much as all other candidates from both parties combined. About 80% of Zinkes campaign contributions came from out-of-state donors, Federal Election Commission data shows. For Republican voter Jennifer Howell, Zinkes outside support speaks of corruption. That means he's bought by outside interests. Money talks, she said before the Republican dinner in Butte, as Zinke spoke with other local members of the party just a few feet away. To me, that's rude in your face, like saying, 'I don't need your money, Montana. I'll get my money elsewhere.'" Later, as the dinner drew to a close, 70-year-old Barbara Jones passed a donation envelope to Zinke and thanked him for hosting her at his table. Despite the attacks on him, Jones said Zinke had behaved like an honorable man. She also praised him for returning to Montana after linking up with a Washington lobbying firm when he first left the Cabinet. But Jones hasnt decided whom to support in the primary. She first wanted to learn more about Olszewski and Republican candidate Mary Todd, a pastor from Kalispell who contends her son was killed after refusing to help a Chinese-backed firm steal U.S. technology. Also on the Republican ballot are contractor Mitch Heuer, of Whitefish, and Missoula teacher Matt Jette. The $50 for Zinke, Jones said, was because "he paid for my dinner, so I wanted to pay him back. ___ Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ap_politics. ___ Follow Matthew Brown on Twitter: @MatthewBrownAP. BEIJING, May 26 -- On May 24, the Chinese and French militaries held a video conference on health service, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of China, on Thursday at a regular press conference. According to the spokesperson, the conference was themed on the main practices and experience of the armed forces in fighting against the COVID-19. A total of about 20 personnel from the two parties, including leaders of the health departments and experts on COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, attended the event. The two sides mainly discussed and exchanged views on topics such as the military support for local anti-epidemic operations, the epidemic prevention and control in overseas military operations, and the technology progress in epidemic prevention and control. Besides, the two parties agreed to hold a second video conference on issues related to the health service field. The Chinese military is willing to work with its French counterpart to constantly deepen the strategic mutual trust, strengthen pragmatic cooperation, push the relations between the two militaries to a new level, and jointly contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, the spokesperson added. Once again, America's heart is broken. Once again, we're overwhelmed with a sense of impotent rage. A young man buys himself a pair of assault rifles for his 18th birthday, and just days later slays 19 children and two teachers in a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school. This macabre rite of passage which ends in the shooter's death is followed by what's become an obscenely predictable ritual of national mourning. Politicians across the ideological spectrum express their grief. Democratic President Joe Biden calls on Congress to stand up to the gun lobby. Republicans like U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas immediately rule out any gun control measures, declaring, absurdly, that what we have yet to even try has "never" worked. And the National Rifle Association trumpets on its website the group's annual convention this very week in Houston, with "over 14 acres of the latest guns and gear." Including, no doubt, guns and gear designed to kill a lot of people at one time. As the killer did in Texas in ending the brief lives of 19 kids. As a 17-year-old did in 2018 at Santa Fe High in Texas where 10 died. As a 20-year-old did that year at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla, killing 17. And on and on 20 first-graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in 2012. Thirty-two people at Virginia Tech in 2007. Twelve students and a teacher at Columbine High School in 1999. And hundreds more in other schools and other settings grocery stores like the one in Buffalo where 10 people were killed less than two weeks ago; a Texas Walmart; a Las Vegas music festival; a Colorado movie theater; houses of worship across the country. Sign up for the Observation Deck newsletter Read the latest Times Union opinion, perspective and letters to the editor on Mondays by signing up for our Observation Deck newsletter. There is no single solution to this, nor an easy one in a nation with more guns than people and a political, religious and cultural environment in which gun ownership to some is not just a constitutional right but a God-given one. Yet most Americans know and agree on what effective, constitutionally compatible gun control looks like, at a minimum: universal background checks, a ban on assault weapons and accessories, and a fair and just process to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. Yes, we can and should talk about mental health, but this vague "need to address mental health" has long been used as an alternative to concrete gun control measures, not an integral part of a comprehensive approach. We should be talking, too, about proposals like Gov. Kathy Hochuls suggestion to raise the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21; it's well understood that young people's brains are still maturing into their twenties. But we must act. Because this is the awful reality that America, and Congress, must otherwise face: If we once again do nothing in response to these children's deaths, then that's exactly what they will have died for. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Provided by the Saratoga Builders Association Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Provided by the Saratoga Builders Association Show More Show Less 3 of 3 The Saratoga Builders Association again this year awarded two scholarships to high school seniors who plan to study construction or enter the field after graduation. Timothy Phelps of Ballston Lake, a senior at Shenendehowa High School, will attend the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse in the fall to study construction management. Dawson Shippee of Corinth, a senior at Corinth High School, also attended Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES at the F. Donald Myers Education Center in Saratoga Springs. He will be working for Bonacio Construction after graduation. ALBANY An organization representing dozens of not-for-profit nursing homes filed a lawsuit this week seeking to block the state from enforcing minimum staffing requirements, including rules requiring that each client receive at least 3.5 hours of direct care per day. "I think what really stands out is how unfair this is when you look at the fact that the government, through Medicaid and Medicare, funds 90 percent of the care in nursing homes; so the government is the one setting the rates, theres no ability to charge more ... (and they) create penalties for not hitting staffing requirements that on its face is unattainable," said James Clyne, Jr., president of LeadingAge New York, the group that filed the lawsuit in state Supreme Court in Albany. Clyne said staffing in nursing facilities was problematic before the pandemic and hiring has become even more difficult during the past two years. "Based on real-world experience theyre not finding it any easier to get staff and have no reason (to believe) their numbers will get better just because the state is imposing penalties," he added. The lawsuit was filed against the state of New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul, state health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett and budget Director Robert Mujica. It seeks a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction prohibiting New York from enforcing the mandates that were signed into law last year after nursing home workers and advocates fought to improve staffing and care for residents. The lawsuit filed by LeadingAge New York contends the mandates are an "illegal and unconstitutional scheme ... that imposes upon non-profit and public nursing homes an unfunded arbitrary and infeasible mandate, which could cost approximately $1.8 billion statewide." It is at least the second lawsuit challenging the nursing home minimum staffing requirements. In December, the operators of hundreds of New York nursing homes, including some that operate as not-for-profits, filed a federal lawsuit in Albany challenging the law that will also require them to spend at least 70 percent of their revenue on direct resident care, and at least 40 percent on staff who deal with residents. The federal civil rights complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Albany, is pending. It claims the new requirements violate the U.S. Constitution as an improper "taking" of private property for a public purpose and run counter to the Supremacy Clause by confiscating federal dollars flowing to nursing homes through Medicare, the federal health care program for the elderly. The legal action also alleges numerous procedural missteps with the state's implementation of the changes and notes that New York has not received approval from the federal government to impose the new requirements, which go into effect Saturday. Dennis Short, a senior policy analyst with 1199SEIU, a health care workers union that supports the law, said the arguments being proffered by the nursing home operators are misplaced. "Prior to the law being enacted we were among a handful of states without a minimum staffing requirement," Short said. "Most states have some form of a minimum requirement and a majority of those states a minimum hours of care (requirement)." The requirements were part of a budget deal reached last year by state legislative leaders and then-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in response to concerns pandemic-related and longer-term over how nursing homes were spending their money. A union representing the state's nursing home workers estimated the changes would lead to an extra $500 million being spent on resident care. The agreement caps the profits that nursing home operators can make at 5 percent and requires them to redirect any excess funds into the state's nursing home "quality pool," which was established a decade ago to reward nursing homes that provide high-quality care to residents. The federal lawsuit claims if the new law had been in effect in 2019, nursing homes would have had to pay approximately $824 million back to the state. The new requirements were passed amid considerable controversy related to nursing homes. A state attorney general's report published in January 2021 found a correlation between poorly staffed homes and increased COVID-19 deaths, and condemned the for-profit nursing home industry for bolstering profits while leaving facilities understaffed. The same report criticized the Cuomo administration and state Department of Health for understating the number of New York nursing home residents who died of COVID-19. Stephen Hanse, president and CEO of the New York State Health Facilities Association, which represents for-profit and other nursing homes, said 13 months ago that the new spending mandates don't take into account the differing needs of nursing homes around the state. "Instead of implementing specific policies to recruit and retain new workers and reverse years of nursing home disinvestment, the state implemented a one-size-fits-all law dictating how all nursing homes are to allocate their financial resources, ignoring the unique nature and resident needs of each nursing home," he said. The 1199SEIU union fired back in a statement this week, saying nursing home residents "deserve high-quality care provided by staff who have the time needed to spend with every resident. "Taxpayers and consumers have the right to demand the money spent on care is used for care," the statement read. "These expectations are neither arbitrary nor infeasible. They are in fact the minimum we should expect for the elderly and frail who receive care, and the dedicated staff who work hard every day providing their residents with care and comfort." Irish Water is working with Tipperary County Council to restore water as quickly as possible to all impacted customers following a burst to a water main in Ballinure yesterday (Wednesday, May 26) Repair crews attended and repaired the burst water man yesterday evening. However the supply was not restored to all customers and it is now believed there is a second burst on the network. Repair crews are currently investigating and hope to have the issue resolved by the end of today. An alternative supply is being made available in Ballinure village and Laffansbridge, Killenaule. Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from the tanker and to boil water before consumption as a precautionary measure. Colin Cunningham, Irish Water, commented: Hopefully our repair crews can locate this issue on the network as soon as possible so we can restore water supply to customers in Ballinure. We understand the inconvenience bursts can have on customers and we appreciate your patience as we work to return normal water supply as quickly as possible. An alternative water supply is being made available in Ballinure Village and Laffansbridge, Killenaule, Co. Tipperary. Vulnerable customers who have registered with Irish Water receive direct communications from us for planned and unplanned outages lasting more than four hours. Irish Water understands the inconvenience when bursts occur and thanks customers for their patience while we work to restore normal supply to all impacted customers. The Irish Water customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates please visit the Water Supply Updates section of the Irish Water website. Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies. Deirdre Delaneys day starts early, with a full inbox, multiple text messages, and the first in a stream of phone calls that will continue throughout the day, as she works to coordinate the activities of Concern Worldwides emergency response team in Ukraine. From Corville Road in Roscrea, Deirdre is a Logistics Advisor a job description that covers a multitude of responsibilities. Weve been organising the procurement of food and other relief items from various suppliers from the Netherlands to Romania and arranging for transport into Ukraine, she told us from her base in Khmelnytskyi, in the west of the country. This week there are nine different Concern shipments making their way across the roads of Europe which means a mountain of documentation, protracted border procedures, curfews, and all the additional uncertainties and obstacles that come with operating in a country in conflict. Warehouse space has to be secured in different locations and the loads must then be further broken down for distribution to the various humanitarian hubs being supported by Concern across two districts of Western Ukraine. Im also responsible for accommodating the team, renting office space, finding cars and drivers, managing translators, buying SIM cards, developing operating procedures, and overseeing security so theres plenty to do! It's a complex and difficult job, but Deirdre Delaney takes it in her stride, having spent the past 17 years honing her skills in some of the most difficult locations on the planet. I started working for Concern in 2005 and over the years Ive spent extended periods in Haiti, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, she says. Deirdre joined Concerns emergency unit in 2019 and now travels on short-term assignments, mostly to francophone countries because of her fluency in French. Currently there are over six million people displaced within Ukraine as a result of the conflict, many of them totally reliant on the generosity of others. Concern is working to support thousands of these families with essential items such as food, bedding, hygiene kits, and baby products. In the longer term there will also be cash support for the most vulnerable. The Irish people have always been incredibly generous when it comes to supporting people in need and the public response to our Ukraine appeal has been amazing, Deirdre says. Our job here is to ensure that we channel that support effectively and efficiently to those who need it. Many of those who have been forced to flee are suffering from deep trauma and plans are afoot to provide psycho-social support. Deirdre explains: Most of the displaced are women and children and its been really tough on them. I cant imagine what its like to lose everything and be forced to relocate to a strange place, not knowing what the future holds. Back home, the Delaney family, led by Deirdres parents Lilian and Sean, are doing their bit too. Lilian, President of the Roscrea Lions Club, is currently planning an event on June 11, as part of Lions Ukraine Day. On this day, Lions across Europe will demonstrate their solidarity with the people of Ukraine and show how Lions are responding to the needs of the people forced to flee their homes in this crisis. Roscrea Lions Club is holding a coffee morning in the Community Hall in Rosemary Square to raise funds and awareness of the work being done by Concern Worldwide in the Ukraine. As for the challenges of working in a conflict zone, Deirdre downplays the danger: There are regular air raid sirens and occasional missile strikes in the region, but we have all the necessary procedures in place and the risks are minimised. Concern is very protective of its staff, wherever they are stationed. Leaving Cert students from Waterford and across Ireland may not get a date for their results until after the exams start on June 8. While it is hoped the results will return to an August date, it is believed the announcement of the actual date could still be some weeks away. Concerns have been raised that results could be as late as September, this year. Two reasons have been given for the uncertainty over the date of results. One of those is because a second sitting of the exams in July for those affected by Covid, illness, family bereavement etc. The second reason is a guarantee that results overall will be no lower than 2021. Wexford TD Paul Kehoe, who is Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, said urgent clarity is needed so students, their families and the higher-level institutions can best prepare for the upcoming academic term. Mr Kehoe said: As the class of 2022 face into their Leaving Cert exams, they still do not know the date they will receive their results." He said "urgent clarity" is needed so that students and their families can prepare for the upcoming academic term. "Students need a clear picture of the timeframe in which they will know their results, get their CAO offers and move forward with their plans. Students obviously cannot search for accommodation for their first year of higher education, training or an apprenticeship if they do not yet know where they will be based," Deputy Keogh said. Northern Ireland has endured far more grim moments than the current dispute over post-Brexit trade, a senior US Congressman has said. Richard Neal was commenting as he arrived at Parliament Buildings in Belfast for talks with the main Stormont parties about the Northern Ireland Protocol impasse. Powersharing is on ice in the region after the DUP refused to re-establish a devolved executive following the recent election in protest at arrangements that have created economic barriers on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Unionist politicians have reacted angrily to remarks by Mr Neal in Dublin on Tuesday when he claimed the protocol dispute was a manufactured issue. Standing in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, Mr Neal told reporters: I have been in this hall many times, through far more grim moments than the one were currently witnessing, and I think that the role that weve (the US) offered, the dimension that we brought to bear, is overwhelmingly over all of these years been very helpful. So, looking forward to what all the parties have to say. Mr Neal also spoke of the need to duly honour the 25th anniversary of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement next year. Its an extraordinary success story, he added. Stormont is the latest stop on the US politicians ongoing visit to the island of Ireland. The delegation has also held meetings in London and Brussels during its protocol fact-finding mission. Many unionists and loyalists are vehemently opposed to the protocol, claiming its requirement for checks on goods moving across the Irish Sea has undermined Northern Irelands place within the United Kingdom. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has branded the Congressional visit as terrible. Ahead of his partys meeting with Mr Neal this morning (Thursday May 26), DUP economy minister Gordon Lyons criticised the suggestion that the row about the protocol was manufactured. Its an absolutely disgraceful comment to make, he told BBC Radio Ulster. And it means that hes either downplaying the impact that it is having or just doesnt understand the impact that it is having. The chairman of the Alabama Republican Party says party officials are incredibly upset about a mix-up in Etowah County that might have caused some primary voters to get ballots for the wrong legislative district The San Francisco Unified School District has announced that the word chief will be eliminated from job titles because of concerns expressed by Native Americans A charter school approved to open in West Virginia this fall has been delayed after a suitable location couldnt be found State: Only 52% of '21 Tennessee grads went right to college A state report says that nearly half of Tennessee public high school seniors in the class of 2021 did not move on to college or technical school right after graduating Today the nation copes with the aftermath of historic tragedy at a Texas school as political battle lines are drawn. Local MSM coverage has been sadly generic and without a sense of "place" for our local discussion and so we offer this first reality check of the evening . . . Both Kansas & Missouri voters have proven themselves stridently opposed to most forms of gun control and "shifting" those attitudes is going to take a great deal of bravery. And this leads us to a consideration of Beto O'Rorke and his iconic protest today . . . "Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, interrupted a press conference from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott about the Uvalde shooting Wednesday, shouting at the current governor before being escorted from the auditorium. "He said the response from Abbott and other Texas leaders was "totally predictable," and did nothing to solve the problem of easy access to guns that is plaguing communities across Texas and the nation. "You are doing nothing," ORourke said at one point. "Abbott ordered law enforcement officers to escort O'Rourke, who won his Democratic primary for governor out Tuesday, outside the building." Accordingly . . . O'Rourke has a lackluster political record and his chances aren't good to win the Governorship of Texas. But nobody can deny his bravery Like it or not, in the real world it takes courage to stand up and non-violently challenge the status quo amid overwhelming opposition. And that brings us back to Kansas City . . . In this urban Democratic Party dominated bubble we're forced to endure a pitiful dearth of leadership and our elected officials only play tough guy, activist and/or maverick on social media or in speeches surrounded by colleagues who all basically believe the same thing. TKC reality check numero dos . . . As far as we've seen, there isn't any elected leader in Kansas City willing to debate the issue of gun control face to face with the GOP pro-gun majority. Caveat just to keep things light, breezy & just a bit bittersweet . . . Arguing with pro-gun, Fox news watching parents, friends & loved ones over the Memorial Day weekend DOESN'T COUNT as political courage . . . If anything, this horrific tragedy can/should teach us to appreciate the people we love because guns, fate and/or traffic can take them away in an instant. We'll have more on the deets into how this process might work but for now we think this point of contention and political confrontation is worth considering . . . Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Texas school shooting: Beto O'Rourke derails Gov. Greg Abbott update on Uvalde shooting Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke attempted to derail Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's response to the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, on Wednesday. Abbott spoke for roughly ten minutes before attempting to transfer the microphone to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, at which point O'Rourke approached the stage. Kansas City-area teachers reflect on reality of teaching after Texas shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Some teachers in the Kansas City area say teaching the next generation of students felt heavier on Wednesday, after a deadly shooting at an elementary school in Texas. Jason Roberts, the president of the Kansas City Federation of Teachers, says he's heard from his teachers he represents on how they feel about another school shooting. Safety expert: Kansas, Missouri have some of the weakest gun laws SAN FRANCISCO - Giffords Law Center Local Policy Director Allison Anderman says Missouri has the fourth weakest gun laws in the nation and Kansas is not much better, at number six. Anderman said Missouri has steadily been weakening its gun laws over the past couple of years. Beto O'Rourke interrupts Texas governor's press conference on shooting Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, interrupted a press conference from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott about the Uvalde shooting Wednesday, shouting at the current governor before being escorted from the auditorium. O'Rourke, who is running for governor, rushed the press conference stage after Abbott described the need for more mental health programs in the state that he said might have headed off the massacre. Opinion | Beto O'Rourke Goes for Broke It isn't easy for a Democrat to win statewide in Texas these days, and Beto O'Rourke already lost once to Sen. Ted Cruz. Now he's running for Governor against incumbent Greg Abbott, and on Wednesday he gambled on a stunt that could make or break his campaign. Gov. Democrats use Uvalde shooting to demand Senate pass HR 8, which would not have prevented tragedy In the wake of Tuesday's horrific mass shooting at a Texas elementary school, Democrats are pushing for a gun control bill that would have done little, if anything, to prevent the tragedy. H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, would expand the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to require a background check for all firearm sales, including private sales between two unlicensed individuals. Democrat rips "useless f**king baby killer" Ted Cruz for offering prayers while fighting gun safety Democrats lashed out on Tuesday after Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and other Republican officials offered prayers and called for more guns in schools following the deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, even though police say law enforcement engaged the gunman but could not stop the teenage shooter from killing at least 19 children and two teachers. Senate Democrats search for path forward on gun control after Texas school shooting Washington - Senate Democratic leaders on Wednesday implored Republican senators to drop their firm opposition to gun control legislation while signaling that the upper chamber won't immediately move to vote on legislation in the wake of the deadly shooting at a Texas elementary school that left 19 children and two adults dead. Independence superintendent reacts to Texas shooting, speaks about school safety INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - While many local students and families are celebrating the end of the school year, safety is top of mind after Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. Dr. Dale Herl, superintendent of the Independence School District, said as a parent with kids in his own district, he is heartbroken for the students and families of Robb Elementary. 'Horrifying' conspiracy theories swirl around Texas school shooting PROVIDENCE, R.I. - By now it's as predictable as the calls for thoughts and prayers: A mass shooting leaves many dead, and wild conspiracy theories and misinformation about the carnage soon follow. It happened after Sandy Hook, after Parkland, after the Orlando nightclub shooting and after the deadly rampage earlier this month at a Buffalo grocery store. Former Clay County sheriff poses safety solution for school shootings NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Former Clay County Sheriff Bob Boydston says the time to take action against school shootings is now and believes it will not stop without intentional prevention. He attributes the continued increase of school mass shootings to five things: accessibility to guns, extreme protection of Second Amendment rights, lack of mental health resources, violent video games that normalize killing and and shortcomings of school security. Why can't America do anything to stop mass shootings? Joe Biden's condolences to the community of Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two adults were killed in a shooting at Robb elementary school on Tuesday, also came with a demand for action. "Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen?" You decide . . . Simplistic connect-the-dots political rhetoric against "the gun lobby" needs more context and reporting. Moreover . . . When we talk about donations from the NRA it's important to compare that cash with the money spent on politicos altogether. Don't get it twisted . . . Here at TKC we believe that most elected officials are "on the take" in one way or another. Nevertheless . . . From big pharma to big energy and so many other groups with cash to peddle influence, the "gun lobby" argument isn't a path toward a solution to a crisis in American violence . . . It's just another talking point. Accordingly, here's what KCUR reports on the topic . . . "Federal officials are responding to Tuesdays mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas, the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. Many Democrats have called for more restrictions on gun access. While Republican lawmakers have condemned the shooting, critics were quick to point out the tight relationships these lawmakers have held with the NRA." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . How much has the NRA spent on Missouri and Kansas members of Congress? Federal officials are responding to Tuesday's mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas, the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. Many Democrats have called for more restrictions on gun access. While Republican lawmakers have condemned the shooting, critics were quick to point out the tight relationships these lawmakers have held with the NRA. If the NRA owns Republicans, Planned Parenthood owns Democrats In August 2015, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., took to the Senate floor to decry ongoing Republican attempts to defund Planned Parenthood. The vote was taking place after a summer in which the nation watched grisly undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood abortion doctors discussing the sale of fetal body parts to activists posing as researchers. Leading lobbying industries U.S. 2020 | Statista In 2020, the pharmaceuticals and health products industry in the United States spent the most on lobbying efforts, totaling to about 306.23 million U.S. dollars. In the same year, the insurance industry spent about 151.85 million U.S. dollars on lobbying. Guns rights groups haven't spent this much on lobbying since Sandy Hook shooting Gun rights groups, like the NRA and Gun Owners of America, spent $15.8 million on lobbying last year-and another $2 million in the first quarter of 2022. Pharma lobbying held deep influence over opioid policies The Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity teamed up to investigate the influence of pharmaceutical companies on state and federal policies regarding opioids, the powerful painkillers that have claimed the lives of 165,000 people in the U.S. since 2000. The news agencies tracked proposed laws on the subject and analyzed data on how [...] Further reading . . . If the NRA owns Republicans, Planned Parenthood owns Democrats In August 2015, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., took to the Senate floor to decry ongoing Republican attempts to defund Planned Parenthood. The vote was taking place after a summer in which the nation watched grisly undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood abortion doctors discussing the sale of fetal body parts to activists posing as researchers. Leading lobbying industries U.S. 2020 | Statista In 2020, the pharmaceuticals and health products industry in the United States spent the most on lobbying efforts, totaling to about 306.23 million U.S. dollars. In the same year, the insurance industry spent about 151.85 million U.S. dollars on lobbying. Guns rights groups haven't spent this much on lobbying since Sandy Hook shooting Gun rights groups, like the NRA and Gun Owners of America, spent $15.8 million on lobbying last year-and another $2 million in the first quarter of 2022. Pharma lobbying held deep influence over opioid policies The Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity teamed up to investigate the influence of pharmaceutical companies on state and federal policies regarding opioids, the powerful painkillers that have claimed the lives of 165,000 people in the U.S. since 2000. The news agencies tracked proposed laws on the subject and analyzed data on how [...] You decide . . . An upcoming Missouri vote over Kansas City police funds is following a predictable pattern. ONCE AGAIN MAYOR Q RELIES UPON RACIALLY CHARGED ACCUSATIONS TO SUPPORT HIS LOSING ARGUMENT!!! The question here is . . . Does Mayor Q know that he's going to have to convince rural Missouri voters if he wants any shot of victory??? To be fair, he probably doesn't care given that scoring points via Twitter is a much more relevant and rewarding pastime. Nevertheless . . . Here's the offending and offensive passage for anybody who interested in the very real and important issue of funding public safety in Kansas City . . . (MO State Sen.) Luetkemeyer painted the move as an effort that would have allowed crime to creep into the citys surrounding suburbs. When we see law enforcement being defunded south of the river, that means that crime is going to migrate north of the river because youre going to have crime being unchecked, Luetkemeyer said, referring to the Missouri River, which divides Kansas City into two, with more conservative neighborhoods in the north. The two city council districts fully north of the river districts 1 and 2 are about 78% and 71% white. Two of the three districts completely south of the river are minority white districts, with Black residents making up a majority of the population. The Mayor's tweety retort . . . Todays installment of tell me you dont give a damn about Black communities most victimized by crime and the Black people within them without saying it. Id never heard before the role of police is to confine crime to areas in which some of our state legislators rarely travel. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link to this cowtown's most anti-cop publication . . . There is a Scarborough everyone sees and another, often unseen but always there and growing, that is Indigenous. In tonight's Energy Matters, we bring you more highlights of the first day of the Energy Con During the shelling and partial capture of Chernihiv region by Russian troops, the invaders destroyed and damaged 3,700 buildings. "As a result of shelling and bombing, 3,700 buildings were destroyed and damaged. 3,400 of them are residential buildings. That is, the enemy aimed at houses," Head of the Chernihiv Regional State Administration Vyacheslav Chaus said during a briefing at the Ukraine Media CenterUkrinform. According to him, the losses due to the aggression have not been calculated yet. There are direct and indirect losses and the latter are still being counted. These are unearned profits, loss of technology, business shutdowns. "The enemy also damaged roads. Currently, transport runs along a road which was to be repaired within the Great Construction project. Now we are not talking about major repairs, we conduct running repairs. After the water recedes on the Desna River, we will work on the restoration of the bridge in Chernihiv, which was bombed by Russian aircraft," Head of the Chernihiv Regional State Administration added. In total, according to Chaus, more than 20 bridges in the region were destroyed. Eight of them have already been restored. Currently, the ninth and tenth are being fixed. In total, it will take another 4-5 months to complete the arrangement of temporary detours. On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy key infrastructure facilities, residential buildings in cities, towns, and villages. ol The United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom announced the creation of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA) to investigate Russias atrocities in Ukraine. According to the press release published by the U.S. Department of State, the joint initiative will support the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine (OPG) in its investigation and prosecution of conflict-related crimes. The ACA seeks to streamline coordination and communication efforts to ensure best practices, avoid duplication of efforts, and encourage the expeditious deployment of financial resources and skilled personnel to respond to the needs of the OPG as the legally constituted authority in Ukraine responsible for dealing with the prosecution of war crimes on its own territory. This initiative will directly support efforts by the Ukrainian Office of the Prosecutor General to document, preserve, and analyze evidence of war crimes and other atrocities committed by members of Russias forces in Ukraine, with a view toward criminal prosecutions, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. The ACA will bring together multinational experts to provide strategic advice and operational assistance to OPG specialists and other stakeholders in areas such as collection and preservation of evidence, operational analysis, investigation of conflict-related sexual violence, crime scene and forensic investigations, drafting of indictments, and co-operation with international and national accountability mechanisms. The ACA brings together a multi-national group of war crimes experts from European Union countries, the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, 13,748 crimes of aggression and war crimes have been registered in Ukraine to date. ol Russia abducts Ukrainian children and deports them to its territory aiming to destroy the Ukrainian nation. This is underscored in the statement of the Ukrainian delegation to the UN, read out by Serhii Dvornyk, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN, at the UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of civilians in armed conflicts on May 25. Abduction of at least 230 thousand Ukrainian children, among 1.4 million of Ukrainian citizens forcibly deported to Russia, is a crime aimed at destroying the Ukrainian nation by depriving it of young generations, which is a modern manifestation of colonialism, Dvornyk stressed, an Ukrinform correspondent reported from New York. As noted, dozens of thousands of civilians lost their lives and many more were wounded in Russian artillery and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. Nearly 220,000 people lost their homes. Millions of Ukrainian citizens were forced to flee occupied or war-affected areas. 8 million have become IDPs and 6.5 million left Ukraine as refugees. And we have no doubt that in Russian war strategies this refugee crisis was envisaged as one of the welcoming outcomes. As well as food crisis, Dvornyk noted. However, he said, Russia underestimated the readiness to help Ukrainians, the hospitality and commitment of the neighbours and other friends. Russia attacks Ukrainian civilians deliberately as a part of its Nazi-style war strategy, the diplomat noted. Killings, torture and illegal detention, forcible deportation, deprivation of property rights, alarming human rights violations in the occupied territories, attacks against civilian infrastructure throughout Ukraine, expropriation of grain from local farmers this is not a complete list of Russian crimes against civilians in Ukraine, Dvornyk stressed. On February 24, Russia launched a new phase of the eight-year war against Ukraine a full-scale offensive. The enemy massively shells and bombs peaceful Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages. The Armed Forces, the Territorial Defense Forces, and the entire Ukrainian people effectively resist the Russian troops and inflict heavy losses on them. ol A small armored artillery boat of the Ukrainian Navy, captured by the Russians in Berdiansk at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, was spotted near Zmiinyi Island. "One of the small armored artillery boats of the Ukrainian Navy, captured by ruscists in Berdiansk at the beginning of the invasion, was spotted near Zmiinyi Island," the Operational Command "South" posted on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. The command considers that the enemy is likely to try to use the boat, flying the Ukrainian flag, in its provocations with the shelling of foreign civilian vessels and, perhaps, coastal areas of Ukraine and other countries of the Black Sea region. As reported, Russian troops strengthen their forces on Zmiinyi Island to control the sea routes in the northwestern part of the Black Sea and deployed S-400 missile systems. On February 24, Russian president Putin launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy infrastructure, massively fire on residential areas of Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages using artillery, MLRS, and ballistic missiles. The United States, the European Union, and other countries have imposed sanctions on Russia, making its international isolation grow by the day. ol A total of 240 children have been killed and over 436 injured in Ukraine since the Russian invasion started. The relevant statement was made by the Ukrainian Prosecutor Generals Office on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. As of May 26, 2022, over 676 children in Ukraine were affected by the Russian armed aggression. According to the data from juvenile prosecutors, 240 children were killed and over 436 injured, the report states. These data are not final, as they are being investigated within the areas of hostilities, temporarily occupied and liberated areas. Currently, most casualties were recorded in Donetsk Region (151), Kyiv Region (116), Kharkiv Region (105), Chernihiv Region (68), Luhansk Region (50), Kherson Region (49), Mykolaiv Region (45), Zaporizhzhia Region (28), Sumy Region (17), the city of Kyiv (16) and Zhytomyr Region (15). When recording criminal offences, the Ukrainian side received information about two children who had been killed in Russias shelling of civilian cars in Mykolaiv Region. In addition, a 16-year-old girl was injured in Russias shelling of Mariupol. On May 24, 2022, a 6-year-old girl was seriously injured in Russias shelling of Krasnohorivka, Donetsk Region, and later had her leg amputated. On May 24, 2022, a 9-year-old girl was seriously injured in Russias shelling of Balakliia, Kharkiv Region. A total of 1,883 educational institutions were damaged across Ukraine as a result of Russias daily air and artillery strikes, and 178 of them were destroyed completely. Photo: AA mk Russian troops have shelled the city of Lysychansk and the village of Ustynivka, which is located nearby, leaving three civilians killed and a humanitarian aid hub damaged. The relevant statement was made by Luhansk Regional Military Administration on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The enemy attempted to storm Ukrainian defense lines near Ustynivka and, at the same time, was destroying the village itself and the nearby city of Lysychansk with artillery strikes. As a result, two civilians were killed in Ustynivka and one in Lysychansk, the report states. Russian projectiles also hit a humanitarian aid hub and a volunteer vehicle, which used to deliver food products to Luhansk Region. As for other settlements, Russias shelling caused damage to 11 apartment blocks and a building of Impulse enterprise in Sievierodonetsk; eight apartment blocks and detached houses, culture hall and administrative services center in Lysychansk; four houses in Pryvillia; two houses in Novodruzhesk; and two houses in Hirske. On May 25, 2022, Russian troops launched several air strikes on Sievierodonetsk and Novozvanivka. Now, the enemy is attempting to consolidate its positions near Sievierodonetsk. In general, over the past day, Ukrainian defenders have repulsed 10 enemy attacks, destroying four Russian tanks, two artillery systems, one armored personnel carrier, one motor vehicle and one special equipment unit. The Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units shot down five Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles. Photo: Luhansk Regional Military Administration, Telegram mk Russian troops are attempting to storm Luhansk Regions Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk. In Donetsk Regions Marinka, the enemy used incendiary projectiles. The relevant statement was made in a consolidated report by regional military and civil administrations on the situation across Ukraine as of 08:00 a.m., May 26, 2022, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. In Luhansk Region, Russias storming attempts caused damage to Impulse Research and Production Association, 11 apartment blocks in Sievierodonetsk, eight apartment blocks and detached houses, culture hall and administrative services center in Lysychansk, four houses in Pryvillia, two houses in Novodruzhesk, and two houses in Hirske. Three civilians were killed in Lysychansk. In Donetsk Region, Russian invaders opened fire all over the front line. Over the past day, four civilians have been killed and 12 injured. In Marinka, Russians used incendiary projectiles, and the scale of fires is yet to be updated. Evacuation efforts are underway. Yesterday, Mykolaiv Regions Mykolaiv District came under enemy fire. Four civil and administrative infrastructure facilities were damaged in Russias shelling of Solonchaky. One person was injured. In the afternoon of May 25, 2022, one person was killed in Russias shelling of Pervomaiske. In addition, a shop and residential house were damaged in Kotliareve. Russian troops continued to shell the Shyrokove community, Bashtanka District. Residential houses were damaged and destroyed, but no casualties were reported. The Bereznehuvate community was under continuous enemy fire during the day and at night. One person was killed and one injured. In Kherson Region, the situation remained tense. Russian troops are shelling not only the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine but also the temporarily occupied areas. The situation is critical in the communities located near Snihurivka, Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk Region. In Khmelnytskyi Region, the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units shot down a Russian missile. No casualties or damage were reported. In Dnipropetrovsk Region, air raid sirens were ringing last night. At 00:00 (midnight), Russian troops shelled the Apostolove community with artillery systems. No casualties were reported. In Kharkiv Region, air raid sirens were ringing last night. Single shots were heard in Kharkiv, but no casualties were reported. Yesterday, Russian troops shelled Balakliia, Izium District. Eight civilians were injured, including a child, and two killed. Russians also opened fire on Tsyrkuny and Slobozhanske, Chuhuiv District, leaving two civilians injured. Meanwhile, last night it was relatively calm in such regions as Volyn, Zakarpattia, Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Odesa, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Ternopil, Lviv, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Cherkasy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Poltava. mk As a result of the Russian shelling of Balaklia in Kharkiv region, two people were killed and ten were injured, including a child, while five others were injured in the bombardments of other settlements in the region. This was announced on Telegram by Kharkiv Regional Military Administration head Oleh Syniehubov, Ukrinform reports. "Over the past 24 hours, a man, 62, sustained injuries in Kharkiv's Piatykhatky district. Balakliia was shelled: 10 people, including a child, 9, were injured. Two men, 64 and 82, were killed . A girl, 9, was taken from Balakliia to Kharkiv, where she remains in grave condition. Other patients were taken to the Kupiansk Central Regional Hospital (the town is under occupation - ed.), the administration chief said. Oleh Syniehubov also stated that the Russian occupiers fired at Tsyrkuny, Kharkiv district, resulting in residential buildings catching fire. No casualties were reported. One person was killed by shelling in Chuhuiv district. "This morning the Zolochiv community and Slatine were shelled again, two wounded in Derhachiv community," Syniehubov said. He noted that our Armed Forces of Ukraine are engaged in fierce firefights with the Russian occupiers with the most intense battles taking place over the last two months in Izium district. Read also: Eurojust allowed to preserve evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine "The Russians are trying to improve the tactical situation near the city of Izium and resume the offensive on Sloviansk. Defenders of Ukraine retain their positions in the direction of the state border with the aggressor country and give the enemy a decent rebuff," Syniehubov said. As reported, on May 25, Russian troops fired on the captured city of Balakliia, Kharkiv region, killing two people and wounding seven others. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy key infrastructure facilities and residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages, using artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and ballistic missiles. Ukraine will fight until it liberates all of its territories within internationally recognized borders. "Ukraine will fight until it liberates all of its territories within internationally recognized borders. And Putin can save face by getting away from our territories," Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar said during a briefing at the Ukraine Media CenterUkrinform. The official stressed that Russia's war against Ukraine had begun eight years ago. "On May 26, 2014, the first battle for the Donetsk airport took place. Today, the whole world knows that the Donetsk airport is a symbol of the invincibility of Ukrainian soldiers. Now the defense of Azovstal has joined up. The defenders of the Donetsk airport and the defenders of Mariupol are a vivid illustration of our indomitability and striving for freedom," said the deputy defense minister. On February 24, Russian president Putin launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy infrastructure, massively fire on residential areas of Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages using artillery, MLRS, and ballistic missiles. The United States, the European Union, and other countries have imposed sanctions on Russia, making its international isolation grow by the day. ol Ukraine and Britain will cooperate in combating the use of rape as a weapon of war. Thats according to the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports. According to the PGO, during a visit to London, Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova discussed with Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Dominik Raab and Foreign Offices Minister of State for South Asia, North Africa, the United Nations, and the Commonwealth Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the issue of deterring Russian aggression through prosecution. The Prosecutor General thanked Britain for setting up an advisory group on Russian war crimes, together with the United States and the European Union. Read also: Ombudsperson reports terrifying incidents of child rape by Russian soldiers Venediktova stressed that Ukraine "desperately needs this practical support directly at the scene of war crimes." "We are also beginning fruitful cooperation with our British counterparts in combating the use of rape as a weapon of war," she said. The parties also discussed joining forces "to respond to an important challenge for the entire world community in overcoming the aggressor's impunity for war crimes." "What they did with impunity in Chechnya, Georgia, and Syria cannot remain unpunished by law, including international law, in Ukraine," Venediktova said. As Ukrinform reported earlier, Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova discussed with her British counterpart Suella Braverman the need to bring Russians to justice for war crimes in Ukraine. The Russian Treasury says it will pay off its public debt in roubles, in response the U.S. Treasury Department's refusal to renew a license that allowed Russia to pay on its dollar liabilities. This was reported on the agencys Telegram channel. The Russian Treasury explained that payments on the foreign debt will be made through the National Settlement Depository with the possibility in the future to convert roubles into the original currency of the obligation. Russia's Finance Ministry says the U.S. Treasury's decision "primarily violates the rights of foreign investors" and "undermines confidence in the Western financial infrastructure." On May 24, the U.S. Treasury refused to renew a license that allowed Russia to make payments to service its foreign debt in dollars. It expired on May 25. Without the license, the Russian Finance Ministry will not be able to make payments to holders of the country's international bonds if they have been denominated in dollars. In April, Russia had already tried to make payments on loans in roubles, but Moody's and Fitch international rating agencies said the method of payment was a change in the terms of the bond issue and could be considered a default. Problems with servicing Russia's public debt arose after the United States, the European Union and other countries froze part of Russia's international reserves as part of sanctions over Russia's launch of a full-scale war in Ukraine. Hungary has taken advantage of Russias war against Ukraine, actually blackmailing the European Union, but Ukraine has something to respond with. The relevant statement was made by Advisor to Ukrainian Energy Minister Olena Zerkal during the Kyiv Security Forum, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. According to Zerkal, Hungarys appetites for EU funds are growing every day. They decided that their finest hour had come, when they could demand anything, so as not to destroy the European unity, Zerkal said. She expressed regret that Hungary had been allowed to do so. In fact, the European Commission had to change its policy and allow for investments, the use of European funds even to build a new oil pipeline, not to mention the re-equipment of oil refineries, Zerkal noted. In her words, they are also receiving all funds frozen under other programs. This is sad, indeed, as Ukraine has a great leverage, the Druzhba pipeline, Zerkal added. Zerkal stressed that a separate line of the Druzhba oil pipeline is running to Hungary, and assumed that something may happen to it. And, in my opinion, it would be very appropriate if something happened to this pipeline. But, again, it is up to the Ukrainian government and President to decide on political issues, whether we really want to speak to Orban in the language he understands, or we are not ready yet, Zerkal stressed. A reminder that Hungary continues to block the EUs proposal to introduce a Russian oil embargo as part of the sixth sanctions package against Russia. mk Finland will help restore the infrastructure and Ukrainian cities, support the educational reform in Ukraine. This was discussed during a meeting between Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin in Kyiv, the Government portal informs. During the meeting, Shmyhal and Marin signed an agreement to continue the implementation of the project "Finnish support for the reform of the Ukrainian school" until 2023. The project stipulates the financial support for educational reform worth EUR 6 million from Finland and up to EUR 2 million from the European Union. "Since the beginning of Russia's aggression in 2014, Finland has helped us on all international platforms, provided significant support in promoting reforms in Ukraine, in particular in the field of education. We highly appreciate and will never forget the solidarity of the Finnish people, their moral support and numerous donations to international humanitarian organizations to help Ukraine," Shmyhal said. Apart from Finlands assistance in rebuilding and reforming the education sector, Shmyhal and Marin agreed to involve Finland in the future reconstruction of Ukraine's infrastructure, using advanced technologies and European parameters, and the reconstruction of Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages. "We expect to outline specific projects in the near future to be ready to embark on work shortly, said the Prime Minister of Ukraine. Moreover, the Heads of Government also agreed on close coordination of cooperation within the EU, in particular on Finlands assistance in the implementation of reforms in Ukraine on its path to the membership in the European Union. Ukraine is already a member of the European family, Marin stressed. According to the official, Finland, together with the European Union, will support Ukraine at every stage of EU accession. On February 24, Russian president Putin launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy infrastructure, massively fire on residential areas of Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages using artillery, MLRS, and ballistic missiles. Photo credit: Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine ol Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski have agreed that the countries are companions, not competitors on the EU integration path. Met with President of the Republic of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski. Skopjes support of Ukraine in these tense times remains steadfast. Ukraine will always remember this. We also agree that on the EU integration path Ukraine and North Macedonia are companions, not competitors, Kuleba posted on Twitter following the meeting with Pendarovski on May 25. As reported, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine considers it unfair to link Ukraine's EU candidate status to progress in the integration of the Western Balkans and calls on Europe to seek solutions, not excuses. Photo credit: Dmytro Kuleba, Twitter ol Ukraine calls on global business to continue to provide active assistance through the UNITED24 platform and to advocate for the cessation of all business and investment activities in Russia. Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova posted this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. Speaking to the global business community at the Washington DC Baltimore Chapter meeting organized by YPO, Oksana Markarova stressed: "The new reality came 91 days ago and now has global consequences. All mankind will further feel it. I called on businesses to continue helping through U24 and to advocate for the cessation of all business and investment activities in Russia. The sooner Ukraine wins, the sooner the whole democratic world wins. That is why we must all work together to bring this victory closer." On May 17, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree to create the United24 national brand to unite the efforts of international partners in support of Ukraine. During the platforms operation, more than $36.7 million has been transferred to the accounts of the National Bank of Ukraine. ol The German government supports the idea of addressing at the UN Security Council the problem of Russian threats to use nuclear weapons. Thats according to Bundestag MP with the Social Democratic Party of Germany, Nadja Sthamer, who spoke with Guildhall, Ukrinform reports. I note with great concern the threatening gestures by Russian officials. It should be obvious that nobody can win a nuclear war. The German government supports efforts to find a quick solution in the UN Security Council, the lawmaker said. It is very important that any solution includes security guarantees for Ukraine and is supported by the Ukrainian government. Furthermore, the current crisis once again shows the urgent need to reform the security architecture at the UN Security Council, the legislator summed up. Earlier, during an informal meeting with representatives of the diplomatic corps of the CIS countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke again about the possible use of nuclear weapons by Russia, noting that such an option is not ruled out. As reported earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during an informal meeting with the CIS diplomats once again suggested that Russia could use nuclear weapons, not ruling out such an option. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine warned that the world should prepare for a nuclear strike by the aggressor power. On the air of the Russia 1 TV channel, Russian propagandist Olga Skabeeva and MP Alexei Zhuravlev discussed how many seconds it would take for the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile to reach the capitals of Great Britain, Germany, and France the nations supplying weapons to Ukraine. Earlier, the head of the Center for Defense Reforms, coordinator of the interagency platform for countering hybrid threats, which operates within the framework of Ukraine-NATO cooperation, Oleksandr Danyliuk also stated that, in response to confirmation of intentions to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine, Russia should be excluded from the UN Security Council, and the UN General Assembly should immediately adopt a resolution that such a step on the part of the Russian Federation would be a declaration of war on humanity. Former Commander of the Estonian Defense Forces, MEP, Lieutenant General Riho Terras believes the UN General Assembly should adopt a resolution that the use of nuclear weapons by Russia against Ukraine will be seen as a declaration of war on all mankind. Ex-Minister of Defense of Lithuania, MEP Rasa Jukneviciene, shares the idea that Russias use of nuclear weapons would mean theyre at war with the whole world. Read also: German MP says tactical nuclear strike on Ukraine would isolate Russia from UN Also, the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Latvian Parliament, Atis Lejins, supported the initiative on the need for the said UN resolution to be adopted. A Member of the House of Lords of the British Parliament, former British Foreign Secretary David Owen, believes the initiative to discuss at the UN General Assembly the recent Russian threats to use nuclear weapons is worth looking into. Robin Wagner, deputy of the German Bundestag from the Greens, said that nuclear threats from the Russian Federation are unworthy of a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Member of the Romanian Parliament and the Save Romania Union party, Stefan-Iulian Lorincz said that nuclear such threats voiced by Russia officials are worth at least a temporary suspension of Russia's membership in the UN Security Council. The head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament, Marco Michelson, said that the mere thought of using nuclear weapons is a violation of the key principles on which the United Nations is founded. According to the lawmaker, there are a number of reasons why Russia should be stripped of UN membership. Russia is trying to split the unity of the European Union with ultimatums to pay for their gas in roubles, while seeing any concession as weakness. Ukraine will continue to insist on sanctions to be introduced against Russia's Gazprombank, said the head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak, Ukrinform reports. That is why we are proposing sanctions against Gazprombank and the entire Russian banking system. Russia is trying to split the unity of the EU through ultimatums. Those who make concessions to Moscow today increase the risk facing their countries in the future. Gas is Moscow's weapon. Just like oil. In Russia, every concession is perceived solely as weakness. We will continue to work diplomatically to make all European countries understand this," the chief of the Presidents Office said. Yermak referred to Politico, which published a list of companies that could ultimately go for concessions to Moscow to pay for gas in roubles by opening accounts with Gazprombank. According to the Ukrainian official, after Polands PGNiG, Bulgarias Bulgargaz, and Finlands Gasum refused to pay in roubles, gas supplies were suspended, but some companies, according to Politico, could eventually bow to Russias demands. As reported, in late March, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree requiring nations that have imposed sanctions on Russia over armed aggression toward Ukraine to pay for Russian gas in roubles, not dollars or euros. Most EU countries buying gas from Russia in euros have snubbed the demand. The European Commission has declared Moscow's ultimatum illegitimate. Russia has since cut off gas supplies to several EU countries, including Poland. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was a turning point for Europe and the world, after which it is impossible to return to former relations with Moscow. This was stated by Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin, who spoke at a joint briefing with her Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Russias war against Ukraine is a turning point for Europe. It has changed the security environment, as well as the perception of Russia. Trust is lost for generations, Marin stressed. Marin stated that the attack on Ukraine had encroached on the very principles of building a European common home. Read also: Finland will help restore Ukrainian cities In addition, the head of the Finnish government stressed that, after visiting Bucha and Irpin, she now knows what Russia is capable of in its offensive actions and what crimes imperialism entails. As reported, Finland has promised to help rebuild Ukrainian infrastructure and cities, as well as support educational reform in Ukraine. In addition, Finland, as the Prime Minister assured the country, will support Ukraine at every stage of gaining membership in the European Union. First photo: Government portal Russia has already deported more than 238,000 Ukrainian children to its territory. That's according to the Office of the Ombudsperson, Ukrinform reports. "As of May 26, the aggressor power continues to expatriate Ukrainian citizens to Russia and the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. Today it is confirmed that 238,329 children have already crossed out into Russia, the statement reads. The Office of the Ombudswoman stated that Article 49 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War prohibits forced (individual or mass) resettlement or deportation. However, Russia is resorting to illegal actions, ignoring the rules of war. Given the above, the question remains: what to do when a child is forcibly removed to the temporarily occupied territory or deported. The National Information Bureau has prepared a corresponding algorithm. If citizens find a displaced/deported minor, they should try to gather as much information as possible about the child in question and the circumstances of such events, and follow the algorithm shown in the infographic. As Ukrinform reported earlier, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmila Denisova reported that as of May 21, Russia had deported to its territory 1,377,925 Ukrainians, including 232,480 children. facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published May 26, 2022 A University of Louisiana Monroe biology graduate student received the prestigious E.P. Odum Award at the 83rd annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists in Little Rock, Ark. Given annually for the best student oral presentation on ecological research, the award was given to Paurava Thakore, a native of Dayton, Ohio, for his presentation titled, Loss of relict oak forests along coastal Louisiana: A multiyear analyses using Google Earth Engine. The research highlights the impact of changing climate and major hurricanes on the Chenier forests along coastal Louisiana. We have collected data on the cheniers for close to a decade and the changes we notice are disturbing to say the least, said Dr. Joydeep Bhattacharjee, who serves as faculty advisor for Thakore. Paurava has also won other awards and I am honored to have him as a graduate student in my lab. His achievements have made all of us extremely proud. More than 568 participants joined Thakore at the conference. The award was conferred by the Southeast Chapter of the Ecological Society of America. It is the highest award conferred to a student presentation by the chapter. Im honored to receive this award, and I hope these findings are used to practice the preservation of this unique ecosystem, Thakore said. Another ULM biology graduate student, Nelle Jenkins from Tolar, Texas, was awarded the Dr. A. Floyd Scott Student Oral Presentation Award. This cash award is given to the best student oral presentation in herpetology at the ASB annual meeting. I am honored to be the chosen recipient of this award; the caliber of research at this conference was phenomenal. I was so thankful to be a part of this group, Jenkins said. Jenkins studies wildlife disease ecology in ULM Biology Professor Dr. Kim Marie Tolsons research laboratory. Her presentation was titled Investigation of a shell-rot disease affecting freshwater turtles in a northeast Louisiana bayou, which characterizes an, as yet, undiagnosed disease in turtles of Bayou DeSiard. This recognition exemplifies the dedication of the biology faculty and the amazing work our graduate students are pursuing, said Dr. Anne Case Hanks, director of the ULM School of Sciences. Around 10 girls aged between 15 and 24 are enthusiastically reciting the English alphabet in a bamboo-framed classroom in Kutupalong camp in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar district. They then practice their drawing skills before a facilitator makes notes on a board about menstrual and reproductive health, and what to do when facing gender-based violence. The girls belong to one of 70 adolescent clubs that provide informal learning to some 10,000 young Rohingya refugees living in these camps, which are host to nearly one million Rohingya who fled violence and persecution in Myanmar. More than 50 per cent of the refugees are children or youth, but many have been without access to formal education since arriving in Bangladesh. Younger children can attend learning centres but until recently, the informal curriculum consisted mainly of basic literacy and numeracy and catered only to those aged between 4 and 14. Following approval by the Bangladesh government, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, UNICEF and partners have introduced a more formal learning programme based on the national curriculum in Myanmar which will eventually address the critical gap in education also for older children in the camps. "If I could continue my education, I would become a doctor or a teacher." As of 1 May, 10,000 students had transitioned to the Myanmar curriculum as part of a pilot programme. However, until the new curriculum is fully rolled out, most children over the age of 14 continue to have little access to education opportunities. Adolescent clubs are helping to bridge this gap for young people like Yeasmine who had only attended one year of primary school when she fled Myanmar to Bangladesh with her family in 2012. Now she is 18 years old and has barely had an education. If I could continue my education, I would become a doctor or a teacher. But we dont have these opportunities," she said. These adolescent club activities are very important for girls, because they are getting basic numeracy and literacy skills. They are also getting some knowledge on personal health and hygiene, and early marriage, said Hanisa Akter, an education officer with UNHCR. During a five-day visit to Bangladesh this week, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi met Yeasmine and other girls in her adolescent club and talked to them about their goals for the future. He described the roll out of the Myanmar curriculum as a critical step towards improving conditions for Rohingya refugees in Coxs Bazar. Education is a right for children anywhere and its important if you want to prepare them for eventually going back to their country, he said. Adolescent clubs like this one give young Rohingya refugees over the age of 14 access to sessions on basic literacy, numeracy, and life skills. UNHCR/Vincent Tremeau The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi met with a group of girls attending an adolescent club. UNHCR/Kamrul Hasan Nazmun Nahar facilitates a class at Naf Adolescent Club. UNHCR/Vincent Tremeau Until a new curriculum is rolled out, most children over the age of 14 in the camps have little access to education opportunities. UNHCR/Kamrul Hasan The High Commissioner also met with members of youth groups who have received training on environmental issues from UNHCR and partner organization, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Now, they are championing efforts to regreen the camps and to raise awareness about the impacts of the climate crisis. We are witnessing climate change every day, said Mohammed Rofique, 18, who belongs to one of five such groups. Last year we saw extreme weather during the monsoon. Most shelters in the lower areas were flooded and we had to rescue a lot of people. His group is focused on improving waste management in their camp as one way of reducing flooding. Before, people used to throw rubbish anywhere, he said. The rubbish used to block waterways so when it rained, it flooded and spread waste around the camp. As well as making bins out of bamboo and distributing them around the camp, the young volunteers are talking to their community about the importance of preserving their environment and wildlife that wanders into the camps from the nearby forest. Grandi welcomed the development of projects that are giving young people in the camps skills and a sense of purpose. Education and skills development are crucial for refugees to restart their lives once conditions are conducive for their successful return and reintegration in Myanmar, he said. (@FahadShabbir) Honiara, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2022 ) :China has put forward plans to dramatically expand security and economic cooperation with South Pacific nations, in what one regional leader called a thinly veiled effort to lock them into "Beijing's orbit" The wide-ranging draft agreement and a five-year plan, both obtained by AFP, will be the subject of discussion during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's tour of Pacific nations, which began Thursday. The package would offer 10 small island states millions of Dollars in Chinese assistance, the prospect of a China-Pacific Islands free trade agreement and access to China's lucrative market of 1.4 billion people. It would also offer China the chance to train local police, become involved in local cybersecurity, expand political ties, conduct sensitive marine mapping and gain greater access to natural resources. The "comprehensive development vision" is believed to be up for approval when Wang meets regional foreign ministers on May 30 in Fiji. The South Pacific is increasingly a theatre for competition between China and the United States -- which has been the Primary power in the region for the last century. Beijing has sought to develop a greater military, political and economic foothold, but until now has made only limited and uneven progress. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Seoul, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2022 ) :Acclaimed Japanese film-maker Hirokazu Kore-eda is back in competition at this year's Cannes Film Festival, with his first South Korean film which explores the country's controversial practice of "drop boxes" for unwanted babies. The movie is one of two South Korean pictures competing for the Palme d'Or along with Park Chan-wook's "Decision to Leave", after Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" became the country's first film to win the coveted honour in 2019. Since then, more Korean-language productions have enjoyed explosive global success, from Netflix's "Squid Game" to Apple TV+'s "Pachinko". Kore-eda, who won the top prize at Cannes in 2018 for his family drama "Shoplifters" -- about a group of Tokyo misfits and crooks who form a kind of alternative family -- is back with another tale delving into similar themes. His new South Korean-produced film "Broker" looks at so-called baby boxes where mothers can anonymously abandon their newborns to avoid the stigma and hardship of being a single mother in a patriarchal society. While researching the project, the Japanese film-maker, who has been lauded for his sensitive, contemplative explorations of complex family relationships, met children at orphanages. The youngsters, Kore-eda said, questioned whether, as unwanted babies, it would have been better not to be born. Their question became the focus of the film, Kore-eda said. "Baby boxes exist in Japan as well," Kore-eda said at a press conference in Seoul earlier this month, which he attended virtually. "I wanted to portray the journey of a group of people -- some with good intentions and some with malice -- with various stories surrounding a baby who was left in a baby box." (@FahadShabbir) London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2022 ) :Elizabeth II has been on the throne since she was 25, an ever-present figure for the lives of most people in Britain, as well as one of the most recognisable people around the world. Now 96, difficulties in walking and standing have made her dwindling number of public appearances in recent years decline further. Her eldest son and heir Prince Charles, 73, has gradually assumed more responsibilities to prepare him for the time when he takes over. But she still regularly hosts foreign dignitaries and diplomats. According to those who know her, she remains sharp as a tack. The death in April last year of her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, inevitably affected her deeply and she cut a lonely figure at his funeral, which was held under coronavirus restrictions. She has spent most of her time at her favoured Windsor Castle home west of London, after leaving Buckingham Palace at the start of the pandemic in early 2020. No British monarch in history has celebrated a Platinum Jubilee and her 70-year reign is reflected by her presence almost everywhere, from stamps and banknotes to her cypher on post boxes. Her popularity with the public has remained consistently high, even as deference lessened and attitudes changed towards the monarchy over the decades. - Duty calls - Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in London on April 21, 1926, and only became queen by an accident of history. Her father became king George VI in 1936 when his elder brother, Edward VIII, abdicated to marry a twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson. That made princess "Lilibet" heir to the throne. As German bombs rained down on London in World War II, she and her younger sister Margaret were evacuated to Windsor. At the age of 19, she became an army mechanic and driver on the Home Front, endearing herself to Britons for her part in the war effort. At 21, she married Philip Mountbatten, the son of a Greek prince, at a ceremony that brought a dash of glamour to austere post-war Britain. The couple were in Kenya on February 6, 1952, when news reached them of her father's death, making her the new monarch. She returned to Britain immediately and on June 2, 1953, was crowned queen of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka). Currently, she is head of state in the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth countries. With a sense of duty instilled in her since childhood, the queen carried out hundreds of engagements each year, from receptions for foreign dignitaries to awarding civilian and military honours, and royal visits around the world. - Rock of stability - Elizabeth spent an unscheduled night in hospital last October after undergoing unspecified tests. Doctors have since advised her to rest and reduce her workload. For support in fulfilling her duties, she has turned to her immediate family but one without two notable members -- second son Prince Andrew and grandson Harry. Andrew, often considered to be her favourite son, has been stripped of his royal functions due to his links to the convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Harry quit royal life in 2020 and moved to the United States, from where he and his wife Meghan accused the family of racism. Over the decades, the queen has been seen as a rock of stability in the turbulence of royal life. In 1992 -- a year she called her "annus horribilis" -- three of her four children split from their partners, and Windsor Castle went up in flames. But she faced criticism in 1997 for misjudging the public mood after the death of princess Diana in a Paris car crash, by initially refusing to return to London and fly the flag at half-mast over Buckingham Palace. Even though she makes a recorded televised address every Christmas Day, she has never given an interview and is careful not to divulge her personal opinions. As head of a constitutional monarchy, she is politically neutral, and her weekly private conservations with the prime minister of the day about current issues remain just that -- private. Summers have typically meant a stay at her Balmoral retreat in northeast Scotland, where she swaps her self-styled "uniform" of formal hats and matching outfits for the country look, complete with a simple headscarf and Wellington boots. An avid owner of corgis and a horse rider since was young, she was also still in the saddle as she moved into her 90s. BEIJING, May 26 -- "Chinese blue helmets have become a key force in UN peacekeeping operations," said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense at the ministry's monthly news conference on Thursday. May 29th of 2022 marks the 20th International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Senior Colonel Wu elaborated on the history of Chinese military's participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKOs). Over the past 30 odd years since April 1990, when Chinese armed forces dispatched five military observers to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), Chinese armed forces have contributed nearly 50,000 service members to 25 UN peacekeeping missions across an expanding range of deployments, Chinese military peacekeepers have left their footprints in over 20 countries and regions, said the spokesperson. At the moment, a total of 2,240 Chinese military peacekeepers are serving on seven UN peacekeeping missions and at UNHQ, Wu added. "China takes concrete actions to safeguard world peace and has become the largest troop-contributing country (TCC) among the permanent members of the UN Security Council," said the spokesperson. Following that, Wu disclosed that in the second half of this year, the Chinese military plans to host the "Shared Vision" international peacekeeping forum, where representatives, peacekeeping experts and scholars from the UN and relevant countries will be invited to offer advice and suggestions. According to Wu, the "Shared Vision" forum, along with the "Shared Destiny" UN peacekeeping field training exercise and the "Shared Mission" Command Post Exercise for UN Peacekeeping Operations, constitute the "Shared" series an international brand of peacekeeping operations regularly held by the Chinese military. In the end, the spokesperson paid high tribute to all personnel who have participated in UN peacekeeping operations, both Chinese peacekeepers and their counterparts and sent out his best wishes to all peacekeepers serving with the UN peacekeeping missions by saying that "Please stay safe when you carry out the missions. Your motherland and families are waiting for your return." Kyiv, Ukraine, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2022 ) :Fierce battles raged in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, with Russian troops on the verge of encircling a key industrial city, as President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a bitter rebuke of the West for not doing enough to help Kyiv win the war. Lugansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday described fighting outside of the industrial city of Severodonetsk, a key military goal for Russia, as "very difficult," saying Russian troops were shelling the city from the outskirts with mortars. "The coming week will be decisive," Gaiday said in a video posted on Telegram, adding he believes Russia's goal is to "capture the Lugansk region no matter what cost". "There is a colossal amount of shelling," he added. Earlier in the day, addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry Dmytro Kuleba compared the battle for Donbass to the epic battles fought in World War II and said his country "badly" needs multiple launch rocket systems to match Russian firepower. (@FahadShabbir) Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday vowed not to bow before the dictations of ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan and made it clear that only the National Assembly, no one else, would decide the timing of the election ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2022 ) :Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday vowed not to bow before the dictations of ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan and made it clear that only the National Assembly, no one else, would decide the timing of the election. "I want to make it clear to the head of this gang that none of his dictation will be accepted. This House will decide when to hold fair election," the prime minister said while addressing the National Assembly, hours after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan ended his Long March here, giving the government a six-day deadline to announce a fresh election. The prime minister said if the PTI was merely concerned about the election, they should have come to the parliament. "Imran Niazi should not have any misunderstanding. There are 14 months (to complete the parliament's term). We are open to talks. Dialogue is the trait of politicians. I can constitute a committee. But, if you think you will pressurize, blackmail or threaten us to leave the government, keep in mind, we will not bow before your pressure or dictation," he reiterated. He pointed out that there had been numerous challenges and said the coalition government would try its utmost to steer the country out of the issues it had inherited from the previous government. Lamenting the riots and destruction caused by the participants of the PTI Long March, the prime minister said the House should choose between the course of development or destruction. Drawing a comparison between the economic growth of the two neighboring countries, he said in 1990s India copied Pakistan's economic strategy and excelled with its IT exports touching $200 billion against $1.5 billion of Pakistan. He said the protestors, who carried weapons to the Federal capital, also damaged infrastructure here and burnt down the trees despite the party claiming to be the champion of 10 Billion Tree Tsunami. He also condemned the killing of a police constable in Lahore, sympathized with the grieved family and announced an assistance package for the policemen who were martyred or injured in the line of their duty. He said instead of showing some compassion to the widow or orphaned children of the martyred police constable, the PTI leader taunted him. Calling it a 126-day theatre, the prime minister said the PTI's sit-in in 2014 had not only impacted the national economy but also claimed the lives of some security personnel. He informed the House that the law enforcement agencies showed maximum restraint to control the situation only by using teargas or rubber bullets. The government also called in the army troops to aid the civilian setup, he added. He also lauded the performance of the Islamabad Police, Rangers, FC, Islamabad Traffic Police and other departments to protect the lives and properties of the people. The prime minister said the PTI Long March, which was led by Imran Khan from Peshawar and accompanied by KPK chief minister, was in fact an attack on the Federation which could not be allowed in any civilized society. The prime minister said after the nation sacrificed thousands of lives and left many others disabled, the slogan of jihad was raised in Peshawar by the PTI. "Today, the slogans of jihad were raised in Peshawar. Jihad against whom? The nation needs an answer. They used the religion for personal gains which the House should condemn through a resolution to avert the recurrence of such incidents" he added. He said despite the dearth of resources, the previous government reduced the oil prices, leaving behind a "landmine" for the incumbent government. The prime minister said during the last three and half years, the PTI leadership did nothing to support the poor, closed PKLI, and ended free medical treatment of hepatitis patients. "Does it require any more evidence to believe that he is an enemy of Pakistan," he remarked. The prime minister also questioned the PTI leader as to why he announced a long march on May 25 despite knowing that it coincided with the sentencing of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik by an Indian court. He said the House was unanimous to condemn the life sentence to Yasin Malik by an Indian court and shared the grief of his family, besides reiterating Pakistan's stance to continue the supporting of people of Kashmir for their right to self-determination. He recalled the PTI's sit-in of 2014 when the institutions including Pakistan Television was attacked and caused the postponement of Chinese President Xi Jinping which also delayed the signing of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor for seven months. "How long this drama will continue? How long this disturbed nation will tolerate it," he questioned adding the country could not afford the history of the 2014 sit-in to be repeated. He said Chinese firm, executing Karot Hydropower project, had agreed to provide free electricity to the national grid till the finalization of the Commercial Operations date which would save Rs 4 billion to the national kitty. He said the previous government wasted three and half years in mere attacking the national institutions including the judiciary and hurling allegations ignoring the sufferings of the people. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has discussed over the telephone possible responses to North Korea's latest ballistic missile test launches with his Japanese counterpart Minister of Defense Kishiu Nobuo, the Defense Department said on Thursday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th May, 2022) US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has discussed over the telephone possible responses to North Korea's latest ballistic missile test launches with his Japanese counterpart Minister of Defense Kishiu Nobuo, the Defense Department said on Thursday. "Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin held a secure call with Japan Minister of Defense Kishi Nobuo to share assessments on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK - North Korea) recent ballistic missile launches, as well as consult on response measures," the Defense Department said on Thursday. Austin confirmed the US commitment to the defense of Japan, and both leaders reaffirmed that the US-Japan Alliance is prepared to respond to any North Korean aggression, the release said. "The two leaders underscored that the DPRK's (North Koera's) ballistic missile launches are a threat to regional and global security, and are committed to work together bilaterally and trilaterally with (South) Korea to address the DPRK's provocative actions," the release added. Austin and Kishi also agreed on the need to continue discussions on response options and work toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, according to the release. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th May, 2022) Boeing's unmanned Starliner spacecraft returned to earth following its first successful orbital test flight and docking on the International Space Station (ISS), the aerospace company said in a press release. "At 6:49 p.m. (EST), Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft landed at its designated landing zone at the White Sands Space Harbor on the US Army's White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico," the release said on Wednesday. "Starliner completed all of its deorbit, reentry and landing maneuvers, bringing Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) to a successful conclusion. " The Starliner launched into space last Thursday aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket for an unmanned cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS) that is meant to demonstrate if the vehicle is a step closer to certification to carry astronauts. The mission to the ISS was the second test flight of the repeatedly delayed Boeing spacecraft, which is planned as a working complimentary system to the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and the Dragon spacecraft already in service. The spacecraft delivered a cargo payload to the ISS and returned with more cargo. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Cambodia's anti-drug police have arrested a group of four foreigners for manufacturing, possessing and trafficking more than 40 kilograms of illicit drugs, the country's Anti-Drug Police Department (ADP) said in a news release on Thursday PHNOM PENH, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2022 ) :Cambodia's anti-drug police have arrested a group of four foreigners for manufacturing, possessing and trafficking more than 40 kilograms of illicit drugs, the country's Anti-Drug Police Department (ADP) said in a news release on Thursday. The four men were arrested at two secretive drug labs, with one of them in mango farms in western Kampong Speu province, and the other at a condo in capital Phnom Penh, on May 19 after an investigation for more than two months. "A total of 40.5 kilograms of ketamine and 1.42 tons of its ingredients were confiscated from the suspects during the raids," the police said. A large number of equipment used for manufacturing and packaging drugs as well as 11. 5 tons of chemicals thought to be used for producing drugs were also impounded, the police added. On May 18, the kingdom caught a group of three foreigners in Phnom Penh and in the coastal province of Preah Sihanouk, seizing a total of 30.4 kilograms of heroin, ecstasy, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine, ketamine, and nimetazepam. The southeast Asian nation has no death sentence for drug traffickers. Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of drugs could be jailed for life. According to the ADP, Cambodia nabbed 4,602 drug suspects, including 66 foreigners, during the first four months of 2022, confiscating 1.55 tons of illicit drugs and 173 tons of ingredients. Rail cars filled with mineral fertilizers belonging to a Belarusian company and worth $20 million were arrested in the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine, the Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) said on Wednesday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th May, 2022) Rail cars filled with mineral fertilizers belonging to a Belarusian company and worth $20 million were arrested in the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine, the Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) said on Wednesday. "SBI officers found 188 wagons with mineral fertilizers on the territory of a seaport in Mykolaiv region. There were 77,000 tons of goods which belong to a Belarusian holding company. The value of the property together with Belarusian cars was about $20 million," the SBI said in a statement. According to the bureau, all property was arrested following criminal investigation against local customs, which "contributed to the illegal movement of sanctioned goods through the customs control. " On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk requested help to defend them from attacks by Ukrainian troops. In response, Ukraine and its Western allies rolled out comprehensive sanctions against Russia, including airspace closures and restrictive measures targeting numerous officials and entities. Eleven newborn babies have perished in a hospital fire blamed on an electrical short circuit in the western Senegalese city of Tivaouane, authorities said Thursday Tivaouane, Senegal, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2022 ) :Eleven newborn babies have perished in a hospital fire blamed on an electrical short circuit in the western Senegalese city of Tivaouane, authorities said Thursday. In the latest in a series of hospital deaths that have exposed the weaknesses of the nation's healthcare system, President Macky Sall announced the tragedy on Twitter just before midnight (0000 GMT). "I have just learned with pain and dismay about the deaths of 11 newborn babies in the fire at the neonatal department of the public hospital," Sall wrote. "To their mothers and their families, I express my deepest sympathy," he tweeted. "Where is Mohamed?," asked one of the distraught mothers outside Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital in the transport hub of Tivaouane. Her baby son was taken to the hospital ten days ago and was baptised on Monday, Mohamed's 54-year-old father Alioune Diouf said. The city's mayor Demba Diop said the fire had been caused by "a short circuit and spread very quickly". Local media quoted witnesses saying gas bottles exploded preventing any rescue attempts. Health Minister Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr was quoted in media reports also blaming an electrical fault. - 'Beyond heartbroken' - The maternity unit was equipped to take care of 13 babies. "At the time of the fire, there were 11, whom nurses were unable to save," the minister said. Mayor Demba Diop said "three babies were saved". World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted that he was "beyond heartbroken with this tragic news. "I'm sending my deepest condolences to the parents and families of the babies who lost their lives." Health Minister Sarr, who had been in Geneva attending a meeting with the World Health Organization, said "an investigation is under way to see what happened". The tragedy in Tivaouane comes after several other public health incidents in Senegal, which suffers from a great disparity between urban and rural areas in healthcare services. In the northern town of Linguere in late April, a fire broke out at a hospital and four newborn babies were killed. The town's mayor cited an electrical malfunction in an air conditioning unit in the maternity ward. - 'This is unacceptable' - Wednesday's accident came over a month after the nation mourned the death of a pregnant woman who waited in vain for a caesarean section. The woman, Astou Sokhna, arrived at a hospital in the northern city of Louga in pain. The staff refused to accommodate her request for a C-section, saying it was not scheduled. She died on April 1, 20 hours after arrival. Sokhna's death caused a wave of outrage across the country over the dire state of the health system. Minister Sarr acknowledged two weeks later that the death could have been avoided. Three midwives on duty the night Sokhna died were given a six-month suspended prison sentence on May 11 by the High Court of Louga for "failure to assist a person in danger" in connection with her case. Amnesty International's Senegal director Seydi Gassama said his organisation had called for an inspection and upgrade for neonatology services in hospitals across Senegal after the "atrocious" death of the four babies in Linguere. With the new tragedy, Amnesty "urges the government to set up an independent commission of inquiry to determine responsibility and punish the culprits, no matter the level they are at in the state apparatus", he tweeted. Opposition lawmaker Mamadou Lamine Diallo also responded with outrage to the Tivaouane blaze. "More babies burned in a public hospital... this is unacceptable @MackySall," he tweeted. "We suffer with the families to whom we offer our condolences. Enough is enough." (@ChaudhryMAli88) The newly appointed Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, said Thursday the country faced serious human rights challenges, and urged the Taliban to take the path that brings stability and freedom to all Afghans, especially women UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2022 ) :The newly appointed Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, said Thursday the country faced serious human rights challenges, and urged the Taliban to take the path that brings stability and freedom to all Afghans, especially women. At the end of his 11-day visit to the country - the first such mission since the mandate was created by the Human Rights Council - Bennett told a news conference in Kabul that he welcomed the opportunity to meet Taliban leaders, members of civil society, including women human rights defenders, journalists, minorities, victims of human rights violations, people with disabilities, and the judiciary, according to his remarks released at UN Headquarters in New York. Bennett said Afghanistan is facing a plethora of human rights challenges that are having a severe impact on the country's people. However, the Taliban have failed to acknowledge or address the magnitude and gravity of abuses, many of which were committed in their name. "The Taliban stands at a crossroads. Either the society will become more stable and a place where every Afghan enjoys freedom and human rights, or it will become increasingly restrictive," he said. "If benchmarks are met such as the urgent opening of secondary schools for girls, the establishment of an inclusive administration that genuinely represents every segment of the Afghan society, and a platform is provided for dialogue and avenues for redressing grievances, the risks of further instability and suffering in Afghanistan may be mitigated." The UN expert's visit, at the invitation of Taliban, allowed him access to the entire territory, and to visit sensitive locations, such as schools, hospitals, and prisons, reflecting what he called a crucial commitment to ensure that transparent monitoring could be undertaken. Bennett said that armed hostilities in many parts of the country had ceased, with a reduction in conflict-related casualties since the Taliban takeover last August. The recent establishment of a commission for the return of leading Afghan personalities may provide an opportunity for dialogue, and potentially strengthen governance, he added. Although the granting of the general amnesty to officials of the former Government and members of the security forces could be a first step toward reconciliation, he was alarmed about reports of ongoing extrajudicial and revenge killings of former members of the security forces and officials, and door-to-door searches. Addressing the ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis, Bennett called on the international community to continue to provide support to Afghanistan, and to ensure equitable and gender-sensitive aid distribution. Governments also should ensure that the implementation of sanctions does not substantially hamper the provision of essential public services. Bennett also expressed alarm that many of the Taliban policies and drive for absolute control, are having a cumulative effect on a wide range of human rights. They also are creating a society ruled by fear. The advancing erasure of women from public life was especially concerning, he said, citing measures such as the suspension of girls' secondary education, severe barriers to employment, enforcing a strict form of Hijab, or body covering, and limits on freedom of movement, association, and expression. "I call upon the de facto authorities to immediately reverse policies and directives that negatively impact women as well as to prioritize women's and girls' rights to equal participation in education, employment, and all other aspects of public life," he said. The rights expert also called for investigations into a series of attacks on places of worship and schools in Kabul, Kunduz, and Balkh provinces, some of which have been claimed by the ISIS-K terrorist group. He said such attacks, which specifically target members of the Hazara, Shia, and Sufi communities are becoming increasingly systematic in nature and reflect elements of an organizational policy, thus bearing hallmarks of crimes against humanity. Recently, Panjshir and other northern provinces have seen clashes between the Taliban security forces and fighters affiliated with the National Resistance Front, an anti-Taliban group. Bennett said he was concerned about allegations that civilians have suffered violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, torture, and forced displacement. The high number of reports of intimidation, harassment, attacks, arrests, and in some cases killing or disappearance of journalists, prosecutors, judges, and civil society members, was another serious concern, he said. PARIS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th May, 2022) French President Emmanuel Macron and newly elected Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday reached an agreement on the restoration of bilateral ties based on mutual trust after they were undermined by Scott Morrison's decision to unilaterally withdraw from the submarine deal with Paris, the Elysee Palace said on Thursday. Macron and Albanese held a telephone conversation earlier on Thursday. "Noting the serious undermining of trust after former Prime Minister Scott Morrison's decision to end the submarine program, the head of the country (Emmanuel Macron) and (new) Prime Minister of Australia agreed to restore bilateral relations based on trust and respect to jointly address global challenges," the Elysee said in a statement. The sides also discussed the bilateral agenda, the situation in Ukraine, and measures aimed at tackling a possible food crisis in the world. Albanese expressed his confidence earlier that he would be able to normalize relations with the French leadership. The Australian government headed by Morrison abandoned the $64 billion program to build up to 12 French-designed submarines in mid-September. Instead, Australia reached an agreement with the United Kingdom and the United States within a trilateral security pact dubbed AUKUS. Under the pact, the US and the UK pledged to help Canberra acquire nuclear-powered submarines. Ex-French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called such a move a "stab in the back." WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th May, 2022) Local law enforcement near Dallas, Texas, arrested a teenage boy at Berkner High School after receiving reports from a witness who saw him walking with a rifle toward the school, the Richardson Police Department said in a press release. "On May 25, 2022, at 10:55AM (Central Time), the Richardson Police Department received a phone call from a business in the 1500 block of East Spring Valley Road reporting a male holding what appeared to be a rifle," the release said on Wednesday. "The male was last seen walking towards Berkner High School, located at 1600 East Spring Valley Road. " Police officers arrived at Berkner High School within minutes of the call and were able to find the suspect inside, the release said. Officers searched a car belonging to the suspect, who is a student at the school, and found an AK-47 style pistol and a replica AR-15 long rifle that only shoots soft-gel projectiles, the release said. Police arrested the teenage boy and charged him with unlawfully carrying a weapon in a weapon-free school zone, the release added. The incident happened a day after an 18-year-old man shot and killed 19 children and two faculty members at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. (@ChaudhryMAli88) A strong 7.2-magnitude earthquake rocked southeastern Peru on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said, with Peruvian authorities adding there were no dead or injured Lima, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2022 ) :A strong 7.2-magnitude earthquake rocked southeastern Peru on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said, with Peruvian authorities adding there were no dead or injured. The quake hit at 7:02 am local time (1202 GMT), at a depth of 218 kilometers (135 miles), according to the USGS, sending people fleeing into the streets. Peru's National Seismological Center said the quake had a magnitude of 6.9 and a depth of 240 kilometers. Its epicenter was 20 kilometers northeast of the town of Azangaro, close to Lake Titicaca on the border with Bolivia. Peruvian authorities said the quake caused a shockwave felt in southwestern regions bordering Chile. "For the moment, given the level of intensity at the surface, it should not generate any more damage than fear," Hernando Tavera, the director of Peru's Geophysics Institute, told RPP radio station. "When the quake is deeper there is less shaking of the ground. " However, Rolando Capucho, the general co-ordinator at the National Emergency Operations Center, said they were still "monitoring the situation, it's very early to know whether or not there has been any damage." The quake was felt throughout the south, including Peru's second largest city, Arequipa, where people left their homes looking for shelter. "It was strong, many people went out into the streets," said one caller to RPP from the southern city of Cusco, which is near to the world famous Inca ruins of Macchu Pichu. The presidency urged "calm in the face of possible aftershocks" and said on Twitter that authorities were evaluating the impact of the quake. Peru, which lies on the Ring of Fire, is hit every year by at least 400 perceptible quakes. The Ring of Fire is an area of high volcanic and seismic activity around much of the rim of the Pacific Ocean. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi discussed the situation in Ukraine and the global food crisis during a phone conversation on Thursday, the Kremlin said MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th May, 2022) Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi discussed the situation in Ukraine and the global food crisis during a phone conversation on Thursday, the Kremlin said. "The situation in Ukraine was discussed. In particular, Vladimir Putin informed (Draghi) about the ongoing work to establish a peaceful life in the liberated cities of Donbas. He spoke in detail about the steps taken to ensure the safety of navigation, including the daily opening of humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilian ships from the ports of the Azov and Black Seas, which is hindered by the Ukrainian side," the Kremlin said in a statement. Putin and Draghi also talked about Moscow-Kiev negotiations, which were "frozen" by the Ukrainian side, and the global food crisis, the Kremlin added. "Vladimir Putin emphasized that Russia is ready to make a significant contribution to overcoming the food crisis through the export of grain and fertilizers, provided that politically motivated restrictions from the West are lifted," the statement read. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th May, 2022) Twitter agreed to pay a $150 million penalty fee to the US government for alleged data privacy violations, the Justice Department said in a press release. "The Department of Justice, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced a settlement that, if approved by a federal court, will require Twitter Inc. to pay $150 million in civil penalties and implement robust compliance measures to protect users' data privacy," the release said on Wednesday. The settlement will resolve allegations that Twitter violated US law by misrepresenting how it would use users' private contact information, the release said. From 2013 to 2019, Twitter allegedly told its users it was collecting their private contact information for account-security purposes, but the company also used it to help companies send targeted advertisements to consumers, the release said. The release did not provide a date of when the court is expected to decide on whether to approve the settlement. The United States military is exploiting Artificial Intelligence capabilities in Europe to analyze data related to the conflict in Ukraine as well as to track movements and activities of different actors there, US Army forces in Europe and Africa Commander Gen. Christopher Cavoli said in a congressional hearing on Thursday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th May, 2022) The United States military is exploiting Artificial Intelligence capabilities in Europe to analyze data related to the conflict in Ukraine as well as to track movements and activities of different actors there, US Army forces in Europe and Africa Commander Gen. Christopher Cavoli said in a congressional hearing on Thursday. "There are a few efforts that the US side has been working on with regard to Artificial Intelligence we are using a couple of those in Europe right now, during this crisis. They're proving very, very useful. They help us keep track of where everybody is and what they're doing," Cavoli told a US Senate Armed Services Committee. Cavoli pointed out that the use of Artificial Intelligence in Europe is already paying "big dividends" for the United States. The Defense Department is aware of US adversaries working on the same technologies and that is why Cavoli said it is an "imperative" to continue to develop such capabilities. Cavoli is currently going through Congressional hearings as part of his confirmation procedure after US President Joe Biden nominated him to be the next commander of the NATO forces in Europe to replace Gen. Tod Wolters. Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here on Thursday with Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele to exchange views on further improving bilateral ties and expanding pragmatic cooperation in various fields HONIARA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2022 ) :Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here on Thursday with Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele to exchange views on further improving bilateral ties and expanding pragmatic cooperation in various fields. Wang said his visit aims to strengthen coordination, increase mutual trust, reach consensus, deepen friendship and expand cooperation between China and the Pacific island countries, adding that China-Solomon Islands relationship has shown great resilience and vitality in past years. China will always firmly support the Solomon Islands' efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity, protect national unity and solidarity, and speed up national development and rejuvenation, said Wang, offering all help to the Solomon Islands within China's capability. China is willing to work with the Solomon Islands to implement the important consensus reached between the leadership of the two countries, and elevate bilateral relationship to a higher level to make it a model of political mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and island nations, Wang said. For his part, Manele said equal treatment and mutual respect are the foundation of Solomon Islands-China relations. The Solomon Islands will always firmly adhere to the one-China principle and support China in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity. China has become a close friend and key development partner of the Solomon Islands, and all bilateral agreements have been effectively implemented, Manele said, adding that China's support has played an important role in the Solomon Islands' efforts to develop economy, improve people's livelihood and fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and has brought a great amount of employment to the country. He said the Solomon Islands wishes a great success for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and looks forward to learning from China's governance experiences. As China's development is the growth of peaceful forces and developing countries, it will make the world a more peaceful place and the international relationship a fairer one, which fully serves the common interests of developing countries, Wang said. The two sides agreed to join hands to forge flagship mega-projects of the Road and Belt Initiative (BRI) and make good use of the preferential policies for tariff-free exports to China and help the Solomon Islands fully tap its resource advantages and development potentials. They pledged to expand pragmatic cooperation in the areas including agro-fishery, timber, minerals, health and fight against the pandemic, disaster mitigation and relief, to deepen experience exchanges on product processing, industrial incubation and special economic zones, and to help the Solomon Islands promote its capacity of self-development and accelerate industrialization and modernization. The two sides vowed to enhance coordination and cooperation in the fields of development issues, dealing with climate change and multilateral affairs. The Solomon Islands foreign minister said his country supports China's Global Development Initiative and stands ready to strengthen alignment and foster greater synergy with China. They spoke highly of the fruitful results of the cooperation between China and the Pacific island countries, and promised to work together for the successful holding of the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' meeting to be held in Fiji. Wang is visiting the Solomon Islands as part of his tour to the South Pacific island nations, which will also take him to Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, as well as Timor-Leste. WHO member states strongly condemned Russia's war in Ukraine and attacks on healthcare facilities in a resolution overwhelmingly adopted on Thursday, further isolating Moscow on the international stage Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2022 ) :WHO member states strongly condemned Russia's war in Ukraine and attacks on healthcare facilities in a resolution overwhelmingly adopted on Thursday, further isolating Moscow on the international stage. The resolution was carried by 88 votes to 12 at the World Health Organization's annual assembly, while a Russian counter-resolution on the health crisis in Ukraine -- making no mention of its invasion -- fell flat. The outcome "sends a clear signal to the Russian Federation: stop your war against Ukraine. Stop attacks on hospitals," said Ukrainian ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko. "The World Health Assembly confirmed that the responsibility for the health crisis in Ukraine rests exclusively with the Russian Federation," Filipenko said. The adopted resolution said it "condemns in the strongest terms" Russia's "military aggression against Ukraine, including attacks on healthcare facilities". It urged Russia to "immediately cease any attacks on hospitals" and other healthcare sites. The resolution was brought by Ukraine and co-sponsored by nations including the United States, Britain, Japan, Turkey and European Union countries. Of the 194 WHO member states, 183 had the right to vote. Eighty-eight voted in favour and 12 against, with 53 abstentions and 30 countries absent. The resolution said the war was seriously impeding access to healthcare in Ukraine and having wider health implications across the region. It urged Russia to respect and protect all medical and humanitarian personnel as well as the sick and wounded, in line with international law. The resolution also called for safe, rapid and unhindered access to people in need of help, and the free flow of essential medicines and equipment. - Diplomatic isolation - The WHO has verified 256 separate attacks on healthcare in Ukraine since the Russian invasion on February 24. The WHO said 75 people have died and 59 have been injured. It said 212 attacks involved heavy weapons. WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said he hoped other bodies would use the verified information and "take the necessary action for any criminal investigations that are required". Since the invasion, Ukraine and its allies have tried to maximise Russia's diplomatic isolation, particularly within the United Nations. The World Health Assembly is the annual gathering of the WHO's member states and serves as the UN health agency's decision-making body. The Russian resolution on the health crisis in war-torn Ukraine -- which made no reference at all to the full-scale invasion -- was rejected by 66 votes to 15, with 70 abstentions. Russian deputy ambassador Alexander Alimov rejected the outcome. "Any attempts to isolate or to blame the Russian Federation specifically for the health situation in the country is unacceptable," he said. "Russia is bringing peace to Ukraine," he insisted. Students, Faculty Mentor Honored at Graduate School Symposium Thu, 05/26/2022 - 08:31am Two graduate assistants and a faculty member were recognized for excellence in research, teaching and service by The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Graduate School at its annual Susan A. Siltanen Graduate Student Research Symposium held in April at the Thad Cochran Center on the Hattiesburg campus. *Limarie J. Reyes-Torres, a Ph.D. candidate in Biological Sciences, was named Graduate Research Assistant of the Year. A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, she was nominated by her major professor, Dr. Donald Yee. With eight peer-reviewed publications and seven as first author, Reyes-Torres has already demonstrated outstanding productivity. She is fully supported as an NIH fellow, receiving the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award-Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research. This highly competitive award demonstrates her ability to write a successful grant application and conduct high-level research. Her dissertation research focuses on ecological interactions, nutrient stoichiometry, and vector competence of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, and will help determine the influence of urbanization in the larval environment, species performance, and fecundity across generations. Reyes-Torres is also evaluating the effect of these components on the mosquito vector competence (capacity to acquire, maintain, and transmit a pathogen) for dengue virus, and is using nutrient stoichiometry to help define biologically relevant and unknown relationships influencing the susceptibility of mosquitoes to arboviral infections and their ability to transmit arboviruses to humans across urban environments. Dr. Yee noted that Reyes-Torres is an important member of his research team exploring how mosquitoes were affected in San Juan, Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria in September 2017, rating her as being among the top five percent of students at a similar point in their career. Her motivation for research and teaching are an extension of some of the challenges she faced as a student in Puerto Rico, which historically has had issues with providing the best opportunities for its students, Dr. Yee continued. Even as a high school student, Limarie has consistently looked for additional opportunities to give back, including tutoring or mentoring other students. This quality is an important one for a scientist given the mentoring nature of the scientific process. Reyes-Torres is very active in outreach and education activities for the university and the community; among her exceptional credentials, she holds certifications in vector-borne disease management from the Mississippi Department of Health and as an advanced mosquito identification specialist from the University of Florida. *Alicia L. Macchione, a Ph.D. candidate in the Psychology Brain and Behavior program in the School of Psychology, earned the Teaching Assistant of the Year award. A native of Bloomington, Indiana, she was nominated for the recognition by her major professor, Dr. Don Sacco. Macchione has been highly productive in research, having already published five peer-reviewed articles with four more either in preparation or under review, and she is coauthor of three book chapters. She has given numerous presentations in either oral or poster format in national-level professional conferences and is a research fellow on a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that focuses on factors facilitating adherence to social distancing policies. Between Fall of 2020 and Spring 2021, she served as the graduate assistant for multiple psychology courses, with the responsibility of grading and mentoring students in need and received Excellent ratings from all evaluations. Outside of her assistance with students in classes for which she served as a graduate assistant, she mentored undergraduate students within the Evolutionary Social Psychology Laboratory and helped four students receive funding from the Center for Undergraduate Research (EagleSPUR awards) to support their independent research projects and have trained them in how to program their studies, collect and analyze data, and prepare manuscripts for publication. In the summer of 2021, she accepted a graduate assistantship in the Office of Research Integrity (ORI), supervised by Dr. Samuel Bruton, where she was responsible for helping the University make the transition between IRB submission portals. That dual appointment continued during the spring 2022 semester. I think whats most impressive about Alicia is the fact that fall 2021 was the first semester in which she was an instructor of record, and her first course was Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences. This is considered the most challenging course for students in psychology to master, and instructors spend a significant amount of time in office hours providing additional tutoring in course content, Dr. Sacco said. Regarding her dual appointment with ORI, Dr. Sacco further noted, one might think that this would be too much for a third-year graduate student to balance, especially being so new to teaching. However, Alicia has excelled in all aspects of her employment. She received exemplary teaching evaluations for her statistics class (overall instructor rating: 4.8/5), and submitted two first author manuscripts, among other achievements. *Dr. Dan Capron, a faculty member in the College of Education and Human Sciences School of Psychology, received the Mentor of the Year award at the symposium. Dr. Capron is a Nina Bell Suggs Professor of Clinical Psychology and a licensed clinical psychologist. He earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2015 and joined the faculty at USM that same year. Dr. Capron has published dozens of peer-reviewed articles, a book and two book chapters. He and his students have presented their work at many professional conferences across the country, and he is PI or co-PI on grants and contracts totaling more than $5 million. He served or is serving as major professor for two doctoral students and three masters students, and has served on numerous graduate committees. Dr. Capron was nominated by his clinical psychology Ph.D. student Ava Fergerson for this award. She noted his concern for his students professional success after completing the degree. Fergerson also mentioned specific successes, including writing successful grant proposals for NIH (National Institutes of Health) fellowships, presenting work at prestigious national conferences, and having manuscripts accepted into high-impact journals, which she credits to his mentorship expectations. In addition, she cited his organization of annual research summits with other R1 institutions to provide opportunities to network with experts in innovative research methods and get feedback on grant applications. Another Ph.D. student, Nicole Caulfield, also supported his nomination. In describing his mentorship style, she noted, I believe his students success is due to Dr. Caprons effort to provide direction for self-improvement and reflection in a transparent and constructive manner. He is understanding of individual student needs and provides clear expectations on how students can achieve jobs in academia or research. His leadership has created a lab that has a collaborative, welcoming atmosphere because that is what Dr. Capron fosters. He is professional in all his interactions, but importantly, he is also approachable and kind. In her endorsement of him for the award, Dr. Caprons colleague Dr. Kelsey Bonfils said While he is very supportive, Dan has high expectations for his mentees. This is demonstrated through his mentees consistently high levels of success. He has had two graduate students complete the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program, and both have gone on to productive research careers at a VA postdoctoral position and a faculty appointment at a top research institution. These are fabulous outcomes for students from our program. Moreover, she also noted he models professionalism and helps both students and faculty colleagues achieve their personal goals. Graduate student mentoring has been one of the most challenging and humbling aspects of the job, so this recognition is incredibly meaningful to me because I've put so much effort into improving as a mentor, Dr. Capron said. For more information about the USM Graduate School and its annual Susan A. Siltanen Graduate Student Research Symposium, visit https://www.usm.edu/graduate-school/susan-siltanen-graduate-student-research-symposium.php. Fr. Stephen Ojapa, MSP and Fr. Oliver Okpara - two priest kidnapped from St. Patrick Catholic Church in Katsina Unidentified gunmen raided a parish in northern Nigeria on Wednesday, kidnapping four people two priests and two young boys. By Vatican News staff writer Two priests serving in the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, northern Nigeria, have been abducted after unidentified gunmen attacked their residence on Wednesday. According to media reports, the kidnappers stormed St. Patrick Catholic Church in Katsina state in the early hours of 25 May, seizing Fr. Stephen Ojapa; another priest, Fr. Oliver Okpara, and two unidentified boys. Prayers for the victims Fr. Chris Omotosho, the director of social communications for the Sokoto diocese, who confirmed the incident in a statement, urged the faithful to pray for their safe return. As at midnight of today, 25th May, 2022, gunmen broke into the rectory of St. Patricks Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State, the statement read. The parish priest and his assistant Rev. Frs. Stephen Ojapa, MSP, and Oliver Okpara and 2 other boys in the house were kidnapped. The statement noted that there is no information as to the whereabouts of the four people seized during the raid. Kindly pray for their safety and release, Fr. Omotosho said. Insecurity, kidnappings in northern Nigeria This latest abduction is the latest in a series of kidnappings and attacks that target church institutions, priests and religious men and women. Earlier this month, the Archdiocese of Kaduna announced the death of Fr. Joseph Aketeh Bako who died in captivity after being abducted in March by gunmen from his residence in St. John Catholic Church, Kudenda, where he had been serving as parish priest. Nigeria, especially the northern region, has been facing security challenges in the past years, fueled by the activities of the Boko Haram Islamic extremist group, as well as clashes between nomadic herdsmen and the local indigenous farmers. More recently, unidentified gunmen, commonly referred to as bandits, have been of concern for Nigerian authorities and security operatives. The bandits have been responsible of several kidnappings, killings and for raids on rural villages. Marc Frings, Secretary General of the Central Committee of German Catholics, describes the goals of the Catholic Conventions, or 'Katholikentag', in Stuttgart, and how the festival aims to put faith into action. By Deborah Castellano Lubov and Gudrun Sailer The 102nd edition of Catholic Conventions, Katholikentag, is underway in the German city of Stuttgart. The five-day celebration marks a unique tradition in Germany and beyond, dating back more than 170 years. The Secretary General of the German Lay Committee (ZdK), Marc Frings, was interviewed by Vatican Radio's Gudrun Sailer where he discussed the festival's history and significance. Marc Frings "We have a very long tradition. We started in 1848," he noted, "but in a nutshell, I would say that this event that lasts for five days, and brings together several thousand participants who discuss, together with experts, political, Church, social issues," and "celebrates faith and culture..." Mr. Frings noted how the event is primarily organized and supported by laypeople, saying this shapes the character of the event. "If we go back in history, I have to add that in the early beginnings, the bishops were even excluded. It was a 100% laypeople only event." But today, he explained, there is always partnership with a host diocese. "It's a close cooperation between the central committee of German Catholics and the German bishops here in Germany," he said, noting, "It's very important to say that it's a bottom up process." The whole program, he said, involves some 1,500 events, panel discussions, workshops, and cultural activities, prepared and conducted by volunteers. "And it means that no one can complain about the program," he joked, "because it 100% represents the current priorities of representatives of the civil society coming both from the Catholic Church, but also from our ecumenical friends, from experts, from thinktanks, political parties, etc.." Faith into action Mr. Frings also expresses how ecumenism is very important to the long-standing tradition. "We are hosting almost 150 workshops, panels, workshops that focus primarily on the ecumenical situation in Germany. And I think this has also a very practical dimension, given that most of the marriages in Germany today bring together partners from different confessions. I think it's important that we do not only take a theological, very academic point of view, but also a practical one, because economic life is something that goes very deep into private life of Christians in Germany." Mr. Frings noted, "we do not limit ourselves to Church-related discussions, but we want to change the world and our surroundings accordingly, and hence, translate our faith into action." He said they are also likely to discuss issues, such as climate change, postcolonialism, the war on Ukraine, the post-war situation in Afghanistan. 'We want to show our faith' When asked how the festival is a faith event celebrating the Catholic religion, Mr. Frings agreed this is at the heart of these Days. We want to show our faith. Since this is the first time the festival has been able to gather since the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Frings said the organizing committee hopes to see over 20,000 participants join from Wednesday to Sunday in Stuttgart. The resignation this week of veteran Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev over the invasion of Ukraine is an embarrassment for the Kremlin, but fear prevents most Russian officials from voicing dissent, according to analysts. The 41-year-old Bondarev forged a 20-year career in the Russian diplomatic service, including postings in Cambodia and Mongolia. Until this week, he worked at the Russian mission to the United Nations in Geneva, focusing on Moscows role in the Conference on Disarmament. Bondarev confirmed his resignation Monday in a letter posted on Facebook and LinkedIn. For 20 years of my diplomatic career I have seen different turns of our foreign policy, but never have I been so ashamed of my country as on February 24 of this year," he wrote, referring to the date Russia launched its latest invasion of Ukraine. He described the invasion, which Moscow refers to as a special military operation, as a crime against the Ukrainian people and the people of Russia. Those who conceived of this war want only one thing: to stay in power forever to achieve that, they are willing to sacrifice as many lives as it takes, he wrote. Speaking to the Associated Press after his resignation, Bondarev said he was left with no choice. Of course it worries (me), Ukraine, as it is a pivotal moment because there is no choice after that, there is only one choice - to leave, to quit. (I) don't know for now what I'm going to do next. I'm thinking about it, but I think if I have to go back to Russia, then the prospects may be not very pleasant. The veteran diplomat said he had raised concerns with superiors in Moscow. The response was that everything is going according to plan, it's all right and that the government and the president know what they're doing, he said. The resignation will be embarrassing for the Kremlin, says Valery Solovei, a former professor at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, where he taught several of Russias diplomats. This is a very bad sign for the Kremlin because they were absolutely sure in loyalty of their Russian foreign office, because usually its men are very loyal. I think that he (Bondarev) reflects the general emotion of many of his colleagues in the Foreign Office, but it doesnt mean that they are ready to follow, Solovei told VOA. Moscow has since conducted an urgent review of its diplomatic staff, according to Solovei. There was a report made by Russian security to the president. And according to the report, there was a list which consists of a hundred persons in the Russian Foreign Office, which are potentially disloyal to the Kremlin. And that's something very, very new. There will be more control outside the country and maybe some who are on the list, who were included in the list as potentially disloyal, will be removed from their embassies outside or outside the country to Moscow, Solovei said. VOA is unable to independently verify the existence of such a list. The Kremlin is embarrassed - but wont be panicking following Bondarevs very public resignation, says political analyst Alex Titov of Queens University Belfast. I wouldn't expect them to have mass resignations, Titov told VOA. Diplomats are a special caste in a sense; they are selected for, they (the government) use their loyalty in many ways. They also have a lot of benefits. And they are professionals, which are attuned to this idea of hostility with the West. If you remember with Belarus, there were much more high-profile resignations when there was uncertainty about whether Lukashenko would survive in August 2020 (after the government crackdown on pro-democracy protests). You had several ambassadors resigning. Nothing like that happens in Russia. So it is a bad sign something like this happens for the Kremlin, but at the same time I don't think it would kind of set off alarm bells necessarily, Titov said. Boris Bondarev told the Associated Press that he fears for his safety. Under President Vladimir Putins rule, several dissidents living overseas have been killed or targeted by the Russian state, although Moscow denies such actions. The Kremlin enforces loyalty, says Valery Solovei. Fear. Fear and strong control. Speakers against Putin are under threat, under potential threat, and they know it perfectly, Solovei said. The Niger government said Wednesday that the army had killed around 40 Boko Haram jihadis in overnight fighting on islets in Lake Chad. "Some 100 Boko Haram fighters arrived in four large wooden canoes and an armed speedboat" and attempted to attack troops on the islets of the lake, which borders Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, the defense ministry said. The soldiers "forced the assailants to flee with several dead in their ranks," the ministry said. A subsequent operation in the area "led to the neutralization of some 40 fighters" and the recovery of several weapons along with ammunition and explosives. On the army side, seven soldiers were injured when their vehicle was blown up by an improvised explosive device, the ministry said. The Lake Chad basin, and its countless small islands, has become one of the main havens for jihadis from Nigeria's Boko Haram and its dissident branch, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP). Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad revived the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) in 2015 to fight the extremists. The forces launched a new offensive in March that aimed to "completely destroy Boko Haram and other terrorist groups which plague the basin," a senior MJTF official, who wished to remain anonymous, told AFP earlier this month. The joint force killed some 20 jihadis in an operation in early May. Boko Haram launched an insurgency in northeast Nigeria in 2009 before it spread to neighboring countries. More than 36,000 people have been killed since, mainly in Nigeria, and 3 million were forced to flee their homes, the United Nations says. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order that he said would bring more accountability and effectiveness to policing and criminal justice, on the second anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, a Black Minneapolis resident, by a police officer. It's a measure of what we can do together to heal the very soul of this nation, Biden said. To address profound fear and trauma, exhaustion that particularly Black Americans have experienced for generations and a channel of private pain and public outrage into a rare marker of progress for years to come. The executive order creates a national database that logs police misconduct; strives for timely, thorough and stronger investigations; mandates body cameras; bans chokeholds and carotid restraints; restricts use of no-knock entries by police; and sets up new standards, among other things. Executive orders are directives that U.S. presidents use to manage operations of the federal government. U.S. legislators last year failed to agree on a new law aimed at police reform, so this order applies only to federal agencies something critics were quick to note and that Biden acknowledged Wednesday, when he reiterated his call for the Senate to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would affect state and local police departments. "This is mostly not a federal issue that we're dealing with in this country, Howard Henderson told VOA on Wednesday, via Zoom. He is the founder of the Houston-based Center for Justice Research and a fellow at the Brookings Institution. Most of these issues are happening at the state and local level, primarily locally, he added. We have to begin to take what Biden signed ... today and move it down to the local level because we need most common human police interaction to be governed by the same sorts of regulations to curtail negative behavior. 'Major win' A website run by the decentralized Black Lives Matter movement hailed the action as a major win for the organizations like BLMGNF, who have been working with the White House to help develop it since the end of 2020. The initialism stands for Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. However, the statement continued, one of the greatest systemic factors affecting the livelihood of Black communities is the continued overpolicing, brutalization and incarceration of our people. Violence by police tears our families apart; leaves emotional, logistical and financial gaps in our communities; and steals the lives of so many of our loved ones before they get the chance to achieve their dreams. We need the next phase of the action plan to explicitly address how federal agencies will update their policies to hold officers and departments at the local, state and federal level accountable for the way they engage with Black people, the statement said. Damon Hewitt, the president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, called the order a commendable first step to address a deeply unjust system. Im optimistic that the Biden administration will continue this work to ensure that local and state police departments mirror the reform were seeing unfold on a federal level. The brutal May 25, 2020, killing of Floyd reverberated around the globe, cutting through concerns about an incipient pandemic and sending thousands of Americans and others into the streets to protest racist police practices. From Europe to the Middle East to Asia to Australia, people saw their own fight for justice and equality, Biden said. Challenges worldwide Henderson told VOA he hoped that better practices in the U.S. would also echo around the world. From the Netherlands to South Africa, we understand the challenges that we face around the world, he said. Police reform is not only just necessary in the United States, but police reform is an international issue. And I'm pretty sure that we're going to see an international response to what we've seen just today. Floyd was 46 when he was killed on a street corner in Minneapolis in front of a crowd of onlookers who begged Police Officer Derek Chauvin to lift his knee from Floyds neck. Police had responded to a call that Floyd attempted to use a counterfeit $20 bill to pay for cigarettes. Chauvin was later convicted on two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter and sentenced to 22.5 years in prison. On Wednesday at the White House, Biden invited Floyds daughter, Gianna, to sit at the desk after he signed the executive order. She silently took his seat, her feet barely touching the floor, and stared down quietly at the document before her. She was 6 years old when her father was killed. China and Russia vetoed on Thursday a U.S.-led push to impose more U.N. sanctions on North Korea over its renewed ballistic missile launches, publicly splitting the Security Council for the first time since it started punishing Pyongyang in 2006. The remaining 13 council members all voted in favor of the U.S.-drafted resolution that proposed banning tobacco and oil exports to North Korea, whose leader Kim Jong Un is a chain smoker. It would also blacklist the Lazarus hacking group, which the United States says is tied to North Korea. The vote came a day after North Korea fired three missiles, including one thought to be its largest intercontinental ballistic missile, following U.S. President Joe Biden's trip to Asia. It was the latest in a string of ballistic missile launches this year, which are banned by the Security Council. Citing the council's silence on North Korea, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said this month that "it is time to stop providing tacit permission and to start taking action. Over the past 16 years the Security Council has steadily, and unanimously, stepped up sanctions to cut off funding for Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. It last tightened sanctions on Pyongyang in 2017. Since then, China and Russia have been pushing for an easing of sanctions on humanitarian grounds. While they have delayed some action behind closed doors in the Security Council's North Korea sanctions committee, the vote on the resolution on Thursday was the first time they have publicly broken unanimity. Not 'helpful' "We do not think additional sanctions will be helpful in responding to the current situation. It can only make the situation even worse," China's U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun told reporters earlier Thursday ahead of the vote. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told Reuters on Wednesday that he did not believe U.N. action would be "very conducive" to engagement with North Korea. China has also been urging the United States to take action to entice Pyongyang to resume talks that have been stalled since 2019, after three failed summits between Kim and then-U.S. President Donald Trump. "The United States, as a direct party, should really take meaningful and practical actions to resume their dialog with DPRK [North Korea]," Zhang said, noting that included Washington lifting some unilateral sanctions. Pyongyang had put testing on hold during the past few years, but in the past few months has resumed long-range ballistic missile launches. The United States and South Korea have warned that North Korea is preparing for a seventh nuclear test. China wants 10 small Pacific nations to endorse a sweeping agreement covering everything from security to fisheries in what one leader warns is a "game-changing" bid by Beijing to wrest control of the region. A draft of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press shows that China wants to train Pacific police officers, team up on "traditional and nontraditional security" and expand law enforcement cooperation. China also wants to jointly develop a marine plan for fisheries which would include the Pacific's lucrative tuna catch increase cooperation on running the region's internet networks and set up cultural Confucius Institutes and classrooms. China also mentions the possibility of setting up a free-trade area with the Pacific nations. China's move comes as Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a 20-strong delegation begin a visit to the region this week. In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price expressed concern Wednesday about China's intentions, saying Beijing might use the proposed accords to take advantage of the islands and destabilize the region. "We are concerned that these reported agreements may be negotiated in a rushed, nontransparent process," Price told reporters. He warned that China "has a pattern of offering shadowy, vague deals with little transparency or regional consultation in areas related to fishing, related to resource management, development, development assistance and more recently even security practices." Fueling tensions Price added that agreements that include sending Chinese security officials to the nations "could only seek to fuel regional international tensions and increase concerns over Beijing's expansion of its internal security apparatus to the Pacific." Wang is visiting seven of the countries he hopes will endorse the "Common Development Vision" the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. Wang is also holding virtual meetings with the other three potential signatories the Cook Islands, Niue and the Federated States of Micronesia. He is hoping the countries will endorse the pre-written agreement as part of a joint communique after a scheduled May 30 meeting in Fiji he is holding with the foreign ministers from each of the 10 countries. Micronesia's president, David Panuelo, has told leaders of the other Pacific nations his nation won't endorse the plan, warning it would needlessly heighten geopolitical tensions and threaten regional stability, according to a letter from Panuelo obtained by the AP. Among other concerns, Panuelo said, the agreement opens the door for China to own and control the region's fisheries and communications infrastructure. He said China could intercept emails and listen in on phone calls. Panuelo called the Common Development Vision "the single most game-changing proposed agreement in the Pacific in any of our lifetimes" and said it "threatens to bring a new Cold War era at best, and a World War at worst." Panuelo declined to comment on the letter or the proposed agreement. No new Cold War seen Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Wednesday that he didn't know about Panuelo's letter. "But I don't agree at all with the argument that cooperation between China and the South Pacific island countries will trigger a new Cold War," he said. Like some other countries in the Pacific, Micronesia is finding itself increasingly caught between the competing interests of Washington and Beijing. Micronesia has close ties to the U.S. through a Compact of Free Association. But it also has what Panuelo describes in his letter as a "Great Friendship" with China that he hopes will continue despite his opposition to the agreement. The security aspects of the agreement will be particularly troubling to many in the region and beyond, especially after China signed a separate security pact with the Solomon Islands last month. That pact has raised fears that China could send troops to the island nation or even establish a military base there, not far from Australia. The Solomon Islands and China say there are no plans for a base. The May 30 meeting will be the second between Wang and the Pacific islands' foreign ministers; they held a virtual meeting last October. Law enforcement cooperation Those who follow China's role in the Pacific will be scrutinizing the wording of the draft agreement. Among its provisions: "China will hold intermediate- and high-level police training for Pacific Island countries." The agreement says the countries will strengthen "cooperation in the fields of traditional and nontraditional security" and will "expand law enforcement cooperation, jointly combat transnational crime, and establish a dialog mechanism on law enforcement capacity and police cooperation." The agreement would also see the nations "expand exchanges between governments, legislatures and political parties." The draft agreement also stipulates that the Pacific countries "firmly abide" by the one-China principle, under which Taiwan, a self-ruled island democracy, is considered by Beijing to be part of China. It would also uphold the "noninterference" principle that China often cites as a deterrent to other nations speaking out about its human rights record. The agreement says that China and the Pacific countries would jointly formulate a marine spatial plan "to optimize the layout of the marine economy, and develop and utilize marine resources rationally, so as to promote a sustainable development of blue economy." China also promises more investment in the region by mobilizing private capital and encouraging "more competitive and reputable Chinese enterprises to participate in direct investment in Pacific Island countries." China also promised to dispatch Chinese language consultants, teachers and volunteers to the islands. Action plan The AP has also obtained a draft of a five-year action plan that's intended to sit alongside the Common Development Vision, which outlines a number of immediate incentives that China is offering to the Pacific nations. In the action plan, China says it will fully implement 2,500 government scholarships through 2025. "In 2022, China will hold the first training program for young diplomats from Pacific Island countries, depending on the pandemic situation," the draft plan states, adding that China will also hold seminars on governance and planning for the Pacific nations. In the draft action plan, China says it will build criminal investigation laboratories as needed by the Pacific nations that can be used for fingerprint testing, forensic autopsies and electronic forensics. China also says it will also spend an additional $2 million and send 200 medics to the islands to help fight COVID-19 and promote health and promises to help the countries in their efforts to combat climate change. Senegals President Macky Sall said on Wednesday that 11 newborn babies died in a fire at the neonatal section of a regional hospital in the town of Tivaouane, around 120 kilometers (74.56 miles) east of the capital Dakar. I have just learned with pain and consternation the death of 11 newborn babies in the fire that occurred in the neonatology department of the Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh hospital in Tivaouane, Sall said in a tweet without giving further details about the fire. To their mothers and their families, I express my deepest sympathy, Sall, who is on a state visit in Angola, added. Senegals health minister, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, said on private Senegalese television TFM that according to preliminary investigation, a short circuit triggered the fire. Sarr, who is in Geneva for the World Health Assembly, said he would cut short the trip and return to Senegal immediately. Demba Diop Sy, the mayor of Tivaouane, one of Senegals holy cities and a transport hub, said police and fire service were still at the hospital, but did not provide further details. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. The Ukrainian president is rejecting suggestions his country cede territory to Russia for a peace agreement. Ukrainian prosecutors are getting additional international support for their investigations of war crimes and other atrocities. Despite sanctions, Russia's ruble is on the rise. U.S. immigration officials reported nearly 2 million migrant encounters along U.S. borders nationwide in fiscal 2021, often cited by officials as the highest annual total on record. Its a trend that immigration experts say is the result of repeated entry attempts because of an emergency health order known as Title 42, which denies most migrants a chance to request asylum under U.S. law on public health grounds. While much of the attention in 2021 was focused on border crossings by families and unaccompanied minors some barely older than toddlers the largest cohort of migrant arrivals and expulsions were single adults. Every month, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) releases enforcement data to explain what is happening at the U.S. borders, which includes apprehensions, encounters and removals, among other actions. But what do those terms mean? Apprehensions CBP defines an apprehension as "the physical control or temporary detainment of a person who is not lawfully in the United States, which may or may not result in an arrest." Migrants often in large family groups who cross U.S. borders outside official ports of entry requesting asylum are temporarily apprehended and eventually expelled from the U.S. back to their countries of origin. In its monthly reports before March 2020, CBP listed apprehensions individually. But after March 2020, when the Trump administration imposed the Title 42 health order, CBP created a new category called encounters, which combined apprehensions and expulsions. Encounters Migrants who are either apprehended and expelled from the country or were apprehended but allowed to go through routine removal proceedings, which includes seeking asylum while in the U.S., are categorized as encounters. Cesar Cuauhtemoc Garcia Hernandez, a professor at the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University and an expert on migration studies, told VOA that apprehensions are a type of encounter. When somebody, for example, presents themselves at a port of entry requesting admission into the United States, and then theyre turned back because they're inadmissible, then that counts as an encounter, he said. He explained that migrants who were expelled under Title 42 can be encountered multiple times and counted each time. Expulsions Migrants can be expelled from the country after they have been detained at the border under Title 42. They are taken to the port of entry closest to where they entered and are sent back across the border. Expulsion is not the same as deportation, which is a legal process. An expulsion can take hours or sometimes days. Expedited removals This process gives immigration officers the power to deport certain noncitizens quickly and efficiently without a hearing before a U.S. immigration judge. Expedited removals can apply to migrants while they are being processed at a port of entry, or have entered the United States unlawfully, or who cannot prove they have been in the country for at least two years. The guideline can also apply to immigrants who have committed fraud or misrepresentation. Immigration officers can apply expedited removal to individuals who entered the U.S. without authorization and were encountered within 100 miles of the Mexican or Canadian borders and apprehended within two weeks of arrival into the U.S. Deportations In a deportation process, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement formally accuses a noncitizen of being removable. People who are placed in deportation proceedings have the right to legal representation and the right to present a case in front of an immigration judge, who will decide whether to give a departure order. Greece will send Iranian oil from a seized Russian-flagged tanker to the United States at the request of the U.S. judiciary, Greek port police said Wednesday, a decision that angered Tehran. Last month the Greek authorities seized the Pegas, which was said to have been heading to the Marmara terminal in Turkey. The ship was moored at Karystos anchorage with its crew, said to be Russians, on board. The Greek coast guard said the vessel had been renamed "Lana." Authorities seized the ship in accordance with EU sanctions introduced after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. According to information at the time, the tanker was carrying 115,000 tons of Iranian oil. "Following a request from the U.S. justice system, the oil is to be transferred to the United States at the expense of that country," a spokeswoman for the Greek port police told AFP on Wednesday. Tehran strongly protested the decision, calling it "international robbery," the Iranian maritime authority said. "The Islamic Republic of Iran will not waive its legal rights and expects the Greek government to adhere to its international obligations in the field of seafaring and shipping," the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran added, in a statement posted on its website. Iran's foreign affairs ministry late Tuesday called on the Greek government, via the International Maritime Organization, to release the tanker and its crew, adding that "Americans unloaded the cargo of the ship." Athens did not respond immediately to the Iranian protests and provided no further details about the oil or how it would be transferred to the United States. A Spanish war reporter who is accused of spying for Russia must stay for three more months in pre-trial detention without access to his family or a lawyer, a Polish court ruled this week. Pablo Gonzalez, who has joint Spanish-Russian nationality, has been held in a Polish prison about 400 km from Warsaw since February on charges that he spied for Russia. He denies the allegations. A court in Poland ruled Wednesday that Gonzalez must remain in custody for a second three-month period. Under Polish law, he could be held for up to a year. If convicted of spying charges, he could be jailed for up to 10 years. His Spanish lawyer, Gonzalo Boye, has said that access to the prosecution case file is being limited. International media rights organizations have protested the treatment of Gonzalez, who has reported from Ukraine, Syria and other conflict zones. Gonzalez did some camera work for VOA in 2020 and 2021. "Out of an abundance of caution VOA removed some of the content filed by Gonzalez for review," VOA said in a statement. The Global Network for Independent Media tweeted: "This decision to extend pre-trial detention of Spanish journalist @PabVis is deeply problematic. IPI urges Polish authorities to act in a more transparent manner and provide immediate justification for the decision." The organization said the detention of Gonzalez had been characterized by a "lack of transparency and lack of access to legal support." In Spain, a campaign led by friends, journalists and television presenters has started. Called #FreePabloGonzalez, it demands that Poland drop the charges and release the journalist from custody. More than 30,000 people have signed a petition calling for his release. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the country's parliament last month that the foreign minister had been in contact with his Polish counterpart over Gonzalez's case. Poland's secret service claims he used his role as a journalist as a cover for espionage, but officials have not publicly disclosed any supporting evidence. Gonzalez will deny this claim, Boye said. Although his family has links to Russia because his father moved there as a child after the Spanish Civil War, Gonzalez is not part of Russian President Vladimir Putin's secret service, Boye said. "Pablo has not been allowed any contact with his family nor his lawyer. The Spanish consul has seen him four times," Boye told VOA. "He is being held with one other man in a cell. He is no longer in solitary confinement. He is OK, but he is missing his family." The news that Gonzalez would have to stay at least three more months in prison was tough for his family, his wife, Oihana Goiriena, told VOA. "Until now, our three boys, who are aged 14, 10 and 7, have taken it well because they are used to their father being away for work," she said from their home in a village in the Basque country of northern Spain. "But when I had to tell them that he was not coming home, they were very depressed. He has already missed two of the boys' birthdays and his own. It was his 40th birthday, and he was in a prison cell." Gonzalez was arrested on February 28 when crossing from Poland into Ukraine, where he had been reporting the start of the Russian invasion. Earlier, he had been detained by Ukrainian secret service officials and accused of spying for Russia, which he denied. He returned to Spain for a few days before leaving for Poland. A spokesman for Spain's Foreign Ministry told VOA, "We have afforded Gonzalez consular help." The Spanish Defense Ministry, which has responsibility for the intelligence services, declined to comment on the matter. VOA asked the Polish Embassy in Madrid for comment on the case but received no response. Calling Ukraine the key for freedom in the world, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged support Thursday for his country in the face of what he called this senseless war with Russia. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Klitschko said Ukraine is a peaceful country that was not aggressive to anyone, and that Ukrainians want to be part of the European family with a priority on human rights, press freedom and democratic standards of life. He said the Russian government wants to rebuild the Soviet Union and would not stop with a takeover of Ukraine. Were defending not just our family and our children, were defending you because we have the same values, Klitschko said, adding that Russia will go as far as it is allowed to go. He thanked those who have supported Ukraine politically, economically and by sending weapons, and those who have taken in Ukrainians refugees. Noting that it has been more than 90 days since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, Klitschko said it feels to him like one long, long day. Also speaking Thursday in Davos, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Russian President Vladimir Putin must not win his war, and I am convinced he will not win. Scholz said Putin will likely only seriously negotiate with Ukraine if he accepts that Russia cannot win, something that makes Western support for Ukraine essential. He also said Russia should not be allowed to dictate the terms of a peace agreement. Ukraine will not accept this, and neither will we, Scholz said. In an address late Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the idea of ceding parts of Ukraine to Russia for the sake of a peace deal. Zelenskyy said those who make such suggestions disregard the millions of those who actually live on the territory that they propose exchanging for an illusion of peace. We always have to think of the people and remember that values are not just words, he said. Fighting in recent weeks has been focused in the eastern Donbas region where Russia has been trying to seize control after failing to topple Zelenskyy or capture Kyiv. The Ukrainian governor of the eastern region of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai, described the situation around the industrial hub of Severodonetsk as very difficult and said there was already fighting on the outskirts. Russian troops have advanced far enough that they can already fire mortars on the city, he said. In Russia, President Vladimir Putin issued an order that would fast-track Russian citizenship to people living in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. There is already a program to fast-track citizenship for people living in the Donbas. Meanwhile, the European Union, Britain and the United States announced the creation of what they called the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group to coordinate with Ukraine on investigations of possible Russian war crimes during the three months of fighting. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. A 2021 report by the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics found that recidivism rates, the rate at which people return to prison, has been decreasing in the U.S. since 2005. But the numbers remain stubbornly high. VOAs Irfan Ihsan met with a faith-based group in Atlanta, Georgia, thats working to change that in a unique way. Camera: Ronan Zakaria On Wednesday, less than 24 hours after a teenage gunman massacred 19 children and two teachers and left others severely wounded inside an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he would not seek a vote on two gun control measures that have passed the House of Representatives. Schumer suggested there was little point in bringing up the measures because Senate Republicans would use the chamber's filibuster rule to prevent them from coming to a final vote. He also suggested that supporters of stricter gun laws might have to wait until the midterm elections in November, saying, "Americans can cast their vote in November for senators or members of Congress that reflect how he or she stands with guns with this issue." Later in the day, however, after furious blowback on social media from supporters of stricter controls on firearms, the majority leader returned to the Senate floor with a different message: "Let me be clear. We are going to vote on gun legislation." It remained unclear, however, when such a vote would take place and how it would change the status quo. There have been more than 200 mass shootings in the U.S. since the beginning of 2022. Complicated gun politics Schumer's preemptive concession that it would be impossible to pass the two bills, which call for background checks on gun buyers, illustrates the difficulty of getting gun control measures through Congress. His rapid turnaround reflects the support for stricter background checks that runs broad and deep through American public opinion. An April 2021 poll by the Pew Research Center found that 81% of American adults, including 71% of Republicans, believe the federal background check requirement should be extended to cover guns sold privately and guns sold at gun shows. Filibuster rule blocks bills The two background check bills passed the House in early 2021 with overwhelming support from the body's Democratic majority and, in each case, a small number of Republican votes. Though similar bills were introduced in the Senate in March 2021, neither has made any progress toward a floor vote. That is primarily because of the Senate's filibuster rule, which requires 60 of 100 senators to agree to end debate on a matter and put it to a final vote. The Democrats and Republicans hold 50 seats each, and no 10 Republicans are willing to vote to end debate on either measure. The Democrats have control of the Senate only because its rules allow Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, to cast the deciding vote when it is deadlocked at 50-50. That one extra vote does no good in overcoming the filibuster's 60-vote requirement. Possible bipartisan compromise In a fiery speech on the Senate floor Wednesday morning, Schumer excoriated his Republican colleagues for what he characterized as their "obeisance" to the National Rifle Association, a gun rights lobbying organization that gives millions of dollars in political donations to members of Congress. Despite his harsh rhetoric, Schumer held out the possibility that ongoing bipartisan discussions might result in some sort of gun control measure coming to the floor with votes available from both parties. However, he said, "I think it's a slim prospect. Very slim. All too slim. We've been burnt so many times before. But this is so important. We must pursue action and even ask Republicans to join us again." McConnell speaks After Schumer spoke Wednesday morning, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took the floor and, in remarks that lasted less than four minutes, said, "Our country is sickened and outraged by the senseless evil that struck Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, yesterday." McConnell described some of the victims and offered prayers for the injured and the families of the dead, saying, "Most of all, the entire nation's hearts are broken for the victims and their families. Words simply fail." McConnell did not mention that a firearm was used in the massacre, and he did not respond to Schumer's criticism of Republicans for blocking the background check bills. He also was silent on prospects for a bipartisan agreement to reduce gun violence. Prospects of compromise On Tuesday, a furious Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut took the Senate floor to beg his Republican colleagues to compromise on guns. "I know I have Republican partners," he said. "I know there's 10 Republicans that will vote for something under the right circumstances, with the right leadership." He added, "I don't understand why people here think we are powerless. I am so willing to bend over backwards to find compromise." Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois was less optimistic, however, telling Politico, "We can't budge the Republicans an inch on this issue of gun safety." Other Republicans call for caution Some Senate Republicans called for a cautious reaction to the shooting in Texas, arguing it would be a mistake to restrict the rights of Americans to own and carry firearms. "You see Democrats and a lot of folks in the media whose immediate solution is to try to restrict the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens," Texas Senator Ted Cruz told reporters. "That doesn't work. It's not effective. It doesn't prevent crime. We know what does prevent crime is going after felons and fugitives and those with serious mental illness." Cruz also called for more armed law enforcement officers on school grounds. Others argued that new laws wouldn't stop a determined mass shooter. In an interview with HuffPost, Senator Steve Daines, a Montana Republican, said that he had studied mass shootings going back to the 1999 attack at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, in which 12 students were killed. "You go back and look at these horrible, evil perpetrators either the existing laws were broken and in most cases the proposed laws would not have stopped the violence," he said. Republican measure proposed On Wednesday afternoon, Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin sought unanimous consent in the Senate to pass a law that would require the federal government to provide a "clearinghouse" that makes "best practices" for school security available to administrators across the country. That clearinghouse already exists. The law, if passed, would mandate that the clearinghouse continue to be available, though it did not appear in danger of being discontinued. On the Senate floor, Schumer said he would object to the unanimous consent request. "What the American people want is real solutions to our nation's gun violence epidemic," he said. "We've had too many moments of silence, too many 'thoughts and prayers.' Americans are sick of it. Many in this chamber are sick of it." If theres a new cold war brewing and both China and the United States are trying to get African countries on their side, its clear where Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwas allegiance lies. In his latest column in the local Sunday Mail newspaper, the 79-year-old president slammed the West and lavished praise on Beijing. Unlike Western interests which have been exploiting our continent even well before its formal occupation, the Chinese have now come back to the continent they helped liberate as new, non-traditional investors, he said, referring to Beijings backing of Zimbabwes independence war against white minority rule. "Here in Zimbabwe, China has helped fund and implement several projects in the sectors of energy, air transport, water, real estate, industrial value addition, mining and defense," the president said. "All these have secured and bolstered our independence while changing the structure of our economy in this season of punitive Western sanctions." The United States and European Union have maintained sanctions on Zimbabwean individuals and companies for two decades, since longtime president Robert Mugabe was accused of election rigging and human rights abuses in the early 2000s. Western nations have resisted calls to remove the sanctions, pointing to the ruling ZANU-PF partys continued suppression of protests and opposition figures. Beijing has stepped into the void left by Western powers offering generous loans that arent dependent on democratic reform to become the countrys top investor. It has invested heavily in the lithium-rich countrys mines and is funding the countrys massive new parliament building. While Washington says its not in competition with China in Africa, officials have warned governments here against what are often dubbed Chinas debt trap loans. Meanwhile, the U.S. has been trying to win support for its stance on the war in Ukraine something that many governments on the continent, including Zimbabwes, have been loathe to give. When asked about the war of words with the West, Zimbabwe government spokeswoman Monica Mutsvangwa echoed the presidents remarks. A number of Zimbabwe's detractors have long hidden behind the false veil of democracy and human rights gauntlet. ... This heinous policy has met its match in the sly and alert president, she told VOA. More and better money is winning the day, she added in apparent reference to Chinese investment. Mutsvangwa pointed to several Chinese-owned lithium mines and a steel plant being built by Chinese mining giant Tsingshan Group Holdings as proof that Zimbabwes detractors had been shunted by the wayside. Media Allegations Zimbabwes state-run media, too, is echoing the governments anti-U.S. stance, with articles accusing the countrys opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), NGOs and civil society organizations of being U.S. proxies intent on regime change. Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Harare is adopting an increasingly shrill tone in tweets frequently accusing U.S.-backed organizations of paying journalists to write anti-China articles. Last September, the embassys official Twitter page coined the hashtag Mr1K, retweeting an article in The Herald newspaper that claimed, The United States is sponsoring a strategy to undermine Chinese investments in Zimbabwe through disinformation, lies and sensationalism in independent media and on social platforms. The article in The Herald, which is closely aligned to Zimbabwes ruling ZANU-PF party, said the U.S. Embassy in Harare had funded a training session for independent journalists and that reporters who pitched negative stories on Chinese businesses were being paid $1,000 per article. The Chinese embassy renewed its #Mr1K tweets this month after the Standard newspaper published an investigation into labor violations at a Chinese-owned coal mine, and declared reporting had been supported by the U.S. Embassys public diplomacy section. Smearing Chinese investment hurts Zimbabweans interests and helps illegal sanctions. Clowns like #Mr1K & their master need to realize China-Zim friendship & cooperation is unshakable, the embassy tweeted last week. Asked about such comments, the Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy in Harare replied to VOA by email. We routinely provide training and U.S. exchange opportunities to journalists and other professionals in Zimbabwe and around the world to build expertise. The embassy said it had supported a September journalism workshop on labor rights and natural resource governance reporting that did not focus on any particular country, government, or company. But an article this week in Chinas Global Times showed Beijing isnt letting up. The U.S. is playing a part in smearing Chinese investment in Zimbabwe, in a malicious attempt to incite anti-China sentiment in the country and sabotage China-Zimbabwe economic and trade cooperation, it read. Bangladesh is planning to introduce legislation, almost certain to be enacted, that experts say would curtail freedom of expression and the press and result in an effective government seizure of digital media. The government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas Awami League Party and in power since 2009, has already passed controversial laws, such as the Digital Security Act, in 2018, which has been used to put politicians, journalists and ordinary citizens in jail and, according to multiple human rights groups, to curtail freedom of expression. The proposed Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Regulation for Digital, Social Media and OTT Platforms legislation would establish an aggressive set of rules for digital platforms. The draft has been published on the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission website for public comment before being considered within the government and then sent to Bangladeshs parliament, the unicameral House of the Nation, where it is expected to pass. Under the proposal, no social media, digital platform or OTT platform over-the-top platforms stream content directly to customers over the web could display content threatening the unity, integrity, defense, security, or sovereignty of Bangladesh, and its friendly relations with foreign states. The law would also ban from digital platforms content that criticizes the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh that established the country, formerly East Pakistan, the spirit of the war, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of independence, the national anthem or flag, or anything that threatens to reveal government secrets. The draft regulation would allow the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission to direct social media and other digital service providers to remove or block content. Providers would have to comply within 72 hours or face fines and imprisonment. These restrictions are identical or strikingly similar to some sections of the narrower Digital Security Act 2018. The government claims the law is necessary to govern online content, prevent fraud and threats to public tranquility, and to discourage piracy and obscenity. Posts and Telecommunication Minister Mostafa Jabbar told VOA the proposed legislation is needed and said it has been prepared for better governance. If you look at the provisions in the proposed legislation, you will find that we formulated it to make the global tech giants and social media companies more accountable. We have seen how hate speech and misinformation were spread through platforms like Facebook in Bangladesh, he said, referring to past incidents of communal violence triggered by rumors spread over social media. These social media giants barely comply with our requests when we ask them to take down vicious content. Now we want to make them accountable through our own law, he said. Fears of a surveillance-based nation Some experts say that if the new legislation were passed in its current form in the parliament, it would, for all practical purposes, turn Bangladesh into a surveillance-based nation. The organization Society for Media and Suitable Human-Communication Techniques, which analyzed some 250 cases filed under DSA, said only 18% were for what could be described as digital crimes. The rest were filed for expressing opinions online or sharing news content, the group said. Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, a public interest legal services organization, said that, like DSA, the proposed legislations provisions are broad in scope. If passed as currently drafted, it will have a chilling effect on freedom of expression. It sets out to prohibit the creation and dissemination of a wide range of online content on digital and social media. The language used in the draft Regulation also has the potential to impact marginalized communities and dissenting voices, a spokesperson for the organization, who asked not to be named, said in an email to VOA. The draft legislation, meanwhile, would require intermediaries, such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal, to enable traceability and identification of the first originator of any information. Anti-graft watchdog Transparency International Bangladesh termed the proposed bill anti-constitutional, and said Bangladesh would become a surveillance-based nation if it were passed. Iftekhar Zaman, executive director of TIB told VOA, The draft regulation makes it mandatory to disclose the identity of message sender and receiver in encrypted platforms. It also enforces arbitrary and indiscriminate removal of content and repressive action. Both of these actions are against freedom of speech, the plurality of opinions and right to privacy. In an email to VOA, a spokesperson for Facebook owner Meta, who asked not to be named, said, We cannot comment on the legislation since this is still not finalized. However, we hope that any new rules for the internet in Bangladesh will respect international best practices on safety, privacy, and freedom of expression, and create an environment conducive to innovation, investment and growth. Similar act draws flak in India Journalist Shayan S. Khan compared the proposal to legislation in India that has been criticized by the United Nations and others. If you look at the relevant section of the draft regulation, that outlines what sort of content will be prohibited, he said, you will find it is literally a word-by-word copy of the Indian IT Rules 2021. The similarities between the Indian law and the Bangladeshi draft make the Indian experience relevant to foreseeing how it might go for us. So in June 2021, a month after the law came into effect, three U.N. special rapporteurs wrote a joint letter to the Indian government saying that the law, in its current form, does not conform with international human rights norms, Khan said. The similarities between the Bangladesh Draft Regulation and the Indian IT Rules prompted the Global Network Initiative to write to the BTRC expressing alarm. The groups members include Meta, Microsoft, Uber, Zoom, Telenor Group, Yahoo, Google, Nokia, Vodafone, Verizon, Human Rights Watch, Wikimedia, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and others. There are several areas of the draft regulation, the group wrote, where we saw clauses that were incomplete, important terms left undefined, or areas transposed from Indias Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, that seemingly failed to account for differences in the regulatory environment, adding to our concerns about the rushed deliberation processes. We encourage the BTRC and the government more broadly to reconsider its approach to consultation on this bill, helping to build an evidence base for the draft regulation to address the regulations stated concerns in a rights-respecting fashion, GNI said. The Indian rules are currently facing multiple legal challenges before Indian courts, where at least three high courts have issued interim orders instructing the government to not enforce significant portions of the rules. President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday fast-tracked citizenship for residents of two regions of Ukraine, prompting protests from Kyiv that the move violated its sovereignty. Putin signed a decree affecting residents of the southern region of Kherson, which is under the full control of Russian troops, and the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia, which is partially controlled by Moscow. Moscow and pro-Moscow officials have said both regions could become part of Russia. "The simplified system will allow all of us to clearly see that Russia is here not just for a long time but forever," the Moscow-appointed deputy leader of Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, told Russia's RIA Novosti state news agency. "We are very grateful to Russian President Vladimir Putin for all he is doing for us, for protecting Russian people in historically Russian lands that have now been liberated," he added. The new authorities want to help those wishing to "join the big family of Russia, he said. The Ukrainian foreign ministry swiftly protested against the "illegal issuing of passports. The move "is a flagrant violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as norms and principles of international humanitarian law," it said in a statement. In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price voiced concern that the plan was part of "Russia's attempt to subjugate the people of Ukraine to impose their will by force." "That is something that we would forcefully reject," Price told reporters. The official order published Wednesday came on the heels of a 2019 decree that allowed the same fast-track procedure for residents of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, eastern Ukraine's breakaway regions. Applicants are not required to have lived in Russia, do not need to provide evidence of sufficient funds or pass a Russian language test. Applications will be processed within three months and the Kherson region has already begun work on launching centers to issue Russian passports, Stremousov said. Several hundred thousand residents of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions have already received Russian passports. On Monday, the authorities in Kherson introduced the ruble as the official currency alongside the Ukrainian hryvnia. On Wednesday, officials installed by Moscow announced the same measure in parts of the region of Zaporizhzhia. As Iran's chief nuclear envoy, Hassan Rouhani earned the nickname "diplomat sheikh" when negotiators in 2004 reached a deal that saw the Islamic Republic halt all its enrichment of uranium. Over 10 years later, it would be Rouhani as president who would strike a bargain with world powers to again limit Iran's atomic program, showing once more the cleric's pragmatism in slowly engaging with the West. But Iran's contested nuclear program represents only one part of the identity of the 68 year old, who decisively won a second term on Saturday. He opposed the reign of Iran's shah in the entourage of the Islamic Republic's founder Ruhollah Khomeini, held sensitive defense posts during the country's long 1980s war with Iraq and allegedly served on a committee that targeted government opponents abroad for assassination. Rouhani, while opening Iran to the world, remains firmly a part of its small, clerically ruled power structure. And yet while not promising widespread changes, he increasingly has criticized hard-liners, showing a deft touch for balancing the various competing powers within Iran. "I said it is good for centrifuges to operate, but it is also important that the country operates as well and the wheels of industry are turning," Rouhani said during his first presidential campaign in 2013. Born in Nov. 12, 1948, Rouhani grew up in Sorkheh, a small town in Iran's northern Semnan province. His father, who supported the Shi'ite family with profits from a small spice shop, was one of the first in their town to perform the hajj, a religious pilgrimage to holy sites in Saudi Arabia required of every able-bodied Muslim once in their life. Rouhani joined the seminary and soon fell under the sway of Khomeini. At 16, he became a spokesman for the exiled cleric. Rouhani would become a law school student at the University of Tehran and lived for a time in London before returning to Iran, then in the grips of Khomeini's Islamic Revolution. Rouhani soon had many roles in the new Islamic government, including serving as a lawmaker, reorganizing the military and overseeing Iran's state broadcaster, a valued mouthpiece for Khomeini. After Iraq started the 1980s war with Iran, Rouhani held several defense positions, including serving as the head of Iran's National Air Defense Command. He later joined the Supreme National Security Council, a powerful body overseeing defense and security issues, reporting directly to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He also served as a national security adviser to then-President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, whose realist attitude toward the world Rouhani later would emulate. During this time, rights groups allege Rouhani served on an extraconstitutional committee that planned the assassination of opponents and exiles abroad. Rouhani during this time also reportedly told an Iranian newspaper that the country "will not hesitate to destroy the activities of counterrevolutionary groups abroad." Rouhani has not addressed the allegations. In 2002, after then-U.S. President George W. Bush described Iran as being in the "axis of evil," details of Iran's nuclear program were revealed by the Iranian exile group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq. Rouhani soon became Iran's chief nuclear negotiator and reached a deal with European nations to suspend uranium enrichment. But the election of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad threw those negotiations into disarray. After heated arguments with Ahmadinejad, Rouhani resigned as negotiator. Ahmadinejad resumed the program, leading to a series of crippling international sanctions. After authorities stopped Rafsanjani from running for president in 2013, Rouhani became his standard-bearer. He squeaked out a first-round victory. He entered office at an auspicious moment, as U.S. President Barack Obama earlier had agreed to secret talks with Iranian officials in Oman to see if negotiations were possible. Rouhani seized the opportunity. In September 2013, he and Obama spoke by telephone, the highest-level exchange between the two countries since the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover and hostage crisis in Tehran. By 2015, the deal with world powers was struck. Speaking later that year at the United Nations, Rouhani said he viewed the deal as "not the final objective but a development which can and should be the basis of further achievements to come." "I say to all nations and governments: We will not forget the past, but we do not wish to live in the past," Rouhani said. "We will not forget war and sanctions, but we look to peace and development." The nuclear deal led to Airbus and Chicago-based Boeing Co. signing multi-billion-dollar deals with Iran for airplanes and sent Iranian crude back into many markets. But Iran's weak economy and high unemployment stubbornly remained, in part over foreign firms' trepidation about entering Iran. Meanwhile, hard-liners and the Revolutionary Guard continued to detain dual nationals, as well as artists and journalists in a crackdown on dissent. The Guard also launched ballistic missiles, including two that had "Israel must be wiped out" written on them in Hebrew. During his re-election campaign, Rouhani began criticizing hard-liners more stridently than he had in his first four-year term. His rallies also saw people chant for detained leaders of the 2009 Green Movement, which challenged Ahmadinejad's disputed 2009 re-election. Freeing those men had been a promise from his first campaign, one that remains unfulfilled. But for Rouhani, pragmatism has long been a way of life. Rouhani served as a military conscript under the shah though opposing him. He also recounted in his memoir sneaking into Iraq at age 18 to visit Khomeini in exile. A smuggler demanded he be low profile and take off his turban, something other clerics may have refused. Rouhani didn't hesitate in removing it. "We arrived safely and that is what mattered," Rouhani recounted. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his daily address that Russia is carrying out an obvious policy of genocide against Ukrainians, but the catastrophic developments in Ukraine could have been avoided if the strong of the world had not played with Russia, but really pressed to end the war. Zelenskyy said Russia receives almost a billion euros a day from Europeans for energy supplies, while the European Union has been trying to agree on a sixth package of sanctions against Russia. He asserted, however, that Ukraine will always be an independent state and will not be broken. The only remaining question, he said, is what price our people will have to pay for their freedom and what price Russia will have to pay for this senseless war against us. Russian counteroffensive Russian forces in northeastern Ukraine, already pushed back to near the Russian border, appeared Thursday to be launching a new counteroffensive as the three-month-old war morphed into what some Western officials described as a "scrap" with no end in sight. Authorities in Ukraine's second-biggest city, Kharkiv, said Russian shelling had killed at least seven civilians and wounded 17 others, while heavy fighting raged north and east of the city. Witnesses in Kharkiv also reported hearing repeated explosions as Russian forces appeared to try to fortify positions north of the city. Russian forces near Kharkiv had been steadily pushed from the city to close to the Russian border following a Ukrainian counteroffensive earlier this month. But officials said it appeared Moscow had decided to push back. "It's too early to relax," said Kharkiv region Governor Oleh Synehubov. "The enemy is again insidiously hitting the civilian population, terrorizing them." Russian officials have not yet commented on the developments near Kharkiv, though the Russian military's social media feeds touted continued success against Ukrainian forces, including in the Donbas region. A senior U.S. defense official said Thursday that despite reports of increased fighting around Kharkiv, there had been "no major changes" on the ground. "We still assess that Ukrainian forces have continued to push Russian forces further away [from the city]," the official said, briefing reporters on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss intelligence. "It's a range of a few kilometers to more than 10 kilometers within the Russian border," the official added. But in other parts of eastern Ukraine, Russia was able to make what the official described as "incremental gains," including in the city of Popasna and in Sievierodonetsk, the easternmost city under Ukrainian control. "We believe that Russian forces have been able to seize most of northeastern Sievierodonetsk," the U.S. defense official said. "But they haven't been able to cut it completely off because the Ukrainians are still fighting over it." Ukrainian officials on Thursday acknowledged Russia was making a push to surround its troops fighting in the east with advances both on Sievierodonetsk and the nearby city of Lysychansk. "Russia has the advantage, but we are doing everything we can," General Oleksiy Gromov, with Ukraine's general staff, told Reuters. "It is clear that our boys are slowly retreating to more fortified positions. We need to hold back this horde," added Luhansk province Governor Serhiy Gaidai. Food shortages Russias renewed push on the ground in Ukraine comes as a growing number of Western countries are calling out Moscow for expanding the war by exacerbating the international food crisis. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Thursday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "trying to hold the world to ransom" by blocking shipments of grain from Ukrainian ports a move Ukraine has described as blackmail. A top U.S. defense official was equally blunt, telling reporters Thursday that Russia is weaponizing food. This is just another part of a brutal way of prosecuting a completely unprovoked war, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said. I guess we shouldn't be surprised by that, since they've weaponized everything else, including lies and information, but they're weaponizing it [grain reserves], he said. The administration is in discussions with our international partners and allies about how best to address this. Pentagon officials estimate that about 22 million tons of grain are currently in Ukrainian ports and ready for shipment but have been stopped because of the Russian blockade. Moscow on Thursday signaled it would be willing to let some of the grain out if the West lifted sanctions. The Russian Federation is ready to make a significant contribution to overcoming the food crisis through the export of grain and fertilizers, provided that politically motivated restrictions from the West are lifted," the Kremlin said in a statement. Meanwhile, in a show of support Thursday, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin visited Kyiv, plus the towns of Irpin and Bucha, the scene of alleged Russian war crimes. "We, Finland, support all the actions of the International Criminal Court to consider these crimes, collect evidence for future proceedings and convict Russia," Marin said following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy, in a post on social media, thanked Finland for its support. "Finland's military assistance is very valuable," he wrote. "Weapons, sanctions policy and the unity of our partners in the issue of Ukraine's accession to the EU this is what can provide strength in the defense of our land." Despite the back-and-forth nature of the fighting and Russia's superior numbers, Western officials continue to laud Kyiv for mounting a stiff resistance and for making good use of security assistance that continues to pour into the country. Ukraine's military has likewise shared some optimism about its ability to counter Russian forces, claiming it has killed 29,600 Russian forces since the start of the February 24 invasion. U.S. estimates of Russia's material losses, shared Thursday, are slightly more conservative than those coming from Kyiv. But the senior U.S. defense official said Russia has lost about 1,000 tanks, almost 40 aircraft, more than 50 helicopters and 350 pieces of artillery. The official declined to share any estimates on Russian casualties but said the losses have not been insignificant, though things have changed since the start of the war. "The Russians lose soldiers every day, but it's a different ... number based on the kind of fighting we're seeing," the official said. "The fighting is now largely over smaller pieces of turf with smaller units." Russia's military Thursday issued its own estimates of Ukraine's losses, saying its forces had so far destroyed 179 planes, 127 helicopters, more than 1,000 drones, hundreds of anti-aircraft systems, and more than 1,600 Ukrainian artillery and mortar systems. In the meantime, key Western leaders Thursday emphasized the need to continue backing Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin "must not win his war, and I am convinced he will not win," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He also said Russia should not be allowed to dictate the terms of a peace agreement. "Ukraine will not accept this, and neither will we," Scholz said. Separately, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko told the forum Ukraine was the "key for freedom in the world." "We're defending not just our family and our children, we're defending you, because we have the same values," Klitschko said, adding that Russia would go as far as it was allowed to go. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. The U.S. teenage gunman who killed at least 19 children and two adults Tuesday warned in a private message on a social network shortly ahead of time that he was about to shoot up an elementary school, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Wednesday. Abbott described Salvador Ramos as an 18-year-old high school dropout. The governor blamed mental health issues for Ramos assault on the Robb Elementary School in the small city of Uvalde, Texas. A U.S. Border Patrol agent shot Ramos to death, ending his rampage. But Abbott said officials had not discovered any mental health care concerns officially registered about Ramos, although news outlets reported that on occasion Ramos had randomly fired a BB gun at people along the streets of Uvalde and had thrown eggs at cars. Acquaintances said he was angered that he had not completed enough classes to graduate this week with his classmates. Abbott said that 30 minutes before Ramos stormed into the school, he posted a message on Facebook saying, Im going to shoot my grandmother, with whom he lived, and went on to fire a shot at her face. The woman, Celia Martinez, 66, survived the attack and was hospitalized, but was reported in serious condition. Moments later, he said in another message, I shot my grandmother. Then, in a third message, Ramos warned, Im going to shoot an elementary school, Abbott recounted. A Facebook spokesman clarified that the text messages were sent to one person but would not disclose which of Facebooks platforms the gunman used. After Ramos crashed his car in a ditch near the school, police officers employed by the school district engaged with the gunman, though no gunfire was exchanged. Ramos then carried an assault weapon into the school and killed all his victims in the same fourth-grade classroom, a law enforcement official told CNN. Abbott said 17 others were injured in the mayhem, but that none of them had life-threatening injuries. The issue of gun control and sales is one of the most contentious in U.S. politics, and Abbotts news conference was no exception. As the governor, a gun rights advocate, finished speaking, Beto ORourke, his Democratic gubernatorial opponent in the November election, shouted at him, You are doing nothing! to prevent gun violence. Abbott made it easier to carry guns in public, ORourke said on Twitter. The moment to stop the next slaughter is right now. In the aftermath of the countrys latest mass killing, gun rights supporters and gun control advocates alike decried Tuesday's mayhem. U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he and first lady Jill Biden would visit Texas "in coming days," adding that "the idea that an 18-year-old can walk into a store and buy weapons of war designed and marketed to kill is, I think, just wrong, just violates common sense." "The Second Amendment is not absolute," Biden said as he called for new limits on guns. When the constitutional amendment was written, he said, "you couldn't own a cannon. You couldn't own certain kinds of weapons. There's always been limitations. But guess what these actions we've taken before, they save lives. They can do it again." It was not immediately clear that the latest mass killing changed the minds of any opposition Republican lawmakers in the Senate, who in the past have blocked restrictive gun measures favored by Biden and Democratic senators. At least 10 Republican lawmakers would need to join all 50 Democrats in the chamber to pass restrictive gun control legislation. Some lawmakers talked of trying to reach legislative compromises that would require further background checks of gun buyers, extend the time frame for such checks or ban the sale of guns over the internet. The U.S. banned the sale of assault weapons, often used in mass killings and, according to police, deployed by the gunman in Tuesdays attack, from 1994 to 2004. Congress then failed to renew the law. Legislative attempts to tighten gun laws have been adamantly opposed by lobbyists for gun manufacturers and pro-gun lawmakers who cite Americans rights to gun ownership that are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Biden said he learned about the shooting as he was returning from a trip to Asia. What struck me was these kinds of mass shootings rarely happen anywhere else in the world, Biden said. Why? They have mental health problems. They have domestic disputes in other countries. They have people who are lost. But these kinds of mass shootings never happen with the kind of frequency they happen in America. Why? He then called on lawmakers to stand up to the gun lobby. Lydia Martinez Delgado wrote on Facebook that her niece, Eva Mireles, was a teacher at the school and among those killed. Im furious that these shootings continue, Martinez Delgado said in a statement. These children are innocent. Rifles should not be easily available to all. This is my hometown, a small community of less than 20,000. I never imagined this would happen to especially loved ones. The school districts superintendent, Hal Harrell, told reporters that grief counseling services were being made available for students and that the remaining few days of the school year were canceled. My heart is broken today, Harrell said. Were a small community, and were going to need your prayers to get through this. Tuesdays attack was the deadliest school shooting in Texas and the deadliest elementary school shooting since the 2012 attack on Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, that left 26 people dead, 20 of them schoolchildren. Law enforcement officials say that Ramos legally purchased two assault weapons days after his 18th birthday a couple weeks ago, along with 375 rounds of ammunition. He posted pictures of the weapons on a social media account attributed to him. Numerous political figures condemned the shootings, including U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who called Tuesday a dark day. Both Abbott and Cruz were among a group of Republican figures, including former President Donald Trump, scheduled to appear Friday in Houston at the annual convention of the National Rifle Association, a gun rights group that has opposed gun control measures. Cruz has also received $176,274 in campaign contributions from the NRA, according to Brady United, a nonprofit advocating for gun control. The Texas elementary school has an enrollment of about 600 students in the second, third and fourth grades and sits in a mostly residential neighborhood of modest homes. The town has a population of about 16,000 people and is the seat of government for Uvalde County. It is about 135 kilometers west of San Antonio and about 120 kilometers north of the border with Mexico. Texas has been the scene of several mass shootings over the past five years. One year before the Santa Fe school shooting in 2018, a gunman at a Texas church killed more than two dozen people during a Sunday service in the small town of Sutherland Springs. In 2019, another gunman at a Walmart in El Paso killed 23 people in a racist attack. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. Law enforcement authorities in the southwest U.S. state of Texas are facing tough questions about their response and the length of time it took them this week to storm a school to confront a teenage gunman who had shot to death 19 children and two teachers. Officials say the gunman, Salvador Ramos, an 18-year-old high school dropout, was in the school for 40 minutes to an hour before police barged into the fourth-grade classroom where he had killed 21 people at Robb Elementary School in the small town of Uvalde, Texas. Witnesses say parents of the children trapped in the school located in a residential neighborhood, and onlookers who gathered at midday on Tuesday, had shouted at police to enter the school and put an end to the carnage. One witness outside the school, Juan Caranza, 24, who watched the scene from outside his house across the street, said women shouted at police, Go in there! Go in there! Police further filled in the timeline of the shooting Thursday. Victor Escalon, a regional director at the Texas Department of Public Safety, said Ramos walked into the building through an unlocked door and without encountering a school safety officer, contradicting earlier reports. The school normally has an armed officer on duty, but when the gunman arrived Tuesday, there was not an officer, readily available, armed, and the gunman entered the building unobstructed," Escalon said. The gunman was killed when a U.S. Border Patrol tactical team arrived, broke into the classroom and killed the gunman, Escalon said. Javier Cazares, whose fourth-grade daughter, Jacklyn Cazares, was killed in the attack, said he raised the idea with other bystanders of storming the building themselves because he did not think police were moving fast enough. "Let's just rush in because the cops aren't doing anything like they are supposed to," he said. "More could have been done. They were unprepared." One bystander recorded a video posted to his Facebook account that gave his running account of parents trying desperately to get police to move quicker to rescue their children. These cops are right here. Bro, theres a (expletive) shooting at the school, and these (expletive) cops are telling everybody to leave, dude, while everybodys here trying to pick up their (expletive) kids," the man said in an account published by The Washington Post. Later, the man says the children "are all in there, and the cops aint doing (expletive) but standing outside. One woman, who said her son was in the school, urged police to take a shot at the gunman if they could. Theyre kids, she shouted. "Im going to go, Im going to (expletive) go. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw on Wednesday defended the police response, saying, The bottom line is law enforcement was there. They did engage immediately. They did contain (Ramos) in the classroom" before killing him. Escalon, of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said that two Uvalde police officer arrived four minutes later and ran into the school but were quickly pinned down when Ramos fired at them. Authorities continued to search for a motive behind the horrific rampage, the deadliest U.S. school shooting spree in nearly a decade. They said Ramos had no known criminal or mental health history, although some acquaintances recounted his troubling anti-social behavior, such as him firing a BB gun at random people walking in Uvalde. A 15-year-old German girl who Ramos chatted with online said he told her he threw dead cats at peoples houses. Just as Ramos unleashed his attack, he texted the girl, warning her in a private message that he was about to shoot up an elementary school. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Wednesday that 17 others were wounded or injured in the attack, but none had life-threatening injuries. A spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety said the injured include multiple children who survived gunfire in their classroom. The White House announced Thursday that President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden would travel to Texas on Sunday to grieve with the community. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. Show more Show less A new $40-billion US humanitarian and military aid package for Ukraine is among many new contributions to Kyiv's effort to repel Russias's attacks. See what's being done and learn how technology is being used to document war crimes and identify Russian troops, captured and dead, on The Inside Story-Ukraine: Increasing Aid. Airdate: May 26, 2022. A senior United Nations observer Thursday expressed serious concern about the "erasure of women from public life" across Afghanistan since the Islamist Taliban seized power in August. "Afghanistan is facing a plethora of critical human rights challenges that are having a severe impact on the population," Richard Bennett, the U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, told a news conference in Kabul at the end of his 11-day maiden trip to the country. "I urge the authorities to acknowledge the human rights challenges that they are facing and to close the gap between their words and their deeds," he stressed. The insurgent-turned-ruling group's male-only government has suspended Afghan girls' secondary education, prevented most female employees from returning to government jobs, barred women from traveling alone, ordered them to cover up fully in public, including their faces, and strongly advised them to stay at home. Bennett said the policies "fit the pattern of absolute gender segregation and are aimed at making women invisible in society." "The de facto authorities have failed to acknowledge the magnitude and gravity of the abuses being committed, many of them in their name and their responsibility to address them and protect the entire population," Bennett noted. The U.N. expert met with Taliban leaders, members of Afghan civil society, including women human rights defenders, journalists, minorities and victims of human rights violations. The U.N. expert spoke on a day when Taliban forces in Kabul reportedly disrupted a women's protest that called for the reopening of girls' schools. "Civil society space and media freedom is critical for a peaceful society in which rights are respected," Bennett said. Bennett said he was able to visit a prison, hospitals, schools and mosques in several places in the Afghan capital, and northern Mazar-i-Sharif, as well as southern Kandahar cities. Bennett noted the Taliban had extended their invitation for him to access the entire country and to visit sensitive locations "in a crucial commitment to ensure that transparent monitoring can be undertaken." The international community has not recognized the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, saying the issue would come under consideration only after the Islamist group adheres to its pledges to protect the human rights of all Afghans, especially those of women. The Taliban seized power from the Western-backed former government in August when the last U.S.-led international forces withdrew from the country after almost 20 years of war with the Islamist group. "The Taliban stands at a crossroads. Either the society will become more stable and a place where every Afghan enjoys freedom and human rights, or it will become increasingly restrictive," Bennett cautioned. He will present the findings of his first report to the September session of the U.N. Human Rights Council. The office of U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has clarified remarks Bachelet made during her current visit to China, saying her comments had been misquoted or mischaracterized by Chinese state media. Human rights groups said the misquotations reflected a broader attempt by China to put a positive spin on the visit, in which Bachelet seeks to look into Beijings treatment of the ethnic Uyghur minority concentrated in Chinas northwestern Xinjiang region. The six-day visit, which ends Saturday, will include the cities of Urumqi and Kashgar in Xinjiang, where China has been accused of crimes against humanity and genocide by some human rights organizations and governments, including that of the United States. The issue led to diplomatic boycotts of the Winter Olympics in Beijing earlier this year. In an email to VOA, spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell said Bachelet did "commend China's achievements in eradicating poverty," but she did not "admire China's efforts and achievements in eradicating poverty, protecting human rights, and realizing economic and social development," as reported by the Chinese state-run broadcaster CCTV. "She [Bachelet] said, 'China has a crucial role to play within multilateral institutions,' " Throssell told VOA. But she disputed English subtitles in a CCTV report that indicated that she "commended China's important role in upholding multilateralism." The Chinese Embassy in Iraq tweeted that "Bachelet congratulated #China on its important achievements in economic and social development and human rights protection." But according to Throssell, Bachelet actually said, "We will be discussing sensitive, important human rights issues, and I hope this visit will help us work together to advance human rights in China and globally." Many human rights groups worry that Bachelet's China trip will not reveal anything new on the country's treatment of Uyghurs, pointing to the misleading statements as examples of China's attempt to control the messaging of the visit and the trip itself. "This is such a clear example of the not-so-subtle way the Chinese government is trying to frame the visit in their favor," Peter Irwin, of the Uyghur Human Rights Project, told VOA. "China has had close to three years to lay the groundwork for an on-the-ground visit, which is why we don't see it as particularly useful. They have a clear plan to undermine her office's work and present an alternate reality to the rest of the world." The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not respond to VOA's request for comment at the time of publication. After a meeting with Bachelet on Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi released a statement saying that Wang expressed the hope that this trip would help enhance understanding and cooperation, and clarify misinformation." The statement also said Beijing has "made safeguarding the ethnic minorities' rights an important part of its work, and protecting people's safety its long-term goal." China has repeatedly denied the mistreatment of Uyghurs and accusations of detaining members of the predominantly Muslim ethnic minority group in internment camps. According to state news agency Xinhua, Beijing describes the camps as "vocational training" facilities to help "boost rural vitalization" in Xinjiang. Vocational training is also a way "to tackle the menace of terrorism and radicalization," according to the news agency, citing a deadly terrorist attack in 2014 in the region. In its statement, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that Bachelet's visit was the first by a U.N. high commissioner for human rights in 17 years. "To advance the international cause of human rights, we must first respect each other and refrain from politicizing human rights," it said. Bachelet's trip coincides with the release of the so-called Xinjiang Police Files, "a cache of data hacked from police computer servers in the region," according to the BBC. The information includes thousands of photographs including mug shots and documents that show the Chinese government targeting Uyghurs for their ethnicity and Islamic faith. While rights organizations doubt anything will come of the visit because of China's tight control, Irwin said the trip could still be valuable "if the high commissioner actually challenges the government on the mountains of evidence that points to atrocity crimes being committed. The gulf between the way in which Chinese state media frame the visit and the reality as documented by our own organization cannot be wider at the moment," he said. The United States' top negotiator for Iran nuclear talks made the case to lawmakers Wednesday for sticking with what may be a last try for a deal reimposing limits on Iran's nuclear development, despite Iran closing in on completing a bomb-capable nuclear program. Rob Malley, President Joe Biden's envoy to negotiations aimed at getting the U.S. and Iran back in a breached 2015 Iran nuclear deal, faced lawmakers on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Some Democrats on the committee joined Republicans in saying it was past time to break off talks and move to tougher means to block Iran from taking the final, technical steps needed to build a bomb. Biden has made a priority of returning the U.S. and Iran to the nuclear pact, abandoning what his administration says was a failed get-tough strategy by President Donald Trump. Failing to do so would be a politically damaging setback to his foreign policy agenda and risk a dangerous escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Malley acknowledged to lawmakers the chances of success were "tenuous" in what the administration depicts as a final push to try close an agreement. The accord would ease punishing international sanctions on Iran in exchange for Iran accepting limits and oversight of its nuclear work. Malley underlined to lawmakers that the administration still believed Iran's nuclear program was less of a threat inside a deal than outside of one. "How long is this going to go on?" Sen. James Risch of Idaho, the committee's top Republican, demanded of the often slow-moving, off and on talks. The Biden administration is prepared to get back into the JCPOA for as long as our assessment is that its nonproliferation benefits are worth the sanctions relief," Malley responded. Iran jumped back into building its nuclear capacity after Trump in 2018 pulled the U.S. out of the international nuclear deal negotiated with the Obama administration. The many opponents of the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action increasingly argue Iran's progress since then toward the ability to weaponize what it says is a civilian nuclear program means it's too late for any accord to block Iran from becoming a nuclear power. The International Atomic Energy Agency said last week that Iran has amassed about 40 kilograms (about 90 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels. "I think we must prepare for the increasingly obvious reality we face in 2022 a return to the 2015 nuclear deal is not around the corner, and I believe it is not in the U.S. strategic interests," committee chairman Bob Menendez, one of the lawmakers of Biden's own party opposed to the Iran nuclear deal, said. "We need to tackle what comes next," Menendez said. Biden has insisted the U.S. will never allow Iran to take the final steps toward attaining nuclear programs. Malley repeated that the administration and its allies are preparing options if talks fail. The administration has declined to detail publicly what steps it would take to knock offline Iran's centrifuges and other nuclear gear, much of it deep underground and well-defended against airstrikes. "Being at the table doesn't mean we're waiting. We're not waiting, we're acting," Malley told lawmakers. Democratic lawmakers in support of the negotiation effort argued that giving up on peaceful pressure and negotiations now to move to military strikes against Iran's nuclear program would be dangerous, and likely futile. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., urged U.S. leaders to resist what he called the siren song of the option of Israeli warplanes to move against the nuclear targets of Iran, Israel's top opponent. "It's difficult to bomb knowledge out of existence," added Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., suggesting Iran would only rebuild its program after strikes. "And the risk of spillover of a regional war is significant." Malley promised lawmakers on Wednesday that the administration would allow Congress to review any deal that does come out of talks. That answered a demand of Menendez and other hard-liners on the nuclear accord. Lawmakers could try to block any new deal, but could face a presidential veto. The talks to get Iran and the U.S. back into compliance with the nuclear deal appeared to have reached agreement on all but the final points of the accord itself by late winter. But talks deadlocked since then in part over Iran's demand for the United States to lift a terrorist designation on the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. European diplomacy over the past several days is believed to have persuaded Iranian leaders to drop that demand. It was a politically untenable one for the Biden administration, which is eager to show U.S. conservatives and ally Israel it remains vigilant against Iran's efforts to build strength and influence in the Middle East. Even as Malley urged more time for the talks, the Biden administration announced new sanctions Wednesday against Iran, among what Malley said were about 150 sanctions designations targeting Iran by the Biden administration. Wednesday's sanctions hit what the U.S. said was an operation by a current Revolutionary Guard official and a former one to smuggle oil in violation of international sanctions. The United States has announced rewards of up to $1 million each for information leading to the arrest of two Kenyans wanted on charges of drug and wildlife trafficking. Kenyan security agencies are searching for the two fugitives, Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh and Abdi Hussein Ahmed. Speaking to reporters Thursday in Nairobi, the head of Kenyas criminal investigation unit, George Kinoti, said the two Kenyan nationals were wanted for drug and wildlife trafficking worth millions of dollars. They were involved in transportation, distribution and smuggling of 190 kilograms of rhinoceros horns and 10 tons of elephant ivory from different countries in Africa, including our country, Kenya, and they transported these things to the United States," Kinoti said. "They were also involved in transportation and distribution of one kilogram of heroin from Kenya to the United States. Kinoti said Saleh was arrested in June 2019 and arraigned in a Kenyan court, where he was released on bail. He was last seen in December 2019. Kinoti made no mention of Ahmed. Saleh and Ahmed were indicted in the United States in 2019 and the international police organization Interpol issued a red notice against the suspects. Eric Kneedler, charge daffaires of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, said in a statement that eradicating drug and wildlife trafficking was a priority of President Joe Biden's administration and that the U.S. would work with Kenya to stamp out the crimes, which are affecting both countries. Information on the reward offer can be found on the U.S. Embassy website. In July 2020, another suspected wildlife trafficker, Abubakar Mansur Mohammed Surur, was arrested and extradited to the U.S. Surur is believed to have been involved in the illegal poaching of at least 35 rhinos and more than 100 elephants. The United States said Wednesday it would seek new sanctions on North Korea at the United Nations after Kim Jong Un's regime fired a volley of missiles, including possibly its largest intercontinental ballistic missile. The launch came just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden left Asia. North Korea has also been conducting "operational tests" of a nuclear detonation device, Kim Tae-hyo, Seoul's first deputy director of the National Security Office, said. His warning adds to the drumbeat of predictions from U.S. and South Korean officials, who have been saying for weeks that Kim's regime is close to conducting its seventh nuclear test. Three missiles, including one ICBM, were fired from the Sunan area in Pyongyang, Seoul said, one of nearly 20 weapons tests by North Korea so far this year, prompting joint U.S.-South Korea live-fire missile drills in response. Washington plans to call for a U.N. Security Council vote on tougher sanctions on Pyongyang after the tests, a senior U.S. official said. The official expected a vote "in the coming days" and noted that a previous Security Council resolution called for further consequences in the event of a further ICBM launch. "That was a provision of that resolution. That's precisely what happened and so we feel it's now time to take action," the official said on condition of anonymity. The three early morning ballistic missile launches came within an hour of each other, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. The Wednesday launches were "clearly timed for President Biden's return after his visit to South Korea and Japan," Ewha University professor Park Won-gon said, adding that Biden had not even landed in the United States when they happened. During Biden's visit, Seoul and Washington announced they would look at ramping up joint military exercises, which had been scaled back for COVID-19 and a bout of failed diplomacy with the North. They also discussed deploying more U.S. tactical assets to the peninsula, measures that would likely enrage Pyongyang, which views the drills as rehearsals for invasion. Despite struggling with a recent COVID-19 outbreak, the North has resumed construction at a long-dormant nuclear reactor, new satellite imagery has indicated. Earlier this month, North Korea confirmed its first omicron cases in Pyongyang, and the virus has since torn through its unvaccinated population of 25 million. More than 3.1 million people have been sick with "fever," North Korean state media said early Thursday, with 68 deaths since the outbreak began in late April. North Korea has continued to conduct missile tests since it declared a national emergency over the COVID outbreak. Russian forces in northeastern Ukraine, already pushed back to near the Russian border, appeared Thursday to be launching a new counteroffensive as the three-month-old war morphed into what some Western officials described as a "scrap" with no end in sight. Authorities in Ukraine's second-biggest city, Kharkiv, said Russian shelling had killed at least seven civilians and wounded 17 others, while heavy fighting raged north and east of the city. Witnesses in Kharkiv also reported hearing repeated explosions as Russian forces appeared to try to fortify positions north of the city. Russian forces near Kharkiv had been steadily pushed from the city to close to the Russian border following a Ukrainian counteroffensive earlier this month. But officials said it appeared Moscow had decided to push back. "It's too early to relax," said Kharkiv region Governor Oleh Synehubov. "The enemy is again insidiously hitting the civilian population, terrorizing them." Russian officials have not yet commented on the developments near Kharkiv, though the Russian military's social media feeds touted continued success against Ukrainian forces, including in the Donbas region. A senior U.S. defense official said Thursday that despite reports of increased fighting around Kharkiv, there had been "no major changes" on the ground. "We still assess that Ukrainian forces have continued to push Russian forces further away [from the city]," the official said, briefing reporters on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss intelligence. "It's a range of a few kilometers to more than 10 kilometers within the Russian border," the official added. But in other parts of eastern Ukraine, Russia was able to make what the official described as "incremental gains," including in the city of Popasna and in Sievierodonetsk, the easternmost city under Ukrainian control. "We believe that Russian forces have been able to seize most of northeastern Sievierodonetsk," the U.S. defense official said. "But they haven't been able to cut it completely off because the Ukrainians are still fighting over it." Ukrainian officials on Thursday acknowledged Russia was making a push to surround its troops fighting in the east with advances both on Sievierodonetsk and the nearby city of Lysychansk. "Russia has the advantage, but we are doing everything we can," General Oleksiy Gromov, with Ukraine's general staff, told Reuters. "It is clear that our boys are slowly retreating to more fortified positions we need to hold back this horde," added Luhansk province Governor Serhiy Gaidai. In a show of support Thursday, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin visited Kyiv, plus the towns of Irpin and Bucha, the scene of alleged Russian war crimes. "We, Finland, support all the actions of the International Criminal Court to consider these crimes, collect evidence for future proceedings and convict Russia," Marin said following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy, in a post on social media, thanked Finland for its support. "Finland's military assistance is very valuable," he wrote. "Weapons, sanctions policy and the unity of our partners in the issue of Ukraine's accession to the EU this is what can provide strength in the defense of our land." Despite the back-and-forth nature of the fighting and Russia's superior numbers, Western officials continue to laud Kyiv for mounting a stiff resistance and for making good use of security assistance that continues to pour into the country. Ukraine's military has likewise shared some optimism about its ability to counter Russian forces, claiming it has killed 29,600 Russian forces since the start of the February 24 invasion. U.S. estimates of Russia's material losses, shared Thursday, are slightly more conservative than those coming from Kyiv. But the senior U.S. defense official said Russia has lost about 1,000 tanks, almost 40 aircraft, more than 50 helicopters and 350 pieces of artillery. The official declined to share any estimates on Russian casualties but said the losses have not been insignificant, though things have changed since the start of the war. "The Russians lose soldiers every day, but it's a different ... number based on the kind of fighting we're seeing," the official said. "The fighting is now largely over smaller pieces of turf with smaller units." Russia's military Thursday issued its own estimates of Ukraine's losses, saying its forces had so far destroyed 179 planes, 127 helicopters, more than 1,000 drones, hundreds of anti-aircraft systems, and more than 1,600 Ukrainian artillery and mortar systems. In the meantime, key Western leaders Thursday emphasized the need to continue backing Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin "must not win his war, and I am convinced he will not win," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He also said Russia should not be allowed to dictate the terms of a peace agreement. "Ukraine will not accept this, and neither will we," Scholz said. Separately, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko told the forum Ukraine was the "key for freedom in the world." "We're defending not just our family and our children, we're defending you, because we have the same values," Klitschko said, adding that Russia would go as far as it was allowed to go. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale Contribute: Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it. Flag as inappropriate. Mark as helpful or interesting. Send your own user report! Translate La Paz (302.6 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : I felt everything move, got up and felt the ground move for the first time in my life. | 14 users found this interesting. La Paz Bolivia Zona Sur (304.1 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s : Light shaking top floor of building 9 stories | 9 users found this interesting. / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s Cusco (233.7 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : I was in bathroom and suddenly felt moved side to side. Towels, door and light fixture moved with me! My companions in two other hotel rooms also had same experience. | 8 users found this interesting. La Paz bolivia (303.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s : Sounds of Windows, my bed was shaking, my light was moving from side to side | 9 users found this interesting. My bed was shaking too for around 5 seconds / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s la paz bolivia (304.4 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 minutes : i was in my bed and it wakes me up, my bed was wobbling so fast, i didnt understood what was going on, i jumped out of my bed and ran until the main door ( i live in a floor 9) my keys in the door and the hangers where moving with 150 to 160 degres | 7 users found this interesting. Arica (402.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s Comecou a tremer fraco e foi aumentando... Nao parava... E teve um momento que aumentou e ficou tremendo por 20 segundos... | 7 users found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s Cochabamba (525.7 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Quiet, working ,I felt shaking in My house . I living in Cochabamba . BOLIVIA | 7 users found this interesting. La Paz bolivia (295.1 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 30-60 s : At home, just eating my breakfast when all the plants started shaking in La Paz Boliva | 7 users found this interesting. Cochabamba (523.6 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : I was sleep and wake up with my bed shaking | 7 users found this interesting. La paz, Bolivia (296.8 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Bed moving, walls cracking | 6 users found this interesting. La paz Bolivia (295.5 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) : Las ventanas temblaron un poco y mi familia se movio de un lado a otro estoy aun asustada no puedo creerlo es mi primer terremoto o sismo | 4 users found this interesting. Cusco / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s : Light shaking bed sliding across floor | 6 users found this interesting. Peru - tacna (348.3 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 15-20 s : Well , when the quake start i on My bed , and the Windows start moving and Aldo dime objetos . | 5 users found this interesting. La Paz (293.9 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Felt like the doors and the house were moving | 5 users found this interesting. Arequipa (216.9 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 1-2 minutes : Was long | 5 users found this interesting. Cusco (237.1 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s : I was laying in bed and woke up because of the shaking | 5 users found this interesting. Cusco (233.8 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : In bed. Bed and curtains swaying | 5 users found this interesting. La Paz, Bolivia (297.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 2-5 s : Currently I was in the first floor and it moved | 5 users found this interesting. Tacna Peru (350.7 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : Muy largo, movimientos suaves inicialmente, luego se intensifico el movimiento y el ruido, movimientos ondulantes. Susto!!!! | 3 users found this interesting. La Paz (299.4 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : I was at home having virtual classes at my desk and I felt like a waving feeling , then I watched the mirror I have hang at the wall and it was swinging. | 3 users found this interesting. Tacna, Provincia de Tacna (353 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 30-60 s : Fue un movimiento fuerte que todos los vecinos salieron hasta el parque de alfrente, pijama y algunos sin mascarilla por la desesperacion del movimiento | 3 users found this interesting. La paz / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 minutes : Lamps shaking | 5 users found this interesting. Ciudad La Paz (296 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single vertical bump / 1-2 minutes : Many objects start to move and I felt vibration in my bedroom | 4 users found this interesting. La Paz (295.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 minutes : I have noticed how my bulbs light moved from side to another repeatedly. | 4 users found this interesting. La Paz, bolivia (303.1 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s : I was at my work on the fifth floor, and things started to swing glass doors to vibrate | 4 users found this interesting. La Paz, Bolivia (296.6 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 minutes : I was on bed and felt the movement, then I felt dizzy. | 4 users found this interesting. La Paz (298.8 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 20-30 s : Hanging objects moved sideways, on the bed it felt like when someone else it scratching | 4 users found this interesting. La Paz, Bolivia (296.8 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s : My bed started shaking and the closet doors rattling | 4 users found this interesting. Arequipa (215.5 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Laying in bed. Everythings shaking | 4 users found this interesting. Cochabamba (524.9 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s : I was at 5th floor in my bed | 4 users found this interesting. Arica (403.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / several minutes : Fue mucho tiempo y con ruido | 4 users found this interesting. Washington admitted to running 336 biological laboratories in 30 countries around the world, including 26 in Ukraine. However, documents seized by the Russian military suggest that the United States actually signed contracts with 49 countries, far more than it has acknowledged. According to Washington, these contracts do not violate the 1975 Biological Weapons Convention, despite the fact that they were drawn up by a branch of the Pentagon, the Federal Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). . The Russian military claims that the DTRA conducted biological experiments on mentally ill Ukrainians at Psychiatric Hospital No. 1 (Streletchye village, Kharkov region) and used a tuberculosis agent to infect the population based in the Slavianoserbsk district ( Lugansk Peoples Republic). The US military biological laboratories in Ukraine have already been discussed at the Security Council on 11 March 2022. The United States explained that, far from developing new biological weapons, its cooperation with Ukraine in this connection aimed exclusively at destroying the remnants of Soviet programs in this area. However, this does not address the fact that programs of this nature have been carried out in at least 30 countries, nor does it explain the funds allocated to them, and even less that they have been continuing for thirty years. The Chinese press has, meanwhile, brought out the fact that, in the 1980s, the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases had dispersed Aedes aegypti mosquitoes - a known vector of dengue, chikungunya, Zika and other virused - on its own population in the State of Georgia. Today the DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) conducts research on Insect allies. Officially it is about transforming insects into cyborgs (photo) so that they may genetically modify plants to increase their yield, but unofficially the opposite could be true: to sterilize crops in enemy countries and generate famines, as warned by Science in 2018 [1] For the Chinese press, it is this objective that accounts for the dissemination of the DTRAs experiments in all the countries around Russia and China. The export ban on Russian potash fertilizers is hampering agriculture in many countries, particularly in Africa. The scattering of naval mines off Ukraine prevents the export of Ukrainian crops to Africa and Asia. This situation poses a serious danger of global famine, which the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has already called out. Dear Mr. Executive Chairman, Professor Schwab, Dear President Cassis, Ladies and Gentlemen! Dear attendees! I am grateful for this opportunity to take part in the discussion at the Forum. The general theme of Davos this year is: History at a Turning Point: Government Policies and Business Strategies. And this year the words "turning point" are not just a rhetorical figure. This is really the moment when it is decided whether brute force will rule the world. If it reigns, our thoughts wont matter to it. And we may no longer convene in Davos. Because what for? Brute force seeks nothing but the subjugation of those it wants to subdue. And it does not discuss, but kills at once, as Russia is doing in Ukraine right now, right at this time when we are talking. By the way, please look at the building of the former Russian House in Davos. It has been turned into a house of Russian war crimes. And this is an example of their transformation. What Russia has done to itself by becoming a state of war crimes. And what it brings to the world. Inspiring other potential aggressors. Instead of successful peaceful cities - black ruins. Instead of normal trade - mined sea and blocked ports in Ukraine. Instead of tourism - closed skies and thousands of Russian bombs and cruise missiles. This is what the world will look like if humanity misses this turning point. It will look like a very large collection of war crimes. So, history remembers many moments when everything changed dramatically. It remembers, for example, how just a few shots can lead to millions of casualties. If these were the shots on June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo. History remembers how much grief one persons evil can cause if he sees that he is not being resisted enough. As it was, for example, in 1938 in Munich. Historical twists were noticeable and not as much. But it was always necessary to react to them. Trying to prepare for other historical upheavals - as they say, to soften the blow. Or - trying to heal the wounds of catastrophes that were behind one or another historical turn. And now we have a large collection of such reactions: the UN Charter with all units of the Organization, the OSCE, the IAEA, the WTO and many, many other important institutions. But are they enough to respond to what we are facing today? And is it enough now to try to adapt those institutions to modern challenges? Definitely not. We need to change the approach. Not to react, but to act. And act preventively. And not only to adapt what we have to the new realities, but also to create new tools. New precedents. Look at what Ukraine has already done. We have set a historical precedent for courage. Without listening to those who said that our defense would not last longer than a few days. We have stopped the Russian army, which was called the second in the world, and at the cost of heavy fighting and thousands of lives, we are gradually driving the occupiers out of our land. But would we have to do that if we had been listened to last year and if the full range of sanctions that can knock down any aggressor had been applied fairly and preventively against the Russian Federation? Im sure the answer is no. Preventing war would be guaranteed if the worlds actions had been preventive rather than responsive. Ukraine has set another precedent in these three months. A precedent for the unprecedented unity of the democratic world around the emotion of genuine admiration for Ukrainian courage and around the understanding that freedom must be fought for. And now hundreds of millions of people in democracies are putting pressure, supporting and putting pressure on the governments and companies to limit relations with the aggressor state, Russia, and to help the people they have attacked. But this is happening only now, although Russia started a war against Ukraine in 2014. We are grateful for such support, but if it had happened then - immediately - this unity and this pressure on governments, on companies for the struggle for freedom, would Russia have started this full-scale war and inflicted all these losses to Ukraine and the world? I am sure that the answer to this question is no as well. Now we see that the world listens and believes Ukraine. But there is also a certain expectation in the world how this situation will be resolved. What tools will work? What new can we create to prevent such aggressions? And how do we stop the brute force that has challenged everything we really value? Thats what a turning point means. Ladies and Gentlemen! Dont wait for the fatal strikes. Dont wait until Russia uses special weapons - chemical, biological and, God forbid, nuclear. Do not give the aggressor the impression that the world will not show enough resistance. Protect freedom and normal, useful for all peaceful order in the world immediately and in full! Thats what sanctions should be. Maximum. So that Russia and every other potential aggressor who wants to wage a brutal war against a neighbor knows exactly what this is leading to. And I think there are no such sanctions against Russia yet. And they must be imposed. Russian oil embargo. Complete blocking of all banks without exception - all. Complete abandonment of the Russian IT sector. Complete cessation of trade with the aggressor. This should be a precedent of sanctions pressure that will work convincingly for decades to maintain peace. It is necessary to set a precedent for the complete exit of all foreign businesses from the Russian market. So that your brands are not associated with war crimes. That your offices, accounts, commodities are not used by war criminals in their bloody interests. Values must matter. Especially since everyone suffers losses when a full-scale war begins and global markets are destabilized due to someones neglect of values. For our part, we offer every company that leaves the Russian market to continue operating in Ukraine. You will get access not only to our market of 40 million consumers, but also to the common market of Europe. And at the same time - your brands, positions will only be enhanced due to the fact that you really support the protection of freedom. Our representatives here in Davos can inform each and every one of you about the details of the prospects that Ukraine opens for businesses. Ladies and Gentlemen! We offer the world to set a precedent for rebuilding the country after the war, which will show everyone who dreams of destroying the life of a neighbor that the war doesnt bring the expected result. I invite you to take part in this reconstruction. The amount of work is enormous. We have more than half a trillion dollars in losses. Tens of thousands of objects were destroyed. We need to rebuild entire cities, entire industries. And we offer a special - historically significant - model of reconstruction. When each of the partner countries or partner cities or partner companies will have the opportunity - historical one - to take patronage over a particular region of Ukraine, city, community or industry. Britain, Denmark, the European Union and other leading international actors have already chosen a specific direction for patronage in reconstruction. Thanks to this model of relations, post-war reconstruction can be fast, efficient and high-quality. And this will not only attract the worlds best specialists - architects, engineers, builders, developers, managers and others. It will also be the largest opportunity for economic leap in Europe since World War II. And I hope that by the beginning of the international conference in Lugano in July this year dedicated to the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, which Mr. Cassis spoke about, all our partner countries and most of the worlds leading companies will have formed their own packages of proposals. By the way, given the presence of President Cassis today, I would like to thank Switzerland for organizing this Conference in Lugano and supporting our efforts. I would also like to note the efforts of Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen, in particular the proposal to create a Reconstruction Platform, which will be managed jointly by Ukraine and the European Commission and will direct European Union resources to restore normal life in our country. However the list of new precedents needed will not be complete without a few more important decisions. There must be a precedent of punishment for the aggressor and investment in a peaceful life. Russian assets scattered in different jurisdictions must be found, arrested or frozen, and then confiscated and sent to a special Fund from which all victims of this war can receive compensation. Of course, this is not easy. But after that, there will be no motivation left for the various aggressors to do what Russia has done and continues to do. If the aggressor loses everything, it definitely deprives him of motivation to start a war. Lets move on. Any response to the mass famine is overdue by definition. The famine should be stopped only preventively - when it has not yet begun. But now there is no such tool in the world. We propose to create an organization of responsible and democratic food-exporting states that can act with respect for human rights and global trade rules. Our motivation is very simple. Whatever the turning points in history, humanity must have insurance against famine. And Ukraine is ready to provide a platform for the activities of such a new organization - a definitely needed one. And the last point. You know, this war of Russia against Ukraine convinces everyone that aid to the attacked state is more valuable the sooner it is provided. Weapons, finances, political support, sanctions against Russia - if we had received them one hundred percent of our needs in February, the result would be tens of thousands of lives saved. That is why Ukraine needs all the weapons we ask for, not just the ones we are given. That is why Ukraine needs finances. Thats at least $ 5 billion a month. And all the funds needed for reconstruction. That is why the United24 Ukraine Recovery Fund was established. And we encourage you to join the support using this platform. Ukrainian state platform. For each donor, we give a specific proposal - how to help and where to send funds. Where the priority is now. The target nature of the work is an absolute priority. And in the future, under this brand, United24, we propose to create a global structure that can provide sufficient support within 24 hours for any country that has suffered a military attack, natural disaster or, for example, a pandemic. That is, we offer a new format of security guarantees. Based on what we went through. What we are going through now. There must be something that sets a precedent of absolutely timely assistance. To everyone who needs it. To preserve peace, to preserve life, to preserve social stability. That is, all the necessary elements for a normal economy. Like, for example, the 911 service, there must be a United24 that guarantees security on a global scale. Ladies and Gentlemen! George Marshall, a well-remembered man, said in 1947: "Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. Its purpose should be the revival of a working economy in the world so as to permit the emergence of political and social conditions in which free institutions can exist." These words are still relevant today. My proposals are directed in the same way - against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. And of course against the war unleashed by Russia, which brings nothing but hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. To many in the world. Not just us. Therefore, in order to guarantee peace and tranquility, we must all act quickly and preventively. We must not be afraid to set new precedents. This is exactly what the world has long had to learn at various turning points, for which it paid a high price. This was the price for the fact that the world only reacted, not acted preventively. So, now we can do it differently. Finally in the right way. Thank you! Glory to Ukraine! According to Laurence Norman, journalist for the Wall Street Journal, International Atomic Energy Agency Director Rafael Grossi told the Davos Forum that 30 tons of plutonium and 40 tons of enriched uranium are stockpiled at the Ukrainian power plant in Zaporijjia. The enrichment rate of the uranium is not specified. Uranium enriched to 5% can only be used for civil purposes; weapons manufacturing requires a threshold of 80%. On 19 February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, announced to NATO officials that his country was considering calling into question the Budapest Memorandum (1994) so that it could acquire nuclear weapons against Russia. On 21 February 2022, President Vladimir Putin alluded to a Ukrainian nuclear program, saying: The only thing missing [in Ukraine] is a uranium enrichment system. But this is a technical question, and for Ukraine not an insurmountable problem. On 24 February 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine, noting that she was acting within the framework of international law. Photo: LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine continues to make its presence felt at this years Cannes Film Festival. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Ukrainian cast and crew members protested social-media censorship of Russian genocide at the May 25 premiere of their film, Butterfly Vision. The group covered their faces with content-warning signs and held a banner that read, Russians kill Ukrainians. Do you find it offensive and disturbing to talk about this genocide? Air-raid sirens wailed as the protesters including director Maksym Nakonechni, producers Darya Bassel and Yelizaveta Smit, and lead actress Rita Burkovska stood on the red-carpet steps. Butterfly Vision follows a Ukrainian soldier attempting to return to civilian life after being kept as a Russian prisoner. This year, Cannes banned Russian state delegations and any individuals tied to the Putin administration. However, Russian filmmakers were allowed to attend the festival, despite controversial calls for a boycott of Russian films. The demonstration from the Butterfly Vision crew comes five days after a naked activist was removed from the festival for protesting sexual violence against women in Ukraine during the Russian conflict. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy also referenced the war during his opening address at Cannes, asking, Will cinema stay silent or will it talk about it? Photo: Paramount Pictures Here are the things you need to know about the character Jack Reacher: He stands at six feet, five inches tall and weighs roughly 250 pounds. He is an ex-military police officer who now drifts across the country, stumbling across small-town problems (an unsolved murder, a kidnapping). Typically he will do what he can to restore order and pursue justice and one time he survived getting shot directly in the chest because hes so jacked that his muscles stopped the bullet. Jack Reacher is a sparse man with a sparse wardrobe, largely assembled from Goodwills and community thrift stores, picking up what he needs as he finds himself needing it and discarding it when it has outlived its usefulness to him, and in case you skimmed past the prior sentence Ill say one more time that Jack Reacher is so big that one time his muscles stopped a bullet. You could be forgiven for reading this description and not immediately thinking of Tom Cruise, a man famously 57 on a good day. And yet Cruise took on the role of that beefcake drifter in 2012, garnering vocal outcry from the Jack Reacher fan community (largely comprised of dads, a group who famously refuse to waver in their opinions on the most trivial of matters like, for example, who should play the fictional character Jack Reacher). He is a terrible match for the character, Jack Reacher fans insisted. There is no way Tom Cruises chest could stop a bullet fired at point blank range and also he is very short. With respect for the Jack Reacher stans, I would posit this: Cruises physique is a valid reason to knock his casting but not a valid reason to dismiss the film outright, which holds tremendous merit even if its lead actor doesnt have pecs dense enough to serve as Kevlar. There are two reasons for this, one being that Thomas Cruise Mapother IV is one of the great movie stars of all time who can bring things to a performance that no 65, 250-pound beefcake who played Aquaman on Smallville can. The second is that Jack Reacher marks the first director-actor collaboration between Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie, a collaboration that has yielded what the kids might call bangers only. McQuarrie first rose to fame as the writer of The Usual Suspects, though after his disastrous directorial debut, The Way of the Gun (its bad, and not even in a fun way), he was put in what he long referred to as director jail. He returned to his work as a screenwriter and first crossed paths with Cruise during the making of the 2008 film Valkyrie. The film is one of the great missteps in Cruises career and had a notoriously troubled production, though amid that chaos Cruise and McQuarrie seem to have found in one another kindred collaborative spirits. Cruises production company Cruise/Wagner Productions acquired the film rights to Jack Reacher back in 2005. The project lingered in limbo for a few years, finally getting a kickstart when McQuarrie was hired to revise the script, an adaptation of the ninth Reacher novel, One Shot. It went into production at a pivotal moment in Cruises career as well as McQuarries. For Cruise, his star power which had fallen substantially in the years following his couch-jumping, histrionic 2005 (an all-time bad PR year for any celebrity) no longer guaranteed a movie would be a hit. Cruise rethought his approach to blockbuster filmmaking accordingly for Jack Reacher. No longer able to approach every project with a blank check, he agreed to a scaled-down production budget of $60 million. The lower budget made the project an enticing get for a studio a Cruise movie still had the potential to be a massive hit and this one came with substantially lower risk. It also allowed Cruise some more freedom in his producer responsibilities, such as putting the films creative team together. He used that leverage to break McQuarrie out of director jail and put him behind the camera once again. It proved a savvy move. Whatever Cruises physique prevents him from bringing to the role of Jack Reacher though his performance is as locked in as ever, all simmering rage and gritted jaws and rarely ever smiling McQuarries script and directing make up for in spades. Jack Reacher is a down-the-middle adult thriller directed with a Hitchcockian eye, meticulously composed and paced with an attention to detail rare in this sort of film. Like all great mysteries, every answer to the questions the audience will spend the film asking is present in the opening set piece. Speaking of which, an entire essay could be dedicated to the first 12 minutes alone. The films opening is dialogue free, with nearly ten minutes of relative silence as McQuarrie walks us through the films inciting incident: a mass shooting carried out by a sniper played by Jai Courtney, a man studios have been insisting for years is Americas sweetheart (he is, to his credit, doing the best work of his career in this movie). From here we see, in a VERY deliberately staged series of shots, the subsequent police investigation leading to the arrest of a man pointedly not played by Jai Courtney. At the 8:20 mark the first lines of dialogue are recited and one minute and 22 seconds later our protagonists presence is first made known. It begins with a note written by a murder suspect on a legal pad (GET JACK REACHER, which is an incredibly rad way to introduce a character named Jack Reacher) followed by the district attorney (Richard Jenkins) and the police detective in charge of the case (David Oyewolo) going over every piece of information they can find on this off-the-grid drifter. By the time Cruise makes his entrance at the films 12-minute mark, McQuarrie has so deftly established the legend of Jack Reacher its irrelevant that the man who walks through the DAs office door isnt 65 and 250 pounds; it doesnt matter because the man who walks through that door is Jack Reacher and the viewer now knows exactly who that is. To recount the films plot from here feels unnecessary (though in case it isnt, the short of it is that Reacher and James Barr, the man set up to take the fall for the shooting, have a shady history and Reacher is begrudgingly charged with figuring out whether or not Barr is responsible which Reacher spends most of the movie certain he is). It is a well-plotted mystery thriller but nothing extraordinary on its own. What is extraordinary is everything else about it, from DP Caleb Deschanels work behind the camera (the way that he stages the aforementioned shooting through the scope of the snipers rifle is inspired) to a stacked cast that includes everyone from Werner Herzog to Robert Duvall. Jack Reacher does everything a movie of its kind is supposed to do, only it does it 10 to 20 percent better than necessary. A couple of months into Jack Reachers production, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol hit theaters, proving a smash hit and grossing nearly $700 million worldwide. It began the long process of restoring Cruises star status to its former glory and, crucially, gave the franchise a second wind (before McQuarries uncredited rewrites on the script, Cruises Ethan Hunt was rumored to be phased out in favor of a new star, Jeremy Renner). With a fifth Cruise-fronted M:I now on the table, McQuarrie stepped in as the franchises next director and, in an unprecedented turn of events, stuck around for the next three sequels (2018s Fallout and Dead Reckoning, Parts One and Two, which are currently in production), making him the only director to have helmed more than one film in the franchise. Cruise and McQuarries partnership has now been going strong for nearly 15 years. The latter is responsible for some of the best work of Cruises late-stage career, and the former got McQuarrie whats now clearly a much-deserved second chance as a director. Neither would be where they are now without the other, or without a 65, 250-pound ex-military drifter whose pecs are so big they have rendered him immune to bullets. Jack Reacher is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Photo: Michael Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images On Thursday, Amber Heard took the stand for the last time in the much-memed and -dissected Heard-Depp defamation trial. As the prosecution, Heard was the final witness in the six-week trial and used her time on the stand to address the humiliation that shes endured as a result of this ordeal. Depp is suing Heard for $50 million, claiming that a Washington Post op-ed Heard wrote about the alleged sexual and psychological abuse she suffered at the hands of Depp caused the Fantastic Beasts actor to lose out on acting contracts. Heard countersued Depp for $100 million for defamation over a statement where Depps attorney, Adam Waldman, called Heards claims of emotional trauma an abuse hoax. The trial has metastasized into a cultural phenomenon where throngs of people rush to YouTube comment sections, Twitter, and TikTok to share their many thoughts on the proceedings, rally behind Depp, and lip-sync scenes from the trial. Its been agonizing, Heard said. This is humiliating for any human being to go through. Perhaps its easy to forget that, but I am a human being. In the rebuttal to her counterclaim against Depp, Heard told the jury that shes suffered publicly as a result of Waldmans statements. Heard testified that she lives in fear. She described the discourse on social media as a Depp-coordinated campaign echoed every day on social media that has elicited millions of people, which puts both herself and her child in danger. I am harassed, humiliated, threatened, every single day, Heard said. People want to kill me every day. People want to put my baby in the microwave, and they tell me that. Depp was stoic as Heard made statement after statement about her day-to-day life. Following her relationship with Depp, she established physical boundaries with her friends and intimate partners so that she doesnt have a panic attack where she relives the trauma that Depp allegedly inflicted. Im not sitting in this courtroom snickering, Heard testified. In an emotional moment, Heard emphasized that she just wants to move on from her relationship with Depp and the barrage of threats she has since received from his supporters. I just want Johnny to leave me alone, she asserted while holding back tears, a phrase she has repeated throughout the trial. When asked about what she hopes to reclaim after the trial is over, Heard said that she hopes to reclaim her voice. Speaking through tears, she explained that she has a right to tell her story and own her truth. I have a right to my voice and my name. He took it long enough. I have a right as an American to talk about what happened to me. During a cross-examination, Depps lawyer, Camille Vasquez, insinuated that the trial has been difficult for Heard because of her lies. She then accused Heard of leaking a video of Depp slamming cabinets to TMZ and alerting the paparazzi about her trip to the Los Angeles County courthouse in May 2016 to file a domestic-violence restraining order with a bruise on her face. Calling the trial the Johnny Depp show, Heard denied the allegations. Vasquez rebutted Heards testimony with a list of witnesses who have spoken on behalf of Depp, including the out of the woodwork statements made from Depps ex-girlfriend Kate Moss. I know how many people will come out and say whatever for him. Thats his power, Heard responded. He is a very powerful man and people love currying favor with powerful men. He promised me global humiliation, Heard told the court. Photo: Pool/Getty Images Update, May 31: Kevin Spacey proclaimed his innocence in a statement on the sexual-assault charges brought against him in the U.K., saying he plans to make a defense when the charges go to trial. I will voluntarily appear in the U.K. as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence, Spacey told Good Morning America while saying he is innocent until proven guilty under U.K. law. Original story follows. Kevin Spacey was sitting in court in New York City in an evidence hearing related to his New York sex-abuse case, when a set of separate charges came down from the U.K. The former House of Cards star was charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men, along with a count of causing someone to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. According to CNN, the charges stem from two alleged 2005 incidents in London, two 2008 incidents in London, and one 2013 incident in Gloucestershire. It was pure coincidence for the charges to be announced while Spacey was in court in the U.S. for a hearing related to the sexual-assault lawsuit brought by Anthony Rapp, the actor who made the first of many assault claims against Spacey in 2017. From the U.S. courthouse, Spacey declined several times to comment on the U.K. charges. The U.K. charges are the product of years of investigations, the first of which police announced in November 2017. Others were announced in the weeks and months afterward. Many of the charges in the U.K. are associated with Spaceys tenure as artistic director of Londons Old Vic Theatre from 200415. Also in November 2017, the Old Vic said it had received 20 allegations of inappropriate behavior against Spacey, with the theaters artistic director calling the claims a shock and a disturbing surprise. Spacey, an Oscar and Tony winner, has begun an attempted return to acting, most recently cast in the Hungarian historical drama 1242, for sale at Cannes. Victoria Bekiempis contributed reporting. This week on our favorite show, Rich Ladies Doing Things, these rich ladies did things. They arrived at a hotel two hours after their stylist, makeup artist, and hairdresser who had already arranged all of their things in the room and made sure that they would never have to sit with their back to a door. They received a delivery of amethyst butterfly cathedral wings that were so ugly not even drunk girls after bottomless brunch would take pictures in front of them for their Instagrams. They watched as Bambi, one of their dogs, stole steak off of their plates and then marched across the outdoor coffee table only to go back inside and steal more steak off of the plates that were stacked next to the sink for the housekeeper to tend to the next day. But, much like Bambi, mostly the rich ladies ate fast food. As Kyle is driving down to Palm Springs for the opening of her store, Kyle by Alene Too Point Oh!, she asks Siri where the closest Jack in the Box is. Erika, Garcelle, and Rinna are in a town car on the way to meet her, and they stop for what looks to be McDonalds. I am not going to knock anyone eating fast food, but Jack in the Box? Kyle? What are you? A Pepperdine frat boy who had one too many Irish car bombs (and doesnt even know that we probably shouldnt be calling them that anymore)? And McDonalds? Is this the one highway in America without a Wendys? Was there not a Popeyes and all of its mouth-watering biscuits within a ten-mile radius? I know Shake Shack exists on the West Coast, could we not have found one of them? Crystal did not get any fast food. She was in a car with Diana and her enriched bread or whatever the fuck she was feeding her. It was probably the Elvin bread that never goes stale that Galadriel gives to the Hobbits in Lothlorien. (Nerd alert!) That might be why she absolutely snaps after the opening of Kyles store. She hates hairy feet in general and Lord of the Rings specifically. But to get to Crystals breaking point, we need to start with Dorits break-in, of all places. After having a gun held to her head in her own home, she is jumpier than a whole field of Mexican jumping beans. (Wait, is that any worse than Irish car bombs?) She cant sleep at night, even with a dose of the Xanax she heard so much about on SoundCloud rap. Shes having panic attacks and is so distressed that she cant even slather her body in labels any more. Garcelle is mourning that she cant have her crazy hairdos anymore while her poor overworked follicles are ordering pina coladas because they havent gone this long without a mile-long braid clomped onto them or a golden goose egg plopped on top of them. Though I make fun, I feel awful for Dorit. Kyle talks about how she didnt feel safe in her own home for six months after she was robbed, and Dorit had it a million times worse than she did. Its going to be a long, dreadful road for Dorit, and I dont know if this is necessarily the right venue for her. This is not the kind of drama that makes good TV. Its the kind of drama that is so dark its like a sensory deprivation tank. Its the kind of drama that makes us all uncomfortable. Speaking of which, that is Suttons explanation for why she said, Sorry, I didnt have a gun held to my head, when she met Kyle the day of Dorits break-in. Kyle brings this up during cocktails at Crystals, and Garcelle, the realest of the real (who is so real shes on The Real), says that they shouldnt be talking about Sutton when shes not there. This is great because when Sutton finally sees Dorit, she can explain that she is uncomfortable when talking about home invasions and guns because of her own past experiences. And she can further explain that she says dumb shit when shes uncomfortable. Yes, that was some seriously dumb shit she said, and contrary to how she tries to spin it later, she was not at all empathetic to Dorit. Dorit accepts the apology, and it seems like everyone is moving on until Garcelle in a blue sequin caftan that my gay soul would spill a bottle of poppers for brings it back up and makes everyone sit around and dissect something that was already settled. Does she think shes Kyle, producing the whole show? Kyle? With the conversation renewed, Diana, who has only known Sutton about a long as half an episode of Emily in Paris, says the most astute thing I have heard about Sutton, who we have been watching for three years now. Sutton is clumsy with her words and her behavior. [Sutton] comes off really weird and wrong, she says. Yes! Clumsy! That is her crying in the back of the van on the way to Teddis seminar. That is her with the face roller trying to talk to Crystal on the boat. That is her, well, all of the time. Shes clumsy and also weird and also wrong, but I also think that Sutton is a well-meaning person. I think she is a good person and I think she is a faithful friend, shes just, well, clumsy. Erika uses this conversation about Sutton to come for Sutton, again claiming that everything Sutton said about her last year has been proven false. No matter how you feel about Erika, her legal troubles are not yet over, so her statement technically doesnt seem entirely true. And I dont know what apology Erika expects to get from Sutton, especially considering Erika wont apologize to Sutton for threatening her so this seems like a whole season of stalemate. However, Erika does have a point that in the varying dramas involving Crystal, Dorit, and herself, the common denominator is Sutton saying weird shit. I dont know that we can stop Sutton from saying weird shit, just like we cant stop the Pope from being Catholic or Andy Cohen from writing No Taps! in his Grindr profile, but maybe we can stop reacting to it? Perhaps we can give Sutton the benefit of the doubt. However, the problem with these women is there is never any benefit, even though they have plenty of doubts. What Sutton did was insensitive, but theyre coming after her like the Texas Marshals going after an Uber driver for bringing someone to an abortion clinic. This is what brings us to bizarro-world Crystal, acting like weve never seen her before. Whats odd is that Im not sure exactly the equivalence that Crystal is trying to make in the conversation. As theyre talking about Sutton and Dorit, Crystal then tries to bring it back to last season when she said she felt violated when Sutton came into her room when she was naked, but then all of the women tell her that is too strong a word. Ironically they want Crystal to give Sutton the benefit of the doubt even though they still refuse to give it to her. Apparently, benefits and doubts are reserved for causes the women, as a unit, believe in. While I dont necessarily see the line that Crystal is drawing from Dorit and Suttons experience to her experience, everything Crystal says about the group not letting someone in the cast feel the way they feel unless the group agrees about the feeling is true. She tells Garcelle, who has her back the entire time like a boss, My feelings are irrelevant to them. I wonder what she meant by them exactly. What Im assuming she means is the core four or Fox Force Five or the Get Along Gang or whatever you call the alliance of Erika, Rinna, Kyle, and Dorit. Is this an old-timers versus newbies divide? (It seems like it is.) But Crystal is right. They told her she was not allowed to feel violated even though she did. She kept it under wraps for a whole year, and then it exploded just like a Jack in the Box. Even as Crystal is saying the group wont allow her to feel her feelings, they respond by telling her that her feelings, again at this moment, are also wrong. They need everyone to conform to their read of things, and if they dont, they get named and shamed for the sake of good TV. Crystal is not here for it. Neither is Garcelle. But only Crystal gets to pack her shit up and go back to the hotel where shes staying with Sutton and Diana. What do you mean theres a newbies versus OGs divide? That leaves the core four back at Kyles house in La Quinta, which is Spanish for behind the Target. They agree, as a unit, that the next day they will let Crystal feel her feelings and they wont judge her. They will listen and nod, letting her violation wash over them like the waves of a sound bath. They will all reach out and clasp her hand and pat her shoulder and grab her knees. They will let her vent as she sobs into a crumpled Kleenex, and they will talk about how strong and brave she is and how they never should have let her feel this way around them. And then, when she goes back to her hotel, theyll all sit around and bray into the night about just how wrong she totally is. On May 19, Dr. Amber Itle, a veterinarian for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, advised against live market poultry sales for the next 30 days following the confirmation of nine cases of a highly pathogenic avian influenza in backyard flocks in the state. Closing markets is not mandatory at this time, but markets risk transmission of the disease, and possible animal tracing and extensive cleaning and disinfection if avian influenza is detected. So far no commercial flocks have been affected. A Facebook page has been set up for bird flu updates by WSDA and can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/wabirdflu2022. Very rarely, humans have been known to contract the highly pathogenic avian influenza if they have had close contact with infected birds. On April 28, the Centers for Disease Control announced that a person in Colorado who was involved in depopulating a commercial flock had tested positive. He complained of fatigue for a few days and has since recovered. He was isolated and treated with an antiviral, oseltamivir. It was possible that the detection of H5 bird flu in this individual was the result of a surface contamination of the nasal membrane, but there was no way to determine that for certain. There have been no other cases detected in the United States. The risk of it spreading to people is very low, and there is no immediate cause for concern. Public health officials are talking to anyone who has had contact with infected birds to monitor for symptoms. Chicken, eggs, and other poultry or poultry products are safe to eat, and people are advised to wash their hands; clean and sanitize surfaces and equipment; separate raw and cooked meat to avoid cross-contamination; cook poultry thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit; keep poultry stored at 40 degrees F or below, or in the freezer at 0 degrees F or below; and to not wash poultry. Call the Washington State Department of Agriculture 1-800-606-3056 to report sick or dead domestic birds and contact the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife to report any sick or dead wild birds. Bird hunters should continue standard safety steps to avoid potential exposure to avian influenza or any other viruses or bacteria. To The Eagle: Are you a conservative? How conservative? I ask, as I have read some far right letters here in this paper. I have Republican friends I can discuss platforms with (45 had no platform), but they are very hard to find; instead I get called names and belittled for having different views. CPAC is the premier gathering of conservatives. I have a few comments on that. I wonder how many are in lockstep with them. The Republicans I can talk with are not. I guess the world doesn't want to see how racist CPAC has become; no press allowed. Zsolt Bayer, who has a history of anti-Semitic and racist comments, was among speakers at the event held by US conservative group in Budapest, that included speeches from Trump and Tucker Carlson. Hungary's far-right President Viktor Orban, who called for a worldwide conservative takeover, predicting at the American Conservative Political Action Committee conference held in Budapest, that "2024 will be decisive." Hungary turned replacement theory into state ideology. Tucker Carlson is one of the most prominent proponents of the idea that minorities are replacing white western civilization. The right also seems to have forgotten, or downplayed the January 6th attempted coup. I ask the right, how many times have you heard 45 say rigged, stolen or unfair, since early 2015? The Big Lie didnt start in 2020; 45 has been priming the pump for years to allow his followers time to believe his lie. By the way, which party is afraid of voters? Not illegals, who did not vote, not felons who could not vote, but minorities being pushed to the side. All the investigations did not find large voter fraud; what was found, was disproportionately voters for 45! Poul Toftemark Rosburg ANKARA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish military launched an airstrike on the targets of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq in the wake of the killing of one Turkish soldier on Thursday. The soldier was killed after the PKK opened fire on Turkey's Operation Claw-Lock military zone in northern Iraq, the Turkish defense ministry said in a statement. Subsequently, the Turkish military launched an airstrike at the PKK targets in the region and killed 14 members of the group, the ministry said in a separate statement. In April, Turkey launched a ground and air military offensive named Operation Claw-Lock in northern Iraq against the PKK targets in Metina, Zap and Avasin-Basyan. Turkey has "neutralized" more than 100 PKK members as part of the ongoing operation in northern Iraq, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told reporters on Wednesday. Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralize" to imply "terrorists" were killed, wounded, or captured in security operations. Turkey regularly conducts cross-border operations against the PKK bases in northern Iraq. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than 30 years. Iraq has repeatedly condemned the Turkish operation on its land as a violation of its sovereignty. Tourist was missing in Rome for several days. The body of a 21-year-old American man was found in Rome's river Tiber on Thursday morning, Italian media reports. The man, identified as Elijah Oliphant, had gone missing late on Monday night after arriving in Rome earlier that day on holiday with his family. His parents reported his disappearance and made an appeal on Italian television on Wednesday night for help in locating their son. At 10.00 on Thursday morning, passersby saw the body floating in the river Tevere near Ponte Sisto bridge in the centre of Rome. An autopsy is underway to determine the cause and time of his death however so far there have been no reports of signs of violence on the body. Placeholder while article actions load No UK civil servant can act as judge, jury and executioner of their prime minister. Thats the prerogative of Boris Johnsons large Conservative party majority in the House of Commons and, at a later date, the voters at the next general election. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Yet many media folk had high expectations of Sue Gray, the former head of ethics at the Cabinet Office who was drafted in to lead the investigation into Partygate the multiple breaches of lockdown rules at 10 Downing Street during the pandemic. Gray has been variously described as the woman who runs the country and the high priestess of ethics, but firing her boss was always above her pay grade. Grays final report, published Wednesday, adds lurid detail but does not significantly advance her own interim findings, delivered earlier this year when a belated police inquiry into Partygate (leading to 126 fines handed down to 83 people) forced her to put her operations on hold. Advertisement The juicy stories and the nine photographs of Johnson raising a glass might have been fatal to the prime minister in January or February when the publics anger was still white hot, but after months of delay, they merely confirm what everyone already thinks about him. The political class always knew he enjoyed playing Lord of Misrule and now everyone outside the Westminster bubble knows it too. Unless a minimum of 54 Tory MPs decide that they would do better at the polls with a new leader, there will be no contest to challenge him. And no mere civil servant will bring him down. Gray tried to do her duty as she sees it, saying, I have already commented in my update on what I found to be failures of leadership and judgement in No. 10 and the Cabinet Office. The events that I investigated were attended by leaders in government. Many will be dismayed that behaviour of this kind took place on this scale at the heart of Government. Advertisement But the use of the passive case in her findings is indicative. The parties should not have been allowed to happen. Which begs the question: Who did allow them and who should be held accountable? In reply, the prime ministers defenders admit error but no great fault. They argue the greater importance of the Ukraine war and the cost-of-living crisis and urge the country to move on. If that argument fails to convince the doubters, they point to Labour Party leader Keir Starmers consumption of a bottle of beer at a curry supper while on campaign a convenient smokescreen for breaches of lockdown rules on an industrial scale at No. 10. Each week, Gray says, the No. 10 Press Office brought in wine on Fridays to mark the end of the week. This was known as Wine Time Friday where bottles of wine were placed on a table in a small room adjacent and people could help themselves. To get to his private flat upstairs at No. 10, Johnson would have to pass that room. Advertisement On Wednesday, a humbled Johnson accepted full responsibility for Partygate in Parliament but then undercut his apology with the assertion that rule-breaking only took place after he had left each gathering. He has been fined by the police for one breach of the rules alone attending a brief surprise birthday celebration although from the evidence of the photographs, he had a drink at more than one event. He insists that attending leaving drinks was one of the essential duties of leadership. We can all agree that was one duty he never failed. Like Captain Renault in the film Casablanca who professed himself shocked, shocked at the discovery of illegal gambling while pocketing his cut, the prime minister was also appalled to find that breaches of the regulations occurred after he left. Unlike Renault, however, Johnson will leave it to others to round up the usual suspects, though Grays report puts in a plea for leniency for the hapless junior officials now subject to disciplinary hearings. Johnson wisely added apologies for the little people too the security staff jeered at by partygoers for trying to do their jobs and the cleaners who had to wipe up the vomit and clean the red-wine stains the day after. Loyally, Gray defends the integrity of the Civil Service, which she says was let down by a few individuals. Yet there is something rotten in the state of the mandarinate. The countrys top civil servant, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, who originally led the Partygate investigation, was forced to recuse himself after it became known that an event had been held in his own office. Martin Reynolds, Johnsons principal private secretary, sent party invitations to 200-300 staffers with the request to bring your own bottle and was told by a colleague he had got away with it. Advertisement Grays narrative also belies her words. Take her account of one of the most notorious parties: some brought pizza and prosecco and they were followed by others, over the next couple of hours. Helen MacNamara, Deputy Cabinet Secretary, attended for part of the evening and provided a karaoke machine which was set up in an adjoining office to the waiting room. And what was McNamaras real job? She was Grays successor as head of ethics for the civil service and government. Gray continues: The Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill (the most senior civil servant in the country), returned from a meeting and noted that there were individuals in his waiting room. He stayed for a short time and before leaving for another meeting he gave permission for the use of his office for a short time. The event lasted for a number of hours. There was excessive alcohol consumption by some individuals. One individual was sick. There was a minor altercation between two other individuals The last member of staff, who stayed to tidy up, left at 03:13. As the mafia saying has it, The fish rots from the head down. Advertisement Even those on the front lines fighting the pandemic broke the rules. The head of the Covid Taskforce, Kate Josephs, whooped it up at another farewell bash Kate Josephs, left later at around 00:23 after tidying up, says Gray blandly. A week before one notorious party that Johnson briefly attended, the prime minister appeared on television to thank the voters. I have asked much of the British people: more than any Prime Minister, I believe, has asked of the British people in peacetime. I have to say the public have responded magnificently and selflessly, putting their lives on hold, bearing any burden, overcoming any obstacle and tolerating every disruption and inconvenience, no matter how large and small or inconsistent so that they could do the right thing by their fellow citizens, he said. Too bad No. 10 couldnt do the right thing too. Advertisement More From Bloomberg Opinion: Boris Johnson Is Undermining Britains One Superpower: Mihir Sharma Britains Cost-of-Living Crisis Petrifies Tenants: Marcus Ashworth The Good Ship M&S Never Had It Better: Andrea Felsted This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Martin Ivens is the editor of the Times Literary Supplement. Previously, he was editor of the Sunday Times of London and its chief political commentator. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load U.S. to auction wind turbine sites off Calif. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The Biden administration on Thursday proposed auctioning five areas off the coast of California for offshore wind development, a critical milestone in expanding the nascent U.S. industry to Pacific waters. It is the latest in a government effort to put wind turbines along every U.S. coastline, with a goal of generating 30 gigawatts of power by 2030. President Biden has said the new industry will create jobs and combat climate change. The announcement comes on the heels of two successful auctions this year in Atlantic waters that, combined, generated more than $4.6 billion in high bids. Thus far, U.S. offshore wind development has mainly been in the Northeast and has been dominated by European energy companies. The sale notice includes three lease areas off central California near Morro Bay and two areas off the northern coast near Humboldt County. The areas were first identified by the Department of the Interior a year ago. Advertisement The areas total about 373,000 acres that could one day generate more than 4.5 gigawatts of energy and power 1.5 million homes, the Interior Department said in a statement. The projects will help California, which has among the most aggressive climate change policies in the nation, achieve its goal of removing fossil fuels from its power grid by 2045. Reuters S.C. tries to slow Duke coal plant closures Duke Energy is set for a showdown with regulators on Tuesday on its case for accelerating closures of its last six coal-fired power plants in the Carolinas a plan already rejected by South Carolinas utilities regulator. The regulators May 31 meeting will also weigh appeals from a coalition of environmental groups that urge the Public Service Commission of South Carolina to reconsider its December decision ordering Duke Energy to keep the coal plants open until 2039 almost a decade longer than a preferred plan from the utility. Advertisement The conflict threatens Duke Energys favored path to speed up closures of the coal-fired plants by 2030 and boost its carbon-cutting goals. South Carolina regulators havent explained why they want the plants to operate longer. Commissioners cant answer questions about matters before them, a representative said. A possible explanation for the decision is cost: Dukes preferred plan is projected to cost about $83 billion while an alternate plan chosen by South Carolinas commission would cost about $79 billion. Dukes favored path also includes building onshore wind and adding about 50 percent more solar energy by 2035. Bloomberg News Authorities announced the indictment of 41 people in an alleged luxury goods theft ring in New York City that disguised the stealing as isolated "smash and grab" incidents. New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) and New York Mayor Eric Adams (D) revealed the scheme at a news conference on Thursday. They described a "massive retail theft operation" in which a team of "boosters" fanned out to lift merchandise from Macy's, Bloomingdale's and other stores that was then resold on eBay by the ringleader. The indictment includes charges of criminal possession of stolen property and money laundering. Advertisement British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government will impose a windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies to help fund support for Britons facing a cost-of-living crisis. The 25 percent levy on energy firms will raise about $6.3 billion which will finance one-off grants to more than 8 million of the poorest households in the U.K., Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said in the House of Commons on Thursday. 8:30 a.m.: Commerce Department releases personal income and spending for April. From news services GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load For almost two decades, lawmakers in Washington have been pushing legislation that would rein in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Facing a near-certain presidential veto, the proposal has never crossed the finish line. Now, the legislation is getting a new look amid surging gasoline and oil prices. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight 1. What would the legislation do? The bill -- dubbed the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act, or NOPEC -- would empower the U.S. Department of Justice to file an antitrust lawsuit against OPEC for trying to control oil production or to affect crude prices. It would do this by amending the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, the law used more than a century ago to break up the oil empire of John Rockefeller. Even if the Justice Department were never to act on its power to sue, the mere existence of this option might be enough to force the cartel to change its behavior. Advertisement 2. Does this have a chance of becoming law? A recent vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee paves the way for full Senate consideration, but its unclear when, or if, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will bring the measure to the floor. The Biden administration has expressed concern about unintended consequences of the legislation as the war in Ukraine stokes volatility in energy markets. Versions of the bill were approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate in 2007, but the idea got no further under a veto threat by President George W. Bush. Former President Donald Trump supported the NOPEC idea before becoming president, and OPEC was a frequent target of his on Twitter, but during his four-year term the legislation was never brought to the floor for a vote in either chamber. 3. Who opposes NOPEC? Advertisement Both the American Petroleum Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have come out strongly against the bill, fearing retaliatory action against U.S. companies abroad if it becomes law. U.S. shale producers also benefit from OPECs discipline in bolstering prices when they fall too low without any of the risk. 4. What would be the possible repercussions for the oil market? Makan Delrahim, Trumps antitrust chief, told a Senate hearing in December 2018 that NOPEC could very well lower the price ultimately to the consumer. But in the short-term, passage could potentially boost prices, especially if fears of retaliatory action escalated. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Close to 70% of American adults use Facebook. They peruse the pages of old school friends, browse cooking videos and click on titillating news headlines. Once in a while, they will also stumble across a video of a live shooting or buy a semi-automatic rifle with relative ease. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The pattern of mass shootings in the US, highlighted in the past two weeks with massacres in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas, has roots in political, cultural and structural issues, but the contribution of social media ,and Facebook in particular, to violence in the country shouldnt be ignored. Meta Platforms Inc.s Facebook has helped foster personal relationships and grow businesses over its 18 years of existence. But the platforms legacy also includes a chronic failure to enforce its own rules. Facebook policy prohibits hate speech and misinformation on the site, yet harmful conspiracy theories proliferate because Facebooks automated software for weeding out that material is inadequate. Another major problem: The company employs nowhere near enough moderators to police toxic content. Advertisement That lack of investment leads to consequences like the 46,000 times a link to the Buffalo shooting video was shared on Facebook last week, or the 10 hours it took for the company to remove it, according to the Washington Post. The man who carried out that attack had been inspired by another video on Facebook, livestreamed by the 2019 mass shooter in Christchurch, New Zealand, who killed 51 people. Facebook pledged to eradicate copies of the livestream, but as of this month, clips from the video were still being viewed thousands of times on the platform. Facebook isnt the cause of these violent acts, but it has been culpable of failing to prevent them from being seen by potential copycats. It also appears relatively easy to buy a gun on Facebook. The company bans the sale of guns on Facebook Marketplace, its site for secondhand goods used by more than one billion people around the world. But run a search for gun case and youll find at least a few disguised listings for firearms. Most will be recommended by Facebooks own algorithms, under the Results from outside your search feature. This week I reached out to 10 sellers in Texas and Georgia whose listings hinted their title was a pretense: The price was an implausible $1, or they would put the word case in quotation marks, or implored buyers to PM me for details to find out whats inside. Advertisement Five of the sellers replied with photos or details of semi-automatic rifles or pistols made by brands like Glock Ges m.b.H. and Sturm, Ruger & Co. One was a federally licensed gun dealer who had started selling on Marketplace last year. There were no similar listings that I saw on competing sites like EBay Inc. and Craigslist. These violations might be excusable if not for the fact that Facebook has known about the gun cases ruse for more than three years and has been pressed to fix it by several US senators. A Facebook spokesperson said Marketplace uses machine-learning software to review its listings, though some are checked by people, too. Around 40,000 people across Meta work on safety and security, she added. She didnt respond to an emailed question about how many humans actually police Marketplace. Advertisement The answer may be very low: about 400, according to a report last year by investigative journalism site ProPublica, which referred to them as low-paid contract workers employed by consulting firm Accenture Plc. Facebook doesnt need to ban gun cases on Marketplace outright, but it should hire more people to help weed out the obvious listings of firearms, many of which are likely being sold without background checks. Stopping the rule-breaking on Facebook wont be easy. And the company deserves some credit for spending $13 billion on safety efforts since the 2016 US presidential election. Without that investment, Facebook would be much messier than it is today. One of the executives who first helped draft Facebooks content rules is quoted as saying in Facebook: The Inside Story by veteran technology journalist Steven Levy that Facebook would be absolutely bananasif it were not for content moderation. Advertisement Ultimately its up to lawmakers to push for universal background checks or bans on AR-15s. But Facebook also has the capacity to commit far more resources to be a safer conduit for information and commerce around guns. It has, after all, spent more than $10 billion building an as-yet unproven metaverse business. History will probably look back on that as a spectacular waste of money given the harms Facebook has propagated, but Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg seems unwilling to believe the negative effects of connecting people are that bad. On Thursday, at Facebooks annual general meeting for shareholders, angry investors criticized the companys sloppy handling of misinformation and hateful content, and the psychological harm it had caused children, before proposing motions that called for Meta to submit to more independent oversight. None of the 12 proposals received more than 30% support, according to ABC News. The reason: Zuckerberg controls 58% of Facebooks voting shares. He is its supreme ruler. Advertisement Before this weeks horrific school shooting in Uvalde fades into memory like all the others, its worth asking whether the worlds most powerful social media platform is acting as a counter to Americas gun violence problem, or contributing to it. My bet is on the latter, and that needs to change. More From Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: Uvalde Families Should Take Gunmakers to Court: Timothy L. OBrien The Gun Debate Needs to Break Old Patterns: Ramesh Ponnuru Europe Is Ahead of the US on Fighting Online Radicalization: Parmy Olson This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Parmy Olson is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. A former reporter for the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, she is author of We Are Anonymous. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Three months after Russias unprovoked attack on Ukraine, the war is entering a new phase. This change requires all involved the Kremlin as well as Kyiv and its supporters in the West to rethink scenarios, goals and strategies. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight For the aggressor, it appears, all possible outcomes are shades of terrible a sign of just how colossally Moscow miscalculated. For the defenders, most scenarios are also dire. But one offers a glimmer of hope. Phase 1 of the war, starting on Feb. 24, might be called Shock Without Awe. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his army to invade, bomb and destroy Ukraine from all sides, and to kill his counterpart in Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelenskiy. By shocking Ukrainians, Putin was expecting to awe them into submission. Instead, they became a nation of heroes, from Zelenskiy (I need ammunition, not a ride) to all the men, women and children who sacrificed and stood together against the Russian onslaught. The symbol of the countrys will to resist became Azovstal, a steel plant in the now-destroyed city of Mariupol that the Ukrainians, for a time, defended against all odds. Advertisement This month, that phase ended. Understanding that this war will be neither quick nor easy, Putin commanded his forces to concentrate on taking only Ukraines east and south. In Mariupol, the last remaining Ukrainians evacuated Azovstal. Russia is massing its firepower for a new and more focused assault. Ukraine, receiving guns and ammo from the West, is preparing to fight back. Phase 2 therefore looks likely to be less kinetic and more grinding less like a Blitzkrieg and more like a war of attrition evoking the trenches of World War I. My guess is that each side will gain, lose and retake territory in an interminable clash of wills that only makes the rubble bounce. What, then, could Phase 3 eventually look like, and ultimately the wars end? A decisive military outcome seems unlikely and possibly even undesirable. Advertisement If the Russians won that is, if they routed the Ukrainian army they would dismember or eliminate Ukraine as a country and subjugate much of its population. But the Russians wont succeed in that way, because Ukraine is getting more and better weapons by the day and will hold out. If the Ukrainians won, they would drive the Russians back at least beyond the frontlines as they stood on Feb. 23. But that would amount to a catastrophic failure that Putin couldnt hide from his population. He would fear for his political and physical survival, which he would redefine as an existential threat to the Russian state. This is the scenario in which he might escalate to de-escalate by launching tactical nuclear strikes until Ukraine surrenders. This would be the worst of all outcomes, possibly even drawing in the West. But I dont think itll come to that, because the Ukrainians probably cant expel the Russian forces anyway. For that, Russia can still mobilize too much conventional military might. Advertisement In a likelier scenario, therefore, the war drags on and increasingly looks like a stalemate. This, too, would be disastrous, for both sides. Large parts of Ukraine would be destroyed, while other regions couldnt start rebuilding. The millions of Ukrainian refugees mostly women and children couldnt return, and would settle into new lives in western Europe and elsewhere. Eventually, fathers and husbands at home would seek to join them. Ukraine, even with billions in Western aid, would be permanently stunted. Russia, meanwhile, would indefinitely remain the international pariah it now is. The rest of Europe will gradually wean itself from its fossil fuels, turning off the Kremlins money tap. Components and technologies wont enter Russia, while talented people will keep leaving it. The country will become an impoverished and totalitarian dystopia. Advertisement Sooner or later, therefore, sheer exhaustion will prod both sides to negotiate. As ever, each will try to show up at the talks holding as much territory as possible, which will make the lead-up even more barbarous and bloody. But then therell be give and take. Whatever Kyiv says now, it cant expect to get back Crimea, Luhansk or Donetsk. Putin annexed the former and recognized the latter two as Peoples Republics, with the obvious aim of gobbling them. He couldnt give them up and still claim victory at home. But Kyiv should insist on keeping its coastline on the Black Sea, lest Ukraine become landlocked and indefensible in the long run. Wherever the final line of confrontation runs, the real question is what the ceasefire, truce or armistice will look like. One possibility is a Korean model. As on that peninsula since 1953, there would be no peace treaty, just mutual despair yielding a cessation of fighting along some sort of demilitarized zone. Advertisement But such an outcome would be much less promising for Ukraine than it proved for South Korea. Both are permanently threatened by totalitarian neighbors with nukes. But South Korea, unlike Ukraine, had the explicit protection of the US, and gradually became the glittering economic and cultural power it is under that American aegis. Ukraine will just as explicitly lack NATO protection, because the West wants to avoid a Third World War. Another scenario is the Finnish model. In the Winter War of 1939-40, Finland fought a Soviet invasion to a standstill and kept its independence in return for ceding some territory to the USSR. But this success came at the cost of compromising its sovereignty: It became a neutral buffer state that coordinated its foreign policy with Moscow a quasi-independence pejoratively called Finlandization. Finland eventually became the success story it is today. It has a strong national identity, loves freedom and is prepared to fight for it. After the Cold War, it entered the European Union. This year, at last, it will almost certainly join NATO. In the long run, the Finnish model is, therefore, more promising for Ukraine than the Korean or any other. Advertisement And yet, Ukrainians, like the Finns during the Cold War, would probably have to wait decades for their bliss. Thats not an easy proposition for Zelenskiy or anybody else to sell to a traumatized population yearning for justice. The devastating reality of Putins war is that, for the foreseeable future, it can lead only to outcomes that are messy and tragic. Little or nothing will be resolved. Success, such as it is, will be merely the avoidance of even worse catastrophes. More From This Writer and Others at Bloomberg Opinion: Victory and Defeat Are Hard to Define in Ukraine: Leonid Bershidsky Turkey and NATO Prove the Anna Karenina Principle of Alliances: Andreas Kluth The Next Front in the Ukraine War Will Be on the Black Sea: James Stavridis This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Andreas Kluth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering European politics. A former editor in chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist, he is author of Hannibal and Me. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Back in 2017, a new rule aimed at exposing the excesses of corporate America went into effect: Every year, most publicly traded companies would have to disclose a CEO pay ratio, comparing the compensation of the chief executive to that of the median employee. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Having spent the subsequent five years trying to make sense of these disclosures, I think its time to call the rule a failed experiment and scrap it. I dont say this lightly. I had high hopes for the requirement: As recently as last year, I suggested that it might yet embarrass companies into addressing pay inequality. But as often happens, the reality hasnt matched the laudable intentions. Many companies, afraid of reporting too high a ratio, have manipulated it into meaninglessness. Its not really comparable across different types of businesses. And executive pay keeps growing, seemingly unchecked: A survey by Equilar found that it increased by 30% in 2021 at the 100 largest US companies. Advertisement Consider the case of delivery platform DoorDash Inc. Earlier this month, the company reported that CEO Tony Xus 2021 compensation a modest $300,000 was about three times the roughly $90,000 that the median employee received, among the lowest ratios in the US. But the latter figure didnt include about 6 million workers who make the actual deliveries in the five countries where DoorDash operates because theyre independent contractors instead of employees, according to a company spokeswoman. And that $300,000 isnt necessarily representative of the CEOs pay: In 2020, when the company was private for most of the year (and hence didnt have to report a pay ratio), Xu received more than $400 million in various forms of compensation. Beyond that, companies have legitimate complaints. For those that operate in multiple countries, calculating the median employee can be fraught. Those that employ a lot of people in relatively low-wage emerging economies, for example, will naturally look worse. Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway (most recent pay ratio, 6 to 1) has pointed out such problems in its last five proxy statements. Its hard to imagine a simple fix. The Securities and Exchange Commission could require companies to include all workers, including contractors, or demand more historical data on CEO compensation. But none of this would get to the root of the problem, which is that measuring income inequality at the company level is inherently flawed. A finance company that pays everyone well but preys on its customers can contribute more to economy-wide inequality than a multinational whose CEO earns far more than its tens of thousands of employees. And the opportunities to manipulate the ratio are endless. Advertisement To be sure, compensation information for a companys top executives absolutely should remain in the summary compensation table. It could even be expanded to provide additional details on particularly embarrassing numbers, like the $25 million Meta Platforms Inc. spent on personal security for CEO Mark Zuckerberg in 2021, instead of requiring investors to dig through multiple footnotes for limited information. But does the average investor really need to know that Zuckerberg made 92 times what the companys median employee did? At a time when critics are circling the SEC, and when some are even challenging its power to make rules at all, it behooves the agencys leaders to be painstakingly fair and reasonable. The problems with the pay ratio offers a real opportunity: By admitting that the rule hasnt worked as planned, the SEC could gain a counterpoint to detractors who complain about regulatory overreach, perhaps allowing it to focus on issues that matter more to investors, such as cryptocurrencies and special purpose acquisition companies. Sometimes one must concede the battle to win the war. More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: Advertisement Gender Pay Gap Illuminates CEO Stock-Option Excess: Chris Hughes British Billionaire Shows How Not to Set CEO Pay: Andrea Felsted CEO Pay Is the Last Temptation of Shale: Liam Denning This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Michelle Leder is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Creator of Footnoted.com, a site devoted to SEC filings, she is author of Financial Fingerprint: Uncovering a Companys True Value. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load There have been 27 school shootings in the US this year, and 119 since 2018. The latest, at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, left 19 children and two teachers dead. Education Week, a nonprofit focused on improving learning for students in kindergarten through high school, finds it necessary to track shootings such as these (which it describes as heartbreaking, but important work) because this is America where guns, safety and schools remain grotesquely and tragically intertwined. Breaking that bond requires aggressive responses, but dont count on any emerging from Congress, most state legislatures or the gun industry. The Uvalde murders produced fresh rounds of thoughts and prayers tweets from Republicans who have spent years burying federal and state gun control legislation. In addition to tweeting, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas suggested solving the gun problem with more guns by adding armed guards to schools. Representative Tom Malinowski, a New Jersey Democrat, offered more civilized approaches, including enhanced background checks and revisiting a ban on assault rifles. Current legislative realities, however, make it nearly impossible for Malinowski and like-minded members of his party to pass new legislation as two Democrats, Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, have reminded us. Advertisement Victims of gun violence, and clearheaded law enforcement officials, should consider turning their attention more forcefully to the courts instead. Litigation could hold the countrys firearms manufacturers and tens of thousands of dealers accountable for gun violence sooner than elected representatives ever will. Even then, litigants face daunting hurdles. Big gunmakers such as Remington Arms Co., Smith & Wesson Brands Inc., and Sturm, Ruger & Co., as well as retailers, are protected by a federal liability shield that makes it difficult though not impossible to successfully sue them. (The Uvalde shooter used an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle made by Daniel Defense Inc., a Georgia gunmaker.) The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, or PLCAA, is one of those nifty corporate giveaways Congress is so good at crafting when lots of lobbying dollars and business interests are in play. Passed in 2005, when the firearms industry was facing a raft of negligence lawsuits from victims, the PLCAA basically prevents anyone from using federal courts to hold gunmakers and dealers liable for crimes committed with weapons they sell. Several lawsuits have challenged the PLCAAs constitutionality, but none have been successful. Still, the law allows for a handful of exceptions that can pierce the PLCAAs shield or at least give litigants a fighting chance of corralling the gun industry in a courtroom. Those exceptions include damages related to selling defective products and improper sales and marketing practices. Advertisement In that context, an earlier tragedy offers a roadmap for holding gunmakers accountable. Families whose children were killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, later sued Remington, which made the Bushmaster semi-automatic rifle used in the shooting. The suit, filed in state court in 2015, accused Remington of engaging in deceptive sales and advertising practices by marketing its weapons to mentally unstable buyers. The families said a Remington customer, the shooter who killed their children, was inspired by the companys marketing especially by macho advertising that portrayed the Bushmaster as a weapon of war. Remington said there was no proof of such a direct connection. The PLCAAs powers werent broad enough to keep Remington out of state court, and the company and Sandy Hooks grieving families engaged in a seven-year legal battle to settle the matter. A lower court in Connecticut initially dismissed the suit, ruling that the PLCAA granted immunity to Remington. The Connecticut Supreme Court reversed that ruling on appeal, and the US Supreme Court declined to take the case. Remington settled the suit in February by agreeing to pay the families $73 million. Although the Remington case didnt go to trial, it was still a significant victory for the Sandy Hook families. And while no firearms manufacturer to date has been held liable by a jury for a mass shooting, the Remington settlement breached the gun industrys armor particularly because the families also relied on existing Connecticut liability laws, known as predicate statutes, to help them circumvent the PLCAA. Advertisement One of the takeaways from the Sandy Hook case is that states that have predicate statutes on the books, or want to put new statutes in place, can expand the liability exposure for the gun industry, said Eric Ruben, a professor at the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University and a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice. New York has already followed that route. It passed a law last year allowing the state to sue gunmakers for some forms of gun violence. Gunmakers filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the New York law, but a federal judge dismissed their case on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Mexican government is suing Smith & Wesson, Glock Inc., Sturm, Ruger and other big firearms companies, seeking to hold them accountable for Mexicos sprawling gun violence. Attorneys general in 13 US states and Washington, D.C., have filed amicus briefs supporting the Mexican lawsuit. Potential litigants can also draw inspiration from a long history of successful product liability cases in the US involving once seemingly invulnerable corporate titans such as tobacco producers, automakers and pharmaceutical companies. Recall that it was a large group of creative state attorneys general who brought the tobacco industry to court and collectively held it accountable for health-care costs related to smoking. Advertisement So theres a pathway here, albeit a narrow one. For the families and loved ones of the victims in Uvalde and everywhere else that probably doesnt offer any immediate consolation. And it certainly cant replace the lives that were taken. But when the Uvalde families are ready, they should go to court. More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: The Shame of the Texas School Massacre: The Editors How to Start Solving Americas Gun Culture Problem: Sarah Green Carmichael One Simple Way to Reduce Gun Violence Among Children: Francis Wilkinson This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Timothy L. OBrien is a senior columnist for Bloomberg Opinion covering U.S. business and politics. A former editor and reporter for the New York Times, he is author of TrumpNation: The Art of Being the Donald. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Recent shootings at a Texas elementary school and New York grocery store have put a spotlight on Washingtons inaction on guns. Democrats in the US Congress have long supported legislation to expand background checks for gun buyers and remove guns from people exhibiting violent behavior. President Joe Biden, who helped pass a landmark gun violence law as a senator, wants the Senate to confirm his nominee to lead the top federal firearms regulator. But any effort to restrict firearms in America must overcome a strong and organized defense of unfettered gun ownership, backed by Republicans broad interpretation of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. Heres a status report on proposed government actions. Require Red Flag Laws Gun-regulation talks in the Senate have so far centered on so-called red-flag laws, which empower family members or police officers to ask a court to temporarily remove the right to own firearms from people exhibiting violent behavior. A bipartisan group of four senators, led by Republican Marco Rubio of Florida, offered legislation in 2021 that would create a new grant program to encourage more states to adopt such laws. The bill stops short of mandating them, with Rubio saying that the choice should be up to individual states. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia already have red-flag laws. Advertisement Confirm Top Firearm Regulator In April, Biden nominated former prosecutor Steve Dettelbach to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which hasnt had a permanent director since 2015. The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on whether to send his name to the full Senate for consideration. Biden withdrew his initial choice to lead the regulator in the fall of 2021, after he failed to win a majority of the Senates support. Unanimous Republican opposition to Dettelbach is expected, so Democrats cant afford a single no vote in the 50-50 Senate, where Vice President Kamala Harris has the power to break ties. Senator Angus King of Maine, an independent who normally can be counted on as part of the 50-vote Democratic bloc, helped tank Bidens first choice for the job. But hes told reporters that hell vote to confirm Dettelbach. Fund Local Violence-Prevention Efforts Advertisement Violence-prevention programs in underserved urban neighborhoods try to steer would-be violent criminals toward worthier endeavors. In May, Biden nominated criminal justice attorney Amy Solomon to lead the Justice Department office that funds such programs. The Senate has yet to consider her nomination. In 2021, Biden broadened the federal funding available to such programs and asked Congress for an extra $5 billion over eight years to fund them, but that funding request is stalled along with much of Bidens proposed spending on social programs. Expand Background Checks Licensed firearm dealers are required to run background checks, but private sellers -- those who sell firearms only occasionally, for example -- dont need licenses. This discrepancy is often shorthanded as the gun-show loophole. Shortly after the May 24 mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he would force a vote to expand criminal background checks to would-be gun buyers on the internet and at gun shows. But he later pulled back, saying that Democrats would instead try to find a consensus proposal that could draw in enough Republican support to move forward. (Michael Bloomberg, owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News, founded and helps fund Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for universal background checks and other gun violence prevention measures.) Advertisement Ban Certain Firearms A 1986 law signed by President Ronald Reagan, who had survived a would-be assassins bullet five years earlier, banned most civilians from purchasing newly manufactured automatic weapons. For those made before 1986 and owned by civilians, the law imposed strict rules on transferring them to a new owner. In 1994, Congress created the background-check system and banned new semiautomatic weapons that resemble assault-style weapons. That ban, which gun-control advocates criticized for its loopholes, expired in 2004 without action by Congress to renew it. Since then, Democrats have tried and failed to pass legislation restricting semiautomatic weapons. The gunman in the Texas shooting legally bought two semiautomatic AR-style rifles shortly after his 18th birthday, according to the Texas Tribune. Prohibit Large-Capacity Magazines Advertisement The 1994 assault weapons ban also prohibited large-capacity magazines, devices that store and feed ammunition, during the 10 years it was in effect. Large-capacity was defined as anything holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Since the ban expired in 2004, gun owners have been able to purchase magazines capable of holding 100 rounds of ammunition. Nine states and the District of Columbia have passed laws banning large-capacity magazines. Democratic lawmakers led several unsuccessful attempts to reinstate the federal ban, including after the single deadliest mass shooting in US history. Biden said during his 2020 presidential campaign that he would sign off on a ban, though theres little indication any such bill can gather enough support to clear the 60-vote supermajority needed to pass most legislation in the Senate. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Chiles constitution writers are putting the final touches on the draft charter that will be the subject of a Sept. 4 referendum. Following a period of civil unrest, almost 80% of the population backed the writing of a new magna carta in a 2020 vote. But recent polls show skepticism on the rise, with more citizens now inclined to reject rather than approve the proposed replacement. 1. Why are Chileans writing a new constitution? The current constitution dates from the 1973-1990 military dictatorship. Though its been amended several times since Chile returned to democracy, its widely viewed as illegitimate because of its origins during the reign of General Augusto Pinochet, a violent dictator whose rule featured arbitrary arrests and political executions. Critics of the current constitution argue that elements of it contribute to inequality and a weak social security net that have fed unrest, while giving the private sector too dominant of a role in providing public services. On the other hand, many are seeking to retain the nations pro-business rules, arguing they have been key to Chiles economic growth and stability. Advertisement 2. What is public opinion on the matter? Since roughly late March, polls show voters moving toward rejecting the draft. According to Cadem, which carries out surveys and market research, some of the public has lost trust in the members of the Constitutional Convention and disagree with the approved articles. Polling shows the top reasons cited to approve the constitution include wanting to guarantee rights to health care and housing and to have a magna carta that was conceived during democracy. Polls show many voters are undecided, with estimates running as high as 27%. 3. Where do things stand? Three Constitutional Convention committees are hammering out the final details of the draft document. One body is proofreading the charter for any contradictions or errors; another is writing a preamble; the third is deciding on articles governing the transition period to the new constitution. The committees convened following 10 months of debate and votes during which convention delegates included 499 articles into the proposal. Chiles draft has roughly 49,600 words, about 10 times more than the US Constitution. Advertisement 4. What are some highlights? On social issues, the charter includes measures that boost indigenous community representation, establish a national health care system and toughen environmental safeguards. It broadens the central banks considerations in its policy decisions, authorizes expropriations with the condition that the property owner is fairly compensated and makes permits for the use of water temporary and revocable. A controversial proposal to nationalize the mining industry was rejected. The constitution also envisions replacing the senate with a weaker, regional chamber, thus leaving most of the legislative power in the hands of the lower house. 5. Whats next? The convention will release its final draft to the public by early July. Battle lines are already being drawn. The far-right Republicanos party became one of the first to publicly rebuff the conventions work, saying that it failed in its mission of writing a constitution that represents the Chilean people and lays the groundwork for future development. Meanwhile, the influential ex-President Michelle Bachelet backed the charter, saying in a Bloomberg interview that it offers a new social contract. Current head of state Gabriel Boric has also supported the new magna carta. On Sept. 4, all eligible residents will cast ballots in a mandatory vote where a simple majority will be needed to either approve or reject the document. If it is shot down, the current constitution will remain in force. Advertisement 6. What prompted this process? A period of mass protests began on Oct. 18, 2019, triggered by an increase in Santiago subway fares. Demonstrators quickly expanded their complaints to include low pensions and deficiencies in the health care and education systems, among other complaints. The unrest, which waned at the start of 2020 near the onset of the pandemic, forced shops to close, disrupted key transportation links and stalled investment decisions. In efforts to diffuse tensions, former President Sebastian Pinera agreed to the 2020 referendum to determine whether Chile would rewrite its charter and what type of body would be in charge of doing so. 7. How are investors reacting? In general, investors and top policy makers such as central bank President Rosanna Costa have said the constitutional process is keeping local assets weak given the uncertainty it creates. Going forward, there are discrepancies on how the new magna carta would play out. Morgan Stanley economists wrote the draft constitution wouldnt disrupt Chiles macro policy framework, and the exclusion of extreme articles is positive for fixed-income assets. JPMorgan Chase & Co. analysts wrote it would weaken local institutions, though the equity market has already priced in much of that deterioration. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load As of right now, in the entire country, there is just a single federally funded study on preventing gun violence in Americas schools. It started in September. And in the days since 19 children and two teachers were gunned down in their classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, members of the research team of about a dozen scientists and educators have been furiously emailing back and forth, asking how they can speed up the work on their three-year grant. We really dont know what works and what doesnt to keep schools safe from events like Tuesday, said Charles Branas, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University and one of the lead investigators in the study. School districts across the country are formulating policies in a vacuum without any evidence to hang their hat on. Advertisement Wait, what? Columbine. Sandy Hook. Parkland. The federal government wasnt funding this kind of research before? The answer is no not for more than 20 years. In 1996, Congress passed the so-called Dickey Amendment, named after the late Representative Jay Dickey, who retired from Congress with an A-plus rating from the National Rifle Association. The measure effectively cut off funding for research on gun violence at the Centers for Disease Control. Dickey had a change of heart following the 2012 massacre in a Colorado movie theater that killed 12 people. He partnered with a former nemesis, Mark Rosenberg, then director of the CDCs National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, to argue that gun violence should be treated like a public health crisis. In a 2012 op-ed article in the Washington Post, they implored Congress to restore the funding. Advertisement We were on opposite sides of the heated battle 16 years ago, but we are in strong agreement now that scientific research should be conducted into preventing firearm injuries, they wrote. Ways to prevent firearm deaths can be found without encroaching on the rights of legitimate gun owners. It wasnt for another six years that a Republican president, Donald Trump, signed a spending bill that restored CDC research for gun violence and prevention. In 2020 and 2021, Congress allocated $25 million over three years for such research, split between the CDC and the National Institutes of Health. But thats a pittance, Rosenberg says, compared to the $200 million annual spending over 50 years on research into preventing motor vehicle injuries. That spending has helped save 600,000 lives about the same number of lives, he notes, lost to gun violence between 2000 and 2020. Branas and his team are studying about 650 public schools across the country in urban and non-urban centers. The team is looking at schools that have experienced gun violence and those that havent, examining the effectiveness of about two dozen safety tactics and policies. Advertisement The study is in such early stages that there isnt even preliminary data. Its really unclear if arming teachers is a solution. Teachers already have a major job in a classroom, he told me. We havent even begun to scratch the surface of the implications of running kids through lockdown drills. The CDC and NIH have awarded some 28 grants to study a range of gun violence issues, including the best ways to intervene and prevent threats of gun violence on social media; how to figure out who is most at risk of being victims of gun violence and who is most at risk of perpetrating violent gun acts; and the development of a website to teach children hunting, shooting and firearms safety. Science is not the set of perfect answers, Rosenberg told me. Its a tool for reaching the answers. Branas hopes his teams findings can be used by school districts around the country to inform prescriptive measures and prevent other children from being senselessly gunned down. Advertisement I look forward to their findings. But when it comes to gun violence as with vaccines and climate change I worry whether data and scientific arguments are enough. The aftermath of a mass shooting is by now sadly familiar. Theres a template, with rolling coverage leading up to a visit from the president, an impassioned plea for stricter gun laws and failed votes in Congress. The vast majority of the country supports universal background checks, most people want to ban gun purchases by those with mental illness, and they dont want people carrying concealed weapons without permits. And yet there is a feeling of hopelessness that American society is incapable of doing anything about these massacres. Maybe we hugged our children a little tighter and a little longer this morning before we sent them off to school. What else can we do? It makes us doubly motivated that we have to find something, that we have to contribute to a solution here, Branas told me. And that drives an inkling of optimism for us. Advertisement More From Bloomberg Opinion: Can We Finally Get Angry Enough to Stop This Madness?: Mark Gongloff In Philadelphia, Teenagers Want Guns Off the Streets: Francis Wilkinson How to Start Solving Americas Gun Culture Problem: Sarah Green Carmichael This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Julianna Goldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist who was formerly a Washington-based correspondent for CBS News and White House correspondent for Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Television. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load 10 Chinese firms raided over talent poaching Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Authorities in Taiwan raided 10 Chinese companies suspected of poaching chip engineers and other tech talent this week, the islands Investigation Bureau said Thursday in the latest crackdown on Chinese firms to protect its chip supremacy. Home to chipmaker giant TSMC and accounting for the majority of the worlds most advanced semiconductor manufacturing capacity, Taiwan has ramped up a campaign to counter poaching by Chinese companies in what the island sees as a threat to its chip expertise. The Investigation Bureau said it raided 10 Chinese companies or their R&D centers, which operate in Taiwan without approval, this week. It said nearly 70 people were summoned for questioning.. The bureau has launched investigations into about 100 Chinese companies suspected of poaching technology talent, a senior official told Reuters last month. Advertisement Chinas scramble for chip engineering talent has intensified as Beijing looks to achieve self-reliance in advanced chips, especially after a trade war with the administration of President Donald Trump. Taiwanese law prohibits Chinese investment in some parts of the semiconductor supply chain, including chip design, and requires reviews for other areas such as chip packaging, making it hard for Chinese chip companies to operate on the island legally. Reuters High court raises to 18 age of consent for sex Zimbabwes Constitutional Court has ruled that the legal age of consent for sex should be raised from 16 to 18, a judgment welcomed by many in a country where rights groups say teen pregnancies are forcing hundreds of girls out of school. In a ruling handed down this week, the countrys highest court struck down as unconstitutional provisions in the criminal law that set the age of consent for sex at 16. The justice minister and parliament have 12 months to enact a law that protects all children from sexual exploitation in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, the ruling read. Advertisement The case was brought by two women who were married as children. The age of consent for sex has long been controversial in this southern African country. Campaigners argued that the 16-year age for consent was too young and allowed for the exploitation of girls. However, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi argued in parliament last year that most children are mature, beyond their age nowadays and are already sexually active. He claimed that raising the age of consent to 18 means children below the age of 18 having sexual intercourse will be criminalized and have unwanted criminal records. Associated Press M23 rebels attack military base in east Democratic Republic of Congos army defended a major military camp in the countrys east on Thursday after days of fighting with M23 rebels making advances in the region. Advertisement Clashes continued at the Rumangabo base in the Rutshuru area of North Kivu province about 25 miles from the provincial capital, Goma. More than 20 shells were fired by the rebels on Tuesday and Wednesday on the Rumangabo base, near the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature, and the surrounding area, according to a statement from a military spokesman. The M23 is largely an ethnic Tutsi group opposed to the Congolese government that started in 2012 and seized control of Goma for nearly a month. United Nations forces and Congos army dislodged the M23 from Goma, and many of the rebels fled to Rwanda and Uganda before a 2013 peace deal. The group has recently resurfaced with increasing attacks in eastern Congo. It accuses the government of not respecting the commitments it made to integrate rebel fighters into the national army. Advertisement Associated Press U.N. votes narrowly to extend arms embargo on South Sudan: The United Nations Security Council voted by a narrow margin to extend an arms embargo on South Sudan and a travel ban and financial sanctions on targeted individuals for a year. For a resolution to be approved by the 15-member council, it needs at least nine "yes" votes and no veto by a permanent member. The vote on the U.S.-drafted resolution on South Sudan sanctions was 10 to 0, with China, Russia, India, Kenya and Gabon abstaining. Ex-leader of Louvre charged with money laundering: The former president of the Louvre faces preliminary charges over alleged antiquities trafficking during his tenure as head of the Paris museum. Police charged Jean-Luc Martinez with "complicity in organized fraud" and money laundering, according to the Paris prosecutors' office. It said two of his former colleagues also were taken into custody but released without charges. According to the newspaper Le Canard Enchaine, investigators were looking into whether Martinez "turned a blind eye" to false certificates of provenance for five Egyptian antiquities. Advertisement Grenade reportedly kills 5 in Yemen: At least five civilians were killed in Yemen's southern port city of Aden when a man dropped a hand grenade in a fish market, security officials said. The blast also wounded at least 20 shoppers, the officials said. Yemen is awash with small arms that have been smuggled into poorly controlled ports over years of conflict. The country's civil war erupted in 2014 when Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of the north. From news services GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load COLOMBO, Sri Lanka Sri Lankas new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as finance minister as this Indian Ocean island nation confronts its worst economic crisis in memory. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa named Wickremesinghe minister of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policies in an apparent bid to regain Sri Lankas credibility as the government negotiates a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund. Sri Lankans have been enduring shortages of food and fuel, power outages and other privations. The country lacks the financial wherewithal to buy imported necessities and pay its debts, and the economic crisis has fueled political turmoil, with protesters demanding Rajapaksas resignation. Wickremesinghes appointment followed a government announcement that Sri Lanka was hiring firms to restructure its $51 billion external debt. Lazard of France will provide financial advice and Clifford Chance LLP will assist with legal help in restructuring Sri Lankas debts to international creditors. Advertisement A five-time former prime minister, Wickremesinghe was appointed to the post two weeks ago after his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa who is the presidents elder brother resigned following violent attacks by his supporters on peaceful anti-government protesters. Sri Lankans for months have been forced to stand in long lines to buy scarce essentials, with many returning home empty-handed. There is a severe shortage of many goods, from food, cooking gas, medicine and fuel to toilet paper and matchsticks. The economy has suffered under the pandemic, which has kept tourists away, and surging costs for most imports. Nearly bankrupt, the country has suspended repayments of $7 billion in foreign loans due this year. The IMF has said any short or long-term assistance will hinge on talks with creditors on restructuring loans. Sri Lanka must repay about $25 billion in foreign loans by 2026. Advertisement The finance ministry said earlier this month that the countrys usable foreign reserves had plummeted to $25 million. Wickremesinghe, 73, has been in Parliament for 45 years. His political party split in 2020 amid a leadership crisis and its most senior members left to form a new party, which is currently the countrys main opposition. He said last week that petrol stocks had dwindled to a single day, but shipments of gasoline paid for by an Indian credit line started arriving over the weekend. Protesters have been occupying the entrance to the presidents office for more than 40 days demanding Rajapaksas resignation. Attacks on peaceful protesters by government supporters triggered countrywide riots in which nine people died including a lawmaker and 200 were hurt. Homes and properties of government ministers and their supporters were burned down. The violence has nearly dismantled the Rajapaksa dynasty after Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as prime minister. Apart from being tasked with reviving the economy, Wickremesinghe is working on a constitutional amendment to dilute presidential powers and better empower the Parliament. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load MEXICO CITY Authorities in northern Mexico said Wednesday that six migrants were killed and 25 were injured after a bus they were riding in plunged through a guardrail and down an embankment. It was the latest in a series of deadly crashes and drownings of migrants in the last week. The civil defense office in the northern state of San Luis Potosi said those injured in the bus crash included a six-month-old baby and an 8-year-old child. The office said that all of the victims are migrants from Honduras, El Salvador and Cuba. Prosecutors said the dead included four women and two men, but their nationalities were not immediately clear. Local media reported the bus had departed from an area near Mexico City and was heading toward the U.S. border. Photos from the scene suggested the bus had flipped onto its side. Advertisement The accident occurred on a highway just outside the state capital, also known as San Luis Potosi. Immigrants activists say crackdowns on migrant crossing have led some to use riskier routes to the U.S. border. More people are choosing to take more dangerous routes, wrote immigrant activist Irineo Mujica. The number of people who die trying to cross Mexico is rising. On Tuesday, authorities in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz said six migrants drowned off Mexicos Gulf coast and one was still missing. Apparently, all were from Honduras; smugglers sometimes take migrants in open boats across the Gulf to avoid highway immigration checkpoints. Four migrants, also Hondurans, were pulled alive from the ocean by rescuers after their 25-foot open boat apparently capsized off the coast. In another incident, immigration officials said this week that a migrant father and his 7-year-old son were found dead in the Suchiate River, which marks the border between Mexico and Guatemala. Advertisement Mexicos national immigration institute said the 36-year-old man and his son were from El Salvador. Migrants frequently wade, swim or take rafts and boats to cross the border river into Mexico during their attempts to reach the U.S. frontier. Mexican officials have tightened border inspections along the Guatemalan border, but tens of thousands of Central Americans still make it across, often with the aid of smugglers. On Saturday, four migrants died and at least 16 were injured in a traffic collision in a town not far from the Guatemala border. The migrants were being transported in the back of cargo truck in the township of San Juan Chamula, just north of the tourist city of San Cristobal de las Casas. The prosecutors office did not identify the nationality of the dead men, but said the injured included nine people from Honduras, four from Guatemala, a Nicaraguan and an Ecuadorian, as well as one person whose nationality was not clear. A much larger truck carrying migrants overturned on a highway near the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez in December, killing at least 56 people. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load NEAR SHAYMAK, Tajikistan Two miles above sea level in the inhospitable highlands of Central Asia, theres a new power watching over an old passage into Afghanistan: China. For at least three years, Chinese troops have quietly monitored this choke point in Tajikistan just beyond Chinas western frontier, according to interviews, analysis of satellite images and photographs, and firsthand observations by a Washington Post journalist. While veiled in secrecy, the outpost of about two dozen buildings and lookout towers illustrates how the footprint of Chinese hard power has been expanding alongside the countrys swelling economic reach. Tajikistan awash in Chinese investment joins the list of Chinese military sites that includes Djibouti in the strategic Horn of Africa and man-made islands in the South China Sea, in the heart of Southeast Asia. Advertisement Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinpings economic ambitions over the past seven years have brought a wave of major investment projects, from the resource-rich Caspian Sea to Cambodias coastline. The modest facility in Tajikistan which offers a springboard into Afghanistans Wakhan Corridor a few miles away has not been publicly acknowledged by any government. But its presence is rich in significance and symbolism. At a moment when the United States might consider a pact that would pull American troops out of Afghanistan, China appears to be tiptoeing into a volatile region critical to its security and its continental ambitions. Already, the retreat of old powers and arrival of the new are on display in Tajikistan, a tiny, impoverished country that served as a gateway into Afghanistan for U.S. units in the early phases of the 2001 invasion. Advertisement During a recent trip along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border, The Post saw one of the military compounds and encountered a group of uniformed Chinese troops shopping in a Tajik town, the nearest market to their base. They bore the collar insignia of a unit from Xinjiang, the Chinese territory where authorities have detained an estimated 1 million Uighurs, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority. The crackdowns against the Uighurs have been internationally condemned as a violation of human rights, but the Chinese government says they are part of a campaign to insulate its restive far west from Islamic extremism seeping in from Central Asia. Weve been here three, four years, a soldier who gave his surname as Ma said in a brief conversation while his Chinese comrades, guided by a Tajik interpreter, bought snacks and topped up their mobile SIM cards in Murghab, a sprawl of low-rises about 85 miles north of the base. Advertisement When asked whether his unit had intercepted anyone crossing from Afghanistan, Ma smiled. You should be aware of our governments policies about secrecy, he said. But I can say: Its been pretty quiet. Scarce public information Details about Chinas activities at the facilities, some of which bear the Chinese and Tajik emblems, are not made public. Also unclear are the arrangements over their funding, construction and ownership. Satellite imagery shows what appear to be two clusters of buildings, barracks and training grounds, about 10 miles apart near the mouth of the Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of territory in northeastern Afghanistan. The Post separately spoke to members of a German mountaineering expedition who said they were interrogated in 2016 by Chinese troops patrolling the Afghan corridor, near the settlement of Bazai Gonbad. Photos provided by Steffan Graupner, the expedition leader, showed Chinese mine-resistant armored vehicles and equipment embossed with the countrys paramilitary logo. Taken together, the findings add weight to a growing number of reports that China, despite public denials, has been conducting security operations inside Afghanistan. Chinas Foreign Ministry declined to comment and directed questions to the Defense Ministry, which did not respond to requests for comment. Advertisement In a statement, Tajikistans Foreign Ministry said there are no Peoples Republic of China military bases on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan, nor any talks whatsoever to establish one. Analysts say the Chinese encountered by The Post may be paramilitary units under the command of the central military leadership but technically distinct from the Peoples Liberation Army, Chinas main war-fighting force. U.S. officials say they are aware of the Chinese deployment but do not have a clear understanding of its operations. They say they do not object to the Chinese presence because the United States also believes that a porous Afghan-Tajik border could pose a security risk. Chinas encroachment into Afghanistan is fascinating but not surprising and should be welcomed by Washington, said Ely Ratner, executive vice president at the Center for a New American Security, who was a deputy national security adviser to then-Vice President Joe Biden. We can and should foist more responsibility for Afghanistan on China, Ratner said. They dont want a target on their back, but theyve been free-riding on U.S. dollars and lives for security. Despite harboring concerns about militants in Afghanistan for decades, China has been loath to be seen as siding with any party in the conflict, much less to put boots on the ground. Advertisement Instead, Chinas state-owned companies and banks have inked infrastructure deals, mining concessions and loans across Central and South Asia, the poor and turbulent belt that makes up its backyard. Its diplomats, who have robust ties with Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Taliban, have talked up Chinas role as a regional peace broker never a peacekeeper. But Chinas global posture is changing under Xi, who has shed the countrys long-standing isolationism and spoken loftily about restoring its great-power status. Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) strategists increasingly advocate for pushing beyond the Chinese mainland with deployments that follow in the wake of the countrys expanding haiwailiyi, or interests abroad, said Andrew Scobell, a Chinese security expert at the Rand Corp. Chinas peaceful rise has encountered a complicated and severe situation, Maj. Li Dong wrote in a 2016 journal article as part of a PLA assessment of Chinas overseas military strategy. He pinpointed the Central Asian frontier as one of three top flash points along with the Korean Peninsula and the East and South China seas. Advertisement Chinas deployments abroad lack strength and flexibility, Li wrote. China should push the construction of its overseas military presence gradually. A rugged chessboard In 2017, China unveiled a naval base in Djibouti that gave it a foothold in the Middle East and Africa. It steadily installed infrastructure and later, weaponry in the contested South China Sea. A recent Pentagon report predicted a PLA base could appear soon in Pakistan a prospect China has denied. Beijings moves have been similarly opaque in the rugged mountains spanning Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and China: the same chessboard where czarist Russia and the British Empire vied for influence 150 years ago. There will be no Chinese military personnel of any kind on Afghan soil at any time, Col. Wu Qian, the Defense Ministrys spokesman, told reporters in August. In private, the Chinese tell a slightly different story. Advertisement In late 2017, the Development Research Center, an influential think tank under Chinas cabinet, invited a handful of Russian researchers to its central Beijing offices. In what was billed as a private seminar, the Chinese explained why China had a security presence in Tajikistan that extended into the Afghans Wakhan Corridor, according to Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie Moscow Center, a Russian participant. The Chinese researchers took pains to describe the outpost as built for training and logistical purposes not a military occupation. They also sought to gauge Russias reaction with questions: How would Moscow view Chinas move into its traditional sphere of influence? Would it be more palatable if China deployed private mercenaries instead of uniformed men? They wanted to know what Russias red lines were, said Gabuev, who has held similar conversations with scholars working under the Chinese intelligence agency. They dont want Russia blindsided. Advertisement In the 1990s, a Uighur separatist group, calling itself the East Turkestan Independence Movement, rose in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban and threatened attacks against China. Although Western officials and analysts question the ETIMs ability to carry out significant attacks, it heralded the beginning of an extremist threat facing China. Since 2014, hundreds, or most likely thousands, of Uighurs have left China for Syria, and Chinese officials, like their Western counterparts, have warned about the prospect of fighters there decamping for Central Asia as they lose territory. In 2016, the Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan was targeted in a suicide bombing that Kyrgyz authorities attributed to the al-Nusra Front in Syria. 'You never saw us here' To make the days-long overland journey across Tajikistan, from the capital, Dushanbe, to the remote canyon held by Chinese soldiers, is to witness a landscape altered by an even more irrepressible force than the troops: Chinese money. In the west, Chinese-built coal-fired plants loom over the skyline, providing electricity and heat to the capitals residents. In the east, Chinese-funded hospitals and schools rise from the hardscrabble countryside. In the south, Chinese-financed tracks circumvent a crucial Soviet-era railway that had been shut down by Tajikistans neighbor, Uzbekistan. Stitching it all together are Chinese-bored tunnels and Chinese-laid asphalt that cut hours off trips along the countrys winding east-west highway. The projects reflect Tajikistans strategic position in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, an ambitious infrastructure investment plan to pull the Eurasian land mass into its economic embrace. China, through a single state bank, held more than half of Tajikistans external debt as of 2016, up from none in 2006, according to 2017 Tajik Finance Ministry data. In the soft-power stakes, the United States and Russia both appear to be losing relative ground to China, which provides scholarships for undergraduate Tajiks and military academy training for up-and-coming defense officials. Susan M. Elliott, former U.S. ambassador to Tajikistan, said Chinas generous aid and funding should be applauded but viewed with skepticism. In the past year, a handful of countries that have taken Chinese investments have reconsidered BRI deals amid allegations of corruption and low feasibility. If someones offering money to build roads and help put power lines up, its hard to turn that down when you have no alternative, Elliott said. This is a strategic and important part of the world, and we need to continue our strong partnerships with Tajikistan and other countries in the region. In many ways, the shifting geopolitical currents play out on the windy streets of Murghab, established as an army outpost in the 1890s by Russian Cossacks. These days, it is Chinese troops who are dropping by in their unassuming minivans to pick up provisions. Aiperi Bainazarova, a part-time manager at the only hotel in town, said locals believed there were scores, maybe hundreds, of Chinese troops who stayed on base. They mostly come to town to buy phone credit. Sometimes they buy hundreds of kilograms of yak meat at the price of 30 somoni about $3 a kilo, she said. It helps the economy, said Bainazarova, 21, an ethnic Kyrgyz who studied on a Chinese government scholarship in Shanghai. Despite the Chinese governments insistence on keeping things secret, its troops periodic visits to Murghabs bazaar, a row of shipping containers converted into storefronts, are anything but. Safarmo Toshmamadov, a 53-year-old ethnic Pamir shopkeeper, said they have come to her for maybe three years. Some attempt a few words of Russian although they always come accompanied by Tajik interpreters, she said. We dont think about them, and they dont bother us, Toshmamadov said, shrugging. They buy my water and snacks. Its good. One afternoon outside Toshmamadovs store, a Post reporter saw Ma, the Chinese soldier, who was initially surprised to encounter another Chinese speaker. He spoke guardedly but affably about his deployment, which he explained was secret. You should know our governments standard policies around revealing information, he said. So dont tell your friends. When asked to pose for a photo together, Ma recoiled. Remember, he said, walking away. You never saw us here. Anton Troianovski in Moscow, Yuan Wang in Beijing and Dan Lamothe in Washington contributed to this report. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load BEIRUT Lebanon finally got a new government Friday, after 13 months of tortuous negotiations that left the country leaderless and paralyzed during the worst economic and financial collapse in its history. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. ArrowRight The formation of the new cabinet, headed by billionaire tycoon Najib Mikati and seemingly supported by almost all factions, means the country will be able to get down to the business of steering its way out of the crisis, which has wiped billions of dollars from the banking system and impoverished millions. Mikati, the new prime minister and one of the countrys wealthiest men, seemed to fight back tears as he delivered his inaugural speech, describing the problems of parents who cannot afford to feed their children, send them to school or find medicine to treat them when they are sick. I hope we can fulfill people's aspirations and at least stop the collapse, he said, promising to take immediate action. But given the countrys kleptocratic system of government, there are few reasons to believe that Mikatis administration will be capable of undertaking the radical reforms that are essential if Lebanon is to climb out of its depression, analysts say. Advertisement There are some new faces, such as Health Minister Firass Abiad , one of the countrys few respected public figures because of his dedicated efforts to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic. But all of the ministers owe their positions to political affiliations and will be accountable to the politicians who sponsored their inclusion. In accordance with the rules governing the formation of Lebanese cabinets, half of the ministers are Christians, half are Muslims and the allocation of positions has been calibrated to ensure that the different sectarian factions are accommodated. Mikati was associated with corruption scandals during his previous terms in office. The new minister of finance, Youssef al-Khalil, is an official with the Central Bank, the institution most widely blamed for causing the crisis and for blocking any solution by refusing to comply with International Monetary Fund requests to open up its books. Advertisement At best, this government is a morphine shot, said Maha Yahya, director of the Beirut-based Carnegie Middle East Center. Some ministers are capable in their fields of expertise, but others really have no clue, she said. And they all came in because of affiliation and support from a political leader. Among Lebanons most immediate challenges are securing fuel supplies to restore electricity, and the distribution of ration cards to help alleviate conditions for the most deprived Lebanese, three-quarters of whom now live below the poverty line, according to the United Nations. In the longer term, Lebanon needs to secure billions in international loans to recapitalize its collapsed banks and restore stability to the massively devalued currency. The Lebanese pound jumped in value after the announcement of the new government, but has still lost more than 90 percent of its value over the past two years. The international community has refused to offer any financial bailout until Lebanon undertakes reforms to ensure that the money wont disappear into the pockets of political elites, whose corruption is considered the biggest single cause of the financial collapse. Suzan Haidamous in Washington contributed to this report. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load RAMALLAH, West Bank The Palestinian Authority on Thursday announced the results of its investigation into the shooting death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, saying it had proven she was deliberately killed by Israeli forces as she tried to flee. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. ArrowRight The conclusion echoed the results of a preliminary investigation announced nearly two weeks ago and were widely expected. Israel rejected the findings, with Defense Minister Benny Gantz calling them, a blatant lie. Abu Akleh, a veteran Palestinian-American reporter for Al Jazeeras Arabic service, was shot in the head on May 11 during an Israeli military raid in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Witnesses and Palestinian officials have said she was hit by Israeli fire. Israel says she was shot during a battle between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants. It says that only a ballistic analysis of the bullet which is held by the Palestinian Authority and the soldiers guns can determine who fired the fatal shot. Advertisement Announcing the results of his probe at a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah,, Palestinian Attorney General Akram Al Khateeb said he had determined there were no militants in the immediate area where Abu Akleh was located. The only shooting was by the occupation forces, with the aim of killing, he said. Abu Akleh was in a group of journalists wearing helmets and protective vests marked press. Al Khateeb said the army saw the journalists and knew they were journalists. He accused Israel of shooting Abu Akleh directly and deliberately as she tried to escape. He also repeated the Palestinian position that the bullet will not be handed over to the Israelis for study. He said they decided not even to show images of the bullet to deprive (Israel) of a new lie. Al Khateeb said his investigation was based on interviews with witnesses, an inspection of the scene and a forensic medical report. Advertisement In a speech later Thursday, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi said it was impossible to know who fired the bullet and once again called on the Palestinians to cooperate to get to the bottom of what happened. But there is one thing that can be determined with certainty, the military chief said. No soldier fired intentionally at a journalist. We investigated that. We checked it. That is the conclusion. There is no other. Israel denies targeting journalists and has offered two possible scenarios, saying Abu Akleh was either shot by Palestinian militants who were firing recklessly at an Israeli army convoy or that she was hit by Israeli gunfire aimed at a nearby militant. The military has identified the rifle that may have been used in that scenario, but says it needs to test the bullet to make any final determination. Advertisement An AP reconstruction of events has lent support to eyewitnesses who say she was shot by Israeli troops. But a weapons expert interviewed by the AP as part of the reconstruction said that it was impossible to reach a conclusive finding without further forensic analysis. Palestinian witnesses say there were no militants or clashes anywhere near Abu Akleh. The only known militants in the area were on the other side of the convoy, some 300 meters (yards) from her position. They did not have a direct line of sight, unlike the convoy itself, which was some 200 (meters) away on a long straight road. Israel has publicly called for a joint investigation with the PA, with U.S. participation, and has asked the PA to hand over the bullet for testing. But the State Department said Wednesday that it had received no formal request for assistance from either side two weeks after her death. Advertisement The PA has refused to hand over the bullet to Israel or cooperate with it in any way, saying Israel cannot be trusted to investigate its own conduct. Rights groups say Israel has a poor record of investigating when security forces shoot Palestinians, with cases often languishing for months or years before being quietly closed. The PA administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hussein Al Sheikh, a top Palestinian official, said Thursdays report would be shared with the U.S. administration. Copies will also be delivered to Abu Aklehs family and to Al Jazeera, he said. The Palestinians say they will also share their results with international parties, including the International Criminal Court, which launched an investigation into possible Israeli war crimes last year. Israel has rejected that probe as being biased against it and is not cooperating with it. Advertisement The severe distrust means the Israeli and Palestinian investigations into Abu Aklehs death are unfolding separately, with neither likely to accept any conclusions reached by the other. Each side is in sole possession of potentially crucial evidence. Ballistic analysis could match the bullet to a specific firearm based on a microscopic signature, but only if investigators have access to both. Lt. Col. Amnon Shefler, a military spokesman, told the AP the military has additional footage from that day, but declined to say what it shows or when it would be released, citing the ongoing investigation. Palestinians are still mourning Abu Akleh, a widely known and respected on-air correspondent who rose to fame two decades ago, during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, against Israeli rule. The 51-year-old documented the harsh realities of life under Israeli military rule now well into its sixth decade with no end in sight for viewers across the Arab world. Advertisement Jenin has long been a bastion of Palestinian militants, and several recent attacks inside Israel have been carried out by young men from in and around the town. Israel has continued to carry out near-daily raids in Jenin since Abu Aklehs death, which it says are aimed at preventing more. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 war and has built settlements where nearly 500,000 Israelis live alongside nearly 3 million Palestinians. The Palestinians want the territory to form the main part of their future state, but peace talks broke down more than a decade ago, and Israels dominant right-wing parties are opposed to Palestinian statehood. The PA itself is seen by many Palestinians as a corrupt and authoritarian body that aids the occupation by coordinating with Israel on security matters. Any cooperation with Israel on the Abu Akleh investigation would likely spark a popular backlash among Palestinians, who view her as a martyr to both journalism and their national cause. ___ Associated Press writer Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem contributed to this report. GiftOutline Gift Article The head of Australias largest drinks retailer Endeavour Group has said the company is still struggling to find workers to staff its hundreds of pubs nationally as the countrys labour market crunch continues. Steve Donohue, Endeavours chief executive, told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald teams at the business 300-odd hotels were working a bit harder than wed like due to a shortage of international workers who would usually fill gaps in the roster. Endeavour Drinks CEO Steve Donohue. Credit:Eamon Gallagher Retail is not as challenged as it was through the Omicron wave, and were thankfully heading into a more stable environment, Donohue said. But hotels are still one of the more challenging areas. As international travel opens up and people can come and work in Australia, well probably start to fill some of those gaps around in our kitchens. Were starting to see that come back, but theres quite a ways to go. With a change of government in Canberra, inevitably comes the scramble among well-connected lobbying firms to get into the ears of incoming ministers on behalf of their well-paying clients. Credit:Matt Golding For the nine years of Coalition government, Liberal-linked outfits such as DPG Advisory led by former Liberal staffer, candidate and Scott Morrison inner circle member David Gazard TG Public Affairs and, of course, Barton Deakin ruled the roost. But now the changing of the guard is well and truly on, although TP has given itself a sniff of staying in the game, hiring Michael Choueifate, Anthony Albaneses old chief of staff from Albos last stint in government. Perennial Labor-linked influencer Hawker Britton is never far away from the ALP hierarchy, with managing director Simon Banks spotted in the vicinity of Albaneses office in recent days. When the Uluru Statement from the Heart was presented to the Turnbull government, it tried to toss it into the wide-rimmed bin of political neglect. But the bin was already full filled with silenced First Nations voices, Indigenous statements and petitions from the past: hopes, dreams and promises denied for political expediency. Is it any wonder the campaign continues? We couldnt take no for an answer. Thursday is the fifth anniversary of the Uluru Statement. And what a wonderful birthday we are having for the most sacred spiritual and political document in Australias history. For the first time my people find ourselves looking forward to constitutional inclusion and political self-determination, with a prime minister standing beside us and an Aboriginal woman, Linda Burney, leading us as the minister of Indigenous Australians. Our people have never enjoyed a vantage point quite like this. Thomas Mayor, a unionist and advocate for the Uluru Statement from the Heart, with his children. Credit: Before assessing the way forward, let us briefly reflect on how we came to be here. How is it that we have a government who is as passionate about the Uluru Statement as Indigenous delegates were in the heart of the nation five years ago? The Uluru Statements invitation to walk with us has been accepted by many Australian individuals and organisations, including this masthead. Moving politicians has been a collective effort. A nation-wide effort. A trade unions and big business effort. A Blackfulla and Whitefulla effort. An effort that has cut out the far extremes and included the vast centre of Australian politics. And we have come so far with barely a campaign budget to do it. They were the elections high-profile parachute candidates, plonked into two far-flung Sydney electorates by Labor head office over the objections of local members. But while Kristina Keneally and Andrew Charlton both attracted considerable blowback during the campaign, one emerged victorious while the other crashed out of parliament. Kristina Keneally lost the previously safe seat of Fowler after a backlash from angry locals. Credit:Nick Moir Charlton, who previously lived in a $16 million mansion in Bellevue Hill, extended Labors previous 3.5 per cent margin in Parramatta a seat the Liberal Party targeted relentlessly throughout the campaign. This was despite negative media coverage, including over his failure to name three restaurants he liked in the area. Unless Liberals heed the lessons from the complete repudiation on Saturday of Scott Morrisons style of leadership and governing, then they are destined to spend a long time in opposition. It certainly doesnt mean lurching to the right. Nor does it mean unthinkingly veering left to Labors agenda, although to remain relevant they will have to support chunks of it, including on climate change, childcare, the Indigenous Voice to parliament and an integrity commission. Heeding the lessons of their loss doesnt mean the Liberals should lurch to the right, nor veer to the left. Credit:Dionne Gain Instead of drifting aimlessly on policies, neither left, right nor centre, as they have been for the past few years under Morrison, searching for culture wars to wage or picking fights over issues which should have been settled long ago, they need to be in the sensible centre to survive with their horizons focused beyond the Sky After Dark mob. They have to stand for something more enduring than whatever spin, stunt or sneaky manoeuvre will get them through the daily news cycle. They either change or they die. Australias new Aboriginal affairs minister has pledged to seek cross-parliamentary consensus on the establishment of an Indigenous Voice in the constitution despite a potential stoush with the Greens, who believe a treaty and truth-telling should be the priority. While the Greens and Labor agree that the Voice should be constitutionally guaranteed, they differ over important details, including the sequence in which the policy is enacted. The Greens disagree with the position in the Uluru Statement from the Heart that change should start with the Voice, followed by a treaty and a truth-telling commission. These disagreements have raised fears that Labors key policy could be blocked in the parliament. Linda Burney will soon be sworn in as Australias first female Aboriginal affairs minister. Credit:Brook Mitchell The minister, Linda Burney, who is expected to be sworn in soon, told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald Labor could explore the potential of working on all three elements of the sequence set forth in the Uluru Statement simultaneously to achieve a consensus with members of the crossbench. Everything is on the table, Burney says. Why do we have to get one thing done before we can do the next thing? Is it not possible to work on a Voice and establish a Makarrata commission [a council or committee for discussing agreement-making and truth-telling] at the same time? I dont see it as a linear process at all. The officials warned that flights would only exist for the wealthy. Further, the minister was told that the UK Home Office would not consider excessive charges caused by Australian government policy as a valid reason to extend the visas of thousands of Australians whose visas were due to expire. Australia closed its borders in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic worsened. Credit:Bloomberg This puts thousands of Australian citizens in an impossible position, a document seen by this masthead warned. If they are unable to leave before 31 August, they will be in breach of UK law. As well it will not be possible for them to work (and any business which employed them would be committing an offence), nor able to access the National Health Service. Loading The high commission has already received a significant number of reports of serious financial hardship among Australians in the United Kingdom. If, after 31 August, those unable to leave are also unable to work, there is a significant risk of widespread destitution among Australians and resultant reputational damage to the Australian government. In addition to the stark letter, an official and confidential diplomatic cable was sent issuing the same warning. Officials in London worked up an option with British Airways to organise government-backed repatriation flights but neither the proposal or the letter received a response from Payne. Australia first closed its borders to non-residents in late March 2020, but did not introduce caps on quarantine places until July 2020. The effects were instant, as airlines were forced to carry planes with just a handful of passengers, sending fares skyrocketing. The government at one point threatened to fine or jail any Australian who tried to get home from India. Tens of thousands of passengers were continually bumped from flights, leaving them in foreign countries for months and creating a constant backlog of around 40,000 Australians who were locked out of their country. This rolling backlog did not end until NSW became the first jurisdiction to drop hotel quarantine for the vaccinations, effectively reopening the international border in November 2021. The former head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Frances Adamson, defended consular officials telling Australians to go to homeless shelters because they were left stranded overseas. Loading Payne, the former foreign affairs and minister for women, has not been seen in public nor made any comment since her party was booted out of office on the weekend. She was contacted for comment. Her spokesman said the Australian government had helped more than 61,700 Australians return, including 33,516 people on 227 government-facilitated commercial flights, 35 of which were from the UK. The government also spent $40 million on the cost of increasing consular services and extending loans to Australians so they could buy tickets on government-assisted flights. The government took every consideration into account as it weighed up how best to help Australians overseas while protecting Australians at home, the spokesman said. By avoiding the death rates of so many countries, Australia has saved tens of thousands of lives. Former transport minister and Nationals MP Michael McCormack, to whom the letter was also addressed, praised Payne as one of the most outstanding individuals in Australian politics and said that if faced with a new pandemic, he would do exactly the same again. In a heartbeat, he said. It would be rewriting history in an unfair way to point the finger of blame at Marise Payne or anyone else. There were overseas posts that were concerned with the flights but at the time the highest levels of government and national cabinet had determined that we needed to close the borders. Its all well and good for people who are experts and people who have degrees in international diplomacy to criticise, but they werent the ones making the decisions, hearing from the health experts that we were going to lose tens of thousands of lives. McCormack said the vast majority of the Australian population was frightened of any COVID-19 case and wanted the borders shut, even if it meant locking out citizens. Loading I dont have a degree in international diplomacy, but Ive got a sense of compassion and a sense of righteousness, he said. He conceded that although the government had offered assistance some Australians may have slipped through the cracks. London: French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to start rebuilding a relationship with Australia based on trust and respect in his first phone call with new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday evening. Macron, who wrote privately to congratulate Albanese following his election victory on Saturday evening, reminded his new counterpart of the profound breach of trust which had occurred in an ugly chapter in Franco-Australian relations last year following the cancellation of a $90 billion submarine contract. Emmanuel Macron. Credit:Bloomberg In a conversation that lasted more than 20 minutes, the pair agreed the two nations needed to repair the bond to jointly overcome global challenges, including the climate emergency and strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific. A new road map to structure a new bilateral agenda would be created, the pair agreed, with the aim of strengthening resilience in the region and contributing to peace and security amid a more assertive China. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Clouds and sun, still humid with a shower or t-storm possible. The best chance may be during the PM hours.. Tonight Mostly cloudy with a shower or thunderstorm possible. Reading, PA (19601) Today Clouds and sun, still humid with a shower or t-storm possible. The best chance may be during the PM hours.. Tonight Mostly cloudy with a shower or thunderstorm possible. Fireman Mane Kyab after tackling a blaze in December. [Photo provided to China Daily] Tibetan fireman Mane Kyab would never forget the scene when he participated in quake relief, after a devastating tremor hit Yushu Tibet autonomous prefecture in Northwest China's Qinghai province 12 years ago. As Mane Kyab recalls, half of the school buildings collapsed. Frail cries of trapped survivors could be heard calling for help from under the debris, and family members of the deceased were crying, when his team arrived at the front line soon after the disaster. Although, after massive rebuilding efforts reshaped Yushu, there are no more traces of damage, the post-disaster scene is as clear as yesterday for Mane Kyab. "The walls were broken, the collapsed precast slabs were swinging, and people were cryingmy heart was broken," says the 34-year-old. Mane Kyab is a Tibetan born in Palung county in Qinghai's Haidong city. The county's name literally refers to "a valley of heroes" in Tibetan language, as the local legends tell that their ancestors were the warriors of ancient Tibet. He has been working as a fireman at the fire rescue station of the Xichuan South Road of Xining, capital of Qinghai, for 17 years, and he was a rescuer and witness of the Yushu earthquake. Like the legendary name of his hometown, Mane Kyab has acted bravely while performing his duties in daily life. After his fire squadron received the order to perform rescue for Yushu, he submitted an application immediately to join the mission, and he kept his promise battling the disaster. In one of his earlier diaries, he wrote, "I am a Tibetan soldier. It's good to send me to the front line, as I can understand Tibetan language, and I am a veteran." That year, he was only 22, and it was his fifth year working as a fireman. As he recalls, after arriving in Yushu, he was dispatched to perform rescue work in the city's normal school, and what appeared in his eyes were collapsed houses, and debris. "All the exits of the collapsed buildings were blocked, the space where we performed the rescue work was very narrow, so we had to keep digging the ruins with both hands," says Mane Kyab. "My fingers were bleeding, cut by the exposed steel bars. After simple dressing, I continued the rescue work," he says. After more than 10 hours of continuous digging, they retrieved the bodies of 11 victims. In their 12-day work, his team rescued six survivors. "As a fire rescuer, I knew that I should never give up, because every minute of our efforts would help to save a life," he says. Apart from his heroic dedication in Yushu, he also participated in rescue work in other fields. In July 2010, there was a major flood in Golmud city in Qinghai, and he joined the relief work without hesitation. In November 2015, his team saved the lives of a mother and her two daughters near Xining's Huangshui River. When he found them, they were so desperate that they were ready to jump into the river. In September 2018, he successfully saved a man, who was about to commit suicide on a cable-stayed bridge at a height of about 40 meters in Xining. Over the 17 years of his career, Mane Kyab has been awarded many times. He has twice won third-class merits and the title of "excellent soldier", along with 15 other awards. In 2010, he won the title of "heroic model in quake relief" by the Qinghai government. His family was selected as one of Qinghai's "most beautiful families" in 2019. In 2020, he won the title of Qinghai's "excellent firefighter". Last year, he won the title of "model of morality of Xining". And only recently, he was awarded the China Youth May 4th Medal, becoming the only one in Qinghai province to win this glory this year. "The glory of winning the China Youth May 4th Medal is not only for me, but for my team. It is for all of us, firefighters," he says. "Glories are not important to me; saving lives matters the most for us." Within a week, Winnipeg will be down two popular bakery shops. Within a week, Winnipeg will be down two popular bakery shops. Sleepy Owl Bread at 751 Wall St. shut its doors last Saturday. La Belle Baguettes Ness Avenue location will follow suit next Saturday. The pandemic played its role in both closures. "We just kind of decided to reclaim our lives," said Joanne Toupin, who co-owned Sleepy Owl Bread with her husband Beau Burton. Gone are the days of the couple spending a coffee break together around 5 a.m., after Burtons bakery shift ended and before Toupins began. MIKE SUDOMA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES "We just kind of decided to reclaim our lives," said Joanne Toupin, who co-owned Sleepy Owl Bread with her husband Beau Burton. "Its almost like our marriage has been on pause for eight years," Toupin said. The couple opened Sleepy Owl Bread on Wall Street in October of 2014. It was their first entrepreneurial venture both are bakers by trade. "We kind of always told ourselves, Were learning as we go, and if we dont like it, we dont have to keep doing it," Toupin said. Business boomed: Burton might put in 60 to 70 hours a week, while Toupin worked another 50. Customers continued to order croissants and bread loaves throughout the pandemic. The couple baked, managed books, maintained equipment and marketed their shop. The back-end work wasnt eithers preference. We kind of always told ourselves, Were learning as we go, and if we dont like it, we dont have to keep doing it. Joanne Toupin "We always thought, It will get better when we get this next piece in place," she said. "(But) once we get that next piece in place, its like, OK, theres another thing to deal with." Theyd pause for three weeks two in summer, one in winter for vacations like camping trips. "We were like, I feel like were literally just living for those vacations," Toupin said. This winter, the couple visited Toupins family in British Columbia. It "felt a lot harder than usual" to get back to work, Toupin said. She missed her family. The typical pandemic reasons the labour shortage, reduced income, major debt didnt deal death blows to Sleepy Owl Bread, Toupin said. We were like, I feel like were literally just living for those vacations. Joanne Toupin Rather, the last two years shifted her perspective. "Something like a pandemic really makes you question your core beliefs and who you are as a person," Toupin said, adding she and Burton reflected on what they wanted in life. Ending the business will bring more balance and family time with their 11-year-old son, Toupin said. "(The pandemic) sped up the process, but I think it was coming either way," she said. "We were already burning out." She and Burton are looking to sell or lease their space. She doesnt know whats next: though Burton would continue in the industry, Toupin is ready to look elsewhere. But, theyre going on dates again. Picnics and walks werent easy to come by while Sleepy Owl Bread was open. DANIEL CRUMP / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS La Belle Baguettes Ness Avenue closure is not the end of the company, theres still the St. Boniface location, Alix Loiselle said. La Belle Baguettes Ness Avenue closure is not the end of the company theres still the St. Boniface location. "It was just getting a little crazy," said owner Alix Loiselle. "(The closure is) really just to solidify the business and take more control of it post-pandemic." The company took on more wholesale clients to survive the pandemic. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Centennial Concert Hall and coffee shops like Fools & Horses are among local institutions selling La Belle Baguettes wares. La Belle Baguette became busier than ever, between its new partners and its existing customers (Loiselle said the business would do up to 60 home deliveries daily). It was just getting a little crazy. (The closure is) really just to solidify the business and take more control of it postpandemic. Alix Loiselle Now, its too much: corporate events are rolling again, weddings are on and people are increasingly stopping by the shops. Production is snowballing, Loiselle said. This, on top of the rising cost of ingredients and a lack of staff. Loiselles mother sometimes runs a storefront; his 13-year-old sister helps. Its harder to make a profit, Loiselle said. "(One store is) a lot easier to manage, logistically," he said. Hell transfer staff from the Ness Avenue location to St. Boniface. Some have chosen not to transition they live in St. James and dont drive so Loiselle is looking for bilingual front-of-house workers. "Its really sad to see people go, but the reality of the situation is that I just have to cut the business down a little bit and get things under control." Alix Loiselle "Its really sad to see people go, but the reality of the situation is that I just have to cut the business down a little bit and get things under control," Loiselle said. In 2020, he was steps away from signing a lease for a third location. Hed envisioned a centralized production hub and stores around Winnipeg. Loiselle said the current change is a good opportunity to reinvent and create new products. He might lease the Ness Avenue space to a new bakery. "(You have) a responsibility to the community to kind of not just drop everything and run," Loiselle said. Sleepy Owl Bread may also lease or sell to a new bakery, Toupin said. gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com There were tears and hugs as people circled around to offer condolences to the family of 25-year-old Doris Trout, who was killed in a homicide last week in Winnipeg's Central Park neighbourhood. 25-year-old homicide victim Doris Trout leaves behind three children, who Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak said will need extra love and support following their mother's violent death. (Tyson Koschik / CBC) There were tears and hugs as people circled around to offer condolences to the family of 25-year-old Doris Trout, who was killed in a homicide last week in Winnipeg's Central Park neighbourhood. About 40 people attended the vigil, right outside the building where Trout's remains were found. The Cree woman from Gods Lake Narrows First Nation had been missing for more than a month when her body was discovered early last Thursday morning, in a common area of an apartment complex at the corner of Kennedy Street and Sargent Avenue. To read more of this story first reported by CBC News, click here. This content is made available to Free Press readers as part of an agreement with CBC that sees our two trusted news brands collaborate to better cover Manitoba. Questions about CBC content can be directed to talkback@cbc.ca. Beaver Dam residents may see additional police presence around the schools as the Beaver Dam Unified School District works at ending the school year safely following the massacre at a Texas elementary school Tuesday. We have reviewed applicable safety protocols and been in contact with the BDPD regarding added presence as we close out the year, Beaver Dam Unified School District Superintendent Mark DiStefano said. Throughout the years, Beaver Dam schools have increased safety in the buildings to include requiring identification from visitors, secure entrances in the buildings and increasing the number of school liaison officers. Many of our officers have children right here in our own district, Beaver Dam Police Department Detective Dan Kuhnz said on the police departments Facebook page. We have an interest in seeing that our schools are as safe as they can possibly be. Fortunately, we have an excellent relationship with the Beaver Dam Unified School District and our department works daily with the schools to identify and address any known security issue. There are three school liaison officers that work in the schools and are assigned to investigate security threats inside the schools, Kuhnz said. Furthermore, every member on our department undergoes rigorous active-shooter response training, Kuhnz said. We have resources that can be at any district facility in minutes, if not seconds. Our number one priority is to make sure our kids are as safe as they can possibly be. We are committed to working with the district to address any security threat and verify that all current safety measures that are in place are being adhered to. Waupun Superintendent Steven Hill said the district did not request an increase in police presence but were making sure the school resource officer was visible in the buildings. Hill did send a letter out to families on Wednesday with remarks about the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. We share in the heartbreak we feel for the families who have lost a loved one due to this and other senseless acts of violence, Hill said. We support all groups coming together to end this horrific, senseless violence against our children. The letter states that children will process the news in different ways, and counselors are available at each school to assist the students who may need extra support. Hill offered advice to parents including: If your child is not focused on the tragedy, do not dwell on it. Try to avoid having detailed adult conversations regarding the tragedy in front of children. However, be available to answer questions to the best of your ability. Young children may not be able to express themselves verbally. Please pay attention to changes in their behavior or social interactions. Limit exposure to media coverage. Images of a disaster or crisis can become overwhelming, especially if watched repetitively. Young children, in particular, may not be able to distinguish between images on television and their reality. Older children may choose to watch the news be available to discuss what they see and to help put it into perspective. Maintain normal family routines as much as possible. Family activities, classes, and friends can help children feel more secure. Be aware of your own needs. Dont ignore your feelings of anxiety, grief, and anger. Talking to friends, family members, faith leaders, and mental health counselors can help. Let your children know you are sad. You will be better able to support them if you can productively express your own emotions. Many schools in the area are ending the school year this week including Beaver Dam and Waupun. Columbus, Horicon and Mayville schools have all ended their school years. Fall River Superintendent Dennis Birr said that the district is keeping up with their current safety procedures. Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or contact her at 920-356-6760. 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. JUNEAU There have been a lot of firsts in Jim Mielkes governmental career. He was the first administrator in the village of Trempealeau, the village of New Glarus, Ogle County, Illinois, and the first administrator for Dodge County. He is retiring June 1 after nearly 14 years as the top executive in Dodge County, and shared some of the wisdom he has gained in that time. It was a very unique challenge being the first in all those situations, but it was also very rewarding, Mielke said. In all those organizations it demonstrated the importance of having a full-time administrator, and that makes me feel like Ive really had an impact on all those communities. Ive been very fortunate in my career to work with so many great individuals. He got his start in finance and gradually transitioned to government service. My wife and I were living in the village of DeForest and I was appointed to the library board as a citizen, Mielke recalled. I kind of had the idea that I wanted to get involved a little bit, and I later ran for the village board and served two terms. He was part of the search for a village administrator, and was led down that path by the DeForest village president. He then went back to school at UW-Oshkosh on weekends. He obtained a masters degree in public administration after two years of study. He does not hesitate to name his biggest challenge and accomplishment. In terms of what had to be dealt with it was COVID, Mielke said. Yes, we had challenges with the budget and other issues, but when you look back to March and April of 2020, we started ramping up our response and dealing with the Safer at Home order. There was so much anxiety among our employees and the public. Internally we talked about not closing our doors to the public. Were here to serve the public and working with the department heads we came up with a way to be open. A lot of people use our services every day. We made it work. Every office was staffed and open. He added, A lot of credit goes to the employees who rose to the occasion. Regarding his choice to retire now, he said it was a decision that makes sense. I turned 64 in March and Ive always had it in my head to retire before age 65, Mielke said. For my wife and I, everything we have done since 1997 has revolved around meeting schedules. Wed take vacation on the last week of the month, which is often meeting free. Or Id take a couple days off after a county board meeting. Sixty-four is a nice round number. Thankfully were both in good health and are now able to do some things that weve put off for a long time. Boating, doing yardwork and taking the occasional road trip are on the list. Mielke has always been interested in trains, and would like to take some train or train-related journeys. His wife is interested in quilting and sewing, and would like to see some of the sites connected with that hobby. The couple plan to remain in their rural Beaver Dam home. Winter is one of my favorite times of the year, Mielke said. We may take a short trip to a warmer spot, but we have no plans to relocate. Summarizing his time with Dodge County he said: It has been a good fit for me and Im grateful that I have had the opportunity to work here. I look back at my time with a degree of satisfaction. Now its time to turn it over to someone else. I hope that Ive had a positive impact here. Thats what drives us and motivates us here at the county. Hopefully at the end of each day we go home feeling that way. I know thats how I viewed my job, and I know many others here that feel the same way. He admitted that at times he has been frustrated, but makes no apologies for it. I get frustrated because I care, he said. Thats just being human. I dont make policies. I carry them out and Ive always respected that distinction. I knew that coming into the profession. Concerning his advice to those who will remain behind he advises, We always have to remember try to listen when we have a disagreement. We need to have dialogue and back-and-forth to reach decisions, but we cant do that unless we look at the big picture. Our greatest accomplishments are based on our ability to work together, along with our experienced and dedicated staff. Ive had the honor to have a front row seat on that, and if everyone could see what I see every day theyd realize how special that is. It truly has been a privilege and will I keep my eye on things from afar? It will be hard not to, right? he said. County Board Chairman Dave Frohling wrote in an email, When we hired Jim as our first county administrator, we were uncertain how this would work out. I am proud to say that I am more convinced now than ever that we need a county administrator. In the recruitment process we were told that a county administrator, on average, stays in a position for seven years. Because of the type of person Jim is, and his fit with Dodge County, were able to double that. In the nearly 14 years I have worked with Jim we have had many discussions. We do not always agree, but we are always respectful of each others opinions. We come to an agreement and move forward. Jim always has the best interest of Dodge County and its residents in mind. He has worked to build a strong team within the county. We will greatly miss his knowledge and work ethic. I want to congratulate him on a career of great service to all of us who have gotten to know him. 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. A conservative Chicago law firm that has been working with the Republican-appointed special counsel probing Wisconsins 2020 election has filed another spate of lawsuits challenging another aspect of that election ballot drop boxes that has long raised the ire of Republicans, especially since their candidate for president lost. The Thomas More Society, however, isnt suing all the approximately 245 Wisconsin municipalities that used the absentee ballot drop boxes in November 2020, just the five largest and most Democratic-leaning: Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine. The firm, on behalf of a total of six residents in the five municipalities, notes that state law is silent on the use of drop boxes and asks a judge to declare them legally unauthorized and permanently barred. Democrats and Republicans alike largely approved of drop boxes prior to the 2020 election, and the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission approved their use in the election as a way to cut down on crowds at polling places at a time when there was no vaccine against COVID-19 and public health authorities were warning that large groups, such as at polling places, could spread the virus thats killed more than 1 million Americans. A January ruling by a Waukesha County judge that barred the use of drop boxes except in a clerks office has been appealed, and the legality of drop boxes is now before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which is expected to rule on the matter sometime this summer. The Elections Commission in February rescinded its guidance allowing drop boxes, in keeping with the lower courts ruling. The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau found the drop boxes were used in at least 43 cities, 46 villages and 156 towns throughout the state in the 2020 election. A spokesperson for the Thomas More Society did not respond when asked why the firm isnt suing the other municipalities that used drop boxes. The Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine clerks offices also did not respond to an opportunity to comment. Erick Kaardal, an attorney for the group, has been working with former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman on his ongoing $676,000 probe of the election. That review was paused earlier this month by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to allow time for resolution of five lawsuits related to the probe. Much like multiple judges, outside reviews and recounts, Gableman has so far found no evidence of the kind of widespread fraud or criminal activity that could have changed the outcome of the election in Wisconsin, where Joe Biden beat Donald Trump by just fewer than 21,000 votes. Still, he and other conservatives continue to allege a conspiracy among Democratic-leaning nonprofits and elections officials to use more than $10 million from the Chicago-based nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life to boost turnout in Democratic areas under the guise of safe voting during a pandemic. Money from the Center for Tech and Civic Life was distributed to about 214 Wisconsin municipalities, including many won by Trump, to pay for things including poll worker training and pay, new voting machines, ballot drop boxes and personal protective equipment. While the states five largest and most Democratic-leaning municipalities got between two and four times more money, per capita, than other municipalities, the center has said no municipality that asked for the money was denied it. A Dane County judge earlier this month characterized as ridiculous Kaardals claims in a separate lawsuit that accepting the centers grants to help fund elections constituted bribery. There is nothing in state law barring private funding to help administer elections. Turkish ambassador launches digital fabrication laboratory at Wits Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and Wits University launch FabLab. Wits University in partnership with TIKA launched a digital fabrication lab in the School of Electrical and Information Engineering under the directorship of Professor Turgay Celik. The digital fabrication lab is designed to inspire Wits researchers and students to turn their ideas into real products using a range of advanced digital manufacturing technology and knowledge. It is envisaged that access to the lab will accelerate innovation. The launch was attended by Turkish Ambassador Ms. Aysegul Kandas and country representatives, Wits leaders, academics, as well as students. In her speech Ambassador Kandas welcomed the collaboration between Wits University, TIKA and Turkey, noting that Wits is the first institution of higher learning that she has visited since coming into office. She said she is keen to see more partnerships between the University and institutions of learning in Turkey. Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at Wits University emphasised the importance of creating an enabling environment adding that, the work coming from the lab will go a long way in inspiring innovation on campus, as well as building Wits relationship with Turkish institutions. The lab called the Cezeri lab is kitted with the latest digital technologies ranging from 3D printers, scanners, laser cutting machines to CNC routers, desktop lathes, bench drills, computers, digital microscopes, robotic training sets, and various mechanical-electronic equipment. Prior to the opening, 10 Wits students and staff members participated in and completed a training programme organised by TIKA. The training covered equipment use in order to ensure optimum results and machine longevity. The establishment of the fabrication laboratory on the campus is a good opportunity for students and staff to present their ideas, said Tau Mmanchidi, training beneficiary and Technician Computronics at the School of Electrical and Information Engineering. Mmanchidi further added that students and staff can commercials their products that are made from the lab. The lab is inspired and named after Ismail Al-Jazari a polymath: a scholar, inventor, mechanical engineer, artisan, artist as well as mathematician. Al-Jazari has been described as the "father of robotics" and modern-day engineering. Cezeri is the Turkish spelling and pronunciation of Al-Jazari. Three W&M undergrads awarded Boren Scholarships Three William & Mary students were awarded prestigious David L. Boren Scholarships to study foreign languages overseas with the support of the National Security Education Program (NSEP). Collin Absher 24, Sam Rofman 23 and Mira Wroblewski 23 will receive funding to study abroad in the coming year. Boren Scholarships are administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and awarded to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to acquire language skills and experience in countries critical to the future security and stability of the United States, according to a press release from the IIE. Absher, Rofman and Wroblewski were among the 208 undergraduate students nationwide awarded Boren Scholarships out of 458 applicants. In exchange for funding, Boren recipients must agree to work in the federal government for at least one year following completion of their studies. Absher, a Chinese studies and Asian & Pacific Islander American studies double major from Fredericksburg, Virginia, plans to study Chinese language and culture for six months at the National Taiwan Universitys Intensive Chinese Language Program in Taipei, Taiwan. He also plans to volunteer at the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, which is where he plans to complete a Freeman Fellowship this summer along with a Critical Language Scholarship. He plans to pursue international law at a Chinese institution after he graduates from William & Mary. Rofman, a data science major from Haymarket, Virginia, plans to study Korean language, culture and literature for the 2022-23 academic year at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. She hopes to work in a national security capacity where she can use her research experience, STEM and foreign language skills and data analysis knowledge in support of national security after she graduates from W&M. Wroblewski, an international relations major and Russian & Post-Soviet studies minor from Falls Church, Va., plans to take advanced Russian classes as well as area studies classes for the 2022-23 academic year in Almaty, Kazakhstan. She hopes to fulfill the Boren service requirement with the State Department or USAID then continue working in the realm of public service and diplomacy. She aspires to one day become a Foreign Service Officer. Students interested in the Boren Scholarship should apply through or contact the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) Good friends always have plenty to talk about, as Chinese President Xi Jinping can attest. When he was a county official in Hebei Province, north China, he enjoyed many inspirational meetings of minds with the writer Jia Dashan. Sometimes, the two would meet in Xi's office and talk until well into the night, only to find themselves locked into the compound. Unwilling to wake up the janitor, Xi would squat down and boost Jia over the iron gate to leave. In their conversations, Xi and Jia found many commonalities, from an interest in literature and culture to their views on many social issues. Xi said he considered Jia "a bosom friend" and "a reference and example" in his governance work and personal conduct. Their friendship started in 1982, when they first met in Jia's crowded home in Zhengding County, Hebei. Despite winning a top literary award in 1977, Jia still classed himself as an amateur writer but he was beginning to enjoy renown across the country. His home was often filled with visitors, many among whom were literary youths. Xi had read Jia's works and was impressed by their "humorous language, philosophical analysis, true and beautiful description as well as ingenious and unique conception." Jia was the first person Xi visited in Zhengding after his arrival in the county. But, being so lost in discussing literature with his friends, Jia did not notice the stranger at first. Xi did not interrupt, but instead sat down and waited patiently. It was not until Jia took a rest for some water that he realized that the young man was the new deputy Party chief of his county. The two soon hit it off, finding themselves able to chat about almost everything literature and art, opera and movies, and social life. "It was the first time we met, but we were like old friends who hadn't seen each other for years," Xi recalled. After that meeting, they became close friends and often exchanged opinions. Their topics went beyond literature. Xi was exceptionally meticulous about the protection of local cultural relics, and Jia often impressed Xi with his extensive knowledge of the culture and history of his hometown. As a "know-it-all" in Zhengding, Jia clearly knew the history of his hometown including every pagoda and Buddha. To further develop the county's cultural undertakings, Xi made a proposal, allowing Jia, a non-Party member, to be promoted as the head of the local culture bureau, which was unprecedented in Zhengding. "If we were not able to protect our relics, we would be guilty of wrongdoings and be ashamed to face future generations," Xi once said to Zhengding officials, believing that all cultural relics, from tiny totems to entire ancient cities, must be carefully preserved. They also talked about what was really happening on the ground, which Xi said was "a window and channel" for him to know social conditions and public opinions in a timely manner. Xi left Zhengding in 1985 and went to Fujian Province, east China, but their friendship continued. Without fail, every year ahead of the Spring Festival, Xi would send Jia a card. After hearing that Jia was diagnosed with cancer in the mid-1990s, Xi visited him in hospital despite his tight work schedule. On Feb. 9, 1997, the third day of the Chinese New Year, Xi made a trip to Zhengding and saw Jia again. "His energy was almost exhausted," Xi once recalled in an article in memory of Jia. Jia managed to sit up from the bed and they took a picture. They had no idea that this would be Jia's last photo with anyone. Eleven days later, Jia, at the age of 54, passed away. In the article, Xi said Jia was his "good friend and brother," hailing his care for the nation and the people, his integrity and diligent work style. "But like his immortal works, his sincerity and kindness will remain with us forever," Xi said. (Source: Xinhua) U.S. President Joe Biden listens ahead of the signing of an executive order to reform federal and local policing on the second anniversary of the death of George Floyd, during an event at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 25. Biden said that he will travel to Uvalde, Texas, in the near future to meet the families of the 19 children and two teachers killed during a horrific school shooting. Fourth arrest in NCA cannabis farm investigation A fourth man has been arrested as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into a crime group suspected of using Albanian migrants to farm cannabis. It is believed the crime group has links to a Western Balkans OCG which facilitates the illegal entry of Albanian nationals into the UK. Once in the country, the migrants work in the OCGs cannabis farms, it is believed. As part of the investigation three cannabis farms were previously discovered with Albanian migrants working there. They were in Blackpool, Lancashire; Leigh, Greater Manchester, and Prestatyn. Trevor Williams, 61, had previously been the subject of an appeal for his whereabouts. He was detained on suspicion of conspiracy to produce and supply controlled drugs and money laundering at a location in Wrexham yesterday by officers from North Wales Police, on behalf of the NCA. It comes after a series of arrests on Monday in North Wales and Cheshire that saw three other men arrested on suspicion of drug cultivation and money laundering offences. A man in his 50s was later bailed, while a man in his 60s was released under investigation. A 28-year-old Albanian national was handed to the immigration authorities. NCA operations manager Julie Booker said: We are grateful for the help of North Wales Police, the media and the public in this investigation. Officers are still appealing for information to trace Albanian national Jeton Memia, 29, who has links to Manchester and Southend in Essex, as part of their investigations. During searches connected to Mondays arrests, officers discovered two RIBS (rigid inflatable boats), quantities of cash, crack cocaine and cannabis and drugs paraphernalia associated with cannabis farms. A man, aged in his fifties, was arrested by National Crime Agency officers at an address in Prestatyn, North Wales, on Monday. In co-ordinated strikes supported by officers from North Wales Police, a second man, in his 60s, was arrested at another address in Prestatyn. A third man, an Albanian national aged 28, was arrested by Cheshire Police on the M6. The trio were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to cultivate and distribute cannabis and money laundering. NCA operations manager Julie Booker said: This is a complex investigation into organised crime groups that have been running cannabis farms across the country and facilitating illegal migrants into the UK to work in them. We are appealing for information to help trace two men who we want to speak to as part of our investigation. We believe these arrests will have significantly disrupted the crime groups and their ability to operate. Anyone with information should contact the NCA Control Centre on 0370 496 7622 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. The persecution of single mum Sarah Paxman for defending her vulnerable 8-year-old son Stanley from COVID-19 infested schools is relentless. At the start of this month Sarah was committed for trial at Staines Magistrate Court on charges instigated by Surrey County Council of failing to ensure regular school attendance of Stanley under Section 444 (1) of the Education Act. Sarah and Stanley (Credit: Sarah Paxman) The charge, to which Sarah has pleaded not guilty, carries a fine of up to 2,500 and a possible three-month prison sentence. It is thought to be the first prosecution of its kind in England. She has subsequently received a further notice from Surrey County Council and the NE Inclusion Service, informing her of another visit to her home to determine any support your child may need to return to school. Sarah fears this could be the basis for further action. Stanley, who has not attended his specialist school since the start of the pandemic, has vulnerabilities that are well-known to the education and local authorities. He is autistic and suffers from several underlying health conditions including Cold Urticaria, which can cause anaphylaxis and is potentially life threatening. Sarah herself suffers from Long COVID, the debilitating effects of which have been exacerbated by the threatened prosecution. Stanleys Educational Health Care Plan hasnt been updated for almost three years. But the government has abandoned all mitigation measures and has even ended daily updates on COVID infections. In the seven days to May 23, 44,143 people tested positive and 469 people died within 28 days of a positive test in England. Some 3,664 people were admitted to hospital with COVID over the same timeframe. The real purpose of Sarahs persecution is to bully her into deregistering Stanley from school, which means he would lose his school place. If Sarah was prepared to submit to this any concerns over Stanleys wellbeing and education would vanish immediately. Sarah is being represented pro bono by distinguished barrister Mark McDonald. Based at Furnival Chambers, London, he has worked on prominent criminal defence and human rights cases and is a founder of the London Innocence Project, a non-profit legal resource clinic working on miscarriages of justice. He was also involved in setting up the UK-based Amicus, a charity working on the death penalty in the US. Mark says he has clients across the country coming forward with similar cases and their numbers are growing. In a tweet he wrote, The biggest COVID risk to our country is from children going to school, spreading the virus & bringing it home. A complete failure by [Prime Minister] Boris Johnson to recognise this & fully ventilate schools & urgently vaccinate our kids will once again lead to thousands of deaths. Sarah prepared a statement to be read in court on May 4, but as the hearing was only called to set a trial date never got to make it. She recorded the statement and played it to the exclusion officer on the last visit as she is sick and tired of repeatedly having to explain the same concerns without them being taken on board. After explaining Stanleys vulnerabilities, Sarahs statement sets out the situation in schools: It was all one big rush to get the children back to school. Its all over now. And it never sat right with me. After how badly I suffered experiencing symptoms I can barely begin to describe, I know first-hand how bad the effects of this virus can be for someone. I am certainly not sending Stanley into school willingly knowing that he could have long term brain issues. Especially on his little developing autistic brain which is confused enough due to Autism. Brain fog? Its more like brain damage. Schools are the main drivers of transmission. They have been since day dot. Yet we have been led to believe otherwise. The virus has been minimised at every given opportunity through the pandemic, especially as far as schools are concerned. We have had Jenny Harries saying children are more likely to be hit by a bus than contract coronavirus as ministers were insisting parents would be fined! This was at a time when Boris Johnson was returning from holiday in August 2020 begging parents to send their kids back. He has said repeatedly schools are safe, which is a lie. Its disgusting. Well, yes, schools are as safe as can be if your child attends private ones or the likes of Eton. Theyre ok arent they, with their adequate ventilation systems and air filters installed. We all know it is airborne. And we have since very early on. Everybody had been misled to believe that this is just a respiratory virus when it is so, so much more. The main three symptoms list wasnt even updated until recently. The narrative that has been pushed to make it mild and just like a cold is quite frankly unbelievable. It may be just like a cold to many. Im happy for them. But its not for everyone. The whole school situation is an absolute, utter scandal. Who in their right mind can argue about ventilators in schools for our children? Its a proven benefit. Not just to help break the chain of transmission from COVID but all other airborne viruses flying around. And even if there wasnt, it would benefit childrens cognition and brain function while learning. And it will even reduce common allergy triggers. There has been a complete and utter lack of care and compassion. Complete incompetence and total failure of our government to protect our children. They are our future. Its made out that education is so important, that mental health is so important. So, I struggle to understand just how easy it is to deregister or, at worst, be given a choice between that or court! Where is the extra help for the forgotten ones? Where were the laptops for the vulnerable that never materialised? Everyone dealing with children has a duty of care, yet I am the only one that is providing him with it. Yet Im the one being punished! Their despicable crimes always go unpunished yet here I am standing up in court facing a fine of up to 2,500 or up to three months in prison - or both - for protecting my boy the way I see fit and doing what I believe is in his best interests because I know him better than anyone. I will not be sending him back until the whole school is safe and every room in it is ventilated with the right HEPA filters installed as advised by the experts. If Im going to be threatened, then follow up with those threats because I will categorically not be changing my mind on this. Fine me as many thousands as you want. Put me in prison as often as you want. Open as many new cases as you like. Make an example of me if you must. Because enough is enough. Sarahs case is of enormous importance. It takes place after a Health and Safety Executive investigation into the death of Burnley teacher Donna Coleman from COVID on January 6, 2021. No one is to be seriously held accountable for her death, aged just 42. Despite the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) finding the college was in breach of multiple COVID safety regulations, the government body perversely concluded that Donna was more likely to have contracted COVID through community transmission rather than work. Daniella Modos-Cutter has campaigned throughout the pandemic to highlight the dangers of herd immunity, taking responsibility for painstakingly collating the weekly cases of COVID-19 in schools over more than two years. This work was already difficult, due especially to the unions who have failed to collate any information on the rates of infection in schools as they railroaded their members into unsafe classrooms. Daniella told the World Socialist Web Site, I have paused my work on collecting COVID cases in schools due to the information being even harder to obtain. Schools are now acting like COVID is over. Children can go back to school after isolating with symptoms for three days if they dont have a fever. Children are allowed to attend schools now with COVID symptoms, i.e., cold symptoms. This is to further the government plan with their herd immunity strategy. This will further endanger vulnerable children, staff and their families, while making sure people who cannot afford tests have no record of their infection so they will not be able to get access to Long COVID clinics. The government are washing their hands completely of any accountability for their dangerous actions. The Garrettsville Police Department released bodycam video on Tuesday that captures a Portage County sheriffs deputy shooting and killing 66-year-old Cora Baughman in the garage of her neighbors house on May 14. A still from police bodycamera footage shows the Portage County deputy pointing his gun at Cora Baughman [Photo] The killing of Baughman, who was shot multiple times in the chest and twice in the leg according to a preliminary county coroners report, took place in Wyndham Township, a rural community located between Cleveland and Youngstown, Ohio. The police video begins at around 9:30 a.m. as a Garrettsville officer arrives at the house, which has a large front yard and a long driveway. The sheriffs deputy is already out of his cruiser and walking toward the house when he spots Baughman just inside the neighbors garage. He says, Come out here, let me see your hands now. Come here. Baughman can be seen stepping outside the garage with her hands up. The deputy then yells, Drop it now. Drop whats in your hand. Drop whats in your hand now, as both officers advance toward the house. With his handgun drawn and aimed at Baughman, the deputy then starts running toward the garage and yells, Maam drop it. You will be shot. Baughman can be heard saying something, although it is not clear what she says, as she turns and then goes back into the garage, walking between two parked vehicles. The deputy sheriff follows her and continues yelling Drop it now. Although the actual shooting is not visible in the video, 15 shots can then be heard fired in quick succession and the deputy yelling Shots fired, shots fired, drop it! Baughman, who is seen on the ground, can be heard saying, I dont have it. The deputy then proceeds to put handcuffs on Baughman as she is lying face down in a pool of her own blood. A Facebook post on May 14 from Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski said that shots were fired without saying who discharged their weapon. The report also said, One subject was transported to UH Portage Medical Center where they were later pronounced deceased. According to a transcript of two 911 calls that morning from the neighbor, Richard Knerem, Baughman had entered his garage and was trying to open a door into his house, and she had pointed a gun at him. Knerem said during the emergency call that he had not been communicating with Baughman and that the two had been in a dispute over her septic tank dumping into his yard. Aside from the original brief statement, which did not mention that the deputy fired his weapon or Cora Baughman by name, the Portage County Sheriffs Office has not commented on the incident or responded to requests from news media for comment. The Garrettsville police bodycam video and the coroners report were released after requests from the Akron Beacon Journal. The sheriffs office will not be releasing any bodycam footage because Portage County does not require the officers to wear cameras. According to The Portager, an abbreviated copy of the sheriffs incident report said Baughman was charged with aggravated burglary due to trespassing with intent to inflict harm. While the full report has not been released, Baughmans two victims are listed as Richard and Barbara Knerem and a named witness is an apparent relative of Baughmans, 31-year-old Aaron Baughman. The Ohio Bureau of Investigation (OBCI) is investigating the fatal shooting at the request of the Portage County sheriff, and news reports have said the inquiry could take months to conclude. The OBCI confirmed on Tuesday that Baughman was the woman killed in the incident, and when it concludes its investigation it will hand the findings over to the Portage County Prosecutors Office. The killing of Baughman, a white woman who lived in a trailer next to the Knerems on a dirt road, exposes the reality that the victims of police violence and murder are from all racial groups and geographic locations in the US. According to a study by The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization that exposes the brutality and injustice of the US criminal justice system, published last August, fatal police shootings in rural American communities are happening at unprecedented rates but are given very little media attention. Among the significant findings of The Marshall Project report, titled Shooting first and asking questions later, are that officers in rural areas fatally shot 1,200 people between 2015 and 2020 and that rural incidents mirrored many of the dynamics of police shootings that have come under scrutiny in cities. Rural police killings seldom attract attention from the public or the national press. Police shootings in isolated areas are rarely captured on video, and many rural officers dont wear body cameras. In some states, such as Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Texas, state troopers are responsible for many deaths in rural areas. In Kentucky, state troopers shot and killed 41 people between 2015 and 2020, and 33 of the victims were from rural areas. The Marshall Project says that notable among the rural shootings is that those being killed are mostly white and male. White people make up the rural majority in nearly every state, and two-thirds of the people fatally shot by law enforcement in rural areas across the country were white, the data analysis shows; about 10% were black. (In cities, 37 percent were black and 31 percent white.) Similarities among police shootings in all communities in the US include that two-thirds of victims are armed and a majority have drug addiction or mental health issues, including some that are in the throes of crises. According to The Marshall Project, in Kentucky, many of the police shootings occurred in the states poorer counties. On Tuesday, Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas joined the long list of names that have been violently inscribed on the collective consciousness: Columbine, Newtown, Parkland, Blacksburg and many more over the last 25 years. Flowers and candles are placed outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022, to honor the victims killed in Tuesday's shooting at the school. [AP Photo/Jae C. Hong] For reasons which may never be known, the shooter, 18-year-old high school student Salvador Ramos, first shot his grandmother before driving to the elementary school. Dressed in all black and armed with an AR-15 assault rifle and a handgun, Ramos shot his way past an armed school district police officer and made his way into the school. Within two minutes, 19 children and two teachers were dead, making it the deadliest school shooting in Texas history and third in the US, surpassing Parkland and Columbine. Ramos was killed in a shootout with police. Grieving parents were taken to the local Civic Center, where they were swabbed for DNA. The bodies of the children, between the ages of seven and 10, were in some cases so mutilated by AR-15 fire that they can only be identified through genetic testing. A few details are beginning to emerge. According to media reports, Ramos, born in North Dakota, was bullied in school for a stutter and lisp, frequently getting into fist fights with classmates. He apparently had few friends and kept to himself and often missed class. He made posts on social media about guns, including posting images of his two legally purchased semi-automatic rifles just three days before the attack on Robb Elementary. Whatever the individual psychological issues involved, however, they do not explain the routine outbursts of mass violence that plague American society. The problem is much deeper. Little exposes the pretense of the US as the land of milk and honey as much as the regularity of such horrors. The massacre at Robb Elementary was the 19th school shooting so far this year. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been more than 17,000 gun deaths so far this year, the majority by suicide. There have been 213 mass shootings where four or more people were killed or injured. Of these, 10 have been mass murders with four or more killed. The politicians in both the Democratic and Republican parties have responded to Uvalde with their typical trite and empty platitudes that explain nothing. President Joe Biden gave a perfunctory nine-minute speech Tuesday night in which he postured against the gun lobby while calling on the country to do nothing but pray. On Wednesday, Biden called for action on gun laws. On Wednesday, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer threw cold water on the presidents pretenses, noting that the prospect of any new federal gun laws was all too slim, even though the Democrats control both houses of Congress, and suggested that horrified Americans should vote in the November midterms. The Republicans, while offering up hollow concerns about mental health, insist that the solution is more guns and brute violence, so that the good guys can kill the bad guys before they carry out their attacks. They argue for turning schools into armed garrisons more akin to maximum security prisons than institutions of learning. These fascistic solutions are the rhetoric and justifications of the so-called war on terrorwhich resulted in torture chambers, drone assassinations and the destruction of entire societies in the Middle Eastbrought home. Nowhere from within the political establishment and the media is there any serious examination of the underlying social and political conditions that find expression in the homicidal actions of individuals. American capitalism, in fact, is suffused with violence, promoted by a ruling class that normalizes death and trivializes life. The attack on Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, in which Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 of their classmates and one teacher, shocked the world and was seen as a significant turning point. At the time, it was the fifth deadliest act of mass murder in the US since World War II. The WSWS drew attention to the social factors ignored and covered up at the time: ... the concentration on individual warning signs will be of little help in preventing further tragedies. Attention should be focused, rather, on the social warning signs, that is, the indications and indices of social and political dysfunction which create the climate that produces events like the Columbine HS massacre. Vital indicators of impending disaster might include: growing polarization between wealth and poverty; atomization of working people and the suppression of their class identity; the glorification of militarism and war; the absence of serious social commentary and political debate; the debased state of popular culture; the worship of the stock exchange; the unrestrained celebration of individual success and personal wealth; the denigration of the ideals of social progress and equality. Since then mass shootings have become more common and more deadly. Columbine now ranks as only the sixth deadliest school shooting in American history. The students who survived that shooting now have children of their own who must deal with the prospect of being victims themselves. Across the country children are put through active shooter drills where they are taught to run, hide, fight. The social, political and cultural factors underlying the growth of malignant tendencies, including school shootings, have only grown more extreme. Social inequality has grown to almost incomprehensible levels, with the 400 richest Americans claiming more than $3 trillion in wealth, while half of adults report they would have difficulties covering a $400 emergency. The Republican Party, one of the two principal parties of the ruling class, has been transformed into a semi-fascistic organization that sought to overturn the Constitution through a violent coup on January 6, 2021. The massacre in Texas came only 10 days after a gunman, politically and ideologically inspired by the fascistic conceptions promoted by significant factions of the Republican Party, murdered 10 people in Buffalo, New York. The growing phenomenon of school shootings and mass shootings in general is a symptom of the advanced decay and breakdown of American society. Life has become exceedingly cheap under capitalism. The United States is now in the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has already claimed the lives of more than 1 million people. Children and educators have been forced back into schools that are known to be primary vectors of the disease, offered up as sacrifices for profit. More than 1,500 children have died from COVID-19 as a direct result of the homicidal herd immunity policy pursued first by Trump and now Biden. At the same time, the Biden administration is pursuing a reckless and aggressive foreign policy that has opened up a war against Russia in Ukraine, pouring billions of dollars worth of guns, ammunition and missiles into that country. Biden made his remarks about the Uvalde shooting on Tuesday after returning from a trip to Asia where he threatened to wage war against China. A direct conflict between the US, Russia and China would inevitably result in nuclear war, killing millions, a prospect that the American ruling class is clearly prepared to accept. Meanwhile, police roam the streets of America, harassing, beating and killing workers with impunity. An average of three people are killed every day by the police, adding up to more than 1,000 deaths every year, far above the total from school shootings in even the deadliest years. Hundreds of thousands of students, educators and parents participated in walkouts and protests after the Parkland, Florida shooting in 2018, demanding that action be taken to end school shootings. However, this mass outpouring of anger and determination was subordinated to the Democratic Party and illusions in gun reform legislation through the March for Our Lives organization. Millions continue to look for a way forward, with students and educators discussing the possibility of walkouts on social media in the aftermath of Uvalde. Finding a solution must begin with identifying the cause. Any explanation of the massacre at Robb Elementary that does not point to the ruling class, its political leaders, its military-police machinery, its homicidal policies and, above all, the socio-economic system of capitalism over which it presides is nothing more than a cover-up that prepares the way for the next horror. The governments of the United States, the United Kingdom and other NATO members are preparing a major new stage of the US-NATO war against Russia by using their warships to break the Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports, creating the conditions for a direct shooting war between NATO and Russian naval forces. This massive escalation by the US and NATO is being billed as a coalition of the willing, echoing the words used by the Bush administration to describe the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Retired four-star General Jack Keane, chairman of the Institute for the Study of War and chairman of AM General, the maker of the Humvee military vehicle, called on Wednesday for the creation of an international coalition of warships led by the United States to secure control over the Black Sea. General Jack Keane calls for a "coalition of the willing" We go to the port of Odessa and let the ships pick up the grain that needs to be picked up and escort them out, Keane told Fox News. The other risk is the Russian Navy is there. They could see this as a provocation, and we could have a prospective confrontation. He said it was well within the risk profile to get this done. Keane developed the comments of Admiral James Stavridis, who earlier this month said that the Black Sea would be the next major front in the Ukraine war. Responding to an earlier version of Keanes remarks, the Wall Street Journal published an editorial entitled Breaking Russias Ukrainian Grain Blockade. It declared, A Black Sea mission to escort commercial ships may be needed to prevent a global food shortage. The Journal enthusiastically agreed with Keanes proposal and wrote: The mission would be to form an international coalition of warships to escort commercial vessels safely out of Odessa and the Black Sea. This would work as a coalition of the willing, and not a North Atlantic Treaty Organization project that would let Mr. Putin claim it is another NATO provocation. The Journal continued: There are military risks... Some critics will claim an escort mission would be too risky as a naval version of a no-fly zone. But it is much different... No military engagement would be needed if Russia doesnt interfere. Technically, this could be said about any military conflict. If the opposing army simply lays down its arms, no fighting will be necessary. Of course, despite the optimistic assurances of Keane about the risk profile, the idea that Russia would simply stand by while US and UK ships break its blockade is highly unlikely. In almost any conceivable scenario, this operation could rapidly turn into a major naval battle, just like no-fly zone is a synonym for open and direct war between Russia and NATO. Not even bothering to hide its cynicism, the Journal made clear that this major escalation would be best planned and pitched as a humanitarian operation. That is, a direct shooting war between the two largest nuclear powers would be pitched as a way to end world hunger. The language of Keane and the Wall Street Journal dovetails perfectly with the rhetoric of US officials and those of its imperialist allies. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Russia of bombing Ukrainian food infrastructure and hoarding its own food exports as a form of blackmail. She said, holding back supplies to increase global prices, or trading wheat in exchange for political support. This is using hunger and grain to wield power. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia of carrying out a deliberate effort to undermine global food supplies. Blinken stated, [T]he Russian military has repeatedly blocked safe passage to and from Ukraine by closing the Kerch Strait, tightening its control over the Sea of Azov, stationing warships off Ukrainian ports. And Russia has struck Ukrainian ports multiple times. He added, The food supply for millions of Ukrainiansand millions more around the worldhas quite literally been held hostage by the Russian military. Earlier this week, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the US would provide Ukraine with Harpoon anti-ship missiles via an intermediary, Denmark. The Harpoon is the standard anti-ship armament of the US Navy, capable of sinking large warships. On Friday, Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs adviser Anton Gerashchenko tweeted that The US is preparing a plan to destroy the [Russian] Black Sea Fleet as part of a plan to unblock the ports. He continued, Deliveries of powerful anti-ship weapons (Harpoon and Naval Strike Missile with a range of 250300 km) are being discussed. Last month, the United States provided intelligence to Ukraine that allowed it to attack and sink the Russian missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of Russias Black Sea Fleet. The first countries to officially endorse the NATO-led naval operation in the Black Sea were Lithuania and the United Kingdom. On Monday, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis called for a plan to break the blockade, declaring, We would need a coalition of the willingcountries with significant naval power to protect the shipping lanes and countries that are affected by this. The Guardian reported that UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss agreed with the proposal, including demining the harbour and providing Ukraine with longer-range weapons to defend the harbour from Russian attack. The plans now being discussed would mark a significant new escalation of the war, raising the prospect of NATO and Russian warships firing on each other, the potential invocation of NATO Article 5 and the abandonment of all restraints on the conflict, with catastrophic consequences for all humanity. US President Bidens trip to Asia has brought the mounting tensions with China over Taiwan into sharp focus. For a third time since taking office, Biden emphatically declared that the US had a commitment to back Taiwan militarily in the event of a conflict with Chinaoverturning decades of US policy. From left: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, U.S. President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Quad leaders summit at Kantei Palace, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) When the US established diplomatic relations with China in 1979, and ended all formal ties with Taiwan, it adopted the One China policyde facto recognising Beijing to be the legitimate government of all China, including the island of Taiwan. The corollary was strategic ambiguityrefusing to categorically commit to siding with Taiwan in a war with China. That policy was aimed not only at warding off aggression by China, but also at blocking provocative actions by Taiwan. While the White House has insisted that there has been no change of policy, the US, first under Trump and now under Biden, has been deliberately undermining the status quo over Taiwan, the most potentially explosive flashpoint in Asia. Top-level visits to Taiwan, the open presence of US military trainers on the island, stepped-up arms sales and increased transits through the Taiwan Strait amount to calculated provocations against China. Now having transformed Ukraine into a military quagmire to weaken and destabilise Russia, US imperialism is deliberately setting and baiting a similar trap for China in Taiwan. Drawing on the Ukraine war, open discussion is taking place in the media and in strategic and military circles about arming Taiwan for a protracted conflict with China. An article in the New York Times yesterday reported: US officials are taking lessons learned from arming Ukraine to work with Taiwan in molding a stronger force that could repel a seaborne invasion by China, which has one of the worlds largest militaries. The aim is to turn Taiwan into what some officials call a porcupine a territory bristling with armaments and other forms of US-led support that appears too painful to attack. As in the conflict between Russian and Ukraine, US war planning is dressed up as the defence of democratic Taiwan from Chinese aggression. While the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a reactionary response, the US armed Ukraine over years and then goaded and provoked a Russian attack. In the case of Taiwan, which Washington itself recognises as part of China, the US has any number of triggers that could provoke a conflict. Any step by the government in Taipei to declare formal independence from China, and/or the growing incorporation of the island into the US sphere of influence poses a direct threat to Beijing. Taiwan is not only strategically located just off the Chinese mainland but its Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has a virtual global monopoly on the production of high-end computer chips. Buoyed by success in Ukraine, US plans for a protracted military conflict on Taiwan against the Chinese military are being rapidly advanced. As the New York Times explained: American officials have been quietly pressing their Taiwanese counterparts to buy weapons suitable for asymmetric warfare, a conflict in which a smaller military uses mobile systems to conduct lethal strikes on a much bigger force, US and Taiwanese officials say. The article added: The American-made weapons that it has recently boughtmobile rocket platforms, F-16 fighter jets and anti-ship projectilesare better suited for repelling an invading force. Some military analysts say Taiwan might buy sea mines and armed drones later. And as it has in Ukraine, the US government could also supply intelligence to enhance the lethality of the weapons, even if it refrains from sending troops. Washington is not only pressing but insisting that Taipei buy weapons in line with the Pentagons war planning. The Financial Times reported earlier this month that US deputy assistant secretary of state Mira Resnick told defence industry executives in March that the Biden administration wanted to steer Taiwan more strongly to buying weaponry for asymmetric warfare and would not allow US manufacturers to sell arms outside those parameters. According to the article: Washington has subsequently told Taipei that it would not approve the sale of 12 MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters if they were requested. The US has also blocked a Taiwanese plan to acquire E2-D early-warning aircraft. The mounting drumbeat in the US media and official circles over the acute threat of Chinese invasion speaks more to the timetable that the Pentagon war planners are working to than it does to any evidence of Chinese aggressive intentions. Taiwanese military analyst Su Tzu-yun told the Financial Times: I believe that currently the possibility of China taking military action is very low. Nevertheless, war planning and debate is recklessly proceeding apace, not only on the military front but also for economic warfare against China. As the New York Times reported: US officials are already discussing to what extent they could replicate the economic penalties and the military aid deployed in defense of Ukraine in the event of a conflict over Taiwan. The New York Times pointed out that the number of transits through the Taiwan Straits by US warships has increased to 30 since the start of 2020, supplemented by transits by allied warships from Australia, Britain, Canada and France. US arms sales to Taiwan also have increased, with more than $23 billion in purchases announced since 2010, including $5 billion in 2020 alone. Those in US strategic circles are well aware that the steps taken by Washington over Taiwan are highly provocative and could precipitate conflict. In comments to the New York Times, analyst Bonnie Glaser, director of the Asia program at the US German Marshall Fund, in a convoluted way, admitted as much. Are we clear about what deters China and what provokes China? she asked. The answer to that is no, and thats dangerous territory. In the words of the New York Times: President Bidens strong language during a visit to Tokyo this week tiptoed up to provocation, Ms Glaser and other analysts in Washington said. In other words, it is well understood in Washington that overturning strategic ambiguity could tip Asia into a war that, as in the case of Ukraine, has the potential to blow up into a conflict between nuclear-armed powers. Washingtons deliberate baiting of China over Taiwan is part of its escalating confrontation with China that began with Obamas pivot to Asia. For over a decade the US has sought to undermine Beijing diplomatically and economically, hand-in-hand with a massive military build-up throughout the region in preparation for war. In its historic decline, US imperialism is desperate to weaken and destabilise potential challengers to its global positionRussia and above all Chinaand gain unfettered access to the immense resources and strategic position of the Eurasian landmass. As is demonstrated in Ukraine, it is doing so with criminal indifference to the devastation and huge loss of life that the war has produced so far. Now the US is preparing to do the same in Taiwan. Picketing mental health workers Jordan (left) and Mamie (right) at Abbott Northwestern in Minneapolis on May 24, 2022 [Photo: WSWS] On Tuesday, more than 400 mental health workers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, carried out a one-day strike at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota and two Allina Health hospitals, Abbott Northwestern and Mercy Hospital-Unity Campus. The workers are fighting against problems which are endemic throughout the for-profit US health care system: gross understaffing, substandard pay and benefits and dangerous working conditions. One issue that we confront a lot on the job is threats to our safety, Jordan, a mental health worker at Abbott Northwestern, told WSWS reporters on the picket line Tuesday. Jordan pointed to the heightened dangers facing mental health workers brought about by the social crisis facing the population, saying, We experience violence in the workplace often from patients, and incidents of violence are increasing. My unit was converted into a COVID unit, she continued. We actually merged our unit with COVID patients. We now see our patients and COVID patients. Because of this, staffing issues have become worse. Sometimes we are left to deal with 24 patients. Were supposed to have two of us to 24 patients, but there are some situations where we are left without another mental health professional. COVID has definitely affected the health of my patients. For one, were seeing more patients with more severe cases. The walkout in Minneapolis is part of a growing wave of working class struggles across the US and internationally. In recent weeks, a movement has emerged among nurses and health care workers in particular, demanding better pay, better staffing ratios and humane working conditions. Five thousand nurses at Stanford Health Care in California struck at the end of last month, 2,000 Cedars-Sinai hospital workers in Los Angeles carried out a five-day strike the week of May 9, and 350 nurses and hospital techs began a walkout Monday this week in Newark, New Jerseys St. Michaels Medical Center. Meanwhile, 10,000 nurses in New Zealand carried out a one-day strike on May 16. While there is a growing determination to fight among health care workers and a widespread feeling that conditions have become intolerable, the unions have been working to block or contain strikes and impose contracts which leave the status quo in place. In Minneapolis, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) confined the strike to just one day in advance, a frequent practice of the SEIU throughout the health care and service industries, which renders walkouts largely toothless. Rather than preparing a serious struggle to secure adequate staffing, workplace safety and a reversal in falling pay, the SEIUs aim is to prevent a broader mobilization of mental health care professionals with nurses and health care workers across the country. At the same time, SEIU sought to channel health care workers opposition behind fruitless appeals to the Democratic Party, which the union is deeply integrated into. At a noon rally on Tuesday, the SEIU invited Democratic Minnesota State Sen. Erin Murphy and Minnesota House Rep. Ryan Winkler, who is running for Hennepin County attorney, to grandstand before workers. The Democratic Party has overseen and facilitated the impoverishment of health care workers across the nation, with the Obama administration slashing funding for Medicare by hundreds of billions of dollars while in office. In Minnesota, multiple legislative initiatives have been deliberately started and scrapped in an attempt to sow illusions in a legislative solution to the capitalist crisis in health care, including the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, introduced by Erin Murphy. In 2016, when 5,000 Allina nurses rejected multiple sellout contracts attacking staffing ratios and their employer-sponsored health care, it was the Democratic administration of Governor Mark Dayton and Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith who played the role of sledgehammer in ending the strike and forcing the unfavorable conditions onto nurses. While the unions have worked with the giant hospital chains and the Democratic Party to impose concessionary agreements and unsafe working conditions, nurses and health care workers have begun to organize independently to assert their interests. Last Sunday, nurses from around the US voted to establish a national steering committee, which resolved to build rank-and-file committees of health care workers throughout hospitals and other workplaces. The steering committee also resolved to fight back against the growing efforts to victimize health care workers, such as Tennessee nurse RaDonda Vaught, who was scapegoated for a fatal medication error, and only kept from serving prison time by a mass mobilization of nurses in advance of her sentencing. Jordan made clear that the issues facing mental health workers are widespread, affecting nurses, doctors and other health care workers. We should have a greater say in policy decisions that directly affect our safety. I think that we have the best idea of how to solve safety issues we encounter. Referring to the upcoming contract expiration for 15,000 nurses in the Twin Cities, Jordan said a common fight would strengthen their position. Nurses also help us with these staffing shortages, but they also have a lot of pressure on them we would be able to have more of a voice if we joined them. Mental health care workers picketing during the one-day strike in the Twin Cities in Minnesota in May [Photo by SEIU Healthcare Minnesota/Facebook] Other mental health workers picketing Tuesday pointed to the corrosive impact of profit on health care, with signs such as Honk if you hate corporate health care and people before profits. When reporters contrasted the massive military budget and billions received by hospital chains in COVID-19 relief funds, Mamie, a mental health coordinator at Abbott Northwestern, agreed that workers need to control their working conditions and pay. Socialist medicine is definitely needed in America, she said. A lot of patients are state service people, and they, like myself, need mental health care, said another mental health professional who wished to remain anonymous. I am on a health care plan that Allina calls expanded, yet the clinic they sent me to was not covered under this plan. The hospitals insurance for us health care workers doesnt cover mental health treatments beyond a certain point. I had to pay out of pocket for my mental health care. In response to a WSWS reporter explaining the need to link up the struggles of health care workers to combat the giant hospital chains and to form new organizations to lead the fight, the worker agreed, saying, 400 of us is really not enough to combat Allina. Im all for new organizations. A Ukrainian court sentenced a Russian soldier to life in prison on Monday in what can only be described as a politically motivated show trial conducted by Kiev for its propaganda value. Twenty-one-year-old Russian tank commander Vadim Shishimarin pled guilty to the killing of 62-year-old civilian Oleksandr Shelipov, but said he was ordered to carry out the shooting. The soldier claims that his commander was worried that the man, who was talking on his cell phone, was reporting the position of Russian forces to Ukraines military. The trial was not intended to, nor could it have, established the real guilt or innocence of the young soldier. The Ukrainian regime, nationalist and ferociously anti-Russian, is dominated militarily by far-right forces that have been tormenting Russian soldiers and Russian Ukrainians they accuse of aiding the enemy. It is carrying out its own war crimes, which, while receiving little coverage in the Western press, are documented. There is no reason to believe that Shishimarins confession was given voluntarily, as the Ukrainian state is known for systematically violating prisoners rights and subjecting them to cruel treatment. A 2015 report by Amnesty International about the torment of detainees by Kiev as well as separatists in the Donbass, reported, Former prisoners described being beaten until their bones broke, tortured with electric shocks, kicked, stabbed, hung from the ceiling, deprived of sleep for days, threatened with death, denied urgent medical care and subjected to mock executions. It made clear that Kiev was as guilty as its opponents of the brutality. While Shishimarin appeared to be in decent health at the trial, the psychological and physical treatment he was subjected to beforehand and the threats made against him are completely unknown. There would have been no way for him to bring such evidence into a courtroom stacked with prosecutors, judges, government officials and witnesses seeking only one outcomea guilty verdict. Even if he was not mistreated, he would have no doubt been terrified, locked up in a Ukrainian prison without any access to Russian diplomatic officials or human rights monitors. Under these conditions, he would have been unable to resist the self-declaration of guilt expected of him. That Shishimarins trial took place in a totally undemocratic and partial forum was made clear by his attorney, Viktor Ovsyannikov, who himself is hated by Ukraines far right because he defended former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych against charges of high treason leveled against him in absentia. Ovsyannikov noted to the Guardian that Shishimarin was already widely presumed to be a war criminal before the trial. The attorney said that he was threatened for representing the Russian soldier. How can you defend a war criminal? Ovsyannikov says he was repeatedly asked, adding, My family, friends and colleagues support me. They know someone has to do it. But there are other people who invited me to go to Moscow or Donbas [the area in eastern Ukraine claimed by Russia-backed separatists]. Furthermore, the trial itself was of highly questionable legality under international law. First, the Geneva Conventions state that in no circumstances whatever shall a prisoner of war be tried by a court of any kind which does not offer the essential guarantees of independence and impartiality as generally recognized. This was clearly not the case in Shishimarins trial. Second, according to the third Geneva Convention, prisoners of war like Shishimarin should be tried in a military court and not a civilian one. The reason for this, according to American University Law Professor Robert Goldman, is that the laws governing these issues are highly complex and specialized, and only military courts are trained in this area. Holding war crimes trials in civilian courts is unprecedented. In a recently published statement in The Conversation, Goldman explains, [A]n issue central to the Russian soldiers casewhether the civilian killed could be seen as a legitimate targetis a highly technical area that only an expert of the law of war will understand. Under protocol I of the Geneva Conventions, a treaty added in 1977, a civilian loses immunity when he or she directly participates in hostilities. And this is where it gets tricky. If the Russian soldier believed that the civilian he shot posed an immediate threat, say by reporting his position to Ukrainian military, then it would not be unreasonable for the defense to argue that the civilian was a legitimate target. Indeed, in the current trial, the court heard that the Russian soldier was ordered to shoot the man for that very reasonhis superior believed the civilian may have been using a cellphone to give away their location. The International Committee of the Red Cross has also expressly warned against the holding of war crimes trials during hostilities, as an accused person like Shishimarin can be given no meaningful chance to to prepare his defense. Moscow, for its part, called the charges outrageous and staged. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov noted, however, 'We do not have many opportunities to protect his interests on the ground, as foreign institutions actually have no activity [in Kiev]. But this does not mean that we will not consider the possibility of making attempts through other channels. Shishimarins trial was entirely motivated by a political agenda. The US and NATO are preparing for all-out, direct war with Russia. Justifications have to be found, particularly under circumstances where 90 percent and more of the worlds population do not want a third world war and do not want to see all of Europe and beyond transformed into a killing field. Russia and its soldiers must be seen as war criminals and Ukraines forces must be viewed as virtuous defenders of freedom and democracy, or the war propaganda project falls apart. Shishimarins sentence was announced as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was appearing virtually at the World Economic Forum in Davos. In his remarks, he accused Russia of becoming a state of war criminals. The worlds financial elites applauded. Following the announcement of Shishimarins life-long imprisonment, Ukrainian Prosecutor Andriy Sunyuk made clear that the trial was carried out as part of Kievs ongoing military efforts and for its publicity value on the international stage. Making clear that the authorities are preparing similar show trials in order to send a message, Sunyuk stated, 'I think that all other law enforcement agencies will move along the path that we have traveled. 'This will be a good example for other occupiers who may not yet be on our territory but are planning to come, or for those who are here now and plan to stay and fight. Or maybe they will think that it's time to leave here for their own territory, he said. Kiev is moving quickly to charge other captured Russian soldiers with war crimes as it loses territory in the countrys eastern Donbass region. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said that this month she is preparing more than 40 cases for trial and that there are more than 11,000 ongoing investigations. Shishimarins trial and sentencing has been celebrated in the Western media and subject to no criticism by press outlets housed in states guilty of the most savage brutalization of the innocentAbu Ghraib; Guantanamo Bay; extraordinary rendition; the bombing of schools, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure, and on and on. Not a single high-level individual who ordered any of these crimes has ever been held responsible. When the working masses of the world take power, the court dockets will be filled not by 11,000 cases as in Ukraine today, but hundreds of thousands. The only limited political objection raised in the press to Shishimarins trial is that holding it during wartime is of questionable strategical value, as Moscow will likely respond in kind by prosecuting Ukrainian soldiers. According to Goldman, Russia is now holding around 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers. Many of these are members of the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion, which has committed documented war crimes against both Russian forces and Ukrainian civilians. As Frances Le Monde newspaper confirmed on May 16, in a video widely shared on social media, Azov members can be identified shooting the knees of defenseless Russian soldiers. Former French soldier Adrien Bocquet, who traveled to Ukraine to serve as a volunteer medic with the Azov Battalion in Kiev and then Lviv, has said that he witnessed Azov troops shelling civilian areas in Bucha, where Russian forces have been accused of killing ordinary people. Civilians in the recently captured city of Mariupol have also accused Azov of deliberately shooting at fleeing cars and kidnapping residents in order to have them serve as human shields at the Azovstal plant. The Ukrainian military broadcasts and celebrates its own violations of international law on social media. In a sympathetic report, the Washington Post recently revealed that Kiev is tormenting the families of dead Russian troops, with the aid of US-made facial recognition technology, by sending them photos of their sons blood-soaked bodies. But should Russia prosecute captured Ukrainian troops as war criminals, the trials will be denounced. The hypocrisy of these objections will be so blatantly obvious that some, as expressed in the recent observations of American University Law Professor Goldman, are concerned. Nonetheless, the groundwork is already being laid for an attempted cover-up of the hypocrisy by the promotion of the line that while Russias courts are known for their violations of modern judicial standards, Ukraines are a shining example of a well-functioning liberal democracy. This is completely untrue, and those painting this portrait know it. Western powers have long identified Ukraines judiciary as dishonest, crooked and dysfunctional, and demanded that Kiev clean up its act in order to receive foreign loans and make the country business-friendly. In December 2020, the Atlantic Council published an editorial describing Ukraines corrupt judiciary as a criminal syndicate. In September 2021, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, hardly a pro-Russian outlet, published an article detailing the frustrations of Western diplomats over the Zelensky governments failure to implement judicial reforms. In January 2022, Transparency International ranked Ukraine 123rd out of 180 countries on its corruption scale, giving Kiev a score of just 32 out of 100. The grotesque character of Ukraines courts is a problem for the US and the EU only when it cuts across their financial interests. When it comes to preparing for war against Russia, it is highly useful. It must be said, however, that the Russian government is also responsible for Shishimarins life-long imprisonment. The young man from Ust Illyinsk, a town of about 87,000 in Irkutsk Oblast in Siberia, was described by his Ukrainian attorney as an ordinary person, just like you or me, who began to understand what he had done. The only thing he desires now is to go back home. I am under this impression that he perceives this as some kind of a dream, he added. Shishimarin was sent by the Kremlin to kill or be killed in an invasion that, albeit provoked by the US and NATO, is itself a criminal act with no progressive content. It is serving only to further divide the working masses of the two countries, spreading death and destruction in the process. The Russian troops dying and being captured in Ukraine are cannon fodder in the desperate effort of the Russian capitalist elite to maintain its stranglehold over an important portion of the highly valuable Eurasian landmass. Since the first case of monkeypox infection was confirmed on May 7, 2022, by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in a British citizen returning from Nigeria, the epidemic of community acquired cases has rapidly climbed into the hundreds, spanning multiple countries in Europe, Americas, Middle East and Oceania. By May 21, 2022, 92 laboratory confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases across 12 countries had been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). By May 24, 2022, the geographic span of monkeypox infections had increased to at least 20 non-endemic countries and at least 300 confirmed and suspected infections. The current epidemic is the largest outbreak of the virus outside of sub-Saharan Africa ever reported. Fortunately, no deaths have occurred up to now. The monkeypox virus has been endemic to Central and West Africa since the first human infection was reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo in a young boy. The virus was first isolated in 1958 by virologist Preben von Magnus in Copenhagen, Denmark, from macaque monkeys that were used as laboratory animals. The double-stranded DNA monkeypox virus, one of four human orthopoxviruses that include variola, the virus that causes smallpox, is endemic to 11 African countries, including Benin, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone and South Sudan. This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. [AP Photo/Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC] In the last several months, the WHO has documented 77 cases in Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Nigeria, with fewer than ten deaths. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, from January to May of this year, 1,238 cases with 57 fatalities where the more deadly Congo-basin clade (a subdivision based on genetic ancestry) of the monkeypox virus is endemic. Unlike the human-to-human transmissions in the current outbreaks in non-endemic countries, the typical pattern of spread in these endemic regions is spillover from infected wild rodents and primates into people. As of Wednesday, May 25, the following countries have reported confirmed cases thus far: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada (23), Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Israel, the Netherlands, Portugal (37), Scotland, Slovenia, Spain (101), Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the UK (57 in England), and the US (7). The case from the UAE was from a woman traveling there from West Africa. Argentina has one suspected case. Pakistans National Institute of Health in Islamabad clarified that no cases of monkeypox had been diagnosed though the Economist noted there were two cases there. Though it remains unclear if there is a suspected case, health officials issued a health advisory. On May 19, 2022, Portugal released the first partial sequence of the monkeypox virus from an infected patient, followed by Belgium the next day releasing the full sequence. Based on an analysis of the viral DNA extracted from skin lesions it appears the virus causing the current epidemic is identical to the genome that was sequenced in 2018 from the UK, Singapore, and Israel, linked to cases exported from Nigeria. The analysis also confirms the virus belongs to the clade from Western Africa which carries a lower mortality risk of around one percent, compared to the more virulent clade from the Congo basin, with an infection fatality rate of ten percent. A report published in New Scientist this week said, What isnt clear is whether this virus has any changes that make it more transmissible in humans, which would explain why the current outbreak is so widespread and by far the largest seen outside of Central and West Africa, where the virus spreads in monkeys. This could take some time to establish, given the monkeypox has a large complex genome. The monkeypox virus genome is 200,000 DNA letters long compared to SARS-Cov-2s 30,000 RNA letters. Sylvie Briand, WHO director for Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness, speaking at the recent World Health Assembly that voted Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus a second term as WHO Director-General, assured the press that it was unlikely for the virus to have mutated. Instead, the current driver of transmission is being linked to human behavior. In other words, the complete lifting of all social restrictions that has allowed people to socialize more widely has contributed to the monkeypox outbreak. David Heymann, an American infectious disease epidemiologist and professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, speculated that monkeypox may have been present at low levels in the UK or Europe for several years. He said, If you look at whats been happening in the world over the past few years, and if you look at whats happening now, you could easily wonder if this virus entered the UK two to three years ago, it was transmitting below the radar screen, with slow chains of transmission. And then all of a sudden everything opened up and people began traveling and mixing. Heymann explained that the leading theory links the outbreaks to large parties held in Spain and Belgium where intimate contact between people has amplified the current transmission. Many have observed that most of the infected are among men who have sex with men. However, monkeypox is not a recognized sexually transmitted disease, as close contact with an infected individual, including their clothes or bedding, can spread the infection. This hasnt prevented the ultra-conservative and reactionary Brownstone Institute for Social and Economic Research to write that the monkeypox virus is only spreading within the gay community. Brownstone has strong ties to the group that issued the Great Barrington Declaration, calling for the lifting of all restrictions on the young and healthy and promoting herd immunity of the population. Such statements are odious and completely unfounded, and attempt to stigmatize a particular group for political purposes. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has downplayed the global outbreak by indicating that smallpox vaccines have proven effective at preventing severe cases and therefore there was no need for a stronger reaction. Specifically, earlier in the week while at a press conference in Tokyo, he was asked if Americans infected with monkeypox could expect to quarantine for 21 days. He replied, No, I dont think so. I just dont think it rises to the level of the kind of concern that existed with COVID-19, and the smallpox vaccine works for it. But I think people should be careful, meaning individuals should make these choices. Because of the similarity to variola virus, which causes smallpox, vaccines against smallpox are around 85 percent effective against severe monkeypox infections, based on observational data from Africa. Because of the eradication of smallpox in 1980, a significant proportion of the population posses no antibodies. Those that had received their smallpox vaccine as children more than 40 years ago can assume that they have had significant waning of their previous immunity. As countries begin to reassess their smallpox vaccine reserves, the US emergency stockpile is holding on to 100 million doses of the original vaccine. However, the side effects of these vaccines and the risks associated with using them on immune-compromised individuals mean they will need to be used judiciously in a ring vaccination approach where the confirmed contacts of monkeypox patients would receive the vaccine in order to eradicate the virus. Since 2010, Bavarian Nordic, a Danish pharmaceutical company, has been manufacturing its liquid-frozen MVA-BN smallpox and monkeypox vaccine based on a live, attenuated vaccinia virus (thought to represent a hybrid of the variola and cowpox viruses.) In 2019, the FDA approved the vaccine, under the brand name of Jynneos, for the prevention of both smallpox and monkeypox. The company said on May 18, 2022 that BARDA, a unit of the US Department of Health and Human Services, had exercised the first options (119 million doses) under a ten-year contract awarded in 2017. According to the CDC deputy director Dr. Jennifer McQuiston, more than 1,000 doses are currently being held in the stockpile. We expect that level to ramp up very quickly in the coming weeks, as the company provides more doses to us, she told the New York Times. Given that the monkeypox virus spreads through contact and respiratory droplets (with a theoretical risk of airborne transmission) health authorities have assured the public that despite the unprecedented global nature of the outbreak it would be limited and quickly contained. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, speaking on CNBC, said more bluntly, I dont think this is going to be uncontrolled spread in the same way that we tolerated COVID-19 epidemic. But there is a possibility now this has gotten into the community, if in fact its more pervasive than what were measuring right now, that becomes hard to snuff out. Yet, few have asked what the implications of the current outbreak of monkeypox virus are. John Vidal, an environmentalist and editor for the Guardian, observed that alongside COVID and HIV, which are prevalent globally, several animal pandemics are occurring in parallel. African swine fever continues to affect the worlds pig population. Several outbreaks of avian flu have led to the culling of hundreds of millions of poultry. Fungal disease is being found among marine life in Australia. He wrote, We live uneasily with many thousands of potentially fatal viruses circulating in other species, but what is remarkable is that most of those that affect humans today were unknown just 70 years ago. Not only are new pathogens jumping from animals to humans more often, but an increasing number are linked to the changes in the global and local environments. The sudden appearance of a monkeypox global outbreak is an objective verification of these concerns. Though less lethal and transmitting much more slowly than COVID-19, it must be seen as a cautionary note about the impact of globalization that the corporate oligarchs do not care to address. Vidal warned, The big lesson of COVIDand now of monkeypoxis that much infectious disease has its roots in ecological change. That means the health of the planet and the health of humans and must be considered alongside that of animals. It also means we should prepare now for the unexpected, invest in public health as never before, stop cutting down forests, address climate change and phase out intensive farming. A one health, planetary approach to health is the bestand possibly the onlyhope we have. It is precisely in this formulation of the solution that capitalism cannot address despite ample warnings for decades by scientists on the gravity of these for human civilization. On Tuesday, 19 elementary students and two teachers were killed and 17 others injured after 18-year-old gunman Salvador Rolando Ramos opened fire on an entire classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. While many details have not yet been released, what is clear is that unimaginable horror unfolded in the classroom where the majority of deaths occurred. The death toll continued to rise through Tuesday night as authorities had to use the DNA of parents to identify their slain children. The shooting has shocked the globe. Many parents across the country decided to keep their children home from school the following day. Crime scene tape surrounds Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. [AP Photo/Jae C. Hong] Tuesdays school shooting is yet another horrifying instance of mass violence, which has become evermore commonplace in US schools. On November 30, 2021, Ethan Crumbley, 15, opened fire on his classmates at Oxford High in the Detroit metro area of Michigan, killing four and wounding seven others. On February 14, 2018, Nikolas Cruz, 19, gunned down 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. In December 14, 2012, 20 elementary school children and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, by gunman Adam Lanza, 20. In the past five months alone there have been 27 school shootings in the US. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there has been at least one mass shooting nearly every day since the start of the year. Teachers and students spoke with the World Socialist Web Site to express their anger and sorrow over the latest school massacre. A teacher in Florida said, Im barely grappling with this right now. I work at a school in Parkland. After the Oxford High School shooting in Michigan last year, I was getting major anxiety about going back to my own campus, recalling too easily what happened on our turf back on February 14, 2018. These events are less than three years apart. One of my colleagues actually thought it would be comforting to say to me, Don't worry about it, we already had our shooting. Itd be like lightning striking in the same place twice if it happened again. There is nothing okay about this countrys relationship with guns when we are all just waiting for our turn to be a school shooting town, to mourn our own children, to counsel the forever-traumatized survivors. It doesnt make me feel better that its not our children being killed this time. They are someones children. Even the slain teacher is someones child. None of these people should be dead. This is all wrong. Horrible and wrong. The answer to How many times must we grieve? cannot simply be stop grieving them. A teacher in Indiana expressed anger at the lack of overall lack of safety in schools. Ive come to the realization today that Im no longer going to comply with my schools lockdown/evacuation drills. Why should I? The doors to my room were installed in the 50s, each with a 2x3 window of thin glass thats been warped by time. My administration refuses to keep outside doors closed when its hot out since we have no AC and anyone has access to the building. We practice our escape routes and meet-up points, which just ensures [that] our future gunman will know when and where to shoot. Two years ago, our school board purchased for us these cheap plastic hooks we could use to tie a rope to thats attached to our door knobs and a can of wasp spray. Im done with this theater-acting administration that makes us go through to prepare for school shootings. It doesnt make them or myself any safer. Its meant to make idiots feel like our school is safe when its the furthest thing from it. They can fire me. No one actually cares about school safety. DeWine in Ohio just earmarked $4.8 million for school safety ... which equals about $1,300 per building in the state, which is likely just going to be funneled to another useless PD [professional development] that will do nothing to actually protect us. It is worth recalling the 2019 active shooter drill at a school in White County, Indiana, during which several teachers were shot execution style with plastic pellets, itself an expression of the extreme level of violence in American society. A middle school science teacher in California said, I dont think people are being provided realistic alternatives to the violence and increased militarization that are being presented to them. The popular discourse ends up being between more militarization or even more militarization. [Texas Senator] Ted Cruz says we need police officers in schools, and they need to be armed and trained. Others are saying that teachers need to have guns too. All this is escalation and reactionary solutions with no real dissection of the root issues of the problem. The problem is not that cops, teachers and kids dont know how to kill someone. The problem is not that schools dont have metal detectors. The problem is that we live in a country that doesnt care about children because they dont perform any labor and dont make any money they can spend. The American elite dont care about the vulnerable, least of all, children. This is why school budgets keep getting cut and afterschool programs and places for them to collect and commune are disappearing. I do see many young people pretty demoralized. By everything. The threat of violence and death is constantly around them, and they see that, and it terrifies them. There seems to be a pervasive sense of helplessness among them. That is what they seethat they are small and incapable compared to the violence they could incur. The California teacher also made a connection between the lack of safety in schools and the refusal of government officials to take any serious measures to protect the lives and health of children and educators during the pandemic. All mitigations, including mask mandates, have been lifted, and only a small percentage of students are being tested in his district. The lackluster care for safety in schools from violence is mirrored in the lackluster care for safety in schools from COVID. The elite dont care about the safety of kids whether it be from violence or COVID, they just care about the money they can make off them. A special education teacher in central Washington state spoke to the immense challenges school violence places on her students. We were just discussing how we would be able to get away [if there was an active shooter on campus]. The truth is, we wouldnt be able to. We couldnt even ensure that some of our students knew that they would need to be quiet. Were also in overload, which means that if we were able to get away, we may not be able to keep them all together with us if one decided to elope or run away. My students have varied responses to lockdowns and active shooter drills. Some are unfazed and are able to stay calm and follow directions. Others cannot handle the sound of an alarm and will cover their ears until we can get them ear protection. Some of our sensitive students will begin to show signs of intense fear and anxiety and may sob or self-harm. Some other students attempt to flee. We do our absolute best to make them feel safe, but it is extremely stressful for all of us. The biggest challenge are the students who harm others when [things] are escalated. I have been bitten many times simply because I am trying to help them self-soothe. The Washington teacher also spoke on the impact of the pandemic, saying, Unfortunately the pandemic and poor working conditions have driven away a lot of the best educators. This was my first and my last year working at a school. My monthly take home is around $1,000. While other individuals may be paid more (I chose to have the max taken out for retirement), it simply isnt keeping up with the cost of living. I mentioned we are in overload currently, and that is entirely due to the educator shortage. There arent enough teachers, paras, specialists, etc. even to comply with local laws. We are quite literally overwhelmed. Now, multiply that for SPED (Special Education) programs. I could talk all day about the many issues I have, but it usually falls on deaf ears. I have only seen a general apathy towards our situation. Morgan, a high school junior in Virginia, said, As heartbreaking as it is, its really just not that surprising. The government decided a long time ago that kids dying as a symptom of their gun lobbying is perfectly fine with them. They couldve changed all of this after Sandy Hook, prevented other elementary schools and schools as a whole, but they didnt for a reason. There have been 27 school shootings this year, if they actually cared about us theyd do something. I think the US government has the exact same attitude about the COVID pandemic as they do about school shootings. People dying as a result of negligence simply because the government decided our labor was more important than our lives. James, a student at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, said, What happened at Robb Elementary School was a tragedy, and it hasnt even been two weeks since Buffalo. Yet Biden, the Democrats, and the whole political establishment offer us only empty Bible verses and thoughts and prayers. Yes, what happened on Tuesday was irrational and unimaginable, but we need to look around us. The system that these people defend works solely through irrationality and violence. I am 21 now, and I have not known a single time in my life when the US was not at war. They are the ones who are using Ukrainians as cannon fodder in their proxy war against Russia which they stoked and prepared for years upon years. They are the ones who have leveled entire civilizations to dust over the past 25 years in the Middle East, and they are the ones who have decided to allow over 1 million people to die from COVID so that the rich could accumulate even more profits from their stock portfolios. Uvalde, Texas, as well, is the location of a Customs and Border Protection site, where immigrants fleeing violence caused by US intervention in Latin America are treated like animals. To stop school shootings we need to think of the bigger picture and get to the root of the problem. The capitalist system is irrational, outdated and based upon brutality and violence. It is there we must look to understand the basis of what happened in Uvalde, and it is to the emerging militant struggles of the working class that we must look to do away with all forms of capitalist violence. Republican and Democratic primaries and runoffs in five states Tuesday resulted in several significant defeats for former President Donald Trump, although the candidates who overcame his opposition are themselves diehard reactionaries committed to anti-working class policies. Four of the five statesGeorgia, Alabama, Arkansas and Texasare in the Deep South and are dominated by the Republican Party, which controls all branches of the state governmentexecutive, legislative and judicial. The Republicans also control six of the eight seats in the US Senate from those states and 41 out of 61 seats in the US House of Representatives. The fifth state, Minnesota, held a primary election in only a single congressional district, to choose nominees to fill the vacancy created by the death of Republican Rep. Jim Hagedorn. The results of the primaries demonstrated the further shift to the right in both big business parties, confirming again that the working class can find no genuine expression of its social and political interests within the corporate-controlled two-party system, and that it must build an alternative. The Republican Party is being transformed into a fascistic organization, whether or not Trump controls it. The ex-president has been seeking to purge any Republican who opposes his stop the steal campaign, an effort to make the supposedly rigged character of the 2020 election the main issue in the November midterm elections. The most publicized rebuff to this effort came in Georgia, where Republican Governor Brian Kemp and Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger turned back challengers endorsed by Trump. Kemp defeated former US Sen. David Perdue in a landslide, winning 74 percent of the Republican primary vote compared to 22 percent for Perdue. Raffensperger defeated US Rep. Jody Hice by a narrower margin, 52 percent to 33 percent, but won a majority of the votes cast and thereby avoided a runoff. Perdue waged a vitriolic campaign against Kemp, claiming that the incumbent was responsible for the existence of the Biden administration because he failed to overturn the 2020 vote in which Georgias 16 electoral votes went to the Democrat by a narrow margin, 11,779 votes. Despite Trumps repeated claims of fraud, without any evidence, Bidens margin survived multiple recounts, including a statewide hand recount of every ballot. The contest became a proxy fight between the Republican Party establishment and Trump. The Republican Governors Association pumped $5 million into the Kemp campaign, while Trump directed $2.64 million from his own political action committee (PAC) to Perdue, his sole substantial donation to any Republican primary candidate. Former Vice President Mike Pence, former President George W. Bush and many other Republican leaders backed Kemp. In conventional bourgeois political terms, Kemp had an even more right-wing record than Perdue, a former CEO who was considered a Chamber of Commerce Republican in the Senate, rather than an advocate of more provocative and anti-democratic policies on abortion, school prayer, immigration and other issues stoked by Trump and his Christian fundamentalist and fascist supporters. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (left), Gov. Brian Kemp (right). [AP Photo/John Bazemore] Kemp was actually Trumps choice in a contested Republican primary in 2018, when he was secretary of state, the chief election official in the state, and challenged the establishment favorite, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, who was expected to succeed the term-limited Republican Governor Nathan Deal. Kemp had trailed in the polls until Trump intervened, boosting him as the more aggressive right-wing candidate. Candidate Kemp became nationally known for his provocative right-wing commercials. In one ad, he said, I got a big truck, just in case I need to round up criminal illegals and take em home myself. In another, he announced that there were only two requirements for dating his teenaged daughter, while pointing a shotgun at a teenaged boy. The young man responded: Respect, and a healthy appreciation for the Second Amendment. In the general election in 2018, Kemp refused to recuse himself from exercising his powers as secretary of state to administer the election in which he headed the Republican ticket. He won narrowly over Democrat Stacey Abrams, defeating her by less than 55,000 votes out of nearly 4 million cast. Trump evidently expected friendly treatment in 2020 from Raffensperger, Kemps successor as secretary of state. Notoriously, he pressured Raffensperger during an hour-long phone call to find the 11,780 votes required to overcome Bidens lead in Georgia and award Trump the states electoral votes. As governor, Kemp has a record of unrelieved reaction. He was among the earliest governors to reopen schools and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. He pushed through the largest ever cut in the states income tax and a bill allowing residents to carry a concealed firearm without a license. He also funneled new money to the police and imposed restrictions on classroom discussions of the history of racism in America, as well as sexual orientation and gender issues. The state also adopted a law banning abortion after a woman is six weeks pregnant, effectively banning the medical procedure entirely. This law will take effect once the US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. Kemp and Raffensperger backed the so-called Election Integrity Act, which restricts absentee voting and the use of dropboxes to collect absentee votes, makes it a criminal offense to supply food or water to voters waiting in line at the polls, and bars acceptance of grants from foundations for election expenses (a nod to the fascist hysteria over a grant from Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg to help with state election expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic). Raffenspergers victory was an equally clear-cut rebuff to the stolen election campaign, since the Georgia official was best known for rejecting Trumps demands to change the result of the presidential election. Trump backed Jody Hice, a sitting congressman from northeast Georgia who gave up his safe seat in the House of Representatives to run for what had previously been considered a less prestigious position as the states chief election administrator. Hice was also heavily defeated, winning only 34 percent of the vote and carrying only his own congressional district. Raffensperger won not only the Atlanta area and its suburbs, but largely rural central and south Georgia, where Trumps support was considered the strongest. Other Republican primaries in Alabama and Arkansas showed mixed results for Trumps efforts to dictate the outcome. In Alabama, Trump had withdrawn his support from Rep. Mo Brooks, one of the leading supporters of the stop the steal campaign, after Brooks suggested that the Republican Party move on from the issue of the 2020 campaign. (Brooks also appeared to be trailing badly in a three-way race). But after Trumps declaration, Brooks actually gained support among Republican primary voters and he finished second in Tuesdays primary, winning a place in a runoff election against Katie Britt, former chief of staff to the retiring Sen. Richard Shelby, a former Democrat turned Republican. In Arkansas, Trumps former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders won the Republican primary for governor easily. Sanders is the daughter of former Governor Mike Huckabee and is now expected to succeed Governor Asa Hutchinson, who is term-limited. There were two contests of note for the Democrats. In the 28th Congressional District of Texas, the lone Democratic congressional opponent of Roe v. Wade, Rep. Henry Cuellar, held a narrow 175-vote lead over challenger Jessica Cisneros, a liberal lawyer who opposed Cuellar on both abortion and immigration. The impoverished district, predominately Hispanic, stretches from the Rio Grande border with Mexico to the suburbs of San Antonio. Cisneros had the support of Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But even after the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, the Democratic congressional leadership supported Cuellar. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed him, while Majority Whip James Clyburn, the third-ranking House Democrat, actually campaigned with Cuellar in his district. In the primary contest in Minnesotas First Congressional District, which covers the southernmost part of the state, along the Iowa border, Jeff Ettinger won the Democratic nomination and will face Republican Brad Finstad in a special election in August to fill the vacancy left by the death of incumbent Jim Hagedorn, a Republican. The two will also be on the ballot in November. The nomination of Ettinger is a particularly noxious example of the Democratic Partys shift to the right and its embrace of and by corporate America. The candidate is the retired CEO of Hormel Corp., based in Austin, Minnesota, a huge food processing company. Hormel became notorious in 1985 for breaking a strike by meatpacking workers by using scabs, protected by National Guard troops sent in by Democratic Governor Rudy Perpich. Ettinger was not on the Hormel payroll at that time. He joined the company out of law school in 1989, rising first to general counsel, then becoming CEO in 2005. He retired from that position in 2016 but still serves as president of the Hormel Foundation, established by the Hormel family, which still dominates the Fortune 500 company behind the scenes. The Hormel strike was one of the most explosive conflicts of the 1980s. It highlighted the role of the AFL-CIO unions and their transformation into arms of management. The UFCW international intervened in the strike to suspend Local P-9, which was waging a militant struggle against the company. All the strikers were fired and replaced by scabs, and the UFCW ultimately chartered a new local comprised of those strikebreakers. According to local press accounts, Rena Wong, organizing director for UFCW Local 663, the union now recognized at the plant, called Ettinger a decent guy who was responsive to workers and the union. On Tuesday, two years after the police murder of African-American George Floyd was captured on cell phone footage, sparking global protests against unending police violence, US President Joe Biden signed a token executive order dubbed the Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety. While aimed at presenting the illusion of police reform the toothless executive order will do nothing to stem the daily slaughter of workers, retirees and youth at the hands, boots, knees and barrels of US police. Pittsburgh rally to protest the death of George Floyd. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Since the murder of Floyd, police have continued to kill at a steady pace. Data complied by mappingpoliceviolence.org found that in 2020, 1,132 people were killed by police in the US, while in 2021, 1,144 people were killed. The site found that there were only 15 days in 2021 when police did not kill someone, and only 18 in 2020. While police have continued to kill an average of three people a day, mappingpoliceviolence.org found that only 1 percent of police killings last year led to charges, with fewer than 1 percent resulting in a conviction. Prior to signing the executive order, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris gave speeches presenting it as a meaningful step towards accountability and a way to build trust between bourgeois cops and the working class. Both politicians went out of their way to present the institution of policing as fundamentally good and the issue of unending police murder as purely a racial one that only affected Black Americans. While African Americans are a disproportionate number of those killed by police, the fact is white people make up the largest number of those 1,000 people killed by police each year. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data compiled from 2009 through 2019 also found that Native Americans were were 1.2 times more likely to be killed by police compared to African American people, and 2.2 times more likely that whites. Regardless of skin pigmentation, police very frequently kill people suffering from a mental health crisis. An ongoing database compiled by the Washington Post found that between 2015 and 2021, over 20 percent of those killed by police, more than 1,400, were suffering from a mental illness or an acute mental health crisis. The primary factor in determining if one is to become a victim of police violence is class. A March 2019 study published in the American Public Health Association, by Drs. Justin Feldman, Sofia Ruskin, Brent Coull and Nancy Kreiger found that [o]verall, police-related death rates were highest in neighborhoods with the greatest concentrations of low-income residents... Bidens executive order, ostensibly aimed at reforming the police, will do nothing of the sort. The order requires the Department of Justice to promote officer wellness and support programs as well as requiring an updated approach to recruitment, hiring, promotion and retention of law enforcement officers. The measure signed by Biden drops many of the limited aspects of the George Floyd Act Justice in Policing Act which passed the House in March 2021 along party lines, but failed in the Senate later that year. This failure, Biden explained was due to our Republican colleagues who opposed any meaningful reform ... so we got to work on this executive order. In his speech, Biden calmly comforted his Republican colleagues and their fascistic supporters in police departments around the country, stating that the executive order contains benefits for law enforcement. He added that he thought the majority of police were good and brave including Border Patrol agents. As with other fascistic attacks on the democratic rights of the population, from abortion rights, to voting rights, to protecting LGBTQ persons, the Democratic Party as proven itself incapable and unwilling to do anything that would incure the wrath of their Republican colleagues. After the George Floyd bill failed to garner the necessary 60 votes to overcome a Senate filibuster, the Democrats, instead of eliminating the filibuster, let the bill languish and die. While the order mentions the practice of no-knock raids, utilized by police in the killing of Breonna Taylor and Amir Locke, the order does not explicitly ban the practice, instead saying that the use of choke-holds, carotid restraints and no knock entries are restricted ... to a limited set of circumstances. That the order presents no meaningful check on police abuses was evident in the fact that it had the backing of the largest and most powerful police organizations in the country. In his speech, Biden personally thanked these organizations, the heads of whom attended the signing. Here today, Biden said,I want to thank the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Fraternal Order of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association who stepped up and endorsed what we are talking about. In a comment that perhaps speaks more truth than he intended, Biden hailed his executive order as the most significant police reform in decades. He added that it will only apply to just over 100,000 federal police officers, leaving out some 700,000 state police who are not obligated to participate in any of the limited recommendations outlined in the order such as wearing body-cameras or banning choke-holds, unless authorized. Facing a potential debacle in the midterm elections, the floundering Biden administration was obligated to at least present the illusion of action and accountability on police reform where, in reality, none exists. While some left Democrats occasionally paid lip-service to defunding the police, Biden himself never did. Immediately following the 2020 election, leading Democrats denounced the slogan as the reason they were unable to capitalize on the unpopularity of Trump in the congressional elections. Biden has repeatedly distanced himself in word and deed from the defund slogan. During his latest State of the Union address, he declared, We should all agree the answer is not to defund the police, but is to fund the police. Fund them. Fund them. Following the fascist shooting in Buffalo, Biden spoke last weekend at the National Peace Officers Memorial Service, where he repeated his love of the police, telling the cops in attendance, we should agree its [time] not to defund the police, its to fund the police. Biden called on every mayor, governor to use billions in unspent pandemic-related stimulus money to hire more cops. Spend it now, this summer, when crime historically spikes, Biden said. The official infection total across Australia has soared past seven million, with more than 995,000 cases recorded in the last three weeks. Australia has now registered a total of 8,264 COVID-19 deaths. More than 290 people died from the virus in the past week alone, an average of almost 42 per day. An additional 47 historic deaths were reported in Victoria yesterday. Staff prepare to collect samples at a drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) An average of more than 46,000 new infections are recorded each day and there are currently over 340,000 active cases across the country, higher than on all but 76 days of the pandemic. There is a vast chasm between this objective reality and the lies promoted by the entire political establishment that the pandemic is over. This was a striking feature of the recent election campaign, in which COVID-19 barely rated a mention, because all the parliamentary parties are in total agreement with the homicidal let it rip program demanded by big business. Labor was silent on the pandemic during the campaign despite the infection of leader Anthony Albanese and numerous senior party members and mass opposition to outgoing prime minister Scott Morrison over his governments handling of the crisis. This, along with the critical role of state Labor governments in spearheading the reopening drive responsible for almost 6,000 deaths this year alone, makes clear that the newly elected government will do nothing to stem the tide of mass infection, illness and death. Despite the efforts of the parliamentary parties to keep COVID-19 off the official campaign agenda, the impact of mass infection was undeniable. Less than 24 hours before polling day, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and the federal government were compelled to expand phone voting eligibility after public opposition to the possible disenfranchisement of hundreds of thousands of people who had tested positive in the week before the election. The AEC also reported staff shortages of up to 15 percent due to COVID-19 infection, forcing reduced operating hours at many polling stations. Days before the election, it was unclear whether dozens of booths in regional areas would operate at all. The record-high rate of pre-poll and postal voting, which together made up more than half the vote, reflected widespread concern among workers that the election, held under conditions where masking requirements and capacity limits have been abolished across the country, would be a national superspreader event. The current situation is particularly stark in Western Australia (WA), the last state to adopt the let it rip strategy. On Saturday, there were 91,162 active COVID-19 cases in WA, more than 3 percent of the states population. Since the WA Labor government reopened the border on March 3, the state has recorded over 660,000 infections. All but 11 of the 222 COVID-19 deaths recorded in WA since the start of the pandemic have occurred since the reopening. Australias infection figures, among the highest recorded in the country at any stage of the pandemic, likely reflect only a fraction of the true rate, due to the dismantling of organised COVID-19 testing, including the abandonment of regular surveillance tests in schools and workplaces. As in Australia, capitalist governments around the world, with the exception of China, have increasingly moved to shut down testing and suppress reporting of infection numbers. As a result, only limited conclusions can be drawn from international comparisons. Nevertheless, the fact that Australia consistently appears among the ten countries with the highest official weekly case numbers, according to Worldometer, reflects the devastating impact of the bipartisan adoption by Australian governments of the let it rip agenda. Worldometer also lists Australia as having the worlds 11th-highest COVID-19 death toll over the past seven days. The COVID-19 surge continues as scientists and health authorities warn that that this years flu season promises to be among the worst in recent memory. In New South Wales (NSW), almost 12,000 people have tested positive for influenza this month, four times the figure recorded in April. Across the state, 150 people were admitted to hospital with influenza last week. With health systems already in crisis due to COVID-19, the additional impact of widespread influenza threatens to catastrophically overwhelm the countrys hospitals. The dangers are demonstrated by the breakdown of healthcare during the Omicron wave that began in December. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) mortality figures, the country recorded 5,052 more deaths than averagea 20.5 percent increasein the first two months of 2022. Already, almost 2,400 health workers in NSW and more than 3,500 in WA are unable to work due to COVID-19 infection or exposure. Also adding to the mounting crisis is the low rate of COVID-19 booster vaccination. State, territory and federal governments and health authorities continue to downplay the threat of the virus and proclaim it a thing of the past, partly as a result of Australias high initial vaccination rate. However, this campaign of lies has contributed to a slow take-up of third doses. Just 53 percent of the population have received a third dose, although 70 percent of second doses were administered more than six months ago, meaning a growing number of fully-vaccinated people have little or no protection from serious illness and death. A survey conducted by the ABS in late April found that 62 percent of respondents across the country reported that a member of their household had taken a COVID-19 test in the previous four weeks, up from 46 percent in March and 47 percent in February. Of those who said a household member had taken a test, 23 percent reported a positive result, up from 14 percent in March and 17 percent in February. In other words, around 14 percent of households surveyed reported positive COVID-19 tests. Given the propensity of the virus to spread throughout homes, this would indicate that at least 1.5 million and up to 3.6 million people tested positive to COVID-19 during the four-week period. One third of surveyed households with children reported that attendance at school, preschool or childcare was affected by COVID-19 in April, up from 23 percent the previous month. Almost half of these households said that this was because the child had tested positive for COVID-19. Of the 18 percent of respondents that reported a household members job situation had changed due to COVID-19, 32 percent said that this was because the worker had contracted the virus, up from 13 percent in March. By contrast, the number who reported changed work circumstances because they were a close contact or because colleagues were absent remained at similar levels to the previous month. This exposes the false and dangerous character of the slashing of close contact rules in schools, workplaces and the broader community, carried out in recent months by all state, territory and federal governments, Labor and Liberal-National alike. These anti-scientific measures, eagerly enforced by the unions, were taken in response to the assertions of employers that healthy workers were being forced to stay at home by overzealous isolation rules. Far from resolving the labour shortage, the herding back of possibly infectious workers and children has only deepened the crisis by massively increasing the spread of the virus. Contrary to the criminal mantra of the ruling elite, ordinary people in Australia and globally cannot live with the virus. COVID-19 can and must be eliminated, but this requires that the international working class take matters into its own hands. The Socialist Equality Party urges workers to form independent rank-and-file committees in every workplace, school, hospital and community to implement the necessary public health measures to halt transmission of the virus. Workers, not management, must decide what is safe. This includes the provision of free N95 masks and PCR tests, the reintroduction of scientifically based testing, tracing, isolation and quarantine measures, as well as lockdownswith full compensation to affected workersin areas of high infection. BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Despite COVID-19 outbreaks and growing uncertainties, China sees unstoppable momentum in its cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and is ready to further deepen its strategic partnership. Since China and ASEAN forged dialogue relations in 1991, the two sides have remained committed to promoting regional prosperity with comprehensive cooperation and bringing tangible benefits to people in the region. VIBRANT AND FRUITFUL In 2002, China and ASEAN signed a framework agreement to start the construction of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA), which came into effect in 2010. Under this world's largest FTA, more than 90 percent of the goods between China and ASEAN countries can be traded at zero tariffs, and restrictive measures on services and investment have also been substantially lifted. Trade volume between the two sides jumped from less than 8 billion U.S. dollars in 1991 to 684.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, an increase of more than 80 times. In 2020, ASEAN and China became each other's largest trading partners. After the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, a mega trade deal between 10 ASEAN member states plus China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand, officially took effect at the beginning of this year, the rosy prospects for China and ASEAN are highlighted by their even-closer economic and trade exchanges. Customs data showed that in the first quarter, China's imports and exports to ASEAN reached 1.35 trillion yuan (202.2 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 8.4 percent year on year, accounting for 14.4 percent of China's total foreign trade. During the period, trade between China and ASEAN accounted for 47.2 percent, or nearly half, of China's foreign trade with RCEP partners, according to the data. Last November, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the ASEAN-China dialogue relations, the two sides jointly announced the establishment of a China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, a new milestone in their relations. HIGHER LEVEL AND BEYOND "The economic relations between ASEAN and China have never been stronger and closer than today," ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi said at a summit held last week. "In response to the fast-changing global economic landscape in the post-pandemic era, ASEAN and China are moving towards a new forward-looking partnership," he said, adding that "the scope of this partnership is wide-ranging and includes many emerging priorities such as resilient supply chains, digital economy, and sustainability." China is actively building the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN FTA with ASEAN members, according to Commerce Minister Wang Wentao at the 28th trade ministers' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. The country stands ready to advance pragmatic cooperation with all parties to boost regional economic integration, promote economic recovery in the region, and maintain regional peace and stable development, said a spokesperson for the ministry. "China remains open to any regional economic initiative that conforms to the aforementioned principles," he said. Underscoring efforts to cement ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture, China has made the call to "contribute to an Asian family of unity and progress together." ASEAN countries are also pledging to enhance cooperation to implement the China-proposed Global Development Initiative in a bid to accelerate the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A recent report has forecast growth among the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN+3) at 4.7 percent this year and 4.6 percent in 2023, with growth for ASEAN at 5.1 and 5.2 percent, respectively. The regions can look forward to a fuller opening-up and a strong economic recovery, according to the ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook 2022. To build a more resilient and sustainable ASEAN-China economic partnership, the two sides should jointly promote wider regional economic integration under the RCEP framework and further enhance infrastructure, said Satvinder Singh, ASEAN deputy secretary-general, in a recent article. Amber Heard says Kate Moss' recent testimony "doesn't change" what she went through with Johnny Depp. On Wednesday, Moss, 48, gave a brief live testimony via video to deny that ex-boyfriend Depp, 58, ever pushed her down a staircase, a rumor Heard brought up earlier in the trial. While previously testifying about an incident on a staircase, Heard, 36, said she defended her younger sister Whitney Henriquez because she was triggered and thought about "Kate Moss and stairs." "And I swung at" Depp, she testified. Moss dated Depp from 1994 to 1998. The model testified that the staircase incident occurred while they were vacationing at a resort in Jamaica, and that he did not push her when she fell. (Moss was not cross-examined by Heard's team.) For more on the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day. "We were leaving the room and Johnny left the room before I did. There had been a rainstorm. As I left the room, I slid down the stairs and I hurt my back," she said under oath. "I screamed because I didn't know what happened to me and I was in pain. He came running back to help me and carried me to my room and got me medical attention." "He never pushed me, kicked me or threw me down any stairs," added Moss. On Thursday, when Heard returned to the stand, Depp's lawyer Camille Vasquez asked during cross-examination, "You didn't expect Ms. Moss to testify that that never happened, did you?" "Incorrect," responded Heard. "I know how many people will come out of the woodwork to be in support of Johnny. It is clear by this courtroom how many people will do that." She added, "Everybody who was around in the '90s and the early aughts knew that rumor. I had heard that rumor from multiple people. Of course that's what flashed through my head when my violent husband not only swung for me but all of a sudden swung for my sister. Of course I thought of that." "I did not expect her to show up or not expect her to show up. It didn't matter" Heard said of Moss. "It doesn't change what I believed at the time, when we were on the stairs and I thought he was gonna kill my sister by pushing her down the stairs." Story continues RELATED: Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard: Biggest Bombshells and Revelations from the Defamation Trial US actor Amber Heard during the 50 million US dollar Depp vs Heard defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 26, 2022. - Actor Johnny Depp is suing ex-wife Amber Heard for libel after she wrote an op-ed piece in The Washington Post in 2018 referring to herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. MICHAEL REYNOLDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Heard previously brought up the Moss staircase allegation during her testimony at Depp's U.K. defamation trial in 2020. (In November 2020, Depp lost that U.K. libel lawsuit case against British tabloid The Sun for calling him a "wife-beater." The court upheld the outlet's claims as being "substantially true" and Heard testified to back up the claims. In March 2021, Depp's attempt to overturn the decision was overruled.) Moss said back in a 2012 Vanity Fair interview that she cried for "years" after their relationship ended: "There's nobody that's ever really been able to take care of me. Johnny did for a bit. I believed what he said. Like if I said, 'What do I do?', he'd tell me. And that's what I missed when I left. I really lost that gauge of somebody I could trust." Depp and Heard married in 2015 and split in May 2016, when Heard filed for divorce then sought a domestic violence restraining order against him. Depp denied her abuse claims, and the former couple settled their divorce out of court in August 2016. Model Kate Moss, a former girlfriend of actor Johnny Depp, testifies via video link at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse Evelyn Hockstein/Pool photo via AP Depp is suing Heard for $50 million in damages for defamation over a December 2018 op-ed she wrote about coming forward with abuse allegations, though she didn't mention him by name in the article. In turn, Heard is countersuing him for defamation, seeking $100 million in damages. She claims Depp launched an online campaign to discredit her allegations as "fake" and a "hoax," harming her reputation and career trajectory. When Depp got back on the witness stand for one last time on Wednesday, he conveyed the impact Heard's allegations have had on his life and categorically denied her "insane" testimony. "No human being is perfect, certainly not. None of us. But I have never in my life committed sexual battery, physical abuse, all these outlandish, outrageous stories of me committing these things and living with it for six years and waiting to be able to bring the truth out," he said, later adding, "This is not easy for any of us; I know that." Credit - Warner Bros. Baz Luhrmanns movieseven the great ones, like his 1996 Shakespeare-via-Tiger Beat romance Romeo + Juliet, or The Great Gatsby, from 2013, a fringed shimmy of decadence and lonelinessare loathed by many for what they see as the directors garishness, his adoration of spectacle, his penchant for headache-inducing, mincemeat-and-glitter editing. But in 2022, in a culture where long-form series storytelling reigns supreme, Luhrmanns devotion to two-and-a-half-hour bursts of excess is pleasingly old-fashioned, like a confetti blast from a cannon at a county fair. Its true that his movies dont always work, or rarely work all the way though, and thats certainly the case with Elvis, his sequined jumpsuit of a biopic playing out of competition at the 75th Cannes Film Festival. At times its barely a moviethe first hour or so is exceptionally fragmented and frenetic, as if Luhrmann were time-traveling through a holographic rendering of Elvis Presleys life, dipping and darting through the significant events with little time to touch down. But through all the arty overindulgences, one truth shines through: Luhrmann loves Elvis so much it hurts. And in a world where theres always, supposedly, a constant stream of new things to love, or at least to binge-watch, love of Elvisour American pauper king with a cloth-of-gold voicefeels like a truly pure thing. Luhrmann and his co-writers Sam Bromell and Craig Pearce use the story of Elvis supremely crooked manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks, lurking beneath prosthetic jowls), to frame the larger, more glorious and more tragic story of Elvis. Though he was born in Tupelo, Mississippihis identical twin, Jesse Garon, died at birthElvis grew up poor in Memphis, adoring and being adored by his mother, Gladys (Helen Thomson). Luhrmann shows us Elvis as a preadolescent, splitting his time between a juke joint and a revival tent down the road. (Too young to get into the former, he could only peer through a crack in the wall, entranced by the Black blues guys performing inside.) These are the twin poles of young Elvis life, the foundation for all that came after, and Luhrmann connects them in one extremely stylized shot: in Elvis world, gospel and blues are literally connected by one dirt road. This junior version of Elvis goes back and forth freely, drinking deeply from one well before moving to the other, and back again. Story continues His rise happens quickly, and before you know it, hes become the Elvis we know, or the one we think we know: hes played by Austin Butler, who goes beyond merely replicating Elvis signature moves (though hes terrific at that); he seems to be striving to conjure some phantasmal fingerprint. For long stretches of the movie, Butlers Elvis doesnt really have many lines: we see him, in his pre-fame years, jumping out of the truck he drives for a living and walking down a Memphis street, swinging a guitar in one hand a lunchbox in the other. Did the real-life Elvis actually do this? Doubtful. But isnt it exactly what you want to see in a movie? Read more reviews by Stephanie Zacharek Before long, our movie Elvis has landed a slot performing on the Louisiana Hayride, and Sam Phillips over at Sun Studioswho specializes in race records, music made by Black performerstakes a chance on him at the behest of his assistant, Marion Keisker, who hears something in the kid. Elvis cuts a record. Then hes jiggling onstage in a loose pink suit, its supple fabric hiding more than it reveals, but even so, the world gets a hint at the secrets contained therein. The girls, and most of the boys, too, go nuts. Butler conjures the guilelessness of Elvis face, his soft yet chiseled cheekbones, the look in his eyes that says, Im up for anythingare you? He and Luhrmann hop through the major events of Presleys life, sometimes going for long stretches without taking a breath. Elvis is exhausting, a mess; its also exhilarating, a crazy blur you cant look away from. (Catherine Martins costume and production design is, as always, exemplaryperiod-perfect but also brushed with imaginative flourishes.) We see Elvis shopping at his beloved Lansky Brothers, lured in because one of his favorite musicians, B.B. King (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) shops there. We see him succumbing to the dangerous manipulations of Colonel Parker, and later kicking against them, most notably as he mounts his 1968 comeback special. (He was supposed to put on a garish Christmas sweater and sing Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, not become the stuff of legend in a black leather suit that, you just know, would be hot to the touch if only you could get close enough to it.) But as we know, Elvis loses that fight. Colonel Parker sends a quack known as Dr. Nick to pump him full of drugs, to keep him on his feet even as hes going out of his mind. The tragedy escalates. Does Luhrmann show us the real Elvis, or is he just re-embroidering the Elvis who already lives in our imagination? The answer seems to be that Luhrmann sees equal value in fact and myth. Though Elvis more or less follows the facts as we know them, there are moments of invention that are piercing. When Elvis long-suffering wife Priscilla (played by Olivia DeJonge) finally leaves him, he chases after her, rushing down the staircase at Graceland in pants and a purple robe, a drugged-out mess. She cant take it anymore; shes got to leave, and shes taking little Lisa Marie with her. Elvis stands there in bare feet, begging her not to go. And when he realizes he cant stop her, he says, more in defeat than in hopefulness, When youre 40 and Im 50, well be back togetheryoull see. Even if Elvis never really uttered that line, its map of romantic longing had long been written in his voice. In Elvis, when Butler sings, its Elvis voice that streams out, in lustrous ribbons of recklessness, of ardor, of hope for the future. That voice is a repository of every joy and misery that life could possibly hold. Read More: Hell Always Be Elvis: Remembering the King 40 Years On When the trailer for Elvis was released, a few months back, the responses on social media, and among people I know, ranged from That looks unhinged! Im dying to see it! to I cant even look at that thing, to What accent, exactly, is Tom Hanks trying to achieve? (The movie, incidentally, explains the unidentifiable diction of this man without a country, and probably without a soul.) In the movies last moments, Luhrmann recreates one of the saddest Elvis remnants, a live performance of Unchained Melody from June of 1977, just two months before his death. Butler, his face puffed out with prosthetics, sits at a grand piano littered with Coca Cola cups and a discarded terrycloth towel or two. The song, a swallows swoop of longing, begins pouring out of Elviss wrecked bodybut as we watch, Luhrmann pulls a mystical switch, and footage of the real Elvis replaces the magnificent Butler-as-Elvis doppelganger weve been watching. For a few confusing moments, the real Elvis is no longer a ghosthe has returned to us, an actor playing himself, and we see that as good as that Butler kid was, theres no comparison to the real thing. But the feeling of relief is fleeting. Elvis, now gone for more than 40 years, is a ghost, no matter how passionately Luhrmann and Butler have tried to reconstitute his ectoplasm. The only consolation is that when a person is no longer a person, he is at last free to become a dream. In the final moments of Elvis, Luhrmann returns his beloved subject to that world, like a fisherman freeing his catch. Lonely rivers flow/to the sea, to the sea, the song tells us, as the true Elvis swims back to his home of safetyhes better off as a dream, maybe, safe from everyone who might hurt or use him. But for a few hours there, he seemed to walk among us once again, a sighting that no one would believe if we tried to tell them. But we saw him. We really did. And then he slipped away, having had enough of our claim over him, if never enough of our love. Sign up for More to the Story, TIMEs weekly entertainment newsletter, to get the context you need for the pop culture you love. While Americans attention is consumed with the issue of abortion, halfway across the world, director Kore-eda Hirokazu (Shoplifters) focuses on the alternative for mothers who carry their pregnancies to term, but cant raise the children on their own. A warm and unexpectedly nonjudgmental look at the Korean gray market for adoption, Broker was inspired by the idea of baby hatches essentially, a donation station for unwanted infants and follows the directors natural curiosity through to its most humanistic conclusion, as audiences unexpectedly come to empathize with practically everyone involved in the buying and selling of a little bundle of joy. What is Kore-eda, who is Japanese, doing making a film in South Korea, you might ask? Its not his first time working abroad. Fortunately, Broker is less of a stretch than the Oscar- and Palme dOr-winning directors previous feature the starry but stilted meta-movie The Truth, which took place in Paris returning Kore-eda to the familiar theme of families, bound by blood or necessity, and the inexhaustible moral territory he finds to explore there. Plus, this project allowed him to work with Parasite cinematographer Hong Kyung Pyo and that films star, Song Kang Ho, whose good-natured persona makes it difficult to think too badly of the films eponymous human trafficker, Sang-hyun. More from Variety Broker opens with an anonymous mother abandoning her child at a church-operated baby box. A pair of female police detectives (Doona Bae and Lee Joo Young) happen to be watching the location when the drop-off happens, as theyve already figured out that one of the church employees Dong-soo (Gang Dong Won), himself an orphan is stealing infants left without contact information and selling them to desperate parents. Story continues Its a victimless crime, as far as Dong-soo and Sang-hyun are concerned. In fact, theyve actually managed to convince themselves that theyre the good guys, helping kids who might otherwise be stuck in the system find loving homes. (Its explained that when a mom leaves a note saying shell be back to reclaim the kid, they cant be adopted. But only one in 40 such moms ever return, sentencing the babies to life in an orphanage.) Except that this infants mom does show up a day later, complicating the entire equation. But when she learns that baby brokers expect to collect 10 million won (about $8,000) for her son, So-young (Lee Ji Eun) decides the money is more interesting than getting baby Woo-sung back. Sang-hyun convinces her to tag along, since such transactions are easier when the biological mother is present and so begins the road trip that will change all their lives, with the two detectives in tow. At this point, the film may sound a lot like an earlier Palme dOr winner, 2005s The Child, in which a deadbeat boyfriend sells his girlfriends baby, then spends the rest of the film hustling to undo this bad decision. That film is a mini social realist masterpiece the Dardenne brothers best and unspools like a thriller, with the highest stakes imaginable: What audience doesnt worry about the fate of a child, passed around like a hot potato between irresponsible parties? Broker is more of a melodrama, all but devoid of suspense. The films not at all shy about its own sentimentality (though subtle enough to get away with it), which is reinforced by composer Jung Jae Ils rolling piano score. Kore-eda is surprisingly generous toward his characters, nearly all of whom are breaking the law, but whose fundamental decency is brought out when dealing with others in need. Its eventually revealed that So-young is a prostitute who murdered her babys gangster father, but even this rather extreme development is quickly forgiven, not only by Sang-hyun and Dong-soo (they take turns pretending to be her husband in various situations) but also by the cops, who offer her a chance to reduce her sentence. As in Shoplifters, this small criminal clique instinctively reconfigures itself into a kind of ersatz family, completing the bonds each of them seems to be missing in their respective lives: So-young lacks a father figure and Dong-soo never knew his folks, while Sang-hyun has lost touch with his own daughter. Its not entirely convincing that they would bond as deeply as they do (one suspects Kore-eda sees any group of three or more people as a family), and yet, dramatically speaking, this evolution in their dynamic makes the task of selling Woo-sung more complicated. Somewhere along the way, a seven-year-old boy named Hae-jin escapes the orphanage and hitches a ride in their beat-up old van, giving all three the chance to behave like adoptive parents basically, a trial run at their redemption. Going back at least as far as 2004s Nobody Knows (in which a 12-year-old must raise his younger siblings after their mother disappears, Kore-eda has taken an interest in how unlikely candidates step up to the challenge of parenting. I suspect hes the type who cant visit an animal shelter without bringing home a puppy, seeing as how his characters need only spend a few days with a baby to want one of their own. For a different disposition, that would be time enough to swear them off entirely. At several points, the topic of abortion surfaces, the implication being that killing a fetus is less cruel than leaving it in the wrong hands. One of the police detectives first words in the film are, Dont have a baby if youll abandon it. Kore-eda is clearly interested in mothers those capable of surrendering a child as well as those so desperate to adopt and yet, as the film unfolds, its the experience of these kids that matters most. How does one show a child cast away by its parents that it belongs in this world? With the words, thank you for being born, concludes Kore-eda, giving each of his characters a chance to hear that magnanimous mantra. Its a lovely note on which to close Broker, which has somewhat implausibly expanded from a narrowly focused crime movie to a gentle group hug. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Romance writer Nancy Crampton Brophy watches proceedings in court in Portland, Oregon, on April 4, 2022. A jury convicted the self-published romance novelist of fatally shooting her husband four years ago. (Photo: Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP, Pool, File Photo) Romance writer Nancy Crampton Brophy watches proceedings in court in Portland, Oregon, on April 4, 2022. A jury convicted the self-published romance novelist of fatally shooting her husband four years ago. (Photo: Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP, Pool, File Photo) An Oregon writer who wrote a 2011 blog post titled How to Murder Your Husband was found guilty Wednesday of murdering her husband. A jury in Multnomah County found Nancy Crampton Brophy guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 63-year-old Daniel Brophy, her husband of 26 years, according to Portland CBS affiliate KOIN TV. Brophy, a chef and instructor at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland, had been found shot to death outside the facility in June 2018. Crampton Brophy, a self-published romance author, was arrested for the crime that September. Crampton Brophys essay on killing a spouse was not allowed as evidence in her trial, so prosecutors focused on the large life insurance payout she stood to gain if her husband died. Numerous witnesses testified that the Brophys were having money problems at the time of Brophys death. In addition, surveillance footage showed Crampton Brophy driving to and from the crime scene when investigators said the murder took place, which contradicted her claim that she had been in bed. Crampton Brophys own computer showed that she had researched how to buy an untraceable ghost gun. Prosecutors also alleged that she called detectives asking for a letter clearing her as a suspect so she could collect on an insurance policy, according to The Daily Beast. The prosecution noted to the jury that the Brophys spent more than $1,000 on various life insurance policies at a time when they couldnt pay their mortgage. During the trial, Crampton Brophy testified that she wouldnt have killed her husband and that the insurance policies were just smart business. She also said she couldnt remember driving the morning of the murder and blamed it on tiredness from getting up at 4:30 a.m. each morning for the trial. Crampton Brophy is due to be sentenced on June 13. The 71-year-old could serve anywhere from 25 years to life. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Lawmakers reached several compromises on a K-12 funding package for Kansas schools, but the final legislation that Gov. Laura Kelly signed has drawn criticism from public school advocates. Public school advocates, Democrats and their allies are considering the 2022 legislative session to be a mixed bag on education policy, particularly after Gov. Laura Kelly signed a K-12 education budget many objected to. The governor's decision to sign controversial legislation has drawn slings and arrows from other reliably Democrat groups, though her support among public education advocates remains strong. More: Laura Kelly signs Kansas education budget that 'fully funds' schools Kelly's veto pen was enough to thwart a ban on transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports, as well as a so-called parents' bill of rights that could have given parents more power in accessing and challenging school curriculum. Some, however, say the move to sign the K-12 education budget was a frustrating one, even though it contained more than $6 billion in funding for public education, money asked for by the governor in her budget request. Special education funding draws controversy It was the addition of other provisions, however, that drew the most fire, including a provision allowing for open enrollment in any Kansas school district. And while Kelly and others have touted the bill as fully funding schools, advocates were disappointed it did not include more money for special education. The state is currently falling short of statutory requirements for special education funding, though legislative Republicans dispute this. Rep. Jarrod Ousley, D-Merriam, said school districts have been forced to use other states funds to cover excess costs or expenditures for services and support for students in those programs that exceed the average annual cost of educating a pupil in the same district. "I understand what's coming out of the governor's office, and I understand what's coming from the special education community," he said. "When you're having to rob from Peter to pay Paul, are you fully funding? You know, there's an argument to be made there. And I wish we would have had an opportunity to bring that up as a legislature, more than the little bit that we did." Story continues More: Is Kansas Legislature underfunding special education? Advocates say the state is falling far short The issue has split Republicans. Some have argued in support of greater special education funding Kyle Carlin, assistant director for the West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, said "in a year with record setting revenues, it is a shame that movement was not made toward 92% funding for special education. While some Democrats called for legislators to revisit the notion of a special education funding boost when legislators returned to Topeka on Monday, lawmakers came and went with no action on the matter, as expected. "Parents and community members must let their legislators know that they are watching them fail to take care of critical needs in our schools," Carlin said. Chief of staff: 'Now is not the time to jeopardize' K-12 funding progress Kelly has routinely proclaimed herself "the education governor" and has used the increases in funding ordered by the courts as evidence of her commitment to K-12 schools. Before signing the bill, Kelly's chief of staff Will Lawrence sent a letter to education groups outlining why the governor felt it necessary to sign the bill, as well as outlining what was considered to be its redeeming qualities. "We have come too far over the last four years to halt our progress," Lawrence wrote. "While HB 2567 is not perfect, Governor Kelly is committed to ensuring that our schools are fully funded and supporting our students in every way possible. More: More flexibility to Kansas' high school graduation requirements could be around the corner "Time and again, Governor Kelly has brought Republicans and Democrats together to solve challenges and fund our schools now is not the time to jeopardize that progress and threaten our ability to provide the state support to which our students have a constitutional right." Marcus Baltzell, communications director for the Kansas chapter of the National Education Association, said the state teacher's union and other public school advocates had pushed for a clean funding bill since the start of the session. But he said the school funding bill was anything but, with legislators having packed the bill with "policy provisions that can't pass muster." More: Should college credit be a barrier to putting substitute teachers in Kansas classrooms? "They want to thump their chest and say, 'We fully funded education,'" Baltzell said. "No, they didn't. They used Gov. Kelly's recommendation to fully fund education as a Trojan horse to throw in a bunch of unrelated policy, and if they were interested in fully funding education, they also would have taken note of the lack of (special education) funding that, of course, was rejected over and over again." Open enrollment to open borders but could be risky for rural Kansas The open enrollment component drew the most fire of the bill's provisions, with many legislative Democrats opposing the package on the basis of that language alone. "This is not a policy that would have actually gone into law without attaching it into this mega bill," said Rep. Jo Ella Hoye, D-Lenexa. "And it forced a very tough decision." More: Kansas school can't block Christian teacher from outing transgender students to parents, judge rules Baltzell said the end goal of a policy like open enrollment will be school consolidation, as families with means from lower-enrollment districts move their children to larger districts. Lawmakers nearly a decade ago had explored forced school consolidation as a way to save money on school funding. The state gives higher funding weighting for low-enrollment districts on a per pupil basis, since smaller districts don't see the same efficiencies of larger districts' economies of scale. While school district mergers had been more common in the 2000s especially as smaller communities had dealt with population loss and steep cuts to state support for school funding consolidation plans have slowed in the past few years. State funding for public schools has picked back up after the Kansas Supreme Court had ruled the legislature's funding plans as unconstitutional, and school boards have been reluctant to make decisions that could close neighborhood schools that often serve as pillars of rural communities. More: Kansas Legislature adjourns for the year, leaving Topeka after veto overrides and unfinished business But open enrollment, Baltzell said, seems to be a way to force those communities' hands as enrollment in small districts drops to unsustainable levels. "Open borders as a policy provision is just another way to say school consolidation," Baltzell said. Republicans, meanwhile, have framed the policy as a way of holding districts accountable. School officials, they argue, would be quicker to implement reforms and target academic achievement if students and the per-pupil funding they carry with them were to migrate elsewhere. Open enrollment won't take effect until the 2024-25 school year a condition inserted at the request of the governor's office. "The bill is about upholding our constitutional obligation including upholding funding that is focused on student achievement," Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, chair of the House budget committee for K-12 education, said last month. Students would not be automatically guaranteed entry, with capacity determined based off a school's enrollment levels, among other factors. Restrictions would also exist for student-athletes in a bid to attempt schools from poaching a star basketball or football player at will. Kelly did call on lawmakers in a public statement after the bill signing to revisit the open enrollment piece something that appears unlikely. Instead, GOP lawmakers say they will plan to focus on a host of other issues in 2023, ranging from boosting achievement for students in the state's foster care system to another attempt to tackling curriculum transparency in schools. Ultimately, Sen. Molly Baumgardner, R-Louisburg, chair of the Senate Education Committee, said she was satisfied with the funding package sent to the governor's desk. "I definitely am happy with the school funding that worked its way through," she said. Andrew Bahl is a senior statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at abahl@gannett.com or by phone at 443-979-6100. Rafael Garcia is an education reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at rgarcia@cjonline.com. Follow him on Twitter at @byRafaelGarcia. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas school funding finalized, despite concerns like open enrollment The often brilliant Claire Denis has historically been undervalued by the Cannes Film Festival, making the Official Competition cut only now for the second time after first appearing with her debut feature, 1988s Chocolat. So its sad to report that the French auteurs rare reappearance in the main selection is with one of her least interesting films, Stars at Noon, an English- and Spanish-language romantic thriller more in intent than execution. Led by unpersuasive performances from chemistry-deficient leads Margaret Qualley and Joe Alwyn, this is a film almost perversely lacking in dramatic texture or momentum. Considering that its set in Nicaragua under an oppressive government, with streets lined by armed military guards and protest signs calling to Stop the Abuse of Power, its quite an achievement that the film just sits there, inert. That may partly be due to the decision to update Denis Johnsons 1986 novel from its original setting during the Sandinista rule in 1984. That time shift, in the screenplay by the director, Lea Mysius and Andrew Litvack, consists mainly of adding cellphones, internet and masks to acknowledge the COVID-19 pandemic. Somehow, the stakes just dont feel real or urgent. More from The Hollywood Reporter Perhaps because the writers havent been able to reimagine the story down to its bones, Stars at Noon never feels credibly contemporary, demonstrating more in common with 80s thrillers about foreign nationals caught up in political intrigue, like Under Fire or The Year of Living Dangerously. That would be a good thing if it packed some heat or tension. Both those films centered on English-speaking journalists getting into hot water while attempting to report on the turmoil of corrupt regimes. Denis protagonist, Trish Johnson (Qualley), has dubious press credentials, but although shes tried to sell stories on political kidnappings and election interference, her American magazine editor contact (John C. Reilly in a Skype cameo) tells her to stop calling. You are not a journalist, he informs her with blunt finality. Story continues While trying to find a way out of the country without airfare, Trish kills time getting wasted on rum and turning tricks, preferably for American dollars. She has curried favor by sleeping with a police sub-lieutenant (Nick Romano), who confiscated her passport and has now revoked her press card; and by cozying up to the Vice-Minister for Tourism (Stephan Proano), whose willingness to help has reached its limit. Trish is an alcoholic drifter whose cynicism about the Nicaraguan government is amply justified, but the script never provides much sense of what brought her to the country and kept her there long enough to become so mired. She finds a possible escape route in Daniel DeHaven (Alwyn), a married Englishman who claims to be in Nicaragua consulting for an oil company in the process of investing there. Trish sleeps with him for $50, which prompts him to turn ruminative: I commit adultery often. I never really miss anybody. I feel like Im in danger of throwing my life away. Dialogue like that echoes the clipped poetry of the late author Johnsons prose, but it tends to sound phony coming out of these actors mouths. Shuffling between his upscale accommodation at the Intercontinental and her more modest digs in a dive hotel, Trish and Daniel screw, swig cervezas and become mutually intoxicated. Flaky appearances to the contrary, Trish is sharp enough to spot Daniels supposed business associate (Danny Ramirez) as shady Costa Rican law enforcement, which means the Brit is perhaps not what he seems. As threats start closing in on them, they skip town in a stolen car and attempt to cross the border into Costa Rica, but an American (Benny Safdie, miscast and wasted) whose detailed knowledge of both of them tags him as CIA, gets in the way of their escape plan. After Denis put her distinctive stamp on romantic comedy and drama, respectively, in Let the Sunshine In and Both Sides of the Blade, it seemed potentially intriguing to find the director exploring material set far from France, as she has done so memorably in African-set films like 1999s stone-cold masterpiece Beau Travail. But Denis never really gets a firm grasp on her narrative here either in terms of its backdrop of political unrest or its love story built on a foundation of tenuous trust, the couples isolation becoming a survival strategy. The pandemic mask requirement seems intended to enhance the sense of characters in hiding to various degrees, though that would require them to be somewhat intriguing to begin with. The romance is not helped by the shallow characterizations of Qualley, who at various times seems poised to herald the dreaded return of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, but whose toughness and savvy come across as a pose; and Alwyn, whos mostly an empty white linen suit, and not one you can buy hot-wiring a car. The male lead was originally intended to be Robert Pattinson, who worked with Denis on her first English-language film, the sci-fi mystery High Life, but he was busy on Tenet and The Batman. Taron Egerton was then cast but dropped out at the start of production for personal reasons. The film was shot in Panama City and the lush jungle surrounds, under both blinding sun and torrential rain, and while it looks fine, with an adequate sense of place and lots of artfully draped intimacy in the sex scenes, it doesnt match the expressive style of cinematographer Eric Gautiers best work. Then theres the score by English chamber-pop band Tindersticks, longtime Denis collaborators whose loose jazz riffs here seem antithetical to building suspense. Theres almost always something interesting about even Denis flawed films, but this troubled travelogue just feels a little off at every fumbled step. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. Michigan Republican and Democratic senators are pushing ahead with a series of new bills that would create a temporary summer tax pause when it comes to buying fuel. The bills pause collections on the 6% sales and use taxes on gas purchases and the 27-cent-per-gallon excise gas tax. The pause would run from June 15 to Sept. 15. The measures received sweeping, bipartisan support in the Senate on Thursday, potentially indicating the GOP-controlled chamber found a proposal that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer may support. "These bills provide Michiganders facing record high gas prices that are trying to make it to school, make it to work with immediate relief at the fuel pump," said state Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton. Whitmer previously suggested temporarily suspending sales tax collections on gas, so there may be room for a legislative compromise on the plan. A spokesman said the governor is "encouraged" by the Senate package. "We will monitor this legislation as it advances. The governor looks forward to working with the Legislature on a broader bipartisan agreement that puts Michigan first but cutting taxes and providing real relief right now for our seniors and working families," said spokesman Bobby Leddy. The package quickly advanced earlier in the day through the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where lawmakers voted in less than 12 minutes to send four bills to the Senate floor. More: As election nears, Gov. Whitmer's enthusiasm for tax cuts is growing More: Whitmer calls for temporarily suspending Michigan's sales tax on gas "It's no secret to any of the members of the committee or members of the public that fuel has come to a nationally high level and is expected to go even higher," said Committee Chairman Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, noting some projections indicate prices may exceed $6 per gallon over the summer. "A lot of our economy requires the use of fuels, whether that's motorists driving themselves to and from work or other obligations they have, or for businesses that need to move goods around for sale to residents." Story continues On the Senate floor, Barrett said the combined cuts in the bills would immediately save drivers about 50 cents per gallon. A Senate Fiscal Agency analysis of the bill package projected it would cost the state somewhere between $760 million to $800 million in lost tax revenue this financial year. The proposal also mirrors legislation previously championed by Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, and comes amid projections for a massive budget surplus. "To the people of Michigan who are worried about the cost and feeling the pinch, we hear you," Ananich said. "Inflation is high, budgets are tight. And the state has the responsibility to step in and help. That's what we're doing today." More: Michigan Senate GOP approves gas tax suspension that's destined for a veto More: Michigan lawmakers want to make gas cheaper. No one agrees on how to do it But a slew of Michigan education organizations continue to oppose any pause to tax collections on gas purchases, arguing the hundreds of millions potentially lost to the state may affect funding for schools. Barrett noted that the bill that pauses collecting the 27-cent tax also shifts $300 million from the state's General Fund to make up for lost revenue that would typically go to local governments. Previously, GOP efforts to repeal or pause taxes on gas have fallen flat. Whitmer already vetoed a plan that would repeal the state gas tax, noting that Senate Republicans failed to ensure the measure would take effect immediately. The measures now go to the House. Contact Dave Boucher: dboucher@freepress.com or 313-938-4591. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan lawmakers push gas tax pause for this summer If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. Despite the James Webb being in place and set to start observations this summer, Hubble is still going strong. The nearly 30-year-old space telescope recently captured two galaxies locked in a dance. NASA shared the image this week, and space enthusiasts will want to see it for themselves. Don't Miss: Todays deals: $20 Sonicare toothbrush, Rare Philips Hue deals, outdoor tools, generators, more Today's Top Deals Hubble captured two galaxies locked in a dance Two galaxies locked in a dance The two galaxies pictured in the image above at NGC 3227 and NGC 3226. The duo is more collectively known as Arp 94 and can be found around 50 to 60 million light-years away from Earth. While you cant see it particularly well in the image, there are faint tidal streams of gas and dust that have the two galaxies locked in a dance with each other. Its a spectacular image and just another reminder of how many unique galaxy formations are out there. NASA says Hubble captured the images as part of a study on measuring black hole masses. The idea was to measure the mass of the galaxies black holes by observing the dynamics of gas at the center. You can see Galaxy NGC 3227 on the left. It is a massive spiral galaxy known as a Seyfert galaxy. It, like our own Milky Way galaxy, holds a supermassive black hole at its center. To the right is NGC 3226, an elliptical galaxy that NASA believes previously cannibalized a third galaxy in the area. Despite the fact these two galaxies are locked in a dance, there is also interest in the formation of stars in NGC 3226. The confusing science of making stars hubble photo Based on everything we know; NASA says that NGC 3226 should be making new stars. Thats because all of the energy and debris from the previous galaxy is feeding directly into it. But, based on a study from 2014, that doesnt appear to be the case here. Story continues Even those the two galaxies are locked in a dance, and NGC 3226 is feeding off that old energy constantly, its rate of star formation is very low. Instead, it looks like the material that is falling into NGC 3226 is colliding with other galactic gas. As such, NASA says it is quenching the formation of new stars instead of fueling them. Its an interesting find, and only raises more questions about how galaxies form new stars. NASA believes that NGC 3226 is currently transitioning from a younger, more active galaxy known as a blue galaxy to an older red galaxy. NASA plans to continue studying this galactic dance for more clues about the transition from younger to older galaxies. And, people with NASAs Herschel Science Center believe it could one day begin forming stars again. Click here to read the full article. See the original version of this article on BGR.com Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) stormed off an interview with a British reporter on Wednesday rather than answer a tough question about Americas mass shooting epidemic. It happened when Sky News reporter Mark Stone asked the pro-gun senator whether Mondays shooting in Uvalde, Texas, represented an opportunity to reform gun laws. Cruz, who is among the top recipients of campaign contributions from gun lobbyists, didnt like the question and suggested the reporter was politicizing the tragedy. You know, its easy to go to politics, he said, before dismissing previous suggestions to curb gun violence. The proposals from Democrats and the media? Inevitably, when some violent psychopath murders people if you want to stop violent crime, the proposals the Democrats have? None of them would have stopped this, Cruz claimed. Stone followed up by noting that America is exceptional when it comes to mass shootings with 288 school shootings between 2009 and 2018 280 more than the next leading country, Mexico. Why only in America? Why is this American exceptionalism so awful? Stone asked. Cruz bristled at Stones use of the popular Republican buzzword and used it to focus his answer on anything but the question asked. You know, Im sorry you think American exceptionalism is awful. Youve got your political agenda. God love you Cruz said. The reporter was undaunted. Senator, I just want to understand why you do not think that guns are the problem. Its just an American problem, he asked. When Cruz walked away, Stone asked again, You cant answer that, can you? Cruz then accused Stone of not appreciating the U.S. Why is it that people come from all over the world to America? Because its the freest, most prosperous, safest country on Earth. Stop being a propagandist. While Cruz avoided answering questions about Americas gun violence problem, he attempted to offer possible solutions. He suggested a solution to school shootings is fewer doorways and more guns a suggestion that many found ludicrous. Story continues On Thursday, Cruz showed that he will continue to stand firm with his friends in the gun lobby and will speak at the National Rifle Association convention this coming weekend in Houston. Im going to be there because what Democrats and the press try to do in the wake of every mass shooting is they try to demonize law-abiding gun owners, try to demonize the NRA, he told CBS Dallas-Fort Worth. #NEW In Uvalde, @tedcruz told @cbs11ken hes going to address @NRA convention in Houston. Im going to be there because what Democrats and the press try to do in the wake of every mass shooting is they try to demonize law-abiding gun owners, try to demonize the NRA. @CBSDFWpic.twitter.com/nMg807fLES Jack Fink (@cbs11jack) May 26, 2022 This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Nuremberg Judges The judges at their bench (left) in Room 600 at the Palace of Justice, Nuremberg, during proceedings against leading Nazi figures for war crimes at the International Military Tribunal Germany, 1945. Credit - Raymond D'AddarioGalerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images In the three months since Russia invaded Ukraine, the conflict has left little doubt of the power of disinformationabout the past as well as the present. Russian President Vladimir Putin has justified his special military operation with a distorted version of Ukrainian history and with false claims that Ukraines present-day leaders are Nazis. Now, with the West aware of how Russian aggression has played out in places like Irpin and Bucha, we are also watching a struggle unfold over the legacy of the Nuremberg Trials. Ukrainian leaders are looking to Nuremberg to demand a full investigation into Russian war crimes. At the same time, Russian leaders have invoked Nuremberg to justify their invasion of Ukraine, a reminder of how history and the law can be manipulated to serve almost any end. In November 1945, the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union convened the International Military Tribunal at the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, Germany, to try 22 former Nazi leaders for conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Those in the dock included the members of Hitlers inner circle as well as Germanys military leaders, government ministers, and propagandists; the vast majority of those tried were convicted. The decision to organize an international tribunal after World War II was prompted by a desire on the part of the Soviets as well as the Americans to hold Nazi leaders criminally responsible for launching an aggressive war. It was the Soviets who first proposed such a tribunal, and a Soviet lawyer, Aron Trainin, who coined the term crimes against peace. Lawyers from the U.S. War Departments Special Projects Branch such as Murray Bernays embraced the ideaas did U.S. Secretary of War Henry Stimson. After the victory, the new U.S. President Harry S. Truman quickly came on board; British and French leaders soon followed. Story continues Read more: How the Meaning of War Crimes Has ChangedAnd Why It Will Be Hard to Prosecute Russia for Them Nuremberg had its critics from the start. Even before the verdicts were in, some lawyers and journalists dismissed the tribunal as high politics masking as law. After the trials, the French judge Henri Donnedieu de Vabres revealed that he had keenly felt the criticism of the Nuremberg judgment for having been decided only by representatives of the victors. De Vabres argued that this could be remedied for the future with the creation of a permanent international criminal court. Plans to create this international criminal court stalled during the Cold War. Instead, Nuremberg became a linchpin of competing national mythologies about World War II and postwar justice. In the United States, the war and Nuremberg were remembered as triumphs of Western leadership and liberal values. In the Soviet Union, Nuremberg symbolized the Soviet victory over German fascism and the emergence of the USSR as a world power. The Cold War is over and we now have an International Criminal Court. But the court has failed to become all that de Vabres had envisioned, largely because key states like the United States and Russia refuse to accept the courts jurisdiction. The idea of Nuremberg, meanwhile, lives onand has taken on fresh meaning for two successor states of the Soviet Union: Russia and Ukraine. For Ukraine, Nuremberg means hopethe possibility of bringing Russias leaders to justice for waging an illegal war of aggression. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been calling for a new Nuremberg since April 5. International lawyers and policymakers from Ukraine, Lithuania, Great Britain, the United States, and many other countries have joined himand have put forward resolutions, proposals, and model indictments for such a tribunal. They have reminded the world that the Nuremberg judgment deemed aggressive war the supreme international crime. Read more: How Ukraine Is Crowdsourcing Digital Evidence of War Crimes This turn to Nuremberg as a model and inspiration has been prompted in part by practical considerations. Ukrainian courts can try Russian soldiers for war crimesand in fact, the first war-crimes sentencing of a Russian soldier took place on Monday in Kyiv. The International Criminal Court can try Russian leaders for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity that take place in Ukraine. But it cannot try Russian leaders for launching an aggressive war, because Russia is not a state party to the Rome Statute of 1998. For that Ukraine needs Nuremberg. Nuremberg also has great symbolic significance for Ukraine, which endured a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Some of the same towns and cities that were bombed and terrorized by Nazi occupiers in the 1940sincluding Mariupol, Kyiv, and Kharkivare once again the site of devastation and mass atrocities. Meanwhile, Putin has been invoking Nuremberg to rally the Russian people for the war against Ukraine. He has promulgated the lie that Ukraine is being run by Nazisand has repeatedly made a false connection between Ukrainian nationalist organizations that collaborated with the Germans during World War II and Ukraines leaders today. Since the invasion on Feb. 24, he has defined his goal as Ukraines de-Nazification. Read more: Historians on What Putin Gets Wrong About Denazification in Ukraine Russian leaders and propagandists have put forward proposals for Ukraines de-Nazification that include trials of Ukrainian leaders and soldiers. One such plan, published by the state news agency RIA-Novosti in April, proclaimed that by convening a public tribunal, Russia would act as the guardian of the [legacy of the] Nuremberg Trials. On May 10, Russian State Duma member Andrei Krasov called for a Nuremberg 2.0 to try Zelensky and other Ukrainian leaders, whom he falsely smears as neo-Nazi killers. Last week Russian officials denounced the Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered at Azovstal as Nazi war criminals and called for a public tribunal in Donetsk to provide a lesson for everyone who has forgotten the lessons of Nuremberg. What are these lessons of Nuremberg that Russian leaders and propagandists want to linger on? There is the obvious lesson that Nazism is evil. But there are other lessons that are based on a patriotic-nationalistic history of World War II. In this narrative, the Russians are the saviors of Europe and the main victims of the Nazi genocide. They cannot be perpetrators or fascists: these labels are reserved for the Nazi invaders and their accomplices. This narrative of World War II is protected by a 2021 Russian memory law that bans public discussion about Soviet collaboration with Nazi Germany or about Soviet war crimes during World War IIa memory law that purports to be based on the Nuremberg verdict. Putin looks to the Nuremberg verdict because the Soviet Union, as one of the victors, was not tried at Nuremberg for its own crimes against peace. Nor was it held responsible for any war crimes or crimes against humanity. No Allied crimes were tried at Nuremberg; the tribunals jurisdiction was limited to the crimes of the European Axis powers. But Putin is using the tribunals restricted scope to manipulate the past: for Putin, the fact that Soviet crimes were not judged at Nuremberg means that they never happened. Read more: A Visit to the Crime Scene Russian Troops Left Behind at a Summer Camp in Bucha Putins lies about the past and lies about the present go hand in hand. Present-day Russia is mired in disinformation about Ukraine, about the war, and about the perpetration of war crimes; Russian atrocities in Mariupol, Bucha, and other towns and cities are dismissed as fakes or falsely blamed on Ukrainians. This is one of the reasons that Ukraines call for a Nuremberg-like tribunal to hold Russias leaders accountable is so compelling. Such a tribunal, based on the collection and review of incontrovertible evidence, could bring Putin and those in his circle to justice and also set the story straight about the war. Ukraine and its supporters can draw important lessons from Nurembergs achievements as well as from its flaws. A new international tribunal to try Russias leaders must affirm the illegality of aggressive war and reveal the connections between crimes against peace and other war crimes. At the same time, any tribunal established by Ukraine and its allies must avoid politicizing the prosecution of war criminals. It must work to establish a complete historical record; this is necessary for its own legitimacy and for the benefit of future generations. Above all, such a tribunal must remind the world that there are universal principlesand that those who violate them will be punished. Of course, none of this is inevitable. History shows that it is the victor who gets to organize postwar tribunals. For Ukraine to bring Putin and his circle to justice, it will first have to win the war. There is also a dark alternative: a Nuremberg-type tribunal of Ukrainian leaders held by Russia. This would inevitably be a Soviet-style show triala kangaroo court that would degrade international law and could taint the meaning of Nuremberg forever. Francine Hirsch, Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is the author of Soviet Judgment at Nuremberg: A New History of the International Military Tribunal after World War II(Oxford, 2020). Maj. Gen Patrick Roberson, left, recognizes retired Maj. Gen. Gary Harrell as a Distinguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment during a ceremony Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at Fort Bragg. FORT BRAGG A Special Forces leader whose 31-year Army career included the rescue of an American hostage and commanding Delta Forces in combat was honored during a ceremony Tuesday at Fort Bragg. Retired Maj. Gen. Gary Harrell commissioned into the Army in December 1973, first serving under the 82nd Airborne Division, and retired as deputy commander of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command in July 2008. More than 100 colleagues, soldiers, friends and family and supporters joined Harrell, as he was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment during a ceremony hosted by the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. The regiment serves as a link between Special Forces soldiers currently serving and those who have separated or retired and serve as role models for unit morale, cohesion and esprit de corps. Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson, commander of the Special Warfare Center and School, said Harrell is an icon of the regiment. The visionary leadership, the willingness to take risks, and the ultimate success of the mission in northern Iraq, its very representative of this mans career and his accomplishments, Roberson said. Army career Harrells first Army assignment was with the 2nd Battalion, 508th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division, with which hed later deploy to Grenada in the 1980s during Operation Urgent Fury. Retired Maj. Gen. Gary Harrell was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment during a ceremony Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at Fort Bragg. He completed the Special Forces Qualifications Course in January 1977 and was assigned to the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta at Fort Bragg as a troop commander. While serving with the detachment, Harrell participated in Operation Just Cause during the U.S. invasion of Panama and was the only officer to enter the Modelo Prison with his soldiers to rescue American hostage Kurt Muse, who was held captive by Gen. Manual Noriegas forces. Harrell deployed with the Joint Special Operations Command as an Army special operations action officer during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Story continues While commanding the Squadron C, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta in April 1992, he led forces in operations against drug lord Pablo Escobar. His next combat deployment was as a ground force commander in Somalia during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, which is depicted in the book and movie Black Hawk Down. In that incident, two MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were shot down Oct. 3, 1993, by armed militants, which led to the deaths of 18 American soldiers attempting to recover the downed personnel. Mark Stephens, executive director of the nonprofit Task Force Dagger that assists wounded or ill Special Forces soldiers and their families, said at Tuesday's ceremony that he first served under Harrell in Somalia. Retired Maj. Gen. Gary Harrell was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment during a ceremony Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at Fort Bragg. Stephens said Harrell stood out as a commander who could make "hard calls in very unique tough and situations." Harrell was wounded by enemy mortar fire and evacuated to the U.S. on Oct. 9, 1993. Harrell became deputy commander of Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta in June 1995 and commander of the detachment from July 1998 to July 2000. In the early 2000s, Harrell served as director of the Joint Security Directorate, becoming responsible for the U.S. Central Commands security operations following the attack on the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen. He deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan, as commander of Task Force Bowie in November 2011 and served as assistant division commander for the 10th Mountain Division during Operation Anaconda. Trusted leader In July 2002, Harrell assumed command of the Special Operations Command and led more than 20,000 troops responsible for combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Maj. Gen. Roberson said he served on a team with the 10th Special Forces Group during that time. Based on Harrells intents and guidance, Roberson said, his team was the first to be inserted in Iraq before other American forces and fought alongside Iraqi Kurds against Saddam Husseins army and terrorist groups. There are individuals even within my own group, 10th Group, that told me this mission will never happen too bold, too dangerous, too risky, nobody would ever approve this, Roberson said. Well, Maj. Gen. Harrell not only approved it, he had to convince others that it was a great idea. Roberson said there were risks to the mission and force, and diplomatic risks, but Harrell made a gutsy call, that set the tone for special operations forces deployed to Iraq. There remains to this day a strong relationship between us and the Iraqi Kurds, he said. Roberson said that relationship was relied upon countless times, and helped American forces recently defeat the Islamic State of Syria. Stephens described Harrell as a loyal commander with integrity who soldiers could trust. He was willing to look at the whole picture and make the hard calls, he said. His loyalty to his men is beyond reproach, and I think because of that he receives loyalty, unlike any other leader Ive ever seen. In April 2005, Harrell was assigned as deputy chief of staff for operations and commander of the deployable Joint Task Force, NATO Response Force in Brunssum, Netherlands. The task force was responsible for NATO forces taking operational control in Afghanistan and Harrell led the task force on its first operational deployment to the Cape Verde Islands off the west coast of Africa. Harrells awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with valor device and two oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters among other awards and certifications. Continued service After his retirement, Harrell became an executive board member for the Task Force Dagger Foundation, of which Stephens is the director. Stephens said Harrells continued to serve the Special Forces community by helping raise funds to support wounded or ill special operations service members and their families. Following Tuesdays ceremony, Harrell said the people is what has stood out to him about the special operation forces community and that is just as important today as it was during its inception. We protect the world, Harrell said. Theres a lot of stuff that needs to be done. Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528. More: Fort Bragg's Special Forces, Psychological Operations, Civil Affairs induct honorary members More: These are the stories of Fort Bragg's Medal of Honor recipients More: Sixty Special Forces soldiers involved in 1993 battle to have awards upgraded This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Special Forces inducts Delta Force icon at Fort Bragg Across the border from Uvalde, anger, sorrow, calls to action in Mexico after another US mass shooting In the hours and days after the horrifying school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, foreign governments around the world expressed their condolences to the American people. But in Mexico, officials added something different -- outrage, anger, and calls to action. "The gun lobby has succeeded in selling weapons of war, of a military nature, with the potential to leave victims unrecognizable, to civilians knowing the damage they cause. This failure to foresee, to prevent the damage is negligence, and the gun firms must be held responsible," said Alejandro Celorio Alcantara, the Mexican Foreign Ministry's legal adviser, in a tweet. That vocal criticism is part of a new, more assertive stance by Mexico's government against American guns, which have flooded into Mexico by the hundreds of thousands and helped fuel waves of violence. MORE: How the shooting at a Texas elementary school unfolded Last year, Mexico sued 10 gun manufacturers and distributors in U.S. court for billions of dollars in damages -- an unprecedented lawsuit that accused these companies of all but aiding drug cartels' acquisition of arms. Mexico has also pressed the issue repeatedly with U.S. administrations, calling for more frequent U.S. inspections at the border and enhanced technology to conduct them. PHOTO: A sheriff checks his phone as he sits on the sidewalk with two women outside Robb Elementary School as state troopers monitor the area in Uvalde, Texas, May 24, 2022. (Allison Dinner/AFP via Getty Images) "In recent years, the Mexican government has carried out more and better actions to advance an agenda of arms control in the U.S. than the U.S. government can or wants to," Ximena Medellin Urquiaga, a professor of legal studies at Mexico's Center for Research and Teaching in Economics, tweeted Wednesday. The outrage over the Uvalde killings is also fueled by the close ties the city has to Mexico. Some 78% of Uvalde's 15,000 residents are Hispanic or Latino, according to the 2020 U.S. census, with the U.S.-Mexican border just 54 miles away. "Just look at the last names" of the victims, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told reporters Wednesday. "They are the children and grandchildren of Mexicans." Story continues Mexico's top diplomat at its consulate in nearby Eagle Pass, Texas, was on the scene late Tuesday, offering consular assistance to any Mexican citizens potentially affected by the carnage. The Mexican Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it would wait for U.S. authorities to confirm whether any Mexican citizens were killed or injured in the shooting. Eight Mexican citizens were killed and seven injured in the 2019 shooting at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart. But while Lopez Obrador declined to answer questions on U.S. gun laws Wednesday, several senior Mexican diplomats did not hold back, including in blaming the U.S. gun lobby for violence on the southern side of the border. "The horror. This will continue to happen as long as weapons are readily available. Whether it's the 1st economy in the world, the 15th or the 190th. Parents lose their children. We all lose. The only winner is the gun industry. Let's hold them accountable," Salvador Tinajero, the Foreign Ministry's deputy legal adviser, tweeted Tuesday. An estimated 200,000 guns are trafficked from the U.S. into Mexico each year, according to the Mexican government -- a figure that the U.S. government called "the best estimate available," according to a February 2021 U.S. government watchdog report. In its lawsuit last August, Mexico alleged the number is now higher -- between 500,000 and 873,000 guns per year. PHOTO: People gather at Robb Elementary School, the scene of a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, May 25, 2022. (Nuri Vallbona/Reuters) Approximately 70% of the firearms recovered in Mexico from 2014 to 2018 came from the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Justice -- although that number could also be even higher because those are only the firearms submitted for tracing by Mexico's federal government, not including those recovered by Mexican states, according to that U.S. watchdog report. Experts say that enormous southern flow of weapons is because access to guns is much easier in the U.S. In contrast, Mexico has strict laws that all but forbid guns from public. While firearms are not illegal to own and keep at home, heavy requirements for ownership usually mean months of paperwork -- and guns can only be purchased from the country's one gun store on a military base in Mexico City. Despite those restrictions, Mexico suffers from some of the worst gun violence in the world. Between 2015 and 2021, more than 141,000 people were killed with a gun across the country -- a rate of homicide by firearm that rose 109 percent, according to the "Mexico Peace Index 2022" report by the Institute for Economics and Peace, a nonpartisan think tank. Years of working with the U.S. government, including $54 million from the State Department between 2015 and 2019 to boost Mexican law enforcement's counter gun trafficking, has not eased the problem. Instead, in its lawsuit last August, the Mexican government took a page from U.S. gun safety groups by going after gun manufacturers like Smith & Wesson. The companies "sell to any distributor or dealer that has a U.S. license to buy and sell the product, regardless of the buyer's record of flouting the law and despite blazing red flags indicating that a gun dealer is conspiring with straw purchasers or others to traffic Defendants' guns into Mexico. Defendants use this head-in-the-sand approach to deny responsibility while knowingly profiting from the criminal trade," the lawsuit alleged. The case has little chance at success because U.S. federal law largely protects gun manufacturers from being sued by victims of gun violence, and it's unclear whether Mexico has standing to sue them in U.S. court. In November, several manufacturers first moved to have the case dismissed, arguing in court again last month that any connection between their sales and the alleged damage is too far removed to make them responsible. Even more assertively, the NRA accused the Mexican government in February of "deflect[ing] criticism of their own failures by abusing the legal system to blame law-abiding gun manufacturers." But the political message of the lawsuit and another round of vocal Mexican criticism could have a more lasting effect, as the U.S. appears increasingly singular in its gun violence problem. In remarks Tuesday evening, President Joe Biden noted he learned about the Uvalde massacre while flying back from his first trip to Asia, saying, "What struck me was these kinds of shootings rarely happen anywhere else in the world." His spokesperson at the State Department went further, saying the shooting has "implications for our standing" in the world. It even potentially makes the U.S. a "source of confusion, a source of disbelief for our closest friends and allies -- worse yet, an object of pity," Ned Price said Wednesday. But for Mexico, it's the U.S. as a source of guns themselves that looms largest -- a destabilizing neighbor, according to some officials. "Mexico is standing up to the gun industry in courts. Their negligent and profit-driven practices are wrecking havoc in our communities," Guillaume Michel, head of legal affairs at the Mexican embassy in Washington, tweeted Wednesday. Whether repeated incidents of that havoc will lead to any legal changes -- in court or Congress -- remains to be seen. Across the border from Uvalde, anger, sorrow, calls to action in Mexico after another US mass shooting originally appeared on abcnews.go.com WASHINGTON Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday he wants GOP lawmakers to work with Democrats on a legislative solution to address the elementary school shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead in Uvalde, Texas this week. In what could be a potential breakthrough on gun legislation, McConnell told CNN he met with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and encouraged him to engage with key Democratic senators "in trying to get an outcome that's directly related to the problem. And so I am hopeful that we could come up with a bipartisan solution that's directly related to the facts of this awful massacre." Asked if he thought the potential areas of compromise would include red flag laws, background checks or mental health issues, McConnell said he's asked Cornyn "to meet with the Democrats who are interested in getting a bipartisan solution and come up with a proposal, if possible, that's crafted to meet this particular problem." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Red flag laws generally permit police or family members to seek a court order to temporarily confiscate firearms from a person who may present a danger to others or themselves. Any bipartisan compromise on background checks, red flag laws or firearms access could mark a substantial victory for gun control advocates, who have seen Congress do very little following previous mass shootings such as Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida. McConnell's legacy: Texas shooting raises pressure on Mitch McConnell to pass gun laws. Why it will likely fail Deep pessimism: 'A bad day for ... hope': Another school shooting. More dead kids. Why gun control advocates see no end in sight Latest updates: Texas officials investigating if police acted fast enough to stop shooter at Uvalde school Democrats, who hold 50 seats in the Senate, need at least 60 votes to defeat a filibuster and bring legislation to the floor, so any proposal will need the support of at least 10 Republicans, most of whom have shown little appetite to go against the gun lobby and restrict access to firearms. Story continues If there is to be a deal, it won't happen without McConnell. A longstanding opponent of strengthening gun regulations and winner of the National Rifle Association's "Defender of Freedom" award, the seven-term senator from the Bluegrass State controls how much his caucus is willing to venture on gun legislation. McConnell was instrumental in blocking previous attempts at gun control weapons bans, background checks, red flags for mental health cases, ammunition magazine restrictions, gun sale loopholes when calls arose after previous mass shootings. "Hopefully, we can get an outcome that can actually pass and become law rather than just scoring points back and forth," McConnell told CNN Thursday. McConnell's comments came a day after several Democrats expressed pessimism that Republicans would be open to substantial movement on guns even with the horrific tragedy of Uvalde on the nation's conscience. They (Republicans) are disturbed, upset, troubled but not willing to change where they are, Delaware Democrat Chris Coons said Wednesday. This is a bad day for anything even vaguely looking like hope or optimism around legislative process or progress. But Sen. John Thune, a South Dakota Republican and McConnell's deputy, echoed the GOP leader's sentiments. "I think we have to at least listen to each other and see if there's a path forward where we might be able to find solutions that actually address the problem," he told Capitol Hill reporters. "Too often, in these debates, at least my experience is people come up with lots of solutions to problems that either don't exist or weren't the cause." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Senate GOP Leader McConnell: bipartisan gun bill possible after Uvalde Hail hit a flight, cracking the pilot's windshield somehow, no one was harmed This Day In Weather History is a daily podcast by Chris Mei from The Weather Network, featuring stories about people, communities and events and how weather impacted them. -- On Monday, May 26, 2003, a British Midland Airways (BMI) Airbus 312 was hit by an aggressive hailstorm on its way from Cyprus to Britain. There were 213 passengers and eight crew aboard the flight. The BMI aircraft was approaching Manchester, England when it was hit with violent weather, including hail and large chunks of ice. Many passengers who weren't buckled in were thrown from their seats. One passenger was Bruce Johnstone, a New Zealand photojournalist. "It was like a hail of bullets and then a huge thump. Everyone was screaming and we are lucky to be alive," said Johnstone. Click here to subscribe to This Day in Weather History Another passenger, Pat Mallon, a medical secretary from England, said, "The plane just dropped and started vibrating. Everybody was stuck on the ceiling. We were out of our seats for a few seconds and that happened two or three times. The flight landed at Manchester Airport around 30 minutes late. The passengers clapped and cheered as the plane safety touched the ground. Upon landing, the plane was inspected. The hail significantly damaged the plane's nose and the windshield, but all internal systems were still completely functional. "The pilot said that in his 20 years of flying experience he had never encountered anything quite like it and, to reassure the passengers, he said it would be very unlikely if we ever encountered anything like it again," said Mallon. All 221 people on board the flight walked away without significant injuries. To learn more about the BMI Airbus 312 flight, listen to today's episode of "This Day In Weather History." Subscribe to 'This Day in Weather History': Apple Podcasts | Amazon Alexa | Google Assistant | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Overcast' Thumbnail: Courtesy of Pixabay This summer, many of us are taking full advantage of the season and booking some long-awaited travel or finally following through with plans deferred during the height of the COVID pandemic. With travel restrictions being eased across the globe, you might be ready to book your flights to an exciting new destination, but one airline may be a bit harder to fly in the coming months: On May 25, a majority of this carrier's pilots voted to authorize a strike. Read on to find out more about the strike, and how it could affect your summer plans. READ THIS NEXT: Southwest Is Cutting Flights From These 3 Major Cities, Starting in June. Airlines are working hard to meet increased demand. As travel kicks back into high gear, airlines are working to keep up with the increased demand. According to the Transporation Security Administration (TSA), on May 24, approximately 2,020,742 passengers traveled through TSA checkpoints, which is an enormous increase from the same day in 2020, which saw just 264,843 travelers. Airlines have added flights to their schedules to meet this need, but one carrier has been forced to make repeated cuts to its schedule due to ongoing staffing shortages. Now, those same issues could worsen considerably. READ THIS NEXT: Delta Won't Let You Do This on Flights, Effective Immediately. An "overwhelming" percentage of pilots voted to authorize a strike. On May 25, the "overwhelming" majority of Alaska Airlines' pilots voted to go on strike, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'L (ALPA) announced in a press release. Of participating pilots, a whopping 99 percent said they would strike if necessary. Alaska Airlines employs almost 3,100 union pilots, 96 percent of whom participated in the vote conducted by the Alaska Airlines master executive council of the ALPA. If eventually carried out, this would be the first strike of its kind in 12 years. As reported by The Points Guy, the last pilot strike for a U.S. passenger airline was carried out by Spirit Airlines pilots in 2010. Story continues Alaska Airlines pilots have been negotiating their contracts since 2019. As noted in the press release, the dispute stems from disagreements over pilot contracts, with negotiations ongoing for the last three years. Pilots are leaving the airline "at record numbers," the union said on its website, adding that their concerns have yet to be "meaningfully addressed" by management. "For three years, Alaska pilots have been resolved in their commitment to reach a new agreement and today, we spoke with one unified voice, just like we did with our recent informational picketing event," Will McQuillen, Alaska Airlines captain and chairman of the Alaska Airlines ALPA Master Executive Council, said in the release, citing an April 1 picket attended by nearly 1,500 Alaska pilots. "For years, we have been working toward a market-based contract with reasonable solutions that address work rules, scheduling flexibility, and career-security issues that pilots at other companies enjoy, not a strike. Now is the time for management to respond and engage constructively at the bargaining table," McQuillen added. RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. Pilots are not on strike yetand there are additional steps to take before they are allowed to do so. Travelers do not have to worry too much just yet, as there are a few major steps that need to be taken before pilots can actually refuse to fly. They would first need permission from the National Mediation Board (NMB), which is the airline industry's federal labor relations board. According to the ALPA press release, the NMB will decide whether any additional mediation would be beneficial, giving both the pilots and the airline a chance to "arbitrate the contract dispute." Either party can decline the arbitration, which triggers a "cooling off" period, spanning 30 days. After that, pilots can strike, but management can also act by locking pilots out. Considering this timeline, a strike will not be immediate, but it could ultimately affect peak travel season during the summer months, The Points Guy noted. The airline issued a statement to travelers confirming that pilots are not currently on strike. In a statement issued the same day the vote was carried out, Alaska Airlines said the results were "expected," while also stressing that pilots are not officially on strike. "As ALPA said this morning, a strike can only occur after a specific, multi-step process involving the federal government and National Mediation Board," the statement reads. The airline also reassured passengers that they are not directly affected by the vote and seemed to confirm it is in favor of negotiation. "Our guests and operation are not impacted by this vote," Alaska said. "We remain committed to reaching a deal to provide an updated contract that is good for Alaska's pilots." READ THIS NEXT: You Won't Be Able to Book a Flight to This State, as of June 6. Nancy Crampton Brophy was convicted of fatally shooting her husband four years ago. Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP A writer who wrote the essay "How to Murder Your Husband" has been convicted of killing her husband. Nancy Crampton Brophy, 71, was found guilty of second-degree murder on Wednesday, AP reported. The conviction comes four years after her husband, Daniel Brophy, was found dead in a kitchen. A romance novelist who wrote an essay titled "How to Murder Your Husband" has been convicted of murdering her husband. Nancy Crampton Brophy, 71, was found guilty of second-degree murder on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported. The conviction came four years after her chef husband, Daniel Brophy, was found dead in the kitchen of a culinary school. On June 2, 2018, Brophy was shot to death as he prepped for work at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland, where he taught classes, AP reported. The outlet said Crampton Brophy displayed no visible reaction in the crowded courtroom when the case's verdict was announced. Prosecutors told the jurors that the writer had been struggling financially and was looking to collect on her husband's life-insurance policies, the outlet said. But during the trial, she denied the accusations against her. Crampton Brophy also said that the CCTV footage that placed her at the crime scene only showed her looking for inspiration for her writing, AFP reported. She also said that the missing gun, which police believed was the murder weapon, had been purchased as part of research for a novel, the outlet said. Her lawyers plan to appeal against the conviction, AP reported. Crampton Brophy, who faces life in prison, has penned romance novels, including "The Wrong Lover" and "The Wrong Husband." But it was her 2011 blog post titled "How to Murder Your Husband" that received plenty of public attention following her arrest in September 2018. The essay, which is still accessible via internet archives, discussed different methods for killing an unwanted spouse without getting caught, AFP reported. "The thing I know about murder is that every one of us have it in him/her when pushed far enough," the essay read. Crampton Brophy has remained in custody since her arrest, The Associated Press reported. Her sentencing has been scheduled for June 13. Read the original article on Insider First responders have a tough job. They experience trauma most of us never experience. So the last thing they need is an insurance company that mishandles their workers' compensation claims for problems such as post traumatic stress disorder. Yet that's exactly what W.R. Berkley Corporation did, according to the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. DFR fined W.R. Berkley $85,000 and required them to contribute $15,000 to the Vermont Financial Services Education and Victim Restitution Special Fund for engaging in "unfair claim settlement practices," from 2015 to 2019. W.R. Berkley is a third-party administrator for Acadia Insurance Company. First responders work to put out a fire in Shelburne, Vermont, Jan. 8, 2019. In one of the worst cases cited by DFR, W.R. Berkley asked a first responder for information it needed to process a workers' compensation claim, then denied the claim that same day. Most of the claims W.R. Berkley handled were related to PTSD, leading DFR to conclude the company prevented first responders who were suffering from the stress caused by PTSD to even pursue a workers' comp claim. DFR Commissioner Michael Pieciak said Monday that of 10 claims for PTSD filed during the period concerned, six were mishandled. One of those claimants has since settled with the insurance company, but the other five claims will be "reopened and reexamined for full adjudication." "Our first responders regularly face extraordinarily challenging situations as they work to keep our communities safe, and as a result, they experience unique impacts to their mental health," Pieciak said in a news release. "It is critical for our first responders to receive necessary and deserved mental health care and this settlement will help ensure these illegal claims practices do not occur again as a result of the corrective actions the company is required to undertake." A soldier's story: Vermont medic who served in Somalia receives silver star More: Vermont State Police try sending mental health workers out with troopers. Is it working? Story continues The $15,000 contribution W.R. Berkley is required to make to the Vermont Financial Services Education and Victim Restitution Special Fund will be used to help educate first responders about workers' compensation coverage for PTSD so they're in a better position to know if they're being treated unfairly. Who to contact with insurance questions If you have any concerns about claims or other insurance questions, contact the DFR consumer services section at 802-838-3302, or 800-964-1784, or by email at dfr.insuranceinfo@vermont.gov. Contact Dan DAmbrosio at 802-660-1841 or ddambrosio@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont says W.R Berkley mishandled first responder workers' comp claims Ted Cruz attended a vigil for the murder victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas and was confronted by Sky News reporter Mark Stone, who grilled the senator on why frequent mass shootings only happen in America. Cruz tried to spin the mass shooting in Uvalde as having nothing to do with gun laws and cut the interview short because of what he viewed as Stones political agenda. Twenty one people died at Robb Elementary after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire. Nineteen of the victims were children. There are 19 sets of parents who are never going to get to kiss their child goodnight again, Cruz said. More from Variety Is this the moment to reform gun laws? asked Stone. Its easy to go to politics, Cruz answered. I get thats where the media likes to go.The proposals from Democrats and the media inevitably, when some violent psychopath murders people. Cruz was cut off by Stone, who noted the violent psychopath Cruz was referring to was able to get a weapon so easilyan 18 year old with two AR-15s. If you want to stop violent crime, the proposals the Democrat havenone of them would have stopped this, Cruz said. Why does this only happen in your country? Stone fired back. Why only in America? Why is this American exceptionalism so awful? Thats when Cruz had enough, walking away from Stone and saying, Im sorry you think American exceptionalism is so awful. You know what? You have your political agenda. God love you. Stone proceeded to follow Cruz and repeatedly state that mass shootings are just an American problem. Why is it that people come from all over the world to America? Cruz then asked. Because its the freest, most prosperous, safest country on earth. Stop being a propagandist. Story continues Cruz then ended the interview once and for all. The senator has been the center of news alongside Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in the aftermath of the Uvalde mass shooting as neither want to reform their states gun laws. Jimmy Kimmel went viral after the shooting for demanding Texas lawmakers admit its time for the laws to change. Our cowardly leaders just arent listening to us, Kimmel said. Theyre listening to the NRA, theyre listening to those people who write them checks that keep them in power. Because thats how politics works. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Wheat Harvest By Ukrainian Grain Exporter ZAT Nibulon A combine harvester drives across a wheat field during a harvest in Nikolaev, Ukraine, on Monday, July 8, 2013. Credit - Vincent MundyBloomberg/Getty Images The azure sky and golden fields of wheat depicted in Ukraines yellow-and-blue-banded flag represent one of the worlds most important bread baskets. Before the Russian invasion, the country was responsible for 12% of global wheat exports, 16% of global corn exports, and 46% of global sunflower oil production. But that flag, now a symbol of defiance, also represents a cautionary tale about the worlds overreliance on singular sources of vital foods, particularly when it comes to international humanitarian food aid. The two-month-long conflict has derailed Ukraines ability to plant, harvest, and export its major crops, driving higher costs and stoking fears of global food shortages. As the World Food Programs executive director, David Beasley, warned the United Nations Security Council on March 29: rising food prices would devastate the humanitarian organizations ability to feed some 125 million people on the brink of starvation because Ukraine had gone from the breadbasket of the world to breadlines. The ripple effect of the Ukraine crisis on global grocery bills, however, is just a taste of what is to come as climate change disrupts the worlds agricultural areas. As temperatures rise due to increasing greenhouse-gas emissions, so too will the price of food. Humanitarian aid is likely to suffer first, with donors funds losing their purchasing power when prices of basic commodities like wheat and oil increase. The full impact of climate change will make the Ukraine crisiss impact on food prices look like kindergarten, says Enock Chikava, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations interim director for agricultural development. We are already living in a one-degree warmer world, and we are already seeing more pests, more droughts, more heat. If we continue on this trajectory, to 1.5C or even 2C, all hell will break loose. Story continues But simple solutions, in the form of localized farming adaptations, experts say, can play a role in heading off the worst of the impact of looming global food shortagesif they are implemented ahead of time. A version of this story first appeared in the Climate is Everything newsletter. To sign up, click here. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) recently estimated that the Ukraine crisis would push up to 12 million people into hunger worldwide. This is in part because, as the FAO estimates, onethird of Ukraines crops and agricultural land may not be harvested or cultivated this year, leading to a loss of one fifth of the countrys wheat supply. Future harvests are also in jeopardy because next seasons crop is unlikely to be planted amidst wartime conditions. At the same time, economic sanctions on Russia, the worlds largest producer of wheat, have further reduced global supplies. Meanwhile, Russia and its ally Belarus are leading producers of the fertilizers that farmers use around the world. Sanctions and conflict-linked shipping restrictions have limited their availability on global markets, and the resulting higher prices will force farmers to make difficult decisions: reduce their use, and risk lower yields, or pay more and charge moreif they canfor their crops. Either way, essentials will likely get more expensive. Some governments may be able to subsidize fertilizers or wheat, or both, to carry their populations through, but others may not be able to, risking starvation. The impact on the cost of food has been swift. At the end of March, the FAOs monthly tracking of the price of a basic basket of goods surged to its highest levela 60% increase over last Marchs basketsince the FAO Food Price Index was first published in 1990. Food prices could rise by another 20% in parts of the world that depend on Ukrainian and Russian exports, according to the UN. This in turn translates into higher prices for international food aid, creating an unbearable toll for fragile populations already teetering on the edge of hunger. Add to this the impacts of rising global temperatures and the effects could be devastating for economically disadvantaged countries. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes landmark report released in February, rising temperatures are likely to increase drought, flooding, and fire in once-reliable agricultural areas like California and southern Europe, which all could send production numbers tumbling. In some places, it is already happening. A record-setting heatwave in India has reduced this years wheat crop, just as the country was planning an export surge to make up for the Russian and Ukrainian shortfalls. And, as the Associated Press reports, Chinas agriculture minister Tang Renjian warned last month that the countrys winter wheat harvest will be poor after wheat growing regions were hit by major flooding. Beyond the agricultural impacts of a warming world, catastrophic weather events in key ports ranging from Baltimore to the Black Sea could suddenly stop exports. Food prices will rise, and with them the chance of internal unrest, like what we are already seeing in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Chronically food-insecure regions, such as the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, will be hit by the double whammy of drought and high prices, reducing both governmental and international aid agencies abilities to provide for a famished populace. For years, countries already dealing with the impacts of climate change on agricultural systems have sought to minimize these risks by sourcing vital supplies abroad. Drought-prone Somalia, for example, imports 90% of its wheat from Ukraine and Russia, according to Rein Paulsen, FAOs director for the Office of Emergencies and Resilience. That strategy is no longer viable not just because of conflict, but because of how climate change is likely to upend longstanding food supply networks, he says. One of the things that were learning out of the tragedy surrounding the war in Ukraine is just how interconnected and fragile some of our agri-food systems are. The Ukraine-related price spikes are just the most recent evidence that the global agricultural system is broken, says Chikava of the Gates Foundation. Before Ukraine, global agriculture was already dealing with increasingly rapid and severe climate change, widespread conflict and mass migration, a locust infestation across the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa, and a pandemic. The result, he notes, was some of the highest food prices in recorded historyuntil the Ukraine conflict drove them even higher. But if local agricultural practices are strengthened, the worlds food system will be more resilientnot only if there is another crisis in the Black Sea region but in the face of a seemingly endless string of punishing externalities. Strengthening that system means rethinking humanitarian aid from the ground up. Literally. Food imports will always play a role in hunger response, but they should not be the default, says Paulsen of the FAO. In a climate unstable world, countries will need to start developing resilience at a local level by embracing forward-thinking agricultural practices. In some places that could mean sowing locally adapted crop varieties, resistant to drought or flood. Other areas might require precision irrigation systems that minimize water use, or education on the strategic application of fertilizers and pesticides (rather than ad hoc use that could cause long-term harm, or unnecessary costs). Meanwhile agricultural scientists will need to focus attention on developing new crops and livestock breeds that can tolerate more heat, or which are more pest resistant. These kinds of interventions arent cheap, but neither is emergency aid. As an example, Paulsen estimates that it would cost $157 a year to help one Afghan family pivot to more climate change-resilient seeds and farming methods. Were that family to buy their staple foods at a marketassuming they had enough cash and the supplies were availableit would cost four times as much. And in the case of a massive international response to a looming famine, as we are seeing now, it would cost seven to nine times as much. Food aid at scale is incredibly important, says Paulsen, particularly in lean seasons or for catastrophic events like hurricanes or conflict. But its remarkable how even under challenging circumstances agriculture is still possible at the household level, he says. So a focus on local production needs to be part of the answer moving forward. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) confirmed on Wednesday that he stopped at a campaign fundraiser on Tuesday after learning of the shooting that killed 19 elementary school students and two teachers at a school in Uvalde. I was actually in Taylor County responding to a different disaster, a disaster of fires that had ripped through Taylor County and destroyed 20 homes, and that is when I learned about the shooting that was taking place pretty much at that time here, Abbott said at a press conference on Wednesday when asked about the fundraiser in Walker County, some 300 miles from Uvalde. While still in Taylor County during a press conference about wildfires, Abbott gave an update on the school shooting that had just happened. On the way back to Austin, I stopped and let people know that I could not stay, that I needed to go, and I wanted them to know what happened and get back to Austin so that I could continue my collaboration with Texas law enforcement to make sure that all the needs were being met here in the Uvalde area, he said. My heart, my head and my body are in Uvalde right now, and Im here to help the people that are hurting, the governor added. The Hill has reached out to Abbotts campaign and office for further comment. Abbott is vying for his third term as governor against Democratic candidate Beto ORourke. ORourke interrupted the governor at the same press conference on Wednesday. You are doing nothing, ORourke told Abbott. You said this was not predictable, this was totally predictable, and you choose not to do anything. ORourkes move was criticized by Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, who yelled, Sir, you are out of line. Please leave this auditorium. I cant believe youre a sick son of a bitch who would come to a deal like this to make a political issue, McLaughlin said before ORourke was escorted out of the auditorium. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Americans are disgusted and outraged yet again after another massacre of 19 children and two teachers in a Texas elementary Tuesday with some passionately calling on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow gun legislation to pass this time. This week's newsletter also takes a look back at Kentucky's primary elections last week, including what to expect going forward in the Louisville mayoral race and different takes within the Kentucky GOP on what the "liberty" insurgency in Frankfort really means. Prayers to and from McConnell America's new Sandy Hook is in Uvalde, Texas, with many now wondering if Congress will issue the same old response "thoughts and prayers," but no legislative action on access to and regulation of firearms. McConnell offered his prayers on the Senate floor Wednesday, but did not address the potential success of gun legislation that has already passed the House which he was passionately urged to advance by NBA head coach Steve Kerr after the Texas shootings. Here's our look at the legislation in question and McConnell's history in the face of past massacres a record of staunch opposition to new federal guns laws. If you want to get all the political news from The Courier Journal and a whole lot more, you'll want to check out this great deal for new subscribers! Craig Greenberg vs. Bill Dieruf The frontrunners in the Louisville mayoral primary Democrat Craig Greenberg and Republican Bill Dieruf came out victorious last week. Here's a look at the similarities and differences of the two candidates who will face off for the city's top spot in the general election. Columnist Joe Gerth looked ahead at that race and thinks one of those candidates has a significant advantage based on a decade of political and demographic winds shifting Louisville's electoral landscape. Craig Greenberg, Bill Dieruf composite photo While Black candidates Shameka Parrish-Wright and Tim Findley Jr. came up short in the Democratic primary, both are looking ahead for what is next to come, for them personally and the city as a whole. Story continues 'Liberty' boom or bust? Challengers from the small-government "liberty" movement were able to knock off three GOP House chairmen from Northern Kentucky in the (low turnout) primary last week, but their other challenges to incumbents outside Boone County came up short. Were these primary results a sign of a statewide uprising coming to the GOP supermajority caucuses in Frankfort? Rep. Savannah Maddox a leader in the liberty wing of the state GOP said they were, while sounding an awful lot like a 2023 candidate for governor. State Rep. Savannah Maddox-District 61 speaks during a committee meeting in Frankfort in February 2021. The Republican representative is from Dry Ridge, Ky. Here's our look at what these primary results could mean for Republicans in Frankfort, as others think this could just be another example of Boone County Republicans being their eccentric and infighting selves. All eyes on SCOTUS A federal judge has again temporarily blocked Kentucky's sweeping new anti-abortion law from being enforced but the success of the plaintiffs and abortion rights advocates could still be short-lived. With the U.S. Supreme Court expected to rule on a case this summer that could overturn Roe v. Wade, such a decision would make Kentucky one of more than a dozen states with a trigger law immediately banning all abortion procedures. In case you missed it Reach reporter Joe Sonka at jsonka@courierjournal.com and follow him on Twitter at @joesonka. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today at the top of this page. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Another gun massacre of children. How will McConnell respond? North Korean leader Kim Jong Un seen in a photo dated April 29, 2022, released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via Reuters North Korea announced what it claims is its first ever case of COVID-19 on Thursday. A single case of the Omicron variant was found in capital Pyongyang on Sunday, state media reported. North Korea reopened its borders in January for the first time since early 2020. North Korea said Thursday that it had found its first ever case of COVID-19, with the government announcing a comprehensive lockdown. After the the novel coronavirus began to spread across Asia in early 2020, North Korea shut its borders and committed to a zero COVID-19 policy. It only reopened its borders in January this year. Until now, the country had claimed that not a single case of COVID had reached its borders, but state media reported Thursday that authorities had discovered a single case of the Omicron variant in the capital Pyongyang on Sunday, according to NK News. The same day North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong Un held a meeting of his politburo to discuss anti-COVID-19 response measures, the outlet said. "The state epidemic prevention work shall be switched over to the maximum emergency epidemic prevention system," the government-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported. It is unclear what the emergency system entails. In November 2021, the World Health Organization said North Korea had yet to start vaccinating people against COVID-19. As of February this year, it is still yet to accept any deliveries of vaccines provided by aid agencies. Though reporting no cases of COVID-19 until Thursday, the pandemic has hit North Korea hard, with the border closure precipitating food shortages. State-run media reported in October that the government had started breeding black swans as a food source to try and solve the hunger crisis. Without mentioning COVID-19, in June last year Kim publically chastised top officials in a speech for allowing the country to suffer "grave consequences" from the pandemic. North Korea has been vigilant in trying to prevent cases of COVID-19, though it cannot be known for sure if this week's case is actually the country's first given its longstanding history of misinformation. Story continues In July 2020, Kim locked down the entire city of Kaesong and issued a "top-class alert" after a person suspected of having COVID-19 snuck across the border from South Korea, according to state media. In August, North Korea announced new hard labor punishments for anyone who met in groups of more than three people. Read the original article on Business Insider Kevin Kreider in Bling Empire (Netflix) Bling Empire is an extravagant triumph of reality TV, with pleasures as boundless as its stars offshore bank accounts. Im not joking. The Netflix hit combines the real estate glitz of Selling Sunset with the punishing social calendar of the Ladies of London and the sneaky peek above Beverly Hills hedges previously offered by Brit in Hollywood Robin Leach in Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Bling Empire follows a coterie of fabulously wealthy Asian-Americans and Asian expats who claim to know each other simply by virtue of being wealthy, Asian, and alive in Los Angeles at the same time. When I saw Crazy Rich Asians, I thought it was a fantasy, says show regular Kevin Kreider a middle-class Asian so attractive he should be cast in that films sequel in the series premiere. Then he moved to California and met his first billionaire. Nothing really happens on Bling Empire. Rich people just do stuff, like go to dinner and shop on Rodeo Drive. In this way, it resembles other reality programmes dedicated to making having yacht-loads of money seem, on balance, a good idea: The Kardashians, Shahs of Sunset, most instalments of the Real Housewives franchise. Even watching Below Deck, a series about a luxury boat crew dealing with the unhinged, impractical demands of their minted clients, makes me curious about what my own unhinged, impractical demands would be. But all of those shows, champagne-soaked and Swarovski-encrusted as they may be, lack a Kevin Kreider. Because while Kevin Kreider is the most important character on Bling Empire, he is crucially not quite of its world. Kevin, an often shirtless out-of-work model, grew up with a nice, regular family in nice, regular Pennsylvania. The 38-year-old is ostensibly the series yardstick for normalcy, a stand-in who says what the viewer is thinking. Except hes so much better more open and less judgmental than I would ever be in his shoes, which are $1,100 Christian Dior high-top sneakers paid for by another cast member. Story continues When slapped in the face with the conspicuous wealth of his friends and co-stars their lavish parties, their tittering contempt for his skateboard Kevin Kreider behaves in the moment exactly how I imagine wishing Id behaved hours after the fact. He appreciates largesse without being awed by it. He admits to thinking caviar doesnt taste good enough to be thaaaat expensive. And hes totally chill with a good-natured ribbing. Thats not even a pair of shoes, jokes Jamie, the daughter of a Chinese cybersecurity magnate, when Kevin mentions his $1,000 rent. Kreider is never defensive or embarrassed by his humble origins nor is he too shy to gasp at how much the others spend. Jamies rent is $19K a month. Kevin Kreider is also immensely and almost irritatingly compassionate. Part of the cheap fun of those other displays of audacious affluence I mentioned comes from eye-rolling at what can pass for trouble in their characters lives. Kevin, on the other hand, rarely condemns a petty rift. Thats why I was thrilled to hear him utter the sentiment I think its just so weird how rich people fight early in Bling Empires recently released second season. Kevins kvetching is about two friends Anna, a half-Japanese, half-Russian arms heiress, and Christine, the Taiwanese wife of a celebrity plastic surgeon who is descended from the Song dynasty. The women are engaged in a completely inexplicable 16-episode-long feud about owning the same Louis Vuitton diamond necklace. It reminds me of little kids, Kevin adds, finally sniggering along with me. But just when I thought this rich clique had found the distant limits of his humanity, he ekes out a little more. Maybe you just need to give her a real, heartfelt hug, Kevin suggests to Christine in earnest. Hes not just the shows moral centre; he keeps the audience on its best behaviour. Even non-problems have real solutions, he reminds us. Even rich people have feelings. The cast of Bling Empire (Netflix) Maybe hes so good at empathising because he grew up feeling so out of place. Kevin talks frequently about being adopted from Korea into a white family as a toddler. I dont know Japanese or rich people culture, he tells Anna sweetly, in season one, after he worries that the expensive gift that he accepted from her was a secret character test that he had failed. Theres another storyline this season concerning infidelity in an established couple, though no ones crystal clear on the details of who did what and when. Still, the group agrees that the innocent party needs to be informed. Telling the truth, even when its hard, is the mark of a good friend, at least on reality television. Coincidentally, inserting yourself in the juiciest storyline is how you get the most screen time. Kevin is the only person to object. Even in the face of several TV cameras, he seems more interested in being a good person than looking like a good person. I dont think its any of our business to be snooping in so much, he says, injecting middle-class values that threaten to bring the boiling pot back down to a simmer. I think they should let it go, he adds, a take so level-headed Im shocked producers didnt cut it. Who knows? Maybe they do cut out a lot of what Kevin Kreider says. I doubt it because 1) hes exceptionally good-looking and 2) based on the incredible number of scenes hes in this season, hes endlessly available to film Bling Empire. Plus, even when Kevins not talking, he makes his point. In a newer episode, Kevin wears a flashy denim jacket emblazoned with the words F*** FAKES in all caps. On a show where outfits are routinely scrutinised and found wanting, Kevins especially, it never even gets a mention. Any other cast member would wear the jacket with an ironic wink, but Kevin wears it like a personal motto. Kevin Kreider the kindest guy in reality genuinely does not want fakes, be they rich friends or Rolexes. Of course, hes so new to the company hes keeping, one has to doubt his ability to spot either. An image released by the Ukrainian military appearing to show damaged or destroyed Russian vehicles. Ukrainian defense ministry Pro-Russia bloggers and even Russian veterans have become more critical of the Kremlin over Ukraine. A Russian veterans group is publicly seeking a declaration of war and further troop mobilization. The All-Russian Officers Assembly called Vladimir Putin's campaign in Ukraine a "failure." The Ukrainian military's devastating defeat of a large Russian force trying to cross a river in eastern Ukraine, along with other serious Russian losses, has sparked increasing criticism among pro-Russia military bloggers and commentators, including a Russian veterans group that is now urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to declare war on Ukraine and mobilize additional forces. The All-Russian Officers Assembly said in a letter on May 19 that Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine had failed to achieve its objectives and called on Putin to recognize that the invasion of Ukraine was no longer about "denazifying" the country but about fighting for Russia's existence and place in the world order, according to a recent analysis from the Institute for the Study of War, a research organization in Washington, DC. The pro-Russia veterans group said that the "special military operation," as Putin calls his large-scale invasion of Ukraine, had been a "failure" and was over and that Russia must ready for a "full-blooded war." The failed attempt by the Russian military to cross the Siversky Donets River earlier in May might be one of the deadliest events of the war, according to The New York Times, with dozens of armored vehicles lost and more than 400 Russian soldiers estimated to have been killed or wounded. The Ukrainian defense ministry shared images showing the aftermath of the fight, with destroyed or disabled Russian tanks and other broken armored assets scattered about the battlefield. An image released by the Ukrainian military appearing to show wrecked Russian vehicles on the riverbank. Ukrainian defense ministry The All-Russian Officers Assembly's critical post in the wake of the battle suggests news of this disaster and other Russian failures are breaking through the Kremlin's tightly controlled information bubble. And pro-Russia milbloggers are becoming noticeably more critical of the Kremlin, ISW said. Story continues Yuri Podolyaka, a warblogger with 2.1 million followers on Telegram, said in a video that he had been avoiding criticizing the Russian military but that after the failure of the Siversky Donets river crossing, his patience was "overwhelmed." "I emphasize, because of the stupidity of the Russian command at least one battalion tactical group was burned, possibly two," Podolyaka said. "Yes, I understand that it's impossible for there to be no problems in war, but when the same problems go on for three months, and nothing seems to be changing, then I personally and in fact millions of citizens of the Russian Federation start to have questions for these leaders of the military operation." Ukraine's military has posted photos said to show destroyed pontoon bridges and armored vehicles on the Siverskyi Donets River in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian Ministry of Defense Similar criticisms have been appearing more frequently, ISW explained in its report this week. "More Russians supportive of the Kremlin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine are beginning to criticize the Kremlin openly," the organization reported Monday. "The commentary by widely read milbloggers may fuel burgeoning doubts in Russia about Russia's prospects in this war and the competence of Russia's military leaders." The Russian veterans group said the Kremlin should further mobilize all regions bordering NATO countries, extend standard military service terms from one year to two, establish wartime administrations in the separatist Donetsk and Lukansk People's Republics, and institute the death penalty for Russian deserters. ISW said the Kremlin was most likely unwilling and unable to pursue further mobilization in the short term. Translations were provided by Nikita Angarski. Read the original article on Business Insider One man was arrested Monday in connection with the robbery and killing of a 70-year-old man on Indianapolis northwest side in April, according to investigators. Joshua Dye, 30, was charged with robbery and felony murder in connection with the death of Jesus Mazariegos. Originally from Guatemala, Mazariegos spent 20 years in Indianapolis. He was trying to escape poverty and follow his American dream, said his son Jesus Alberto Chan. Dye was also arrested for the robbery of a separate victim that occurred on the same day, about one half mile from where Mazariegos was robbed, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. From last year: Indianapolis man facing two murder charges connected to separate shootings, records show More news: Andrea Morehead explains why she's dropping discrimination lawsuit against WTHR-TV Both robberies occurred on April 25. Officers found Mazariegos lying on the ground, possibly having a seizure, after they were dispatched to the 4400 block of North Mission Drive on a report of a person down. He was verbally unresponsive but awake and transferred to a hospital in serious condition. Mazariegos died as a result of his injuries on April 29. The Marion County Coroners Office determined Mazariegos possible cause of death was physical assault resulting in blunt force injuries. The second robbery Dye is charged in occurred in the 4000 block of North High School Road, according to investigators. Anyone with information on Mazariegos death or the robberies is asked to contact Detective Daniel Smith at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or e-mail him at Daniel.Smith@indy.gov. Alternatively, those with information can call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 to remain anonymous. Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Man arrested in connection to death of Indianapolis' Jesus Mazariegos Mothers Day is Sunday, which means endless brunch options and special menus catered to celebrate the day with memorable meals and, of course, bottomless mimosas. But if you aren't looking for anything Mothers Day specific, there's still plenty to do in Johnson County this weekend, including stepping out to the Iowa City Farmers Market or seeing the beloved character Elle Woods come to life in Coralville. Here are eight options for you to consider. ReUnion Brewery ReUnion Brewery in Coralville is inviting people to celebrate Mothers Day with an all-you-can-eat brunch. That means endless prime rib, crab stuffed salmon, chicken marsala, mac and cheese, mimosas and more. Brunch will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Be sure to reserve your spot in advance on ReUnion Brewery's website. Brunch prices are $32 for adults and $16 for kids 10 and younger. Trumpet Blossom Cafe The popular Iowa City vegan restaurant created a Mother's Day menu and will serve up breakfast and fresh lunch options from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Veggie-chickpea frittatas, falafel wraps, waffles inspired by an everything bagel complete with carrot lox, maple cashew cream cheese and more are just some of the special food items. This will be the only menu available the entire day. There will be no to-go orders and reservations are recommended, so call 319-248-0077. Trumpet Blossom Cafe's regular drink and dessert menu will be available. Vue Rooftop Another Mothers Day brunch option is at Vue Rooftop in Iowa City. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the restaurant has a brunch menu with breakfast classics to finer fare, like maple-soy glazed salmon, prime rib and mushroom risotto. Prices are $32.95 for adults and $15.95 for kids 4-12. Children 3 and under eat free. Reservations can be made at Vue Rooftops website. Red's Alehouse Reds Alehouse bartender and server Ryan Stanley takes an order in 2020 at the North Liberty restaurant. On Sunday, Red's will roll out a special Mother's Day brunch offering. Red's Alehouse in North Liberty is doing an all-you-can-eat Mother's Day brunch centered around breakfast comfort foods. Donuts, French toast, fried chicken and smoked ham are just some of the special treats on the menu Sunday. Story continues Brunch is $25 for adults and $13 for kids. Call 319-626-2100 to make a reservation. Hotel Millwright A seating area in the restaurant is seen during the grand opening at Hotel Millwright, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, in Amana, Iowa. Hotel Millwright in Amana will host a Mothers Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Brunch includes an omelet station, carving station, other breakfast fare and, with a drink pass, bottomless mimosas. Brunch is $35 for adults and $15 for children 3-12. Reservations are required as seating is limited, so call 319-838-5015. Iowa City Farmers Market Community members browse shops during the first day of the Iowa City Farmers Market, Saturday, May 1, 2021, at the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp in Iowa City, Iowa. The weekly Iowa City Farmers Market returns Saturday at the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp. Fresh produce, flowers and other goods from local vendors will be available to purchase through October. This year, there will be no Wednesday farmers market due to fewer vendors participating. The Iowa City Farmers Market will be from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Legally Blonde the Musical at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts The musical, based on the 2001 Amanda Brown novel and movie of the same name, follows Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend and discovers she has a knack for practicing law. In 2007, the musical made its debut at San Franciscos Golden Gate Theatre before its Broadway run. Legally Blonde the Musical will be directed by Robin Stoker at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. The show opens Friday at 7:30 p.m., followed by performances throughout the weekend and next weekend. Tickets can be purchased on the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts' website. Iowa New Play Festival at the University of Iowa After a virtual festival in 2021, the Iowa New Play Festival returns with four productions and seven readings by students. The Iowa New Play Festival began over three decades ago at the University of Iowa, focused on producing, reading and discussing new scripts from the Iowa Playwrights Workshop and inviting professionals in the industry to see and discuss those works. Some of the work includes Jeremy Geragotelis Its Like Riding A Bike, directed by Ann Kreitman, which follows a set of twins who escape and process their mothers forgetfulness by riding a bike. Theres also a reading of I Shall Not Be Moved by Isaiah Reaves and directed by Caroline Clay about Reaves grandmother Betty Daniels Rosemond and her experience as a Freedom Rider in the 1960s. The festival runs through Saturday. The schedule is available on the Department of Theatre Arts' website. Here are all the productions and readings as part of the Iowa New Play Festival: And Then by Jarek Pastor Its Like Riding A Bike by Jeremy Geragotelis and directed by Ann Kreitman Stars and Stones by Emma Silverman and directed by Sarah Gazdowicz Basically Children by Charlie OLeary and directed by Natalie Villamonte Zito I feel closest to you by Oliva Clement and directed by Meg Mechelke I Shall Not Be Moved by Isaiah Reaves and directed by Caroline Clay Man of My Dreams by Valerie Muensterman Berrigan, or an Island tale by Christopher Lysick and directed by Rob Silverman Ascher Selections from the Undergraduate Playwrights Workshop the fog comes on little cat feet by Amanda Keating and directed by Meg Mechelke Mother: Knife by Derick Edgren Otero and directed by Margo Skornia Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or (319) 519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza. This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Things to do on Mother's Day weekend in the Iowa City area Justin Langer has opened up on the bulls*** politics that led to an acrimonious exit with Australia although he refused to countenance working for England. Despite being head coach as Australia won last years T20 World Cup and the Ashes series that followed Down Under, Langer stepped down in February after rejecting a short-term contract extension. Rumours persisted for months prior to his departure that some senior players were unhappy with his style of coaching but a number of Langers former team-mates, including Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Matthew Hayden and the late Shane Warne felt the 51-year-old was mistreated by Cricket Australia. Justin Langer was head coach as Australia won the T20 World Cup and Ashes last year (Jason OBrien/PA) And, in recalling a conversation he had with CAs then interim chair Richard Freudenstein the day after he quit his post, Langer laid bare the frustrations that led to him walking away. Speaking at a chamber of commerce event in Perth, Langer said in quotes on Cricket Australias website: The first thing (Freudenstein) said to me was it must make you feel so good that all your mates are supporting you in the media. I said, Yeah it is, acting chairman, but with all due respect, those mates are also the all-time greats of Australian cricket. They are the fabric of Australian cricket. They are Australian cricket. They also work all around the world in cricket. So yeah, Im glad my mates are looking after me. Imagine if you had have. Ironically, the last six months of my coaching career were the most enjoyable period of 12 years of coaching. Not only did we win everything, but I had energy and I had focus and I was happy besides the bulls*** politics. Langer, left, says he did not consider applying for Englands two head coach roles (Mike Egerton/PA) While Australia have appointed Andrew McDonald as their mens head coach, Langer was linked with one of the two vacant posts with England, who elected to split their Test and white-ball roles. Langer, a former opening batter who featured in 105 Tests for Australia, insisted he was uninterested in coaching his countrys fiercest cricketing rivals. Ive never spoken to English cricket, he said before adding with a shake of his head: The thought of coaching Englandmate! Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix 2022 - Credit: Netflix Netflix will dig into West Texas infamous Yearning for Zion Ranch and polygamist cult leader Warren Jeffs in the upcoming docuseries Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey. In 2008, federal authorities raided the ranch, where Jeffs as head and self-proclaimed prophet of the secretive sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints amassed 78 wives, 24 of whom were underage. Over 400 children were also taken into custody, with law enforcement agents finding evidence of sexual, physical, and psychological abuse. More from Rolling Stone The four-part docuseries was directed by Rachel Dretzin, who previously helmed the documentary Who Killed Malcolm X, which resulted in two people being exonerated for that murder. In addition to never-before-seen archival footage, Dretzin went to Utah, where many survivors of the cult have relocated, to tell their story for Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey. The first time I traveled to Short Creek, Utah, I had the same first impression as most. With their pleated hair, prairie dresses, and diffident, skittish manner, it was easy to see the young girls and women of the FLDS as odd, even alien creatures. It was almost impossible to believe that a society so repressive, isolated, and extreme could exist in plain sight in 21st century America, Dretzin said in a statement. And then I began interviewing survivors. The stories they told of the process of systematic coercion and mind control exercised by the man they thought of as a religious prophet, Warren Jeffs were far from alienating. After many months spent reporting this story, it was clear to me that these women could have been my daughter, my mother, or me. And it was also abundantly clear that they showed incredible courage and strength in leaving this religion-turned-criminal cult. Story continues Jeffs is currently serving a life prison sentence on charges of sexual assault of a child. Hes allegedly still running his cult and acting as a prophet from behind bars, but many of his survivors have left the cult and struggled to adapt to normal life. This was the story I set out to tell, Dretzin continued. The women in our film managed to leave the FLDS with no real education or skills, no money, no support whatsoever. For their whole lives they had been valued solely as plural wives and as breeders of children. To leave meant saying goodbye to everything and everyone they loved to start over in a society they didnt understand. Badass doesnt begin to describe how fierce they are. I am proud to be connected to them and grateful to have had the opportunity to tell their story. Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey premieres on June 8 on Netflix. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Ray Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, sits in the Anita Freedman room of party headquarters in Concord. Its no secret how revered Bill Clintons 1992 New Hampshire presidential primary comeback is by the states Democratic Party. But in case anyone forgot, the party built a shrine. Inside the Anita Freedman Conference Room in the state partys headquarters in Concord hang hundreds of buttons from the Arkansas governors first presidential campaign, the colors still sharp behind the glass. Clinton used New Hampshire to turn around a flailing campaign, rocked by claims of an affair and a fifth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses. Through eight days of door knocking, handshakes, press conferences, and small-scale events, the campaign turned a 20-point polling deficit into a second-place finish behind Massachusetts Sen. Paul Tsongas. That political turnaround and New Hampshires role has encouraged political heads in the state for three decades. It means that the voters (in New Hampshire) give every candidate a fair shake, and that campaigning one on one makes a difference, said Ray Buckley, the chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, who also presided as chairman in 1992. Bill Clintons energy level, that hes able to campaign literally around the clock, hitting all-nighter Dunkin Donuts or bowling alleys or any of the places that he would go to, he put in the work to meet enough (voters) to revive his candidacy. Its a message Buckley has been returning to lately. New Hampshires status as the first presidential primary state in the country has rarely passed an election cycle without scrutiny and criticism from other states. But this year, the state Democratic Party is preparing one of its biggest defenses of the position yet. In a decision last month, a key subcommittee of the Democratic National Committee opted to put New Hampshire and all other early nominating states in the hot seat. The Rules and Bylaws Committee designed an application process by which all states even those with 100-year first-in-the-nation primary histories must apply for the top five positions. Story continues Under the process, New Hampshires state party was required to send a letter indicating the states interest in being among those top five. Then, party leaders will submit presentations to explain and defend that interest by June 3. By July 15, the subcommittee will make its recommendation on the calendar order. The DNC will later vote on it. Buckley sent the state partys letter of intent to apply for the states spot last week. And state Democratic leaders, such as Joanne Dowdell, the partys representative on the national Rules and Bylaws Committee, are working behind the scenes to convince the committee that New Hampshires small size, engaged electorate, and experience running the elections justify its primacy. New Hampshire's limited diversity a factor But New Hampshires bid is complicated by a growing interest within the DNC and among Democratic voters nationally to diversify its early primary states. While the states overwhelmingly majority white population has long made it the subject of criticism, that concern has become more vocal in recent years. In its resolution, the Rules and Bylaws Committee singled out those concerns, asking applicants to make the case based on racial, ethnic, geographic and economic diversity and labor representation, according to the New York Times. Currently, 89.8% of Granite Staters are white, not Latino or Hispanic; 4% are Latino; 3% are Asian American; and 1.8% are Black, according to the U.S. census. Nevada, one state making a play for the top spot, is 29.2% Hispanic or Latino, and 47.2% non-Latino white. New Jersey, another state eyeing the first primary, is 20.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 15.1% Black. Buckley says the lack of population diversity is not a disqualifying factor for the state. The chairman has often argued that as long as New Hampshire is joined by South Carolina and Nevada as the early voting states, presidential candidates will still have to face diverse electorates. But this time around, with the DNC pushing the early nominating states to directly prove their own diversity, Buckley has built on that argument, claiming that the state has diverse elected leaders, even if the population itself is less diverse. The number of elected officials that are LGBTQ, that are young people in the Legislature or elsewhere, people of color that hold county office, that hold state office, that hold local office, its been far above the population, he said. But what it means is that they may have the ability to have those one-on-one conversations with the candidates. One of those elected officials named by Buckley, Rep. Manny Espitia of Nashua, agrees that New Hampshire should remain first, citing the organization and efficiency of the states processes and the challenges presented to candidates. But while Espitia says he understands the concerns about diversity, he argued they sometimes feel like a lack of acknowledgement of the populations that do exist in the state. A lot of people will say, Oh, New Hampshire is a very white state. In a way, whenever they say, Oh, theres no people of color who live there, it kind of makes us feel like the people who do live here are erased, said Espitia, the House Democratic floor leader. And he argued presidential primary candidates shouldnt sideline those populations either. If people try to ignore the diverse populations in this state, then come primary day, theyll see what happens, he said. I think one of the reasons Bernie (Sanders) did really well here in 2020 (is) he won a lot of the Latino districts, and he ended up doing really well in Nevada. The Republicans' view Among national Republicans, meanwhile, diversity considerations have not driven concern about New Hampshires position. On April 14, the full Republican National Committee voted in Memphis to approve Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada as the first four states to vote a day after the Democratic Rules and Bylaws Committee opened the matter to applications. To New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Steve Stepanek, the national partys decision did not happen by accident. Stepanek, who was appointed party chairman in 2019, has worked to create an alliance with Republican state chairmen in those states specifically to shore up support for the traditional calendar. The four carveout states actually put together a reception, invited all of the 168 members of the RNC, Stepanek said in an interview. Over 100 of them showed up and pledged their support to the carveouts there. So weve put together a very coordinated effort to make sure that things stayed the same in the Republican Party. What DNC does may not affect NH primary date From Stepanek and state Republicans perspective, the debates among Democrats might not ultimately matter. New Hampshires secretary of state is bound by statute to change the states primary date to as early as it needs to be in order for the state to hold the first primary. We are going to jump ahead as a state, Stepanek said. And that means the Democratic primary is going to jump ahead as well as the Republican primary, because its a state-run election. For now, reform-minded national Democrats appear to be more focused on Iowas position in the primary calendar than New Hampshires. In 2020, extreme technical disruptions to the states Democratic caucus attracted unwelcome attention and criticism of that states role. That flawed election is the main driver of the DNCs push for a re-evaluation this year, Buckley argues, and could lead to Iowa being scrapped from the Democrats lineup entirely. I think that theres always an effort to be fair, he said of the committee. And so I think that might have caused some people to think: Well instead of just saying were doing this one thing to one state, lets kind of create a conversation about all of the four or potentially five (early primary) states. The potential for national Democratic reform could splinter what has been a traditionally unified goal for New Hampshire Democrats and Republicans: defending the first primary. If the DNC votes to remove Iowa from the start of the Democratic nominating calendar, Republicans will not follow suit, Stepanek said. In Iowa, parties run the caucuses, not the state, so their timing could theoretically be split. The Republican caucus will go off as scheduled, and then we will be behind them, because thats been the commitment that the four carveout states have made, he said. And if New Hampshire is recommended for displacement by the DNCs rules committee, the secretary of state will simply move the primary date ahead for both parties, Stepanek said. Whether the DNC could impose penalties on the state party or on presidential candidates who take part in that primary is an open question. Asked if he was nervous ahead of the July decision, Buckley laughed. Im always nervous, he said. I always expect the unexpected, when you lead a party in an evenly divided state. But he said primary doomsayers should have faith. I think that its important to understand that while a lot of this is played out in the public, the vast majority of it is not, he said. And a lot of it is about relationships, a lot of it is about conversations that occur. This story was originally published by New Hampshire Bulletin. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH Democrats race to save first-in-the-nation primary from uncertainty Mourners carry the body of Palestinian teen Ghaith Yamen, who was killed during clashes with Israeli forces, during his funeral in Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, May 25, 2022. / Credit: RANEEN SAWAFTA/REUTERS A Palestinian teenager was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in clashes that erupted during a Jewish pilgrimage to the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said Wednesday. The ministry identified the youngster as Ghaith Yamin, 16, who died of a head wound "after being shot by Israeli forces" during clashes near Joseph's Tomb, outside the northern city of Nablus. The Israeli army, which provides security for monthly pilgrimages to the site, said: "Hundreds of Palestinians took part in a violent riot as Jewish worshippers entered Joseph's Tomb, throwing stones and firebombs at the forces. "Soldiers responded with fire at a suspect throwing a firebomb. A hit was identified," it said in a statement. "In addition, gunshots were heard in the area." The Islamic Jihad militant group issued a statement praising the "ambush" its fighters prepared for Israeli forces securing the pilgrimage, saying there was an exchange of fire between the two sides. The Palestinian Red Crescent said its medics treated four people wounded by rubber bullets and 36 who inhaled tear gas, as well as one person who fell during the clashes. Tensions have been high in the West Bank for the past three months amid a wave of attacks on Israelis that led to arrests and clashes. Parents mourn over the body of their son Ghaith Yamen, a Palestinian teen who was killed during clashes with Israeli forces, during his funeral in Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, May 25, 2022. / Credit: RANEEN SAWAFTA/REUTERS Nineteen people, mostly civilians including 18 inside Israel and a Jewish West Bank settler have been killed in attacks by Palestinians and Israeli Arabs since late March. Israeli security forces have responded with raids inside Israel and the West Bank, particularly in the flashpoint northern district of Jenin. Three Israeli Arab attackers and a police commando have died. Thirty-four Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank suspected militants but also non-combatants, including a journalist who was covering a raid in Jenin and bystanders. Israel has drawn significant international criticism for the shooting that left the journalist, Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh, dead on May 11, and over its security forces roughing up people during her funeral procession in Jerusalem. Story continues Family of slain Al Jazeera reporter speak out Israeli officials said last week that they had identified a soldier's rifle that may have killed Abu Akleh, but that they could not be certain unless the Palestinians turn over the bullet for analysis. The announcement marked a small sign of progress in the investigation into the killing of Abu Akleh. Palestinian officials, along with fellow journalists who were with Abu Akleh, have said Israeli troops stationed nearby killed her. The Israeli army says she was shot during a battle between troops and Palestinian gunmen, and it cannot be determined who fired the fatal bullet without a proper analysis. Israel has called for a joint investigation with the Palestinians. But the Palestinians, who have the bullet, have refused, saying they don't trust Israel. They say they are conducting their own investigation and they are ready to cooperate with any country except for Israel. An Israeli military official who spoke with the Associated Press last week stressed that while the source of the shot remained unclear, "we have narrowed down the IDF weapon that might be involved in the fire exchange near Shireen." Michelle Carter's texts with Conrad Roy Parents reunite with children following deadly mass shooting in Texas GOP primary election results in Georgia signal lack of support for Trump-backed candidates May 26The Mills administration plans to open a temporary emergency shelter in Portland for as many as 280 homeless adults and is renovating housing units in three cities to accommodate as many as 140 asylum seekers, an adviser to the governor said Wednesday. Senior Housing Adviser Greg Payne said he could not disclose the precise location of the shelter site or the housing units being renovated, because of ongoing negotiations on leases and other agreements. But he said the shelter site was off-peninsula in Portland and the housing units were being prepared in Portland, South Portland and Brunswick. The state would cover the rent for up to two years, he said. Payne detailed the efforts a day after a Portland city councilor and a state representative criticized the state's response to what has been described as a growing humanitarian crisis of families, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, coming to Portland to seek asylum amid a severe housing shortage a situation that has forced city officials to rely on hundreds of hotel rooms in several communities. "These folks have been through a lot," Payne said of asylum seekers, who are prohibited from working for at least a year after filing their asylum applications. "They are strong and talented and resilient and an important part of Maine's future. And the state is very actively involved on a daily basis in efforts to help with this issue." The moves are designed to reduce the reliance on hotels, which have been paid for with state and federal funding during the pandemic. Officials say the federal government has agreed to continue funding 90 percent of hotel costs for three months beginning in July, but funding beyond that is uncertain, creating concern for the city as it prepares a budget for the new fiscal year. Gov. Janet Mills and her administration have been facing growing public pressure and criticism about the state's role in helping municipalities shelter and provide services to about 350 families roughly 1,200 people seeking asylum. The city is sheltering another 500 or so single adults experiencing homelessness. Story continues Portland City Councilor April Fournier wrote in an Op-Ed Tuesday that Mills has "largely ignored" the issue, and Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, called the lack of a state-coordinated effort to provide on-the-ground services "absolutely abysmal" and "horrific." 'LATE AND NOT ENOUGH' Fournier stood by her comments on Wednesday, saying that the city has been asking for help since October and that the state's effort, while appreciated, "still feels late and not enough." She cited her experience serving on the city's health and human services and legislative and nominations committees. "What I've heard consistently in HHS meetings, in L&N meetings and council meetings from city staff, state delegation and social services agencies is they feel unheard," Fournier said in a text in response to an interview request. Fournier also cited her previous experience working at MaineHealth to provide services setting up health homes, transportation, culturally appropriate food, clothing and connecting people with social services on a weekly basis to asylum seekers staying in hotels. She said more coordination, preferably by the state, of the ground-level service providers is needed. "This shouldn't be the responsibility of the municipality and it continues to be frustrating that the state is not coordinating this effort," said Fournier, who no longer works with the organizations. "We've tried as a handful of cities partnering with dozens of social services agencies to get it done, we can't, we need more and have said that for a while." Last week, a group of 79 nonprofits sent a letter to the governor urging greater coordination at the state level, including establishing a new state office to oversee the resettlement of asylum seekers and other underserved populations, and providing human and financial resources for the city of Portland. A spokesperson for Mills said the governor had received the letter and would consider the group's recommendations. Portland sent a letter to federal officials and nonprofits along the southern border on May 4, saying the city could not guarantee shelter to asylum seekers. South Portland followed suit on Wednesday. Dan Brennan, director of MaineHousing, said his staff, along with the state and local officials, has been working hard in recent weeks to finalize plans for a shelter and housing before making them public. WAITING TO MAKE PLANS PUBLIC "We've been working for a number of weeks, if not the last few months, on a some specific proposals," Brennan said. "Things are moving in a good direction and when it's time to get to that stage of announcement we will be there. But certainly a lot of work has been going on." Payne said the state has been actively working with officials in Portland, Bangor and other communities to meet the needs of asylum seekers and others who are homeless using a combination of $22 million in funding from the state's supplemental budget as well as federal money from the American Rescue Place Act. Payne said the state contracted with a real estate broker to find a location for a temporary emergency shelter in Portland for 280 individuals who are expected to lose their hotel rooms in the coming weeks. That was done after the city identified a temporary shelter as a top priority to state officials, he said. Payne said the city was close to finalizing a lease agreement, which he wants to sign before making the location public or providing any details about the site. The project would still need planning approvals from the city, but he hopes it could open in June. The monthly lease and set-up costs would be funded by the state, but the shelter would be operated by the city, and is intended to be open until the city completes its new homeless services center in Riverside, he said, adding that meals would be delivered onsite at the temporary shelter. "It was very difficult to find a landlord to talk to us about this use," he said. "This is the only site at this point." City officials did not respond to questions about what sort of approvals the temporary shelter would need and how long it might take. The state also is creating or renovating housing units for between 130 and 140 asylum-seekers in Portland, South Portland and Brunswick, Payne said. These also would effectively be an alternative to the continued use of hotel rooms and are being created in existing structures in those communities, although he would not provide details or specific locations. The state would pay the rents for up to two years, which he said should give the families enough time to file their asylum claims and receive work authorization from the federal government and become more self-sufficient. ARPA COVERING BUILDOUT Buildout costs for the housing units are being covered by ARPA funding, while the rental payments would come from the $22 million state budget allocation. He said some units could be ready by this fall, although all of the units, which range from efficiencies to four-bedroom apartments, won't likely be finished until March. Additionally, Payne said MaineHousing has awarded $3 million in contracts to local groups to help individuals and families in hotels and other emergency shelters to access permanent housing and services. According to MaineHousing, 10 organizations are receiving funding, with the top three recipients being Penquis Community Action Agency ($740,620), Immigrant Resource Center of Maine ($609,000) and Prosperity Maine ($515,000). Housing authorities in South Portland and Lewiston received $140,000 and $151,000, respectively, while Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness received about $140,000. And the Department of Health and Human Services is using $750,000 in funding included in the state budget to add caseworkers. The state has also found another 100 hotel rooms in Saco as emergency shelter, which Payne said would be funded entirely by the state. "The families we are talking about are strong and talented and want to work. And we need workers," Payne said. "We see these families as an important part of Maine's future. And we are absolutely committed to working with local governments and local partners and our federal delegation to help make Maine a better place by welcoming these families into our state." Chad Douglas is a Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 3-certified wine consultant and pediatrician in Yakima. He submits occasional columns for the Explore section. You are the owner of this article. It could be make or break time for the Iran nuclear deal. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was the Obama administrations top foreign policy achievement. It led to dramatic reductions in Irans ability to enrich uranium in return for the U.S. and its allies lifting nuclear-related sanctions that were crippling Irans economy. Former President Donald Trump abrogated the agreement just over four years ago. The Biden administrations talks with Iran to revive the deal have since progressed impressively, but now they have stalled again. The problem lies with one of the many new sanctions Trump imposed against Iran during his last days in office that have nothing to do with Irans nuclear program or the JCPOA. Under Trump, the U.S. designated an elite Iranian military unit, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as a foreign terrorist organization. That led to extreme sanctions against individuals and agencies connected to this group. The designation was explicitly designed by Trump to serve as a poison pill that would make it politically much harder for the U.S. to rejoin the deal, since it would require lifting sanctions against a so-called terrorist organization. Unfortunately, the ploy seems to have worked. The Senate recently approved a nonbinding GOP-backed measure pressuring the Biden administration not to de-list the Revolutionary Guard, even though getting back to the agreement will be almost impossible without delisting. Diplomats on all sides are working to overcome this obstacle, but time is running short. Trumps blatantly political move has made the United States, the region and the world less safe. During the period that the JCPOA was in effect, all sides agreed that Iran was in full compliance with its requirements. But still it faced devastating new sanctions from the Trump administration. While Iran has gradually enriched uranium to higher levels since Trump abrogated the deal, it has made no attempt to acquire nuclear weapons. Returning to the JCPOA is the best way to prevent this from happening. Israel is the regions only current nuclear weapons state. But others including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Turkey (which already has U.S. nuclear weapons on its soil as part of NATOs nuclear sharing) could end up joining the nuclear club if Iran does. To repeat, Iran has, to date, not moved toward acquiring nuclear weapons. But its people continue to endure punishing economic sanctions, with the poorest and most vulnerable always the hardest hit. A renewed JCPOA provides a way to avoid the threat of war initiated by one of Irans regional rivals, or even the United States that would arise should Iran at some point move toward nuclear capability. It might also serve as the basis for future negotiations with Iran on broader military and regional issues, and even set the stage for beginning negotiations toward global nuclear disarmament. Negotiations over restoring the JCPOA are ongoing, and a resolution could come soon. A separate agreement between Iran and the U.N.s nuclear watchdog agency, allowing UN inspection of Irans nuclear sites, is scheduled to expire around June 6. That gives sharp urgency to getting the U.S. team to the table. Theres still time to undo Trumps reckless abandonment of diplomacy. The last thing the world needs is another regional arms race, or another war. To the editor Terry McAuliffe, former governor of Virginia, apparently thinking, actually said, "I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach." Say what? Meet Mr. and Mrs. America, who obsessively assess, stress and profess about "what" 'twas ever thus and ever thus shall be. James Loewen analyzed some "what" in 1995's "Lies My Teacher Taught Me." He reviewed 12 widely taught American high school history textbooks and found, "Textbooks are often muddled by the conflicting desires to promote inquiry and to indoctrinate blind patriotism." And teachers aren't the liars. They're tasked to declaim received Folks-What-History, channeling Karl Marx, "... cut the people off from their history, then they can be easily persuaded." So, by Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, classmates will be canting thus and thus: "On Jan. 6, 2021, our Surpassingly Courageous (and Handsome) Supreme Military Commander in Chief, wielding only his Hyperfire Elite Blaster, launched a single KN95 mask drenched in bleach and ivermectin and slew COVID the Giant on the chamber floor of National Statuary Hall. Amen." Students, meanwhile stroll into the parking lot channeling Ferris Buehler, "It's a little childish and stupid, but then so is high school." JOHN EUTENEIER Nile Valley For years, the anti-abortion movement has generally tolerated exceptions in cases of rape or incest, or when the health or life of the woman was at risk from pregnancy. It was seemingly neutral territory in the debate, a recognition of the complexity of real-life circumstances. But now that the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to reverse Roe v. Wade, those exceptions are evaporating. Missouri, like other red states, has a law ready to go into effect as soon as Roe falls that would outlaw abortion from conception, without exceptions for rape or incest thus promising to revictimize women already traumatized by one of the worst violations imaginable. And greater danger lurks on the horizon. As The Washington Post reports in an extensive examination of the issue, those health-and-life exceptions around the country are being softened, even as the activists who have Republican lawmakers ears increasingly call for ending exceptions altogether. As the primaries and midterms approach, even moderately anti-abortion voters should insist that Republican candidates specify just how far theyre willing to go in restricting those rights and then consider whether those answers are reasonable. In hindsight, it is becoming clear that the acceptance in the anti-abortion movement of some exceptions wasnt a gesture of compassion toward women in impossible circumstances, but was more about legal and political strategy, which might soon be rendered unnecessary by the Supreme Court. Ditto with the nearly ubiquitous reluctance to directly punish pregnant women who seek abortions (as opposed to the doctors who perform them). It took Louisiana lawmakers just days to overcome that reluctance after news of the leaked draft Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, when they briefly considered a bill to charge women who seek abortions with homicide. While the sponsor ultimately yanked the bill, theres no reason to believe the idea wont be back, there and elsewhere. The court could leave states completely unfettered in dealing with abortion. Could America reach a moment in which a woman is raped, impregnated, faces serious health problems from the pregnancy and then ends up on some states death row for ending the pregnancy? Nothing in the courts draft opinion would prevent it. Anyone who thinks there arent red-state legislators who would accept such a scenario hasnt been paying attention. The courts have constrained such fanaticism for the past half-century, but those constraints are very likely about to disappear. Now before they win re-election is the time to make Republican politicians provide details about exactly what they intend to do with these vast new powers. The General Assembly of the Budapest municipality was cancelled on Wednesday due to conflict between the leaders of the parties in the leading coalition, Mayor Gergely Karacsony has said. Karacsony told journalists that the city assembly couldnt work today due to insurmountable differences in opinion between the leadership of the Democratic Coalition and the Momentum Movement regarding the upcoming by-elections. He stressed the differences were not between the assembly groups of representatives or mayors. Zsolt Wintermantel, the leader of the Fidesz-Christian Democrat group in the assembly, said in-fighting between leftist parties is hindering the progress of Budapests issues. Karacsony said on Facebook later in the day that opposition parties and personnel questions are important but no more than municipal affairs, adding that this has been the first and will be the last occasion for party politics to overwrite the matters of Budapest. The mayor said that the municipal assembly on Wednesday would have discussed declaring a riverside area in southern Budapest a nature reserve, lengthening tram lines on the Buda side, as well as partnerships between the city and Hungarian and international companies for development projects. Opposition Jobbik on Wednesday called the systematic import of guest workers to Hungary unacceptable and called for a scheme to induce Hungarians to return home from working abroad. Deputy party leader Daniel Z Karpat told an online press conference that the government had sneakily incorporated a section in the law ending the pandemic-related special legal order which enables employment agencies to bring Third World workers to Hungary systematically, with no extra permit needed for their long-term employment. He said it was baffling that while ruling Fidesz was loudly protesting against migration, it participated in organising the import of labour. Workers from exotic countries are arriving in large numbers, soon to reach a range of hundreds of thousands, he added. Jobbik is calling for a scheme to attract Hungarians to return home from working abroad, offering them support for accommodation and wages that match their income abroad. Additionally, people without jobs should get free cross-training to enter the primary labour market, he added. At a separate press conference, Janos Lantos of the radical Mi Hazank (Our Homeland) party slammed the government, saying it had campaigned during the 2015 immigration crisis with not allowing new arrivals to take away Hungarians jobs. The same government has now made parliament approve a law that would allow employment agencies with the necessary qualifications to bring workers from faraway countries into Hungary without special permits, he said. Mi Hazank would tie the employment of third country citizens to permits and would slash the number of permits provided, he said. MTI Photo The new camera is about the size of a cat or small dog, and some cut-outs in the plastic make it appear, from certain angles, to have a tiny mustache. YORK -- With the help of Andrew Quick, a member of Boy Scout Troop 174, the Veterans Avenue of Flags will soon be on display along the north and south routes of York. Quick grew up in a patriotic family. He is the son of Brian and Molly Quick of York. When looking for his Eagle Scout projects, Quick wanted to do something that would be rewarding and helpful to the community. Brian introduced Andrew to Bruce Wagner of Wagner Decorating and Hobby Shop who was the founder of Yorks Avenue of Flags 25 years ago. Quick said, When I was talking to Bruce about the project, he said one year it took him over 20 hours to complete the project all by himself, and so I decided I might as well go help him with it. Quick found out shortly that this was not going to be an easy project to execute. Every year, the 400 flags that make up a 12 and mile route have to be replaced due to being battered by the wind and weather. Old ties have to be taken off, bolts have to replaced and caps have to be checked. Quick recruited 13 people to help with his project. The youngest helper was eight years old. Wagner said, It was neat seeing him take the project on, plan it, organize and get people lined up to help. The day they put the flags together, he was taking charge and explaining to the others how to do it. He was a great supervisor. Quick said he learned a lot about leadership in the six hours he supervised. It was difficult leading because people would go off and do something else, said Quick. Then, I would have to redirect them back into working on the project. After six hours of pushing through the monotony and blistering from hand ties, Quick and his troop completed half of the project. As Wagner said, It was a God send. The other half is hanging up all 400 flags. This years Avenue of Flags will be looking a little different that last years. Wagner said they were unable to purchase new flags because of supply chain issues and they had to reuse flags from the previous year. They had enough flags for downtown only last year. Wagner said, It was a big letdown. Finally, this year, I was able to get 500 flags. 400 flags will be put up and the rest will go to other communities. The total cost of repairs and maintenance of the flags ranges from $6,000 to $8,000 a year. Wagner said, We try to use the best flags at the most reasonable cost. They last about seven months before theyre faded or tattered on the ends. Wagner said he bought a bucket truck specifically for early morning maintenance runs. Whenever wind or a storm knocks down flag, Wagner is there to put it back up. The work is worth it though. Wagner hopes to continue displaying the Avenue of Flags in the future for the veteran who comes in and has tears in his eyes, or the wife of the veteran who is deceased. It really reverberates throughout the veteran community, said Wagner. They are so appreciative to see their service and the service of those whove made the ultimate sacrifice being recognized. It shows who we are as people. Id like to think of Nebraska being the patriotic heart of America. Any monetary effort towards Avenue of Flags counts. Anyone who would like to send in a donation can mail it to Wagner Decorating and Hobby Shop at 711 North Lincoln Ave., York, NE 68467 or they can call the office at 402-362-4805. YORK It began raining around midday Tuesday, exactly as the weatherman promised, continued all night and through the day Wednesday. By early morning Wednesday, York proper had received a 24 hour total of an inch of rain. Better yet, the wet stuff fell softly and achieved maximum penetration into the soil. There were individual reports of greater amounts when Wednesday dawned, however the numbers reported here are from official neRAIN (Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network) gauges maintained and monitored by private citizens, and coordinated by the State of Nebraska. They include only moisture that fell between 7 a.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday. Reporting stations in and around York include 1.01 inches measured at 7 a.m. near North Maine east of Levitt Field. It was .98 on Duke Drive near Michigan Avenue and .90 in a gauge on Meadow Lane north of York Middle School. A 24-hour total of .94 fell south of Miller Park with 1.08 in the neRAIN gauge near the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District headquarters. North of town 1.11 was recorded on Road 16 west of Hwy 81. Also on Road 16 it was 1.1 inches 1.75 miles east of Hwy 81. Two gauges in the Hampton area held .94 and 1.11 at neRAIN reporting time early Wednesday. Other outlying totals were: McCool Junction .86, Waco .89, Utica 1.08, Seward .64 and Aurora 1.08. Rain was predicted to fall through the night Wednesday and into early this morning, diminishing to just 15% by noon and beyond. New Delhi: Aether Industries IPO GMP (grey market premium) on the last day of the offer suggests a muted listing ahead for the shares of the chemical firm. The initial public offer (IPO), which opened on May 24, 2022, for subscriptions, is subscribed 6.26 times on the final day of the offer on May 26, 2022. The IPO had a fresh issue of up to Rs 627 crore and an offer for sale of up to 28,20,000 equity shares. The company has fixed the price band of Rs 610-642 per share for the offer. Ahead of the opening of subscriptions, Aether Industries, on Monday (May 23), had announced has raised a little over Rs 240 crore from anchor investors. The company is planning to utilise the proceeds to fund capital expenditure requirements for a proposed new project in Surat, Gujarat, fund working capital requirements and for payment of debt. Aether Industries IPO GMP Aether Industries IPO GMP today (May 26) stood at Rs 5, according to market observers. Aether Industries IPO Expected Listing Price Aether Industries IPO shares could list at Rs 647 per share, according to the market observes. This means that investors, receiving IPO shares at the upper end of the price range, will get a listing gain of 0.78% if the share lists at Rs 647. Aether Industries IPO Subscription Status Aether Industries IPO was subscribed 6.26 times on the final day of subscription on Thursday, thanks to the strong interest from institutional buyers. The initial share sale received bids for 5,85,34,586 shares against 93,56,193 shares on offer, according to the NSE data. Also Read: PM Kisan 11th installment could be released on THIS date, check latest update here The portion meant for qualified institutional buyers received 17.57 times subscription, while the non-institutional investors category was subscribed 2.52 times and retail individual investors 1.14 times. Also Read: Phone showing ads based on conversations? 1 in 2 Indians experienced firsthand: Report New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the sale of the government's residual 29.58 per cent stake in Hindustan Zinc Ltd, which at current prices would fetch over Rs 38,000 crore to the exchequer, sources said. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the sale of 124.9 crore shares government holds in the zinc producer which was sold to mining mogul Anil Agarwal's Sterlite Industries in 2002. Sources with direct knowledge of the development said the stake sale modalities will be decided by the DIPAM. The decision would give a push to the government's disinvestment drive in the current fiscal. The government has budgeted Rs 65,000 crore from PSU disinvestments and strategic sales. It has already got a little over Rs 20,500 crore from sale of its 3.5 per cent stake in Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). HZL has been taken up after privatisation of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) got stalled following two of the three bidders walking out of the contest. Other strategic disinvestments such as Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) are facing procedural delays. The government had in 2002 sold its 26 per cent shareholding along with management control to Sterlite, which is part of Agarwal's Vedanta group, for Rs 40.5 per share. A year later, another 18.92 per cent was bought by the mining conglomerate. In the two transactions, the government got around Rs 769 crore. Vedanta exercised a call option as per the share purchase agreement but the government contested it. The firm dragged the government to arbitration but later withdrew it, paving the way for the stake sale. Last month, Agarwal told PTI that his group cannot buy more than 5 per cent of the government's residual stake in HZL unless the terms of the contract are changed. He had indicated that his group will consider buying the entire stake if the terms are amended and the shareholding is offered to it. The sale of a 29.5 per cent stake representing over 124.96 crore shares would fetch around Rs 38,000 crore to the exchequer at current market prices. Shares of HZL closed at Rs 305.05, up 3.14 per cent on the BSE. During the day, the scrip touched a high of Rs 317.30 a share. HZL was a government-owned company till 2002. In April 2002, the government offloaded a 26 per cent stake in HZL to Sterlite Opportunities and Ventures Ltd (SOVL) for Rs 445 crore -- thereby giving Vedanta group management control in HZL. Vedanta group later bought 20 per cent from the market and another 18.92 per cent from the government in November 2003, raising its ownership in HZL to 64.92 per cent. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside a Delhi High Court order staying the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) probe into nine companies related to the Sahara group. A vacation bench of justices D Y Chandrachud and Bela M Trivedi allowed the appeal filed by the SFIO against the high court order. The apex court observed that the high court was "not justified" in staying the investigation in the matter. The SFIO, a statutory corporate fraud investigating agency, had filed an appeal in the top court against the December 13, 2021 order of the Delhi High Court staying all subsequent actions and proceedings, including coercive measures and lookout notices, against the Sahara group chief and others. The high court had also stayed the operation and implementation of two orders of the SFIO for an investigation into nine companies related to the Sahara group. New Delhi: The CBI on Thursday arrested Avinash Bhosale, chairman of Pune-based real estate group ABIL group, in an alleged corruption case involving Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor and Kapil Vadhawan of DHFL, officials said. The CBI suspects that illicit funds were routed through several real estate companies based in Maharashtra, they said. The agency had carried out searches at the premises of noted builders of the state on April 30 to further probe on this aspect of the case, they said. Premises of ABIL and Bhosale were also searched during the operation. The CBI has now arrested Bhosale in a 2020 case against Kapoor and Wadhawan among others for alleged corruption. The CBI had recently arrested Sanjay Chhabria of Radius Developers in the case. The agency has alleged that Kapoor entered into a criminal conspiracy with Wadhawan for extending financial assistance to DHFL through Yes Bank in return for substantial undue benefits to himself and his family members through companies held by them, they said. According to the CBI FIR, the scam started taking shape between April and June 2018, when Yes Bank invested Rs 3,700 crore in short term debentures of scam-hit DHFL. In return, Wadhawan allegedly "paid kickback of Rs 600 crore" to Kapoor and family members in the form of loan to DoIT Urban Ventures (India) Pvt Ltd, they said. DoIT Urban Ventures is held by daughters of Kapoor -- Roshini, Radha and Rakhee -- who are 100 per cent share holders of the company through Mogran Credits Pvt Ltd, it alleged. The loan of Rs 600 crore was sanctioned by DHFL to DoIT Urban Ventures (India) Pvt Ltd on the basis of mortgage of sub-standard properties having very meagre value and by considering its future conversation from agricultural land to residential land, the agency has alleged. It was further found that DHFL had not redeemed the amount of Rs 3,700 crore invested by Yes Bank in its debentures till date, it said. In addition to the above, Yes Bank also sanctioned a loan of Rs 750 crore to RKW Developers Pvt Ltd whose director is Dheeraj Wadhawan and is a DHFL group company for their Bandra reclamation project which was transferred by it to DHFL without any investment in the project for which it was sanctioned, they said. "Rana Kapoor obtained undue pecuniary advantage from DHFL in the matter of investment in the debentures of DHFL by Yes Bank, through the companies held by his wife and daughters," the FIR alleged. The Centre speed up the process of privatising two State-owned banks. News agency PTI quoted a source from the Centre as saying on Wednesday. The Modi government at the Centre had earlier amended the 'Banking Regulation Act' to pave the way for private investment in State-owned banks. According to sources, the Centre wants to pass a bill in this regard in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said last year that the Centre wants to start the process of privatising some state-owned banks. Therefore, the Bank Nationalization Acts of 1970 and 1980 will be amended and the Bank Control Act of 1949 will be amended. According to finance ministry sources, the process has begun. The government has also started preparing the draft of the 'Banking Regulation Act'. If all goes well, the amendment will be passed in the monsoon session. Of course, there is a good chance of the opposition being hindered. However, due to the majority, the government should not have any problem in passing this law. The amendment has been passed in parliament and there will be no bar on the privatization of State-owned banks. Only then will the process of privatization of state-owned banks begin. Initially, two state-owned banks have also been listed for disinvestment. The name of which two banks will be privatised is yet to be announced by the Centre. According to sources, the Modi government initially chose four medium-sized banks for privatisation. The four banks that were placed in the initial list for privatisation are Bank of Maharashtra (Bank of Maharashtra), Bank of India (Bank of India), Indian Overseas Bank and Central Bank of India. Later, niti aayog proposed that most of the shares of Indian Overseas Bank and Central Bank of India be sold. The Modi government can go ahead with the NITI Aayog's proposal. This is not the end of it, the government also wants to complete the privatization process of the tate-owned company BPCL quickly. Sources claim that only 52.3 per cent stake in BPCL held by the Centre will be sold. Earlier, the Modi government had taken the initiative to sell the shares of BPCL. Initially three companies showed interest in buying bpcl shares. But in the end, only one company survives in the race, the sources claim. Of late, the Indian luxury car market has seen a host of EV launches drooling the electric car enthusiasts. Most of them have been from the three-big German brands - Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW. The Bavarian giant has now taken the headline spot with the launch of its third all-electric offering in our market called the i4. The pricing for the BMW i4 electric sedan starts from Rs 69.90 lakh for the EDrive40 variant (ex-showroom) and will be locking horns with the likes of Kia EV6 among others. The 2022 BMW i4 is based on the 4-Series Gran Coupe, underpinned by the CLAR architecture and gets best-in-India mileage of 590 km (WLTP) on a single charge. BMW i4 Powertrain Unlike the BMW iX, the BMW i4 isnt based on an EV-specific architecture and is available in two variants - eDrive40 & M50 xDrive. However, BMW has only announced the introductory pricing for the eDrive40 variant in India for now. Peak power output stands at 340 hp and 544 hp for eDrive40 and M50 xDrive trims, respectively. On the latter, the torque output peaks out at 795 Nm. Making its way to the Indian market via the CBU route, the BMW i4 is expected to offer a dynamic driving experience. BMW i4 Charging As an introductory offer, the BMW i4 will come with a complimentary BMW Wallbox charger with installation. It can be integrated at home to enable safe and convenient charging up to 11kW. Using a 205 kW DC Charger, the BMW i4 can be charged from 10%-80% in 31 min, while the 50 kW DC Charger can add upto 80% battery in 83 min. The 11 kW AC Charger will top up the battery in 8.25 hrs. BMW i4 Design and Cabin In terms of design, it is a perfect balance of an ICE vehicle and a full-blown EV. After all, it quintessentially is an electrified version of the BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe. Touches like a non-functional kidney grille and closed air vents make us realise that it is an electric vehicle. On the inside, you are greeted with two displays - a 12.3-inch all-digital instrument cluster and a 14.8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit. This system operates on BMWs iDrive 8 interface, which supports OTA updates as well. Kia EV6 bookings to open in India on May 26; check design, cabin & more: IN PICS BMW i4 Warranty The first-ever BMW i4 comes with standard two-year warranty for unlimited kilometres. Repair Inclusive can extend warranty benefits from third year of operation to maximum fifth year without any mileage limitation. The batteries are covered by a warranty valid for eight years or up to 160,000 kilometres. Delhi government introduces a scheme for the electric cycle buyers where the govt will be providing financial incentive to those buying the e-cycles. The demand incentive shall be applicable for the first 10,000 e-cycles, both passenger and cargo, it said. According to the scheme guidelines, e-cycle buyers will get a purchase incentive of 25 percent of the price with a cap of maximum Rs 5,500 a piece. An additional incentive of Rs 2,000 will be given to the first 1,000 individual owners of e-cycles. E-cargo cycles will be eligible for a purchase incentive of 33 percent of the price (not exceeding Rs 15,000 per vehicle). "The applicable demand incentives shall be available for buyers (individuals and businesses) in the form of reimbursement which will be credited to the accounts of owners by the Transport Department, based on claims made by the buyer through the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) or dealer after the purchase of the e-cycles," it said. Also read: Ola S1 Pro owner shares picture of broken electric scooter, blames built quality The application for incentive shall be made through an online platform by the OEM or dealer on behalf of the buyer and shall be credited within seven working days to the bank account of the buyer. The demand incentives shall be payable to individual beneficiaries as well as businesses with a valid GST registration. E-cargo cycles will also be eligible for a scrapping incentive of up to Rs 3000 per e-cycle under the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy, against scrapping of old ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles. The scrapping incentive will be given in case of the ICE vehicle being scrapped through someone authorised by the Transport Department and shall be subject to a matching contribution made by the OEM or dealer at the time of sale of the e-cycle(s). As for the OEMs intending to seek approval of their e-cycles under the policy, they will be required to register themselves with the EV Cell of the Transport Department. The application will be processed within five working days and if found in order, the registration of OEM and eligible e-cycle models will be confirmed. The policy stated that a unique model code will be generated for every eligible e-cycle model. The guidelines state that the OEMs shall be responsible to upload production (or dispatched) data for Delhi each month, on the digital portal provided by the Transport Department. The dealers of each approved OEM are expected to provide all information about the eligible e-cycle models approved under Delhi EV Policy and the applicable demand and scrapping incentives at the time of sale to the consumer. It also stated that each dealer at the time of sale of vehicle to the user will collect information from the purchaser and shall also preserve one copy of all documents safely for at least three years from the date of sale. The OEM or dealer will have to enter the unique frame number on an online application/software, which will enable the incentive amount to be calculated automatically. "In case of individual buyer, the name of the sale's invoice should be strictly as per the name in Aadhaar and in case, the name of the purchaser does not match with his/her Aadhaar, he/she may be advised by the OEM or dealer to seek correction before application of incentive. Dealers will advise individual buyers to maintain/activate Aadhaar-linked bank accounts for disbursal of incentive directly into their account," it said. For a purchaser of an EV who wants to scrap their existing ICE vehicle, they will have to visit a dealer engaged in the sales of e-cycles and provide his/her old ICE vehicle along with Registration Certificate (RC). The dealer shall accept the vehicle and RC from the e-cycle purchaser and will file an application on behalf of the buyer to the respective RTO requesting for the ICE vehicle to be scrapped and de-registered. The RTO will render a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to the dealer once the application is scrutinized for no-dues on the vehicle. The scraping incentive will be paid with purchase incentive and the dealer will be responsible for scrapping of the vehicle. The dealer will then present the NOC along with the original RC of the vehicle and the vehicle to be scrapped to an authorized scrapper at the time of scrapping. The dealer will then receive a 'scrapping certificate', a piece of the chassis with an identification number and a CD evidencing the scrapping from the authorized scrapper, it said. Further, the dealer will provide the Scrapping Certificate, CD, piece of chassis and RC to the RTO as evidence of scrapping and will then receive a final Scrapping Certificate and confirmation of deregistration from the RTO. (With inputs from PTI) Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the celebration that marked the completion of 20 years of Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad. Here are some key pointers from PM Modi's speech: - We all are celebrating the completion of 20 years of the establishment of ISB. Today, many colleagues have got degrees and gold medals. The penance of many people has taken ISB to this stage of success. Remembering all of them today, I congratulate you all very much. - In the year 2001, Atal ji dedicated it to the country. Since then, till today, about 50,000 executives have graduated from here. Today ISB is one of the top business schools in Asia. - India is in first position in smartphone data consumption, and in the second position in terms of the number of internet users in the world. It's in the second position in the global retail index. - India has the world's third-biggest startup ecosystem and third-biggest consumer market. Today, India is the fastest-growing economy in the group of G20 countries. - If we compare last eight years with the previous three decades, we'll see that reforms couldn't take place despite their need, due to a lack of political willpower and instability. The country couldn't take big decisions. After 2014, India is witnessing political willpower and reforms. Besides the ISB event, PM Modi also addressed BJP workers at Begumpet airport. Taking a dig at Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao - who left for Bengaluru, just hours ahead of the arrival the Prime Minister - Modi said, "'Pariwarwaadi' party is not just a political problem but the biggest enemy of the democracy and the youth of our country. Our country has seen how corruption becomes the face of those political parties dedicated to one family." (With ANI inputs) Jammu and Kashmir: Two LeT terrorists who killed a TV artist Amreen Bhat are trapped in an ongoing encounter in the Awantipora area of Pulwama district in South Kashmir, said Jammu and Kashmir IGP Vijay Kumar. Earlier Kashmir zone police tweeted Encounter has started at Aganhanzipora area of Awantipora. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow. Amreen Bhat, a TV artist and social media sensation, was killed yesterday inside her home in Hishroo village of Chadoora area of Budgam by terrorists, while his nephew was also injured having bullet injury in his right arm. IGP Kashmir had earlier said that the LeT terrorists were behind the killing of the artist. Notably, this is the 51st encounter of the year. In the last 50 encounters, security forces have managed to kill 78 terrorists including 25 Pakistani terrorists beside 43 mostly hybrid terrorists have been arrested. Besides 14 civilians including cops, who were on leave, were killed by terrorists this year while 16 security personnel have lost their lives in anti-terror operations. Patna: The death toll in suspected hooch tragedy in Aurangabad district of Bihar climed up to 13 on Wednesday (May 25, 2022) while many others are battling for their lives in hospitals, reported IANS. The Aurangabad police informed that five persons including three from Khiriyawa village and two from Raniganj village under Madanpur police station were killed due to "poisonous" liquor between Saturday and Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Vinod Pal (55) former sarpanch of Khiriyawa, Sonwa Kunwr (60), Kameshwar Kumar (35), Shiv Saw, Shambhu Thakur, Anil Sharma, Vinay Kumar Gupta (30), Manoj Yadav (65), Ravindra Singh and 4 others. On the otherhand, three others, Dhananjay Chaudhary, Mohammad Nezam and Subodh Singh, are said to be critical and admitted in a hospital in Sherghati in Gaya district, informed officials. According to the information, a liquor consignment arrived from Jharkhand and distributed in Madanpur, Salaiya and Gaya`s Aamas block. The reports also added that the sale of the liquor is currently underway and the villages of the region are becoming victims of it. In the meantime, three more people died in mysterious circumstances, while eight others were hospitalised in Gaya on Tuesday. The family of the deceased are claiming that they have consumed poisonous liquor during the wedding function on Monday. The deceased were identified as Amar Paswan (26), Rahul Kumar (27) and Arjun Paswan (43). The victims went to Pathra village under Aamas police station in the district to attend a wedding function where they allegedly consumed country made liquor. Most of the victims complained about vomiting, stomachache, and low visibility. Additionally, the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) has served notice to the Bihar government after mass deaths in Aurangabad and Gaya and asked to reply on this matter. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: While the BJP has planned a series of events to celebrate eight years of Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre, the saffron leadership has also chalked out a massive blueprint on how to wrest the 144 Lok Sabha seats it lost to the rivals in the last General Elections. According to the sources, the blueprint for this was prepared during the day-long meeting at the party's headquarters in Delhi on Wednesday. During the crucial meeting, top party leaders deliberated on how to popularise the NDA governments various welfare schemes and policies among the masses. The saffron party has decided to focus on these 144 Lok Sabha seats where its candidates lost to their nearest rivals in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. As per the strategy, top leaders and Union Ministers from the party will visit these 144 parliamentary constituencies across the country and interact with party workers and beneficiaries of various welfare schemes. This will be part of the party's massive outreach exercise to mark eight years of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. On Wednesday, BJP president J P Nadda held a meeting with Amit Shah, BL Santosh and top ministers and deliberated on the exercise to be held between May 30 and June 15 and to finalise the tour plans. According to party sources, the constituencies to be covered by Union ministers were selected based on the party's organisational strength and electoral performance. These constituencies are currently represented in Lok Sabha by members from the opposition parties and the BJP is relatively weak there, the sources said. During the outreach campaign, half-a-dozen Union ministers, including Dharmendra Pradhan, Smriti Irani and Jyotiraditya Scindia, will visit West Bengal, sources said. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will visit Punjab, along with some other Union ministers. West Bengal is currently governed by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, while the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party is in power in Punjab. The Union ministers will spend two-three days in the states assigned to them. They will interact with party workers and beneficiaries of government schemes and hold press conferences. Wednesday's meeting at the BJP headquarters concluded with a speech by former BJP chief and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Union ministers Pradhan, Irani and Kiren Rijiju also addressed it. The BJP will celebrate the Modi government's anniversary from May 30 to June 15 on the theme of 'Sewa, Sushashan and Gareeb Kalyan' (service, good governance and welfare of the poor). In the recent meeting of its office-bearers in Jaipur, the BJP had announced that all Union ministers would visit different areas across the country to mark eight years of the Narendra Modi government and take feedback from people on various welfare schemes. New Delhi: In a significant development, the German government on Thursday recognised the WHO-listed Bharat Biotech`s Covid-19 vaccine, COVAXIN, for travel to the country starting June 1. The Hyderabad-based vaccine maker confirmed this in a tweet. Germany has approved Covaxin COVID19 vaccine. The entrants will no longer need proof of vaccination as the Federal Cabinet relaxes restrictions, Bharat Biotech said on Twitter. World Health Organization (WHO) in November last year issued an emergency use listing (EUL) for COVAXIN, adding to a growing portfolio of vaccines validated for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2. Taking to Twitter, the German Ambassador to India and Bhutan Walter J Lindner wrote, "Very happy that GER government just decided to recognize WHO-listed Covaxin for travels to GER, starting June 1! This Embassy has been pushing very actively for such decision (because of Covid-backlogs visa sections have longer waiting periods than normal, please have patience)." WHO`s EUL procedure assesses the quality, safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and is a prerequisite for COVAX vaccine supply. It also allows countries to expedite their own regulatory approval to import and administer COVID-19 vaccines. "This emergency use listing expands the availability of vaccines, the most effective medical tools we have to end the pandemic," said Dr Mariangela Simao, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products said. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) in April also granted an emergency use authorisation (EUA) to Covaxin for the age group of 6-12 years. The Hyderabad-based Pharma company Bharat Biotech in a statement said that it had conducted phase II/III, open-label, and multicenter studies to evaluate the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of Covaxin in healthy children and adolescents in the 2-18 age group. The clinical trials conducted in the paediatric population between June 2021 to September 2021 have shown robust safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity. Covaxin is formulated uniquely such that the same dosage can be administered to adults and children alike. Covaxin is a ready-to-use liquid vaccine, stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius, with 12 months shelf life and a multi-dose vial policy. Moreover, Biotechnology company Ocugen on Monday announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted the clinical hold on the Company`s Phase 2, 3 clinical trials for COVAXIN (BBV152). Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Ocugen Inc, Dr Shankar Musunuri said, "We`re extremely pleased that we can proceed with our clinical trials for COVAXIN, our whole virus inactivated COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The need for delivering an additional, differentiated vaccine option, we believe, remains a priority." (With ANI Inputs) New Delhi: The Election Commission will conduct by-polls for three Parliamentary constituencies and seven Assembly constituencies in five states and Delhi on June 23 and the counting of votes will be held on June 26. These by-elections will be held for the Sangrur Parliamentary constituency in Punjab, and Rampur and Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh while the Assembly constituencies are Agartala Town, Bordiwala, Surma (SC), and Jubrajnagar in Tripura, Atmakur in Andhra Pradesh, Rajinder Nagar in Delhi and Madar in Jharkhand. According to the Election Commission`s order, the date of notification of polls will be May 30, the last date of nomination is June 6, the scrutiny will be held the next day, the last date for withdrawal of the candidature is June 9. "The Model Code of Conduct shall come into force with immediate effect in the district(s) in which the whole or any part of the Parliamentary/Assembly constituency going for election is included, subject to partial modification as issued vide Commission` s instruction No. 437/6/1NST/2016-CCS, dated June 29, 2017." The EC also said that the published Electoral Rolls for the aforesaid Assembly Constituencies with reference to January 1, 2022, will be used for these elections. The poll panel has decided to use EVMs and VVPATs in the bye-elections in all the polling stations. Adequate numbers of EVMs and VVPATs have been made available and all steps have been taken to ensure that the polls are conducted smoothly with the help of these machines. The Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) shall be the main document of identification of a voter, however, Aadhar or MNREGA job cards, passbooks with photographs issued by Bank/Post Office, Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of the Ministry of Labour, Driving License, PAN Card, Smart Card issued by the RGI under NPR, Indian Passport, Pension document with photograph, Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/state Govt/PSUs/Public Limited Companies, and official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs can also be used for identification. Covid-19 guidelines issued by competent authorities will be strictly followed and social distancing and use of masks, sanitisers, thermal scanning, face shield, hand gloves, etc., as per Covid-19 protocol, will have to be complied with. New Delhi: Amid a spike in daily Covid-19 cases, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday (May 26) urged people not to lower their guard as the coronavirus has not vanished yet and asked them to continue to wear face masks to stem the transmission of the infection. Although the number of hospitalisation (on account of coronavirus) is low, everyone should be alert and cautious as the virus has not gone away completely as yet, the Shiv Sena chief said, as per PTI. The remarks were made during the weekly meeting of the Maharashtra cabinet in Mumbai, a statement by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. The CM also observed that the state's weekly Covid-19 positivity rate is 1.59 per cent with Mumbai and Pune logging more positivity than the state's average. Thackeray further informed in the statement that one coronavirus-infected patient is on ventilator, while 18 others are on oxygen support. He also stressed on wearing masks and getting the Covid-19 vaccine. "Mask and vaccination are necessary. At present 92.27 per cent people above the age of 18 have got the first dose of vaccination and the health department has been asked to expedite the process further," the Maharashtra CM added. Maharashtra on Wednesday logged 470 fresh Covid-19 cases, the highest daily count since March 5. Out of the total infections, Mumbai recorded 295 cases, the highest single-day count since February 12. As per the official statement, Mumbai has recorded 52.79 per cent rise in coroanvirus cases, in Palghar district it was 68.75 per cent, 27.92 per cent in Thane district and 18.52 percent in Raigad. (With agency inputs) ALSO READ: Covid-19 fourth wave scare: India logs 2,628 new cases, 18 deaths in last 24 hours A court here on Thursday reserved the quantum of sentence to former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, who was convicted in a disproportionate assets case. After the submissions of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Delhi`s Rouse Avenue Court is set to pronounce the order on Friday. In the course of the hearing, the probe agency opposed Chautala`s lawyer who argued for a concession on medical grounds for the 87-year-old politician. Instead, the Central agency argued for maximum punishment, pointing out that the convict is a public figure. If the punishment is less for him, it would send a wrong message to society. It was also argued that Chautala is convicted for the second time and does not have a clean image. On May 19, the court had reserved its verdict in this case. As per the charge sheet filed by the CBI, Chautala is responsible for amassing assets worth Rs 6.09 crore (disproportionate to his legitimate source of income) between 1993 and 2006. In May 2019, the Enforcement Directorate had attached over Rs 3.6 crore worth of properties of the former Chief Minister located in New Delhi, Panchkula, and Sirsa. Chautala was also convicted in the JBT scam in January 2013. Live TV Ahmedabad: Police on Thursday registered a case against six men for allegedly attacking a Dalit bride's procession over the issue of playing songs on DJ music system in Gujarat's Ahmedabad district, an official said. The incident took place at Dangarva village in Ahmedabad's Detroj taluka, where Jagdish Parmar had arranged a procession on Thursday in celebration of his daughter's marriage, sub inspector H R Patel of Detroj police station said. "When the procession reached a place in the village, some youths from Thakor (OBC) community asked the DJ operator not to play songs in that area. When he refused, six men attacked the members of the procession with sticks. Bride's father was injured in the attack," he said. An FIR under IPC section 323 (assault), 146 (rioting) and under relevant sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was registered against the six men, Patel said, adding that nobody was arrested in connection with the incident so far. Srinagar: Ten people were arrested for allegedly rioting, raising anti-national/communal slogans and hooliganism outside Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik's residence in Srinagar prior to his sentencing by a Delhi court a day before, the police said on Thursday (May 26). The Jammu and Kashmir police said they have arrested 10 people who were involved in hooliganism and stone-pelting outside the home of Yasin Malik in Maisuma area of Srinagar before his sentencing. SSP Srinagar said, Midnight Raids were conducted at many places that led to their arrest. Main accused has also been arrested. In this regards FIR no 10/ 2022 under section 13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, under sections 120B,147,148,149, 336 of IPC read with sec 34 of IPC stands registered in Maisuma Police station. Some more accused are being identified and will be arrested soon, he added. The main instigators behind the incident will also be booked under PSA and lodged in jails outside J&K, the police said. SSP added, It is strongly reiterated that no attempt at creating/ reviving law and order situations in Srinagar will be tolerated at all. Further, all mischievous attempts of provoking law and order situations by vested interests will be also dealt with full force of law. Before the Yasin Malik verdict was pronounced on Wednesday, violent protest was witnessed in Srinagars Maisuma area outside the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief's residence. Police had to use batons and tear gas smoke shells to control the stone-pelting protestors. Meanwhile, Srinagar remains on edge for the second consecutive day following the life imprisonment sentence to JKLF Chairman Malik by National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court in New Delhi on Wednesday. Shops and other business establishments remained closed at Maisuma, Lal Chowk, Amira Kadal and their adjoining areas, however, traffic movement plied normally across the city. Additional security deployments have been put in place across all sensitive and hyper-sensitive locations of the city with forces patrolling sensitive areas. On May 25, NIA special court announced its verdict and sentenced life imprisonment to JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik in the Hurriyat-terror financing case along with 10 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine under section 121A of IPC, five years rigorous imprisonment and fine under section 13 of UA(P) Act r/w 120B of IPC and others. ALSO READ: Yasin Malik gets life in prison: Sentences, fines imposed on Kashmiri separatist New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday (May 26, 2022) morning neutralised three terrorists affiliated with Pakistan-based outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in an encounter that broke out in the Kupwara district. The Kashmir Zone police said that they launched an operation after receiving specific inputs on an infiltration attempt by terrorists in Jumagund village in Kupwara. The encounter between the security forces and terrorists broke out when the infiltrating terrorists were intercepted by the army and police. Based on a specific input developed by #KupwaraPolice regarding infiltration attempt of #terrorists in village Jumagund, Kupwara, an #encounter has started when the infiltrating terrorists were intercepted by #Army & #Police, Kashmir Zone Police tweeted. IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar informed that all the three terrorists, who were gnned down today in Kupwara, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT. He also said that the identification is being ascertained. All three terrorists were neutralized, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT. Identification being ascertained. Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition recovered, said IGP Kashmir. New Delhi: The National Achievement Survey (NAS)-2021 conducted by the Ministry of Education has come with startling outcomes wherein the majority of students found that learning at home during the pandemic was "burdensome". The survey said that at least 78 per cent of school students found learning at home "burdensome", while 24 per cent of them did not have a digital device at home. The survey, conducted across the country for classes 3, 5, 8 and 10 on November 12 last year, also highlighted that in India 48 per cent of the students commute to school on foot, adding that the learning levels (achievements) of students drop as they progress to a higher class. In the NAS survey, about 34 lakh students of 1.18 lakh schools in 720 districts from both rural and urban areas have participated. The last NAS was held in 2017. According to the report released on Wednesday, at least 78 per cent of students said that they found learning at home during the pandemic burdensome with a lot of assignments, 45 per cent of the students said online learning was joyful, 38 per cent of the respondents faced difficulty in learning, while 24 per cent of the students claimed they had no digital device at home. Fifty per cent of the students, however, said that there was no difference in learning at home and school and 80 per cent said that they learn better in school with the help of peers, while 70 per cent of the students said they had a lot of time to learn new things at home during the pandemic. Notably, the NAS covered government, government-aided and private schools. Schools were closed for several months across the country in view of the pandemic. The subjects covered were Language, Mathematics and EVS for classes 3 and 5; Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Science for class 8 and Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Science and English for class 10, said a PTI report. "The objective of NAS 2021 is to evaluate children's progress and learning competencies as an indicator of the efficiency of the education system, so as to take appropriate steps for remedial actions at different levels. It will help to unravel the gaps in learning and will support state and UT governments in developing long term, mid-term and short-term interventions to improve learning levels and orient on differential planning based on survey data," PTI report quoted a senior MoE official as saying. The official further said, "The achievement tests along with the questionnaires -- pupil questionnaire, teacher questionnaire and school questionnaire -- were developed and translated in 22 different languages by NCERT. This nationwide survey was administered by the CBSE in one single day at the same time. The survey was managed through the technology platform designed and developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC)." The report further said that average performance of students at the national level in a scaled score of 500 starts decreasing in higher classes. For example, the national average performance of a class 3 student in language is 323 out of 500, but the same dips to 260 in Class 10. Similarly, in mathematics the national average score is 306 at class 3 level, which comes down to 284 in class 5; 255 in class 8; and 220 in class 10. Presenting the state-wise performance, the NAS report said that the performance of the majority of states/union territories was significantly below the overall national score, while states such as Punjab, Kerala, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and union territories such as Chandigarh showed better results than the national average. It further added that the average achievement of schools in rural areas remained lower than the schools in urban areas in the same states/UTs. For instance, the average achievement of schools in rural areas remained lower than their urban counterparts across all states and UTs, excluding Manipur and Daman and Diu, in Language in class 8. In terms of social-group-wise performance, the average performance of SC, ST and OBC students remained low in almost all classes across the states, in comparison to the general category students. For instance, in class 10 English, the national average score of general category students stood at 308 while it was 283 for SC students, 280 for ST and 289 for OBC students. GJS, the report added. (With Agency Inputs) New Delhi: Lok Sabha MP Navneet Rana, who has been in the limelight over the Hanuman Chalisa row in Maharashtra, said that she has received threatening calls. Taking cognisance of the matter, the Delhi Police on Thursday (May 26) filed an FIR at the North Avenue police station under sections 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, PTI cited Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Amrutha Guguloth as saying. Rana, who was recently released on bail by a Mumbai court in connection with the row to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra CM's Uddhav Thackeray house, had filed the complaint with the Delhi Police on Wednesday. As per the complaint filed by Ranas personal assistant, the Amravati MP received 11 calls on Tuesday from 5.27 pm to 5.47 pm on her personal mobile number. The caller spoke to Rana in a very inappropriate manner, abused her and also threatened that if she comes to Maharashtra, she will be killed, the complaint said. If you recite Hanuman Chalisa again, you will be killed," the caller told Rana as per the complaint, adding that the MP was left traumatised. In late April, Amravati MP Navneet Kaur Rana had announced that she, along with her MLA-husband Ravi Rana, will recite Hanuman Chalisa outside CM Uddhav Thackerays residence Matoshree leading to angry protests by Shiv Sainiks. Following this, the couple was arrested by the Mumbai Police on the charges of `sedition' and `promoting enmity between different groups' on April 23. They were later released on bail on May 5. On May 14, Navneet Rana recited Hanuman Chalisa at Hanuman Temple, CP in Delhi. She was also accompanied by her husband and Maharashtra MLA Ravi Rana. (With agency inputs) Who doesn't want to start a business and be an owner rather than be a 9 to 5 employee? We all want to be, but achieving the same is a backbreaking job. However, the people who are still aspiring to come out as entrepreneurs, maybe they can take inspiration from Manpreet Kohli. This man has got something unparalleled in him. He started a company that he co-founded with other partners called Saitama Inu. Popularly known by the name Mkay, he completed his studies in International Business in Delhi and promptly got on the field to test his marbles in the business world. After toiling under different market conditions and working with multiple companies, Mkay kept on carving his business knowledge and entrepreneurial skills. Until finally, in 2021, when he decided to sum up all his years of expertise in one single company. This is when Saitama comes into the picture. Saitama Inu (SAITAMA) is a decentralised platform that aims to educate young people about investment and empower users to create their own wealth opportunities. Now you might be wondering why Mkay chose to invest his mastery and efforts in this company. Seeing the demand for trading and looking at the youth's urge to create their own income alternatives, Mkay believed that this was the best service to offer to the market. The skilled entrepreneur has already been an advisor for more than 15 companies, and now, enlightening youth about investments and financial patterns, Mkay is escalating his experience even more. Mkay not only co-founded Saitama in 2021 but also led it to a market cap of $3 billion with over 350K token holders (which they still hold). The entrepreneur also makes sure to attend each and every AMA's of Saitama. Mkay answers each and every question raised by the WolfPacks (Saitama Army). The entrepreneur's years of experience have also proved powerful in securing partnerships for Saitama with Coinsbit, Eagle FC, global influencer Hasbulla, Dubai-based fintech company Epay, and many more. Mkay has never missed a single chance to make Saitama reach the heights. He has also played a major role in making Saitamas counter the most visited and liked counter at the Crypto Expo Dubai in March 2022. Considering social media as a powerful tool to reach the maximum number of youth and guide them about Saitama, Mkay regularly takes part in many Twitter spaces for different projects. He advises enthusiastic crypto investors on how to invest strategically in projects. There is no doubt in saying that Manpreet has guided a cosmic number of people to achieve their financial goals and also carried Saitama to great success. (Sponsored Feature) MBOSE HSSLC Result 2022: The Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) is all set to annpounce the result of Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination (HSSLC) Class 12 exam 2022 on Thursday (May 26, 2022). MBOSE will released the class 12th results today. The students can check the MBOSE HSSLC Class 12 exam results on the official websites- mbose.in, megresults.nic.in once the state board releases them. According to MBOSE, the results will be announced today around 10 am. Candidates who appeared in MBOSE HSSLC examination this year need to note that the state board will also release the HSSLC result booklet online which contain the details on stream-wise pass percentage and details on toppers. "The printed result booklet of the HSSLC exam has been discontinued with effect from 2014. The whole results booklet can be downloaded from the MBOSE official website- mbose.in," MBOSE release mentioned. Meghalaya Board HSSLC result 2022: How to check Step 1: Visit the official website of Meghalaya Board - mbose.in Step 2: On the homepage, click on the result tab Step 3: Click on the 'HSSLC result' link in the new page Step 4: Enter the registration number and other details Step 5: Your HSSLC result 2022 will appear on the screen Step 6: Download the result and take a print out for future reference. Meghalaya Board HSSLC result 2022: List of websites megresults.nic.in mbose.in results.shiksha exametc.com Meanwhile, as per the reports, around 30,000 candidates appeared in the HSSLC, Class 12 exam which was concluded in April this year. Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid a visit to Tamil Nadu and received a rousing welcome as he held a grand roadshow in Chennai. The PM lauded Tamil Nadu as a special place and lauded the Tamil language as eternal and its culture as global. In his address after inaugurating newly completed projects and laying the foundation stone for fresh schemes in road, railway and housing sectors, Modi quoted a popular verse of nationalist poet Subramania Bharathi in praise of Tamil and said that in every field someone from Tamil Nadu was excelling. At the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, in the presence of PM Modi, said, "Our state is a pioneer not only in economic and other related factors but also in social justice, equality and women empowerment and this is the Dravidian model of governance." Here are some key points from Modi's address: - We want our children to live a better quality of life. The most important precondition for that is the top quality of infrastructure. Those nations which gave importance to infrastructure became developed countries from developing countries. - The government of India is fully committed to further popularising the Tamil language and culture. In January this year, the new campus of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil was inaugurated in Chennai. The new campus is fully funded by the Union Government. The Government of India is fully committed to further popularising Tamil language and culture. In January this year, the new campus of Central Institute of Classical Tamil was inaugurated in Chennai. The new campus is fully funded by the Union Government: PM @narendramodi PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 26, 2022 - Expansion of Neraluru to Dharmapuri and Meensurutti to Chidambaram will have many benefits. I'm happy that 5 railway stations are being redeveloped. This modernisation and development are being done keeping in mind the needs of the future. At the same time, it'll merge with local art and culture. - We are doing so because it is directly linked to economic prosperity. The Banglore-Chennai Expressway will connect two key centers of growth. The four-lane elevated road connecting Chennai Port to Maduravoyal will make Chennai Port more efficient and the decongest city traffic. - We have gathered here to celebrate yet another glorious sector of Tamil Nadu development journey, projects worth over Rs 31,000 crores are either inaugurated or foundation stones are laid. The focus on road construction is clearly visible. - Sri Lanka is going through difficult times. I am sure you all are concerned about it. As a close friend and neighbour of Sri Lanka, India is providing financial support, food, medicines and other essential items to the country. - To boost the economic growth of the country and with the vision to make Chennai Port a hub of economic development, foundation stone for multi-modal logistic park at Chennai has been laid today. Our government is committed to developing such parks in other parts of the country. - These multi-modal logistic parks will be a paradigm shift in the freight ecosystem of our country. Each of these projects across various sectors will boost job creation and our resolve to be 'Aatmanirbhar'. - I'd like to congratulate all who'll be getting houses as a part of Chennai Light House project under PM-Awas Yojana... We've started a global challenge to get best practices to make affordable, durable and environment-friendly homes in record time... I'm glad it's in Chennai. (With ANI inputs) Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (May 26) said that 'Pariwarwaadi' party is not just a political problem but the biggest enemy of the democracy and the youth of our country. The Prime Minister, who is here to attend the 20th annual celebrations at the Indian School of Business (ISB), said that such parties only think about their own development. Addressing BJP workers at Begumpet airport, the Prime Minister said, "'Pariwarwaadi' party is not just a political problem but the biggest enemy of the democracy and the youth of our country. Our country has seen how corruption becomes the face of those political parties dedicated to one family." "'Pariwarwaadi' parties only think about their own development. These parties do not care about the poor people, their politics is focused on how a single-family can stay in power and loot as much as they can. They do not have any interest in the development of people," ANI quoted PM Modi as saying. 'Pariwarwaadi' parties only think about their own development. These parties do not care about the poor people, their politics is focused on how a single-family can stay in power and loot as much as they can. They do not have any interest in the development of people: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/NEZzWAg1xk ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2022 According to the Prime Minister, "21st century India is moving forward with the dream of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India'. Our startups are leaving an impression on the world. Today, we are the world's third-largest startup ecosystem. India's 100th Unicorn was registered recently." #WATCH Hundreds of BJP workers gathered at Hyderabad's Begumpet airport to welcome PM Narendra Modi PM also addressed the BJP workers gathered here today.#Telangana pic.twitter.com/WXxjnPRkrC ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2022 PM Modi is in the state capital to participate in the 20th year celebrations of the Indian School of Business (ISB). He is scheduled to attend the graduation ceremony of the Post Graduate Programme class of 2022 of ISB and address the students. It may be noted here that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Thursday morning left for Bengaluru, just hours ahead of the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi here. This is the second time in the last four months that KCR has avoided meeting Modi during the latter's visit to Hyderabad. Earlier in February, PM Modi was here to unveil the Statue of Equality, a giant statue of Saint Ramanujacharya, but Rao could not receive the PM as he reportedly was 'unwell'. Recently, KCR, as he is popularly known, undertook a tour to attend national-level political and social programmes. Today, he is scheduled to meet former Prime Minister and JDS Supremo HD Deve Gowda in the Karnataka capital and is expected to discuss national politics. As part of that, he had called on Delhi and Punjab Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann respectively. In Chandigarh, KCR also offered financial assistance to families of farmers who laid down their lives during the nationwide farmers' agitation against the then contentious farm laws. The TRS president has expressed his national ambitions in the past and is eying a role in national politics. BJP flays KCR for not welcoming PM Modi in Hyderabad The BJP has lashed out at K Chandrashekar Rao after reports surfaced that Telangana Chief Minister will not be in the state during the Prime Minister's visit to Hyderabad. BJP OBC Morcha National President Dr K Lakshman told ANI, "PM Modi is to arrive for a private programme at the International school of business at Gachibowli in Hyderabad. The BJP state unit will felicitate him at the Begumpet airport." He said that it is the solemn duty of a Chief Minister to receive the Prime Minister during his visit to the state. He further added, "The people of Telangana are vexed with the present Telangana government and more particularly KCR, being the chief Minister not maintaining minimum courtesy to receive PM. This is not the first time but a second time, during this time, KCR is visiting other states, and the people of Telangana are laughing at him." "This is not the system but the CM acts that way. Irrespective of political and party affiliations, it is the bounden duty of the Chief Minister to receive him at the airport and protocol has to be maintained. We were told that except for the Chief secretary, no other Minister is coming to receive PM," Lakshman added. (With Agency Inputs) Chandigarh: Punjab University will hold the PU Management Entrance Test 2022 (MET 2022) on Friday, May 28, 2022. It has released the admit cards for the PU Management Entrance Test (PU MET 2022) on Wednesday. The eligible candidates who have registered themselves for PU MET 2022 can now download the PU MET 2022 admit card from the Punjab Universitys official website: puchd.ac.in. Remember, the candidates can access the admit cards only through the online process. PU MET 2022 exam The Punjab University will hold the PU Management Entrance Test 2022 (MET 2022) on Friday, May 28, 2022. Candidates need to log in to the PUs portal using their login credentials for downloading the PU MET admit cards 2022. The Punjab University MET 2022 prospectus says, The PU MET Admit Cards will be issued to the candidates only provisionally, at their sole risk and responsibility subject to the final confirmation of their eligibility at the time of admission. It is further clarified that the candidates shall be taking the test at their own risk and responsibility as far as their eligibility is concerned and the University shall, in no way, be responsible if they are found to be ineligible, later, leading to cancellation of their result or any other consequence(s) emanating from the same. According to the Punjab University, the admission will be made on the basis of the Entrance Test (85% weightage), Group Discussion (7.5% weightage) and Personal Interview (7.5% weightage). The result of the Entrance Test will not be sent to the candidates. The comprehensive result after the Group Discussion and Personal Interview will be notified on the UIAMS notice board as well as the UIAMS website, it added. Heres how to download PU MET 2022 exam admit card -Visit the PU MET official website: puchd.ac.in. -Click on the link that reads PU MET Admit Card. -Login using your ID and password -PU MET 2022 admit card will be displayed on the screen -Download the admit card and take a printout Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a roadshow in Tamil Nadus Chennai amid cheers of Modi Modi. Visuals released by news agency ANI shows huge crowd dressed in traditionals cheering for him as the prime minister waves at his supporters from his car. PM Modi, dressed in white, was welcomed by the workers of the BJP on his arrival in Chennai with a large number of cadre lining up on roads with party flags and raised slogans hailing him and hosted traditional cultural events. Waving party flags and holding 'Vanakkam Modi Ji' placards and banners praising him as the leader who made India proud among the comity of nations. Some cadres raised the slogan 'Thalaiva' which could be roughly translated as 'leader'. At a spot, Modi stopped his car for a minute and waved out to the party workers by standing on the running board of the vehicle. Watch the video here! #WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a roadshow after arriving in Chennai. pic.twitter.com/yv9Qh2xkUC ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2022 #WATCH | Tamil Nadu: People in Chennai greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he holds a roadshow in the city. pic.twitter.com/YKvqD0RCvW ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2022 #WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Huge crowd gathered in Chennai to greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his roadshow in the city. pic.twitter.com/BIM3GKW0jo ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2022 This marks PM Modis first visit to Tamil Nadu after the DMK assumed power last year. Similarly, DMK workers organised cultural events to welcome their leader and Chief Minister M K Stalin. Cultural dances like 'Karagattam' and 'Poikkal Kuthirai Aatam' were held to the accompaniment of traditional music and several artistes dressed up in 'Kathakali' attire could be seen lining up on road margins to welcome the Prime Minister. Roads close to the venue of the event, the Nehru Indoor Stadium, wore a festive look. A giant dummy elephant was prominently placed and a queue of workers held 'Poornakumbham' on their hands and cheered him on his arrival to the stadium. Poornakumbham comprises a pot, coconut and mango leaves, which is considered as an auspicious way of welcome. After arriving at the airport here, Modi took a chopper to reached the INS Adyar Naval helipad, a distance of about 19 km and then arrived at the venue event by car, a distance of 3.5 km. At the airport, he was received by Governor R N Ravi, senior State Ministers Duraimurugan and K Ponmudi, Leader of Opposition and top AIADMK leader K Palaniswami, Chennai Mayor R Priya and top government officials. At the helipad, Modi was received by Stalin. Saffron party workers gathered on roads specifically allotted for according reception. Over 20,000 police personnel were deployed as part of security arrangements. Traffic diversions were also made in some areas. (With PTI and ANI inputs) GUANGZHOU, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Two years into his overseas assignment to expand the hydrogen energy business in China, Oh Seung-chan, from the Republic of Korea (ROK), is pleased that his work and life have gone smoothly. In 2021, Hyundai Motor Group set up its first overseas hydrogen fuel cell system project in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province and registered the company HTWO Guangzhou Co., Ltd. As the company's head, Oh lauded the excellent business environment here. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is one of the most important economic and manufacturing bases in China. The comprehensive automobile and chemical industrial chains here provide ideal conditions for the development of the hydrogen fuel cell industry, Oh noted. HTWO Guangzhou expects to complete the construction of relevant facilities, including a fuel cell system plant, an innovation center, and a research and development center, and realize the mass production of hydrogen fuel cell systems by the end of 2022. "There is a vast market and excellent enterprises in the industrial chain. The local government has an open and cooperative attitude towards foreign-funded enterprises and fully supports project construction and foreign talents coming to China. These factors have encouraged Hyundai Motor Group to do business here," Oh said. In 2021, the trade between Guangdong Province and the ROK was 456.4 billion yuan (about 68.6 billion U.S. dollars), up 17.5 percent year on year, according to data from the Guangdong Sub-administration of the General Administration of Customs of China. In addition to investments by big companies such as LG Display, Samsung Display and POSCO, more than 1,400 small and medium-sized ROK-funded enterprises also carry out businesses in Guangdong Province. Despite the headwinds of the COVID-19 epidemic, ROK enterprises are still sanguine about investing in Guangdong. By the end of 2021, Guangdong had attracted 3,837 investment projects from the ROK, with a total contracted foreign investment of 9.7 billion U.S. dollars and a foreign direct investment of 7.5 billion U.S. dollars, in actual use, the Guangdong provincial commerce department said. In the first quarter of 2022, 69 new projects from the ROK were set up, with a total contracted foreign investment of 101.1 million yuan and a foreign direct investment of 28.5 million yuan, in actual use. "As of May 2021, there were more than 9,000 high-level foreign experts in Guangzhou, with the number of experts from the ROK ranking second," said Jin Kai, an associate researcher with the Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences. In July 2018, LG Display opened an OLED panel factory in Guangdong with a total investment of 46 billion yuan. "The continuous growth of LG Display in Guangzhou benefits not only from the huge consumer market in China but also from the constant improvement of the business environment," said Lee Dong-eun, vice president of LG Display China Business Management Division. The administrative review and approval became more efficient and convenient, and the confidence of foreign investors in China increased continuously, Lee noted. "There is a great potential for synergy and cooperation between industries of Guangdong Province and the ROK. Companies are encouraged to continue investing in Guangdong," said Yang Xinhong, head of the provincial bureau of statistics. HYDERABAD: Telangana BJP chief and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar has said that the Urdu language will be banned completely if 'Ram Rajya' is established in the country, reported ANI. The BJP leader also drew a parallel between the madrasas and bomb blasts across the country. The Karimnagar BJP MP said that madrasas have become the training centers for terrorists. Addressing a gathering at Karimnagar on Wednesday, the BJP leader said, If 'Rama Rajya' comes, we will completely ban the Urdu language. In the country wherever bomb blasts take place, it's because Madrasas have become the training centers for terrorists...We should identify them. If 'Rama Rajya' comes, we will completely ban Urdu language. In the country wherever bomb blasts take place, it's because Madrasas have become the training centers for terrorists...We should identify them: Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar(25.05) pic.twitter.com/F9YsL9FzjD ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2022 Referring to the Gyanvapi mosque dispute, Kumar said wherever mosque premises are excavated, Shivlings are found. "I am challenging (AIMIM chief) Owaisi that we will dig up all mosques in the state. If dead bodies are recovered, you (Muslims) claim it. If a Shivaling is found, hand it over to us. Will you accept it?" he asked. Wherever mosque premises are excavated, Shivalingas are found. I'm challenging Owaisi that we'll dig all mosques in state. If dead bodies recovered, you (Muslims)claim it.If Shivam (Shivalinga) is found,hand it over to us.Will you accept it?:Telangana BJP chief Bandi SK (25.05) pic.twitter.com/9VpQqWYAKm ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2022 The BJP MP made these remarks while addressing the Hindu Ekta Yatra in Karimnagar on Wednesday. The Gyanvapi mosque, where a 'Shivling' is claimed to have been found, was recently surveyed on the order of a local Varanasi court. The survey has reportedly found various symbols - signs of Lotus, Swastikas, Kalash, and Trishul - of Hindu deities inside the mosque complex. The Muslim side has claimed that the Shivling found there is a part of a fountain. The findings of the survey have triggered a batch of petitions in other places where Hindus believe that mosques have been built on temple land. Lucknow: In probably a first, Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia (PSPL) founder Shivpal Yadav, who is also Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadavs uncle, on Thursday praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and called him "honest" and "hardworking. Shivpals comment for Yogi Adityanath comes amid the rumours of him joining the BJP as an ally after prolonged tensions with Akhilesh Yadav for his role in the party. Shivpal Yadav, however, claimed that the opposition would have been in power had it taken his support, reported PTI. Shivpal had fought the latest UP election on a Samajwadi Party ticket from the Jaswantnagar seat but there have been speculations of a rift between him and his nephew, SP president Akhilesh Yadav. Speaking in the assembly house during a discussion, Yadav said, "I say that UP CM is honest and hardworking. Had he taken support of all legislators and others during COVID pandemic, things could have been managed in a better way, said Yadav. The government promises 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', but it did not take support of all. UP CM is a saint, a Yogi. Yog means taking support of all," he added "CM could take UP to new heights only by taking support of the opposition," he added. BJP members approbated his praise of Adityanath by thumping their desks. Shivpal Yadav, who is an SP MLA and was sitting with SP lawmakers, also said that had the opposition taken his support they would have been sitting in the treasury benches. I made the party (PSPL) and also did election preparations. We announced 100 candidates two years ago. Had they been made candidates (by SP), they would have been there,? he said pointing towards the treasury bench. Both, Adityanath and the leader of the opposition Akhilesh Yadav, were not present in the house when Shivpal spoke. On the free ration scheme, he advised the government to provide it to the elderly and ailing, but be cautious against turning healthy and young ones "lazy". San Francisco- In a relief for Tesla shareholders, Elon Musk has committed to provide an additional $6.25 billion in equity financing for his $44 billion Twitter takeover, bringing his total equity commitment to $33.5 billion. Tesla stock had nosedived more than 30 per cent after Musk announced to fund his Twitter buyout by borrowing against his Tesla ownership stake. In a fresh filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Musk announced the expiration of a series of margin loans against Tesla stock. Twitter stock went up in after-hours trading after the news broke late on Wednesday, reports TechCrunch. Musk's original plan was to acquire Twitter with a combination of $21 billion in personal equity and $25.5 billion in loans and $12.5 billion of those loans were secured against Tesla shares owned by Musk. According to the new SEC filing, "(Elon Musk has) committed to a increase the aggregate principal amount of the equity commitment there under to $33.5 billion." However, it is not clear where the additional $6.25 billion will come from. Musk has put the Twitter deal on hold, complaining about the number of fake and spam accounts on the platform. ALSO READ: BMC issues danger alert, asks slum residents in Mumbai's landslide-prone areas to move to safer places The Tesla CEO has secured nearly $7.14 billion in equity commitments from friends and other investors to acquire Twitter. Musk received $1 billion from Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and $5 million from Honeycomb Asset Management, which invested in his SpaceX company. New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) is seeking to hire Executive Officer, Grade-IV vacancies in Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Subordinate Service. Candidates can apply through the official website on tnpsc.gov.in on or before June 18, 2022. The TNPSC recruitment drive aims to fill a total of 36 posts. As per the official TNPSC notification, Only persons professing Hindu Religion as required by Section 10 of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 (Tamil Nadu Act, 22 of 1959) are eligible to apply. TNPSC recruitment 2022: Application fees Candidates will have to make a payment of Rs 150 as application fees. TNPSC recruitment 2022: Pay Scale Rs 19,500 71, 900 (Level-8) TNPSC recruitment 2022: Selection process Candidates will have to undertake a written examination. The exam will be conducted on September 11, 2022 in 11 in two shifts from 9: 30 am to 12: 30 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm. "Based on the marks obtained by the candidates in Written Examination and subject to the rule of reservation of appointments, a tentative list of eligible candidates for certificate verification will be announced in the Commissions website. After verification of the original certificates, the eligible candidates will be summoned for final selection through counselling method," the notification said. Direct link to the official notification HERE. ALSO READ: West Bengal Police Recruitment 2022: Apply for over 1600 Constable vacancies, check details here New Delhi: West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB) has invited applications to hire for Constable vacancies. Interested candidates can apply on the official West Bengal Police website at wbpolice.gov.in. Candidates must note that the application process will begin on May 29, 2022 and the last day to apply for the posts is June 27, 2022. The recruitment drive will fill a total of 1666 vacancies in the Kolkata Police. West Bengal Police Recruitment 2022: Vacancy details Constable 1410 posts Lady Constable 256 posts West Bengal Police Recruitment 2022: Eligibility criteria Candidates must have passed Madhyamik Examination from the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education or its equivalent. West Bengal Police Recruitment 2022: Age limit Candidates should not be less than 18 years while the upper age limit is 27 years old as on January 1, 2022. For Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes candidates, the upper age limit is relaxable as per extant rules/orders of the Government. The upper age limit is also relaxable for Home Guards Personnel as per existing Government Rules. However, Age relaxation is NOT available to Civic Volunteers, the official notification read. West Bengal Police Recruitment 2022: Application fees The registration fee for candidates except for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe categories is Rs 170, while for SC/ST category candidates the fee is Rs 20. West Bengal Police Recruitment 2022: Selection process Candidates will have to undertake Preliminary Written Test which will be followed by the Physical Measurement Test (PMT), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Final Written Examination and Interview that will be conducted by the West Bengal Police Recruitment Board. For more details, read the official notification HERE. ALSO READ: SSC recruitment 2022: Bumper vacancies announced on ssc.nic.in, check details here Thiruvananthapuram: A Kerala district court on Thursday sent senior politician and former MLA PC George to 14 days of judicial custody in an alleged hate speech case. He was arrested by the Kerala Police on Wednesday in a case registered against him for alleged hate speech. Kerala High Court on Monday granted interim bail to PC George in another hate speech case at the Mahadeva Temple at Vennala in the Ernakulam district on May 8. The arrest was made in connection with an alleged hate speech made by him against Muslims in Anantapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan in Thiruvananthapuram on April 30. On the way to Thiruvananthapuram, he was admitted to the general hospital at Ernakulam as he felt unwell but the journey continued shortly after. George said, "I haven`t done anything that goes against the country. I don`t need anyone`s vote who is not a patriot. I haven`t done anything illegal. I have respect for the law, that`s why I am cooperating. I haven`t done anything wrong." Earlier, he was booked by Palarivattom police under IPC 153 and 295 A. He delivered the speech in connection with a Saptaha Yajna event at the Mahadeva Temple at Vennala in the Ernakulam district on May 8. He was arrested by the Thiruvananthapuram Fort police in another case for alleged communal remarks delivered at Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan. Fort police had registered a case and arrested him from his house in Punjar. Later he got bail from the court. The high court has directed the Thiruvananthapuram court to hear the speech he had made in Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan and after hearing the speech court cancelled his bail. Bangalore: Actor Johnny Depp returned to the witness stand on Wednesday to refute ex-wife Amber Heard's testimony in their defamation battle, saying the abuse claims she levelled against him were "unimaginably brutal, cruel and false." The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star, 58, sued Heard for $50 million and argued that she defamed him when she called herself "a public figure representing domestic abuse." Heard, 36, has countersued for $100 million, saying Depp smeared her when his lawyer said her accusations were a "hoax." On Wednesday, Depp and his attorneys worked to rebut Heard's testimony that he physically and sexually abused her multiple times before and during their marriage, which ended in 2017. Depp offered a string of adjectives to describe his reaction to Heard's accounts during the trial, now in its sixth and final week. "Horrible, ridiculous, humiliating, ludicrous, painful, savage," Depp said, adding "unimaginably brutal, cruel and false. All false." "No human being is perfect" he said. "But I have never in my life committed sexual battery, physical abuse." In earlier testimony, Depp told jurors it was Heard who turned violent in their relationship. Closing arguments in the trial being held in Virginia are scheduled for Friday. "No matter what happens," Depp said, "I did get here and I did tell the truth and I have spoken up for what Ive been carrying on my back, reluctantly, for six years." In cross-examination, Heard`s attorneys confronted Depp with text messages retrieved from his cell phone. One message to an assistant described a woman`s genitals as being "RIGHTFULLY MINE." "I NEED. I WANT. I TAKE," the message said. Depp denied he wrote the texts and said his phone might have been used by someone else or the message was altered. Earlier on Wednesday, British model Kate Moss appeared briefly and disputed Heard`s claim about "rumors" of an altercation involving a staircase when Moss dated Depp in the 1990s. Moss said she slipped on the staircase and injured her back during a vacation the couple took in Jamaica. Depp rushed to help her, carried her to her room and summoned medical services, she said. "He never pushed me, kicked me or threw me down any stairs," said Moss, who appeared via video from England. The incident became an issue when Heard testified she once slapped Depp because she thought he was about to shove her sister down a flight of stairs, as she thought he did with Moss. Heard, best known for her role in "Aquaman," met Depp in 2011 while filming "The Rum Diary" and the pair wed in February 2015. Their divorce was finalized about two years later. At the center of the legal case is a December 2018 opinion piece by Heard in the Washington Post. The article never mentioned Depp by name, but his lawyer told jurors it was clear that Heard was referring to him. Depp, once among Hollywood`s biggest stars, said Heard`s allegations cost him "everything." A new "Pirates" movie was put on hold, and Depp was replaced in the "Fantastic Beasts" film franchise, a "Harry Potter" spinoff. Heard`s attorneys have argued that she told the truth and her opinion was protected free speech under the U.S. Constitution`s First Amendment. Depp lost a libel case less than two years ago against the Sun, a British tabloid that labeled him a "wife beater." A London High Court judge ruled that he had repeatedly assaulted Heard. Depp's lawyers filed the US case in Fairfax County, Virginia, because the Washington Post is printed there. The newspaper is not a defendant. New Delhi: The Kapil Sharma Show actress Sumona Chakravarti has finally reacted to her wedding rumours. The Bong beauty rubbished all reports alleging she is planning to tie the knot anytime soon with Samrat Mukerji. SUMONA CHAKRAVARTI MARRIAGE? Sumona took to Instagram and wrote: Post Mortem of Rumours. RIP. P.s If i do get married i will very happily & proudly announce and showcase (my man & the marriage). Cool Her post reads: "Dear tabloids, thank you for taking interest in my personal life but it really isnt necessary; Im not getting married. Youll like to keep circulating my wedding rumours every year very diligently. Who I date/marry/ live withis my personal business & if I ever feel like sharing, I will. Until then, I request all to please stop speculating, its an earnest request. Thank you." SUMONA CHAKRAVARTI DATING SAMRAT? Rumours were rife that Sumona is dating Samrat, who is Rani Mukerji and Kajol's cousin. He is also related to filmmaker Ayan Mukerji. However, Sumona has rubbished these as mere speculation. In an interview with ETimes, Sumona clarified, "He's (Samrat) a friend. That's about it. I don't speak to the media about my friends or family and I want to keep it that way." On her wedding rumour, The Kapil Sharma Show actress said, "Oh, God! These are old 10-year old stories from social media. This is rubbish. Frankly, no comments, I don't like to talk about my personal life. If ever there's any development, you all will get to know about it. I shall announce it." New Delhi: Actress Meera Chopra made her debut at the Cannes Film Festival this year. The actress, who was there to unveil the first look of her upcoming film Safed, slayed at the red carpet in a dreamy red outfit. While there at Cannes, Meera also made her debut appearance at an event for the Better World Fund, which is the premier educational and advocacy platform driving support for the United Nations and its causes in the United States of America. The event was attended by several Hollywood celebrities including actor Jimmy Jean Louis and Sharon Stone. A thrilled and honoured Meera is ecstatic about this opportunity. She says, "Everyone wants their work to have a positive influence on the world and make a difference and it's opportunities like these that make me believe that my work is heading in that direction too. To be able to show my support for the cause on such a global platform is an honour that I will always keep close to my heart, hoping that it creates a positive change in the world. On the professional front, Meera has projects coming in multiple languages and her next Hindi project, Safed's first look was recently unveiled by music maestro AR Rahman at the Cannes Film Festival. The film also features young actor Abhay Verma and is directed by Sandeep Singh. New Delhi: 7th Pay Commission Latest update-- Government employees may be in for some more good news in the month of July. The government might announce another round of hike in the Dearness Allowance (DA), thus giving another reason to central government employees to rejoice, media reports have said. The first increase in dearness allowance for the year 2022 was announced in March. Latest media reports are stating that the next revision in July is likely due to the increase in the AICP Index. In December 2021, the AICPI figure stood at 125.4. But, in January 2022, it declined by 0.3 points and fell to 125.1. The All-India CPI-IW for February, 2022 decreased by 0.1 points and stood at 125.0 (one hundred twenty five). On 1-month percentage change, it decreased by 0.08 per cent with respect to previous month compared to increase of 0.68 per cent recorded between corresponding months a year ago. For the month of March, there was a jump of 1 point. The AICPI index figures for March stands at 126. The AICP numbers for April-May and June are yet to come. If this figure goes above 126, then the government can increase the DA by 4%. If reports are to be believed, there could be a further four percent hike in DA. This means the total DA could reach upo 38 percent. March AICPI index figures, which is instrumental in DA revision decision, have shown promise for a DA hike. The DA hike could come around 4 percent in July-August period, although the ACPI figures of the coming three months i.e April, May, June is yet to be ascertained. The Dearness Allowance of central government employees is revised twice a year. The first is given from January to June, while the second comes from July to December. It may be recalled that the Union Cabinet had on March 30 hiked Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) by 3 per cent to 34 per cent to compensate for the price rise, benefitting over 1.16 crore central government employees and pensioners. The additional instalment is be effective from January 1, 2022. The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission. With the recent announcement, the hope for the next DA hike, which usually is stipulated for the month of July, has also taken pace. However, one bad news could be that the DA hike, scheduled for July may not be announced. New Delhi: From today, May 26, it has become mandatory to quote either PAN or Aadhaar if you want to deposit or withdraw over Rs 20 lakh in a financial year. The same rule applies for opening of a current account in banks too. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had in a notification said that it will be mandatory to furnish Permanent Account Number (PAN) or 12 digit Aadhaar for high-value deposits or withdrawals from banks in a financial year, or opening of a current account or cash credit account with a bank or post office from May 26. Currently, PAN and Aadhaar are interchangeable for income tax purpose. An assessee needs to mention his/her PAN in all communications with the I-T department and while entering into specified financial transactions. However, there can be situations where a person entering into high-value transactions, such as purchase of foreign currency or huge withdrawal from banks, does not possess a PAN. The Finance Act, 2019, has provided for interchangeability of PAN with Aadhaar. It has been provided that every person who is required to furnish or quote his PAN under the Income Tax Act, and who has not been allotted a PAN but possesses the Aadhaar number, may furnish the biometric ID in lieu of PAN. With PTI Inputs New Delhi: The Central government is expected to roll out the funds under the 11th installment of Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM KISAN) Yojana in the coming days, in what could be good news for crores of farmers across the country who are waiting for the financial benefits. According to the PM Kisan website, the deadline for PM Kisan eKYC for all the beneficiaries of the scheme has been extended to May 31, 2022. For the unversed, PM Kisan is a centrally sponsored scheme that aims to provide financial support to poor and marginalised farmers in the country. Eligible farmers under the scheme receive financial assistance of Rs 6000 in a year. The sum is transferred in three installments of Rs 2000 each every year. The money is credited directly to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries. So far, 10 installments have been processed. In the 10th installment, more than 11 crore beneficiaries had received the funds directly into their bank accounts. 11,11,97,137 to be exact. An almost similar number of eligible farmers had received the funds into their bank accounts under the 10th PM Kisan installment. When PM Kisan 11th Installment Will Be Released? The Central government could release the 11th PM Kisan installment on May 31, according to media reports. Previously, reports had suggested the government will release the funds on May 14, 2022. Heres How to complete PM Kisan eKYC Process Step 1: You will first need to visit the official website of PM Kisan official website at https://pmkisan.gov.in/. Step 2: You will need to visit the Farmers Corner. Under the section, you will find the eKYC option. Also Read: iPhone feature saved a woman from sexual assault, check how to activate it on your Apple phone Step 3: You will need to enter your Aadhaar card number to complete the OTP-based eKYC process. OTP Based eKYC is available on PMKISAN Portal, the official PM Kisan website reads. Also Read: 2nd biggest deal in 2022! Broadcom to buy VMware in $61 billion deal Thiruvananthapuram: The survivor of the 2017 sexual assault met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at his office here on Thursday and shared her concerns with him over the fate of the case. Emerging from the meeting, the victim actress said she was "completely satisfied" with the "positive response" from the CM. "The Chief Minister has assured me that he will be with me in the case. Thanks a lot for that. I fully trust his words. I am very happy about the assurance given me by the Chief Minister. He has assured all support of the government in the investigation of the case," she said. She was accompanied by dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi. She also reportedly submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister listing out certain demands. Her meeting with the Chief Minister came in the wake of a plea moved by her in the Kerala High Court alleging political interference by the ruling LDF government and that there was a move to derail the probe in the case in which actor Dileep is also an accused. The issue had triggered a war of words between leaders of ruling LDF and opposition Congress, particularly in the midst of campaign for bypoll being held in Thrikkakara assembly constituency in Ernakulam district. While the ruling CPI(M) said it should be examined whether there was any vested interest behind her plea, the opposition attacked the LDF government alleging bid to sabotage investigation in the case. The government had informed the Kerala High Court that the victim's fears regarding the investigation and trial in the matter were 'unfounded' as the government's stand from the start has been to ensure she gets justice. The submission was made by the prosecution before Justice Ziyad Rahman A A during the hearing of the plea moved by the victim. San Francisco- Jack Dorsey has stepped down from the Twitter board of directors, as Tesla CEO Elon Musk fights with the micro-blogging platform to reveal the actual number of fake/spam accounts. Dorsey quit as Twitter CEO in November last year, handing over the baton to Indian-origin Parag Agrawal who was then the CTO of the company. At the time, Twitter noted that Dorsey would stay on the board "until his term expires at the 2022 meeting of stockholders". Dorsey has categorically said that he will never be the CEO of Twitter again, as reports of him rejoining the micro-blogging platform surfaced after the $44 billion takeover by Musk. Dorsey, who is now running financial payments platform Block (earlier Square), also said that no one should be the CEO of Twitter. At the shareholders' meeting on Wednesday, Twitter's board voted to oust board member and Musk ally Egon Durban, CEO of private equity firm Silver Lake Partners, reports TechCrunch. ALSO READ: BREAKING: Germany clears Bharat Biotechs Covaxin, no vaccination proof required for fliers from June 1 Durban led Musk's deal team during the 2018 failed effort to take Tesla private. Musk has put the $44 billion Twitter deal on hold over the presence of fake/spammy accounts and wants the micro-blogging platform to come clean on the actual number of bots. VARANASI: The Varanasi district court will resume hearing in the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex case and decide on the maintainability of the complex. District government counsel Rana Sanjeev Singh confirmed that the court of District Judge AK Vishevesh will hear the matter as per directions of the Supreme Court. Singh said the court has also given a week's time to both Hindu and Muslim sides to file objections to the report of a court-mandated videography survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises. The civil judge had on Tuesday listed the hearing on a plea of the Muslim side for May 26. The plea stated the suit doesn't have merit as it violates the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, said Vishnu Shankar Jain, a lawyer for the Hindu side. Jain said the court ordered to make available the commission report to both sides for filing objections. However, a day before the Varanasi district court hearing the civil suit on the Gyanvapi mosque-Kashi Viswanath temple complex dispute, the Hindu side claimed that the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991, does not bar in ascertaining the nature of a place of worship. Advocate Subhash Nandan, representing the five Hindu women plaintiffs at the trial court, said it is important to determine the religious nature of the place and last week, the Supreme Court also made an observation that the ascertainment of the religious character of a place of worship is not barred by the Places of Worship Act, 1991, reported IANS. The Hindu side had argued that then Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb had issued 'farmaans' in 1669 to destroy many temples including Kashi and Mathura, which were prominently worshipped by Hindus. The Hindu parties claimed that the then administration complied with the order and demolished a portion of temple of the Adi Visheshwar at Varanasi and later on construction was raised which they alleged is the `Gyanvapi mosque`. However, they could not change the religious charter of the Hindu temple as the idol of goddess Shringar Gauri, Lord Ganesh and other associated deities continued in the same building complex. The Hindu parties have also claimed that there are idols and objects of worship within the property in question and that the temple has not lost its religious character at any point in time. Nandan said under Hindu law, which is applied in India, it is well recognised that once the property has vested in the deity, the same will continue to be their property in perpetuity and the deity can never be divested from the property. Citing recent observations by the Supreme Court in the case, he emphasized that it is essential to determine the nature of a place of worship as of August 15, 1947. On May 20, an apex court bench, headed by Justice DY Chandrachud and comprising Justices Surya Kant and PS Narasimha said, "Ascertainment of religious character is not barred under Section 3 (of the Places of Worship Act, 1991)." The bench had told senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Varanasi, "Suppose there is a Parsi temple and there is a cross in the corner of the area. Does the presence of Agyari make the cross Agyari or Agyari Christian? This hybrid character is not unknown in India." The Muslim side has challenged the maintainability of the civil suit by Hindu parties under Order 7, Rule 11 (maintainability) of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC). The Varanasi court started hearing the case on Monday after the Supreme Court order on May 20. "Civil Suit No 693 of 2021 shall stand transferred from the file of the Civil Judge, Senior Division, Varanasi to the court of the District Judge, Varanasi for trial and all interlocutory and ancillary proceedings in the suit shall be addressed to and decided by the court of the District Judge," said the apex court. The district judge has outlined the sequence of hearing - he would first decide the sequence in which additional pleas, objections, and add-ons would be taken up. The present civil suit has been filed by five plaintiffs - Rakhi Singh, Laxmi Devi, Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas, and Rekha Pathak - seeking worship at the place and seeking appointment of local commissioner to conduct an inspection. (With Agency Inputs) Islamabad: Tensions run high in Pakistan as former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khans 'march to chaos' demanding fresh elections in the country continues. Police in Pakistan fired tear gas and clashed with supporters of PTI in the wee hours of Thursday as Imran Khan arrived closer to Islamabad. Tension gripped the country as police and PTI workers clashed after authorities tried to block them from moving toward D-Chowk in the federal capital after Imran Khan warned his supporters would not vacate the area until a date for fresh polls was announced by the Shehbaz Sharif government. Former Pakistan PM, who was ousted from power by a no-trust vote, has asked "all Pakistanis" to take to the streets in their respective cities and appealed to women and children to come out of their homes for "real independence". "It`s 2.30 am at the D-Chowk and the shelling is continuing. God know how many more rounds of shelling will they use before the arrival of Imran Khan," said Senator Aon Abbas Buppi. "Tremendous effort by the people of Pakistan to save their lives!! What an inning are they playing MashaAllah, Allah ap logo ko salamat rkhey," PTI`s official account tweeted as the workers belonging to Imran Khan`s party clashed with police in Islamabad. In an opinion piece titled "Imran Khan`s march to chaos", a Pakistan journalist said the country seems to be heading towards political confrontation following the government`s decision to ban the PTI march on Islamabad. "Crackdowns on the opposition leaders and the sealing of the capital have created a highly volatile situation. The government already seems to be panicking," author Zahid Hussain wrote in the Dawn newspaper. Failing to control the growing unrest due to the protest march launched by Imran Khan, the Shehbaz Sharif government has been forced to call in the army to protect the Red Zone as former Pakistan Prime Minister and PTI chief entered Islamabad in the early hours of Thursday. Govt of Pakistan orders deployment of troops of Pakistan Army in the wake of law and order situation in Islamabad pic.twitter.com/QUJgwX3heV ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2022 "Pursuant to the law and order situation in the Islamabad Capital Territory, the Federal Government, in the exercise of powers conferred under Article 245 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, authorises deployment of sufficient strength of troops of Pakistan Army," Pakistan`s Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said in a government order posted on Twitter. The Pakistan government deployed the army in Red Zone to "protect important government buildings" after Imran Khan entered the federal capital amid rising tensions in the country. The government order said that the decision was taken for the protection of important government buildings including the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Parliament House, Presidency, Prime Minister`s Office and others. Rights groups expressed deep concern at the highhandedness of law enforcement agencies in disrupting the PTI`s march to Islamabad. "We believe that all citizens and all political parties have every right to assemble and protest peacefully," the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) tweeted. "The state`s overreaction has triggered, more than it has prevented, violence on the streets. The onus is on the government and opposition leaders to adopt a mature, democratic response and immediately begin a dialogue to end the impasse," the group added. Kyiv: Russian forces on Wednesday (May 25, 2022) pounded Ukrainian-held twin cities in the Donbas region that is now the focus of the three-month war, threatening to shut off the last main escape route for civilians trapped in the path of their advance. After failing to seize Ukraine`s capital Kyiv or its second city Kharkiv, Russia is trying to take full control of the Donbas, comprised of two eastern provinces Moscow claims on behalf of separatists. Russia has poured thousands of troops into the region, attacking from three sides in an attempt to encircle Ukrainian forces holding out in the city of Sievierodonetsk and its twin Lysychansk. Their fall would leave the whole of Luhansk province under Russian control, a key Kremlin war aim. Police in Lysychansk are collecting bodies of people killed in order to bury them in mass graves, Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Gaidai said. Some 150 people have been buried in a mass grave in one Lysychansk district, he added. Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Ukraine`s president, said Russia`s "army is having some tactical success which is threatening to become an operational success in the direction of Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk." Sievierodonetsk and Bakhmut, a town to the southeast, were in danger of being encircled, Arestovych said. "(It`s) possible that settlements will be abandoned, it`s possible we will have heavy losses." Families of people buried in mass graves will be able to carry out a reburial after the war, and police are issuing documents enabling Ukrainians to secure death certificates for loved ones, Gaidai said. The main road out of Sievierodonetsk was being shelled, but humanitarian aid was still getting in, Gaidai said in an earlier statement. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russian troops "heavily outnumber us" in some parts of the east. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the battlefield reports. As Moscow seeks to solidify its grip on the territory it has seized, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree simplifying the process for residents of newly captured districts to acquire Russian citizenship and passports. SHELLING A missile blasted a crater in a railway track and damaged nearby buildings in Pokrovsk, a Ukrainian-held Donbas city that has become a major hub for supplies and evacuations. In Kramatorsk, nearer the front line, streets were largely deserted, while in Sloviansk further west, many residents took advantage of what Ukraine said was a break in the Russian assault to leave. "My house was bombed, I have nothing," said Vera Safronova, seated in a train carriage among the evacuees. Further north, two people were killed and seven wounded by Russian artillery shelling of the town of Balakliya in the Kharkiv region, an aide to its governor said on Facebook. Russia is also targeting southern Ukraine, where officials said shelling had killed a civilian and damaged scores of houses in Zaporozhzhia and missiles had destroyed an industrial facility in Kryviy Rih. Moscow has blockaded ships from southern Ukraine that would normally export Ukrainian grain and sunflower oil through the Black Sea, pushing up prices globally. The African Union urged the two countries on Wednesday to unblock exports of grains and fertiliser to avoid widespread famine. Russia has blamed Western sanctions for the food crisis. It said on Wednesday it was ready to provide a humanitarian corridor for vessels carrying food to leave Ukraine but wanted sanctions to be lifted in return. Ukraine`s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Moscow of using "blackmail" tactics to secure a relaxation of sanctions. A senior United Nations official is due to visit Moscow in the coming days to discuss reviving fertiliser exports. ECONOMIC SQUEEZE With its invasion now into its fourth month, Russia still has only limited gains to show for its worst military losses in decades, while much of Ukraine has suffered devastation as Moscow steps up strikes to offset its slow progress. The Russian parliament scrapped the upper age limit for contractual service in the military on Wednesday, highlighting the need to replace lost troops. In a late night video address, Zelenskiy, commenting on the new Russian enlistment rules, said: "(They) no longer have enough young men, but they still have the will to fight. It will still take time to crush this will." Western nations have imposed severe sanctions on Russia. The United States pushed Russia closer to the brink of a historic debt default on Wednesday by not extending its licence to pay bondholders. That waiver has allowed Moscow to keep up government debt payments till now. The European Commission proposed on Wednesday to make breaking EU sanctions against Russia a crime. The EU also said it hoped to agree sanctions on Russian oil before the next meeting of EU leaders. But Russia, for now at least, is not short of money. Oil and gas revenues stood at $28 billion in April alone thanks to high energy prices. Putin on Wednesday ordered the government to hike old-age pensions and the minimum wage by 10%, while stating that not all economic problems were linked to what he calls Russia`s "special military operation" in Ukraine. Zelenskiy said this week the conflict could only be ended with direct talks between him and Putin, but Ukraine`s closest allies say they fear some Western nations might push Kyiv to give up land for peace. Italy and Hungary want the EU to call explicitly at a leaders` summit next week for a ceasefire in Ukraine and peace talks with Russia, diplomats say. Estonia`s prime minister, Kaja Kallas, said Ukraine should not be forced into accepting a bad deal. "It is much more dangerous giving in to Putin than provoking him," she said. "All these seemingly small concessions to the aggressor lead to big wars. We have made this mistake already three times: Georgia, Crimea and Donbas." South Africa: Plans to fix Musina water supply in the pipeline The Department of Water and Sanitation has drafted short and long-term plans to augment water supply in Musina. This follows recent violent public unrest in Musina due to lack of water supply to the communities, which resulted in discussions on plans to augment water supply to the area. Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, along with his Deputy Ministers, David Mahlobo and Dikeledi Magadzi and several senior officials of the department held a community meeting at the Musina Local Municipality in Limpopo on Wednesday. Mchunu acknowledged that there is a huge water demand in South Africas border town due to growing population growth driven by rural to urban migration, and a large transit population passing through the town. Mchunu said the current water demand is 8 million m3 [cubic meter] per year, and based on population growth alone, water demand projection is for 24 million m3 per year by 2040 if the current rate of population growth is sustained. He also noted that the current status of water in the town and surrounding areas is critical due to the under-investment in water infrastructure and lack of proper operation and maintenance. The town relies primarily on groundwater and it also experiences water rationing imposed by Vhembe District Municipality because the current demand exceeds the supply, and also because of high levels of water leaks due to ageing infrastructure in both the bulk supply lines and internal reticulation networks. We need to provide reliable and sustainable water supply to Musina, in doing so, we have to address the growing demand and ensure it matches supply," Mchunu said. During a meeting, the department drafted short- and long-term plans to augment water supply in Musina, and these include: Developing local water resources including taking groundwater from the Limpopo River and other sources, wastewater reuse, and water from defunct mines; Transfer of water from Zimbabwe; Construction of a dam on the Mutale River for use in the Luvuvhu-Letaba catchment with transfer of water to Musina, a long term projected to be completed by 2035; and Abstracting water from the Limpopo River and storing it in two dams, the Musina Dam and the Sand River Dam, which are still to be constructed, coupled with distribution infrastructure to Musina. The Minister said the abstracting of water from the Limpopo River is another long-term project to be completed by 2035. He said the short-term plans must be implemented immediately to meet known demand requirements for Musina and its surrounding areas. He said it is envisaged that the increasing supply will be approximately 25 million m3 per year. Zimbabwe has indicated willingness to share water with South Africa from the newly constructed Phase II Beitbridge Water Treatment Works (WTW) which has excess capacity. I am however concerned about the never-ending discussions that are going on. I therefore appeal to officials involved to finalise the agreement. The feasibility and design stages will take approximately 18 months and the construction should start by end 2024 or early 2025 so that water can be delivered by end of 2025, Mchunu said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-05-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Representatives cut the ribbon during the inauguration of Mekanisa Abo Link Road in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on May 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ping) China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited, has been praised for financing and constructing Mekanisa Abo Link Road in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, as part of its corporate social responsibility endeavor. The newly inaugurated Mekanisa Abo Link Road would serve about 30,000 residents, eventually improving their connectivity and livelihood. ADDIS ABABA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government on Wednesday commended Chinese companies for their corporate social responsibility endeavors in the East African country. The statement was made by Yasmin Wohabrebbi, deputy mayor of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, during the inauguration of Mekanisa Abo Link Road in Addis Ababa. The project was financed and constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), as part of its corporate social responsibility endeavor. Deputy Mayor of Addis Ababa Yasmin Wohabrebbi speaks during the inauguration of Mekanisa Abo Link Road in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on May 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ping) "This kind of initiative as part of the social corporate responsibility of international companies, like CCECC, is something that the government really encourages because all development can not be managed by the government only," Wohabrebbi said. The deputy mayor said the government encourages private sector engagement by other international companies to engage in similar activities as it will propel the socioeconomic development aspirations of the country. "Over the last three or four years a lot has happened in Ethiopia where the corporate social responsibility engagement has increased," she said. The deputy mayor noted that the newly inaugurated link road by CCECC would play an important role in the betterment of the local community's day-to-day livelihood. According to figures from the local district administration, the newly inaugurated Mekanisa Abo Link Road would serve about 30,000 residents, eventually improving their connectivity and livelihood. Yang Yihang, the minister counselor for Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, encouraged Chinese companies operating in Ethiopia to further strengthen their corporate social responsibility and contribute to the betterment of people's livelihood in Ethiopia. "The CCECC together with many other Chinese companies have actively fulfilled their social responsibilities and made contributions to infrastructure construction, training local employees, creating jobs, and improving people's livelihood in Ethiopia," Yang said. Guo Chongfeng, the general manager of the CCECC Ethiopian branch, said the company seeks to improve the lives of Ethiopian communities as part of its engagements in the East African country. "Ethiopia is where we develop, Ethiopian prosperity is what we wish for, and Ethiopian people are who we care about. While improving the infrastructure condition in Africa, CCECC always fulfills the social responsibilities to Ethiopia," he said, adding accomplishing social responsibilities "remains one of our priorities all the time as we repair roads, renovate schools, build water facilities, and make donations to local communities and schools." Family members of African American man George Floyd gather to mourn on the second anniversary of police killing of him during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022. (Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) "For many people, including many families here, such accountability is all too rare," says Joe Biden. WASHINGTON, May 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order aimed at reforming federal police practices. The action came on the second anniversary of police killing of African American man George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota during an arrest. Biden, speaking at an event from the White House, said that the order "promotes accountability," with measures including the creation of "a new national law enforcement accountability database to track records of misconduct so that an officer can't hide the misconduct." Community members and residents gather to mourn on the second anniversary of police killing of African American man George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022. (Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) It also bans chokeholds, restricts no-knock warrants, and tightens use-of-force policies to emphasize de-escalation, according to the White House. Biden underlined the executive order applies directly to all federal law enforcement officers, whose number exceeds 100,000. "Though federal incentives and best practices they're attached to, we expect the order to have significant impact on state and local law enforcement agencies as well," he added. The families of Floyd and Breonna Taylor, who was killed in 2020 by officers executing a "no-knock" warrant in Louisville, Kentucky, attended the signing ceremony. Community members and residents gather to mourn on the second anniversary of police killing of African American man George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022. (Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) Floyd's death sparked massive demonstrations across the United States in the summer of 2020 against police brutality and systemic racism. "For many people, including many families here, such accountability is all too rare," Biden said on Wednesday, calling on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which is stalled in the Senate, and send it to his desk. Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer who put his knee on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes, was convicted last year of murder and is serving his sentence in prison. Three other ex-cops were found guilty in a federal trial earlier this year of violating Floyd's civil rights. A vigil in memory of Floyd was held on Wednesday night at the intersection in Minneapolis where the 46-year-old man died. Several other U.S. cities and places organized similar events. El Peru condena energicamente el nuevo lanzamiento de misiles por parte de la Republica Popular Democratica de Corea, ejecutado este 25 de mayo, en una clara vulneracion del derecho internacional y las resoluciones del Consejo de Seguridad de las Naciones Unidas. Video: U.S. President Joe Biden on May 25, 2022 signed an executive order aimed at reforming federal police practices. (Xinhua) "For many people, including many families here, such accountability is all too rare," says Joe Biden. WASHINGTON, May 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order aimed at reforming federal police practices. The action came on the second anniversary of police killing of African American man George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota during an arrest. Biden, speaking at an event from the White House, said that the order "promotes accountability," with measures including the creation of "a new national law enforcement accountability database to track records of misconduct so that an officer can't hide the misconduct." Community members and residents gather to mourn on the second anniversary of police killing of African American man George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022. (Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) It also bans chokeholds, restricts no-knock warrants, and tightens use-of-force policies to emphasize de-escalation, according to the White House. Biden underlined the executive order applies directly to all federal law enforcement officers, whose number exceeds 100,000. "Though federal incentives and best practices they're attached to, we expect the order to have significant impact on state and local law enforcement agencies as well," he added. The families of Floyd and Breonna Taylor, who was killed in 2020 by officers executing a "no-knock" warrant in Louisville, Kentucky, attended the signing ceremony. Community members and residents gather to mourn on the second anniversary of police killing of African American man George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022. (Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) Floyd's death sparked massive demonstrations across the United States in the summer of 2020 against police brutality and systemic racism. "For many people, including many families here, such accountability is all too rare," Biden said on Wednesday, calling on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which is stalled in the Senate, and send it to his desk. Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer who put his knee on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes, was convicted last year of murder and is serving his sentence in prison. Three other ex-cops were found guilty in a federal trial earlier this year of violating Floyd's civil rights. A vigil in memory of Floyd was held on Wednesday night at the intersection in Minneapolis where the 46-year-old man died. Several other U.S. cities and places organized similar events. The Peruvian delegation's participation at the WEF Annual meeting came to an end today. Trabajamos por el desarrollo y la conservacion de nuestra #Amazonia, pulmon del ??, que fue abandonada historicamente. Ese fue mi mensaje en el Panel sobre Amazonia en #Davos que comparti con el presidente de Colombia, Ivan Duque, y destacados empresarios y academicos. pic.twitter.com/LkftMB9u35 El Gobierno del Peru esta dispuesto a realizar en nuestro pais una reunion regional del Foro Economico Mundial para America Latina y el Caribe el 2023. Esta propuesta le fue transmitida a @ProfKlausSchab, fundador y presidente del @wef, en nuestro encuentro realizado en #Davos. pic.twitter.com/v1KEltS0WG YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on the occasion of the country's national holiday. The message, published by the Prime Ministers Office, reads as follows, Your Excellency, I warmly congratulate you on the national holiday of Georgia - the day of restoration of state independence. The inviolable path of independent statehood of friendly and neighboring Georgia is important in terms of Armenian and Georgian peoples preserving their own identity and religious values for centuries, standing with each other in difficult periods of history, and adhering to the spirit and essence of friendship. I am confident that the effective experience of multifaceted cooperation at the core of the relations between our two countries will be complemented in the future with new and mutually beneficial achievements through investment of necessary efforts, for the benefit of the welfare of the peoples of the two countries, for overcoming existing regional challenges and for progress. I wish you good health and fruitful activity, and welfare and lasting peace to the brotherly people of Georgia. YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received on May 26 Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, the Foreign Ministry reports. During the meeting a broad range of issues relating to the mandate of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office were discussed. Ararat Mirzoyan reaffirmed the position of the Armenian side over the comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, highlighting in this context the mediating role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. Issues relating to the work of delimitation and border security commission between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the unblocking of economic ties and transportation communications in the region were also discussed. YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan participated in the Eurasian Economic Forum in Bishkek via video conference, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister. The event was also remotely attended by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich. The forum was chaired by Alexander Shokhin, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. In his speech, Prime Minister Pashinyan greeted the leaders of the countries participating in the forum, heads of delegations, and all those present, expressing hope that the successful holding of the event and the agreements to be reached within its framework will contribute to the further progress of Eurasian integration. "As for the service sector, the services are really becoming a generator of new points for the development of economic cooperation between the countries of our Union. The role of this sector in the economy is constantly growing and certain types of services, as factors for production, have a significant impact on the competitiveness of goods, industries and economies. In this respect, the most important task of Eurasian integration is to ensure the free movement of services. This issue is being solved, including through the liberalization of the sector, the formation of a common market for services, which in turn expands the opportunities for business activation. We can say that the level of free movement of services is a unique indicator of integration. The development of the trade of services is conditioned, among other things, by the development of scientific and technical progress in the field of cross-border trade, technological changes, which in itself is a tool for overcoming "geographical segregation" and is relevant for Armenia. In this regard, special attention should be paid to the development of telecommunications and information technologies, guaranteeing their equal availability. In this context, a key area of cooperation is the consolidation of the efforts of the IT communities of the Member States to actively develop the high-tech sectors of the economy and to fully implement the Union's digital agenda. Within the framework of the implementation of the digital agenda, it is necessary to consistently promote the initiatives aimed at deepening the integration processes and receiving direct benefits for the economies and citizens of the EEU member states. As it is known, technological innovation is also beneficial for the provision of services. The age of information and digital technologies increases the international competitiveness of countries. And this is especially true for small countries like Armenia, which have limited influence on world processes due to geographical and geopolitical constraints. Information technologies provide a level playing field for all players, regardless of their position or capabilities. This is the reason why the Armenian Government considers the IT sector one of the bases for economic development. We aim to expand our capabilities to become a country that produces, delivers high-quality, intelligence-based products and services at the heart of which will be the creative human capital. In general, new technologies are an opportunity for economic breakthrough, a challenge for those who want to keep up with the progress of humanity. This sphere is of strategic importance for Armenia, as it is one of the unique branches, which does not require ports, access to the sea, rich mineral resources for development. It requires human capital, and that is the resource with which Armenia has always stood out. From this point of view, we also pay great attention to the development of young people's skills through the teaching of digital technologies." In response to the question of moderator of the forum Alexander Shokhin, Prime Minister Pashinyan noted that the Government of our country is making all efforts to make Armenia attractive especially for investments in the sphere of information technologies, and investments in all spheres in general. "We now see that there is a certain flow of IT specialists to Armenia, we understand the context, we try to create conditions for these movements within the EEU to serve the further development of the Union's integration processes, since it is a common market, common area. In general, we can say that we show that we have achieved one of the main goals of the EEU, because we are now practically implementing the principles of free movement of labor, goods and services. I hope that this will become a usual thing in the Eurasian Economic Area, which is, in fact, the goal that was set in front of the organization at the time of its creation. So this is a very important nuance to emphasize the effectiveness of the Eurasian Economic Union." Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan also delivered a video message at the forum. YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan hosted the delegation led by President of Montenegro Milo ukanovic, who is in Armenia on an official visit, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister. Welcoming the guests in Yerevan, the Prime Minister said, We attach great importance to the relations with Montenegro, I am sure that your visit will give a new impetus to the further development of our relations. I was pleased to note that, in fact, there are long-established relations between our capitals; in 1978, a memorandum of understanding was signed between our capitals. I hope that in this new environment, when our countries have independence, we will be able to properly develop interstate relations and deepen economic relations. Admittedly, we do not have much to boast about today. Dear Mr. President, Dear colleagues, I once again welcome you in our capital and I am sure you will have a good and impressive visit." In his turn, Milo ukanovic thanked for the warm reception and noted, I am very happy to be here, because as I told the Minister of Economy and the Mayor of Yerevan, at school age I was able to come here from Belgrade in the sidelines of the exchange program between Titograd and Yerevan and spend some time in Yerevan. I have very good memories. Unfortunately, during this period I have not had the opportunity to come to your beautiful country, I am glad to be here. As you said, the first cooperation was when our countries were part of larger states, the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. Now we are in a new political reality, we are independent states, and I believe that both of us are interested and able to deepen this cooperation. Montenegro is a small country and I think small countries can, need it more urgently or its more important for them to be politically active. Our main foreign policy goal is European, Euro-Atlantic integration. Of course, we are following the developments in your region, we want to have close cooperation with the Eurasian region as well, because there are already traditional relations between our countries." The interlocutors discussed issues related to the development of cooperation in the field of economy, in particular, information technologies, tourism, agriculture. The parties expressed readiness to make efforts to expand business ties, trade turnover and facilitate the implementation of joint investment programs. Nikol Pashinyan and Milo ukanovic exchanged views on the processes taking place in the South Caucasus. The Prime Minister presented the position of the Armenian side on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The sides also made a reference to the processes taking place in the international arena. The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, also called Ascension Day, on the fortieth day of his resurrection (Easter), Qahana.am reports. May 26, 2022, 10:20 Armenian Church marks Ascension Day STEPANAKERT, MAY 26, ARTSAKHPRESS: Following his resurrection and defeat of death, Christ remained on earth for forty days, and continued to appear to his disciples. On the fortieth day, Christ is seen by his disciples for the last time. He blesses them and leaves them with instructions, after which he ascends into heaven. Two of the Gospel writers, St. Mark and St. Luke, testify about Christs ascension. There is also an account of it in the Acts of the Apostles. Following a final meeting of Christ with the eleven remaining apostles, St. Mark writes, So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19) St. Luke gives a little greater detail as he writes, And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. (Luke 24: 50-53) But by far the most beautiful account of the Ascension can be found in the Book of Acts: And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:9-11) The hymn that is sung in the Armenian Church on Ascension Day mentions the miraculous event of Christs ascension into heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. In the Armenian Church, the day of Jesus Christs Ascension is also commemorated for another reason as well. On this date in 1441, the See of the Catholicosate of All Armenians was returned to its historical origins. Following a resolution of the National Assembly gathered in Vagharshapad, the Patriarchal See was relocated from the city of Sis in Western Armenia to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Following his vision of Christ striking the ground with a golden hammer, St. Gregory the Illuminator had founded the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin in 303. However, less than 200 years later, in 484, the Patriarchal See was forced to relocate, and for the next 1000 years, settled in various cities throughout Armenia. The decision to return the throne of the Catholicos to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin was the fulfillment of a national dream for the Armenian people. FILE PHOTO: A student holds flags of China and Germany before a welcome ceremony in Beijing BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany is concerned about the human rights situation in China's Xinjiang region, a government spokesperson said on Wednesday, urging China to be transparent about developments in the province. Berlin's China policy "is under development," the spokesperson told a regular government news conference. Western states and rights groups accuse Xinjiang authorities of detaining and torturing Uyghurs and other minorities in camps. Beijing denies the accusations and describes the camps as vocational training facilities to combat religious extremism. "As far as the situation in Xinjiang is concerned, I can say in principle that the federal government - and here we are in agreement with our EU partners - continues to view the development of the human rights situation in the province with great concern," the spokesperson added, urging Beijing to ensure transparency about developments in the province. After fresh media reports about human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Germany's economy minister on Tuesday said Berlin was changing the way it deals with China and would give human rights issues higher priority. China's foreign ministry responded on Wednesday, saying that Beijing resolutely opposes attempts at using disinformation and lies to smear China. The BBC, Der Spiegel and other media platforms on Tuesday said they were in possession of a huge cache of data that revealed in unprecedented detail China's use of so-called "re-education" camps and formal prisons as two separate but related systems of mass detention for Uyghurs. A spokesperson for Volkswagen told Reuters that the carmaker, Europe's largest, viewed the recent reports coming out of China with great concern. Albrecht von der Hagen, chief of the Association of Family Businesses, added: "The images of the human rights violations in Xinjiang leave us stunned." "Yes, Europe must become more independent of autocracies. But this requires Germany and Europe to reposition themselves through more trade with democratic constitutional states," he said, calling for policy initiatives like a full European-American trade agreement to be "pushed vigorously." The German government spokesperson said Berlin would "evaluate in more detail" the reports. (Additional reporting by Rene Wagner and Victoria Waldersee; Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Miranda Murray, Tomasz Janowski and Mark Porter) Statkraft AS Combined gigafactory initial concept Combined gigafactory initial concept Rana hydropower plant The portal of Rana hydropower plant (New York, Oslo and Luxembourg, May 25, 2022) Statkraft, Europes largest producer of renewable energy has signed a binding Heads of Terms with FREYR Battery (NYSE: FREY) (FREYR), a developer of clean, next-generation battery cell production capacity. The Heads of Terms is expected to be finalized as a long-term physical supply agreement, with the ambition to secure a long-term supply of renewable power under globally competitive terms for FREYRs planned battery cell production project in Mo i Rana, Norway. The Heads of Terms and related energy services from Statkraft is projected to cover all of FREYRs currently anticipated electricity needs for the period of 2024-2031 and to ensure physical delivery of energy from the central grid in Mo i Rana to FREYRs Customer Qualification Plant (CQP) and combined Gigafactory 1 & 2. During this period, Statkraft commits to providing up to 23 MW baseload with an accumulated delivery of 1.4 TWh over the contract period to FREYR, as well as the provision of Guarantees of Origin to document that the power is sourced from Statkrafts hydropower assets in the region. Our ambition is to produce clean battery cells, and a key element of our strategy is to power our operations with renewable energy. This agreement with Statkraft ensures that our production facilities in Mo i Rana will have a steady, long-term supply of hydropower from local sources keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum as we speed forward to full operations, said Tove Nilsen Ljungquist, EVP Operations of FREYR. Statkraft contributes to the green shift by providing renewable power to existing customers and new industrial entrants around the world. We are happy to support the establishment of FREYRs battery cell facility in Northern Norway, enabling green jobs and use of local resources. Together with flexible hydropower, batteries are essential for a net zero future, says EVP Market & IT in Statkraft, Hallvard Granheim. Story continues Under the Heads of Terms, the renewable energy for FREYRs production site will be sourced from Statkrafts hydropower plant Rana. Rana is 100 percent Statkraft-owned with a capacity of 500 MW and annual generation of approximately 2,150 GWh. The proximity of Statkrafts hydropower plant to FREYRs planned production facilities in Mo i Rana is consistent with FREYRs ambition to establish its operations in areas with an ample, local supply of clean energy. *** About Statkraft Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europes largest generator of renewable energy. The Group produces hydropower, wind power, solar power, gas-fired power and supplies district heating. Statkraft is a global company in energy market operations. Statkraft has 4,800 employees in 19 countries. About FREYR Battery FREYR Battery aims to provide industrial scale clean battery solutions to reduce global emissions. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange, FREYRs mission is to produce green battery cells to accelerate the decarbonization of energy and transportation systems globally. FREYR has commenced building the first of its planned factories in Mo i Rana, Norway and announced potential development of industrial scale battery cell production in Vaasa, Finland and the United States. FREYR intends to deliver up to 43 GWh of battery cell capacity by 2025 and up to 83 GWh annual capacity by 2028. To learn more about FREYR, please visit www.freyrbattery.com Investor contact: Jeffrey Spittel Vice President, Investor Relations jeffrey.spittel@freyrbattery.com Tel: (+1) 281-222-0161 Media contacts: Katrin Berntsen Vice President, Communication and Public Affairs, FREYR katrin.berntsen@freyrbattery.com Tel: (+47) 920 54 570 Lars Magnus Gunther Press spokesperson, Statkraft AS lars.gunther@statkraft.com Tel: (+47) 912 41 636 Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, including, without limitation, statements regarding (i) any potential benefits from the long-term physical supply agreement, including Statkrafts supply and timely delivery of electricity sourced from renewable energy assets under competitive terms, (ii) the development, timeline, capacity, and other usefulness of FREYRs planned battery cell production plants and battery development strategy and (iii) FREYRs ambition and ability to establish operations with renewable energy from local sources and keep its carbon footprint to a minimum are forward-looking and involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside FREYRs control and difficult to predict. Information about factors that could materially affect FREYR is set forth under the Risk Factors section in FREYRs Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on August 9, 2021, as amended, and in other SEC filings available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Attachments With summer just around the corner, people flock to the outdoors any chance they get. Boating and swimming on the beautiful Finger Lakes, hiking at the regions nature destinations, and camping wherever they can start a campfire or pitch a tent New Yorkers love the outdoors and take full advantage of any good weather. While enjoying the sunshine and seasonal beauty can be great, summer can also bring a slowdown for many retail locations and indoor-operating businesses. Thats why now is a great time to showcase some of our local businesses and what they do! From fitness and music to movies and community improvement, the Fingerlakes Mall is home to an array of diverse businesses and organizations. Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a nonprofit organization with a chapter here at the mall. Opened in 2020, the SHP Auburn chapter provides beds for children in Cayuga County who are in need. Following the organizational motto, No kids sleep on the floor in our town," SHP Auburn has built and delivered over 250 beds since opening their workshop. As a volunteer-driven organization, 100% of donations go toward the supplies for childrens beds. Each bed starts with basic lumber and is transformed through simple, easy-to-follow steps into a safe and rugged frame. These frames are then delivered to the home of each child and assembled by volunteers at each destination. Mattresses, pillows, blankets and other bedding materials provided through donations and sponsorships are then added to the frame, creating a comfortable, sleep-ready bed. Drew Scharoun, the co-president of the Auburn chapter and Northeast disaster relief coordinator, has routinely held build days at our location, where volunteers work to reach a certain number of beds completed in one day. Build days are open to anyone who wants to help and require no prior experience with woodworking. Volunteers also come and go as they please on these days, which allows for flexibility in scheduling and takes advantage of even short periods of availability some people may have. When asked what the most fulfilling part of working with the organization is, Drew said, Its about the interactions with the donors and our volunteers being able to not only create and also nurture those connections and friendships is important, especially in a world where we are constantly bombarded by negativity in our media, and sometimes feeling unworthy or that there is no good in the world. This is a way to show collaboratively and through grassroots organizations that there truly is a force for good and great people that truly care." Sleep in Heavenly Peace is having their next build day on June 11, and welcomes anyone who is interested in participating. For more information on SHP, visit shpbeds.org or call (844) 432-2337 ext. 5951. Fingerlakes Mall is also home to Studio G, an educational and inclusive music studio run by Gena DAgostino. Created in 2019, Studio G has been a proud tenant of the Fingerlakes Mall since fall 2021, when they moved to the new space here for a fresh start after COVID-19. Gena has been teaching music for decades and is ready to accept new students and grow her business! After studying music privately in New York City, Gena spent years as a musician and vocalist, touring and performing anywhere from local gigs to stadium shows. She originally began teaching on the side when she wasnt performing, until she eventually decided to follow teaching as a career. When asked why she teaches music, Gena said that music is therapeutic, and the connections made through it are incredibly fulfilling. What do I enjoy about it? Watching people who thought they couldnt, actually do something they enjoy doing. When asked about her decision to start her own business revolving around music, and what sets her apart from her competition, Gena stated, Im not like many other teachers. I could never work in a public school because its one-size-fits-all, and thats not my approach at all. You want to rap? We can do that. You want to do classical? We can do that. Anything in between? We can do that too! Its comfortable here. I enjoy all genres, and that translates into being able to teach it all. Everyone is welcome. The mall is home to many unique businesses, each with their own story and history. We support local and small business owners and encourage our patrons to do the same. For more information on what our businesses have to offer and our upcoming events, visit fingerlakesmall.com. Elizabeth Hebbard is director of marketing for Fingerlakes Mall in Aurelius. For more information, visit fingerlakesmall.com or call (315) 255-1188. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MINNEAPOLIS, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Two years ago, 46-year-old unarmed African American George Floyd died handcuffed, gasping for air under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer. Footage of his last words pleading, "I can't breathe" set off collective grief and anger, which evolved into a modern-day civil rights movement that had brewed for years. Unfortunately, little progress has been made in advancing black civil rights since. Despite mounting calls for racial justice and police overhauls, the Floyd tragedy continues unabated in a country where white supremacy remains widespread. Floyd's murder was nothing new -- it merely came to the fore while many more unknown "Floyds" remain out there. A New York Times report in April cited an investigation released by the Department of Human Rights of the U.S. state of Minnesota showing that the Minneapolis Police Department routinely engages in several forms of racially discriminatory policing, fails to hold officers accountable for misconduct and has used fake social media accounts to target black people and organizations. Real change feels elusive, especially for many black Americans, who have been living under the shadows of systemic racism and ingrained injustice across the country. They know all too well that those officers were held accountable in large part due to a simmering outcry. After all the complaints filed, tears dropped, blood shed, rallies launched and reform bills grilled in the Senate, the disproportionate use of excessive, often lethal, force against people of color continued relentlessly. One of the most recent cases involved Patrick Lyoya, a 26-year-old black man fatally shot in the back of the head while face down by a Michigan police officer during a traffic stop. In a poll jointly conducted with the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research earlier this year, the Associated Press found that few Americans believe there has been significant progress over the last 50 years in achieving equal treatment for black people in dealings with police and the criminal justice system. Black Americans, many of whom held hope in Democrats' promises on racial justice initiatives in 2020, are especially pessimistic about future progress in this regard. Community members and residents gather to mourn the second anniversary of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022.(Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) Community members and residents gather to mourn the second anniversary of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022.(Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) Community members and residents gather to mourn the second anniversary of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022.(Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) Community members and residents gather to mourn the second anniversary of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, May 25, 2022.(Photo by Ben Brewer/Xinhua) Instead, after chanting for years about racial justice and vowing police reform, White House politicians are talking more about bolstering the police for "public safety." The current administration has deviated from its promise to voters, hell-bent on increasing police numbers. Fading trust in police and the judicial system is corroding public faith and poisoning the social climate. Across the country, racial profiling against African-Americans occurs daily and on almost every front, from education and employment to healthcare. Furthermore, staggering wealth and immunity gaps harm communities of color. The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare underlying inequalities and cracks in the U.S. system. Among over 1 million lives lost to the coronavirus, communities of color were hit hardest due to failed access to health insurance and vaccines. "Racial inequality was baked into the recipe of the creation of the United States of America," Brookings senior fellow Rashawn Ray argued. From plunder and oppression in the earlier establishment of the country to lynching and exclusion that have persisted until today, racist traditions are deeply embedded in America and fit nicely into a culture that is numb, or perhaps opposed, to oversight and accountability when it comes to racial justice. The United States, long believed to be a melting pot that embraces diversity, has chosen to oppress minority communities, turning the American dream into a nightmare for many. What lies behind these chronic woes is a long-overdue response by self-serving political elites, more obsessed with political posturing than passing legislation to bring necessary change. The time has come for the United States to truly mend its extensive racism and heal the wounds of a divided society. Photo taken on May 22, 2022 shows the George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Photo taken on May 22, 2022 shows dolls at the George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Photo taken on May 22, 2022 shows the George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Produced by Xinhua Global Service Kevin Ellis, the longtime CEO of Cayuga Marketing and Cayuga Milk Ingredients, is leaving for another upstate New York dairy institution. Ellis has been named the next CEO of the Buffalo-based Upstate Niagara Cooperative. He will succeed Larry Webster, who is retiring. Ellis will take over as CEO no later than Sept. 6, according to a release from Upstate Niagara Cooperative. "Kevin is a visionary leader who will be communicative and approachable at all levels of the organization," said John Gould, president and chairman of Upstate Niagara's board. "It is also our belief that working with Upstate Niagara Cooperative's dedicated executive team and staff, he will not only help to continue Upstate Niagara's legacy, but build upon and enhance it." Ellis served as Cayuga Milk Ingredients' CEO for 14 years. In that role, he oversaw the construction of the company's $100 million plant in Aurelius, which opened in 2014. Under Ellis's leadership, Cayuga Milk quickly became one of Cayuga County's most prominent employers. In 2016, he was invited to join then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo for a trade mission to Cuba. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Cayuga Milk Ingredients announced plans for an $89 million expansion project. Ellis has a longstanding connection to the dairy industry. He grew up on a dairy farm and has worked as a dairy nutritionist, loan officer and financial consultant. He earned a bachelor's degree in animal science at Cornell University and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Rochester's Simon Business School. In a statement, he said Upstate Niagara Cooperative's tagline, "Milk is Our Life's Work," resonated with him. "I've dedicated my professional life to helping the dairy farming industry produce nutritious milk products," Ellis said. "I look forward to building upon Upstate Niagara's core values and leading the cooperative into even more exciting and fruitful enterprises." Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Amid speculation about Troy Waffner's departure, a New York State Fair spokesman says it was voluntary. The state Department of Agriculture and Markets, which oversees the fair, announced on Wednesday that Waffner will become the statewide agricultural fair development director, a new position that was created for him. He will "evaluate ways to increase marketing and promotion of county fairs as well as opportunities to improve youth and agricultural programming initiatives at all fairs statewide," according to the department's news release. NewsChannel 9 reported Tuesday that Waffner took an extended leave of absence. The reason for the leave of absence, which lasted for two months, was not disclosed. Dave Bullard, the fair's spokesman, told The Citizen that he could not discuss Waffner's leave of absence. However, he did address questions about the longtime director's decision to leave the fair. "I'm told that Troy took the open position voluntarily," he said. "This is the confluence of the opportunity available and working well for Troy. Things came together and that's where it's going." With Waffner out of action, Bullard said the fair was led by its chief financial officer, Barb Godfrey, with support from top officials at the state Department of Agriculture and Markets in Albany. "All of the department heads here know what they're doing and know what we have to get done. There are no rookies here," Bullard added. "We know that there are deadlines for things and we know what things have to get done. Those things have proceeded as you would expect. We are on track for a terrific fair this year because we keep going." Waffner's exit comes three months before the start of the fair, which runs from Aug. 24 through Sept. 5. But the announcement on Wednesday included details about the new interim fair director. Sean Hennessey, who has been an assistant commissioner at the state Department of Transportation, has been hired as assistant fair director and will be the interim director for the 2022 fair. Before Waffner's departure, the fair had been seeking applicants for the assistant fair director position. Bullard said the job was publicly posted and "had a number of applicants." Hennessey, Bullard said, has spent a lot of time at the fair in the past. His resume includes experience as an executive board member, booking agent and spokesperson for the North Country Goes Green Irish Festival. "He's worked on some community festivals, so it's not like this is foreign to him," Bullard said. "He is a fair fan, we do know him well and he is an extremely nice guy. I think the friendliness factor that Troy brought here is not going to change." That doesn't mean Waffner won't be missed. Bullard noted that Waffner has spent more time in senior management at the fair 11 years, first as assistant director and later as director than all but one director in the fair's 181-year history. Prior to Waffner being named acting director, Thomas Ryan served as director for one fair. Dan O'Hara was the last permanent fair director before Waffner. His tenure lasted six years. "This is not a long-term job for most people," Bullard explained. "We got a lot more benefit out of Troy than we've gotten from any fair director in the last 40 or 50 years." Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. 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. The new Google street-view camera is set to launch next year and is small enough to be shipped pretty much anywhere around the globe. Google Street View is celebrating its 15 year anniversary and to celebrate this, the tech company has developed a new Street View Camera that is small enough to fit on any vehicle. The camera has been described as something that is roughly the same size as a housecat and weighs just 15 pounds or seven kgs. The new camera is still in pilot mode. The tech giant will get all of the power and resolution of an entire Street View Car into the unit, and will shrink it down to something thats small enough to easily be lifted by a human. The camera is set to launch next year and is small enough to be shipped pretty much anywhere around the globe. This will also make it an ideal device to be used by partners in areas that have not been mapped as extensively, for example the Amazon rainforest. (Also read | This country to deploy special cameras to crackdown on distracted driving) The new Google Street View camera can be easily attached to any roof rack and users will be able to operate it with a mobile device. This implies that vehicles won't need to be specialized in an extensive way and users won't need any complex processing equipment. This will also allow Google to add hybrids and EVs to its fleet of vehicles. The lidar-based camera system will be able to collect imagery with even more detail and will also be able to add customization. Things like lane markings, speed limits, and even potholes will be seen by the camera. With these new features, Google's Maps and Street View programs will become even more useful. The company plans to use AI to make its Maps as up-to-date as possible and Live View will allow users to overlay directions over the real world with augmented reality. First Published Date: The Royal Enfield Classic 350 and Meteor 350 sold in the South East Asian country are exactly the same as the ones present in the Indian market. Royal Enfield has announced the launch of the new Classic 350 and Meteor 350 motorcycles in the market of Malaysia. These are among some of the most selling models in the Indian market and the company aims to replicate this success overseas as well. The models to be sold in the South East Asian country are exactly the same as the ones in the Indian market. In fact, the company will be exporting the same from its local plants here in the country. (Also Read: Yezdi Roadster vs Honda H'ness vs Royal Enfield Meteor: Specs, prices compared) While the Meteor 350 was originally launched back in 2020, the new-gen Classic 350 followed in 2021. Both are based on the same J-platform and source power from the same 349cc, single-cylinder engine. This powertrain is responsible for delivering 20.2bhp of power and 27Nm of peak torque. The transmission unit is a 5-speed gearbox. Royal Enfield is among the world leaders in mid-segment motorcycles. The company also has business in several European countries and is continuously looking to expand its international business to newer countries. (Also Read: Royal Enfield showcases Tornadoes Wall to commemorate Indian Army association) In Malaysia, the Classic 350 has been priced at RM23,500 (equivalent to 4.14 lakh) and the Meteor 350 has been introduced at RM24,500 (equivalent to 4.32 lakh). Easy to see, both the bikes retail at a premium of nearly 2 lakh over their India pricing. Meanwhile, only recently, the company has announced a special commemorative sculpture called the "Tornadoes Wall" to commemorate its long-standing association with the Indian Army. First Published Date: Beijing (Gasgoo)- Dongfeng Motor Company Limited (DFL) is planning a share transfer process , according to an announcement from DFLs light truck subsidiary Dongfeng Automobile Company (DFAC) on May 25th. The transfer may bring changes to DFAC's controlling shareholder. Photo credit: DFAC DFAC explained that due to the substantial uncertainty posed by the undone share transfer proceedings, as a public traded company, DFAC has filed for a temporary trading suspension to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, on May 25th and May 26th so far. Notably, according to a local media outlet, DFL is in fact discussing with Dongfeng Motor Group (DFMG) to transfer its equity in DFAC to the latter. Upon completion of the transaction, the controlling shareholder of DFAC will be changed to DFMG and directly managed by DFMG. The corresponding personnel adjustments are already in place, with more changes coming, a source close to the matter disclosed. DFL and DFMG have yet to respond to the matter. DFL is a 50/50 joint venture founded by DFMG and Nissan Motor in 2003. The joint venture holds a slew of subsidiaries including DFAC, Dongfeng Motor Parts and Components, and others. DFL accounts for 60% of DFACs shares, meaning that DFMG and Nissan Motor hold 30% of DFACs shares indirectly. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinas Tencent and Alibaba Group-backed online ride-hailing platform, T3 Mobility, is reportedly seeking at least RMB5 billion ($750 million) in its latest financing round, several media outlets reported on May 25th. Photo credit: T3 Mobility T3 Mobilitys registered entity, Nanjing Linghang Technology Co., Ltd., is cooperating with advisor companies to feel out potential investors level of interest in participating in the investment round, sources close to the matter told the media outlet. In its Series A financing round, T3 Mobility scored a valuation of roughly RMB24 billion ($3.56 billion), the source added, and the valuation T3 Mobility pursues now is far higher than that. Currently, no specific number has been disclosed by the company. As the negotiation is underway, details about the new financing round stand to change. When approached with the matter, T3 Mobility gave no comment to a local media outlet. Founded in 2019, T3 Mobility bagged various big-name investors in China, including FAW Group, Dongfeng Motor, Changan Automobile, Tencent, and Alibaba Group. The company currently operates in over 80 cities in the country, accumulating more than 95 million registered users and nearly 600,000 registered drivers. Up to now, the company has completed two investment rounds. In October 2021, the company secured RMB7.7 billion ($1.14 billion) in Series A from CITIC, Redview Capital, and Tongcheng Travel. In May 2019, T3 Mobility received RMB5 billion ($741.69 million) in Angel round, from Suning, Alibaba Group, Tencent, and the aforementioned automakers. With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. Limited edition AVATR 011 unveiled in Chengdu On May 26th, the limited-edition designer model, the AVATR 011, was unveiled at the AVATR 011 STUDIO event. Users interested in the vehicle are able to acquire a priority order right by placing a deposit of RMB9,999. The display event will come to Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, and Wuhan soon after. Photo credit: AVATR Cadillacs LYRIQ to showcase at Shenzhens auto show Cadillac will showcase its LYRIQ, CT5, XT6, XT5, and XT4 models at the 2022 Guangdong-HongKong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Auto Show. The new color of the CT5 will also be on display. Photo credit: Cadillac Chongqing to build double-digit billion yuan worth of ICV industry cluster The China Intelligent and Connected Vehicles (Beijing) Research Institute-backed intelligent connected vehicle innovation center officially landed in Chongqing city. The project aims to build a intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) industry cluster worth of a double-digit billion yuan in the city, helping Chongqing obtain one of the most developed ICV industries in China. Mercedes-Benz, LiangDao Intelligence to co-develop smart city system in Germany Mercedes-Benz Group has inked an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with Chinas LiDAR supplier Liangdao Intelligence to help Wuppertal, Germany with the city's intelligent traffic project. Ganfeng Lithium breaks ground on lithium battery materials plant in Fengcheng On May 23, Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd. (Ganfeng Lithium), one of the world's top producers of battery-grade lithium, broke ground on its new lithium battery materials manufacturing base in Fengcheng, a county-level city in China's Jiangxi province, according to a post on Ganfeng Lithium's WeChat account. Tencent, Alibaba-backed ride-hailing firm T3 Mobility said to seek RMB5 billion investment Chinas Tencent and Alibaba Group-backed online ride-hailing platform, T3 Mobility, is reportedly seeking at least RMB5 billion ($750 million) in its latest financing round, several media outlets reported on May 25th. Shenzhen issues measures to boost automobile consumption South China's metropolis of Shenzhen has released a slew of measures to spur automobile sales, according to a governmental document posted on the official website of Shenzhen's municipal government. JAC Group to adopt automotive chips from Black Sesame Technologies On May 26th, Chinas major auto group JAC Group and auto-grade chip supplier Black Sesame Technologies inked a strategic cooperation agreement in Hefei, Anhui province. Dongfeng, Nissan joint venture DFL said to transfer control right of light truck subsidiary Dongfeng Motor Company Limited (DFL) is planning a share transfer process , according to an announcement from DFLs light truck subsidiary Dongfeng Automobile Company (DFAC) on May 25th. The transfer may bring changes to DFAC's controlling shareholder. King Long teams up with Dongfang Boiler Group on hydrogen-related businesses Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd. (King Long), a leading Chinese bus manufacturer, announced earlier this week it has signed an agreement with Dongfang Boiler Group Co., Ltd. (DBC) to form a strategic cooperation on hydrogen fuel business. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- HOZON Auto, the Chinese startup owning the EV brand NETA, recorded a monthly registration volume of 9,120 units in April 2022, down 15% from the previous month, but still surged 212.4% from the previous year, according to the data compiled by Gasgoo Auto Research Institute (GARI). NETA V; photo credit: NETA In terms of the April registrations of locally-produced new energy passenger vehicles (NEPVs), NETA ranked fifth among all auto brands in China, the highest one among Chinese NEV startups. Last month, the best-selling model of the brand was the NETA V, accounting for 57.4% of NETA's overall registrations. Compared to March, the NETA V logged a 22.7% decline in April registrations. In April, Foshan and Tianjin were the only two cities with over 200 NETA Vs registered. Jiaxing, where HOZON Auto's car manufacturing plant is located, was the second runner-up regarding April registrations of the model. The monthly registrations of the NETA U edged down 2.2% from a month earlier to 3,857 units in April, 70.7% of which were registered by private users. Foshan still outperformed other cities by April registrations of the NETA U. Shenzhen was the runner-up with 181 NETA Us registered. Both Beijing and Shanghai failed to enter the top 10 cities rankings. Last month, there were only 24 NETA N01s registered across China. Xuancheng topped other cities with only 7 NETA N01s registered in April. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd. (King Long), a leading Chinese bus manufacturer, announced earlier this week it has signed an agreement with Dongfang Boiler Group Co., Ltd. (DBC) to form a strategic cooperation on hydrogen fuel business. King Long's fuel cell bus; photo credit: King Long Under the new partnership, both parties will make joint efforts to promote the pilot applications of hydrogen fuel cell products and build a vehicle-station integrated platform for fuel cell vehicles based on the industry's new demands, according to King Long's press release. The cooperation will leverage King Long's advantages in vehicle R&D, manufacturing, and smart operation, and DBC's technical insight in the field of fuel cell and experience in operating hydrogen refueling stations. King Long said it has regarded hydrogen fuel cell vehicle as one of its main development directions. On April 26, 2022, the bus manufacturer and Xiamen University celebrated the unveiling of a joint innovation R&D center, which is dedicated to building a technical R&D system in the hydrogen fuel domain. DBC is a principal subsidiary of Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC), a Chinese state-run manufacturer of power generators and the contracts of power station projects. Aiming to become an integrated solution provider for domestic hydrogen energy applications, it has made layouts in hydrogen production, storage, transportation, refueling, power generation, and other sectors. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), General Motors' joint venture with Chinese partners SAIC Motor and Guangxi Automobile Group, made its first export shipment of new energy vehicle complete knock downs (NEV CKDs), marking a significant breakthrough in SGMWs export business. Photo credit: SGMW Carried by freight trains, the CKDs will be assembled into complete vehicles based on the GSEV (Global Small Electric Vehicles) platform at the plant of SGMW Motor Indonesia. The automaker said the latest export will provide a strong support for the implementation of the companys "two million, five tens of billions" new energy strategy launched in March this year. Under the strategy, SGMW is aiming for annual sales of 1 million NEVs by 2023. So far, SGMW has exported products to over 40 countries and regions, which are located in Central and South America, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia, etc., said the company. As of April 2022, the cumulative sales of the GSEV-based platform have surpassed 850,000 units. Notably, the Hongguang MINIEV, a mini all-electric car based on the platform, has been honored the best-selling NEV model in China for 20 consecutive months by April. SGMW announced on May 17 it had accumulated over 700,000-unit retail sales of the Hongguang MINI EV. Officials distribute food items provided by the United Nations humanitarian agencies to the affected people in Jonglei State, South Sudan, Oct. 15, 2021. (Photo by Daniel Majak/Xinhua) The resolution reiterates the Security Council's readiness to review arms embargo measures, through modification, suspension, or progressive lifting of these measures, in the light of progress achieved on the key benchmarks as set out in last year's Resolution 2577, and encourages the South Sudan authorities to achieve further progress in this regard. UNITED NATIONS, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to renew for a year, till May 31, 2023, an arms embargo against South Sudan as well as targeted sanctions of travel ban and asset freeze against individuals and entities. Resolution 2633, which was adopted with 10 votes in favor and five abstentions, also extends the mandate of the Panel of Experts, which assists the work of the South Sudan Sanctions Committee, till July 1, 2023. China, Gabon, India, Kenya, and Russia abstained. The resolution decides that the arms embargo shall not apply to the supply, sale or transfer of non-lethal military equipment, solely in support of the implementation of the terms of the peace agreement, as notified in advance to the Sanctions Committee. The resolution reiterates the Security Council's readiness to review arms embargo measures, through modification, suspension, or progressive lifting of these measures, in the light of progress achieved on the key benchmarks as set out in last year's Resolution 2577, and encourages the South Sudan authorities to achieve further progress in this regard. It requests the UN secretary-general, in close consultation with the UN Mission in South Sudan and the Panel of Experts, to conduct, no later than April 15, 2023, an assessment of progress achieved on the key benchmarks. It also requests the South Sudanese authorities to report, by the same date, to the Sanctions Committee on the progress achieved in this regard. The Flagstaff woman accused of fatally shooting a man in a wooded area near Walmart in 2021 has entered a plea of guilty except insane. Officials say 37-year-old Ashley Nicole Martin killed 41-year-old Travis Nelson on an urban trail in the early morning hours of May 13, 2021. She reportedly told officers that an altercation with Nelson resulted in the shooting and her defense attorney initially indicated the shooting was in self-defense. A plea agreement filed in Coconino County Superior Court last week indicates her mental state likely played a part in the alleged killing. Martin pleaded "guilty except insane" to a reduced charge of manslaughter, a class 2 felony, in connection with the killing. She was initially charged with second-degree murder. The plea deal hasn't been finalized just yet. If it goes through, Martin won't serve the minimum of four years in prison typically demanded of this type of felony. The plea stipulates that Martin will instead spend her five-year sentence in the Arizona State Hospital under the jurisdiction of the psychiatric security review board. She won't be eligible for release until the entire sentence is completed. Ryan Stevens, Martin's attorney, was optimistic about the deal Wednesday. "This agreement was the result of a lot of hard work by both sides," Stevens said. "While it's not official, we look forward to the opportunity for closure for everyone involved in this tragic case." Details about Martin's current mental state, as well as at the time of the incident, have yet to come to light. However, court records indicate they're still waiting on a final evaluation before moving forward with the plea. Records show Martin was dressed entirely in black except for a large purple robe and a leather belt holding numerous knives. Her attire was noted by both officers and witnesses who encountered Martin on the night of the shooting near the Walmart of the west side of the city. Evidence recovered by police included a large filet knife, three small letter openers and multiple knives attached to the leather belt, as well as a gun, an extra magazine and a box of ammunition. Martin allegedly approached Nelson, who was sitting on the urban trail, and asked him to stay back because she had a gun, according to initial police reports. Nelson allegedly reached behind his back and said he also had a gun. Martin told police she felt Nelson was a threat and that her "spirit sent Nelson to hurt her," the probable cause statement detailed. She also claimed to be "Mary, the mother of Jesus." Nelson allegedly attempted to grab the gun out of Martin's hands, but she freed herself and was walking away when he began to follow her. Police say Martin then turned around and fired two shots, fatally striking Nelson in the chest. Martin then walked to the nearby Walmart and asked to borrow a phone because she just shot someone and needed to call the police. Reporter Bree Burkitt can be reached at 928-556-2250 or bburkitt@azdailysun.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 3 Sad 3 Angry 5 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. Coconino High School held a senior community service day Friday as part of a week of celebrations for its graduating seniors. It's the 23rd year the school has had the service day, and its first in-person since the pandemic started. The day started with Senior Signing. The schools seniors lined up to sign a poster with their name and plans for after graduation. They then went into the auditorium to wait for their assignments. It's an opportunity for students to understand the importance of their role in the community as seniors," said teacher Janet Chavez, one of the events organizers. "It bridges their time in school with what they're about to take on -- which is being a productive citizen of their communities and working to support those that support us." The students had signed up for a variety of volunteer projects at CHS, other district schools (Sinagua Middle School and Puente de Hozho, Thomas and Killip elementary schools) or local organizations including Catholic Charities, Sharon Manor and Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Groups ranging in size from five to 25 students were sent out on their projects, led by the senior teachers. One senior, Anthony Nareaez, was heading to an urban trail cleanup event. I like being outdoors and I thought I might as well pick up trash while Im there, he said. He plans to go to Norther Arizona University after graduating and study software engineering. Marcia Ortiz and Ivy Cohen were headed to a CHS art classroom to help the teacher clean up and organize supplies. We both like art and we already have that classroom, so we'd be familiar with it," Ortiz said of their reason for choosing the project, adding: "Wed heard that other activities had landscaping, so we didn't want to do that." Both said their favorite senior event this week was Thursdays Hispanic Convocation, which theyd both attended. After graduating, Ortiz has plans to go to cosmetology school, and Cohen will be taking a gap year to travel. She said Cancun was first on her list. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Northern Arizona Care and Services After Assault (NACASA) program celebrated its 20th anniversary recently. Representatives from North Country Healthcare (NCHC), Victim Witness Services (VWS), Navajo County family advocacy center and sexual assault nurse examiners from Northern Arizona Healthcare gathered for a small reception May 11 to celebrate the occasion. According to its website, the program is intended to be a safe place for adult and adolescent victims of sexual assault and domestic violence strangulation to go to for help and to explore their options after an assault. NACASA started in 2002, under VWS, providing medical forensic examinations to victims of sexual assault. It was originally known as the Northern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault, changing its name in 2017. The program moved to NCHC in 2007, as the original model was no longer sustainable. Forensic nurse examiners (FNEs) with NACASA performed 53 medical exams in 2007, growing to provide 137 in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic created a decreased exam rate of about 30% in 2020 and 2021, though, according to NCHC, the number of exams has been rising in 2022 so far. NACASA has since expanded to provide examinations in Navajo and Apache counties. In 2014, Coconino County began funding exams for intimate partner violence strangulation as well as for sexual assault, in line with International Association of Forensic Nursing best practices. The program currently also provides emergency contraception, sexually transmitted infection prevention medication and a variety of survivor support services. More about the program is available at northcountryhealthcare.org/community-programs/sexual-assault-support or by calling 928-522-9460. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Dr. Jennifer Whitehair of Tuba City Regional Health Care Corp. (TCRHCC) received an award from the American College of Gynecologists May 7 for her work with womens health in the Navajo Nation. The Outstanding American Indian/Alaska Native Womens Healthcare Clinician Award is also known as the H.J. Heffner Award. The awards announcement noted Whitehairs career-long commitment to the highest standards of clinical care for American Indian and Alaskan Native women. It is a privilege to serve the women of the Navajo Nation and be their obstetrician and gynecologist, Whitehair said. I am thankful for their trust and acceptance in the community. I hope to continue to advocate for Indigenous womens health for many more years to come. Whitehair, a Flagstaff resident, has worked at TCRHCC for the last 16 years. She is a board-certified Navajo obstetrician and gynecologist. TCRHCC is fortunate to have such a skilled OB-GYN physician taking care of our womens health, said CEO Lynette Bonar in a press release. Dr. Whitehair is very deserving for this award, as her intimate knowledge of our AI/AN communities provides her insight on how she approaches and incorporates the unique challenges present across the western part of the Navajo Nation. After receiving a bachelors in microbiology professions from Northern Arizona University, a master's at the University of South Dakota School of Medicine and completing an OB-GYN residency at the University of Arizona, Whitehair returned to Tuba City in 2006. She is the chief of surgical services and staff OB-GYN at TCRHCC and is a clinical assistant professor of OB-GYN at UofAs school of medicine. Dr. Whitehairs desire to help began while growing up in Southern California, according to a press release. The passion to return to the Navajo Reservation and help her people is what led her to the field of medicine. During the pandemic, Whitehair coordinated with organizations to deliver food and supplies such as masks, hand sanitizer and cleaning products to the Navajo Nation. In December 2021, Whitehair testified on improving maternal morbidity and mortality in the Indigenous community at the White Houses Maternal Health Hearing. Women of color carry a disproportionate burden of maternal mortality. In Arizona alone, American Indian women and Alaskan Native women had the highest pregnancy associated mortality ration, and 100% of these deaths were considered to be preventable, she said in her testimony. She also noted that American Indians and Alaska Natives had the highest maternal morbidity rate -- over 3.5 times the rate for non-Hispanic white women -- and that rural communities also tended to have higher mortality rates. Its important for this data to be analyzed and mandates to be enforced to change this trajectory for the future of our people, she said. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 On Memorial Day, Americans remember those who gave their lives fighting for the freedoms we enjoy. Those we lost had joined all their other military brethren in swearing an oath to the Constitution. While the U.S. Constitution is just a document, it is the values for which it stands that make it so meaningful. This oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic is also professed by civil servants, intelligence officials, as well as members of Congress. And because almost everything is now viewed through the lens of partisanship, even the threats to our security have become political. In 2019, FBI counterterrorism official Michael C. McGarrity defined domestic terrorism for the House Homeland Security Committee as any act dangerous to human life that violates U.S. criminal laws and appears to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping. The act in question must occur primarily within the jurisdiction of the United States. FBI Director Christopher Wray told a congressional panel in March 2021 that domestic terrorism is one of the greatest threats to the United States. Wray stated: The problem of domestic terrorism has been metastasizing across the country for a long time now and its not going away anytime soon. At the FBI, weve been sounding the alarm on it for a number of years now. FBI national security chief Jill Sanborn told lawmakers in January that the threat posed by domestic violent extremists is persistent and evolving. The most lethal threat from domestic violent extremists is posed by white supremacists and anti-government militias. She added: Racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists are most likely to conduct mass casualty attacks against civilians, and militia violent extremists typically target law enforcement and government personnel and facilities. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., introduced a bill to combat domestic terrorism that establishes new requirements to expand the availability of information on domestic terrorism, as well as the relationship between domestic terrorism and hate crimes. It authorizes domestic terrorism components within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to monitor, analyze, investigate and prosecute domestic terrorism. The domestic terrorism components of DHS, DOJ, and the FBI must jointly report on domestic terrorism, including white supremacist-related incidents or attempted incidents. DHS, DOJ and the FBI must review the anti-terrorism training and resource programs of their agencies that are provided to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. Additionally, DOJ must make training on prosecuting domestic terrorism available to its prosecutors and to assistant U.S. attorneys. It creates an interagency task force to analyze and combat white supremacist and neo-Nazi infiltration of the uniformed services and federal law enforcement agencies. Finally, it directs the FBI to assign a special agent or hate crimes liaison to each field office to investigate hate crimes incidents with a nexus to domestic terrorism. The House vote on Schneiders bill, on May 19, was split 222-203 in favor. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., was the only Republican to join with all the Democrats in favor of the proposal. Four Republicans didnt vote. The vote came just days after a homegrown extremist killed 10 people in a Buffalo supermarket. House Republican leaders urged members of their party to vote against the bill, arguing that the legislation is unnecessary. But back in September 2020, the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2020, a previous version of the same legislation, won unanimous House approval. What was the difference between the 2020 and 2022 votes? The 2022 midterms. I will not speculate on the reason for the unwillingness of Republicans to address the threat within our boundaries. That said, there are issues that should transcend the partisan divide. Our collective safety is one of them. As a nation, we should be able to agree that fighting our enemies, whether they live on foreign soil or right here in the United States, should be a top priority and a nonpartisan one at that. The quest to obtain or hold power seems to be tainting that commitment. Lynn Schmidt is a columnist and Editorial Board member of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 UVALDE, Texas (AP) An 18-year-old gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school barricaded himself inside a classroom, shooting anyone that was in his way, an official said Wednesday, describing the latest in a gruesome, yearslong series of mass killings at churches, schools and stores. Police and others responding to Tuesday's attack broke windows at the school in an effort to allow students and teachers inside to escape, Lt. Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety said Wednesday on NBCs Today. Olivarez told CNN that all victims were in the same fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School. Eventually, the shooter was killed by law enforcement. Tuesday's assault in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde was the deadliest shooting at a U.S. school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012. Families waited hours for word on their children. At the town civic center where some gathered, the silence was broken repeatedly by screams and wailing. No! Please, no! one man yelled as he embraced another man. My heart is broken today, said Hal Harrell, the school district superintendent. Were a small community, and were going to need your prayers to get through this. Live coverage here: *** *** Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The merits and pitfalls of pursing nuclear power in Montana were recently debated by experts on both sides of the spectrum, with some telling a legislative committee it is too costly and renewable energy should be pursued instead and others saying it could be key in decarbonization efforts and provide high wages. During the legislative interval, the Montana Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee is looking at the use of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Montana through Senate Joint Resolution 3, sponsored by Sen. Terry Gauthier, R-Helena. SJ-3 says the expected closure of Colstrip's coal-fired power plants will result in negative impacts on the community and coal-fired boilers could be replaced by an SMR that would provide clean energy and good-paying jobs. The May 20 meeting by the committee was a hearing and no recommendations were made. The committee is to complete a study by Sept. 15, to be reviewed in the 2023 legislative session. At this time, no one is committing to building a nuclear power plant in Montana. None of the Colstrip owners, who represent 85% of Colstrip capacity, and all of the transmission capacity, have plans for nuclear power in Montana. Ed Davis of the Pegasus Group said he was speaking on behalf of the Department of Energy, and said there are 93 nuclear plants operating today generating 20% of the nations electricity and more than 50% of its carbon-free electricity. The U.S. government has a goal of decarbonizing the electricity sector by 2035. He said the DOE has concluded that an excellent candidate to reach that goal is nuclear power, specifically small nuclear reactors. This administration and the department is all in when it comes to promoting advanced nuclear energy reactors and SMRs, he said. Later in the discussion, as others pointed out their problems with nuclear plant proposals, Davis said I find myself cast in the middle of a debate here that I have heard over the past several decades. David Schlissel of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis appeared before the committee with a report titled Small modular reactors too untested, too expensive, too risky and too uncertain. His organization has been described as a think tank that does research relating to economic and environmental issues with the goal of a faster transition to renewable energy. Schlissel, who also testified before the panel in February, said there are 10 small nuclear reactor designs available, but none have been built, few details have been provided and nothing is certain about the actual costs. He also warned of delays, cost increases and problems with construction and the first years of operation. SMRs are far more likely to continue the nuclear industrys long history of over-promising and under-producing, his report stated. Schlissel said nuclear plant projects now underway have had significant construction delays and cost increases, some as much as 276%. He said solar and wind capacity have increased more than 12 times since 2007 and costs have been declining as solar panels and wind turbines are being built. Schlissel said he is in favor of federal money to look into technologies to see if they work. The goal is to not put ratepayers and taxpayers on the hook for such projects to be built. He said NuScale, one of the designers of small nuclear reactors, claims there is substantial interest in its proposed reactor, but had no firm contracts. Gauthier has mentioned SMRs made by NuScale as a possibility. He also said claims it will have a 95% capacity factor over its lifetime has not been achieved by any nuclear unit in the United States. Diane Hughes, vice president of marketing and communications for NuScale said in an email Wednesday that Schlissel's report mischaracterizes NuScales costs, does not accurately reflect or examine schedule timeframes, and fails to understand the output and capacity of a NuScale VOYGR facility. "A three-year research effort determined that NuScales plant design is the most resilient nuclear reactor in the world," she wrote. "A NuScale VOYGR plant can provide highly reliable power at 95% total capacity and even higher reliability to mission critical micro-grids (154 MWe at 99.95% reliability or 77 MWe at 99.98% reliability over the 60-year lifetime of the plant). She said NuScale's technology has been designed to allow for flexible operations and load following with renewables. "Power plants are usually compensated by the system operator for being able to operate in a flexible manner and provide dispatchable (always available) electricity, along with providing ancillary services, such as inertia and frequency control," Hughes said in the email. Sen. Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip, brought up solar and wind energy. He said the wind blows 30% of the time and battery storage is needed 70% of the time, and it can't be a battery that will last only two days. Schlissel said Ankney is correct as of today, but there are studies for batteries that would last 100 hours. Its just a matter of time, he said. Matt Crozat, executive director of strategy and policy at the Nuclear Energy Institute, a trade association for the nuclear industry, said utilities nationwide have pledged to reduce carbon emissions. He said nuclear power could help them achieve those goals. Crozat said jobs in the nuclear industry pay the highest wages in the energy field. Helena resident Robert Balhiser, a retired engineer who wrote the SJR-3 Legislative Study Resolution, said many of the negative comments about nuclear power were made 20 years ago by big auto companies against electric vehicles. Now big auto is trying to catch up in developing such vehicles, he said. He said all energy systems at one time or another have been subsidized by the government and all have a place in the energy mix in the future. Anne Hedges, director of policy and legislative affairs for the Montana Environmental Information Center, said there are a lot of good intentions in the debate. There is a real problem here and the problem is that the energy transition is happening now, Hedges said. What we all need and what we are grappling with is affordability vs. salesmanship and vs. good intentions, she said, adding We simply cannot afford higher rates, we just cant. She said she is not anti-nuclear. Hedges said a cost cap is needed and Montanans should not foot the bill, and there were solutions not yet talked about. In Montana, we need to be cautious, we are not the place to do this expensive experiment, she said. I dont think anyone has bad intentions here; everyone is looking for same thing, affordable power in a modern energy age, Hedges said. Unfortunately I dont think nuclear is right for Montana right now. Sen. Mary McNally, D-Billings, the committee chair, thanked the panelists for their presentations, adding they have given the committee a lot to digest as to what the next 10 years will look like in Montana. The information is competing, but helpful, she said. Tom Lutey of The Billings Gazette contributed to this story. Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Montanas congressional delegation had little to offer Wednesday about advancing legislation of any kind to address mass shootings following the murder of 19 children at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester firmly set their positions on the divisive issue of gun control when asked whether they supported a legislative response to mass shootings. Respectively, their positions could be summarized as none and some, with proposals on the table having previously ended in a Senate stalemate. Asked if there was a legislative response he would support, Montanas only U.S. representative, Republican Matt Rosendale, did not reply. Daines said in an email: What happened in Texas was a horrific act of evil, and Im praying for the families and loved ones of the victims. Evil perpetrators break the laws more gun restrictions for law abiding Montanans is not the answer. We must work together with communities and schools to create safer environments for our children, and that includes strengthening the security of school perimeters. Daines had similarly advocated to harden schools following the 2018 mass murder of 17 students a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. In a roundtable discussion with then-President Donald Trump, Daines said the shooters were cowards who could only be stopped with deadly force. He likened defending schools to the new era of airport security enforced after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In 2019, Congress passed the STOP School Violence Act, which still provides money to schools for violence prevention and threat assessment programs. Montana schools split $452,130 in STOP money in 2020. The money comes from U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance within the Department of Justice. At a press conference livestreamed Wednesday, Texas officials confirmed there was an armed policeman assigned to the Uvalde school district at Robb Elementary when the gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, entered the school. The officer and Ramos shot at each other, but Ramos was able to get past the policeman and carry out the mass shooting. Democratic Sen. Jon Tester said that anyone found by a judge to be a threat to others, or themselves, shouldnt have access to a gun. The policy is whats known as a red-flag law, empowering judges to issue court orders for arms confiscation. "As a proud gun owner, I'm a strong advocate for the Second Amendment. But, criminals, terrorists and those found by a judge to be a threat to themselves or others should not have access to firearms, period, Tester said in an email. Republicans and Democrats need to work together to ensure our laws keep our communities safe and guns out of the hands of dangerous people, and I believe that measures with broad bipartisan support, like background checks, are a great place to find that common ground. I hope all of my colleagues will join me in putting politics aside in the face of the tragic massacre in Texas, and work with me to find solutions that will keep our children safe." Previous mass shootings have led to similar conversations about red-flag laws. But those bipartisan talks have gone nowhere. In 2019, after two mass shootings killed 31 people in Texas and Ohio, Trump stopped short of demanding new gun control legislation, specifically red-flag laws that would allow law enforcement to obtain court orders for people who pose significant harm to themselves or others. Tester sided with Trump's suggestion that red-flag laws were due. Daines broke with the former president on the issue. Tester, in 2019, also supported a debate on whether there should be background checks for firearms sold at gun shows and online, a proposal made at that time by Sens. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, and Pat Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican. Then and now, with the Senate seized up, a Democratic-controlled House passed gun control legislation that was never going to get support by Senate Republicans for a hearing. The House, which passes bills by simple majority, has already passed two background check bills in the past year. The Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021 and the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, could be taken up by the Senate at any time, though rejection along party lines would be the likely outcome. In the House, Rosendale voted against both bills. The Uvalde murders were only the latest of 50 mass shootings that have taken place in May. The National Institute of Justice defines mass shootings as an incident in which four or more people have been killed. The website Gunviolencearchive.org, identifies 303 mass shooting deaths in he United States so far this year. Education Week, which tracks school shootings specifically, reports that in the United States there have been 27 incidents of gunfire a schools resulting in death or injury during the first five months of 2022. The publication has identified 88 people killed and 229 injured in school shootings since 2018. This year's school shootings are in line with the number of documented school shootings in 2018 and 2019, when there were 24 school shootings each year. There were 34 school shootings in 2021. The outlier for school shootings was 2020 when there were only 10 shootings during a period when in-class instruction was disrupted for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Rifle Association leads the opposition to gun control legislation in Congress. It is also a powerful force in Montana politics. Daines ranks 19th among current members of the Senate for lifetime NRA support, having benefited from $454,425 in spending by NRA political action committees and NRA employees. Roughly half that money was received as campaign donations since 2012, while the other half was spent in opposing Daines opponents. This data comes from the Center for Responsive Politics, a non-partisan, watchdog of money in politics. Rosendale ranks third among current members of he House for lifetime NRA support, having benefitted from $603,583 in spending by NRA political action committees and donations from NRA employees. CRP reports that Rosendale has benefitted mostly from NRA opposition of other candidates. The gun group spent $523,049 targeting Sen. Jon Tester in Montana's 2018 Senate race, which Rosendale lost. NRA spending targeting Tester since he first ran for Senate is $734,499, according to CRP analysis of federal election data. Only 10 members of Congress have seen the NRA spend more money against them. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 11 Lander school board members voted last week to remove sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy and marital and veteran status from the list of protected identities named in the districts non-discrimination policy. Language enumerating those identities were added to the policy in 2019, with the exception of sexual orientation, which trustee Kathy Hitt said has been included for roughly a decade. School board members who voted for removing the language said the change brings Fremont County School District No. 1 in line with federal and state discrimination statutes by only listing age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or disability as protected classes. It passed by a 4-3 vote on May 17, after multiple hours of debate. Students, parents and community members opposed to the change say that taking that clause away sends a message to underrepresented students, who tend to be the most vulnerable to discrimination, that they are no longer protected. It hurts no one by leaving that language in there, said Hitt. But by now taking it away, theres a feeling by folks that they dont matter. A protest against the board removing that language was set for 5 p.m. on Monday at Landers Centennial Park. According to student organizers, students and teachers were set to speak, and participants would hold signs in support of underrepresented students. Board members voted in April to remove wording that described discrimination as actual or perceived, on a recommendation from the districts lawyer during a routine review of the policy. At that time, Vice Chair Scott Jensen also brought a motion to strike the list of additional identities, saying they were redundant. Sex, which remains protected under the revised policy, could also cover gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and marital status, according to Jensen. And being a veteran, while it does not likely apply to students, is covered under other employment laws that protect staff. But opponents of the change say that thinking is reductive, and leaves out a lot of the complexities of gender and sexuality. Categorizing all of these beautiful, expansive, multifaceted identities as sex, those are so many lived experiences that you are saying you do not see or respect, or care about, said Ari Kamil, an organizer with Wind River Pride, which is helping coordinate Tuesdays protest. Sexuality has nothing to do with sex. Jensen said he voted to include gender identity, marital status and the other identities when they were introduced to the policy in 2019. At that time, he said, he wanted to signal to kids in the district that their identities were recognized. But now, he feels the language was actually excluding others. My concern is that we were signaling that some students deserve more attention, he said. I would like our students to know that ... that every student is valued and that no bullying is OK. Board chair Jared Kail and trustees Brett Burg and Taylor Jacobs joined Jensen in voting to remove the language. Kail said hed also voted against including it in 2019, in an effort to stick to the letter of state and federal statutes. The school districts lawyer, Tracy Copenhaver, recommended keeping the language covering sexual orientation and gender identity in the policy to send a clearer message to the public. Hitt, who voted against the change, said that while the board hasnt been notified of many formal complaints of discrimination or harassment at the schools in recent years, that doesnt mean they arent happening. Most complaints should be addressed by the principal of the school where the bullying takes place, she said, and so wouldnt be reported higher up on the chain. But even that system may be failing, students say. One, who asked to remain anonymous, said she and her friends are frequently called slurs offensive to queer people, including the f-slur. Other students once told them they wanted to put all the gay kids in the auditorium and just shoot them, she said. When she reported these incidents to administrators, the student said no action was taken to prevent any further harassment. Several parents with queer students in the district said theyd heard of similar instances of bullying, and were worried that removing this language from the non-discrimination policy gives students fewer channels to resolve these conflicts. Jensen said that the non-discrimination policy is separate from the districts no-tolerance policy against bullying, though he added that bullying can turn into discrimination if ignored by administrators. Were trying to wrap our heads around why people would feel like we need to take away protections, rather than making kids feel safe, said parent Sarah Reilley. Hailey Redden, whose child is transgender, said she very much sees a need for including that language to explicitly protect the LGBTQ community in Lander schools. Her child doesnt feel comfortable at school, she said, and they asked to do school online next year to avoid the bullying. Last weeks meeting was tense, attendees said. The last meeting to draw as much controversy, three people said, came in fall 2019 when the board voted to allow teachers to carry concealed weapons in school. Of the 40 people who spoke, according to Hitt, 36 wanted to leave the language in the policy. One man was asked to leave the room for speaking while trustees discussed the change. Shortly after, attendees said, a pair of police officers arrived and watched the remainder of the meeting. According to four people attending the meeting, students who spoke said they were exhausted from facing bullying at school. Several veterans also came and spoke against removing the protections for that group. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 LAGOS, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A Nigerian state governor confirmed on Wednesday scores of people were killed by extremist militants in their recent attack on a village in northeast Nigeria's Borno state. Babagana Umara Zulum, governor of the restive state of Borno, said in a statement that scores of people were on Saturday ambushed and killed on their way to a deserted village in the Kala Balge local government area of the state by Boko Haram and the Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants. The governor condemned the attack, saying the unfortunate killings "disturbed him at the weekend". He said the state government is waiting for a full report on the attack. He added a team of soldiers has so far recovered the bodies of some of the victims, apparently tied and shot at close range. The victims, according to the governor, were people engaged in gathering metal scraps for steel production. They were attacked while on their way to the village in search of metal materials. Boko Haram has been collaborating with ISWAP to establish an Islamist state in northeast Nigeria. The terror groups have also extended their attacks to other countries in the Lake Chad Basin. Spring is a great time to visit the Fort Benton area in north-central Montana as the grassy hills green up and the trees leaf out. In addition to a stroll through history along the river, the Bureau of Land Management's Missouri River Breaks National Monument Interpretive Center offers a venue worthy of exploration. Visitors will find on exhibit the rifle Chief Joseph carried as the Nez Perce made an unsuccessful attempt to reach Canada on a 1,170-mile-long trek from Oregon while avoiding the U.S. Army. The center also has on display a life-sized replica of a Murphy freight wagon. Similar wagons were used to transport shipments arriving on steamboats at Fort Benton's levee to destinations throughout the Pacific Northwest. Missouri River boaters will also find a wealth of information on floating, including the film "White Cliffs, Wild River." Get the lay of the land from a scale-model exhibit of the entire 149-mile river corridor along its wild and scenic stretch. The Interpretive Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Starting on Saturday, May 28, and continuing through Labor Day, the Center will be open the same hours Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, check out the center's website at https://www.blm.gov/learn/interpretive-centers/missouri-breaks-interpretive-center, or call 406-622-4000. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 County hosting 4-H event Wednesday Morton County will host NDSU Extensions 4-H Leadership Awareness Wednesday on June 1 at the Morton County Courthouse. Students from across the state will learn about the different aspects of local government and prepare them for civic engagement. The event will offer hands-on activities to help students understand: How property taxes are determined How to budget mill levy funds The role of a county commissioner Careers and how to get involved at the county level The event is from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 210 2nd Ave NW in Mandan. LAW is for any youth in grades 7-12 who are interested in civic engagement and the political process. Click It for Coffee event set Mandan drivers can get discounts on coffee during an upcoming Vision Zero Click It for Coffee event. Balancing Goat Coffee Co. in Mandan is teaming up with the Morton County Sheriffs Office on Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drive-thru customers wearing their seat belts will get $1 off their order and a coupon for $1 off on their next order. The event coincides with the statewide Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign that started Monday and runs through June 5. North Dakota law enforcement agencies are cracking down on seat belt violations over the next two weeks, a period that includes the Memorial Day holiday weekend. The coffee event is part of the states Vision Zero strategy to eliminate motor vehicle crash fatalities and injuries on North Dakota roads. For more information go to https://visionzero.nd.gov/. Holles host Breakfast on the Farm June 11 Northern Lights Dairy, Mandan, will host a National Dairy Month event on Saturday, June 11. The Andrew Holle family, owners of the dairy, invite the public to join them for their bi-annual Breakfast on the Farm, a free event from 7 to 11 a.m. at the dairy, 2165 54th St., Mandan. Activities include hayrides, face painting, a farmers market, a meet-and-greet with North Dakotas dairy princess, guided farm tours, vendor booths and displays, equipment displays and a petting zoo. The food includes breakfast, ice cream, milk, yogurt and string cheese. Northern Lights Dairy is a 800-cow dairy farm that is located 13 miles south of Mandan on N.D. Highway 6. School brings yard sale inside An indoor yard sale is planned June 8-11 at Christ the King School in Mandan. Bargain-hunters are asked to use the gym entrance across the street from 502 12th Ave. N.W. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saleable valuables, antiques, useful household items and other home goods may be donated for sale. Bring them to the gym between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. June 4, 6-7. For more information, call Joe Schatz, 701-663-6265 or 701-220-6506. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 An educational event "The Dakota Bison Symposium" will offer historical lessons and experiences June 23-25 in Bismarck. June 23 and 25 feature expert presentations and panel discussions at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum. June 24 consists of tours to southwest North Dakota and northwest South Dakota to visit art galleries, museums, parks, and historical sites. Featured speakers include United Tribes Technical College instructor Dakota Goodhouse, historian and author Francie Berg, North Dakota State Historical Society curator of education Erik Holland, and historian and former Bismarck State College president Larry Skogen. National speakers include film producer and documentarian Daniel Glick, author Dan Flores, hoop dancer and musician Kevin Locke. The Dakota Bison Symposium is coordinated by BSC Conference Planners and funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Registration is open through June 17. Registration is $125 for all three days, $99 for the first day or $45 for the second day. For more information and to register, go to bscdakotabison.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A second man is in custody and charged with attempted murder in a November 2021 shooting at Bismarcks Keelboat Park that police say was part of an internal gang conflict. Jonathan Sanchez, 19, of Williston, was arrested in Oklahoma. He was booked into Burleigh Morton Detention Center on Wednesday night after Burleigh County sheriff's deputies brought him back to North Dakota. Authorities had issued an arrest warrant for him in December. Sanchez also is charged with terrorizing and reckless endangerment, court records show. Another man, Deanthony Claiborne, 19, of Bismarck, is scheduled for trial Aug. 9-11 on the same three charges. Bismarck Police Detective Jacob Bratsch testified at Claibornes preliminary hearing in February that the man who was allegedly fired upon told police he knew Claiborne because the two were members of a gang. Witnesses corroborated the mans account of a car pulling up next to his, and three people getting out and firing multiple shots at the vehicle. The shooting was retaliation because the man wanted to get out of the gang and had recently fought with another gang member, the detective testified. Police did not name the man, who was not hurt. The man told police he could not identify the third person who got out of the car. Sanchez was in custody pending payment of $500,000 cash bail. No attorney is listed for him in court records. Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com Love 0 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 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. A Minnesota man listed in court documents as an armed career criminal has been sentenced to nearly three decades in prison on charges stemming from a September 2020 shooting in Bismarck. A federal jury in February convicted Javaar Watkins, 32, of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland on Wednesday sentenced him to 27 years behind bars and five years on supervised release. Watkins brother, Teeanthony Watkins, 29, was acquitted on the same charge. The two were charged with attempted murder in state court after a Sept. 27, 2020, incident in which a man suffered several gunshot wounds, police said. The Rochester, Minnesota, brothers allegedly went to the man's North Third Street apartment building in Bismarck to retrieve a cellphone that had been picked up during an altercation in the parking lot of a Bismarck bar earlier that night. Police alleged that shots fired by the brothers caused wounds to the mans mouth, hand and lower back. A federal grand jury indicted the two in November 2020 and the state charges were dismissed. Federal court documents show Javaar Watkins was convicted of assault in 2010, aggravated robbery in 2014, domestic assault in 2014 and assault in 2014, all in Minnesota. Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com Love 1 Funny 3 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. The North Dakota Supreme Court has unanimously reversed a district court ruling that would have granted a new trial to a former Lyft driver who was convicted of rape. Corey Wickham, 42, of Mandan, was accused in August 2018 of raping a Lyft customer after driving her home. He was convicted in 2019 of two sexual assault felonies, one of which carried a possible life sentence. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The state Supreme Court upheld the conviction in January 2020. Wickham in 2021 sought a new trial. He argued that his defense attorney should have objected to a police detectives testimony about Wickhams request for an attorney. Jurors were deadlocked after several hours of deliberation and asked for the testimony to be read back to them. They returned a guilty verdict less than an hour later. South Central District Judge Bobbi Weiler agreed with Wickhams contention that his constitutional rights were violated. Weiler stated in her ruling that if the objection had been raised she would have granted a mistrial. She stated further that if the jury hadnt heard the testimony especially for a second time, there is a reasonable probability that the jury could have remained deadlocked and a mistrial would have been ordered. Prosecutors from the Burleigh County States Attorneys Office appealed Weilers ruling on grounds that the defense attorneys failure to object did not amount to ineffective assistance of counsel. The defense attorney at the post-conviction hearing gave coherent and rational reasons for not objecting to the detectives comments, according to a brief submitted by Assistant States Attorneys Joshua Amundson and David Rappenecker. They argued further that Weiler did not properly apply the standards under which such a decision should be made and instead relied on hindsight second-guessing of trial counsels performance. The justices in their ruling said Weilers finding that a mistrial would have been ordered was unsupported. They said the assumption the jurys deadlock was influenced by hearing the detectives testimony for a second time was clearly erroneous, as the detectives comment was part of 60 pages of testimony -- all of which was read back to the jury -- and a small part of the testimony heard from eight state witnesses during a three-day trial. We are left with a definite and firm conviction the district court was mistaken in finding the trial counsels failure to object raises a reasonable probability of a different result, the panel wrote. Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MOTT Operators of a nursing home in the southwestern North Dakota town of Mott say the facility is not sustainable long term and they plan to close it in two months, angering residents in the community of 700 people. The Good Samaritan Society home will close July 22, leaving its 55 employees looking for work and families of its 31 residents searching for new senior living options. Darwyn Mayer is among those looking for other arrangements for his parents, who are among the residents who will be displaced. They wont feel a part of this community anymore, which I think is the sad part, Mayer told KFYR-TV. Mayer said Good Samaritan Society-Mott met with families about the closure and provided a list of the closest nursing homes. Good Samaritan Society Regional Executive Director Phil Samuelson said in a statement that the pandemic has put stress on the senior care industry. He said staffing challenges, a decline in residents and increased operating costs also contributed to the decision to close the Mott facility, which joined Sanford Health in 2019. "We have resources available to help residents and families find new homes and care, including at Good Samaritan Society locations," he said. "We are grateful to our staff for their tireless commitment and we are helping them pursue employment opportunities at our other Good Samaritan Society locations." Mott Mayor Troy Mosbrucker said, Its a blow. "We've got to figure out what our next step is because we cant afford to lose any more people or businesses in our community." The mayor said city leaders were hoping another owner would step in and keep the facility operating as a nursing home, but they were informed in a meeting with Samuelson that the building sale will include a clause stating the home cant be used for health care. This is not how I expect them to treat a small community, Mosbrucker said. Samuelson in a statement to the Tribune said, "Restrictions on the future use of a property are put in place in situations like this one when long-term care facilities face ongoing challenges such as difficulty hiring staff and increased operating costs. "Our expertise and experience indicate that long-term care operations in Mott are not sustainable and that we have a responsibility to our residents to find them the care they need both now and into the future," he said. The city's statement called the building sale clause "extremely disheartening and devastating." "However, we remain dedicated to pursuing and exploring additional options through our legal counsel," officials said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 3 Sad 1 Angry 5 Last month, a committee of North Dakotan residents received permission to gather signatures for their petition to legalize cannabis in the state. The committee hopes to gather enough signatures to bring the issue to our November ballots as a statutory measure. The petitions committee, New Approach North Dakota, states on NewApproachND.org that its time to responsibly regulate marijuana and that their ballot measure balances personal freedom with commonsense rules that protect public safety and keep marijuana out of the hands of kids. Visit tinyURL.com/ND-cannabis to see the proposed law in full. Clearly, the petition committee is optimistic that their New Approach to legalizing cannabis will have more success than Measure 3 from the November 2018 election, which also sought to legalize cannabis. I also believe that the current petition has a higher likelihood of success. There are key differences between the 2018 measure and the current petition. I believe that some who voted "No" on the 2018 measure would vote "Yes" to the current petition if it makes it onto our ballots. Compared with the failed 2018 cannabis legalization measure, the New Approach petition feels narrower in scope. In addition to legalizing marijuana, the 2018 measure proposed a process to automatically expunge records of drug convictions for controlled substances that become legal. The New Approach petition does not address past criminal records at all, focusing instead only on cannabis legalization and regulation. I think this could be a winning strategy for the petition sponsors. In my own research on ballot measures, I repeatedly find that voters tend to favor measures with simpler summaries on our ballots. Complex proposed laws often have complex ballot language that is more challenging to understand on the spot. While some voters decide their stance on a ballot measure in advance of Election Day, others do not decide until their ballot is in hand. The latter group of voters is more likely to abstain or vote "No" on a measure if the ballot summary is long or complicated. This suggests that a simpler cannabis legalization measure has a greater likelihood of success. If a measure deals with multiple legal issues, that can also increase the complexity of the measures summary. Furthermore, that can turn the ballot language into a double-barreled question that voters must answer. On the 2018 marijuana measure, some North Dakotans abstained or voted "No" due to the criminal record expungement processes it proposed. The New Approach petition is not vulnerable in the same way. Many voters consider it a no-brainer that regulations are needed if cannabis is legalized, and so voting for legalization and regulation together is not too complicated. The potential New Approach measure would almost certainly outperform the 40.55% "Yes" votes from 2018s marijuana measure. Whats less clear is whether the New Approach measure could pass, but I think it has a real shot of doing so. In any case, perhaps the greatest challenge for New Approach North Dakota is the collection of 15,582 signatures by July 11, its deadline for the November ballot. Assuming the July 11 deadline is met, the New Approach measure may also have evolving cultural trends on its side. As cultural norms change and attitudes about marijuana become more relaxed, the idea of cannabis legalization in North Dakota may simply have become more viable over the last four years. Over time, Americans -- including Republican voters -- increasingly favor marijuana legalization. In a nation fatigued by decades of punitive federal drug policy, many Americans are looking to their states for change. North Dakotans are no exception, but it remains to be seen if a simple majority of voters are ready to take the leap to cannabis legalization. Ellie Shockley is a political psychologist, social scientist and education researcher. This column represents her personal views and not the views of any organization. She completed a doctorate at the University of Chicago and postdoctorate at Nebraska. She lives in Mandan. Find her past columns at EllieShockley.com Love 6 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 When South African retail group, The Foschini Group (TFG), wanted to implement a single analytics platform across over 3,000 stores, they looked to Pyramid Analytics over some notable competitors. Pyramid Analytics was able to ingest information that varied from manufacturing data to sales data from numerous complex sources, including Oracle, SAP, and AWS systems. Access this case study to learn how Pyramid Analytics was able to provide a unified platform for data analytics across this massive company while maintaining data quality, security, and integrity. As your company grows, you can become a victim of your own data-driven success as huge customer data volumes paralyze your progress and terrorize your engineers. With mParticle at the heart of their data stack, engineers at the worlds largest online music marketplace said goodbye to burdensome ETL pipelines, slashed their data maintenance workload, and unlocked new opportunities to build data-driven features into their product. Explore this case study to learn just how mParticle helped reverb build consistent, high-quality data pipelines and built an infrastructure of success. KIEV, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday met with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and discussed Ukraine's European integration and post-conflict recovery, Zelensky's press service reported. At the talks in Kiev, Zelensky thanked the Finnish government for providing financial, defense and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia. He also stressed the importance of visits of foreign high-ranking officials to the Ukrainian capital. "These are very important direct signals of support, first of all for the Ukrainian people, our people, who see that they are not left alone with today's ordeals," Zelensky said. Finland's support for Ukraine's future membership in the European Union (EU) is very important, Zelensky said, adding that Kiev expects that the EU will decide on Ukraine's membership prospects soon. The Ukrainian leader also invited Finland to take part in his country's post-conflict recovery by taking patronage over a region, city, or industry. For her part, Marin said that her country and people today understand Ukrainians very well, given their historical experience. "The heroic spirit of the Ukrainian people, who are fighting for their freedom and for the whole of Europe, is admirable," Marin said. The Finnish prime minister arrived in Kiev earlier in the day for her first visit to Ukraine. A bishop in the Lutheran state church in Finland and a member of Parliament may have been found not guilty in a trial that sought to punish them for espousing traditional Christian views, but the battle for freedom of religion and speech in Finland is not over and may have long-standing consequences for liberty throughout Europe. [] At the end of March 2022, Finnish member of Parliament Paivi Rasanen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland were acquitted on charges of hate crimesthe apparent end to a trial that had drawn widespread international attention and expressions of concern over the erosion of religious freedom in Finland. Of course, the legal challenges for the two arent really over. On April 30, the prosecutor general formally appealed the decision of the District Court of Helsinki. That sets the stage for round two in a battle that could last many years and ultimately end up before the European Court of Human Rights. Dr. Rasanen and Bishop Pohjola were charged over the 2004 publication of a booklet that presents historic Christian teaching on sexualitythe former as the author of the work and the latter as the publisher. But while the booklets theological critique of same-sex marriage was unremarkable upon its publication, the intervening years have seen a dramatic shift in Finnish opinion on the subject. As late as 2010, only 45% of Finns approved the legalization of same-sex marriage, according to the European Unions Eurobarometer. By 2019, that number had climbed to 74% (same-sex marriage was legalized in Finland in 2017). That change in public opinion is not surprising; similar shifts have taken place throughout much of the Western world. But what is surprising has been the speed with which those holding contrary opinions in Finland have been subjected to state-sanctioned persecution. In response to a 2019 complaint, Helsinki police opened an investigation into Dr. Rasanen and Bishop Pohjola. By that time, the booklet had been online for 15 years. The police ultimately concluded no laws had been broken, but the prosecutor general decided to launch her own investigation. She laid hate charges against the two for the booklet in 2021, with the Finnish M.P. facing two additional charges: one for public comments during a radio debate and another for a tweet in which she criticized the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finlandthe state church, of which Dr. Rasanen is a memberfor its support of Helsinki Pride. The prosecutor general alleged that these statements constituted incitement to hatred against homosexual people. Dr. Rasanen and Bishop Pohjola argued they had done no such thing. As a Christian, I do not want to and cannot discriminate against or despise anyone created by God, Bishop Pohjola explained when he was first charged. Every human being, created by God and redeemed by Christ, is equally precious. This is basic Christian teaching: All people share inherent worth as those created and loved by God. But also central to Christian teaching is the concept of sinthe idea that human nature is fundamentally flawed as a result of the Fall, that we are all sinners in need of salvation. For this reason, Christians, on the basis of Scripture and natural reason, identify certain behaviors as sinnot in order to denigrate others (we are all sinners) but in order to reveal our need for a Savior. After all, as Dr. Rasanen writes in the booklet under question: If we deny people the right to feel guilt for their sin, we also deprive them of the joy and assurance of the Gospel. The certainty of heaven rests on Christs assured atonement for our very real sins and on His resurrection from the dead. Discussions like these more often take place in churches and seminaries than in courtrooms, of course. One would imagine as a result that the case against Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen would focus primarily on questions of law. But the opposite proved true: During the trial, the prosecutor general questioned the accused at length on their personal beliefs, touching on biblical hermeneutics, their understanding of the nature of sin, and so fortha conflation of juridical and theological argumentation, as Bishop Pohjola puts it, which struck observers as deeply troubling in a courtroom. To many, the trial seemed less about questions of law than about whether the defendants should be allowed to hold the doctrinal positions they did. The judges overseeing the trial seemed to agree. In their unanimous decision, the three judges acquitted Dr. Rasanen and Bishop Pohjola on all charges, stating that it is not the role of the district court to interpret biblical concepts. It was a stunning rebuke to the prosecutor generals handling of the case and an occasion of great relief for those concerned about freedom of religion and speech. But it is disappointing that the court, even in acquitting the accused, decided to prejudice public opinion against them by calling their words offensive. I say disappointing but not surprising. Western society has long been in a movement away from historic Christian morality, and not only on matters of human sexuality. This is something Dr. Rasanen herself notes in the booklet: We live, she writes, at a phase in history in which the influence of Christian culture upon society is diminishing. Little could she have known just how quickly that influence would diminish in the years following the booklets publication. One such principle that arose in that Christian context was the very idea of fundamental human rights like freedom of speech and religion. Western society still pays lip service to such rights, but they seem increasingly restricted to a narrower and narrower group of people. Those holding to historic Christian teaching regularly find themselves outside increasingly restrictive boundaries; their ideas are deemed too offensive by wider society to be worth protecting. But surely, if freedom of speech and freedom of religion are to mean anything, they must also mean the right to publicly disagree with prevailing cultural dogmaand such disagreement inevitably must offend. Sadly, even many of those who might have been expected to stand up for the rights of the accused have remained silent. On something as primary as freedom of religion, it is not uncommon for religious leaders with very different theologies to speak up in defense of each other. An attack on religious freedom, after all, concerns people of all faith. The situation in Finland certainly drew comments of concern from conservative Christians globally; the International Lutheran Council, for example, rallied ecclesiastical leaders from 45 confessional Lutheran church bodies worldwide in opposing the prosecution. But the leaders of the state church in Finland were conspicuous by their silence on so clear and fundamental a caseto their great shame. However the current case ultimately concludes, freedom of religion and speech in Finland have suffered a grievous blow. By prosecuting a bishop and a member of Parliament in a long, drawn-out court battle, the message presented to the wider public is clear: If you believe certain things in Finnish society, you may not speak publicly about them. The trial process itself is punishment enough, regardless of whether a conviction results. Just ask Dr. Rasanen and Bishop Pohjola. We should pray that higher courts ultimately rule in favor of the accused. If they do not, it will not be Christians in Finland alone who suffer. A negative ruling, especially if upheld by the European Court of Human Rights, could have implications for the entire continent. The result would be a devastating curtailment of religion and speech rights in Europe for Christians and others who reject the prevailing cultural orthodoxy on matters of human sexuality. On Monday, at Conrad High School in Missoula, Montana, Principal Raymond DeBruycker spent the day looking after a dozen horses ridden by students to school. According to a post by the school on Facebook, "Montana has an old law saying if a student rides their horse to school, the school principal has to feed and tend to the horse throughout the day." Apparently, Montana high schoolers commonly pull this prank at the end of the year. If you can point to the actual law in the Montana Code that they're flaunting, please do so in the comments. Meanwhile, from a 1992 report titled "Montana's School Transportation Policies and Funding: In a new paper in the scientific journal Cretaceous Research, researchers claim to have discovered the fossilized remains of a humongous pterosaur that may in fact be the largest flying vertebrate yet known. Thanatosdrakon amaru gen. et sp. nov. is a new azhdarchid found in the upper-most levels of the Plottier Formation (upper Coniacianlower Santonian, Neuquen Basin), Mendoza, Argentina. Two specimens were identified, the holotype (UNCUYO-LD 307) and the paratype, with an estimated wingspan of 7 m and 9 m, respectively. Thanatosdrakon amaru is believed to predate birds, and might possibly be the first winged creature to hunt its prey. Hence its name, which basically translates to "Dragon of Death." More from the BBC: When fully extended, its wings measured a massive nine metres (30 ft) from one tip to the other. The sheer size of the predator paints a "terrifying vision", the scientist behind the find told the BBC. "This species had a height similar to that of a giraffe," project leader Leonardo Ortiz said, with a wingspan that "defies the limits of our biological understanding". Its remains had been preserved in rocks in the Andes mountains for 86 million years, which means the flying creature lived alongside dinosaurs. Thanatosdrakon amaru, gen. et sp. nov., a giant azhdarchid pterosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina [Leonardo D.Ortiz David, Bernardo J.Gonzalez Riga, Alexander W.A.Kellner / Cretaceous Research] Flying reptile: Remains of scary prehistoric creature discovered [Leo Sands / BBC] Hello! My name is Emily and I just lost my job. So I decided to chase my dream and try to make it as a writer. I have the support of my wife Cleo, and enough savings for a month. After that, we'll see what happens. But I know I can do it! I just need to stick with writing and submitting short stories each day. Bad Writer is a video game about being a writer selling short stories to magazines. The creator, Paul Jesup, has been a freelance writer for 18 years. You play Emily, a struggling writer, trying to make it in the big bad world of short story publishing. You walk around your house, getting ideas, and writing stories. Try not to get too distracted, or you will get sad that you hadn't written during the day. Get too sad, and it's game over. She gives up and gets a new job doing something far less fun and stressful. Lavie Tidhar, author of Maror, Hood, By Force Alone, Osama, Central Station, calls Bad Writer "the most depressingly realistic writer's life simulation I ever experienced." The number of newborn deliveries at Western New York's only freestanding children's hospital has jumped 35% over the last decade, with a significant increase in high-risk deliveries since the John R. Oishei Children's Hospital opened nearly five years ago next to Buffalo General Medical Center. With that in mind, Oishei is planning to spend nearly $6.7 million to open a high-risk maternity unit: 12 newly constructed private inpatient rooms that would occupy about 11,000 square feet on the hospital's seventh floor. "As the region's only Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and state-designated Regional Perinatal Center, our hospital provides the most specialized high-quality care for our community's high-risk newborns and their mothers," Oishei President Allegra Jaros said in a statement Thursday. "The much needed expansion will allow us to better care for more high-risk moms before and after delivery, and accommodate the growing number of women who require the comprehensive and complex care services." Oishei, part of Kaleida Health, submitted its project paperwork to the state Health Department on Tuesday. Information provided to the state indicates the unit will be dedicated for antepartum care, which requires monitoring of both mother and baby that can sometimes last weeks or months. Oishei lands major grant from KeyBank, First Niagara Foundation for health equity, workforce programs The $1.5 million donation will help the John R. Oishei Children's Hospital further develop and sustain a program to address maternal health and racial equity to ensure all WNY women receive quality maternity care. High-risk moms currently occupy beds throughout the hospital's labor and delivery and mother-baby floors. The state paperwork notes the six high-risk maternity beds used in the labor and delivery unit currently have an average daily census of between seven and nine patients, with overflow into the nine labor and delivery beds. "To alleviate the occupancy concerns, our plan is for our antepartum patients to be treated in this new specialized unit and no longer overflow into the labor and delivery beds," the information submitted to the state reads. Oishei had nearly 3,500 newborn deliveries last year. In addition to opening up space on the existing labor and delivery unit, Oishei said the new high-risk unit should result in shorter wait times for patients moving from the labor and delivery unit to the mother-baby unit, reduce the length of stay for mother and baby and bring together a specialized care team dedicated to the high-risk population. Should Oishei be designated as a safety net hospital? Becoming a safety net hospital would offer a safeguard to Medicaid cuts while also opening the door to additional funding for a facility that, in a good year, has a razor-thin profit margin. The seventh floor, which is where the new unit will be built, currently houses pharmacy and pediatric outpatient services, such as infusion, dialysis and echocardiogram (ECHO)/electrocardiogram (EKG). Oishei said the majority of patient services will remain on the seventh floor with minimal disruptions, though outpatient infusion services will move to the hospital's second floor to be closer to the hospital entrance and parking ramp. Jon Harris can be reached at 716-849-3482 or jharris@buffnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByJonHarris. Buffalo Next Must-read local business coverage that exposes the trends, connects the dots and contextualizes the impact to Buffalo's economy. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The University at Buffalo's School of Nursing has found its next leader from another flagship SUNY school about seven hours away. Annette B. Wysocki, dean and professor at Stony Brook University's School of Nursing, has been appointed dean of UB's nursing school, it was announced Thursday. Wysocki, chosen following what UB called a "highly competitive national search," will join UB in July. She succeeds Marsha Lewis, who announced in December she was retiring at the end of the academic year after 10 years as dean. Lewis will step down May 31; Allison Brashear, vice president for health sciences and dean of UB's Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, will serve as officer in charge of the nursing school until Wysocki arrives. "I am so delighted to join the team at the University at Buffalo as dean of the School of Nursing," Wysocki said in a statement. "UB has a laser-like focus on achieving national rankings across the academic units to move the entire organization forward to achieve even greater global prominence by engaging in cutting-edge research." Wysocki joined Stony Brook in 2019, after she was associate dean for research and a professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. At UMass Amherst, UB said, Wysocki played a key role in establishing the UManage Center, a research center focused on developing technologies to manage symptoms of chronic illness, and she also worked with campus leaders to secure $95 million to establish the Institute for Applied Life Sciences. Jon Harris can be reached at 716-849-3482 or jharris@buffnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByJonHarris. Buffalo Next Must-read local business coverage that exposes the trends, connects the dots and contextualizes the impact to Buffalo's economy. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Matthew Soe, almost 4, zoomed around the auditorium wearing a traditional Karen shirt. Sayeda Hussain, 3, curtseyed, showing off her beautiful butterfly print dress. Maria Ahmed, 3, beamed under an arch of blue and white balloons. Arman Jaber Jaafar, 2, drew with a yellow crayon as his dad tried to balance a graduation cap on top of his Mickey Mouse hat. They were all excited. It was graduation day for the children and parents of ParentChild+, a free, early education program run by Jericho Road Community Health Center. Melissa Christian, the program coordinator, explained how ParentChild+ works. "Our focus is on building a strong foundation between the parent and the child, and their relationship, and then that the child gains a strong foundation academically so when they enter the school, they're at equal ground," she said. Many of the children end up overprepared for school, she said. The program entails a two-year commitment from the families. A teacher, referred to as an "early learning specialist," visits the family's home twice a week, for 30 minutes, from October to May during the two years. The early learning specialist brings a toy or a book on the first visit of the week, Christian explained, "and we model learning through play and through reading," working with both the child and a parent. Photos: Tiny tots graduate from ParentChild+ program at Jericho Road Jericho Road Community Health Center held a graduation ceremony for families participating in the ParentChild+ program, which helps toddlers d "We bring beautiful toys and books the best toys you can think of," Christian said. "We don't do lights and sounds, for the most part. We really want to work on using our imagination and learning through playing." The early learning specialist returns two days later. On that visit, Christian said, "our hope is that the parent and child lead the visit." They work together on learning the A-B-Cs and 1-2-3s, which helps them get ready for pre-K and kindergarten. But they also try to do more than that. During the second year, one gift the early learning specialist brings to each family is a doctor's kit, which includes a white kid-sized doctor's coat embroidered with "Jericho Road." "At that point, that's when everything begins to come together," she said. "We really want parents to dream about their children's future that nothing is limiting them. That if they want to become a nurse or a doctor or a teacher, that there's no limits." Many of the families referred to the program are patients at one of Jericho Road's clinics in the city. Some are referred by families. Others learn about it through community events. This year, about three quarters of the participants are refugee families. There are also new immigrants, including a family who arrived from Afghanistan, as well as single mothers. Wednesday's graduation ceremony was held in the gymnasium of the Loretto Ministry Center on 14th Street. Half of the children and their parents had just completed their first year of the program, and the other half had finished the second and final year. They giggled and laughed while playing with their new books and toys. During the ceremony, they all sang "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "This Little Light of Mine." A juggler performed for them, and then they received their diplomas, lining up in a row as best as 3-year-olds can as their proud parents snapped photos on their cellphones. Sharmin Sultana, an early learning specialist, proudly introduced the students she's worked with. "She's so smart," she said of Maria, whose family is from Bangladesh. "She knows all of the letters in the alphabet and she can recognize shapes." Jaber Jaafar and Khatijah Shorif, Arman's parents, who are from Malaysia and live on Buffalo's East Side, said the program has been great for their son. He just completed his first year. "Everything is good," the father said. "My son has been learning words in English. He knows how to speak well." The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Republican primary for the new 23rd Congressional District may dominate this summer's political calendar, with fundraising posing no problem for either contestant. Marc Cenedella, a Fredonia native and job search guru, says he is a candidate for a special election to fill the remainder of former Rep. Tom Reed's term, as well as the primary election for the reapportioned district for a term beginning Jan. 1. That means a major battle is taking shape against Rep. Chris Jacobs of Orchard Park, who now inherits much of Reed's Southern Tier district. With Jacobs' ability to dip into his own personal fortune, as well as Cenedella's promise to use his resources, it appears a barrage of ads could fill the airwaves for both elections, now expected to take place on Aug. 23. "I've seen how meaningful it is for people to get jobs to provide for their families and help build the economy," Cenedella said Wednesday, "so pro-growth policies to support that are what we need in D.C." Sempolinski to seek Reed seat in special election; will yield to Jacobs for full term Steuben County Republican Chairman Joe Sempolinski, the former district director for ex-Rep. Tom Reed in the current 23rd Congressional District, said Monday he expects the district's 11 Republican chairs to back his effort against Max Della Pia, a retired Air Force officer whom Democrats have unofficially named to compete in the special election. Cenedella injects a major dose of uncertainty for Republicans. Joe Sempolinski, the Steuben County chairman and former top aide to Reed, said this week he expects to gain the backing of most of the current district's leaders when they choose a candidate for the special election. Because of the late date, the county chairs are empowered by state election law to choose the candidate. "There will be a vote in the next 10 to 20 days, and until that vote happens, nothing is guaranteed," Cenedella said. But even if the county chairs stick with Sempolinski, who says he will only serve the remainder of Reed's term if successful on Aug. 23, Cenedella says he is a candidate for the primary. "I've had great conversations with the 11 chairs in the old district and the seven in the new district," he said. Still, Jacobs emerges as the favorite at least for the endorsement throughout the new district and especially in Erie County, which is now home to 43% of the total vote. At 51, Cenedella says he is devoting himself to the congressional effort after "living the American dream." A Yale University and Harvard Business School graduate, he founded TheLadders.com job search website connecting job searchers and job providers through the Manhattan-based company. Cenedella has also written best-selling books about the job hunt process, including "You're Better Than Your Job Search." Now he has moved back to his native Fredonia and promises a full scale effort to capture the GOP primary and general election against Democrat Max Della Pia, a retired Air Force officer. In 2012, he seriously explored a challenge to Gillibrand, with sources close to Cenedella reporting at the time that he was prepared to spend $15 million of his own money in the effort. Cenedella eventually opted against running. Cenedella criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul for failing to immediately act on Reed's May 10 resignation, which would have resulted in a special election at least two weeks before the Aug. 23 primary and provided that much more representation for the district. "She's playing games and denying the citizens of the 27th Congressional District a voice in Congress," he said. But the governor told reporters on Wednesday that Reed had not properly submitted his resignation to the secretary of state. The New York Department of State reported minutes after the Hochul press conference that it had received Reed's letter. "It would make sense to align with the election going on on Aug. 23," Hochul said, referring to the primary. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. An American flag draped over the casket. An honor guard of dozens of uniformed officers. The jarring blasts of a 21-gun salute, followed by the mournful sounds of "Taps" played on a horn. Aaron Salter retired four years ago from the Buffalo Police Department. But on Wednesday at his funeral, Salter, 55, who was one of 10 people killed in the May 14 massacre at the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue, was honored as an officer who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Sean Kirst: How do you carry on Aaron Salter's legacy? Through life Three friends of Aaron Salter, the retired police officer killed in the Tops Markets massacre on May 14, are at the center of a scholarship at Hutchinson Central Technical High School, where Salter graduated almost 40 years ago. The annual award will go to a student mechanically inclined and interested in improving upon existing technology in such a way that would make life easier and better for future generations, someone whose work ethic and civic passion echo Salters. At a funeral service at The Chapel in Getzville attended by hundreds, Salter was awarded the Buffalo Police Department's Medal of Honor, the highest honor that can be bestowed on an officer "for his sheer bravery in taking on the face of evil in order to save lives," Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia told mourners. "Aaron saved lives." Salter was also posthumously promoted to the rank of lieutenant. And his former colleagues on the police force announced they had started a scholarship in his honor to be given to a graduate of Hutchinson Central Technical High School Salter's alma mater to help with expenses during the first year of college. Salter was working as a security guard at the Tops on Jefferson when a gunman armed with a semi-automatic military style rifle began hunting down customers and workers. When the rampage began, Salter was just outside the entrance of the supermarket, helping a customer with her groceries, Gramaglia said. "Aaron was in a complete defensive position, but was able to make it back in the store to warn others and find a position of cover where he was able to take action," Gramaglia told the mourners. "Aaron bravely fought evil that day. This fight allowed numerous customers precious seconds to run through the cash register lanes towards the back of the store while Aaron remained up front fighting. That act of bravery led to his ultimate demise." Salter's funeral was the sixth so far of the "Jefferson 10," as many in the East Side community have started calling the victims. Wednesday morning, Pearl Young was laid to rest. A Sunday school teacher and Evangelical missionary, she was shopping at Tops when she was killed. She was 77. Three more funerals are planned for Friday Andre Mackniel, Margus Morrison and Geraldine Talley and another on Saturday for Ruth Whitfield. Colleagues unsurprised that retired police officer Aaron Salter gave his life protecting others at Tops Market "Even though you leave the job, the job doesn't leave you. I know he was thinking about, something was going wrong here. People's lives were in danger, and he was probably the only person who was in there that could help and save people," said retired Lt. Steven Malkowski. Salter's services were filled with the sounds of gospel and the words of the Holy Bible. The band was made up of his family members. Mourners, including police from around the country, filled the seats. Buffalo Police Officer Moe Badger, known as one of the "Buffalo Singing Cops," sang his heart out, dressed in his uniform with a black mourning band across his badge. "How great is our Lord!" he sang. Kimberly Beaty, the former Buffalo police deputy commissioner who is now the director of public safety at Canisius College, shared memories of her friend. She talked about his deep roaring laugh that could be heard from the other end of the Northeast District station where they worked together. She made the mourners laugh, talking about how when people would come to the station and were looking for him but didn't remember his name, they'd say "the officer with the box cut" haircut his signature look. Canisius College honors security guard killed in Tops mass shooting The son of the security guard killed in the May 14 Tops shooting accepted a diploma posthumously awarded to his father at Saturday's commencement at Canisius College. "He loved being a police officer," Beaty said, and he did it to serve his community. Rev. Dr. Cassandra L. Salter-Smith, Salter's cousin who is an associate pastor at ZionQuest Christian Fellowship Wesleyan Church, gave the eulogy. She talked of Salter's many devotions and passions in life his wife, his three children, his ability to fix things, his thirst for knowledge and his faith in God. "He truly is a superhero servant leader," she said. 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. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown called for "sensible gun reform in this country" Wednesday, in the wake of the mass shooting here and Tuesday's mass shooting at a school in Texas. Brown's comments came just after he attended the funeral for Aaron Salter, one of the 10 people who were killed in the May 14 Tops massacre. Brown said when he heard about the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, where at least 19 children and two adults were killed, he exchanged text messages with Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin. "We exchanged prayers and told each other we were praying for each other's community," Brown told reporters. "He acknowledged that while his community is going through this horrible mass shooting tragedy, we are still burying members of our community." Brown said he hopes that the tragedies in Buffalo and Texas will make a difference. "It is critical that people all across our country pressure the lawmakers in Washington to make change," Brown said. "Let these incidents in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas, be the last time we are seeing these horrible mass shootings with people's lives snatched from them and families destroyed for no reason," Brown said. 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. Heralded animal behavior professor Michael Noonan frequently traveled across the world with Canisius College students, filming wildlife and making videos aimed at conserving the natural environment. His website lists 135 student research assistants, many of whom joined him on trips to exotic places such as Indonesia, Uganda and the Amazon. But Noonans actions on one of those trips and on campus including accusations that he repeatedly sexually harassed female students are now the focus of a federal lawsuit against the college. Among the complaints: On an overseas trip in India to film tigers, Noonan reportedly insisted on administering suppositories and enemas to female students suffering from constipation. Five former Canisius students have sued the colleges trustees, accusing the college of retaliating against them after they complained in 2019 about Noonan, a longtime professor and chairman of the animal behavior, ecology and conservation program. The college maintained that it acted appropriately in responding to internal complaints in 2019 and denied that it retaliated against the women. The conduct complained of in this lawsuit, when first brought to the colleges attention as part of internal complaints lodged back in 2019, were promptly and thoroughly investigated and addressed, the college said in a statement Wednesday. Federal privacy laws prevent the college from responding publicly in detail to these allegations at this time, but the college is confident that it took all appropriate steps to swiftly address the reported concerns, and that it properly respected the rights of all participants in the process. Noonan, 71, who now resides in Washington State, did not respond to an email and a voicemail seeking comment. Noonan was on the Canisius faculty for 40 years. He shepherded a program with a national reputation and received the college's Distinguished Faculty Award in 2003. He retired with little fanfare in June 2019. Months earlier, in January or February, several women complained to the colleges vice president of human resources that Noonan had sexually harassed them and engaged in other gender-based misconduct. Noonan pursued sexualized discussions about his private life and the private lives of students; touched students hair and clothes, including bra straps and underwear; and suggested many times that young women should be open to dating older men like him, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit claims that the college knew about Noonans penchant for sexual harassment and discriminatory misconduct since at least 2014, when a faculty member reported him to the colleges Title IX office. At least 11 students, including five women who brought the lawsuit, reported Noonans harassing misconduct to Canisius administrators in January or February 2019, according to court papers filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. The lawsuit filed last week by Glendale attorney Daniela Nanau refers to Noonan as a serial sexual predator and accuses the college of condoning his behavior because he ran one of the colleges most popular undergraduate programs and brought in millions of dollars in private donations and government grants. The plaintiffs are five former Canisius students: Sierra Boucher, Lily Engebrecht, Natassia Tuhovak, Hannah Whelan and Cassidy Wood. The plaintiffs claim that the colleges handling of the complaints amounted to retaliation because they were unable to continue their research projects and were not provided with mentors and advisors to replace Noonan. The plaintiffs also said that after they complained, they couldnt get proper recommendation letters or assistance with their educations and plans for work or further studies in the conservation field upon completing their undergraduate degrees. Four of the plaintiffs were among a group of nine female Canisius students who joined Noonan on a trip to India in January 2019 for Project Tiger, which involved research, interviewing Indians about Bengal tiger preservation efforts and gathering video footage of tigers in their habitats. On the trip, Noonan repeatedly insisted on knowing the bowel movements of students and sought to give those who were constipated an enema, court papers said. When two of the women went to the hospital, Noonan joined them in the examination room, without their consent, according to court papers. The students who went to India were unable to complete the Project Tiger film because Noonan kept the video footage and the college did not try to get it back, according to court papers. Some plaintiffs who had participated in other trips with Noonan as part of the Canisius Ambassadors for Conservation program said the professor had made them extremely uncomfortable by taking pictures of them and videotaping them in their bathing suits and frequently discussing his romantic relationships with younger women. The lawsuit also claims that Noonan regularly chose women over men to join him on trips. Noonan's website lists 135 student research associates, 21 of whom are men. The plaintiffs and several other women in January 2019 gave Linda Walleshauser, Title IX officer at the time, who is now the colleges vice president of human resources, a written report detailing accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Noonan. Walleshauser told the group she would investigate and assured the women they would be protected from retaliation and supported by the college, court papers said. Noonan was removed from campus about a month later, and in late April 2019, Walleshauser promised the plaintiffs an opportunity to review her investigative report to the college, court papers said. But on June 11, 2019, Walleshauser emailed the women to say that Noonan had retired, effective June 1, and that they would be allowed access to the Project Tiger film and video so that they could complete their own work. Canisius has said nothing publicly about why Noonan retired, nor has it revealed the findings of its investigation into the womens claims of misconduct. The plaintiffs said they are suffering from anxiety, trauma or depression, which they attribute to their experiences with Noonan and the colleges handling of their complaints. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office is filing no charges in the death of Haso, the former Erie County Sheriff's Office K-9 found dead April 29 following a three-day search, the department confirmed Thursday. Haso was found after a search in the area surrounding Route 240 and Ashford Hollow in West Valley. The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office at first believed Haso had been deliberately harmed, but Wednesday concluded the 8-year-old German Shepherd had been shot and killed by the owner of a small farm nearby who mistook the retired K-9 for a coyote. Mourning a dog who fought crime and saved lives before his was taken Going after drug dealers was only one way that Haso, a German shepherd in the Erie County Sheriff's K-9 unit, served the community during his four years on the job. He also saved the lives of at least eight people, like the autistic boy in Gowanda who jumped from his mother's car and disappeared, the elderly Clarence man with Alzheimer's who wandered away in his pajamas and the missing Amherst woman he found lying in Ellicott Creek. "I have full confidence in their findings," said Erie County Sheriff's Deputy Richard Lundberg, Haso's owner and former K-9 handler, on Thursday. Lundberg said he had been briefed on the investigation's results by Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office Chief of Detectives Jordan Haines. "I'm grateful for their efforts and Haso's remains are now home with me, where he belongs." WGRZ was first to report the results of the investigation. Haso was active with the Erie County department for four years and saved at least eight people, Lundberg estimated, as well as discovering drugs such as cocaine, fentanyl and marijuana. Haso was one of five narcotics detection K-9s who in 2020 were retired early and replaced by dogs not trained to sniff for marijuana, which would be legalized recreationally in New York just over a year later. Lundberg said Thursday that Erie County plans to add Haso's name to the Erie County K-9 stone memorial in the dog park at Black Rock Canal Park. "My boy is at peace and so am I," Lundberg said. Ben Tsujimoto can be reached at btsujimoto@buffnews.com, at (716) 849-6927 or on Twitter at @Tsuj10. 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. Decades ago, a young Buffalo police officer, Bradford Pitts, was driving on Bailey Avenue when he saw a longtime friend waving from a car at a gas station. It was Aaron Salter Jr., a childhood classmate at Public School 78 and the kind of guy for a million reasons you do not forget. He had an adventurous mind, said Pitts, who always figured Salt Dog, as his buddies knew him, would become an engineer or scientist, and most certainly an inventor. Salter gestured toward the patrol car and Pitts' uniform, and asked a question: How do I get in? He wanted to be an officer, and Pitts knowing of Salters knowledge and technological skills was initially surprised. But it was clear that Salter had been thinking hard, for a long time, about why the job mattered. He was adamant, said Pitts, achingly conscious of that early milestone in a admirable policing career that would eventually lead, 11 days ago, to the act of ultimate selflessness in which Salter lost his life. Pitts, Earl Perrin and Nate Goldsmith, all now retired, formed a tight kinship with Salter, as young officers. They bonded while on patrol in the predominately Black neighborhoods where they grew up. The sense of homegrown mission was so powerful, they say, that it did not feel like they were on the clock when they were together. All of it brought them Wednesday to Salters funeral at The Chapel at CrossPoint, an impassioned farewell to a guy who died, as a Tops Market security guard, while confronting a heavily armed killer. Retired police deputy commissioner Kim Beaty introduced Perrin, who had an announcement. Perrin surprised Salter's widow, Kim, and her family with a tribute, one Perrin and his buddies hope in some quiet and lasting way will stand up against the sickening grief amplified again by Tuesday's mass murder at a school in Uvalde, Texas. The question is how do you carry on the legacy? Perrin said, and their shared two-word answer is: Through life. They are creating a scholarship at Hutchinson Central Technical High School, where Salter graduated almost 40 years ago. The annual award will go to a student mechanically inclined and interested in improving upon existing technology in such a way that would make life easier and better for future generations, someone whose work ethic and civic passion echo Salters. Perrin said he received commitments for more than $2,000 shortly after he started texting with other retired officers about the scholarship, and he said readers seeking to donate can send checks to the Buffalo Police Federal Credit Union, 68 Court St., Suite 180, Buffalo 14202, with note on the envelope that it involves honoring their old friend. Pitts said his bond with Salter reignited when they were together at the old Precinct 16, known today as E District. It was close to where Salter spent his childhood, modeling himself as a kid after his know-how-to-do-anything dad, which routinely led to such magic as using a lawn mower engine to create a go-kart. Cops, as a whole, are tightknit, and we all grew up on the East Side, Perrin said. We could talk to each other, talk about taking care of our families. The more time we were on call together, the more we had each others backs. The whole purpose was to get each other home. Sean Kirst: In heart of Buffalo, after lethal madness, young 'brotherhood' shares tears, anger and hope Too often you can walk around with a hard shell when inside you feel like youre disintegrating, said Tommy McClam, who with Daniel Robertson coordinates Breaking Barriers a program for young men of color. In retirement, they assumed they had succeeded in that goal. They hardly imagined Salter, a beloved regular at Tops, faced any lethal risk on that job. At Wednesday's service, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia gave Salter two posthumous honors, promoting him to lieutenant and presenting the family with the Medal of Honor, the department's highest measure of bravery. On that quiet Saturday, Gramaglia said, Salter was helping a shopper near the door when an accused 18-year-old mass murderer began firing upon the Black women and men whom investigators say he drove hours to target. Ten people died. Salter lost his life when his bullet could not penetrate his attacker's body armor. Yet Gramaglia said the toll would have been even higher if Salters actions had not allowed many others to flee or hide. Goldsmith whose emotional tribute to his friend brought many to their feet said every officer vows to place the lives of others above his own. But Pitts said Salter provided an unforgettable answer in a situation none of us would want to face. We all have to wonder if we would do as Aaron did, said Pitts, who said Salter's choice reflected his training and his essential nature: He put himself between a murderer and every checkout clerk, everyday shopper and worker in that store. In an essay Pitts wrote for Salters family, he described his lifelong friend as brilliant, insightful and kind, someone who was able to grasp things a little quicker than most, while never looking down or belittling those who may not have caught on as fast. Salter believed in green technology long before it was trendy. His buddies speak of how he put solar panels in his home decades ago, installed solar lights in his yard and devised an intercom system by his front door years ahead of the rush to install Ring doorbells. His dream, his driving mission until the day he died, was the idea of developing a completely green engine that could be fueled by water. We used to tell him that someday wed need to serve as his security, said Perrin, who never doubted such ingenuity might someday achieve fame. Goldsmith met Salter when they were in different Buffalo high schools and they attended a Christian-based retreat in the Allegheny Mountains. Years later, when Goldsmith returned from serving with the Marine Corps, it was Salter who planted the seed about joining the Buffalo police. He was one of the smartest guys Ive ever known, said Goldsmith, godfather to Salters daughter Tanya. He, Pitts and Perrin all said Salter was willing to help put brakes in their cars, or countertops in their homes, or even in Goldsmiths case to assist with an actual kitchen sink. Perrin described Salter "as mechanic strong," hands toughened up by years of tinkering with a well-loved recreational vehicle. That RV became the centerpiece for many gatherings at Buffalo Bills games or Darien Lake, which had particular meaning at a time when none of the young officers had much money. We werent going to Disney World, said Pitts, remembering a day when Salter offered an invitation: How about if Pitts and his family joined the Salters on an RV road trip to Cedar Point? They had left Buffalo and were on their way when Kim Salter put up some balloons and pulled out a cake: She and her husband somehow remembered it was the 7th birthday of Pitts daughter Chantel, and decided to make a surprise party out of it. Looking back on it now, Pitts understands: It was as precious a vacation as he will ever take. Sean Kirst: In Buffalo, hearing the song of a grieving child who 'could not weep anymore' Lives of untouchable meaning wiped out, officials say, because of rigid, shallow poison. It is a blasphemy. This is Buffalo. Each of the dead is us, True communion that may be our one searing path forward. Goldsmith, 53, lives in Louisville. He and Salter had been talking about the chance of Goldsmith moving back so they could work together in one more law enforcement venture. As for Pitts, who handled security at the Jefferson Avenue Tops when it opened years ago, he said the gentle assumption he could touch base with Salter at any time was shattered when Pitts' son, Bradford Jr., a Buffalo officer, called on that Saturday from the store parking lot. Perrin was at a church conference when his phone began going off, grieving friends offering news that seemed impossible to bear, but he said prayer and love brought him to one conclusion: They had to create a living remembrance. He loves the idea of seeking out a bright and selfless kid at Hutch-Tech who might otherwise not get much attention, maybe a kid who can fix anything and worries about elderly neighbors down the street, and then telling that kid on graduation day: You know what? You remind us a lot of Aaron Salter, which in Buffalo, forever, is as good as it can get. Sean Kirst is a columnist with The Buffalo News. Email him at skirst@buffnews.com. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. One man is in custody and more arrests are expected after Lafayette Police say they caught someone stealing as much as $600,000 in checks from U.S. Postal Service drop boxes in the Lafayette area. Twenty-eight-year-old Beau LaFleur faces 19 counts of monetary instrument abuse, 15 counts of theft, 14 counts of forgery, two counts of identity theft and one count each of bank fraud and illegal carrying of a weapon. Bond has not yet been set and it was unknown if he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Lafayette Police Sgt. Robin Green told news outlets the arrest comes after a three-month investigation. Green said officers stopped LaFleur's vehicle and found several pieces of mail and that he was in possession of a postal key. I had just come out of church, celebrating my sons Holy First Communion last Saturday, when I learned of the mass shooting at Tops in the Masten District of Buffalo. Leading an organization that welcomes refugees to WNY, I thought in my grief about how we see the best of ourselves and our many community supporters every day in our work helping people from all over the world rebuild their lives after unfathomable persecution and loss, offering them a soft landing with a beautifully furnished apartment, legal advice, English classes, a job, a bike, a smile. I also thought about how I could be in church, reading a Gospel by John: As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. Just an hour before, less than 10 minutes from our agency, an act of white supremacist hate that shocked the nation took place. How did we get here? We can start by having an honest, open conversation about the great replacement theory embraced by the shooter, his hero in New Zealand who massacred 51 Muslims in 2019 and the murderer of a dozen Jews at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. The great replacement theory, popularized by the white nationalist French author Renaud Camus, argues that there is a grand scheme among liberal elites to replace white people in the West with Black and brown refugees and immigrants, particularly Muslims. This odious conspiracy theory was quickly echoed in the U.S. by white nationalist websites, radio personalities and vloggers. More ominously, certain influential segments of the media and prominent government officials have spread its poison to the point where, according to the Associated Press, one out of three Americans now believe that Democrats are enabling mass immigration of non-white people, including refugees, for electoral gain. In ways subtle and coarse, "great replacement theory" is now normalized in our political and civil discourse, being beamed into tens of millions of homes across the U.S. It permeates social media and is retweeted by former and current officials all the way up to the halls of Congress and the former occupants of our Executive Branch. Buffalo is not immune from the consequences of such hate speech against Black and brown immigrants. Refugees in the City of Good Neighbors have experienced them firsthand, including H. from Somalia, who had her hijab torn off in Elmwood Village, and M. from South Sudan, who had a knife pulled on him by a white assailant in a bank on the West Side. The brazen act of stochastic terrorism aimed at our African American community on May 14 epitomizes how the "great replacement theory is inextricably tied to larger systemic and social issues of white supremacy in America. All supporters of refugee settlement need to acknowledge that anti-immigrant, anti-asylum and anti-refugee policies and rhetoric cannot be separated from acts of racist violence targeting BIPOC communities everywhere. To believe that you can support refugees yet remain silent in the face of anti-Black and anti-brown racism is morally and politically untenable. We need to speak this fundamental truth loudly and often. It is the least we owe the loved ones of the victims gunned down on a beautiful spring day in Buffalo, going about their business buying food for their families, never to return home again. Karen M. Andolina Scott is CEO of Journeys End Refugee Services, Inc. My husband and I make an annual visit to Chautauqua Institution on a random Sunday to take in their 10:45 church service and enjoy the quiet, peaceful setting of the grounds. Several years ago during one of our summertime visits we were delighted to see that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s daughter, the Rev. Bernice King was the guest minister that day. She talked about her fathers ministry of nonviolence during the civil rights movement in the 60s. She also quoted from his speech in 1956, The Beloved Community is a type of spirit and love that can transform opponents into friends. It is this love which will bring about miracles in the hearts of men. Buffalo needs a miracle right now. She also stated during her sermon that the religious leaders of this country must take more action to bring our community of people together. Her fathers work that ended so abruptly April 4, 1968, must commence again, and its up to all of us to live out his words of brotherhood and peace. She concluded that we should all be the light of world to fight the darkness. Ms. King invited everyone to sing the song This Little Light of Mine and the unity of voices was inspiring. I would like to challenge all of the people in Western New York to come together for a candlelight vigil to demonstrate the light from our residents. The churches and religious leaders should set a date to have all of our brothers and sisters congregate one night and hold a candle for peace and love in our community. We need to prove to our neighbors and the country that we are not the hate displayed on May 14. Lets light up our communities in solidarity to the North, East and South of Buffalo. Amy Erickson Tonawanda Orangutan release Courtesy: The Orangutan Project A pair of orangutans mother and daughter were released into their natural habitat. According to a release from The Orangutan Project, Bornean orangutans Ucokwati, 18, and Mungil, 8, moved to the wild in the first in a series of orangutan releases planned for 2022 by the Bornean Orangutan Rescue Alliance (BORA) a joint initiative of the Indonesian Nature Conservation Agency (BKSD), Centre for Orangutan Protection and The Orangutan Project. Conservationists deemed the two primates eligible for release after the animals completed their rehabilitation at the BORA Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. "Both had demonstrated advanced foraging and nest-making skills, as well as a healthy dislike for humans," Hardi Baktiantoro, a field manager for The Orangutan Project and Founder of the Centre for Orangutan Protection, shared. "Ucokwati is particularly aggressive towards humans, no doubt due to her ill-treatment while in captivity, and this made her a prime candidate to successfully transition back into the wild." RELATED: Pet Tiger Rescued from Houston Neighborhood Is 'Thriving and Happy' After One Year at Sanctuary Before BORA, the orangutan duo lived at the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Yogyakarta on the Indonesian Island of Java. Ucokwait moved to the center after being rescued from an amusement park in October 2011. She gave birth to her daughter at the center in May 2013. "We don't know how long Ucokwati had been held in captivity at the park," Hardi Baktiantoro added. "As with most orangutans that end up in such places like these, it is highly probable that she was taken from her mother as an infant and sold into the illegal pet trade." Orangutan release Courtesy: The Orangutan Project Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Due to financial difficulties caused by the pandemic, the rescue center shut down. As a result, the mother-daughter duo moved to the BORA Centre in April 2021. Story continues Ucokwati and Mungil now live on Dalwood-Wylie Island, located in the Busang Ecosystem, one of the last remaining viable rainforest habitats for orangutans on the island of Borneo. The location is a 10-hour trip by vehicle from the BORA Centre followed by a three-hour boat ride along the Busang River. The area was chosen for the release so BORA's staff can monitor the apes while the animals adjust to life in the wild. The orangutans' rescuers expect Ucokwati and Mungil to venture further into the Busang Ecosystem as they become increasingly independent. RELATED: Florida Zoo Baby Sloth Meets Dad for the First Time in Adorable Moment Caught on Video Two other male orangutans are set to follow in the mother-daughter duo's footsteps and will soon be released into the Busang Ecosystem. The releases are part of a mission to ensure the future survival of critically endangered orangutans. "The alliance has been granted approximately 20,000 hectares within the 260,000-hectare Busang Ecosystem to undertake orangutan rehabilitation and release for critically endangered Bornean orangutans," Leif Cocks, the founder of The Orangutan Project, said. "The release of orangutans like Ucokwati and Mungil back to the wild gives hope that we can revert the impending extinction crisis," Cocks added. "But we cannot do it alone. We need more individuals to join us to secure and protect viable rainforest habitat before it is too late." AMI will enable PEA to improve real-time data collection efficiency for commercial and industrial (C&I) customers THAILAND & SINGAPORE, May 26, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Trilliant, a leading global provider of utility solutions for advanced metering and smart grid systems, is pleased to announce a new partnership with SAMART to deploy Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) for the Provincial Electricity Authority of Thailand (PEA). The deployment demonstrates Trilliants continued commitment to utilities in the Asia Pacific region at market-leading performance levels. "Trilliant is dedicated to providing innovative solutions for our customers across the globe," said Andy White, Chairman & CEO of Trilliant. "Our platform allows for the deployment of hybrid-wireless technologies that can be used effectively with a variety of applications, allowing utilities to provide top level service to their customers. Partnering with SAMART allows us to deliver our software platform to support multiple meter brand deployments." PEA Thailand has awarded the contract to STS Consortium comprising SAMART Telcoms PCL and SAMART Communication Services. "The fine selection of quality products from Trilliant, a world-class technology provider, has strengthened our solution offerings to PEA. We look forward to our long-term partnership and future collaboration in Thailand," said Mr. Suchart Duangtawee, EVP of SAMART Telcoms PCL. Trilliant has already connected more than 3 million smart meters for customers in India and Malaysia, with plans to deploy an additional 7 million meters over the next three years through existing partnerships. With the addition of PEA, Trilliants technology will soon be deployed in millions of new homes, helping utilities provide reliable access to electricity to their customers. The continued deployments in APAC are a testament to Trilliants purpose-built technology for utilities and communities. Recently recognized by Frost & Sullivan as the 2021 Asia-Pacific Smart Utility Communications Platform Company of the Year, Trilliant remains dedicated to its technology innovation path. Story continues Trilliant has continued to collaborate with energy service providers to complete installs of smart meters, head end systems and communication hubs in a safe and timely manner. These deployments support utilities in the pursuit of their environmental and sustainability goals through the continued streamlining of processes and enhanced management of energy services. About Trilliant Trilliant empowers the energy industry with the only purpose-built communications platform that enables utilities and cities to securely and reliably deploy any application -- on one powerful network. With the most field-proven, globally compliant solutions in the market, Trilliant empowers you by connecting the world of things. www.trilliant.com About SAMART Telcoms PCL SAMART TELCOMS GROUP provides solutions and services in ICT and digital innovation, including Network Solutions, Enhanced Technology, and Business Application ranging from consulting, system design, installation and implementation, operations, and maintenance as the leading and complete solution and service provider for clients in government and private sectors. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220525006051/en/ Contacts Tracey Mitchell tracey.mitchell@trilliant.com Cindy Watson/Anita Wong StrategicAmpersand Inc. TrilliantPR@stratamp.com The company and Rancho Nexo said the trial is at an anonymous customer's 5,500 square feet (sq ft) bell pepper greenhouse in the state of Queretaro CO2 GRO Inc (TSX-V:GROW, OTCQB:BLONF) and its Mexican sales partner have announced that a second technology trial using the former's technology is going ahead in the North American country. The company and Rancho Nexo said the trial is at an anonymous customer's 5,500 square feet (sq ft) bell pepper greenhouse in the state of Queretaro. The aim is to increase fruit yield, reduce the spread of pathogens such as powdery mildew, and reduce the overall cost per unit of production and lift margins. "Commercial success at these two Mexican vegetable Trials with our partner Rancho Nexo should open the door to many other Mexican AMHPAC member vegetable growers trying our technology," said CO2 GRO's VP sales and strategic alliances Aaron Archibald in a statement. "They represent 90% of Mexico's vegetable exports to the US and Canada." On April 7 this year, CO2 GRO and Rancho Nexo announced the first Trial in Mexico for Bresca Hortalizas S.P.R. de R.L. in the latter's new greenhouse in the State of Puebla. "Rancho Nexo is committed to bringing key technologies to Mexican Agri Business of which CO2 GRO's precision ag technology is integral," said Rancho Nexo's Matt Grant. The company's technology creates a dissolved CO2 solution that is misted onto plants grown in greenhouses and protected grower facilities globally, providing growers with multiple significant benefits. The firm says growers that cannot atmospherically enrich their facilities with CO2 (gassing) can now realize yield increases of up to 30% and up to a doubling of gross profits while suppressing the development of micro-pathogens such as E.coli and powdery mildew. Greenhouses and indoor facilities that currently do employ CO2 gassing can save up to 90% on their CO2 consumption, thereby reducing their production costs and CO2 enrichment emissions. Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said he opposes new gun laws and blamed wokeness and critical race theory for school shootings days after a gunman in Texas killed 21 people, almost all of whom were elementary school students. This is a society-wide problem, a society-wide sickness that is not going to be solved by some gun law, additional gun laws here in Washington, D.C., the Oshkosh Republican told Fox Business host Neil Cavuto. Asked whether stiffer background checks could curb future school shootings, Johnson said people will always fall through the cracks. He added he believed some people shouldnt have guns but questioned how that determination might be made. The solution lies in stronger families, more supportive communities, I would argue renewed faith, he said. Weve lost that. We stopped teaching values in so many of our schools. Now were teaching wokeness. Were indoctrinating our children with things like CRT, telling, you know, some children theyre not equal to others and theyre the cause of other peoples problems. CRT refers to critical race theory, a decades-old academic framework used in graduate courses to understand how laws and institutions perpetuate racism. It is not taught in elementary schools, though conservatives have often conflated it with lessons focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. The concept has become a campaign talking point among conservatives trying to galvanize their base. Cavuto pushed back, saying school shootings have been going on long before wokeness and critical race theory. I think CRT has been going on under the radar for quite some time as well, Johnson said. Wokeness has been, liberal indoctrination has been. This is a much larger issue than what a simple new gun laws going to, its not going to solve it, its not going to solve it. Johnson spokesperson Alexa Henning did not respond to a request for comment. Ron Johnson is bearing false witness when he refuses to name the cause of these mass tragedies, which is our nations lunatic access to weapons of mass destruction of the type used to slaughter these children in Uvalde, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Nelson said in a statement, calling for an assault rifle ban. Doing nothing has resulted in one thing: more dead children, and the people of Wisconsin are tired of having a do-nothing Senator in Washington, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alex Lasry said. We need to ban assault weapons, expand background checks, and make our communities safer. The only way to change the deadly status quo in this country is to get Ron Johnson out of the Senate. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski called for comprehensive background checks, red flag laws and a ban on high-capacity magazines, saying most Americans support those measures. She slammed Republicans in Washington, D.C., bought and paid for by the gun lobby, who filibuster any meaningful change to our lax gun laws forcing the rest of us to accept mass shooting deaths as a normal feature of American life. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes said Johnson wants to distract from the $1.2 million he has taken from the gun lobby. He questioned how Wisconsinites could trust anything that comes out of the mouth of a self-serving politician whose loyalty can be bought. Ron Johnson and his gun lobby-funded colleagues are the reason we havent been able to pass commonsense gun reform, he said. If he wont step up to protect our kids, I will. Johnsons comments came a day after Democrats blocked his effort to codify the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety into law. That measure calls for the clearinghouse to include information about threat prevention, preparedness, protection, mitigation, incident response and recovery. Its a good idea, Johnson said. It could save lives. It is an action, when people are calling for action following this tragedy. Democratic U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blocked action on the bill Wednesday, saying he would focus instead on a measure that would authorize federal agencies to monitor, analyze, investigate and prosecute domestic terrorists. Republicans blocked that bill Thursday. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 John Krohn, who farms with his family west of Albion, has been nominated for the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts Nebraska Outstanding Water Conservation Award. The award is presented annually to an individual, group, business or community that demonstrates proper management of water in a manner prescribed to be in accordance with capabilities and economics of the resource. Winners exemplify the use of practices that protect and enhance the long-term sustainability, including both quality and quantity of water resources. Krohn raises corn and soybeans on land west of Albion, some of which has been in the family for more than 120 years. The Krohns conservation activities include wide use of no-till farming, and the use of cover crops. He farms with his wife, Sheena; mother, Cheryl; father, Charlie; and sister, Susan along with children Kasey, Annie and Caleb. Krohn is a member of the Nebraska Corn Board and serves as Director of District 7 (Boyd, Holt, Antelope, Garfield, Wheeler, Boone, Platte, Valley, Greeley and Nance counties). Krohn is also involved with several stakeholder groups at the Lower Loup NRD; the agency nominated Krohn for the award. The winner of the award will be announced at the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts Annual Fall Conference in September in Kearney. I want the planet to be better when I leave here than it was when I arrived, and I want it better so my children have this land to farm, Krohn said. I want them to have abundant, clean water we need to protect it now, so we have it forever. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Motorists traveling along the south part of 33rd Avenue may have noticed workers appearing to hang off the side of the viaduct. The Commonwealth Electric Company of the Midwest recently started a project that will upgrade the viaducts lighting. The project includes multi-colored high-grade LEDs specifically made for outdoor use, noted Commonwealth Project Manager Jeremy Braun. It's along the sides there are three arches as you go over the viaduct, it's going to shine up onto those arches and change the color of the arch, Braun said. The Columbus City Council OKd the improvement more than a year ago, according to Mayor Jim Bulkley. The current lighting isnt working correctly and hasnt for some time. It's taken some time to get it (the project) here because of supply chain issues and then coordinating with UP (Union Pacific Railroad) that we can do it and all that. It's a way to enhance the viaduct and light up the entrance to our community from the south, Bulkley said. It was in the budget. We talked about it, it made sense to do it because what was there from the original viaduct, many had burned out, were old-fashioned, inefficient lighting. This is just a better package that is currently efficient in today's world, and it actually has some options for different lightings that can take place. City Engineer Rick Bogus noted in a memo that current lighting has sustained damage from hail, ice and road salt, The Telegram reported in July 2021. They will be constructed at a different angle to lessen the potential for those damages. The new lighting should provide better aesthetics for drivers and lower the citys operating costs. Braun said Commonwealth finally started on the work three weeks ago. The project itself is simple - the biggest challenge has been coordinating between the different entities involved, including Union Pacific, he added. The business has already been getting quite a few calls from community members asking whats going on at the viaduct, Braun said. I'm trying to push everything to be done before the week of the Fourth of July, Braun said. I'm really hoping that we can get the red, white and blue fade in and stuff like that. So we're pushing for that day as hard as we can. Bulkley said he believed plans arent set in stone yet in regards to special lighting for Independence Day, but there will be a variety of options available once the new lighting is installed. The efficiency of today's lighting compared to just what we had 10, 12 years ago is tremendously different and better. The new lighting is just so much better and brighter, Bulkley said. We're just pretty excited about getting it done and finally being able to get it done. Hannah Schrodt is the news editor of The Columbus Telegram. Reach her via email at hannah.schrodt@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. I must admit that I am still finishing up a few Passover leftovers in my fridge, even though we are now well into spring and it is green and lovely outside. I delight in seeing all this returning greenery. Plants are growing againa big sigh of relief! Farmers are planting and getting this years crops started. In Israel, where it is a warmer climate, crops such as barley have been growing for a while and were ready to start harvesting around Passover. On the second day of Passover, we began the Counting of the Omer. Omer means sheaf of barley. We count the Omer each day for 50 days; those 50 days end with the holiday of Shavuot. How do we do that? We recite the prayer Today is the first (10th, 15th, 40th, etc.) Day of the Counting of the Omer, adding this recitation into our daily prayers. Why do we count sheaves of barley? Passover marks not only the miracle of the Jews deliverance from Egypt, but also marks the beginning of the barley harvest in ancient Israel. On the second day of Passover, in ancient Israel, Jews were required to bring an Omer of barley to the Temple as an offering. Counting of the Omer is a period of partial mourning for Jews; during these seven weeks, Jews refrain from celebrations, from dancing, from feasting and from holding weddings. There at least two reasons for this tradition. First, most ancient people depended entirely on agricultural yield, to feed them throughout the year. The spring was a period of food insecurity, because they were running out of stored food, and because it was uncertain how good the harvest would be. It was as though they felt that they needed to refrain from happy events until they were sure of the harvest yield. A second, more traditional reason for the refraining from happy events is that during the spring of the year 132 of the Common Era, during the period of Bar Kochbas revolt against the Romans, all but five of the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiba were struck by a terrible plague and died. But there is one day, during the period of the Omer counting, on which weddings and other celebrations may occur. This holiday, known as Lag Be-Omer, meaning the 33rd day of Omer, which just occurred last week on May 19. According to tradition, on this day the plague, which had killed all but five of Rabbi Akibas students, ended. Also during the period of the Bar Kochba rebellion many famous rabbis were hiding from the Romans, who forbade them from teaching. Nonetheless, Rabbi Simeon Ben Yochai lived secretly in a cave in the Galilean hills for 13 years but continued to teach. Each year the children of Galilee would visit the Rabbi on the 33rd day of the Omer, dressed as hunters, carrying bows and arrows, to fool the Romans. Tradition also teaches that Lag Be-Omer was the day of the year on which Rabbi Simeon Ben Yochai later died. In Israel, the holiday is celebrated by the lighting of bonfires and visits to the tomb of Rabbi Simeon Ben Yochai. Families enjoy getting out for picnics on this day. Also, children and teachers go out to the fields carrying bows and rubber-tipped arrows, as though they were hunters. Lag Be-Omer is also known as Yom Ha-Moreh, a day to honor all teachers. The counting of the Omer continues for a total of 50 days (seven weeks) and ends on the holiday of Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks (Shavuot is Hebrew for weeks), which will begin on Saturday evening, June 4 , and run to nightfall of Monday, June 6. Shavuot is a holiday with two traditional meanings. First, it is a holiday to celebrate the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people at Mt. Sinai. Second it is the festival to celebrate the grain harvest and the first summer fruits. In ancient days, two loaves of bread, made from the newly harvested grain, were brought to the Temple as a gift to God. Also, the first fruits of the land, such as grapes, figs, and honey, were brought to the Temple for God. Therefore, on Shavuot, we celebrate Gods great gift of the Torah to each of us, and we also celebrate the bounty of the harvest, which is Gods gift to us each year. On Shavuot, the Book of Ruth is read because of its description of the barley harvest. There is an important lesson for us in this book of the Bible. Ruth, who had been widowed, and thus impoverished, went out to glean from the fields because she had no other way to get food for herself and Naomi (there was no such thing as a widows pension back then). The Torah has always required us to leave the corners of our fields and our vineyards un-harvested, so that the poor can come and glean, in order to be able to eat. Yes, most of us are not farmers today, but this requirement is still incumbent on us. We should be leaving a portion of our earnings and our bounty in to help feed those who are in need. We are responsible for each other! At Shavuot we thank God for the fruits of the earth that sustain our bodies, and for Gods Teaching, the Torah, which sustains our lives and souls. We do not face the risk of wholesale starvation every spring, like our ancestors did, when they worked hard and hoped for a good harvest. But still there are many people in our prosperous country who go hungry every day. Hunger in our country and in our communities is caused by how poorly and unfairly our society allocates resources, not by scarce food supplies. Let us show our gratitude for the coming of spring and the bounty in which we live, by working to make those same blessings available to everyone. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 When it comes to the unspeakable tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, words fail. Maybe thats why Kathy Copenhaver and Kimberly Largent selected silence to grieve for and honor the lives lost when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire in Robb Elementary School Tuesday. Copenhaver and Largent organized 21-Minute Circle of Silence, a vigil that will take place at 7 p.m. Sunday in Thornwald Park at 350 Walnut Bottom Road in Carlisle. The 21 minutes represent the lives of 19 children and two teachers that were cut short by the shooting. For those who wish to participate, its a way of making time for each attendee to remember the victims and reflect on how this tragedy impacts them and those they care about, Largent said. Through silence come some of the best solutions. Here is a forum where folks can sit quietly for 21 minutes, grieve and contemplate what they can do to create change so this doesnt happen again. Attendees will sit in a circle with other community members for the duration of the silence, which will begin promptly at 7 p.m. They can also bring stuffed teddy bears, which Largent said will be donated to the city of Uvalde. Stuffed teddy bears certainly do not take the place of lost siblings or children or parents; however, they are a source of comfort to anyone who needs to hold on to something throughout the grieving process, Largent said. Sometimes a person can be more open with their feelings when talking to a stuffed animal than with another person. We cant replace what the community of Uvalde lost, but we can give them something to literally hold on to as they begin the arduous journey of healing. Participants are encouraged to arrive early and bring a chair or blanket to sit on. Parking for the event will be available along Walnut Bottom Road and teddy bears will be collected on a blanket at the center of the circle. People wishing to make a cash donation to shooting victims may send a check payable to Robb School Memorial Fund, PO Box 799, Uvalde, Texas 78802. Maddie Seiler is a news reporter for The Sentinel and cumberlink.com covering Carlisle and Newville. You can contact her at mseiler@cumberlink.com and follow her on Twitter at: @SeilerMadalyn Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Cumberland Goodwill EMS tends to see the highest number of overdose calls in May and June, and, according to Nathan Harig, assistant chief of administration, this years calls are a cause for concern for whats on the horizon. In 2021 ... we had 57 different patients. So far this current year ... weve had 35 patients. Were not even halfway through the year, he said. And the patients are unfortunately more critical than in previous years. Harig said paramedics are capable of titrating naloxone to patients, or adjusting the dosage of the anti-opioid medication so that they are able to restore a patients breathing without fully or suddenly waking them up. Because of that, paramedics have noticed that more naloxone is needed to restore breathing in current patients compared to past years. The police departments around here Carlisle, North Middleton and Middlesex have been really good with carrying naloxone with them, he said. Theyll get to the scene first and administer a little bit before we get there. Often times, that was enough to get them breathing. Now well get to the scene and theyll still be unconscious. Though EMS crews have no way of testing exactly what drugs are causing the critical overdoses, its become safe to assume that one drug is behind the recent rise of critical cases: fentanyl. It only takes a pinhead of fentanyl to kill you, Cumberland County Coroner Charley Hall said. Though EMS are unable to pinpoint the type of drug at the scene, Halls death investigations and toxicology reports are able to find the source in the cases where someone isnt revived. Among this years overdose deaths, Hall said fentanyl is present in 99% of the cases. Those 17 overdose deaths as of Wednesday can include other drugs, such as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, but fentanyl is often mixed in with those drugs. Fentanyl has been around for a few years, he said. Now its everywhere. Its in everything. Rise of fentanyl Fentanyl has now supplanted heroin as the most dominant opioid drug in Pennsylvania, according to a report Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro released on Monday. Shapiro said his offices Bureau of Narcotics Investigation seized about 40 times the amount of fentanyl compared to heroin in the first three months of this year, which was more fentanyl than was seized in all of the previous year a year that already saw a rise of fentanyl drugs. Last year, our Bureau of Narcotics Investigation seized more fentanyl than they had in the last four years combined, Shapiro said in a news release. The rise in fentanyl has also contributed to a rise in overdose deaths. Last year, we lost 15 Pennsylvanians each and every day to a drug overdose. The Attorney Generals Office reported that overdose deaths in Pennsylvania rose by 16.4% in 2020 and continued to rise another 6% in 2021. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said synthetic opioids, which includes fentanyl, was the primary driver of the increase in overdose deaths in the last several years. Fentanyl is deadly, and it is cheap to manufacture, Shapiro said. Fentanyl is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, with doses selling for the price of a six-pack of beer. Just one fentanyl-laced counterfeit pill is enough to cause an overdose. The counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl is of particular concern to the drug officials. The Drug Enforcement Administrations Philadelphia Field Division reported that more than 20% of its analyzed fentanyl seizures to date in 2022 were pills or tablets. According to the DEA, two milligrams of fentanyl can be a lethal dose, and the counterfeit pills can range from 0.02 to 5.1 milligrams. The DEA reported in January 2020 that while China was the primary source of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances, especially those trafficked through international mail, criminal organizations in Mexico were getting some of that fentanyl and smuggling it into the United States. In December 2021, NPR reported that the Mexican Defense Department was sounding the alarm on drug cartels massive fentanyl operations. According to that report, Mexicos seizure of fentanyl had increased 525% between 2018 and 2021 compared to the three years prior to that, and pills were identified as an issue given the ease of trafficking it. Overdoses and solutions Hall said hes seeing a sudden surge of fentanyl-related deaths. Though 2020 saw 30 overdose deaths until May of that year more than the 17 reported so far this year Hall said there seems to be an increase of overdose calls for his office in the last two months. Im hoping that they understand that we have a problem, Hall said. I know its an addiction, but you dont know what youre buying and whats in it. Harig said its when those overdose numbers are clustered that something like fentanyl may be added to drugs being used in the area. Because more fentanyl could mean more hospitalizations, he said that puts a burden on an already overburdened drug treatment system that doesnt have enough recovery beds, despite addiction support from local organizations. Harig said the problem is more widespread than people realize. While EMS crews will get called to hot spots, such as gas stations and hotels where there may be transient overdose victims, crews are also called to single-family homes for opioid overdoses, he said. People are shocked and cant believe its in their neighborhood, but it is; its everywhere, he said. Our patients are mostly Gen X, male, white. But we see some patients who are in their 70s or 80s or young teens or early 20s. Its men and women of every race. It covers all social and economic classes. Harig called on legislators to take the actions they promised to do before COVID-19 reared its head. Legislators have got to stop ignoring the problem, he said. Treatment is expensive and too far away for people. Its not a good system. One small change Harig said hed like to see is to make fentanyl testing strips legal. Currently in Pennsylvania, they are considered drug paraphernalia and are not legal to possess. The strips only show that there is a presence of fentanyl, not how much is present, but Harig said its the proof EMS would need to connect with the community and let users and their loved ones know of the added dangers. As it stands now, Harig said its important for everyone to have emergency naloxone kits on hand to help prevent deaths. Its not a permanent solution as it doesnt help cure an addiction, but its currently the one medication available that can prevent the coroner from arriving instead of a paramedic. Email Naomi Creason at ncreason@cumberlink.com or follow her on Twitter @SentinelCreason. 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. Cumberland County Bureau of Elections reported that it will follow state guidelines and start its recount of primary ballots on Tuesday. The county said the recount will start at noon on Tuesday and continue each day until the recount is completed. The recount will include primary ballots from the polls, mail-in, absentee, military, overseas and provisional. The recount will be held at the bureaus conference room on Ritner Highway, and only the candidate or their attorney and two representatives from the party will be permitted to witness the recount. Cumberland County will post the recount results on its website at www.ccpa.net, once the count has been finished. The recount of primary ballots will occur in every county across the state because of the tight race for U.S. Senate on the Republican ballot. Pennsylvania acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman on Wednesday authorized the recount because of how close the votes were in that race. According to the Associated Press, Dr. Mehmet Oz led former hedge fund CEO Dave McCormick by 902 votes as of Wednesday, which is 0.07 percentage points apart, small enough to trigger the recount. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DNA testing helps solve murder WOLF CREEK Pennsylvania state police say they have solved the slaying of a Chicago man whose burning body was found 42 years ago near Interstate 80 in a northwestern town. Edwin Rodriguez was identified through the use of DNA testing and genealogy tools, authorities announced Wednesday. Rodriguez was 18 when he and a family friend, Nestor Quintanal, left Chicago for Florida in the fall of 1980, and Rodriguezs family never heard from him again. His burning body was found Nov. 6, 1980, near Interstate 80 in Wolf Creek. Authorities said Quintanal who died in Florida in 2002 at the age of 71 is believed to have killed Rodriguez, who had third-degree burns on 70% of his body. A possible motive for the killing was not disclosed. The Mercer County District Attorneys office paid for state police to have an advanced DNA analysis performed, and in 2007 the office secured a DNA profile of the victim through evidence collected at the autopsy. In January 2019, the profile was sent to a lab for DNA phenotype testing and a genetic genealogy screening. The testing linked the body to a first cousin of Rodriguez, authorities said. Police reached out to the person, who was able to confirm the victim was Rodriguez. His remains have since been returned to his family in Chicago. Police: Video captures shooting of 4 PHILADELPHIA Four people were shot Wednesday night as they walked to a prom party in the Mantua neighborhood, according to Philadelphia police. WPVI-TV reports that just after 7 p.m. surveillance video captured a gunman who was reportedly on a bike when he fired the gunshots. The gunman is described as wearing all black clothing and a white mask over his face. Police say the victims were a 19-year-old man, a 19-year-old woman, her 34-year-old mother and a 60-year-old man. The 19-year-old man remains in critical condition. The other three victims are expected to survive their injuries. We know at least nine shots were fired from a semi-automatic weapon. We found nine spent shell casings on the sidewalk and some on the front lawn of a property in the 3500 block of Fairmount, Philadelphia police Chief Inspector Scott Small said. No one has been arrested and police did not give a motive for the shootings. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty Texas has joined Florida among states with the largest school shootings in American history. Both states are governed by conservatives who insist that the Second Amendment is sacrosanct. But if either state took the First Amendment half as seriously, they wouldn't be attacking the constitutional rights of social media sites to remove content that helps cause mass shootings. The more people can watch the live streams of such shootings, the more children will die. Nearly every social media site bans the distribution of such videos and tries to stop their spread as quickly as possible. They also ban glorification of such shootings, denial that these tragedies ever occurred, and harassment of victims families. How Alex Jones Conspiracy Empire Has Kept Itself Going Even While Being Banned From Social Media Most egregiously, Alex Jones spent a decade peddling the conspiracy theory that the Sandy Hook, Connecticut, massacre was staged to justify suppressing Americans gun rights. Grieving parents thereand later in Parkland, Floridahave been harassed for years by conspiracy theorists who insisted they must be crisis actors working in service of some nefarious government plot to trample Americans rights. Some parents even received death threats, and were forced into hiding. The families of those killed in Uvalde, Texas, shouldn't have to face the same abuse. Yet under new laws enacted by Texas and Florida, social media sites could be sued for moderating all of this contentand for banning those who share it. Both states claim theyre protecting conservatives from censorship. In fact, their laws would give legal weapons to crackpots, such as Alex Jones, who would inspire further massacres. This week, a federal appeals court ruled that website operators have the same First Amendment rights to curate content as newspapers and parade organizersand refused to allow Floridas law to take effect. But two weeks ago, a different federal court allowed enforcement of a similar Texas law without bothering to issue a legal opinion. Story continues Last week, my organization, TechFreedom, was among 18 leading civil liberties groups that asked the Supreme Court to restore an order enjoining the Texas law, lest it open the floodgates of lawful but awful content. The Court may grant review of both laws this fall. The two laws work somewhat differently, but with similar results. Texas bans censorship based on viewpoint. If a shooter posted a video explaining his motivesas the racist shooter in Buffalo dida social media site could be sued for blocking it, even if it included live footage of the shooting. Glorification and denial of shootings by others clearly expresses a viewpoint, so could not be moderated. Texas law excludes incitement of criminal activity, a category of speech the Supreme Court has interpreted far more narrowly than most people assume. (No, shouting fire in a crowded theater wouldn't qualify.) Texas also excludes threats of violence, but they must be specific, which most online harassment isn't. Unlawful expression can be removed, but that wouldn't include live shooting videos, glorification of shooters, or denial of shootings. Florida bars moderation of content posted by journalistic enterprisesincluding Joness Infowars and Gateway Pundit, another leading purveyor of conspiracy theories about Sandy Hook and Parklandand candidates for public office. Florida also requires consistency in content moderation, which could bar sites from moderating content sympathetic to shooters if they want to leave up news reports about that content. It further mandates that users have the option of seeing all shadow banned contenthowever heinous. Floridas law also makes an exception for moderation of obscenity, a narrow category that includes essentially only child sexual abuse material. Alex Joness claims that the Sandy Hook parents were crisis actors might well have been defamatory. But it takes courts years to decide defamation casesfour years in that case. And even then, Jones lost only by default for having defied multiple court orders. There's just no way websites can predict what will be considered unlawfuland they won't risk getting that wrong in the face of stiff penalties. What about Section 230? That 1996 federal law, written by a conservative Republican and approved by a nearly unanimous Congress, has broadly protected websites from being sued over content moderation. But in recent years, conservatives have turned against the law, blaming it for censorship. In fact, Section 230 merely ensures that websites neednt endure the enormous cost of litigating constitutional questions when they curate content they host. Justice Clarence Thomas has called on the Court to sharply limit the laws protection for content moderationsomething the Trump administration also attempted through regulatory fiat, and that the next Republican president will doubtless try again. Joe Rogans Im a Moron Defense Is a Cop-Out Today, courts apply Section 230(c)(1) to dismiss lawsuits that seek to hold websites responsible for decisions they make as publishers, including refusing to host content. Under Republicans reinterpretation of the law, websites would have to prove that they acted ingood faith under Section 230(c)(2)(A). Thats a highly fact-specific question that might require extensive discovery regarding websites motivesexactly the kind of fishing expedition Alex Jones wants. Moreover, the content moderated would have to be obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable. While shooting videos would be excessively violent, conservatives have construed otherwise objectionable (intended as a broad catch-all) so narrowly that it wouldnt cover glorification of violence or misinformation about shootingslet alone the White supremacist conspiracy theories about the Great Replacement that radicalized the Buffalo shooter. So websites would face lengthy lawsuits for trying to remove content that inspires copycat shooters. The government just doesnt have any business dictating to private media companies what kind of speech they must carryas the Supreme Court long ago ruled about newspapers. The same goes for social media sites, according to the judges who blocked the Florida lawrock-ribbed conservative intellectuals all. Legislating against content moderation may help populist conservatives inflame their base, but if the Supreme Court allows these laws to take effect, the price will be measured in the lives of children. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. By Francesco Guarascio BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Hungary and Slovakia will be able to continue buying Russian crude oil until the end of 2023 under existing contracts, an EU source told Reuters on Wednesday, benefitting from exemptions from an oil embargo proposed by the European Commission. The EU executive on Wednesday proposed a ban on EU imports of Russian crude oil within six months, and on refined oil products by the end of the year. In a bid to convince reluctant countries not to veto the proposal, Brussels has proposed a longer period to implement the embargo for Hungary and Slovakia, the source said, declining to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. The exception would concern existing contracts for crude oil signed by Hungary and Slovakia with Russia. The source declined to comment about whether the exemption also concerned refined products. The Commission's proposal is under discussion. It needs backing of all EU governments to be adopted. A meeting of EU envoys started at 0730 GMT on Wednesday to debate the matter. A second source, familiar with the discussions, said that the proposed delayed embargo for Hungary and Slovakia until the end of 2023 could be the compromise that is needed to reach an agreement. Hungary, heavily dependent on Russian oil, has repeatedly said it would not sign up to sanctions involving energy. Slovakia is also among the EU countries most reliant on Russian fossil fuels. Overall, the EU is dependent on Russia for 26% of its oil imports. Slovakia and Hungary, both on the southern route of the Druzhba pipeline bringing Russian oil to Europe, received respectively 96% and 58% of their crude oil and oil products imports from Russia last year, according to the International Energy Agency. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, additional reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; editing by Louise Heavens and Jason Neely) Today May 18 is daughter Lovinas 18th birthday. Lovina was born soon after we moved to Michigan. Its hard to believe its been 18 years. She has grown into a lovely young lady with a great sense of humor. Her special friend Daniel is an important part of her life and she has enjoyed his friendship for almost two years. He is a kind, loving young man. Our family plans to come home tonight in honor of Lovinas birthday. Lovina is baking a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (her favorite). She also requested that she would like rare beef on the menu (also her favorite). So now I need to make something that goes well with that. I plan to make the rare beef outside on the porch, on the side burner of my new gas grill. My husband Joe bought me a gas grill for Mothers Day. I love to cook outside on the porch on hot summer nights. I love it! Last night we cooked asparagus in butter on the grill. Lovina's Amish Kitchen Sunday church services were hosted here. We set a total of eight tables for everyone to eat. Our menu was homemade wheat and white bread, egg salad, cheese, peanut butter spread, pickles, red beets, hot peppers, butter, rhubarb and grape jam, coffee, tea, chocolate crinkles, chocolate chip and sugar cookies. While the women washed dishes, popcorn was passed out to everyone. All the bread, cookies and popcorn are made by the ladies in our church. We take turns furnishing it for each others church services. The eggs for the egg salad were donated to us from daughter Elizabeth and Tim, daughter Susan, and daughter Loretta and Dustin. On Saturday we cooked 20 dozen eggs, then peeled and chopped them. Also, 24 packs of hot dogs were chopped. Joe sliced two horns of Colby cheese with the slicer. The peanut butter mixture peanut butter, marshmallow creme, and corn syrup was also mixed. Those assisting us with our work on Saturday were Dustin and Loretta, Sister Verena, Daniel and Grace (Lovina and Josephs special friends), and daughter Verena. Their help was greatly appreciated! Hash brown casseroles were also made, so they were done and ready to heat for supper Sunday evening. Grilled hamburgers, macaroni salad, and a variety of desserts were also on the menu for Sunday supper. The salad and desserts were brought in by family. Story continues The benches were set up in our pole barn to hold the service and meals. With a kitchen area and bathroom out there, it makes it easier. I still do not have any garden planted. Im hoping we can do that this week, but it looks like rain today. We are enjoying asparagus and rhubarb. Dustin and Loretta are remodeling their house taking out a wall and rearranging her kitchen, and also putting in other kitchen cabinets and making it more handicap accessible for her. It is really looking good and will be so much more space for her. They can still sleep at their house, but they come here for their meals since her kitchen is not usable for now. Dustin mowed sister Verenas yard one night this week. No one had mowed it yet this year and it was very high. With all that was going on at his house and helping us, he couldnt get to it sooner. Ill sign off wishing everyone Gods richest blessings as we travel into the unknown future. Hash Brown Casserole 2 pounds frozen hash brown potatoes 1/2 cup melted butter Seasoning of your choice 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 pint sour cream 1 can cream of mushroom soup 2 cups grated cheese 1 pound smoked sausage, chopped Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Potatoes should be thawed (unless preparing a day ahead). Pour into greased casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Lovinas Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife, and mother of eight. Her newest cookbook, Amish Family Recipes, is available wherever books are sold. Readers can write to Eicher at P.O. Box 1689, South Holland, IL 60473 (please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply); or email LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org and your message will be passed on to her to read. She does not personally respond to emails. This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Lovina Eicher column about daughter's birthday and hosting church The gunman who killed 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school Tuesday was on the premises for up to an hour before law enforcement forcibly entered a classroom and killed him, officials said Wednesday. Its going to be within, like 40 minutes or something, (within) an hour, Texas Department of Public Safety director Steven McCraw told CNNs Ed Lavandera at a news conference. The 18-year-old shooter, Salvador Ramos, was in a standoff with law enforcement officers for about a half-hour after firing on students and teachers, Rep. Tony Gonzales, whose district includes Uvalde, told CNNs Jake Tapper, citing a briefing he was given. And then (the shooting) stops, and he barricades himself in. Thats where theres kind of a lull in the action, Gonzales said. All of it, I understand, lasted about an hour, but this is where theres kind of a 30-minute lull. They feel as if theyve got him barricaded in. The rest of the students in the school are now leaving. Ramos was killed by a law enforcement officer Tuesday, ending the second deadliest shooting at a K-12 school in the United States since 2012, when 26 children and adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It was at least the 30th shooting at a K-12 school in 2022, according to a CNN tally. LIVE UPDATES: Deadly shooting at Texas elementary school The gunman was a local high school dropout with no criminal history and no known mental health history, officials said. He had just turned 18 and legally bought two AR-15-style rifles and ammunition for his birthday. His grandfather said Wednesday he didnt know Ramos had guns. If I had known I would have reported him, Rolando Reyes said. Gunman allegedly texted teenaged girl in Germany on day of shooting The gunman allegedly texted a girl who lives in Germany about his intentions just before he shot his grandmother in her home and left for the school in her pickup.. According to screenshots reviewed by CNN and an interview with the 15-year-old girl who said she had been in contact with the gunman for weeks Salvador Ramos complained about his grandmother being on the phone with AT&T abojt (sic) my phone. Story continues Its annoying, he texted. Six minutes later, he texted: I just shot my grandma in her head. Seconds after that, he said, Ima go shoot up a(n) elementary school rn (right now). The last message was sent at 6:21 p.m. Central European Time, which was 11:21 a.m. in Texas. The girl, who lives in Frankfurt, said she began chatting with Ramos on a social media app on May 9. Ramos sent the girl selfie videos and discussed a plan to go visit her in Europe, according to videos and text messages. The girl, whose mother gave permission for her to be interviewed, said she spoke to Ramos daily on FaceTime. She said she also communicated with him via a social livestreaming app called Yubo and played games with him on a gaming app named Plato. In their conversations, she said he asked about her life in Germany. He looked happy and comfortable talking to me, the girl said. The texts to the girl are similar to messages that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Ramos wrote on Facebook. Those disturbing writings, Abbott said, came as the suspect indeed shot his grandmother, drove to nearby Robb Elementary School, forced his way inside adjoining classrooms and opened fire at a group of kids and faculty. Officers eventually forced their way into the barricaded room and a Border Patrol officer fatally shot him, Abbott said. A spokesperson for Meta, Facebooks parent company, said the gunmans messages were made in private one-to-one texts that were discovered after the shooting. Now, the city of Uvalde, about 90 miles west of San Antonio and just east of the US-Mexico border, finds itself on the long list of American communities devastated by mass shootings. So far, five 10-year-olds and a fourth-grade teacher have been named publicly by relatives as among the dead. Parents waited late into Tuesday night at a civic center to learn whether their children had survived, some having given DNA to help authorities identify victims, they told CNN. Authorities have since identified all the victims, whose remains have been removed from the murder scene, and notified their families, Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez said. President Joe Biden said Wednesday he will visit Uvalde soon. As a nation, I think we all must be there for them, Biden said. And we must ask when in Gods name will we do what needs to be done to if not completely stop, fundamentally change the amount of the carnage that goes on in this country. Sympathy also poured in from across the globe, including Pope Francis, who pushed for stronger gun control. Leaders of France, Germany and Spain shared condolences, too, along with the President of war-torn Ukraine, who called it terrible to have victims of shooters in peaceful time. How the shooting unfolded The gunman shot his grandmother in the face before driving to Robb Elementary, a second through fourth grade school, to carry out the attack, Gov. Abbott said. Officials said the grandmother, who called 911, remains in a hospital as do five victims from the school. Soon after that initial shooting, police got a 911 call about a vehicle that had crashed near the school and someone armed with a rifle heading inside, Olivarez told CNN in an interview Wednesday morning. The man was wearing a tactical vest carrier with no ballistic panels, Olivarez said. Sgt. Erick Estrada of the Texas Department of Public Safety told CNN that when the shooter got to the school, he encountered a school resource officer, dropped a black bag with ammunition inside and entered the school. The shooter barricaded himself inside adjoining classrooms and opened fire on the children and two teachers, Olivarez said, calling the act complete evil. People gather Wednesday at Robb Elementary School. - Nuri Vallbona/Reuters With the shooter barricaded inside, officers were at a disadvantage, he said. There was not sufficient manpower at that time, and their primary focus was to preserve any further loss of life, he told CNN. They started breaking windows around the school and trying to rescue, evacuate children and teachers while that was going on. A tactical team of local and federal officers arrived, forced its way into the classroom and shot the gunman dead, Olivarez said. One law enforcement officer was wounded and expected to survive. Authorities continue to investigate the shooting and events that led to it, Olivarez told CNN. Community shattered by sudden tragedy As the last day of school was drawing near, Robb Elementary students were celebrating with special themed dress days, including Tuesdays theme of Footloose and Fancy. Students were encouraged to come dressed in nice outfits and show off their fun footwear, according to a post on the schools Facebook page. But by Tuesday afternoon, shaken students were being bused to the civic center-turned-reunification site. As the evening stretched on, some parents began to learn their young children had not survived. We see people coming out just terrorized. Theyre crying one by one. Theyre being told that their child has passed on, state Sen. Roland Gutierrez told CNN on Tuesday night from the site. As news of the shooting broke in Uvalde, Robb Elementary parents were told students were being taken to the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center, according to a post on the school districts Facebook page. The site quickly became the epicenter for families looking for their children, and scenes of devastation began to play out as victims were identified. Parents were asked for DNA swabs to confirm their relationships to their children and instructed to wait an hour for an answer, at least four families told CNN. A father, who had just learned his child was dead, fought tears as several of his cousins embraced him. A few yards away, a grandmother who had just driven from San Antonio said she would not stop praying for her 10-year-old granddaughter as they waited for the DNA results. Inside, city workers handed out pizza, snacks and water to families. Some parents waited in silence, while others sobbed quietly as a group of children sat on the floor playing with teddy bears. A group of local pastors and chaplains arrived and offered their support to the families. Its a small town, said Lalo Diaz, a county justice of the peace. Its the kind of place where everyone knows each other, Diaz said, noting he knows the families of several victims. In his civic role, Diaz coordinates processing of the deceased. Until now, hes only dealt at once with four people killed in a car crash, he said. When I have to sign 21 death certificates, Diaz said, my heart will drop. Robb Elementary includes second through fourth grades and had 535 students in the 2020-21 school year, state data shows. About 90% of students are Hispanic, according to the data. Uvalde County had a population of about 25,000 in the 2020 census. 10-year-olds, teacher identified as victims Five of the children and one teacher killed have been identified publicly by their families. Ten-year-old Xavier Lopezs mother confirmed her son was killed and recalled her fourth graders unforgettable smile. Xavier was days away from finishing elementary school and couldnt wait to attend middle school, his mother told the Washington Post. Martinez had been at the school earlier Tuesday to cheer on Xavier during the honor roll ceremony, at which he got a certificate. She took a picture of her boy and told him she was proud of him and loved him, she said. Then, she hugged her mamas boy goodbye. Elsewhere in the hours after the shooting, Angel Garza pleaded on Facebook for help finding his daughter, 10-year-old Amerie Jo Garza. He followed up early Wednesday morning: Shes been found. My little love is now flying high with the angels above. Please dont take a second for granted, Garza wrote. Hug your family. Tell them you love them. Jose Flores Jr., 10, was killed, as well, his father told CNN. The brother of two younger siblings, Jose loved baseball and video games and was always full of energy, Jose Flores Sr. said. And 10-year-old Uziyah Garcia was among the slain, his family told CNN. The fourth grader was full of life and loved anything with wheels, his uncle Mitch Renfro told CNN. Uziyahs grandfather remembered throwing the football with his grandson and teaching him pass patterns and plays, Manny Renfro recalled. He was the sweetest little boy that Ive ever known, the grandfather said in an interview with CNN affiliate KSAT. Fourth-grade teacher Eva Mireles was also killed, her aunt, Lydia Martinez Delgado, told CNN. Mireles had been an educator for 17 years and in her off time enjoyed running, hiking, biking and spending time with her family, according to her profile on the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District website. What we know about the shooter Ramos had stopped regularly attending school at Uvalde High School, one of his former classmates told CNN. He barely came to school, said the friend, who did not wish to be identified. Ramos had recently sent him a picture of an AR-15-style rifle, a backpack with rounds of ammunition and several magazines, the friend added. I was like, Bro, why do you have this? and he was like, Dont worry about it, the friend said. He proceeded to text me, I look very different now. You wouldnt recognize me. The shooter also sent ominous Instagram messages to another user hours before the shooting, screenshots show. The archbishop of San Antonio, Gustavo Garcia-Siller, comforts families Tuesday outside the civic center after the deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. - Dario Lopez-Mills/AP Three days before the attack, an account linked to the shooter posted a photo of two rifles lying on a carpet in a story that tagged another Instagram account by name. The owner of the tagged account wrote in a story posted after the shooting that Ramos had tagged her and messaged her out of the blue. The girl, who did not include her name on her account and has since made her account private, posted a series of screenshots of messages she said she exchanged with the shooter in the days before the massacre. In one message that appeared to be sent the morning of the shooting, Ramos wrote Im about to but didnt say what he would do. I got a lil secret, he wrote in another message. I wanna tell u. In messages posted to her story before it went private, the girl said that she didnt live in Texas and didnt know Ramos. Ramos had a history of fighting with others, according to a former friend and a video obtained by CNN that depicts Ramos repeatedly throwing punches. The former friend said the video, which he received more than a year ago, depicts Ramos fighting with someone else, which the former friend said was not out of the ordinary. He would always get in fights in school, the former classmate said CNN has reached out to the Uvalde school district for more information, but received no response. Communities that have endured shootings express solidarity The victims loved ones and community members grieving the loss of 21 Uvalde residents join a growing number of Americans whose lives have been ravaged by mass shootings and school shootings in particular. Its a club that no one wants to be a part of, said Erica Lafferty, whose mother, Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting. So far, there have been more mass shootings than days in 2022 including the racist attack at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store a little over a week ago that left 10 dead. At least 213 mass shootings had been recorded this year as of Tuesday, the 144th day of the year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. CNN and the archive each define a mass shooting as one in which four or more people were injured or killed, not including the shooter. Parents of children who died in the Sandy Hook Elementary and Parkland, Florida, school shootings expressed support for the Uvalde community and aired frustrations about the shared language of loss that gun violence has created for so many families. Fred Guttenbergs daughter Jaime was one of 17 people killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. I cant stop thinking about these families today who need to figure out how theyre going to bury their children, who need to figure out how they are going to console their other children, he said. And I cant stop thinking about this community that needs to figure out how theyre all going to rally, how theyre all going to take care of one another in this aftermath. CNNs Nicole Chavez reported from Uvalde, Texas, while Elizabeth Wolfe and Dakin Andone reported and wrote from Atlanta and Isabelle Chapman and Daniel A. Medina reported from New York. CNNs Eric Levinson, Steve Almasy, Nikki Carvajal, Paradise Afshar, Curt Devine, Jeff Winter, Evan Perez, Andy Rose, Priscilla Alvarez, Jamiel Lynch, Jennifer Henderson and Joe Sutton contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com FILE PHOTO: Sanofi logo at the company's headquarters during the annual results news conference in Paris By Ludwig Burger (Reuters) -French healthcare group Sanofi's first-quarter adjusted earnings gained 16.2% on sales growth of its bestselling drug Dupixent and a rebound in demand for prescription-free drugs. First-quarter business operating income, or adjusted earnings before interest and tax, rose to 3.07 billion euros ($3.23 billion), surpassing the average analyst estimate of 2.84 billion euros posted on the company's website. Revenue from eczema and asthma treatment Dupixent jumped over 45% to 1.61 billion euros, beating an analyst consensus of 1.58 billion euros, on prescriptions in dermatitis, asthma and certain nasal infections. The drugmaker added it would stop patient recruitment for clinical trials in Russia and Belarus, following Russia's attack on Ukraine, causing study results in the area of multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to be delayed. The timing of requests for regulatory approval, however, was unchanged, it added. Other pharmaceutical companies including Roche have warned that the war is disrupting development of a new generation of MS drugs as the industry has come to disproportionately rely on eastern Europe for clinical trials. Sanofi, Roche, Novartis and Merck KGaA are in a race to develop new MS drug candidates called BTK inhibitors. COPD, in turn, could become yet another area of growth for Dupixent. Sanofi last month said peak annual sales of the drug, jointly developed with Regeneron, would be more than 13 billion euros, up from a previous target of more than 10 billion. That excluded the potential use in COPD, sometimes called smoker's lung, where trial results are expected next year. To counter the war's effect on clinical studies, Sanofi is transferring trial volunteers within Ukraine or into neighbouring countries as well as activating new clinical sites and recruiting more volunteer in other countries. Contributing to the group earnings gain, Consumer Healthcare unit sales rose 19.3% to 1.33 billion euros, well above the 1.2 billion expected by the market, on a surge in cough remedies and painkillers. Story continues Sanofi said on Thursday that it still expects 2022 adjusted group earnings per share to grow at a low double-digit percentage. The French group added that it and partner GlaxoSmithKline, who fell behind in the race to launch a COVID-19 vaccine, were working on a next-generation booster vaccine for broad protection against all coronavirus variants of concern, with trial data expected during the second quarter of this year. ($1 = 0.9500 euros) (Reporting by Ludwig Burger; editing by Uttaresh.V and Jason Neely) Maria Valenzuela is the domestic program director for Esperanca, an organization providing health care services to the Arizona Latino community and developing nations around the world. She is seen at its Phoenix offices on May 14, 2021. Lee en espanol. Maria Valenzuela starts her days with two cups of home-brewed coffee sipped in front of her laptop, which showcases stickers of famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and the word "esperanca," which means "hope" in Portuguese. The latter is also the name of the nonprofit where she has done health-related outreach serving tens of thousands of Latino people in Arizona since 1999. Valenzuela's goal is to end the cycle of poverty that many experience, especially within the migrant community. As a child migrant herself, the daughter of a single mother who crossed the border with a visitor visa in 1979 from San Miguelito, Sonora, Mexico, she has firsthand experience with the immigration system. She said she arrived in Tucson at the age of 7. "I think there are generations, younger than I am, who feel empowered to make some changes or start a movement, where in the past there was so much fear put upon us that we couldn't make those changes because nothing positive would come out of that," Valenzuela said. "And even now, it takes a lot." For more stories that matter, subscribe to azcentral.com. Esperanca works with the Latino community to provide health education and resources that helps individuals prevent and avoid disease. They offer a nutrition program, meditation classes, a "Stove to Table" meal delivery service, oral health classes, a diabetes education program and more. Valenzuela also often travels internationally to be an interpreter and determine if programs could be implemented in one of the five countries Esperanca serves: Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Mozambique and Nicaragua. 'I had already understood ... what it's like not having medical insurance' Valenzuela remembers helping her mother fill out checks, at 7 years old, with no understanding of what she was writing. She needed to help her mother because she couldn't speak or write in English fluently. She had to translate everything, whether it was bank calls, car dealership communications, school applications, or even errands to the store. Now, she thinks she thinks her childhood role gave her the ability to be open to any situation. Story continues She also remembers struggling to get health care as an uninsured and undocumented child. Valenzuela's mother hesitated to seek medical attention because of her legal status. They would be denied services, turned away due to lack of insurance, and even unable to get to free clinics because of lack of transportation. "Having the ability to be accessible to the families in order for me to help them out, getting them in the door with clinics, or help them understand the importance of prevention was very critical for me," Valenzuela said. "I had already understood, myself, at such a young age, what it's like not having medical insurance." At 14, she volunteered at Wesley Community Center, a nonprofit in Phoenix where she first discovered her talent for helping others. There, she remembers helping an immigrant woman who also had a daughter, and realizing that her natural ability to translate English into Spanish enabled her to help the woman. A few years after high school, she landed a job at the nonprofit Tempe Community Action Agency and has worked in the nonprofit sector since. She later became a U.S. citizen, but said she still sees herself and her mother in the migrant families she works with. More Faces of Arizona: Supporting indigenous youth: She became the resource she needed when she was a teen growing up in Fort Defiance Pandemic assistance: Phoenix woman was integral to multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief effort on Navajo Nation Integral to nonprofit's work with Latino community Valezuela estimates she has helped more than 40,000 people since 2000 while working for Esperanca. Several colleagues said they see Valenzuela as a pillar of the relationship they have with the Latino community. "She always treats us like a part of the team," said a colleague, Jazmin Hernandez. "I think that is one good characteristic of being a leader. That you need to include all of the members of your team in the decisions." When COVID-19 hit last year, Valenzuela quickly came up with solutions, such as livestreaming on Facebook to stay in touch with the community and address their concerns, and collaborating with the Cesar Chavez Foundation to provide meals to senior citizens in subsidized housing. Valeria Lopez, community health educator for Esperanca, remembered when an older woman who was in need of social interaction during the pandemic sobbed when she saw Esperanca staff and thanked them for all of the assistance they provide. "She has a lot of experience so she is very aware of the community, their needs, so she helps give me guidance," said Alexia Vega, a community health educator who works closely with Valenzuela. Reach the reporter at Ivana.Venema-Nunez@gannett.com or at 480-291-2226. This story is part of the Faces of Arizona series. For years, people in Arizonas diverse communities have said they dont see themselves reflected in the newspaper, and that they want to see more good news about their people. These profiles are a step in that direction. Have feedback or ideas on who we should cover? Send them to editor Kaila White at kaila.white@arizonarepublic.com. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Faces of Arizona: Maria Valenzuela has helped thousands live healthier Five students attended the April meeting and read their essays to the members. Those students were Regan Nicole Bradley from Central High School, Macey Bone from West County High School, Chase Glore from Potosi High School, Emma Gaugel from North County High School and Tyler Mork from Bismarck High School. Makayle Keesee from Arcadia Valley High School attended the May meeting and read her essay. Lisa LaComb, a member of the Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter, is the committee chairperson and has done an outstanding job contacting the schools, receiving the information from the schools about the student they chose to represent their school, receiving the essays, and finding judges to judge each essay, said Karen Kleinberg, regent. It takes several months for the whole process and we thank Lisa for her dedication to this committee which she has headed for nine years." 7,123 Virginians. An analysis of avoidable COVID deaths by a group of the countrys best schools of public health has put a cost on the ignorance of vaccine opponents and the politicians, such as Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who catered to them to get elected. The study by Brown and Harvard Universities, Brigham and Womens Hospital, and Microsoft AI Health analyzed vaccination rates and death data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New York Times. Researchers then calculated the number of lives that could have been saved with injections of COVID-19 vaccines. Nationally, the number totaled roughly 318,000 lives. Virginias share of that figure was 7,123. The fact that one Virginian, much less 7,100, died unnecessarily is an abomination. Perhaps those unvaccinated people ultimately bear responsibility for their fates. But purveyors and facilitators of misinformation, as well as leaders like Youngkin, who promoted the idiotic notion that vaccine mandates should be banned during a pandemic, have blood on their hands, too. Much of the nonsense began when former President Donald Trump denied that the coronavirus was a problem which required intervention. In 2020, he said the virus would disappear When that proved false, he blamed China for what he called the Chinese flu. This led to travel bans and anti-Asian sentiments that resulted in some assault cases but did little to stem the spread of COVID-19. Still, Trump criticized state governors who mandated business and local government shutdowns, predicting that fewer people would die from COVID than by suicide caused by the economic downturn. CDC statistics show that roughly 46,000 Americans took their own lives in 2020, fewer than in 2019. Meanwhile, COVID claimed nearly 351,000 Americans in 2020. The best thing Trump did was fast track the development of COVID-19 vaccines. The worst thing he did was turn vaccine use into a political litmus test. Trump praised businesses that defied shutdown orders. He did not encourage people to wear masks in crowded indoor settings. More than once he said, This is going to go away without a vaccine. He talked about using hydroxychloroquine and even bleach as COVID treatments. Republican politicians nurtured this strategy, encouraging distrust in government and science, then exploiting the uncertainty and fear they created for their personal gain. Leaders who convinced people that personal freedom somehow protected them from what research shows would kill them contributed to the deaths of some the leaders claim to represent. In Virginia, Youngkin ranks first in that regard. He campaigned to end mask mandates but soon extended that position to include vaccination mandates. This helped convince thousands of Virginians that vaccinations were not just suspect, but unnecessary. The cynicism of the governors gambit came with the knowledge that after assuring his constituents vaccinations should be optional, he mounted a statewide campaign to encourage voluntary vaccination. The issue raised by the new study is a void of leadership. Glenn Youngkin and many other federal, state and local politicians who stood against vaccination mandates know vaccinations work. Many spreading disinformation had been vaccinated because they knew perfectly well it could save their lives. By December 2021, even Trump was encouraging people to get the shots. The problem was that by then, these purported leaders had already left constituents to marinate in self-delusion and deadly risk by purposely sewing seeds of suspicion about government and vaccines, then watering thern with warnings that questioned both research and efficacy. COVID deaths in Virginia are now way down across the state. But the geogrpahbic disparity in the total number of COVID deaths tells an ugly story that will continue to grow, however slowly. A tragedy endures when more people have died of COVID in the city of Danville than in the city of Alexandria. A travesty persists when Campbell and Bedford Counties each have dozens more COVID deaths than Albemarle. Anti-vaxxers might never have been convinced to get shots. But others walked around convinced that they risked nothing by skipping vaccinations in order to show political loyalty to the Republican Party. Those who died of COVID perished as a result of the lies their leaders told them. Kerrville, TX (78028) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. With digital streaming platforms increasingly becoming the dominant space to watch movies, many Corvallis locals are hanging on to the timeless tradition of gathering together to experience classic films in person. Ygal Kaufman started Community Movie Night in 2014 at the Darkside Cinema, 215 SW Fourth St., showing classic films every Tuesday evening, and a silent film with live music on the last Tuesday of every month. After a two-year COVID-19 hiatus from the event, Kaufman still runs the show remotely from his home in Oklahoma. The hook of Community Movie Night is that all the films that I screen are in the public domain, Kaufman said. This has just always been my passion and something Ive really been involved in, and in every city I live in, I become friends with the theater owners. The main auditorium has undergone some renovations during the pandemic, Darkside manager Joey Bauer said. The screen was moved to the other side of the room, and, because of COVID-19, there are now 40 seats instead of 55. It got a face lift, I guess, Bauer said. It has a nice atmosphere, very comfortable and inviting. Movie-goers enjoy more than the classic film, however; Kaufman also scours the internet for newsreels, commercials and cartoons that came out during the same year as whatever movie hes showing. These elements, he said, are part of the fun. Its really a complete show package, he said. The showings started back up this month, with numbers slowly creeping back to pre-pandemic attendance. Back in the heyday, Kaufman said, the Darkside would routinely sell out for Community Movie Night. For now, the word that the shows are back on is still getting out. With such a vast wealth of classic films to choose from, you may be wondering how Kaufman makes his selection each week. Every year theres a whole new crop of films entering the public domain, he said. For example, 2022 is the first year we can screen films from 1926. Kaufman shows films from the '20s all the way up to the early '80s, depending on their copyright rules. The best-known films tend to sell out, while others attract a smaller crowd. The film still matters whether people come or not, Kaufman said. The first and third shows of the month are science fiction extravaganza films, with a $10 admission price that can also be credited toward the snack bar. The second and sometimes fourth shows of the month are rotating genres, with $8 admission across the board and a medium popcorn for the price of a small. For the silent film, admission is $8 for seniors and $10 for everyone else. In case youre not yet sold, Bauer hands out free ice cream during the intermission of the science fiction films. The Corvallis duo Sonochromatic improvises live music with the silent film at the end of each month. Kaufman said sometimes its their first time seeing the film even as theyre playing along with it and creating sound effects. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. Bauer said heckling is encouraged at each show, and people often hoot and holler at the cheesiness of some of the old films. Kaufman has selected the 1926 film Don Juan for the May 31 silent movie. More information on upcoming films is available at https://darksidecinema.com/. Joanna Mann (she/her) covers education for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6076 or Joanna.Mann@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @joanna_mann_. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. South Africa: Vaccine hesitancy declines slightly A University of Johannesburg (UJ) and Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) COVID-19 Democracy Survey has found that vaccine hesitancy declined slightly from 28% in July 2021 to 25% in November 2021. The online survey, which was a partnership between UJ and the HSRC, was conducted using the data-free Moya Messenger app, which has six million subscribers and 800 000 users per day. Presenting the findings from the survey, Yamkela Majikijela, PhD research trainee at the HSRC, said the survey focused on the latest data research, titled Round 4" (undertaken between 25 June and 20 July 2021) and Round 5 (undertaken between 22 October and 17 November 2021). Majikijela was speaking during a webinar on COVID-19 Vaccine hesitancy, led by Deputy Minister in Presidency, Pinky Kekana, with the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, as one of the panellists. She said by mid-2021, 10% of prople were vaccinated and 61% were favourable (total = 71% accepting), with hesitancy at 28%. In Oct/Nov 2021 in Round 5, 36% were vaccinated and 38% favourable (total = 74% accepting), with 25% hesitant. Results show that the 'accepting' are increasingly getting the COVID-19 vaccine, but a large share of this group remain unvaccinated, she said. Majikijela said the share that is hesitant declined only marginally during 2021. Looking at vaccine acceptance and hesitancy by demographics, the survey showed that the 18 - 34 age group was more hesitant compared to other age groups. In terms of gender, females were more hesitant compared to males. Meanwhile on population group, the levels of hesitancy within white people remain higher than among black African or Indian and Asian adults. Self-reported explanations for vaccine hesitancy include the following: Explanations that are concerned with the general effectiveness and safety of the vaccine, excluding side effects. Explanations concerned with side-effects. Lack of trust in the vaccine or with government or other institutions. Religious objection explanations that provide a religious reason for being unwilling to vaccinate. Explanations that doubt the existence of COVID-19 or attribute the virus and/or vaccine to powerful groups with vested interests. Express the belief that the individual is not at risk of COVID-19. A preference for alternative treatments for COVID-19, including other drugs and/or traditional medicines, such as umhlonyane. Social media stories or hearing rumours that have made them hesitant. Speaking at Thursdays the webinar, Kekana said vaccine hesitancy prevents the country from living beyond the pandemic and focusing on the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) aimed at rebuilding the country. She said that vaccine hesitancy among the world is neither new nor unique to COVID-19 vaccines. Kekana said the country is nearing the halfway mark for adult vaccination, with almost half of South African adults having at least one COVID-19 vaccine, which is nowhere near the 70% of the population being fully vaccinated. The Minister said the survey tested thousands of citizens and some of the major reasons from the study show that technical language and medical jargon cause people to ignore information; but on the other hand, people also do not trust governments communication. Addressing issues raised in the survey Kekana said government will address some of these issues that have arisen in the survey. In our goal and commitment to leave no one behind and ensure that we build back better, it is incumbent upon us to drive a vaccine confidence strategy. We know that some things we cannot fix overnight, one of them being the trust in government due to the extensive levels of corruption. I can only say and show it in my actions that not all of us are involved in anti-nation building and corruption, [and] give you reason to be suspicious. Some of us are focused on the well-being of our people, Kekana said. Dhlomo said the health consciousness factor and health seeking behaviour in a population are important. He said the country must allow themselves to be advised by scientists when it comes to issues of health. He said the Ke Ready campaign was done by young healthcare professionals, who wanted to reach out to the young population and get them to understand how vaccines work and get to vaccinate. Let us continually service our bodies, including trusting advice when asked to come in for vaccination. Vaccine is the only defence mechanism to the COVID-19 virus, which is the reason we ask you to make a commitment to vaccinate, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-05-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Art About Agricultures annual exhibition of agriculture and natural resource-themed artwork by Oregon State Universitys College of Agricultural Sciences has started a statewide tour in Corvallis and will continue to Baker City and Newport in the coming months. The theme of the 39th annual juried competition and touring exhibition is Sustainable Feast, presenting work of Northwest artists whose art explores production and consumption, sustainability, diversity and innovation in our food system. The open call received 290 responses from artists in Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. The tour will include artwork by artists from 12 Oregon counties, five Washington counties and one county in Hawaii. The exhibition will visit four locations: Through June 15: Giustina Gallery, LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St., Corvallis. A reception is set for 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 26. July 1 to 30: Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, Baker City. Aug. 5 to Sept. 30: Pacific Maritime Heritage Center, Newport. Aug. 6 to 27: Newport Visual Arts Center, supporting exhibition in the Upstairs Gallery. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Linn County Sheriffs deputies have arrested a California man accused of assault including threatening someone with a machete after a car chase through Lebanon. Deputies arrested Aaron Halvorson, 44, on charges of attempt to elude, reckless driving, first-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree assault, menacing and unlawful use of a weapon, according to a news release from the Linn County Sheriff's Office. At around 5:48 a.m. Wednesday, May 25, deputies began a pursuit of Halvorson, who is suspected of assaulting someone the night before. The victim told police Halvorson punched her and threatened her with a machete while the two were camping at a site on Quartzville Road. According to the news release, Halvorson had already left the campsite when deputies arrived at the scene. A deputy searching for Halvorson found him driving a 2000 Lincoln Navigator with California plates, according to LCSO, and attempted to stop him near Highway 20 and Weirich Cut-Off. Halvorson didnt stop, according to the news release, and a pursuit ensued. Deputies followed the vehicle and deployed spike strips east of Lebanon, which flattened three of the four tires on the suspects vehicle, the news release says. Halvorson continued to elude police at low speeds. He reportedly circled back to Lebanon where he eventually stopped. Deputies took him into custody near Crowfoot Road. Halvorson was booked into Linn County Jail. Lebanon Police Department assisted LCSO in the chase. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Two public health warnings have been issued for contagious diseases, neither of which poses an immediate threat to people in Oregon. The Centers for Disease Control on Friday issued a warning for public health officials across the United States to be vigilant in reporting possible cases of monkeypox, which have been reported in a handful of states and several European countries. "There are no presumptive or confirmed cases to date in Oregon," Oregon Health Authority spokesman Jonathan Modie said Thursday, May 26. Modie said the overall risk of monkeypox to people in Oregon is low. Monkeypox is not a new virus, and health officials are prepared if it arrives in Oregon. "Vaccine and medications for prevention and treatment of monkeypox are available, should anyone in Oregon experience a high-risk exposure or become infected," Modie said. The monkeypox announcement came as the U.S. Department of Agriculture has created a quarantine zone in Malheur County in an attempt to contain a suspected outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The Oregon Department of Agriculture announced the quarantine in a statement Friday. Nationwide, an estimated 38 million birds have been found on 355 infected flocks in 35 states. The total includes an estimated 569 birds in Oregon and 488 in Idaho. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. The Centers for Disease Control has reported rare cases of bird flu in humans this year. Infected birds shed bird flu virus through their saliva, mucus and feces. Human infections with bird flu viruses can happen when the virus gets into a persons eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled. Human-to-human infection is very rare, the CDC said. "However, because of the possibility that bird flu viruses could change and gain the ability to spread easily between people, monitoring for human infection and person-to-person spread is extremely important for public health," the CDC warned. Monkeypox A somewhat less virulent form of the monkeypox virus has been reported this month in Europe and North America. Though far less contagious than COVID-19, it has a much higher fatality rate. Cases reported in Britain and the United States so far are of the West African strain, which the World Health Organization says kills about 1 of every 100 people infected. The other version, the Congo Basin strain, kills 1 in 10 people infected. The CDC-reported cases have been in California, Washington, Utah, New York, Massachusetts and Virginia. All of the cases "are within gay, bisexual men and other men who have sex with men," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement last week. Walensky called for a response "guided by science, not by stigma." Monkeypox received its name when it was discovered in the primate in 1958. But it can be spread by contact with a number of infected animals and by human-to-human transmission. Unlike COVID-19, outward signs of infections are more significant. Infections begin with nausea and other flu-like symptoms. It leads to swelling of the lymph nodes and fluid-filled bumps on the skin. The current version often has first appeared as a rash in the genital area. It can spread through contact with infected bodily fluids, sores, and other skin-to-skin contact. Monkeypox can also spread by contact with clothes or bedding of a person with lesions. Prolonged face-to-face contact without masking can spread through respiratory droplets of the infected person or animal being breathed in by the uninfected. As of noon on Friday, the international health data sharing system Microreact listed nine confirmed cases of monkeypox in the United States. There have been 365 suspected and confirmed cases in 11 countries since the first reported case in the current outbreak was reported by an English hospital on May 4. The Microreact monitoring website can be seen at microreact.org/project/monkeypox. Avian flu State and federal agencies report that on May 23, the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) confirmed a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Idaho along the Oregon border, requiring the creation of a quarantine area in Malheur County. In Oregon, the USDA reported 450 birds were affected in what was classified as a backyard producer in Lane County and 90 birds in a backyard producer of nonpoultry birds in Linn County. The Lane and Linn county avian flu cases were reported earlier in May. The disease was also detected in wild birds in Lane County. The USDA website showed Idaho has reported 12 outbreaks involving a total of 488 birds, with 468 in Ada County, the southwestern county that includes the capital of Boise. Two outbreaks totaling 20 birds were reported in Canyon County, which includes the cities of Nampa and Nyssa. All of the cases involved backyard producers, with the majority of infected birds listed as poultry, but also cases involving several nonpoultry birds as well. Both Ada and Canyon counties are close to the Oregon border. International rules require the immediate creation of quarantine areas to halt the spread of the disease. The regional quarantine bars the movement of poultry from within this quarantine area for an as-yet unspecified period. Oregon law requires the quarantine areas to extend a minimum of 10 kilometers around an infected property. Organizers of events involving birds must contact the Oregon State Veterinarian, Ryan Scholz, at npip@oda.oregon.gov or 800-347-7028 immediately and must inform event exhibitors and vendors of the quarantine. The emergency rules are online at the Oregon Secretary of State's website. For more information go to the Oregon Department of Agriculture's avian influenza page. Information is also available in Spanish. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Lebanons city council has traded one firefighter for another, appointing Jeremy Salvage Wednesday, May 25, to the Ward 3 seat that Jason Bolen vacated in April. Salvage works as a firefighter in Salem and served on the Lebanon Planning Commission for 12 years, chairing the up-to nine-member board since 2018. The 41-year-old has lived in Lebanon from birth, watching from the front row as his community suffered economic downturn in the '90s and early 2000s, then expansion under what he described as a business-friendly philosophy in city government. Most people do, but I certainly developed a hometown pride, Salvage said. His time with the Planning Commission helped familiarize him with land development and related issues, such as wetlands development. He said hell leverage that experience. The council voted unanimously to appoint Salvage. He will serve out the remainder of Bolens term, which ends Dec. 31, 2024. Half the citys six-member council is now appointed. Ward 2 councilor Gamael Nassar was selected in April 2021, to serve out the remainder of Karin Stauders term which ends this year. KJ Ullfers is serving in the other Ward 2 seat until the end of 2024, vacated in October by Rebecca Grizzle. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Lebanon Express. The city announced the latest opening after Bolen stepped down from his position on the council and as the bodys president April 13 to accept a division chief job with Bend Fire and Rescue. The council selected Bolens Ward 3 co-councilor Michelle Steinhebel to fill its presidency. Councilors received seven applications. By the end of Wednesdays interviews with applicants, they had narrowed their selection to just two. Mayor Paul Aziz cast the tie-breaking vote for Savage. Its very difficult when you have candidates like you guys, Aziz said. Ross Dewberry, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Oregon State University graduate who applied for the council opening May 11, withdrew from selection before his interview. I would like to recognize there are quite a few applicants here with much more experience, he said. Educator Jeannie Davis impressed with her background of community service and outreach to underserved populations in Lebanon. Savage curried favor with his detailed knowledge of the citys efforts to expand. Davis told councilors her top three priorities as a councilor would be securing access to equitable education, healthcare and housing. She said Lebanons downtown should be key to its revitalization. I know weve all been to downtowns throughout our region and its just that place that you want to be and stay, Davis said. Salvage acknowledged the role the city could play in abating cleanup costs for potential developers of Cheadle Lakes former mill sites. He told councilors he envisions a Lebanon version of Bends Old Mill District, upscale retail integrated with a trail system and nearby residential neighborhoods. It could be the crown jewel for Lebanon is how I see it, Salvage said. The council informally voted four times to assess the applicants with Steinhebel and Ward 2 councilor Gamael Nassar selecting Davis and Ward 1 and 2 councilors Wayne Dykstra and KJ Ullfers backing Salvage. In a phone interview after the meeting, Salvage said he grew up in Lebanon in the 90s while the historic mill town was collapsing under the departure of the logging industry. As he aged, Salvage said, he had children and wanted a say in the direction the city was headed. You have an even more vested interest in making a community you want to bring your kids up in, he said. And thats the right direction a business-friendly approach that saw Lowes put in its nearly 1.5-million-square-foot freight distribution center and the arrival of Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Northwest. I think the last 10 years have been good to Lebanon, he said. That expansion brought medical students, staff jobs, and places for the incoming families to eat and drink. Weve been riding that wave of people moving in here, he said. Leadership that had appeared reluctant or unable to deal with recession changed out for forward-looking politicians and elected representation. He saw no reason to run for Bolens seat when it was contested on the ballot. He was doing such a great job, Salvage said. There was no reason to run against him. Salvage said he would like to see the city continue with its emphasis on development. It was just kind of stuck, he said. Its been great to see how far its come. And I think its got a promising future. EDITOR'S NOTE: Jeremy Salvage's last name was misspelled in the initial version of this story. The article has since been updated. Alex Powers (he/him) covers business, environment and healthcare for Mid-Valley Media. Call 541-812-6116 or email Alex.Powers@lee.net. 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. 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. Fundraiser to help children of Ukraine: Monique Arnold of Corvallis and her teenage daughters are "making quilts to cover the world." The project has raised a total of $4,275 that has been donated directly to USA for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Corvallis Sister Cities organization for Uzhhorod, Ukraine. The quilts are sold every week via Facebook auction, continuing for the next month at https://www.facebook.com/groups/391673602349315/permalink/555540949295912/?sale_post_id=555540949295912. Fundraiser for Uzhhorod Sister City program: Best Cellar presents "Beatlesfest," 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 3, sanctuary, First United Methodist Church, 1165 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis. An evening of mostly acoustic arrangements of Beatles songs. The lineup includes Absolute, Compass Rose, RiverRocks, Sharon and Dave Thormahlen, the Wallop Sisters, Fred Towne, Evelyn Idzerda, and Pete Kozak and Mark Weiss. Funds raised will go to Ukraine through the sister city program. Information: mjweiss@cmug.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 FILE PHOTO: A man walks past a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea's launch of three missiles including one thought to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), in Seoul, South Korea, May 25, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji Statement at UNSC briefing on the Middle East, Including the Palestinian Question Statement Thank you Madam President and thank you Tor for your sobering briefing. I would like to recognise our Israeli and Palestinian colleagues with us at the table this morning. Madam President, I particularly wanted to address our civil society briefers Robi, Damelin and Daniel Munayer. I want to say that your work, and your words today deserve our attention. More importantly they deserve our support. We have carefully listened with the empathy that Robi suggested, and its a rare moment at this table that we have such sincere and refreshing briefings at the beginning of a debate. Thank you also to the Presidency for arranging this. We have one clear message today, which is to call for urgent de-escalation. All duty-bearers, including the international community, have a role to play. We must be clear, however, that there are concrete steps that Israel, as the occupying power, can take to de-escalate the situation. Ireland reiterates the importance of protecting the status of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem, and our full respect for Jordans custodial role. We share your concerns, Tor, that the forthcoming Jerusalem Day flag march will escalate tensions. We call on all concerned to ensure that it passes peacefully. Yet again Tor, you have reported on deeply disturbing developments. Ireland condemns the recent terrorist attacks in Israel, most recently in Elad on 5 May. We have consistently said that there is no justification for terrorism, the victims of which deserve justice. Ireland also condemns all loss of civilian life in the occupied Palestinian territory. We call on Israel to address disproportionate security responses, as seen in Jerusalem, Jenin and elsewhere. We deplore the shocking killing of Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu-Akleh and the excessive use of force by the police at her funeral. We call for a swift and independent investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. Freedom of the media is essential and journalists must be protected, as affirmed by this Council in its Resolutions 2222 and 1738. Madam President, Illegal settlement expansion by Israel continues. Ireland condemns the decision of the Israeli Higher Planning Council to advance plans for the construction of more than 4,000 housing units in the West Bank. We urge the Israeli authorities to reverse this decision. These settlements clearly violate international law. They undermine prospects for a two-state solution, and are a major obstacle to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace. This latest decision, as well as demolitions and evictions affecting the Palestinian populations in East Jerusalem and Area C, directly threaten the viability of a future Palestinian state, and are underlying causes of tension and violence. In common with our EU partners, Ireland is deeply concerned by developments in Masafer Yatta, which could amount to the forcible transfer of some 1,200 Palestinians and the demolition of their homes. Ireland urges Israel to cease evictions and demolitions, including of donor-funded structures, in line with its obligations under international humanitarian law. Madam President, The economic situation of the Palestinian people and the fiscal position of the Palestinian Authority remain dire. This has a destabilising effect. Structural constraints for sustainable development of the Palestinian economy must be removed. The Palestinian Authority must be further supported in its reform efforts, and the trend of declining donor support be reversed. Ireland remains deeply concerned at the situation in the Gaza Strip and encourages the Israeli authorities to ensure that essential infrastructure projects can resume. We renew our call on Israel to lift the blockade on the Strip and commend regional partners for their ongoing support. We also commend the UN system, in particular UNRWA, for its support to the Palestinian people in extremely challenging circumstances. In this years UNRWA mandate renewal, we urge the international community to match the political commitments to Palestine refugees with the funding required for the Agency to carry out its work. Madam President, While today our immediate focus is urgent de-escalation, a credible political horizon remains both vital and urgent. Economic and development measures on their own are not sufficient. To advance prospects for the resumption of a genuine and inclusive political process, Ireland calls for confidence-building measures. Israel as the occupying power has a particular responsibility, for example, to refrain from the excessive use of administrative detention and to release those who continue to be detained without formal charge. Ireland also reiterates its call for the release of the mortal remains of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul to their loved ones, so that they can have some closure, as well as for the release of the two Israeli civilians detained in the Gaza Strip. These and other measures could assist with resuming a meaningful political process, without which future generations of Israelis and Palestinians will remain caught in a vicious cycle of occupation and conflict. Thank you Madam President. Previous Item | Next Item The Kappa Pi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. awarded $8,000 in scholarships to area high school seniors during its annual essay/oratorical competition in April. High school seniors who live in the Wiregrass and plan to attend a college or university in the fall were invited to participate in the scholarship event by writing a 500-750 word essay on a given topic and submitting a video recording of the presentation. Two scholarship opportunities were available. Scholarships in the amounts of $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $750 for third place were awarded to Addy Robinson from Charles Henderson High School in Troy, Dyshunta McDaniel of Enterprise High School, and John Alloway of Charles Henderson High School, respectively. Each responded to an essay prompt that said, As a graduating senior, how have you prepared yourself to be successful as a college student in your chosen career field? The sorority also awarded three HBCU Legacy Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to students who will be attending a Historically Black College or University. The topic for this essay was Do you believe that HBCUs prepare students for successful careers? The recipients of these scholarships were Bryson Powers, Soniyah Chambers, and Erica Doss, all from Andalusia High School. In addition, seven $250 book stipends were awarded to the following students: Dayonna Barber, Dothan High School; Soniyah Chambers, Andalusia High School, Erica Doss, Andalusia High School; Abralem Howard, Jr., Dothan High School; Jasalyn Jernigan, Barbour County High School; Bryson Powers, Andalusia High School, and Keyanna Stovall, Northside Methodist Academy. The students who submitted essays this year were from all parts of the Wiregrass area and are outstanding examples of academic excellence and engaged community leaders, said Scholarship Committee Chairperson Tara Simmons Harris. We are fortunate to be able to play a part in the advancement of their academic careers. Colonel Teresa A. Townsend, Ret., of Enterprise is the president of the Kappa Pi Omega Chapter, which currently has approximately 100 members from the Dothan, Ozark, Enterprise, and Troy areas. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. is the first historically African-American sorority. It is currently composed of more than 1,000 graduate and undergraduate chapters with an international membership of more than 300,000 women who engage in programs of service that enhance the social, economic, and educational well-being of their local communities. Tri-State Expo Juneteenth Affairs is proud to announce the winner of the 2022 Miss Juneteenth pageant is LaShonna Loftin of Houston County Schools. She was selected as the winner of not only the essay division, but the verbal communication and Juneteenth knowledge division of the Miss Juneteenth virtual pageant. Loftin, along with the pre-selected Little Miss Juneteenth, Hailey Robinson, third-grader of Dothan City Schools, will represent the organization for the 2022 year as well as its upcoming parade event. Guests from throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Florida will attend this years parade processional, such as the famous Buffalo Soldiers of Fort Rucker Chapter, Djoli Kelen African Dancers & Drummers, the Prancing Peacocks dance group, area political figures and businesses. Additionally, Tri-State Expo will host the 160+ high school student-led Alabama Mass Band of Montgomery. This musical conglomerate is a healthy mixture of students from throughout the Montgomery County/City School system. For additional information concerning the 2022 Juneteenth Parade Celebration, 2022 Miss & Little Miss Juneteenth, and future Tri-State Expo events, email Leah Gunn at info@tristateexpodothan.com or call 833-874-3976. MARTIN, Tenn. Mia L. Upchurch of Fort Rucker has earned Highest Honors at the University of Tennessee at Martin. The outstanding academic achievements of undergraduate students at the UT Martin have been honored with publication of the Spring 2022 Chancellors Honor Rolls for the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, College of Business and Global Affairs, College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences, College of Engineering and Natural Sciences and the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. To be eligible for the Chancellors Honor Roll recognition at UT Martin, a student must take at least 12 hours of credit (pass-fail courses are not included) and achieve a 3.2 (B) grade point average based on a 4.0 scale. Students can make the Chancellors Honor Roll with honors (3.2 through 3.49), high honors (3.5 through 3.79) or highest honors (3.8 through 4.0). The industrial real estate market is again seeing growth after Covid-19, thanks to foreign direct investment. Pandora, the world's largest jewelry company by sales, plans to set up a US$100-million production facility in the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park III in the southern Binh Duong Province. Framas, a leading German injection molding company, has rented a 20,000-square-meter ready-built property in neighboring Dong Nai Province to expand production in Vietnam. Lubricant company FUCHS Group has also leased 20,000 sq.m of industrial land in the Phu My 3 Specialized Industrial Park (southern Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province) for 55 years to build a new factory. Danang has also attracted many foreign investments like U.S. Arevo Inc.s $135-million 3D printer factory, United States Enterprises $110-million semiconductor factory and Fujikins $35-million R&D center. Singaporean, S. Korean and Japanese companies are expanding their production in northern localities. Singapores CapitalLand Development signed a memorandum of understanding with Bac Giang Province, and has committed $1 billion to develop its first industrial-logistical complex. In the first two months of the year Thai Nguyen Province attracted $924 million worth of FDI, accounting for 18.5 percent of the countrys total amount. Of this, $920 million will be invested by Samsung Electro-Mechanics Vietnam (a subsidiary of Samsung Group), which will take the companys investment in the Yen Binh Industrial Park to $2.27 billion. FDI has been booming this year after the country brought Covid-19 under control and returned to a new normal, analysts said at a forum Monday. Trang Bui, director of advisory Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam, said the new FDI is mainly coming into manufacturing and related sectors such as logistics. Press Release May 25, 2022 HONTIVEROS PUSHES FOR TAIWAN'S INCLUSION IN WHO'S GLOBAL PANDEMIC RESPONSE Senator Risa Hontiveros is urging the World Health Organization (WHO) to include Taiwan in its global pandemic response plan. The lawmaker expressed her concern that shutting out Taiwan will lead to a gap in efforts to curb COVID-19. "Nakakabahala na hindi pa rin kasali ang Taiwan sa mga plano ng WHO para sa paglaban natin sa pandemya. Sari-saring mga eksperto na ang nagsabi na kailangang inclusive ang paglaban natin sa pandemya. Ignoring Taiwan creates a loophole in the global health network. Baka ito pa ang simula ng mas marami pang problema o komplikasyon para sa buong mundo," Hontiveros said. The senator is a staunch health advocate who has consistently emphasized the need for an inclusive approach in pandemic response. In a parliamentarians' letter addressed to World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Hontiveros stressed the importance of inclusivity in global pandemic response. She pointed out, "This pandemic has again reminded us that infectious diseases know no borders and every country in the world should work together to address any health concerns and epidemic crises regardless of political considerations." Taiwan's non-inclusion in WHO is due to the claim of the People's Republic of China (PRC) that Taiwan is its province and, therefore, not an independent state. Since the United Nations (UN) limits membership to states, it sided with the PRC's One China policy in which it has commandeered the right to represent all of China in international organizations. This despite the fact that Taiwan has functioned as an independent state since the late 1940s. Hontiveros further pointed out: "Taiwan is an indispensable partner in ensuring a successful postpandemic recovery. We can't just ignore its plight and contributions." To recall, Taiwan has been hailed for its highly effective COVID-19 response which is anchored on a strong plan for managing a pandemic that has been in place since the 2003 SARS outbreak. Hontiveros is among those urging WHO to invite Taiwan to the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA) which is being held in Geneva, Switzerland until May 28. However, the proposal backed by Taiwan's diplomatic allies to put Taiwan's observer status on the WHA agenda was rejected. In any case, Hontiveros still recommends that Taiwan be invited to all other WHO meetings, mechanisms, and activities. Hontiveros stated, "We recognize Taiwan as an independent state and we support its need to be recognized as a nation especially in the matter of the global pandemic response. Excluding Taiwan not only ignores the health and welfare of its 23.5 million citizens, but also puts at risk the 150,000 Filipinos living and working there." Seafood exporters suffer as China gets tough on Covid contamination A container is seen a Cat Lai Terminal in Ho Chi Minh City, December 24, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen China is imposing a seven-day ban on Vietnamese seafood exporters for every container of theirs it finds contaminated with the coronavirus, causing them enormous difficulties and possible losses. A pangasius fish exporter, who asked not be identified, was recently banned for three weeks after three containers were found infected. This month many exporters of fish and shrimp have had bans slapped on them, some for one to three months due to the large number of infected containers. Exporters say containers are refused entry if an earlier shipment was found with Covid. A typical pangasius fish container to China is worth VND1.2 billion ($51,724), and a ban results in a 50 percent loss. Exporters have been reducing shipments to China to prevent losses. China was the third biggest importer of Vietnamese fisheries products in the first four months of this year behind only the U.S. and Japan. Exports to China rose 94 percent year-on-year in the period to $578 million, with pangasius accounting for more than half, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers. Bruises on the leg and hands of a 12-year-old girl who was beaten by her mother and the mother's boyfriend in Hanoi, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Du Vietnam's national hotline for child protection confirmed the majority of violence perpetrated against children last year involved the close family members of victims. The hotline 111, operated by the Child Affairs Department under the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, received more than 600,000 calls last year, a representative told a conference on child protection in Hanoi on Wednesday. Calls involved more than 30,000 cases of consultation and over 1,000 of direct intervention. Most cases involved violence against children, with 73 percent caused by direct family members. Nguyen Thi Nga, deputy head of the department, said most cases of abuse against children derived from the old "spare the rod, spoil the child" mindset and the fact that not every parent had the necessary skills to communicate effectively with their kids. In 2021, the pandemic had resulted in months of social distancing in most parts of Vietnam, during which both children and parents were locked down at home, fueling increased conflict. In addition, many parents had lost their jobs during the pandemic, and the additional economic pressure contributed to domestic violence, Nga said. Dang Hoa Nam, head of the Child Affairs Department, said child mental health should be taken into serious consideration in the post-pandemic period, and that parents should keep a close eye on their children to timely detect abnormal signs to avoid any unfortunate consequences, including suicide. UNICEF said in a 2020 report that Covid-19 could result in a rise in poverty and therefore to an increase in child labor as households use every available means to survive. "As the pandemic wreaks havoc on family incomes, without support, many could resort to child labor," said Guy Ryder, general director of International Labor Organization "Social protection is vital in times of crisis, as it provides assistance to those who are most vulnerable. Integrating child labor concerns across broader policies for education, social protection, justice, labor markets, and international human and labor rights makes a critical difference," he said. A field in Vinh Phuc's Binh Xuyen District is submerged following heavy rains. Photo courtesy of the Binh Xuyen People's Committee Two men and one woman died and another woman was hospitalized in the northern Vinh Phuc Province after a wall collapsed Wednesday as they were cleaning up after a downpour. The dead were aged 25-43 and the injured woman was 22 years old. All four persons were cleaning up after a downpour when a house wall collapsed on them, the Giao Thong newspaper reported. Authorities are searching through the rubble to find out if there are more victims and to try and find out why the accident happened. The latest reported deaths take the death toll of heavy rains in northern Vietnam to six. Landslides and floods triggered by the heavy rains had killed three people in the provinces of Tuyen Quang and Hoa Binh, while destroying 260 houses. A low-pressure area over the northern region had triggered rains starting May 19, but the heaviest ones showed up since last Saturday. Floodwaters have damaged 9,500 hectares of rice fields in several localities, with Hanoi suffering the most, losing more than 4,000 hectares, followed by Tuyen Quang and Phu Tho with 1,500 hectares each. Between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday, rainfall was measured at almost 200 mm in Thai Binh, more than 130 mm in Hai Phong City, 80 mm in Tuyen Quang, and almost 90 mm in Bac Ninh and 70 mm in Thai Nguyen. The rains began to subside Wednesday in northern and central Vietnam, though mountainous areas in the north may see rains continue for a few days more, meteorologists said. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. All of these ballistic missile launches, as would a nuclear test, violate Security Council resolutions. They pose threats to regional and international security. And they seek to undermine the global nonproliferation regime. ELKO The Elko Police Department released a statement Wednesday addressing a rise in extortion/ sextortion cases seen on social media platforms such as Snapchat and Facebook, as well as text messages. We would like to encourage parents to speak with their children about the dangers of social media and how to avoid falling victim to these types of cases, stated the department. In such cases, perpetrators are friending or adding people through social media platforms and often portray themselves as being similar in age a regular teenager with similar interests. Police said the perpetrators in these cases are not children or teenagers but adults. They often strike up conversations with the victims and eventually ask the victim for sexually explicit photos. The victims in these cases believe the perpetrator to be a friend and/or love Interest and send the photos via the social media platform at which time the perpetrator will then demand money, goods or services (sexual) from the victim. If the victim refuses, the perpetrator will threaten to send the sexually explicit photos of the individual to the parents, classmates, teachers, etc., thus gaining the victims cooperation via threat of exposure. Perpetrators also send random text messages in which they state they already have scandalous photos of the victim and demand money in order not to post them online. In addition to these tactics, we would also like parents to caution their children about sharing photos online which can help determine their location stated police. Examples are photos with specific landmarks, or photos in which the geolocations can determine the childs location. Police said these are very common tactics used by human traffickers. We are asking that you speak with your children and underscore the dangers of social media and speaking with strangers on the internet. We ask that you help your children understand that once photos are sent, they cannot be unsent and can be saved a multitude of ways. We also ask that you let your children know that if they find themselves in this situation to ask for help and file a police report rather than go along with the demands out of fear or embarrassment. The Elko Police Department invites anyone with questions to contact them at 775-777-7310. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 7 ELKO An Elko man who has been arrested on felony charges eight times over the past two years has been sentenced to prison. Serafin Perez, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of attempt to obtain or possess a credit card or debit card without the owners consent and one count of attempted possession of a document or personal identifying information to establish a false status or identity. He was sentenced May 11 by District Judge Al Kacin to 16 to 40 months in prison. Perez was given a suspended sentence in December on a felony drug charge, and was arrested again in January for possession of a stolen vehicle after police pulled him over on Idaho Street. Besides being arrested on felony drug charges in both March and September of last year, Perez was also booked in October on a charge of felony battery by a prisoner, according to Elko County Jail records. He was also arrested in April 2021 on a misdemeanor theft charge and for resisting an officer. Perez was listed as a resident of Phoenix when he was arrested Jan. 15, 2020, in Carlin on a felony charge of obtaining or possessing a credit or debit card without the owners consent, and resisting a public officer. He was also arrested in October 2020 for failure to appear in court on the charges. Perez pleaded guilty on July 14, 2021, to the credit card charges and was given a suspended sentence by Kacin and placed on probation for two years. Love 0 Funny 7 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 ELKO Elko County School District reduced the final 2022-2023 budget by $4.1 million because of a loss of net proceeds of mines revenue that was swept up by the state, and Lander Countys school budget also is out a big chunk of money, along with two other rural districts. Its $6.5 million for us, said the superintendent of the Lander County School District, Russell Klein. He said that 10 months into the current fiscal year, the state wanted the money based on a short paragraph in state statute that says the net proceeds of mines paid in fiscal 2022 is the states money, not the district. Klein said on March 25 that Elko, Lander, Eureka and Humboldt are the four counties most affected by the states decision, and its huge numbers. He said Eurekas was more than $8 million. Eureka County School District officials werent available for comment. Humboldt County School District suffered a $4.975 million loss with the states sweep, and Superintendent Dave Jensen said most of that was used in the current fiscal year so the district had to cut expenses. The carry-over into the 2022-2033 fiscal year will be down to the states 4% minimum. We werent anticipating this at all, he said, stating that the district believed the state wouldnt begin the sweep as soon. Jensen said the rural districts are looking at potential litigation, with Eureka County as the primary catalyst. The four counties the Lander County superintendent mentioned are where the largest gold mines operate, and those mines pay the net proceeds tax. At the Elko County school boards March 24 meeting, Chief Financial Officer Julie Davis warned that beyond the cut to the final budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the district will need to cut $10 million from the 2023-2024 budget years budget to balance revenues and expenditures. We wont have a fund balance left, she said. The losses will come from the net proceeds of mines tax that the state will collect beginning in August for even distribution to all the school districts in Nevada, and from changes in the states school funding programs. Elko County School Districts final general fund budget shows a nearly $4.1 million decrease in the estimated beginning fund balance for the 2022-2023 fiscal year because the state took back that amount of mine taxes the district expected to use in the new budget, Davis said in a presentation to the school board. The budget changes that she spoke about at a recent budget forum were finalized for May 24 board action, and that general fund budget shows estimated revenues of $96.25 million, budgeted expenditures of nearly $106.57 million and a beginning balance of $17.09 million. This is a 19% decrease in the opening fund balance, Davis said in her presentation to the board, explaining that the drop is due to the deduction of net proceeds of mines out of May, June and July Pupil Centered Funding Plan funding. The opening fund balance was originally $21.18 million. The ending fund balance for the 2022-2023 final budget is $6.42 million. The beginning and ending balances are a bummer, Davis said. School districts that have been receiving net proceeds of mines tax revenue had expected the revenue from 2021 taxes to go to the districts for the 2022-2023 fiscal year and then all net proceeds of mines tax revenue would go to the state to be evenly distributed throughout Nevada school districts. Davis said the districts dont spend the tax revenue until the following year per state statute rather than in the year they receive it, which is why they thought the cut would come later. We fully anticipate going to the state to say this isnt sustainable, Davis said. Superintendent Clayton Anderson said the states decision to grab the money now is affecting all the rural districts pretty significantly. Anderson said the Elko district and others consulted with lawyers but the Nevada Department of Educations action doesnt appear to be unconstitutional. You can say it is unfair, if you want, he told the school board. Anderson additionally said that the boards recent approval of pay hikes for school employees was negotiated before the states action on net proceeds, so we dont feel we were negligent. The new contracts provide 2% pay hikes this year and 1% hikes the following year. Jensen in Humboldt County said his district also approved raises of 2% for this year and for next year before learning of the states action. The net proceeds tax money that now goes straight to the Nevada Education Fund will be distributed as part of the new Pupil Centered Funding Plan that Davis said will impact the Elko County School District, with funding for the upcoming fiscal year at $9,267 per pupil, compared with $9,279 per pupil in the current fiscal year. At the same time, she said in her presentation that the consumer price index increased 8.5% for the year ended March 2022, the highest since 1981. Davis also reported that the final budget includes money to buy three school buses instead of five in the preliminary budget. She said bus purchases could have to go down even more next year. The district has a fleet of 80 buses. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 3 ELKO The name Pat Ament is synonymous with rock climbing. Anyone who knows anything about the sport will recognize his name. Ament has tackled some of the toughest climbs our nation has to offer. He recently moved to Elko where he is working on his latest book about his long term mentor and the art of climbing. Aments daughter and son-in-law recently graduated from the University of Idaho and they were offered teaching jobs at Elko High School. He decided to move with them last July. Although he no longer climbs, he is happy to live near the Ruby Mountains. My father took a job as supervisor of utilities at the University of Colorado and that meant we moved to Boulder, said Ament. That was one of the two top meccas for climbing in America. The best climber, probably in the world, was there and he took me under his wing. His name was Layton Kor. He and I became partners, Ament said. I was 14 and he was 25. I became a very strong climber at a young age. When I was 14, I was teaching people twice my age. Adults would say, This is our instructor? By the time Ament was 15 he was well known in the climbing world. By the time I got to be 17, I was doing the hardest free climbs in America, he said. Some people thought I was the best climber in the country. He met other climbers, including Royal Robins, a California climber. Ament traveled to climb in Yosemite right after graduating from high school. He also met John Gill, known as the father of modern bouldering. Ament ended up writing his biography. He could do one-fingered pullups on any of his fingers. He could climb a 20-foot rope in 3.8 seconds. Ament claims his technique and strength helped in his endeavors. He would take freight trains to get to climbs, riding the rails to fame. I was compelled. I knew I had to climb. Ament invented moves like the one-armed mantel. Its where you put your hand on a ledge and you reach up and grab a ledge and pull up with one arm, pop your hand onto it and then push and step on the ledge with your foot without using your left hand, Ament said. Although he has had a few close calls, he became known as the master of safety. Ament had been writing before he learned to climb. The two skills went hand in hand, leading him to a long and fascinating career. I wrote one of the first guidebooks, Ament said. Boulder has numerous climbs. Its just covered with rocks. Most guidebooks were stale and boring and I wanted to write mine with an intriguing, beautiful writing talking about the secrets of climbing and not telling everything. It was called High over Boulder. Climbing magazines asked him to write for them when he was just a kid. The thing I am most proud of is that I have 25 of my articles in various anthologies of writings, he said. Aments nickname is the Poet Laurate of American Climbing. He is also a talented painter, musician, chess master and filmmaker. Ament is currently working on a new book about Kor, Apprentice to the Masters of the Golden Age, with an anticipated release of summer 2022. Here is an excerpt from the book: Layton might have viewed my youthful stupidity, my socially untutored, naive innocence, as a saving breath of fresh air in a world gone mad with sophistication. Im sure he could glance down the rock and know a young person draws reassurance from his own witless observations. I had nothing, if not my foolish words. ... Fluidity in space, Layton did not care if people judged his form to be sloppy at times. He did not have Royal Robbins keen perfection or proficiency or Chuck Pratts natural, smooth gift or flair (excuse the pun) for cracks. No one could touch John Gills unreal strength and technique. Layton did not climb in the steady, methodical way of Dave Rearick yet Layton was faster, bolder. He could reach the top of something as well as anyone. He pulled through many a dire situation. Faster than so many excruciatingly slow conventional climbers and faster than the top climbers in Yosemite or any location, Layton was, as Pratt later would declare, the best climber of his day. As Laytons partner, I would learn to climb faster and stronger, attend quickly to each step and apply the method that worked not always the most beautiful or theoretically effective. A few of the ways Layton set about to accomplish a difficult move were hardly considered sound. Yet he thrust himself upward or sideways and, if necessary, threw a knee up first, a stylistic no-no. Pat Ament: Professional Climber: 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. Vietnams export rice prices remained stable thanks to optimistic signals from the market. (Photo: laodong.vn) According to the Vietnam Food Association, after adjusting the price up by 2 USD per ton, on March 25, Thailands 5% broken rice exported to the world market cost 445 USD per ton; 25% broken rice is priced at 434 USD per ton after an increase of 3 USD per ton; and 100% broken rice increased by 3 USD per ton, selling at 413 USD per ton. Pakistans export rice prices also increased by 2-5 USD per ton for all three types of rice. Specifically, 5% broken rice increased by 5 USD per ton, sold at 378 USD per ton; 25% broken and 100% broken rice shared the same increase of 2 USD per ton, exported at 362 USD per ton (25% broken) and 363 USD per ton (100% broken). On May 25, Vietnams export price of 5% broken rice was 418 USD per ton, 25% broken rice was 398 USD per ton and 100% broken rice was 373 USD per ton. Indian rice was also stable at 338 USD per ton (5% broken rice) and 323 USD per ton (both 25% broken and 100% broken rice). The Ministry of Industry and Trade forecast for rice exports in 2022 is optimistic. In addition to traditional markets, this year, rice exports to Europe are forecasted to increase sharply on the impact of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA)./. Representatives of leaders of the Vietnamese Association in Hungary and Vietnamese associations and delegations attend the ceremony. (Photo: VNA) The love and admiration for President Ho Chi Minh was respectfully expressed by the Vietnamese community and Hungarian friends in the recent flower offering and tree planting ceremony at the park where the President Ho Chi Minh Monument is located in Zalaegerszeg city, Hungary. During the ceremony, Mr. Gora Balazs, President of the Social Party, Zalaegerszeg Branch, emotionally reviewed the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh, an indomitable Vietnamese spirit who dedicated his life to the cause of independence, national freedom and peace in the world. He emphasized that Uncle Hos saying, "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom", engraved on the monument is the truth of all times, and affirmed that President Ho Chi Minh left a great legacy in many aspects, for Vietnam and human progress. With affection and admiration for President Ho Chi Minh, Dr. Botz Laszlo, President of the Hungary-Vietnam Friendship Association, expressed pride when members of the Hungarian delegation joined the International Commission for Supervision and Control on the armistice in Vietnam (ICCS) in the period 1973-1975, contributing to realize Uncle Ho's wish and goal of national liberation and reunification. He affirmed that President Ho Chi Minh's visit to Hungary in 1957 laid a solid foundation for the good friendship between the two peoples. Touched by the affections of the Hungarian government and friends, Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary and Croatia Nguyen Thi Bich Thao said that with affection and admiration for President Ho Chi Minh, the Hungarian country and people have presented a very special gift for the country and people of Vietnam, that is the Monument of President Ho Chi Minh. This is not only a masterpiece of culture and art, but also a vivid symbol of the long-standing traditional friendship between Vietnam and Hungary. The Ambassador sincerely thanked the authorities and people of Zalaegerszeg city, close friends of Vietnam, for their attention and support and for taking care of and preserving the Uncle Ho Monument. She expressed her pleasure that the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Hungary is constantly developing well, and wished to further strengthen cooperation with Zalaegerszeg city in particular and Hungary in general in the future in economic, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Following Uncle Ho's teaching "Spring is the tree-planting festival", Ambassador Nguyen Thi Bich Thao and other delegates planted two cherry blossom trees to embellish the park's landscape where Uncle Ho's statue is located, with the desire that Uncle Ho's Monument will be a contemplation point for the people of Zalaegerszeg city and forever a beautiful symbol of the Vietnam-Hungary traditional friendship./. Press Release May 26, 2022 MANIFESTATION: APPROVAL ON THIRD READING SBN 2501 WILFUL AND INDISCRIMINATE DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS Mr. President, we are not strangers to the incidents that gave rise to the need for this measure. We have heard too many stories of mothers, fathers, and children expressing their sorrows and weeping for their family members who became victims of indiscriminate use of firearms. Sawa na tayo sa mga balitang ganito! I said it before, and I will say it again, as a gun safety advocate, I condemn every senseless incident of injuries and loss of innocent lives because of reckless, careless and negligent use and handling of firearms. Mr. President, I am grateful to everyone in this august body who have seen the significance of this measure - a measure that protects and gives importance to the lives of every Filipino. Mr. President, on behalf of the Filipinos who believe in a peaceful Philippines, I thank this august body. Maraming Salamat po! The war launched by Russia against Ukraine will last for a long time, approximately until the end of 2023, and will lead to a significant drop in living standards in Ukraine, such forecasts are laid down for decision-making by the founder and head of Concorde Capital investment company, Ihor Mazepa. "I think that (the end of active hostilities) is the end of 2023. Putin and Russia, with all our bravado, can fight for as long as they like, for example, five years. It's clear that we won't give up either, and there's no reason for talk: we need to return our territory, including Donbas and Crimea," he explained his expectations to the Interfax-Ukraine agency on the sidelines of the Ukrainian Breakfast organized by the Pinchuk Foundation in Davos. At the same time, Mazepa specified that naming the exact date for the end of active hostilities now is "of course, more of a finger in the sky." Commenting on his forecast a month ago that Ukraine "will return to 1996, to salaries of $150 equivalent, and this will be considered the norm," the head of Concorde Capital noted that "everything is going there very confidently: $150-200." According to him, international financial assistance is sufficient only "to keep the pants on" so that the government pays social obligations UAH 5,000-6,000 per month. "In such a long-term protracted war, it is clear that there is no full-scale restoration of business, the economy ... We shrank, we left the backbone on which we can then build up muscles when there is a reason to build them up," Mazepa described the situation in the company. Concorde Capital is one of the leading Ukrainian investment companies founded in 2004. In addition to brokerage and investment services, it is also engaged in direct investments in such areas as medicine, the construction materials market, real estate, energy, mining and IT. Press Release May 26, 2022 GORDON -- BULACAN FREEPORT ZONE BILL ESPOUSES RICH Senator Richard J. Gordon today lauded the Upper Chamber's passage on third reading House Bill (HB) 7575, which seeks to establish the Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport in Bulakan town. Gordon, co-author and co-sponsor of the measure, said that the approval of the bill espouses several aspects of the Regional Infrastructure and Investment Coordinating (RICH) bill, which he had been heavily pushing for years. "I am very pleased this House Bill No. 7575 is able to continue the provisions, spirit, and the vision of the RICH Bill and other bills that espouse a progressive economic vision for our beloved country, the Philippines," remarked Gordon during his manifestation on Thursday. "The Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport will be a boon not only to Bulacan residents but also to the Central Luzon Region and the Philippines-at-large," he added. The proposed law seeks to establish the Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (BACSEZFA), which shall operate a domestic and international airport. It also aims for the area to be developed into a decentralized, self-reliant, and self-sustaining industrial, commercial, agro-industrial, tourist, banking, and financial center. Foreign citizens and companies owned by non-Filipinos may also set up enterprises in the Ecozone, which shall be under the guidance of the Dept. of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), and Dept. of Trade and Industry. Gordon, who pushed for the passage of Republic Act No. 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act in 1992, was ecstatic of the economic opportunities the bill could bring to the country. "[The bill] would unleash the existing economic energies of the area, undoubtedly attract more sustainable investments both domestic and foreign sources, decongest Metro Manila, and bring much needed economic relief and hope to the Philippines," said Gordon. "As I said during PEZA's 27th anniversary, '[a]t this point in our country's history, with the prevailing oil price increases, with the pandemic still staring deep into our eyes and our hearts, with more reason that more incentives are needed'", Gordon reasoned. One of Gordon's most notable achievements was his successful stint as the founding chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) from 1992 to 1998. Under Gordon's leadership, SBMA raked in more than USD 3 billion in investments, which opened up the Philippines to the global economy and provided about 250,000 jobs to Filipinos. Moreover, the SBMA became a hub of numerous multinational companies such as FedEx, ACER, and Coastal Petroleum. The amount of future external financing of the current state budget deficit of Ukraine after the recent decisions of the United States and the European Union (EU) exceeded $15 billion requested by the Ukrainian government for the next three months, now the task is to establish a rhythmic flow of these funds, Alternative Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), representing Ukraine Vladyslav Rashkovan has said. "If you add up the (provided) money, it's already more than $15 billion, which we needed for three months. Our task is to make sure that they go with a certain frequency so that everything is not coming at the end of the year. We need to live now: we need to pay bills in June, July," he told Interfax-Ukraine on the sidelines of the Ukrainian Breakfast organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Davos, where the World Economic Forum (WEF) is taking place. Rashkovan recalled that U.S. President Joe Biden signed amendments to the budget to assign an additional $40 billion due to the war in Ukraine, of which $7.5 billion will go to finance the country's deficit as grants. According to him, the EU also announced the provision of EUR 9 billion in macro-financial assistance (MFA) by the end of the year, and Germany announced that it would provide Ukraine with EUR 1 billion through the IMF Administered Account. He added that the Fund is finalizing the debut funds in this account, which were provided by Canada in the amount of CAD 1 billion, announcing the other day that this amount has been increased by another CAD 250 million ($973.3 million in total at the current rate). "In addition, there is still quite a lot of bilateral money. The task of the government is to work with international institutions, bilateral partners, so that this money comes to us in equal parts throughout the year. Such work is underway. In May, the situation is definitely better than in April," Rashkovan said. He expressed regret that the process of provision of funds was delayed due to red tape reasons, which have not yet been finally removed, in particular, on the issue of the provision of funds to Ukraine in the SDR. "America turned out to be faster than Europe, for various reasons. America was the first to come out with both military support and financial support," Ukraine's representative at the IMF said. Earlier this week, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko announced that the country would receive up to $2 billion from international partners in May 2022, with the required $5 billion monthly. The remaining amount is covered by the market placement of war bonds up to $1 billion and their redemption by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). In March, international support for Ukraine amounted to $3 billion thanks to the provision of $1.4 billion under the Rapid Financing Instrument from the IMF and support from the World Bank, and $1.7 billion in April. The Ukraine Reconstruction Forum is being held on Thursday-Friday, May 26-27, at the London School of Economics, Deputy Executive Director for Ukraine at the IMF Vladyslav Rashkovan told Interfax-Ukraine. "The work that we are now organizing in London is all to unite people who are already working on a reconstruction plan today: so that people both in Ukraine and abroad start working together today," he explained his expectations on the eve of a meeting on the sidelines of the Davos Ukrainian Breakfast organized by the Pinchuk Foundation. Rashkovan noted that it is very important to separate issues, as Ukraine needs a lot of different kinds of assistance. According to him, one of them is humanitarian aid, assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons, people who live on the front line, and in many respects it consists in providing money and places to live. "Secondly, we need military assistance and support, which allows us not to spend state money on this. Now the situation has become much better than it was in the first months of the war," Rashkovan added. He called sanctions against Russia the third important issue. The fourth important issue, which was discussed, including in Davos, is logistics, the IMF representative said. "We need to unblock the ports: this will lead us to the possibility of selling and exporting 20 million tonnes of grain from previous years, and we are also talking about a new crop. As soon as we can unblock, believe me, you will have no questions about the exchange rate (hryvnia). Because foreign exchange earnings will come to the country, which we now really need. This is not only a question of GDP, it is also a question of liquidity and the balance of payments," he explained. Rashkovan added that a separate block is the provision of short-term resources to cover the state budget deficit - $5 billion per month, $15 billion for three months and $30 billion for the rest of the year. "And we need long-term resources for the reconstruction and modernization of the country. And there will definitely be a plan, there will be resources for this. But how it will be funded, we will need to work on it. What funding tool, what institutions, whether it will be one fund or several. There is no solution to this issue at the moment, but it is being worked on," he said. According to him, work on the post-war program for Ukraine is also beginning at the IMF. The proposal of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to conduct a mission at the Zaporizhia NPP is unacceptable for Ukraine until the de-occupation of the ZNPP industrial site and the city of energy workers, Enerhodar, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine reported on its website on Thursday. "The visit to the Zaporizhia NPP by the International Atomic Energy Agency is proposed to be postponed until the time when this territory is liberated from Russian invaders ... It [the mission] is absolutely unsafe in these conditions," the website says. According to the regulator, at the present time there are Russian military, weapons, ammunition, military equipment at the plant site. Combat operations are underway near the facility, there are indications of Russian missiles flying directly over the nuclear power plant site. "The situation in the city is extremely dangerous, there are cases of armed attacks by the Russian military on nuclear power plant personnel and representatives of the city's fire department," the inspectorate noted. The regulator expressed hope that the liberation of Zaporizhia region from the Russian invaders will take place in the near future, after which the inspectorate will be able to return to the issue of planning an IAEA inspection at this facility. "Currently, the IAEA also receives inventory change reports and material balance reports on nuclear material, information on inspection planning, non-intervention and work support, IAEA storage/surveillance facilities, including a remote monitoring system," the inspectorate informed. According to the regulator, the continuity of the agency's knowledge of nuclear material at nuclear power plants is ensured, therefore, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate does not see an urgent need for a visit of safeguards inspectors to the occupied Zaporizhia NPP. "However, at the same time, one cannot rule out the fact that the possibility of the use of nuclear material by Russian representatives for other purposes may become a threat to the entire world community," the nuclear regulatory authority says. Ukrainian producers of animal products have joined forces with Pet Alliance to increase exports, according to the CEO of the Animal ID Corporation, and one of the initiators of Pet Alliance, Vasyl Dub, told Interfax-Ukraine. Vasyl Dub said, In the conditions of war, it is especially important not only to maintain, but also to strengthen the economic capacity of our country in all industries. In particular, in the segment of pet products there are a number of Ukrainian brands that operate successfully in international markets to help businesses expand their trade internationally. Today, the Pet Alliance includes eight companies: Kormotech (Optimeal, CLUB 4 PAWS), COLLAR Company, Animal ID, Harley & Cho, Bark & Go, Mr. Snoopy, VETonline.pro and SPOKK. The association continues to accept membership applications ( https://ukrpetalliance.com/members-en/ ). The expert also said that the industry of pet products is actively growing worldwide. According to research by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), in 2021 sales reached $261 billion - the highest in the development of the segment. In the United States alone, the market was $123.6 billion, with about 40% of sales being pet food. In Ukraine, this segment has also been actively developing in recent years. But, like other areas of the economy, the industry is undergoing significant tests during the war, so the expansion of exports can be a vector of development. For example, Animal ID began operating in the US market in late 2019. "The United States is our main strategic export market. In 2020, the share of exports to this country was 10% of our products. In 2021, we grew 3.5 times in revenue, and the share of exports reached 50%. Our goal this year is to grow in exports by 20% more", - said Dub. The leader of the Ukrainian market, which produces innovative products for pets, COLLAR (collarglobal.com) has exported 120 million products in 2021, the head of the company's marketing department Konstantin Bondarenko told the agency. Ukrainian manufacturer of cat and dog food Kormotech (kormotech.com) exports to 35 countries. "We export 23% of everything Kormotech offers. The share of exports in money in 2021 was 19.4%, which, in turn, is 4% more than in 2020", said Rostyslav Vovk, CEO of Kormotech. According to him, five countries are strategic for exports (the USA, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Moldova). The company's products under its own brands and private label can be purchased in 35 countries. "An important role in the development on the international arena was played by our own production facilities in Lithuania and product production at the partners' sites. With the beginning of the war - even more so. We are developing directions even more intensively, continuing to invest in brands and strengthen communication with all stakeholders". He is convinced that the combination of strong Ukrainian brands in the association means strengthening in the international arena. In a comment to the agency, Dub stressed that as part of the alliance, companies with extensive experience will help beginners in the entire chain: advise on markets, find and develop a network of distributors, conduct marketing campaigns. "The big ones will pull the medium ones, the medium ones small companies. At the national level, these actions help to establish effective foreign trade and contribute to the productive work of the whole economy", he said. Dub sees exhibition activity as one of the vectors of Pet Alliance activity. "As a union, we were presented for the first time at the Global Pet EXPO 2022 in Orlando (USA) on March 24. The event is one of the biggest in the pet industry, attended by more than 15,000 people each year. We are preparing for exhibitions in Europe in the near future", he said. Pet Alliance was established with the financial and informational support of the USAID Competitive Economy Program. The involvement of such a partner has increased the level of trust in Ukrainian companies. "Our goal is to support small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine to increase competitiveness in the domestic market and abroad. Such support is extremely necessary, especially now, during the war. We have been working with Ukrainian companies and enterprises, including the pet industry, for the last three years; we know their level and are confident that together they can maintain their operational capability and achieve success", said Olesya Zaluska, Deputy Chief of Party, USAID Competitive Economy Program, Ukraine. Ukraine reliable transit country for energy to Europe, but interested in blocking any financial flows for Russia Zerkal Ukraine is a reliable transit country for energy resources to Europe, but in the wartime conditions it is interested in cutting off all financial sources for the Russian aggressor as soon as possible, adviser to the Minister of Energy of Ukraine Lana Zerkal has said. "Hungary complains that it depends on the Druzhba oil pipeline. But, firstly, it already refused Russian oil when it was contaminated with chlorine in 2019, and secondly, this oil pipeline passes through Ukrainian territory, and there is a war in Ukraine and our interest in the speedy shutdown of all financial sources that feed this war to Russia," she wrote on her Facebook page. According to Zerkal, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's blocking of the oil embargo splits Europe's unity on this issue, and also increases the price of oil and oil products, as the market is nervous in the face of such uncertainty. "I understand that some people liked the facts I voiced, others didn't. Facts are stubborn things. But, to calm the situation, it should be clarified that the official position of the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy on this matter remains unchanged. Ukraine is a reliable transit country for energy resources to Europe," she added. Zerkal also recalled that the embargo on the purchase of Russian oil is not the only way to deprive Russians of billions of dollars in income. "For some reason, we stopped promoting Ukraine's proposal to accumulate funds for the sale of Russian energy resources on a separate escrow account," she stressed. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has provided JSC Farmak (Kyiv) with a loan of EUR 20 million to replenish working capital, according to a press release from the EBRD. "The EBRD is lending EUR 20 million to a leading Ukrainian pharmaceuticals manufacturer, JSC Farmak, under its EUR 2 billion Resilience and Livelihoods Framework supporting countries affected by the war in Ukraine," the report says. The program provides for the sustainability and preservation of livelihoods and support for countries affected by the war in Ukraine. According to the EBRD, the total amount of the Program is EUR 2 billion. The EBRD reports that this loan has a 5.5% first loss guarantee under the EBRD's Shareholder Special Fund Risk Sharing Programme. Thus, the total donor guarantee will cover 50% of the loan amount. Retailer Auchan Ukraine started importing salt from Poland, Romania and Hungary back in March to cover a possible shortage of State Enterprise Artyomsol (Soledar, Donetsk region), located in the war zone with Russian occupiers. The trade network has already established salt imports in April, and Ukrainians do not have to worry about the summer season of canning vegetables, the company's press service said in response to an inquiry from Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday. "There is European-made salt on the shelves of Auchan, which costs around UAH 25-30. We plan to sell salt of the following categories: extra, iodized, and even rock salt. The main reason for the shortage of salt is excessive demand. Employees of Auchan hypermarkets literally do not have time to place it, and sometimes a stock of two to three weeks is sold per day," the company's press service said. According to it, the import of salt from Europe has been established, only within a week the retailer will receive 150 tonnes of salt, including 50 tonnes in the coming days. "The main goal of Auchan Ukraine is to continue to purchase products from local manufacturers. But since not all enterprises are working at the moment, respectively, not all public needs are covered, the company is ready to cover critical consumption goods by attracting Auchan Poland, Auchan Hungary and Auchan Romania. As soon as Ukrainian enterprises resume work, Auchan will again give priority to local producers," the company's press service concluded. Auchan Retail is an international retail company, the first store opened in France in 1961. Auchan Ukraine Hypermarket LLC has been operating in Ukraine since 2008. According to the Auchan website, before the Russian invasion, it had more than 30 stores of various formats (hypermarkets, supermarkets, and pick up points) in nine cities, and is also developing e-commerce. The European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom announce the creation of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group, ACA) to coordinate efforts to bring those responsible for the atrocities committed during Russia's war against Ukraine. This is said in a press release issued by the EEAS on Wednesday. It says that the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA) will be a mechanism aimed at ensuring efficient coordination of their respective support to accountability efforts on the ground." "The ACA will reinforce current EU, US and UK efforts to further accountability for atrocity crimes in the context of Russias ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. It advances commitments made by the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom to demonstrate international support and solidarity at this crucial historical moment for Ukraine," the press release reads. The overarching mission of the ACA is to support the "War Crimes Units of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine (OPG) in its investigation and prosecution of conflict-related crimes." "The ACA seeks to streamline coordination and communication efforts to ensure best practices, avoid duplication of efforts, and encourage the expeditious deployment of financial resources and skilled personnel to respond to the needs of the OPG as the legally constituted authority in Ukraine responsible for dealing with the prosecution of war crimes on its own territory, " the message reads. Commenting on the creation of the ACA, EU High Representative Josep Borrell said It is critical to ensure that all those responsible for the terrible atrocities committed during the unprovoked Russian military aggression in Ukraine are brought to justice. There can be no impunity for war crimes." Borrell said that the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group will be providing advice and supporting the ongoing efforts of Ukraines Prosecutor Generals War Crimes Units to collect, preserve, and analyze evidence of atrocities to help the investigations and ensure justice takes its course. In turn, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that this initiative "will directly support efforts by the Ukrainian Office of the Prosecutor General to document, preserve, and analyze evidence of war crimes and other atrocities committed by members of Russias forces in Ukraine." "The ACA is an essential element of the United States commitment that those responsible for such crimes will be held to account, " he stressed. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss also said that the parties "are determined to ensure those responsible for the vile atrocities committed in Ukraine are held to account." "The UK has already made a clear commitment to supporting Ukraine in its investigations, including through deploying war crimes experts to the region and releasing additional funding to aid the ICC in their investigations. We are now stepping up our efforts through this landmark initiative with our partners in the US and EU. Justice will be done, Truss is convinced. The world turned out not to be ready for Ukrainian bravery - on February 24, many in the world did not even believe that Ukraine would be able to withstand a full-scale war, as they did not want to take Ukraine into account, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. "The world turned out not to be ready for Ukrainian bravery. For the bravery of all our people who are not inferior to Russia and continue to defend our state. Remember how it all began on February 24, when many in the world did not even believe that Ukraine would be able to withstand a full-scale war," Zelensky said in his video address on Wednesday evening. "Many of them simply did not want to take Ukraine into account. There was no such habit - to take Ukraine into account. Although they have a habit of taking Russia into account. Even when there are no objective reasons for this. It is convenient for them. And really habitual. Often very profitable. Calling certain Russian politicians "Dostoevsky's heroes", as if it serves as an excuse for them. Talking about the alleged historical sphere of influence of Russia. And about the alleged balance in relations in Europe, which is allegedly impossible without Russia," he noted. According to the president, "no matter what the Russian state does, there is always someone who says: let's take its interests into account. This year in Davos it was heard again. Despite thousands of Russian missiles hitting Ukraine. Despite tens of thousands of Ukrainians killed. Despite Bucha and Mariupol, etc. Despite the destroyed cities. And despite the filtration camps built by the Russian state, in which they kill, torture, rape and humiliate like on a conveyor belt. " Kuleba: time will come when we will be free to talk about reasons why Russia agreed to operation to evacuate people from Azovstal The time will come when Ukraine will freely talk about the reasons why the Russian Federation agreed to the operation to evacuate people from Azovstal, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said. "The evacuation of civilians and soldiers from Azovstal in Mariupol is a miracle. I can say openly that we thank the UN Secretary General [Antonio Guterres] and the Red Cross for facilitating this process. It also took many phone calls and many hours of difficult considerations and decision-makings for President Zelensky. But in the end it all worked. Time will come when we will be free to speak about the reasons why Russia agreed to this operation. For the time being I will stay silent, because I can only talk when I see all of them coming back to government-controlled territory. Now everything is very fragile and we want to save their lives, we want to protect them," Kuleba said at a press conference at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. He said that Ukraine is facing a much bigger problem of forcible deportation of Ukrainian citizens into the territory of Russia. "I do not know the number, how many Ukrainians were forcibly deported, because Russia does not share this to anyone. We do not know where these people are," Kuleba added. The minister said that he fears that the total number of forcibly deported to the Russian Federation will amount to hundreds of thousands of people. Press Release May 26, 2022 Bill penalizing wilful, indiscriminate discharge of firearms hurdles Senate The Senate on Thursday passed on final reading a proposed measure seeking to penalize wilful and indiscriminate discharge of firearms including those authorized to bear arms. Sponsored by Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, chairperson of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2501 or an Act Penalizing Wilful and Indiscriminate discharge of firearms, amending Act no. 3815, or the Revised Penal Code was approved on third reading with 21 affirmative votes, zero negative vote and no abstention. "Despite the various provisions under the Revised Penal Code penalizing illegal discharge of firearms, offenders are not deterred in the commission of the crime. As such, there is a need to introduce a more severe punishment to thwart the occurrence of these incidents," Dela Rosa said during his sponsorship of the bill. Paragraph B, Section 2 of SBN 2501 states that "Any person who shall wilfully and indiscriminately discharge any firearms or other device that may not have been designed as firearms but can be functionally used as a firearm shall suffer the penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period unless the facts of the case can be held to constitute any other offenses of which a higher penalty is prescribed." The bill also imposes a penalty to offenders who are members of the military, military auxiliary agencies, or law enforcement agencies authorized to bear arms who may be charged administratively. SBN 2501 also calls for the immediate cancellation and revocation of any license or permit granted to the offender and perpetual disqualification of the offender from being granted such. "As a former police officer and a responsible gun enthusiast and advocate, the matter of gun ownership and control is very important to me. It is my fervent hope, that this proposed measure will be a significant help in order to dissuade the arbitrary, reckless and indiscriminate use of firearms, and promote responsible gun ownership," Dela Rosa said. The Investigation and Detective Management of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in its case monitoring dated November 29, 2021 cited a total of 195 cases of indiscriminate firing in the country from 2016 to 2021. Topping the list was Region IV-A or Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon (CALABARZON) with 30 incidents, while the National Capital Region has 23 incidents. In all these incidents, 18 were committed by the members of the PNP and eight by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In a manifestation after the passage of the bill on third reading, the former top cop said, "I am grateful to everyone in this august body who have seen the significance of this measure - a measure that protects and gives importance to the lives of every Filipino. Mr. President, on behalf of the Filipinos who believe in a peaceful Philippines, I thank this august body." SBN 2501 is a consolidation of SBN 722 filed by Sen. Win Gatchalian and SBN 1531 filed by Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., taking into consideration House Bill No. 6123, which was passed on third and final reading by the House of Representatives. Russian troops are exporting grain looted in Ukraine to third countries by sea, including the theft of 30 grain carriers of the private port operator Ascet Shipping from Berdiansk and Mariupol, Liudmyla Denisova, the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada for Human Rights, wrote on Facebook. "A car convoy of grain trucks stolen from the Ascet Shipping carrier was seen on the Melitopol highway. Earlier, Ascet Shipping refused to cooperate with the occupiers and transferred its capacities to the west of Ukraine. Berdiansk residents counted more than 30 trucks with trailers filled with grain near the Azovcable plant," she said on social media. In addition, the occupiers are trying to take out the remaining grain from Mariupol seaport by rail, for which they began to urgently repair the railway track in Mariupol and Sartana station (Donetsk region). "The Matros Pazinich ship, which had already transported the stolen grain to Syria, returned to the Black Sea and was loaded again. After leaving the Crimean port, this ship indicated the destination port of Beirut in Lebanon," the expert specified. Denisova recalled that the theft of food from the occupied territories is a violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and a war crime in accordance with Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. "I appeal to the UN Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations during Russia's military invasion of Ukraine to take into account these facts of war crimes and human rights violations of Russia in Ukraine," she summed up on Facebook. As reported, on May 2, Denisova accused the Russian Federation of deliberately organizing a famine in Ukraine, which the aggressor country is carrying out by stealing agricultural machinery and grain from the occupied territories, as well as destroying granaries. The regrouping of Russian troops in Kherson region and in the occupied districts of Zaporizhia region indicates Russia's intention to gain a foothold in these territories, the press service of the Defense Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported. "In Kherson region, on the occupied territory of Zaporizhia region, we see reinforcement that occurs as a result of movement of troops from the territory of the Crimean peninsula. And this comes in transit from the Russian Federation. And accordingly, we see how powerful Russia is now deploying a group of troops in the occupied territories of southern Ukraine," representative of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense Vadym Skybytsky said on the air of Krym. Realii (Crimea. Realities). According to him, in addition to the ground forces, this grouping includes air and sea components. "We see that from the beginning of May, the occupying troops began to strengthen their defenses. Appropriate engineering structures are being prepared, not even one or two, but a third line of defense is being built. And this suggests that the occupation of these territories, or we can talk about the future, that the Russian Federation wants to stay for a long time. It is the military aspects, military indicators that indicate Russia's intentions to seize and hold these territories," the representative of the military intelligence of Ukraine said. Occupiers use boat of Ukrainian Navy near Snake island in advance for purpose of further provocations Pivden task force Ukrainian defenders found a boat of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near the Snake island, previously captured by the Russian military in Berdyansk and admit the possibility of its use by the enemy for the purpose of provocation, the operational command Pivden (South) reports. "One of the small armored artillery boats of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, captured by the Ruscists in Berdyansk at the beginning of the invasion, was found near the Snake island. In all likelihood, the enemy will try to use such a boat, also under the Ukrainian flag, in its provocations with the shelling of foreign civilian vessels, and maybe coastal areas of both Ukraine and other states of the Black Sea region," the report says. It is also reported that the naval grouping of enemy forces in the Black Sea continues to block shipping and the operation of ports. The threats of missile strikes and amphibious landings do not lose their relevance. In addition, the enemy continues aerial reconnaissance in order to identify Ukrainian positions and ways of countering along the shores of Odesa and Mykolaiv. The command notes that along the contact line in Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, the enemy made raids by Mi-8 helicopters of two-three units in a group. One attack by a troika helicopter by shelling by Ukrainian units was thwarted, and the enemy, dodging hits, retreated to their original positions. "According to the results of enemy shelling, including Hyacinth-B, an undetonated shell hit a residential building and one wounded civilian was found in settlements along the contact line. A dangerous projectile, neutralized by the staff of the State Emergency Service, the victim was assisted," Pivden task force reported. Some 240 children killed, more than 436 injured since start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine - PGO The Prosecutor Generals Office (PGO) informs about the death of 240 children in Ukraine as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, and the number of wounded is more than 436. "As of the morning of May 26, 2022, more than 676 children were injured in Ukraine as a result of the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation. According to the official information of juvenile prosecutors, 240 children were killed and more than 436 injured," the report says. At the same time, it is noted that these figures are not final, since work is underway to establish them in the places of active hostilities, in the temporarily occupied and liberated territories. In general, the most affected children are in Donetsk region 151, Kyiv 116, Kharkiv 105, Chernihiv 68, Luhansk 50, Kherson 49, Mykolaiv 45, Zaporizhia 28, Sumy 17, in Kyiv city 16, and Zhytomyr 15. In addition, during the fixation of criminal offenses, it became known that two children were killed as a result of enemy shelling of civilian cars in Mykolaiv district of Mykolaiv region. It also became known that a 16-year-old girl was injured during the shelling of Mariupol. And on May 24, as a result of shelling by Russian troops, in the village of Krasnohorivka of Ocheretynska merged territorial community of Donetsk region, a 6-year-old girl was seriously injured with amputation of the lower limb. Also on May 24, a 9-year-old child was seriously injured due to the shelling of Balakliya by the occupiers of Kharkiv region. The PGO reports that 1,883 educational institutions have been damaged due to the bombing and shelling of Ukrainian cities and villages by the armed forces of the Russian Federation. At the same time, 178 of them are completely destroyed. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who is paying a visit to Ukraine, for military assistance and support of Kyiv in its opposition to Russian aggression. "For us, Finland's military assistance is very valuable. Weapons, sanctions policy and the unity of our partners on Ukraine's accession to the EU are what can ensure the strength in the defense of our land. Thanks to Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin for the visit and devoted support!" Zelensky wrote on Facebook on Thursday. In addition, as part of her visit to Ukraine, Marin visited Bucha and Irpin, Kyiv Regional Military Administration said. "The foreign delegation visited the tragic places where the Russian army committed genocide against civilian Ukrainians. I saw with my own eyes the civilian houses that were destroyed by the Russian invaders. This is not only a war against our state, it is a war against humanity and democratic values. We feel the help and support of the world community," the administration said on its Telegram channel. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called for the restoration of full respect for basic values on the European continent. "We must restore full respect for basic values on our continent. We must clearly and at all levels fight for the principle 'Every nation matters, the interests of no nation can be ignored," he said in a video address to the Latvian Parliament on Thursday. According to Zelensky, "when they say that we do not need to be given the weapons necessary for victory, they mean that our people matter less than other peoples who have already been provided with such weapons and who can dispose of them." Zelensky said "today we again hear that supposedly we need to give Russia what it wants, supposedly agree that some peoples may be deprived of part of their foreign policy rights, because some historical force wants this." "There are serious talks that it is possible to draw dividing lines along the body of a sovereign state. Allegedly, concessions are needed in order to appease the aggressor. And this is about Ukraine, which has been defending itself from the army for the 4th month, the second in the world in terms of power," he said. Zelensky thanked Latvia for "the determination with which you began to fight for justice. Back at 18:00 on February 23, Stingers from Latvia arrived in Ukraine, weapons that we received from you." "You help us to the maximum both in the defense sphere and by supporting us with sanctions," he said, noting the "extremely warm attitude towards our citizens who have found temporary asylum in Latvia." No signs of an enemy strike grouping have been identified in Chernihiv direction, Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksiy Hromov has said. "Regarding the grouping of enemy troops in Chernihiv direction. At the moment, there are some movements of units, but from the intelligence side, there are no signs of the creation of an enemy strike group," Hromov said at a briefing at the Ukraine media center on Thursday. At the same time, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar pointed out the need to realize that the threat to Kyiv will always exist. "We must be aware that there will always be a threat to Kyiv, because destroying Kyiv and destroying Ukrainian power is the fastest way to conquer Ukraine. Therefore, we just have to live with the thought that this threat will now always be," Maliar said. As result of enemy shelling of Kharkiv, seven killed, 17 wounded As a result of shelling by the Russian occupation forces of Shevchenkivsky and Kyivsky districts of Kharkiv on Thursday, seven people were killed, some 17 were injured among the civilian population, including a child, Oleh Synehubov, Head of the military regional administration said. "Seven civilians, 17 were wounded, among them a nine-year-old child. The enemy is again insidiously terrorizing the civilian population," Synehubov said on his Telegram channel. He said the enemy was shelling the city with MLRS and artillery. "Once again I ask everyone not to be on the streets unnecessarily. Listen to alarm signals and stay in shelters during such signals. It is still too early to relax," Synehubov said. He noted that fierce fighting continues in the region. "Our armed forces know their business, they are chasing the enemy. Fierce battles continue in the north, northeast and Izyum directions. The enemy is suffering significant losses," Synehubov said. Civilian casualties from February 24, when Russia started the war against Ukraine, to 00:00 on May 25 amounted to 8,691 civilians (two days earlier some 8,533), including 3,998 killed (3,942), the office of the UN High Commissioner Human Rights Council (OHCHR) has said on Thursday. "OHCHR believes that the actual figures are considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration," the UN said. According to it, this concerns, for example, Mariupol (Donetsk region), Izium (Kharkiv region), and Popasna (Luhansk region), where there are allegations of numerous civilian casualties. "Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes," the UN said. According to confirmed UN data, some 1,507 men, 989 women, 99 boys and 92 girls killed, while the gender of 69 children and 1,242 adults has not yet been determined. Among the 4,693 wounded were 131 boys and 109 girls, as well as 164 children whose gender has not yet been determined. Compared to the report two days earlier, two children were killed and five more were injured. OHCHR said that in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as of midnight on May 26, there were 2,122 (2,081) killed and 2,124 (2,081) injured in government-controlled territory, and 129 (128) killed and 537 (525) injured in territory controlled by self-proclaimed "republics." In other regions of Ukraine under government control (in Kyiv, as well as in Zhytomyr, Zaporizhia, Kyiv, Sumy, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy and Chernihiv regions), the UN recorded 1,747 (1,733) killed and 2,032 (2,013) injured. The summary traditionally states that the increase in indicators from the previous report should not be attributed only to the cases of May 24 and 25, since during this period the office verified a number of cases from previous days. The Ukrainian flag will once again fly over Kherson, adviser to the Head of the President's Office Mykhailo Podoliak wrote on the Telegram channel on Thursday. "Not tomorrow, but sooner than anyone can imagine," he said. According to him, "Russia is very actively trying to form among the southerners the idea that Ukraine has left them, and the 'Russian world' has come for a long time. Complete nonsense". "The entire political and diplomatic machine today is working to ensure that the state receives a sufficient amount of weapons to free citizens in the occupied territories. The entire military machine is working to contain the aggressive offensive of the enemy in the east of the country right now. The Kremlin is throwing everything it has into battle, but time is on our side. As soon as Russia is exhausted and loses its offensive potential, Ukraine will accumulate enough forces - the south of our country will definitely be liberated," the adviser to the Head of the President's Office wrote. Leader of group of arms dealers detained in Lviv The leader of a group of arms dealers was detained in Lviv by police officers of the region, the communication department of the main department of the National Police in Lviv region reports. The man led a group of five residents of Lviv, Ternopil and Zakarpattia regions, including private carriers. "The criminal group specialized in illegal acquisition, storage and sale of unregistered firearms, including abroad: carriers delivered disassembled weapons abroad," the police said in a statement. Last fall, the Ukrainian police passed information about two members of the group to the Polish police, who detained the attackers. Currently, the case against them is pending in court. Today, law enforcement officers detained the leader of the group and conducted searches at his and other defendants' in the case residence place. "Grenades, pistols, cartridges, a TNT bomb weighing 750 grams, an improvised explosive device, an RPG, instructions for collecting explosives and 20,000 U.S. dollars were confiscated". The detainee was informed of suspicion of committing a criminal offense under Article 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal handling of weapons and ammunition). Shmyhal, Marin agree on prompt govt coordination of parameters for involving Finland in restoration of Ukraine Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland Sanna Marin have agreed on prompt coordination by the governments of the parameters of involving Finland in the restoration of Ukraine. "We agreed on the prompt coordination by our governments of the parameters for involving Finland in the restoration of Ukraine in the future," Shmyhal said at a joint briefing with Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland Sanna Marin in Kyiv on Thursday. According to Ukrainian prime minister, the parties intend to come up with concrete projects for their implementation in the near future. In turn, Sanna Marin said that partner countries need to increase financial support for Ukraine, and she will speak with this position next week at a meeting of the European Council. In addition, according to her, Finland will continue to support the tightening of sanctions against Russia. KYIV. May 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUCA) will prepare bachelors under a reduced three-year program. "We are ready to solve a problem of the shortage of specialists for restoration and construction of certain facilities. Now we are developing reduced programs, analyzing how to optimize them. After the victory, our defenders will be able to take these courses and get involved in restoration of the country as soon as possible," professor, rector of Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture Petro Kulikov said during a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday. According to him, the task is to "squeeze" the four-year bachelor's program to three years. The KNUCA rector noted that a smaller number of applicants is expected this year. "We are losing foreign students, as interest in the country at war, of course, is falling. Colleagues in European countries have provided preferences for our applicants, and a significant number of those who have gone abroad are considering this possibility. Despite this, we hope that we will have a full-fledged enrollment," Kulikov said. At the same time, he noted that international cooperation between universities is expanding. "I am grateful to our colleagues from Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. There are no political moments in the scientific and educational environment, there is, above all, a creative interest. In the coming days, we are signing an agreement with a French higher education institution, in June an agreement between an association of Polish and Ukrainian universities. We are talking about the exchange of students and other forms of cooperation," Kulikov said. KYIV. May 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) Mobile hospitals can temporarily provide medical care to communities where hospitals were destroyed as a result of hostilities, Artem Honcharenko, President of the International Technology Transfer Association and the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Ukraine, has said. "The creation of mobile hospitals, mobile operating rooms can ensure the operation of an almost full-fledged hospital based on a gym or any building, and tent camps can also be deployed, including in a simplified form. Until the stage of hospital recovery comes, such mobile hospitals will provide primary and secondary care," Honcharenko said during a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday. The deployment time of the mobile hospital is only 40 minutes, they are designed to receive 150 patients per day, Oleksiy Honcharov, head of the international relations department of the public organization Kontramarka Help, has said. "According to our estimates, about 40 such hospitals are needed throughout Ukraine. Of course, the more of them, the better. Currently, there is a serious problem with destroyed hospitals, so mobile hospitals can come to different cities to provide medical care," he explained. The Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Ukraine (https://rdua.eu/) was established in April 2022 at the initiative of the International Technology Transfer Association and the I-Dolina start-up platform to organize and deliver humanitarian aid to Ukraine. NGO Kontramarka Help (https://www.kontramarka.help/) was founded by the creators of automation products for ticket services mticket, esport, Kontramarka for humanitarian aid to the army, territorial defense, hospitals. KYIV. May 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) It is planned to build an IT campus for representatives of creative industries in Lviv region, Artem Honcharenko, President of the International Technology Transfer Association (ITTA) and the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Ukraine, has said. "Currently, we are implementing such a project, we have found a site in Lviv region. The legal process will begin soon. We plan to build the first campuses during the summer, where it will be possible to attract foreign partners and IT specialists, creative industries, youth to create a platform for discussion and start-ups," Honcharenko said during a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday. He clarified that there are already agreements on the allocation of a land plot in Lviv region with an area of 8 hectares. The project provides for construction of campuses no more than five floors, the total area of spaces will be 10,000 square meters. According to Honcharenko, the campuses of the town will be able to host up to 1,000 participants, and construction of places of temporary residence is also envisaged. In addition, a rehabilitation center as part of the technology park will be designed for 500-600 people. Previously, the creation of such towns was planned in Kyiv region, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Lviv. "We postponed construction of such a center in Kharkiv to the post-war period. We will start talking with local authorities about what needs to be taken into account for construction of such a town of creative industries in terms of restoring the city," the ITTA president said. "We would like to create not only a place for communication, but also, perhaps, with flexible taxation conditions, with the possibility of entering international markets," he stressed. The Ukrainian non-profit organization International Technology Transfer Association (https://itta.org.ua/) was founded in 2020, its activities include software development, development of the IT sector in Ukraine. In April 2022, ITTA co-initiated the creation of a charitable foundation for Reconstruction and Development of Ukraine to organize and deliver humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Egypts Foreign Minister and President Designate of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) Sameh Shoukry said it is important to focus climate efforts on the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, and affirmed the necessity of closing the funding gaps related to the climate crisis. Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad pressed the need to adopt strategies that address the problem of pollution in seas and oceans, underlining the importance of involving more communities around the world to decrease human impact. Emirati businessman Omar Abduallah Al-Futtaim, the CEO of Al-Futtaim Group, said on Thursday that the group is working on expanding its investments in the Egyptian market despite economic challenges, and that it plans to inject from $700 million to $1 billion in investments in Egypt during the next three years. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi urged state officials on Saturday to localise the components of the water desalination technology in a bid to achieve further progress in this field. El-Sisi stressed maximising the amount of water coming from desalination and treatment water stations, a statement by the presidential spokesman, Bassam Rady, read. He urged the integration of the water desalination strategy with the states general policy for the wise management of water. The president ordered officials to continue conducting further studies and experiments in this field to reach the best outcome. The presidents directives come within the general framework of building the national capacity of the state in all fields, the statement noted. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, Minister of Planning Hala El-Saeed, Minister of Housing Assem El-Gazzar, Presidential Adviser for Urban Planning Amir Sayed Ahmed and Chairman of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority Ihab El-Far. The meeting reviewed the states strategic plan in terms of seawater desalination plants, Rady said. During the meeting, the president reviewed the operational desalination plants and those under construction or set to be built. El-Sisi also reviewed the plan to distribute the suggested plants nationwide together with the cost and capacity of these projects,including projects to desalinate Red Sea water using new and renewable energy. El-Gazzar last month revealed that 14 seawater desalination plants are being built in Egypt, with a total capacity of 476,000 m3 of water per day, at a cost of EGP 9.71 billion. The 14 plants, expected to be completed by June 2022, are being constructed in the governorates of Marsa Matrouh, the Red Sea, North Sinai, South Sinai, Port Said, Daqahliya, Suez and Alexandria, El-Gazzar's statement read. When built, the plants will bring Egypts tally to 90 desalination stations with a total capacity of 1,307,69 million m3 per day due to the operation of 76 existing seawater desalination plants, with a total capacity of 831,690 m3 per day, the minister said. The plan works to provide alternative sources of drinking water through desalination in coastal governorates and reuse treated water, he added. Egypts annual share of water is 560 m3 per person, placing the populousous country well below the international threshold for water scarcity. Prime Minister Madbouly affirmed last month that the state has carried out development projects as part of its efforts to ensure every drop of water is preserved, including the construction of more seawater desalination plants. The states move towards building more desalination plants comes amid a water shortage threat Egypt faces due to Ethiopias plan to unilaterally continue its massive dam filling in July. The Ethiopian step comes despite the absence of a binding deal that secures the interests and water rights of Egypt and Sudan, a matter that has been frequently rejected by the two downstream countries. The statement mentioned that these efforts should be carried out with consideration given to the diversified factors affecting Egypts use of this technology Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi urged on Sunday the completion of the studies required to ensure effective application of advanced technology related to seawater desalination, a presidential statement read. In a meeting with the premier as well as ministers and other officials, El-Sisi urged the completion of the required studies so that Egypt reaches the best results in all aspects in the water desalination field. The statement mentioned that these efforts should be carried out with consideration given to the diversified factors affecting Egypts use of this technology, including the countrys wide and deep coasts that overlook the Red and Mediterranean seas. The meeting reviewed opportunities to benefit from the latest technological systems for seawater desalination, the statement read. All the technical details of the advanced seawater desalination technology were presented, particularly in terms of economic feasibility, water quantity and quality, production capacity and electricity consumption, the statement added. Since President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has taken office, Egypt has been aiming to maximise the use of water and reuse treated water, Minister of Housing Assem El-Gazzar said in April. El-Gazzar revealed that 14 seawater desalination plants are being built in Egypt, with a total capacity of 476,000 cubic metres of water per day, at a cost of EGP 9.71 billion (about $618 million). The 14 plants, expected to be completed by June 2022, are being constructed in the governorates of Marsa Matrouh, the Red Sea, North Sinai, South Sinai, Port Said, Daqahliya, Suez and Alexandria, El-Gazzar's statement read. When built, the plants will bring Egypts tally to 90 desalination stations with a total capacity of 1,307,69 million cubic metres per day due to the operation of 76 existing seawater desalination plants, with a total capacity of 831,690 cubic metres per day, the minister said. El-Sisi also met separately on Sunday with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir, during which they reviewed the work status of a number of transport projects nationwide. During the meeting, the president ordered that the new road axes system on the Nile River be integrated in all aspects and not be limited to transportation, a presidential statement read. El-Sisi ordered that the new axes system serve as development and life arteries for all citizens on both banks of the Nile Valley and ease the daily heavy traffic, the statement added. Search Keywords: Short link: China's ambassador to the US said Sunday his country was not sending weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine, but he did not definitively rule out the possibility Beijing might do so in the future. In a lengthy phone call Friday, US President Joe Biden warned his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that there would be "consequences" if Beijing provided material support to Moscow as it prosecutes its war against Kyiv. Asked Sunday on CBS whether China might send money or weapons to Russia, Ambassador Qin Gang spoke about the present, saying: "There is misinformation about China providing military assistance to Russia. We reject that." Instead, "what China is doing is sending food, medicine, sleeping bags, and baby formula, not weapons and ammunition to any party," he said. Beijing, which shares with Moscow a sense of hostility and resentment toward the United States, has been loath to criticize its Russian ally over the invasion of Ukraine, despite urging by US, British, and other officials. Qin, interviewed on CBS talk show "Face the Nation," said Beijing was continuing to "promote peace talks and urge immediate cease-fire." But the sort of public condemnation urged by many in the West "doesn't help," he said. "We need a reason. We need courage. And we need good diplomacy." The Chinese foreign ministry has said the West must take Russian security concerns into account. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday lent his voice to calls for China to join in condemning the Russian invasion. "As time goes on, and as the number of Russian atrocities mounts up, I think it becomes steadily more difficult and politically embarrassing for people either actively or passively to condone Putin's invasion," he told the Sunday Times. Mikhailo Podolyak, a top advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, pleaded with Beijing on Saturday to "condemn Russian barbarism." Were Beijing to deliver military support to Russia, analysts say, it could transform an already explosive transatlantic standoff into a global dispute pitting the West against the world's second-biggest economy, prompting turmoil on international markets. Search Keywords: Short link: An Israeli court on Sunday sentenced six Palestinian inmates to five years in prison for tunnelling out of their cell last year and escaping from a high-security facility in the biggest prison break of its kind in decades. The jailbreak sparked a massive manhunt in the country's north and the occupied West Bank in search of the men, who were members of Palestinian militant groups. They were recaptured days later. The bold escape dominated newscasts sparked heavy criticism of the occupation state's prison service, and prompted the government to launch an inquiry. According to various reports, the men dug a tunnel through the floor of their shared cell undetected over several months and managed to slip past a sleeping prison guard after emerging through a hole outside the facility. The judge ruled that the sentence took into account the fact that the prison break paralyzed the nation for days, the costs it took to recapture the inmates and the harm to public security caused by having prisoners under life sentence and convicted of serious crimes escape. The five-year sentence will be added to the prison terms the prisoners were already serving. Five other inmates charged with assisting the men were sentenced to an additional four years. Israel considers all six of the escapees to be terrorists. Five of them are from the Islamic Jihad militant group, with four of them serving life sentences. The sixth, Zakaria Zubeidi, is a member of the Fatah group of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Zubeidi was a leader during the second Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s. Palestinians consider prisoners held by the Israeli occupation to be heroes of their national cause and many on social media celebrated the escape and held demonstrations in support of the prisoners. Search Keywords: Short link: Israel has told the United States it was responsible for the killing of an Iranian Revolutionary Guards colonel last week, The New York Times reported Wednesday. Colonel Sayyad Khodai was shot dead on Sunday by a gunman on the back of a motorcycle as he sat in a car outside his home in Tehran. Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has vowed to avenge the killing, and the Revolutionary Guards blamed it on "elements of global arrogance" -- a reference to the United States and its allies, including Israel. On Wednesday, the Times reported that "according to an intelligence official briefed on the communications, Israel has informed American officials that it was behind the killing." The source, who spoke to the Times on condition of anonymity, said Israel told US officials the killing was meant as a warning to Iran to halt the operations of a covert group within the Quds Force -- the foreign operations arm of the Revolutionary Guards, Iran's ideological army. Iran's state broadcaster has described Khodai as a member of the Quds Force. It had previously reported that the colonel was "known" in Syria, where Iran has backed the government during an 11-year civil war and where it acknowledges deploying "military advisers". Thousands attended Khodai's funeral on Tuesday in central Tehran. Funeral prayers were led by the capital's top imam, and Khodai's coffin was draped in the Iranian flag. Posters hailed him as a "martyr". Khodai's killing came with negotiations between Iran and world powers to restore a frayed 2015 nuclear deal stalled since March. One of the main sticking points is Tehran's demand to remove the Guards from a US terrorism list -- a request rejected by Washington. Search Keywords: Short link: With the passing of Iraq's renowned communist poet Muzzafar al-Nawab, who faced jail time and exile in the 1960s, a rich chapter of Iraqi poetry has come to an end. Al-Nawab, who died on Friday in an Emirati hospital aged 88, was one of Iraq's most decorated poets. After spending most of his life in exile then as an emigrant, al-Nawab, returned to his homeland on Saturday, one last time in his coffin, where he received a state funeral and was mourned by the country's president and prime minister. He started his career in the 1950s and 1960s, and is often credited with integrating colloquial Iraqi Arabic into his works. The late poet was known for breaking traditional forms, following his rebellious imagination to a wider horizon. A mural depicting Iraqi poet Muzzafar al-Nawab by Iraqi artist Wijdan al-Majed (unseen) on a concrete structure in the capital Baghdad, on May 20, 2022. AFP His politics aligned with his poetry, inspiring his work as he aligned himself with the poor in defence of justice and freedoms in the face of occupation and dictatorships. His stances landed him prison and eventually exile. His death outside of his country reflected his life, which led some of his fans to mourn the circumstances of his country, which led him to spend most of his life outside of it. Mourners take carry the coffin of renowned Iraqi poet Muzzafar al-Nawab during his funeral procession near the Imam Ali shrine, in Iraq's central holy city of Najaf, on May 21, 2022. Al-Nawab was born in Baghdad in 1934 to a family of aristocrats that governed one of India's northern states before they were banished to Iraq for their resistance to the British occupation. Coming from a cultured music-loving family set the road for Al-Nawab to enter the world of poetry and rub shoulders with high brow writers and artists who visited his family's palace on the banks of Degla river regularly. He started showing early signs of a poetic talent in the third grade and by the time he reached preparatory school he had been published in his schools magazine. His family had lost its wealth by the time he was in college pursuing his studies at Baghdad Faculty of Arts. After the royal family was toppled in 1958, he started working in the Ministry of Education, a job that allowed him to stay in the realm of music and culture. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi (3-L) and Iraqi officials accompany the casket of the late Iraqi poet Muzzafar al-Nawab, carried by the honour guard upon its arrival at the Baghdad International Airport, on May 21, 2022. - AFP After the 1963 coup in Iraq, the new authorities started hunting down communists and leftists, of which he was one. To escape jail he fled to Iran on his way to the Soviet Union, yet his misfortunes continued as Iranian intelligence arrested and tortured him before handing him over to Iraq. Back in Iraq, he was sentenced to death before the sentence was reduced to life time in prison. Yet, the free soul in him kept on fighting. Alongside fellow political prisoners, Al-Nawab dug a tunnel under his cell and escaped prison. He hid in Baghdad for nearly six month before heading to southern Iraq. Things seemed to turn around when the authorities issued a pardon for the opposition in 1969, leading him to get his job back, but shortly after a new wave of arrests ensued and he was arrested again before being released. After his release, he traveled to Beirut then Damascus, from there he moved between some Europe cities before settling in Damascus. According to AFP, he last visited Iraq in 2011, when he was received with grand pomp by the presidency. Search Keywords: Short link: Cyprus fully supports Egypts stabilising role in the region, including its efforts in Libya and Palestine, Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides has said. Cyprus fully supports Egypts stabilising role in the region, including its efforts in Libya and Palestine, Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides has said. Kasoulides made the remarks on Thursday in a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry during the formers official visit to Cairo. The Cypriot FM said his country seeks to enhance the bilateral strategic relations with Egypt, expressing satisfaction with the progress recently achieved in these relations on all levels. Constructive bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Cyprus is crucial amid the recent international developments, said the Cypriot minister. He also hailed Egypts role regarding climate issues as Egypt prepares to host the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in November. Shoukry also hailed the cooperation between Egypt and Cyprus as firm and based on transparency, friendship and complete clarity. Shoukry added that Cyprus continues to deliver Egypts voice to members of the European Union regarding important issues linked to Egyptian national security and the efforts to enhance security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. Cypruss deep understanding of the circumstances of the region and the situation in Egypt has always made Cyprus a partner in efforts to strengthen Egyptian relations with Europe and the EU, Shoukry said. Egypt and Cyprus are keen to enhance stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and to tackle the challenges that the region faces, the top Egyptian diplomat said. The two countries are also keen to explore fields of political, economic, and cultural cooperation, he added. Shoukry and Kasoulides discussed regional issues, including the Palestinian cause, the situation in Libya, efforts to achieve stability in the East Mediterranean region, and the activation of the EastMed Gas Forum. The two ministers also reviewed the outcome of the past meetings of the Egypt-Cyprus joint committee and discussed preparations for the coming meetings of the committee. Shoukry and Kasoulides held extensive talks earlier today, where they discussed cooperation in many fields, at the top of which is trade, energy, and investments. Over the past years, Egypt and Cyprus have been keen to enhance their bilateral cooperation in various fields, especially regarding the economy and energy. Both Egypt and Cyprus are members of the EastMed Gas Forum, a Cairo-based international organisation that aims to establish a regional gas market in the Eastern Mediterranean and enhance trade relations among member states. By the end of the year, work is expected to start to construct a pipeline connecting Cyprus Aphrodite natural gas field, estimated to hold up to 6 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas reserves, to Egypt, Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources told Bloomberg Asharq this week. This is based on an agreement signed between Egypt and Cyprus in September 2018 to connect the Aphrodite gas field to liquefaction plants in Edku via a marine pipeline. In October last year, Egypt also signed an accord with Cyprus on linking the two countries electricity transmission networks and an agreement with Greece on an undersea cable that will transmit power from North Africa to Europe. Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece have held several tripartite summits over the past several years, the last of which was in October in Athens, to enhance tripartite cooperation in various fields, at the top of which is energy. During the ninth trilateral summit gathering of the leaders of the three countries in the Greek capital in October, the three countries signed a trilateral agreement on power linkage to establish power pipelines linking Africa with Europe. Search Keywords: Short link: Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Thursday hailed the "peaceful transfer of power" in Somalia, the pan-Arab bloc said in a statement. In a phone conversation, Aboul-Gheit congratulated Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on his election as the new president and discussed means of supporting Somalia on its path to political reconciliation and stability. He expressed the Arab League's support for Somalia in combating all challenges, especially the threat posed by terrorist groups. "The historical elections will be a turning point for promoting stability and security in Somalia and will help get Somalia constructively involved in the international community," the Arab League chief said. Aboul-Gheit reiterated his confidence in Mohamud's ability to meet challenges and crises through his wide range of experiences, including serving as Somalian president from 2012 to 2017. Mohamud was confirmed to have defeated incumbent President Mohamed Farmajo by 214 votes against 110 in a third-round runoff on May 15. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt signed on Thursday memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with 10 international companies to advance IT skills for outstanding students as part of the country's Digital Egypt Cubs Initiative DECI (Ashbal Misr Digital Initiative). The companies include Cisco, IBM, VMware, Valeo, AMS, Vodafone for Community Development, Microsoft, Google, Dell Technologies and Huawei, according to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (MICT). With an initial budget worth $25 million, the DECI aims to train 3,000 students all schools across the country from grade seven till grade 11 in each of the coming five years starting from the 2022/23 academic year, said Information and Communication Technology Minister Amr Talaat said. The drive aims to select top-performing school students and prepare them to make a leap in the area of communication and information technology in Egypt as well as explore new horizons in these fields, the minister added. The MoUs are aimed at cooperating with the previously mentioned companies in preparing training tracks, providing virtual platforms and laboratories in related technological disciplines, and technological awareness in addition to organising online seminars for students of DECI. The programme aims to equip youngsters with proven competence in emerging technologies and fulfilling the country's national vision of keeping up with the sciences and requirements of tomorrows labour market. The initiative is co-implemented by MCIT and the Ministry of Education in cooperation with national and international entities specialising in different fields of technology. The initiative complements other MCIT programmes aimed at introducing young people to IT tools to keep up with the digital era, and provides school students with in-depth training. DECI participants study a foundation program that introduces the basics and tools of modern technology, helping hone their technology skills, the ministry said. The students then enroll in a specialised track of their choice, in a number of areas, including digital arts, software development, network and information security, artificial intelligence, and robotics. They also receive training on personal, life and leadership skills such as communication and presentation skills, time management, team building, planning and leadership skills, entrepreneurship and sustainable development. The ministry said the DECI's training schedule does not overlap with the school days or the exam dates announced by the Ministry of Education, as it is carried out through a hybrid model, with 75 percent of the training to be conducted online and 25 percent at training facilities located nationwide. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts Ministry of Foreign Affairs lit up its headquarters with the word Africa on Wednesday to celebrate 2022 Africa Day, which marks the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May 1963. The OAU, founded by 32 African countries including Egypt, later evolved on 9 July 2002 into the African Union (AU), which is made up of 55 member states and represents all the countries on the continent. In a statement, the Egyptian foreign ministry said the establishment of the OAU reflected the will of the African peoples to achieve independence and utilise their human and natural resources to achieve economic development and meet the peoples aspirations toward freedom, integration, and unity. Egyptian-African relations have seen a strong momentum over the past years reinforced by a political will at the highest levels to boost relations with the African countries in the fields of economy, trade, health, and investments, the ministry said. This has been reflected in the continuous coordination and consultation to achieve integration and unity and confront the traditional and non-traditional challenges facing our contemporary world, the ministry said. The ministry added that this momentum in Egyptian-African relations has been based on a firm determination to enhance the efforts of uniting the African ranks in the face of conflicts in different regions of the world, given their impact on the development process in African countries. Egypt has continued to consult with all African countries at the bilateral level on the concerns and issues facing the continent and has followed up on the global political and economic developments given the countrys leading role in the continent, the ministry said. Egypt has also taken many diplomatic moves to preserve the rights and gains of African countries, the ministry said, noting that such efforts have been reflected by the significant number of mutual visits and high-level meetings between Egypt and other African countries. Egypt's moves in the African continent are based on well-studied strategic steps and a timetable for implementing development projects in line with development plans of the African states, the ministry said. Egypt has also worked through these moves on intensifying efforts to enhance mutual investments and increase the rates of trade exchange with African partners, especially after the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) entered into force. Egypt is a signatory to several trade agreements between African countries, including the AfCFTA an agreement that was adopted and opened for signature in March 2018 in Kigali before going into force in January 2021 after months of delays owing to the pandemic. The AfCFTA aims to accelerate intra-African trade and boost Africas trading position in the global market by strengthening its common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations. Moreover, Egypt has sought to contribute to building the capacities of African cadres in various fields in a way that supports the efforts of achieving sustainable development across the continent, the ministry noted. Earlier today, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi also marked Africa Day, stressing that Egypt will continue to endeavour side by side with its sister African countries to achieve sustainable development. I congratulate all the brotherly African peoples on the occasion of Africa Day, El-Sisi wrote on his official Facebook account. The Egyptian president described the occasion as a great historical moment that established a new era in strengthening unity and cooperation between the countries of our continent." "Egypt will continue working side by side with its sister African countries to achieve sustainable development and boost joint efforts to find solutions to problems and conflicts that the continent has suffered from for decades and have prevented the realisation of the dreams of its people," El-Sisi said. Today we are taking firm steps towards creating a stable continent that guarantees a decent life for its people and instills a culture of civility, tolerance, and love for the whole world, El-Sisi said. In closing, the Egyptian president wished the peoples of Africa "progress, stability, and prosperity on this day. In recent years, the Egyptian government has placed a priority on cooperation with fellow African countries on the political, economic and social levels. Egypt has also repeatedly called for cooperation among African countries to counter terrorism. The country also vowed to speak for African concerns at the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference 2022 (COP27), which will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh in November. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt has contacted a number of companies to obtain raw materials required to manufacture the monkeypox drugs and to import PCR test kits to detect the virus, Acting Minister of Health Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said on Wednesday. Egypt has not recorded any cases of monkeypox to date and the government has been raising awareness among the public on the issue, Abdel-Ghaffar told Sada Al-Balad TV channel. Monkeypox is a viral infection observed in isolates in central and western Africa with minor outbreaks in recent years elsewhere. The primary route of infection is thought to be contact with the infected animals or their bodily fluids. Some cases of Monkeypox have been detected in several countries recently, including Canda and in Europe, but no deaths have been reported. Also, the United Arab Emirates reported its first monkeypox case on Tuesday. Abdel-Ghaffar noted that Egypts plan includes obtaining the drug tecovirimat, which treats smallpox and related viruses, including monkeypox. Tecovirimat, developed by the American pharmaceutical company SIGA Technologies, received approval from the European Medicines Agency in January. The Egyptian scientific committee originally in charge of addressing the coronavirus situation in the country will give daily reports on the monkeypox situation worldwide, Abdel-Ghaffar added. Monkeypox disease is usually self-limiting meaning it typically resolves itself without treatment the World Health Organisation has said, though it warned that severe cases can occur and that the diseases fatality rate is around 3 to 6 percent. Symptoms of the disease, which usually last from two to four weeks, include fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes. The disease can be transmitted to people from other infected persons or animals. Monkeypox is less contagious than the notorious smallpox, which was declared eradicated worldwide in 1980, and causes less severe illness. To prevent infection, the Egyptian health ministry advises people to not touch sick or dead animals that are found in places where monkeypox spreads. People infected with the virus should be isolated and animals carrying the virus should be quarantined, the ministry has said. The ministry also urges people to wash hands well with water and soap or alcohol-based hand sanitisers and use masks and gloves when providing care to people infected with the virus. Search Keywords: Short link: The US State Department has approved the potential sale of CH-47F Chinook helicopters and related equipment to Egypt, the Pentagon announced on Thursday, explaining that the possible sale will strengthen Egypt's homeland defence and deter regional threats. Egypt had requested to buy 23 CH-47F Chinook helicopters and related equipments for an estimated cost of $2.6 billion, a release by the Pentagon's Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said. Boeing Helicopter Co. will be the principal contractor. The DSCA said it delivered today the required certification notifying the US Congress of this possible sale to give its approval. "This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that continues to be an important strategic partner in the Middle East," read the press release. The DSCA said the proposed sale will also improve Egypts heavy lift capability and that Egypt will use this enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defence and deter regional threats. Egypt will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces, noted the DSCA. In March, the US Senate backed with an overwhelming majority in an 81-18 vote a massive arms sale to Egypt worth $2.2 billion, according to US news website Politico. The deal including 12 Super Hercules C-130 transport aircraft and related equipment, in addition to air defence radar systems. The US has been providing Egypt with foreign aid, including military assistance, since Cairo's 1979 peace deal with Israel. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt will not allow people suffering from chronic diseases to perform the hajj this year, as the country fears for their health and lives, said Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Qabbaj on Wednesday. This is one of the health requirements set by the Egyptian government for issuing the 2022 hajj pilgrimage visas, El-Qabbaj told MBC Masr TV channel. Muslims perform the hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, every year during Dhul-Hijjah month, the last month of the Islamic year, which coincides this year with July. Hajj visas allocated for Egypt this year are only 25 percent of the average number of visas that had been allocated for the country before the pandemic, El-Qabbaj noted. El-Qabbaj praised the new Egyptian law recently approved by parliament to regulate hajj travel by setting up the Unified Egyptian Portal for Online Hajj Visas. The 25-article bill states that a website will be made available for Egyptian citizens seeking to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform their pilgrimage. The bill aims to help Egyptian pilgrims avoid scams or other fraudulent activities. El-Qabbaj said the website aims to guarantee that all hajj services are provided to citizens in a transparent way. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities had earlier announced it was extending the registration period for 2022s hajj pilgrimage through tourism companies until 23 May instead of 20 May. The ministry also announced the launch of a new service through its hajj website to enable citizens who have registered for the hajj through tourism companies to inquire about their registration online and ensure that companies have registered their data. Saudi Arabia announced earlier that it would resume receiving non-Saudi pilgrims who want to perform the hajj following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In April, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced a host of regulations for this years pilgrimage, including that pilgrims must be less than 65 years of age and be fully vaccinated. Pilgrims coming from outside Saudi Arabia are also required to present a negative PCR test result conducted within 72 hours before arriving in the country and to commit themselves to preventive measures. Saudi Arabia also announced in April that it will allow a million people to perform the hajj this year, up from a few hundred in 2020 and about 60,000 in 2021, the first two years of the pandemic. In 2019, the year that preceded the outbreak of the pandemic, Saudi Arabia received around 2.5 million pilgrims. Search Keywords: Short link: The Palestinian Authority on Thursday announced the results of its investigation into the shooting death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, saying it had proven she was deliberately killed by Israeli forces as she tried to flee. The findings echoed the results of a preliminary investigation announced nearly two weeks ago and were widely expected. Abu Akleh, a veteran Palestinian-American reporter for Al Jazeera's Arabic service, was shot in the head on May 11 during an Israeli military raid in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Witnesses and Palestinian officials have said she was hit by Israeli fire. Israel says she was shot during a battle between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants. It says that only a ballistic analysis of the bullet - which is held by the Palestinian Authority - and the soldiers' guns can determine who fired the fatal shot. Announcing the results of his probe at a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian Attorney General Akram Al Khateeb said he had determined there were no militants in the immediate area where Abu Akleh was located. "The only shooting was by the occupation forces, with the aim of killing,'' he said. Abu Akleh was in a group of journalists wearing helmets and protective vests marked "press.'' He said the army saw the journalists and knew they were journalists. He accused Israel of shooting her "directly and deliberately'' as she tried to escape. He also repeated the Palestinian position that the bullet will not be handed over to the Israelis for study. He said they decided not even to show images of the bullet "to deprive them of a new lie.'' Al Khateeb said his investigation was based on interviews with witnesses, an inspection of the scene and a forensic medical report. There was no immediate response from Israel. Israel denies targeting journalists and has offered two possible scenarios, saying she was either shot by Palestinian militants who were firing recklessly at an Israeli army convoy or that she was hit by Israeli gunfire aimed at a nearby militant. The military has identified the rifle that may have been used in that scenario, but says it needs to test the bullet to make any final determination. An AP reconstruction of events has lent support to eyewitnesses who say she was shot by Israeli troops. But the reconstruction said it was impossible to reach a conclusive finding without further forensic analysis. Palestinian witnesses say there were no militants or clashes anywhere near her. The only known militants in the area were on the other side of the convoy, some 300 meters (yards) from her position. They did not have a direct line of sight, unlike the convoy itself, which was some 200 (meters) away on a long straight road. Israel has publicly called for a joint investigation with the PA, with U.S. participation, and has asked the PA to hand over the bullet for testing. But the State Department said Wednesday that it had received no formal request for assistance from either side two weeks after her death. The PA has refused to hand over the bullet to Israel or cooperate with it in any way, saying Israel cannot be trusted to investigate its own conduct. Rights groups say Israel has a poor record of investigating when security forces shoot Palestinians, with cases often languishing for months or years before being quietly closed. The PA administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hussein Al Sheikh, a top Palestinian official, said Thursday's report would be shared with the U.S. administration. Copies will also be delivered to her family and to Al Jazeera, he said. The Palestinians say they will share their results with international parties, including the International Criminal Court, which launched an investigation into possible Israeli war crimes last year. Israel has rejected that probe as being biased against it and is not cooperating with it. The severe distrust means the Israeli and Palestinian investigations into Abu Akleh's death are unfolding separately, with neither likely to accept any conclusions reached by the other. Each side is in sole possession of potentially crucial evidence. Ballistic analysis could match the bullet to a specific firearm based on a microscopic signature, but only if investigators have access to both. Lt. Col. Amnon Shefler, a military spokesman, told the AP the military has additional footage from that day, but declined to say what it shows or when it would be released, citing the ongoing investigation. Palestinians are still mourning Abu Akleh, a widely known and respected on-air correspondent who rose to fame two decades ago, during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, against Israeli rule. The 51-year-old documented the harsh realities of life under Israeli military rule _ now well into its sixth decade with no end in sight _ for viewers across the Arab world. Jenin has long been a bastion of Palestinian militants, and several recent attacks inside Israel have been carried out by young men from in and around the town. Israel has continued to carry out near-daily raids in Jenin since Abu Akleh's death, which it says are aimed at preventing more. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 war and has built settlements where nearly 500,000 Israelis live alongside nearly 3 million Palestinians. The Palestinians want the territory to form the main part of their future state, but peace talks broke down more than a decade ago, and Israel's dominant right-wing parties are opposed to Palestinian statehood. The PA itself is seen by many Palestinians as a corrupt and authoritarian body that aids the occupation by coordinating with Israel on security matters. Any cooperation with Israel on the Abu Akleh investigation would likely spark a popular backlash among Palestinians, who view her as a martyr to both journalism and their national cause. Search Keywords: Short link: French President Emmanuel Macron asked his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday to "respect the sovereign choice" of Finland and Sweden to join NATO. He was hoping to avoid Ankara vetoing their requests to join the trans-Atlantic defence pact. Turkey warned Wednesday that the NATO accession process for Sweden and Finland would not move forward unless they addressed Ankara's security concerns, a reference to their supposed sympathy toward Kurdish militant groups. "The president underscored the need to respect the sovereign choice of these two countries, which emerged from a democratic process and in reaction to the changes in their security environment," Macron's office said after a telephone call with Erdogan. "He said he hoped the discussions would continue to find a solution quickly," his office added. Stockholm and Helsinki submitted their bids to join NATO last week, reversing decades of military non-alignment, after political and public support for membership soared following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But Turkey, a NATO member, is throwing a spanner in the works as any membership must be unanimously approved by all alliance members. Ankara accuses Stockholm in particular of providing a haven for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), listed as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies. Erdogan is also weighing a new military operation in northern Syria aimed at crushing Syrian Kurdish fighters who assisted the US-led campaign against the Islamic State group. Such an incursion risks creating new tensions between Ankara and other NATO members, with the US warning this week that its soldiers could be put in jeopardy. During the call between Erdogan and Macron, the two leaders agreed to continue efforts to restart Ukraine grain exports now that Russian forces control most of the country's ports, in order to avoid food shortages that threaten several developing countries. But the Kremlin denied Monday any blame for the halted grain deliveries, and accused Western countries of preventing cargo vessels from leaving Ukrainian ports. Search Keywords: Short link: The EU is working on centralizing purchases of vaccines and treatments for monkeypox, with details to be agreed in the "coming days," the European Commission told AFP on Thursday. The push, through the commission's Health Emergency and Preparedness Authority (HERA), comes as the EU's disease agency said the number of monkeypox cases in humans worldwide in the current spread had reached 219. Former EU member Britain has the highest number of cases, at 71, followed by EU countries Spain, with 51, and Portugal, with 37. The commission's spokesman for health issues, Stefan De Keersmaecker, told AFP that "HERA is indeed working with the member states and with manufacturers to procure vaccines and therapeutics for monkeypox". The EU's 27 countries have agreed that HERA will procure the jabs on their behalf "as soon as possible," he said, adding: "Exact procedures will be determined with member states over the coming days." He said "we can however not comment on any figures". While the EU already took on a centralised role as coordinator and pre-purchaser of billions of doses of Covid vaccines for its member states, De Keersmaecker said the monkeypox situation was different. The monkeypox vaccination roll-out "will be limited to very specific cases as the transmissibility of and risk from the virus is not comparable to Covid," he said. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said in an update on Thursday that although the number of cases has risen fivefold since a week ago, the risk of contagion remains "very low". Endemic in several west and central African nations, monkeypox cases have now been detected in nearly 20 other countries around the world, including the United States, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and 11 EU countries. While many of the cases have been linked to men having sex with men, experts said there was no evidence it was a sexually transmitted disease. Rather, it seems to be transmitted by close contact with an infected person who has blisters on their skin. Symptoms are similar to smallpox but much less severe, and most people recover within three or four weeks. Search Keywords: Short link: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Thursday for vigorous competition with China to preserve the existing global order but said the United States did not seek a "Cold War." In a long-awaited speech billed as the most comprehensive statement to date on China by President Joe Biden's administration, Blinken said that Beijing posed "the most serious long-term challenge to the international order" despite months of US focus on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order, and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do it," Blinken said at George Washington University. "Beijing's vision would move us away from the universal values that have sustained so much of the world's progress over the past 75 years," he said. "President Biden believes this decade will be decisive.." The Biden administration recently launched a loose new trade framework across Asia and has set up a forum with the European Union to set technological standards, efforts aimed at uniting like-minded nations as China dominates new fields such as artificial intelligence. Blinken acknowledged a growing consensus that other nations cannot change the trajectory of China, saying that under President Xi Jinping it has become "more repressive at home, more aggressive abroad." "There is growing convergence about the need to approach relations with Beijing with more realism," he said. But he added: "If it takes concrete action to address the concerns that we and many other countries have voiced, we will respond positively." 'No Cold War' With no rhetorical bombast or surprises, Blinken drew an implicit contrast to the approach of the previous administration of Donald Trump which spoke in stark terms of an all-out global conflict with China. On trips to Africa and Latin America, where China has invested billions of dollars on infrastructure, Blinken has downplayed the competition and not asked nations to take sides. "We are not looking for conflict or a new Cold War. To the contrary, we're determined to avoid both," Blinken said in his speech. "We don't seek to block China from its role as a major power, nor to stop China -- or any other country for that matter - from growing their economy or advancing the interests of their people," he said. But he said that defending the global order, including international law and agreements, would "make it possible for all countries -- including the United States and China -- to coexist and cooperate." He pointed to climate change, saying that the United States and China -- the world's two largest emitters -- worked together to make progress at last year's summit in Glasgow and that a healthy competition on clean energy would have global benefits. His willingness to cooperate comes even as he charged again that Beijing is carrying out genocide against its Uyghur minority and also denounced its "brutal campaign" in Tibet and crackdown in Hong Kong. Refocusing On Asia Saying that China will "test American diplomacy like nothing we've seen before," Blinken announced the formation of a "China House" inside the State Department to coordinate policy across regions. Blinken's speech -- delayed from earlier this month after he tested positive for Covid-19 -- comes on the heels of a trip by Biden to Japan and South Korea and a first-of-a-kind Washington summit with of Southeast Asian leaders. Joshua Shifrinson, an expert on great power politics at the Wilson Center, said Biden appeared eager to direct foreign policy 15 months into a term marked by the Ukraine war, Afghanistan withdrawal and Covid pandemic. "He's trying to move away from playing whack-a-mole in foreign policy and head back towards the strategic long-term mindset that he wanted to have coming out," he said. Biden on Monday made waves in Tokyo by offering the most explicit pledge in decades that the United States would militarily defend Taiwan in an invasion by Beijing, which claims the self-governing democracy. Blinken again insisted that the United States was not deviating from its longstanding stance and said it was Beijing that had raised tensions, including with nearly daily military flights near the island. "While our policy has not changed, what has changed is Beijing's growing coercion," Blinken said. Search Keywords: Short link: Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba said Thursday its profit fell 59 percent in the last fiscal year, joining other tech firms that reported lacklustre results while grappling with Covid-19 restrictions and a sector crackdown. China's economy has been battered by the fallout from strict Covid curbs including lockdowns and transport restrictions that have kept consumers home, pushed up unemployment, and tangled supply chains. Alibaba has also had to contend with a wide-ranging regulatory crackdown on alleged anti-competitive practices by China's tech giants. The Hangzhou-based group cited "macro challenges that impacted supply chains and consumer sentiment" as it announced a loss of 16.2 billion yuan ($2.56 billion) for the January-March quarter. It warned it would not give forward-looking financial guidance due to Covid risks and uncertainty. Alibaba has seen its market value plummet since Beijing launched its sweeping crackdown in 2020 on some of China's largest home-grown companies. The crackdown included a last-minute cancellation of a planned IPO by Alibaba's financial arm Ant Group -- which would have been the world's largest public offering at the time. The company was also hit with a record $2.75 billion fine for alleged unfair practices last year. But Alibaba Group said Thursday its revenue grew around nine percent in the last quarter to 204.1 billion yuan, better than expected in a Bloomberg forecast. The company's revenues -- generated mainly by its core e-commerce operations -- were up 19 percent for the fiscal year ending March 31. Meanwhile, its full-year profit came to 62 billion yuan ($9.8 billion). "Since mid-March 2022, our domestic businesses have been significantly affected by the Covid-19 resurgence in China, particularly in Shanghai," the company said. "Considering the risks and uncertainties arising from Covid-19... we believe it is prudent at this time not to give financial guidance as we typically do at the start of the fiscal year," it added. Alibaba's earnings follow a series of sluggish results by prominent Chinese tech firms, with internet giant Baidu on Thursday reporting a net loss of 885 million yuan ($140 million) in the first quarter. Baidu's business has been "negatively impacted" by China's recent Covid-19 resurgence since mid-March, co-founder Robin Li said in a statement. Virus-related challenges continue to pressure Baidu's near-term operations, Li said. Tencent last Wednesday reported record low quarterly revenue growth at 135.5 billion yuan ($20.1 billion) in the first quarter, putting year-on-year expansion at nearly zero. China is the last major economy to stick to a strict zero-Covid policy, which is now being tested by the infectious Omicron variant. Search Keywords: Short link: US officials say the Biden administration is aiming to lead the international bloc opposed to Russia's invasion of Ukraine into a broader coalition to counter what it sees as a more serious, long-term threat to global order from China. The officials said Secretary of State Antony Blinken will lay out a three-pillar approach to competing with Beijing in a race to define the 21st century's economic and military balance in a Thursday speech outlining the administration's China policy. While the U.S. sees Russia as the most acute and immediate threat to international stability, the officials said the administration believes China poses a greater danger and is marshaling its resources, friends and allies to push back on increasing Chinese assertiveness around the world. The officials acknowledged that the U.S. has limited ability to directly influence China's intentions and ambitions. They said the administration would focus instead on shaping the strategic environment around China. The officials spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity to preview Blinken's speech, to be delivered at George Washington University. The speech follows President Joe Biden's just-concluded visits to South Korea and Japan, where China loomed large in discussions. Biden raised eyebrows during that trip when he said that the United States would act militarily to help Taiwan defend itself in the event of an invasion by China, which regards the island as a renegade province. The administration scrambled to insist that Biden was not changing American policy and the officials said Blinken will restate that the U.S. has not changed its position. Blinken will say that Washington still holds to its ``One China'' policy, which recognizes Beijing but allows for unofficial links with and arms sales to Taipei. The officials said Blinken will make the case that the global response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine serves as a template for dealing with China's efforts to mold a new and unpredictable world order to replace the rules and institutions that have guided relations between states since the end of World War II. One official said that Blinken will tell his audience that ``by preventing Putin from achieving his aims, we believe we are greatly strengthening our hand to defend and uphold this order against challenges by others.'' And, the official said, Blinken will note that ``China is the one country that has the intention as well as the economic, technological, military and diplomatic means to advance a different vision of international order.`` Blinken will say that the administration intends to leverage its success in rallying support for Ukraine against Russia to align U.S. allies and partners to counter China, according to the officials. Investment in domestic U.S. infrastructure and technology along with stepping up diplomatic outreach to potentially vulnerable countries are other elements of the policy, the officials said. In the latest manifestation of China's push to expand its reach that has drawn concern from the U.S. and other democracies, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday began an eight-nation tour of Pacific islands during which Beijing hopes to strike a sweeping agreement that covers everything from security to fisheries. Wang opened his tour in the Solomon Islands, which last month signed a security cooperation pact with China that some fear could lead to a Chinese military presence there. The agreement was finalized shortly after the Biden administration announced it would open a U.S. embassy in the Solomons as part of its efforts to engage in the greater Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration has largely kept in place confrontational policies toward China adopted by its predecessor in response to Chinese actions in its western Xinjiang region, Hong Kong, Tibet and the South China Sea. And, while the administration sees areas for working with Beijing, such as combatting climate change, it will not trade cooperation for compromising on its principles regarding human rights and rule of law, the officials said. Search Keywords: Short link: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday he was forming a southern military command and sending battalion tactical groups to the area that borders Ukraine. Lukashenko did not give details, but battalion tactical groups typically consist of mechanized infantry including tanks. The territory of Belarus was used for rocket attacks on Ukraine, but the military of Belarus did not take part in the Russian ground operation. Ukrainian authorities have expressed concern that Belarus may agree to a wider participation in the war. Search Keywords: Short link: Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East In a statement late Sunday issued after Mali dispatched envoys to Mauritania, government spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga announced, "The military authorities have decided to strictly forbid any movement by civilians in the Wagadou forest and Gringale forest zones." Social media in Mauritania have accused the Malian army of killing civilians in a border area south of Adel Bagrou, a town in the southeast of the country. Mauritania's government has accused the army of "recurring criminal acts", but not given further details. A high-level Malian delegation was in Nouakchott, the Mauritanian capital, on Friday and Saturday in a bid to ease friction. The two sides agreed to set up a joint investigation into the disappearances and set up joint patrols in the border area. Maiga, in his statement, said the Wagadou and Gringale zones lay in an area where the Malian military had been conducting anti-jihadist operations since December. But, reiterating Mali's previous positions, Maiga said that the army had had nothing to do with the disappearances. "On the basis of technological evidence, it emerges that no FAMA (Malian armed forces) patrol was present in the zone at the dates given," he said. "At present no evidence supports incriminating our courageous FAMA." - Two separate incidents - Separately, the prosecutor to the military court in Bamako, the Malian capital, announced that an investigation into the disappearances would be carried out by gendarmes. The statement did not give further details -- two series of disappearances have been reported, in January and early March. The authorities had previously promised to investigate the disappearances in January, but any outcome from that probe has not been made public. A Mauritanian MP says at least 15 people had been killed, while unverified voice recordings on social media quote witnesses as blaming the Malian army for the disappearance of as many as 30. Mali and Mauritania are key countries in the poor and troubled Sahel region of West Africa. The military junta in Bamako seized power in August 2020, toppling elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita after a wave of public protests over his handling of a jihad insurgency. The country's poorly equipped armed forces are struggling with jihadist insurgents, ethnic violence and criminal gangs. Allegations of abuse by troops are common. In the run-up to the latest incident, the junta had been seeking closer ties with Mauritania to help ease the impact of an embargo by Mali's neighbours over failures to meet a promise to stage elections. This would help the discussions between the three countries not end up in chaos, Pandor told a press conference on Wednesday alongside Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry in Cairo. South Africa supports the continuation of the discussions under the AU to settle the GERD dispute, she added. For his part, Shoukry reiterated Egypts call for reaching a legally-binding agreement that regulates the filling and operation of the mega dam in accordance with international law and through negotiations that fairly take into consideration the interests of the three countries. The binding agreement should fulfil the aspirations of Ethiopia in development and prosperity and secure a decent life for the Ethiopian people, the top Egyptian diplomat said. The deal should also protect the Egyptian and Sudanese water security, especially in light of Egypts full dependence on the Nile for its water resources, Shoukry added. We want to be supportive of our brothers in Africa and we see promising opportunities for bilateral, tripartite and collective cooperation between us and our brothers in Ethiopia to achieve mutual benefit, security and stability, the Egyptian FM stated. Egypt will continue through peaceful means and negotiations to reach an agreement that secures the interests of all parties equally, he added. Pandor made an official visit to the Egyptian capital today, during which she and Shoukry chaired the ninth round of the joint committee between Egypt and South Africa and held a comprehensive dialogue on enhancing bilateral and continental cooperation. Egypt and Sudan have been negotiating with Ethiopia for almost a decade now to reach a legally binding and comprehensive agreement on the filling and operation of the GERD, which Addis Ababa started building on the Blue Nile in 2010. Cairo and Khartoum have blamed the failure of the talks on Ethiopian intransigence and refusal to sign any legally binding deal. The latest round of African Union-sponsored talks between the three countries over the GERD in Kinshasa, DRC collapsed in April 2021, and all attempts to revive the negotiations have since failed. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly affirmed earlier in 2022 that Cairo is interested in resuming negotiations with Sudan and Ethiopia and resolving technical and legal points of contention to reach a balanced deal. Egypt which relies mainly on the Nile for its water needs fears that the unilateral operation of the GERD and the filling of its 74-billion-cubic-metre reservoir will negatively impact its water supply, while Sudan is concerned the GERD will harm the regulation of flows to its own dams and compromise their safety. On the other hand, Ethiopia says the project which will generate 5,250 megawatts of electricity when completed is essential for producing electricity and economic development, and has repeatedly dismissed the concerns of Cairo and Khartoum. Egypt has stated that it has no objections to Ethiopia using the dam to generate the electricity it needs for its development plans, but it opposes any action that compromises its already inadequate supply of Nile water or changes its patterns. Senegal's President Macky Sall fired his health minister on Thursday as his country mourned the death of 11 newborn babies in a hospital fire blamed on an electrical short circuit. The tragedy late Wednesday in the western city of Tivaouane was just the latest in a series of hospital deaths that have exposed the weaknesses of the nation's healthcare system. Sall earlier announced the tragedy on Twitter and declared three days of national mourning. "I have just learned with pain and dismay about the deaths of 11 newborn babies in the fire at the neonatal department of the public hospital," he wrote. "To their mothers and their families, I express my deepest sympathy." Outside the Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital in Tivaouane, a city with a population of 40,000, one of the distraught mothers called out for her son. "Where is Mohamed?" she cried. Her baby son was taken to the hospital 10 days ago and was baptised on Monday, Mohamed's 54-year-old father Alioune Diouf said. The city's mayor Demba Diop said the fire had been caused by a short circuit and spread very quickly. He denied allegations from relatives at the hospital and across social media that the babies had been left alone, saying a midwife and nurse were present on Wednesday evening. "There was a noise and an explosion that lasted three minutes at most," he said outside the hospital entrance. "Five minutes after, the fire brigade arrived. People used fire extinguishers." The mayor said the air-conditioning had accelerated the flames and added that the two nurses fainted but were revived. "There was no negligence," Diop insisted. The disaster however sparked calls for the resignation of Health Minister Abdoudaye Diouf Sarr, who was quoted in media reports also as blaming an electrical fault. The presidency in the evening said he would be replaced by Marie Khemesse Ngom Ndiaye, formerly the director-general of the public health authority. Sall would return early from abroad and visit the hospital on Saturday, his office said. - 'Beyond heartbroken' - The maternity unit was equipped to take care of 13 babies. "At the time of the fire, there were 11 whom nurses were unable to save," the minister said. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted that he was "beyond heartbroken with this tragic news. "I'm sending my deepest condolences to the parents and families of the babies who lost their lives." Outgoing health minister Sarr, who had been in Geneva attending a meeting with the WHO, said an investigation is under way. The tragedy in Tivaouane comes after several other public health incidents in Senegal, which suffers from a great disparity between urban and rural areas in healthcare services. In the northern town of Linguere in late April, a fire broke out at a hospital and four newborn babies were killed. The town's mayor cited an electrical malfunction in an air-conditioning unit in the maternity ward. - 'This is unacceptable' - Wednesday's accident came over a month after the nation mourned the death of a pregnant woman who waited in vain for a caesarean section. The woman, Astou Sokhna, arrived at a hospital in the northern city of Louga in pain. The staff refused to accommodate her request for a C-section, saying it was not scheduled. She died on April 1, 20 hours after arrival. Sokhna's death caused a wave of outrage across the country over the dire state of the health system. Sarr acknowledged two weeks later that the death could have been avoided. Three midwives on duty the night Sokhna died were given a six-month suspended prison sentence on May 11 by the High Court of Louga for "failure to assist a person in danger" in connection with her case. Amnesty International's Senegal director Seydi Gassama said his organisation had called for an inspection and upgrade for neonatal services in hospitals across Senegal after the "atrocious" death of the four babies in Linguere. With the new tragedy, Amnesty "urges the government to set up an independent commission of inquiry to determine responsibility and punish the culprits, no matter the level they are at in the state apparatus", he tweeted. Opposition lawmaker Mamadou Lamine Diallo also responded with outrage to the Tivaouane blaze. "More babies burned in a public hospital... this is unacceptable @MackySall," he tweeted. "We suffer with the families to whom we offer our condolences. Enough is enough." Search Keywords: Short link: Moscow is ready to make a "significant contribution" to averting a looming food crisis if the West lifts sanctions imposed on Russia over Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said in a telephone call with Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi. "Vladimir Putin emphasises that the Russian Federation is ready to make a significant contribution to overcoming the food crisis through the export of grain and fertiliser, subject to the lifting of politically motivated restrictions by the West," the Kremlin said in a statement following the call. It added that Putin also spoke about the "steps taken to ensure safety of navigation, including the daily opening of humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilian ships from the ports of the Azov and Black Sea, which is impeded by the Ukrainian side". Putin also described as "unfounded" accusations that Russia was to blame for the problems with food supplies on the global market. A statement from the Italian government said "the call was dedicated to developments in Ukraine and efforts to find a common solution to the ongoing food crisis, as well as the severe repercussions for the world's poorest countries". Russia was slapped with unprecedented sanctions after Putin ordered troops into neighbouring Ukraine on February 24. The sanctions and military action have disrupted supplies of fertilisers, wheat and other commodities from both Russia and Ukraine. The two countries produce 30 percent of the global wheat supply. Search Keywords: Short link: The European Union's executive arm entered sensitive legal territory on Wednesday with a proposal to confiscate the frozen assets of oligarchs who try to violate the bloc's sanctions over Russia's war in Ukraine. The European Commission proposed two EU laws that would require the 27 member states to cede a degree of jealously guarded national sovereignty over criminal matters. One piece of draft legislation seeks new European rules on freezing and confiscating the assets of people blacklisted by the EU. The second legislative proposal aims to expand the list of acts deemed to be "EU crimes" by including breaches of European sanctions. Both initiatives need the approval of EU governments in a scrutiny process that usually takes many months, if not years. During a two-day summit next week, the bloc's heads of government are due to discuss options for using the frozen assets of sanctioned Russian oligarchs to support the reconstruction of Ukraine. "There is no time to lose," Margaritis Schinas, a European Commission vice president in charge of security matters, told reporters in Brussels. "Many times we see assets recovery and confiscation of the small fry, whereas the big sharks find ways to evade." While the EU has spent decades crafting common rules on various areas of criminal law, European sanctions against Russian leaders and oligarchs over the past three months have added impetus to calls for a stronger European framework. The government on Wednesday unveiled a commemorative wristwatch made to mark President Yoon Suk-yeols inauguration. All previous presidents have had commemorative watches made to present to guests at Cheong Wa Dae, which have become sought-after in the memorabilia trade. Yoon gave a watch to 20 citizens who attended his inauguration. The presidential office said the watch was deigned "focusing on simplicity and practicality to reflect President Yoon's philosophy of pragmatism in government." Deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-hyo told reporters, "We're watching what's happening at the Punggye-ri test site. It's unlikely that there will be a nuclear test in the next couple of days, but there's certainly a possibility after that." North Korea appears to be testing nuclear detonators to prepare for another nuclear test, the presidential office here said Wednesday. Testing the detonators is an essential part of the development of nuclear bombs. In order to achieve symmetry in a nuclear blast, detonators each have to trigger within microseconds of one another. Kim said the North has carried out about 130 high-explosive tests since the 1980s and six nuclear tests since October 2006. Asked about the timing of the nuclear test, Kim said, "We don't know. Perhaps, the North Korean leader himself hasn't made a decision yet." But he added, "Considering that several rounds of high-explosive testing were conducted there over the last few weeks, the North seems to be in the final stages of preparation for a blast test." It seems highly likely that the North is preparing to test small tactical nuclear weapons. Lee Chun-geun of the Science & Technology Policy Institute said, "In order to improve detonators for small tactical nuclear weapons, plenty of high-explosive testing is needed." "Persona" is among only nine films selected from among the 3,507 works submitted to compete in the festival's short film category. A six-minute animation by 27-year-old director Moon Soo-jin will be shown at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday. It was Moon's graduation project at the Korea National University of Arts. "I never imagined I would be invited to Cannes with it," she told the Chosun Ilbo. . But AniSEED, a distributor of animated features, offered to submit "Persona" to international competitions and the Cannes invitation came last month. The short depicts the life of a person who puts on a large leather doll suit to avoid criticism. The animation was praised for expressing a person's internal struggle without dialogue. "I felt considerable confusion and conflict whether the part of me that's visible to others or my inner side is the true reflection of myself." Moon said. "I wanted to depict myself honestly without hiding anything or offering a defense. That's why it took almost a year just to plan the project." She developed her interest in art in middle school and went on the Korean Animation High School. The short has also been invited to the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France and Animafest Zagreb in Croatia next month. "I still have many things to learn like computer programming and a long way to go, but I hope I can build my confidence with this opportunity," Moon said. Samsung SDI will join hands with global auto giant Stellantis to build a battery plant for electric vehicles in Kokomo, Indiana. The Korean company will invest US$2.5 billion or more than half of the total cost. Stellantis is a behemoth created by the recent merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA Group, combining such brands as Citroen, Maserati, Opel and Peugeot. The two companies and the Indiana state government held a press junket in Kokomo announcing the project on Tuesday. Production will begin in the first quarter of 2025 with initial output of 23GWh in EV batteries a year and expanding to 33GWh later. Total divorces decreased from 114,300 to 101,700 over the period, but divorces among senior citizens increased from 7,900 to 17,900. According to Statistics Korea, splits among couples who were married for more than 30 years accounted for 17.6 percent of all divorces last year, up from just seven percent a decade ago. A growing number of elderly couples are getting divorced. In the past, they used to stay together despite conflict for the sake of the family, but now more elderly people are prioritizing personal happiness. One woman in her 70s looked for a counseling after decades of verbal abuse from her husband. She said she had no choice but to endure the abuse, since her husband had control over the household's finances. "My health has deteriorated recently yet I still have to care for my husband," she said. "I want to go my separate way now and get some peace." Another factor is increasing understanding from their children. A counselor at the Korea Legal Aid Center for Family Relations said, "Even until the 2000s, many children were unwilling to accept their parents' divorce. But now there's an increasing perception that individual rights outweigh family unity and seven out of every 10 elderly people who come for counseling say they have the support of their children." The Institute for Social Development and Policy Research at Seoul National University polled 1,786 people on the question, and six out of 10 respondents in their 20s and 30s said they can understand why elderly couples split up. That was especially true among women, with 70.8 percent in their 20s and 67.9 percent in their 30s compared to 50.6 percent and 55.3 percent of their male peers. Women are also encouraged to go their own way by a more favorable legal climate. Many courts now recognize a wife's household labor in contributing to the couple's accumulation of wealth, which helps split their assets more equally. A growing number of housewives have been awarded half their husbands' pension. Jeon Young-soo at Hanyang University said, "As the average lifespan increases, skepticism about the traditional need to maintain a patriarchal family structure is growing." Hong Kong: Scheme application period extended The Home Affairs Department announced today that the Government will extend the application period of the Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Environmental Hygiene & Security Staff in the Property Management Sector (ASPM) to June 30. The scheme aims to provide each frontline property management worker performing duties relating to environmental hygiene or security in private residential, composite, industrial and commercial building blocks a monthly allowance of $2,000 for five months from February to June. Given the large number of premises within eligible building blocks, the department said it understood that property management companies, deed of mutual covenant managers or owners' corporations/organisations would require time to collect and collate frontline property management worker applications submitted by premises. It then decided to further extend the application due date to allow the property management sector more time to submit applications. The scheme has received more than 17,000 applications, which will benefit over 180,000 frontline property management workers. More than 2,700 applications have been approved, involving nearly $600 million, benefiting over 6,200 buildings. Click here for the schemes details. This story has been published on: 2022-05-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. North Korea fired three more ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Wednesday. Just a day earlier, six Chinese and Russian bombers and fighter planes buzzed South Korea's air defense identification zone without identifying themselves and had to be chased by the Air Force. North Korea, China and Russia simultaneously threatened security in the region as if they had coordinated the move. The North fired the missiles as U.S. President Joe Biden was heading back home after visits to South Korea and Japan. They are squarely aimed at South Korea and the U.S. and can be mounted with nuclear warheads. In other words, this was a deliberate provocation. When the Chinese and Russian warplanes came too close for comfort, the Air Force scrambled F-16K fighter jets to warn them off, while Japan also deployed F-16J fighter planes, which then gave rise to something like a dogfight over Dokdo islets, which the Japanese covet. During his Asia trip, Biden promised that the U.S. will intervene militarily should China invade Taiwan, which is the issue that caused Beijing to bristle, and condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He is also trying to corner China and Russia by launching the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which aims to create a stable supply chain of American allies. It is only to be expected that China and Russia will try to fight back. In short, the situation is tense on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has threatened preemptive nuclear strikes against South Korea and is highly likely to conduct a seventh nuclear test soon. China sides with Russia even though Moscow is being accused of war crimes in Ukraine, and China, Russia and North Korea have no qualms about threatening other countries. As the world spirals into another Cold War, China, Russia and North Korea will grow closer, and that will pose an even bigger security burden for South Korea. North Korea will threaten the South with nuclear missiles, while China will resort to trade retaliation. Seoul needs to stick to its allies and make careful plans for the future. If there's a new cold war brewing and both China and the United States are trying to get African countries on their side, it's clear where Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa's allegiance lies. In his latest column in the local Sunday Mail newspaper, the 79-year-old president slammed the West and lavished praise on Beijing. "Unlike Western interests which have been exploiting our continent even well before its formal occupation," the Chinese "have now come back to the continent they helped liberate as new, non-traditional investors," he said, referring to Beijing's backing of Zimbabwe's independence war against white minority rule. "Here in Zimbabwe, China has helped fund and implement several projects in the sectors of energy, air transport, water, real estate, industrial value addition, mining and defense," the president said. "All these have secured and bolstered our independence while changing the structure of our economy in this season of punitive Western sanctions." The United States and European Union have maintained sanctions on Zimbabwean individuals and companies for two decades, since longtime president Robert Mugabe was accused of election rigging and human rights abuses in the early 2000s. Western nations have resisted calls to remove the sanctions, pointing to the ruling ZANU-PF party's continued suppression of protests and opposition figures. Beijing has stepped into the void left by Western powers -- offering generous loans that aren't dependent on democratic reform -- to become the country's top investor. It has invested heavily in the lithium-rich country's mines and is funding the country's massive new parliament building. While Washington says it's not in competition with China in Africa, officials have warned governments here against what are often dubbed China's "debt trap" loans. Meanwhile, the U.S. has been trying to win support for its stance on the war in Ukraine -- something that many governments on the continent, including Zimbabwe's, have been loathe to give. When asked about the war of words with the West, Zimbabwe government spokeswoman Monica Mutsvangwa echoed the president's remarks. "A number of Zimbabwe's detractors have long hidden behind the false veil of democracy and human rights gauntlet... This heinous policy has met its match in the sly and alert president," she told VOA. "More and better money is winning the day," she added in apparent reference to Chinese investment. Mutsvangwa pointed to several Chinese-owned lithium mines and a steel plant being built by Chinese mining giant Tsingshan Group Holdings as proof that Zimbabwe's detractors had been "shunted by the wayside." KYODO NEWS - May 26, 2022 - 22:10 | World, All Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has pledged to "firmly" support the Solomon Islands in security terms, his ministry said Thursday, as fears are mounting about Beijing's increasing military clout in the region after the two countries signed a controversial pact. Hours after Wang touched down in the island nation, leaked documents reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corp. revealed that China is seeking a region-wide agreement with almost a dozen Pacific island countries, covering areas such as security, trade and data communication. By boosting its security and economic influence in the Asia-Pacific region, the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping is attempting to counter the so-called Quad, comprising the United States, Japan, India and Australia, foreign affairs experts said. Wang's visit comes after China and the Solomon Islands last month signed a security deal that reportedly allows the deployment of Chinese police, military and other armed personnel, as well as the docking of the Asian nation's ships in the islands. The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has warned the Solomon Islands against any possible moves toward inviting a Chinese military presence, while Australia tried to prevent the island country from formally signing the pact with Beijing. During his talks with Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele, Wang was quoted by the official Xinhua News Agency as saying that China's relations with the island nation have shown great resilience and vitality in past years. China will always firmly support the Solomon Islands' efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity, protect national unity and solidarity, and speed up national development and rejuvenation, Wang added, according to Xinhua. Wang is on an eight-country tour of the Pacific islands. The ABC said a draft communique and a five-year action plan were sent by China to 10 Pacific island nations with diplomatic ties with Beijing ahead of a foreign ministers' meeting on May 30. The broadcaster also said the two leaked documents laid out a plan to expand cooperation on policing and proposed a new free trade arrangement between China and the Pacific, as well as the appointment of a new Chinese government envoy to the region. In an apparent response to China's aggressive approach to the Pacific islands, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Thursday visited Fiji to meet with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, the Fiji Broadcasting Corp. reported. Wong said in a speech to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva that Australia is "a partner that doesn't come with strings attached" and will not impose "unsustainable financial burdens" as Australia aims to offer an alternative to China's financial aid, according to another report by the ABC. The Solomon Islands switched diplomatic ties from self-ruled Taiwan to mainland China in 2019. Communist-led China and democratic Taiwan have been governed separately since they split in 1949 due to a civil war. China has regarded Taiwan as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. Related coverage: China's foreign minister to visit Solomon Islands amid security fears U.S. warns Solomon Islands against allowing China military presence China signs security pact with Solomon Islands amid regional concern KYODO NEWS - May 26, 2022 - 23:46 | All, Japan, Coronavirus Japan will begin accepting foreign tourists in stages starting June 10, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday, as the country continues to ease its COVID-19 border controls after suspending inbound traveler entries for around two years. The government will initially limit eligible tourism arrivals to guided tours as a means to reduce the potential spread of infections, and will authorize two more airports in addition to five already approved to accept international flights. "We will continue to assess the situation, and intend to make a step-by-step return to accepting people as in normal times," the prime minister said at an international event in Tokyo. While the government is poised to double the current cap on daily entries to 20,000 from next Wednesday, it will likely take time to again see the large numbers of foreign visitors seen as a key pillar to Japan's economic growth. Tours will only be accepted from the "blue" list of 98 countries and regions presenting the lowest risk of infections, which includes the United States, China, Australia and South Korea. Individuals from blue list countries are exempt from testing and isolation measures. The list is subject to review at any time. Prior to the pandemic, Japan had set a target for 40 million foreign visitors in 2020 when it was originally scheduled to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games later postponed for a year. Business leaders have called on the government to gradually reopen to inbound tourists, as Japan's diminishing current account surplus has been partly caused by the country's plunging travel balance. It posted a 200 billion yen ($1.6 billion) surplus in 2021, down sharply from the 2.7 trillion yen logged in the pre-pandemic 2019. The prime minister has made assurances that Japan would ease border controls "in stages" to bring them on par with other Group of Seven nations. Naha and New Chitose airports, gateways to popular tourist spots in Okinawa and Hokkaido, will resume accepting international flights by the end of June. At present, five airports including Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports can accept planes from abroad. Since Tuesday, the transport and tourism ministry has been inviting travel company employees from Australia, Singapore, Thailand and the United States for small-scale test tours of Japan. By running the tours, the ministry aims to improve precautions against COVID-19 and confirm procedures to follow in the event visitors test positive for the coronavirus. The ministry has compiled guidelines for accommodation facilities and other tourism businesses, and plans to call on inbound visitors to take anti-virus measures such as wearing masks, officials said. In 2018, Japan welcomed more than 30 million inbound tourists. But the country has closed its borders to foreign tourists since the early stage of the pandemic in 2020. In February of that year, the number of foreign visitors plunged 58.3 percent from a year earlier, further sliding to a record 99.9 percent drop from April onward. In response to the emergence of the Omicron variant of the virus, Japan effectively banned the entry of nonresident foreign nationals in November last year. Despite criticism at home and abroad over the blanket ban on tourists, Japan still managed to top a list of 117 countries and regions in a World Economic Forum 2021 travel and tourism development report released Tuesday. Topping the list for the first time, Japan ranked highly for its cultural resources and in several infrastructure categories, with the United States ranked second and Spain third. Related coverage: 7 from U.S. land in Japan for 1st test tours before tourism reopening FOCUS: Businesses rattled by Japan's reluctance to welcome foreign tourists KYODO NEWS - May 26, 2022 - 20:53 | All, Japan A tourist boat that sank off Hokkaido last month, leaving 14 people dead and 12 missing, was successfully raised to the surface Thursday after an initial attempt to salvage the vessel earlier this week resulted in it sinking to greater depths. Nippon Salvage Co., hired by the Japan Coast Guard, lifted the 19-ton Kazu I from the seabed at a depth of 182 meters, with its hull breaking the surface at around 6:55 p.m. The boat is scheduled to be placed on the deck of the barge Kaishin using a crane Friday morning after being taken to shallow waters, where its anchor can be dropped. According to the coast guard, the boat was lifted from the seabed around 3 p.m. Thursday, pulled up by nylon belts wrapped around its bow and stern and tightened to a steel frame lowered with wires. While being taken to shallow waters, the vessel will be secured using belts and ropes in a "side-hugging" technique, with the starboard side of the Kazu I resting against the port side of the barge. The belts are stronger than those used in the salvage company's initial attempt. The tour boat will be transported to the port of Abashiri as early as Friday, and seawater will be drained for several days before finally bringing it ashore. The boat was on the seabed about 11 kilometers west of Utoro port in Shari, from where it departed on April 23 for a three-hour cruise around the Shiretoko Peninsula, a World Natural Heritage site, with 26 people aboard, despite bad weather forecasts and warnings. The boat dropped back to the seabed on Tuesday while being towed to shallow waters after it was raised to a depth of around 20 meters. It was located on the seabed at a depth of around 120 meters on April 29 near Kashuni Falls, a popular scenic site near the tip of the peninsula, from where it had issued a distress call. The coast guard is continuing to search for the missing using patrol vessels and aircraft. Deepwater divers ended a two-day search inside the boat last week after finding no trace of the missing. The coast guard intends to launch a full-fledged investigation into the cause of the accident at the port of Abashiri, hoping to find clues about the fate of the 12 people unaccounted for. The Japanese government is also communicating with Russian authorities after two bodies, possibly of the missing, were found washed up on Kunashiri, one of four Moscow-controlled islands off Hokkaido that are at the heart of a territorial dispute with Tokyo. Related coverage: Sunken Hokkaido tour boat drops back to seabed while being towed Sunken tour boat raised to near surface off Hokkaido after 1 month KYODO NEWS - May 27, 2022 - 00:44 | World, All, Japan Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha agreed Thursday they will never tolerate the attempt to change the status quo by force in Ukraine in response to Russia's invasion of the country. Kishida told the Thai prime minister in their summit in Tokyo that the international community needs to be "on the same page in raising the voice of opposition against Russia," according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Prayut said in response that Thailand shares the same view with Japan on Russia's aggression against Ukraine in principle, adding that diplomatic efforts are vital to end the war as soon as possible, according to the ministry. Japan has imposed sanctions on Russia over the invasion in coordinated efforts with other Group of Seven countries, while Thailand maintains a neutral policy on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The meeting comes as Japan is seeking to enhance ties with Southeast Asian countries to counter the growing political and economic clout of an assertive China amid concerns over a similar situation taking place in the region as Russia's military aggression continues. Kishida expressed Japan's cooperation for a successful Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting to be held in November in Bangkok chaired by Thailand. In a separate meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong the same day, Kishida asked for cooperation to realize "a free and open Indo-Pacific." During the meeting, Lee welcomed the establishment of the Indo-Pacific economic framework or IPEF by the United States on Monday with 13 countries including Japan and Singapore participating in the deal. KYODO NEWS - May 27, 2022 - 00:09 | All, Japan Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday criticized North Korea's ballistic missile launches the day before as an act of provocation and a threat to international security. During their phone talks, Kishi and Austin agreed to keep working closely toward reinforcing their alliance's deterrence and response capabilities in dealing with Pyongyang's military activities, and to further promote trilateral cooperation involving South Korea, according to Japan's Defense Ministry. "The two ministers strongly condemned a series of ballistic missile launches by North Korea, which violates related U.N. Security Council resolutions and would threaten peace and stability of not only the region but also the international community," the ministry said in a press release. Kishi was quoted by the ministry as saying that the missile firings by North Korea were "obviously a provocative act" and "absolutely unforgivable." He told Austin the launches were apparently timed to coincide with talks by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday, and a summit meeting of the four-nation Quad group also involving Australia and India on Tuesday, both held in Tokyo, according to the ministry. Pyongyang conducted the ballistic missile tests, the 15th since the beginning of this year, the morning after Biden wrapped up his five-day visit to South Korea and Japan on Tuesday, his first trip to Asia since he took office in January last year. One of the three missiles fired off North Korea's eastern coast was of intercontinental range, the South Korean government has said. Concerns are growing that Pyongyang is preparing to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017. KYODO NEWS - May 26, 2022 - 10:00 | World, All Nearly half of people surveyed in Southeast Asia picked China as the region's most important partner in the future, surpassing Japan for the first time, according to the results of a Japanese government opinion poll released Wednesday. The survey showed 48 percent of respondents from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations chose China, unchanged from the last survey in fiscal 2019. China was followed by 43 percent for Japan, down 8 percentage points, and 41 percent for the United States, up 4 points. It marked the first time that Beijing has ranked first since the Foreign Ministry started the survey in the current format in fiscal 2015. The result may reflect China's deepening ties with and increasing its clout in ASEAN through "vaccine diplomacy" of providing COVID-19 vaccine shots for developing nations, a Foreign Ministry official said. Asked about which countries they believe are important partners now, 56 percent of the respondents chose China, down 3 points but staying on top of the list. Fifty percent picked Japan, down 7 points. Commissioned by the Foreign Ministry, Hong Kong-based marketing research firm Ipsos conducted the survey online and in person in January, covering 2,700 respondents in all ASEAN members but the conflict-hit Myanmar, ranging in age from 18 to 59. KYODO NEWS - May 26, 2022 - 14:03 | All, World, Japan Japan and the United States conducted a joint exercise involving fighter jets over the Sea of Japan, the Defense Ministry said Thursday, a day after North Korea test-fired three ballistic missiles. The flight of four F-15s from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Chitose base in Hokkaido and four F-16s from the U.S. Air Force base in Misawa, Aomori Prefecture, on Wednesday was meant to confirm the two forces' "readiness posture," the ministry said. The U.S. military said in a news release the drill was intended to "showcase combined capabilities to deter and counter regional threats." After U.S. President Joe Biden concluded his first trip to South Korea and Japan, North Korea went ahead with yet another round of missile tests early Wednesday morning. One of the three missiles fired by North Korea off its east coast was an intercontinental ballistic missile, according to the South Korean government. The ballistic missile launches, already the 15th since the beginning of this year, came as Japan, South Korea and the United States have been bracing for a possible nuclear test by North Korea. The joint flight exercise was held also after China and Russia flew six strategic bombers in total over the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the Pacific on Tuesday, when Tokyo was hosting a summit of the so-called Quad group with the United States, Australia and India. The leaders of the four countries agreed during the summit to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, a vision widely regarded as aimed at keeping China's expanding regional ambitions in check. Some parallels have been drawn between Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's increasing pressure on Taiwan and the two countries have conducted a number of military exercises around Japan. Following the bomber flight, Japan conveyed its "grave concern" to China and Russia, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Japan's protest as "groundless and absurd" in a statement released Wednesday, warning Moscow will boost its military capabilities. Zakharova said the joint warplane flight was a "patrol" that Russia and China have regularly carried out based on international law, labeling it as conducive to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Related coverage: North Korea media silent on Wed. firing of ballistic missiles North Korea fires ICBM, 2 other missiles after Biden's Asia trip KYODO NEWS - May 26, 2022 - 20:43 | All, World, Japan Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday that keeping a dialogue with Chinese President Xi Jinping is important in maintaining "constructive" bilateral ties and cooperative relations despite persisting challenges between the Asian neighbors. Speaking in a parliamentary session, however, Kishida said no specific date has been fixed for his summit meeting with Xi. No in-person talks have been held since Kishida became prime minister last October. China is a major trading partner for Japan, but their relations have been marred over a group of disputed islets in the East China Sea. Along with its longtime ally, the United States and other like-minded nations, Japan is concerned about Beijing's assertive moves backed by its economic and military might. Japan hosted a summit of the Quad group that also involves Australia, India and the United States earlier this week to advance their shared vision of a "free and open" Indo-Pacific. The leaders also opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, given Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's expansion of influence. Russia and China flew strategic bombers near the Japanese archipelago as the Quad meeting was being held. "We need to maintain constructive relations (with China). No specific date has been set for our summit meeting, but it is important for Japan and China to communicate," Kishida told a Budget Committee session in the House of Representatives. Kishida said various challenges remain between the Asian neighbors but added, "We need to cooperate over issues that require our cooperation." The last time Kishida spoke by phone with Xi was on Oct. 8. China continues to send ships to waters around the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which Beijing claims and calls Diaoyu, with some entering Japanese territorial waters. Earlier this month, fighter jets and helicopters were spotted taking off from and landing on the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning off the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, which is close to Taiwan. Kishida was responding to a call by Kenta Izumi, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, for a Japan-China summit. Last Thursday, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan suggested that President Joe Biden may speak with Xi over the phone in the coming weeks. During his visit to Tokyo earlier this week, Biden said the United States will get involved militarily if China invades Taiwan, a comment perceived as a shift from Washington's strategic ambiguity on the sensitive issue. Biden later said there was no change in U.S. policy toward Taiwan. China views Taiwan as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has raised concern about its implications for the Indo-Pacific, and Japan has repeatedly said the Ukraine crisis should never be replicated in the region. The crisis prompted calls among some conservative lawmakers for Japan to debate the necessity of having an arrangement similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Kishida said during the parliamentary session it would be "unrealistic" for Japan to pursue nuclear-sharing with the United States and that the government does not plan to discuss such a possibility. The issue is sensitive for a nation that suffered two U.S. atomic bombings during World War II and has upheld a policy of not allowing nuclear weapons on its soil. Under the NATO arrangement, non-nuclear states host U.S. nuclear weapons for use in the event of a war. Related coverage: Japan confirms drill with U.S. fighters after North Korea missile tests China foreign minister arrives in Solomon Islands amid security deal Japan conveys grave concern over China-Russia bomber flight KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2022 - 21:53 | World, All, Coronavirus Two Japanese living in Shanghai died during the lockdown of the Chinese city that began in late March amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the Japanese government said Wednesday, but the causes are unknown. It is the first confirmation of Japanese deaths there since Shanghai, China's commercial and financial hub with a population of around 25 million, was locked down to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Japanese Consulate General in the city declined to provide any details on the people due to privacy reasons. As the movement of people has still been significantly restricted in Shanghai, many have become frustrated by the all-encompassing constraints under the Communist-led government's radical "zero-COVID" policy. Across China, including in its capital Beijing, a large number of people have also been prohibited from leaving their home or residential district, dealing a heavy blow to business and consumer activities in the world's second-biggest economy. On Wednesday, the central government urged local authorities to take measures to prop up the slowing economy, Chinese media reported. Related coverage: China's "zero-COVID" policy undermining public support for Xi Lockdown fears grow in Beijing's biggest district of Chaoyang 370 mil. people under some form of lockdown in China due to COVID BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Some districts in Beijing have upgraded COVID-19 prevention and control measures in communities to cope with the latest outbreak. Beijing reported 31 new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections during the first 15 hours of Wednesday, local authorities said. The 31 infections were distributed in seven districts in Beijing. These include 14 cases in Fengtai, nine in Haidian, three in Dongcheng, two in Fangshan, and one each in Xicheng, Tongzhou, and Daxing, Liu Xiaofeng, deputy head of the Beijing municipal disease prevention and control center, told a press briefing. A total of 1,642 COVID-19 infections had been reported in Beijing from April 22 to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Currently, the national capital has nine high-risk areas and 21 medium-risk areas for COVID-19. Since April 27, the rapid pandemic development has slowed down in Beijing. Most of the transmission chains are under complete control, with sporadic cases reported at the community level, said Zhong Dongbo, Party secretary of the municipal health commission. Produced by Xinhua Global Service CAIRO, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League on Thursday warned against a planned march by Jewish nationalists in East Jerusalem. "The provocative flag march will jeopardize security, stability, and efforts of mitigating the escalating tensions," said Saeed Abu Ali, Arab League assistant secretary-general for Palestine affairs and occupied Arab territories. The controversial "flag march" is due to take place on Sunday to mark Jerusalem Day, which commemorates the unification of the city after Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1967. Condemning "in the strongest terms" the Israeli decision to allow the flag march to pass through Islamic neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, Ali said the march would blatantly provoke the Palestinian people and the Arab nations and lead to more tension and violence. He urged the Israeli government to immediately call off "the flag march," calling it a blatant violation of the international laws, and held the Israeli side "full responsibility for any violent escalations." On Wednesday, Israeli media reported that the police ordered a state of alert in Jerusalem and Israel for fear of an outbreak of violence during the flag march planned for Sunday. Last week, the Israeli police agreed to allow the flag march to pass on its regular route through Damascus Gate and the Islamic Quarter in East Jerusalem. In May 2021, the flag march in Jerusalem led up to a military conflict between Israel and Hamas, ruling faction of the Gaza Strip, which lasted 11 days and killed more than 260 Palestinians and 14 Israelis. BEIRUT, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's state security on Thursday cracked a five-member migrant smuggling gang in the coastal city of Dbayeh, the local news website Elnashra reported. The five suspects, three Syrians and two Lebanese, admitted that they had been preparing a boat for facilitating the illegal immigration of hundreds of people to Italy by sea, according to Elnashra. The suspects have been referred to judicial bodies for further interrogation and the boat was recuperated by the state security. Security forces said the arrest is part of the state security's campaign to combat illegal immigration activities, which have risked migrants' lives by using unsafe boats. Over a month ago, a boat carrying more than 80 Lebanese and Syrian migrants sank off the coast near the northern city of Tripoli, with only 45 of them being rescued. Law enforcement officers are seen at the site of a shooting in Laguna Woods, Orange County, California, the United States, May 15, 2022. One person was killed and five others injured in the shooting. (Xinhua) Police authorities in some other Southern California counties vow to protect the safety of their cities after the latest mass school shooting in the country. LOS ANGELES, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in U.S. Southern California are on high alert in the wake of a Texas elementary school mass shooting that left 19 children and two adults dead on Tuesday. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore said in a statement Wednesday morning that the department "is working closely with the Los Angeles School Police to increase patrols around our schools and common pathways to ensure the safety of our children." "Yesterday the world suffered yet another tragedy in the loss of 19 innocent children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas at the hands of a mass shooter," he said, noting that "we are also working diligently to investigate crimes and behaviors that can lead to future violence." The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department sent its prayers and condolences to the victims of the mass shooting. Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a tweet Tuesday afternoon that the department's stations "will be closely monitoring and working with our station's school resources officers to ensure the safety of our children." Police departments in some cities in Los Angeles County also issued statements, saying that they will take safe measures, for example, showing a "strong presence" or maintaining "a vigilant posture" around local schools. Arcadia Police Department said in a Facebook post that "Although part of our normal patrol duties, APD Officers will be conducting extra patrols at our schools. We will have extra officers out as well." Angela, a first-grader's mother, on Wednesday morning expressed her "shock and sadness" over the latest school mass shooting. The mother of a student in Arcadia's Holly Avenue Elementary School told Xinhua, "I truly felt much more secured after I saw three police officers standing near the school gate this morning." Police officers investigate at the site of a shooting in Sacramento, California, the United States, April 3, 2022. Six people were killed and at least nine others were wounded in the shooting. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua) Police authorities in some other Southern California counties also vowed to protect the safety of their cities after the latest mass school shooting in the country. Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes noted in a statement that there were no adequate words to describe Tuesday's elementary school shooting. "While we believe this is an isolated incident, the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center is monitoring the situation, and we will have an increased presence at schools in our jurisdiction," he added. San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department noted in a statement that the agency has monitored the incident from the beginning and will continue to work with its patrol stations, school resource officers, school police departments, and education partners. "At this time we don't have any information about specific threats to our campuses and our deputies will continue directed patrol of our schools and surrounding neighborhoods," said the department. "We encourage our communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or social media concerns. If you see something, say something," it added. San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit said that when he heard the news out of Texas, he contacted local law enforcement agencies to make sure they were all on the same page and had their eyes and ears open to possible local threats, NBC 7 San Diego TV station reported. What's equally important, Nisleit was quoted as saying by the news outlet, is making sure civilians know their role in stopping tragic incidents like this one from happening in their community. "Children are hurting. Guns are hurting them. Take the pain away! Take the pain away," tweeted Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second-largest school district. "As a nation, we must continue to speak up against gun violence. We have a moral and professional collective obligation of ensuring a perimeter of inviolable safety around schools. Enough is enough," he noted. BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Beijing reported 16 new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections during the first 15 hours of Thursday, local authorities have said. The cases were distributed across seven districts of Beijing: seven in Haidian, three in Fengtai, two in Chaoyang and one in Dongcheng, Xicheng, Fangshan and Changping, Liu Xiaofeng, deputy head of the Beijing municipal disease prevention and control center, told a press briefing. A total of 1,670 COVID-19 infections have been reported in Beijing from April 22 to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. The national capital has nine areas currently classified as high-risk for COVID-19 and 15 areas classified as medium-risk. Officials from Sweden meet with Turkish counterparts in Ankara, Turkey, on May 25, 2022. Turkey has set out conditions for the Swedish and Finnish delegations to earn its support over the two Nordic countries' bids to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said on Wednesday. (Xinhua) ANKARA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkey has set out conditions for the Swedish and Finnish delegations to earn its support over the two Nordic countries' bids to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said on Wednesday. Kalin, who also participated in Turkey's talks with the two European countries, said Sweden and Finland's procedure to join the military alliance will not move forward if concrete steps are not taken to address Turkey's concerns. Officials from Sweden and Finland met with Turkish counterparts in Turkey's capital Ankara on Wednesday, in an attempt to resolve disputes with Turkey, which opposes their NATO membership bids. "Our expectations were about taking concrete steps to address the presence of terrorist organizations ... We've conveyed the information and documents on this matter," Kalin told a news conference after their meeting. "We stated that this procedure would not be possible until Turkey's security concerns were addressed," he said, adding Finnish and Swedish officials had made notes and will submit them to their governments. Turkey will continue consultations with both Finland and Sweden until the two countries respond to Turkey's concerns, according to Kalin. Sweden and Finland have formally submitted their NATO membership applications. However, Turkey is the only NATO member that objected to their bids so far, accusing the two countries of supporting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Syria's Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades, and Ankara sees the YPG as the Syrian branch of the PKK. Turkey also accused the two Nordic countries of harboring the members of the Gulen Movement, which Ankara claims is responsible for a failed military coup attempt in 2016. "We sent 28 extradition requests to Sweden and 17 to Finland, unfortunately we did not receive any response," Kalin said, referring to the members of these groups. Ankara also expected the sanctions against Turkey's defense industry be lifted, he said, adding Ankara has seen a positive development on the issue. Sweden and Finland restricted defense industry exports to Turkey following the country's cross-border operation into northeast Syria in 2019. Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin speaks at a press conference after Turkey's talks with Sweden and Finland in Ankara, Turkey, on May 25, 2022. Turkey has set out conditions for the Swedish and Finnish delegations to earn its support over the two Nordic countries' bids to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said on Wednesday. (Xinhua) Officials from Finland meet with Turkish counterparts in Ankara, Turkey, on May 25, 2022. Turkey has set out conditions for the Swedish and Finnish delegations to earn its support over the two Nordic countries' bids to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said on Wednesday. (Xinhua) Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin speaks at a press conference after Turkey's talks with Sweden and Finland in Ankara, Turkey, on May 25, 2022. Turkey has set out conditions for the Swedish and Finnish delegations to earn its support over the two Nordic countries' bids to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said on Wednesday. (Xinhua) BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to advance its accession into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), the commerce ministry said Thursday. "China adheres to aligning with high-standard international economic and trade rules and expanding high-level opening-up," said Gao Feng, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Commerce. The spokesperson reiterated China's commitment to achieving a comprehensive and high-level Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), adding China will propose work plans in the field of digital and green economy and actively participate in the formulation of new guiding documents on advancing FTAAP. Gao said China would continue to implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement with high quality and safeguard the security and stability of regional industrial and supply chains. The country will also work with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to actively build version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and establish more mutually beneficial bilateral and regional economic and trade ties, said the spokesperson. Video: An 18-year-old man opened fire at an elementary school in the U.S. state of Texas on May 24, 2022, revealing again the recurrent and deep-rooted problem of gun violence in the United States. (Xinhua) The gunman, a local high school student identified as Salvador Ramos, shared his plan on Facebook minutes before the attack. He was killed by a Border Patrol officer on the scene. HOUSTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- All victims, including 19 kids and two teachers killed Tuesday in the school shooting in Uvalde, in the U.S. state of Texas, have been identified, authorities said on Wednesday. They were shot and killed inside a fourth grade classroom at Robb Elementary School, just two days before the summer break, said Chris Olivarez, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety. Another 17 people were injured in the shooting and their injuries are not life-threatening, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at a news conference on Wednesday. The gunman, a local high school student identified as Salvador Ramos, shared his plan on Facebook minutes before the attack. He was killed by a Border Patrol officer on the scene, Abbott said. Local media reported that Ramos legally purchased two assault rifles and 375 rounds of ammunition from a federally authorized dealer in the Uvalde area last week for his 18th birthday. "It's the first thing he did when he turned 18," Texas State Senator Ronald Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde, told CNN, "(He) had no problem accessing those weapons." Photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows the flags at half-staff on top of the Texas Department of Transportation building in Austin, Texas, the United States. (Photos by Bo Lee/Xinhua) A personal background examination revealed a bullied loner with few if any friends and no criminal or known mental health history, said the CNN report. Abbott, who is seeking reelection this year, placed the blame for the Uvalde school shooting on mental health issues. "Anybody who shoots somebody else has a mental health challenge, period. We as a government need to find a way to target that mental health challenge and do something about it," Abbott said at the news conference, doubling down concerns about an 18-year-old's ability to purchase firearms. "This is totally predictable," Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke yelled at the governor and interrupted the press conference. O'Rourke then was led away by officers. O'Rourke said Abbott did nothing to solve the problem of easy access to guns that is plaguing communities across Texas and the nation. The governor "has refused to champion red flag laws ... He's refused to support safe-storage laws so young people cannot get their hands on their parents' weapons," O'Rourke said. "Why are we letting this happen in this country? Why is this happening in this state? Year after year, city after city," O'Rourke said. The U.S. flag flies at half-staff on top of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 24, 2022. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) The Uvalde tragedy is the deadliest shooting at a school since the Sandy Hook massacre in Connecticut in 2012 that left 26 people dead, including 20 children between 6 and 7 years old. The shooting once again demonstrates that gun violence, a deep-rooted problem in the United States, is worsening, local analysts say. "By doing nothing to prevent gun violence, (our) nation chooses this pain," an editorial published by the San Antonio Express-News said. As of Tuesday, over 31,300 people had died or been injured due to gun-related incidents in the United States this year, according to a database run by the nonprofit research group Gun Violence Archive. Including the Uvalde tragedy, there have been at least 40 shootings in K-12 schools, colleges and universities in the United States so far this year, resulting in at least 31 deaths and more than 50 injuries. "How many more children must lose their lives from senseless gun violence?" Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner questioned in a statement on Tuesday. Wang Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Iris Varela, First Vice President of Venezuela's National Assembly, via video link in Beijing, capital of China May 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Wang Chen, vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, met with Iris Varela, First Vice President of Venezuela's National Assembly, via video link on Thursday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the two countries firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns. The NPC stands ready to work with Venezuela's National Assembly to strengthen communication and cooperation on the international rule of law, resolutely oppose external interference, and actively promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, Wang noted. Iris Varela said that Venezuela firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and is willing to enhance communication between legislatures to promote cooperation on economy and law, as well as other fields, between the two countries. Wang Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Iris Varela, First Vice President of Venezuela's National Assembly, via video link in Beijing, capital of China May 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) TAIPEI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Starting on Thursday, people in Taiwan with a positive result on a rapid antigen test, after being verified by a doctor, will be confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, according to the island's disease monitoring agency. The new protocol for COVID-19 diagnosis was initially limited to particular groups. The number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Taiwan is still on the rise. The island's disease monitoring agency on Thursday said that Taiwan on Wednesday recorded 81,852 new local COVID-19 cases and 104 deaths. Affected by the epidemic, a record number of 2,479 companies in Taiwan have sharply cut their production and put workers on unpaid leave, with the service sector suffering the most. The unemployment rate of Taiwan was 3.62 percent in April, with 429,000 people losing their jobs in total, according to the island's statistics authority earlier this week. To date, Taiwan has reported 1,640,271 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of these, 1,627,494 were local infections. Acting Governor General of the Solomon Islands John Patteson Oti (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Honiara, Solomon Islands, May 26, 2022. (Xinhua) HONIARA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Solomon Islands and China pledged here on Thursday to further enhance their mutually beneficial cooperation to serve as a paragon of mutual trust between China and the Pacific island countries. While meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Acting Governor General of the Solomon Islands John Patteson Oti said the government and the people of his country attach great importance to the relations with China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the development of bilateral ties has made significant progress, and the visit by the Chinese delegation will bring new highlights and add new impetus to the cooperation between the two sides, Oti said. Expressing gratitude to China for aiding the country in implementing the Stadium Project, which will be the main stadium for the 2023 Pacific Games, Oti said his country hopes to deepen cooperation with China in all fields so as to benefit its people. As a member of the international community and a member state of the United Nations, the Solomon Islands is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China in multilateral fields, he added. Wang said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Solomon Islands, which conforms to the historical trend of the times and serves the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries, the two countries have achieved all-round development of relations, deepened political mutual trust and pushed forward win-win cooperation, delivering tangible benefits to the two peoples. Noting that the diplomatic relations with China mean the Solomon Islands has had one more good friend as well as a sincere and reliable partner, Wang said it is expected that the bilateral ties will forge a high ground of win-win cooperation and become a paragon of mutual trust between China and the Pacific island countries. He said China will continue to uphold the spirit of mutual support and assistance of South-South cooperation, and help the Solomon Islands improve its people's well-being and promote development and prosperity. Wang also said China fully supports the Solomon Islands' hosting of the 2023 Pacific Games, and will work to ensure the timely delivery and quality of projects constructed with Chinese aid. Wang is visiting the Solomon Islands as part of his tour to the South Pacific island nations, which will also take him to Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, as well as Timor-Leste. Photo taken on March 29, 2022 shows packages of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua) China has made a significant contribution with its at least three listed COVID vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO), said Shyam Bishen, head of Shaping the Future of Health and Healthcare at the World Economic Forum (WEF). DAVOS, Switzerland, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Shyam Bishen, head of Shaping the Future of Health and Healthcare at the World Economic Forum (WEF), welcomed China's calling for the building of "a community of common health for mankind" amid the global public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. COMBATING COVID-19 "The WEF applauds this commitment from the government of China and President Xi... of both funding and resources to combat the ongoing (COVID-19) pandemic," Bishen told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting here on Wednesday. He also underlined the problems of access of developing countries to COVID vaccines, naming it a problem that links to health equity. "The problem was that most of the production for vaccine was coming from rich nations and was concentrated in just certain areas in the developed world. It was very hard to get out vaccines to developing low and middle-income countries in Africa and other parts of the world," said Bishen. "Even now we only have about 16-17 percent of the African population vaccinated, whereas there is an oversupply of vaccine in the developed world," he said, urging for a more distributed vaccine manufacturing capacity. China, he said, has made a significant contribution with its at least three listed COVID vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO). "COVID vaccines from China are being used in many developing countries. China has made very good contributions," he said. Staff members convey Chinese COVID-19 vaccines at an airport in Managua, Nicaragua, Dec. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) HEALTH EQUITY Bishen said the goal of health equity can only be achieved if "both the social determinants as well as non-social determinants of health equity" are looked at. "We have challenges with regard to the access to health care products and services because of the social determinants, and because of poverty and inequality in society where many people do not have access to good education," Bishen said. "They don't have access to transport or to good food, and that leads to health inequality," he noted. "At the same time, people don't have access to health care products because of the places or the regions they are living, and because of their social-economic situation." File photo taken on July 24, 2021 shows a site of a mass drug administration (MDA) campaign launched by China's expert team at the outskirts of Sao Tome, capital of Sao Tome and Principe. (Xinhua) "We are trying at the World Economic Forum to create public-private partnerships to bring about better health equity so that products and services can be made available across the world, irrespective of the geography," he added. Looking ahead to the next pandemic, Bishen said it would require global cooperation, including a pathogen surveillance and timely share of information. "If (the next pandemic) happens, we want to make sure we do a better job of controlling that pandemic through easy access to vaccines, easy access to diagnostics, as well as treatments," he said. T-90M tanks are seen during the Victory Day military parade to mark the 77th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War on Red Square in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi) Japan is taking provocative actions that pose a serious challenge and potential threat to Russia's security in the Far East, Zakharova said. MOSCOW, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia said on Wednesday that it is closely monitoring hostile activities of Japan and reserves the right to strengthen its defense capability in response. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova made the remarks in a statement commenting on Japan's so-called protest against the joint strategic air patrol by Chinese and Russian air forces on Tuesday. Cooperation between the Russian and Chinese militaries is an important part of the bilateral ties, and the regular joint air patrols have demonstrated the high level of mutual trust and interaction between the two armed forces, she said. These patrols were held in strict accordance with the norms of international law and fully met the objectives of strengthening peace, stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region and in the world as a whole, she added. Zakharova criticized Tokyo for clinging to these already traditional training events, distorting their goals and content, and wrongly linking them with Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. The diplomat dismissed Japan's so-called protest as "groundless and absurd." Zakharova stressed that the Japanese government is accelerating the build-up of military-political cooperation with the United States and non-regional outsiders from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and conducting joint military exercises of unprecedented scale near the Russian borders. Japan is seeking to connect to the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) trilateral security partnership, studying the prospects for deploying U.S. medium- and shorter-range missiles on its territory, and taking other provocative actions that pose a serious challenge and potential threat to Russia's security in the Far East, she added. DAVOS, Switzerland, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Shyam Bishen, head of Shaping the Future of Health and Healthcare at the World Economic Forum (WEF), welcomed China's calling for the building of "a community of common health for mankind" amid the global public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. COMBATING COVID-19 "The WEF applauds this commitment from the government of China and President Xi... of both funding and resources to combat the ongoing (COVID-19) pandemic," Bishen told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting here on Wednesday. He also underlined the problems of access of developing countries to COVID vaccines, naming it a problem that links to health equity. "The problem was that most of the production for vaccine was coming from rich nations and was concentrated in just certain areas in the developed world. It was very hard to get out vaccines to developing low and middle-income countries in Africa and other parts of the world," said Bishen. "Even now we only have about 16-17 percent of the African population vaccinated, whereas there is an oversupply of vaccine in the developed world," he said, urging for a more distributed vaccine manufacturing capacity. China, he said, has made a significant contribution with its at least three listed COVID vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO). "COVID vaccines from China are being used in many developing countries. China has made very good contributions," he said. HEALTH EQUITY Bishen said the goal of health equity can only be achieved if "both the social determinants as well as non-social determinants of health equity" are looked at. "We have challenges with regard to the access to health care products and services because of the social determinants, and because of poverty and inequality in society where many people do not have access to good education," Bishen said. "They don't have access to transport or to good food, and that leads to health inequality," he noted. "At the same time, people don't have access to health care products because of the places or the regions they are living, and because of their social-economic situation." "We are trying at the World Economic Forum to create public-private partnerships to bring about better health equity so that products and services can be made available across the world, irrespective of the geography," he added. Looking ahead to the next pandemic, Bishen said it would require global cooperation, including a pathogen surveillance and timely share of information. "If (the next pandemic) happens, we want to make sure we do a better job of controlling that pandemic through easy access to vaccines, easy access to diagnostics, as well as treatments," he said. KABUL, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The intelligence personnel of Afghanistan's caretaker government has busted an armed theft group in the country's eastern province of Laghman, the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) said Thursday. "Personnel of the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) has arrested a three-member theft group in Dawlat Shahi district, Laghman province following a recent operation," the national intelligence agency wrote on the social media platform. The group was reportedly involved in armed robbery and kidnapping, using force to loot valuable items from local residents' houses. The security personnel also seized weapons from the arrested people, said the statement. The operation was part of preventive measures being adopted to ensure a high level of security and safety in the province. BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Thursday called for leveraging strategic opportunities to accelerate the high-quality development of the digital economy. Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks while addressing via video link the opening ceremony of the China International Big Data Industry Expo 2022 held in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Noting that the digital economy has bright prospects and a great role to play, Huang stressed the importance of promoting the full-chain digital transformation of key industries and key enterprises. He urged further integration between the development of the digital economy and the real economy. Huang called for further digitization in public services and improving the governance of the digital economy, as well as exploring international cooperation to benefit people around the globe. This year's expo was held online, with the participation of over 100 renowned enterprises from countries such as China, Germany, and Japan. Aerial photo taken on Oct. 6, 2021 shows the view of Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong) BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- One day in 1986, Gong Jie, the museum curator of the municipal museum of Xiamen, extended a bold invitation. While he knew all too well that the destination he had in mind was far from welcoming, his decision proved to be one of his proudest moments. Gong's potential guest was Xi Jinping, then deputy mayor of Xiamen. Xi was on Gulangyu, a small island known as a "museum of global architecture" boasting over 1,000 historical buildings in various styles combining Chinese and Western elements, to deliver a speech. After the address, as Xi walked out of the hall, Gong stopped him and said: "Deputy mayor, please come and visit Bagua Mansion." Gong was unsure how Xi would take the abrupt invitation, but he accepted straight away. Constructed in 1907, the Bagua Mansion, a blend of architectural styles, is a landmark historical building on the island. Atop a hillside overlooking Xiamen city center, the building has a signature red dome that decorates the city's skyline like a ruby gem. Over the years, the mansion had been used for many functions. By the 1960s, it housed a factory and began to fall into disrepair. In 1983, the municipal government decided to renovate the dilapidated mansion and make it into a museum, which is when Gong came on board, as the renovation coordinator. Despite the municipal government channeling funds to the project, there was a lot of work to do, and money was tight, which is why Gong took a punt at inviting Xi to view the mansion. At the time, the building was divided into several small compartments, and around a dozen households lived in the basement. The wooden floor, warped by weather and time, creaked whenever anyone stepped on it, and the roof was rotten and moldy -- hardly a welcoming place to receive a guest. Gong gave Xi a "tour" of the mansion. Xi did not even make it to the first floor before turning to Gong and saying: "How much more do you need?" Gong requested 300,000 yuan (about 45,000 U.S. dollars). This was no small sum for the city at that time, as the recent creation of a special economic zone in Xiamen had resulted in a boom of development projects, all thirsty for funding. "Come get it tomorrow," Xi answered without hesitation. Gong remembered how excited he was. "I will never forget his decisiveness," he said, adding that the injection of cash came at the most stressful and difficult time, and the fate of the century-old building was completely changed. After the refurbishment project was complete, Bagua Mansion was born again, this time as Xiamen's municipal museum. Together with 52 other notable examples of architecture, the mansion was included as a core element of Gulangyu's cultural heritage and was lauded by experts from the United Nations in the process of the island's entering the UNESCO World Heritage List. While working in Xiamen, Xi led the formulation of a plan for the city's economic and social development in the coming 15 years through 2000. In the document's attachment, a special report elucidated the social and cultural value of Gulangyu, noting that the island is "a treasure of the nation" and stressing a unified planning for its construction and preservation commensurate with this status. From preserving a building to valuing an island, preserving culture and heritage remains cherished pursuits of Xi's governance philosophy. Noting that both historical and cultural heritage are irreplaceable, precious resources, Xi said their preservation is a top priority. "Our ancestors left us our historical and cultural heritage, and we must pass it down to future generations intact," Xi stressed. BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Experts from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan have criticized the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for using misleading language regarding the region's participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA), denouncing its claim of a "gap" in global anti-pandemic efforts as a "groundless political lie." "It is entirely for the political ends of seeking 'independence' that the DPP authorities have deliberately denied and smeared the work of the mainland and the World Health Organization (WHO)," said Li Zhenguang, a Taiwan affairs professor at Beijing Union University. There are no obstacles for Taiwan to obtain pandemic containment information and resources from the WHO, and experts from the island often take part in international seminars on public health and epidemic prevention, Li noted. The Chinese mainland has given Taiwan around 400 updates about the epidemic situation since the start of COVID-19. The General Committee and the Plenary Session of the 75th WHA recently rejected a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer submitted by certain countries. From 2009 to 2016, Taiwan participated in the WHA as an observer in the name of "Chinese Taipei," a special arrangement made through cross-Strait consultations on the basis of the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle upheld by both sides of the Taiwan Strait. But since the DPP came to power in 2016, it has obstinately adhered to the separatist position of "Taiwan independence" and refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, Li noted. Chang Li-chi, a lecturer at Huaqiao University from Taiwan, voiced his discontent over the DPP's response measures as the island is now battling a record wave of infections. The DPP has pursued its own political maneuvering while neglecting the life and health of the people, leading to the runaway spread of the virus across Taiwan, Chang added. Aya Ibrahim, an Egyptian girl who won the top prize in the recently-concluded Chinese language contest, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Cairo, Egypt, on May 24, 2022.(Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) by Yao Bing, Marwa Yahya CAIRO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- "The Chinese Bridge contest was a very important experience in my life," said Aya Ibrahim, an Egyptian girl who won the top prize in the recently-concluded Chinese language contest in Cairo. "Through the stages of the competition, I gained knowledge, cultivated friendships, and improved my capabilities," said Ibrahim, who is studying at the Chinese Department of Cairo University. The girl, along with seven other winners of the contest, met with Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang on Tuesday and shared their stories of learning Chinese. Ibrahim said she found Chinese very difficult to learn at the beginning, but then she participated in various Chinese activities at the Confucius Institute at Cairo University such as cutting paper and weaving Chinese textile and overcame all the difficulties. Learning the Chinese language changed me from an introvert into a self-confident and socialized person with a broader vision, she added. The Egyptian girl highlighted her wishes to boost the friendship between the two countries, and to have the opportunity to complete her post-graduate studies in China. Aya Magdy, another top prize winner in the competition, also said the Chinese language has changed her character building and life. "Every time I participate in this contest, I gain more energy. Every time I stand on stage, I experience a special feeling," she said. Magdy hoped to become a language instructor to provide deeper insights into China and its culture. As for Sandra Ghattas, a second-prize winner, her story with the Chinese language was centered on her passion for Chinese songs. "Singing Chinese songs helped me a lot with my pronunciation and understanding of the Chinese culture," said Ghattas, a student from the Chinese Department of Suez Canal University. "Choosing to study the Chinese language was one of the best decisions in my life," she added. Meanwhile, the Chinese ambassador said he was moved by and felt proud of their stories, noting May 30 marks the 66th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China. "The development of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership needs participation and devotion of the two peoples, especially the inheritance and innovation of the young people of both countries," Liao said. "I hope you can make more contributions to China-Egypt friendship," he added. The Chinese Bridge contest, which was held at Ain Shams University in Cairo on May 14, attracted 23 students from 18 Egyptian universities. LONDON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has taken full responsibility for parties held at his Downing Street office that broke COVID-19 rules, but is refusing to resign over the scandal. A much-anticipated report commissioned by the government, published on Wednesday, investigates 16 events held at Downing Street in 2020 and 2021. Written by senior civil servant Sue Gray, the damning 37-page report describes booze-fueled parties attended by large numbers of people, which broke lockdown rules imposed by the government. "Many of these events should not have been allowed to happen," Gray's report underlines. "The senior leadership...must bear responsibility for this culture." "Those in the most junior positions attended gatherings at which their seniors were present," she adds. Johnson attended some of the events, including a surprise birthday party organized for him on June 19, 2020, for which he received a fine from the Metropolitan Police (Met). Last week, The Met wrapped up its own inquiry into lockdown breaches at Downing Street, issuing a total of 126 fines to 83 people. Speaking to lawmakers at the weekly Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) session in the House of Commons (lower house of Parliament) after the Sue Gray report was published, Johnson said he took "full responsibility for everything that took place under my watch." However, he added that he had been as "surprised and disappointed as anyone else in this House at the revelations." Johnson's political opponents have renewed their calls for his resignation now that both investigations on the lockdown parties have been published. Referring to a "catalogue of criminality" exposed in Gray's report, Labour leader Keir Starmer said it was time for Johnson "to pack his bags" and "restore dignity" to the office of the prime minister. "They pretend that the Prime Minister has somehow been exonerated, as if the fact that he only broke the law once is worthy of praise," said the opposition leader. "The truth is they set the bar for his conduct lower than a snake's belly and now they expect the rest of us to congratulate him as he stumbles over it," he added. HOUSTON, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Federal flags are flying at half-staff again across the United States, as the country is mourning the loss of 21 lives, including those of 19 children who were shot dead at an elementary school on Tuesday in Uvalde, a small town in the state of Texas. "Pure horror, then again?! This happens here more than anywhere else in the world," Esmeralda Vasquez, a Houston mother to a nine-year-old son, told Xinhua on Wednesday about her first reaction to the tragedy. Hours after the shooting, President Joe Biden said "to lose a child is like having a piece of your soul ripped away ... It's time to turn this pain into action." "Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen?" he asked. It seems every U.S. politician asks or is asked the question in the wake of every mass shooting, but their answers have always been prepared along the party line. At the Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, both spoke on the 50-50 Senate floor following the Uvalde school shooting. Schumer called on Republicans to pass pro-gun control legislation to help end "the plague of gun violence that has taken over this country," while McConnell put the blame clearly on the 18-year-old gunman, describing him as "deranged" and "maniac." The top Senate Democrat didn't mention the shooter's possible mental health issue, and the top Senate Republican didn't mention the shooter's easy access to high-powered weapons, let alone any preventative legislative solutions. The U.S. Congress has failed to pass any major gun control laws in more than two decades. Even though the legislation had majority support, it failed under Senate filibuster rules. A similar but possibly more dramatic scenario took place at a press conference held by Texan leaders in Uvalde on Wednesday. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican seeking reelection this year, also placed the blame for the shooting on mental illness, though he admitted that the gunman, who was killed by law enforcement on the scene, had no known mental health history. "Anybody who shoots somebody else has a mental health challenge, period. We as a government need to find a way to target that mental health challenge and do something about it," Abbott said at the press conference, downplaying concerns about an 18-year-old's ability to purchase firearms. "This is totally predictable," Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke yelled at the governor, angrily interrupting the press conference and being led away by officers. "This is on you," O'Rourke told Abbott. "The time to stop the next shooting is now, and you are doing nothing." In response, the governor, who had signed a law last year allowing Texans over 21 to legally carry handguns without needing a license, called on people to "put aside personal agendas," implying that O'Rourke's interruption was behind political motives. Fierce partisan fights make Biden's plea for action against rampant gun violence across the country seem like "weak tea," local analysts said. The United States has seen at least 212 mass shootings so far this year, according to the nonprofit research group Gun Violence Archive. As of Tuesday, over 31,300 people have died or been injured due to gun-related incidents in the country this year. The Uvalde shooting isn't likely to meaningfully change the status quo, said a VOX report. "By doing nothing to prevent gun violence, (our) nation chooses this pain," said an editorial published by the San Antonio Express-News. Photo taken on May 26, 2022 shows the site of a blast in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least 14 people were killed and 32 others wounded in four explosions that rocked Afghanistan's capital Kabul and northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday, authorities said. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, May 25 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people were killed and 32 others wounded in four explosions that rocked Afghanistan's capital Kabul and northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday, authorities said. In Kabul, at least five worshippers were killed and 17 others wounded after a blast ripped through a mosque during evening prayers in Kolola Pushta locality of Police District (PD) 4, an Italian-run surgical center wrote on social media. The blast occurred when people were offering prayers in Hazrat-e-Zekria Mosque, police spokesman Khalid Zadran said in a tweet. The blast came about one hour after three consecutive explosions struck three van-buses in PD 10 and PD 5 in Mazar-i-Sharif, killing nine people and wounding 15 others, Mohammad Asif Waziri, spokesman for the provincial police department, told Xinhua. The targeted buses were carrying commuters along busy roads during the evening rush hour in the northern city, capital of Balkh province. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attacks so far. In recent weeks, the war-torn Asian country had been hit by a series of bomb attacks reportedly launched by militants of the Islamic State (IS) group opposing the Taliban-led caretaker government. Photo taken on May 26, 2022 shows the site of a blast in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least 14 people were killed and 32 others wounded in four explosions that rocked Afghanistan's capital Kabul and northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday, authorities said. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Photo taken on May 26, 2022 shows the site of a blast in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least 14 people were killed and 32 others wounded in four explosions that rocked Afghanistan's capital Kabul and northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday, authorities said. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Photo taken on May 26, 2022 shows a victim of a blast at a hospital in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. At least 14 people were killed and 32 others wounded in four explosions that rocked Afghanistan's capital Kabul and northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday, authorities said. (Photo by Kawa Bashart/Xinhua) Photo taken on May 26, 2022 shows victims of a blast at a hospital in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. At least 14 people were killed and 32 others wounded in four explosions that rocked Afghanistan's capital Kabul and northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday, authorities said. (Photo by Kawa Bashart/Xinhua) Photo taken on May 26, 2022 shows a victim of a blast at a hospital in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. At least 14 people were killed and 32 others wounded in four explosions that rocked Afghanistan's capital Kabul and northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday, authorities said. (Photo by Kawa Bashart/Xinhua) CAIRO, May 26 (Xinhua) -- "The Chinese Bridge contest was a very important experience in my life," said Aya Ibrahim, an Egyptian girl who won the top prize in the recently-concluded Chinese language contest in Cairo. "Through the stages of the competition, I gained knowledge, cultivated friendships, and improved my capabilities," said Ibrahim, who is studying at the Chinese Department of Cairo University. The girl, along with seven other winners of the contest, met with Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang on Tuesday and shared their stories of learning Chinese. Ibrahim said she found Chinese very difficult to learn at the beginning, but then she participated in various Chinese activities at the Confucius Institute at Cairo University such as cutting paper and weaving Chinese textiles and overcame all the difficulties. Learning the Chinese language changed me from an introvert into a self-confident and socialized person with a broader vision, she added. The Egyptian girl highlighted her wishes to boost the friendship between the two countries, and to have the opportunity to complete her post-graduate studies in China. Aya Magdy, another top prize winner in the competition, also said the Chinese language has changed her character building and life. "Every time I participate in this contest, I gain more energy. Every time I stand on stage, I experience a special feeling," she said. Magdy hoped to become a language instructor to provide deeper insights into China and its culture. As for Sandra Ghattas, a second-prize winner, her story with the Chinese language was centered on her passion for Chinese songs. "Singing Chinese songs helped me a lot with my pronunciation and understanding of the Chinese culture," said Ghattas, a student from the Chinese Department of Suez Canal University. "Choosing to study the Chinese language was one of the best decisions in my life," she added. Meanwhile, the Chinese ambassador said he was moved by and felt proud of their stories, noting that May 30 marks the 66th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China. "The development of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership needs participation and devotion of the two peoples, especially the inheritance and innovation of the young people of both countries," Liao said. "I hope you can make more contributions to China-Egypt friendship," he added. The Chinese Bridge contest, held at Ain Shams University in Cairo on May 14, attracted 23 students from 18 Egyptian universities. Produced by Xinhua Global Service An employee wearing a thermal imaging VF helmet monitors people at the Istanbul Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 9, 2020. (Photo by Yasin Akgul/Xinhua) "We can't prevent the spread of this disease with the control measures we have in Turkey at the moment. It all depends on whether the virus would come or not," a Turkish public health expert warned. ISTANBUL, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A leading infectious diseases specialist in Turkey urged health authorities to impose necessary measures at border crossings to help detect monkeypox cases as the summer tourism season begins in May. Mehmet Ceyhan, head of the Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases of the Ankara-based Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, told Xinhua in a recent interview that with the start of the tourism season, human mobility has increased significantly and if precautions are not taken, the disease will spread faster than ever before. The foreign arrivals in Turkey, which has not yet reported a monkeypox case, surged by 225.6 percent year on year to 2.57 million in April. "We can't prevent the spread of this disease with the control measures we have in Turkey at the moment. It all depends on whether the virus would come or not," Ceyhan said. People take photos near Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, May 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Shadati) The specialist advised officials to establish checkpoints, especially in airports, where health workers will "at least" inspect the hands and arms of those who will enter the country for the clinical recognition of monkeypox. He explained that the monkeypox lesions typically appear as a rash and develop simultaneously and rapidly on any part of the body, mostly on the hands and legs. So far, the virus has been seen in over 20 countries, including the United States, Britain, and some other European countries. According to Ceyhan, the world will see more of such diseases in the upcoming period as coronavirus-related limitations and measures have been removed in most parts of the world, including Turkey. People visit Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul, Turkey, May 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Shadati) "There will be new outbreaks with disease names which we will hear for the first time, and which will sound strange. Because after two and a half years of completely isolating the society, we have suddenly removed all the measures," he said. Ceyhan noted that Turkey now sees more cases of respiratory diseases and diarrhea in children than ever expected. "When people heard official statements on lifting the pandemic measures, they did not only remove their masks, but also gave up paying attention to hygiene. The places that have been disinfected for a long time started not to be cleaned. Food safety and food hygiene are no longer adequately provided," he explained. Tourists are seen near Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, May 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Shadati) The specialist said the smallpox vaccine prevents monkeypox infections with 85 percent effectiveness, but storing these vaccines and the smallpox virus had been forbidden by a treaty when this disease was eradicated in 1980, so Turkey does not have a live smallpox virus to develop a vaccine. Aerial photo taken on Oct. 6, 2020 shows a view of the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park in Qinzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua) BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Despite COVID-19 outbreaks and growing uncertainties, China sees unstoppable momentum in its cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and is ready to further deepen its strategic partnership. Since China and ASEAN forged dialogue relations in 1991, the two sides have remained committed to promoting regional prosperity with comprehensive cooperation and bringing tangible benefits to people in the region. VIBRANT AND FRUITFUL In 2002, China and ASEAN signed a framework agreement to start the construction of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA), which came into effect in 2010. Under this world's largest FTA, more than 90 percent of the goods between China and ASEAN countries can be traded at zero tariffs, and restrictive measures on services and investment have also been substantially lifted. Trade volume between the two sides jumped from less than 8 billion U.S. dollars in 1991 to 684.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, an increase of more than 80 times. In 2020, ASEAN and China became each other's largest trading partners. After the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, a mega trade deal between 10 ASEAN member states plus China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand, officially took effect at the beginning of this year, the rosy prospects for China and ASEAN are highlighted by their even-closer economic and trade exchanges. Customs data showed that in the first quarter, China's imports and exports to ASEAN reached 1.35 trillion yuan (202.2 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 8.4 percent year on year, accounting for 14.4 percent of China's total foreign trade. During the period, trade between China and ASEAN accounted for 47.2 percent, or nearly half, of China's foreign trade with RCEP partners, according to the data. Last November, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the ASEAN-China dialogue relations, the two sides jointly announced the establishment of a China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, a new milestone in their relations. Aerial photo taken on Jan. 14, 2021 shows a view of the container wharf of Qinzhou Port, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) HIGHER LEVEL AND BEYOND "The economic relations between ASEAN and China have never been stronger and closer than today," ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi said at a summit held last week. "In response to the fast-changing global economic landscape in the post-pandemic era, ASEAN and China are moving towards a new forward-looking partnership," he said, adding that "the scope of this partnership is wide-ranging and includes many emerging priorities such as resilient supply chains, digital economy, and sustainability." China is actively building the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN FTA with ASEAN members, according to Commerce Minister Wang Wentao at the 28th trade ministers' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. The country stands ready to advance pragmatic cooperation with all parties to boost regional economic integration, promote economic recovery in the region, and maintain regional peace and stable development, said a spokesperson for the ministry. "China remains open to any regional economic initiative that conforms to the aforementioned principles," he said. Underscoring efforts to cement ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture, China has made the call to "contribute to an Asian family of unity and progress together." ASEAN countries are also pledging to enhance cooperation to implement the China-proposed Global Development Initiative in a bid to accelerate the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A recent report has forecast growth among the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN+3) at 4.7 percent this year and 4.6 percent in 2023, with growth for ASEAN at 5.1 and 5.2 percent, respectively. The regions can look forward to a fuller opening-up and a strong economic recovery, according to the ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook 2022. Photo taken on Dec. 30, 2021 shows a view of the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) To build a more resilient and sustainable ASEAN-China economic partnership, the two sides should jointly promote wider regional economic integration under the RCEP framework and further enhance infrastructure, said Satvinder Singh, ASEAN deputy secretary-general, in a recent article. UNITED NATIONS, May 26 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday laid a wreath at the UN Headquarters in New York to pay homage to the more than 4,200 UN peacekeepers who lost their lives since 1948, and presided over a ceremony to honor the 117 peacekeepers who died last year serving under the UN flag. At a ceremony of its kind held in person for the first time in three years, Guterres awarded the Dag Hammarskjold Medal posthumously to the 117 fallen peacekeepers. "Our peacekeepers face great and growing challenges," said Guterres. "Despite these risks, our peacekeepers press on. They work tirelessly in the toughest of conditions. They adapt to rapidly evolving situations on the ground. And they constantly innovate to protect the most vulnerable while representing our diverse global community. They advance the greatest mission of all -- peace." The secretary-general awarded the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal, the United Nations' highest award for valor, posthumously to Chadian Capt. Abdelrazakh Hamit Bahar. The late captain's father received the medal on his behalf. Capt. Abdelrazakh had been deployed with the Chadian military contingent as part of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali. He and other peacekeepers were stationed in a remote camp when they were targeted. "Heavy artillery fire, including rockets, rained down on their camp during this cowardly attack. As the situation deteriorated, Capt. Abdelrazakh and his commanding officer bravely counter-attacked to protect their teams. As he worked to secure the perimeter, Capt. Abdelrazakh noticed attackers entering a house near the base. Determined to stop them from doing more harm, he set out, on his own, to evacuate and secure the house. It was then that Capt. Abdelrazakh was shot dead," said Guterres at the ceremony. Three other Chadian peacekeepers also died and 34 were injured. But, without the courage of Capt. Abdelrazakh, many other people would have lost their lives that day. This is a true example of self-sacrifice, said Guterres. "Capt. Abdelrazakh Hamit Bahar was only 34 years old. But his actions revealed an extraordinary humanity and bravery that we will never forget." It is only the second time the UN Security Council-authorized Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal has been awarded. The medal was named in honor of Senegalese Capt. Mbaye Diagne. He saved hundreds of lives while serving as a UN peacekeeper in Rwanda in 1994 before being killed in action. Guterres also awarded a Letter of Commendation to Lt-Col. Chahata Ali Mahamat, who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Capt. Abdelrazakh that day and helped evacuate 16 wounded colleagues. At the ceremony, Guterres presented the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2021 to Maj. Winnet Zharare of Zimbabwe. Thursday's events formed the annual observance of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, which falls on May 29. KAMPALA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Four children from the same family were killed when a fire engulfed their house in the central Uganda district of Wakiso on Thursday. Police said in a statement issued here that the dead were aged eight and below. The children were burnt as their mother, Annet Naigaga, who deals in roasted maize and yellow bananas, went to fetch water 500 meters away. "The children were left inside their old two-bedroom, semi-permanent house with their elder sister, 12-year-old Catherine Nakkasi who was preparing to go to school," Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Area, said. Police said when the mother returned from fetching water, she saw a lot of smoke coming from her house. "The four children were crying for help inside the house and the door was closed, she made an alarm and attempted to enter and rescue the children, but the fire was too much," Owoyesigyire added. Police suspect a burning candle in the house could have fallen on a motorcycle and ignited the fire. "The four bodies have been conveyed to the city mortuary Mulago for postmortem," police said. NAIROBI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's earnings from tea exports rose 10.4 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022 on better global prices despite the conflict between Russia and Ukraine hurting shipments, the Tea Directorate said Wednesday. Kenya earned 39.5 billion shillings (about 339 million U.S. dollars) during the three months after exporting 135,721 metric tons (MT) of tea. This was an increase from 307 million dollars earned from 152,633 MT in a similar quarter in 2021 due to price increase, according to the directorate. Tea prices in the global market during the quarter averaged 3 dollars a kilo, up from 2.7 dollars in a similar quarter in 2021. Kenyan exports of tea mainly go to destinations including Pakistan, Egypt, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia. ACCRA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents Africa with the biggest opportunity for growth and prosperity, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said here on Wednesday. Hassan made the remarks during a visit to the AfCFTA secretariat. The trade area presented an opportunity to accelerate intra-African trade and use trade more effectively as an engine for growth and sustainable development, said Hassan. "As most African countries are recovering from the economic shocks resulting from COVID-19, the implementation of the AfCFTA will hasten a quick economic recovery with a free-trade area of over 1.2 billion people," Hassan stated. Wamkele Mene, secretary-general of the AfCFTA Secretariat, welcomed the Tanzanian president and hailed her visit as a further testimony to the seriousness African leaders attached to the implementation of the AfCFTA. To strengthen the continent's industrial development efforts and boost intra-African trade, Mene said the secretariat had identified four priority value chains, namely the agro-processing industry, automotive sector, pharmaceutical area, and transport and logistics. "We must develop these sectors to accelerate the implementation of AfCFTA's industrialization. They will also create jobs for young Africans and small-medium enterprises led by women," Mene added. According to him, the secretariat had successfully secured a 1-billion-U.S.-dollar investment from the African Export-Import Bank for the continent's industrial development. CAIRO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- White supremacy has become the largest source of terrorism in the United States, where racial arrogance increasingly becomes the seed of violent destruction, a senior Egyptian newspaper editor said on Wednesday. The U.S.-led West, over decades, has been blaming Islamic extremism as "the biggest threat facing the world in general and Western societies in particular," Manal Abdul Aziz, the managing editor of The Egyptian Gazette, wrote in an opinion piece published on the newspaper. Now the mistaken image promulgated for long years by the West about Islamic violence has changed with the escalation of terrorist operations by some racial extremists known as white supremacists, she said. The Western media has been reporting the mass shootings by the white supremacists, neo-Nazis or other hardline individuals and groups who advocate killing black people as "merely hate crimes," while terming any attack by Muslims, Arabs, African and Asian people as "terrorism," Aziz noted. In fact, nearly 60 percent of the extremist killings in the U.S. between 2009 to 2019 were committed by white supremacist extremists, Aziz said, citing a report by the Anti-Defamation League. This "might explain why white supremacy is the number one form of domestic terrorism in the U.S.," she said. The risk of growing white supremacy was exemplified in a shooting on May 14 in Buffalo, New York, where a white young man killed 10 people at a supermarket in a black majority suburb. The gunman, identified as Payton Gendron, earlier posted online his plan to kill dozens of black people whom he described as "replacers." Aziz explained that the "replacement theory" was propagated by some U.S. politicians, especially the Republicans who accuse the Democrats of encouraging immigration and risking "extinction of the white race." The theory "has inspired a steady stream of violent racist gunmen in the world in general and the U.S. in particular," wrote Aziz. She warned that white supremacists and neo-Nazis, who emerged decades ago in the U.S. society and used to keep a low profile, now are "more brazen" than before. Before carrying out the Buffalo shooting, Gendron published a 180-page racist manifesto avowing white supremacist beliefs by denouncing the immigrants and black people as "replacers" of white people. White supremacy is just part of a racial ailment that has afflicted the world for long and targeted different people whether because of their religions or races, Aziz wrote. In Europe, the neo-Nazis have been directing most of their operations against Muslims and Arabs, while in the U.S. they target the Americans of African and Asian origins, she noted. Aziz lamented that "the growing phenomenon of white supremacy with support of some political parties is jeopardizing the American image" as a democratic country and the land of dreams for all races to live in freedom. BANJUL, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Gambia government said on Wednesday it is ready to prosecute its former leader Yahya Jammeh for being linked to more than 240 killings and torture against defenseless citizens and foreign nationals during his rule between July 1994 and January 2017. The country's attorney general and minister of Justice Dawda Jallow presented the White Paper containing 265 recommendations submitted by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) which carried out more than two years of investigations into the atrocities committed by Jammeh or under his watch. "The government accepted all the recommendations by the TRRC with regards to prosecution, notably the prosecution of ex-President Yahya Jammeh, for a myriad of crimes committed between 1994 and 2017," the minister said at the launch of the White Paper report attended by victims and their families, civil society and foreign missions in the country, including the United Nations. "There is no doubt that the country has gone through a very traumatic experience and is in dire need of individual and collective healing as well as reconciliation, not just with the perpetrators of these human rights violations but with our past as a nation," the minister said. The Gambia government says it is working on the prosecution strategy to determine how to try him and dozens of his accomplices. OUAGADOUGOU, May 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 50 civilians of Madjoari in eastern Burkina Faso were killed on Wednesday in an armed attack, the East Region governor Hubert Yameogo said in a statement on Thursday. Residents from the Madjoari town who were trying to reach Nadiagou, in the town of Pama, were targeted on Wednesday by unidentified armed men, according to the statement. On May 14, an attack on civilians in the same area left 17 dead and 7 injured. On May 19, another attack against the military detachment of Madjoari left 11 soldiers killed and 20 others injured, it said. Yameogo offered condolences to the bereaved families, adding that security operations were underway. Security in Burkina Faso has worsened since 2015 as terrorist attacks have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than 1 million others in the West African nation. DAR ES SALAAM, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian health authorities late Wednesday issued an alert over the reported outbreak of monkeypox in some countries in Europe. Godwin Mollel, the Deputy Minister for Health, said in a statement that the public needs to take precautions against the monkeypox and other infectious diseases. "There are no reported monkeypox patients in Tanzania at the moment," said Mollel, cautioning members of the public to avoid touching or eating sick animals or carcasses, as well as avoiding touching anything that has been used by a sick animal. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday it is expecting more infectious cases of the viral zoonotic disease as 20 countries across the world reported monkeypox cases. Initial symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headaches, swelling, back pain, aching muscles and fatigue. People with a more serious illness may develop rashes and lesions on the face and hands, which then spread to other parts of the body. MANILA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- An improvised explosive device went off on a running bus in the southern Philippine South Cotabato province on Thursday, injuring at least two people, police said. Police said the explosion ripped through the rear section of the bus which was traveling along a busy street in Koronadal City around 12:30 p.m. local time. The explosion injured two tricycle drivers traveling near the bus. Five people including the driver were on board the bus when the explosion occurred, and they were seated in the forward section. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast. Police have launched an investigation into the incident. NEW DELHI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- About 13 people have died over the past five days in India's eastern state of Bihar after allegedly consuming spurious liquor, local media reported on Thursday. The deaths have reportedly taken place in the Aurangabad and Gaya districts located in south Bihar. Bihar has been a "dry state" for the past several years since the state's Chief Minister Nitish Kumar prohibited the sale and consumption of liquor. However, the illegal trade of liquor involving the liquor mafia purchased from neighboring states and secretly sold in Bihar has been going on in the state. The police in Madanpur and Salaiya police stations said over the phone that they are investigating the case, but declined to specify the number of deaths so far. Most of the victims complained about vomiting, stomach ache, and low visibility, said media reports. "A liquor consignment arrived from the neighboring state of Jharkhand and distributed in Madanpur, Salaiya and Gaya district's Aamas area. The sale of the liquor is currently underway and the villages of the region are becoming victims of it," Zee News reported. Meanwhile, the National Human Right Commission of India has served a notice to the Bihar government after mass deaths occurred in Aurangabad and Gaya. CANBERRA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Fifteen scholars from Australian universities called for improvement of China-Australia relationship in an open letter released on Thursday. The open letter, to the new federal government elected last Saturday, was published on the blog platform Pearls and Irritations. The scholars included former diplomat and visiting professor in the University of Sydney Jocelyn Chey, Australian National University (ANU) professor and economist Jane Golley, Director of the China Studies Center at the University of Sydney David Goodman, Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute in the University of Technology Sydney James Laurenceson, and Ben Hillman, director of the Australian Center on China in the World in the ANU. Addressing to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the letter said, "The change in government presents the opportunity for a circuit breaker in the poor diplomatic relations that have developed between Australia and China in the recent past." "As professors of China Studies who undertake research on various aspects of China's society and politics, we acknowledge that the new government is likely to avoid the over-aggressive approach of its predecessor. In our view less public aggression is likely to be more effective in dealing with China: international engagement should replace the language of war," it said. The scholars said the growth of China, as a significant regional and would-be global power, is bound to be disruptive, and two-way communication, rather than "megaphone diplomacy", is needed so that the changing environment is managed as effectively as possible. "A China policy informed as much by diplomatic and economic interests as by great power strategic concerns may well and more sustainably ensure Australia's national and economic security," they said. "While appreciating the tremendous difficulties ahead we urge this adjustment in approach to China." ANKARA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish military launched an airstrike on the targets of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq in the wake of the killing of one Turkish soldier on Thursday. The soldier was killed after the PKK opened fire on Turkey's Operation Claw-Lock military zone in northern Iraq, the Turkish defense ministry said in a statement. Subsequently, the Turkish military launched an airstrike at the PKK targets in the region and killed 14 members of the group, the ministry said in a separate statement. In April, Turkey launched a ground and air military offensive named Operation Claw-Lock in northern Iraq against the PKK targets in Metina, Zap and Avasin-Basyan. Turkey has "neutralized" more than 100 PKK members as part of the ongoing operation in northern Iraq, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told reporters on Wednesday. Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralize" to imply "terrorists" were killed, wounded, or captured in security operations. Turkey regularly conducts cross-border operations against the PKK bases in northern Iraq. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than 30 years. Iraq has repeatedly condemned the Turkish operation on its land as a violation of its sovereignty. THE HAGUE, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Seventy-nine people were arrested in Rotterdam after Feyenoord lost the UEFA Europa League final to AS Roma 1-0 on Wednesday, the Dutch police announced on Thursday. As the match was played in Tirana, Albania on Wednesday night, thousands of the Rotterdam-based club supporters gathered in Rotterdam to watch it on big screens in the Kuip stadium and elsewhere in the city. After the final, groups of angry fans went on a rampage throwing firecrackers and torches. The windows of several shops were smashed and a tram and a bus were destroyed, according to local media reports. Police intervened to restore order with the use of batons and water cannons. BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden, in a belated and hasty manner, has concluded his first trip to Asia since taking office, seeking in vain to rope regional countries into Washington's anti-China agenda. During his five-day journey to Asia, Biden pitched his Indo-Pacific Strategy and the so-called Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), in an attempt to create small cliques and turn Asia into a geopolitical arena for containing China. But behind all that sugarcoating, Washington's ulterior motives can fool nobody. In fact, a Cold War mentality is in the DNA of the warlike United States, which is in the habit of stoking divisions and confrontations, eclipsing its rivals in that regard and raking in profits. As a long-established global superpower that continues to manipulate global issues and meddle in regional affairs, the United States has to face squarely, albeit unwillingly, its fading clout. With compounding woes at home, it can no longer spare enough time to play "cop of the world" like before, nor retain its economic hegemony. That is why the IPEF may end up another hollow promise in Washington's stockpile of lies. There is no real beef in the framework, which is neither complete nor clear at the macro level to outline an integrated regional economic order, and is more symbolic than it is effective. A Bloomberg report said that many officials in Asia do not understand the IPEF, with some even asking "what is it that we want to join?" The Associated Press commented that the framework lacks practical elements such as market access, and its true appeal is in question. The deal is in essence a "blueprint" for creating another exclusive U.S.-led economic bloc to isolate and counter China, and again by means of forcing regional countries to take sides and disrupting the regular regional economic order. Such attempts were further exposed when Biden chose a Samsung Electronics Co. semiconductor plant as his first destination in South Korea. The trip was undertaken as "the U.S. seeks to strengthen supply chains and reboot its own manufacturing amid competition with China," according to the Wall Street Journal. As the world economy is sailing through rough seas, Washington's attempt to deliberately create economic decoupling, technological blockades, and industrial chain disruptions will aggravate the supply chain crisis, damage the regional cooperation structure and strain regional integration. This anachronistic move can fool no sober minds. When Biden arrived in Japan on Sunday, about 750 protesters took to the streets against the planned U.S.-Japan summit and the summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). Takakage Fujita, director-general of a civil group dedicated to upholding and developing the Murayama Statement, told Xinhua that the United States "cooked up the IPEF to use Japan and ASEAN countries for the benefit of its own." It is also worth noting that Biden was the only one of the four leaders who mentioned "China" during the Second In-Person Quad Leaders' Summit on Tuesday. It not only laid bare Washington's devious plans to counter China militarily through the geopolitical bloc of Quad, but also indicated that each country in the region has its own worries and is hesitant to get on Washington's anti-China chariot. A few years ago, Washington waged a trade war on Beijing, sending shockwaves across the world. Most recently, following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the U.S.-led NATO has kept on fanning the flames, which has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, heightened international security concerns and jolted the global market. However, a self-serving Washington remains on the wrong track. It continues to peddle a so-called "deterrence" and "containment" policy, seeking to manipulate Asia-Pacific countries as pawns to retain its hegemony and to build an Asian-Pacific version of NATO. Its divisive attempt is doomed here in Asia, an inclusive region which embraces globalization and free trade, and a region that has created a world-inspiring "Asia-Pacific miracle." Bloc politics can never engage Asian countries in any frameworks, but win-win cooperation can. Peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific are not only important for the region, but also for the world. Washington should quit inventing pretexts to destabilize other regions, and focus instead on solving its own crises and engaging in equal-footed, inclusive cooperation that delivers concrete results. [May 26, 2022] itel Celebrates Grand Opening of its New Site in Kingston Unveils Employee-Centred Design of US$7M facility KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- itel, an award-winning customer experience provider founded in Jamaica, celebrated the grand opening of its newest site located on Chalmers Avenue in Kingston with an event held on May 25. Next month itel celebrates its 10-year anniversary and this is its second location in the capital city. The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP, Prime Minister, gave the keynote speech to commemorate the evening. Inspired by the modern sleekness of Silicon Valley and the breathtaking landscapes of the Caribbean, Chalmers is a 90,000 sq. ft facility with ergonomic workspaces and stunning environmental design and aesthetics that seek to elevate the senses and inspire all who enter its doors. itel Foundng Chairman and CEO, Yoni Epstein explains, "We are proud to say we have built a world-class state-of-the-art facility that marries beautiful artistic design with functionality, security, and employee experience at the fore. We have unveiled the finest contact center, and perhaps the finest corporate building, in Jamaica, and one that can rival any facility in the world." Construction of the space commenced in 2020, and despite supply-chain challenges posed by the COVID pandemic, itel stayed the course and operations began in March of 2022. The building currently houses 825 employees and provides 1,140 seats, for a total employee capacity of 1,400. At maximum capacity, the site will annually contribute U$60 million to the local economy. This year, Chalmers Commercial (The landlords) will begin construction on a second building for itel on the adjacent lot, which will launch in 2023. The Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, noted the significant contribution that entrepreneurs, like Epstein, make in the local economy and country as whole. He highlighted itel's importance as a job creator. "Yoni who has made the investment to put in the computer systems, to train the people, to offer the services of the global service industry and the knowledge service industry. The people who are employed here will earn a wage. They will earn a salary and that's all private, but Jamaica has benefitted so significantly." itel celebrates its 10-year anniversary next month. To learn more about itel, visit www.itelinternational.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/itel-celebrates-grand-opening-of-its-new-site-in-kingston-301556181.html SOURCE itel [ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ] WASHINGTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday warned of burnout among the country's health workers over two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, local media reported. A report issued by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy projected a shortage of 3 million "essential low-wage health workers" in the next five years and nearly 140,000 doctors by 2033. Unless changes are made, Murthy said, the United States will be less prepared for future public health emergencies. WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to improve federal law enforcement operations. The protest took place on the second anniversary of the police killing of African-American man George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The order "promotes accountability," said Biden, who spoke at a White House event, with measures such as the creation of "a new national law enforcement accountability database to track records of wrongdoing so that an officer cannot hide the misconduct." According to the White House, it also prohibits chokeholds, limits no-knock warrants, and tightens use-of-force regulations to encourage de-escalation. Biden said, the executive order extends immediately to all federal law enforcement agents with a force of 100,000 or more. "We expect the order to have a major influence on state and local law enforcement agencies as well," he added, citing federal incentives and best practises as examples. The signing event was attended by the relatives of Floyd and Breonna Taylor, who were slain by officers executing a "no-knock" warrant in Louisville, Kentucky in 2020. Floyd's death spurred huge protests against police brutality and systematic racism across the United States in the summer of 2020. Quad Nations To Extend Over USD 50 Bn In Infrastructure aid In Indo-Pacific Biden announces the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework in Tokyo, Joe Biden meets Japanese Emperor Naruhito in Tokyo KABUL: Authorities say four different explosions hit Afghanistan's capital Kabul and the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, killing at least 14 people and injuring 32 others. A blast swept through a mosque during prayers on Wednesday evening in Kabul's Kolola Pushta neighbourhood, killing five people and injuring 17., according to police spokesman Khalid Zadran, the incident occurred when people were praying in the Hazrat-e-Zekria Mosque. Mohammad Asif Waziri, a spokesman for the provincial police department said that the bomb occurred about an hour after three consecutive explosions damaged three van-buses in PD 10 and PD 5 in Mazar-i-Sharif, killing nine people and injuring 15, according to reports. The targeted buses were being carried along busy highways during rush hour in the northern city of Balkh, the province's seat. So far, no one or group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The war-torn country has seen a string of attacks in recent weeks, allegedly carried out by the Islamic State terror group, which opposes the Taliban-led caretaker government. Conflict between Russia, Ukraine putting financial stability at risk: ECB 'Muslim women cannot eat food in the open even with their husbands...', Taliban's new Islamic ban" UN Security Council to vote on North Korea sanctions on Thursday Israel's defence minister Benny Gantz is set to visit India next week and sign a Letter of Intent (LOI) to commemorate 30 years of bilateral diplomatic and defence ties, according to his office. He will visit India for three days and will meet with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh. During Prime Minister, Narendra Modi's historic visit to Israel in July 2017, India and Israel elevated their bilateral ties to a strategic alliance. Since then, the two countries' relationship has centred on growing their knowledge-based partnership, which includes collaboration in innovation and research, as well as bolstering the 'Make in India' effort. "Defense Minister Benny Gantz will visit India next week (01.06), when he will sign a Letter of Intent commemorating 30 years of diplomatic and defence ties between the two countries." In the following days, a full itinerary will be announced," according to a statement from his office. Gantz had planned to travel to India at the end of March, but had to cancel his trip due to a spate of devastating terror acts across Israel. India is one of Israel's top buyers of defence equipment worth billions of dollars, but the partnership has recently taken on new meaning with an emphasis on joint weapon development. Palestinian and EU parliament Presidents discuss states' rising conflicts Palestine warns against permitting Israeli settlers to visit Al-Aqsa UN Security Council to vote on North Korea sanctions on Thursday STOCKHOLM: Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said that talks with Turkey are continuing in order to win Ankara's support for Stockholm's bid to join NATO's military alliance. "Sweden's engagement with Turkey is ongoing, and I look forward to developing Swedish-Turkish bilateral relations, notably in the areas of peace, security, and counter-terrorism," Andersson said at a joint press conference with Charles Michel, the visiting President of the European Council. On May 18, Sweden and Finland submitted their official letters of application to join NATO at the same time, according to reports. Turkey has been the sole NATO member to oppose these efforts, citing the two Scandinavian nations' support for the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). If Finland and Sweden wish to join NATO, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu sought a "formal agreement" from them on actions to eliminate their "support for terrorism." In turn, Michel stated that the European Union (EU) anticipates a "good end to NATO allies' deliberations." He reaffirmed the European Commission's support for Sweden and Finland's bids to join NATO. Turkey wants 'formal agreement' to allow Finland and Sweden to join NATO Italy backs bid by Finland and Sweden to join NATO Finland, Sweden to submit NATO applications today Putin issues warning to Finland on joining NATO, claims it would harm relations DAMASCUS: Turkey's attempt to create a safe zone in Syria's north has been branded a "aggressive and colonial move" by the Syrian Foreign Ministry. According to the state news report, the Turkish side wants to create a "explosive hotspot" inside Syria and continues to "equip and operate terrorist groups to use against the Syrian people." It stated that Turkish military operations on Syrian soil are "illegitimate and invalid," and that such actions are "tantamount to war crimes." President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Monday that Turkey is intending to conduct a new military operation in Syria to connect two areas already under Turkish control in the northern region near the Turkish border. Erdogan stated that the goal is to create a 30-kilometer safe zone along Turkey's Syrian border. Turkey to launch new military operation in Syria: President Erdogan Sweden, Finland talks ongoing with Turkey on NATO bids Turkey wants 'formal agreement' to allow Finland and Sweden to join NATO Kathmandu, May 26 Amnesty International, an international human rights organisation, has urged Nepal to remove the statute of limitations on rape and other sexual offences. The organisation issued a statement on Thursday, expressing solidarity with recent protests held in Nepal with the same demand. Nepal must urgently remove the restrictive statute of limitations on cases of rape and other sexual violence through amendment as it continues to be a barrier for survivors in access to justice, the statement says. Time and again, we have seen courageous survivors are denied justice because of the outdated and harmful one-year limit for filing rape complaints. The current provision is grossly restrictive, unfair and unmindful of the state the survivor might be in. In its current form, such provisions allow many perpetrators of rape to get away with their crimes, Yamini Mishra, South Asia regional director at Amnesty International, is quoted in the statement. Kathmandu, May 26 Police have arrested a man for his alleged involvement in a five-year-old rape case. The arrestee is Raj Kumar Khadka, then principal of Blooming Lotus English School in Itahari of the Sunsari district. A team deployed by the Nepal Police Central Investigation Bureau arrested him, according to SP Kamal Thapa. He has been accused of raping his student for the first time at a hotel when he was taking her to a hospital for some treatment. Then, he had committed the crime multiple times threatening the survivor of expelling her from the school if she spoke out. After a girl exposed her story of surviving a rape case eight years ago last week, the survivor from Itahari had also followed suit. SP Thapa says Khadka has been sent to the Sunsari District Police Office for further investigation and action. Kathmandu, May 26 Nepal Health Research Council has suspended a staffer after accusations of sexual harassment. The council suspended training officer Bijaya Kumar Jha after an intern filed a complaint at the council against him for sexually harassing her. Nepal Health Research Councils member secretary Pradeep Gyawali says that the council has commenced an investigation after the woman filed a written complaint. He says a committee has been formed to investigate the case. Well know more after the investigation, says Gyawali. Jha had been suspended for two months in 2019 after he misbehaved with a female colleague. Yonhap News Agency: On May 26 local time, the UN Security Council will vote on whether to strengthen sanctions on the DPRK in response to its ballistic missile launch activities. Will China oppose the adoption of a Security Council resolution? Wang Wenbin: China always believes that the Security Council should play a positive and constructive role on the Korean Peninsula issue. Sanctions are a means, not the end. They should be used to serve the goal of finding a political settlement of the issue. We hope all parties of the Security Council will stick to the general direction of political settlement and work actively to find a solution to break the deadlock. AFP: The Philippines President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed to uphold a 2016 international court ruling over the South China Sea. He said, we will use it to continue to assert our territorial rights. Whats Chinas response? Wang Wenbin: Chinas position on the South China Sea arbitration case is consistent, clear and unchanged. China and the Philippines are friendly close neighbors. We have established a bilateral consultation mechanism on issues relating to the South China Sea and maintain communication and dialogue on maritime issues. China stands ready to continue working with the Philippines through dialogue and consultation to properly handle differences and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. CCTV: It is reported that Robert Malley, US Special Envoy for Iran, said in testimony to Congress on May 25 that the prospect of reviving the Iranian nuclear deal is tenuous. If parties fail to reach a deal, the US will further tighten sanctions and respond strongly to any Iranian escalation, working in concert with Israel and regional partners. Do you have any comment? Wang Wenbin: I have noted relevant reports. China has also noted that Special Envoy Robert Malley said in his testimony that the US maximum pressure policy on Iran has failed. Oddly, having acknowledged its own mistakes, the US is still tightening sanctions on Iran, instead of reflecting on its approach. Such moves wont help break the deadlock on the talks, but will only undermine the negotiation process and further tarnish the US reputation. The Iranian nuclear talks have entered the final stage. At this juncture, parties should make greater efforts to resolve the outstanding issues at an early date and avoid letting previous efforts come to naught. As the one who created the Iranian nuclear crisis, the US should make political decisions as soon as possible, actively respond to the legitimate concerns of the Iranian side and facilitate a smooth conclusion of the negotiations. China always firmly supports the political settlement process of the Iranian nuclear issue. We will continue to participate in negotiations constructively, help bring the JCPOA back to the normal track at an early date, uphold the international non-proliferation system and promote peace and stability in the Middle East. In the meantime, we will resolutely safeguard our own legitimate and lawful rights and interests. Hubei Media Group: Some European political dignitaries and scholars recently said that the eastward expansion of the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a root cause of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but Europe is bearing the brunt. And the economic interests and even the foreign policy of the EU are not always those of the US. Do you have any comment? Wang Wenbin: The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has taken a heavy toll on Europe politically, economically and socially, while the US is reaping profits. In the US, arms-dealers are popping champagne, American grain and energy industries are raking in huge profits, and the US government has only admitted 12 refugees from Ukraine in March only to put on a show. Facts have proven that increasing sanctions is not an effective way to resolve conflict and the continuous supply of weapons cannot bring peace. A prolonged and complicated conflict will cause immeasurable consequences. People in European countries will pay a higher price, and the world will also have to face severe challenges including energy and food crisis. Only a few people, such as dealers of arms, oil and gas, will reap benefits from the situation. China supports Russia and Ukraine in keeping talks for peace. We also call on the EU and NATO to have a comprehensive dialogue with Russia, and ensure that reason will triumph over emotions, vision over shortsightedness and common good over selfish interests, thus building a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture. Reuters: We understand that State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has met with the foreign minister from the Solomon Islands. What was discussed and was the security agreement signed there? Wang Wenbin: Thats a very good question. I would take this opportunity to share with you relevant information about State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yis visit to Solomon Islands. Today, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Acting Governor General Patteson Oti of Solomon Islands, and had talks with Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele. State Councilor Wang Yi said, China will, as always, firmly support Solomon Islands in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, defending national unity, and speeding up national development and revitalization. China will continue to do its utmost to provide help in this regard. China is ready to work with Solomon Islands to follow through on the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, elevate China-Solomon Islands relations to a higher level, so as to make the bilateral relationship a fine example of political mutual trust and a pacesetter for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and South Pacific Island Countries. Solomon Islands welcomed the first Chinese high-level delegation to the country since the establishment of diplomatic ties, saying that this historic visit is a milestone in the bilateral relationship, underpinned by equal treatment and mutual respect. Solomon Islands will always firmly adhere to the one-China policy and firmly support China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. China has become a close friend and an important development partner of Solomon Islands, and various agreements signed by the two countries have been effectively implemented. China is practicing the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind with practical actions. Chinas support has played an important role in developing the economy, improving peoples livelihood and fighting the pandemic, and has created a large number of jobs in Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands is looking forward to more cooperation between the two countries. The two sides agreed to jointly build major landmark projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, make good use of the zero-tariff preferential policy for products exported to China, and help Solomon Islands fully tap its resource advantages and development potential. The two sides agreed to expand practical cooperation in a wide range of fields such as agriculture, fishery, lumbering, mining, health and pandemic prevention, and disaster mitigation and relief, and deepen exchange of experience in product processing, industrial incubation, and the development of special economic zones, so as to help Solomon Islands improve its capabilities of independent development, and accelerate the realization of industrialization and modernization. The two sides said that they will work together to ensure that the gymnasiums for the Pacific Games 2023 and the auxiliary facilities will be completed at high standards in the near future, as part of the efforts to help Solomon Islands host high-level games. The two sides agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation on development issues, response to climate change and multilateral affairs. The Solomon Islands side said that it supports the Global Development Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and is ready to strengthen alignment with China to form synergy. The two sides spoke positively of the fruitful cooperation between China and the Pacific Island Countries, and agreed to jointly ensure the success of the upcoming second China-Pacific Island Foreign Ministers Meeting. And to your question about the bilateral framework agreement on security cooperation between China and Solomon Islands, we have in fact shared with you relevant information many times. The agreement has already been officially signed by the two sides. AFP: So just now AFP journalists were prevented from accessing a press conference hosted by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Solomon Islands foreign minister and only state media were allowed to ask questions. Media reports also claimed that local Solomon Islands journalists were denied media access to these events. Can you explain the lack of media access? Wang Wenbin: As far as I know, all mainstream media of Solomon Islands attended todays joint press conference of foreign ministers of China and Solomon Islands. We respect the arrangement of the host country. Just now I shared some information about State Councilor Wang Yis visit. We will also release more information in a timely manner if any. Please stay tuned. The Paper: A poll commissioned by the Japanese Foreign Ministry shows that respondents in ASEAN countries see China as the regions most important partner in the future. What is Chinas comment? Wang Wenbin: Like always, we do not comment on any polling results. I would like to stress that China always gives priority to ASEAN in its neighborhood diplomacy, firmly supports ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture, and values and defends regional cooperation framework and outcomes built over the years. A valuable takeaway from the 30 years of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN is that when pursuing regional cooperation, the two sides should uphold peace and oppose instability and wars, advance solidarity and cooperation and oppose antagonism and confrontation, seek mutual benefit and oppose hegemony, and promote openness and inclusiveness and oppose division and exclusiveness. China will remain a reliable and trustworthy good neighbor, good friend and good partner of ASEAN. China is ready to develop the comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN, move toward an even closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future and continue to make new contributions to building a community with a shared future in the Asia-Pacific. China News Service: According to reports, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview on May 24 that China is an authoritarian power. He said that China and Russia called on closing NATOs door -- no more NATO enlargement. Of course, it matters to our security. Therefore, we need to address that. Whats your comment on this? Wang Wenbin: For some time, NATO Secretary General has repeatedly made unwarranted accusations to smear and attack China, made irresponsible remarks on Chinas political system and domestic and foreign policies, and hyped up the so-called China threat theory. China categorically rejects and strongly condemns this. NATO on the one hand urges its members to increase military spending to at least 2% of GDP, and on the other hand points fingers at Chinas normal national defense development and military modernization. This is typical double standard. China stays committed to the path of peaceful development and firmly follows a defense policy that is defensive in nature. We always keep our nuclear force at the minimum level required to safeguard national security. China keeps its military expenditure at around 1.3% as a share of its GDP for a long time, much lower than the world average. Unlike some NATO members, China never threatens other countries with force, never creates military alliance, never exports ideology, never meddles in others domestic affairs, never seeks a trade war, and never imposes unjustified oppression on foreign enterprises. How possibly can China "matter to" the security of NATO? NATO has publicly stated on many occasions that it will remain a regional alliance, it does not seek a geopolitical breakthrough and it does not seek to expand to other regions. However, in recent years, NATO has entered the Asia-Pacific region repeatedly. Some NATO member states keep sending aircraft and warships to carry out military exercises in waters off Chinas coast, creating tensions and disputes. NATO has been transgressing regions and fields and clamoring for a new Cold War of bloc confrontation. This gives ample reason for high vigilance and firm opposition from the international community. We urge Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to stop spreading denigrating remarks against China and stop drawing ideological lines. NATO has already messed up Europe. It should stop trying to destabilize Asia and the world. The Paper: On May 25, Spokesperson for the US State Department once again made groundless accusation on the cooperation between China and Pacific Island Countries. Do you have any response to that? Wang Wenbin: As countries in the Asia-Pacific, China and South Pacific Island Countries enjoy friendly exchange that goes way back. The expanding communication and cooperation between our two sides in recent years have delivered huge benefits to the two peoples and received sincere welcome from the people of PICs. I want to stress that developing friendly and cooperative relations with PICs is a long-term strategic guideline of Chinas diplomacy. Chinas relationship with island countries follows the principle of mutual benefits, openness and inclusiveness, does not seek any exclusive right, and poses no threat to any third party. In the same vein, it should not be disrupted by any third party. As is shown by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yis visit to Solomon Islands, the cooperation between China and Solomon Islands is conducted on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. It produces win-win outcomes for the two countries and contributes to regional peace, stability and development. We hope parties concerned can view the development of China-PICs relationship in an objective and reasonable light, and do more concrete things and play a more constructive role to jointly promote regional peace, stability, development and prosperity. " " Closed captioning and subtitles are two different things. This scene from 1963's "Charade" shows an example of closed captioning. Wikimedia/(CC BY-SA 4.0) In 1972, regular viewers of Julia Child's cooking program, "The French Chef," watched for the first time as a series of sentences scrolled across the bottom of their television screens. Just as words like "I think every woman should have a blowtorch" rolled off Child's lips, the same words appeared as text to every wannabe Julia watching her program. This was the first TV program to air with closed captions appearing automatically on the television screen. Like those on "The French Chef," closed captions were some of the earliest efforts to bring the joy of television to hearing-impaired audiences. Today, there are two ways that viewers can read what's going on in their favorite videos: subtitles and closed captions. Though the terms are used interchangeably, there is a notable difference between the two. Once you understand the distinction, you'll be able to spot it every time. Advertisement Closed Captioning Closed captions appear as text on the screen and are always in the same language as the original content. Aside from just the audio portion of the program, closed caption also includes background sounds; they also indicate when speakers change by using their names or a "" to note the change in who's talking. For example, if you're watching a documentary, and the narrator stops speaking and is replaced by a musical interlude, you'll see something like [somber music playing] on the screen. Closed captions are designed with the hard-of-hearing and deaf communities in mind. The 2022 Oscar for Best Picture "CODA" (acronym for children of deaf adults) has one-third of its dialogue spoken through American Sign Language and was the first feature film to be released to theaters with closed captions in the film reel. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires all video programming distributors to provide closed captions. Unfortunately, not every program or video has it available. In most cases, what you see is subtitles instead. Advertisement Subtitles So what exactly are subtitles? Subtitles are when only spoken dialogue is displayed with text on the screen. It's typically intended to make content available to viewers in different languages. So for instance, if a movie or television show is initially recorded in Spanish, viewers who speak English can watch using English subtitles on their screens. Subtitles supplement the audio experience but don't attempt to describe background sounds like closed captioning. Subtitles aren't intended for the hard-of-hearing community; they're designed instead to make on-screen content more widely available to viewers in other languages. The super-popular Korean series "Squid Game" utilized subtitles for non-Korean-speaking viewers. Both closed captions and subtitles are becoming more popular as video content dominates streaming and social media platforms. Viewers who want to watch a YouTube or TikTok video in silence can easily click on the automatically generated subtitles to view the videos without sound. Whether you're trying to get cooking lessons from your favorite chef or watching your favorite sitcom while your baby sleeps, closed captions and subtitles make video viewing more widely available to everyone. Now That's Interesting Open captioning is when close captions or subtitles cannot be turned on or off by viewers; they are automatic! The captions on Julia Child's 1972 cooking program, "The French Chef," were open captions. Thursday, May 26, 2022, 9AM to 10AM. The Stony Brook SBDC presents: "Managing Your Online Reputation". Online reviews have become extremely important in our digital world. What customers say about you can make or break your business, just ask any business owner who has had to deal with even one poor review. Brian Rauer, Executive Director and General Counsel at the NY Better Business Bureau, will discuss how to maintain good customer relations. Sponsored in part by Capital One. (Adds details, background) By Orhan Coskun ANKARA, May 26 (Reuters) - Turkey is in negotiations with Russia and Ukraine to open a corridor via the Bosphorus for grain exports from Ukraine, a senior Turkish official told Reuters on Thursday. Ukraine's Black Sea ports have been blocked since Russia invaded in February and more than 20 million tonnes of grain are stuck in silos there. Russia and Ukraine account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies and the lack of exports from Ukraine is contributing to a growing global food crisis. "Turkey is negotiating with both Russia and Ukraine for the export of grains from Ukraine," the official said, requesting anonymity because the talks were confidential. "With a corridor to be opened from Turkey, there was a demand for this grain to reach their targeted markets. Negotiations are still ongoing," the person added. President Tayyip Erdogan's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko was quoted as saying on Wednesday that Moscow was ready to provide a corridor for vessels carrying food in return for lifting of some Western sanctions. Turkey neighbours Ukraine and Russia on the Black Sea and has good relations with both, even as it has condemned the invasion. Separately, two other people familiar with the matter also confirmed discussions about Turkey helping the grains be shipped out of Ukraine. One of the people said that despite being a NATO member, Turkey was seen as more "neutral" by Russia than other Western members of the alliance. "Turkey is ready to contribute to a kind of monitoring of these exports from Odesa through the Black Sea because Turkey traditionally is very strong in the Black Sea and they are ready to help," a senior European diplomat said on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity. Turkey already has two frigates, two submarines and a half-dozen patrol and fast-attack ships in the Black Sea and much more could be quickly summoned for such a mission, said Yoruk Isik, Istanbul-based head of the Bosphorus Observer consultancy. Story continues It could hypothetically patrol the food corridor routes and also sweep for mines, which Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of having planted. Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who visited Moscow and Kyiv last month, has been in contact with Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, the United States and the European Union trying to broker what he calls a "package deal" to resume both Ukrainian food exports and Russian food and fertilizer exports. However, there are many hurdles to any deal, including Russian demands for some sanctions to be lifted in return, the drifting mines, and the prohibitive costs of insuring the maritime route, officials and analysts say. (Additional reporting by Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul and Jessica DiNapoli in Davos; writing by Silvia Aloisi Editing by Tomasz Janowski) (Adds detail) TOKYO, May 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. military and Japan's Self Defense Force said on Thursday they flew fighter jets together over the Sea of Japan in a show of strength after North Korea lobbed three missiles into the waters that separate Japan and the Korean peninsula. The exercise was meant to "showcase combined capabilities to deter and counter regional threats", the U.S. military said in a news release. Japan and the United States wanted to show their combined resolve in the wake of North Korea's latest missile launches, two U.S. officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. North Korea on Wednesday spurred fresh tensions in East Asia when it fired three missiles into the Sea of Japan hours after U.S. President Joe Biden left Tokyo following meetings with leaders from Japan, India and Australia. One of the missiles, according to South Korean officials, appeared to be Pyongyang's largest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with an estimated range of about 15,000 kilometers, enough to reach the United States. The flight of eight aircraft from bases in Japan included four American F-16 jets and four Japanese F-15 fighters, according to Japan's Air Self Defense Force. The U.S. military and South Korean forces also conducted combined live-fire tests, including surface-to-surface missile tests, after the latest North Korean provocation. (Reporting by Tim Kelly and Phil Stewart; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Gerry Doyle) Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said the U.S. will rally the global alliance supporting Ukraines defensive war against Russia to confront Chinas global ambitions, calling it a charged moment for the world. Beijings defense of President Putins war to erase Ukraines sovereignty and secure its sphere of influence in Europe should raise alarm bells for all of us who call the Indo-Pacific Region home, Blinken said in a speech at George Washington University. This is a charged moment for the world we cannot rely on Beijing to change its trajectory. So we will shape the strategic environment around Beijing to advance our vision for an open, inclusive international system. The secretarys speech served as a clear articulation of President Bidens strategy to confront China, which the president has described as the greatest challenge facing the U.S. in the 21st century. President Biden believes this decade will be decisive, Blinken said, outlining the strategy as invest, align, compete, with the goal of forcing Beijing to adhere to fair and transparent global rules, led by the U.S. and bolstered by international allies and partners. We must defend and reform the rules-based, international order the system of laws, agreements, principles and institutions that the world came together to build after two world wars, to manage relations between states, to prevent conflict, to uphold the rights of all people, Blinken said. Here are five takeaways from his speech: China lobbying against U.S. legislation Blinken underscored that the first piece of the administrations strategy is to invest in U.S. innovation and industry, calling on Congress to pass legislation that increases funding for research and development in the fields of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing. House and Senate lawmakers are working to merge legislation aimed at increasing U.S. investment domestically to outcompete China globally, called the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA). Story continues Blinken urged Congress to send the legislation to the president for his signature. As President Biden has said, the Chinese Communist Party is lobbying against this legislation, he added. Foundations of the international order under threat The secretary said the second part of the administrations strategy is to align Americas allies and partners to defend the principles of the United Nations Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, such as self determination, sovereignty, the peaceful settlement of disputes. The Peoples Republic of China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do it, he said. The secretary said there is growing convergence about the need to approach relations with Beijing with more realism, to confront its use of economic coercion and call out its repression of human rights domestically and targeting of dissidents abroad. Were building bridges among our Indo-Pacific and European partners, Blinken said. Our diplomacy is based on partnership and respect for each others interests. Climate a critical area of cooperation While Blinken issued harsh criticisms of Chinas behavior on the domestic front and on the global stage, he emphasized maintaining communication with Beijing and said cooperation on combating climate change was necessary. We cant let the disagreements that divide us stop us from moving forward on the priorities that demand that we work together for the good of our people and for the good of the world. That starts with climate, he said. Unless we all do much more, much faster, the financial and human cost will be catastrophic, the secretary added, pointing out that China and the U.S. are the primary and secondary countries, respectively, responsible for global emissions. U.S. does not support Taiwan independence Blinken emphasized that the U.S. does not support Taiwan independence but raised concern about Beijings growing coercion to isolate and militarily threaten the democratically-governed island. We enjoy a strong unofficial relationship with Taiwan, Blinken said, emphasizing U.S. commitment to its long-held policy of strategic ambiguity, which has Washington provide robust self-defense military capabilities to the island and push to increase its global participation while supporting efforts at diplomacy to resolve conflicts between Beijing and Taipei. The secretarys remarks follow intense pushback from the Chinese government on Monday to remarks Biden made in Japan that the U.S. would come to Taiwans defense militarily if Beijing launched an attack. The White House quickly issued statements that the presidents remarks did not constitute a change in American policy. Speaking out against anti-Asian hate Blinken used a portion of his 45-minute remarks to address hate and violence directed towards people of Asian descent in the U.S., which has spiked since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China and the global focus on wide-ranging threats from the Chinese government. Mistreating someone of Chinese descent goes against everything we stand for as a country. Whether a Chinese national visiting or living here, or Chinese-American or any other Asian-American, whos claim to this country is equal to anyone elses, Blinken said. Violent crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders continue to plague the U.S. The group STOP AAPI Hate has documented an estimated 11,000 hate incidents since the pandemic outbreak in March 2020. Racism and hate have no place in a nation built by generations of immigrants to fulfill the promise of opportunity for all, Blinken said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 26, 2022 / Boyar's Intrinsic Value Research, Thursday, May 26, 2022, Press release picture Mr. Peter Kern Chairman of the Board Hemisphere Media Group, Inc. c/o InterMedia Advisors, LLC 228 Park Avenue South, PMB 67521 New York, NY 10003-1502 Dear Peter, Boyar Asset Management has been a longtime shareholder of Hemisphere Media Group, Inc ("HMTV"). We're more than just disappointed at the May 9th announcement that Hemisphere Media will be acquired by controlling shareholder Gato Investments LP for $7.00 per share-we're shocked. Yes, the takeover price was an ~86% premium to HMTV's previous close, but this offer dramatically undervalues the Company: not only is it ~7% below the value of the stock at the beginning of 2022, but it's also nearly 50% below Hemisphere's 52-week high. This wholly inadequate "takeunder" is hardly in the best interests of long-term investors and is fraught with conflicts of interests. To add insult to injury, much of the past year's price decrease appears to have been attributable to some of the Company's own questionable capital allocation and managerial decisions. It is a travesty that the very people in our opinion who are responsible for the share price decline at HMTV are now the ones set to benefit from this laughably low bid. We are far from alone in our concerns. Investment manager Edenbrook Capital, which owns roughly 7.65% of the total company (~14.94% of the publicly traded class A shares), staunchly opposes the deal. In addition to pointing out the discrepancy between the Company's intrinsic value and the takeover valuation, it has highlighted inconsistent assertions from the Company itself as well as potential conflicts of interest, all of which leave us deeply concerned about the fairness of the process thus far. The company generated adjusted EBITDA of $64 million in 2021, excluding Pantaya losses (as discussed later) and political advertising revenue. Importantly, this level of profitability was achieved in a non-election year. Puerto Rico's election cycles run every four years, the next occurring in 2024. During these cycles, its television networks gain a meaningful influx of high-margin political advertising revenues. Assuming no increase in segment EBITDA this year ($64 million) and ascribing a conservative 7x EBITDA multiple (based on the low end of precedent comps in the media and communications arena over the last few years) produces a $448 million valuation for these properties alone. The enterprise value of Gato Investments' proposed transaction is $494 million, including net debt of about $212 million (equity value ~$282 million). Hemisphere owns WAPA, the leading broadcast network in Puerto Rico, as well as several other prominent Spanish-language cable network stations in the U.S. and Latin America. Story continues WAPA is a dominant property whose prime-time ratings, according to management, surpass those of the Big 4 in the U.S. (CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox) combined. Put up for sale on a standalone basis, it could command a significant premium to Gato's purchase price. (Over the many years the Boyar Value Group has been following media companies, we've seen many top-notch properties in the cable/broadcast sector command multiples in the teens-including in recent years.) Pantaya is Hemisphere Media's nascent streaming platform. Hemisphere owned a minority interest position in the business before acquiring the remaining stake in April 2021, in a purchase that valued the business at $165 million. Gato Investments does not plan to hold onto this business. Instead, Pantaya is slated to be concurrently acquired by TelevisaUnivision for radio assets and an undisclosed sum of cash. Why HMTV shareholders do not receive the proceeds from the Pantaya divesture is baffling. Taking together $448 million for WAPA and related assets, $165 million for Pantaya, and $212 million in net debt suggests an enterprise value of at least $825 million-a whopping 67% more than the proposed offer. Leaving net debt out of the equation, we put the equity value of the assets, conservatively, at well upward of $613 million. What's more, the Company has valuable stakes in several other media outlets we don't even factor into our valuation, including a 40% interest in Canal 1, the #3 broadcast television network in Colombia. According to the Company's 2021 10-K, issued March 16, 2022, it was underpenetrated in that market, with the highly scalable business model poised to grow and capture market share. The Company also holds meaningful positions in REMEZCLA (a digital media company focused on English-speaking Hispanics in the U.S.) and Snap Media (produces and distributes original movies and series). We have a hard time believing that insiders truly think they're giving shareholders a fair deal. In 2021, Hemisphere Media was buying back its shares at levels far higher than recent prices or the proposed takeover price, mostly during 1Q (at an average price of $10.37 per share) and 2Q (no average price available, but the stock was never less than $11.28 during that quarter). As recently as late last year, the Company said outright that its shares were undervalued at $11+. Management previously asserted that there was value to be unlocked in Pantaya (although value destruction has ensued instead), alluding on November 5, 2021, to an undrawn revolver and the ability to expand the balance sheet as needed. Yet just 10 days later, the Company announced an unexpected secondary offering of 6 million shares, sparking an immediate 20.5% drawdown in equity value. Aside from an extremely short-lived rebound just one trading session later, HMTV shares have been under pronounced selling pressure ever since. Did the Company need the money for a compelling new growth opportunity? That seems unlikely, especially in hindsight. Was it capitalizing on a healthy run-up in its share price? No-the stock has been largely range-bound over the prior 5 years or so. Were there unstated liquidity concerns? In our opinion liquidity fears among the investment community, along with share-dilution concerns, was largely responsible for the stock's fall over these past few months. Even so, management continued alluding to strong growth potential, calling HMTV shares undervalued. On March 8, 2022, in a press release touting 4Q and full-year 2021 results, management boasted about record-high advertising and retransmission revenue from WAPA, predicting that Puerto Rico's recovering economy would drive strong results this year. Management even went so far as to say, "Our market value has little correlation with our true underlying value," then added on the earnings call that "[o]ur stock price does not in any way reflect the fundamental value and strength of our company." Management had previously canceled the equity offering, stating in no uncertain terms, "We think the stock is incredibly attractively priced. We have no interest in a sales transaction at or anywhere near this price. In fact, we pulled our equity offering when our stock price went down to $8 or $9. We felt that we would rather be a buyer than a seller at that price. And clearly at this current price level, we are absolutely a buyer rather than a seller."By then, HMTV shares had lost about half their value since the start of the year, closing at $5.45. The proposed takeover price dramatically undervalues Hemisphere, raising fears that Company insiders may be attempting to capitalize on the reduced valuation (for which they themselves could partly be blamed) by taking the Company private at a level they know to be well below its intrinsic value. Such a take-private deal might benefit insiders, who could continue participating in the potential synergies and accelerated growth opportunities of the combined entities, but we believe that public investors are getting a raw deal. Any board of directors has a fiduciary obligation to strike a fair deal for minority shareholders. Accordingly, Hemisphere's board should insist on a higher takeover price and conduct a proper sales process with a view to extracting the most value for all shareholders, not just for current members of management. Best regards, Jonathan Boyar Disclaimer This material does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in any state to any person. In addition, the discussions and opinions in this letter and the material contained herein are for general information only and are not intended to provide investment advice. All statements contained in this letter that are not clearly historical in nature or that necessarily depend on future events are "forward-looking statements," which are not guarantees of future performance or results, and the words "will," "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "potential," "could," "opportunity," "estimate," and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. The projected results and statements contained in this letter and the material contained herein that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, speak only as of the date of this letter and involve risks that may cause the actual results to be materially different. Certain information included in this material is based on data obtained from sources considered to be reliable. No representation is made with respect to the accuracy or completeness of such data, and any analyses provided to assist the recipient of this material in evaluating the matters described herein may be based on subjective assessments and assumptions and may use one among alternative methodologies that produce different results. Accordingly, any analyses should also not be viewed as factual and also should not be relied upon as an accurate prediction of future results. All figures are unaudited estimates and subject to revision without notice. Boyar Asset Management disclaims any obligation to update the information herein and reserves the right to change any of its opinions expressed herein at any time as it deems appropriate. CONTACT: Jonathan Boyar 212-995-8300 info@boyarvaluegroup.com SOURCE: Boyar Asset Management View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/702956/Boyar-Asset-Management-Objects-to-Gato-Proposed-Takeover-of-Hemisphere-Media NEW GLASGOW, NS, May 26, 2022 /CNW/ - Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Affordable housing is key to Canada's pandemic recovery, including in New Glasgow. Government of Canada Logo (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Member of Parliament for Central Nova, on behalf of the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion announced close to $2.1 million in federal funding to support the construction of 36 permanent affordable housing units for individuals and families in New Glasgow under the Rapid Housing Initiative. The project is also receiving $ 3 million dollars from the Nova Scotia Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing to be used to provide operating support and to help ensure affordability of the housing units. Under the National Housing Strategy (NHS), RHI provides funding to develop new, permanent affordable housing by covering costs associated with the construction of new rental housing units, as well as the acquisition of land, and the conversion/rehabilitation of existing buildings to affordable housing. Investments made under the RHI are expected to support thousands of construction-related jobs for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Quotes: "Our Government wants to ensure that everyone in Canada has a safe and affordable place to call home. The Rapid Housing Initiative will go a long way to supporting those who need it most by quickly providing 36 new affordable housing units for individuals and families who need it most. This is the National Housing Strategy at work. The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Today's announcement is a strategic investment that will help address one of the core issues facing our community affordable housing. I'm thrilled to announce a federal investment of over $2 million dollars right here in Pictou County that will see 36 families gain access to safe, affordable housing through our government's National Housing Strategy. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Member of Parliament for Central Nova Story continues "We know addressing the housing crisis requires community partners and all levels of government to come together. It's initiatives like Coady's Place that make a real difference in our community and provide a sense of security. We continue to do whatever we can to make sure Nova Scotians have a place to call home." -The Honourable Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia "Our Council and Staff understand the importance of safe, secure, affordable housing options for our citizens. The Nova Scotia Cooperative Council is a trusted organization and the Town of New Glasgow is proud to make an annual investment of a taxation exemption for the next twenty years so the NS Cooperative Council can continue their good work in creating housing solutions in our community." - Mayor Nancy Dicks on behalf of the Town of New Glasgow "We are thrilled to have brought Coady's Place to life in New Glasgow. Since acquiring the facility in February, we have expanded the facility and renovated every unit. We will have "heads on pillows" in all 36 units by July 1st. What a wonderful way to celebrate Canada Day! While the project is uplifting for the team and the community, it is also heart wrenching in that there is so much need. We have 82 applications for 36 units. Demand far exceeds our supply, which is why we are committed to a phase two, which will see an additional 20 duplex style, two- and three-bedroom homes developed on the land owned by Coady's Place". Dianne Kelderman, President and CEO, Nova Scotia Cooperative Council Quick facts: The RHI is a $2.5 billion program to help address urgent housing needs of vulnerable Canadians through the rapid construction of over 10,000 units of affordable housing. The RHI has received significant interest from Indigenous groups, which has resulted in 41% of all units created under the program being targeted to Indigenous peoples. Units are intended to be constructed within 12 months of when funding is provided to program applicants (with some exceptions), with units in the North and in special access communities intended to be constructed within 18 months. Close to 33 per cent of this new funding will go toward women-focused housing projects. The units will be built within 12 months of when funding is provided to program applicants. The RHI takes a human rights-based approach to housing, serving people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and other vulnerable people under the NHS, including women and children fleeing domestic violence, seniors, young adults, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, people experiencing mental health and addiction issues, veterans, LGBTQ2 individuals, racialized and Black Canadians, and recent immigrants or refugees. Through Budget 2022, we are investing $1.5 billion to further extend our $2.5 billion Rapid Housing Initiative and build an additional 6,000 deeply affordable housing units. The Government of Canada's National Housing Strategy is an ambitious, 10-year plan that will invest over $72 billion to give more Canadians a place to call home. Associated links: As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford, and that meets their needs. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook. SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2022/26/c0616.html 57% of CFOs report their organisation has been hit by a ransomware attack, but only 12% are actively involved in determining the risk and protecting their organisation from cyber threats. An average of 3 million was paid per attack to ransomware groups, four times the sum expected by those who have not been hit. 56% of CFOs say their organisation paid a ransom for the return of data. One-third admit that the business didn't receive their data in return. 69% of CFOs think that the board doesn't take cyber and associated risks seriously enough. LONDON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Deep Instinct , the first company to apply end-to-end deep learning to cybersecurity, today revealed new research highlighting the role executive leadership teams play in their organisations' cyber defenses. The independent survey was conducted by Sapio Research and engaged over 200 CEOs, senior financial, and IT security decision-makers working at mid to large enterprises in the UK. The findings laid bare the disconnect in how senior management teams collaborate and determine the risks and impact on their operations when hit by a cyber-attack. CFOs are struggling to play their part in the risk assessment of cyber-attacks on the financial health of their organisations with only 12% of CFOs actively involved in the process. This exclusion has caused confidence to plummet amongst financial leaders, with only 14% of CFOs stating that their business is well-prepared and could withstand a cyber-attack. This implies a significant perception disconnect compared with the 63% of CEOs who feel they are well-prepared. Additionally, there is a large gap between CFO's estimates of ransomware demands and the reality of ransomware payments. Despite respondents saying they would only pay, on average, a ransom of around 760,000, the reality is that those survey respondents that did pay ransoms paid more than 3 million, four times higher than predicted. Moreover, for those that paid ransom demands, only 32% were able to recover their data showing that positive outcomes are far from certain even when cooperating with bad actors. Story continues The research also revealed that studious financial planning is essential to gain a clear picture of the monetary risks that come from cyber-attacks. Only 38% of respondents cited that they are confident in placing a monetary value on the data within their organisation, as well as calculating the potential impact of its loss. Worse, 48% gave answers that reveal a lack of accurate assessments, or no assessments at all. According to Heather Bellini, Chief Financial Officer at Deep Instinct, "Cyber criminals and organisations usually have a common goal financial reward and each day a new ransomware attack hits the headlines one of the first questions amongst executives is, 'how much is it going to cost to get back the data?' It is vital for organisations to take the task of quantifying the financial risk of cyber-attacks seriously and ensure it is accurate, otherwise they can fall into the trap of having a false sense of security and being blase when it comes to the true cost." She continues, "This is why it is so important that all senior and strategic roles within the business have an active and equal responsibility in ensuring their business is resilient and well prepared. We talk in the industry about breaking down siloes and cybersecurity no longer being the sole remit of the IT team, but this isn't translating into meaningful action. Until this changes, organisations will continue to be counting the costs of breaches and lining the pockets of cyber criminals." It should come as no surprise that ransomware attacks have a significant impact on business continuity. Nearly two-thirds (61%) of all respondents admitted their business has been hit by a ransomware attack, with 56% paying the ransom. In 29% of the cases where a ransom was paid, the CEO made the decision while the CFO made the decision in just 14% of situations. Says Guy Caspi, CEO of Deep Instinct, "While it may be shocking to see how prevalent and successful ransomware attacks are, I believe we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. With nearly two-thirds of organisations admitting to being hit by ransomware, you can't help but wonder how many have stayed under the radar, especially when it continues to be so profitable for attackers." "From a corporate governance perspective, much more needs to be done to ensure that all stakeholders are truly cognizant of not only the risks to their business, but also in the full potential of financial and other business impacts that come from being successfully attacked. It is not enough to assume that your stack of security solutions checks a box and your responsibility is done. Having confidence in your organisations' ability to block attacks should come from knowing that malicious malware is stopped before it can encrypt, protecting your environment, your customers, your brand, and your bottom line." To get your copy of Dangerous Disconnects: The Pitfalls of CFO and CISO Cyber Risk Misalignment, please click here. Research Methodology The quantitative survey was conducted among 201 senior financial and senior IT security decision makers in companies with more than 250 employees in the UK. Results are accurate to 6.9% at 95% confidence limits assuming a result of 50%. The interviews were conducted online by Sapio Research in April and May, 2022 using an email invitation and an online survey. The qualitative research was conducted through eight in-depth interviews (IDIs) with CFOs, CROs, and senior risk and financial roles. The interviews lasted up to 45 minutes. About Deep Instinct Deep instinct takes a prevention-first approach to stopping ransomware and other malware using the world's first and only purpose-built, deep learning cybersecurity framework. We predict and prevent known, unknown, and zero-day threats in <20 milliseconds, 750X faster than the fastest ransomware can encrypt. Deep Instinct has >99% zero-day accuracy and promises a <0.1% false positive rate. The Deep Instinct Prevention Platform is an essential addition to every security stackproviding complete, multi-layered protection against threats across hybrid environments. For more, visit www.deepinstinct.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826994/Deep_Instinct_Logo.jpg AP Photo The Biden administration is proposing to protect a salmon fishery, dealing a blow to a proposed mine, while Massachusettss lawsuit against ExxonMobil has been allowed to move forward. This is Overnight Energy & Environment, your source for the latest news focused on energy, the environment and beyond. For The Hill, were Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk. Someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. EPA proposes protections for Alaska salmon fishery The Biden administration is moving toward protections for a major sockeye salmon fishery in Alaska at the expense of a proposed gold and copper mine. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a decision that would protect the Bristol Bay watershed, dealing yet another blow to the imperiled Pebble Mine project. A long time coming: The issue has been ongoing for years and has pitted environmentalists, tribes and fishing interests against mining interests. The EPA under former President Trump had allowed the mine to move forward, but the Army Corps of Engineers denied a permit for the project after prominent conservatives including Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump Jr. rallied against the move. The Biden administration had previously indicated that it was likely to protect the watershed. In its latest decision on Wednesday, the administration said that the mines construction and operation would result in waste discharges into waters, which would result in a loss of fish habitat. The Bristol Bay watershed is a shining example of how our nations waters are essential to healthy communities, vibrant ecosystems, and a thriving economy, EPA administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. EPA is committed to following the science, the law, and a transparent public process to determine what is needed to ensure that this irreplaceable and invaluable resource is protected for current and future generations, he added. Story continues Not everybodys happy: The mines developer, the Pebble Partnership, condemned the EPAs proposal as political. As we are still actively working through the established permitting process via our appeal of the Army Corps of Engineers permit denial, we oppose any action that is outside of that process. This preemptive effort is clearly a political conclusion to attempt to block our ability to work through that established process, Pebble Partnership CEO John Shively said in a statement. Shively also argued that the decision runs counter to the administrations clean energy goals. The Pebble Project remains an important domestic source for the minerals necessary for the Biden Administration to reach its green energy goals and if it blocks Pebble it will have to seek minerals to meet its goals from foreign sources who simply do not have the same environmental standards as we do, he said. Read more about the decision here. Mass. high court allows Exxon lawsuit to proceed Massachusettss highest court on Tuesday declined to strike down Attorney General Maura Healeys (D) lawsuit accusing ExxonMobil of knowingly misleading shareholders and the public about the relationship between its products and climate change. The energy giant had argued the lawsuit ran afoul of Massachusettss anti-strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) law. However, the panel ruled that the state law did not apply to civil actions by the attorney generals office. Quote the ruling: Construing the anti-SLAPP statute to apply to the Attorney General would place significant roadblocks to the enforcement of the Commonwealths laws, the ruling says. Such an interpretation would have a substantial effect on the investigation and enforcement of illegal activity, which is a critical function of the government, Justice Scott Kafker wrote. SLAPP statutes are generally intended to protect people and entities from nuisance lawsuits from private citizens, rather than government agencies, he added. Once again, Exxons attacks on my office and our case have been rejected by the courts. Todays ruling is a resounding victory in our work to stop Exxon from lying to investors and consumers in our state. Exxons repeated attempts to stonewall our lawsuit have been baseless, and this effort was no different, Healey said in a statement. We look forward to proceeding with our case and having our day in court to show how Exxon is breaking the law and to put an end to the deception once and for all. An Exxon spokesperson told The Hill the company is reviewing the decision and evaluating next steps. Read more about the ruling here. Oil, gas companies join pledge for cyber resilience More than a dozen global companies in the oil and gas industry are uniting for the first time to promote cyber resilience amid growing cyber threats. The energy companies announced their commitment on Wednesday at the annual global conference of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. The pledge aims to encourage global firms to collaborate and take collective steps to strengthen cyber resilience across the industry. The initiative was led by the WEFs cyber resilience in oil and gas initiative, which seeks to incentivize the oil and gas industry to adopt cyber resilience practices. The Cyber Resilience Pledge is a landmark step as it signals recognition of the complexities of building a cyber-resilient industry ecosystem and a commitment towards collective action to achieve it, said Alexander Klimburg, head of cybersecurity at the WEF. The energy corporations participating in the pledge include Galp, Petronas, Occidental Petroleum and Aker BP. Organizers behind the pledge said the initiative is in response to major cyber breaches that occurred in the past two years, highlighting the vulnerabilities of critical sectors. In 2020, Russian state-sponsored hackers exploited the vulnerabilities in software updates from tech company SolarWinds. The hackers were then able to penetrate the networks of nine federal agencies and at least 100 private sector organizations for nearly a year. The following year, Colonial Pipeline was hit by a destructive ransomware attack, forcing it to shut down for nearly a week. The incident caused gas shortages in several states as fuel prices spiked. Read more from The Hills Ines Kagubare. ON TAP TOMORROW The House Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a hearing on defense environmental restoration WHAT WERE READING California, Long Leery of Nuclear Power, Joins Bid to Save it (Bloomberg) EPA denies air pollution permit for south Alabama factory (AL.com) Shell consultant quits and accuses firm of extreme harms (BBC) U.S. releases environmental study about new Idaho test reactor (KTVB) And finally, something off-beat but on beat: Thats one way to gift? Thats it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hills Energy & Environment page for the latest news and coverage. Well see you tomorrow. VIEW FULL VERSION HERE For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms trained on real astronomical observations now outperform astronomers in sifting through massive amounts of data. AI helps them to find new exploding stars, identify new types of galaxies and detect the mergers of massive stars, accelerating the rate of new discovery in the world's oldest science. But AI, also called machine learning, can reveal something deeper, University of California, Berkeley, astronomers found: unsuspected connections hidden in the complex mathematics arising from general relativity -- in particular, how that theory is applied to finding new planets around other stars. In a paper appearing this week in the journal Nature Astronomy, the researchers describe how an AI algorithm developed to more quickly detect exoplanets when such planetary systems pass in front of a background star and briefly brighten it -- a process called gravitational microlensing -- revealed that the decades-old theories now used to explain these observations are woefully incomplete. In 1936, Albert Einstein himself used his new theory of general relativity to show how the light from a distant star can be bent by the gravity of a foreground star, not only brightening it as seen from Earth, but often splitting it into several points of light or distorting it into a ring, now called an Einstein ring. This is similar to the way a hand lens can focus and intensify light from the sun. But when the foreground object is a star with a planet, the brightening over time -- the light curve -- is more complicated. What's more, there are often multiple planetary orbits that can explain a given light curve equally well -- so called degeneracies. That's where humans simplified the math and missed the bigger picture. The AI algorithm, however, pointed to a mathematical way to unify the two major kinds of degeneracy in interpreting what telescopes detect during microlensing, showing that the two "theories" are really special cases of a broader theory that, the researchers admit, is likely still incomplete. "A machine learning inference algorithm we previously developed led us to discover something new and fundamental about the equations that govern the general relativistic effect of light- bending by two massive bodies," Joshua Bloom wrote in a blog post last year when he uploaded the paper to a preprint server, arXiv. Bloom is a UC Berkeley professor of astronomy and chair of the department. He compared the discovery by UC Berkeley graduate student Keming Zhang to connections that Google's AI team, DeepMind, recently made between two different areas of mathematics. Taken together, these examples show that AI systems can reveal fundamental associations that humans miss. "I argue that they constitute one of the first, if not the first time that AI has been used to directly yield new theoretical insight in math and astronomy," Bloom said. "Just as Steve Jobs suggested computers could be the bicycles of the mind, we've been seeking an AI framework to serve as an intellectual rocket ship for scientists." "This is kind of a milestone in AI and machine learning," emphasized co-author Scott Gaudi, a professor of astronomy at The Ohio State University and one of the pioneers of using gravitational microlensing to discover exoplanets. "Keming's machine learning algorithm uncovered this degeneracy that had been missed by experts in the field toiling with data for decades. This is suggestive of how research is going to go in the future when it is aided by machine learning, which is really exciting." Discovering exoplanets with microlensing More than 5,000 exoplanets, or extrasolar planets, have been discovered around stars in the Milky Way, though few have actually been seen through a telescope -- they are too dim. Most have been detected because they create a Doppler wobble in the motions of their host stars or because they slightly dim the light from the host star when they cross in front of it -- transits that were the focus of NASA's Kepler mission. Little more than 100 have been discovered by a third technique, microlensing. One of the main goals of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, scheduled to launch by 2027, is to discover thousands more exoplanets via microlensing. The technique has an advantage over the Doppler and transit techniques in that it can detect lower-mass planets, including those the size of Earth, that are far from their stars, at a distance equivalent to that of Jupiter or Saturn in our solar system. Bloom, Zhang and their colleagues set out two years ago to develop an AI algorithm to analyze microlensing data faster to determine the stellar and planetary masses of these planetary systems and the distances the planets are orbiting from their stars. Such an algorithm would speed analysis of the likely hundreds of thousands of events the Roman telescope will detect in order to find the 1% or fewer that are caused by exoplanetary systems. One problem astronomers encounter, however, is that the observed signal can be ambiguous. When a lone foreground star passes in front of a background star, the brightness of the background stars rises smoothly to a peak and then drops symmetrically to its original brightness. It's easy to understand mathematically and observationally. But if the foreground star has a planet, the planet creates a separate brightness peak within the peak caused by the star. When trying to reconstruct the orbital configuration of the exoplanet that produced the signal, general relativity often allows two or more so-called degenerate solutions, all of which can explain the observations. To date, astronomers have generally dealt with these degeneracies in simplistic and artificially distinct ways, Gaudi said. If the distant starlight passes close to the star, the observations could be interpreted either as a wide or a close orbit for the planet -- an ambiguity astronomers can often resolve with other data. A second type of degeneracy occurs when the background starlight passes close to the planet. In this case, however, the two different solutions for the planetary orbit are generally only slightly different. According to Gaudi, these two simplifications of two-body gravitational microlensing are usually sufficient to determine the true masses and orbital distances. In fact, in a paper published last year, Zhang, Bloom, Gaudi and two other UC Berkeley co-authors, astronomy professor Jessica Lu and graduate student Casey Lam, described a new AI algorithm that does not rely on knowledge of these interpretations at all. The algorithm greatly accelerates analysis of microlensing observations, providing results in milliseconds, rather than days, and drastically reducing the computer crunching. Zhang then tested the new AI algorithm on microlensing light curves from hundreds of possible orbital configurations of star and exoplanet and noticed something unusual: There were other ambiguities that the two interpretations did not account for. He concluded that the commonly used interpretations of microlensing were, in fact, just special cases of a broader theory that explains the full variety of ambiguities in microlensing events. "The two previous theories of degeneracy deal with cases where the background star appears to pass close to the foreground star or the foreground planet," Zhang said. "The AI algorithm showed us hundreds of examples from not only these two cases, but also situations where the star doesn't pass close to either the star or planet and cannot be explained by either previous theory. That was key to us proposing the new unifying theory." Gaudi was skeptical, at first, but came around after Zhang produced many examples where the previous two theories did not fit observations and the new theory did. Zhang actually looked at the data from two dozen previous papers that reported the discovery of exoplanets through microlensing and found that, in all cases, the new theory fit the data better than the previous theories. "People were seeing these microlensing events, which actually were exhibiting this new degeneracy but just didn't realize it," Gaudi said. "It was really just the machine learning looking at thousands of events where it became impossible to miss." Zhang and Gaudi have submitted a new paper that rigorously describes the new mathematics based on general relativity and explores the theory in microlensing situations where more than one exoplanet orbits a star. The new theory technically makes interpretation of microlensing observations more ambiguous, since there are more degenerate solutions to describe the observations. But the theory also demonstrates clearly that observing the same microlensing event from two perspectives -- from Earth and from the orbit of the Roman Space Telescope, for example -- will make it easier to settle on the correct orbits and masses. That is what astronomers currently plan to do, Gaudi said. "The AI suggested a way to look at the lens equation in a new light and uncover something really deep about the mathematics of it," said Bloom. "AI is sort of emerging as not just this kind of blunt tool that's in our toolbox, but as something that's actually quite clever. Alongside an expert like Keming, the two were able to do something pretty fundamental." A ubiquitous unifying degeneracy in two-body microlensing systems Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Firm's 401(k) Solutions Group honored by National Association of Plan Advisors CAMAS, Wa., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions has been named to the National Association of Plan Advisors' (NAPA) prestigious "Top Defined Contribution (DC) Advisor Multi-Office Firms" list for 2021. The annual list highlights the nation's top 30 retirement plan adviser firms with at least $1 billion in defined contribution (DC) assets under advisement. This marks the fourth consecutive year NAPA recognized Fisher Investments. Fisher Investments logo (PRNewsfoto/Fisher Investments) An affiliate of the American Retirement Association, NAPA is an advocacy group exclusively focused on retirement plan advisers. NAPA selects firms for their "Top DC Advisor Multi-Office Firms" list based on information about their practices, including advised DC assets. "We're proud to be recognized by NAPA as one of the country's leading retirement plan advisers," said Nathan Fisher, Senior Executive Vice President of Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions. "This recognition reflects our dedication to our clients and commitment to helping their employees plan a more financially secure retirement." Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions was also named to NAPA's "Top Defined Contribution Advisors Firms" listfocused on single-office firmsfrom 2017-2019. Earlier this year, Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions received the "Fiduciary Excellence Certification" (CEFEX) from the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence. About Fisher Investments Fisher Investments is an independent, fee-only investment adviser. As of 3/31/2022, Fisher Investments and its subsidiaries manage over $197 billion in assets globallyover $156 billion for private investors, $39 billion for institutional investors and $2 billion for US small to mid-sized business retirement plans. Fisher Investments maintains four principal business groups: US Private Client, Institutional, Private Client International and 401(k) Solutions, which serve a global client base of diverse investors. Founder and Executive Chairman Ken Fisher wrote the Forbes "Portfolio Strategy" column from 1984 through 2016, making him the longest continuously running columnist in the magazine's history. In recent years, Ken's columns have run consistently in major media outlets across almost every Western European country as well as material Asian countries, spanning more countries and more volume than any other columnist of any type in history. Ken has also authored 11 books, including four New York Times bestsellers on finance and investing. For more information on Fisher Investments, please visit www.fisherinvestments.com. Story continues About Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions is dedicated to providing superior retirement plan services to small and mid-sized businesses and their employees. Fisher's unique service offering is built on 40+ years of successful wealth management experience and includes our flexible investing platform with institutional class funds. Our clients experience the benefit of ongoing support from a dedicated Retirement Counselor whose focus is making the management of a company retirement plan easier, while helping employees plan for a dignified retirement. For more information on Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions, please visit http://www.fisher401k.com/ . Media Contacts Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fisher-investments-recognized-as-a-top-defined-contribution-adviser-301556081.html SOURCE Fisher Investments Artist Rendering of Silver City Energy Storage Centre Hydrostor's Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage (A-CAES) solution provides equivalent reliability, scale, duration, and operating life as pumped hydro storage, but with greater siting flexibility and utilizing up to 10x less water and 20x less land. Graphic - Toronto, Canada, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hydrostor Australia Holding Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Hydrostor Inc. (Hydrostor), a leading long-duration energy storage solution provider, today announced that TransGrid, New South Wales largest transmission operator, published its Project Assessment Conclusions Report (PACR) that identifies the 200MW/1,500MWh Silver City Energy Storage Centre (Silver City) as the preferred option to provide back-up power supply for the city of Broken Hill. Silver City is being developed in partnership with Australian developer Energy Estate, using Hydrostors Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage (A-CAES) solution. A-CAES provides equivalent reliability, scale, duration, and operating life as pumped hydro storage, but with greater siting flexibility and utilizing up to 10x less water and 20x less land. Transgrids PACR was based on an assessment of multiple proposed energy storage solutions which concluded that Silver City offered the highest net benefit and reliable clean energy for consumers, with an ability to store up to 200 MW of generation to meet peak demand. Once constructed, Silver City will be one of the worlds largest renewable mini-grids, available to support the National Electricity Market with dispatchable energy services when the grid requires it, as well as unlock renewable energy in the region that is currently being constrained by network capacity limitations. Transgrids Executive General Manager of Networks, Marie Jordan, said: The preferred long-term solution put forward by Canadian firm Hydrostor is in the long-term interests of electricity customers. As we continue the transition to renewable energy, we must prioritise clean energy solutions, which support the nations goal of decarbonization and its leadership in the renewable technology sector. Curtis VanWalleghem, Chief Executive Officer of Hydrostor, said: Transgrid understands the value offered by our A-CAES solution, and we are very pleased to have been selected as the preferred alternative over competing proposals. New South Wales is a global leader with its clean energy policy and net zero ambitions and we are looking forward to commencing our first A-CAES project in Australia. Story continues Tom Kennedy, Mayor of Broken Hill, said: This project has the potential to provide immense benefit to Broken Hills economy and grid reliability, and aligns with Councils own strategic direction of harnessing renewable energy and storage technology. Given the flexible siting capability of A-CAES, and its ability to provide highly cost-effective long duration energy storage, Hydrostor continues to evaluate additional opportunities to support the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, and to facilitate the development of Renewable Energy Zones throughout Australia by providing emission-free, reliable, and long-life energy security using its patented A-CAES solution. Follow us on LinkedIn and visit the Silver City website to learn more. Attachments CONTACT: Will Bartlett Hydrostor Inc. 4167286960 william.bartlett@hydrostor.ca Julia Roberts; George Clooney Li Yang/China News Service via Getty Images; David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage Julia Roberts kept it lighthearted while talking about her upcoming film with longtime collaborator George Clooney. While in conversation with Variety at the Cannes Film Festival in France, the actress, 54, was asked about the forthcoming Ticket to Paradise, in theaters this October, in which she and Clooney, 61, play a formerly married couple. "Christ. I knew this would come up. Watch, the real acting happens now. Ready?" Roberts told the outlet, before, as Variety noted, she put on a "big smile" and added: "George, isn't he great!?" Noting that the project is "a romantic comedy" where Clooney plays her ex-husband, Roberts then told the publication, "I think it's so funny and George is so funny and George and I together, it's probably going to be terrible because there's too much potential for it to be great, it'll just implode on it itself." "I think that should be the commercial for the movie: 'It's probably going to be terrible,' " continued Roberts, before playfully teasing, "I'm so glad my publicist is on a plane right now." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Julia Roberts and George Clooney Mike Marsland/WireImage RELATED: Julia Roberts and George Clooney Spotted Filming New Rom-Com Ticket to Paradise in Australia Ticket to Paradise stars Roberts and Clooney as exes that work together and travel to Bali to stop their daughter played by Kaitlyn Dever from getting married. The film additionally stars Billie Lourd, as well as Lucas Bravo. The project is directed by Ol Parker, who also serves as a writer. Want to get the biggest stories from PEOPLE every weekday? Subscribe to our new podcast, PEOPLE Every Day, to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday. The film marks the fifth collaboration between Roberts and Clooney. The duo previously worked together on the films Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Ocean's Twelve, Ocean's Eleven and Money Monster. Ticket To Paradise is scheduled to hit theaters in October 2022. Microsoft's technical fellow Alex Kipman reveals "HoloLens 2" during a presentation at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) on the eve of the world's biggest mobile fair in Barcelona on February 24, 2019. GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella promised to end the company's tolerance for "talented jerks." But dozens of insiders say misconduct remains rampant and "golden boys" have enjoyed impunity. One prominent exec is alleged to have behaved inappropriately toward women, including once watching "VR porn" in the office. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has promised to end the company's tolerance for "talented jerks," but dozens of current and former employees told Insider executive misconduct remains rampant and the company retains a nearly unlimited tolerance for bad behavior by its top rainmakers and developers. One such "golden boy," sources said, is Alex Kipman, the prominent Microsoft executive who oversees a team that's central to Nadella's plan to define the next wave of computing. Current and former employees allege Kipman has repeatedly gotten away with inappropriate behavior toward women employees, including unwanted touching. In one instance, Kipman is alleged to have watched a lewd VR video in the office in front of employees, according to a person who was present. The video featured women in skimpy clothing frolicking on a bed and engaging in an overtly sexualized pillow fight. An employee who was present, speaking with Insider later, described the scene as "VR porn." Sources who spoke to Insider suggested the incident involving Kipman is part of a widespread pattern of executive misconduct including verbal abuse and sexual harassment that continues to persist at Microsoft. Microsoft declined to confirm or deny any of the specific allegations, but said it investigates every reported claim and takes clear action when a claim is substantiated. Kipman did not respond to a request for comment from Insider. Read the full Insider story here. Are you a Microsoft employee or do you have insight to share? Contact reporter Ashley Stewart via the encrypted messaging app Signal (+1-425-344-8242) or email (astewart@insider.com). Read the original article on Business Insider Nippon Steel sees seamless pipe business back in profit thanks to increased gas drilling The logos of Nippon Steel Corp. are didplayed at the company headquarters in Tokyo By Yuka Obayashi and Ritsuko Shimizu TOKYO (Reuters) - Nippon Steel Corp, the world's No.5 steelmaker, expects its seamless pipe business will return to a profit this year from a loss last year as gas drilling activity is on the rise to meet higher demand for non-Russian fuel. "We are getting an increasing number of inquiries for seamless pipes as demand for non-Russian gas is growing," Takahiro Mori, executive vice president, told Reuters on Wednesday, citing the Middle East as an example of where demand is coming from. "Our seamless pipe business will definitely turn to black ink this financial year as the weak yen also helps," he said. Japan's leading steelmaker is among the world's top makers of high-end seamless pipes used for drilling oil and gas. The once highly-profitable business had been hit in recent years both by a slowdown in oil and gas exploration due governments' ongoing campaigns to switch away from fossil fuels and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the recent surge in demand and prices for gas, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has spurred investment in production. Nippon could also find increased sales opportunities as a result of Russia and Ukraine being unable to export as much pig iron and semi-finished steel products, Mori said, before adding a cautionary note. "Even if there are positive aspects in supply, the negative aspects in demand and raw materials prices are far outweighing them," he said. Nippon Steel has reported a net profit of 637 billion yen ($5 billion) for the year ended March 31, the highest since its acquisition of Sumitomo Metal Industries in 2012. The strong performance stemmed from demand improving after a slump caused by the pandemic, and from Nippon Steel's ability to pass on soaring materials costs to key customers such as automakers. Nippon Steel did not provide a forecast for this year, but Mori said it aims to generate at least 600 billion yen in business profit without one-off factors, against 690 billion yen a year earlier, while also seeking to raise product prices by 30,000-40,000 yen ($236-$315) a tonne to cushion soaring costs. Story continues The biggest risk for Nippon Steel, Mori said, would be if raw material prices kept rising while the steel market stagnated. However, he expected the steel market to improve, and noted that Chinese steel mills were unprofitable at current prices for steel. "Global steel demand in 2022 will likely remain flat from last year, but we are not pessimistic as we see growth prospects in our main battlegrounds like India and the United States," Mori said. ($1 = 126.9000 yen) (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) MONACO, May 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oceanco is extending its collaboration to CasperLabs, Dgallery and Megalodon to release its upcoming Superyacht NFTs collection on the Ethereum Blockchain and Casper Blockchain. SuperyachtNFTs Oceanco announced today that it will be launching part of its Superyacht NFTs collection on the Casper Blockchain, to be sold via Dgallery and superyachtnfts.com. The official signing ceremony took place during the Blockchain Hub Davos 2022 event, where Paris Baloumis, Group Marketing Director of Oceanco, was joined by signatories from CasperLabs, Dgallery, Megalodon and Bozca Limitless Design. A world-class builder of large custom superyachts, Oceanco is renowned for its ground-breaking vessels that set industry standards. Reinforcing its reputation as an industry pioneer, Oceanco is also the first superyacht builder to launch into the digital world with a series of NFTs. Designed by Timur Bozca of Bozca Limitless Design, the collection of Superyacht NFTs blends real design and top names in yachting with utilities for NFT holders. The collection has been created with the philosophy that yachting is about fun and experiences. To further boost the experiential side of its utilities, Superyacht NFTs has selected travel and yachting expert Pelorus as one of its key utility partners. "It has always been important to Oceanco that we push the boundaries of yachting in a positive direction. Which is why launching into a new digital realm with NFTs felt like a natural progression, and we are happy to be working with such excellent trusted partners on this journey," commented Oceanco Chairman Dr. Barwani. Together with CasperLabs, Dgallery, Megalodon and Bozca Limitless Design - Oceanco is offering a limited-edition collection on the Casper Blockchain, allowing Superyacht NFTs holders minting on Casper to be part of their own Superyacht NFTs while giving them access to virtual and real-life experiences (via e.g. airdrops). Story continues "With our Superyacht NFTs collection, it has always been a priority to offer utilities that benefit holders of the NFTs. We have an inclusive outlook and are granting our community from around the world access to unique experiences, such as taking part in the design of your very own digital yacht NFT on the Casper Blockchain, which is a world first," added Oceanco CEO Marcel Onkenhout. "Casper provides the most secure, highly reliable and public infrastructure for minting, selling and trading NFTs," said Cliff Sarkin, COO at CasperLabs. "Oceanco's innovative approach with its NFT collection is a strong example of how companies are unlocking new value with blockchain technology." No Offer, Solicitation, Investment Advice or Recommendations This release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy, or a recommendation for any security, nor does it constitute an offer to provide investment advisory or other services by Dgallery or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors or employees. No reference to any specific security constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold that security or any other security. Nothing in this release shall be considered a solicitation or offer to buy or sell any security, future, option or other financial instrument or to offer or provide any investment advice or service to any person in any jurisdiction. Nothing contained in this release constitutes investment advice or offers any opinion with respect to the suitability of any security, and the views expressed in this release should not be taken as advice to buy, sell or hold any security. In preparing the information contained in this release, we have not taken into account the investment needs, objectives, and financial circumstances of any particular investor. This information has no regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation, and particular needs of any specific recipient of this information and investments discussed may not be suitable for all investors. Any views expressed in this release by us were prepared based upon the information available to us at the time such views were written. Changed or additional information could cause such views to change. All information is subject to possible corrections. Information may quickly become unreliable for various reasons, including changes in market conditions or economic circumstances. Dgallery is not a registered broker-dealer, funding portal, underwriter, investment bank, investment adviser or investment manager, and is not providing brokerage, investment banking or underwriting services, recommendations or investment advice to any person, and does not provide any brokerage services. Dgallery takes no part in the negotiation or execution of secondary market transactions for the purchase or sale of securities and, at no time, has possession of investor funds or securities in connection with such transactions. About Oceanco Oceanco is a world-class builder of custom superyachts up to 160m, with construction premises in The Netherlands and a Sales and Design office in Monaco. The company is renowned for its ground-breaking vessels. Amongst the notable yachts built by Oceanco include Black Pearl, DreAMBoat, Bravo Eugenia, DAR, Kaos (ex-Jubilee), Alfa Nero, Barbara and AQuiJo. For more information, visit www.builtbyoceanco.com About Bozca Limitless Design Bozca Limitless Design is an award-winning transportation design company. The studio is focused towards creating new trends in architecture, yacht, aviation and automotive design. The vision is to create solutions through design by considering human factors, technology and aesthetics. The company believes in creating a bespoke product for tomorrow, but also for the day after. For more information, visit www.timurbozca.com About Pelorus Pelorus is the ultimate experiential travel and yachting company. It designs tailor-made travel, yacht charters and experiences in extraordinary places across the globe that seek to transform our perspective. The company endeavours to meet clients' wildest aspirations using its global network of contacts, exclusive access, innovative team and extensive research. In a time when genuine escape is hard to find, Pelorus takes a new approach to the travel and yachting sectors, delivering boundary-pushing ideas for the new era of discovery. For more information, visit www.pelorusx.com About Dgallery Dgallery falls under the Dgallery brand and is a digital NFT shop offering technical capabilities to launch NFTs through its platform. Casper Blockchain offers Dgallery a trusted blockchain for enterprise grade requirements and upgradeable infrastructure that powers Dgallery's innovation. Dgallery will list and mint NFTs on the Casper Blockchain, integrate wallets and create experiences that are a marketeer's dream. For more information, visit: https://dgallery.io/ About CasperLabs CasperLabs, a leading blockchain company for the enterprise market, is re-imagining blockchain for enterprise with a futureproof solution. The company also provides support for organizations building on the Casper Blockhain. Guided by open-source principles, CasperLabs is committed to supporting the next wave of blockchain adoption among businesses and providing developers with a reliable and secure framework to build private, public and hybrid blockchain applications. Its team possesses deep enterprise technology experience, hailing from organizations including Google, Adobe, AWS, Dropbox and Microsoft. To learn more, visit https://casperlabs.io/ About Megalodon Megalodon is a boutique management consultancy firm. The firm is specialized in consultancy services focusing on fintech, including payment systems, digital assets, NFTs, (digital) securities. For more information, visit: https://megalodon.ae/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1826187/SuperyachtNFTs__1.jpg Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oceanco-collaborating-with-casperlabs-and-dgallery-to-launch-its-superyacht-nfts-collection-301555464.html SOURCE Oceanco Brainy Insights Pvt. Ltd. Increasing government initiatives and investments in the medical sector in the developing economies will provide a huge market to the growing ocular implants market. Newark, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the report published by The Brainy Insights, the global ocular implants market is expected to grow from USD 7.9 billion in 2021 to USD 12.9 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period 2022-2030. Eye disorders can be corrected with non-surgical interventions in many instances. However at times to treat a condition, surgical intervention becomes necessary. When any eye disorder such as glaucoma, incorrect refractive errors, corneal opacities, trachoma, age-related macular degeneration, etc are treated surgically, the use of ocular implants is necessitated. They are artificial substitutes that replicate the appearance of the eyes to enhance the aesthetic value of ones appearance. It can be used to replace an injured eye or can be used to treat cataracts to increase the sharpness of the vision. Avail Report Sample (210+ Pages PDF with Insights) at: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/sample-request/12755 With new technological advancements in ocular devices, the devices are being made micro-invasive which makes it a popular treatment option. An increase in screen time, the prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle, rising geriatric population are some of the reasons leading to increased eye disorders. This increase has bought the need for minimally invasive treatment options to the forefront. Ocular devices fulfil all such requirements and have a wide variety of applications in ophthalmology. Increasing incidence of eye disorders, growing geriatric population, prevalence of sedentary lifestyle, product innovations, increased government spending on healthcare infrastructure, as well as increased public awareness about the available treatments, are driving the ocular implants market; the requirement to improve treatment services and device quality for clients is likely to provide an impetus for innovative ocular devices and its applications. New product developments and strategic collaborations amongst top companies striving to expand are some of the factors that are predicted to drive global market growth in the future. Story continues Key players operating in the global ocular implants market are Johnson & Johnson, Alcon, GlaukosCoporation, Bausch & Lomb, Hoya Corporation, Carl Zeiss AG, STAAR Surgical Company, Second Sight, Allergan, MORCHER GmbH, among others. To enhance their market position in the global ocular implants market, the key players are now focusing on adopting the strategies such as product innovations, mergers & acquisitions, recent developments, joint ventures, collaborations, and partnerships. To expand its market presence in North America, Alcon, Inc. acquired Invantis, Inc., a research and development company specializing in micro invasive glaucoma ocular devices in California, in August 2021. Glaukos Corporation, US, applied for the FDA approval of its second-generation trabecular meshwork bypass stent, which helps treat mild to moderate glaucoma. They received the approval for their product which is called Istent inject. For more information about this report visit: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/report/ocular-implants-market-12755 The interocular lenses segment dominated the market with a market value of around 2.52 billion in 2021. The product type segment is divided into glaucoma implants, ocular prosthesis, corneal implants, orbital implants, intraocular lenses, & others. The interocular lenses segment dominated the market with a market value of around 2.52 billion in 2021. The increased incidence of eye disorders, technological advancements in ocular devices, and steps to improve accessibility for such treatments is likely to drive the market for intraocular lenses. The glaucoma surgery segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 7.1% over the forecast period. The application segment is divided into glaucoma surgery, age-related macular degeneration, drug delivery, aesthetic purpose, & others. Over the forecast period, the glaucoma surgery segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 7.1%. As the incidence of glaucoma is increasing in the population, the focus has shifted to seeking treatments by surgical intervention, resulting in the glaucoma surgery segment growing significantly in the forecast period. The hospitals segment dominated the market, accounting for around 4.18 billion global revenue. The end-use segment is divided into hospitals, specialty eye institutes & clinics. The hospitals segment dominated the market, accounting for around 4.18 billion global revenue. With the pandemic exposing the poor state of healthcare infrastructure, governments of countries around worldwide are focused on increasing capital spending to boost healthcare infrastructure and its holistic development. This will help in developing the infrastructure for ophthalmology sector as well which will keep the hospitals segment dominant throughout the forecast period. Schedule Consultation Call with Our Analysts to Find Solutions for Your Business at: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/12755 Regional Segment Analysis of the Ocular Implants Market North America (U.S. Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Rest of the Europe) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan India, Rest of APAC) South America (Brazil and Rest of South America) Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA) Among all regions, the North American region emerged as the largest market for the global ocular implants market with a market share of around 37.6% in 2021. North America is expected to be the largest market during the forecast period. The ocular implants market in North America has been expanding rapidly. Ocular implants in North America are dominated by the United States. More than 20 million people have suffered vision loss due to cataracts, more than 500 million people in the US have diabetic retinopathy, around 20 million of the world population is suffering from glaucoma and 20 million more will be added to this figure 20 years down the line. With so many people suffering from eye disorders, the need for treatments to avoid vision impairment or loss becomes imperative. Ocular implants are the new age state of the art devices that can help treat such disorders, restoring the sharpness of vision or adding aesthetic value to the appearance. Increasing their accessibility needs to become a priority for all relevant institutions. For Report Purchase Enquiry: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/buying-inquiry/12755 About the report: The global ocular implants market is analysed based on value (USD Billion). All the segments have been analysed on global, regional, and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each segment. The report offers in-depth analysis of driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining the key insight of the market. The study includes porters five forces model, attractiveness analysis, raw material analysis, supply, demand analysis, competitor position grid analysis, distribution and marketing channels analysis. About The Brainy Insights: The Brainy Insights is a market research company, aimed at providing actionable insights through data analytics to companies to improve their business acumen. We have a robust forecasting and estimation model to meet the clients' objectives of high-quality output within a short span of time. We provide both customized (clients' specific) and syndicate reports. Our repository of syndicate reports is diverse across all the categories and sub-categories across domains. Our customized solutions are tailored to meet the clients' requirement whether they are looking to expand or planning to launch a new product in the global market. Contact Us Avinash D Head of Business Development Phone: +1-315-215-1633 Email: sales@thebrainyinsights.com Web: http://www.thebrainyinsights.com "Oshkosh is typically a North American market share leader in its respective equipment types and supplies a wide swath of industries and end customers. For instance, it is the global leader in aerial work platforms through its JLG brand. It is also the largest light defense truck supplier to the U.S military, with its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) chosen to replace the Humvee in 2015. We had previously owned Oshkosh in our Value Equity portfolios for the better part of a decade. As long-time admirers of the company's quality characteristics, and through our diligent process continuing to closely follow as management creates ways to improve, we have once again found an opportunity to be investors. High-Quality Business Some of the quality characteristics we have identified for Oshkosh include: -Pricing power stemming from its leading market share positions in nearly every business segment, vital nature of its products and industry concentration; -Diversified product line and customer base, as well as high barriers to entry in many of its businesses, such as fire trucks, aircraft rescue vehicles and defense; and -Consistent positive FREE cash flow generation, even during the 2008 financial crisis when most of its segments faced the steepest downturn in a generation. Attractive Valuation Through market share gains, we expect operating margins and FREE cash flow to be higher on a normalized basis. Thus, we believe Oshkosh shares are offered at a discount to our estimates of the company's intrinsic value. Compelling Catalysts Catalysts we have identified for Oshkosh, which we believe will cause its stock price to appreciate over our three- to five-year investment horizon, include: -Further innovation and technological improvements, particularly in the electrification of its vehicles, which could drive additional demand; -Continued rollout of its recently awarded U.S. Postal Service vehicle contract and market share gains for its JLG aerial work platforms; -Increased international orders for its JLTV military trucks as countries around the world replace aging Humvee fleets. In addition, further development of its aftermarket business can help improve profitability; and -Strong balance sheet can give management the ability to run a balanced capital allocation strategy that advances organic growth and returns cash to shareholders." One of the most interesting stories next year will be current Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Camerons bid to become the states next governor. At first blush, one might think Cameron, who is Black, would have no chance of winning the governorship of a blood-red state so mired in ultra-conservative ideals that it was the very first one called for Donald Trump in 2016. Deeper analysis reveals other possibilities. Suffice it to say that Kentucky has continuing racial challenges reminiscent of Americas pre-Civil War and Jim Crow past. But dont say that too loudly around Kentuckians. They dont like to face their true selves and the intractable racial problems they reify. Contradictions and denial run deep in Kentucky. Background: What to know about Daniel Cameron, the attorney general deciding the Breonna Taylor case That said, one can legitimately ask how Cameron can win the governorship of a past-oriented state dominated by the likes of Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, Thomas Massie, neo-Confederates and an uber-conservative Republican legislature? While it risks the wrath of modern Booker T. Washington apologists, one may find an answer to that query in a passage from the Tuskegee Institute Presidents now infamous 1895 Atlanta Exposition Address. Educator, orator and author Booker T. Washington visited Akron in September 1909. In a stunning display of servitude when addressing race relations, Washington reassured the all-white audience that they could trust the loyalty of their Blacks. He bellowed, You can be sure in the future, as in the past, that you and your families will be surrounded by the most patient, faithful, law-abiding and unresentful people that the world has seen. As we have proved our loyalty to you in the past, in nursing your children, watching by the sickbed of your mothers and fathers and often following them with tear-dimmed eyes to their graves, so in the future, in our humble way, we shall stand by you with a devotion that no foreigner can approach, ready to lay down our lives, if need be, in defense of yours, interlacing our industrial, commercial, civil and religious life with yours in a way that shall make the interests of both races one. Story continues Southern white people loved it! Black intellectual W.E.B. DuBois contested Washingtons views and said he was asking Black people to give up political power, higher education and civil rights. Boston Guardian Black newspaper publisher William Monroe Trotter was more muscular in his criticism and labeled Washington the Benedict Arnold of the Negro race. While Dubois, Trotter and other Black people opposed Washington, influential whites pushed him to the forefront. President William McKinley said Washington should be embraced as a Black leader because he would not be perceived as too radical to whites. Rich white industrialists like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller and Julius Rosenwald personally funded Washington so well that he was able to give up his Tuskegee salary. More: Democrats say AG Daniel Cameron broke ethics rules by filing for governor. Here's why. Ultimately, McKinley was right. White people didnt see Washington as radical. To the contrary, they saw him as a good Negro whose accommodationist views were unfailingly safe and supportive of a status quo in which white people held all the social, political and economic power while Black people populated the servant class. The Washington example is instructive for therein lies Camerons current appeal in Kentucky. Hes perfect for the state! Hes a Black man who, like James Weldon Johnsons unnamed protagonist in The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, has abandoned all Black sensibilities and identifications. While people around the country were enraged over Breonna Taylors killing in 2020 by agents of the state; Attorney General Cameron concluded police did nothing wrong. While many celebrated current Kentucky Democratic governor Andy Beshears innovative and steady leadership; Cameron badgered and investigated him at every turn. More: Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron files to run for governor in 2023 While Black U.S. senate candidate Charles Booker calls out Rand Paul for obstructing federal anti-lynching legislation; Cameron challenges Republicans on nothing. Cameron does not resist Mitch McConnell; he sees him as a father figure. He will not oppose the states Republican legislature on anti-Black educational efforts or abortion abolition; he agrees with them. Like Booker T. Washington, Cameron stands by them with a devotion that no foreigner can approach. Attorney General, Daniel Cameron, left, and Sen. Mitch McConnell, speak during a press conference at the Addiction and Recovery Care center in St. Catherine, Ky. Aug. 19, 2021 Kentucky is an odd place largely defined by long-standing white socio-political power and Black passivity that is almost incomprehensible to outsiders. Daniel Cameron reinforces that dynamic. He is Clarence Thomas, Tim Scott, Candace Owens and Booker T. Washington all rolled into one. He fiercely pushes Kentuckys backwards agenda forward. And heres the bonus. Some less politically astute Black Kentuckians will vote for Cameron simply because hes Black. Hell also give the states racially insensitive, conservative whites a melanated poster boy to whom they can point and say, See! Were not racist! We elected a Black governor! Through Cameron, Kentucky can give the illusion of change without changing at all. Its white supremacy in blackface. Instead of endeavoring to become a cosmopolitan 21st-century site of growth, I think it safe to say the lions share of Kentuckians are working feverishly to keep their Old Kentucky Home as insular, ideologically incestuous and stagnant as possible. It is a largely white ethnostate wedded to, at best, mid-20th century sensibilities. And Daniel Cameron would be the perfect frontman to keep it on that course. So, you dismiss Camerons candidacy out of hand? You dont think he stands a chance of winning in Kentucky next year? I wouldnt be so sure. Ricky Jones. March 14, 2019 Dr. Ricky L. Jones is professor and chair of the Pan-African Studies department at the University of Louisville. His column appears bi-weekly in the Courier-Journal. Visit him at rickyljones.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Why Daniel Cameron might be Kentucky's perfect choice for governor ONEX Corporation DALLAS and TORONTO, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ryan, LLC (Ryan or the Company) and Onex Corporation (Onex) (TSX: ONEX) announced today a private equity fund managed by Ares Management Corporation (Ares) (NYSE: ARES) has committed to acquiring a significant minority equity interest in Ryan, valuing the Company at $2.5 billion. The investment was made in partnership with Ryans management team and the Companys existing investor Onex Partners, Onex flagship private equity platform, who will retain a significant minority equity interest in Ryan. This combined partnership will drive the next stage of growth for the Company. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Ryan is a leading global tax services and software provider with an integrated suite of federal, state, local, and international tax services, and is the largest firm in the world dedicated exclusively to business taxes. Its multidisciplinary team of more than 3,500 professionals and associates serves over 18,000 clients in more than 60 countries, including many of the worlds most prominent companies. Ares is an excellent partner for our firm due to their experience helping great companies drive technology transformations and long-term growth, said G. Brint Ryan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ryan. We have been on a growth trajectory with recent strategic acquisitions, expansions of several key practice areas, and the addition of some of the worlds most respected companies to our already impressive client roster. With the backing of Ares and Onex, well continue this momentum and increase value to our clients and team members around the world as we build the global brand in tax. Ryan is a culture-driven, growth-oriented sector leader in the tax advisory and software industry, said Abraham Zilkha, Partner in the Ares Private Equity Group. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with the Ryan team and with Onex, and we look forward to leveraging the breadth of our global platform to help support Ryans continued growth. Story continues When we invested in Ryan almost four years ago, the firms strong track record, client-centric approach, and winning culture were very clear, said Amir Motamedi, a Managing Director at Onex Partners. Since then, Ryan has continued to strengthen its market position by focusing on the needs of its clients and well-being of its team members. We believe the best is yet to come, and were delighted to welcome Ares as our new partner. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions. This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on Ares, Ryan, and Onex managements current expectations and are subject to known and unknown uncertainties and risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Ares, Ryan, and Onex are under no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein should material facts change due to new information, future events or otherwise. About Ryan Ryan, an award-winning global tax services and software provider, is the largest Firm in the world dedicated exclusively to business taxes. With global headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the Firm provides an integrated suite of federal, state, local, and international tax services on a multijurisdictional basis, including tax recovery, consulting, advocacy, compliance, and technology services. Ryan is a 10-time recipient of the International Service Excellence Award from the Customer Service Institute of America (CSIA) for its commitment to world-class client service. Empowered by the dynamic myRyan work environment, which is widely recognized as the most innovative in the tax services industry, Ryans multidisciplinary team of more than 3,500 professionals and associates serves over 18,000 clients in more than 60 countries, including many of the worlds most prominent Global 5000 companies. More information about Ryan can be found at ryan.com. Ryan and Firm refer to the global organizational network and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ryan International, each of which is a separate legal entity. About Ares Management Corporation Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, private equity, real estate and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of March 31, 2022, Ares Management Corporation's global platform had approximately $325 billion of assets under management, with approximately 2,100 employees operating across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com. About Onex Onex is an investor and asset manager that invests capital on behalf of Onex shareholders and clients across the globe. Formed in 1984, we have a long track record of creating value for our clients and shareholders. Onex two primary businesses are Private Equity and Credit. In Private Equity, we raise funds from third-party investors, or limited partners, and invest them, along with Onex own investing capital, through the funds of our private equity platforms, Onex Partners and ONCAP. Similarly, in Credit, we raise and invest capital across several private credit, public credit and public equity strategies. Our investors include a broad range of global clients, including public and private pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies and family offices. In addition, through our private wealth platform, we service high net worth clients in Canada. In total, as of March 31, 2022, Onex has $49.2 billion in assets under management, of which $8.2 billion is Onex own investing capital. With offices in Toronto, New York, New Jersey, Boston and London, Onex and its experienced management teams are collectively the largest investors across Onex platforms. Onex is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ONEX. For more information on Onex, visit its website at www.onex.com. Onex security filings can also be accessed at www.sedar.com. For Further Information: Ryan Stacey Underwood Senior Manager, Content, Communications, and Public Relations +1 972.934.0022 stacey.underwood@ryan.com Ares Brittany Cash +1 212.301.0347 or Jacob Silber +1 212.301.0376 media@aresmgmt.com Onex Jill Homenuk Managing Director Shareholder Relations and Communications +1 416.362.7711 Designed for the new workforce, this facility supports employee flexibly and team collaboration while prioritizing sustainability and energy efficiency Investing in the community, Schneider Electric donates $300,000 in products to modernize North Carolina A&T State University industrial automation lab BOSTON, May 26, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today launched the companys latest facility in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. RaleighHub, the brand new 65,000-square-foot hybrid facility, will be home to the companys more than 400 area employees. During the RaleighHub launch event, Schneider Electric announced the donation of $300,000 in electrical products, software and materials, to North Carolina A&T State University. This donation will be used to modernize the universitys industrial automation lab for the Spring of 2023. Once completed, students will learn on the latest industrial software and equipment, preparing them for success in innovative careers after graduation. Aamir Paul, President, North America Operations, Schneider Electric said, "Todays workforce is changing, both in how and where we work. With the RaleighHub, we are responding by providing a flexible work environment to meet our teams needs, while optimizing the facility itself for our business needs and our sustainability goals. As part of this launch, we are also proud to invest in this regions next generation of innovators by supporting North Carolina A&T State University. These investments allow us to educate and enrich the lives of students in the community where they live and prepare them for their future endeavors." The RaleighHub hybrid space includes innovative research and development labs, customer training rooms, conference areas, collaboration spaces and employee workstations. The building features the latest building management technologies, including EcoStruxure Building Automation (BMS), EcoStruxure Security Expert and Power Monitoring Expert, to drive greater energy efficiency and control, while ensuring the comfort, safety and security of all its occupants. Story continues This facility consolidates the former Morrisville and Knightdale buildings, optimizing the companys regional footprint and reinforcing its commitment to the Raleigh area. This is the latest in the companys focus to increase facility efficiency, while empowering employee success. This follows the companys NashvilleHub launch in 2018 which resulted in a 67% reduction in energy usage, a 55% optimization in square footage and a 12% increase in employee engagement score one year after opening. Press Kit Information For press materials, photos, videos, etc., please access our press kit. About Schneider Electric Schneiders purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On. Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency. We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries. We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values. www.se.com Discover Life Is On Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Blog Hashtags: #SchneiderElectric, #LifeIsIn #Raleigh #RTP #Sustainability #Innovation View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005187/en/ Contacts Schneider Electric Media Relations Thomas Eck, (917) 797-4974; thomas.eck@se.com Asia Tech x Singapore is set to attract more than 12,000 global leaders and industry players as they gather to discuss emerging tech issues and opportunities in Singapore SINGAPORE, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- From 31 May to 3 June, Singapore is hosting Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG), Asia's flagship technology event that convenes global leaders and decision-makers across the technological ecosystem to debate and address opportunities and challenges as the world taps into the potential of digital to power the next bound of global economic growth while building an inclusive digital future. ATxSG is headlined by the exclusive invitation-only ATxSummit to be held at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore on 31 May, where Mr. Heng Swee Keat, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies will be the Guest of Honour. With a powerhouse line up of more than 50 speakers and some 2,000 guests from government, business and industry, the event will see robust discussion on a wide gamut of topics such as quantum computing, metaverse, and sustainability for a green digital future. On the same evening, Mr. Teo Chee Hean, Singapore's Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, will be the Guest of Honour for the inaugural ATxSummit Social an exclusive, by-invitation-only dinner for the Summit's speakers and guests. The line-up of speakers includes Mrs. Josephine Teo, Singapore's Minister for Communications and Information, Guest of Honour for the ATxAI Conference (1 Jun), as well as a panellist at 'Trust in the Digital Economy' (31 May) and 'Changing Roles of Women in Tech (1 Jun) and Mr. Ong Ye Kung, Singapore's Minister for Health, who will be speaking at a panel session on 'Rethinking Healthcare Within a Digital Landscape'. They will be joined by Ministers from Brazil, Estonia, European Commission, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia and the United States. ATxSG will also host senior executives from the world's biggest and fastest-growing technology companies such as Amazon Web Services, Epic Games, Google, IBM, Microsoft and Ping An Group. Story continues "Digital and tech brings many opportunities but also challenges. That impact is felt at the intersection of Tech and Governance, Tech and Businesses, and Tech and Society. This involves building a trusted digital environment, creating economic growth, seeding innovations, and tackling society's pressing problems. It is therefore key to bring together thought leaders across these domains, to shape that shared digital future," said Mr. Lew Chuen Hong, Chief Executive, Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority. ATxAI and ATxInspire: Women in Tech On 1 June, ATxSG will feature ATxAI conference that will look at the future of AI technologies, trust in AI, and how AI can be leveraged for social good. On the same day, participants at ATxInspire will hear from distinguished female leaders in the technology space. They will share their views on how to bolster the progress of women professionals in the industry while promoting greater diversity across the tech workforce. The panellists include Mrs. Josephine Teo, H.E. Bolor-Erdene Battsengel, Mongolia's Secretary of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Communications, H.E. Makishima Karen, Japan's Minister for Digital, Ms. Jessica Tan, Co-CEO of Ping An Group and Ms. Kathy Baxter, Principal Architect, Ethical AI practice at Salesforce. At the side-lines of ATxSG, Mr. Tan Kiat How, Singapore's Minister of State for Communications and Information, will be giving the keynote address as Guest of Honour at the Founders Forum (31 May), and Ms. Rahayu Mahzam, Singapore's Parliamentary Secretary will be giving the keynote address at the InnovFest x Elevating Founders (ATxImpact) (1 Jun) as Guest of Honour. ATxEnterprise and ATxImpact ATxSG will showcase two popular segments: ATxEnterprise and ATxImpact, organised by Informa Tech, scheduled from 1 to 3 June, at the Singapore EXPO. Spanning 3 halls of more than 500 exhibitors from 32 countries/regions and 200 conference sessions featuring more than 350 speakers. The three-day event will see more than 10,000 attendees and business leaders from across Asia's Tech, Media, Telecoms and Start-up ecosystem convene in Singapore for a long-awaited return to in-person events. The ATxEnterprise Headliners will kick-off the event with Dr Janil Puthucheary, Singapore's Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of Health, Singapore, delivering the opening address on 1 June, at 9.30am. Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, will also join virtually to deliver a keynote on Supporting Global Change through Technology. ATxEnterprise, the flagship collection of industry events at ATxSG, features BroadcastAsia, CommunicAsia, SatelliteAsia, and TechXLR8Asia, led by top sponsors Huawei, NCS and Singtel. ATxImpact featuring InnovFest x Elevating Founders, organised in partnership with NUS Enterprise, the official start-up event of ATxSG, and largest gathering of its kind in the region, brings together more than 100 promising regional start-ups, and top names in venture capital. "Boasting a strong line-up of renowned speakers and over 500 exhibitors from various industries including business, technology, and telecommunications, we are excited to partner with IMDA for this year's ATxSG, the first to be conducted physically. We look forward to insights and conversations across business, tech and government leaders that will shape our shared digital future," said Mr. Tom Cuthell, Vice President of Festivals, Informa Tech. For more information on ATxSG, please visit: asiatechxsg.com. Members of the media are encouraged to register for their press badge here . About the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) leads Singapore's digital transformation by developing a vibrant digital economy and an inclusive digital society. As Architects of Singapore's Digital Future, we foster growth in Infocomm Technology and Media sectors in concert with progressive regulations, harness frontier technologies, and develop local talent and digital infrastructure ecosystems to establish Singapore as a digital metropolis. About Informa Tech Informa Tech is a market leading provider of integrated research, media, training and events to the global Technology community. We're an international business of more than 1,000 colleagues, operating in more than 20 markets. Our aim is to inspire the Technology community to design, build and run a better digital world through research, media, training and event brands that inform, educate and connect. Over 14,000 professionals subscribe to our research, with 225,000 delegates attending our events and over 18,000 students participating in our training programmes each year, and nearly 4 million people visiting our digital communities each month. This flagship event joins Informa Tech's portfolio of global tech festivals including London Tech Week and Africa Tech Fest. Hosted in thriving innovation hubs, these global events aim to unite the tech ecosystem to inspire impactful innovation, building a better digital world for both business and society. About the Singapore Tourism Board The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the lead development agency for tourism, one of Singapore's key economic sectors. Together with industry partners and the community, we shape a dynamic Singapore tourism landscape. We bring the Passion Made Possible brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions. For media queries, please reach out to: Sangeetha Kannan, OPRG for IMDA Tel: +65 8769 5324 | Email: sangeetha.kannan@omnicomprgroup.com Myra Kheng, TEAM LEWIS for Informa Tel: +65 9228 6066 | Email: myra.kheng@teamlewis.com APPENDIX: ATxSG Line-up of Key Events ATxSummit, 31 May By invitation only. Policy makers, regulators, and industry leaders will debate and share insights on the opportunities and challenges as the world seeks to redefine technology for a shared digital future. Discussions will span across four overarching pillars - Tech x Trust, Tech x Good, Tech x Builders, and Tech x Creative. Key Panels and Speakers Trust and the Digital Economy Mrs Josephine Teo, Singapore's Minister for Communications and Information and Mrs Gina M Raimondo, USA's Secretary of Commerce, Dept of Commerce will discuss the exponential growth and potential in the digital economy, how governments can work together, instil the right foundation and frameworks for a safe and inclusive growth. Digital Innovation Across Borders As the digital domain is borderless and the world is more interlinked than ever before, learn how conglomerates and SMEs can collaborate across geographical boundaries amidst increasing tech contestation. H.E. Airlangga Hartarto , Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Indonesia H.E. Bolor-Erdene Battsengel , Mongolia's Secretary of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Communications Mr Jean-Philippe Courtois , Exec VP & Pres. National Transformation Partnerships, Microsoft H.E. Margrethe Vestager, Executive VP & Commissioner for Competition; Chair, Commissioners' Group on a Europe Fit for the Digital Age (European Commission) Rethinking Healthcare Within a Digital Landscape How digital healthcare has taken a new life with new healthcare trends such as telemedicine, contact tracing and health applications. Mr. Ong Ye Kung , Singapore's Minister for Health H.E. Khairy Jamaluddin , Minister for Health, Federal Gov't of Malaysia Mr. Edwin Basuki , Chief Financial Officer, Doctor Anywhere Ms Jessica Tan, Co-CEO, Ping An Group Unpacking the Metaverse A convergence between the physical and the virtual, learn how real use-case applications that will generate new market opportunities in the Metaverse. H.E. Sandiaga Uno , Indonesia's Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy Ms Christel Quek , Co-Founder and CTO, BOLT KC Choi, EVP and GM, Global Mobile B2B/G, Mobile Experience, Samsung Electronics Mr Quentin Staes-Polet, Managing Director, EMEA, ASEAN & India, Epic Games For more information on the exciting line-up of speakers, please visit asiatechxsg.com/agenda/ ATxAI, 1 June Guest of Honour, Mrs. Josephine Teo, Singapore's Minister for Communications and Information will explore with government, business, and industry leaders on the future of AI, how to demonstrate trust in AI, how to leverage AI for social goods, as well as exploring the practical applications of AI. Speakers include: Blaise Aguera y Arcas, Engineering Fellow at Google Hiroaki Kitano, CEO of Sony AI Kathy Baxter, Principal Architect, Ethical AI Practice ATxImpact, 1 to 3 June ATxImpact will feature InnovFest x Elevating Founders Asia, showcasing more than 100 start-ups from around the region. InnovFest x Elevating Founders Asia is the official start-up event of Asia Tech x Singapore and is organised by NUS Enterprise in partnership with Informa Tech's dedicated programme for start-ups and scale-ups. With the aim to nurture start-ups and promote entrepreneurship in the region, it brings together the start-up ecosystem from across Asia and the globe, as well as exciting new technologies and ideas. The event will give tech start-ups exclusive access to curated investors and the enterprise marketplace and provide attendees with the latest insights and trends in the innovation space. Participants can look forward to panels on 'Cooling Singapore 2.0: Building a Digital Urban Climate Twin' and 'Beyond the Hype Securing the Metaverse' where speakers from start-ups convene to discuss newest developments and emerging trends within the tech ecosystem. Some speakers include: Assoc Prof Keith Carter , Associate Professor School of Computing & Director, NUS FinTech Lab [Topic: Beyond the Hype - Securing the Metaverse] Lily Wu , Startup Partner Lead, SEA Stripe [Topic: Entering a new age: the Web3 revolution] Professor Lawrence Loh , Director, Centre for Governance and Sustainability, NUS Business School, National University of Singapore [Topic: Sustainability and ESG: Beyond the Hypes and Hopes for Innovation] Jaclyn Seow, Head of ESG and Impact, Openspace Ventures [Topic: Beyond the romanticism of Impact Investing] Ms Melin Lim, Senior Director, Urban Food Solution Division, Singapore Food Agency [Topic: A Sustainable Approach to Secure Singapore's 30 by 30 vision through Agritech] ATxEnterprise, 1 to 2 June ATxEnterprise will feature BroadcastAsia, CommunicAsia, SatelliteAsia, and TechXLR8Asia. It will include exhibition marketplaces and conferences focusing on telecommunications, broadcast and media, satellite and enterprise solutions. The ATxEnterprise conferences will feature new dedicated tracks on Cyber Security, IoT, Cloud & Cloud, as well as the inaugural Asia Satellite Business Week in partnership with Euroconsult. The event will explore the landscape for Singapore's quantum initiatives; whether Singapore is truly on the right part to become a smart city; and what the future holds when investing in tech within Asia's finance sector. Some of the headliner speakers include: Anna Gong , Founder and CEO, Perx Technologies [Topic: Is Technology the Cause of Workforce Problems or the Solution?] Aliza Knox , Senior Advisor, Boston Consulting Group [Topic: Is Technology the Cause of Workforce Problems or the Solution?] Dr Cathy Foley , Chief Scientist of Australia [Topic: Tech Tools for Biodiversity] Pierre Gaudreault , President, Asia Region, Emerging Markets, Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals Group [Topic: Transforming Health Tech in Asia] Loh Boon Chye, CEO, Singapore Exchange [Topic: Investing in Tech What Does the Future Hold?] SOURCE Asia Tech x Singapore (Bloomberg) -- The UK will review French telecom tycoon Patrick Drahis increased stake in BT Group Plc after Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng exercised new takeover powers focusing on national security. Most Read from Bloomberg Drahis investment vehicle Altice UK increased its stake in the former state-owned telecommunications monopoly from 12.1% to 18% in December. Hes now BTs largest shareholder and the investment has raised concerns in government, BT said Thursday. BT is the biggest owner of Britains internet backbone through fiber infrastructure company Openreach, as well as mobile network EE. It also runs important connectivity and service contracts across government and business. Drahis interest in the company fueled speculation since he revealed his initial stake last June, sparking concerns about a takeover attempt, or so-called creeping control. The billionaire previously said he doesnt intend to make an imminent takeover bid, triggering six-month standstills under British takeover law. The second of those expires in June. BT shares fell 5.5% to 179.55 pence at 8:19 a.m. in London. Some investors are involved in BT because of the stake-building and arguably the government has indicated its somewhat concerned about that, Deutsche Bank analyst Robert Grindle said by phone. Whether ministers intervene or not after this review, it shows that any further move on BT, valued at about 18 billion ($22.6 billion), would face intense political scrutiny and hurdles. Its the second roll-out in 24 hours of the new National Security and Investment Act, which came into force Jan. 4, after Kwarteng referred a Chinese-led takeover of a British semiconductor firm for an in-depth probe on Wednesday. Story continues The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy didnt immediately respond to a request for comment for further detail about why the probe had been triggered, and a spokesman for Altice did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In 2020 BT found itself at the heart of another national security debate, about the role played by Chinese telecommunications vendor Huawei Technologies Co., which was supplying a large portion of the carriers 5G wireless network before it was banned by Prime Minister Boris Johnson amid a wider crackdown led by former US President Donald Trump. Since then, British ministers have toughened rules on foreign investment. Officials now have 30 working days to carry out an assessment, under the law -- though they can extend that by another 45 days if deemed necessary. BT is one of the jewels in the crown of UK R&D and tech innovation, so it is right that the government is taking an active role in scrutinizing its future, Mike Clancy, general secretary of BT union Prospect, said in an email. The government must ensure that jobs are protected, he added. (Updates with shares, analysts from 5th paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. MILWAUKEE, May 26, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zurn Water Solutions Corporation (NYSE: ZWS) announced that, at a Special Meeting today, its stockholders voted to approve the issuance of shares of Zurn common stock necessary to complete the previously announced combination with Elkay Manufacturing Company. As approved today, stockholders of Elkay Manufacturing will receive up to 52.5 million newly issued shares of Zurn Common Stock. Zurns stockholders also voted to increase the number of authorized shares available for award under the Zurn Water Solutions Corporation Performance Incentive Plan by 1,500,000 shares. "We are pleased to see our stockholders strong support of the transaction with Elkay," said Todd A. Adams, Chairman and CEO of Zurn Water Solutions. "Since the transaction was announced in February, robust integration planning efforts have been underway, and we continue to believe we will be able to capitalize on the significant synergies the combination will generate. The newly created Zurn Elkay Water Solutions will be the unrivaled leader in providing specified water solutions to improve health, human safety and the environment and we look forward to closing in the coming weeks." The transaction is expected to close early in the third quarter, subject to the satisfaction of the remaining closing conditions. About Zurn Water Solutions Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Zurn Water Solutions is a growth-oriented, pure-play water business that designs, procures, manufactures, and markets what we believe is the broadest sustainable product portfolio of solutions to improve health, human safety, and the environment. The Zurn product portfolio includes professional grade water control and safety, water distribution and drainage, finish plumbing, hygienic, environmental and site works products for public and private spaces. Additional information about the Company can be found at www.zurnwatersolutions.com. Story continues Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements Information in this release may involve outlook, expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions, strategies or other statements regarding the future, which are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available to Zurn Water Solutions Corporation as of the date of the release, and Zurn assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. The statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results could differ materially from current expectations. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences. Please refer to "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as well as the Companys subsequent annual, quarterly and current reports filed on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of the factors and risks associated with the business. In addition, our previously announced transaction with Elkay Manufacturing Company is subject to various risks, uncertainties and factors including, among others: the inability to complete the transaction; the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, including due to the failure of other closing conditions; and costs related to the proposed transaction; see also Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in the Company's Quarterly Reporting on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220526005524/en/ Contacts Investor Relations Dave Pauli, Vice President Investor Relations 414-223-7770 Media Relations Angela Hersil, Director Corporate Communications 855-480-5050 414-808-0199 Corporate.Communications@zurn.com fjdimora@gmail.com Download The Last Chronicles of Planet Earth May 23 2022 Edition by Frank DiMora If you have any questions or you want to make comments you can email me at fjdimora@gmail.com. PROPHECY showing Third Jewish Temple will be built soon. Revelation 11:1-2 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Daniel 9:27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolate Prophecy Sign: (Zechariah 12:3) And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. The first 2 reports center on Israel and specifically East Jerusalem and the temple mount. As I said, almost every day we see news centering around issues on the Temple Mount and how Muslims keep striving to keep the Jews off the Temple Mount. Once again we see Israels enemies who are listed in wars against Israel saying they will go to war against Israel over the Temple Mount, get ready people because this issue concerning the Temple Mount will cause another conflict and, the results will be the Jews will be building their third temple as Jesus warned us. Since I have been in the ministry for 45 years I have never seen so much news about the major issue of that Jewish Temple Mount. By now if you have been following my ministry would understand all these news is pointing to the soon to come Temple! Of course, that means this planet is very close to seeing the Man of Sin Jesus warned us about. The Battle for the Temple Mount By Nadav Shragai / Israel Hayom https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/the-battle-for-the-temple-mount/ Before you read the report below I want to point out why this article is important. The whole thing about this Israels Jerusalem flag march has to do with with showing the world that Jerusalem is sovereign to the nation of Israel, and this also goes for the Temple Mount as well. Just because Jordan has been running the day to day activities on the Mount does not in any way say that the Temple Mount is sovereign to Jordan or for that matter any Islamic nation. Israels enemies want to force the Jews to march away from the T. Mount so they can prove to the world that they control what happens in East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Headline: Israeli defense officials oppose last-minute reroute of Jerusalem flag march Subtitle: Military, security agencies warn any change at the wire would be perceived as a sign of weakness on Israels part; Bennett adamant about maintaining traditional route and asserting Israeli sovereignty Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Wednesday against letting the nationalistic Jerusalem Day flag March pass through the capitals Damascus Gate and the Muslim Quarter, saying it could spark a major explosion. I want to tell the Israeli government and everyone involved any harm to al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock will lead to a major explosion in the region. This is a provocation against all Arab and Muslim peoples, Nasrallah said during a speech. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rj11nrq2d9 Below on the right hand side youll see the people listed in the Ezekiel 38 and 39 war against Israel. Its no wonder that we continually see news about Iran saying they are going to Soon destroy Israel. Iranian military leaders say they are ready for war with Israel and issued renewed threats to burn Tel Aviv to the ground very soon, according to comments made during a military demonstration in Tehran. We are ready for war, tell Zion, one unnamed speaker was quoted as saying during the May 20 military parade organized by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the countrys paramilitary fighting force that has murdered scores of Americans. No trace will be left of the demon. Not a single house will be left standing in Tel Aviv. https://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-warns-israel-we-are-ready-for-war/ Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; EF-2 tornado confirmed in Uxbridge, Canada A line of fast-moving severe thunderstorms (derecho) swept over southern Ontario and Quebec the most populated part of Canada on May 21, 2022, leaving roughy 1 000 km (620 miles) of damage in its wake. https://watchers.news/2022/05/25/ef-2-tornado-confirmed-in-uxbridge-canada/ Luke 21:11 Rev. 6:8 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. Official Government reports suggest Authorities are using Monkeypox to cover up the fact the Covid-19 Vaccines cause Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome The new evolving hysteria surrounding the alleged emergence of monkeypox in Western nations is not what it appears to be. We are not witnessing the monkeypox virus run rampant across first world countries for the first time ever. https://expose-news.com/2022/05/25/monkeypox-used-cover-up-covid-vaccines-cause-a-id-s/ CNN now publicly asking whether mRNA injections have CAUSED the current covid wave exactly as weve been saying since day one Pigs might be about to fly now that fake news giant CNN is admitting, in a surprising turn of events, that Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines may actually be causing the constant and continual waves of covid infection that are being reported all around the world. Monkeypox detected in at least 11 countries; scientists claim to be puzzled over its spread An Israeli man in his 30s has been hospitalized in Tel Aviv with the first suspected case of the monkeypox virus. The man previously visited Western Europe, where there had been dozens of cases of the disease. https://www.naturalnews.com/2022-05-25-monkeypox-detected-in-at-least-11-countries.html Prophecy Sign: Revelation 6:5-6 5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, Come! I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, Two pounds of wheat for a days wages, and six pounds of barley for a days wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine! If you have been following this years food crisis you know that the lack of fertilizer is wrecking the worlds food economy. The lack of fertilizer has been rising steadily the cost of food around the world. Farmers in many places around the world have stopped planting crops due to the high cost of fertilizers they can get which, in turn is only going to continue raising the prices of food. Massive Train Derailment Destroys Several Tons Of Vital Fertilizer Fertilizer prices have skyrocketed in recent months..prepare yourselves for food shorages. https://www.redvoicemedia.com/video/2022/05/massive-train-derailment-destroys-several-tons-of-vital-fertilizer-video/ People Starting to Go Hungry as Food Prices Soar, Some Barely Able to Afford One Meal a Day On the cusp of summer, the cold, hard edge of hunger is hitting North America. At a time when experts are warning about global food shortages, a new report from Canada says individuals living on government benefits are being forced to live with less. https://www.westernjournal.com/people-starting-go-hungry-food-prices-soar-barely-able-afford-one-meal-day/ Adding to the burden of less fertilizer around the world the cost of gas sky rocketing is also causing food prices to sore. Gasoline price in Los Angeles rises to as much as $7.83 a gallon more than the federal minimum wage Motorists in the United States are now grappling with sky-high gasoline prices that are reaching records daily. https://www.naturalnews.com/2022-05-25-gasoline-price-la-more-than-minimum-wage.html# Heat And there shall be signs in the sun (Luke 21:25a). The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify himMen gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done (Revelation 16:8-11). New Mexico approves plans for cloud seeding in the southeast portions of the state Plans for cloud seeding in New Mexico have been given the go-ahead. The Interstate Stream Commission recently approved a seeding operation that could potentially alleviate the drought-stricken southeast portions of the state. https://abc7amarillo.com/newsletter-daily/new-mexico-approves-plans-for-cloud-seeding-in-the-southeast-portions-of-the-state Radical leftist group unveils $30 million strategy to push LGBT agenda, stop GOP midterm landslide The alt-left public policy activist group MoveOn has unveiled a massive $30 million push to defeat Republican candidates across the nation in this years midterm elections as a means to protect abortion rights, advance even more outlandish LGBTQIA+ ideology into law, and further undermine election integrity measures. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/radical-leftist-group-unveils-30-million-strategy-to-push-lgbt-agenda-stop-gop-midterm-landslide/ Disputes over a required archaeological study and property ownership have been settled between the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Fredericksburg government officials. The Fredericksburg City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to pass a resolution to contribute $10,000 to the VFW Post 3103s project to renovate its building at 2701 Princess Anne St. The VFW is working in partnership with the Silver Companies to overhaul the building, including the construction of a 4,000-square-foot facility adjacent to the existing building. The city has an archaeological ordinance, and it is considered an important part of achieving councils 2035 vision for the city. But such a study can be costly. VFW commander Todd Taylor requested that the study requirement be waived or that the $8,000 fee be covered by the city. There was initial hesitancy, as the staff at City Hall was concerned that waiving the archaeological study fee or requirement for the VFW would set a precedent that wouldve been difficult to sustain for other organizations. But a host of veterans in the Fredericksburg area showed up to the City Council meeting two weeks ago to show support for Taylor as he addressed council members. Taylor and the veterans returned again on Tuesday as he expressed his displeasure with the contention of some officials that the VFW owns the property and not the city. The city donated the lodge property to the VFW by a deed of gift in 2003, subject to the right to use the lodge as a polling place. The property will revert back to the city if the VFW ceases to exist or attempts to convey the property to a third party. Lets be honest and clear about what the deed represents, Taylor said. The current restrictive deed of gift does nothing more than remove city responsibility for care and maintenance of the property while retaining overall control of the property. The deed does not leave the Veterans of Foreign Wars with any collateral with which to borrow against. After the May 10 meeting, City Council directed City Manager Tim Baroody and his staff to attempt to find a solution to offset the expense of the archaeological study. Baroody said he also spoke with the Silver Companies about the project. Baroody said $10,000 was identified as the right approach because it would cover the cost of the study and leave funds for other fees and permit requirements. We can move $10,000 from this years FY22 contingency monies to the good purpose of supporting the VFW as they expand and improve that great offering in the city of Fredericksburg, Baroody said. Taylor noted that in addition to the use as a city polling place, meetings are also held at the VFW Post 3103 for Disabled American Veterans, the Marine Corps League and Alcoholics Anonymous. Veterans gather there to work out emotional issues attributed to post-traumatic stress disorder and homeschooled children use it for dramatic arts class, Taylor added. When we ask for something from the city, we often do so on behalf of the service organization that we work for, Taylor said. Taft Coghill Jr: 540/374-5526 tcoghill@freelancestar.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. An abundance of Memorial Day ceremonies and events to honor men and women killed in service to their country will take place throughout the region in the coming days. FRIDAY Col. Michael Brooks, commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Quantico, will be the featured guest speaker at Stafford Countys annual Memorial Day ceremony on Friday that begins at 10 a.m. This year, the county will dedicate the ceremony to members of the armed forces who died serving in the Korean War as well as all who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country. The event will take place at the countys Armed Services Memorial, behind the county government center on Courthouse Road. The Quantico Marine Corps Brass Quintet will perform musical selections. SATURDAY On Saturday, the National Park Service will host its 27th annual luminaria at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery, at the intersection of Sunken Road and Lafayette Boulevard. Local Scouts will light more than 15,000 candles that will be placed on each grave, and a bugler will play taps every 30 minutes during the course of the evening. Park officials will also be on hand to share stories related to the history of the cemetery and some of its notable interments. The free event runs from 811 p.m., with a rain date the following day. Parking is available at the University of Mary Washingtons lot at the corner of William Street and Sunken Road, and the Fredericksburg Trolley will provide free shuttle service from the parking area to the cemetery. Accessible parking is also available at the parks visitor center at 1013 Lafayette Blvd. The cemetery holds the remains of 15,243 soldiers, sailors and Marines, most of whom died during the American Civil War. The remains in about 85% of the graves are unidentified. Also Saturday, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Fredericksburg Post 3103 will sell poppies at Spotsylvania Towne Centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Since 1924, artificial VFW-labeled poppies have been created by disabled and needy veterans who receive compensation for their work under the VFW Buddy Poppy program. The veterans will return to the malls Costco and Dicks Sporting Goods entrances to pass out more handmade poppies the following two days from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. MONDAY On Monday at 7 a.m., the fifth annual Wear Blue: Run to Remember 5K begins at Fredericksburgs Old Mill Park at 2201 Caroline St. at 7 a.m. The free event is open to everyone who can start the race at any time between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. The route is 1.55 miles along the city canal, which is stroller, scooter and bike friendly. A Memorial Day Murph Challenge will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Rosner Family YMCA at 5700 Smith Station Road. The self-paced free workout consists of a 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups and 300 squats, with half-Murph and quarter-Murph options available. YMCA officials said the event honors Lt. Michael Murph Murphy, a U.S. Navy SEAL and posthumous Medal of Honor recipient who was killed in Afghanistan in 2005. On Monday beginning at noon, a Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery, the site of similar commemorations since 1871. The program begins at noon and is free and open to the public. In the event of rain, the event will be canceled. The keynote speaker is retired Air Force pilot Col. Marcum Thompson, who logged over 4,100 flying hours during his career. The 23rd Regiment United States Colored Troops living history unit will present the nations colors, and park rangers will offer guided walking tours along Sunken Road beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the visitors center at 1013 Lafayette Blvd. Pets are not permitted in the cemetery. Also in Fredericksburg, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Hugh Mercer Monument on Washington Avenue from 11:30 p.m. Local businessman Charles G. McDaniel will deliver remarks on Mercer and the importance of Fredericksburg during the Revolutionary War. There will be bagpipe accompaniment. Another ceremony will be held at Fredericksburg Area War Memorial Park on George Street at 2:30 p.m. Also on Memorial Day, the Quantico Marine Corps Band will perform an hourlong patriotic concert at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle at 3 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. Visitors should bring a blanket or chair. Inclement weather will cancel the event. The Virginia War Memorial at 621 S. Belvidere St. in Richmond will host the states 66th annual Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. The guest speaker will be Lt. Gov. Winsome EarleSears. Ben King, operations manager of the memorial, said representatives from veterans service organizations will lay wreaths in the memorials Shrine of Memory. King said the Color of Freedom, a traveling exhibit created by representatives of the Women In Military Service For America Memorial, will also be on display during the event. King said the exhibit showcases the sacrifices and contributions of a collection of minority women who served in or alongside U.S. military forces throughout history. James Scott Baron: 540/374-5438 jbaron@freelancestar.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Arthur Alston remembers the battle. On Easter Sunday in 1968, the Fremont man was among U.S Marines making an assault on Hill 881 South in Vietnam. Marines to Alstons right and left had been killed and as he ran up the hill firing, he wondered if hed be next. Suddenly, an artillery piece landed in front of him and exploded. So many years have passed since Alston was in Vietnam. He remembers the bodies, his hunger and wounded leg, days and nights in a foxhole and the rain. Now, Alston will be the guest of honor and will speak at the Memorial Day Service in Fremont. The public is invited to the event, which starts at 11 a.m. Monday, May 30, in the Fremont Veterans Park in front of Sidner Ice Arena at 1558 E. Military Ave. This is the first time Alston has spoken at a Memorial Day event, said Sean George, commander of the Disabled American Veterans Joseph C.H. Bales Chapter 18 of Fremont. The event also will include guest speakers whose talks will be provided via videos projected on a large outdoor screen. Free coffee will be provided. George said the videos, although pre-recorded, are personalized to the Fremont area. The video speakers include: Kris Paronto Paronto is a former U.S. Army Ranger and part of the CIA annex security team that responded to the terrorist attack on the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012, helping save more than 20 lives while fighting off terrorists for more than 13 hours. George said Paronto, also an author, earned a masters degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and formerly lived in Elkhorn. Major Ed Pulido Pulido is a national and global speaker for the U.S. Department of Defense and Veterans Administration Real Warrior National Campaign. He has been on the State Board of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. He is an amputee who was wounded in Iraq in 2004. Dan Whitney (Larry the Cable Guy) A Nebraskan from Pawnee City, Whitney is the founder of the Git-R-Done Foundation. George said Whitneys philanthropic efforts are focused on veterans and children. Whitney will talk about what Memorial Day means to him and why he gives back to veterans causes. Other activities are planned during the event. Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg with provide a proclamation. The Fremont Honor Guard will participate and the National Anthem will be played. The American Legion Post 20 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 854 along with Fremont firefighters will lay wreaths. George hopes the public will attend the event. Memorial Day is a day to honor the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice, he said. Its a day to remember and honor all the brave heroes who served and held our flag high. George said hed love to see more veterans get involved in the organizations. Its hard to get the younger veterans to come in and join organizations that provide camaraderie and local veteran assistance, George said. If youre a younger veteran, wed love to have you come to a meeting or come to this event and see what its about. Those who attend can hear from Alston, a combat veteran. The blast from the artillery piece blew Alston about 50 feet back on that day so long ago. Hed survive other close calls and later be sent to Japan for medical treatment of a wounded leg. Back in the United States, hed face flashbacks. He got out of the military in 1970, later graduating with a degree in education. He worked for the U.S. government before retiring in 1998. Alton shared his experiences in a 2019 Fremont Tribune article in which he described a continuing mission in his time on earth and said: I believe God saved me to tell the story that hes real and freedom is not free. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan says four bomb blasts in Kabul and Mazar-e Sharif have killed and injured more than a dozen people. A spokesman for the Taliban's Interior Ministry, Abdul Nafee Takoor, told RFE/RL that an explosion ripped through evening prayers at a mosque in Kabul, killing two worshipers. The bombers also were killed, and 10 people were injured. The Kabul Emergency Hospital said it received 22 victims of the mosque bombing, including five dead. There were no further details on the blast that struck the Hazrat Zakaria Mosque in the city's central fourth district, according to Khalid Zadran, a Taliban police spokesman in Kabul. Though there was no claim of responsibility, the explosion bore the hallmarks of Islamic State-Khorasan, the regional affiliate of the Islamic State (IS) group. Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry said that a number of people were killed and wounded in a series of bomb blasts in Mazar-e Sharif, the provincial capital of the northern province of Balkh. Nine people were killed in three bombings that took place after devices were placed inside minivans, according to Mohammad Asif Waziri, a Taliban-appointed spokesman in Balkh Province. The IS group's local affiliate claimed responsibility for the minivan bombings. The claim of responsibility was posted on the Sunni militant group's Aamaq news agency. The statement said IS targeted three minivans with improvised explosive devices. With reporting by AP and AFP A fire blazed near an Islamabad subway station amid clashes between supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Pakistani security forces late on May 25. The following day, the security forces advanced on the remaining protesters, who largely dispersed after Khan issued a six-day ultimatum to the government to call an election. In one incident, however, demonstrators hurled stones at a policeman. Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 9:05PM by Claudio Alves Park Chan-wook and David Cronenberg have arrived. Livening up the 75th Cannes Film Festival, the two auteurs debuted new works, prompting many to sing their hosannas in reverent tones. The Film Experience's own Elisa Giudici has declared Decision to Leave the film of the festival, a sentiment shared by many critics who've celebrated the picture's surprising romanticism and Tang Wei's performance. Cronenberg's Crimes of the Future was less ecstatically received, but the reactions are still positive. The verdict is that the film is less shocking than advertised but more elegiac in tone. Nevertheless, as the director predicted, multiple spectators walked out before the end credits rolled. While anticipating these filmmakers' new offerings, let's remember their past works Thirst's sicko love story and eXistenZ's visions of a violent future THIRST (2009) What's Park Chan-wook's best film? The Korean maverick has directed a slew of acclaimed masterpieces in the last two decades, spanning from the Vengeance Trilogy to the erotic reveries of The Handmaiden. Oldboy is probably the consensus pick, but, for my money, Thirst is his true magnum opus. Loosely inspired by Therese Raquin, this erotic nightmare updates Zola's 1867 narrative to modern-day South Korea and gives the material a vampiric twist. The main plot points remain mostly the same, as does some of the novel's aqueous imagery. However, cinema perverts the French author's original intent, inverting the precepts of what was meant to be a study in temperament, an early example of literary naturalism. Song Kang-ho plays Sang-hyun, a Catholic priest doomed to be a creature of the night by a medical experiment gone wrong. Kim Ok-bin is Tae-ju, wife to one of the priest's childhood friends and soon to be his mistress. He can't resist her wiles or the fragrant pull of her menstrual blood. A torrid affair leads them down a path to murder, with the adulterous woman overcome with sexual hunger, vampiric lust, the scope of her newfound powers. Theirs is a toxic love that galvanizes both individuals' worst tendencies. Tae-ju is particularly afflicted, coming into her monstrous self by embracing the animal inside. As the plot unfolds, violent transgressions accumulate, and even a killer's conscience starts to weigh heavy. It escalates to a fiery conclusion, tragic opera dressed as Grand Guignol. Unafraid of stylization, Park Chan-wook orients Thirst's form around these two wild souls, pitching its visuals to the same heightened register of the cast. However, no matter how saturated the cinematography can become, how baroque the camera movements grow, or the mad excess of production design, no flourish can outdo what Kim Ok-bin's up to as this neo-Therese Raquin. In a fearless tour-de-force, the actress surrenders to primordial forces desires of annihilation and ferocious beastliness. She allows herself to go beyond mankind. In a story full of carnage, her mere presence is the scariest thing on-screen, a hellish vision of humanity overcome. You can find Thirst, available to rent, on most platforms. EXISTENZ (1999) Before surgery was the new sex, David Cronenberg pondered a future where body and mind split through technologically-enhanced derealization. Everything is a game in the world of eXistenZ a Cronenbergian mindfuck if there ever was one and there's no price too large for escapism. That's the business of Allegra Geller, a game designer whose creations can be played through a placenta-like joystick directly connected to one's spine. We meet her on a turbulent night when a focus group session becomes the set for an assassination attempt. On the run for her life, she depends on the help of Ted Pikul, a marketing trainee turned bodyguard. Throughout it all, she tries to persuade him into joining her in virtual reality, so concerned is she with the safety of her game, the fleshy console's health. Indeed, even as Ted panics over not being able to differentiate between what's true and what's not, Allegra's focus never wavers. In some ways, she prizes the titular eXistenZ above her own life. Though the plot takes the viewer on a rollercoaster full of twists and turns, no development feels truly outlandish as the parameters of actuality have been so thoroughly thrown off their axis. In some ways, there comes a point when the script almost starts making fun of itself. And yet, eXistenZ contains one of Cronenberg's most serious statements of purpose as a filmmaker. He pits heroes cum villains in a conflict between Realists and those who threaten to deform reality, materializing a discourse on artistic intent as B-movie warfare. Realism becomes the repudiation of transcendence, and, no matter how ignoble it all might look, Cronenberg's camera prizes the fantastic above the mundane. Even if one is doomed to only experience nightmares, it's better to dream such horrors than not dream at all. Over the years, many critics have lambasted the film for many valid reasons, from its fundamental misunderstanding of gaming logic and VR technology to its thematic bluntness. However, there's value in eXistenZ and its fascinating considerations. If nothing else, the movie contains one of Jennifer Jason Leigh's weirdest turns, a miraculous meeting of performer and role that manages to solve all the lunatic concepts the script throws at her. Production designer Carol Spier is another miracle worker. While delineating the plot's many levels of consciousness, she combines banality and gross-out fantasy to orgasmic effect. Even for a Cronenberg fan, some of these creations can be vomit-inducing. Streaming-wise, eXistenZ is available on Pluto TV. You can also rent it on several services. The Taliban ordered all women to cover their faces when in public earlier this month, urging women not to leave their homes altogether if possible. The militant group said punishments, including arrest or even jail time, would be imposed not on women but their male family members instead. Rights groups say the repressive decree, in effect, forces Afghan men to police the behavior and appearance of their female relatives. As armed Taliban fighters have enforced the new rules across the war-torn country, some Afghan women told RFE/RLs Radio Azadi that they have been barred by their own families from leaving their homes, where they are exposed to increasing abuse. "Since the Taliban imposed this decree, men in my family have mistreated us," said a woman in the Afghan capital, Kabul, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "They tell us that if we leave home, we will create a headache for them. "Now, we frequently face violent and aggressive behavior by [male] family members," another unnamed woman in Kabul told Radio Azadi. Such complaints are rising across Afghanistan in the wake of a May 7 decree by the Taliban that ordered all women to cover their faces by wearing an all-encompassing burqa or a niqab that is common in the Arab Gulf states. The decree warned that if a woman fails to follow the rules, her "male guardian" will be called in for questioning. The male relatives could then be jailed or fined. Female government workers could lose their jobs if they violate the decree. The Talibans Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice on May 21 extended the new rules to female TV presenters, who must cover their faces on air. Erasing Women From Public Life Since seizing power in August, the Taliban has imposed a series of restrictions on women, including on their appearance, access to work and education, and freedom of movement. The rules are reminiscent of the Talibans first stint in power in the 1990s, when the militant Islamists deprived women of their most basic rights. Human rights campaigners fear that the Taliban's latest restriction is an attempt to erase women from all public life. It essentially compels every Afghan man to become the jailer of his own female relatives, Heather Barr, an associate womens rights director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), told RFE/RL. It is likely to increase domestic violence. It is incredibly disempowering and infantilizing for women and girls." Barr says the decree "takes away one of the last shreds of autonomy" that Afghan women and girls still had under Taliban rule. She said the Talibans vision for Afghanistan is an Afghanistan where women have no role in public life, have no autonomy, have no choice, have no freedom, and have no future. Afghan men say the fear of arrest or imprisonment has forced them to police the appearance and behavior of their female family members. We know we are acting cruelly against our women, said Najib, a Kabul resident. But we are forced to do so. The Taliban's religious police have put up posters around Kabul ordering Afghan women to cover up. Last week, Taliban fighters prevented dozens of women from entering universities in the capital for failing to adhere to the strict dress code. Abdul Rahman Tayyabi, the head of the Talibans religious police in the southern province of Kandahar, was quoted on May 23 as saying the group had launched a campaign against women who dont wear a burqa or niqab. Shamsia Azizi, a resident of Kandahar, told the Afghan news website Rukhshana Media that the Talibans campaign is absurd and a mockery. The 28-year-old pointed out that most women already wore burqas in the conservative province where the Taliban first emerged in the mid-1990s. A new lawsuit says a 13-year-old boy shot in the back by a Chicago police officer was unarmed and had his arms raised to surrender when he was hit by the bullet Texas authorities say the gunman who massacred 21 people at an elementary school was in the building for over an hour before he was killed by law enforcement officers Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are up slightly in El Paso County, driven by the presence of more infectious subvariants, but they're nowhere near the numbers seen in January at the height of the omicron variant's transmission, Public Health officials said. As of Wednesday the county had seen 2,816 COVID-19 cases and 41 hospitalizations so far in May, up from the 1,231 cases and 23 hospitalizations in April, said Fadi Youkhana, an epidemiologist with El Paso County Public Health. But those numbers pale compared to the nearly 43,000 cases and 852 hospitalizations the county had in January. Across Colorado, there were 1,557 cases as of Monday, according to the most recent Department of Public Health and Environment data, or about 28 cases per 100,000 residents over seven days. That's a fraction of the more than 15,700 cases about 272 cases per 100,000 people over seven days the state recorded on Jan. 16. Data on Wednesday showed 163 patients are hospitalized statewide with confirmed cases of COVID-19. That's compared to the 1,676 Coloradans hospitalized at the height of omicron this winter, but still a jump up from the 77 hospitalizations reported statewide April 12, which was the lowest number in two years. UCHealth is currently treating 56 COVID-19 patients across its 12 hospitals statewide, spokeswoman Kelli Christensen said. Centura Health, which operates Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, has seen a "slight increase" in recent hospitalizations, said Dr. Michael Roshon, vice president of physician residencies and research operations at Centura Health and an emergency physician at Penrose-St. Francis. He did not provide specific hospitalization numbers. Colorado health officials said last week the state will see weeks of increasing COVID-19 numbers as omicron subvariants BA.2 and BA.2.12.1 remain dominant . However, they expect the latest wave's peak to be significantly below those seen in January and November, when the omicron and delta variants, respectively, were at their heights. Neither Roshon nor Dr. Michelle Barron, senior medical director of infection prevention and control for UCHealth, said they were concerned about the slight increase in hospital numbers, but encouraged Coloradans to protect themselves against COVID-19, because it is still dangerous for high-risk patients: the elderly and immunocompromised, as well as those with obesity, diabetes, or heart or lung disease. Roshon and Barron said their respective hospital systems were seeing limited amounts of monoclonal antibody supply. Some of the initial monoclonal antibodies are no longer effective against the changing virus, Roshon said. Both hospital systems are reserving their monoclonal antibody treatments for patients who are high risk, Roshon and Barron said. Demand for the treatment at Centura Health facilities has overall been "much lower" compared to six months ago, Roshon said. A state health spokeswoman said Wednesday Colorado has "ample supply of COVID-19 treatments." Its supply of monoclonal antibody treatments is tied to its transmission level, she said. Each week, the state receives about 350 doses of Bebtelovimab, an injectable monoclonal antibody therapy. On average, about 25% of those doses are reported as administered. There are about 1,900 doses of Bebtelovimab now in provider offices or pharmacies statewide, the spokeswoman said. More COVID-19 treatment options are available now, including oral antiviral medications Paxlovid or molnupirovir. They're comparable treatments to monoclonal antibodies and are easier to obtain, Roshon and Barron said. El Paso County Public Health is also monitoring additional communicable diseases, like monkeypox and hepatitis in children, county Medical Director Dr. Chris Urbina said Wednesday. An outbreak this month identified monkeypox in 12 European countries, the United States, Australia, Canada and Israel. Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease endemic in central and western Africa and does not occur naturally in many countries including the United States, Urbina said. The virus produces similar but milder symptoms than smallpox, such as fever, headache, chills, exhaustion and others, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC on Wednesday reported on its website one U.S. resident, in Massachusetts, tested positive on May 18 for monkeypox after returning from Canada. No additional monkeypox cases have been identified in the United States, according to the CDC. The county is also watching hepatitis cases of unknown cause among children. Since November, 13 juvenile hepatitis cases have been identified in Colorado. None have been identified in El Paso County, Urbina said. It is likely caused by adenovirus, a common virus that usually causes mild cold- or flu-like illness. State public health officials are still investigating the cause, Urbina said. UVALDE, Texas (AP) It was 11:28 a.m. when the Ford pickup slammed into a ditch behind the low-slung Texas school and the driver jumped out c Mixed emotions swirled in the air, along with a persistent wind, at Wednesdays U.S. Air Force Academy graduation. The 973 seniors, aware that they would only be cadets for a few more minutes, sat on the field at Falcon Stadium, flush with excitement and pride in their accomplishments, eager to celebrate with their families before beginning their careers as officers in the Air Force or Space Force. But the mood was also somber, as it was for much of the nation after the news broke that an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two adults. All of us here today are moms and dads, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and our hearts break for them and for the unspeakable grief that they are enduring, said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who delivered the keynote address. We cannot assuage that grief we know that. But we can endeavor to keep them and the loved ones that they lost close to our hearts and deep in our prayers. So today, we are all citizens of Uvalde. The Uvalde incident underscored much of Austins message to the graduating class: that they leave the academy as part of a new generation of military leaders, charged with protecting and defending their nation during a dangerous, uncertain time. Russias cruel and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has dragged Europe into its largest security crisis since World War II, Austin said. Chinas aggressive behavior is a growing threat. And an ever-changing geopolitical landscape could bring unforeseen concerns. Today, Americas adversaries are testing the very values you swore to defend, Austin said. But Austin said he was confident the Class of 2022 a class that helped produce 18 patents is up to the challenge, having already proven it can handle adversity and uncertainty. In just four years youve seen more change than many see in a lifetime, said Austin, a 41-year Army veteran. A pandemic reminded us that some of this centurys biggest threats dont even notice borders. Americas longest war one that spanned nearly all of your lifetimes came to an end. In times of crisis, cadets learned to work together and lean on each other, Austin said. To illustrate the importance of teamwork, the defense secretary shared a story from his time as an active-duty soldier. In 2003, early in the Iraq War, Austins unit was on the ground, making a dangerous push toward Baghdad. They were protected from above by an Air Force squadron led by Lt. Col. Richard Clark, who now serves as the academys superintendent. Thanks to (Clark), nobody ever came close to us back then, and no one comes close to us today, Austin said. And thanks to all of you, no one will come close to us tomorrow. The academy commencement ceremony was a bittersweet event for three senior cadets who had met academic requirements but refused to comply with a military mandate requiring the COVID-19 vaccine after their requests for religious waivers were denied. In a statement last week, the academy said its board recommended all three cadets receive their bachelor's degrees, but while they will receive a degree, they will not be commissioned into the United States Air Force as long as they remain unvaccinated. The three cadets were reportedly not allowed on the field during the ceremony, limited to sitting the bleachers. As the Class of 2022 goes forth into active service, 97 graduates will join the Space Force, six will join the Marine Corps, and three will become Army officers. But they will always be Air Force Academy graduates, and they should wear that distinction with pride, Austin said. We cant possibly know what challenges and surprises tomorrow will bring, he said. But Im going to report to the president, with great pride, that we now have 973 brand-new U.S. Air Force Academy graduates to tackle those challenges. Sgt. Grant Wichmann is one of 407 names engraved on the Mountain Post Warrior Memorial honoring soldiers deployed from Fort Carson who lost their lives in the line of duty. Wichmann was shot by a sniper at Bari Alai in Afghanistan in March 2010. He was taken Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland and died six weeks later. At an annual memorial ceremony Thursday, Lenora Wichmann laid a rose in front of the stone where her sons name is engraved. Lenora drove from Golden with her husband for the ceremony. Its a way to remember him, she said. Keynote speaker Maj. Gen. David Hodne acknowledged that no service members were lost during the past year, but the lives of those claimed serving their country are not forgotten. This is the first time that we have not added a new name to the Global War on Terror Memorial, said Hodne, the commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson. Gold Star Families who have lost loved ones while serving in the military attended the memorial ceremony alongside active military members and veterans. To our Gold Star Family members in attendance, we are saddened by your sacrifice, inspired by your resilience and grateful for your continued service, Hodne said. A wreath was laid on the memorial by Hodne and Command Sgt. Maj. Adam Nash in front of a central stone with a quote from former President George W. Bush: We will rally the world to this cause by our efforts, by our courage. We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail. Nine stones on either side of the quote have engravings with the names of the 407 fallen heroes from Fort Carson. Laura Muir Mellini knelt near one of these stones Thursday to take a rubbing of the name of Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Griffin. Mellini worked with Griffins wife when he was killed by a suicide attack in Afghanistan in 2012. I wanted to come out and recognize him, she said. (The ceremony) was reminding me what this weekend is all about, Mellini said. All of a sudden, as I was sitting here, I thought, this is the real reason were celebrating Memorial Day today, honoring those who have sacrificed for our freedom. Griffin was also commemorated during the memorial. Command Sgt. Maj. Griffin was one of the finest noncommissioned officers in our army, a leader committed to leading from the front, Hodne said. Hodne spoke about honoring the fallen and their courage, but also carrying on the legacy of their service. We owe them this, he said. Memorial Day is Monday. Hong Kong: Govt strives to promote rule of law Chief Executive Carrie Lam Indeed, today's symposium has its roots in the United Nations' (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This blueprint for achieving a more sustainable future for us all was adopted in 2015. The rule of law is among the agenda's 17 goals, a pillar in providing universal access to justice and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Hong Kong's resolute response to the UN agenda in this aspect was the creation of "Vision 2030 for Rule of Law" in 2020, announced in my 2020 Policy Address. This 10-year initiative is designed to promote widespread understanding and recognition of the rule of law and its importance through intensive research, collaboration and capacity building. In less than two years' time, Vision 2030, together with a dedicated task force chaired by Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng, has made excellent progress, taking forward a number of projects, locally and internationally, to advance and promote the rule of law in Hong Kong, throughout the region and beyond. The results of its dedication are now available in the "Vision 2030 Task Force Report", which was officially launched at today's symposium. The rule of law is a core value and the cornerstone of Hong Kong's success. It underpins the economic development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Hong Kong's enviable way of life. Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal Andrew Cheung, who is with us today, said during Hong Kong Legal Week 2021, "Regardless of whether one subscribes to the thin or thick version of the rule of law, it can be confidently asserted that Hong Kong is a society which is governed by the rule of law." I fully agree with him. With the staunch support of the Central People's Government and the successful implementation of the "one country, two systems" framework, Hong Kong has come a long way as a leading international financial hub. We are, as well, the only common law jurisdiction within China. Hong Kong boasts an independent judiciary and fundamental rights and freedoms fully protected under the Basic Law. That is why Hong Kong is often the preferred choice for multinational co-operation when it comes to legal and dispute resolution services. I am proud to say that Hong Kong is internationally recognised to be underpinned by the rule of law. According to the Rule of Law Index 2021 by the World Justice Project, Hong Kong maintained its fifth overall ranking in the East Asia and Pacific region and 19th standing globally. Looking at a longer time horizon, according to the World Bank Group, Hong Kong's percentile rank in respect of the rule of law was only 69.85 in 1996; upon China's resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, Hong Kongs score reached 82.5 in 1998 and, since 2003, has remained consistently above 90, clearly underscoring the significant advancement of the rule of law here since the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR in 1997. By and large, these results enunciate the recognition of the city's perseverance in upholding the rule of law. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR. We are determined that Hong Kong's solid foundation in the rule of law, and our legal system in general, will continue to grow and serve as a guiding principle for Hong Kong, and a model for the region, in the many more years to come. Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave these remarks at the Vision 2030 for Rule of Law International Symposium on May 26. This story has been published on: 2022-05-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Trend Uzbekistan Airways JSC will increase the frequency of return flights on the international route from Tashkent to Baku,Trend reports via the companys statement. As per company, to date, flights are regularly operated on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from June 5, 2022, they will also be operated on Sundays. The cost of an air ticket in the direction from Tashkent to Baku starts from 2,024,036 soums ($183.62) (without baggage) and from 2,260,765 soums ($205.10, with baggage). Jillian Perez has never accepted free food before, but on Thursday morning, after making a school drop, the mother of four and wife of a Fort Carson contractor found herself sitting in a line of vehicles that wound around an empty field near Mount Carmel Veterans Service Center. My husband is proud of providing for his family, but we need a little extra help, she said. Were middle class, not in poverty, but we still have to choose between gas and groceries in between paychecks. About 150 households signed up for a drive-through giveaway Thursday for service members and related families, said Joanna Wise, spokeswoman for Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado. The event was a project of Feeding America, the nations largest hunger-relief organization of which Care and Share is a network member, and Raytheon Technologies, which employs 3,200 staff at three Colorado sites, including a campus in Colorado Springs. About 20 Raytheon volunteers helped load food from a mobile truck into participants trunks, as part of the aerospace and defense companys $3 million grant initiative for equitable food access, said Sandy Brown, a vice president with Raytheon Intelligence & Space business segment. The charitable program includes addressing military hunger, she said, and is one of several focuses of a 10-year, $500 million Raytheon commitment of charitable dollars nationwide to improve communities. We feel an affinity for military members who protect and serve, and we feel an obligation to help our military heroes, Brown said. Its one way we can give back to this community. Up to 160,000 service members are affected by food insecurity at any given time, said Vince Hall, chief government relations officer at Feeding America, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Food insecurity is defined as a lack of access to healthy nutritious food on a regular basis, he said. Every military family should be assured their compensation is enough to live on in the community to which they are stationed, Hall said. Theyre willing to wear the uniform of this country and protect our nation, and when theyre sent to some war-torn country, they want to be able to devote all their energy to the job thats in front of them and not worry about the family thats behind them. The amount of people who queued up early Thursday to pick up cereal, eggs, milk, mac and cheese, tomato sauce, peanut butter and other staples indicates thats not the case in today's economic situation, said Colorado Springs native Joe Brady, a veteran who was among the first in line for his share. You see so much need in all these cars, he said, gesturing behind him. He says he might be homeless in July, when his lease is up and theres a rent hike. Everything costs so much more, and income doesnt go up, said Brady, who uses Mount Carmel Veterans Service Center for various assistance. Im 78 years old, and its sad I have to beg for help. Its something I never had to do before in my life. Hall is advocating for federal change, including for military families to be given access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. A basic military housing allowance is counted as income, which usually precludes families from qualifying, he said. Local Feeding America affiliates and community food drives host regular giveaways at federal military installations, just outside their gates and in schools where children in military families attend, he said. They dont wear T-shirts saying, Im hungry, but there are kids that are skipping meals because their families are struggling, Hall said. The myth is the only people coming to food distributions are unemployed. The reality is a lot of seniors, people with disabilities and working people whose income isnt enough to close the gap are coming, which tragically includes military families. Gov. Jared Polis got out his veto pen for the first time in 2022, saying no to three bills sent to him by lawmakers during the 2022 legislative session. A 21-year-old man was arrested and is accused in a series of recent killings in El Paso and Pueblo counties, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Thursday. Carlos Ulises Diaz was arrested in Pueblo on May 19 in the death investigations of four men at four separate locations in late April. The homicides being investigated include: Homicide of Anthony Moore at the 20000 Block of Longhorn Point in unincorporated El Paso County. Investigation began on April 21. Lead investigating agency is the El Paso County Sheriffs Office. Homicide of Manuel Zegarelli at 10th Street and North Hudson Avenue, Pueblo. Investigation began on April 25. Lead investigating agency is the Pueblo Police Department. Homicide of Vehto Finnell-Vigil at the 100 block of East 24th Street, Pueblo. Investigation began on April 25. Lead investigating agency is the Colorado Springs Police Department. Homicide of unidentified male at Airport Road and Murray Road, Colorado Springs. Investigation began on April 25. Lead investigating agency is the Colorado Springs Police Department. The investigating agencies do not believe the deaths were random, and all of the victims were known associates to the suspect, according to the Sheriff's Office news release. Colorado Springs police are asking for help in identifying the victim in their investigation. The male victim is possibly Hispanic, and appears to be in his early to late 20s. A composite sketch of the victim includes an "Aztec Eagle Tattoo" on his chest. A still image from video surveillance recovered in Pueblo also is believed to show the unidentified victim. To report information to Colorado Springs police, call 719-444-7000. To report information to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office, call 719-520-7777. To remain anonymous for the cases, contact Pikes Peak Crime Stoppers at 719-634-7867. Colorado Springs residents pushed back Wednesday at a city open house on a proposal to make major changes to the Platte Avenue corridor to help accommodate more traffic as the city grows. The controversial proposal for Platte Avenue would transform it into an eastbound one-way corridor from Wahsatch Avenue to its intersection with Boulder Street. Boulder Street would carry the westbound traffic from its intersection with Platte to Wahsatch Avenue. Some neighbors found this option unpalatable because they expect it could increase speeds along both roads and make them less safe. "Platte is going to look like a superhighway," said Chris Conboy, a Middle Shooks Run neighbor. If Platte was designated a one-way street, the city could also put in a dedicated bus lane and a bike lane. City renderings show the bike lane between the bus and car lanes, an option Middle Shooks Run neighbor Cyndi Long found unsafe. She expected one-way streets could also encourage higher speeds. The city's plan appears in that section to include two vehicle lanes along with a bike lane. "It's a disaster," she said. UCHealth also has concerns about turning Boulder Street into a one-way and how that might impact Memorial Hospital Central. "We anticipate converting Boulder Street to one-way traffic flow will create critical delays for patients accessing southern Colorados only Level I trauma and comprehensive stroke center," said Kelli Christensen, a spokeswoman for the health system in an email. She said the hospital staff would be sharing their concerns with the city. Not everyone shared this view. Dennis Palsgrove, who lives on Institute Street, could see a need for greater space to move east-west traffic. "The city is growing so fast they need to divide the traffic," he said. City Engineer Gayle Sturdivant said the city is aware of the concerns that neighbors and hospital have and staff are working on a revised proposal that would retain two-way traffic on Boulder Street and potentially add a dedicated bus lane and bike lanes. "There is capacity available on Boulder to do some other things. It may not actually fix our traffic problems in the future on Platte, but still gives us an opportunity to make the corridor more usable," she said. The city also needs to fix aging bridge infrastructure in the area, including the El Paso Street bridge over Platte that was hit by a truck earlier this year. One of the options could be to bring Platte up to grade and eliminate the underpass, she said. With those needs in mind, Sturdivant said she expects a general Platte Avenue/Boulder Street project will be included in an upcoming ballot question to extend dedicated sales-tax revenues for regional road projects. The city is taking a global look at its transportation needs to help inform the tax question and voters can get a sense of those projects at upcoming open houses. Some of the projects include the expansion of Marksheffel Road and a study that would examine extending Constitution Avenue to connect with Interstate 25 to create another east-west corridor. Voters are expected to consider an extension of a portion of the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority sales tax in November that could raise $535 million over 10 years through 2034 for Colorado Springs projects, city officials told the City Council in March. The city expects the largest portion of the funding, about $153 million, will be dedicated to road expansion and enhancement projects, followed by roadway preservation projects expected to cost $117 million and bridge preservation projects expected to cost $75.5 million. Multimodal projects including transit, trails and other nonmotorized projects are expected to receive about $47.5 million total, officials said. The plans to improve transportation includes increasing the frequency of bus service along corridors such as Platte Avenue from downtown to The Citadel mall, Academy Boulevard between Pikes Peak Community College and Fort Carson, Colorado Avenue from downtown Colorado Springs to Manitou Springs and North Nevada from downtown to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Residents can learn more about the city's transportation plans at three open houses all from 4 to 6 p.m. The next one will be held Thursday at the Fire Station 18, at 6830 Hadler View in the Community Room. On Tuesday, an open house will be held at Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Drive, in the Venue room. On June 7, a final open house will be held at Colorado Springs Police Department, Stetson Hills Division, 4110 Tutt Blvd. FILE PHOTO: Local residents sit in a courtyard near a block of flats heavily damaged during the Ukraine-Russia conflict, in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine May 20, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. By Azernews Estonian companies are interested in participating in projects being realized in Azerbaijan's liberated territories, Azernews reports. The remarks were made by visiting Estonian Parliament Speaker Yuri Ratas at a meeting with Azerbaijan's Deputy Economy Minister Sahib Mammadov. Emphasizing that Estonia is interested in expanding the partnership with Azerbaijan, Ratas shared his views on the development of cooperation and opportunities for joint initiatives. For his turn, Sahib Mammadov mentioned the role of mutual visits and meetings for the development of cooperation, noting the work being done to improve the contractual and legal framework for expanding relations. He stressed that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the development of trade and economic relations with Estonia. He added that over 30 Estonian companies operate in Azerbaijan in various sectors of the economy. Speaking about the favorable business and investment climate available in Azerbaijan, the deputy minister invited Estonian entrepreneurs to active cooperation. The two men also discussed promoting new business initiatives, investments, and the expansion of ties between the business communities. On the same day, Azerbaijan's Export and Investment Promotion Foundation organized a meeting between Estonian businessmen and representatives of Azerbaijani companies working in agriculture, railroads, logistics, digital solutions, and packaging, holding discussions on expanding cooperation and establishing new business contacts. Earlier, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister Ali Asadov, Digital Development and Transport Minister Rashad Nabiyev, and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met Yuri Ratas. Azerbaijan and Estonia cooperate in different sectors of the economy and 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two nations. The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $6.1 million in 2021. Law enforcement personnel work at the scene of a mass shooting in Robb Elementary School, in Uvalde, Texas, U.S., May 25, 2022. REUTERS/Nuri Vallbona FILE PHOTO: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi poses for a picture prior to meeting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome, Italy October 31, 2021. Tiziana Fabi/Pool via REUTERS FILE PHOTO: The World Health Organization logo is pictured at the entrance of the WHO building, in Geneva, Switzerland, December 20, 2021. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Hunter Biden's business ties to men he believes were connected to Chinese intelligence loom large as he faces an investigation into his taxes, overseas business dealings, and possible foreign lobbying. By Trend The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) has warned citizens about phishing attacks, Trend reports via SOFAZ. According to the fund, the information which has been spread in recent weeks on behalf of SOFAZ and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) about the individual activities of citizens in the oil and gas trade isnt true, and the presented corresponding online platform is fake. The spread of information has no relation to the activity of SOFAZ, the fund said. "We call on citizens to follow only the official information of SOFAZ," the fund stressed. A phishing attack is carried out using mass mailings of emails on behalf of popular brands. The email often contains a direct link to a fake brand website that doesnt visually differ from the real one. On such a site, the users can provide scammers with valuable information enabling them to gain access to their accounts and bank details. FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally to boost Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz, ahead of the May 17 primary election at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. May 6, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah Beier/File Photo Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz speaks at his primary election night watch party in Newtown, Pa., this month. Colorado health authorities have barred a Pueblo primary care clinic from distributing the COVID-19 vaccine and blocked it from participating in a federal pediatric vaccination program, a decision prompted by what the clinic's owner said was an "unethical employee." Thirteen people treated by Family Care Specialists will have to be revaccinated with a number of different doses for different diseases, the state Department of Public Health and Environment said in a Wednesday news release. Among other violations, the state said the clinic didn't monitor and report temperature data, didn't properly store and monitor COVID-19 vaccines, or properly dispose of expired COVID-19 vaccine doses. The state wrote that these issues were discovered during an on-site visit at the clinic. Because of those issues, the clinic can't provide COVID-19 vaccines any longer. It can also no longer participate in the Vaccines for Children program, which provides pediatric vaccines to kids who may not otherwise have access to them. The 13 people who need revaccination received 20 doses between them, including against COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A and B, polio and other diseases. Nancy Moya, the clinic's founder and physician, told The Denver Gazette that she was unaware of the state's findings, or that 13 people would need to be revaccinated, until a reporter called her. She said the findings appeared to stem from multiple incidents. She said the clinic had a site visit from the Vaccine for Children program, which noted several discrepancies. Moya said she had an employee who was tasked with addressing those discrepancies and clearing them with the state. That employee, Moya said, had repeatedly insisted she was faxing the needed information, despite the state saying otherwise. Moya said she eventually became suspicious and planned to confront her employee, who then stopped showing up to work. Moya said she wrote the state a letter explaining what had happened and requesting more time to get up to speed. She said she never received a reply, until a courier arrived and requested all of the clinic's COVID-19 doses. She said the clinic only had expired Moderna, which makes one of the two-dose COVID-19 vaccines, when the courier showed up. She stressed that they weren't administering those doses to any patients. She said she had received Pfizer, the other two-dose vaccine manufacturer, previously but that, because her freezer wasn't capable of properly storing it, Pueblo County authorities said they would store the doses and give her clinic a short-term supply. Moya said the missing documentation is a result of that agreement with the county. A spokeswoman for Pueblo County said in an email that the county was in compliance with all state regulations and recommendations. Moya, who said she's been in practice for more than 20 years, said the suspension of the pediatric vaccine program would harm area kids who would now have one less place to be inoculated. After a trial lasting just over two weeks, Timothy Ray Scott Jr. was convicted on multiple charges of first-degree murder on Tuesday for the double homicide of his estranged wife and her mother, and will serve life in prison, according to court records. Scott is charged with killing his estranged wife, Ann Jolynne Page Scott, 29, and her mother, Tamara Dunn, 59, after several reported domestic disputes between the couple. Ann Scott, also known as Annie Clark, and Dunn were found dead in Ann Scott's townhome on Colorado Springs' north side on March 5, 2020. According to previous reporting from The Gazette, Timothy Scott's trial was delayed several times as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The night of March 5, Dunn was found at the bottom of the stairs in the townhome having suffered 16 stab wounds, while Ann Scott was found dead in the upstairs bedroom with several gunshot wounds to the head. Dunn died at the hospital, but some of her final words before her death were, "he killed my daughter." Timothy Scott was found by officers inside the townhome injured, and was arrested by Colorado Springs police on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder. Last week during the trial, the jury heard testimony from several prosecution witnesses who outlined the actions of Timothy Scott in the weeks leading up to the killings. Witnesses testified about a domestic dispute between Timothy and Ann Scott in February, a month before the murder, an incident which Timothy Scott was arrested for and was later released on $3,000 bond. Witnesses also spoke about the harassment and stalking suffered by Ann Scott at home and at work at the hands of Timothy Scott, and that she had filed for divorce less than two weeks before the murders, due to abuse from her husband. The jury also heard testimony from Timothy Scott's ex-wife, stating that he told her "this b---- is going to get what she deserves," referring to Ann Scott, three days before the murder. Testimony also was heard from a coworker of Ann Scott's that Timothy Scott had said to his wife that he "would like to watch her (Ann Scott) take her last breath." According to court records, Timothy Scott was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and multiple counts of stalking, among other charges. Justice Diana May sentenced Timothy Scott to two counts of life in prison for the first-degree murder charges, as well as an additional 12 years for the stalking charges. By Trend Over 50 teams with thousand of participants from 25 countries participate in the TEKNOFEST International Aviation, Space and Technology Festival in Baku, Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan Rashad Nabiyev told reporters, Trend reports. Participation of investors and heads of venture capital funds in the festival will provide an opportunity to attract investments in these projects, the minister noted. "Today's participants of the TEKNOFEST festival will gain not only cash prizes but also a great experience. The festival will also allow the teams to set up their technology companies in the future," Nabiyev added. The upcoming festival will be held in Azerbaijan on May 26-29, 2022. TEKNOFEST in Baku is held by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan. At the same time, the TEKNOFEST production office operates in Baku. The full staff of the office consists of Azerbaijani specialists. The event has been held annually since 2018, with the joint organization of the Turkish Technology Team Foundation, which is managed by the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology and the technical director of Baykar Makina, in partnership with more than 60 Turkish state institutions, universities and private companies. The goal is to popularize such areas as aviation, space industry and digital economy, to encourage entrepreneurship in these areas, to identify the knowledge and skills of young engineers through competitions organized within the framework of the festival, as well as to present national technologies to the general public. Trend News Agency, Day.Az, Milli.Az, Azernews, Eastweststream, Today.Az and Turkic.World are official media partners of TEKNOFEST. By Trend A total of 11 enterprises within the Azerbaijani Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) are participating in the TEKNOFEST International Aviation, Space and Technology Festival, the SMBDA Board Chairman Orkhan Mammadov told reporters on May 26, Trend reports. According to Mammadov, start-up projects at the festival are being presented mainly in wind and hydropower. "The main goal of the participation of our enterprises in TEKNOFEST is to demonstrate their capabilities and attract potential investors. In 2021, one of the Azerbaijani IT startups attracted an investor from the US. Our agency implements and encourages start-up projects both at the international and local levels," he said. TEKNOFEST in Baku is being held on May 26-29 by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan. At the same time, the TEKNOFEST production office operates in Baku. The full staff of the office consists of Azerbaijani specialists. The event has been held annually since 2018, with the joint organization of the Turkish Technology Team Foundation, which is managed by the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology and the technical director of Baykar Makina, in partnership with more than 60 Turkish state institutions, universities and private companies. The goal is to popularize such areas as aviation, space industry and digital economy, to encourage entrepreneurship in these areas, to identify the knowledge and skills of young engineers through competitions organized within the framework of the festival, as well as to present national technologies to the general public. Trend News Agency, Day.Az, Milli.Az, Azernews, Eastweststream, Today.Az and Turkic.World are official media partners of TEKNOFEST. By Trend The EU should actively promote the peace process in the South Caucasus, German Ambassador to Azerbaijan Wolfgang Manig told Trend. "The importance of building peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia cannot be underestimated. We're pleased by meetings of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with the mediation of President of the European Council Charles Michel. The EU wants to encourage both sides to continue the negotiation process," said Manig. According to him, the EU and its member countries must contribute to the establishment of a peace process, along with supporting the reconstruction and de-mining activities. "I paid a visit to Karabakh's Shusha yesterday, and before that I was in Aghdam. Reconstruction of Azerbaijan's liberated lands is quite a long process. The top priority on the agenda is the return of internally displaced persons to their homeland," the ambassador stressed. Furthermore, he emphasized Germany's interest in promoting the region's economy. "Karabakh isn't supposed to be a museum. It's a region for economic and cultural events where people can live a good life," Manig said. In the wake of a Texas school shooting that has claimed at least 21 lives, Iowas U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley is calling for expanding the Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center with a greater focus on school violence prevention. We've got to keep our schools safe. We can't waste another day, the Iowa Republican told reporters Wednesday. Grassley made his remarks in response to an 18-year-old gunman barricading himself in an Uvalde, Texas, classroom and killing at least 19 children and two teachers. The Secret Service conducts threat assessments in other areas, Grassley said, and his Eagles Act would expand its role to include school violence prevention. The bill is named for the mascot at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., site of another mass shooting in February 2018. The legislation, which Grassley reintroduced earlier this year with bipartisan support and the backing of 40 state attorneys general, would proactively mitigate threats of violence on school campuses by reauthorizing and expanding the Secret Services National Threat Assessment Center. The center studies targeted violence and develops best practices and training to identify and manage threats before they result in violence. The bill would establish a national program on school violence prevention that will include expanded research. It also would allow the Secret Service to equip communities and schools with training and best practices on recognizing and preventing school violence. It would help us proactively identify and manage these threats before they occur, said Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sioux City state Sen. Jim Carlin, who is running against Grassley in the June 7 primary, tweeted: Our hearts break for the families of those whose lives were lost in the senseless shooting in Texas earlier today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them. Dems respond Democrats hoping to run against Grassley, who is seeking re-election, say hes waited too long to take action. How many gunshot corpses does it take for you to vote for responsible firearm ownership legislation? Sioux City Democratic Mike Franken asked Grassley on social media. The voters are waiting for a number Former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer of Cedar Rapids said the slayings left her heartbroken. But, folks, I am pissed off, she said in a campaign appearance Tuesday evening. Finkenauer recalled being 10 years old at the time of the Columbine school shooting in 1999 when Grassley had been in Washington 23 years. Sen. Grassley has sat there another 24 years in Washington, D.C., and hasn't done a dang thing to stop it, she said. He has changed nothing. He has done nothing. A third Democratic candidate, Glenn Hurst of Minden, called for new hate crime laws and "common sense gun laws," such as banning assault weapons and limiting access to ammunition. He made his comments during a recent debate when asked about a shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., that claimed 10 lives. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CEDAR FALLS A place for men to meet in a nonjudgmental environment. Thats what one Northeast Iowa professor traveled abroad to study. Melinda Heinz grew up in Dougherty, just south of Mason City. Now, the Cedar Falls resident teaches psychology at Upper Iowa University. She focuses on developmental psychology in older adults. Heinz said while growing up on a farm, she didnt have a lot of other kids to play with, so she spent time with adults. She said her close relationships and early experience with older adults made her a natural fit for the field of gerontology -- the scientific study of aging. Unfortunately, society often sends the message that older adults no longer have anything to contribute during their retirement, and this simply isnt true, Heinz said. My work focuses on promoting engagement and creating and preserving meaningful opportunities for older adults. She just returned from Ireland after traveling there on a Fulbright scholarship to study mens sheds. She visited 14 different locations while she studied in Limerick at the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest. While there, she and her husband and two children lived in Ballina, County Tipperary, about 30 miles from the university. A men's shed is a grassroots organization run by men where they sharpen skills such as woodworking and painting or just give back to the community. Heinz said its mostly for fun but makes gives them a purpose after retirement. The idea is that men talk better shoulder-to-shoulder rather than face-to-face, Heinz said. Theyre more likely to open up and discuss something if theyre working on a project, rather than a conversation. She said men's sheds are most helpful for single and widowed men, who otherwise might be depressed and sit at home wondering what to do with their day. Men's sheds also provide a place to meet besides bars or pubs which are a big part of Irish culture. Another difficulty for men, she said, is that they struggle with informal networks and relationships. Heinz also said men form most of their relationships with co-workers and, if youre retired, you lose those connections. We think (getting out of the house) doesnt really need to be a big thing, it needs to be simple, Heinz said. People just want conversation. People just want to feel included, and like they have a place to belong. Now that shes back in the U.S., Heinz said, she will discuss mens sheds with her students at Upper Iowa to see if they could work in the states. 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. The student listed below graduated from Mount Mercy University this May. Commencement ceremonies were held Sunday, May 15, 2022, at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, according to their press release. Samantha Doughan of Britt graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Summa Cum Laude. Macy Ross of Charles City graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude. Jillian Heitland of Garner graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude. For over 90 years, Mount Mercy has grown in size and reputation, adapting to meet the changing educational needs of the Cedar Rapids community. Its 1,600+ students come from around the globe, creating a vibrant, diverse and open-minded campus community. A continuously updated undergraduate curriculum, in-demand master's and doctoral programs, flexible online courses, and the region's most successful accelerated program have resulted in Mount Mercy being recognized as a national leader within the Conference for Mercy Higher Education. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mount Mercy University is the regional Catholic, Mercy University that promises students of diverse backgrounds, ages, and faiths a challenging, practical education that inspires them to discover knowledge, build community, and live their values. Mount Mercy provides a forward-thinking, future-focused education, offering baccalaureate and graduate education to 1,600+ enrolled students and uniquely blending a quality liberal arts education with career-focused professional preparation. Rae Burnette is a GA and Crime & Courts Reporter at the Globe Gazette. You can reach her by phone at 641.421.0523 or at Rae.Burnette@GlobeGazette.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. EMS is now an essential service throughout Worth County. This decision, made earlier this week, comes with a wave of counties throughout Iowa working on making EMS an essential service. Volunteer positions and services such as local fire and rescue and EMS have seen a steady decline that has turned into a dire need. EMS services throughout North Iowa have had difficulty finding workers, many counties citing a lack of funds to compete with rising wages, as well as overall disinterest from the community. Worth county is seeking essential service status to open funding for this service: Worth County supports EMS to its residents and seeks to provide Emergency Medical Services to all its citizens and visitors; and ensuring efficient and effective EMS coverage is essential for maintaining the health and welfare of its residents; and the Worth County Board of Supervisors recognizes the importance of maintaining and advancing the level of care, capability, and coverage of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Worth County. A common goal for EMS country-wide is to arrive at a location within eight minutes. According to the National Rural Health Association, rural areas most often take more than twice that time to arrive. This obstacle stacks to create a difficult arena for EMS workers rushing to help residents. Governor Reynolds signed Iowa Senate File 615 into law to help combat these issues. Iowa Senate File 615 allows EMS to be declared an essential service, which allows additional funding for these resources to come into play. This funding often comes in the form of taxation. Worth County has proposed an income surtax or ad valorem property tax to fund Worth County EMS. This tax will be voted on by Worth County voters. If the tax is approved, it is not to exceed $0.75 per $1,000 or assessed value for EMS. There will be a county emergency medical services system advisory council created to assist in researching and assessing the service needs of the county and guide the implementation of those needs. Rae Burnette is a GA and Crime & Courts Reporter at the Globe Gazette. You can reach her by phone at 641.421.0523 or at Rae.Burnette@GlobeGazette.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Montana Story isnt being coy about where its set and where it was shot. Theres the name, for one. No subtlety, no metaphor. Heres a story in Montana. Its the sort of to-the-point brevity that might get you elected for public office around here. And then theres the film itself. It opens with the unmistakable peaks of Paradise Valley, all sun-dappled and postcard ready. Discerning Montana theater owners could do a promotion where eagle-eyed viewers get a dollar every time they spot a little Montana landmark. Theres Highway 86 snaking through the Bridger Canyon! Thats gotta be the Livingston Town & Country. Is that Ringling? It is indeed Ringling, the tiny town making what has to be its first appearance in a film from a major Hollywood studio. Choosing to shoot in Ringling feels integral to the idea of what Montana Story is trying to do. Ringling isnt the soaring mountains of Glacier or the crystalline waters of the Blackfoot. Its a small, middle-of-nowhere town. Ringling is one of those places people like to point to as the real Montana, a tiny speck of civilization dominated by the enormity of the landscape all around. That feeling abounds in Montana Story, a small, intimate drama about people dwarfed by the enormous peaks around them, both literal and figurative. The film stars Haley Lu Richardson and Owen Teague as Erin and Cal, two estranged siblings returning to their childhood ranch in Paradise Valley to care for their dying father. Cal wants to put their fathers elderly horse down, but Erin commits herself to saving it. The story doesnt complicate as much as it gets richer and deeper as it goes along, unwrapping its simple premise until it becomes about abuse, environmental misconduct and broken family relationships. Kimberly Guerrero, Gilbert Owuor, Asivak Koostachin and Eugene Brave Rock round out a cast so small they could all fit in one pickup truck. Montana Story was written and directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, longstanding creative partners. Its the sixth movie the pair have made together, and their first since 2012s What Maisie Knew. Last year, The Power of the Dog, an adaptation of Montana-raised writer Thomas Savages novel, substituted New Zealand for Montana. It was nominated for 12 Oscars. Its not alone. Legends of the Fall chose Canada for its depictions of the Montana frontier. More recently, both Sonic the Hedgehog movies were set in Montana but shot elsewhere, depriving the state of the big money that film productions can bring in. It was the fear of losing more of those that prompted the Montana Legislature to pass the Montana Economic Development Industry Advancement (MEDIA) Act in 2019. The Act offers a tax credit to any production that films in Montana. It seems to have worked. McGehee and Siegel mentioned the tax credit as a driving force behind their decision to pick Montana. The states low COVID numbers during the movies production in early winter 2020 also made it a desirable location. But it certainly wasnt all hard logistics that lured the filmmakers to Big Sky sky country. Were really location-driven film directors, said Scott McGehee. We get a lot out of the location emotionally and visually. They could only achieve that by physically being here. Its an old cliche that locations can become film characters, but there is some truth to it. Montana Story could theoretically shoot in any farm house, but it wouldnt quite work if the audience couldnt see the peaks of the Absaroka range through the windows. Montana Story doesnt just want to look like Montana, it wants to feel like Montana. There's a scene that perfectly captures the abject despair of scrolling through Montana Craigslist trying to find a reasonably-priced pickup truck. News bulletins about the Dakota Access Pipeline and the fear of buckweed encroaching on the Yellowstone River play diegetically in the background, like an ever-present narrator reminding our small town Montanans about their place in the bigger world. One shot juxtaposes barbed wire and a Lexus SUV, new Montana and old Montana meeting head on. Most of the movie was shot in Paradise Valley at the OHair Ranch, in addition to some work in the Shields Valley, the Golden Sunlight Mine near Whitehall, Livingston and Ringling. However, during the writing process, neither McGehee nor Siegel had ever actually been to Montana. It was bit of a blind date, McGehee joked. The story's themes, about the unique combination of landscape and loneliness one finds in the West, came from the directors childhoods growing up near the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. Some of the stories grew out of our own experiences and sort of was mapped onto Montana, through Google searches and whatnot, Siegel said of the writing process. Once the pair actually got to Montana, Siegel said it was familiar on a certain level, but [the state] sort of blew our minds in a more expansive way. Actor Owen Teague also hadnt been to Montana before production started. Stuck in a Bozeman hotel as he waited through COVID quarantine, he realized he could still explore as long as he stayed isolated. Teague went by himself up to the Hyalite Canyon Recreation Area south of Bozeman. He was struck by the natural beauty of the place, especially by the iconic Palisade Falls, which freezes over in the winter. It was just this dripping sculpture of ice, he said. It was so cool. I had a great time filming [the movie]. Teague also mentioned shooting in Ringling, and admitted there was something a little freaky about being in the tiny town. It was just so small, he said. And it was very desolate. You did feel like, youre out in this town and nothing is around. If something happens, thats it. You cant get help out here if you needed it. But at the same time, it was kind of fun. I like places like that. Like many Montana visitors before him, Teague found a respite from the backwoods with the people he was around. Which, in this instance, was the cast and crew of Montana Story. I got really lucky with Haley, Teague said of his co-star. We did feel like siblings. With such a small cast, camaraderie among the actors is even more important than usual. We all liked another and there was nobody else around, Teague said. Its important. And that goes for the whole crew and [directors] Scott and David. I was very sad to leave those people. They became my friends. That cast of friends is, notably, not the racial hegemony of white people often portrayed in movies set in the West. Guerrero, Koostachin and Brave Rock are all Indigenous, Owuor is from Kenya. The cast looks like the real Montanans who populate real Montana. When we started thinking about a story set in [Montana], Siegel said, the Indigenous people were something that we had to and wanted to consider. The central theme of the story is about place and home, and what we call home and why we leave home and why we come back to a place. We thought that the story about this brother and sister had to take into account the other people around them and who had been there before them and who was going to be there after them. Ultimately, Siegel said, Its something that we hope speaks to something enduring. Brave Rock, who had a big role in Wonder Woman a few years back, was the big draw when they filmed in Ringling. There was a family who was living there, Teague said, and they got really excited when they saw Eugene and they took a bunch of pictures with him. They didnt really care about us. But they saw Eugene and they were like Thats the guy. Even the Montana elements had to work their way into the movie. The November film shoot went pretty well, for the most part. But one bit of weather that refused to play along is familiar to most Montanans: wind. The wind itself really played a big part in helping tell the story, Siegel said. Teague elaborated, talking about how the first scene they shot was racked with these insane 40 mile an hour winds. That scene in question takes place at the Golden Sunlight Mine. The giant open pit mine looks like a chunk of flesh was removed from the earth, leaving behind a gaping maw. The wind whips around Teague and Richardsons characters, blowing their hair into their faces as they deliver their lines. Somehow the sound team captured all of it, Teague said. I dont know how, theyre amazing. Its good that they got it, because the scene contains some of the movies best lines about Montana, the wildness of the place and the people who try to tame it. This place always seemed like a miracle to me, Teagues character says. Like they were building something into the ground. Not just digging a hole, but making something, carving one shape out of another. Reminds me more of Dantes circles of hell, Richardson retorts, adding that the mine is just another crime scene in the old west. As most people from Montana will tell you, the truth is somewhere in between. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. By Trend Senior Advisor to Turkish President Yalcin Topcu expressed gratitude to the team of Turkic World media platform on behalf of Turkic peoples and on his own behalf on the occasion of the first anniversary of creation of the digital media platform, Trend reports. "It is important for us that everyone accurately and timely learns about the processes taking place in the Turkic world, so that the Turkic peoples convey their voice to the world community," Topcu said. "I am sure that this important project will open the way to great and significant effort for the prosperity of Turkic countries. The activities of this team are very valuable to us, Topcu said. The 300 million Turkic people, live in a very important geography. In unity, our peoples will live in peace and make a serious contribution to peace. We sincerely support every step taken for the unity of the Turkic world," Topcu noted. The creation of unity in the Turkic world contributes to peace and tranquility in the region, he added. Topcu also added that the political processes taking place in the world at present time necessitate the unity of Turkic states in all spheres. Turkic.World, the first joint media platform of Turkic-speaking countries, is marking its first anniversary. The media platform was launched in 2021 as a result of the cooperation between Trend News Agency and Albayrak Media Group of Turkey with the support of Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Hikmat Hajiyev. Uzbekistans UzA National News Agency, Kazakhstans Kazinform JSC, Kyrgyzstans Kabar National News Agency and Turkmenistans Foreign Ministry have already joined the platform. The platform is available in Azerbaijani, Turkish, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek and Turkmen languages. The professional growth and expansion of the activities of the Azerbaijani media in accordance with advanced international standards became possible namely thanks to the care and attention of President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva. The TurkicWorld media platform being the result of the development of the Azerbaijani media market was presented last year in Istanbul at the Turkic Council's Media Forum and was also the official media partner of 25th International Business Forum (IBF) organized by the Azerbaijani Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) and the Turkish Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MUSIAD). Besides, Turkic.World is the official media partner of the TEKNOFEST 2022 International Aviation, Space and Technology Festival. Helena police are investigating an allegation that Montana's Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen illegally drove by a school bus with its stop arm fully extended. Interim Helena Police Chief Brett Petty said the incident was still under investigation Wednesday, and no citations have been issued in the case. "We should be finalizing our investigation within the next few days," he wrote in an email to the Independent Record. According to a call for service filed with the Helena Police Department, the bus driver reported that he was loading children onto the bus at Alice Street and Alexis Avenue at 7:37 a.m. May 19 when a red Chevrolet Colorado drove by. The bus driver reported Arntzen as the driver of the truck. Per Montana law, a driver approaching a school bus that has engaged its red flashing lights must stop at least 30 feet away. Anyone found in violation of the law can be fined up to $500. Although the incident happened within Helena city limits, students in the area attend school in East Helena. The bus driver who reported the incident is an employee of East Helena Public Schools, the school district's Superintendent Dan Rispens said. Arntzen acknowledged that she drives a red pickup and lives in the area but has no recollection of the incident and was not aware of the allegation until she was contacted by a reporter Wednesday morning, according to OPI Communications Director Brian O'Leary. "School bus safety is a very important issue and the Superintendent encourages everyone to be alert when school buses are picking up and dropping off our children at the bus stop and school," he said in a statement. "The safety of our children must always come first." Montana Free Press was first to report the allegations. Editor Jesse Chaney can be reached at 406-447-4074, or find him on Twitter: @IR_JesseChaney. Love 0 Funny 13 Wow 4 Sad 0 Angry 27 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. Escalating rhetoric related to voter-fraud conspiracy theories is crossing the line into what election officials say are threats against their physical safety, with less than two weeks left before Montanas primary election. Addressing the state Legislatures oversight committee for election processes, Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Mangan said Wednesday hes been working with other organizations to encourage local election administrators and law enforcement to develop plans "for the safety of their staff, polling locations and equipment. Election misinformation, disinformation, the stuff thats happening across the state, is harming and putting at risk our election officials, our election judges, our election volunteers and poll-watchers in the coming elections, he said, adding, "someone needs to stand up and say Montanans need to be proud and feel good about the election practices we have in place and can feel confident about their vote. Mangan cited potential threats directed at election officials in Carbon and Cascade counties, and asked the State Administration and Veterans Affairs Interim Committee to consider legislation that would enhance protections for election officials and judges against safety threats. Mangan also asked that lawmakers play a bigger role in pushing back on election misinformation. I havent had to deal with something like this in the previous five years. This is all new because of the constant disinformation and its coming from people who should know better, Mangan said. Respectfully, its coming from some of your colleagues. Elsewhere in the state, election officials counties have previously said theyve received threatening messages from local activists, while others have described potential threats to election machines and tense confrontations with activists spreading election fraud theories. Mangan also expressed disappointment in the states top elections official, Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, for staying largely silent on election-fraud misinformation and safety threats. The Secretary of States office should be telling people that they need to feel confident in our election processes, every day, he said. Instead we have groups going around, just in the last three days, telling people their votes wont be counted, that there are modems in the machines, that their votes are going to Spain and then coming back It has to stop. Jacobsen has maintained that Montanas elections are secure, and that the machines dont connect to the internet. But shes stayed largely silent while Republican secretaries of state elsewhere in the country have in some cases taken an active role in pushing back against conspiracy theories. Asked to comment on Jacobsen's reluctance to address election conspiracy theories, spokesperson Richie Melby issued the following statement Wednesday: The Secretary and Office work with a servant's heart towards safe, secure, and accessible elections every day. State and local election officials are a key component of those elections and the Secretary has consistently stated one of the greatest strengths of Montana's elections are our election officials. State and local election officials are the trusted source of election information in Montana. Should any election official be threatened while performing the important duties of their job, they should contact local law enforcement. Carbon county's election administrator, Crystal Roascio, wrote in an email Wednesday that she has been in contact with local law enforcement following allegations by right-wing activists that the machines the county uses to process ballots are compromised. I have election judges terrified for their safety and have even had some resign from being a judge over this, Roascio wrote in the email to Mangan. I have been in contact with our sheriff about deputies/reserves in all polling locations. He agrees we do need this, but we are not sure if we have enough to do that. Carbon County Sheriff Josh McQuillan said Wednesday that his office had not received an official complaint regarding threats to election workers, but confirmed additional deputies would be staffed for the election due to security concerns brought by the election administrator. Mark Cook, a self-described cyber security expert who has sought to cast doubt on the states election technology, gave a presentation in Red Lodge Monday as part of a tour throughout the state this week. Roascio wrote that she attended the presentation, and was approached by local activists demanding a hand-count of ballots. Roascio has been embroiled in a recent controversy over allegations that her ballot tabulators were potentially tampered with. In an interview last week, she said the issue is based on a misunderstanding of security protocols for the ballot-processing machines. All counties that use tabulators in Montana are required to conduct a public test within 30 days of each election they use the machines for. The public tests involve scanning batches of test ballots through the tabulators, checking for different combinations of votes and potential errors, and comparing those results to the physical test ballots that were used. During Carbon Countys May 12 public test, an observer noticed the warranty labels on the machine had been damaged, Roascio said. She emphasized they were not the security seals, which she said remain intact. Security seals must be broken in order to access the internal workings of the machines, and are in place to guard against potential tampering. After speaking with the Secretary of States office, ES&S and the certified tech for ES&S and it was found in February 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic, they had to come in and upgraded the scanner boards inside our DS200s, Roascio said. Election Systems & Software is the vendor that manufactures and services all tabulators used in Montana, including the DS200 model. She noted that the company offered to replace the machines, but wouldnt have been able to get them prepared and certified in time for the June 7 primary election. Since that meeting, Roascio said shes fielded numerous inquiries about the issue, especially after a right-wing blog published a post repeatedly referring to the labels as seals and suggesting the machines security had been breached. Back in December, Jacobsen was asked in an interview whether she believes there is any concrete evidence to support allegations of coordinated voter fraud in Montana. She repeatedly declined to answer. I am going to support any effort that improves the integrity of the elections, period, Jacobsen responded at the time, adding that she would work with the Legislature to do so. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 19 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. DECATUR The fun is set to flow for a second year at Splash Cove. The Decatur water park, operated by the Decatur Park District as part of Overlook Adventure Park, 2501 E. Nelson Park Road, opens to the public on Saturday, May 28. Were excited to get everybody back out here, said Aquatic Director Tracy Hewitt. To give them a place to have fun and enjoy the summer. Admission is $12.50 for adults 13 and older, $10.50 for children 4 to 12. Open sessions are noon to 6:30 p.m. This year is the first as Aquatic director for Hewitt. I have always loved aquatics, she said. Thats how my fitness career started, as an aqua fitness instructor. Hewitt witnessed the opening of Splash Cove last year as an instructor. I was just getting to see all the action, she said. Splash Cove will offer popular features, including party rentals, aqua fitness classes, river walks, lap swims and water safety classes. New policies include mandatory state issued identification checks for visitors 16 years and older. Children 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Flotation devices and life jackets are available if needed. Our lifeguards have done a phenomenal job of being rescue ready to keep our guests safe, Hewitt said. They are learning everything from CPR to spinal extractions to rapid extractions and all of the different rescues that are needed to get guests in distress out of the pool. Hewitt continues to encourage potential employees to apply for lifeguard positions. Theres great incentives, she said. Sign-on bonuses are available as well as end-of-season bonuses. Also, refer a friend and youll make some cash that way too, Hewitt said. We want to make sure that our hourly rate is competitive, because this is an important job. Continuous training is provided by the park district. Applications are available at the Splash Cove Facebook page as well as online at the Decatur Park District or at the facility after its opening. The Illinois Department of Public Health allows 999 people in the facility; however, the park district reduced the capacity to 750 to ease safety concerns. In the past, residents spent their summers at the former Fairview Family Aquatic Center. Steps have since been taken to fill in the pool area, leaving only the bathhouse. The site will be turned into a tree nursery for the park district, to grow and propagate trees for use in our parks, said park district Executive Director Clay Gerhard. The existing main water supply line and the existing fencing make it an ideal location for the tree nursery. The park districts plans are to be able to finish grading and establish the nursery by the fall. With the inaugural Splash Coves opening in 2021, the park district was able to take their knowledge into the upcoming summer season. We learned it takes a village to run the facility, Gerhard said. Approximately 120 part-time staff and an army of full-time staff assisting those seasonal employees are needed. Preparing for the water parks summer season requires many jobs, Hewitt said. We have everything from maintenance to horticulture, to directors and pool managers, to lifeguards and aquatic attendants, she said. The amount of work that it takes to open this facility is extraordinary, everybody pulling together to offer the community this place. According to Gerhard, Splash Cove was appreciated and loved by the community. We had over 55,000 visitors through the inaugural season, he said. We are looking forward to our second season in operation starting this Saturday. Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. TAYLORVILLE The Decatur-based philanthropist Howard Buffett told cops from all over Central Illinois that they were the crucial resource that makes this country work. He was speaking Thursday at the Respect for Law Breakfast staged by the Taylorville Optimist Club. The event is both a tribute to fallen officers one of the guests of honor was Amber Oberheim, widow of Champaign City Police Officer Chris Oberheim and also a salute to serving officers. Buffett was the guest speaker and his remarks came in the wake of the Robb Elementary School slaughter in Texas. The philanthropist, and a former Macon County sheriff, did not refer to the rampage there but did contrast the generally peaceful lives lived in America with everyday life in many third world countries with no effective law enforcement of any kind. Without police and courts and the rule of law, he said, civilization is doomed. He said that is the one key lesson he has taken to heart after spending hundreds of millions of dollars trying to improve the lives of the downtrodden in some 88 countries. When I send my daughter to school in the Congo, there is a 50% chance she gets raped, he said by way of contrasting daily existence in the Third World. Here, I dont worry about going to my farm field, he said of everyday life in America. He then contrasted that with living in a country like Sierra Leone, where people trying to farm or go about their everyday lives were terrorized by sadistic rebel thugs. Ive been to Sierra Leone and met with hundreds of people that didnt have hands and didnt have arms, because of the rebel group, he added. Buffett explained that the rebels would hack off the hands or entire forearms of victims after first asking them if they wanted a long sleeve or a short sleeve? Buffett said he has also confronted danger first-hand, having ridden in helicopters under fire or encountering armed men free to do whatever they want. Ive had a gun put on my chest four times in Africa, he said. Sometimes they (the gunmen) were high on some kind of dope, sometimes they are just mad and there is no policeman to call, there is no 911 to call. Thursdays breakfast was held at the Taylorville VFW hall and Buffetts words fell on an audience featuring active and retired police from all over Christian County and beyond. At one table sat former Decatur Police Chief Jim Getz and former Macon County Sheriff Thomas Schneider, now commander and deputy commander, respectively, of the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center which Buffett helped create and fund. At another table sat several judges, including Illinois Supreme Court Justice David K. Overstreet. Buffett told them all: The rule of law is the single most important thing you can have in a country bar none: I've seen it, Ive experienced it. And I can tell you that what everybody does, whether you are a judge, a prosecutor or an officer or whoever you are who participates in our system, you are what makes this country work and I dont think most people understand that; I think very few people understand that. Buffett had opened his remarks with some self-deprecating humor and provided his audience with a quick overview of his namesake foundations global reach. He said it was on track to spend some $300 million this year on projects to help people all over the planet. In ten days, he said, hes heading off to war-torn Ukraine the far east of it, where the fighting is and says his foundation will spend some $100 million there this year to help its battered people. But when it comes to his moment of deepest regret, Buffett returned to his central theme of law enforcement. In response to a question from Amber Oberheim about what his biggest regret might be, Buffett didn't hesitate: he said it was changes in Illinois police training law that disqualified him from running again for Macon County sheriff. I felt like I had unfinished business and I felt like if I had four years there and I might not be walking at the end of it, Im getting old but four more years would allow me to finish some of the things I started. So that is really the biggest regret that comes to mind right away. His greatest joy, despite all the successes the globe-trotting philanthropist has achieved overseas, turned out to be something home-grown in Decatur: his work and cash commitment to support FFA activities for city high school students. He said there are some 500 participants involved and these are students who previously had no exposure to the world of agriculture and ag-business. Its changing their lives and it changes their perspective and I really believe its changing where they are going to end up in their life, he said. Speaking afterwards, Oberheim said she had enjoyed the occasion and hearing Buffett speak. And, she said, she was also proud to support an event that celebrates law enforcement and the lives of police officers, both serving and fallen in the line of duty. We will not miss an opportunity to recognize our law enforcement family, said Oberheim. And today they honored my husband Chris Oberheim and that is something we never want to miss, either. She was accompanied by her daughter Addison and sharing their table was interim Champaign Police Department Chief Thomas Petrilli. He had earlier spoken in praise of both Chris Oberheim (who was shot to death on May 19, 2021) and the work his wife and family have done to support law enforcement. We can never appropriately thank the Oberherims for their collective sacrifices but, instead, the men and women of the Champaign Police Department will continue to lift them up as you have lifted us up over the past year, the chief said. The Respect for Law Breakfast, now in its seventh year, always presents a Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award and the 2022 recipient was Pana Police Patrol Officer Richard Rahar. Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid Love 0 Funny 40 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. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 90F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. ABINGDON, Va. Throughout the month of February, local artists Brett Cook and Richard Graves collaborated to organize #PouncePunk22, a daily art challenge through which they engaged with fellow artists and community members across different social media platforms through a series of 28 daily prompts. The result is a #PouncePunk22 exhibit that will be on display in the Art Lab at the William King Museum of Art in Abingdon, Virginia, from May 16 until June 30. The prompts, which were posted on Instagram and Facebook, were meant to inspire participants to create art through their medium of choice and included words such as drink, reflection, body, power and self. Graves explained participants were then invited to share the art they created by posting it on social media with the #PouncePunk22 hashtag. Some people only participated on the prompt when they were free. Some people did a piece of art every day for the whole month, Graves said. We had dancers, makeup artists, sculptors, all kinds of crafts, poetry. It was pretty, pretty wild. Over the course of February, the campaign received around 1,500 submissions from participants, some of which were created by participants from as far away as South Korea. Cook and Graves chose one submission for each prompt to exhibit at the Art Lab, prioritizing local participants first, as well as days participated and the unique perspective of the artist. Brett Cook, who quit his job to become a full-time artist in November, explained they chose to host the #PouncePunk22 art challenge in February because they wanted to fill the artistic void that normally takes place during that month which tends to be cold and lonely. February is also the shortest month. February is a very dull month. Its cold and lonely, and theres not a lot going on, especially like there are no art shows or anything like that, so we figured that would be a good time to set up a challenge, Cook said. Most drawing challenges are usually either during summer or like Inktober or something, very busy months where theres a lot going on, and its hard to follow along during those months. Graves emphasized the daily challenge gave him the motivation he needed to get back into the rhythm of creating art every day. I needed a prompt; I need an excuse, Graves said. I dont think I would have been able to create a piece every day if I wasnt doing it right alongside others. Visitors to the Art Lab at the William King Museum are invited to share their own prompt ideas for next Februarys #PouncePunk23. The idea is to have it be an annual art challenge where people participate as much or as little as they want, Graves said. For those interested in looking at all the submissions received by Richard Graves and Brett Cook, search for #pouncepunk22 on your social media platform of choice. 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. KINGSPORT, Tenn. Seven years after the Boone Dam was closed for repair, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) reopened the Boone Dam Public Recreation Area, just in time for Tri-Cities residents and visitors to enjoy Memorial Day weekend. Kevin Holbrook, the TVA's senior construction manager for the Boone Dam Project, described the damage that led to the closing of the recreation area back in 2014 and gave a brief explanation of the various phases of work conducted by his team, which culminated in the installation of a 200-foot-deep, cut-off wall. We started here in October 2014. We had a muddy discharge, and a sinkhole developed at the downstream toe of the dam, and so that caused us to do some interim risk reduction, which is lower the reservoir and put in a lot of instrumentation, and start doing some increased monitoring, and we determined we had a seepage piping issue, Holbrook said. We built a cut-off wall approximately 2 feet in thickness, 200 feet deep, and that was to cut off all of the foundation to make sure all of this water does not flow underneath the dam. The $326 million Boone Dam project was originally set to be finished by July 2022. Alongside the repair of the dam, the TVA also built a new pavilion by the lake and added more picnic tables. Nathan and Samantha Blevins were excited to hear the news about the reopening and were looking forward to fishing and swimming. We want to go find some fishing spots, might have to come back, hang out and swim later, Nathan Blevins said. Come out and enjoy the great outdoors. Samantha Blevins believes the reopening of the Boone Dam will give the Kingsport community a place to relax and enjoy the water. It gives people a place to go outdoors on the water. Besides Warriors [Path State Park], theres really not anything like it in Kingsport that Im aware of, Samantha Blevins said. Three organizations assisted the TVA throughout the project: the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Association (TWRA), the Boone Lake Association and the Boone Dam Repair Coalition. Anne Larson, a board member of the Boone Lake Association, invited everyone to come and enjoy some time by the water, which she assures them is well maintained and tested monthly. Its a beautiful lake. Its well-kept. Its clean. The Boone Lake Association water tests monthly, so we know the water is good, Larson said. We want them to come out and enjoy it. Chris Saucier, the Boone Dam project technical director, is proud of the work that has been done and is glad to see that people are already enjoying the recreational spaces and activities that Boone Lake has to offer. For us, it was a big technical challenge. But in the end, its really all about people having this resource back, Saucier said. Its great to see people enjoying it. 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. BRISTOL, Va. A recent state attorney generals opinion could breathe new life into a 2021 plan to establish a large residential development at The Falls. The Falls development near Interstate 81s Exit 5 was envisioned as a commercial center and, as such, is allowed by state law to retain extra sales tax collections to help defray development costs. Last summer, Falls Development LLC, a division of Blackwater Resources in Birmingham, Alabama, requested a special use permit on the site zoned B-3 general business to establish residential housing on a 10-acre tract in the center of the development. Among concerns voiced at that time was whether such residential development could void the citys tax collection ability for the remainder of the center. Responding to a city request, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares issued an opinion that it would not. Because a project otherwise satisfying the requirements for a development of regional impact may include structures such as shopping centers, malls, or residential units and still qualify as a public facility, the addition of such structures to an existing development will not disqualify the project from receiving the sales tax revenue authorized by [state code], Miyares wrote. Accordingly, it is my opinion that the city of Bristol may authorize the construction of residential units within The Falls, a development of regional impact, and continue to receive sales tax revenues generated by transactions occurring within The Falls, the attorney general wrote. City Manager/City Attorney Randy Eads presented the opinion to the council at its Tuesday meeting and said he plans to contact the developers. This item was tabled at one point last year, but we continued to have some internal discussions on how to move forward and then make a determination either in public or, if we choose not to go forward, to notify the developer, Eads said. I would expect us to make that some time over the next month. I have been in conversation with the developer, and he is anxious to get started, if the city so allows. Blackwater, which brought Hobby Lobby to The Falls, acquired the 10-acre parcel in December 2017 but failed to secure any commercial or retail tenants. The site is located southwest of the traffic circle and situated between Hobby Lobby, Aldis Market and Lowes. The firm proposed constructing a six-building apartment complex with 180 total units and plans to offer one-, two- or three-bedroom units for rent. The apartments would occupy nearly nine of the 10 acres with a retail component to be constructed on the remaining 1.1-acre lot, near the traffic circle, according to the previously submitted plans. 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. Here comes the Swoop Aero with your goods. Photo: Swoop Remote Australian communities will soon have unprecedented access to vaccines and other supplies after local drone logistics company Swoop Aero was given official approval to operate its AI-powered delivery drones across long distances. Authorities normally require drones to be restricted to visual line of sight (VLOS) flying, meaning that the pilot must be able to see the drone at all times limiting range to a few kilometres. With formal Civil Aviation and Safety Authority (CASA) approval, however, Swoop Aero can now control a fleet of drones from a single Remote Operations Centre (ROC) from which pilots will be able to fly up to five Australian-built KITE aircraft at a time. The company anticipates having drones delivering health supplies to remote towns in Queensland and Victoria by the end of this year, with the aircraft also expected to help in tasks such as marine ecology management, aerial surveys, and search-and-rescue missions. Each drone can carry up to 5kg up to 130km at speeds of up to 200km/h, or 3kg at up to 175km range, on a single charge. The CASA approval which allows Swoop Aero to fly the drones up to 60km from a base station is a significant milestone for the Melbourne-based company, CEO Eric Peck said in announcing the news. Swoop Aero started flying delivery drones in 2018 in the African country of Malawi, where up to 10 flights per day carry blood samples for HIV testing, drop medications into remote locations, and deliver cold-chain medications that must be delivered quickly to avoid being ruined by heat. Working with global health partners like UNICEF and the UPS Foundation, Swoop Aero has carried more than 750,000 individual items to and from remote villages. It has completed more than 14,000 flights in that time after extending its reach to countries including Vanuatu, DRC Congo, and Mozambique, where it is providing faster delivery of vaccines as well as carrying COVID-19 and tuberculosis testing samples back to urban pathology facilities. The drones also conduct aerial mapping and surveys, giving authorities better views of remote areas that were previously difficult to reach and near-impossible to service especially during flood season, when the remote villages would be completely cut off. UK-based company Skyports is also tapping KITE drones to move goods between ships and shore. AI enables remote flying Swoop Aeros technology has been steadily refined over the years, but a recent overhaul with technology integrator DiUS paved the way for long-distance autonomous flight using edge AI capabilities that build artificial intelligence right into the device, using 5G and satellite communications to maintain connectivity with the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud. The systems lean heavily on AWS services for processing and analysing large volumes of data, as well as AI technologies such as computer vision that allow the KITE drones to monitor and interpret their surroundings. The computer-vision service trained on thousands of geospatial photographs processed by Amazons SageMaker Ground Truth Plus ML service and Mechanical Turk human labellers gives the drones an idea of what their operation and landing zone is supposed to look like. By using cameras to capture the scene when it arrives, a drone can determine, for example, whether it needs to abort its landing if there are people in its landing zone. Swoop Aero has also tapped digital twin technology to build a digital model of each of its KITE drones each of which is built from 17 discrete modules using AWS IoT Device Shadow to monitor real-world performance and cross-check it against expected parameters. Sensor data is collected during every flight, producing hundreds of megabytes of data per flight that is uploaded to the cloud using AWS Kinesis while the drone is landed and recharging. This data is stored in an AWS Aurora database and fed into the AWS Lambda machine-learning service, which scours the data for trends in the sensor data and automatically identifies anomalies. Using this approach, a defective sensor, for example, will be automatically detected and maintenance crews given a work order to replace it. Safety is paramount for our customers, and steadily operating a globally dispersed fleet isnt an easy task, Peck told the recent AWS ANZ Summit conference. With 24/7 operations, manual review of flight operations just wasnt scalable. The new platform allows operators in Australia to fly up to 30 aircraft simultaneously across three continents tapping AWSs low-latency global cloud network to maintain contact with the drones at all times. Integration with external flight-monitoring systems ensures the drones are aware of other aircraft near them and can move to avoid collisions. With the CASA approval allowing it to bring its African flying expertise to Australia, Peck believes Swoop Aero will become a lifeline for Australian communities whose remoteness makes them challenging to service. With every day of flights, he said, we expand our reach and scale to deliver on vision for a world where we can bring economic prosperity to all. Photos of detainees were leaked by an anonymous hacker. Image: Xinjiang Police Files Mugshots of Uyghur detainees, PowerPoint presentations detailing how to stop a prison break, and speeches from high ranking Chinese officials have come to light after a hacker released a trove of documents about concentration camps in Xinjiang to an American academic. Known as the Xinjiang Police Files, the leak includes unredacted confidential files extracted from police networks inside counties of Xinjiang, a region in Chinas northwest which is home to the Uyghur people. China is accused of numerous human rights abuses against religious minority groups in in Xinjiang through forced labor, arbitrary imprisonment, and so-called re-education camps. Some have described it as a genocide. The Chinese government denies all allegations of human rights abuses. The latest documents leaked by a hacker who wishes to remain anonymous due to personal safety concerns show the extent of the detention regime brought upon the Uyghurs. Importantly, among the files are nearly 5,000 photographs of detainees from Xinjiangs Konasher county police departments which Uyghurs in Australia and elsewhere have been trawling through for a glimpse of their loved ones. US academic Adrian Zenz, who was contacted by the hacker, wrote a paper about the files in which he takes a closer look at the documentation of some of the people who were imprisoned. The youngest photographed person is a Uyghur girl named Rahile Omer who was first detained when she was only 14 years old, Zenz wrote. A police officer was notified about Rahile through the Integrated Joint Operations Platform (IJOP) an app used to conduct surveillance and policing of the Uyghur population which Human Rights Watch published details about in 2019. A pair of Australian universities were criticised for their connection to this app via research agreements with a Chinese electronics company. Her detention had been recommended by an IJOP push notification, Zenz continued. The IJOP flagged her as a Type 12 person, a largely self-referential category denoting persons with danger clues because they are in some way connected to an existing police case. The youngest person confirmed to be in a re-education camp is Rahile Omer, age 14 when she was detained, nearly age 15 when her image was taken by the police. pic.twitter.com/Sr0W6Rf2aN Adrian Zenz (@adrianzenz) May 24, 2022 For Rahile, this meant being sent to a re-education camp because she was the daughter of a government official who had been detained during an earlier crackdown on supposed terrorism in Xinjiang. Rahiles father was also classed as a Type 12 person. Her mother, meanwhile, had been sentenced to six years in prison for having disturbed the social order which Zenz calls a generic charge handed nationwide to persons targeted by the state. The Xinjiang Police Files also contain transcribed internal speeches delivered by high-ranking central government officials such as Chen Quanguo who has been Secretary of both the Tibet and Xinjiang Autonomous Regions throughout his political career. In a 2018 speech, delivered in the context of the head of a national security body visiting the region, Chen said that police should have shot protesters during the 2009 Urumqi riots an event which paved the way for the mass digital surveillance and internment that has been occurring in recent years. Zenz, in his paper, argues that the scale of Xinjiangs re-education campaign, the framing of entire ethnic groups as threats, and the attendant extreme preoccupations with security in the campaigns execution reflect a devolution into paranoia. Before the pandemic shut Chinas doors to tourists, border authorities had been found installing an app on tourists phones that scanned peoples diaries, contacts, and messages checking for banned content typically anything related to Islam. By Trend Trend News Agency reviewed the first year results of Turkic.World, the first joint media platform of Turkic-speaking countries, on May 25, Trend reports. The event was attended by Head of Turkeys Albayrak Media Group Omer Karaca, Deputy Director General of Trend News Agency Rufiz Hafizoglu, Deputy Director General of Trend News Agency Sahil Karimli, Editor-in-Chief of Trend News Agency Emin Aliyev and others. While delivering an opening speech, Sahil Karimli emphasized the significant achievements of the Turkic.World media platform over the year. "The Azerbaijani media has entered the essential development stage through the efforts of Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva in this direction. Thus, young professionals interest in the media has significantly risen, the process of improving professional qualifications of staff is successfully continuing. Our primary goal is to convey the realities of Azerbaijan to the world, as well as protect the national interests of the country. He talked about the information battle during the 44-day second Karabakh war, waged by President of Azerbaijan, Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev. "The presidents interviews with world leading media outlets during the war, defending Azerbaijans fair position, served as an example for all media representatives. It was also a road map for our future activities. As First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva said, the duty of each of us is to protect the countrys interests not only on the battlefield, but also in front of a computer monitor. Karimli noted that all this poses serious and responsible tasks for media representatives. "Were jovial that the Turkic.World project has satisfied our expectations. Several authoritative media, as well as state bodies of the Turkic-speaking countries have joined the project in just a year. The media platform's activity in Azerbaijani, Turkish, Kyrgyz, Turkmen, Kazakh, Uzbek, English, as well as Russian languages??allows reaching a large readership and conveying our voice to the rest of the world." Speaking at the event, Omar Karaca and Rufiz Hafizoglu underscored the achievements of Turkic.World media platform over the year. The project brought together the leading media outlets of the Turkic-speaking countries. Turkic.World has already been joined by Uzbek UZA National News Agency, Kazakhstan's Kazinform International News Agency JSC, Kabar Kyrgyz National News Agency and Turkmenistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Rufiz Hafizoglu added that the Turkic.World media platform was presented at the media forum of the Turkic Council in Istanbul in 2021, and also became a media partner of the 25th International Business Forum (IBF), organized in Baku by Azerbaijan's Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) and the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association of Turkey (MUSIAD). Furthermore, Turkic.World is the official partner of TEKNOFEST International Aviation, Space and Technology Festival. Emin Aliyev stressed that the special attention paid by President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva to Azerbaijani media resulted in lots of international projects implemented by Trend News Agency. Thus, one of such projects was the Turkic.World media platform. The Turkic.World media platform was launched in 2021 as a result of cooperation between Trend News Agency and Albayrak Media Group of Turkey with the support of Assistant of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev. CHICAGO A suburban Chicago man who admitted throwing an explosive at police during a violent demonstration in June 2020 was sentenced Wednesday to one year in federal prison. Christian Rea, 21, of Aurora, pleaded guilty last year to obstructing law enforcement when he threw a lit incendiary device at a line of uniformed police officers, injuring several of them, the Chicago Tribune reported. U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin also ordered Rea to pay $13,585 in restitution to the city of Naperville. Officers injured by the device said they suffered from repeated headaches, ringing in the ears and vision loss, prosecutors said. At the time of the June 1, 2020, disturbance following a George Floyd-related protest, officials said the explosion occurred at the outset of the violence. More than 20 restaurants, stores and other buildings had windows broken and some were broken into and looted. At least one restaurant was damaged by incendiary devices, and one person stabbed while trying to stop vandalism from occurring. Rea was among about a dozen people who were arrested. Two burglaries occurred at the same time in other parts of town and may have been orchestrated to take place while police were centered downtown, officials said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sawtooth School for Visual Art will open a new exhibition called "bag(s) of sand" on May 25 in the Main Gallery at Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, 226 N. Marshall St. and 215 N. Spruce St. in Winston-Salem. The display will feature art by Ashley Johnson, Julia Gartrell, Lamar Whidbee, Steisha Pintado, Lauren Guilmette and Jonathan Hoffman. Paul Travis Phillips, an assistant professor at Elon University with a studio in Winston-Salem, is the guest curator. As a conceptual artist, his work frequently overlaps with philosophy, in this case a new branch called Affective Injustice. Phillips says a single bag "operates more as a weight that burdens its maker/carrier more than it protects." But when many bags of sand are put together, they offer a safeguard or a protective barrier. Special programming is planned throughout the run of the show, and a closing reception with the artists will be in August. Call call 336-723-7395 or visit sawtooth.org. About 20 protesters lined First Street near Five Points on Wednesday afternoon pleading for Sen. Richard Burr to "do something" about gun violence in the wake of Tuesdays school shooting in Texas. "Enough is enough," said protest organizer Valerie Brockenbrough. "How many children have to die before politicians do something? As a mother with three children, I could not sit at home and do the things I usually do." The protest started around 3:30 p.m. and a number of drivers passing through the busy intersection blew their horns in seeming agreement. One woman waiting in line to travel west through the intersection rolled down her window and shouted encouragement, saying people need to think of themselves as living in a village. Allison Brandy, holding a sign that read "Stop gun violence now," called herself a retired school teacher who thinks theres "no reason for people to be able to legally buy assault weapons." "It is just crazy," she said. "I wish we could do like Australia and everyone just turn their guns in." Protesters said Burr was not in his office off Five Points, but some said they planned to turn in signatures they were collecting on the backs of their signs. Heather MacKenzie shared a text exchange she has with her daughter, a third grade teacher in Raleigh, who told her mother she had her children reading Wemberly Worried, and naming their fears aloud. The book is about a mouse consumed with worry. Ruby Kinder, a junior at UNC Chapel Hill, said a lot of her peers were taking part in protests elsewhere today. She called it "an everyday thing for students to get text messages about a threat. Sophie Brickenbrough, a daughter of the protest organizer, said shes in the eighth grade. "I think there should be no more children that have to die before there is change," 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 group of local religious leaders prayed Wednesday for the families of the victims of the mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, N.Y., and called for spiritual guidance for people to find solutions to prevent future tragedies. We pause today because our hearts are broken and we dont understand, said the Rev. Charolette Leach, the second vice president of the Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity. We pause because we know that we as parents do not expect to bury our children, especially our little ones. Leach, an associate minister at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, was among the religious leaders who participated at a prayer vigil at Exodus Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. About 30 people attended. We pause because all of the deaths, all of the shootings, all of the pain seem to be so senseless, Leach said. If we are in so much pain, we cant imagine what the families of the victims are feeling. Salvador Ramon, 18, opened fire Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, killing at least 19 children and two adults. Ramon was killed when he was confronted by law enforcement officers. Payton Gendron, 18, of Conklin, N.Y., is accused of firing a rifle May 14 at a supermarket in Buffalo, killing 10 people and wounding three others. Gendron has been charged with first-degree murder as prosecutors work to bring additional charges against him. At the vigil, Wilson Weaver, an assistant chief in the Winston-Salem Police Department, said that 18 homicides have occurred this year in the city. Since Jan. 1, more than 210 mass shootings have happened in the United States, Weaver said. We also need you to pray for those individuals that are so hard hardened, so cold hearted that they feel they need to take a gun and shoot innocent victims, Weaver said. The Rev. Keith Vereen, the first vice president of the Ministers Conference, prayed for the communities in Buffalo, N.Y. and Uvalde, Texas. We pray, God, for a special blessing over this nation right now, said Vereen, the pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Kernersville. We pray for those who are mourning and grieving. For your word tells us, God, that when we rejoice, we rejoice together, Vereen said. And when we mourn, we mourn together. God, we know that some who look at the headlines right now may think that evil is winning, Vereen said. But God, we know that we serve you, and you are in control of everything. The Rev. Sarah Howell-Miller, the pastor at Green Street United Methodist Church, said in her prayer that parents are weeping for their slain children. God, we cry out to you for comfort, and we need it in this world of violence and hate, Howell-Miller said. But more than comfort, we need change. We need fewer reasons to lament and to weep. Howell-Miller urged God to give people strength to listen to young people who are afraid in their schools and for young men who find themselves tempted toward violence and destruction. Imam Joel Saahir of the Masjid Al-Muminun, an Islamic religious center in Winston-Salem, said that people must put aside their differences to unite and find solutions to end the violence. The traumas that we are facing are manmade, Saahir said. It is going to take the community of man to fight against it. Together, we can serve God by serving 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. The quick, pat summaries offered up after another massacre in an American school should have been enough to ruin breakfast Wednesday. Worst school shooting in a decade second worst massacre at an elementary ever. The numbers that back those claims it always starts with stats; the names and faces trickle out later once grim notifications are made are worse. 17 killed at Stoneman Douglas High School 27 slaughtered at Sandy Hook Elementary Theyre obscene. A disgrace. And yet here we sit once more, praying, thinking, raging and waiting for what? Tweets, condolences and a handful of short-lived vigils. Words spoken by leaders who damn well know that this, too, shall pass. Sad facts and figures By now we know the drill, the names of devastated communities and the circumstances. Somebody somewhere delivered a lethal hail of gunfire into the halls of learning in Columbine Co., Blacksburg. Va., Newtown Conn., and Parkland, Fla. If youve really been paying attention, add in Marysville, Washington (five dead in 2014), Sante Fe, Texas (10 killed in 2018) and Oxford, Mich. (four fatalities last November). Uvalde, Texas is only the latest. And it wont be the last. The names and faces, the exact body counts well forget those. Theyve all run together. Were numb. For good measure, heres two more stats to chew on: 70 percent of school shootings were carried out by someone 18 or younger; since 2009, there have been more than 300 school shootings in the United States 57 times the total reported in the rest of the industrialized world combined; and since 15 people died at Columbine in 1999, more than a quarter million students, teachers have been exposed to gun violence on campus. The hell of it is, those are just the school shootings. The list doesnt include churches, synagogues, restaurants, clubs or grocery stores. We are not immune Lest you think were somehow immune or safe here in little, old Winston-Salem, were not. A young man whom authorities say was out for vengeance after being shot himself carried a pistol Sept. 1 into Mount Tabor High School and allegedly hunted another 15-year-old on campus. Hundreds of parents and worried family members flooded a parking lot on a blistering afternoon praying, hoping and waiting for information to trickle out during a long, confusing and sad day. Remember the tension in the days after in which police and sheriffs deputies were summoned repeatedly to the Parkland High campus in response to fights and reports of shots fired? Thoughts, prayers and more than a little outrage were offered up here, too. Of course we have a problem, Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough said after one such mass response from law enforcement. Admit theres a problem. The issue is not going to resolve itself by saying it does not exist. We can no longer say it doesnt exist in our community. As things stand now, any sweeping national action needs to begin in the U.S. Senate, a moribund place where real debate, compromise and occasionally meaningful law used to originate. Politicians, to the surprise of no one, were quick to offer (via Twitter) thoughts and prayers for those killed in Uvalde. Sen. Thom Tillis spoke via social media as did the two major party candidates lined up to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Burr. Tillis flatly refused to consider new gun legislation. The Democratic nominee Cheri Beasley wrote: My prayers are with the community in Uvalde following this senseless act of gun violence. Children deserve to be safe at school we must do everything in our power to protect them. And Rep. Ted Budd, R-13th and the Republican nominee contributed this: Please join me in praying for the children and families involved in this horrific shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Words cannot express our grief over such an unspeakable act of evil. Information about specific proposals such as stronger background checks, banning high-capacity magazines, raising the minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21 why can a teenager buy a military grade rifle but not a beer? or even opening a formal discussion about an assault rifle were hard to come by immediately after another school massacre. Did we mention that Budd, per his own campaign ads, owns a gun range? The 18-year-old legally purchased two rifles and nearly 400 rounds of ammunition. Thats something that could happen at Budds store. Thats not because Budd is amoral or unbothered by the slaughter of children. Budd is a decent man who owns a good business that strictly adheres to gun safety protocols. Rather, the sale likely goes through because its perfectly legal. Thats the problem. 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 bipartisan bill has been introduced in the state Senate that would bar anyone under age 18 from donating blood without the permission of their parent or guardian. Senate Bill 782 was submitted Wednesday by Sen. Ralph Hise, R-McDowell, and a leading Republican advocate for significant healthcare reform in North Carolina. Listed as a co-sponsor is Sen. Julie Mayfield, D-Buncombe. The bill has been placed in the Senate Appropriations/Base Budget committee. State law currently allows those age 16 to donate blood with parental permission, while 17-year-olds can give blood without parental permission. SB782 would amend state law to prevent those age 17 from donating without parental consent. Hise was not immediately available for comment on SB782. Mayfield said Thursday the impetus behind the bill was constituent driven. A former constituent of Sen. Hises who is now a current constituent of mine lost a son after he gave blood, passed out and hit his head, Mayfield said. He had some specific health issues that should not have allowed him to give blood, and his parents would not have given him permission to give. A tragic situation that could have been avoided if parental consent were required. Importantly, the bill does not ban people under 18 from giving blood. It simply requires parental consent, she said. The law applies to blood donations made to an individual, hospital, blood bank or blood collection center. State law does not permit those under age 18 to sell their blood. High school-sponsored blood drives have been a staple for donations for decades, primarily to help address constant shortage of donated blood. The American Red Cross said Thursday that it in the process of reviewing the bill. It said that all blood drives are important because the need for blood is constant. On its national website, the American Red Cross says that those younger than age 17 are almost always legal minors who cannot give consent by themselves to donate blood. Each state determines its own age of majority, which can be different for different activities. Persons under the age of 17 may, however, donate blood for their own use, in advance of scheduled surgery or in situations where their blood has special medical value for a particular patient, such as a family member. SB782 could represent the next layer of extending parental consent requirements in the healthcare realm. In August, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law Republican-sponsored legislation that requires parental consent for 12- to 17-year-olds to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The parental consent element of House Bill 96 requires a health-care provider to obtain written parental consent to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to those ages. The law affects COVID-19 vaccine and any other vaccine available only under an emergency-use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. When the FDA provides full authorization for the Pfizer vaccine, parental consent is no longer required for those ages 12 to 17 to be vaccinated. The main element of HB96 gives pharmacists state permission to administer COVID-19 vaccine and any other vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration, along with nicotine replacement therapy medicine, self-administered oral and transdermal contraceptives, prenatal vitamins, HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, glucagon, testosterone and vitamin B12 injections. Cooper did not address the parental consent part of HB96 in his brief statement on the bill. Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth, inserted the parental consent language into HB96 on July 21, fulfilling a pledge she made in June. Krawiec is a primary sponsor of most Republican health-care legislation. Until HB96 became law, 12- to 17-year-olds were allowed to decide for themselves on whether to get a COVID-19 vaccine based on a state law that applies to medical services that prevent or treat communicable diseases. Youths who have been emancipated from their parents are exempt from the provision. Krawiec said Aug. 3 that parents know their children the best. They, not the government, should have the ultimate say when it comes to their childs health. 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. Senate Republican leaders are making good on their pledge to fast-track a multilayered health care reform bill highlighted by plans to expand the states Medicaid program. House Bill 149 cleared the Senate Health Care and Finance committees Thursday unanimously just more than a day after the amended bill was unveiled by Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth. The bill advanced to Senate Rules and Operations, which it ls likely to be heard early next week. Medicaid currently covers 2.71 million North Carolinians, which increased by nearly 27% or 588,611 people since the pandemic surfaced, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Those who might be eligible under the expanded program are those between the ages of 18 and 64 who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid coverage, but not enough to purchase coverage on the private insurance marketplace. It is likely, the Associated Press reported, that many of those new enrollees could remain on Medicaid post-pandemic if the proposed expansion bill becomes law. As Senate GOP leadership has changed dramatically its viewpoint on Medicaid expansion because of the inclusion in HB149 of several Republican healthcare reform priorities, House GOP leaders have become lukewarm about Medicaid expansion. So much so that House GOP leaders have indicated this week there is little expectation of taking up HB149 in its chamber by the time the short session ends, which is expected around early July. Monkey wrench? After HB149 was presented in Health Care in a discussion-only mode Wednesday, committee members had no questions Thursday before making a favorable recommendation. The few Finance committee questions centered on whether a controversial work-requirement provision in the bill could play a monkey-wrench role in disqualifying access to funding from the 2021 federal COVID-19 relief law. The work requirement for new Medicaid recipients has received grudging support from some Democratic legislators. The federal relief law would provide North Carolina $1.5 billion over two years to treat traditional Medicaid patients if it accepts expansion, and most pivotally, agrees to not put stipulations on enrollees. Legislative fiscal research analysis staff told Finance members they did not believe North Carolina would be eligible if HB149 contains the work requirement provision. In order to qualify ... you cant exclude anybody who would be part of the expansion population, legislative research analysis staff member Mark Collins told the committee. With work requirements, theres of course the possibility that somebody could be excluded. That evaluation apparently was news to Krawiec, who said during Wednesdays unveiling of HB149 that were not likely to get a better deal (from the federal government) than is being offered now. Krawiec said Thursday that in her discussions with state Health Secretary Kody Kinsley he did not mention that we may not be qualified. So, thats an interesting note. Sen. Paul Newton, R-Cabarrus, and Finance co-chairman, responded to questions about the federal relief funding by saying that theres gray area there as to whether we would be eligible or not. Its TBD (to be determined), but its a fair current reading of the (federal relief act). A work requirement passed by the Arkansas and New Hampshire legislatures has been struck down by federal courts. In March 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court said it would not hear additional arguments on the appeals made by the two states. Berger said Wednesday the plan is to pass the bill with the work requirement included, and then well deal with whether or not we can convince the Biden administration or the courts that this is the right thing to do. Berger said that, while the work requirement is being litigated, enrollees would remain eligible and not be denied. New reality Berger and Krawiec said Wednesday that most GOP Senate leaders have embraced a new reality about Medicaid expansion in advocating for HB149. Medicaid expansion has now evolved to the point that it is good state fiscal policy and helps us address the mental health crisis were facing, Berger said. Their support, however, hinges on a give-and-take legislative proposal that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Democratic leaders are willing to accept several long-term GOP health care reform plans in order to expand Medicaid coverage. Those include easing restrictions that could allow more health care providers, including for-profits, to enter the states marketplace. Coopers office said the progress on Medicaid expansion is encouraging and that the governor will carefully review this legislation. Berger said recent Medicaid reform legislation, highlighted by the managed care transition that began in July, has made the states system capable of handling the additional (450,000 to 650,000) people who will be covered without creating problems for the state budget. It was a broken program that was mismanaged and burdened taxpayers with billion-dollar shortfalls on a regular basis, Berger said. Fortunately, over the past decade, Republican leadership in the General Assembly has turned Medicaid around in N.C. with eight straight years of solid Medicaid budgets without cost overruns. GOP bill priorities Berger emphasized that Senate GOP leaders believe Medicaid expansion needs to happen with additional reforms, including the very real supply-side issues that prevent North Carolinians from accessing care. Perhaps foremost is easing some restrictions on certificates of need, which health care providers must obtain from the state before building new health care centers or adding certain equipment. Easing that restriction could allow for more competition, including from for-profit groups, for medical procedures. The states not-for-profit health care systems have opposed weakening certificate-of-need laws out of concern that large for-profit groups would enter North Carolina and cherry-pick the more lucrative services, leaving the not-for-profits treating the sickest patients, likely without health insurance, who come into emergency departments. Other key elements of the proposed Medicaid expansion: permitting nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and nurses with other advanced specialties to practice without a physicians formal supervision; requiring health insurers in the state to cover telehealth services; and requiring in-network health facilities to alert consumers when out-of-network providers are scheduled to provide care. Krawiec said the proposed bill pairs with many other policy changes that will improve access to care, emphasizing reforming the certificate-of-need laws that I have been working on since I got here. Berger said that we must do something to improve health care, especially expand access and control costs. We need coverage in North Carolina for the working poor. 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. Another mass shooting I am frustrated and angry about yet another mass shooting. We have talked and talked about this for decades! And done nothing! We must act now; there must be something we can all agree on that might save at least one life. And do not insult my intelligence by suggesting that the solution to gun violence is more guns. I have no desire to live in the Wild West where it was every man for himself. A democratic government is supposed to represent the people. I do not feel represented by my elected officials. The focus has been on obstruction and not governance for way too long. Our country would not even be a country without compromise and yet our elected officials have abandoned compromise. We grow, change and reform or we die. Right now, as a country, we are dying. Remember the exact wording of the Second Amendment: A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. Well regulated regulating access to guns is a reasonable interpretation of this wording. Sensible gun laws including universal background checks and waiting periods. Even considering banning high-capacity magazines should be on the table. If the federal government cannot or will not act, then it is up to our state government to do something! Amy Hunter Clemmons After the massacres After the massacres in Buffalo and Uvalde, if we continue to vote for firearm-gnostic politicians (Guns dont kill people, people kill people), were no longer just voters, were accomplices. (See I Kings 18:21.) Bill J. Leonard Winston-Salem Gun insanity To our legislators: Yet more gun insanity. Please dont tell me about your thoughts and prayers, a need for mental health treatment or the right to bear arms, which dates back to a time when we were defending against the British. We have more guns than people, and every morning we wake to see more destruction from guns in our community. And now, more little schoolchildren dead at the hands of a gunman. What is it going to take to have reasonable gun laws: background checks, training, licensing and registration of all firearms? We do it with cars and we verify identity for travel. It is long past due to have enforcement for ownership of deadly weapons. Robyn Mixon Winston-Salem How many more? Another mass shooting occurred in America on Tuesday that killed 19 children and two teachers. Having more than 400 million firearms in our society has not made us safer. The death toll from the 274 mass shootings since 2009 exceeds 1,500 in the United States according to the Everytown for Gun Safety organization. We continue to do nothing about this terrible slaughter. Our children cannot go to their schools, their malls and places of worship without the possibility and the fear that their lives will be taken away by those who hate and are mentally unstable. How many more mass shootings will there be and how many more parents will mourn the loss of their kids before our elected representatives do something? How many more Columbines, Sandy Hooks and Parklands before we come together as a people to prevent this horror from happening again? Tim Miles Mount Airy Violent disease America: We have a problem! We continue to be severely plagued by terrible gun violence. What possesses us as a nation to enable the citizens of our country to have such lax laws that too many suffer from gun violence and gun deaths? Multiple gun safety bills have been passed in the U.S. House by Democrats. All are languishing in the Senate, sitting on Minority Leader Mitch McConnells desk. Are Republican policymakers OK with the 19 children and two adults killed in an elementary school or the 10 killed in a grocery store less than two weeks ago? Thoughts and prayers are meaningless without action. The people of North Carolina demand that Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis listen to the American people, listen to your constituents and listen to the speeches of Sen. Chris Murphy. No one is proposing to take guns away from legal gun owners, but many are asking: Will you remain silent and complacent, or will you start passing gun safety bills to stop this violent disease that is killing innocent victims in our country? Carol Ashley Winston-Salem A sick obsession People gunned down in a supermarket. Children gunned down at school. Now come thoughts and prayers. Speeches. Recriminations. Pious denunciations of gun violence by politicians and all those who do nothing. The ridiculous distortion of the Second Amendment. The cluck-clucking. Next comes news coverage of many funeral corteges. Tear-stained, contorted faces of the grief-stricken will say it all. Then comes the wait. The short wait for another mass shooting. We have millions of guns. We also have millions of normal American gun owners who have harmed no one. They respect firearms, are responsible, safety-conscious, careful, lawful. They are appalled by murder and would hardly be any less so just because a gun was used. Are we to say to someone who feels they need a handgun for self-protection that they really dont? To a rancher in Montana that they dont really need their rifle or shotgun? Does anyone honestly believe that commonsense gun regulations would not reduce the carnage? That red flag laws, universal background checks, training, storage and insurance regulations, for example, wouldnt help? Yes, gun violence is supposed to be complicated, protracted, implacable. It isnt. We put up with gun violence only because of the small minority that has a sick obsession with guns. I feel sorry for them. They are sick and need our help. We must have the courage to be the agents of reality and get these sick people, and consequently our nation, the help they may not want, but so desperately need. Andy Miller Kernersville Horrified Everyone is horrified at the school shooting in Texas. Rep. Ted Budd says he is, but who is the only person running for office in North Carolina who ends his campaign ad by shooting a gun? Actions speak louder than words. John McKenzie Pilot Mountain The Lincoln Airport is finally getting its long-desired flight to Texas. The Airport Authority on Thursday approved a contract with United Airlines, which plans to start new daily service to Houston around Sept. 1. Airport Executive Director David Haring said United still has to sign off on the deal, something he expects to happen next week. Haring said details are still being worked out, but the once-a-day flights, which will be on 50-seat regional jets, will likely depart Lincoln early in the morning, around 6:30 a.m., and return around 8:30 p.m. "That's an ideal schedule for us as a business market," Haring said. Houston George Bush International Airport is a United Airlines hub with connections to U.S. and international destinations, including numerous locations in Mexico, central and south America and the Caribbean. Airport Authority Chairman Zachary Mora James called the new service "a shot in the arm" for the airport, which lost Delta Air Lines earlier this year and is in the midst of a $55 million terminal renovation and expansion project. "This is a huge deal for us," Mora James said. Before Delta pulled out of the market, it was providing service to Minneapolis and Atlanta. Airport officials have been trying for several years to entice an airline to start service to the Lone Star State. In 2018, the airport received a $750,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration aimed at getting American Airlines to start service to Dallas. But the airline never showed much interest, and last year, the airport convinced the FAA to amend the grant to allow Lincoln to pursue flights to any hub airport in Texas. That opened the door for United, which already serves the Lincoln Airport with flights to Chicago and Denver, to consider starting Houston service. Haring said United will utilize the grant, which provides a revenue guarantee to make up any losses it incurs in starting up the flight and includes $250,000 each in local match funds from the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The airport also will provide other perks, such as free marketing and waiving gate and landing fees for the first year of the service. United did not, however, seek any of the $3 million in stimulus funds the city and county have earmarked to help the airport attract air service. Another factor that Haring said played a big role in United agreeing to start the service is the location of a CommutAir maintenance base at the airport. CommutAir, which is a regional airline that flies for United, opened the four-bay maintenance hangar last year to service the company's 50-seat regional jets. "I don't believe (the Houston flight) would be possible without that maintenance base being here," Haring said. In addition to Denver, Houston is one of CommutAir's operation centers. Charlie Denton, the airline's Lincoln base manager, said in a statement that Lincoln "has quickly become a strategic link in support of our growing route network." Haring said the announcement of the Houston flight is the first tangible evidence the airport has been able to show the public that it is recovering from the pandemic. Though passenger traffic at the airport remains about 50% below where it was in 2019, it continues to grow from the depths of the downturn in 2020 and early 2021. Through April, the airport had seen more than 47,000 passengers, which was double the number it had in the first four months of last year. Haring said the airport continues to work to bring more air service to Lincoln, potentially utilizing the $3 million in stimulus funds the city and county have earmarked for that purpose. "I'm hopeful that this service is the first of several opportunities to come to fruition in the near future," he said. Jason Ball, president and CEO of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, praised airport officials for landing the Houston flight, saying it is "going to be nothing but good for the Lincoln Airport." Ball said the flight also will be a good thing for the city as a whole, giving travelers a new destination and also making it easier for visitors to come to the city. "We know this is going to be important for Lincoln's economy," he said. Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. General Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo, President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, has sent a congratulatory letter to Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Excellency, I have the pleasure to convey to you my warm congratulations on the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan and would also like to express my best wishes for the well-being of the People of your country. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. General Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau The proposed redevelopment of the Gold's Building at 1033 O St. has cleared its first hurdle as developers explore the possibility of drawing from an occupation tax to help fund extensive improvements. The Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission on Wednesday voted to recommend that the first phase of the project conforms to the city-county Comprehensive Plan. Developer Mike Works is proposing to renovate the six-story northern part of the building into 110 hotel rooms with 6,000 square feet of retail or restaurant space on the first floor. He has not said which brand the hotel would be but has previously described it as a "limited-service hotel." The $24 million project would also include the demolition of the building at 1023 O St., directly to the west of the Gold's Building, with the space then used as either a hotel entrance or open space. The southern, four-story portion of the Gold's Building also would be demolished, although that was not included in what was approved Wednesday. There are no immediate plans for what would go on the site after demolition. Andrew Willis, an attorney representing the developer, said the building has been a "challenge" to develop. At least two other proposals -- one for a hotel and one for apartments -- fell through. Demolishing the southern half of the building, he said, is "really the only way to make it work functionally to preserve the original six-story tower." That part of the building was built in 1926 and has historical significance. In addition to seeking about $4.2 million in tax-increment financing, which would allow the future property taxes the redevelopment generates to pay for certain upfront costs, the developer also is considering seeking to have it designated as an Enhanced Employment Area. If the City Council were to approve the designation, it would allow for a 2% occupation tax on general retail and hotel revenue and a 1% occupation tax on restaurant and bar revenue, with the proceeds reinvested in the development. The only development in Lincoln that currently draws from an occupation tax is SouthPointe Pavilions, which collects a 1% additional tax on most sales to pay for a parking garage that was built as part of the expansion of Scheels. Willis did not give a timeline for starting construction on the project, which still must be approved by the City Council. Works previously said that if everything went as planned, the hotel could open before the end of 2023. In other business Wednesday, the Planning Commission approved a zoning change for the proposed redevelopment of the Bishop Heights shopping center at 27th Street and Nebraska 2. A trio of developers is planning a 230-unit apartment complex, retail and office space and a potential hotel on the site. The commission recommended approval of a planned unit development designation, which gives the developers flexibility on what uses they can have and where they put them in the nearly $90 million project. A waiver was included that would allow both the apartment buildings and a hotel, if one is built, to be up to 65 feet tall, about 60% taller than what the zoning on the site would normally allow. The potential height of the buildings is one concern of neighbors. Others include the density of the development, which many believe will worsen traffic congestion in the area, and the inclusion of a residential lot on Kucera Drive on the north side of the site into the commercial area. Only one person spoke in opposition to the plan at Wednesday's hearing, however. Another, Kim Hachiya, termed her testimony as "neutral." She said she was in favor of redeveloping the property but feels the scope is excessive, describing it as "putting 20 pounds of potatoes into a 10-pound sack." Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. This weekend, families across the city are cannonballing into Memorial Day with an agenda full of water activities. But while parents lounge lakeside and slather their kids with sunscreen, it may be easy for little ones to wade into danger. A district judge has sentenced a 21-year-old Lincoln man to probation for his part in a failed plot to rob a drug dealer in 2019 that resulted in his friend being shot and killed by another drug dealer who lived nearby. Karrar Al-Mansuri pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. Last month, on the stand at Majdal Elias' trial for the murder of 15-year-old Ali Al-Burkat, Al-Mansuri admitted he'd been part of a plan to rob another Lincoln man who lived at The Links apartment complex of marijuana and money on the night of Sept. 29, 2019. Al-Mansari went to the apartment of the would-be victim, on the east side of the apartment complex. (Elias lived on the west side). Four others, including Al-Burkat, followed in a Chevy Malibu, then left and came back a half-hour later or so to rob the dealer at gunpoint. But the driver missed his turn. Prosecutors said Elias, who admittedly sold marijuana he brought back from Colorado, spotted a suspicious-looking car driving through his apartment complex and thought they were there to rob him. They said he followed, pulled alongside the car, pointed a pistol and yelled something like "you're busted." Then, he shot at the car, hitting Al-Burkat. At trial, Elias said it wasn't him. He just lived nearby. But the jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and three weapons charges last month. Last week, Lancaster County District Judge Lori Maret sentenced him to 90 to 140 years in prison. On Thursday, Al-Mansuri said he's made a lot of mistakes. But he's matured. "I lost somebody dear to me," he said. "But I just really hope the court can consider the progress that I have made." His attorney, Kurt Leffler, said the circumstances that brought them there fell under the law of unintended consequences. "The issue is what has he done since then," he said, arguing for probation. Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jeff Mathers said there's no question, Ali Al-Burkat wouldn't have been there that night if not for Al-Mansuri. But Al-Mansuri came forward soon after lying to police to tell them what really happened. And he's been working hard and doing the right things since. In the end, Maret told Al-Mansuri that living a better life is how he "could help to not have Mr. Al-Burkat's life and what happened that night be the end of your story or his." And she sentenced him to five years of probation. Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger 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. A 17-year-old boy sustained non-life-threatening injuries after he was shot Wednesday night near Seacrest Field in east Lincoln, according to the Lincoln Police Department. The boy arrived at a local hospital with a grazing gunshot wound to the left side of his head at about 7:30 p.m., police said. Officers determined that the victim and several others met up with another group at Seacrest Field following a social media feud. Lincoln Police Capt. Todd Kocian on Thursday said the exact nature of the feud is unclear. A Lincoln Public Schools spokesperson said it's believed the shooting, which took place near Lincoln East High School, was not connected to an incident at school. It's unclear if the teens are students at LPS, the spokesperson said. As the two groups met, a boy wearing a mask over his face exited a vehicle with a handgun and shot at least twice toward another vehicle, striking both the vehicle and the victim, Kocian said. A 15-year-old boy was later arrested after police served a search warrant at his residence. Kocian said investigators haven't found the gun thought to have been used in the shooting. Ultimately, the 15-year-old was lodged in the Lancaster County Youth Services Center on suspicion of second-degree assault, use of a weapon to commit a felony and discharging a firearm into a vehicle. Kocian said it's unclear whether the 17-year-old is still hospitalized. 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. Rain spit down on a gray Wednesday as Officer Mario Herrera's family and fellow Lincoln police officers packed into a third-floor courtroom and an overflow courtroom to watch a judge sentence the teen who shot and killed him in 2020. Felipe Vazquez, now 19, was 17 on Aug. 26, 2020, when he tried to escape from police who came to arrest him on the other side of his brother's locked bedroom door, breaking the window, jumping out and firing off three shots from a stolen gun. "Society needs to be protected from Mr. Vazquez's dangerousness," Lancaster County District Judge Andrew Jacobsen said, before reading through each of seven counts. He started with 70 years in prison to life for first-degree murder. Then went on to 59 to 86 years more for attempted assault on a second officer, escape and four gun charges. The sentence means Vazquez won't be eligible for parole for roughly 70 years. First-degree murder, as charged here, typically comes with an automatic life sentence. But because he was under 18 at the time, he faced 40 years to life, under Nebraska law. "In my mind, the most important factor in this case is the age of Mr. Vazquez at the time these crimes were committed," said his attorney, Nancy Peterson, arguing for the judge not to give a life sentence. "He was little more than a child." She said the law recognizes that 17-year-olds are different, and their brains still are developing. Coupled with his lack of opportunity and role models, she said, it helps to understand how he got to Aug. 26. "Our hearts break for the Herrera family and for the community and everyone who lost a friend and colleague," she said. Then, Vazquez offered a brief apology to the family for his actions, which cost Herrera his life. "To the family of Mario Luis Herrera, I know times have been hard without him. Due to my poor decision-making, you're at a loss. But when comfortable, I ask for y'all forgiveness," the teen said. Moments later, an at times tearful Adelina Herrera, who was 18 when her father was killed, stood at a podium, directing her comments to "the kid who killed my dad." "On Sept. 7, 2020, my dad died and so did you," she said. "Your life ended the moment you shot and killed my dad, as living is more than just an existence." Adelina Herrera said as she celebrates birthdays, graduates college, gets married someday and has kids of her own and grows old, Vazquez will still be sitting in a cell, the same 17-year-old kid that killed her dad. Her dad's life wasn't meant to end early, she said, but at 50, he had a full and complete life. "I could list off every single good quality he had, all of the good things he did and what an amazing police officer and person he was. But you don't care. You didn't care when you pulled the trigger and you don't care now," Adelina Herrera said, calling Vazquez a coward who deserved everything he gets. Then, Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon said: "They say this was a thoughtless and impulsive act, and that's how somebody that age acts. Yet for 20, 25 minutes he sat there negotiating with the officers, making up his mind which way he was going to go." Out the door into the hallway, where he knew officers were waiting, or out the window and into the street, where he knew at least one officer was. Condon said Vazquez made that choice, and when he got into the street it was either the officer or him. "By imposing the sentence, we tell Mr. Vazquez there are consequences to your actions and that you will not give him the opportunity to hurt another person, another family or another community again," he said. In the end, Jacobsen said the court and the jury believed Vazquez's intentions were clear: He was shooting to wound or kill the officers in an attempt to escape. After his arrest, just hours after having shot Herrera, he was recorded spitting on the floor of the interrogation room, singing rap songs and flashing gang signs to a camera. "This is an indication to me that he harbored little to no remorse for his actions," Jacobsen said. After sentencing, dozens of police officers poured out into the hallway and headed back down to the police station. Celia Herrera, who is 17 now, stood beside her siblings and mother, Carrie Herrera. "I think we're all glad that it's finally over," she said. "None of this will bring my dad back, but it's a little bit of peace of mind." Carrie Herrera said you never want to ask why us. "But you kind of ask, 'God, why did it happen to Mario' and, 'Why was their dad taken away.' Such a senseless act," she said. Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger Love 2 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. If Wednesday hadn't been the last day for students at Lincoln Public Schools a day typically set aside for fun activities Sarah Sorensen would've kept her 7-year-old son at home. Watching tragedy unfold hundreds of miles away at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, had unnerved Sorensen, whose son is a first grader at Wysong Elementary. "It's an overwhelming feeling," Sorensen said. "You just want to hold your family a little bit closer." It was a feeling shared by many families on Wednesday, a day after an 18-year-old opened fire with an assault rifle on a fourth grade classroom at Robb Elementary in a largely Hispanic community west of San Antonio, killing 19 students and two adults. When Sorensen saw the news, she bounced between sadness, anger and hopelessness. "I was in middle school when Columbine happened," she said. "Here I am grown with my own children and it's still happening." The attack in a Texas classroom rekindled debates about gun control and school safety across the country. Kevin Haake said the shooting weighed on his mind on Wednesday as he took his daughter to Schoo Middle School for her last day of eighth grade. "It should be a day of celebration (but) I find myself thinking about it quite a bit," he said. He said it's tragic that the U.S. has "done so little" since the Sandy Hook massacre, in which 26 people were killed including 20 children in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012. He would like it to be more difficult to purchase guns, including high-caliber assault rifles. LPS Superintendent Steve Joel said attacks like the one in Uvalde "shake society to its core," but added that Wednesday was "business as normal" as he made stops around the district on the last day of school. "I'm sure there were some parents who might have kept their kids home," Joel said in a joint news conference with Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins on Wednesday morning. "I'll say that our schools are safe, and in many ways, safer than a lot of other places." The shooting in Texas appeared to have no significant effect on attendance in Lincoln on Wednesday. In fact, more students were in school than the previous two days. Ewins said there were increased patrols around schools on Wednesday, and LPS Security Director Joe Wright said administrators provided increased visibility. After the Sandy Hook massacre, LPS and LPD began to work closely on threat assessment and violence prevention at schools. An interlocal agreement between the city and LPS signed in 2018 also added six school resource officers to work in the district's 12 middle schools, in addition to officers already in place in high schools. The agreement also provided LPS with a full-time police investigator assigned to the district's threat assessment team, Wright said. Each school also has its own security team, comprised of administrators at the elementary and middle school level and campus supervisors at high schools. But an attack like the one Tuesday makes Wright think about the gaps that may still exist in the system. "I get paid to worry about that," he said. For Sorensen, the conversation around gun control and better mental health resources for those in need cannot be delayed. "We can all agree," she said, "something needs to change." Contact the writer at zhammack@journalstar.com or 402-473-7225. On Twitter @HammackLJS Love 0 Funny 2 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. The unrelenting rain on Tuesday and Wednesday dropped 2 inches of precipitation across a wide area, helping to further ease drought conditions as the calendar approaches June. As of early Thursday morning, Beatrice had recorded more than 2.5 inches of rain over the past 48 hours. Falls City and Plattsmouth had also recorded more than 2 inches, while Lincoln's total stood at 1.99 inches. The steady rain and cloud cover also kept temperatures much cooler than normal. Lincoln's high of 53 on Wednesday set a record for the lowest high temperature ever recorded for the date. The normal high is 79. Those who prefer it warmer will get their wish, however, as summer-like heat is expected to move in for the Memorial Day weekend. Lincoln's forecast calls for a high of 81 on Friday, 86 on Saturday, 94 on Sunday and 92 on Monday. Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz. 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. OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) Washington Gov. Jay Inslee was quick to react to this weeks carnage at a Texas elementary school, sending a tweet listing the gun control measures the Democratic-controlled state has taken. He finished with: Your turn Congress. But gun control measures are likely going nowhere in Congress, and they also have become increasingly scarce in most states. Aside from several Democratic-controlled states, the majority have taken no action on gun control in recent years or have moved aggressively to expand gun rights. Thats because they are either controlled politically by Republicans who oppose gun restrictions or are politically divided, leading to stalemate. Here I am in a position where I can do something, I can introduce legislation, and yet to know that it almost certainly is not going to go anywhere is a feeling of helplessness," said state Sen. Greg Leding, a Democrat in the GOP-controlled Arkansas Legislature. He has pushed unsuccessfully for red flag laws that would allow authorities to remove firearms from those determined to be a danger to themselves or others. After Tuesday's massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 students and two teachers dead, Democratic governors and lawmakers across the country issued impassioned pleas for Congress and their own legislatures to pass gun restrictions. Republicans have mostly called for more efforts to address mental health and to shore up protections at schools, such as adding security guards. Among them is Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has repeatedly talked about mental health struggles among young people and said tougher gun laws in places like New York and California are ineffective. In Tennessee, GOP Rep. Jeremy Faison tweeted that the state needs to have security officers "in all of our schools, but stopped short of promising to introduce legislation during next years legislative session: Evil exists and we must protect the innocent from it, Faison said. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has repeatedly clashed with the GOP-controlled Legislature over gun laws. He has called for passage of universal background checks and red flag laws, only to be ignored by Republicans. Earlier this year, the Democrat vetoed a Republican bill that would have allowed holders of concealed carry permits to have firearms in vehicles on school grounds and in churches located on the grounds of a private school. We cannot accept that gun violence just happens, Evers said in a tweet. We cannot accept that kids might go to school and never come home. We cannot accept the outright refusal of elected officials to act. On Wednesday, a day after the Texas shooting, legislative Democrats asked that the Wisconsin gun safety bills be taken up again, apparently to no avail. Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos did not return messages seeking their response. In Pennsylvania, an effort by Democratic lawmakers Wednesday in the GOP-controlled Legislature to ban owning, selling or making high-capacity, semi-automatic firearms failed, as House Republicans displayed their firm opposition to gun restrictions. The GOP-majority Legislature has rejected appeals by Democratic governors over the past two decades to tighten gun control laws, including taking steps such as expanding background checks or limiting the number of handgun purchases one person can make in a month. The situation is similar in Michigan, which has a Democratic governor and Republican-controlled Legislature. On Wednesday, Democrats in the state Senate were thwarted in their efforts to advance a group of bills that would require gun owners to lock up their firearms and keep them away from minors. Every day we dont take action, we are choosing guns over children, said Democratic Sen. Rosemary Bayer, whose district includes a high school where a teen was charged in a shooting that killed four in November and whose parents are charged with involuntary manslaughter, accused of failing to lock up their gun. Enough is enough. No more prayers, no more thoughts, no more inaction. Republican state Sen. Ken Horn responded by urging discussion about the other potential causes of gun violence. I would just point out that there are political solutions, but there are just as many spiritual solutions," he said. We dont know whats really happening in this world, whats happening in this country, whats happening to young men. Florida stands out as a Republican-controlled state that took action. The 2018 shooting at a high school in Parkland that left 14 students and three staff members dead prompted lawmakers there to pass a law with a red flag provision that lets law enforcement officers petition a court to have guns confiscated from a person considered a threat. Democrats now want that expanded to allow family members or roommates to make the same request of the courts, but there has been little appetite among Republicans to amend the law. Instead, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants lawmakers to allow people to carry handguns without a permit. The state currently requires a concealed weapons license. While Republicans have supported red flag laws in some other states, most legislative action around gun control in recent years has been in states led by Democrats. In Washington state, the governor earlier this year signed a package of bills related to firearm magazine limits, ghost guns and adding more locations where guns are prohibited, including ballot counting sites. In California on Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom and top Democratic legislative leaders vowed to fast-track gun legislation, identifying about a dozen bills they plan to pass this year. Newsom highlighted a bill that would let private citizens enforce a ban on assault weapons by filing lawsuits similar to a law in Texas that bans most abortions through civil enforcement. Oregon's Democratically controlled Legislature has passed bills that require background checks, prohibit guns on public school grounds, allow firearms to be taken from those who pose a risk and ensure safe storage of firearms. On Wednesday, a group of six Democrats said more must be done after the mass shooting in Texas and the racially motivated massacre in Buffalo, New York. They pledged additional action next year. We ran for office to solve big problems and make life better for our constituents and that includes taking on the gun lobby and politicians that place profits and political power over childrens lives, they said in a joint statement. But there are limits even in some Democratic-controlled states, underscoring the challenge of gaining consensus to combat the rising frequency of mass shootings in the U.S. Rhode Island has passed restrictions in recent years that include measures to ban firearms from school grounds and close the straw purchasing loophole that had allowed people to buy guns for someone else. But bills that would ban high-capacity ammunition magazines and assault weapons have been bottled up in committee, in part because the overwhelmingly Democratic chamber includes many lawmakers who have opposed the measures, citing their support for the Second Amendment. In Connecticut, gun violence legislation supported by both parties swiftly followed after 20 children and six staff members were shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary Schoo l in 2012. But additional gun control measures stalled this year in the Democratic-led General Assembly, in large part because of a short legislative session and threats by Republicans to hold up legislation through a filibuster. Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said Wednesday hes uncertain whether he will call a special session on the bills. They would put limits on bulk purchases of firearms and require the registration of so-called ghost guns, untraceable firearms that can be assembled at home. I think its become an incredibly partisan argument right now in our society, Lamont said. "It wasnt that way, you know, 30, 40 years ago. So that is disturbing, even in a state like Connecticut, where after Sandy Hook we had strong bipartisan support. DeMillo reported from Little Rock, Arkansas. Associated Press statehouse reporters from around the U.S. contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Nebraska political leaders called for everything from a semi-automatic weapons ban to the restoration of prayer in schools after a teenage gunman killed 19 children and two adults at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. But its unclear what may actually pass in the Nebraska Legislature. Lawmakers have denied attempts to either tighten or loosen state gun laws in recent years, including proposals to arm teachers, allow permitless concealed carry, require a cooling-off period for handgun purchases and temporarily take away weapons from people suspected of being dangerous. Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen called for action on unaddressed mental health and school safety challenges and promised to work with current Gov. Pete Ricketts, law enforcement and the Legislature to keep children safe in their classrooms. We have to do a better job of identifying and treating troubled individuals before they hurt themselves or others, he said. In Nebraska, we need to further expand capacity in our mental and behavioral health care systems (and) we should allow off-duty police officers to carry firearms in school facilities. He also called for allowing prayer back into our schools, even though that policy prescription has been found by the U.S. Supreme Court to violate the First Amendment. Pillen, who drew criticism for a campaign advertisement in which he racked a shotgun as he criticized President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci, did not address state gun laws. State Sen. Carol Blood, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, called for federal action on gun laws, rather than a patchwork of state laws. She said there are changes most Americans can agree upon that would improve safety without taking away guns from responsible gun owners. She did not give particulars. Blood said mental health is part of the answer and that mental health programming has been underfunded. She also called for a change in Nebraska leadership. These ongoing episodes of violence against our brown and Black communities, our children and others are an opportunity to hold our elected officials accountable for their words, she said. Our executive branch and many of the candidates in Nebraska have normalized hate. We need to lead by example and behave decently, Blood added. On Thursday, Sen. Lynne Walz, the chairwoman of the Education Committee, asked Nebraska State Board of Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt to create a school safety task force. She said the task force would review school safety, security and preparedness practices and identify evidence-based strategies and solutions to ensure Nebraska school remain safe. Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, who has pushed for laws allowing Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons without a permit, said he wants to give the families time to grieve and law enforcement time to understand what happened in Tuesdays shooting. After that we are going to have to do the same thing we have to do after every mass shooting, he said. We have to remind people that gun control laws only control the behavior of law-abiding citizens. You can write all the laws you want, criminals are going to be criminals and ignore them. Brewer also denied any potential link between the Texas shooting and the permitless concealed carry bill, which involves legal possession of firearms and has a minimum age of 21. It is not for the lack of some law that this happened, he said, asserting that the shooter was mentally ill and needed treatment. Texas officials said Wednesday that the gunman, Salvador Ramos, 18, had no documented mental health issues and no known arrests. He did, however, send messages about his intentions on Facebook shortly before carrying them out. Officials said he legally purchased two AR-style rifles last week. Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings, who introduced a bill three years ago to allow teachers and other school and college personnel to carry handguns on campus, said Wednesday that he doesnt see a need for new state gun laws. Changing gun laws in Nebraska will do nothing but punish law-abiding, Second Amendment-respecting citizens, he said. Guns are not at the root of these mass-shooting events. Halloran pointed instead to what he said was a disproportionate percentage of shooters without a respectable or responsible father figure in their family structure. Many of our laws, mostly at the federal level, promote more significant welfare support to those who do not have a father/husband in the household, he said. This incentivizes fatherless households. These irresponsible culture-shaping laws need to be addressed ... instead of changing gun laws. But Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, who was among the leaders in blocking permitless concealed carry this year, said Nebraska needs laws to regulate and restrict the sale of semi-automatic weapons. He said it would be better to have federal action on the issue, but he also is researching potential state legislation. All options need to be on the table, he said. If our representatives in Congress will not protect children, we may need to act at the state level. Obviously I am saddened and sick over what happened in Uvalde yesterday and Buffalo last week, Cavanaugh added. I continue to be shocked that a person could do this to their fellow humans, but I am also shocked by our lack of action when presented with so many tragedies. Lawmakers last year passed a bill introduced by Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg to expand an anonymous school reporting system statewide. The system, called Safe2Help Nebraska, offers students, staff and community members a way to report concerning behavior, including signs of potential violence. The system began in January 2020 as a pilot program in Douglas County and has now been picked up by about a quarter of all school districts. It has received more than 1,000 total reports since January 2020, including 10 tip reports about planned school attacks. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Milos Zeman, President of the Czech Republic, has sent a congratulatory letter to Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. "Excellency, On behalf of the Czech people and on my own behalf, I would like to extend sincere congratulations on the occasion of your national holiday Independence Day. I wish you, your country, and all the people of Azerbaijan well-being, togetherness, and prosperity. I highly appreciate very good relations between the Czech Republic and the Republic of Azerbaijan. I believe that they will continue to develop in the spirit of mutual cooperation in all spheres for the benefits of our two nations. Please, accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration," the letter said. Cindy Hansen paused from participating in a yoga demonstration to take a selfie with a goat. Other yogis stopped to pet goats and laugh at their antics as the animals stood up against them. Later, several yogis lined up on their hands and knees so a goat could walk across their backs. Goat yoga was a new activity at the ninth annual Sip Nebraska event as it returned to Mahoney State Park May 6-7 for the first time since 2019 due to pandemic limitations at state parks from 2020-21. Lincoln Yoga Center instructors provided sunset yoga classes that Friday evening and led goat yoga demonstrations Saturday afternoon. The goats were provided by Shepherds Rest Goat & Sheep Rescue of Pickrell, which benefited from donations at the event. Weve always had yoga, but last year Sheila Palmquist from the Lincoln Yoga Center told me about goat yoga, so we added that this year, said event planner Stacy Leners of Blur Parties. According to Palmquist, The idea is that being around animals lets peoples guard down so they can open up and try something new. It has been a serious couple of years with the pandemic, and many people are lonely. Goats have a soothing, calming effect on people. Once Jen Schurman of the goat rescue service told me about the positive effects goats have on nursing home residents, I thought Id try goats with yoga. Palmquist said she plans to offer goat yoga at Sip Nebraska this fall, Oct. 7-8, in Lincolns Haymarket Park. Axe throwing and a Best Sips contest were other new activities at the spring Sip event, which drew 2,100 attendees. Best Sips winners were determined by the events participants, which dropped wooden chips into a jar at the tasting tents occupied by their favorite winery, brewery or distillery. The winners were Kinkaider Brewing Co., based in Broken Bow with taprooms in Lincoln and Grand Island; Prairie Creek Vineyards of Central City; and the Soldier Valley Spirits distillery of La Vista. In all, seven wineries, seven craft breweries and two distilleries gave participants of taste of Nebraska wines, brews and spirits. Lincoln participants included Code Beer Co., Corn Coast Brewing Co., Kinkaider Brewing Co.s Lincoln taproom, Saro Cider and the Sideshow Spirits distillery. Participating wineries from near Lincoln included Glacial Till Vineyard of Palmyra, Junto Wine of Seward and James Arthur Vineyard of Raymond. James Arthur Vineyard has been here every year since Sip Nebraska started, said Jeff Korbelik, JAVs tasting room manager who also reviews restaurants for the Lincoln Journal Star. We like Sip because look at this view! We have a scenic park, and its convenient for folks to get in and out. Last night the fire pits were burning because it was chilly. Those are nice touches. Food, artisan and craft vendors, outdoor games, a mobile massage trailer, educational sessions and electric trolley cart parking lot transports were also part of the event. After last weeks rain, its just great to have sunshine and be outside sipping Nebraska spirits in the park, said Nick Pischel, who was a first-time attender with his wife Nicole and friends Jason and Wendy Cech. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 RACINE A Racine man has been accused of pointing a BB gun at the driver of a vehicle while he was driving. Dylan M. Davis, 29, of the 1300 block of Oregon Street, was charged with a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct and a forfeiture count of use of facsimile firearms. According to a criminal complaint: On May 19, an officer met with a man who said that someone pointed a gun at him while driving. He said he was traveling eastbound on 16th Street and was stopped at the red light when a Ford pulled up next to him. He had never seen the Ford or driver before. When the light turned green, the Ford quickly accelerated and cut him off in his lane. The driver then reached out the window and stuck his middle finger at him. He returned the gesture, and then the driver reached out the window again with what appeared to be a handgun. The driver then pointed it directly at him. The man reported that he followed the Ford to get a photo and make a report. The officer found out who the owner of the vehicle was and then learned that Davis was the one driving the vehicle at the time. The officer also learned that, on Dec. 29, a complaint was called on the Ford for a man pointing a gun at the caller twice. On Monday, an investigator was able to view traffic camera footage and saw Davis stick his hand out of the vehicle holding what appeared to be a handgun. On Tuesday, investigators responded to where Davis was working and found the Ford parked outside. They took him into custody and he said Its not a gun, its a BB gun. A search of the Ford found the BB gun under the front passenger seat. Davis said He flashed something at me, I flashed something back, here we are. He also said the driver bumped into his Ford, but video of the incident did not provide evidence for that claim. Davis was given a $250 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Wednesday. A status conference is on July 26 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 RACINE The Racine Police Department reported that Terry Scooter Man Lee Jackson was arrested on the morning of Sunday, May 22. Thursday afternoon, he was formally charged with crimes that, if convicted, would put him behind bars for the rest of his life. Jackson, 41, is accused of the April 24 killing of Brittany Booker, 30, a Racine mother of six, and committing multiple other violent acts against women. During his first court appearance Thursday, he was given a $10 million cash bond. He is due next in court for a preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m. June 1 in the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave. He faces 23 criminal charges, chief among them first-degree intentional homicide with use of a dangerous weapon, which carries with it a mandatory sentence of life in prison, and two charges for attempted first-degree intentional homicide. The criminal complaint is 11 pages long, lengthy even for a typical court document, detailing allegations for multiple violent events dating back more than three months. According to the complaint: On Feb. 20, a woman drove to Chicago to pick Jackson up ahead of a court hearing he had scheduled for Feb. 22 in relation to cocaine dealing charges. Jackson drove back and then, after learning the woman wanted to end her relationship with him, parked near Lake Michigan and took the womans phone, grabbed her by the throat and dug his fingers into her eyes before punching her in the face repeatedly. He then threatened to slice the woman with a knife. The woman reported she lost consciousness. After regaining consciousness, the woman reported that Jackson said that she was going to die ... She also stated that Jackson made comments that he wasnt going back to jail, wasnt going to court, and that he wanted to die by police officer. According to the complaint, officers were alerted to these allegations on Feb. 21 upon speaking with the woman at Ascension All Saints Hospital. Officers were also told that Jackson suffered from mental illness and repeatedly spoke of wanting to kill himself. On Feb. 27, Jackson allegedly attacked the same woman and Booker with a hammer on Racines near north side. With Bookers help, the woman had been trying to recover items from her own home while continuously hiding from Jackson, as she had been the whole week. While there, Jackson arrived at the home and attacked the two women with a hammer. Booker later said she tried to call 911, but was holding her 2-year-old child and was unable to unlock her phone or protect herself with a kitchen knife she found when Jackson attacked. As Booker tried to flee, Jackson allegedly yelled Im going to kill you! Then, as the other woman tried to flee but was delayed by the front door being locked, Jackson struck her with the hammer. From the home, located on the 300 block of Hamilton Street, the two women fled to Georges Tavern, 1201 N. Main St., where police officers made contact. (Booker) had bloody jacket, injuries to her face and all over her head. (Booker) was laying down on the ground, was heavily bleeding from the back of her head. (Booker) was not speaking and had a blank stare as if she was going out of consciousness. (Booker) then started to speak stating she wanted to get up as she felt she was bleeding out, the complaint stated. The other woman also had large lacerations and injuries to her face and her clothes were covered in blood and told police that Jackson was trying to kill her, just as he had the week prior. Booker ended up being treated at All Saints emergency room and both women received staples to close head wounds. After Booker was killed, her father told The Journal Times that she spent her final weeks living in constant fear of Jackson. Prior to Bookers death, RPD Sgt. Kristi Wilcox told the Racine County Eye that Jackson evaded arrest for weeks. We did conduct a manhunt for a month, but we did not alert the public because doing so might have placed a number of people in harms way unnecessarily ... The situation with him is very serious and has been, and (Jacksons) efforts to escape capture made it difficult to apprehend him. On April 24, Booker was found dead. Officers were initially dispatched to a home on the 1300 block of Villa Street at 9:30 a.m. April 24. Booker lived on the street, along with her six kids, ages 2-13. The complaint states that Bookers oldest child, (name redacted), stated that he woke up and discovered his mom and her vehicle were gone. He said he located blood in her bedroom. He was able to access the doorbell cameras, one on the front and one on the back of the residence. (The 13-year-old) said the last time be saw his mom was around 2 a.m. He said they tried to call her multiple times, but she did not answer and it was very unlike her. Officers watched the recordings from the doorbell cameras. On the backdoor camera, a male can be seen moving under the camera. It appeared the male was trying to avoid being seen by the camera. On the front door camera, at approximately 5:30 a.m., (Booker) can be seen leaving the house with a male behind her, later determined to be Jackson. At one point in the video, (Booker) pauses and turns back toward the door, but Jackson states for her to go or move. (Booker) then turns and walks down the stairs as they both get into the car. Jackson got in the passenger seat and made (Booker) get in the drivers seat. Jackson tells (Booker) to drive. Inside the home, officers found a bloody towel, blood on Bookers bed and blood going toward the dining room. Blood was also found on one of the childrens nightgowns. After one of Bookers children found that Bookers phone was pinging near the intersection of 15th Street and Park Avenue, officers found Bookers vehicle on the 500 block of 13th Street. Inside, her body was found in the drivers seat with multiple blunt force injuries and a single gunshot wound to the head. One fired 9mm cartridge case was also found. All of Terry Jackson's charges First-degree intentional homicide with use of a dangerous weapon Kidnapping Possession of a firearm as a felon Twelve counts of felony bail jumping Two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide with use of a dangerous weapon, with one of those charges having a domestic abuse assessment First-degree recklessly endangering safety with use of a dangerous weapon Stalking that resulted in bodily harm with domestic abuse assessments False imprisonment with use of a dangerous weapon and domestic abuse assessments Strangulation and suffocation with domestic abuse assessments Substantial battery with intent to cause bodily harm with domestic abuse assessments Intimidating a victim with use of force with use of a dangerous weapon and domestic abuse assessments Surveillance videos from other nearby homes showed that Jackson drove to Bookers home in a vehicle that belonged to another woman, Diamond Hood, 24. The criminal complaint stated that Hood admitted to allowing Jackson to use her vehicle on the evening of April 23 into April 24. The next morning, Hood said that Jackson woke her up and said he needed a ride to his moms house in Chicago, which she provided. Hood has been charged with harboring/aiding a felon, which is a felony. Two other women Alicia K. Sykes, 30, and Carmelita L. Walker, 34 also face charges for allegedly helping Jackson elude capture after the February hammer attack. Hood posted a $10,000 bond April 27, online court records show; Walker and Sykes posted bonds of $3,500 each to get out of jail on May 4. The women reported that they too were afraid Jackson may attack them. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A conservative Chicago law firm that has been working with the Republican-appointed special counsel probing Wisconsins 2020 election has filed another spate of lawsuits challenging another aspect of that election ballot drop boxes that has long raised the ire of Republicans, especially since their candidate for president lost. The Thomas More Society, however, isnt suing all the approximately 245 Wisconsin municipalities that used the absentee ballot drop boxes in November 2020, just the five largest and most Democratic-leaning: Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine. The firm, on behalf of a total of six residents in the five municipalities, notes that state law is silent on the use of drop boxes and asks a judge to declare them legally unauthorized and permanently barred. The complaint filed against the City of Racine came from Sandy Weidner, who served on the City Council from 2000-2020 and ran for mayor in 2017 and as a write-in in 2019. Democrats and Republicans alike largely approved of drop boxes prior to the 2020 election, and the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission approved their use in the election as a way to cut down on crowds at polling places at a time when there was no vaccine against COVID-19 and public health authorities were warning that large groups, such as at polling places, could spread the virus that has so far been blamed for the killing of more than 1 million Americans. A January ruling by a Waukesha County judge that barred the use of drop boxes except in a clerks office has been appealed and the legality of drop boxes is now before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which is expected to rule on the matter sometime this summer. Weidners complaint states that The City of Racine used unmanned absentee ballot drop boxes in the November 2020 election and did use or may use them in subsequent elections. The City of Racine has no published policy discontinuing the Citys use of unmanned absentee ballot drop boxes, although they are no longer being used. This is at least the second formal complaint Weidner has filed regarding the 2020 election. In January, she and another woman alleged that the grants the City of Racine and other Wisconsin cities received prior to the 2020 presidential election constituted bribery; a Dane County judge earlier this month characterized as ridiculous the claims that accepting grants to help fund elections constituted bribery. There is nothing in state law barring private funding to help administer elections. The new complaint seeks a court order banning drop boxes and a permanent injunction against the cities involved to cease and desist from the use of unmanned absentee ballot drop boxes.The complaints, since they only seek action against Racine, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay, that used drop boxes about as often as left-leaning areas. The Elections Commission in February rescinded its guidance allowing drop boxes, in keeping with the lower courts ruling. The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau found the drop boxes were used in at least 43 cities, 46 villages and 156 towns throughout the state in the 2020 election. The Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine clerks offices did not respond to an opportunity to comment. When pressed for comment on why the group is suing only those five cities and not the dozens of other communities that used drop boxes, an attorney for the group, Erick Kaardal, said in an email The reason that the complaints are focused on the Wisconsin 5 cities, the Center for Tech and Civic Life and Wisconsin Elections Commission is simple. They were all involved in a horrific violation of Wisconsin election law which was planned in the months of late March through June of 2020. He then claimed that those five cities knew that the unmanned absentee ballot boxes were illegal despite the WEC advising otherwise, and not addressing the dozens of other communities.Kaardal has been working with former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman on his ongoing $676,000 probe of the election. That review was paused earlier this month by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to allow time for resolution of five lawsuits related to the probe. Much like multiple judges, outside reviews and recounts, Gableman has so far found no evidence of the kind of widespread fraud or criminal activity that could have changed the outcome of the election in Wisconsin, where Joe Biden beat Donald Trump by just fewer than 21,000 votes. Still, he and other conservatives continue to allege a conspiracy among Democratic-leaning nonprofits and elections officials to use more than $10 million from the Chicago-based nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life to boost turnout in Democratic areas under the guise of safe voting during a pandemic. Money from the Center for Tech and Civic Life was distributed to about 214 Wisconsin municipalities, including many won by Trump, to pay for things including poll worker training and wages, new voting machines, ballot drop boxes and personal protective equipment. While the states five largest and most Democratic-leaning municipalities per capita than other municipalities, the center has said no municipality that asked for the money was denied it.Adam Rogan of The Journal Times contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 RACINE Local government and grassroots organizations met with the public Thursday afternoon to discuss a new initiative for combating the uptick in gun violence. However, it was clear from the conversation that trust between law enforcement/government and members of the community will continue to be an issue especially in light of the May 20 fatal shooting of DaShontay Day Day King by RPD Officer Zachary Brenner, and the lack of information being shared with the family in the aftermath. The three-pronged initiative announced Thursday includes: A new Law Enforcement Violent Crime Task Force, More community programming, and Community engagement. County Executive Jonathan Delagrave stressed that people had an inherent right to safety in their community. No matter where you live in Racine County north side, south side, east side, or west side; regardless of your race or socioeconomic status you have an inherent right to live in a safe neighborhood, he said. He said local governments were drawing a line in the sand. We are doing everything in our power to keep our neighborhoods safe. According to Assistant Police Chief Alex Ramirez, non-fatal shootings in 2022 are up 90% compared to the same time last year and reports of shots fired are up 42%. Three-pronged approach One of the points that was made repeatedly was the collaboration, not just between the city and county governments, or the Racine Police Department and the Sheriffs Office, but also between governments and community entities. The prong titled Community Programming will focus on social and socioeconomic needs, such as workforce/business development, housing, education and crime prevention. Areas of need and opportunity as identified through feedback from the survey administered by the Racine County Task Force. It will focus on identifying partners in the community for collaboration on issues of violent crime, which could include government, law enforcement, businesses, and community leaders. Engagement On hand to address the issue were members of the organization Voices of Black Mothers United. Voices of Black Mothers United is a national movement led by the Woodson Center, which is based in Washington D.C. but with a presence in 22 states with thousands of black mothers who have lost children to violence. Nakeyda Haymer, Wisconsins director for Voices of Black Mothers United, explained the group organized to provide advocacy. Theres a lot of pain in our community, she said. Theres a lot of grief and theres a lot of trauma thats going unaddressed. We believe that hurt people, hurt people, Haymer said; put otherwise, people who have been hurt and experienced trauma are more likely to inflict such pains on others. Haymer added how important it was to help mothers, to start there, in order to help the community. She said she will be introducing community and family intervention efforts in the near future. She was joined by Tanya Wooden, who lost her son Harry Canady Jr., to gun violence in 2017; and Antoinette Hicks, who lost her son to gun violence in February. Wooden took the opportunity to reiterate the only pathway to safe communities was for people to work together. They say silent people get nothing but organized people get results, she said. Wooden is a member of Voices of Black Mothers United. She said she was ready to work with the initiative to address gun violence. As they have before, the mothers pleaded with the community to adopt a new mindset: if you see something, say something. But that call doesnt have to be 911. Wooden noted that call doesnt necessarily have to be to law enforcement because community members have the option to reach out to community leaders. It is not snitching if it saves a life, she said. Law enforcement Another aspect of the initiative is the new collaboration between the Racine Police Department and the Racine County Sheriffs Office in the Law Enforcement Violent Crime Task Force. According to Assistant Chief Ramirez, one of the avenues law enforcement intends to pursue is targeting areas where there are calls for shots fired. The RPD has a staff member trained to collect data to show where the most reports of gun violence come from. The Journal Times asked what safeguards were in place to ensure violent criminals were arrested without throwing such a wide net that there might be a return to the 1990s era of mass incarceration when tough on crime often led to young, black men being much more likely to be thrown behind bars than their peers. From 1982 to 2010, the U.S. prison population exploded from around 320,000 people to more than 1.5 million, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Black men make up a drastically disproportionate percentage of that population. While white and black people use drugs at nearly identical rates, according to 2013 FBI data, black people were 2.6 times more likely per capita to be arrested for drug allegations than white people. Ramirez said the RPD would continue to respect the protections of the U.S. Constitution. Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson said the response of law enforcement would be data driven; that is, they will go where the data says there are high rates of crime. Ongoing The Journal Times will continue covering the rise in violence the community is experiencing, law enforcement's newly announced responses to it, and ongoing attempts to repair fractured trust in the coming days, weeks and months. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RACINE The Panera Bread, currently in the same strip mall as Kohls and Festival Foods at 5630 Washington Ave., is relocating from Mount Pleasant to Racine. Construction on a new Panera Bread restaurant, this time with a drive-thru, is nearly complete. It is located at 5304 Washington Ave. (Highway 20), where a BP gas station had previously been located, just west of Sycamore Avenues intersection with the highway. It is not clear when the new restaurant will open and the current one will close. Panera Breads corporate office did not reply to multiple requests for comment. Banners outside the construction site advertise that the new location is seeking applicants to fill jobs. Go to careers.panerabread.com to learn more; that website, as of Wednesday afternoon, lists five openings for both part-time and full-time jobs in Mount Pleasant. Panera Bread has been one of the highest-earning restaurant chains in North America over the last decade. Restaurant Business, a media brand that covers the commercial food service industry, ranked Panera No. 13 in most sales among restaurants in 2020. Fortune magazine ranks Panera not far outside of its acclaimed Fortune 500 list, placing Panera as the 760th highest-revenue American company in 2017. Over the last decade, the chain originally known as St. Louis Bread Co. has been leaning more into the fast part of its fast-casual setup, having greatly expanded drive-thru options since 2012. Across the U.S. and Canada, there are approximately 2,000 combined Panera Bread and St. Louis Bread Co. locations. 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. Copperas Cove, TX (76522) Today A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.